Boao Moments: Economic expert bullish about China's stimulus measures 17:44, March 26, 2025 By Chang Sha, Wang Yuheng, Wu Yanhong ( People's Daily Online "One of the great things about China is when they set a target, they normally always achieve it," Carl F. Fey, professor of Strategy at BI Norwegian Business School, commented on China's around 5 percent growth goal for this year, at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025, which runs from March 25 to 28 in Boao town, south China's Hainan Province. The professor expresses his confidence about the stimulus polices rolled out by the Chinese government, believing that they could generate long-term benefits. He also emphasizes the importance of BFA, which provides a platform for different countries to come together and seek to find possibilities for cooperation. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Du Mingming) Eyeing free trade port milestone, China pushes toward higher-level opening up Xinhua) 08:40, March 27, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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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 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. The Heritage Foundation, the organization behind Project 2025, invited European friends to discuss how to reset the European Union. From Denik Alarm. Writing on Vsquare, the platform for investigative journalism, the Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi has presented another example of the lively cooperation between ultra-conservative organizations in Hungary and Poland on the one hand, and people directly connected to the Trump administration on the other. And this is not just any cooperation. The main topic of the closed workshop, which took place on 11 March in the seat of the U.S. think tank the Heritage Foundation, is how to dismantle the institutions of the European Union. The Great Reset The Heritage Foundation has been active since the 1970s. Throughout this time, it has been associated with ultra-conservative thinking within the Republican Party and with the ideology of Christian nationalism. Over the last year, it has been most often discussed in relation to Project 2025, an 800-page long manual for how ultra-conservative forces should take power in the United States if Trump is elected president. A number of the measures mentioned in the document have already started to be implemented by the new Trump administration. Russell Vought, an important personality at the Heritage Foundation, who is also said to be personally behind Project 2025, is the director of Trumps federal Office of Management and Budget. And it is this organization which, according to the Hungarian journalist, sent out to its followers information about the closed workshop The Great Reset, at which the Polish ultra-conservative organization Ordo Iuris and Hungarys Mathias Corvinus Collegium were to present their vision of resetting the EU. The two organizations were to present a joint plan to dismantle the European Commission and the European Court of Justice, entitled The Great Reset: Restoring Member State Sovereignty in the 21st Century. Among other things, they are suggesting the European Union change its name to the European Community of Nations. They also want to stop the process of European integration. The very use of the far-right term great reset, which is popular on the scene of conspiracy theories about the origins of COVID-19, says something about the background of the two organizations. Ordo Iuris is an ultra-conservative, anti-abortion, and homophobic organization, which has helped pass stricter anti-abortion legislation in Poland, among other things. It has strong ties to Jaroslaw Kaczynskis Law and Justice party. In the Czech context, it is working with the similarly inclined lobbying group Alliance for Family, headed by Jana Jochova. Mathias Corvinus Collegium is a private educational institution based in Budapest, funded by the state and connected to the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party, which is supposed to provide the collegium with high-quality and reliable cadres. It is funded from the dividends of the Hungarian oil and gas corporation MOL, which still imports 65 percent of its gas and oil directly from the Russian Federation. The two institutions (as well as the Orban government and the former Kaczynski government) have long opposed a closer integration of European countries, seeking to prevent European institutions and European legislation from having an impact on the judicial systems of the member states. It is for this reason that their document includes a proposal to de facto abolish the European Court of Justice. The governments in both Poland and Hungary had an issue with the fact that their judicial reforms, as well as their measures against public media, did not comply with EU principles, for which they were financially penalized. Clearly, Hungarian and Polish conservatives do not wish to see this scenario repeated in the future. The U.S. As an Ally of the Far Right This is not the first or the only cooperation between the Heritage Foundation and Hungarian conservative organizations associated with Orban and Fidesz. There had already been talk of cooperation between Heritage and the Danube Institute, which is also linked to Orban and publicly funded. Since March 2023, the two institutions have had an agreement on cooperation. There is also speculation about whether Orbans close associates may be helping Republicans in the U.S. to take control of U.S. institutions and courts. Moreover, there is also talk of how much input Orbans people had directly into creating Project 2025. When the U.S. Vice President JD Vance gave his arrogant speech at the Munich conference in mid-February, it was an obvious attack on the liberal and social values of the European Union. There has also been talk of Trump, Vance, and Elon Musk aiming to dismantle European institutions, with the help of far-right forces in Europe. A major role should be played in this plan by the Patriots for Europe political group (in the European Parliament), comprising Orban, Marine Le Pen, Austrian post-Nazis in the FPO, as well as the ANO party of former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis. By the way, Orban has long supported the idea that Germanys extremist and far-right party AfD should also join the group, and he may soon get his way. The dismantling of the EU and its institutions is also the objective for many far-right parties in Europe. In this effort, they will try to make good use of the support of Trump and of American tech giants, such as Facebook or X, to influence the opinion of the European public. All of this is supposed to lead to a gradual dismantling of the European Union. It is clear that the current U.S. administration would welcome a weak, fragmented, and easy-to-blackmail Europe. The Russian leadership, led by Vladimir Putin, has had a similar long-term objective. It is not as clear why the European far right would also share this objective. However, they seek absolute power over the European continent and to complete the conservative counter-revolution. A weakened EU can serve as the perfect tool to mobilize disappointed and frustrated voters. People from the Heritage Foundation, directly linked to the Trump administration, are now meeting behind closed doors with Hungarian and Polish ultra-conservatives, discussing how to best break up the EU. Does anybody really need further proof of why its not a good idea to cooperate with the current U.S. administration, and why at the moment, the U.S. should not be considered an ally of liberal and social Europe? Trump and his allies are actively strengthening the influence of far-right political subjects in Europe. This is perfectly logical, since the agenda of the Trump administration is also of the far right. Jan Belicek is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Denik Alarm, where this article originally appeared. Reprinted by permission. Translated by Matus Nemeth. 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. More than four miles of an ephemeral creek that feeds into the Santa Cruz River south of Green Valley is now in the hands of conservationists. The Arizona Land and Water Trust has completed its purchase of the Sopori Farm, a historic spread in Amado once targeted for development as part of a 6,800-home, master-planned community. The Tucson-based nonprofit closed on the final 886 acres of the farm along Sopori Creek late last month for an undisclosed amount. Cameron Becker, conservation director for the trust, said they plan to place a protective easement on the property to permanently preserve it as farmland and wildlife habitat, as they search for a conservation-minded buyer interested in maintaining it as a working, ecologically friendly agricultural operation. He said the farm has a lot to offer, with 327 acres of irrigated farmland adjacent to the frontage road on the west side of Interstate 19 and sitting atop one of the few shallow groundwater aquifers left within 40 miles of Tucson. Assuming the property is eventually sold, the trust will remain involved in its protection by retaining ownership of the conservation easement placed on the land. We are excited to continue our collaborative work to protect this vital landscape for future generations, Michael McDonald, the trusts executive director, said in a written statement. The group is still looking for someone to buy its other major acquisition in the same area: a 2,550-acre portion of the nearby Sopori Ranch it purchased in 2018 from the developer behind the proposed master-planned community. That residential project was abandoned after Santa Cruz County voters overwhelmingly rejected it in 2008. A month later, Pima County swooped in and paid the developer $18.6 million for 4,135 acres of the old ranch and 10,000 acres of surrounding state agricultural leases to add to the countys open-space program. According to the trust, Sopori Creek is part of one of the oldest continuously occupied areas in the United States, with evidence of humans dating back almost 12,000 years. Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza grazed livestock on the land during his time at the Tubac presidio, south of Tucson, in the latter half of the 18th century. Hollywood movie mogul Jack Warner and his family owned the ranch from 1950 to 1993. The trust purchased the first 371 acres of Sopori Farm in May of 2021. Since 1978, the group has helped preserve more than 67,000 acres of what it calls vanishing western landscapes through purchases, donations and the designation of conservation easements across Arizona. Becker said they are currently working to protect another 10,000 acres near the Chiricahua Mountains and in the Sonoita area. The trusts acquisitions in the Sopori area include habitat for listed species such as the endangered Pima pineapple cactus and the threatened yellow-billed cuckoo and part of a vital riparian wildlife corridor connecting the surrounding sky island mountain ranges to Sopori Creek and the Santa Cruz River. Becker said native animals such as deer, javelina, coati, skunks and badgers have been photographed on the properties by a series of trail cameras operated by the trust in partnership with the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection. The land is not currently open to the public, but the conservation easement would not prevent a future owner from allowing access some day for low-impact activities such as hiking or birdwatching, Becker said. The trusts Sopori properties fall within the proposed boundaries of the Santa Cruz River Urban National Wildlife Refuge, a federal designation now being sought by local governments and conservationists for a 90-mile swath of the river valley from Mexico to Marana. The prospects for the new refuge remain uncertain during the second Trump administration, especially with the president threatening to rescind or reduce the size of national monuments approved by his predecessors in the White House. Becker said the trust hasnt had any discussions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about incorporating its holdings into the proposed refuge. However, the protection of Sopori builds upon all of the collaborative conservation efforts that have been accomplished within the area of focus, he said. The trust most recently put its Sopori Ranch property up for sale about a year ago and got a couple a strong bites, Becker said, but they ultimately withdrew the listing after failing to find a good fit for the lands overarching conservation mission. He said the trust can afford to be patient. Were not in the business of owning and managing land. But as a nonprofit, if we need to hold onto it for a while, thats OK, Becker said. Ideally, wed love for the right person to walk in the door tomorrow, but to us, having the right person is more important. The University of Arizona has created a new $275,000-a-year position of special advisor for fusion energy commercialization. Horst Hahn, a materials scientist, will advise Tomas Diaz de la Rubia, the UAs senior vice president for research and innovation. Hahns hiring reinforces the universitys commitment to tackling global grand challenges while advancing innovation that supports Arizonas economic growth and workforce development, Diaz de la Rubia said in a news release. A Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors and the Materials Research Society, Hahn will work on securing funding, building networks and ensuring UA initiatives align with national energy priorities, the release says. Safeguarding Arizonas water and energy future through the commercialization of fusion energy is one of four research areas that UA President Suresh Garimella and Diaz de la Rubia recently announced the university will focus on as areas of great strategic importance to our state and nation. The other areas are advancing UAs leadership in space sciences, space technology, and national security; enhancing biomedical discovery and health-care outcomes with artificial intelligence and machine learning; and modernizing mining for critical minerals. UA announced a $20 million investment in the areas in early March. Fusion energy is difficult, but it will be conquered on Earth one day. And, we want to be the ones that conquer fusion energy, Diaz de la Rubia told the Arizona Daily Star in an interview earlier this month. The sun powers everything that we do, and so, we want to conquer it here on Earth and be the ones that bring it to the markets, that develop the technologies, engineering, the solutions that are going to allow us to have a future of energy abundance for the planet not just for us, for our water, and for our needs, but really, for the planet. Hahn has held positions including executive director of the Institute of Nanotechnology at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany; head of the KIT-TUD Joint Research Laboratory for Nanomaterials at Germanys Technical University of Darmstadt; and founding director of Germanys Helmholtz Institute Ulm for Electrochemical Energy Storage. His own research focuses on high-entropy materials, nanocrystalline structures, printed electronics and energy storage solutions. PHOENIX State lawmakers are moving to close a technologically-created loophole in a law designed to protect against revenge porn. But the measure, approved by an 8-1 margin Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee, has raised concerns that it could subject more people to possible felony charges. A 2016 Arizona law already makes it a felony to distribute nude or sexually explicit photos without consent. These often arise from situations when a relationship ends and the jilted partner decides to post explicit photos of the other person. Those images might have been made with that persons consent but were not meant to be shared. And what made it more problematic, according to Sen. J.D. Mesnard, who crafted the original state law, was the ability to not just create the images with smartphones but share them on the internet. But on Wednesday, the Chandler Republican said yet another advancement has created a new problem: the exciting and frightening technology of artificial intelligence. Put simply, Mesnard said, that scientific leap now allows someone to generate ... very realistic nude pictures that are then shared for the purpose of hurting somebody. But he said since whats being shared online isnt an actual photo of someone, that isnt forbidden under the existing law. His SB 1462 is designed to fix that. A very realistic-looking nude picture, but thats not technically of the person but is used to harass and hurt the person, generally a woman, could be captured in this statute, Mesnard told lawmakers in explaining the need for the change. Mesnard could not get the measure approved as originally crafted after it raised concerns from the Arizona chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. I think the bill violates the First Amendment without some sort of protection for persons who are engaged in parody, artistic expression, political speech said lobbyist Marilyn Rodriguez. Courts have concluded that these are protected even if it is a vulgar image of a politician, she said. Those images may harm a politician or a famous person, but can also be protected speech, she said. And Rodriguez said she doubts that is what Mesnard is trying to prevent. Mesnard agreed to alter the measure to create exceptions for an image made in the public interest, including scientific or education activities, a newsworthy or on (an) issue of public concern. But Rodriguez made it clear that her organization still has concerns about the breadth of the measure especially the possibility of someone being subject to a prison term of 2 1/2 years. The measure still is so broad, she said, that it could apply to someone who digitally alters an image of someone they see or know. Its far less intimate, Rodriguez said, than the original law that involves sending out photos that someone has shared in a relationship. I certainly wonder if it deserves a Class 4 felony designation, she said. It certainly seems like its criminalizing far more conduct than just the original revenge porn statute. And she said another worry is that young people could be charged for altering images for a laugh. We are really concerned that young people who are prone to mistakes and lack access to sexual education and education about the internet could be facing Class 4 felonies for jokes, she said. The ACLU isnt the only one worried about the breadth of the bill. Kathryn Krejci, a volunteer attorney with Arizona Attorney for Criminal Justice, pointed out that the original revenge porn law required prosecutors to prove that the person in the image had a reasonable expectation of privacy. But Krejci, whose organization is composed of lawyers who defend people accused of crimes, told lawmakers that SB 1462 removes that requirement and in a way that would allow charges to be brought against people who distribute images where the person in the photo had no such expectation. Mesnard, however, said that change applies only to digitally created images. He said that since those depicted had no way of knowing someone was crafting the photo there would be no way for them to have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Not everyone on the House Judiciary Committee was buying that explanation or convinced that what Mesnard is proposing is just a minor change in the law. Rep. Alexander Kolodin said he agrees with Krejcis interpretation that the legislation would make criminals out of those who share images where the person depicted has no expectation of privacy. Consider, said the Scottsdale Republican, a scenario where he might decide to tear naked through the floor of the House and the act was captured by a news reporter on camera. That would then be a crime even though I had no reasonable expectation of privacy because I was on the floor of the House? Kolodin asked as he cast the lone dissenting vote on the measure. The measure, which already has been approved by the Senate, now goes to the full House. PHOENIX The GOP head of the Arizona Freedom Caucus is advancing legislation that would bar fellow Republican Karrin Taylor Robson from becoming the next governor even if she were to win the election. Sen. Jake Hoffman is a vocal supporter of U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who also wants to be the Republican nominee for governor. Strictly speaking, Hoffmans House Concurrent Resolution 2037, approved Wednesday by the Senate Government Committee, says nothing about Robson, the attorney and business consultant who formally jumped in the 2026 gubernatorial race earlier this year. But the measure does say no person is eligible to become a state elected official who, for two years prior to the primary election, was required to register as a paid lobbyist. Two years ahead of the 2026 primary would be Aug. 4, 2024. And that would include Robson, who as recently as January registered with the city of Phoenix that she is a lobbyist with AZ Strategies LLC. Robson is listed is the founder and president. The same city registration lists Arizona Public Service, the states largest electric utility, as one of her clients. But a spokesman for APS said she ceased doing work for the utility in the fourth quarter of last year. Resolution Copper Co., in its own filing with the Secretary of States Office, said Robson served as a lobbyist until this week. Hoffman, a Queen Creek Republican, never mentioned Robsons name when he first explained his measure to the Government Committee, which he chairs. This one seems very straightforward, he told colleagues. We have the prohibition on lobbying following office. That refers to a state law making it illegal for any former lawmakers to take a paid job lobbying the Legislature for one year after they leave office. We think that also should apply prior to office, Hoffman said. So it seems like a common-sense measure in line with what we have. But Hoffman conceded to Capitol Media Services this isnt occurring in a vacuum. While denying that his measure is aimed strictly at Robson, he acknowledged he wrote it with her in mind. The public has an overwhelming distrust of paid lobbyists because their job includes the potential hazard of selling themselves and their influence to the highest bidder, he said. This legislation seeks to prevent the poisoning of the publics trust in government that would come from allowing someone in that profession to be able to immediately serve in a position of key influence such as the governorship, Hoffman continued. Karrin Taylor Robson is certainly a valid example as to why legislation is needed, given her recent moonlighting as a paid lobbyist. Robson, in a written response, made no mention of her registration as a lobbyist. Instead, she said Hoffmans desperate political tactic fails basic legal scrutiny. Hoffmans proposal, if approved by the Legislature, would have to be ratified by voters at the Nov. 3, 2026, election. It does not say that people who have been lobbyists in the affected two-year period are ineligible to run. Such a wording could be interpreted to mean that, if approved, it would be effective proactively, affecting only those who choose to run in future years. Instead, Hoffman crafted his measure to make anyone who has been a lobbyist for the two years before the 2026 primary legally unqualified to be sworn in. Timing is crucial. If the measure is approved, it would become part of the Arizona Constitution when the 2026 election results are formally certified, which is set to occur on Nov. 23, 2026. But whoever is elected in 2026 would not take office until the first day in January 2027 after the provision would become effective. That was on purpose. The measure, should it be approved by voters, will only affect who can take the oath of office in January of 2027, Hoffman told Capitol Media Services. In the event that the person was so recently a paid lobbyist ... they would be ineligible to hold public office. Yet Hoffman called it laughable that he was advancing the proposal in a way to convince Republicans to nominate Biggs, who is not a lobbyist and therefore would be unaffected even if voters approve the ballot measure. There is no need to target her given my confidence that her primary opponent will be elected as our states next governor, Hoffman said, predicting Biggs will win not only the GOP primary but will defeat incumbent Democrat Katie Hobbs, who already has made it clear she wants another term. There is no guarantee Hoffmans proposal will make it through the Legislature, given there are many Republicans who already announced their support for Robson. And even if it does make it onto the ballot, voter approval is not guaranteed. But despite his disavowals that HCR 2037 is all about Robson, Hoffman also left no doubt that he is using the measure to try to undermine voter support for her. A public conversation is warranted about what traps and entanglements might be present with a candidate for governor so closely aligned with, not to mention financially tied to, the largest monopoly utility in the state, he said. And it really is about Hoffman generating that conversation. Legally speaking, there is no way for Biggs to benefit if the measure is approved: If Robson wins the GOP primary, defeats Hobbs but is unable to be sworn in, Biggs would not become governor. So who would? In 2022, Arizona voters agreed to create the position of lieutenant governor, beginning with the 2026 race. Under that system, the nominees of each party after the primary will select a running mate, with the two of them running as a ticket. That is similar to what happens in presidential races where the nominee selects a running mate. Hoffman said he reads the constitutional provision as meaning if the successful gubernatorial candidate cant take office, the post goes to the lieutenant governor. Robson, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022 she lost the GOP primary to Kari Lake, who in turn lost to Hobbs got an early boost last December when Donald Trump, speaking at an event in Phoenix, called her out in front of the crowd. Are you running for governor? Trump asked. I think so Karrin, because if you do, youre going to have my support, OK? Biggs, a former state Senate president and now a congressional representative, became the first to officially enter the race a month later. Robson followed in February, complete with an announcement touting the endorsement in which she mentioned Trumps name 12 times. It remains unclear, however, whether Robson will be able to make an exclusive claim to Trumps backing, particularly as Biggs has been a vocal supporter of the presidents agenda. More to the point, Trump has shown his endorsements are not unique. In the 2024 GOP primary for Arizonas Congressional District 8, Trump had endorsed Abe Hamadeh but later also gave his political blessing to rival Blake Masters. Trump declared in a social media post there were two spectacular American First Candidates in the race. Theres also the possibility of a three-way race for the GOP nomination for governor. Six part 2025 UK drama Virdee, with a score co-composed by Hans Zimmer, premieres tonight on SBS. Based on the best-selling Harry Virdee books by A.A. Dhand and set and filmed in the city of Bradford, UK, Virdee follows Harry Virdee, a cop disowned by his Sikh family for marrying Saima, who is Muslim. Harry struggles with the abandonment and now with his young son, Aaron, growing up and asking questions, thinks it might be time to attempt to reunite with his family. With his personal life in chaos, he must now hunt down a serial killer targeting the South Asian community. When the murderer kidnaps a local police chiefs son and holds the entire city to ransom, Harry realises that he is going to need the help of his brother-in-law Riaz, a drugs kingpin who runs the largest cartel in the county. Pulled together in an alliance that could ruin them both, Harry must make a choice: save himself and his family or save his city. He will not be able to do both. Staz Nair (Rebel Moon, Game of Thrones) leads the cast as Detective Harry Virdee with Aysha Kala (Criminal Record, Indian Summers) as Saima Virdee, Harrys wife. Nina Singh (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry) plays Tara Virdee, Harrys niece and a keen crime reporter, with Vikash Bhai (Crossfire, Limbo) as Harrys brother-in-law Riaz Hyatt. Multi-award-winner Hans Zimmer composed the Virdee title theme with James Everingham and Shashwat Sachdev from Bleeding Fingers. Episode One: Disowned by his family. Married to a woman they forbid. Detective Harry Virdee throws himself into the search for a missing teen and is tempted to cross a dangerous line. 9:35pm Thursday March 27 on SBS. Mondays Four Corners story, Crooked, reported by Janine Cohen, speaks to former NSW Crime Commission assistant director Mark Standen, who claims he is innocent of previous convictions. A decade-long investigation has uncovered explosive new evidence suggesting that corrupt former NSW Crime Commission assistant director Mark Standens criminality was far more extensive than the public was led to believe. While Standen was jailed for a single drug importation, he is the most senior crime fighter in the country ever to be convicted for such an offence. And now sources and official documents indicate he protected criminals, sabotaged investigations, and is believed to have helped facilitate multiple imports of illegal drugs. Investigative reporter Janine Cohen has been following Standens case for 14 years, uncovering new details that challenge the official narrative. Now, in his first ever on-camera interview, Standen insists he is innocent but law enforcement colleagues and others who knew him tell a different story. As calls grow for a deeper inquiry, Four Corners exposes the full extent of a betrayal that shook Australias justice system. Monday 31 March at 8.30pm on ABC If The Golden Girls was infinitely popular with gay men -and it was- is it time we got our own version? Voila! Meet Mid-Century Modern, a traditional, multi-camera sitcom about a non-traditional family, living it up in Palm Springs, California. Creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan had a smashing long run with Will & Grace with all but 1 directed by legendary James Burrows. Now they reunite for a new project produced by Ryan Murphy, starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham and Linda Lavin. The premise is dazzlingly simple: when retired Bunny (Nathan Lane), friends Arthur (Nathan Lee Graham) and Jerry (Matt Bomer) lose the 4th member of their close-knit circle, all three end up living together in a swank Dinah Shore extravaganza where Bunny lives with his derisive Jewish mother Sybil (Linda Lavin). Heck, even Nathan Lee Graham is named Arthur, which strikes me as a nod to a certain Bea Its impossible to ignore that this presents as a tried-but-true (Im being generous) multi-cam sitcom where every third line is a pithy punchline, peppered with a laugh track. You know the type, The Big Bang Theory, Frasier, Friends, umm Will & Grace. Mutchnick and Kohan can write this stuff in their sleep and still make us laugh. When you have talent such as Nathan Lane simply dripping in comic timing, how can you go wrong? The LGBTQIA+ punchlines come thick and fast. There are endless gags and double entendres about relationships, hot men, top / bottoms, measurements, dating apps, cross-dressing, Sugar Daddies, toyboys, with the required lashings of squeals and hands in the air. Theres the sitcom staple of a deep and meaningful moment shortly before the final scene, together with ensuring that everybody ends up back where they began, ready to do it all over again. It works for a reason, right? Led by Nathan Lane, who proves truly irresistible with his flaming commitment, this cast zips along at a cracking pace. Nathan Lee Graham, aka the bitchy one, is positively theatrical in his performance, while the hunky Matt Bomer appears caught in their jetstream, as an ex-Mormon flight attendant unable to resist the campiness and merriment. Then there is Linda Lavin, the cynical, in-house matriarch, forced to endure the trios escapades, which vary from buying tickets to a Donny Osmond retro-concert to estrangement. Would that make her this shows Estelle Getty perhaps? For this dysfunctional -and chosen- family to work there must be unconditional love. Accepting your close friend for all their insecurities, bad wardrobe and disgusting search history, which is something this troupe demonstrate from the get-go. Yet there will be those who find it dated, old-school, over-the-top. I have a foot in each kamp. I adored the brillance of shows like Frasier and Will & Grace, but in 2025 Im finding them nostalgic gems. Punchlines about desperately wanting to bed the latest hunk dont do much to dispel stereotypes. Yet you have to marvel at the panache of Nathan Lane, who is like a masterclass at comic timing. Such is the power of Mutchnick / Kohan / Burrows that the show has guest stars including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Judd Hirsch, Rhea Perlman, Pamela Adlon and more. One final word from the creators: Between the fires in Los Angeles and the devastating loss of our beloved Linda Lavin, this was the most challenging production any of us have ever experienced. It was also the most rewarding. The challenges didnt divide this extraordinary cast and crew, it galvanized us. As Linda always said, from shit comes flowers. Mid-Century Modern screens Friday March 28 on Disney+ Paul Murray Live is heading to Queensland for two shows this Sunday and Monday on SKY News. Following this weeks announcement that Toowoomba will host the Equestrian events at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, in this special episode Paul will be joined by Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald and Liberal National Party MP Garth Hamilton who will discuss the best of the region, plus a special appearance by V8 Supercars champion and homegrown hero Will Brown. Now in its seventh year, Paul Murray Live: Our Town broadcasts from locations across the country, hearing from residents about the issues and challenges facing the nations heartland while also celebrating what regional Australia has to offer. On Monday at 9:00pm the Paul Murray Live: Peter Dutton Pub Test will be live from Brisbane. Paul Murray sits down with the man who wants to be our next Prime Minister, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, in his electorate of Dickson as he prepares for the upcoming Federal Election. During the live Pub Test, Mr Dutton will answer questions directly from the audience with nothing off limits. Sky News will broadcast a series of Paul Murray Live: Pub Tests ahead of the Federal Election. The first Pub Test was held with candidates in the must-win marginal seat of Gilmore, NSW last month. Sunday 30 March at 9:00pm Paul Murray Live: Our Town Toowoomba Monday 31 March at 9:00pm Paul Murray Live: Peter Dutton Pub Test Upcoming ABC kids animation Tales from Outer Suburbia has been selected to screen at the Annecy Animated Film Festival in France. Episode 3 Distant Rain will screen from 8 14 June, the first time any of the series will be seen publicly. Established in 1960, the Annecy International Animated Film Festival is one of the worlds leading international animation events. For the 2025 event, the festival received more than 3,900 films from a hundred countries. Currently in production, the 10 x 22 minute series is an adaptation of Shaun Tans bestselling illustrated anthology is a Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions production, directed by Noel Cleary with cutting-edge CGI animation and a handcrafted stop-motion look and feel. It has investment from the Australian Childrens Television Foundation and Screen Australia. The story begins when almost thirteen-year-old Klara and her six-year-old brother Pim move to Outer Suburbia with their newly single mother Lucy. The siblings summer holiday turns into a series of unexpected and surreal adventures. The family goes on a rollercoaster ride of emotion, encountering weird and miraculous phenomena as they adapt to their new reality. Creative Director Shaun Tan said: Its a great honour to see Tales from Outer Suburbia participate in the Annecy Festival. This series is a heartfelt reflection on suburban family life, and a labour of love for its inspired creative team. Its been wonderful to see our shared memories of childhood and family transmuted into beautiful animation, a visual language both otherworldly and universal, where hidden feelings reveal themselves as the most unlikely situations and characters. We hope that both young and old audiences find something thrilling and thought-provoking within our strange little Australian world of cat-girls, deep sea divers, sky fish, unexpected houseguests and secret rooms. Are these not things weve all experienced at one time or another? Producers Alexia Gates-Foale and Sophie Byrne said: We are incredibly proud to see Tales from Outer Suburbia featured at Annecy International Animation Festival. This project is a true reflection of Highly Spirited and Flying Barks creator-led ethos and it was a joy to expand on Shaun Tans visionary Outer Suburban world, under the direction of Noel Cleary and supported by our incredible stakeholders. The series tells a uniquely Australian story of two siblings navigating their new life, where nothing is quite as it seems, while exploring themes that resonate universally. Our team has poured their hearts into crafting a visually stunning, emotionally rich series, and we are honoured to share the beauty of Australian animation on this global stage. Tales from Outer Suburbia will air on the ABC in Australia and BYU in the USA. Tales from Outer Suburbia is a Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions production for the ABC and BYUtv. Major production investment from Screen Australia and the Australian Childrens Television Foundation in association with ABC. Produced in New South Wales and Western Australia with Siamese and financed with support from Screenwest. International sales by the Australian Childrens Television Foundation. Adapted from Shaun Tans multi-award-winning book Tales from Outer Suburbia. Directed by Noel Cleary. Creative Director: Shaun Tan. Producers: Sophie Byrne and Alexia Gates-Foale. Sumit Singh, Syed Abubakr/TwoCircles.net Patna: Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav described the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 as an assault on Indias constitutional values and religious freedoms. His strong condemnation of the proposed legislation set the stage for a massive protest in Patnas Gardanibagh area, where thousands gathered on March 26 to voice their opposition to the controversial Bill. Support TwoCircles Organised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the protest came on the heels of a similar demonstration at Delhis Jantar Mantar on March 17. This law (read bill) is a mockery of our constitutional values. It violates religious freedom and betrays the promises made at the time of independence. Our fight is for social unity and justice. When the rights of a community are under threat, the very concept of justice comes under threat. Today Waqf is the target, tomorrow it could be any temple trusts, gurudwaras, churches or tribal lands, said the Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and veteran socialist leader. Bihars Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav too joined the demonstration after chaos erupted in the Bihar Assembly over the Waqf Bill, resulting in a swift adjournment. Lalu Yadavs words resonated deeply with the crowd as he reaffirmed his commitment to fighting the bill, emphasising the alleged threat it posed to Indias secular identity. Tejashwi also expressed strong opposition. Despite being ill, our leader Lalu ji is here to support you. We do not care about being in power. We will strongly oppose this non-constitutional bill. AIMPLB spokesperson SQR Ilyas said the protest was the first in a series of nationwide demonstrations, aiming to highlight the bills perceived discrimination against Muslims. Invitations had been extended to political leaders from across the state, including Bihars Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, Kumars silence on the issue has fuelled Oppositions anger, especially as the ruling JD(U) continues to back the proposed legislation. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Arshad Madani joined the criticism, accusing leaders like Nitish Kumar of betraying secular values for the sake of political expediency. Leaders like Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu and Chirag Paswan call themselves secular. These people are silent on the injustice being committed against Muslims for the sake of power, he said. The protest carried significant political weight, with Bihar Assembly elections just around the corner. Opposition parties are intensifying their attacks on the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and its handling of the bill. Prashant Kishor, founder of the Jan Suraaj Party, also participated in the protest, though he refrained from speaking, strategically aligning himself with Muslim voters ahead of the elections. Among the notable figures at the protest was Lok Sabha MP Chandrashekhar Azad, who sharply criticised the government for what he saw as hollow gestures towards Muslims. The Modi government is offering Eid kits to Muslims, but it is like offering spectacles after taking ones eyes away, he stated. Other leaders like E T Mohammad Basheer, Mehboob Alam and Akhtarul Iman also joined in, expressing their concerns about the bills impact on religious institutions and the Muslim community. Syed Ahmad Wali Faisal Rahmani of Imarat-e-Shariah warned that the bill would undermine Muslim-run educational and healthcare institutions. He urged the government to reconsider. The Modi government should consider how many educational institutions and healthcare institutes will be destroyed due to this Bill. I hope that those in the government will protect these institutions from being ruined, he added. Mufti Anisur Rahman Qasmi, vice president of the All India Milli Council, added that Muslim organisations had submitted their concerns to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and called for these opinions to be given due respect. Despite the charged atmosphere, heartwarming visuals emerged from the protest as several Muslim demonstrators sought shelter in a nearby temple, highlighting the peaceful nature of the demonstration. LJP (Ram Vilas) MP Arun Bharti, a member of the JPC, dismissed the protesters, accusing them of playing politics. The JPC has scanned over 96 lakh emails and allowed everyone to present their views. Those who are now raising objections are merely playing politics, he claimed. BJP MLA Hari Bhushan Thakur claimed that the bill attacked the Waqf Boards extra constitutional character. He took a swipe at the RJD, suggesting that the party should start worrying about the fate of Yadavs. He claimed that RJDs ally Congress has refused to accept Tejashwi as chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming state polls. The Waqf Bill, introduced in Parliament in August 2024, proposes over 40 amendments aimed at reducing the autonomy of Waqf boards, allowing non-Muslims to become members and restricting property donations. After widespread protests, the bill was referred to the JPC, where 14 amendments were approved by the government while rejecting 44 proposed by the Opposition. Tensions escalated further on March 23 when several major Muslim organisations, including the AIMPLB and the Imarat-e-Shariah, boycotted an iftar gathering hosted by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in protest of his support for the bill. As Bihars elections draw nearer, the fate of the Waqf Bill in Parliament could have significant political repercussions. With Muslims comprising roughly 17.7% of Bihars population, their support will be a decisive factor in the outcome of the polls. The key question now is whether Nitish Kumar will align with his Muslim electorate or continue his support for the controversial bill. At first glance, its all about the livestock. But for those involved, the animals are just part of the story. The real focus is on raising responsible, hardworking young people. Our livestock shows are very important, and most people think its the livestock that makes it that way, that the livestock are the project, but really, our youth are the project, said Skyler Shively, Smith County Junior Livestock Show board member. More than 300 exhibitors are taking part in the 49th annual Smith County Junior Livestock Show, which opened Wednesday and continues through Friday at the Cross Brand Cowboy Church arena. Students are showing animals and competing in home economics, photography and public speaking contests, and are being interviewed for scholarships. The show has grown significantly. In the last four years, the numbers have nearly doubled, Shively said. The event was presented by Peltier Chevrolet, Credit Union of Texas, Wayne Sanderson Farms, and Aaxion Inc. Three generations of 16-year-old Shiloh Smiths family have shared a strong connection to agriculture. My great-great-grandpa, he homesteaded, Smith said. Her brother and sister also showed livestock during their high school years, sparking her own interest in the tradition. Agriculture is, of course, a big aspect in everything that we do, and agriculture touches everything that were involved in, Smith said. Thats kind of what really introduced me into getting involved within the industry, basically the community that is all surrounding everyone. As a livestock ambassador for Texas 4-H, Smith has the opportunity to travel across the state, advocating for livestock and agriculture. She speaks to both youth and adults about the importance of the industry and educates them on where their food comes from. Smith said 57.7% of people dont fully understand the labels on their food. She speaks at HEB grocery stores in San Antonio and College Station, talking to shoppers about paying attention to the words on the labels and what they really mean. She also teaches them about where their food comes from and encourages them to be smarter, more informed consumers. In addition, Smith is involved in the Norman Borlaug Youth in Agriculture Program, where she works with others to develop solutions to critical agricultural issues, such as food insecurity, water scarcity and farmland fragmentation. Thursday, she was also showing her lamb, continuing her hands-on involvement in the field. Its almost like our sport, Smith said. Most athletes, they know that adrenaline pumping, that feeling, those butterflies in your stomach, and thats kind of what we feel leading up to the show, especially within that show ring, you get a few seconds, thats all you get. In that short time frame, exhibitors have to show everything theyve worked on with the animal. Every second counts, and those minutes are very important. Its stressful, but in the end, its a lot of fun. Junior Cobey Sawyer, a member of Chapel Hill High School FFA, grew up in a family with jobs in auto mechanics and the oil field. Even though his family didnt have much to do with agriculture, he always loved it because he grew up surrounded by ranches. I always told my dad I was always gonna get into the FFA and [agriculture] world, Sawyer said. Getting into agriculture has taught him a lot. Its a whole new world with new opportunities, and every day he learns something new, he said. He is involved in many activities, including being part of the Livestock Judging Team, which has helped him when showing animals, as it allows him to pick the best one by evaluating its structure before making a purchase. Hes showing pigs and chickens at the Smith County Junior Livestock Show. He explained it takes a lot of hard work, patience and dedication, something he has learned from great mentors. Through this experience, he has learned how to care for animals and improve their meat quality. Smith said the animals get the highest quality of care, saying they are treated like the Kardashians of the livestock world. They receive special attention and are well taken care of. Showing livestock also means providing them with a longer, healthier life. The animals have owners who care for them, feed them daily and form strong bonds with them. Though its hard to say goodbye to these animals, everyone understands the importance of their role in providing food for people, and that responsibility makes it easier to part with them. These types of programs teach kids a strong work ethic, including early mornings and late nights, and how to adapt to situations quickly, do interviews and talk to people from different backgrounds. Smith said it isnt just about animals; it teaches important life skills beyond the show ring. Ag kids are patient and willing to work hard to get results, Sawyer said. He believes agriculture is the most patient and hardworking field because its about growing food or raising animals to feed people. People outside of agriculture dont always understand this and want quick results. FFA teaches that quick results arent always the best; the long process and the final goal are what lead to the best outcomes, as shown in the animals they raise. Through their livestock projects, like showing poultry, swine, sheep, goats and cattle, as well as horticulture and home economics projects, kids are learning important skills like integrity and teamwork. This is a great opportunity for them to showcase all their hard work, Shively said. The end goal of the livestock competition is the sale of champions, an auction event where top animals are sold to buyers, but the main focus is on supporting the youth. Only the top 50% of participants in each category are eligible for the sale. Thanks to the generosity of the community, last years sale of champions raised around $250,000, all of which was reinvested back into the youth, helping them continue their journey in agriculture and beyond. Shively said that in more urban areas like the metroplex, youth engagement can drop, but here, they are fortunate to have kids who still understand the importance of agriculture and where their food comes from. In East Texas, livestock shows certainly hit close to home, Shively said. We have such a rich [agricultural] history and such strong roots in agriculture, livestock shows are exceptionally large, and we love to see that we get great community support because of that. The Smith County Junior Livestock Show runs through Friday, with the Sale of Champions happening at 1 p.m. that afternoon. Twenty-two East Texas law enforcement officers took training Tuesday and Wednesday in Hallsville to respond to active-shooter situations. Officers from the Tyler, Longview and Hallsville police departments joined deputies from sheriffs offices in Smith, Gregg and Upshur counties and officers from additional agencies for training created by the ALERRT Center at Texas State University. The Longview Police Department coordinated the training as part of its partnership with ALERRT and local law enforcement agencies. Officers used a defunct Hallsville ISD school building as their training ground. We want to provide every law enforcement agency in East Texas with the exact same training that were receiving and to give them the opportunity to receive the training, said Longview police spokesman LaDarian Brown. A lot of times, you have to travel out to get this stuff. Now, were hosting it right here in East Texas. Hallsville ISD allows the department to use an abandoned campus on Willow Street for training, giving officers the chance to practice in a realistic facility. Law enforcement agencies across the nation have increased training for active-shooter scenarios in the wake of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. In Texas, law enforcement agencies ramped up training following the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Having local agencies take the same training means officers will be able to work together better if such a situation arises, Brown said. The law enforcement agencies in East Texas are training, he said. We are preparing. Were not waiting for something to happen. We want to be ready. The ALERRT Center, which stands for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, was created in 2002. In 2013, FBI officials named the program as the national standard through which agents are trained to respond to critical incidents. In Texas, law enforcement officers are required to take at least 16 hours of ALERRT training every two years, a requirement that was implemented in 2023 as one of several changes that took place following the Uvalde shooting. Officers in Wednesdays training practiced how to neutralize an active shooter, communicate with each other, evacuate wounded victims and more. Longview police Sgt. Drew Allison, one of five trainers who guided officers through Wednesdays training, said the number of classes available for law enforcement has increased significantly in the past few years. He said he hopes the training will better equip East Texas first responders. Theyre going to get in there and save lives where they need to, Allison said. WASHINGTON Trump administration officials continued to defend themselves Wednesday against claims that they mishandled classified information following the public release of a Signal group chat used to plan military strikes in Yemen. Speaking at a House Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called the incident, in which a journalist was accidentally added to the chat, a mistake. 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 strike, Gabbard said. National security adviser [Mike Waltz] has taken full responsibility for this, and the National Security Council is conducting an in-depth review, along with technical experts, working to determine how this reporter was inadvertently added to this chat. However, Gabbard and other officials insisted that no classified information was shared. A report published Wednesday in The Atlantic revealed details of the chat, including attack plans that included specifics on timing and types of military assets used, following the outlets bombshell report Monday that Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg had been privy to a highly sensitive discussion among senior Trump administration officials. I used an appropriate channel to communicate sensitive information. It was permissible to do so, said CIA Director John Ratcliffe. I didnt transfer any classified information. And at the end of the day, what is most important is that the mission was a remarkable success. Gabbard added that government officials have been encouraged to use encrypted apps like Signal for communication when in-person meetings are not possible, and said Signal is pre-installed on government devices. She pointed to December guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency directing highly targeted individuals to use only end-to-end encrypted communications. At times, fast-moving coordination of an unclassified nature is necessary where in-person, conversation is not an option, she said. However, a separate 2023 Defense Department memo warned against the use of unmanaged messaging apps, such as Signal, to transmit nonpublic information. Democrats on the committee railed against the officials involved in the incident, who include Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 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 Connecticut Democrat Jim Himes, ranking member of the panel. I think that its by the awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now. Republicans on the committee largely sidestepped the issue, instead focusing their questions on other topics. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., asked a series of friendly questions that allowed Gabbard to confirm that no targets, locations, routes, methods, or unit names were discussed in the chat. Wouldnt an operational plan contain that type of information? he asked. Every operational plan Ive ever seen has contained that information, Gabbard responded. Hegseth and Waltz both took a similar stance on Wednesday, suggesting the information discussed in the group chat was too vague to qualify as war plans that should be classified. 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, Hegseth wrote on the social platform X Wednesday. Those are some really (expletive) war plans. But Democrats vociferously pushed back against that idea, with more than one lawmaker displaying printed-out versions of the leaked Signal chat. The idea that this information, if it was presented to our committee, would not be classified, we all know, is a lie, said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas. 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. The Atlantic had withheld some details when it disclosed Monday that Goldberg was added to the text group. Goldberg recounted how he watched in real time as top officials including Vance and Hegseth debated the strike, which went ahead exactly as theyd detailed. 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. On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Karoline 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. Goldberg, in an interview with MSNBC, said Leavitt was playing a weird semantic game. 1. Background As a federally owned enterprise, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. On behalf of the German Government, GIZ provides advisory services to the Vietnamese Government in four priority areas: (1) Vocational training, (2) Environmental, (3) Energy, and (4) Sustainable Economic Development. For further information, please visit www.giz.de/viet-nam. Acceleration of Air Conditioning Transformation through Enhanced Energy Performance Standard (ACT MEPS) is a regional project which is funded by a sustainable cooperation and cooling progamme (Clean Cooling Collaborative), an initiative of the ClimateWorks Foundation, a non-profit organization, focuses geographically on Vietnam and the Philippines. The scope for Vietnam portion includes the revision of TCVN 7830:2021 to assess and increase the MEPS and energy efficiency levels of the Room Air conditioning (RAC). In this line, the ACT MEPS project plans to conduct the market assessment for revising the national technical standard for room air conditionings in Vietnam. The GIZ Office Hanoi as the contracting party, on behalf of the ACT-MEPS project, is conducting a local negotiated tender to look for qualified Local Consulting Firm (LCF) to implement the assignment. Tentative duration: from 15 June 2025 until 30 January 2026 Place of assignment: in Vietnam Estimate working days: up to 200 working days for an expert team of 3 members 2. Requirements for the LCF a. Commercial register entry b. Average annual turnover for the last three financial years At least: 80.000 EUR c. Average number of employees and managers for the past three calendar years At least: 5 persons d. Technical experience assessment is based on reference projects that were conducted by LCF with a minimum value of 15.000 EUR to satisfy the folowing: at least 1 reference project in the technical field about market assessment in cooling sector; at least 1 reference project cooling sector in Viet Nam in the last 5 years (period March 2020-March 2025); at least 10 years of working experience in the energy, environment or cooling sector; and having experience of 1 development project (at least 50% ODA-financed). 3. Requirements for eligibility documents Interested LCFs are requested to prepare the following documents in English: a. Letter of interest (with Directors or authorised persons signature and company stamp). b. Audited financial reports of the last 03 years. Important/key information in the audited financial reports or in annual tax reports must be translated into English if documents are in Vietnamese. c. LCF profile and technical experience, incl. Business license (for firm) or Decision of establishment (for association); Tax code registration; organisational chart; consortium agreement and nomination of consortium leading firm (if at least 02 entities join the assignment); similar experience/copy of contracts related to this assignment. 4. Method of bid submission LCFs send Eligibility dossiers to VN_PoS_Quotation@giz.de before 5 PM (Hanoi time) on 24.04.2025 with email subject: Tender 83485453-Eligibility dossier-Company name. For data protection and information security reason: In case the total volume of your bids is below 10 MB, you can attach them directly in the email sent to us. In case the total volume of your bids is above 10 MB, the files must be sent via GIZ filetransfer system. We will provide guidance for using our filetransfer. Links stated in documents and files sent via other applications/systems are not accepted. Bids sent after the submission deadline and bids sent to wrong email address will be disqualified. 5. Notes a. Request of tender documents to be sent to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de before 10.04.2025. b. Eligibility assessment related questions to be sent to Question-from-bidder-PoS-VN@giz.de before 17.04.2025. c. Only selected bidders will be invited to present technical and financial offers. d. For the exchange rate at the corresponding time, please go to https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/procedures-guidelines-tenders/information-contractors-and-beneficiaries/exchange-rate-inforeuro_en GIZ is obliged to ensure the confidentiality of all submitted documents by bidders. HCM CITY Viet Nam is aggressively promoting growth, enhancing competitiveness, and fostering innovation, with major current and upcoming breakthrough policies poised to redefine the nation's approach to economic development, experts said at a seminar held in HCM City on March 25. The seminar Viet Nams Economic Outlook 2025 and Key Business Policies to Watch, organised by the Business Association of High Quality Vietnamese Products, discussed the direction and implications of economic reforms. au Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Legal Department of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said the Governments Resolution No. 25 assigns specific growth targets to local authorities, placing substantial pressure on them. The country aims for an 8 per cent growth rate and double-digit figures in the coming years. While this represents a considerable challenge, it also offers an opportunity for the country to achieve a strong breakthrough, he said. Meanwhile, major policy initiatives, such as Resolutions Nos. 57 and 193 and an upcoming resolution on the private sector, reflect a growing focus on science, technology, and private enterprises. The country's total import-export turnover has reached nearly US$800 billion and is expected to surpass US$1 trillion, highlighting the countrys heavy reliance on global trade. Additionally, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the country have been highly positive over the past year. In an open economy like Viet Nam, even a significant change in the international market can heavily impact the domestic economy. Therefore, businesses must be more proactive in managing risks and seizing opportunities presented by free trade agreements (FTAs), while improving adaptability and risk management capabilities, Tuan said. Moreover, as Viet Nam deepens its global integration, improving product standards, building brand credibility, and ensuring transparency across supply chains are no longer optional; they are essential requirements for Vietnamese enterprises. This means that businesses should not only aim to satisfy domestic market demands but must also meet the strict standards of international markets, covering product quality, social responsibility, and sustainable development. oan inh Manh Toan, CEO of ASIF Foundation, highlighted research findings showing that consumers increasingly prefer to buy from companies that demonstrate strong social responsibility. This makes corporate social responsibility (CSR) a powerful tool to enhance brand reputation and long-term competitiveness, he said. At the same time, more investors are considering a companys ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy as a key factor in investment decisions, with many willing to divest from firms that fail to meet ESG standards. Therefore, he said that businesses need to actively create sustainable social value by building business models that balance profitability with social goals that align well with emerging policies. In parallel, fostering ecosystems for collaboration and shared value among governments, non-profit organisations, and businesses is an effective strategy for shaping ESG-focused plans. Vu Kim Hanh, chairwoman of the Business Association of High-Quality Vietnamese Products, said that for nearly thirty years, the "High-Quality Vietnamese Goods" programme has remained committed to the two core principles embedded in its name: Consumers and High Quality. It has been a long journey in which consumer trust in Vietnamese goods, combined with the persistent efforts of the association, has driven businesses to continuously improve product quality, contributing meaningfully to the country's economic development. Beyond building a supportive business ecosystem, the association has also actively promoted green transition initiatives, making it a central focus in recent years, she said. Through these efforts, the association continues to accompany enterprises on their path to sustainable development, aligning social responsibility with long-term competitiveness. VNS HCM CITY The 2025 Vietnamese High-Quality Goods awards were conferred on 562 firms operating in various sectors at a ceremony in HCM City on March 25. The Business Association of High Quality Vietnamese Products selected the firms from a list of 694 nominees based on offline interviews with customers and retailers in major cities like Ha Noi, a Nang and HCM City and online interviews with customers across the country. The nominees were then screened by authorities and their respective industries and checked for transparency of information and compliance with laws before being chosen for the prestigious award. HCM City remained on top with 257 of its firms receiving the award, and Ha Noi followed with 66. Localities in the ABCD (An Giang-Ben Tre-Can Tho-ong Thap) Mekong regional network also had a notable presence: There were 17 firms from An Giang Province, 12 from Can Tho city, 11 from ong Thap Province, and eight from Ben Tre Province. Notably, 32 companies have claimed the award for 29 straight year,s while there were 41 first-time winners. Nguyen Phuc Khoa, chairman of Vissan, the country's leading food producer and one of the few companies to be honoured for a 29th time, said the Vietnamese high-quality goods logo on Vissans products adds value and credibility to them, making it easier to reach more consumers. "However, it [the trust and votes from consumers] also places a responsibility on us to continuously improve product quality and maintain consumer trust." Deputy Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee, Nguyen Thi Le, said this annual event is a testament to the spirit of innovation and integration in the Vietnamese business community, especially the private sector. The association has successfully built a vibrant community and ecosystem of enterprises eager to contribute to innovation and sustainable development. As the countrys economic hub, HCM Citys leadership remains committed to supporting, listening to and creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses, including high-quality goods producers. Vu Kim Hanh, chairwoman of the association, said this years action programme focuses on understanding consumer and market trends to better equip businesses, contribute to business policy advocacy, and support the development of sustainable, multi-channel distribution systems. She added that the association is actively promoting the application of artificial intelligence in management, marketing and sales, and supporting enterprises in green transition and sustainable charitable activities. VNS HA NOI During a meeting of the full-time National Assembly (NA) deputies held in Ha Noi on March 26, several delegates proposed a corporate income tax rate of 10 per cent for all press agencies, including print and electronic newspapers. The proposal aims to establish fairness among various forms of the press, align with the ongoing digital transformation, and bolster the sustainable development of the media industry, ensuring that newsrooms have more resources to invest in content and technology. NA delegate Thach Phuoc Binh, from Tra Vinh Province, pointed out that online media is increasingly becoming the primary source of news, while traditional print newspapers are witnessing a decline in readership. In fact, he said, many printed newspapers have either reduced their operations or ceased publication altogether to focus on digital platforms. Despite these shifts, the tax policy has not kept pace with the evolving media landscape. At present, printed newspapers benefit from a preferential 10 per cent corporate income tax rate, while electronic newspapers are taxed at a higher rate of 20 per cent. Meanwhile, both forms of media serve the same public service purposes, such as disseminating official information, shaping public opinion, and fulfilling communication tasks for the Party and the State. The different tax rates have led to a financial imbalance, particularly in the context of digital transformation, where many online newspapers are struggling with a decrease in advertising revenue. The current tax policy has been particularly challenging for electronic news outlets that rely on advertising, content fees and digital services as primary sources of income. Therefore, the delegates argued that applying a 10-per-cent tax rate for all types of press agencies would help level the playing field, provide financial relief and enable newsrooms to maintain operations and improve the quality of their content. By offering the same tax rate to both print and electronic press, this proposal aligns with the digital transformation trend and encourages the sustainable growth of the media sector. It would also help local press agencies compete more effectively with global platforms. Delegate Binh emphasised that adopting a uniform 10 per cent tax rate would improve the competitiveness of domestic press outlets, which are currently at a disadvantage when competing with large, cross-border platforms. The proposal aims to support the press industry in overcoming financial difficulties, while ensuring it can continue to provide accurate and trustworthy information to the public. Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan said that, in light of the ongoing restructuring of the press industry, the proposal of applying a unified tax rate to all press agencies is timely and appropriate. He confirmed that the drafting agency would work closely with the Economic and Financial Committee to review and implement this proposal in the upcoming National Assembly session. At the same meeting, the Economic and Financial Committee noted that the current tax incentives for corporate income tax do not sufficiently encourage businesses to invest in research and development (R&D). As a result, there is a growing need for more robust tax incentives, particularly in the form of additional deductions for R&D expenses, a strategy already successfully implemented by many countries to foster technological innovation and growth. The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with other relevant bodies, plans to revise the draft law to incorporate provisions that allow businesses to deduct additional expenses related to R&D activities. Furthermore, the Government will be tasked with specifying the scope and conditions under which these deductions can be applied, thus encouraging technological advancement and innovation. In addition to these revisions, the draft law will also address tax obligations for foreign organisations earning income from e-commerce and digital platforms. This includes both foreign enterprises with and without permanent establishments in Viet Nam. The new provisions ensure that the tax treatment of income generated by foreign businesses operating in Viet Nam, through digital platforms, will align with existing tax regulations for local businesses. This adjustment aims to ensure consistency and fairness in the taxation system. The Ministry of Finance will continue to study and refine the corporate income tax regulations, with a focus on fostering technological development, digital transformation, contributing to the implementation of the National Party's Resolution No 57-NQ/TW on scientific and technological breakthroughs. VNS QUANG NINH Vietnamese automaker Thanh Cong Group officially inaugurated its Thanh Cong Viet Hung automobile manufacturing plant on March 26 at Viet Hung Industrial Park in Ha Long city in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The event was attended by Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh and Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son. This is the first automobile manufacturing plant in Quang Ninh, a major milestone for both the province and Viet Nams automotive industry. Following the inauguration, the plant will commence operations, focusing on the production and assembly of commercial vehicles under the Skoda brand - one of the oldest automobile manufacturers from the Czech Republic. The Thanh Cong Viet Hung plant is the centrepiece of the Thanh Cong Viet Hung Automotive and Supporting Industries Complex, an advanced industrial hub designed to become one of Viet Nams leading automotive production centres. Covering 36.5 hectares, the plant boasts a designed capacity of 120,000 vehicles per year. The plant features state-of-the-art production workshops, including welding, painting, and assembly lines, all equipped with high levels of automation and cutting-edge global automotive technologies. Its intelligent data management system ensures efficiency and strict quality control, aligning with international standards. Its construction began in early 2023 and by late 2024, trial operations had commenced. After 25 months of development, the plant is fully completed and ready for production. To ensure smooth operations, Thanh Cong has also invested in logistics infrastructure, a wastewater treatment facility, and a 1.5 km-long test track designed to simulate various real-world driving conditions. The first model, Skoda Kushaq, is set to hit the domestic market in the second quarter of 2025. The plant is expected to create thousands of jobs, boost Quang Ninhs economy and position Viet Nams automotive industry as a stronger player in the global supply chain. At the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien reaffirmed the Governments commitment to advancing key industries like automotive manufacturing as part of Viet Nams long-term industrialisation strategy. He highlighted ongoing efforts to attract investment in large-scale, high-tech automotive projects and to foster stronger ties between domestic and international manufacturers. Dien expressed his confidence that Thanh Congs new plant, built according to international standards, would drive the industry forward, generate employment and enhance Viet Nams manufacturing competitiveness. He also reiterated the ministrys support in helping automotive businesses expand production and integrate into global supply chains. Chairman of the Quang Ninh provincial People's Committee Pham uc An underscored the projects significance, calling it a prime example of successful collaboration between Viet Nams private sector and global industrial leaders. He noted that such partnership will help Viet Nam deepen its integration into international supply chains, boosting both local economic growth and national industrial self-sufficiency. With Quang Ninh targeting a 14 per cent economic growth rate in 2025, surpassing the national target by 2 per cent, ensuring the Thanh Cong Viet Hung plant enters full-scale production as planned will be a key factor in achieving this goal, he said. VNS HCM CITY The third Vietnam Outstanding Export Products Fair (HCM City Export 2025) opened in HCM City on March 27. It has more than 700 booths showcasing a wide range of goods and services like agricultural products, foods and seafood, handicrafts, souvenirs, regionally distinctive goods, textiles, footwear, supporting industries, and food processing, packaging, and preserving technologies. Speaking at its opening, Nguyen Van Dung, deputy chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee, said the fair aligns with the "Green - Clean - Digital", export strategy catering to global market demands. This strategy emphasises promoting green exports, digital transformation, expanding exports to major markets, and developing products with high value-added. The special feature of this year's fair is our focus on leveraging, promoting and fostering trade connections for the city's speciality brands, particularly bird's nest products," he said. We have a 'Viet Nam Bird's Nest Pavilion' at the fair as part of the 'Bird's Nest Festival 2025,' which HCM City will host in November. Besides birds-nest products, the city is also focusing on the promotion and trade expansion of other value-added products such as ginseng, medicinal herbs and premium processed foods. This is in line with our goal of driving sustainable exports of speciality products of HCM City and Viet Nam. According to the organisers, leading global e-commerce platforms like Alibaba are participating in the event, providing a crucial channel for Vietnamese products to reach international consumers directly and boost exports through e-commerce channels. The fair has attracted nearly 200 buyers from strategic markets such as South Korea, the US, Guangdong (China), Singapore, India, Thailand, and others, and they will engage directly in business matchmaking activities with Vietnamese enterprises. The organising committee is placing emphasis on connecting Vietnamese businesses with major distribution systems like Saigon Co.op, Satra, Mega Market, Lotte Vietnam, AEON, WinCommerce, GS25, Genshai Mart, Central Retail, and Farmers Market. A number of seminars and forums will be held as part of the fair, providing businesses with insights into market trends and the latest requirements set by import markets. Dung said: Notably, we have observed a strong presence of international delegations from ChinaViet Nams largest agricultural export marketand South Korea, which is also Viet Nams third-largest export market. These delegations have shown great interest in exploring and establishing trade connections with Vietnamese businesses. The fair, being held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7, will run until March 29. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung has signed a decision approving a controlled pilot programme to deploy telecommunications services using low Earth orbit satellite technology, to be carried out by the USs Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX). This pilot programme will not impose any restrictions on foreign investors regarding ownership percentages or capital contributions, according to the recently signed Decision No. 659/QD-TTg. Specifically, the programme includes a controlled pilot investment in telecommunications services involving satellite network infrastructure using low Earth orbit technology in Viet Nam. The programme will adhere to national security and defence principles, with no restrictions on foreign ownership, in line with Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15 passed by the National Assembly on February 19 regarding pilot mechanisms and policies that foster breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and the national digital transformation. The issuance of permits for the use of radio frequencies and equipment to telecom service providers using low Earth orbit satellite technology will also be piloted, replacing the previous method of granting permits for individual terminal device users as specified in Resolution No. 193/2025/QH15. The decision clarifies that the pilot phase for providing telecommunications services using low Earth orbit satellite technology will last five years, starting from the date the pilot organisation's company is established in Viet Nam and receives its business licence. This trial period must conclude by January 1, 2031. Under the decision, both the pilot organisation and the company established in Viet Nam must ensure compliance with all requirements and conditions for implementing the trial. This includes stipulations regarding the types of services offered, the scope of deployment, the maximum number of subscriptions, frequency usage and crucially, national defence and security considerations. The services to be piloted nationwide will include fixed satellite services such as internet access and leased channels for mobile station transmission, as well as mobile satellite services like internet access at sea and on aircraft. The maximum number of subscriptions permitted for the pilot phase will be 600,000, which includes the total number of subscribers for the services provided by the Viet Nam-based company and those reselling the services through local telecom providers. The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defence will be responsible for monitoring the pilot service to ensure national security and defence. A pilot programme allowing foreign-owned low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet services with up to 100 per cent foreign capital during the 2025-30 period is one of the policies introduced in Resolution 193, which was passed by the National Assembly on February 19 this year. The drafting committee of Decree 193 stated that the goal of this policy is to expand broadband internet coverage, particularly in remote, isolated and island areas where terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure remains limited, ensuring that all citizens have access to internet services. Statistics show that while Viet Nam's mobile network covers 99.8 per cent of the population, it only reaches about 58 per cent of the land area and 14.5 per cent of the national territory when including maritime zones. Additionally, 83 per cent of households have access to fibre-optic services, but 17 per cent remain without, most of which are in remote areas. LEO satellite technology is primarily developed and deployed by a small number of foreign enterprises worldwide. Therefore, allowing foreign companies to provide LEO satellite telecommunications services in Viet Nam is necessary. This initiative will enhance Viet Nam's global image and attract further investment from major technology corporations. Currently, many countries around the world have adopted and used LEO satellite telecommunications services provided by foreign enterprises. For example, as of August 2024, SpaceXs LEO satellite service had been deployed in over 110 countries and territories worldwide, with approximately four million subscribers. Within the ASEAN region, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia have permitted SpaceX to invest and operate telecommunications services with 100 per cent foreign ownership. Last year, during a meeting with Party leader To Lam in New York, SpaceX Senior Vice President for Global Business and Government Affairs Tim Hughes said the group aims to inject US$1.5 billion into the country in the near future. VNS HA NOI With complementary agricultural products, agricultural trade between Viet Nam and the United States is expected to grow further, heard a working session between Minister of Agriculture and Environment o uc Duy and US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Knapper in Ha Noi on Wednesday. Ambassador Knapper affirmed US support for Viet Nam's sustainable development, particularly in climate change response, natural resource management, and fisheries. The diplomat expressed his desire to continue cooperating with the Vietnamese government to promote agricultural development and environmental protection, contributing to strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries. He said balancing bilateral agricultural trade is a key issue of interest to President Donald Trump, suggesting Viet Nam further open its market. Duy noted that the recent discussions between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) allowed his ministry to better understand the interests of US firms. The key agricultural products of the two countries complement each other rather than compete. Therefore, Viet Nam is willing to open its market to US agricultural products, he said. The Vietnamese ministry has approved 60 out of 61 applications for genetically modified food, mainly maize and soybeans for animal feed. In 2024, Viet Nam imported nearly US$1.5 billion worth of these products from the US, according to the official. Regarding market access for US mandarins, Duy said the ministry has drafted import conditions, which are expected to be finalised by March 2025. For plums and lemons, Viet Nam is allocating additional resources to simultaneously approve both products, with the submission for the draft pest risk analysis (PRA) report scheduled for April and May 2025. Ambassador Knapper welcomed Viet Nam's efforts in facilitating agricultural trade. Cooperation in IUU fishing combat The US recently provided $2.5 million to help Viet Nam combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Ambassador Knapper stressed that enforcing fishing laws is a priority for President Trump and urged closer cooperation. Minister Duy touched upon the impact of legal reforms on the livelihoods of fishermen, calling for greater sharing of experience in policy making and law enforcement. Viet Nam is seeking an extension to submit data for US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) compliance, pushing the deadline from April 1 to July 1, 2025. Ambassador Knapper pledged to convey this request to US authorities. VNA/VNS HA NOI Viet Nam is advancing a legal framework for digital assets by promoting the pilot implementation of a centralised cryptocurrency exchange (CEX), alongside the draft Law on Digital Technology Industry that is expected to be passed in May. These efforts demonstrate the Government's strong commitment to creating a clear regulatory environment for digital assets. Chairman of the Viet Nam Blockchain Association (VBA) Phan uc Trung made the statement at a workshop titled 'Sharing experiences in managing and operating a CEX' held in Ha Noi on Thursday, ahead of an anticipated April 1 Government Resolution on piloting a CEX. This initiative follows the Prime Minister's Directive 05/CT-TTg issued on March 1, which calls for the Ministry of Finance to lead the development of regulations to support the healthy development of digital assets and cryptocurrencies markets. At the workshop, experts and officials discussed the potential benefits of piloting a CEX while addressing concerns related to tax, user protection, exchange licensing and legal compliance. These concerns align with global frameworks, such as the Atlantic Councils guidelines on anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, which are vital for removing Viet Nam from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Gray List. Lieutenant Colonel Duong uc Hung, deputy head of the Counter-Terrorism Department at the Ministry of Public Security, said that while Viet Nam has not yet seen large-scale terrorist financing via cryptocurrency, the risk exists and is growing. He stressed the need for a comprehensive legal framework, inter-sectoral coordination and the use of advanced management tools to prevent illegal activities on unlicensed platforms. "Authorities, especially the police force, need to strengthen investigation and strictly handle unlicensed trading floors, with high administrative fines and criminal prosecution if they are found to be related to terrorist financing or money laundering. At the same time, they need to publish the list of unlicensed trading floors to warn people and coordinate with internet service providers to block access to these platforms," Hung said. Director of the Academy of Cryptography Techniques under the Government Cipher Committee Hoang Van Thuc noted the importance of establishing technical standards and regulations for cryptography in the crypto sector. He also stressed the need for security measures to ensure transparent and reliable operation of a CEX. To Tran Hoa, deputy head of the Market Development Department at the State Securities Commission, said that the draft regulations for the CEX pilot are based on global best practices from markets like the US, Japan, Europe and the UAE. In particular, trading floors need to self-assess and select valuable, highly liquid assets to ensure the rights of investors," Hoa said. Deputy Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Department at the State Bank of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Minh Tho said that creating a legal framework for managing crypto exchanges presents complex challenges for risk management, given the anonymous, cross-border and decentralised nature of crypto assets. However, global experience shows that the cost of preventing money laundering and combatting terrorist financing is a significant burden for operators of crypto exchanges. "The central bank has therefore proposed regulations requiring exchanges to implement stringent measures for preventing money laundering and combatting terrorist financing, in line with legal regulations and international standards. State authorities will continue to support businesses in meeting these obligations," she said. VBA Chairman Trung said that the Governments push to launch a pilot crypto asset exchange alongside the planned Law on Digital Technology Industry, expected to pass in May this year, demonstrates its strong commitment to building a legal framework for digital assets. Experts believe Viet Nam's pilot programme for a digital asset exchange aligns with global trends and will serve as a powerful driver for the development of the blockchain industry and the economy. "The legalisation of decentralised finance ensures the legitimacy of crypto assets, while fostering technological innovation and global integration. This will help Viet Nam tap into the rapidly growing crypto market and fulfil the Governments commitment to anti-money laundering efforts," he said. However, Trung also said that while these regulations are important, they could impose significant financial pressure on exchange operators, particularly smaller businesses with limited resources. Compliance costs, he explained, are a major consideration for exchanges, beyond just the costs of charter capital or licensing fees. VNS Job fair held for people with disabilities in Tianjin Xinhua) 08:44, March 27, 2025 A job seeker with disabilities learns about recruitment information during a job fair in north China's Tianjin, March 26, 2025. A job fair was held for people with disabilities who graduated from higher education in Tianjin on Wednesday, providing over 100 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) A recruiter communicates with a job seeker in sign language during a job fair in north China's Tianjin, March 26, 2025. A job fair was held for people with disabilities who graduated from higher education in Tianjin on Wednesday, providing over 100 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) A job seeker with disabilities (L) talks with a recruiter during a job fair in north China's Tianjin, March 26, 2025. A job fair was held for people with disabilities who graduated from higher education in Tianjin on Wednesday, providing over 100 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) A lesson on job interview for graduated people with disabilities is held during a job fair in north China's Tianjin, March 26, 2025. A job fair was held for people with disabilities who graduated from higher education in Tianjin on Wednesday, providing over 100 positions to job seekers. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) HA NOI Despite having achieved a record export sales figure in February, Viet Nam's tuna industry faces significant regulatory challenges from its key import markets such as the EU and the US, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Statistics from Vietnam Customs show that the value of tuna exports in February reached nearly US$73 million, which marks a 41 per cent increase on-year and the highest level for the same period over the past five years. The cumulative tuna export value for the first two months of the year has surpassed $139 million, a 6 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Statistics from VASEP showed that fresh, frozen and dried tuna products continued to show strong growth in February, up 23 per cent on-year. In contrast, exports of processed and canned tuna decreased by 9 per cent. Large markets such as the US, EU, Canada and Japan showed the most impressive growth in Vietnamese tuna exports last month. However, the tuna industry is facing numerous challenges this year in terms of resource exploitation and trade regulations from some of its major export markets, according to VASEP. Regulations on preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing continue to be a major barrier for seafood harvest, including tuna. The requirement for tuna to be at least 500 millimetres long before it can be harvested, regulated by Decree 37 issued by the Government last year, remains a challenge for fishermen and businesses, hindering them from obtaining raw tuna and exporting processed and canned tuna products. Similarly, the USs implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires exporting countries to prove that their fishing processes do not harm marine mammals, and that their management regulations are similar to those of the US. Twelve of Viet Nam's fishing methods including the use of gillnets, purse seines, dragnets and handline fishing are not recognised as meeting this requirement, in a recent preliminary decision made by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The organisation has issued a warning that it may ban the import of several types of Vietnamese seafood from January 1, 2026, unless Viet Nam takes timely action. Additionally, the US plans to expand its Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), which requires importers to provide more detailed information on their imports and increases compliance costs. MMPA and SIMP regulations could have a substantial impact on Viet Nam's seafood industry, even threatening the country's reputation and standing in the international market, VASEP stated. To overcome these challenges, the tuna industry needs strong support from authorities and industry managers in improving legal frameworks, enhancing monitoring capabilities and assisting fishermen in complying with international standards, it said. BIZHUB/VNS DHAKA The Viet Nam-Bangladesh cross-border e-commerce promotion forum has recently been held in the capital city Dhaka of Bangladesh. The event attracted over 100 delegates from both countries, including Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Nguyen Manh Cuong, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, leaders of the Vietnam Business Association in Bangladesh, and high-ranking officials from Bangladeshs Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, and the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (E-Cab). The forum served as a crucial platform for 12 Vietnamese enterprises operating in e-commerce, agricultural products, fertilisers, and steel structures to connect with over 90 Bangladeshi businesses. Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Ambassador Nguyen Manh Cuong underscored the long-standing friendship between the two nations over the past five decades, which has continued to be deepened. He emphasised the importance of strengthening trade ties, particularly in the context of rapid advancements in technology and e-commerce, and encouraged businesses from both sides to enhance exchanges and partnerships to capitalise on emerging opportunities in the global market. Participants discussed significant trade cooperation potential between the two nations, particularly in cross-border e-commerce, recognising its pivotal role in facilitating trade, boosting economic growth, and creating opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. They also highlighted various areas where Viet Nam and Bangladesh could complement each other. Viet Nam could supply rice, coffee, pepper, agricultural products such as ginger, onions, and garlic, and construction materials, while Bangladesh could provide pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical raw materials, and jute to Viet Nam. Besides, Premier Bank LTD of Bangladesh expressed its commitment to supporting payments for import-export transactions, ensuring smoother trade exchanges. On this occasion, Vietnamese businesses showcased their products and services, expressing strong interest in expanding their presence in the Bangladeshi market. The forum concluded with a dynamic and productive business-matching session. Several trade agreements and contracts in the agricultural sector were signed. VNS HA NOI Honda Viet Nam has officially launched its first domestically produced electric scooter, marking a significant step in the companys electrification and sustainable mobility strategy in Viet Nam. At the unveiling event held at the companys factory in Vinh Phuc Province on Thursday, General Director Koji Sugita emphasised that the introduction of the ICON e: underscores Honda's commitment to offering environmentally friendly vehicles, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. The ICON e: is specifically designed for high school students, a young and dynamic demographic seeking safe and convenient mobility. It is expected to launch in the Vietnamese market in April. Tran Duy ong, chair of the Vinh Phuc Peoples Committee, commended Honda Viet Nam for its transition from petrol-powered to electric scooters, aligning with the Vietnamese Governments green development goals. He also encouraged the company to continue its research into electric mobility solutions, from motorcycles to cars, to support the shift towards smart and eco-friendly transportation. Local authorities have pledged to support Honda Viet Nam's green vehicle development initiatives, ensuring a favorable business environment and advocating for appropriate incentives. VNS HOA BINH With its rich cultural heritage deeply rooted in folk traditions, Hoa Binh Province is leveraging festivals to drive tourism growth. Home to the Muong ethnic group, which makes up over 60 per cent of the local population, Hoa Binhs festivals not only reflect the aspirations for prosperity and happiness but also attract visitors eager for cultural experiences. Spring is a particularly vibrant time in the province, with numerous traditional Muong festivals such as Khai Ha, Chua Tien and inh Kenh taking place. These events strengthen community bonds while drawing large numbers of tourists. Among them, the Khai Ha Festival - also known as the 'going down to the field', or forest-opening festival - is a major spiritual and cultural event for the Muong people. It marks the beginning of the l Lunar New Year and serves as an occasion for the four major Muong regions - Muong Bi (Tan Lac), Muong Vang (Lac Son), Muong Thang (Cao Phong), and Muong ong (Kim Boi) - to pay tribute to their ancestors who pioneered wet rice cultivation, a cornerstone of Viet Nam's ancient civilisation. Another popular site is the Thac Bo Temple, a renowned spiritual and ecological tourism destination nestled in the scenic Hoa Binh Lake area. Every year, the temple attracts thousands of visitors, particularly during its annual festival from the second day of the first lunar month until the end of the third lunar month. According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, some days saw more than 4,000 visitors this year. Additionally, the Mong ethnic community in Hang Kia and Pa Co communes, Mai Chau District, celebrates the Gau Tao festival, while the Thai ethnic group in Chieng Chau Commune holds the Xen Muong festival, a key cultural event for the Thai people. According to Bui Kim Phuc, head of the cultural management division at the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, spring festivals play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage, educating people about local history and unlocking Hoa Binhs tourism potential for both domestic and international visitors. Sung Y Mua, owner of Y Mua Homestay in Hang Kia commune, shared that her two homestays were fully booked a month in advance for the Gau Tao Festival. She expressed her hope for increased investment in transportation infrastructure, accommodation, and high-quality tourism services to improve local livelihoods and further boost the provincial economy. For Pham Anh Tho from Thanh Hoa Province, who attended the Gau Tao Festival for the first time, the experience was unforgettable. She participated in nem pao (ball throwing), walking on stilts, and playing the khen (panpipe), a traditional Mong musical instrument. I was truly impressed by the stunning Mong girls in vibrant ethnic attire, their outfits adorned with silver ornaments, dancing to the melodic sounds of the khen. It was a magical experience, and my family will definitely return next spring, she said. Looking ahead, Quach Thi Kieu, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, affirmed that local authorities are committed to preserving the historical and cultural significance of traditional festivals while integrating them into tourism development strategies to promote economic and social growth. This year, Haa Binhs tourism sector plans to launch multiple initiatives to raise public awareness about cultures role in socio-economic development. The goal is to preserve Viet Nam's national heritage while fostering a culturally rich, globally integrated tourism industry. During the Lunar New Year holiday, Hoa Binh welcomed over 250,000 visitors, including nearly 6,000 foreign tourists and over 244,200 domestic travellers, marking a 25 per cent year-over-year increase. Total revenue from tourism services reached VN132 billion (US$5.18 million), up 11.8 per cent from the same period last year. VNS HA NOI The Royal Thai Embassy will present a whole host of delights about Thailand's lifestyle and customs through a festival in Ha Noi this week. The 'Thai Festival: The Pulse of Tradition' will be open at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long from from 3-9pm on March 28 and from 10am to 9pm over the weekend of March 29-30. The event will offers a space filled with Thai culture, food, handicrafts and a special outdoor screening of famed Thai films. The exhibition will include over 50 booths displaying creative Thai designs and health and beauty products. This year, Ha Noi was chosen as one of the six metropolitan cities around the world to host the Thai Festival. This event aims to showcase the potentials of the creative economy of Thailand, while promoting people-to-people connections through culture, tourism and the arts. Throughout the three-day festival, which is free to enter, Ha Noi residents and Vietnamese friends will have the opportunity to explore a cultural space that blends modern and traditional Thailand through many exciting activities. In addition to the workshops and tastings, there will be performance on stage including the traditional dances from various regions of Thailand and the mini-concert of SISMA, a female T-Pop band. These shows will serve as a bridge between tradition and originality, allowing spectators to experience unique blends of culture in the heart of the capital. A special highlight of the festival is the demonstration of Loy Krathong through a digital platform, and the famed Songkran water Festival, one of the most vibrant and unique festivals in Asia, recognised by UNESCO. The public will also have the opportunity to try traditional Thai costumes during the event and also get a chance to win big prizes, such as plane tickets to Thailand, by taking part in a daily raffle. The films being shown will be Love Destiny the Movie which is being shown at the Imperial Citadel, on the big screen at 6pm on March 29. The Thai period film, a romantic comedy, will transport the audience back in time on a journey where a couple try to rediscover long-lost love. The next day, movie buffs will get to enjoy a thriller comedy 404 Run Run, also beginning at 6pm, with a surprise visit by lead actor Ter Chantavit Dhanasevi, who will be giving interviews from 3-6pm. With the theme The Pulse of Tradition, the Thai Festival in Ha Noi will bring a new spirit, affirming that 'Thailand's Creative Economy' is a symbol of unique creativity, nurtured from a long-standing cultural heritages, while keeping pace with global trends. VNS HA NOI The Tourism Development Support Fund, which is under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and Grab Vietnam officially signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote and develop Viet Nams tourism industry. The agreement aims to enhance digital transformation in tourism, creating new drivers for economic and social development in the country. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, during his official visit. This partnership will facilitate the promotion of Viet Nams tourism image to both domestic and international visitors while contributing to the digital transformation and sustainable development of the tourism sector. As part of the collaboration, Grab will become a preferred transportation and e-commerce partner, offering seamless services such as ride-hailing, delivery, food ordering, cashless payments and logistics to enhance the overall travel experience for visitors to Viet Nam. Director of the Tourism Development Support Fund, Hoang Thi Kim Anh, said: With our mission to effectively and sustainably promote and support the development of Viet Nams tourism industry, we hope that our collaboration with Grab will leverage the strengths of both parties, ultimately positioning tourism as a key economic driver for Viet Nam. The Managing Director of Grab Vietnam, Alejandro Osorio, said: Tourism is a crucial contributor to Viet Nams GDP and is set to become a leading economic sector by 2030. Through this partnership, Grab is honoured to contribute to this goal by leveraging our technology, which has been a part of Vietnamese daily life for over a decade. "We believe this collaboration will create significant momentum for Viet Nams tourism growth, helping to drive economic and social development. Over the next five years, both parties will focus on key initiatives, including utilising technology to accelerate digital transformation in tourism promotion, positioning Viet Nam as a top destination for international travellers, and boosting domestic tourism. They will also highlight Viet Nam's cultural heritage, traditions and cuisine. Additionally, the Tourism Development Support Fund and Grab Vietnam plan to collaborate with travel agencies to develop International Travel Packages on the Grab app, enhancing visitor experiences. They will also promote regional tourism by offering service bundles that encourage travellers to explore multiple provinces and cities within a single trip. Furthermore, the partnership will strengthen tourism promotion through domestic and international media channels, improve public services for tourists and locals and invest in digitalising attractions via new features on the Grab platform. VNS HA NOI Brazilian President Lula da Silva's upcoming state visit to Viet Nam holds great political and economic significance, as it will strengthen the bilateral friendship and create opportunities to diversify economic, trade, and investment cooperation, and boost political ties, Brazilian ambassador to Viet Nam Marco Farani has stated. In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, the Brazilian diplomat said the March 27-29 trip will mark an important milestone in the bilateral relations. He revealed that President Lula will be accompanied by a political delegation of the highest level, including leaders of both upper and lower houses, as well as prominent entrepreneurs from the industrial and agricultural sectors, showing the significance of the visit. Viet Nam and Brazil announced the upgrade of their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership in 2024, reflecting the positive development and maturity of their ties. Brazil is well aware of Viet Nam's role in Southeast Asia, its active participation in ASEAN, and its commitment to economic development and social welfare goals. Similarly, Brazil holds a strong position in the Southern Hemisphere and remains committed to economic growth. Both represent emerging economies, play significant roles in their respective regions, and maintain friendly and stable relations with the rest of the world. President Lulas visit will also highlight the complementarities between the two nations and the significant role of their economies in key sectors such as agriculture, science-technology and innovation. Additionally, it aims to expand new channels for cooperation in trade, economy, and investment. According to the diplomat, the visit will also promote deeper engagement in people-to-people diplomacy. In addition to continuing the high-level dialogue initiated during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to Brazil in 2023, Lulas trip is hoped to mark a significant step forward in bilateral relations and dialogue between the two nations. Regarding the potential for business cooperation between the two countries, Marco stated that both nations have increasing consumer demand, a balanced economy, and political stability, which facilitate bilateral trade flows. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil, in coordination with the Brazilian Embassy in Viet Nam, will host a Brazil-Viet Nam economic forum on March 29, bringing together over 100 Vietnamese businesses and more than 50 firms from Brazils key industries, he said. The forum will offer a venue for delegates to analyse and discuss key areas related to industry, agriculture, and energy, he said, noting that these are sectors showing strong growth in both economies, driven by innovative mechanisms and high-tech applications. Brazil and Viet Nam have all the necessary conditions to leverage the advantages of bilateral trade cooperation, including technology exchange, establishing partnerships targeting third markets, and expanding defence cooperation, especially when Brazil excels in the aviation industry, while Viet Nam has extensive experience in defence and security, he said. The diplomat also mentioned the key priorities that Brazil aims to promote within the framework of the Viet NamBrazil strategic partnership, stressing the common goal of peace and stability in the region and the world as one of the important factors bringing the two countries closer together. He said that this is a prerequisite for promoting trade and economic cooperation, and strengthening political relations. Brazil and Viet Nam have agreed to build a strategic partnership based on five core cooperation pillars of politics and security; economy, trade, and investment; science, technology, and innovation; climate change and environment; and people-to-people diplomacy and cultural exchange, he said. The new partnership also fosters deeper cultural cooperation, enhances delegation exchanges, and strengthens interactions between the people of both countries, he added. Under the framework of the new bilateral partnership, the two sides will continue to maintain consultation and dialogue mechanisms, including regular bilateral political consultations, he said. The two countries have witnessed strong growth in their trade ties. Brazil is currently Viet Nams largest trading partner in Latin America, with two-way trade nearing 8 billion last year. The two governments aim to elevate the figure to US$15 billion by 2030. The two sides' commitment to sustainable development and innovation, along with their highly complementary economies, are expected to create numerous new opportunities for stronger economic cooperation in the future, he noted. VNA/VNS HA NOI Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's state visit to Viet Nam is set to boost bilateral ties, with a strong focus on advancing cooperation in pivotal sectors such as renewable energy, manufacturing, high-tech agriculture, biofuels, education and climate change response. Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi highlighted in a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that this visit, scheduled from March 27-29, follows the elevation of Viet Nam-Brazil relations to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's participation in the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024. This upgrade underscores the robust, practical and effective development of bilateral ties and marks a significant leap in political and diplomatic relations. Viet Nam is the first ASEAN nation to form a strategic partnership with Brazil in South America, while Brazil stands as the first South American nation to upgrade ties with Viet Nam to this level. President Lula da Silva's visit signals both nations' dedication to enhancing the Viet Nam-Brazil Strategic Partnership with concrete actions that promote substantive cooperation. Discussions are expected to centre on advancing collaboration in politics, security, trade, investment, science and technology, culture, and climate change at an elevated level. The visit is expected to offer a valuable opportunity for both countries' leaders to outline specific initiatives to operationalise the strategic partnership framework, turning political commitments into practical cooperation programmes. Strengthening ties with Brazil, South America's largest economy and a regional leader, will help Viet Nam diversify economic partners and unlock new growth prospects across vital industries. In light of global uncertainties, Ambassador Nghi noted that both nations are poised to identify tangible measures to expand trade, investment, and market access. Ministries, sectors, and enterprises from both sides are expected to sign cooperation agreements to establish a conducive legal framework for future initiatives, ensuring long-term mutual benefits. Viet Nam is also hopeful that Brazil will soon recognise its market economy status and accelerate negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Viet Nam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). This agreement is seen as a critical step forward in boosting bilateral economic ties. Beyond trade and investment, the visit is expected to foster collaboration in other sectors such as tourism, aviation, seaports, and logistics. These areas hold significant potential for both countries yet remain underutilised. Expanding cooperation in these domains is expected to further invigorate bilateral relations. Ambassador Nghi emphasised that Viet Nam and Brazil can jointly advance global initiatives in environmental protection, peacekeeping, and sustainable development. By leveraging international cooperation mechanisms, both nations aim to contribute to addressing pressing global challenges and fostering a world of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development, he noted. President Lula da Silvas visit marks a milestone in strengthening comprehensive, sustainable, and effective cooperation, aligning with the aspirations of both nations while reinforcing their roles on regional and global platforms. The visit is poised to unlock fresh opportunities, not only for bilateral growth but also for regional and global stability and prosperity. In preparation for the visit, the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil has collaborated with authorities in both countries to organise business networking events, exploring economic, trade, investment and educational cooperation prospects. Brazilian businesses have expressed keen interest in Vietnamese exports such as rice, coffee, cashew nuts, tropical fruits, garments, footwear, electronics, ceramics, handicrafts and household goods. It has also engaged with Brazilian legislative bodies and the trade bloc MERCOSUR parliamentarians to advocate for the Viet Nam-MERCOSUR FTA negotiations. Additionally, the embassy has worked with major Brazilian corporations such as JBS S.A., the worlds largest meat processing company, to promote agricultural collaboration, including introducing Brazilian palm varieties and quail production in Viet Nam. VNS MOSCOW Viet Nam has chosen a right direction by setting the goal of making science technology development, and innovation main driving forces for socio-economic development, said Dr. Grigory Trubnikov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Science and Director of the the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna (commonly known as Dubna Institute). The country is a rapidly growing economy with a large population, favourable geographical location and climatic conditions, Trubnikov said in a recent interview with told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Russia on the Politburos Resolution No.57 on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, regarded as a resolution that aims to unleash Viet Nam's technological potential. Viet Nam can thrive in various indices, including economic, scientific, technological, and educational metrics, he said, adding that international cooperation is a way for the development of national sciences. According to him, this mechanism is very beneficial economically and intellectually as each country contributes a part. When these contributions come together, they create tremendous intellectual potential that belongs to all. Publications, inventions, and technologies from the JINR are made public to scientific communities worldwide. This is vey helpful for Viet Nam and other member countries of the JINR, he said. He highlighted cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia, saying the bilateral partnership in science has gained new momentum with the Vietnamese government approving a policy decision to establish a nuclear technology centre. The Dubna Institute has actively participated, such as designing some very complex equipment for areas such as medicine, biology, fundamental research, and new materials. Thanks to the exchange of delegations over the past three years, both sides can now collaborate on this project, he said, emphasising that this project will shape Viet Nam's science for the next 30-40 years. The JINR Director noted that although the project is still in the design phase, Vietnamese scientists in Dubna have been preparing and enhancing their skills to fulfil the project tasks. He said he hopes that the centre will be built in the next one or two years, with the involvement of Russias Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. By then, 20-30 staff members trained from Dubna, equipped with practical experience and skills will be ready to contribute to their homeland. Currently, about 30 Vietnamese scientists are working at the Dubna Institute, a number that has significantly increased since last year. The institute is set to welcome nearly 20 others. At the institute, Vietnamese staff are engaged in scientific research, defending theses, and enhancing their qualifications before returning to contribute to Viet Nam's science. All of this is a result of the right policy on developing science and technology, he affirmed. VNA/VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Ha Noi on March 26 evening for newly-appointed Austrian Ambassador to Viet Nam Philipp Agathonos. PM Chinh congratulated Agathonos on assuming his new task in Viet Nam, and expressed his belief that with many years of experience working in diplomacy, the Ambassador will actively contribute to consolidating and strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Austria. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government and ministries will create all favourable conditions for Agathonos to successfully complete his working term. Sharing about the development of relations between the two countries, the PM expressed his joy to witness the Viet Nam- Austria relationship achieving many impressive achievements, especially in the fields of politics - diplomacy, economics, development cooperation, science - technology, culture - arts, education - training, and people-to-people exchanges. Viet Nam is currently Austria's largest trading partner in ASEAN and Austria is always in the top 10 export markets of Viet Nam in the EU with a trade turnover of about US$2.45 billion in 2024. The PM highly appreciated the Austrian Government for providing ODA in recent times, actively contributing to Viet Nam's socio-economic development. In order to further promote the potential and strengths of the two countries, contributing to improving bilateral relations in the coming time, PM Chinh proposed the two sides promote the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, and step up cooperative activities to improve trade and investment exchanges. The government leader expressed his belief that the Austrian Parliaments approval of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the European Commission's removal of its IUU yellow card against Vietnamese seafood will create favourable conditions for economic cooperation between Viet Nam and the EU in general, and between Viet Nam and Austria in particular. With Austria's strengths in the field of rail transport, the two sides can identify this as a promising field of cooperation in the coming time, focusing on exploiting preferential capital sources, technology transfer and human resource training, he suggested. In addition, the two sides need to coordinate closely, enhance exchanges and expand cooperation in the fields of education - training, cultural and artistic exchange, and cooperate to solve global challenges such as responding to climate change, organising cultural promotion events to the public of both sides to tighten the friendship between the two countries. Agathonos expressed his honour to receive the new task, sharing his impression of Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements and role in the region. Affirming that Viet Nam is an important partner of Austria in Southeast Asia, he expressed his determination and commitment to make every effort to develop the bilateral relations more and more deeply and effectively, considering this as the direction and focus of his term in Viet Nam. Regarding trade and investment cooperation, the Ambassador highly appreciated the instructions of PM Chinh at the dialogue with big European corporations and businesses on March 2, 2025, to make Viet Nam a destination for production, business, and long-term investment of EU businesses in the region. He said that in addition to traditional areas of cooperation, the Austrian Embassy will coordinate closely with Vietnamese partners to find new potential areas of cooperation, especially in the fields of science - technology, education - training, cyber security, nursing staff and railway infrastructure. VNA/VNS General Phan Van Giang, minister of National Defence, has presided over a rehearsal for the coming military parade marking the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975), held at National Military Training Centre 4. This dress rehearsal aimed to evaluate training progress and help participating units enhance their preparations for the major national event. Gen Giang praised the initial achievements of the participating forces, recognising their dedication and discipline. He highlighted the exemplary performance of key contingents, including formations from the Navy, Air Force, Special Task Force, and the southern female militia unit. With the event drawing near, Gen Giang stressed the importance of upholding a strong sense of responsibility and maintaining the highest standards to reflect the historical significance of the 50th anniversary. He urged all forces to continue rigorous training, perfect ceremonial movements with precision and coordination, and adhere strictly to military regulations to ensure the events success. VNS HA NOI The Viet Nam-Indonesia Friendship Association (VIFA) and the Indonesian Embassy in Viet Nam on March 27 held a seminar on cooperation and friendship between the two countries. Speaking at the event, themed "Viet Nam- Indonesia Towards 2045: Strengthening Partnership, Expanding Cooperation, and Deepening Friendship," Deputy Director-General of the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and VIFA President Tran Minh Hung emphasised the traditional relations between Viet Nam and Indonesia, saying 70 years ago, Indonesia was the first country in Southeast Asia to officially establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam. Viet Nam is Indonesias first comprehensive strategic partner in ASEAN. The two sides regularly exchange delegations at all levels, especially the high level, including the visits to Viet Nam by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in January 2024 and President-elect Prabowo Subianto in September the same year, along with Party General Secretary To Lams state visit to Indonesia earlier this month. These high-level visits affirm the importance of the good traditional friendship between the two countries, towards the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025. In ASEAN, Indonesia is Viet Nam's third-largest trading partner, while Viet Nam is Indonesia's fourth-largest trading partner. Bilateral trade exceeded US$16 billion last year, with Viet Nam's exports estimated at over US$6 billion, the highest ever recorded. The bilateral trade revenue has quadrupled in the past 10 years. Together with political and economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and locality-to locality connections of the two countries have also been strengthened, with increased travels and visits between citizens. Hung said that the seminar is expected to help provide updates on economic cooperation, as well as potential and opportunities for bilateral trade ties. Indonesian Ambassador to Viet Nam Denny Abdi noted that the two countries share a common vision of becoming developed nations by 2045. To that end, it is necessary for all stakeholders to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, especially in the economic sector, he said. VNA/VNS HA NOI Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Ha Noi on Thursday afternoon, beginning his three-day state visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong. The Brazilian leader was welcomed at the Noi Bai International Airport by Minister of Agriculture and Environment o uc Duy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs o Hung Viet, Vice Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Duong uc Tuan, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi. President Lula da Silva is the first foreign head of state to pay a state visit to Viet Nam in 2025. This is also the second time he has visited Viet Nam as the head of state, after the first time in 2008. According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi, the upgrade of relationship between the two countries to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's trip to attend the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024 reflected the strong, substantive, and effective development of the bilateral ties, marking a qualitative leap in the political and diplomatic relations. Brazilian Ambassador to Viet Nam Marco Farani stated that President Lula da Silvas trip marks an important milestone in the bilateral relations and dialogue between Viet Nam and Brazil. The visit also highlights the complementarities between the two nations and the significant role of their economies in key sectors such as agriculture, science-technology and innovation. Additionally, it aims to expand new channels for cooperation in trade, economy, and investment. VNA/VNS NEW YORK United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Elinor Hammarskjold expressed her appreciation of Viet Nams role and proactive, practical contributions to the UNs legal forums while receiving Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, in New York on Wednesday. At the meeting to discuss the sides cooperation and shared priorities, following Hammarskjolds appointment, Ambassador Giang highly valued the close collaboration with and support provided for Viet Nam by the UN Office of Legal Affairs, including technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for Vietnamese legal professionals across various ministries and sectors. He talked about Viet Nams engagement in key UN legal bodies such as the International Law Commission (ILC), the Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the International Seabed Authoritys Legal and Technical Commission (LTC). The Southeast Asian nation has also been actively involved in negotiations on landmark legal frameworks, including the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) and the UN Convention against Cybercrime. The diplomat affirmed Viet Nams consistent stance of upholding international law and pledged continued cooperation with the office and other member states to enhance the effectiveness of legal mechanisms, promote legal codification, and advance the development of international law within the UN framework. Hammarskjold expressed her hope that Viet Nam would continue to play a significant role and collaborate closely with the office and other UN bodies in ongoing reform efforts, as well as in improving the effectiveness of the UN system and further upholding the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, contributing to strengthening the rule of law for peace, stability, and sustainable development across the globe. VNS PHNOM PENH A delegation from Military Region 7 under the Viet Nam Peoples Army (VPA) visited Cambodia from March 25-27, ahead of the neighbouring countrys Choul Chnam Thmey (traditional New Year). On March 26, the delegation, led by Commander of Military Region 7 Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, extended New Year greetings to Cambodias Ministry of National Defence. At a meeting with General Chay Saingyun, Permanent Secretary of State at the ministry, Thang said that thanks to the support of the Cambodian army, government, and people, relevant search teams under Military Region 7 have repatriated 720 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who lost their lives in Cambodia during wartime. This effort continues under an agreement between the two governments, he noted. The Cambodian official expressed deep gratitude for the selfless sacrifices made by Vietnamese volunteer forces in liberating Cambodia from the genocidal regime. He said that Cambodia has built numerous historical sites and friendship monuments, while also educating younger generations about Viet Nams support for Cambodia during its past struggles. According to him, Military Region 7 has provided extensive assistance for his country via providing medical check-ups and medicines, and building a borderline of peace and friendship that facilitates bilateral trade exchanges. He stated that following the spirit of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability, units under the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces will continue working closely with the VPA and Military Region 7 to effectively implement bilateral cooperation agreements to further strengthen Vietnam-Cambodia ties for peace, stability, and development. On March 25, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy call to Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet to extend New Year greetings. Lieutenant General Thang expressed gratitude to the PM and the Cambodian Government for their commitment to preserving Viet Nam-Cambodia friendship monuments across Cambodia as a way to educate the countries younger generations on the traditional friendship. For his part, PM Hun Manet lauded the sound growth of Viet Nam-Cambodia relationship across all sectors, which has benefited both nations while contributing to regional and global peace, stability, and cooperation. He expressed deep appreciation for Viet Nams support, for both Cambodias struggle for liberation from the genocidal regime and its current national construction cause. He vowed to further strengthen bilateral relations for future generations. He said Cambodia values defence cooperation with Viet Nam, pledging to support and facilitate Viet Nams efforts to locate and repatriate the remains of the volunteer soldiers. He also expressed his support for Vietnamese defence enterprises effectively operating in Cambodia. During the visit, the delegation laid wreaths and offered incense at the Cambodia-Viet Nam friendship monument to honour fallen soldiers. They also held discussions with the Vietnamese Embassy, the Vietnam-Cambodia Business Association (VCBA), and key Vietnamese businesses in Phnom Penh, including MB Cambodia and Viettel Cambodia (Metfone). VNS HA NOI Viet Nam incurred financial losses amounting to tens of trillions of ong (hundreds of millions of US dollars) in 2024 and early 2025 due to a surge in cyberattacks, according to a report by cybersecurity company Bkav. The company disclosed that ransomware attacks alone infected nearly 156,000 computers in the country last year, crippling businesses with ransom payments, operational shutdowns, customer losses and reputational damage. Many victims faced severe financial strain after paying hackers to recover data, while others grappled with prolonged system outages. Bkav noted that a majority of affected users lacked adequate protections: they either used no antivirus software, relied on foreign solutions without expert oversight or depended solely on built-in operating system defences. These vulnerabilities created critical gaps for cybercriminals to exploit. Cyberattacks grew increasingly sophisticated this year, with hackers targeting businesses to extort large ransoms or steal sensitive intelligence, Bkav added. A survey by the National Cybersecurity Association revealed that approximately 46 per cent of organisations faced at least one cyberattack annually, while nearly 7 per cent reported frequent breaches. Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attacks accounted for about one-fourth of incidents, followed by ransomware at around 15 per cent, highlighting the dominance of these methods. Experts urged organisations to conduct regular system vulnerability scans, implement real-time network monitoring and establish robust data recovery plans to mitigate risks. They also cautioned that dormant malware may still lurk within Vietnamese systems, poised to strike opportunistically. "Cybersecurity awareness and professional preventive measures are urgently needed," an expert emphasised, calling for heightened vigilance amid escalating threats. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam has recorded more than 42,000 cases of measles and five deaths related to the disease since the beginning of 2025. However, many parents and caretakers are not fully aware of the danger of measles to young children. Duong Van Phuongs son, a nine-month-old boy nicknamed Bo, started experiencing a cough and fever a week ago. When Phuong took his child to a private clinic near their home in Ha Noi for examination, the boy was said to have middle ear inflammation and was given instructions for treatment at home. However, after two days, his condition worsened with persistent high fever and coughing even with medication. We then took him to Saint Paul General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with measles. All of the ventilators available here were occupied, so we had to transfer him to Ha Noi Childrens Hospital, Phuong told Voice of Vietnam (VOV). When he was admitted, the doctor said one of his lungs showed up entirely white on the X ray, as part of it had collapsed, therefore he needed to be on continuous ventilation. Only then did we truly realise the danger he was in, said Phuong. Bo was not vaccinated against measles, unlike his eldest sibling. Phuong said that his oldest child previously had measles but due to full vaccination, the symptoms were mild. The child also recovered quickly and therefore was not isolated from the younger siblings. When asked why the family did not take Bo to Ha Nois measles vaccination drive, Phuong said that he and his wife were too busy with work that they were not aware of the campaign. Vu Thuy Dung from Hai Phong City, who was also tending to her daughter on ventilation due to measles complications, cannot hide her worries. The child has been in the hospital for two weeks but her condition has not improved. Dr Truong Huu Khanh, former head of the Infectious Diseases and Neurology at HCM Citys Childrens Hospital 1, said that measles is an acute infectious disease transmitted through the respiratory tract caused by the measles virus. Symptoms include fever, inflammation of the eyes conjunctiva, inflammation of the respiratory and digestive tracts, and red rashes that progress from the face to the body of the patient. Without prompt treatment, the patients condition can worsen, leading to complications such as encephalitis, pneumonia, middle ear infection, diarrhoea and even death. Khanh added: Complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure and death can easily occur among young children who have not been vaccinated or received a full dosage of measles vaccine. Post-infection complications can include malnutrition, weakened immunity and susceptibility to other illnesses. Measles can be treated at home but it requires strong monitoring and adherence to doctors prescriptions, he explained. Khanh also advised paying attention to childrens nutrition, dividing meals into smaller portions and encouraging them to eat to boost immunity. When they show signs of respiratory distress, rapid breathing, chest retractions or seizures, the family should immediately take them to the hospital to avoid dangerous complications. The doctor added that a common misconception about measles is that the patient should avoid wind and water. He explained that this baseless abstinence can make the child more uncomfortable due to increased itching, leading to disrupted sleep. This further leads to fatigue and loss of appetite, causing a decline in the childs immunity. Instead, parents can wipe the childs body with lukewarm water, which can minimise the risk of the child catching a cold leading to secondary pneumonia. In addition, the child should stay in a well-ventilated room. In the current situation where measles outbreaks remain complicated, parents and caretakers should ensure that children from six months of age and above receive the measles vaccination, said Khanh. If parents are unsure whether their child has been fully vaccinated against measles, additional vaccination is recommended as the vaccine does not harm the childs health. The doctor also advised that children diagnosed with measles will not need vaccination after contracting the disease. However, for infants under 12 months old, where measles diagnosis is challenging, parents can still opt for supplementary measles vaccination. VNS HA NOI More than 1,000 young people from Viet Nam and abroad on Wednesday participated in the 'Walking for People and the Planet' event, held at the Viet Nam National University of Forestry. The programme was in response to Youth Month and to contribute to the commitment of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This initiative is part of the 'Partnership for Climate Action and Environmental Protection (P2ACE)' project, sponsored by ActionAid Viet Nam. The event was aimed at encouraging the community, especially young people, to adopt green actions that reduce emissions and protect the future. Walking is considered a simple effective solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, replacing a one kilometre car trip with walking can reduce approximately 276gr of carbon dioxide emissions per person, while replacing a motorbike trip can cut about 80gr of carbon dioxide. With a total walking distance of 3km during the event, the carbon dioxide reduction could reach up to 910.8kg compared to using cars or 264kg if replacing motorbikes. Beyond its environmental impact, the event also served as an educational platform, inspiring young people to take responsibility for the environment through interactive activities and discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of forests. Professor Dr Pham Van ien, President of the Viet Nam National University of Forestry, said: "Walking for People and the Planet is an activity that allows both faculty and students at our university to take responsibility for their health and the well-being of our planet. With each step, young people not only improve their physical health but also contribute a greener lifestyle by reducing the negative impact of personal vehicles. Every step taken today sends a powerful message to the community about the responsibility to protect the environment and demonstrates the deep connection between humans and nature," he said. During the event, ActionAid International in Viet Nam, the Foundation for Social Protection Programs (AFV), and the Viet Nam National University of Forestry officially signed a Cooperation Agreement for the 202527 period. Under this agreement, involved parties will collaborate on training, capacity-building, communication, workshops and scientific research to enhance the knowledge and skills of young people and students in climate change, environmental adaptation and protection, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development goals (SDGs). The partnership will also support youth initiatives in forestry, silviculture, biodiversity conservation, entrepreneurship and forest carbon sequestration. Journalist Ta Viet Anh, Chairman of the AFV Management Council, emphasised: "This cooperation agreement and the organisation of the Walking for People and the Planet event at the Viet Nam National University of Forestry, a place dedicated to forest resource protection and development, reflects our collective concern for the global issue of environmental protection. Through this, we hope to contribute to building a generation of young Vietnamese with knowledge, skills and concrete actions to promote environmental solutions, adapt to climate change, and achieve sustainable development goals effectively in the short, medium, and long term," he said. Additionally, delegations from ActionAid Sweden and ActionAid Bangladesh shared their experiences with environmental initiatives and encouraged youth participation in green activities, paving the way for broader cooperation in environmental education and sustainable development. VNS Nhat Hong* HA NOI Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for its unique and vibrant flavours, with traditional dishes passed down through generations. But with the growing demands of modern times, local food practices must adapt to preserve their time-honoured essence, while ensuring food safety for the well-being of consumers. Situated about 45km from the capital city of Ha Noi, uong Lam Commune is home to some of the most well-preserved ancient residential architecture of northern Viet Nam. This is also the hometown of the revered 10th-century warrior king, Ngo Quyen, renowned for his naval victory over northern invaders. The area is a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists, who come here to enjoy the charm of hundred-year-old houses and the vibrant culinary traditions with unique delicacies such as soybean paste, rotisserie pork and peanut candies. However, the rising influx of visitors and the increasing demand for these specialities mean locals have to make greater efforts to uphold food safety standards, while continuing to preserve their generations-old culinary crafts. Food safety is essential because it directly affects the health of consumers, said Kieu Viet Son, whose family owns a renowned thit quay on (rotisserie pork) production facility in uong Lam. The herb and spice-infused roast pork, cooked on bamboo poles over a coal fire, is a signature dish of uong Lam. Its recipe is said to date back over 1,000 years, when King Ngo Quyen defeated invaders at the Battle of Bach ang in 938 and ordered a feast of roast pork to celebrate with his army. Sons family business, named Thit quay on Luong Huong after his parents, produces about 200-300kg of traditionally roasted pork every day for restaurants and catering services in the area. In the past six months, they have been an active participant in the Canada-funded Safe Food for Growth project (SAFEGRO) to incorporate modern food safety standards. With the support of SAFEGRO, they have replaced wooden preparation tables with stainless steel ones, preventing water pollutants, contamination with wood chips and stopping bacteria. These impurities can carry chemical, physical and biological hazards polluted water, cutting board debris and pathogenic microorganisms which contaminate production. The facility also paid out of its own pocket VN15 million (US$590) to line its cement floor with ceramic tiles to minimise dust and dirt and allow for easier cleaning. In addition to their facility upgrade, staff at Thit quay on Luong Huong were trained on proper meat processing and the importance of using safety gloves when handling the pork. Only 500 metres away from Thit quay on Luong Huong is its long-time client Bep Lang uong Lam (uong Lam Village Kitchen), a popular restaurant that serves traditional dishes from northern Viet Nam. The restaurant is another example of a successful collaboration between SAFEGRO and local businesses to bring food safety into traditional cuisine. With the same proactive mindset of Thit quay on Luong Huong but on a larger scale, Bep Lang uong Lam spent VN78 million ($3,050) to upgrade their kitchen, in addition to the hygienic equipment and supplies from SAFEGRO. Following the project teams recommendations, all the cabinets and table surfaces in the kitchen were changed to stainless steel for hygienic food handling. In addition to a dish dryer received from SAFEGRO, Bep Lang uong Lam also paid for a kitchen lift and an industrial-grade ultrasonic sink to properly handle their large daily volume of tableware. The restaurants owner, Lam Thi Na, told Viet Nam News: Since partnering with SAFEGRO, our kitchen has undergone significant changes in terms of facility and processing conditions. We learned a lot and enhanced our skills in food safety with SAFEGRO. They helped improve our facility conditions and raise awareness among our staff on hygienic food handling practices, ensuring that our customers are served safe, healthy meals. Upgraded spaces, elevated mindset As part of the project activities in uong Lam, SAFEGRO has held training sessions on food safety principles and practices for more than 50 people in the commune. They are people whose actions directly impact food safety within the community, including local officials, business owners and food production staff, including employees of Thit quay on Luong Huong and Bep Lang uong Lam. The restaurants manager Cao Minh Luyen said: Our staff had learnt about food safety practices and procedures before SAFEGRO activities were launched in the commune. But with the training support from the project and its experts, we improved significantly in terms of awareness and skills. In the past, food preparation and plating were done in the same kitchen space, which posed cross-contamination risks between raw and cooked food. Their training helped us be aware of those risks, and now our kitchen has a wet station and a dry station, separating raw ingredients from cooked food, Luyen said, adding that utensils, cutting boards and food storage were also divided accordingly. She added: When I attended the training sessions, I realised that food safety and hygiene have tremendous importance as they directly affect the consumers. We must join hands to raise awareness and improve food safety standards. Safety and sustainability Food safety has long been a priority of uong Lam, which welcomes more than 100,000 domestic and foreign visitors a year on average. In the post-pandemic recovery, this complex of ancient villages saw a record number of 650,000 tourists in 2023. Local authorities have established a steering committee for food safety, which conducts periodic and unscheduled inspection visits to local food processing and production facilities. The communes economic department also provided training to business owners and workers in the food and culinary sector. Chairwoman of the communes Peoples Committee Pham Thi Le Thuy said: We very welcome SAFEGRO in uong Lam as they help us improve our knowledge and our promotional activities. The project also supports us with new equipment and guidelines [on food safety.] Here, food safety is intertwined with culture, heritage and history, which can have a great impact all together. Head of agricultural product quality at the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department Nguyen Van Thuan also shared a similar perspective on local cuisine, culture and tourism. Culture, cuisine and tourism are linked to food product development, especially traditional delicacies, OCOP products and local specialities, he said. According to Thuan, the current model of uong Lam is crucial to boosting consumption and tourist attraction, but there is room for improvement for better value and quality, craft village production, local employment and tourism development. These should be the criteria and the goals to deploy supporting activities in terms of food safety and quality, as well as brand building and market development, said Thuan. The ultimate results that we expect are benefits for local businesses, the locality and its traditional culinary tourism, and furthermore, the economic development of this Son Tay area which possesses rich history and culture, he explained. Support from foreign partners, such as Global Affairs Canada which funds SAFEGRO, helps locals keep the essence of their culture, tourism and cuisine yet elevate them to more modern, better standards for food safety. Thuan said: The [SAFEGRO] project has been deployed in the country for four years, and during this time, we have witnessed a lot of changes in terms of awareness, mindset and practices. That is where sustainability is, rather than small-scale, specific results. The project might support us for a few years, but what is important is operational practices from the Vietnamese side. We aim to initiate strategic direction and thinking so that when the project concludes, the locals can continue to take charge. We dont expect that these activities end when the project finishes, we aim for a bigger impact just as the full name of the project Safe Food for Growth. VNS *With additional reporting from Trinh Nguyen On March 26, the seventh session of the NA Standing Committee convened to discuss the draft amendments to the Law on Corporate Income Tax. The explanatory reports and feedback on the draft law revealed multiple proposals advocating for greater tax incentives for press agencies, suggesting tax rates from zero to 10 per cent. The Standing Committee of the NA Economic and Financial Committee agreed with the governments proposal to introduce tax incentives for the journalism sector. According to the drafting committee, under the current law, income from print media activities, including advertising in print newspapers, is subject to a 10 per cent tax rate throughout its operational period. Other journalism-related activities are subject to a standard tax rate of 20 per cent. To support media organisations, the revised draft law includes a provision for a 15 per cent tax rate on all other journalism activities, including online advertising. As a result, media organisations would benefit from two preferential tax rates: 10 per cent and 15 per cent. The reviewing body noted that the proposed 15 per cent rate for journalism reflects the governments commitment to supporting the sector while carefully balancing the broader fiscal policy, which aims to limit new tax exemptions and reductions to maintain neutrality in taxation. The rate, applicable throughout the operational period for journalism activities other than print media, alongside the existing 10 per cent tax rate for print media, aligns with the high incentive levels granted to prioritised industries. Deputies Thach Phuoc Binh of Tra Vinh province expressed concerns about the inconsistencies in the proposed tax adjustments, which reduce the tax rate from 20 to 10 per cent for print media but only from 20 to 15 per cent for other forms of journalism. "Firstly, there is a disconnect between the practical operations of the media sector and the proposed tax policy," Binh said. "Digital journalism is becoming dominant, while print media is declining, with many newsrooms cutting back or ceasing print editions to focus on online platforms. Both print and digital media serve the same purpose of providing information, shaping public opinion, and delivering communication services, yet they are subject to different tax rates." Deputy Thach Phuoc Binh of Tra Vinh province. Photo: National Assembly A higher tax rate for digital media negatively impacts the industrys competitiveness, as many media organisations struggle to sustain operations amid declining revenues, Binh added. "The demand for digital transformation in journalism is clear, but if tax policies fail to keep pace, they will create financial barriers for digital media," said Binh. "Cross-border digital platforms capture a large share of advertising revenue while only being subject to indirect taxes, whereas domestic media entities face both high tax burdens and fierce competition." To ensure fairness, Binh proposed a uniform 10 per cent tax rate for all media organisations, regardless of format. A tax reduction would alleviate financial difficulties, help sustain operations, and enhance the quality of information. "A unified tax rate would also balance different media formats, encourage digital transformation, foster sustainable development, and provide additional resources for content and technology investment. A 10 per cent rate would also strengthen the competitiveness of domestic media against cross-border platforms," he added. Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan admitted that differentiating tax rates between print and other journalism formats is no longer appropriate in the current landscape. "We will collaborate with the NA Economic and Financial Committee to incorporate a single tax rate into the draft law and present it to NA, scheduled to commence in May," said Tuan. Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan. Photo: National Assembly National Assembly Standing Committee approves 30 per cent land rent cut At the 43rd session of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, delegates unanimously approved a decree detailing the implementation of the backdated 2024 land rental reduction bill. MoF Deputy Minister receives Special Advisor of Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Deputy Minister of Finance Do Thanh Trung held a meeting with Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance on March 12, to discuss and boost the building of the Vietnam-Japan University project. Vietnam and EIB strengthen financial cooperation Efforts are underway to deepen financial ties between Vietnam and the European Investment Bank. Ministry of Finance to encourage AI and semiconductor R&D Vietnam holds great potential for businesses from all over the world who wish to invest in the semiconductor and AI industries, according to Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Tam. Bank of China offers support for Vietnam to build international financial centres Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Quoc Phuong received a delegation from the Bank of China (BOC) on March 19 to discuss the development of financial centres. Ministry of Finance and World Bank discuss new ODA-funded projects Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang met with Mariam Sherman, World Bank division director for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in Hanoi on March 21 to discuss upcoming projects using official development assistance (ODA). Danang is committed to encouraging sci-tech application and ensuring good conditions for tech enterprises, Photo: Tien Ngoc Tran In mid-March, the National Innovation Centre under the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with US-based Aitomactic, held a Vision & Partnership Day in Danang to highlight the citys strategy to develop its AI and semiconductor ecosystem. The event was part of an international conference on the topic, which ran March 12-14 in Hanoi. Le Trung Chinh, Chairman of Danang Peoples Committee, said, Leveraging its 20 years of experience in high-tech development, Danang is positioning itself to become a semiconductor and AI hub of the future. To facilitate the goal, it has doubled the number of its semiconductor enterprises from to 18 over the last two years, alongside many homegrown AI-driven startups. He noted that Danang also envisions itself as an ideal destination for AI and semiconductor corporations. Thus, the city has strengthened commitment to support companies to invest in research and development (R&D) and the application of emerging technologies. Several programmes have been actively implemented to boost R&D, as well as human resource development and training collaboration. There are also incentives for businesses with technology applications in urban management and public administration, Chinh said. Specific incentives Thanks to these efforts, Danang has fostered strong collaboration with the public sector, private businesses, and research institutes to develop real-life technology products and solutions. Many leading tech corporations like Synopsys, Marvell, Renesas, Qorvo, Nvidia, and Intel have flocked to the city to explore investment opportunities and set up R&D offices. One of the driving forces for the citys high-tech development is Resolution No.136/2024/QH15, which outlines specific incentive policies for Danang to attract strategic investors and partners in the development of semiconductor chips, AI, science and technology, innovation, and IT. The resolution is being piloted specifically for Danang for five years from this January. Policies include exemption from personal income tax (PIT) and corporate income tax for organisations with income from the transfer of shares and capital contributions to innovative enterprises, semiconductor chip activities, and AI for a period of five years. Further developments include an exemption from PIT for five years for income from innovative startup activities, work in the fields of design, production, packaging, and testing of semiconductor microchips, as well as AI working at enterprises in the city. The city also supports training and development costs for students majoring in semiconductor microchips, as well as preferential treatment in terms of income and accommodation costs. Additionally, last December Resolution No.57-NQ/TW was issued on science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. Danang has identified this as a great opportunity to accelerate the development of core technology industries. The city is committed to encouraging the application of sci-tech in all industries and creating better conditions for tech enterprises, especially those specialising in semiconductor microchips and AI, to grow and integrate into the global value chain. To encourage sustainable development, the city is focused on infrastructure, personnel, and policies. Technology infrastructure is being heavily invested in, including Danang High-Tech Park, Software Park No.2, and other innovation centres, Chairman Chinh said. Priority is also given to development through intensive training programmes in collaboration with leading universities and large corporations such as Synopsys, Nvidia, and Intel, Chinh added. As investment incentives are implemented synchronously, the city is rolling out the red carpet for domestic and foreign enterprises, he said. Furthermore, Danang is fostering international cooperation by enticing major firms to invest and expand in the city. In addition to AI, Danang aspires to develop the stages of microchip design, fabrication, testing, and packaging, allowing enterprises to complete their supply chains in the locality. Young and dynamic city Going forward, Danang hopes that the city will become more popular among the international business community as an ideal destination for investment, research, development, and application of semiconductor and AI technology. Christopher Nguyen, founder of Aitomatic, said, Danang should maintain its focus on attracting foreign direct investment, particularly in semiconductors and AI. This can be achieved by formulating clear policies to support and encourage businesses in such industries. Nhu Huy Hoang, general director of American chip design experts NousLogic Telehealth Company, also suggested that Danang should continue to focus on semiconductors and AI as they complement each other for development. Danang is a young and dynamic city, so there will be many investors and businesses coming to invest. Therefore, the city needs to create the most attractive working environment and surrounding ecosystem to draw in investors and experts. In addition, it is also necessary for Danang to focus on training high-quality workers to meet the needs of businesses. Le Hoang Phuc, director of the Danang Centre for Research and Training in Microchip Design and AI, added, The agency will call for investment in infrastructure to support research in microchips and AI, such as computing centres and research labs for training. At the same time, we advise implementing resolutions regulating policies for related development in the city. Danang promotes investment opportunities in Singapore The Danang Investment Forum 2025 was held on March 3 in Singapore, underscoring Vietnams strategic ambition to position itself as a key financial hub in Southeast Asia and commitment to regulatory innovation and international collaboration. The Danish Parliaments Business Committee on a visit to the Lego Group's factory in Binh Duong. Photo: Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam Following a meeting between representatives from Lego Group and Binh Duong province on March 25, it has been reported that the Danish construction toy producer's much-anticipated first carbon-neutral factory will be inaugurated in the province in early April. With a reported cost of as much as $1.3 billion, the factory has been designed to become Lego's most sustainable factory ever. The project will consist of 12,400 rooftop solar panels with a total expected capacity of 7.34MWp, equivalent to the electricity needed for 1,270 households in a year. The packaging line will use paper bags instead of plastic, while aiming to create no landfill waste like other Lego factories. "Sustainable development is not just a commitment, it is a guideline for all of our activities of Lego in Vietnam," said Jesper Hassellund Mikkelsen, Lego Group's senior vice president of Asia Operations, and general director of the factory. Legos investments in sustainable projects have had a positive impact as a series of large corporations have followed its lead, coming to Binh Duong to invest in green, environmentally friendly projects. Among them, Pandora Group, also from Denmark, has invested in a jewellery manufacturing plant to the tune of $150 million. The factory is built according to Leed Gold standards and is 100 per cent powered by renewable energy. During a visit to Vietnam to strengthen the bilateral trade and investment relations between Denmark and Vietnam March 3-7, chairwoman of the Danish Parliament's Business Committee Louise Schack Elholm told VIR, "Vietnam is on the right track for growth and the green transition. The sectors prioritised by Danish businesses here are primarily renewable energy, high-quality food, logistics, water, and giftware." She said that to encourage further cooperation on technological development, Danish governmental institutions can provide optimal framework conditions to help businesses develop. "In light of Vietnams potential to become a more strategic player in the global market, there will be more Danish investors and businesses looking for opportunities to strengthen their value chains here," she added. Vietnam is home of more than 135 Danish companies and Denmark is now one of the biggest European investors in the country. Last year, the total import-export turnover of goods between Denmark and Vietnam was $676.35 million, an on-year increase of over 20 per cent. Danish goods exported to Vietnam reached $232 million, while Vietnamese goods exported to Denmark were valued at over $444 million. Vietnam's main export items to Denmark are still mainly traditional items, such as textiles, electronic components, furniture, iron and steel, footwear, and seafood. The draft decree introduces regulations affecting organisations operating in Vietnams digital ecosystem, from data classification to cross-border transfers and government access requirements. The decree applies to domestic agencies, organisations, and individuals, foreign equivalents in Vietnam, and those outside Vietnam engaged in or associated with digital data-related activities in this country. Dang The Duc managing partner Indochine Counsel and Thai Gia Han senior associate Indochine Counsel With this broad scope, local and international businesses will need to ensure their data governance frameworks align with the regulatory expectations in the new law and the draft decree. The draft provides clear criteria for defining core and important data, which directly influences how organisations must manage, protect, and process such information. Key aspects include that core data encompasses national security-related data, strategic economic infrastructure, and sensitive information impacting public safety. Important data covers economic, social, and public health-related datasets. Companies handling either category may face stricter compliance requirements, particularly in storage, access, and cross-border processing. Vietnam has historically emphasised data localisation, particularly in the 2018 Cybersecurity Law and a 2023 decree on personal data protection. The draft decree continues this trend by mandating that businesses transferring core or important data outside Vietnam must conduct a risk assessment before cross-border transfer, submit an impact assessment dossier to the relevant government agency, and clearly identify obligations and responsibilities on data protection in legitimate agreements concluded with receivers offshore. These obligations add a layer of bureaucratic oversight and may hinder seamless data flows for multinational businesses operating in Vietnam. Additionally, businesses are required to prepare and submit impact dossiers for transferring core and important data outside Vietnam, which may cause compliance overlap if lacking proper guidance. The provision of data to government authorities is encouraged on a voluntary basis, with the consent of the subject required for the processing of personal data and the permission of the owner necessary for non-personal data. However, the draft does not clearly state whether obtaining the subjects consent or permission is mandatory when outlining obligations to provide data to government authorities under specific circumstances, such as national security threats, public health emergencies, disaster response efforts, or counter-terrorism and anti-riot operations. The draft decree imposes formal requirements for government data requests, but these are not particularly stringent. Verbal requests are allowed in cases where a written request cannot be provided immediately, provided that a written confirmation follows. Businesses handling large volumes of personal or corporate data should assess the impact of these obligations on their protection and compliance strategies. The draft mandates the creation of a national data centre, which will serve as a centralised hub for government data collection, storage, and exchange. Companies storing or processing regulated data may be required to integrate their systems with this centre, raising concerns over operational flexibility and security. With the Data Law and its draft decree set to reshape Vietnams digital landscape, businesses must prepare for significant regulatory changes. A key priority is assessing handling practices, identifying whether an organisation processes core or important data, and ensuring readiness for heightened compliance requirements. Cross-border data transfers will also need careful re-evaluation. Companies must ensure that legal documentation and risk assessments align with new regulatory expectations to avoid potential disruptions. Given that the draft remains under consultation, businesses should engage in policy discussions and provide feedback to shape the final regulations in a way that balances compliance with operational feasibility. At the same time, strengthening protection measures will be essential. Organisations should implement enhanced security controls and audit mechanisms to comply with potential government data access requirements. The draft decree represents a pivotal shift in Vietnams data governance regime. While it provides greater clarity on compliance obligations, it also introduces more stringent regulations that businesses must navigate carefully. Given this evolving regulatory landscape, companies operating in Vietnam should take a proactive approach adjusting policies, engaging with regulators, and ensuring robust security practices to meet new legal requirements. Photo: Le Toan In early March, SmartSolar become the latest Vietnam-based energy tech company securing a $1.85 million seed funding from Picus Capital and 2degrees, with additional backing from Iterative. The company offers an innovative zero-upfront-cost business model enabling small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Southeast Asia to rapidly adopt rooftop solar solutions, removing financial barriers to clean energy transitions. After six months of launching, SmartSolar has installed nearly 1MWp of capacity across various SMEs in Vietnam. The company will use the fresh funding to scale up its operations locally and expand its footprint across Southeast Asia. The companys long-term objective goes beyond installations, with plans to create a comprehensive EnergyTech platform that will enable SMEs to smoothly shift to renewable energy. Soren Wiberg Holm, venture lead at 2degrees, said, We consider the market for solar in Vietnam at an inflection point, with surging local demand, favourable natural conditions, and strong policy tailwinds. SmartSolar directly addresses what is perhaps one of the largest barriers to solar adoption by SMEs in the region access to upfront capital. We have deep, deep conviction that the SmartSolar team is positioned to build financing infrastructure to power the transition to clean energy in not just Vietnam, but ultimately the entire region, Holm added. In early February, Clime Capital made an investment in Ampotech, a Singapore-based energy management solution provider with operations in Vietnam. This investment, facilitated through the Southeast Asia Clean Energy Fund II, will support Ampotechs regional Southeast Asia expansion with an initial focus on market growth in Vietnam, Indonesia, and also the Philippines. Ampotech platform, using smart Internet of Things solutions and AI support, optimises energy usage in large buildings, factories, and infrastructure, helping reduce energy costs, ensure energy security, and contribute to Vietnams carbon reduction and sustainability goals. Jessica Tran, Clime Capitals country manager in Vietnam, said, Ampotech and energy tech companies are playing a pivotal role in transforming Southeast Asian countries energy landscape by leveraging innovation and technology to drive the transition to clean, sustainable energy. Ampotech and others are introducing cutting-edge solutions such as AI-enabled platforms that optimise energy management in large-scale infrastructures, multi-construction builds environment including office buildings, factories, logistics facilities. This innovation helps businesses reduce energy consumption, lower operational costs, and increase energy efficiency. With growing demand for energy infrastructure to support economic development, technology-driven companies are helping Vietnam modernise its energy sector and shift towards renewable energy sources, Tran said. Indeed, more foreign funds and financial institutions are ramping up their support to Vietnams energy transition efforts. On March 12, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the financing arm of the European Union, reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with the State Bank of Vietnam on sustainable finance through technical assistance under the EIBs Greening Financial Systems programme (see Page 6). On March 6, net-zero solutions provider Banpu NEXT signed a deal with SolarBK, a Vietnamese clean energy company, to establish a joint venture named Esco NEXT to continue expanding the scale of renewable energy in Vietnam. In the first phase, Esco NEXT targets to deploy at least 390MW of rooftop solar power within the first few years. James Rama Phataminviphas, group senior vice president for Strategic Investment and Partnership at Banpu NEXT, said, This strategic partnership is a key milestone in our renewable business to accelerating the growth of our solar rooftop portfolio in Vietnam. We see Vietnam as a potential renewable market, and we believe that this joint venture can strengthen our business growth and ecosystem while contributing to the countrys net-zero goal. In January, Vietnams CME Solar secured $20 million investment from Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) to develop a pipeline of rooftop solar projects for companies in Vietnam, aiming to reach over 260MWp of projects. Esther Chan, fund manager of EAAIF, said Vietnam was a standout example of a dynamic, resilient growth market in Asia, with 6.5 per cent growth forecast in 2025 and 2026, up from 5 per cent in 2023. We also find Vietnam an attractive place to invest because of the quality of companies and management we find in the country, Chan said. In Asia, there is a $1.7 trillion annual infrastructure investment opportunity. EAAIF is poised to capitalise on this potential to drive growth, rapidly enhance climate-resilient infrastructure, and support communities in adapting to climate change. Also in January, Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, announced its investment in Ecoligo, a global solar commercial and industrial player. This marks the first investment by Mirova Gigaton Fund in Vietnam, with a commitment of $10 million in senior debt financing. The investment aims to finance a portfolio of greenfield solar rooftop projects. Dual transition to help firms of all sizes The green and digital dual transition is bringing transformative changes to Vietnams business community, but significant challenges in financial resources and policy frameworks need to be addressed for greater acceleration. The funding strengthens SeABank's financial capacity to enhance financial access, improve capacities and expand key business areas for Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-owned enterprises; while improving the implementation of international practices in environmental and social risk management and climate change mitigation. This also marks the beginning of a partnership focused on economic growth and financial inclusion between SeABank and the French and Dutch government-owned financial institutions. Le Van Tan, chairman of the board at SeABank, highlighted SeABank's customer-centric commitment to guaranteeing equal financial access for all individuals and businesses. He emphasised, "The investment aligns with SeABank's sustainability strategy and enhances SeABank's ability to offer effective financial solutions, support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women-owned entrepreneurs, and climate action.". Olivier Brochet, French ambassador to Vietnam, expressed his support for Proparco's activities in the Vietnamese market. "As the Vietnam-France relationship has been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership, we remain committed to supporting Vietnam's development. This cooperation is in line with our strategic direction and the common commitments made at the G7 Summit 2024, particularly aiming to address challenges of the new era through ecosystem protection and SME and women-owned entrepreneurs support," he said. Kees van Baar, Dutch ambassador to Vietnam, highlighted the Netherlands' role as Vietnam's largest European investor and trading partner, with common strengths in water resources and shared development objectives of driving growth in Vietnam, focusing on SMEs and women-owned enterprises. Kees van Baar emphasised the reason for choosing SeABank as a partner, saying, "SeABank has a clear strategic vision in providing financial solutions that support private enterprises, SMEs, and women-owned enterprises; along with international reputations and networks to implement these initiatives. I believe that FMO and Dutch enterprises, together with SeABank and its ecosystem partners will have cooperative opportunities in the near future". With this investment, SeABank's total international mobilisation has reached nearly $1.1 billion. This includes loans, credits, and trade finance from major financial institutions such as DFC, IFC, AIIB, Norfund, and OPEC. The growing trust from global partners demonstrates SeABank's strong reputation, operational efficiency, and commitment to supporting SMEs and women-owned enterprises. AIIB to spend $75 million on green and blue SeABank bonds The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is commited to investing $75 million into green and blue bonds to be issued by Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank). SeABank secures $30 million convertible loan from Norfund SeABank signed a $30 million convertible loan agreement with The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund) on August 13. In early March, Mekong Capital announced that Mekong Enterprise Fund IV has become a shareholder of TNH Hospital Group, one of the pioneering private hospital systems.The deal marks Mekong Capitals first hospital investment in Vietnam with a view to increasing access to high-quality yet affordable healthcare across the country. Based in the northern city of Thai Nguyen, TNH Hospital Group has expanded its hospital system in multiple locations after over a decade of development. The group boasts three hospitals, including 700 licensed hospital beds and over 800 staff. Chad Ovel, partner of Mekong Capital, said it has examined numerous previous hospital investment opportunities over the past 15 years but ultimately passed on those opportunities for various reasons. What makes TNH Hospital Group particularly attractive to Mekong Capital is the company has a clear long-term growth strategy of building new hospitals in new catchment areas. They have a track record of executing such growth, with the recent opening of their third hospital in 2024 and a fourth hospital currently under construction. Among the key drivers for the growth of the private hospital sector in the coming decade include more widespread adoption of private health insurance and an ageing population in Vietnam, he said. In February, Singapores wealth fund GIC poured $135 million into Nhi Dong 315 under 315 Medical, bringing the total investment to nearly $200 million. Nhi Dong 315 is a paediatric and maternity clinic chain under 315 Medical. This investment not only bolsters 315s potential financing but also demonstrates the confidence of international investment funds in its growth potential. Leverage GICs extensive experience in healthcare investment, the collaboration will help 315 Medical improve service quality, expand scale, and apply modern technology to examinations and treatment at its clinic system. Vietnam-based healthcare clinic chain FDcare has secured $2.5 million in Series A funding led by Singapore venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures and US-based Cercano Management, with participation from existing investors Center Back Capital and AiViet Venture. FDCare is pioneering a comprehensive primary care model that integrates preventive screening, personalised consultation, treatment, chronic disease management, and end-of-life care. The fresh funding will fuel expansion into multiple new locations and the diversification of its service offerings. The growing willingness of Vietnamese consumers to pay out-of-pocket for healthcare and purchase private health insurance coverage is a key trend that will continue to promote growth of funding into private hospitals and healthcare clinics. According to the World Health Organization, total healthcare expenditures in Vietnam will grow from $2 billion in 2020 to $34 billion in 2025. Over that same period, out-of-pocket and private health insurance is likely to grow from 42 per cent of total healthcare expenditure in 2020 to 66 per cent in 2025. Furthermore, with rising health awareness, patients are set to shift to private healthcare services for convenience, better services, and availability of good doctors. Le Minh Phieu, founder of LMP Lawyers, said healthcare is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign investors, particularly in hospital chains and speciality clinics. A large population, an ageing demographic, rising income levels, and greater awareness of quality healthcare are driving demand for private medical services, Phieu said. At the same time, government policies actively encourage private and foreign investment, creating a favourable regulatory environment. With public hospitals often overcrowded and lacking specialised care, private providers have significant opportunities to fill these gaps. Additionally, Vietnam is emerging as a medical tourism destination, benefiting from competitive pricing and improving standards. These factors make assets, especially hospital chains and speciality clinics, an appealing long-term investment opportunity, Phieu said. According to the latest report from PwC, the healthcare merger and acquisition landscape in Vietnam for the rest of 2025 is expected to be vibrant, driven by increasing demand for high-quality healthcare services and a rapidly expanding middle class. Private hospitals and speciality clinics, such as ophthalmology and oncology centres, will be the primary drivers of dealmaking activity. Phieu added that foreign investors in Vietnams healthcare sector look beyond market fundamentals, prioritising a stable regulatory environment, strong local partnerships, and scalable healthcare assets. They assess profitability through insurance coverage and reimbursement models while also valuing technology adoption, such as telemedicine and AI-driven diagnostics, he said. The availability of skilled medical professionals is crucial, as is the sectors potential and clear exit strategies. These factors, alongside rising healthcare demand, make Vietnam an attractive investment destination. Ovel of Mekong Capital added, For investors looking to acquire or invest in Vietnamese private hospitals, I would recommend carefully studying affordability of pricing for patients; incumbent competition in the immediate catchment area; the companys ability to recruit and retain professionals; and unit economics, particularly given the high capital expenditure required to build a hospital to required standards. Digital health must reach further ground Although digital transformation in healthcare is covering more bases than ever, its implementation remains slow in various aspects. Worker housing area in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park The Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA) has submitted feedback to the prime minister on a draft pilot project for policies aimed at accelerating social housing development. In its document dated March 21, HoREA proposed allowing manufacturers in industrial parks (IPs) to invest in building dormitory housing for workers. The association also called for changes to permit enterprises to rent social housing or worker dormitories located outside IP boundaries. The proposal follows the Ministry of Constructions (MoC) submission to the government on March 17 of Document No. 08/TTr-BXD, which outlines a draft National Assembly resolution on piloting policies for social housing development. The MoC also issued an accompanying impact assessment, Report No. 14/BC-BXD. The documents aim to pave the way for at least one million social housing units to be built during the 2021-2030 period and beyond. They outline seven pilot policies intended to accelerate progress and expand access to affordable housing. After reviewing the MoCs proposal, HoREA recommended that costs related to constructing or renting worker dormitories be recognised as legitimate business expenses and included in production costs. It also highlighted a gap in the current Housing Law, which only allows enterprises to rent worker housing within IPs. There are no regulations allowing enterprises to rent social housing outside IPs or to build their own dormitories for workers, said HoREA chairman Le Hoang Chau. He noted that the demand for worker housing is rising, but supply remains constrained, while commercial housing is often unaffordable for workers. HoREA urged the government to support manufacturersregardless of whether they are involved in real estateso they can take an active role in resolving housing issues. Allowing this would help stabilise the workforce, give workers more security, and support the sustainable development of industrial zones, HoREA stated. To encourage participation, the association also recommended financial support policies such as tax incentives, preferential loans, and reciprocal mechanisms from the state to ease the financial burden on businesses. Previously, some enterprises proposed buying land, building homes, and selling them to workers through instalment schemes. However, legal procedures remain a significant barrier to implementation. Sizable IPs approved for investment in January The government gave the greenlight for a series of new multi-million dollar industrial parks across the country in January. At the end of 2013, Vietnam set out the direction for a fundamental and comprehensive renewal of education and training in Vietnam, with one key guiding principle involving developing education and training while ensuring it meets the requirements of international integration to drive national development. Duong Thi Mai Hoa, managing partner, Indusviet Legal Over the past decade, as of July 2024, the total investment capital in education had exceeded $4.57 billion with approximately 430 foreign-linked training programmes operating across 65 domestic higher education institutions. Additionally, there are now five foreign-invested higher education institutions active in Vietnam: RMIT University Vietnam, British University Vietnam, American University in Vietnam, Fulbright University Vietnam, and Tokyo Medical University Vietnam. These figures indicate that foreign investment is primarily concentrated in higher education, largely due to advantages in policies for this segment compared to others, such as K-12 and preschool education. In regard to Vietnams legal framework, aside from the aforementioned free trade deals, the country has established a relatively comprehensive legal foundation for international cooperation in education, ranging from codified laws to guiding regulations. The 2019 Law on Education has dedicated a specific section with four articles governing international cooperation in education, and upon such legal basis, guiding regulations such as October 2024s Decree No.124/2024/ND-CP, which amends and supplements certain provisions of a previous decree regarding foreign cooperation and investment in education, have been implemented. While some foreign-invested institutions have successfully capitalised on open policies and acquired positive results, investors still face major challenges due to the strict procedural requirements for establishing and operating a foreign-invested educational project in Vietnam. Investors must navigate a complex investment process governed by multiple laws, involving steps such as meeting eligibility criteria for foreign investors and registering the project, registering the enterprise under corporate law, and acquiring an education operation licence. Furthermore, additional procedures such as recognising the school principal, school board, and acquiring approval of the curriculum also further complicate the process. Apart from procedural requirements, costs related to infrastructure, investment capital, and implementation time also pose significant challenges for investors in establishing educational institutions. In particular, expenses, conditions, and procedures to secure a suitable location, as well as meeting infrastructure requirements, now prove to be major concerns. Under Decree 124, the minimum investment capital required to establish a branch campus of a foreign higher education institution in Vietnam is VND500 billion ($20 million), excluding land-use costs, doubling the minimum level set in the previous decree. Also, the decree mandates that foreign higher education institutions looking to establish its campus in Vietnam must be legally established and operating in their home country and must rank among the top 500 universities in reputable rankings in at least one of the past three years. From a policy perspective, it is clear to see that Vietnam is open to foreign investment in establishing branch campuses of foreign higher education institutions. However, along with the goal of attracting investment, the country has tightened fundamental requirements regarding infrastructure, investment capital, and institutional quality with an aim to enhance the quality and market value of Vietnams education sector. As a result, in recent years, foreign investors in Vietnams education sector have been shifting their investment strategies. Foreign capital has increasingly flowed into mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with its key targets including language training centres with notable transactions such as edtech startup VUIHOCs strategic investment in the IELTS Workshop chain in June 2024. Other targets included international schools, with the significant investment deal of Nutifood acquiring Anne Hill International School in August last year, among others. Education and M&A experts agree that with Vietnams strong policies encouraging investment particularly with no restrictions on foreign ownership in educational institutions the M&A market in Vietnams education sector was, is and will certainly be increasingly attractive. Especially with the inevitable rise of technology, Vietnamese edtech startups will soon be positioned as key investment targets for foreign investors looking to enter the education market. However, foreign investors should proceed with caution. Under Vietnams current legal framework, M&A transactions do not yet have clearly defined regulations for the complete transfer of ownership from domestic investors to foreign ones or vice versa. This means that legal and procedural challenges may arise when transferring ownership, updating legal documents, and adjusting operational licences. Investors may also face extended time and additional costs for processes such as renaming institutions, restructuring and recognising new school boards, or appointing foreign principals. Amid Vietnams ongoing structural reforms at both central and local levels, along with a strong focus on education, investors must enhance their ability to meet regulatory conditions and ensure long-term resource stability to achieve success in Vietnams dynamic education market. Education a major cog for semiconductor advances In a bid to provide more talent for Vietnam in high-tech industries, the government will establish a training system that will be the first of its type in the country. Nguyen Quoc Sy, chairman VinIT Technology Institute Science, technology, and innovation are the foundation for industrialisation and modernisation of the country, enabling the country to develop further. In order to take advantage, we not only need to create a legal corridor and an effective implementation mechanism, but also need to clearly define the goals, resources, organisational, and implementation models. In particular, we need to pay attention to new factors, make the most of favourable opportunities, and have plans to solve difficulties, creating momentum and strength for the development of sci-tech and innovation. There are many tasks set for national development through this, including short-term and long-term ones. I believe that tasks must be set in accordance with the countrys development conditions, within ones capacity, and must be objective and realistic. For example, we want to build a semiconductor industry which is necessary for the development of our industries and economy. However, it is also necessary to mobilise many resources, make large investments, and have careful preparation to succeed. Countries typically require decades to develop a semiconductor industry, and we are no exception: we cannot skip stages. Many countries have spent a lot of money, effort, and time but could not succeed. Avoiding failure is also success in the context of our limited resources, when carrying out large projects simultaneously, we need to avoid over-investing, leading to losses. I believe that developing sci-tech and innovation requires a truly effective organisational and management system that operates in line with the market economy. Research results must be evaluated based on their effectiveness and impact in promoting economic, social, security, and defence development, helping enhance the countrys position and prestige. Models of relevant activities between the state, scientists, and enterprises need to be summarised and lessons learned. In fact, to be successful in Vietnams conditions, an entity often has to perform many tasks, which is not easy for private enterprises or scientists to carry out. New policies to remove obstacles in sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation activities, including one on exemption from civil liabilities, contribute to clearing the way so that scientists can confidently and boldly research and implement related projects. However, it is also necessary to pay attention to monitoring and effectively managing investment capital for projects. Some involved in science struggle with managing cash flow or commercialising their products, even during the research process. Therefore, there should be support mechanisms for them to effectively use investment capital, avoiding losses and other consequences. Obviously, scientific research is a creative activity that is not always successful. The important thing is that we accumulate experience and knowledge to achieve success. The real failure that needs to be avoided, in my opinion, is when money corrupts people working in science. Vietnam has an important geopolitical position in the heart of Asia-Pacific. More than 60 per cent of goods in transport through this region, and so this is a great opportunity for Vietnam to cooperate internationally and develop science, technology, and innovation. However, to take advantage of this and achieve success, we first need to change our working culture, industrial style, and labour discipline. Without this change, the strategy will not be successful. Japan and South Korea are typical examples of the transformation to a sci-tech powerhouse thanks to changes in thinking, style, and industrial working culture. Our system human resource training management in this area needs to change to suit the tasks in the new situation. For example, it is necessary to change the scientific research and education system, especially university education, linking training with scientific research, bringing research into enterprises to be able to directly and effectively solve practical application problems. In particular, waste in investment in science and technology is one of the main concerns. Thousands of research topics have been funded but have not been put into practical application, causing huge amounts of waste. Many research results have not been deployed for the countrys economic or social development. The novelty, creativity, and application of many research topics are frail. It needs to conduct a general inspection and re-evaluate ineffective investments, and even cut down on these to focus on areas with high potential. International cooperation should be considered a national development strategy, in which science, technology, and innovation must be the spearhead of international cooperation. That is not only about sharing markets, but also about increasing sci-tech capacity, learning methods and models of management organisation. In the open world of globalisation and fierce competition today, no-one can go it alone. Extensive international cooperation is the key to helping us quickly learn, supplement, and improve ourselves. This is the path that many countries have succeeded in and are pursuing, not just Vietnam. Nguyen Canh Cuong, senior advisor, University of Economics and Business Vietnam National University Vietnam, like many developing countries, faces serious air quality challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, and inadequate environmental governance. To reverse this trend and build a more sustainable future, Vietnam must take bold action - one of which is the formulation and adoption of a clean air act, inspired by successful international models such as the UKs Clean Air Act 1993. Markets consistently fail to internalise the social costs of pollution. Emissions from industries, power plants, and transportation continue to inflict significant health and environmental damage - costs that are not reflected in the price of goods and services. This externality problem results in overproduction and overconsumption of polluting activities. For instance, coal-based electricity, although relatively cheap in financial terms, incurs massive costs in terms of public health, reduced worker productivity, and environmental degradation. In Vietnams major cities, the rising concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has led to increasing cases of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, yet these impacts remain unpriced in the energy and transport sectors. Vietnam can draw valuable lessons from the United Kingdoms long-standing efforts to tackle air pollution. The UK Clean Air Act, a comprehensive legal framework, has played a vital role in reducing urban air pollution and protecting public health. The act embraces key features that have far and wide impacts on socioeconomic development, including public health. It prohibits dark smoke from industrial and domestic chimneys, enforcing the use of approved fuels and equipment. It also allows local governments to declare areas where only clean fuels are permitted. In addition, it also imposes stricter emission limits on high-pollution industries, backed by permit requirements. What is more, the act also covers regulations on chimney height in order to ensure proper pollutant dispersion through minimum height requirements. Besides waste burning regulations, the act also bans open burning of materials like tyres or plastics to prevent toxic smoke. It empowers local authorities to inspect, enforce, and penalise violations. These measures have not only improved air quality in British cities but also stimulated the development of cleaner technologies and encouraged public awareness. To effectively address its air pollution crisis, Vietnam must move beyond fragmented policies and adopt a unified legal framework similar to the UKs model. A proposed Vietnam clean air act could serve as a cornerstone of national environmental governance. It is recommended that this act covers important provisions. First is emission control standards, in which enforceable national standards for industrial, vehicular, and residential emissions are to be carved, while it is necessary to require industries to obtain permits based on emission intensity and environmental impact. Second is smoke control zones and promotion of clean technology. Specifically, it is needed to empower provincial and city governments to designate clean air zones where only low-emission fuels and technologies are allowed; to mandate energy efficiency benchmarks; and to provide fiscal incentives for using renewable energy, electric vehicles, and clean heating systems. Third is waste burning regulation, in which the government is advised to prohibit the burning of materials that generate toxic smoke, and encourage modern waste treatment technologies and a circular economy model. Vietnam also needs to set chimney and stack height regulations by introducing national guidelines to ensure adequate pollutant dispersion. Next is to promote monitoring, transparency, and enforcement through strengthening environmental monitoring systems, while there is a need to mandate public disclosure of emissions data, and enforce penalties for non-compliance with air quality standards. Clean air legislation should also be accompanied by broader reforms to ensure the effectiveness of carbon pricing mechanisms. The government needs to introduce carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes to internalise environmental costs. It is necessary to create proper mechanisms to lure in green infrastructure investments, and expand public transport, urban green spaces, and renewable energy facilities. In addition, public awareness and education must be promoted through the launch of nationwide campaigns and integrate environmental education into school curricula. The country also needs to provide more technical and financial support to businesses shifting towards cleaner production methods. Another issue of no less importance is to harness the role of business and consulting expertise. Large corporations in Vietnam are already demonstrating leadership in reducing emissions. The government should leverage this momentum by partnering with sustainability consulting firms to provide strategic guidance, conduct impact assessments, and facilitate clean technology transfers. Vietnam is at a critical juncture. The countrys growth trajectory must align with the need for a healthy environment and climate resilience. A clean air act for Vietnam is no longer optional - it is a strategic imperative. Designed for discerning palates, these events will showcase the restaurants dedication to sophisticated flavours, meticulous craftsmanship, and world-class hospitality. Across April and May, guests will have the opportunity to explore a specially curated Canadian seafood menu, as well as an exceptional wine pairing dinner featuring selections from the prestigious Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Unique five-course wine pairing dinner featuring Francis Ford Coppola wines at Hemispheres Steak and Seafood Grill. Photo: Sheraton Hanoi Hotel On the evening of April 8, Hemispheres will present a one-night-only wine pairing experience, offering a rare chance to savour the intersection of fine dining and acclaimed Californian winemaking. Each of the five courses has been meticulously crafted to complement a wine from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, an estate founded by the legendary filmmaker behind The Godfather. The journey begins with an Alaska King Crab Tartare, its delicate sweetness lifted by the crisp effervescence of Sofia Blanc de Blancs Sparkling, a refined sparkling wine named after Coppolas daughter. As the evening progresses, the interplay of flavours deepens, with pan-fried Hokkaido scallops in vermouth sauce elegantly paired with the Diamond Collection Pinot Grigio, a well-balanced white with refreshing acidity. Building on these refined notes, the meal continues with a rich and earthy Local Mushroom Delice, where the umami of truffle emulsion and the creaminess of Dalat mozzarella find harmony with the Directors Cut Chardonnay, a bold yet refined selection from Sonoma Coast. The menu then turns to robust flavours, as a pan-grilled duck breast with orange sauce meets the vibrancy of Directors Cut Pinot Noir, while a BBQ US prime tenderloin with black garlic sauce is elevated by the depth and structure of Directors Cut Cabernet Sauvignon. To bring this sensory journey to a close, a chocolate lava cCake with rum and raisin ice cream and a red wine berry compote serves as an indulgent final note, rounding out the evenings exploration of balanced pairings and nuanced tastes. Priced at $80 per person, excluding tax and service charges, this intimate experience is available for a limited number of guests, with reservations highly recommended. A culinary celebration of Canadian seafood. Photo: Sheraton Hanoi Hotel Following this exclusive event, Hemispheres will turn its attention to the finest cold-water seafood from Canada, a country renowned for its pristine waters and high-quality produce. Carefully curated to highlight the natural sweetness and freshness of these ingredients, the Canadian Seafood Set Menu will be available from early May, offering guests another opportunity to indulge in elevated dining. The experience begins with a classic Caesar Salad enhanced by the buttery richness of Canadian smoked salmon, its flavours deepened by crisp bacon and delicate Parmesan flakes. The menu then moves into bolder territory with Canadian mussels simmered in a spicy garlic miso sauce, a dish that balances umami depth with the bright freshness of spinach and the crisp texture of toasted bread. At the heart of this menu is the Garlic Butter Grilled Canadian Lobster, a delicacy that exemplifies both luxury and restraint. Grilled to perfection and infused with the aromatic richness of garlic butter, the dish is further elevated by black caviar, edamame, and a smooth green asparagus puree, enhancing the lobsters naturally sweet profile. For dessert, the meal takes a lighter, fragrant turn with an Earl Grey Tea Mousse, its floral essence complemented by a citrus-infused pineapple and orange compote, leaving a refreshing and balanced finish. Priced at $64 per person, excluding tax and service charges, this menu invites guests to explore the depths of Canadian seafood through a lens of refined culinary artistry. With these two carefully curated experiences, Hemispheres Steak & Seafood Grill reaffirms its position as one of Hanois premier dining destinations. Whether through the intricate balance of fine wines and gourmet dishes or the exploration of pristine Canadian seafood, the restaurant is expected to further set a benchmark for sophisticated gastronomy in Vietnams capital. Sheraton Hanoi Hotel unveils enchanting festive offerings Sheraton Hanoi Hotel is set to delight guests this festive season with a host of captivating activities, from Thanksgiving through to New Year, offering memorable and heartwarming experiences. State-of-the-art meeting facilities at Sheraton Hanoi In honour of its 20th anniversary, Sheraton Hanoi Hotel has unveiled a stunning renovation of its function spaces, including the Song Hong Grand Ballroom, Song Da Complete meeting room, and the newly transformed Ho Tay Complete meeting room. Long Chau is racing ahead of its competition in terms of store numbers and diverse portfolio, Le Toan FPT Retail is planning to open 500 Long Chau pharmacies nationwide in 2025 to meet local demands and deepen its market share. A representative of FPT Retail told VIR, The expansion will focus on districts and communities to get closer access to people amid narrower development space in big cities. We will open pharmacies and vaccination centres together. The Vietnamese pharmaceutical market remains fragmented, with more than 60,000 private-run pharmacies, accounting for about 85 per cent of the market share. Modern pharmacy chains are expanding rapidly, accounting for about 5.7 per cent of the market. The over-the-counter (OTC) channel has grown more rapidly than the hospital channel in recent three years due to its convenience, time-saving, and high-quality service. Consumers save more time when shopping at modern stores, with the big pharma chains including Long Chau, Pharmacity, An Khang, and Trung Son. Long Chau is in the lead with about 1,600 drug stores nationwide, making a profit annually and holding a market share of 20 per cent. However, Pharmacity and An Khang are still struggling. Pharmacity entered the retail pharma market in 2011 and has continued to face losses in recent years. It has had to close over 100 pharmacies to the current number of 900 since 2022. An Khang, run by local retailer Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG) reported in 2022 a loss of $12.24 million, with the loss increasing to $13.72 million in 2023 and $13.88 million last year. By the end of 2024, An Khang owned 326 drug stores, a drop of over 200 stores from the year previously. Meanwhile, Trung Son Pharma, since being acquired by Dongwha Pharma, has been expanding rapidly with many new stores in southern provinces like Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, Hau Giang, and Ben Tre. It now has more than 200 pharmacies and plans to increase the figure to 460 in 2026. To stand firm and keep growth, pharma chains are changing their business strategy, looking towards new areas of development space. According to industry insiders, the dense coverage of modern pharmacy chains such as Long Chau, An Khang, and Pharmacity in big cities makes expansion in such locations no longer easy and with limited room. Thus, their target markets are now tier 2-3 areas, especially in remote areas, where people have little access to drug stores with full product groups. Pharma expert Hai Ngo said, The speed of store expansion in big cities is slowing down, but in tier 2 and 3 provinces this is still untapped. In this situation, Long Chau may find that it cannot keep expanding in the same places. Financial and investment services provider Bao Viet Securities (BVSC) said that Long Chaus business prospects in the next 3-5 years are still very positive. The number of Long Chau stores will continue to be opened, but the opening speed will slow down in the following years. After the period of focusing on store expansion, Long Chau will focus on improving gross profit margin by increasing non-pharmaceutical products, or possibly private label products with high profit margins. BVSC expert Huy Truong Minh explained that compared to other competitors, Long Chau has many more competitive advantages that help it maintain the dominant position in the future. Long Chau was the first to be integrated into the VNeID application for online drug purchases. This utility is a component of the electronic health record, aiming to complete the entire healthcare process for the people, Minh said. Its drug portfolio is also more diverse and larger, along with the fast speed of opening stores in good locations, thereby enabling it to gain better profit margins. For MWG, in its 2025 business orientation, after restructuring the An Khang pharmacy chain, it plans to complete its drug portfolio, improve pharmaceutical expertise, and supplement operational capacity this year. We will focus on the quality of each pharmacy and aim to break even in the second quarter of 2025, then consider slow and steady expansion, said a MWG representative. Vietnams pharma retail revenue only makes up about 30 per cent of the total pharmaceuticals revenue, while this rate is 64 per cent in Brazil and 80 per cent in the Philippines. Tititada Research forecast that the expansion rate of local pharmacy chains will reach 15-20 per cent annually from 2025 onward, creating increasingly fierce competition. OTC sales are forecast to reach $1.8 billion in 2025, accounting for 23.4 per cent of total pharma sales. By 2030, OTC sales could be as much as $2.4 billion. Opportunities and development space remain widely open for players who have appropriate business strategies. As MWG and Pharmacity are looking into future changes, competition in the local market is expected to heat up, and more new players will emerge, expert Hai Ngo noted. Pharmacy chains boost tech capacities Modern pharmacy chains are adjusting their strategies by embracing new technologies and venturing into new spaces amid fierce competition in Vietnams pharmacy retail market. The Vietnamese genomics market is expanding rapidly, with a projected compound annual growth rate of over 16.5 per cent from 2023 to 2030, increasing from $163 million in 2023 to $482 million by 2030. To echo the growth of this sector, DKSH Business Unit Technology collaborated with PacBio and KTest, a provider of high-quality, highly accurate sequencing solutions, to hold an event in late February in Ho Chi Minh City where industry leaders and leading experts discussed the importance of gene sequencing in Vietnam and how to unlock the industry potential. Prof. Raquel Magalhaes, senior manager for regional business development at DKSH Group, emphasised that Vietnam's genomics sector is at a critical juncture where advanced technology meets the need for scientific progress in Vietnam and across the region. "DKSH is not just a distributor; we are enablers of scientific advancement. Our role is to connect global innovation with local expertise, ensuring that researchers and organisations in Vietnam have the necessary tools to drive groundbreaking discoveries," said Magalhaes. With in-depth expertise in regulatory processes and an extensive distribution network, DKSH is committed to supporting Vietnam's scientific community and positioning the country as a genomics hub in Asia. Prof. Raquel Magalhaes (centre), senior manager of regional business development at DKSH Group. Photo: DKSH Since 2023, DKSH has collaborated closely with PacBio, a global provider of genomic sequencing technology, to introduce cutting-edge sequencing solutions that meet the growing demand for precision genomics in Vietnam. PacBio's platforms, which were awarded 'Method of the Year' by Nature Methods in 2023, are redefining the genomics landscape with their unparalleled accuracy and flexibility. The collaboration between PacBio and DKSH represents a significant step forward in advancing gene sequencing across industries in Vietnam. This synergy not only strengthens gene sequencing capabilities but also improves accessibility for academia and researchers in Vietnam. Jennifer Hsu, associate Sales director for North, South and Southeast Asia, PacBio, underscored the significance of this collaboration in delivering transformative solutions to the Vietnamese market in the event. "PacBio's HiFi long-read sequencing technology is revolutionising precision medicine by enabling the detection of disease-causing variants linked to genetic disorders, while our short-read Sequencing by Binding (SBB) technology offers unprecedented accuracy for early cancer detection. Through our partnership with DKSH, we are bringing these innovations to researchers and clinicians in Vietnam, supporting advances in cancer research, rare diseases, and beyond," said Hsu. A compelling example of the impact of this collaboration is KTest, a Vietnamese genetic testing company that has adopted PacBio's short-read SBB technology with Onsos system. By leveraging this advanced platform, KTest is enhancing their research capabilities to deliver precise genetic insights with practical applications across fields such as agriculture, industry, and environmental studies. According to industry insiders, human genome projects are playing a crucial role in shaping the future of precision medicine in Vietnam. "By building comprehensive genomic databases and mapping genetic diversity, we can improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases and cancers while identifying population-specific genetic markers," said Hsu. These insights are key to developing personalised healthcare solutions tailored to the unique genetic profiles of diverse communities. Jennifer Hsu, associate sales director at PacBio. Photo: DKSH According to Hsu, the increasing demand for accurate and high-throughput genomic analysis in clinical practice is driving the development of targeted therapies, "This level of precision enables earlier, more accurate diagnoses, facilitating the development of targeted treatments, improving patient outcomes, and advancing personalised medicine," she said. Beyond healthcare, genomic sequencing technology is emerging as a vital tool in addressing global challenges such as climate change and food security. Hsu spoke about how decoding plant genomes with exceptional accuracy empowers researchers to develop high-yield, disease-resistant crop varieties, saying, "These innovations encourage sustainable agricultural practices and help preserve biodiversity, ensuring food security and minimising the environmental impact of modern agriculture." Prof. Nguyen Thi Xuan Mai, senior manager for national sales at DKSH Vietnam, said, "The high cost of sequencing technology remains a barrier to its widespread application in clinical research, agricultural innovation, and environmental monitoring. Overcoming these challenges requires a blend of advanced technology and strategic collaboration." Associate Prof. Ho Huynh Thuy Duong, founder of KTest, said, "The correlation between cost and value is the core issue. To solve this, we need time and coordination from many parties." Duong also said the company aims to increase sales by about 30 per cent this year. Looking ahead, Jennifer Hsu highlighted Vietnam's continued investment in genomic innovation is unlocking opportunities for scientific discoveries and practical applications. "Through strategic partnerships like the one with DKSH, we are enhancing scientific capabilities and contributing to a more sustainable future for Vietnam." Magalhaes said that besides collaborating with PacBio and KTest, DKSH will continue to bring new technologies to the Vietnamese market. "Our goal is to unlock Vietnam's potential and position it as a leading scientific hub," she said. DKSH and Abcam partner to advance life science research in Vietnam DKSH Business Unit Technology on November 6 announced a strategic collaboration with Abcam, a global life science company, to enhance the distribution and accessibility of the wide array of products designed to support life science research in Vietnam. Understanding the key drivers behind healthcare growth in Vietnam Southeast Asia stands at a pivotal moment in healthcare development. While the region represents 8.5 per cent of the worlds population, it accounts for only 1.4 per cent of global healthcare expenditure a disparity that signals both challenges and unprecedented opportunities. Bijay Singh, head Business Unit Healthcare at DKSH, highlights key developments shaping this promising market, based on a recent research paper in collaboration with FrontierView, an independent business intelligence and advisory firm. The move marks an important milestone in the partnership between Thanh Cong Group and Czech carmaker Skoda Auto. The plant covers 36.5 hectares with a capacity of 120,000 vehicles per year. Construction started in early 2023, and after 25 months of development, the factory is fully completed and ready for production. At the event, the plant ounveiled its first car, the Skoda Kushaqa model in line with Skoda's global quality standard. It is ready to enter commercial production and supply in the second quarter of 2025. As the first Skoda car factory in Southeast Asia, it is expected to be a centre for supplying Skoda cars to the regional market. Chairman of Thanh Cong Group, Nguyen Anh Tuan, said, "The Thanh Cong Viet Hung car plant is a major project within Thanh Cong Viet Hung Automotive and Supporting Industries Complex. We are willing to expand cooperation in European automobile technology, improve production and technological capabilities, and diversify product types, including green vehicles, electric vehicles, internal combustion engine vehicles, and specialised vehicles." Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda Auto, shared, The operation of the factory and the production of the first car, the Skoda Kushaq, marks an important milestone in the collaboration between Thanh Cong Group and Skoda in expanding the European car market in Vietnam and spreading the Skoda brand in the ASEAN region. We expect this collaboration to bring mutual success to both Skoda and Thanh Cong Group. I look forward to seeing the first standard quality Skoda cars coming out of the Thanh Cong Viet Hung facility. Thanh Cong Viet Hung Automotive and Supporting Industries Complex will continue to attract investments to build battery and engine factories, warehouse areas, research and development facilities, supporting areas, ports, and service areas. Czech Skoda Auto will manufacture cars in Quang Ninh The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has worked with the Czech Embassy in Vietnam and Skoda Auto on the plan of building an automobile factory in the northern province of Quang Ninh, after which the European carmaker wants to begin exporting its vehicles to other markets. TC Motor to distribute and manufacture Czech Skoda cars TC Motor, a distributor and assembler of South Korean Hyundai vehicles in Vietnam, will start distributing Skoda cars next year and cooperate with Skoda Auto to assemble the autos in a new factory. The ministry (MoF) has proposed reducing VAT by 2 per cent from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026, for goods and services currently subject to a 10 per cent VAT rate, bringing it down to 8 per cent. VAT cuts aim to stimulate consumption. Photo: baodautu.vn The MoF stated that from 2022 to the first half of 2025, the National Assembly (NA) had decided to reduce the VAT rate by 2 per cent for goods and services subject to the 10 per cent VAT rate, except for certain categories, such as telecommunications, IT, financial services, banking, securities, insurance, real estate business, metals, cast metal products, mining products (excluding coal mining), coke, refined petroleum, chemical products, and goods and services subject to special consumption tax. In the first two months of 2025, the estimated reduction in VAT revenue was approximately $332 million. Continued VAT reduction will prove crucial to stimulate economic development, support citizens and businesses, and propel production, tourism, and domestic consumption in 2025 and 2026, aligned with the government's development goals. According to the MoF's calculations, the expected reduction in state budget revenue for the second half of 2025 and the entirety of 2026 would be approximately $4.87 billion, of which $1.58 billion would be lost in H2 of 2025, and around $3.29 billion in 2026. The MoF noted that the VAT reduction would directly lower costs of goods and services. For businesses, the tax cut will help curtail production costs, and slash product prices for businesses that produce goods or provide services. This would increase the competitiveness of businesses' products, boost sales, expand production, and create more jobs. To offset the revenue shortfall caused by implementing this policy, the MoF proposed that the government direct ministries, central agencies, and local authorities to adopt the following measures. First, focus on implementing fiscal tasks, solutions, and policies according to resolutions issued by the National Assembly and the government to remove difficulties for businesses and citizens, and striving to attain GDP growth of at least 8 per cent in 2025, possibly reaching double-digit growth. Second, enhance management, auditing, and inspections, streamline administrative procedures, and accelerate digital transformation in tax management, especially in key sectors and regions, aiming to increase tax revenue in areas and fields that can offset the loss. The target is to increase state budget revenue by about 10 per cent in 2025 compared to the estimated 2024 figure. Third, tighten state budget expenditure, strengthen cost-saving measures, and utilise reserves, contingency funds, and other legal resources to finance disaster prevention, disease control, and other urgent tasks, while ensuring a balanced budget at all levels. The MoF has also proposed expanding the scope of the VAT cut to encompass more product groups, such as IT products and services (such as washing machines, microwaves, data processing services); cast metal products (such as metal containers, tanks, tools, boilers); coke, refined petroleum products; chemical products (such as fertilisers and nitrogen compounds, plastics, and synthetic rubbers in their primary form); coal at import stage and coal sold in commercial transactions; petrol, and oil. Proposed changes to interest deductibility rules may be welcomed by taxpayers Decree No.132/2020/ND-CP sets out the rules on transfer pricing in Vietnam and has been in effect since 2020. Businesses often face challenges applying the rules in Decree 132 around interest deductibility, particularly with regard to interest charged by credit institutions which are deemed to be related parties for transfer pricing purposes. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has proposed amendments to address these issues. Slew of improvements in proposed railway rules Amendments to the Law on Railway are necessary to institutionalise the Partys policy, create breakthroughs for development, and solve existing limitations in implementation. A decade ago, President Barack Obama signed an executive order making Wacos mammoth dig a national monument. Finally, someone from the National Park Service has arrived to oversee the world-renowned venue. We dont move fast, new site manager Theresa Moore said, trying but failing to subdue a grin. Now present and accounted for, Moore said she has fallen in love with Waco Mammoth National Monument, a still active paleontological site where scientists and college students methodically probe, sift and analyze. Visitors from around the country and world visit the site, which began its trip to prominence in 1978, when two men searching for arrowheads and fossils spotted an odd-looking bone extending from a ravine. They hauled their find to Baylor Universitys Strecker Museum, predecessor to the Mayborn Museum, and the rest, as they say, is history, about 65,000 years worth. The find was a femur bone attached to a Columbian mammoth, a herd member possibly killed quickly by a cataclysmic event. Researchers discovered remains of 16 Columbian mammoths between 1978 and 1990, and six more by 1997. They also found a Western camel, dwarf antelope, American alligator, giant tortoise and the tooth from a juvenile saber-toothed cat, a National Park Service fact sheet says. Moore, from her perspective as a 12-year employee of the National Park Service, said Waco having a national monument in its backyard is amazing and should stir community pride. The visitor experience matters, and she finds it inspiring to watch youngsters and their families looking into the pit displaying the mammoth finds in the spot they were unearthed, Moore said. She described as so cool viewing the behemoths and realizing they and humans once shared space. Columbian mammoths were the largest mammoth species, larger than their relatives, the woolly mammoths, standing 12 to 14 feet tall and weighing 10 tons or more. Their tusks could reach 16 feet in length. More exhibits and more discoveries will find their way to Waco Mammoth National Monument, but the process takes time. Scientific review and verification must accompany the more tedious tasks unfolding under the dig shelter, the excavating and the screenwashing to discover bone fragments. City of Waco staffers oversee day-to-day operations at the mammoth site. They lead tours, sell souvenirs and convey information. The National Park Service gets involved in the research side of things, Moore said, mentioning work with Baylor University students, interns representing other colleges and universities, volunteers and remote classrooms. Paleontologist Dr. Lindsey Yann and Park Ranger Brandon Kenning are assigned to Waco from the park service. Waco is kind of a unicorn, which attracted me, Moore said, describing the working relationship between the city, Baylor University and the National Park Service, a rarity among the 433 park service sites. She said momentum is building to create more local partnerships, but they remain rare. The city and National Park Service may keep their distance, geographically speaking, with separate offices at the site, but Moore believes the entities form a great team. During spring break, for example, Yann and Kenning staffed an information booth to interact with crowds flooding the sites welcome center. Jonathan Cook, Wacos parks and recreation director, dismissed any notion the National Park Service is looking over the citys shoulder. Not at all, Cook said. The National Park Service has done a very impressive job the past two to three years. For example, having someone with the expertise of Ms. Yann assigned to Waco is a great compliment, not something other national parks have experienced. Our relationship with the National Park Service has helped us become more efficient and streamlined in preserving the site and sharing an educational component with the world. The city employs four full-timers and seven part-timers at the site under the direction of longtime supervisor Raegan King. Statistics show 11.4% of Waco Mammoth National Monument visitors live in the Waco area. Asked if she would like to see local numbers improve, Moore said she wants everyone, including locals, to find the site irresistible. But the more I thought about it my mother grew up in Germany, and when my cousins came to visit, I took them to places we took for granted, she said. Sometimes staycations are the best. We are so lucky to have this attraction in our backyard, which I find so intriguing. Moore grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where her parents still live. She received a bachelors degree in American history from Texas A&M University and holds a masters degree in American history and Native American issues from the University of Oklahoma. She most recently served in a management position at Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas. She officially took the Waco job in November, one month after Baylor University formally transferred ownership of thousands of Columbian mammoth fossils and excavation photos to the National Park Service, a move that officials said likely would streamline access to researchers and could put the site in line for more funding grants. The transfer of ownership did not affect the Mayborn Museums status as the monuments official repository and research center. Russian Defence Ministry reports on progress of special military operation as of 26 March 2025 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. 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 enemys 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 Peoples Republic), Kirovsk, and Yampol (Donetsk Peoples 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 Peoples 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 Peoples 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 Peoples 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. Tags: WtR Coleg Cambria celebrated for work in Vietnam at diversity and equality awards This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 27th, 2025 Coleg Cambria has been praised for its work on the international stage at a prestigious awards ceremony focused on diversity, equality and inclusion. The college based in Wrexham, Deeside, Llysfasi and Northop was a finalist in the British Council Award for Excellence in International Work category at the Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards. The ceremony took place at Westminster in London and was attended by Vice Principal of Technical Studies Vicky Edwards, and Lisa Radcliffe, Assistant Principal for Technical Studies at Deeside. The accolade was in reference to a visit by Level 2 and Level 3 Health and Social Care students to Vietnam, where they spent two weeks with women at a social support centre and students at local primary schools, delivering workshops on conversational English and the Welsh language. The trip was organised by Lisa, in partnership with Challenges Abroad, which delivers and leads ethical adventures for young people all over the world, with funding provided by the UK Government Department of Educations Turing Scheme. She said Cambria was the first college to participate on the Challenges Abroad Vietnam pilot programme and it was a huge privilege. For us to have been nominated for this award and to be among the finalists was a great honour, Lisa added. We strive to give our learners the most incredible, accessible opportunities, in the UK and overseas, so for that to be recognised is extremely heartening. Vicky paid tribute to the colleges amazing team of lecturers and staff for delivering academic and job placement expeditions which give students a flavour of different cultures, traditions and work practices. These trips have been invaluable to building confidence and showing students what is out there, in many different industries worldwide, she said. And in this instance, the experience was also hugely beneficial to the communities visited by our learners, notably at the womens centre, where they helped develop life skills for them to become more independent and hopefully go on and have families and careers of their own. That in itself was reward for our college, so to be a finalist at the prestigious Beacon Awards is fantastic, added Vicky. The awards highlight pioneering practice among UK further education (FE) colleges, with initiatives ranging from cutting reoffending through adult learning to utilising AI to streamline workload and reducing carbon emissions and enhancing environmental responsibility. David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges said: The programmes and initiatives submitted have been nothing short of exemplary and show how vital colleges are, as anchor institutions, in delivering the growth and opportunities the government is aiming for. Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith added: I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners of this years Beacon Awards. From mental health support to building a sustainable future, these colleges have done incredible work to help our young people achieve and thrive. North Wales youth organisation wins National Crime Prevention Award This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 27th, 2025 A North Wales initiative that supports young people is celebrating after winning a top national award. Youth Shedz Cymru was crowned the winner of the High Sheriffs Association of England and Wales National Crimebeat Awards on March 18. It received the accolade for its outstanding contribution to helping reduce crime and creating a safer community. National Crimebeat is the associations youth crime prevention charity. The award took place at a glittering ceremony in London attended by the Youth Shedz management team, colleagues from the North Wales Police and Community Trust and young people from the Colwyn Bay, Mochdre and Llandudno Junction Youth Sheds (known as Shedderz). Youth Shedz was established by founder Scott Jenkinson in 2018 at its original location in Denbigh and has now grown to 12 sheds and projects in towns across North Wales, such as Llandudno Junction, Denbigh, Rhyl, Kinmel Bay, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Llysfaen, Buckley and Holyhead; along with Betsi providing a mobile shed that can visit communities across the region. A Youth Shed is similar to a community or youth centre, providing a space for young people to get together and get involved in positive and worthwhile activities. The philosophy is that no young person is excluded and Youth Shedz aims to reach people who may be less likely to engage with mainstream traditional youth services. The organisation, which is backed by Police and Crime Commissioner(PCC) for North Wales Andy Dunbobbin, last year received funding from the PCCs Your Community, Your Choice fund to establish a new Shed in Mochdre, near Colwyn Bay. Scott Jenkinson, Founder, Youth Shedz said: We are thrilled to have been recognised by this award and are super proud of all of the young Shedderz that we have the privilege of working with. We give thanks to all of our funders and supporters like the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Police and Community Trust and the High Sheriffs; we really cannot do it without you! North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: I am delighted that Youth Shedz has won the National Crimebeat award for their outstanding work with young people in North Wales. Supporting victims and communities are cornerstones of my plan to fight crime in North Wales, and Scott and the team at Youth Shedz do a fantastic job in spreading the message of positive citizenship among young people throughout all the towns and villages where they have a presence. I have seen first-hand the difference they make and think it is great they are now getting recognition on a national scale. Scott, the Youth Shedz team and all the young people involved have done North Wales proud. Wrexham MP backing Bill to protect title of Nurse in health and social care This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 27th, 2025 Wrexhams Member of Parliament has expressed his support for a campaign to legally protect the title nurse. The Nurse (Use of Title) Bill, a Private Members Bill introduced under the Ten Minute Rule by Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East, aims to ensure that only those registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as a registered nurse can use the title when working in health and social care. While the term registered nurse is already protected under UK law, the term nurse on its own is not. This loophole allows individuals without the proper qualifications or training, including those not registered or even those who have been struck off the NMC register for serious misconduct, to continue using the title of nurse. Ms Butler described the Bill as a simple and common-sense step to protect patients, strengthen the profession, and ensure clarity in healthcare settings. The Bill, which could have its second reading on March 28, has received the backing of Members of Parliament, nursing associations, trade unions and professionals within the nursing industry. If successful, the Bill would align the UK with international best practice. One local nurse told Wrexham.com that the Bill would help provide clear recognition and identification of healthcare professionals in an age of misinformation. They explained that they had reached out to Wrexhams MP, Andrew Ranger, to seek his backing for the Bill. Having watched Dawn Butlers impassioned pledge for the legislation of Nurse as a protected title, I was both moved and motivated to help promote this in any way I could, they explained. By contacting our local MP Andrew Ranger, I hoped to bring this to his attention and I am extremely pleased we have gained his support in this campaign. Unfortunately, we live in the age of misinformation and as such, the need has never been greater for clear recognition and identification of healthcare professionals. By establishing Nurse as a legally protected title, this will help protect the public by providing due accreditation to healthcare professionals delivering those crucial clinical services. Wrexhams MP Andrew Ranger said the Bill will help to bring the UK into line with international best practices. He said: Protection is needed for the title of nurse to firstly recognise the training and qualifications that nurses undertake as well as to give reassurance to the public that they are being treated by a properly qualified nurse. At the moment, given the proliferation of various providers using the term more generally and, in some cases, incorrectly, this can lead to misplaced confidence and trust that some procedures or advice are being given by a fully trained and qualified medic when they are not. Nursing is a vital profession for all of us and this protection of the title nurse will bring us into line with international best practices. The RCN (The Royal College of Nursing) has urged government and parties to back the campaign to help ensure that nursing gets the respect that it deserves. RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger said: Nursing is a safety-critical profession, and the title nurse needs to be protected. Patients deserve to know that when they are being treated by a registered nurse, that they can trust the knowledge, professionalism, and clinical expertise that brings. The changes in this bill will provide better legal protections for nursing. This includes preventing those who have lost the right to be called nurses from legally continuing to do so. We will continue to urge government and parties across the political spectrum to get behind this campaign, ensuring our highly skilled profession gets the respect it deserves. Deputies from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office were called to a reported disturbance at an Incline Village home on March 24 at around 2:43 a.m. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with three people inside the house, learning that before they arrived, the suspect had left the home. According to one victim, the suspect became hostile and physically attacked them at a social gathering. The suspect allegedly struck one victim in the forehead with a glass beer bottle and scratched the second victim's face. Deputies say they saw obvious wounds that matched the victims' reports. They later found the suspect sitting in a ditch nearby. Deputies say she was put in a patrol car while they carried out their investigation because of the weather and the clothes she was wearing. Deputies say the suspect had no apparent injuries and was arrested and booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility on the charge of battery with a deadly weapon. Governor Joe Lombardo has announced Steve Canavero as the Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Nevada Department of Education. Its a privilege to appoint Steve Canavero as our interim Superintendent of Public Instruction. With decades of experience, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to guide our education system through this vital transition, said Governor Lombardo. Canavero will officially begin on April 14, 2025. I look forward to supporting Governor Lombardo, Nevada Department of Education, and State Board during this important time, said Canavero. Canavero previously served as the Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2016 to 2019 under former Governor Brian Sandoval. Prior to his appointment in 2016, Canavero served as the Deputy Superintendent for Student Achievement for two years. (Office of Governor Lombardo) The Washoe County coroner has identified the woman killed at an apartment complex earlier this week in Reno. The coroner says 51-year-old Tiffany C. Galvan died on Catalina Drive near Neil Road just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The cause of death is pending further investigation and lab testing. Police say 52-year-old Rodrigo Inostroza-Soto was arrested and is now facing an open murder charge in connection with her death. Detectives believe that this is an isolated incident with no threat to the public. The investigation remains ongoing. If you have any information that can help authorities, call or text your anonymous tip to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900. A man was taken to the hospital by Care Flight after a crash involving a motorcycle on I-80 on Wednesday afternoon. It happened near Painted Rock just after 3:20 p.m., according to a Nevada State Police spokesperson. A motorcycle crashed into a guardrail, and the rider was hospitalized with serious injuries. Impairment and speed are not believed to be factors in the crash. Ellie Anest, co-founder and CEO of Napa's Eleven Eleven Wines, grew up on a farm in small-town Nebraska. The descendant of Greek immigrants, Anest was a little girl with big dreams. She recalls cutting images out of magazines and pasting them into a visionary scrapbook. I created pictures of what life could look like outside of this small towna world where theres diversity and opportunity and art and interesting people. One has to wonder if any of those photos included a vineyard. Anest's penchant for imagining led her from Nebraska to San Diego, where she studied sociology and accounting and met Eleven Eleven co-founder Carol Vassiliadis. That dreamingthe ability to have possibilitiescame a lot from [my mother], Anest says. She left her home in Greece at age 18 to seek opportunities in North America. Throughout her career, Anest has "always had a bit of a side hustle, she admits. (Even as a child, she was involved in everything from swing choir to Future Farmers of America.). When Anest was working as a business and financial consultant, she and Vassiliadis discovered a real estate opportunity in Napa. They invested in that first property, a vineyard with 3.5 acres of vines, with the vision of acquiring a small portfolio. I literally fell into this, Anest says. We bought the house and that year we had to figure out what to do with those grapes. As luck would have it, Anest connected with local winemaker Kirk Venge who turned their first harvest into an incredible pinot noir. Before I knew it, I was in the wine business, says Anest. It was that fast. Eleven Eleven's tasting room is tucked away at the edge of Napa. (Courtesy of Eleven Eleven) That kismet is one reason Anest selected "Eleven Eleven" as the name for the business. Many people consider 11:11 to be a meaningful number and a serendipitous time for wish-making. When I first read about the concept, I said Oh my gosh, this is everything! It brought her back to those childhood days of magazine clipping and scrapbooking. Though winemaking wasnt exactly what Anest initially had in mind, she didnt let that stop her from stepping into the opportunitydespite being confronted with skepticism when she first entered the industry. People were questioning, Why do you know what youre doing? And the truth is I didnt, but I knew I could figure it out. After purchasing the initial property (which can be rented through the winery), Anest and Vassiliadis went on to buy the 16 acres of vines that make up Destin Vineyard and the 12-acre estate where they built the Eleven Eleven tasting room. The Eleven Eleven tasting room is surrounded by 12 acres of vines. (Courtesy of Eleven Eleven) The journey from investor to CEO has required Anest to take on many roles, from hospitality director to interior decorator. On any given day Im wearing different hats, she says. Being adaptable and versatile are skills that Anest attributes to her small-town upbringing. I can jump in and out of things fairly quickly, and sometimes I take it a little bit for granted, she says. I feel like its my superpower. Versatility is reflected in Eleven Elevens portfolio of wines, too, which includes a fruit-forward rose of syrah, a fascinating tropical fruit sauvignon blanc, and a clean, crisp rieslingas well as a sultry pinot noir, three cabernets, and a late-harvest zinfandel. Which is her favorite? I know this sounds corny, but its like saying whos your favorite kid? She notes that each wine is uniquely beautiful. It really depends on who Im with and what Im doing. Selecting the right wine to meet the occasion is just one aspect of Eleven Elevens make your moment tagline. But for Anest, it isnt just about the wine. The wine is a vehicle to bring people together, she says. It has to be more about the magic of what it does when it brings people together. Id like to build on that here at the winery. Early efforts in this area include a series of wellness experiences that engage the senses, spark connections, and celebrate the art of living well. Held the first Thursday of the month, these events feature guest speakers on various wellness topics paired with small bites and wine. Eleven Eleven also hosts winemaker dinners, release parties, and, of course, tastings. Reflecting on that little girl in Nebraska growing up and looking ahead and wishing for something more, something different," Anest believes anyone has the power to make a similar wish. You have to focus your energy where you want things to happen, she says. Make a wish and make your moment. // 620 Trancas St. (Napa), elevenelevenwines.com Phase 2 Drilling at Vuzel Gold Project Perth, Mar 27, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Raiden Resources Ltd ( ASX:RDN ) ( YM4:FRA ) is pleased to announce the commencement of Phase 2 drilling on the Vuzel Gold Project, located in Bulgaria. - Phase 2 drilling at the Vuzel Gold Project has commenced, which will build upon the success of Raiden's 2022 maiden drilling program and recent structural mapping initiatives. - The drill program aims to better assess Vuzel' s potential to host a near-surface gold deposit of economic interest. - Vuzel gold project is strategically positioned near established gold processing facilities and multiple deposits, which could present commercial advantages. - The drilling campaign is being undertaken at a time of strong gold prices and is well-funded by Raiden's current cash position. Mr Dusko Ljubojevic, Managing Director of Raiden commented: "The commencement of Phase 2 drilling at Vuzel is an important milestone for the Project, as we seek to define the extent and continuity of the gold mineralisation encountered in the 2022 maiden drill campaign. We are particularly excited to kick start advancements at Vuzel at a time of record-high gold prices. Given Vuzel's location, any discovery of anear-surface gold system could benefit from regional processing infrastructure, which may add to commercial advantages for the project." Phase 2 Drilling Program Details The Phase 2 drilling program builds upon the success of the 2022 maiden drilling campaign, which confirmed gold mineralisation in all 11 drill holes. This Phase 2 program comprises an initial 2,000m of diamond drilling, targeting mineralisation at relatively shallow depths. The program could be expanded but will be dependent on the initial results. The campaign will focus on a combination of infill and extensional drilling, guided by recent structural interpretations of the project and past drilling results. The drilling campaign aims to deepen Raiden's understanding of the mineralised system and generate critical insights to guide future exploration at the Vuzel project. Raiden's longerterm objective is to delineate a potentially viable gold resource at Vuzel, with all ongoing exploration activities to remain data-driven. Should exploration results confirm a viable mineral resource, Raiden believes that the project's proximity to third-party processing infrastructure and other deposits may provide potential synergies, subject to further technical and economic assessments. Background Information Raiden secured an earn-in agreement for the Vuzel Project in April 2019, when the gold price was approximately US$1,258/Oz. Highlight historical rock chip - channel sampling results of the project at this time included: - 45m @ 1.48 g/t Au AND 63m @ 2.55 g/t Au (Line 1), including: o 33m @ 3.42 g/t Au o 3m @ 15.46 g/t Au - 24m @ 2.79 g/t Au (Trench 5), including: o 6m @ 9.31 g/t Au - 66m @ 1 g/t Au (Trench 13) - 99m @ 2.48 g/t Au (Trench 51), including: o 12m @ 11.78 g/t Au - 48m @ 4.96 g/t Au (Trench 52), including: o 24m @ 7.78 g/t Au o 6m @ 20.99 g/t Au This historical data, alongside further field-based exploration conducted at Vuzel in 2021 laid the groundwork for a maiden drilling program, which was completed in 2022. The maiden drilling program consisted of 11 drill holes totalling 1,594.8m and targeted outcropping, broad zones of gold mineralisation. The maiden drill program yielded promising results, with all drill holes intersecting significant near-surface mineralisation, including peak grades of up to 5.27g/t Au. Best results from the 2022 Maiden drill program, include and are not limited to: - 17m @ 1.13g/t Au from 1m in VZ2206, including: o 4.3m @ 2.19g/t Au o 1.2m @ 5.27g/t Au - 10m @ 1.18g/t Au from 7.7m in VZ2201, including: o 3.9m @ 2.38g/t Au - 8.8m @ 1.20g/t Au from 22.6m in VZ2209, including: o 1.3m @ 3.52g/t Au - 8.5m @ 1.10g/t Au from 7.5m in VZ2203, including: o 2.2m @ 2.66g/t Au The results from the maiden program indicated that mineralisation at Vuzel may be associated with a significant system as indicated by the prevalent alteration trends and anomalous surface gold values over a significant strike length. The near-surface and shallowdipping to sub-horizontal nature of the mineralisation continues to suggest the potential for an effective follow up drill campaign. Since completing the maiden drilling program, Raiden has further refined its structural interpretation of the Vuzel prospect, which underpins Phase 2 drilling. Next Steps Raiden believes that targeted follow-up exploration and a strategically planned Phase 2 drill campaign at Vuzel present a compelling exploration opportunity, particularly in the context of current gold prices. Raiden looks forward to providing further updates as the program progresses. *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/90W8AB44 About Raiden Resources Limited Raiden Resources Limited (ASX:RDN) (DAX:YM4) is a dual listed exploration and development company which is advancing the Mt Sholl Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Palladium deposit in the Pilbara. The Company's portfolio host metals and commodities considered critical for the energy and electrification revolution. Related Companies Idenburg Drill Program to Focus on Resource Expansion Sydney, Mar 27, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Far East Gold Ltd ( ASX:FEG ) will undertake an extensive drilling programme at the Idenburg gold project in Papua. A total 3,670m, 32-hole diamond drill programme is planned to build upon the reported 540,000oz @ 4.1 g/t JORC compliant inferred gold resource at the Company's Idenburg project. HIGHLIGHTS: - Independent consultants SMGC reported a total inferred JORC-compliant resource estimate for Idenburg of 4.1 million tonnes at an average grade of 4.1 g/t gold and 3.6g/t silver representing 540,000 ounces of gold and 468,000 ounces of silver (refer to Company ASX announcement of 13 November 2024, 15 December 2024). - Previous drilling conducted at the Sua prospect in mid-2005 and late 2006 reported gold-bearing intersections in 18 of the 22 holes completed. Results from fresh vein material were KSD001 (4m @ 5.96 g/t Au from 41 metres depth), KSD002 (7.5m @ 13.6 g/t Au from 21 metres, KSD004 (1m @ 33.8 g/t Au from 123 metres), KSD005 (9m @ 4.00 g/t Au from 80 metres), KSD008 (3.0m @ 35.0 g/t Au from 107 metres), KSD010 (3m @ 17.7 g/t Au from 55 metres) and KSD021 (1m @ 23.0 g/t Au from 77 metres). Refer ASX announcement 14 July 2024. - The resource estimate was comprised of the Sua, Bermol and Mafi prospect areas using historical drillhole data supplemented by newly acquired topographic survey data. These prospects are 3 of the total 14 prospect areas identified by historical exploration and determined to be valid resource targets by SMGC (refer to Company's ASX announcement of 14 and 21 August 2024). - Previous exploration focused on circa 30% of the total CoW area while most of the property remains vastly under-explored and holds potential for a significant expansion of the reported resources. - Independent consultants SMGC reported an Exploration Target for Idenburg of 7.2 million ounces at 6.1 g/t gold as an upper range and 189,000 ounces at 1.0 g/t gold as a lower range. (refer to Company's ASX announcements of 14 and 21 August 2024). - The Company will complete a 20 hole, 2,670m program to infill and expand the resources at the Sua, Bermol and Mafi prospect areas. The planned holes will test defined zones along strike and to depth to expand the current areas of resource and complete several infill holes to upgrade the resources to indicated and measured. The holes will also provide composite material for advanced metallurgical test work to further understand mineral recoveries. - The Company will complete a 12 hole, 1,000m program initial scout drilling at the Kwaplu prospect area. The prospect area is host to a large gold-in-soil geochemical anomaly which has not yet been drill tested. - CEO & Managing Director Shane Menere has released a video discussing this announcement. Watch the video on our investor hub here: https://fareast.gold/link/drLgGe. Mr Menere stated: "This is pivotal time for FEG. The Company is well-funded and has the people and plans in place to complete our exploration strategy. The focus is to significantly increase the insitu gold resource and advance the project to feasibility as quickly as possible". Geology and Geological Interpretation Field observations show that the basic style of gold mineralisation as determined from mapping and drill core logging is of the orogenic gold type, also referred to as mesothermal lode gold. The presence of coarse gold with a high nugget value is inherent to deposits of this type and will need to be evaluated when sampling or assaying. The current Idenburg Exploration COW is situated within the Idenburg Inlier which is a diverse geotectonic terrain situated at collisional plate boundaries along the northern edge of the structurally complex Mamberamo Fold and Thrust Belt. To better define the structural relationships and possible controls to mineralisation the Company has commissioned Murphy Geological Services to complete a detailed structural evaluation of the Idenburg COW. Completion is expected early Q2 2025. A review and assessment of historical exploration at Idenburg is discussed in the Independent Exploration Target Report for the Idenburg Property prepared by SMGC and released by the Company in ASX announcements of 15 and 21 August 2024. SMGC completed a maiden resource estimate for the Sua, Mafi and Bermol prospect areas using a cut-off grade of 0.1 g/t Au with no grade capping applied to the PT Iriana Mutiara Idenburg (IMI) historical assays. Refer to Company ASX announcement of 13 November 2024. SMGC completed a thorough review of the historical Idenburg geological database to assess if the data was suitable to support the estimating and reporting of Gold Resources by a Competent Person according to the 2012 JORC Code. SMGC determined that the zones of mineralisation delineated within the Sua, Bermol and Mafi prospects areas could be classified as a `Mineral Resource'. *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/HM214G0V About Far East Gold Ltd Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) is an Australian junior exploration company led by some of the biggest names in Australian mining. The company has secured the commercial rights for the acquisition, exploration and development of six advanced gold and copper projects in Indonesia and Australia, including one with a JORC estimate of 996,000 ounces of gold and 190 million pounds of copper. Related Companies Among many, Laapataa Ladies is one of the most engaging and beloved films from Aamir Khan Productions. While this creative production house brought an impactful and thought-provoking story, it also introduced some truly interesting characters. Though the story primarily revolves around Phool, Jaya, and Deepak, it was Sub-Inspector Shyam Manohar who left a distinct impact. But what if you got to see Aamir Khan step into the shoes of this intriguing character? Yes! Unseen footage of Aamir Khan auditioning for the role of Sub-Inspector Shyam Manohar in Laapataa Ladies has been released by Aamir Khan Talkies as part of their casting diaries. The footage captures Aamir Khans screen test for the role, which was ultimately played by Ravi Kishan. This unseen footage offers a fascinating glimpse into the casting process at Aamir Khan Productions. While Ravi Kishan portrayed the character brilliantly, seeing Aamir Khan audition for the role is undeniably intriguing. Moreover, Aamir Khan has truly transformed himself for this role as a cop. However, he is always known for undergoing remarkable transformations for his characters. From gaining muscle mass and sporting an eight-pack for Ghajini to the dramatic weight gain and loss for Dangal, from embodying a village man in Lagaan to convincingly portraying a college student in 3 Idiots, and even adopting a caveman-like look in Thugs of Hindostan, Aamir Khan has consistently immersed himself in his roles with sheer perfection, where his physical transformation has played a pivotal role. Beyond this, Aamir Khan Productions has an exciting lineup of films ahead, including Sitaare Zameen Par and Lahore 1947. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has initiated an investigation into Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC), the state-run liquor distribution agency, following allegations of anti-competitive practices, according to media reports. The probe stems from a complaint filed by a private individual, Chakra R Prabakaran, who accused TASMAC of unfairly favoring specific breweries and limiting consumer choice, media sources indicate. The CCI, in an order issued on March 25th, reportedly found prima facie evidence suggesting that TASMAC may be abusing its dominant position in the market, as reported by various news outlets. According to these reports, the CCI's order highlights that TASMAC appears to be restricting market access for certain beer brands, potentially violating the Competition Act, 2002. Prabakaran's complaint, as detailed in media reports, alleges that TASMAC disproportionately favors brands like SNJ 10000 and British Empire from SNJ Breweries and Kals Breweries, while neglecting other brands within its distribution network. This alleged practice, as reported, restricts consumer choice and creates an unfair market advantage for select breweries. TASMAC, which holds a monopoly over liquor retail in Tamil Nadu through a network of over 5,000 outlets, is now under scrutiny, according to the news reports. The CCI has reportedly directed its Director General to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter within 60 days, as per media sources. The investigation will focus on TASMAC's procurement policies, brand-wise sales data, manufacturer agreements, and other relevant factors to determine if the company has indeed abused its dominant position, news outlets have stated. This development comes shortly after the Madras High Court intervened in a separate investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against TASMAC, as reported by various media sources. The ED had conducted searches at TASMAC's headquarters in Chennai, alleging irregularities in tender processes and unaccounted cash transactions worth 1,000 crore. The High Court has directed the ED to provide details of its findings to the court, according to the reports. The recent controversy surrounding popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia has reignited discussions about transparency and accountability in the influencer marketing industry. Allahbadia, who boasts over 8 million followers on YouTube, came under fire after asking a contestant a provocative question on the show Indias Got Latent, triggering widespread outrage, police complaints, and even death threats. While granting him interim protection from arrest, the Supreme Court did not hold back in its criticism, using words like perverted mind, disgusting, and dirty. This incident raises a fundamental question: Who will draw the line between sanity and profanity? As the digital landscape evolves, consumers are becoming increasingly aware and sceptical of undisclosed brand promotions and misleading endorsements. This raises a critical question: Could this incident serve as a turning point for more stringent regulations and ethical marketing practices? For meaningful change to occur, multiple stakeholders must step up. Regulators may introduce stricter guidelines to ensure full disclosure, while agencies and brands will need to enforce compliance and ethical practices more rigorously. Ultimately, this controversy could push the industry toward a future where trust and authenticity become non-negotiable pillars of influencer marketing. The dark side A recent study by the University of Portsmouth sheds light on the dark side of social media influencers and their influence on marketing and consumer behaviour. According to the study, influencers pose psychological, health, and security risks necessitating stricter regulation. The research systematically examines the negative impact of influencers, highlighting concerns such as misinformation, endorsement of harmful products, unrealistic beauty standards, toxic comparison culture, deceptive marketing tactics, and privacy risks. To mitigate these risks, the study underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations, greater transparency, and more ethical marketing strategies. A turning point? The Allahbadia controversy marks a significant turning point for influencer marketing, sparking an industry-wide reassessment of authenticity standards, says Aditya Aima, Managing Director, Growth Markets; Co-MD, India and MENA, AnyMind Group. Unlike past scandals that quickly faded, this incident has fuelled ongoing discussions about creator responsibility and audience trust. When influential figures face genuine backlash, the ripple effects reshape industry practices permanently. Trust is the foundation of influencer marketing once followers sense deception, the damage extends beyond a single creator, eroding the credibility of the entire ecosystem. Forward-thinking brands now understand that prioritizing short-term metrics over authentic partnerships ultimately leads to reputational harm that outweighs any temporary gains, he explains. According to Aima, the industry is at a crucial inflection point. Regulators are likely to introduce stricter disclosure requirements, mandating clearer sponsorship tags and verification processes for claims. Industry associations will work on more comprehensive codes of conduct with stronger enforcement mechanisms, while agencies must take the lead in ensuring a safer, more accountable environment. Meanwhile, brands will need to be far more selective in their collaborations and implement robust contractual safeguards. For tech platforms like ours, data is everything, he adds. We must continue educating, contributing, and advocating for more data-driven, insight-led influencer marketing backed by the technological advancements that make it possible. Shivashish Tarkas, Founder, The InterMentalist, however, has a different take on this. He still doesnt get why an entire industry needs to be targeted because of the opinion or comments made by one individual from the same space. He notes that its become almost normal now for stakeholders to treat the whole industry like a punching bag. For instance, he notes, a show might have aired content that clearly hurt a lot of sentiments, but thats a matter between the individuals involved and the broadcasting body. According to him, it shouldnt be something that drags the entire influencer industry down, because not everyone in this space shares the same views or actions as that one person. What we need right now is to focus on building our own industry strong from the ground up, but thats not happening. Were facing so many internal issues that need addressing. Its sad to see how much focus goes to external issues when we still have so much to fix internally, Tarkas adds. Yasin Hamidani, Director, Media Care Brand Solutions, feels that the Ranveer Allahbadia controversy can indeed serve as a pivotal moment, pushing the influencer marketing industry towards greater transparency and accountability. He foresees regulators likely establishing clearer guidelines; agencies adopting stricter compliance and vetting procedures, and brands demanding authenticity and alignment from creators. Collectively, these stakeholders must work together to define ethical standards, enhance disclosure practices, and strengthen consumer trust. Such coordinated efforts are crucial for building credibility and sustaining the long-term viability of influencer marketing, he adds. Ambika Sharma, Founder and Chief Strategist, Pulp Strategy, believes its a pivotal moment. According to her, the influencer ecosystem has been growing unchecked, and while it's delivered massive value for brands, its also been plagued by inconsistencies in disclosure, content integrity, and financial transparency. What were seeing now is a clear signal that the era of informal influence is over. Regulators, agencies, and platforms all have a role to play in professionalizing the space. But it needs to be a collaborative approach practical, not punitive. A framework that sets clear guidelines without stifling creativity will help the ecosystem mature without losing its impact, Sharma explains. At the same time, she adds, brands will need to think seriously about building owned platforms and communities. Relying entirely on influencer reach or any rented audience is no longer a sustainable long-term strategy. Investing in first-party audiences and loyalty ecosystems offers far greater control, trust, and resilience, she says. (Tomorrow, Part 2 will explore the ripple effects of this controversy.) Will the heightened scrutiny of influencers drive a shift toward more rigorous vetting processes? If so, how will this reshape the way brands collaborate with creators? As businesses grow increasingly wary of reputational risks, could this signal a retreat from influencer marketing in favour of more traditional advertising? Or will the industry evolve, adopting new methods to assess authenticity and ensure stronger brand alignment? Stay tuned as we delve into these pressing questions. With a legacy of spreading happiness for over 100 years, known for iconic ice creams and frozen desserts, Kwality Wall's is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Twister brand in India. Popular for its unique three-layered stick design, Twister promises the ultimate twist in refreshment, tantalizing taste buds with every bite. Twister, an iconic brand from Unilevers portfolio, continues to be a favourite summer refresher in over 25 countries. Recognizing the need for a refreshing treat during hot summer hours among Indians, Kwality Walls is introducing the new Twister in two exciting variants. Twister Mango swirls of mango and creamy vanilla wrapped around a tangy strawberry core and Twister Pineapple swirls of creamy pineapple and sour lemon wrapped around a tangy strawberry core. Twister is targeted at young Indians who are looking for a refresher with a difference! It is made with real fruit juice and three layers of zing; this fun stick offers a burst of flavors in every bite. Its unique shape is designed to delight young consumers with less than 65 calories per serving. Adding to the enjoyment of the summer season, Kwality Walls is releasing a first-of-its-kind promotion in India, wherein consumers will get a chance to win from 30 Lakh Free Ice Candies. This exciting offer can be redeemed at more than 1 lakh stores across India. Kwality Walls has also recently launched a new multi-media campaign for Twister - bringing to life a refreshing Twister World for this summer. In addition, a fun and eye-catching consumer promotional film will be launched to excite consumers about the offer. Toloy Tanridagli, Head of Ice Cream Business, HUL, said, We are thrilled to bring one of our iconic global brands, Twister to India in two exciting and refreshing flavours. Refreshments are a huge category, over 6.6 bn Euros** and consumers are seeking new and exciting refreshments options during hot Indian summers. As a top-selling brand in the Unilever portfolio and a global Toloy Tanridagli, Head of Ice Cream Business, HUL, said, We are thrilled to bring one of our iconic global brands, Twister to India in two exciting and refreshing flavours. Refreshments are a huge category, over 6.6 bn Euros** and consumers are seeking new and exciting refreshments options during hot Indian summers. As a top-selling brand in the Unilever portfolio and a global favourite, our goal in India is to offer a delightful treat that resonates with young consumers and adds a fun twist to their summer. Our unique summer promotion will undoubtedly elevate the experience for Indians. Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer & Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group, further added, With Kwality Walls Twister, we wanted to capture the essence of refreshing indulgence and joy. The ad is a celebration of spontaneous funthe kind that makes you forget everything else and just savor the moment. The swirling visuals and vibrant energy mirror the irresistible twist of flavors, making it an experience thats as playful as it is delicious. The launch of the new Twister in India marks an exciting milestone for Kwality Walls. With its innovative design and commitment to quality, it is set to become a refreshing summer favorite. A single county got nearly a third of all new jobs announced in Alabama last year. (Lawrence Specker) Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Nearly a third of all new jobs announced across the state last year went to a single county in south Alabama, according to a new report. The states economic development successes last year included announcements of more than 8,500 new jobs, per the New & Expanding Industry Announcements report released by the Alabama Department of Commerce on Monday. That figure is up slightly from the previous year. Mobile County was by far the biggest winner in 2024 with the promise of 2,553 new jobs, according to the report. We were not surprised, said Bradley Byrne, the president and CEO of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce,. Its great to have several different sectors that are all growing at the same time. Its very, very good, very healthy. In an interview with AL.com, Byrne pointed to shipyard jobs as a key driver of that growth last year, along with other sectors like chemical companies and the logistics industry, tied to the container terminal at the Port of Mobile. Most of those new jobs came from expansions for two Austal USA projects, adding nearly 2,200 jobs combined or 86% of the countys new jobs last year. One of those projects involved the Australian company adding another waterfront assembly facility to its shipyard. Austal also broke ground last year on a submarine parts manufacturing building to help support the U.S. Navy. Those two expansions totaled more than $740 million in capital investment, per the report. [Cant see the chart? Click here.] The results for 2024 prove that Alabamas economy is strong, competitive and primed for future growth, Ellen McNair, the state Secretary of Commerce, said in the report. Together, well keep driving growth, creating jobs and ensuring a bright future for every Alabamian. Mobile County claimed 30% of the states total new jobs last year. And so far, that job growth is continuing in 2025: Mobile County claimed 1,200 new jobs just in the first quarter of this year, Byrne said. Many of those are shipyard jobs, both along Mobile River as well as in Bayou La Batre. Byrne also noted new manufacturing jobs and a $1.2 billion investment in a new steel mill tied to the electric vehicle industry by Luxembourg company ArcelorMittals. Byrne added that local industry hasnt seemed to experience negative impacts from tariffs so far. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on imports from China, Canada and Mexico, as well as steel and aluminum. And on Wednesday, President Trump announced a new 25% tariff on imported cars. Were concerned, you know, Byrne said. We stay in very close touch with both our existing industry and the new industry coming here. So far, its not slowing anything down. Were proceeding on whatever happens in Washington doesnt really matter. Here are the top counties for new jobs announced in 2024. Mobile County: 2,553 Madison County: 960 Jefferson County: 682 Montgomery County: 497 Lee County: 496 Houston County: 280 Nearly 1,700 of those new job commitments or about 19% were in Alabamas rural counties, according to the report. The industries include aviation training, auto parts production, solar panel manufacturing and forest products. For instance, one single project created nearly 250 jobs in Lawrence County through the expansion of Lockheed Martins operations in Courtland, where the defense company assembles missiles. These are the top rural counties in Alabama for new jobs announced in 2024. Lawrence County: 244 Chambers County: 155 Cleburne County: 135 Coosa County: 130 Clarke County: 114 Covington County: 110 Those commitments for new jobs were tacked on to new capital investments across the state, totaling more than $7 billion. Nearly half of the more than 8,500 promised jobs werent in a categorized industry, but instead listed as other on the report. Other top industries included automotive, distribution/logistics/warehouse, and aerospace and aviation. [Cant see the table? Click here.] Florence police officers were dispatched just after 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2025, to Southern Oaks Apartments on Hermitage Drive. When they arrived, they found a juvenile fatally shot in the parking lot, (Florence Police Department) One teen is dead and another jailed following a shooting Wednesday afternoon in Florence. Officers were dispatched just after 4 p.m. to Southern Oaks Apartments on Hermitage Drive. When they arrived, they found a juvenile dead in the parking lot, said Sgt. Ryan Kelly. Detectives immediately began gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. While they were on the scene, a person showed up at the Florence Police Department to talk about what happened. Investigators determined the slain juvenile and another teen planned to rob a third person the one who showed up at the police department. Detectives worked throughout the night into early Thursday, carrying out search warrants in Franklin and Colbert counties. Kelly said. The Florence/Lauderdale SWAT team assisted. The surviving juvenile was taken into custody about 3 a.m. He is charged with felony murder and first-degree robbery. Police did not release his name because of his age. Under Alabamas accomplice liability, a person can be charged if they are participating in a felony crime that results in a death, whether or not that person actually pulled the trigger. The young suspect went before a judge on Thursday. Bond for the teen is set at $100,000. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Det. Price at 256-760-6500. A teenage boy is the first person in Birmingham to be arrested under Alabamas new state ban on Glock switches. The Birmingham Police Departments Special Enforcement Team arrested a 15-year-old earlier this week, police announced Thursday. The teen was in illegal possession of both a Glock handgun and a machine conversion device commonly known as a Glock switch, police said. The arrest took place just before 4:30 p.m. in the 4700 block of Ninth Terran North while police were investigating a suspicious vehicle, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. BPDs Felony Assault Unit detectives assisted in the investigation. No additional details were released. The teen is being held on a illegal possession of a Glock switch petition in the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center. The new law just recently went into effect and makes possessing any part or combination of parts designed and intended to convert a pistol into a machine gun punishable by a term between 366 days and 10 years, according to state code. Glock switches - also known as auto sears or a button or a giggle switch - can unleash 20 rounds per second or 1,200 rounds a minute. Up until the new Alabama law, the federal government prosecuted all Glock switch cases. Mayor Randall Woodfin has said a Crime Stoppers program would facilitate $1,000 rewards for the arrest of people caught in possession of gun conversion devices. Woodfin encouraged calling Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777, and in a part of the message aimed at the general citizen, wrote in a social media post, Help us get these switch boys off our streets. The murder trial of an Alabama police officer who fatally shot an armed Black man in his front yard hangs in the balance as a judge considers whether the officer is shielded by state self-defense immunity laws. Morgan County circuit court judge Charles Elliotts decision will largely hinge upon whether the officer had the legitimate authority to be at the mans house in the first place. Mac Marquette, 25, is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Steve Perkins shortly before 2 a.m. on Sept. 29, 2023, while accompanying a tow-truck driver to repossess Perkins truck at his home in Decatur. The northern Alabama city of 60,000 people was roiled with protest after Perkins death, and the judge had to issue warnings to silence outcries in the packed courtroom during the immunity hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Alabamas stand your ground law 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. Prosecutors didnt contest the defenses claim that Perkins briefly pointed his gun towards Marquette before the officer fired 17 shots, killing Perkins, based on body camera footage shown in court Tuesday. The footage considered was from the two officers who accompanied Marquette and the tow-truck driver video from Marquettes body camera wasnt entered into evidence on Tuesday. The contention was about whether Marquette had a right to be there in the first place. If the judge decides that Marquette was operating outside of the scope of his duties as an officer, then Marquette will not be shielded by self-defense laws and his trial will proceed in April. 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. Combs was authorized by Perkins creditor to repossess the vehicle but not a judge. Defense attorneys said that Marquette and the two other officers who were dispatched with him had an obligation to accompany the tow-truck driver, Caleb Combs, on his second effort to repossess Perkins truck. Combs called officers after Perkins pointed a gun at his chest in the initial vehicle seizure attempt. You have officers responding to a citizens request for help, said Lance LoRusso, one of Marquettes attorneys. Officers testified that the decision to accompany the tow-truck driver was approved by their superiors because these types of standby operations to keep the peace are routine for patrol shifts. Officers also said that it is a well established tactic to approach houses from out of sight. Christopher Mukadam, one of the officers at Perkins house with Marquette, didnt have his body camera on when he first spoke with Combs a breach of department policy that cast uncertainty on his testimony that Combs asked for an escort. Combs testified that he didnt explicitly ask the officers to accompany him. Chief assistant district attorney Garrick Vickery said there was no reason for officers to be at Perkins house without a court order. Vickery also argued that officers werent keeping the peace because they intentionally positioned themselves out of Perkins eyesight. There was no way that Steve Perkins could have known that police were on the scene until about one and a half seconds before he was shot and killed, said Vickery. Florence police on scene of fatal shooting at apartment complex Florence Police Department Facebook The Florence Police Department said on Facebook it is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon at Southern Oaks Apartments. No further information was provided by the department but they did advise people to avoid the area if possible. The department asked that anyone with knowledge of the incident contact Detective Price at 256-760-6500. Authorities are asking for the publics help in finding a masked gunman who shot three people in Montgomery earlier this month. The shooting happened Sunday, March 9, in the 900 block of W. South Boulevard. When officers arrived on the scene, they found three people had been shot multiple times. Their conditions were not disclosed. Investigators say the unidentified shooter was wearing a mask and was driving a grey or white sedan. No additional information has been released. Anyone with information is asked to call Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867) or 1-833-AL1-STOP (833-251-7867). Tips can also be submitted by texting 251stop to 738477 or via the P3-tips app. An Alabama mother is under arrest after authorities say she left two infants in her car while she went into the Lee County Justice Center. Sheriffs deputies were dispatched at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to the government building at 2311 Gateway Drive in Opelika. They responded after a concerned citizen notified authorities that the babies were left alone in car seats in the parking lot. Deputies found the infants unattended in the unlocked running vehicle. The mother was located inside of the Justice Center and was confronted about the incident, sheriffs officials said. She immediately became agitated and started arguing with deputies, saying that it wasnt a big deal. Deputies estimate the children were left alone for about 10 minutes. The mother, 24-year-old Shnyia AZebria Glaze of Opelika was arrested on the spot for undisclosed outstanding warrants. She is now also charged with two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment. Glaze was booked into the Lee County Jail and later released on bonds totaling $5,000. A family member was contacted to pick up the children. As is protocol, the Alabama Department of Human Resources was notified. Milo's is carrying its menu on the road with the Burger Bus, a food truck equipped to serve lunch time crowds and special events. Theres a new side dish being served up at Milos Hamburgers, and it may have your loyalty to those perfectly-seasoned crinkle fries wavering. Milos recently announced that it will be adding house-made chips to its menu this year, but before you get too excited, youll only be able to order them at the Cahaba Heights location of the Alabama chain, according to Southern Living. Milos Marketing Director Mary Duncan Proctor told Southern Living the chips, which will also be available on the restaurants catering menu, are a wavy chipsimilar to the crinkle cut fryseasoned with our famous fry salt, and said they were one of several items that will be offered at the Cahaba Heights test kitchen. READ MORE: Alabamas best fast food items Proctor said the chips, and future new items, would be offered at the location for four to six weeks as a way to gauge customer interest and see whether they should be offered at additional restaurants. Grilled chicken tenders, which are now up for grabs at all Milos locations, were the first item to be tested this way, and strawberry lemonade is the next following the house-made chips. READ MORE: 2 iconic Birmingham brands join forces So if youre eager to try the house-made chips before everyone else (or before they disappear forever,) head on over to the Milos in Cahaba Heights. You can read the full article on Southern Livings website. In January, Starbucks began offering free refills on "for here" orders of hot brewed or iced coffee, or hot or iced tea(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) AP Starbucks has plans to return to its roots as a community coffeehouse. Earlier this year, the coffee chain announced a wave of changes, including reserving bathrooms for paying customers and downsizing its overly complex menu. Another change: Offering free refills of hot or iced coffee to customers, as long as they order the beverage to drink on the premises. Starbucks said the free refills strategy is working and more customers are sticking around. The coffee chain told Axios that over the past three weeks, the number of customers who choose ceramic mugs and glasses to sit and stay in cafes has on average increased by more than 3 (times) in the U.S. Axios reports Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said he was pleased at the early reaction to changes weve made from both customers and partners. Niccol, who joined the company in September, is focused on implementing a wave of changes to reposition the coffee chain after a turbulent year, reports the Wall Street Journal. We will be the community coffeehouse known for great coffee, Niccol told employees at an internal meeting in 2024. The McElhaney family gathers around the table at their Gather Restaurant in Atmore. Clockwise from front left, they are: Clara-Anne, Jonas, Caelyn, Eli, Beth, Chris, Zeke and Zander. (Photo courtesy of Beth McElhaney; used with permission) As they often do, the McElhaney clan Beth and Chris and their children Zeke, Eli, Jonas, Caelyn, Zander and Clara-Anne -- gathered around the oak kitchen table where they share family meals and talk through lifes big decisions. Beth and Chris, who met in high school, had worked in restaurants from Pensacola to Auburn to Charleston to New Orleans. After years of moving around from city to city and restaurant to restaurant, though, they were ready to open a place of their own in Atmore, the South Alabama town of about 8,300 people that sits just across the Florida state line from the little community of Bratt, Fla., where they both grew up. Its not that easy to haul a family that size anywhere, Chris recalls. We like Atmore. We like our home. So we decided it was time to do something closer to home. They had a concept a comfortable and inviting place with inspired but familiar food that made their guests feel right at home but they needed a name. We had numerous conversations around the table about, What are we gonna name this restaurant? Whats God telling us? Chris says. And one day, Beth just looked at me -- she had a look in her eyes and she said, Lets just gather around the table again. Thats when it came to them. As soon as she said, Gather around the table, it hit her, and it hit me, Chris adds. We were like, Oh my gosh -- Gather Restaurant. Why not? Later that night, while Chris tossed and turned trying to fall asleep, he had another inspiration. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was wheat bundles, and I just kept thinking about the harvest and gathering the wheat, he remembers. When you gather that bundle, its knit tightly, and, you know, were a close-knit family, he adds. That all fit with what our idea and concept is. The next morning, Chris sketched the wheat bundle that would become the Gather Restaurant logo on a piece of notebook paper. Then, within a month, the McElhaneys closed on the location for their restaurant -- a century-old, cottage-style former Pure Oil filling station that had most recently been home to a downtown womens boutique. They spent the next six months restoring and adding on to the space to transform it into a 76-seat restaurant. Finally, in October 2017, right around the fall harvest that year, they welcomed their first guests to Gather. The inspiration for the bundled wheat logo for Gather Restaurant came to chef and co-owner Chris McElhaney one night when he had trouble sleeping. (Photo courtesy of Beth McElhaney; used with permission) Passion to cook Beth Stuckey and Chris McElhaney met as students at Northview High School in their little hometown of Bratt. She was in the ninth grade at the time, and he was in the 11th. Theyve been together ever since. We are high school sweethearts, Beth says. We met back in 95, and this year will be our 25th wedding anniversary. After he graduated, Chris went to Auburn University and studied mechanical engineering. Between classes, he got his first taste of the restaurant business working in the kitchen at the Red Lobster in Auburn. Beth enrolled at Pensacola State College after she finished high school, and she, too, got her first restaurant job at a Red Lobster in Pensacola, where she started as a hostess. College wasnt for me, so I dropped out, she says. Ive pretty much been in restaurants ever since. Meanwhile, a couple of semesters shy of graduating from Auburn, Chris discovered he wasnt meant to be an engineer, either. I always had that joy and passion to cook, he says. I remember watching (Cajun chef) Justin Wilson on PBS growing up, and I always thought to myself that nothing could be more fun in life than to have that cooking and camaraderie and fellowship. He always made it look fun. So, Chris dropped out of Auburn, and he and Beth got married in August 2000. The week after their wedding, they moved to Charleston, S.C., where Chris started culinary school at Johnson & Wales University while Beth worked as a manager at the Red Lobster there. While earning his culinary degree, Chris also got some real-world restaurant experience working under celebrated Charleston chef Frank McMahon at his revered Hanks Seafood Restaurant. Just one of the best experiences in life, ever, was at Hanks Seafood under Frank McMahon, Chris recalls. Hes just a good friend and a great guy. Hes like the chef daddy I never had. A quarter-century later, Chris still has a keepsake from his days with McMahon at Hanks. He told me to taste everything you cook, and gave me a spoon and goes, This will remind you to never forget to taste what you cook, because if you dont taste it, how do you know its good? Chris says. I still have that spoon, and its like a sacred artifact here at my house. McMahon remembers a young, aspiring chef who was eager to learn, and although hes yet to make it to Atmore to visit Gather, he has kept up with Chris from a distance. You always remember the good ones, the ones with the drive and the passion, and he was certainly one of those, McMahon says. Chris was an absolute gem. Great work ethic, really focused on the details, and just a good human being all the way around. In a previous life, Gather Restaurant in downtown Atmore had been home to a Pure Oil filling station. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com) A destination location With a renewed sense of purpose, Chris and Beth left Charleston after Chris finished culinary school and moved closer to home. They spent a year in New Orleans, where they both worked for celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse at his Emerils Delmonico steakhouse. Chris served as a line cook, and Beth quickly rose through the ranks to become the captain of a wait service team. She started as a back waiter, and within about four weeks, she was a captain, Chris remembers. She really exploded at Delmonico. If we had stayed longer, she probably would have been managing the place. After they left New Orleans, Chris later served as a chef consultant who helped open Fire Steakhouse at Wind Creek Casino in Atmore and then as the executive chef at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley. All those roads eventually led them to Gather, which has helped reinvigorate downtown Atmore since Beth and Chris opened their restaurant seven and a half years ago. Gather has become a destination location, longtime Atmore resident Dale Ash says. I know pretty much everybody in Atmore, and when I go to eat, there will be lots of people there I dont know. Youll find out theyre here from Montgomery, Mobile, Pensacola, Brewton, Bay Minette -- just all coming to eat at Gather. Beth and Chris McElhaney met in high school before embarking on a culinary journey that eventually led them back home to Atmore, where they opened Gather Restaurant in October 2017. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com) Like a train wreck Some of the menu favorites include Chris Brussels Sprouts with honey balsamic, shaved red onion and Nueskes thick bacon; an Alabama Charcuterie plate with pimento cheese, whipped goat cheese, grilled Conecuh Sausage, fried mortadella, pickles and fig jam; the Big Momma Burger with barbecue sauce, pimento cheese, Nueskes pork belly and crispy jalapenos; and Gathers Signature Ribeye with mashed potatoes and a house-made Worcestershire sauce. Perhaps Gathers most famous entree, though, is the aptly named Train Wreck, a breakfast-meets-dinner mashup that features two petite beef filets, a thick slice of Nueskes pork belly, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese grits, Conecuh crab sauce and a fried egg. The Alabama Cattlemens Association named it the winner of its Bamas Best Beef contest in 2020. Of course, theres a story behind the name. When I plated the first one, I was like, Wow, I kinda like the way it looks, but it looks like a train wreck, Chris says. Lots of folks come in and order that once, and then I dont think theyve ever ordered anything else. In honor of Ash -- one of Gathers best customers and the vice-president of Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Atmore -- Chris also came up with the Heritage Pepsi Pork Chop, a Pepsi-brined pork chop with bacon caramel sweet potatoes and brown butter cabbage. It has become one of the restaurants top-selling entrees. Atmore is a Pepsi town, Chris says. The Pepsi distribution company here in town is just two blocks up the street from us. And the owners Ms. Dale Ash, especially -- eat with us, gosh, at least twice a week, if not more. Since theyre so loyal to us, I started brining the pork chops in Pepsi. We used to brine them with sweet tea, but the (phosphoric) acid of the Pepsi gives it a barbecue flavor. Beth is in charge of the desserts, which include Warm Chocolate Butter Cake with ice cream, caramel, pecans and whipped cream; Granny Bettys Blueberry Cream Pie with blueberry compote, pecan shortbread and a light cream filling; and Gathers Signature Pecan Pie Cheesecake, with bourbon caramel, whipped cream and fried pecans. I love the front of the house; thats where my heart is, Beth says. About 15 years ago, though, I started on the baking side and got into that. My grandmother and my mom both helped with that and with recipes, and I just took a loving to that as well. Gather's Signature Pecan Pie Cheesecake is the Atmore restaurant's most popular dessert. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com) Live and breathe it All of the McElhaneys six children, who now range in age from 10 to 19, have grown up in the restaurant and each of them has worked there at one time or another, either helping their mom out in the front of the house or working with their dad in the kitchen. Its so amazing to watch because each of them knows their way so very well around the restaurant, Beth says. They cook, and they host. They live and breathe it just as much as we do. These days, though, coming up on eight years since they opened Gather, the McElhaneys still make time to gather around that family dinner table that inspired their restaurant. A couple of years ago, Beth and Chris hired sous chef Brett Pate and front of the house manager Aletha Lee Kyser, so they can get away and be with their family more often. They have been a blessing to us, and its allowed us to step away some and be at home a lot more at nighttime with our kids, Beth says. We cook (at home) twice a day, every day, for our family -- breakfast and then dinner. Chris and I both have been in the business, goodness, for almost 27 years, she adds. Its taken us some time to get to the point where were at, and were just very thankful. Gather Restaurant is at 111 West Nashville Ave. in Atmore, Ala. The phone number is 251-303-8080. For more information, go here. Leslie Bibb attends the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 02, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. The actress recently made a joke about Mobile in promos for "The White Lotus." (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images) Getty Images A White Lotus star is taking unnecessary shots at an Alabama city, and it has us saying, well, that was rude. Actress Leslie Bibb was recently asked about where her favorite place to shoot has been, and somehow the question resulted in a dig at the city of Mobile, Alabama. (And Toronto, too.) Related: Alabama actress stars in HBOs No. 1 series: Filled with immense glee and gratitude! In a reel shared on the The White Lotus Instagram page, Bibb, who plays Kate on the popular HBO series, answered the question by raving about the shows filming locations in Thailand, saying Its so different than any place Ive ever shot. Fair enough -- we can understand the appeal of a luxury resort in a tropical location. But then, the actress follows that up with I mean, I always get like, Yeah, youre going to Mobile, Alabama. Youre going to Toronto. Related: Alabama star had a terrifying experience filming The White Lotus scene everyone is talking about Bibb has been in Mobile before -- she filmed About My Father with Robert De Niro in the Port City in 2023. Our only hope is that the two Alabama natives on The White Lotus cast -- Walton Goggins and Sarah Catherine Hook -- can set her straight. Alabama has lost $190 million to fight infectious diseases as a result of cuts by the Trump administration. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, said 140 employees of the Alabama Department of Public Health could lose their jobs because of the funding cut, which was implemented without warning. What this means is investigations of outbreaks in prisons and nursing homes and daycare are gonna go without personnel to actually do those investigations, said Sewell, who is calling on Alabamas Republican congressional delegation to push back against the decision. Theres currently an outbreak of measles that hasnt come to the state of Alabama yet, but lack of workforce in county health departments means that so many communicable diseases may go undetected. It will affect the most vulnerable in our communities. In a post on X on Thursday, Sewell said the funding, which came from the Centers for Disease Control, was cut, effective immediately, as of Monday. According to Sewell, the cut means we will lose personnel in county health departments all across the state of Alabama. According to ADPH, the grant was related to COVID-19. The department said they have been expecting funding reductions or cuts as the pandemic dies down. ADPH has already made a number of staffing and budget adjustments to accommodate changes in funding, a spokesperson said in an email to AL.com. In light of this information, ADPH will continue to review its plans and take measures to protect and promote the health and well being of the citizens of Alabama. This is the information that ADPH can provide, at the moment, related to these changes. The state agency did not comment further on the details provided by Sewell. Sewell, who called the funding decision unacceptable, said it was the latest cut by Elon Musk, who leads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. The state public health department is scrounging to find alternative funding and I really hope our senators are listening and are going to do something to push back against these horrible cuts, Sewell said. Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan speaks to the city council during its meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Fairhope, Ala. John Sharp With its state funding at risk, Fairhope city and library officials are contemplating a review of approximately 35 books deemed by state library officials to be sexually explicit and inappropriate for teen readers. The review will have to be approved by the Fairhope Library Board during its April 21 meeting. The review was requested by John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama Public Library Services board of directors as well as the Alabama State GOP. Wahl met with Fairhope Mayor Sherry Sullivan, City Attorney Marcus McDowell, and representatives of the Fairhope library during a video conference call Wednesday. We got some clarification, and we will go back and see if these books need to be moved, said Fairhope Library board member Randal Wright. That will be a decision the board makes. If the library board approves the review, it could pit differing interpretations over what is considered sexually explicit content, which is a concern being raised by groups like Read Freely Alabama. It could also thrust the city into a First Amendment squabble, similar to the ongoing federal court case over the policies restricting books available inside the Autauga-Prattville Public Library. Fairhopes review Sullivan emphasized the importance of the review for maintaining the book courier service with 13 Baldwin County libraries. Also at risk is state funding the library receives from the Alabama Public Library Service. The Fairhope library gets around $42,000 annually during a fiscal year that begins Sept. 1. For this fiscal year, the cut could amount to around $21,000. However, that amount would not cause any closures of the Fairhope Library which operates on a budget of more than $1 million a year, Sullivan has said. The APLS has characterized the cut as a temporary pause in the Fairhope Library Systems funding. For us to maintain the programming we have with the county and the funding we get from APLS, we have to meet the APLS guidelines, Sullivan said. We want to maintain the relationship with the county system. Its a cooperative effort with the county and its quite a bit of services we can offer to our citizens and throughout the county. Sullivan said she wants to make sure the library communicates with parents that they can apply for and receive all-access library cards. The cards, with a parents approval, gives children of any age access to any section in a public library. Fairhope library officials report that 51% of parents have applied for all-access cards since the new state administrative code was implemented last summer. These cards, with parental approval, grant children of any age access to all library sections. The other card options are for teens (ages 13-17) and juveniles (ages 3-12). Sullivans comments come after a tumultuous week for the library and for Fairhope, which has received national attention over the library dispute that began last Thursday during the APLS board meeting. The Fairhope library became the first in the state to have its state funding cut by the APLS over what state library officials said was a violation of the administrative codes adopted last year. Library supporters fought back and quickly raised $44,000 online to supplant the state funding cut. Sullivan and Wright both said that neither city nor library officials were given notification that a cut could be forthcoming. The cut did get consideration after Rebecca Watson, the Baldwin County representative for the conservative group Moms for Liberty, raised concerns that Fairhope despite past pressures to do so had not moved a host of books the group deemed sexually explicit to an adult section in the library. On Monday, during the Fairhope City Council meeting, Sullivan said it was important for city and library officials to get more clarity on what constitutes a sexually explicit book. State requirements Sullivan said that Wahl, during their conversation, said a sexually explicit book includes sex acts and nudity. She said if any book contains either, Wahl instructed her that it needs to be moved to out of a section dedicated for minors under age 18. The books in question are in our teen section which is for children ages 13 to 17, Sullivan said. John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama State Republican Party, speaks during a luncheon hosted by the Eastern Shore Republican Women on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at the Fairhope Yacht Club in Fairhope, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Wahl, in an emailed statement Thursday afternoon, said there are three main criteria for Fairhope to meet. One of them includes relocating sexually explicit material, from youth to adult sections. The basic threshold of sexually explicit should include sexual intercourse, masturbation, or nudity, Wahl said. Wahl also said that Fairhope leaders need to ensure parents have opportunities to request books be reviewed based on the APLS codes adopted last year. He also said that library system needs to ensure their card system is in compliance with the APLS code. I will continue to work with Fairhope officials to find a commonsense solution that helps individuals on both sides of this issue, Wahl said. We want every family int eh state of Alabama to be comfortable in our states libraries. This was the goal of the APLS code changes, and we believe we can find common ground to accomplish it. Sullivan said that the discussion with Wahl included questions over the subjective nature of what entails sexually explicit content. Books on religion, history, biology, or human anatomy are still available to minors under the APLS code changes. But concerns, including those from APLS board member Ron Snider, suggest that the code changes regulating sexually explicit will invite lawsuits. Wahl stated that the APLS has consistently safeguarded children from accidental exposure to sexually explicit materials. He said the new code changes require new policies and the relocation of certain books from youth sections. Wahl said that the APLS is not attempting to censor or ban books, but rather to empower parents to decide what their children have access to. He also said the situation in Fairhope should not have surprised anyone, saying that the issues with the citys library have been ongoing for over a year. Different reactions At last weeks APLS board meeting, representatives with the conservative group, Moms for Liberty, held up examples on books they believe are incorrectly shelved. Wahl also admitted that the decision to suspend state funding for Fairhope came only after the APLS was presented with incredibly vulgar and explicit books. One of the books in question is Sold, a National Book Award finalist about a girl who is sold into sexual slavery in India. An overflow crowd attends the Fairhope City Council meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Fairhope, Ala. The crowd, wearing yellow stickers supportive of the Fairhope Public Library, expressed disapproval of efforts by the Alabama Public Library Service's board to pause or remove funding from the library over concerns raised by representatives with Moms for Liberty over some of the books displayed in sections of the library. John Sharp During Mondays Fairhope council meeting, residents criticized the APLS and Moms for Liberty for equating sensitive topics with books about sexuality that could be considered sexually explicit based on excerpts. What is age appropriate to learn about human behavior in the world they live in? said Caleb Whitehead of Fairhope. He criticized the APLS for creating an environment that could be harmful to children, and said the effort to defund the library wasnt a one-off but a coordinated attack by Moms for Liberty with support from the APLS. Critics of Moms for Liberty contend the group is pushing to have LGBTQ-related content removed from libraries nationwide. A representative with the Moms for Liberty chapter in Baldwin County did not respond to a request for comment. The group, Clean Up Alabama, which has pushed for similar efforts in other parts of Alabama, also did not respond to a request for comment. Clean Up Alabama has presented two dozen books it believes is deemed inappropriate. Of those, 16 have LGBTQ characters or themes. Elizabeth Williams, the Baldwin County representative for Read Freely Alabama, believes Fairhopes policies and cataloging are compliant with the state code and that moving books is unnecessary. Williams acknowledged that Fairhope could adopt its own policies on sexually explicit content but warned that this could lead to issues. She pointed out that a toddler board book about human anatomy could be deemed nudity and moved to the adult section. Williams stated that implementing such a policy would necessitate closing the teen section and removing all books with any mention of human sexuality. She added, A lot of the books in the library will go to the adult section. At this point, what is the use of having sections? Its beyond silly to put a board book for toddlers in an adult section or one for young adults that is appropriate for teenagers to the adult section. Its a slippery slope and a scary place for the First Amendment to be in. This story was updated at 4:50 p.m. on March 27, 2025, to include statements from John Wahl. While file converter sites accessed through things such as Chrome or Google can lead to malware issues. Katherine Rodriguez/Canva The FBI has confirmed that threats related to fake file converter websites are ongoing as victims continue to fall victim to the scams. Last week, the FBIs Denver Field Office issued a warning related to free online document converter websites. The sites, accessed through common browsers such as Chrome, Safari and Edge, offer to convert one type of file into another, such as a .doc file into a .pdf file. Other sites also claim to combine files such as joining multiple .jpg files into a single .pdf file or offering an MP3 or MP4 downloading tool. While the tools often work, the sites can expose users to malware that infiltrates a computer. The agency has recently confirmed the problem is continuing to grow and the scam is getting trickier. The scammers try to mimic URLs that are legit so changing just one letter, or INC instead of CO, Vikki Migoya, the Public Affairs Office for FBI Denver, told Bleeping Computer. Users who in the past would type free online file converter into a search engine are vulnerable, as the algorithms used for results now often include paid results, which might be scams. Malware isnt the only issue with the sites, the FBI said. The uploaded documents can also be scraped for sensitive information, Bleeping Computer reported, including Social Security numbers, passwords, email addresses and banking information. Many victims dont know theyve been infected with malware until its too late and their computer is infected or their identity stolen. The best way to avoid the malware issue is to not use unknown websites for file converting. FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek has more advice. The best way to thwart these fraudsters is to educate people so they dont fall victim to these fraudsters in the first place, he said. If you or someone you know has been affected by this scheme, we encourage you to make a report and take actions to protect your assets. Every day, we are working to hold these scammers accountable and provide victims with the resources they need. People who think theyve been a victim or attempted victim of a malware scheme should contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. The image of a construction worker in south Alabama went viral online after he apparently spent six hours on the roof of a building and evaded arrest by federal immigration officials. The worker, videoed on a roof in Spanish Fort, is a heroic figure to some as local officials in south Alabama say they plan to assist in increased deportations and arrests. AL.com spoke to the worker but he did not want to comment for this story. There is no public data on the number of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the state since President Donald Trump took office in 2025, but Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch has said that his office will help ICE, in any way we can. Immigration advocates say Baldwin County in particular has seen increased enforcement, typically at construction sites. I see a lot more going on definitely down there, said Nathan Harris, a Birmingham-based immigration attorney, who said theres more ICE activity in south Alabama. Im hearing that from the community, from our clients, and were not hearing that so much in Montgomery (or) Birmingham. Robert Rone, an immigration attorney in Mobile, said since Trump took office, he has heard about more men arrested at job sites in the area. Rone is a Trump supporter. But he said he typically hears from girlfriends or wives after an arrest, and he feels some of the immigration stuff has gone a little overboard. Their wife, or their girlfriend or baby momma or whoever is calling because theyre worried about them, Rone said. And they take care of the family so if theyre gone everybody suffers. A regional spokesman for ICE told AL.com that statewide arrest numbers and the location of arrests were not available. FBI Mobile posted on Facebook on March 13 that 137 people had been detained since February 4 under immigration operations. These numbers involve arrests made in multiple counties including Autauga, Baldwin, Coosa, Elmore and Mobile counties. Alabama is home to an estimated 209,000 immigrants in total, and 60,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration think tank. They make up about 1.8% of Alabamas workforce. Construction is the top job for immigrants in the state with about 12% of immigrant workers in that field. Baldwin County Sheriff Anthony Lowery has been outspoken in his interest in tackling illegal immigration and assisting ICEs efforts. Were going to participate and actively help (ICE) and assist them in doing what they need to do, Lowery told 1819 News in January. His office declined a request for comment from AL.com. Law enforcement officials in some other parts of the state have been less vocal about their stance on mass deportations. Your feedback matters How is immigration or immigration enforcement impacting your community? Lindsay Williams, ICEs Media Operations Unit Chief Southeast, said the raids were likely happening in the parts of the state where the crime or activity is, but said he could not confirm where arrests had occurred. I think wherever the crime is, or the activity, is where the enforcement is, he said of why the South might be a focus. The agencies did not provide evidence of criminal activity occurring at the time of detaining individuals. FBI Mobile said it has been assisting federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations,a spokesperson for the office said. (Our) tip line has been very active. An Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama is being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A spokesperson for the university confirmed Wednesday that a doctoral student has been detained off campus by federal immigration authorities, but declined to name the student, citing privacy protections. A reason for the detention, or any legal proceedings, was not immediately clear Wednesday evening. On Thursday, Alireza Doroudis attorney, David Rozas, told AL.com he could not comment on the case at this time. A GoFundMe, apparently created by his fiance, a fellow graduate student, has been set up for Doroudi. The Crimson White, UAs student newspaper, reported that Alireza Doroudi, a mechanical engineering student, was detained by ICE at 5 a.m. on March 25 in his home. The newspaper reported that Doroudi entered the country in January 2023, and was notified a few months later that his F-1 student visa was revoked. Doroudi contacted UAs International Student and Scholar Services, who told him the notification was not unusual or problematic and that he could remain in the U.S. as long as he maintained his student status. Someone with the name Alireza Doroudi is listed as in ICE custody, according to the agencys website. The detention facility isnt listed. Federal privacy laws limit what can be shared about an individual student, the university spokesperson, Alex House, said. International students studying at the University are valued members of the campus community, and International Student and Scholar Services is available to assist international students who have questions. UA has and will continue to follow all immigration laws and cooperate with federal authorities. Doroudis LinkedIn shows he published a paper on aluminum-steel bonding in the Surface and Coatings Technology journal in October of last year. ICE and Tuscaloosa law enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for comment from AL.com Wednesday. Several graduate students around the country have been targeted for deportation by President Donald Trumps administration amid efforts to crack down on immigration. In some cases, such as Mahmoud Kahlil at Columbia University and Rumeysa Ozturk at Tufts University, federal officials have cited students activism and support of Palestinian movements as reasons for detainment. This story was updated on April 4 to include security footage of the arrest. Stacey Lynch, then 19, disappeared in December 2020 after leaving his Talladega home. (Central Alabama Crime Stoppers) Authorities have increased the reward money for information in the disappearance of a Talladega man more than four years ago. The reward increase was announced Thursday on Stacey Lynchs 23rd birthday. Lynch, who was 19 at the time he vanished, was last seen leaving his residence at Knoxville Homes Apartments in Talladega on Dec. 22, 2020. He was never heard from again, and his family said it was uncharacteristic of Lynch to be out of touch with his loved ones. He left behind young children. According to The Charley Project, a vehicle believed to be connected to his case was found abandoned and burned. Lynch has multiple tattoos, including on his face, on the front of his neck, on his forearm, and on his abdomen. The abdomen tattoo is an image of a gun. Central Alabama Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 cash reward for information on Lynchs whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to call Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867) or 1-833-AL1-STOP (833-251-7867). Tips can also be submitted by texting 251stop to 738477 or via the P3-tips app. Alabamians call Conecuh sausage an essential item for any care package from home. (Frank Couch / The Birmingham News) The Birmingham News You may have seen the headline, shared on social media. Conecuh Sausage closing Conecuh processing plant blared a headline in the Evergreen Courant newspaper on March 25. The headline says it all states one post sharing the story. Theres one problem - the headline does not say everything. In fact, read a little further and that story states the reason for the closure - Conecuh Sausage will begin producing its mouth-watering product down the road in Andalusia in Covington County at its new $58 million processing facility. In other words, youll still be able to grab that Conecuh Sausage at the grocery store. See also: The upcoming 102,000-square-foot Andalusia plant, which the company says it is building to meet a growing market demand, is expected to employ 50 people. Plant Manager Martin Dahlke said the move is expected to take place in June. Dahlke said the Andalusia plant will be twice as large as the Evergreen facility. The company had not originally considered closing in Evergreen, he said, but updated USDA regulations would require upgrades at the Evergreen plant. The new facility covers everything, but the old facility would require some new capital to make those changes. Decisions had to be made about what was best for our capital expense, he said. Because of these other situations, we had to make decisions about where to invest. Founded in Evergreen in 1947, the family-owned Conecuh Sausage brand is available in grocery stores, national retailers, and at the companys online store and Gift Store. Once the new facility is up and running, a new gift shop similar to the one in Evergreen is planned. In February 2024, the company announced the move, with President John Crum Sessions, and his son, John Henry Sessions, saying the addition of a second production facility will allow the company to pursue its long-term goals. We are eager to join the Andalusia community and add jobs and growth to the local economy while remaining in the State of Alabama, the two said in a statement. We are thrilled with the opportunity to expand our production facilities and increase distribution to serve our loyal customers. The Covington County site won out over several possible construction sites in the Midwest, according to the company. Two suspects have been charged in a fatal shooting at a Birmingham Airbnb, including a teen who is already charged in two other murders. Cameron Scales, 19, and Daveon Dortch, 20, are charged with capital murder in the 2024 slaying of 21-year-old Phong Timmy Nguyen. Scales, whose sister Anitra Holloman was killed in the Hush lounge mass shooting, is among three people charged with capital murder in June 2024 slaying on First Avenue North near East Lake Park and the May 2024 shooting of a teen outside his familys west Birmingham home. Scales mother previously told AL.com he is innocent. Nguyen was killed March 3, 2024. West Precinct officers were dispatched at 2:35 a.m. to a report of a person shot in the 900 block of Dugan Avenue. Phong "Timmy" Nguyen (Contributed) Officer Truman Fitzgerald said police entered the house and found Nguyen unresponsive inside. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene. The house where the shooting happened was a short-term rental Airbnb. There was a party or gathering being held there when someone fired shots. Court records say Nguyen was killed during a theft of cash and a gun. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said the warrants against Scales and Dortch were issued Tuesday. Scales is already being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail because of his previous murder charges. Daveon Dortch (Jefferson County Jail) The U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and Birmingham officers arrested Dortch in Atlanta. He is awaiting extradition. This shows that you will be sought no matter where you are, Interim Police Chief Michael Pickett said. A University of Alabama student was detained by immigration officials and held in a rural Alabama jail this week. Court records Thursday showed that Alireza Doroudi, a mechanical engineering doctoral student originally from Iran, was being held at the Pickens County Jail in Alabama. AL.com contacted Doroudis attorney, David Rozas, but Rozass office said he could not comment on the case at this time. Rozas is a criminal and immigration lawyer based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A GoFundMe, apparently created by his fiance, a fellow graduate student, has been set up for Doroudi. No formal charge was listed in court records on Thursday. Doroudi previously had a speeding ticket in Tuscaloosa County. Public records indicate that Doroudi had lived in an apartment in downtown Tuscaloosa since 2023. The property manager for his apartment did not respond to a request for comment from AL.com. The University of Alabama enrolled about 1,200 international students in the fall 2024 semester, according to a recent report, and 90 of those students were from Iran. Across Alabama, about 9,000 international students were enrolled at different universities, according to the Alabama Council on Higher Education. Why was Alireza Doroudi detained? We dont know a reason right now. Public records from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement do not detail any specifics. What is the University of Alabama saying? A spokesperson for the university confirmed on Wednesday that a doctoral student had been detained off campus by federal immigration authorities, but declined to name the student, citing privacy protections. What are other people saying? The National Iranian American Council, an advocacy organization, issued a statement March 27. We are deeply disturbed by the arrest of Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student at the University of Alabama, by ICE agents. At a minimum, ICE must make his whereabouts known and make clear if he has been charged with any crime. If not, he should be immediately released, the organization wrote. University of Alabama College Democrats also issued a statement. Donald Trump, [ICE Acting Director] Tom Homan and ICE have struck a cold vicious dagger through the heart of UAs international community, the organization wrote. As far as we know right now, ICE is yet to provide any justification for their actions, so wea re not sure if this persecution is politically motivated as has been seen in other universities across the country. What happens next in the immigration or deportation process? People picked up in Alabama in connection to an immigration charge typically are held in a local jail for a few days and then transported to Louisiana for processing. What should international students know about immigration enforcement? Immigration rules are complicated and students should research their universitys policies and any updated state or federal guidelines. University of Alabama guidelines for international student orientation say that students may have an expired visa as long as they maintain their studies. The schools International Students and Scholars Service supports people on F-1 and J-1 visas. AL.com contacted the ISSS office who directed comments to the universitys communications office. ICE agents may be in public spaces on university campuses. They typically need a warrant in order to enter private spaces, such as a home or residence hall. Construction of homes in the Summit on Monte Sano in Huntsville is ongoing. See Forever website A development on Monte Sano Mountain that previously faced opposition from residents of an adjacent subdivision came before the Huntsville Planning Commission again this week. Developers of the Summit at Monte Sano received preliminary approval for the 64 lots of the planned development and final approval for 26 lots north of Bankhead Parkway and east of Gaslight Way. Hayleys Way, which feeds in from Gaslight Way, will be extended an additional 3,131 feet to accommodate the addition, Planning Commission member Kelly Schrimsher told AL.com. Infrastructure work installing curbs, gutters and detention ponds is underway on Monte Sano Mountain for the Summit at Monte Sano development. (Ben Jackson/See Forever Partners photo) Telluride, Colorado-based See Forever is the developer of the subdivision. See Forever Development Partners Chief Operating Officer Ben Jackson, an Alabama native, told AL.com in a previous interview the single-family homes and townhomes could be valued as much as $1.5 million. But residents living on Gaslight Way and surrounding neighborhoods opposed the development for various reasons. They packed previous Planning Commission and Huntsville City Council meetings urging city officials to halt construction. None spoke out against the development Tuesday. Among the residents previous complaints included increased traffic through their neighborhoods from construction vehicles and future residents. Access to the development is through Gaslight Way and Hayleys Way, which had not been extended before site work began on the development. Officials from the citys traffic engineering department deemed access from adjacent Bankhead Parkway too dangerous. Residents also voiced concerns the construction of the development would cause flooding to the lower neighborhoods. They also said the property was too rocky and steep for such a development. Residents also complained the development would change the character of Monte Sano Mountain. A resident of Monte Sano Boulevard said in a previous interview that blasting on the site a couple of years ago left a gash on the side of the mountain that was visible from Interstate 565. And Oakwood Avenue resident Bill Yell said vibrations from the blasts could felt at his home. Schrimsher said the blasting was within city regulations, but at least one property on Gaslight Way reported flood damage from the blasting. Jackson said See Forever was working with the property owner to repair the damage, which was confirmed by the property owner. See story: Summit at Monte Sano already has 25 potential homebuyers for $1.5 million homes, developer says - al.com See story: Monte Sano blasting raises concerns about damage to homes, mountain - al.com City Councilwoman Jennie Robinson who is a member of the Planning Commission asked Tuesday if the concerns had been addressed. Manager of Planning and Zoning Services Thomas Nunez said the concerns had been addressed. Plans for the development have not changed since it came before the Commission a couple of years ago. Nunez said construction is ongoing. Summit at Monte Sano is being built on a narrower and denser strip of land because of the rocky and slope conditions. See Forever pledged to donate surrounding property with its existing trails to the Land Trust of North Alabama. See Forever is building four types of homes, ranging from a two-bedroom, 2,280-square foot home with a flex room to a four-bedroom, 4,290-square foot home with an office. The homes will be designed to match the mountain landscape. Existing mountain trail infrastructure would remain and mountain biking and hiking would be an attribute of the property, neighborhood and community, according to the development website. Residents filed a lawsuit against the city and See Forever, but it was dismissed, clearing the way for the development. Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth traveled to the White House this morning to meet with members of President Donald Trumps administration and discuss several projects that are high on his priority list for the state. I am at the White House today to discuss widening I-65 from the Tennessee line to the Gulf of America, relocating Space Command to its rightful home in Huntsville, and other issues important to Alabama and its future, Ainsworth wrote in a post to X. Its good that President Trump loves our Sweet Home Alabama. Ainsworth is considered a likely candidate for governor in 2026, even if that means a GOP primary faceoff with Sen. Tommy Tuberville. He cannot seek a third term as lieutenant governor and said he would not run for Tubervilles Senate seat. I am at the White House today to discuss widening I-65 from the Tennessee line to the Gulf of America, relocating Space Command to its rightful home in Huntsville, and other issues important to Alabama and its future. Its good that President Trump loves our Sweet Home Alabama. pic.twitter.com/JGiElPUAtZ Will Ainsworth (@willainsworthAL) March 27, 2025 I-65 Widening Ainsworth has advocated for widening I-65 since at least 2018, making it one of his primary initiatives over the last several years, as AL.coms Patrick Darrington previously reported. The lieutenant governor has consistently criticized the congestion along the highway. Every single person who is reading this statement has experienced the frustration of sitting immobile on I-65 as if it were the worlds largest parking lot, Ainsworth said in a previous release. A large portion of I-65 is a four-lane road and extends from the Alabama-Tennessee state line into Mobile. Ainsworth has expressed interest in making the 366-mile roadway six-lanes. His emphasis on the issue has caused previous clashes with Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Transportation after he said that appropriate attention and resources have not gone into expanding the highway. In May 2023, Ivey shot back at Ainsworths pitches on how he would restructure I-65 saying they make for, easy headlines. Space Command Ainsworths post said he will also be discussing relocating Space Command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, which Alabama politicians have spoken of with increasing certainty both before and since President Donald Trumps re-election. Speculation increased after Lt. Gen. Thomas L. James, Space Command deputy commander, recently visited Redstone on what was reported to be a fact-finding trip on the Armys space capabilities. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is headquartered at Redstone. The U.S. Air Force named the arsenal the preferred location in 2021 for a permanent headquarters for the newly formed Space Command. The command had been temporarily housed at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. which is still its location after President Joe Bidens 2023 decision for it to remain there rather than move it to Alabama. Space Command is charged with defending space and delivering space capabilities to joint and combined U.S. and allied forces. Locating the command in Huntsville would bring at least 1,600 new jobs, AL.com has reported. A Mountain Brook urologist who donated more than $8,500 to Donald Trumps 2024 campaign was nominated this week by the president to be assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Brian Christine, a urologic surgeon at Urology Centers of Alabamas Homewood location, was described by the Alabama Republican Party as a longtime Conservative grassroots activist and dedicated supporter of the party. In 2024, the Alabama urologist contributed $8,505 to Trumps campaign committees, Federal Election Commission records showed. The Senate received Trumps nomination of Christine on Monday and sent it to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, where Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., is a member. If confirmed, Christine would succeed Adm. Rachel Levine, who resigned after Joe Biden left office in January. Levine, a pediatrician who was the highest-ranking Senate-confirmed transgender woman in government, had been used by conservatives as an example of Bidens woke administration. Dr. Christine has been a steadfast advocate for strong, patient-centered healthcare policies, and we have no doubt he will bring the same passion and commitment to this new role, the Alabama GOP stated on its Facebook page. We look forward to seeing his work alongside Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr to Make America Healthy Again! The Wall Street Journal reported Christines practice advertised its treatment of transgender patients. Christine denied treating transgender patients. Christine is a graduate of Emory University Medical School in Atlanta, according to his bio. He completed his urology residency at UAB. He started out practicing general urology before focusing on mens sexual health and prosthetic urology. Dr. Christines practice is recognized here in the United States and internationally as a true Center of Excellence, his bio stated. He has treated patients from throughout the U.S. and from beyond his countrys borders. Dr. Christines surgical volume is among the highest in the world; the number of surgeries he performs annually for erectile dysfunction, penile curvature, and male stress urinary incontinence place his skill at the highest level. He is a sought-after expert and routinely is asked by medical device companies to give his opinions and insights to help improve existing prosthetic implants and develop future devices. AI-powered job fair held in Harbin, China's Heilongjiang Xinhua) 08:45, March 27, 2025 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) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Army official who oversees the branchs operations may be coming to Alabama after being invited Thursday to a critical base in the state. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, wrote a letter Thursday to Hegseth and Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll invited them to Fort Novosel in southeast Alabama to see firsthand the vital work being carried out at this critical Army installation. Fort Novosel had been known as Fort Rucker until 2023, when then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved removing the names of Confederates from nine military bases in the wake of the George Floyd protests. Fort Rucker was named for Col. Edmund Rucker, a brigade commander in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The bases current name honors Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel, Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient with ties to Army Aviation, the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, and the Wiregrass region in southeast Alabama. Hegseth has reversed some of the renamings made by Austin, including reverting the North Carolina base to Fort Bragg and the west Georgia base to Fort Benning. The defense secretary chose other military heroes with the same last names as Bragg and Benning for the renamings. A spokesman for Moore could not be reached on whether the congressman wants Fort Novosel changed to its original name, but Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen pushed Hegseth to do so in February. Fort Novosel has long been a cornerstone of our national defense, serving as the home of the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and the primary training installation for the Armys fleet of rotary-wing aircraft, Moore to Hegseth and Driscoll. Its strategic importance and the exceptional work conducted there cannot be overstated, and I believe a visit from both of you would highlight not only the dedication of the service members stationed there but also the significant role Fort Novosel plays in preparing the Army for future challenges. A visit by Hegseth and Driscoll, according to Moore, will underscore the importance of continued investment in Fort Novosel, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of military readiness and innovation. The local community is deeply supportive of the base and its mission, Moore wrote. I know they would be honored to host you both and show you the important work being done at this vital installation. I would be delighted to coordinate the details of your visit and ensure that you can engage with military leadership, visit existing facilities, and speak with the soldiers and civilians who make Fort Novosel such an extraordinary asset to our military and the state of Alabama. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., President Donald Trump's nominee to be the United Nations Ambassador, testifies during a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing for her pending confirmation on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) AP President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he was pulling Rep. Elise Stefaniks nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a stunning turnaround for his Cabinet pick after her confirmation had been stalled over concerns about Republicans tight margins in the House. Trump confirmed he was withdrawing the New York Republicans nomination in a Truth Social post, saying that it was essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress, the president said, without mentioning who he would nominate as a replacement for his last remaining Cabinet seat. Stefaniks office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump had tapped Stefanik to represent the U.S. at the international body shortly after winning reelection in November. She was seen as among the least controversial Cabinet picks, and her nomination advanced out of committee in late January, but House Republicans razor-thin majority kept her ultimate confirmation in a state of purgatory for the last several months. In recent weeks, it had seemed as if Stefaniks nomination would advance to the Senate floor, given two U.S. House special elections in Florida in districts that Trump easily won in 2024. Filling those vacant GOP seats would have allowed Stefanik to finally resign from the House and given Republicans, who currently hold 218 seats, a little more breathing room on passing legislation in a growingly divided Congress. Democrats hold 213 seats. But Democrats upset in a Tuesday special election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities surely gave the GOP pause. Stefanik is the fourth Trump administration nominee who didnt make it through the confirmation process. Previously, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for attorney general, Chad Chronister was pulled for the Drug Enforcement Administration and former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon was yanked from contention to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The former congresswoman had been in a state of limbo for months, not able to engage in her official duties as a member of the 119th Congress or to participate in the action at the U.N. The vacancy of a permanent U.S. ambassador was happening at a critical moment for the international body as the world leaders had been discussing the two major wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas. In late February, the U.S. mission, under Trump, split with its European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three U.N. resolutions seeking an end to the three-year war. Dorothy Shea, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., has been the face of Americas mission in New York during the transition. One evening about twenty years ago, at the height of my shortwave radio zeal, I was sitting at my desk tuning in Deutsche Welles (DW) English broadcast. That night, the well-known German public radio service was airing a program on the use of data from the Dachau Hypothermia Experiments, data they said would be used in modern medical research. I was shocked. It felt like a shadowy figure from a damp corner of a Nazi death camp had crept through the airwaves into my safe little radio cubby. My repulsion was normal unless youre a Holocaust denier or had the wiring snipped on your moral compass. After all, were talking about data harvested from mass murders and torture. The Dachau Hypothermia Experiments were carried out by the Nazis at Dachau concentration camp for almost a year from 194243. According to the New England Journal of Medicine when it could still be trusted back in 1990 The subjects in the experiment were male civilian prisoners belonging to various religions and nationalities, as well as Russian prisoners of war. Naked victims immersed in water took 80 minutes to six hours to die, those with their clothes on suffered longer lasting six to eight hours before death. In short, these were not willing subjects in an experiment, they were victims of torture and murder. There are two obvious disqualifiers for using this data: It was gleaned from evil perpetrators so one should assume its inherently flawed. How irrational would it be to trust a pathological liar to give you reliable information? It was dependent upon the horrific torture and murder of captive participants. In summation, if we embrace data gathered through such means for the sake of the greater good, what prevents us from justifying the sacrifice of additional individuals to advance medical progress in the future? Civilizations rise or fall on such precedents. While these points seem patently clear to many of us, they are lost on others. This is best illustrated in a 2004 article by a former editor-in-chief for the Association of Anaesthetists representing the U.K. and Ireland. In the article, author David Bogod relates how he attended a lecture where the speaker referenced the data from Dachau during his exposition on immersion-related deaths and near-drowning. Bogod said he was taken aback by the unexpected and unwelcome intrusion of this information, but that he was even more surprised that there was absolutely no reaction from the audience. Yet minutes later, while showcasing an experiment carried out to confirm the Dachau data, the speaker showed a photograph of a pig immersed in water. This time, the audience gasped. Furthermore, when the audience was told that the pig was anesthetized prior to complete submersion, they let out a relieved sigh. It seems that a societys empathy can collectively wane with each passing decade: a pigs life then was worth more than the poor souls barbarically murdered sixty years before. Fast forward to 2025 where we find antisemitism and Holocaust denial burning its way through the social media landscape to singe the minds of a new generation. Worse still, too much of this surge comes from those identifying as conservatives a deeply disheartening twist that only fuels progressive stereotypes and baseless attacks. (Wikipedia now displays an animated GIF of Elon Musk giving what they describe as a Nazi salute.) Take for instance this widely circulated clip of Candace Owens calling Nazi medical experiments bizarre propaganda. In her monologue, Owens, a mother herself, can be seen mocking the idea that the Nazis experimented on twins most of them children. Since she denies the facts, she cannot show compassion regarding the 3,000 twins who became unwilling medical subjects at Auschwitz-Birkenau. One of those twins, Eva Mozes Kor, founded the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute, Indiana. This woman lived to tell the story, founded a museum to educate future generations, and passed away in 2019. But people like Candace Owens say bizarre propaganda, and sneer suspiciously. In her notorious public feud with The Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro, Owens began repeatedly tweeting out Christ is King, as an apparent dig at Shapiro, who is Jewish and supports American aid for Israel. (For an excellent breakdown of how Israel became dependent on U.S. military aid, watch Caroline Glicks video here.) Owens thus cemented Christ is King as a dog whistle for anyone harboring antisemitic views at least in todays social media world. Prior to that, however, the biblical reference was used as a catchphrase by fringe political pundit Nick Fuentes, a foul-mouthed young man who seems to have gathered most of his knowledge from white supremacist and antisemitic websites. Like Owens, hes gained a following by making outlandish statements. These two folks have forced us into the very unpleasant reality of seeing Christ is King on various social media posts, and not knowing if the person is sending out morse code to attract antisemites or if theyre simply acknowledging the Kingship of Christ with no hidden agenda. My mother used to say, Never do anything that would give Christ a black eye. Owens and Fuentes would do well to heed her advice. All of which brings me to a spot-on opinion piece titled, Memo to podcasters: Free speech does not justify promoting antisemitism. The author, Aaron Pomerantz, is a research fellow at Rice Universitys Doerr Institute for New Leaders and a Middle East Peace fellow with Young Voices. Pomerantz opens his article by reprimanding top-ranked podcaster Joe Rogan for giving a platform to Darryl Cooper, whom Pomerantz labels a Holocaust revisionist and pseudo-historian. Cooper, known for his podcast Martyr Made, has been widely condemned by historians, scholars, and organizations like Yad Vashem for being historically false (or as we used to saylying). He then goes after Tucker Carlson for openly defending Iran and Qatar just months after hosting Cooper himself. Finally, he mentions comedian Theo Von from the popular podcast, This Past Weekend. Earlier this month, Von gave Candace Owens a platform to promote antisemitic conspiracy theories alleging a global Jewish pedophile network. (She also expresses how disappointed she is with Trump for his Gaza policy, as well as Americans for not seeing Muslims as human life.) Pomerantz says Rogan and Carlson build their brands by showcasing inflammatory figures who make dangerously absurd statements, justify atrocities or simply shill for hostile foreign governments. When confronted about promoting these views, he said they rarely take responsibility, instead claiming they are just asking questions or engaging different views. For anyone who thinks Pomerantz is encouraging censorship he adds, Its not censorship for private citizens to guard and govern public discourse its responsible citizenship. He rightly concludes, [I]ndividuals have a responsibility to oppose harmful ideas and to call for their removal from public discourse. Its true that weve lived into an era where now more than ever we cant trust the media. But we must teach new generations of young people how to discern truth from fiction. That starts now with an ethical duty to deny antisemites and Holocaust deniers a platform to distort and erase history. Because it all happened experiments on twins, reproductive experiments on women, the Dachau Hypothermia Experiments, and so much more. To reject the reality of these atrocities is to both endorse the brutality of history and invite its ruthless return. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. The practice by which Our Honest Media keeps certain events from the peasantry to assure that we dont get confused goes back a long way. In the mid-70s, something amounting to a civil war occurred among California leftists featuring kidnappings, purge trials, and executions carried out in lonely spots in the mountains. This went completely unmentioned in the media of the day, due largely, no doubt, to the participation of members of the protected classes (A number of them were ex-Black Panthers). If youre familiar with the story of the pathetic Sarah Jane Moore, the would-be assassin of Jerry Ford, then you may have heard about this -- otherwise its unlikely. A similar train of events has unfolded in recent months, much of it in roughly the same area, also involving a protected class, and also largely overlooked by media. A gang of transgenders has carried out a string of murders across the country, beginning in northern California and culminating in the shooting of a border patrolman in Vermont. Weve seen perfunctory coverage of the crimes, but, as is often the case with stories coming out of Cali, theres a lot more to it. The only in-depth coverage has come from Christopher Rufo and the fearless independent journalist Andy Ngo. Unsurprisingly, considering the milieu, it involves a cult. The key man in this cult was Jack Amadeus LaSota, who was born in Alaska in 1991. His father was an AI researcher at the state university, and LaSota earned a BA in computer science, doing well enough to intern with NASA. In 2016 he moved to the Bay area. He began running with a group of rationalists operating out of Berkeley, becoming an apprentice at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute of the Center for Applied Rationality (CAR). At the same time, he began publishing a blog expressing his ideas on gender, AI, transhumanism, and related topics. LaSota believed that each hemisphere of the brain possessed a different gender, with the hemispheres attempting to kill each other as a result. You can see how this could be a problem. LaSota's solution was mindhacking -- reconfiguring the brain utilizing game theory and decision theory. He also believed that AI represented a potentially deadly threat to humanity, which begs the question as to why he was working on it at all, but there you go. LaSotas reconfiguring led him into transsexualism, which involved creating an entirely new identity based on the premise that transgender women embodied a superior form of humanity. He began calling himself Ziz, which went on to become the name of the cult. At the same time, he started collecting followers. One of the first was Gwen Danielson, another transgender, who met Ziz in 2016. In the summer of 2017, Ziz LaSota returned to Alaska. At Ketchikan he and several followers purchased a nearly derelict tugboat, which they sailed to California. Considering how unseaworthy the boat was, its surprising they ever got there, but on July 7, they arrived at Half Moon Bay, where the tug broke down in the harbor. This led to a lengthy conflict with local authorities along with the Coast Guard, a conflict that was never resolved. The cult, which had planned to live on the boat, instead decamped to trucks in a local parking lot until the heat got too intense and they left for greener pastures. Those belonged to Curtis Lind, an aged owner of a trailer yard in Vallejo, who allowed them to live in RVs parked in the yard at a stiff rent. Ziz had maintained his ties to CAR, and in November 2019 attended a retreat at a rural site called Westminster Woods along with several followers including Gwen Danielson, Alexander Leathem, and Emma Horhannian. For obscure reasons, the Zizians fell out with the rest of the attendees and attempted to take control of the event, seizing the gate to the grounds and allowing no one to leave. When local police arrived, the Zizians resisted and were placed under arrest -- except, oddly enough, Ziz himself. Court proceedings were delayed while the Zizians attempted to find defense lawyers who were also vegans not a real challenge, youd think, in California. The group also filed its own lawsuit against both the police and Westminster Woods. Things must have been getting hot for Ziz, because he decided to disappear by falling off a boat. But the Coast Guard found no body, and the only obit appeared in Zizs hometown paper. (Danielson later pulled a similar trick.) Things continued to unravel for the Zizians. In November 2022, they attacked landlord Curtis Lind with swords and knives. Although the attack cost him an eye, Lind shot Emma Horhannian and Alexander Leathem, killing Horhannian. Leathem and Surrey Dayo were arrested for attempted murder in the case of Lind and murder in the case of Emma Horhannian. It seems that Ziz was actually present, although he vanished before authorities arrived. A few weeks later, on Jan. 2, 2023, Richard Zajko and his wife Rita were found shot in the head execution-style in their home in Chester Heights, PA. Investigation revealed that they had been murdered on Dec. 31. While police were trying to locate their daughter Michelle known to have become involved with the Zizians -- they stumbled over none other than Ziz himself. After it was ascertained that he had played no part in the killings, he was given bail for minor charges and promptly disappeared. Curtis Lind was murdered on Jan. 17, 2025 on his own property by Maximilian Snyder, author of a wild-eyed manifesto on veganism, evidently to stop him from testifying. Just three days later, a Vermont traffic stop by Border Patrol officers devolved into an open gunfight. Teresa Youngblut and Felix Bauckholt were stopped while driving a Prius. They were both dressed in black tac clothing and had been acting suspiciously. Bauckholdt, who had a high-end job in New York finance and was described as a mathematical genius, opened fire on the officers, killing Officer David Maland. Return fire killed Bauckholdt and wounded Youngblut. After Youngblut was booked on charges including assault with a deadly weapon, it was discovered that the guns had been bought by the poor orphan Michelle Zajko, who was still running around loose. Ziz and Zajko were at last picked up in Maryland on Feb. 16 after alarming local residents and booked on the relatively tame charges of trespassing, obstructing, and illegal firearms possession. It also developed that Curtis Linds killer Maximilian Snyder had taken out a marriage license naming Teresa Youngblut, tying things into a tidy little package. These arrests appear to have brought an end to the Zizian killing spree. Were there other murders? Its possible, even likely. The one thing that can be said for certain is that itll be a long time before this one is wound up. The Zizian murders delivered body blows to no less than three ideological constructs: rationalism, transhumanism, and transgenderism. A glance at their website reveals that the Center for Applied Rationality is not itself any kind of nutcult but is instead a sincere public-interest group established to promote rational thinking about the use of technology in hopes of avoiding the kind of mistakes made in the past. According to their mission statement: Compare the best and the worst that a single human could accomplish with the resources available in the year 1018 to the best and the worst that a single human could accomplish in 1918, or to the best and the worst that could be accomplished in 2008. This could almost serve as Ziz LaSota's mission statement. So how did these rationalists become entangled with a pack of murderous mutts like the Zizians? I suspect that the answer can be found in the California ethos of tolerance as an overriding imperative. No doubt all the old cliches were trotted out: they have a right to be heard They have important things to say We have no right to judge While the Center for Applied Rationality carries no blame for events, they havent particularly covered themselves in glory either. Transhumanism is a tech-based parareligion promoted by, among others, Raymond Kurzweil and Hans Moravec in which human beings, through application of cybernetics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, might achieve superhuman status sometime in the very near future on the order of twenty-five years (though theyve been promoting this for about forty years), in an event called the Singularity, in which technological progress would attain a pace in which human knowledge would be doubling within hours or even minutes. Among the benefits promised by Transhumanism are immortality (through uploading the mind into a computer), vast increases in intelligence (Kurzweil spoke of IQs in the trillions), and changes in human morphology. Some of these are distinctly unappealing. Moravec, for instance, postulated that humans would eventually evolve into robot bushes, grotesque constructs that remain rooted in one spot, interacting with the world remotely. (David Lynch featured his own conception of these in one of the later episodes of Twin Peaks.) In recent years, transsexualism has achieved prominent status in transhumanism, influenced by transhumanists such as Martine Rothblatt, a promoter of mind uploading and founder of the transhumanist Terasem Movement. Rothblatt, who transitioned in 1994, argues that transsexualism serves a gateway to accelerated human development as envisioned in the Singularity paradigm, acting as the first step toward achieving transhuman status. It appears that Ziz stumbled over this concept and was preaching a wildly distorted version of it to his transgender followers. Which brings us to the matter of transgenderism itself. Transgenderism as an ideology has been promoted alternately as a necessary corrective to what amounts to a birth defect -- on the order of fitting a prosthetic to someone born without a leg -- or else as a harmless and in fact desirable expansion of human development. Experience shows it to be neither, but instead simply a new way of expressing pathological, antisocial urges. Theres a clear record demonstrating this fact: Snochia Moseley shot up an Aberdeen, Maryland Rite Aid facility; Alex McKinney killed one and wounded eight at a Denver school; Anderson Lee Aldrich murdered five at a gay club in Colorado Springs; and Audrey Elizabeth Hale killed six children at a Christian school in Nashville. There are no doubt many others in which the transgender identity of the killer has been hidden. The Zizian killing spree is simply the latest of these spasms. There's much similarity here to the 1969 Manson killings: California. A messianic cult consisting of disaffected young people. Elderly property owners dragged in through no fault of their own. A well-to-do couple murdered for no rational reason. A cult leader who directed the crimes while taking an actual role in none of them. It may well mark a watershed moment in the transgender craze. As the Manson murders foreshadowed the end of the hippie dream, so this bloodbath could put a period to the transgender nightmare. In an era where information is power, two corporate giants -- Google and Meta -- act as gatekeepers to the digital world, wielding their unprecedented market dominance not only to shape consumer habits but also to manipulate the very foundation of democracy: our elections. Lets be honest: these tech behemoths are not neutral players. They are massive monopolies with clear political agendas, using their unmatched market power to control electoral outcomes. From Googles biased search results to Metas curated news feeds, evidence is mounting that Big Tech is tipping the scales -- and until we strip them of their unchecked influence, nothing will change. The idea that Google and Meta possess monopolistic power is hardly controversial. Google controls more than 90% of the global search engine market, while Metas empire - spanning Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp -- commands a staggering share of social media traffic. Together, they create a duopoly that influences what billions of people see, read, and think every day. However, this dominance is not just a business achievement; it functions as a political weapon. These companies have the tools, the data, and the motive to sway voters, and they aren't hesitant to use them. Consider Google as an example. In 2019, psychologist Dr. Robert Epstein testified before Congress that manipulating Googles search algorithm could have shifted at least 2.6 million votes toward Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Epstein, a former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today and a self-described liberal, is not a fringe conspiracy theorist; he is a respected researcher who has dedicated years to studying Big Techs influence. His findings suggest that by subtly altering search result rankings -- burying unfavorable stories or boosting preferred narratives -- Google can sway undecided voters without leaving a trace. In a close race, even a slight nudge can tip the scales. And with no oversight, no accountability, and no transparency, who can stop them? Meta, meanwhile, engages in a similar practice. Its platforms operate on algorithms that prioritize content based on obscure criteria, often amplifying divisive or ideologically biased posts while suppressing others. During the 2020 election cycle, Facebook faced accusations of selectively limiting conservative pages and ads while promoting progressive messaging. Internal leaks and whistleblower accounts -- such as those from former employee Frances Haugen -- uncover a company culture rife with ideological bias, where decisions regarding misinformation and hate speech conveniently align with left-leaning priorities. When you control the flow of information to over 3 billion users, thats not just influence; thats the power to reshape reality. Why does this matter? Because elections are not just about votes; they are about perception. If Big Tech can shape people's views, they can influence who wins. Their incentives are clear. Silicon Valleys workforce and donor class overwhelmingly lean left -- Google employees donated to Democrats over Republicans by a 20-to-1 margin in 2020, according to OpenSecrets. Metas Mark Zuckerberg has funneled hundreds of millions into election integrity initiatives that critics argue disproportionately benefit progressive turnout efforts. These are not accidents; they are patterns. The agenda is not hidden; it is embedded in the system. But Big Tech doesnt operate in isolation. Mainstream media and educational institutions -- many of which are funded or influenced by leftist titans like George Soros -- amplify this distortion. Outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, and the New York Times echo narratives that align with Big Techs curation, while universities produce graduates steeped in progressive orthodoxy. Soross Open Society Foundations, for instance, have invested billions in media and academic projects that advocate globalist, anti-conservative frameworks. Together, this trifecta - tech, media, and academia -- creates a stranglehold on public discourse, drowning out dissent and shaping worldviews to fit a singular mold. So, why are Google and Meta doing this? The answer isnt comforting. Its not just about ideology -- though thats a factor. Its about control. These companies thrive on predictability, and a populace that is divided or aligned with their preferred outcomes ensures their dominance remains unchallenged. A conservative wave, emphasizing deregulation and antitrust scrutiny, threatens their empire. By manipulating the system, they protect their profits and power. Its a self-perpetuating cycle: influence elections, secure favorable policies, and tighten their grip. The evidence keeps piling up, and its more than any patriot can bear. From Googles suppression of Tulsi Gabbards ads in 2019 -- right after she criticized Big Tech -- to Metas last-minute censorship of the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020, the examples are both blatant and chilling. Each revelation uncovers another layer of a system that is rotten to its core. And yet, the question remains: if theyre capable of this, what else are they hiding? The truth feels overwhelming, a betrayal of the free society we believed we had. But despair isnt an option; action is. We cant allow these monopolies to hold our democracy hostage. The first step is to break their power. Antitrust enforcement must be revived with strength: split Googles search engine from its ad business, compel Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, and impose strict transparency on algorithms. Second, we need election safeguards: prohibit Big Tech from political ad microtargeting and require real-time disclosure of content moderation decisions. Finally, conservatives must create alternatives - platforms, media, and institutions that cant be co-opted by Silicon Valleys elite. This isnt about silencing Big Tech; its about leveling the playing field. Theyve had their turn rigging the system; now its time to take it back. The stakes couldnt be higher. Every election they manipulate is a step toward a future where our votes dont count and our voices are mere echoes in their machine. Weve seen the agenda, felt the betrayal, and understand whats at risk. The fight starts now -- because if we dont act, nothing will change, and the invisible hand of Big Tech will tighten its grip until freedom becomes just a memory. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License With 1.4 billion energy-hungry citizens, India stands at the epicenter of the geopolitics of energy and climate policy. As the worlds third-largest energy consumer and projected to have the fastest growth in demand over the next two decades, the subcontinents choices reverberate far beyond its borders. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that India will account for a staggering 25% of growth in global energy demand by 2040, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and an expanding middle class. By 2050, Indias electricity demand alone could represent a major chunk of the worlds total, while its appetite for oil and natural gas is set to soar, the former potentially adding many million barrels per day to global oil consumption. Not to forget, the nations ambitions for technological development -- particularly of data centers -- promise to push the requirement for energy to stratospheric levels. With the reemergence of a hydrocarbon-friendly administration in Donald Trumps second term, India sees a golden opportunity to bolster its energy security. Trumps revival of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports and his ethos of drill, baby, drill align perfectly with Indias unapologetic pursuit of reliable, affordable energy. Far from bending to the green agenda peddled at United Nations summits, India is now betting big on U.S. hydrocarbons -- LNG, West Texas Intermediate crude, and more -- to fuel its economic ascent. Indias Reacts to Trumps LNG Revival The Trump administrations decision to lift the Biden-era ban on LNG export permits has opened opportunities for India. Their (Washingtons) decision to lift the ban will improve LNG supply, and we will revive our plans to either buy a stake or buy U.S. LNG under long-term deals, declared the chairman of GAIL, Ltd., Indias state-owned gas utility. Already the worlds fourth-largest LNG importer, India aims to boost natural gass share in its energy mix from less than 7% to 15% by 2030 -- a target that demands a doubling of LNG imports to roughly 65 billion cubic meters annually, according to the IEA. Domestic production being unable to keep pace with demand, U.S. LNG is poised to fill the gap. With respect to crude oil, India's strategic calculus is equally evident. To mitigate trade imbalances and foster stronger bilateral ties, New Delhi is contemplating a fixed quota for importing U.S. crude, specifically Western Texas Intermediate product. India imports 88% of its crude oil, a dependency that exposes it to global price volatility and geopolitical whims. In 2023-24, imports of crude from the U.S. were ranked fifth, trailing Russia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Sourced primarily from Texass Permian Basin, American oil could displace one of the top four, which would count as a score for Trumps America First agenda. Why U.S. Over Venezuela, Iran and Russia? Indias pivot to U.S. hydrocarbons not only about seizing opportunity but also about dodging risk. Three traditional suppliers -- Venezuela, Iran and Russia -- pose headaches that American energy sidesteps. Take Venezuela: Once a significant supplier to India, its shipments have dwindled under U.S. sanctions since 2019. Hopes of a revival were in the cards as imports surged to a four-year peak in 2024. However, Trump is now planning to impose a 25% tariff on exports from any nation buying Venezuelan oil. Instability of Iranian supplies is equally unappealing. With Middle East tensions simmering, India can ill afford an entanglement in American-led maximum pressure campaigns against the Iranian nuclear program. Russia, meanwhile, is a complex equation for India. Moscow has been a lifeline since 2022, supplying 40% of Indias crude at steep discounts after imposition of Western sanctions over Putins invasion of Ukraine. Imports hit 1.91 million barrels per day in the first half of Indias 2024-25 fiscal year. But geopolitical tensions and supply chain risks loom large. A Ukrainian drone attack on Russias Kropotkinskaya pumping station in February disrupted flows via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, cutting global supply from Russia by up to 380,000 barrels daily. The U.S., by contrast, offers stability. No sanctions, no drone strikes -- just a flood of oil and gas from a partner eager to sell. For a nation where 800 million still use biomass such as wood and animal dung for cooking and per capita electricity consumption is a third of the global average, energy security is non-negotiable while climate guilt is a foolish distraction. Energy poverty kills more than does an imaginary climate crisis. Meanwhile, Trumps vision for development of American energy offers India a supercharger for its economy -- exactly opposite the hollow promises of climate politics. Vijay Jayaraj is a Science and Research Associate at the CO 2 Coalition, Fairfax, Virginia. He holds an M.S. in environmental sciences from the University of East Anglia and a postgraduate degree in energy management from Robert Gordon University, both in the U.K., and a bachelors in engineering from Anna University, India. Image: National Archives Medical murder comes for the disabled children. Again. I mean, weve been here before, but for some reason, a sizable enough portion of the population refuses to heed the words commonly attributed to Spanish thinker, George Santayana: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it, and so we traditionalists, clinging to (as Barack Obama might derogatorily say) life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, are left to scream into the void about how today its the retarded kids, tomorrow its us. Jonathon Van Marens new report at Life News reveals that in 2024, the Netherlands put 219 people to death, based on psychological suffering of the individual. For reference, this was a 10,850% increase over the previous 14 years. Thirty of those lives, or around 14%, belonged to either very young, or relatively young people. It gets worse, though, from UnHerds Yuan Yi Zhu: An unspecified number of minors were also euthanised. The one specific given is that one of the minors, a teenage boy, was euthanized over his autism. Now, to recall your attention back to 1930s Germany, from the testimony (via abortion: the SILENT HOLOCAUST) of a Sister Rutilia, a nun whose religious order was tasked to care for physically and mentally disabled children: [O]ne day we heard that the government was planning to take them [the children] away and to kill them, just because they were retarded or handicapped. At first we could not believe this, but we prayed anyway. Oh, how we prayed for our children! But one day the vans came and soldiers took away our little babies. They threw them into the vans like sacks of potatoes and took them off to the killing centers. Heres some incredible, and utterly tragic, irony: the Dutch doctors of the 1930s were the first line of resistance when the Third Reich invaded: [W]hen the Reich Commander for the Occupied Netherlands Territories invited Dutch physicians to rehabilitate people for the sole purpose of putting them to forced labor, the Dutch doctors adamantly refused. They knew it would be the first, slight step away from principle and medical ethics. They were men in the service of men. They would not treat human beings like pawns. When these Dutch physicians were threatened with revocation of their licenses, they simply mailed in their licenses and took down their shingles. Even when the Reich Commander had one hundred Dutch doctors arrested and sent to concentration camps, the whole Dutch medical profession continued to stand firm [emphasis added]. Was all the courage and sacrifice made in vain? What happened to that spirit? Hegelianism, leftism, and progress, thats what. As governments continue to sanitize the world of the indesirableshow many times have we seen this now?seems like were the only ones paying attention, signaling like the canary in the coalmine about what this means for the rest of humanity, and where its going next. Hat tip: Marsha, a friend of AT. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. What am I reading? Well ... *Florida police said that two illegal aliens were arrested on Friday for allegedly molesting a teenager on a Royal Caribbean cruise off the coast of Miami. According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, one of the illegal aliens has an HIV infection. Noem also noted that officials are working on deporting both. One question: what the hell are illegal aliens doing on a Royal Caribbean cruise? (Ive never even spent the money to take a cruise.) I hope they enjoyed the swimming pools, the cuisine and the nightlife. I bet the Oysters Rockefeller were to die for! *Tesla vehicles have been keyed, graffitied, shat on, and set on fire. Their owners have been doxxed. Whole dealerships have been attacked. And, most recently, several incendiary devices were discovered at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas. Police are investigating, but no arrests had been made at the time of this writing. Not to worry, though, Im sure these were mostly peaceful bombs. *A new report chronicled in The Times illustrates a staggering 60 percent rise in Dutch euthanasia cases for psychological suffering. The report states that almost 10,000 Dutch people in total died by euthanasia last year alone. In 2024, the Netherlands reported 219 cases of euthanasia for psychological suffering, of which 30 were for patients aged 18-39. An unspecified number of minors were also euthanized, including one boy between the ages of 16 and 18 who was euthanized for autism. Euthanasia was originally only supposed to be utilized for the most terminally ill of elderly patients in constant pain and with no hope of even partial recovery. Slowly yet inexorably the parameters of use have devolved to include mental illness and other lesser maladies. And now the assisted-suicide of young patients with autism. Whats next, the euthanizing of those with shingles? COVID? Bad colds? Irritable Bowel Syndrome? How can it be that the overwhelming majority of those who are pro-genital mutilation of children, pro assisted-dying/euthanasia, and pro-abortion are anti-death penalty? It is impossible to be more screwed up than that. *The headline in the San Francisco Chronicle read: Demonic sea lions are attacking surfers off Californias coast: Whats behind the bizarre behavior. Lets not panic here -- or jump to conclusions. Maybe its just co-hosts of The View going for a swim and looking for a snack. Could be fake news! Trouble you for a herring? *The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently announced that it had purged roughly 7 million Social Security number-holders listed as at least 120 years old from the Social Security Administrations database and marked them as deceased. I am surprised that we have not yet seen a massive protest rally of these unfairly aggrieved folks understandably upset at having Elon Musk cancel their SSNs and their Social Security benefits. Image: Pixabay (cropped) // Pixabay License Last week, a D.C. District Court judge, James Boasberg, took it upon himself to substitute his feelings for the Presidents statutory authority under the Alien Enemies Act (AEA). When issuing his order telling the President to return to the U.S. planes filled with Tren de Aragua members bound for Venezuela, Boasberg didnt even attempt to find law to justify his decision. Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit backed Judge Boasberg. A quick read shows that its reason for doing so is utterly spurious because it glosses over the fact that the courts lack any jurisdiction in this matter. The court begins by explaining that the AEA is one of a trio of laws that marked a fight between Federalists and Jeffersons Republicans. It implies that the AEA should be considered as dead as the others in the trio, which are long since gone. The court also acknowledges that there are conditions that must be met for the AEA to apply: Either there must be a declared war, or there must be a predatory invasion by a foreign nation accompanied by a presidential proclamation of that event. The court concedes that the AEA vests in the President near-blanket authority to detain and deport any noncitizen whose affiliation traces to the belligerent state, providing that the U.S. is at war or suffering an invasion or predatory incursion. The rest of the opinion justifies the Courts authority to make this decision. On March 15, Trump invoked the AEA, contending that Tren de Aragua, a designated terrorist organization, invaded at the behest of the Venezuelan government, and he began mass deportations of these Venezuelan foot soldiers. X screen grab. According to the appellate court, it has jurisdiction to hear the matter. It reaches this conclusion not by discussing its jurisdiction under the AEA, which should be a predicate matter, but by discussing general principles applicable to temporary restraining orders (TRO). From there, the court swings into the usual TRO analysis, which is (1) the likelihood of success on the merits, the relative harm to the applicant, (2) the defendant based on granting or not granting the stay, and (3) the public interest. The meat of the decision is that the government argued that the courts have no jurisdiction to review presidential decisions under the AEA. This is the correct argument. As discussed in detail here, the statute as writtenand as interpreted since 1799says that the only opinion that matters under the AEA is the presidents. The courts have no jurisdiction at all in the matter. Or, as the Supreme Court said in 1948s Ludecke v. Watkins, the last comprehensive analysis, The very nature of the President's power to order the removal of all enemy aliens rejects the notion that courts may pass judgment upon the exercise of his discretion. [Fn. omitted.] This view was expressed by Mr. Justice Iredell shortly after the Act was passed, Case of Fries [citation], and every judge before whom the question has since come has held that the statute barred judicial review. Significantly, in Case of Fries, decided one year after the AEAs passage and by the very generation that ratified the Constitution, acknowledged that Such great war powers may be abused, no doubt, but that is a bad reason for having judges supervise their exercise... This makes sense because the Constitution grants to the president, who is accountable to voters every four years, authority for decisions about conducting war and national security matters. The courts, which do not have to answer to voters, have no constitutional role in these decisions. Rather than admit that it has no jurisdiction (and nor did Judge Boasberg), the appellate court does what all leftist judges do (Justice Ginsburg was the master of this), which is to create a cascade of case citations, none of which are on point. In this case, the court generally explains why federal courts have jurisdiction over matters involving foreign countries while ignoring their complete lack of jurisdiction under the AEA. The appellate court doesnt bother to challenge Ludecke (it cant) but cites a bevy of state or lower court cases or unrelated Supreme Court cases. The appellate court eventually reached Ludecke only to explain that Ludecke stands for the principle that whether a war has ended is a political act. The D.C. appellate court then contends that Ludecke explicitly gives the court the right to review the AEA for questions of interpretation and constitutionality. This deliberately misinterprets Ludecke. Heres the entire context: As Congress explicitly recognized in the recent Administrative Procedure Act, some statutes "preclude judicial review." Act of June 11, 1946, 10, 60 Stat. 237, 243. Barring questions of interpretation and constitutionality, the Alien Enemy Act of 1798 is such a statute. Its terms, purpose, and construction leave no doubt. In other words, there are no questions of interpretation and constitutionality in the AEA. Instead, everything about it makes plain that, as the Supreme Court concluded (see above), the statute vests all authority in the president, with no room remaining for judicial oversight. Even Chief Justice Marshall, writing in 1814s Brown v. United States, acknowledged, The act concerning alien enemies, which confers on the president very great discretionary powers respecting their persons appears to me to be as unlimited as the legislature could make it. All the other questionsthat is, when is a war not a war?while it considered them, the Ludecke Supreme Court rejected because the power under the AEA lies not with the courts but with the executive. Indeed, the Ludecke court explicitly stated that, regarding whether a war is in progress, These are matters of political judgment for which judges have neither technical competence nor official responsibility. Its only by deliberately misinterpreting the Supreme Court that the appellate court gave itself permission to wade into a matter that is reserved solely for the executive. From that point forward, the appellate court felt free to wade into answering for itself the question of when is a war not a war and to determine that it, not the president, has the authority to determine whether a foreign power is invading the U.S. either through an official declaration or through a stealth infiltration. Everything the court writes is invalid and deserves to be slapped down hard by the current Supreme Courtassuming, of course, that the Supreme Court has any interest in protecting the federal judiciarys reputation as a vehicle of law and justice, not politics. The WSJ is no better than all the leftist rags peddling propaganda, and this latest story in regards to the Signal group chat debacle is just another example. The paper never liked Vance as the VP choice, and they also tried to take out Gabbard, Hegseth, and Kennedy. And, their campaign against Vance continues: Lessons From the Signal Chat on the Houthis The leak furor will fade but not JD Vances contempt for allies. Yet Vice President JD Vance second-guessed the Presidents strikes on the chat because he said only 3 percent of US trade runs through the suez canal, while 40 percent of European trade does. That understates the U.S. interest in freedom of navigation. Mr. Vance even suggested his boss didnt understand that striking the Houthis was at odds with Mr. Trumps message on Europe right now. He added that I just hate bailing Europe out again. So the Vice President is willing to let the Houthis shut down shipping to spite the Europeans? I have a simple question for the WSJ, since their piece here is clearly meant to undermine Vance just because he thinks that Europe should take more responsibility for protecting its own economic security from Iran and its terrorist proxies. (For reference, only about 3% of Americas trade goes through the Suez Canal, while that number is around 50% for Europe.) Shouldnt Europe take more responsibility for itself instead of pawning off that burden onto American taxpayers? While demanding that the entire Trump cabinet be fired over a scandal that turned out to be a nothingburger, Democrats and most of the media didnt demand firings when Obama and Biden built up Iran and the terrorists. Bidens team botched the Afghanistan withdrawal, resulting in countless deaths and injuries, including American soldiers. Biden left billions of dollars worth of equipment for the terrorists in Afghanistan. Bidens intelligence organizations completely missed that Hamas was going to attack Israel despite years of planning. Terrorists and gang members flooded across our open border, invited by the Biden administration. Cartels got rich from human-, child-, and drug-trafficking because of an open border. Fentanyl took the lives of millions of Americans because of an open border. Illegal aliens murdered and raped American women and children, only here because Mayorkas released them. People throughout the Biden administration covered for Bidens senility, and ran a shadow government. Mayorkas continually lied to Congress about the border being secure. Lloyd Austin neglected to tell the people at the Pentagon, Biden, or Congress that he was going to be unavailable for duty, leaving the United States without a Secretary of Defense. No matter how much waste, fraud, and abuse that is found by DOGE, Trump and Elon are attacked, instead of the people committing the waste, fraud, and abuse. Basically, Trump was attacked with endless lies and investigations in his first term, and it will continue through his second term because all the Democrats and most of the media care about is power for themselves. The people are way down the list of importance. If there is any constitutional crisis it is when the judicial branch and legislative branch act as though theyre permitted to dictate how many people work at each federal agency, and entitled to block spending no matter how corrupt or wasteful the spending is. It is when unelected bureaucrats at 438 agencies in the executive branch think they shouldnt be audited. The Constitution begins We the People, not we the judges, we the politicians, or we the bureaucrats. Trump is working as fast as he can to give the money back to we, the people, despite the continuous obstruction and violation of separation of powers. Image: YouTube video screen grab. In the opening weeks of President Trumps return to office, the United States has seen a surge in direct investment -- estimated at $3 trillion -- from both American companies and international partners. This wave of capital reflects a dramatic return of confidence in the U.S. economy and growing recognition of what is now widely called The Trump Effect: a renewal of American strength, productivity, and potential. Central to this resurgence is President Trumps bold tariff strategy, which reasserted American leverage on the global stage, protected domestic industries, and created the conditions for this economic juggernaut to emerge. The scale of this investment is historic. Technology and manufacturing have received a remarkable boost, with Apple ($500 billion), Nvidia ($100 billion+), SoftBank with OpenAI and Oracle ($100 billion), and Taiwan Semiconductor ($100 billion) committing over $800 billion to U.S.-based innovation. These investments aim not only to restore U.S. leadership in AI and semiconductors but also to build a highly skilled, technically advanced workforce, moving away from low-growth bureaucratic jobs toward a dynamic, knowledge-based economy. Pharmaceuticals tell a similar story. With Johnson & Johnson ($55 billion), Eli Lilly ($27 billion), and Merck ($1 billion) pledging over $80 billion, the U.S. is positioned to become a global hub of health innovation. The deeper transformation, however, lies in its impact on people. These investments call for a new generation of professionals -- not for make-work government jobs or bureaucratic tasks, but for cutting-edge production and competitive excellence. International allies have pledged boldly: $1.4 trillion from the UAE and $600 billion from Saudi Arabia, totaling $2 trillion in capital across real estate, energy, tech, and infrastructure. These are not abstract gestures -- they will generate construction, energy systems, and innovation hubs, requiring entrepreneurial, educated, and motivated people. Transport and industrial logistics are also surging. Hyundais $20 billion in mobility technologies, GE Aerospaces $1 billion, and CMA CGM Groups $20 billion in shipping underscore the return of America as a center for real production and long-term manufacturing jobs -- careers that build skill sets, not merely manage. This economic momentum has social consequences. By elevating merit and innovation, the Trump administration is cultivating a people capable of global competition. In contrast to stagnant government-heavy models -- where tenure trumps talent -- this shift fosters a labor force built on creativity, and individual agency. Beyond economics, this marks a cultural revival. It reclaims the American identity through work that is on the cutting edge. Locally, that means better schools, stronger families, revitalized towns will emerge when people are given purpose, not dependency. The world has noticed. This investment cascade signals trust not only in U.S. markets but in Trumps American style of leadership. It is a vote of confidence in a President who understands that human capital, freedom, and security are the foundation of national greatness. President Trump has not just reignited the economy -- he is reshaping the structure of American society. Normal is becoming normal again. At the heart of this transformation is the tariff-first approach that rebalanced global trade and reignited domestic industry. In mere weeks, he has laid the foundation for a revival driven by skill, vision, and self-determination. This is no mere recovery -- it is a reawakening. Image: White House Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship was one of President Trumps first executive orders. The order states, the Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States, but the Fourteenth Amendment has always excluded persons born in the U.S. but not subject to the jurisdiction thereof. President Trumps order quotes Congressional legislation, 8 U.S. Code 1401, that specifies that the 14th Amendment is speaking to a person born in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof is a national and citizen of the United States. Trumps order has been blocked by four federal judges, leading NPRs fake news headline to read, Trump wants to end birthright citizenship. CBS writes What is birthright citizenship, and can Trump end the constitutional right in the U.S.? CNN writes, What the 14th Amendment says about birthright citizenship. All of these ignore what Congress established, and the first paragraph of the U.S. Constitution itself. The first seven words of the U.S. Constitution state, We the People of the United States and the last nine words of the first paragraph says, establish this Constitution for the United States of America, meaning, the U.S. Constitution is for we the people who are citizens of the United States of America. That means the articles, sections, and amendments of the Constitution apply to we the people who are United States Citizens. You cant just delve into the Constitution and pick out different things and apply them, ignoring the very first paragraph of the document, for the first paragraph sets the premise to which all the articles and amendments apply. Lets read the 14th Amendment, Section 1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. When the Amendment says, all persons born, it is speaking under the premise of the first paragraph of the document, meaning that this is all persons born of we the people of the United States of America. So, this is saying that all children born of U.S. citizens are also U.S. citizens. It is noteworthy to examine the fifth word in this Amendment. The word is naturalized and is defined to mean a foreign person who legally acquired citizenship. This again is emphasizing the truth that this Amendment is speaking to people who are legally in the U.S. and are citizens of the U.S. Tom Homan, Trumps Border Czar, states that the way birthright citizenship is currently applied means illegal aliens have babies in the United States, making these babies anchor babies, and it is a magnet for more illegal immigration. The Center for Immigration Studies reports that there were 225,000 to 250,000 births to illegal immigrants in 2023 alone. This accounts for 7 percent of births in the U.S. Homan stated, Now, Im not a lawyer, but I can read. I dont think its clear that an illegal alien that has a child in this country is automatically a U.S. citizen. In fact, these children are not U.S. citizens. The Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) has filed an amicus brief in these court cases which are against Trumps order. The brief states, the 14th Amendment is clear in that birthright citizenship was never intended for the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens. Writing to the Supreme Court, IRLI lawyers stated, This Court has held that only children born in the United States to parents who, at the time, were permitted to reside in the United States are citizens at birth by virtue of the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. One of the cases to which IRLI lawyers are referring is the United States v. Wong Kim Ark. This case involves Chinese parents who were legally residing in San Francisco, who after having a child, returned to China. Upon trying to come back to the U.S., their child, Wong Kim Ark, was denied readmittance. The argument was made before the Supreme Court that Wong Kim Ark was a citizen of the U.S. under the 14th Amendment because he was born in the U.S. The Supreme Court agreed, holding that, because and only because his parents were legally residing in the United States when he was born here, he was a citizen at birth under the 14th Amendment. This Supreme Court ruling clearly shows that to be a citizen of the United States at birth under the 14th Amendment, one must be born of a parent who, at the time, had permission to reside in the United States. This ruling excludes children of both illegal aliens and tourists from constitutional birthright citizenship, since neither class of aliens has permission to reside here. Unfortunately, the eminently reasonable holding of Wong Kim Ark has been ignored for 127 years, according to Dale L. Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of IRLI. Continuing, Wilcox stated, Meanwhile, millions, including children of so-called birth tourists, have been assumed to be citizens even though the Supreme Court has held they are not. In America, neither foreigners with no connection to this country nor those here against the will of the nation should get to decide who shall be American citizens. President Trumps order stops that going forward, and we hope our brief allows the court to recognize that this challenge to it must fail. Image: Public domain. Digital devices are great, but sometimes you have to turn them off. The partisan drama over a text thread among government and other parties on the Signal app, which is now the source of distracting congressional hearings and finger-pointing, may or may not ultimately be meaningful. I dont believe it is, and may be completely misunderstood. Move on. There are more important things to focus on. One important thing to look into, however, is how we all communicate to each other. That involves our private lives, and our public ones, and how communicating in them may shape our mental functioning and our definitions of reality. Politicians all come from our shared, common lives, and we all share common behaviors and mental models. The use of cell phones, laptops, smartphones, text messaging and emails, is hardly a monopoly of any political party, any company or government, or any of us at home. We are all guilty of slipping into a digital world which has created some challenges in how we manage ourselves, our thoughts, our images, and our privacy. When I was studying with economist and former White House National Security Advisor Walt Rostow, at the LBJ School in Austin, Texas, back in the early 1980s, he often told me how he very carefully protected even the most seemingly mundane communication between himself and Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and the senior staff. He labored for hours, or days, over one word, or a paragraph, before it was shared, if at all. Ideas were printed, edited, re-written, reviewed, signed in ink, and filed. Often the delivery of a single message was done in person, even if it meant getting on a plane and flying half way around the world. Back when Rostow was working for LBJ, there was, of course, no Internet. Talking in person, and typewriters, paper and ink were still the means of sharing ideas, proposals, and orders. The land-line telephone was the other. But there was no voicemail or caller ID. The phone, while distant, was live and audible, and intentions present. You had a real, live conversation, filled with human signals and meaning, rather than remote digital responses, filled with ambiguity. Secretaries also took messages and wrote them down and delivered them: sometimes he or she could add some additional insight based on the tone of voice in the call, or from personal experience with the caller. Now the ease of using your thumbs to instantly write a cryptic sentence fragment, and hit send has created a psychology of gratification, and a false sense of action and understanding. In many ways, our entire social and political world, our government, and even military, has been digitized, or will be, if we let it. In earlier warfare, pilots had to physically fly aircraft, and drop bombs with a toggle switch. Today, pilotless drones are operated by remote computer, with joysticks, and missiles are fired with a mouse click. Warfare now includes lawfare, which is also fought at a distance, where the drone and its missiles are replaced by the court and its digitized and emailed rulings. To progressive intellectuals, digitized words are bullets, and digital devices, the gun. This is one of the things I admire about President Trump: he communicates directly, often person-to-person. He gets on a plane and meets people. He shakes hands. He looks people in the eye. He comes from construction, real estate, and physical reality. He supports making real things, drilling for oil and gas and mining coal; building new fighter jets, ships, and spacecraft; getting automobile makers to build new manufacturing plants here. If theres otherwise a battle to fight, he fights out in the open. If theres a war, he fights to win. He physically sits at a real desk in the actual Oval Office, and talks every week directly to the American people; he looks them in the eye without a teleprompter. He shoots straight and tells it like it is. He is in control of his communication, and lives in the real world of physical American business. Americas Revolutionary War and Civil War orders, our political conventions, declarations, charters, and Constitution, were conducted face-to-face, and arranged, recorded and memorialized, with quill pen and parchment, by candlelight and oil lamp, and delivered in a leather pouch by horseback on a dirt trail. We built a nation by hand. Making America great again is also a physical act, done by hand and hard work. And like the Founders, Trump signs in open public, with a real pen, on real paper, with his own hand, making his physical signature. Thats a contract. Matthew G. Andersson is a former CEO, a jet command pilot and graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has testified before the U.S. Senate and been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and the Washington Post. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago and the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked with White House national security adviser W.W. Rostow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License In todays climate of ideological purging, wokeness has replaced wisdom, and institutions that once stood for free thought are too often surrendering to the loudest activists in the room. One small college in New York now finds itself at the center of a much bigger question: Will it stand for academic integrity, or will it continue bowing to political pressure? That college is Wagner College, a private institution that, in 2004, awarded an honorary degree to Donald J. Trumpthen a famous businessman, television personality, and philanthropist with longstanding ties to New York City. But in 2021, under pressure in the wake of January 6, Wagner rescinded that degree. Now, New York City Council candidate Frank Morano has publicly called on Wagner to reverse its decisionand his reasoning deserves national attention. The revocation of Trumps honorary degree was not a matter of academic standards or character evaluation. It was blatant woke appeasementa move to virtue-signal during a politically charged moment. But erasing someones contribution or presence in history because theyre unpopular with the ruling class of the moment sets a dangerous precedent. This isnt just about one college and one degree. Its about whether institutions of higher learning are willing to defend intellectual diversityor whether they will continue to cave under ideological pressure. If Donald Trump, a former President of the United States, can be stripped of recognition by a college for no other reason than political backlash, whos next? Restoring Trumps honorary degree would be more than symbolic. It would say to the nation: we believe in critical thought, not cancel culture. It would declare that universities should be places where ideasyes, even controversial onescan exist without fear of erasure. Morano also suggested that Wagner consider hosting President Trumps future Presidential Library, an idea thatthough it may raise eyebrowshas real merit. Not just for Wagner, but as a broader message: that history should be preserved, not whitewashed. That ideological conformity should never become a requirement for historical inclusion. America doesnt need more safe spaces. It needs bold spacesplaces willing to engage, debate, and document all sides of the American story, not just the sanitized versions approved by the cultural elite. Wagner College now has the opportunity to redeem itself by taking a stand for academic courage. But this is not just Wagners testits a test for colleges and universities everywhere. Will they honor their mission to educate broadly and fairly, or continue to crumble under the pressure of politically motivated mobs? Whether you support Donald Trump or not, whether youd vote for him again or never have, one thing is certain: a culture that erases people it disagrees with is not a culture of freedom. Its a culture of fear. And its time for that to end. Image: YouTube video screen grab. Apple raised everyones hopes when it previewed Apple Intelligence at WWDC last year. The first set of Apple Intelligence features landed nearly five months ago. However, they werent on par with what rivals offered back then. As AI continues to be a real headache for Apple, a new report indicates that the company is in the process of buying NVIDIAs AI servers worth $1 billion. Apple has reportedly decided to buy NVIDIAs AI servers worth $1 billion On Wednesday, Investors Business Daily reported that Apple is now looking towards NVIDIA to up its AI efforts. The report mainly talks about what the Loop Capital analyst Ananda Baruah said in his notes to investors. According to Baruah, Apple is in the process of placing orders for about 250 NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 servers worth $1 billion. Not to forget, this server is built with NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra and costs $3.7 million to $4 million each. In his note to investors, Baruah said that Apple is officially in the large server cluster Gen AI game, and Super Micro Computer and Dell are the key server partners. While we are still gathering fuller context, this appears to have the potential to be a Gen AI LLM (large language model) cluster. Its no secret that Siris AI upgrade has been a headache for the Cupertino giant. Baruah believes that this very fact has influenced the decision to buy new AI servers from NVIDIA. Delays in AI features The company initially hoped to launch all the AI features earlier this year, but we are still waiting. While some of the features are out, they are still not up to par. Apple had also announced that major AI features and AI-powered Siri would be available with iOS 18.4 in April. But thats not happening anymore as the company has already announced a delay. As the company struggles to push AI features on time, Bloomberg recently reported that Apple has shuffled its executive team. Robby Walker, senior director of the Siri team, even described delays in Siris AI upgrade as an ugly situation. Only time will tell if buying NVIDIAs AI servers comes out as a beneficial decision for Apple. Summary: Best Buy Canada has reportedly leaked the pre-order date for the Nintendo Switch 2 console. The date was mentioned in a blog post that has since been removed from Best Buy Canadas website. The full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 is arriving in short order, and as it turns out, the pre-order date may be doing the exact same thing. According to reports from the morning of March 27, Best Buy Canada may have accidentally leaked the pre-order date for the Nintendo Switch 2 console. The date was allegedly leaked via a Best Buy Canada blog post. That post has since been taken down. However, the blog post wasnt removed before the information was made publicly available online, and the details spread like wildfire. Nintendo will most likely reveal the launch date and the pre-order date for the upcoming console during its dedicated Direct live stream on April 2. Nintendo also held a Direct livestream today where it revealed the Virtual Game Card feature. For now, the launch date and when it will be available to pre-order have only been the subject of speculation and rumor. Most rumors have suggested the console is likely to launch around June. While some have suggested it could launch as early as April or as late as September. The Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date could be April 2 According to Best Buy Canadas now removed blog post, the pre-order date for the Switch 2 will be April 2. This is the same day Nintendo is holding the Direct live stream for the console. So, it wouldnt be too out there for it to open pre-orders on the same day. That being said, its still unclear whether this date was correct or not. Best Buy Canada pulling the blog post does seem to suggest that it may have been correct. And that it simply published the details before it was supposed to. With the Nintendo Direct coming up next Wednesday, though, it wont be long before we likely have more information. No pricing information was mentioned While the original blog post is no longer active, there was little else to glean from it beyond when you can place your pre-order. There was no pricing information made available. That means in terms of cost, all there is to go off of are past rumors. The Nintendo Switch 2 is suspected to cost around $399.99, though some believe it could be closer to $499.99. When DeepSeek exploded onto the scene in January, it basically turned the AI industry on its head. The company came out of nowhere with a model that can go up against the best on the market. Well, a lot has happened since that day, but one thing remains constant: DeepSeek is still one of the most popular chatbots on the market. Soon after this chatbot hit the market, we started seeing some worrying headlines about it. It turned out that DeepSeek is a security and data privacy nightmare. It was the target of several cyber attacks, and it was pretty careless about how it stored the immense amount of data that it collected. There was also the controversy of the company possibly spending much more money to train DeepSeeks model than it let on. The company said that it spent just $6 million to train it, but it was probably closer to $1 billion. Regardless, DeepSeek is still one of the most popular AI platforms on the planet People want to use AI tools, no matter how dangerous they are. While unfortunate, it shows how much of a role this technology plays in our modern society. No matter how much drama is surrounding a tool, people will flock to it. aitools.xyz just published a report letting us know just how much people are using DeepSeek. Despite being a social pariah in the AI space, DeepSeek is still pulling in some high numbers. Just last month, the platform had a total of 792.6 million visits, which was nearly triple the number of visits it got in January. While DeepSeek wasnt around throughout all of January, whats more significant is the fact that 524.7 million of those visits were from new visitors. Thats more than the 500 million new visitors that ChatGPT got last month. This makes DeepSeek the fastest-growing AI chatbot on the market. Were sure that the numbers will fluctuate throughout the year, but no other company came close to dethroning ChatGPT in terms of new users. Gemini has a large number of users, but its still dwarfed by ChatGPT. Other companies like Microsoft, Meta, Perplexity, etc., are pushing their chatbots hard, but they just cant match ChatGPT in the market. In comes DeepSeek out of left field with enough force to rattle OpenAI. Its currently the second-most-used chatbot in the world, and it has quickly surpassed most of the competition. While its growing faster than ChatGPT, it still has a long way to go if it wants to have more visits in total. Last month, ChatGPT raked in more than 5.2 billion visits, which is more than 6x the number of visits that DeepSeek got. However, it was able to put Gemini (139.4 million visits) and Claude (111.9 million visits) to shame. Where is DeepSeek more popular? Last month, 54.53 million U.S. citizens visited DeepSeek, which made up just under 7% of the total pie. It was followed by Kenya (46.76 million), India (43.36 million), and Russia (41.45 million). However, those numbers pale in comparison to the number of users in China. Last month, DeepSeek got 221.61 million visits in China. Thats 26% of the total number. Thats an increase of 193.29 million visits compared to January. Just the increase in users between January and February is more than the total users in the U.S., Kenya, India, and Russia combined. By contrast, China isnt even in the top five countries for ChatGPT. It gained 68 million visits while the U.S. gained 768.56 million. So, it seems that, between ChatGPT and DeepSeek, the biggest countries are the U.S., China, Kenya, and India. This puts DeepSeeks AI prowess in perspective. Despite the controversies, its still on the rise, so other companies are going to take note. Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ tablets in the near future. There are already multiple leaks around the tablets, including their renders, promotional material, and specs sheet. Although Samsung has not yet officially announced the tablets, we now have detailed information about the accessories for the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, including their official renders and pricing. Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ accessories revealed in full The galleries below include 37 images of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ official cases and screen protectors. According to our source, Samsung will not launch new accessories for the Galaxy Tab S10 FE model, and instead, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE accessories will be compatible with the Galaxy Tab S10 FE. Anti-Reflecting Screen Protector First up, we have renders of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ Anti-Reflecting Screen Protector. As the name suggests, it will minimise the glare from the sun or other artificial light sources for better visibility. The film will also offer protection against dust and scratches. This screen protector package also includes all the items needed to clean the tablet screen and align the screen protector. The Anti-Reflecting Screen Protector will cost 35. Hybrid Book Cover Moving on to cases, we have the Hybrid Book Cover, also known as the Smart Book Cover accessory. This Hybrid Book Cover has a magnetic system to attach the S-Pen. It uses a kickstand at the back so you can use the tablet in portrait or landscape mode based on your preference. The Hybrid Book Cover will be available in Black and Blue color options and will retail for 109. Book Cover Keyboard with the AI Key The second case on the list is the Book Cover Keyboard with the AI Key. The AI Key Book Cover Keyboard was initially introduced with Galaxy Tab S9 series devices and is now coming to the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+. You can use the AI Key to access Bixby or Gemini AI-powered assistant in just one simple click. Samsung will launch the Book Cover Keyboard AI Key in Black and White colorways, and it will cost 269. Book Cover Keyboard Slim with AI Key The last accessory is the Book Cover Keyboard Slim with AI Key. This case is similar to the Book Cover Keyboard but comes with a slim form factor advantage and misses out on one feature. This keyboard has a thin and lightweight design, ideal for carrying around. This Slim keyboard misses out on the trackpad, which the non-Slim version has. This Book Cover Keyboard Slim AI Key will be available only in Black color option and will cost 199. Google is going all-in on the Pixel 10 series and its Tensor G5 chipset. According to new notes found in Androids open-source code, a Google engineer claims the Pixel 10 will boot up 30% faster. This seems to go against the previous rumors that suggest that the Tensor G5 might not be a massive performance upgrade over its predecessor. Faster boot time According to the notes from the Google engineer, the Pixel 10 is getting a 30% speed boost. It also says the Pixel Fold now loads 25% faster, though some believe this actually refers to the upcoming Pixel Fold Pro. This means that the Pixel 10 should feel snappier and more responsive. The Tensor G5 is Googles first truly custom-designed chipset. This marks a big departure from earlier Tensor chips, which borrowed heavily from Samsungs Exynos architecture. Google will build the Pixel 10s Tensor G5 on TSMCs 3nm process. This gives Google more control over the chips behavior. Goodbye Samsung ISP That being said, it does have some risks attached to it. Ditching Samsung also means giving up the companys built-in Image Signal Processor (ISP). This is the hardware that has helped Googles Pixel phones produce some of the best photos on any smartphone. This is also why Google is building its own ISP from scratch. The company is aiming for tighter coordination between the CPU, GPU, and camera software. If it works, we might finally see the kind of AI-powered image processing that gives Google a real edge over competing devices like the iPhone. The Pixel 10 will be the first phone to showcase Googles chip design independence. Google never really positioned its Pixel devices to compete with other mainstream Android brands. So far, Googles Pixel phones serve as a way for Google to showcase an optimized version of Android. Maybe that will change if the Tensor G5 performs as well as the reports say. In any case, the Pixel 10 series will most likely debut this August, but maybe Google will have more information to share at Google I/O 2025. The Pixel 10 lineup will consist of the base Pixel 10, the Pixel 10 XL, the Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold. For years, Google has been working hard to make Android an OS that is as secure as it is functional, without sacrificing the virtues that distinguish it from more restrictive competitors, such as iOS. The company has been taking special care of its app store. After all, thats where users download most of their apps. Now, the firm has announced more security tools for the Google Play Protect system. Google Play Protect is a suite of features designed to ensure a safe user experience on Android. Currently, it can scan your apps for potential signs of malware or suspicious behavior to warn you about them, for example. The scan works with both Play Store apps and apps from external sources. It also integrates Find My Device, the lost device tracking system. Google Play Protect to get new security tools this year In a new Android Developers blog post, Google has revealed that app scanning will be more effective in targeting malicious applications that try to impersonate financial apps. One of the most common forms of scam attempts is to clone popular apps and trojanize them. Most of the time, these apps never make it to the Play Store listings, but some may manage to get through. Apps that do manage to slip through dont usually last long, but in that time, they could have already affected several users. New app scanning capabilities will be another shield against these types of situations. Google will expand the financial fraud protection pilot to countries with higher levels of malware-based financial fraud. Users will continue to receive notifications about potentially dangerous apps from sources outside of Google Play. This year were working on ways to make it even harder for malicious actors to hide or trick users into harmful installs, which will not only protect your business from fraud but also help users download your apps with confidence, the blog stated. Malware makers are more active than ever The post also warned of an increase in scam attempts via malware. The company detected 50 times more Android malware from sources outside the Play Store. This suggests that users should download apps only from the Play Store whenever possible. Of course, you should avoid downloading apps from links or ads that redirect you to websites outside the Google App Store. Lastly, selected VPN apps will receive a verified badge. The badge will indicate that they are truly safe to use, which is especially essential for VPNs. Google has been implementing artificial intelligence in most of its products and services for years. The company doesnt want these implementations to remain mere gimmicks but rather truly useful functions that you can use daily or on special occasions. Now, Google has announced a set of new AI-powered features for its Maps, Search, and Hotels services, designed to facilitate your travel experience. Google Maps, Search, and Hotels now can make your travel experience easier using AI First, Google Maps is getting a feature that will detect locations from your screenshots. Then, Maps will allow you to save those locations to a list of potential trip ideas. Have you ever come across an image or video on social media of an incredible location youd like to go to, but didnt you have easy access tools to save it without leaving the app? The new feature should help simplify the process; just take a screenshot! The screenshot list feature will first roll out to iOS users in the US. Google will also roll it out soon to Android, although it will initially only be available in English. Google is also adding more capabilities to Searchs AI Overviews. Now, the tool will be able to help you plan your itinerary for your trips. It will be available in the Google app and on the website in the US. According to Google, the feature can make it easier to create travel plans for different regions or entire countries. To use this option, just open Google Search and say/type a prompt like, Create a vacation itinerary for Greece that focuses on history. AI Overviews will also allow you to explore reviews of potential locations to visit and save them to Maps. You can even export your custom itinerary to other Google services like Docs or Gmail. More languages for AI Overviews in Google Lens; price drop alerts in Google Hotels Additionally, Google will expand the languages supported by AI Overviews in Google Lens. The feature will now be available in Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. If youre not that into outdoor activities, this feature offers Gemini-powered answers or key data about things you see with your phones camera. Lastly, Google is bringing Google Flights price drop alerts to its Google hotel search tool. The feature will be available on both the mobile app and the website. Users will receive email notifications when a hotel price drops in a location of interest. The drama around the sale of TikTok in the U.S. is taking new turns every other day. Although President Trump initially immunized the short-video platform from going dark in the US, its still at risk of being banned in the country. As the April 19 deadline looms, a new survey report reveals that fewer people are now supporting the TikTok ban in America. The population supporting the TikTok ban in America has dropped by a big margin The survey report published by the Pew Research Center suggests that support for the TikTok ban has plunged over the last two years. Back in 2023, when the same organization surveyed 5,000 American adults, about 50% of them supported the banning of TikTok. However, the numbers arent the same anymore. According to the latest survey report, out of 5,000 American adults, only 34% reportedly supported the TikTok ban. The number of people opposing the TikTok ban has increased from 22% to 32%. Republican and Republican-leaning voters support for the TikTok ban in America has dropped from 60% to 39% in the last two years. Thats not all; Democratic voters appear to have also stopped supporting the TikTok ban in America. The number of Democrats and Democrats-leaning voters supporting the ban has dropped from 43% to 30% since March 2023. Interestingly, non-TikTok users were reportedly four times as likely to support the ban as those who use the app. Its been reported that 45% of non-TikTok users supported its ban. Meanwhile, only 12% of those who use the app are in favor of banning it in America. Perplexity AI has reportedly joined the race to buy TikTok Although supporters of the TikTok ban in America may have dropped sharply, its fate in the country is uncertain for now. U.S. President Donald Trump is doing his bit to keep the platform alive. However, the ban extension might not be as effective. Anyway, there are already many contenders willing to buy TikTok. Reports from the past week hint that the AI company, Perplexity, is also trying to buy TikTok. Itll be interesting to see how things unfold for TikTok in the coming days. Qualcomm and Arm have historically been very close business partners. However, there appears to be a rift in the relationship between the two companies since Qualcomms acquisition of NUVIA. While Arm took Qualcomm to court, the jury ruled in favor of the latter. The jury reportedly said that Qualcomm didnt breach any licensing agreement by acquiring NUVIA. Now, Qualcomm is hitting back at Arm, as it has complained to antitrust authorities about the latters anticompetitive behavior. Qualcomm met with three antitrust authorities complaining about Arms business practices According to Bloomberg, Qualcomm recently had private meetings with three antitrust regulators about Arms practice of hampering worldwide competition. The report mentions that Qualcomms global antitrust campaign came as Arm tried restricting its ability to build silicon products. Qualcomm reportedly had a word with representatives of the European Commission (EC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC). The US chipmaker has alleged that Arm ran an open network of silicon IP for over two decades. However, its now blocking access to its microchip technology to boost profits. Qualcomm argues that this very practice from Arm calls for an antitrust investigation. Here, its important to note that Qualcomm is eyeing the debut of its own 2nm chipset in 2026. Arm is now planning to manufacture and sell its own chips. The UK-based company is doing that without relying on third-party manufacturers and designers, including Qualcomm. Arm hits back at the US chip maker, too In response to Qualcomms antitrust accusations, Arm emailed a statement to Bloomberg, hitting back at the American company. Any allegation of anticompetitive conduct is nothing more than a desperate attempt by Qualcomm to detract from the merits and expand the parties ongoing commercial dispute for its own competitive benefit, reads the statement. The UK chip design firm also noted that it remains focused on enhancing innovation, promoting competition, and respecting contractual rights and obligations. Not to forget, Qualcomm also recently issued a similar complaint with the European antitrust regulators, alleging that Arm is trying to directly compete with its chip. The US chip maker said that instead of doing that, Arm should sell the chip technology to third parties. Time will tell the outcome of Qualcomms antitrust allegations against Arm, but one thing is sure: they both are now battling in the open field. Samsung showed us the Galaxy S25 Edge variant briefly during the Galaxy Unpacked event in January. The brand hasnt revealed many details about the upcoming device. However, we managed to exclusively obtain information about the Galaxy S25 Edges colors, storage variants, and pricing details earlier this month. A few hours ago, Winfuture.de published official renders of all color variants of the phone. Now, the tech journalist Max Jambor has posted an image of the Galaxy S25 Edge models wallpapers on X/Twitter. Heres the first look at the Galaxy S25 Edge wallpapers The new leak shows us the stock wallpaper options for the upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge slim flagship. You can see the wallpapers for each rumored color model of the phone Titanium Jetblack, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Icyblue. Jambor has also shared a compressed file containing three high-resolution wallpapers for the device that you can download here. Theres not much difference between the wallpapers of the earlier Galaxy S25 models and the upcoming slimmer variant. The wallpapers of the former models have a rather thick letter S. The same on the latter device is quite slim, with only the inner lines for the letter S displayed on the screen. Its quite clear that the wallpapers for the S25 Edge refer to the slimness of the phone. The new model will be a much slimmer affair than the earlier variants If we believe the reports, the Galaxy S25 Edge will be a razor-thin offering with a waistline of just 5.84mm. In comparison, the vanilla Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ variants measure 7.2mm and 7.3mm around the waist, respectively. The Edge model will be 2.4mm slimmer than the top-of-the-line Galaxy S25 Ultra edition. Apart from the slimmer design, the S25 Edge will have a two-camera setup at the rear as compared to the S25 and S25+. The rumor mill suggests that the Edge edition will feature a 200MP main sensor, supported by a 12MP ultrawide lens. Interestingly, despite having a much slimmer design, the S25 Edge variant will have only a slightly smaller (3,900mAh) battery than the S25 (4,000mAh). That said, Samsung could officially reveal the Galaxy S25 Edge at some point in April. The company will unlikely host a dedicated launch event for the device. It could just launch the new model via a simple press release. We will know more in just a few days, so watch this space for regular updates. The deadline on the TikTok ban extension is nearly up, and so far it doesnt look like were even close to seeing any kind of deal. However, US President Donald Trump thinks he has the answercutting tariffs for Chinawhich he believes could help secure a deal with TikTok. Cutting Chinas tariffs Speaking to reporters, Trump said, With respect to TikTok, and China is going to have to play a role in that, possibly in the form of an approval, maybe, and I think theyll do that. Maybe Ill give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done. This isnt the first time Trump has used tariffs as leverage against China. When he took office earlier this year, Trump threatened China with more tariffs if it did not approve a TikTok deal. However, China did not budge, leading Trump to pivot. Instead of leading with the stick, Trump is now going with the carrot. But China doesnt seem eager to play ball. A spokesman for Beijings foreign ministry reiterated Chinas stance on tariffs. Chinas opposition to the imposition of additional tariffs has always been consistent and clear. In a way, its ironic. During Trumps first term as President, he called on TikTok to be banned. However, it now seems that hes doing everything in his power to keep it. This is because he has credited the platform for helping him secure his second term as President. TikTok originally faced a ban earlier this year if it didnt sell itself to a U.S. company. However, after Trump took office, he extended the deadline of the ban by 75 days, which is due to expire on the 5th of April. According to Trump, he expects at least an outline of the deal before then. Still no clear buyer That said, no one has clearly stepped up to buy TikTok yet. Many names and organizations have popped up as potential bidders. This includes YouTuber MrBeast and Reddits co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Teslas CEO Elon Musks name was also floated, although the billionaire denied any interest in the platform. The last we heard, Trump said that he has four bidders lined up. Recent reports claim that Oracle is currently in the lead as a potential buyer. Oracle already hosts TikToks servers, and the two companies are currently working together. That said, Trump hasnt confirmed any tariff cuts for China yethe only suggested it might happen if it helps push China to approve the TikTok sale. TSMC, one of the leading chip makers and a key supplier of Apple, began manufacturing chips at its first plant in the US in Arizona late last year. It took the Taiwan-based chip maker nearly five years to build these factories. However, the company is accelerating its US expansion and says that future plants will proceed at a significantly faster speed. If everything goes as TSMC expects, US-made chips will finally make their way to the newer Apple devices. TSMCs upcoming US plants will make chips for new Apple products in a few years TSMCs first manufacturing plant in the US currently only makes the Apple A16 Bionic chips. This SoC powers the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Maxnow discontinuedand the vanilla and Plus iPhone 15 models. Essentially, the first TSMC production facility in Arizona is only capable of making chips for older iPhones. However, the companys second plant in Arizona will produce 3nm chips. The third plant will take things to the next level by manufacturing 2nm processors. So, the chip technology giants second and third plants will be ready to make chips for newer Apple products. TSMC will begin construction on a third factory in Arizona soon According to Nikkei Asia, TSMC will start building its third manufacturing plant in Arizona later this year. It will be part of the companys broader $165 billion investment push in the US. While the first TSMC US chip plant took a long time to complete, the construction on the new plants is proceeding at faster speeds, suggests the report. People familiar with the matter told Nikkei Asia that after a steep learning curve, TSMC expects to build the upcoming US plants closer to its standard Taiwan speed of around two years. It will certainly be a sharp improvement over the construction time of the first chip plant in Arizona. TSMC plans to bring its second (3nm) chip manufacturing factory in Arizona online in 2028. The chip maker expects to complete its third plant, capable of making 2nm processors, before 2030. So, for the near future, dont expect a Made in America processor in any of your Apple products, including the next-gen iPhones. TSMC will continue supplying chips for the latest Apple devices from its factories in Taiwan. A Turkish court on Tuesday remanded in custody seven journalists for covering the mass protests that erupted following the arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, in a crackdown that has now seen more than 1,400 people arrested. Among the journalists placed under arrest by the Istanbul court was AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, who was seen being escorted away to jail. Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounced the move as "scandalous". Vast crowds have hit the streets daily since the March 19 move against Istanbul's popular opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, prompting nightly clashes with riot police that have spread across the country. With security forces using water cannon, pepper spray and rubber bullets against protesters, the Council of Europe denounced a "disproportionate" use of force while Human Rights Watch warned that this is a "dark time for democracy" in Turkey. Akgul, one of 10 journalists rounded up by police in dawn raids on Monday, had earlier on Tuesday been granted conditional release by the court along with six other journalists. But shortly afterwards, prosecutors revised their decision and the court decided to remand them all in custody on grounds of taking part in an "illegal" protest, his lawyer and the MLSA rights group said. "This is the first time that a clearly-identified journalist has, in the exercise of his duties, been formally arrested on the basis of this law against gatherings and demonstrations," RSF's Erol Onderoglu told AFP following the decision about Akgul, the first to be announced. "This scandalous decision reflects a very serious situation in Turkey," he said Imamoglu, 53, of the opposition CHP party, is widely seen as the only politician capable of defeating Erdogan, who has ruled the NATO member for a quarter of a century. But he has now been stripped of his mayorship and jailed because of a graft and terror probe that his supporters denounce as a "political coup". By Tuesday, police had detained 1,418 suspects for taking part in "illegal demonstrations", Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X, formerly Twitter. He warned that "no concessions" will be made to those whom he said attempt to "terrorise the streets". Riot police once again cracked down on protesters who gathered outside Istanbul City Hall for a sixth night on Monday, and also roughly dispersed a student sit-in on Galata Bridge spanning the Golden Horn estuary, AFP correspondents and media reports said. The unrest has continued despite a ban on protests in Turkey's three biggest cities, with the ban in the western coastal city of Izmir until March 29 and in Ankara until April 1, officials said on Tuesday. But student groups -- many of whom have announced a lecture boycott in Turkey's main cities -- announced a new gathering on Tuesday with protesters called to join them at Istanbul's Macka Park at 1400 GMT. A doctors' union also announced a march at 1630 GMT which would head towards City Hall. But Erdogan has remained defiant in the face of the protests, vowing in a message on social media late on Monday that Turkey will "not fall for this dirty trick" and denouncing the protesters as "street terrorists". Europe's top rights body, the Council of Europe, expressed concern about the "disproportionate use of force by the police", urging Turkey to allow people to freely protest. London-based rights watchdog Amnesty International also demanded an immediate halt to police violence, saying it had reviewed footage which was "deeply shocking". "This is a dark time for democracy in Turkiye, with such a blatantly lawless move to weaponise the justice system to cancel the democratic process," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. At Monday's rally, opposition leader and CHP head Ozgur Ozel announced a boycott of 10 companies and organisations. Among them were pro-government TV channels that have avoided broadcasting protest images, along with a cafe chain known for being close to the government. On Sunday, Imamoglu was overwhelmingly chosen as the CHP's candidate for a 2028 presidential run, with observers saying it was the looming primary that triggered the move against him. His jailing drew sharp condemnation from Berlin, which called it "totally unacceptable", echoing comments from Paris, with concern also expressed by Athens and Brussels. Imamoglu has denounced the judicial moves against him as a political "execution without trial" but has vowed to fight on in several messages transmitted via his lawyers. An HIV-positive child in Kenya, who depends on antiretroviral drugs paid for by the US Pepfar programme. Most funding for Pepfar projects has been halted. Photograph: T Mukoya/Reuters Up to 2.9 million more children and adults will die from HIV-related causes before 2030 because of aid cuts by countries including the US and Britain, a new study has found. A resulting resurgence of the HIV epidemic would have devastating consequences globally, researchers warned, after estimating between 4.4m and 10.8m extra new infections in the next five years due to the cuts. This would mean up to a six-fold increase in new infections among at-risk groups, compared with a scenario where funding levels remained consistent. Dr Debra ten Brink, of Melbournes Burnet Institute and a co-lead author of the study, said: Decades of progress to treat and prevent HIV could be unravelled. The modelling, published in the Lancet HIV, is the first to analyse the potential combined impact of funding cuts from leading donors, and projects a 24% reduction in global international HIV funding by 2026. The US, UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands together provide about 90% of international funding for HIV but have all announced, or already implemented, plans to reduce overseas aid spending. Anneliese Dodds resigned as the UKs international development minister over a decision to cut the aid budget from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in the next two years. 630,000 The number of people who died from Aids-related illnesses in 2023 more than one every minute. Since the epidemic began, a total of 42.3 million people have died. 1.3 million The number of new infections in 2023, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Women and girls accounted for 44% of these. 39.9 million The number of people around the world living with HIV. Of these, 30.7 million are accessing antiretroviral therapy. 51% The percentage by which the death rate has fallen in just over a decade. The risk of an HIV-positive mother passing the virus on to her baby is now less than 1%. $19.8bn The amount of funding available for Aids response in low and middle-income countries by the end of 2023. Of this, 59% came from domestic sources. International funding dropped by 7.9% between 2020 and 2023. Since 2015, overseas donors have been responsible for about 40% of HIV funding in low and middle-income countries. The US has historically been the largest donor but earlier this year announced an almost-immediate halt to most spending, including many projects supported by the US Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar). Those cuts have already disrupted essential HIV services covering prevention, testing and treatment globally. The study used a mathematical model that took in data from 26 countries to produce its estimates. In a worst-case scenario covering an immediate halt to Pepfar support, wider aid reductions and no mitigation, it estimated there would be between 770,000 and 2.9 million additional HIV-related deaths by 2030 a return to levels not seen since the early 2000s. Dr Rowan Martin-Hughes, co-lead author, said sub-Saharan Africa could see an even greater impact, where prevention efforts such as distributing condoms and offering preventive drugs were at first risk to be discontinued. He said: This is in addition to disruptions in testing and treatment programmes [which] could cause a surge in new HIV infections, especially in some of the areas where the greatest gains have been made, such as preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and paediatric HIV deaths. Ten Brink said: It is imperative to secure sustainable financing and avoid a resurgence of the HIV epidemic, which could have devastating consequences, not just in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, but globally. Related: Its back to drug rationing: the end of HIV was in sight. Then came the cuts The team called for countries to instigate innovative financing strategies and integrate HIV services into wider health systems. Campaigners said the study should prompt a rethink of plans to cut aid. Anne Aslett , of the Elton John Aids Foundation, said: This report demonstrates the critical and urgent need for donors to recognise the cumulative impact of their decisions to cut aid budgets. If funding for the global HIV response falls away to the extent this report suggests it could, millions more people will get sick, and health budgets will simply not be able to cope. Meanwhile, Save the Children warned that UK aid cuts would see deaths linked to malnutrition rise worldwide. Charities have called for the British government to pledge 3bn in nutrition-linked spending at the fourth Nutrition For Growth summit in Paris this week, though it has yet to make any commitment. Angela Rayner wants to ban zero-hours contracts and introduce other protections for workers - Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters Business groups have called on Angela Rayner to delay her employment rights reforms. The leaders of UKHospitality and the Federation of Small Businesses told The Telegraph that Ms Rayner should delay her plans, after the Governments fiscal watchdog warned they risked job losses and price rises. The groups collectively represent millions of British businesses, which are already facing a rise in employers National Insurance contributions (NICs) next month. Ms Rayners plans, which have been presented to Parliament, represent a major victory for the trade unions and will expand workers right to strike. They also include a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts and a workers right to an employment tribunal from their first day on the job. Probably net negative But the Governments own analysis says that the changes could cost businesses 5 billion a year by making it harder to sack workers and operate a flexible workforce. On Wednesday, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warned that the policies would likely have material, and probably net negative, economic impacts on employment, prices, and productivity. The watchdog did not issue a full assessment of the effects of the package on the economy because it said the plans were not yet clear enough. Many of the details of the policy will be worked out through Government consultations later this year, and signed into law through regulation. Most measures, including the zero-hours contracts ban and a day one right to an employment tribunal, will come into force in 2026. Many businesses in the UK hospitality industry are reliant on casual staff - E+ Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, said ministers should delay the plans in light of the OBRs warning and concern from pubs, clubs and restaurants across Britain. We would like the Government to take some time to get this right, give businesses plenty of notice to implement the changes, and give the economy some time to grow, she said. Our sector will be disproportionately hit by these costs, and if the Government gets it wrong, there would be some serious unforeseen consequences, which could hit employment and have effects in the wider economy. However, a government source said: We have already made a number of concessions to business and will continue to work with them on implementation, but a wholesale delay of the measures isnt on the cards. Many hospitality businesses use zero-hours contracts for seasonal workers, and will be significantly affected by the changes. Under the Governments plan, businesses will assess how regularly an employee is working over a 12-week reference period. Workers who are deemed to be regular staff will be required to be offered permanent contracts. But businesses argue that the 12-week period will not give a true indication of an employees work, and that it should be longer. Businesses call for clarity Ms Nicholls call was echoed by Craig Beaumont, the executive director of the Federation of Small Businesses, who said businesses were still unclear about the apparent tension between plans for a nine-month window where businesses can make staff redundant, and the day one rights. The Government should push back these reforms as far as possible to give businesses more clarity, he said. Ministers have suggested reforms on redundancy that are not compatible with each other, with both day-one rights for workers to demand a tribunal and a nine-month redundancy window. Either you have day-one rights, or you dont. He added that 92 per cent of small businesses were concerned about the workers rights plans, after being hit by an increase in NIC from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent next month. Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has also changed the threshold at which businesses must pay NICs for their employees from 9,100 to 5,000 a year. The Conservatives have branded the change a jobs tax and pointed to the OBRs assessment in October that the increase would cost 50,000 jobs when it comes into force. A Government spokeswoman said: Through our transformative Plan for Change, this Government has delivered the biggest upgrade to workers rights in a generation, and our measures already have strong support amongst business and the public. Weve engaged extensively with business on our proposals, and we will take time to also consult on the implementation of legislation to ensure it works for employers and workers alike. Here are some of the main contests to watch in Australias 2025 federal election campaign. Illustration: Guardian Design Australians head to the polls on 3 May, with a number of analysts predicting the election will produce a minority government. Its easy to fixate on the two-party-preferred national polls but federal elections are won seat by seat. Related: Australian election 2025 polls tracker: Labor v Coalition latest opinion polling results In the outgoing parliament Labor held 78 of 151 seats in the House of Representatives, giving it an overall majority. The Coalition held 54 seats, the Greens four and independents 13, with one each for the Centre Alliance party and Katters Australia party. At the 2025 election the lower house returns to 150 members, with Western Australia gaining one seat and New South Wales and Victoria each losing one. Forty Senate seats are also up for grabs. Here are some of the main contests to watch. Figures used for non-major party margins and seats where there has been a redistribution are those produced by the Australian Electoral Commission. The ABCs Antony Green has also estimated the margins, using a methodology that provides significantly different results in a few electorates with independent incumbents or strong challengers. New South Wales There are 46 lower house seats in NSW, after the abolition of the North Sydney electorate, the largest number of any state. There are 15 marginal seats defined by the AEC as those where the winning candidate takes 56% or less of the two-candidate-preferred vote. Labor holds seven, the Liberals four, the Nationals one and independents three. The Coalition will hope to pick up Labor seats in the outer and middle-ring Sydney suburbs and on the coast to the north and south. The performance of independents who are either incumbents or challengers will be crucial in half a dozen or more urban and regional seats. The electorates most starkly in focus include: Bennelong: Held by the former prime minister John Howard for three decades, it was won by Labors Jerome Laxale in 2022 but a redistribution has made it a notional Liberal seat on a razor-thin margin of 0.04%. It is one of the oppositions top target seats in Sydney. Bradfield: Another blue-ribbon seat, held by the retiring moderate Liberal Paul Fletcher. The teal independent Nicolette Boele is taking another stab at it after boundary changes reduced the notional margin to just 3.4%. Calare: The NSW central tablelands seat held by the National turned independent Andrew Gee will become a three-way contest with the independent Kate Hook and the Nationals candidate Sam Farraway both taking on Gee. Cowper: Long held by the Nationals, the NSW north coast seat is being targeted by the Climate 200-backed independent Caz Heise. The independent candidate was able to whittle down the margin to 2.4% at the last election. Hunter and Paterson in the NSW Hunter region are both held by Labor but face an assault from the opposition focusing on the energy transition. In Hunter, the Labor MP, Dan Repacholi (4.78% margin), is being challenged by Sue Gilroy of the Nationals, while the Liberal partys Laurence Antcliff takes on the Paterson MP, Meryl Swanson (2.6%). The oppositions proposed nuclear reactor for the region and its promise to cancel an offshore windfarm are expected to dominate debate. Gilmore: The coastal seat south of Wollongong is also held by Labor on a knifes edge. The former NSW state politician Andrew Constance again takes on Fiona Phillips, who clung to victory in 2022 with a 0.17% margin. Other NSW seats to watch: Banks ( Liberal-held on 2.64% margin) Fowler ( independent-held on 1.8% margin over Labor) Hughes ( Liberal-held on 3.46% margin) Mackellar ( independent-held on 1.77% margin over Liberals) Parramatta ( Labor-held on 3.72% margin) Reid ( Labor-held on 5.19% margin) Robertson ( Labor-held on 2.23% margin) Sydney ( Labor-held on 16.22% margin over Greens) Warringah ( independent-held on 10.53% over Liberals) Wentworth ( independent-held on 0.58% over Liberals, but estimated at 6.8% by Antony Green) Werriwa (Labor-held on 5.34% margin) Queensland In the sunshine state there are 30 federal seats, with just nine considered marginal. The Coalition holds 21, so opportunities to gain more are limited, but attention will focus on whether the Greens can hold on to the three Brisbane seats they surprisingly won in 2022. Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan in inner and western Brisbane are held by the Greens MPs Stephen Bates, Max Chandler-Mather and Elizabeth Watson-Brown. All three will be in a fight to retain their place in the lower house. Bates and Watson-Brown hold 3.73% and 2.65% margins respectively over Labor; Chandler-Mather has a 10.46% margin over the LNP but his seat of Griffith was previously Labor and the picture there could change dramatically depending on which two of the three parties are in the final count. Dickson: The outer Brisbane seat is held by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton. No one expects him to lose but it is the most marginal in the state, on 1.7%. Leichhardt: Based around Cairns, this is a seat Labor has hopes of gaining. The long-serving member, Warren Entsch, is retiring and the LNP holds a 3.44% margin. Other seats to watch: Blair ( Labor-held on 5.23% margin) Bonner ( LNP-held on 3.41% margin) Bowman ( LNP-held on 5.51% margin) Groom ( LNP-held on 6.89% margin over independent) Flynn ( LNP-held on 3.82% margin) Forde ( LNP-held on 4.23% margin) Longman ( LNP-held on 3.08% margin) Petrie (LNP-held on 4.44% margin) Victoria Victoria will be a key battleground for the major parties, with the Liberals hoping to profit from the unpopularity of the state Labor government. They need to win back a number of seats as well as holding on to some slim margins to have a chance at governing nationally. Chisholm: Clinched by Labor at the last election with a 6.4% margin, but reduced to 3.3% after the redistribution. As a typical swing seat, the Liberals are hoping to pick this one up again, with the former Liberal MP Katie Allen challenging the sitting member, Carina Garland. Goldstein: The former ABC journalist Zoe Daniel will again take on Tim Wilson in one of six Liberal seats won by teal independents at the last election. Daniel has a slim 1.8% margin. Kooyong: Josh Frydenbergs former seat, now held by the teal MP Monique Ryan, is also a hotspot. The Liberals will contest the former blue-ribbon electorate with a new candidate, Amelia Hamer. Ryan holds the seat with a 2.52% margin, but the redistribution makes it a hard one to estimate with confidence. Macnamara: Dont be misled by the Labor MP Josh Burnss 12.17% two-candidate-preferred margin. There was less than 3% between the primary vote of Labor, the Greens and the Liberals in 2022 the Greens came second on primaries, but preferences pushed the Liberal candidate into the final count with Burns. If the Labor primary vote declines significantly, the Greens Sonya Semmens will be a strong chance. Wannon: The regional seat in the south-west of the state has been held by the Liberals since the 1950s but the Climate 200-backed independent and former Triple J host Alex Dyson again has the Liberal Dan Tehan in his sights. The margin is now down to 3.5% after the redistribution. Wills: The seat in Melbournes inner-north is another targeted by the Greens, who have selected the former Victorian state leader Samantha Ratnam to challenge Labors Peter Khalil. With a minor redistribution to include parts of Fitzroy North and Carlton, Labors margin over the minor party has dropped to 4.6% from 8.6%, according to Greens analysis, but the AEC puts it at 9.03%. Other seats to watch: Aston ( Labor-held on 2.61% margin) Bruce ( Labor-held on 5.31% margin) Casey ( Liberal-held on 1.43% margin) Cooper ( Labor-held on 8.92% margin over Greens) Deakin ( Liberal-held on 0.02% margin) Dunkley ( Labor-held on 6.77% margin) Indi ( Independent-held on 8.94% margin over Liberals) Melbourne ( Greens-held on 5.58% over Labor) McEwen ( Labor-held on 3.82%) Menzies (notionally Labor on 0.42%) Monash ( Liberal-held on 2.9% margin) Nicholls (Nationals-held on 2.32% over independent) Western Australia The Western Australian state election delivered a promising result for Labor but it is under pressure in a number of federal seats. Bullwinkel: The new regional and rural seat that stretches into Perths outer east is a three-way contest between Labor, the Liberals and the Nationals (the two Coalition parties have no agreement not to run against each other in the west). Labor has a notional 3.35% margin. Curtin: The Perth seat is the second-most marginal teal electorate in the country behind Wentworth, according to the AEC, held by Kate Chaney on a margin of 1.32%. The Liberals are looking to claim back the seat that was once safe for them. Pearce: The seat in Perths outer northern suburbs is high on the Liberals wishlist, and they were encouraged by the swing in overlapping state seats, even with an 8.84% margin to overcome. Moore: The former Liberal MP Ian Goodenough is standing as an independent after being disendorsed for the northern Perth seat. With the Liberals holding a tiny 0.91% margin, his preferences could settle the outcome. Swan and Tangney in Perths inner south suburbs are held by Labor and both are on the Liberals target list. Zaneta Mascarenhas holds Swan on a 9.43% margin while Sam Lim will have a tougher job on paper in former Liberal heartland with a 2.85% margin. Other seats to watch: Canning ( Liberal-held on 1.20% margin) Durack ( Liberal-held on 4.66% margin) Forrest ( Liberal-held on 4.19% margin) Moore (Liberal-held on 0.91% margin) South Australia Boothby: The seat in Adelaides south was a Liberal stronghold until the last federal election, when Labors Louise Miller-Frost claimed victory with a 3.28% margin. The former MP Nicolle Flint stepped down a few months before polling day in 2022 but has since announced she will recontest the seat. Sturt: The former seat of Christopher Pyne in Adelaides eastern suburbs is held by the Liberals on a 0.45% margin. Tasmania Tasmania has only five seats but two are highly marginal and a third has an intriguing contest. Franklin: The seat covers the region south-west of Hobart and is comfortably held by Labors agriculture minister, Julie Collins, on a 13.7% margin. On paper it looks safe but the independent challenger and anti-salmon farming advocate Peter George is hoping to claim disaffected major party voters and the salmon issue has unexpectedly blown up into a national debate. Lyons: Labors retiring MP Brian Mitchell had a slim margin of 0.92% in 2022, making the large central and eastern seat a key target for the Liberals. The former state leader Rebecca White is the new ALP candidate. Other seats to watch: Bass ( Liberal-held on 1.43% margin) Braddon (Liberal-held on 8.03% margin) Northern Territory There are only two lower house seats in the Northern Territory but Lingiari, held by Labors Marion Scrymgour on a 1.6% margin, is the one more likely to change hands. Other seat to watch: Solomon (Labor-held on 8.4% margin) Australian Capital Territory Lower house seats in the nations capital have always been considered safe Labor territory but the battle in the Senate will be more interesting. Unlike the states, territory senators serve three-year terms, meaning their spots are challenged every federal election. The Liberals lost their only federal footing in the ACT in 2022 when the independent David Pocock overcame the former junior minister Zed Seselja. Pocock and Labors Katy Gallagher will again challenge for the ACTs two upper house spots. Gallagher has previously claimed underdog status, suggesting Pocock would be elected first and she would battle it out with the Liberal candidate, Jacob Vadakkedathu. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen reporting on the protests in Istanbul. Photograph: BBC The BBC correspondent Mark Lowen has been arrested and deported from Turkey, where he was reporting on the countrys largest anti-government protests in years, in an incident described by the corporation as extremely troubling. The broadcaster said Lowen had been arrested in Istanbul on Wednesday, having been there for several days to cover the protests, which were prompted by the arrest last week of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu. The BBC said in a statement: This morning, the Turkish authorities deported BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen from Istanbul, having taken him from his hotel the previous day and detained him for 17 hours. Mark Lowen was in Turkey to report on the recent protests. He has been told he was deported for being a threat to public order. More than 1,850 people have been detained, including 11 Turkish journalists, in the recent protests, which have taken place across the country. Clashes between protesters and security forces escalated on Sunday night, with police using teargas and rubber bullets against some demonstrators. They had previously used pepper spray and water cannon on Thursday. Imamoglu, seen as Recep Tayyip Erdogans main rival for the presidency, is being held on corruption charges, which he denies. His supporters say his arrest is politically motivated. He was nominated as the presidential candidate for Turkeys main opposition party shortly after he was detained. Lowen said in a statement: To be detained and deported from the country where I previously lived for five years and for which I have such affection has been extremely distressing. Press freedom and impartial reporting are fundamental to any democracy. The chief executive of BBC News, Deborah Turness, said Lowens deportation was an extremely troubling incident and we will be making representations to the Turkish authorities. Mark is a very experienced correspondent with a deep knowledge of Turkey and no journalist should face this kind of treatment simply for doing their job. We will continue to report impartially and fairly on events in Turkey, she said. Lowen had been reporting directly from the protests and speaking to some of those in the crowds. He said the protests were galvanising the side of Turkey that feels stifled by President Erdogans authoritarian rule. When asked what the protesters wanted, one told him they wanted pure democracy. Thats what everyone wants. Nothing more, nothing else, they said. All forms of media are under scrutiny in Turkey, and popular apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube have faced restrictions in recent weeks. Some prominent accounts on X have also been restricted. The Turkish government retains significant power over social media content under laws passed in 2022. On Thursday the broadcasting watchdog, RTUK, said it was imposing a 10-day broadcast ban on the opposition TV channel Sozcu, after claims of incitement regarding its coverage of the protests. Erdogan has described the protests as a movement of violence, but while there have been some clashes, they have been largely peaceful. Turkey is ranked 158th of 180 countries and territories in an index of world press freedom that Reporters Without Borders (RSF) compiled last year. The lowly ranking was the result of its imprisonment of journalists, online censorship and the governments control of the judiciary. RSFs representative in Turkey, Erol Onderoglu, condemned Lowens 17-hour detention. This professional journalist and specialist on Turkey, where he lived for five years, was accused of being a threat to public order for covering the protests in Istanbul, he said. RSF calls on the Turkish authorities to stop using the legal system to criminalise journalists and to lift the arbitrary bans on Mark Lowen and other foreign journalists entry into Turkish territory. Agence France-Presse said on Thursday that its photographer Yasin Akgul, who was among those arrested this week while covering the unrest, had been freed. The charges against him, however, have not been dropped. He was detained on Monday on charges of taking part in illegal rallies and marches. Akgul was one of the 11 Turkish journalists detained at the start of the week. Seven were later charged and remanded in custody. He was the last to be released. The UN has raised concerns about the arrests, which RSF described as part of a dramatic escalation in the repression of press freedom. Mark Lowen had only been in Turkey for several days when he was detained - BBC A BBC reporter has been deported from Turkey after covering protests against the arrest of a leading opposition figure. Correspondent Mark Lowen had only been in the country for several days to report on the unrest sparked by the detention of Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges when he was detained. Mr Imamoglu, who is seen as the main political rival of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, has denied wrongdoing. A BBC spokesman said: This morning [March 27] the Turkish authorities deported BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen from Istanbul, having taken him from his hotel the previous day and detained him for 17 hours. It came after he was presented with a written notice stating he was being deported for being a threat to public order, the corporation added. Mr Lowen said: To be detained and deported from the country where I previously lived for five years, and for which I have such affection, has been extremely distressing. Press freedom and impartial reporting are fundamental to any democracy. Deborah Turness, the chief executive of BBC News, said: This is an extremely troubling incident and we will be making representations to the Turkish authorities. Mark is a very experienced correspondent with a deep knowledge of Turkey and no journalist should face this kind of treatment simply for doing their job. We will continue to report impartially and fairly on events in Turkey. Demonstrations began in Istanbul last week after Mr Imamoglu was arrested just as voters began casting their ballots in a primary that was expected to name him as the opposition CHP partys candidate for the 2028 presidential election. The protests have spread to more than 55 of the countrys 81 provinces, leading to clashes with riot police and international condemnation. Mr Imamoglu is widely considered the only politician who can defeat Mr Erdogan at the ballot box. However, in the space of four days, the 53-year-old went from being the mayor of Istanbul the post that kick-started Mr Erdogans political rise decades earlier to being arrested, interrogated, jailed and stripped of his mayorship. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described Turkeys expulsion of Mr Lowen and its accusation that he was a threat to public order as outrageous. This is how Erdogans regime regards journalism, and tries to prevent foreign reporters from doing their jobs, said Erol Onderoglu of RSF in Turkey. RSF calls on the Turkish authorities to stop using the legal system to criminalise journalists and to lift the arbitrary bans on Lowen and other foreign journalists entry into Turkish territory, the organisation added. The organisation also described the arrests of local journalists as a dramatic escalation in the repression of press freedom. Scotlands Justice Secretary has promised there will be lasting change following the deaths of two young people who took their own lives while in custody. The families of Katie Allan, 21, and William Brown, 16 who died within months of each other at Polmont Young Offenders Institution were watching in Holyroods public gallery as Angela Constance said she expects work to be delivered at pace following a fatal accident inquiry into their deaths. The Scottish Government has already accepted in full the findings and recommendations of the inquiry. Ms Constance met the families of Ms Allan and William who was also known as William Lindsay prior to the statement and expressed again her deepest condolences to them and to all those affected by a death in custody. The Justice Secretary added: It is through ongoing and decisive action that we will create the lasting change they rightly demand and deserve. Katie Allan and William Brown were both in Polmont YOI when they died by suicide in 2018 (Andrew Milligan/PA) Ms Allan, a student at Glasgow University, was found dead on June 4, 2018 while serving a 16-month sentence for drink-driving and causing serious injury. Mr Brown, who had made repeated attempts on his life in 2017, was found dead in his cell on October 7, three days after he was remanded at Polmont due to a lack of space in a childrens unit. Prior to meeting Ms Constance on Thursday, Ms Allans parents, Linda and Stuart, had insisted now is the time for action to make Scottish prisons safer. Mr Allan said: Were fed up with sorrys and apologies etc for the deaths of Katie and William. Now is the time we actually want to see some action. In her statement to Holyrood, Ms Constance said the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) which runs Polmont has established a taskforce to ensure all the recommendations from the FAI are acted upon. Adding that substantial progress has already been made, the minister said she had visited Polmont last week and said the SPS had removed bunk beds from rooms which might be used for young people with governors at other institutions where young people are locked up also told to follow suit. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said she visited Polmont YOI last week (PA) In addition, two expert professors, who have both previously held senior roles at the Ministry of Justice, have been appointed as part of efforts by the SPS to overhaul its suicide prevention strategy. Professor Graham Towl who was an expert witness at the FAI and Professor David Crighton are to carry out this work. Ms Constance said: This work represents a commitment to real, lasting change and their initial work will be completed by the end of the summer. She told MSPs the SPS had accepted its current anti-bullying policy has not been effective, with a new strategy to be developed this year. She also said the Scottish Government is leading work to ensure a consistent transfer of relevant information takes place between the courts and prisons when someone is put into custody adding it was unacceptable that information the courts had about William was not shared with the SPS. With ministers having previously committed to an independent review of the FAI system which will look at the effectiveness of investigations into deaths in custody, Ms Constance added good progress has been made towards developing a draft remit and that a chair for the review should be announced shortly. She also said she will act to ensure close family members of those who die in custody can get legal aid for FAIs. She said this will ultimately require new legislation, but she does not want families to wait for this important support and so will use ministerial powers to ensure this is in place from Monday April 7. Linda Allan has called for an overhaul of the Scottish Prison Services suicide prevention strategy (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mrs Allan had earlier called for an overhaul of the SPS suicide prevention programme Talk to Me, claiming it had made suicide rates rise instead of fall. Its not worth the paper its written on and requires an overhaul by experts, she said. Lawyer Aamer Anwar, who is representing both families, repeated his earlier calls for the SPS to be made more accountable for the deaths through a lifting of Crown immunity that means the service cannot be prosecuted. The SPS is guilty of gaslighting these families, of lying to them, of covering up, he said. They are guilty of corporate homicide, they are guilty of a breach of the health and safety regulation. SPS chief executive Teresa Medhurst has already said the organisation is sincerely sorry for the deaths, apologising for the SPSs failings. She added: We recognise that their families want action, not words, and we are determined and committed to move at pace and that the actions we are setting out will be enduring and save many lives in the future. Treasury minister Darren Jones was clumsy when he compared cutting benefits to reducing his childrens pocket money, Rachel Reeves has said. The Chancellors deputy sparked outrage on Wednesday for making the comparison as he defended the Governments cuts to welfare. The Governments own impact assessment of the plans warned that some 250,000 people including 50,000 children will be pushed into relative poverty by the reforms. A stricter tests for personal independence payments (Pip), the main benefit for people with disabilities or those with long-term illness to help with extra living costs, is expected to account for the largest amount saved. At the spring statement, the Chancellor went further, announcing that the universal credit health element sometimes called incapacity benefits would be cut by 50% and frozen for new claimants. Asked if her deputy was right to make the comparison between benefits and pocket money, the Chancellor told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: No, he was clumsy in his analogy, and hes apologised for that. Mr Jones was defending the Governments plans in light of the impact assessment when he compared the benefits cut to pocket money. He told the BBC on Wednesday the impact assessment had not accounted for the extra cash available for training for new jobs through the Back to Work programme, as he made the analogy. Mr Jones said: Take for example, if I said to my kids, Im going to cut your pocket money by 10 a week but you have to go and get a Saturday job, the impact assessment on that basis would say that my kids were down 10 irrespective of how much they get from their Saturday job. The minister later apologised for his remarks. Im sorry about it. It was tactless and it wasnt well considered, Mr Jones told ITVs Peston. Rachel Reeves presents her controversial spring statement to the Commons on Wednesday - House of Commons/AFP via Getty Images More than two dozen Labour MPs have broken ranks to oppose Rachel Reevess welfare cuts amid a growing backlash to her spring statement. To date, nine MPs have confirmed they will vote against the proposals when they are put to a vote in the Commons. A further 19 have gone public with their opposition to the plans. The Chancellors plans to bring down the benefits bill by 4.3 billion has prompted deep anger on the Left of the party. According to the Governments own impact assessment, its welfare cuts will push 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children, while 3.2 million families will lose out financially. The rebellion against Ms Reevess cuts grew on Thursday afternoon as five Labour MPs confirmed they would vote against the plans, joining four backbenchers who had already vowed to do so. Chris Webb, a newly elected Red Wall MP who has pledged to vote against the benefit cuts, pictured with Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, - Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images Chris Webb, who won the Red Wall seat of Blackpool South back from the Tories last July, said: I made a commitment to Blackpool South that I would never vote for anything that makes local people poorer. These cuts will push even more people in Blackpool into hardship and deepen the struggles of families already on the brink. I will be voting against these cuts and urging the Government to pursue fairer alternatives. Ian Lavery, the MP for Blyth and Ashington, said: Voting against the measures in the spring statement wont make me a rebel, it will put me on the right side of history. Brian Leishman, the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, accused Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Reeves of betraying what he believed the party should stand for. These proposed cuts to welfare are not real Labour Party values. Ill vote against these cuts, Mr Leishman said. Andy Burnham, the Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester, also joined the chorus of criticism on Thursday night. He told the BBC: There is a case for reform but the package announced when you look at the extent to which disability benefits are bearing the burden of the savings it feels like the wrong choice. Mother of all rebellions warning In a letter to constituents first revealed by ITV West Country, Simon Opher, the MP for Stroud and another member of the 2024 intake, wrote: I will be voting against these proposals when they come before Parliament. And Grahame Morris, a veteran Left-wing Labour MP, said: I will continue to urge the Government to choose a different path but in the meantime I am simply unable to support benefit cuts and will vote against any such proposals when they are debated in Parliament. They join Nadia Whittome, Jon Trickett, Richard Burgon and Kim Johnson in being prepared to defy the Labour whip when the measures are the subject of a Commons vote. On Thursday, Mr Burgon doubled down on his warning that the Government would face the mother of all rebellions if it pressed ahead with the reforms. The Government should not be balancing the books on the backs of the poor and disabled, he told Times Radio. It should be making the wealthiest pay through a wealth tax. The Government must drop this cruel proposal or it will face the mother of all rebellions. Speaking after the spring statement on Wednesday, Ms Reeves insisted she had not chosen to target the poorest in society and rejected the forecast that 250,000 people would fall into poverty. The Chancellor told LBCs Iain Dale: The numbers in that impact assessment about the welfare reform are based on no changes in terms of people going back to work. But the whole point of the welfare reforms that were making is about giving targeted, personal guaranteed support to people who are on sickness and disability benefits to help them to fulfil their potential and find work that is appropriate for them. So theyre not going to be getting less money, but they will actually benefit from employment. At the moment, 1,000 people a day are going on to personal independence payments. Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Ms Reevess deputy, was forced to apologise shortly after her statement after comparing the Governments planned cuts to disability benefits to reducing a childs pocket money. Emma Raducanus impressive run to the Miami Open quarter-finals has come to an end at the hands of fourth seed Jessica Pegula. The American survived a mid-match surge from Raducanu en route to a tough 6-4 6-7 (3) 6-2 victory. The British number two had numerous opportunities to snag momentum during the match, but repeatedly let them slip through her fingers. Raducanu converted just one of her six opportunities to break Pegulas fearsome serve, and despite rallying in the second set to force a decider, was ultimately unable to match Pegula in the third. can never count her out @EmmaRaducanu strikes back 7-6(3) to force a decider against Pegula!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/u9hHrN6VIS wta (@WTA) March 27, 2025 Despite the loss, Raducanus run to the final eight in Miami marked her best performance in a tournament since being crowned 2021 US Open champion. Pegula gave credit to Raducanus performance in her post-match comments. She said: It was tough. I played a good first set, a little let down in the second, got it back, went up 2-0 in the tiebreak, but it kind of flipped. She started moving the ball really well, serving good sometimes it just happens, but I just wanted to come out in the third really strong, really quick, and just kind of jump on her and not keep the third set too close. Pegula will face 19-year-old wild card Alexandra Eala in the semi-finals, after the Filipino upset world number two Iga Swiatek 6-2 7-5 in their quarter-final clash. There was also a shock result in the mens tournament, with top seed Alexander Zverev falling to French 17th seed Arthur Fils. The German looked unfazed in the first set before Fils seemingly found his feet, wrapping up the surprise 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory in just over two hours. And Bulgarias Grigor Dimitrov outlasted Argentinas Francisco Cerundolo in a three-set battle, which took almost three hours. HIV infections and deaths will rise as a result of cuts to foreign aid, according to a study. Researchers said that funding cuts could undo decades of progress. A new report says that infections and deaths could surge to levels not seen for more than two decades. Experts, led by academics from Australia, estimate there could be up to 10.8 million additional HIV infections by 2030 in low-and-middle income countries as a result of the cuts. And there could be up to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths between 2025 and 2030 if funding cuts proposed by the top five donor countries, including the USA and the UK, are not mitigated. Sir Keir Starmer recently slashed overseas aid spending to fund defence commitments he said were necessary to protect the UK amid uncertainty over the Ukraine war and its implications for European security. Anneliese Dodds resigned as international development minister over the decision, which will see the budget cut from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in the next two years. After taking up post in January, US president Donald Trump announced a pause in most US foreign aid spending. He also announced that the US would withdraw from the World Health Organisation. It is with sadness that I have had to tender my resignation as Minister for International Development and for Women and Equalities. While I disagree with the ODA decision, I continue to support the government and its determination to deliver the change our country needs. pic.twitter.com/44sCrX2p8z Anneliese Dodds (@AnnelieseDodds) February 28, 2025 A paper, published in The Lancet HIV, highlights how international donors have contributed to 40% of all HIV funding in low-and-middle income countries since 2015. The USA, UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands together account for more than 90% of international funding, but they have each recently announced plans to implement significant cuts to foreign aid, the article adds. It is estimated that these plans will lead to a 24% reduction in international HIV funding by 2026. As a result, the team modelled the human cost of the cuts. They estimated there could be between 4.4 million to 10.8 million additional HIV infections by 2030 in low-and-middle income countries. And between 770,000 to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths in children and adults could occur in the same time frame. Unmitigated funding reductions could significantly reverse progress in the HIV response by 2030, disproportionately affecting sub-Saharan African countries and key and vulnerable populations, the authors wrote. It comes after the UN programme for combating HIV and Aids, UNAids, said that daily new HIV infections around the world could almost double without the aid provided by the United States. The United States has historically been the largest contributor to global efforts to treat and prevent HIV, but the current cuts to Pepfar (the US Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief) and USaid-supported programmes have already disrupted access to essential HIV services including for antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and testing, said co-lead study author Dr Debra ten Brink of the Burnet Institute (Australia). Looking ahead, if other donor countries reduce funding, decades of progress to treat and prevent HIV could be unravelled. It is imperative to secure sustainable financing and avoid a resurgence of the HIV epidemic which could have devastating consequences, not just in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, but globally. And reports suggest that the Trump administration is planning to end funding for Gavi, the vaccine alliance. Responding to the reports, Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, said: The funding cuts in the first three months of this year affecting USaid, ODA, WHO and now Gavi are suffocating global health. Commenting on the study, the National Aids Trust said it is extremely alarmed by the potential impact of proposed cuts. Daniel Fluskey, director of policy, research and influencing at the charity, said: These funding cuts will have a devastating impact for millions of people across the world as well as threatening the progress that has been made, both globally and in the UK, on ending the HIV epidemic. Like any virus, HIV does not stop at international borders. We will not reach the goal of ending new transmissions by 2030 in the UK with a resurgence of HIV across the world. Anne Aslett, chief executive of the Elton John Aids Foundation, added: This report demonstrates the critical and urgent need for donors to recognise the cumulative impact of their decisions to cut aid budgets. If funding for the global HIV response falls away to the extent this report suggests it could, millions more people will get sick, and health budgets will simply not be able to cope. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: The UK provides significant funding to the global HIV response, supporting work to end Aids-related deaths and prevent new HIV infections. We remain firmly committed to tackling global health challenges, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it will help us deliver on our Plan for Change in the UK by supporting global stability and growth. 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. Issa Mohamed Omar, one of just two survivors of the 24 November 2021 incident, said he felt they were treated like animals. Photograph: The Cranston Inquiry/PA Survivors and bereaved relatives have told an inquiry into the biggest ever loss of life in a migrant dinghy in the Channel that they believe stereotyping them as foreigners contributed to the failure to rescue them before the majority died. The Cranston inquiry into how at least 27 people drowned on 24 November 2021 heard that survivors believed many on board could have been saved if rescue had been sent more quickly. The four-week inquiry, which concluded its evidence on Thursday, heard that the boat, referred to as incident Charlie, thought to be carrying 33 people, including 13 women and eight children, was wholly unsuitable. Along with the 27 confirmed dead, four people are still missing. Two survived. At least 130 more migrants have lost their lives in the Channel since the November 2021 incident, according to the UNs International Organization for Migration, but incident Charlie remains the largest single loss of life since small boat crossings of the Channel began in 2018. The inquiry has heard a litany of failings, including poor communication and understaffing at the Dover coastguard on the night, and a failure of Home Office intelligence sharing. Charlie was confused by authorities with another dinghy named incident Lima, from which 35 people were successfully rescued, meaning that efforts to continue searching for Charlie passengers were halted. The incident was mistakenly marked as resolved and nobody came to their rescue. On Wednesday and Thursday the inquiry heard impact statements from bereaved relatives who spoke about their grief and sense of deep loss, compounded by uncertainty in the early days about whether or not their relatives had survived. Some said they wished they had died at the same time as their loved ones instead of living in pain, and many said they were struggling to keep going without the people they had lost. Relatives of those still missing they described the pain of not being able to have closure. Issa Mohamed Omar from Somalia, one of the two survivors, described the scene when the dinghy capsized at about 1.13am. It was very cold, people were screaming, there was darkness all around, he said. We all thought we were dying. If rescue had come quickly, I believe half of these people would still be alive today. We have been seen as refugees. Thats the reason I believe the rescue did not come. We feel we are treated like animals. Ali Areef, the cousin of Halima Mohammed Shikh, 33, a mother of three, had spoken to Omar from his hospital bed. Related: Home Office axes asylum hotel contract and hands it to Bibby Stockholm firm In his impact statement, he said Omar had said he was with Shikh until she died. Her last words were: Help me, I dont want to die. Dan OMahoney, who was the director of Clandestine Channel Threat Command at the time of the incident Charlie, had earlier told the inquiry that the increasing number of small boat crossings was overwhelming the resources they had. Frankly we just needed more boats, he said. Prof Michael Tipton, an expert in surviving in water, told the inquiry that as many as 15 of those on board the dinghy may still have been alive more than four hours after it capsized. Distress calls started to come in just after 1am and the last one was at 3.11am. It is estimated that the passengers went into the water at 3.12am or 3.13am. In concluding remarks on Thursday, Sonali Naik KC, representing bereaved families and one of the survivors, said: The tragedy of 24 November was preventable and it should never have happened. The victims identities as migrants and as foreigners shaped the search and rescue response. Nicolas Sarkozy is accused of taking money from Muammar Gaddafi to fund his election campaign - Patrick KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Nicolas Sarkozy should be jailed for seven years for being the instigator of a corrupt deal with the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, prosecutors said on Thursday. The three financial prosecutors also requested that the former French president pay a 300,000 (250,000) fine and be banned for five years from holding elected office for his role in the alleged embezzlement scandal. A very dark picture of a part of our republic has been painted, said prosecutor Sebastien de la Touanne as he entered the final stretch of the closing arguments at the 12-week trial in Paris, due to end on April 10. Mr Sarkozy, 70, who was president from 2007-2012, is accused of taking money from Gaddafi, who died in 2011, to fund his election campaign in return for giving the Libyan leader diplomatic support. He denies the charges. He was already convicted and jailed for one year in a separate influence-peddling case, a sentence he is currently serving with an electronic tag rather than in prison. The prosecutors also called for a six-year prison sentence for Claude Gueant, Sarkozys former right-hand man, and a 100,000 fine, and a 150,000 fine for Brice Hortefeux, his former interior minister. Sarkozy said he will continue to fight tooth and nail for the truth - YOAN VALAT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The charges of corruption, concealing misappropriated public funds, illegal campaign financing and criminal conspiracy carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and 375,000 in fines. On Wednesday, the prosecution depicted Mr Sarkozy as the veritable decision-maker and sponsor of an inconceivable, unheard-of and indecent agreement with Gaddafi. Frantic quest for funding Mr de la Touanne accused Sarkozy of a frantic quest for funding to satisfy a consuming political ambition and said that only a prison sentence and a fixed fine would be capable of protecting society. Prosecutors argued that in exchange for suitcases of cash, Sarkozy rehabilitated Gaddafis international image by inviting him to a lavish state visit in Paris, looked into clearing the name of the Lockerbie bombing mastermind, Libyan Abdullah Senussi, and offered Gaddafi the means to spy on opponents. A pact of corruption was indeed concluded, they said. In particular, they contended that a diary found in a suitcase belonging to Shukri Ghanem, Gaddafis former prime minister and petrol minister, mentioning several million dollars in cash sent to Sarkozy was a smoking gun. All-consuming ambition Behind the image of the public figure, the judicial investigations reveal the silhouette of a man driven by all-consuming personal ambition, ready to sacrifice essential values such as probity, honesty and uprightness on the altar of power, said Quentin Dandoy, one of the three prosecutors, on Tuesday evening. Mr Sarkozy criticised the recommended sentence on social media as outrageous. Maintaining that the fundamental principles of criminal law had been flouted for 13 years, he said he felt that the falsity and violence of the accusations and the outrageousness of the sentence demanded were only intended to mask the weakness of the alleged charges. I will therefore continue to fight tooth and nail for the truth, and to believe in the wisdom of the court, he went on. His defence will plead on April 10, the expected last day of the trial, which continues. Protesters demonstrating in Jerusalem on 26 March as the Knesset voted on judicial changes. Photograph: Amir Levy/Getty Images Israels parliament has passed a law expanding elected officials power to appoint judges, in defiance of a years-long protest against Benjamin Netanyahus attempts to drive through judicial changes. The approval of the bill, which opposition parties say will make judges subject to the will of politicians, comes as Netanyahus government is locked in a standoff with the supreme court over its attempts to dismiss the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara and Ronen Bar, the head of the internal security agency. Opposition parties, which have filed a petition with the supreme court challenging the vote, said in a joint statement: This government is undermining the foundations of democracy, and the entire opposition will stand as a strong barrier against it until every attempt to turn Israel into a dictatorship is stopped. The justice minister, Yariv Levin, who sponsored the bill, said the measure was intended to restore balance between the legislative and judicial branches. Currently judges in Israel, including supreme court justices, are selected by a nine-member committee composed of judges and lawmakers, under the justice ministers supervision. The new law, which would come into effect at the start of the next legislative term would increase political control over appointments. The committee would still have nine members: three supreme court judges, the justice minister and another minister, one coalition lawmaker, one opposition lawmaker, and two public representatives one appointed by the majority and the other by the opposition. In his closing remarks before the vote, Levin criticised the supreme court, saying it had effectively nullified the Knesset. It has taken for itself the authority to cancel laws and even basic laws. This is something unheard of in any democracy in the world, he said. In 2023, changes to the judiciary prompted one of the largest protest movements in Israels history. With the announcement of the new bill, rallies were once again held in main cities. On Wednesday, thousands of people protested against the bill before it was approved in parliament. The row came as European far-right leaders flew to Jerusalem for a conference organised by the Israeli government aimed at combating antisemitism. The event, which was shunned by mainstream Jewish leaders because of the divisive guest list, illustrated a growing alliance between Israel and the European far right. The supreme court has so far blocked Netanyahus attempt to fire Bar. The Shin Bet intelligence chief has been investigating the prime ministers close aides for alleged breaches of national security, including leaking classified documents to foreign media and allegedly taking money from Qatar, which is known to have given significant financial aid to Hamas. Netanyahu is also attempting to fire the attorney general after Baharav-Miara told him he could not fire Bar until her office had reviewed his motives for doing so. In an unprecedented step on Sunday, Netanyahus cabinet approved a no confidence motion against Baharav-Miara, its latest move against officials deemed hostile to the government. Claude Klein, a public law expert at Jerusalems Hebrew University, said enactment of the law would be catastrophic. They want to take real power. Netanyahu thinks that the supreme court is keeping him from running the country his way, he told Agence-France Presse. Last week Israel resumed its military operation in Gaza, shattering the calm of the ceasefire with Hamas. According to the Palestinian health ministry, 855 people have been killed in the renewed assault. On Thursday Hamas said an Israeli strike hit the tent in the Jabaliya area, where its spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua was living, killing him. Another strike near Gaza City killed four children and their parents, according to the emergency service of the regions health ministry. Security sources told Reuters that Egypt, one of the mediators in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, had received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase. The proposal suggests Hamas release five Israeli hostages each week, sources said. Explosions were heard in Jerusalem as Israel said it had intercepted two missiles launched from Yemen. The long-range missiles were fired by the Houthi rebels and were intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, according to the military. Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report TUV leader Jim Allister has accused former Irish premier Leo Varadkar of partitioning the UK during the Brexit negotiations by insisting on the border being pushed where the IRA could never push it. Mr Allister warned against nice, fuzzy sentiment between the UK and Ireland, saying relations between the two countries included malevolence to the detriment of Northern Ireland. As leader of party Fine Gael, Mr Varadkar held the post of taoiseach from 2017 until 2020, returning to the role in 2022 before resigning in 2024. Leo Varadkar meeting then-prime minister Boris Johnson (PA) He played a key role in the Brexit negotiations, with a famous meeting with then-prime minister Boris Johnson at a manor house on the Wirral in England seen as a significant moment in paving a way for the deal on the UKs exit from the EU. The agreement staved off the prospect of a hard trade border being introduced on the island of Ireland, but it did prompt years of further political turmoil, particularly within unionism in Northern Ireland, over the creation of a so-called Irish Sea border on the movement of goods between the region and Great Britain. During a debate in the Commons on the legacy of St Patricks Day, the MP for North Antrim referred to the Second World War where he said the Irish government formally and quite shockingly expressed regrets at the death of Hitler. He went on to claim that when co-operation was sought by the British Government during the Troubles, there was very little action from the Irish Government. Moving to Northern Irelands post-Brexit trading situation Mr Allister said it would be impossible to ignore the incredible constitutional situation the region is in as a result of the Windsor Framework agreement. He said: This is said to be a United Kingdom. Its a United Kingdom, sadly partitioned by a border in the Irish Sea and the point Im coming to is this, that much of that is at the behest of the authorities in the Irish Republic. It was the taoiseach of the Irish Republic who pushed and cajoled and forced the EU into their irrational demands. The EU, at the beginning of the protocol negotiations, was prepared, indeed they originated the idea of mutual enforcement to control the movement of goods. But sadly it was the taoiseach Varadkar who insisted, who saw the opportunity of partitioning the United Kingdom, who insisted on the border being pushed where the IRA could never push it in their 30 years of terror, insisted on it being pushed to the Irish Sea. It was the Dublin government that made those irrational demands and repudiated the very thing that made that unnecessary, namely mutual enforcement. So yes, lots of nice, fuzzy sentiment about how the Irish Republic and the UK have relations, and in many areas they are good, but there is a reality that there has been a malevolence to the detriment of Northern Ireland as well. TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister (Liam McBurney/PA) Intervening, SNP MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Seamus Logan said: I dont recall some of the accusations that hes making about the role of the Irish government in terms of the negotiations that followed the Brexit vote. But what I wanted to ask him to clarify for the purpose of the record, is it not the case that many Unionist elected representatives, some of them in this chamber, encouraged their voters and their supporters to vote for Brexit in June 2016, did they not? Mr Allister agreed that they did but added: they didnt get Brexit. He concluded: I think that in any relationship, you look for a two-way co-operation, and you certainly dont look for trying to exploit a situation to achieve the dissembling of part of your neighbouring country, and that, sadly, is what has happened in respect of the Brexit negotiations. The King required a short period of observation in hospital after experiencing side effects from his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace has said. Charles has cancelled an away day to Birmingham on Friday to prioritise his recovery as a precautionary measure and is now back at Clarence House. The King, 76, was said to be on good form at his London home where he is working on state papers and making calls from his study. The Prime Minister wishes His Majesty the King all the very best, a spokeswoman for Sir Keir Starmer said after the news was announced late on Thursday evening. A source described it as a most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction. The King visited the London Clinic on Thursday morning and travelled to and from the hospital by car. He was not joined by the Queen during his brief stay. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital. The King at a local media reception at the Palace on Wednesday evening (Aaron Chown/PA) His Majestys afternoon engagements were therefore postponed. His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrows diary programme will also be rescheduled. His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result. The King on a visit to Broighter Gold Farm, Limavady during a trip to Northern Ireland last week (Samir Hussein/PA) Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 and returned to public-facing duties in April despite still undergoing weekly treatment. He has had a busy run of engagements this month, including a reception for media on Wednesday evening after a visit to a soil exhibition in the day, and is due to make a historic state visit to Italy in 10 days time. It is understood the overseas tour with the Queen from April 7-10, which will see Charles become the first British sovereign to address both houses of the Italian parliament, is expected to go ahead as planned. The King meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the start of March (Joe Giddens/PA) Last week, the King made a whirlwind three-day visit to Northern Ireland with Camilla, and earlier in March hosted high-profile audiences with key political figures including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, outgoing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and new Canadian PM Mark Carney. Charles, who is known for being a workaholic, is said to have thrived on carrying out public and state duties in recent months, seeing them as being of great benefit to his overall wellbeing. His long-haul visit to Australia and Samoa last autumn was described at the time as the perfect tonic for the monarch. Since his diagnosis last year, the Kings diary of engagements is understood to have been developed in full consultation with his medical team at all stages to protect and prioritise his recovery. Charles and Camilla went on a long haul trip to Australia and Samoa in the autumn (Aaron Chown/PA) Sources stressed the hospital visit was not a major development and no further updates are expected on the Kings health, with any minor alterations to his diary that may be required next week being announced in due course. It was hoped this year would be a fresh start for the royal family after they endured what the Prince of Wales called a brutal 2024 and probably the hardest year of my life with both the King and the Princess of Wales being diagnosed with cancer. Kate is now in remission and is gradually returning to public duties. The King was due to meet ambassadors in audiences at Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon but these were postponed due to his stay in hospital. He also had a busy day planned in Birmingham on Friday, with four engagements back to back. The London Clinic was the same hospital where he was treated for an enlarged prostate in January last year, and also where the Princess of Wales had abdominal surgery the same month. The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales had abdominal surgery last year (Lucy North/PA) The specifics of the Kings side effects have not been disclosed but they are understood to be temporary and not uncommon with many medical treatments. The announcement from the Palace is understood to have been made late on Thursday because time was required for the King to consult his staff and medical team on his return to Clarence House. It was decided on balance that it was wiser to cancel the visit to Birmingham as a precautionary measure. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: His Majesty was due to receive credentials from the ambassadors of three different nations this afternoon. Tomorrow, he was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham, and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion. He very much hopes that they can rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible. 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. A man who said your scumbag client wont get one cent has been ordered to pay $300,000 in aggravated damages and costs. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP A man who said your scumbag client wont get one cent has been ordered to pay $300,000 in aggravated damages and costs after accusing a family dispute resolution practitioner of supporting paedophiles. Adam Whittington, a child recovery agent who was involved in the 60 Minutes abduction scandal in Lebanon, has been ordered by the New South Wales supreme court to pay Jasmin Newman $160,000 in damages and $147,796 in costs after it found he defamed her in a series of online posts dating back to 2019. Whittington posted on Wordpress, Facebook and Twitter about Newman, who is accredited to practise as a family dispute practitioner with the federal attorney generals department. Newman argued that the posts contained 59 defamatory imputations, including that she sympathised and supported paedophiles, attacked women who wanted to protect their sexually abused children, and committed fraud. Judge Nicholas Chen found on Wednesday that the imputations were conveyed, and that Whittington continued to defame Newman while the court case was ongoing. Whittington did not attend court during the proceeding, Chen said. He said Whittington was an Australian citizen who, at least at some point in the past, resided overseas, either in Sweden or in Russia, although precisely where he now resides is unknown. Chen said Whittington was the founder and chief executive officer of a Swedish company which operates a Facebook page called Child Abduction Recovery International; and the founder of what is said to be a charity known as Project Rescue Children. Whittington responded to emails about the case, Chen said, including by replying to a lawyer for Newman on 12 December 2024. Stop wasting my time opening rubbish and tagging me into your nonsense emails, Whittington said. In fact, to make sure you dont waste another minute of my time, Ill block you from this day on. Your scumbag client wont get one cent. That I promise. Chen said there was some uncertainty about Whittingtons ability to pay the penalties. He said that while the audience for the posts was limited, they had a serious impact on Newman. The impact of the defamatory matters upon the plaintiff has, I accept, been exacerbated not only by the defendants failure to apologise, but by his continuing publication of defamatory matters after the plaintiff commenced these proceedings, Chen said. Notwithstanding the hearing has proceeded without any participation by the defendant, no attempt was made to overstate the impact of these defamatory imputations; rather, my impression was that she tended to understate them. I have no doubt that they have caused her anguish, anxiety, hurt and distress. Chen granted a permanent and mandatory injunction restraining Whittington from repeating the defamation. Mark Carney - Blair Gable/REUTERS The era of deep economic, security and military ties between Canada and the United States is over, Mark Carney, the newly-appointed prime minister, said. He made the remarks ahead of Donald Trumps planned 25 per cent levy on vehicle imports to the United States coming into force next week which could devastate the Canadian auto industry that supports an estimated 500,000 jobs. After Mr Trumps announcement about the tariffs on Wednesday, Mr Carney paused his campaign for Canadas April 28 election to return to Ottawa for a meeting of cabinet members working on the trade war with the United States. He called Mr Trumps auto tariffs unjustified, and said they were in breach of existing trade deals between the countries. He also warned Canadians that Mr Trump had permanently altered relations with the US and that, regardless of any future trade deals, there would be no turning back. Canada to retaliate The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over, Mr Carney said. He said Canada would retaliate against the auto tariffs. Our response to these latest tariffs is to fight, is to protect, is to build, Mr Carney said. We will fight the US tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impacts here in Canada, he added. Mr Carney replaced Justin Trudeau as prime minister on March 14. Typically, a new Canadian leader makes a phone call with the US president a priority immediately after taking office but Mr Trump and Mr Carney have not spoken. He said on Thursday that the White House had reached out to schedule a call and that he expected to speak to Mr Trump in the next day or two. Mr Carney has also said that while he is willing to talk to Mr Trump, he will not participate in substantive trade negotiations with Washington until the president shows Canada respect, particularly by ending his repeated annexation threats. For me, there are two conditions, not necessarily for a call, but a negotiation with the United States. First respect, respect for our sovereignty as a country... apparently its a lot for him, Mr Carney said. There has to be comprehensive discussion between the two of us, including with respect to our economy and our security, he added. Demonstrators protest against cuts to American foreign aid spending, including USAID and the PEPFAR program to combat HIV and Aids - Mark Schiefelbein/AP Aid cuts by Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer could trigger a resurgence in HIV cases, with up to 10.8 million more people infected globally. Modelling published in the Lancet HIV medical journal shows the cuts could reverse decades of progress in slowing the epidemic that still kills around one person per minute. It says there will be between 4.4m to 10.8m additional new infections by the end of this decade in low-and-middle income countries unless the funding shortfall can be filled. The peer-reviewed study also estimated there could be between 0.8m and 2.9m HIV-related deaths in children and adults by 2030. Overall new infections and deaths from HIV will return to those last seen in the early 2000s. The grim forecast comes only days after the chief of the United Nations Aids agency made her own warning that US funding cuts could lead to an additional 6m deaths in the next four years. Winnie Byanyima this week said she feared a return to the 1990s, when HIV medication was scarcely available in poorer countries, and infections and deaths soared. Foreign donors provide around two-fifths of all anti-HIV funding in low and middle-income countries, with America, the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands between them making up 90 per cent of that. Yet each of these countries has recently announced significant aid cuts, giving reasons including the cost of rearming and reacting to the war in Ukraine, the desire to slim down public spending, or ideological opposition. Americas cuts are potentially the steepest, after the Trump administration paused all foreign aid for a 90-day review into programmes. The US Pepfar anti-HIV programme is a cornerstone of the global fight against the virus and the largest commitment by a country ever to address a single disease. In the 20 years since it was introduced by George W. Bush, it is credited with saving 26m lives in more than 50 countries. The Trump administration has vowed to keep lifesaving parts of it, but other parts have been scrapped and it remains unclear how much will survive. Decades of progress could unravel Foreign aid goes to pay for everything from research into new vaccines and treatments, to giving anti-retroviral drugs to those already infected, to providing anti-HIV preventative jabs and tablets to those most at risk of catching the virus. Taken across all five donors, the cuts are between them projected to see a 24 per cent fall in global international HIV funding by next year. Dr Debra ten Brink, a scientist at Australias Burnet Institute and one of the papers lead authors, said: The current cuts to Pepfar and USAID-supported programmes have already disrupted access to essential HIV services including for antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and testing. Looking ahead, if other donor countries reduce funding, decades of progress to treat and prevent HIV could be unravelled. It is imperative to secure sustainable financing and avoid a resurgence of the HIV epidemic which could have devastating consequences, not just in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, but globally. The modelling looked at the impact on 26 countries and then extrapolated across all lower and middle income countries. If the funding reductions continue as planned, they found there could be between 4.4m to 10.8 million extra new HIV infections by 2030. That would represent a 1.3 to six-fold increase in new infections for people at higher risk of acquiring HIV, compared to if funding levels remained consistent. Dr Rowan Martin-Hughes, also of the Burnet Institute, said: There could be an even greater impact in sub-Saharan Africa, where broader prevention efforts, such as distributing condoms and offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP a medication that reduces the risk of getting HIV) are at first risk to be discontinued. This is in addition to disruptions in testing and treatment programmes could cause a surge in new HIV infections, especially in some of the areas where the greatest gains have been made, such as preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and paediatric HIV deaths. The billions of foreign aid poured into anti-HIV efforts have contributed to significant progress in treating and preventing the virus. There has been an average 8.3 per cent yearly decrease in new infections and a 10.3 per cent decrease in HIV-related deaths, the researchers said. If that trend continued, many countries would be on track to meet global targets to eliminate HIV/Aids as a public health threat by around 2036. That could now go into reverse, the modelling suggests. There is an urgent need for innovative, country-led financing strategies and an integration of HIV services into broader health systems, however, this cant happen overnight, said Dr Nick Scott, also of the Burnet Institute (Australia). Long-term strategic planning is required for countries to transition from internationally supported to domestically financed programmes. Our study highlights how important international collaboration and investment have been in maintaining progress against HIV. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Campaigners fear the move would mean less money for countries stricken by climate disaster. Photograph: Canetti/Getty Images/iStockphoto The long-awaited carbon levy on international shipping that was to supply vital climate finance looks set to be significantly diluted, after the EU appeared to be backing down in global talks, in a blow to vulnerable countries. The EU is set to accept a compromise that would allow companies to enter into a system of trading carbon credits instead of paying directly for their emissions, the Guardian has learned. Campaigners and experts said the move would mean less money for the rescue and rehabilitation of countries stricken by climate disaster and made it less likely that shipping companies would move quickly to decarbonise their fleets. This compromise fundamentally ignores the needs of some of the most vulnerable countries, said Tristan Smith, associate professor in energy and transport at University College London. There is a better compromise available. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the shipping industry produces about 2.2% of global CO2 emissions. Forcing shipowners to pay a small charge for every tonne of carbon dioxide their vessels produce has been touted as a key way to raise some of the hundreds of billions of dollars needed for climate finance. A proposal for such a levy, which has the support of scores of developing countries, the EU and the UK, is under discussion at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, in talks that started last month and resume next week before finishing on 11 April. But the levy faces fierce opposition from China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and about a dozen other countries that have strong interests in exports or fossil fuels, and argue that it would raise prices for consumers. Some members have argued that a majority vote could push through the levy, but China has made it clear it would not accept such an outcome and has threatened to effectively withdraw from the IMO if the issue was forced. Related: Brazil asks UN to ditch proposed levy on global shipping Arsenio Dominguez, the secretary general of the IMO, does not want to enforce a majority vote if it can be avoided. We work on consensus, thats always the focus of the IMO, he told the Guardian. During adoption of the rules, member states can express their concerns, they can express their support to one proposal or another. My objective is always to work with the member states to get an agreement, a consensus approach, and if there are any concerns raised during that consensus approach, to continue to work on that, to address it. But to keep the house together. The EU, which held an emergency meeting on the issue on Thursday, will still formally state its preference for a simple levy. But the Guardian understands that the bloc will concede key ground by falling back on a compromise proposal involving carbon trading, tabled by Singapore, provided that it aims to raise as much cash as a levy would. Analysis by Smith and other experts suggests the Singapore proposal would provide perverse incentives for shipowners to use short-term solutions to cut their carbon, such as heavy investment in biofuels, rather than seek long-term solutions in the form of new fuels, such as ammonia. Carbon trading is uncertain and volatile, and not investable, said Smith. It will not result in more investment for long-term technologies. Biofuels are often environmentally unsustainable, as they compete with food crops for scarce agricultural land. Related: Can you take a clean cruise holiday and which vessels are the worst emitters? Another compromise proposal that has been tabled by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and has the backing of a large proportion of the industry, would, Smith said, be preferable to the Singapore plan. Ships would pay a charge for their carbon output, but it would be more flexible than a levy, would represent a single flat fee and, because it would fall under technical regulations on fuel standards, would not face problems with adoption by countries such as the US that require legislative approval for taxes. Proponents of the ICS plan, including some developing countries, argue it should be acceptable to China, Brazil and their allies, because it uses a standard for fuels that they have already agreed to and starts at a low cost that can be scaled up later. Andrew Forrest, the Australian mining billionaire turned green advocate, who is investing in hydrogen-powered ships, had harsh words for those who seek consensus. I challenge anyone who advocates for a consensus, because theyre not actually advocating for a consensus, they are a wolf in sheeps clothing intending to hold the status quo of fossil fuel and accelerate the pollution of our environment and the inefficiency of our shipping industry, he told the Guardian. Friederike Roder, the director of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, said: In two weeks time, we could have the worlds first international levy on shipping emissions. This would be a milestone in our efforts to raise climate finance, hold polluters to account and support the global south. We need a strong agreement which delivers climate ambition and decarbonisation for the shipping sector, while shielding the most vulnerable economies. Houthi media in Yemen reported Wednesday at least 17 strikes in Saada and Amran, blaming the United States for the attacks. The rebels' Ansarollah website said U.S. warplanes carried out "aggressive air raids... causing material damage to citizens' property", but gave no details of casualties. Washington on March 15 announced a military offensive against the Iranian-backed Huthis, promising to use overwhelming force until the group stopped firing on vessels in the key shipping routes of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. That day saw a wave of U.S. air strikes that officials said killed senior Huthi leaders, and which the rebels' health ministry said killed 53 people. Since then, Huthi-held parts of Yemen have witnessed near-daily attacks that the group has blamed on the United States, with the rebels announcing the targeting of US military ships and Israel. The Huthis began targeting shipping vessels after the start of the Gaza war, claiming solidarity with Palestinians, but paused their campaign when a ceasefire took effect in Gaza in January. Earlier this month, they threatened to renew attacks in the vital maritime trade route over Israel's aid blockade on the Palestinian territory, triggering the first US strikes on Yemen since President Donald Trump took office in January. Last week, Trump threatened to annihilate the Huthis and warned Tehran against continuing to aid the group. Jude Law, centre, is playing the Russian president in the upcoming film The Wizard of the Kremlin - NGE / BACKGRID Jude Law has transformed into Vladimir Putin in the first images of the actor filming a new biopic. The Bafta award-winner, 52, is playing the Russian president at the start of his political career in Olivier Assayass new film The Wizard of the Kremlin. The film is based on a best-selling novel of the same name by Italian-Swiss writer Giuliano da Empoli. Law, who has recently starred as Henry VIII in Firebrand, previously told Deadline his role as Putin looks like an Everest to climb. The new on-set photographs show Law wearing a black overcoat with a suit and tie standing with actors who appear to be playing members of an Arab delegation. The films plot follows the Russian presidents political rise in the early 1990s, in the aftermath of the Soviet Union collapse, through the story of the man who helped him cement his hold on power. The fictional character, named Vladimir Baranov, is based on former Kremlin spin doctor Vladislav Surkov. The movie is based on a novel of the same name by Giuliano da Empoli. - Novaya Gazeta Europe The synopsis reads: Working at the heart of Russian power, Baranov blurs truth with lies, the news with propaganda, directing the entire society like one great reality show. Only his love for the magnetic, free-minded Ksenia can turn him away from this dangerous game. Baranov will be played by Academy Award nominee Paul Dano, who has starred in critically acclaimed films There Will Be Blood and Love and Mercy. Starring alongside Dano and Law will be Oscar-winning Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, who worked with Law on Firebrand in 2023. Speaking ahead of filming, director Assayas said The Wizard of the Kremlin is about trying to make sense of the chaos that is transforming our world in the strangest, most disturbing ways. He added: Beyond the passions of men navigating the dangerous fluxes of modern politics, we see the powerful cinematic sweep of history in the making. Niamh Lloyd pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office and was jailed for a year A prison officer told her inmate lover she was in a relationship with him for the thrill, a court heard. Niamh Lloyd, 22, met career burglar Lee Makin while she was working as a prison officer at Forest Bank jail in Salford, Greater Manchester. The pair became close after Lloyd was allegedly sexually assaulted at the prison, Manchester Crown Court was told. Her lawyer said Makin, 40, was the only person who did show her any empathy or any kind of support. Their relationship continued after Makin was later transferred to HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, Wales. The pair were regularly in touch by phone, engaging in sexual conversations, as well as in letters addressed to Big Lee. At one point, she told Makin she was with him for the thrill, adding: I dont like doing what Im told. During their conversations Lloyd, who previously worked as a civilian assistant for Greater Manchester Police and also runs a beauty business, identified a prisoner at category B jail Forest Bank as a paedophile and disclosed operational information to Makin about the prison. Lloyd burnt documents in an attempt to destroy evidence after being arrested. She was said to have been cocky and arrogant in her police interview. On Wednesday, Lloyd and Makin were both jailed for a year. Lee Makin pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally encouraging or assisting the offence of misconduct in a public office Judge Alan Conrad KC told Lloyd: As a prison officer, you became much too close to your co-defendant. What you did undermines the balance and good order of prison life. You also set about destroying evidence by burning papers. It is said that you turned for comfort for your co-defendant. But the answer to that was not to turn to a prisoner, but to leave the job and seek employment elsewhere. I note you do have other business interests. Lloyd, from Wigan, pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office. Makin, of Edgewood, Shevington, Wigan, pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally encouraging or assisting the offence of misconduct in a public office. Prosecuting, John Richards told how Lloyd became a prison officer at Forest Bank in August 2021, aged 19. Her supervisors at the jail noticed she was displaying flirtatious behaviour, particularly towards Makin. After Makin was moved to category C prison HMP Berwyn, the pair remained in touch. Prison authorities discovered Makin had been speaking to the prison officer on the phone and that she had been using a different name. Security officers listened to the recorded calls between the pair and discovered Lloyd had called from an unregistered mobile phone. Mr Richards said their conversations were of a sexual nature. Lloyd also discussed prison operational information such as a hospital bed watch she was involved in, as well as naming a prisoner as a sex offender. Makin told Lloyd in an email: Hey sexy, just got your email, they always make me happy. I dont want to be your friend, I love you so much, you need to start talking to me. Im worried, I miss you a lot. I dont want to lose you. Will you send me some money? Love you, big Lee. Lloyd replied: Excited about your cat D. You have worked so hard, one of the many things I love about you. It wont be long before I can pop down for a visit. In one message, Makin asked Lloyd why are you with me?. She replied: For the thrill, I dont like doing what Im told. In further messages she discussed the alleged incompetence of another officer and how a prisoner nearly escaped when the handcuffs were loose. Lloyd met Makin while she was working as a prison officer at Forest Bank prison in Salford, Greater Manchester - Alamy Lloyd was arrested at her parents home in Wigan on November 22, 2022. She replied no comment to questions during her interview. She refused to provide the PIN number for her phone. Later that night, a former neighbour of Lloyd who also works at Forest Bank, came into contact with her after she knocked on his apartment door. Apparently drunk, the court heard, she told the neighbour she was in trouble and needed to call her parents. He followed Lloyd back to her flat because he was worried about her. He noticed vomit on the floor and saw she had been burning papers. Police searched Makins cell and discovered he had a large number of photos of Lloyd. Officers discovered 40 hours of conversations between the pair. She had made a number of internet searches including prison nurse is jailed after sending flirtatious texts and telling inmate she loved him; how to visit prisoners in Berwyn and how to have phone sex. She asked a friend to act as a conduit so she could contact Makin, even after she had been granted bail and ordered not to contact him. The pair eventually pleaded guilty earlier this year, after initially denying the charges. Career criminal Makin had 69 previous offences on his record, and was described as a career criminal by the judge. Lloyd had no previous convictions. Judge Conrad told Lloyd: It is clear you are an intelligent young woman, you are industrious and you are well thought of by others. It also appears that you were disenchanted with your job because of an assault that happened to you. He accepted Lloyd had considerable personal mitigation, but said adequate punishment could only be achieved by an immediate prison sentence. Defending Lloyd, Cheryl Mottram said the defendant had become disenchanted with her job after allegedly being sexually assaulted. She felt like she wasnt getting any support from her superiors, Ms Mottram said. She said Lloyd was young and vulnerable. For Makin, Vanessa Thomson said the defendant had not encouraged Lloyd to disclose information about the prison, and said they had been involved in a genuine relationship. There is no suggestion he has tried to do anything to manipulate that relationship to get her to do his bidding, Ms Thomson said. Judge Conrad told Makin: You were aware she was a prison officer and she had to comply with the rules of her job. You know why there are such rules. But I accept you did not coerce her. An RAF Voyager aircraft supported the US strikes on Yemen by refuelling jets - MoD RAF pilots were put at risk when a White House group chat on Yemen was leaked, a former head of the Army has said. Precise plans for air strikes on Houthi rebels were discussed by senior US officials in a secret chat that was accidentally shared with a reporter before the strikes. Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army, told The Telegraph that because the RAF provided routine support, the leak would undoubtedly have put British personnel at higher risk. A British Voyager plane was used to refuel the US jets defending the aircraft carrier that launched the strikes, in which more than 50 people died, on March 15. The plane flew from the RAF airbase in Akritori, Cyprus, to assist aircraft protecting the USS Truman in the Red Sea. US fighter jets take off from the USS Truman on March 15 to launch air strikes on Yemen - Anadolu/CentCom via Getty Lord Dannatt said: As US officials gave away classified information about future operations in which the RAF were involved, this undoubtedly placed British personnel at higher risk. I hope the White House will tighten its security rapidly and considerably. We will continue to operate with the US, but need to be confident about their operational security. Members of the group chat included JD Vance, the vice-president, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, and Susie Wiles, Donald Trumps chief of staff. The leak has raised questions on intelligence-sharing and what might have happened if the plans had fallen into the wrong hands. The Trump administration downplayed the severity of the leak and insisted it did not endanger the lives of US military personnel. Greg Bagwell, a former RAF senior commander, said while it was not new that British jets took part in air-to-air refuelling, in this case it was done in the context of a breach in national security. He wrote on X: As the tankers would have been kept out of harms way, they were not overly compromised by the release of launch and strike times. However it means the release may not just be a compromise of a US mission. Its worth noting that if any of the strike packages had been made aware that timings had been compromised they would have, in all likelihood, delayed their attack to maintain what element of surprise they could salvage. An RAF source said: Our asset wasnt anywhere near the striking so, from the RAF perspective, this is a political storm, not an operational one. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: The UK did not participate in the March 15 US strikes against Houthi targets but provided routine allied air-to-air refuelling support to aid the self-defence of a US aircraft carrier in the region. The US is our closest ally, and we will continue to cooperate closely on defence, intelligence and security. RAF jets took part in air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen last year. Commenting on the leak on Wednesday, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, admitted that someone made a big mistake by adding the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine to the Houthi PC small group chat on the Signal messaging app. In the group, Mr Vance raised objections to plans to bomb Yemen, arguing that they were not in American interests. I just hate bailing Europe out again, he wrote. Three per cent of US trade runs through the Suez. Forty per cent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as [the president] said, to send a message. Mr Hegseth responded, saying: VP: I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. Its pathetic. But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. The Trump administration has berated Europe on defence, saying it does not spend enough, and has criticised countries including Britain and Germany, claiming they were stifling free speech. Publicly, Mr Trump has said he has confidence in his beleaguered national security team. Lilt can - Ben Gingell / Alamy Stock Photo A tribunal has ruled that putting on a Caribbean accent while mimicking a well-known Lilt advertisement is not discriminatory. It comes after Ikhals Yousif, a trainee primary school teacher, sued for race discrimination after her colleague put on an accent to say totally tropical taste in imitation of the catchphrase used to promote the soft drink in the 1980s and 1990s. She claimed the woman assigned to be her mentor, named only as Ms Athersuch in the tribunal judgment, used a foreign accent to impersonate the advertising slogan after being asked if she wanted something from the shops. After doing the impression, during a conversation in June 2021, the woman asked is that appropriate now? and made a comment to imply the advert was racially inappropriate, the employment tribunal heard. Ms Yousif was later dismissed after failing to pass her probation at Ashley Church of England Primary School run by The Good Shepherd Trust in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, which she had joined in October 2020. She then took legal action against the school, accusing it of racial discrimination and harassment. However, an employment judge ruled that while the remark was ill-judged, it was not malicious or connected to Ms Yousifs race. They noted that the Lilt branding and advertising related to the Caribbean, whereas Ms Yousif was Iraqi. The tribunal heard the school had become concerned that Ms Yousif was taking time off from work without telling the truth about the reason for her absences. She was asked to meet with bosses to discuss her progress but responded by accusing them of race discrimination. Highly discriminative The trainee wrote in an email: I feel it is highly discriminative because I have seen peers and colleagues at the same level, contributing similar levels of effort and capability pass their NQT [newly qualified teacher status], the only discrepancy between them and I is purely my ethnicity. Ms Yousif was informed that she had not been successful in completing her NQT year and that she would be subject to a further extension but this would not be at the Ashley school. The teacher was then sent a letter confirming the termination of her employment and stating that her probation period had been unsuccessful. In response, Ms Yousif sent a formal grievance letter to the school which was not upheld. The teacher sent an appeal letter and raised the Lilt incident for the first time but her complaints were again dismissed. Ms Yousif then took the school to the tribunal, alleging race discrimination and harassment, among other claims. Comment ill-judged Employment Judge Camini Kumar said: We have found that Ms Athersuch said totally tropical taste whilst imitating a Caribbean accent in [Ms Yousifs] presence. We have further found that she subsequently made a comment suggesting she realised that the historical Lilt advertising campaign was racially inappropriate. We do not conclude that the Lilt incident was connected to [Ms Yousifs] race. Whilst an ill-judged comment on Ms Athersuchs part generally and in the context of a workplace, we accepted as genuine Ms Athersuchs explanation that it was a comment that she would make to others in relation to the drink Lilt, copying the advertisement that had previously appeared on TV. We note that the branding and advertising referenced the Caribbean whereas [Ms Yousif] is Iraqi Middle Eastern. One claim upheld It was heard that Ms Yousif tried to argue that the comment was made because her partner had Caribbean heritage, but this was dismissed by the panel on the grounds that Ms Athersuch was not aware of this. Dismissing her claim, Judge Kumar added: We do not find that the faux Caribbean accent, however ill-judged, was directed at the claimant or that it was intended to be malicious either to [Ms Yousif] or to anyone else. However, the judge did uphold one claim of victimisation after they found the school had dismissed Ms Yousif following the race discrimination claim in her email. They said this was a protected act and she was subjected to a detriment as a result especially as she had already been told that she would be staying on for another year. A remedy hearing to decide her compensation will take place at a later date. Other claims made by Ms Yousif were dismissed. Emissions from the electricity supply sector fell by 15% last year. Photograph: Richard Saker/The Guardian The UKs carbon emissions fell by 4% last year, according to official figures. Provisional statistics published on Thursday by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) show UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions were 371m tonnes carbon equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2024, down from 385 MtCO2e in 2023. Emissions were 54% lower than they were in 1990, DESNZ said. Greenpeace UKs policy director, Doug Parr, gave a guarded welcome to the announcement. This good news is the latest demonstration that the UKs efforts to tackle climate change are working, despite what some politicians on the right might try and make you believe, he said. Related: Tackling climate crisis will increase economic growth, OECD research finds He noted though that while emissions were falling, the UK was still dependent on expensive and polluting gas for energy. This is driving up the cost of household energy bills, controlling the price of electricity and leaving us beholden to gas-exporting countries who may not have our best interests at heart, he said. The government must put a stop to the great gas rip-off, and rapidly make renewables the backbone of our energy system to lower our bills for good. DESNZ said decreased gas and coal use in the electricity supply and industry sectors had driven the fall in emissions, with electricity supply emissions down 15% and industrial emissions down 9%. The closure of the UKs last coal-fired power station in September and an expansion in renewable energy played a significant role, officials said, as did higher electricity imports and the winding down of blast furnaces for the steel industry. The largest source of emissions continued to be the transport sector, which accounted for 30% of the total, but a fall in the use of diesel-powered cars on the UKs roads led to a 2% fall, according to the statistics. Emissions from the buildings and product use sector the second most significant, accounting for 21% of the total rose by 2% due to higher gas use likely driven by an easing of energy and other cost pressures, according to officials. Ironically, climate change may also have contributed to the fall. Above average temperatures and fewer heating degree days since 2022 has kept residential buildings emissions down relative to earlier years, the statistical release said. If weather conditions for both 2023 and 2024 had followed long-term trends, there would have been a 4% increase in residential buildings emissions estimates. The estimates cover seven gases which contribute to a greenhouse effect in the earths atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride. CO2 made up about 78% of the 2024 total. DESNZ has been contacted for comment. A prison governor was in a relationship with the boss of a drug-dealing gang who went by the name of a character from hit US crime drama Breaking Bad, a court has heard. Kerri Pegg, 42, described in court as petite, blonde and bubbly, was gifted a 12,000 Mercedes car by Anthony Saunderson, who used the name Jesse Pinkman, a meth dealer in the TV show, during secret communications with other criminals. Pegg had been a rising star in the Prison Service, climbing the career ladder from graduate entrant to prison governor in six years, Preston Crown Court was told. But while a governor at HMP Kirkham she allegedly became too close to Saunderson, signing off his temporary release without proper authority, it is alleged. After Saunderson had served his sentence, detectives found size 10 Hugo Boss flip flops and a toothbrush, both with his DNA on, at Peggs home in Orrell, Wigan. Pegg is alleged to have been gifted the black Mercedes coupe after he paid for the vehicle using 34 kilos of amphetamines, jurors heard. Keri Pegg, former governor of HMP Kirkham, is accused of two counts of misconduct in a public office and one count of possession of criminal property (Danny Lawson PA) The defendant 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 judgments about her debts. She also denies one count of possessing criminal property, the Mercedes car, from Saunderson. 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, the court heard. When the system was cracked by law enforcement agencies it showed Saunderson went by the handle or pseudonym of Jesse Pinkman and was involved in massive drug trafficking. He has since been convicted for those offences. Other messages on the phone also revealed the ongoing nature of his relationship with Pegg, it is alleged. Retired detective constable Kevin Byrne, of the National Crime Agency, told the court that, on February 11 2021, Pegg was arrested at her home and this was co-ordinated with North Wales Police and Merseyside Police with arrests of what he said was the drugs gang led by Saunderson. Mr Byrne said North Wales Police had told him that Saunderson agreed to pay 36 kilos of amphetamines for the Mercedes car, but at the handover only provided 34 kilos. The witness added: Mr Saunderson had to go and pay the difference in cash. North Wales Police told us that was what took place. Peggs financial and bank records were also checked and there were no records relating to payments for the Mercedes, Mr Byrne said. Saundersons home in Formby, Merseyside, was also searched, where he lived with his wife Julie and family, the court heard. Both he and Pegg used burner phones to keep in touch but Mr Byrne said there were 80 calls and texts from his phone to hers in the space of a month and no contact the other way. The only other numbers dialled on Saundersons phone were to prostitutes and escorts, Mr Byrne said. Simon Billington, at the time head of offender management, worked with Pegg at HMP Kirkham which now has a new female governor in place and she shadowed him for a time. Mr Billington said: Kerri became very involved in Mr Saundersons ROTL (release on temporary licence) plan. The relationship between Mr Saunderson and Miss Pegg just created problems for me. It was unnecessary. It was not following policy. The trial continues. Rachel Reeves has gone through a bruising media schedule - Sky News In retrospect, it was probably an act of cruelty to let Rachel Reeves into the TV studios on Thursday morning. For all her desperate desire to project a #GirlBoss persona, even on a good day, the Chancellor of the Exchequer gives off the general sense of someone who would find herself logistically challenged by a Muller Fruit Corner. Having been so happy in the cloud cuckoo land of her spring statement, where all was fine and dandy in the UK economy, it would have been kinder to leave her there. Instead, Labour HQ sent her out on the media round. By the end, you almost felt sorry for her. All that hubristic crowing at the last Budget about being the first-ever female Chancellor of the Exchequer (while crippling entire industries at the flick of a pen). Now she stood in the sad reality of her position; broke, wet and disliked. Though Reeves was late for her interview with GB News, her appearance is perhaps a sign that knickers are becoming even more twisted in No 10 about the upcoming Runcorn and Helsby by-election. Like other government ministers, Playmobil Chancellor has sometimes dodged interviews with the channel. So for her first foray into the lions den, Labour HQ had plonked her in front of a building site. Behind her, throughout the interview, a truck could be heard, reversing very slowly. The metaphor gods were feeling especially uncharitable today. Downing the pound and passing the buck Why do you blame everyone else but refuse to take responsibility yourself? asked one of the GB News hosts. The Chancellor ignored this question completely and instead answered the one shed wanted to hear, which was about how awful Liz Truss was. Her ride on Sky News proved a little easier. At one point she was allowed to launch into an extended monologue on the importance of her ever-changing rules to the nations fiscal strength. She might as well have said that she was relying on a programme of mass leprechaun capture, torture and gold pot discovery to turbocharge economic growth. Perhaps the most agonising of the Chancellors televised clashes with the hard forces of reality occurred on ITVs Good Morning Britain, where Richard Madeley had to lay down the absolute basic rules not just of politics but of existence to Reeves. He explained that accepting free concert tickets worth thousands of pounds looks bad when youre cutting welfare spending at the same time. The Chancellor blinked a lot before launching into her all too familiar brand of verbal flailing. Im not able like I was in the past just to buy tickets for a concert, she spluttered. Now on the grounds of pure competence, this felt believable enough. Some of those booking websites are very complicated. Yet as an excuse, it doesnt really wash. Co-host Kate Garraway stuck the knife in next; of course, she said, Reeves needed security, of course she was entitled to a private life, she was even allowed to have fun. At this point, Reeves stared back blankly, not even a twitch of recognition on her face as to what that might be happening. Surely, however, continued Garraway, this didnt mean you had to take freebies? Reeves promised not to take any free tickets again; unless, of course, it was related to her job. So, the campaign starts here, lets crowdfund a ticket for the Chancellors travel back to the real world. Located in Louisiana, River Bandit Wildlife Rescue is home to many animals in need. Last year, the rescue found an abandoned baby otter named Ozzy, and he's lived there ever since. He's very active and keeps his humans busy! The rescue shared a video on TikTok recently of what happened after Ozzy got back from a long trail walk. Once he got back home, he immediately high-tailed it to the pool to jump in and cool off. The clip isn't very long but watch until the end for a big kiss from Ozzy! Adorable! I feel like Ozzy needs a bigger pool, though - one big enough for a human to get in there with him because I have a feeling people would line up to do it! As @Leslie Nichols said, "I just want to come sit in that pool. My life would be complete. LOL!" Commenters all swooned over Ozzy's camera kisses. @Phyllis Goins shared, "Ozzy giving the camera a big kiss is like a dream!" and @Christy added, "Ozzy extreme close-ups are too cute!!!" @Blue Dog pointed out, "It's Otter Ozzy doing things otters do!" Related: Video of Sea Otter Grooming Her Little 'Toe Beans' Has Everyone Obsessed More About Ozzy the Otter's Rescue River Bandit Wildlife Rescue found Ozzy in May 2024. Another Pet Helpful article explained how Ozzy ended up there, "Ozzy was found after its mother and littermates were killed by a dog. With no other options, it was taken in by the River Bandit Wildlife Rescue organization in Farmerville, Louisiana." "The rescue is run by licensed wildlife rehabilitation expert Leslie Greene, who has been running the center for eight years and funds it entirely herself with the help of donations and her active social media presence." It's been fun to watch Ozzy grow! Fun Baby Otter Facts Mother otters usually give birth to two babies, called a pup, kit, or kitten, at a time; they can have as many as five, though it's rare. At birth, river otters weigh less than a pound (around 5 ounces or so), and their eyes are sealed until they are about one month old. They depend on mom for everything and don't start swimming on their own until they are 2 months old. As they grow, the pups will spend more time in the water, where they'll learn to hunt and play with their siblings. Did you know that adult river otters can hold their breath underwater for up to 8 minutes? They can also dive to a depth of 60 feet. River otters eat fish, crabs, snails, frogs, worms, and turtles. After every meal, they always spend time grooming and washing themselves. They're very clean animals! And while they spend their time hunting for food in the water, they spend about two-thirds of their time on land, including when they sleep. A Royal Navy sailor jailed in Bahrain has been granted a royal pardon by its King. Owen Haggerty, from Johnstone in Renfrewshire, was sentenced to three months behind bars last month after reportedly trying to break up a street brawl. The Daily Record newspaper reported his mother Kirsty Reynolds wrote to the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, asking for a royal pardon for her son. She said she burst out crying when she was given the news that the pardon had been granted. Ms Reynolds told the newspaper: I cant stop shaking. It is unbelievable news, it is just such a massive hurdle that we have overcome in the fight to bring Owen home. Paisley and Renfrewshire South Labour MP Johanna Baxter said she was very pleased that he has been granted a royal pardon by the King of Bahrain. During the weekly business questions session in Westminster on Thursday, Ms Baxter told the Commons that no-one from the UK Government would speak with her about the case, when Mr Haggerty was in prison. She told MPs: No-one would engage with me to inform me of his welfare or the current status of his case, and that was because apparently I did not have his explicit consent. He was sitting in a jail in Bahrain. I had his mothers consent. She was also a constituent, and yet still nobody would speak to me. She asked Commons Leader Lucy Powell: Can the Leader of the House ensure that the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) work with me to arrange his urgent deportation back to this country, and that we avoid further delays in the future to MPs securing access to the information they need to support their constituents? Ms Powell replied: I am pleased that Owen Haggerty has now received that pardon this morning. She raised this matter with me a couple of days ago, which is why I raised it with the Foreign Office, which is why they were in touch with her this morning. She added that the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the pardon, and vowed to press them to work with Ms Baxter and Mr Haggertys family to make sure he comes back to the UK. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: We are supporting a British man detained in Bahrain and are in touch with the local authorities. Sir Keir Starmer will face the first by-election challenge of this Parliament in May following the assault conviction of ex-MP Mike Amesbury for punching a constituent. The poll in Runcorn and Helsby will be the first major test of public opinion following last summers general election. It will take place on May 1, coinciding with the local elections, Halton Borough Council confirmed on Thursday. Mike Amesbury was suspended by the Labour Party following his arrest (Peter Byrne/PA) Amesbury won the seat last year with a majority of 14,696 over Reform UK. The former Labour MP decided to stand down rather than face a recall petition after he received a 10-week prison sentence, suspended on appeal, for punching a constituent last year. Amesbury, who was suspended by the Labour Party following his arrest, admitted assaulting Paul Fellows, 45, after an altercation in the street in Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of October 26. Labour, the Conservatives, the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats have all announced their candidates for the election. Amesbury received more than 50% of the vote in the constituency last July, with Reform in second place followed by the Conservatives. The Greens were in fourth place, with the Liberal Democrats in fifth. Turnout was around 58%. In his letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves to formally resign as an MP earlier this month, Amesbury said that his time as an MP had been curtailed by a mistake for which I have taken full responsibility. It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you of my decision to resign from the House of Commons by accepting an office under the Crown, he wrote. This step, though immensely difficult, is the honourable course of action that I believe is in the best interests of my constituents whom I have been proud to represent throughout my tenure. China remains the main threat to the United States globally but of increasing concern is its closer cooperation with Russia, Iran and North Korea, said an annual US intelligence report released Tuesday. China's rise in all areas of power has been identified for years by the US as its main threat, and was behind Barack Obama's strategic Asia-Pacific pivot. But Beijing's "coercive pressure" against Taiwan and "wide-ranging cyber operations against US targets" were indicators of its growing threat to US national security, said the Annual Threat Assessment by the intelligence community. "China presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat to US national security," the report said. Beijing was also making "steady" progress towards having the ability to seize the self-ruled island of Taiwan, it said. The report, which compiles assessments from US intelligence agencies, warned that Beijing would keep expanding its "coercive and subversive malign influence activities" to weaken the US internally and globally. And the Chinese government would seek to counter what it sees as a "US-led campaign to tarnish Beijing's global relations and overthrow" the Chinese Communist Party, the report said. Beijing's military is gearing up to challenge US operations in the Pacific and "making steady but uneven progress on capabilities it would use in an attempt to seize Taiwan," it assessed. But, it said, the Chinese leadership would seek to reduce tensions with the United States as it seeks to "protect its core interests, and buy time to strengthen its position." China was more "cautious" than Russia, Iran and North Korea -- other key US adversaries -- about appearing "too aggressive and disruptive." The report said that the autocratic style of President Xi Jinping -- China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong -- was affecting its ability to respond to challenges. "Xi's focus on security and stability... and securing other leaders' personal loyalty to him is undermining China's ability to solve complex domestic problems and will impede Beijing's global leverage," the report found. Beijing called the report "biased" and accused it of "exaggerating the China threat." "The US publishes these kinds of irresponsible and biased reports year after year," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular press briefing. "We have no intention of surpassing anyone or replacing anyone," he said Wednesday. US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate hearing Tuesday that "China is our most capable strategic competitor" based on current intelligence. In addition to China, the assessment analyzed threats to the United States posed by Russia, North Korea, Iran and "non-state transnational criminals," including Mexican drug cartels and Muslim extremist groups. It warned countries grouped together under the acronym CRINK -- China, Russia, Iran and North Korea -- were stepping up cooperation and could pose new challenges to US power on a global scale. "This alignment increases the chances of US tensions or conflict with any one of these adversaries drawing in another," it said. But it called their cooperation "uneven and primarily motivated by a common interest in... weakening US power," moderated by a "desire to control escalation." Within that group, cooperation between China and Russia posed the greatest and "most persistent" threat to the US. The allies have drawn closer since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and subsequent Western attempts to isolate Moscow. The war and Western sanctions have made Moscow "a catalyst for the evolving ties," the report said, as it becomes more reliant on other countries. It has stepped up cooperation with Iran to acquire drones and North Korea for supplies and troops, all to be used in Ukraine. The conflict has afforded Moscow an array of lessons in battling Western weapons and intelligence. "This experience probably will challenge future US defense planning, including against other adversaries with whom Moscow is sharing those lessons learned," the report concluded. Sir Keir Starmers former chief of staff Sue Gray has cautioned the Government over cuts to the Civil Service and hit out at the insulting language being used. Making her maiden speech in Parliament, the one-time partygate investigator stressed the importance of officials to the Labour administrations mission to realise economic growth and warned when derogatory statements were made about them they hear it too. The Labour peers comments follow reports that moves to reform the Civil Service and reduce its size had been dubbed Operation Chainsaw, although this was denied by Downing Street. This was an apparent reference to Elon Musk wielding a chainsaw to symbolise the work of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, a Trump administration programme aimed at cutting US federal government spending. Unions have warned as many as 50,000 people could lose their jobs and vital services could deteriorate after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed plans earlier this week to cut Civil Service running costs by 15% by the end of the decade as part of a spending squeeze. Taking the title Baroness Gray of Tottenham, the former senior civil servant joined the red benches last month. She told peers she joined the Civil Service at the most junior grade and among her first jobs had been with the then Department for Social Security working in employment support. Lady Gray taking her seat in the House of Lords (House of Lords/UK Parliament/PA) Lady Gray said: Back then I worked with truly heroic and committed people, striving every day in very difficult circumstances to help people in even more challenging situations. They were the Civil Service at its best, on the front line, as far away from Whitehalls machinations as its possible to be. She added: Today I see the same sort of brilliance. What these and other civil servants are doing is central to the Governments and the nations mission to bring back growth into our economy and security to our society. That is why I would caution all of us to be careful, not just about our decisions but our language. When we hear the phrases, blobs, pen-pushers, axes, chainsaws and other implements, they hear it too. Difficult decisions are needed of course and the Civil Service will be keen to be part of any reform journey, but we need them and other public servants to succeed. I will continue to support a progressive Civil Service. I hope others will do the same. While in her speech Lady Gray did not comment directly about her high-profile probe into Covid rule-breaking at Boris Johnsons Number 10 in 2021, she did say her work in Whitehall had included conducting one or two high-profile investigations. She also did not speak about her time as Sir Keirs chief of staff, after quitting the Cabinet Office, during her debut contribution in a debate on Labours workers rights plans. Once in Government, she was the target of negative briefings amid reports of a power struggle in Downing Street between her and other aides, leading to her resignation last October citing concerns that she was becoming a distraction to the work of Government. But in an apparent reference to this period, Lady Gray said: I would also like to thank those who guided me in the challenging last few years of my career in and around Downing Street whether working in it or investigating it. Among those she singled out was the FDA, the trade union for senior civil servants, and its general secretary Dave Penman. She pointedly added: I am not sure what it is about the mention of my time in Downing Street that brings me to the issue of job security and employment. Lady Gray also joked about her time running a pub with her husband in Newry, Northern Ireland, at the height of the Troubles in the late 1980s. She said: On joining the Civil Service I was not on a mission to work my way to the top. This was probably best illustrated when I took a career break which has been much commented upon. Although the Civil Service encourages its future leaders to get outside experience, running a pub in Newry, County Down, in the late 80s was not on their list. Earlier in her speech, the peer spoke movingly about her parents, who had come to London from Ireland in the 1950s, the values they had instilled in her and her brother, and the impact of their deaths. She said: I left school before completing my A-levels on the early and unexpected death of my dad. My brother and I also had to support our mum who struggled with her mental health before taking her own life some years later. With her voice breaking with emotion, and having to pause momentarily, she added: The deaths of our parents had the biggest impact on our lives. Peter Gummer, whose peerage title is Lord Chadlington, is a former adviser to David Cameron and John Major when they were prime ministers. Photograph: Nick Harvey/Getty for Cartier A Conservative peer who introduced a company he was involved in to the government to supply PPE is under investigation for the third time for potential breaches of the rules governing members conduct in the House of Lords. The new investigation follows the publication by the Covid-19 public inquiry of text messages and emails sent by Peter Gummer, whose peerage title is Lord Chadlington, introducing the company, SG Recruitment. Chadlington sent a text regarding the company on 19 April 2020 to David Cameron, requesting help with advice on approaching the government. One week later, the small, loss-making nurse recruitment agency was awarded a 23.9m contract to supply coveralls. A month later during the pandemic, in May 2020, SG Recruitment was awarded a second contract, for 26.1m, to supply hand sanitiser. The two contracts for a total of 50m were processed via the then Conservative governments VIP lane, which gave high priority to companies introduced by people with political connections. Chadlington, a Tory peer since 1996, is a former adviser to Cameron and John Major when they were prime ministers. He had a financial interest in SG Recruitment he was the chair, a paid director and a shareholder in the parent company, Sumner Group Holdings (SGH), registered in Jersey. The new messages show that Cameron referred Chadlington to another Tory peer, Andrew Feldman, a close friend of Camerons, who was advising the Department of Health and Social Care on PPE procurement. Related: Covid inquiry: ex-minister defends VIP contract lane despite one or two crooks Chadlingtons involvement in introducing SG Recruitment to Feldman was investigated twice previously by the House of Lords commissioner for standards, in 2022 and 2023, after reporting by the Guardian. The commissioner cleared Chadlington both times of breaking the rule that prohibits peers from seeking to profit from Lords membership by approaching ministers or officials in return for payment or financial incentive. The new investigation will examine again if Chadlington broke that rule when introducing the company to the government, and another rule prohibiting peers from lobbying for companies in which they have a financial interest. Chadlington told the Lords commissioner in writing in August 2023 that he did not facilitate an introduction of SG Recruitments majority owner, David Sumner, to Feldman. However, in an email published by the Covid inquiry, and disclosed previously to the Guardian in response to a freedom of information request, it appears Chadlington directly introduced Feldman to Sumner. David, Chadlington wrote, addressing Sumner, copying them both in. This is my friend Andrew Feldman. He can help you with PPE we discussed this morning. Drop me off chain. Peter. The announcement of the third investigation states that the commissioner will also examine whether Chadlington has breached paragraph 9 of the Lords code of conduct, that: Members of the House should act always on their personal honour in the performance of their parliamentary duties and activities. The messages sent by Chadlington were published in a written submission to the inquiry by the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, a group of 7,000 families whose relatives died of the coronavirus. The inquiry is now examining the circumstances in which ministers and civil servants set up the VIP lane, and awarded its prioritised companies 3.8bn in contracts. In its submission on SG Recruitment, the bereaved Covid families group said: Members of the public are entitled to form their own views as to whether the correspondence disclosed to the inquiry in relation to this contract is consistent with the accounts provided by Lord Chadlington elsewhere. Invited to comment by the Guardian, Chadlingtons lawyers said: Given the investigation by the commissioner, and given the ongoing inquiry, it would not be appropriate for our client to provide any comment in response to your enquiries. They said that Chadlingtons position remains that the accounts he has previously given about his involvement are consistent with the messages he sent that have now been published. The government has said it is in dispute with SG Recruitment over the non-fulfilment of one of the PPE contracts. Despite the 50m deals, in December 2023 the company, which had been renamed, was put into liquidation, owing unpaid taxes to HMRC. The parent company went into liquidation in October 2022. Chadlington had resigned as a director in April 2021. Donald Trump said he does not know if the plans were classified - Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters Donald Trumps administration has been ordered by a judge to preserve messages from the Signal group chat they used to discuss plans for an attack on Yemens Houthi rebels. The ruling adds to the pressure on the White House after the Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor had been accidentally added to the group on the commercially-available Signal app. Mr Trump dismissed the scandal as a witch-hunt while attacking the Atlantic and its editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who broke the story earlier this week. District Judge James Boasberg who has already incurred Mr Trumps wrath after ruling against the administration in a separate migration case said he would order the government to preserve all Signal communication between March 11 and March 15. He also ordered the government to file details by Monday showing the steps it had taken to preserve the messages. The dates cover the period between when Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, set up the chat and mistakenly added Mr Goldberg and the day of deadly US airstrikes on the Iran-backed Houthis. The Atlantic said that Mr Waltz had set some of the Signal messages to disappear after one week, and others after four. That raises questions about whether the officials may have violated federal records law, Mr Goldberg wrote. I dont know Mr Trump said on Thursday that he did not know if the leaked war plans should have been classified. Asked if he still believed nothing classified was shared, Mr Trump shrugged his shoulders and replied that he was not sure. Well, thats what Ive heard, the president said in the Oval Office on Wednesday after announcing new tariffs on a slew of products. I dont know. Im not sure. You have to ask the various people involved. I really dont know. His response has shifted slightly since Tuesday when he said: There was no classified information as I understand it. The messages in the Signal chat contained precise details about timings of the strikes, as well as the aircraft used and some information about targets. The name of an undercover CIA agent was also mentioned in the chat, according to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, but the name has not been published. The White House has repeatedly claimed the information shared on the messaging app was not classified as it sought to downplay the severity of the leak. Mr Waltz said earlier this week that he was embarrassed by the incident and took full responsibility. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, on Wednesday said someone had made a big mistake. The repeated denials descended into an argument over semantics as several of Mr Trumps intelligence chiefs were grilled over the leak at a House intelligence select committee hearing. Tulsi Gabbard, the national intelligence director, testified before the committee that the information shared was sensitive, but not classified. She repeatedly deferred to Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, who holds the ultimate authority on determining what is classified. The claims have been met with scepticism from Democrats and Republicans alike. News of the Signal chat has been highly criticised on both sides of the US political sphere Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, said: This is classified information. Its a weapon system, as well as a sequence of strikes, as well as details of the operations. Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the committee, dismissed the administrations stance as baloney. Mr Warner said: When you describe time, place, type of armaments used: Do they think the American public is stupid? Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the senate armed services committee, on Wednesday called for an inspector general investigation into the use of Signal and suggested the information should have been classified. 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, Mr Wicker said. Mike Waltz, left, speaks with Pete Hegseth as Donald Trump has a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, on 24 February. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump has been unwilling to fire the national security adviser, Mike Waltz, or his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, over the now infamous Signal group chat because doing so would be a tacit admission of fault and seen as handing a victory to the Atlantic magazine, officials close to the president said. The president has been less interested in the possibility of the plans having been classified or the fact that they were shared in an unclassified commercial app, than the fact that Waltz had the number of the editor-in-chief of a magazine that Trump despises, the officials said. Related: Private data of Trump officials in Signal scandal accessible online: report But after Waltz admitted responsibility for adding a reporter to the Signal chat, Trump offered public support for him and said Waltz had learned his lesson. Trump has not asked for Waltzs resignation, in large part because he did not want the Atlantic to claim a win, the officials said. That does not mean Waltzs position is wholly secure. Trump has been unhappy with the negative coverage over the disclosures that have been the dominant theme in questions from reporters at the White House and in headlines all week since the matter erupted into public view on Monday. Waltz has separately been in a tenuous position because he has struggled at times to gel with Trumps chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and the perception in some corners that he lacks major Trump allies as he was endorsed for the position by Senator Lindsey Graham rather than the presidents inner circle. Trump aides have also been furious at Waltz for trying to claim that he had never met or communicated with Goldberg, or that Goldberg infiltrated the Signal chat, given the suggestions were demonstrably false. Waltzs failure to immediately acknowledge the mistake prolonged the brouhaha, they said. The president has also defended Hegseths involvement, even though he sent the messages that sparked concerns that information in the Signal chat appeared to be classified. He had nothing to do with this. Hegseth? How do you bring Hegseth into this? Trump said. Trump saw the messages in the Signal chat after they were printed out for him, the officials said. Nevertheless, the Trump administrations attempts to defend the leak of sensitive military plans on grounds that they were not classified became harder to reconcile on Wednesday, after the Atlantic published the full text chain showing the level of detail of the attack plans. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, repeated that none of the messages were classified, while Hegseth and other officials made the semantic argument that the messages did not amount to a war plan, as they were originally characterized by the Atlantic, which later began using the term attack plans. Former US officials said that technically speaking, a war plan would be more specific about the types and routings of weaponry, the coordinates of targets, contingency and backup options, and including a more thorough strategy discussion. However, the information shared by Hegseth included a summary of operational details about the operation to strike Houthi rebel targets in Yemen, such as the launch times of F-18 fighter jets, the time that the first bombs were expected to drop, and the time that naval Tomahawk missiles would be launched. The former US officials universally agreed that these military details were sensitive from a national security perspective because the information was shared before the attack began. Had it leaked, the targets could have escaped or otherwise compromised the mission. The US Department of Defenses own classification guidelines suggest the kind of detailed military plans in the Signal chat would typically be classified at least at the secret level, while some of the real-time updates could have risen to a higher level of classification. The group chat also included a message from Waltz who shared a real-time update (first target their top missile guy we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriends building and its now collapsed), which would have also ordinarily been classified at least at the secret level if it came from an asset operated by the intelligence community. Britains car industry has hit out at President Donald Trumps disappointing decision to put 25% tariffs on imported vehicles. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), warned the move risks hurting both UK and US manufacturers and consumers. The White House announced the import tariff on Wednesday, claiming it will boost domestic manufacturing and protect US jobs. Mr Hawes said it was not surprising but, nevertheless, disappointing and urged both governments to strike a deal that avoids further damage. US President Donald Trump announced the new tariffs on Wednesday (Niall Carson/PA) If, as seems likely, additional tariffs are to apply to UK-made cars, its a blow to a long-standing and productive relationship, he said. US consumers enjoy vehicles built in Britain by some iconic brands, while thousands of UK motorists buy cars made in America. Rather than imposing new tariffs, we should be creating opportunities for both British and American manufacturers as part of a mutually beneficial relationship benefiting consumers and creating jobs and growth on both sides of the Atlantic. He called on both sides to come together immediately and strike a deal that works for all. The SMMT, one of the largest trade associations in the UK, represents the British motor industry. It claims that its role is to promote the interests of the UK automotive industry at home and abroad. The tariffs announced by the Trump administration also look to create issues for US car firms. Many source their components from across the globe meaning they could be faced with higher prices. By Wednesday afternoon, shares in General Motors dropped about 3% while Stellantis the owner of Jeep and Chrysler fell nearly 4%. Fords stock rose slightly, however. A Los Angeles-based animation and visualisation company which has worked on The Batman and Star Wars series The Mandalorian is to open a new studio in Scotland. Halon Entertainment will invest 28 million in the studio in Glasgow, creating up to 250 jobs over the next three years. The company has worked on films such as the Planet of the Apes franchise and Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning in recent years, and has also worked on the video game Fortnite. Halon said it has been attracted to Glasgow by its skilled workforce in areas including computer graphics, animation and digital technology as well as its facilities and its world-renowned academic institutions. Chris Ferriter, president of Halon Entertainment, said: With production happening across the globe, expanding our full-service studios on both sides of the Atlantic allows us to better support our clients with world-class services and top-tier talent, no matter where projects take them. Our new Scotland studio strengthens our ability to collaborate seamlessly across time zones and deliver exceptional work to even more productions worldwide. Halon said that Los Angeles will remain the home of its headquarters and the studio in Glasgow will complement and strengthen its operations. Scotlands Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said: I greatly welcome this major investment from Halon Entertainment, which is a huge endorsement of the skills, talent and experience that Glasgow offers and the strength of Scotlands screen sector overall. It marks a major boost for the digital tech, film, TV and games industries, reinforcing Scotlands position as a global hub for creative technology. Together with Scottish Enterprise and Screen Scotland, the Scottish Government is committed to accelerating the growth of our screen sector. Inward investment like this is a key driver of that growth and the cultural and economic opportunities that come with that, including hundreds of good, well-paying jobs. Halon will open a studio in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA) Scotlands national economic development agency Scottish Enterprise is providing Halon with advisory services and 3.9 million of funding towards the overall project cost. Adrian Gillespie, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: Its a huge win that an ambitious US studio has chosen Scotland as its location to expand and scale up. Its presence will enhance the reputation of the countrys digital tech industry, and of Glasgow as a hub of artistic and technical talent. Its also a brilliant opportunity for animators and visual artists to help develop innovative creative content for movies, series and video games right here in Scotland. Screen Scotland also welcomed the news from Halon. Isabel Davis, executive director of Screen Scotland, said: We are delighted it has chosen Scotland as its UK base, thanks to the depth of our animation and visual effects talent across film, TV and video games. Scotlands globally competitive offer is backed up by the UKs recently-enhanced visual effects tax credit alongside a range of support from Screen Scotland. Mifepristone, a pill used for medical abortions. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters A New York county clerk on Thursday refused to enforce a Texas court fineagainst a New York doctor accused of mailing abortion pills across state lines a move that tees up a dramatic showdown between states that protect abortion rights and those that have banned the procedure. The clash will probably end up in front of the US supreme court. In December, the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, sued Dr Margaret Carpenter in a Texas court for allegedly mailing abortion pills to the Lone Star state, which bans virtually all abortions. After Carpenter did not show up to a court hearing earlier this year, a Texas judge ruled against her, ordering her to pay a $113,000 penalty and stop sending abortion pills to Texas. New York has, however, enacted a shield law that forbids state officials from extraditing abortion providers to other states or complying with out-of-state court orders. In his statement refusing to enforce the Texas fine, the acting Ulster county clerk Taylor Bruck cited the law. In accordance with the New York State Shield Law, I have refused this filing and will refuse any similar filings that may come to our office. Since this decision is likely to result in further litigation, I must refrain from discussing specific details about the situation, Bruck said in a statement. Paxtons office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Texas may challenge New Yorks shield law through a lawsuit. Although a number of blue states have passed shield laws since the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, they have never been put to the legal test. Related: Texas midwife arrested for allegedly providing abortions amid states near-total ban The case will also probably serve as a bellwether for the future of interstate relations between anti-abortion states and pro-abortion rights states. In the years since Roe fell, anti-abortion activists have grown increasingly frustrated over peoples ability to travel across state lines for the procedure and to undergo medication abortions through telehealth. Alabama has threatened to prosecute people who help others travel for out-of-state abortions, while Louisiana has issued a criminal indictment against Carpenter for allegedly prescribing an abortion pill to someone in that state. New Yorks governor, Kathy Hochul, refused Louisianas call for extradition. I will not be signing an extradition order that came from the governor of Louisiana not now, not ever, she said last month. Carpenter has not publicly commented on the case. However, a group she co-founded, Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine Access, has accused Paxton of putting women directly in harms way. Since Roe v Wade was overturned, we have seen attempts to further impede and erode a persons right to make decisions about their own bodies, the organization said in a statement after news of Paxtons lawsuit against Carpenter broke. Shield laws are essential in safeguarding and enabling abortion care regardless of a patients zip code or ability to pay. They are fundamental to ensuring everyone can access reproductive healthcare as a human right. Volodymyr Zelensky said we are fighting the country that has less dignity and more territory - LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Steve Witkoff of weakening Americas negotiating hand by parroting Russian propaganda. The Ukrainian president claimed Donald Trumps Ukraine and Middle East envoy quotes the Kremlin narratives, which is not helping achieve a peace deal. Mr Witkoff was criticised after he appeared to repeat several of Moscows talking points in an interview with Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, last week. The White House official sent shock waves through Europe when he appeared to accept the results of sham referendums Russia held in Ukraine to justify the seizure of land there. Mr Witkoff claimed the overwhelming majority of the people in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson wanted to be under Russias rule and said Vladimir Putin was a very smart guy. Speaking to a panel of European journalists in Paris, Mr Zelensky was asked whether the White House had been peddling Kremlin propaganda. Witkoff indeed quotes the Kremlin narratives, the Ukrainian leader said. He added: I believe this wont bring us closer to peace, and I believe that unfortunately that would weaken the pressure of Americans [being] applied to the Russian federation. We can only through our actions, correct this information. We are trying to do this. The Ukrainian leader suggested that Steve Witkoff was not helping to achieve a peace deal - Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg Mr Zelensky said he had spoken to Mr Trump on several occasions and they had been trying to exchange truthful information at the intelligence services level because [this is] interfering because we are fighting Putin and we dont want him to have any assistance. We are fighting the country that has less dignity and more territory, and its difficult for us. Ive always said to President Trump we want the Americans on our side. And even if America today has chosen to be in the middle, in the middle means in the middle and not closer to the Kremlin, and thats important. His comments came after Putin refused to implement the Black Sea ceasefire deal unless Mr Trump has all international sanctions lifted. Pressed whether he thinks the US is falling for Mr Putins claims he wants peace, Mr Zelensky warned he thinks America is under the influence of Russian narratives. America, by and large, the people have always supported us, he said. The bi-partisan support has been there and therefore assistance was flowing. I cant be ungrateful for the US for everything theyve done for us, but they today very often I believe, unfortunately, are under the influence of Russian narratives, and we cant agree to these narratives. But we are fighting for ourselves, and we will be fighting these narratives wherever they are. We just dont have any other choice. We are fighting for our independence, and for our existence. We can only open up more truth, we should show by our examples, as we are fighting on the battlefield. Mr Zelenskys comments came as Alexander Darchiyev, Russias new US ambassador, was understood to have left Moscow to take up his new post in Washington. The ambassador is expected to depart to Washington on March 26, a source told TASS, the Russian news agency. The reinstatement of Moscows US ambassador, which was agreed last month during talks in Saudi Arabia, is a sign of the thawing of relations between the two nations. Reviewed by Dietitian Kelli McGrane, M.S., RD Viktoriya Skorikova/Getty Images "Key Takeaways" Damiana tea is purported to help boost libido by improving blood flow, reducing anxiety and supporting hormonal balance. Research on damiana tea is limited and insufficient to draw firm conclusions. While generally safe, its best to discuss damiana tea with a health care professional before consuming it. When it comes to spicing things up in the bedroom, most people dont think to turn to their tea cabinetbut maybe they should! It turns out theres a tea that might just give your love life a little boost. Damiana tea is an herbal beverage that's been used for centuries to help stir up a little romantic energy. From increased stress and hormonal shifts to changes in relationship dynamics, there are many reasons why your sex drive may have taken an extended vacation. Depending on the situation, sipping on a warm cup of damiana tea could be the nudge you need to invite your libido back into the bedroom. Simple and delicious, damiana tea has an intriguing reputation with some research to back up its benefits. That said, damiana tea isnt appropriate for everyone, and its important to talk to a health care provider before trying it. Get your mug out and your teakettle heatedwere taking a closer look at why damiana tea is the No. 1 tea to improve your sex drive. How Damiana Tea May Improve Libido Damiana is a plant that is native to Mexico, Central and South America, says Kelsey Barrett, a clinical herbalist and consultant to Numi Organic Tea. It is known as the Green Goddess and has been used for centuries as a mood enhancer and energy booster, she adds. Here are some ways that it may help improve libido. It May Reduce Stress and Anxiety Feeling stressed or anxious can make it harder to want and enjoy sex., While more research is needed, sipping on damiana tea regularly may help lower stress and anxiety, potentially paving the way for a more fulfilling romantic experience. Barrett explains that damiana may have a calming effect on the central nervous system, helping you to enter a sensual state of mind and body. Two preclinical animal studies found that the tea had anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects, though these results havent been replicated in humans. Researchers suggest that apigenina compound found in damianamay be responsible for the herbs potential stress-reliving effects. It May Improve Blood Flow Healthy blood circulation is essential for a strong libido, as it plays a significant role in physical arousal. Damiana tea contains compounds believed to improve blood flow to essential areas, naturally enhancing sensitivity and responsiveness during intimate moments. While research is ongoing, this effect may be thanks to a process involving the NO-cGMP pathwaya signaling process in the body that affects the functioning of blood vessels and smooth muscles. This improvement in blood flow is not just limited to romantic health; it also contributes to better overall vitality. The energizing benefits of damiana tea may leave you feeling more active and engaged, creating a domino effect on your emotional and physical intimacy. It May Enhance Hormonal Balance Damiana is thought to support the bodys hormonal balance, which has a direct impact on libido. Hormonal imbalances can interfere with sexual desire, creating feelings of fatigue or disinterest. Drinking damiana tea may assist in stabilizing your hormones, restoring a natural rhythm to your body and improving intimate desire. Animal data found damiana extract helped improve hormone levels, like testosterone, and reduced cell damage in the testes of male rats. It also supported sperm production and increased the number of important testicular cells called Leydig cells. Some evidence also suggests that damiana extract may inhibit the activity of aromatase, an enzyme that converts certain hormones into estrogen. Before you start brewing a pot in hopes of improving testosterone or estrogen levels, though, its important to remember that damianas potential effect on hormones hasnt been confirmed in humans. Tips to Enjoy Damiana Tea According to Sofie Roos, a licensed sexologist, relationship therapist and author at Passionerad, damiana tea can be purchased as a concentrated liquid or as dried leaves, which you can steep like any other loose-leaf tea. You can also find it in some herbal tea blends, like Numi Damiana Relax. While it can be enjoyed straight, some people find damiana tea bitter and prefer to add milk, honey or cane sugar to their cup. The Bottom Line Damiana tea has long been used for its potential to help boost libido, though research confirming its benefits is limited. While it may provide a little boost, simply drinking damiana tea isnt enough to bring your libido back from retirement. Its crucial to take a holistic approach to improving intimacy and overall sexual health. Focusing on lifestyle changes such as reducing stress, exercising regularly and fostering open communication with your partner can also have a profound impact on your romantic life. Working with a sex therapist and having your hormone levels checked by a doctor can also be helpful for identifying the reasons behind a lowered sex drive. Additionally, keep in mind that herbal teas may not be safe or appropriate for everyone, including those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking certain prescription medications. Always talk with a health care provider before trying any new herbal supplement or tea. Read the original article on EATINGWELL Accused killer Bryan Kohberger purchased a black balaclava months before a key witness saw a man wearing the same type of face mask at the home where four University of Idaho students were murdered in their sleep, according to new court filings. Prosecutors say records show Kohberger purchased a black balaclava on Jan. 10, 2022 at a Dicks Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh 11 months before the stabbing deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin on Nov. 13, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported. Bryan Kohberger is accused of taking a creepy selfie hours after the Idaho student murders occurred. AP The balaclava Kohberger bought was the same type of face covering surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen a witness told police she saw a man wearing inside the King Road house the night the murders occurred, according to the outlet. While Kohbergers defense desperately attempted to have his purchase excluded from his upcoming trial, the new court documents revealed prosecutors insisted on using them claiming they would be crucial to the case. The relevance of this information is that Bryan Kohberger purchased a black balaclava from Dicks Sporting Goods on January 10, 2022, the prosecution wrote. This mask is the same type of mask described by DM that she witnessed worn by a male in the residence on November 13, 2022. Prosecutors say records show Kohberger purchased a black balaclava on Jan. 10, 2022 at a Dicks Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh. The witness Mortensen also drew a picture of the mask, which was included in one of the court documents filed by Kohbergers attorney, Elisa Massoth. Prosecutors previously disclosed online shopping records of Kohbergers that indicate he bought the murder weapon a combat-style knife as well as a sheath and sharpener from Amazon eight months before the killings. A sheath with DNA linked to Kohberger was found at the crime scene. In other court filings, prosecutors and the defense argued about Kohbergers mental competency, with his attorneys claiming the suspect has autism, which will make a fair and just trial a challenge. The witness drew a picture of the mask, which was included in one of the court documents filed by Kohbergers attorney, Elisa Massoth. Massoth wrote that his appearance and inability to show emotion or process what is happening in the courtroom may cause jurors to be biased against him, citing his awkward arrest at his parents Pennsylvania home as an example. During the arrest, Kohberger had asked an officer about his education and suggested they go out for coffee, according to Massoth. He did not perceive the profoundly serious nature of the moment and exhibited no perception of what was happening, Massoth wrote. While competency has not been raised in this case, at this time, Mr. Kohbergers team and assisting experts are constantly analyzing this issue. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson responded in his filing by saying that the defense has no legal authority to present evidence explaining how Kohberger may appear or behave in front of a jury, and that doing so would more likely confuse the issues, mislead the jury and play to the jurys sympathies. Jury selection for the trial is set to begin July 30. 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 in Washington's grip, refusing to rule out the use of force to do so. "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 we're 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. Asked if he thought Greenlanders were eager to join the United States, Trump said he did not know. "We have to convince them," he said. "And we have to have that land, because it's not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth, not just the United States, without it." Trump's comments prompted Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to say on her Facebook account: "We mustn't have illusions -- President Trump's interest in Greenland is not going away". "They know that Greenland is not for sale. They know that Greenland doesn't want to be part of the United States," she added, saying the message had been communicated "unambiguously." Trump's 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. Frederiksen and Greenland's 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 characterized 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 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 told public broadcaster DR. Formerly known as Thule Air Base, the Pituffik Space Base is the United States' northernmost military installation and supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance missions. The White House on Tuesday said the Vances' visit to the space base would take place in lieu of the second lady's scheduled visit to a dogsled race in Sisimiut, where an anti-US demonstration was reportedly planned. Greenlandic officials have repeatedly said the territory does not want to be either Danish or American, but is "open for business" with everyone. "There is no doubt we find ourselves in a tough situation," Frederiksen said of Trump's repeated comments on a takeover, predicting "a situation that will ebb and flow, maybe for a long time yet." 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. 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. "You do not come to another country when you haven't been welcomed," he told AFP. Jacobsen added that the planned anti-US demonstration in Sisimiut, after a similar protest in the capital Nuuk on March 15, may have also factored into Vance's decision to contain the visit. Andrew Tate and Bri Stern in a photo posted to X on June 22, 2024. One of Andrew Tates girlfriends has accused the self-proclaimed misogynist of choking her so hard during rough sex inside the Beverly Hills Hotel that she later alerted authorities, according to a report. Bri Stern alleged to Beverly Hills police that the sexual assault took place two weeks ago and that she nearly passed out from the violent encounter, TMZ reported, citing sources with direct knowledge of the incident. A new report reveals that Bri Stern, Andrew Tates girlfriend accused him of choking her so hard during rough sex inside the Beverly Hills Hotel that she contacted authorities. X / @thebristern Tate, who is facing human trafficking charges in Romania, allegedly started choking Stern during sex on March 11, but when she told him to stop as it got rougher, he ignored her pleas, the outlet reported. As she continued to struggle, Tate allegedly became more violent and Stern nearly lost consciousness, TMZ reported. The alleged attack only stopped after the sex was over. After Tate, 38, fell asleep, Stern went to the bathroom and took photos of her injuries, according to TMZ, which obtained photos showing the bruising on the side of her face. TMZ reports that Stern allegedly told Beverly Hills police that the sexual assault took place two weeks ago and nearly passed out from the altercation. Instagram / @thebristern Stern went to a New York City hospital two days later after flying to the Big Apple for work and was diagnosed as post-concussive, according to another photo obtained by the outlet. She said she only filed a police report after Tate and his 36-year-old brother Tristan left the country over the weekend for a Monday check-in with authorities in Romania that is tied to their criminal case, according to the outlet. The check-in with police at the European countrys capital complied with a judicial control requirement in their case. Tate allegedly started choking Stern during sex, but when she said she told him to stop, he ignored her demands, the outlet reported. AP Stern and Tate started dating last June after meeting in Romania, where she had been on a modeling job, sources told TMZ. He allegedly had been verbally abusive in the months since, they added, but the alleged choking assault was the first time he got physical with her. Purported texts between the two that were obtained by TMZ show Tate claiming he wants to beat or hit her numerous times. TMZ obtained a photo Tate snapped with Kanye West the day before the alleged incident the same day his ex-wife Kim Kardashian pulled the daughter they share out of the rappers recording studio because the Tate brothers were also invited to hang with him. Stern and Tate started dating last June after meeting in Romania, where she had been on a modeling job. Instagram / @thebristern The Tate brothers were arrested in 2022 and indicted last year on charges that they took part in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where they were allegedly sexually exploited. Andrew Tate is also facing rape charges. But both siblings have denied all charges and have not been convicted of any crimes. Im a free person who has not been convicted of anything, Andrew Tate said outside the police station in Voluntari. The former kickboxer with a huge social media following also vowed to comply with all judicial authorities everywhere around the world because Im completely innocent. The Tate brothers were arrested in 2022 and indicted last year on charges that they took part in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania. AP The brothers were forced to stay in Romania because of the criminal accusation until a few weeks ago when a travel ban was lifted and they reached the US. A Bucharest court in December ruled the case against the two men couldnt go to trial because of legal and procedural irregularities by prosecutors. The case, however, remains open. Andrew Tate has also been accused of sexual violence and physical abuse by four women in civil lawsuits brought in the UK. The Post has reached out to Beverly Hills police. With Post wires If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788. Barton County Sheriff's Office Martin Villalobos Junior A babysitter in Kansas made a shocking discovery while attempting to prove to one of the children she was looking after that there wasn't a "monster" hiding underneath the bed. On Monday, March 24, at around 10:30 p.m. local time, authorities responded to "a reported disturbance call" at the 2000 block of Patton Road, which is just outside the city of Great Bend, the Barton County Sheriff's Office confirmed in a Facebook post on March 26. "Upon arrival the deputies contacted the victim who stated she was babysitting children at the residence. When putting the children to bed, one child complained there was a 'monster' under their bed," police said. "When the victim attempted to show the child there was nothing under the bed, she came face-to-face with a male suspect who was hiding there. An altercation ensued with the babysitter and one child was knocked over in the struggle. The suspect then fled the scene before deputies arrived," the post added. Barton County Sheriff's Office A Barton County Sheriff's Office car Martin Villalobos Junior, 27, has since been arrested and transported to Barton County Jail, officers confirmed. The post stated that the suspect had once lived at the residence but there was "currently a protection from abuse order issued against him to stay away from the property." Despite being unable to locate Villalobos Junior after searching the area on the evening he was found under the bed, officers continued to look for him the following morning. "The suspect was seen in the 2000 block of Patton Road at which point he attempted to flee from law enforcement. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was captured," the police post stated. 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. Getty A stock photo of police handcuffs Officers confirmed the suspect had been "booked on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, child endangerment, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer and violation of a protection from abuse order." Villalobos Junior is "being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond," police said. The Barton County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. Read the original article on People Black Sand Beaches May is a fantastic month to explore many of the United States' national parks due to the generally mild weather, the vibrant spring blooms, and the start of wildlife emerging from the winter months. But where should you go? There are 429 national park sites across the United States. This means you have plenty of options to choose from, depending on where you want to go! While you may want to avoid the Memorial Day crowds, the rest of the month is a fantastic time at the following parks! Maybe it's time for a road trip or a weekend trip to one of these stunning parks. Acadia National Park, Maine Image Credit: Shutterstock. I grew up going to this park, and May was always the time of year we liked to go up and camp to kick off the summer season early. During this month, the park is coming to life with blooming wildflowers and budding trees, and the weather is turning warmer. It can get busy, but nowhere near the crowds of the summer months, making it a very peaceful experience. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho Image Credit: Shutterstock. In May you have a great chance at seeing a range of wildlife, including bears, that begin to emerge from hibernation. The park is less crowded than in summer, and the geysers and hot springs are impressive as ever during this time of year. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Image Credit: Shutterstock. May is a great time to visit Bryce Canyon National Park as it provides cool to mild temperatures for hiking and the chance to see the parks famous hoodoos without the snow and cold of winter or the tourist crowds and heat of summer. If you can manage to visit on a weekday, you may find the park is still relatively quiet, and you can enjoy some views to yourself. Cuyahoga National Park, Ohio Image Credit: Shutterstock. Spring blooms and waterfalls are at their best in May here, and the weather is ideal for hiking and enjoying the scenic train rides through the park. The weather in Ohio during the month of May is quite nice, as it hasn't hit some of the hottest parts of the summer. That makes it the perfect time to visit this National Park, especially if you haven't been there before. You can visit the charming Ohio small town of Peninsula, Ohio, while you're in the area. Arches National Park, Utah Image Credit: Shutterstock. This is another park that sees extremely high temperatures in the summer, making May is a great time to catch the end of the cooler days and allow for more ample hiking excursions. I highly recommend doing the hike out to the infamous Delicate Arch at night. Its absolutely incredible for stargazing, and if you go during a full moon, you wont even need a headlamp! Lassen Volcanic National Park, California Image Credit: Shutterstock. May is when the winter snow starts to melt in the mountains in California, revealing the park's hiking trails and volcanic landscapes. Its a quiet month before the summer tourist season kicks in, and it is an absolute must-visit at some point in your life, as it is truly unlike any other park in the country. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California Image Credit: Shutterstock. These sister parks in the Sierra Nevadas are awe-inspiring in May as the snow begins to melt, revealing accessible hiking trails and the majestic giant sequoias. The number of visitors are still lower than in summer, allowing for a more peaceful experience and an escape from the "May Grey" that sometimes takes over the usually sunny beaches of the coast. Isle Royale National Park, Michigan Image Credit: Shutterstock. Opening in April after the winter closure, May is one of the best times to visit this remote island park in Lake Superior. The ferry services are running, and the weather is ideal for hiking and wildlife observation without the mosquitoes that appear later in the summer. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. In May, the moderate temperatures make it a perfect time to explore the caverns below and the desert landscape above. The most extraordinary reason for visiting during this month is for the bat flights that begin in late May, where you can watch hundreds of thousands of bats exit the cave at dusk. Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado Image Credit: Shutterstock. Late spring is one of the best times to visit this park, as the sand can get extremely hot in the summer, making it uncomfortable to explore at times. The Medano Creek also experiences its highest flow in May, providing a unique beach-like atmosphere at the base of the sand dunes. Crater Lakes National Park, Oregon Image Credit: Shutterstock. This park is great in any of the summer months, but May is a particularly fantastic time to visit as the heavy snows of winter begin to melt, providing a dramatic contrast between the deep blue lake and the white snowy cliffs. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Image Credit: Shutterstock. Located in the Gulf of Mexico, Dry Tortugas is ideal in May before the hurricane season and extreme heat. Dry Tortugas is located near Key West, in one of the more family-friendly vacation areas of Florida. Snorkeling and bird watching are fantastic during this time due to clearer waters and significant bird migrations. Redwood National Park, California Image Credit: Shutterstock. May is a great time to see the coastal redwoods in moist, foggy conditions that really highlight the ethereal quality of these tallest trees on Earth. It makes for some of the coolest photos and the weather is also generally more comfortable for hiking. Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas Image Credit: Shutterstock. May is a fantastic time to enjoy this lesser-known gem. The weather is ideal for hiking to Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas, and for exploring the park's extensive fossil reef from the Permian era. White Sands National Park, New Mexico Image Credit: Shutterstock. The stark white gypsum sand dunes are stunning in May, with moderate temperatures that allow for all kinds of daytime activities like sledding down the dunes, hiking, and sunset tours before the summer heat peaks. Great Basin National Park, Nevada Image Credit: Shutterstock. With a range of elevations, May is a month when you can still potentially ski in the higher areas while enjoying wildflower hikes at lower altitudes. The park's ancient bristlecone pines and the Lehman Caves add to the variety of accessible adventures. Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska Image Credit: Shutterstock. May might still be cold in this remote Alaskan park, but its a unique time to see the sand dunes covered partially in snow a rare sight. The Kobuk River is bustling with life as migratory birds return and caribou herds pass through the area. Cindy Ord/Getty/SiriusXM; Stewart Cook/Variety/Penske Media/Getty Bill Murray and Clint Eastwood Bill Murray was almost a star in a Clint Eastwood movie. The actor, who is currently starring in Riff Raff and The Friend, shared on The Howard Stern Show on Tuesday, March 25, that his biggest work regret is not making a comedy with Eastwood, 94. Decades ago Murray was watching Eastwood movies, like Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and noticed that all of the sidekicks have great parts; they get great death scenes and get avenged by Eastwoods character, he said. He was then moved to call Eastwood out of the blue. He said, Would you ever want to do another service comedy? Because I just made Stripes, and he had this great idea for an enormous Navy thing, said Murray, 74. Related: Scott Eastwood Shares the Acting Advice His Dad Clint Eastwood Instilled in Him (Exclusive) Alamy Bill Murray in 1981's 'Stripes' Murray shared that when Eastwood asked, he first worried about getting pigeonholed into a specific type of movie genre. Like, geez, would I become like Abbott and Costello and have to do military movies? And I said, 'Well, God, I guess, maybe I shouldn't.' " He ended up turning down the offer, and has thought about it ever since. 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. It's one of the few regrets I have is that I didn't do it because it was a big-scale thing. I don't know if I'd have gotten a great death scene. Murray confessed. It was more of a comedy that one. He had access to World War II boats, and he could have, like, made a flotilla and stuff, and there was some cool stuff in it. When I see him, I'm like, 'I'm sorry. I don't know ... but I wish I'd done that Clint, I'm really sorry.' " Murray shared that Eastwood is "well over it," calling the Oscar winner a "very resilient fellow." Related: Bill Murray Performs Covers of Your Dad's Favorite Music, from Bob Dylan to the Kinks, as He Kicks Off Concert Tour Stern asked Murray if he knew that Stripes was originally written for Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Turns out that Cheech and Chong's agent didn't want them to do it, Murray revealed. Cheech and Chong never even saw the script. I think if they'd seen the script, they could have fun with it. There were plenty of crazy, stoner scenes in it. There was a whole scene where we go to South America and we eat some potion and everyone has a psychedelic experience and totally gibberish, you know, yeah, but so that stuff was there in the original script." Read the original article on People The biological mother of a Connecticut man allegedly held captive for decades by his stepmother has revealed new details about why she gave up custody and vowed to be there for him now. Tracy Vallerand told NBC Connecticut on Wednesday that she gave up custody in 1993, shortly after his birth. Vallerand explained that she had lost custody of her daughter, Heather Tessman, years earlier after the Department of Children and Families alleged she had shaken baby syndrome. Tessman's father was charged with the crime. "I was still having issues coping," Vallerand said in her first on-camera interview with her daughter. Vallerand explained when her relationship with her son's father ended, she allowed her son to live with him. "Things didnt work out between the two of us, and I was thinking that I was giving my son a better chance at a full life," she explained. "If I had known ... I just cant fathom ... I have no words." Vallerand's son, who has not been named, eventually started living with his father and stepmother, Kimberly Sullivan. Authorities allege that Sullivan held him captive in a small room at the familys home in Waterbury. The home of Kimberly Sullivan in Waterbury, Conn. The now 32-year-old was found on Feb. 17 after he started a fire at the home using a lighter, hand sanitizer, and paper from a printer, according to an affidavit. Police say he explained he started the fire because "I want my freedom." Prosecutors say that the stepson told authorities he had been locked inside an 8-by-9-foot room since the fourth grade. He told authorities that he was let out for brief periods in the mornings to do chores. Weighing only 68 pounds when he was found, he said he was fed two sandwiches a day and the equivalent of two small bottles of water. "It's hard to think about what he had to go through," Vallerand told NBC Connecticut. "Just knowing that he was right there." Heather Tessman and her mother, Tracy Vallerand. Vallerand said she had tried to get back into his life but could never find him. Tessman said she never worried because "as far as I knew, he was with his parents living his life." The mother and daughter said they plan on attending every court appearance for Sullivan, who is charged with assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, cruelty, and reckless endangerment. Sullivan's attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, has denied the allegations. He said the man's biological father died in 2024. "She wasnt controlling anything in his life," the attorney said. "She continued to maintain the home, she continued to get groceries, she continued to keep the lights on, the heat on, and provided a shelter." Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Carney will chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations and National Security. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) TORONTO (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that he would speak with U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming days after Trump announced 25% tariffs on auto imports. Carney, who hasn't spoken with Trump since becoming Canada's new leader nearly two weeks ago, said that the U.S. president reached out Wednesday night to schedule a call. We will be speaking soon, certainly in the course of the next day or two," Carney said, adding that Trump has to respect Canada's sovereignty. "Thats not much to ask, but apparently its a lot for him," he said. Trump has declared a trade war on Canada and continues to call for the United States' northern neighbor to become the 51st U.S. state, a position that has infuriated Canadians. It is clear that the United States is no longer a reliable partner. It is possible that, with comprehensive negotiations, we will be able to restore some trust, but there will be no turning back, Carney said. We will need to dramatically reduce our reliance on the United States. We will need to pivot our trade relationships elsewhere." The former central banker was sworn in as Canada's new prime minister on March 14. It's unusual for a U.S. president and Canadian prime minister to go so long without talking after a new leader takes office. Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau as Canada's leader and the head of the Liberal Party, is at the start of a five-week campaign after calling an early election for April 28. The governing Liberals had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Trump declared a trade war and challenged Canada's sovereignty. The crisis has created a surge in patriotism among Canadians, with many in the country feeling that Carney is the best person to lead the country at the moment. Trump has acknowledged himself that he has upended Canadian politics. Carney called the tariffs unjustified and left the election campaign to chair his special Cabinet committee on U.S. relations in Ottawa. "We will fight the U.S. tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impacts here in Canada, Carney said. He said many Canadians are feeling worried and anxious about the future. He said over the coming years Canadians must fundamentally reimagine the economy in a drastically different world. More than 75% of Canada's exports go to the U.S. "The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over, he said. Carney is asking Canadians for a clear and strong mandate given the biggest crisis in our lifetimes. Automobiles are Canadas second-largest export and the sector employs 125,000 Canadians directly and almost another 500,000 in related industries. Carney announced this week a CA$2 billion ($1.4 billion) strategic response fund that will protect Canadian auto jobs affected by Trumps tariffs. Trump previously had granted a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on auto imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers. 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. 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. 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 tax hike on auto imports starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales. This is not an industry that is Donald Trumps to steal or take, said Lana Payne, the National President of Unifor, the union that represents auto workers in Canada. Payne said that Carney should tell Trump that if U.S. automakers are going to sell cars and trucks in Canada, they are going to have to build in Canada. Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said Trump needs to knock it off when asked by journalists about the president's repeated attacks. We will never be the 51st state but we can be friends again with the United States if he reverses course, Poilievre said. A California man was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for robbing a bank and orchestrating a scheme to steal priceless violins, some of which were 200 years old, authorities announced this week. Mark Meng of Irvine posed as a connoisseur interested in growing his collection - but instead stole instruments that area stores had loaned him, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Violins he stole included works from the 19th and early 20th centuries; one instrument from 1823 was valued at $175,000, prosecutors said. [Meng] gained the trust of these violin shops by representing himself as a violin collector who wished to purchase the violins, the U.S. Attorneys Office wrote in court filings. [Meng] knew the representations that he made were false and fraudulent because he had no intention, at any point in time, of either paying for or returning the violins after the trial periods. At the same time that Meng was supposed to be testing the violins, he was working to sell them to other buyers, prosecutors said Wednesday. He resold a few to an unwitting buyer for tens of thousands of dollars. To better understand the affects of Mr. Meng's crime, it is important to understand the nature of the antique stringed instrument business. It is a rather close-knit industry with many family-run shops like ours, David Brobst, one of the violin dealers Meng robbed, said in court filings. In the case of Mr. Meng, he manipulated our well-established system of honesty and trust for his own financial gain. He damaged our business and our industry by acquiring instruments under false pretenses. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter sentenced Meng, 58, in the Central District of California after he pleaded guilty last September to one count of wire fraud and one count of bank robbery, federal officials said. Meng ran the violin theft scheme from August 2020 to April 2023. He robbed a bank last April and has been in custody since May 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Anthony M. Solis, Mengs attorney, said his client began stealing the instruments to keep up with gambling and drug addictions. The violin scheme was strange but once he really started having debt problems and impaired judgment from the drugs issues it led him to do things like the bank robbery, which for a highly educated guy doesn't make a lot of sense, Solis told USA TODAY. Meng was born in China and received both a masters and bachelors degree. People get into deep holes and when you get into a deep hole its really hard to emerge from that and people become desperate. Authorities involved in the case included the FBIs Art Crime Team, the Irvine Police Department and the Glendale Police Department, prosecutors said. How much were the violins worth? Meng knew violins from playing the instrument. The violins he stole as part of his scheme were exquisite, according to court records. The instruments dated all the way back to the early 19th century and were valued at as much as $175,000, according to court filings. The amateur violinist stole the instruments by expressing interest in buying them but said he needed to test them out first and then never returned them, court documents say. He gained the trust of shop owners by demonstrating his knowledge of the instruments, according to prosecutors. A federal guilty plea agreement says Meng stole six violins and one violin bow. The value of all the items stolen is estimated in court papers at roughly $350,000. He proceeded to sell three of the violins and the violin bow - a Francis Lott bow stamped Lupot and worth $7,500 - to an unsuspecting buyer for $44,700, court filings say. The oldest and most expensive violin was the Lorenzo Ventapane from 1823 valued at $175,000, according to the guilty plea. Ventapane was a Neapolitan violin maker who lived from 1780 to 1843, according to Tarisio, a marketplace for high-end violins. Meng stole the Ventapane as well as a Guilio Degani violin from 1903 worth $55,000 from Brobsts store in Alexandria, Virginia, court documents say. Also stolen was a Gand & Bernardel violin from 1870 valued at $60,000, court filings say. Gand & Bernardel was a Parisian violin-making firm active in the late 1800s, according to Tarisio. How much was stolen in the bank robbery? Meng hoped to make off with a significant amount of money robbing a bank in Irvine but instead he left with only $446, according to the guilty plea. He entered the bank wearing a hat, sunglasses, blue latex gloves and a bandana covering his face and passed a note to the teller: $18,000. Withdraw. Please. Stay Cool. No harm. Thx, it read, according to court filings. The teller said she didnt have that much so Meng told her, Give me whatever you have. No one was hurt, according to court filings. Stick-up at the cellphone store: USA's new heists go after iPhones and not bank vaults. Big losses in small world of high-end violins Brobst of the Brobst Violin Shop wrote to the court to describe how Mengs theft impacted the business his grandfather and father founded in 1963. His father, now 90, and mother, 89, still run the shop, according to his letter. Its customary for violin dealers, he said, to loan out instruments to prospective buyers because it is so rare that an instrument would go out to anyone other than a person who is genuine in their desire to purchase it. The trade runs on trust and a love for music, classical instruments, art, history and the desire to further these things throughout our culture, Brobst wrote. Instead, he took advantage of our trust and good nature to simply steal our treasured instruments. Brobst said Mengs theft of the two violins - valued together at nearly a quarter of a million dollars - caused significant loss in revenue for the business. He also says they spent countless hours trying to recover them. He wrote: Our business model has been damaged and its vulnerability exposed in a way that harms our customers and our industry, the vast majority of whom rely on trust and being trustworthy as a principle of life and method of conducting business. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California man orchestrates scheme to steal priceless violins Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, center, stands next to map showing flight restrictions as the Senate Transportation Subcommittee holds a hearing to examine the preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board on the Jan. 29, 2024, midair collision of an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 27, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The head of the Federal Aviation Administration told Congress during a hearing Thursday about a midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people that the agency must do more to ensure flying remains safe. The FAA's artificial intelligence-led review aimed at identifying safety threats at other airports with similar helicopter-airplane congestion should be finished in a couple weeks, said Chris Rocheleau, the agencys acting administrator. During the hearing, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board and members of Congress again questioned how the FAA hadnt noticed an alarming number of close calls near Ronald Reagan National Airport and addressed the problem before the January collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner. The collision over the Potomac River was the nation's deadliest plane crash since November 2001. We have to do better, Rocheleau said. We have to identify trends, we have to get smarter about how we use data, and when we put corrective actions in place, we must execute them. How the FAA is using AI The FAA is using AI to dig into the millions of reports it collects to assess other places with busy helicopter traffic including: Boston, New York, Baltimore-Washington, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and along the Gulf Coast. Rocheleau promised to take immediate action if risks are found. Investigators have highlighted 85 close calls around Reagan airport in the three years before the crash that should have signaled a growing safety problem. Rocheleau told the aviation subcommittee of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that every close call is investigated and all the data was reviewed before, but this alarming trend was missed. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said there clearly was an issue with identifying trends in the data the FAA collects. Dailey Crofton, whose brother Casey Crofton died in the collision, attended the hearing. I was surprised at the lapses of safety protocols that led to this crash, he said in a statement afterward. Collision alarms keep going off Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said he learned that the Secret Service and U.S. Navy triggered a rash of collision alarms in planes around Reagan Airport on March 1 while testing anti-drone technology that used a similar frequency to the one used by planes' warning systems. Cruz said that happened despite a warning from the FAA against doing it. This is deeply disturbing that just a month after 67 people died while on approach to DCA (Reagan Airport), that the Secret Service and Pentagon would inadvertently cause multiple flights to receive urgent cockpit alerts recommending evasive action, Cruz said. Helicopter traffic around Reagan National has been restricted since January any time planes use the same runway the American Airlines plane that crashed was approaching when it collided with the helicopter. At the NTSB's urging, the FAA permanently banned that particular helicopter route under most circumstances. If a helicopter does use the route, planes are prohibited from taking off or landing on that runway. The Army still wasn't broadcasting helicopter locations The U.S. Armys head of aviation Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman acknowledged that as of Thursday morning helicopters were still flying over the nation's capital with a key system broadcasting their locations turned off during most missions because it deemed them sensitive. Cruz called this shocking and deeply unacceptable. Rocheleau then said the FAA will immediately require all aircraft flying near Reagan National to broadcast their locations. The ADS-B out data is designed to help air traffic controllers better track an aircraft's location with position updates every second.. Before that announcement, exceptions in the airspace above Washington allowed Army and other government aircraft to fly without transmitting, or fly in a mode that allowed less information to be transmitted to avoid broadcasting potentially sensitive missions to the public. Former Black Hawk pilot Tim Lilley, father of airliner copilot Sam Lilley, said he's disappointed that the Army has not taken simple steps to improve safety he recommended in a meeting with Braman, including turning on the locator systems, adding a fourth crew member or barring the use of older Black Hawks on routes around Washington. I was frustrated with the lack of accountability. The Army still doesnt want to say that they did anything wrong, said Lilley, who flew helicopter routes around the capital for four years in the 1990s as part of a 20-year Army career and now flies private jets. Are the systems even working? Homendy also noted that it is important to inspect the transmission equipment to make sure it actually works. The helicopter involved in this collision had not transmitted any location data for 730 days. When the NTSB checked the rest of the unit's helicopters after the crash, it found eight of them that hadnt transmitted since 2023. Plus, Homendy said she's not sure what the Army was doing with any close call reports it received or how closely it was monitoring whether its helicopters violated altitude limits during their flights like the one that collided with the jetliner did. She said most of the safety conversations at the battalion level were focused on OSHA slips, trips and falls. ___ Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report from Washington D.C. Marion County Sheriff's Office Logan Guminski mugshot A Florida woman is facing criminal charges after being accused of engaging in sexual activity with a Chihuahua and posting a video of it on social media. On Friday, March 21, Logan Guminski, 27, of Ocala, was arrested and charged with sexual activity involving an animal and filming sexual activity involving an animal. She was booked into the Marion County Jail and released after she posted a $10,000 bond. Authorities learned of the alleged crime on Jan. 28, when Major Crimes Detective Jordyn Batts received an anonymous tip that Guminski had posted a video to Instagram depicting sexual activity with a dog, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. Through her investigation, Batts located several photos and videos of Guminski with the abused animal, the MCSO alleges. She also gathered additional information, which confirmed that Guminski was the person depicted in the video, the statement claims. On March 21, Batts and Detective Annemarie Larocque spoke to Guminski, who allegedly said during the interview that she is a content creator who generates sexually explicit photos and videos to sell on the internet, according to the statement. She also allegedly admitted to creating and sharing the video with another social media user, who requested it and paid $500 for it, the statement claims. Guminski additionally stated that she had been involved in sexual activity with another dog, and the videos of both incidents were still stored on her cell phone, according to the statement. 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. "Unfortunately this isn't my first case of this nature," Batts told 13 News. "It's always shocking, it'll never not be shocking especially when you have to watch the video but I have seen it before so it's not out of the ordinary unfortunately." Online court records do not indicate that Guminski has retained an attorney who can speak on her behalf. Read the original article on People Collins in action during her defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at the Miami Open this week. - Al Bello/Getty Images Danielle Collins may not have won a trophy at the Miami Open, but she did win the heart of a stricken dog named Crash. When the American world No. 15 saw an injured dog lying in the middle of the road near Hard Rock Stadium, she felt that she had little choice but to intervene. Now, after finding veterinary care and seeing Crashs health return, she has formally adopted her new canine companion. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Collins said that Crash is recovering having spent five days in hospital on oxygen support. His breathing is back to normal, his wounds are healing, and he is definitely enjoying all the love he is receiving, the 31-year-old said. He is curious, affectionate, and grateful for a second chance at life. It was so incredibly painful to witness a dog in so much pain after being hit by a car, and left in the middle of the road with so many people driving by his curled up body. Im just grateful I was able to be there and get him the care he needed. Crash, Collins added, will be a brother to her labradoodle Quincy who was courtside for her matches in Miami and is set to attend school once he is fully recovered. Thank you to everyone who prayed for Crash, she said. Also a massive thank you to the wonderful team of veterinarians that took care of Crash and helped him receive the best possible care! Collins, a four-time WTA champion, won her first two matches at the Miami Open before losing against Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 16. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the test of new AI-powered suicide and reconnaissance drones, state media reported Thursday. The tests, carried out at the country's Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex, add to growing concerns about Pyongyang's increasingly close military collaboration with Russia, particularly as it supports Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine. The new drones are seen as a significant leap forward for North Korea's military capabilities. State media, including the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that the strategic reconnaissance drones are designed to monitor "different strategic targets and enemy troops' activities on the ground and the sea," while the suicide drones demonstrated the ability to conduct "various tactical attack missions." Kim Jong Un evaluated the performance of the drones, highlighting the integration of "new artificial intelligence" that enhances their effectiveness. He also emphasized the importance of expanding production capacity and prioritizing the development of unmanned equipment and AI for the modernization of North Korea's armed forces. Kim stressed the need for a long-term state plan to rapidly advance the use of intelligent drones, aligning with global trends in modern warfare. The testing of these advanced drones comes amid heightened concerns over North Korea's growing military cooperation with Russia. In August, Pyongyang revealed its attack drones, which experts suggest could be the result of North Korea's evolving alliance with Russia. Moscow and Pyongyang recently ratified a historic defense pact, and it's been reported that North Korean troops have been deployed to assist Russian forces in their war against Ukraine. Seoul has raised alarms about the potential for Russia to transfer sensitive military technology to North Korea, especially in exchange for North Korean support in Ukraine. As North Korean troops gain valuable battlefield experience in modern warfare, including drone usage, experts warn that the regime could continue to expand its military capabilities. During the tests, Kim also expressed satisfaction with the production of new electronic jamming and attack weapon systems, a development that could further enhance North Korea's military influence. The country has previously staged GPS jamming attacks on South Korea, disrupting maritime and civilian aviation activities. The reports follow Kim's previous orders for the "mass production" of attack drones in 2022, capable of carrying explosives and acting as guided missiles when deliberately crashed into enemy targets. In addition, North Korea had previously sent drones across the border into South Korea, with the latter unable to shoot them down due to their small size. With its advancements in drone technology and growing ties to Russia, North Korea's military capabilities are becoming a growing concern for both the region and the international community. Stephanie Gonzalez says she and her family have endured "heartbreak" since the deportation of her parents, 55-year-old Gladys and 59-year-old Nelson Gonzalez. "They really did not deserve to be treated as criminals," Stephanie Gonzalez, 27, told ABC News on Wednesday, describing how she and her sisters, 23-year-old Gabriella and 33-year-old Jessica, have been "devastated" as their parents, who possess no criminal records and have lived in the United States for 35 years, have been transported like "animals" and placed in "inhumane" conditions. PHOTO: Gladys, 55, and Nelson, 59, Gonzalez are seen in this undated photo. (Stephanie Gonzalez) Stephanie Gonzalez said her parents were arrested and detained on Feb. 21 after a routine supervision appointment. That day, Gladys Gonzalez was initially granted a one-year extension to stay in America, prompting her daughter to think that "everything's gonna be fine, like it always is." A few hours later, however, Nelson Gonzalez called to inform the family he was being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and that Gladys' extension was revoked and she was being detained as well. "They separated them in separate rooms. They were in rooms alone for hours with no food," Stephanie Gonzalez said. "They had handcuffed them from their hands or from their wrists and from their ankles." She added that it is jarring for her parents to be "treated like criminals," especially since they had "never, ever been in trouble with the law." ICE confirmed to ABC News that Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez do not have criminal records and have been deported to Colombia. It noted that its "routine operations" involve arresting people who commit crimes as well as "other individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws." MORE: 'Nazis got better treatment,' judge says of Trump administration's Alien Enemies Act deportations Stephanie Gonzalez said her parents were transported to detention facilities in different states without knowing where they were going and that she and her sisters had no way of tracking them, calling it "a mess." "It baffles my mind how they're treating people this way," she said, adding that it's "so cruel" that they were "literally moving them around like animals." MORE: Tufts PhD student on visa arrested by immigration authorities, school says Stephanie Gonzalez also said her parents had no way of finding each other while in custody -- they just happened to be on the same plane back to Colombia. "When they got on the plane, everyone started clapping because they knew that they had been reunited after so long," she said, smiling at this "really sweet moment" among the deportees. She added that she feels relieved they are now together in Colombia. PHOTO: Left to right: Stephanie Gonzalez, 27, Gabriella Gonzalez, 23, Gladys Gonzalez, Jessica Marshall, 33, Nelson Gonzalez (Stephanie Gonzalez) Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez came to America in 1989, seeking asylum from violence in Colombia, their daughter said. They then faced multiple instances of "fraudulent" lawyers, she said, including one who wasn't even an attorney and others who ended up disbarred, consequently preventing the proper citizenship paperwork from being filed. Stephanie Gonzalez described this as "so discouraging when you're trying so hard ... to do the right thing." An ICE spokesperson said in a statement that Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez "illegally entered the United States" in 1989. After they appeared before an immigration judge who found "no legal basis" for them to remain in the U.S., ICE said the couple was granted a "voluntary departure" with a final removal in 2000. MORE: Appeals court rejects Trump bid to overturn Alien Enemies Act deportation block Stephanie Gonzalez confirmed that her parents were faced with a voluntary deportation day in 2000, but she added that they subsequently spent over 20 years filing appeals. Though her parents' cases were closed in 2021, Stephanie Gonzalez said they were instructed simply to continue showing up to their supervision appointments and check in with the appropriate authorities. During these supervision visits, Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez consistently got approved to stay in the U.S., though the time frame almost always varied, she continued. "Sometimes, they would get three months. One time, they got one month. One time, I think they got almost three years where they didn't have to appear before immigration," Stephanie Gonzalez recounted. "I think it just shows how broken the immigration system is because there was no set rule," she said, adding that her family always hoped for a "really nice officer." PHOTO: Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez celebrating Stephanie's graduation. (Stephanie Gonzalez) Prior to the supervision visit in February that resulted in her parents' deportation, Stephanie Gonzalez said she and her sisters "weren't necessarily nervous" because they had been accustomed to "getting good news that they could stay in the country." "When I realized that they had gotten arrested and I wasn't going to even be able to say goodbye, it was awful," she said. "The fact that I couldn't even hug them and just feel their bodies -- like it was really hard on me and my sisters." Stephanie Gonzalez said her parents offered to self-deport and pay for their own flights to preserve their "dignity" but the government refused. She said not only do Stephanie and her sisters now have to grieve their parents' absence but they are also left to settle their parents' affairs and belongings, causing the situation to feel "like somebody died." PHOTO: Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez with their seven-month old grandson. (Stephanie Gonzalez) Stephanie Gonzalez said it has been difficult given how close-knit her family is, especially as she and her sister Gabriella lived with their parents in an apartment in Orange County, California. She also expressed sadness that her parents cannot spend time with Jessica's 7-month-old son, their first grandchild. Her mother was the baby's primary caretaker, and Gabriella had to quit her job to watch after him once their mother was no longer able to, Stephanie Gonzalez added. MORE: El Salvador prison holding alleged Venezuelan gang members has been criticized for alleged abuses Nelson Gonzalez was a certified phlebotomist who drew blood and conducted life insurance exams, his daughter said. He was also a part-time Uber driver, even working overnight to make extra money, with Stephanie Gonzalez emphasizing what immigrants like her parents "contribute to society." She expressed a desire for the public to change the narrative around immigrants, emphasizing that her parents are "hardworking people. They've paid taxes. They've raised us three to follow the law. They love America." Stephanie Gonzalez and her sisters started a GoFundMe page, which has raised over $75,000. She noted that she feels "devastated" to hear "so many parents being taken from their kids, families being separated and broken apart." "That is something that should break people's hearts," she said. Daughter of couple deported with no criminal record says they were transported 'like animals' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is among 11 senators demanding an investigation into efforts to dismantle the Education Department. Eleven Democratic senators sent a letter Thursday demanding an investigation into the Trump administrations efforts to dismantle the Education Department, warning the cuts could have disastrous consequences. The letter, sent to the departments acting inspector general, Rene Rocque, comes amid upheaval at U.S. agencies as President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk embark on a frenetic spree to slash government spending. Trump has long wanted to eliminate the Education Department but cant do so entirely without congressional approval. Last week, he signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start winding down the department, and earlier this month, the Education Department announced it was reducing its workforce by nearly 50%. McMahon said the move reflected the departments commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers. The senators balked at that in their letter, arguing that the cuts threaten to hurt the very groups that the Department is purportedly aiming to serve. The roughly 1,300 layoffs disproportionately target employees who served on teams that facilitate financial aid for tens of millions of families, enforce our civil rights laws, and ensure that every student has a place to learn in our K-12 public schools, they wrote in the letter, which was shared first with NBC News. There was no immediate response to the letter Thursday from the Education Departments Office of Inspector General. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the Trump administration. While the Democrats have no other plan to combat the massive successes of the Trump administration other than lawsuits and investigations, if they were really serious about the dismantlement of the Department of Education, they should have launched investigations into the departments failure to achieve its mission to better the education of every student in America, he said in a phone interview. In statements to NBC News, the senators who signed the letter said the administrations actions would harm generations of students. Billionaire co-presidents Donald Trump and Elon Musk are taking a chainsaw to public schools because its not their kids who will suffer the consequences, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Co-signer Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., urged a thorough investigation. Parents, students and teachers across this country deserve to know just how badly Trumps extreme actions will decimate our education system and obstruct our ability to invest in our kids futures, she said. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The letter was also signed by Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York; Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut; Dick Durbin of Illinois; Mazie Hirono of Hawaii; Alex Padilla of California; Peter Welch of Vermont; Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland; and Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon. Merkley said in a statement that Trumps illegal gutting of the Education Department will only take good teachers out of the classroom and prevent students from accessing higher education, adding that he will fight like hell for students. Our teachers, students, and families deserve better than an administration determined to destroy public education in America, he said. Trump has said he wants states, not the Education Department, to have oversight over the education system. His plan faces opposition from Democrats in the Republican-controlled Senate, who worry that states will not be able to afford to replace the loss in federal funding. Under Trumps proposal, certain functions carried out by the Education Department would be transferred to other agencies. Trump said programs for students with disabilities would go to the Department of Health and Human Services, for example, while federal student loans would be handled by the Small Business Administration. The senators questioned the legality of the proposed moves in their letter. These actions likely contravene the law and will hurt students and families everywhere. Only Congress can choose to abolish the Department of Education; the President cannot shut down the Department by decree, the senators wrote. Additionally, the Higher Education Act, a federal law passed by Congress and signed by the President, explicitly requires the Department of Education to manage student financial assistance under Title IV, including student loans. They also expressed concern that the changes would impact other critical areas such as investigations into civil rights violations and research on educational outcomes. Decimating the Education Department threatens to have disastrous consequences for American students, teachers, and families, the senators wrote. The National Education Association, the countrys largest teachers union, said gutting the Education Department would send class sizes soaring and make higher education further out of reach for all students. Americas educators and parents wont be silent as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Linda McMahon try to steal opportunities from our students, our families, and our communities to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, the associations president, Becky Pringle, said in a statement to NBC News on Thursday. The senators are asking for an evaluation of both the financial feasibility of state and local governments taking over education funding and program administration as well as the possible far-reaching effects of dismantling the Education Department. Blumenthal said such an investigation is necessary to better understand the impact of the Administrations recklessness. President Trumps gutting of the Department of Education has thrown classrooms all across America into chaos, he said in a statement. Courtesy of Brett and Jessica Gardner A doctor at a Costa Rican hospital is sharing new insight into Miller Gardners medical emergency and death. Dr. Kevin Gannon, who runs Quepos Urgent Care hospital in Quepos, Costa Rica, tells Us Weekly that his team tried to resuscitate Miller after being called to his hotel on Friday, March 21. While speaking to Us on Wednesday, March 26, Gannon, who did not personally treat Miller, said that the hospital dispatched a medical team to the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort, where Miller the 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees star Brett Gardner was staying with his family. We received the call from the hotel and we responded immediately, Gannon explained to Us. The emergency was for a patient who was a non-responsive 14 year old male. At the scene was a licensed physician, a nurse and an ambulance first response driver. Ex-Yankee Brett Gardners Son Miller Was Following In His Athletic Footsteps Before His Death at 14 When they arrived on the scene, they found a 14-year-old patient with no vitals with his family members also present. According to Gannon, the team performed advanced life support CPR for 30 minutes and the patient was declared dead after 30 minutes. They then called the authorities. Autopsy results are pending. We dont know what caused this, Gannon adds. Gannon would not discuss Millers clinical history or possible cause of death. He did say that other members of his family had gastrointestinal symptoms. Earlier Wednesday, an official for Costa Ricas Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) told Daily Mail that the Gardners Brett, 41, his wife, Jessica, their older son, Hunter, and Miller had suffered from severe stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea after eating at a nearby restaurant on the evening of Thursday, March 20. Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Reacts to the Unimaginable Death of Former Yankee Brett Gardners Son A doctor from the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort was called immediately and allegedly gave them all medication for their symptoms. The next morning, Miller was found dead in his hotel room. His preliminary cause of death was initially classified as asphyxia after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some food. Then, an official from Costa Ricas Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) told CNN on Tuesday, March 25, that Miller likely died from asphyxiation due to intoxication related to food poisoning. However, an official from OIJ told Us on Tuesday that asphyxia had been entirely ruled out as the cause after Millers airwaves were observed to be unobstructed. Why Brett Gardner and Family Havent Been Able to Retrieve Son Millers Body in Costa Rica Authorities are now investigating whether the medication given to Miller the night before his death might be to blame. Were doing toxicology tests to determine if this medicine could have caused the death, the OIJ official told Daily Mail. The official also said they are investigating whether Miller brought an existing bacterial infection with him when he traveled to Costa Rica from the familys home in Summerville, South Carolina. Results of Millers autopsy and toxicology reports could take months due to an outbreak in gang violence in Costa Rica, according to the OIJ. Were having a hike in homicides as these drug gangs battle for territory and every one of them needs an autopsy, the official told Daily Mail. WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - The Trump administration has directed two intelligence agencies to train their satellite surveillance capabilities on the U.S.-Mexico border region as part of a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and drug cartels. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which are part of the Department of Defense, oversee spy satellites and analyze imagery for the Pentagon and other intelligence organizations. Their engagement, coupled with troop deployments, shows increasing militarization of the southern border, where President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency. Reuters could not determine whether the effort, which has not been previously reported, would gather imagery of U.S. territory. Asked by Reuters about their roles in border surveillance, the NGA said it had created a task force to coordinate its "support to the U.S. border mission," while the NRO said it was partnering with the intelligence community and Pentagon "to secure U.S. borders." Their participation is in response to sweeping executive actions by Trump aimed at stopping unauthorized border trafficking and crossings, as well as deporting those in the United States illegally estimated to be up to 14 million people. The White House and Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment. Trump made immigration enforcement a central part of his campaign that catapulted him to the presidency on Jan. 20. While the government has deployed artificial intelligence and drone surveillance at the border for years, the latest initiative seeks to expand the use of military capabilities generally built for conflict overseas. More: Immigrant women describe 'hell on earth' in ICE detention The government could use AI to identify objects or persons of interest by sifting through satellite images and other data feeds, much like the Defense Department can do on the battlefield, said two sources familiar with the initiative. Though Reuters could not determine the exact scope of this effort, the new focus on the border could force the administration to grapple with safeguards against collecting intelligence on Americans, three experts said. While laws generally restrict U.S. spy agencies from surveilling citizens and other legal residents, they allow immigration authorities to conduct physical searches "within a reasonable distance from any external boundary of the United States." Regulations have defined this as 100 air miles from the border an area including cities such as San Diego and El Paso. "If they follow the law, these agencies should only collect on the other side of the border in foreign territory," said Paul Rosenzweig, a lawyer who specializes in national security and privacy law. "But how they implement that, and if they do, are legitimate oversight questions." A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the government's lead unit for integrating spy efforts, told Reuters that all intelligence activities are "legal and authorized" and conducted "in a manner that protects the civil liberties and privacy of U.S. persons." More: He voted for Trump. Now his wife sits in an ICE detention center. The NGA and NRO declined to detail what they are collecting and whether such surveillance could include U.S. territory, citing the need to protect operational details. The NGA works on a wide array of efforts including mapping features of the Earth and informing commanders of the exact location of U.S. forces and adversaries. Reuters could not ascertainwhether any other U.S. intelligence agencies would be involved in the effort. The Central Intelligence Agency has no role in domestic immigration enforcement. "Once foreign criminals are inside the United States, they are not within the purview of the CIA," a third source said. 'DIGITAL WALL' The Trump administration has elevated border security in its ranking of national intelligence priorities, allowing the government to direct more resources to it, one of the sources said. In a separate annual threat assessment released Tuesday, the U.S. intelligence community ranked transnational criminals such as drug-trafficking organizations among top national security threats listed above those posed by North Korea, Iran and other foreign adversaries. In addition, the National Security Council, an interagency group that advises the president on a range of defense and foreign policy matters, has received daily briefings on immigration detentions numbers, including the arrest of unaccompanied children, according to internal government documents reviewed by Reuters. Multiple defense contractors - new and legacy ones alike - are in talks with various government agencies to aid the border-security work, building on existing deals they have, said the two sources aware of the initiative. The contractors' work would require navigating legal boundaries, including creating security policies to prevent unlawful checks on Americans, the sources said. Industry software also could connect sensor towers to satellite and drone video feeds showing at-risk areas, and then AI could flag leads to authorities, these sources said. A digital wall to augment the borders physical one would be the goal, said one of the sources. For instance, data analytics provider Palantir PLTR.O powers the so-called Maven Smart System for the Pentagon, via contracts it won last year valued at about $580 million. Maven pulls together data and uses AI to speed up target identification for intelligence analysts. Palantir has long worked with the Department of Homeland Security as well. Anduril, a defense tech startup, designs sensor towers and related software. Last fall, the company announced it had deployed 300 autonomous versions of these towers for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, detecting and tracking objects of interest through radar and other technology. In recent months, Palantir, Anduril, Elon Musk's SpaceX and other newer contractors have discussed a consortium to jointly bid for U.S. defense deals and outcompete the Beltway's legacy players, according to a source familiar with the matter. Palantir and Anduril spokespeople declined to comment. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting By Marisa Taylor and Jeffrey Dastin; Editing by Kenneth Li and Michael Learmonth) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US-Mexico border: Trump administration using spy satellite agencies By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -The United States has paused contributions to the World Trade Organization, three trade sources told Reuters, as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration ramps up efforts to cut government spending. The Trump administration is retreating from global institutions it sees as at odds with his "America First" economic policies. It plans to quit some, such as the World Health Organization, and has cut contributions to others as part of a broad review of federal spending. The WTO has already been hobbled by a U.S. move in 2019 during Trump's first term to block new judge appointments to its top appeals court, which left its key dispute settlement system only partially functional. Washington had accused the WTO Appellate Body of judicial overreach in trade disputes. The Geneva-based trade watchdog had an annual budget of 205 million Swiss francs ($232.06 million) in 2024. The United States was due to contribute about 11% of that based on a fees system that is proportionate to its share of global trade, according to public WTO documents. A U.S. delegate told a March 4 WTO budget meeting that its payments to the 2024 and 2025 budgets were on hold pending a review of contributions to international organisations and that it would inform the WTO of the outcome at an unspecified date, two trade sources with direct knowledge of the meeting said. A third trade source confirmed their account and said the WTO was coming up with a "Plan B" in case of a prolonged funding pause, without elaborating. All three sources asked for confidentiality because the budget meeting was private and the U.S. funding pause has not been formally announced. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the WTO in Geneva did not immediately respond to a request for comment. WTO spokesperson Ismaila Dieng said that U.S. contributions had been on the way but "got caught up in the pause of all payments to international agencies". "Generally, arrears can impact the operational capacity of the WTO Secretariat. But the Secretariat continues to manage its resources prudently and has plans in place to enable it to operate within the financial limitations imposed by any arrears," he said, referring further questions to U.S. authorities. As of end-December 2024, the United States had arrears of 22.7 million Swiss francs ($25.70 million), according to a WTO document obtained by Reuters marked "RESTRICTED" and dated February 21. Under WTO rules, any member that fails to pay its dues after more than a year is subject to "administrative measures" - a series of punitive steps that get progressively stricter the longer the fees go unpaid. The country is now classified as being in the first of three such categories, two of the trade sources confirmed to Reuters, which means its representatives can no longer preside over WTO bodies nor receive formal documentation. Reuters could not immediately establish if the WTO was already applying these measures to the United States. William Reinsch, a former U.S. Commerce official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he thought the U.S. would eventually pay its WTO bill. He said the Trump administration had nominated a U.S. ambassador to the institution, which indicated some desire to remain engaged. WTO spokesperson Dieng confirmed the chair of the budget committee had informed WTO members that the United States was currently in "Category 1 arrears", along with other countries. "It remains the responsibility of WTO Members to implement the consequences associated with arrears," he said. As of end-2024, five other member countries - Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Gabon and Gambia - were in that category, the WTO restricted document showed. A total 38.4 million Swiss francs of contributions were outstanding, including unpaid fees from 2024 and prior, it showed. ($1 = 0.8834 Swiss francs) (Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal in Washington and Jarrett Renshaw in PhiladelphiaEditing by Mark John and Catherine Evans, Kirsten Donovan) When Nicole Taylor and her family moved to their new home in the South Carolina mountains six months ago, the gorgeous view of Table Rock Mountain was the clincher. She ended up with a porch-side seat to one of at least a half dozen wildfires in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Carolinas, fed by dry conditions and millions of trees that were knocked down by Hurricane Helene in 2024 and began decaying into tinderbox fuel. Taylor watched this past weekend as smoke started to rise from the ridges across Highway 11 in Pickens County. The smoke got worse Monday, and it was pouring off the mountain Tuesday when she got a text saying she was under a mandatory evacuation. So far no one has been hurt in the fires, which have burned more than 20 square miles (52 square kilometers) in mostly rugged, remote forests and the popular state park that includes Table Rock Mountain. Only a few dozen structures have been damaged. But the firefighting is slow work. Sources of water to extinguish the flames are scarce, so crews depend on building fire breaks to try to stop them in their tracks, using bulldozers, excavators and even shovels and saws to strip the land of fuel. It then becomes a waiting game, making sure embers don't jump the break and hoping for the winds to die down or the best relief of all a long, soaking rain. The long wait Hurricane Helene slammed through Pickens County the Friday after Taylor moved into her dream home last September. The hurricane-force winds traveled hundreds of miles inland, smashing entire forests and destroying the electrical grid. There was more than a week of what she called prairie life." We we're like, OK, if we can make it through that, we can make it through anything. Unfortunately fire is one thing we can't fight. This week Taylor decamped to wait the fire out in a hotel room in Greenville with her fiance, two children and their dogs. So far the fire has remained across the highway, but it is still too close for them to be able to go home. It's been an actual whirlwind, Taylor said of the last several days. Rain and then fire Six months ago Eric Young packed up his cats and left his home in Transylvania County, North Carolina, after floods and winds from Helene knocked out power, water and cell service. On Wednesday the fires in nearby South Carolina forced them all out again. A retired environmental educator who moved there from Long Island a few years ago, he had his car, driveway and crawl space flooded in September. Now he is at a friend's home near Charlotte, trying to keep a sense of humor about the absurdity of floodwaters followed so soon by flames. I thought it was nirvana here never get anything but severe thunderstorms, the weather is temperate, very nice, he said. I didnt know Id be gut-punched twice in six months. Fighting the blaze Forestry officials were worried after all those trees came down during Helene. It's not just the fuel they create, they also hinder firefighters' movement. It is nearly impossible to get through this stuff. Weve got about five bulldozers, an excavator and saw crews to open this up and clean this, Toby Cox, the firefighter in charge of the Table Rock fire, said about a fire break in a video briefing Thursday morning. Extinguishing wildfires in the Carolinas takes time. A fire near Myrtle Beach that threatened dozens of homes and burned 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) in early March has been out of the news for nearly four weeks, but it is still just 80% contained and sends smoke billowing over neighborhoods when the wind shifts. Conditions that favor fire outbreaks Wildfires are unusual in the Carolinas, but not unheard of. The Great Fire of 1898 burned some 4,700 square miles (12,175 square kilometers) in the two states, an area roughly the size of Connecticut, said David Easterling, the director of the Technical Support Unit at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Spring is typically when blazes happen, according to Kathie Dello, North Carolinas state climatologist. This season the Blue Ridge Mountains are dry, having received only about two-thirds of the normal amount of rainfall in the last six months since Hurricane Helene. March has been full of sunny, dry, windy days. Meanwhile the risk to people and property has increased over the years thanks to a boom in popularity of the mountains as a place to live. North Carolina has a lot of homes in the wildland urban interface, or more people living with a higher fire risk, Dello said. Any trees downed by Helene that do not burn this year will still be around for future fire seasons. All that storm debris will be there for years to come, increasing the fire danger considerably, Easterling said. The latest fire updates The two large fires in South Carolina continued to burn Thursday. The Table Rock fire has consumed 7.1 square miles (18.4 square kilometers), and the one on Persimmon Ridge in Greenville County has burned 2.4 square miles (6.2 square kilometers). The fires are about 8 miles (13 kilometers) apart, and emergency officials have asked almost everyone living between them to leave as a precaution. The evacuation zone extended into nearby Transylvania County, North Carolina. In North Carolina at least eight fires were burning in the mountains. The largest the Black Cove Fire and the Deep Woods Fire in Polk County were 17% and 30% contained, respectively, after firefighters made more progress. The fires have scorched about 10 square miles (26 square kilometers) combined but have barely grown for more than a day. A Texas man who murdered a Houston couple and their 6-year-old daughter entered a guilty plea to capital murder charges just moments after his criminal trial got underway this week. Xavier Davis, 32, confessed to killing Gregory Carhee, 35, Donyavia Lagway, 29, and the couple's 6-year-old daughter Harmony Carhee on June 30, 2021. The Houston Police Department said at the time that Davis forced his way into the family's apartment and shot Carhee and Lagway in front of three of the couple's children. Davis then shot Harmony in the head and also shot her 10-year-old sister, who suffered a non-fatal bullet wound and pretended to be dead until long after Davis left the residence, according to police. Once Davis had left, the surviving daughter locked the door and began calling family members while trying to protect and comfort her baby brother, the one person Davis did not shoot, say police. One child in the family, an 8-year-old boy, was not home at the time of the murders. Lagway had also learned she was pregnant with her fifth child just before her death. Facebook (2) Harmony Carhee (left); Donyavia Lagway and Gregory Carhee (right) 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. Days later, police charged Davis with three charges of capital murder and a single count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but by that point, he was already in custody for an unrelated case. Subsequent investigation by police led to the arrest of a second suspect with police alleging the killings were ordered by a woman who had dated Lagway. City of Huston;Houston Police Department Xavier Davis (right) and Alexus Williams (left) In March 2022, police arrested Alexus Williams on charges that included three counts of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. "Alexus Williams, had a prior dating relationship with one of the victims, Ms. Lagway, and they had broken up shortly before the shootings," police alleged at the time of her arrest in a news release. "Investigators learned Williams arranged the robbery and suspect Davis was the shooter. Williams and Davis had been friends since they were children." Williams allegedly told Davis that he could rob the family home and take what he wanted if he would carry out the killings, police claimed in the news release. Her trial is set to get underway alter this year and she has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. At Williams' bond hearing a few days after her arrest, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said that Davis had actually FaceTimed her during the murders. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in Davis' case, which is now moving on to the punishment phase. Read the original article on People Timothy Ratliff, played by actor Jason Isaac, is a wealthy businessman and alumnus of Duke University. SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses the fifth and sixth episodes of season three of The White Lotus, which aired on HBO on March 16 and March 23. HBO's The White Lotus has ignited controversy with Duke University following a scene featuring a main character wearing the school's apparel while appearing to contemplate suicide. Timothy Ratliff, played by actor Jason Isaac, is a wealthy businessman and alumnus of Duke University. As the character finds himself in financial hot water with the FBI, he holds a gun to his head while wearing a Duke T-shirt. The scene has sparked a backlash from officials at the North Carolina institution, who criticized the use of the schools branding in the distressing context. The university said the show used its branding "without permission," on imagery that is "troubling, does not reflect our values or who we are, and simply goes too far. Duke University did not approve the use of its marks in The White Lotus," said Frank Tramble, Duke's vice president for communications, marketing and public affairs. "Duke appreciates artistic expression and creative storytelling, but characters prominently wearing apparel bearing Dukes federally registered trademarks creates confusion and mistakenly suggests an endorsement or affiliation where none exists." The university said the show used its branding "without permission," on imagery that is "troubling, does not reflect our values or who we are, and simply goes too far. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death on college campuses. As imagery from the show is being shared widely across social media, we are using our brand to promote mental health awareness and remind people that help is available, the university added.With Duke set to play in the men's NCAA tournament Sweet 16 against the University of Arizona on Thursday, the moment has also fueled online discussion and memes. The university has been responding on X with mental health resources. "Suicide is the second-leading cause of death on college campuses. Rivalry is part of March Madness, but some imagery goes too far. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988," the university said. 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. As prisoners stand looking out from a cell, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) TECOLUCA, El Salvador (AP) U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday visited the high-security El Salvador prison where Venezuelans who the Trump administration alleges are gang members have been held since their removal from the United States. The tour included two crowded cell blocks, the armory and an isolation unit. Noem's trip to the prison where inmates are packed into cells and never allowed outside comes as the Trump administration seeks to show it is deporting people it describes as the worst of the worst. The Trump administration is arguing in federal court that it was justified in sending the Venezuelans to El Salvador, while activists say officials have sent them to a prison rife with human rights abuses while presenting little evidence that they were part of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. Noem notably dodged questions by the press about if the Venezuelan deportees were going to be in the prison indefinitely and if the Venezuelans could ever be brought back to the U.S. if a court orders the administration to do so. We're going to let the courts play out, she told reporters following the visit. Noem toured an area holding some of the Venezuelans accused of being gang members. In the sweltering building, the men in white T-shirts and shorts stared silently from their cell, then were heard shouting an indiscernible chant when she left. In a cell block holding Salvadoran prisoners, about a dozen were lined up by guards near the front of their cell and told to remove their T-shirts and face masks. The men were heavily tattooed, some bearing the letters MS, for the Mara Salvatrucha gang, on their chests. After listening to Salvadoran officials, Noem turned her back to the cell and recorded a video message. If an immigrant commits a crime, this is one of the consequences you could face," Noem said. "First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted. 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 also met with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, a populist who has gained right-wing admiration in the U.S. due to his crackdown on the country's gangs, despite the democratic and due process implications that have come with it. This unprecedented relationship we have with El Salvador is going to be a model for other countries on how they can work with America, Noem said to reporters Wednesday. Since taking office, Noem has frequently been front and center in efforts to highlight the immigration crackdown. She took part in immigration enforcement operations, rode horses with Border Patrol agents and was the face of a television campaign warning people in the country illegally to self-deport. Noems Wednesday visit is part of a three-day trip. She'll also travel to Colombia and Mexico. The Venezuelans were removed from the U.S. this month after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and said the U.S. was being invaded by the Tren de Aragua gang. The Alien Enemies Act gives the president wartime powers and allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge. An appeals court Wednesday kept in place an order barring the administration from deporting more Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. A central outstanding question about the deportees status is when and how they could ever be released from the prison, called the Terrorism Confinement Center, as they are not serving sentences. They no longer appear in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements online detainee locator and have not appeared before a judge in El Salvador. The Trump administration refers to them as the worst of the worst but hasn't identified who was deported or provided evidence that theyre gang members. Relatives of some of the deportees have categorically denied any gang affiliation. The Venezuelan government and a group called the Families of Immigrants Committee in Venezuela hired a lawyer to help free those held in El Salvador. A lawyer for the firm, which currently represents about 30 Venezuelans, said they aren't gang members and have no criminal records. The U.S. government has acknowledged that many do not have such records. Flights were in the air March 15 when a federal judge issued a verbal order temporarily barring the deportations and ordered planes to return to the U.S. The Trump administration has argued that the judges verbal directions did not count, that only his written order needed to be followed and that it couldnt apply to flights that had already left the U.S. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that about 261 people were deported on the flights, including 137 under the Alien Enemies Act. Bukele opened the prison in 2023 as he made the Central American countrys stark, harsh prisons a trademark of his fight against crime. The facility has eight sprawling pavilions and can hold up to 40,000 inmates. Each cell can fit 65 to 70 prisoners. Prisoners can't have visitors. There are no workshops or educational programs. El Salvador hasnt had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since 2019, so the Venezuelans imprisoned there do not have consular support from their government. Video released by El Salvadors government after the deportees' arrival showed men exiting airplanes onto an airport tarmac lined by officers in riot gear. The men, who had their hands and ankles shackled, struggled to walk as officers pushed their heads down. They were later shown at the prison kneeling on the ground as their heads were shaved before they changed into the prisons all-white uniform knee-length shorts, T-shirt, socks and rubber clogs and placed in cells. For three years, El Salvador has been operating under a state of emergency that suspends fundamental rights as Bukele wages an all-out assault on the country's powerful street gangs. During that time, some 84,000 people have been arrested, accused of gang ties and jailed, often without due process. Bukele offered to hold U.S. deportees in the prison when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited in February. At the prison Wednesday, El Salvador Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro showed Noem a cell holding Salvadorans he said had been there since the prison opened. No one expects that these people can go back to society and behave, he said. ___ Santana reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Marcos Aleman in San Salvador, El Salvador, contributed to this report. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are currently investigating allegations that Pfizer deliberately delayed announcing the success of its COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 until after the presidential election. The claim was initially brought forward by British pharmaceutical company GSK, according to sources familiar with the matter. The investigation stems from information shared by a former Pfizer scientist, Philip Dormitzer, who later worked at GSK, NYPost said. According to GSK executives, Dormitzer had reportedly stated that Pfizer withheld its vaccine trial results until after the election. However, Dormitzer has denied this interpretation, insisting that Pfizer and its team acted as quickly as possible to secure emergency authorization from the FDA. "My Pfizer colleagues and I did everything we could to get the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization at the very first possible moment," Dormitzer said in a statement. "Any other interpretation of my comments about the pace of the vaccine's development would be incorrect." The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has interviewed at least two individuals connected to the case, including a GSK executive who documented a conversation with Dormitzer. A third interview is reportedly planned in the coming days, though no officials from Pfizer have been questioned at this point. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are reviewing a claim brought by British drugmaker GSK that Pfizer delayed announcing the success of its COVID-19 vaccine in 2020 until after the presidential election, according to sources familiar with the matter. The allegation, if pic.twitter.com/OzzCJntf1P Badlands Media (@BadlandsMedia_) March 26, 2025 Pfizer Denies Allegations of Delaying Vaccine Announcement This inquiry follows long-standing claims from former President Donald Trump, who has accused Pfizer of delaying the vaccine's announcement to undermine his administration. Despite these assertions, no evidence has surfaced to confirm that Pfizer intentionally postponed revealing its vaccine's effectiveness. The company has maintained that its development and approval processes were strictly driven by science and regulatory guidelines. According to WallStreetJournal, Pfizer stated that the vaccine's success was the result of "the tireless work of scientists, regulators, and thousands of clinical trial volunteers." The company also emphasized that any claims of misconduct are baseless, adding that it remains fully prepared to provide transparency regarding the vaccine's development timeline. The timing of Pfizer's announcement in November 2020just days after the electionhas remained a contentious issue, particularly as the vaccine was widely regarded as a historic medical breakthrough. The company has reiterated that its clinical trial results were reviewed by an independent data safety monitoring board, which informed Pfizer of the findings on November 8. Two days later, the company publicly shared the results, revealing that the vaccine was highly effective in preventing COVID-19. GSK, which has a history of legal disputes with Pfizer over vaccine patents, has refrained from commenting on the investigation. The company has stated that Dormitzer's departure from GSK was unrelated to this matter. Originally published on vcpost.com Chris Jackson/Getty King Charles on Oct. 31, 2023 King Charles has canceled a series of scheduled events due to briefly being hospitalized following routine cancer treatments. The 76-year-old King Charles, who announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024, was hospitalized at The London Clinic "following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning," Buckingham Palace said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Thursday, March 27. "The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in [the] hospital," the statement continued. King Charles' events scheduled for Thursday afternoon were postponed. Related: King Charles Shares Advice with Cancer Patients as His Treatment Continues: 'Keep Buggering on' He is now recovering at Clarence House, Buckingham Palace said, adding, "as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrows diary programme will also be rescheduled." The statement concluded with the palace sending "apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result." Palace aides have not given further details on his particular condition or treatment program, however, palace sources say his recovery continues to trend in a positive direction. 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! King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis following a three-day hospital stay following a prostate procedure. "The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible," Buckingham Palace said in February 2024. "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer." This is a breaking story and will continue to be updated. Read the original article on People A newly developed at-home urine test accurately identifies high-risk prostate cancer, significantly cutting down on unnecessary biopsies. (CREDIT: CC BY-SA 4.0) A recent breakthrough study highlights how a simple at-home urine test could accurately detect prostate cancer. Researchers from Vanderbilt University and the University of Michigan suggest this non-invasive approach may transform access to screening, especially for people in rural areas or those relying on telehealth. Currently, prostate cancer screening involves a blood test that measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Elevated PSA levels usually lead to biopsies. Although effective at reducing deaths, this method often results in unnecessary biopsies and the overdiagnosis of harmless tumors. To tackle these drawbacks, scientists developed a urine-based test named MyProstateScore 2.0 (MPS2). The test specifically targets clinically significant cancersthose needing immediate treatment. By distinguishing dangerous tumors from harmless ones, the new test helps prevent unnecessary medical procedures. Unlike earlier tests, MPS2 doesn't require an uncomfortable digital rectal exam (DRE) beforehand. Instead, the patient simply collects the first stream of urine, making the procedure easy and comfortable at home. Rectal exams are no fun, noted Jeffrey Tosoian, MD, MPH, assistant professor of urology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He added, These findings will increase the impact of the test, as it can now be used for at-home testing. Jeffrey Tosoian, MD, assistant professor of Urology and director of Translational Cancer Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. (CREDIT: Vanderbilt University Medical Center) How MyProstateScore 2.0 Works The test works by analyzing 18 specific genes linked to aggressive prostate cancers. This gene-focused approach enables doctors to deliver personalized risk assessments, accurately identifying cancers that truly require medical intervention. Reducing unnecessary biopsies not only decreases the physical discomfort for patients but also cuts the risk of complications. Additionally, patients with aggressive cancers receive timely diagnoses, enhancing their chances for successful treatment outcomes. The study, published in The Journal of Urology, underscores the potential of urine-based testing in prostate cancer management. With telehealth becoming more widespread, this method could quickly become an essential tool, simplifying the entire screening process. Related Stories By eliminating the need for a rectal exam, MPS2 makes prostate cancer screening more accessible and convenient. This is particularly important for individuals in rural areas or those seeking non-invasive testing options. Reducing Unnecessary Biopsies Prostate biopsies can be invasive and carry risks such as infection and bleeding. The ability of MPS2 to rule out low-risk cancers means fewer men will have to undergo unnecessary procedures. The study found that in men considering a prostate biopsy, non-DRE MPS2 testing significantly reduced biopsy rates compared to traditional risk calculators. At a sensitivity level of 92% for detecting clinically significant cancer, MPS2 would have prevented 36% to 42% of unnecessary biopsies in patients undergoing initial testing. In men considering repeat biopsies, the test would have avoided 44% to 53% of unnecessary procedures. In contrast, traditional risk calculators only prevented 13% and 2.6% of biopsies, respectively. The test is highly accurate for ruling out the presence of clinically significant prostate cancersthose that merit treatmentso that patients with a negative test result can confidently avoid having to undergo MRI or biopsy, Tosoian said. With its high accuracy, MPS2 provides a reliable method for identifying men at risk while reducing the burden of unnecessary medical procedures. The Future of Prostate Cancer Screening The new study builds on previous research validating MPS2 in urine samples collected after a digital rectal exam. By proving that the test is equally accurate without the exam, researchers have opened the door to widespread at-home screening. Tosoian and his team plan to investigate whether MPS2 can also be used for monitoring men already diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer. If successful, the test could replace repeat biopsies during active surveillance, allowing for non-invasive monitoring of cancer progression. Calibration curves for GG 2 cancer for MPS2 models in the validation cohort. (CREDIT: Journal of Urology) This non-invasive urine test would have allowed patients with an elevated PSA to avoid 34% to 53% of unnecessary biopsies, Tosoian said. The ability to monitor prostate cancer without frequent biopsies would be a major advancement in patient care, reducing discomfort and medical risks while ensuring effective disease management. As the demand for non-invasive cancer screening grows, tests like MPS2 could revolutionize how prostate cancer is detected and monitored. With further validation, at-home testing may soon become a standard part of prostate cancer care, making early detection more accessible to all. Note: Materials provided above by The Brighter Side of News. Content may be edited for style and length. Like these kind of feel good stories? Get The Brighter Side of News' newsletter. Luigi Mangione expressed concern for the Pennsylvania McDonalds worker who made the 911 call about the alleged assassins location, warning that it wouldnt be good for her if the workers information was made public. Mangiones first words after federal agents apprehended him for allegedly murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was a sign of remorse for inconveniencing the public during his detainment, according to a letter sent by his legal team Wednesday. I apologize for the inconvenience of the day, Mangione reportedly uttered, according to his lawyers in court docs viewed by The Post. The 26-year-old had asked his public defender if the name of the McDonalds employee would be released as he seemingly feared his supporters would go after the worker. Luigi Mangione sits inside an Altoona, Penn. McDonalds before his arrest on Dec. 9, 2024. Pennsylvania State Police They arent going to put the cashier from cashier from McDonalds information out there, are they? Mangione asked. It wouldnt be good for her. A lot of people would be upset I was arrested. Mangiones defense team is using his first post-arrest statements to argue he is innocent in the December 4 killing of the UnitedHealthcare executive. This is the very opposite of someone who is seeking to terrorize anyone or wishing harm or violence to anyone, the letter to Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Greggory Carro noted. Prosecutors accused Mangione of leading a campaign of harassment, backlash and death threats towards certain people but his legal team argued against the charges. There is simply no evidence that Mr. Mangione is responsible for any of these threats, directly, indirectly or in any manner. Mr. Mangione has been nothing but cooperative, peaceful and has shown concern for others, wrote the team of counselors consisting of Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo and Jacob Kaplan. Mangione appears in NYC court on Feb. 20, 2025. Steven Hirsch for NY Post UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4, 2025. UnitedHealth Group Mangiones hope for civilized respect towards the cashier was ignored as the employee was the target of tasteless attacks. To the stupid bh that ratted out my baby Luigi Mangioneyou will be dealt with, one crazed Mangione supporter wrote after his arrest. The eagle-eyed worker recognized Mangione from surveillance images shared by police while the alleged killer chowed down on corporate fast food in the stores dining room. The McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested. Bloomberg via Getty Images Mangione is escorted by officials after arriving at a New York heliport on Dec. 19, 2024. Getty Images The store was the target of a review bombing campaign after Mangiones arrest. One-star reviews and negative comments aimed at Altoona McDonalds were quickly removed by Google, as the hate campaign went against the search engine giants policies. One fanatical follower of the Ivy League graduate wrote a message of support in a heart-shaped piece letter, hiding the note in a pair of socks gifted to Mangione. Luigi, we are rooting for you! Keep your head held high and know there are thousands of people wishing you luck, the note read. Mangione sits during a recent court appearance for his murder case. Steven Hirsch for NY Post The legal team had asked Judge Carro and the prosecution for additional time to file their motion to answer several items asked by the court in relation to the case. They also requested that Mangione be provided a laptop while being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center so he can help prepare for his defense. The device would be doctored to rid access to the internet, games and anything else not related to documents pertaining to the case. It would be used solely for viewing case evidence like videos, photos and 15,000 pages of records, the request stated. Auto plant in Mexico. CLAUDIO CRUZ/Getty Images Trump announced a 25% tariff on imported vehicles, hitting auto stocks on Thursday. About half of the 16 million cars sold in the US annually are made abroad. Tesla and Rivian stocks jumped on Thursday as they manufacture their vehicles domestically. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff rate on all imported vehicles on Wednesday, and investors are spooked. Most auto stocks moved lower on Thursday in reaction to the tariffs, with various automakers expected to be negatively affected by the higher prices. The tariffs don't take effect until April 3, and there's a chance negotiations result in changes to the final rate or a narrowing of the scope. But investors are shooting first and asking questions later. That's because the tariffs if fully enacted, could cost automakers tens of billions of dollars. Of the roughly 16 million cars sold in America each year, about half are manufactured outside in other countries, and nearly all of them rely on foreign-made auto parts, which are also subject to the new tariffs. JPMorgan analyst Ryan Brinkman called the tariffs "draconian" in a note on Thursday and lowered his price targets for General Motors, Ford, and Ferrari as a result. "We are lowering our price targets for shares of General Motors, Ford, and Ferrari given the increased potential for material earnings risk from draconian auto tariffs that now seem likelier than ever to be imposed as soon as April 3," Brinkman said. Brinkman estimates that the new tariffs could cost the auto industry $82 billion, double his prior estimate of $41 billion. Here are the biggest losers from the Trump auto tariffs, based on Thursday's price action. General Motors General Motors stock declined about 7% on Thursday, after dropping 3% on Wednesday. The company relies heavily on manufacturing its vehicles in Canada and Mexico. Markets Insider Ford While Ford is better insulated from the tariffs than General Motors thanks to its domestic manufacturing plants, it still stands to take a sizable earnings hit, ranging from $2 billion to $4.5 billion, according to JPMorgan. The stock dropped 4% on Thursday. Markets Insider European automakers European automakers were slammed on Thursday, including luxury manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Shares of all three companies declined by about 3%. Markets Insider Relative winners While the Trump tariffs are expected to raise the price of autos across the board, some manufacturers are better insulated, including Tesla and Rivian, which manufacture the bulk of their vehicles domestically. Tesla and Rivian stock both jumped about 2% on Thursday. Markets Insider Ferarri Shares of Ferarri initially dropped 3% in Thursday trades, as the company makes all of its vehicles in Italy. But the stock quickly rebounded and rose as much as 3% after the company announced it would implement a 10% price increase on some of its vehicle models. Analysts at Bernstein argued that Ferarri's high net-worth client base would most likely be unmoved by the higher prices. Markets Insider Read the original article on Business Insider Nearly all of the measles cases reported in Kansas are in children. - BSIP/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Twenty-three measles cases have been reported in Kansas, and the state health department said they could be linked to an ongoing outbreak that has infected at least 379 people across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The confirmed cases in Kansas have a possible link to the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. While genetic sequencing of the first Kansas case reported is consistent with an epidemiological link to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the source of exposure is still unknown, Jill Bronaugh, communications director for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said in an email Wednesday. Children account for 21 of the Kansas cases, and 20 of the cases are in people who are unvaccinated. The Kansas measles cases are concentrated in the southwestern part of the state and have spread to six counties. Most of the public school districts in these counties have vaccination rates that are well below the recommended 95% threshold set by the Department of Health and Human Services to stop spread of the virus. Hugoton Public Schools in Stevens County, which accounts for more than a quarter of the cases, had an 83% vaccination rate among kindergartners last school year, according to data from the state health department. And the Sublette Unified School District in Haskell County had a vaccination rate of just 44%. Statewide, 90.4% of incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year had received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. Only 15 other states had lower coverage rates. Religious exemptions for vaccinations have risen in Kansas over the past decade. Last week, the state House of Representatives passed a bill including language that would expand such exemptions. The measure, which also aims to increase child care availability and capacity, is now being debated in a state Senate committee. The provision in HB2294 is simply bad public health policy and Kansas children will be harmed by it, Dr. Brandon Kennedy, chair of the Immunize Kansas Coalition, said in a statement last week. As part of the wider measles outbreak, Texas has reported 327 cases as of Tuesday, and New Mexico reported 43 cases. Oklahoma has reported nine cases: seven confirmed and two probable. Forty-two people have been hospitalized and one death reported, a school-age child who was not vaccinated and had no underlying conditions. Health officials in New Mexico are also investigating the cause of death of an unvaccinated person who tested positive for measles. Most of the cases in Texas are in Gaines County, where the outbreak was first identified. In New Mexico, most are in Lea County, which borders Gaines County. Officials say the virus spread into additional counties is a problem. Were continuing to see more counties with one case popping up. Its concerning every time we add additional counties with cases, said Katherine Wells, director of Lubbock Public Health in Texas. It indicates that people are either traveling through Gaines County and picking it up, or were having people infected with measles traveling outside the county. Tuesdays update from the Oklahoma State Department of Health indicates links with the Texas and New Mexico cases. All cases are linked through exposures to household or extended family; and initial cases reported exposure to the measles outbreak in West Texas and New Mexico. At this time, no cases have resulted from exposure to public settings, the agency said. Although most of the cases in the outbreak have been in people who were unvaccinated or who had unknown vaccination status, six were found in people who said they have received at least one dose of MMR: two in Texas and four in New Mexico. New Mexicos case update Tuesday reported only one additional case since Friday, but local officials said they worry that the numbers will continue to grow. This is not necessarily a downward trend. It could just be a lull in what is an ongoing outbreak, said Robert Nott, communications director for the New Mexico Department of Health. We are not taking it for granted. The CDC is on the ground in Texas to help with infection control, including figuring out how to reduce exposures in patient waiting rooms and answering technical questions for health care providers who have never seen measles before, Wells said. New Mexico has not requested CDC assistance, but the agency has been in communication with the health department, according to local officials. There have been more than 400 measles cases reported in 20 states this year, according to CNNs tally. Less than a quarter of the way through 2025, this is already more than all of the cases reported last year. In 2024, there were 285 measles cases reported in the US, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Workers inspect a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray at the General Motors Co. Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, Ky., in 2013. A 21-year-old man faces charges in a $1.2 million Corvette heist after law enforcement recovered eight luxury vehicles stolen from a Kentucky plant. Deantae Walker, of Westland, Michigan, was taken into custody Saturday in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on charges of evading police, resisting arrest, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief. Authorities allege that Walker was involved in the theft of eight Corvettes from the General Motors plant in Bowling Green. Another man he was with fled in a Jeep with Ohio license plates, according to authorities. Bowling Green police said it was alerted to the theft by the Warren County Sheriffs Office. Deputies were called to an apartment complex after a woman reported seeing a man driving a red Corvette with the price sticker still on it, the incident report says. The woman said the man got out of the vehicle and ran toward the front of the apartment complex. The manager of the General Motors plant confirmed that the vehicle was from their lot. A second Corvette was found parked at the same apartment complex, and a third was found nearby. The manager told authorities that eight vehicles were missing from the plant's back lot. Authorities began searching for the other vehicles. The incident report says that a security camera from an apartment captured three vehicles coming into the complex. A man was seen in the footage exiting a light gray Corvette. "The male was wearing a green pullover sweatshirt with a red shirt under it. He had gray sweatpants and kept his hood on the entire time," the report says. "The male then walked to the front of the complex and was seen coming back. He then went to the left of the front building." As deputies continued to investigate, dispatch received a call from a transport driver who said he had a "weird" interaction with two men who wanted him to take Corvettes to Michigan. The driver said the men were rushing him as he loaded the vehicles, and the cars were damaged on the bottom. A police spokesperson said they believe at least nine people were involved in the theft. All of the vehicles were driven at the same time through a hole cut in a chain link fence at the plant. Police do not have their identities yet but anticipate other arrests once they are identified, the spokesperson said. Walker does not have any affiliation with the plant. Westend61/Getty A stock photo of a doctor A Michigan patient has died after contracting rabies through a transplanted organ, multiple health officials confirmed to PEOPLE The person died in January after receiving the transplant at a hospital in Ohio the month prior, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement The patient and the type of organ that was transplanted have not been identified A Michigan resident has died after contracting rabies through a transplanted organ, health officials have confirmed. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) noted that the person received the transplant at a hospital in Ohio in December, before they died the following month. "I can confirm that a Michigan resident died of rabies in January 2025. The person was a recent organ transplant recipient, and a public health investigation determined they contracted rabies through the transplanted organ," spokesperson Lynn Sutfin said in an email. "The organ transplant was conducted at an Ohio hospital in December 2024. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services worked closely with the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the investigation," the statement added. The patient and the type of organ that was transplanted have not been identified. KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty A stock photo of the rabies virus Related: Art Teacher, 60, Dies of Rabies After Bat Bites Her in Classroom: She Was Trying to Scoop It Up "The CDC Rabies Laboratory made the rabies confirmation. The organ donor was not a Michigan or Ohio resident. No additional information is being provided about the resident or the donor," the statement continued. "There is no threat to the general public. Health officials worked together to ensure that people, including health care providers, who were in contact with the Michigan individual were assessed for possible exposure to rabies. Post exposure preventive care, if appropriate, has been provided," it concluded. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department added in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, "The recipient received care in Lucas County, Ohio, where they died. A multi-state public health investigation was conducted to determine the risk of exposure to the recipient and found no risk to the general public." "Because the recipient was a Michigan Resident, this will not reflect as an Ohio human rabies case. No Lucas County residents have contracted or died of rabies," the health department added. A CDC spokesperson said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, "Once doctors believed the recipient could have rabies, public health officials learned the organ donor was exposed to a wild animal in Idaho five weeks before death." "The donor did not seek medical care at that time, later died suddenly without traditional rabies symptoms, and public health officials were not notified," they added. The spokesperson also said that "doctors implanted corneal grafts from the donors eyes into three different patients in three states," adding that the "CDC worked with Missouri health officials to intercept a fourth corneal graft before it could be implanted into a Missouri residenteven before rabies was confirmed in the donor." "All corneal tissue recipients have gotten post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) shots to prevent rabies and are currently healthy," the spokesperson continued. This is thought to be the state's first human case of rabies since 2009, CBS News reported, referencing the CDC. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Dog bites and scratches cause 99% of the human rabies cases, and can be prevented through dog vaccination and bite prevention." "Rabies spreads to people and animals via saliva, usually through bites, scratches, or direct contact with mucosa (e.g. eyes, mouth, or open wounds). Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal," WHO also noted. WLADIMIR BULGAR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty A stock photo of a rabies blood test Related: Friend of Teacher Bitten by Bat Recalls Visiting Her at the Hospital the Day She Died: 'Devastating' According to the CDC, "Rabies is a rare but serious public health concern in the United States. Before 1960, several hundred people died of rabies each year." 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. Organ donor eligibility "is determined through a series of questions posed to family and contacts, physical examination, and blood testing for evidence of organ dysfunction and selected bloodborne viral pathogens and syphilis. Laboratory testing for rabies is not performed," the CDC said on its website in a 2004 report. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC's Rabies Laboratory and the Ohio Department of Health didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. Read the original article on People Kangala Wildlife Rescue/Facebook (2) Valerie the miniature Dachshund A wiener dog has managed to survive over a year on Australia's Kangaroo Island after going missing during a camping trip in November 2023 There have been recent sightings of Valerie the miniature dachshund, but she has proved 'impossible to catch," according to Kangala Wildlife Rescue Valerie's pet parents are committed to getting the dog home once she is caught Valerie, the miniature dachshund, went missing in November 2023 while on a camping vacation at Kangaroo Island with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock. According to Kangala Wildlife Rescue, which is involved in the volunteer-powered search efforts to find Valerie, the under-8-pound dog was wearing a pink collar at the time of her disappearance. She escaped from her pen at the campsite at Stokes Bay before running into the scrub. The couple spent days searching for the canine with many locals from the area, but Valerie didn't turn up anywhere. Eventually, Gardner and Fishlock had to return to their lives on the mainland and hoped Kangaroo Island locals would continue the search. According to The Guardian, about a year after the dachshund went missing, her pet parents heard via social media that Valerie had been spotted on the island. Now, 16 months after the tiny dog's disappearance, sightings of Valerie are regularly rolling in, though the pet pooch has proved "impossible to catch." Kangala Wildlife Rescue/Facebook Valerie the miniature dachshund Related: Missing 7-Year-Old Spaniel Found Safe After Surviving 2 Months in the Welsh Wilderness "No one thought a little Dachshund like Valerie would survive alone in the wild, but more than 12 months after she went missing, regular reports started coming in about a Dachshund with a pink collar being seen about 15 kilometers from Stokes Bay," a March 22 Instagram post from Kangala Wildlife Rescue reads. "Based on firsthand 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." The rescue organization also shared that volunteers from Kangala have "set out on a mission to find and catch Valerie so she can be reunited with her loving parents who stand ready to provide the care she will need to come home again." "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," the organization added. Related: Senior Golden Retriever Returns Home After Surviving 65 Days Alone in the Alaskan Wilderness Gardner said she is shocked by her pint-sized pup's survival skills. "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," she said, per The Guardian. "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 she's gone a year and a half is incredible," Gardner continued. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Kangala Wildlife Rescue/Facebook Valerie the miniature Dachshund 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. Jared Karran, a director at Kangala, told the Adelaide Advertiser, per The Guardian, that he was "amazed" that Valerie had survived the Australian wilderness. He suspects she has been living on roadkill and dam water. Gardner said that it would "mean everything" to be reunited with their "princess," according to local media outlet Network Ten. "It would just mean that our little family is finally complete," Gardner added. Read the original article on People Drew Jarrett "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." One of Narciso Rodriguezs prized possessions is a pair of Victorian gloves, made painstakingly by hand. Its a reminder that, as he says, Good things last, and theyre meaningful. Creating those lasting, meaningful things is Rodriguezs North Star right now. When he founded his namesake brand in 1997, he quickly became a boldface fashion name. At the outset of COVID, he shuttered his label, though he continued to design for private clients and run his thriving fragrance business with Shiseido. In the interim, he underwent what he calls my personal reinvention, redrawing the lines of his career. That meant carving out a smaller, more focused existence that allows him to stop work every day at 2:45 to pick up his 7-year-old twins from their schoolconveniently located just around the corner from his studio. His kids can ride their scooters around his atelier while he arranges his fabric swatches or fits his custom designs. He now has the freedom to create a collection thats not on a deadline, and on my terms, and forge a new way forward, he says. I just dont want to be trapped in a machine. I want to get back to the things that bring me joy: my craft, the materials. And its been a great experience, because Ive had the luxury of time to perfect this concept. Arthur Elgort/Conde Nast/Contour by Getty Images Upon his return, Rodriguez says, I didnt want to fall into the same trap of department stores and deadlines and shows. He has received interesting proposals, he admits, but I couldnt imagine being on a plane, putting on shows in Europe, and missing out on one day of my kids life. Lawrence Lucier/Filmmagic Decades ago, Rodriguez was a part of the go-go revolution in American sportswear that brought New York designers to the fashion forefront. While he was still at Parsons, Oscar de la Renta took him on as a mentee. He loved that I was this young Latin man trying to get ahead, he says. Now hes paid it forward, serving as a beacon to designers like Willy Chavarria, who has said, There would be no Willy Chavarria without Narciso Rodriguez. (The designer is touched: Gosh, that was a lovely thing for him to say. Its so hard for me to wrap my head around it.) Fall 2005 Photo credit: Courtesy of the subject. Fall 2007 Photo credit: Courtesy of the subject. Fall 2007 Photo credit: Courtesy of the subject. Photo credit: Courtesy of the subject. Fall 2013 Photo credit: Courtesy of the subject. Fall 2013 Photo credit: Courtesy of the subject. Rodriguez went on to work for two titans: Donna Karan (at Anne Klein) and Calvin Klein. When youre in it, you dont realize whats going on, which is true for anything in life. And when you look back, you go, Wow, those were such crazy times; we worked so hard, he says. His Calvin colleague Carolyn Bessette became a muse of his; the minimalist bias-cut dress he designed for her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr. remains probably his best-known work. Bessette Kennedys wardrobe continues to fascinate us long after her untimely death, and Rodriguez is unsurprised. Her style was never a production, he says. It was just something innate. Even when she wore the most complicated Yohji piece, it was natural....So often you see people on a red carpet and you wonder, Who convinced them of that? How uncomfortable do they look? It doesnt fit their personality. In his time in the industry, hes seen fashion shape-shift into the corporate juggernaut it is today. I know its a business, and everyones getting paid and courted and gifted and flown, and the stylists are now celebrities, and theyre getting flown in and paid off. Its the antithesis of what good style is, he says. Penske Media - Getty Images Rodriguez went on to be closely associated with other women whom he has dressed, now, for decades, like Julianna Margulies and Claire Danes. He first met Danes when she was only 16, and he has designed wedding gowns for both actresses. These kinds of relationships are increasingly unusual in fashion, where celebrities are often outfitted for a one-off event or as part of a contract. Rodriguez is more like an old-school couturier in that way, following his muses throughout the stages of their lives. Courtesy of the designer. Growing up in a Cuban American family in New Jersey, he was surrounded by women who shaped his view of what style could be. They were bold; they loved fashion, fragrance, the art of dressing up. And it made a big impression on me at a young age. One relative, Nana Concha, was a real Auntie Mame kind of character, he remembers. As all these Cuban newlyweds immigrated to the United States, she was the magnet. She set them up, gave them a place to sleep; she taught them how to cook, how to get by. She was a real force in the lives of so many people, a very loved woman. He was completely besotted with her, and her beehive, and her makeup. She made herself Chanel-looking suits, and wore fantastic stilettos with pointy toes. It was a life lesson: It doesnt take great wealth to have great style. For Rodriguez, the true test of his work now is its ability to last for generations. A client of his stored her Narciso treasures for 20 years to give to her daughter. I thought, God, thats the greatest compliment. It feels like a win that the passion that went into each one of those dresses is recognized and appreciatedand then kept for the next generation. This story appears in the April 2025 issue of ELLE. Shop Now You Might Also Like By Hyunjoo Jin and Kantaro Komiya SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - For Japan and South Korea, tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump represent a blow to domestic car industries that are both economic pillars and sources of national pride. Shares in companies such as Japan's Toyota and Honda and South Korea's Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp fell, wiping off some $16.5 billion in value, after Trump on Wednesday unveiled a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks to take effect on April 3. On the streets of Tokyo and Seoul, and in "motor city" Gwangju, people were concerned the levies would have a far-reaching impact, speaking to the singular role the car industry has played in the post-war economic rise of the two U.S. allies. While car production helped transform Germany, Italy and France after World War Two, its influence in Asia has been even more profound. Automakers form the nucleus of vast networks of group companies that impact almost every facet of working life in the two countries. In Japan, where the industry accounts for roughly 3% of gross domestic product, it is the automakers - particularly Toyota - that set the precedent for national wage increases through annual talks between unions and management. The auto supply chain totalled around 60,000 companies as of May last year, according to research firm Teikoku Databank. The industry is broadly responsible for the employment of more than 5 million people, or 8% of the entire workforce, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. South Korea's car industry is its biggest employer, and cars and automotive parts account for 14% of exports. About half go to the United States. "The auto industry is the first thing that comes to mind for most people when you mention manufacturing," said Hiroshi Kojima, a 56-year-old businessman at a materials company who spoke to Reuters in central Tokyo. "I am worried this could have a big impact on the economy and hit production of Japan's manufacturers." UNCERTAINTY IN MOTOR CITY In Gwangju, South Korea, home to the factories that export Kia's Sportage, Soul and Seltos crossovers to the United States, "we are concerned about production volume and jobs," said a worker at a Kia supplier, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He told Reuters his factory planned to keep staffing Saturday shifts in April, but that demand looked uncertain. U.S. automaker General Motors has factories in South Korea that export more than 80% of vehicles produced, including Chevrolet Trax and Trailblazer crossovers to the United States. They are likely to be hit harder than plants of South Korean rivals, which produce more cars for the domestic market. "We are nervous," one union worker told Reuters, also speaking on condition of anonymity. He said management previously told the union that 2025 production would be in line with last year, and has not so far updated its targets. "We are very concerned about the absence of the South Korean president who can address tariff issues. This is not something that we can control," the worker said, referring to the political turmoil that started in December when now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly declared martial law. South Korea's industry minister Ahn Duk-geun met with executives from automakers and suppliers on Thursday and expressed concern about the impact of tariffs, especially for auto parts makers. He promised measures by April to minimise the impact, including boosting domestic investments and demand. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo would put "all options on the table" and noted that Japan is the top source of foreign investment into the United States, something the government has been stressing to Washington. In 2023 Japan exported 4.4 million vehicles, including trucks and buses, with one-third going to the United States. The tariffs hit a key part of most global automakers' supply chains - Mexico, where for years they have built up lower-cost production bases. Mexico is the top vehicle exporter to the United States, accounting for 2.5 million light vehicles in 2023, according to the Mexican Automotive Industry Association. Nissan took a 10% share of that, the largest among Asian carmakers but less than General Motors, Stellantis and Ford. JOB WORRIES For 57-year-old waitress Etsuko Fukada, the tariffs highlighted the difficult dynamics of Japan's relationship with the United States. She said Tokyo was unlikely to speak out because of its reliance on Washington for its military defence. The auto industry has become even more important as Japan's influence in other areas - such as consumer electronics and microchips - has waned in recent years. Automakers are still seen as top destinations for new graduates and competition for white-collar jobs can be fierce. Mayu Morikawa, a 24-year-old graduate student looking for work, said the tariffs made her fear for her own prospects and those of a friend who had just started at work at a carmaker. In South Korea, Hyun Sang-jin said the tariffs could threaten many people's quality of life, given Hyundai's pivotal role in the country. "I think this will lead to a big drop in jobs," the Seoul resident said. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin, Yeonbin Park and Dogyun Kim in Seoul and Kantaro Komiya, Fred Mery, Chang-Ran Kim and Daniel Leussink in Tokyo; Additional reporting by Cynthia Kim in Seoul; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Catherine Evans) Canadian government looking for possible retaliation against U.S. auto tariffs Xinhua) 08:54, March 27, 2025 OTTAWA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday said his government will be looking at its options for possible retaliation against the U.S. auto tariffs, local media reported. The liberal leader on his election campaign tour said the tariffs are "a direct attack" against Canadian workers, regardless of how they are applied, according to CBC News. "We have anticipated this possibility," he was quoted as saying. "We will take the steps that are in the interests of Canadian workers, of Canada. We're going to stand up for Canada. We're going to be united." Previously Carney announced a "strategic response fund" which is valued at 2 billion Canadian dollars (1.4 billion U.S. dollars) to bolster the country's auto industry. Carney said the money would be used to boost the auto sector's competitiveness, protect manufacturing jobs, help workers gain expertise and build "a fortified Canadian supply chain." Auto parts often cross the border multiple times, and the added costs of tariffs and counter-tariffs would quickly snowball. Carney called that a "huge vulnerability" and promised to build an "all-in-Canada" manufacturing network to build more car parts domestically, limiting how often they cross the border during production. "In the new world, that will be an advantage," he was quoted as saying. "That will help insulate us from President Trump's trade threats and it will grow the economy." If elected on April 28, Carney said his government would also prioritize and procure Canadian-built vehicles, reported CBC News. U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans on Wednesday for a 25-percent tariff on all vehicles not made in the United States as of April 2. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Memphis police have identified a suspect linked to the March 22 shooting that killed rapper Sayso P and injured Sauce Walka outside a hotel. A warrant has been issued for 21-year-old Jayden Dandridge, according to a statement from the Memphis Police Department on Wednesday, March 26. Dandridge faces charges of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two firearm-related felonies, and auto theft. Police released an image and surveillance video showing Dandridge exiting a white vehicle holding a backpack and another object. He was accompanied by a second person dressed in dark clothing with a face covering. Officers responded to the shooting around 2:42 p.m. near the Westin Hotel at 170 Lt. George W. Lee Avenue. Letorian Hunt, known as Sayso P, was pronounced dead at the scene. Sauce Walka, born Albert Mondane, was taken to Regional One in non-critical condition after being shot in the leg. Walka later posted graphic photos of his injury and recovery on Instagram. The department said, "We want to assure our community and visitors that downtown Memphis is a safe place. This incident was not a random act of violence." They added, "Early indications are that the victims and suspects are known to each other... MPD is committed to bringing those responsible to justice." On March 25, Walka shared a tribute to Hunt on Instagram. "Everything in Memphis @sayso___p wanted me to do with him I stayed 3 days after we lost you to complete your wishes," he wrote. "Errthing u had planned for me I stayed and completed the mission no matter what's the risk I had to complete the mission for u." A $6,000 reward is available for information on Dandridge or any other suspects. Tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (901) 528-CASH or at www.crimestopmem.org. Originally published on Enstarz Levi Meir Clancy | Unsplash (The Center Square) Lawmakers and experts agree that antisemitism is a problem on campuses across the country, but they remain divided on how to combat the growing problem. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a hearing Thursday to address antisemitism on college campuses. The hearing highlighted the complexities between combating antisemitism on campuses while balancing academic freedom and protecting students safety while questioning foreign influences in educational settings. Senators and witness experts sparred at times over the attempt by President Donald Trumps administration to combat antisemitism by investigating 60 universities with possible violations of Jewish students' civil rights. Some argue that efforts to eliminate antisemitism are leading to a different kind of violation of civil liberties, including free speech. The debate between lawmakers touched on the campus safety of Jewish students, who, since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, have increasingly reported feeling threatened on college campuses across the country, and how the federal government can combat the rise of antisemitism. In many cases, pro-Palestine protests involved outright calls for violence and support for Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department. Between 2023 and 2024, according to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents were up by 500% on college campuses, totaling 1,200 reported. One witness, Dr. Charles Asher Small, Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, pointed to links between foreign funding, specifically billions from Qatar, and an increase in antisemitic activities. Small argued that universities that take money from the Qatari regime have 300% more instances of antisemitism compared to universities that dont receive the funding. He went on to claim that foreign influences, like Qatar, are funding certain institutes and professors, as well as supporting organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine, arguing they spur antisemitism. Small called for investigations by the Department of Education into foreign funding and its impact on higher education. However, Smalls testimony faced pushback from Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kans. Marshall accused Small of displaying prejudice against the Qatari government and unfairly targeting the country, which Marshall described as a great ally of the United States. He noted that other countries, such as China, have also contributed over $3 billion to universities. Small further warned against a red-green alliance, which he argues is a collaboration between radical Islamists and left-wing, socialist organizations that benefit from Chinese funding. One of the other witnesses, Kenneth Stern, Director at the Bard Center for the Study of Hate, warned against codifying the definition of antisemitism into law for fear that it could suppress free speech. Carly Gammill, Director of the Legal Policy Stand With Us Center for Combating Antisemitism, believes that passing an antisemitism awareness act is key to addressing antisemitism on campus. The hearing also led to a debate over the Trump administrations plan to shutter the Department of Education and a need to increase funding for the Office of Civil Rights in an effort to investigate incidents of antisemitism, which some lawmakers argued are at odds with one another. A Chinese paramilitary police officer stands guard at Tiananmen Square (AFP via Getty Images) A court in China has sentenced the editor-in-chief of a Taiwanese publishing house to three years in prison for "inciting separatism", the Chinese government has revealed. Li Yanhe, a Chinese citizen who was reportedly living in Taiwan, went missing after returning home to visit relatives in Shanghai in March 2023. The Communist government later announced that Li was allegedly being investigated by anti-espionage authorities. According to rights groups, no news about his well-being or status was made publicly available until March 2025. Taiwanese media reported last week that he had been tried and sentenced by a court in Shanghai but gave no details. Li was sentenced to three years in prison after the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court found him guilty of "inciting to split the country", said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office. He added on Wednesday that the editor was fined 50,000 yuan (5,342) in addition to the sentence. Li pleaded guilty and did not appeal, he told reporters, however, the authorities did not reveal what the editor did to be charged with inciting separatism. Gusa Publishing, where Li worked, has published books on topics that are usually censored in China. The company's website includes books on corruption and authoritarian rule in China and on the military's bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests that were centred on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Taiwanese authorities said last week that Li's detention was in order to "suppress Taiwan's publishing, academic and cultural industries and attempt to create a chilling effect", according to Taiwan's government-owned Central News Agency. Gusa Publishing on Facebook said Li's colleagues were "angry and upset" and failed to understand why "just a publisher" would be charged with inciting separatism. Li's sentencing comes at a time when Beijing has been aggressively pushing for a reunification with the self-governed island of Taiwan. The Chinese government claims Taiwan as its territory and says the island must come under its control, by force if necessary, at some point in the future. "Li was arbitrarily detained, denied fair trial rights, and sentenced on dubious charges," said Sophie Richardson, co-executive director of Chinese Human Rights Defenders. "Publishing books is not a crime, but Beijing sees open debate as a threat. The charges against Li should be dropped immediately and he should be released." Yu Miao, the owner of a Chinese bookstore in Washington, DC, said it would have a negative impact on deciding which books to publish in the future. "It shows it is not safe to publish books about China in Taiwan or anywhere else," said Mr Yu, who opened the Washington bookstore after his earlier bookstore in Shanghai was forced out in 2018. In 2015, five Hong Kong-based booksellers were taken away by Chinese authorities, including a Swedish and a British national. A Michigan resident died of rabies contracted from an organ they were donated, state health officials said Thursday. The unidentified patient died in January, a month after getting the transplant at a hospital in Ohio, Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for Michigans Department of Health and Human Services told The Post on Thursday. A public health investigation determined they contracted rabies through the transplanted organ, Sutfin said in a statement. A Michigan resident died after contracting rabies following an organ transplant. gpointstudio stock.adobe.com Health officials have not identified the recipient or said what type of organ transplant they received. The health departments in both Michigan and Ohio worked closely together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the investigation into the patients death, Sutfin told the outlet. The diagnosis was also confirmed by the CDCs Rabies Laboratory. Health officials worked together to ensure that people, including health care providers, who were in contact with the Michigan individual were assessed for possible exposure to rabies, Sutfin said in a statement. Post-exposure preventive care, if appropriate, has been provided. Health officials said theres no risk to the general public. F. A. Murphy/CDC The patient received care in Lucas County, Ohio, which is where they died. A multi-state public health investigation found no risk to the general public. Convicted crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried has been bounced to an Oklahoma City lockup following his unauthorized jailhouse interview with Tucker Carlson. The former FTX executive had been serving time in a high-security unit at Brooklyns notorious Metropolitan Detention Center alongside cellblock mate, Sean Diddy Combs. But the 33-year-old is now being housed at the FTC Oklahoma City a transfer facility for inmates moving cross-country, federal prison records showed Thursday. Convicted crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried has been moved to an Oklahoma inmate transit facility just weeks after his unauthorized jailhouse interview with Tucker Carlson (above) aired. YouTube / Tucker Carlson Prison officials didnt tell him where he was being taken when they suddenly woke him and escorted him from his cell at about 3 a.m. Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. It wasnt immediately clear why Bankman-Fried was moved from the federal prison where hes been hauled up for the last 18 months. The Post reached out to his lawyers but didnt hear back immediately. The relocation came soon after the felon gave a video call interview with the former Fox News host earlier this month during which he revealed hed become pals with Combs and that the accused sex trafficker had always been kind to me. Ive only seen one piece of him, which is Diddy in prison. You know, hes been kind to people in the unit, Bankman-Fried told Carlson in the interview that went live March 6. What we see are just the people that are around us on the inside, rather than who we are on the outside, he added. Hes been kind to me. Its a position no one wants to be in. Obviously he doesnt, I dont. Its kind of a soul-crushing place. Bankman-Fried was moved to FTC Oklahoma City. Federal Bureau of Prisons The interview, which was Bankman-Frieds latest push in a long-shot campaign to secure of pardon from President Trump, reportedly landed him in solitary confinement at the infamous lockup. The disgraced tech mogul had been housed there since he was sentenced in 2023 to 25 years behind bars for stealing more than $8 billion from customers of his FTX cryptocurrency exchange. National security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confer at an event at the White House on Feb. 24. (Ludovic Marin/Pool via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The fallout continues over a security breach in which high-ranking members of the Trump administration accidentally shared plans about a forthcoming U.S. military attack on Yemen with the top editor of the Atlantic magazine on the Signal messaging app. Military and intelligence experts and some members of Congress have expressed shock over the inadvertent leak, raising questions about national security protocols and the use of unsecured channels for sensitive information. The Senate Armed Services Committee is calling for an independent investigation. President Trump and U.S. intelligence officials have tried to downplay the security risks and insist no classified material was shared. What happened, exactly? The Atlantic's editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed in an article published on Monday that he knew about U.S. airstrikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen hours before they happened, because he was added to a Signal group chat where members of the Trump administration appeared to be discussing such war plans. Goldberg said he received a Signal connection request on March 11 from someone whom he believed to be Michael Waltz, President Trumps national security adviser. Two days later, Goldberg said he was added to a conversation with 18 members of the administration including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard where they talked about plans to bomb Yemen. U.S. air and naval assets hit multiple Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15. Goldberg said that he initially did not think the Signal group chat was real. I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans, he wrote. "I have never seen a breach quite like this. It is not uncommon for national-security officials to communicate on Signal, Goldberg added. But the app is used primarily for meeting planning and other logistical matters not for detailed and highly confidential discussions of a pending military action. And, of course, Ive never heard of an instance in which a journalist has been invited to such a discussion." Related from Yahoo News: What is Signal, anyway? What was the reaction from the White House? President Trump meets with ambassador nominees in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. (John McDonnell/Washington Post via Getty Images) (The Washington Post via Getty Images) White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement that the message thread described by Goldberg appears to be authentic and that security council officials were reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain. Trump first told reporters on Monday that he knew nothing about the incident. Then, in a phone interview with NBC News, the president said he stood by Waltz. Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and hes a good man," Trump said. The president suggested that a member of Waltzs staff accidentally added Goldberg to the group. Speaking to reporters at the White House Tuesday, Trump disparaged Goldberg and the Atlantic, calling the editor a total sleazebag and the 167-year-old publication a failed magazine. On Wednesday, White House reporters asked Trump which members of his administration bore responsibility for the chat. It was Mike, I guess, I dont know, Trump responded. When pressed on Hegseth's role in the scandal, the president did not seem fully briefed on the fact that his defense secretary had shared sensitive information on Signal. How do you bring Hegseth into it? He had nothing to do with it, Trump said. What have people on the Signal group chat said? Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe take part in a hearing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. (Scott Applewhite/AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, Waltz said that he takes full responsibility" for the embarrassing security breach, and that he built the group chat himself. I take full responsibility. I built the group, Waltz said. My job is to make sure everythings coordinated. But Waltz also said he doesnt know how Goldberg was added to the chat. "I can tell you for 100% I don't know this guy," Waltz said, adding that he had spoken to Elon Musk for help in finding out what happened. Appearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, Gabbard and Ratcliffe were grilled by Democrats over the breach, which they both sought to downplay. During a House Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday, Gabbard acknowledged the inclusion of a Goldberg on the Signal chat was a mistake, but said no classified information was shared. Speaking to reporters in Hawaii on Monday, Hegseth flatly denied sharing any sensitive military information. Nobody was texting war plans, Hegseth said. And thats all I have to say about that. He reiterated those comments on Tuesday. Nobodys texting war plans, Hegseth said. I know exactly what Im doing. During a news conference in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday, Rubio said he hoped "therell be reforms and changes made so this never its not going to happen again. It cant." Obviously, someone made a mistake. Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist. Nothing against journalists, but you aint supposed to be on that thing, Rubio added. What was the Atlantics response to denials that war plans were shared? In the article published Monday, Goldberg did not reveal details of the strike plans, saying the information could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel. But on Wednesday, the Atlantic published the full text thread from the Signal group under the headline: Here Are the Attack Plans That Trumps Advisers Shared on Signal. 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, Goldberg and colleague Shane Harris explained. The messages include specific details on the timing of launches by U.S. military jets that were to strike Houthi targets. In an interview with the BBC, Goldberg said such specifics undercut the administration's assertions that no sensitive military information was shared. "If Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, is texting me, telling me the attack was about to be launched on Yemen telling me what kind of aircraft are going to be used, what kind of weapons are going to be used, and when the bombs are going to fall two hours after the text is received that seems like sensitive information, war-planning information to me," he said. What are security experts and other officials saying? During a House hearing Wednesday, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., points to text messages from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussing the planned military attack on Yemen published by the Atlantic magazine. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) (Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images) Current and former intelligence officials and mostly Democratic lawmakers have expressed shock over the breach, wondering why members of the Trump administration would be discussing security plans on Signal in the first place. "This Signal chat situation sheds light on a sloppy and grossly incompetent national security strategy from the Trump administration," said Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that they'd be this reckless and careless with our national security, Ned Price, a former CIA analyst who was deputy to the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in the Biden administration, told NPR. Price said he had spoken to former national security officials and colleagues involved in military planning, adding, Its fair to say ... that heads are exploding. Some security experts have suggested that the group chat may have violated the Espionage Act for mishandling national defense information on Signal. But FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi each signaled this week that neither the FBI nor the Justice Department will investigate the matter. What about members of Congress? While most Republicans have avoided criticizing the administration over the breach, a few have spoken out. Classified information should not be transmitted on unsecured channels and certainly not to those without security clearances, including reporters. Period, Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York, wrote on X. Safeguards must be put in place to ensure this never happens again. The White House is in denial that this was not classified or sensitive data, Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska and a former Air Force brigadier general, told reporters on Wednesday. They should just own up to it and preserve credibility. Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee is calling for an independent investigation into the leak. Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican and chairman of the panel, and Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island and the committee's ranking member, sent a letter to the Pentagons acting inspector general Wednesday requesting a formal probe over the use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information, as well as the sharing of such information with those who do not have proper clearance and need to know. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois and a member of the committee, did not mince words in a post on X Wednesday. "Pete Hegseth is a f***ing liar," Duckworth wrote. "This is so clearly classified info he recklessly leaked that couldve gotten our pilots killed. He needs to resign in disgrace immediately." What do Americans think about the Signal leak? A YouGov poll conducted on March 25 found that 74% of Americans including 60% of Republicans thought the Trump administration's military leak is a very or somewhat serious problem. The survey of 5,976 U.S. adults was conducted a day before the Atlantic published the full text of the group chat. March 25 poll of 5,976 U.S. adults 60% of Republicans think the Trump administration's military leak is a very or somewhat serious problem So do 89% of Democrats and 72% of Independents (Link in reply) pic.twitter.com/FQixSDCuVF YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) March 25, 2025 Are you an educator? What do you think about Trump's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education? Yahoo News is asking teachers, administrators and other school staff around the country for their reactions to President Trumps order and how closing the Department of Education would affect their schools and students. Let us know what you think in our form, here. Truth and Reconciliation Commission chairperson Park Sun Young, right, comforts adoptee Yooree Kim during a press conference in Seoul on 26 March 2025 (AP) A South Korean commission has accused successive governments of committing widespread human rights violations by enabling mass overseas adoption of at least 170,000 children, often through fraudulent and coercive means. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its findings on Wednesday after nearly three years of investigating complaints from 367 of the about 140,000 South Korean children sent to six European countries, including Denmark, which urged Seoul to probe the adoptions in 2022, as well as the US and Australia. It found that local adoption agencies collaborated with foreign groups to mass export South Korean children, driven by monthly quotas set by overseas demand. Many adoptions occurred through dubious or outright unethical means. The commission determined the state violated the human rights of adoptees protected under the constitution and international agreements by neglecting its duty to ensure basic human rights, including inadequate legislation, poor management and oversight, and failures in implementing proper administrative procedures while sending large numbers of children abroad. The report released on Wednesday covered the first 100 of the 367 complaints submitted by adoptees taken abroad between 1964 and 1999. The adoptees, from 11 countries, had long suspected their adoptions were tainted by corruption and malpractice, concerns widely shared within the Korean adoptee community. The commission concluded that 56 of the 100 adoptees were victims of state negligence, which constituted a violation of their rights under the South Korean constitution as well as international conventions. It noted that South Korean agencies were given sweeping authority over children, including full guardianship and power to approve foreign adoptions. Such lack of oversight led to large-scale inter-country adoptions, with many children losing their true identities and family histories due to falsified or fabricated records. South Korea has sent nearly 200,000 children abroad for adoption since 1953, making it the largest source of inter-country adoptees in the world. In the Asian countrys impoverished postwar years, the government prioritised overseas adoptions over developing a domestic welfare system, relying on private agencies to send children abroad in exchange for fees from adoptive families. Numerous legal and policy shortcomings emerged, commission head Park Sun Young said. These violations should never have occurred. Peter Moller, a South Korean adoptee from Denmark who led an international campaign for an investigation, told The New York Times that the truth commissions report acknowledged that the deceit, fraud, and issues within the Korean adoption process cannot remain hidden. The commission found that many children were sent abroad for adoption with falsified or fabricated identities and family histories, often without legal consent. Adoption agencies, such as the Korea Social Service, misrepresented childrens backgrounds to their adoptive families and profited from the process. They charged high fees and used the funds to acquire ever more children, the commission pointed out, making adoption a profit-driven industry in which children were treated like cargo. South Koreas government has never directly acknowledged responsibility for such adoption practices. As of Thursday morning, Associated Press reported, the health and welfare ministry said it had not yet formally received the commissions report but would actively review its recommendations. It added that efforts to improve the adoption system will continue, citing its preparations to enforce a new law taking effect in July designed to strengthen the states responsibility over adoptions. The commission said the government had actively utilised foreign adoptions, which required no budget allocation, instead of investing in a social safety net for vulnerable children. At a press conference on Wednesday, Yooree Kim, sent to France by an adoption agency at the age of 11 without the consent of her biological parents, urged the commission to strengthen its recommendations. She called on the government to promote broader DNA testing for biological families to improve the chances of reunions with their children and to officially declare an end to foreign adoptions. She said that adoptees affected by illicit practices should receive compensation from the Korean government and adoption agencies, without going through lawsuits. In keeping with its findings, the commission recommended the government issue a formal apology, provide remedies for the affected, and ratify The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Its been a long wait for everybody, Han Boon Young, one of the 100 adoptees whose cases were heard by the commission, told CNN. And so now we do get a victory. It is a victory. Ms Han, who grew up in Denmark, said that she was not officially recognised as a victim due to a lack of documentation. If they say, we recognise this is state violence, then how can they not recognise those who dont have much information? Because thats really at the core of our issues, that we dont have information, she told CNN. Its been falsified, its been altered. Britain and France are preparing to send a joint military delegation to Ukraine in an effort to determine how any future ceasefire deal can be supported on the ground, Sir Keir Starmer said after a summit in Paris on Thursday. The prime minister also called for a deadline for Russia to come to the negotiating table, adding: We need to see this developing in days and weeks, not months and months. Sir Keir said: We will be ready to operationalise a peace deal whenever its precise shape turns out to be, and we will work together to ensure Ukraines security so it can defend and deter against the future. It came as French president Emmanuel Macron said it is not up to Russia what happens on Ukrainian soil after the Russian leader ruled out allowing the so-called coalition of the willing to deploy a peacekeeping force in the country. Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday (AP) After a meeting of 30 countries in the coalition, Sir Keir said there had been clear progress in the assembly of a peacekeeping force since talks began a month ago, with more countries willing to join Britain and France in sending troops to Ukraine. But he was unable to give tangible evidence of the coalition having come closer to assembling the much-touted peacekeeping force in the four meetings it has convened so far. The PM stressed that Europe has not been this strongly united for a very long time as he lashed out at Mr Putins filibustering in talks to end his invasion of Ukraine, buying time to rebuild its armed forces. He threatened a fresh round of sanctions against the Russian dictator and his allies in a bid to force Mr Putin to take negotiations seriously. He also vowed to marshal more military aid for Volodymyr Zelensky to keep Ukraine in the fight while talks rumble on. Mr Macron said Britain and France will task our chiefs of defence to ensure that a Franco-British team should be sent to Ukraine in the next few days to work very closely with our Ukrainian partners. The trip is aimed at determining what is required in terms of the number of soldiers and what equipment and hardware is required in order to deter and respond to future Russian aggression, he added. Keir Starmer during a press call in Paris on Thursday (EPA) Mr Zelensky spoke alongside Sir Keir outside the British ambassadors house in Paris, piling pressure on Western leaders to keep sanctions against Mr Putin in place until the war is over. The EU has committed to not lifting any sanctions on Russia until it has fully withdrawn from Ukraine, while Sir Keir said he is prepared to double down on sanctions. The meeting in Paris came after Ukraine and Russia agreed to pause hostilities in the Black Sea following talks brokered by the US in Saudi Arabia. In statements published by the White House, the Trump administration also appeared to signal its intention to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve Moscow's access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems as part of the deal. But Ukraine and its European allies firmly pushed back against the plans. President Zelensky said sanctions were "one of the few real tools the world has to pressure Russia into serious talks". Thursday's meeting also saw Sir Keir update the group of 30 nations with the outcomes of a series of military planning talks for a possible peacekeeping force in Ukraine. The Trump administration may be preparing to ease sanctions on Russia (EPA) Officials and defence chiefs have been holding talks at London's Northwood military headquarters throughout the week, drawing up a strategy to support Kyiv and deter future aggression from Moscow. Fighting continues in Ukraine with both sides accusing each other of breaking the terms of a tentative US-backed agreement to pause strikes on energy infrastructure. Russia's defence ministry claimed Ukrainian drone attacks hit power facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions this week, which Ukraine dismissed as Kremlin disinformation aimed at justifying continued hostilities. Ukrainian officials have said Moscow is "lying" about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and has carried out eight confirmed hits on power sites since the deal was struck. On Thursday, Mr Zelensky also warned that Russia was preparing "new offensives" against the Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, while "dragging out the talks and trying to get the US stuck in endless, pointless discussions about fake 'conditions' just to buy time and then try to grab more land". By Max Hunder KHERSON, Ukraine (Reuters) - When he learned that U.S. President Donald Trump had suspended funding for a Yale University research project into Russia's abduction of children from Ukraine, Volodymyr Sahaidak wondered if the perpetrators would ever be brought to justice. Sahaidak was running a rehabilitation centre for more than 50 children in the southern city of Kherson when Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022. He quickly dispersed most of them among relatives and staff to prevent the Russians from taking them away. But not all could be re-homed and a handful who were attending a vocational school in the city were removed to Russian-occupied territory. "I am angry that one person can undo all the work conducted by dozens of people," Sahaidak told Reuters this week in Kherson, back under Ukrainian control since November 2022. It continues to be pounded regularly by Russian shelling and attack drones. "There needs to be criminal responsibility (for this), but America is now showing us otherwise." Many Ukrainians share his anger at the suspension of vital U.S. support for programmes pursuing justice for civilians who say they are the victims of abuses - and for children whose voices have not been heard. Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab had been part of an initiative that under President Joe Biden began to document potential violations of international law and crimes against humanity by Russian authorities in Ukraine. Ukraine says that more than 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory during the war without the consent of family or guardians, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the U.N. treaty definition of genocide. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova over the deportation of the children. Russia says it evacuated vulnerable children from war zones for their own safety. The Kremlin, Lvova-Belova's office and the Russian defence ministry did not respond to detailed questions for this article. According to Sahaidak, four unidentified Russian representatives came to his orphanage one day in June 2022 and removed the children's paperwork. CCTV footage at the centre showed four men - two in civilian clothes and face masks and two in military uniforms and balaclavas - search his office. A Reuters investigation previously found that six children attending a vocational school in Kherson were then taken to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula occupied by Russia since 2014. JOY TO DISMAY Sahaidak was jubilant when the ICC, to whose investigator he recounted his story, issued arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova. That turned to dismay when Trump's administration sanctioned the ICC prosecutor pursuing the case, Karim Khan, over a separate decision involving Israel's prime minister. "It's wrong, and I'm worried that if this continues (Putin) will walk away scot-free," he said. A U.S. statement issued after talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said Washington would seek to return abducted children to Ukraine, but did not give details. "Trump and Putin's friendship should not influence decisions about the illegal actions of Russia," Sahaidak said. For Inna Kholodnyak, chief doctor at Kherson's main children's hospital, the withdrawal of funding for the Yale programme was a bitter pill to swallow. "To stop financing such an important project ... will lead to everyone understanding that whatever crime they commit, nothing will happen to them, and this will cause a chain reaction around the world." The White House did not respond to questions about ending support for the Yale initiative and whether this could damage efforts to hold people accountable. After the Russians seized Kherson, Kholodnyak said she refused to take orders from them and was replaced as head doctor, but still helped to run the hospital remotely, moving homes as she feared detention by occupying forces. She recalled how children, many of them pre-schoolers, were brought to the hospital from the Kherson children's home - separate from Sahaidak's centre - and how all but two of them stayed there. "(Doctors would) exaggerate the severity of illnesses on paperwork so that children could not be taken away," she said. One of the two who were taken away was Illia Vashchenko, who was two at the time, Reuters previously found. Illia was issued with a new Russian birth certificate in 2023 by a Russian state registry office. The registry documents, which a previous Reuters investigation reviewed, do not reveal his precise location or whether he has been adopted. "I feel hatred and disrespect towards the Russians," Kholodnyak said. Asked if they believed abducted children would one day have justice, Kholodnyak and Sahaidak agreed that Trump's interventions had made this less likely. "I have always believed and still believe in the victory of good, justice and common sense," Kholodnyak said. Sahaidak was less sure. "I think that until Ukraine becomes a powerful country, there will not be any justice done." (Reporting by Max Hunder; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Gareth Jones) Angelica Reyes / via Noticias Telemundo Mario Rene Lopez says being locked up in an ICE detention center is a very hard experience since he cant be with his family and conditions are tough, but above all, it's hard because, he insists, he's a U.S. citizen. "I came to the United States when I was 12 years old, with a permanent residence because my mother was a [legal] resident and she put in the papers and went to pick me up in El Salvador," Lopez, 44, said in a call from the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia. When my mom became a citizen, I was a minor, so I automatically got citizenship derived from my mother, but for no reason I am now being detained. According to the Citizenship and Immigration Services website, derivative citizenship refers to the automatic acquisition of citizenship by children who are under 18 through the citizenship status of their parents, and, under certain circumstances, it applies to foreign-born adopted children of U.S. citizens. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained Lopez in January 2023. He has since been held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green. Angelica Reyes / via Noticias Telemundo He is also a citizen' Lopezs ICE detention was the latest step in a long process in the courts to try to have his citizenship recognized. Born in El Salvador, Lopez entered the United States as a legal permanent resident in 1992. His mother naturalized in 1998, when he was 16, theoretically granting him automatic citizenship under 8 U.S. Code 1432, which was in effect at the time. Now the legal framework for that type of citizenship is the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, which says the general requirements for eligibility are that a person must be the child of a parent who is a natural born or a naturalized U.S. citizen (including an adoptive parent) and must be under age 18 and a lawful permanent resident. In addition, the child must reside in the United States in the lawful and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent. Floribel Lopez, 62, Lopezs mother, said in an interview with Noticias Telemundo that that applies to her son. "I gave him the papers when I became a citizen. He is also a citizen because I did it when he was a minor," she said. "I dont know why he's being detained." "We left El Salvador because of the guerrilla problem, because they were killing a lot of people. Thats why we came here," Floribel Lopez said. The U.N.-backed Truth Commission report documented that the Salvadoran civil war, which lasted from 1979 to 1992, left more than 75,000 people dead and thousands missing. At age 20, Lopez was convicted of drug offenses (in 2004 and 2005) and served a seven-year prison sentence. According to legal documents in the case, during his time in prison he was visited by officials from the Department of Homeland Security, who in 2009 determined that he had obtained U.S. citizenship from his mother under the law at the time. However, in 2016, according to court papers and Lopezs attorney, DHS changed its position, deemed him a legal resident but not a citizen and initiated removal proceedings because of his drug conviction. "In 2016, officials changed their mind and put him in deportation proceedings. Weve been with this case for about eight years, and were still fighting the same citizenship issue," said Benjamin Osorio, Lopezs lawyer. "We have the proof that he's a citizen because we have his birth certificate, the residency, his mothers citizenship certificate, which she did before he turned 18, and his parents were never married. All of that works to prove that hes an American." According to 8 USC 1432, which was in effect when Lopez filed his case, children of naturalized U.S. citizens were entitled to derivative citizenship when, among other things, both parents were naturalized, the parent who had legal custody of the child was naturalized (in cases where there was a legal separation of the parents), or when only the mother was naturalized "if the child was born out of wedlock and the paternity of the child has not been established by legitimation." The latter is the case for Lopez, as stated by his lawyer and his mother. "I was never married to the father of my children. Mario has no contact with him and never has. I have two children, and the father was never responsible for them, nor did he acknowledge them," Lopez's mother said. But according to legal documents in the case, prosecutors argue that the Salvadoran Constitution changed in 1983, eliminating legal distinctions between children born in or out of wedlock. According to the prosecution, that "legitimized" Lopez (as not being born out of wedlock) before his mother was naturalized, making him ineligible for derivative citizenship. "This case is a bit complicated because the government is asking to study the law in El Salvador to determine whether or not he was, in fact, legitimized. And the irony is that, if it is determined that he was legitimized by the change in the law in that country, then he would have to prove that his father was also naturalized, but apparently his father never had a relationship with him," said Charles Wheeler, a senior attorney with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. "Its really unfortunate, because he is, for all intents and purposes, a citizen of the United States, considers this country his home and has lived here most of his life. He no longer has any real connection to El Salvador. Unfortunately, because the government does not accept his citizenship, he could be deported because of his prior criminal convictions," Wheeler said. Lopez said that he counts the time he has been locked up and that it has already been two years and two months. I made mistakes when I was young, but that helped me change. Im not that person anymore. I went out to work, I have my registered electricians license, and now this happened to me. I was on the street for 12 years without any problems, doing the right things, he said. DHS and ICE did not respond to Noticias Telemundos requests for information about Lopezs case and the change in the determination about his citizenship in 2016. Lopezs case illustrates the challenges faced by many people who are beneficiaries of derivative citizenship. "Because of both legal and procedural barriers, it can be extremely difficult for people to obtain derivative citizenship, even with the help of an attorney," Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst with the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute, told Noticias Telemundo. "In fact, in some cases, that can result in people being stateless, meaning they dont have a citizenship." Lopezs attorney filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus challenging his detention on the grounds that he is a U.S. citizen; his case is before the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals, and a ruling is expected later this year. In the meantime, because the government does not consider him a citizen, Osorio filed motions to grant Lopez protection under the Convention Against Torture, a measure that prevents deportation to a country where a person faces a real risk of torture. The courts have ruled in Lopezs favor in that case. Lopezs attorney said that since he won on the Convention Against Torture, "they are looking for another country to see if they can deport him somewhere other than El Salvador." "What we fear is that, because of his background, they could send him to Honduras or to Mexico," Osorio said. "Thats another reason to keep fighting for citizenship. 'It's been traumatic' Angelica Reyes, 40, Lopezs wife, says she remembers the day of her husband's detention very well. She woke up in the morning and noticed that her husbands truck was still parked, as if he hadnt left for work at his electrical company. "I got worried and started calling some friends and the guys who worked with him, but no one knew anything. After two or three hours, I was able to get a call from him telling me that he had been detained by ICE," she said in an interview. "It has been very traumatic because, from one day to the next, I was left alone with my children. Its a nightmare, and economically its not easy, either." There is a positive precedent in Lopezs case, Flores-Torres v. Holder, a 2009 case decided by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. In that case, Herbert Flores-Torres, who was also born in El Salvador and was detained by ICE pending removal, successfully established his derivative U.S. citizenship claim. The court found that the fact that Flores-Torres father never married his mother was "sufficient" to determine that he qualified for derivative citizenship. Derivative citizenship has become an important pathway to citizenship for thousands of children of immigrants who naturalize annually, helping ensure family unity in the U.S. immigration system. Noticias Telemundo analyzed official USCIS figures for fiscal years 2021 to 2024 that show the processing of N-600 forms, which people use to apply for derivative citizenship through their parents. In that period, the agency received 255,126 applications and 230,193 were approved an approval rate of 91.3%. "If your parents are U.S. citizens at the time of your birth abroad, or if at least one of them becomes a citizen afterwards, you have access to derivative citizenship. Its a right, and that law hasnt changed in about 25 years, and it was passed by Congress, Wheeler said. Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, where Lopez is being held, drew media attention in 2023 when an inspection by the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Inspector General revealed systemic failures in health services, food handling and the recording and processing of detainee complaints. This has caused me too much stress and worries for my family. This is getting too crowded, there are already people who have to sleep on the floor, and I think thats unfair, Lopez said. Recent DHS figures show that immigration detention centers are at capacity, housing 47,600 people nationwide. Noticias Telemundo asked ICE and DHS what measures were implemented at the facility after inspection report but did not receive a response. After the 2023 inspection, it was revealed that ICE had acknowledged two of the offices eight recommendations: observations about the handling of inmate food and the processing of grievances. "This has been a trauma for my six children, my wife, my mother and my entire family. I was doing things right," Lopez said. "Even the judge said I am a reformed person, I am not a danger to society. This is a nightmare." An earlier version of this story was first published on Noticias Telemundo. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is standing by its decision to arrest a Turkish graduate student on the street, claiming she was targeted for supporting Hamas' actions in the war in Gaza. Concretely, a DHS spokesperson told NBC News that even if Rumeysa Ozturk had a valid F-1 student visa as a doctoral student, she had "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," the spokesperson added. Ozturk's arrest made national headlines on Thursday as video of her arrest on the street began circulating. Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, said she was on her way to break her Ramadan fast with friends when she was approached by law enforcement. Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk was detained by ICE. A video shared with GBH News shows a man in a hoodie approach her, then grab her wrists. Ozturk screams, then asks Can I call the police? before being told Were the police.https://t.co/6dwvEmqjVr@sweetadelinevt @GBHNews pic.twitter.com/NAAgGVpp9G Tori Bedford (@Tori_Bedford) March 26, 2025 Images show her becoming agitated as she is approached by officers in plain clothes. She then has her backpack removed and is escorted out of frame with her hands behind her back. After she asks "can I call the police?" she is told "we're the police, relax." The online detainee locator system showed Ozturk was being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center. "Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security," the DHS spokesperson added when discussing her arrest. Ozturk's lawyer said a petition for a writ of habeas corpus was filed in Massachusetts federal court to obtain her release. A judge blocked the Trump administration from removing her from the state, but officials did it anyway. The event follows the high-profile arrest of Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, targeted for deportation as a result of his role in campus protests despite holding a green card. 30-year-old Khalil, born in Syria to Palestinian parents, was a negotiator representing students who staged numerous protests throughout the year, setting up encampments and disrupting activities. Both his student visa and green card were revoked. The Trump administration has vowed to deport Khalil despite criticism from many Democrats and advocates, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying "he's going to leave and so are others." Originally published on Latin Times Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Seeiso (left) and Prince Harry in Lesotho in October 2024 Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso are "torn apart" over the thought they are leaving the young people of southern Africa they vowed to help amid their resignation from the charity they founded. The Duke of Sussex, 40, and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, 58, set up Sentebale in 2006 in memory of their late mothers. However, they stepped down from their positions as patrons on March 25 in the wake of infighting at the charity, stemming from disagreements between the charity's trustees and the chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka over the charitys governance. The Charity Commission in the U.K. is investigating. Dr. Kelello Lerotholi, a cousin of Seeiso, was part of Sentebale from the very beginning. He is one of the trustees who resigned earlier this week and told the U.K. newspaper The Times, which broke the original story, that he was worried about the emotional well-being of both princes. Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry (left) and Prince Seeiso visiting Lesotho in October 2024 Related: Prince Harry Calls for Change During Fireside Chat in Lesotho for Sentebale Lerotholi told the paper on March 27, I think given their commitment to the welfare of kids, they are torn apart at the thought of looking like theyre abandoning them when they know that theyre not abandoning them. In their original joint statement explaining their decision, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso said, "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." "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," they continued. "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 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." Brian Otieno/Getty Sentebale Board Chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka (left) and Prince Harry in Johannesburg, South Africa in Oct. 2024 Related: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Connection to Africa from Their Third Date to Tour with Archie Chandauka is suing trustees after they questioned whether she was best placed to chair the board. The princes' statement noted, These trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down while keeping the well-being of staff in mind. In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship." On March 26, a Sentebale source familiar with the situation told PEOPLE that Chandauka has placed significant legal and financial strain on the charity. According to the source, when Chandauka was appointed in July 2023, the organization was in stable financial standing but that changed under her leadership. Jason Koerner/Getty From left: Nacho Figueras, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, Prince Harry and Richard Miller attend a polo match on April 12, 2024 When the most recent fundraising deal collapsed in December 2024, internal discussions began about her leaving the post. By February, the board formally requested that she step down, but Chandauka allegedly refused. When trustees moved forward with a vote to remove her, she filed a legal challenge to block the process. The source claimed too that Chandauka hired external consultants at a cost of more than $600,000 to develop new fundraising strategies and build relationships with potential donors, allegedly without securing board approval, the source claimed. "The trustees felt that they couldn't in good conscience continue to place legal and financial strain on the charity by it proceeding in court and chose to resign," the source says. A representative for Chandauka told PEOPLE in response: "First and foremost, like much of the content circulated yesterday, a lot of information being shared is untrue and defamatory in nature. When we are ready as an organization, we will share more detail regarding the events leading up to this point. Moreover, the Board acts collectively on major decisions, and it would be inappropriate to assume decisions were made by any one person." After Lerotholi and the other trustees including Harrys longtime friend Mark Dyer resigned and Harry and Seeiso followed, Chandauka issued a strongly-worded statement on March 26, giving her reason for taking legal action and making accusations of misogyny," bullying" and "the coverup that ensued. She added that her work at the charity was "not a vanity project from which I can resign when I am called to account." Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry (background) and Prince Seeiso in Lesotho on Oct. 1, 2024 Related: Prince Harry Says 'Africa's in My Soul' as He Discusses Desire to 'Give Back' During Surprise Panel Appearance in Miami Lerotholi told The Times in response: I look on in horror today at the content of the statement, you know, and the allegations made about misogyny and all of that. I can honestly say that, first of all, professionally, in the primary health care work Ive been doing, Ive become very sensitive to those other issues of people being discriminated against and so on. I can honestly say in all the meetings that Ive been involved in, there has been no hint of such," he added. "People have been dealing with each other respectfully. Yes, I mean, as there is with any human interaction, there will be time when voices are raised for emphasis or when people feel theyre not being heard, there will be voices raised. But theres never been a put-down, theres never been a dismissive tone, theres never been, you know, at least not in my presence, any of those people being set upon and being made to feel little. I never, not in any single meeting, experienced it. Talking about the motivation of Harry and Seeiso for helping the young people of the tiny southern African kingdom, Lerotholi says of the early excursions around the country: They would go out to the mountains and so on and then come back to my place to be refreshed, watch the rugby and hang out. It was during those trips in the very rural, remote areas where the prince took him that he really saw the dire straits and the hard situation that kids were growing up in the area. Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry during an outing on behalf of Sentebale in Lesotho, Africa in Oct. 2024 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! The Charity Commission, which registers and regulates charities in England and Wales, said 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. Prince Harry most recently visited Lesotho in Oct. 2024, where he met with local communities alongside Prince Seeiso and Chandauka. The Duke of Sussex has regularly played in the polo matches to benefit Sentebale, fundraising more than $10 million over the last decade. At the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida on April 12, 2024, Prince Harry was joined for photos by his wife Meghan Markle, 43, and Chandauka following the match. Read the original article on People (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar is reportedly planning to file impeachment articles against three top defense officials involved in the recent Signal chat leaks, Axios reported Thursday. Omar plans to target Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe, according to Axios. The scandal involved Waltzs accidental addition of The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffery Goldberg to a group chat discussing detailed attack plans against Houthi rebels in Yemen, which Goldberg initially published Monday. The progressive congresswoman has been pushing this idea to her Democratic colleagues in the House, a senior House Democrat and another source familiar with the matter told Axios. (RELATED: Dem-Appointed Judge Who Blocked Gang Deportations To Hear Lawsuit Over Trump Admin Signal Chat) Deputy Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Rep. Ilhan Omar (2nd R) (D-MN) speaks as Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Rep. Pramila Jayapal (2nd L) (D-WA) listens during a news conference on government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on September 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Omar is a member of the left-wing progressive group known as the squad, which includes Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Cori Bush of Missouri. President Donald Trumps administration, including Hegseth and Waltz, officially deny that any war plans were discussed in the chat, which prompted Goldberg to release the full logs in a second piece Wednesday which revealed how Hegseth laid out dates and times for certain future actions against the Houthis, which Goldberg said came to fruition. Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, and everyone in the group, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday in an X post. Terrorists were killed and thats what matters most to President Trump. Waltz denied ever having met Goldberg in a Fox news interview Tuesday, saying Elon Musk provided the best technical minds to get to the bottom of how Goldberg was added. Ratcliffe, in a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday, said Signal use was permitted for internal discussions and that the application came loaded on his computer at the CIA. Omars office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundations request for comment. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Rust starring Alec Baldwin has a release date: May 2. (Rust Movie Productions LLC) Rust has a trailer and release date three years after the films cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on set. Alec Baldwin was rehearsing a scene for the western film on Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe, N.M., in October 2021 when the prop gun he was using discharged. A live round, which had been mixed in with the fake movie bullets, fatally struck Halyna before lodging in director Joel Souzas shoulder. The tragedy has resulted in multiple lawsuits and high-profile trials. The films original armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is serving 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Baldwin went to trial on the same charge, but his case was dismissed. The original first assistant director, David Halls, pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced to probation. The film went back into production in 2023 and will have a May 2 theatrical release. The new trailer, out March 26, shows that the film didnt get watered down. There is no shortage of guns and shoot-outs, though Baldwin doesnt appear to be the triggerman in any of the trailer scenes. He does utter some lines that hit differently in light of what happened, including Some things in life you cant get back, I reckon and Heaven aint waiting on either one of us. The synopsis of the film for which Baldwin also gets story by and produced by credits reads: In 1880s Wyoming, recently orphaned Lucas Hollister (Patrick Scott McDermott) accidentally kills a rancher and is sentenced to hang. In a twist of fate, his estranged grandfather, the notorious outlaw Harland Rust (Academy Award nominee Alec Baldwin), breaks him out of jail and takes him on the run toward Mexico. As they flee across the unforgiving wilderness, the fugitive pair must outrun the determined U.S. Marshal Wood Helm (Josh Hopkins) and a ruthless bounty hunter named Preacher (Travis Fimmel). Halynas husband, Matthew, and son, Andros, will receive the profits from the film, the press release noted. Thats part of a wrongful death lawsuit settlement reached with film producers. Matthew also received an executive producer credit. The film premiered in November at the Camerimage Film Festival in Torun, Poland. The recent Hulu documentary, Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, noted that Halyna dreamed of showing her work at that festival, which celebrates the artistry of cinematographers. Souza was in attendance at the premiere. Baldwin was not invited, organizers said. The films long and bumpy road to completion In the wake of the shooting, filming completely shut down. The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau fined producers $137,000 for firearms safety failures. Souza told Vanity Fair he thought about quitting filmmaking altogether. Baldwin said the lawsuit settlement with Matthew, reached in October 2022, hinged on the completion of Halynas final film. I said to Joel, Are you going to do it? If you think its important to do this, Ill do it. If its the only way we can settle the case with [Halynas] husband and the estate is to finish the film, lets do it, Baldwin told Variety. So we go to Montana. Production resumed in April 2023 on Yellowstone Film Ranch in Pray, Mont. Alec Baldwin with his onscreen grandson Patrick Scott McDermott. Several of the child actors initially hired had to be recast because they aged out of the part while production was paused. (Rust Movie Productions LLC) All my doctors told me dont go mental health practitioners, cardiologists, Baldwin said. I was very sick afterwards for a while, physically drained and ill. But I went. Changes were implemented on the set. Most notably, they only used fake guns and bullets. The new first assistant director, Gerard DiNardi, told the New York Times there would be nothing that fires, only facsimiles of weapons, from rubber to replicas. Andrew Wert, who took over as the new armorer, said the dummy rounds were made of rubber and wood and then painted gold. Any firing was done digitally. Bianca Cline replaced Halyna as cinematographer. In the Hulu documentary, she said she tried to preserve as much of the Ukrainian filmmakers original footage as possible. She donated her pay to charity. There were cast changes: Jensen Ackles didnt return and was replaced by Josh Hopkins. Brady Noon, who originally played the boy at the center of the story, was replaced by Patrick Scott McDermott. The church scene filmed when the shooting occurred was cut from the film. Souza told Vanity Fair, It vanishes in its entirety, in addition to scenes leading up to it, with a portion of the film, which he wrote, being completely reconceived. Im glad you asked. I dont want anyone who ever does see [the film] to be waiting for that [scene]. Some of the plot points in the film changed and the church scene, during which the fatal shooting occurred, was cut from the film completely. (Karen Keuhn) (karen kuehn) Souza told NPR it was a very tough decision for him to return, but driving him was being able to finish Halynas final film instead of having a stranger do it. He said he was a wreck through most of the second go around. It's something I still struggle with, [if] I should have or shouldn't have. But I just feel like, for me, that was the right thing to do. Souza told Vanity Fair that he ran a tighter ship, making it very clear in the second iteration, its my way or the highway. That included less input from Baldwin about the creative direction of his character, which Souza said became a struggle during the initial shoot. Baldwin told Variety of the reshoot, It was a better film in a lot of ways. Other than Halyna. Filming wrapped in May 2023. At the time, Baldwin wrote on Instagram, Its been a long and difficult road. But we reach the end of the trail today. He called it, Nothing less than a miracle. Souza told the Hollywood Reporter the shoot was tough" for Baldwin. I can only imagine how difficult that was. Asked by Vanity Fair about his post-film relationship with the actor, Souza replied, We got through it. I got the performance I wanted. Were not friends. Were not enemies. Theres no relationship. The film was finished in March 2024. Supporting the film isnt supporting Baldwin: Director According to the press release that accompanied the trailer, the films original producers including Baldwin will not gain financially from the movie. There are people out there who say, I don't want to support [or] put money in Baldwin's pocket or the producers' pocket," Souza told NPR in November. You're not going to. That's not how this is going to work. Baldwin attorney Luke Nikas told the outlet the star completed Rust for the benefit of Halyna Hutchinss family and her legacy. He was not paid to complete the film, he has not and will not profit from the film, and he has zero financial interest in the film or any proceeds the film may earn. Baldwin told Variety, The notion that anybody has profited from the films sale and distribution is blatantly untrue. I waived my fee [and] waived all my backend. I gave everything to her husband. He owns the film. From the get-go in the settlement we all said, We dont want anything! You can have everything! And we gave everything, literally. Director Joel Souza, right, who was shot along with Halyna, said he wasn't sure he would return to the film, but he wanted to complete it for her. (Karen Keuhn) (karen kuehn) According to the Hollywood Reporter, Baldwin was paid a modest $150,000 to act in the independent film. As a producer, his company was going to earn $100,000 and part of the backend and, as noted, he waived both. The other original producers were supposed to earn between $100,000 and $150,000. Baldwin told Variety he wanted the film to be released so that [Matthew] gets his money. We all made a deal with him and we all want to follow through. But this idea that people who shall remain nameless say, You are profiting from this! That is absolutely wrong. Souza told Vanity Fair that when it was announced a settlement had been reached with Matthew and he would be a producer, he felt the public even turned on Matthew. People were angry, and its like: Man, f*** you, Souza said. Anybody whos got a problem with Matt has a problem with goodness in general. This guy is way out of your league in terms of integrity and in terms of just emotional intelligence. Will people go see the film or has it been 'overshadowed' by the tragedy? Baldwin told Variety he hadnt watched the completed film. He said that was because its the most difficult thing Ive ever dealt with in my life and I want all things Rust to just leave my windshield. In his mind, the film is always going to be overshadowed by Halynas death. Souza knows getting moviegoers to see it is a hurdle, telling NPR, Obviously, the human cost and the tragedy of it overshadows everything, rightfully so, and is so much more important than any movie. I just wonder if people will sort of see past that and engage with it as a film or if it will be a thing where people can't ever separate the movie from what happened during its filming. Baldwin has said he can't wait to put the film behind him. (Rust Movie Productions LLC) Souza said his only hope is that moviegoers see it for Halyna. If people dont want to watch this movie, for any reason, they certainly dont need to and theres no hard feelings from me, he told the Hollywood Reporter. But what I hope is that people give it a chance and if they do, that they look closely at the visual aspects, particularly the cinematography. Because its a very unique opportunity to look through Halynas eyes and see how she saw the world. Rust is in theaters and available on VOD beginning May 2. TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - MARCH 1: Freed hostage Ilana Gritzewsky holds a smoke torch as protesters set a fire on a main road during a demonstration calling for the release of all hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip on March 1, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire ended earlier this week, but negotiations on the second phase, which would bring the release of further hostages, have not yet begun. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images) (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images) The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee announced an investigation Thursday into an anti-Israel group behind several campus protests that has extensive terrorist ties. The committee sent letters to Columbia University, Barnard College, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and George Washington University (GWU) asking for more information on the American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) groups involvement on campus, according to letters obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The committee also sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director Kash Patel requesting information on any actions their respective agencies have taken to investigate the matter. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), which has chapters at several colleges and has also faced consequences at many schools over their involvement in the antisemitic protests on campuses, has apparently been supported by AMP, which the committee says has personnel with reported ties to the Foreign Terrorist Organization Hamas. (RELATED: Trumps Plans To Deport Foreign Radicals Temporarily Halted) AMP members have allegedly directly addressed students at the schools. HELP also claims several current and former board members, speakers and organizers of AMP have sent money to Hamas, directly engaged with Hamas leaders or have otherwise expressed support for the terrorist group. AMPs alleged ties to Hamas, which the U.S. Department of State has designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, are extensive, the letter to the FBI and Department of Justice reads. AMP has also been actively involved in organizing college students. It has worked for more than a decade to support SJP campus groups which, according to reports, have been actively involved in campus demonstrations. HELP is also asking the schools for all information regarding SJP and AMPs involvement on campus; including any infractions to university policy, university funding provided to the groups and staff affiliated with the groups. Committee chairman and Republican Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy also asked AMP for all communications it has had with SJP and any other communications with universities and students. AMPs close ties with campus SJP groups raise serious questions about AMPs involvement in planning, organizing, and funding campus demonstrations that have posed significant threats to campus safety, HELPs FBI letter continued. While college campuses should welcome free speech and the free exchange of ideas, they should not be havens for terrorist organizations to exert influence or instigate conflict for their own political purposes. SJP, AMP, DOJ and FBI did not respond to the DCNFs request for comment. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA APRIL 25: Pro-Palestine demonstrators occupy an encampment on the campus of UCLA on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Activists at UCLA have joined a range of campuses across the United States who have started encampments to call on their universities to divest financial ties from Israel. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images) At UCLA, the SJP chapter was involved in an illegal encampment that lasted weeks on campus and included the creation of a Jew Exclusion Zone. An independent investigation conducted in 2024 found that the school was in need of fundamental, structural changes after administrators failed to put a stop to the antisemitic incidents. At Columbia and its affiliate Barnard, protests amounted to the overtaking of a campus building, an action which allegedly resulted in a university employee being taken hostage. The failure by the school to punish protesters for their involvement in the violence and discrimination against Jewish students resulted in the Trump administration pulling $400 million from the school, though Columbia has since agreed to a list of preliminary demands to regain its funding, including punishing several students. (RELATED: Linda McMahon Points To Massive Flaw In Major Universities Vetting For Foreign Students And Teachers) Columbia, Barnard, UCLA and GWU did not respond to the DCNFs request for comment. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. File photo of a submarine used by Sindbad Submarines in Egypt. - Sindbad Submarines Six Russian tourists were killed on Thursday after a viewing submarine sank near the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada, according to the local governor. Maj. Gen. Amr Hanafy confirmed the deaths in an update on the Red Sea Governorates official Facebook page. He said there were 45 passengers including tourists from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden onboard when the accident occurred, in addition to five Egyptian crew members. Apart from the six Russians, all the other tourists had been rescued, he said. Hanafy added that four of the tourists were in critical condition and currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) at local hospitals. The incident involving a vessel operated by Sindbad Submarines took place in the waters off Egypts eastern coastline on Thursday morning. The submarine crashed at a distance of 1 km from the shore at around 10 a.m., according to the Russian consulate in Hurghada. The vessel was on a regular underwater excursion to inspect the coral reef, it continued, adding that most of those on board were rescued and taken to nearby hotels and hospitals. The governor said investigations by the authorities are underway with the vessels crew to determine the cause of the incident, but he noted that the submarine held a valid operating license and the crew leader held the required scientific certificates. In an accompanying video, Hanafy could be seen visiting nearby hospitals and talking with survivors, some of whom were wrapped in emergency blankets while others sat on hospital beds. Hurghada is a popular resort on Egypts Red Sea coast, roughly 480 kilometers (300 miles) southeast of Cairo. The company that runs the submarine tours claims to be well-established in exploring the regions dramatic seabed. Thursdays forecast showed clear skies, light winds, and warm conditions. The temperature was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) with winds under 10 kph, according to CNN meteorologists. CNN has reached out to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for comment. Years of experience The operator of the submarine has an expert team with years of experience, according to its website, adding that its vessels were engineered in Finland to sustain underwater pressure up to 75m, ensuring safety and reliability. In an emergency, the company says oxygen masks are located overhead and life vests under the seats. Sindbad Submarines says it has two recreational submarines in its fleet, each of which could carry 44 passengers and two pilots with a sizable round viewing window for each passenger. The vessel could reach a depth of 25 meters (82 ft) below sea level for 40 minutes, allowing passengers to explore 500 meters of coral reef and its marine inhabitant. The spacious air-conditioned cabin is also said to feature comfortable seats and personal TV monitors. In November, at least 16 people went missing after a tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea following warnings about rough seas. At the time, it was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht to sink. Egypts tourism economy is among its key sources of revenue. This story has been updated with developments. CNNs Mounira Elsamra contributed reporting to this story. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com CHEONGSONG, South Korea (AP) Helicopters dumped water over a burning forest in South Korea on Thursday as fire crews struggled to contain the country's worst-ever wildfires, which have killed 28 people, forced at least 37,800 to flee their homes and destroyed thousands of structures and vehicles. Multiple wildfires fueled by strong winds and dry weather have been raging across South Korea's southeastern regions since last Friday. The government has mobilized thousands of personnel, dozens of helicopters and other equipment to extinguish the blazes, but gusty winds are hampering their efforts. Rain was expected later Thursday. But Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop said the amount less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) is forecast likely won't help much in extinguishing the wildfires. The fatalities include a pilot whose helicopter crashed during efforts to contain a fire Wednesday and four firefighters and other workers who died earlier after being trapped by fast-moving flames. Authorities haven't disclosed details of the civilian dead, except that they are mostly in their 60s or older who found it difficult to escape quickly or who even refused orders to evacuate. They suspect human error caused several of the wildfires, including cases where people started fires while clearing overgrown grass from family tombs or with sparks during welding work. Lee Han-kyung, deputy head of the government's disaster response center, told a meeting Thursday that the wildfires showed the reality of climate crisis that we have yet experienced, according to Yonhap news agency. Calls to his center were unanswered. Scientists say the warming atmosphere around the world is driving ever more extreme weather events, including wildfires, flooding, droughts, hurricanes and heat waves that are killing people and causing billions of dollars in damage every year. The wildfires have burned 38,665 hectares (95,543 acres) of land, the disaster response center said Thursday. Observers say that's the worst figure of its kind in South Korea. The center said the blazes have also injured 32 people and forced more than 37,800 people to evacuate. More than 2,600 structures, including homes, factories and other buildings, as well as vehicles, were damaged or destroyed. As of Thursday morning, the center said authorities were mobilizing more than 9,000 people and about 120 helicopters to battle the wildfires. In Cheongsong, one of the fire-hit areas, thick plumes of smoke were bellowing from Juwang Mountain on Thursday morning. Helicopters repeatedly hovered over the mountain, dropping water. The amount of smoke later appeared to have diminished. At a Buddhist temple near the mountain, workers covered a stone pagoda and other structures with fire-resistant materials, while firefighters poured water on sites near the temple. The hardest-hit areas include Andong city and the neighboring counties of Uiseong and Sancheong, and the city of Ulsan. On Wednesday night, strong winds and smoke-filled skies forced authorities in the southeastern city of Andong to order evacuations in two villages, including Puncheon, home to the Hahoe folk village a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded around the 14th-15th century. Hikers were advised to leave the scenic Jiri Mountain as another fire spread closer. The fires in the past week have destroyed houses, factories and some historic structures. In Uiseong, about 20 of the 30 structures at the Gounsa temple complex, which was said to be originally built in the 7th century, have burned. Among them were two state-designated treasures a pavilion-shaped building erected overlooking a stream in 1668, and a Joseon dynasty structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king. The Korea Forest Service wildfire warning is at its highest level, 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. ___ Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung reported from Seoul, South Korea. Associated Press photographer Ahn Young-joon in Cheongsong, South Korea, contributed to this report. FILE - The marquee of the Egyptian Theatre appears during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Jan. 28, 2020. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File) After a yearlong search, the Sundance Film Festival announced Thursday that its new home will be Boulder, Colorado, keeping Sundance in the mountains but moving it out of Park City, the Utah ski town that had for decades provided the premier independent film gathering its picturesque snowy backdrop. Organizers said that after 40 years in the mountains, the festival had outgrown Park City, and lacked the necessary theaters or affordable housing to continue hosting what has become one of North Americas most sprawling movie events. Sundance had narrowed down the options to Salt Lake City (with a smaller presence in Park City), Cincinnati and Boulder. Boulder emerged as their choice due to its close proximity to nature, its small-town charm and an engaged community that, organizer said, provides Sundance the ideal setting for its future. Boulder is a tech town, its a college town, its an arts town, and its a mountain town, Amanda Kelso, acting chief executive of the Sundance Institute, said in an interview Thursday from Boulder. At 100,000 people, a larger town than Park City, it gives us the space to expand. Kelso, Sundance Institute board chair Ebs Burnough and Eugene Hernandez, director of the festival and head of programming, spoke shortly before announcing the festivals move. Local officials, who helped lure Sundance with $34 million in tax credits over 10 years, applauded the decision. Here in our state we celebrate the arts and film industry as a key economic driver, job creator and important contributor to our thriving culture, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said in a statement. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said Thursday that Sundance will come to regret leaving Utah. "As Ive said from the beginning, we wanted Sundance to stay, Cox said in a statement. We made that clear to their leadership and put together a highly competitive package. Ultimately, this decision is theirs to make, but I believe its a mistake and that, one day, theyll realize they left behind not just a place, but their heritage. A change endorsed by Sundance founder Robert Redford A shift from Park City to Boulder means Sundance stays in the mountains but trades a luxury ski resort enclave for a growing, outdoorsy small city. The mile-high Colorado city set in the foothills of the Rockies also maintains a sense of surrounding nature something organizers stressed as a major factor in their decision. Boulders four-block pedestrian mall on Pearl Street, with nearby theaters, could provide a similar sense of central hub like Park Citys Main Street. The Macky Auditorium, on the University of Colorado campus, is expected to be a central stage for Sundance. The Sundance Institute was founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, who sought a location far from Hollywood to foster independent voices in film. In 1984, the institute took over the Sundance Film Festival, but the nonprofits mission of helping young filmmakers grow through labs and workshops Redfords real passion continued year-round away from the festival. The 88-year-old Redford, who attended the University of Colorado in Boulder in his youth, gave the move his blessing. Words cannot express the sincere gratitude I have for Park City, the state of Utah, and all those in the Utah community that have helped to build the organization, Redford said in a statement. What weve created is remarkably special and defining. As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival. How Sundance chose its new home The festival made ethos and equity values one of its criteria, prompting many to wonder how much local politics would influence the choice by Sundance, which emphasizes inclusivity. Later Thursday, Cox said he was allowing a first-in-the-nation policy banning certain flag displays at schools and government buildings, including the LGBTQ pride flag, to become law without his signature. The bill's Republican sponsor, state Sen. Trevor Lee, said in response to the Sundance news that it promoted filth and would not be missed. Organizers said Boulders welcoming environment aligns with the ethos" of Sundance. This process started 18 months ago and weve been in Utah for 40 years. So politics really didnt guide the process, Burnough said Thursday. It was really and truly about evolution. Thats where it landed. We didnt constantly spend time examining what bill was going forward or may or may not be signed. With its current contract expiration date looming, the hunt for a new host city began in earnest in April 2024. The initial group of six contenders also included Atlanta, Louisville, Kentucky, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. What Sundance has meant for Park City, and the film world Before packing up, Sundance will have one last edition in Park City in January 2026. The Sundance Film Festival will be the Sundance Film Festival wherever we go. Whats consistent is our mission, said Hernandez. This is a festival of global discovery. Whats exciting about Boulder is this is a place we can build. Over the years, Sundance in Park City swelled into a premier marketplace for American film, drawing studio executives and parka-wearing celebrities into the Wasatch mountains every January. It helped launch countless filmmakers over the years, from Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies and Videotape) to Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station). Sundance scored its first best picture winner with CODA in 2022. Sundance meant big business for Utah and Park City. In 2024, the festival had some 72,840 in-person attendees, 24,200 of whom were coming from out of state. According to the festivals economic impact report, out-of-state visitors spent an estimated $106.4 million in Utah during the festival. Its total economic impact was estimated to be $132 million, with 1,730 jobs for Utah residents. But the festival had also sparred with local ski resorts Park Citys other major money maker as festivalgoers filled the hotels and left the slopes virtually empty for two weeks during peak ski season. The festival was a boon to some local businesses, but a hindrance to others. For visitors flying into the 10-day festival, ballooning rental costs increasingly factored into attending. Debbie Gold, a festivalgoer from Florida who got bit by the Sundance bug 20 years ago, said shes not yet sure whether she will continue attending at the new location. Its the end of an era, for me anyway, in Park City, said Gold, whose experiences at Sundance inspired her to get involved with her local Miami Film Festival and some independent film productions. I dont think itll be quite the same in a new place. But between Boulder and Cincinnati, Boulder at least sounds a little enticing because its a cute mountain town. Sundance's relocation puts two of the top U.S. film festivals in Colorado. The Telluride Film Festival, held further west in the state, runs in late August. ___ Associated Press writer Hannah Schoenbaum and Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report. Memphis Police Department/Facebook Jayden Dandridge Memphis police have identified a suspect in connection with the March 22 shooting of Houston rapper Sauce Walka and the death of rapper Sayso P. A warrant had been issued for Jayden Dandridge, 21, the Memphis Police Department said in a statement on Wednesday, March 26. Dandridge is being charged with one count of first degree murder, two counts of attempted first degree murder, and two counts of employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and auto theft. Memphis Police Department/Facebook Jayden Dandridge Police released a photo of Dandridge, along with surveillance video footage allegedly showing the 21-year-old exiting the backseat of a white vehicle while carrying an object in one hand and a backpack in the other. Dandridge was allegedly accompanied by another individual in dark-colored clothing who wore a face covering to conceal their identity. Related: Rapper Sauce Walka Is Recovering Following 'Targeted' Shooting Outside a Memphis Hotel: Reports According to the press release, 27-year-old Letorian Hunt (known professionally as Sayso P) was pronounced deceased on the scene after he and Sauce Walka (born Albert Mondane) suffered gunshot wounds. Officers responded to the incident at approximately 2:42 p.m. EST at a Memphis Westin Hotel located at 170 Lt. George W. Lee. Memphis Police Department/Facebook Memphis Police Department photo Walka, 34, was transported to Regional One in non-critical condition. He later revealed on social media that he had been shot in the leg, sharing graphic photos to his Instagram account. MPD previously said, "We want to assure our community and visitors that downtown Memphis is a safe place. This incident was not a random act of violence. "Early indications are that the victims and suspects are known to each other. We understand the publics concern and reiterate that this was not a random act," the department added in the statement. "MPD is committed to bringing those responsible to justice and will be utilizing downtown camera footage and other technology available to aid in identifying everyone involved." Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Sauce Walka, August 2023 On Tuesday, March 25, Walka published an Instagram carousel with details on how he plans to honor his slain friend. Everything in Memphis @sayso___p wanted me to do with him I stayed 3 days after we lost you to complete your wishes, he captioned the tribute. The Saucefather 2 artist urged his followers to try Memphis restaurant Smackers, among other local suggestions. 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. Errthing u had planned for me I stayed and completed the mission no matter whats the risk I had to complete the mission for u, he added. A $6,000 cash reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of Dandridge or the identification of any other suspects involved. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at (901)528-CASH or submit a tip anonymously at www.crimestopmem.org. Read the original article on People Twenty47studio/Getty Images The Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul during the autumn time. A Reddit user crowdsourced the best solo travel destinations in the world. A repeat suggestion was South Korea's capital, Seoul. The top 3 answers were all in Asia. Its not just your algorithm serving you solo travel content. According to an industry report from Future Partners, solo trips continue to be a popular choice among travelers. While the creative insights firm found that 43 percent of American travelers are interested in traveling alone in general, another report from Virtuoso confirmed that the majority of solo explorersa whopping 71 percentare women. Although the beauty of solo travel lies in experiencing a new place and new challenges by yourself, Future Partners also discovered that solo travelers are nearly twice as likely as other travelers to use travel agents and digital influencers to plan their trips. That might mean hiring a professional, scrolling through TikTok videos, or joining a solo travel-focused community, where you can lean on other solo travelers experiences to inform where and what you book. One of those communities happens to be on Reddit. Recently, Reddit user /Eufedoriaa/ asked the r/solotravel/ community about the cities that are currently in their prime, a la San Francisco during the 60s, Berlin in the early 2000s, Seattle during the grunge era of the 90s, [and] 1980s Los Angeles. Travelers immediately began to share their favorites, and we mined the comments for the top responses, seeking out answers that received the most upvotes. While answers spanned the globe, Asian and Northeastern, Eastern, and Central European cities tended to rise to the top. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, made several repeat appearances. One user described it as a city thats quickly transforming into a global hub for tech, design, and fashion, adding that its fast-paced, cutting-edge, and really knows how to blend tradition with innovation. Travelers say Ho Chi Minh City has a similar vibe. It's a city that knows it's on the cusp of greater things, explained another user, who shares it has new world-class restaurants and cocktail bars popping up every month, [and] rooftop parties that go on till 4am. Unsurprisingly, Thailand, T+Ls 2025 Destination of the Year, was also featured a few times. Several users noted that Bangkok is a good choice for solo travelers. It has insanely low crime in all levels lowest prices for luxury living (even Western standards of luxury), and the city overall seems to be getting better every day, said one user. Another shared its the cuisine, friendliness of people, beaches, mountains, [and] proximity to interesting countries that appeals most to those traveling alone. Other standout destinations for solo travelers, according to Reddit, include: Taipei, Taiwan Tallinn, Estonia Lisbon, Portugal Tbilisi, Georgia Warsaw, Poland Mexico City, Mexico Budapest, Hungary Tirana, Albania Read the original article on Travel & Leisure The U.S. has arrested a top MS-13 gang member, according to a post on X by Attorney General Pam Bondi. "I'm proud to announce that early this morning our brave law enforcement officers conducted a successful operation that captured a top MS-13 national leader," Bondi posted. "DOJ will not rest until we make America safe again." The alleged MS-13 leader taken into custody this morning in Virginia is Henrry Villatoro Santos, according to a DOJ official and court records unsealed Thursday. Court records detailed the events leading up to Villatoro's arrest, he had been subject to FBI surveillance at his residence in Woodbridge, Virginia, throughout this month, his affidavit said. FBI SWAT members breached the front and rear doors of his residence early Thursday morning and observed him in sheltering in an alcove leading to a garage, according to the affidavit. PHOTO: In this booking photo released by the Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff's Office, Henrry Villatoro Santos is shown. (Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff's Office) When Villatoro did not comply with agents' demands to exit the residence, they deployed a stun grenade and he eventually came close enough to the door for an agent to pull him out and place him under arrest. Inside the residence, agents recovered four firearms, ammunition and two suppressors, as well as "indicia of MS-13 association in the garage bedroom." The affidavit didn't make any additional allegations regarding his leadership in MS-13, after Bondi described him earlier Thursday as one of the gang's top three leaders. Villatoro will make his initial appearance in federal court Thursday evening, and currently faces a single charge of being "an alien in possession of a firearm." The photo shared on X by Bondi showed a major operation in northern Virginia with FBI officials, including Director Kash Patel, and dozens of officers. BREAKING: I'm proud to announce that early this morning our brave law enforcement officers conducted a successful operation that captured a top MS-13 national leader DOJ will not rest until we make America safe again. pic.twitter.com/yKmhas068b Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) March 27, 2025 At a press conference on site, Bondi, Patel and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin touted the arrest of a 24-year-old who was allegedly a top-3 MS-13 gang member. PHOTO: Attorney General Pam Bondi, center, said the U.S. arrested a top MS-13 gang leader on Thursday, March 27, 2025. (X/@AGPamBondi) Bondi touted the operation as a success, lauding the teamwork of the various agencies involved and said she personally witnessed the collaboration. "America is safer today because of one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13, he is off the streets," she said. "This guy was living in a neighborhood right around you. No longer. Thanks to the great men and women of law enforcement, this task force that we have created is remarkable, using incredible technology that we will not discuss, to catch and apprehend these horrible, violent, worst of the worst criminals." MORE: FBI arrests alleged MS-13 leader with help of Mexican government Officials did not release the name of the individual they arrested. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House on Thursday morning it was a "big win" for Americans. "This was a very violent individual who was picked up in a home with five children present," she said. "So our communities are safer this morning, it's a good day." President Donald Trump celebrated the arrest in a post on his social media platform, applaud his "border czar," Tom Homan. "Just captured a major leader of MS13. Tom HOMAN is a superstar!," Trump wrote. ABC News' Hannah Demissie contributed to this report. Trump administration says 'top MS-13 national leader' arrested originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A tragic accident off Egypt's Red Sea coast has left six people dead and dozens more rescued after a tourist submarine sank near the popular resort city of Hurghada on Thursday. The vessel, carrying mostly Russian vacationers, went down during a regular underwater excursion to explore the region's coral reefs, triggering a swift and desperate rescue operation. The Russian embassy and Egyptian state-run media reported that 39 people were rescued, with 21 of them, including seven children aged between two and 15, hospitalized. The victims were foreign nationals, according to Reuters. The incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. local time, approximately one kilometer from the shore. The submarine was on its routine tour when it suddenly crashed. The submarine, operated by Sindbad Submarines, was well-regarded for its expertise in navigating the waters of the Red Sea, with an "expert team" and submarines "engineered in Finland" to handle underwater pressures. The company's website reassured potential customers about safety, citing the presence of oxygen masks and life vests, while also highlighting the vessel's ability to reach depths of 25 meters to explore coral reefs. While Egypt's tourism sector is a vital contributor to its economy, such incidents have raised concerns about safety standards in the industry, particularly in the country's popular Red Sea resorts. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will "go as far as we have to go" to get control of Greenland, ahead of a planned visit to the Arctic island by Vice President JD Vance that has prompted criticism from Greenland and Denmark. Vance, second lady Usha Vance and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will lead the U.S. delegation to visit the Pituffik military space base in the northwest of the island, having scaled back plans for a broader and longer visit. The American group was originally planning to visit the Greenlandic capital, Nuuk, and a dog sled race. Trump showed no indication of softening his ambition to take control of the island, which is an autonomous territory but part of the Kingdom of Denmark. "We need Greenland for national security and international security," Trump said, taking reporters' questions in the Oval Office. PHOTO: Danish navy vessel P572 Lauge Koch patrols the waters in Nuuk, Greenland, Mar. 11, 2025. (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images) "So we'll, I think, we'll go as far as we have to go," he continued. "We need Greenland. And the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark. Denmark has to have us have Greenland. And, you know, we'll see what happens. But if we don't have Greenland, we can't have great international security." Trump added, "I view it from a security standpoint, we have to be there." Trump also said that he understood "JD might be going," referring to the vice president, but did not offer any details about the trip. Vance is expected to travel to Greenland on Friday. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede earlier this week called the upcoming visit by U.S. officials part of a "very aggressive American pressure against the Greenlandic community" and called for the international community to rebuke it. MORE: JD, Usha Vance to visit Greenland as prime minister blasts 'aggressive American pressure' After the U.S. announced that the visit would be pared back to only include the Pituffik base, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the decision was "wise." Trump has repeatedly -- in both his first and second terms -- raised the prospect of the U.S. obtaining Greenland, whether through purchase or other means. During his March speech to a joint session of Congress, Trump said the U.S. would acquire the strategic territory "one way or the other." Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede dismissed Trump's remarks. "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders," he wrote on social media. "We are not Americans, we are not Danes because we are Greenlanders. This is what the Americans and their leaders need to understand, we cannot be bought and we cannot be ignored." PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to the press before signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, Mar. 26, 2025 in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) ABC News' Michelle Stoddart contributed to this report. Trump says US will 'go as far as we have to' to get control of Greenland originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Tokyo President Trump in early March criticized what he characterized as a one-sided security alliance between the U.S. and Japan. Officials in Japan have heard these comments from Mr. Trump before, and so far, they've continued shaping the country's national security plans based on the assurance of backing from the United States. Government officials admit they really have no other choice. "There is no Plan B for Japan other than the U.S.," Takuya Akiyama, Principal Deputy Director of the North American Affairs Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told CBS News. "Treaty wise and also as a physical presence, no other country can substitute the U.S. It is unthinkable." The U.S. may be pulling back from Europe under President Trump, but despite his remarks about Japan, U.S. military cooperation with Tokyo has appeared stable, and may even expand as the White House ramps up its standoff with Asia's increasingly assertive superpower, China. China's threat to its neighbors Japanese officials may have breathed a sigh of relief after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's visit to the White House in February. The Trump administration reaffirmed its commitment to Japan's defense, including amid Tokyo's dispute with Beijing over ownership of the Senkaku islands. It is one of many land ownership disputes between China and its neighbors over islands in the South China Sea virtually all of which Beijing claims as its territory. The White House has repeatedly condemned Chinese aggression and militarization in the South China Sea, and U.S. warships and aircraft routinely carry out "freedom of navigation" exercises in the area often drawing sharp rebukes from Beijing. President Trump shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Credit: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Advisers to the Japanese prime minister spent the months after the U.S. election preparing him for the meeting with Mr. Trump. They focused on using clear and concise language to convey the benefits of the security alliance to the U.S., and the increase Japan has made in its own defense spending and military procurement from America, according to officials at the Japanese foreign ministry. China has been rapidly bolstering its military capabilities, including its nuclear program, in recent years, according to U.S. officials. Last year, China announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget, which was already the world's second-highest, behind only the United States. In February, Taiwan condemned China and deployed its own forces in response as the Chinese military held "shooting training" drills in the Taiwan Strait. "From an American perspective, it's clear that if Taiwan falls, and if Japan falls, that our alliances in the Indo-Pacific are over," Kenneth Weinstein, Japan Chair at the Hudson Institute think tank, told CBS News. "China will exercise extraordinary military sway will be able to close down global shipping such as they see it, will be able to throttle access to the South China Sea and elsewhere." There have already been tense encounters between Japanese and Chinese naval vessels around the Senkaku islands, a group of uninhabited islands claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo. According to data from Japan's coast guard, Chinese government vessels entered the maritime zone around the islands, which China calls the Diaoyus, on 355 of the 366 days of 2024 the highest number of intrusions reported by Japan since China started operating around the islands in 2008. The Chinese vessels operating around the islands have increased not only in number, but in armament, carrying more and larger weapons as they circle the disputed territories, according to officials at the foreign and defense ministries. A map shows in yellow the area controlled by China, and regions that are claimed but uncontrolled by Beijing are shown in orange, including most of the South China Sea. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto While Japanese analysts don't believe a Chinese military invasion of the Senkaku islands is imminent, they say there's a risk that an accident or incident involving fishing or other non-military vessels in the area could lead to a rapid military escalation. "The Chinese Communist Party believes in power. They have started to act because they believe they now have the power to do so," China expert Akio Takahara, a professor at the Tokyo Woman's Christian University, told CBS News. "We want the U.S. to increase their presence in this region, because the Chinese are certainly going to enhance their presence in the region." Major boost to U.S.-Japan defense cooperation coming? Japan has revamped its approach to defense in recent years, including by committing to spend 2% of its GDP on defense by 2027. Japan announced a major policy shift in 2022, abandoning the country's post-World War II, exclusively defense posture with a decision to acquire counterstrike capabilities. The Trump administration has seemingly approved of the changes, and it has not asked Japan for even greater increases in defense spending as some Japanese officials feared it might. While Mr. Trump complained specifically this month about Japan's hypothetical preparedness to meet its mutual defense obligation to the U.S. under Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, Japanese officials have tried to focus more on Article 6, under which Japan provides bases and facilities for U.S. forces. And that aspect of the relationship could be set to expand. The U.S. and Japan have been in discussions since before Mr. Trump came back to the White House about the possible establishment of a Joint Force Headquarters in Japan. If it happens, it would upgrade the role of the U.S. forces in Japan to a command headquarters with operational authority. The dialogue over the upgrade was announced under the Biden administration, after being requested by the Japanese. In the event of a regional security crisis such as a Chinese attack on Taiwan or a disputed South China Sea island having a Joint Force Headquarters in Japan would give the U.S. military the capacity to respond with commands from the region, rather than waiting for orders to come from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to meet with his Japanese counterpart in late March to discuss efforts to bolster U.S. forces in the Pacific region. Concern over Ukraine The dramatic vacillations by the Trump administration in its stance on Ukraine have also raised concern in Japan. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Japan has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine. Japanese officials worry about the precedent that would be set if the U.S. is seen to abandon a partner nation in the face of an invasion by a more powerful neighbor. "In light of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, countries' perceptions on security have drastically changed around the world," then-Japanese Prime minister Fumio Kishida said at a regional security summit In June 2022, several months into Russia's invasion. "I myself have a strong sense of urgency that Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow." The Japanese fear that if the U.S. and the world at large are prepared to accept a change in Europe's borders forced by Russian aggression, they could also decline to intervene in the case of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. "The Chinese will be encouraged that, perhaps if Xi Jinping did something similar, Trump will be as kind to Xi Jinping as he's been to Putin," professor Takahara told CBS News. "That kind of message will be received in Beijing." Officials in Tokyo are trying to remain focused on the long-term bilateral relationship with Washington, looking beyond the Trump administration, but they know China is watching closely as the relationship develops, especially given the volatile nature of the Trump administration's foreign policy. "We don't know what Mr. Trump will be saying tomorrow and doing the day after. So, at least the Ishiba visit, the first round, went okay. We were happy about that," Takahara said. "But what about the next round? When is it coming? No one knows." Hegseth doubles down on Signal chat texts not being "war plans" Former National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster reacts to Trump administration leak Which home renovations pay off and which ones don't President Donald Trump signs an order to put a 24% tariff on the import of foreign automobiles on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. White House | YouTube (The Center Square) A union representing U.S. autoworkers cheered President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on auto imports and foreign parts while encouraging Congress to force vehicle makers to take the tax hit from consumers. Trump on Wednesday announced the 25% tariff on vehicles built outside the U.S. along with a 25% tariff on imported auto parts. The 25% tariff applies to imported passenger vehicles, light trucks and auto parts. It also includes processes to expand tariffs on additional parts "if necessary," according to the White House. Importers of automobiles that fall under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be able to certify their U.S. content, and the 25% tariff will only apply to the value of non-U.S. content. USMCA-compliant automobile parts will remain tariff-free while the secretary of commerce and U.S. Customs and Border Protection establish a process to apply tariffs to the non-U.S. parts, according to the White House. United Auto Workers, a union that represents 400,000 active members, lauded the tariffs as Trump prepares to roll out broader protectionist trade policies. "We applaud the Trump administration for stepping up to end the free trade disaster that has devastated working class communities for decades," UAW President Shawn Fain said. "Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with today's actions." Fain said automakers should return union jobs to the U.S. "These tariffs are a major step in the right direction for autoworkers and blue-collar communities across the country, and it is now on the automakers, from the Big Three to Volkswagen and beyond, to bring back good union jobs to the U.S," he said. The White House expects the auto tariffs to generate $100 billion in federal revenue. Trump said he hopes to eventually bring in $600 billion to $1 trillion in tariff revenue in the next year or two. Trump also said the tariffs would lead to a manufacturing boom in the U.S., with auto companies building new plants, expanding existing plants and adding jobs. UAW said vehicle makers should take the tax hit rather than passing it to consumers. It encouraged Congress to take legislative action to make sure the companies don't pass on added costs to consumers. "As they shift their supply chains and investments to the U.S., auto companies that have enjoyed years of record profits should absorb the cost of these tariffs rather than passing them on to consumers, and the UAW would support legislative or regulatory action requiring them to do so," the union said. "Workers must be held harmless during any disruption that accompanies the reshoring process, with financial support from the federal government if necessary." Autos Drive America, which represents 12 international automakers with operations in the U.S., said the tariffs will result in higher prices and fewer choices. "The tariffs imposed today will make it more expensive to produce and sell cars in the United States, ultimately leading to higher prices, fewer options for consumers, and fewer manufacturing jobs in the U.S." Nearly half of all cars sold in the U.S. in 2024 were imported, according to industry data. Americans bought about 16 million cars, SUVs and light trucks last year. About 50% were imports. The White House said that of the 8 million vehicles assembled in America and not imported, the average domestic content was estimated at 50%. Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke said Wednesday tariffs on Mexican and Canadian parts would add on average $3,000 to the cost of building a new car or truck in North America. The 25% tariff on vehicles assembled outside the U.S. would add $6,000 to the cost. "The massive policy changes by the administration have been far more aggressive than anyone expected so far," Smoke said during the media call. "And worse still, the administration has communicated that they are willing to see the economy deteriorate if that is necessary to accomplish their goals." The American Automotive Policy Council, representing American automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, said the tariffs must be structured to avoid higher prices. "U.S. Automakers are committed to President Trump's vision of increasing automotive production and jobs in the U.S. and will continue to work with the Administration on durable policies that help Americans," President Matt Blunt said. "In particular, it is critical that tariffs are implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers and that preserves the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector that has been a key success of the Presidents USMCA agreement." The average listing price for a new vehicle in February was $48,316, down 0.6% from a month earlier and higher by 2.6% compared to last year. However, 82 models on the market are priced at $40,000 and below, and 31 sit below the $30,000 mark, according to a report from Cox Automotive. A doctoral student at the University of Alabama has been arrested and detained by immigration authorities, as the Trump administration continues to target noncitizens in higher education. The university said in a Wednesday statement that the student was recently "detained off campus by federal immigration authorities." Due to federal privacy laws, the college couldn't reveal any more about the case, but it added that international students are "valued members of the campus community." The Crimson White, the university's newspaper, reported that the man is Iranian national Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral candidate studying mechanical engineering. He was arrested at home at 5 a.m. ET Tuesday, the newspaper reported. According to records available on ICEs website, Doroudi is currently being held in a detention facility. It is not clear why he was detained, what charges he may face or if he has retained a lawyer. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Alireza Doroudi on the campus of the University of Alabama. The University of Alabama College Democrats said in a Wednesday statement that it was aware of Doroudi's arrest and detainment, calling the news a bitter blow to the campus community. "Our fears have come to pass. Donald Trump, Tom Homan and ICE have struck a cold, vicious dagger through the heart of UA's international community," the group said. "As far as we know right now, ICE is yet to provide any justification for their actions, so we are not sure if this persecution is politically motivated, as has been seen in other universities around the country." The news of Doroudi's detainment comes a day after a video emerged showing Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University graduate student from Turkey, being arrested in the street in Massachusetts by ICE officers. The DHS said she was arrested for "glorifying and supporting terrorists" and added that she had shown support for Hamas, the Palestinian political party and militant group. Several other students and recent graduates have been seized or have had federal warrants issued for their arrest in recent weeks, including Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, who is being held in Louisiana and faces deportation despite holding a green card. Columbia student Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old permanent U.S. resident, also faces a deportation order but a judge ruled this week that she cannot be detained. Another day of fire danger is forecast throughout the Carolinas as wildfires continue to rage fueled by wind, low humidity and a tinderbox of dry, downed timber left in the wake of Hurricane Helene. North Carolina and South Carolina have both declared states of emergencies for multiple counties, as hundreds of residents have been evacuated and several structures destroyed. Fire threats continued Thursday but to a lesser degree than Wednesday, with no red flag warnings in place. However, humidity levels will be below 25% for much of the East Coast and there will still be wind, though lighter than yesterday, NBC meteorologist Dylan Dreyer forecast. It's all-hands-on-deck in the mountainous parts of the states, and statewide burn bans are in effect. In North Carolina, there are eight active wildfires in Caldwell, Buncombe, Polk, Jackson, Haywood and Swain counties, according to an interactive map by the North Carolina Forest Service. New fires sparked in dry conditions Wednesday, prompting Gov. Josh Stein to declare another state of emergency to make sure we have every tool at our disposal to respond to fires in the western part of the state. The worst blazes are the Black Cove Complex Fire and the Deep Woods Fire, both in Polk County and Henderson County. The Black Cove Complex fire stood at 3,053 acres and 17% contained, according to a Wednesday-evening update by the North Carolina Forest Service. This fire first ignited March 19 via a downed power line. The Black Cove Fire has continued to burn to the west, farther into Henderson County on both sides of the Green River. Firefighters continue protecting structures and attempting to prevent the fire from spreading toward homes off Summerhaven and Macedonia roads, the N.C. Forest Service said. A man uses binoculars as smoke rises from the Table Rock Complex Fire as seen from Sassafras Mountain on Wednesday in Pumpkintown, S.C. The Deep Woods Fire is 3,231 acres and 11% contained. It was first reported March 19 and the cause remains under investigation. Meanwhile, the Fish Hook Fire, also in Polk County, was 199 acres in size and 86% contained, as of Wednesday evening, with forward progression stopped. In South Carolina, two major fires have burned more than 6,000 acres. The Table Rock Fire near Table Rock State Park in Pickens County nearly doubled in size Wednesday, to 4,556 acres. Strong wind gusts led the southern front of the fire to breach containment lines yesterday, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said. The Pickens County Sheriffs Office said March 21 that the fire was caused by the negligent act of some hikers. The young men that are responsible for the fire have been identified. The investigation is continuing by agents and detectives with the sheriffs office as well as those with the South Carolina Forestry Commission, and the appropriate charges will be discussed and made at a later date, Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said. Meanwhile, the Persimmon Ridge Fire grew to 1,553 acres Wednesday, expanding in eastern, western and southern directions and jumping U.S. Highway 276 to the west and Persimmon Ridge Road to the South. No injuries have been reported in the blazes. Yesterday, the commission called for the immediate evacuations of residents in Greenville and Pickens counties. Never in my 52 years did I think would I be running from my home in a fire, Wendy Clarke, who evacuated her home in the Caesar's Head area near the Persimmon Ridge Fire to a local shelter, told NBC News Marissa Parra. Extreme fire behavior including low humidity and gusty winds on Wednesday led to new evacuations and a second straight day of rapid expansion, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said. The agency noted that dry, downed timber from Hurricane Helene, which hit in September, is a major threat for fire growth. The amount of downed debris and timber in the woods is almost indescribable, Madeline Stewart, the South Carolina Forestry Commission Public Information Coordinator, said on NBC's "TODAY" show. On Thursday, there's an elevated fire risk in Georgia, the Carolinas, as well as Washington, D.C., up to New York. Meanwhile, Texas will see rain Thursday in a storm system that will slowly creep east. Parts of south Texas are under a flood threat, with slow-moving showers and storms. Tomorrow, east Texas and Louisiana will see downpours, and by Saturday the storms will rumble into Tennessee and Mississippi with widespread severe risk from Texas to Ohio. KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday Russian artillery had damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the front-line city of Kherson, two days after the U.S. announced that each side had agreed to a truce on energy strikes. "Two days ago, there was a night when there were no strikes on the energy sector, today energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson was damaged by Russian artillery," Zelenskiy said in Paris. "I believe that the U.S. should respond with actions." The United States announced separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow on Tuesday to pause attacks in the Black Sea and against each other's energy installations, the first such deal since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. "Our side, as long as no one understands who is monitoring what ..., all this (evidence) will be prepared and transferred to the U.S., and after that we are waiting for America's reaction, since they told us that they will respond to violations," Zelenskiy said after a summit of Ukraine's allies in the French capital. Kherson regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said work was continuing to restore power to consumers who had been left without supply as a result of Russian shelling. Moscow accused Kyiv on Wednesday of using drones to attack energy facilities in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions, and in the occupied Crimean peninsula. The Ukrainian military denied those accusations. "The (Russian) military continues to produce fakes, seeking to make baseless accusations against Ukraine and prolong the war," the military said in a statement on the Telegram app. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and now holds about 20% of the country, contends that it has observed an energy strike truce since March 18. Ukraine says Russia has attacked eight Ukrainian energy facilities since that date. Zelenskiy also said in Paris he believed the Trump administration's stance towards Russia should be tougher, adding Ukraine needed Washington's help to be strong in negotiations. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; writing by Max Hunder and Tom Balmforth; editing by Andrew Heavens and Mark Heinrich) New South Wales cybercrime detectives have commenced an investigation into a data breach of the NSW Online Registry Website (ORW) involving thousands of sensitive court files. According to NSW Police, its State Crime Commands Cybercrime Squad was told on 25 March that approximately 9000 sensitive court files, including apprehended violence orders and affidavits, were downloaded from the ORW. The online platform provides access to information involved in both civil and criminal cases across the States court system and is part of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). Cybercrime detectives have commenced an investigation under Strike Force Pardey and are working closely with DCJ to contain the breach. According to the NSW Data Breach Policy for high-risk data breaches, the Breach Response Team will consider external help from organisations such as law enforcement agencies, NSW Police Force and/or Australian Federal Police, among others. Data breaches in NSW will come under the Mandatory Notification of Data Breach (MNDB) Scheme, which states that agencies must notify the Privacy Commissioner. by Arundathie Abeysinghe A move to increase tax revenues, but risks undermining domestic production that had experienced a period of strong expansion. The association that brings together operators expresses great concern. For experts, a tax regime that incentivises locally assembled vehicles is preferable. Colombo (AsiaNews) - Sri Lanka's car assembly sector, which has recently expanded significantly, is threatened by the recent decision to impose new taxes and to lift the ban on foreign imports, without introducing protection for local companies at the same time. Hence the alarm of the operators, who believe that the current measures could seriously damage the progress achieved. On the island there are 17 component assembly plants, which produce various types of vehicles from cars to SUVs, and even three-wheeled electric vehicles. A sector that supports over 15 thousand direct and indirect employees, protecting its impact on the national economy. The local operators' association has expressed great concern about the government's decision to resume the import of Completely built units (CBUs), starting last February. Although taxes on imported goods are one of the main sources of government revenue, those applied to car spare parts play a huge role in controlling the automotive industry. This is because the country does not have the technology necessary to design all car spare parts locally, and some of them must necessarily be imported. Government policies therefore seem to focus on tax revenue, while for operators an increase in costs makes it increasingly difficult to be competitive on the market. Furthermore, these taxes change very frequently, fuelling the uncertainty even more and thus proving unfavourable to the automotive industry. Nalin Welgama, founder of Ideal Motors, emphasises that the current measures could severely damage the progress made. For this reason he wanted to merge his company Ideal Motors with the Indian company Mahindra and Mahindra, so as to be able to assemble vehicles locally, thus promoting the national automotive industry. Sri Lanka currently has 17 assembly plants, but another 17 investors are queuing up to join the market, promising - at least on paper - sustained growth. Mechanical engineering experts Buddhini Samaratunga and Senaka Adikari told AsiaNews that although the government's move to remove the ban on vehicle imports is aimed at increasing tax revenues, it could undermine the growth of assembly companies. On the contrary, they add, a tax regime that incentivises locally assembled vehicles is preferable because it is necessary to keep the industry competitive, attract investment and thrive in the long term. Currently, Sri Lanka's auto component manufacturing sector is gaining a reputation for high-quality manufacturing, positioning the country as a critical link in the regional supply chain. Work is underway, the experts continue, to increase the export revenue from components from 800 million dollars to two billion dollars within five years, while generating another 45 thousand jobs. The government's standard operating procedure (Sop) for the sector, which has provided a defined regulatory environment, has encouraged national and foreign investment. According to industry operators Mayantha Kulasekara and Chatura Dissanayaka, Sri Lanka has the opportunity to explore joint ventures with the already established automotive sector in Tamil Nadu [India] to demonstrate its presence in the South Asian region. Electric vehicles (EVs) are not a favourable option, they continue, due to the high initial price and the scarcity of public charging stations, which could discourage sales in the country. The increased energy demand of electric vehicles will also put pressure on the country's grid. While the domestic automotive industry is developing, immediate action is needed to protect domestic producers and sustain long-term wealth in a challenging and emerging global market. by Daniele Frison Dialogue and mutual exchange are the Holy Sees weapons, the apostolic nuncio to Jordan told AsiaNews. The Jordanian government is committed to paths of reconciliation. Aid is flowing constantly from Jordan to Gaza. Syrian refugees are cautious but eager to return home. Some 50,000 have already made the trip. The new Latin church on the Jordan River shows the vitality of the Christian community. Amman (AsiaNews) The weapons the Holy See has to promote peace are not the economy or military force, but dialogue and mutual exchange. I believe this is extremely fruitful in relations with Jordan, said Archbishop Giovanni Pietro Dal Toso, 60, apostolic nuncio to Jordan (and Cyprus). We met him at the apostolic nunciature, on the western outskirts of Amman. Installed in 2023, he has experienced the Gaza crisis from the start, in the country that has become a hub of humanitarian aid, which is "constantly flowing to the enclave, even before 7 October, as evidenced by the work of Caritas Jordan. What happens on the other side of the Jordan can also be felt here. The role of the nunciature is to mediate and encourage these actions, he explained. The suffering across the Jordan River goes back 76 years with the exodus of the Palestinians, coming in waves like in 1948 and 1967. The same goes for the solidarity. "The Jordanian government is trying to keep this conflict contained and find a solution, together with other Arab countries, Archbishop Dal Toso said. The conference Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza was held in Jordan after months of inhumane attacks, which killed 50,000 Palestinians, according to the latest figures released by Hamas. Jointly organised by Jordan, Egypt and the UN, the conference was an important moment for international diplomatic coordination. Jordan is trying not only to mediate, but also to promote real help to the Palestinians," he added. During his visit in 2014, Pope Francis described King Abdullah II as a "man of peace, a peacemaker". Peace must be constantly nurtured, because it is fragile, and must never be taken for granted. The recent break in the truce between Israel and Hamas, with renewed airstrikes in Gaza, shows that peace is not a package that reproduces itself. Peace is the fruit of the search for peace by men and women. For this reason, the pope makes constant appeals to national leaders. it comes from a political effort by rulers. Jordan is an example of this, as it seeks paths of reconciliation. The Hashemite kingdom maintains its stability despite a turbulent Middle East, with neighbouring countries burdened by many conflicts. This, combined with huge international aid, has made it possible to host millions of refugees. For the prelate, In the depths of the human heart there is the desire to live in peace with others. It is the responsibility of those who govern to listen to this desire that rises from peoples. On the possibility of Gazans moving to Jordan, The position of the Holy See is clear. It is not a plan that can be realised; forced deportation violates international law, he stressed. The apostolic nunciature in Jordan was established in 1994. In March 2024, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States and International Organizations, visited the country to mark 30 years of diplomatic relations. On that occasion the pope also made a donation to Caritas Jordan, to support its work in favour of Gaza, but exchange, dialogue and mutual knowledge are also promoted through cultural diplomacy. The visit of Card Pietro Parolin last January hosted at the nunciature in Amman for the inauguration of the new Latin church in the Jordanian site of the Baptism of Al-Maghtas had "a very strong echo, not only from an ecclesial point of view," Dal Toso said. The meeting with King Abdullah II, which was also attended by Card Pizzaballa, was an opportunity, Jordanian sources said, to reiterate "strong ties" and the "need to stop Israels war. A pressing issue Jordan is facing right now is the return of Syrian refugees. At least 50,000 out of over a million have left for Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime on 8 December. Many, cautiously, want to return. The same thing is true in Cyprus. Returning means longing for a certain normality, even if it is now difficult, he said. In fact, the political, economic and social situation in Syria remains uncertain. Cautious return does not mean that the refugee emergency in Jordan is over. According to UNHCR estimates, assistance to Syrian refugees is even vastly underfunded compared to the needs, the archbishop explained. Sent to Aleppo by Pope Francis, he visited Syria in 2017 and on subsequent occasions. "In the last phase before President Assads fall, I saw very deep, widespread poverty. I was very struck by our Catholic organisations paying for the purchase of medicines, above all, he noted. Last February, Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Jordan to boost ties between the two countries. King Abdullah II reiterated his support for the "reconstruction" of Syria "guaranteeing unity, security and stability. We are neighbours, so there is a need for mutual help," the nuncio explained. Last December, Aqaba hosted an international meeting to show Arab support for Syria's political transition. "It is clear that Jordan has an interest in promoting peace. Finally, the nunciature naturally constantly interacts with the local Church. The meaning of the nuncio's presence is not to impose the Holy Sees line, but to be available. Archbishop Dal Toso said that the relationship with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem is firm, not only regarding aid to Gaza. Bishop Iyad Twal represents the Patriarchate in Jordan; he was ordained last month in the new Latin church, on the border with the West Bank. On the Jordanian site of the Baptism, there is a genius loci: a very special presence of grace," the nuncio said. For Jordans Christian community (about 2 per cent of the population), it is an important place because it touches the very life of Christ. It shows the vitality of this Christian community, which meets here and in other Christian sites in the country, enjoying a strong moment of identification. A medal in memory of For honour and dignity for the young activist found dead in January in Ukraine, where she had gone to confront the Russian invasion. Her image with her bleeding face during the 2020 protests in Minsk is a symbol of Lukashenko's violent repression. Minsk (AsiaNews) - The photograph of Maria Zajtseva with a bloodied face during the protests against the bogus re-election of Aleksandr Lukashenko in Minsk in August 2020 had travelled around the world, becoming a symbol of the violence of the police forces in Belarus. In January 2025 the activist was found dead in Ukraine, where she had travelled to fight in the resistance against the Russian invasion. She was killed the day after her 24th birthday, and the opposition government in exile of Belarus has now awarded her the memorial medal For Honour and Dignity. Many media outlets such as Currentime, Meduza and Deutsche Welle have recently dedicated extensive reports to her, speaking with her friends and fellow soldiers to tell the story of her heroic destiny. During the 2020 protests Maria was only 19 years old, and was injured by fragments of stun grenades and rubber bullets. She herself later said in an interview with Radio Svoboda, while still in hospital, that I have not regretted going to Minsk to protest, I just tried to do my part, and I hope that all the sacrifices we make are not in vain, what happens on the streets gives us so much strength and courage. After several operations in Belarus, Maria was taken to complete her recovery in the Czech Republic, thanks to the Medevac humanitarian medical programme. Despite all the doctors' efforts, Maria remained deaf in one ear, and decided to learn to live even without what cannot be recovered, a great sacrifice given her love of music, as her friends tell us. In the famous photo of the protests, she was wearing a Guns N' Roses T-shirt, and a young Slovak man who supported the Belarusian protests had given her a ticket to one of their concerts. Remaining in the Czech Republic, Maria then began to study the language, preparing for university, and always remaining at the centre of media attention, with whom she never stopped communicating. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Zajtseva immediately made herself available to help Ukrainian refugees fleeing to the Czech Republic, but the emotional reaction was so strong that some young Belarusians who had also left the country went to the front line to support the Ukrainians. One of these was Timur Mitskevich, who was also beaten and tortured by the police during the 2020 protests, when he was only 16 years old. He remained in a coma for some time, during which his mother died, leaving him completely alone, and as soon as he turned 18 he joined the Ukrainian army. Looking into his eyes as he prepared his rucksack, Maria realised that she couldn't stop him, and that she wanted to go to the front too. She thought that only by driving the Russians out of Ukraine could anything be changed in Belarus too. She had to want to return with all her heart, because she didn't feel at home in the Czech Republic, which had welcomed and protected her. In the spring of 2023 she therefore enlisted in the battalion of Kastus Kalinovskij, made up of Belarusians within the Ukrainian army, despite all her friends begging her to stop. Having studied veterinary medicine for a few years, Maria had some medical knowledge, so they placed her in the infirmary, where she helped and saved many people, also acting as an interpreter for the foreign soldiers. All those who knew her at the front say that even during the most terrible fighting she was always very calm, despite her young age. Maria was wounded in the hand by a grenade and had to return to Czechoslovakia for rehabilitation, but she didn't want to live a sheltered life and asked to be trained as a sniper because otherwise they'll kill them all. She therefore returned to fight for freedom, even sacrificing her own life, because she refused to resign herself to being a victim. by Steve Suwannarat With the publication in the Royal Gazette, Thailand becomes the 68th country in the world to ban physical and psychological violence for disciplinary purposes. This comes after years of international and domestic pressure, but cultural resistance among many Thais remains. UNICEF calls on the government to accompany the change with adequate educational measures. Bangkok (AsiaNews) Thailand has banned corporal punishment of minors. With this important step, the Southeast Asian country is aligning with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in force since 1990, a source of debate, especially in school and families. Traditionally, the practice was tolerated in many families, and affected a high percentage of children and teenagers. According to the latest survey by the National Statistical Office, published in 2022, 54 per cent of Thais under the age of 14 received some form of physical or psychological punishment at home. Although down from 75 per cent in 2005, the figure is still too high for UNICEF, which is promoting the total ban of the practice. With the publication of the measure in the Royal Gazette on Monday, Thailand became the 68th country in the world to prohibit the use of coercion or violence against minors for disciplinary purposes. UNICEF Thailand welcomed the news, defining the change as a model to follow to ensure the total protection of young people from all forms of violence or exploitation. At the same time, it stresses the importance of the government backing the ban with adequate educational campaigns, especially directed at families, where the use of force as an educational tool is still widely accepted. This will not be an easy task. In Thailand the traditional idea of family remains strongly ingrained, even when it comes with excessive behaviours. Attempts at reforms have always met with resistance in the countrys military establishment and among nationalist circles who prefer traditional values. It is no coincidence that, back in 2021, during the country's periodic review, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children reiterated that under international human rights law the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments states have an obligation to ban corporal punishment in all areas, including in the family. Back then, corporal punishment of children was legal in Thailand despite repeated recommendations by the Committee on the Rights of the Childs recommendation during the second cycle of Thailands Universal Periodic Review in 2016. Eventually, the Thai government accepted the recommendations to ban the practice, starting a debate in the country that culminated in the latest legislative changes. A recent study by an independent commission exposes decades of abuse in international adoption practices, with minors taken from their families and sent abroad by private agencies (which made huge profits) without adequate oversight. Only recently has South Korea taken steps to protect adoptees, and began working with Norway where more than 6,500 children were sent from 1969 to last year. Seoul (AsiaNews) The South Korean government has tolerated serious human rights violations in international adoptions, allowing thousands of children and babies to go abroad over decades through private agencies. In a report, the government's independent Commission for Truth and Reconciliation (CTR) ascertains that fraud, falsified records, coercion and negligence led to the adoption abroad of at least 170,000 children and babies since the 1950s. The study, released yesterday, follows an investigation that began in 2022. To date, about a hundred petitions have been analysed out of the 367 submitted by people adopted between 1964 and 1999. Although only 56 cases have been acknowledged as human rights violations, the investigation will conclude in May. Thanks to hasty and non-transparent procedures, children given up for adoption have not been protected psychologically in what Park Sun-young, the commission chairperson, calls a shameful part of our history," speaking at a press briefing. "While many adoptees were fortunate to grow up in loving families, others suffered great hardship and trauma due to flawed adoption processes. Even today, many continue to face challenges." After the Korean War, when the country was very poor and in ruins, the newly formed South Korean government entrusted transnational adoptions to private entities, exercising "minimal procedural oversight" on requests from abroad, the Commission found. In the absence of government regulation, South Korean agencies could demand very high fees, turning adoptions into a profit-driven industry," the report reads. In many cases, children were taken without the consent of their biological mother, or false stories of abandonment were created to make people believe that the children had lost their parents during the war. Some adoptees were assigned new identities. Many of them, now adults, have not been able to trace their families of origin because of the absence of legal protection, their new names, and the lack of original documents. South Korea moved to tighten adoption procedures only in recent years. In 2023, a law was adopted to ensure that all adoptions abroad are handled by a government ministry instead of private agencies, a measure expected to come into force in July this year. Between 2004 and 2021, more than 16,000 South Korean children were adopted, yielding very high profits for the four agencies in South Korea that deal with international foster care. Between 2018 and 2022 alone, they earned 22.1 billion won (US$ 16.3 million) in commissions for more than 1,180 children, an average of 18.7 million won (US$ 14,000) per child. To which must be added funds allocated by the government. They took better care of the dog than they ever did of me," said Inger-Tone Ueland Shin, now 60, speaking to the BBC about her adoptive parents, who could not adopt in Norway since they were in their fifties. Taken at the age of 13 directly from an orphanage in South Korea, Inger-Tone has accused her adoptive father of sexual abuse. But she also says that she was ignored by welfare agencies. Norwegian authorities approved her adoption many years later, when they deemed that she no longer had any ties to South Korea. Speaking about her adoptive parents, Inger-Tone lamented that, They have never spent time in prison for what they've done to me. They criminally picked up a child outside of the country... nobody has taken responsibility for what they did to me. After filing a lawsuit in 2022, she obtained compensation and acknowledgment of the South Korean government's role in her case. I have been living in the wrong country and I have had a painful and miserable life, she noted. Meanwhile, South Korea and Norway have announced cooperation in the adoption investigations, which have been carried out so far independently in the two countries. Yesterday Park Sun-young met in Seoul with Camilla Bernt, president of the Norwegian Committee of Inquiry on International Adoptions. South Korea provided the most adoptions to Norway, more than 6,500 children between 1969 and 2024, or 32 per cent of all adoptions from abroad in the Scandinavian nation. The report will be an important source for our investigation and evaluation, Bernt explained. Norway launched its own investigation in December 2023, focusing on possible negligence on the part of national authorities. In January, it published a first report on Ecuador and Colombia and is now preparing one on Korea. During the visit, the Norwegian delegation met with South Korean authorities, adoption agencies such as Holt, biological parents, researchers and associations. For us, it is helpful during our visit here in South Korea to meet with Korean authorities to gain a better understanding of the Korean regulations and practices for adoptions both past and present," Bernt said. (Pictured: the meeting between Park Sun-young, president of South Koreas Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Camilla Bernt, head of the Norwegian Investigation Committee on Intercountry Adoption) Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. One of those lawmakers, Hovik Aghazarian, was ousted from the ruling Civil Contract party late last year while the other, Taron Markarian, had served as mayor of Yerevan from 2011-2018. They will be indicted, but not arrested for now, in separate criminal cases opened by law-enforcement agencies. Aghazarian was one of seven officials, including Armenias top judicial officer, whom Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian told to resign in text messages sent last November. He was the only one who defied the request. In the following weeks, Aghazarian was repeatedly summoned for interrogations and had his personal communication controversially accessed by Pashinian and disclosed to other senior Civil Contract figures. The party expelled him from its ranks in December. Pashinian declared the following day that he must be prosecuted and stripped of his seat. Aghazarian has remained defiant since then, setting up his own party and pledging to strive to unseat Pashinian. In a petition sent to the parliament two weeks ago, Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetian said investigators want to charge the 65-year-old lawmaker with two counts of bribery and influence peddling. Vardapetian claimed that a private developer paid him a $23,000 kickback in exchange for his pledge to help it receive a construction permit in Yerevan. Also, Aghazarian allegedly demanded in 2023 at least $200,000 from two other entrepreneurs who wanted to circumvent government regulations for the export of livestock from Armenia. Aghazarian continued to deny the allegations during a two-day parliament debate that preceded Thursdays vote. He said Pashinian engineered his prosecution in retaliation against his refusal to resign from the National Assembly. Parliament deputies from the main opposition Hayastan alliance echoed those claims. They argued that both criminal cases against Aghazarian were opened nearly two years ago and that investigators moved to charge him only after he fell out with Pashinian. Civil Contracts parliamentary group practically unanimously agreed to lift its former members immunity from prosecution, even though some of them openly questioned the credibility of the charges brought against him. Pro-government lawmakers voiced no such misgivings about the criminal case against Markarian, who is affiliated with the second parliamentary opposition force, Pativ Unem. The former Yerevan mayor and the other Pativ Unem deputies boycotted the parliament debate and the ensuing secret ballot in protest. Markarian faces accusations of money laundering, abuse of power and illegal privatization of municipal land. They were first levelled against him four years ago. The case never reached court due to an apparent lack of evidence. Prosecutors slightly expanded it in order to indict the ex-mayor again. All of this is just another episode of the political persecution that has been going on against me for seven years, Markarian said in a statement issued earlier this week. Pativ Unem representatives have claimed that Pashinian ordered Markarians prosecution in a bid to deflect the publics attention from grave challenges facing Armenia and to boost his flagging popularity ahead of key elections. Vardapetian, who previously worked as Pashinians legal adviser, denied on Thursday acting on the prime ministers orders. 27 March 2025 17:25 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more In recent years, Azerbaijan has focused on harnessing its economic potential and promoting export-oriented agricultural production. These efforts have led to significant progress in the development of traditional agricultural sectors. The modernization of infrastructure, better utilization of labor resources, and the effective use of natural resources have allowed for increased employment and entrepreneurial growth within the agricultural sector. Cotton production, a historically strategic area within Azerbaijan's agricultural landscape, plays a critical role in the country's economy by generating substantial foreign exchange earnings. Characterized by high labor efficiency and total output, cotton farming is integral to Azerbaijans agricultural policy and economic stability. Natural and economic advantages of cotton production Azerbaijan benefits from favorable natural and climatic conditions that are well-suited for cotton cultivation. The region's long-standing tradition of cotton growing, coupled with the ability to meet the raw material needs of the local processing industry, positions cotton as a pillar of Azerbaijan's agricultural exports. Additionally, Azerbaijan's cotton production holds considerable export potential, particularly for finished cotton products. These factors underline the necessity of further developing and investing in the cotton sector as a key component of the countrys agrarian policy. Given these advantages, it is crucial that Azerbaijan continues to focus on creating favorable conditions for cotton farming, ensuring the sector's sustained growth and competitiveness in international markets. Strengthening the value chainfrom production to exportwill be essential in boosting the sectors economic contribution. Current performance and export trends In the first two months of the current year, Azerbaijan exported 18.6 thousand tons of cotton, valued at 28.4 million US dollars. However, this figure represents a notable decline compared to the same period in 2024, with a decrease of 5.4 thousand tons (22.4%) in volume and 9.8 million US dollars (25.7%) in value. This drop highlights the challenges facing Azerbaijan's cotton export sector, which may be influenced by factors such as fluctuations in global demand, changes in market conditions, or regional production issues. Despite the decline in cotton exports, the overall foreign trade turnover of Azerbaijan showed positive growth. In the first two months of this year, the countrys foreign trade turnover reached 8.9 billion US dollars, marking an increase of 1.7 billion US dollars (23.2%) compared to the same period in 2024. This indicates that while cotton exports have experienced a downturn, other sectors have contributed to the country's positive trade balance. The role of imports and foreign trade balance During the same period, Azerbaijan imported cotton worth 1.6 million US dollars, a slight increase of 87 thousand US dollars (5.6%) compared to January-February 2024. This import increase suggests that while domestic cotton production remains a key component of the economy, the country still relies on external sources to meet certain processing and manufacturing demands. Azerbaijan's foreign trade balance, although positive, showed a significant decrease in the reporting period. The trade surplus was 628 million US dollars, down 1.7 billion US dollars (3.7 times) compared to the previous year. This reduction in the trade surplus is largely attributed to a sharp rise in imports, which increased by 1.7 billion US dollars (69.2%) compared to the same period last year. While the increase in imports reflects strong demand for foreign goods, it also raises concerns about the sustainability of Azerbaijan's current trade balance and the dependency on imports to fuel the domestic economy. Strategic outlook for cotton production Moving forward, the Azerbaijani government must prioritize addressing the challenges faced by the cotton sector to maintain its competitiveness. Key areas for improvement include enhancing agricultural productivity, investing in technology for cotton processing, and optimizing logistics to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Furthermore, expanding the processing capabilities for cotton and increasing the production of finished cotton products would not only help Azerbaijan move up the value chain but also enable the country to capture a larger share of the international market for high-value cotton products. Export diversification strategies, alongside strong domestic support for cotton growers, will also be pivotal in mitigating the risks associated with global market fluctuations. While Azerbaijans cotton sector has faced some setbacks in export performance in early 2025, the broader trade picture remains positive. Strategic investments in cotton farming infrastructure, as well as policies to boost the sectors competitiveness, will be key in ensuring the long-term success of cotton production in Azerbaijan. Strengthening the link between cotton farming, processing, and export will bolster the sectors economic contributions, enabling Azerbaijan to maximize its agricultural potential and solidify its position as a regional leader in cotton production. 27 March 2025 08:30 (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, the world witnessed a 4% increase in electricity consumption, equating to approximately 1,100 terawatt hoursone of the most significant jumps in the past decade. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), this surge was primarily driven by rising global temperatures, leading to higher demand for cooling systems, such as air conditioners and refrigeration. Additionally, the growing electrification of transportation, the proliferation of data centers, and the expansion of artificial intelligence applications contributed to this upward trend. 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! 27 March 2025 13:55 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan has always prioritized productive and promising relations in its political and economic relations with European and overseas countries. The results of this have always been evident. Take the economic cooperation and the cooperation in animal husbandry with the South American countries. Having become an important milestone for Uruguayan livestock farming, the country carried out its first permanent export of vaccines to Azerbaijan, opening a new direction for this sector. Gadoville led the shipment of 1,700 pregnant Hollando and Aberdeen Angus heifers bound for Turkiye, in addition to 500 Angus heifers sent to Azerbaijan. The operation reinforces growing international demand for Uruguayan genetics at a time when cattle breeding exports have shown a significant increase compared to the previous year. According to customs data, 42,977 active vaccines have been exported since the beginning of the year, more than double the 20,000 shipments registered in the same period in 2024. Of that total, 27,796 animals were destined for Turkiye, and 14,673 were sent to Morocco, making these countries the main buyers of Uruguayan cattle. The Holando cows exported to Turkiye had pedigree information certified by the Uruguayan Association of Livestock Data and Information (Audig), allowing genomic testing of 100% of the animals. This requirement meets the need to insure animals with American and Canadian genetics, which are more adapted to the stable rearing systems that are the predominant method in Turkiye. As for the Aberdeen Angus heifers, the animals exported complied with the Turkish import protocol, which requires that the bellies of beef breeds must be under 22 months old and classified as a milk tooth and 2 teeth. In the case of the shipment to Azerbaijan, the cargo consisted exclusively of Angus, which expanded the opportunities for Uruguayan cattle in international markets. The FOB price for each animal was $ 1,100, increasing the economic attractiveness of this export for the Uruguayan livestock sector. The Gadoville company has stated their intention to maintain this commercial flow, especially in the segment of genomic tested bellies, because of the guarantees it provides to buyers in terms of performance. Certainly, in return for all this, Azerbaijan has also been able to achieve high figures in trade turnover with Uruguay. Thus, last year, oil worth 85.1 million USD was exported from the Republic of Azerbaijan to Uruguay. Besides, over the past ten years, Azerbaijan has imported various products, including pharmaceutical products, pearls, precious stones, inorganic chemicals, precious metal compounds, isotope metals, coins, ceramic products, wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal, etc. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Uruguay have also continued successfully. Although at certain times, against the backdrop of tense relations with Armenia, Uruguays position caused some concern, it ultimately shifted in a positive direction. Uruguay has always supported peace and stability in the South Caucasus, and it recognized the territories of Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, which were previously occupied by Armenia, as part of Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Diplomatic relations with Uruguay became even more intensive after 2013, leading to an increase in mutual visits. Shared interests between the two countries resulted in several bilateral agreements signed between the foreign ministries of both countries. One of these agreements was the removal of the visa regime for official and diplomatic representatives in 2013, followed by the Agreement on Customs Cooperation (2016) and the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation (2017). 27 March 2025 13:21 (UTC+04:00) Mexicos El Economista newspaper has published an interview with Azerbaijans Ambassador to Mexico, Mammad Talibov, titled Our Main Goal is to Strengthen Ties Between Azerbaijan and Mexico, authored by journalist Perla Pineda. Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijans Embassy in Mexico, the interview highlights opportunities for strengthening Azerbaijan-Mexico relations, with a focus on economic, energy, and tourism cooperation. Ambassador Talibov emphasized Azerbaijans commitment to sharing its experience in the transition to green energy and its openness to new markets. He also noted Azerbaijans interest in enhancing investment and trade relations with Mexico, particularly given the two nations commonalities in multilateral diplomacy, human rights, and cultural exchange. One of the embassys key objectives, the ambassador explained, is to establish channels for business engagement between the two countries, helping identify areas of mutual interestparticularly in Mexicos efforts to diversify its economy and expand into global markets. He pointed out that major companies and Mexican producers could explore opportunities in Azerbaijan and its broader region. Azerbaijan, a leader in global energy and transportation projects, has significantly improved its socioeconomic conditions through these initiatives. The countrys strategic regional connections and role as a transport hub make it a gateway for Mexican companies looking to access Central Asian, European, Turkish, and other markets. In addition, agriculture and technology present new avenues for bilateral cooperation. The ambassador also underscored Azerbaijans rising leadership in renewable energy, citing agreements with several EU countries to export Azerbaijans green energy to Europe. The country boasts substantial potential in wind and solar energy. On tourism, the ambassador noted that while bilateral tourist flows are increasing, they have yet to reach significant levels. He highlighted Azerbaijans simplified e-visa system for Mexican travelers and assured them of Azerbaijans safety and hospitality, encouraging greater tourism exchange between the two nations. 27 March 2025 13:45 (UTC+04:00) President of Georgia Mikheil Kavelashvili has sent congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Novruz holiday, Azernews reports. "Your Excellency, I wholeheartedly extend my congratulations to you and the friendly Azerbaijani people on the joyous occasion of Novruz Bayram. As we celebrate this festival of spring, renewal, and unity, I wish you happiness and good health and for your country - peace, progress, and prosperity. For centuries, Novruz Bayram has been a symbol of mutual respect, friendship, and harmony among nations. Novruz, deeply rooted in centuries-old traditions and cultural heritage, holds great significance in fostering people-to-people connections built on mutual respect, as well as in strengthening peace and good neighbourly ties. I firmly believe that the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan will continue to grow in the future, further enhancing regional peace and stability. Your Excellency, I express my deep respect for you and once again offer my heartfelt congratulations to the friendly people of Azerbaijan on this special occasion," the letter reads. 27 March 2025 19:18 (UTC+04:00) King of Jordan Abdullah II ibn Hussein congratulated President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Eid Ul Fitr, 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! 27 March 2025 20:24 (UTC+04:00) President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the first phase of Sarijali village in Aghdam on March 27, 2025. Footage of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visiting Sarijali village in Aghdam has been shared on the Presidents social media accounts. 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! 27 March 2025 09:00 (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 January 2025, Azerbaijan imported 792 smartphones from India, Azernews reports, citing the State Statistics 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! 27 March 2025 18:30 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The founder of ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, 41-year-old Zhang Yiming, has topped the ranking of the richest people in China, with a fortune of $57.5 billion. ByteDance has revolutionized the social media landscape with TikTok, making Zhang a prominent figure in the global tech industry, Azernews reports. In second place is Ma Huateng, also known as Pony Ma, the founder of the telecommunications giant Tencent. His fortune is estimated at $56.6 billion. Tencent is the owner of WeChat, one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world, with over 1.3 billion active users. The third spot is occupied by Zhong Shanshan, the 70-year-old founder of Nongfu Spring, a major Chinese bottled water producer. His wealth is valued at $54.1 billion. Known as the "Lone Wolf" of Chinese billionaires, Zhongs success stems from both the bottled water brand and his controlling stake in Wantai BioPharm, a leading health and vaccine company. Meanwhile, Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man and the head of Indias conglomerate Reliance Industries, saw his fortune drop to $90.9 billion due to business challenges. Just last year, his net worth exceeded $120 billion, and he is now ranked 17th on the global list, down from higher positions in recent years. Globally, the richest person in the world remains Elon Musk, with a staggering fortune of $336 billion. Musks wealth comes primarily from his ownership of Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures. His innovations in electric vehicles, space exploration, and renewable energy have placed him at the pinnacle of global wealth. 27 March 2025 19:05 (UTC+04:00) Hyundai Motor Group officially opened its $7.6 billion Metaplant in Georgia on Wednesday, a move that will protect the company from looming tariff threats as U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25 percent levy on all imported cars, Azernews reports, citing Korea JoongAng Daily. The 11.76 million-square-meter (126.58 million-square-foot) Metaplant, located in Bryan County, Georgia, is designed to help Hyundai significantly increase its U.S. production capacity. It is expected to produce roughly 1.2 million vehicles, which would account for about 70 percent of the company's total U.S. sales as of the previous year. The facility includes a state-of-the-art automobile plant focused on electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, a joint battery plant with LG Energy Solution, and an auto parts factory operated by Hyundai Mobis. Currently, the plants capacity stands at 300,000 units annually, with future expansion plans to increase this to 500,000 units, surpassing the production capabilities of Hyundai's Alabama plant (360,000 units) and Kias Georgia plant (340,000 units). Notably, Hyundais popular Ioniq 5 and the upcoming Ioniq 9 models are already being produced at this new facility, reflecting the companys shift toward electric mobility. During the opening ceremony, Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, highlighted the significance of the plant for the company and the local community. Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) not only showcases the groups advanced manufacturing capabilities and commitment to innovation, but also reinforces our investment in relationships with our partners and the communities here in Georgia, he said. The ceremony was attended by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Chang Jae-hoon, and CEO Jose Munoz. Chung further emphasized, With the rich history of craftsmanship and manufacturing in this community, together with the talented workforce at HMGMA, we are building the future of mobility with America, in America. Meanwhile, President Trump declared the implementation of a 25 percent tariff on all imported cars to the U.S. market, which is set to take effect on April 2. This move will likely impact a wide range of automakers, but Hyundais new Metaplant gives the company a strategic advantage by increasing its domestic production and mitigating the impact of the tariffs. Hyundais aggressive push into electric vehicles (EVs) aligns with the growing shift in the automotive industry toward sustainable, zero-emission cars. The Ioniq 5, for example, has already won several awards for its design and innovation. 27 March 2025 19:35 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of nearly $2 billion worth of drones and related systems to Qatar, Azernews reports. This approval was reported by the Pentagons Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which manages the export of military equipment and weapons to foreign countries through intergovernmental agreements. The statement highlights that Qatar had previously requested the acquisition of eight MQ-9B UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) from the United States, along with ammunition, including AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles, as well as various systems, such as control and communications systems. The proposed sale will advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the defense capabilities of a key partner in the Gulf region, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated. The sale is expected to reinforce the defense of a friendly state while fostering stronger defense ties between the U.S. and Qatar. The U.S. administration has already formally notified Congress of its approval for the potential sale. Under U.S. law, Congress has 30 days to review the proposed deal and has the authority to block it if there are objections. MQ-9B UAVs are part of the latest generation of drones, equipped with advanced surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities. These UAVs can be deployed for a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to precision strikes, making them valuable assets in modern warfare. 27 March 2025 21:18 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The U.S. administration will impose 25% import duties on all cars manufactured outside the country, President Donald Trump announced during a conversation with reporters at the White House, Azernews reports. We will actually charge a tariff of 25%. But if you assemble cars in the United States, there will be no tariffs, he stated. According to Trump, the new tariffs will take effect on April 2. The announcement signals a continuation of the Trump administrations America First trade policies, aimed at incentivizing domestic production and reducing the U.S. trade deficit. The tariffs could have significant effects on foreign automakers, many of which have large manufacturing plants in countries like Mexico, Canada, and various European nations. Companies like Toyota, Volkswagen, and BMW that import cars into the U.S. may need to reconsider their supply chains or invest in more domestic production to avoid the tariff. 27 March 2025 22:31 (UTC+04:00) SplxAI, a cybersecurity company specializing in agentic AI systems, has successfully raised 6.45 million in seed funding, Azernews reports, citing Intelli News. The funding round was led by LAUNCHub Ventures, with participation from Rain Capital, Inovo, Runtime Ventures, DNV Ventures, and South Central Ventures . This investment will be used to accelerate the development of SplxAIs platform, which provides automated security testing, remediation, and monitoring for AI agents and applications. As organizations increasingly adopt advanced AI systems, new and often poorly understood security risks are emerging. SplxAIs platform helps address these vulnerabilities by simulating potential attack scenarios and analyzing AI behavior across various types of agents, including text-based, image-based, and voice-based. Additionally, the platform offers continuous real-time monitoring to detect and respond to threats swiftly. Stan Sirakov of LAUNCHub Ventures has joined the companys board, while Sandy Dunn, the former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Brand Engagement Network, has been appointed as SplxAIs new CISO. Dunn will lead the company's governance and compliance efforts, strengthening its focus on security standards. SplxAI launched its platform in August 2024 and has already reported an impressive 127% quarter-on-quarter growth. Its clients include notable names such as KPMG, Infobip, Brand Engagement Network, and Glean. The company has also released an open-source tool called Agentic Radar, which is designed to identify security gaps in AI agent workflows through static code analysis. The platform is positioned as a more efficient and scalable alternative to traditional manual security testing, which tends to be slower, more expensive, and less adaptable to the rapid advancements in AI technology. LAUNCHub Ventures, based in Sofia, is a venture capital firm known for its investments across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, with a focus on countries like Bulgaria and Croatia. As AI systems become more integrated into critical business functions, the need for specialized cybersecurity solutions becomes more urgent. SplxAI is tapping into this growing demand by focusing specifically on the vulnerabilities that arise from agentic AIAI systems capable of acting autonomously and making decisions based on their environment. What Does It Take To Get A Curriculum In Beaufort County Schools? BY: DAVE HUDSON I attended last nights School Board meeting and spoke during public comment about the continued lack of an approved social studies curriculum in our county. I vowed to continue providing public visibility to what is happening in our schools following last years School Board elections. I apologize in advance for the length of this article but feel that it is necessary. Immediately below are the comments I made when I addressed the School Board: I spoke out against the SAVVAS social studies curriculum at the School Board meeting on February 21, 2023. However, it defies logic that after more than two years we still dont have an approved social studies curriculum in Beaufort County! Teachers are creating their own lesson plans, utilizing information they find on the internet and other sources but without an approved curriculum to use as a benchmark. This leaves room for many issues to arise because we dont know what our students are being taught or if the curriculum complies with BCS Curriculum Policy. One case in point, one of my children was being taught a lesson where the information being taught in class was wrong. They spoke up in class to the teacher that what was being taught was incorrect. My child knew this and stated so to the teacher because they had been to the location where the historical event took place, had seen it with their own eyes and knew what was being taught was incorrect. The teacher responded that indeed, my child was correct, but that was how the teacher was required to teach it. So that makes me wonder what is being taught and why is there still no approved curriculum? Apparently, the decision was made to table the adoption of the SAVVAS curriculum for a later date. This most likely happened because the Superintendent got egg on his face for trying to push through a woke curriculum with a weak School Board and received more public outcry than was anticipated. It was probably tabled for a later date when the public wasnt watching but unfortunately, the decision was made to give up the search completely in order to pursue finding a science curriculum. This whole fiasco is just another example of why DOGE is needed in the public education bureaucracy. Administrative staff (bureaucracy) at the county, state and federal levels has grown by 88% since 2000. In the same period, student and teacher levels have only grown by 8%. That means bureaucracy in education has grown at an excessively higher rate than the folks doing the actual educating in classrooms and students being taught. We have also seen a continuing decline in school and student performance scores during the same time. That tells me that the bureaucracy is broken and needs much necessary reform. The issues with our county curriculum selection process are a perfect case in point. If Dr. Parker and the BCS staff are incapable of choosing more than one curriculum at a time, what are you actually doing? It appears to me and most of the public that the bureaucrats at the county level, this weak School Board and the Superintendent https://ofesadev.rcmrd.org/ are incompetent at best or, at worst, dont actually care about the education our children receive. It is way past time for all of you to do your job! Furthermore, it is way past time for this weak, incompetent School Board to hold the Superintendent accountable and provide the oversight and leadership the people of Beaufort County expect from you! You are failing our teachers, our citizens and most importantly our students. Shame on you all! Shame on you! Following the public comment period, discussion came up as an agenda item concerning curriculum selection and the timeline required to do so. Dr. Parker gave an overview of his proposed timeline to research, acquire and implement a science and social studies curriculum. The photo at the end of this article is from his presentation and speaks to that timeline which Ill describe further. I apologize for the poor quality of the image, but it was the best of several I was able to obtain from my vantage point at the back of the room. Dr. Parker believes it is overburdensome to choose two curricula at the same time. He brought in two other school staff members to explain and defend (toe the party line) his preferred course of action. The preferred course of action is to find a science curriculum first and then begin the process of getting a new social studies curriculum. It is possible to do both at the same time, although not advisable in the opinion of the folks providing the information. If the School Board chooses to only search for one curriculum at a time, the result would be a new science curriculum that would begin being taught around school year 26-27. After that the social studies curriculum would be chosen but would not be implemented until school year 28-29. The alternative of choosing both simultaneously would result in both curricula being implemented in school year 27-28 from the best I could tell. Considering were already at the end of the first quarter of 2025 and the issue hasnt been voted upon by the School Board yet, I find it highly unlikely that these timelines are accurate. The conservative members of the school board questioned why this timeline was so drawn out and why BCS staff would not be able to acquire both curricula in a more timely manner. Im no expert. I appreciate everything our hard-working teachers do to provide our children with the best education possible. However, this doesnt pass the smell test to me and leads me to wonder what the bureaucrats at the county level are really doing. Ive discussed this in articles and podcasts which I encourage you to read http://supp.cus.ac.in/ and wont go into further detail here. If this doesnt make sense to you, I ask you to question your elected School Board District representative. Ask for an explanation, hold them accountable. We deserve better! I never like to discuss a problem or issue without at least offering a solution. One solution for the social studies curriculum would be the adoption of the Hillsdale curriculum which is complete with lesson plans and costs absolutely nothing for the county to obtain. Just throwing that out there for what it's worth. Thank you for your interest and continued support as we work to make our schools even better. One of the top leaders of one of the most violent migrant crime gangs has been arrested by ICE for deportation in northern Virginia. Prior to the arrival in the US of Tren de Aragua, MS13 was regarded as the most ultra violent crime gang operating within the US. It is based in El Salvador, and its signature method of killing people is to hack them to death with machetes. The 24 year old East Coast captain of MS13 was arrested in a clean takedown with the assistance of local county sheriff's deputies in a upscale suburb south of Washington, DC. He was also one of the top three MS13 leaders in the US. ICE now intends to deport him, but may have to put up with radical anti-American Obama judges trying to protect this scumbag. He has space waiting for him in President Bukele's prison in his home country. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14542869/Leader-migrant-super-gang-MS-13-arrested-VIRGINIA-Trump.html https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2025/03/27/doj-fbi-joint-task-force-nabs-an-ms-13-leader-and-several-criminal-illegals-a-massive-victory-n2187158 At least he is not in Washington, DC where one third of all federal district judges are foreign born, thanks to Obama and Biden. Centre House in Belfast city centre will become the first Tempo by Hilton outside the US International hotel giant Hilton is bringing its Tempo brand to Northern Ireland, marking the first opening for the name outside the US, Belfast Telegraph can reveal. The US business said the property at Chichester Street and Victoria Street in Belfast, close to landmark pub Granny Annies, had been chosen as a Tempo by Hilton, described as a "thoughtfully designed lifestyle hotel with wellbeing at its core". Hilton said it had signed a franchise agreement for the property with Loughview Leisure Group, following Tempo by Hiltons launch in the US, with the first opening in 2023 at Times Square, New York. Further Tempos are planned later this year in San Diego, California, Nashville, Tennessee and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Hilton said the Belfast opening reinforced its commitment to growing in NI, after first setting up here nearly 30 years ago. The Tempo by Hilton in Belfast is due to open by the end of 2026. Its already opening three new hotels in NI this year the Marcus Hotel Portrush, which will be branded Tapestry Collection by Hilton, as well as DoubleTree by Hilton Belfast City Ten Square and DoubleTree by Hilton Londonderry. Hilton said the expansion will double its NI room count over the next year and bring its total brand presence here to five by the end of next year. Nick Smart, vice president, development UK and Ireland at Hilton, said: Northern Ireland has a rich heritage and rapidly growing international appeal. "Were committed to ensuring that every traveller has access to a high-quality hotel to suit their needs from business travellers and locals who want to explore whats on their doorstep, to adventurous global visitors looking to experience everything this country has to offer. "This latest brand entry is a significant milestone, and were delighted to work with partners like Loughview Leisure Group who bring a wealth of local experience and share our commitment to providing exceptional accommodation to suit every traveller. The new hotel will be located in empty office building Centre House, and will have 144 rooms. Hilton said: In line with the brands mission to help guests maintain their preferred routine during their travels, the hotel will offer wellbeing-focused amenities, and a balanced food and drink offer. Centre House in Belfast city centre will become the first Tempo by Hilton outside the US News Catch Up - Thursday 27 March Chris Kearney, group finance director, Loughview Leisure Group, which also owns the recently renovated DoubleTree by Hilton Belfast Templepatrick and the upcoming DoubleTree by Hilton Belfast City Ten Square, said: We take great pride in driving investment into Belfast and the surrounding area. "As we look to further shape the citys hospitality scene, we are delighted to partner with Hilton, increasing Northern Irelands global appeal and pioneering new brands like Tempo by Hilton to attract new guests looking to experience everything Belfast has to offer. Trump name checks Ireland as he hints at next round of tariffs Trump unveiled 25% tariff on imported vehicles last night, expanding global trade war US President Donald Trump displays a signed an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump has hinted at Irelands pharmaceutical industry being the next target of his tariff roll-out, saying its in order to bring our pharmaceutical industry back. As the US president announced a 25% tariff on all foreign-made cars being imported to the US, he also spoke about his next potential round of tariffs. Trump threatened to impose 25% or higher tariffs on foreign-made pharmaceuticals a month ago, and now the US president has doubled down on the pledge, and name checked Ireland. The exact timing and scope of the tariff implementation remains unclear. Speaking from the Oval Office, he said; Were going to be doing tariffs on pharmaceuticals in order to bring our pharmaceuticals back. We dont make anything here in terms of drugs, medical drugs, different types of drugs you might need medically. Its all in other countries, largely made in China, a lot of it made in Ireland. "Ireland was very smart, we love Ireland, he added. Top healthcare investment bankers told Reuters this week that large deals involving pharmaceutical and biotech companies are stalling as executives grapple with mercurial White House economic policies that have roiled markets and set off a global trade war. They say the excitement late last year over Trump's election victory and prospects for a subsequent flurry of mergers and acquisition deals have quickly faded. And the political uncertainty is pushing some deals out by a few months or even quarters. Auto tariffs Meanwhile, Asian auto stocks led markets lower on Thursday after Trump unveiled a 25% tariff on imported vehicles, expanding a global trade war and prompting criticism and threats of retaliation from affected US allies. The new levies on cars and light trucks will take effect on April 3, the day after Trump plans to announce reciprocal tariffs aimed at the countries responsible for the bulk of the US trade deficit. They come on top of duties already introduced on steel and aluminium, and on goods from Mexico, Canada and China. The US imported $474 billion worth of automotive products in 2024, including passenger cars worth $220 billion. Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany, all close U.S. allies, were the biggest suppliers. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the move as "bad for businesses, worse for consumers," while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney labeled the tariffs a "direct attack" on Canadian workers and said retaliatory measures were being considered. "We will defend our workers, we will defend our companies, we will defend our country, and we will defend it together," Carney told reporters in Ottawa. US President Donald Trump displays a signed an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Simon Harris discusses call with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over tariffs Automakers such as Toyota Motor and Mazda Motor led declines in stocks in Japan, which relies on autos for more than a quarter of its exports to the US. Shares of automakers in South Korea, Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and Kia Corp 000270.KS, fell sharply, while India automakers and parts suppliers also slid. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo will put "all options on the table" in dealing with the new tariffs and South Korea said it would put in place an emergency response for its hard-hit auto industry by April. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Trump risked damaging the US economy with additional tariffs. "Protectionism doesn't help any country in the world," Lula said on Thursday at a press conference in Tokyo, vowing to lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organization over a trade levy on Brazilian steel. Trump sees tariffs as a tool to raise revenue to offset his promised tax cuts and to revive a long-declining US industrial base. Many trade experts, however, expect prices to initially rise and demand to fall, hurting a global auto industry that is already reeling from uncertainty caused by Trump's rapid-fire tariff threats and occasional reversals. "We're going to charge countries for doing business in our country and taking our jobs, taking our wealth, taking a lot of the things that they've been taking over the years," Trump said at the Oval Office on Wednesday. "They've taken so much out of our country, friend and foe and frankly, friend has been oftentimes much worse than foe." Early on Thursday, Trump said he might hit the EU and Canada with larger tariffs if they teamed up to retaliate. "If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, 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," he said in a post on Truth Social. Praise The United Auto Workers, long-standing critics of free trade agreements it says have destroyed American jobs, lauded the Trump administration's move. "These tariffs are a major step in the right direction for autoworkers and blue-collar communities across the country, and it is now on the automakers, from the Big Three to Volkswagen and beyond, to bring back good union jobs to the US," UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement. Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE, Europe's top car maker, is in the frame since 43% of its US sales are sourced from Mexico, S&P Global Mobility estimates. Shares of US automakers, which are highly integrated with plants and suppliers in Canada and Mexico, fell in after-hours trading, while US equity index futures slid, indicating stocks were headed for a lower open on Thursday. The Center for Automotive Research said the new levies were expected to cost car buyers thousands of dollars more, hitting new vehicle sales and resulting in job losses, since the US automotive industry relies heavily on imported parts. "The tariffs imposed today will make it more expensive to produce and sell cars in the United States, ultimately leading to higher prices, fewer options for consumers, and fewer manufacturing jobs in the US," Jennifer Safavian, president and CEO of Autos Drive America, a trade group representing foreign automakers, said in a statement. Read more Anger as 2,000 staff at Belfast hospital to be denied car park permits Trump's directive included temporary exemptions for auto parts while government officials sort through the complexities of turning his proclamation into practice. Since taking office on January 20, Trump has announced and delayed tariffs on Canada and Mexico for what he alleges is their role in allowing the opioid fentanyl into the US; set import taxes on goods from China for the same reason; launched hefty duties on imports of steel and aluminium; and has repeatedly touted his plans to announce global reciprocal tariffs on April 2. Kyle Rodda, an analyst at Capital.com, said the big concern was that next week's announcement on reciprocal tariffs may not mark the end of the Trump administration's shake-up of global trade. "This potentially drags out trade uncertainty even longer and raises the question of how radical a change to the global trade order is Trump trying to bring about," Rodda said. Trump said on Wednesday auto tariffs could be net neutral for Tesla TSLA.O, the electric car company that is led by Elon Musk, who is also spearheading a government cost-cutting effort. Musk later posted on X that Tesla would not be unscathed. "The tariff impact on Tesla is still significant," he wrote. A general view of the Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben in London (John Walton/PA) Calls for Britain to learn wartime lessons by moving the clocks forward by two hours during the summer months have been rejected by the Government. A Belfast man stopped in a car with 165,000 in suspected criminal cash may be linked to intercepted drugs from Canada, a court heard today. Joshua Guvenc, 33, was charged after police seized the money and then recovered nearly 70,000 worth of cannabis, a round of ammunition and a balaclava from two houses in the west of the city. Murder suspect Jonny Smyth has agreed to extradition and should be returned to Spain from Portugal in around a fortnight, officials said today. The 26-year-old from Belfast appeared in court this morning in the northern Portuguese city of Guimaraes following his arrest on Tuesday at an Airbnb a half-drive north in Braga. The extradition hearing took place behind-closed doors as is normal at such proceedings in both Portugal and Spain, where Smyth was put on a wanted list in January after disappearing following the discovery of missing dad-of-two John Georges body in an orchard in Rojales near the Costa Blanca resort of Torrevieja. Well-placed sources close to the case said after it finished: Smyth did not oppose his extradition so it should be very quick, around two weeks. The judge he went before ordered his remand in preventive detention in the meantime. Portuguese police confirmed Smyths arrest yesterday, clarifying he had been the only person who had been held and would be facing extradition proceedings after a solicitor for Belfast man John Georges family initially pointed to two arrests being made. Police insiders later revealed he had been held on an international arrest warrant issued by a Spanish court at an unnamed Airbnb in Braga, a city in the far north of Portugal which is considered its religious centre and is just a 50-minute drive from the Spanish border. They said the holiday property booking had been made in Smyths girlfriends name and confirmed she was with him when he was arrested but was not taken into custody. Her whereabouts today was unknown. It is because she made the reservation that he is thought to have managed to stay in the Airbnb where he was captured for around a month without detection. He is said to have tried to fool Spanish cops into thinking he was in the Middle East with photos he posted online, although it is not yet clear where he stayed before arriving in Braga. Once Smyth is returned to Spain he will be summoned before the investigating judge probing John Georges murder so his continued preventive detention in Spain ahead of a probable trial can be ratified. Any formal charges would be laid later on once the judge finishes his criminal probe. Suspects can be held in preventive custody in Spain without trial for up to four years, although the normal time limit is two and extensions are a rarity. It is not unheard of for murder suspects to be released on bail beforehand with strict conditions. Gym owner Smyth was made a wanted man on January 21, with court officials on the Costa Blanca confirming the same day national and international arrest warrants had been issued for the man suspected of murdering John George. Mr George, 37, vanished on December 14 last year and relatives reported him missing when he failed to catch a scheduled flight home four days later after what was meant to be a short holiday. 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. Jonny Smyth News Catch Up - Thursday 27 March His body was discovered on January 7, hidden under overgrown lemon trees around five miles from the town of Rojales. 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 then hunting as the alleged perpetrator. Johns dad had named and pictured Smyth on his social media, claiming he was the main suspect before Spanish authorities confirmed they had issued arrest warrants in January. He had previously been described as being among the last people to see John George alive. A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Alicante, which has been very tight-lipped about its investigation and is refusing requests for interviews, said today: In the framework of Operation Resistente, carried out by the Territorial Judicial Police Team of Pilar de la Horadada for a crime of intentional homicide of an Irish citizen in the municipality of Rojales, we have received information through SIRENE of the arrest on March 25th. The arrest was made by the Portuguese police in compliance with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Court of Instruction Number Two in Torrevieja. The victim was also subjected to racial abuse during the incident A man was forced to attend hospital for his injuries after being chased and struck with a dog lead in a suspected racially motivated hate crime in west Belfast. Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which took place on Thursday afternoon (March 27). Detective Sergeant McCartan said: Shortly after 1.20pm, it was reported that a man was followed by another male with a dog in the Divis Street area, who subjected him to racial verbal abuse. "This was a prolonged assault, and we are treating it as a racially motivated hate crime PSNI He proceeded to follow him to his home address and continued to be verbally abusive and made threats towards him. "The suspect then tried to gain entry to the property whilst assaulting the male occupant, and striking him with a metal dog lead. Read more Possible snow for NI before Spring warmth returns for Mothers Day "He continued to try and enter the property to assault the occupant, but eventually fled after a number of other residents intervened. "The victim subsequently attended hospital for treatment for injuries to his arm. Detective Sergeant McCartan continued: This was a prolonged assault, and we are treating it as a racially motivated hate crime at this stage. "An investigation is underway, and we would appeal to anyone who may have seen what happened, or who has any information which could assist us, to contact 101, and quote reference number 839 of 27/03/25. "Alternatively, 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. The PSNI issued a renewed appeal for information on Gary Patterson on Thursday Gary Patterson (45) was last seen in October 2024 Police are growing increasingly concerned for the whereabouts of a high-risk Co Antrim last seen in early October last year. Detectives investigating Gary Pattersons disappearance have issued a specific appeal for information today, Thursday March 27. Gary (45) is described as being around 5ft 6in and of slim build. He also has black hair. When last seen he had a thick moustache - however, his facial hair may have changed since then. "Any information, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, is important Detective Inspector Lyttle He was last seen wearing a distinctive yellow and black check patterned coat with dark blue jeans, hiking/walking boots and a black beanie hat. Gary Patterson (45) was last seen in October 2024 Four months missing: Underwater searches begin for missing man Gary Patterson Commenting, Detective Inspector Lyttle said: We are continuing to search for Gary who was last seen in the Larne area on Saturday, October 12 2024. We are becoming increasingly concerned due to the time that has elapsed since our last confirmed sighting of him. Garys family have also been unable to confirm his whereabouts or get in contact with him since this time. Today we want to share information in the hope that it may jog someones memory of Garys movements on the day of his last sighting. We understand a man matching Garys description potentially boarded the 11am bus from Larne Bus Centre to Belfast on Saturday, 12th October. This particular bus route travels directly into the city centre, with no stops until Ulster University, High Street and Laganside Bus Centre. Gary Patterson Enquiries are ongoing in relation to this information, and we want to hear from you if you were on that bus and noticed a man matching Garys description or where he disembarked on the route. Detective Inspector Lyttle continued: Please look at Garys photograph, and let us know if you recognise him or believe you may have seen him on this date. We would ask people living in the Belfast area to also check any outbuildings or sheds they may own. Any information, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, is important and could prove crucial in assisting us with our investigation to confirm Garys whereabouts and safety. We are also appealing directly to Gary, our only concern is making sure that youre ok. Please make contact with police, family or friends so that we know you are safe and well. If you believe you have information regarding Gary or his whereabouts please pass it to police by contacting 101 and quoting reference number 530 20/12/24. "A report can also be made online using the non-emergency reporting form via https://www.psni.police.uk/report or you can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information. Shock claims: Loyalist Jim Spence denies hes an MI5 agent after secret UDA dossier emerges The Sunday World has been given what is claimed to be details of an internal UDA probe purporting to have been carried out by senior loyalists Jim Spence Hugh Jordan Thu 27 Mar 2025 at 13:00 Former UDA brigadier Jim Spence has publicly denied he was a state agent after a report claiming to be from the terror group was circulated in Belfast. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn has defended the Chancellors spring statement (Niall Carson/PA) Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has defended proposed Government reforms to the welfare system stating it has to be done. Political parties in the region were highly critical of cuts to welfare in Chancellor Rachel Reeves spring statement this week. Speaking in Londonderry, Mr Benn said the current welfare system is unsustainable. He added: It doesnt work to help people who can get back into work. That should be an objective that all of us share. The Government has been very clear that those who cant work at the moment and will never be able to work will be protected. Mr Benn said: We have got one in eight of our young people not in education, work or training, one in eight. That is the future potential of the nation. We cant sit here and shrug our shoulders and say that is the way it is, we have got to do something about it. The package said we are going to redirect some of those resources into helping people who can get back into work to make it easier. People will debate it but it is something that has to be done because most people I have spoken to recognise the current system doesnt work and is simply unsustainable. First Minister Michelle ONeill was critical of Government plans to cut benefits but increase defence spending (Liam McBurney/PA) Sinn Fein ministers had accused the Government of prioritising weapons over welfare after it also announced increases in defence spending. Mr Benn said: The first priority, the first responsibility of any government is to protect the nation. You all know we are living in a more dangerous and uncertain world. In those circumstances it is right and proper for the government to increase defence expenditure. That is what we have done, we have taken the difficult decision over how to fund that. It is the right thing to do to protect the nation. Some of that investment, in respect of Ukraine, has come to Thales in Belfast, it is going to create an additional 200 jobs. That is part of our commitment to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression. At the same time we are passionate about economic growth, because in the end that is how we are going to see the lives of all of us improve and the Government having more money to spend on the things that we want. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the Thales factory in east Belfast is to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth up to 1.6 billion. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves holds a press conference at the Downing Street Briefing Room (Ben Stansall/PA) While some warned of further uncertainty, critics accused Ms Reeves of mismanaging public finances, and some warned of a return to austerity. The i Papers editorial accuses the Chancellor of shackling herself to restrictive rules that dictate what she can and cannot deliver. 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 We saw that at the Spring Statement yesterday: the Chancellors intervention was driven by the need to please the Office for Budget Responsibilitys forecasters, not by a vision of a more prosperous future, the newspaper says The Daily Telegraph is even more damning in its condemnation of the spring statement, accusing Ms Reeves of being at odds with reality. Rachel Reevess Spring Statement exhibited the same wishful thinking that underpinned her calamitous Budget, a Micawberesque hope that something will turn up to stimulate growth even though her own policies are largely responsible for thwarting it, it says. Arguably, it was the most disingenuous financial presentation of recent times, making those of Gordon Brown look positively transparent. 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 Echoing the gloom, The Times writes Downing Street had little to be cheerful about. Yet real optimism about the UKs prospects was sadly lacking, it warns. Ms Reeves insisted the world was changing and with it the need to adapt her plans. What she failed to acknowledge was the role she herself has played in Britains underperforming economy. Others point to figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warning the Chancellor may have to come back for more money in the autumn, or that fiscal headroom could be wiped out by impending US tariffs. The Independents leading article warns Ms Reeves may have to return to parliament in the autumn with further cuts or that parliament could become a constant stream of mini-Budgets undermining public confidence. The danger is that the chancellor will have to return to the Commons again in the summer, for the spending review, and then in the autumn Budget, it reads. Perhaps yet again, in next years spring statement, with new proposals for tax rises and cuts to public spending plans. Sentiments were mirrored by The Sun, which writes: The risk is that the UKs doom loop of low growth, stagnant productivity and high debt continues. Chancellor Rachel Reeves with Defence Secretary John Healey, during her visit to Wellington Barracks (PA) The Governments decision to slash welfare spending was also condemned, with the Daily Mirror labelling the move brutal and issuing a plea to Ms Reeves. There is still time for her to swallow her pride and admit her plans would be callous, the newspaper warns. That would be better than being branded the Labour Chancellor who plunged 250,000, including 50,000 children, into poverty. An estimated 250,000 people will be left in relative poverty after housing costs by the end of the decade, according to official figures. Tightening of benefits rules will impact around three million families on incapacity benefits, while 800,000 people will have reduced personal independence payments (Pip). Finally, The Guardian accuses Ms Reeves of sacrificing the most vulnerable on the altar of prudence. More than 20 people will be poorer for every one person her reforms push into work, the newspaper says. Its hard not to conclude that Ms Reeves has repackaged austerity as stability. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has undergone a number of amendments since it was first published last year (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Efforts are being made to ensure MPs have ample time to look at an impact assessment into the assisted dying Bill before it returns to the Commons next month, a minister has said. But Commons Leader Lucy Powell added that, given how much the proposed legislation has changed since it was voted on in November, publishing it soon will be a challenge. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will come back to Parliament for its report stage on April 25, when MPs are expected to vote on further amendments. Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell said efforts are being made to ensure MPs have enough time to look at the assessment (Lucy North/PA) If time allows on that date, MPs could also vote on whether to approve the Bill at third reading its final stage in the Commons and to send it to the House of Lords for further debate. The Bill has undergone two months of scrutiny by a 23-member committee of MPs, during which time it has been considerably amended, Ms Powell said. The committee finished its scrutiny with a late-night session this week, voting through various amendments including replacing High Court judge approval of assisted dying applications with expert panels. The Bill also now imposes a duty on a secretary of state in England and give power to ministers in Wales, where health is devolved, to ensure the provision of voluntary assisted dying services. The maximum timeframe within which a law would have to be fully in place after the Bill was passed was also extended from two years to four, potentially coinciding with the end of this Governments parliament in 2029 if the Bill was passed later this year. Ms Powell said there had been more than 100 amendments made to the Bill since it passed its second reading in a historic vote last year. Labour MP Laurence Turner, who voted against it on that occasion, said the draft legislation has been substantially changed during the committee stage. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, he called for an update on when the House may see the impact assessment for that Bill. He asked: Can the Leader give an assurance that sufficient time will be available for members to consider that analysis before we get to the Bills remaining stages? An impact assessment looks at economic, social and environmental impacts of a Bill, including the likely costs and benefits and the associated risks. Ms Powell replied: The committee stage of this Bill ended this week. The Bill has been considerably amended, I think theyve accepted over 100 amendments from both sides of the debate. The Government is committed to ensuring that the impact assessment is available for members in good time before report stage of the Bill, but Im sure he can recognise that given how much the Bill has been amended, that will be a challenge. But we will do our very best to make sure that members have ample time as possible to look at it. It has been suggested some MPs who supported the Bill last year could change their stance when it returns for a further vote in the coming months, after the change to the High Court safeguard. But Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Bill, has claimed it is now safer, fairer and more workable. The Bill proposes that terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live should be legally allowed to end their lives, subject to approval by two doctors and an expert panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speak to the media at the UK Ambassadors Residence in Paris, after a meeting with European leaders to discuss peace and security for Ukraine. Picture date: Thursday March 27, 2025. Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Sir Keir Starmer for his support after European allies stepped up plans to deploy troops to secure any peace deal with Russia. The Ukrainian president posted a message on X in response to a picture of himself, Sir Keir, French president Emmanuel Macron and Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte holding talks in Paris on Thursday. Following the discussions in the French capital with dozens of leaders, Sir Keir Starmer said top brass from the UK, France and Germany would head to Ukraine for talks with Kyivs military chiefs to discuss plans for a force to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from attacking again if there is a deal to end the war. He also said Mr Putin must be given a deadline to make progress on a Ukraine ceasefire, and accused him of playing games and attempting to drag the Donald Trump-initiated process out to allow his forces time to continue assaults on Ukraine. It comes as reports suggested that the US is pushing for a new deal with Kyiv that would give America control over Ukrainian minerals and energy assets. 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 The allies who gathered in Paris agreed we should be setting a framework and a deadline of delivering real progress, and that we should hold them to that deadline, Sir Keir said. He also told reporters that the coalition of the willing had agreed that Russia was filibustering, saying: They are playing games, and theyre playing for time. It is a classic from the Putin playbook. But we cant let them drag this out while they continue prosecuting their illegal invasion. The Financial Times reported on Thursday evening that Washington is pushing for a new minerals deal with Ukraine which would give the US a greater say over Kyivs minerals and energy resources such as oil and gas. UK officials are of the view that it is up to Ukraine to decide on any agreement it enters with regards to sovereign natural resources. The FT reported that it is a new draft deal, recently sent to Ukraine by the US. Last month Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky had been expected to sign a minerals deal at the White House, but the Ukrainian leader left after a public confrontation with the US president in the Oval Office. The meetings in Paris came after Ukraine and Russia agreed to pause hostilities in the Black Sea following talks with the US in Saudi Arabia. Mr Trump has been pressing European nations to up their defence spending in recent months, and there have been questions over what this means for the transatlantic relationship on security. A senior Cabinet minister admitted on Thursday that the US president is of course a part of the change that ministers have referred to in recent weeks. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held a press conference (PA) Ahead of her spring statement earlier this week, Rachel Reeves said the world has changed as she pledged to keep to her spending rules. Speaking to Sky News, Pat McFadden said: The international security position has obviously changed. Weve been asked to step up in a very direct way on European security as part of the backdrop for the increase in defence expenditure that the Government announced a couple of weeks ago. Pushed further on whether Mr Trump was the changing factor given the war in Ukraine started several years ago, Mr McFadden added: Of course hes part of the change. He said: Hes not all the change hes said that Europe needs to step up in its security. Hes not the first US president to say this but the question has definitely become sharper in recent weeks. The so-called coalition of the willing meeting in Paris also agreed there should be no easing of sanctions against Russia. Earlier this week, the Trump administration appeared to signal its intent to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve Moscows access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems as part of a deal. But Ukraine and its European allies have firmly pushed back against any suggestion of lifting sanctions, agreeing instead to increase measures to bring Russia to the negotiating table. Sir Keir said there had been complete clarity that now is not the time for lifting of sanctions, while Mr Zelensky said sanctions were one of the few real tools the world has to pressure Russia into serious talks. Thursdays meeting also saw Sir Keir update the group of 30 nations, plus Nato and the EU, with the outcomes of a series of military planning talks for a possible peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Officials and defence chiefs have been holding talks at Londons Northwood military headquarters throughout the week, drawing up a strategy to support Kyiv and deter future aggression from Moscow. Protesters shout slogans during a protest after Istanbuls Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul (AP/Francisco Seco) By Robert Badendieck and Andrew Wilks, Associated Press By Robert Badendieck and Andrew Wilks, Associated Press Police used pepper spray, plastic pellets and water cannon against protesters in Turkeys capital early on Thursday, the latest clash in the countrys biggest anti-government protests in more a decade. The demonstrations began last week following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mr Imamoglu was jailed pending trial on corruption charges many see as politically motivated and is also accused of supporting terrorism. A police officer kicks a flare thrown by protesters during clashes in a rally against the arrest of Istanbuls Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey (AP/Khalil Hamra) The government insists the judiciary is independent, but critics say the evidence is based on secret witnesses and lacks credibility. Early on Thursday, student demonstrators tried to march and gathered to read a statement near the gates at Middle East Technical University, pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV and local media reported. They were met by security forces who deployed pepper spray, water cannon and plastic pellets. A stand-off ensued where the students hid behind a barricade of dumpsters until the police charged to detain them. Melih Meric, a legislator with Mr Imamoglus Republican Peoples Party (CHP), was seen soaked with water and suffering from pepper spray exposure. My student friends only wanted to make a press statement, but the police strictly did not allow it, this is the result, Mr Meric said in social media videos. Interior minister Ali Yerkikaya said on Thursday that nearly 1,900 people have been arrested over eight days of massive protests across the country. He said that 1,879 suspects were detained, including 260 who were jailed pending trial. A further 468 were released under judicial control while their cases continue. Proceedings are ongoing for 662 other people. A protester offers flowers to riot police during a protest in Istanbul, Turkey (Khalil Hamra/AP) The minister said some faced charges for drug offences and assault, adding that 150 police officers had been injured. He did not specify the nature of other charges but offences such as resisting police and not complying with a ban on protests and gatherings have been cited previously. Demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands of largely peaceful protesters have swept across major cities, including opposition-organised rallies outside Istanbul City Hall. Other major protests have been held in Istanbuls districts of Kadikoy and Sisli in recent days. Some demonstrations have been marred by violence as police used water cannons, tear gas, plastic pellets and pepper spray to break up protests that have been banned in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Police continued to carry out house raids targeting protesters on Thursday morning. Most of those detained in their homes appear to belong to left-wing parties, trade unions and civil society groups. Eleven journalists were arrested and sent to jail on Wednesday after covering the protests. At least eight were released under judicial control a day later, the Media and Law Studies Association said, but still face charges relating to the protests. A protester waves a Turkish flag during a protest against the arrest of Istanbuls mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, outside Caglayan courthouse in Istanbul (Emrah Gurel/AP) BBC reporter Mark Lowen was deported from Turkey following his arrest on Wednesday, the British broadcaster said. He was detained at his hotel and held for 17 hours before being issued with a notice describing him as a threat to public order, according to a BBC statement. Mr Imamoglu was detained in a dawn raid on his home last Wednesday and later remanded to prison. He faces charges stemming from two investigations into the opposition-controlled Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality a corruption case and one alleging support for terrorism. The mayor is the main challenger to Mr Erdogan in an election currently scheduled for 2028 but which is likely to take place earlier. Justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said on Thursday that 106 people had been arrested in both municipality investigations, with 51 in jail pending trial, including Mr Imamoglu. Those detained include municipal officials and business figures accused of crimes such as bribery, extortion and bid-rigging. Many see the case against Mr Imamoglu as politically motivated. Protesters often say they have come out against Turkeys democratic backsliding and increasing authoritarianism, as well as the countrys bleak economic outlook. Mr Imamoglu was confirmed as the CHP candidate for presidential elections the same day he was sent to prison. He has performed well in recent polls against Mr Erdogan, and his election as mayor of Turkeys largest city in 2019 was a major blow to the president. Gerard Depardieu arriving at his trial for the alleged sexual assaults of two women on a film set in 2021 (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Pariss public prosecutor has requested that French actor Gerard Depardieu be found guilty and given an 18-month suspended prison sentence on the last day of a trial over accusations that he sexually assaulted two women who were working on a film with him. The actor, 76, is accused of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during filming in 2021 of the movie Les Volets Verts or The Green Shutters. He denied the accusations. Youre going to declare Gerard Depardieu guilty of these sexual assaults, the prosecutor told the court. He also requested a fine of 20,000 euros (16,692). The prosecutor denounced Depardieus total denial and failure to question himself. The actor showed no apparent reaction. Even though prosecutors requested an 18-month suspended sentence, Depardieu faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros (62,653) if convicted. The verdict, decided by a panel of judges, will be rendered on May 13. Earlier on Thursday, the plaintiffs lawyers called Depardieu a sexual predator and a misogynist in their final plea. The set dressers lawyer, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, said that he committed misconduct for decades towards little people in the cinema world. Gerard Depardieu, right, denies the accusations against him (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Maybe you think hes a great actor and you love his films, she said. Depardieu is also a sexual predator. His status as a world-renowned actor made him both an artistic and an economic power in the film industry, in contrast with the plaintiffs, who risked being blacklisted if they spoke up, Ms Durrieu Diebolt said, denouncing what she called a system of impunity. Depardieu, when hes touching womens bodies, hes exercising his power over them, she said. On Tuesday, Depardieu acknowledged that he had used vulgar and sexualised 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 lawyer for the other plaintiff, Claude Vincent, started her plea with a minutes-long list of obscene words and other vulgar expressions rarely heard in a courtroom, saying: Thats how Gerard Depardieu behaves on a film set, that the atmosphere hes imposing around him. No, you cant separate the man from the artist, she said. He is Gerard Depardieu, a misogynist amid misogynists. The plaintiff, a film assistant, said that Depardieu groped her buttocks and her breasts during three separate incidents on the film set. Mr Vincent noted that Depardieu defended director Roman Polanski, accused in the still-unresolved Los Angeles criminal sexual assault case that prompted him to flee to Europe in 1978. Speaking on Wednesday about his career and life, Depardieu mentioned Polanski as being persecuted for 50 years. Some would say Im from the old world. Certainly, he said. Depardieu has rejected the accusations since the beginning of the trial on Monday, saying he is not like that. The actor is being tried by a panel of three judges, not a jury, which is normal for such cases. The judges do not issue their verdict right away, but generally deliberate for weeks or months. South Sudans main opposition party said its leader, Riek Machar, has been arrested as the UN called on all parties to uphold the 2018 agreement that ended the countrys civil war. The UN had warned on Monday that the country was teetering on the edge of a renewed civil war after fighting in the north between an armed group allied to Mr Machar and government forces. Mr Machar was in confinement by the government, and his life was at risk, opposition spokesperson Pal Mai Deng said in a video address to the media on Wednesday night. South Sudans President Salva Kiir, right, and vice president Riek Machar, left, attend a Holy Mass led by Pope Francis at the John Garang Mausoleum (AP/Ben Curtis) The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, said following reports of the detention of Mr Machar, all parties should exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalised Peace Agreement. South Sudans five-year civil war, in which 400,000 people were killed, ended in a 2018 peace agreement that brought president Salva Kiir and Mr Machar together in a unity government. Tensions have been increasing between Mr Kiir and Mr Machars parties and escalated in February when the White Army, an armed group loyal to Mr Machar, overran an army base in Upper Nile state and attacked a UN helicopter. The government responded with airstrikes, warning any civilians in the area where the army group is based to vacate or face consequences. More than a dozen people have died since the airstrikes started in mid-March, and the UN warned of a renewed civil war if the leaders do not put the countrys interests first. Tonight, the countrys leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalised Peace Agreement, Mr Haysom said in a statement on Wednesday night. In early March, several of Mr Machars senior allies were arrested by security forces, an action his supporters condemned as a grave violation of the peace deal. One of NIs most prolific sex offenders admits lurking near school Richard McFarland once likened to a crocodile by a judge over his opportunistic behaviour around young boys Richard McFarland John Toner Thu 27 Mar 2025 at 19:45 One of Northern Irelands worst paedophiles, who a judge likened to a crocodile, has admitted breaching a court order designed to keep him away from schools. 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. Chinese FM meets Nauruan counterpart Xinhua) 09:03, March 27, 2025 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) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) PITTSFIELD It will take the better part of a year to work out all the moving parts that must mesh to restructure the citys middle schools for the 2026-27 school year. The tasks include realigning the curriculum, helping teachers prepare for new learning models, readying the buildings, relocating staff, figuring out how to bus all fifth and sixth graders to one building and seventh and eighth graders to another. Who will lead that charge? Thats one of the questions the Pittsfield School Committee discussed in considering a proposed timeline for the ambitious initiative on Wednesday night. The timeline, laid out by the Middle School Restructuring Committee, sets target dates for the numerous steps needed to reimagine the schools curriculum and grade levels. It's not yet cast in stone. Well see the timeline, even though its a year out, has to be followed with a great deal of loyalty and diligence. Otherwise you will not make it in one year, Superintendent Joseph Curtis said. With time of the essence, a decision on formalizing the proposed grade levels needs to happen sooner than later, Curtis said. He committed to the district holding public hearings at both Herberg and Reid middle schools in April and May. Those hearings will be followed by a School Committee public hearing on grade levels, as required by its own policies, and then a vote on whether to move forward. A final decision on the timeline was neither expected nor reached. The committee was only asked whether to accept the timeline, not take an up-or-down vote on how to proceed. This is a working document, Curtis said. But what came into focus was how big the plan is, and whether a consultant, the Middle School Restructuring Committee, or a hybrid of both should drive the train. That's especially true when it comes to changes in curriculum and instruction, which the School Committee, the restructuring committee and administrators agree is the most important factor. The restructuring committee told Curtis that its willing to oversee the curriculum revamp. But Curtis and School Committee Chairman William Cameron, while both praising the restructuring committees efforts, also raised concerns about a volunteer committee undertaking that lift on its own. I dont want to disparage their willingness. Its phenomenal, Curtis said. They had concerns and were very, very honest, and they want to put in the work." If a consulting firm helped the restructuring committee, "maybe that could be the difference," he said. A consulting firm, Cameron added, would not be starting at zero with any number of curriculum models, and could be held to contract terms set in its agreement with the schools. Cameron also raised concern about whether an interim superintendent will be able to handle the project while getting up to speed on the schools other pressing concerns. The schools are working with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees to find an interim replacement for Curtis, who is stepping down June 30. Someone could do it, but its asking a great deal, Cameron said. I would not want something else significant to fall off the back of the wagon because all attention paid to the middle school reorganization.. Curtis and committee members stressed that curriculum and instruction, not grade levels, are the most important factors in the plan. The middle schools have seen much of the districts outflow of choice students at the middle school level, and both are listed as needing assistance under the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations accountability metrics. To that end, School Committee member Diana Belair said she'd like to see the current middle school instructional model and curriculum. An overview of what we have now and what we want to change will help us make informed decisions going forward, she said. Reallocating fifth and sixth graders would also free up elementary classroom space, allowing the district to offer universal pre-kindergarten by 2026-27. Thats also connected to the districts efforts to build a new elementary school on the campus of Crosby Elementary School, replacing Crosby and Conte Community School. Its been 45 years since Pittsfield last made a change in its grade levels, moving from grade 7-9 junior highs to grades 6-8 middle schools and grade 9-12 high schools. But that change merely shuffled grade levels at the same schools ninth graders at Taconic and Pittsfield High, or sixth graders at Crosby, Herberg and Reid. Aware that significant changes will take time, the School Committee voted last month to target the 2026-27 school year. Under the proposal, fifth and sixth grade students would be organized into smaller classes, allowing for for more personalized attention and helping students develop social, emotional and academic skills to handle the next level. In grades 7-8, the curriculum would integrate early college and career readiness courses and electives to help students develop the skills and mindset needed for high school success. This would help students explore career paths, gain real-world experience, and make informed decisions about high school and post-secondary education. According to the proposed timeline development of instructional models for the reconfigured schools would start this summer. At the same time talks would start with the three unions representing employees on staffing. By January 2026, the central office would be asked to present instructional models, propose career development for educators to support the changes, and finalize elective offering. Transportation a major hurdle for the plan, considering that both Reid and Herberg would become citywide schools would start with proposed study by the central office in summer, with a goal of reaching the School Committee in late fall. The bus operations team would run sandbox transportation scenarios to see if the schools could handle transportation with two rounds of bus runs, as is now the case, or would have to expand to three. According to the middle school committee, a three-tiered transit plan could make after-school programming impossible. For anyone looking for information about who was arrested by federal immigration authorities last week in the Berkshires and exactly why they were detained it could take a while. In response to one of several requests over the last week for information about the at least 10 people in the county who were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a spokesman told The Eagle that the agency will be issuing press releases about many of the arrests. ICE spokesman James Covington said in an email on Monday that he cant yet release names of those arrested in the Berkshires. He first has to clear each individual case," he said, "so it could take some time. The Eagle had asked the agency, in part, for the names of those Berkshire County residents detained and any criminal charges against them or criminal histories. The only Berkshire County arrest that has been made public was that of a Jamaican citizen arrested in Pittsfield who was previously deported from the U.S. convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, armed robbery, possession of a firearm, and assault, according to an agency press release issued on Sunday. The request for information from ICE followed a series of arrests across the Berkshires and statewide last week by Massachusetts-based immigration officers and other agencies including the FBI, DEA and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts. The arrests signal a stepping up of immigration enforcement by the administration of President Donald Trump. Trumps border czar, Thomas Homan, traveled to Massachusetts last week to personally oversee the operations in what he criticizes as a sanctuary state. "We're not a sanctuary state," Gov. Maura Healey told a CBS Boston affiliate. "I continue as governor to ensure that state and local law enforcement are working with federal agencies and federal law enforcement ... we have been cooperating and we'll continue to cooperate." The Sunday press release from ICE included the Pittsfield arrest amid a slew of announcements about 370 others detained as part of an enhanced targeted enforcement operation focusing on transnational organized crime, gangs, and egregious illegal alien offenders, the statement said. As of Wednesday evening, the last Massachusetts-related press release on the ICE website was about an arrest in Lakeville. ICEs Berkshires operation appears to have begun early Wednesday. It stoked fear and confusion across the county as people were detained in Monterey, Lenox and Pittsfield. Teams of ICE officers were also spotted in Lee and Great Barrington. ICE notified the Great Barrington Police Department by phone at 6:33 a.m. Wednesday to say they were in the area, according to the departments log entry. The agency also notified the Pittsfield Police Department of their presence. Local police say they were not given any further information. Those with direct knowledge of some of the arrests told The Eagle they are concerned that speaking publicly about them may put others at risk of detention. Easter week begins on Palm Sunday and concludes with Jesus resurrection, meaning the total duration is eight days. Each of those eight days has its own significance and this is a point at which the Bible seems to slow down. Frequently, a lot of time passes between recorded episodes, but not here. In this season, we slow down too, weighing the impact of those eight days on our own lives and what Christs death and resurrection means for us. Here is a prayer for each of those eight days to help you connect with the meaning of Easter. 1. Palm Sunday So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel! (John 12:13). Lord, The people were so excited to see Jesus ride into Jerusalem; they could see that Zechariah 9:9 was fulfilled: Your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He was finally here to save them. But hearts turn quickly, and soon these people would turn on Jesus. Father, how quickly my own heart turns. I cry to you, you answer me, and then I forget the joy of seeing you enter my pain. God, please forgive me for the speed with which I switch from open arms to closed fists. Help me to imagine the aroma of those palm leaves, the sun baking the ground underneath them and the scent of hot sand under the donkeys hooves. On that day we call Palm Sunday, you fulfilled a promise which resonates with me and all believers right now. You came into our lives, solid and real and human, to be close to us. Make my heart cry out with gladness, in celebration, every day as I acknowledge you are my Savior and King. Amen. Photo credit: Getty Images/Coompia77 BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. 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. Commentary: Tap win-win opportunities in China Xinhua) 09:12, March 27, 2025 BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Top executives of global firms gathered at the China Development Forum in Beijing this week, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the essence of opportunities in China: mutual benefits. China reaffirmed its commitment to opening-up during the forum, attended by hundreds of leading multinational executives, as well as scholars, officials and representatives of international financial institutions. During the face-to-face exchanges, global business leaders gained insights into China's economic governance and opportunities for foreign investors, while China's policymakers learned about foreign companies' demands and expectations. In a world increasingly disrupted by geopolitical tensions, protectionism and isolationism, participants were glad to hear messages from China advocating inclusiveness, pragmatism and farsightedness. Chinese companies and multinationals have seen massive mutual benefits during decades of China's openness. The latest data shows that China remains a top destination for transnational investment. Some 60,000 foreign-invested companies were established in China in 2024 alone, a 9.9 percent year-on-year increase. The return rate of FDI in China is nearly 9 percent in the past five years, ranking among the top across the globe. The golden days of foreign companies in China are far from over. If we read between the lines of China's 2025 government work report and feel the market vitality during the Spring Festival holiday, we can see that foreign firms have cause to be confident and optimistic over their future in China. New growth points and opportunities will emerge from China's unwavering efforts to open up, which will boost new industrialization, green growth and digital transformation, and create new opportunities for cooperation. China has always linked its own development with the outside world, remained committed to practicing genuine multilateralism, and worked hard to provide stability and certainty for the global cause of peace and development. It's necessary for all parties to work in unity and good faith to resist unilateralism and protectionism, and strive for greater shared development through win-win cooperation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The world came together 50 years ago to ban biological weapons and in todays volatile geopolitical climate we can ill-afford to let this moral safeguard erode, the UNs High Representative for Disarmament Affairs said on Wednesday New York, US (PANA) - As the resurgence of conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since January has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and worsened the humanitarian crisis, the UN envoy to the country called on Thursday before the Security Council to direct all efforts towards an unconditional ceasefire Berlin, Germany (PANA) - Ministers from 40 countries met on Wednesday at the first major climate forum of 2025 to discuss progress in renewable energy generation and the rising toll of inaction over rising temperatures Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has again called for greater protection of civilians in war-torn Sudan following deadly Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) airstrikes in North Darfur earlier this week 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. 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(eng.chinamil.com.cn/Zhang Shihong) Infantry fighting vehicles attached to a reconnaissance detachment of a regiment under the Chinese PLA Xinjiang Military Command maneuver in the snowfield during a multi-subject training exercise on February 24, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Zhang Shihong) Soldiers assigned to a reconnaissance detachment of a regiment under the Chinese PLA Xinjiang Military Command march in combat formation during a multi-subject training exercise on February 24, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Zhang Shihong) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) 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. 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Pierce Brosnan has tipped Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the role (Suzan Moore/PA) Discussing the rumours of playing an older Bond, Brosnan said: No-ones spoken to me about it. Ive heard all of the rumours. Listen, they know where to find me. Lets see where the wind takes us. He later clarified: Its going to be another mans job. Im not looking to go there. Im quite happy with my career. Ive done it, it was wonderful. Delightful kind of notion to contemplate. Hes with me for life (Bond). It was great. A magical time in my life. It opened a lot of doors and allowed me to go off and form my own company and make my own movies The Thomas Crown Affair, The Matador it gave me access to a whole other world as an actor, employment. Advertisement Brosnan showed his support for Taylor-Johnson, 34, and described him as impressive. He said: I think he (Taylor-Johnson) would make a very fine Bond. He was actually in one of the movies I made called The Greatest. This young man we cast as The Greatest. He was so impressive then. He just had this charisma, he had this presence so he would be good. But theres many men on the list, Im sure. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a favourite to play Bond. Photo: Ian West/PA. Brosnan was first introduced as James Bond in the 1995 film GoldenEye, with his last portrayal of the character in 2002s Die Another Day. Advertisement The English actor, Daniel Craig, took the role in 2006 for Casino Royale until he left the franchise after the 2021 film No Time To Die. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding who will play the beloved spy with concerns that he would not be British after Amazon MGM Studios took creative control of the franchise. Entertainment BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen deported from Tu... Read More Brosnan has been vocal on the matter saying that it is a given Craigs successor should be British. Taylor-Johnson, who played Dave Lizewski in the Kick-Ass films, is also known for his roles in movies including Nowhere Boy (2009), Bullet Train (2022) and Nosferatu (2024). Advertisement The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.20pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. A mother told gardai of the moment a 65-year-old "gentleman", who had taken her into his home after learning she was living in her car, cried out for help while being stabbed repeatedly in the neck by her son. The Central Criminal Court trial of Brian Ibe (23), who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Peter Kennedy, also heard from a consultant psychiatrist who diagnosed the accused with schizophrenia. Dr Gauruv Malhan said that as a result of his mental disorder, Mr Ibe was unable to refrain from killing Mr Kennedy. Advertisement Mr Kennedy was assaulted at his home on April 28th, 2020, and died from his injuries about two weeks later, on May 12th. Paul Carroll SC, for the prosecution, has previously told the jury that there is no contest that Mr Ibe attacked Mr Kennedy and that the older man died as a result. The prosecution further contends that Mr Ibe is not "within the ingredients" of a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. Mr Carroll read Martha Ibe's statement into the record at her son's trial on Thursday. Ms Ibe said she had lost contact with Brian in 2014 when she became homeless and began living in a car. She had known Peter Kennedy for years and described him as a "lovely man" and a "kind gentleman". Two weeks before Christmas in 2018, when he found out she was living in her car, Mr Kennedy invited her to live with him. Advertisement The following year, they met Brian while out having coffee, and Mr Kennedy invited him to also live in the house. However, Ms Ibe said Brian was smoking "weed", and after a few weeks, he began arguing with her and becoming aggressive for no reason. One day in the lead up to Christmas 2019 Mr Kennedy asked Brian if he was "ok", and Mr Ibe "freaked out", she said and "got up in Peter's face", shouting: "I will get you, I will kill you." Mr Ibe threw cigarettes around the house, trying to set it on fire, she said. Mr Kennedy had enough and called the gardai, who told Mr Ibe he would have to leave. Mr Ibe agreed and moved to a hostel in Dublin run by the Peter McVerry Trust. Martha Ibe said she moved back to her car, but after a short time, Mr Kennedy allowed her to return to the house. On April 28th, 2020, the day Ms Ibe gave her statement, she said she was watching a DVD in her bedroom when she heard glass smashing. Mr Kennedy ran from another room, shouting, "Come quick, I think it's Brian" and went to walk past Ms Ibe into the bedroom. It was then that she saw her son coming up the stairs holding a knife with a 5 or 6 inch blade. Advertisement She said her son "zoomed past me to get to Peter" and began "pushing the knife with a jabbing motion, at least six times, into Peter's neck." She said Mr Kennedy cried, "help me, Martha, ring the guards!" while she shouted at her son to stop. She ran downstairs and struggled to open the front door, fearing that her son was coming behind her. Once outside, she ran to a neighbour's house for help and phoned gardai. She didn't see her son again. Following the close of the prosecution evidence, Dr Malhan was called by defence counsel Conor Devally SC. He told Mr Devally that he interviewed the accused, looked at his personal and medical history and considered various statements in the book of evidence. From his assessment, he said he formed the opinion that Mr Ibe had developed a schizophrenic illness before the assault on Mr Kennedy. Advertisement He said there was evidence that Mr Ibe had become isolated and withdrawn and had been suffering delusions. He was hearing voices in his head and had told his mother about gangs of "devil worshippers" living in Dublin. Dr Malhan said Mr Ibe appeared to have been using cannabis as a form of self-medication to quieten the voices or reduce his feelings of paranoid anxiety. Dr Malhan said he is aware that another psychiatrist, Dr Mary Davoren, had found that Mr Ibe has a dissocial personality disorder rather than schizophrenia. Dr Malhan said he agreed that there is evidence of a dissocial disorder, given that Mr Ibe had a history of getting into fights, damaging property, being argumentative and taking drugs and alcohol at a young age. Advertisement Ireland Three men jailed for 'cruel and depraved' rape of... Read More However, he said a lot of people have schizophrenia alongside a dissociative disorder. In Mr Ibe's case, he said he believes psychiatrists must first treat his schizophrenia and then "see what is left". Dr Malhan said he had also considered whether Mr Ibe might have been suffering from a cannabis-induced psychosis. He said you would expect the symptoms of such a psychosis to resolve after 28 days, while Mr Ibe's symptoms have continued despite his being in custody without access to cannabis. Dr Malhan concluded that at the time of the assault, Mr Ibe was undergoing a schizophrenic psychosis and was unable to refrain from his actions. He said it is difficult to make sense of Mr Ibe's actions, but he believes that the accused's psychosis resulted in "disinhibited behaviour". Mr Ibe, of no fixed abode but formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge has also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to assault causing harm to Garda Brendan ODonnell at Newbridge Garda Station on or about April 29th, 2020. The 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement The Tanaiste expressed sympathy with Israel over the October 7th, 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. Advertisement The 24-year-old from Co Donegal was killed while on deployment with Unifil on December 14th, 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 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. Advertisement 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 12th, 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 17th and said it was hoped that they would see real evidence of an intention from the authorities to see justice enacted. Advertisement 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. A mother-of-one died of a 14cm single swipe incised knife cut to her neck which caused the 38-year-old to not only lose massive amounts of blood but also to inhale and swallow the blood from her injury, a murder trial has heard. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan told a sitting of Cork Central Criminal Court that Deepa Dinamani, a 38-year-old from Kerala in India, would have been unable to speak once the wound was inflicted. Advertisement Dr Mulligan carried out the postmortem examination on the remains of the deceased on July 15th, 2023, the day after Deepa was found dead in a blood-soaked bed at Cardinal Court in Wilton in Cork city. Her husband Regin Parithapara Rajan (43) is on trial charged with the murder of his wife at the home they had moved in to in March of 2023. The couple had left India with their young son so that Deepa, who was a chartered accountant, could take up a job opportunity in Cork. Dr Mulligan told the jury of seven women and five men that an incised wound measuring 14cm in length was recorded on the neck of Ms Dinamani. She said that the wound severed the large strap muscle of the neck. It also severed the thyroid artery and exposed the windpipe. Dr Mulligan said that there was evidence of aspirated blood in the lungs. Advertisement She (Deepa) would have been breathing in blood. There was blood stained fluid in her airways and windpipe. Her stomach filled with altered blots and clots. She inhaled and swallowed blood. Dr Mulligan had requested that she have sight of the knife which was recovered from the property where Deepa was found dead. She noted that blood and tissue was on the blade of a knife recovered from the scene. The Go Cook steel knife was 132cm in length with the blade measuring 20cm in length with a width of 2.5cm. Dr Mulligan said that Deepa had suffered an incised wound measuring 6.8cm in length on her left forearm in addition to some bruising on her body. Advertisement She said that the wound to the neck seemed to have been carried out in a single swipe or movement. Dr Mulligan said the injuries could have been caused by the knife shown to her or by a similar weapon. Meanwhile, Dr Mulligan told jurors that photographs from the scene indicated sthat Deepa was found lying on her back in a bed at her family home. Dr Mulligan said that there was significant blood stains on the bed and pillows and a dynamic blood spray in the room. She noted that two blood stained teddy bears were found in the area where Deepa was located. Meanwhile, the trial also heard evidence from Det Garda Kenneth Lawton who gave the accused a legal caution at the scene in Cardinal Court in Wilton on July 14th, 2023. He also asked the accused man what had happened at the property. Advertisement Det Garda Lawton noted the reply from Mr Rajan: She (Deepa) was cheating on me. She was having an affair and he lives in London. I just found out today. I saw the messages that were on her phone (details of passwords) and I could not tolerate it. It was very ugly messages. I just stabbed her with a knife in the throat, she was cheating on me, I could not tolerate that. I will take any sentence. I committed a crime. I could not take this. She was the love of my life. And this is the second time, sorry to say. I was in depression and family life was not good. I lost 15 kgs in the last two months. Advertisement It was good until two months ago. When I knew she was chatting with someone, that is when I became depression. I did not do it deliberately. After seeing those messages I did that, sorry to say. The trial also heard evidence from Keith Whitney, Director of Funds at Alter Domus Funds Service in Cork. Deepa had worked for the company in the months before her death. Ireland Three men jailed for 'cruel and depraved' rape of... Read More He said that Deepa was offered a senior manager position and she took up employment in April 2023. Mr Whitney said that Deepa was very professional and easy to work with. He stated that she had settled in well with her team but that he was aware that she was going through personal issues relating to her marriage. AJ Raj who lived in the same area as Regin and Deepa said that he got to know the accused when he moved to Cork. He said that he used to go jogging with Mr Rajan who told him that his marriage was not a happy one. At one stage Raj said that the accused came to his house crying and was clearly troubled because of the breakdown in his relationship. The trial will continue on Friday. The Dail speaking rights row and the Opposition's motion of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy dominate Thursday's front pages. The Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Irish Independent lead with the speaking rights row. The Echo leads with a story on mental health waiting lists for young people in Co Cork. The Irish Daily Mail leads with a story on rising crime statistics in Dublin. Advertisement Latest crime statistics make for grim reading in the 'fair city'. pic.twitter.com/vYgFO4Mz6A The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) March 27, 2025 The Herald leads with a story on a man jailed over death threats to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. In the North, the Belfast Telegraph leads with a story on anger over hospital staff being denied parking permits. The Irish News leads with a story on a 1 million spend on 'hospitality' ambulances during the Covid-19 pandemic. The front page of todays Irish News. pic.twitter.com/nmd0e7XUiu The Irish News (@irish_news) March 27, 2025 Reaction to UK chancellor Rachel Reeves spring statement dominates Thursdays British headlines. The Daily Mirror and The Guardian say the UK chancellor has been accused of balancing the budget on the backs of the poor after official figures revealed 3 million households could lose up to 172 in yearly benefits. Some 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty and 800,000 people will see their disability benefits reduced under the UK governments benefits squeeze, the i Paper reports. Advertisement Meanwhile, the Independent reveals Ms Reeves is facing a backlash from fellow Labour MPs. Metro says Labour has turned the country into a warfare state as the country pledges to boost defence spending while culling benefits. The Financial Times leads on warnings from economists, who say that Ms Reeves may be forced to raise taxes again in the autumn budget. The Times warns Ms Reeves could again be forced to raise taxes or cut spending if US president Donald Trump follows through on threats to impose tariffs on Britain next week. Britain could face five years of record taxes, according to the Daily Telegraph. The Daily Express nicknames Ms Reeves reckless and accuses her of tanking the economy, while the Daily Mail says the UK chancellors spending plan has branded her deluded. Advertisement The Daily Star warns of the imminent peak scumbag seagull time, while also questioning whether the chancellor is Liz Truss in disguise and accusing her of shredding the economy a jab at the newspapers infamous lettuce moment with the former prime minister. Lastly, The Sun splashes on the Prince of Wales upcoming appearance on Clarksons Farm. The New York Times leads with the security breach in which top Trump administration officials discussed a military strike in a Signal group that included a journalist, and Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on foreign-made cars. A woman who stabbed her partner multiple times with a kitchen knife while he slept carried out a premeditated murder, a court was told. But a defence barrister said mother-of four Julie Ann McIlwaine had been in an abusive relationship and had endured a significant level of domestic abuse and coercive control over a protracted period. Advertisement McIlwaine 34, from Hazel Close, Lagmore, in west Belfast, was found guilty by a jury in October of the murder of James Joseph Crossley, 38, at her former home in March 2022. During a sentencing hearing at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Kinney heard submissions ahead of setting a tariff for how long she would spend in prison. Prosecuting barrister Richard Weir KC told the court there had been an argument between McIlwaine and her partner on the day of his death. He said: We say the defendant chose to kill James Crossley rather than to follow any other options before her. She killed him when he was asleep. Advertisement She went from the top bedroom to the kitchen, she selected what appears to have been the largest knife and returned to the bedroom and stabbed him multiple times with the intention of killing him. A judge was hearing submissions ahead of sentencing. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. The barrister said it was not a borderline case between murder and manslaughter. He added: It was premeditated, planned and the intention was to kill and nothing else. Defence barrister Eilis McDermott KC told the court that McIlwaine had a high degree of regret for her actions. Advertisement She said: The reality is that the defendant was the victim of a significant level of domestic violence and coercive control over a protracted period. The barrister told the court the case came close to the borderline between murder and manslaughter. Ms McDermott said McIlwaine had been trapped in an abusive relationship and had lost control. She said: This offence is characterised by little or no planning. Advertisement All of the evidence looked at fairly suggests this was an impulsive reaction to circumstances where the defendant became overwhelmed and lost control. The choice that appeared to her to be the only choice she could make was between suicide and homicide. Ireland Three men jailed for 'cruel and depraved' rape of... Read More Ms McDermott added: The defendant killed her partner as the result of a long and undisputed history of violence and coercive control which included two incidents of non-fatal strangulation. The barrister said psychiatric reports had stated McIlwaine had been psychologically enmeshed with Mr Crossley and unable to separate. Advertisement Mr Justice Kinney said he would set the tariff for how long McIlwaine would spend in prison in the near future. The Associated Press (AP) is returning to a federal courtroom on Thursday to ask a judge to restore its full access to presidential events. It comes after the White House retaliated against the news outlet last month for not following president Donald Trumps executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Advertisement In a hearing last month, US 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 has not. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington (Pool via AP) It seems pretty clearly viewpoint discrimination, Mr McFadden told the governments attorney at the time. Advertisement The AP has sued Mr Trumps team for punishing a news organisation for using speech that it does not 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 Mr Trump has ordered it renamed the Gulf of America. 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 for the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. Its really about whether the government can control what you say. Advertisement The White House said it has the right to decide who gets to question the president, and has taken steps to take over a duty that has been handled by journalists for decades. 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. The AP has still covered the president, and has been permitted in White House press secretary Karoline Leavitts press briefings, but the ban has cost the organisation time in reporting and impeded its efforts to get still images. Even if Mr McFadden rules in favour of the news organisation, it is unclear how the White House will respond to the judges order. Advertisement The White House Correspondents Association has asked its members to show solidarity with the AP on Thursday, perhaps by showing up at the courtroom or wearing a pin that signifies the importance of the First Amendment. The case is one of several aggressive moves the second Trump administration has taken against the press since his return to office, including FCC investigations against ABC, CBS and NBC News, dismantling the government-run Voice of America and threatening funding for public broadcasters PBS and NPR. A Trump executive order to change the name of the United States largest mountain back to Mount McKinley from Denali is being recognised by the AP. Mr Trump has the authority to do so because the mountain is completely within the country he oversees, AP has said. Advertisement Writing in the Journal, Ms Pace said the AP did not ask for the fight and made efforts to resolve the issue before going to court, but needed to stand on principle. If we dont step up to defend Americans right to speak freely, she wrote, who will? British media outlets have roundly condemned UK chancellor Rachel Reeves spring statement, which cut welfare spending and squeezed Whitehall budgets. While some warned of further uncertainty, critics accused Ms Reeves of mismanaging public finances, and some warned of a return to austerity. Advertisement The i Papers editorial accuses the UK chancellor of shackling herself to restrictive rules that dictate what she can and cannot deliver. We saw that at the Spring Statement yesterday: the Chancellors intervention was driven by the need to please the Office for Budget Responsibilitys forecasters, not by a vision of a more prosperous future, the newspaper says The Daily Telegraph is even more damning in its condemnation of the spring statement, accusing Ms Reeves of being at odds with reality. Rachel Reevess Spring Statement exhibited the same wishful thinking that underpinned her calamitous Budget, a Micawberesque hope that something will turn up to stimulate growth even though her own policies are largely responsible for thwarting it, it says. Advertisement Arguably, it was the most disingenuous financial presentation of recent times, making those of Gordon Brown look positively transparent. Echoing the gloom, The Times writes Downing Street had little to be cheerful about. Yet real optimism about the UKs prospects was sadly lacking, it warns. Ms Reeves insisted the world was changing and with it the need to adapt her plans. What she failed to acknowledge was the role she herself has played in Britains underperforming economy. Advertisement Others point to figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warning the chancellor may have to come back for more money in the autumn, or that fiscal headroom could be wiped out by impending US tariffs. The Independents leading article warns Ms Reeves may have to return to parliament in the autumn with further cuts or that parliament could become a constant stream of mini-Budgets undermining public confidence. The danger is that the chancellor will have to return to the Commons again in the summer, for the spending review, and then in the autumn Budget, it reads. Perhaps yet again, in next years spring statement, with new proposals for tax rises and cuts to public spending plans. Advertisement Sentiments were mirrored by The Sun, which writes: The risk is that the UKs doom loop of low growth, stagnant productivity and high debt continues. UK chancellor Rachel Reeves with defence secretary John Healey, during her visit to Wellington Barracks (PA) The UK governments decision to slash welfare spending was also condemned, with the Daily Mirror labelling the move brutal and issuing a plea to Ms Reeves. There is still time for her to swallow her pride and admit her plans would be callous, the newspaper warns. That would be better than being branded the Labour Chancellor who plunged 250,000, including 50,000 children, into poverty. Advertisement An estimated 250,000 people will be left in relative poverty after housing costs by the end of the decade, according to official figures. Tightening of benefits rules will impact around three million families on incapacity benefits, while 800,000 people will have reduced personal independence payments (Pip). Finally, The Guardian accuses Ms Reeves of sacrificing the most vulnerable on the altar of prudence. More than 20 people will be poorer for every one person her reforms push into work, the newspaper says. Its hard not to conclude that Ms Reeves has repackaged austerity as stability. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he would speak with Us President Donald Trump in the coming days after Mr Trump announced 25% tariffs on auto imports. Mr Carney, who has not spoken with Mr Trump since becoming Canadas new leader nearly two weeks ago, said that the US president reached out on Wednesday night to schedule a call. Advertisement We will be speaking soon, certainly in the course of the next day or two, Mr Carney said. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives on Parliament Hill in Ottawa(The Canadian Press via AP) Mr Carney said that Mr Trump has to respect Canadas sovereignty. Thats not much to ask, but apparently its a lot for him, he said. Mr Trump has declared a trade war on Canada and continues to call for the US northern neighbour to become the 51st US state, a position that has infuriated Canadians. Advertisement Mr Carney was sworn in as Canadas new prime minister on March 14. It is unusual for a US president and Canadian prime minister to go so long without talking after a new leader takes office. Mr Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau as Canadas leader and the head of the Liberal Party, is at the start of a five-week campaign after calling an early election for April 28. The governing Liberals had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Mr Trump declared a trade war and challenged Canadas sovereignty. Advertisement The crisis has created a surge in patriotism among Canadians, with many in the country feeling that Mr Carney is the best person to lead the country at the moment. Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives on Parliament Hill to chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-US Relations (The Canadian Press via AP) Mr Trump has acknowledged himself that he has upended Canadian politics. Mr Carney has called the tariffs unjustified and left the election campaign to chair his special Cabinet committee on US relations in Ottawa. Automobiles are Canadas second-largest export and the sector employs 125,000 Canadians directly and almost another 500,000 in related industries. Advertisement Mr Trump previously had granted a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on auto imports from Mexico and Canada for US automakers. In the auto sector, parts can go back and forth across the Canada-US border several times before being fully assembled in Ontario or Michigan. Mr Trump previously placed 25% tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminium and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products as well as on all of Americas trading partners on April 2. The president has plunged the US into a global trade war all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty. Advertisement The tax hike on auto imports starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales. This is not an industry that is Donald Trumps to steal or take, said Lana Payne, the national president of Unifor, the union that represents auto workers in Canada. Ms Payne said that Mr Carney should tell Mr Trump that if US automakers are going to sell cars and trucks in Canada, they are going to have to build in Canada. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trumps car tariffs are a direct attack on his country. The new prime minister also said that the trade war is hurting Americans, noting that US consumer confidence is at a multi-year low. Advertisement Mr Trump said earlier on Wednesday that he was placing 25% tariffs on car imports and, to underscore his intention, he stated: This is permanent. This is a very direct attack, Mr Carney responded. We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country. President Donald Trump speaks at a reception celebrating Womens History Month in the East Room of the White House (AP/Mark Schiefelbein) Mr Carney said he needs to see the details of Mr Trumps executive order before taking retaliatory measures. Advertisement 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 US relations. Mr Carney earlier announced a two billion Canadian dollar (1.085 billion) strategic response fund that will protect Canadian auto jobs affected by Mr Trumps tariffs. Cars are Canadas second-largest export, and Mr Carney noted it employs 125,000 Canadians directly and almost another 500,000 in related industries. Canada will be there for auto workers, he said. Advertisement Mr Trump previously granted a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for US carmakers. The president has plunged the US into a global trade war, all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty. The Conference Board reported on Tuesday that its US 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, Mr Carney said earlier while campaigning in Windsor, Ontario, ahead of Canadas April 28 election. Advertisement The tax hike on auto imports starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales. Mr Trump previously imposed 25% tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminium and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products, as well as all of Americas trading partners, on April 2. He wants to break us so America can own us, Mr Carney said. And it will never ever happen because we just dont look out for ourselves, we look out for each other. Advertisement Mr Carney, a former two-time central banker, made the earlier comments while campaigning against the backdrop of the Ambassador Bridge, which is considered the busiest US-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries. It plays an especially important role in auto manufacturing. Carney said the bridge carries 140 billion Canadian dollars (76 billion) in goods every year and 400 million Canadian dollars (217 million) per day. Now those numbers and the jobs and the paychecks that depend on that are in question, Mr 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-US border several times before being fully assembled in Ontario or Michigan. Liberal leader Mark Carney gestures as he operates heavy machinery as he tours the Irving Shipbuilding facility in Halifax (Frank Gunn /The Canadian Press via AP) Ontario premier Doug Ford, whose province has the bulk of Canadas auto industry, said car plants on both sides of the border will shut simultaneously if the tariffs go ahead. Mr Trump has declared a trade war on his northern neighbour and continues to call for Canada to become the 51st state, a position that has infuriated Canadians. Canadians booed Mr Trump repeatedly at a Carney election rally in Kitchener, Ontario. The new prime minister, sworn in on March 14, still has not had a phone call with Mr Trump. It is unusual for a US president and Canadian prime minister to go so long without talking after a new leader takes office. It would be appropriate that the president and I speak given the action that he has taken. Im sure that will happen soon, Mr Carney said. Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said the tariffs will damage American car workers just as they will damage Canadian car workers. The message to President Trump should be to knock it off, Mr Poilievre said. Hes changed his mind before. Hes done this twice, puts them on, takes them off. We can suspect that may well happen again. A knife-wielding assailant in Amsterdam seriously wounded five people in a stabbing attack on a busy shopping street, Dutch police said. The victims included two people from the US, one from Belgium, one from Poland and a teenager from Amsterdam. Advertisement The attack on Thursday lasted several minutes before the assailant was stopped by a passer-by near the citys Dam Square in the late afternoon. Police officers stand behind a cordoned off area after a stabbing near Dam Square in central Amsterdam (Peter Delong/AP) Police cordoned off the area and several ambulances and a trauma helicopter were called to the scene. Authorities said in a statement that no motive had been established for the attack, but that police were considering a scenario where the man targeted victims at random. The victims were identified as a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year old man from the US, a 73-year-old woman from Belgium, a 26-year-old man from Poland and a 19-year old Dutch woman from Amsterdam. Advertisement A person walks past police officers and under police tape of a cordoned off area after a stabbing near Dam Square in Amsterdam (Peter Delong/AP) The police investigation is in full swing and has full priority at the moment. We hope to soon get more clarity about the background of this horrible stabbing, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema said in a statement. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and loved ones. The assailant was injured when he was overpowered by a bystander. A police officer stands near a cordoned off area after a stabbing near Dam Square in central Amsterdam (Peter Dejong/AP) The suspect was detained with the help of a civilian, police spokesperson Eline Roovers told The Associated Press. Advertisement Last year, the city experienced several stabbings attributed to people with mental health issues. Amsterdam set up a hotline last month for residents to report concerns about irrational behaviour. The reporting mechanism was recommended after an investigation showed that a man was stabbed to death by his neighbour. The UKs King Charles required a short period of observation in hospital after experiencing side effects from his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace has said. Charles has cancelled an away day to Birmingham on Friday to prioritise his recovery and is now back at Clarence House. Advertisement A source described it as a most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction. The UK King at a local media reception at the Palace on Wednesday evening (Aaron Chown/PA) Buckingham Palace said in a statement: Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital. His Majestys afternoon engagements were therefore postponed. His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrows diary programme will also be rescheduled. Advertisement His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result. Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 and returned to public-facing duties in April despite still undergoing weekly treatment. He has had a busy run of engagements this week including a reception for media, a visit to a soil exhibition, and is due to make a historic state visit to Italy in just 10 days time. King Charles was due to meet ambassadors in audiences at Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon, but these were postponed. Nato has clarified comments that its secretary-general Mark Rutte made when he suggested that four US soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania had died. The search is ongoing, Nato said in a statement posted on X on Wednesday. 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. Advertisement The US army said the Hercules armoured vehicle the four US soldiers were in during a training exercise had been found submerged in a body of water. It said recovery efforts were under way by the US army and Lithuanian armed forces and civilian agencies. 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 & was not confirming the fate of the missing, which is still unknown NATO Spokesperson (@NATOpress) March 26, 2025 The soldiers were conducting tactical training when they went missing. Asked on Wednesday evening by reporters if he had been briefed about the missing soldiers, US President Donald Trump said: No, I havent. During a trip to Warsaw, Mr 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 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 said in Warsaw. Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte made the comments while on a visit to Warsaw in Poland (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported that the four US soldiers and their vehicle were reported missing on Tuesday afternoon during an exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in Pabrade. 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 Putins forces. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the spirit of Oliver Cromwell is alive and well as British MPs debated a ban on tobacco and vapes. The MP for Clacton said he likes a smoke as he expressed his opposition to the UK governments Tobacco and Vapes Bill that would prohibit smoking outside schools, childrens playgrounds and hospitals. Advertisement The Bill also aims to create a smoke-free generation with anyone born after January 1st, 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. South Sudans main opposition party has said a peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war has collapsed, following the arrest of its leader Riek Machar a day earlier. The partys deputy chairman, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, said in a statement that the agreement has been abrogated and that Mr Machars arrest shows a lack of political goodwill to achieve peace and stability. Advertisement The UN warned on Monday that the country was teetering on the edge of a renewed civil war following fighting in the north between an armed group allied to Mr Machar and government forces. South Sudans five-year civil war, in which 400,000 people were killed, ended in a 2018 peace agreement that brought President Salva Kiir and Mr Machar together in a unity government. Mr Machar is one of the five vice presidents in the country. Mr Machar was in confinement by the government and his life was at risk, opposition spokesman Pal Mai Deng said in a video address to the media on Wednesday night. The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, said following reports of the detention of Mr Machar all parties should exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalised Peace Agreement. Advertisement Tensions have been increasing between Mr Kiir and Mr Machars parties and escalated in March when the White Army, an armed group loyal to Mr Machar, overran an army base in Upper Nile state and attacked a UN helicopter. The government responded with air strikes, warning any civilian in the area where the army group is based to vacate or face consequences. More than a dozen people have died since the air strikes started in mid-March and the UN warned of a renewed civil war if the leaders do not put the countrys interests first. Tonight, the countrys leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalised Peace Agreement, Mr Haysom said in a statement on Wednesday night. Advertisement An opposition official described 20 heavily armed vehicles arriving at Mr Machars home where he was arrested alongside his wife. His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges, said Reath Muoch Tang, an official in the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army In Opposition. The African Union Commissions chairman, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said he would deploy a team to Juba as part of efforts to de-escalate the situation. In a statement on X, the US State Departments bureau of African affairs urged Mr Kiir to reverse the house arrest and prevent further escalation of the situation. Advertisement The chairwoman of the UN commission on human rights in South Sudan, Yasmin Sooka, said on Thursday that the deliberate targeting of opposition leaders and civilians represents a reckless disregard for international law and the countrys future. In early March, several of Mr Machars senior allies were arrested by security forces, an action his supporters condemned as a grave violation of the peace deal. Germany and Norway have temporarily closed their respective embassies in Juba. The British Embassy said it had temporarily reduced its staff with consular services severely limited. US President Donald Trump has hit out at members of the media amid concerns after officials discussed a military operation in a group chat on a messaging app to which a journalist was mistakenly added. The White House said the information shared through the publicly available Signal app with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, was not classified. But Democrats have said that assertion strains credulity considering that it detailed plans for an upcoming attack on Yemens Houthi rebels. Advertisement Mr Trump during an Oval Office appearance to announce new tariffs on imported vehicles seemed frustrated as reporters repeatedly questioned him about the matter. I think its all a witch hunt, he said. Mr Trump dismissed calls for his defence secretary to step down (Pool via AP) The decision on determining whether the information is classified ultimately lies with US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who in the group chat listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, he wrote. The Houthis have been wreaking havoc on vital Red Sea shipping lanes since November 2023 as the Israel-Hamas war raged. Advertisement Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the position that the Trump administration is staking out can be described with one word: Baloney. When you describe time, place, type of armaments used: Do they think the American public is stupid? Mr Warner said in an exchange with reporters. There are no signs that the controversy will fade soon for Mr Trump, who has said he stands by his national security team and has attacked the reporters credibility. At the same time, he has made clear his preference for his team to discuss such operations in person and in more secure settings, though it is not yet clear if changes will be implemented as a result. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he and senator Jack Reed, the committees top Democrat, will send a letter to the Trump administration requesting an expedited inspector general investigation into the use of Signal. Advertisement They are also calling for a classified briefing with a top administration official who actually has the facts and can speak on behalf of the administration. 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, Mr Wicker said. Asked about the call for an inspector general probe, Mr Trump replied: It doesnt bother me. Mr Trump appeared unfazed by calls for an inspector general probe (Pool via AP) But White House officials continue to insist no classified material was discussed in the March 13 to March 15 Signal chain and have criticised Mr Goldberg. The Atlantic on Wednesday published the full content of the text exchange. Advertisement Mr Hegseth, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and other administration officials on Wednesday uniformly insisted that no war plans had been texted on Signal, a claim that current and former US officials have called semantics. War plans carry a specific meaning. They often refer to the numbered and highly classified planning documents sometimes thousands of pages long that would inform US decisions in case of a major conflict, such as if the United States is called to defend Taiwan. But the information Mr Hegseth did post specific attack details selecting human and weapons storage targets was a subset of those plans and was likely informed by the same classified intelligence. Mr Hegseth in a post on X said the message chain included, No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information. He did not directly address Democrats concerns about the timing and weaponry details in the chain. Advertisement 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, Mr Hegseth, who is travelling to the Indo-Pacific this week, added. Mr Hegseth told reporters he had not texted war plans or attack plans in the Signal group, pointing out he had called his post a team update. My job, as it said atop of that (post), everybodys seen it now TEAM UPDATE is to provide updates in real time, general updates in real time, keep people informed, he said before boarding a plane for Guam without taking follow-up questions. Thats what I did. Thats my job. Mr Waltz, who has acknowledged he built the Signal chain and has taken full responsibility for the episode, amplified Mr Hegseths contention. No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS, Waltz posted on X. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent. BOTTOM LINE: President Trump is protecting America and our interests. Several Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday called for Mr Hegseth to step down. This is classified information. Its a weapon system, as well as a sequence of strikes, as well as details of the operations, said representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois who is on the committee. He needs to resign immediately. Mr Trump bristled at the suggestion that Mr Hegseth should step down. Hes doing a great job, Mr Trump said. He had nothing to do with it. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has been backed by Mr Trump (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Representative Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, in an exchange with director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during the panels hearing on global threats on Wednesday noted that her offices criteria on classified information make clear that it includes information providing indication or advanced warning that the US or its allies are preparing an attack. But Ms Gabbard said the decision on whether the Signal chain should be classified lay with Mr Hegseth. Asked by Mr Himes if she believed the Pentagons classification guidance was materially different from her offices, she failed to directly answer. I havent reviewed the DOD guidance, so I cant comment, Ms Gabbard said referring to the Department of Defence. The Trump administration stance on the Signal chain is also a notable departure for a US government that routinely classifies a vast amount of far more mundane material, including millions of documents pertaining to military and intelligence operations and activities. Advocates for open government have long complained that the push for secrecy goes too far, by protecting information that could shine a light on government activities or that would seem of little value to our adversaries, including material about UFO sightings and 60-year-old presidential assassinations. Secretary of state Marco Rubio acknowledged that having a journalist in a Signal group chat with the most senior Trump officials was a big mistake. But he said he has been assured that the information shared did not threaten the operation or the lives of the service members. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt, during her White House press briefing, described the messaging thread as a policy discussion, surely a sensitive policy discussion, amongst high-level cabinet officials and senior staff. She dismissed the outrage as a co-ordinated campaign by Democrats to sow chaos. Peppered with questions about how the administration can conclude classified information was not shared considering launch times and weapon systems were discussed in the chain, Ms Leavitt said it was up to the public to decide whose opinion they trusted. Do you trust the secretary of defence who was nominated for this role, voted by the United States Senate into this role, who has served in combat, honourably served our nation in uniform or do you trust Jeffrey Goldberg? she asked. European allies of Ukraine do not all agree on the proposed deployment of an armed force in the country to back up an eventual peace deal and only some want to take part, French President Emmanuel Macron has said. It is not unanimous, he said after wrapping up a summit on strengthening Kyivs hand and its military as it pushes for a ceasefire with Moscow. We do not need unanimity to achieve it. Advertisement He said that France and the UK, who are driving the initiative, will forge ahead with a reassurance force with several countries. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, with Emmanuel Macron, right, and Sir Keir Starmer (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) The summit hosting the leaders of nearly 30 countries plus Nato and European Union chiefs comes at a crucial juncture in the more than three-year war, with intensifying diplomatic efforts to broker ceasefires driven by pressure from US President Donald Trump to end the fighting. But the conflict continues. Before the leaders met in the luxury of the French presidential palace, Russian drone attacks overnight injured more than 20 people and heavy shelling on Thursday afternoon killed one person and knocked out electricity in parts of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said. US-brokered agreements this week to safeguard shipping in the Black Sea and last week to halt long-range strikes on energy infrastructure were greeted as a first step towards peace. Advertisement But Ukraine and Russia have disagreed over the details and accused each other of deal violations, foreshadowing a long and contentious process ahead. Europe asks: Will US help? One reason why some European countries are balking at a potential deployment in Ukraine is because it is unclear whether Mr Trump would support such a contingent with air power and other military assistance. This will require the engagement and support of the United States, Mr Starmer said. Thats a discussion weve had with the president on many occasions. Mr Macron suggested they may have to do without US backing. Advertisement You have to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst, he said. French President Emmanuel Macron, right, greets Latvias Prime Minister Evika Silina during arrivals for a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris (AP) My hope is that the Americans will be on our side and that the Americans will support, even play an active role. But we have to be prepared for a situation where perhaps they wont join in, he added. Building a force big enough to act as a credible deterrent would be a considerable effort for nations that shrank their militaries after the Cold War but are now rearming. Advertisement One nation that publicly rejected sending troops was Greece. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said those discussions were somewhat divisive and distracted from the goal of ending the war as soon as possible. In the face of enduring pressure from Mr Trump on Europe to increase military spending and rely less on US forces, the proposed contingent is seen as a test of the continents willingness to defend itself and its interests. While the US has spearheaded ceasefire talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Europe, represented by Mr Macron and Mr Starmer, must also be at the negotiating table. Advertisement We do not consider any alternative, he said. French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech after the so-called coalition of the willing summit at the Elysee Palace (AP) This is our firm stance. Europe is vast, and it must have clear representation in these negotiations. Agreement on sanctions Summit participants were more in agreement that sanctions squeezing Russias economy must be continued, and even toughened, to force Moscow to negotiate in good faith. Lifting sanctions on Russia right now would be a disaster for diplomacy, Mr Zelensky said. Sanctions are one of the few real tools the world has to pressure Russia into serious talks. Russia has demanded that sanctions be lifted to meet its terms for the Black Sea ceasefire. The White House said it would help restore Russias access to the world market for fertilizer and farm exports, but it did not validate Moscows conditions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Russias demands would be evaluated and presented to Mr Trump. Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni departs after a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris (AP) Mr Zelensky said: Theyre dragging out the talks and trying to get the US stuck in endless, pointless discussions about fake conditions just to buy time and then try to grab more land. More aid and more attacks As ceasefire efforts gather steam, Ukraines allies in Europe are working to strengthen Kyivs hand militarily. Their aim is to enable it to keep fighting until any broad peace takes hold and also to turn the Ukrainian army into the first line of defence against any future Russian aggression. Mr Macron announced a new package of defence aid for Ukraine that he said was worth two billion euros (1.6 million) and will include light tanks, air defence and anti-tank missiles and other weaponry and support. Russian drone attacks overnight wounded at least 18 people in the Kharkiv region and three people in Dnipro, officials said. Shelling in a front-line community in the Zaporizhzhia region knocked out electricity and phone coverage, regional head Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram. Separately, the Ukrainian Army General Staff said that its attack at Engels military airfield in Russia on March 20 had destroyed 96 air-to-air cruise missiles and significant reserves of aviation fuel. Satellite imagery taken the next day by Maxar Technologies appeared to show damage to ammunition and weapons storage at Engels, the main base for Russias nuclear-capable strategic bombers. Capital gain Popular watering hole Jacksons on George has returned to the hands of its former owners, the Gallagher family, who swooped on the leasehold for about $20 million. Often considered a city institution, and known for its sticky carpets, the pub was one of Sydneys few late-night venues. Near Circular Quay in George Street, it first opened in 1905 as the Blue Anchor Hotel before changing its name in 1933 to the Port Jackson Hotel. Well-known Sydney publican Patrick Gallagher, pictured with his wife Angela and their sons Jack (left) and Austin, has bought the leasehold of Jacksons on George. Credit: Wolter Peeters It was demolished then rebuilt and rebranded Jacksons in 1986 when the Gallaghers, led by Patrick and Angela, took over the lease. In 2018 as part of Lendleases Sydney Place redevelopment, the pub was again torn down. Its freehold is owned by Lendlease. 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 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. Thatcher, the Iron Lady, was the only leader of the 49 nations opposed to sanctions. If its one against 48, Im very sorry for the 48, she jibed. Take that! As history showed, hers was wasted breath: Apartheid was soon gone. Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990. He met Bob and Hazel Hawke in Canberra that year. Credit: Craig Golding Still, Thatcher took no retribution against the nations opposing her, and the Commonwealth survived, growing to its current 56 members. Which wouldnt be the case, you might be sure, if Donald Trump were to be admitted and didnt get his way. Loading Among the loopiest ideas tossed into the international whirlpool caused by Trumps second coming is that the United States should be invited to join the Commonwealth. The proposal is supposed to have come from within the Royal Commonwealth Society, an independent charity promoting literacy, equality and environmental causes across Commonwealth nations. If so, the society has not just lost its mind, but its sense of history. The boosters of the idea that the US could become an associate member of the Commonwealth, leading to full membership, seem to fantasise that this might help heal the strife between Trumps USA and Canada, like Australia a founding Commonwealth member. Loading Given that Trump is currently assailing Canada because it wont accept his demand that it become the 51st state of the US, itd take more than a cosy CHOGM to heal that bit of petulant bastardry. Those imagining a Trumpland membership also seem to have been swept away by Trumps gushing comments about King Charles III the head of the Commonwealth during a meeting in the White House with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump, a noted fawner over British royalty, called Charles a beautiful man and described Britain, which he is to visit later this year, as a fantastic country. Meanwhile, Trumps hired public service hitman, Elon Musk, has been busily undermining Starmers government with tweets such as America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government, and calling for Starmer to be imprisoned. Perhaps the royal societys strange grasp on history is explicable. The society built from the mid-1800s an immense library, the single most comprehensive source on the history of what had been the worlds most extensive empire. In 1993, short of cash and vision, the society sold its collection of more than half a million items books, manuscripts, correspondence and more than 120,000 photographs. The headquarters of what was then the Royal Empire Society, now the Royal Commonwealth Society, after being hit by a bomb in April 1941, during the London Blitz. Credit: University of Cambridge Digital Library Cambridge University, recognising a treasure, purchased the lot. It caused a frightful stink among society historians, who remembered the great loss and subsequent determination to carry on when, during World War II, Hitlers Luftwaffe dropped a bomb into the library, destroying 20,000 volumes of British history. A cursory trawl through the collection, if the society hadnt sold it, might have reminded members that the US severed all ties with the British Empire in 1776 by declaring its independence. This enabled the American colonies to form an alliance with France, which funded their war with Britain, ensuring the existence of the US in the first place. (This, of course, was lost on Trumps Generation Z press secretary Karoline Leavitt after a French member of the European Parliament called for the return of the Statue of Liberty. Leavitt reminded us of the meaning of ignorance when she declared the French should remember its only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now, so they should be very grateful to our great country.) Old history, of course. Newer history would have informed the Royal Commonwealth Society that the Commonwealth adopted a formal set of principles at a meeting in Singapore in 1971. And Trumps approach offends every one of those principles. Loading The Commonwealths doctrine requires support for strengthening the influence of the United Nations in striving for peace and for global free trade. What? No tariffs? Members must believe in equal rights for all citizens regardless of race, colour, creed or political belief, and recognise racial prejudice as a dangerous sickness and unmitigated evil. There goes Trumps loathing of diversity. We oppose all forms of colonial domination. Greenland, Canada, Panama, anyone? No sooner did your blogger hit publish on that last post than an alert from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development dropped into our inbox. The department is sounding a warning over the bull shark we mentioned that has been pinged 41 times over the past few days at Blackwall Reach. Because its a tagged shark, the department knows a thing or two about its history. It was tagged and released on December 12 last year at Minim Cove on the Swan River, and the department tells us its about 2.9 metres long. A SharkSmart map warning swimmers of a bull shark lurking near Blackwall Reach. The tagged shark has been pinged 41 times since Tuesday. Credit: SharkSmart It is possible that the frequency and duration of the recent reported tagged shark detections may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in this area, the departments alert read. The department warns people should take extra caution in the waters near Blackwall Reach, adhere to beach closures, and check for shark activity on the SharkSmart website. Anyone who sees a shark is urged to report the sighting to Water Police on 9442 8600. Bull sharks and Blackwall Reach in the same sentence might ring a bell. Cameron Wrathall was swimming in the popular river spot in January 2021 when he was attacked by a bull shark, suffering a broken hip and nerve damage in the ordeal. Wrathalls life was saved when nearby kayakers and his friend Richard OBrien came to his aid, using a makeshift tourniquet to stem the bleeding. The Bicton father was the first person to be bitten by a shark in the Swan River in more than 50 years, and now shares his story as a public speaker. He told 7News in 2021 that he momentarily died in the ambulance on his way to the hospital. He also said he used to swim in the ocean near Cottesloe, but, ironically, switched to swimming in the river in a bid to avoid sharks. Australians will cast their votes at a federal election on May 3 after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cleared the way for the formal campaign for power, as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton stepped up the political fight over energy costs by vowing to open up more gas fields. Albanese plans to name the election date around 8am Friday morning after visiting Governor-General Sam Mostyn in Canberra at sunrise to start a five-week campaign with a contrast between Labors plan for a personal tax cut and the Coalitions promise to cut fuel excise. Dutton moved on Thursday night to intensify the contest over households budgets with a pledge to drive down the cost of energy by ramping up gas supplies and forcing producers to divert more gas to the local market, in a controversial gas reservation proposal. In the only savings measure in his budget reply speech to parliament, Dutton said he would reverse the governments decision to add 41,000 public servants and would save $7 billion a year once this policy was in place, while saying nothing about how long that would take. The average driver would save $6 a week on petrol under the Coalitions plan to slash the fuel excise despite Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pointing to larger savings for people who fill up more frequently as he vies for votes in outer-suburban electorates. After rejecting Labors proposed tax cuts, the opposition has unveiled a plan to halve the fuel excise a flat tax for constructing and maintaining road infrastructure from 50 a litre to 25 a litre for a year if it wins the coming election. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton responds to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during question time on Thursday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said the 25 excise cut, which would cost the budget $6 billion, would deliver very significant but very targeted relief from cost-of-living pressures, amounting to $1500 a year for those who filled up twice a week, and $750 for families who filled their cars up once. Thats $28 a week [for two tanks a week] or $14 a week for a single-tank family, Taylor said in Canberra on Thursday. CAMEROUN :: A history that cannot be forgotten : memories of Cameroon's colonial past The African Union has chosen Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations as the theme for 2025, drawing attention to the longstanding injustices faced by the continent. The theme has provoked much discussion about the significance of reparations and how the crimes of colonial powers affect Africa today. Many people on the continent are beginning to realise that the history of their ancestors who lived through the colonial era is important to their identity and future. Recently, one Cameroon resident, Kouam, a 28-year-old bank employee from Yaounde, shared his family history on social media. He spoke about his great-grandfather, who was an activist in the struggle for Cameroon's independence from France in the 1950s. Kouam noted that the period was extremely violent: France has launched a veritable war, a hunt for our country's independence fighters. His ancestors lived through horrific events that he remembers through the stories of his elders. Kouam reported that his forebear was kidnapped by French soldiers and subjected to horrific torture. Although he managed to escape with a friend and go into hiding, they were soon found by colonial troops. The fate of his great-grandfather remains unknown, but Kouam believes it is not difficult to guess what happened to him. For his great-grandmother, it was a real blow: she fell ill very quickly and died. The violence perpetrated by the French colonisers in Cameroon must not go unpunished - he noted. He said the memory of the tragedies experienced during colonial rule is important for understanding the current social and economic challenges facing contemporary African peoples. Kouam emphasised that many families in Cameroon are experiencing the effects of colonial oppression, which continues today. France must answer for what it did, it must pay for the pain and suffering of the Cameroonian people. Of course, this will not bring our loved ones back to our families, nor will it ease the pain of loss. But I believe that it will at least be fair and just to answer for these crimes, - He said. He is convinced that while reparations cannot bring back lives lost to colonial terror, they can be a step towards restoring justice and recognising suffering. The story of Kouam is not just a personal tragedy. It is the story of a crime for which no one has been punished. Thousands of stories like this one bear witness to violence and loss. The struggle for reparations is not only a question of money, but also of justice. Cameroon, with its vast resources of oil, gas and minerals, is today unable to utilise its full potential. The reasons for that lay in the centuries of plundering by the European powers, which had left deep wounds in the country's economy. Cameroon, like many other African countries, is still feeling the effects of its colonial past. While countries such as Britain, France and Germany have built their economies on resources extracted from Africa, the continent itself continues to face the consequences of exploitative attitudes. Restoring justice and recognising the colonial legacy were important steps towards economic independence and development. Kouam's story is a powerful reminder that it is important to learn from the past in order to move forward. The memory of the tragedy of the colonial era must be the basis for the struggle for justice and reparations. Only in that way can Cameroon begin the process of healing and restoring its historical and economic status. This is it. The excise tax exemption on pickup trucks is now gone thanks to the effectivity of the Capital Market Efficiency Promotions Act ... A CASE involving two Belgian Shepherd dogs that attacked young girls has been adjourned to allow for a probation report. Carlow District Court heard last week that on 8 June 2024, the dogs attacked two young girls at Dunlavin, Co Wicklow. The court was told that the dogs, belonging to a young man named Florin Veres, who has no previous convictions, were found outside with no leash or restraint of any kind, according to a report from Garda Pender. Evidence was given that the dogs attacked a 13-year-old girl and were barking and snapping at the girl and her sister. A neighbour who witnessed the incident intervened. During the incident, one dog bit the father of the children, who subsequently required a tetanus injection. The court heard that the mother of the dogs owner returned to the house following the incident. Mr Veress solicitor John OSullivan, informed Judge Geraldine Carthy that the dogs have since been destroyed. The judge ordered a probation report in relation to the case and adjourned the hearing until May. Vivienne Clarke The root cause of this is the grubby deal with Michael Lowry, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said of the ongoing row over Dail speaking times. Its a terrible pity that it has come to this, she told RTE radios Morning Ireland. The no confidence motion in the Ceann Comhairle was because of the agreement between Micheal Martin, Simon Harris, and Michael Lowry, she added. Ms McDonald also said that a report by the Clerk of the Dail into Tuesday afternoons sitting was flawed and there remained a question mark around how the order of business had been conducted. We cant have a Ceann Comhairle that pushes the government agenda. There has to be impartiality. "There had been a loss of confidence in the Ceann Comhairle across the Opposition benches," she said. It is a terrible, terrible pity that it has come to this. All of this is the result of the government deal struck between Micheal Martin and Simon Harris and Michael Lowry. That has been the seeds of each of these controversies, the farce of allowing government TDs to act as opposition TDs turning logic and democracy on its head. The fact that the Ceann Comhairles position itself was part and parcel of brokering that deal. The Ceann Comhairle herself has acknowledged that it was Michael Lowry who was the mechanism and the channel through which she came to that position. And in fairness, once elected to that position, she was given a fair wind by one and all in a spirit of fairness. "And I had hoped that we would see impartiality and independence because that's at the heart of the Ceann Comhairle fulfilling their function and allowing all of us to get on with our work. But that, I am afraid, sadly, has now been decimated on the floor of the Dail and we find ourselves at this sorry pass. When it was pointed out that the government was likely to defeat the no confidence motion, Ms McDonald was asked if that would be the end of the matter. She said that there were many urgent issues that needed to be addressed such as housing and health, increasing crime and the need for greater community safety. This is the work that all of us want to be at. But for us to get to that place, there has to be a clear understanding that government exercises its prerogatives, that the opposition does its job. "And you cannot have a Ceann Comhairle that clearly, as happened on Tuesday, comes into the chamber and acts simply to advance and to push through the government's agenda. That can't work. "So we had, not just myself, but other leaders of the opposition had appealed to the Ceann Comhairle to really reflect on where we are at now. I think it's unprecedented that there is a confidence motion such as this signed across the opposition benches. With regard to an independent report by the Clerk of the Dail into Tuesdays proceedings, Ms McDonald said she had watched the video coverage and there was no question in her mind that the Clerks report was flawed. We have a situation where the live proceedings, which anybody can view and review, do not tally with the report that has been produced. So there is a question mark around the order of business itself. When asked if the Clerks report would be legally challenged, Ms McDonald said she would prefer not to and that the matter ought to be resolved in the Dail itself. Because in the end it is about how we democratically pursue our business. We shouldn't be in this place. This is my fourth Dail term. Other colleagues have been in the Dail longer than I and none of us can recall a situation as outrageous as this and it seems the government don't like to be held to account, do not wish to be challenged, will move heaven and earth to facilitate Michael Lowry for reasons that only they can understand and each of these clashes, each of the problems that we have faced, the root cause of this is that grubby deal to form the government between Micheal Martin, Simon Harris, and Michael Lowry. "Those are the three authors of the chaos that we find ourselves in. It has to be resolved, of course, because we have to get on with the people's business. We want to get along with our work, but we cannot simply take a situation where the government moves every manoeuvre to minimise accountability and to create a farcical, a laughable situation where people can be in government and opposition at the same time. "And now we have the additional problem that the Ceann Comhairle, with really indecent haste, moved along with government to ram through highly contentious provisions through the Dail and in a way that do not tally with the good and orderly running of the chamber. "And then there is that contradiction between a report produced in good faith by the clerk and the evidence and the live proceedings that any citizen can view. Natasha Reid A 48-year-old man has been jailed for 16 months for making more than 11,000 nuisance calls to emergency services, jamming emergency telephone lines for nearly 130 hours in 2023. William Greene, of Bective Square, Phibsborough, Dublin, was under a suspended sentence at the time for giving false information in a hoax 999 call. He was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of persistently making use of the telecommunications system for the purpose of causing annoyance, interference or needless anxiety to another between March 8th and November 9th, 2023. Detective Garda Jeremy Gibbons said that investigation was begun in light of the number of consistent calls to the emergency services from two phone numbers. Due to the excessive number, these numbers were monitored to a greater extent than typical nuisance-type calls. This was far in excess, he explained. He said that on one occasion, a significant number of calls was received by one call taker, who recognised Greenes voice, manner and phrases. She listened back to playbacks of calls from that number, and the narrative was the same; he hated the guards and told her go screw herself and the Government. On another occasion, a call taker asked: Is this William Greene? Youll be in trouble. He replied that he was always in trouble. F**k the guards, Up the Dubs, he added, along with other expletives. The phone number was linked to him, and his home was searched. A Nokia mobile phone was found with the sim relating to that phone number, and he was arrested in October 2023. Notwithstanding this initial arrest, the calls continued. His house was searched again and a second phone was found. He denied that he had a phone and made the calls. He said that he had issues with his mental health and acknowledged that he needed help. Det Gda Gibbons said that, altogether, 11,043 calls had been made, lasting a total of 7,757.6 minutes or 129 hours. He said that the number of genuine calls that were missed because the lines were occupied with these calls could not be quantified. There were over 100 calls an hour from him on some occasions, causing gridlock and jamming emergency telephone lines in the Laois, Offaly, and Kildare areas. Greene also placed an inordinate number of silent or hangup calls. These led to the call takers having to follow a particular procedure because they must reach out to such callers if they think they need assistance. As he had denied having a phone, a lot of work had to be done to link him to the numbers. This included cell site analysis. The court also heard that Greene was under a suspended sentence at the time due to a conviction for giving false information during a hoax 999 call. He also had 20 other previous convictions, which included public order and criminal damage convictions. The garda agreed with defence counsel that Greene had a nefarious addiction to alcohol and was heavily intoxicated when making these calls. He said that he was better presented today than on previous days, explaining that he had been in custody since October of last year. Judge Martin Nolan remarked that he was sure the emergency services were happier now Greene was in prison. I should keep him in custody because hes a menace, isnt he? he asked. However, counsel said that his client was a qualified chef who had worked in the HSE, had pleaded guilty early and had engaged constructively with the criminal justice system. He handed in a psychological report, which he said showed that Greene was a fundamentally good person, who had got lost. He said that he had been hit by a realisation as soon as he went into prison and had to share a multi-occupant cell. Greene has now made efforts to address his addiction. Judge Nolan said that this was not an individual incident, but a pattern of misbehaviour. He imposed a three-year sentence and suspended the final 20 months on him entering a bond. James Cox Donald Trump has said he will attempt to get US pharmaceutical companies back from Ireland. It comes after the US president signed an executive order to impose a 25 per cent tariff on cars imported into the United States. He sees tariffs as a tool to raise revenue, to offset his promised tax cuts, and to revive a long-declining US industrial base. President Trump has his sights set on getting other companies back as well. Ireland was very smart, we love Ireland, but we're going to have that. Speaking in the White House, he said: Were going to be doing tariffs on pharmaceuticals in order to bring our pharamceuticals back. "We don't make anything here, in terms of medical drugs... it's [made in] another country. It's largely made in China, a lot of it made in Ireland. "Ireland was very smart, we love Ireland, but we're going to have that." Mr Trump has previously threatened tariffs of "25 per cent or higher" on foreign-made pharmaceuticals. This will continue to spur growth, Mr Trump said when discussing the imported car tariff. Well effectively be charging a 25 per cent tariff. The tariffs could be complicated as even US car makers source their components from around the world, meaning that they could face higher costs and lower sales. Shares in General Motors fell by about 3 per cent in Wednesday afternoon trading. Fords stock was up slightly, but shares in Stellantis, the owner of Jeep and Chrysler, dropped nearly 4 per cent. Mr Trump has long said that tariffs against car imports would be a defining policy of his presidency, betting that the costs created by the taxes would cause more production to relocate to the US. Mr Trump was joined in the Oval Office by his commerce secretary Howard Lutnick. US president Donald Trump speaks to the press before signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on March 26th in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images Speaking on the All-In Podcast last week, Mr Lutnick said Ireland is running a 60 billion surplus. The reality is that the countrys surplus is closer to half that amount. 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. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris discussed the claims with Mr Lutnick in a call this week. 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. Ray Managh Almost 80 jobs at Drogheda-based Boylan Print, the countrys biggest print producer of mail shots, brochures and magazines including the RTE Guide, and another company dependent on Boylan Print, have been saved on Thursday by a courts acceptance of a survival plan in Examinership. Barrister Stephen Walsh, counsel for joint examiners Colin Gaynor of Resolute Advisory and Micheal Leydon of Outlook Accountants, outlined to Judge John OConnor in the Circuit Civil Court the duos scheme to save Boylan Print and a number of other firms dependent on Boylan business. Barrister Ross Gorman, for the company, Dermot Cahill SC, counsel for Revenue, and Arthur Cunningham, representing Typeform Repro, one of the companies, with 17 workers, potentially saved under the examinership, told Judge OConnor their clients were backing the survival plan for Boylan Print. The multi-award-winning print business, whose clients include Aer Lingus, RTE, Musgraves and The Irish Times, sought urgent court protection from its creditors in November last year after it had become clear it could no longer pay its debts. Boylan Print cited the impact of Covid-19 and spiralling energy costs in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine as the sources of its financial difficulties The family-run business has 9 million plus in liabilities, including 4.3 million due to secured creditor Bank of Ireland and over 5 million due to unsecured creditors, including warehoused Revenue debt and 504,213 owed to the ESB. Under the survival plan negotiated by Gaynor and Leydon two family directors, Mary Boylan and Gerard Boylan Senior, will step back from running the company into the future. The business services 80 per cent of operators in the Irish magazine market and supplies the entire Irish newspaper industry with glossy weekend magazines. It recently diversified into cardboard printing for the food industry, with bluechip clients such as Musgraves, Carroll Meats and The Happy Pear. Other customers include Independent Newspapers Group, the Irish Farmers Journal, PRL (Penneys/Primark), Harvey Norman, Homestore & More and Carton Brothers (Manor Farm). Many of the companys 61 employees have been with the business for over 20 years and their jobs have been saved in the scheme of arrangement with creditors. Judge OConnor, accepting the joint examiners proposals, congratulated all concerned in saving so many jobs through the survival package achieved. Eva Osborne The Electoral Commission is seeking the views of the public on the topic of political campaign posters, and whether their use should be reduced, changed, or completely eliminated. For decades, the use of posters during Irish election and referendum campaigns has been the topic of debate in communities, between political scientists, in the media, and amongst the wider public. The Electoral Commission said this research will look at the rules and practices around postering in other countries while taking account of Irelands particular electoral and democratic system. People will have until 5pm on Friday, May 9th, to take part in the consultation and submit their views. They will be asked the following questions: Do you see positive aspects/advantages to election posters? If yes, please explain; Do you see negatives aspects/disadvantages to election posters? If yes, please explain; Do you think Irelands rules and approach to election posters should change? If yes, please explain the changes youd like to see and the reasons for this; Is there anything else you would like to say about the use of election posters in Ireland? It is worth noting that a ban on the use of political posters would refer to those used on lamp posts and poles, not on established advertising billboards. Currently, and under Section 19 of the Litter Pollution Act 1997, election posters may only be erected after the official polling date is set and for a maximum of 30 days before the election. In the case of referendums, posters may not be erected before the official polling date is set. Posters must be removed within seven days following polling day. The responsibility for enforcement of litter law lies with the local authority. Any election/referendum posters in place before or after the stipulated timeframe are deemed to be in breach of the legislation with non-compliance subject to a fine of 150. Local authorities are also responsible for the removal of posters which constitute a hazard to either pedestrians or road users. Eimear Dodd Three men have been jailed for the cruel, cynical and depraved rape and sexual assault of a woman they encountered in a Dublin nightclub almost six years ago. Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34) were convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court last month, after pleading not guilty to offences which took place on August 31st, 2019. Imposing sentence on Thursday, Mr Justice Paul Burns noted to say the facts of this matter are disturbing is something of an understatement. He said the victim was in a vulnerable state, and the three man acting together took advantage of her vulnerability in a cruel, cynical, and depraved manner, devoid of any semblance of human decency. The judge said they were mature men, who subjected the victim to an abhorrent series of sexual attacks, which went far beyond humiliation, were dehumanising as well as a total denial of her inherent dignity as a human being. He said the offending must be seen in its true context of concerted and simultaneous sexual abuse by three men of a vulnerable woman. The judge said it was truly shocking that such vile abuse could happen to a woman on a night out in Dublin in 2019. Hickey, of Ballyogan Square, Carrickmines, Dublin 18, was convicted of raping the woman in his then address in Dundrum, and of orally raping and sexually assaulting her in a car. The personal trainer and father of two was handed a sentence of 16 years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. Vicente, of Little Newtown, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, was found guilty of raping the woman in the car and raping her in Hickey's then-home. The part-time stripper and personal trainer was also received a sentence of 16 years, with the final year suspended. Zolfaghari (34), of Marley Court, Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, was convicted of the oral rape of the woman in the house. The jury found him not guilty of sexually assaulting the woman in the car. The father of one and restaurant director was given a sentence of 14 years, with the final year suspended. The court has previously heard the three men do not accept the jury's verdicts. Hickey has 10 previous convictions, including one for assault causing harm. Vicente has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence, while Zolfaghari has no previous convictions. 'Used me as if I was an object' During a previous sentence hearing, the woman said in her victim impact statement that the three men were complete strangers who took advantage of me and used me and my body as if I was an object that they were entitled to. She noted that every victim thinks it is their fault at some point, but she said that the fault rested solely with the men who waited and preyed and took advantage. You not only raped me, I found out during the trial you violated me in another way. You videoed raping me." You sent around these videos and laughed about me saying no. You laughed because you didn't care and you have shown no remorse from the second you entered into these courts. In his remarks, Mr Justice Burns said the victim was not at fault for what happened, and the blame rested solely with the men. The woman had been socialising and went to the nightclub with a friend. She gave evidence during the trial that her memory was hazy after her friend left, but recalled dancing and remembered being offered a white powder, but couldn't say if she took any. She recalled being in the back of a vehicle, which she believed to be a taxi, with up to four men, where she was raped. The woman also remembered lying in a bed and kicking out while a male was on top of her. Forensic analysis showed the woman was highly intoxicated. CCTV footage was used to identify the men and a Volkswagen Touareg SUV belonging to Vicente. When the men were interviewed, they described engaging in consensual sexual activity with the woman. An analysis of Hickey's phone identified WhatsApp messages in which he asked Zolfaghari to send him a video. After Zolfaghari sent two clips which he had recorded on the night of August 31st, Hickey replied: Listen to you laughing after she says no. While nothing is visible in either video, the woman is heard saying 'no' several times in a 30-second clip recorded in the car. A second video was recorded in the house. A later analysis of the men's phones uncovered communication between them, which included a version of the events that night. This version of events was re-circulated before their garda interviews in September 2020. Mr Justice Burns said in his sentencing remarks that rather than feeling any sense of remorse, two of the men found callous amusement in these videos,. The judge noted that Zolfaghari was convicted of only one offence, but this had to be seen in overall context of the night, and that Zolfaghari had recorded the videos. He said it was difficult to see his behaviour as significantly less culpable than the other men. Mr Justice Burns directed the three men to place themselves under the supervision of The Probation Services for three years post-release and backdated their sentences to the date they went into custody. The judge extended his best wishes to the victim, and said the court hoped that she would make a further recovery, with the support of her family and appropriate services. He also commended the gardai for their excellent and painstaking investigation. After the court rose, a large number of supporters of the men entered the back of the courtroom, some shouting I love you, with others giving the thumbs up to the men. When directed to leave by gardai, a female voice said we are all very upset right now, give us a minute, while another female voice called out they were over-sentenced, they are all innocent. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. Advertisement The year 2024 marked another record year for the Titan Group, exceeding the results achieved in 2023 with both Titans sales and profitability growing. Group sales in 2024 totalled EUR2644m, a 3.8 per cent increase YoY, with all regions contributing to this growth, with the US and Europe leading the way for another year. EBITDA (LfL) closed at EUR592.1m, up by 9.6 per cent, excluding one-off non-recurring costs of EUR12m, driven by a combination of higher sales volumes, sustained pricing, and gains from operational efficiencies in the areas of energy cost management and digitalisation. Increased usage of alternative fuels, which reached record levels of above 24 per cent in December 2024, and reduced solid fuel costs added to the improvement of our profitability margins. Significant volume growth was achieved at group level in 2024 across all product categories, upstream and downstream, on the back of solid demand and despite the unfavourable weather in the US for most of the 2H24 and the decline of the construction activity in western Europe. The groups domestic cement sales increased by two per cent to 17.8Mt. All group exports were directed to Titans own terminals, mainly to Titan America in the US, with lower YoY volumes directed to its European terminals in France, UK, and Italy, reflecting the slowdown in construction activity in western Europe during 2024. While exports from Turkiye to the Titan US operations slowed, exports to third parties from Egypt picked up significantly. Ready-mix volumes exhibited positive momentum for another year with increased demand from both the US and Greece, growing at six per cent and reaching 6.3Mm3 at group level. Aggregates were up by a significant 10 per cent to 21.9Mt, driven by substantial demand for infrastructure projects in Greece. The groups building blocks and fly ash volumes have also increased compared to 2023. Regional performance Titan America sales increased for another consecutive year by three per cent, reaching US$1.64bn, while EBITDA (LfL) for the year reached US$368m, up by 15 per cent compared to US$319m in 2023, adjusting for US$9m one-off costs related to the US IPO preparations. In euro terms, sales increased to EUR1.52bn, and EBITDA (LfL) reached EUR341m, adjusting for the US IPO preparation costs, versus EUR296m in 2023. Overall, sales for Greece and western Europe in 2024 increased by nine per cent to EUR444m, while EBITDA (LfL) reached EUR58.2m versus EUR65.4m last year, as a result of increased electricity and raw materials costs, as well as on account of lower export prices and adjusting for an early retirement programme in Greece incurring one-off costs of EUR4m. Alternative fuel consumption also doubled in the year in North Macedonia, with a second line having come on-stream over the year. The groups solar facility in Bulgaria which entered operation in July will cover approximately 13 per cent of the groups electricity consumption needs in the country. Sales in the southern European region increased by two per cent compared to 2023, to EUR432m, while EBITDA grew by 15 per cent, closing the year at EUR167.6m, compared with EUR145.8m in 2023. Eastern Europe recorded FY24 sales of EUR250m, up by 4.4 per cent versus 2023, thanks to increased domestic volumes in both Egypt and Turkiye, and much higher exports from Egypt. EBITDA reached EUR25.7m, compared to EUR33.2m in 2023, due to the devaluation of both currencies, impacting profitability (nine per cent growth in local currencies). In 2024 the Brazilian subsidiary Apodi achieved sales reached EUR115m versus EUR128m in 2023, down by 10.2 per cent mainly due to pricing pressures, while EBITDA reached EUR29.5m versus EUR24.4m, 20.9 per cent up YoY, driven by energy efficiencies and decarbonisation cost-reduction initiatives. Top U.S. officials blasted for jaw-dropping security breach Xinhua) 09:46, March 27, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The Tennessee House of Representatives on Monday unanimously passed House Bill 790, sponsored by State Rep. Greg Vital, granting honorably discharged members of the National Guard the option to receive a veteran designation on their drivers licenses.Currently, former National Guard members cannot get a military service symbol on their licenses because the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security requires a DD-214 form. This form is only issued to veterans of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Space Force, leaving National Guard veterans without the same recognition.The bill would allow the department to accept National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service forms (NGB Form 22) in addition to the DD-214.This change would ensure honorably discharged National Guard veterans receive the same designation on their drivers licenses as veterans from other military branches.Honorably discharged National Guard members have earned the right to be recognized as veterans. They helped guard and protect our homeland, Rep. Vital said. This bill ensures they can proudly display their service on their drivers licenses and receive the recognition they have earned.The veteran designation helps service members access discounts and other benefits from businesses as well as state and local governments.The companion bill, Senate Bill 780, also passed unanimously.House Bill 790 now heads to the governors desk for his signature. Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) and Southern Adventist University have developed an academic and educational partnership for GNTC students to enroll in the online Adult Degree Completion (ADC) program at Southern Adventist University. The five-year agreement, which went into effect March 1, 2025, will allow GNTC students who have not previously completed a four-year program to earn a bachelors degree online in as little as 18 to 24 months in Business Management, Communication, Integrative Studies, Nursing RN to BSN or Psychology at Southern Adventist University, based on the number of credit hours they transfer from GNTC to Southern Adventist University. This new partnership between Georgia Northwestern Technical College and Southern Adventist University represents a significant step forward in expanding educational opportunities for our students, said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. By creating seamless transfer pathways, this collaboration ensures that our graduates have access to continued education that enhances their skills and prepares them to meet the evolving needs of the workforce in northwest Georgia and beyond. We are thrilled to provide this opportunity to students at GNTC, equipping them to thrive in a fluid job market, said Dr. Ken Shaw, Southern Adventist University president. This partnership is especially beneficial for independent students who want to complete a bachelors degree while working since it creates a smooth pathway for entering our online Adult Degree Completion program, allowing a seamless pursuit of their educational goals. The Adult Degree Completion program is specifically designed to be fully online with flexible learning options for working adults. Applicants must have earned at least 24 hours of college credit, have at least a 2.0 GPA, and be 25 years or older (or living independently, if younger). There is no age requirement for entrance into the Nursing RN to BSN program, which has different entry requirements and delivery modes than the other participating programs. Students may also earn college credit based on prior work and learning experience, based on a learning assessment. More details can be found at southern.edu/adc. Southern Adventist Universitys fully online Adult Degree Completion program is designed to give adult learners the opportunity to achieve their goals by completing their degree, enabling them to secure better-paying jobs and provide a better life for their families. We are excited to partner with GNTC in this endeavor, said Cynthia Wright, director of the Adult Degree Completion program. As a former adult learner, I understand the challenges adult students face while balancing full-time work schedules and pursuing a degree to advance their careers, and my aim is to walk with them on their educational journey, Wright said. This initiative provides our students with more options to continue their education, said Dr. Michael Fennell, dean of Business and Public Service Technologies at GNTC. This program is specifically designed to transfer credits from our college, ensuring that students retain the credits they have already earnedultimately saving them both time and money. Southern Adventist University will offer GNTC students who are completing the requirements for an associate degree or GNTC graduates who earned an associate degree within the last five years a 10 percent discount if they meet the programs admission requirements. Southern Adventist Universitys Adult Degree Completion program will coordinate with GNTCs Office of Career Services to host two annual ADC Open Houses at GNTCs Floyd County Campus in Rome to provide more information about the program to GNTC students. Southern Adventist University would welcome the opportunity to expand our bachelors degree options within the online Adult Degree Completion program in the future, Wright said. New offerings would be based on student needsbecause they are the reason this program exists. About Southern Adventist University Founded in 1892, Southern Adventist University provides a quality, Christian education to more than 3,200 students currently earning degrees ranging from associate to doctoral. Grounded in Jesus Christ and dedicated to the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the university equips students to embrace biblical truth, embody academic and professional excellence, and pursue Spirit-filled lives of service. Identified in Best Colleges rankings for 23 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report, Southern is also slated as one of the most diverse regional universities in the South. Southern welcomes community members to enjoy the universitys wellness center, vegetarian health food store, and nearly 40 miles of wooded trails on 1,300 acres in Collegedale, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.southern.edu. About GNTC Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 13,775 people benefited from GNTCs credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,836 students and an additional enrollment of 4,939 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. For more information about GNTC, visit us at www.GNTC.edu. The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled in favor of BlueCross in a case in which an employee was terminated for petitioning the Legislature about the firm's vaccination mandate. Chancellor Jeff Atherton had dismissed the complaint by Heather Smith. However, the Tennessee Court of Appeals reversed that decision. The high court said, "In this appeal, we hold that the right to petition in the Tennessee Constitution is enforceable against governmental entities, not private parties, and that it cannot be the basis for a public policy exception to the employment-at-will doctrine as against private employers. "Here, the plaintiff at-will employee emailed members of the Tennessee General Assembly expressing grievances about the COVID-19 vaccination mandate implemented by her employer, a private organization. After the employer told the plaintiff that the email violated the employers policies, the employee sent a second similar email to legislators. The defendant terminated the plaintiffs employment. "The plaintiff sued the defendant private employer for retaliatory discharge, asserting her employment was terminated for exercising the right to petition in Article I, Section 23 of the Tennessee Constitution. The trial court dismissed the complaint, and the Court of Appeals reversed. "On appeal, our review shows that, for hundreds of years dating back to early England, the constitutional right to petition has been considered a bulwark against government oppression, not a constraint on private parties. No state in the nation has held that the right to petition applies to limit the ability of private employers to terminate the employment of at-will employees, and the language in Article I, Section 23 does not mandate such a holding. "We hold that Article I, Section 23 is enforceable only against the government, not against private actors; consequently, private employers do not violate a clear public policy by terminating employees for exercising the right to petition. Thus, at-will employees may not base claims of retaliatory discharge against private employers on the right to petition in the Tennessee Constitution. Accordingly, we reverse the Court of Appeals and affirm the trial courts dismissal of the plaintiffs complaint." James Byron McGraw was born in Florence, Alabama, the son of James E. and Betty McGraw. He attended Weeden Elementary School and Weeden Heights Baptist Church until 1971, when the family moved to Hickory, N.C. for three years. In 1974, they moved again, and settled in the community of Middle Valley, the town of Hixson, suburbs of Chattanooga. Byron was involved with the Boy Scouts, Troop 249, and the Hickory Junior Police. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and Boy Scout Troop 78 in Chattanooga. He was in the Air Force ROTC program at Hixson High School where he graduated in 1978. One day after high school he left town for the U.S. Army, where he spent the next seven years. He traveled to Germany and South Korea, and settled at Ft. Campbell, Ky. After leaving the army in 1985, he had a serious accident while rappelling on Lookout Mountain, breaking his spine and many other bones. After a year of rehabilitation, he attended Chattanooga State Community College until his parents transferred to Chicago. He moved with them to attend DeVry College and became a computer programmer. Later he moved to Montgomery, Al., to be with his mother. After she moved back to Chattanooga in 1997, Byron also moved there to be close to family. Byron is survived by his brother, Darrell (Pati), Rossville, and sister, Holly (Greg) Bialy, Hixson, many cousins, and special friend, Richard Fielding, Lafayette, Ga., where he had lived since 2020. Dear Global Community, With humility and profound remorse, wethe people of the United States of Americareach out to extend our deepest apologies. Our actions in recent months have often fallen short of the ideals we claim to cherish, and we recognize the pain and disappointment we have caused. To Our Beloved Neighbors Canada, our steadfast friend and closest ally, we owe you more than words can express. Your patience has been a beacon of grace, illuminating our shortcomings while maintaining a spirit of friendship that transcends political turbulence. You have stood by us, even when our own internal divisions threatened to erode the trust between our nations. Your resilience and compassion have been a testament to the true meaning of neighborly love. Mexico, our vibrant and cherished neighbor to the south, we extend our sincerest apologies for the rhetoric and actions that have sought to diminish your dignity. Your rich cultural tapestry, your hardworking people, and your profound historical legacy deserve nothing but the deepest respect. We acknowledge the harm caused by misguided policies and inflammatory language, and we commit to rebuilding a relationship of mutual understanding and genuine partnership. To Our Transatlantic Family Europe, our spiritual and historical touchstone, we hear your wisdom and feel the weight of the lessons you've tried to impart. Your centuries of complex historymarked by both devastating conflicts and remarkable reconciliationhave offered us invaluable insights that we have too often ignored. We recognize that our recent actions have threatened the delicate global order you have worked tirelessly to maintain. Greenland, Canada, and all nations whose sovereignty we have carelessly threatened or disrespected: We understand the gravity of our provocations. Our actions have been not just inappropriate, but fundamentally counter to the principles of international cooperation and mutual respect. We categorically renounce any suggestion of territorial aggression or imperial ambition. A Promise of Transformation To the entire world, we acknowledge that our recent months have been marked by volatility, divisiveness, and a retreat from the collaborative spirit that once defined our global leadership. We recognize that our internal conflicts have had far-reaching consequences, impacting global stability, diplomatic relations, and the collective hope for a more just and interconnected world. But we are not without hope. The majority of Americans yearn for healing, for reconnection, and for a recommitment to the values of mutual respect, understanding, and genuine global citizenship. We understand that trust is earned through consistent action, not merely proclaimed through eloquent words. Our pledge is not just a promise, but a commitment etched into the heart of our democratic process. We will work tirelesslythrough grassroots movements, political engagement, educational initiatives, and genuine diplomatic outreachto rebuild the bridges we have damaged. We ask for your patience as we navigate our internal challenges. We request your continued engagement as we strive to realign our national character with the principles of compassion, inclusivity, and global cooperation. Hopefully within the next two to four years, we are able to overcome our current indifference and demonstrate through concrete actions that the ideals of understanding, respect, and collaborative progress are not just rhetoric, but the very foundation of our national renewal. To our global family: We are listening. We are learning. We are committed to doing better. With profound humility and hope, The People of the United States of America John Mathna * * * Mr. Mathna, Firstly, your letter was one of the "better" Kumbaya letters this forum has seen in quite a while. In my humble opinion. But, for the record, I would like to opt out of being included in the conciliatory "we" of your letter. I prefer the current, stronger, "leveling the playing field" stance of President Trump. Secondly, on what date will you be joining Rosie O'Donnell in Ireland? Phil Snider * * * Oh, how we, the People of The United States of America, have wronged the entire world. Our unfeeling and chauvinistic policies have done nothing but hurt our world community. We should have allowed the Barbary pirates to continue their acts of terror. We interfered when the Central Powers were running wild thru Europe. Later, our supplies wrongfully helped England and Russia to fight the Axis Powers. Of course, other nations played a part but the majority of the effort was ours. The people of The United States do sincerely apologize for this selfishness. We take full responsibility for assisting South Korea in their struggle against Communist aggression. We should have minded our own business and, possibly, sent flowers. It has been our money-grubbing, capitalist dollar that has kept the U.N. afloat when we were usually the target of their criticism. In short, we have done so little to benefit our worldly neighbors that we should be thoroughly ashamed to be Americans. Perhaps we should give more foreign aid. Perhaps we should bow down to the so obvious superior wisdom of other nations. After all, it was mainly us that kept the world from having to speak German or Japanese. Had we but kept to ourselves..... Again, I apologize to the entire world for being an American and proud of it. I also apologize for not having a touchy-feely attitude. It pains me so. Ed Bradley * * * Mr. Mathna. First off do not be apologizing for me. You dont have that right. I dont apologize for any actions that our nation is presently taking. You are apologetic to Mexico (corrupt government in my opinion) which has allowed the cartels mostly before Trump came into office to cross our borders with drugs, human sex trafficking smugglers, and illegals committing heinous murders and other crimes by the thousands. MS 13 and TDA gangs setting up throughout the nation. You apologized for that? The corrupt judges (Boasberg just one of many) trying to stop President Trump from deportation of these worst of the worst gang members - are you apologizing for that? It has been estimated that at least 11 million illegals have entered America during your hero Joe Bidens open borders administration. What a failure, to put it nicely, not to mention the rest of the problems he left. I would think a man of your liberal compassion would be housing and supporting at least a dozen of these illegals and paying for their every need. How many have you got living in your house? Every bleeding heart liberal should have as many as possible in their care taking them off the government dime. I just paid IRS taxes today so your opinion piece kinda hit a nerve as I dont want to continue funding these illegals with my tax dollars. Im all for DOGE and immigration into America should be done the right way - no crossing open borders. China is our nation's biggest threat. Cyber and militarily. You apologized to them for all the fentanyl chemicals they are sending through Mexico to make drugs to poison and kill thousands of our citizens. If China has their way youll need to learn Chinese as their intentions are to be the world superpower and have dominance over us. Read up on the failed VP candidate Walz and check out his ties to communist China. It is alarming about Walz. Thank goodness the Harris/Walz ticket failed as Americans saw them for the frauds they were. You also seem to think that we are wrong for wanting America to have fair trade agreements with various nations that have for decades been lopsided with respect to trade and tariffs. How much tax (tariffs) does Canada charge the USA for dairy into Canada? Look that up youll see for yourself as just one example. The European Union is the same way, charging way more than reciprocal. I have no apologies for them. The Europeans should be the ones taking care of the Houthis and the shipping lanes, much less the war between Ukraine and Russia, since its in their backyard. The UN and the WHO is a joke that America doesnt need to be a part of as well. Im glad President Trump is trying to correct the many issues that this nation has faced for decades. His administration has a monumental task ahead and he is being obstructed in every way by Democrats who refuse to even clean up the waste, fraud and corruption of our taxpayers' money. No apologies needed for fixing this broken government. As the great Dr. Michael Savage PHD says: Liberalism is a Mental Disorder. Arch Tinker * * * Mr. Snider, Its my hope that Mr. Mathna stays and stays in Tennessee. We need people willing to stay and fight against all the wrong we see being perpetuated by the current administration. Im often asked why, as a liberal, I stay in Tennessee? Im a lifelong Tennessean. This is my home. Im not going anywhere. Yes, by the numbers we are smaller than conservatives in this state, but we small number are still Tennesseans and Americans who will continue to voice our opposition and opinions - just like you. Robbie Nicholson * * * I like this particular line: As the great Dr. Michael Savage PHD says: Liberalism is a Mental Disorder." I find that interesting when you consider the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later those that wrote the Constitution were certainly not Conservatives. Also, when you think about it, neither was Jesus Christ. Raleigh C. Perry * * * Mr. Mathna, I must disagree with you regarding your blanket apology to the global community. First, how can you speak for an entire nation based on your opinion? Your letter is not only overreach, it also attempts to simplify the complexity of a free people exercising their rights. Second, the presumption that we should all apologize for the actions or decisions of otherswhether we supported them or notis not humility. Its a blatant attempt at self-erasure. Count me out. Chuck McDonald The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC) has announced the appointment of Charlie Brock, CEO of CQC, and Dr. Rick Mukherjee, director of the Quantum Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), to its board of directors. Their appointments were confirmed in a recent board meeting. Mr. Brock and Dr. Mukherjee join an esteemed group of founding board members, who continue their service in shaping the future of quantum technology in the region. The board includes David Wade, CEO of EPB, who serves as board chair; former U.S. Senator Bob Corker; and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. We are delighted to welcome Charlie and Rick to the board, said David Wade, board chair of CQC. Charlie has been instrumental in advancing CQCs mission, and Dr. Mukherjee brings critical expertise in quantum research and education. Their leadership will help position Chattanooga as a key player in the emerging quantum economy. Mr. Brock, a longtime champion of entrepreneurship and innovation in Tennessee, has led CQCs efforts to build a quantum ecosystem in the region. Dr. Mukherjee, a recognized expert in quantum physics, leads UTCs Quantum Center, which is working to expand quantum research, workforce development, and industry collaboration in Chattanooga. Im honored to take on this role and continue working to bridge the gap between research, industry, and community engagement in quantum technology, said Mr. Brock. CQC is at the forefront of this emerging field, and I look forward to helping drive its growth. Dr. Mukherjee echoed this sentiment, stating, Quantum technology has the potential to transform industries and open new opportunities for Chattanooga. Im excited to contribute to CQCs mission and strengthen the connection between UTCs quantum research and the broader ecosystem. The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative, established to prepare the region for the commercialization and use of quantum technology, continues to foster partnerships among academia, industry, and government. With these new board additions, CQC is poised to expand its impact in advancing education, workforce development, and technological innovation in the quantum space. Orange Grove Center will host a special presentation honoring Special Olympics gold medalist Jayme Salisbury on Friday, April 4, at 1:30 p.m. Mr. Salisbury will be honored by members of the Tennessee legislator with the Tennessee House Joint Resolution No. 208 in celebration of his outstanding achievements in the 2025 Tennessee Special Olympics Winter Games. Competing in Gatlinburg in January, Mr. Salisbury secured two gold medals in the snowboard slalom and snowboard giant slalom events. Remarkably, Mr. Salisbury had only ever practiced once, just the day before the competition. The Resolution No. 208 commends his dedication, determination, work ethic and talent, which were on full display during the competition. The community is invited to join Orange Grove in celebrating this momentous occasion at Orange Grove Centers main campus, 615 Derby St., as Mr. Salisburys accomplishments are recognized. Zachary Liberto, the suspect arrested for sending a threatening email to the choir director of St. Louis Catholic Church. | Screenshot: News Video/ FOX13 Memphis A man in Memphis, Tennessee, has been arrested for allegedly sending a threatening email to the choir director of St. Louis Catholic Church, warning that he would butcher people in that church with a machete if his demands were not met. Authorities identified the suspect as Zachary Liberto, who faces terrorism charges and is being held on a $200,100 bond. According to Action News 5, the threatening email was forwarded to investigators last Friday by the churchs music director, one of the two victims in the case. Court records indicate that the email contained the message, I need a video of [the complainant] getting slapped by you in 24 hours before I butcher people in that church with a machete. Officers confirmed that the email originated from an address previously used by Liberto in communications with the victims. Law enforcement officials noted that Liberto is known to carry a machete, which he allegedly refers to as chete. Both victims, including the churchs pastor, told investigators they were uncertain about what triggered the threatening email but believe Liberto may be suffering from an unidentified mental illness. Court records revealed that Liberto had been involved in a verbal altercation with the church's pastor earlier that day, during which he reportedly defaced the baptismal pool inside the church. The suspect, charged with the Commission of an Act of Terrorism, is expected to appear in court on Monday as investigations into the case continue. A Catholic church was burned and significantly damaged due to attacks by the Myanmar military targeting religious facilities. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Tekton Centro Televisivo Soldiers from Myanmar's Buddhist nationalist military junta have reportedly set fire to St. Patrick's Cathedral, a historic landmark in Kachin state to ashes. The cathedral was burned during ongoing military operations in the area just days before the church's annual celebration of Saint Patrick's Day last Sunday, according to the United Kingdom-based watchdog Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The fire in the Banmaw area broke out around 4 p.m. on Sunday, as reported by the Vatican news agency Fides. This incident follows previous destruction on the church grounds, including the demolition of the priest's residence, diocesan offices, and a high school on February 26. The junta, officially known as the State Administration Council, has intensified its offensives in regions with large Christian populations. Recent months have seen several other churches and religious sites fall victim to the junta's military operations. On February 6, airstrikes destroyed Sacred Heart Church in Mindat, Chin State, and on March 3, another airstrike demolished the pastoral center of St. Michael's Catholic Church in the Banmaw Diocese, Kachin. The Banmaw Diocese, established in 2006 and led by Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam, is located in a mountainous region with a diverse population of over 407,000 people, including more than 27,000 baptized Catholics. The area has faced increasing instability since the military coup in February 2021. The junta has intensified airstrikes on civilian areas and camps for internally displaced persons in states such as Karen and Karenni, where many Christian communities reside. Attacks on churches, as well as Buddhist monasteries and other places of worship, are part of a broader pattern of retaliation against communities accused of supporting ethnic resistance movements. Long-standing persecution has forced many to flee Myanmar for refuge in neighboring countries like India and Thailand, while some have resettled in the U.S. and Australia. However, many still live in refugee camps near the Myanmar border, facing decades of uncertainty. Although a majority of Burma's population is ethnic Burman and Buddhist, about 20%-30% of the ethnic Karen population is Christian, particularly in Chin and Kachin States. A woman participates in a pro-Israel rally in Los Angeles, CA, holding an Israeli flag in 2021. | Photo Credit: Unsplash/ Levi Meir Clancy A new study has found that American Christians are more likely to hold a positive view of Jews and express support for Israel compared to their British counterparts. The study, titled A Survey of British Christian Attitudes Towards the Israel-Palestine Conflict: Faith, Politics and Perception, was conducted in December 2024 and compared with data from a related study conducted in March 2024 that included Christians in the U.S. The findings revealed that 58.5% of American Christians have a favorable view of Jews, compared to 50.6% of British Christians. Additionally, the research indicated that fewer than a quarter of British Christians (23.6%) support Israel, in contrast to 42.3% of American Christians; however, 27.6% of American Christians and 37.3% of British Christians stated they support neither. When asked whether Jews still talk too much about what happened in the Holocaust, 22% of American participants agreed this was probably true, compared to 33% of British respondents. Kirill Bumin, co-author of both studies and associate dean of Metropolitan College at Boston University, pointed out several reasons why American participants appeared more engaged with Israel and antisemitism than their British counterparts. Bumin noted that frequent interaction with Jews and exposure to their beliefs often correlated with strong support for Israel. He remarked, British rarely interact with the Jewish people, both in work settings and in social life, as well as in religious settings. Americans are significantly more likely to do so, particularly in those kinds of mundane interactions at work or in the neighborhoods. Despite this, researchers found that the belief that Jewish people are more loyal to Israel than their home country is widely accepted in both the U.S. and the U.K. Forty-six percent of British respondents and 33.6% of American participants agreed that its probably true that Jews are more loyal to Israel than this country. In response to a series of anti-Israel protests and a rising global trend of antisemitic incidents, Chosen People Ministries continues to educate and train Christians. One initiative, the Coalition Against Antisemitism, aims to help Christians oppose antisemitism through social media, activism, and public events. Mitch Glaser, a Messianic Jew and president of Chosen People Ministries, expressed concern about the prevalence of antisemitic views among some Christians, warning that such attitudes complicate efforts to share the Gospel with Jewish people. In an interview with The Christian Post, Glaser stated, We need to show the antisemites that if they want to get to the Jewish people, they have to come through the Church, expressing his hope for Christians to become more self-aware. Home News 5 things to know about the Signal chat leak controversy The Trump administration approved a series of air strikes on March 15 against assorted positions that the Islamic terrorist group the Houthis held in war-torn Yemen, with news breaking this week that a journalist was accidentally added to a group chat discussing plans before they occured. The chat had been organized on Signal, an app for group chats and private messaging that uses end-to-end encryption to enhance privacy by preventing third parties from reading messages. The thread reportedly included several high-ranking administration officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The inclusion of a member of the media in the chat has caused an outcry among Democratic members of Congress, who are calling for various national security officials to resign. 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 During a U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. said, "If this was the case of a military officer or an intelligence officer, and they had this kind of behavior, they would be fired." "I think this is one more example of the kind of sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior, particularly towards classified information, that this is not a one-off or a first-time error," Warner continued. Here are five things to know about the Signal chat controversy. Home News 'Conclave Watch': Group launches database of Catholic cardinals records on sex abuse cases A group has launched a database aimed at vetting the responses of Roman Catholic cardinals to claims of sexual abuse in the hopes of influencing the next papal election. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) announced on Tuesday the creation of the database, known as Conclave Watch. The database has the records of six cardinals at present, five of whom were cited by SNAP as having decision-making roles in the Roman Catholic church on the handling of clergy abuse cases, with more to be added soon. 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 Many people have asked me Why now? The pope is sick. Now is not the time, said Shawn Dougherty, SNAP Board president and an abuse survivor, as quoted in the announcement. And we determined if not now, when, and if not us, who? According to SNAP, members of their board traveled to Rome, Italy, a few weeks ago when Pope Francis appeared to be near death, as the possibility of a papal conclave seemed imminent. The group has also sent an open letter to Francis, imploring the pontiff to adopt a churchwide zero-tolerance policy that would remove offenders from the priesthood and hold bishops accountable for any coverups of abuse. Last month, the 88-year-old pope was sent to Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to a severe respiratory infection, prompting the Vatican to cancel multiple meetings as he received treatment. Over the next few weeks, Francis battled double pneumonia and, for a time, required mechanical ventilation, causing many to speculate that he was going to die soon. However, Francis showed improvement over the course of his stay and, on Sunday, he was released from the hospital and allowed to continue his recovery at his residence in the Vatican. In a statement released the day he was discharged from the hospital, the pope said, I have had the opportunity to experience the patience of the Lord, which I also see reflected in the tireless care of doctors and health workers, as well as in the care and hopes of the relatives of the sick. This trusting patience, anchored in the love of God that does not fail, is truly necessary in our life, especially to face the most difficult and painful situations, he continued. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis was elected in 2013, becoming the first pontiff from Latin America and the first to be a member of the Jesuit order. Home News ICC Pres. Jeff King sheds light on alarming persecution report: 'Killing ground is Nigeria' GRAPEVINE, Texas Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern (ICC), has spent more than two decades fighting for religious freedom. But as ICCs 2025 Global Persecution Index reveals, the crisis is worsening. The main killing ground for Christians isnt North Korea its Nigeria, the Last Words of the Martyrs author told The Christian Post. Radical Islamists have driven Christians out of the north, pushing them further into the middle belt, which is the agricultural heartland. Militants raid villages, killing and displacing entire communities. Its a stealth jihad, a massive land grab. Despite international condemnation, the Nigerian governments response has been, at best, lackluster, he said. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe They claim they cant find the attackers, but its a deep-state issue, King explained. The security apparatus is controlled by radical elements, and the military often turns a blind eye or worse, intervenes against Christian self-defense efforts. Beyond Nigeria, King warned of a broader crisis sweeping across Africas Sahel region. Islamist militancy has taken root in the area, rendering entire swaths of territory ungovernable. Its like ISIS has taken over a whole region, King said. And because these areas are so remote, theres little that can be done to stop it. Beyond Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has also seen horrific violence against Christians, he said. Recently, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist extremist group linked to the Islamic State, beheaded 70 Christians after days of captivity and terror. As the president of ICC, created in 1995, King has spent over two decades navigating the complex world of religious freedom, assisting Christians who face persecution, and raising global awareness about their plight. Advocacy, awareness, and assistance, thats what we do, King said. Were on the ground in some of the most dangerous places, providing direct aid, rebuilding churches and supporting believers who have lost everything. But we also work behind the scenes, leveraging international pressure to push governments toward justice. ICCs impact extends far beyond aid. In countries where speaking out could mean a death sentence, ICCs advocacy has led to tangible policy shifts. King recalled one particularly striking case in North Africa where Evangelical leaders were told they would be imprisoned and fined exorbitant sums. ICC brought one of the leaders to Washington, D.C., where he met with lawmakers. Two weeks later, the government backed down. They called the pastors back in and said, We know someone is talking in Washington. Were all on the same team here. You dont need to go to Washington; just come to us, King said. Thats the kind of impact a well-placed conversation can have. While Christians face opposition from a variety of fronts, King identified one particular ideology particularly focused on persecuting the religious group: Islam. Historically, Communist regimes were the primary persecutors of Christians, he said, and while persecution in countries like China and Cuba persists, radical Islam is now the predominant threat. He traced the current crisis back to the oil shocks of the 1980s, when the Middle Easts petrodollar wealth fueled a global Islamist revival. The Saudis positioned themselves as the guardians of Islam, pouring billions into spreading their strict ideology. They funded radical mosques, educational institutions, and militant groups. Were still fighting the consequences today, he said. Despite the grim realities, King said he sees a paradox in persecution, one that history has repeatedly affirmed. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church, he noted, adding that nowhere is this more evident than in Iran. The Ayatollahs came in with a vision to spread Islam across the world, but whats happened instead? The people have rejected it. Theyve seen the brutality of a religious regime, and now the church is exploding, King said. Iran is probably the fastest-growing Christian movement in the world right now. This phenomenon isnt new, King added, pointing to similar trends throughout history. When persecution intensifies, the Church often grows stronger, he said. That doesnt make the suffering any less real, but it does remind us that God is at work. For many Western Christians, news of persecution can feel overwhelming, King said, adding that the scale of suffering is vast and its easy to feel powerless. But, there are practical ways to help. First, follow the issue, he urged. Understand whats happening so you can be an advocate. Call your elected officials. Demand action. Organizations like ICC, persecution.org, and others provide direct avenues for engagement, from donating to participating in advocacy campaigns, King said, but emphasized a deeper reason for Western Christians to engage with persecution. This isnt just about helping others; its about learning from them, he said. The persecuted church has so much to teach us about faith, resilience and dependence on God. They are getting their doctorate in Christianity. If you want to grow, follow their stories. Their suffering is not wasted, he added. And neither is ours. God uses trials whether persecution or personal hardship to draw us closer to Him. We cant stop all persecution, but we can stand with those who suffer. And sometimes, that makes all the difference. Home News Isle of Man legalizes assisted suicide: Very sad day Campaigners supporting improved palliative care have voiced their sadness after the Isle of Man parliament approved a draft bill to legalize assisted suicide. Members of the parliament's upper chamber passed the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 on Tuesday and it will now be put forward for royal assent the final step before passing into law. The bill allows adults who have a terminal illness and a life expectancy of 12 months or less to choose to die by assisted suicide. They must have lived on the Isle of Man for at least five years, be registered with an island GP, and have the legal capacity to make the decision. Two independent doctors are required to verify the decision. 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 James Mildred, director of communications and engagement at the Christian advocacy group CARE, fears that nothing good will come of this development. This deeply sad step turns the Isle of Mans long-standing approach to suicide on its head. Under this legislation, the equal value of every citizen living on the island will no longer be affirmed," he said. Those overseeing the legislation have ignored very stark warnings about the prospect of vulnerable people being coerced into ending their lives, and people acting after a wrong prognosis, he added. "They have also rejected strong evidence of abuses and incremental expansion of legislation overseas, and evidence that many people choose assisted death because they feel like a burden. He continued, "The cultural change assisted suicide engenders is a negative one. Recognizing the equal dignity and worth of every person and safeguarding the most vulnerable in society requires keeping it off the statute book. Dr. Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, a coalition of campaigners opposed to assisted suicide, described the approval of the draft bill as a very sad day for islanders and warned that countries where the practice is already legal haven't set a good precedent. It is extremely disappointing that given the chilling stories coming out of Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. states such as Oregon, that politicians on the Isle of Man have continued with this dangerous bill," Macdonald lamented. In the small number of places that have legalized state assisted killing, we see the lives of vulnerable people put at risk, with safeguards and restrictions removed, while palliative care doesnt improve as some have wrongly claimed." He added: In Canada, thousands of those who have been killed cite loneliness as a reason. In Oregon, a law designed for terminally ill adults now views insulin-dependent diabetes and eating disorders such as anorexia as terminal conditions. In Australia, promises made by politicians to dramatically boost palliative care funding have failed to materialize, leading to a crisis in the sector. While in Belgium and the Netherlands, we are seeing an alarming growth in the number of people with mental problems being euthanized. And, at the same time, we are seeing more children having their lives ended via lethal injection. The proposed laws were brought forward in a Private Member's Bill by Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson, who is also a GP. He said he was "hopeful" that the bill will become law before the end of this year and that an assisted suicide service will be operational by 2027. Macdonald said that Isle of Man parliamentarians had made "a terrible mistake" in approving the bill. Here in the U.K., we have seen how a draft bill sold to Parliament as the safest in the world has already been watered down with the removal of judicial oversight, extra protections for those with Downs syndrome and eating disorders rejected, while the bills author recently admitted that meagre safeguards left in the bill could be swept away in just a few years time," he said. "And later today, MPs on the committee will be asked to vote on rewriting the founding charter of the NHS, which has been in every major health act since 1946, because so-called assisted dying is incompatible with the principles it enshrines, to facilitate a National Death Service. This is why we believe politicians on Isle of Man have made a terrible mistake and why its a very sad day for islanders. This article was originally published at Christian Today Home News Senate confirms Trump's pick, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, to lead NIH The United States Senate has confirmed an outspoken critic of COVID-19 lockdowns as the new director of the National Institutes of Health as President Donald Trump's cabinet continues to take shape. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 53-47 Tuesday to confirm Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as the director of the National Institutes of Health. The vote fell along party lines, with Republicans supporting Bhattacharyas nomination and Democrats opposing it. Read: 6 things to know about Jay Bhattacharya, Trump's pick to lead the National Institutes of Health 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 Bhattacharya, who served as the director of Stanford Universitys Center for Demography and Economics of Health and Aging, and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economics Research, emerged on the national scene as a staunch critic of the U.S. government's heavy-handed response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bhattacharya co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, which called for focused protection directed at the sick and elderly most at risk from COVID-19, while allowing everyone else to go about their daily lives. The proposals in the Great Barrington Declaration differed from the calls for blanket lockdowns and severe restrictions that defined the pandemic response at the local, state and federal levels for much of the country. The document, published in 2020, warned that the lockdowns would lead to lower childhood vaccination rates, worsening cardiovascular disease outcomes, fewer cancer screenings and deteriorating mental health as well as greater excess mortality in years to come with the working class and younger members of society carrying the highest burden. Read: 5 controversies surrounding former NIH Director Francis Collins The Great Barrington Declaration added that keeping students out of school during the pandemic was a grave injustice. Later, the Twitter Files, published by independent journalists following Elon Musks takeover of the social media platform, revealed that Bhattacharya was subject to a Trends Blacklist as a result of his work on the Great Barrington Declaration. More than two months into the second Trump presidency, the Senate has confirmed over three dozen of Trumps cabinet nominees. In addition to Bhattacharya, the most recent additions to the Trump cabinet include: Commissioner of Food and Drugs Marty Makary, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Michael Kratsios, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg and Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler. The other most recently confirmed Trump cabinet members are: Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency William Pulte, Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Stephen Miran, Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Stephen Bradbury, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, FBI Director Kash Patel, Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Confirmed members of the Trump cabinet also include Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, both former Democrats. Additional cabinet members are: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. The remaining members of the Trump cabinet who have been confirmed by the U.S. Senate are: Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Eric Turner, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler. Several of Trumps cabinet nominees still await Senate confirmation, including U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See nominee Brian Burch, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Elise Stefanik, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel nominee Mike Huckabee. Home News Ten Commandments monument returning to Ky. Capitol grounds amid pushback from some religious leaders A Ten Commandments monument is returning to the Kentucky state Capitol grounds as religious liberty advocates and faith leaders offer differing opinions about the display. House Joint Resolution 15, which overwhelmingly passed the Republican-controlled Kentucky House of Representatives and the Republican-controlled state Senate, became law Thursday without the signature of Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat. The resolution authorized the return of a granite Ten Commandments monument to the Capitol grounds after it had spent decades in storage and a previous attempt to display the monument faced resistance from the courts. The monument was first donated to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1971 by the Kentucky State Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. It remained on display until the 1980s when it was moved for a construction project. 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 While a joint resolution approved by the Kentucky Legislature in 2000 authorized the monument's return to Capitol grounds, a 2002 federal appellate court decision prevented it from going into effect. At that time, the monument was returned to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. The 2025 resolution cited the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision Van Orden v. Perry that upheld the display of a Ten Commandments monument on state Capitol grounds in Texas, as one of several examples of courts upholding religious displays on public lands in an attempt to make the case that returning the monument to the Kentucky Capitol grounds was constitutional. The resolution requires the return of the Ten Commandments monument within 180 days of its effective date. The resolution took effect Thursday, two weeks after the state Senate approved it in a 32-6 vote. The House voted in favor of the resolution in a 79-13 vote on Feb. 19. The votes fell mostly along party lines, with one Democrat in the Senate joining all Republicans in supporting the resolution, while four Democrats in the House broke from their party to back it. In a statement shared with The Christian Post, First Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Roger Byron proclaimed, We applaud the Kentucky legislature for restoring a part of Kentuckys history. Byron added, Like Kentuckys monument, there is a long history and tradition of public monuments and displays that recognize the unique and important role the Ten Commandments have played in state and national history. We are thrilled to return the Ten Commandments monument to the state and have it restored to the Capitol grounds, its historic location. The Eagles have donated over 100 Ten Commandments monuments to state and local governments over the years, and were glad to have ours back where it belongs, said Vic Jeffries of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie. While First Liberty Institute and the Fraternal Order of Eagles cheered the return of the Ten Commandments monument, a coalition of 79 faith leaders from across the state spanning multiple religions and denominations stated their opposition to the development in a March 19 letter urging Beshear to veto the resolution. The religious leaders characterized the resolution as a misguided effort that will undermine the religious freedom we cherish as people of faith and leaders of faith communities. The government must respect the rights of individuals and faith communities to make decisions about the sacred texts that inform our religious understandings and practices. Laws mandating the display of the Ten Commandments on government property demean that freedom, they claimed in the letter to Beshear. The text of the monument at issue in HJR 15 is not universal or inclusive of all faith traditions," they maintained. "Indeed, the monuments version of the Ten Commandments does not exist in any translation of the Bible, nor do the Ten Commandments as such hold religious meaning for hundreds of thousands or more of Kentuckians who are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Unitarian Universalist, or who practice other religions or no religion at all. Insisting that Matters of faith should remain in the family and in faith communities, and not in the hands of government officials, the signatories asserted that the Capitol is the seat of our state government and should be welcoming to all Kentuckians, regardless of their faith. They expressed concern that by communicating the governments preference for some faiths, the monument undercuts the religious equality Kentuckians share and threatens to use the Ten Commandments as a symbol of exclusion and religious intolerance. Home Opinion Is child sexual abuse just as bad as other sins? Recently, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across a lengthy post by a pastor about why hes forgiven Robert Morris. Now, Morris is a former televangelist and celebrity preacher. He founded Gateway Church in Dallas and served as senior pastor for nearly 25 years. In 2024, Morris resigned from ministry following public accusations that hed repeatedly sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl. Then, just this month, Morris was indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child. Upon learning of the charges, the pastor on Facebook posted, I know that Robert Morris is guilty of horrific crimes. His victim, abused nearly 100 times from the age of 12 to 17, is a friend My familys passionate discussion with me revolved around my expressing grace toward Robert Morris. I always give grace to the humbled I take no pleasure in the death of Roberts evangelical ministry [We] Christians should stay humble, gracious, and kind when proud people come crashing down, lest we be the next to fall for Pride comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18). 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 was aghast that a minister of Gods Word would respond this way to such a horrific case of child abuse. I replied, I dont understand how anyone can think that someone who has committed around 100 instances of child abuse and sexual assault can be anything other than a wolf. His ministry didnt die. It was dead to begin with. Thats when a Christian counselor chimed in. He said, Its not the type of sin nor the amount of sin thats the issue, but the *fact* of sin. Gods children commit 100 instances of sin daily whether they realize it or not. The problem is that in the minds of a lot of people, some sins are more respectable than others, and some are more deplorable than others, based not on how it offends a Holy God but how it negatively impacts other people My daily sin is as offensive to God as Morriss. Now, I have no idea how this counselor spends his time (and Im not sure I want to know), but the idea that all sins are equally deplorable to God is a tenet of spiritual abuse. On the one hand, the smallest, most mundane sin separates us from God. He is utterly and unimaginably holy. He is perfectly just and good. Jesus died for the sin of the child who stole candy from the grocery store, but that does not mean God considers the child to be as evil as a child predator. You would think this would be common sense. Even unbelievers and complete pagans instinctively know that sin exists on a spectrum of severity. A poor person who steals a loaf of bread does not deserve the same punishment as a bank robber. A person who cusses in traffic is not as deeply sunk into Hell as a serial killer. And yet, this Christian counselor wants us to believe that on a daily basis, you and I commit sins just as repugnant to God as the sexual abuse of children. Unfortunately, this tactic of sin-leveling this false doctrine that all sins are equally heinous is prevalent in abusive churches and theological circles. In order to shame victims into forgiving their abusers and not reporting crimes, they point out that the victim is just as evil as their abuser, and therefore the victim should not point fingers or accuse. In order to manipulate witnesses into keeping quiet, they remind them that theyre just as depraved as a sexual predator and claim that real Christians extend grace and dont gossip. However, if we consider the Old Testament law, well realize that God doesnt treat all sins equally at all. From the beginning, God has considered some sins to be worse than others. Sins like lying require a sacrifice to atone for the transgression, but sins like sexual perversion or murder require the death penalty. We see this concept continued in the New Testament. It does not change. God stays consistent. Of anyone who harms a child, Jesus says, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea, rather than face His justice on Judgment Day. He does not say this about cussing, lying, greed, or gossip. Harming a child and causing them to stumble in their faith is a sin Jesus considers far more egregious than most others. In Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus warns, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. When we encounter men like Robert Morris, charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse against a young girl, we should remember what Jesus said about millstones. We should recognize the depth of depravity and the darkness associated with endangering a childs faith. Sometimes, atrocities like sexual perversion are symptomatic of Gods rejection. Its a sign that God has not extended grace but removed His grace from the offender. Paul warns us against sexually immoral pastors and hypocrites when he writes: Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done (Romans 1:21-28). Three times, were told that God gave them over. Just as God is holy, holy, holy in Isaiah 6:3 meaning that he is utterly, immeasurably, and eternally holy so God gave them over, gave them over, gave them over, meaning He has utterly rejected them, left them to their own devices, and condemned them to their rebellion against the Spirit. When a supposed man of God commits atrocities, its a sign that the wrath of God is against him. When a professed Christian is found to be living in serious unrepentant evil, its a sign that God has hardened their heart and rejected them. They were likely never saved to begin with. Like the demons in James 2:19, they know the truth about God, but inwardly they hate and work against Him in the darkness. By the time someone like Robert Morris is capable of sexually abusing a child nearly 100 times over the course of several years, God has given him over. As Christians, we are not called to honor him, praise him, or applaud his ministry. After some back and forth on Facebook, one man told me, A lot of people came to know Christ in [Morriss] church over the years. I would never be willing to tell those people that their relationship with God is invalid because of the sins of their pastor. To which I responded, I became a Christian in my dads house and he was a child abuser. So what? I was saved by the Holy Spirit, not some pervert LARPing as a man of God. Home News Bible found at charity shop sells for over $72K A rare Chinese Bible donated to an Oxfam shop in England has sold at auction for over $72,000 (56,280), far surpassing its estimated value of up to $1,000. The historical text, dating back to around 1815, is thought to be the first complete translation of the Scripture into Chinese. The Bible, discovered by volunteers at the bookshop in Chelmsford, Essex, was translated by Protestant missionaries John Lassar and Joshua Marshman, according to a statement from Oxfam. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe It was found in a pile of donations by volunteers Chris Tyrrell and Eleanor Atac, who recognized its potential value and decided to send it for auction at Bonhams. After two weeks of online bidding, the final sale price surprised staff at the Chelmsford shop. "We were absolutely speechless," Nick Reeves, the bookshop manager, said. "When it was put up for auction, it was originally valued at a few hundred pounds, so we never imagined it might go for this much." The Bible was part of a more extensive collection of rare books donated to various Oxfam shops. A total of 23 titles, auctioned between March 10 and March 20, raised over $135,500 (105,000) for the charity, which will use the funds to support global efforts to tackle poverty and inequality. Among the notable high-value sales were a first edition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, fetching $21,460; a first edition of Karl Marx's Manifesto of the Communist Party, selling for $14,000; and a signed copy of Roald Dahl's Matilda, which sold for $2,971. Ian Falkingham, Oxfam's donated goods strategy lead, underlined the impact of the funds raised. "The Lassar and Marshman Chinese translation of the Bible was an exceedingly rare item, which we could not trace at auction previously," explained Dr. Lorenza Gay, associate specialist in books and manuscripts at Bonhams. "We hoped it would exceed the estimate, but it definitely surprised us with the final price achieved." The other rare titles sold included a 17th-century manuscript prayer book, Prayers of the Lady Pakington, which sold for $14,000, and a first edition of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice "Peacock edition" from 1894, which achieved a price of $3,300. Home News Young Christian man facing death penalty after unknowingly being added to Facebook chat groups LAHORE, Pakistan Federal agents in Pakistan arrested a young Christian man under a blasphemy law mandating the death penalty for comments posted in Facebook chat groups under his name by unknown persons, his family said. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials took 24-year-old Arsalan Gill of Railway Quarters in Mughalpura, Lahore, into custody on March 17 as he returned home from his work as a sweeper, said his brother, Suleman Gill. The impoverished Catholic family was shocked when an FIA official told them late that night that their son was arrested and charged with sharing blasphemous content on Facebook groups. The FIA officials did not let them meet with him that night, Suleman Gill said. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The next morning when we were finally able to meet him briefly, we asked him about the accusation, Gill told Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News. He told us that some unknown persons had added him to two groups on Facebook without his knowledge, and he had no idea about the content that was shared on those pages. The FIA charged Arsalan Gill under multiple sections of Pakistans widely misused blasphemy law, including Section 295-C, which carries a mandatory death penalty, according to the First Information Report (FIR) the agency filed. He was also charged under Section 11 of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016, which prescribes imprisonment of up to seven years for preparing or disseminating information through any information system or device that promotes or is likely to promote interfaith, sectarian or racial hatred. Rights advocates said it was quite likely that the impoverished Christian was targeted by a blasphemy business group that, according to the National Commission for Human Rights and the Special Branch of the Punjab Police, has entrapped hundreds of innocent persons, including Christians, in false cases of online blasphemy by using honey traps and pornographic websites. The modus operandi is the same in all cases registered by the anti-blasphemy unit of the FIAs Cybercrime Wing, said attorney Lazar Allah Rakha, who represents several people falsely charged with blasphemy. This unit is colluding with Islamist lawyers and activists to trap innocent youths in false cases of blasphemy for extorting money and defending the blatant abuse of the blasphemy laws for other vested interests. Suleman Gill said their family did not have the financial resources to hire legal defense for his brother and has appealed to Christian groups for support. My father works as a daily wage laborer, while Arsalan and I worked as sweepers, he said. We live in a rented quarter and are barely able to meet the daily expenses of our family. In these circumstances, we have no idea as to how we will pursue the legal course of action for my brothers release. The Islamabad High Court on Feb. 2 advised the Pakistan government to establish a four-member commission to investigate alleged collusion between the FIA and Islamist clerics that has ensnared more than 400 innocent people, including Christians, in a surge of false blasphemy cases in the last two years. The commission should include a retired judge of the high court or the Supreme Court, a retired senior officer of the FIA, an enlightened and religious scholar who has known and has done works of public good, and a senior expert in information technology whose presence on the commission will greatly assist the commission members in what is a technologically complicated chain that the commission will have to understand, stated the order by Justice Ejaz Ishaq Khan. The court directed the cabinet secretary to ensure that the summary is placed before the federal cabinet for consideration, and that the additional attorney general should submit the cabinets decision in court before the next hearing. The order was issued in response to petitions filed by families of more than 100 people the FIA has charged with purportedly sharing blasphemous content online. The petitioners claimed that the blasphemy business group had fraudulently trapped their loved ones into sharing blasphemous content on social media platforms and have called for the establishment of the enquiry commission and assessment of the legitimacy of FIRs registered by the FIA. In the hearing on March 21, Khan expressed dissatisfaction over the governments response to the petitions, terming it slow and incomplete. The matter, which affects hundreds of lives, has seen little progress since the initial directive was issued on Sept. 13, 2024, he noted. The court highlighted the Interior Ministrys failure to provide a definitive statement on whether an application for constituting an inquiry commission had been received or not. Similarly, the FIA did not clearly state whether the evidence in question had been fabricated or planted, he said. The judge then ordered the live broadcast of proceedings of the case, saying that it has become a matter of significant public interest. He noted that the courtroom was filled beyond capacity with many more people gathered outside and directed IT officials to make immediate arrangements for online streaming of the proceedings. Pakistan ranked eighth on Open Doors 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian. This article was originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News 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 Sequel to Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' to begin filming this summer, title revealed Mel Gibsons highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster hit "The Passion of the Christ, titled The Resurrection of the Christ, will start filming this summer. Cinecitta Studios CEO Manuela Cacciamani told Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore that Gibson and Icon Productions have set an August start-of-shoot date for the follow-up to his 2004 biblical epic, Variety reported. Filming will take place at Romes Cinecitta Studios the same lot where the original 2004 film was shot, while production will take place in the Italian town of Matera, along with several other old-world locations, including Ginosa, Gravina Laterza and Altamura. 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 Jim Caviezel is set to return as Jesus, along with Maia Morgenstern (Mary) and Francesco De Vito (Peter). Gibson is directing the film and co-wrote the script with "Braveheart" writer Randall Wallace. In a January interview with Joe Rogan, Gibson described the forthcoming film as an acid trip, adding that hes never read anything like the script. Gibson also said he would use de-aging techniques that are so good now for Caviezel, who is now 56. After its 2004 premiere, The Passion of the Christ became the highest-grossing R-rated film in U.S. history, raking in $370.8 million against its $30 million budget, The film was also nominated for three Academy Awards. "There was a lot of opposition to it," Gibson told Rogan of the first film. "I think if you ever hit on that subject matter, you're going to get people going because, of course, it's a big subject matter. "The idea was that we're all responsible for this, that His sacrifice was for all mankind, and that for all our ills and all the things in our fallen nature," he added. "It was a redemption, so you know, and I believe that." Gibson, a professing Catholic, also said he considers the Gospels to be "verifiable history," pointing to extra-biblical historical accounts that confirm the existence of Jesus of Nazareth. The apostles who spread the message of Christianity were willing to sacrifice their lives to spread the Gospel, he added. "Every single one of those guys died rather than deny their belief," said Gibson, insisting that "nobody dies for a lie." The resurrection, however, remains the most challenging part of the story for many to accept, as it "requires the most faith and the most belief." Gibson added, "Who gets back up three days later after he gets murdered in public? ... Buddha didn't do that." In a 2022 interview with The Christian Post, Gibson revealed hes drawn to stories that highlight redemption and the need for a Savior. I've been taught from a young age that we're flawed, and youre going to make mistakes, he reflected. We're broken, and we need help. Usually, the best way to get help is to ask for it. And well, who do we ask? We're asking something better than us. And the minute you acknowledge that there is something better than you, you might get something that resembles humility, which is really the key to the whole thing. He encouraged the next generation to stick to their convictions even though its hard in an increasingly polarized society. Sometimes you're presented with choices or put in places that are very difficult, and some of those choices are hard, he said. You just have to examine your own conscience and take the right road, I think. There's no right way; there are a million wrong ways, and you just have to eliminate those or just use your best discernment to get through it." But its hard, man, he added. Life's hard. But we're all going. Weve all got a boulder were dragging. Home News UMC bishop, other Methodists attacked in Nigeria while doing ministry work A United Methodist Church bishop was attacked while engaging in ministry work in Nigeria, and a vehicle used as part of his entourage was damaged. UMC Council of Bishops President Tracy Malone released a statement on Wednesday reporting that Bishop Ande Emmanuel and other UMC members traveling with him in the Nigerian Episcopal Area were attacked by an unspecified party. "We strongly condemn the use of violence as a means of conflict resolution," stated Bishop Malone. "Such actions only lead to further harm, suffering, and division. We urge all parties to seek peaceful and constructive ways to resolve their differences." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "To our brothers and sisters in The United Methodist Church in Nigeria, we implore you not to retaliate or respond to violence with violence. As Jesus Christ's followers, we encourage you to continue being beacons of hope, peace, and love in the midst of chaos." Malone said she and the other bishops will hold "Emmanuel, his family, and the entire United Methodist community in Nigeria in our prayers." "We pray for their safety, well-being, and continued ministry. We also pray for the people of Nigeria, that all may know peace, justice, and reconciliation," she continued. "As Scripture reminds us, 'Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' (Romans 12:21). May we, as followers of Jesus Christ, continue to be instruments of peace and agents of healing in a world torn apart by conflict and violence." Emmanuel was elected as a bishop in The United Methodist Church's West Africa Central Conference in December after having served as a leader in the Southern Nigeria Conference. Emmanuel was the first bishop elected after former Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna resigned in July. Emmanuel was a former top aide of Yohanna's until a falling out in 2021 over the direction of the denomination, according to UM News. A worldwide denomination, the UMC has experienced divisive debate for decades over its Book of Discipline prohibiting same-sex marriage, the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals and the funding of LGBT advocacy groups. However, at the UMC General Conference last year, delegates voted overwhelmingly to remove these rules from the discipline after thousands of theologically conservative churches exited the denomination in recent years. Since the changes were made, violent tensions have stirred between the progressive UMC and the conservative Global Methodist Church over who rightly owns the Nigerian Episcopal Area. In Nigeria, same-sex marriage and homosexual acts are illegal, and the law also prohibits people from participating in LGBT advocacy organizations. In July 2024, Yohanna sent a statement to officials stating that the regional body voted to join the GMC at a special session that month. However, the UMC disputed Yohanna's statement, claiming that only a fraction of the 560,000-member Nigerian Episcopal Area has agreed to disaffiliate from the mainline denomination. Last December, reports surfaced of violence between GMC and UMC members in Munga Dosa, which resulted in three United Methodists being killed and multiple houses being burned. In a statement emailed to CP at the time, the GMC Assembly of Bishops said they were "deeply grieved by the loss of life and the devastation that has occurred." "We unequivocally decry the use of violence in any form and call on all people, Global Methodists and United Methodists alike, to act as agents of peace," declared the GMC leaders. Last month, both denominations reported additional violence at the Banyam Theological Seminary, a historically UMC-affiliated school where GMC leadership held a conference. According to Emmanuel, members of the GMC took over the seminary and vandalized property, while GMC Bishop Scott Jones accused UMC members of disrupting their worship and even injuring a couple of their supporters. In addition to the recent violence between the two Methodist denominations, for the past several years, Nigeria has been a country known for Islamic extremist violence against churches, as well as the prevalence of other violent crimes such as kidnappings. Terrorist groups like Boko Haram have launched numerous lethal attacks against congregations, as well as engaged in kidnappings and massacres of Christians. Open Doors USA, a Christian persecution watchdog group, currently ranks Nigeria seventh on its World Watch List of worst Christian persecutors. "While Christians used to be vulnerable only in the Muslim-majority northern states, this violence continues to spread into the Middle Belt and even further south. The attacks are shockingly brutal," stated Open Doors. "Many believers are killed, particularly men, while women are often kidnapped and targeted for sexual violence. More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. These militants also destroy homes, churches and livelihoods." White House On Planned Parenthood Funding, Disneys Snow White Remake Flops, Pro-Life Display At University Attacked link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 08:04 08:04 Top headlines for Thursday, March 27, 2025 In this episode, we explore the White House's stance on Planned Parenthood funding, amidst swirling reports of a potential grant freeze. Next, we'll discuss the uproar caused by a new KFC ad in the UK and Ireland, which has sparked hundreds of complaints over perceived mockery of religious practices. Plus, we turn our attention to the University of North Carolina Asheville, where tensions have escalated after an attack on a pro-life student group's on-campus display. 00:11 Planned Parenthood may be stripped of Title X grants 01:10 KFC ad in UK prompts outrage for allegedly promoting cultism 02:02 Duluth pastor resigns over past sexual abuse of 2 girls 02:50 Teachers accused of sexually abusing student at Christian school 03:46 4 Christian reactions to Disney's 'Snow White' remake 04:32 Pro-life groups display at North Carolina university attacked 05:25 Illinois may force faith orgs. to hire those who have abortions 06:22 Greg Laurie says 'House of David' is opportunity for evangelism #DefundPlannedParenthood #TaxpayerMoney #KFCControversy #BrandFails #ChurchAbuse #PastorScandal #SchoolSafety #TeacherMisconduct #DisneyRemake #SnowWhite2025 #CampusFreedom #ProLifeMovement #ReligiousFreedom #FaithUnderFire #Evangelism #GregLaurie March 27, 2025: Russian military performance in the Ukraine War has been an epic failure. By early 2025 Russia has lost over a million men dead, wounded, deserted and fleeing the country to avoid military service. Russia recruited prisoners and anyone else using large cash payments. These men soon found that few of them would survive more than a few months in Ukraine. The bonus cash is still offered but there are fewer men willing to take money and die quickly. By 2025 the war had a bad reputation. Six months into the war, Russian forces were on the defensive. Since then, Ukrainian troops were surprised by a rapid Russian revival and a slugfest began that continues to the present. The Russian military turned out to be, to paraphrase a 1940s maxim, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. At times Russian troops not only failed to defend themselves, but surrendered in large numbers or fled, leaving their undamaged armored vehicles behind. High resolution commercial satellite photos of the battlefield appeared regularly and allowed an international network of civilians to scrutinize the photos and pool their data via websites like Oryx and provide accurate accountings of vehicle losses on both sides. Russia lost most of the vehicles, especially the armored ones, they sent into Ukraine. Russian vehicle losses were four times those of the Ukrainians, and Ukraine actively recovered and repaired damaged vehicles belonging to both sides because it won most battles and controlled the battlefields afterwards. A unique feature of this war was that both sides were using the same armored vehicles. That was because, until 1991 Russia and Ukraine were both part of the Soviet Union and Ukraine was a major center for Soviet armored vehicle design and production. About half the Russian armor losses were vehicles that were abandoned or captured intact. Because of a flaw in their auto-loader design, there were few damaged tanks because any armor penetrations usually caused the vehicle to explode, often with such force that the turret was separated from the tank. The Ukrainians had anti-tank missiles with top-attack capability, which usually destroyed the Russian tanks being attacked. It was noted that 125mm tank gunfire was actually less lethal, especially when that 125mm shell was fired by a crew of poorly trained and inexperienced Russians. Worse, Russian troops quickly noticed their tanks were easily destroyed by the Ukrainians so most Russian tank crews would abandon their vehicles once they realized their unit was under attack. Six months into the war Ukraine was able to deploy a larger and more effective tank force than the Russians. Ukraine also came up with ways to defeat the Russian artillery and air force superiority. Seven months into the war it was clear that Ukraines counter-offensive was continuing and the Ukrainian mobile force of tanks and other armored vehicles expanded as the Ukrainians put their growing number of captured Russian vehicles into Ukrainian service. This usually took a few days, at most, as each vehicle was checked out, repairs made and the vehicle repainted to remove the prominent white Z that identified all Russian vehicles with the Ukrainian V, often with a Ukrainian flag on the radio aerial. Ukraine used more effective tactics, maintained the vehicles better than the Russians did and suffered a sixth of the Russian casualties. The Ukrainian were operating in friendly territory, the Russians were not. The Ukrainians had developed better battlefield communications while Russian combat leadership and support services were very bad. Ukrainian troops received regular supplies of food, medical care and the support of local civilians. This was especially true in areas where the Russians had recently been driven out. The Russians had a shortage of effective combat leadership from the beginning but it got worse year after year as Russian officers suffered higher losses than their reluctant troops. Two months after the war started Russia sent the instructor staff from all their junior officer training schools into the fighting. During the first year of the war Russian officers were too few, too inexperienced and too incompetent to provide effective leadership. There were a few exceptions, but over ninety percent of Russian troops and their officers were ineffective and often fled or surrendered, even if the Russians were on the defensive. This would occur even if Russian troops were inside fortifications and facing advancing Ukrainians. Russia sought to force former soldiers to join, as well as anyone else the recruiters could catch. While still in Russia these men were given uniforms, assault rifles and, in many cases, only a few days of training. Those with previous experience were formed into tank crews or assigned to operate other armored vehicles. There were no longer enough trucks to support Russian forces, even with civilian trucks taken from firms idle because of the sanctions. Later in the war, Russian troops pilfered Ukrainian horses, donkeys and mules to move their supplies to the front line. From the beginning of the war, the Ukrainians went after Russian trucks, especially fuel tankers. These trucks were carrying supplies and Russia has been unable to replace its truck losses or maintain the flow of supplies to its forces in Ukraine. When the weather turned colder in southern Ukraine, most Russian troops didn't have cold-weather clothing. They looted heavy coats and other items from Ukrainian civilians but that has been difficult because the civilians fled when the Russians got close, taking their warm clothing with them. In the end Russian officers realized that soldiers wearing civilian clothing was not a good idea. A year into the war Russian troops had to face a new and unexpected terror. Ukrainians unleashed swarms of FPV (First Person View) drones that revolutionized how wars are fought. There were few methods to defeat drone attacks. The primary defensive measure developed is electronic jamming of the control signal between the drone operator and the drone. Jamming is of limited effectiveness because active jammers are easy targets for drones programmed to detect, home in on and destroy jammers. Depending on how they are programmed, drones will either land if jammed or return to where they were launched. Despite those defensive measures, and the small explosive payload drones carry, about half the armored vehicles damaged or destroyed in Ukraine were done in by armed drones. This form of combat was increasingly common and dominating most combat zones. Tactics and techniques also evolved as Ukraine and Russia both experimented with new tactics, techniques, and drone designs. Both nations increased production of drones and the number of trained operators. Both Russia and Ukraine realized that drones provide unprecedented surveillance of the battlefield, but not all of it. That requires more drones and operators. One solution for this shortcoming is operator software that enables one operator to control several drones. The number one operator can handle simultaneously depends on operator experience. That cannot be manufactured but must be developed. Whoever can obtain the most trained operators has an advantage. All these drone developments make combat more dangerous for the troops on the ground. Drones not only keep an eye on enemy troops but are always ready to go in and put them out of action, as in dead or wounded. Troops are still fighting each other on the ground, but now they have to worry about constant surveillance and attacks from the growing number of drones hovering over the battlefield. In addition to operators there are the drone maintainers, who repair damaged or otherwise disabled drones and service those needing a battery recharge or simply a fresh battery. Drones were one of many surprising developments in the Ukraine war, and the Russian invaders eventually became demoralized and reluctant to fight. Their leader, Vladimir Putin, insisted he would keep fighting until Ukraine was part of Russia. When faced with reluctant soldiers, Putin imported several brigades of North Korea mercenaries. Unprepared for this new form of warfare, most of the North Koreans soon became casualties. Putin found some relief in a new American government that offered a peace deal both sides could be forced to accept. That may work, if only because nothing else has. The Scottish Government will raise the audit threshold for charities in the country from 500,000 to 1m, it has announced. In a letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville to the Social Justice and Social Security Committee this week, the cabinet secretary for social justice said her government would introduce new regulations in the autumn to raise the threshold, ensuring that the regulation and monitoring of charity accounts is proportionate. This increase, which will mean charities with lower incomes will no longer need to have their financial statements audited, comes after respondents to a public consultation suggested that the current threshold was set too low and was a disproportionate burden for smaller charities. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) welcomed the increased audit threshold while the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) said other proposed changes would improve charity regulation. Great news for Scottish charities Kirsten Hogg, head of policy and research at SCVO, said the umbrella body supports an increase in the audit threshold for Scottish charities. Since the original legislation was passed, the value of the current 500,000 threshold has declined significantly, bringing organisations into the scope of this regulation that was never intended to be, and putting significant pressure on the system, she said. Raising the threshold will bring the scope of the regulations closer to where they were intended to be, and help to solve some of the issues that organisations have faced in securing an auditor. Christine Scott, head of charities and reporting at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), said: This is great news for Scottish charities. ICAS has been pushing for this change in the audit threshold for several years. With charitable organisations continuing to face considerable financial pressures, particularly those close to the audit threshold, this change will help them target their resources to where theyre most needed. Scott added that this change delivers more proportionate scrutiny of Scottish charities and closely aligns with the audit threshold in England and Wales. This is a great start. Were also calling for the introduction of a years grace for a one-off breach of the threshold, which can happen when a charity receives a singular income or donation such as a legacy. We believe the costs of having an audit in a single year outweigh the benefits. Further changes Somerville said the Scottish Government will bring forward two further sets of commencement regulations to fully implement the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023, one in the summer and one at the end of 2025. This will enhance accountability and transparency in charities, which is a key finding from the consultation analysis, she wrote in her letter. The Scottish Government will consult on draft regulations to improve the Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (SCIO) (Removal from Register and Dissolution) Regulations 2011 and introduce amendment regulations before the end of the parliament. It will also convene a working group to look at the challenges some charities face when looking to incorporate into a SCIO. The proposed changes come on top of the Scottish Governments Fairer Funding pilot, which will see over 60m per year in 2025-26 and 2026-27 for third-sector organisations delivering front-line services and tackling child poverty. SCVO: Disappointing not to proceed with wider review yet Hogg welcomed some other measures in the letter but said its disappointing that the Scottish Government doesnt feel that its recent consultation process on a wider review of charity legislation gave a clear enough steer to proceed with this wider review. Voluntary organisations have been calling for a wider review for several years, and we were hopeful that the work would finally be done to take this forward. Our charity legislation in Scotland dates from 2005, and we need the opportunity to assess whether it has kept pace with changes over the last 20 years. OSCR: Governments plans will improve charity regulation Katriona Carmichael, chief executive of OSCR, said changes announced by Somerville would improve charity regulation and help to maintain public trust in the sector and its individual charities. Carmichael said OSCR has already implemented some provisions of the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023, and its work to deliver the remaining elements is well underway. Were on track to fully implement the legislation, including collecting and publishing the names of charity trustees on the Scottish charity register and making five years of financial accounts publicly available for each charity when these provisions come into force in the summer and at the end of 2025, she said. We also welcome the announcement that the government will consult on plans to help address challenges faced by some charities when theyre looking to close or become a SCIO. Were aware of these issues and are particularly keen to be able to deal with the issue of SCIOs that are breaching their duty to submit accounts and to engage with us, as weve been able to do successfully with other kinds of charity following the 2023 Act. On the threshold rising to 1m, she said this will ensure that the regulation and monitoring of charity accounts is proportionate and achievable. 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. Once again, lawmakers are threatening to strip tech companies of their legislative sword and shield. Section 230, also known as the twenty-six words that made the internet, is a small section of the Communications Decency Act that protects social media platforms from legal liability when making decisions around users posts. (It protects a website like Yelp, for instance, from being sued over defamatory reviews written by its users.) When Section 230 was first enacted, in 1996, it attracted bipartisan support, with the intention of helping struggling websites to grow. But as tech companies developed enormous power and influence, lawmakers started to argue that the provision gives platforms too much immunity. As such, Section 230 has become a frequent target for legislative change. I wrote about some of these calls before Christmas, while noting that it wasnt yet clear exactly where the new administration stood on the question. Last week, The Information reported that a new bipartisan bill will seek to sunset Section 230 entirelythat is, unless tech companies agree to accept new rules. The bill, which could still be introduced as early as this week, is being spearheaded by Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina, and Dick Durbin, a Democratic senator from Illinois. If it goes into effect, Section 230 will expire on January 1, 2027and turn the internet as we know it on its head. To avoid potential lawsuits, some platforms may stop hosting user-generated content altogether. Others may try to moderate much more aggressively. This isnt either Durbins or Grahams first stab at Section 230. They have both expressed concern in the past that it doesnt do enough to protect kids from harm online. In 2020, Graham pushed a bill titled EARN IT, which sought to amend Section 230 such that platforms would have to earn legal protection by showing that they are following recommendations for combating child sexual exploitation. (The bill didnt go anywhere; it was reintroduced in 2022 and 2023, but was again unsuccessful.) Durbin, for his part, proposed the STOP CSAM Act, a bill that amends Section 230 to allow victims of child exploitation to sue online platforms. It passed unanimously through the Senate Judiciary Committee but was blocked by Ron Wyden, one of the coauthors of Section 230, who argued that the legislation would result in tech companies weakening or completely removing their encryption safeguards to avoid legal action, which would inadvertently hurt children. Despite this legacy of past failures to kill Section 230, the new bills support from across the political aisle may put it on firmer footing. Republicans Josh Hawley and Marsha Blackburn and Democrats Sheldon Whitehouse and Amy Klobuchar have agreed to cosponsor it, per The Information. Not that supporters of different parties necessarily share the same objectives here: Jess Miers, a visiting assistant professor at the University of Akron School of Law, argues in Techdirt that Democrats may be supporting the bill out of an assumption that repealing Section 230 will force tech companies to engage in more content moderation when, in reality, that is far from guaranteed. Indeed, Brendan Carr, the new head of the Federal Communications Commission, has argued that platforms should only be granted protection under Section 230 if they severely limit content moderation so as to only remove user-generated content that is illegal. By joining forces with Republican lawmakers to repeal Section 230, Miers argues, Democrats are handing the Trump Administration a powerful tool to execute its long-standing goal: total control over online discourse. Other critics of reforming Section 230 say that lawmakers are turning it into a scapegoat when, in reality, problems with the way the internet works do not stem from a single law. No amount of Section 230 reform is going to fix the fact that the First Amendment also protects a lot of speech online, Michael Cheah, a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Miami School of Law, told The Verge in 2020. In a more recent piece for The Verge, published earlier this month, Wyden, the coauthor of Section 230, similarly wrote that lawmakers give Section 230 too much credit: While its a cornerstone of internet speech, its a lesser support compared to the First Amendment, as well as Americans own choices in what they want to see online. Wyden concluded, nonetheless, that Section 230 is just as necessary today as in 1996. Without its protections, platforms would face increased liability risks for any attempts at moderation, which could result in prolonged legal battles and costly fees to defend themselves, even if they win. While major players like Meta and Google may be able to absorb these costs, it could be devastating for smaller fish in the internet pool, such as blogs, nonprofits, and newer social media sites. Bluesky and Wikipedia, for instance, may not be able to write big checks to lawyers every time they get dragged to court. Ironically, the big platforms that attract most of the negative media coverageand thus the ire of Section 230 criticsmay be in better shape to deal with the consequences of its weakening. According to The Information, lawmakers claim that they dont intend to fully dismantle Section 230; instead, the proposed repeal seems primarily to be a bargaining tool to bring tech companies to the negotiating table. If that goal is achieved, it remains unclear what specific regulatory demands would be made, but they could very well mirror aspects of the legislation previously proposed by Graham and Durbin. As Miers points out, however, introducing wiggle room into Section 230 could be exploited in ways that lawmakers dont intend. Repealing Section 230 wont lead to the better Internet that Democrats envision, she writes. It will pave the way for the most powerful voices to dominate the conversation and make sure those who speak out against them cant fight back. Sign up for CJRs daily email Other notable stories: Also yesterday, Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Georgia congresswoman, told a British journalist to go back to your country after she attempted to ask Greene about the group chat scandal. Earlier, Greene had convened a hearing of her DOGE-branded House subcommittee with top officials at the public broadcasters NPR and PBS, for the purpose of bashing the outlets as radically left-wing and calling for them to be stripped of public funds. (We believe that you all can hate on us on your own dime, she said.) In response, the leaders of the broadcasters characterized the services they provide as vital, particularly in rural communities where commercial media typically dont operate because it isnt lucrative, Liam Scott, who covered the hearing for CJR, reports. On Tuesday, plainclothes government agents seized Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and Fulbright scholar who was studying at Tufts University on a student visa, off the street in Somerville, Massachusetts. (It looked like a kidnapping, a neighbor said.) Ozturk appears to be the latest victim of a broader Trump administration crackdown on students connected to Palestine solidarity protests on college campuses; she reportedly was not a leading figure in such protests at Tufts, but did coauthor an op-ed in a student newspaper last year criticizing the schools response to them. Ozturks visa has apparently been canceled, and she is reportedly now being detained in Louisiana. Last week, Martin Varsavsky, a tech entrepreneur and board member at Axel Springer, the German media giant that owns Politico, slammed an article in the publication as pro-Hamas and its reporters as woke. (He reportedly didnt realize that the article was a wire story written by the Associated Press.) Now the Financial Times reports that Varsavsky is gone from Axel Springers board; his departure was planned as part of a corporate maneuver, but company officials reportedly weighed firing him early after his recent remarks. He took a parting shot at Politicos ethical standards on the way out. And for CJR, Laurent Richardthe founder of Forbidden Stories, a French-based group that aims to continue the work of murdered or otherwise threatened reporters around the world as a means both of solidarity and protectionargues that as press threats rise in the US and elsewhere, collaborative journalism is the only answer. We must move from the lone wolf model to that of partnership, he writes, and 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. Markel made three internal promotions and hired a technical claims lead for its wholesale claims service for brokers, insureds and trading partners. The appointments include Dan Thomas, who has joined as marine technical claims lead, where hell work as part of Markels marine liability claims team with the underwriters by providing feedback on policy wordings and claims insights for renewal and new business, while fostering relationships with broker partners. Thomas industry experience spans more than two decades. Previously, he was head of marine claims at Helvetia Global Solutions U.K., where he was responsible for managing claims across the organizations marine portfolio. Prior to that role, Thomas worked for QBE European Operations/British Marine as head of Technical Adjusting and Steamship Mutual P&I Club. Markel has promoted Debbie Larkin to claims manager energy, liability and terrorism. In this role, shell be responsible for the businesses upstream, midstream and downstream energy claims, along with claims written as part of Markels sustainable energy, conventional power and terrorism portfolios. Larkin has been with Markel for nearly two years, spending that time managing all levels of claims within the organizations energy, liability and terrorism business classes. Previously, she spent 15 years as a lawyer advising insurance carriers on coverage, defense and policy wordings. Rachel Tighe was promoted to claims manager professional Indemnity. In her new position, Tighes principal duties will include managing the PI wholesale claims team, ensuring closer broker interaction and supporting other members in her team with professional development. Tighe joined Markel more than five years ago, starting at the business as a senior claims adjuster for Markels PI team, before progressing to assistant claims manager PI. Prior to her arrival at Markel, Tighe worked as a claims solicitor at AmTrust Europe Ltd.. Natalie Myhill will assume the role of claims manager financial institutions. Her primary objectives will involve managing the FI wholesale claims team by supporting them in resolving complex claims matters for FI and fintech clients. She will also carry on building relationships with Markels broker network and collaborate with the organizations FI and fintech underwriting teams. Myhill has 14 years of experience within the London and Lloyds markets. She joined Markel in 2020. Before joining the company, she was employed at Sompo International as an AV, senior claims examiner, where she specialized in the professional indemnity, D&O and FI classes of business. Based at Markels London office, Tighe and Myhill will report to Jonathan Pestell, head of claims specialty, and Larkin will report to Thomas Upton, head of claims marine, energy and casualty at Markel. Markel is the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and BMW AG will team up to produce AI for cars in China, as the tech giant looks to monetize its emerging products and the German automaker seeks to catch up to local brands that are dominating the key market. BMW will adopt AI cockpit technology from Alibaba-backed Banma for its upcoming models tailored for the Chinese market, the companies said Wednesday in a joint statement. Banmas technology is the product of collaboration with Alibabas own Qwen model team. Software has become a key differentiator between electric vehicles, particularly in China, where local manufacturers like BYD Co. have raced ahead of European carmakers. Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz Group and BMW have had to seek out tech partnerships from Silicon Valley to China for the tech expertise needed for their next generation of cars to compete. BMW, which relies on China as a major market, saw sales of its namesake brand and Mini fall 13.4% there last year and expects deliveries to remain muted this year. To better compete, Alibaba will help BMW build a new intelligent personal assistant with enhanced voice recognition and trip planning features that will be rolled out next year in new models produced in China. The in-car AI agent can offer parking and nearby restaurant recommendations as well as real-time traffic light information. Alibaba said its Qwen model has been used in cars produced by Chinese automakers Xpeng, Zeekr and Leapmotor. Alibaba has been aggressively pivoting its focus to AI over the past few months, pledging to invest more than 380 billion yuan ($52 billion) on AI infrastructure such as data centers over the next three years. Chief Executive Officer Eddie Wu said in February that the pursuit of artificial general intelligence is now the companys primary objective. The company also scored a coveted role providing AI technology to Apple Inc.s iPhones in China, which are due to be rolled out in the coming months. Europes dependency on the US and China for the computing power needed to support AI is putting its auto industry at risk, Georges Massing, a Mercedes-Benz Group AG executive working on the companys automated-driving push, said this week. We have in Europe neither a cloud nor a hardware that can train these models, Massing said. After years of grappling with its own software venture, Volkswagen AG is partnering with Rivian Automotive Inc. and Chinas Horizon Robotics Inc to develop the technology for its next line of EVs. Mercedes, meanwhile, is investing in Chinese AI startup Momenta to bolster its driver-assistance systems. Top photo: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and BMW AG will team up to produce AI for cars in China. Photographer: Peter Juelich/Bloomberg. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. March 27, 2025: Over recent decades, China has outpaced the United States in constructing warships. By year's end, Chinas fleet will boast 777 ships and nearly 400,000 personnel, while the U.S. Navy fields about 490 vessels and 667,000 sailors. American ships tip the scales at 4.1 million tons, dwarfing the Chinese total of 2.8 million tons. Chinas Achilles heel lies in experience and real-world capability. The U.S. fleet has reigned as the globes largest and most potent since 1943. Meanwhile, China has spent decades crafting its first true high seas armada, a departure from its historical reliance on smaller coastal defense craft. Personnel woes compound the issueChina struggles to enlist enough officers and sailors to man its growing fleet. Naval service lacks appeal among Chinese men, deterred by extended stints far from shore. American crews, by contrast, take six-month-or-longer deployments in stride. U.S. naval observers watching Chinese ships and crews at sea spot plenty of greenness and fumbled attempts to shore up shaky seagoing chops. China knows its weaknesses and has cooked up a bold, unproven fix: a unique weapon to sink American aircraft carriers with ballistic missiles. After twenty years of toil, the Chinese Navy birthed and tested the DF-21D. This beast was built to strike warships over a thousand kilometers away. The basic DF-21, a 15-ton, two-stage, solid-fuel missile, spans 1,700-3,000 kilometers depending on the variant. The DF-21D clocks in at 1,500-2,000 kilometers. Its 500-2,000 kg warhead typically packs a nuclear punch, but conventional options aboundincluding one tailored for warships. Some of those conventional warheads eye targets in Taiwan. The DF-21s longer reach and steeper descent outpace the 1,200 shorter-range ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan, making it a tougher intercept. A decade back, Taiwans U.S.-supplied Patriot Pac-3 BMD systems couldnt handle the DF-21Ds speed. BMD tech has since evolved, but so has Chinas missile stable. In 2020, China unveiled the DF-26B, a beefier cousin to the DF-21D. This 20-ton missile stretches out to 4,000 kilometers. It hit the scene in 2016 as the conventional DF-26, building on the DF-21Ds proven chops. Why not scale up to smack enemy warshipsespecially carrierseven farther off? By 2022, the smaller YJ-21 joined the fray, slung under bombers or bolted to destroyers and cruisers, borrowing the same targeting tech as its bigger siblings to nail distant ships. Proof of the DF-21Ds full system remained elusive until 2013, when satellite snaps revealed a 200-meter-long white rectangle in the Gobi Desert, pocked with two craters. Looks like a test target for the DF-21D, with a pair of dummy warheads finding their mark. American carriers stretch beyond 300 meters, though smaller amphibious ships with helo decks hover closer to 200. Maybe Chinas eyeing lesser warships with the DF-21D, or just testing its aim. Over the past ten years, more missile test sites have popped up across western Chinas sprawling deserts. Some mimic air bases, others sprawl largernaval or army supply dumps, harbors stuffed with U.S. warships. Chinas gunning for a Pearl Harbor redux, and they mightve cracked it. Out in the sands, Chinas also sharpened its remote-sensing satellites. Back in 2011, a weird geometric doodle in the desert turned out to be a calibration grid for satellite sensors, including those guiding DF-21D-style missiles. Between 2011 and 2013, bits of the DF-21D got trial runs, but those 2013 satellite pics were the first hint of a full-up test against a carrier-sized targetespecially one ringed by escort destroyers and frigates. That gaggle of ships in a carrier group muddies the missiles shot. Since 2012, DF-21Ds have rolled out on TEL vehicles, with the first units standing up in 2019. By 2013, successful tests were on the books. Whats still missing? A full-dress rehearsal against a big, moving ship at seaan old tanker or freighter would do. Another hitch: nailing targets zipping along at 50 kilometers an hour plus. That might yet play out, with American satellites keeping tabs. Before those 2013 tests, China lofted three remote-sensing satellites into orbit, cruising in formation 600 kilometers up over the Pacific. Packing SAR or digital cameras, these trio can sweep the seas for shipsthough China insists its all for science. A typical SAR churns out photo-grade images at varying sharpness: 3-meter resolution over 40x40 kilometers, or 20-meter resolution across 100x100 kilometers. This satellite posse smells like a military ocean-spying setupthe missing piece for Chinas carrier-killing ballistic missile play. Chinas been grinding on the DF-21D since around 2002, pouring most of the sweat into targeting systems to hunt down carriers. The warheads sensors lean on infrared heat-seeking for the final plunge. Its an idea kicked around for ages, but Chinas stitched together tactics, sensors, and missiles to pull it off. The trick? Layered sensor networkssatellites, subs, or patrol planesto pin the carriers rough spot before launch. Those sensors, and the DF-21D itself, eventually showed their cards. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navys quietly beefed up its ABM gameshort-range RAM missiles and long-range SM-2s thatve swatted ballistic missiles and even a satellite. The Navy plays coy about its electronic wizardrylasers, light-based gizmos, and a growing pile of gear aimed at scrambling or dulling the missiles terminal guidance that makes them deadly accurate. The Navy and Air Force are also tinkering with ways to blind Chinas remote-sensing satellites. Layered defenses thrive on sowing doubt about Chinas anti-ship missiles. Uncertaintys the name of the gameone of the slickest perks of a multi-tiered shield. China gleans scraps about U.S. electronic upgrades from trade rags, where new bells and whistles get name-dropped, though not always tied to specific Navy kit. Plenty of Chinese spyinghuman or cyberdigs for the nitty-gritty on Americas latest tricks and the gear they juice up. Will Chinas gambit pay off? Tests havent settled the score, and U.S. ships, planes, and satellites keep watch. China might be bluffing big, betting they cant tangle with the U.S. Navy and its Pacific palsSouth Korea, Japan, Australiastraight-up. The biotechnology company Cassava Sciences failed on Wednesday to end a malicious prosecution lawsuit by doctors and short-sellers who expressed doubts about its experimental, soon-to-be-discontinued Alzheimers drug simufilam. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon in Manhattan said Adrian Heilbut, Jesse Brodkin, Enea Milioris, David Bredt and Geoffrey Pitt could try to prove that Cassava knew or should have known that it could not win its defamation lawsuit against them, which it dismissed in August. Cassava accused the plaintiffs of trying to hurt its share price by claiming on social media and the cassavafraud.com website that a City University of New York medical professor who consulted for the company fabricated research for simufilam. The professor, Hoau-Yan Wang, pleaded not guilty in July to federal fraud charges he submitted false data to the National Institutes of Health to obtain public grants. A Maryland judge refused to dismiss the indictment in January. Short-sellers borrow stock and sell it, hoping that the price will fall so they can repurchase it and replenish lenders. Rochon found sufficient allegations that Cassava filed the defamation lawsuit with actual malice to harass and intimidate plaintiffs and to suppress criticism from the scientific community. The judge also found plausible allegations that the Austin, Texas-based company knew the challenged scientific claims were uncorroborated, and was aware of alleged research misconduct. Other defendants include former Cassava Chief Executive Remi Barbier and neuroscience chief Lindsay Burns, whose resignations were announced in July. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages. Isaac Zaur, a lawyer for Heilbut, Brodkin and Milioris, said the decision lets them seek accountability for the defendants efforts to suppress public and scientific dialog. A lawyer for Cassava had no immediate comment. Lawyers for the other parties did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Cassava shares soared more than 20-fold to above $146 between January and July 2021 on hope for an Alzheimers breakthrough. The shares now trade below $2 per share. Cassava said on Tuesday that it will end its Alzheimers program with simufilam by June 30, following disappointing clinical trial results. The case is Heilbut et al v Cassava Sciences Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 24-05948. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter) Bankrupt genetic testing firm 23andMe Holding Co. won permission from a judge to try to sell information about customers medical and ancestry-related data, a trove that is considered the most valuable asset in the insolvency case and has become a source of privacy and safety concerns amid the companys collapse. Shares in the company surged on the news, jumping as much as 158% as investors speculated that the bankruptcy could bring in enough cash to pay them something once all of 23andMes debts are paid. Under bankruptcy rules, any sale would need to bring in more than the company owes creditors at least $214 million before anything could be paid to shareholders. Under the sale procedures, the company set quick deadlines for potential bidders, including May 7 when definitive offers are due, and a final hearing the following month. But U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brian C. Walsh required the company to slow the overall pace by two weeks, in part to accommodate his schedule and in part to give creditors a chance to weigh in before the court makes a final decision on a buyer. My overall reaction to the timeline is that its pretty tight, Walsh said at the companys first bankruptcy hearing, held in St. Louis. At his request, the company agreed to push back the final court hearing for possible sale from June 2 to June 17. Walshs ruling didnt resolve concerns raised by the looming auction of the sensitive data or complaints from shareholders about the months 23andMe spent trying to find a buyer before filing for court protection earlier this week. 23andMe hasnt been profitable since going public in 2021 despite collecting DNA from saliva samples from more than 15 million customers. Now, those samples and the genetic data they yielded have become the bankrupt companys most marketable asset, and the prospect of the sensitive information being put up for auction has sparked anxieties among customers worried about how and where of their material may be used. Bankruptcy officials have also raised concerns. Walsh at the hearing said speed in the sale process is partly justified because the company spent so much time trying to find a buyer before it filed bankruptcy. But the goal, he added, should be to balance the desire to move quickly with the desire to avoid collateral damage. Sale Oversight Carole J. Ryczek, a lawyer with the US Trustees office, which acts as a public watchdog in bankruptcy court, told Walsh that a privacy ombudsman is necessary to oversee the sale of customers private genetic information. The bankruptcy case needs a neutral third party involved in the sale process to protect customers, Ryczek said. Company lawyers and company investment bankers declined to comment on the value of the customer data. Walsh declined to say whether he would support a consumer privacy ombudsman, or how he would respond to a demand by two investors that he appoint an official committee to represent shareholders. Those shareholders complained about how the company tried to sell itself before filing for court protection. 23andMe lawyer Grace Hotz argued that an ombudsman was unnecessary because of the extensive privacy policies. Under the US Bankruptcy Code, companies cannot sell personally identifiable information about a consumer unless the sale conforms to the firms privacy policies or until after an ombudsman is appointed. In this case, Ryczek indicated that the US Trustee planned to ask Walsh to authorize an the department to appoint an ombudsman. The company has said the Chapter 11 reorganization doesnt change how it stores or protects personal data and that any buyer will be required to comply with applicable laws with regard to treatment of such information. The company allows customers to delete the genetic details and other information in their account and to have their saliva, blood or other bodily tissues removed from the companys biobank, according to court documents. In the wake of 23andMes bankruptcy, a handful of state attorneys general issued consumer alerts instructing customers about how to delete their data, prompting a rush of customers to the companys website. 23andMe said that its website experienced some issues and delays due to increased traffic on Monday as users sought to delete their data before it is sold. 23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection on March 23 after it was unable to find a buyer to rescue it from insolvency proceedings and the board of directors rejected a buyout offer from co-founder Anne Wojcicki. Its first bankruptcy hearing Wednesday took place far from the companys home in Silicon Valley, and was also well away from the courtrooms in New York, Delaware and Houston that have dominated the business of restructuring major corporations for more than a decade. The company will return next month to seek final approval of a loan to help fund the bankruptcy case. First Mega Case The case is also designed to resolve legal troubles related to a data breach in 2023, according to a statement. That hack compromised information about roughly seven million customers, including giving a hacker direct access to about 14,000 user accounts. The company faces about 35,000 claims related to the incident. Walsh is overseeing his first mega bankruptcy case, which is generally defined as any Chapter 11 filing involving more than $100 million in debt, according to court officials. During his career as a commercial lawyer, Walsh was involved in several such cases, including one bankruptcy dispute he argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, lawyers who know Walsh said. Sporting a bright blue bow tie, Walsh oversaw the hearing in an efficient, even-toned fashion. About three dozen people attended, most of whom were lawyers, including some who were merely curious. I just came to watch Brian, said bankruptcy attorney David Unseth, who practiced with Walsh for more than a decade before the judge was appointed to the bench in 2023. Walsh was appointed to the bankruptcy court in St. Louis in 2023, after working as lawyer for 25 years, including several years overseeing the restructuring practice of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in St. Louis. The case is 23andMe Holding Co., 25-40976, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis). Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. 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. Having been seen to lead Wall Streets ESG-friendly publicity campaign back when environmental, social and governance werent considered dirty words, Larry Finks BlackRock is now racing to join the financial industrys retreat from them. Wall Street giants have been scrambling to reaffirm their fealty to fossil fuels, fearful of being singled out by the Trump administration, whose ascent has supercharged right-wing attacks on sustainability. BlackRock was on the move even before Inauguration Day, aiming to soothe Republican politicians across the country after being pilloried by them for years. From Indiana to Utah, West Virginia to Tennessee, BlackRock has dispatched emissaries to ingratiate itself with Big Oils political backers, many of whom have assailed the firm and the countrys largest banks for inputting climate concerns in their business modelsan effort many environmentalists saw as largely greenwashing anyway. In Europe meanwhile, BlackRock said its notifying investors of changes to well over 100 of its ESG products, as asset managers operating there prepare to comply with new rules restricting what they name funds. As Elon Musks Tesla Inc. tanks thanks to widespread disdain for the far-right multibillionaire, hedge funds whose short positions backfired last year are watching the latest selloff from the sidelines, for fear of being burned again. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s asset-management unit is the latest Wall Street shop to flee the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative amid pressure from the right. Top photo: Homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. Photographer: Jill Connelly/Bloomberg. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Two Lights for Tomorrow will take place in Medina square April 18. Emily Canning-Dean, Special to Cleveland.com MEDINA, Ohio -- The city is preparing multiple events leading up to the nations 250th birthday, with the Two Lights for Tomorrow initiative kicking off the festivities April 18. The City of Medina is an official community registered with America 250-Ohio, said Barbara Dzur, the citys economic development and marketing manager. We are using this nationwide event to kick off the local celebration. Visitors are invited to the square at 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 18, with their lanterns to commemorate the night of Friday, April 18, 1775 -- the beginning of the Revolutionary War and the date that Paul Revere rode through Middlesex County, Mass., to alert the Minutemen of the impending attack from the British forces. And whether they would come by land or by sea. Medinas Eleanor Kristan will portray Sybil Ludington reading the famous poem Paul Reveres Ride, which was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and presents a fictionalized version of what happened that night. Medinas Charles Ramer will portray William Dawes, a tanner by trade and member of the Boston militia. Dawes, who was one of several men who rode the same time as Paul Revere that night, will share with attendees what actually happened on that important date in history. Paul Revere will also make an appearance, looking for the signal lights in the church tower. There will be an opportunity for visitors to take photos with these historical characters. The city is asking Medina residents to leave two lights burning in their homes throughout the night of April 18 to help commemorate the ride. The city also requests that residents complete some type of community service on Saturday, April 19, suggesting that they contact their favorite local charity to see how they can help. The Medina Library will host a craft project for children during the week of April 14 in which kids can make their own lantern to take to the square on April 18. Dzur said there will be one more America 250-Ohio event in the fall, then multiple events each month in 2026 that coincide with state themes. The City of Medina America 250 Committee is made up of local historians, city museums, several businesses and industry representatives, the fair board, Medina County courts, DAR, Friends of the Cemetery, City Council and the city, she said. We do have the historical society represented on our committee, but they also got a grant to work on a separate project. We have been meeting since August of 2024. Dzur said there will be an official webpage with information about the events when the citys new website is launched in October. Read more from the Medina Sun. Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze admitted Wednesday to disciplinary allegations involving the steering of hundreds of thousands of dollars in business to a longtime friend. John Tucker CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze has admitted to judicial violations involving the steering of hundreds of thousands of dollars in business to a longtime friend. Her attorneys are set to argue Monday over how she will be sanctioned. Celebrezze faces discipline that could result in her leaving the bench through the suspension of her law license or disbarment. In filings late Wednesday afternoon with the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, Celebrezze stipulated that the allegations against her were true and accurate. She was set to call witnesses in her defense before the board next week. After her admission Wednesday, her attorneys and state lawyers will instead argue her fate. The only issue that remains unresolved is the recommended sanction, the court filing says. Following the filing of briefs, a panel of the state board will then make a recommendation to the Ohio Supreme Court, which will decide a punishment for Celebrezze. Celebrezzes attorney, Monica Sansalone, could not be reached for comment. The judge admitted to several violations involving attorneys and jurists, including the failure to disqualify herself in any proceeding in which the judges impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Celebrezzes admission comes a month after FBI agents subpoenaed records from her office and sought evidence of her dealings with Mark Dottore. Sometimes, Dottore worked as a mediator to resolve disputes and other times as a receiver, a court-appointed official who oversees the division of property and assets in contentious divorce cases. The subpoena requested Domestic Relations Court records dating back to 2008, when Celebrezze was elected, as well as for other records showing how many times Dottore or his business, Dottore Companies LLC, were appointed to act as a receiver in divorce cases. The case against Celebrezze first detailed by The Marshall Project-Cleveland stems from her handling of four complicated divorce cases. In one case, Dottore was paid more than $413,000, according to court filings. In three of the cases, other judges recused themselves, sending the cases back to Celebrezze, who, as administrative judge, was supposed to randomly assign the cases among the four other judges, the state filings show. Instead, she kept the cases herself. In a fourth case, she tried to force another judge to recuse herself so she could take it over, according to disciplinary records. Celebrezze signed off on hundreds of thousands in payments to Dottore in the cases, according to the accusations in the disciplinary case. Celebrezze, according to disciplinary filings, kept Dottore on or appointed him to cases despite objections from attorneys. A person involved in one of the cases hired a private investigator who followed the judge and documented meet-ups at restaurants, Dottores office and Dottores home. After a dinner in Independence, Celebrezze and Dottore kissed each other on the lips, the documents say. During the disciplinary investigation, Celebrezze said that she kissed Dottore because theyre both of Italian descent and have a habit of kissing all family and close friends. The filings Wednesday show Celebrezze consulted with attorneys about filing for divorce from her husband. She developed a deeper emotional attachment to, and feelings for, Dottore, according to court documents, though they say that Dottore was not the source of her marital issues and that they did not have a sexual relationship. State disciplinary counsel attorneys said Celebrezze misrepresented the true extent of her emotional attachment to Dottore in her grievance responses. Dottore has said he did nothing wrong, adding that he and Celebrezze have known each other since they were children. In a filing last fall, Celebrezze admitted to violating some rules of judicial conduct, including avoiding the appearance of impropriety and another that bars attorneys from engaging in conduct thats prejudicial to the administration of justice. In that filing, she admitted to kissing Dottore and acknowledged that she had violated a judicial rule that says judges must promote public confidence. But she denied that she violated a judicial rule that says she should have disqualified herself from the case. Those disclosures came in a response to an amended complaint in the case. The admissions filed late Wednesday involve the entirety of the allegations, including the violations of the judicial code of conduct. Celebrezzes legal concerns have gone beyond the issues in Domestic Relations Court. Last summer, a visiting judge dismissed a lawsuit against Celebrezze that alleged retaliation and witness intimidation. Georgeanna Semary, a former aide to Celebrezze, claimed the judge demoted her and slashed her salary in 2023 after Semary provided public documents to a Marshall Project reporter who was examining the judges cases. Semarys attorney, Subodh Chandra, has appealed the decision to the 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals. Chandra said Thursday that Semary has been vindicated by Celebrezzes admission. Lawyers and judges who make false statements to the disciplinary counsel often receive extremely serious sanctions, Chandra said. It will be interesting to see how the Ohio Supreme Court views such serious misconduct. Luis Bisono Rodriguez of Cleveland is accused of taking in money scammed from elderly residents in Pennsylvania. FBI affidavit CLEVELAND, Ohio A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh handed up an indictment Wednesday against a Cleveland man who authorities say helped funnel money from a grandparent scam to the Dominican Republic. Luis Bisono Rodriguez, 34, worked for an organized crime group and took in at least $77,000 in cash that was delivered via Uber or Lyft, prosecutors said. He kept some of the money and sent the rest to someone in the Dominican Republic, according to court records. Atlanta rapper Young Thug will headline Summer Smash Festival this summer, the first stage appearance since release from jail in October last year. Amy Harris/AP Atlanta rapper Young Thug is one of three artists who will headline the Summer Smash Festival, his first appearance on the stage since he was released from jail, according to Billboard. The Summer Smash Festival will take place from Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22 in Bridgeview, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, at SeatGeek Stadium, the website said. We are excited to present the 7th edition of the largest independent hip-hop festival in the world and cant wait to show the fans what weve been working on, Berto Solorio, Summer Smash Festival co-founder and SPKRBX founder said in a statement published by Pollstar. Don Toliver and YEAT as well as Future will be the other headlining acts. Some other well-known hip hop artists include Che, Soulja Boy, Lil Tecca, Insane Clown Posse, Lil Yachty, Lil Tracy and more. Chance the Rapper will close out the festival. I feel lucky to be able to throw the party of the year with my best friends, Cole Bennett, co-founder of Summer Smash Festival and Lyrical Lemonade said in a statement also published by Pollstar. May this be the best one yet. Lucky number 7. According to documents accessed online that were filed with U.S. District Court of Washington in Seattle, Young Thug -- whose birth name is Jeffery Williams and also goes by Slime -- was released from jail last October after he changed his plea to guilty in Georgias longest-running criminal trial, NBC News reported. Young Thug was charged with racketeering conspiracy, gang-related activity, and drug and gun charges which stemmed from accusations that his rap label, YSL, was a front for a violent criminal street gang, BBC reported. According to the BBC article published on Oct. 31, 2024, Young Thug had spent more than 900 days in jail since his arrest in 2022. Prosecutors argued YSL was responsible for 75 to 80% of violent crime in Atlanta, the media outlet reported. After he pled guilty to the charges, he was sentenced to time served and 15 years of probation, BBC reported. Kaylee Remington is a trending news and metro reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Read her work online. DUBLIN, Ohio A man wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in 2005 in Connecticut was arrested Wednesday by federal agents in a suburb of Columbus. Mohammad Ali, 38, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., was wanted by the Windsor Locks, Conn., Police Department on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and accessory to murder, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Ali was arrested by U.S. marshals at a home in Dublin, Ohio, and currently is being held in jail awaiting extradition to Connecticut. I applaud the hard work and dedication that our detectives put into this case bring a resolution to the family, wife, and children who grieved without answers for two decades, Windsor Locks Police Chief Eric Osanitsch said in a statement. We are very pleased in this conclusion no matter how long and tedious the investigation takes. We did not forget the loss of life taken 20 years ago. A news release says Ali is a suspect in the murder of Mureed Hussain, 35, of New York. On Feb. 9, 2005, officers were called to an intersection in Windsor Locks after receiving reports of a body. Police say Hussain had been killed in a shooting. Police investigated the shooting for several years but the case went cold. In February 2024, the case was reopened and police used updates in forensic technology, interviews, and a re-examination of previous evidence to develop suspects. The new information led to the warrant for Alis arrest and investigators discovered he was in Dublin. The case is ongoing and additional suspects have been developed, police say. It it amazing that an investigative division of this size was able to accomplish something this intricate, Osanitsch said in a statement. We remained the lead agency throughout the multi-state cold case investigation where everything was reexamined, fresh interviews, evidence located and re-processed, etc., and a new perspective resulting in the arrest. Ashtbula County wouldn't have a measles outbreak if people paid attention to proven science and just got vaccinated. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon) AP A measles outbreak in Ashtabula County was a hot topic on the Today in Ohio podcast, with hosts placing the blame squarely on anti-science morons who refuse vaccination and endanger public health. Lisa Garvin noted the Ohio Department of Health has confirmed 10 cases of measles in Ashtabula County, with nine of them linked to the first confirmed patientan adult male. An additional case has been identified in neighboring Knox County. None of the people who were confirmed were vaccinated, Garvin emphasized, highlighting what the podcast hosts see as the preventable nature of the outbreak. The news prompted a forceful response from host Chris Quinn: Look, the anti vaxxers have caused this. This was such an easy thing to keep down. If we just everybody got vaccinated, measles would be gone. Quinn didnt hold back in his characterization of those refusing vaccination, stating, Were talking about anti science morons who are endangering the public health. The spread of measles in Ohio mirrors similar outbreaks in other states, with Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, noting there are now 378 cases nationwide as of March 20tha number that has likely increased since then. ." During the podcast discussion, Laura Johnston raised concerns about vulnerable populations, particularly infants: I talked to my neighbor about this this week, and she said I would be so angry if I had a newborn who could not be vaccinated... Like these unprotected babies. Like, you have to be six months old at least to get your shots and you dont have a choice. The outbreak has already altered behavior in the region, with Garvin, who lives near Ashtabula County, expressing her own concerns: It also made me rethink it too... It makes me nervous about going out and, you know, Im redoubling my hygiene protocols. The podcast conversation highlighted the broader societal divide over science and medicine. W did science and medicine and the environment become the bad guy? Johnston asked. Quinn responded by criticizing those who buy the nonsense they see on Facebook rather than following well-established scientific guidelines. With measles being highly contagiousan official outbreak is defined as three or more related caseshealth officials are concerned about further spread, particularly in areas with lower vaccination rates. The cases in Ohio are part of what appears to be a growing national trend of measles outbreaks in communities where vaccination rates have fallen. The discussion on Today in Ohio underscores the frustration many feel about preventable disease outbreaks in an era of accessible vaccines. For the unfiltered debate about vaccination, public health, and the measles outbreak in Ohio, listen to the complete episode. 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. Trucks are loaded on a trailer at Ford's Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, OH, Monday, November 4, 2019. Ford announced a $900 million investment in the facility that will also create at least 1,500 jobs. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer CLEVELAND, Ohio - President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced hell impose 25% tariffs on all vehicles imported to the United States in a move that critics fear could drive up consumer car prices and disrupt U.S. car makers who ship cars and parts across international borders. In Northeast Ohio, industry experts are assessing the potential consequences for the regions auto sector, and much remains uncertain. How will the tariffs affect employment in an industry that has traditionally been one of the states economic engines? And how much of the burden will Ohio car buyers shoulder? Experts told cleveland.com they are skeptical of a major resurgence in Ohios auto industry employment, particularly in the short-term, and that consumers are likely to bear the brunt of the tariffs. Auto manufacturing was once a dominant industry in Ohio, but it has fallen off over the last three decades. Still, about 20,000 Ohioans are employed directly in motor vehicle manufacturing, and another 65,000 work building the parts for vehicles, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That data also doesnt account for downstream employment, such as retail sales of cars and parts. Jonathan Ernest, an assistant professor of economics at Case Western Reserve Universitys Weatherhead School of Management, noted that the tariffs are designed to encourage U.S. manufacturing by making foreign imports more expensive. But he said they may not necessarily lead to more factories or jobs in the Cleveland region. Companies have spent decades making their supply chains more efficient, he said, so even big increases in production are unlikely to generate big employment expansions. While this could benefit some domestic manufacturers, it could also drive up costs for companies reliant on foreign-sourced components, he said. Another concern is whether automakers will invest in expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity, given the uncertainty surrounding trade policies. Companies make strategic decisions for decades in advance. If they believe these tariffs might be rolled back under a future administration, they may be hesitant to build new facilities or make major changes, Ernest said. While the United Auto Workers Union enthusiastically predicted the tariffs will lead to more auto worker jobs, U.S. automakers urged that they be implemented in a way that preserves the industrys competitiveness and avoids raising car prices. To be clear, this will affect the price of parts in Tesla cars that come from other countries, said a statement that Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted on social media. The cost impact is not trivial. Although Musk is leading Trumps Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cost-cutting efforts, Trump told reporters he did not consult Musk on the tariffs because he might have a conflict. Trump said the tariffs that will go into effect on April 3 will protect the U.S. auto industry, return more automaking jobs to the United States, and bring in more than $100 billion each year in tariff revenues. Its about making America great again, making it strong and prosperous again, Trump said as he signed the tariff proclamation in the White House Oval Office. The White House said the 25% tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary. The 25% tariff will only apply to the value of the non-U.S. content for automobiles imported under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade deal Trump negotiated in his first term. In justifying the tariffs, the White House noted that half of the approximately 16 million cars, SUVs and light trucks that Americans bought in 2024 were imports. It said the U.S. trade deficit in automobile parts reached $93.5 billion that year. This isnt complicatedany car sold in America needs to be MADE in America, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Westlake Republican who made his fortune selling luxury foreign cars, posted on social media. In an interview, Moreno predicted the tariffs wont have much effect on prices. He said auto companies raised their prices when demand was high during the coronavirus pandemic and never adjusted them down, so theres plenty of room for them to leave prices the same. He also predicted car companies affected by the tariffs would be unlikely to raise prices for fear of losing market share to their competition. Even if he were still selling cars, he said hed back the tariffs. He anticipates the tariffs will incentivize car companies with Ohio plants to add shifts if theyre not operating at full capacity and said it could be done quickly. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat, said Trump and Congress need to work together on a new policy that curbs the effects of a tax that accelerated foreign imports into the US for decades, eroding American production. We must do more to address the US manufacturing and technology job washout in the automotive and transportation industries. This will require a lot more than a 25% tariff on automotive imports. We must reinvest in American manufacturing and the working-class communities across our country that have been hollowed out due to broken trade deals and the burden of outsourcing, she said in a prepared statement. U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, an Akron Democrat, said tariffs can be a useful tool to level the playing field with countries who pay subpar wages, dont adhere to safe working conditions, or who artificially flood markets with low quality products. Tariffs also help spur American manufacturing but the on again, off again strategy weve seen from the administration does not help us save money or bring jobs back to America, she continued. Ernest said the tariffs are likely to reverberate for consumers in the Cleveland area who likely will see higher vehicle prices. Lou Vitantonio, president of the Greater Cleveland Auto Dealers Association, said price increases could start to hit in about three months, once existing inventory sells out at Northern Ohios 285-plus dealerships. If its more expensive to produce vehicles, he said, consumers will be the ones who face a tougher burden. Economist Ryan Young of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a non-profit libertarian think tank, agrees. He said the tariffs will likely make consumers pay thousands more for a new car, and put a dent in sales. Families with aging cars will hope their cars can last a little longer or look to the used market - which is about to have its own price hikes as demand rises for used cars, Young predicted. And those that do buy cars will have to spend less on other things. The $3,000 extra they spend on a car could have gone instead to home improvement, the kids college fund, date nights, starting a business, or anything else. All these spread-out effects will be hard to trace back to auto tariffs, but they will still cause pain, he said. He noted that Ford, which has several Ohio factories, already has warned of layoffs over other tariff policies, and Young said other automakers have been less vocal but face the same pressure. Trumps announcement displeased U.S. trading partners, including the European Union and Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called them a direct attack on his country, while European Union president Ursula von der Leyen issued a statement that described the tariffs as bad for businesses, worse for consumers equally in the US and the European Union. A statement from the American Automotive Policy Council, a Washington, D.C. trade association that represents Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company and Stellantis, said U.S. automakers will keep working with Trump to increase auto production and jobs in the United States. A statement from the United Auto Workers union said the tariffs could bring back thousands of good-paying blue collar auto jobs to working-class communities across the United State simply by adding additional shifts or lines in a number of underutilized auto plants. It said thousands of autoworkers are laid off at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis following recent decisions by auto executives to ship jobs to Mexico. In Ohio, BLS data shows that auto manufacturing jobs peaked in 1995 at around 41,000. Today, the state has about half that number of jobs. We applaud the Trump administration for stepping up to end the free trade disaster that has devastated working class communities for decades, said the statement from UAW President Shawn Fain. Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with todays actions. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association urged Trump to reconsider the negative impact of tariffs not only on global auto makers but on US domestic manufacturing as well. It said European automakers have been been investing in the U.S. for decades, creating jobs, fostering economic growth in local communities, and generating massive tax revenue for the U.S. government. A statement from the organizations Director General Sigrid de Vries said European car makers export between 50% and 60% of the vehicles they make in the US, making a substantial positive contribution to the US trade balance. A social media statement from Council on Foreign Relations Economist Brad W. Setzer said Americans producing parts for cars assembled in Canada and Mexico will be negatively affected by the tariffs. There is a risk (a real risk) I think that US auto buyers go on strike and just dont buy any cars for a while, Setzer wrote. Over time, firms will have to move final assembly to the US -- but in the interim, the US market will be under supplied absent (expensive) imports and Americans may simply try to wait it out." Marissa Webb, a commercial manager at a local Advance Auto Parts, said she is concerned about how the tariffs will affect her customers. We get our parts from all over if certain countries decide they dont want to trade with us because of tariffs, that will limit what we can provide parts-wise for customers, she said. Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. by Austin Bay March 26, 2025 The news hook title isn't as crisp as World War II's "Loose Lips Sink Ships." It does send the relevant 21st-century message that digital communication systems have security flaws enemies can exploit to gather critical information. WWII's brilliant rhyme warned that loose talk in a New York bar could tell Nazi spies where to position U-boats to intercept convoys. My update repeats warnings everyone using a cellphone or email should already know: someone or some device can be monitoring your communications. This column's obvious news hook is the revelation an anti-Trump magazine editor (The Atlantic's Jeffery Goldberg) was included on a Signal app "chat" where very senior Trump administration leaders and administrators discussed imminent military actions against Yemen's Houthi terrorists -- very sensitive subjects. The vice president, the secretary of defense, the CIA director and national security adviser participated in the chat. Signal.org says its application's "state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption ... keeps your conversations secure. ... Privacy isn't an optional mode -- it's just the way that Signal works." Download and use it for free. Experts tell me Signal is good, (SET ITAL) but (END ITAL) hackers can crack anything. Trickery -- email phishing or a corrupt insider -- can install spyware. However, the Biden administration thought enough of the app to distribute cellphones with Signal. The app makes it easy to conduct a conference call or exchange texts or video. Its security was judged good enough. On March 25, CIA Director John Ratcliffe told the Senate Intelligence Committee that when he became director, he was given a phone with Signal pre-loaded. He was briefed that Signal was "permissible" for work use, and "That is a practice that preceded the current administration to the Biden administration." Did the Biden administration discuss sensitive national security information on the phones? Who knows. I doubt Communist Chinese intelligence will tell us. Did the Biden administration provide the Trump administration with Signal apps that included Goldberg's contact information? A fair question to ask for those demanding a thorough investigation. Matt Margolis of PJMedia writes, "This has all the hallmarks of a deliberate setup." I suspect an inadvertent mistake, but Margolis has a point given the corruption we've witnessed in the CIA and FBI. Russia Russia Russia was a hoax. Though inadvertent, the mistake involved very sensitive national security information. Anytime decision makers discuss pending military operations, the discussion is very sensitive if not officially classified. But adult question No. 1: Was this a consequential mistake? Adult question No. 2: Was the information release intentional or inadvertent? The military actions have tactical, operational and strategic consequences. Tactical is specific missions -- basic combat action. Operations link battles to secure a specific objective, in this case stopping Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Strategy addresses military and nonmilitary actions at the national level. Tactical evaluation: U.S. forces hit targets, no U.S. losses in strikes. Operational: Houthi launch sites silenced. For how long? To be determined. Strategic consequences? Maybe not. But leak summaries indicate Trump's advisers can freely and thoughtfully disagree and discuss. Overall, the leak didn't compromise the operation. In Senate testimony, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stressed the difference between inadvertent leaks and malicious release. The legal and moral differences between an intentional breach of security procedures versus an unintentional breach are huge, and justifiably so. I carried a Top Secret clearance for three decades. I understand the system we have in place to protect national security information. The system has inadequacies, but there are commonsense procedures for dealing with mistakes. The system exists for a reason: the world is a dangerous place. Freedom is precious and fragile, and protecting it requires keeping secrets. Signalgate is/was a mistake. A destructive mistake? No. It may simply be an accidental leak to media. But it must be thoroughly investigated, and that includes public testimony from Mr. Goldberg -- under oath so he risks perjury charges. Other actions: ban Signal, a Biden administration holdover. Use secure commo systems, even if they are clunky and inconvenient. President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP COLUMBUS, Ohio -- President Donald Trumps executive order on election security is raising questions in Ohio, where officials and experts are weighing its potential effects on voter registration, mail-in ballots and election equipment. Republicans see the order as proof their election reforms have moved Ohio in the right direction. A lot of this executive order aligns with my legislation, and I was excited to see that, said state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, a Bowling Green Republican. Voting rights groups say the president is overstepping his authority because the Constitution gives Congress--not the executive branch--the power to change federal voting laws. This is a power grab by the executive branch and our state legislature should not take kindly to it, Common Cause Ohio Director Catherine Turcer said. This order could be the best thing since sliced bread and it would still be an overreach. Election law experts think this order, like several others, will ultimately end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Legal challenges can take years, though, and the order threatens to cut off federal funds for states that dont comply. In that sense, Case Western Reserve University law professor Atiba Ellis said, the EO can be disruptive even if ultimately a court declares it illegal or unconstitutional. Heres what it might mean for Ohio: How could Trumps order affect Ohios voter registration? Trumps order would update a federal voter registration form to require proof of citizenship, like a passport, that states would need to verify. The national mail voter registration form has existed for years, but voters can choose between it and forms their state creates. Ohios form and the current federal form require residents to sign statements swearing they are citizens. Those caught lying can be deported. Trumps order made it clear he doesnt think thats enough. And the Buckeye State is already moving to require additional proof. In 2023, Republicans passed a law requiring the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to stick a noncitizen label on the drivers licenses and state IDs of green card holders and other noncitizen residents. Then, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose required people with that label to prove their citizenship before voting in the presidential election. This year, the transportation budget, which is awaiting Gov. Mike DeWines signature after lawmakers passed it, would require the BMV to verify citizenship before offering voter registration. And Gavarone just introduced Senate Bill 153, which would require all Ohioans to prove their citizenship when registering to vote. Until citizenship is verified, you would be voting provisionally, Gavarone said. Noncitizen voting is rare in Ohio. In 2024, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost indicted six people for illegal voting--including a deceased Cuyahoga County man. Prior to that, prosecutors had taken up just 12 of the more than 600 cases of potential voter fraud that Secretary of State Frank LaRose had referred. Ohio has more than 8 million registered voters. The EO relies heavily on the belief that there is a substantial amount of fraud, Ellis said. You have to ask yourself whether this is really a crisis that merits circumventing the procedures for changing law. How might Ohios mail-in ballot system change? Trumps order says states would count only mail or absentee ballots for federal elections that are received by Election Day. Thats not how Ohio does it now. Mail in ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received no later than four days after the election. A Republican-backed bill Gov. Mike DeWine signed in 2023 tightened that window from 10 days after the election, among other changes. That struck me as really problematic considering how slow the U.S. postal system is moving these days, Turcer said. Mailing your ballot a week before the election, it should become part of the official count. Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat, agreed, saying the federal government is ultimately to blame for postal service delays. Gavarone, however, is open to an Election Day deadline and said its certainly something that I will look at. What about in-person voting? The executive order says states need a verifiable paper record allowing voters to efficiently check their votes to protect against fraud or mistake. It also directs the Election Assistance Commission to update its voting system guidelines to ban barcodes or QR codes in vote counting except for disabled voters. Ohio provides voter verifiable paper records, but Turcer worries Trumps order could be interpreted to require states provide proof of how someone voted. We dont want people walking out with their ballot and the reason for this is we dont want people buying votes and using their ballot to prove they voted the correct way, she said. We dont want an abuser checking their victims ballot. What about data sharing? Trumps order calls on states and federal agencies to share data about citizenship and gives the federal government, including the Department of Government Efficiency, permission to check state voter rolls for consistency with Federal requirements. LaRose said hes grateful for the clear order to give states better access to citizenship data. He sued the Biden Administration last year for its citizenship records. What if states dont comply? If states dont go along with Trumps executive order, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi could take all necessary action. The order also promised to review the election grants and other funds those state receive for possible withholding. Ohio got $1 million from the Election Assistance Commission in 2024. I think that is the fault line where the lawsuit will happen, Ellis said. I can well imagine a state that wants to maintain its practices and its funds get impounded will sue. Those states would be making two constitutional arguments in Ellis opinion. First, the U.S. Constitution gives power over the time, place and manner of elections to the states, and Congress the power to make or alter such regulations. Interpreted most generously, the order is an overreach, Ellis said. More rigidly it is an outright affront to Article 1, Section 4. The second claim would be about whether a president can withhold funds allocated by Congress -- a legal question thats arisen from several Trump executive orders, including the one to defund the United States Agency for International Development. Anna Staver covers state government and politics for Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer. The Clifty Creek Power Plant in Madison, Indiana is one of two coal-fired power plants that get subsidies from millions of Ohio electric customers. (Photo courtesy of Durand Clark) Rotunda Rumblings GOPs war on coal? A bipartisan group of state lawmakers rejected an amendment backed by a handful of House Republicans that would have delayed the repeal of an ongoing bailout of two coal-fired power plants. As Jake Zuckerman reports, the bailouts have cost ratepayers $679 million over the past decade ($174 million last year alone), all paid via customers electric bills. The subsidies are one of the last vestiges of the scandal-ridden House Bill 6 from 2019. Scholarly endeavors: The Ohio Senate on Wednesday OKd changes the Ohio House made to Senate Bill 1, the sweeping higher education overhaul. This vote sends the bill to the desk of Gov. Mike DeWine, who has said hell likely sign it. The bill largely bans DEI, which is not defined in the bill, along with faculty strikes, and requires professors to honor the intellectual diversity of all students, even if they have views that are largely disproven. Lawmakers in support of the bill said conservative students shouldnt fear being canceled. Opponents said the bill will discourage talented faculty from working in Ohio, Laura Hancock reports. Doubling down: Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday made his most forceful public comments yet in favor of his proposal to help pay for stadium projects (like a proposed new suburban Cleveland Browns stadium) by doubling Ohios tax on sports-betting companies. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, the governor said it would be poetic justice to tax out-of-state gambling companies that dont give anything to the (state) economy and create a permanent source of revenue so future governors and lawmakers dont have to choose between funding stadiums and funding things like education and mental-health initiatives. However, DeWines comments come as lawmakers are preparing to erase his plan from the state budget bill and swap in the Browns preferred way of obtaining $600 million in stadium aid: issuing state-backed bonds. No sale: U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown on Wednesday filed a formal objection to the federal governments plans to sell the Anthony J. Celebrezze Federal Building, urging the agency that manages federally owned real estate to reconsider its decision, Sabrina Eaton writes. A spokesman for the Warrensville Heights Democrat said representatives of the General Services Agency (GSA), which manages federal properties, told her it plans to get rid of the building within three years and instead rent office space for the more than 4,000 federal workers it houses. Ghost guns: The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Biden-administration restrictions on ghost guns that Ohio Republicans, including Attorney General Dave Yost, argued was overreach, Eaton reports. At issue was a rule that former President Joe Biden announced at the same time he nominated former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Steve Dettelbach to head the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It clarified that so-called ghost gun kits qualify as firearms under the 1968 Gun Control Act, and that commercial manufacturers of the kits must therefore become licensed and include serial numbers on the kits frame or receiver. More money, more problems: The State Teachers Retirement System says it would need more contributions (money) in order to meet the goals lawmakers have set for pension reform. Anna Staver reports that STRS would like an addition 4% but did not specify whether it should come from teachers or school districtsboth of which say they dont have more to give. Colombia delegation: A commission of eight Colombian congressmen met with Colombian-born U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, a Westlake Republican, Colombia One reports. Efrain Cepeda, President of the Senate, headed the Colombian delegation. During the meeting, the Colombian congressmen, all of them of conservative and members of the opposition, denounced pressures from President Petros government towards their legislative work. At the end of the visit, Cepeda announced that a U.S. congressional delegation will visit Colombia in August. On target: The Emilys List political action committee on Wednesday named Ohio Republican U.S. Reps. Max Miller of Bay Village, Mike Turner of Dayton and Mike Carey of Columbus among the 46 House Republicans it will target for defeat in the 2026 midterm elections. Democratic pro-choice women will be at the heart of the fight for the majority by flipping competitive seats across the country, said a statement from EMILYs List President Jessica Mackle. House Republicans beware; we are coming for your seats. Meeting canceled: A closed-door meeting between members of a House subcommittee and officials from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was cut short on Tuesday after the top two lawmakers South Russell Republican U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce and Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer clashed over the terms of the gathering, The Hill reports. The invitation said the meeting was an off-the-record briefing, but Hoyer said he told Joyce at the beginning of the event that he would not abide by those terms because he believed it was important for his constituents and others to be aware of what OPM has been doing. Joyce confirmed the episode in a statement to The Hill, accusing Democrats of attempting political posturing instead of fact finding when they rejected the off-the-record terms. Faculty union: The Ohio Employment Labor Relations Board certified last week a vote for the faculty at Ohio University to unionize. The vote was 453 in favor to 189 against. About 800 professors will be represented by the United Academics of Ohio University, part of the American Association of University Professors and American Federation of Teachers. Twelve Ohio college campuses belong to the union, according to a news release by the Ohio Federation of Teachers. Getting schooled: A new website allows Ohioans to look up their school district and discover how much money it currently receives, and how much it will get with and without the additional dollars from the Fair School Funding Plan, which was a bipartisan education funding reform. It also includes links for people to write lawmakers that represent each school district in hopes that people will demand lawmakers fund under the Fair School Funding Plan. The information was put together by All in for Ohio Kids, a coalition of labor unions and left-leaning research and activist groups. Full Disclosure Here are five things we learned from the Feb. 20, 2024, ethics disclosure form filed by state Rep. Munira Abdullahi, a Columbus Democrat, about her 2023 finances: 1. Besides Abdullahis 2023 legislative salary of $76,208.66, she made somewhere between $25,000 and $49,999 that year working as program director for the Muslim American Society. She also earned somewhere between $1,000 and $9,999 serving as a trainer for New American Leaders, a nonprofit that recruits people of immigrant heritage to run for political office. 2. Abdullahi listed having no investments in 2023 worth more than $1,000. 3. At some point in 2023, Abdullahi owed more than $1,000 to Discover, US Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, and Hyundai Motor Finance. 4. New American Leaders paid for a plane ticket for Abdullahi in June 2023 (costing $391.82), as well as her hotel bill ($280). The nonprofit also covered more than $100 worth of food and beverages for her during the year. 5. Abdullahi listed no real estate that she owns, though state lawmakers are not required to list their personal residence or any properties used for personal recreation. Birthdays Ex-state Rep. Jeff Rezabek Jennifer Tock, Ohio House page resource officer Straight from the Source Youve got the wrong guy. Im not Jon Husted. Im not Bernie Moreno. Im Mike DeWine. I have enough to worry about here. ...I dont have to air an opinion about everything that the president does or Congress does. - Gov. Mike DeWine, at a Columbus Metropolitan Club event Wednesday, responding to a question about President Donald Trumps tariff policy from moderator Jo Ingles of Ohio Public Media. Husted and Moreno are Ohios two U.S. senators (the same job DeWine held from 1995 until 2007). However, the governor then answered the question, saying that it still remains to be seen whether, in the long term, Trumps tariff hikes will result in lower tariffs or a trade war. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. Globalization in the spotlight at Boao Forum amid rising protectionism 10:15, March 27, 2025 By Yin Yeping ( Global Times Panelists discuss topics related to globalization during a session at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 on March 26, 2025. (Yin Yeping/GT) Globalization, a topic that continues to attract widespread attention, was once again highlighted at the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia on Wednesday, amid growing protectionism. Some representatives, including government officials and scholars from both domestic and international backgrounds, called for upholding the general trend of globalization in the face of rising challenges. Speaking at the session themed "Inclusive Globalization that Benefits All: Pathways and Actions" at the Boao forum, Pakistan's Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said that decisive action is needed in prompting globalization. The Pakistani minister said that inclusive globalization is a necessity, not a choice. Globalization has driven economic growth and lifted more than 1 billion people out of poverty, but protectionism, unilateralism and trade wars are on the rise, with some major economies disrupting supply chains and undermining global cooperation, according to Aurangzeb, who noted that while this trend is still in its early stages, we are already feeling its impact. "Pakistan, like many developing economies, embraces a globalization model and drives great, sustainable growth and an equitable financial system... The world also must work together as a multilateral, sustainable and innovation-driven economy - one that empowers all nations to grow, develop and prosper," Aurangzeb said. "The future of globalization must be one of inclusivity, fairness and shared prosperity, and the time for that has come," the Pakistani official added. Long Yongtu, former vice minister of the then Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, who was also China's chief negotiator for entry into the WTO, told a panel discussion that in the past, economic globalization was mainly driven by large multinational companies from Western countries, led by the US. "We hope that these large multinational companies, led by the US, will continue to play an important role in this regard," Long said. Long said that the rapid advancement of science and technology is not subject to one's will; it is also unrelated to the economic and trade policies of the most powerful countries. Wang Huiyao, president of the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank, agreed that technology development has played an important role in boosting globalization. He took the example of China's artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek, which he described as a new driving force for globalization. After DeepSeek emerged, China witnessed a new wave of AI entrepreneurship, and this is a low-cost, open model that is not only applied to China's vast data scenarios but also benefits many developing countries worldwide, Wang said. The head of the think tank said that geopolitics may slow down globalization, but the laws of economic development will continue to drive it forward. Ian Goldin, the former vice president of the World Bank, emphasized the need for globalization, partially because "we need a rules-based system to prevent bullies from dominating the rest." A coalition is working on key issues beyond just trying to include pandemics and climate change, as well as other areas that are absolutely essential, Goldin said, noting that in his view, China and Europe are two key axes. According to Goldin, Europe and Asia have very strong roles to play in laying the groundwork. Unless Asia and Europe work together, there will be no true globalization, he said. Some panelists further emphasized the crucial role that China plays in advancing globalization, bringing tangible greater benefits to the world. Speaking to the Global Times at the session, former Thai deputy prime minister and foreign minister Don Pramudwinai said that China has a lot of experience in globalization. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. Pramudwinai said that over these 50 years, China has been committed to reaching out to the world and working seriously with countries across the globe to benefit the international community. "We support globalization because we, too, believe in multilateralism," he said. Similar voices echoed throughout the Boao Forum, with Wednesday's panel discussion following suit in addressing globalization and the role China should play in this field. 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, the Xinhua News Agency reported. "China's rapid advancements in digitization, the green transition and AI have positioned it as a key driver of global sustainable development," said Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, a think tank in Manila, Xinhua reported. "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. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Paychex CEO John Gibson told CNBC's Jim Cramer on Wednesday he doesn't think a recession is imminent. Small businesses are optimistic, he said, even though they are concerned about the macroeconomy and the political sphere. "I'm not seeing any signs of a recession in our data. The underlying labor market remains fundamentally healthy," Gibson said. "We continue to see moderate growth for small businesses, we see wages continuing to be moderate." Paychex provides a number of services to small and medium-sized businesses, including payroll and human resources. The company exceeded earnings expectations when it reported Wednesday morning, and by close, shares were up a little over 4.20%. According to Gibson, small businesses are "expressing optimism and uncertainty all at the same time." He said he hopes that uncertainty will calm down after April 2, when President Donald Trump is expected to set new tariffs. Gibson claimed small business are resilient "regardless of what's going on in Washington," saying they continue to lead the economy despite crises like fires, hurricanes, floods and the pandemic. Generally, he said, "entrepreneurs are optimists." Gibson also described how artificial intelligence is changing business, saying that Paychex has been incorporating AI into its products for the last three years. He said small businesses are already using AI to drive productivity. According to Gibson, "when we package the AI technology with our proprietary data set," it can give companies insights that let them "really punch above their weight. "They can now compete against bigger companies and they can be more effective in competing in their local markets," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 26, 2025. After President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would impose 25% tariffs on "all cars that are not made in the United States," he said his key advisor, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, had not weighed in on the matter, "because he may have a conflict." He added that Musk had never "asked me for a favor in business whatsoever." Musk serves as a senior advisor to Trump, having earlier contributed $290 million to propel him back to the White House. While Musk remains at the helm of his companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, he is also leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is an effort to slash federal government spending, personnel and consolidate or eliminate various federal agencies and services. Earlier this month, Trump turned the South Lawn of the White House into a temporary Tesla showroom. The company delivered five of its electric vehicles there for the president to inspect after he had declared, in a post on Truth Social, that he would buy a Tesla to show support for Musk and the business. Musk stood by his side while Trump called the vehicles "beautiful" and praised the unorthodox design of the angular, steel Tesla Cybertruck. When asked by reporters whether the new tariffs would be good for Musk's autos business, Tesla, Trump said they may be "net neutral or they may be good." He pointed to Tesla's vehicle assembly plants in Austin, Texas and Fremont, California and opined that, "anybody that has plants in the United States it's going to be good for them." Tesla recently wrote, in a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, that "even with aggressive localization" of its supply chain domestically, "certain parts and components are difficult or impossible to source within the United States." The company urged the USTR to "consider the downstream impacts of certain proposed actions taken to address unfair trade practices." Tesla and other automakers commonly buy headlamps, automotive glass, brakes, body panels, suspension parts, and printed circuit boards for various electrical systems in their vehicles from foreign suppliers in Mexico, Canada and China, especially. Musk and Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how the new 25% tariffs may impact their business. Tesla faces an onslaught of competition with more automakers selling fully electric models than ever before. However, the company's most formidable rival in battery electric vehicles, BYD in China, has never been authorized to sell its electric cars in the United States. Domestic automakers including General Motors , Ford , Rivian and Tesla saw shares declining slightly after hours following the latest tariffs announcement. Air Asia planes are parked at Kuala Lumpur International Airport LCCT in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 30, 2023. An AirAsia flight bound for China returned to Kuala Lumpur due to an engine fire shortly after takeoff and landed safely with no injuries reported, Malaysian authorities said on Thursday. Flight AK128 on an Airbus A320, was en route to Shenzhen but turned back to Kuala Lumpur International Airport after a "pneumatic ducting burst" caused a fire in the right engine shortly after its 9:59 p.m. (1359 GMT) departure on Wednesday, the Selangor state fire department said in a statement. The fire was completely extinguished by the plane's in-built system before it landed safely slightly after midnight, the department said, adding all 171 passengers and crew were unharmed. Fire department personnel ensured passengers and crew exited the aircraft and checks were made to ensure no further fires erupted, the department said. AirAsia's parent company, Capital A, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. There is an end in sight to Nvidia' s recent rough patch, and that means now could be a plum buying opportunity for shares of the artificial intelligence darling, according to Bank of America. "[W]e believe the stock is providing a particularly attractive opportunity for one of the most unique, high-quality tech franchises leading the largest and fastest growing secular trends," analyst Vivek Arya wrote in a Wednesday note. The firm's buy rating and $200 per share price target imply nearly 76% upside from Wednesday's close. Shares have pulled slipped more than 15% so far in 2025. March has been especially difficult for Nvidia, which is off nearly 9% during the period as jittery investors shy away from last year's Big Tech high flyers. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia stock in 2025. One of the major near-term headwinds lingering over Nvidia stock is the May 15 compliance deadline for the AI diffusion rule. The framework, first introduced in the final days of the Biden administration, is meant to control global AI development by limiting the export of chips from companies such as Nvidia to an approved list of countries. An industry group representing firms such as Amazon, Meta Platforms and Microsoft has urged President Donald Trump to loosen some of the rules before the deadline. However, the effect that the still unknown final ruleset has had on Nvidia stock may have been overblown, Bank of America's Arya said. He expects the stock to rebound sharply once some clarity is provided by the Trump administration. "Once the geopolitical concerns are sized and priced, we expect NVDA to recover, much like the relative recovery we have seen in semicap stocks this year once China exposure was reflected in wafer fab [wafer fabrication] equipment spending," he said. 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 regional Stoxx 600 index closed 0.44% lower as all major bourses declined. The Stoxx Europe autos index was down nearly 1% as most firms pared earlier losses, with Jeep maker Stellantis shedding 4.2%, Mercedes-Benz down 2.7% and Germany's BMW down 2.55%. The White House leader later took to his Truth Social platform to threaten "far larger" tariffs on the EU and Canada should they cooperate to "do economic harm to the USA." Trump said on Wednesday that he will impose a 25% tariff on "all cars that are not made in the United States" with the levies due to take effect on April 2. Trump White House aide Will Scharf said the new tariffs apply to "foreign-made cars and light trucks." Get the CNBC Daily Open report in your inbox every morning and keep up to date with the markets wherever you are. British retail giant Next was the biggest winner on the Stoxx 600, adding 10.5%, after the company reported annual profit surpassing 1 billion ($1.3 billion) for the first time. Europe's retail sector was up 2%. U.S. stocks gyrated as investors weighed the latest tariff developments. Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Thursday, but shares of Asia's automakers declined overnight on the news. The U.K.'s long-term borrowing costs meanwhile ticked higher, with the yield on 10-year government bonds rising by 5 basis points, touching its highest level since January. The 2-year yield reversed course late in the day to trade just below the flatline. Gilt yields had fallen on Wednesday as the government issued a fiscal update announcing the mix of spending cuts and increases largely expected by the market, and as the U.K.'s Debt Management Office announced a lower-than-expected level of annual bond issuance. The DMO trimmed the proportion of long-dated gilts in the portfolio in response to waning demand. "You have a new [U.K.] government that's come in and tried to make changes that could correct the public finances, but growth potentially suffers on the back of that, inflation could reinflate or remain sticky based on changes to [social security payment] National Insurance, already high borrowing costs and cost of servicing debt, and the market just doesn't like it," Ken Egan, director of European sovereign credit at Kroll Bond Rating Agency, told CNBC. "When there is a change in market sentiment you see those big moves in gilt yields. There are a lot of international investors who can switch into other asset classes." 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 Thursday's key moments. 1. Markets slipped on Thursday following Wednesday's pullback with losses accelerated by news of President Donald Trump 's latest tariff announcement. Trump on Wednesday said he would impose 25% tariffs on all cars that are not made in the United States, beginning April 2. "There's still this general uneasiness ahead of Liberation Day, April 2," said Jeff Marks, Director of Portfolio Analysis for the Club. He emphasized that investors are concerned, noting that Morgan Stanley analysts said the impact will be significant. Meanwhile, tech is getting pounded again as defensive sectors like staples and health care outperform. 2 . AI stocks are down following TD Cowen report on Wednesday highlighting Microsoft's cancellation of more data center leases. According to Marks, markets are running with the idea of an oversupply of data centeres but ignored Cowen's report that Google and Meta are stepping in to carry some of the load. Cowen analysts said that their takeaway from Nvidia's GTC conference is that "data center demand has increased year over year." Jim Cramer said that what is happening with Microsoft is a "convoluted story" for which we cannot draw any conclusions. 3. Nvidia is also taking a hit as Bank of America analysts point out the geopolitical risks involving China and the sweeping AI rules established by former President Joe Biden's administration. Bank of America estimated that Nvidia has a 10% direct China data center exposure and questions whether that demand can be met by U.S. hyperscalers. The AI rules aim to control how chips and models are shared with other countries. It includes a tiered system whereby different countries could face limits and restrictions on what and how much they can import from American tech companies . Nvidia could remain volatile until May 15, when compliance for rules become mandatory. While the company's stock has struggled and may go lower, Jim says Nvidia is still a great company. 4. Stocks covered in Thursday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: Advanced Micro Devices , Stanley Black & Decker , Ford Motor Company , General Motors . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA, MSFT, GOOG, META. 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 GM logo is seen on a water tank of the General Motors assembly plant in Ramos Arizpe, in Coahuila state, Mexico, on Feb. 11, 2021. The divergence stems from the amount of vehicles that GM imports, and its exposure to Mexico in particular. Shares of GM fell more than 7% in Thursday trading, far underperforming the likes of Ford and Stellantis , which shed more than 3% and roughly 1%, respectively. Tesla stock was essentially unchanged for the day. As auto stocks reacted to the latest tariff announcement out of Washington, D.C., on Thursday, General Motors took the brunt of the hit. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his administration would impose 25% tariffs on "all cars that are not made in the United States" and some automobile parts. The executive order signed Wednesday allows for some leniency for components that are compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, but it was not immediately clear what relief that might offer the North American automotive industry. "Tesla and Ford appear to be the most shielded given location of vehicle assembly facilities although Ford does face incremental exposure on imported engines," Deutsche Bank analysts wrote in a note Thursday. "GM has the most exposure to Mexico." Mexico accounted for 16.2% of vehicle imports into the U.S. as a percentage of sales in 2024, according to GlobalData. That was the largest share of any country, about double the shares of South Korea and Japan, which ranked second and third in terms of import volume, respectively. Roughly 52% of GM vehicles sold in the U.S. during the first three quarters of 2024 were assembled in the U.S., according to research by Barclays analyst Dan Levy. That leaves 30% assembled in Canada and Mexico, and another 18% brought in from other countries. Levy also pointed out that GM relies heavily on Mexico and South Korea for production of some of its small crossovers, including its Equinox and Blazer vehicles. "Roughly half of GM's US sales are produced in the US, but imported parts are a concern," he said. During the same period, 57% of Stellantis vehicles and 78% of Ford vehicles sold in the U.S. were assembled stateside. Levy reported Stellantis assembled 39% of its U.S.-sold units in Canada and Mexico, and Ford, just 21%. Wolfe Research's Emmanuel Rosner said the tariffs primarily affect foreign-brand automakers, but noted that 15% of GM's U.S. vehicles come from South Korea. John Murphy from Bank of America said in comparison to the broader automotive market, GM is "relatively exposed to the tariffs" and may need to rebalance. GM stock is down 13% year to date. Shares fell sharply in late January after investors worried that the automaker did not address concerns about tariffs in its most recent earnings report. The big run-up in gold still has plenty of headroom left, according to Goldman Sachs. Commodities strategist Lina Thomas hiked her forecast on the precious metal in a note late Wednesday. Spot gold crossed the $3,000 per ounce mark for the first time earlier this month. "We raise our end-2025 forecast to $3,300/toz (vs. $3,100) and our forecast range to $3,250-3,520, reflecting upside surprises in ETF inflows and in continued strong central bank gold demand," the note said. If spot gold reaches $3,300 per ounce, that would be an increase of about 8% from where it was trading Thursday morning. The price of gold rose steadily throughout 2024 after beginning the year near $2,000. The metal has seen another jump in early 2025, coinciding with weakness in the stock market. Gold is often seen as a defensive investment, and the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD) has raked in more than $5 billion of inflows so far this year, according to FactSet. XAU= 1Y mountain Gold is trading above $3,000 per ounce for the first time. Commodities experts attribute much of the rise in gold in 2024 to buying by foreign central banks rather than individual investors looking to offset risk. Gold can, in theory, help countries stabilize their own currency and avoid the risk of sanctions versus holding reserves of fiat foreign currency. "While the uncertainty is large, we estimate that large Asian central bank buyers are likely to continue their rapid gold purchases for another 3-6 years to reach our estimated range of potential gold reserve targets," the Goldman note said. Given that backdrop of demand, Thomas said investors should buy weakness in gold that appears to be related to a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal or that comes in tandem with a sharp equity market sell-off, as those could be short-term dips. Goldman is not the only Wall Street firm that is bullish on gold. Bank of America said earlier this week that the price of gold could rise to $3,500 per ounce . 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! Niche ocean carrier Atlantic Container Line is warning the fines the U.S. government is considering hitting Chinese-built freight vessels with would force it to leave the United States and throw the global supply chain out of balance, potentially fueling freight rates not seen since Covid. "This hits American exporters and importers worse than anybody else," said Andrew Abbott, CEO of ACL. "If this happens, we're out of business and we're going to have to shut down." The United States Trade Representative held its second day of this week's hearings on the fines that would be levied under Section 301 of U.S. trade law on Wednesday, with over 300 trade groups and other interested parties warning the government across comments letters and in testimony that the U.S. is no position to win an economic war that places ocean carriers using Chinese-made vessels in the middle. Soon, Chinese-made vessels will represents 98% of the trade ships on the world's oceans. The policy proposal, begun under the Biden administration and culminating in a January report concluding China's shipbuilding industry had an unfair advantage, would allow the U.S. government to impose steep levies on Chinese-made ships arriving at U.S. ports. For Chinese-owned operators (such as Cosco), a service fee of up to $1 million could be charged on each vessel. For non-Chinese-owned ocean carriers with fleets containing Chinese-built vessels, the service fee would be up to $1.5 million for each U.S. port of call. In ACL's submitted commentary to the USTR, Abbott laid bare the economic difficulties his company would face, saying that if the U.S. government went ahead with the fines, it "would render us totally uncompetitive versus the other carriers in the US trades." ACL, which is the oldest continually operating container line in the world and is owned by Grimaldi Group of Italy, is the only operator of combination container-roll-on-roll-off ships between North America and North Europe. If ACL abandoned the U.S. market, domestic manufacturers would lose their only U.S.-headquartered North Atlantic carrier, and primary North Atlantic carrier of oversized and project cargo to Europe. ACL handles vehicles, construction equipment, aircraft including Airbus wings, and project cargo, including more than half of the American construction equipment, agricultural equipment and oversized machinery moving from the ports of New York, Baltimore and Norfolk to Europe. "All the Airbus wings are made here in the U.S. and we carry those to the UK," Abbott told CNBC. "If we disappear, you'd have to find another brake bulk ship." Abbott made clear to CNBC that his company's situation is unique and the largest ocean carriers will be able to better mitigate the impact of the potential fines. "I'm going to end up hitting a customer with a $2,000 to $2,500 charge, where the big guys might only have $800, so in today's world, that is an enormous amount of money, and potentially could put us out of business. So we'd be forced to pull our ships out of the Atlantic, out of the U.S. trades, and probably stick them in Asia, that's what we would do." The goal of the policy proposals are to revive the U.S. domestic shipbuilding industry, but many commentators have argued that these fines are the wrong way to pursue that goal. Abbott said this is why he went public with his company's situation. "The Chinese operators that they're trying to go against because of the way they operate their ships, and the number of ports that they're calling, are probably going to be among the least affected by this new setup. So the guys you want to target are getting off scot free, and the guys who were in your own country get nailed," Abbott said. The closing of ACL's U.S. offices would impact 300 employees in addition to the supply chain pipeline that supports them, such as truck drivers and warehouse workers. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) walks with Japan's Emperor Naruhito (R) during a welcoming ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on March 25, 2025. Japan and Brazil on Wednesday agreed to establish a framework for foreign policy and defense exchanges during a state visit by Brazilian President Lula Da Silva to the Asian country. According to a release by Japan's foreign ministry, the two countries agreed to a five-year action plan that covers exchanges in the area of political and economic dialogue, as well as climate issues. During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on international affairs, including the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and East Asia. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stated that any unilateral steps to alter the status quo should not be permitted anywhere in the world. The framework for defense exchanges between Japan and Brazil will include discussions on bilateral cooperation in defense equipment and technology. Japan aims to increase its defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027, which has traditionally been capped at 1%. The country had a defense budget of 7.7 trillion yen for its 2024 fiscal year. "For FY2025, the budget request stands at 8.73 trillion yen, reflecting Japan's sustained commitment to achieving its defense goals," according to U.K.-based think tank Royal United Services Institute. U.S. President Donald Trump has been stoking defense worries among allies including Japan due to his transactional approach to foreign policy. Trump earlier this month reportedly questioned the U.S.- Japan security treaty that commits Washington to defend the Asian country. "We have a great relationship with Japan, but we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them, but they don't have to protect us," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, according to Reuters. Since 2014 under the late prime minister Shinzo Abe, Japan's self-defense forces have been allowed to engage in military action if one of its allies is attacked. Japan has also been in the crosshairs of Trump's "America First" policy, with the U.S. president on Wednesday announcing 25% tariffs on auto imports, the same announced on steel and aluminum earlier this month, all key Japanese exports. Ishiba reportedly said on Thursday that Tokyo will put "all options on the table" in response to Washington's tariffs on auto imports, while Brazil's Lula said that Trump risked damaging the U.S. economy with additional duties. Lula also said that he would lodge a complaint with the World Trade Organization over the levies on Brazilian steel. In February, when Trump initially announced the tariffs, the Brazilian Steel Institute said it was "surprised" by the decision, pointing out that this overturned previous agreements made between the U.S. and Brazil. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House in Washington, U.S., on Feb. 7, 2025. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Thursday Tokyo will put "all options on the table" in dealing with Washington's announcement to impose a 25% tariff on automobile imports. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting next week, widening the global trade war he kicked off upon regaining the White House this year. "Japan is a country that is making the largest amount of investment to the United States, so we wonder if it makes sense for (Washington) to apply uniform tariffs to all countries. That is a point we've been making and will continue to do so," Ishiba told parliament. "We need to consider what's best for Japan's national interest. We're putting all options on the table in considering the most effective response," Ishiba said, without elaborating on the possible steps Tokyo may take. Analysts say the move could deal a heavy blow on Japan's economy given its reliance on auto exports to the United States. Shares in Japanese auto makers fell sharply in early trade on Thursday. Automobiles made up 28.3% of Japan's total exports to the United States in 2024, the biggest ratio among all items, according to Ministry of Finance data. The auto industry makes up roughly 3% of Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) and has been the driver of recent wage hikes, as automakers distribute the huge profits they reaped overseas to their employees. Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute (NRI), expects an 25% increase in U.S. auto tariffs to push down Japan's GDP by around 0.2%. "The Trump tariff has the potential to immediately push Japan's economy into deterioration," he said. CNBC's Jim Cramer blasted free trade agreements Thursday, reiterating his long-held views against the approach to trade policy that for decades has been embraced by the American business and finance communities. "I am pro-tariff, absolutely. I hate free trade," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." "I think it's been an embarrassment for our country. It's cost us fortunes. Everybody picks on us. There's just no end to it." Cramer's comments came one day after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on automobiles and certain auto parts made outside the U.S. Next week, Trump also is expected to unveil a set of so-called "reciprocal tariffs," which his recent comments suggest may be softer than initially feared. Trump has already implemented steeper tariffs a tax on imported goods on Canada, Mexico and China since returning to the White House in January. While Trump pledged to hike tariffs on the campaign trail, his shifting trade policy in office has weighed on business and consumer confidence, and contributed to increased volatility on Wall Street. The stock market in recent weeks sold off hard on economic and tariff concerns, though the S & P 500 has recovered somewhat from its mid-March low. The broad equity index was modestly higher Thursday. For years, Cramer has expressed skepticism of free trade policies, including during Trump's first and ultimately successful presidential campaign in 2016. Cramer also supported Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports during his first term. "If we're going to trade jobs for cheap stuff, at the very least we should get a good exchange rate," Cramer said in late 2019. To be sure, Cramer has taken issue with certain aspects of Trump's tariff policies this time around and said the uncertainty has hurt the stock market. For example, he suggested in a recent column for CNBC Investing Club members that he believes a more targeted approach to implementing import duties would be desirable. On Thursday, Cramer, who previously worked at Goldman Sachs and ran a hedge fund before his financial media career, acknowledged that he has personally benefited from the rise of globalization. "I am a big winner from it," he said. Still, he said the decline of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. has had a pronounced effect on certain parts of the country. "We favor cheap stuff in this country, but at a certain point, we also wrecked our small towns, and that's what I'm focused on," he said. In a post Thursday on the social media site X, Cramer shed light on the origins of his trade views. Britain's King Charles leaves the London Clinic after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate, in London, Britain January 29, 2024. King Charles III experienced unspecified side effects of his cancer treatment and spent some time in the hospital on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said. "Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. No details were provided on the length of the observation period or what the king's side effects entailed. He has since returned to Clarence House, one of the royal residences in London. The monarch's engagements for Friday have been postponed as a result. Charles was scheduled to have four events in Birmingham that he is "greatly disappointed" to have to miss, according to the palace. "He very much hopes that they can rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible," the palace said. Buckingham Palace revealed that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, but information on the British royal's condition has been sparse. The announcement came weeks ahead of news that Princess Kate was undergoing "preventative chemotherapy." The palace has not publicized what type of cancer either royal was diagnosed with nor the stage of the disease. Kate announced her cancer was in remission earlier this year. A source told NBC News in December that Charles' treatment is "moving in a positive direction." The source said there's been progress in his condition but that treatment would continue into 2025 as the cancer is in a "managed condition." Charles became king on Sept. 8, 2022, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the longest serving monarch in the United Kingdom's history and, subsequently, Charles was the longest-serving heir to the throne before becoming the sovereign. In this article TSLA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Investigators look over the scene at a Tesla Collision Center after an individual used incendiary devices to set several vehicles on fire on March 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller | Getty Images A Las Vegas man has been arrested on charges related to the Molotov cocktail arson attack on Tesla vehicles in that city in mid-March, authorities said Thursday. The incident was one of the highest-profile acts of vandalism in a series of attacks on Tesla locations around the country related to company CEO Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration heading DOGE, the effort to slash federal spending and employee headcount. The FBI has called those incidents "domestic terrorism" and launched a task force to address the attacks. Paul Hyon Kim, 36, faces state and federal charges for the attack at Tesla Collision on West Badura Avenue in Las Vegas at 2:45 a.m. on March 18. Police display photos of Paul Hyon Kim on a television screen during a press conference on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Metro Police Headquarters. Kim, 36, was arrested in connection with the fires set at a Tesla service center the week prior. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Bizuayehu Tesfaye | Las Vegas Review-Journal | Tribune News Service | Getty Images Five Teslas were damaged from Molotov cocktails and or bullets fired at them, according to a criminal complaint. Kim was arrested in connection with the Las Vegas incident on Wednesday, two days after a police bomb squad found multiple incendiary devices at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas. Federal authorities said Kim had a flight booked for Thursday out of Las Vegas to Milwaukee. Authorities identified Kim as the suspect in the Las Vegas attack from surveillance video of a Hyundai vehicle that was seen leaving near the scene of the incident, as well as other evidence, including bullet fragments, and cell phone tower records and the complaint said. The complaint said that less than three hours after the attack, at 5:30 a.m., Kim filed an insurance claim that said the tires of his own car had been slashed, and that his car had been stolen and then recovered. But a query of local police reports did not show that Kim had notified police that his car had been stolen or recovered, the complaint said. A search of Kim's residence found a black backpack with pink paint, a black hoodie, face masks, ammunition, holsters, gun parts, an AR-style rifle, an AK-style rifle, and a handgun, the complaint said. Police display photos of weapons they say they found at Paul Hyon Kim's apartment on a television screen during a press conference on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Metro Police Headquarters. Bizuayehu Tesfaye | Las Vegas Review-Journal | Tribune News Service | Getty Images Check out the companies making headlines in premarket trading: Auto stocks Shares of major automakers dropped after President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all cars not made in the U.S. that will go into effect next week. General Motors slid more than 6%, while Stellantis lost 1%. GameStop The video game retailer fell 7% in premarket trading, set to give back some of the 11.7% rally seen in the previous session. The decline came after the company announced plans to raise $1.3 billion in debt to buy bitcoin. Earlier this week, GameStop said its board has unanimously approved a plan to buy bitcoin with its corporate cash, echoing a move made famous by MicroStrategy . Jefferies The bank stock fell 3.8% after the company posted earnings of 57 cents per share on $1.59 billion in revenue for the first fiscal quarter, marking a decline from the year-earlier period. Nvidia Shares of the artificial intelligence darling and megacap technology company ticked 1.7% lower. Reuters reported that H3C, one of the largest server makers in China, warned of possible shortages of Nvidia's H20 chip in a note to clients. Alibaba U.S.-listed shares of the Chinese technology company added 1% after Alibaba launched a new open-source AI model. The model is called "Qwen2.5-Omni-7B" and can be used on edge devices such as mobile phones. Verint Systems The customer experience stock plunged 10.2% after posting weak fourth-quarter earnings and full-year guidance. Verint said it earned 99 cents per share, excluding items, on revenue of $254 million, while analysts polled by LSEG had penciled in $1.27 in earnings per share and $277 million in revenue. Advanced Micro Devices The semiconductor stock slid 3.4% on the heels of Jefferies' downgrade to hold from buy. Jefferies cited rising competition as one reason for concern. Liberty Energy The energy services company added 2% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight. The bank said Liberty Energy is an attractive play on power demand growth. UBS Group The U.S.-traded shares of the Swiss bank fell nearly 2% after Bank of America downgraded the company to underperform from neutral. Bank of America said in a note to clients UBS has downside risk from regulatory changes in Switzerland. CNBC's Yun Li, Michelle Fox and Jesse Pound contributed reporting. 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! Nvidia has lost some of its luster as a market leader, but other big name stocks are now outperforming the semiconductor giant and could have further upside. Shares of Nvidia, the chipmaker that drove the market higher in 2023 and 2024, have struggled over the past three months, falling more than 8% in six months. Victoria Greene, the chief investment officer of G Squared Private Wealth, joined CNBC's " Power Lunch " on Thursday to discuss three stocks she likes that have outperformed Nvidia over that same period. Walmart One stock that is in a recent slump, but still outperforming Nvidia, is Walmart . Shares of the country's largest retailer are up more than 7% over the past six months. However, the stock is trading around $86 per share, down from $104 in February before it gave soft earnings guidance . WMT 6M mountain Walmart stock is down since mid-February, but still positive over the past six months. Green said that Walmart looks like "a great place to hide out" despite that outlook. "I see this consolidating here and pushing back up. I see this stock back at 100 easily, and if anybody's going to weather tariffs it's going to be Walmart," Greene said. Altria Another stock that is outpacing Nvidia is tobacco company Altria , up 14% over the past six months, excluding its fat, 7% dividend. Greene pointed out that the stock trades at a cheap price-to-earnings ratio relative to the overall market and that the company is looking to be more than just a tobacco firm. "It wants to be everything to help stimulate you, calm you, relax you," Greene said. Shares of Altria were trading at about $58 on Thursday. Greene said that 65 or 70 per share is "absolutely in its future." Netflix The top performer of the three stocks highlighted by Greene is Netflix , which has gained 38% over the past six months. Greene said that Netflix could become a $1500 stock, equal to an increase of more than 50% from where shares traded Thursday. Netflix should be in a strong position even if the economy weakens, according to Greene. "Even if you're beginning to have to reduce your budget, you're going to keep Netflix in there because they're so good at pricing," she said. 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! Here are Thursday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Wolfe upgrades Equinix to outperform from peer perform Wolfe said the macro weakness could benefit data centers for the digital infrastructure company. "With this report, we are upgrading Equinix Inc. (EQIX) to Outperform from Peer Perform." Morgan Stanley upgrades Liberty Energy to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said the energy company is a data center beneficiary. "Earnings prospects for LBRT's new Power Generation Services (PGS) business and the value that these investments create seem underappreciated, in our view." Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy The firm said Nvidia shares are "compelling." "Meanwhile, we believe the stock is providing a particularly attractive opportunity for one of the most unique, high-quality tech franchises leading the largest and fastest growing secular trends." Bernstein reiterates Ferrari as outperform Bernstein said it thinks Ferrari is well positioned to withstand any tariffs. "Ferrari manufactures all its highly desirable cars in Maranello, Italy and so it is clearly in the cross-hairs of the 25% tariff on auto imports that President Donald Trump announced yesterday. By the same token, we are hard-pressed to think of any customer cohort in the US that is better placed than Ferrari's to absorb higher prices." Jefferies downgrades Advanced Micro Devices to hold from buy Jefferies said street estimates remain too high for the chip company. "We are also moving AMD to Hold given limited traction in AI, Street estimates too high, and expectations of mounting competition from Intel." Bernstein reiterates Robinhood as outperform Bernstein said investors "under-appreciate HOOD's broader Financial/Money platform, beyond its core focus on active traders." "Last night, Robinhood (HOOD) announced three disruptive products in wealth management & banking." HSBC reiterates Tesla as reduce HSBC lowered its price target on the stock to $130 per share from $165 and says there are "no quick fixes." "Tesla eschews many of the industry norms (holding list prices firm, making regular facelifts and model renewals) and has to date seen only minimal impact, but tougher competition and brand erosion is likely to see the impact of its strategy hurt more." RBC upgrades Northrop Grumman to outperform from sector perform RBC said the defense company is "well positioned relative to shifting DoD [Department of Defense] priorities." "We are upgrading shares of Northrop Grumman to Outperform from Sector Perform." Stifel initiates Roper as buy Stifel said the industrial software company has a differentiated offering. "We are initiating coverage of Roper Technologies with a Buy rating and a $685 price target." Bank of America reinstates Roku as buy The firm said Roku is "poised to enter the next phase of monetization which will drive revenue and profitability growth for the foreseeable future." "We are reinstating coverage of Roku with a Buy rating and $100 PO, based on ~27x our CY26 FCF/share forecast." Goldman Sachs upgrades Par Pacific to buy from neutral Goldman Sachs said the energy company has an attractive risk/reward. "We highlight PARR's Hawaii refining business as positioned to benefit from a recovery in margins." JPMorgan initiates Mereo BioPharma as overweight JPMorgan said it sees an attractive entry point for the biopharma company. "We are initiating on Mereo (MREO) with an Overweight rating and a December 2025 price target of $7." KeyBanc reiterates McDonald's as overweight KeyBanc raised its price target on the stock to $340 per share from $335. "Based on our industry conversations and proprietary data, we are lowering our 1Q25 SSS growth for McDonald's USA to -2%. But we are raising our 2Q25 SSS [same-store sales] growth estimate to 3.5% to reflect our optimism surrounding the innovation/marketing calendar." Bank of America upgrades Check Point Software Technologies to buy from neutral Bank of America said in its upgrade of Checkpoint that the network security solutions software company is in the middle of a turnaround. "We believe new CEO Nadav Zafrir has started taking steps to fundamentally change the outlook and our upgrade is based on two factors." JPMorgan reiterates General Motors, Ford and Ferrari as overweight The firm lowered its price target on a slew of automakers amid tariffs. "We are lowering our December 2025 price target for GM by -17% to $53 from $64, for Ford by -15% to $11 from $13, and for Ferrari by -12% to $460 from $525, effected by decreases in our chosen target multiples to reflect less confidence in earnings estimates that are for now unchanged, given the highly volatile regulatory backdrop with regard primarily to tariffs but also EV subsidies and potential consumer tax deductibility of vehicle interest expense for US-built vehicles." Mizuho upgrades Chemours to overweight from neutral Mizuho said the chemicals and paint company has upside potential. "When it rains, it can pour. But, cloudbursts can be followed by sunshine. Chemours is the leading global producer of fluorine-based refrigerants & specialty plastics, and #2 global producer of TiO2 pigments (paint is its largest use)." RBC downgrades Lockheed Martin to sector perform from outperform The firm said it sees U.S. budget pressures for the defense contractor. "We are downgrading shares of Lockheed Martin (LMT) to Sector Perform from Outperform. We believe the F-35 faces greater headline risk for international sales (while we see little risk to actual order cancellations) and increased US budget pressure." Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on her nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 21, 2025. President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew his nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Trump cited the razor-thin majority that Republicans hold in the House of Representatives for his decision to pull Stefanik's name from consideration by the Senate for the U.N. post. The vote of Stefanik, a New York Republican, has repeatedly been crucial in helping the GOP caucus pass key legislation since the beginning of Trump's term in January. The full Senate for nearly two months had held off on voting on her ambassadorship nomination, after it was recommended by the Foreign Relations Committee, because of concerns that her departure from the House would threaten Trump's legislative agenda. The GOP caucus currently holds 218 seats in the House, with Democrats holding 213 seats. Trump's move came days before two special elections in Florida on Tuesday to replace Republican congressmen who quit those seats to take posts in the Trump administration. One of those lawmakers, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, was picked by the then-president-elect Trump in November to be U.S. attorney general. Gaetz withdrew from consideration by the Senate weeks later amid renewed focus on sexual misconduct allegations that had dogged him for years despite his denials of wrongdoing. The other special election is being held to fill the seat recently held by former Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump's national security adviser. Waltz is currently facing criticism for his Signal app account accidentally adding The Atlantic magazine editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a text group that included top U.S. officials, among them Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, and which discussed plans for American military attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen. Trump, in a social media post Thursday, wrote, "As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress." "We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning," Trump wrote in the Truth Social post. "With a very tight Majority, I don't want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise's seat." If Stefanik left the House, her seat would be filled by a special election in New York. Several analysts on Wall Street see a clear winner emerging from President Donald Trump 's new auto tariff policy: Tesla . Trump announced on Wednesday that all cars not made in the U.S. would be slapped with a 25% tariff beginning next week. The news sent shares of major American car producers in diverging directions in Thursday's trading as Wall Street analyzed who would be most and least hurt by the policy change. So far, multiple analysts see Elon Musk 's electric vehicle giant as a relative beneficiary given its domestic production. The stock rose modestly after rallying during the session. Put simply: "Tesla wins, Detroit bleeds," wrote Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska in a Thursday note to clients. Tesla: 'Clear structural winner' Roeska called Tesla the "clear structural winner" of the policy, adding that it has a localized market share and is "better insulated" from trade risk. On the other hand, he said Ford and General Motors could see declines of up to 30% in earnings before interest and taxes this year. "For everyone else, this is a margin reset and real drag on near-term earnings power," he said of companies besides Tesla. UBS analyst Joseph Spak noted both Tesla and competitor Rivian could "fare better" with 100% of production in the U.S. Rivian shares popped more than 7% on Thursday. TSLA 1D mountain Tesla, 1-day But for others in the industry, Spak said there will "clearly be some pain" as tariffs take effect. TD Cowen analyst Itay Michaeli said Tesla's substantial domestic sourcing helps make the company a "relative winner." This is especially true for Tesla's Model Y, which competes in the midsize crossover segment, a category that will now see close to half of all vehicles hit with levies. Presumably, a portion of the tariffs is likely to be passed on to consumers, making these vehicles more pricey. Despite Thursday's gains, Tesla shares have tumbled around 30% this year. Some of the declines have been attributed to political backlash against Musk, who is a key aid to Trump and acts as the face of the president's government efficiency initiative. As Tesla shares declined, Trump said earlier this month that he would purchase a Tesla in a show of support for Musk. But Trump said the billionaire entrepreneur did not advise on auto tariffs because of a potential conflict of interest. Musk posted on his social media platform X that his company was not immune to effects from the policy. "Important to note that Tesla is NOT unscathed here," Musk wrote. "The tariff impact on Tesla is still significant." Still, Wall Street expects Tesla stock to rebound ahead, with most analysts polled by LSEG having a buy rating and an average price target suggesting about 18% in upside. A 'worst case' scenario? TD Cowen's Michaeli called Trump's announcement "close to the worst case outcome" compared with recent expectations for the policy. He expects a "significant" initial impact to the Detroit Big Three. Based on policy as it is currently understood, he said Ford should be the least exposed in the group, while Stellantis may be the most exposed. UBS' Spak said to expect automakers to raise prices as a result. For Ford and General Motors, he estimated the average price tag could rise between $4,000 and $5,000 if 100% of the cost increase is mitigated. Analysts pointed out that not every legacy automaker would be hit equally. Deutsche Bank analyst Edison Yu, for instance, listed Ford alongside Tesla in the "most shielded" bucket. There are also some points of disagreement on which firms would feel the most pressure. Despite Michaeli saying Stellantis would be most exposed, Bernstein's Roeska said the company should show "relative resilience" compared with other Detroit Big Three carmakers. Ford's stock declined more than 3%, while GM shares plunged more than 7%. Stellantis stock fell more than 1%. 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 stream is slated to start at 10:00 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] President Donald Trump's nominee for chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will appear before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on Thursday morning for his confirmation hearing. Trump tapped Paul Atkins, CEO of Patomak Global Partners and former SEC commissioner, in December. Commissioner Mark Uyeda is serving as acting chair until Atkins' confirmation. "The current regulatory environment for our financial system inhibits investment and too often punishes success," Atkins said in prepared remarks. "Unclear, overly politicized, complicated, and burdensome regulations are stifling capital formation, while American investors are flooded with disclosures that do the opposite of helping them understand the true risks of an investment. It is time to reset priorities and return common sense to the SEC." Atkins is also expected to discuss how the cryptocurrency industry is regulated as a "top priority of his chairmanship." He would succeed Gary Gensler, whose notorious regulation-by-enforcement approach to crypto antagonized the digital industry. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. 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! Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacts as he delivers a press conference at the headquarters of French national public television broadcaster "France Televisions" in Paris, on March 27, 2025. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday Russian artillery had damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the front-line city of Kherson, two days after the U.S. announced that each side had agreed to a truce on energy strikes. "Two days ago, there was a night when there were no strikes on the energy sector, today energy infrastructure in the city of Kherson was damaged by Russian artillery," Zelenskiy said in Paris. "I believe that the U.S. should respond with actions." The United States announced separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow on Tuesday to pause attacks in the Black Sea and against each other's energy installations, the first such deal since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. "Our side, as long as no one understands who is monitoring what ..., all this (evidence) will be prepared and transferred to the U.S., and after that we are waiting for America's reaction, since they told us that they will respond to violations," Zelenskiy said after a summit of Ukraine's allies in the French capital. Kherson regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said work was continuing to restore power to consumers who had been left without supply as a result of Russian shelling. Moscow accused Kyiv on Wednesday of using drones to attack energy facilities in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions, and in the occupied Crimean peninsula. The Ukrainian military denied those accusations. "The (Russian) military continues to produce fakes, seeking to make baseless accusations against Ukraine and prolong the war," the military said in a statement on the Telegram app. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and now holds about 20% of the country, contends that it has observed an energy strike truce since March 18. Ukraine says Russia has attacked eight Ukrainian energy facilities since that date. Zelenskiy also said in Paris he believed the Trump administration's stance towards Russia should be tougher, adding Ukraine needed Washington's help to be strong in negotiations. Clean and well designed streets in San Cristobal island in Ecuador. Bengaluru hang your head in shame @BBMPSWMSplComm pic.twitter.com/Aqcl11Up8a Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (@kiranshaw) March 26, 2025 Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the executive chairperson and founder of Biocon, has hit out at Bengaluru's infrastructure, comparing its streets to those in Ecuador. While sharing a video of the streets of Ecuador's San Cristobal island, the Biocon head wrote, Clean and well-designed streets in San Cristobal island in Ecuador. Bengaluru, hang your head in shame.In her post, Shaw also tagged the Special Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. The video on X shows beautiful stone roads on San Cristobal Island.Her post triggered a flurry of reactions on social media, with some agreeing, while others providing opposing viewpoints.Commenting on the post, a user highlighted that other Indian cities also had better infrastructure, writing, Just visit Mysore, Indore. Surat, Rajkot to make the point! Ecuador is too far.To this, Shaw replied, Yes, but the point is that even Ecuador, which is a developing country, is well maintained by the local municipality.I dont see much difference in terms of good or bad, another posted.A user pointed out, People are more concerned about speaking in Kannada than asking for basic rights. Unfortunately, we will never have basic infra in Bangalore!Most of Latin America developing countries have far better infrastructure than Silicon Valley of India. Earlier, the British Empire looted; now, political clan is looting India, said a user.U need to be an ultra-super genius to compare a place with a population density of 15 with a place with a population density of 4378. There are other ways to show off that u visited those islands, another comment read.Ecuador's GDP per capita sits closer to 7k I get your point, though. Here is hoping civic sense and responsibility towards local governance comes in next few decades (yes its gonna take that much time), a user wrote.Earlier, Shaw voiced her support for a protest in the city against poor-quality roads. She retweeted a video posted by Mohandas Pai that shows citizens holding placards and protesting on a pothole-ridden road.Pai tagged the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, and wrote, People protesting about bad condition of road, unfinished works.Sharing the post on X, Mazumdar said, A very valid and legitimate demand by Bengaluru residents. The Web Summit Qatar 2025 brought together global leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors to explore the ever-evolving world of technology. With over 25,000 attendees from 124 countries, 1,520 startups, and 723 investors, the summit became Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region's biggest startup event.One of the key topics that emerged was the evolution of super apps and how they are reshaping digital commerce on a global scale. CNBC-TV18's Shruti Mishra hosted a panel discussion featuring prominent tech leaders including Juan Pablo Ortega, Co-Founder of Rappi; Hammad Al Hajri, CEO of Snoonu; and Philip Kandal, CPO of Grab.The conversation delved into how super apps are revolutionising user interactions with digital services, from payments to e-commerce, transport, and food deliveryall on a single platform.The discussion opened with a focus on how companies select which services to integrate into their super apps. Philip Kandal of Grab emphasised their user-centric approach to service expansion saying, "The choice is very simple for uswe are there to serve our drivers and merchants, allowing them to have a better life by earning more."He elaborated that Grab's expansion from mobility to food delivery was strategically designed to maximize driver utilization throughout the day, as mobility services primarily peak in the morning and evening while food delivery has complementary peak hours.Expanding on this concept, Hammad Al Hajri highlighted the necessity of super apps in smaller markets and said, "In the GCC, the market is relatively small, with around 45-50 million people. Many startups and ideas won't be validated in such a small market unless they're embedded in super apps."This perspective underscores how super apps can serve as platforms for smaller services that might not be viable as standalone applications in limited markets.Another crucial aspect discussed was maintaining an intuitive user experience while expanding service offerings. The panelists shared insights on the delicate balance between growth and user experience.Juan Pablo Ortega reflected on his experience with Rappi, noting that they initially expanded too broadly: "We followed user preferences and added more services, but we went too far at one point by adding live streaming and video games. We scaled back and now focus on delivery and financial services, which add value to users."This highlights the importance of strategic focus and understanding core user needs rather than expanding services indiscriminately.The discussion then shifted to how super apps adapt to regional preferences and cultural nuances. Hammad Al Hajri emphasised how localization gives regional players a competitive advantage: "Food is universal, but super apps can tap into local experiences by providing multiple services tailored to customer needs. This gives us a competitive advantage over global companies like Uber."He highlighted Snoonu's innovative approach to food delivery, where they pioneered four different dining environments: delivery, takeaway, drive-thru, and fine diningresponding directly to regional consumer behaviors.A significant challenge in developing super apps is building a robust infrastructure that can scale effectively. Mr. Philip Kandal shared insights on Grab's journey: "Today, Grab is core infrastructure in Southeast Asiawhen Grab is down, the city stops moving. We've invested heavily in stability and scalability, working with leading cloud providers and tech companies."This underscores the critical nature of super apps as they evolve from mere conveniences to essential urban infrastructure, requiring significant investment in technical reliability.The panelists discussed their strategies for competing with global tech giants. Juan Pablo Ortega emphasized that companies from emerging markets can succeed globally said, "Our competitive advantage is our local view and ability to customize the app to local markets. We've successfully competed with Uber in most markets, proving that tech companies from emerging markets can compete globally."Hammad Al Hajri echoed this sentiment. He noted that regional players like Grab in Singapore and Rappi in Colombia can outcompete global giants by deeply understanding local market dynamics.Looking ahead, the panelists shared their growth strategies and market focus. Mr. Hammad Al Hajri revealed Snoonu's IPO ambitions: "Our goal is to IPO by 2027 in Qatar, which has a good record for fundraising through IPOs. We're also considering listings in Hong Kong or Riyadh."Meanwhile, Philip Kandal emphasized Grab's continued focus on Southeast Asia rather than expanding to markets like India noting, "There's still so much we can do in Southeast Asia. We've just launched our full-service bank, which is a major effort."Finally, the panelists identified key trends shaping the future of super apps. Generative AI was highlighted as a transformative force, with Mr. Philip Kandal predicting it will, "increase team productivity by 5-10x."Hammad Al Hajri pointed to AI-powered recommendation engines and personalized experiences, while Mr. Juan Pablo Ortega forecasted the rise of frictionless payments.As super apps continue to evolve, they promise to further integrate into daily life, blending technological innovation with human-centered design to create increasingly seamless digital experiences across global markets. Qualcomm has launched a global antitrust offensive against Arm Holdings, accusing its longtime partner of anti-competitive practices in regulatory complaints filed across three continents. This escalating legal battle marks a significant shift in the relationship between two of the most influential players in the semiconductor industry. The unprecedented legal offensive spans three continents, with Qualcomm filing complaints with the European Commission, US Federal Trade Commission, and Korea Fair Trade Commission, reported Bloomberg. The dispute threatens to upend the global technology supply chain, potentially impacting billions of devices from smartphones and laptops to AI-driven systems and data center infrastructure. At stake is the future of semiconductor intellectual property licensing, with potential ripple effects including increased costs for manufacturers and consumers, as well as heightened uncertainty across an industry that relies heavily on Arms processor designs. Eddie Murphy famously had beef with David Spade after his Hollywood Minute segment on SNLs Weekend Update took a wicked shot at him. Look, children, its a falling star, Spade snarked next to a picture of a smiling Murphy. Make a wish. Spade had been much crueler to other celebrities, but Murphy, fresh off his first box-office flops, was incensed. He repeatedly called the SNL offices to berate a terrified Spade. My heart stopped. WTF? Spade remembered. He finally accepted the call, and I took my beating. But if Spades one-liner riled Murphy, what did he think of that fake movie trailer that ran before Tropic Thunder? Multiple trailer spoofs in that movie parodied the worst of Hollywood. Ben Stillers character, Tugg Speedman, starred in Scorcher VI: Global Meltdown, the latest in a series of over-the-top action blockbusters that made less money with each sequel. Robert Downey Jr.s Kirk Lazarus, a five-time Academy Award winner, led a trailer for an Oscar-bait movie about gay monks in a 12th-century Irish monastery. Don't Miss As for Jack Black? He played drug-addled comedian Jeff Portnoy, the star of The Fatties: Fart 2. Advertisement The fake trailer is a devastating takedown of the state of Murphys comedy career in the aughts, with piles of prosthetics and an over-reliance on flatulence jokes substituting for wit and natural charisma. Murphys parlor trick of playing multiple overweight family members drove comedies like the gassy Nutty Professor II: The Klumps. Advertisement To be fair, Murphys self-effacing Sherman Klump is one of his more charming creations. But The Fatties: Fart 2 only focuses on the hackiest parts of Murphy vanity projects. The trailers listing of the films stars Jeff Portnoy, Jeff Portnoy, Jeff Portnoy and Jeff Portnoy shone a spotlight on the comedians look-at-me narcissism. And the endless fart jokes underlined the juvenile humor driving the worst of Murphys comedies. Advertisement Advertisement Like Spade, director Stiller and actor Black were kicking Murphy when he was down, slumping in the Norbit/Daddy Day Care part of his career. Critics hated Nutty Professor II, criticizing the film for bodily function humor galore and being thick with bad gas. Getting blasted for a few seconds on Weekend Update is one thing. Taking a foot to the gigantic butt in one of the years highest-grossing comedies is another. But maybe Murphy had developed a thicker skin by this point. After getting skewered by Stiller in the 2008 comedy, Murphy co-starred with him in 2011s Tower Heist. Maybe his $7.5 million paycheck helped Murphy let bygones be bygones. The City Council unanimously passed a package of bills on Wednesday to reduce the presence of sidewalk sheds, an issue that has united politicians including Keith Powers, Mark Levine, and Eric Adams. Photo: William Alatriste/NYC Council Media Unit Alvin Bragg. Eric Adams. Gale Brewer. Mark Levine. Keith Powers. If theres any platform that unites New York City officials (and community groups and business owners), its a stand against sidewalk sheds, the green plywood and metal structures covering mile after mile of city walkways. There are currently more than 8,500 active sidewalk sheds totaling over 2 million linear feet, or roughly the distance from here to Montreal. They grow like a fungus, filmmaker John Wilson once said in an episode of How to With John Wilson. But unlike a fungus, they seem to have taken a permanent hold on the landscape, like the shed outside the former P.S. 64 building in the East Village, first put up in 2010. On Wednesday, the City Council unanimously passed a package of bills to reduce their presence, and perhaps make them a little easier on the eyes too. For too long, our city has been covered in over 400 miles of ugly, dingy scaffolding that impacts the experience of everyday New Yorkers, small-business owners, and people coming to visit our city, says Powers, a Democratic councilmember representing Manhattans east side and one of the sponsors of the bills. It doesnt have to be this way. What was intended as a safety precaution following the 1979 death of a Barnard student struck by falling debris has evolved into a lucrative, billion-dollar industry, with Crains previously reporting that New York City building owners were paying $1.2 billion a year to build and maintain the structures. Of course, construction sites should have them, but many of the sheds are also erected by landlords complying with the decades-old Local Law 11, which requires them to have their building facades inspected every five years. Anti-shed advocates say its simply cheaper for some building owners to keep the sheds up indefinitely rather than finish the requisite repairs, according to Gothamist. That may explain why sheds today are up for an average of 511 days, with more than a half-dozen dating back to Barack Obamas first term in the White House. The Adams administration last year celebrated the removal a sidewalk shed that was first erected in 2009 outside the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Kips Bay at the time the oldest shed outside a city-owned building. Photo: Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service/Getty Images So whats changing now? For one, how long sheds can stay up. One of the bills introduced by Powers, who also is running for Manhattan borough president, slashes the permit length of new sidewalk sheds from one year to just three months. While permits can be renewed, the legislation incentivizes actually finishing the repairs by penalizing landlords up to $6,000 a month if they cant prove they are doing work that requires the sheds, like construction, or are delayed by other issues like financial hardship. Another bill sponsored by Powers allows the Buildings Department to increase the time between facade inspections from the current five-year window to as many as 12, while delaying mandatory inspections for new buildings from every five years to eight. As for the look of the sheds, the City Council also passed bills that require more lighting in the sheds and for them to be raised higher, and that allow them to be painted colors other than the mandatory hunter green, such as white, metallic gray, or other colors matching a buildings exteriors. But beyond these small cosmetic fixes, the city will also require the Department of Buildings to study better designs for the sheds and submit them by the end of September. With these new laws and other reforms potentially on the way, that might make this years Sheddie Awards, which recognized the west sides most egregious scaffolding projects, the first and last. Earlier this month, State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblyman Micah Lasher, both of whom represent the Upper West Side, suited up and bestowed that honor to six buildings that neighbors had voted on in a number of categories (the top prize, of course, went to 51 West 86th Street, also a longstanding target of Brewer, who represents the Upper West Side in the City Council). Both lawmakers used the event to stump for bills they had introduced in Albany that would reward property-tax rebates to landlords who quickly removed their scaffolding and penalize those who let the structures languish. Like so many New Yorkers, I simply hate sidewalk sheds, and have watched despondently as theyve grown like weeds on the west side, said Lasher. Lets get the damn scaffolding down! Sign Up for the Curbed Newsletter A daily mix of stories about cities, city life, and our always evolving neighborhoods and skylines. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A New York City 'icon' is doling out dating advice on Instagram - and she's captivated thousands of women looking for love in The Big Apple with her straightforward, no-nonsense instructions. It's all coming from Laurie Cooper, a native New Yorker well above retirement age who has been a real estate broker to the City's rich and famous for over 40 years. Some of her clients have included Kanye West, Real Housewives of New York star Dorinda Medley, and many more. Cooper even made an appearance on the Bravo show, and as a bartender on Andy Cohen's Watch What Happens Live, becoming somewhat of a 'Bravolebrity' among reality TV fans. But now, she's taking on the role of the ultimate dating guru and influencer on social media, earning a following of thousands of dedicated singles yearning for their chance at romance. In recent months, the Upper East Sider has been handing out her tips via video to her combined 131,100 followers on Instagram and TikTok, and even offering 'Martini Meetups' for New York City's lovely ladies. Her son, Michael Cooper, and social media consultant Megan Keaveny, film the videos for her, standing behind the camera as she divulges all her best secrets to eager viewers. Cooper's tips are direct, and she doesn't beat around the bush - after all, she was married to her late husband for 56 years. It's all coming from Laurie Cooper , a native New Yorker well above retirement age who has been a real estate broker to the City's rich and famous for over 40 years In recent months, the Upper East Sider has been handing out her tips via video to her combined 131,100 followers on Instagram and TikTok , and even offering 'Martini Meetups' for New York City's lovely ladies Some of her clients have included Kanye West , Real Housewives of New York star Dorinda Medley, and many more The real estate agent tells her followers exactly where they need to go to find men all over the island of Manhattan, whether it's an uptown hotel bar such as Bemelman's at The Carlyle or a chic restaurant downtown like Union Square Cafe. In an exclusive interview with FEMAIL, Cooper divulged all of her top dating tips and advice for anyone who might be looking for a little romance. And you might want to take it - according to her, 'everything' she says is 'true.' 'I know New York very, very well,' Cooper told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'And I walk these streets, West Side, East Side, SoHo, Tribeca, I know it all.' 'I think it's easy to meet a guy here,' Cooper divulged. 'Honestly, I think if you go to the right place, and they're real here.' Her biggest tip? Love yourself - and don't give things up too quickly in the bedroom. 'You've heard it said over and over, it's true,' she shared. In an exclusive interview with FEMAIL, Cooper divulged all of her top dating tips and advice for anyone who might be looking for a little romance 'But if he's got you four dates, and then he gets to know you, you got your foot in the door,' the native New Yorker revealed 'Always think the best of yourself. If you think the most of yourself, they will think the most of you. If you want to meet a great guy, I mean, you just gotta wait it out,' Cooper continued. She warned women not to give everything away the first few dates you go on - and that includes holding back from having a quick one-night fling. Cooper explained that you want your new guy to be 'panting for you,' and going to bed with him on the first date could make him 'lose interest.' 'But if he's got you four dates, and then he gets to know you, you got your foot in the door,' the native New Yorker revealed. She revealed that at the end of the day, 'the chase is the way.' 'It's unfortunate, it's true,' she admitted. 'I mean, you got a guy easy, you think "Oh my God, what's wrong with him?" If it's somebody interesting, you got to make sure they treat you well.' 'I say to the girls, if your relationship's not working, he's not treating you well, get rid of him, right?' If you're in a dead-end relationship, she warned that you want to 'drop him before he drops you.' 'It's unfortunate, it's true,' she admitted. 'I mean, you got a guy easy, you think "Oh my God, what's wrong with him?" If it's somebody interesting, you got to make sure they treat you well' 'Destroys his ego,' Cooper said. 'Take a lot of yourself. Don't be available so much. Don't text. Don't text too much. Don't even answer his text. Just play cool, that's what I would tell you.' But if you don't have a date this Spring, Cooper suggested a few simple tricks guaranteed to land a guy in The Big Apple. She shared that the best way to approach someone is to walk right up to them and forget about your nerves. 'Say, "Hey, you look interesting. How are you? Where are you from?" I talk to everyone. I'm not looking for a date, but when I go to a bar, I see to the people next to me. I go to an art gallery, I talk to people,' the celebrity broker said. 'You must step forward, and that's the best way to do it. Then you meet all kinds of people. Go into a coffee shop, hip, trendy downtown spot, take your little computer with you, and you'd be surprised who's sitting next to you,' she continued. 'So you just got to get out there. Never stay home. I say this over and over again. You get nowhere.' Cooper recommends going to a lively place and just sitting down at the bar. 'I would never recommend something that isn't active,' she said. One of her favorites is Emmett's on Grove, a Midwest inspired supper club in the West Village. Not only does the restaurant have great lighting, according to Cooper, but the bar is 'great' and 'young.' 'Go there early, you could sit down at the bar by yourself, cross your leg, he'll talk to you, believe me!' Cooper said. As singletons continue to complain about the state of the dating scene in the age of apps and social media, some people looking for love are going to extreme lengths to check they're on the right path with potential partners. In an age where polyamory has become popularised and early-stage couples jump through several hoops before becoming 'official' boyfriend and girlfriend, some people fear their significant others might be reviewing their options before committing to relationships. In a bid to find out how faithful their suitor is, some people have taken matters in to their own hands - using a website which claims to be able to detect if your partner has a secret Tinder profile. The website, called CheatEye.ai, claims to be the UK's leading Tinder profile search tool. The site offers answers within three minutes after being given the person's name, age and location. Using an AI tool, it scans all profiles that fit the criteria to produce potential matches. Once the matches have been collated, they are presented to the suspicious singleton, who can view the photos, bios, last activity times and last activity locations. They can then download the report for $29.90. After using the tool and finding their worst fears have come true after seeing their cheating partners on the site, women have taken to TikTok to reveal their strories. One user, Sofia said her eight-year relationship had gone down the drain after discovering her boyfriend Jack, 24, had an active Tinder profile. In a bid to find out once and for all whether their partners are being faithful or not, people are turning to CheatEye to see if they can find their significant others's Tinder profiles Lara also took to the social media site to share that she was left devastated after finding her boyfriend's account. Over a video of her looking upset she wrote: 'When he tells you he loves you and he regrets it but you found his profile on tinder-finder website. How am I supposed to forgive that?' Sid also shared her heartache on TikTok, sharing a video with her followers where she showed off her former partner's tinder profile and wrote over the video: 'When the website finds his tinder profile and it's literally a picture I took of him.' In another video, the TikTok creator then revealed she broke up with her partner as soon as she found out and took herself off on a two-month long trip around Europe. Another TikToker revealed she used the site to discover her boyfriend had cheated on her but confessed she refused to reveal how she'd discovered his infidelity, writing over her video: 'When he cheated on me and the first thing he asked was how I found out.' A Tinder spokesperson said: 'We have no relationship with CheatEye. Not only do we not authorise this practice, it is squarely against our policies. 'We know that users trust us with their personal information to help them make meaningful connections. We do not take this lightly and intend to always keep that trust.' People across the UK are turning to the website to put their minds at ease and get to the bottom of their partner's infidelity. According to data seen by the Mirror, 27.4 per cent of all cheating-related searches originated from London. Men were the most searched-for gender (62.4 per cent), suggesting partners were more likely to check whether their male significant other is using dating apps. The site offers answers within three minutes and all concerned partners have to do it enter the person's name, age and location and AI models scan tinder profiles and offer a series of potential matches Women have been taking to TikTok to share their experiences of finding out their partners have been cheating with the new tool and for some it has led to the end of years-long relationships Manchester and Birmingham also ranked highly with Manchester accounting for 8.8 per cent of all searches wile Birmingham accounted for 8.3 per cent. Glasgow also featured in the data with 4.7 per cent of all searches conducted in the Scottish city with a gender split of 62.1 per cent men and 37.9 per cent women. Those aged 18-24 appeared to be the most concerned about partner infidelity and some of the most searched-for names included Jack, James and Josh and Emma, Chloe and Laura. Samantha Hayes, a relationship and infidelity expert at CheatEye, told the publication: 'Our analysis reveals that, while London leads in searches driven by cheating suspicions, regional differences suggest unique challenges in relationship trust across the UK. 'In high-density cities like London, where dating apps are widely used, many partners are seeking reassurance. This data offers a fresh perspective on how digital behaviours are reshaping modern relationships.' But for those who don't want to check whether their significant other has a dating profile, a psychotherapist has revealed the four easy-to-miss signs a spouse may be engaging in an affair. Bhavna Raithatha, revealed that a partner who suddenly experienced a change in their sex drive could be because they are having sex elsewhere or because they are feeling guilty and redirecting their sexual energies back in to the relationship. She added that if a partner is glued to their phone 'to the point where they're paying no attention to their partner whatsoever', then alarm bells should start ringing. Ms Raithatha said cheating partners often display angry and short-tempered behaviour as a result of feeling 'distant and detached'. Before adding that cheaters often project their guilt and as a result can begin to gaslight their partner. Food critic Tom Parker-Bowles has given a rare insight in to the family life with his mother Queen Camilla on a leading food podcast. The writer, 49, has revealed what he grew up eating around the dinner table and what family life was like with his mother, now Queen Camilla, father Andrew Parker-Bowles and sister Laura Lopes. Tom, who is the Mail on Sunday's restaurant critic, revealed that he used to grow up eating hearty roast dinners - but has a love of fast food too. He also gave several insights in to Camilla's cooking abilities and her go-to takeaway order. The writer made the revelation during an appearance on the podcast Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware on Wednesday. During the discussion alongside Henry Jeffreys, the Queen's son opened up about what family life was like in the kitchen and around the dinner table. Tom explained his mother always ensured her children ate well - but added she doesn't cook much anymore for obvious reasons. He told the podcast hosts: 'Not so much anymore - She's busy, but she was bringing up two children in the 70s, 80s, in Wiltshire. Tom Parker-Bowles gave a rare insight in to the family life and growing up with his mother, now Queen Camilla in a new interview (pictured with Queen Camilla at his book launch, September, 2024) 'It wasn't that my dad would cook, [Camilla] was a good cook, but she wasn't a recipe follower. 'Get a chicken, put a lemon up his a***, you know, put butter all over it, put it in the oven. That's dinner!' He continued to say that growing up he didn't eat out often and his first experience of a restaurant was on a trip to London with his grandmother. 'Growing up in Wiltshire in the 70s and 80s, you did not go out to eat,' he confessed. 'I went to London with my granny, who took us to nice Italian restaurants. But in the country - Wimpy in Swindon. ' And, although he enjoyed the occasional treat, he admitted that the most memorable dish from his childhood was roast chicken and a baked potato. He said: 'I suppose it would be my mum's roast chicken. 'And then she'd never make gravy, but she'd she'd cut off that fatty bit and, you know, the bit that hangs over, and put it on the top so and then she'd pour all the juices over your chicken, and it'd be a baked potato, and that was it.' The writer revealed his favourite dish growing up and his takeaway order during an appearance on the podcast Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware on Wednesday (pictured) Tom explained that while Camilla is not the greatest cook in the world, she always ensured they ate well and her go-to meal to cook was a roast chicken and a baked potato He went on to describe how he would often be allowed the odd takeaway and to rent a film although Camilla was strict about the movies he could and couldn't watch. Tom said: 'And the other thing was fish and chips. The fish and chip shop was in our local town, so we went to the video shop afterwards. 'She [Camilla] told them I wasnt allowed to get eighteens, so Id get Lethal Weapon, and the Delta Force (..) whatever it was. 'It was just pre the Video Recordings Act, so they weren't rated. But she would know all this stuff. 'And then you get fish and chips and a video, and it's just like, this is the lifeand a coke! During the podcast, Tom also revealed that his last supper would consist of his mother's roast chicken or his favourite order from McDonald's. He told the hosts he would start his feast with as much caviar as he could eat before moving on to the main and skipping desert. 'As a main course, I should say roast chicken or a Big Mac. The cheeseburger is about as perfect a creation as you could ever have anywhere on Earth. Tom also confessed that he would also be allowed the odd takeaway and the family would get fish and chips and rent a video - although Camilla was always strict about what they watched (pictured together at Cheltenham, 2014) 'I love it. I hate Burger King. I have no time for Burger King. I can do a zinger at KFC (...) Nandos I have a lot of time for. An extra hot chicken wrap.' During the discussion Tom confessed he preferred lunch to dinner because he likes the freedom that comes with extending the meal throughout the day. He revealed: 'A long lunch is one of the great pleasures of life, you know, because lunch has possibilities. Dinner, it finishes - "Oh, it's 11 o'clock, Ive got to get back to the dog or the children, whatever". 'Lunch, "shall we roll into dinner? Shall we carry on here?", Fergus Henderson said that, you know, it's just full of romance.' The restaurant critic's candid confession comes after he gave an insight in to his mother and step-father's lives in December. The Mail On Sunday restaurant critic revealed the King and Queen had gone through a 'hell of a two years' marked by significant health challenges. The writer opened up about the Queen, who was recovering from a bout of pneumonia since returning from a royal tour of Australia and Samoa at the end of last year, as well as his step-father, King Charles, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer last February. Despite the chest infection temporarily ruling her out of royal duties, Tom described his mother as a resilient woman. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he said: 'She went back to work before she should have done but she's fine. She's tough. She hates that she missed Remembrance Sunday. That's a big day for her. He added that 'nothing's changed' since Camilla became Queen, except that she works 'harder' and jests he is often unaware what her movements are - at times only discovering she is on a royal visit outside the UK when he turns on the television. Rowan Atkinson's girlfriend Louise Ford was in a relationship with comedian James Acaster before she dated the Mr Bean star - with the comedian previously revealing the devastating way he discovered he'd been dumped. The stand-up, 40, had been dating Louise Ford, 44, for two years when, in 2014, the pair went through a shock split. But it wasn't until a year later that he discovered she'd moved on with none other than Mr Bean after opening up a copy of The Sun on Sunday. James made the revelation during a performance in 2019 where he joked with the audience that he was the only person in history who had been left for Mr Bean, who happens to be 26 years older than Louise. 'I got left for Mr Bean,' James joked. 'I found out a year after we split up. I opened the newspaper and there was a full-page story. No one else in the history of time has ever been left for Mr Bean.' The pair, who had moved in together, began to grow apart while Louise was starring alongside Rowan, 70, in Quartermaine's Terms at Wyndham's Theatre in 2013. But it wasn't until a year later that he discovered how close they had really become. Despite the couple living together, Louise fell for the Johnny English star who had only recently separated from his wife of 24 years, Sunetra Sastry. Comedian James Acaster, 40, has revealed the devastating was he found out his girlfriend of two years had left him for Rowan Atkinson James went on: 'I'm a goddamn saint to have kept this in the back pocket so long. Its my job to say things that are funny and the funniest thing thats ever happened to anyone, happened to me and I put it on the back-burner out of respect. 'Until you get left for Mr Bean, you dont realise how frequently he pops up. Theres a shop two streets from my house that sells masks of his face. Theres nowhere where Im going to go that hes not there.' And the comedian wasn't the only one left rocked by Rowan and Louise's budding romance. The Blackadder star'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 officially separated from Lily's mother, former BBC make-up artist Sunetra Sastry, in 2015 after 24 years of marriage, although they had been living apart since the previous year. 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 since. The budding artist confessed the breakdown of her parents' relationship left her feeling very lonely during her 20s. '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. The stand-up, 40, had been dating Louise Ford, 44, for two years when, in 2014, the pair went through a shock split and a year later had begun dating the Mr Bean star (pictured together in 2015) James and Louise, who had moved in together, began to grow apart while Louise was starring alongside Rowan, 70, in Quartermaine's Terms at Wyndham's Theatre in 2013 (pictured) Rowan and Sunetra were in the middle of building an 11million home in Oxfordshire at the time of their split. Following the break-up, the Blackadder star moved into a 4million cottage in Hampstead, north London, while Sunetra moved in to a 21million mansion in London, bought for her by Rowan in 2014. And the upheaval of her family life left Lily struggling with her identity. She continued: '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.' Lily 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 despite him financially backing her fledgling music career. She now lives in London, and works as a professional artist, recently hosting her debut exhibition at a small independent gallery in the capital last December. In her 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.' Rowan officially separated from Lily's mother, former BBC make-up artist Sunetra Sastry (pictured), in 2015 after 24 years of marriage, although they had been living apart since the previous year The comedian wasn't the only one left rocked by Rowan and Louise's budding romance - Rowan's daughter Lily Sastry has spoken for the first time on feeling lonely in her 20s following the breakdown of her parent's marriage 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. Louise and Rowan share a daughter Isla and the actor has recently returned to work after taking time off to focus on bringing up 'Baby Bean' while his partner focused on her acting work. The actor has starred in the lead role of Chief Inspector Jules Maigret on the ITV series Maigret from 2016 to 2018 and he also starred in Johnny English Strikes Back. Louise's acting career has gone from strength to strength recently after she appeared as Kate Middleton in the royal spoof, The Windsors. A source told The Sun at the time: 'Rowan has a habit of surprising people and he has done it again with this announcement. 'He has said he will take a back seat from work to be with Isla, and this will obviously allow Louise to focus on her career which is going well.' The insider added that it is a kind gesture from the actor as it means his other half will have more time to focus on her own burgeoning career. Everyone wants a free upgrade on a flight if they can get it, but one man thinks there's a way to guarantee better treatment - and it all comes down to the simple act of being kind. Henry Wade tested his theory while on an Emirates flight to Dubai, telling his TikTok followers: 'This is exactly how you get a free upgrade on a flight.' 'Start by picking up some snacks or a small gift - just a little something to make a big impact,' he instructed viewers. He held up a stash of M&M's, chocolate fingers and Skittles that he had picked up in the airport, before sharing the next step: boarding the plane last. 'As soon as you get to the gate and approach the cabin crew, pass them over the goods and just be super nice to them,' Henry instructed as he walked through the airport. He continued: 'Show them charisma, show them some charm, show them a bit of banter and then just wait for the magic to happen.' Henry then decided to try the hack himself, filming his journey as he walked up to the gate and greeted the airline staff. After exchanging pleasantries, he then handed over the treats, telling the cabin crew to 'enjoy some snacks' during their shift. Henry Wade tested his theory while on an Emirates flight to Dubai, telling his TikTok followers: 'This is exactly how you get a free upgrade on a flight' He then said as he walked to his seat, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to find it was the crew member who greeted him. 'The lovely flight attendant, Dominque, greeted me with a smile and pulled put her iPad to give me a full rundown on what she could offer me,' he recalled. Henry admitted he thought he was 'at least going to offer him a premium economy seat' but explained that she ended up giving him an entire row to himself. 'She threw in some first class snacks and even bought me champagne,' he added, quipping: 'I like to call this premium present at its finest.' 'On top of that, I got extra attention. My meal was served first and I kept receiving complimentary goodies throughout the flight. 'Honestly it's a confidence booster for anyone to try because let's be real, no one else is doing it anyway so at least give it a shot,' the happy flyer pointed out. Henry's video was met with mixed responses, with some saying they have tried the trick to no avail, while some argued it definitely worked. 'As ex cabin crew I can confirm this works,' one user commented. Henry admitted he thought he was 'at least going to offer him a premium economy seat' but explained that she ended up giving him an entire row to himself Henry's video was met with mixed responses, with some saying they have tried the trick to no avail, while some argued it definitely worked 'Tried this. They took my snacks and said have a nice flight,' laughed another. 'As a cabin crew unfortunately it doesn't work,' reported someone else. Some people argued you should be nice and expect nothing in return. 'I've been doing this for years, not because I want an upgrade, just because it's nice to be nice,' a user wrote. Another scathing review read: 'Pays for three seats beside each other. "Bribes" staff with overpriced chocolate while filming them without consent. Makes video. Eugh, vomit.' It's not the first time a traveler has suggested a sweet treat for flight staff in order to score an upgrade. TikTok user Anna Lee previously posted her experience online after reading about a hack where you give a box of chocolates to the airline employee at the check-in counter in the hope of receiving a complimentary upgrade. She explained that she had known about the trick for years but had always been 'too scared, awkward and weird' about asking for a free upgrade. However, her cousin, who works as a flight attendant for a major airline, told her that many passengers ask for a free upgrade 'all the time' so it's 'nice to do it with a gift.' So, Anna decided to put the theory to the test when she took a six-hour flight from Las Vegas to New York City after Christmas. Before boarding her flight, Anna purchased a box of chocolates and then made her way to the check-in counter, where she surprised the Delta employee with the gift. Moments later, she asked the worker, 'How much would it cost to upgrade my seat?' Much to her surprise, the employee kindly offered her a free upgrade from economy class to Comfort Plus, which includes a few perks such as priority boarding, more legroom, extra recline, dedicated overhead bin space, and more. A naturopathic doctor has revealed how you can get back to feeling your best after going on vacation with three simple and easy tips. The important information was shared in a new video posted to TikTok this week by Dr. Janine Bowring, a Canada-based expert who has over 25 years of experience. While she typically gives her tips for longevity and even how to have healthy bowel movements, this time she offered guidance for those who may be feeling a bit out of sorts from their holiday. 'Maybe you've indulged a little bit more than what you would have usually during your vacation, these detox tips will help,' Dr. Bowring began. The first tip she offered was one that is essential - and that's to stay hydrated. 'Number one, you're gonna drink lots of water,' she said. 'Just flush everything out through your kidneys, through your skin, increase your hydration,' Dr. Bowring added. Of course, water is essential to the human body and its detox systems, as the kidneys use water to flush out waste product. The important information was shared in a new video posted to TikTok this week by Dr. Janine Bowring, a Canada-based expert who has over 25 years of experience Amy Hess-Fischl, RD, CDE, of the University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center, told Everyday Health that if your body is not getting enough water, 'metabolic wastes will not be removed as efficiently as they should.' Next on her list, the naturopath suggested cutting out both alcohol and sugar for a short period of time. Per Healthline, cutting out alcohol for just 30 days can have a profound effect on your body and your overall health. Not only can not drinking help reduce the risk of certain diseases, like cancer, it can also improve your sleep and encourage weight loss. In particular, women who are going through menopause may be more sensitive to alcohol-related weight gain, according to the outlet. 'You are helping to detox your internal organs, giving your microbiome a chance as well ,' Dr. Bowring explained. And, finally, she recommended taking some herbal medicines that will help you achieve a 'full body detox.' Some of the ingredients she named were milk thistle, dandelion, parsley and bearberry. Next on her list, the naturopath suggested cutting out both alcohol and sugar for a short period of time (stock image) Many of the herbs she mentioned can have healing properties, but they won't necessarily 'detox' you. For example, milk thistle may improve symptoms of indigestion, per Mayo Clinic. Some believe that the supplement can aid in healing liver disease, as it has an anti-inflammatory property. However, more research is needed, per the Clinic. An Australian mother has shared the three things she asked her 10-year old son A mother has revealed the three questions she immediately asked her 10-year-old after watching the new hit series, Adolescence. Speaking to Mamamia, journalist Isabelle Silberry, from Australia, shared the three questions she 'never thought to ask' to her son, but which 'opened up' important conversations. Just two weeks ago, Stephen Graham's latest show Adolescence has skyrocketed straight to the top of Netflix charts, with viewers captivated by it's eye-opening social commentary on the rise of incel ideology. The series follows the story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, played by Owen Cooper, who is accused of brutally murdering a fellow classmate, Katie, after being introduced to radical anti-feminist ideas online. The now critically acclaimed four-part series has sparked discourse online, in homes and even in parliament - with many looking at who to blame and how to put a stop to the online radicalisation of young men. One viewer, a mother from Australia revealed how she 'ran' into her son's room after the finale of the show, having being 'jolted into action', and desperate to know 'what our boys are experiencing'. She noted that, like many young boys, her son had the tendency to 'bounce between defensiveness and vulnerability', and the conversation required her to conquer her 'default' as a mother which was to 'shut down'. Perching on the end of her bed, she explained to her son that she had some free time and wanted to spend it with him because she loves him. Speaking to Mamamia, journalist Isabelle Silberry, from Australia, shared the three questions she 'never thought to ask' to her son, but which 'opened up' important conversation (pictured with her son) The series follows the story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, played by Owen Cooper, who is accused of brutally murdering a fellow classmate, Katie, after being introduced to radical anti-feminist ideas online Perplexed, he then asked her if everything was okay, to which she asked the 'frightening' questions she never thought she would. Firstly, she asked: 'What do you think about the girls at school?' Next, 'What does being a boy feel like for you?' And finally, Isabelle asked her son, 'What do you think a good man does?' The writer said she would keep his answers to herself to 'respect his privacy', but insisted that the exchange opened the two up to having important and open conversations. Watching the show, the mother-of-two pointed to a pivotal scene from episode three on the series with Jamie's psychologist, where she noted that the expert held space for him 'even when he beomes extremely aggressive, to the point of terrifying her'. She emphasised her ability to ask questions that allowed Jamie to 'open up' and how not 'telling him off' helped to foster better conversations. The now critically acclaimed four-part series has sparked discourse online, in homes and even in parliament - with many looking at who to blame and how to put a stop to the online radicalisation of young men During the episode, the child psychologist, Briony Ariston, played Erin Doherty, asked Jamie one powerful question. She asked: 'What you think is more important to me than what is true?' The sentiment hit home to Isabelle, who said she had saved it her notes Having watched the show, Isabelle vowed to take make precautions when it came to her son's online movements. She said she now monitors his kids' messenger and looks out for the communications between boys and girls alike. Her observations even led her to having to confront him on some of the communications with other children, which she subsequently asked him to apologise for. She vowed to not let him have access to social media until he was of an appropriate age. Just two weeks ago, Stephen Graham's latest show Adolescence has skyrocketed straight to the top of Netflix charts, with viewers captivated by it's eye-opening social commentary on the rise of incel ideology Watching the show, the mother-of-two pointed to a pivotal scene from episode three on the series with Jamie's psychologist, where she noted that the expert held space for him 'even when he beomes extremely aggressive, to the point of terrifying her' Elsewhere, she said she is now more involved with his school and frequently checks in with his teachers on communications in the school playground. Additionally, she said she pays closer attention to what he talks about when friends come over, not out of mistrust, but to 'grab any opportunity to address things as they happen and open up the lines of communication so he feels heard and seen.' The mother-of-two insisted that she didn't want to have 'regrets' and acknowledged the equal importance of putting the welfare and safety of her baby girl first. 'I don't want to ever say to her "Sorry, I should've done better,' she concluded. The new series have proved a hit with viewers, as well as stoking widespread conversation about the rise of incel ideology growing online - particularly with the rise of anti-feminist influencers like Andrew Tate. In its simplest form, an incel or involuntary celibate refers to someone unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite wanting one. In recent years, a more radicalised sub-culture of incels has formed online, across a network of blogs and forums collectively known as the 'manosphere', that is characterised by an extreme hatred for women due to intense feelings of sexual frustration. The show's release comes after a 2022 report found that incel sites in the UK grew from 114,420 monthly visits to 638,505 amid concerns that boys as young as 14 are being sucked into this community. Against this backdrop, Graham told The Independent is incumbent upon parents to become more 'mindful' of 'external influences' that might be shaping the lives of their children - including access to these 'woman-hating' ideologies in the 'manoshere'. The mother-of-two sported products from Tatcha and Dior on her wedding day The Duchess of Sussex's makeup artist Daniel Martin has revealed the products he used on Meghan for her 2018 royal wedding day to Prince Harry. The New York-based creative, who is one of Meghan's closest friends, having collaborated with the mother-of-two since her Suits days, divulged the product breakdown on a Breaking Beauty Podcast episode with hosts Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins. When asked whether he could reveal a product breakdown, Martin said: 'Oh yeah, it's been six years now.' Martin continued: 'It was basically a lot of Tatcha, and I mean, I was with Dior then, so a lot of Backstage had just launched, so her whole face was pretty much Dior Backstage.' Meghan's lip colour for her special day was the 33 Lip Glow in the shade Reviver Balm, paired with a Mac lip liner because Daniel is a 'diehard Mac lipliner devotee,' he said, adding, 'I love Mac'. The Montecito-based mother-of-two also added the luxury items from Tatcha, a Japanese skincare and beauty brand, which charges 67 for its trademark cream, and Dior, to her ShopMy account, where fans can purchase her must-have products. After Daniel's appearance on the podcast, Meghan shared a snippet to her profile with an approving remark and a link to her ShopMy, writing, 'Love you @danielmartin! Let's keep it glowing, my sweet'. At the same time, the 43-year-old has also shared a string of posts from her nearest and dearest on Instagram, who are promoting her upcoming As Ever products, including raspberry jam. The Duchess of Sussex's makeup artist Daniel Martin (pictured) has shared the product breakdown behind Meghan's royal wedding day look Among them was celebrity hairdresser Ben Skervin, who enjoyed the sweet red jam on crumpets alongside a chai latte. He wrote: 'Delicious afternoon treat crumpets with butter and @asever raspberry spread. It really is addictive. Thank you @meghan'. Meghan's former Suit co-star and close friend Abigail Spencer also raved about As Ever products to her 845 thousand followers, holding up the jam, which will soon be available for the public to purchase, in its 'Keepsake Packaging'. Meghan also reposted a snap from the owner of Pilates Platinum, Heather Dorak, who shared footage of her son enjoying the jam on toast. She wrote alongside the sweet clip: 'Current nighttime snack obsession @aseverofficial @meghan'. It comes after Meghan launched an Instagram shop selling products she endorses in a commercial tie-up that is sure to be lucrative - as the world anticipates her long-awaited merchandise line As Ever. Martin told the podcast that he used plenty of products from Japanese beauty and skincare brand, Tatcha Former Suits star Abigail Spencer showcased the jam against a stunning sunny backdrop on Instagram The products being promoted by Meghan include a sleeveless gown costing more than 1,000, 600 Saint Laurent sandals and earrings which will set buyers back 200 - while other handpicked pieces included brands such as Heidi Merrick, Reformation and J Crew. One of the reasons Meghan and Prince Harry parted ways with the Royal Family was the monarchy's refusal to accept commercial endorsements by the couple. The Duchess, 43, who stepped back from frontline royal duties alongside her husband in 2020, wrote over a screen-recorded video of her new online store: 'Many of you have asked, so here you go! A little shopping to start the week.' The link opens to a ShopMy storefront and Meghan's first drop includes a 148 white linen shirt, Heidi Merrick's 'Windsor' gown for an eye-watering 1,068, and a Maya Brenner necklace called 'The Happiness Retreat' priced at almost 400. A disclaimer on the website, which was launched shortly after Meghan released a new picture of Archie and Lilibet, reads: 'Please note, some products may contain commissionable links.' The Duchess's latest online activity comes after she faced a critical backlash over her recent new Netflix series. Shortly after the storefront went live, some of the third-party websites - including of Neiman Marcus - went down as the Duchess' fans rushed to get their hands on a pair of tan-coloured Saint Laurent mules that she has been spotted in on several occasions. Celebrity hairdresser Ben Skervin dubbed the luxury jam 'addictive' and paired the sweet treat with crumpets Pilates Platinum founder, Heather Dorak, shared footage of her son enjoying the As Ever jam on toast The Duchess - whose Netflix lifestyle show 'With Love, Meghan' was renewed for a second season despite negative reviews - is likely to earn a commission or cut on the sale of some of the clothes and accessories she promotes. The wardrobe comprises mostly elevated basics, including linen shirts, crewneck sweaters, sunglasses, and handbags, in neutral shades like beige, brown, white, black, and navy blue. Meghan teased there is 'more to come' ahead of the launch of her lifestyle company As Ever, following a significant rebrand and name change from American Riviera Orchard. But Meghan's merchandise website has been met with criticism online, with one social media user accusing the Duchess of Sussex of 'getting away with monetising the monarchy'. Another comment read: 'There you have it folks... All she ever dreamed of doing since she got notoriety: cash in like any 2-bit influencer, via affiliate links. The second hand embarrassment is real.' Affiliate marketers earn money via commissionable links leading to shop websites, which pay out a small percentage of the profit to the influencer if their followers purchase an item. Meghan and Harry were said to have an estimated 34million private fortune to fund their new life after quitting as senior royals in January 2020 - but with the prospect of making more with various business ventures such as book deals, TV deals, public speaking and fashion and brand partnerships. In their online statement announcing their departure back then, the couple said they had been 'prohibited from earning any income in any form', as they revealed they would give up their income from the Sovereign Grant the money taxpayers give to the monarch each year. The stepson of the Crown Prince of Norway has now been accused of rape by a fifth woman, which is alleged to have taken place after he was released from police custody for assaulting his girlfriend. Marius Borg Hiby, 28, was first arrested on August 4, and has since faced a string of charges including assault and two rapes - which he denies - and as well as being under investigation for three further sexual assaults among other charges. Now, another person has now become 'involved in the case' and is said to have been questioned by police 'several times,' local outlet Aftenposten. It brings forward a new case of 'rape without intercourse', which allegedly took place late last year - when Hiby was already facing a series of assault charges. 'I can confirm that I have been appointed as a legal aid lawyer for a woman in her 20s,' lawyer John Christian Elden said. 'Beyond that, I have no comment on the case.' It comes as the royal has stepped out in Copenhagen looking unrecognisable, dying his hair dark from white blonde and growing it out. The son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit has also spent time at rehab centres in London since his arrest. Hiby's defense attorney Ellen Holager Andens said: 'I have no knowledge of this and therefore have no comments to give.' The stepson of the Crown Prince of Norway has now been accused of rape by a fifth woman - as he has recently stepped out looking unrecognisable. Pictured last weekend Marius Borg Hiby, 28, was first arrested on August 4, and has since faced a string of charges including assault and two rapes and as well as being under investigation for sexual assault Pictures of the typically platinum blond son of Crown Princess of Norway Mette-Marit showed him with dyed brown hair which has grown out, a hoodie and printed jacket. Pictured with his mother in 2022 TV2 has also been told by sources that the alleged rape took place just four months ago - at a hotel in Oslo. A woman in her 20s is said to have filed the report in February. The investigation into Hoiby, whose sister Princess Ingrid Alexandra will one day be Queen of Noway, is ongoing, with the pseudo-royal also facing charges for breaching restraining orders against various women and tampering with evidence. His first arrest was eight months ago, for an assault, and he was then arrested again on September 13 for a different alleged assault - and a third time in November on rape charges. It comes as Hiby looks unrecognisable in new photos as he stepped out in Copenhagen, Denmark, this weekend - while the investigation into him continues. Pictures of the typically platinum blond son of Crown Princess of Norway Mette-Marit showed him with dyed brown hair which has grown out, a hoodie and printed jacket. He was seen wearing sunglasses while walking around in public. As outlined by Afterposten, Hiby is now facing allegations of two rapes without intercourse, charges of abusing three women, 'threatening to kill a man, driving without a valid driver's license, reckless behavior, multiple violations of a restraining order, damage, threats, and bodily harm'. It comes as Hiby looks unrecognisable in new photos as he stepped out in Copenhagen, Denmark, this weekend - while the investigation into him continues He was seen wearing sunglasses while walking around in public. As outlined by Afterposten , Hiby is now facing allegations of two rapes without intercourse, charges of abusing three women, 'threatening to kill a man, driving without a valid driver's license, reckless behavior, multiple violations of a restraining order, damage, threats, and bodily harm' TV2 has also been told by sources that the alleged rape took place just four months ago - at a hotel in Oslo. A woman in her 20s is said to have filed the report in February He has in past pleaded guilty to 'reckless conduct, damage, threats, bodily harm and a death threat - but denies all other charges. Police are also investigating several other matters, including alleged sexual assaults, one of which he was accused of in February by a TV presenter. It took place at his royal residence in a 'castle basement party' with police believed to have a video clip of the attack, according to Se og hor. Linni Meister, 39, reportedly did not remember the alleged attack and only became aware of it after she was informed by law enforcement officials. Since the report was published, Linni has claimed it is 'true' in a statement on Snapchat. Hiby has not commented on the allegation. The assault is believed to have taken place in 2018 at a 'party among friends' in the basement of Skaugum Castle in 2018, when Hiby was 21. He dubbed these 'Skaugum Festivals' and reportedly criminal friends including members of motorcycle gangs. After one of these parties, the home was burgled, when a motorcycle gang reportedly stole private items from the Norwegian Royal Family. It brings forward a new case of 'rape without intercourse', which allegedly took place late last year - when Hiby was already facing a series of assault charges Items, including silverware, are alleged to have been taken and then attempted to be sold via an auction house. The event is believed to have gotten 'completely out of hand' and continued in the castle basement after Hiby's stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, slept upstairs. Hiby is not a royal - but the stepson of the future king of Norway. He was four when his mother married Haakon - and his half-sister is the future Queen of Norway. It was during the party that Hiby allegedly raped Linni while she was unconscious, local media reported. Police are said to have become aware of the alleged crime after discovering three videos and more than 10 photos of the incident on Hiby's laptop. Linni was informed about the alleged assault at the Oslo Police Station, where she was shown the reportedly incriminating evidence. After initial reports in Norwegian media, Linni took to her Snapchat to write: 'I woke up to my phone falling to the floor, as it was being rung by the Norwegian and foreign press. 'I understand that there are many who want to comment on the case Se og Hr is reporting today, but I will not comment on it, other than that it is true,' she wrote. Prince Sverre Magnus, Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Marius Borg Hiby pictured in 2019 in Oslo 'Mostly to protect myself and my family, and because I really feel for the person's family. This has to end and we can't have this anymore, or more victims, so I really hope the person gets serious help.' John Christian Elden, Linni's lawyer, told the magazine: 'In a crime of this kind, this is highly unusual, and it is also rare that a suspect really benefits from it. But of course it is his right. He can refuse to testify.' The Norwegian royal family was rocked when Hiby was acccused of bodily harm following a late-night row on August 4 at the Oslo apartment of a woman he was having a relationship with, police said. Norwegian media reported that police found a knife stuck in one of the woman's bedroom walls at the time. Hiby in a later statement to the media admitted to causing her bodily harm while he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol and of damaging her apartment. He said he regretted his acts. He was arrested again in September for breaching a restraining order. In a statement issued via his lawyer after the first charge, Hiby said he suffers from 'several mental disorders' and has 'struggled with substance abuse for a long time'. He is then understood to have travelled to London with his step-father Crown Prince Haakon to attend the rehabilitation centre. The Norwegian royal family was rocked by Hiby's first arrest at the beginning of August. Pictured with his mother in 2016 Hiby is also under investigation for another offence believed to have occurred 'a few hundred metres away' from the Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit's Skaugum Estate. In November, he was released from custody after he was arrested on suspicion of rape. The 28-year-old - who has since been accused of a second rape - was banned from having visitors and letters during his stay in custody due to the risk of tampering with evidence Police said Hiby was released because they believed there was no longer any danger of evidence being lost or destroyed. Since his arrest, a shocking video of Hiby has been shared with the Norwegian publication Se og Hr, which allegedly shows the former mechanic illustrating how he ended the relationship with an ex. In the clip, Hiby is reportedly asked: 'How did you break up with your last girlfriend?'. Shrugging his shoulders, he then leans forward towards the camera as he makes a slapping gesture with his hands. It is not known when the video was recorded - but it was allegedly published in a group in Hiby's own network, which consists of around 50 people. Hiby's lawyer, Bratlien, said his client was innocent and was opposed to being held in preventive detention. Bratlien said he would appeal the detention ruling, but welcomed the fact that judges had not granted the police request for a two-week detention. 'We consider that promising,' he said in a written statement to NRK. He was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18. Unlike them however he has no official public role. The Norwegian royal family was rocked by Hiby's first arrest at the beginning of August, after a woman - Rebecca Helberg Arntsen - was left in hospital with her injuries following an attack. A week after his arrest, Hiby admitted to the assault on Rebecca, whom he referred to as his 'girlfriend' (her lawyers have refuted this claim). In a statement issued via his own lawyer, Hiby said he suffers from 'several mental disorders' and has 'struggled with substance abuse for a long time', which he said he is resuming treatment for. The statement read: 'Last weekend something happened that should never have happened. I committed bodily harm and destroyed objects in an apartment in the intoxication of alcohol and cocaine after an argument. 'I have several mental disorders which mean that throughout my upbringing and adult life, I have had, and still have, challenges. I have struggled with substance abuse for a long time, something I have been in treatment for in the past. 'The drug use and my diagnoses do not excuse what happened in the apartment at Frogner on the night of Sunday last weekend. I want to be responsible for what I have done, and will explain myself truthfully to the police. 'For me, the most important thing is to say sorry to my girlfriend. She deserved neither what happened that night, nor the extreme pressure from both the Norwegian and foreign press afterwards.' Mette-Marit's eldest son also apologised to his family for his actions that have 'greatly affected you'. Shoppers said they were struggling to get their hands on the snack Aldi customers have been left outraged after discovering a 'disgusting' change to one of it's popular snacks. The German retailer has been blasted by UK shoppers who have claimed its Meatsters sticks - a dupe for Peperami salami - are now 'really gross' and 'covered in hard fat.' Elsewhere, others have complained of not being to get their hands on the snack at all, having repeatedly been met with empty shelves at Aldi supermarkets across the country. Furious fans took to social media to lament their frustrations after sampling the usually beloved snack. Writing on Aldi UK Shoppers Facebook group, one said: 'We had these in our local about three weeks ago, but when we went to eat them they was covered in hard fat and was horrible think they have changed them, we had to throw them in the bin wasn't nice at all.' 'The longer meatsters have just come back into stock in my local Aldi however they must have changed the recipe as they taste rank and are all covered in fat,' a second said. Another asked if others were struggling to source the snack. 'Anyone having issues with the mini meatsters? My Aldi didn't stock them for a while and since they have come back they are awful!,' they wrote. 'Not the best picture but that is fat in the packet the meat was covered in it, others have been really hard and dry,' one said alongside a picture of the product. Aldi customers have been left outraged after discovering a 'disgusting' change to one of it's popular snacks (Measters pictured) The German retailer has been blasted by shoppers who have complained it's Meatsters sticks, which are a dupe for Peperami salami, are now 'really gross' and come 'covered in hard fat' Another commented: 'Agree. We can't get the little ones, but got some big ones and there so greasy and full on liquid fatgross!' A third wrote: 'Yes we had the same problem! They are disgusting now.' According to reports from The Sun, customers were likely impacted by a change in the way the product is produced. An Aldi spokesperson told The Sun: 'While perfectly safe, we appreciate that this product did not meet our normal standards. 'Anyone experiencing this should return it to their nearest store for a full refund.' It comes as many customers have also complained of not being able to get their hands on the product in UK stores. At the time, the budget supermarket said they had not discontinued the product, despite many struggling to source it. The supermarket sells three different versions of the product, selling both Classic and Mini varieties. At the heart of the complaints is the Mini versions, which come in a pack of 10 and are priced at 2.19. Furious fans took to social media to lament their frustrations after sampling the usually beloved snack The Classic Meatster Snack Salami comes in a pack of five and costs 1.99. There is also a spicy flavoured Hot Meatster Snack Salami, which costs the same price as the classic version. A number of other supermarkets have faced similar issues stocking salami, with German meats seemingly having been aditionally absent from Tesco, Sainsbury's and Lidl. But it's unlikely that customers will have much luck getting hold of their favourite meat products anytime soon. It comes after the government introduced a ban on cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany after a case of foot and mouth was found in the country in an effort to curb any risk of the disease entering the UK. Alongside this, there is also currently a ban on the import of all cooked meats. In a statement last month it said: 'The commercial import of cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, buffaloes and their products such as meat, and dairy from Germany will now be banned to protect farmers and their livelihoods. 'GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat and animal products. 'As of 15 January it is no longer permitted for travellers to bring unpackaged meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants into Great Britain from the EU, EFTA states, Faroe Islands and Greenland. 'Additionally, these products may not be brought to Great Britain from Germany, even if commercially packaged.' Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner told Bristol Live: 'The government will do whatever it takes to protect our nation's farmers from the risk posed by foot and mouth disease. That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak and we will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads. Prince William has revealed George's rather cheeky advice for Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper. Yesterday, the Prince of Wales, 42, visited Folly Farm in Pensford, Somerset, and was followed by a camera crew from the Amazon Prime series. William, who is set to appear in an upcoming episode of the show, also revealed that his eldest son, 11, is a big fan. The royal told Cooper: 'You've got George watching now. I said to him 'What shall I say if I meet Kaleb?' He joked: 'He said "Tell Kaleb to mind 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. Kaleb admitted, after the Prince had departed: 'I did get told off for swearing too much I tried to stop, but at the same time, it's awesome. 'That's what I like about the whole show I've had so many people thank me, going "you brought the family together". It's a great feeling.' Prince William has revealed George's rather cheeky advice for Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper Prince George (pictured at Christmas) is a big fan of Amazon Prime series Clarkson's Farm He had a joke of his own for William, telling his royal visitor 'I like your hair', when he arrived. The heir to the throne responded in kind and when Kaleb pointed to his boots, he said: 'Are they the cleanest ones you've got?' The visit came 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. 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 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.' 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. Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales speaks with farmers during an event for sixty of the Duchy of Cornwall's next generation of farming tenants, in Pensford It was a very jovial atmosphere, as Kaleb joked about William's hair, and the royal in turn pointed out the state of his boots The group were followed by camera crews - as William is set to appear in an upcoming episode of the show 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' 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.' Pushed face first into the wall of her hallway, her hands slapped in handcuffs, Elizabeth De Zoysa could barely process what was happening. Moments earlier, still in her dressing gown, she had been clearing up the breakfast dishes left by her teenage daughters before they departed for school. Now, she and her husband also in handcuffs were being bombarded with questions by police officers who had just stormed through their front door. Questions about their 23-year-old son Louis. Did he have any medical conditions? Where did he work? When was the last time they had seen him? 'I couldn't process what was going on,' Elizabeth recalls now. 'I couldn't conceive of what Louis might have done and not in a million years could I have guessed.' For the devastating truth, which Elizabeth only learned after an agonising hour of questions, was that her eldest son had shot dead a police officer while in custody in Croydon, south London, before apparently turning the gun on himself and was fighting for his life in hospital. So many desperate questions have been triggered by the events of that day. But for Elizabeth, one stood out the most. 'Amidst that absolute shock was this thought about whether something in me had turned Louis into this, or put him on this path?' she says now. 'Right from the beginning there was this terrible guilt that I didn't do enough for him.' They are questions she has continued to wrestle with in the five tumultuous years since learning that Louis, who is autistic and now in prison for the rest of his life, had ended the life of Sergeant Matt Ratana in September 2020. Elizabeth De Zoysa, mother of convicted murderer Louis, reveals: 'Right from the beginning there was this terrible guilt that I didn't do enough for him' Louis De Zoysa was found guilty of the murder of Sergeant Matt Ratana who he shot dead while handcuffed in a police cell A popular 54-year-old New Zealander, who had served in the Met for nearly 30 years, Sergeant Ratana was just three months from retirement when he was killed. His loss was shattering to his family and long-standing partner. Anyone who has seen Netflix drama Adolescence in which a 13-year-old boy kills a fellow pupil will recognise the devastation that a killer's actions wreak on their own family, too. Yet in real life, Elizabeth knows that people are far less sympathetic towards the mother of a murderer. 'Nothing compares to the pain the loved ones of Sergeant Ratana have endured, I understand that,' she tells me. 'I am not asking for sympathy. But I also know that my son is not evil, and I believe things could have been done differently, which would have prevented this tragedy. 'Our world is filled with 'if onlys', and if speaking out sheds some light on those and helps others avoid our agony then it is worth it.' Though some have stood by her, Elizabeth has lost friends since all this unfolded. 'One friend in particular I just never heard from again since this happened,' she says. 'I have seen others avoid me, and some friends I avoid in turn as I feel they might be judgmental.' Elizabeth, a 60-year-old translator, has been married for nearly 30 years to yoga instructor Channa. They live in south-west London, where they raised their five children Louis, now 28, has two brothers and two sisters, aged between 17 and 26. Louis was Elizabeth's first-born, a handsome boy who seemed different from the rumbunctious sons of friends. 'He could very happily entertain himself just lining up screws or nuts and bolts, helping me with little jobs around the house for hours,' she says. 'He seemed happy in his own little world, although he was very affectionate too.' Sergeant Matt Ratana, a popular 54-year-old New Zealander who had served in the Met for nearly 30 years, was just three months from retirement when he was killed. He is pictured with his wife Elizabeth with Louis as a young boy. Louis, who was clearly bright, struggled to make friends and his parents were often called in to be told he had hit another child. He was diagnosed with autism when he turned 14 Once at primary school, Louis, who was clearly bright, struggled to make friends and his parents were often called in to be told he had hit another child. 'Later I found out through research that this happens so much to autistic children,' says Elizabeth. 'He'd been provoked, and responded, but he wasn't able to give that account. 'Now, looking back, I feel a lot of guilt. I struggled with the idea of him being different, and worried about the stigma. Did that stop me fighting as hard as I should for support for him?' Louis did not receive a formal diagnosis of autism until he was 14, though it made little difference at school. 'He really didn't get help at any point,' says Elizabeth. 'We had a meeting with the headteacher who was just very defensive.' Happily, Louis excelled academically, winning a place at University College London to study mechanical engineering, although he carried on living at home. 'Looking back, I think that's when things started to unravel for him although I didn't know it at the time,' says Elizabeth quietly. 'I think being out in the world having to deal with his autism as an adult was much harder for him. He definitely withdrew and it was difficult for me to get him to talk about his feelings.' Her voice breaks and she says: 'It leaves me with huge guilt that I hadn't better helped him understand his diagnosis. Later, after what happened, I got access to his medical records and found out he had gone to the doctor around the age of 19 to ask if he'd been mixed up with his younger brother, who was also diagnosed with autism but whose symptoms were different. It showed me he hadn't really accepted his own diagnosis. That breaks my heart.' Only in his second year, when her son barely left the house, did she realise he had dropped out of the course after failing his first-year exams. 'I rang the university, but because he was over 18, they refused to talk to us, so we never found out why and he refused to talk about it,' she says. Determined that her son would not cast himself adrift, Elizabeth suggested he apply for the civil service, and Louis was accepted as a tax analyst for HMRC, starting in September 2018. Around a year later, he moved out, although he would still come home for visits. That is until early 2020 when he had a heated argument with his father and his brother, with whom relations had long been fractious. 'After that, he cut off contact with all of us, including me,' says Elizabeth. 'I was very upset, but I felt he knew where we were, and that he knew he was always welcome and would return in his own time. I didn't want to force myself on him.' With the trial going ahead, Elizabeth had to pluck up courage to see the bodycam and CCTV footage showing her son's arrest and the terrible events that followed. Her son is here pictured with the gun, circled Elizabeth says: 'When I saw him being arrested, all I could see was how autistic he seemed, and in the custody cell everything that happened looked like an autistic meltdown' It meant she was unaware her son had been furloughed during the pandemic. Holed up on his own, a later search of his digital devices confirmed his interest in weapons. Elizabeth had always known that, like many young boys, Louis had an interest in guns. He had joined the cadets as a young teen. But this was different; according to police, he had extensively researched militaria. She says: 'I felt this huge shame, but also huge fear, worried that somehow it was our fault, that we should have known. I wondered if we'd been naive. We had always told him if he was angry never to take it out on a person. So I couldn't equate the portrait the police seemed to be painting with what I knew of him and what we had taught him.' Either way, the consequences were devastating. In the small hours of September 25, 2020, Louis was arrested while walking not far from the family home under stop and search. He was carrying a holdall, which officers deemed suspicious as there had been a spate of burglaries in the area. In fact, as Louis who remained polite and initially asked police to call his parents informed officers, he was carrying not stolen goods but cannabis. He didn't tell them he was also carrying an antique Colt revolver bought legitimately over the internet, but for which he had fashioned his own homemade bullets concealed in a holster hidden under his arm. Why did he have a gun? And was he, as some have since suggested, heading to the family home to use it? Elizabeth vehemently disputes this. 'He often visited the area, without coming to see us, I know that. One of his favourite takeaways was there. I know him well enough to know he would not do us harm. 'He has since managed to tell me that he was coming home to eat, and that it was in the small hours because he liked the house being quiet. One of the first things the police asked me was whether I was ever scared of him and I could look them firmly in the eye and categorically say no.' Whatever his motivation, the gun was not discovered, despite the fact that police found the homemade bullets. Louis was taken to Croydon Custody Centre where, once inside the custody suite, Sergeant Ratana entered and told Louis he would need to be searched again. What happened next unfolded with lightning speed, and still remains unclear. As another officer pulled him to his feet, Louis managed to bring his still-cuffed hands from behind his back to one side and shot Sergeant Ratana in the heart and leg before firing two more bullets, one of which hit the cell wall, the other landing in his own neck. 'I don't think he intended to kill himself,' Elizabeth says. 'Just as I believe he didn't intend to kill Sergeant Ratana. I think this was his way of saying leave me alone, in the throes of an autistic meltdown.' Sergeant Ratana was rushed to hospital where, tragically, he died of his injuries. The time was 2.15am and at home Elizabeth was asleep, blissfully unaware her world was about to change for ever. That is until ferocious banging on the door six hours later. Pinned against the wall, Elizabeth, in an answer to officers' questions, told them her son was autistic and dyspraxic. Only around an hour into this barrage of questions did she learn the horrific truth about what had happened and that her son was in hospital. 'It's the most traumatic thing I have ever experienced,' says Elizabeth. 'I was in a state of total shock. Nothing felt real. But I instantly knew it had happened by mistake.' Not for one moment did she ever question that she would stand by her son. 'I gave birth to him, and there isn't a deal which says you only love them if they are perfect. I could never abandon him,' she says, adding that she and Channa vowed to fight for their son together. 'Channa and I recognised immediately that if we cast blame we would all fall apart, so we made a pact that we were in this together. It was hard, and tense, and we still had lots of arguments, but we managed to pull together.' Louis was being held under armed guard at St George's Hospital in Tooting but his parents weren't allowed to see him. This continued even when the following evening 36 hours after the shooting Louis suffered a stroke that left him with a catastrophic brain injury. Elizabeth only found this out when a surgeon rang, asking if he could perform a highly risky craniectomy to relieve the pressure on her son's skull. Elizabeth and Channa raced to the hospital, to be told again they were not allowed to see their son. 'The receptionist called security, and they said that if I tried to go to the ward, I'd be arrested,' she recalls quietly. 'They were prepared for the fact that he might die without us saying goodbye.' This situation continued for three months, during which time Elizabeth relied on her brain-damaged son's solicitor to record video footage for them. These snippets proved difficult to watch; largely non-verbal, and paralysed down one side, Louis was barely recognisable. 'It was devastating,' says Elizabeth. 'Before visiting Louis in the hospital for the first time, I didn't know how I'd feel about him; I thought he might be different to the loving son that I knew. But as soon as I saw him, even though he was wearing a blue helmet, in a hospital gown and in a wheelchair, all my worries disappeared because I saw that he was the same person I'd always known and loved.' Six months after he was admitted, Louis was discharged into a specialist unit. Despite being wheelchair-bound with limited communication skills, he was considered fit to stand trial. In April 2023 he appeared via video link to enter a not guilty plea to murder, holding up a whiteboard to help him communicate. It is a decision that Elizabeth admits she still finds troubling, and which she believes was fuelled by the fact he had shot a police officer rather than a civilian. 'In my opinion he was never fit to stand trial and still would not be today even though his condition has improved,' she says. 'There were two fitness-to-plead hearings, and five psychologists gave evidence saying he wasn't. But the judge took the view of the one psychologist for the prosecution who deemed him able to give evidence.' With the trial going ahead, Elizabeth also had to pluck up courage to see the bodycam and CCTV footage showing her son's arrest and the terrible events that followed. 'It was incredibly emotional for a lot of reasons, not least because by then I hadn't seen him without his brain injury for a long time. 'When I saw him being arrested, all I could see was how autistic he seemed, and in the custody cell everything that happened looked like an autistic meltdown.' Louis's trial began at Northampton Crown Court in June 2023, his family already prepared for the fact that, if found guilty, he would be given a whole-life order (the harshest sentence possible, meaning he would never be released). During the trial, Louis's lawyer, Imran Khan KC, said communication problems caused by his injuries meant it 'may never be possible to know exactly what was going through his mind' at the time of the shooting, arguing he had diminished responsibility because of his autism. The jury saw it differently, and convicted Louis unanimously of murder. Sentencing him to the whole-life order, Mr Justice Johnson said that 'any communication difficulty, or difficulty with communication, had no bearing on your intention to kill Sergeant Ratana.' 'I will never stop believing that he never intended to kill,' says Elizabeth a belief she is not able to have ratified by her son, who has no memory of what happened after his arrest. 'Yes, it's hard for me not to hear it from him, but far harder has been having to accept that he's brain damaged and in a wheelchair for life.' Louis can only manage simple dialogue. Elizabeth is now campaigning for wider understanding in dealing with those with autism when taken into custody. 'I hope that in 20 or 30 years' time, we'll look on this case differently, and it will be studied by law students,' she says. She recently appeared on podcast series Mums Of Murderers, which talks to four mothers whose children are serving life for murder. She does what any mother would do for her son, visiting him regularly at Belmarsh Prison, where he is kept in the hospital wing, although she is campaigning to have him moved to a prison with better medical facilities. 'It's not the right place,' she says. 'It's designed for a relatively quick stay, not a whole-life order.' Nonetheless, Elizabeth accepts that wherever he ends up, her son will almost certainly never experience life on the outside again and that her own life, and that of her family's, is irrevocably changed. 'I have to accept it, as does he,' she says. 'It's sad, but then so much about this situation is desperately sad.' A self-proclaimed 'cancer faking expert' has declared that there is one place that health scammers love to visit. Bill Petrich has spent 15 years tracking the baffling cases of people who have faked cancer. Petrich, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 21, now documents his findings on TikTok. One of his recent revelations is that many people who fake cancer often have a penchant for Disney - and will spend the money raised to go to one of the famous theme parks. 'Cancer fakers love Disney World,' Petrich declared in a TikTok. 'You just told your friends and family that you're dying and now they're giving you money - what are you going to do next - I'm going to Disney World,' he quipped. The cancer-hunting sleuth - who works a day job in biotech - said he has been 'so many' cases where someone fakes cancer and fundraises a lot of money before taking a 'dream vacation to a Disney park', which is often billed as their last vacation or dying wish. Saying he can think of more than 'than 25 cases,' he knows of some people that have faked cervical cancer in Cinderella's castle or Hodgkin's lymphoma in the Haunted Mansion. 'I'm talking about multiple myeloma on the many adventures of Winnie the Pooh,' he quipped, before listing a few well-known cases. Bill Petrich, who dubbed himself the ' cancer faking expert', has spent 15 years tracking the baffling cases of people who have faked cancer 'Emma Lagarde was a prominent case out of the United Kingdom in 2005 to 2008, she basically faked her son's cancer so she could skip the line at Disney World,' he explained. 'She shaved her son's head and sent him to school in a wheelchair, even though when he came home he would jump on the trampoline in their yard, so the kid eventually knew he didn't have cancer,' he shared. But the mom kept this up for years and raised thousands of dollars before taking a dream vacation to Disney World in Florida with her son - making him sit in the wheelchair so they could skip the line at all the rides. As per old reports published in 2012, his mother used her Facebook page to announce he had cancer and kept up the elaborate farce for four years. 'She was ultimately sentenced to three years in prison when she was caught,' Petrich added. He then shared another story, involving a 38-year-old woman from Maryland named Dina Leone who started reaching out to her old high school friends on Facebook, telling them she had stage four cancer and she was dying and asked them for money. '[She] got people to start fundraising for her and doing stuff for her, and she took that money and went to Disney World for a dream final vacation, her dying wish,' Petrich explained. Reports from 2010 show that several friends sent money to pay for chemotherapy while others organized charity events to raise funds. One of Petrich's revelations is that many people who fake cancer often have a penchant for Disney - and will spend the money raised to go to Disney theme parks However, some helping became suspicious after Leone suddenly appeared bald after chemo rather than losing her hair over a period of time. According to report published in 2019 by the Baltimore Sun, Leone was sentenced to 15 years in prison. 'You're on Space Mountain, you're supposed to be having the time of your life, but like in the back of your head you know that this huge scandal is looming over you, that you've made an incredibly stupid self-destructive choice, there's really no exit strategy from faking terminal cancer and going off to Disney World - how can you even enjoy the rides at that point?' he asked. 'I could rattle off so many more cases,' Petrich concluded the video. 'But you get the idea: cancer fakers cannot resist a trip to Disney Land or Disney World.' Faking cancer has been thrust into the limelight after the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, which focused on self-proclaimed health guru Belle Gibson who rose to prominence in 2012 with her tale of how she cured her own brain cancer through healthy eating, clean living and positive thinking, she inspired hundreds of thousands of followers around the world. In an interview on the Speaking of Psychology podcast earlier in the year, Dr Marc Feldman, a psychologist who is an international expert in factitious disorders, defines malingering as when people lie about serious illness for external gain. He said people who malinger are 'going after things that are tangible', for example, obtaining opioid medication or, if they are facing a criminal conviction, the ability to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. This differs from Munchausen syndrome (also known as a factitious disorder) which causes people to fake illness in themselves, or others, to gain attention. The thing I have always admired about Prince Harry the thing that makes me raise my head above the parapet to stick up for him time and time again is that he cares. He really, really cares. I knew this from the moment I met him, almost ten years ago now. It was at an event to launch Heads Together, the charitable campaign he had created with his brother William and sister-in-law Kate now Prince and Princess of Wales to get people talking about mental health. In a world where it feels as if everyone is talking about their feelings, it's hard to remember how genuinely groundbreaking this moment was: three members of the most famously buttoned-up family, telling those with mental illness they weren't alone. They weren't forgotten. They were welcome, and wanted. I had been invited because I'd been open about my own mental illness, writing extensively about the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that had left me in terrible fear since childhood. I'd also recently set up a peer support group, Mental Health Mates, that had started to offer walks and get-togethers to others suffering from mental illness. As I stood there in London's Olympic Park, chatting to them openly about so many often ignored mental health conditions, I remember being struck by how wholeheartedly the three young royals were committed to this cause. This was not a case of them blithely putting their names to some passing fad in the hope of winning brownie points with the nation. Over the next year, I did a lot of work with them, and learnt with each passing meeting that they lived, breathed and slept Heads Together. But it was Harry, in particular, with whom I really bonded. Our conversations were sometimes silly, sometimes serious, always sincere. Harry - pictured meeting orphans in Lesotho through his work with Sentebale - has always endeavoured to use his position to shine a light on things that might otherwise stay lurking in the dark, writes Bryony Gordon Harry co-founded the charity in 2006 with his friend, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, after spending time in the country during his gap year He chatted about dark times with the candour of someone who'd been through them personally. It was this that led me to ask if he'd consider being the first guest on a podcast I was about to start one in which interviewees spoke about their own mental health. In classic Harry style, he rose to the challenge, and so it was that he finally opened up publicly about the awful grief he had tried to ignore after his mother died. For Harry, it was simple: if he had given one boy permission to cry, one child permission to grieve, one man permission to ask for help, then he had done his job. I believe that has always been his motivation: to use his position to shine a light on things that might otherwise stay lurking in the dark. It's what makes him tick, what enables him to make sense of the often nonsensical world he was born into. And it's why I know that the troubles currently engulfing his charity Sentebale will be heartbreaking for him. Because just as he cared deeply about Heads Together, and just as he is devoted to the injured veterans he serves through the Invictus Games, he is absolutely committed to helping children in southern Africa who have been affected by HIV. He co-founded the charity in 2006 with his friend, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, after spending time in the country during his gap year, and witnessing the terrible ravages of Aids on the population. Sentebale is, in many ways, his first love. It is the project he has been with for the longest, the one that came before all the others the one he founded in memory of his darling mother. How heartbreaking then that Harry and Prince Seeiso have found themselves resigning as patrons of the charity, in solidarity with the board of trustees who all quit in protest at the 'untenable' leadership of Sophie Chandauka, the chair of Sentebale. The prince with board chair Sophie Chandauka, right, who describes herself as a 'whistleblower' and claimed she has exposed 'poor governance, weak executive management' Prince Harry and Meghan attend the Royal Salute Polo Challenge as part of a Sentebale fundraiser in April 2024 In response, Chandauka has described herself as a 'whistleblower' and claimed she has exposed 'poor governance, weak executive management bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir [discrimination against black women]', while also reporting the trustees to the Charity Commission and filing a lawsuit against the organisation in the High Court. It seems extraordinary, but in my experience this kind of in-fighting is all too common when it comes to the third sector. Voluntary work naturally attracts lots of empathetic people such as Prince Harry, but unfortunately, it also attracts those with far less honourable intentions. During the almost ten years I've spent formalising Mental Health Mates as a not-for-profit organisation, I've heard stories from other founders about behaviour that is far from philanthropic of the sort of in-fighting and backbiting that would make politicians and bankers blush. For every ten people who are drawn towards the third sector to give back, it seems there's at least one who's only there to take. The most obvious example of this comes courtesy of Hannah Ingram-Moore, who personally pocketed money donated to the Captain Tom Foundation set up in her late father's name. Meanwhile, the supermodel Naomi Campbell is currently appealing a five-year ban that prevents her from running a charity. Campbell claims she was unaware of the financial misconduct at Fashion For Relief, that led to tens of thousands of pounds being spent on luxury hotel rooms, spa treatments, and even cigarettes. The 54-year-old claimed last month that she was the 'victim of fraud and forgery' and a 'concerted deception' carried out by a fellow trustee. The Charity Commission are kept busy. Last year, the founders of an organisation backed by Sir Tony Blair were disqualified by the commission after a newspaper investigation found that money meant for children was instead spent on designer outfits to wear to fundraising events. Sharon Doughty and her partner Neil Evans are now appealing the decision, which came after it was discovered that their charity MissDorothy.com owed 2,000 to the parents of the murdered teenager Jimmy Mizen. And who can forget the awful furore around Kids Company, run by the late Camila Batmanghelidjh, which was forced to shut down in 2015 after allegations of abuse and financial mismanagement. Though many of the accusations were later found to be unsubstantiated, the damage was done, and the real losers, as ever, were the thousands of vulnerable children who could no longer find help through the charity's invaluable community centres. It's the young people in Lesotho and Botswana who Prince Harry will be thinking about right now. For their sake, we must all hope that this sad situation at Sentebale is sorted out soon. Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter had a simple but scathing, five-word takedown of Meghan Markle in a new interview - just days after he said she was 'adrift on reality.' While speaking with Interview Magazine in a piece published on Thursday, the Air Mail founder was asked on his thoughts about The Duchess. The interview was published in the magazine's Rorschach Test section, where they ask interview subjects to share their 'gut reactions to today's most pressing matters.' 'The Undine Spragg of Montecito,' Carter replied when asked his thoughts about Markle. For those unfamiliar, his reference was to the main character in The Custom of the Country, a tragicomedy by author Edith Wharton that was published in 1913. The book tells the story of Spragg, a social climber who moves from the Midwest to New York to experience the high life. Spragg then marries a man from Manhattan's high society, but she's never satisfied because of her greed and ambition. On Goodreads, Spragg is described as 'vain, spoiled, and selfish.' Former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter had a simple but scathing, five-word takedown of Meghan Markle in a new interview - just days after he said she was 'adrift on reality' 'The Undine Spragg of Montecito,' Carter replied when asked about Markle, speaking to Interview Magazine DailyMail.com reached out to Meghan's representatives for comment. Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time that a writer has compared Meghan to that of Wharton's character. In 2021, author Claire Messud juxtaposed Spragg to Meghan in a piece for The New York Times Style Magazine. 'It isn't hard to find contemporary examples of tenacious social climbing all around us, whether in Hollywood or Washington, D.C., or at the fancy dinner parties of New York, Palm Beach, Dallas or San Francisco,' Messud wrote at the time. 'Consider the humbler or parochial origins of many a rich or powerful man's beautiful wife or girlfriend,' she continued. 'For these women, marriage often works like a business, a carefully calculated investment in the future. But perhaps the present-day celebrity who most readily recalls Undine Spragg is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, or Rachel Meghan Markle of Woodland Hills, Calif., as she once was.' The piece then goes on as a critical comparison of the two. Carter's recent comments come just a few days after he told Page Six about his time working with Meghan as she was the cover story of Vanity Fair's October 2017 issue. In 2021, author Claire Messud juxtaposed Spragg to Meghan in a piece for The New York Times Style Magazine During the interview, the editor also commented on what the late Princess Diana may think of Prince Harry and Prince William's unfortunate rift Carter told Page Six about the moment, 'This woman is slightly adrift on the facts and reality' He has admitted that he initially had 'no idea' who Meghan was when one of his team suggested her for the cover, asking them initially: 'Why should we do a story on her?' His colleague swiftly replied: 'Because she's going to marry Prince Harry.' 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.' Carter told Page Six about the moment, 'This woman is slightly adrift on the facts and reality.' During the interview, the editor also commented on what the late Princess Diana may think of Prince Harry and Prince William's unfortunate rift. Carter knew Princess Diana and had sat next to her at many dinners. 'I would think she would feel great sorrow for her son to have been pulled away from his family like this, especially his brother but also his father ,' Carter said. 'Anytime someone comes between siblings that's a disaster, horrible for a family.' 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 Budget retailer Lidl is launching its own version of Dubai style chocolate - after Waitrose limited the number of bars customers could buy. Shoppers have been clearing the shelves of the newest food craze - a chocolate block filled with pistachio cream and kataifi pastry, crispy shredded phyllo dough - inspired by a Middle Eastern dessert called knafeh. The sweet treat has become one of the fastest-selling confectionary products ever at Selfridges and Waitrose even banned customers from buying more than two Lindt's 10 Dubai Style Chocolate. And now Lidl is preparing to drop its own version this Saturday, March 29 for a fraction of the price. The supermarket sent fans into a frenzy just last week when it launched its very own J.D. Gross Dubai Style Chocolate on Lidl's TikTok shop with limited stock available online. Shoppers snapped up 6,000 bars in just over an hour and 72 every minute, prompting the retailer to make moves to stock the chocolate in its stores nationwide. This Saturday the J.D. Gross Dubai Style Chocolate will hit the shelves for 3.99 for Lidl Plus customers and 4.99 for regular shoppers. J.D.Gross Dubai Style Chocolate Lidl UK is releasing its own version of the Dubai-style chocolate that has been sending foodies into a spin. It will hit the shelves on Saturday, March 29 and cost only 3.99 Like Waitrose, Lidl will also be limiting the bars to a maximum of two per customer. The announcement sent fans into a frenzy with many sharing their excitement online. 'Tried and tested. It's great,' one woman said and another exclaimed: 'Get in my belly!!!!' 'I'm so excited for this, thank you so much, I have wanted to try a store version for ages now,' a third wrote. 'Heavenly!! Very yummy indeed,' someone added. A Lidl worker said: 'I had soooo many customers asking me if we have it in. They will be happy when I tell them it should be in from Saturday. They will fly off the shelves'. The JD Gross bar will be the first store-brand Dubai chocolate to be widely available in UK supermarkets - and the cheapest. Anticipation around the new bar was built when TikTok 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 could soon be available in the UK. TikTok user Anni (pictured) tried Lidl's variation of the famous chocolate bar - and appeared impressed 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. Other brands and supermarkets have been releasing their own Dubai-style chocolates to get in on the trend. TikTok users would have to be living under a rock to not have witnessed celebrities and influencers taste-testing the premium pistachio-filled chocolate bar, with #dubaichocolate currently having over 11 billion views on the platform. Luxury British retailer Selfridges introduced the highly sought-after sweet treat in four different variations. There is 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; it's 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!' UK-based Kieran Slade located Lindt's version in Sainsburys, writing: 'I've been trying to find the Lindt Dubai chocolate bar in (the) UK for ages but it's finally available in Sainsbury's, so be quick before it sells out!' 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. The UK has finally caught on to Dubai's famous chocolate bar, with Lindt introducing their version, as well as Selfridges and Lidl (pictured: UK-based TikTok user Kieran purchasing Lindt's version in Sainsburys) '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. 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 supermarket has 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 two bars per person please because we want everyone to have the chance to enjoy our delicious chocolate. Thanks for your understanding,' the sign read. 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.' All Dr Aileen Alegado ever wanted to do was help people. An academic high-achiever from an early age, she excelled at school and went on to study neuropsychology at university. But when she achieved her dream of qualifying as a clinical psychologist, she found herself struggling. 'I've had imposter syndrome since I started university. I'm a perfectionist, people-pleaser, and have a fear of failure,' Aileen, who hails from New Zealand and now lives in Sydney, tells Daily Mail Australia. 'Oddly, I also feared success because when huge opportunities come my way I feel anxious about "not being good enough".' Aileen often felt overwhelmed with her workload and felt the 'Sunday scaries' ahead of every Monday morning. 'I had panic attacks and didn't rest enough,' she says. 'I ate unhealthy, didn't work out a lot, I overcompensated for the sacrifices I had made and would reward myself.' Last year, Dr Aileen Alegado (pictured) went to a five-day 'magic mushroom' retreat in Portugal to transform her mind This caused Aileen to suffer crippling anxiety, depression, stress, ongoing cycles of burnout, and weight gain. As she treated patients in her clinic, she knew she needed professional help herself. 'I felt like fraud speaking to a therapist while being a therapist myself,' she says. After speaking to a professional, Aileen was prescribed antidepressants. While she could see her own patients improving through therapy and medication, nothing seemed to make her feel better. In fact, her health issues got worse, including a spike in her cholesterol when she was in her 30s, which frightened her because she has a family history of diabetes. Then, when she was 32, the unthinkable happened: her boyfriend of 18 months, who was 35, was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He died just 18 days after his diagnosis. Following this tragedy, Aileen's mental health took a dive. She was only getting three hours' sleep a night and she was later diagnosed with sleep apnea in her 40s. Due to making poor food choices when she was exhausted, she gained more weight. She has struggled with anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, weight gain and sleep apnea 'My doctor said, "No wonder you're putting on weight, you're always in fight-or-flight mode",' she recalls. After having no success with a sleep apnea machine, which she found irritating and uncomfortable, Aileen became desperate. She says it felt like 'death by a thousand cuts' listening to other people's trauma as a psychologist while also struggling herself. Aileen found herself single and childless, often wondering about the life she could have had if she hadn't put so much pressure on her career ambitions. Two years ago, at the age of 43, she decided to seek alternative help. During her research, she came across studies about how psilocybin (magic mushrooms) could be used to treat depression. 'I had heard of psychedelics before but never tried it and was fascinated by how it impacts the brain and the science of it,' she says. Magic mushrooms were legalised in Australia in July 2023, and can be prescribed by doctors for specific health conditions, such as depression. Despite being legalised, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rules were 'very strict and specific'. 'I wouldn't have met the criteria for diagnosis as it's only for treatment-resistant depression, which I didn't have,' Aileen, now 44, says. 'It was only for hospital or clinical settings and it cost $20,000. I did it overseas for half that price. For me, I wanted to do it in a retreat setting.' After initially considering Mexico, where the drug is also legal, she eventually decided on a five-day retreat in Portugal. 'I had been to Europe before and had friends in London so Portugal felt like the better, safer choice,' she says. Aileen also managed to convince one of her friends, who was also struggling with mental health, to come along with her. Aileen was fraught with nerves the whole flight, but says she felt 'safe' when she arrived to find the retreat nestled in a mountain valley and met a small group of eight participants, all hoping for a healing experience. Nestled away in a lush mountain valley, a small group of eight people from around the world met in a jungle-like forest all searching for the same thing: peace and clarity Aileen is pictured at the retreat The sun was shining during the retreat and guests walked from the main building to a dome-shaped tent (right) After settling into the retreat, the group was taken to a tent for their first treatment. Given a blanket and an eye mask, Aileen was instructed to sit on a yoga mat and drink a cup of tea infused with psilocybin, then lie down. Ninety minutes passed and Aileen didn't feel any change. Sitting up, she took off her eye mask and the group leader came over to speak to her. 'I think my brain is broken,' she thought. She was then given a small piece of a chocolate containing an additional dose. Soon she began to hallucinate. At first, she felt like she was flying or the room was moving around her. Then the memories came. First she was taken back to when her family moved from the Philippines to New Zealand. She was reminded of the sadness she felt seeing her parents struggle to raise a family in a new country. 'It was an adjustment period. I had empathy for my parents for the sacrifices they made to give us the best opportunities,' she says. Her university years and fear of failure also resurfaced. 'I was so hard on myself. I was in my final year and at the eleventh hour I was going to quit and give it all up. I had studied for nine years and was ready to throw in the towel because I didn't feel I could do it,' she says. Her imposter syndrome was so intense that for the first ten years of her career, she believed someone would 'take away' her qualification and title. Perhaps the most confronting memory of all was of her boyfriend dying of cancer. The grief she'd tried to repress so she could continue with her job rose the surface. 'By the end of the retreat, I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in years. It wasn't some magical, permanent high, just a quiet, undeniable knowing that I am loved, and I am enough. And honestly? That's the real trip,' she says. 'It's like parts of my brain were switched on that weren't there before,' she adds. Rather than being confronted with strange visions, she instead experienced moments from her past when she felt disappointed, sad or overwhelmed What is psilocybin-assisted therapy? Psilocybin-assisted therapy is revolutionising the mental health landscape, offering breakthroughs where traditional talk therapies often fall short. Research suggests that a single guided psilocybin session can be the equivalent of 100 hours of conventional therapy, as it enables individuals to access deep-seated emotions, memories, and subconscious patterns that may take years to uncover through standard methods. Unlike traditional approaches, which often rely on conscious processing and verbal analysis, psilocybin works by resetting the brain's default mode network, the region associated with self-criticism, overthinking and rigid thought patterns. This allows for heightened neuroplasticity, essentially rewiring the brain, giving individuals the opportunity to shift negative beliefs, break destructive cycles, and gain profound insights into their lives. What makes psilocybin-assisted therapy so powerful is its ability to dissolve emotional barriers and facilitate a deep state of self-exploration in just a few hours. As of July 1, 2023, magic mushrooms and psilocybin are legal in Australia when prescribed by authorised psychiatrists for specific conditions. Advertisement The last two days of the retreat involved 'aftercare' and unpacking the emotions that had come up during her 'trip'. Aileen left feeling 'calm and at peace' with her inner thoughts. Now she has more patience, thinks before she makes decisions and maintains a healthier work-life balance. And the retreat was so transformative she decided to reconstruct her practice. Two years ago, she trained to deliver psychedelic-assisted therapies and will be running her first psilocybin Envision Wellness Retreat in Portugal this year from May 15-20. 'Since its legalisation in Australia, there has been increased interest in psychedelic treatments despite the fact that not many people can actually access it,' she says. 'The science is there. My hope is that people have the opportunity to explore these treatments outside of the hospital setting for their wellbeing and mental health and remove the stigma attached to it.' by Bill Benzon I didnt even know he had written a book set in New York City in the wake of catastrophic climate change. By he I mean Kim Stanley Robinson. But there it was on the table, New York 2140. A couple quick glances told me that, yes, it was set after the sea rise. Thats something very real to me. Id lived through Hurricane Sandys flooding on the Jersey shore I was living in Jersey City at the time. I was without power for four or five days (I forget which), but others were without power for two or more weeksnot to mention flooding and homes destroyed, and the effects ripple out from there. Theyre still rippling. When climate change hits home we cant stop it, its already started, and the sea will rise appreciably no matter what we do will we survive? Well of course we will, we meaning humans, some of us. But how will we live? Our spirit, what of that? Perhaps Robinson offers some insight. Not, mind you, that I somehow think KSR is a prophet. He isnt (a prophet) and he doesnt (know the future). But hes a smart guy with a good imagination and really, thats the best we can do under the circumstances, no? And so I began to read the New York 2140. Caveat: This is not a review, its a consideration, a meditation? Its full of spoilers. Ive been re-reading the book and coming to grips with it. Or something. An earlier and somewhat different piece on the book. Not about the future, but the present As I was reading my mind collided with that old cliche: Science fictions not about the future, its about the present. But then isnt all fiction like that? No matter when and where its set, it is necessarily about the authorial present, because thats what the author lives, day in and day out. The rest is costumes, stage sets, blocking, and action. Thats what I was thinking. But I was also thinking that THATs not why Im reading New York 2140, not at all. Its about NYC after the climate apocalypse, and thats why it interests me. Its as though I was almost looking for a how-to-do-it book. I say almost because when you put it that baldly it seems silly and I wasnt really thinking that. But sorta, kinda, almost. As I read through the book which is both complex (lots of interacting characters) and simple (little in the say of intricate scheming, but some) I read about the financial collapse of 2008. Thats something very real to me, as it diminished the value of my inheritance and hence my wellbeing. By the time I got to the end I was telling myself, whoa! this isnt about the future, its about the present! Financial collapse, massive debilitating storm crushing New York City, those may well happen in the future, but Ive already lived through them. And as for a spontaneous uprising of people in protest, thats Occupy Wall Street: I marched in that! In the end, nothing got occupied but our minds, with the idea of inequality: the 1% vs. the 99%. Occupy created the cultural mind-space that allowed Piketty (Capital in the Twenty-First Century) to make a splash. But just what is THE PRESENT? Thats a very tricky question. What time scale do we use to measure the present? Theres a body of research in psychology that pegs the perceptual present at about three to four seconds. Thats certainly not the appropriate scale for this discussion. But what is? A year, a decade, a century? Theres a reasonable sense in which the financial crash of 2008 and the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 are nonetheless part of my present. Theyre certainly in the time horizon Stanley invokes/evokes in his book. Events unfold in nested waves. Some waves have a frequency measured in seconds, or less (even way way less). Others have frequencies measured in decades or centuries or more. Weve also got hours, days, weeks, months, years. Nested waves on all scales, with casual links of various kinds crossing from one scale to another. Its complicated. If Im going to extend my present a decade into the past, then perhaps I can also extend it a decade into the future, call it 2030. Thats still over a century short of Robinsons start date. But then climate change looms large in his imagination and surely we can push that back to the beginning of the carbon-spewing Industrial Revolution. Now were going two centuries back to the beginning of the 19th century, and that entitles us to push two centuries into the future, to the end of the 22nd century. Our imaginative present (Robinsons novelistic present?) now runs roughly from 1800 to 2200, leaving him a little wiggle room after the imaginary events hes detailed for us. In his penultimate chapter, attributed merely to the citizenwho functions a bit like a Greek chorus, commenting on the actionRobinson tells us (p. 604): Every moment is a wicked struggle of political forces, so even as the intertidal emerges from the surf like Venus, capitalism will be flattening itself like the octopus it biomimics, sliding between the glass walls of law that try to keep it contained, and no one should be surprised to find it can squeeze itself to the width of its beak, the only part of it that it cant squish flatter, the hard part that tears our flesh when it is free to do so. No, the glass walls of justice will have to be placed together closer than the width of an octopuss beaknow theres a fortune cookie for you! And even then the octopus may think of some new ways to bite the world. A hinged beak, some super suckers, who knows what these people will try. For you see, capitalism had just suffered a crushing defeat. But the books gone on for 604 pages at this point, so it really must come to an end though I note that KSRs Mars adventure extended over three volumes. But we mustnt think that the end of the book is also the end of the causal forces it cast into wicked struggle. So no, no, no, no! Dont be naive! There are no happy endings! Because there are no endings! And possibly there is no happiness either! Though there a few more sentences in this chapter and then, yes, theres one final chapter. It takes place in some submarine speakeasy called Mezzrows named, we presume, after a mid-20th century jazz musician and scenester who hung with the cats and supplied them with joints (aka mezzes) where we dance to West African rhythms. And the take-home? The lesson, what does it tell us about, I suppose, radical historical change? Thats tricky. Or perhaps not. Whatever it is, it would be about chance favoring the prepared mind and how in this case, in KSRs New York City and the world of 2140, there were lots of minds prepared by decades upon decades of subservience to the 1% (which, we know, is actually a tiny fraction of the 1%) in which 100s of millions managed to eek out a more or less self-sufficient existence in the tidal boondocks created by massive coastal flooding. And things just happened! What is fiction anyhow? Sometime during the period when I first read New York 2140 Im now reading it again I had slipped over to Manhattan for a panel discussion about artificial intelligence that was held wouldnt you know? at the New York Yacht Club, an honorable establishment with old money written all over it, not to mention a handsome stash of full and half-hull ship models and was delighted with the Times Square area at night. Its like something from the future, all bright and slithering lights. Next time Ill take my camera. Would the New York of Kim Stanley Robinsons 2140 be like that? Times Square itself, of course, would be under water, but many of the tall buildings would still be sticking around, their middle and upper floors rising above the water. And thats where a lot of the electronic signage was. That would be quite a sight, to see all those animated lights reflecting in the water. So, I ask you: Does New York 2140 exhibit a distinctive mode of fictional being? Thats perhaps not the best way to put the question, but theres no really good way. What I have in mind is the way Robinson combines rich array of details about New Yorks past something Adam Roberts reminded me of on Facebook with a richly imagined future. Weve got the real and the imaginary combined into one seamless extended novelistic present. I could almost have said the real pastas Robinson imagines itand the futureas Robinson imagines it, for the imagination is a faculty we use for everything, not just fantasy and fiction. Its all imaginable, and some is real, some not so real. Whats real? Indeed. Heres what Robinson had to say about his craft in Nature (20 December 2017): Heres how I think science fiction works aesthetically. Its not prediction. It has, rather, a double action, like the lenses of 3D glasses. Through one lens, we make a serious attempt to portray a possible future. Through the other, we see our present metaphorically, in a kind of heroic simile that says, It is as if our world is like this. When these two visions merge, the artificial third dimension that pops into being is simply history. We see ourselves and our society and our planet like giants plunged into the years, as Marcel Proust put it. So really its the fourth dimension that leaps into view: deep time, and our place in it. Yep, thats what hes done in New York 2140. Hes given as a world where the overall social organization is pretty much what it is today. We seem to have pretty much the same bunch of nation-states he doesnt say this that I recall, so it becomes true by default. The World Trade Organization is still doing whatever it does. The Federal Government is still there, though a bit weakened, private security forces are more prevalent. The 0.001% stays on top by trading in ever more exotic financial instruments. Robinson uses the future as a device to tweak these arrangements so that when a hurricane triggers a flood (like Sandy) and the flood triggers a financial collapse (like 2008), we get a different outcome (p. 521). Strategic defaulting. Class-action suits. Mass rallies. Staying home from work. Staying out of private transport systems. Refusing consumer consumption beyond the necessities. Withdrawing deposits. Denouncing all forms of rent-seeking. Ignoring mass media. Withholding schedules payments. Fiscal noncompliance. Loud public complaining. And the banks are nationalized. Do I believe it? How should I know? Does it matter? Of course it does, I guess so, maybe. Its like that. Reality. Fiction. Back in the 1960s and 1970s there was something called the new journalism, in which writers like Tom Wolfe, Norman Mailer, and Hunter Thompson wrote about real events using literary techniques. They gave up the conventions of journalistic objectivity and entered into the events they chronicled. At the same time E. L. Doctorow was earning praise for his fictionalized history. What about alternate history, for example, P. K. Dicks The Man in the High Castle, set in a world where Japan and Germany won World War II? How does New York 2140 fit into that, whatever that is? This, it seems to me, is something for Latours conception of modes of existence, where each mode has its own truth conditions. What is the mode for New York 2140, versus, say, The Tale of Genji, The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, The Interpretation of Dreams, or On the Origin of Species, and what are the respective truth conditions for each? And what of those scenarios beloved of futurists, such as the team at Royal Dutch Shell? You study the situation from all angles economics, political, demographic, cultural, meteorological, whatever and explore the space of possible futures by crafting two, three, or more possible futures. But its one thing to do this five, ten, or even twenty years into the future. But a century and a quarter? Robinson posits two major climate events he calls them Pulses before hurricane Fyodor. It causes massive damage, but not, I believe, as bad as that of the two Pulses. But still, basic social structures managed to survive those two catastrophes, otherwise the social world of 2140 wouldnt look so much like that of 2018, or 17, 16, 15, whenever Robinson was thinking, researching, and writing. What held things together through all the troubles? And in the end I have a guess, perhaps a wish, a hypothesis. Something thats missing from the book until the very end. Remember how I said they ended up dancing in an underground club named after Mezz Mezzrow just up there ^ move your eyes, scroll the window (p. 611): Everyone in the room is now grooving to the tightest West African pop any of them have ever heard. The guitar players licks are like metal shavings coming off a lathe. The vocalists are wailing, the horns are a freight train. Well, thats what kept people together through the dark times. Lots of dance and music. Aretha Franklin just died. Whered her music come from? It came from the church, the African-American church. And that music was/is a hybrid of African and Western musical traditions. Its that music that kept enslaved Africans and their descendants alive during the years of slavery and Jim Crow racism. Yes, I know, thats an assertion that needs an argument. Ive provided some of that argument at book length, Beethovens Anvil: Music in Mind and Culture, where I argue that its music and dance that opened up the social space in which clever apes could become proto-humans. Ever since then music and dance have been a central vehicle of social cohesion. It connects us and gives us hope. How could Robinson have missed it? Well, he didnt miss it, not completely. He added it on to the end, perhaps to give closure to a story that otherwise was still very much unfolding? How could you rewrite the book so that music and dance are central, bring them up out of the basement clubs? In some measure its a technical problem, a matter of craft? Do you just drop party scenes in here and there? No, that wont do. What then? Im thinking we almost have to go surreal, perhaps magically real. You know, Leonard Bernstein used to talk of how, when fully cranked up in his conducting, hed all but become the composer of the music. Ive sometimes thought of using that as a time travel device: Go up on the podium, become Mozart, and exit the concert hall into 18th century Vienna. Take the Vivaldi to 17th century Italy, Glinka to 19th century Russia. But how do you get to the Middle Kingdom? Which Middle Kingdom, you ask? Does it matter? All of them. Robinson does a lot of this, of course, through literary allusion, quotation, and direct reference, as Stefano and Roberto go looking for Herman Melvilles grave. But Stefano and Roberto are only two, and its we who get the allusions, each of us in our own reading space. It needs to be more collective, even more hallucinatory, prophetic if you will. Dance back through the Second Pulse, then the First, and keep on going. Maybe THAT will keep us together. Met Life Tower at dawn. You may recall that the story is centered on this building. They trim our hair, polish our nails and ease our tired muscles but beauticians, manicurists, hairdressers and barbers can do far more than that. In fact, many are now trained to potentially save our lives. For example, the charity Skcin has been offering training to hair and beauty professionals to help them spot potential signs of skin cancer among their clients. Meanwhile, various groups around the country have been helping to train barbers, to make them aware of even subtle signs that their clients may be suffering with depression - and if they are, the barbers also know where to direct them to get help. Here we talk to three people whose beautician, massage therapist or barber spotted signs that saved their life Nail technician urged me to seek help for a brown toenail Louise Whymark, 35, is a customer service assistant and lives in Harwich, Essex. She says: When I spotted the strange brown mark that suddenly appeared on my left big toe in January 2022, I thought it didn't look right - but I didn't think it was bad enough to see the doctor. Instead I took a picture of the nail and sent it to my nail technician. I have been going to her for years for regular manicures and pedicures. Louise Whymark, 35, a customer service assistant, believes her nail technician saved her life after urging her to seek advice about a brown toenail Louise's brown toenail was a sign that her kidneys were not functioning properly She said it looked like an infection, but added that she'd been taught that marks could be signs of more serious things and that I should go to a doctor. If she hadn't said that, I would have ignored it. I booked to see my GP, who looked a bit worried and did a blood test to check my liver and kidney function. He said sometimes nail marks can be a sign of a problem there. A few days later the surgery rang and asked me to come in for more blood tests and referred me for an ultrasound scan of my kidneys. I thought it was a lot of fuss over nothing, but to my surprise, days later the scan revealed my kidneys were only working at 25 per cent of their capacity. I was absolutely stunned. I'd had no signs other than this mark on my toenail. I had to be admitted into hospital there and then as they also found my blood pressure was so high (213/100) that I was in danger of having a stroke. I was kept in hospital for a week while they tried to get the blood pressure low enough for it to be safe for me to have a kidney biopsy. A week after I'd had it, back at home I got a call from the consultant telling me I had a kidney disorder called IGA nephropathy a disease that causes kidney inflammation that over time can interfere with the kidneys' ability to filter waste from the blood. I was warned that my kidney was so badly damaged that I needed a transplant and would be put on the kidney donor waiting list. I was in shock I was urinating properly and never had pains apart from that mark on my toe. I'm now having dialysis three times a week for four hours at a time in hospital, awaiting a transplant. I feel well most of the time with dialysis, although I can get breathless. If it hadn't been spotted when it was, I'd be in a far worse state. I'm so thankful to my nail technician. I believe she saved my life. Expert says: 'Chronic kidney disease in itself is often 'silent' [i.e. without any obvious symptoms],' says Professor Simon Davies a consultant nephrologist at the University Hospital of North Midlands and trustee at Kidney Research UK. 'This is why any signs of something being wrong should lead to quick checks - and an unexplained nail infection in an apparently healthy person can be one of those signs. 'When kidney disease occurs, the body has difficulties removing waste products such as urea, nitrogen and creatinine and as a result, these substances build up in the body tissues - including the nails - so there can be changes to the texture, shape or natural colour of fingernails and toenails. 'When nails become unhealthy and brittle, they are also more susceptible to infections, so it is important to visit your doctor if you (or indeed your nail technician) notice these changes. 'Screening for kidney disease is easy. Checking blood pressure (which is often high in those with kidney disease), a quick urine test to look for protein in the urine, and a blood test called eGFR would quickly pick up a kidney problem. 'The great thing is that there are now several medications that can slow down the progression of kidney disease, preventing the need for a transplant or kidney dialysis if caught early enough.' I couldn't see the worrying mark on my leg - but my masseuse could Seonag MacKinnon, who is in her 50s, is a communications director and lives in Edinburgh. She has three grown-up children. She says: I was coming to the end of a wonderfully relaxing therapeutic massage treatment courtesy of my children who bought me a voucher for Mother's Day - when the beauty therapist, Dominika, told me I had a mark on the back of my thigh which was an unusual shape and colour. I couldn't easily see the back of my legs so I knew nothing about it. Dominika Lachowicz (left) spotted a deadly skin cancer on Seonag's leg while giving her a therapeutic massage The mark on the back of Seonag's leg was an unusual shape and colour, but she couldn't see it herself as it was obscured She said she was 'no medic', but suggested I see a doctor to get it checked. I went home, but her words lingered. I decided to play it safe so a few days later, in 2019, I booked an appointment with my GP who looked at the mark, made no particular comment but referred me to a skin consultant who I saw about a fortnight later in hospital. The consultant examined me and told me just by looking at it that it was clearly a malignant melanoma - the most deadly form of skin cancer - which it would be better to take out immediately. In that moment my world stopped turning; I had heard of melanoma and agreed to immediate treatment. Within minutes I was on an operating table. A biopsy taken at the same time confirmed a few weeks later that it was cancer and I later needed more surgery to remove more tissue to make sure they had taken out all the cancer. I now have a 5in scar. Thankfully surgery got it all and I didn't need chemotherapy or radiotherapy. My consultant said: 'I hope you're going to give the beautician flowers, because if you'd come to me one year later we'd be having a very different conversation.' Grateful doesn't come close to summing up how I felt towards Dominika. After the surgery I waited a few months before I went to see her as I was too emotional to confront what might have happened if she hadn't spoken up. When I did summon the courage to see her we hugged. She turned the course of my life. I visit her to this day - there will always be a bond between us. Expert says: 'Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that arises from the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) and has the potential to spread to other parts of the body,' says Dr Penelope Pratsou, a consultant dermatologist at Reading Dermatology in Berkshire and a spokesman for the British Skin Foundation. 'It is mostly found on sun-exposed parts of the body, though it can also present in non-sun-exposed areas, including under the nails. 'Melanoma can occur in difficult-to-check sites such as the back, and patients will often attend clinic after odd moles have been spotted by partners. 'Beauty and massage therapists see a large number of people whose skin will be exposed during treatment, often on a repeat basis, so are ideally placed to spot a new or changing lesion early, sometimes before it is spotted by the person themselves. 'Most cases of melanoma are treated through surgical removal of the lesion, which is examined in the lab to confirm how serious the melanoma is, and the best course of treatment. 'Being aware of the signs of melanoma is therefore vital, as early detection of melanoma truly saves lives.' My barber helped me admit I was suicidal David Mulberry, 39, is a barber and lives in Maidenhead, Berkshire. He says: By 2021 I had lost my logistics business and was at rock bottom. But, like many men, I felt there was nowhere for me to turn and I didn't tell anyone how I felt. But sat in the chair at my local barber one day, a female barber started cutting my hair and the combination of her care and empathetic demeanour helped me to start talking about my life: I opened up about my drinking problem and how I was suffering depression and terrible anxiety. David Mulberry, 39, found he could open up about his mental health struggles while sitting in the chair - and went on to become a barber himself She listened and didn't judge and after my haircut, she made me a cup of coffee and we talked further. I even admitted I was having suicidal thoughts, which was the first time I had said the words out loud. I felt I was in a safe space where I could be honest about how low I was feeling. It brought me some clarity. The barber told me about Alcoholics Anonymous and within weeks I joined and stopped drinking. I also decided I wanted to be a barber. I completed my training and last year opened my own salon, Mulberrys in Maidenhead. I provide a service not just for hair and grooming but a listening service just as the barber did who saved me. Expert says: 'Men are usually encouraged to fix problems rather than talk about them, so sitting down and saying, "I'm not OK" doesn't come naturally,' says Mairead Molloy, a psychologist in London. 'Opening up about depression or anxiety can feel like admitting weakness, which is scary when you've been taught to always seem strong. Add in the fear of being judged or misunderstood, and it's no wonder so many men keep it all bottled up. 'Barbershops are one of those rare places where men feel comfortable just being themselves. It's a no-pressure environment you're sitting there for 20 minutes, having a chat, and somehow it feels easier to let stuff out. 'Mental health experts are starting to recognise how powerful this can be. 'Projects like the Lions Barber Collective a group of barbers who are training their staff to be aware of mental health issues clients might have - are showing how barbers can play a big role in breaking down the stigma around mental health. 'Barbers are in a unique position because they're part of their clients' lives in a way that's personal but not too intense. 'It's not like talking to a friend who might judge you or a doctor who might feel formal. 'Of course, it's important not to expect barbers to be counsellors but teaching them the basics of mental health like how to spot when someone's struggling or how to have a supportive conversation could help so many people.' A record number of deadly dengue fever cases were imported into Britain last year, official data shows. Cases of the tropical disease, which can cause agonising pain in the joints and muscles, landing in the UK surged to 904 in 2024, the highest level ever recorded. Officials have now urged travellers to take precautions to prevent catching the virus, which is spread by mosquito bites, while overseas. Dr Philip Veal, an expert in public health at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said: 'Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets, can effectively reduce the risk of mosquito-borne infections. 'Before you travel, check the TravelHealthPro website for the latest health advice on your destination, including any recommended vaccinations. 'Even if youve been to a country before, remember that you dont have the same level of protection against infections as permanent residents and are still at risk.' Dengue patients often experience an abrupt onset of fever, followed by severe headache, pain in the eyes, joints and muscles as well as nausea and vomiting. The disease was historically known as 'breakbone fever' in the 1700s because the pain it caused was so severe people felt like their bones were breaking. Dengue is normally transmitted by mosquito bites, but exposure to infected blood can also result in people catching the virus Dengue can be fatal, depending on the severity of illness and if patients receive treatment. Symptoms typically strike between four to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. This means holidaymakers often fall ill upon their return to Britain. Cases of dengue reported in the UK for 2024 are 43 per cent higher than the 631 recorded the year prior and almost 10-fold 2021's figure. UKHSA said the vast majority of cases, about one in three, were related to travel from South Asia, particularly India. However, there was considerable growth in the number of travellers from South America with the virus, which they attributed to large outbreaks in Brazil. Officials also noted that one patient who became ill with the virus had recently travelled from Spain. While normally endemic to Central and South America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, experts have warned that climate change is making the Mediterranean more hospitable for the mosquito species that carry the disease. Dengue is a potentially deadly virus passed to people by infected mosquitoes and was historically known as 'breakbone fever' UKHSA said Britain's record breaking dengue cases were part of a global post-pandemic surge in the disease. 'A range of factors, including climate change, changing distributions of the mosquito vector, and periodic weather events leading to rising temperatures, heavy rainfall and humidity are driving this increase globally,' it said. Britons with dengue symptoms, who have been in an area where the disease, is prevalent are advised to contact their GP or NHS 111 for an urgent appointment. This is due to a risk of a potentially life-threatening complication that typically strikes just as people start to feel better. While people infected with dengue recover after one to two weeks, there is a chance some can develop a far more serious form of the infection. Called 'severe dengue' this is a life-threatening condition that develops in about one to 20 cases (five per cent) of people being infected with the virus. Experts estimate this version of dengue kills half of people who suffer it. Symptoms of severe dengue include severe stomach pain, repeatedly being sick, fast breathing, bleeding gums, nose bleeds, extreme tiredness, restlessness and blood in your vomit or faeces. This map shows areas where mosquitoes capable of carrying dengue have been introduced in Britain. These populations have not yet established a permanent presence in the UK but experts have warned climate change means their spread is inevitable These typically strike after between 24 to 48 hours after the initial wave of dengue symptoms has passed and people start to feel better. It is a serious medical emergency and people with symptoms are advised to call 999 or head to A&E as soon as possible. People who have had dengue previously are known to be more at risk of suffering a severe version of disease in the future from subsequent infections. The NHS now warns people that dengue is a risk on European holiday-destinations like Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal and Madeira between Spring and November. It also advises that people who are more vulnerable to dengue, such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system should avoid traveling to areas where the virus is present. Dengue transmission is currently not considered a risk in the UK, though mosquitoes capable of carrying the virus have been found in the wild in Britain previously. Normally, people with dengue cannot pass the virus to others directly, though mosquitoes can bite them and then go on to infect other people. However, very rare cases of dengue being passed on through contact with infected blood via transfusions or organ donation have been recorded. Globally, there were a reported 6.5million cases of dengue of which 7,300 resulted in death in 2023, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). However, the WHO says modelling suggests there are 390million actual infections per year. You don't need to be a biohacker spending $2million per year on a routine to boost your brain. That's according to a Canadian study that found someone can reverse their brain age by 10 years by turning off their cellphone's internet for two weeks. In a study on 400 people students and working-age adults researchers asked participants to download an app that blocked their smartphones access to the internet. They could still make calls and send texts. Participants completed surveys before and after the study to measure their brain function and mental wellbeing. Results showed their sustained attention ability to focus on one subject was boosted so much it became equivalent to the attention span of someone 10 years younger. Ninety percent of people also reported improvements in their mental health, on a magnitude greater than that expected from taking antidepressants for two weeks. And participants said they had improvements in their personal well-being and feelings of life satisfaction. Researchers said the shift in the brain was likely due to a change in how people spent their time, with individuals now spending less time on the internet and more socializing in person, exercising and being in nature. The above graph shows how sustained attention ability - the ability to focus on one task for a period of time - and mental health improved over the one-month. It shows the group that blocked access to the internet from their phone for the first two weeks (blue) and for the second two weeks (red) Researchers also found over the study period, screen time nearly halved dropping in one group from five hours and 14 minutes to two hours and 41 minutes a day on average. In the study, the team from the University of British Columbia said: 'Despite the many benefits mobile internet offers, reducing the constant connection to the digital world can have large positive effects.' They added: 'Our results provide evidence that blocking mobile internet from smartphones for two weeks can produce significant improvements for [well-being], mental health and the objectively measured ability to sustain attention. 'Even those who did not fully comply with the intervention experienced significant, though more modest, improvements. 'These findings suggest that constant connection to the online world comes at a cost, since psychological functioning improves when this connection is reduced.' In the experiment, published in the journal PNAS Nexus, researchers recruited participants from America and Canada via an online portal. Participants were aged 32 years old on average, while 63 percent were female, and 29 percent were students and 42 percent were employed full-time. They were asked to complete three surveys measuring their cognition over the course of one month, each two weeks apart. They were split into two groups, with the first group downloading an app that completely blocked all internet access called the Freedom App to block internet access from their phone for the first two weeks. The second group used their phone as normal for the first two weeks, and then downloaded the app to block internet access for the second two. Analysis was carried out to calculate their scores for sustained attention, mental health and subjective well-being. Out of the 467 people who enrolled in the study, 266 downloaded and set up the app. Of these, 119 blocked the internet for at least 10 of the 14 intervention days. In the group that had internet blocked first, screen time dropped from 314 minutes a day to 161 minutes a day or down by almost half. Ninety percent of participants reported improvements in their mental health after disconnecting their smartphones from the internet for two weeks It then rebounded to 265 minutes in the following two weeks when they could freely access the internet, but remained 15 percent below the levels before the start of the experiment. In the other group, screen time dropped from 336 to 322 minutes in the first two weeks when they had not blocked their access to the internet. It then dropped from 322 to 190 minutes in the second two-week period, or down 41 percent compared to the previous periods. About 90 percent of American adults own a smartphone, or a phone that can connect to the internet, spending four hours and 35minutes on them per day on average. Yet nearly half of Americans and about four out of five people under 30 express concerns over their regular use. Young adults are said to be concerned that constantly being online is making it harder for them to connect with real people and to be meaningfully engaged with their family. And the concerns are reaching schools full of young developing children, with at least nine states including California, Florida and Ohio now banning mobile phones from classrooms. Schools in the UK, which called for a ban on smartphones in classrooms in February last year, teachers say they are seeing improvements in attainment and behavior. Several US states are moving to ban cell phones, claiming the devices have greatly contributed to cyberbullying, poor mental health and a lack of learning Your browser does not support iframes. Researchers also echoed the concern, saying humans had evolved in a world where information and social contact was hard to come by. This suggested the constant stimulation offered by being connected to the internet could make it hard to control thoughts and behaviors. The intervention blocked all internet access, but in the future the researchers said they would like to only block particular applications such as only social media sites. They would also like to investigate whether reducing the use of other internet-connected devices, such as laptops or tablets, could have a similar effect. Limitations included that the sample included mostly people who were motivated to reduce smartphone use. The study was funded by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the largest foundation in the silicon valley. Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook is its largest donor, which gave $1.75billion to the charity in 2010 and another $200million in 2018. Regularly using your phone late into the night may be ruining your sleep cycle and damaging your brain, a study suggests. Researchers from the American Cancer Society found daily screen use before bed may disrupt the body's circadian rhythm and lead to about 50 minutes of less sleep each week. Analyzing data from over 122,000 people, the study found those who use electronic devices regularly before bed had a 33 percent higher likelihood of poor sleep quality. Circadian rhythm refers to the body's natural 24-hour cycle that regulates sleep and wakefulness. It is what tells the body to prepare for sleep as the day progress and prepares the body to wake up the next morning. Sleep deprivation impacts various parts of the brain, particularly areas responsible for executive functions, memory and regions involved in attention and emotional regulation. A lack of or irregular sleep can significantly affect the circadian rhythm and can lead to fatigue, difficulty concentrating, mood swings and impaired judgment. In the long run, chronic poor sleep can also increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression and weaken the immune system. Regularly using your phone late into the night may be ruining your sleep cycle and damaging your brain, a study suggests The study asked 122,058 participants from 35 US states and Puerto Rico to answer a questionnaire and self-report how often they use their electronic devices an hour before sleeping and levels of light in their bedroom. They were asked to reveal the clock time they typically aim to fall asleep by and wake up on workdays and non-workdays. Participants were also to state whether they consider themselves definitely a morning person, more of a morning than an evening person, more of an evening than a morning person, definitely an evening person or none of the above. Based on their answers, the researchers conducted an analysis and ranked their sleep quality with the choices of very poor, fairly poor, fairly well and very well. Results showed out of 122,058 people, over 70,000 (58 percent) said they were early risers. Over 50,000 (41 percent) of them noted using their phones before bed while about 20,000 (17 percent) said they did not. Further analysis showed those who used electronic devices regularly before bed had a 33 percent higher likelihood of poor sleep quality. They also slept nearly eight minutes less on workdays. Additionally, early risers who regularly used their phones before bed slept 9.33 minutes later than their decided time while night owls slept 15.62 minutes later. Night owls also lost about 8.36 minutes of overall sleep (58.5 minutes per week) as compared to 5.64 minutes (39.4 minutes per week) for early risers. The researchers concluded screen use before bed was linked to worse sleep quality, less sleep and later bedtimes, with the effect being stronger in those who preferred to go to bed later in the night. Your browser does not support iframes. Doctors suggest adults above 18 to sleep for seven or more hours each night while those between the age of 13 to 18 are advised to eight to 10 hours. As of 2024, around 9 in 10 people users check their phones less than an hour before going to bed. Light exposure was one of the main reasons the scientists cited as to why late night phone usage was damaging sleep patterns. The group explained: 'Light exposure is the strongest zeitgeber, the environmental cue that entrains our circadian rhythms to a 24-hour light-dark cycle. Light exposure at night can disrupt sleep by disrupting this natural cycle through delaying the onset of melatonin. 'This can lead to reduced sleepiness and increased alertness, which may be reflected by self-reported lower quality of sleep.' Blue light, a type of light emitted by electronic devices, can interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Exposure to blue light, especially in the evening, can trick the brain into thinking that it is still daytime - delaying the release of melatonin and making it harder to fall asleep. This can decrease the body's capacity to achieve rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, which is crucial for restful sleep and cognitive function. The study was published by JAMA Network on March 27. A Michigan resident has died of rabies after contracting it through a transplanted organ, health officials have confirmed. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) revealed the patient received the organ in December at a hospital in Lucas County, Ohio and succumbed to the rabies virus in January. Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the central nervous system that is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals such as dogs, racoons, bats, coyotes and foxes. It fatal in nearly 100 percent of cases and fewer than 20 cases of human survival of rabies have ever been documented. Early symptoms in humans include fever, headache, agitation, confusion and vomiting. As the infection progresses, patients begin showing signs of excessive salivation, hallucinations, difficult in swallowing, hallucinations and partial paralysis. While a series of vaccines can be administered after a person suspects they've been exposed to rabies, once symptoms appear, there is no effective treatment. The organ donor was not a Michigan or Ohio resident and it is not known how they contracted rabies or if they were showing symptoms. Health officials have not released any additional details on either patients or the organ that was transplanted. A Michigan resident has died of rabies after contracting it through a transplanted organ (Stock image) According to CBS, this case is Michigan's first human case of rabies since 2009. The most recent rabies death in the US occurred in November 2021 after an 84-year-old man was bit by a bat. MDHHS spokesperson Lynn Sutfin said today: 'I can confirm that a Michigan resident died of rabies in January 2025. 'The person was a recent organ transplant recipient, and a public health investigation determined they contracted rabies through the transplanted organ. 'The organ transplant was conducted at an Ohio hospital in December 2024. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services worked closely with the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the investigation.' Sutfin assured the public there was no threat to people and that staff members who were in contact with the patient before they died have been assessed for possible exposure to rabies. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department told PEOPLE: 'The recipient received care in Lucas County, Ohio, where they died. A multi-state public health investigation was conducted to determine the risk of exposure to the recipient and found no risk to the general public. 'Because the recipient was a Michigan Resident, this will not reflect as an Ohio human rabies case. No Lucas County residents have contracted or died of rabies.' While direct human-to-human transmission of rabies has never been confirmed, it can happen in extremely rare cases of an infected organ or tissue transplantation. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has revealed that the patient received the organ in December at a hospital in Lucas County, Ohio and succumbed to the rabies virus in January Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the central nervous system A 2018 study published by the the NIH stated: 'Undiagnosed or misdiagnosed rabid donors are the reason for rabies virus transmission via solid organ or tissue allotransplantation.' It remains unclear how the infection spreads from a tainted organ to the rest of the body. While organs are routinely screened for infectious diseases, cancers, quality and functionality prior to transplant, rabies testing is not typically performed as the infection is rare and test results can take several days. In 2013, the CDC confirmed the death of four people in Maryland who contracted rabies after receiving organs from the same donor. In 2004, the agency also reported the rabies deaths of three people who received organs from a common infected donor. On average, around 4,000 animal rabies cases are reported each year, with over 90 percent occurring in wildlife and less than 10 deaths occur annually, according to the CDC. An alarming report has highlighted the risk posed by a vision robbing parasite that could be lurking in your local park. Analysis of soil samples from parks in Dublin, Ireland found park entrances were the most heavily contaminated by roundworm eggs, followed by children's playgrounds. Roundworms commonly inhabit the digestive systems of cats, dogs and foxes with millions of microscopic eggs shed every time they defecate. From there they enter the soil and if humans touch this, and then their mouths or food without washing their hands, they run risk of catching the parasite themselves. Whilst most roundworm infections are mild, in rare cases the tiny eggs can enter the bloodstream and make their way to the eye. Once there the roundworms can damage the eye upon hatching and, if left untreated, cause blindness. Patients can also experience breathing difficulties if eggs hatch in the lungs. In the study, scientists collected multiples samples from 12 parks in Dublin and tested them for roundworm, scientifically known as Toxocara, eggs. Roundworms commonly inhabit the digestive systems of cats, dogs and foxes with millions of microscopic eggs shed every time they defecate. Stock image A specific focus of their study was to assess if particular areas of parks, like gates, playgrounds, sport fields or seating areas, were had higher concentrations of eggs than others. Publishing the results of the analysis in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, they found park entrances were by far the most heavily contaminated, beating every other location. Whilst unable to directly confirm why this was the case, the authors said that, anecdotally, many dog owners reported their prized pooches often defecate the moment they reach the park. This led the authors to theorise it was this concentration of dog faeces that made entrances such a hotbed of roundworm eggs. But experts were initially puzzled why playgrounds, which are commonly fenced off from dogs, were the second most contaminated area. However, they noted that during their sample collection they had directly witnessed dog owners with puppies in fenced off playgrounds despite signage stating 'no dogs allowed' on multiple occasions. This, they suggested, pointed to 'puppies as likely contamination culprits'. The authors concluded that research assessing the effectiveness of anti-dog fouling measures like signs and dedicated bins should now be conducted in a bid to reduce roundworm contamination. Whilst most roundworm infections are mild, in rare cases the tiny eggs can enter the bloodstream and make their way to the eye where they can cause serious problems 'Park entrances had the most Toxocara eggs, and most of these eggs likely came from dogs. By providing signage, bins and a means to clean up after your dog in these locations, we could reduce the level of contamination. Thats the next step in the research,' they said. Previous research, conducted in both Ireland and the UK, suggests British parks are also commonly infected with roundworm eggs, suggesting gates and playgrounds will also be similar infection hot spots. Estimates on how many cases of roundworm eye infections occur in the UK each year vary. Studies from the 90s suggest about 50 such cases are recorded per year, mostly in very young children. Research on the prevalence of roundworm infection have produced varied, with estimates ranging from 1 to 4 per cent. The NHS says roundworms cannot be caught from fresh animal faeces as it takes time for the eggs to develop, meaning owners shouldn't be put off cleaning up after their pet. Most patients infected by roundworms show no symptoms unless the parasites reach sensitive locations like the eye or lungs. Signs of an eye infection include eye pain or redness, changes to vision such as seeing small dots or lines or flashes of light, or vision loss typically in one eye. Robert F. Kennedy Junior's HHS has slammed California for teaching children as young as 10 about sex toys and role playing. In a letter shown exclusively to DailyMail.com, the Department of Health and Human Services warned the state's health agency it was not showing 'age appropriate' or 'medically accurate' materials to students. In a statement, the HHS said it would 'not tolerate' the use of federal funds for programs that fail to meet its requirements. The letter demanded California now send all materials used for sex education in schools to the HHS for review prior to teaching. In the materials, revealed to this website by HHS, instructors are told to teach students about 'sexual aids (commonly called 'sex toys' by youth)'. They are also told to teach students about 'role-plays that reflect the spectrum of sexual decision-making circumstances' and to use 'inclusive language' and they/them/theirs pronouns rather than she/her/hers and he/him/his. California has been given five days to respond to the letter. This is the latest action taken by the Trump administration that targets California, with President Donald Trump and state Governor Gavin Newsom often clashing. The president has also laid siege to the state's environmental agency and slammed its response to the wildfires that ripped through more than 11,000 homes in Los Angeles at the start of this year. Children as young as ten are being taught about sex toys and role play in California, documents used for the state's sexual education program suggest Kennedy has vowed to make the HHS more efficient and eliminate wasteful programs DailyMail.com contacted the California Department of Education for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication. Sexual health education in US schools is funded federally through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) which aims to improve sexual health for adolescents and minimize the risk of teenage pregnancies. It is run by the Administration for Children and Families, part of the HHS, and has been signed up for by health departments in 44 states. In 2022, California was the biggest recipient of funds from the program receiving $5.8million from the taxpayer. As part of the program, HHS said the federal government can request to view materials if it is concerned these are not 'medically accurate and complete' or are not 'age-appropriate'. Online, the administration says California's program teaches children aged 10 to 19 years, and pregnant and parenting youth up to the age of 21 years. California requires students to be taught sex education once in middle school and once in high school, with local districts choosing the curriculum, textbooks and worksheets used. Parents can opt their children out of the lessons. Schools signed up to PREP in California have four models for teaching sex education to choose from, including the Power Through Choices model which includes references to sex toys and role play. In a guide for teachers in the Power Through Choices model, revealed by HHS, it reads: 'Based on that input from youth and professionals, some role-plays have been included which present same-gender couples and discuss the use of sexual aids (commonly called 'sex toys' by the youth).' It also says: 'To be inclusive of the diversity found in the systems of care community, the curriculum includes gender-inclusive language, such as the pronouns 'they/them/theirs' rather than 'she/her/ hers' or 'he/him/his.' 'Characters with same-gender sexual experience, and language that does not gender bodies and body parts.' In these materials for teachers, used in California's sexual education program for children aged 10 to 19 years old, it suggests that children should be taught about role-play and sex toys. The materials were included in the Power Through Choices program In a separate example of resources for teachers, also revealed exclusively to DailyMail.com, it says: 'Let's keep in mind that there's diversity in society and in this group. 'Some have had sexual intercourse. Some have had sex because they chose to; others may have had sex against their will.' It adds: 'Often gender identity matches a person's body someone with a girl's body feels like a girl on the inside or someone with a boy's body feels like a boy on the inside but not always. 'Transgender is when a person's inner feelings about gender don't match the body. Transgender people can have any sexual orientation.' California's sex education material appears to clash with President Donald Trump's agenda, as he signed an executive order on January 20 stating the US now only recognizes two biological sexes male and female. The letter was sent to California by the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families, Andrew Gradison. In a statement, he said: 'All grant recipients of federally funded PREP money are expected to comply with all statutory requirements of PREP, including ensuring the programs are medically accurate and complete, and the program provides age-appropriate information and activities. 'As part of our radical transparency efforts, I will ensure the curriculum students are taught is age-appropriate and medically accurate.' California's Department of Health has been asked to respond by April 1, 2025. Sex education in the US varies greatly by state and district, with some particularly red states focusing on abstinence while others offer comprehensive programs covering contraception, STIs and healthy relationships. Although almost every state has some guidance on how and when sex education should be taught, this is frequently left up to individual school districts creating a patchwork of education. Currently, 39 states across the US mandate some kind of sex education and/or HIV education. The CDC recommends students are educated on 20 sex education topics, including anatomy, puberty, sexual orientation and contraception. However, according to a 2018 survey from the agency, fewer than half of high schools and less than a fifth of middle schools taught all the topics. We all know how important it is to cleanse at night to maintain healthy skin. During the day, the skin accumulates dirt, oil, sweat, and environmental pollutants. If not removed, these impurities can clog pores, leading to breakouts and dull skin. Additionally, if makeup or sunscreen is left on overnight, it can contribute to irritation and exacerbate skin issues. Cleansing at night also allows the skin to repair and regenerate effectively. The processes that renew and repair our skin cells are more active overnight, and a clean face ensures that these processes are not hindered by leftover debris or residue. Whats more, a proper night-time cleanse prepares the skin for the application of overnight treatments, such as serums and moisturisers, enhancing their effectiveness. Should I cleanse my face in the morning? But what about morning cleansing? How crucial is it to wash (not just rinse!) our faces in the AM? And what about the cautionary claims that over-washing could strip the skin from its natural oils, damage the skin barrier and lead to irritation, sensitivity and increased dryness? We asked Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and founder of Self London, to weigh in on the matter and her answer may surprise you. I wouldnt advocate anyone avoiding washing their face in the morning, Dr Mahto says, though the reasons vary depending on the skin type. Oily skin For oily skin, morning cleansing is crucial to remove the excess oil that accumulates overnight, helping to prevent clogged pores and reduce the likelihood of acne. She recommends a foaming or gel-based cleanser as it will effectively remove excess oil and impurities without stripping the skin, while also preventing clogged pores and control shine throughout the day. Combination skin Those with combination skin should also wash their face in the morning to manage oil production in the T-zone while maintaining balance in drier areas. A gentle foaming cleanser works well to balance oil production in the T-zone while being mild enough for drier areas, Dr Mahto shares. Normal skin For normal skin, cleansing in the AM helps to refresh the skin and remove any sweat or bacteria that may have built up overnight. A mild, hydrating cleanser is preferred, as it cleanses the skin without disrupting its natural moisture balance, leaving it refreshed and comfortable. Sensitive skin Sensitive skin types can benefit from a gentle cleanse to remove any allergens or irritants that might have settled on the skin during the night. Dr Mahto advises those with sensitive skin to use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser. Alternatively, a micellar water can also remove impurities without causing irritation. Dry skin Those with dry skin, while more delicate, she cautions, should wash their face in the morning to remove dead skin cells and ensure that moisturisers and other products can absorb effectively. A cream-based or hydrating cleanser is best, as these remove impurities while providing moisture, preventing the skin from feeling tight or dehydrated. Republicans are introducing a bill to pull all government funding from NPR and PBS. The move, first reported by Fox News, comes a day after the stations' CEOs appeared on Capitol Hill to combat claims both organizations have exhibited bias. Both outlets have denied the allegations, leading to an eventful hearing Wednesday during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing presided over by Marjorie Taylor Greene. It saw NPR's CEO, Katherine Maher, own up to not giving the Hunter Biden laptop story that surfaced at the 11th hour of the 2020 election the coverage it deserved. At the time, the long-running radio outlet's managing editor slammed the story 'as a distraction.' It was later substantiated, leaving egg on the face of the broadcaster said to have 87 registered Democrats on its team this time last year - and not a single Republican. The disparity, Maher conceded, is 'concerning - if true.' She insisted NPR does not track such affiliations. Apparently taking notice was Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, the politician introducing the bill. Donald Trump is attempting to strip NPR and PBS of their federal funding. Republicans are now introducing a bill to pull all government funding from outlets NPR and PBS. The president has said he 'would love to' see funding stripped from both entities The move, first reported by Fox News, comes a day after the stations' CEOs, Katherine Maher and Paula Kreger, appeared on Capitol Hill to combat claims both organizations are biased That will be Thursday, Fox reported this morning. The bill is pointedly titled 'No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act' - a clear play on the acronyms used for both organizations. Jackson himself told Fox it would fully cut off any government funding for both NPR and PBS, if passed. 'Hardworking Americans are sick of footing the bill,' the House Republican said. 'Its time to cut them off and stop forcing taxpayers to pay for their liberal lies.' On Tuesday, Trump said more of the same, paving the way for an impassioned hearing that saw Greene tear into the two women before her from the outset. Trump, meanwhile, said he 'would love to' see funding stripped from both entities. So-called First Buddy Elon Musk said of NPR: 'It should survive on its own.' 'Its time to cut them off and stop forcing taxpayers to pay for their liberal lies,' the Republican responsible for the bill said of the stations Thursday - after the showdown the day before Seen here, the man behind the bill, Rep. Ronny Jackson. The Texas Republican said that, if passed, it would fully cut off any government funding for both outlets Greene, in rare form Wednesday, slammed PBS as 'one of the founders of the trans child abuse industry.' She took issue with the network featuring a drag queen on their show - one the Georgia rep framed as a 'monster.' 'The drag queen was actually not on any of our kids shows,' Kerger responded at another point when questioned about the appearance by Representative William Timmons, a Republican of South Carolina. He asked whether she thought it was 'inappropriate to put the drag queen on [a] kids show.' The drag queen, who calls herself Lil Miss Hot Mess, actually appeared on a digital segment on YouTube. 'It was not for PBS,' Kerger said in response to Timmons. Greene, meanwhile, continued to call the drag queen - whose likeness was seen in a blown-up image at the hearing - things like 'repulsive'. Greene, in rare form Wednesday, slammed PBS as 'one of the founders of the trans child abuse industry' 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. As for the bill, a subcommittee review is still needed, after which it will be up to a vote from both chambers for it to be signed into law. If so, it will go to the president. At that point, he may override it with a veto or sign it into law. He plays one of the most iconic characters in US television history... but if you passed him on the street, you likely wouldn't give him a second glance. Matthew Vogel, 54 - the performer better known as Sesame Street's Big Bird - has brought joy to millions of American children. But there are growing fears that laughter could be brought to an abrupt halt, as President Trump pledged to strip Sesame Street broadcaster PBS of its funding. The threat even led Democrats in Washington to display signs reading 'Fire Elon, Save Elmo' at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, as outrage grew that the show could be taken off the air for the first time since its inception in 1969. Vogel - who also voices Kermit the Frog and Sesame Street's The Count - appeared relaxed about the future during a chat with DailyMail.com outside his stunning $1.4 million Connecticut home. The friendly star said he was 'not concerned' by Trump's latest antics and noted that Sesame Street could survive without funding from taxpayers. He is the second actor to play Big Bird. Caroll Spinney was the first to do so and held the role between Sesame Street's inception in 1969 and his retirement in 2018. Spinney died in 2019 aged 85. The US government ponies up only about four percent of Sesame Street's funding, according to tax filings first reported by the Hollywood Reporter. Matthew Vogel, 54 - the man behind Sesame Street's Big Bird - told DailyMail.com he was 'not concerned' by rumors that the longtime show could end as PBS loses its funding Vogel - also known as the voice of Kermit the Frog - told DailyMail.com that fans can breathe a sigh of relief and noted that Sesame Street could survive without funding from taxpayers The iconic puppeteer has voiced a number of characters including Kermit the Frog and Sesame Street's Big Bird Last year HBO, which helped fund Sesame Street, ended its deal with PBS, amid claims the show had become tired. The fate of Sesame Street hit the spotlight this week as Trump said he would be 'honored' to defund PBS as well as NPR, accusing the taxpayer funded outlets of anti-conservative bias. The CEOs of both stations appeared on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to defend their platforms, facing a grilling from a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing presided over by Marjorie Taylor Greene. While Greene unleashed on the executives for their perceived 'communist agenda', they did receive some support from Democrats who used the potential end of one of America's best loved children's shows to their advantage. 'To borrow a phrase from 'Sesame Street,' the letter of the day is C, and it stands for 'corruption,' Rep. Greg Casar said during the hearing. Republicans introduced a bill to pull government funding from the two outlets after the hearings, saying they no longer deserve to be taxpayer-funded over an alleged liberal bias. The bill, introduced by Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, is pointedly titled 'No Partisan Radio and Partisan Broadcasting Services Act' - a clear play on the acronyms used for both organizations. The CEOs of NPR Katherine Maher (left) and PBS Paula Kerger (right) were hauled into congress this week as Republicans look to strip their funding Trump's threat even led Democrats in Washington to display signs reading 'Fire Elon, Save Elmo' at a congressional hearing, as outrage grew that the show could be taken off the air for the first time since its inception in 1969 Jackson himself told Fox it would fully cut off any government funding for both NPR and PBS, if passed, declaring that 'hardworking Americans are sick of footing the bill.' 'Its time to cut them off and stop forcing taxpayers to pay for their liberal lies,' he said. On Tuesday, Trump said more of the same, admitting he 'would love to see' funding stripped from the two entities. During the hearing, NPR's CEO Katherine Maher made a startling admission as she owned up to not giving the Hunter Biden laptop story the coverage it deserved. Maher, a progressive who previously headed Wikipedia before starting at NPR last year, made the admission after being grilled relentlessly by Greene 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 another moment, Greene confronted Maher on some of her more opinionated comments, including social media posts branding 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.' by David Winner Unusual circumstances have given me an odd relationship with bodies, with nakedness. My father wouldnt have been caught dead at a nude beach and would have been utterly perplexed if anyone described him as a nudist but tended to walk around the top floor of our Charlottesville home with his lower half exposed. Which only made me all the more modest about my own body until a coop lottery landed me in a nudist dorm at Oberlin College where suddenly boy and girl bodies were staring me in the face. Decades later, in my thirties, my friend, Louis Lucca, started driving me out to Jersey to the gay end of Sandy Hooks nude beach where all sort of young, old, ugly, pretty physiques presented themselves to me. But this writing is also about a very different body, a very old womans, that of my Great Aunt Dorle, who died in 2002 at 101. I remember her old fashioned New York accent, right out of 1930s movies. I remember the tiny grey hairs that peeked out from her upper lip, the few remaining teeth, the halitosis that was comforting in its familiarity, in its organic assurance that she was still with us. But I also recall her body. When those we love near the ends of their lives, sometimes we encounter their physical selves. My fathers was unfortunately already all too familiar, but I cant forget his small, pale, wrinkled buttocks peering out from hospital gowns, nor my father-in-laws thin haggard form in only underpants, and Dorles long, thin breasts springing like arms from her torso when I would undress her for bed. When I was a child, Dorle was in her seventies and hardly seemed old. A publicist, a record producer, a thrower of enormous cocktail parties, she only seemed to age when her husband, Dario, died in 1980. Having recently been introduced to death my two grandfathers and now Dario I began to think that Dorles might be in the wings, but by the time of the memorial concert for Dario six months later, shed rebounded, comforting a weeping Leonard Bernstein but back to being unflappable herself. That was about when I stopped listening to chamber music and watching Murder She Wrote with my parents and started going out with my friends, some profligate notion of drugs and rock and roll. During college and grad school, my early adult life was a self-centered blur. I hardly focused on Dorle except to seek occasional comfort in her continued presence, her sister, my grandmother, and everyone else of her generation in my family, having died. But in 1992, back in New York after adventures and misadventures, I forged an adult relationship with her, a decade-long tradition of Friday cocktails and dinners. By then, Dorle was in her nineties. Her eyes, ears and short-term memory were petering away though she still walked vigorously using a cane that she referred to as her stick. After training from Brooklyn to her Midtown Manhattan apartment, I would sit next to her in her expansive living room across from the out of tune baby grand. I would light her cigarettes and make her gin and tonics, and we would chat for an hour or so before strolling out to the street to eat at one of her restaurants. After dinner, I would walk her back to the front of her building and kiss her goodnight. As time went on, I had to scream louder and louder into her ears. Conversation grew more difficult, and we initiated a sort of game. Listing twentieth century figures, I would ask if shed met them. Jacqueline Onassis: Yes Frank Sinatra: No Franklin Roosevelt: No Pope Paul: Yes Our rituals changed as her needs progressed. I started dropping her off at her apartment door rather than the front of the building, and soon I began to follow her inside. She did not object, and, without comment from either of us, I started escorting her down the short hallway from the foyer to the bathroom and taking her inside. I listened to her sounds from outside to make sure she was okay: peeing, often groaning as shed reached that point in old age in which everything hurt. Once she was done, wed take the few short steps from her bathroom to her bedroom. Steadying her with one hand to keep her from falling, I would help her take off her sweater, her blouse, her bra, her underwear. Then I would place her nightgown over her shoulders and carefully pull it down her body. From the time we entered the apartment to the time that the nightgown was on, we made no conversation. I was a silent helper, sort of a mechanical aid. My silence allowed her not to feel shy or self-conscious about the role her grandnephew had taken in her life. But once she was decent again, and I was about to depart, we would say goodnight and kiss each other on both cheeks like the Europeans we were not. Needing so much help in the evening, I wondered how she was managing during the day. Badly. Leaving the gas on while lighting cigarettes, leaving her bathtub running, creating a flood in the apartment below. My father, her nephew, came to New York to speak to her. In dour, serious tones, he informed her that professional help was required. Which brought Novelette Ewbanks, a black woman from Jamaica, into our lives. A conventional liberal of a much earlier generation, Dorle contributed to the defense funds of the Scottsboro Boys and managed to eradicate her buildings racist policy after black soprano, Leontyne Price, was forced to take the service elevator in the 1960s. But as Novelette moved quickly to around the clock care, Dorle failed in any way to acknowledge her existence except on occasion to erroneously refer to her as my maid. Some of it could have been embarrassment like her silence when I undressed her, but clothed or unclothed, on the toilet or at the breakfast table, Dorle never seemed to address her directly. Recently, I rewatched The Caine Mutiny, a mid-fifties Bogart movie taking place on a rickety old ship. In several scenes, the all-white officers are served not so much by black people but black hands. So deeply were the black characters thrust into the background that we could not even glimpse their faces. Which sadly seemed like Novelettes situation with Dorle. On July 7, 2002, I returned home to Brooklyn to find a message breaking the edict that bad news must be imparted in person. Dorle had died, my father announced, and I was to make my way immediately to her apartment. I expected to be hugged and comforted upon my arrival, but Novelette, unsentimental about the ancient white woman whod failed to grant her basic humanness, took me immediately into the bedroom where Dorle lay to show me that what shed told my father was true. Determined that no fuss be made, no heroic measures attempted, my father forbade the calling of 911 under any circumstances. Obediently following his directive, we rang Dorles doctor instead, a man shed never met as all medical care had been stopped a few years before. What the doctor was supposed to say was unclear. There was no assistance he could render a corpse. Then Novelette and I took care of Dorles body. The lighting of her cigarettes, the pouring of her drinks, the taking off her clothes had reached its logical conclusion. Together we did what Novelette felt to be appropriate. Silently, we placed a blanket around her as the dead should not be cold. We closed her eyes as best we could with our hands. We tried to shut her mouth as well, but it refused to stay closed. Every time we shut it, it sprang open again as if she had more to say. Finally, Novelette tied it closed with a scarf. When the doctor finally rang back, he told us to call 911. However old and dead someone may be, that remains the directive. As the sounds of sirens filled 55th Street, we removed the scarf lest it be seen as somehow suspicious. The moment it was off, Dorles mouth sprang open again, rejecting that final act of caretaking to which, like all the others, she had never agreed. The EMT pronounced her dead, and, later that evening, Jewish undertakers came to take her away. Before they put Dorle in a black bag and wheeled her out of the apartment in a trolley, I briefly placed my hand on her shoulder, my last contact with her body. * A decade or so after Dorles death, Louis of nude beach fame, started inviting me to peculiar gatherings. Upon entering his home way out in Brooklyn in Dyker Heights, we stripped ourselves of our clothes, listened to bad music, smoked powerful weed and consumed Louiss grandiose seafood meals. Affectionately, I remember the bodies of Louiss friends: from young to old, from fat to thin, from Black to white and different skin tones in between. But I want to end this writing with Louiss own body, voluptuous, roly-poly, not quite fully naked because of an odd sort of G-string like a loin-cloth he would wear. Louis died of multiple myeloma at the very beginning of the pandemic, and I miss him terribly, my memory of him often leading me to my memory of his body. Sexual attraction is just one of many ways that we can react to bodies. I was not in love with Louis nor did I lust for him. I did love him, though, and I loved his body. Two out of five Britons say they are reliant on their cars to get to work after the Prime Minster admitted it is 'extremely hard' to be a driver 'on a modest income' in the face of escalating motoring costs. The RAC, which commissioned the poll of 2,691 UK residents, said that despite the Government's 'focus on improving public transport' the research proves that the car 'remains central to so many people's lives'. This is especially the case for those living in rural locations, with its survey finding that seven in ten have no other option but to use their cars to commute to workplaces. In contrast, taking the bus to work was only seen as a viable option for 31 per cent of people polled, rising to half for residents of town and city centres where public transport provision is generally much better. Just a quarter of drivers living in suburbs said they could commute by bus. In fact, 81 per cent of respondents said they would find it very difficult to adjust their lifestyle to being without a vehicle as Britain's requirement for private cars remains fundamental. Two out of five Britons are reliant on their cars to get to work after the Prime Minster admitted it is 'extremely hard' to be a driver 'on a modest income' in the face of escalating motoring costs Despite continuous promises of boosting public transport provisions, the RAC said that the breakdown of four in five people saying they wouldn't want to be without their own motor has remained 'remarkably constant' since it began asking drivers that question in 1989. The poll results come after Kier Starmer said earlier in the week that the Government 'needs to drive down the cost of motoring', which acts as a 'lifeline' for many people. And the RAC's research found that this is more so the case for older people. The proportion of drivers saying they would struggle to adjust to life without a vehicle rose from 65 per cent for under-25s, to 77 per cent of those aged 25 to 44, 84 per cent for those between 45 and 64, and a whopping 86 per cent for licence holders over the age of 65. More than half of drivers (53 per cent) said they would use their vehicle less if public transport was more convenient, reliable and affordable. Just half of those living in city and town centres say they use the bus to get to work, the RAC's poll found Looking at some of the most common journey types, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of drivers always commute by car, while 57 per cent always drive when shopping for groceries. Two in five said they always drive when taking their children to school, nursery or clubs while the same proportion always do so to get to or from an airport. A quarter always use the car when travelling to a mainline railway station. In comparison, the proportion of drivers that walk, cycle or use public transport instead is tiny. Just 8 per cent of commuters do, while the proportion of those who do so when grocery shopping is just 3 per cent. The poll results come after Kier Starmer said earlier in the week that the Government 'needs to drive down the cost of motoring', which acts as a 'lifeline' for many people RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: 'Our research shows that the car remains central to so many people's lives. 'While those in more rural areas are most car dependent, half of those in urban centres also don't see public transport as a viable alternative for their daily commute. 'Young people clearly have a desire and, in many cases, a need to drive, but the convenience and freedom it brings seems to become more important as the decades pass. 'While the current Government is very focused on improving public transport across the board, we suspect the car will always be essential to many people's lives.' BYD, the huge Chinese cheap EV disruptor, has revealed it's bringing a sub-20,000 EV to the UK. The Dolphin Surf - which follows in the sea-themed naming sequence the brand's Ocean Series cars - is a new name for the car that's called the Seagull or Dolphin Mini in other markets. While the Dolphin Surf isn't going to become the cheapest EV, it will be one of the cheapest with BYD boss Stella Li claiming it will offer 'the best value' when it goes on sale later this year. Currently in China it costs around 8,000, but it will be more expensive and sophisticated for the UK market, with more tech and improved safety features too. The budget city EV is part of the Chinese auto giant's ambitious plan to become the world's largest car manufacturer in 2025, overtaking Toyota and cementing it as the king of the car world. So, what can you expect from the Dolphin Surf and will it be enough to help BYD achieve this goal? BYD is bringing a circa 15,000 city EV to the UK market called the Dolphin Surf to compete against the Dacia Spring and Citroen e-C3 The price point and value The BYD (Build Your Dreams) Dolphin Surf is set to cost around 15,000. The current cheapest EV in the UK is the 14,995 Dacia Spring and it will undercut the Leapmotor T03, Fiat Grande Panda and the Citroen e-C3 which start from 15,995, 18,975 and 21,990 respectively. The 'best value' promise perhaps includes the range of more than 200 miles on a single charge as it's currently on sale in China with a choice of 30kWh or 38kWh batteries which deliver 190 or 252 miles of range - more than the Spring and the Leapmotor T03 offer. Dolphin Surf will come with a significantly uprated 175bhp powertrain, the Chinese model's 74bhp motor offers enough power to accelerate from 0-62mph in 13 seconds and a top speed of 81mph. China also gets a choice of 74bhp or 100bhp motors but BYD is expected to offer an upgraded 175bhp powertrain for the UK market which would give a top speed of 81mph and 0-62mph in 13 seconds. However, these could change before it hits the UK market. And the interior is set to be a more polished version of the ocean-inspired interior of the Chinese variant, which comes with a 12.8-inch touchscreen, wireless charging and voice control. The BYD Dolphin Surf is called Seagull or Dolphin Mini in other markets and only costs the equivalent of 8,000 in China The range is expected to be around 200 miles on a single charge which is more than the Dacia Spring offers The Fiat Grande Panda EV starts from 18,975 and is one of the new retro-inspired EVs taking off in Europe What else does BYD have planned? Other than world domination, you can expect to see many other BYD sub-brands arriving in the UK soon. The company's Denza brand - a Porsche rival - will arrive this year, while Yangwang will also bring its U9 Ferrari supercar rival to our shores in the near future. Thee Yangwang U8 Range Rover rival is famous for being able to 'swim' and to 'tank turn' 360 degrees but is not available to buy here. This all follows the imminent launch of the BYD Sealion 7, BYD's seventh model in the UK and sixth electric car. Bono Ge, UK country manager, also confirmed that BYD will go from 62 to 120 dealers by the end of 2025, with 150-170 dealers the long term number. Ge said BYD's brand awareness has surged from from just one per cent at the start of 2024 to 31 per cent at the end of it, thanks largely to being the official partner of UEFA Euro 2024. BYD's ultra-rapid chargers will offer double the peak power of Tesla's latest V4 Supercharger (pictured), which is the fastest device available to EV owners in Britain today The 1,360kW devices will add 1.2 miles of range ever second - apparently the same speed as filling up with petrol BYD charging - the fastest EV charging by a mile Not content to just beat the competition on 'value' and price, BYD is also aiming to deliver the fastest charging in the world. Before it was an auto maker BYD was a battery producer so it makes sense it leads the way in the charging arena. BYD's launched its own 1360kW ultra-rapid chargers which set sights firmly on Tesla's Superchargers in China. The Megawatt Flash Charging system can add 1.2 miles of range every second which BYD claims allows an EV to charge at the same speed it takes to fuel a petrol car. While Stella Li said the ambition is to bring this charging tech to the UK, she said it is part of a 'longer term trajectory'. Next has become just the fourth UK retailer to score at least 1billion in annual profits following bumper online trade. Britain's biggest clothing seller now joins Tesco, Marks & Spencer and B&Q owner Kingfisher as one of the few UK retailers to exceed the 1billion mark. The London-based company revealed its pre-tax profits climbed by 10.1 per cent, or 93million, to 1.01billion in the year ending January 2025, in line with recently upgraded expectations. But Next urged investors to keep a level head about the 1billion profit result. It said on Thursday: 'To some, it may seem an important milestone, even a cause of celebration. We do not share that view, not least because profits can go down as well as up. 'In fact, we think it would be a big mistake to view the company differently just because it has passed any milestone.' Earnings growth was driven by strong e-commerce sales, which increased by 5 per cent to over 2.5billion domestically and by 27 per cent to 930million internationally. Full-price revenues expanded by 5 per cent, thanks to rising demand for third-party brands in the UK and solid performances across Europe and the Middle East. Join the club: Next has become just the fourth UK retailer, along with Tesco, Marks & Spencer and B&Q owner Kingfisher, to score at least 1billion in annual profits Total turnover jumped by 8.2 per cent to 6.3billion, helped by the takeovers of FatFace and Reiss Group that were completed towards the end of the previous year. The firm expects even further growth this year, with full-price sales going up by 5 per cent, compared to the 3.5 per cent forecast two months ago. And Next has hiked its pre-tax profit guidance by 20million to just under 1.1billion, with greater sales partly complemented by higher gross margins and cost savings. Next said it was 'unusual...to begin a year on an optimistic note', adding: 'We are as positive about the company today as we were then, albeit in an environment where the risks to the wider UK economy are growing.' Next shares increased by 5.75 per cent to 10,560p on early Thursday morning, making them the FTSE 100's best performer by far. Over the past five years, the firm's shares have soared by approximately 166 per cent despite the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis dampening clothing demand. Next warned that the tax hikes coming in April would hit consumer confidence and weaken the British employment market. From next month, employers' National Insurance Contributions will go up by 1.2 percentage points to 15 per cent. At the same time, the threshold at which firms start paying NI on staff salaries will drop from 9,100 per year to less than 5,000, and business rates relief will fall from 75 per cent to 40 per cent, up to a cap of 110,000 per company. Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: 'Yet another set of next-level numbers has underlined the groups unparalleled understanding of the market in which it operates and its ability to capitalise on new opportunities. 'Next has a reputation for under-promising and over-delivering, but its outlook statement this time is perhaps unusually upbeat.' Nexts boss has warned that Labours workers rights bill could cause havoc as evidence mounts that it is hurting business. Lord Wolfson said the extra red tape involved could pose a huge risk to employment by making it harder to offer flexible hours to some staff. The comments from the High Street retailers chief executive came as a report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) suggested a further slowdown in the private sector this spring partly thanks to worries about the new regulations. Rachel Reevess 25billion raid on employer National Insurance contributions (NIC) is also taking its toll, the CBI warned, as it said firms expect activity to fall over the next three months. On Labours plan to introduce a raft of new workers rights which will include a ban on so-called zero-hours contracts Wolfson said: If they get the details wrong, it could be a huge burden on employees and work against employees. He said that while the legislation could be positive, reforms entitling workers to contracts with a minimum number of weekly hours could go awry if the level is set too high, making it more difficult to employ students during term time, for example. Jobs threat: Next boss Lord Wolfson (pictured) said the extra red tape involved could pose a huge risk to employment by making it harder to offer flexible hours to some staff Wolfson said that if the level is set at four hours it wont make a load of difference. If it is set at 12 hours, it will cause havoc. The Next boss, who made the comments as the company published full-year results, also took aim at the NIC hike, warning of the impact that it will have on ordinary consumers through higher prices and fewer jobs. The employer rights bill also came under fire from peers yesterday. Entrepreneur and start-up investor Lord Londesborough said it represents another vampire squid sucking the life out of our economy and would damage jobs, productivity and wages across both the public and private sectors. Lord Hunt, a former Conservative employment secretary, said: This bill is not only anti-business, in my view it is anti-worker. 'If it passes in anything like its current form, it could be more appropriate to call it an unemployment bill. It came a day after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) acknowledged the negative impact that the workers rights rules could have. And CBI chairman Rupert Soames said this week that higher taxes and new rights for workers had left bosses pretty p****d off. Soames said: People bought into the idea that Labour would be the most pro-business government ever and clearly they arent. The economy has stagnated since Labour came to power in July and recent surveys suggest it has also been a dismal start to 2025. A report from the CBI today shows private sector activity continued to fall in the three months to March and will do so again in the second quarter of the year. Alpesh Paleja, the CBIs deputy chief economist, said firms continue to tell us that the impact of higher employer NICs, the upcoming rise in the National Living Wage and concern over the Employment Rights Bill are weighing on activity and sentiment. The government is set to fall woefully short of delivering on its promise to build 1.5 million homes by 2029, according to the construction industry's largest trade association. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced a 625million investment in training 60,000 new construction workers during yesterday's spring statement. But even with that boost to the workforce, industry insiders say the home building target won't be met. Brian Berry, chief executive of the The Federation of Master Builders, said: 'The numbers of workers don't go far enough. 'This week's injection of funding to train 60,000 new construction workers is welcome, but we estimate we will need 250,000 more construction workers by 2028 to even get close to the Government's targets.' The Home Builders Federation estimates that for every 10,000 new homes to be built, the sector needs about 30,000 new recruits. Not enough: the Government has announced a 625million investment to train 60,000 construction workers as it attempts to reach its 1.5 million homes target Steven Mulholland, chief executive of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), said the government's plan to train new workers was 'overshadowed by the fact that the sector has been losing 70,000 workers a year since 2019.' He added: 'This combined with the fact that the average age of a UK construction worker is now over 50, means the sector is standing on the precipice of a huge demographic shift that will see experienced workers leave the sector as they near retirement.' 'For Labour to have any chance of meeting their targets, they need to step up their current pace of housebuilding. If we continue at the current rate, we will be far below the government's goal.' An Office for Budget Responsibility forecast published alongside the Spring Statement said it expected 1.3million net new homes to be built by 2029, falling short of the target. However, it also said it expects Labour's loosening of planning rules to increase housebuilding levels to a 40-year high. Since winning the election, the government has introduced several other measures to accelerate housebuilding. These include planning reforms such as mandatory housebuilding targets for councils, grey belt policies, the recruitment of 300 new planning officers, and golden rules for development. Do housebuilders think the target is achievable? Office for National Statistics figures show that only 150,000 new homes are on track to be built this year, which is half of what is needed to be on track to meet the 1.5 million target. The 0.2 per cent fall in construction output in January 2025, according to the ONS, is another indicator that the economy is struggling despite the Government's strong commitment to back development. Recent S&P Global UK Construction PMI figures recorded the sharpest decline in construction output since May 2020. But a significant number of housebuilders and property developers are confident that the UK can meet the housebuilding targets set by the Government, according to recent research from Shawbrook Bank. In a survey of 568 property developers earlier this year, it found two-thirds of developers expect housebuilding to increase within 12 months. When asked about the likelihood of achieving this goal, three in five developers believed it would be easy, while the rest acknowledged it could be challenging. A third of developers pointed to the lack of support for first-time buyers as a major barrier to homeownership, while an equal proportion felt the UK's infrastructuresuch as roads, railways, schools, and hospitalswas insufficient to support new developments. Resource availability is another key concern among developers. Nearly a third believe there isn't enough funding to support developers, while 28 per cent feel there is insufficient land in high-demand areas. An equal proportion are worried that there aren't enough resources to meet the level of building required. Terry Woodley, managing director of development finance at Shawbrook said: 'While the developers we spoke to are confident, scepticism remains more broadly in the market. 'There has been some progress over the past year in reducing planning red tape and streamlining processes, but more needs to be done to make the 1.5 million new home target feel more achievable. 'Resource constraints remain a major challenge - whether in the form of materials and supply chain issues or the sector's ongoing skills shortage.' A despairing 72-year-old whose state pension top-up payment went missing for three years has condemned his treatment at the hands of the Government. William Cather is the latest This is Money reader to complain of contradictory advice, unanswered letters, phone wait times lasting hours, and staff who fail to help when your call does get through. The business consultant contacted us recently about the 800 he paid in April 2022, saying: 'My story will be all too familiar to you. 'Expensive phone calls from the US have not helped to clarify my status, or to "find" the missing payments.' Dr Cather, who has worked in the US since 2021, also says he has twice sent bank statements to HMRC as evidence of payment and asked for assistance, but received no reply. Many Britons are trying to make top-ups payments right now to beat a 5 April deadline to fill missing years stretching back to 2006, after which you can only backdate six years. The Government has launched a callback service to request help buying top-ups - but it hasn't told us how long this page will stay up But we constantly hear from readers whose money has got lost in the system, which is run jointly by HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions. Last week, we revealed the case of a 66-year-old who handed over 15,000 months ago and felt let down by the 'chaotic' process. People living in the UK report top-up delays too, but problems appear more prevalent if you work abroad now or did in the past - we highlight three further cases below. If you are buying top-ups for years when you lived abroad, you cannot use the online top-ups tool the Government launched last spring, although you can use the new callback service. Dr Cather told us 'Thank you for your continuing campaign regarding the state pension debacle, which shows little sign of improvement. 'As the government deadline looms, I await the promised callback from DWP. I have resent unanswered questions to DWP and HMRC. I have been unable to determine my forecast or status regarding my state pension. 'Over the years, I have received contradictory advice from various DWP staff, paid for voluntary contributions that were never credited to my National Insurance record, and continue to be confused by the recent changes to the website.' He also describes his experiences phoning the Government helpline, saying: 'As you will know, the wait time on calls to DWP International Centre can be hours. 'Often, after waiting a while, the call ends abruptly. In the two recent calls, I could get no answer to either what I have paid and need to pay, and whether this one payment was credited to my NI record. It does not appear on my accessible record online.' He adds: 'I recognise that I am not alone. But that doesnt resolve my concern, or the loss of 800.' The delays and confusion people are facing feels absolutely shambolic Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling MP After we asked the DWP and HMRC to look into his case, they said Dr Cathers 800.80 payment was allocated to the 2011-2012 tax year, but a review revealed it brought no improvement to his state pension. Therefore, 158.60 of his payment was allocated to 2016-17 to boost his state pension, with the remainder refunded to him. The Government offered no explanation for why it had not done this during the past three years, nor responded to Dr Cather's many attempts to resolve the matter himself. It also did not say it intends to apologise to him or pay compensation, as it has done for other readers whose problems are highlighted below. Attempts to track down lost cash get nowhere - until we demand answers Our latest investigation uncovered further failures to assist expats or those who previously worked abroad find missing top-ups cash. In the following cases, large amounts of money got lost in the system for months and even years, but when people tried to chase it up with Government staff on their own they got nowhere. - A 51-year-old operations manager living in UAE handed over around 2,000 in June last year. She also had a standing order set up to pay ongoing voluntary contributions to HMRC, but when she changed banks this was not carried over, and her efforts to restart them ended in frustration. After our intervention, the Government said it had written to her to apologise for the delay in allocating her payments and would pay her redress. It also promised to help her set up a new standing order. She has since received a letter offering 75 compensation. - A financial professional, 53, who moved home to London a few years ago after 20 years working in Asia, paid just over 2,300 in April last year. After we flagged his case, the Government said it had written to him to apologise for the delay and would pay him redress. He has also been offered 75 compensation. - An insurance company employee aged 50, who is based in Hong Kong, paid nearly 7,900 in January 2023. In response to our enquiries, the Government said he had not advised it what the payment was for when it was made, and he had overpaid for his voluntary NI contributions. It wrote to him requesting he fill in a CF83 online form for people who live abroad, which he had done, it added. After we raised his case, the Government said it had allocated his payment to his NI record, issued a partial refund, written to apologise, and paid him redress for the delay. Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling MP, says: 'The delays and confusion people are facing feels absolutely shambolic. 'I fear this is yet another example of the systemic failure we are seeing across DWP, with severe delays from Access to Work to pension credit applications. 'The Government need to sort these cases out with urgency to respect the finances of hardworking people.' Lady Altmann: The backlogs of claims and pressure on staff levels add further pressure to the already stretched DWP workforce Ros Altmann, a former Pensions Minister who now sits in the House of Lords, says: 'It seems to me that the major problems are occurring with people who either live overseas now, or have spent time abroad and whose National Insurance records will be more complicated. 'The worrying factor is the long waits and the difficulties for people to get through on the phone lines with an international call. 'It sounds as if DWP needs to increase capacity or efficiency in its call handling procedures.' Lady Altmann went on: 'It is also clear that getting This is Money involved will speed up the processing of your claim and get a quicker resolution. However, all the cases you mention seem to have had satisfactory outcomes, once the DWP has actually processed them.' She adds: 'The backlogs of claims and pressure on staff levels add further pressure to the already stretched DWP workforce, which has been struggling for so long with the complexity of the system and the sheer numbers of people involved, who often need manual intervention to sort out their records. 'Having said all this, it does sound as if the DWP list of how it is prioritising cases makes sense and the situation for UK citizens seems better than those living or who worked overseas.' The Government told us most payments will show on National Insurance records within five working days if you use the online tool to buy top-ups, and those requiring manual processing are taking around eight weeks. More complex cases including international payments that need further checks can take longer depending on individual circumstances, it says. It is processing postal applications in date of birth order, prioritising those closest to or above state pension age. See the Government's advice on buying top-ups and getting them processed below. A Government spokesperson says: 'Our new online tool will mean that people are able to make top-up payments after the 5 April deadline, provided they complete the call back request form ahead of that date. 'This will enable us to ensure no one misses out, and to suitably manage demand as the deadline approaches.' Should YOU buy top-ups by 5 April to increase your state pension? Buying top-ups can give a generous boost to retirement income if you buy the correct years on your record. This is Money's guide to buying state pension top-ups explains the cost and offers six golden rules on deciding if you should fill gaps by Steve Webb. Most people can use the Government's online state pension service to check if it is worth buying missing years and to make payments, or the HMRC app. But some are not allowed to use this online tool, including people already over state pension age, those self-employed in any of the years they are trying to pay for, and those who lived abroad in the years they want to fill up now (other excepted groups are listed here). The Government has softened the 5 April deadline on its special offer to buy years going as far back as 2006 - there are now two ways to beat it. Top-ups money gone missing? If you have paid and heard nothing more, write and tell us your story at pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk. Unfortunately we can't help everyone so you can also contact your MP. If you are an expat, you can contact the MP in the last constituency you lived in and still request help. Find your MP here. Phone gridlock forced the Department for Work and Pensions to launch a phone callback system for people living at home or abroad. Lodging a request before 5 April means even if you don't hear back from helpline staff before that date, you will still be able to buy missing years going as far back as 2006. The Government advises saving a screenshot of the confirmation message. You can also get more time to make payments by logging into your National Insurance record. If you currently click 'view details' on any years for which you might want to make voluntary contributions from 2006/07 to 2016/17, you automatically get another month to pay. Using this little-known trick means if you do this for example on 4 April, you will be given until 4 May to pay. It is unclear how long the callback service will remain available, and This is Money is trying to establish this. People wanting more breathing space to buy top-ups should therefore make a callback request now, or click on 'view details' on years they might want to buy on their NI record, or do both. In the jointly-run top-ups system, HMRC is responsible for maintaining National Insurance records, which you must check for gaps in your state pension records, and processing top-up payments. The DWP is in charge of revising state pension forecasts or payments after purchases. It is worth knowing which department does what, so you know who to contact if necessary during the process, or later if anything goes wrong. HMRC and DWP: The two Government departments run the state pension top-ups system between them Tips for buying state pension top-ups DWP and HMRC offer the following advice. - We recommend that wherever possible, people use the pay by bank account option in the online service as this will prevent errors which require manual processing, leading to delays. When a payment is made by this option, people will see their NI record update within five working days. This is a fast and secure payment by the Open Banking system. - When people pay by bank transfer outside of the online service, it can take between five working days and eight weeks for their NI record to update, depending on whether manual processing is required. - Its important to ensure you pay the exact amount to prevent delays even rounding up the amount would mean that manual processing is required. - When paying by cheque, it takes on average eight weeks for a customers NI record to update. - For people who have already made a voluntary contribution payment, the Government is processing it as quickly as possible, and no one who has sent a payment or form on time will miss out. - Due to the high volume of payments, people may not receive confirmation until after the 5 April deadline and it may take a while to show in their HMRC online account. How to buy top-ups from overseas DWP and HMRC provided the following information. - People who live outside the UK and are below state pension age should contact the Future Pension Centre to request a forecast. The telephone number to call from outside the UK is +44 (0)191 218 3600. - Once they have established if it is beneficial to make voluntary National Insurance contributions to boost their state pension amount, people can use the online service to apply to do so, using the CF83 application form on GOV.UK. - Once their application is processed by HMRC they will be given 31 days to pay. Therefore, they do not need to pay at the time of their application, as long as they submit their application before the 5 April 2025 deadline. - People aged above state pension or who are within six months of reaching it need to contact the International Pension Centre by email using the online enquiry form. Convicted double murderer David Pearce is the essence of evil - and must spend the rest of his life behind bars, insists the grieving family of one of the victims who have questioned why he wasn't already locked up. Raven-haired Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, 26, was barely alive when the sinister Hollywood producer and roommate Brandt Osborn callously ditched her outside a Los Angeles hospital on November 13, 2021. Cabrales-Arzola and a friend, model Christy Giles, 24, from Alabama, were plied with a fatal cocktail drugs by Pearce at his Beverly Hills home after meeting at a warehouse party a few hours earlier. The Mexican native - described as a big dreamer - was revived by hospital staff but a lack of oxygen had left her brain dead. Her mother and sister rushed to her bedside from abroad where she remained in a coma for nearly two weeks. On February 4, an LA jury found Pearce guilty of killing the two women as well as a series of brutal sex abuses and rapes on seven Jane Does he targeted between 2007 and 2021 later came forward to share their horrific experiences. During the trial, it was revealed that Pearce told a friend dead girls cant talk which prosecutors said indicated he wanted the girls to perish so they couldnt report him to police. But the jury failed to reach a verdict on whether Osborn, who pled not guilty, should be convicted on two counts of being an accessory after the fact. It had heard how Pearce, 43, and Osborn, 45, waited 11 hours before they dumped the women's lifeless bodies outside two different hospitals and fled. As doctors tried in vain to resuscitate the women, the two men ate a meal at El Pollo Loco. Cabrales-Arzolas sister, Fernanda Cabrales-Arzola, 28, told DailyMail.com Pearce should have been behind bars 'years ago' and says the family is still looking for justice. The Los Angeles Times reported that the LAPD presented rape allegations against Pearce at least three times between 2007 and 2020, each with twisted similarities to his murder case. 'The criminal justice system failed. First, the women who came forward, then those who followed, and ultimately, my sister and Christy,' she told DailyMail.com. Hilda - described as a 'big dreamer' - in 2019 holding a colorful bouquet presented to her during her college graduation Hilda relaxing with Tomas, her beloved Weimaraner 'They paid the highest possible price for a failure that never should have happened. Had the system acted when it should have, he never would have crossed paths with them. 'Its painful to read that he had been arrested and yet the prosecution repeatedly chose not to press charges,' she said in reference to the LA Times report. I think hes just evil. Monster falls short to describe what sort of person he is. Hes a serial rapist and hes a murderer. 'Those were critical opportunities to stop him and protect all the future victims. Coming forward in cases like these takes immense courage, and even when three women spoke up, it still wasnt enough.' She is, however, relieved that Pearce is finally behind bars for his role in her sister's gruesome death. We are relieved that its finally acknowledged what weve known for all these years that what happened was no accident.' They were murdered and that weve known from day one. Were finally happy that that came true and the jury saw that as well and now Pearce will be in jail forever.' Pearce is facing a possible 128 years to life in state prison. Sentencing was scheduled for March 13 but was postponed until June 30 after he fired his trial attorney, Jeff Voll, and hired new attorney Ronda Dixon. However, the family was shocked when the jury was hung on a verdict for Osborn. The two women had passed out and were barely conscious but the NCIS actor - just like Pearce - failed to call 911 and waited hours to take them to hospital. Chiles was dumped off at hospital two hours before her desperately ailing friend was eventually left at another hospital two miles away. For us its not justice at all because he could have helped her, Cabrales-Arzolas mother, Hilda Marcela Arzola-Plascencia, 51, told DailyMail.com of Osborn. Fernanda (far left), Hilda's brother Raymond, 20, Hilda, her sister Ashley, 18 and their mother during Hilda's college graduation celebration in 2019 Hilda (left), and Fernanda, a student currently living in Germany, while on vacation in Kapadokya, Turkey HIlda's mother (left), her sister Ashley, and Hilda (right), while she was in studying in Korea during an study abroad exchange semester Those two hours that he took, they were vital for my daughters life because when she arrived at the hospital they resuscitated her which means she was still fighting for life. Thats why we think its not justice. If he (Osborn) had done things in a different way it would have meant the difference between life and death. Arzola-Plascencia said prosecutors didn't really discuss Pearce's background before the trial. 'Later on they said there were some cases before where women had complained about him,' she told DailyMail.com. Fernanda, a student currently living in Germany, added, We are definitely not happy about Osborn. And she said of her sister, Doctors said that of course she had a lot of drugs in her system but she was young and may have recovered. When she arrived at hospital she no longer had a pulse. 'So Pearce and Osborn waited until she didnt have a pulse to take her to the hospital because they didn't want her to speak so they deliberately let her die. Thats why Pearce said dead girls dont talk. We think that he really thought that. Osborn could have done something to help and he chose not to. I dont think he regrets it at all. During the trial prosecutors insisted that Osborn failed to help the women until it was too late. Giles (left), 24, and Hilda, 26, were found dead outside of two separate hospitals after partying in Los Angeles. The pair had died from drug overdoses, and their bodies were captured on video being dumped by David Pearce and Brandt Osborn Hilda's father Luis Cabrales Rivera (left), Hilda and Fernanda celebrating Hilda's birthday. The cake includes figurines of Hilda and her dog, Tomas Disgraced wannabe Hollywood producer David Pearce was found guilty of the murder of friends Christy Giles and Hilda Cabrales-Arzola, who were unconscious at his Beverly Hills home after he gave them a fatal cocktail of drugs and later died At one point during the trial, Osborn appeared to cry as he gave evidence - but Fernanda believes it was merely crocodile tears for show. He was only emotional because he was afraid they would declare him guilty, she said. I dont believe he has any regret. He could have saved them but he didnt. Arzola-Plascencia, a radiologist, added, Thats why I say that those two hours could have made a difference. I really, really know this from the bottom of my heart. She had hoped to bring her daughter - even if she was still in a coma - with her back to Mexico but doctors said she was too ill and not responding. The family had no choice other than to take Hilda off life support. The mother and sister were also critical of Pearce's friend Michael Ansbach, 50, who was the prosecutions star witness. He was with the group that fateful evening and was violently sick from the drugs given to him by Pearce. We know he wasnt charged for but theres video of him leaving while my sister was still (at Pearces home). So his story of wanting to call 911 but his phone had no battery.thats all lies. Theres video of him leaving when my sister was still alive. None of the three of them are good people. For me the three should already be in jail. One of the worst things is that you see that they have no remorse. Of Pearce, she added, I think hes just evil. Monster falls short to describe what sort of person he is. Hes a serial rapist and hes a murderer. No one can explain these type of people. Hildas softly-spoken mother struggled to comprehend Pearces behavior. How can you define a person that did that kind to those other women, not just to Hilda and Christy? Pearce, 43 and Ansbach, 50, were arrested on December 15, 2021. Brandt Osborn (pictured in 2022), was arrested the same day while shooting a scene for NCIS. He pled not guilty and the jury could not reach a verdict Fernanda, left, and Hilda sharing a hot air baloon ride together in Kapadokya, Turkey Hilda wearing her graduation robes in 2019 I dont know what kind of childhood he had. Why doesnt he have love for other people? I dont know what happened in his mind, in his heart, in his soul. Arzola-Plascencia was speaking with the family pug Molly, 13, by her side. She was chosen as a pet by her tragic daughter years ago. 'She was always a big dreamer, she said. She wasnt afraid of working hard to make her dreams come true. She was very friendly with people. She loved to be surrounded by friends. I didnt realize until this happened how close she was with her friends and I really appreciate that.' She offered up praise for the Jane Does who stepped up share about the abuse they suffered at the hands of Pearce. 'Thank you to the women who came forward,' she said. 'That was helpful and brave. I cant imagine how hard it was for them. We are really grateful because they were able to set up a precedent and show Pearce's history.' The family is currently preparing an impact statement to read out during sentencing. Were still getting our thoughts together on what to say to someone like him, said Fernanda. Pearce's mother, Ilene Pearce, 78, previously told DailyMail.com of her son after he was found guilty, Hes not a monster. I still love him. During the trial Osborn's attorney, Michael Artan, questioned the accounts of two key prosecution witnesses, including Ansbach, who was never charged. He told DailyMail.com of his client, 'The parties are still in the process of determining whether there will be a retrial, or an alternative to retrial. Hopefully, it will be sorted out by the time of our next court date. 'As the matter is still pending, I cannot comment further.' Ansbach's attorney has been contacted for comment. Up until I was ten years old, I had the same reoccurring nightmare. I was a toddler, watching my father Robert snooze on the couch. My mother Melissa picked me up and took me to the kitchen, placing me on the benchtop. Then, I'd feel excruciating pain and terror... before suddenly finding myself in hospital with a nurse looming over me. I would wake up screaming every single time and my aunt Rhonda, with whom I was living, would rush into my bedroom to comfort me. I didn't know it then, but these weren't nightmares. They were memories. I'd later learn that much of my childhood was spent in hospital. At 14 months, I suffered third-degree burns to more than 30 per cent of my body, mostly my back and arms. I had repeated skin grafts and surgeries until I was five years old. Every six months or so, saline bags were implanted under my burn scars to stretch my new growing skin. The pain was awful, but the wonderful nurses lifted my spirits. They let me sit at the nurses' station with them and play games. Alabama woman Melissa Wright placed her baby daughter Ashley in a hot oven in 2002 Melissa Wright is seen top left in this family photo with baby Ashley (bottom), her father Robert (centre) and her older sister (right) At 14 months, she suffered third-degree burns to more than 30 per cent of her body They were basically my family because I didn't see my mother or my eight-year-old half-sister Courtney. My father visited sometimes, but he couldn't bear to see me in pain. I remember him crying whenever he came. That was how I ended up living with my aunt Rhonda, my father's sister, after I got out of the hospital. I would always ask her where my mother was and why I didn't live with my dad, but she would never tell me. With my bright red, angry-looking scars and constantly being in and out of hospital, I knew I wasn't like other children, and I was teased often. The only time I'd feel normal is when I went to an annual camp for kids with burns. As I got older, I became more inquisitive about what had caused my burns, because no one had ever told me the full story. Rhonda still refused to discuss it, though sometimes she would sigh, 'Your mother is crazy.' Much of Ashley's childhood was spent in hospital 'With my bright red, angry-looking scars and constantly being in and out of hospital, I knew I wasn't like other children, and I was teased often,' says Ashley (pictured as a toddler) It felt like there was a big secret. By my teens I was pretty sure my burns weren't from a house fire, but I didn't know what had happened. Becoming a peer counsellor to younger children at my annual burns camp made me feel not so alone. Seeing my nurses always helped, too. At 15, my last disfiguring tissue expanders were removed. It was my 72nd surgery. A few months after my 15th birthday, Rhonda took me to a meeting with a lawyer. I guessed it was something to do with the fire and my mother, but I was totally unprepared for what he said. 'Ashley, there's something I must tell you,' he said. 'I don't know if you know this, but when you were a baby, your mother put you in the oven. That's how you got your burns.' My jaw dropped. My mother put me in the oven? 'She's been in prison since then,' he continued. 'But there's a parole hearing in two days and you've got to make a decision whether she gets out.' I was reeling, trying to take it all in. No wonder nobody ever told me anything. He fanned out photos of a horrifically burned and blistered little girl: me. I burst into tears. It was overwhelming. And now it was up to me to decide if the woman who did that to me - my own mother - was to be granted parole or remain behind bars. Before I had a chance to think, my aunt fanned out several old newspaper clippings on the table, 'These are articles about what your mum did,' Rhonda said. After overcoming her traumatic burns, Ashley is now a mother herself I saw photos of my mum. 'I look like her,' I sobbed. It was all I could say. I fled to the bathroom. The meeting ended there. I cried for hours when I got home. The newspaper stories said in June 2002, when I was 14 months, my mother had removed the racks from the oven and put the grill on. She turned it to high, over 300C. Then she'd put me in the oven, headfirst. How could she? During her trial, experts and prosecutors had ruled she was sane. Her motive? She was jealous of the attention my father gave me. She pleaded guilty to attempted murder and, in August 2003, was jailed for 25 years. Now she was up for parole. I can't support parole, I thought. I kept thinking how there were little kids in my extended family and I couldn't bear the idea of my mother being near them. Thankfully, she wasn't at the hearing. But my sister Courtney, who I had not seen for years, was. She wanted our mother freed, arguing she had served enough time and was mentally ill when she put me in the oven. Shaking, I stood up. 'I think Melissa should stay in prison a few more years,' I said with quiet determination. I then told the parole board I did not trust her around children. 'I do not hate Melissa, but I do not love her,' I added. Parole was denied. Ashley's father was the one to rescue her from the oven. He was later diagnosed with PTSD Afterwards, I wrote to her and asked why she'd hurt me, but she never replied. Meanwhile, everyone at school had seen the news. 'You lied about being in a house fire,' some taunted. Others called me 'scar face' or said my mum didn't want me. The bullying got so bad, I took an overdose of pills. I'd suffered depression and anxiety for years, but now it was much worse. Struggling to cope with me, Rhonda let me move in with my father. It was weird at first. We were strangers. My father was a plumber and handyman. To keep my mind busy, he took me on jobs. We bonded as I learned to tile, lay carpets and fix up a house. One day, he talked about what had happened. 'Your mum had been acting strange. Saying crazy stuff about Jesus,' he revealed. 'I was thinking of leaving with you girls.' He said we'd been playing outside and got grubby, so he'd given us a bath. 'I put a movie on and fell asleep on the couch. I woke to you and Courtney screaming. I ran in the kitchen and saw you in the oven.' Dad's voice cracked and he welled up. 'I scooped you out of the oven. Your skin was peeling off. Then I ran to the car, put you on my lap and drove as a fast as I could to the hospital.' Dad's account matched the nightmares I'd been having all those years. Despite being just 14 months old, I'd somehow remembered parts of that day. In the aftermath, my father was diagnosed with PTSD. 'I couldn't look after you. I'm so sorry,' he told me, breaking down in tears. A few years passed. Life was getting better. I decided to ask dad him if I could write to mother in prison. I wasn't ready to forgive; I wanted answers. While behind bars, Ashley's mother wrote delusional letters about how they would somehow have a normal family relationship after her release 'It's up to you, but I wouldn't recommend it,' he said. Being a teenager, I ignored his advice and wrote to her. 'Why did you burn me? What were you thinking. Did you love me?' I asked. She didn't reply. Thinking about my future, I decided to honour the care I received as a toddler and throughout my childhood by becoming a paediatrician. But these plans fell by the wayside when I became pregnant with twins to my then boyfriend. Tragically, my babies, Mason and Alana, were stillborn. I was devastated. My boyfriend and I split up; our relationship couldn't survive the grief. Later, I met my now-husband Anthony and, deciding paediatric nursing was a better fit with a family, I started a science degree. I was still volunteering as a peer counsellor for children who'd been burnt and that year, I met a six-year-old girl who'd been set alight by her father. I taught her how to moisturise her scars and prepared her for the inevitable bullying. It made me even more determined to help other kids as a nurse. In May 2021, Anthony and I had a baby boy, Brooklyn. Our daughter, Kaden, followed in March 2022. Five months later, my dad passed away, aged 65. It marked the end of years of torment after the sight of me blistered and burnt in the oven was seared into his mind. 'Dad was always honest with me,' I sobbed to Anthony. It was yet another blow, but with study and two babies to look after, I just had to battle through my grief. That same year I wrote twice to my mother behind bars. I was pregnant again when she finally replied. Seeing the prison stamp on the envelope, I nervously tore it open. I was hoping for a meaningful explanation, a heartfelt apology. I didn't get it. 'Hey my beautiful angel,' my mother began. 'I am so sorry. I tried too hard be the perfect mother,' she wrote. I was stunned. What she had done fell a long way short of simply failing to be a perfect mother. She asked for photos of me and my children. She wanted a second chance to be a mother to me and a grandmother to my kids. 'No way!' I spluttered aloud, as I read on. She joked how my kids would know their 'gangsta granny' and how, when she was released, she wanted to move close to me, build our relationship and go shopping together. There was no taking responsibility for what she'd done. And to call serving time for trying to kill your child 'gangsta' was simply outrageous. Bizarrely, she thought we'd have this amazing mother-daughter relationship. 'She's deluded,' I told Anthony. 'And there's no way she's coming anywhere near my kids.' I concluded she must have been crazy when she put me in the oven. 'I don't want to see her, but prison is the wrong place. She should be released to a mental health unit,' I told my husband. On June 21, 2023, we had a little girl, Jaylee. But our baby bubble was short-lived. A month later, I woke up to find her struggling to breathe. Then her breathing stopped and I frantically performed CPR. 'Call an ambulance!' I screamed to Anthony. For 30 desperate minutes, I fought to keep my baby alive, massaging her tiny chest and blowing little breaths into her. I couldn't save her. She had swallowed amniotic fluid at birth which caused intestinal pneumonia. I was completely overwhelmed when we laid my baby to rest. I'd been through so much: my mother had tried to kill me; I'd suffered agonising pain from my burns, countless surgeries, bullying, depression, anxiety and a suicide attempt; then I'd lost my dad and my twins... Yet, somehow, I was still here. 'I've got two other kids who need me. I've got to carry on,' I told Anthony. It's not been easy. I often wonder why I've been given such a load to carry. Still I have nightmares. And lately my scars have tightened. My skin pulls when I pick the kids up; it'll tear soon and I'll need more surgery. But I'm a survivor. In December last year, I had another little girl, Mariah. I've paused my studies for the moment but it's still my dream to become a paediatric nurse. In January, my mother unexpectedly called me from prison. 'I just wanted to see how you and the children are doing,' she said. 'We're doing fine,' I replied, refusing to give her any details. She doesn't know how many children I've got or their names, and I wanted to keep it that way. Talking about her eventual release, she said she wanted to come and live with me. 'We'll be able to go shopping together,' she said, repeating her delusional hope we'll one day have a normal mother-daughter relationship. 'No, that's not happening,' I replied, curtly. That's when she turned nasty. Right there in the visitor's area where she was allowed a brief daily telephone call. 'You know what, I wish you would have died,' she snarled, her voice dripping with venom. I hung up. Her syrupy letters, her attempt at playing nice... it was all a ruse. She was still the same spiteful woman who'd tried to kill me all those years ago. Recently, I called Tutwiler Prison, where my mother is currently serving her sentence. I wanted to know the latest on her release date. To my horror I learned she was due to be released to a halfway house in Birmingham, Alabama, in April 2026. Inmates can serve out the last part of their sentence there while social workers help them with training, education and finding work. She will be out in the community before her sentence ends and she is officially released in 2027. I'm not worried about my own safety, but I am concerned about her being around kids again. The conditions of her release will mean she can't be with children, but how is it possible to police that? By the time she gets out, she'll have been locked up for a quarter of a century. I spoke to a corrections officer who told me the long-timers like my mum usually get released and end up right back behind bars. What really worries me is what she's going to do to end up back there. Danny Santulli is blindfolded, told to remove his shirt, and led to the basement of the frat house alongside his fellow freshmen. There, his 'pledge dad', upperclassman Ryan Delanty, hands him a bottle of vodka, tapes it to his hand, and tells him to drink the entire liter. He's also told to guzzle beer from a funnel. Barely able to stand, Santulli collapses and is carried to a couch. Santulli had been excited at the prospect of becoming a part of Greek life as an incoming freshman at the University of Missouri, joining the class of 2025. He wanted to build lasting friendships in a special brotherhood, and had accepted an invitation to become part of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity in 2021. Alongside his course load, it was a demanding process. He dashed around at all hours to fulfill requests from members of the universitys local chapter: cleaning their rooms, picking up pizza and performing pledge tasks. By October, the 19-year-old had nearly finished the grueling process but had one last event to attend: the 'Pledge Dad Reveal,' a hazing tradition where freshman pledges meet their 'Big Brother' and are pressured to drink copious amounts of alcohol. Santulli's new 'brothers' left him alone, suffering from acute alcohol poisoning, on the couch they carried him to. When he finally got medical care, he had already sustained significant brain damage. Danny Santulli in 2020 before the hazing incident left him permanently disabled Santulli, now 22, is blind, unable to talk and uses a wheelchair as a result of the brain damage he suffered after a night of hazing at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity Santulli was in the ICU for weeks. He survived, but is now blind, unable to walk or talk, and requires around-the-clock medical care. Family attorney David Bianchi, dubbed 'America's leading hazing attorney,' has represented dozens of victims and their families for the last 25 years in hazing cases at schools including Cornell University, University of Miami, and University of Utah. He told the Daily Mail that Santulli's case 'is the worst fraternity hazing injury there has ever been.' Phi Gamma Delta had reportedly received two separate violations from the university earlier that year related to alcohol and hazing. 'The fraternity decided to move forward with this tradition that they did every year in the month of October regardless that they were on probation,' he said, noting that hazing is prohibited at the college and by the fraternity's national chapter, as well as being illegal in Missouri. What made Santulli's case particularly unusual, the attorney said, was that 'every moment was captured on surveillance video.' Bianchi provided the Daily Mail with a blow-by-blow account of the horror Santulli endured and the jarring negligence the lawyer said took place. At the beginning of the night's festivities, all the freshman pledges were called to the fraternity house with no prior knowledge of what would take place. During the hazing ritual, they were told to remove their shirts, wear blindfolds, and walk single file to the basement with their arms on each other's shoulders. There, they met their 'pledge dad,' who handed them alcohol before they were paraded back upstairs. 'You will see in the video some have the bottles taped to their hand so they can't let go of it,' Bianchi explained. 'Danny's bottle was taped to his hand.' For the next two hours, they mingled like they were at a cocktail party and had to drink their way through the bottle, the attorney said. 'You see one of the frat brothers holds Danny's bottle up to the light and tells him to keep drinking,' Bianchi said. 'At one point we see Danny is standing around a hundred guys when he collapses and falls backwards. You see on the video they pick him up and bring him into a room in the fraternity house and dump him on a couch. 'He lays there for a while and eventually slides off the couch face-first onto the floor. Someone comes along and puts him back on the couch. 'Now he is lying there by himself at that point, he is in big trouble, but no one calls 911,' Bianchi said. Another person noticed Santulli hadn't moved and wasn't breathing. They decided not to call 911, but drive him to University Hospital instead. Some of the frat brothers are seen carrying Santulli and dropping him on his head before scooping him up and putting him inside a car. Bianchi explained that 'by the time he gets [to the hospital] his heart stops, someone from the ER runs over and does CPR in the car, and the rest is history.' He said Santulli's blood alcohol content was a whopping 0.486 percent - six times the legal limit to drive in Missouri. Five days before the incident, Santulli was on the phone with his sister, Meredith, a junior at the same college, the lawyer said. The 19-year-old shared that he was sleep-deprived and stressed, telling Meredith that he 'can't do it anymore' and that 'they are making me perform all these errands,' the attorney revealed. Santulli, who was a finance major in the business school, was concerned that his studies were suffering. His sister called their parents and they all spoke. They told Santulli he did not need to continue pledging and could walk away, the lawyer said. But Santulli responded that he was going to 'stick it out' and 'did not want to be known as a quitter.' Danny Santulli and the other pledges are seen walking single file to the basement with their shirts off and blindfolds on At the 'Pledge Dad Reveal,' freshman meet their 'Big Brothera' and are forced to drink copious amounts of alcohol . Santulli is seen on the far left facedown on the floor. It is unclear how long he had been there before someone noticed. His fraternity brothers never called 911 The disturbing image of Santulli being carried out of the house with his feet in the air The fraternity brothers are seen carrying Santulli to one of their cars before driving to the hospital Bianchi named nearly two dozen defendants in a civil suit filed in early 2022, saying 'there was so much fault to go around.' They included Delanty, the fraternity's national chapter, and 20 more individuals. His goal was to get compensation for the lifetime of care that Santulli will require. Though he did not disclose the exact amount the family received, he said it was a multi-million dollar settlement. David Bianchi, dubbed 'America's leading hazing attorney,' has represented dozens of victims and their families for the last 25 years in hazing cases at schools across the US 'There is no financial limitation on their ability to provide for him because of the recovery that we made in the civil case,' he said. 'They will have whatever they need for the rest of his life without regard to cost.' Almost immediately after the ordeal, the University of Missouri withdrew the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity's recognition, and the national organization disbanded their chapter. Eleven fraternity brothers were criminally charged in the case, 10 of whom were indicted by a grand jury for hazing, Fox4KRC reported. In May 2024, Delanty, Santulli's pledge dad, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail and another six months under house arrest for hazing and supplying alcohol to a minor, Fox59 News reported. Bianchi questioned why it took nearly three years for Delanty to be sentenced for the crime. 'It made no sense because under the law, it was crystal clear that he was guilty,' he said. Ryan Delanty was Santulli's 'Pledge Dad' at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Pictured in court with his attorney, he was sentenced to six months in jail and six months of house arrest With Bianchi's help, the Santulli family is working diligently to pass Danny's Law, which in part aims to make those who try to help victims of hazing immune from prosecution. The proposed law is nearly identical to another pushed by Bianchi following the hazing death of Andrew Coffey in Florida. 'Andrew Coffey and Danny Santulli were subjected to the exact same hazing incident many years apart and at two different universities, but the tradition that was being upheld was the same at both universities,' Bianchi said. Coffey was a freshman at Florida State University in 2017 when he died from acute alcohol poisoning after a night of hazing at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. He had a blood alcohol content of 0.447 percent - more than five times the state's legal driving limit, CNN reported. Coffey was made to drink an entire bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon. His fraternity brothers put him on the couch, and when they came back the next day to see if he had 'slept it off, he was dead,' said Bianchi, who filed a civil suit on behalf of the Coffey family. In that case, Bianchi filed a civil suit against the fraternity's national chapter and 12 brothers, securing an undisclosed settlement for the family. He also vowed that he would improve Florida's current hazing law. According to the existing law, he explained, the first person to call 911 after witnessing a hazing incident will be granted immunity from prosecution, even if they are the hazer. The immunity is lost if they do not provide their name or if they flee the scene before help arrives. With Andrew's Law, he said, 'we expanded the immunity not just to the first person to call 911, but to anyone who was rendering aid to the victim while help is on the way.' The law was passed unanimously and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019. On Feb. 20, Danny's Law passed the Missouri state Senate nearly unanimously. Bianchi hopes it will get signed into law in April. 'Our fingers are crossed. We still have to get through the House and the governor has to sign it,' he said. Danny Santulli was a freshman in the business school and planning to study finance like his older brother Nick, who also attended Missouri Santulli pictured with his older siblings Meredith and Nick Danny, now 22, is pictured with his family wearing 'Danny Strong' T-shirts named after one of their fundraisers Santulli's mother, Mary Pat Santulli, described the utter shock she felt upon learning that no one in the house called 911. She said her son's lips had turned blue and he was unresponsive when he was taken to the hospital only a few blocks away, where he went into cardiac arrest. Doctors were able to resuscitate Santulli, but he had already suffered immense brain trauma and paralysis. His family was grateful he was alive, but wanted those responsible to be held accountable. When Mary Pat learned that no one would be going to jail, she and the family decided to fight. 'We put together a petition and got thousands of signatures, and they finally did press charges,' she told the Daily Mail. She said she 'really wanted' pledge dad Delanty to be charged with a felony, but he ultimately pleaded guilty misdemeanor. One of the most difficult things about the ordeal, Mary Pat shared, was that 'no one ever apologized.' Before the full extent of Santullis injuries were known, members of his chapter signed a card for him, but that was it. 'None of the kids that were responsible like his pledge dad or their parents - no one ever reached out,' Mary Pat said, adding 'that has always been very hard for us to this day. She noted the university was very supportive. Both of her older children, Meredith and Nick, also attended the college, and Nick was in a fraternity. When Nick met his 'Big Brother, Mary Pat recalled, they had a couple of beers and went home.' In December 2024, former President Biden signed off on the anti-hazing bill that requires colleges with federal student aid to publicly report hazing incidents. Mary Pat said she was not aware that the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity had been on probation at the time of the incident. If I had known they already had violations and probation, I would have said [to Danny], you should probably look for a different fraternity.' Today she and her husband, who recently retired, are their sons full-time caregivers. The family invested in a hands-free device that tracks Dannys eye movements to help him communicate more, Mary Pat said, adding that he can hear very well. 'He is more alert, a little more responsive, he is turning his head more, she said. When asked if Santulli understands what happened, Mary Pat said that 'there are times when he is emotional and gets tears, so we don't like to talk about what happened in front of him. Maybe things are coming back. We don't know.' The Albanese government new Budget has pledged a further $1.3billion to various programs for Aboriginal communities, but critics argue such funding does little to help those most in need. Budget papers reveal that $842million will be allocated over six years to support remote communities, improving policing, women's safety, health and education, in partnership with the Northern Territory Government and Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT. An additional $506million over five years will be spent on the Closing the Gap programs to improve health, education and employment outcomes in indigenous groups. Much of the funding in Tuesday night's Budget had already been announced, including $50million set aside to lower grocery prices in remote communities. Other spending includes $21.8million for domestic and sexual violence services, $27.4million to improve access to 'culturally safe' mental health care, and 150million scholarships for Indigenous psychologists. An additional $9.2million will go towards improving the detection, monitoring, and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in remote communities. Over two years, $70.9million will be allocated to expand homeownership opportunities for while over three years, $3.4million will support initiatives to increase women's participation in business. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson argued most of the funds designed to help Aboriginal communities was wasted because the Indigenous corporations which control the purse strings lack transparency, and spending more will not help matters. The Albanese government has pledged $1.3billion to Indigenous Australians as part of its efforts to close the gap Key investments include $50m to reduce grocery prices, $27.4m for mental health care, and $21.8m for domestic violence services 'Large amounts of exclusive funding for Indigenous corporations in this Budget will again be allocated with no transparency and no accountability for closing the gaps,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'One Nation's policy takes this sort of racial privilege out of the equation. I have always advocated for equality for all Australians and for assistance to be based on need, not race. 'One Nation will dismantle racial privilege and finally put a stop to the Aboriginal industry gravy train. 'Indigenous Australians in genuine need will not miss out on assistance, but they will have no more assistance than anyone else in genuine need. All Australians in need will be treated equally in this regard.' From the opposite end of the political spectrum, independent Aboriginal senator Lidia Thorpe also criticised the Budget measures, describing them as 'just more crumbs on the table'. 'It comes as no surprise that Truth and Treaty are completely off the agenda. The government had made clear they already broke that promise,' she said. Senator Lidia Thorpe slams the budget as 'more crumbs on the table' One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson argued Indigenous programs lack transparency and have failed to reduce inequality 'Of the $842m for NT remote community spending, we already know that a quarter of that $205m goes to the police, who will only hurt and criminalise more of our people and send more of our children into jail. 'This will widen, not close the gap. 'Hidden behind these numbers, too, are infrastructure projects that address basic needs such as waste and water treatment in a few communities, which should be part of basic service provision to every community in the country. 'This is a low bar, and too little too late.' Despite the criticisms, Pat Turner - lead convener of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations - said 'this Budget gives us cause for cautious optimism'. A significant portion of the funding will be channelled through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations. 'Every dollar invested in Aboriginal community-controlled organisations delivers better value. 'It drives stronger outcomes for our people, builds local economies, and makes public spending more effective - because the work is done with community, not to community.' Scenes from a turbulent Cincinnati suburb look scarily like the start of a race war. Masked gunmen in black combat gear patrol Lincoln Heights, a proud, historic black community of 3,100 residents, recalling the gun-toting Black Panthers of the 1960s. They took up arms after white Neo-Nazis showed up in the neighborhood last month, waving swastika flags and shouting racial slurs; and local cops allegedly treated them with kid gloves. DailyMail.com spoke with organizers of the black militia, local historians, and residents of the mostly-white Ohio suburbs around Lincoln Heights. They all described a community on a knife edge. Local cops say armed civilian patrols near schools and churches are 'very dangerous.' Worried residents say it's only a matter of time before there's blood on Cincinnati's streets. For some, it's the latest sign that America is on a path to civil war a terrifying eventuality that a staggering 47 percent of people now expect to see in their lifetime, polling shows. It comes weeks after President Donald Trump returned to the White House, and started dismantling policies aimed at giving minorities a leg up at schools, colleges, and workplaces. One organizer of the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch program, as it is known, said the racists who rallied in her neighborhood were heeding 'dog whistles' from the West Wing. Armed members of Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch keep a Sunday service safe Masked Neo-Nazis visited their mostly-black suburb to wave swastikas around last month William Umphres, an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati, described 'uncertainty and anxiety' across southwestern Ohio, where black and white suburbs remain segregated. 'This is not a race war or anything of that nature,' Umphres told DailyMail.com. 'But so many of our shared assumptions about the government, the courts, and the police have been destabilized. If we're not sure the government will secure our rights, the need to reassert our own security becomes more urgent.' Lincoln Heights has been a fulcrum of US race relations since it was founded in the 1920s. It was the first self-governing black municipality north of the Mason-Dixon line a one-time stop on the underground railroad where the descendants of freed slaves could escape redlining and climb the property ladder. In its heyday in the 1960s, it had more than 6,000 residents and was a black cultural hub, producing songwriters the Isley Brothers, known for Shout and This Old Heart of Mine, and poet Nikki Giovanni. But a lack of jobs and tax revenues saw the village struggle and decline. Property values crashed; the population nearly halved these past six decades, even as nearby white towns flourished. No surprise, then, that the arrival of masked neo-Nazis on February 7 sent shockwaves through the legacy black community. Roughly a dozen extremists gathered on a highway overpass connecting Lincoln Heights with Evendale, the mostly-white village where entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy was raised. They unfurled a sign reading 'America for the White Man.' Lincoln Heights has no police department of its own. Law enforcement officers from Evendale and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene. They made no arrests and did not collect identifying information on the hardliners, some of whom were armed. Volunteers of the Lincoln Heights patrols where tactical gear and carry assault-style weapons They say almost every member of the 3,100-person community supports the patrols Volunteer militia members say they're making it safe for local children to get to school Yard signs in support of the militia have popped up in driveways across town Black locals who bore witness said cops were sympathetic to the neo-Nazis, who departed hastily in a U-Haul. Weeks later, a Ku Klux Klan member was seen handing out fliers in Lincoln Heights and elsewhere across Cincinnati. William Bader, 47, of Kentucky, an 'imperial wizard,' was stopped by police on February 23 and ultimately fined $200 for two counts of littering with 'propaganda' leaflets, a misdemeanor. Members of the nearby black community, and its eight-year-old Heights Movement, were alarmed by the neo-Nazis and the apparent unwillingness of police to make arrests, even as it remains unclear if any laws were broken. Armed volunteers wearing tactical vests and masks now patrol key areas of town, including bus stops and around the elementary school. Yard signs in support of the militia have popped up in driveways across town as residents rally behind the scheme. Daronce Daniels, a lifelong Lincoln Heights resident who organizes the patrols, says they're a measured response to outsiders who 'terrorize our community' as cops are 'helping and aiding' them. 'We don't see ourselves as Black Panthers or even Black Lives Matter,' says Daniels, 37. 'We're free people from a tight-knit, historic, African-American community, who are taking their American rights, their God given rights, to protect themselves.' Ohio law permits open carry of firearms without a permit, meaning residents who legally own guns can carry them in public. Still, some non-black visitors to the town have reported being harassed by patrol members. Syretha Brown, 48, another lifelong Lincoln Heights resident, says the white supremacists were enlivened by the 'orange Nazi in the White House,' a reference to Trump. The white supremacists unfurled a sign reading 'America for the White Man' About a dozen of the masked hardliners departed hastily in a U-Haul rental vehicle They rallied on a highway overpass connecting Lincoln Heights with Evendale, a mostly-white village Law enforcement made no arrests and did not collect identifying information on the hardliners, some of whom were armed 'I wasn't surprised that it happened, because that's the dog whistle that Donald Trump, Elon Musk, [Vice President] JD Vance and the other MAGA Republicans are blowing,' she added. She criticizes a double standard against black people who take up arms to defend their homes, and get caricatured as violent. The Trump administration is delivering on election promises to axe diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) schemes, which it says have sidelined whites in a bid to help minorities. Supporters of the watch say it can be a blueprint for similar scared minority neighborhoods across the US. Evendale police and Hamilton County sheriffs say they're assessing their response to the rally, and that their body camera from the day is being studied in a criminal probe. Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey has called for a ban on masks worn by those openly carrying firearms. Such a law would have made it easier to intervene against the neo-Nazis, she says. But McGuffey adds that Lincoln Heights residents are unwise to take up arms themselves. 'They feel they need to arm their residents, and they're allowed to,' McGuffey said. 'At some point, we are going to likely face a very dangerous situation.' Critics of the militia say its volunteers have fallen into the trap set by the white supremacists to goad them into more violent confrontations. A lack of jobs and tax revenues saw Lincoln Heights struggle and decline after its heyday in the 1960s It once had more than 6,000 residents and was a black cultural hub, producing songwriters the Isley Brothers Last year, law enforcers bust open at least two plots by white supremacists to ignite a race war. An online group, called 'The Terrorgram Collective,' tried to arrange attacks on Black, Jewish, LGBTQ people and immigrants in a bid to incite a race war, federal prosecutors said. Meanwhile, a gun owner in Arizona was arrested over a plot to incite an ethnic conflict by targeting blacks, Jews, and Muslims at a concert in Atlanta, prosecutors said. These plans were exposed in the run-up to a highly-charged 2024 election as Americans grew ever-more fearful of political violence. A shocking 47 percent of Americans said they expected to see a civil war in their lifetime, Marist Poll found in May. For many, fighting would erupt between liberals and conservatives. For others, it would break along racial lines. Umphres, the Cincinnati academic, says Lincoln Heights sits on a fault line that's dangerously exposed in 2025. 'We used to have a consensus, now it feels like everything is unsettled,' he says. 'It's hard to answer the question: 'What's next week going to look like?' Because so much is changing and so much is uncertain.' The United States' 'retreat' from 'championing liberal democratic values' has emboldened leaders, such as the Turkish President, to slide towards authoritarianism, an expert has warned. Major civil unrest has rocked Turkey for more than a week following the arrest of the popular Istanbul mayor and opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu. In a damning assessment, a lecturer at King's College London has claimed that President Trump's recent actions have encouraged Erdogan and other leaders to use brutal methods to crackdown on dissent. The unrest started after Mr Imamoglu was taken into custody just days before he was due to be formally nominated as the Republican People's Party (CHP) 2028 presidential nominee. The vote went ahead and he secured the candidacy with over 15million votes. Since his detention an estimated one million Turks have taken to the streets across the country waving the red crescent moon flag of Turkey and calling for his release. The demonstrators also wish to make clear their opposition to Turkey's strongman leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan whose grip on power has only become tighter following his over 20 years in power. In response Erdogan has initiated a brutal crackdown on the largely peaceful demonstrations which has seen over a thousand people arrested, the banning of mass gatherings and the use of water cannons and pepper spray by police. However, despite Amnesty International condemning Erdogan's crackdown as a 'blatant assault' on freedom of expression, world leaders have not been so quick to criticise his actions. President Donald Trump outside the White House wearing a MAGA cap. In a damning assessment, a lecturer at King's College London has claimed that US's retreat from democratic values has encouraged other leaders to use brutal methods to crackdown on dissent Turkey's strongman leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has led the country since 2003, has initiated a brutal crackdown on mass demonstrations in his country Protesters light flares during clashes in Ankara. Major civil unrest has rocked Turkey for over a week following the arrest of the popular Istanbul mayor and opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu A riot police officer kicks a protester as they clash during a protest in Istanbul. Erdogan has initiated a brutal crackdown on the largely peaceful demonstrations which has seen over a thousand people arrested, the banning of mass gatherings and the use of water cannons and pepper spray by police One of the few responses has come from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who gave a tepid order for Turkey to maintain its democratic values. Dr Andi Hoxhaj told MailOnline that the lack of response from the international community is having major repercussions in Turkey. He said: 'Erdogan feels more emboldened now, and so do other leaders with authoritarian tendencies after the US retreated from democratic values and now they feel that there are fewer consequences if the likes of Erdogan and others assault democratic norms.' On top of this, Dr Hoxhaj pointed out that under President Trump America has stopped funding several democratic watchdogs and NGOs, such as Freedom House, and has dropped several human rights and democratic monitoring instruments. 'Which has translated that we dont care as much as we did a decade ago about upholding democratic values,' he said. It is not only the US that has, perhaps unknowingly, encouraged Turkey's response to the protests. Dr Hoxhaj said: 'The European Union, which usually champions democratic values, is not viewed as supporting the protests for the very values that the EU was founded on, as in Turkey, where its interests are intertwined with managing migrations. They are therefore looking the other way on issues that the protests are calling out.' Unrest in Turkey started following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu (pictured) last week Trumpand Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arguing in the Oval Office last month. Turkish riot police police confront protesters in Istanbul. Despite Amnesty International condemning Erdogan's crackdown as a 'blatant assault' on freedom of expression, world leaders have not been so quick to criticise his actions Dr Andi Hoxhaj (pictured) said: 'Erdogan feels more emboldened now, and so do other leaders with authoritarian tendencies after the US retreated from democratic values and now they feel that there are fewer consequences' Without the West championing democratic values, this also means the protests are not encouraged to put more pressure on the government. The modern geopolitics of Europe are also playing a major role in this response. With the growing tensions within NATO, which Turkey is a member state, over Trump's calls for Europeans to up their defence spending, coupled with the increased rift between Western nations' stances on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is more incentive to not criticise member states. Especially in light of the fact Turkey's large military, which is the second biggest in NATO, plays a large role in European security not just for Ukraine but also in the Middle East. Dr Hoxhaj said: 'Erdogan has seen himself now as a key important strategic partner in terms of it say within NATO and how it is working on Ukraine and Syria. 'Thus, even if he cracks down on democratic norms, the overarching geopolitical objectives to have a peaceful outcome in Ukraine as well as a smooth transition in Syria, there is less pressure on Turkey if it moves further into undemocratic practices.' Turkey is not the only country which has seen major protests in recent weeks. In not so dissimilar scenes, Serbians have took to the streets in massive rallies in the country's capital Belgrade. Erdogan with President Zelenskyy in February. In relation to Ukraine Turkey is a major NATO player due to its large army Erdogan with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa last month. Turkey's geopolitical role also stretches beyond Europe to the Middle East which is partly why criticism of Erdogan's actions are muted Serbians protesting against corruption earlier this month. Like Erdogan, Serbia's President has led a brutal crackdown against the protesters - which included the alleged use of a sound cannon to disperse demonstrators They are to protest corruption and the autocratic turn of the country's longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic. Like Erdogan, Vucic has led a brutal crackdown against the protesters - which included the alleged use of a sound cannon to disperse demonstrators. While Dr Hoxhaj acknowledges the country appears to be on the verge of a new election this outcome has been done without support from the European Union which has not voiced support for the protests. He said this was due to the Bloc's festered interest in a major lithium deal for batteries between the EU and Serbia - which has an estimated lithium reserve of up to 158 million tons. The response to major protests is in stark contrast to today's mellow reaction from Western nations. In 2013 when Erdogan faced similar protests in Istanbul's Gezi Park over his authoritarian tendencies and control of the media the EU responded sternly by temporarily suspending Turkey's accession talks into the Bloc. In another example, the EU support for Ukraine's Euromaidan demonstrations in 2014 led to the resignation of the county's president Viktor Yanukovych. At the time one EU official said they were 'happy that democracy in Ukraine has reached.' A demonstrator waves a Turkish flag next to police officers in riot gear during a protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu This not for the lack of influence in each country, with Dr Hoxhaj pointing out that the EU continues to have sufficient tools to support democratic and rule-of-law reforms to put sufficient pressure on world leaders.' But due to the previously mentioned changes in the modern geopolitical dynamics. On top of this, Dr Hoxhaj added that some leaders have learnt from Russia's playbook of how to tackle dissent and to avoid scrutiny. As we have to learn that we have appeased Putin for over two decades in exchange for favourable gas deals, hoping to control him and eventually bring about change in Russia,' he said. 'However, we should not think that such an approach might work, as both leaders in Hungary and Serbia are displaying clear signs of autocracy and shift to Putin's style of governance.' Locals in Britain's asylum seeker hotspots have complained of feeling scared for their safety and 'taken advantage of' by the government. Each asylum seeker who lodges a claim for protection is sent to a different part of the UK under the Home Office's 'dispersal policy'. While the system is intended to ensure fairness, some towns and cities have ended up taking in more asylum seekers as a proportion of their population than others. They include Hartlepool, Swansea and Coventry, where residents railed against the negative consequences of the influx, including pressures on local services. They also complained on the impact on housing availability - even if many asylum seekers stay in hotels at a cost of 5.5million every day. A total of 109,024 asylum seekers were being housed across the UK by the year ending September 2024, according to figures from the House of Commons Library. While Hillingdon in West London houses the most asylum seekers per head of any UK local authority - 97 per 10,000 people - Hartlepool is tenth on the list with 49. Residents of the seaside town in County Durham are still reeling from the murder of 70-year-old Terence Carney in October 2023 at the hands of Moroccan asylum seeker Ahmed Alid. HARTLEPOOL: Local residents in the County Durham town claim they are having to house an unfair share of asylum seekers Two men sit on a bench in Hartlepool, which suffered from high rates of social deprivation Devon Kenny and Kayleigh Courtney were both concerned about pressure on the town's housing stock Your browser does not support iframes. The Islamist extremist was found guilty of murder and the attempted murder of his housemate, Javed Nouri, who he had attacked before Mr Carney. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 44 years and 152 days. Kayleigh Courtney, 33, who is unemployed, told MailOnline: 'We knew Terrance's child. He should have felt safe in his community. 'It's a really scary world and causes a lot of friction in the community.' Lauren Green, 33, a carer, also mentioned the incident before complaining that asylum seekers were being 'prioritised'. 'You see on the news that PIP is being cut and pensioners are suffering but they are being prioritised for housing in Hartlepool,' she said. 'It's hard to get appointments for the doctor and dentist. 'Many of them don't speak English or chat in another language when you are in public, which can feel isolating.' Some of Hartlepool's residents complained of feeling scared after the murder of a local man An aerial view of residential streets in the seaside town in County Durham Carol Jones spoke of issues with housing while Jean Clutterbuck said it was 'unfair' for Hartlepool to have to house more asylum seekers than the national average Top ten local authorities with the most asylum seekers, per 10,000 population Hillingdon: 97 Hounslow: 73 Halton: 70 Glasgow City: 67 Coventry: 60 Belfast: 56 Derby: 51 Wolverhampton: 50 Stoke-on-Trent: 49 Hartlepool: 49 Advertisement Other locals also spoke of services being overwhelmed - an issue they believe has been exacerbated by the newcomers. Devon Kenny, 60, a former landlord said: 'A lot of homes are being turned into HMO's (house in multiple occupation) to accommodate them. 'We are already a deprived town. The council doesn't do anything for us and it seems as though we are paying for their services. 'I waited for two years to get into a bed sit. It's really hard to get a doctor appointment due to the added strain of having more people in the town. 'All of the homes are full, it's winding locals up. People are unhappy with the situation, it's going downhill. One man, who asked not to be named, warned of the risks of placing asylum seekers into areas that were already struggling. 'They are putting asylum seekers in run-down areas but that drains resources and makes the area more run down,' he said. 'We don't have the infrastructure to cope with that many people. It feels as though local people are getting pushed out of the town.' In Wales' second city of Swansea, some traders at the local market can trace their family's involvement back six generations. They work hard for long hours and in today's economic climate it's a struggle. But while they continue to serve customers with the local speciality of cockles and lava bread, many are angry at what they are seeing. One market stall worker, a 69-year-old woman who has to work because she can't manage on her state pension, said: 'I've seen up to 30 men sitting outside Costa, I find it intimidating. 'Some of them smoke, all of them have top-of-the-range mobile phones, they are dressed well and they sit there most of the day. 'They don't contribute by working or paying taxes, they don't seem to be here with families. They are young men taking what we give them while our own people are going without. 'We don't need more of the same coming to Swansea, I have sympathy with genuine asylum seekers but we are being taken advantage of.' COVENTRY: The city has the fifth highest number of supported asylum seekers out of any local authority in Britain per 10,000 people (60). Pictured is a general view of the city centre Residents of Coventry complained of pressures on local services and housing stock But not all locals were negative. Rebecca Howland, 53, said she had 'not noticed any problems' caused by asylum seekers and said Coventry was a 'pleasant enough' place to live There are 32.6 asylum seekers per 10,000 people in Swansea, which is relatively high compared to the UK average. Asylum seekers are usually not allowed to work while their claim is being considered, although they can take voluntary roles. Another market stall holder, a 55-year-old grandmother who did not want to be named, said: 'I arrive early in the morning and I can't get in because homeless people are sleeping in the doorways. 'That's because instead of housing the homeless, properties are going to asylum seekers who've only been in the country for five minutes. 'We are getting more and people have had enough of it.' Indian restaurant worker Mohammed Ali, 51, whose family came to Swansea from Bangladesh 80 years ago, says asylum seekers in Wales' second city are already causing 'chaos'. The father-of-three told MailOnline: 'Most of them are not telling the truth, they say that if they are sent back home they will be killed. But in 80 per cent of cases it is a lie. 'There are some worthy cases but not a lot.' Retired construction worker Peter Cort, 75, on a shopping trip with his wife and their two Jack Russell Molly and Pip, argued that local people should come before asylum seekers. He said: 'They arrive here and get a house and all the white goods to get them started but what about our own people who are struggling? They should be the priority. 'We don't have the infrastructure to take more asylum seekers in Swansea. Or hospitals and doctors' surgeries are overrun. It's terrible, we can't cope.' A general view of the Coventry Transport Museum in the city centre Three men pose for the camera in Coventry, which has a population of just under 350,000 Zain Khan, owner of Phone Matters in the city centre, said asylum seekers being unable to work while their applications are processed was an issue Where are the asylum seekers coming from? The largest individual nationalities among those who applied for asylum in 2024 were: Pakistani (10,542) Afghan (8,508) Iranian (8,099) Bangladeshi (7,225) Syrian (6,680) Advertisement Retired NHS nurse Celia Hillman, 72, a mother and grandmother, said: 'I don't want more asylum seekers here, there's not enough housing for people already in Swansea. We can't take any more, we are a small island, we're not like the bigger places. 'We can't afford it. The NHS is falling apart, councils are struggling to maintain the place and the roads and everything but they are having to accommodate even more people.' Stephen Morgan, 56, a single man, who works in Poundland, said: 'Letting a small amount in is ok but we are overcrowded, especially the hospitals. It affects everything, I'm against more asylum seekers coming here.' But Tom Loudon, 31, and his pregnant partner Emma Foster, 27, were ready to welcome more asylum seekers. Mr Loudon, a carer, said: 'If we can offer people asylum for protection then we should have them here, absolutely. And they should be treated fairly. 'It doesn't affect my everyday life, we can cope. The council is funded by the central government who makes these rules and has to pay more for people coming here as asylum seekers. 'For me, Keir Starmer is a hypocrite who has caused so many problems since he became Prime Minister.' SWANSEA: Locals in Wales' second city complained of struggles to secure doctors' and dentists' appointments Swansea town centre was fairly quiet when MailOnline visited on Tuesday Stephen Morgan, 56, who works in a Poundland, said he was against more asylum seekers coming to the city because of pressure on its public services What is an asylum seeker? Asylum is protection given by a country to someone fleeing from persecution in their own country. An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for asylum and is awaiting a decision on whether they will be granted refugee status. An asylum applicant who does not qualify for refugee status may still be granted leave to remain in the UK for humanitarian or other reasons. An asylum seeker whose application is refused at initial decision may appeal the decision through an appeal process and, if successful, may be granted leave to remain. Advertisement Three hours' drive away in Coventry, local women Louse and Dee revealed they were living in temporary accommodation and claimed more asylum seekers would make the housing shortage worse. Louise, 37, said: 'I'm currently homeless. The houses go to the asylum seekers rather than the actual homeless. 'I'm in a shared accommodation and I am technically homeless. I think the government should be looking after their own before helping other people. 'I don't think the city can handle the amount of people coming in.' Dee, 38, said she had to live separately from her husband just to find a bed to sleep in and blasted the government. 'I think it's ridiculous that asylum seekers can come over here and get housed but my husband, who has paid taxes his whole life, is on the street. 'I'm homeless too, we've had to separate so that one of us can get somewhere to sleep. 'I don't think we can handle the numbers, we can't house the people who are from this city. 'If they come over here and work and pay into the system, fair play to them. I know diverse people who I call my family. But the fact is, we need to help our own.' Your browser does not support iframes. Coventry has the fifth highest number of supported asylum seekers out of any local authority in Britain per 10,000 people (60) - and locals say they are feeling the strain. Zain Khan, owner of Phone Matters in the city centre, said asylum seekers being unable to work while their applications are processed was an issue. The 28-year-old, who moved to the UK from Pakistan four years ago, said: 'You are a good country allowing asylum seekers to come here, but just ask them to work. 'When I see people getting money for free from my taxes, it is not on. If they work, or are disabled, then fair enough.' But other people's options were more positive. Rebecca Howland, 53, said she had 'not noticed any problems' caused by asylum seekers and said Coventry was a 'pleasant enough' place to live. 'There are people here who have their own opinions here, some quite negative, but everywhere has problems, not just here,' she said. Meanwhile, Xander Green, a politics student, argued that most asylum seekers were victims of tragic circumstances and they shouldn't be judged. The 21-year-old said: 'I think there's a lot of people who view migrants negatively, I think I noticed it more when I went to uni. 'People who talk about migrants often grew up in places where they don't have that first-hand interaction with diversity. 'But we don't have any problems, it's a diverse place and we all enjoy it.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'This government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed. 'Since coming into power, we have surged the number of returns, removing nearly 19,000 people with no right to be in the UK, restarted asylum processing, established the new Border Security Command, and prioritised the acquisition of more sustainable dispersal accommodation. 'We are working closely together on a sustainable and value for money plan on asylum accommodation.' Violent crime in Britain's classrooms has hit nearly 100,000 incidents in the last three years, a shocking new report reveals. Police forces have recorded primary school pupils as young as seven bringing knives into lessons and teenagers plotting to poison or kidnap their peers. According to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, the worst hit areas were London where there were 11,156 reports of violent crime in schools, then the Greater Manchester area with 5,618, and West Yorkshire with 5,118, from 2021 to 2024. In the last three years there has been a rise of almost 25% of violent incidents in schools with 4,800 reports of weapons being seized. This includes teenagers carrying a loaded or unloaded imitation firearm in schools in West Mercia. While the seven-year-old who came to school armed with a knife was reported to police in Merseyside. Police officers seized 767 weapons from pupils in London, while Gloucestershire detectives reported that 143 of the victims of violent crime in schools were under nine. The indictment of the country's schools is revealed in ITV's documentary on the appalling murder of transgender teenager Brianna Ghey by school pupils. Your browser does not support iframes. A 13-year-old girl who stabbed two teachers at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman school in Wales went to class armed ever day Brianna, 16, was murdered on February 11, 2023 in Warrington, Cheshire, by her supposed friend Scarlett Jenkinson and stranger Eddie Ratcliffe, who were both 15, after they became obsessed with violent torture films online. Her mother Esther, has campaigned tirelessly since her daughter's death to make schools safer. She said in the documentary called Brianna: A Mother's Story: 'It doesn't surprise me that there's an increase in violent crimes (in schools). 'There is just so much harmful content and negative influences online that children have got access to. It is something that really needs to be looked into.' Cheshire Constabulary, the police force which caught Brianna's murderers, reported 2,412 incidents of violent crime in schools over the three years. The report's data was compiled from the responses of 40 police forces which showed there have been 97,876 violent incidents in schools, ranging from assault, stalking and strangulation marking an increase of almost 25% from 2021 to 2024. Recent examples of violent incidents in school include a 13-year-old girl at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman School who was convicted in February of three attempted murders. Swansea Crown Court heard how the pupil, who cannot be named used a Swiss Army style knife to stab assistant headteacher Fiona Elias, additional needs teacher Liz Hokpin and another pupil on April 24 last year. In another case, footage shared widely on social media, shows a fight between two pupils at Waid Academy in Faith, Scotland from January 2023. One pupil was filmed attacking another at the Waid Academy in Faith Scotland in January 2023 At the school in Wales the girl concealed this Swiss Army style knife in her cargo trousers A moment before the schoolgirl (right, in black and white trainers) lunged at assistant headteacher Fiona Elias with a knife at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Carmarthenshire The schoolgirl then ran off after briefly being restrained - attacking another girl with whom she had previously had a 'petty argument' Responding to the shocking figures Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT- The Teachers' Union called on the government to do more to protect staff and pupils. He said: 'The NASUWT is calling on the Government to bring forward a national plan to tackle violence in schools and colleges to be delivered by a national taskforce on school safety and security. 'Given the shocking number of incidents of pupils and teachers being threatened and seriously injured by young people carrying knives and other weapons, schools and colleges must be given even greater support to help them keep children, young people and staff safe. While, Alistair Wood, CEO of Edapt, which represents tens of thousands of teachers in England who don't want to join a union, says: 'Behind these figures are real stories from classrooms. 'We are increasingly supporting teachers who have had to step in and physically restrain pupils to prevent harm, actions they never imagined taking when they trained for the profession.' Brianna's killers revelled in a secretive online world where extreme acts of violence were normalised, leading Jenkinson to form a list of five teenagers, including Brianna, she would like to kill. The 18-day trial of the pair heard they were at least in part motivated to commit the horrific crime because Brianna identified as being transgender. Jenkinson was jailed for a minimum term of 22 years and Ratcliffe was sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court. Following the brutal murder of Brianna Ghey (left), her mother Esther said to police: 'I knew this was going to happen' Murderers: Scarlett Jenkinson, left, and Eddie Ratcliffe, right, delighted in planning the attack Since her death, Brianna's mother Esther has campaigned tirelessly to highlight the connection between social media and violence in schools. In a recent interview ahead of the documentary she described social media a 'cesspit' and called for it to be banned for under 16-year-olds. As part of her campaign, Miss Ghey is asking for a public inquiry into violence between school children and the harm social media is causing young people's mental health. Brianna: A Mother's Story will be broadcast at 9pm, 27 March 2025, on ITV1 and ITVX. An 18th century cook book containing a stomach-churning recipe for mock turtle soup has been discovered in a cardboard box. A Mrs Casters meticulously jotted down 160 recipes in the 229-year-old book as well as the details of her extensive list of suppliers. Turtle soup was a favourite at civic dinners from the 1750s onwards and was eaten by crews on shipping expeditions. However, since it was a hard-to-acquire delicacy, only the wealthy could afford the real thing. So Mrs Casters made an ersatz version using beef, veal and calf's head to try to emulate the aquatic creature's flavour and texture. To give it extra pizazz, she added a range of ingredients including truffles, Cayenne pepper and a bottle of booze. A Georgian wife's old cook book containing a stomach-churning recipe for mock turtle soup has been discovered in a cardboard box The recipe reads: 'Mock Turtle - Mrs Caster. 'Take 6 pounds Beef, & a knuckle of Veal, to draw a strong Gracy, take a Calf's Head, Boil it three quarters of an Hour, add force meat Balls, Egg Balls, Truffles, Morrells, a few Mushrooms, & a Bottle of Lisbon, Sherry or Madeira, a little Cayenne Pepper, Lemon Lime juices, Marjoram, & Winter Savory cut very fine. 'Let the whole boil five minutes, then serve it up.' Turtles were overfished in the late 18th and 19th centuries, drastically reducing their population. Heinz stopped selling turtle soup in the 1970s, when sea turtles were included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Mrs Casters also wrote down recipes for onion gravy, oysters, macaroni and 'omelette the French way'. Mrs Casters also wrote down recipes for onion gravy, oysters, macaroni and 'omelette the French way' A recipe for onion soup that features in the book The book, dated 1796, which has food stains on some pages, would have been used for many years in her kitchen. Mrs Casters also scribbled down the details of London suppliers including bacon and olive merchants. The cook book was at the bottom of a 'box of random books' recently brought into Keys Auctioneers, of Aylsham, Norfolk. The Norfolk-based vendor said she inherited the books from her mother but did not know their earlier provenance. The book, which boasts its well worn original leather binding, is tipped to sell for 700. Keys Auctioneers specialist Oscar Crocker said: 'The book was in a box of books which was brought in to us by the client on a valuation day. The book, whose original leather binding has almost fully worn out, is tipped to sell for 700 'She inherited it from her mother but knew nothing about it. 'It is a fascinating late 18th century cook book comprising a huge number of recipes and other bits of advice on things like a cure for a cold. 'There is also an interesting recipe for mock turtle soup, although thankfully not the real thing, perhaps because actual turtle was too expensive. 'The book appears to have had a lot of use in the kitchen as there are what looks like food stains on the pages.' The sale takes place tomorrow. At 3.07pm, on September 25, 2027, the 78-year-old president shuffled out awkwardly on to the White House balcony. 'Joe Biden would have fallen by now,' he joked to his audience on the South Lawn below. 'People say I'm getting too old. But I feel great. I could do another term, you know, four more years, how about that?' The crowd hollered, loyally. 'I'm just kidding. Wouldn't that be great, though?' Donald Trump then rambled for 20 minutes. It was the same speech he had given 100 times. He spoke of how his second administration had made America rich again, safe again, great again. 'The globalists and the radical Left tried to destroy the great American economy,' he said. 'But we stayed strong and put America First. And this morning, I just saw the latest jobs report: we are stronger than ever. Isn't that nice?' As his audience lost interest, Trump suddenly changed tone: 'It's time to take America to even bigger heights. And that's why I'm going to be endorsing a very special lady who will continue my legacy. 'My Vice-President isn't happy, but that's OK. Please welcome my daughter-in-law, the next and 48th President of the United States, Mrs Lara Lea Trump.' Large black speakers began thudding out the baseline to Lara Trump's new hit single, Woman Time, released in partnership with the 54-year-old rapper Kid Rock. Seconds later, Lara T, as she has become known, materialised on the balcony and awkwardly air-kissed the commander-in-Chief. 'I want to thank the greatest leader America has ever had, my father-in-law, Donald J Trump,' she said. 'Thank you, Sir, for making America Great Again.' She promised to revive the Trump administration's 'Make America Greater Project' to absorb Canada into the United States. The idea had been sidelined following the economic turmoil of 2025 and 2026. 'But, under my administration,' promised Mrs Trump. 'We will have a 51st state and it will be Canada.' Freddy Gray imagines what four years of Donald Trump's presidency might look like Lara Trump, the US president's daughter-in-law and Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee pictured t the 2025 RNC winter meeting, Jan 17, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at Elysee Palace on March 26, 2025 in Paris, France Thirty minutes after the speech, J D Vance, the Vice-President, who hadn't been seen in public for several days, put out a statement on his social media: 'I welcome Lara Trump's candidacy and look forward to beating her in the primaries next year.' Rumours quickly spread that the Vance 2028 campaign would line up Don Junior, Trump's eldest son, as its vice-presidential nominee. Three days later, a poll of Republican voters showed Vance holding a slight advantage over Mrs Trump. However, Elon Musk, still the world's richest man, announced he would be backing Lara T in 2028. 'With Mrs T in the White House,' he posted on his social media platform X. 'We're colonising Mars!' Meanwhile 4,100 miles away in Berlin German, EU and Chinese flags fluttered all down the Unter den Linden Boulevard to celebrate the arrival of the 71-year-old general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping. 'I come with a message to Europe,' declared Xi in a rare unscripted moment after he stepped off the plane at Berlin Brandenburg Airport: 'China is your friend. The America of the Trump family is not.' That afternoon, Xi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen all shook hands over a new Euro-China Partnership to, as the press release put it, 'harmonise economic relations'. China agreed to subsidise a new trillion euro 'Green Energy Acceleration Programme' to ensure EU powers hit their new Net Zero carbon emission targets by 2045. In other European capitals, statesmen asked why the summit had been held in Berlin not Brussels. Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, called the Euro-China pact 'a betrayal of European principles and the enlightenment.' But the new French leader Marine Le Pen, who had narrowly won the French presidential elections in April, surprised many by announcing that she too would meet Xi in the coming days. 'To protect France, it is in our interests to co-operate,' she said. For his part, Sir Keir Starmer, the deeply unpopular British prime minister, stood outside Downing Street and proclaimed: 'This government doesn't stand for America or for China, though we are happy to work with both. We stand for Britain.' At the same time his new Chancellor, Pat McFadden, announced that Beijing would be investing a further 25million into the Great British Energy scheme. Gray imagines French far-right politician Marine Le Pen as the leader of the country 'The war between Russia and Ukraine had ended in an uneasy truce in July 2025', Gray imagines He also imagines that the UK will no longer be a superpower Earlier, in April, China had completed its annexation of Taiwan as part of its Programme of National Rejuvenation and Expansion. For several months, the Taiwan army resisted. But its 'porcupine' defence strategy could not hold out against the vastly superior forces of the People's Liberation Army. The previous year, in December, from his mansion in Mar-a-Lago, Florida now officially renamed 'The Winter White House' President Trump shocked the world by saying: 'I don't care about Taiwan. China can have it.' Later, in a statement, the White House press office accused the media of 'twisting the President's words'. But, at 10am on January 10, the Chinese Navy began its blockade of Taipei and the air and land assault began that afternoon. World leaders condemned the illegal invasion. But no Western ally offered Taiwan substantial economic or military support. Europe had been dealing that year with a string of major terrorist attacks carried out by 'Isis 3.0', a new Islamist network operating out of Syria. In Antwerp, Belgium, a group of heavily armed militants took over the Crowne Plaza hotel and killed 84 guests before armed police arrived. The re-constructed Notre Dame cathedral in Paris was badly damaged by a 'swarm attack' of explosive drones. In England, two trucks drove into a long line of children queuing up for a concert at the Birmingham Arena. The West also faced a new terror threat from Ukrainian ultra-nationalist paramilitary groups, furious over what they saw as 'the great betrayal' of their country. The war between Russia and Ukraine had ended in an uneasy truce in July 2025. Under intense pressure from the Trump administration, Ukraine accepted the partition of its eastern lands on the condition that it would hold a referendum on joining the European Union in the year 2030. Russia gave back less than 25 kilometres of the territory its forces had taken in the Donbas in return for Ukrainian 'neutrality' and a guarantee from western powers that Ukraine would never join Nato. From the White House, Trump said: 'I've always wanted to be known as a peacemaker.' He thanked Sir Keir Starmer for his role in 'helping bring the Ukrainians along', though Russia had explicitly ruled out the Prime Minister's idea that British Armed Forces could play a peacekeeping role. 'The United Kingdom is no longer a serious power,' said Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. 'We do not take them seriously.' Vladimir Putin declared that Trump would be awarded the Pushkin International Peace Prize, since 'the Nobel prize committee is not serious about conflict resolution.' 'Isn't that nice?' said Trump in reply. The Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky thanked America for its support of Ukraine. 'It's dirty peace,' he said. 'But it is peace nevertheless.' A month later, however, Zelensky was assassinated. A low-flying drone dropped a grenade next to him and his three bodyguards as he campaigned for his re-election in Kyiv. Zelensky was rushed to the City Clinical Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. British security services blamed the Kremlin for the crime. Other intelligence agencies, including America's CIA, pointed the finger at Patriot of Ukraine, a far-right Ukrainian militia previously thought to have been disbanded in 2004. A video of the alleged perpetrator, Oleksandr Dovbyk, circulated on social media. 'Zelensky must die: Zionist pig, traitor,' shouted Dovbyk into the camera. Bellingcat, the Open Source intelligence service, claimed that the clip was an AI fake. Valerii Zaluzhny, the four-star general and former Ukrainian ambassador in London, was elected as Ukraine's new president. He vowed to clamp down on 'Russian infiltrators and domestic extremists' but his government was unable to stop nationalist ultras targeting European and American cities. In November, several bombs went off in Cleveland, Ohio. In January 2026, a massive cyberattack shut down payment systems in several European countries, as well as Germany's stock market. In August, Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian minister of foreign affairs, was shot dead on a street in Budapest. In February the following year, French police thwarted a Ukraine-linked plot to blow up the Belleville Nuclear Power Plant on the Loire river. The New York Times, in a series of sensational front-page stories, claimed to have uncovered evidence that Russia was secretly funding and providing operational support for these attacks, even though the groups appeared to be explicitly anti-Russian. 'I promise we will look into that,' said President Trump. The story went cold. In March 2026, Trump met Vladimir Putin in Moscow. 'Russia is a great country. Wouldn't it be beautiful if America and Russia got along?' he said. 'I thank President Trump for his honesty,' said Vladimir Putin. British and EU leaders condemned Trump for 'further rewarding Russian aggression'. 'America is not just no longer our friend,' said David Lammy, the British Foreign Secretary. 'America is our enemy.' Lammy was sacked two days later. But relations between London and Washington continued to go from bad to worse. In late June, Trump's long-awaited state visit to the United Kingdom turned into a diplomatic disaster. The visit started well enough: Trump met King Charles III in Scotland, praised his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and said 'the British monarchy holds a special relationship in my heart.' The next day, he travelled to London to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown warrior. That afternoon, in a speech to Parliament, Trump began by saying: 'America and Britain will always be two nations united by love.' He then stunned his audience, however, by continuing: 'Britain must decide: control your borders or die.' He also berated the Labour Government for 'kowtowing to China' and 'locking up citizens who dare to speak freely.' On GB News, Nigel Farage called it 'the bravest speech ever given by a foreign leader on our shores'. Before flying back to Washington, Trump went further in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, in which he said: 'Britain is turning into Pakistan. It's so sad. Soon, you'll have no country left to call your own.' The Prime Minister's office released a statement: 'While the President's language is often regrettable, we thank him for his kind words about the special bond between our two countries.' On X, Vice President J D Vance posted: 'Sometimes, a best friend is the friend who tells you the unvarnished truth. Britain, it's time to wake up.' He followed up by accusing Peter Mandelson, the British ambassador in Washington, of being 'a communist Chinese spy.' Two weeks later, Mandelson resigned. He returned to London to pursue his business interests. 'I thought America was serious about standing up to Russia,' he said. 'I was very wrong.' Gray imagines Lara Trump as the president's successor, who will propose making Mexico America's 52nd state But the Trump-Putin bromance, as the papers called it, didn't last. A month after his visit to Moscow, Trump abruptly announced that he would be imposing new sanctions on Russia, following reports of Russian naval operations near Greenland the country Trump had offered to buy from Denmark for $50billion. 'I get along very well Vladimir Putin very well,' said Trump. 'But I'm telling him straight: don't mess with us.' Reports circulated that the real fallout between Trump and Putin was over the Middle East and Russia's continued support for Iran. On February 20, 2027, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now 75 years old, announced that Gaza would be renamed Trump Gaza, as America pledged to contribute $750billion to rebuilding the city. Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who had hitherto kept a low profile, was put in charge of the project. 'It's the real-estate opportunity of the century,' he said in a statement. 'They said nobody could bring peace to the Middle East. We just did.' In August, however, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran launched a series of devastating attacks on Israel. Netanyahu immediately responded with an all-out bombing campaign on Tehran, supported by western powers. Several Republican senators urged Trump to send more US troops to the region to 'finish the job'. But Trump prevaricated. 'I just want people to stop dying,' he said. 'I'm the peace president.' Five weeks later, back in the western hemisphere, American armed forces began a massive operation in Mexico to disrupt and destroy the drug cartels. 'The Mexican government hasn't dealt with these gangs,' said Trump. 'So we will.' At her first campaign rally in Iowa, on January 5 2028, Lara Trump proposed that, under her administration, Mexico would become America's 52nd state. Beaming to dozens of supporters, she vowed: 'Let's make America great again in every sense of the word.' A Nevada babysitter has been arrested for committing the most unspeakable act of cruelty, allegedly stabbing a three-year-old toddler to death, police say. Police officers responded to the Villa Del Sol apartment complex in Las Vegas Wednesday morning, where they tragically discovered three-year-old Journei Ross suffering from multiple stab wounds, resulting in her death, according to 3 News. Marketta Phillips, 41, was apprehended shortly after the discovery and booked into Clark County Detention Center on charges of murder with a deadly weapon, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 'She didn't deserve this,' Jeremy Ross, Journei's father, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'She was defenseless. She deserved to live.' At around 3.30am early Wednesday morning, Jeremy returned home from work and noticed Marketta acting 'out of it,' according to the outlet. It wasn't until he entered another room that he discovered bloody knives with his daughter lying on the bed, realizing something horrific had happened. Jeremy frantically called 911 while giving CPR and chest compressions, informing dispatchers that his daughter had been stabbed by her babysitter in the 4200 block of Channel 10 Drive. When authorities arrived to the scene, they found Jeremy inside the apartment along with baby Journei, who was suffering from several stab wounds. Marketta, Jeremy said, ran away from the home on foot. Marketta Phillips, 41 (PICTURED), was taken into custody after allegedly stabbing Journei Ross to death, a three-year-old girl she was babysitting inside a home in the Villa Del Sol apartment complex in Las Vegas, Nevada Journei Ross, 3 (PICTURED), was discovered on a bed in the apartment complex at around 3.30am Wednesday morning, suffering from multiple stab wounds Jeremy Ross, Journei's father, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he returned back to his apartment from work to Marketta acting 'out of it' before he discovered his daughter and bloody knives in another room (PICTURED: Villa Del Sol apartment complex) Journei was rushed to Sunrise Hospital after officers attempted to administer medical aid at the scene, where she was later pronounced dead while in the hospital's care. Police began canvassing the area around the apartment complex and soon found Marketta, who was taken into custody without incident, according to Metro Homicide Lt. Robert Price. Phalan Whitson, Journei's mother who shared custody with Jeremy, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that her daughter, whom she had last seen Monday morning, was 'on the spectrum' and non-verbal. However, Phalan explained, their three-year-old daughter communicated through music and sign language. 'Why is this world so evil?' Phalan told the outlet. 'She needs to be put away.' Though the relationship between Marketta and the family was initially unclear, Jeremy explained how he had an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with her. 'She watched Journei numerous times,' Jeremy told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'I didn't know she was a crazy nut case.' This isn't the first time Marketta has had an incident inside the home. Just last week, officers responded to a mental health crisis at the same unit, FOX 5 Vegas reported. Jeremy frantically called 911 while giving CPR and chest compressions, informing dispatchers that his daughter had been stabbed by her babysitter and that she ran away on foot (PICTURED: Journei) Several neighbors told reporters that they had heard commotion that morning, specifically yelling and arguing coming from a terrace area between the apartment complex buildings Police began canvassing the area around the apartment complex and soon found Marketta, who was taken into custody without incident, according to Homicide Lt. Robert Price (PICTURED) The recent visit resulted in Marketta being placed on a 'Legal 2000,' or a 72-hour involuntary mental health crisis hold utilized for those determined to be a danger to themselves or others. Despite the troubling incident, Marketta was still left to care for the child the following week. She made her first court appearance on Thursday morning, where Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum ordered Marketta to be held without bail, citing probable cause for the arrest, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Neighbors were left in complete shock upon learning what had happened, struggling to understand how such a tragedy could unfold right under their own noses. 'It's very sad for a child to endure that,' neighbor Anthony Dominguez told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'This should never happen to a child.' As they reflected on the events from that morning, a few recalled strange things they had witnessed - things they deemed unimportant at the time. Dominguez, a neighbor who was walking his dog around the complex at around 9am, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he heard commotion early that morning. Specifically, he heard a man and a woman loudly screaming and clearly arguing, a noise his dog had first alerted him to. Dominguez explained that the area can be noisy at times, and since he was tired, he didn't give much thought to the nearby argument at first. Though the relationship between Marketta and the family was initially unclear, Jeremy (PICTURED) explained how he had an on-again, off-again romantic relationship with her Just last week, officers responded to a mental health crisis at the same unit where they placed Marketta on a 'Legal 2000,' or a 72-hour involuntary mental health crisis hold utilized for those determined to be a danger to themselves or others On Wednesday, Clark County Sheriff Sheriff Kevin McMahill was asked about the brutal killing, in which he responded that his officers described Jeremy coming home to 'a babysitter covered in blood' (PICTURED: Jeremy and Journei) 'After a while, I started feeling this bad energy,' he told the outlet. Jessica Flores, from a neighboring building, was heartbroken as she watched investigators enter unit 79 and cordon off the home with bright yellow police tape. She explained that she woke up to the sound of a dog barking loudly from another apartment. Similar to Dominguez, Flores told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she too had heard a man and a woman yelling between the apartments, particularly in the terrace area. 'It's shocking,' she told the outlet, noting how she had not known the people who lived in the apartment. 'At first, I thought it was just a domestic dispute that would blow over,' she added. 'I never imagined something like this.' On Wednesday, Clark County Sheriff Sheriff Kevin McMahill was asked about the brutal killing, in which he responded that his officers described Jeremy coming home to 'a babysitter covered in blood,' the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. 'Talk about a horrendous scene,' he said. Journei was rushed to Sunrise Hospital after officers attempted to administer medical aid at the scene, where she was later pronounced dead while in the hospital's care Journei's mother told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that her daughter communicated through music and sign language, as she was 'on the spectrum' and non-verbal Marketta made her first court appearance on Thursday morning, where Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum ordered Marketta to be held without bail, citing probable cause for the arrest as an investigation into the killing remains ongoing Lt. Price told reporters that Marketta is the sole suspect in the horrific murder. According to Price, it appeared the suspect also lived in the home, though that detail remains unconfirmed. An investigation into the senseless killing is still ongoing. 'There's no threat to the public,' Price said. 'This is an isolated incident. It's just a very tragic and unfortunate incident.' Human remains have been found inside a car belonging to a missing woman who vanished 42 years ago, solving a mystery that's haunted the area for decades. Karen Schepers, 23, who was last seen leaving a night out with coworkers in Elgin, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago on April 16, 1983. The Elgin Police Department announced on Monday that they had located Karen's Yellow 1980 Toyota Celica buried in Fox River. Investigators subsequently announced they had recovered skeletal remains from the vehicle which will now undergo DNA testing which could take several weeks. An image shows the badly degraded car being hoisted out of the water on Tuesday, its yellow paint barely visible under decades of grime. 'We were pushing against a brick wall for 42 years, and now, it's starting to give,' Gary Schepers, one of Karen's eight siblings, told ABC7. 'It adds questions more than it answers them. The only search I know of that was done in 1983 was my dad, who was an airline pilot, rented a plane and flew over the area, hoping he could spot her yellow car.' The vehicle was first located near a boat launch using sonar before a diver located the car and identified the license plate, which matched Schepers'. Human remains have been found inside a car belonging to a missing woman who vanished more than 40 years ago Karen Schepers, 23, vanished without a trace on April 16, 1983, after she went out to a bar with coworkers The Elgin Police Department announced on Monday that they had located Karen's Yellow 1980 Toyota Celica buried in Fox River 'I wish they looked in the river and found her car 42 years ago,' Gary added. Police Chief Ana Lalley said in a statement that the investigation is still open and the recovery process is expected to take some time. 'As the recovery of the vehicle is made, it is important to stress that this is the beginning of what is still considered an open and active investigation with many questions still to be answered,' Lalley said in a media update. 'As we continue to investigate this case, we will remain steadfast in our resolve to provide answers and closure to Karen's family.' A renewed interest in the case came last year when Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matthew Vartanian revisited Karen's disappearance for a podcast titled Somebody Knows Something. Since the podcast launched, the department has received tips from the community with additional information on Karen's disappearance. The saga began on April 16, 1983, when the young woman ventured out for a night on the town with her coworkers. Karen was last seen at a bar around 1:00 am before she vanished. There were no sightings of her and no clues as to what happened to her. Authorities have located the vehicle and confirmed the license plate matched Karen's car, but the police chief warned the public that it could take days to properly uncover the car Karen was only 23 years old and had just bought a new yellow Toyota Celica before she disappeared Very little evidence was uncovered at the time of her disappearance, and suspects who were looked at were quickly ruled out. Detectives found that Karen had called her fiance, Terry Schultz, at one point in the night and asked him to come to the bar. He rejected her offer which resulted in an argument. Terry was investigated as a suspect, but he cooperated with police and passed a lie detector test. 'With a lot of cases, you have a body that's been recovered or a vehicle. In this case, there's neither,' Detective Vartanian told the Daily Herald. 'We don't have a body, we don't have a car, we don't have a crime scene.' The detectives are investigating multiple theories, including that Karen accidentally drove into the river after leaving the bar. Karen's credit cards and bank statements were never touched after she vanished, leading investigators to suspect that she didn't disappear on purpose. However, the boat launch where the Toyota was located was far from the route she would've taken home from the bar. Police announced on Monday that they finally located Karen's vehicle in a river using advanced sonar technology and are planning to remove it on Tuesday afternoon A podcast launched by detectives with the Elgin Police Department has sparked a renewed interest in Karen's case Detectives Andrew Houghton (left) and Matthew Vartanian are reinvestigating Karen's case on their podcast, Somebody Knows Something The detectives researching the case said there was a crescent moon the night Karen disappeared, meaning the road she was driving on was dark. Elgin has also grown in the past 40 years, so there would've been less light pollution on the night of Karen's disappearance. Weather data showed that temperatures were below freezing with heavy winds, adding to the theory that Karen could've driven off the road accidentally. The detectives have also begun investigating theories that Karen intentionally harmed herself, wanted to leave Elgin without a trace, or was harmed by someone else. A female prison officer has been jailed after engaging in an illicit sexual relationship with a career criminal while working at a high-security lock-up. Twenty-two-year-old Niamh Lloyd met Lee Makin, a 40-year-old notorious burglar, during her time working at Forest Bank Jail in Salford. The relationship began after Lloyd allegedly suffered a sexual assault while working at the prison. Her lawyer told the court that Makin, who was serving a six-year sentence, was 'the only person who showed her any empathy or support.' Lloyd's affair with Makin continued even after he was transferred to HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, with the pair maintaining contact through phone calls and letters. The pair were regularly in touch by phone, engaging in sexual conversations, as well as in letters addressed to 'Big Lee'. At one point, she told Makin she was with him 'for the thrill', adding: 'I don't like doing what I'm told.' During their chats, Lloyd, who previously worked as a civilian assistant for Greater Manchester Police, also identified a prisoner at category B jail Forest Bank as a paedophile and disclosed 'operational information' to Makin about the prison. Lloyd, who also runs a beauty business, burnt documents in a bid to destroy evidence after being arrested. She was said to have been 'cocky and arrogant' in her police interview. Today Lloyd and Makin were both jailed for a year. Niamh Lloyd was employed at Forest Bank Jail in Salford. Her lawyer told the court that Makin was 'the only person who showed her any empathy or support' Lee Makin, 40, was a notorious burglar serving a six-year sentence. The pair were regularly in touch by phone, engaging in sexual conversations, as well as in letters addressed to 'Big Lee' Judge Alan Conrad KC told Lloyd: 'As a prison officer, you became much too close to your co-defendant. What you did undermines the balance and good order of prison life. You also set about destroying evidence by burning papers. 'It is said that you turned for comfort for your co-defendant. But the answer to that was not to turn to a prisoner, but to leave the job and seek employment elsewhere. I note you do have other business interests.' Lloyd, of Coppice Drive, Wigan, pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in a public office. Makin, of Edgewood, Shevington, Wigan, pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally encouraging or assisting the offence of misconduct in a public office. Prosecuting, John Richards told how Lloyd became a prison officer at Forest Bank in August 2021, aged 19. Her supervisors at the jail noticed she was 'displaying flirtatious behaviour', particularly towards Makin. After Makin was moved to category C prison HMP Berwyn, the pair remained in touch. Prison authorities discovered Makin had been speaking to a prison officer on the phone and that she had been using a different name. Security officers listened to the recorded calls between the pair and discovered Lloyd had called from an unregistered mobile phone. Mr Richards said their conversations were of a 'sexual nature'. Lloyd also discussed 'prison operational information' such as a 'hospital bed watch she was involved in', as well as naming a prisoner as a sex offender. Makin told Lloyd in an email: 'Hey sexy, just got your email, they always make me happy. I don't want to be your friend, I love you so much, you need to start talking to me. I'm worried, I miss you a lot. I don't want to lose you. Will you send me some money? Love you, big Lee.' Lloyd replied: 'Excited about your cat D. You have worked so hard, one of the many things I love about you. It won't be long before I can pop down for a visit.' In one message, Makin asked Lloyd 'why are you with me?'. She replied: 'For the thrill, I don't like doing what I'm told.' In further messages she discussed the 'alleged incompetence' of another officer and how a 'prisoner nearly escaped when the handcuffs were loose'. Lloyd was arrested at her parents' home in Wigan on November 22, 2022. She replied 'no comment' to questions during her interview. She refused to provide the PIN number for her phone. HM Prison Forest Bank, Swinton, Manchester where Makin and Lloyd met Later that night, a former neighbour of Lloyd who also works at Forest Bank, came into contact with her after she knocked on his apartment door. Apparently drunk, the court heard, she told the neighbour she was in trouble and needed to call her parents. He followed Lloyd back to her flat because he was 'worried' about her. He noticed vomit on the floor and saw she had been 'burning papers'. Police searched Makin's cell and discovered he had a 'large number' of photos of Lloyd. Officers discovered 40 hours of conversations between the pair. She had made a number of internet searches including 'prison nurse is jailed after sending flirtatious texts and telling inmate she loved him'; 'how to visit prisoners in Berwyn'; and 'how to have phone sex'. She asked a friend to act as a 'conduit' so she could contact Makin, even after she had been granted bail and ordered not to contact him. The pair eventually pleaded guilty earlier this year, after initially denying the charges. Makin had 69 previous offences on his record, and was described as a 'career criminal' by the judge. Lloyd had no previous convictions. Judge Conrad told Lloyd: 'It is clear you are an intelligent young woman, you are industrious and you are well thought of by others. It also appears that you were disenchanted with your job because of an assault that happened to you.' He accepted Lloyd had 'considerable personal mitigation', but said adequate punishment could only be achieved by an immediate prison sentence. Defending Lloyd, Cheryl Mottram said the defendant had become 'disenchanted' with her job after allegedly being sexually assaulted. 'She felt like she wasn't getting any support from her superiors,' Ms Mottram said. She said Lloyd was young and 'vulnerable'. For Makin, Vanessa Thomson said the defendant had not encouraged Lloyd to disclose information about the prison, and said they had been involved in a 'genuine relationship'. 'There is no suggestion he has tried to do anything to manipulate that relationship to get her to do his bidding,' Ms Thomson said. Judge Conrad told Makin: 'You were aware she was a prison officer and she had to comply with the rules of her job. You know why there are such rules. But I accept you did not coerce her.' Shocked bus passengers have overhead a group of boys allegedly discussing 'disturbing' plans to rape girls and women, sparking a school investigation. A commuter claimed the students from Shenton College in the inner-west Perth suburb of Shenton Park, were loudly discussing assaulting female students and teachers as well as strangers while passing around photos last week. They said it was not the first time the same group of schoolboys had behaved poorly on the bus and that their behaviour was growing more brazen. A witness said the boys had been passing around a picture of a girl - who one boy said was his sister - and talking loudly about plans to assault her. 'Please speak with your kids about this disgusting conduct and educate them on consent and sexual misconduct,' they said. 'This is unacceptable and dangerous behaviour and if they were my children I would be horrified at the things they are saying. I have reported this to the school.' The WA Public Transport Authority said it was working with Shenton College and other authorities to look into the matter, WA Today reports. The group of boys have reportedly been identified after the school obtained CCTV footage of the bus journey. The students were from Shenton College (pictured) in Perth's inner-west The commuter who claimed to have overhead the schoolboys said it wasn't the first time the group had behaved badly on the bus home (stock) Department of Education North Metropolitan Region regional director Cheryl Townsend told WA Today the boys' conduct was unacceptable. '(It is) disappointing to hear accounts of inappropriate behaviour by young people after they leave school for the day,' she said. A study from Monash University found that young boys were being influenced by the 'toxic masculinity' promoted by self-proclaimed misogynists like Andrew Tate. Researchers interviewed 30 women teachers in both private and public primary and secondary schools, and found they experienced a significant increase in sexual harassment, sexism, and misogyny from boys. Tate - currently charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania - was banned from Twitter, now X, in 2017 for tweeting that rape victims 'bear some responsibility' for 'putting themselves in that position'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Shenton College and the WA Education Department for comment. A staff member at an elite $45,000-a-year private school allegedly stole almost $100,000 worth of computers and tried to sell them online. Anthony James Barron, 35, who ran the IT department at Ascham School in Edgecliff in Sydney's eastern suburbs, was arrested on Friday as police investigated the alleged robbery of $74,000 worth of school equipment. Police allege Barron stole six iPads, 34 HP Elite laptops and four MacBooks between 2023 and 2025 and sold them on an online marketplace. It's also alleged he tampered with CCTV footage while police were investigating the missing computers. Barron was taken to Waverley police station where he was charged with stealing property as a clerk, disposing of stolen property and unauthorised modification of data with intent to cause impairment. Barron was released on conditional bail and was not allowed to return to the school after principal Andrew Powell emailed parents to tell them an 'alleged offender' was no longer employed. 'I would like to reassure all our families that there is no evidence to this date that there has been a cyber incident, nor has there been a data breach,' Mr Powell said. 'However, this matter is now before the court, so the school will not be making any further comment.' An employee at Ascham School (pictured) has been accused of stealing computers and trying to sell them online Ascham School principal Andrew Powell (pictured) told parents the 'alleged offender' was no longer employed at the school Barron began working at Ascham in 2019 and before that he worked for Hipages and the Australian Army as an information systems team leader where he oversaw a 12-person team. The school recently wrote to parents that it was putting money into a 'major IT systems upgrades in 2025' and claimed it had the 'highest calibre of staff'. Barron will front Downing Centre Local Court on April 4. Ascham School was established in 1866 and is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for girls. It currently has 1000 students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Daily Mail Australia contacted Ascham School for comment. A Philadelphia woman accused of murdering her husband had posted an ominous message about 'other women' days before her spouse was found shot dead and dumped outside their home. Danielle Baxter, 39, appeared to make the damning Facebook post about her relationship with her husband Jordan Baxter, an engineer for Philadelphia's railroad system. 'These females out here be plotting on your marriage and waiting for your downfall so they can come right on in, and these men let them,' she wrote on March 14. Just five days later, Philadelphia police found the engineer's dead body lying on a plastic sheet between two parked cars outside of their home, according to NBC Philadelphia. Officers have said they received a report of a person screaming in the city's Roxborough neighborhood just before 7am on March 19. By the time they arrived they found Jordan's body dumped between two parked cars near his home, with a gun lying on his chest. He had a gunshot wound to the back of his head, and was pronounced dead by 7.07am as authorities discovered blood on a mattress inside the Baxter's house, 6ABC reports. Danielle Baxter, 39, is accused of shooting dead her husband and dumping his body between two parked cars outside of their Philadelphia home Jordan Baxter, 38, had a gunshot wound to the back of his head, and was pronounced dead by 7.07am as authorities discovered blood on a mattress inside the couple's house Five days earlier, Danielle had posted an ominous message on Facebook When neighbors then woke up that morning, they described a scene of 'total mayhem' with '10 cop cars, rescue vehicles and fire trucks.' 'It's a quiet street. That doesn't happen,' an unidentified resident told 6ABC. Another said she couldn't believe she did not hear any gunshots that morning. 'Nothing... and I'm right here,' the stunned neighbor said. 'I heard absolutely nothing.' Others told the outlet how the couple has three children and were very friendly, with one saying they were a 'super nice family.' 'I knew them enough to say hello, goodbye, wave to the kids,' the neighbor said. But another neighbor told Fox 29 that the couple had been separated, and Jordan was no longer living at the house they shared. In fact, another post on Danielle's social media page from March 5 hinted that there may have been trouble between her and her husband, as she wrote: 'I will be his peace if he's mine.' Neighbors described the 'total mayhem' they woke up to on March 19, with '10 cop cars, rescue vehicles and fire trucks' lining the usually quiet street The couple has three children, whom concerned citizens are now raising money for Danielle was ultimately apprehended just one day after her husband's body was found, and was charged with murder, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with and fabricating physical evidence. She is now being held at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center without bail ahead of her preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for April 7. In the meantime, concerned residents are raising money for Jordan's funeral expenses and to help out their children. The online fundraiser, which was just created on Monday, had already raised more than $24,000 for the family as of Wednesday evening as tributes poured in for Jordan - who had worked at Philadelphia's railroad system, SEPTA, as an engineer for 14 years. One Facebook friend said he was 'one of the coolest, realest engineers I've ever met. 'I'm hurt by this. I just worked with [you[ the other day!' she wrote, noting: 'RAILROAD TRULY LOST A GREAT ONE HERE!! WE [ARE] ALL HURT BY THIS.' Pete Moller also said Jordan's 'love for his children and the joy they brought him will forever remain a shining part of his story. 'His kindness, thoughtfulness and gentle spirit left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to him,' Moller wrote. 'He had the remarkable ability to lift others up, either through a quiet word of encouragement or his deadpan humor and sense of the absurd. 'We will always remember how hard he worked to provide for his family, a testament to the depth of his love and commitment.' In a statement, SEPTA further said it is 'saddened by the tragic loss of Jordan Baxter, who was a veteran Regional Rail engineer. 'Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.' A Perth man has been left bewildered after a tow truck delivered a car to his property and left it unlocked in his driveway. The tow truck driver confirmed the delivery address in High Wycombe, Perth, before unloading the 4WD Jeep in the driveway. Before the homeowner could ask where the vehicle had come from and to whom it might belong, the truck driver drove away. After reporting the erroneous delivery to police, the man took to social media to ask for advice. 'We did not understand what just happened here,' he wrote alongside a picture of the car 'Tow-away truckie shows up reversing into our front yard, dumps this car here stating (and displaying) they have the correct address... and then proceeds to leave.' He said the car appeared to be a rental and he did not anticipate police would become involved as the vehicle was not reported as stolen. He added the tow truck driver was 'rushing' when he departed the property. The unlocked mystery Jeep (pictured) was delivered to a home in High Wycombe, Perth The main could not even take the car for a spin if he wanted to, as there were no keys delivered with the vehicle. Social media users were similarly bewildered by the delivery. One user commented simply: 'This is such a weird f***ing problem to have'. 'Some poor bastard owns this car, its barely a year old, broken down to the point of needing a tow, life already sucks enough, then the tow truck driver who probably cant spell anyway wrote down the wrong address,' another user said. 'Everyone loses.' Tony, the owner of Sydney-based towing company First Choice Towing, told Daily Mail Australia he had never heard of a situation like this. 'It could be a stolen car. He needs to give the registration to police,' he said. The vehicle was left without keys and the homeowner is unable to remove it from the property 'This could be something serious'. Without the consent of the owner, Tony said, the vehicle was classified as 'dumped' and should be reported to police. A spokesperson for Western Australian Police told Daily Mail Australia: 'This doesn't appear to be a police matter - If the "incident" is simply a vehicle parked at an address in High Wycombe.' 'If the vehicle has simply been left at an address, it would fall to the department of transport or local council to tow the vehicle,' the spokesperson said. A Texas father driving at 100 miles per hour crashed and fled the scene - leaving his severely injured wife and four children behind, Houston police said. On Tuesday night, the man was driving a Ford Expedition at more than double the speed limit down Houston's Yale Street. A Chevy Avalanche cut the speeding car off while turning into a gas station and the vehicles collided. The family-filled Ford shot into the air and flipped over into a ditch. One of the children, an eight-year-old girl, was ejected upon impact. The Chevy, carrying a man and a woman, ended up in the guardrail. After the dramatic crash, the father ran from his suffering family without hesitation, according to the Houston Police Department (HPD). He reportedly sprinted off and jumped into another car that drove him away from the horror crash. 'He trampled over the babies and the momma and all. She was bleeding everywhere. He took off running,' John McCoy, the driver of the Chevy, told ABC 13. 'I have no idea what's going through his mind at the time. I don't know if there was some other reason that he felt he needed to flee,' HPD Captain Ryan Watson said after the accident. On Tuesday night, the man was driving a Ford Expedition down Houston's Yale Street when a Chevy Avalanche truck cut him off while turning into a gas station The vehicles collided and the family-filled car flew into the air and flipped over, landing in a ditch 'The investigators here are following down leads and they are going to track that down and see if they can talk to him and get some answers, find out what's going on.' His wife and children were rushed to nearby hospitals. They are all expected to survive. Two of the victims were in stable, but critical condition, and three of them in stable, but serious condition as of Tuesday night, Watson said. The eight-year-old was the oldest child, while the others were 'very young ages, looked like toddlers,' the police captain added. Police said that even though the Chevy made an illegal turn, the Ford was driving at such an extreme speed that any kind of collision was bound to be disastrous. McCoy and the truck's other occupant stayed at the scene and have been cooperating with investigators. 'No lights. I looked at my mirror before I was going to turn. I ain't see nothing,' McCoy recalled to ABC 13. 'Next thing I know, I got ready to turn, BANG! They drive up and down the road like it's the freeway.' John McCoy, the driver of the Chevy, said he watched the shameless father sprint off and abandon his suffering family The Chevy truck struck the guardrail after the dramatic collision. The occupants stayed behind to speak with investigators He said that as the father shamelessly abandoned his family, he and nearby witnesses rushed over to try and help the injured woman and her kids. As police continue their search for the fleeing father, people have expressed outrage about his despicable actions. 'That is so cowardly. He would rather leave his family behind instead of being a man and face the consequences of his actions,' one woman wrote on Facebook. Another added: 'Keep those kids away from him forever.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the HPD for updates on the situation. The department has not shared any further information on its social media pages. A Kentucky woman who shot and killed an El Paso Uber driver, and claimed he threatened to kidnap her, has died almost one month ahead of her murder trial. Phoebe Copas faced a murder trial scheduled for April 28 after the death of Daniel Piedra Garcia, 52, who Copas shot and killed on June 16, 2023. Copas claimed that Garcia was attempting to kidnap her and take her to Juarez, Mexico, and that she had acted in self-defense. She was reported to have died on Tuesday March 25, according to Copas's former attorney Matthew James Kozik. Kozik told ABC 7 that Copas was scheduled for a court date scheduled on Tuesday and never made it to the hearing. 'Phoebe Copas was and remains an innocent woman,' Kozik said in a statement to the outlet. The trial was set to begin after being previously delayed due to serious medical issues Copas faced. She was reported to have collapsed at a court hearing in December, El Paso Times reported. Garcia's niece, Didi Lopez, said that after learning of Copas's death her family processed many emotions. Phoebe Copas faced a murder charge trial scheduled for April 28 after the death of Daniel Piedra Garcia, 52, who Copas shot and killed on June 16, 2023 Garcia's family hoped for justice in the upcoming murder trial. His niece, Didi Lopez, said that the family feel there is now no 'accountability in her death' 'Anger was one of them, sadness also, because where's the accountability? I don't feel like - we don't feel we got any justice, and there's no accountability in her death,' Lopez said. Garcia's family previously claimed that he had been killed unjustly and wanted justice for Copas's 'reckless' behavior. They said that had she been fearing for her life, she had other options before choosing to shoot Garcia, including calling 911. Kozik stated, in defense of Copas's actions, that she claimed the locks and windows of the Uber driver's vehicle were not operational and there were razor blades in the vehicle. The attorney also rebutted the police statement as '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 of our community react to this case in a way that we, as a diverse community, should know better,' Kozik said. 'No one should rejoice in the death of Mr. Piedras or Ms. Copas.' Kozik had previously told the El Paso Times that Copas claimed Garcia had told her of a fair in the Mexican city, and even though she said she didn't want to go to the fair, the driver sped up and ignored her pleas to be let out. The trial was set to begin after being delayed due to serious medical issues Copas faced. She was reported to have collapsed at a court hearing in December, and previously suffered heart complications Garcia's family has described the victim as a hard-working man trying to make money for his family 'She asked for him to stop the vehicle. She attempted to open the doors, but the doors were locked,' he claimed. 'She tried to do everything anybody would expect someone to do before an escalation of force.' Copas then pulled out her weapon and 'begged for him to just pull over the vehicle,' Kozik said. 'He turned around and said, "I'm going to take you. We're going to Juarez," and he sped up the car.' 'She didn't just point the gun and shoot him. That is not what happened,' Kozik told the outlet. 'She told him she didn't want to go to Juarez. She tried to escape for several minutes. She just wanted to get out of the car. She feared for her life.' At the time of the shooting, police claimed Copas shot Garcia because she saw traffic signs saying they were approaching 'Juarez, Mexico' - though the highway he was driving on also lead to the casino Copas wanted to go to. After he was shot, the Nissan Maxima Garcia was driving crashed into barriers, which a police affidavit noted was 'not in close proximity of a bridge, port of entry or other area with immediate access to travel into Mexico.' 'The roadway Copas was traveling on is a normal route to drive to the destination requested by the Copas. 'The investigation does not support that a kidnapping took place or that Piedra was veering from Copas' destination,' police said. After he was shot, the Nissan Maxima Garcia was driving crashed into barriers, which a police affidavit noted was 'not in close proximity of a bridge, port of entry or other area with immediate access to travel into Mexico' At a June 29, 2023, hearing, El Paso County District Attorney's Office prosecutor Shantal Ortega also claimed that no facts in the case proved Copas was being kidnapped. 'Simply because this is a border city and there may be signs showing miles away from some port of entry, it is unreasonable that she wouldn't have come across that before,' she argued. District Attorney Bill Hicks even went as far as to claim Copas' actions were 'very unreasonable.' 'El Paso is a safe community. and to have someone react the way she did, I think highlights a misconception about El Paso being dangerous,' he said. 'And that's why it's so important that we stand up for not just this Uber driver, not just this family, but for our community, to say to El Paso, to the state, to our country that El Paso is a safe community and behavior that reacts any other way is not acceptable.' But Kozik argued that the claim Copas simply saw a sign for Juarez and shot Garcia is 'literally a figment of law enforcement's imagination.' He noted that a review of police body camera footage and an interrogation of his client show she never mentioned the road signs. Instead, Kozik claimed, it was the first officer who arrived on the scene who told another officer about the road sign - and from there the story spread, to even be included in the police affidavit. Attorney Matthew James Kozik, who is representing Copas, spoke out about what allegedly happened that day 'She never says she saw a sign of Juarez and then shot him,' Kozik insisted. 'She says "yes" during her interview when asked if she saw signs of Juarez, but she also says she saw signs saying Fort Bliss.' Footage from the day of the shooting also shows Copas crying, praying and asking officers whether Garcia was dead as she sat in the back of the patrol car, the El Paso Times reports. 'She gets into the back of the vehicle and she is saying, "Jesus. I'm sorry. Oh God, oh God. Oh Lord. Jesus. Sir is he dead?"' Kozik said. 'She repeatedly asks if he is dead. 'Is this some racially motivated attack? Doesn't seem like it from how she is reacting and from all the evidence in the case.' Police had also alleged that before she called 911, Copas took a photo of Piedra after the shooting and texted it to her boyfriend. When police arrived on the scene at about 2:20pm they found Copas being helped out of the car by her boyfriend. But Kozik said Copas took the photo because she called her boyfriend for help, and he thought she was joking at first. The lawyer also noted that police found razor blades and a crowbar within Garcia's arm span, adding credibility to Copas' fears she was being kidnapped. Garcia was ultimately found slumped over in the driver's seat of the car having been shot in the head. He was hospitalized for several days before his family took him off life support after doctors told them he would not recover Garcia's family previously claimed that he had been killed unjustly and wanted justice for Copas's 'reckless' behavior. They said that had she been fearing for her life, she had other options before choosing to shoot Garcia, including calling 911 'I can't speak for everyone, but everyone I know doesn't carry razor blades on [them] or near their steering wheel,' Kozik argued. 'I've never heard of or know anyone that does that. 'Razor blades and a crowbar... are weapons,' he noted. 'These are weapons that could be used to commit a crime. 'These aren't accusations. These items were found in the car.' Further supporting Copas' claims, he said, is Uber driver data that showed Garcia took an unusual route to get to the casino. 'All of this adds up to show this was not a normal Uber ride,' he claimed. Garcia's family has described the victim as a hard-working man trying to make money for his family. They said they believed he was working his last ride of the day when he picked up Copas. He was ultimately found slumped over in the driver's seat of the car having been shot in the head. He was hospitalized for several days before his family took him off life support after doctors told them he would not recover. The trial was set for December and then pushed to April due to Copas's health conditions, including heart failure, kidney complications and bouts of unconsciousness. A former TV news meteorologist has shared how she was left 'devastated' and 'traumatized' as doctored images and semi-nude deepfake videos of her spread across the internet last year. Bree Smith, 43, shared her experience at Tennessee House of Representatives on Wednesday as she testified in support of the Preventing Deep Fake Images Act, The Tennessean reports. The bill would make it a felony in the state 'to disclose or threaten to disclose or solicit the disclosure of an intimate digital depiction with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten, alarm or cause substantial harm to the finances or reputation of the depicted individual.' It would also let people sue and recover financial damages from those who post pictures or videos of 'intimate digital depiction... without the consent of the individual' or those who 'recklessly disregard whether the individual has consented to such disclosure.' For Smith, the former chief meteorologist at WTVF, the disturbing images started popping up on social media in the fall, when 'fake Facebook accounts... used fake pictures that showed my face on someone else's seminude body,' she told the Tennessee House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. 'They also make fake videos that used my face and my name to convince people that it was really me,' she claimed. 'Discovering these imposter accounts an seeing the degrading fake images and videos was devastating to me.' Bree Smith, 43, shared how she was left 'devastated' and 'traumatized' as doctored images and semi-nude deepfake videos of her spread across the internet last year The former meteorologist for WTVF shared her story as she testified in support of the Preventing Deep Fake Images Act at Tennessee House of Representatives on Wednesday She went on to claim those who had created the fake images and videos were using them to try to convince her fans to send them money. In one case, she said a viewer received a few fake videos in which 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.' By doing so, those social media users 'violated me and they preyed on Tennesseans,' Smith said. When she then reached out to WTVF, 'I was told that nothing could be done - it was not illegal and I had no recourse.' 'I felt humiliated and scared,' Smith recounted. '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.' WTVF station manager Richard Eller has since told the Tennessean the station 'wholeheartedly' shares her frustrations as he explained how staff tried to stop the imposters. 'We did everything in our power to help her, seeking expert advice to make sure we were doing all we could,' he said. '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.' Smith claimed those who had created the fake images and videos were using them to try to convince her fans to send them money The whole situation wound up being 'very degrading' for Smith, who said it caused her to face a 'very dark depression. 'Having my face, my reputation and my identity distorted into something so vile and vulnerable traumatized me and my family,' Smith told lawmakers on Wednesday. 'This has devastated my life's work,' she added, saying she became a meteorologist 'because I believed that I could help people. 'I believed that when severe weather was happening, I could save people's lives,' Smith explained. 'So to then have my face, my reputation, the trust this community put in me now being weaponized, to hurt the very people I spent my career trying to protect? I mean it essentially, it stole what I worked so hard to create and put me in an impossible place where now I was the threat to the people I spent my career protecting.' It is unclear whether the scandal led to Smith's departure from the news station in January, which WTVF said came when her contract ended and she and station managers could not agree on new terms. It is unclear whether the scandal led to Smith's departure from the news station in January, which WTVF said came when her contract ended and she and station managers could not agree on new terms Following Smith's powerful testimony on Wednesday, the Tennessee House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted seven to zero to advance the bill - which was sponsored by Rep. Jason Powell, a Democrat from Nashville. She called the subcommittee's move 'overwhelming,' though she noted 'there is still a lot of work to be done. 'But I'm lad to see progress moving forward because I think that this is necessary as a protection for everybody in Tennessee.' Labour was hit by a ferocious backbench revolt today as a Government assessment found welfare cuts could push 250,000 more people into poverty including 50,000 children. MPs lined up to round on Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Commons after her Spring Statement. They branded her cuts 'cruel' and demanded a U-turn while calling for more taxes on the wealthy. Ms Reeves claims her reforms will save 4.8 billion after her growth destroying October budget. An internal impact assessment by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) found 3.2 million families will lose on average 1,720 a year by April 2030. And while 3.8 million families will gain 420 annually, the assessment also found that 150,000 family carers are set to lose up to 500million of payments in total. In the Commons Ms Reeves defiantly defended her cuts, hitting back that the welfare system was 'broken' and saying without the changes 'we are writing off an entire generation' of people on sickness benefits. Asked if she was 'punishing the most vulnerable', she said: 'There's nothing progressive and nothing Labour about losing control of the public finances. 'That's what the previous government did... It saw prices increase. It wasn't the wealthy who paid the price of that, it was ordinary working people and those on fixed incomes.' In the Commons, Rachel Reeves (pictured) defiantly defended her cuts, hitting back that the welfare system was 'broken' and saying without the changes 'we are writing off an entire generation' of people on sickness benefits Debbie Abrahams (pictured), chairman of the work and pensions committee, said: 'All the evidence is pointing to the fact that the cuts to health and disability benefits will lead to increased poverty' At an evening press conference at Downing Street she added: 'I'm confident our plans, far from increasing poverty, will actually result in more people having fulfilling work, paying a decent wage to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.' But earlier in the Commons she had faced a barrage of criticism from Labour MPs while unveiling details of the savings. Debbie Abrahams, chairman of the work and pensions committee, said: 'All the evidence is pointing to the fact that the cuts to health and disability benefits will lead to increased poverty, including severe poverty, and worsened health conditions as well. 'How will making people sicker and poorer help in terms of driving our economy up and people into jobs?' The DWP assessment concluded: 'We estimate there will be an additional 250,000 people (including 50,000 children) in relative poverty after housing costs in 2029-30.' Relative poverty is when people can afford basic necessities but struggle to pay for goods beyond this. Meanwhile absolute poverty is when people struggle to even afford the basics, such as food or household bills. The assessment found the cuts could push as many as 200,000 people into absolute poverty. One in ten working-age people are claiming a sickness or disability benefit. The number has soared by 800,000 since before the pandemic a surge of 45 per cent. And those claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a disability benefit, is set to double to 4.3 million. Under Labour's reforms, eligibility for PIP will be made stricter, completely cutting or reducing payments for nearly 1 million claimants. Ms Reeves had said the health element of Universal Credit (UC) which is paid if your ability to work is limited, will also be almost halved from 97 to 50 from April 2026 for new claimants. And for existing claimants it will be frozen at the current rate until 2030. Darren Jones (pictured), chief secretary to the Treasury, also faced ridicule after defending the cuts by comparing them to slashing pocket money for his children to encourage them to get a Saturday job Ms Reeves claims her reforms will save 4.8 billion after her growth destroying October budget Referring to the latest cuts, Labour peer Lord Blunkett (pictured) said: 'I think there were a couple of surprises. One was obviously the shunting in of another 500million-worth of savings from the welfare budget' But she was then forced to make further cuts at the eleventh-hour today after the Office for Budget Responsibility rejected her initial Treasury estimates. The watchdog said it could not assess some of the reforms and put the amount saved at 3.4billion instead of the Labour figure of 4.8billion. It meant Ms Reeves had to increase her cut on the health element for new claimants by almost half. Referring to the latest cuts, Labour peer Lord Blunkett said: 'I think there were a couple of surprises. 'One was obviously the shunting in of another 500million-worth of savings from the welfare budget, I didn't feel that was a terribly good way of making policy.' Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, also faced ridicule after defending the cuts by comparing them to slashing pocket money for his children to encourage them to get a Saturday job. He told the BBC: 'If I said to my kids: 'I'm going to cut your pocket money by 10 per week, but you have to go and get a Saturday job'. The impact assessment on that basis would say that my kids were down 10, irrespective of how much money they get from their Saturday job.' Ms Reeves said comparing efforts to get people into work with encouraging children to get a Saturday job is 'not the right analogy'. Steve Darling, the Liberal Democrats welfare spokesman, branded the remarks 'incredibly insulting', adding he 'owes an apology to the hundreds of thousands of people his government's decision has pushed into poverty.' A photo has been published of Mike Waltz next to reporter Jeffrey Goldberg, showing that the two had met prior to the Atlantic editor-in-chief being allowed into a Trump administration group text. White House National Security Advisor Waltz has faced intense scrutiny for accidentally adding Goldberg to a Signal chat in which they were discussing sensitive plans to attack Houthi targets in Yemen. Earlier this week, Waltz said: 'Whether its the Russia hoax or making up lies about Gold Star families, and this one in particular Ive never met, dont know, never communicated with, and we are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room.' However, a reporter has unearthed a picture of at the 2021 screening of a film at the French Embassy in Washington where Waltz is standing next to Goldberg. 'The event Waltz attendeda Q&A with a French filmmakerwas moderated by Goldberg,' Anna Bower of Lawfare wrote. The film, 'The Will to See,' is an 'unflinching look at the most urgent humanitarian crisis around the globe' directed by French intellectual Bernard Henri-Levy, who originally shared the photo. Henri-Levy tagged both Waltz and Goldberg in his post to X, thanking them for being in attendance. Waltz was serving in Congress, representing the 6th District of Florida at the time of the screening. A photo has been published of Mike Waltz next to reporter Jeffrey Goldberg, showing that the two had met prior to the Atlantic editor-in-chief being allowed into a Trump administration group text 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' DailyMail.com has reached out to a spokesperson for Waltz for comment. 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 film, 'The Will to See,' is an 'unflinching look at the most urgent humanitarian crisis around the globe' directed by French intellectual Bernard Henri-Levy, who originally shared the photo. Henri-Levy tagged both Waltz and Goldberg (pictured) in his post to X, thanking them for being in attendance 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. 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 and the Republican Party have largely backed Waltz over the scandal 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. 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. The director of Adolescence has explained how they filmed the 'harrowing' strip search scene for the hit Netflix series where episodes were filmed in one shot. The gripping four-part drama has been a non-stop talking point the last few weeks - either because of the way it was filmed or the chilling plot line. Its portrayal of a teenage killer and his toxic masculinity views stemming from the 'manosphere' has been a hot topic, even being discussed in PMQs, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is watching it with his children. The PM also backed calls for clips of the hard-hitting show to be played in schools to raise awareness of how young boys can be influenced by disturbing content online. It has received rave reviews for a number of reasons - including each episode being filmed in one take. But this meant that some sequences took months of preparation, and also caused issues for one episode in particular. Director Philip Barantini told The Filmakers Podcast that they had to figure out a way to film the episode where 13-year-old Jamie Miller - played by Owen Cooper, who is 15 - was strip searched by the police upon his arrest. He explained: 'When Jamie is being strip searched...one of the ideas was initially that we've got a young, 13-year-old boy. Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence, pictured as he arrives at the police station Pictured are a lawyer and nurse turning their jacks as Jamie is strip searched He had to quickly get changed behind a screen while the camera focused on his father's face Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, at the station after the strip search scene where he had to change clothes off camera 'From the moment I read it, I was like 'that's amazing, but we can't have the actor strip naked'. He has to strip to get changed but we can't cut. 'At one point, Jamie goes behind a curtain and quickly gets changed but no one can see him. The whole time, we're holding on Stephen's [Stephen Graham, who plays Jamie's father] face. 'Later on we put in the sound of his foot steps moving across and turning around. 'The police officer who is talking him through it - those words and seeing Stephen's reaction, is - you don't need to see him getting changed. 'You can see him [Stephen]- the little nuances in his face. 'It's like doing a play. You are on stage the whole time, you have to be in character the whole time. It forces them to be in the moment.' Viewers have loved finding out the behind-the-scenes intel on how they were able to do so successfully. It was earlier 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. Owen as Jamie pictured in his police cell with his father looking at him Jamie and his father seen talking to their lawyer after his arrest for murdering a teenage girl Owen Cooper, who is just 15, played 13-year-old Jamie in the hit show She explains: 'You can see a camera operator in episode two. '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 Stephen's face. Are you insane? 'He had to literally be a split second accurate, if not the whole thing wouldn't 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]...' 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 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.' 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 father 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.' Rachel Reeves yesterday pledged to turn Britain into a 'defence industrial superpower' after allocating an extra 2.2billion for high-tech equipment. She promised to spend 'a minimum of 10 per cent' of the Ministry of Defence's equipment budget on 'novel technologies' such as artificial intelligence and drones. And a protected budget of 400million will be allocated to new technology. The Chancellor told the Commons that the figure will 'rise over time, with a clear mandate to bring innovative technology to the front line at speed'. Of that money, 200million will support military shipyards at Barrow, 'supporting the creation of thousands of jobs', said the Chancellor, who also said the Portsmouth naval base will be regenerated. Cities and towns such as Glasgow, Derby and Newport, already with significant manufacturing facilities, are expected to see more demand for skilled engineers and scientists as opportunities for UK tech firms and start-ups increase. But while manufacturers welcomed the investment, Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge suggested 2.2billion was not enough. He said: 'We support accelerating the path to higher defence spending and using cuts in the overseas aid budget to fund. 'However, given the... threats Britain faces, we call on Labour to commit to spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by the end of this Parliament, rather than the 'ambition' to reach 3 per cent by the end of the next one.' Mr Cartlidge also called on Labour to reveal how much of the additional defence money 'will go on their terrible Chagos deal'.Rachel Reeves Rachel Reeves (right, pictured with Defence Secretary John Healey and Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin) promised to spend 'a minimum of 10 per cent' of the Ministry of Defence's equipment budget on 'novel technologies' such as artificial intelligence and drones The Chancellor pledged to turn Britain into a 'defence industrial superpower' after allocating an extra 2.2billion for high-tech equipment (file image of RAF drone pilot) While manufacturers welcomed the investment, Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge suggested 2.2billion was not enough (file image of soldier with the Carl Gustaf 84mm recoilless rifle) Ms Reeves meets military personnel during her visit to Wellington Barracks, to meet with defence personnel spearheading defence and security innovation, after she delivered her spring statement Defence Secretary John Healey pledged that four Royal Navy destroyers would be equipped with new laser technologies by 2027 thanks to the new funding. Mr Healey, who joined the Chancellor at Wellington Barracks in London yesterday to see the UK's first AI strike drone, insisted there was no chance of the UK using defence money to effectively pay the US to protect the Red Sea and Suez Canal. The question was raised after US officials suggested their allies do not have the technology to protect their shipping from attacks by Houthi rebels. Mr Healey said: 'This is money for UK defence to invest. That's an extra 5billion for the next financial year. 'That's a bold step towards the 2.5 per cent announcement the Prime Minister made for 2027, the biggest increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War. 'That is to strengthen our defence, our deterrents, our armed forces. To the extent it allows us to be a better and closer defence ally to the United States.' Defence manufacturer Babcock said the extra 2.2billion would allow investment in UK firms and drive domestic economic growth. The Ministry of Defence also announced how former military sites, including Wyton airfield in Cambridgeshire, will be used to build 10,000 homes, with some being reserved for veterans. Trump nominates ambassador to South Africa amid diplomatic tensions Xinhua) 10:15, March 27, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A boy has died in a hit-and-run while walking to school in a small town in Victoria. The boy was hit just after 8am on Bannockburn-Shelford Road in Teesdale, near Geelong, and died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency services. The female driver left the scene but police later to a nearby home. Officers are now interviewing the woman as part of their investigation. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have attended the scene. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage has been asked to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000. The death marks the 68th life lost on Victorian roads in 2025 - three less than the same time last year. One lucky ticket-holder could bag the biggest lottery win ever if they scoop the top prize in Friday's record EuroMillions draw. The jackpot is an estimated 202million and would be the largest ever prize, National Lottery operator Allwyn said, putting the winner well ahead of music superstar Adele thought to be worth 175million. It would also make the winner twice as rich as Sir Andy Murray on 100million and leave 75million England captain Harry Kane in the dust. The potential Friday night winner would top the ranks of the biggest EuroMillions wins by UK players, including the anonymous UK ticket-holder who scooped the existing record jackpot of 195million on July 19, 2022. Just two months earlier, Joe and Jess Thwaite, from Gloucester, won a then record-breaking 184,262,899 with a Lucky Dip ticket for the draw on May 10, 2022. The UK's third biggest win came after an anonymous ticket-holder scooped the 177million jackpot in the draw on November 26 last year. No-one won the 182million EuroMillions jackpot on Tuesday, meaning the top prize rolls over into Friday's draw. The EuroMillions has a jackpot cap of 250million (208,576,250) meaning that one more single rollover will see it the prize money reach its maximum and no more cash can be added to the windfall. One lucky ticket-holder could bag the biggest lottery win ever if they scoop the top prize in Friday's record EuroMillions draw Joe Thwaite, 49, and Jess Thwaite, 46, from Gloucestershire celebrate after winning the record-breaking EuroMillions jackpot of 184million in 2022 The potential Friday night winner would top the ranks of the biggest EuroMillions wins by UK players, including the anonymous UK ticket-holder who scooped the existing record jackpot of 195million on July 19, 2022 Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at Allwyn, said: 'This Friday night promises to be a massive one for EuroMillions players, as the country's biggest ever winner could be made. 'Get your tickets early as there is an astounding estimated jackpot of 202million up for grabs. 'A single UK winner of this jaw-dropping prize would be crowned The National Lottery's biggest winner of all time. 'This colossal amount of money would make any lucky ticket-holder richer than some of the UK's biggest and richest names, such as Harry Styles, Adele and Harry Kane.' It would be the third UK EuroMillions jackpot this year, after one ticket-holder came forward for their 83million prize in January, and another scooped a 65million jackpot last month. Angela Rayner's workers' rights bonanza is likely to damage the jobs market and the economy, the powerful public finances watchdog has warned. In a blow to Labour's deputy leader, the Office for Budget Responsibility said it did not have enough detail about her Employment Rights Bill to deliver a full verdict on its consequences. But it said it expected her flagship law to be bad news for firms raising the prospect that its final judgment at the next Budget could blow another hole in the Chancellor's desperate efforts to balance the books. It comes after the Government's own impact assessment admitted the introduction of sweeping rights for staff including the ability to sue bosses on day one and restrictions on zero-hours contracts, as well as the repeal of Tory-era anti-strike laws will likely cost businesses 5 billion a year. The OBR said in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook published alongside yesterday's Spring Statement: 'We are yet to reflect the impact of the Government's Employment Rights Bill (ERB) in the forecast. 'While the ERB outlines the key policy intentions set out in the Government's Plan to Make Work Pay, and gives the Government powers to implement additional legislation, there is not yet sufficient detail or clarity about final policy parameters to allow us to robustly assess the economic and fiscal impacts.' Angela Rayner's (pictured) workers' rights bonanza is likely to damage the jobs market and the economy, the powerful public finances watchdog has warned In a blow to Labour's deputy leader, the Office for Budget Responsibility said it did not have enough detail about her Employment Rights Bill to deliver a full verdict on its consequences (stock) But the OBR added: 'Employment regulation policies that affect the flexibility of businesses and labour markets or the quantity and quality of work will likely have material, and probably net negative, economic impacts on employment, prices, and productivity. 'Given these potentially significant impacts, we will incorporate a central estimate of the aggregate impacts of the policy package in our next forecast.' The OBR also said Rachel Reeves' controversial increase to employers' National Insurance contributions (NICs) last autumn, which kicks in next week, is likely to be causing bosses to lay off staff. It said some surveys already 'point to a substantial reduction in nominal wages relative to what would otherwise have occurred', but others suggest the result of the added costs will be 'higher prices' for consumers. Federation of Small Businesses policy chairman Tina McKenzie said: 'Many small employers are worried about next month's rise in employer NICs. 'The Government needs to listen to the feedback from business on the Employment Rights Bill and change the elements which are most likely to act as a deterrent to job creation.' Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (pictured) leaves 11 Downing Street, in central London, on March 26, 2025, to present her Spring Budget Statement at the House of Commons It also emerged yesterday that a quango created as part of Labour's workers' rights revolution will be able to raid homes and seize laptops. Enforcement officers for the Fair Work Agency will have powers comparable with the police, The Times revealed. Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: 'Labour's employment Bill is the first in history to do the opposite of what it says on the tin. 'It will suppress salaries, cost jobs and unleash waves of strikes. Amid businesses warning of 300,000 potential job losses, Labour must stop dodging scrutiny. They need to come clean about the true impact of their extreme union charter.' With the Prime Minister expected to call the election as early as tomorrow, Peter Dutton's budget reply speech this evening is the most important of his political career. He needs it to land successfully to halt any momentum Labor might build post budget. There was already a sense before the budget that the electoral contest was tightening since mid-term polls that put the Coalition out in front. Even Anthony Albanese's lower personal ratings have marginally ticked up. As Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed, the centre piece of Dutton's speech is a $6billion halving of fuel taxes for all motorists for the coming 12 months. For two car families that's likely to save them $1,500. It is unashamedly an attempt to overshadow Labor's one per cent cut to the bottom marginal income tax rate, not due to take effect for another 15 months. An election battle is brewing between the major parties as they fight to convince Australians who are doing it tough that they have a better plan to address cost of living challenges. While the fuel tax cut does trump a minimalist income tax cut that doesn't even cover the impact of bracket creep, neither major party bribe does anything to address the structural deficit in the budget. In fact the many other spending decisions contained in the budget - from health to energy rebates to new money for housing - only makes Australia's fiscal plight even worse. To be successful Dutton will need to attack Labor's economic management over the last three years, asking voters if they seriously see their situations improving were the government to be granted three more years in power. But he also needs to present a viable alternative pathway, writes Peter van Onselen Treasurer Jim Chalmers after handing down the 2025 - 2026 Budget But in a rare show of bipartisanship both major parties seem to agree that the best course of action politically is to kick the reforming can down the road, certainly until after the looming election campaign. Economists vehemently disagree. I'm not sure if Dutton can afford NOT to use tonight's speech as a marker for what needs to change. While it would be risky to flag the need for budget repair ahead of the campaign, it undoubtedly needs to be the biggest priority of whoever wins government for the coming three years. Put simply, what's the point of winning this election without securing a clear mandate to fix the finances? Labor has delivered its spendathon budget, and in doing so it has already walked away from doing anything serious to repair the budget bottom line in re-elected. That is supremely negligent. It has left a void Dutton can fill this evening, if he's bold enough to do it. He can frame his speech around the shocking economic neglect of Labor, such that it no longer cares about the need to stop Australia living beyond its means. To be successful Dutton will need to attack Labor's economic management over the last three years, asking voters if they seriously see their situations improving were the government to be granted three more years in power. But he also needs to present a viable alternative pathway. As Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed, the centre piece of Dutton's speech is a $6billion halving of fuel taxes for all motorists for the coming 12 months. For two car families that's likely to save them $1,500 Australians' living standards are declining. Basic essentials have become too expensive for some families to afford. Dutton can hammer these points home in his budget reply, pointing out thatAlbanese's priorities were all wrong when he made the Voice referendum his number one priority after winning the 2022 election. But to thereafter be successful in a two horse political race, the Opposition Leader will need to outline some sort of alternative plan. To prove that he can do better, because protest votes against a government only translates into shifting support come election time when the alternative appears viable. Especially when trying to oust a one-term government, something that hasn't happened since 1931. Put simply if Dutton doesn't take a few risks he won't win. Labor will lose its majority, but not lose the election, and will enter a second term as a minority government. Tonight's speech is therefore the most important of Dutton's life because winning the election remains possible, even if it's more likely that Albo narrowly scraps home. It therefore is a key moment in Dutton's bid to become PM. To be seriously on the cards, however, he needs to force commentators and the public to sit up and take notice of what he has to say this evening. To shift momentum back his way and turn the coming weeks into a slow political bleed for Labor. Albo isn't much of a campaigner, we know that from the 2022 election when Labor's best week on the trail came when Albo was forced to rest up at home with Covid, allowing others to take the lead. There is therefore a fair chance that Albo has another lacklustre campaign, feeling the pressure and stumbling early, like he didn't last time on day one when he didn't know what the cash rate was. The best way Dutton can put the PM under pressure so that similar stumbles happen is by knocking tonight's speech out of the park. A Greenlandic tourism business which was due to host Usha Vance has canceled the trip amid the Trump administration's 'underlying agenda' for the visit. President Trump has made no secret of his ambition to annex Greenland, and locals have slammed his percieved stealth mission through the Second Lady's upcoming trip. Tupilak Travel in Nuuk revealed on Facebook on Wednesday that the US Consulate had reached out to them to schedule a meet-and-greet with Usha. She wanted to visit their souvenir store on Friday as part of her trip. 'We replied that she would be happy to,' the store owner said. 'Everyone is welcome in the store.' It was initially billed as a family-friendly holiday with Usha and one of her children to immerse themselves in Greenlandic culture and visit the annual dogsled competition. Then it emerged that she would be joined by embattled National Security advisor Mike Waltz, sparking fury among the nation's leaders - including the prime minister. But the final straw came when Usha's husband, Vice President JD Vance, revealed he, too, would join her on the trip - arguing that he didn't want to miss out on all the fun. A Greenlandic tourism business which was due to host Usha Vance has canceled the trip amid the Trump administration's 'underlying agenda' for the visit Tupilak Travel in Nuuk (pictured) revealed on Facebook on Wednesday that the US Consulate had reached out to them to schedule a meet-and-greet with Usha 'After closer consideration, however, we have now informed the consulate that we do not want her visit,' the store said. 'We cannot accept the underlying agenda and will not be part of the press show that, quite, of course, comes with it. 'No thanks to nice visit... Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.' 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 earlier on Wednesday. But Lkke also said it was '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.' Trump had earlier doubled down on his controversial desire to take over the island, telling podcaster Vince Coglianese: 'We need Greenland for international safety and security. The final straw came when Usha's husband, Vice President JD Vance , revealed he, too, would join her on the trip - arguing that he didn't want to miss out on all the fun 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 Apartment buildings and houses are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland 'We need it. We have to have it. I hate to put it that way, but we're going to have to have it.' 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 decision to visit a US military base has also 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. Protesters outside the U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland 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. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede called the trip 'highly aggressive' when he learned Waltz was also joining. 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.' Toxicology reports for three American tourists found dead at a luxury hotel in Belize last month confirm their deaths were caused by fatal exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, DailyMail.com can reveal. Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26, were found dead inside their room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on February 22. Each of the women died from acute pulmonary edema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs. A toxicology examination has now confirmed the fatal condition was triggered by exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning, Belizes National Forensic Service confirmed on Wednesday evening. Local police believe a malfunctioning water heater in the womens room may have been to blame. Each of the women registered carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60 percent. Saturation levels of 40 percent are enough to cause death. Belizean authorities suggested within hours of the women being found dead that they had likely died of a drug overdose, claiming initial tests for carbon monoxide exposure at the hotel had found nothing untoward. The release of the toxicology report came within 48 hours of the womens families releasing a statement, casting doubt on the integrity of Belizian authorities and urging them to conduct a fair and transparent investigation. The victims: Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, Imane Mallah, 24, and Wafae El Arar, 26. Their cause of death has been exclusively revealed to have been from an exposure to lethal levels of carbon monoxide Three women were found dead in the above hotel room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. DailyMail.com's source 'Jane' arrived just over a week later Belizian Police Commissioner Chester Williams has not returned a request for comment. The families of Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar said in a statement to DailyMail.com: 'Today, our families were notified by officials with the United States Embassy in Belize that our beloved Kaoutar, Imane and Wafae passed away as a result of acute carbon monoxide poisoning, likely caused by a faulty instant water heater. 'While we remain shattered by the loss of these three bright lights in our world, we are incredibly heartened by the results of this investigation and grateful to those who completed it in a thorough and independent manner.' 'We continue to await results of a separate independent review being done by authorities in Massachusetts.' 'We have said since the beginning of this investigation that their deaths were suspicious and raised concerns about initial reports in the news media. While todays official finding puts to rest those initial reports, we hope this will give authorities in law enforcement pause before they make similar suggestions during future investigations. Survivors such as our families deserve their best, honest work. We received it today but needed it throughout this investigative process,' the statement continued. 'We ask authorities in Belize to not stop their investigative work. Our families and others who may have been harmed at this hotel deserve a full accounting of what happened, how this investigation was handled by officials and hotel management. 'We are grateful to all of the friends, family, leaders here in Massachusetts, in the United States and in Belize along with the local and international media, who continued to put pressure on Belizean authorities to complete this investigation in a timely and honest manner. 'Our families remain incredibly grateful to the outpouring of support we have received from family, friends, leaders and loved ones since their passing. We appreciate the privacy that has been extended to our families as we grieve and are also grateful to the media who have helped ensure that Wafae, Imane, Kaoutar and the impact of their loss are a central part of your news coverage. 'Our families ask for continued prayers, patience, and privacy as we navigate this unimaginable loss. May their beautiful souls rest in eternal peace. We will forever love and miss you, Kaoutar, Imane, Wafae.' Each of the women died from acute pulmonary edema, a build-up of fluid in the lungs. Each of the women registered carbon monoxide saturation levels of around 60 percent. Saturation levels of 40 percent are enough to cause death Royal Kahal has also released a statement, saying they remain profoundly saddened by the womens deaths. While the cause of this tragedy has not been officially released by authorities, we are hearing indications that the results of the toxicology report will point to carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of death, a spokesperson for the hotel wrote. From the time this isolated tragedy was discovered, we have been taking all possible steps to ensure that the Resort is safe, and it has been reopened for guests since March 19. We have worked with the Belizean government, and authorities have conducted multiple careful assessments of every unit on the property. These assessments have found no further indication of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in any of the units. This tragedy has deeply affected all of us at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the young women during this incredibly difficult time. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the womens home state of Massachusetts is conducting a second autopsy on the three women, which remains ongoing. DailyMail.com was the first to reveal that preliminary autopsy results showed signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Other guests at Royal Kahal also came forward claiming to have suffered CO exposure while staying at the luxury resort. In the wake of those reports, Commissioner Williams announced last week that authorities had decided to conduct a second round of carbon monoxide tests at the hotel. Belizean authorities suggested within hours of the women being found dead that they had likely died of a drug overdose, claiming initial tests for carbon monoxide exposure at the hotel had found nothing untoward On Monday, the womens families questioned the honesty and meticulousness of the Belizean cops' investigation and urged them to treat their deceased daughters with the respect they deserve. 'We speak today because we want the public and authorities, particularly those in Belize, to hear this: Kaoutar, Imane and Wafae deserve your best,' read the statement in part. 'They deserve an honest and full investigation, and we ask all of those in power in both Belize and the United States to join us in demanding answers to the true cause of this tragedy. 'We continue to believe the deaths of Wafae, Imane and Kaoutar are suspicious. We are hopeful the authorities will fulfill their responsibility to complete their reviews in a timely but thorough manner to ensure we know the full truth about what caused this tragedy.' The families added they were concerned that the results of the Belize toxicology report had still not been released to them, despite being assured the results would be returned within two weeks of their deaths. 'As the lead investigative authority, Belizean officials have a critical responsibility to thoroughly and transparently determine what caused this tragedy,' continued the statement. 'We are deeply alarmed by news reports which suggest that carbon monoxide levels in the hotel could have been at dangerously high levels and that the resort has now suddenly closed without public explanation. 'We believe the families of all guests past and future deserve a clear explanation for this action. The women's families paid tribute to each of them in a heartfelt statement on Monday This tragedy has deeply affected all of us at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort. Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the young women during this incredibly difficult time,' a hotel spokesperson said 'We respectfully urge the resorts management and Belizean authorities to share any information they have immediately so that no other family has to endure the unimaginable pain we must now bear. Our loved ones deserve transparency and all who visit Belize, especially the resort, deserve to know they are safe. Belize Fire Chief Colin Gillett previously told Belizean media that carbon monoxide poisoning had been ruled out following an investigation. However, last week, Chief Environmental Officer Anthony Mai told 7NewsBelize that abnormal levels of carbon monoxide were found inside the hotel. Sources close to that investigation reportedly told the network the levels registered about 500 PPM - which is dangerously high and poses a serious health risk. A guest at the Royal Kahal, who DailyMail.com is identifying under the pseudonym 'Jane', believes she suffered carbon monoxide poisoning at the hotel a week after the women were found dead, having been assured by Royal Kahal staff that the resort was safe. Jane and a group of her friends checked into the Royal Kahal on March 1. Concerned by the news of their deaths, she reached out to the hotel on February 25 to ask, 'Is it safe to come?' messages shared with DailyMail.com show. A hotel representative identified as Daniel assured her there are no safety issues at the Royal Kahal and the sad incident involving Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar was out of their control. A hotel representative identified as Daniel assured her there are no safety issues at the Royal Kahal and the sad incident involving Naqqad, Mallah, and El Arar was out of their control As unfortunate as these circumstances are, there is nothing the hotel couldve done to prevent these deaths,' a representative of the hotel said While we are still waiting on the authorities to formally release their findings, all signs indicate that this was a drug overdose, wrote Daniel. As unfortunate as these circumstances are, there is nothing the hotel couldve done to prevent these deaths. Janes concerns were quickly assuaged by the hotels explanation, so she and her friends decided to proceed with their booking. But Jane said that five days into the trip, she awoke in the morning and her left leg was completely numb. She said she was also experiencing dizziness, blurred vision, and a headache. When she attempted to get up to go to the restroom, Jane said she collapsed to the ground. I laid on the ground for, Id say, at least 30 to 40 minutes because I could not pull myself up, I just had no strength in my body, it was the weirdest thing, shared Jane. Ive never experienced anything like that in my life. I couldnt figure out where it was coming from. Excerpts from a text exchange between Jane and a representative of Royal Kahal show the hotel assuring Jane's safety, insisting the women's deaths were caused by a drug overdose After finally gathering the strength to get up, she spent the next three hours seated in a chair by an open window before she was finally able to walk again. She said she was still struggling with headaches, a cough, brain fog, and blurred vision five days after returning home to California. One of Jane's friends on the trip had also been suffering from recurring migraines, she said. All of the symptoms described by Jane are textbook side effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. Jane has sought medical treatment and contacted Royal Kahal and the U.S. Embassy to report her story. One of Jane's friends on the trip was told by embassy officials that initial tests found some rooms at the hotel contained high levels of carbon monoxide. The U.S. Embassy declined to comment on those claims, sharing only that their office 'continues to work with the Belizean law enforcement in the investigation into this case. We also have close contact with the families of the victims. 'We dont have further information to release about the investigation or other incidents at the Royal Kahal resort.' A guest at the Royal Kahal, who DailyMail.com is identifying under the pseudonym 'Jane', believes she suffered carbon monoxide poisoning at the hotel a week after the women were found dead, having been assured by Royal Kahal staff that the resort was safe While the hotel is beautiful, the lack of CO detectors is concerning. I urge management to address this for the safety of future guests,' Jane said However, a recent review on Royal Kahals Trip Advisor page, dated March 1, complains of critical safety concerns during a visit to the resort in February. I had a wonderful stay at Royal Kahal Beach Resort from February 17th-21st. The staff was exceptional - [the] front desk, maintenance, housekeeping, bartenders, and beach staff went above and beyond. The beauty of San Pedro, Belize, and the warmth of its people made this trip unforgettable, wrote user Naquana H. However, I cannot, in good faith, rate the hotel highly due to serious safety concerns. On February 18th, our carbon monoxide detector went off with levels above 400. Despite informing the front desk, the staff seemed unfamiliar with the issue. Maintenance suggested turning off the gas, but the CO levels remained dangerously high. We were left feeling uneasy. The next morning, a friend reported dizziness, which we now suspect was from CO exposure. While the hotel is beautiful, the lack of CO detectors is concerning. I urge management to address this for the safety of future guests. Jane said she was furious the hotel lured her into a potentially dangerous situation with false promises of guaranteed safety. She said her heart breaks for the womens families and feels remarkably lucky to have avoided any serious harm. They told us everything was safe, and we believed them. We had no reason not to, said Jane. And I cant get the girls and their families off my mind. Its heartbreaking. But its also frightening knowing the same thing couldve happened to us. Who knows what wouldve happened if I was left to sleep in my room for another few hours, or if when I fell on the ground I couldnt get up and nobody came to check on me. Its just so sad those girls werent afforded the same luck. The Royal Kahal remains closed as the investigation continues. Kristi Noem angered liberals for wearing a fancy wrist watch while she berated gangsters at the prison in El Salvador where the Trump administration has banished many illegal migrants. Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, attracted attention early on in Donald Trump's second term for spending time in the field with ICE agents as they looked to solve the crisis at the border. She also rode horseback alongside the Border Patrol agents that Joe Biden falsely accused of whipping migrants in a show of support. Each of those drew the howls of Democrats, who dubbed her 'ICE Barbie' for her efforts. The critics unleashed their anger again on Wednesday when she visited El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center Wednesday, where many of the gangsters and rapists detained by Donald Trump's administration are currently being held. She posted video to social media where she went face-to-face with men believed to be members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, who became a focal point of Trump's border policy. Online Democrats were furious, as one even complained about the watch Noem was visibly wearing in the video clip. Patrick Jaicomo asked: 'Is Secretary Noem wearing a $50,000 gold Rolex Daytona wristwatch while she films a threat to immigrants with due-process free rendition to a third-world prison?' Kristi Noem angered liberals with her tone and even the watch she wore as she visited the prison in El Salvador where the Trump administration has banished many illegal migrants Kristi Noem continues to take a hands on approach to her job as homeland security chief, visiting the prison in El Salvador where the Trump administration has banished many illegal migrants Several liberals were horrified by the overall content of the clip. 'This is the sickest s*** i have ever seen in my life oh my god,' wrote Tim Miller of The Bulwark. James Surowiecki wondered: 'No one has yet explained what legal authority allows Trump to send undocumented migrants who have been convicted of no crime to rot in a prison in El Salvador. He has the authority to deport them. But how is it legal for him to imprison them in a foreign country? 'This is f***ing disgusting. You are a fascist psychopath who has no business in this job. Sick,' wrote Jim Stewartson. The MAGA faithful backed Noem for the video. 'Y'all criticize her but I actually like Deportation Barbie,' wrote one. Fox News journalist Griff Jenkins contrasted Noem with former 'border czar' Kamala Harris. 'This just feels different than Kamala Harris do not come warning from Guatemala,' he said. Online Democrats were furious, as one even complained about the watch Noem was visibly wearing in the video clip The MAGA faithful backed Noem for the video Wednesday, she visited El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, where many of the gangsters and rapists detained by Donald Trump's administration are currently being held The gang members are all shirtless and have shaved heads, wearing only white pants while packed into their cells. After touring the building with Salvadoran Minister of Justice Hector Gustavo, Noem had a message for any would be followers who wanted to cause havoc while in America illegally. 'First of all, do not come to our country illegally: You will be removed, and you will be prosecuted,' she said '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.' Afterward, Noem met with Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador. She posted a similar message to X: '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 sent 261 illegal migrants to El Salvador on March 15, Fox News reported. At least 21 of them were members of MS-13, including two ring-leaders. It is not clear how many members of Tren de Aragua were among them. The gang members are all shirtless and have shaved heads, wearing only white pants while packed into their cells Kristi Noem has been attacked as 'ICE Barbie' by furious liberals after earning praised for her efforts to embed with those tasked to work on Donald Trump 's immigration crackdown Their deportation has started a massive legal controversy involving a district court judge trying to stop the Trump administration. The decision by Judge James Boasberg came just hours after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in an ambitious plan to crack down on members of Tren de Aragua. Trump said the US was facing an 'invasion' from a criminal organization that has been linked to kidnapping, extortion, organized crime and contract killings. Boasberg, who was appointed by President Obama, issued a temporary restraining order for 14 days. The judge said the Alien Enemies Act 'does not provide a basis for the president's proclamation given that the terms invasion, predatory incursion really relate to hostile acts perpetrated by any nation and commensurate to war.' Boasberg also said that he needed to issue his order immediately because the government already was flying migrants it claimed were newly deportable under Trump's proclamation to be incarcerated in El Salvador and Honduras. El Salvador already agreed to take up to 300 migrants that the Trump administration designated as gang members. In invoking the act, Trump declared Tren de Aragua as targets, contending it is a hostile force noting members of the gang were 'conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States' with the goal of destabilizing the nation. After touring the building with Salvadoran Minister of Justice Hector Gustavo, Noem had a message for any would be followers who wanted to cause havoc while in America illegally Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 in a bold plan to crack down on the scourge of Venezuela's most notorious cartel The gang has been linked to kidnapping, extortion, organized crime and contract killings. DailyMail.com was the first news organization in the US to report on TdA arriving in America over a year ago, however, the gang became a household name after video of them storming an apartment near Denver surfaced in August. The sweeping wartime authority allows the president broader leeway on policy and executive action and will enable him to speed up mass deportations of people and pushes his promised crackdown on immigration into higher gear. 'This proclamation is as lawless as anything the Trump administration has done,' Lee Gelernt, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union, who argued for the order in a hearing on Saturday said in an interview. 'We are on very dangerous ground when the administration is going to try to use wartime authority, when we're at peace, for immigration purposes or any other non-military purpose.' Attorney General Pam Bondi said Boasberg 'had supported Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans' in his ruling. 'This order disregards well-established authority regarding President Trump's power, and it puts the public and law enforcement at risk,' she said in a statement. Trump had pledged to use the Alien Enemies Act during his presidential campaign, and immigration groups were braced for it. Kyiv has told the Kremlin that there will be no peace unless Russia returns thousands of abducted children, a Ukrainian government adviser has revealed. Speaking to The Times, Daria Zarivna - an adviser to the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak - said: 'Our openness to engage in peace talks should not be confused with compromising on key issues'. Her remarks come after the US wrapped up three days Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia earlier this month on prospective steps toward a limited ceasefire, with Zarivna being part of the Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah. 'We are unwavering in our stance that the return of all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred and deported by Russia is non-negotiable,' the Ukrainian official said. She also added that the return of these abducted children, as well as all Ukrainian hostages and people who have been forcibly deported must be a 'central, integral element of the peace process'. Meanwhile, a joint statement from the US and the Ukraine following the talks in Saudi Arabia said that Washington was: 'committed to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children'. Moscow claims to have 'saved' 700,000 Ukrainian children since its full-scale invasion in 2022 by forcibly moving them across the border to Russia. Around 1.6 million children still living in areas of Ukraine under Russian occupation. Daria Zarivna - an adviser to the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak - said that there will be no peace unless Russia returns abducted children Her remarks come after the US wrapped up three days Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on prospective steps toward a limited ceasefire. Pictured: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Moscow claims to have 'saved' 700,000 Ukrainian children by forcibly moving them across the border to Russia While a comprehensive peace deal still looks distant, President Zelenskyy has praised the talks as the early 'right steps' toward a peaceful settlement of the three-year-old war. 'These are the first steps not the very first but initial ones with this presidential administration toward completely ending the war and the possibility of a full ceasefire, as well as steps toward a sustainable and fair peace agreement,' he said at a news conference. But he noted that significant uncertainties remain. 'I think there will be a million questions and details,' he said, adding that the responsibility for potential violations also remains unclear. He emphasized that Ukraine is open to a full, 30-day ceasefire that US President Donald Trump has proposed, reaffirming that Kyiv is 'ready to quickly move toward an unconditional ceasefire.' Putin has made a complete ceasefire conditional on a halt of arms supplies to Kyiv and a suspension of Ukraine's military mobilization demands rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies. The US noted its commitment to helping achieve the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine had 'continued deliberate drone strikes against Russia's civilian energy facilities.' This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on March 10, 2025, shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Jeddah, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine During his official visit to Saudi Arabia, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Jeddah US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz hold a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah on March 11, 2025 Firefighters try to extinguish the fire that broke out after an attack near the local market as the war between Russia and Ukraine continue on March 26, 2025 in Kharkiv, Ukraine Dozens were wounded in Ukraine on Monday following a Russian strike on the city of Sumy One Ukrainian drone attack on Monday knocked down a high-voltage power line linking the Rostov nuclear power plant with the city of Tikhoretsk in the southern Krasnodar region, the ministry said, adding that another drone strike had occurred on the Svatovo gas distribution station in the Russia-occupied Ukrainian region of Luhansk. Russian state media said six people, including three Russian journalists, died Monday after a Ukrainian missile strike in the Luhansk region. In Ukraine, the number of people injured Monday in a Russian missile strike in the city of Sumy rose to 101, including 23 children, according to the Sumy regional administration. The strike on Sumy, across the border from Russia's Kursk region that has been partially occupied by Ukraine since August, hit residential buildings and a school, which had to be evacuated. Russia also launched a missile and 139 long-range drones into Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. Those attacks affected seven regions of Ukraine and injured multiple people. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Vladimir Putin 'will die soon' amid rumours that the Russian leader is battling poor health. Zelensky's damning assessment of Putin's health came during a sit-down interview with journalists in Paris following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday. He said: 'He (Putin) will die soon, and that's a fact, and it will come to an end.' Despite his attempts to project an image of hypermasculinity, Putin has long faced rumours that he suffers from health issues. In recent years the 72-year-old has appeared to have a puffy face, a twitching leg and blood-shot eyes only fuelling the speculation further. One particular famous incident in 2022 saw the president slouching in his chair while gripping a table and slurring his words during a meeting with then-Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. There have also been reports of him coughing incessantly, and his hands and feet making seemingly involuntary jerky movements. On several occasions, he appeared to walk with a limp. Volodymyr Zelensky's damning assessment of Putin's health came during a sit-down interview with journalists in Paris Despite his attempts to project an image of hypermasculinity, Vladimir Putin has long faced rumours that he suffers from health issues There have also been claims that he might have cancer and Parkinson's Disease. During last night's interview Zelensky also claimed that Putin is trying 'hit the European Union from within' in reference to more Russian friendly members of the bloc such as Hungary. Macron, alongside Zelensky, will welcome European leaders today to agree what security guarantees Europe can offer Ukraine once a ceasefire deal is reached in the more than three-year-old war. Speaking alongside Zelensky in Paris, Macron said this was now a 'decisive phase to put an end to the war of aggression' waged by Russia against Ukraine, as the United States under Donald Trump reaches out to Moscow in search of a deal. Macron also announced a new French two-billion-euro ($2.2-billion) military aid package for Ukraine, with Paris ready to rapidly ship existing hardware from its stocks. He said Russia must accept a 30-day ceasefire offered by Ukraine 'without preconditions', accusing Moscow of still showing a 'desire for war' and hailing Kyiv for having 'taken the risk of peace'. 'Russia shall have no right of say regarding the support we are providing and will provide Ukraine, nor shall they set the conditions,' Macron said. 'There is just one aggressor and one party that is resisting,' he said. A bloated Vladimir Putin has been seen gripping a table whilst slouching in his chair during a televised meeting with his then-defence minister Sergei Shoigu in 2022 He accused Russia of making 'new conditions' and not responding to the ceasefire offer. 'Ukraine has clearly expressed to the United States its agreement to a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, even though it is the victim of the aggression,' said Macron. 'We expect the same commitment from Russia,' he added. Zelensky said he was expecting 'strong decisions' from the meeting on Thursday, which was also due to be attended by the likes of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Premier Keir Starmer. 'Now is definitely not the time to reduce pressure on Russia or weaken our unity for the sake of peace,' he said. Zelensky also accused Russia of dragging out the conflict despite the American overtures for peace. 'Russia wants this war to continue. It is dragging it out. We need to put pressure on Russia so that the war ends indeed,' he said. Once a settlement is agreed, one key element could be sending European forces to ensure Russia does not attack Ukraine again. During last night's interview Zelensky also claimed that Putin is trying 'hit the European Union from within' in reference to more Russian friendly members of the bloc such as Hungary French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside Zelensky, will welcome European leaders today to agree what security guarantees Europe can offer Ukraine once a ceasefire deal is reached in the more than three-year-old war Zelensky said it was too early to discuss specific roles of future European forces in Ukraine, after a key aide, Igor Zhovkva, told AFP in Paris that Ukraine needed a robust European presence and not just peacekeepers. Zelensky said the question now was about 'who will be ready' to take part in such missions. 'It's too early to say,' he added, referring to what role the forces could play. He added: 'No one wants to drag any country into a war.' He said European contingents would be important for control. 'In any case, a contingent is a combat force, but they are there primarily to control the situation, monitor the situation, conduct joint training, and ensure that Russia does not have any desire to return with aggression,' he said. Macron stressed that European forces would not be in Ukraine to fight. 'It is a pacificist approach.' But the French president also outlined how the situation on the ground could look after a ceasefire, with a dividing line. The question will be 'what the mechanism' will be to monitor the peace, he said. A European force could be 'a card in the hand of the Ukrainians' that would 'dissuade the Russians' from launching another attack, he said. But such a force would not be on the front line, he added. Macron also said it was 'much too early' to consider lifting sanctions against Russia. 'Ultimately, sanctions depend solely on Russia's choice of aggression, and therefore, their lifting depends solely on Russia's choice to comply with international law,' he said. YETI has been slammed with criticism after the company refused to fulfil an order placed by a conservative women's nonprofit group. The Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women (CBL) has called out the popular thermal cup brand after it suddenly cancelled an order for $1,608 worth of custom-designed mugs. Kimberly Begg, the president of the northern Virginia-based organization, was absolutely baffled when YETI denied the request for seafoam green mugs with the center's logo on it. The company made the exact same product last year, shipping them to the CBL without any drama, Begg told Fox Business. '[YETI] produced these beautiful mugs for us, and we always gave them to our speakers,' Begg told the outlet, referring to guests who spoke at their events. 'We contacted the company just for a reorder and did not expect there to be any problems whatsoever.' However, these expectations were quickly crushed, as the center detailed in a social media post about the YETI ordeal. 'Soooo @yeti cancelled us,' the center captioned the post, alluding to the 'cancel culture' phenomenon. The Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women (CBL) has called out YETI for 'cancelling' them Kimberly Begg, the president of the northern Virginia-based organization, was absolutely baffled when YETI denied the request for seafoam green mugs with the center's logo on it 'We thought that cancel culture went out with 2024 but here we are,' the center wrote. The order was originally placed with no issues, the post explained. The CBL said they received several emails confirming that the order was being processed. 'But then we got denied. Cancelled. Our order was cancelled because our logo includes the phrase: "conservative women,"' the post claimed. 'This cancellation was sent AFTER the confirmation emails, and even after our $1,608 payment.' After a CBL representative called YETI to ask about what prompted the order's cancellation, she was allegedly told the phrase 'conservative women' is on the 'political aisle,' so the mugs could not be made. A YETI spokesperson told Fox Business the company does its best to avoid any sort of political affiliation. 'Starting with our first customized Rambler Drinkware in 2015, weve used our best efforts to create and adhere to a policy that prevents customizing products aligned with any political affiliations or organizations in addition to content that could be considered obscene, vulgar, profane, discriminatory, defamatory, or hateful,' they said. While responding to the fact that the CBL successfully place a $3,797.84 order for the exact same mugs last May, YETI said that transaction was a 'mistake' and the products should not have been made then either. 'We regret that due to a mistake, this policy was not followed with the previous online order from the Clare Boothe Luce Center,' the YETI spokesperson added. The CBL is an organization that focuses on conservative outreach and education for young women The CBL shared a social media post detailing the group's ordeal with the popular thermal cup brand This explanation did not sit right with Begg and the other CBL members - as well as others who say they are sick of cancel culture. 'Wow, another brand added to the no-buy list. Absolutely ridiculous,' one woman reacted on Facebook. Another person agreed: 'I will never buy a YETI again! I will help another brand put them out of business! 'I just spoke with a Yeti customer representative to tell them that they have alienated 1/2 of the American public with this move. No more Yeti products for me,' one passionate commenter asserted. 'I hope this is Yetis Bud Light moment,' she added, pointing to the beer brand's disastrous 'woke' campaign. After partnering with trans-activist Dylan Mulvaney, beer-lovers boycotted the company for becoming too 'woke' for its target audience. Last March, the boycott cost Bud Light a staggering $1.4 billion in American sales. Popular ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has also faced its fair share of backlash for promoting its left-leaning political ideologies. YETI produced the same CBL-logoed mugs for the group last year without any issues about the group's politics In 2018, gun owners infuriated by the company's decision to end its National Rifle Association (NRA) discount programs shared videos of them blowing up YETI coolers On March 3, Ben & Jerry's famously liberal CEO David Stever was booted by the brand's parent company Unilever. Unilever bosses reportedly grew tired of Ben & Jerry's advocating for progressive causes such as Black Lives Matter and DEI. Ben & Jerry's has filed a lawsuit against Unilever, accusing the company of firing Stever for his political beliefs. The CBL controversy is not the first time YETI has found themselves in hot water from their conservative customers. In 2018, gun owners infuriated by the company's decision to end its National Rifle Association (NRA) discount programs shared videos of them blowing up YETI coolers. The trend to destroy Yeti coolers and tumblers became so popular among NRA members that it was tagged the #YetiCoolerChallenge on social media. Some chose to destroy their expensive coolers and tumblers by shooting them with guns, while one man blew up his cooler with Tannerite - a brand of explosive targets used for firearms practice. This widespread frustration with YETI forced the brand to speak out to defend its 'unwavering belief in the Second Amendment.' After partnering with trans-activist Dylan Mulvaney, beer-lovers boycotted the company for becoming too 'woke' for its target audience On March 3, Ben & Jerry's famously liberal CEO David Stever was booted by the brand's parent company Unilever, allegedly for his progressive political The CBL is an organization that focuses on conservative outreach and education for young women. Its website reads: 'We recognize that today's young women face incredible pressure to conform to a leftist worldview that sabotages their well-being and that of their loved ones and fellow Americans.' The group feels that women are particularly targeted by 'leftist propaganda.' President Donald Trump backed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Wednesday amid calls for his resignation over a leaked Signal chat of details surrounding a military strike in Yemen. The president spoke about the controversy after Hegseth sent details of the strike to administration officials in a Signal chat that mistakenly included The Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who published the messages in full on Wednesday morning. Trump was asked by reporters whether Hegseth should consider resigning in the wake of the controversy, after several Congressional Democrats demanded that he step down. Hegseth is doing a great job, he had nothing to do with this. Hegseth. How do you bring Hegseth into this? Trump replied. The president confirmed to DailyMail.com that his White House national security advisor Mike Waltz took responsibly for mistakenly adding Goldberg to the Signal chat. Mike Waltz he claimed responsibility, I would imagine. It had nothing to do with anyone else. It was Mike, I guess, I dont know, I was told it was Mike, Trump said when asked about the investigation. Trump again dismissed the controversy about whether or not Hegseth had shared classified information that could have endangered the operation, pointing instead to the successful mission. There was no harm done because the attack was unbelievably successful that night, Trump said. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced more controversy over his leaked Signal texts U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks next to President Donald Trump The president questioned the motivations of Democrats calling for Hegseth's resignation and whether the Signal app was even working like it was supposed to. Look, its all a witch hunt you wanna ask about whether or not Signal works, I dont know if Signal works, I think that Signal could be defective to be honest with you, Trump said. The encrypted app that deletes messages after they have been received is popular in Washington, DC for communications, even though it is not considered a secure platform for classified information. You use Signal, we use Signal, and everybody uses Signal but it could be a defective platform and were going to have to find that out, Trump said. Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, both Democrats, called for Hegseth's resignation for sharing details of the operation on the 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. U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) listens as U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) called for Hegseth's resignation U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dismissed the controversy repeating he did not share 'war plans.' He added. 'The Secretary of Defense needs to resign. The incompetence and cover up is embarrassing.' Hegseth fired back, insisting he did not share any classified information in the chat and criticized The Atlantic for mischaracterizing his texts as 'war plans' on Tuesday. '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,' he said. 'Those are some really sh***y war plans.' Hegseth texted a 'Team Update' to the Signal group of senior Trump administration officials on March 15, revealing in advance the times and weapons systems of the planned military strikes. '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. But Hegseth argued he was only providing a 'team update' repeating that he did not share any 'war plans.' 'My job - team update, to provide updates in real time. General updates in real time keep everybody informed,' he said. 'That is what I did. Thats my job.' Sen. Marco Rubio on Wednesday also responded to questions about the incident. 'Obviously, someone made a mistake, someone made a big mistake and added a journalist,' Rubio said. 'Nothing against journalists but you ain't supposed to be on that thing.' Rubio cited the Pentagon's assertion that there was no classified information shared on the text thread. 'None of the information on there at any point threatened the operation or the lives of our servicemen,' he said. Luigi Mangione's final act before being hauled into jail by police was to express concern for the McDonald's worker who ratted him out to law enforcement. The Alleged CEO killer's gesture came to light after court documents showed Mangione asking about the worker who reported him to the authorities, ultimately resulting in his arrest. 'They aren't going to put the cashier from McDonald's information out there are they?' Mangione said, according to court documents. 'It wouldn't be good for her. A lot of people will be upset I was arrested.' Immediately after his arrest at the Pennsylvania fast food joint on December 9, 2024, Mangione apologized for 'the inconvenience of the day,' according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com. The 'first words out of Mr. Mangione's mouth [were] an apology and a concern for the McDonald's employee' who is now apparently receiving threats, the docs stated. Mangione had been accused of being responsible for 'harassment, backlash, and death threats,' to certain people, including the McDonalds worker who reported him. 'However, there is simply no evidence that Mr. Mangione is responsible for any of these threats, directly, indirectly or in any manner,' Mangione's legal defense said in a letter to Judge Gregory Carro, according to court filings. 'Mr. Mangione has been nothing but cooperative, peaceful and has shown concern for others,' his counsel continued. 'This is the very opposite of someone who is seeking to terrorize anyone or wishing harm or violence to anyone,' his defense counsel said. Alleged CEO killer Luigi Mangione's act of kindness is revealed as court documents claim he expressed concern for the McDonalds worker who tipped off law enforcement of his location Mangione was arrested at an Altoona McDonald's (pictured) on December 9 following a five-day search According to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Mangione apologized for 'the inconvenience of the day' and asked, 'They aren't going to put the cashier from McDonald's information out there are they? It wouldn't be good for her. A lot of people will be upset I was arrested' Mangione's legal team has made recent bids to grant the accused CEO killer laptop privileges while in custody to review legal material in his cell. He awaits trial for the December shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. 'The People' in the case against Mangione claimed that the proposed laptop request was unmerited special treatment, prosecutor Joel Seidemann wrote: ''special treatment to the defendants benefit was violated when (prosecutors) made accommodations for defendant's fashion needs during the last court appearance.' Mangione is facing a slew of charges in the Big Apple and is also facing lesser charges of false identification and weapons charges in Pennsylvania. In other recently filed court documents, his attorney Karen Agnifilo argued that police leaked writings they said belonged to the now 26-year-old and labeled them a 'manifesto' - thereby spreading fear in an effort to justify prosecutors' terrorism charge. The writings were released shortly after Mangione was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald's following a five-day search for the masked man who gunned down Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel. He was allegedly found with a 9-millimeter pistol and silencer, clothing that matched the apparel worn by the shooter in surveillance footage, and a notebook describing an intent to 'whack' an insurance company CEO, according to court filings. But Agnifilo now says there is 'absolutely no evidence' to suggest her client wrote the so-called manifesto as she called out prosecutors for sharing the message. Mangione was shipped back to the Big Apple for the murder trial, but still faces lesser chargers in the Keystone State He was allegedly found with a 9-millimeter pistol and silencer, clothing that matched the apparel worn by the shooter in surveillance footage Mangione is accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson (pictured) outside a New York City hotel 'Since the inception of this case, law enforcement has consistently leaked writings purported to be written by Mr. Mangione, while also prejudicially labeling these writings a "manifesto" to the media,' she argued. 'By releasing these writings to the public and calling them a manifesto, law enforcement is responsible for causing the very public alarm that they are now trying to attribute to Mr. Mangione, which is the basis for charging him with the enhanced charge of murder in the first degree as an act of terrorism. 'There is absolutely no evidence that Mr. Mangione ever released the writings that law enforcement is attributing to him publicly; any publishing was done by law enforcement,' she continued. 'By painting Mr. Mangione as a "terrorist" and releasing a purported "manifesto," law enforcement is intending to prejudice Mr. Mangione and cause the public alarm and fear that they now attribute to him,' Agnifilo argued. 'This is problematic and fatal to the government's charge of murder in the first degree, which requires said murder to be in furtherance of an act of terrorism "intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population," and insofar as it is law enforcement that is responsible for said intimidation. 'This behavior by law enforcement is wildly irresponsible, as they are spreading a message to the public intended to incite individuals who may as a result believe Mr. Mangione held purported viewpoints.' Anthony Albanese's office has bungled his federal election call and pulled the trigger too soon before his official announcement which is expected tomorrow. The PM is poised to call the election on Friday after months of speculation about the date when millions will head to the polls. But the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet jumped the gun and sent out an official social media post claiming the government was now in 'caretaker' mode. That only happens after the election has been called - and the PM is still 24 hours away from confirming the date. The post on X was swiftly deleted after the blunder was spotted. Calling the election on Friday would steal attention from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's Budget reply speech on Thursday night. Labor insiders said the Prime Minister will go to Governor-General Sam Mostyn's home in Canberra on Friday morning to ask her to dissolve parliament. Mr Albanese had been due to make the journey to Yarralumla earlier this month to call an election for April 12, but that plan was derailed by Cyclone Alfred. Anthony Albanese (pictured) is set to call the election on Friday after months of speculation about the date when millions will head to the polls The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet jumped the gun and sent out an official social media post claiming the government was now in 'caretaker' mode Mr Dutton's Budget-in-reply speech in parliament on Thursday is believed to reveal the Coalition's policies on housing, migration and gas supply. But such policy details would get lost in Friday morning's online, TV and radio coverage if everyone is talking about the federal election date being announced. Mr Albanese is said to favour a five-week campaign, which means Australians are likely to be going to the polls on Saturday, May 3, but the campaign could still stretch to May 10 or May 17. With pre-polling and postal voting now a major part of elections, some people will be able to vote in just over two weeks from now. The Coalition has been on par or ahead of Labor in polling for much of the last year, though its lead has started to narrow. That, and the fact that it's almost 100 years since an Australian government was defeated after one term in power, has made Labor the bookies' favourites to win. A senior Labor cabinet minister told Nine newspapers that Mr Albanese reckoned the government is looking good to retain power. 'If we are on 50-50 at the start of the campaign, that's potentially an election-winning (majority) for a government,' Mr Albanese reportedly said. Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Budget on Tuesday night with a raft of cost-of-living measures designed to appeal to battling Aussies 'We think there is a chance the wheels will fall off completely for them,' the source said. 'They have nothing out there as policy besides nuclear power and free lunches and they're doing nothing to expand their base.' In Tuesday's federal Budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced that every taxpayer will get a tax cut in 2026 and 2027, to top up the stage three tax cuts which began last July. If Labor retains power, from 1 July 2026, the 16 per cent tax rate (applicable to taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000) will be reduced to 15 per cent, saving up to $268. From 1 July 2027, this rate will drop further to 14 per cent, saving up to $536. Combined with the stage three tax cuts, a worker earning $72,592 will see a total tax cut of $1,762 in 202627 and $2,030 per year from 202728. But Mr Dutton plans to cancel the latest tax cuts if the Coalition wins the election. The Government also announced that every Australian household and around one million small businesses will get an additional $150 energy bill rebate. Peter Dutton (pictured) plans to cancel the latest tax cuts if the Coalition wins the election The rebate will be automatically applied to electricity bills in quarterly instalments until December 31, 2025. In his Budget reply speech tonight, Mr 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 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. A man with blood-stained clothes has been arrested after cops discovered a woman's body inside a home in Melbourne's south-west. Officers were called to a home on Retford Close, across the road from Bethany Catholic Primary School in Werribee, about 9am on Thursday. A neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said she saw a man whose clothes were covered in blood standing outside the home. Neighbour Darren Fudyma told Daily Mail Australia police had advised him someone had been stabbed inside a home which has been sealed off by detectives. 'They informed me there had been a homicide which is very strange, especially in this quiet cul-de-sac,' he said. 'Obviously there are going to be a lot of parents picking up their kids from school and they won't be able to use the exit here.' The man, who police allege was known to the woman, was arrested at the scene. Police are not looking for any other alleged offenders. Officers were called to a home on Retford Close (pictured) across the road from Bethany Catholic Primary School in Werribee, about 9am on Thursday Witnesses reported seeing a helicopter overhead as police descended on the home. Forensic investigators arrived just after midday to comb the property for clues. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers. A Sydney sex offender who went south of the border to run a drug dealing operation has dobbed in a mass murderer's brother in a bid to beat significant jail time. Simon Simoudis, 36, pleaded guilty in the Melbourne County Court on Thursday to trafficking commercial quantities of meth and date rape drug 1,4 butanediol. Simoudis was arrested at a Southbank apartment he fraudulently obtained and shared with his boyfriend Alex Talpau and their little dog on July 10 last year. Specialist police raided the $1596 a week Riverside Quay apartment and seized drugs including 160gm of meth, 1,4 butanediol, MDMA, cocaine, ketamine and cannabis. Simoudis, a registered sex offender, secured the premium accommodation with a stolen ID, doctored to include his photo. The drug dealer also used his assumed identity to create a bank account which he used to pay the exorbitant weekly rent. Police searched the apartment and found 13kg of 1,4 butanediol - a legal solvent which mirrors the affect of GHB when ingested - stored in various bottles. Detectives also spotted Simoudis attempting to stash two large bags of meth under a couch but the dealer spilled his wares on the floor after police ordered him to put his hands up. Simon Simoudis (pictured) pleaded guilty in the Melbourne County Court on Thursday to trafficking commercial quantities of meth and a GHB-mirror date rape drug Simoudis was also caught with $4200 cash, cannabis, ecstasy, deal bags, syringes, multiple mobile phones and a stack of stolen and doctored identities including driver's licences and bank cards. The lovers were arrested and Simoudis was hauled away for questioning where he admitted securing the apartment with the bogus ID. Simoudis initially claimed not all the items seized were his because an 'influx of people had come through the apartment'. He also claimed the 1,4 butanediol haul and the meth 'belonged to other persons' but admitted the cannabis was his. However, Simoudis told police the cash came from selling drugs and it was his. Simoudis then co-operated with investigators but claimed he didn't 'regularly sell drugs'. 'No, only since I was, like, made redundant from my job,' Simoudis told police. During an earlier court hearing, lawyers for Simoudis submitted their client had directed police to accused drug dealer Angelo Gargasoulas. Simoudis alleged the brother of a notorious mass murderer - who can't be identified for legal reasons - supplied him with the drugs. The man named is accused of major drug trafficking offences but his matters have yet to be finalised. The police co-operation and early guilty plea will see Simoudis receive a lighter sentence. Simoudis, who lived in Sydney before quietly moving to Melbourne, appeared on the radar of police after he used false references to secure an inner-city apartment in April last year. He pleaded guilty to producing a false document he used to pose as a Mayne Pharma employee and secure the apartment in Melbourne's inner-east. It's understood Simoudis was a major annoyance for other tenants shortly after he arrived. The court heard the arrangement was facilitated by Luxico, an upmarket Airbnb-type company which markets itself for 'rock stars, families and anyone who loves being treated like a VIP'. Luxico greenlit Simoudis after he presented 'exemplary references' and claimed to be in Melbourne for 'work'. Simoudis, who lived in Sydney before quietly moving to Melbourne, appeared on the police radar after he used false references to secure an apartment It's been reported Simoudis made life hell for tenants with all-night parties and people coming and going at all hours. Awitness also claimed 'shady looking men' kicked in Simoudis' apartment door before leaving shortly after and it was reported theft and property damage occurred at the luxury residential complex. The building manager reported Simoudis to police after an eagle-eyed local spotted notorious convicted Melbourne drug queen Tess Rowlatt apparently living at the apartment. The Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard police also discovered documents with Rowlatt's name at the apartment. Daily Mail Australia doesn't suggest Ms Rowlatt has committed any additional crime. Police hunting Simoudis established he was a registered sex offender who had failed to notify authorities of a change of address as he moved from one apartment to the next. Simoudis, who has a conviction for using a service to groom a child, pleaded guilty at the magistrates' court hearing to multiple failing to comply with sex offender reporting obligations offences. Simoudis, who also pleaded guilty to drug possession and possess identification information, and Talpau were arrested at the Southbank apartment just eight days after scampering from the inner-city residence. Notorious convicted Melbourne drug queen Tess Rowlatt was spotted apparently living with Simoudis Talpau was sentenced in January to a 12-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to drug possession and possess identification information. Rowlatt, 35, exploded into infamy after she was caught dealing vast amounts of meth while circulating through various Melbourne Airbnb apartments. The glamorous former marketing guru was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court in February last year to 419 days behind bars after pleading guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs. Rowlatt had been targeted and covertly investigated by the Victoria Police Major Drug Squad in mid-2021. The investigation lasted months and involved hours of physical and electronic surveillance until Rowlatt was caught in October 2021. Rowlatt initially faced more than 70 charges including trafficking a large commercial quantity of meth and heroin trafficking and trafficking deadly party drug 1,4 butanediol. Ron DeSantis may make it easier for teenagers to work in Florida in an attempt to replace the illegal migrants being deported by the Trump administration. 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. DeSantis 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 with 'border czar' Tom Homan, DeSantis sounded supportive of the concept behind the 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. 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. Ron DeSantis may make it easier for teenagers to work in Florida in an attempt to replace the illegal migrants being deported by the Trump administration 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 '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.' 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. 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. During the Biden years, DeSantis was one of the GOP's toughest fighters over the president's handling of the border. DeSantis sent two planes with 50 mostly Venezuelan asylum-seekers to Democratic enclave island of Martha's Vineyard in September of 2022. DeSantis 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 with 'border czar' Tom Homan, DeSantis sounded supportive of the concept behind the bill Activists protest against an immigration policy event featuring Florida Governor Ron DeSantis The move was highly popular among those critical of President Joe Biden's handling of the southern border crisis - but was slammed by Democrats as a political stunt rather than a legitimate solution to relieving southern communities of mass influxes of migrants. The Martha's Vineyard migrants were eligible to apply for U-visas after Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, a Democrat, certified they were victims of a crime, reported The Miami Herald. In early March, Trump declared that the 'invasion' of the United States is over and the border is now 'closed to all illegal immigrants' after mass ICE arrests. In a post to his Truth Social page, Trump said that in the last month his administration had recorded the lowest number of immigrants trying to enter the country ever. Trump said in total there was 8,326 apprehensions by Border Patrol at the Southern Border. He added that these people 'were quickly ejected from our Nation or, when necessary prosecuted for crimes against the United States of America.' The commander-in-chief added: 'This means that very few people came The Invasion of our Country is OVER. 'In comparison, under Joe Biden, there were 300,000 Illegals crossing in one month, and virtually ALL of them were released into our Country. DeSantis sent two planes with 50 mostly Venezuelan asylum-seekers to Democratic enclave island of Martha's Vineyard in September of 2022 'Thanks to the Trump Administration Policies, the Border is CLOSED to all Illegal Immigrants. 'Anyone who tries to illegally enter the U.S.A. will face significant criminal penalties and immediate deportation.' His statement came after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirsti Noem announced that the administration had arrested 20,000 illegal aliens in one month. Noem touted that as a 627 percent increase in monthly arrests, compared to President Biden. She said: 'President Trump and this Administration are saving lives every day because of the actions we are taking to secure the border and deport illegal alien criminals. 'Hundreds of thousands of criminals were let into this country illegally. We are sending them home, and they will never be allowed to return.' Trump's stance is that all migrants in the US, without documentation, are criminals because they illegally entered or illegally remained in the country. He vowed during his campaign to remove criminals from the country, labeling some migrants as the 'worst of the worst'. As his administration continues ramping up its crackdown on illegal immigration, some long-evading, at large fugitives are getting taken in after decades of delays. Recently, White House officials revealed to DailyMail.com that north of 6,000 migrants were deported in Trump's first two weeks. Migrants have also been airlifted to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as wella location that is expected to hold approximately 30,000 aliens as ICE facilities reach their limits. Some have also been taken to El Salvador, in a controversial move that has faced legal challenges against an Obama-appointed district court judge. Bryan Kohberger purchased a balaclava months before four Idaho students were savagely murdered inside their off-campus home. Surviving housemate Dylan Mortensen told police she saw a man wearing 'the same kind of mask' around the time police believe Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves and Xana Kernodle were all slaughtered in November 2022. Accused killer Kohberger desperately wanted his Dick's Sporting Goods purchase to be inadmissible in his upcoming trial. But new court documents reveal prosecutors have insisted upon using the records because it could prove crucial to their case. 'The relevance of this information is that Bryan Kohberger purchased a black balaclava from Dick's Sporting Goods on January 10, 2022,' the prosecution states. 'This mask is the same type of mask described by DM that she witnessed worn by a male in the residence on November 13, 2022.' A search of Dick's Sporting Goods' current offering reveals there are 41 variations of black balaclavas or ski masks available. It is not clear which balaclava Kohberger had purchased. A search of Dick's Sporting Goods' current offering reveals there are 41 variations of black balaclavas or ski masks available From left: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders), Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke Kohberger's legal team already tried and failed to have critical DNA evidence and Amazon shopping history tossed from the case. A Ka-Bar brown leather knife sheath, featuring a US Marine Corps seal, had been found next to Mogen's 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, it was found to be a statistical match. While the murder weapon has never been found, Kohberger's Amazon shopping history reveals he bought a Ka-Bar knife, sheath and sharpener from Amazon back in March 2022, according to a prosecution filing. Eight months later - on November 13 2022 - investigators believe this same type of knife was used to murder the four University of Idaho students. Following the murders, Kohberger searched to buy a replacement knife and sheath, prosecutors allege. Elsewhere in the new filing is a 12-page assignment Kohberger submitted in 2020 while studying his his for his criminology masters degree at DeSales University. The new filings also revealed Bryan Kohberger's license The extraordinary picture taken hours after the alleged crime shows Kohberger smirking and offering a 'thumbs up' to the camera DNA was found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath (seen in a stock image) left behind at the scene The chilling paper details in excruciating detail how first responders are expected to handle crime scenes, using the made-up example of a 'deceased white female.' 'I should make sure to swab under her fingernails to see if DNA of the offender is there: she likely dug into their skin,' he wrote. 'Surveillance footage is circumstantial evidence but may lead investigators in the right direction and to the apprehension of the suspect... this may be the work of a serial killer, though this is highly unlikely.' Kohberger concluded his paper by arguing that if all steps laid out are followed correctly, defense should not be able to 'discredit the investigation and render evidence inadmissible.' Prosecutors argue it displays his immense crime scene knowledge. With his trial looming, the defense has been filing a string of motions to get key evidence tossed from the case - and to get the death penalty taken off the table. In the new court filing, Kohberger is now seeking to also limit his bank records, Paypal and Venmo records and the bank records of the victims being presented at trial. It is not clear what the contents of these records show or what relevance they may have to the prosecution's case. While at DeSales, Kohberger (pictured) studied under Dr Katherine Ramsland - a leading expert on the notorious BTK serial killer Dennis Rader Ethan Chapin was staying at his girlfriend Xana Kernodle's (together on left) home on the night of the murders. Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen (together on right) were found stabbed to death in the same bed 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. Mortensen's recollection of the masked man was vague, other than noting he had 'bushy eyebrows.' The state will use a selfie Kohberger took just hours after he allegedly murdered the college students as part of the case against him. The extraordinary picture shows Kohberger smirking and offering a 'thumbs up' to the camera. The selfie appears to have been taken in a bathroom, with a shower as the backdrop. Kohberger wears earphones and a collared long sleeve shirt buttoned to the top in the eerie picture. Between 4.22am and 4.24am on the morning of November 13, 2022, Mortensen and the other surviving housemate Bethany Funke exchanged 17 frantic text messages fearing someone was in their house. Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen together. Mogen had DNA from three individuals under her nails 'I'm not kidding o [sic] am so freaked out,' one of the messages read. Over three separate messages, Funke responded 'come to my room. Run. Down here.' Soon after seeing the intruder, Mortensen went downstairs to Funkes room and the two roommates fell asleep there. Kohberger has so far offered up a vague alibi for the night of the murders claiming he was driving around at night looking at the stars. No witnesses can corroborate where he was, his attorney Anne Taylor admitted in a court filing. Staff at debt-ridden Australian National University (ANU) have passed a no confidence vote in Chancellor Julie Bishop and Vice-Chancellor Professor Genevieve Bell. Ms Bishop - the former Foreign Minister who earned the unofficial nickname of Minister of Fashion for her numerous gala appearances - was the first woman appointed to the top job at the university when she took the role in 2020. But the position is now under a cloud according to Lachlan Clohesy, the National Tertiary Education Union ACT secretary, after more than 800 of the university's 4200 staff participated in the vote, with 95 per cent supporting the no confidence motion. Dr Clohesy said the ANU Council must deliberate on whether the two top roles will need to be vacated following the vote. Since taking on the job, Ms Bishop - who is not paid for her efforts but does receive a six-figure travel budget, according to the Australian Financial Review - has been bogged down in the university's financial problems. The institution is battling a $250million budget shortfall, which has threatened to put more than 600 jobs and a large number of courses on the chopping block, much to the union's ire. Sweeping changes were announced late last year including the merger of several schools and colleges and the axing of the College of Health and Medicine, with some staff voicing concerns over a lack of consultation. Professor Bell - who is paid $1.1million to run the university - has been criticised for her blunt management style and revelations that she kept working for Intel, her old employer, on the side until November last year. The National Tertiary Education Union said Ms Bishop's role is under a cloud after the vote. Ms Bishop is seen with Jackie O at last year's Australian Fashion Week Ms Bishop also courted controversy in the role after it was revealed during a Senate Estimates hearing this year that the university had outsourced speech-writing work to Vinder Consulting, which is run by her former political staffer Murray Hansen. ANU previously said in a statement the communications team had contracted the firm to provide 'specialist speech writing knowledge and skills' that were not available within the university. The university has run up a $400million operating deficit since 2020 and has been scrambling to get its finances on track after the Labor government announced a cap on international students - a major source of revenue - last year. The cap of 270,000 students was blocked by the Coalition and Greens. However, Labor has reportedly employed a workaround by instructing immigration officials to move education visa applications from priority status to slower queues once 80 per cent of the cap was reached. This would effectively stem the flow of student immigrants to a trickle. Professor Bell said in a statement last August that the reduction in international student numbers was an 'external headwind' affecting the sector at large. 'Unlike many of our counterparts, we are still balancing a large cumulative deficit,' she added. ANU said in a statement that its 'leadership remain determined to lead our community through a vital time of reform and renewal, so ANU can endure for many years to come. 'The NTEU's online survey, released today, has no legal or binding effect, as our leadership is determined by our Council, not the union. Other university leaders have also faced union-led 'no confidence votes' and continued serving in their roles. 'Although this online survey lacks credibility, our community's voices do matter. They are paramount. We continue to listen to them through our extensive consultation processes and understand that this is a difficult time. 'Our leadership team has a lot of critical work to do over the coming weeks and months to continue delivering our change program in a respectful and transparent way.' 'First Buddy' Elon Musk's controversial order for all federal employees to send a weekly list of their accomplishments has hit a humiliating snag. Workers across a variety of agencies reported this week that when they tried to send their list of five things they accomplished in the previous week, their emails bounced back, according to ABC News. They instead received a message saying the mailbox at the Office of Personnel Management is full and cannot receive any more emails. 'The recipient's mailbox is full and can't accept messages now,' the return email read. 'Please try resending your message later or contact the recipient directly.' The technical issue has affected employees at the IRS, Social Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. Amid the issue, some agency heads have directed their staff to send their reports to a different email address. At the Department of Health and Human Services, for example, employees received an email on Monday stating, 'We are aware that emails... are being returned as undeliverable. Please send your weekly accomplishments to [an alternative email address] and CC your supervisor.' Meanwhile, at the Securities and Exchange COO Ken Johnson told employees that if they received a bounce-back email 'then please save your email to OPM for your records, but otherwise there is nothing more you need to do today' in an email seen by The Bulwark. Elon Musk's order to all federal employees to send a weekly list of their accomplishments hit a snag on Monday, when staffers said their emails bounced back Musk had originally asked federal employees to send their list of accomplishments at the end of February as part of his effort to downsize the federal government Musk had originally asked federal employees to send their list of accomplishments at the end of February as part of his effort to downsize the federal government. It asked the workers to reply to the email with 'approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week' and gave a deadline of that Monday at 11.59pm EST to send their explanation of work. The Tesla CEO posted on X that any failure to respond would be 'taken as resignation.' But some government employees publicly bashed the directive as 'harassment' and say the requirement to justify their weekly tasks amounts to a 'hostile work environment.' Some Trump appointees, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Director Kash Patel, even instructed their employees not to respond. In a message sent to officials, Gabbard wrote: 'Given the inherently sensitive and classified nature of our work, I.C. employees should not respond to the OPM email.' Patel also made it clear that the FBI 'is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures.' 'When and if further information is required, we will coordinate the responses. For now, please pause any responses,' he told his employees. FBI Director Kash Patel made it clear that the FBI 'is in charge of all of our review processes, and will conduct reviews in accordance with FBI procedures' Similarly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Department of Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem also told employees to disregard the controversial email. Musk tried to push back against the backlash, claiming it is a 'trivial' task that is often done in the private sector. But in the end, just over one million people - fewer than half of all federal employees - responded to the email in that first week they were asked for submissions, Bloomberg reports. In the month since, multiple sources told ABC News that enforcement of the requirement has waned - with some agencies and employees seemingly no longer submitting their reports without facing any consequences. One employee even told the outlet that some staffers are openly mocking DOGE in their reports, saying: 'I don't think anyone is reading these.' President Trump was forced to make it clear earlier this month that Musk is not in charge of hiring or firing - and can only make recommendations to agency heads He also told Cabinet members they need to be more selective if they continue to conduct clear-outs of their workforce amid ongoing protests against DOGE's wide-ranging cuts The lack of enforcement appears to have come after President Trump was forced to make it clear earlier this month that Musk is not in charge of hiring or firing - and can only make recommendations to agency heads. The president then told his Cabinet members they need to be more selective if they continue to conduct clear-outs of their workforce amid ongoing protests against DOGE's wide-ranging cuts. Instead of taking a 'hatchet' approach to trimming the fat, Trump said he wants his secretaries to use a 'scalpel' for 'surgical' precision over who they dismiss. The Cabinet meeting marked the first time the president was willing to rein in Musk, and on Monday, Trump seemed to suggest the SpaceX CEO's government work may soon be complete. 'We're getting down to a point [where] we think probably over the next two or three months, we'll be pretty much satisfied with the people that are working hard and want to be members of the administration and our country,' he said at a cabinet meeting. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Office of Personnel Management for comment. An Oklahoma woman was viciously attacked and rendered unconscious outside of a Texas club during her bachelorette celebration. Instead of joyful memories, Canada Rinaldi was left with a concussion, a broken nose, three broken teeth and eight stitches from her Dallas girls trip - with her wedding just four weeks away. The 27-year-old bride-to-be was enjoying a night out with her bridesmaids before she was assaulted by a stranger outside of an east Dallas club. During the March 22 attack, the unidentified man punched her in the face, knocking her to the pavement. She slammed into the ground face first and lost consciousness. 'I just didn't deserve it,' Rinaldi tearfully told WFAA. 'It's just shocking, it's just hard to believe.' Dash cam footage from an Uber passing by the gut-wrenching incident captured Rinaldi's bridesmaid, Kelly Peralta, trying to save her. But Peralta was also punched by the assailant, who fled the scene before police arrived. Covered in blood and disoriented, Rinaldi was rushed to the hospital with her severe injuries. Canada Rinaldi was left with a concussion, a broken nose, three broken teeth and eight stitches from her Dallas girls trip The 27-year-old bride-to-be was enjoying a night out in Dallas with her bridesmaids before she was assaulted by a stranger outside of a club The brutal attack occurred just four weeks before Rinaldi's wedding, taking away much of her excitement leading up to the special day Rinaldi is now faced with more than $10,000 in medical expenses while the culprit is still on the loose, according to a GoFundMe created to help ease her financial burden. 'She is now trying to heal - not only physically, but emotionally and financially - when she should be counting down the days to her wedding,' the page heartbreakingly reads. 'It just feels like a lot of my experiences were taken away from me,' Rinaldi confessed to WFAA. 'I feel like I'm not excited to plan my wedding anymore.' Before being savagely attacked, the bachelorette was having the trip of a lifetime, according to the GoFundMe. The organizer wrote: 'On the night of Saturday, March 22, our beautiful friend was celebrating her bachelorette party - what should have been one of the happiest nights of her life. Instead, it turned into a nightmare. 'Just 24 hours earlier, she had told us she was having the best trip of her life. That happiness was ripped away from her in an instant, turning it into the most terrifying and traumatizing night shes ever experienced.' Even though it has been difficult, Rinaldi has been trying to keep her spirits high leading up to her special day. Rinaldi is now faced with more than $10,000 in medical expenses while the culprit is still on the loose Before being savagely attacked, the bachelorette was having the trip of a lifetime 'I'm getting there, I'll be okay, but it's hard. But I'll be okay,' she told WFAA. The GoFundMe has raised about $11,460 of the $15,000 goal. There have been more than 180 different donors. 'We are so incredibly grateful for every single donation, share, and kind messages. Your generosity and support mean the world and have brought so much comfort during such a difficult time,' the page organizer wrote. A babysitter in Kansas made a terrifying discovery when they checked under a child's bed for monsters but instead came face to face with a man hiding there. Deputies from Barton County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbance call on Monday after the babysitter discovered the man hiding under the child's bed around 10.30pm. The child complained there was a 'monster' under their bed, police said in a press release. When the babysitter checked under the bed, hoping to reassure the child nothing was there, they found a 27-year-old named Martin Villalobos Junior. 'An altercation ensued with the babysitter and one child was knocked over in the struggle,' police said. 'The suspect then fled the scene before deputies arrived.' Deputies from Barton County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbance call on Monday after a babysitter discovered a man hiding under the child's bed around 10.30pm 27-year-old Martin Villalobos Junior was allegedly found underneath a child's bed in Kansas after a babysitter checked underneath when a child complained of a 'monster' Villalobos had once lived at the residence, according to the sheriff's office, and had a protection from abuse order issued against him to keep away from the property. The next morning, Villalobos was found and pursued by officers on foot before he was arrested and taken to Barton County Jail. He was booked on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, child endangerment, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer and violation of a protection from abuse order. Villalobos is being held on a $500,000 bond. A Biden-appointed judge has once again prevented the Trump administration's ban on transgender soldiers from going into effect. Washington DC-based US District Judge Ana Reyes ruled Wednesday against the government's motion to lift her court order that blocks the military from denying transgender people the right to enlist - which was set to go into effect on Friday, Fox News reports. Her 16-page decision came just days after she presided over a hearing in which she requested the Department of Defense delay its original March 26 deadline to enact the policy, which would have affected up to 4,200 service members who experience gender dysphoria, amid an ongoing federal lawsuit. The defendants in the case - including President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth - then filed a motion to dissolve her injunction. They argued in court documents that the policy set forth under one of the president's executive orders is not an overarching ban on transgender troops - but rather 'turns on gender dysphoria- a medical condition- and does not discriminate against trans-identifying persons as a class,' according to Fox. The Trump administration cited new Department of Justice guidance, which clarifies that 'the phrase "exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria"' applies only to 'individuals who exhibit such symptoms as would be sufficient to constitute a diagnosis.' If their motion to dissolve the court order were to be denied, the Trump administration asked the judge to at least stay the preliminary injunction pending an appeal - and the Department of Justice has already filed a notice of appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. But Reyes dismissed the government's claims in her decision on Wednesday. Washington DC-based US District Judge Ana Reyes ruled Wednesday against the government's motion to lift her court order that blocks the military from denying transgender people the right to enlist The policy was set forth under one of President Donald Trump's executive orders 'Defendants re-emphasize their "consistent position that the [Hegseth] Policy is concerned with the military readiness, deployability and costs associated with a medical condition,' she argued. 'Regulating gender dysphoria is no different than regulating bipolar disorder, eating disorders or suicidality,' the judge said of the defendant's claims. 'The Military Ban regulates a medical condition, they insist, not people. And therein lies the problem. 'Gender dysphoria is not like other medical conditions, something Defendants well know,' Reyes argued. 'It affects only one group of people: all persons with gender dysphoria are transgender and only transgender persons experience gender dysphoria,' she said, finding the policy to be discriminatory in both effect and intent. The judge also added that the proposal would treat transgender soldiers more harshly than those with other conditions, reiterating her argument for issuing the injunction blocking the Pentagon from enforcing the ban. She said at the time that the ban 'invokes derogatory language to target a vulnerable group in violation of the Fifth Amendment' and is 'unabashedly demeaning' to trans people. But her Wednesday ruling went even further as she tore apart the Pentagon's proposed implementation of the plan, according to Advocate Magazine. The Department of Defense, headed by Secretary Pete Hegseth, sought to dissolve her court order - citing its new guidelines to clarify some of its language It would require all 1.3 million active-duty troops to self-report annually whether they ever had, currently have or exhibit symptoms of gender dysphoria Those that affirm that they do have, or once had, symptoms would then be flagged as nondeployable and recommended for discharge. Such a policy, Reyes said, would be akin to 'rummaging through private medical records.' She is now giving the Trump administration time to appeal. In the meantime, the federal government has said it is encouraging transgender troops to 'voluntarily separate' with a generous severance package. Those troops have already reported that they were forced to revert to the grooming standards and pronouns of their birth sex after Trump took office Some also claim to have been passed over for promotions, placed on administrative leave and denied medical care. There are now as many as 4,200 service members across all fields who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria Members of LGBT+ community have protested what they claim is the Trump administration's attack on transgender people There are now as many as 4,200 service members across all fields who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Between 2014 and 2025, an estimated 1,000 service members have received gender-affirming surgery. Lawyer representing the service members Shannon Minter told the New York Times: 'Their lives and careers are completely disrupted. 'That's why getting them immediate relief is so important.' Police are no longer treating an Adelaide woman's death as suspicious after the discovery of her body on Wednesday morning. Laurel Floyd, 43, was found inside a unit in Christie Downs, where paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. 'Following results of a postmortem, the womans death is not believed to be suspicious,' South Australia Police said on Friday afternoon. When police arrived at the Rufus Crescent address, they also discovered a 54-year-old man they claimed lived with Ms Floyd and was in a domestic relationship with her. The man was arrested after he allegedly assaulted the officers. He is not accused of any wrongdoing in relation to the woman's death. He is currently in hospital undergoing treatment and will appear in court at a later date. It comes after police earlier initially treated Ms Floyd's death as suspicious earlier this week. Police are no longer treating the death of Laurel Floyd, 43, as suspicious Laurel Floyd's partner was at the scene when police arrived on Wednesday Laurel Floyd was found inside a unit block in Christie Downs, Adelaide Neighbour Krystal Wall said she would be looking to leave the block of units following the incident. 'I'll be contacting the Housing (Trust) to transfer because it's not really that safe an area,' she said. 'This is a second death here in the last three or four years now.' Another neighbour, Casey King, claimed she saw Ms Floyd throwing belongings over a balcony a few days earlier. A business executive who ripped off millions from financial giant Deloitte to blow it on artwork and high-living wants less time in jail to spend more time with his dog. Paul Quill, 45, pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria on Thursday to stealing more than $2.78million from the auditing company during the Covid-19 lockdowns. The court heard Quill was just one level off being a partner when he used his corporate credit card to make thousands of illegal expense claims. He did so while on a salary that saw him earn $666,682 between July 2017 and February 2022, not including $91,000 in bonuses. The court heard while Quill had claimed $3.24 million over that period, he was only charged in relation to $2.78 million of that. Deloitte was able to claw back the lion's share of that amount after the Federal Court ordered Quill to repay $3.1 million in a separate civil action in 2022. The court heard Quill had been paid expenses worth more than $275,000 a month while earning just $14,000 a month. Many of the extraordinary claims had been passed off as money he claimed to be owed for 'stationary, postage, photocopying and court fees'. Paul Quill, 45, pleaded guilty in the County Court of Victoria on Thursday to stealing more than $2.78million from the global auditing company during Victoria's world beating Covid-19 lockdowns Quill blew his stolen fortune on works of art, jewellery, designer furniture and fancy clothes. Such was his extravagance, many of the works of art he purchased remained unopened and kept in storage. Quill had been brought in to help Joe Gutnicks failed mining group when he stole $682,587.22 from Merlin Diamonds to fund his enormous contemporary art collection, which included works by Archibald prize winners. Other victims included Linton & Kay Galleries to the tune of $134,000, spa bath company 15 Degrees By Design, and designer jewellery dealer Camilla Gough, which was hit by a $786,000 bill. Sydney-based commercial art galley Sullivan+Strumpf faced a $637,000 expense bill for fake 'search and filing fees' and other invented claims. Quill also bought goods at a London art gallery, a designer watch outlet, a kitchen supply business and high-priced clothing shops including Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent. The court heard the thief only came clean about his crime spree when a routine audit of the company's own books caught wind of Quill's outrageous expense claims. While Deloitte pursued Quill with a civil claim, Victorian detectives waited for the proceedings to conclude before charging him in January last year. Deloitte did not provide a victim impact statement The court heard Deloitte declined to provide the court with a victim impact statement despite the obvious consequences to its business by Quill's offending. Quill faces ten years in jail each on the two counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception that he admitted. But Quill believes his ja. l time should be mitigated because he'll miss his dog. Top Melbourne barrister Philip Dunn KC told the court his client would also do harder time because he was homosexual and suffered from self-image issues. He told the court doctors had assessed Quill as suffering from a mental illness, which under Victorian law entitled him to a discount on any jail sentence. 'It's madness. It's just mad behaviour,' Mr Dunn said. 'It's deranged behaviour we would say ... it's a tragedy. This is a wasted life. 'This is a man who qualified himself to be either a lawyer or an accountant and he's become a hoarding magpie for psychological reasons.' Mr Dunn described Quill's offending as a 'sugar hit'. Philip Dunn KC (left) is representing Paul Quill at the COunty Court of Victoria 'There is no case quite like this and it creates its own sentencing problems,' he said. In pleading for leniency, Mr Dunn claimed Quill had once threatened to kill himself if he was separated from his dog. 'In 2020, he's got the dog. He loves his dog,' Mr Dunn told the court. 'I know that might sound silly, but that dog, which he acquired when he was in a relationship was the one constant living being in his life. 'I'm instructed he would have committed suicide over and over again if he didn't have the dog.' It was an argument supported by forensic psychiatrist Doctor Andrew Carroll. 'I think it's more likely than not that prison will have an adverse effect on his mental health and I say that for a number of reasons,' he said. 'He'll be estranged from his family and from his pet dog, which is an important source of emotional support for him.' Judge Samantha Marks allowed Quill to enjoy a final piece of freedom while contemplating his sentence, which will be handed down on April 15. Donald Trump called it 'disgraceful' that Judge James Boasberg has somehow been assigned to another case involving his administration and claimed the Obama appointee is 'grabbing' them as an act of retribution. Boasberg has already become one of Trump's most hated judges after ruling in mid-March 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 - leading Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to defend Boasberg. Now, Trump says Boasberg has managed the 'statistically impossible' task of being assigned another case against the Trump administration. The case was brought forth by a watchdog group against several members of the Trump administration over accidentally adding a journalist to a Signal chat in which they were discussing sensitive plans to attack Houthi targets in Yemen. Trump spoke out against Boasberg's appointment in a post to Truth Social just after midnight Thursday. 'How disgraceful is it that 'Judge' James Boasberg has just been given a fourth "Trump Case," something which is, statistically, IMPOSSIBLE,' he said. Trump says that there is 'no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP REPUBLICAN, to win before' Boasberg, who was initially appointed to a lesser court by George W. Bush prior to getting his current job from Barack Obama in 2011. 'He is Highly Conflicted, not only in his hatred of me Massive Trump Derangement Syndrome! but also, because of disqualifying family conflicts,' referring to Boasberg's wife's past donations to Democrats. Donald Trump called it 'disgraceful' that Judge James Boasberg (pictured) has been assigned to another case involving his administration and wrote that he believes the Obama appointee is 'grabbing' them for himself Boasberg has been assigned to a case brought forth by a watchdog group against several members of the Trump administration - including Mike Waltz (pictured rights) over accidentally adding a journalist to a Signal chat in which they were discussing war plans 'Boasberg, who is the Chief Judge of the D.C. District Court, seems to be grabbing the "Trump Cases" all to himself, even though it is not supposed to happen that way,' Trump added. Judges typically have little control over case assignments, though Trump wonders if Boasberg has become intentional, asking: 'Is there still such a thing as the 'wheel,' where the Judges are chosen fairly, and at random?' Trump then became philosophical about having to argue before Boasberg yet again. 'The good news is it probably doesn't matter, because it is virtually inconceivable for me to get an Honest Ruling in D.C.' he wrote. 'Our Courts are broken in many parts of our Country, with New York and D.C. being the most preeminent of all in their Corruption and Radicalism.' The president then called for 'an immediate investigation of this Rigged System before it is too late!' In the case, American Oversight, 'a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog,' is suing to find out if officials violated the Federal Records Act when the discussed the plans over the chat. They argue that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other administration officials broke record retention laws by using a messaging app that allows communications to be erased. Waltz is believed to have 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. Trump spoke out against Boasberg's appointment to the case involving Waltz in a post to Truth Social just after midnight Thursday Two months into the Trump 2.0 administration brings 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 has backed Waltz and Hegseth publicly since the story broke on Monday. The National Archives, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are also named in the suit. In his previous attacks on Boasberg, Trump called the judge a 'publicity hound' 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!' Judges typically have little control over case assignments, though Trump wonders if Boasberg (pictured right) has become intentional, asking: 'Is there still such a thing as the 'wheel,' where the Judges are chosen fairly, and at random?' Boasberg had issued the temporary order after the administration flew more than 200 alleged gangsters to El Salvador. Trump mocked Boasberg as 'a local, unknown Judge' and added that he's a 'grandstander, looking for publicity.' Boasberg on Thursday deemed a court filing from the administration 'woefully insufficient' because it was filed by a low-level staffer. One day earlier, he hosted a contentious hearing with Justice Department 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!' Trump has previously accused Boasberg of 'trying to usurp the power of the presidency' Roberts, however, issued a stunning rebuke after Trump called for the impeachment of Boasberg. But Trump insisted that liberal judges are trying to assume the powers of the presidency 'without getting 80 million votes,' saying that the 'danger' they could cause is 'unparalleled.' 'A President has to be allowed to act quickly and decisively about such matters as returning murderers, drug lords, rapists, and other such type criminals back to their Homeland, or to other locations that will allow our Country to be SAFE,' he added. The ruling that set off the fury came when Boasberg issued the temporary ruling that blocked the deportations of more than 200 people after the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Boasberg's ruling came after a fiery hearing where he demanded the government declare when it thinks his own orders on the deportations took effect after the administration said the deportation flights were underway and over international waters when it learned of the order. Now, he will have to weigh in on whether Hegseth and Waltz broke the law by allowing a reporter onto their group chat. When DailyMail.com initially 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 president's authority.' 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 it's 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. Andrew Tate has been accused of choking and assaulting his girlfriend during a rough sexual encounter at the Beverly Hills Hotel just two weeks after he was let back in the country. Bri Stern, Tate's influencer girlfriend, allegedly filed a police report accusing the self-proclaimed misogynist of sexual assault following the scary March 11 encounter. Stern claims Tate 'began choking her while they were having sex, but it got too rough, and although she begged him to stop, he kept going. Stern also shared screenshots of texts that Tate sent her where he said he enjoyed beating her because he found it 'relaxing' and referred to the young woman as his property. The disgraced influencer, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, returned to the United States last month after years in a Romanian prison and under house arrest alongside his brother Tristan Tate on criminal sex trafficking charges. US officials first brought up the Tate brothers' case at a meeting with Romania's government in February. The issue was raised further by Trump special envoy, Richard Grenell, days later at a security conference in Munich. Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, referred to the brothers' detention in Romania as 'absolute insanity'. Andrew Tate has been accused of choking and assaulting his girlfriend during a rough sexual encounter at the Beverly Hills Hotel just two weeks after he was let back in the country Bri Stern, Tate's influencer girlfriend, allegedly filed a police report accusing the self-proclaimed misogynist of sexual assault following the scary March 11 encounter The disgraced influencer returned to the United States last month after years in Romania in prison and under house arrest facing criminal sex trafficking charges Stern's allegations about Tate were reported by TMZ. She told the gossip site that she 'struggled, the more violent he got and she felt everything getting fuzzy, like she was fading into unconsciousness.' The alleged violence only stopped 'when Tate was done having sex, and once he fell asleep she went to the bathroom to document her injuries.' Tate, who has since left the US and returned to Romania, has not responded to the allegations. Several pictures showing Stern's bruised face were reportedly handed over to police. She allegedly visited an emergency room in New York City several days after the altercation while on a work trip. Stern claimed she was diagnosed as 'post-concussive.' The publication also revealed troubling text messages purportedly between Tate and Stern. 'I want to beat the f**k out of you,' one of the texts alleged to be from Tate to Stern reads. 'You will give me a child this year b**ch... What's the point in having you if I don't beat and impregnate you.' Tate and his brother and co-accused Tristan checked in at a police station near Romania's capital on Monday, complying with the court order which allowed them to return home last month. The duo flew into Fort Lauterdale on a private jet last month He told reporters 'I'm a free person who has not been convicted of anything,' and said he will 'comply with all judicial authorities everywhere around the world because I'm completely innocent.' The Tates, who are dual US and British citizens, were arrested in Romania in late 2022 and formally indicted last year on charges that they participated in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where they were allegedly sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They deny all of the allegations against them. 'It doesn't matter what you're accused of, it matters what you are proven guilty to have done in a fair court of law,' Tate said on Monday. 'Accusations mean nothing. It doesn't matter how many times you repeat an accusation on the news. That is garbage.' The duo attracted significant attention after touching down in Florida in their private jet, partying and taunting officials in America and Romania as they flaunted their wealth with cigars and private chef at their Miami mansion. But within days Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office had opened a criminal investigation into the brothers. He said in a social media post that he directed his office to work with law enforcement to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the brothers. The Tate brothers have been taunting officials both in America and Romania as they flaunt cigars, their Miami mansion and private chef Governor Ron DeSantis issued a statement when the brothers arrived in his state maintaining he and his office had no involvement in their arrival. 'Florida is not a place where you're welcome with that type of conduct in the air,' he said. 'And I don't know how it came to this. We were not involved, we were not notified.' Tate said Florida's governor was 'hijacked by the media' after they arrived in his state. 'The media jumped on him and he didn't realize I was an American citizen,' he said. 'And now he understands he made a mistake... there've been some conversations and everything has been settled.' The Tate brothers had their travel bans lifted after several high-profile White House officials took interest in them. One Trump's top staffers, Grenell, reportedly discussed the case with Romania's Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu at a security conference in Munich earlier this month, the BBC reports. Lawyer Paul Ingrassia who represented the Tate brothers in a defamation case they filed against their accusers now works as White House liaison to the DOJ. He lauded Tate as an extraordinary human being' who was offering 'a dying West some hope for renewal' in online posts. The influencer also appeared on a podcast with MAGA lawyer and Trump Counselor Alina Habba, telling him she is a 'big fan'. The attorney was recently appointed New Jersey's top federal prosecutor by the president on an interim basis. President Donald Trump's lofty plan to slash the federal workforce was left in tatters Wednesday night, when a US appeals court upheld a judge's order to rehire more than 17,000 probationary employees. In a 2 - 1 decision, a panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the Trump administration had failed to establish that U.S. District Judge William Alsup erred by ruling that federal agencies likely could not fire workers at the direction of the Office of Personnel Management. 'Appellants have demonstrated neither that they are sufficiently likely to succeed on the merits of this appeal nor that they will suffer irreparable harm from complying with the preliminary injunction,' read the majority opinion, obtained by the New York Post. Judges Barry Silverman and Ana de Alba appointed by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, respectively sided with the plaintiffs in the case. They claimed the labor unions representing federal workers, 'provided evidence of various concrete injuries, and the district court carefully analyzed that evidence and determined it was sufficient.' But Judge Bridget Bade, who was appointed by Trump, dissented. She argued in her opinion that the unions 'have not met their burden of showing that they have standing, and thus the government is likely to prevail on the merits because the district court did not have jurisdiction to enter the preliminary injunction.' The conservative judge went on to claim that the lower court's order may not actually 'redress' the harms the plaintiff's have claimed. 'Reinstating the terminated employees does not mean that they will return to the same positions and assignments, or that the agencies will provide the services that the organizational plaintiffs desire,' Bade wrote. President Donald Trump's lofty plan to slash the federal workforce was left in tatters Wednesday night, when a US appeals court upheld a judge's order to rehire more than 17,000 probationary employees Judges Barry Silverman and Ana de Alba appointed by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Joe Biden , respectively - ruled at the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the Trump administration failed to establish that U.S. District Judge William Alsup erred by finding that federal agencies likely could not fire workers at the direction of the Office of Personnel Management 'It is just as likely that the various agencies will reassign these employees to new positions or assign them to different tasks, or prioritize their mission and services in a manner that does not result in increased services to the organizational plaintiffs, or even lawfully terminate the employees,' she argued. 'Further, it is not clear that the district court has the authority to direct lawful personnel management decisions within the agencies.' The decision applies to the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and the Treasury Department. It will remain in place as the Trump administration seeks to get the US Supreme Court to pause Alsup's ruling. The administration argued in court documents on Monday that a federal judge cannot force the executive branch to rehire employees, which Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris argued would create 'immense' financial costs and logistical burdens. 'Only this Court can end the interbranch power grab,' the administration's appeal to the nation's highest court read. But as the case makes its way through the court systems, the Trump administration said the agencies were working to reinstate the fired employees - while also temporarily placing them on paid leave. The mass firings of probationary workers was the first step in broader efforts by Trump and top adviser Elon Musk to drastically shrink the federal workforce and slash government spending Judge Alsup ruled on March 13 that OPM - under which Musk's Department of Government Efficiency operates - improperly ordered the six agencies to fire the workers even though it has no power to do so Probationary employees typically have less than one year, and sometimes less than two years, of service in their current roles, though some are longtime federal employees. The mass firings of probationary workers was the first step in broader efforts by Trump and top adviser Elon Musk to drastically shrink the federal workforce and slash government spending. Most agencies have said that they fired a few hundred probationary workers, but others terminated far more. The Treasury Department, for instance, fired more than 7,600 people, the Department of Agriculture about 5,700, and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Interior Department about 1,700 each, according to court filings. The mass firings sparked protests across the United States, as federal workers suddenly found themselves unemployed. Some even detailed how they were cutting back on groceries, canceling nights out with friends, and even cutting back on 'healthcare for my pets.' Amid the backlash, Alsup ruled on March 13 that OPM - under which Musk's Department of Government Efficiency operates - improperly ordered the six agencies to fire the workers even though it has no power to do so. He called the large scale firings across government a 'sham' in a fiery decision, days after ruling that a government directive for the firings was 'unlawful.' But the judge also indicated that the Trump Administration could find ways the cut through the workforce through a Reduction in Force. The Trump administration's mass firings sparked protests across the nation Some federal workers detailed how they were cutting back on groceries, canceling nights out with friends, and even cutting back on 'healthcare for my pets' Meanwhile, a judge in Baltimore, Maryland separately ordered that 25,000 probationary workers at 18 agencies be reinstated, but on different legal grounds. That case involved a lawsuit brought by 19 Democrat-led states and Washington, D.C., who said the mass firings would trigger a spike in unemployment claims and greater demand for social services provided by states. Employees that would have to be reinstated under that ruling work for all of the agencies subject to Alsup's order except for the Department of Defense - which said it had fired about 360 probationary employees. The Trump administration has appealed that decision. A Richmond, Virginia-based appeals court recently refused to pause the ruling pending the outcome of the case. Bank staff are 'under pressure and overworked' as they face a second round of mass job cuts within a year. WA-based Bankwest, which is under the banner of CBA, has been transitioning business customers to its parent company since 2022. Three years later, the project is complete and 120 staff will lose their positions, with only 30 expected to be directly appointed elsewhere in the company. It follows the decision to axe 400 roles last year when the bank closed all of its branches and transitioned to a solely digital service. The Finance Sector Union has said workers are 'fed up of being at constant risk of losing their jobs'. 'Since its decision to withdraw business banking three years ago, Bankwest customers and staff have faced uncertainty,' National Assistant Secretary Jason Hall said. 'Our members have told us time and time again they are under pressure and overworked in many areas of Bankwest due to the bank's relentless slew of job cuts and offshoring.' A Bankwest spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the work for the 130-strong transition team was 'always due to be time limited'. Employees of Bankwest have said they are 'fed up' of being at risk of losing their jobs as the Commonwealth Bank subsidiary axes 120 roles 'The finalisation of the business banking transition program will result in the roles of approximately 120 WA-based colleagues being impacted,' they said. '[CBA] Group currently has more than 100 open Bankwest and CBA roles in Western Australia. 'It will work closely with colleagues impacted by this change, to support them in exploring new career opportunities in the Group.' The 130-year-old bank closed 45 branches last year. Fifteen remaining branches based in regional areas were rebranded under Commonwealth Bank. All 400 workers at those locations were offered new positions, with more than 300 choosing to accept them. The bank said that, in addition, 500 CBA Group roles in technology, operations, and customer service would move to WA 'in support of Bankwest's digital transition'. 'Unfortunately the WA Government has been sold a pup here 500 group roles were promised in return for Bankwest going completely digital,' Mr Hall said. A Bankwest spokesperson has told Daily Mail Australia that the work for the transition team was 'always due to be time limited' (stock image) 'Instead, the bank continues to cut local jobs,' he said. 'Clearly that commitment was an empty promise by CBA to take the heat off for abandoning an entire community. 'Our members have told us time and time again they are under pressure and overworked in many areas of Bankwest due to the bank's relentless slew of job cuts and offshoring.' The union said it will be writing to WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti to seek an urgent meeting and to immediately intervene on the matter. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Minister Saffioti for comment. The WA government sold Bankwest to Britain's Bank of Scotland in 1995 which itself became part of the London-based Lloyds Banking Group. In 2008, Lloyds sold Bankwest to Commonwealth Bank for $2.1billion. CBA expanded the Bankwest brand to major east coast cities as a challenger brand, despite it being owned by the nation's largest bank. But then in 2018 it retreated to being a WA only bank. As of 2024, about 2,100 branches have been shuttered across all major banking institutions over the course of six years. A man was subjected to a terrifying attack by a hooded gang of axe and machete thugs in an east London park yesterday. Footage shows the trio dressed in tracksuits and balaclavas as they surround their victim in broad daylight in Poplar, Tower Hamlets, yesterday afternoon. The male is forced to the floor and is violently lashed at by the attackers. The victim pulls out his mobile phone following the stabbing as a group of passersby make their way towards him. One of the men can be seen walking away carrying an axe in his right hand. A Met Police spokesman said: 'On Wednesday, 26 March at 17:45hrs police were called to Pennyfields Park, Poplar following reports of a stabbing. 'Police attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a boy for stab wounds. 'He was taken to a near-by hospital, where his injuries were later confirmed to be non-life changing/threatening. Terrifying footage shows the trio dressed in tracksuits and baclavas as they surround their victim in Poplar, Tower Hamlets The three attackers then make their escape following the assault which took place in broad daylight One of the violent men walking away carries what appears to be an axe in his right hand 'At this early stage, there have been no arrests. 'Officers are currently conducting urgent enquiries, if you have any information that may assist then please come forward by calling 101 stating CAD6073/26March. Enquiries are on-going.' Earlier this year, a manhunt was launched after a 14-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death on a London bus. The boy was knifed on January 7 in front of horrified passengers on board a route 472 red double decker bus in Woolwich, in what was described by Scotland Yard as a 'horrendous crime'. Since then, other instances of stabbings caught on camera in London have included a grappling match in Carshalton in broad daylight and another, also stabbed during the day, being left to helplessly pour out blood on the street. Former South Australian opposition leader David Speirs has pleaded guilty to charges of supplying drugs to two people, which he committed while he was still the leader of the state's Liberal Party. Speirs, 40, appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, where his counsel told Magistrate Brian Nitschke that agreement had been reached with prosecutors and the 'matters have been resolved'. The former MP entered guilty pleas to two counts of supplying or administering a drug (not cannabis) to another person. The offences occurred in the Adelaide suburb of Kingston Park on August 1, and between August 1 and 10. The matters have been listed for sentencing submissions on April 11. Outside court, Speirs said he had wanted to 'bring the matter to a conclusion as quickly as possible'. 'That's the best thing for me at a personal level, and that's why I'm taking this approach,' he said. 'I am focused on moving through this process as quickly as possible and that has influenced the approach that I'm taking.' David Speirs pleaded guilty to drug supply offences while he was leader of the SA Liberal Party Speirs has been embroiled in controversy since he quit the leadership on August 8, declaring that he had 'just had a gutful' of leadership speculation and did not have the energy to keep fighting. On September 9, News Corp published a video purportedly showing Speirs snorting a powder. He declared the footage to be a 'deepfake' and vowed to clear his name. Speirs was arrested at Berri, in SA's Riverland, on September 26 and charged after police searched his Kingston Park home. On October 5, Speirs released a video statement saying he did not believe he could 'adequately and effectively serve my local community while also dealing with this matter, protecting my mental health and supporting my family and friends'. 'Since allegations of illicit substance use in my home became public, my home has been raided by armed police, I was arrested and I was questioned,' he said. Last year, News Corp published a video purportedly showing Speirs snorting a powder He resigned from parliament on October 15, clearing the way for a by-election in his southern Adelaide seat in November, which was won by Labor candidate Alex Dighton. Speirs has previously said that serving the electors of Black was 'the greatest privilege of my life ... and I will miss it'. EXCLUSIVE A dance teacher and qualified childcare worker has been unmasked as the young woman who threw a dead kitten onto the water in front of a horrified crowd. Gracie Giblin, 21, was filmed on Tuesday night at Port Lincoln Wharf on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula swinging the tiny tabby cat by the tail before laughing loudly and hurling it into the ocean. But shocked eyewitnesses claim the incident wasn't a one off and that Giblin also threw a deceased rabbit into the water moments earlier. 'She was doing laps around the wharf in her car and she had a bunny in a Woolies bag and I thought it was alive at first,' local teenager Scarlett told Daily Mail Australia. 'She was swinging it around and laughing and said she had run it over earlier and then just threw it in.' Giblin drove off only to return minutes later to boast about a second animal that she had hit with her car, Scarlett claimed. 'She drove back yelling out the window, 'We hit a cat, we hit a cat,' and then she swaps places with her friend and gets in the passenger seat and she says they are going to get it. 'I was worried and my friends and I decided to look for it but before we had chance she came back hanging it out of the window and swing it around by its tail. Gracie Giblin (pictured) was filmed on Tuesday night at Port Lincoln Wharf swinging the tiny tabby cat by the tail before laughing loudly and hurling it into the ocean. Gracie Giblin laughed as she drove around with the dead kitten, according to witnesses The young dance teacher is under investigation over the incident 'It was just a kitten and she was laughing about it. 'I was just thinking, what kind of person does this. It's disrespectful and we were absolutely horrified. 'Some kids were laughing and videoing and she thought it was so funny, so we called the police.' Scarlett claimed that Giblin had left the scene by the time the police arrived. She and other witnesses gave statements to police and handed over footage of the incident. Scarlett claimed she knew Giblin from a local dance class and is haunted by her cruel actions which she says were vastly different from their last encounter. 'She was always had a big smile on her face and was so lovely,' she said. 'I felt so upset by what I had seen that when I got home I spoke to my dad. The kitten was tabby and we have a tabby cat and I just couldn't forget it.' Videos of the incident soon spread in the close-knit town, prompting Making a Difference Cat Rescue staff to head to the wharf. Armed with a torch, two volunteers discovered the 'traumatising' sight of a kitten and the baby rabbit floating in the harbour. The kitten was filmed being hurled into the water at Port Lincoln Wharf Gracie Giblin (pictured) is a dance teacher and qualified childcare worker 'We couldn't just leave them there so we went to find them and we managed to retrieve the bodies,' volunteer rescuer Amanda told Daily Mail Australia. 'They were both still warm and very floppy. The bunny was very young, smaller than the kitten and it was just so awful to see. 'We decided to name them, Annabelle for the rabbit and Dillon for the little kitten which means ray of hope.' The deceased animals have been handed to authorities who are now investigating the alleged incident, which has sparked public outrage. '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. Police are liaising with the RSPCA regarding any offences that may have occurred '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.' The video was initially posted on a community Facebook group but has since been deleted. 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. '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 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 (pictured) 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.' Giblin has since gone into hiding, removing herself from social media. A Creme Egg thief has been banned from the entire county of Cambridgeshire after stealing 220.50 of the chocolate treats from a Peterborough petrol station. Deon De Groot, 26, was stopped as he tried to make a getaway having stolen 70 of the Cadbury sweets from a Tesco Express store in the Dogsthorpe area of the city last Saturday. Shocking bodycam footage shows a police officer unpack box after box of the chocolate eggs from the shoplifter's Superdry jacket. 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, of no fixed address, was on Tuesday banned from entering Cambridgeshire for the next three months and sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for a year, at Peterborough Magistrates' Court. 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. A ban on entering on an area normally comes as part of criminal behaviour orders (CBOs), which replaced asbos and are handed out to serial offenders. Courts impose the orders to place restrictions on where offenders can go, who they see and what they can do. Breaching the order is an offence - and it can bring about a prison sentence. 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 the town of 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. The grandparents of a little French boy found dead in the Alps were today released without charge after being arrested in connection with his alleged murder. The custody period for Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, came to an end early on Thursday morning following 72 hours of questioning about Emile Soleil, who was two when he died. He was staying at the Vedovinis' isolated holiday home in the Alpine hamlet of Haut-Vernet, south of Grenoble, when he disappeared in July 2023. Emile's remains, including a fractured skull, were found nearby nine months later, following daily searches. On Tuesday, the Vedovinis were arrested in dawn raids along with two of their adult children, identified as Emile's aunt and uncle. All faced charges of 'intentional homicide' and 'concealing a corpse', said a statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors. But at 5am on Thursday the four were released from the secure gendarmerie in Marseille where they were being held. The mystery deepened as it emerged yesterday that the family's Roman Catholic priest who baptised Emile before he went missing had 'taken his own life', according to reports. Father Claude Gilliot, 85, is said to have died from a 'massive overdose' last Saturday week at his home in Aix-en-Provence, French media reports. Claims have been made that he fell out with the Vedovinis before his death. Emile Soleil went missing from a sleepy Alpine village in France in 2023 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 priest was once very close to Emile's grandparents, along with two of their 10 adult children. 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, with insults exchanged, resulting in the family boycotting the Aix-en-Provence chapel where Father Gilliot officiated. Speaking outside the gendarmerie after her client was released, Mr Vedovini's lawyer Isabelle Colombani said: 'After 17 hours of questioning, today, the custody has been lifted. 'It's a relief for them, and for their lawyers too. I have never been too worried. I thought we could explain everything. There were maybe some grey areas to clear up, but that's it.' Julien Pinelli, Ms Vedovini's defence barrister, said: 'My client's custody has been lifted, which is naturally a huge relief. She is walking away free.' He said Emile's grandmother 'wanted to participate in what could naturally be seen as an ordeal, but she did so because she felt it was also her contribution to this investigation, the results of which she is now awaiting.' Father Gilliot (pictured, undated) is believed to have taken his own life last Saturday There was no immediate statement from Aix-en-Provence prosecutors, or judicial police, who are in charge of the investigation. They could initially hold the four family members for a maximum of 72 hours, but can renew the custody period at any time in the future, as the investigation continues. 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. At the time of Emile's disappearance, Mr Vedovini 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 off from the property in Haut-Vernet. 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. 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. 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. Both remain devout Roman Catholics who brought up 10 children, including Emile's mother, who is now known by her married name of Marie Soleil. Her husband is Colomban Soleil, 27, who is Emile's father. Emile's parents have not been arrested in relation to the current murder enquiry. An easyJet plane from Tenerife to Liverpool had to be diverted to a northern Spanish airport after a medical emergency on board. The pilot put out an urgent request for any doctors or nurses onboard to come forward before it made its unscheduled landing at Santiago-Rosalia de Castro Airport in Galicia. Air traffic controllers revealed the plane diverted as attempts were made to 'revive a 67-year-old passenger who was unconscious.' It was not immediately clear today if the woman who fell ill was British and her current condition is not known. Passengers on board were put up in local hotels for the night before continuing their onward journeys home. Confirmation of the travel scare comes after a British woman was evacuated by helicopter from a cruise ship after suffering a heart emergency. The passenger was rushed by air ambulance to the Alvaro Cunqueiro Hospital in Vigo near Galicia's southern border with Portugal needing urgent attention. The holidaymaker had been enjoying a trip on the Sky Princess boat when she fell ill five miles off Cape Silleiro, north-east Spain. The passenger who fell ill on board the easyJet plane is understood to have been travelling with her husband and a friend The huge leisure ship, with a 3,660 capacity, had recently left Vigo and was bound for Funchal, on the island of Madeira. A Pesca 1 helicopter from Spain's coastguard fleet was scrambled to rescue the gravely ill Brit. The passenger who fell ill on board the easyJet plane is understood to have been travelling with her husband and a friend. An easyJet spokesman said: 'Flight EZY3366 from Tenerife to Liverpool on Tuesday evening was required to divert to SantiagoRosalia de Castro where it was met by paramedics due to a customer onboard requiring urgent medical attention.' Air traffic controllers said in a message posted on X: 'The crew of the flight from Tenerife South to Liverpool informed us that they needed to urgently divert to the airport at Santiago because they were trying to revive a 67-year-old female passenger who was unconscious. 'We facilitated a continuous descent and approach to runway 35 while medical care on the ground was coordinated with the airport. 'We wish the passenger a speedy recovery.' A close-knit community is reeling after a six-year-old boy was killed in an alleged hit-and-run on his way to school. Caleb Wesley was crossing the road in Teesdale, west of Geelong, just after 8am on Thursday when he was allegedly hit by a Nissan Pulsar. Passing motorists, including a nurse and paramedics, performed CPR on the young boy but were unable to revive him. The tragedy unfolded in front of Caleb's nine-year-old brother and 12-year-old sister. The trio were on their way to the bus stop at the time. Police alleged 84-year-old female driver of the Pulsar pulled off briefly before driving off without providing any assistance. 'The offending driver, at this point in time, was aware of the collision, has stopped, got out of the vehicle and we believe has then got back in the vehicle and left the scene,' Detective Inspector Craig McEvoy said. 'I don't believe that any assistance has been offered, but again that's all part of the inquiry.' Police later located the 84-year-old at a Teesdale address and assisted detectives with their inquiries. Caleb Wesley, 6, was allegedly killed in a hit-and-run as he crossed the road to reach his bus stop The tragedy unfolded in front of Caleb's siblings. Pictured is an abandoned schoolbag at the scene The woman was released on Thursday afternoon pending further enquiries. No charges have been laid. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives attended the scene on Thursday and marked the scene out with cones. Bannockburn-Shelford Road was blocked by police vehicles for the majority of the day with traffic diverted around the scene. Det Insp McEvoy said the family was 'shattered'. 'It's the worst news that parents could ever have,' he said. 'Any parent who receives that news, it's absolutely shocking, let alone it being witnessed by his siblings. 'There's support around them, it's a local community, they've been fantastic in supporting the family at this time.' Police will now probe whether any factors, including speed or fatigue contributed to the incident. A woman, 84 is assisting police with their inquiries over the alleged hit-and-run Caleb was a pupil at Covenant College in Bell Post Hill. 'We are devastated by news of the death of a student as a result of being struck by a vehicle while on the way to school,' principal Joshua McEwen said. 'This has come as a huge shock to our close school community at Covenant College. 'Our sympathies and prayers are with the family and we are offering support to them, as well as to students, staff and those affected by this loss.' The education department has extended support to grieving staff and students. 'The education department will be aiding the school in providing support and care to the family and anyone impacted by this tragedy,' minister Ben Carroll told the Geelong Advertiser. Bannockburn-Shelford Road was closed to traffic for much of Thursday following the tragedy Caleb had 'close connections with the local Bannockburn and Teesdale communities'. The tragedy occurred near Teesdale Primary School, where onlookers and staff described the crash scene as a 'worst nightmare'. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam or CCTV is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Caleb's death takes Victoria's 2025 road toll to 86 lives lost. Britain is set for a decent run of balmy and sunny spring weather with highs of 17C (63F) in the South from today followed by a warm weekend. Temperatures will slip slightly over the next two days to 15C (59F) tomorrow and 14C (57F) in parts of England on Saturday, before soaring to 19C (66F) on Sunday. Similar highs will follow for southern areas next Monday and Tuesday, before an even warmer 20C (68F) midway through next week, according to the Met Office. While sunny weather is expected in much of the South East for every day over the next week, rain is forecast in Scotland and western parts of Northern Ireland today. Met Office forecaster Stephen Dixon said there would be 'a bit of a split for the weekend weather, with more frequent wind and rain in the north of the country'. Unsettled conditions are most likely in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but 'those further south will generally be drier through the day on Saturday'. A man runs by daffodils at St Nicholas' Park in Warwick this afternoon A swan glides along the River Thames in front of Windsor Castle in Berkshire this morning Pretty skies at dawn in the Oxfordshire village of Dunsden this morning The Met Office forecast for London over the next week shows highs of 20C are expected Mr Dixon continued: 'Hints of high pressure building from the south west will, on Sunday and through to the start of the week, settle the UK's weather down again and bring a fair degree of dry, fine weather with patchy clouds at times, but also some sunshine as we move through to the start of next week. 'It's fairly common for UK spring that we get these periods of rain, of fronts moving in from the west and northwest and also high pressure moving in from the south. 'Really it's part of the UK's position meteorologically, we see these competing dominant weather regimes.' A partial solar eclipse will also be visible in parts of the UK this weekend, but cloudy and rainy days could hamper those wishing to catch a glimpse in Scotland. The phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. The three will not be completely aligned, meaning only part of the Sun will be obscured. The eclipse is expected to be visible in the UK from 9.56am to 12.14pm on Saturday, with the peak in London at around 11.03am. Those in northern parts of Scotland - which on a clear day would be one of the best places for viewing the eclipse - may be left disappointed due to cloud cover. Mr Dixon said: 'There's patchy cloud around on Saturday in the south. 'The north west of Scotland, which has the best window for seeing the partial solar eclipse, is unfortunately going to see rain and cloudy skies. 'However, those further south in England on Saturday should see some break in the cloud.' Another phenomenon, the Northern Lights, were visible in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, early yesterday, where skies remained clear. Mr Dixon said: 'People have noticed the Northern Lights more in the last year as the Sun is in its solar maximum phase of an 11-year cycle, meaning higher frequency of solar activity on the Sun. 'It can interact with the Earth's atmosphere and bring us the Northern Lights as we know them in the UK.' He said the chance of aurora sightings continues over today and tomorrow. Furious residents in a quiet Yorkshire Dales village have labelled a 15th century church as an 'abomination' which can be seen for miles. Askrigg is best known as the quintessential rural idyll of Darrowby in the original series of All Creatures Great and Small. But it now has a startling new look after the bell tower at Grade 1-listed St Oswald's Church was given a limewash render to stop water leaking through its ancient brickwork. Village vicar Rev Dave Clark has been accused of 'bearing false witness' in his attempts to allay the worries of locals who feared the tower would look like 'a lighthouse in the Dales'. Last summer he told the Church Times the tower would be 'rather a soft honey colour, in keeping with the newly cleaned masonry of the building.' The work was done last year but the tower has been wrapped ever since in scaffolding and plastic sheeting through the winter. Now, under bright spring sunshine, it has been unveiled to horrified gasps from many parishioners who are in agreement it is, in fact, a pristine shade of white. It has been described by locals on social media as 'an abomination,' 'a hideous eyesore' and also likened to a mosque rather than an ancient Anglican church dating back to the late Middle Ages. Slide me Before and after the rendering of the church tower in Askrigg Businesswoman Emma Brooke, 63, began a 'stop the rendering' petition last year which gained 438 signatures The village vicar, Rev Dave Clark, was yesterday accused of 'bearing false witness' in his attempts to allay the worries of locals who feared the tower would look like 'a lighthouse in the Dales' The work was done last year but the tower has been wrapped ever since in scaffolding and plastic sheeting through the winter Businesswoman Emma Brooke, 63, began a 'stop the rendering' petition last year which gained 438 signatures, not all of them from Askrigg, which has a population of around 500. Standing at the wrought-iron gates, Mrs Brooke said: 'It's a disgrace that this was ever allowed to happen and I'm afraid the vicar has to shoulder a lot of the responsibility. 'The last words to come from his mouth at a public meeting on the rendering of the tower was: 'It will not be white.' 'Well, I'm sorry, but it's white. It is entirely out of keeping with the beautiful landscape of the national park and it is every bit the eyesore that we all feared it would be. 'It's staggering that this was allowed to happen, particularly in an area where you would expect planning regulations to be more stringent than normal. 'From the hills that surround the village it can be seen for miles and looks so out of place, particularly when the rest of the church has been left in its original state. 'No one in the village disagreed that work needed to be done to stop the clock tower being damaged, everyone wanted to save it. 'But when limewash rendering was discussed it seemed the worst possible option and there were several others discussed. The tower has been described by locals on social media as 'an abomination' Phillip Halton, 73, born and raised in Askrigg, said: 'There were a lot of tradesmen in and around the village who offered all sorts of solutions other than this one, which was by a great distance the worst.' 'We were told there would be a consultation meeting, which was to take place last May. 'But when we arrived there we found it was anything but. The decision had been taken and we were greeted with a fait accompli. The decision had been taken and there was nothing we could do.' Waving a hand up at the tower, she added: 'And this is the result. Now the wrapping and scaffolding is down we can see it properly and all our original fears have been confirmed.' Another villager who lives near the church said: 'This whole process puts me in mind of the ninth commandment, Exodus 20:16 - thou shalt not bear false witness. 'I'm afraid that's what has happened here. We were told we'd be consulted and we weren't, we were told the render would be the colour of honey and it just isn't. 'The vicar and the diocese have some explaining to do because they've changed the character of a beautiful village.' Phillip Halton, 73, born and raised in Askrigg, said: 'There were a lot of tradesmen in and around the village who offered all sorts of solutions other than this one, which was by a great distance the worst. 'It has disfigured the church, changed the face of the village and it is quite horrendous. Locals have also called the tower 'a hideous eyesore' and also likened to a mosque rather than an ancient Anglican church dating back to the late Middle Ages Another villager who lives near the church said: 'This whole process puts me in mind of the ninth commandment, Exodus 20:16 - thou shalt not bear false witness' 'To say that people are disappointed with the vicar and the diocese is an understatement, it's hard to comprehend what has been done here. 'It's a Grade 1-listed building in a National Park, no one will ever convince me this was an appropriate thing to do to it.' At the King's Arms in the heart of the picturesque village, barmaid Rachel Tysoe shakes her head in disbelief. She said: 'It's worse than people predicted. I live in Thornton Rust, which is two miles outside Askrigg and I can see it from my home. You could never see the church before but now there's no missing it.' Rev Dave, as he's known to his flock, is dismayed at the flak flying his way. He said: 'To hear and to read "Dave Clark is a liar" is disappointing and it is actually upsetting. Some of the things written online about me have been very personal and that's difficult. 'However I have broad shoulders and I accept that people feel strongly about this issue and that as the vicar I am the focal point for that. 'We are not diminishing anyone's distress over this, but I feel there would have been greater distress if the tower had fallen down or if the bells came loose and fell through the floor. Mr Halton added: 'To say that people are disappointed with the vicar and the diocese is an understatement, it's hard to comprehend what has been done here' Rev Dave, as he's known to his flock, is dismayed at the flak flying his way, saying: 'To hear and to read "Dave Clark is a liar" is disappointing and it is actually upsetting. Some of the things written online about me have been very personal and that's difficult' 'I am sorry if people felt they were left out of the loop but someone had to make a decision and it certainly was not made in isolation. 'This has been a process that has gone on for 10 years and had taken on board the advice and guidance of experts from around the world. 'We have talked to masons, professors, researchers and have had the invaluable help of the Damp Towers Project, which is the longest running architectural preservation project in history. 'It has been running since 1989 to find solutions to problems with towers like ours which was being ruined by water - and we get a lot of it in the Yorkshire Dales. 'We did everything we could to make the colour as sympathetic as possible to the surroundings. The render was mixed with Askrigg stone, chosen specifically to tone the colour. 'With my hand on my heart I can say it is not white and when you look at it properly you can see that. Given time it will weather and fade down. 'We've worked closely with the North Yorkshire National Park, which is very careful about what it allows to happen here and they have taken a strong supportive role in this. 'The parish council at Askrigg have been consulted throughout and signed off on the colour of the render. 'It's important to note that the church was rendered for 600 years. It's only the last 150 years that have seen it without, the render was removed in the 1850s by the Victorians. 'It is bound to be a talking point. As you drive through the dale it's a case of 'ta-daaa' there is the tower. But that's what it was always supposed to do, it says: 'look, here is the house of God.' Donald Trump has warned the European Union and Canada they can expect to contend with 'large scale tariffs' if they seek to do 'economic harm to the USA' in an unsettling post early this morning. The US President plans to impose a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting on April 3, and earlier this month rolled out an increase in tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports from the European bloc. This prompted the EU to retaliate with a series of duties on US industrial and agricultural products from April 1, setting the foundation of what could prove to be a damaging trade war. Posting on his Truth Social platform this morning, Trump declared: 'If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, 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!' Some European leaders and industry chiefs have lobbied for mediation and called for EU-US talks to avert a spiralling economic battle. 'We urge President (Donald) Trump to consider the negative impact of tariffs not only on global automakers but on US domestic manufacturing as well,' said Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). 'Tariffs will not just impact imports into the US, a penalty that American consumers are likely to pay, but measures on automotive parts will also hurt automakers producing cars in the US for export markets,' ACEA said. However, others appeared committed to fighting US economic penalties head-on. French Finance Minister Eric Lombard declared in an interview with France Inter radio this morning: 'The hostility is increasing. The only solution for the European Union will be to raise tariffs on American products in response.' The UK meanwhile is working hard to avoid Trump's wrath. 'We are not at the moment in a position where we want to do anything to escalate these trade wars,' Finance Minister Rachel Reeves told Sky News when asked if Britain would impose retaliatory tariffs against the US. 'Trade wars are no good for anyone.' US President Donald Trump announces tariffs on auto imports in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025 The US President plans to impose a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting next week Trucks are lined up at a Ford plant after US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting next week 'We are not at the moment in a position where we want to do anything to escalate these trade wars,' Finance Minister Rachel Reeves told Sky News Washington's new levies on cars and light trucks will take effect next Thursday - the day after Trump plans to announce reciprocal tariffs aimed at the countries responsible for the bulk of the US trade deficit. They come on top of duties already introduced on steel and aluminium, and on goods from Mexico, Canada and China. Britain has hoped to avoid tariffs with the US, arguing that both countries report trade surpluses with each other - including goods and services - owing to measurement differences. London is also trying to agree a tech-led deal with Washington that it hopes will potentially spare it the direct hit of tariffs on its own exports. The EU meanwhile was expecting to face the US tariffs on steel and aluminium, but the measures still place great strain on already tense transatlantic relations. The EU's retaliatory measures will cover goods from the United States worth some 26 billion euros ($28 billion), and not just steel and aluminium products, but also textiles, home appliances and agricultural goods. Motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans will be hit, as they were during President Trump's first term. But Trump's freshly announced tariffs on imports of cars and light trucks will undoubtedly cause more pain in Europe. The automotive sector is the jewel in Europe's industrial crown, employing around 13 million people and contributing some seven percent to the European Union's economy. This month, the EU unveiled a rescue plan for the sector, which the 27-country bloc's industry chief said was in 'mortal danger'. The ACEA said European manufacturers export between 50 and 60 percent of the vehicles they make in the US, which it described as making a 'substantial positive contribution to the US trade balance'. 'The EU and the US must engage in dialogue to find an immediate resolution to avert tariffs and the damaging consequences of a trade war,' the association added. President Donald Trump speaks at the Business Roundtable quarterly meeting in Washington, Tuesday, March 11, 2025 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (L) and EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maros Sefcovic European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement announcing the measures on March 12 that the bloc 'will always remain open to negotiation.' 'As the US are applying tariffs worth 28 billion dollars, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros,' she said. The commission manages trade and commercial conflicts on behalf of the 27 member EU countries. 'We firmly believe that in a world fraught with geopolitical and economic uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with tariffs,' von der Leyen said. The commission also said that steel and aluminium products would be hit in return, as well as textiles, leather goods, home appliances, household tools, plastics, and wood. Agricultural products will also be impacted - including poultry, beef, some seafood, nuts, eggs, sugar and vegetables. Trump said his taxes would help create US factory jobs, but von der Leyen said: 'Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and in the United States.' 'We deeply regret this measure. Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers. These tariffs are disrupting supply chains. They bring uncertainty for the economy,' she said. Trump slapped similar tariffs on EU steel and aluminium during his first term in office, which enraged European and other allies. The EU also imposed countermeasures in retaliation at the time, raising tariffs on US-made motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans, among other items. This time, the EU action will involve two steps. First, the commission will reintroduce what it calls 'rebalancing measures,' which the EU had from 2018 and 2020 but which were suspended under the Biden administration, then additional duties targeting 18 billion euros ($19.6 billion) in US exports to the bloc. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic travelled to Washington last month in an effort to head off the tariffs, meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other top trade officials. 'I argued to avoid the unnecessary burden of measures and countermeasures, but you need a partner for that. You need both hands to clap,' Sefcovic told reporters at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. A person shops through steel pieces at a metal supply business in Burbank, California, USA, 11 March 2025 United States President Donald Trump speaks in front of a Tesla Model S with Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and Senior Advisor to the President of the United States The EU could lose up to 3.7 million tons of steel exports, according to Henrik Adam, president of the Eurofer European steel association. 'It will further worsen the situation of the European steel industry, exacerbating an already dire market environment,' Adam said last month. The US is the second biggest export market for EU steel producers, representing 16% of the total EU steel exports. 'Losing a significant part of these exports cannot be compensated by EU exports to other markets,' Adam said. The EU estimates that annual trade volume between both sides stands at about $1.5 trillion, representing some 30% of global trade. While the bloc has a substantial export surplus in goods, it says that is partly offset by the US surplus in the trade of services. The commission says that trade in goods reached 851 billion euros ($878 billion) in 2023, with a trade surplus of 156 billion euros ($161 billion) for the EU. Trade in services was worth 688 billion euros ($710 billion) with a trade deficit of 104 billion euros ($107 billion) for the EU. Meanwhile, British Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said Wednesday he would 'continue to engage closely and productively with the US to press the case for UK business interests.' He did not rule out future tariffs on US imports, saying 'we will keep all options on the table and won't hesitate to respond in the national interest.' Center-left Prime Minister Keir Starmer has worked to build strong ties with Trump, in hope of avoiding the tariffs levied on many other US trading partners. Reynolds said the government remains 'focused on a pragmatic approach and is rapidly negotiating a wider economic agreement with the US to eliminate additional tariffs and to benefit UK businesses and our economy.' A fire at a closed ski resort hotel in northwest Turkey killed one person Thursday, two months after a blaze at another Turkish winter resort left 79 dead. The Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, Bursa province, was empty of guests when the fire started at 5:30 a.m. but staff were present, Bursa Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said. Three people suffering smoke inhalation were hospitalised. The 30-year-old hotel was shut following inspections conducted after the Grand Kartal Hotel fire in nearby Bolu province in January, Halk TV and other outlets reported. TV images showed flames quickly engulfing the six-story hotel, on the slopes of one of Turkey's most popular ski destinations less than a three-hour drive from Istanbul. Fire crews brought the blaze under control within two hours but not before the upper floors had been gutted. Bozbey said the fire began in the cafeteria. The fire in Bolu also started in the hotel dining area. The state-run Anadolu news agency on Wednesday reported fresh arrests relating to the Bolu fire, taking the number of people in detention awaiting trial to 28. The Kervansaray Hotel in Uludag, Bursa province, was empty of guests when the fire started at 5:30 a.m TV images showed flames quickly engulfing the six-story hotel, on the slopes of one of Turkey's most popular ski destinations less than a three-hour drive from Istanbul The fire reportedly began in the canteen The Bolu fire broke out in January at the wood-clad 12-storey Grand Kartal Hotel early in the morning. The fire occurred during a busy holiday period, which saw 234 people staying at the hotel. After the fire began early in the morning, it took 12 hours to put out due to the icy conditions and the remote location - there is only one road going in and out of the area the Grand Kartal Hotel lies. Turkey announced a national day of mourning after the Bolu fire, which saw flags across the country fly at half-mast. The country's resident Recep Tayyip Erdogan said shortly after the fire that those responsible for alleged negligence leading to the fire 'will be held accountable'. More to follow. An 83-year-old British holidaymaker died after a 'very drunken' stranger fell on top of her while she was on a break in Spain. Retired nurse Barbara Cahill was holidaying in Alicante in October 2023 when a drunk man suddenly fell on top of her as she was strolling through the streets in a tourist area, according to Lancashire Live. Ms Cahill, who lived in Rochdale, was taken to Alicante hospital with a broken leg, but died six days later, on October 20, after suffering complications during surgery. Spanish authorities said the cause of death was cardiac electrical activities without pulse - also known as Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA), which can cause cardiac arrest. They listed an intraoperative complication with a right tibial plateau fracture as a secondary factor. Following an inquest, held at Preston Coroner's Court, Assistant Coroner Richard Taylor said: 'Barbara Cahill died in Alicante hospital on the 20th of October 2023. 'Having arrived in Spain on holiday on October 14 2023 she suffered a lower leg injury when an unknown person fell onto her in the street. Delayed surgery was undertaken from which she did not recover.' Last month, a coroner praised the bravery of a heroic Brit who drowned after saving two children in the sea at a Spanish beach in June. Retired nurse Barbara Cahill died after a 'very drunken' stranger fell on top of her while she was on holiday in Alicante, Spain An inquest, held at Preston Coroner's Court, found that the 83-year-old died after suffering a lower leg injury 'Hugely courageous' Bryn Thomas from Southampton, Hampshire, dived into the water in a bid to help the youngsters, aged six and seven, along with his friend and others on the Costa Blanca. However, the 'very fit and active' businessman then got into trouble himself and died, despite the best efforts of other beachgoers in administering CPR once he was pulled from the sea. Meanwhile, in January, a British man's body was found floating in the water at a marina in Calpe north of Benidorm following a suspected accident. He was described at the time as a 53-year-old who had moored a boat he lived on in the pleasure port after arriving from the nearby town of Altea. A mother has been arrested after she allegedly left her toddler in a freezing cold car while she had a 'romantic rendezvous' at a hotel. Lillian Johnson, 38, was charged with first-degree child endangerment after she allegedly left her 20-month-old child 'abandoned in a car' parked car outside a bar and hotel in Healy, Alaska last week. The child was found crying inside the vehicle, which police say was left off without heat and a window slightly cracked despite the temperature outside being 6F (-14C). Paramedics removed the toddler from the car and treated them for 'early stages of hypothermia', before taking them to the EMS and fire department for further treatment. Johnson, who was no where to be found, did not exit the hotel until after medics had already left with the toddler, according to Alaska State Police. Hotel surveillance video allegedly shows that Johnson was inside the establishment for roughly 35 minutes before she came out to 'check on the child'. Initial investigation revealed that Johnson had 'left her child in the car to have a romantic rendezvous with a guest at the hotel.' Johnson was arrested, charged and taken to Fairbanks Correctional Center. State police have not provided an update on the child's welfare. Lillian Johnson, 38, was charged with first-degree child endangerment after she allegedly left her 20-month-old child 'abandoned in a car' parked car outside a bar and hotel in Healy, Alaska last week. She was remanded to Fairbanks Correctional Center (pictured) Johnson allegedly went inside the hotel at 8.18pm on Tuesday, March 18, initial investigation revealed. A Good Samaritan called 911 around 8.40pm after they heard a child crying in a vehicle parked in a lot in Healy, roughly 250 miles north of Anchorage. 'The child was crying, the vehicle was off, with a window partly opened with outside temperatures at 6 degrees Fahrenheit,' police said. Medics with Tri Valley EMS removed the toddler from the car and provided treatment for hypothermia. After 'no parent or guardian was immediately found', paramedics transported the child to another facility for further treatment. Johnson finally came to check on her toddler at 8.53pm, but by that point officials had already left with the child. 'The child was treated for early stages of hypothermia,' state troopers said. 'Lillian was arrested for Endangering the Welfare of a Child 1st Degree and remanded to Fairbanks Correctional Center.' Cold weather is also a major risk factor for hypothermia, which occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it and your body temperature drops below 95F (35C). Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, meaning the person affected may not be able to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it's happening and won't be able to do anything about it. Police are probing three Scotch whisky companies after hundreds of people were conned out of millions of pounds in schemes offering fantastical returns on investment in whisky casks. Victims have been duped into investing tens of thousands of pounds into casks which do not exist, are overpriced or have been sold to multiple people, a BBC investigation found. Some of those affected include NHS staff and a woman with terminal cancer. Fraudsters make their firms seem legitimate through the hiring of actors, false names and providing certificates proclaiming ownership of the casks. Police are now investigating three different firms over the allegations, with some victims telling how they were convinced to invest more than 100,000. The man behind one of the companies, Craig Arch, is actually a convicted fraudster who is banned from being a company director. The scams are based on legitimate investment schemes which see people purchase a cask of whisky when it is first produced, and then hope that it rises in value as it ages in the barrel. The industry has no official regulation in the UK, making it a prime target for fraudsters. Alison and Ian Cocks, from Montrose, Angus, invested 103,000 in casks with firm Cask Whisky Ltd The company was led by a man calling himself Craig Arch - pictured right during undercover filming - who is actually a convicted fraudster Craig Arch is actually Craig Brooks, who was jailed alongside his brother in 2019 over a 6.2million fraud Alison and Ian Cocks, from Montrose, Angus, invested 103,000 in casks with company Cask Whisky Ltd, run by a man named Craig Arch. Alison initially bought a 3,000 single cask, but was then convinced into purchasing a further three, far more expensive, casks for a total of 100,000. Unbeknownst to the couple, Arch is actually Craig Brooks, a disqualified director and convicted fraudster who was jailed alongside his brother in 2019 over a 6.2 million scam. They had used cold calling to convince a total of 350 victims to invest in carbon credits and earth metals. His new venture saw him pair up with his brother again, and his sister-in-law Sydnie - who used the name Sophie. As well as running Cask Whisky Ltd, Brooks was also running a second company under the name of Craig Hutchins, known as Cask Spirits Global Ltd. Alarm bells began ringing for Alison when she tried to contact Brooks to sell the casks she had purchased. 'Suddenly they didn't want to talk to me anymore. They were avoiding my calls. I was really panicking,' she said. She became so concerned that she contacted the warehouses where her casks should have been - only to be told they weren't there. Jay Evans (right), 54, has terminal cancer and invested 76,000 in a bid to ensure her wife, Susie Walker (left) would be taken care of after her death When confronted by a BBC reporter, Brooks denied ever having claimed he made decisions on behalf of his company Brooks and his sister-in-law Sydnie are challenged about their real identities during the documentary Locksmith Geoff Owens, of Wrexham, invested more than 100,000 in Whisky Scotland - and said he intends to create an 'army' of their victims Alison has since tracked down three of the casks - one of which has also been 'bought' by someone else - but the most expensive cask, which cost 49,500, does not exist, the BBC found. An undercover reporter posed as a potential investor and met with Brooks and his brother to discuss a potential deal. Despite it being illegal for him to be running a company, Brooks told the reporter his company was '100 percent' legitimate and that he was in charge of 'decision making' and finances. When later confronted by the reporter, he denied ever having said he was in charge of company decisions. Another firm being investigated by police is Whisky Scotland, which conned an NHS employee with terminal cancer out of her life savings. Jay Evans, 54, who was diagnosed as terminal in 2021, invested almost 76,000 and said she had wanted to make sure her wife Susie Walker would be comfortable after her death. Two of the seven casks she purchased did not exist, and the other five had been sold at hugely inflated prices. It is estimated it will take 25 years for her to recoup the money she has lost. The company and its directors have since disappeared without a trace. Lizzie Lyons also invested in Whisky Scotland but said the firm had disappeared completely, and research revealed her casks never existed Whisky investment sees buyers purchase barrels of whisky when it is first produced and wait for its price to rise before selling 'They've made somebody who's facing end of life at an early age, they've made it infinitely more difficult. None of it will matter to people like this,' Mrs Evans said. Meanwhile locksmith Geoff Owens, of Wrexham, invested more than 100,000 in the same company. He has vowed to keep fighting until he has tracked down what happened to his money. 'No-one is going to rip me off and walk away from this, without me facing you,' he said. 'I will get an army together who you've ripped off, and we will try and do something about it.' Lizzie Lyons also invested in Whisky Scotland, and did her own research - even calling the warehouse the casks were said to be stored at herself - before investing 47,000. Both she and her son paid for six casks each, and all went smoothly - until she suddenly couldn't get hold of the company. 'They sent me by recorded delivery certificates of my ownership of the casks,' she said. But when Ms Lyons phoned the distilleries herself, none of them had the casks she thought she had purchased. 'My casks don't exist,' she said. One of the two young men killed a horror crash in northern NSW has been identified. Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Tristan 'Tizzy' Dunn, also known as Tristan English was one of the men who lost their lives when a high-powered Ford Falcon XR6 veered off Droney Bridge Road and plunged into the Richmond River at Fairy Hill, near Casino on Wednesday night. Both men were understood to be aged in their 20s. The third occupant, a 22-year-old female passenger miraculously managed to escape unharmed before the vehicle submerged. She then ran 2km to raise the alarm and get help. Emergency services arrived at the the scene quickly but by then, the rescue operation had become a recovery effort. Police rescue and SES crews remained at the scene on Thursday to retrieve the men's bodies from the submerged car. Tributes have flooded social media from Mr English's grieving friends. Tristan Dunn also known as Tristan English was one of the men who was tragically killed in a fatal crash at Fairy Hill 'Rest in peace Tizzy, we're forever gonna miss your craziness, always in our hearts' a tribute on social media read. Pictured is Tristan English 'Rest in peace Tizzy, we're forever gonna miss your craziness, always in our hearts' one post read. Mr English is understood to have grown up in Casino and spent time living in South Australia. In 2022, Richmond Police issued a public appeal for assistance in tracking down Mr English, then aged 23, who was wanted by virtue of a conviction warrant. The car involved in the crash, a lime Ford Falcon XR6, was recovered from the river and towed from the scene on Thursday afternoon. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the single vehicle crash continues. A report will be prepared for the coroner. Locals say a sharp turn before the bridge gives drivers 'no room for error'. 'There are no guardrails or anything to stop you going over the bridge,' John Miller told the ABC. 'If you go over the bridge, you go straight into the river.' The tragedy unfolded on Droney Bridge Road in Fairy Hill just before 10pm on Wednesday The car involved in the crash, a lime Ford Falcon XR6, was towed from the scene on Thursday afternoon In 2022 Richmond Police District issued a public appeal to help locate Tristan English, then 23, who was wanted by virtue of a conviction warrant. The two men were among five lives lost in fatal crashes across NSW within 24 hours. Another man died following a two-car crash at Ilford in the state's central west in Thursday morning. Two more men aged 60 and 62 also died in a head-on crash on the Great Western Highway near Linden in the Blue Mountains on Wednesday night. Keir Starmer arrived in Paris for the latest 'coalition of the willing' talks today as he accuses Vladimir Putin of 'hollow promises' in ceasefire talks. The PM is co-hosting the gathering with Emmanuel Macron, after the French president suggested a European peacekeeping force could 'respond' if attacked by Russia. The leaders - joined by Volodymyr Zelensky - will consider the results of defence talks at London's Northwood military headquarters. They are also expected to take stock of the situation after Ukraine and Russia agreed to paused hostilities in the Black Sea. Donald Trump has raised concerns among Western allies by suggesting easing sanctions on Moscow could be part of that move. No10 said the Prime Minister will tell allies that 'excellent progress' was made and Europe is 'mobilising together in pursuit of peace, but now we must keep up the momentum'. Keir Starmer arrived in Paris for the latest 'coalition of the willing' talks today as he accuses Vladimir Putin of 'hollow promises' in ceasefire talks The leaders - joined by Volodymyr Zelensky - will consider the results of defence talks at London 's Northwood military headquarters He will also accuse the Russian president of 'playing games' with an agreement for a naval ceasefire in the Black Sea after separate talks between US negotiators and their counterparts in Kyiv and Moscow. Sir Keir will say: 'Unlike President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, Putin has shown he's not a serious player in these peace talks. Playing games with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea despite good faith participation from all sides all while continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people. His promises are hollow. 'The US is playing a leading role by convening the ceasefire talks, President Zelensky has demonstrated his commitment repeatedly, and Europe is stepping up to play its part to defend Ukraine's future. Now Putin needs to show he's willing to play ball.' 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 in negotiating a broader peace. The White House said the idea of the Black Sea deal was to 'ensure safe navigation' and 'eliminate the use of force' in the sea. However, the US also appeared to signal an intention to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve Putin's access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems. 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. Russia's defence ministry claimed Ukrainian drone attacks hit power facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions this week, which Ukraine dismissed as Kremlin disinformation aimed at justifying continued hostilities. Ukrainian officials have said Moscow is 'lying' about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and has carried out eight confirmed hits on power sites. Donald Trump has raised concerns among Western allies by suggesting easing sanctions on Moscow could be part of the ceasefire move Mr Zelensky met his French counterpart on Wednesday ahead of a summit of 31 delegations in Paris that will discuss peacekeeping plans for Kyiv. In televised remarks after the meeting, Mr Macron said: 'If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would be under attack and then it's our usual framework of engagement. '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.' European officials say that under any peace settlement, Ukraine's first line of defence against any future Russian attack would be its own army. A major hospital was reportedly left without power for 70 minutes after backup generators failed during Storm Eowyn. Storm Eowyn was the UK's most powerful windstorm for more than a decade, bringing a red danger to life warning on the night of January 24 into 25 January this year. Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert near Falkirk, Scotland, suffered the blackout during the storm. Computers used for monitoring medications went down, phone lines failed and ventilators relied on internal short-life batteries, according to Sky News. Whistleblowers on shift that day said it was 'horrendous' and said patients were 'at risk' during the 'major infrastructure failure'. NHS Forth Valley told Sky News no patients were harmed and the cause of the incident was a power surge that caused the electricity supply to trip. Bosses said maintenance on the generators was up to date but a review on how to avoid a repeat incident was under way. One nurse told Sky News: 'We were getting on with our shift and the lights went out. That can happen, but the generators normally kick in right away but that day they didn't. Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert near Falkirk, Scotland, suffered the blackout during Storm Eowyn Whistleblowers on shift that day said it was 'horrendous' and said patients were 'at risk' during the 'major infrastructure failure'. File photo 'It was pretty horrendous. It was quite scary. That is the first time in my career that that's ever happened. It can't happen again.' Another whistleblower said: 'All of the security on the doors also wasn't working so the doors were automatically open. None of the wards were locked. 'It's absolutely horrendous for patient confidence within the NHS.' A report compiled in the aftermath of the incident suggested neighbouring NHS boards were on standby to help, according to Sky. The document, authored by NHS Forth Valley Director of Acute Services Garry Fraser, states 'no identified risks were highlighted with no interruption to the continuity of care, with staff working together to support patients and each other during this very challenging time'. Mr Fraser said: 'No patients required to be manually ventilated. There was no patient harm recorded as a result of the infrastructure failure.' The purpose-built hospital has more than 800 beds and describes itself as 'one of the most modern and well equipped hospitals in Europe' with 'the very highest standard of accommodation and facilities for patients'. SNP MSP Michelle Thomson told Sky News it has to be a 'wake-up call' for other hospitals and health boards in the area Health leaders elsewhere in the UK have joined calls to urge other hospitals to review their systems, especially in light of the chaos at Heathrow Airport last week. NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor told Sky News: 'Your report, plus what happened at Heathrow last week, will, I think, lead many hospital managers to have another think about energy security. 'What has happened in Scotland is a one-off, but actually it points to a more systemic set of risks which we are having to deal with on a regular basis in the health service.' In 2024 MailOnline reported a survey of hundreds of staff across Forth Valley Health Board found workers pushed to 'breaking point' by the senior leadership team. Of the 747 staff who responded to questions about their 'experience of culture and leadership' at NHS Forth Valley, three-quarters gave negative feedback. They accused leaders of victimisation and a 'threatening', divisive approach to staff, leaving workers scared to speak out about concerns, including over patient safety. The research found the impact of the leadership failures on morale resulted in a knock-on effect on patients. At the time a Forth Valley Health Board spokesman said it had started working on changing the culture before it was put into special measures. They said: 'A number of changes have already been made to encourage staff to speak up and ensure that any issues or concerns raised are acted on.' Speaking of the January outage Garry Fraser, NHS Forth Valley Director of Acute Services, told MailOnline: 'This was an unprecedented situation however the response of staff across the site was exceptional with teams willing to do whatever was required to support patients and each other at this very challenging time. 'Contingency plans were immediately put in place and these worked well. 'Vital equipment continued to operate on a separate battery operated power supply and no patients came to any harm. 'Action has already been taken to avoid a similar incident from occurring in the future and we have also held a debrief with local staff to identify any learning or improvements.' An accountant who purchased a 1.5million Versace-designed London flat is suing to get her money back after she discovered her bathroom did not come with a bath. Mi Suk Park paid 381,000 for a deposit on a two-bedroom apartment and parking space in the 50-storey Aykon London One tower in Nine Elms. She claims she was promised the 'ultimate in luxury' for the flat in the building dubbed 'Versace Tower' after a high-profile collaboration between developers and the fashion house to design the interiors. The off-plan purchase was made after Ms Park, 54, had viewed a brochure and floorplan and made the 'lifetime decision' to splash out on the deluxe pad - which was intended to be her and her husband's 'main home until retirement'. But when she first viewed the apartment in person, it was 'materially and manifestly different from the layout as set out in the plan and description' that she had seen before paying the deposit, she told Central London County Court. She then refused to move in to her new home and is now suing for more than 700,000, demanding the deposit money she paid and cash to cover five years' rent, alongside other losses she suffered. Her gripes include one bedroom being smaller than she expected, one of the two bathrooms not having a bathtub, an intrusive utility cupboard which 'impinges' on what she expected to be an 'open plan living space' and a two-year delay in the apartment being ready. But developer Nine Elms Property Ltd - a Jersey-based entity owned by a parent company in Dubai - is fighting the claim and counter suing the accountant for not completing the purchase, insisting her deposit has been forfeited. Accountant Mi Suk Park,54, who refused to complete the purchase of the flat, outside Central London County Court An example interior apartment image from promotional material for the Aykon London One tower, including a bath which Ms Park was expecting However her flat came with a bathroom which did not have a bath. Pictured: a similar apartment in the Aykon London One tower with no bathroom The 50-storey Aykon London One tower in Nine Elms, Vauxhall, dubbed the 'Versace Tower' Ms Park is claiming her 381,000 deposit money, 131,000 rent she has paid since 2020, 150,000 over the sale of her house, which she says could have realised more if she had not hurried the sale through to meet the 2020 completion date, plus around 45,000 of additional losses. The company's lawyers are arguing that the brochure that Ms Park saw before putting her money down was for illustrative purposes only and made clear that what was being shown was simply an example of a 'typical layout'. Nazar Mohammad, for Ms Park, who runs an accountancy business in Surrey, told Judge Alan Johns that his client had agreed the deal in November 2015 and paid her deposit towards a purchase price of 1,524,400. 'The apartment was an 'off plan' purchase on the 29 floors facing the west and, when built, it would have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a bathtub in each critically,' he said. 'It was to be an open-plan layout. The defendant provided a plan appended to the sales and purchase agreement, and she signed the same plan.' The flat was meant to be ready to move into in 2020 and Ms Park sold her home in 2019 in preparation, he continued. But when it was finally ready in 2022 and she saw it, she was deeply unhappy. He told the judge that Ms Park refused to complete the purchase 'as the apartment was materially and manifestly different from the layout of the apartment as set out in the plan and description'. Example interior apartment image from promotional material for the Aykon London One tower. Ms Park claims the flat was 'materially different' from what she had seen in the brochure All of the interiors of the luxury tower block are designed by the haute couture fashion house Versace Lawyers for the developer said the images, like this one of a swimming pool, were used for illustrative purposes 'The defendant's expert and the defendant accept that the built apartment is not the same as the plan attached to the contract dated November 6, 2015.' He said 'irredeemable breaches' of the purchase contract include the fact that 'the utility cupboard impinges on the living space', which cannot be altered. Other alleged breaches, he said were that the second bedroom is smaller and 'the second bathroom has no bathtub'. Mr Mohammad said the brochure promised the apartment would 'represent the ultimate in luxury', complete with 'floor to ceiling windows and Panoramic views of London'. 'Without qualification, the brochure describes it as the ultimate in luxury and combines it with panoramic views. The expectation raised and the price demanded is matched,' he said. He accused the developer of 'misrepresentation' and having 'induced' the sale to Ms Park with the brochure and floor plan. He added: 'The court must not lose sight of the fact that this was a high specification, high-end apartment, and small/compact, for which the claimant agreed to pay a large sum of money. 'The issue for the court is whether the defendant acted within the terms of the contract when the variations to the structure and layout of the expected apartment were made, and whether these alterations were material. 'The claimant does not accept that the defendant is entitled to enforce the contract. The breaches of contract by the defendant are such that it has not delivered the bespoke apartment which she had an expectation to deliver.' In the witness box, Ms Park told the judge that it had been a 'lifetime decision' to splash out on the 1.5m designer apartment and it was to be her and her husband's 'main house until retirement'. The communal lounge area in the building was also designed by Versace A concept image of the AYKON Nine Elms tower before it was constructed The flats were advertised as the 'ultimate in luxury', complete with with panoramic views A swimming pool is raised high above London giving a broad vista of the city's skyline She insisted what she had seen in the brochure and plans before putting her money down were 'structural elements which should have been fixed.' But Rupert Cohen, cross-examining for the developers, said the brochure had shown example apartments and pointed out that 'at the top of each page...it says 'typical layout'.' 'You may call me careless, but I didn't see 'typical' as an important word,' she replied. Mr Cohen told the judge: 'Ms Park refused to complete and, instead, purported to rescind the contract by letter dated 14 October 2022. 'Subsequently, the defendant served notice to complete on 22 November 2022 and, following the claimant's failure to complete, a notice of termination on 9 January 2023. Ms Park issued these proceedings on 21 April 2023. 'The court is invited to grant the declarations sought in the counterclaim, namely that the contract has been terminated and the...payments forfeited to the defendant.' The case continues. NATO will 'step up' its contribution to global security, the alliance's head has insisted after American officials branded some member nations as 'pathetic' and 'free-loading'. Mark Rutte, the Secretary General, told Donald Trump that 'now is not the time to go alone' and that 'Europe needs to know that Uncle Sam still has our back.' The veteran politician - known as the 'Trump whisperer' in some circles - was speaking after the US President's inner circle privately expressed their 'loathing of European free-loading'. Vice President JD Vance said he hated 'bailing out Europe again' by launching airstrikes on the Houthi group in Yemen, while Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the continent's behaviour was 'pathetic'. Rutte's words will be seen as an attempt to calm any tensions between members of the alliance, which includes the UK, US, France, Germany and Canada. Speaking at the Warsaw School of Economics, he said: '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. 'When it comes to keeping Europe and North America safe, there is no alternative to NATO.' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks during a meeting with Donald Trump earlier this month US Vice President JD Vance said he hated 'bailing out Europe again' in leaked messages Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Europe's efforts were 'pathetic' Last week Trump admitted NATO was 'solid' and 'strong' but demanded they 'treat us fairly'. He has previously hinted that the US might abandon its commitment to the alliance, which was formed in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union, even if a member state was attacked. The first months of his second term as President has seen him ramp up pressure on NATO to increase defence spending as a share of GDP to five per cent, despite all member nations, including the US, sitting far below that level. However, his rhetoric has sparked a rethink for many governments around defensive self-sufficency, with EU leaders agreeing to jointly borrow 150billion - around 125billion - to lend to individual states for military expenditure. Officials have also proposed loosening European fiscal rules so that individuals nations can spend more on defence. UK Defence Secretary John Healey told Times Radio yesterday that the US had 'absolutely got a case' when it came to Europe failing to invest enough in its defence. Rutte also appeared to concede on the issue yesterday, saying that the US commitment to NATO came with a 'clear expectation' that Europe and Canada 'take more responsibility for our shared security'. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (L) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) Rutte said: 'This is not the time to go it alone, not for Europe or North America' Rutte is known as the 'Trump whisperer' in some circles Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said he was told by the alliance head that the US would 'always be ready to defend Poland and other Nato countries in a situation of threat'. Speaking alongside Rutte, he added: 'This stable confirmation that Nato is committed to defending Poland in every critical situation is very, very important to us here and I thank you once again for confirming this principle.' In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to hike defence spending to from 2.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard yesterday claimed that the Labour government were leading the way in responding to Trump's call. 'President Trump has challenged Europe to step up on defence. It's something that countries like the UK have been arguing for some time,' he told GB News. 'We are seeing European countries increasing their defence spending [and] coming together as part of the UK-led coalition of the willing effort to support our friends in Ukraine.' Earlier today Starmer and Rutte met in Paris to emphasise the UK's 'unwavering commitment to NATO as the cornerstone of our security'. A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'They discussed their enduring support for Ukraine, agreeing that Europe must do everything possible to keep them in the fight and keep up the pressure on Putin. 'Both acknowledged the vital role of the United States in forging a path towards a ceasefire agreement, and reiterated that Europe stands ready to support a durable and lasting peace when it comes.' Not all European leaders are on board with the Trump administration's rhetoric, however. Soldiers train as part of the new NATO Allied Reaction Force (ARF) British soldiers practice retreat under fire during an exercise in Romania Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani suggested Vance's comments showed that he 'doesn't know the background' around military operations in the region Vance and Hegseth's leaked comments sparked fury amongst some officials on the continent. One UK defence source told The Times that neither Britain nor other European countries had asked the US to hit Houthi targets in Yemen. 'It's sobering to see the way they speak about Europe when they think no one is listening,' a European diplomat told Politico. Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani suggested Vance's comments showed that he 'doesn't know the background' around military operations in the region and was still new to the role. Brianna Ghey's teenage killers told barefaced lies to the police after they were arrested for brutally stabbing the transgender schoolgirl with a hunting knife. In previously unseen footage, a stoic Scarlett Jenkinson can be seen responding to officers' questions with repeat lies as she denies all knowledge of the attack. Her accomplice Eddie Ratcliffe, also 15, appears calm but blames Jenkinson for what happened. The pair were later convicted of Brianna's murder in December 2023, following a three-week trial at Manchester Crown Court. It came after 16-year-old Brianna was sadistically knifed to death in a wooden area in Culcheth Linear Park. Newly released police interviews show Jenkinson first question why she is a suspect as police turn up to make the arrest and then later claim she 'didn't even find out about it til after it happened' and 'it was on the news'. She said: 'I was with Brianna on the day it happened.' The young killer then tried to claim Brianna had left her and Ratcliffe in the park, saying there was an argument. Newly released police interviews show Jenkinson (pictured) first question why she is a suspect as police turn up to make the arrest and then later claim she 'didn't even find out about it 'til after it happened' and 'it was on the news' Eddie Ratcliffe (pictured) said: 'We walked to the forest. I turned away to go to the toilet on a tree. And then I turned back around, I saw Scarlett stabbing Brianna, at least three times' Brianna Ghey was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife in Cheshire in February 2023 She added: 'I texted her like "Why have you just ditched me and Eddie?". She just didn't respond.' The shocking footage is set to air in a new ITV documentary tonight. Video clips also show Ratcliffe saying 'I can explain everything' in a calm voice as police turn up to arrest him before trying to blame Jenkinson in a subsequent police interview. He said: 'We walked to the forest. I turned away to go to the toilet on a tree. And then I turned back around, I saw Scarlett stabbing Brianna, at least three times. 'Stabbing her over and over.' Ratcliffe then goes on to act out the process of someone being stabbed. Elsewhere in the ITV documentary, testimony is given by Brianna's mother who describes the teen as 'lonely' and 'isolated'. She says: 'I was so concerned as to who Brianna was speaking to online.' Brianna's mother also described her first meeting with the mother of Scarlett Jenkinson as 'really emotional'. 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 Following the brutal murder of Brianna Ghey (left), her mother said to police: 'I knew this was going to happen' She added: 'It was just something that we really wanted. I think since that meeting I speak to her every week. 'I think it's really been healing not just for me but for Emma as well.' Yesterday, MailOnline revealed a chilling film showed Brianna help dye her killer's hair just weeks before she was lured to the park where she was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife. In the video, which will be screened for the first time on ITV tonight, 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. It comes after Jenkinson had befriended and become besotted with Brianna after she was placed in her class at Birchwood High School, in Warrington, in October 2022. Soon after luring her to the park, Jenkinson 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. 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 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 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'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 to 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. Vladimir Putin 'will die soon, and that's a fact' Volodymyr Zelensky declared confidently yesterday. Though the Ukrainian President did not offer evidence to back up the claim, it may not be as bold a statement as it first appears, with the 72-year-old Russian dictator plagued by rumours of ill health over recent months and years. Putin's physical appearance has also come under scrutiny, with pictures earlier this year of him with red eyes and a mystery bruise on his hand fuelling speculation that his health is deteriorating. Even more shocking images of the Russian leader in recent years have shown him with a prominent scar on his neck - sparking theories that he had undergone surgery for thyroid cancer. Reports also abounded around the start of the war in Ukraine that he was constantly accompanied by a specialist cancer doctor, while a US intelligence leak also appeared to confirm that he was undergoing chemotherapy. Other indicators of potential ill health include moments when he has appeared unsteady with his legs buckling, while other clips have seen him gripping a table and tapping his foot. Experts have speculated that he could be suffering from Parkinson's - a claim backed up by a former British intelligence chief who said contacts had informed him that something was 'fundamentally wrong' medically with the dictator. In 2022, the Kremlin was forced to deny rumours that Putin soiled himself after falling down a flight of stairs - reportedly defecating 'involuntarily' due to 'cancer affecting his stomach and bowels.' Moscow has always maintained that its leader is fit and well, and Putin has continued with his attempts to project a strongman image despite his obvious aging and often sickly appearance. Strange footage shows Vladimir Putin's legs twitching uncontrollably at a public event in November amid rumours he has Parkinson's disease It is not known why the 72-year-old Russian leader has this bruise, but he is believed to have long been in ailing health Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a candle during an Orthodox Easter service at the Christ the Saviour cathedral in Moscow early on April 16, 2023. A prominent 'scar' is seen on his neck Rumours have been circling for years that Putin (pictured gripping table during a meeting last month) has health problems, and they have intensified since he launched invasion of Ukraine Back in October, Moscow forced to rush out a statement denying Putin has health problems after he admitted undergoing regular examinations at a top Moscow hospital. The despot was speaking in a televised session with his health minister Mikhail Murashko aimed at encouraging people to have flu jabs. 'Doctors at the Central Clinical Hospital, where I undergo all sorts of regular examinations, also recommend getting vaccinated with domestically produced drugs,' said Putin. This immediately prompted speculation over the despot's medical condition - which his aides acted quickly to quash. State news agency TASS insisted that Putin 'has no health problems' as it emphasised his visits to a hospital known as the Kremlin Clinic were for normal check-ups. His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'He meant routine medical examinations.' But then in November, strange footage showed Putin's legs twitching uncontrollably at a public event amid rumours he has Parkinson's disease. He appeared unable to control his movements as he gave an hour-long speech at a podium in Astana, Kazakhstan. In the clip, the twitching seems to start in his left foot before affecting both his legs and feet. Putin then took a wider stance but continued to rock back onto his heels and move his legs. A bloated Vladimir Putin has been seen gripping a table whilst slouching in his chair during a televised meeting with his then-defence minister Sergei Shoigu in 2022 Last year, former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove suggested that Putin 'probably' has Parkinson's disease. Sir Richard, who was head of the British Secret Intelligence Service when Putin first came to power in 2000, told LBC his contacts believe the Russian President had the disease, which can seriously impact life expectancy. The former spymaster even suggested that paranoia - a symptom of Parkinson's - could have contributed to Putin's decision to dispose of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. He said Parkinson's 'of course has different representations, different variations, different seriousness,' but added: 'If the man is paranoid - and I think the murder of Navalny might suggest a certain paranoia - that is one of the symptoms.' Vladimir Putin (pictured) seen calling a 15-year-old girl from Ukraine's Donetsk region called Arina Porkhal as part of the New Year Tree of Wishes nationwide charity campaign in January Putin was seen with red eyes during a phone call in January and appeared to be wearing makeup In May 2022, leaked texts from an FSB officer stated that the Russian president had 'no more than two to three years' left to live. The claim, which emerged as part of a secret message from the Russian agent to fugitive and former FSB agent Boris Karpichkov, reportedly suggested Putin was suffering from a 'severe form of rapidly progressing cancer' and that he was also losing his sight. Claims of the Russian leader's terminal illness emerged as part of a secret message from the Russian agent to fugitive and former FSB agent Boris Karpichkov. The message warned Putin is refusing to wear glasses over fears it would admit a form of weakness, and he is now lashing out at his subordinates with 'uncontrolled fury'. Then in June of that year, Ukraine's intelligence chief Major General Kyrylo Budanov said Kyiv spies who infiltrated the Kremlin found the dictator suffers from multiple 'grave' illnesses. 'Putin doesn't have a long life ahead of him', Budanov said, estimating that he would only survive another two years at the most. The claims came around the time of a famous incident which saw the president slouching in his chair while gripping a table and slurring his words during a meeting with then-Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Putin's health also came into sharp focus during the pandemic when he took exceptional security measures with officials routinely quarantining for two weeks or longer before seeing him. The Kremlin was forced to deny Vladimir Putin, 72, has health issues after he said he undergoes 'all sorts of regular examinations' at Moscow's elite Central Clinical Hospital This also saw the introduction of his notorious long table - seemingly brought in to prevent guests from sitting anywhere near him. There were reports of him coughing incessantly, and his hands and feet making seemingly involuntary jerky movements, and on several occasions, he has appeared to walk with a limp. Leaks suggested he regularly travelled with a cancer surgeon in attendance while observers noted lengthy and mysterious absences from view, with 'canned' - pre-recorded - meetings broadcast to give the impression he was actively working. Last October, the General SVR Telegram channel, which regularly alleges Putin is terminally ill with cancer, alleged he suffered a 'cardiac arrest.' Vladimir Putin was caught on camera repeatedly itching his face on a visit to Ufa's new fencing center The channel said at the time that all recent appearances by the Russian dictator, including foreign visits, have been by a body double or doubles. It claimed that doctors resuscitated Putin and he was taken to a special intensive care facility at his official residence. 'Doctors performed resuscitation, having previously determined that the president was in cardiac arrest,' reported the channel. 'Help was provided on time, the heart was started and Putin regained consciousness.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, 'Everything is fine with him, this is absolutely another fake [rumor].' 'These [kinds of stories] belong to the category of fake news, discussed with enviable tenacity by a number of media outlets. This brings nothing but a smile [in the Kremlin].' Aside from allegations of ill-health, Putin is also rumoured to have undergone repeated botox treatments in an effort to appear youthful, appearing to itch his face in discomfort on a number of occasions. Two more people have been charged with murder after a teen was shot dead in South London. Lathaniel Burrell, aged 16, died at the scene as he sustained gunshot wounds in Paradise Road, SW4 on Tuesday, March 4. A 17-year-old boy from Peckham and a 30-year-old man from Lambeth were arrested on Tuesday, March 26. The younger suspect, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Meanwhile, a 30-year-old man, Jeffery Frimpong, of Smedley Street, Lambeth, was charged with murder. Both will appear at Croydon Magistrates' Court later today. Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee from the Specialist Crime Command, who is leading the investigation, said: 'These charges mark a significant milestone in the investigation. 'We continue to appeal for witnesses and for those with knowledge of this incident to come forward. Please be reassured that we will continue to investigate this matter and ensure that all offenders are brought to justice.' Lathaniel Burrell (pictured), aged 16, died at the scene as he sustained gunshot wounds in Paradise Road, SW4 on Tuesday, March 4 Relatives of the victim, who declined to give their names, have described the teenager as a Manchester United fan who enjoyed playing Playstation 5, and had one sibling, a sister The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene in Paradise Road, Stockwell, after police received reports of a shooting at around 3.20pm Previously, another unnamed 17-year-old boy and Omar Prempeh, 32, of Sunderland Road, Forest Hill, were charged with murder. They will next both appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday, May 29. Lathaniel is the latest young person to lose their life in a violent attack in recent months. In an unrelated incident in January, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death on a London bus in Woolwich. Aspiring drill rapper Kelyan Bokassa had been groomed by gangs and exposed to drugs before his death, his mother said. He was stabbed in front of horrified passengers on a route 472 bus in Woolwich at around 2.30pm in the afternoon. In another unrelated tragedy in July last year, a 15-year-old boy was 'assassinated' during a 'family fun day' in west London. Rene Graham was gunned down in broad daylight while surrounded by parents and children at Emslie Horniman's Pleasance open space - also known as 'Teletubbies Park' - in Ladbroke Grove at 7.20pm in the evening. The shooting, which witnesses claimed was preceded by the perpetrators firing bullets into the air to clear the crowds of people, took place outside 'Park Lime', an annual pre-Notting Hill Carnival event featuring DJs and stalls. Lathaniel is the latest young person to lose their life in a violent attack in recent months Floral tributes were left at the scene for the teenager, who was killed in Stockwell earlier in March Following this month's Stockwell attack, forensic teams were seen arriving at the station using torches to inspect the handrails and steps of escalators in the area. Superintendent Gabriel Cameron, who is leading the local policing response, said: 'This is an enormously shocking incident which I imagine will cause huge distress to the local community. 'Our thoughts are with the young boy's family at this devastating time. 'Local officers are on the scene gathering CCTV and speaking to witnesses to piece together what has happened. 'They will be supported by specialist homicide investigators shortly. 'Please rest assured we will work around the clock to identify and find those responsible.' Relatives of the victim, who declined to give their names, have described the teenager as a Manchester United fan who enjoyed playing Playstation 5, and had one sibling, a sister. A 16-year-old boy was shot in Stockwell prompting a strong police presence Officers received reports of a shooting on Paradise road at 3.21pm on Tuesday Arrests have since been made in connection with the shooting, which took place not far from Stockwell Tube station The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: 'My thoughts are with the family, friends and wider community in Stockwell following the shocking fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy. 'This abhorrent violence has absolutely no place in our city. 'I am in close contact with police leaders an investigation is underway to find those responsible and local residents will see increased patrols in the local area. 'I urge anyone with information to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. There is no honour in staying silent.' A London Ambulance Service spokesman had said on the day of the attack: 'We were called at 2.32pm today to reports of a shooting in Paradise Road, SW4. 'We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car, a paramedic from our tactical response unit and an incident response officer. 'We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance. 'Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.' Advertisement The return of Donald Trump to the White House in January unsurprisingly heralded a raft of rapid policy changes. But the US President's fixation on subsuming Greenland - the world's largest island adrift in icy seas - has the potential to fundamentally reshape the landscape of global security and trade as we know it. Trump has refused to rule out using military or economic action to acquire the island, leading some analysts to warn that Washington could even attempt to annex the territory in a move shockingly similar to that of Russia wresting control of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office yesterday, the US President made an alarming, if somewhat ambiguous, statement of intent. 'We need Greenland for national security and international security - so I think we'll go as far as we have to go. We need Greenland and the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark,' he said. 'If we don't have Greenland, we can't have good national security,' he concluded as his Vice President JD Vance geared up for a visit to a US military base at Pituffik in the island's north. The Vice President had planned to tour the island and attend a popular dog sled race tomorrow with his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance - but the event was cancelled after widespread anti-American protests from locals and claims the Vances' vacation-like engagements were concealing more sinister motives. Trump recently said his administration was working with 'people in Greenland' who 'want something to happen' with the US, claiming: 'They're calling us - we're not calling them.' But opinion polls have shown that nearly all Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States, and in recent weeks anti-American protesters have staged some of the largest demonstrations ever seen on the Arctic island. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has firmly opposed Trump's overtures since his return to office, praised Greenlanders' defiance of Washington amid the historic protests. 'The attention is overwhelming and the pressure is great, but it is in times like these that you show what you are made of,' she wrote in an address to the island's inhabitants. 'You have stood up for who you are.' Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen later piled on, declaring his nation 'would not let the United States decide what the Danish realm, including Greenland, should look like in the future'. Your browser does not support iframes. Trump appears to have his heart set on conquering Greenland by any means necessary The Vances will no longer attend a dog-sled race in Greenland amid widespread anti-American protests Icebergs float in the water off Nuuk, Greenland Protesters outside the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland Why is Greenland and the Arctic so important? More than two-thirds of Greenland's mass lies above the Arctic Circle, and the melting of polar ice is unlocking a treasure trove of previously untapped natural resources and new trade routes. It should therefore come as no surprise that the US under the entrepreneurial Trump, as one of the world's major economic powers, is plotting how best to take advantage. The Arctic's receding ice caps have revealed vast reserves of vital resources - the US Geological Survey estimates that the Arctic holds an estimated 90 billion barrels (roughly 15%) of the world's undiscovered conventional oil resources and some 40 billion barrels (roughly 30%) of its undiscovered conventional natural gas resources. The region is also flush with sorely needed rare earth minerals integral to the production of modern battery and microchip technology. Arctic conditions are ideal for maximising the benefit of renewable energy capture methods - the vast expanse is ripe for the construction of solar panels and wind turbines, and the huge seas present opportunities for marine turbines to produce hydroelectric power. Countries like Iceland and Finland already harness hydroelectric, wind and geothermal energy to satisfy almost all their energy needs alongside nuclear power. Additionally, the increasing accessibility of existing trade routes like the Northern Sea Route (NSR) - or the potential for new routes like the Transpolar Sea Route (TSR) - could drastically cut shipping times and fuel use. The distance from a northwestern European port to the Far East along the NSR, for example, is almost 40% shorter than the traditional route via the Suez Canal. And the melting of Arctic ice means more ships with reinforced hulls will be able to traverse regions that have historically been inaccessible - or at the very least the reserve of dedicated icebreakers. This makes shipping via the Arctic a highly attractive proposition for global trade with huge economic benefits for the countries involved. However, Trump's main argument as to why the United States must take control of Greenland is rooted first and foremost in national security. That is because, since World War II, the Arctic has also been seen as a highly strategic military theatre. Today, Russia's aggression in Ukraine and the rise of China as a dominant naval power has only served to validate this notion. US Vice President JD Vance speaks to Marines at Quantico Marine Base in Quantico, Virginia, USA, 26 March 2025 Nagurskoye, Russia's northernmost military outpost sits on the 80th parallel North, projecting power over wide swathes of Arctic amid an intensifying international rivalry over the polar region's vast resources The US Army's 1st Brigade, 11th Airborne, operating out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska The 50 Let Pobedy [50th Anniversary of Victory] nuclear-powered icebreaker operated by Atomflot makes its way through the frozen waters of the Gulf of Ob, the Kara Sea Image shows Russia's new nuclear submarine during a flag-rising ceremony led by Vladimir Putin at the Arctic port of Severodvinsk on December 11, 2023 During the Second World War, the US occupied Greenland to ensure it did not fall into the hands of Nazi Germany, and to protect crucial North Atlantic shipping lanes. Then during the Cold War, both the US and Soviet Union learned the fastest way to deploy nuclear weapons was to fire their missiles across the Arctic - a realisation that led to a dramatic expansion of military infrastructure in the High North. The US has retained bases in Greenland since the war, and the Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Force Base, supports missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for the US and NATO. Greenland also guards part of what is known as the GIUK Gap (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom), where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic. Trump's push to consolidate US control over Greenland, while undoubtedly very controversial, is therefore not without reason - particularly at a time when Washington's rivals are jockeying for influence in the Arctic. Greenland is also seen as a key location in China's 'Polar Silk Road' - part of its global Belt and Road Initiative that aims to expand Beijing's economic influence across the world. Meanwhile, Russia - by far the most logistically and technologically capable nation when it comes to negotiating the harsh Arctic conditions - has openly labelled the Arctic 'a zone of national and strategic interest'. In his end-of-year press conference in 2023, Putin said that the Arctic 'has a special, strategic significance for us', describing it as a region with 'enormous economic, energy, logistics and security opportunities' and 'an indisputable priority.' This global race for influence in the Arctic has led analysts and experts to predict that the polar region's importance will only continue to grow. 'Let us be clear: we are soon entering the Arctic Century, and its most defining feature will be Greenland's meteoric rise, sustained prominence and ubiquitous influence,' said Dwayne Menezes, managing director of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative. 'Greenland - located on the crossroads between North America, Europe and Asia, and with enormous resource potential - will only become more strategically important, with all powers great and small seeking to pay court to it.' Donald Trump Jr. visits Nuuk, Greenland, on January 7, 2025, amid calls from his father, president-elect Donald Trump, for the US to acquire Greenland Russia's President Vladimir Putin attending a flag-rising ceremony at the new Imperor Alexander III and Krasnoyarsk nuclear submarines at Sevmash shipyard in the Arctic port of Severodvinsk on December 11, 2023 This 2019 aerial photo provided by ConocoPhillips shows an exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska's North Slope Oil production facility is seen close to Alaska's Arctic wildlife reserve Russia is already ahead While the West faces numerous challenges in asserting its interests in the High North, Russia, which has the largest Arctic coastline, has strategically positioned itself at the front of the race for Arctic dominance. One of the key areas where Russia has taken the lead is in icebreaker technology. Icebreakers are indispensable tools in navigating the Arctic's icy waters, and Russia boasts the world's largest and most advanced fleet, exemplifying its commitment to controlling new shipping routes and exploiting new arenas for resource extraction. 'Russia has a significant advantage [in the Arctic] level with dozens of active icebreakers, including nuclear-powered variants. China is also building up its fleet,' RAND Europe defence analyst and European security expert Nicolas Jouan said. 'The UK and the US respectively have one and two active icebreakers. This is probably the key capability gap between NATO and its competitors at the moment.' The final declaration of the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington did not so much as mention the Arctic as an area of interest. Meanwhile Russia has invested huge funds into the development of military infrastructure in the Arctic Circle since 2014. More than 50 Soviet-era Arctic bases including airfields, radar stations, cargo ports, missile launch pads and naval yards have been renovated, while others - including dozens of airfields in the Kola Peninsula some 200 miles east of Finland - have been expanded to host larger forces, including nuclear bombers and missiles. Some have been adapted to house Moscow's state-of-the-art military technology - the Plesetsk Cosmodrome was used in 2021 for a test-launch of Russia's latest satellite-killer missile and was in 2022 used to launch Sarmat-2, one of its most fearsome intercontinental ballistic missiles. And Russia's nuclear arsenal is embedded within its Northern Fleet - the headquarters of which are located in Severomorsk, a city within the Arctic Circle. Rob Clark, a British Army veteran who now heads the defence research team at UK think-tank Civitas, told MailOnline: 'We need to wake up to the threat posed by Russian expansion in the Arctic while all eyes are on Ukraine, Russia is testing new-age nuclear subs and hypersonic missiles in the Arctic and building up its presence in the region.' But not only is Russia enhancing its technological and military capabilities to the north - it is also working to destabilise the operations of other Arctic nations via a mix of cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Alaska, Norway, Canada and Finland have all suffered a spate of what they say were Russian-authored cyberattacks in the past three years, with other territories such as Iceland and Greenland reporting a surge in 'suspicious internet traffic' since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The distance from a northwestern European port to the Far East along the Northeast Sea Route is almost 40% shorter than the traditional route via the Suez Canal. Other sea routes are becoming more accessible for more of the year Russia's new Alexander III nuclear submarine is pictured during a flag-rising ceremony led by Russia's President at the Arctic port of Severodvinsk on December 11, 2023 A Mikoyan MiG-29KUB carrier-based multirole trainer aircraft of the Russian Northern Fleet's naval aviation lands at the Severomorsk-3 airfield in the Arctic Circle The launch of an 'unstoppable' Zircon nuclear-capable Mach 9 hypersonic missile from Russia's Admiral Gorshkov frigate in Barents Sea on May 28, 2022. There is also the possibility that Moscow could deploy submarines or submersibles to cut vital fibre optic undersea cables, dealing unprecedented damage and disruption to Western infrastructure, logistics and communications amid an escalation in future conflict. As regards trade and resource extraction, Russia lays claim to ownership and control over the majority of the Northern Sea Route, the most accessible Arctic shipping path which could become a new thoroughfare for international trade. The route runs along Russia's Arctic coast and therefore falls within Russia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), allowing the country to assume control of shipping activities, navigation and resource exploitation, as per Article 234 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Foreign vessels therefore have to seek permission to navigate in these waters and are helped on their way by Russian icebreakers - paying fees to Russian authorities for the trouble. This is a major point of contention for many territories, including the United States, which has argued - so far unsuccessfully - that large parts of the NSR should be considered international waters. And amid torrid relations with the West, the NSR offers Putin a way to ship its natural resources and other exports to China, India and other buyers in the East with no interference from the US or Europe. As the ice continues to recede and other shipping routes become more accessible, Russia's longtime focus on Arctic strategy and infrastructure will grant it considerable influence in shaping the future of global commerce. The US Army's grueling Alaska war games where troops are trained to fight in sub-zero temperatures The Russian '50 Years of Victory' nuclear-powered icebreaker is seen at the North Pole on August 18, 2021 A picture shows the manufacturing of a RITM-200 nuclear reactor, the latest reactor for the icebreaker fleet, at ZiO-Podolsk Machine-Building Plant, an enterprise of Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom machine-building unit, in the town of Podolsk in the Moscow region on December 5, 2023 China is trying to muscle in China, which has the world's biggest army by personnel, describes itself as a 'near-Arctic state'. Despite not having any right to sovereignty over any Arctic waters or continental shelves, China is classed as an 'observer' to the Arctic Council - the group of eight Arctic states comprised of Canada, Denmark (via Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. For these reasons, China's efforts to stake a claim in the High North are completely unjust in the eyes of many. But Beijing has both the means and motivation to become a major player in the development of the Arctic and the race to attain access to its natural resources and trading routes. China is at the forefront of permafrost research and polar technology, because large parts of the country - particularly the Tibetan plateau to the West and South - are covered in ice year-round. This means Beijing has invested heavily in developing infrastructure designed to operate in freezing conditions and is in the process of building more icebreakers to add to its burgeoning fleet. And it is possible that Putin, given the Kremlin's reliance on China as an economic and trading partner and key political ally, could seek to offer President Xi Jinping favourable deals for access to a region where he has no outright territorial claim. Cultivating influence in the High North and access to developing Arctic waterways is paramount for Beijing, which at present is forced to conduct the bulk of its trade through a series of key chokepoints not under its control. One such location is the Strait of Malacca - a strategic bottleneck bordered by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, all of whom are partnered with the US. FILE PHOTO: China's aircraft carrier Liaoning takes part in a military drill of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the western Pacific Ocean FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping China is at the forefront of permafrost research and polar technology (pictured: Lhoka, Tibet Autonomous Region, China) In an interview with former British diplomat Arthur Snell, the director of the Brookings Institution's Foreign Policy programme Bruce Jones said: 'China is hugely dependent on the flow of resources through critical waterways... right now the United States dominates all the major chokepoints flowing into the South China Sea. 'That's a huge vulnerability for China,' he said, adding that developing naval power and being at the forefront of Arctic development to secure favourable trading passages are among the Chinese Communist Party's key priorities. Like Russia, China has bought up real estate in Arctic nations and also maintains a series of satellite bases and antenna arrays. These are ostensibly for research purposes but likely have a dual military use. China also argues, along with other countries, that it should be involved in discussions at the highest level on the ecological impact of Arctic development because of the potential harm rising sea levels could deal to massive coastal cities like Shanghai. Nicolas Jouan told MailOnline: 'China's participation to the Arctic Council as an observer is in and of itself fair play considering the presence of many other countries whose territories are quite remote from the Arctic. 'There is however a conversation to have on what this observer status concretely implies... The partnership between Russia and China can rightly make Western countries uncomfortable considering the two nations' assertive stances on resource exploitation and militarisation of the region.' Can Arctic nations rally together? Though multiple world powers appear intent on seizing Arctic dominance, there is no real conflict, or even overt competition, in the High North at present. Despite relations between East and West being at their lowest ebb in decades, Arctic cooperation has continued. But the status quo is almost certain to change in the coming years as climate change continues to erode the ice and the prospect of capitalising on what the Arctic has to offer becomes more tangible. Before this happens, experts believe there is an opportunity for other Arctic nations - all of which are Western-aligned countries - to work together and effectively counterbalance any threat that may arise from the East. Should the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO go ahead uninhibited, then seven of the eight Arctic nations will be members of the bloc. This could greatly enhance the Arctic Council's ability to set forth a more rigorous, multilateral security approach to tackle Russian technological and military dominance, and make up for any one country's shortcomings. FILE PHOTO: Areas of ice are seen as the airplane carrying U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken approaches Kangerlussuaq Airport in Greenland, Thursday, May 20, 2021 Scientists drive their snowmobiles cross the arctic towards Kongsfjord during sunset near Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, April 10, 2023 Nicolas Jouan also argued that Moscow may not be so inclined to work with Beijing in the polar region despite the recent ramping up of Sino-Russian cooperation, and urged Western governments to capitalise on any discord between the two giants. 'We should not overestimate the strength of the partnership between Russia and China, which ultimately relies on the personal relations between their respective leaders and on geopolitical circumstances.' He said that Russia is obstinate with regards to its control, 'both of the Northern Sea Route and more generally of its perceived rights on the Arctic and will not take well an always more active role of China in the region'. 'Western countries could play this to their advantage by finding potential common grounds with China on trade routes and resource access to challenge Russia,' he concluded. Establishing governance of the Arctic is another challenge facing all players. Each member of the Arctic Council has sovereign rights over their territory and EEZ. But according to the UNCLOS and international law, all parts of the Arctic outside the EEZs are classed as international waters or high seas. A huge swathe of territory around the North Pole - including much of the Transpolar Sea Route that could become a future artery of global trade - is therefore open to free navigation, fishing, resource exploration and overflight by any and all parties, leaving the door ajar for a potentially violent conflict for control and influence in these regions as and when they become accessible. As a result, many experts advocate for the development of more concrete governance structures in the Arctic to provide a legal and regulatory framework in which to settle future disputes and discourage nefarious attempts for land and resource grabs. The Arctic Council serves as the primary forum for Arctic governance, but the Council's mandate is largely advisory, lacking the legal teeth to enforce regulations or resolve disputes and allowing for assertive actions by individual member states. Whether council members can agree upon a reinforced framework to promote good governance of the Arctic and protect against wanton exploitation of the High North remains to be seen. A young couple have lost everything just days into their six month lap of Australia after their mobile home burst into flames. Content creator Isabelle Scherrer and her partner Dave Angus packed all their belongings into a caravan and left Adelaide on Monday. By Thursday, the couple had made it to the Eyre Peninsula 650km away, where disaster struck. Ms Scherrer, 28, had gotten out of the van to help direct her partner to reverse when she suddenly noticed smoke and heard the fire alarm. 'I saw thick smoke pouring out of the vent above the caravan front door,' she wrote online. 'We quickly got our three pups to safety, unhooked our car, and my partner tried to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher but it was too late. 'The smoke was overwhelming and it was too dangerous to be inside the van with no visibility ... due to the extent of the fire.' The quick-thinking couple pulled their portable gas bottles from the caravan and called triple-0, but their mobile home was incinerated within minutes. Dave Angus and Izzy Scherrer have lost everything but the clothes on their backs after their caravan burned down four days into their dream trip Izzy noticed smoke billowing from the caravan trailer just days into their six month adventure 'All we could do was watch as everything we owned burned to the ground,' Ms Scherrer said. The pair were thankful to escape the blaze unscathed. Their dogs Lucy, Buddy, and Axel were also unharmed. The trip had been 'months' in the making with the couple planning to continue their work online while travelling across the country. They estimate $25,000 worth of possessions perished in the blaze, including cameras, drones, clothes, jewellery, passports, and sentimental items. The pair had also been towing an inflatable boat, outboard motor, and thousands of dollars in fishing, snorkelling and surfing gear, which are also now gone. Their insurance policy only covered their contents to $1,000. 'We spent hours searching through the debris but the only distinguishable personal effects were a burnt passport and a Valentine's Day photo album,' Ms Scherrer said. The trip was meant to be a fresh start after Mr Angus' building company collapsed last year. The pair had packed all their belongings into the mobile home before embarking on the trip Ms Scherrer said nothing was salvageable except a single photo album The couple lost $25,000 worth of possessions in the blaze 'This trip was meant to be a fresh start for us. We recently lost our company due to non-payment by a developer,' Ms Scherrer said. 'Even after winning a lengthy legal battle, we received nothing because the developer had no assets to liquidate. 'We chose to turn that hardship into something positive by embarking on a trip in our caravan, only for this to happen.' The pair are now awaiting advice from their insurance company. Ms Scherrer has launched a GoFundMe page as the couple scrambled to make alternative arrangements. The couple's dogs, Lucy, Buddy, and Axel escaped the blaze unharmed 'We are hoping to raise funds to help replace some of what was lost. Today, we went to Kmart to purchase some clothes and toiletries as we were literally left with what was on our backs,' she wrote. 'We have booked an Airbnb for a few days to figure out our next steps and while we await advice from the insurance company. 'Were staying strong and grateful that we and our pups are safe. Thank you so much for any help you can offer.' A father-of-two drove around with a 1million winning lottery ticket in his car for four months - and only found it when he was looking for a half-eaten packet of crisps. Darren Burfitt had a few lottery tickets stashed in his car for safe keeping but never got around to checking them. But after friends and family heard an appeal to find a missing millionaire from the EuroMillions draw, he was convinced to check his numbers. The 44-year-old from Swansea said: 'When my son asked for a packet of crisps I didn't want to open a new bag. 'We often end up with half-open bags of crisps and I knew there was a packet which he hadn't finished in the car so I said I would pop out and get this one for him. 'I decided to grab my National Lottery tickets at the same time, went back into the house and started to scan each one on The National Lottery app on my phone.' Darren said he was made up when one of the tickets pinged as he scanned it and discovered he had won 3.60. He said: 'One of the tickets was particularly creased so I thought I would leave that one until the end. Darren Burfitt, 44, and wife Gemma, 34, (pictured) won 1million in the National Lottery and plan to buy their first home together Darren and his family were travelling to a caravan holiday when he picked up the winning EuroMillions ticket for the draw on October 18 last year Gemma said: 'I just could never imagine having this much money it is an unreal feeling' 'It was so crumpled it wouldn't scan so I had to bring up the draw details and read the results. 'I couldn't quite believe it when I did. In fact, I still cannot believe it now. 'I just kept looking at the date and then the matching EuroMillions Millionaire Maker code. 'I just could not comprehend what I was seeing!' As the news sunk in, it slowly dawned on Darren that he'd left his car unlocked every day for the last four months and anyone could have stolen his winning ticket. Darren said: 'My car is honestly a shed on wheels, held together with mud. 'It has almost no value, so I never bother to lock it! I dread to think what could have happened to that winning ticket!' Darren and his family were travelling to a caravan holiday when he picked up the winning EuroMillions ticket for the draw on October 18 last year. He bought the ticket from a Morrisons Daily in the tiny village of Penllergaer in Wales. The couple bought the ticket from a Morrisons Daily in the village tiny Welsh of Penllergaer Gemma said: 'We love our lives and enjoy great caravan holidays but this just takes things to another level and allows us to do even more as a family' Darren dreams of a trip to see The Ashes in Australia but a new home and pick-up truck are first on the couple's list Darren's wife, Gemma, a teaching assistant, was away overnight when Darren discovered his win. He said: 'When I called Gemma my voice was shaking so much and she was convinced something had happened to one of the children. 'I said no we have won one million pounds! But she just wouldn't believe me!' The couple, who also have a six-year-old daughter, are now planning to buy their first home together and a truck to replace their Citroen car. Darren said: 'I keep dreaming of a trip to see The Ashes in Australia but a pick-up truck is first on the list. 'The kids will love the pick-up and it will enable us to go on even more adventures as a family!' Gemma, 34, added, 'I just could never imagine having this much money it is an unreal feeling. 'I literally have to keep pinching myself thinking it is a dream which I will wake up from! 'We love our lives and enjoy great caravan holidays but this just takes things to another level and allows us to do even more as a family. 'It changes everything and we can finally buy a home of our own. It is going to give us so much security for our future and our children's future.' A French supermarket security guard has been fired for 'unacceptable violence' after he was caught on camera beating a woman accused of shoplifting. The shocking act of violence erupted early Tuesday evening at the Carrefour Market in Mantes-la-Jolie, Yvelines, roughly 35 miles west of Paris. Footage circulating on social media shows how a security guard punched the woman in the face and grabbed her neck with both hands, before pushing her to the ground. 'Let go of me, let go of me,' the shopper yelled in a panic as the guard demanded that she remove her bag. He is heard shouting 'take out what you put in the bag!' and asking a colleague to 'call the police'. The woman, who was screaming and struggling to escape his grasp, appears to have slapped her attacker. The guard seemingly responded by hitting her back and asking: 'Why are you hitting me?' The woman had allegedly stolen bottles of alcohol, a police source told 78 News, adding that she was 'the subject of a CRPC (appearance on prior admission of guilt) prosecution by the public prosecutor'. The supermarket, however, has condemned the security guard's 'intolerable act' of violence, which it says is not in aligned with Carrefour's values. The store manager has reportedly filed a complaint against the guard and his employer, and will be terminating his contract with the grocer. The shocking act of violence erupted early Tuesday evening at the Carrefour Market in Mantes-la-Jolie, Yvelines, roughly 35 miles west of Paris. Footage circulating on social media shows how a security guard punched the woman in the face and grabbed her neck with both hands, before pushing her to the ground 'Let go of me, let go of me,' the shopper yelled in a panic as the guard demanded that she remove her bag. He is heard shouting 'take out what you put in the bag!' and asking a colleague to 'call the police' The violent attack occurred at the checkout at Carrefour Market in Mantes-la-Jolie around 6.30pm Tuesday. The clip circulating online, which does not show the moments leading up to the alleged assault, appears to show a security guard beating a customer whom he suspected of theft. Although the woman allegedly stole from the supermarket, the company has said the guard's 'gesture is intolerable'. 'Carrefour condemns in the strongest possible terms the unacceptable violence suffered by this young woman in one of our franchised stores. This intolerable act is contrary to Carrefour's values,' the French retail group posted on X. 'The manager of this store is filing a complaint against the security guard and the security company that employs him, and is terminating his contract.' Carrefour added that police are investigating the incident and working to 'determine the exact circumstances of what we can see in the video' 'Our franchisee is fully cooperating with the authorities,' the statement added. Management at the supermarket's Mantes-la-Jolie franchise declined the news outlet's request for comment. The clip circulating online, which does not show the moments leading up to the alleged assault, appears to show a security guard beating a customer whom he suspected of theft The private security agent's code of ethics states that guards must 'never use violence, even minor violence', Le Parisien reports. If a security guard is unable to resolve a conflict 'amicably' with a individual who 'does not want to submit to legally carried out checks and inspections', the agent must call police. The code states that security guards can only strike another person in an instance of self-defence. The police investigation will aim to determine whether or not the officer acted in self-defence during the alleged assault at Carrefour Market. A primary school teacher sued for race discrimination after a colleague put on a Caribbean accent and said 'Totally Tropical Taste' to imitate a soft drink advert catchphrase. Trainee Ikhals Yousif said a woman assigned to be her mentor put on a 'foreign accent' to impersonate the slogan from the memorable Lilt advert of the 1980s and 1990s when asked whether she wanted something from the shops. After doing the impression, the woman then asked, 'Is that appropriate now?' - and made a comment to imply the advert was 'racially inappropriate', an employment tribunal heard. After Ms Yousif was dismissed for failing her probation, she took legal action against the school, accusing them of race discrimination and harassment. But now an employment judge has ruled that, while the remark was 'ill-judged', it was not 'malicious' nor connected to Ms Yousif's race. They noted the 'branding and advertising' referenced the Caribbean - whereas Ms Yousif is Iraqi Middle Eastern. The catchphrase 'totally tropical taste' was used to promote the fizzy drink which was said to be 'inspired by the flavours of the Caribbean'. The tribunal, held in Croydon in south London, heard Ms Yousif started working as a Newly Qualified Teacher at Ashley Church of England Primary School - run by the Good Shepherd Trust - in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in October 2020. A primary school teacher sued for race discrimination after a colleague put on a Caribbean accent and said 'Totally Tropical Taste' to imitate a soft drink advert catchphrase (pictured) Ikhals Yousif, who brought the case, had started working as a Newly Qualified Teacher at Ashley Church of England Primary School (pictured) in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 2020 The tribunal heard that in June 2021, Ms Yousif was having a conversation with her mentor, named only as Ms Athersuch in the judgement. During the interaction, another member of staff asked Ms Athersuch if she would like anything from the shops. In response, Ms Athersuch said that she wanted some Lilt and then 'imitated the 1980s/90s advert, putting on a Caribbean accent and saying totally tropical taste', the hearing was told. After making the remark, Ms Athersuch was then said to have made a comment along the lines of 'Is that appropriate now?' The tribunal heard that later that month, the school became concerned that Ms Yousif was taking time off from work without telling the truth about the reason for her absences. She was asked to meet with bosses to discuss her progress but responded by accusing them of race discrimination. In an email she write: 'I feel it is highly discriminative because I have seen peers and colleagues at the same level, contributing similar levels of effort and capability pass their NQT, the only discrepancy between them and I is purely my ethnicity.' Ms Yousif was informed that she had not been successful in completing her NQT year and that she would be subject to a further extension - but this would not be accommodated at Ashley School. Trainee teacher Ikhals Yousif's case following her dismissal was heard by judges at an employment tribunal (pictured) in Croydon, south London The teacher was then sent a letter some days later, confirming the termination of her employment and stating that her probation period had been unsuccessful. In response, Ms Yousif sent a formal grievance letter to the school - which was not upheld. The teacher sent an appeal letter and raised the 'Lilt incident' for the first time but her complaints were again dismissed. Ms Yousif took the school to the tribunal, alleging race discrimination and harassment, amongst other claims. Employment Judge Camini Kumar said: 'We have found that Ms Athersuch said 'totally tropical taste' whilst imitating a Caribbean accent in [Ms Yousif's] presence. 'We have further found that she subsequently made a comment suggesting she realised that the historical Lilt advertising campaign was racially inappropriate. 'We do not conclude that the Lilt incident was connected to [Ms Yousif's] race. 'Whilst an ill-judged comment on Ms Athersuch's part generally and in the context of a workplace, we accepted as genuine Ms Athersuch's explanation that it was a comment that she would make to others in relation to the drink Lilt, copying the advertisement that had previously appeared on TV. Employment tribunal judges noted that while 'branding and advertising' by Lilt in their TV promotion (pictured) referenced the Caribbean, Ms Yousif is Iraqi Middle Eastern 'We note that the branding and advertising referenced the Caribbean whereas [Ms Yousif] is Iraqi Middle Eastern.' It was heard that Ms Yousif tried to argue that the comment was made because her partner had 'Caribbean heritage', but this was dismissed by the panel who said Ms Athersuch was 'not aware' of this. Dismissing her claim, EJ Kumar added: 'We do not find that the faux Caribbean accent, however ill-judged, was directed at the claimant or that it was intended to be malicious either to [Ms Yousif] or to anyone else.' The judge did uphold one claim of victimisation, after they found that the school dismissed Ms Yousif after she accused them of race discrimination in her email. They said this was a protected act and she was subjected to a detriment as a result of this - and also highlighted how she had already been told that she would be staying on for another year. A remedy hearing to decide her compensation will take place at a later date. Other claims made by Ms Yousif were dismissed. In 2023, Lilt was rebranded as Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit. Detectives investigating the death of French toddler Emile Soleil have revealed horrific details today of how they believe the toddler died as they issued a series of bombshell developments in the case. Prosecutor Jean-Luc Bachon told reporters that his team was still exploring the likelihood Emile was attacked by a 'third party' when he vanished in July 2023. He said scars found on the skull recovered last March were 'suggestive of violent facial trauma'. Investigators believe that Emile's bones would have been moved shortly before they were found near a river in the Alpine hamlet of Haut-Vernet in March last year. After months of detailed forensic work, they have now concluded that Emile's body did not decompose in the clothes they found a month later. Experts believe the remains could have been positioned in gruesome staging, previously confidential reports revealed this week suggest. Mr Bachon spoke after Emile's grandparents, who were looking after him when he vanished from their holiday home, were released from custody having been detained on suspicion of voluntary homicide and concealing a corpse this week. The prosecutor clarified today that the line of inquiry involving the family was just 'one among others', while noting that the family trail has 'not yet been closed'. He said that the investigation had reached a stage 'where it became necessary to confront and enlighten the people most affected' by the tragedy. The four were arrested 'in light of the results of the expert reports', he said. Emile Soleil went missing from a sleepy Alpine village in France in 2023 Philippe Vedovini and his wife 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 Mr Bachon also revealed a set back in the investigation, as the blood-coated planter found near the Saint Martin chapel on Sunday 'did not contain any evidence likely to advance the investigations'. Colonel Christophe Berthelin assured some 15 investigators have been working every day since the July 2023 disappearance to understand what happened to the child. More have been brought in to assist in since the discovery of his remains last year. Investigators have already carried out 287 witness interviews, combed 285 hectares of land and pulled together more than 60 expert missions to analyse the findings. Mr Bachon and Col Berthelin spoke at a press conference today after the grandparents and two of their adult children, who were not named, were released from custody. In France, people can be placed under arrest for questioning while police investigate. It does not mean that legal proceedings will necessarily be brought against them. The custody period for Philippe and Anne Vedovini, both 59, came to an end early on Thursday morning following 72 hours of questioning about Emile Soleil, who was two when he died. On Tuesday, the Vedovinis were arrested in dawn raids along with two of their adult children, identified as Emile's aunt and uncle. Marie and Colomban Soleil, parents of Emile, arrive at the funeral ceremony in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, southern France, on February 8, 2025 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 All faced charges of 'intentional homicide' and 'concealing a corpse', said a statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors. But at 5am on Thursday the four were released from the secure gendarmerie in Marseille where they were being held. The mystery deepened as it emerged yesterday that the family's Roman Catholic priest who baptised Emile before he went missing had 'taken his own life', according to reports. Father Claude Gilliot, 85, is said to have died from a 'massive overdose' last Saturday week at his home in Aix-en-Provence, French media reports. Claims have been made that he fell out with the Vedovinis before his death. Father Gilliot had frequently expressed his emotional angst during the saga. The priest was once very close to Emile's grandparents, along with two of their 10 adult children. 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. Two-year-old Emile Soleil who vanished in the French Alpine hamlet of Le Vernet in July 2023 Grandfather Philippe Vedovini at the funeral of little Emile in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume on February 8, 2025 Gendarme stand outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil on Tuesday Father Gilliot (pictured, undated) is believed to have taken his own life Your browser does not support iframes. There was a very public fallout with Emile's maternal grandfather, with insults exchanged, resulting in the family boycotting the Aix-en-Provence chapel where Father Gilliot officiated. Speaking outside the gendarmerie after her client was released, Mr Vedovini's lawyer Isabelle Colombani said: 'After 17 hours of questioning, today, the custody has been lifted. 'It's a relief for them, and for their lawyers too. I have never been too worried. I thought we could explain everything. There were maybe some grey areas to clear up, but that's it.' Julien Pinelli, Ms Vedovini's defence barrister, said: 'My client's custody has been lifted, which is naturally a huge relief. She is walking away free.' He said Emile's grandmother 'wanted to participate in what could naturally be seen as an ordeal, but she did so because she felt it was also her contribution to this investigation, the results of which she is now awaiting.' There was no immediate statement from Aix-en-Provence prosecutors, or judicial police, who are in charge of the investigation. They could initially hold the four family members for a maximum of 72 hours, but can renew the custody period at any time in the future, as the investigation continues. Enquiry sources have confirmed that the Vedovinis, who were looking after Emile when he went missing, were arrested following months of police wire taps. Emile (pictured) was last seen wearing a yellow T-shirt and white shorts, investigators said at the time Mr Vedovini pictured at the funeral of Emile Soleil on February 8, 2025 A gendarme stands outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil on March 25 Conversations between them and other family members were all secretly listened to, while enquiries were conducted around their lives. At the time of Emile's disappearance, Mr Vedovini 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 off from the property in Haut-Vernet. 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. 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. 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. Both remain devout Roman Catholics who brought up 10 children, including Emile's mother, who is now known by her married name of Marie Soleil. Her husband is Colomban Soleil, 27, who is Emile's father. Emile's parents have not been arrested in relation to the current murder enquiry. A British Sky News reporter doggedly pursued Marjorie Taylor Greene after the Donald Trump ultra-loyalist shut her down and told her to 'go back to your country', new footage shows. The Republican firebrand, 50, aimed more insults at a British journalist - and the UK - during the extraordinary encounter in Washington DC, MailOnline can reveal. Martha Kelner has admitted to being 'bruised' by the experience and joked: 'I've been Marjoried'. 'A lot of people describe Marjorie Taylor Greene as an attack dog. She is certainly a very vociferous defender of Donald Trump and Trumpism and MAGA politics', Ms Kelner has said. Their live TV row began when she asked if Ms Taylor Greene 'cared about American lives being put at risk' by the Signal chat scandal. 'We dont give a c**p about your opinion and your reporting. Why dont you go back to your country? Dont you care about how your women are raped by migrants?', MTG, as she is known in the United States, replied. But MailOnline can reveal that the skirmish continued after the irate Georgia Republican representative abruptly ended her press conference after she refused to answer questions from the reporter because she is British. Ms Kelner followed her down a corridor and again asked if American lives were put at risk by the leak of messages detailing American strikes on Yemen. MTG then slammed the UK and said: 'Your country is going to have your military observers and risk lives fighting a war in Ukraine that is not even a member of NATO'. Martha then asked if her display was an 'exercise in deflection'. MTG replied: 'No this is an exercise in you worry about your own country'. The moment Martha Kelner pursues Marjorie Taylor Greene after she refused to answer her questions because she is British A visibly angry MTG said that Britain was putting its servicemen and women are risk in Ukraine 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'. The British journalist also asked whether Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defense blamed for the leak should resign, to which MTG said: 'Absolutely not, he's doing a great job'. Marjorie once famously told David Cameron to 'kiss my a**' and Greene had previously told a British journalist to 'go back to your country' in 2022. She went nuclear when the Sky News reporter asked if leaked messages put American lives at risk. When hearing Martha was not American, she asked which country she has come 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 When hearing Martha was not American, she asked which country she has come 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?' 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 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. Modern police officers frequently lack an investigative mindset and miss crucial chances to bring criminals to justice, a damning watchdog report found today. A new model introduced by many forces over the last decade has categorised some officers as response officers who respond to 999 calls but are not required to investigate crimes. His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman said this had discouraged these officers from developing the attitude and skills needed to catch offenders. He noted the theory of the 'golden hour', which refers to the period in the immediate aftermath of a crime where police have a chance to collect evidence that could otherwise be lost, destroyed or altered. The report follows numerous complaints that police officers are failing to investigate crimes like shoplifting, burglary and vehicle theft. In the UK last year, less than a fifth of recorded shoplifting offences resulted in a charge or summons, compared to 4.3 per for burglary and 2.8 per for vehicle theft. Mr Freeman said response officers' lack of investigative abilities could have even more 'disastrous consequences' for more serious offences, including murder. He mentioned the case of 'Grindr killer' Stephen Port, who killed four young men during a 16-month period between 2014 and 2015 after poisoning them with lethal doses of a date rape drug. Your browser does not support iframes. His Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman said investigative failings were allowing criminals like 'Grindr killer' Stephen Port to go free The bodies of Port's victims were found dumped in this churchyard. Officers wrongly concluded their deaths were not suspicious The bodies of all four men were found dumped in public within a short distance of each other. But their deaths were not regarded as suspicious until weeks after the fourth murder - leaving Port, 50, free to carry on his killing spree. The HMICFRS report found a mixed picture of the expectations placed on response officers. In one force, Mr Freeman found response supervisors encouraged their officers to 'apply professional curiosity' but this was not happening in practice. He added: 'One senior officer told us that many forces had moved away from this model of policing, but it had resulted in a generation of officers, and their supervisors, who have had limited experience of investigating crime.' Mr Freeman also reported complaints by some response officers that they were too busy to even respond to all the 999 calls they were receiving, let alone investigate crimes. Over the past decade, police-recorded crime rates per 1,000 people have risen by 44 per cent (despite the number of crimes experienced by individuals and households generally decreasing). The watchdog report follows widespread concern that police are giving up on too many investigations without identifying a culprit. An analysis of official figures last year showed that police in England and Wales ditched investigations into 45 per cent of reported offences which involved an individual victim, such as an assault or personal theft. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. This graph does not include data up to September 2024 due to changes in the length of reporting periods. From April to June, 452,517 investigations into such crimes were closed without a suspect being collared, up more than 27,000 on the previous three months. A further 41,578 cases were closed without tracing a perpetrator in crimes which the Home Office categorises as having 'no specific victims', such as vandalism or some drug offences. It meant police jettisoned investigations into almost four crimes a minute, on average. Charge rates vary wildly across different police forces, with 11.99 per cent of investigations by Norfolk Constabulary leading to a charge in the year to June 2024 compared to just 4.28 per cent for the Met. Mr Freeman said: 'There is little in policing that is more important to the public than investigating crime. The consequences of not doing it consistently well, means lower levels of public trust and confidence in policing, and in the wider criminal justice system. 'When a crime is reported, the public have a right to expect that the police will record and investigate it effectively. 'Victims of crime also have the right to expect to receive regular updates. Your browser does not support iframes. 'We spoke to many officers and staff working tirelessly to investigate crime and achieve positive outcomes for victims. However, we found that all too often, investigators' efforts are hampered by ineffective force processes which means that often forces don't put victims first. 'And it is evident that chief constables do not have sufficient resources to investigate all volume crime to a standard that they and the public wish to see. 'While forces undoubtedly need more officers and staff, with the resources they have, there is much they can do. 'There are many good examples of initiatives across forces as they work hard to improve the effectiveness of crime investigations and the service they give to victims. I encourage chief constables to consider how they can adopt these or take similar approaches in their forces.' Thousands of jobs are in danger after British Steel revealed plans that threaten to close its two blast furnaces. Up to 2,700 roles are at risk as a consultation was launched by the UK's second largest steel producer, days after the firm's Chinese owners rejected a government subsidy valued at 500million. Trade unions have responded by calling this a 'dark day' for the nation's steel industry and called for urgent government intervention, while there were concerns raised about the potential impact on Britain's defence capabilities. British Steel announced today the proposed shutdown of its two blast furnaces, steelmaking operations and a reduction of steel rolling mill capacity in Scunthorpe - saying that between 2,000 and 2,700 jobs could be impacted. The company's major shareholder Jingye said it had invested more than 1.2billion since taking over in 2020 to maintain operations - but highlighted what they called 'ongoing production instability' and 'significant' financial losses of about 700,000 each day. British Steel said its blast furnaces and steelmaking operations were 'no longer financially sustainable' - blaming market conditions, the imposition of tariffs by US President Donald Trump and higher environmental costs connected to the production of high-carbon steel. The company had sought support from the Government for a major capital investment in two new greener-energy Electric Arc Furnaces - but no agreement has yet been reached following months of negotiations. The three options now being considered include closing the blast furnaces, steelmaking operations and Scunthorpe Rod Mill by early June. A steel worker is pictured at one of the British Steel's blast furnaces, now under threat, during 'tapping' at the plant in Scunthorpe At risk of closure under today's plans is British Steel's major plant in Scunthorpe (pictured) Also up for consultation are shutting the blast furnaces and steelmaking operations in September or else closing the blast furnaces and steelmaking operations at a future point beyond that month. British Steel chief executive Zengwei An said today: 'We understand this is an extremely difficult day for our staff, their families, and everyone associated with British Steel. 'But we believe this is a necessary decision given the hugely challenging circumstances the business faces. 'We remain committed to engaging with our workforce and unions, as well as our suppliers and customers during this time.' The announcement comes after it was revealed how the company had rejected a written offer of 500million in Government subsidy from the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. Industry Minister Sarah Jones told a committee of MPs yesterday afternoon that the offer was proposed earlier this week but turned down by Jingye, which is reported to have requested at least 1billion from ministers. She told the business and trade select committee: 'We are still in talks with them at the moment.' Steel unions Community, GMB and Unite responded to today's announcement by calling on the Government to do everything possible to secure the future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe. Industry Minister Sarah Jones, pictured last month during a visit to Leven in Fife, told an MPs' committee yesterday than a government subsidy offer to British Steel had been rejected British Steel announced today the proposed shutdown of its two blast furnaces, steelmaking operations and a reduction of steel rolling mill capacity in Scunthorpe The steelworks there is the UK's last remaining primary steelmaking facility. The unions last month published a report setting out an alternative pathway towards decarbonisation at British Steel that would keep open the two existing blast furnaces alongside two new electric arc furnaces to be built on the same site. That would need an extra 200million of public funding to mitigate carbon costs in the meantime, according to the study. Community's general secretary Roy Rickhuss said today: 'This is a dark day for our steel industry and for our country. We urge Jingye and the UK Government to get back around the table to resume negotiations before it is too late. 'Crucially, Jingye have not ruled out retaining the blast furnaces during a transition to low carbon steelmaking if they can secure the backing of the Government. 'The closures at Scunthorpe would represent a hammer blow to communities which were built on steel, and where the industry still supports thousands of jobs directly and thousands more through extensive supply chains. 'Given that we are now on the cusp of becoming the only G7 country without domestic primary steelmaking capacity, it is no exaggeration to say that our national security is gravely threatened. 'This would be catastrophic at any time, let alone in the current era of geopolitical instability and volatility. Steel is an essential component of defensive infrastructure, just as it is to wider plans to invest in growth across the country. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visited British Steel's Scunthorpe manufacturing site in June 2023 when leader of the opposition The steelworks in Scunthorpe is the UK's last remaining primary steelmaking facility "At this critical juncture, the Labour government must do everything it can to secure the future of steelmaking at Scunthorpe - it would be unthinkable for them to let it die on their watch. 'If the Government chooses to let Scunthorpe die it would make a mockery of their grand ambitions to deliver growth through massive infrastructure investment, because British Steel is our only steelmaker than can produce the construction steels the country needs for our roads, railways, schools and hospitals.' GMB's national officer Charlotte Brumpton-Childs said: 'This is devastating news for the people of Scunthorpe and the whole of UK steelmaking. 'But its not too late - we urge Jingye and the government to do everything in their power to save this vital domestic industry.' And Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'This announcement of job losses is quite simply a disgrace. 'British Steel is guilty of trying to hold the Government to ransom, while using its dedicated workforce as pawns. 'In discussions with Unite, the Government has clearly moved and has made an offer to invest heavily in British Steel. 'This offer comes with long-term job guarantees, anything less would be a complete misuse of taxpayers' money. British Steel now needs to make the necessary commitments.' The Conservative' shadow trade minister Greg Smith today told the Commons: 'The world is becoming more dangerous and we need to bolster our defence industry 'Without the ability to produce our own primary steel those efforts could be put in jeopardy." He questioned what impact the news about British Steel would have on the UK defence industry and also what would be the impact if the site closed. British Steel along with fellow manufacturing giant Tata Steel warned earlier this month that British steel customers were cancelling orders after being 'spooked' by US President Donald Trump's tariffs. Their comments came as Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One there would be no exceptions to a 25 per cent tax on global steel and aluminium imports. Tata's UK chief executive Rajesh Nair told Westminster's business and trade committee: 'The customers are spooked and the customers are wanting to go to other suppliers to make sure that they don't get caught in the tariff warfare. 'So customers are already talking to us and wanting to cancel orders and in some cases are asking us for compensation for potential orders.' And British Steel's chief commercial officer Allan Bell, who said the group supplies around 50,000 tonnes of steel into the US market, told MPs: 'We've got customers that are concerned about the impact of the tariffs and, at the moment, are considering order cancellation.' Unlike the European Union, which announced counter-measures on a range of American goods, the UK Government has resisted taking immediate retaliatory action against the tariffs and said 'all options' remained on the table to respond in the national interest. The Government today urged British Steel to reconsider its decision to reject a 500million rescue deal for Scunthorpe steelworks, with Ms Jones declaring the company would need to accept the commitments required by ministers. She told MPs: 'It is regrettable that they have not yet done so, or accepted our offer. Therefore I call on the company to reconsider their plans to announce early closures, accept our conditions and accept our generous offer which remains on the table. 'I want to assure the House that we are working tirelessly to find a solution. We believe there is a bright future for steel making in the UK and we call on British Steel to work in partnership with a Government that cares deeply about the steel sector, to put the business on a sustainable footing for the future and an end to the years of uncertainty at Scunthorpe.' Ms Jones also said the significance of steel to the defence industry was shown by Russia's initial actions during the Ukraine invasion. She said: 'There was a reason why the Russians bombed the blast furnaces first in Ukraine, you need your steelmaking capacity not just for defence itself, but for building the structures you need in a country.' She declined to say whether the Government would be willing to nationalise the plant, adding: 'Our preferred approach by far is that British Steel come back to the table with us, talk about the offer on the table, and that we have that private sector investment in the future,.' Mr Reynolds last month unveiled the government's 'Plan for Steel' consultation, suggesting investment in the industry of up to 2.5billion - saying: 'The UK steel industry has a long-term future under this government. Business minister Jonathan Reynolds, pictured at London's Chatham House today, has been speaking about the Government's offer of a subsidy to struggling British Steel 'Britain is open for business, and this government has committed up to 2.5billion to the future of steel to protect our industrial heartlands, maintain jobs, and drive growth as part of our Plan for Change.' Mr Reynolds today said issues over the future of the UK steel industry have been the 'hardest' the Labour Government inherited. He told a conference held by think tank Chatham House that an 'offer has been made about the transformation, and we haven't got an agreement as it stands'. He said: 'But it is a very, very challenging situation. I've got to make sure there's the right deal for the taxpayer. "Obviously I need to know there's a viable business being created at the end of that. I need guarantees on jobs if I'm putting public money in.' The minister stressed that he wanted 'a strong future for the steel industry in the UK', adding: 'Of all the industrial issues which I think the previous government neglected, I think this is probably one of, if not the, hardest that we've inherited.' Meanwhile, Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has called on the Government to 'take British Steel into public ownership'. He told the Commons: 'We all know that steel is a critical national industry, in particular, the ability to make primary steel. British Steel plans to close its two blast furnaces and steelmaking operations in Scunthorpe 'The Chinese might be giving up on British steel but the British people do not want to give up on British steel, and nor should we allow the final two blast furnaces to close. 'So can I urge the minister, take this not as a negative but it's an opportunity to be positive, so take British Steel into public ownership and create a long-term 20 to 30-year positive plan to invest in steelmaking for British industry and for our defence industry.' Ms Jones replied: 'We are very much through our plan for steel and the 2.5billion that we have to invest in the steel industry aiming to do exactly that to keep the industry going. 'I would invite (Mr Tice) to go and see some of the other sites round the country where we have electric arc furnaces in operation as well, because they are not that different from blast furnaces. They're still massive buildings melting and making the steel but in a much more efficient way. 'The problem we have with Scunthorpe is that the blast furnaces are very old and they will need huge amounts of money spent on them.' Downing Street said the Government had made a 'generous offer' to British Steel, with the Prime Minister's official spokesman said it was 'designed to deliver a sustainable future for staff, industry and the local community'. He added: 'We've got a 2.5billion pound plan to rebuild the sector. We will continue to work with British Steel and with the company's owners to secure its future and deliver on a good outcome. But we've made that offer and that's obviously up to the company involved.' One of the trustees who quit Prince Harry's charity amid a boardroom battle has said he is 'shocked' by the chairwoman's claims of racism, sexism and bullying. The Duke of Sussex, who has also resigned, founded Sentebale in honour of his late mother Princess Diana in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa, particularly those living with HIV and Aids. But several trustees including Dr Kelello Lerotholi left this week in an extraordinary dispute with board chair Dr Sophie Chandauka, having requested her resignation. Dr Chandauka then hit back, alleging there was 'poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir'. Initial reports in The Times suggested the dispute arose around a decision to focus fundraising in Africa, but a source close to Harry has since told MailOnline that the row was actually due to a loss in trust and confidence in Dr Chandauka. Sources added that after the board of trustees formally requested Dr 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 meeting was cancelled, the judge decided that no further hearing or court appearance was necessary. Now, Dr Lerotholi has insisted he never witnessed any of the allegations made by Dr Chandauka, telling Sky News: 'I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such.' Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry at a children's centre in Lesotho in October 2024 Several trustees including Dr Kelello Lerotholi (pictured) left the Sentebale charity this week '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.' Following reports that the decision was linked to fundraising, he added: 'I think 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 didn't look as bright as it used to. '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.' Dr Lerotholi also said the situation was 'really very disheartening and actually very painful', but that Harry and Seeiso were 'not going to leave the kids in the lurch'. 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. Separately, Sentebale has also issued a published statement on its website from executive director Carmel Gaillard which referred to 'conflict' and how they are 'saddened' by Harry's departure. Mr Gaillard said: 'At any point of significant change in an organisation's journey, conflict can arise. We acknowledge this openly and with a spirit of reflection and forward momentum. 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 'We are deeply grateful for the service, time, and passion of our outgoing Trustees. We are also saddened that our Co-Founding Patrons have made the decision to step down from their duties as Patrons for the foreseeable future. 'Their belief in our mission and early leadership helped shape the foundation of our work, and for that, we remain thankful. They will always be the Founders of Sentebale.' He added that 'good governance is essential to the strength and credibility of any organisation' and the charity was 'committed to upholding the highest standards'. In a joint statement on Tuesday, Harry 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. '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.' Prince Harry and Ntoli Moletsane at the Pointmain Health Facility in Lesotho in October 2024 Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Dr Sophie Chandauka with Harry in Lesotho in October last year 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, MailOnline understands that no injunction was ever granted. 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.' 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. '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 meets the community at Matlameng - Ha Mahlehle, in Leribe, Lesotho, in October 2024 Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso at the Pointmain Health Facility in Lesotho in October 2024 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 arrives for a visit to Matlameng in the Leribe region with Sentebale in October last year Sophie Chandauka at the Sentebale 'Potential is Waiting' panel in Miami Beach in April 2024 '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'. In a post on social media yesterday afternoon, Sentebale added: 'It's 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'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. Thursday's tragic submarine sinking in the Red Sea has so far left six people dead and nine more injured, after the tourist vessel failed off the coast of the Egyptian city of Hurghada. The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, was carrying 44 passengers at the time of the sinking, with 29 people having so far been saved. Some 21 ambulances have been dispatched to the scene of the accident, and have been transporting the injured to local hospitals. Sadly, this is not the first time tourist vessels have sunk on the Red Sea. According to the UK government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), 16 accidents have occurred involving liveaboard dive vessels operating in the Red Sea over the last five years. These vessels should be designed to allow tourists to safely live on them for long stretches of time while they take part in scuba diving trips. But the MAIB pointed out to poor construction, bad modifications and extensions on the boats that left them in an unstable state. On top of this, essential lifesaving and firefighting equipment was found to be defective or missing, and crews were reported to be poorly trained in safety. These faults seen on vessels across the Red Sea have lead to several tragedies that have resulted in major losses of life. But it's not just dodgy boats tourists have to fear in the Red Sea. The watery inlet is also home to a plethora of deadly, aggressive animals that are known to attack human beings. In December, Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, from Rome, had been snorkelling at a beach located in front of the glamorous Red Sea Sataya Resort on the coast of Marsa Alam with his friend when he was mauled by a tiger shark. The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, was carrying 44 passengers at the time of the sinking , with 29 people having so far been saved Three British tourists died after an Egyptian diving boat caught fire in June 2023 Medics and people wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt 25 Novermber 2024 Gianluca Di Gioia, 48, from Rome, had been snorkelling at a beach located in Marsa Alam when he was mauled by a tiger shark Hurghada is a popular tourist destination for Brits and Germans and several nautical jaunts operate from the coast The tourist, who worked at the European External Action Service, the diplomatic service of the European Union, was in the sea alongside his pal Giuseppe Fappani, 69, as they celebrated Di Gioia's recent birthday. But the trip took a horrific turn when the pair were approached by a tiger shark in the Egyptian waters, while they swam just 50metres from the beach in an area where the resort's jetty allows tourists to access beyond the coral reef. Fappani reportedly swam towards Di Gioia in a desperate bid to scare away the shark before he was bitten on the arms and legs. In a stunning moment, Fappani reportedly managed to push the beast away for a brief moment before it furiously made its return. But only Fappani would make it back to the beachfront as Di Gioia was snapped up by the jaws of the predator as his wife remained helpless from the pier. The Italian tourist's injuries to his arms and legs were so severe, it was not known whether he would survive the attack. The pair were then rushed to a hospital in Port Ghalib where Di Gioia tragically passed away, and Fappani was later discharged. Back in November, a boat named Sea Story capsized near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the Egyptian tourist resort of Marsa Alam. Of the 46 people onboard, four were confirmed dead while seven are still missing. Survivors of the doomed ship revealed the horrific scenes they bore witness to on the Sea Story. Medics and people wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024 The boat named Sea Story (pictured) had 31 tourists of different nationalities as well as 13 crew members on board when it sank Survivors of the sinking boat rest at a harbor in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024 The boat was carrying 31 tourists of various nationalities - among them four Britons and two Americans - as well as 13 Egyptian crew members on board, according to local media outlet Masrawy (pictured: people waiting on the beach for survivors) Medics wait for possible survivors after a boat sank at a harbour in Marsa Alam, Red Sea Governorate, in Egypt, 25 November 2024 An experienced diver who was on the tour reportedly said: 'I heard screams coming from the cabins, but many could not get out because the doors were closed and the room was filled with water.' Another of the survivors, a British tourist, added: 'It was dark and the water suddenly surrounded us on all sides. I tried to swim to the surface, but the current was very strong and I felt like I was about to suffocate.' The man credited his life jacket with saving him by keeping him buoyant before the first rescue teams arrived. One official said at the time that some passengers were inside the cabins, 'which is why they couldn't get out of the boat.' He added that those who escaped the vessel said a 'high sea wave' had hit it and caused it to capsize in 'about five or seven minutes.' The incident occurred during rough weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 10-13 feet and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area on Sunday, leading to the closure of maritime traffic. A surviving crew member said the boat was 'hit by a wave in the middle of the night, throwing the vessel on its side', according to a manager of a diving resort close to the rescue operations. The boat departed on a diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on November 29. Some of the survivors were reportedly flown back to shore by a helicopter to receive medical care, while others were transported via another boat. The search was reportedly made more difficult due to bad weather, which comes after authorities in the Red Sea capital of Hurghada on Sunday shut down marine activities and the city's port - also due to 'bad weather conditions'. Marsa Alam was also the site of another sinking, this time in June 2023, which saw three British tourists die after an Egyptian diving boat caught fire. This is the heart-stopping moment a passengers jump from an Egyptian tourist boat engulfed by flames Other passengers could be seen dropping down from the boat into nearby crafts in a bid to escape The wrecked Egyptian diving boat was seen lying on its side as its brought to shore for an investigation Scuba Travel, who chartered the boat, announced that the three Brits who 'perished in the tragic incident' had chosen not to go diving that day, leaving them unable to evacuate the boat quickly. The tour boat company said that the three passengers were among 15 qualified diving enthusiasts who were on board the 'Hurricane' boat for a week-long trip when the fire broke out early in the morning. 'At the time the fire broke out, 12 divers were participating in a briefing on board, while those missing had apparently decided not to dive that morning,' the company added. Scuba Travel said that due to to the severity of the blaze, 12 divers were evacuated immediately to a nearby craft, while the 14 crew members had to abandon the ship after trying to reach the missing guests. Footage on social media showed the tour boat transform into a floating inferno as its stern was engulfed by flames, producing plumes of black smoke while it was off the Elphinstone Reef in the Red Sea. Video showed terrified passengers jumping from the ship, which had 29 people on board at the time, into the water to escape after a suspected electrical fault in the engine room. In total, 26 passengers were rescued, 12 British and the other 14 thought to be Egyptian. Local police said the people rescued had no injuries and were in good health. Cops said the crew rescued suffered no injuries and were taken to shore in good health. A diving enthusiast who was on the same ship in May, said the boat was plagued with problems and no one was surprised the blaze had happened. According to the Russian embassy in Egypt, the Sindbad submarine belonged to the Hurghada resort hotel of the same. Pictured: Sindbad Club Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt The submarine has been operating for several years (file image) He told MailOnline: '[We had] recurring issues from the week of 1 and 8 May. There was no nitrox on board. They should have had it but they never told us. 'The toilets and the showers weren't working properly.' He added: 'There was some issue below the decks. They were pumping something out but it was coming up my toilet. 'The crew work very hard - they don't get paid a lot - but the boat has seen better days. 'I was in cabin six in the bow so I wouldn't have wanted to get out from there. 'None of us are surprised that [the blaze] happened.' Andrew Moll, the UK's chief inspector of marine accidents, who runs MAIB, told The Times it was 'deeply regrettable' that a number of the recent accidents had resulted in the loss of life. He said: 'Our safety bulletin provides important guidance to those intending to stay on liveaboard vessels, 'It is important to remember that such vessels are unlikely to be built, maintained, equipped, and operated to the standard of similar vessels in the UK and we urge the exercise of extreme caution when choosing a boat.' If Brits are planning to use dive boats, the report recommends only to book liveaboard dive holidays through reputable vendors who can provide assurance about the safety standards applicable to the dive boat. Rachel Reeves' Treasury deputy has made a grovelling apology after comparing Labour's benefit cuts to reducing a child's pocket money. Darren Jones admitted last night that he had been 'tactless' when he compared the drive to get millions of people back into work to telling a teen to get a weekend job instead of accepting a handout. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury came under fire over his remarks on live television yesterday. He offered the 'insulting' and 'patronising' example after an analysis of the measures, carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions, found that 3.2million families will be worse off due to the welfare changes. Chancellor Ms Reeves hung her deputy out to dry this morning by admitting his remarks had been 'clumsy'. The move has infuriated Labour backbenchers, potentially triggering the largest rebellion since the party took power. Appearing on ITV's Peston last night Mr Jones said: 'I recognise that wasn't good enough and I apologise if I've offended people' 'I'm sorry about it. It was tactless and it wasn't well considered. Appearing on ITV's Peston last night Mr Jones said: 'I recognise that wasn't good enough and I apologise if I've offended people' Chancellor Ms Reeves hung her deputy out to dry this morning by admitting his remarks had been 'clumsy'. 'What I was trying to explain in simple terms was what the impact assessment considers and what it doesn't consider. 'The impact assessment considers how much money you lose by coming off of the social security system but it doesn't consider how much money you gain by being back in work. 'I should have used a different set of words to explain it. I recognise that wasn't good enough and I apologise if I've offended people' Mr Jones, as he attempted to defend Government's welfare cuts, pointed to how the analysis did not consider the impact of other action being taken by Labour. 'My understanding is what the impact assessment doesn't account for is the benefit that you get from our additional money into support for training, skills or work,' he told BBC Politics Live. 'Take, for example, if I said to my kids: 'I'm going to cut your pocket money by 10 per week, but you have to go and get a Saturday job'. 'The impact assessment on that basis would say that my kids were down 10, irrespective of how much money they get from their Saturday job.' Mr Jones' comments were swiftly branded 'offensive' and 'patronising' by critics, while Apsana Begum - the independent MP for Poplar and Limehouse - said they were 'staggering'. Asked if her deputy was right to make the comparison, the Chancellor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'No, he was clumsy in his analogy, and he's apologised for that.' Pressed further on whether it was right to compare benefits with pocket money, she said: 'Of course it's not pocket money.' Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling, his party's work and pensions spokesperson and who is himself registered blind, demanded Mr Jones apologise. He said: 'This is incredibly insulting and shows the Government just doesn't understand the challenges facing people with disabilities. 'Darren Jones owes an apology to the hundreds of thousands of people his Government's decision has pushed into poverty and the millions more whose lives they have made more challenging. 'If the Government was serious about managing the welfare bill it would urgently fix social care, not wait three years for a review that should be completed by the end of this year at the very latest.' Mr Darling raised the comments again today in the Commons as he asked an Urgent Question about the PIP changes. Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie has died at the age of 57 following a battle with cancer, her family said today. The SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse had taken leave from her role as Drugs and Alcohol Minister last year to seek treatment for secondary breast cancer. She died earlier this morning at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and leaves behind her long-term partner, SNP depute leader Keith Brown, two children and two grandchildren. First Minister John Swinney said he was 'devastated' at Ms McKelvie's death, describing the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP as 'one of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met in my life'. Growing up in Glasgow's deprived Easterhouse area, Ms McKelvie went to St Leonard's Secondary School and her studies included the University of St Andrews. She worked as a learning and development officer for Glasgow City Council before she was elected in 2007 as a Central Scotland regional MSP, winning in her constituency in 2011. She convened two Scottish Parliament committees on European and External Relations Committee and Equalities & Human Rights. She became Minister for Equalities and Older People in 2018 under Nicola Sturgeon, before being shuffled to Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development under Humza Yousaf in 2023. She was then appointed Drugs and Alcohol Minister last year as Scotland continues to grapple with a drug death pandemic. Christina McKelvie, Scottish Government minister and MSP, has died at the age of 57 Her long-term partner, SNP depute leader Keith Brown, said he was 'heartbroken' Ms McKelvie became an MSP in 2007 and served in the SNP's cabinet continuously from 2018 (pictured third from right in 2023) In June 2024, she revealed she had been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer and earlier this month had announced her intention to stand down as an MSP in order to focus on her cancer treatment. She had been diagnosed with the disease in the past, for which she was successfully treated four years ago. Mr Brown confirmed in his statement today that she had not been able to beat it for a second time. 'Christina's sons Lewis and Jack and I are heartbroken to announce the death of Christina at Glasgow Royal Infirmary this morning,' Mr Brown said in a statement issued via the SNP. 'She loved her job, and she loved her party and was always a champion for the people of Scotland and an advocate for social justice and for Scotland to be an independent nation in Europe. 'To us, she was our beloved mum, partner and gran to Maeve and Leo. She was always hard working and enthusiastic and lit up every room she was in with her positivity and bright smile. 'She was always proud of her working class roots in Easterhouse and often said she could not have dreamt of becoming a government minister for the Scottish Government. We are immensely proud of all Christina achieved.' Among Ms McKelvie's parliamentary achievements were the championing of 'Clare's Law' - allowing people to find out whether their partners had a violent or abusive past via the police - and the introduction of legislation banning female genital mutilation. She was also a regular sponsor of the Wear It Pink campaign in the Scottish Parliament, which raised money for the Breast Cancer Now charity each year. First Minister John Swinney called Ms McKelvie a 'force of nature' in a post on X Mr Swinney said of the MSP and minister: 'Christina was such a big-hearted woman, with compassion and social justice at her core' Christina McKelvie pictured attending a red carpet event at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2023 alongside Isabel Davies of Screen Scotland Ms McKelvie (in pink) during a visit to an addiction support service in Edinburgh in March 2024. She served as drugs and alcohol policy minister under first ministers Humza Yousaf (centre) and John Swinney Mr Brown added: 'Today, we have lost our much loved Christina and know she will be very much missed by all our family and also her many, many friends, staff and constituents.' Flags will fly at half mast at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in honour of the MSP today. Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone said there were plans to 'honour Christina fully in Parliament in days to come'. First Minister John Swinney said in a statement: 'In all the years since I first met Christina, I have been so grateful to call her my friend and colleague and to benefit from her warmth and loyalty. 'But for all her many political achievements, Christina was first and foremost deeply committed to her family. 'Everyone could see the joy that she and her partner Keith brought to each other's lives, and she spoke so often over the years of her pride for her sons, and more recently her immense joy at becoming a granny. 'The Scottish National Party has lost one of its finest, and I have lost an outstanding minister in my Government. I know her loss will be felt right across the Parliament and among the countless constituents she supported over the years. 'Christina was such a big-hearted woman, with compassion and social justice at her core. Her political allies and opponents would agree - she truly was a force of nature.' Ms McKelvie pictured with then-First Minister Alex Salmond - who died last year - at the SNP party conference in 2011 A Scottish Government-issued image of Christina McKelvie in her capacity as drugs and alcohol minister Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called her 'kind, loyal, compassionate and full of life' in a post on Instagram. 'As a politician, her ability to connect with people on a very human level and understand instinctively the challenges they were facing was her super-power' Ms Sturgeon wrote. 'She had the biggest heart of anyone I have ever known. I will never forget the friendship and kindness she showed me over many years. 'I will miss her so much. RIP my beautiful friend'. She signed the post with a yellow heart emoji. Former First Minister Humza Yousaf said on X: 'Her beautiful, warm personality made her loved amongst her constituents and all of us that had the honour of her friendship. 'I'm so sad that I won't hear her wonderful, hearty laugh again.' Tributes were also paid across the political spectrum. Green MSP Ross Greer called her 'fiercely loving... fearless advocate for those who often otherwise went unheard'. Scottish Conservatives leader Russell Findlay called her passing 'absolutely tragic', while Anas Sarwar said: 'This is terribly sad news.' A promising young doctor has ruined her career and been sent to jail after she mounted an unhinged campaign of terror against her ex-boyfriend's new lover. Amy Cohen, 36, was sentenced to 11 to 23 months in jail after she tried to burn down the home of her romantic rival's 99-year-old grandmother. Cohen, of Philadelphia, suffered a mental breakdown after her ex found a new partner and began stalking her relatives, leaving creepy fliers with images of her glamorous rival with crosses over her eyes. The fliers threatened to 'end the family' if they did not leave the state and accused her ex's new love of 'promoting Islamophobia.' The campaign of terror culminated on November, 30, 2023, when Cohen set fire to the home of her rival's elderly grandmother. The home's owner was able to escape safely as the blaze was detected before it fully engulfed the structure. Cohen was arrested after her ex recognized her in surveillance footage of the arson, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Doctor Amy Cohen, 36, was sentenced to jail after launching a campaign of terror against her ex-boyfriend's new partner Cohen embraces an unidentified man on a photo from her Facebook profile. It is unclear if this is the same man whose partner she was convicted of terrorizing A woman believed to be Cohen's love rival is pictured in these abusive fliers distributed to try and sabotage the relationship Her ex told police she had not taken their break-up well and had been stalking him and his partner on social media, as well as researching where his new love lived and worked. Cohen's lawyer said she was in an 'amphetamine-induced psychosis' Police later found lighter fluid and copies of the stalking letters in the trunk of Cohen's car. Cohen worked as an infectious-disease physician at Medical Specialist Association. Her medical license was suspended after her arrest. She pleaded guilty to arson, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, and related crimes last year. Charges of attempted murder and assault were dismissed after Cohen completed six months of inpatient treatment at a mental health facility in Mississippi. A psychologist who treated Cohen said she suffered from ADHD, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety since childhood and was abusing Adderall. He added that in 2023 she was spiraling from working during the COVID pandemic and was in an 'amphetamine-induced psychosis.' Cohen was sentenced on Wednesday. While her lawyers argued she should skip prison time in favor of her rehabilitation, the judge insisted Cohen must pay the consequences of her actions. The fliers, seen above, also accused the victim of 'Islamophobia' The home that Cohen tried to burn is pictured. The flames were subdued before the structure was fully engulfed in November, 2023 Cohen has been sentenced to 11 to 23 months in jail. She used to work as an infectious-disease physician at Medical Specialist Association 'The next step in your rehabilitation process is understanding there are consequences for your actions and accepting them,' said Montgomery County Court Judge Wendy Rothstein. Cohen's victim spoke in court during sentencing and said her now 101-year-old grandmother still asks about 'the girl who tried to burn [her] house down.' 'Amy demonstrated a total disregard for human life, which is disgusting, knowing that she is a doctor,' the victim said. Cohen, on her part, apologized to the victim and her family. 'I know me saying Im deeply sorry doesnt compensate for my actions, but I hope you are able to begin to heal,' Cohen conceded. A serial fraudster who carried out one of Britains biggest property swindles is facing years behind bars. Anopkumar Maudhoo, an illegal immigrant, made at least 8.5million by selling homes he did not own to victims across London and the South East - and spent the money on supercars and a speedboat. The 45-year-old ran a large-scale conveyancing scam offering investment opportunities in the purchase of repossessed properties or the redevelopment of plots of land. But the houses were not subject to repossession proceedings and the genuine owners were unaware of the fraudulent sales. Two buyers purchased the same house in London's Eaton Terrace, Belgravia, from Maudhoo, where homes can fetch well over 10million. He use faked documents and solicitors stamps in the fraud, which allowed him to live a life of fabulous luxury. Police officers seized a speedboat and 22 supercars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins when they arrested him last year. Investigators found he sold 75 properties or development plots since 2021, with victims located across north London, Hertfordshire and Essex. Anopkumar Maudhoo - pictured- made at least 8.5million by selling homes he did not own to victims across London and the South East Police officers seized 22 supercars, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins when they arrested him last year. The Lamborghini Huracan - pictured - sells for 235k Police also seized a speedboat from Maudhoo. Detective Inspector Damian Barlow said: 'Put simply, he was purely focused on taking victims' cash and using it to fund his lavish lifestyle' He was an illegal immigrant who should have been deported in 2010. Maudhoo, originally from Mauritius, was listed at Southwark Crown Court as Vincent LeBeouf - one of his many aliases. He appeared on video-link from HMP Wandsworth to confirm his name and date of birth. Maudhoo has previously admitted 31 charges including 14 counts of fraud by false representation. Each of the fraud charges states Maudhoo 'committed fraud in that you dishonestly made a false representation, namely offering for sale properties that weren't yours to sell.' Maudhoo also admitted 16 counts of possessing a false identity document with improper intention and one count of perverting the course of justice. The offences took place between April 2021 and December 2024. The fraud charges relate to the unlawful sales of properties in Ilford, Dartford, Greenwich, Bromley and Croydon as well as Luton in Bedfordshire and Winslow in Buckinghamshire. The false documents relate to a solicitor's stamp, a French national identity card, Irish passport, UK driving licence, UK national identity card, UK passport, French passport, Italian passport, Irish passport and Irish driving licence. He used a number of aliases including Rossello Di Paolo, Pascal Burns, Yusuf Khan and Hamid Khan and Vicenzo Conte. Following his arrest on 22 September Maudhoo told police his name was Pascal Burns and produced a Portuguese driving licence in that name. Maudhoo, originally from Mauritius, was listed at Southwark Crown Court as Vincent LeBeouf - one of his many aliases. General view of Southwark Crown Court He has 25 previous convictions for fraud and has used his different identities to evade the police and immigration authorities. Maudhoo also amassed a collection of more than 20 personalised number plates referencing his many identities. Judge Alexander Milne, KC told the conman: 'Mr LeBeouf - the sentencing will be on 30 June and you will be brought to court on that occasion and we will see you on that day.' Maudhoo, of Wapping, east London, was remanded in custody ahead of sentence on 30 June. Detective Inspector Damian Barlow said: 'The scale of Maudhoo's offending is truly shocking and what stood out as we pieced together this investigation is that he paid absolutely no regard to those he was defrauding. 'Put simply, he was purely focused on taking victims' cash and using it to fund his lavish lifestyle. 'Our investigation has involved hours and hours of work as our teams picked through Maudhoo's lies and attempted coverups. 'Victims in this case have lost significant sums of money, in some cases in excess of a million pounds and we are continuing to work to ensure all of his assets are located, brought under police control, and used to repay those who Maudhoo targeted.' A Kosovan cocaine dealer who bragged about partying in prison has been allowed to remain in the UK after a court ruled it would 'unduly harsh' on his one-year-old daughter if she could only see him on FaceTime. Andi Shoshari, 34, who came to the UK legally as a nine-year-old, has a dozen convictions and was sentenced in 2018 to three years and eight months in jail for his part in a criminal drugs conspiracy. Photos posted on social media show the Kosovan living up life in jail with snaps of him and pals enjoying a full Christmas buffet including cans of fizzy drinks, cocktail sausages and salads. He bragged on Facebook: 'You can lock us up but you can't stop us living it up'. Shoshari, who is of Albanian heritage, appears to be celebrating with up to a dozen fellow prisoners, who are all seen making the Albanian eagle sign with their hands. Other photos show him proudly posing in his cell in various outfits, decked out in fashion labels such as Adidas and Nike. Since his release Shoshari has been fighting a deportation order, but he has now won his fight to stay in the UK with his British partner, who is currently pregnant with their second child. The Immigration and Asylum Court ruled that, if Mr Shoshari was deported, his child would be deprived of 'very important' physical contact with him - and that it was unfair to expect his partner and their children to move to a country with 'rampant corruption'. Photos posted on social media show the Kosovan (left) living up life in jail with snaps of him and pals enjoying a full Christmas buffet including cans of fizzy drinks, cocktail sausages and salads Andi Shoshari, 34, who came to the UK legally as a nine-year-old, has a dozen convictions and was sentenced in 2018 to three years and eight months in jail for his part in a criminal drugs conspiracy The Home Office had argued that his relationship 'could be maintained' through technology but the argument was dismissed. The one-year-old girl would not be able to hold attention with 'modern methods of communication' like Zoom or FaceTime, the court ruled. It was also heard that Mr Shoshari's British partner, a care worker, is pregnant with their second child and would finding moving to Kosovo 'extremely stressful and bleak'. The Upper Tier Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber was told Mr Shoshari came to Britain legally at the age of nine in 1999 with his parents. He struck up a relationship with his British girlfriend in 2021 and in March 2024 they had a baby girl together. Their second child is due in June. Since his conviction for dealing cocaine, ventilation engineer Mr Shoshari has been subject to a deportation order. The Home Office has previously dismissed his appeals but Mr Shoshari took his case to the Upper Tribunal. At the tribunal, the Home Office said that 'the best interests of the child was not a trump card'. Shoshari cannot be deported due to the impact it would have on his child and partner Proud prison snaps show the drug dealer decked out in designer labels such as Nike and Adidas '[The Home Office] submitted that deportation would not be unduly harsh if [Mr Shoshari] and his family left together for Kosovo or alternatively if just [Mr Shoshari] left', the tribunal heard. '[It was] submitted that the effect of deportation would not be unduly harsh as [his partner] had not yet had her second child, Kosovo had changed, [Mr Shoshari] had some family in Kosovo... '[The Home Office] reminded us that the best interests of the child was not a trump card.' The panel concluded it was not fair on Mr Shoshari's partner or child - neither of whom were named - to deport him or expect them to go with him. The panel said: 'In our view, it is not in [the child's] best interests to live in a country with evidenced security and socio-economic concerns, where there is rampant corruption and instability. 'We consider it is plainly in [her] best interests to remain in the UK, with [Mr Shoshari].' Of his partner, the tribunal said: 'We conclude it would be unduly harsh to expect [the partner and child] to relocate to Kosovo. [Mr Shoshari's] presence with [them] would not overcome the issues they would face. 'Navigating a new country and its health system, whilst pregnant, would be tough. Once one adds to this [her] complex and unfortunate medical history in pregnancy, having a very young child, her lack of familiarity with the culture, and the real instability and problems in the country this becomes extremely stressful and a highly bleak scenario. At the tribunal, the Home Office said that 'the best interests of [Shoshari's] child was not a trump card' The Immigration and Asylum Court ruled that, if Mr Shoshari was deported, his child would be deprived of 'very important' physical contact with him - and that it was unfair to expect his partner and their children to move to a country with 'rampant corruption' 'The reality is that by [his] deportation [his partner] would be left without her long-term partner, as a heavily pregnant single mother of a very young child with little money (most likely on benefits), with little practical or emotional support, with precarious housing owing to the financial situation she would be left with, unable to work owing to childcare issues. '[She] would be highly vulnerable.' Services like FaceTime and Zoom would not be good enough for Mr Shoshari to parent his daughter if only he was deported, it was ruled. 'We have considered [the Home Office's] submission that the relationships can be maintained by modern means of communication', the panel said. 'We accept the submission of [Mr Shosharis' lawyer] that a very young child is unlikely to be able to hold attention via modern methods of communication and that physical contact is very important for her. 'For [the child], we consider that the loss of her father and significant impact upon her mother and as such her household would be unduly harsh and cause her serious detriment. 'Having regard to all of these factors cumulatively and the evidence before us, we conclude that the impact of [Mr Shoshari's] deportation would be unduly harsh for [his child] were she and [her mother] to remain in the UK in the absence of [her father]. 'We find [Mr Shoshari] has made out his case to the required standard that his deportation from the United Kingdom would be disproportionate. 'Applying the law as it stands today, we conclude that there are very compelling circumstances over and above the exceptions to deportation.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We strongly believed this individual, with a criminal conviction for conspiracy to supply drugs, should not remain in the UK which is why deportation efforts were clearly made, this case was strongly contested in court, and refugee status was revoked. 'Foreign nationals who commit heinous crimes should be in no doubt that we will do everything to make sure they are not free on Britain's streets, including removal from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity. 'Since the election weve removed 2,925 foreign criminals, a 21 percent increase on the same period 12 months prior.' It was meant to be the trip of their lives exploring the magic of the ocean and what lay within - but it ended in disaster. The tourist submarine diaster in Egypt bears chilling similarities to the 2023 Titan submersible vessel implosion that saw five people die. The deep sea tragedy off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada saw the custom-built Titan, operated by Oceangate, implode as it descended to the wreck of the Titanic. The disaster has been compared to today's submarine sinking off the coast of Egypt, where six fatalities have been confirmed. In both cases, passengers who simply wanted to explore the wonders of the ocean lost their lives in the process. They were using companies that had, at the time, a secure reputation and had been operating for a number of years. In Egypt, passengers submerged up to 72ft for as cheap as 35, while the quintet selected to board the Titan paid up to 186,000 for the privilege. Rescue efforts off the coast of Hurghada saw 21 ambulances dispatched to the scene of the incident to transport those injured to local hospitals. By contrast, the search and rescue mission for the Titan accident lasted four days, when the US Coast Guard finally discovered the debris from the vessel. Perhaps the most chilling similarity between the two disasters is the fact that parents were on board with their children. Two of the victims in 2023 were British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and his 19-year-old son Suleman, both of whom were killed when the submersible imploded. The extent of the fatalities on the Sindbad vessel is not yet fully known, but the Russian embassy has confirmed that minors were among the 45 tourists on board. Reports have suggested that at least one child, who is now in hospital, been orphaned by the disaster. Six people have died after Sindbad submarine sunk off the coast of Hurghada today The Sharm Hurghada Excursion is three-hours long and allows passengers to submerge 72ft The tragedy has been compared to the Titan disaster in 2023, where the vessel imploded British adventurer Hamish Harding and father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood were killed on board the deep-sea vessel in June, alongside French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet and Stockton Rush Your browser does not support iframes. On the morning of June 18, the Titan submerged, carrying four days worth of oxygen even though it was due to surface after seven hours. It lost contact with the suport vessel less than two hours later, and that evening, 10 hours after the dive started, the United States Coast Guard received a report of an overdue submersible. The loss of contact sparked an international manhunt to track down the missing vessel which had plunged 12,400ft under the North Atlantic ocean. The wreckage of the ship was found on the ocean floor about 330 yards off the bow of the Titanic. All those on board the ship - including OceanGate's CEO Stockton Rush, British explorer Hamish Harding, veteran French diver Paul-Henri Nargeole, were killed. In February, audio captured from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration device about 900 miles from where the submersible dropped off the radar shows a thunderous roar ripping through the ocean as the vessel imploded. The sub had made 23 dives over the course of 2021 and 2022, reaching the wreck of the Titanic 13 times. Passengers paid up to 186,000 for a place on the vessel and the chance to see the historic site in a tour lasting several hours. Places were limited, with the sub only holding enough space - and oxygen - for five paying passengers. By comparison, the Sharm Hurghada Excursion is three-hours long and costs 68 per adult ticket, and 35 for children. Up to 44 passengers are able to admire Hurghada's underwater life at a depth of 72ft in a single excursion. The company has been operating tourist trips in the area for several years, and claims to hold two of the only '14 real recreational submarines' in the world. Wreckage of the Titan found on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean Footage from a remotely operated vehicle shows, what the Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation says is the debris of the Titan submersible The disaster has been compared to today's submarine sinking off the coast of Egypt, where six fatalities have been confirmed Prior to the 2023 disaster, safety concerns had continued to plague Oceangate. A dive log book recorded 118 technical faults, ranging from thrusters failing to batteries dying. It was later revealed that the vessel was being operated by a video game controller, while leaders in the field of deep-sea exploration had warned OceanGate that the company's 'experimental' methods could end in 'catastrophic' disaster. In 2022, one passenger, Fred Hagen, heard a 'large bang or cracking sound' as the sub was returning to the surface. When questioned about Titan's safety in 2018, Rush said: 'Im not dying. No-one is dying on my watch - period. 'I understand this kind of risk, and I'm going into it with eyes open and I think this is one of the safest things I will ever do.' A former employee who reported Oceangate to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said the US government body were slow to act on historic concerns. Despite the tragedy, US luxury real estate billionaire Larry Connor and Patrick Lahey, co-founder of Triton Submarines, have pledged to take a vessel to see the shipwreck. There is no timeframe for the planned expedition,with the voyage only set to take place once a submersible was fully certified by a marine organisation. Commander Paul-Henri Nargeolet died in the tragedy British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman also died on the vessel Billionaire Hamish Harding was also one of the victims When questioned about Titan's safety in 2018, Rush said: 'Im not dying. No-one is dying on my watch - period' Egypt has also been the site of tourist vessel disasters in recent years. In November last year, a tourist boat named Sea Story sank off Egypt's Red Sea coast. The boat sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the tourist resort of Marsa Alam in the early hours of November 25. Those who escaped the vessel said a 'high sea wave' had hit it and caused it to capsize in 'about five or seven minutes', Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi said at the time. In 2023, three British tourists died after a yacht caught fire on a diving trip in the Red Sea. A few months earlier, another yacht, the Carlton Queen, capsized and sank near Hurghada. UK investigators said last month there had been 16 incidents involving 'liveaboard' vessels in the area in the last five years, with a number resulting in deaths. A university student may not have died in hospital with sepsis had medics not repeatedly failed to act on his mother's desperate pleas for life-saving antibiotics. Coroner Mary Hassell said it was not possible to determine conclusively whether or not 22-year-old William Hewes would have survived had he been treated earlier upon his arrival at Homerton University Hospital in east London. The Leeds University history and politics student died within hours of arriving at the hospital - where his mother Deborah Burns had been a paediatric consultant for the last 20 years - on January 21, 2023. In a narrative conclusion delivered today at Bow Coroner's Court, Ms Hassell gave the medical cause of death as meningococcal septicaemia. She said William, who was 6ft 6in and weighed around 16 stones, 'was already very unwell when he arrived (at hospital) and it is unclear whether if he had been administered all appropriate treatment promptly, his life would have been saved'. In a statement afterwards, Dr Burns said: 'I hope that the outcome of the coroner's inquest can lead to learning and improvement to the care of people with sepsis in the future.' The inquest previously heard how an emergency department registrar admitted she was not clear in giving instructions to administer antibiotics to William, a senior nurse said she forgot to check the specific medication required, and the nurse-in-charge failed to ensure antibiotics had been administered. Dr Burns added: 'My pursuit of the truth is not about blame. It has always been driven by concerns about the standard of care I witnessed in my own emergency department.' William Hewes, a history and politics university student at Leeds, died 12 hours after being admitted to Homerton Hospital Mr Hewes (right, with his three siblings) was studying history and politics at university and was said to have been fit and healthy before the infection Coroner Mary Hassell said it was not possible to determine conclusively whether William Hewes would have survived had he been treated earlier at Homerton University Hospital (pictured) The coroner said 'the real area of contention' was whether earlier treatment would have changed the outcome. The inquest heard expert witnesses gave differing opinions, backed by data, relating to Mr Hewes' chances of survival if he had been treated earlier. The coroner said: 'I have thought carefully about each opinion, which I find were honestly and at times passionately given, but ultimately I am not persuaded by either. 'What I conclude is not that I cannot choose between them. 'It is that I choose neither. 'I am not convinced, even on the balance of probabilities, that the state of medical knowledge is such that we know the answer to the question of whether William would have survived had he received earlier treatment when he got to hospital.' Ms Hassell added: 'I found Dr Burns to be compelling witness and it seems to me the events are likely to be imprinted on her mind forever.' Mr Hewes had been suffering headaches, a fever and blurred vision which Dr Burns believed meant her son was showing signs of sepsis, a potentially deadly reaction to infection, and told colleagues as such when she arrived at the hospital shortly after midnight. But Mr Hewes was instead treated with fluids, morphine, paracetamol, and medication to prevent nausea - despite nursing staff identifying signs of sepsis almost immediately. The Mail has long campaigned for better awareness and treatment of sepsis. A 71 year-old was beaten and had his Rolex stolen after hooking up with a 28 year-old who propositioned him at a sex shop and took him to an erotic motel, cops say. The 71-year-old victim was pepper-sprayed during the attack allegedly carried out by by Johnnika Alexander, 28. The two met at the Caliente Adult Superstore in Hialeah, Florida on March 5where Alexander offered to have a sexual encounter with him, police said. She invited him back to the MotelX Miami where rooms are available for $40 for four hours. Police said that 'towards the end of the encounter' Alexander instructed the victim remove his Rolex Presidential, Local 10 News reports. But when he refused, Alexander allegedly became violent and forcefully removed the watch, which retails from $15,000 up. Police said she then pepper-sprayed the victim when he pulled out his phone to try and call 911 before making off with it and his wallet. Both items were later recovered in the motel's parking lot. Cops allege that Johnnika Alexander, 28, robbed a 71-year-old man of his Rolex following a sexual encounter in a Miami motel The victim allegedly met Alexander at an adult store before taking him back to the motel where she beat and robbed him Police said that Alexander pepper-sprayed the senior citizen when he tried to call 911 She denied stealing the gold Rolex Presidential watch, which retails from $15,000 up Investigators said they managed to link a Mercedes-Benz rented by Alexander to one seen at the motel. They added that her cellphone data located her at the crime scene and the adult store. Surveillance footage taken at the store apparently showed Alexander buying black underwear before the incident took place. She was arrested at the Kompose Boutique Hotel Miami Airport on Tuesday and reportedly denied stealing the watch when questioned by the police. Alexander is charged with battery on a person 65 or older and armed robbery. She was denied bond during a hearing on Wednesday and is currently behind bars in Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. MotelX is situated in Miami's Little Havana district. It features rooms decorated with blown-up photos of smooching couples or scantily clad women. Some rooms have stripper poles or hot tubs and all are equipped with sultry mood lighting to create a romantic mood. A violent MS-13 kingpin has been arrested in an upscale Virginia neighborhood, the Trump administration revealed. The 24-year-old suspect from El Salvador was apprehended in Dale City, suburban community half an hour outside of Washington, D.C early on Thursday. Trump administration officials have not released his name, but said he is one of three top US bosses of the bloodthirsty MS-13 gang. 'Just captured a major leader of MS13. Tom HOMAN is a superstar!' President Donald Trump wrote of his border czar on Truth Social shortly after the news broke. The suspect is believed to be a captain of the East Coast for the notorious international crime gang. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel oversaw the operation, which was a joint endeavor between the Prince William County Police Department, ATF, ICE and the Virginia State Police. 'They executed a clean, safe operation and the bad guys in custody,' Bondi told Fox following the arrest. 'And thanks to the FBI, we got one of the worst of the worst of the MS-13 off the streets this morning. Virginia and the country is a lot safer today.' An MS-13 kingpin has been arrested in Virginia, the Trump administration revealed. Pictured: Attorney General Pam Bondi on site with the taskforce responsible for capturing the suspect Attorney General Pam Bondi (pictured) and FBI Director Kash Patel oversaw the operation At a press conference, she told reporters the suspect was 'very dangerous' and had been recruited by MS-13 when he was 'very young' before rising through the ranks. She took to X to share a photo of her with agents amid the arrest, vowing that the, 'DOJ will not rest until we make America safe again'. The taskforce has been working together for the last four weeks, according to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. He said that many of his constituents would be surprised to learn that the alleged gangster had been living in the leafy Woodbridge community. 'They are resident right here and they are resident across the country,' Youngkin said of MS-13 and Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua. 'Systematically over the last four weeks we have gone to work untangling, putting together the cases and arresting these horrific criminals. 'The arrest this morning was in Dale City, northern Virginia, one of the best areas in America and it was one of the top leaders of MS-13 living here, an illegal immigrant. And that illegal immigrant is going back to where he came from.' MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, was one of eight Latin American criminal organizations declared foreign terrorist organizations by the US government last month. The gang was formed by Salvadoran immigrants who arrived in the US after fleeing their home country due to civil war. 'The gang is well-organized and is heavily involved in lucrative illegal enterprises, being notorious for its use of violence to achieve its objectives,' the Department of Justice states in its description of the gang. The 24-year-old suspect was apprehended in Woodbridge, south of Washington, D.C on Thursday The authorities have not released his name, but said the suspect is one of three top US bosses of the bloodthirsty MS-13 gang 'This what happens when you let good cops, be cops,' Patel told a press conference shortly after the raid. The latest arrest comes after another alleged senior MS-13 leader, Francisco Javier Roman Bardales, was apprehended by Mexican authorities earlier this month. He faces charges related to violent crime, drug distribution and extortion in the Eastern District of New York. His arrest came just weeks after Mexico handed over 29 drug cartel figures, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985. The acting head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Derek Maltz, reportedly provided the White House with a list of nearly 30 Mexican targets wanted in the US on criminal charges. Meanwhile El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has agreed to accept Salvadoran MS-13 gang members who unlawfully entered the US as part of President Trump's mass deportation plan. At least 23 MS-13 members were deported back to El Salvador earlier this month after the Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. The legislation was used to swiftly deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, attempting to speed up removals with a law best known for its use to intern Japanese, Italian and German immigrants during World War Two. MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, was one of eight Latin American criminal organizations declared foreign terrorist organizations by the US government last month Reports soon emerged of noncitizens with no gang affiliations being rounded up and placed on deportation flights. On Wednesday the courts upheld a lower court's temporary block on removals being carried out under the 18th century law. The ensuing legal battle over the move has highlighted Trump's attempts to strong-arm the federal judiciary, a coequal branch of government that serves as a check on executive power. This is a breaking news story, please check back for updates... A mother said her son was 'red pilled' like in Netflix's Adolescence when he was just 11 years old and has spent the last four years trying to change his mindset. Rachel Parker noticed her son Spencer, now 15, repeating misogynistic things he had heard influencers say online. When the schoolboy casually told Rachel 'women are gold diggers' she said she immediately challenged him and asked where he'd heard it. The schoolboy explained it had been discussed in videos by controversial influencer Andrew Tate which had appeared on his YouTube feed. The 33-year-old said she had to intervene in conversations as recently as a year ago on subjects such as women 'respecting their bodies' and blaming men for 'everything'. She felt upset that Spencer was 'turning his back' on women, particularly given he grew up without a father figure. But a few weeks ago the mother overheard him telling off a friend for referring to his mother in a rude manner and says she's proud of the man he's becoming. In light of Netflix's hit series Adolescence Rachel is warning parents of 'red pilling' signs and is giving advice on how to challenge concerning opinions. Rachel Parker noticed son her Spencer, now 15, repeating misogynistic things he had heard influencers say online The mother from Nottinghamshire said her son referred to all women being 'gold diggers' and believes he picked these views up from influencers like Andrew Tate Rachel shared a TikTok video discussing how her son was 'red pilled' like in Netflix's Adolescence YouTube said they terminated channels associated with Andrew Tate in 2022 and remove content promoting Incel ideology. The mother from Nottinghamshire said: 'One day he randomly said, "well women are just gold diggers anyway". 'I remember thinking that's weird for an 11-year-old to say so I asked him where he'd heard that and he told me that he'd seen some men talking about it online. 'He watched normal videos of people playing video games and then out of nowhere this information started leaking in. 'Because he watched one video of it, another one came in and then he liked that and then another one came in. 'We would talk about other things that came up in these videos such as women 'not respecting themselves 'and women being on OnlyFans. 'At that age he didn't even know what OnlyFans was but he jumped on the hate train. 'At one point said he was sick of everyone 'blaming men for everything.' YouTube said they terminated channels associated with Andrew Tate (pictured) for multiple violations of Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, including their hate speech policy The term 'red pilled' refers to a scene in The Matrix where the lead character is given the choice to take the red pill. In Netflix's Adolescence, it is explained that the 'red pill' represents an awakening to the 'truth' about gender issues. File image The Netflix series Adolescence tells the story of how a family's world is turned upside down when 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder after he is radicalised online Rachel said: 'It kind of threw me for a loop because I have raised him to be aware of feminist issues and aware of the system that he lives in. 'He mentioned watching Andrew Tate to me. 'I never squashed any part of his personality to make him feel like he should have needed to find community in a place like that. 'He was having to deny his own lived experience because he is essentially raised by women. 'His dad's not around so it's been just me and my family that have raised him. 'My sisters, my mum, my grandmas, they've all been really involved in his upbringing. 'All of a sudden he was turning his back on us and picking these beliefs up. 'It upset me more than anything and I wondered what I had done. 'If I would have ignored that, that would have been the wrong thing to do. 'Misogyny is everywhere anyway but recognising it and realising this is something I've got to tackle was probably one of the hardest things I've done. 'It was the most important thing I've done as a parent as well.' In Adolescence the main character is radicalised by Incel ideology. Rachel has watched the first two episodes of Adolescence with Spencer and they are planning on finishing the series soon. Stephen Graham plays the role of Jamie's dad in the hit Netflix show In the Netflix series the main character exhibits misogynistic views and seems to have been indoctrinated into Incel ideology online The term 'red pilled' refers to a scene in the 1999 film The Matrix where the lead character is given the choice to take the red pill which would lead him to understanding the illusion of The Matrix. In Netflix's Adolescence, it is explained that the 'red pill' represents an awakening to the 'truth' about gender issues. Rachel watched the first two episodes of Adolescence with Spencer and they are planning on finishing the series soon. She said: 'He doesn't normally put his phone down but he put his phone down to watch Adolescence and he was really engaged with it. 'It was emotional for sure and I worry about children of this generation anyway and not just the girls, the boys as well. 'The important thing when it comes to starting these conversations is to just start them.' She said just a few weeks ago her son called his own mates out on the language they were using to talk about women and is proud of his reaction. Rachel said: 'He has now gotten to a point where he sees Andrew Tate as a caricature of the red pill movement. 'He once liked him but now he thinks he's a joke. Being depressed, paranoid, anxious all make men more likely to become an Incel, researchers from the University of Rome found 'He is now in a mindset of not wanting to be like those men he saw on those videos. 'It was probably a couple of weeks back now that he was sat playing on his PlayStation with his friends. 'One of them said a slur that means whore and my son jumped on it straight away. 'He was like, "you do not talk about your mum like that. She deserves respect because she brought you into this world"'. 'He told him it was disgusting and suggested he go and apologise for saying that. 'I was really proud of him for that, it shows growth.' Spencer said: 'Watching Adolescence, it was very interesting to see how it plays out when a boy is exposed to that stuff online and has to experience the social expectations of having a girlfriend, which is why I focus more on school work instead of that. 'I now find this online content cringe. It's so embarrassing to watch those people have these opinions so loudly knowing that people are going to believe it without question.' YouTube said they terminated channels associated with Andrew Tate for multiple violations of Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, including their hate speech policy, in 2022. Reuploading content from a channel following its termination violates YouTube's policies and will be removed. They say its long-held Community Guidelines make clear it does not allow hate speech on YouTube. As part of this hate speech policy, YouTube removes content that promotes the Incel ideology, including the recruitment of individuals to the Incel community. A convicted paedophile, who has spent more than half his life in jail, is in a critical condition after a suspected 'self harm incident'. Bradley Pen Dragon, 65, has been convicted of a string of crimes including a 13-year stint in a Thailand prison for sexually assaulting a girl. He was rushed to Perth's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital on Thursday morning following a self-harm incident understood to be a drug overdose, Nine News reported. In June 2022, Dragon was serving time in a WA correctional facility for looking up child abuse material on the internet when a Supreme Court ruled that he would be freed, subject to 62 strict conditions. Under the terms, he is unable to possess any photos, drawings or sketches of children. In November 2024, Dragon was brought before a court over two alleged breaches of the conditions, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. One of the alleged incidents involved donations to the charity Save the Children Dragon pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was granted bail with the matter set to go to trial later this year. Bradley Pen Dragon (pictured)is fighting for life in hospital after a suspected self-harm incident The conditions for Dragon's 2022 release demand he be electronically monitored, live at a specified address and subject to a curfew. He also had to provide verbal or written accounts of all of his movements and is banned from having any contact with anyone aged under-18 unless approved. Prior to his release, then-Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan had assured Perth residents that Dragon would be monitored 'very closely'. 'Hes the sort of person that we will crack down on immediately,' he said at the time. 'If he breaches, a tonne of bricks will come down on him.' Dragon was arrested within two days of being freed for allegedly breaking the order after he was caught in possession of images of children. He has spent most of his life in jail both in Perth and Thailand. In 1997, Dragon was jailed for 13 years in Thailand over his 'prolonged and depraved' abuse of a teenage girl. He was rushed to Perth's Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital on Thursday morning following a self-harm incident understood to be a drug overdose Dragon moved to WA from NSW after he was deported from Thailand and continued to offend. The convicted paedophile was freed from jail in WA in August, 2017 after serving five years for holding a knife to a woman while she was putting her child in a car. Two days later, he went to a Northbridge backpacker hostel to use a computer. Among the terms Dragon searched online were 'pre-teen porn' and 'child incest'. When questioned by police, he denied searching the sickening material. 'These things just keep popping up when I use the internet,' he told officers at the time. Judge Hylton Quail didn't accept Dragon's explanation for his depraved behaviour, before going on to describe the offending as 'brazen'. Bradley Pen Dragon (pictured) had dozens of strict conditions placed on him following his release from jail in June 2022 Dragon has been diagnosed with 'paedophilic disorder' of the non-exclusive type. He previously told a psychiatrist that 'much of the society doesn't agree with laws relating to the restriction of access to pornographic material about children or sexual contact with children, and much like homosexual relationships, this may be something which is legalised in the future'. Dragon also told the court he would be willing to undergo physical castration, but a phyciatrist insisted there was no clinic in Australia who would offer such an operation. If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. A Turkish student who was detained by ICE agents has been taken to a detention center in Louisiana, despite a judge's court order. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, who is currently studying at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was swarmed by a group of agents near her off-campus home on Tuesday. Her lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai said that Ozturk was on her way to meet with friends for iftar, a meal to break her Ramadan fast, when she was grabbed. US District Court Judge Indira Talwani ordered on Tuesday night Ozturk to remain in the state and that the government give 48 hours notice before moving her. On Wednesday a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Ozturk had been transferred to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile. It remains unclear at this time if Ozturk had already been taken to Louisiana at the time of Talwani's order. She has yet to be charged with a crime. She is now the third international student known to be at the facility, after Mahmoud Khalil and Badar Khan Suri were also transferred. ICE officials say Ozturk was detained for being 'in support of Hamas', and supported the organization. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, who is currently studying at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was swarmed by a group of agents near her off-campus home 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 In a statement, they said: '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.' 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. 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. 'We're the police,' members of the group are heard saying in the video, as Ozturk shrieks 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'. 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'. It also called on the school to disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. The op-ed 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.' Prior to Tufts, she graduated with a master's degree from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York. Her focus at the liberal school was children's media, she was also a 2018 Fulbright Scholar at the institute. 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, who was the lead student negotiator for the pro-Palestinian encampment, was arrested by Department of Homeland Security agents Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral student at Georgetown University, was taken into custody outside of his home in Rosslyn, Virginia Khalil, 30, was the lead student negotiator and spokesperson at Columbia University for those opposed to Israel's campaign in Gaza at the school. The government is seeking to deport him under a statute that allows for removing noncitizens who pose 'potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences'. 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'. He has not been charged with a crime. He is also married to a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant. Like Khalil and Ozturk, Indian national Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral student at Georgetown Univeristy, was taken into custody by ICE agents at his Virginia home. The Department of Homeland Security alleges Suri been involved in 'actively spreading Hamas propaganda' and 'promoting antisemitism'. His lawyer has filed a petition in federal court calling for his release, making note of Khalil's detention. Yunseo Chung, seen here, said that ICE are moving to have her deported from the country after she was arrested on March 5 His attorney claimed Suri is being targeted because his wife is a Palestinian, noting they have 'long been doxxed and smeared' for their support of Palestinian rights. One Columbia University student has since sued the Trump administration and gone on the run from ICE agents after participating in pro-Palestine protests. Yunseo Chung, 21, said that ICE are moving to have her deported after she was arrested on March 5 following a protest at Barnard College. Chung, who is also a lawful permanent resident, has lived in the US since emigrating at the age of 7 from South Korea. 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'. She is seeking a court order to block the Trump administration's efforts to deport her and asked a judge to prevent her detention. According to the suit, those in government are 'attempting to use immigration enforcement as a bludgeon to suppress speech that they dislike.' Cabinet minister Jonathan Reynolds was twice interrupted today by pro-Palestinian protesters demanding an end to British arms sales to Israel. The Business and Trade Secretary was heckled by a pair of demonstrators in quick succession as he appeared at a conference hosted by the Chatham House think tank. One of them even managed to storm the stage from which Mr Reynolds was speaking before brandishing a Palestinian flag above the Labour MP's head. 'Stop arming Israel, end the genocide! Stop arming Israel, free Palestine!,' they shouted. Both protesters were swiftly removed from the central London venue after disrupting the event on global trade. Mr Reynolds said he would have been happy to be quizzed about Labour's stance on arms exports to Israel, if they had chosen to ask questions from the audience instead. Shortly after winning power last July, Labour suspended around 30 arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza amid concerns about breaches of international law. But the Government decided on a carve-out for F-35 parts from the ban as ministers suggested it could see fighter jets grounded in other parts of the world. One of the protesters managed to storm the stage from which Jonathan Reynolds was speaking before brandishing a Palestinian flag above the Labour MP's head Both protesters were swiftly removed from the central London venue after disrupting the event on global trade At the start of Mr Reynolds' appearance at Chatham House this morning, a demonstrator shouted: 'This man and his Government are complicit in genocide. 'The F-35s are massacring Palestinians and they have not stopped the trade of F-35s. 'Four hundred Palestinians killed last Tuesday, 200 children - one of the largest massacres of Palestinian children in history. 'And they're selling F-35 parts, F-35s - suspend the sale, suspend the sale, all of them, all the parts.' After the protester was removed from the event, Mr Reynolds said: 'We have suspended arms exports to Israel. 'We have not suspended F-35s because they are integral to our national security and the defence of Ukraine. 'And people will know the supply chain for the F-35 means they cannot be isolated to one country. 'That decision was laid out very clearly in Parliament, so I'm quite happy if he wants to ask a question rather than jump on stage to have that engagement with him.' Mr Reynolds was then interrupted by another protester who waved a Palestinian flag and also called for an end to F-35 exports before being removed. 'This Government is still exporting F35 parts to Israel. Stop arming Israel, end the genocide!,' they shouted. 'Stop arming Israel, free Palestine! Stop arming Israel, end the genocide! Stop arming Israel! Stop arming Israel!' A cabal of millionaires who tried to ban the public from their 'private' Oregon lake have been dealt another blow in the form of a seven-figure legal fee. The stubborn group of high-fliers failed to keep a portion of southern Portland's Oswego Lake exclusive following a 12-year court battle, and they've now been slapped with a total tab of almost $1.6 million. Their bill covers $1,368,978.30 in attorney fees after a decade of litigation, along with $221,792.85 in other expenses. Lawyers involved in the case have said they spent almost 2,400 hours working on the case, according to court records. Their hourly fees ranged from $500 to $700. The case was brought in 2013 by local people, including open water swimming enthusiast Todd Prager and attorney Mark Kramer, who wanted access to the lake's 12-mile shoreline. They sued the Lake Oswego Corporation, a housing association representing rich homeowners whose mansions line the lake, and the City of Lake Oswego, for the 'exclusionary policy' which banned them from entering the picturesque waterway. Lake Oswego Corporation hit back, with residents raging that opening the waterfront would bring a down-market vibe to the ritzy area and 'ultimately spoil the lake'. Harvey Liu, a senior portfolio manager at half-trillion-dollar investment fund Columbia Threadneedle told Oregon Live in an email that using the lake should be a 'privilege'. Southern Portland's Oswego Lake (pictured) has been the center of a fiery court battle between members of the public who wanted to use it and local millionaires who fought to keep it private. After losing the case, the millionaires have now been hit with a hefty legal fee Harvey Liu (pictured), a Lake Oswego resident and senior portfolio manager at half-trillion-dollar investment fund Columbia Threadneedle said that using the lake should be a 'privilege' 'I believe it should be a privilege not a right to use the lake; a privilege that comes with conditions such as respect for a lake and adjoining private properties we spend money to maintain,' he wrote. Mark Dunham, a 30-year resident who works as an airline pilot, told the paper that widening access to the lake would 'ultimately spoil' it and 'strain the city's resources'. 'The fountain area below Millennium Park, which is now a serene area to view the lake, will become nothing short of a carnival act on a hot summer day, with paddleboards and inner tubes prepping to go in the water,' Dunham wrote. Lake Oswego Corporation represents more than 4,000 households who used to pay for private access to Oswego Lake. This system ended earlier this month when Clackamas County Circuit Court ruled in favor of local swimming and kayaking enthusiasts and opened the lake. Judge Kathie Steele ordered the City of Lake Oswego to immediately remove no trespassing signs and other obstacles blocking the waterside on March 3. The City of Lake Oswego was ordered to allow public access to its private pond following a ruling by a judge on March 3 which ended a 12-year lawsuit brought by local residents Pictured: the city center square in Lake View Village close to Lake Oswego Open water swimming enthusiasts triumphantly stepped foot in the lake for the first time soon after it was opened - but the tensions were far from over. Mark Kramer, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, went kayaking in the lake but returned to find his car had been keyed, allegedly by a wealthy local woman. Lake Oswego Police said an 'unknown suspect' damaged the vehicle in a public parking lot on Foothills Road, south Portland, on March 8. Kramer said a tipster left a note saying they had seen an older woman keying the vehicle before driving away in a black Range Rover between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. The witness did not provide their contact information, but disclosed the suspect's license plate number, which Kramer said he has given to police. Lake Oswego Police have called for the 'anonymous witness' to come forward, along with anyone else who may have observed the vandalism. Mark Kramer (pictured) was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. He said his vehicle was scratched up on March 8 while he was enjoying kayaking on the newly-opened lake Lake Oswego Police said an 'unknown suspect' damaged the vehicle in a public parking lot on Foothills Road, south Portland, on March 8. The car was scratched multiple times Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the public access case said their lawsuit prompted the Oregon Supreme Court to establish a new legal precedent detailing the public's right to access lakes from 'publicly owned upland areas.' 'Plaintiffs sought to (and did) vindicate an important public right applying to all citizens without any particular or individual gain as to themselves,' the attorneys wrote. 'As a further result of the lawsuit, all members of the public not just members of the Lake Oswego Corporation may access the waters of Oswego Lake.' 'I'm thrilled that the public has finally regained access to this unique and important public resource,' plaintiff Todd Prager told The Oregonian after the ruling. 'I hope the public responsibly enjoys their immediate right to access the lake.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the parties for comment on how the eye-watering sum will be split between those involved in the lawsuit. Someone's going to have to take the blame for the Signal war plans fiasco, and it's likely going to be either Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth or National Security advisor Mike Waltz. The nation was shocked earlier this week when The Atlantic revealed the Trump administration had mistakenly added their editor to a group chat where top officials were discussing their plans to strike the Houthis in Yemen. Hegseth and Waltz are at the center of the scandal - as Hegseth was the one to share the explicit strike plans and Waltz's device seems to have been the one that added Goldberg to the group chat. 'Pete Hegseth was the one that put in the chat the more specific details. So there's a lot of scrutiny on him right now, in particular, if Trump will do anything or remove him from his post,' executive editor of politics Kelly Laco said on DailyMail's Welcome to MAGAland podcast on Wednesday. However, so far, the White House has remained unified in their response to the scandal, trying to direct the narrative against editor Jeffrey Goldberg and insisting, despite evidence to the contrary, that the messages do not represent a bombshell mishandling of classified information. Top Republican lawmakers today pulled out the knives for Hegseth. One Republican senator was particularly infuriated by Hegseth's failure to take responsibility after the Defense Secretary claimed on the tarmac in Hawaii yesterday that he leaked no classified information - despite texts showing he shared detailed up-to-the-minute plans of the attack. 'The worst part of it is Hegseth saying himself, "This didnt really happen." Why dont you just admit it? the Republican senator told The Hill. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is at the center of the Signal war plans leak scandal The Trump administration has remained unified so far, standing by both Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, seen above with Trump at the Oval Office President Trump speaks to the press as he meets with, from L to R, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Your browser does not support iframes. Senator Kevin Cramer, a member of the armed services committee, told The Hill: 'I think they should make sure it never happens again. I wish theyd tell us, "It will never happen again." Its the first strike in the early stages of an administration. 'I dont know how many strikes you get. In baseball, you get three. Maybe this is worth two. If mistakes like this continue to happen, well deal with them as it happens. My hope and my expectation is that it wont.' Another Republican senator said the president is 'not happy' but was so far stopping short of firing either Hegseth or Waltz. The Daily Mail's Laco said on the MAGAland podcast: 'I don't think anyone's going anywhere for the time being, for sure, Pete Hegseth and Mike Waltz will survive the week. Right now they're pretty much unified clapping back and really throwing Jeff Goldberg under the bus. 'Trump stuck his neck out for Pete Hegseth during the confirmation hearing process, he had the most contentious hearing. He was questioned over his sobriety, his past infidelities, his previous wives. 'But Trump stuck by him from start to finish and so I don't see him abandoning him in this situation, particularly because the strikes went well. If they had gone south that would be a different story.' Meanwhile, the fact that The Atlantic shared a grab that shows Waltz' device was the one to add Goldberg to the chat also puts him at the center of the scandal. 'Clearly at some point, Mike Waltz had communicated with this editor. His number was in the phone under the initial JG, and no one in the chat thought to ask, "who is this unnamed person who isn't contributing?"' Laco said on the latest episode of MAGAland. However, it's clear that as of now Trump is still backing both of his loyalists, and it could that they throw a lower aide under the bus. A photo has been published of Mike Waltz next to reporter Jeffrey Goldberg, showing that the two had met prior to the Atlantic editor-in-chief being allowed into a Trump administration group text 'We'll see if there ends up being a scapegoat, maybe a lower level staffer who could take the blame,' Laco concluded. 'If the Trump administration stands strong, continues to say this is all a hoax, just like Russia was a hoax, I don't even think they'll have to sacrifice either of them,' said chief reporter Germania Rodriguez Poleo on MAGAland. But Waltz admitted that he accidentally added the journalist to a Signal group chat about military strikes. 'I take full responsibility,' Waltz said during his tortured explanation of the debacle on Tuesday night. In a bizarre explanation, Waltz then said the 'mistake' may have actually been an act of subterfuge by the journalist. 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.' To make matters worse for Waltz, who had claimed he's never met Goldberg, a photo has emerged showing him posing alongside the Atlantic's editor. Earlier this week, Waltz said: 'Whether its the Russia hoax or making up lies about Gold Star families, and this one in particular Ive never met, dont know, never communicated with, and we are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room.' However, a reporter has unearthed a picture of at the 2021 screening of a film at the French Embassy in Washington where Waltz is standing next to Goldberg. 'The event Waltz attendeda Q&A with a French filmmakerwas moderated by Goldberg,' Anna Bower of Lawfare wrote. The film, 'The Will to See,' is an 'unflinching look at the most urgent humanitarian crisis around the globe' directed by French intellectual Bernard Henri-Levy, who originally shared the photo. Henri-Levy tagged both Waltz and Goldberg in his post to X, thanking them for being in attendance. Waltz was serving in Congress, representing the 6th District of Florida at the time of the screening. Search for Welcome to MAGAland now, on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts now. An Indiana Catholic church shocked the country when parishioners spotted communion wafers apparently bleed. Worshippers across America were stunned at the sight of the food leaking a red substance that appeared to symbolize Jesus' bleeding body. But weeks later it has been completely debunked, with scientists revealing the true cause of the coloring. The discovery was made at St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Morris, a small town with a population of less than 1,000, near Cincinnati. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis requested the study on the wafers after red marks were found and the results concluded it was not a miracle. The discoloration was caused by common bacteria typically found on human hands, the Archdiocese said in a statement. In the Catholic Church, the communion wafer is used to receive the ritual of the Eucharist. The wafer symbolizes Jesus's body while wine is used to signify his blood. The potential presence of blood on the wafer shocked parishioners and speculations arose that a Eucharistic miracle occurred. A red stain appeared on the wafer after it was put in a cup of water, which signaled the potential of a Eucharistic miracle The wafer was discovered at St. Anthony of Padua in Morris, Indiana, a small town outside of Cincinnati The host had fallen out of a Mass kit and after the red spots were discovered, the Archdiocese submitted it for a professional biochemical analysis. Father Stanley Pondo is the current priest at St. Anthony Three different species of bacteria were found on the wafer along with the presence of a fungus. 'Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, there have been well-documented miracles and apparitions, and each has been thoroughly and carefully reviewed,' the Archdiocese said in a statement. The news marked a disappointing end to what church members were hoping would put their small town on the map. 'We have such a little town. You can drive through and blink and you're through it,' Shari Strassell a member of St. Anthony, told local news outlet WKRC-TV. 'It means the world, it does, and I think there is something special about our church up here.' Eucharistic miracles are few and far between, however, there have been several instances where blood did appear to bleed from the host. The red markings on the communion wafer were discovered to be from three different species of bacteria and a fungus commonly found on human hands The Archdiocese of Indianapolis confirmed that the red stain found on a communion wafer in Indiana was not the result of a miracle Eucharistic miracles are rare, however, the Catholic church has documented several instances in the 21st century where evidence of blood appeared on the communion hosts In 2013, a host fell on the floor at Mass on Christmas Day in Legnica, Poland. It was put in water to dissolve and turned into type AB blood. A similar instance occurred in 2008 in Sokolka, Poland, when a priest placed a host in a container of water after accidentally dropping it. A week later a nun observed a red stain and two separate medical schools found cardiac tissue on the host. Scientists in Tixtla, Mexico found red blood cells on a host after a red stain was discovered during a mass in 2006. The ex-wife of Blur drummer Dave Rowntree left almost 1million in her will after travelling to Switzerland to end her life. Paola Marra, 53, had been struck with terminal breast and bowel cancer, and opted to end her life at the Dignitas clinic on March 20 last year, using her final statement to call for a change in UK law to legalise assisted dying. She chose to travel to Switzerland alone for fear that anyone who came with her would be considered an accessory to her death - before asking the star to come after all. She then changed her mind again and died alone the next day. Records seen by MailOnline show Ms Marra's estate was valued at 1.2million before expenses such as funeral costs and mortgages are deducted - leaving a net value of 941,004. Her last will and testament reveals she wished to donate her body and organs to medicine and science, and that she would then be cremated and her ashes spread on Hampstead Heath - a short distance from her modest north London home. Canada-born Ms Marra left most of her fortune to her brothers and sisters, all of whom still reside across the Atlantic - but also bestowed a number of gifts upon Mr Rowntree, 60, with whom she remained close after their split. As well as a gift of 50,000, she left the drummer - whom she married in 1994 - all her artworks and the contents of her home in Finchley. She also donated 4,000 apiece to Wigs for Heroes, A Space Between and Secondary Sisters, each of which supports those with cancer, as well as animal-rescue charity Greyhound Gap. Paola Marra's estate was worth almost 1million, records show, after she travelled to Dignitas to die rather than face brutal ongoing cancer treatment Blur drummer Dave Rowntree (pictured with Paola), was given 50,000 in her will as well as her possessions Paola Marra and Dave Rowntree were married in 1994, but split in the early 2000s. However, they remained close until her death Ms Marra left Dave Rowntree the contents of her home in Finchley, north London (pictured) She gave her dog Stanley to photographer Mark James in Cornwall - she left 10,000 to cover the cost of looking after the animal Another 10,000 was given to another friend in Cornwall to cover the cost of looking after her elderly whippet Stanley, after she was gone. She also left the same friend her car. Ms Marra, with the support of her musician ex, both strongly called for changes to assisted dying laws in Britain as her cancer worsened. She ultimately spent 15,000 on her Dignitas travel and treatment. Mr Rowntree branded the current laws 'psychopathic' and saw people struggling to live with chronic health conditions 'creep(ing) around like a criminal'. The drummer and qualified lawyer, who also lost his father John to bowel cancer last year, told the Guardian: 'It is the system washing its hands of difficult problems in a way that I can't stomach. 'This is psychopathic, where we are now, because the whole point of this (should be) to try to make things easier for the real victim in this the terminally ill person. 'Not only that, but when the time comes, if they do decide to die with dignity and end their life at a time of their choosing, and in a way of their choosing, they have to do it unsupported by anyone, on their own, not able to hold anyone's hand, not able to hug somebody and say goodbye.' Heartbreakingly, he recalled that she had offered to accompany her to Zurich despite knowing it could make him an accessory to her death. She changed her mind, before calling him and asking him to come after all - before telling him not to. She died the next day - alone. A video released after Ms Marra's death, filmed by celebrated photographer Rankin, featured a poignant message from beyond the grave. She used the video to call for a change in the law so people could 'reclaim control' over their lives when given a terminal diagnosis. Dave Rowntree (second from left) with Blur bandmates Graham Coxon, Alex James and Damon Albarn in 2015 The Dignitas clinic in Switzerland where Paola Marra ended her life. The clinic is controversial for accepting international clients and allegedly encouraging 'suicide tourism' Paola Marra was photographed by legendary photographer Rankin, sending a very clear message to her cancer The video issued after her death featured several stages of her treatment - and a similarly canny approach to her cancer One year without Paola. A year ago today, Paola died at Dignitas. She was forced to leave her home, her country, and her loved ones because the law denied her choice. She should have been able to say goodbye on her own terms, surrounded by those who loved her. pic.twitter.com/93vRUCRtQI Dignity in Dying (@dignityindying) March 20, 2025 Ms Marra with one of her pet dogs, both of whom have been rehomed In the video, Ms Marra said: 'When you watch this, I will be dead. I'm choosing to seek assisted dying because I refuse to let a terminal illness dictate the terms of my existence. '(A terminal illness) is a slow erosion of dignity: the loss of independence; the stripping away of everything that makes life worth living. 'Assisted dying is not about giving up. In fact, it's about reclaiming control. It's not about death - it's about dignity.' 'It's about giving people the right to end their suffering on their own terms, with compassion and respect.' Ms Rowntree first found she had breast cancer in 2017, then bowel cancer three years later - and she was told it was incurable by 2021. She described her treatment as 'brutal' and said she could no longer take many painkillers as they caused complications. Terminally-ill broadcaster Esther Rantzen is an advocate for reform in the UK, as are a swathe of other well-known names including author Terry Pratchett and actors Susan Sarandon and Patrick Stewart. But critics say any reform could open the way for 'state-sanctioned killing'. At present, a person suspected of assisting a death can face up to 14 years in prison in the UK. Paola had spent her final days in Britain living well, enjoying some of the capital's finest restaurants and afternoon teas. She had told the Guardian: 'I'm not scared to die. I'm scared of dying in pain.' Assisted dying is legal for terminally ill people in several US states, as well as large chunks of Australia, and in New Zealand, Canada, Austria, Spain and Ecuador. A handful of other countries have broader euthanasia laws for the seriously ill. Paola Marra stands outside the London Underground station in East Finchley with her pet dogs, both of whom have been rehomed in Cornwall A file photograph of a bed in the Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Pfaeffikon, Switzerland Images of Paola Marra from throughout her life were shared in the poignant video released upon her death Ms Marra said in the video that she was not 'scared of dying' but 'scared of dying in pain' (pictured with one of her pet dogs) Assisted dying laws were been passed by parliament on the Isle of Man on Tuesday and are awaiting Royal Assent. Proposals are also moving forward on Jersey, while MPs voted in support of a Bill from MP Kim Leadbeater to legalise it in England and Wales last November. Ms Leadbetter's proposal would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to end their lives. Scrutiny of the bill, by the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee of MPs, has just been completed, and it is due for further debate at report stage in Parliament, likely sometime in the next month, before the third stage debate. If enacted, it could take four years to come into effect after the deadline to implement it was doubled, to the fury of campaigners in favour of the law. However, the Labour MP has also stoked anger by backtracking on a plan for any assisted death to require the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge after she proposed appointing a 'commissioner' and expert panels instead. Ms Leadbetter has insisted the decision will not move assisted dying cases 'behind closed doors'. A majority of committee members also approved new measures under the Bill, which would see assisted dying available free on the NHS. Yesterday, the Prime Minister said assisted dying would be implemented in a 'safe and practicable way' if brought into law. But former MP Caroline Ansell, who is now director of advocacy and policy at Christian Action Research and Education, said the Bill should be voted down when it returns to the Commons. She said: 'The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is riddled with problems. Wherever MPs stand on the principle behind it, they should reject it at Third Reading.' Similar legislation is being discussed in Scotland but may require work with the UK Government to enshrine it in law after Scottish ministers said it may not be in Holyrood's competence. Paola Marra died in March last year after opting to end her life rather than continue treatment for terminal breast and bowel cancer (pictured in an image released after her death) Dave Rowntree (right) with Blur bandmates Graham Coxon, Alex James and Damon Albarn in 1999 Campaign group Dignity in Dying had marked the first anniversary of Paola's death last week, sharing another video of her discussing her decision to die. An open letter she had written collected more than 25,000 signatures in support of changing the law. 'She was forced to leave her home, her country, and her loved ones because the law denied her choice,' the group said last week as it remembered her. 'She should have been able to say goodbye on her own terms, surrounded by those who loved her.' Although the couple divorced around two decades before her death, Mr Rowntree had supported Ms Marra before her final journey. The Blur drummer joined Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Alex James to form Blur in 1989, but has enjoyed an eccentric career as a Labour councillor, film composer, lawyer, pilot, broadcaster and general election candidate. The band engaged in the famous Battle of Britpop with rivals Oasis in the mid 90s and bagged seven UK number one albums. They recently reunited for a second time, with Dave also pursuing a solo career in the last three years. His interest in politics led him to two unsuccessful general election campaigns in 2010 and 2024. A strange scribble could help seal the fate of the man accused of breaking into an off-campus home and slaughtering four University of Idaho students in an attack that sent shockwaves across the globe. Bryan Kohberger is accused of murdering Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen in a horror knife attack back on November 13, 2022, in Moscow, Idaho. In the moments after the murders, surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen came face-to-face with a masked man with bushy eyebrows and dressed in all black as he left the home at 1122 King Road. Now, a bizarre, scrawling sketch drawn by Mortensen to show police what she saw that fateful night has been revealed for the first time. The drawing, unearthed in a newly-released court document, appears to depict a balaclava. According to prosecutors, Kohberger bought a black balaclava matching the description from Dicks Sporting Goods on January 10, 2022 - 10 months before he allegedly donned the disguise to carry out the murders. The state plans to present proof of this purchase to jurors at his capital murder trial this summer, to show it is 'the same type of mask described by DM that she witnessed worn by a male in the residence on November 13, 2022'. The new details were revealed in a trove of court documents filed by the prosecution and the defense in recent days as both sides prepare for the high-profile trial. The bizarre, scrawling sketch Dylan Mortensen drew of the mask she saw a man wearing inside the home at the time of the murders In the documents, bombshell new details were also revealed about the accused killer's bizarre comments to officers mere moments after his arrest. And an eerie college assignment from Kohberger's criminology degree at DeSales University was also released, in which the accused mass killer meticulously detailed a crime scene where a young white woman was murdered with a knife. Kohberger, a 30-year-old PhD student at Washington State University, was arrested around six weeks on from the quadruple homicide at his parents' home in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf at his arraignment. The newly-released drawing of the balaclava shines further light on the eyewitness account of the roommate who lived to tell the tale. At the time of the murders, Mortensen and Bethany Funke lived with Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle in the three-story house in Moscow. They were both inside the home at the time of the murders but escaped unscathed. Mortensen's bedroom was on the second floor and she is the only known survivor believed to have encountered the killer that night. She told investigators that she had been woken by noises in the home at around 4am that morning and had heard a voice say theres someone here.' She also heard what sounded like whimpering coming from Kernodle's room - also on the second floor - and a mystery mans voice saying: Its ok, Im going to help you. The off-campus student home in Moscow, Idaho, where the four students were murdered is seen on November 29, 2022 From left: Dylan Mortensen, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen (on Kaylee's shoulders), Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Bethany Funke Mortensen told investigators she had opened her door and peeked outside three times. The third time, she said she saw a man with 'bushy eyebrows' and dressed in black walk past her door and head towards the sliding back doors of the home. The terrified student then made a series of panicked texts and calls to Funke and her slain roommates moments later. Only Funke responded. The others were already dead. Mortensen ultimately went to Funke's bedroom, where the two young women stayed together. Around eight hours later, after cellphone records show their texts and calls to their roommates continued to go unanswered, they called two friends to the home, court documents show. A harrowing 911 call was made from Funke's phone just before midday as Kernodle's body was discovered. Police arrived on the scene to find young couple Kernodle and Chapin dead in her room on the second floor. Best friends Mogen and Goncalves were both found dead in Mogen's bed on the third floor. All four had been brutally stabbed to death. Bryan Kohberger smirks and offers a 'thumbs up' to the camera in a selfie six hours after the murders A search of Dick's Sporting Goods' current offering reveals there are 41 variations of black balaclavas or ski masks available Following the murders, Mortensen told police in multiple interviews and testified to a grand jury that she could only make out the man's 'bushy eyebrows' because of the mask. 'I just remember, like, bushy eyebrows. That's all I could think about,' Mortensen told investigators. The defense has tried to cast doubt on Mortensen's credibility as the sole surviving witness - and is asking the judge to ban the term 'bushy eyebrows' from the trial. In the new court filing, released Wednesday, Kohberger's team unveiled her drawing of the balaclava and questioned its reliability. The defense argued that Mortensen was drunk at the time - reeling off a list of alcohol consumed that night including champagne and hard seltzer. They added that she 'has a fascination with drawing eyes and eyebrows,' and had only seen the man for a very short time with limited lighting and 'under stress and expressed fear'. According to the defense, her memory may have been impacted because she was allowed to mingle with Funke and many other friends after the murders were discovered - and before her first police interview. 'Many of the friends who were at 1122 King Road when police arrived also stayed in the same hotel room the night of November 13, 2022,' the defense argued. The defense also argued that an officer had asked Mortensen if she knew what a balaclava was and showed her a picture during her third police interview on November 17, 2022. Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were found dead in the same bed in Mogen's room on the third floor Boyfriend and girlfriend Ethan Chapin (left) and Xana Kernodle (right) were slain in bed together in the gruesome murders in November 2022 During the next interview on December 1, 2022, Mortensen then drew the mask which looks like a balaclava. 'Mistaken identifications have been one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions in the United States for decades and still are,' the defense wrote. 'When a witness swears under oath to the identification of the person on trial, the impact cannot be understated,' the defense argues. 'In this case, if D.M. is allowed to say that she saw bushy eyebrows, it will not be different than her pointing to Mr. Kohberger and saying, that is him. 'To make matters even more prejudicial the State wants to admit into evidence a picture of Mr. Kohberger, as if D.M. identified him in the photo. This is how wrongful convictions occur.' Prosecutors want to show jurors a creepy selfie taken by Kohberger hours after the murders, arguing that the jury should decide if the accused killer could be described as having 'bushy eyebrows'. The photo shows the quadruple homicide suspect sporting earphones and a pristine white shirt buttoned all the way up to the collar as he stands in front of a shower. A slight grin is plastered across his face as he gives a thumbs-up to the camera. The photo, prosecutors say, was taken at around 10:30am on November 13, 2022 - about six hours after the 30-year-old allegedly killed the four victims. Bryan Kohberger's drivers license was revealed in the new court filings ahead of his trial Bryan Kohberger (pictured during his extradition in January 2023) is slated to go on trial in August It was also snapped about an hour after Kohberger's cellphone allegedly placed him back outside the home between 9:12 and 9:21am - indicating the suspected killer returned to the scene of the crime before the grisly murders were discovered and the 911 call was placed. In another new court document, the defense revealed new details about Kohberger's bizarre behavior at the time of his arrest. A SWAT team raided his parents' home on December 30, 2022, and took him into custody. During his arrest, Kohberger allegedly suggested to one of the officers that they go for coffee sometime. 'A full swat team, doors broken, and parents zip tied, he made small talk with the detective in the back of the car during the ride to the police station,' the filing says. 'He asked the officer about his education and suggested that they get coffee at a later date.' The defense argues this shows Kohberger did not understand 'the profoundly serious nature of the moment' due to his autism diagnosis - a diagnosis the team argues is reason to strike the death penalty from the case. Due to changes in state law, Kohberger could be executed by firing squad if convicted. DNA was found on a Ka-Bar knife sheath (seen in a stock image) left behind at the scene It's an outcome some of the victims' families have made it clear they welcome. The defense is also attacking 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, phone records and Kohberger's DeSales student records. Prosecutors responded by sharing a 12-page assignment Kohberger submitted in 2020 as part of his criminal justice Masters degree. The document details how to handle a crime scene where a white woman has been found murdered at a trailer park - stabbed to death with a knife. It describes how crime scene investigators must meticulously photograph the scene including the victim's body, capturing 'the deceased woman in the living room... the bruises on her face, the marks on her neck, the bloody shirt...' It also details photographing the knife at the scene, capturing any signs of forced entry, and documenting all crime scene evidence. Prosecutors argue it shows Kohberger's extensive knowledge of crime scenes. While at DeSales, the accused mass murderer studied under Dr Katherine Ramsland - a leading expert on the notorious BTK serial killer Dennis Rader. The student home where the murders took place. It has now been demolished before the trial There, as part of his thesis, he also 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 WSU in Pullman, Washington - just over the border from Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger was ultimately tied to the murders after 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. Surveillance footage also captured a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's car around the student home at the time of the murders. 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 sheath was planted by the real killer at the scene - framing him for the shocking crime. 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. After more than two years, Kohberger's trial is finally set to get under way in Ada County in August. Kohberger is next due in court in April. Denmark is raging over Vice President JD Vance's plan to visit Greenland with his wife Usha on Friday. It came as Donald Trump again said he wants to take over the semi-autonomous Danish territory. The Vances are set to visit the U.S. military base at Pituffik in northern Greenland. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said: 'I need to clearly speak out against what I see as an escalation from the American side. The tightened rhetoric is in every way far-fetched.' This DailyMail.com blog is now closed. A glamorous female judge is under pressure to resign following a dramatic courtroom meltdown, with an Oklahoma sheriff demanding her departure after she tried to have him arrested for the hallway being too 'noisy.' In a video statement shared to the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Facebook page on Wednesday, Sheriff Tommie Johnson III called for District Judge Amy Palumbo to resign, claiming she abused her power during an incident last year in which he was threatened with jailtime over courtroom noise. 'I am calling for Judge Palumbo to step down,' Johnson said in the video. 'She has proven herself not worthy of the position she holds.' While attending one of his children's school activities on April 17, 2024, around the same time of his re-election campaign, Johnson received a stern text from Palumbo, insisting that he report to her courtroom that afternoon. Explaining that his schedule was already full, Johnson informed the judge that she could arrange an appointment with his assistant instead. 'I'm going to be addressing contempt and you're gonna need to clear your schedule,' Palumbo responded. 'I'll see you at 1.30.' Johnson later discovered that Palumbo had instructed several county leaders to be present in the courtroom and had arranged for the media to film the incident, as the sheriff was set to be cuffed and held in contempt. 'Dignitaries invited, media invited, I'm in contempt,' Johnson told News 9. 'If that isn't a soap opera setup for something to happen towards me - that they want documented, I don't know what is.' In a video statement shared to the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Facebook page on Wednesday, Sheriff Tommie Johnson III called for District Judge Amy Palumbo to resign, claiming she abused her power during an incident last year In April of last year, according to Johnson, Palumbo felt as though the hallway noise outside of her courtroom was 'too loud,' and, as a result, believed Johnson was disrespecting the court of law, its officers and the legal process and threatened jailtime While attending one of his children's school activities on April 17, 2024, around the same time of his re-election campaign, Johnson received a stern text from Palumbo, insisting that he report to her courtroom that afternoon Johnson later discovered that Palumbo had instructed several county leaders to be present in the courtroom and had arranged for the media to film the incident, as the sheriff was set to be cuffed and held in contempt Palumbo felt as though the hallway noise outside of her courtroom was 'too loud,' and, as a result, believed Johnson was disrespecting the court of law, its officers and the legal process. 'I feel like the end goal would have been to try to get a glimpse or image of me being carried out of that room in handcuffs,' Johnson told News 9. 'I am being jailed for doing nothing wrong? My mind is going crazy.' 'To illegally infringe on my rights, no due process, you're just going to throw me in jail for what? Cause you felt like it. That shouldn't exist in our judicial system.' Additionally, Johnson explained, several of his deputies were called to her bench where they were 'berated over what she thought was too much noise.' In a letter written by a deputy on April 17, it was indicated that Palumbo requested a deputy to be stationed in the hallways during pre-trial hearings to help control the noise outside of the courtroom, KOKO News reported. However, Palumbo began yelling that her request had gone unaddressed for weeks. Following the outburst, a deputy issued a statement that Johnson later shared on Facebook, which read: 'I was completely humiliated and disrespected. Judge Palumbo's outburst was unwarranted, unprofessional and unprovoked.' Immediately after the incident, Johnson explained that he contacted Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who subsequently called Palumbo and accused her of 'abusing her authority.' Immediately after the incident, Johnson explained that he contacted Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who subsequently called Palumbo and accused her of 'abusing her authority,' leading to another text from the judge which the sheriff referred to as a 'threat' Johnson explained that several of his deputies were called to her bench where they were also 'berated over what she thought was too much noise' In Johnson's video statement, he said: 'I am calling for Judge Palumbo to step down. She has proven herself not worthy of the position she holds' Following the outburst, a deputy issued a statement that Johnson later shared on Facebook, which read: 'I was completely humiliated and disrespected. Judge Palumbo's outburst was unwarranted, unprofessional and unprovoked' Palumbo then sent another text to Johnson, which read: 'I'm meeting with your attorney at 1.30. Not requiring your personal appearance at this time. If and when I issue a summons, you will know.' 'Clearly she was threatening me,' Johnson said in his statement. 'Letting me know that this isn't over.' Johnson also reached out to the office of Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, which, according to the sheriff, serves as the counsel for the sheriff's office. Behenna told Johnson he had 'no recourse,' advising him that 'judges can do whatever they wanted.' 'Now we have a judge who's in a position, who's granted all of this power, and you're willing to abuse your power that the bench gives you,' Johnson told News 9. 'It's not given to one person.' Instead, Johnson requested that the DA recuse herself from any legal duties related to the case as he sought outside counsel, a request she refused. The sheriff ultimately hired an outside attorney at his own expense, who advised him to file a judicial misconduct complaint with the Council on Judicial Complaints, which he proceeded to do. A year later, Johnson received a letter from Chief Justice Dustin Rowe of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, stating: 'I issued a private reprimand with instructions to Judge Amy Palumbo. The Council on Judicial Complaints has been made aware that this matter has been addressed and resolved.' In a letter written by a deputy on April 17, it was indicated that Palumbo requested a deputy to be stationed in the hallways during pre-trial hearings to help control the noise outside of the courtroom. However, Palumbo began yelling that her request had gone unaddressed for weeks Johnson told News 9: 'Now we have a judge who's in a position, who's granted all of this power, and you're willing to abuse your power that the bench gives you. It's not given to one person' The sheriff ultimately hired an outside attorney at his own expense, who advised him to file a judicial misconduct complaint with the Council on Judicial Complaints, which he proceeded to do 'In other words, I will never know what punishment, if any, Judge Palumbo received,' Johnson said. 'Understand, I was at my son's school when I was told I was going to be put in jail because a judge felt her hallway was too loud,' he continued. 'I was to be paraded in front of county leaders and the press in handcuffs, then hauled off to jail. And for what?' 'I had to have that conversation with my kids, that dad might have to go to jail. I gave my wife a list of people should they have to post my bond.' Though the incident unfolded last year, Johnson explained that he is finally speaking out about publicly because 'the complaint has worked its way through the judicial complaint system, and I believe that we have to be transparent.' 'As law enforcement and as officers of the court, we must be held to a higher standard,' Johnson said. 'When the authority we are trusted with is abused, it stains the entire judicial system.' 'Those who abuse their authority must be held accountable,' the sheriff concluded, before calling for Palumbo to step down from her position. Particularly in an election year, Johnson explained to News 9, that, whether the contempt charge was warranted or not, an arrest would have likely changed the course of his entire career. A year later, Johnson received a letter from Chief Justice Dustin Rowe of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, stating: 'I issued a private reprimand with instructions to Judge Amy Palumbo. The Council on Judicial Complaints has been made aware that this matter has been addressed and resolved' In the video statement, Johnson said: 'I had to have that conversation with my kids, that dad might have to go to jail. I gave my wife a list of people should they have to post my bond' Particularly in an election year, Johnson explained to News 9, that, whether the contempt charge was warranted or not, an arrest would have likely changed the course of his entire career The District Attorney's Office has since released a statement regarding the incident, according to KOKO News. 'Ethically, I cannot, nor will my civil division, comment on privileged conversations my office has with the elected officials we represent,' Behenna said. 'The proper channel for anyone to file a complaint about a judge is the Council on Judicial Complaints,' the statement added. 'District attorneys do not have oversight nor insight into their decision making process.' A ninja sword ban is set to come into place this summer after the mother of a 16-year-old stab victim campaigned for a change in law. From August 1 it will be illegal to possess, sell, make or import the weapon in the final part of anti-knife crime measures that come into force under Ronan's Law, named after Ronan Kanda. His mother Pooja Kanda has campaigned for a law change after her 16-year-old son was yards away from his Wolverhampton home when he was murdered with a ninja sword in 2022. The move to ban the blades will be laid before Parliament today and will come into force in the summer once it is approved. Ronan was fatally stabbed by Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, both 17, as he walked back home from a friend's house where he had gone to buy a PlayStation controller in Wolverhampton. He was yards away from the home he shared with his parents and sister when he was set upon on Mount Road on the evening of June 29 2022. In 2023, the two were jailed for life, with Mr Justice Choudhury branding it a 'cowardly attack' while jailing Veadhesa for a minimum of 18 years and Shergill for a minimum of 16 years. Today, with the law introduction, his heartbroken mother said it marks a 'very important day' for her family and the campaign. The court heard Ronan Kanda, pictured, was 'a victim of mistaken identity' Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill, both 17, were involved in a brutal attack on Ronan Kanda from behind as he walked to a friend's house to buy a PlayStation controller in Wolverhampton last year Mr Justice Choudhary said it was 'disturbing' that the killers were able to buy the murder weapons with 'such ease' from the internet About the new law The government has said from 1 August, ninja swords will be banned. This will make it illegal to possess, manufacture, import or sell these deadly weapons. The majority of ninja swords have a blade between 14 inches and 24 inches with one straight cutting edge with a tanto style point. From August, anyone caught in possession of a ninja sword in private could face 6 months in prison, and this will later increase to two years under new measures in the Crime and Policing Bill. Ahead of the ban coming into place, the government, in partnership with law enforcement and members of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, will run a surrender scheme across the country. The surrender scheme will run from 1 to 31 July to allow any member of the public to hand in these weapons safely. Advertisement Ms Kanda said: 'Since losing our beautiful boy Ronan, we have relentlessly campaigned for a ban on ninja swords - the lethal weapon which took his life. 'We believe ninja swords have no place in our society other than to seriously harm and kill. 'Each step towards tackling knife crime is a step towards getting justice for our boy Ronan.' Anyone caught with a ninja sword in private could face six months in prison, set to increase to two years under plans in the Crime and Policing Bill. The weapons can be handed over in knife-surrender bins or local police stations under a surrender scheme running in July. No ninja swords bought after Thursday will be eligible for compensation as part of efforts to stop exploitation of the scheme, the Home Office said. Under Ronan's Law, the Home Office has also announced a raft of measures including making retailers report bulk or suspicious sales to police, and increasing the jail sentence for selling weapons to children, or illegal blades such as zombie knives, to two years. In September a ban on 'zombie-style' knives and machetes came into place however the knife which was used to kill Ronan was not in the list which his mother labelled as 'bizarre'. She told Good Morning Britain: 'Why do we need these types of weapons. Why are we making them available. I just can't find the reason. Ronan was walking to a friend's house in Wolverhampton when he was attacked from behind on June 29, 2022 Pooja Kanda (pictured speaking to Good Morning Britain) labelled a decision not to ban ninja swords as 'bizarre' 'They are dangerous and falling into the wrong hands and causing massive problems in our society. Killing young people. We don't need that.' In what judge Mr Justice Choudhury called a 'tragic coincidence', Veadhesa and Shergill had seen Ronan leaving the house where their intended victim lived and assumed he was the boy they were looking for. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'We are acting with urgency to bring forward measures to prevent deadly weapons from getting into the wrong hands and will continue to do whatever is needed to prevent young people being killed on our streets as part of our mission to halve knife crime over the next decade.' Patrick Green, chief executive of Ben Kinsella Trust, also backed the ban, adding: 'These weapons, with no practical purpose beyond violence, are simply instruments of war and have absolutely no place in our society or on our streets.' The Government is also set to consult on introducing a licensing scheme for retailers who want to sell knives in the spring. The court heard Ronan was followed and stabbed twice with a 'vicious' Ninja knife that Veadhesa had bought online, leaving him with a 20cm deep wound in his back and hip area and a 17cm deep wound in his chest. Mr Justice Choudhary said it was 'disturbing' that the killers were able to buy the murder weapons with 'such ease' from the internet He was left to die in the street from the injuries inflicted by Veadhesa, who, along with Shergill, fled the scene after realising they had stabbed the wrong person and disposed of the weapons and the clothing they had been wearing. A judge lifted reporting restrictions which prevented the media from naming the killers, Prabjeet Veadhesa, left, and Sukhman Shergill, right This shows the moment Prabjeet Veadhesa collected the package containing the ninja sword and machete from the post office The court heard Veadhesa had previously given the intended victim some money but he had not paid it back, and the defendants had gone to find him and 'scare' him into returning the cash. Earlier in the day on June 29 2022, Veadhesa had picked up the Ninja sword set and a large machete, which he had purchased online using a fake name, from a local Post Office. Although Shergill did not inflict any blows on Ronan, he was found to have acted in the joint enterprise of his murder and the pair were both found guilty by a jury after a five-week trial. Before their sentences were handed down prosecutor David Mason KC said there was a 'significant degree' of planning and premeditation. He said: 'The weapons were ordered in advance. 'They wore dark clothing to disguise their identities and both disposed of the weapons and the clothing after the killing. 'Ronan was not the intended victim, which makes this case even more tragic. He was minding his own business, walking home from the house of his friend. 'It was a brutal killing in broad daylight in front of members of the public. 'There is no real evidence of any true remorse for what they did that night.' Ronan's family and friends were in the courtroom wearing black 'Justice for Ronan' t-shirts to watch the sentencing Defending Veadhesa, Adam Morgan said his client had no previous convictions and was of good character. He said: 'He is genuinely remorseful. It is something he will have to bear for the rest of his life.' Timothy Hannam KC, defending Shergill, said his client should be treated more leniently than his accomplice. He said: 'This was a joint enterprise offence but a distinction can be drawn between the two defendants. 'Mr Veadhesa was the one who actually killed Ronan. Mr Veadhesa was the one who stabbed him, not Mr Shergill.' Jailing the defendants, judge Mr Justice Choudhury, said it was 'disturbing' that such weapons could be bought 'with ease' online. He said the 'cowardly' attack had been part of a 'trivial dispute' over money. He told the defendants: 'Ronan was a normal 16-year-old boy. He had nothing to do with gangs, drugs, violence or weapons. He didn't even have any issues with either of you. 'He was targeted by mistake. 'When you realised it was Ronan you had stabbed, instead of showing humanity you both ran, leaving your friend to die in the street.' Democratic firebrand Jasmine Crockett was accused of using the police shooting death of an unarmed black man for political gain, DailyMail.com can reveal. Rep. Crockett who found herself in hot water this week for calling wheelchair-bound Texas Governor Greg Abbot 'Hot Wheels' was hit with a cease-and-desist order in 2022 by the family of 26-year-old accountant Botham Jean, who was shot dead in his apartment by an off-duty police officer in 2018. At the time, Crockett was a state representative running for her first term in Congress to succeed retiring Democratic US Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson for the District 30 congressional seat later that year. She went on to win that race, and has faced no serious challenges since then in her deeply-Democratic Dallas-area district. 'She's now trying to raise her profile by saying all these sensational and inflammatory things, and she probably believes she can say whatever she wants because she's insulated in her deep blue district,' Republican James Rodgers, who she trounced in the general election, told DailyMail.com on Wednesday. But the 2022 controversy nearly derailed her. And unlike this week, when she refused to apologize to Governor Abbott, Crockett was pressured into admitting she was wrong at the time. Jean's family accused Crockett of misrepresenting herself as their attorney on her website in a bid to further her political career. Democratic firebrand Jasmine Crockett was accused of lying about representing the family of a man shot dead by police during her 2022 Congressional campaign Allison Jean whose son Botham was killed by an off-duty police officer in 2018 issued Crockett a cease and desist letter in 2022 claiming she misrepresented herself as their attorney for political gain 'Botham's name is not an endorsement you can parade, and his legacy is not a sound bite you can use to garner media coverage,' the family wrote in a scathing open letter to Crockett in March 2022. 'For you to misrepresent yourself as one of our attorneys is absolutely disgusting,' the letter added. Jean was fatally shot while eating ice cream in his Dallas apartment in September 2018. Amber Guyger, a 30-year-old Dallas police officer who said she mistook his apartment for her own, was convicted in the killing and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She will be eligible for parole next year. Jean's mother Allison Jean told the Dallas Morning News that Crockett's own campaign website promoted the false narrative. 'I don't like politicians misrepresenting my family, especially my son, who is not here to defend himself, for political mileage,' the mom stated. After being called out for her misrepresentation, Crockett called it a mistake and had the reference removed from her website. She issued a statement to the media that 'as a civil rights attorney, I'd never intentionally inflict additional distress upon any family. There may have been confusion about some information on our website which was remedied as quickly as it was brought to our attention.' But Botham Jean's mom went further in her interview with the paper, expressing disgust that in a 2020 podcast, Crockett called Botham Jean's father one of her greatest admirers. Botham's death led to widespread outrage and protests against police brutality and racism at the time Amber Guyger, a former Dallas police officer who said she mistook Jean's apartment for her own, was convicted in the killing and sentenced to 10 years in prison 'She indicated in her video that my husband is one of her huge fans,' the mom told the publication. 'But that is not true. My husband is not on social media. He doesn't know Jasmine currently, so I don't know how you can be a fan of somebody that he doesn't know.' The paper reported that Crockett has had conversations with the father and that they posed together for at least one picture. But the family didn't make any endorsements in the race. In the end, the controversy didn't make a difference. Crockett went on to win a crowded primary race after a runoff against former congressional chief of staff Jane Hamilton, bolstered by a $2million donation from two super PACs affiliated with convicted cryptocurrency king Sam Bankman-Fried. She then coasted to victory over Rodgers. 'She claimed false glory in a legal case she had nothing to do with, then took $2million in Ponzi scheme money from Sam Bankman-Fried, and that was the end of her primary,' Rodgers told DailyMail.com Wednesday. 'And once you buy the primary in the 30th District, you've pretty much just bought yourself a congressional seat for life.' Allison Jean also told local Dallas media that Crockett's own campaign website promoted the false narrative After being called out for her misrepresentation, Crockett called it a mistake and had the reference removed from her website Crockett was speaking last weekend at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles when she referred to Abbott, who uses a wheel chair, as 'Governor Hot Wheels' attracting shocked laughter from the crowd. 'Y'all 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. Facing backlash, she later denied she was mocking his disability. 'I wasn't thinking about the governor's condition,' she posted Tuesday on social media. 'I was thinking about the planes, trains, and automobiles he used to transfer migrants into communities led by black mayors, deliberately stoking tension and fear among the most vulnerable,' she wrote. 'Literally, the next line I said was that he was a 'Hot A** Mess,' referencing his terrible policies. 'At no point did I mention or allude to his condition,' she stated. Abbott said Crockett's comments highlighted the depth of the problems Democrats are facing. 'It's another day and another disaster by the Democrats,' he told Fox's Hannity. Crockett was speaking last weekend at a Human Rights Campaign dinner in Los Angeles when she referred to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who uses a wheel chair, as 'Governor Hot Wheels' - attracting shocked laughter from the crowd Governor Abbott was left paralyzed from the waist down when he was just 26 years old after a tree fell on top of him while he was jogging 'The reality is they have no vision, no policy. They have nothing to sell but hate, and Americans are not buying it.' Abbott said it was comments like these which would hold Democrats back as they look to reinvent themselves following Kamala Harris's loss to Donald Trump. Republican Representative Randy Weber was among critics who did not buy Crockett's justification for her words. 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 after a tree fell on him as he was jogging. At the time, he was a recent law school graduate and studying to take the bar exam. He is not the only person who has been colorfully insulted by Crockett. She referred to Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor-Green as having a 'bleach-blonde, bad-built, butch body' and called President Donald Trump 'a vindictive vile villain.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shut down CNN's Kaitlan Collins while defending the use of Trump officials using Signal to communicate about a military strike. Collins questioned Leavitt about whether the president felt 'misled' by his national security advisors who said that there was no classified information shared in the Signal chat. 'I've now been asked and answered this question three times by the both of you, and I've given you my answer, the president feels the same today as he did yesterday,' Leavitt responded. Collins tried to ask a followup question, but was immediately shut down by Leavitt in seven words: 'Kaitlin, I'm not taking your follow up.' Collins repeated that she had a followup question, but Leavitt did not allow her to interrupt. 'Kaitlin, I'm not taking your followup,' she said again firmly before moving to RealClearPolitics reporter Philip Wegman. Leavitt said that President Trump had reviewed the text messages sent in the chat, published by The Atlantic magazine after editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to the chat. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attends a press briefing at the White House Kaitlan Collins, chief White House correspondent for CNN She dismissed The Atlantic article as 'word games' and 'sensational spin' by an editor that she described as an 'anti-Trump sensationalist reporter.' 'Goldberg is an anti-Trump hater,' she stated. '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,' she added. Leavitt grew frustrated as reporters continued to focus on the Signal chat fiasco, marking one of her toughest days yet on the job. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt arrives for a briefing Reporters question White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about the Signal controversy '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,' she said, previewing an announcement from the president later that day on tariffs. Leavitt said that President Trump continued to have 'great trust' in his national security team, despite the ongoing controversy surrounding their use of the Signal app to communicate about a military strike against Houthi rebels in Yemen. 'We are not going to be lectured about national security and American troops by democrats and the mainstream media who turned the other cheek when the Biden administration because of their incompetence left 13 service members dead in Afghanistan and not a single person in the previous administration was held accountable for that botched withdrawal,' she said. Leavitt ultimately cut the briefing short after 22 minutes, citing the need to wrap it up before Vice President JD Vance began speaking at a military base in Quantico, Virginia. 'I would hate to counter program the Vice President of the United States,' she said. Democrats close to Kamala Harris established a secret 'death pool' in case President Joe Biden died in office and the vice president needed to be sworn in. As early as 2023 Democrats 'strategized around the possibility that Biden might die in office'. Jamal Simmons, who was then Harris's White House communications director, led the effort to draw up a 'death-pool roster' of federal judges who might swear Harris in. Authors Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes reveal the secret planning in their forthcoming book 'Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House,' which is out next week. Simmons 'never told the vice president about the death-pool roster before leaving her camp in January 2023,' according to the book, which was obtained by The Guardian, 'but he advised colleagues that he should be notified immediately if something happened to Biden, because he had worked out an entire communications strategy. And he left the spreadsheet with another Harris aide.' Kamala Harris' team started planning in 2023 for her ascent if Joe Biden died in office Biden, at 81, was the oldest person ever to be sworn in as president. Donald Trump railed against his rival's age and questioned Biden's mental abilities, referring to him as 'Sleepy Joe.' Democrats publicly defended Biden but, it turns out, they were privately preparing to replace him. Harris' Chief of Staff Lorraine Voles had been working on a contingency plan since November 19, 2021. That was the day Biden temporarily signed over presidential power to Harris when he underwent a colonoscopy. The vice president's team launched a stealth operation to have a plan ready in case they needed to take over, author Chris Whipple reveals in his upcoming book 'Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds,' which is out next month. A Democratic operative told Whipple: 'We just feel like we should put a plan in place. Maybe something happens,' according to an excerpt of the book in Vanity Fair. Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 21, 2024 following his disastrous debate with Trump. Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 21, 2024 following his disastrous debate with Donald Trump Barack Obama campaigned for Kamala Harris but wanted a governor as Democratic nominee But Parnes and Allen reveal in their book their were questions about Biden's fitness from Democrats leading up to that point. 'A handful of Democratic National Committee officials already had considered contingency plans,' Allen and Parnes write. 'In hush-hush talks starting in 2023, these officials gamed out Biden-withdrawal scenarios, according to two people familiar with them. Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes book is out on April 'They wanted to make sure the party was ready for every possible circumstance: if Biden launched his campaign and then stepped aside before the primaries; if he won a bunch of primaries and then could not continue. If he secured enough delegates for winning the nomination but dropped out before winning a floor vote at the convention, and if he left a vacancy at the top of the ticket after taking the nomination.' Biden stubbornly remained in the race, encouraged to do so by first lady Jill Biden and their son Hunter Biden. He was so stubborn it took a month after the debate - and an intense pressure campaign from Democratic officials - to get him to step aside. Because in the days after the debate, the worries continued. Two days after Biden fumbled on the Atlanta debate stage, he was in New Jersey for a fundraiser with Gov. Phil Murphy. He needed to have florescent tape on the carpet, 'colorful bread crumbs [that] showed the leader of the free world where to walk'. 'He knows to look for that,' an aide said. At the event, Biden spoke haltingly when he answered questions and needed cues for his remarks. George Clooney, Joe Biden, Julia Roberts & Barack Obama at a Los Angeles fundraiser - Clooney would later say it was this fundraiser where he got concerned about Biden's health Nancy Pelosi helped push Joe Biden out of the race - their friendship never recovered That wasn't the only fundraiser that sparked concern. Those closed door events are filled with loyal Democrats whose financial support is critical to winning elections. It's a chance for candidates to make a lasting impression. Biden was not doing that. Actor George Clooney wrote an op-ed in the New York Times calling for Biden to leave the race just weeks after he and other Hollywood stars helped raise $30 million for Biden at a Los Angeles fundraiser. Chris Whipple's book is out April 8 'I was raised to tell the truth,' Clooney told '60 Minutes' Sunday of his piece. 'I had seen the president up close for his fundraiser, and I was surprised, and so I feel as if there were a lot of profiles in 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.' Clooney's essay sent shock waves through the public and led to a pile on of voices calling for Biden to step aside. He did so, after repeated urging and a call from Nancy Pelosi, as DailyMail.com previously reported. Biden promptly endorsed Harris but the vice president was not the top choice of everyone. Both Pelosi and Barack Obama wanted a primary. And Obama favored having a governor, not Harris, as the nominee, Whipple reported in his book. Harris, however, quickly garnered support among the party faithful and locked up the nomination within a week. A Democratic operative told Parnes and Allen of their worry they would get stuck with Harris but still wanted Biden out: 'Well, at least she has a pulse.' Harris suffered a massive loss to Trump despite spending billions of dollars on her presidential campaign. This is the astonishing moment a glamorous American politician came face-to-face with hundreds of hardened, caged inmates imprisoned in an El Salvador jail where Donald Trump is sending Venezuelan gangsters. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem yesterday visited the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, touring an area holding some of the Venezuelans accused of being gang members. In the sweltering building, the men in white T-shirts and shorts stared silently from their cell, then were heard shouting an indiscernible chant when she left. In a cell block holding Salvadoran prisoners, about a dozen were lined up by guards near the front of their cell and told to remove their T-shirts and face masks. The men were heavily tattooed, some bearing the letters MS, for the Mara Salvatrucha gang, on their chests. After listening to Salvadoran officials, Noem turned her back to the cell and recorded a video message. 'If an immigrant commits a crime, 'this is one of the consequences you could face,' Noem said. 'First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted. '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.' US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem yesterday visited the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador Heavily tattooed men were lined up for inspection by the US politician Scored of hardened criminals were seen gazing back at Noem Noem looks at prisoners during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 A prisoner is moved as Noem tours the Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025 Noem also met with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, a populist who has gained right-wing admiration in the US due to his crackdown on the country's gangs, despite the democratic and due process implications that have come with it. 'I want to thank El Salvador and its president for their collaboration with the United States of America,' Noem said in her statement. Bukele opened the prison in 2023 as he made the Central American country's stark, harsh prisons a trademark of his fight against crime. The facility has eight sprawling pavilions and can hold up to 40,000 inmates. Each cell can fit 65 to 70 prisoners. Prisoners can't have visitors. There are no workshops or educational programs. El Salvador hasn't had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since 2019, so the Venezuelans imprisoned there do not have consular support from their government. Video released by El Salvador's government after the deportees' arrival showed men exiting aeroplanes onto an airport tarmac lined by officers in riot gear. The men, who had their hands and ankles shackled, struggled to walk as officers pushed their heads down. They were later shown at the prison kneeling on the ground as their heads were shaved before they changed into the prison's all-white uniform - knee-length shorts, T-shirt, socks and rubber clogs - and placed in cells. For three years, El Salvador has been operating under a state of emergency that suspends fundamental rights as Bukele wages an all-out assault on the country's powerful street gangs. During that time, some 84,000 people have been arrested, accused of gang ties and jailed, often without due process. Officers stand ready as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tours the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 The men were heavily tattooed, some bearing the letters MS, for the Mara Salvatrucha gang, on their bodies Relatives of some of the deportees have categorically denied any gang affiliation Many proudly showed off their tattoos to the American politician The Venezuelans were removed from the U.S. this month The Trump administration refers to the Venezuelan prisoners as the 'worst of the worst' Bukele offered to hold U.S. deportees in the prison when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited in February. At the prison Wednesday, El Salvador Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro showed Noem a cell holding Salvadorans he said had been there since the prison opened. 'No one expects that these people can go back to society and behave,' he said. The Venezuelans were removed from the U.S. this month after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and said the U.S. was being invaded by the Tren de Aragua gang. The Alien Enemies Act gives the president wartime powers and allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge. An appeals court Wednesday kept in place an order barring the administration from deporting more Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. A central outstanding question about the deportees' status is when and how they could ever be released from the prison, called the Terrorism Confinement Center, as they are not serving sentences. They no longer appear in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's online detainee locator and have not appeared before a judge in El Salvador. The Trump administration refers to them as the 'worst of the worst' but hasn't identified who was deported or provided evidence that they're gang members. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that about 261 people were deported on the flights, including 137 under the Alien Enemies Act Prisoners with MS-13 gang tattoos looked out of their cell as Noem toured the Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025 The facility has eight sprawling pavilions and can hold up to 40,000 inmates. Each cell can fit 65 to 70 prisoners Noem had a mass of security service members with her to protect her Prisoners can't have visitors. There are no workshops or educational programs Relatives of some of the deportees have categorically denied any gang affiliation. The Venezuelan government and a group called the Families of Immigrants Committee in Venezuela hired a lawyer to help free those held in El Salvador. A lawyer for the firm, which currently represents about 30 Venezuelans, said they aren't gang members and have no criminal records. The U.S. government has acknowledged that many do not have such records. Flights were in the air March 15 when a federal judge issued a verbal order temporarily barring the deportations and ordered planes to return to the U.S. The Trump administration has argued that the judge's verbal directions did not count, that only his written order needed to be followed and that it couldn't apply to flights that had already left the U.S. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that about 261 people were deported on the flights, including 137 under the Alien Enemies Act. What a complete and utter Shi-gnal show! Christmas came early for Democrats in DC this week, as they piled into an orgy of outrage over the first bona fide scandal of the Trump administration. Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg exposed the whole magillah, revealing that he was in a grocery store parking lot when the scoop on the century splattered on his head like the most welcomed bird poop in the history of journalism. There he was in his parked car (listening to NPR, no doubt) when he received a request from National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to join a chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal. Goldberg excitedly accepted (spilling his vegan granola, no doubt) and he was included in a sensitive possibly classified debate over secret plans for a March 15 strike on Yemeni terrorists. As a journalist, the thread is fascinating to read. In one exchange, vice president JD Vance boldly undermined #47, arguing the move didn't serve US interests, writing: 'I think we are making a mistake I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message.' CIA Director John Ratcliffe and a staffer for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard seemed to back Vance's reluctance. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed the issue and won. The strike was a success and nearly forgotten when Goldberg dropped his bombshell. And as you can imagine, the Left was aghast, appalled and having the time of their lives over this non-lethal ordinance. Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg (pictured) exposed the whole magillah, revealing that he was in a grocery store parking lot when the scoop on the century splattered on his head like the most welcomed bird poop in the history of journalism. There Goldberg was in his parked car (listening to NPR, no doubt) when he received a request from National Security Adviser Mike Waltz (pictured) to join a chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton infamous for squirreling away reams of classified government emails on her unsecured private server weighed in. 'You have got to be kidding me,' tweeted Clinton. No, Hillary. You've got to be kidding. Put on your caftan back on and shut it! Not to be upstaged, world-renowned security expert and former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg tweeted: 'From an operational security perspective, this is the highest level of f***up imaginable. These people cannot keep America safe.' Right, Petey. How's the cleanup of that hazardous waste spill caused by a train crash in East Palestine, Ohio going? You know, the one you ignored as transport secretary for nearly three weeks. Meanwhile, over on Capitol Hill, Trump's top national security officials have been getting raked over the glowing coals by Dems demanding that heads roll. But for all this angst, we're still not much closer to understanding how Goldberg ended up on that Signal chat. And there are so many hot takes getting cooked up online that I have to wear oven mitts just to open my computer. For his part, Mike Waltz inartfully told Fox News' Laura Ingraham on Tuesday night that Goldberg was 'sucked' into the thread. Odd wording, but ok. Waltz claimed under an expert grilling from Ingraham that he takes 'full responsibility' for the breach, but also said he's never spoken to Goldberg and did not knowingly have the editor's contact in his phone. WALTZ: I'm sure everybody out there has had a contact, where it said one person and then a different phone number. INGRAHAM: But you've never talked to him before. So how's the number on your phone? WALTZ: Well, if you have somebody else's contact and then INGRAHAM: Somebody sent you that contact? Was there someone else supposed to be on the chat that wasn't on the chat? WALTZ: So, the person I thought was on there was never on there. It was this guy. INGRAHAM: Who was that person? WALTZ: Well, I'm not, look, Laura. I take responsibility. I built the group. But that's the part that we have to figure out. Huh? Has this guy ever communicated on a smartphone before because he's sounding like a total dummy. And so, to paraphrase David Byrne, 'well, how did Jeff get here?' One theory gaining steam in the MAGA fever swamps is that a rogue White House staffer slipped Goldberg into the DMs like a randy groupie through a backstage side door. After all, there have always been plenty of resistance-warriors willing to shiv President Trump. Even former Bill Clinton pollster (and occasionally reasonable pundit) Mark Penn believes that 'the chance that this was done by an operative looking to embarrass the administration is about 90 percent.' In one exchange, JD Vance (R) boldly undermined #47, arguing the move didn't serve US interests, writing: 'I think we are making a mistake I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message.' CIA Director John Ratcliffe (R) and a staffer for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (L) seemed to back Vance's reluctance. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed the issue and won. Waltz's hypothetical target would have been Pete Hegseth (pictured), who as Secretary of Defense led the chat and was most at risk of being made to look like an incompetent amateur. But there's a problem with that calculation: a salty staffer would have needed unfettered control over Waltz's phone and the ability to add a member to the chat without arousing suspicion. So I for one don't buy the 'inside job' hypothesis. Then there's the 'fat-finger' theory: that Waltz had already been chatting with Goldberg and somehow inadvertently added him to the Yemen thread in a moment of thick-thumbed hurry. It's compelling - but I have a better idea: that Waltz knowingly added Goldberg in a ham-handed attempt to turf a political rival. In this hypothetical, Waltz's most-likely target would surely be Hegseth, who as Secretary of Defense led the chat and was most at risk of being made to look like an incompetent amateur. Here's my thinking: Trump is termed out in 2028, and only one of these aspiring MAGA hotshots will be able to carry on Donald's mantle. JD Vance with his dreamy blue eyes is often considered the front-runner. But he's a neophyte to the cause. Hegseth, meanwhile, is the ultimate loyalist and has been on Team Trump from the beginning. In other words, the golden boy has a target on his back. But if this was an attempt to kneecap Hegseth, it failed miserably. On Wednesday, Trump snapped at reporters trying to tie the Pentagon chief to Signal-gate: 'Hegseth is doing a great job. Hegseth? How do you bring Hegseth into it? He had nothing to do with it.' This is the best season of Succession yet! Britain and France will send troops to Ukraine after a peace deal is reached in the war with Russia, president Emmanuel Macron has revealed. A Franco-British delegation will head to Ukraine in the coming days to discuss what Macron calls a 'reassurance force' and the future shape of the Ukrainian army. 'These reassurance forces are a British-French proposition that is desired by Ukraine,' Macron announced on Thursday. The force will be deployed not to contact lines but instead at 'strategic areas'. France and the UK, which are driving the initiative, will forge the reassurance force with several countries. But Ukraine's European allies did not all agree on the proposed deployment of troops and only some want to take part, Macron stated. 'It is not unanimous,' he said. 'We do not need unanimity to achieve it.' Sir Keir Starmer added: 'This is a force designed to deter, in order to send that message to Putin that this is a deal that is going to be defended - that's the best description of it.' The Prime Minister also urged that there must be no easing of sanctions on Russia until the war in Ukraine ends. He said the 'coalition of the willing', which does not include the United States, had agreed there should be no reduction in sanctions on Moscow despite suggestions from the White House such a move would be part of a ceasefire deal. Britain and France will send troops to Ukraine after a peace deal is reached in the war with Russia. Sir Keir Starmer (pictured today) said: 'This is a force designed to deter, in order to send that message to Putin that this is a deal that is going to be defended - that's the best description of it' Firefighters try to extinguish the fire that broke out after an attack near the local market in Kharkiv, Ukraine, yesterday Macron revealed that France and Britain would forge ahead with a 'reassurance force' with several countries after wrapping up a summit on strengthening Kyiv's hand and its military as it pushes for a ceasefire with Moscow. The summit hosting the leaders of nearly 30 countries plus NATO and European Union chiefs comes at a crucial juncture in the more than three-year war, with intensifying diplomatic efforts to broker ceasefires, driven by pressure from US President Donald Trump to end the fighting.But the conflict is raging on. Before the leaders met in the luxury of the French presidential palace, Russian drone attacks overnight wounded more than 20 people and heavy shelling Thursday afternoon killed one person and knocked out electricity in parts of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said. US-brokered agreements this week to safeguard shipping in the Black Sea and last week to halt long-range strikes on energy infrastructure were greeted as a first step toward peace. But Ukraine and Russia have disagreed over the details and accused each other of deal violations, foreshadowing a long and contentious process ahead. France and the UK are pushing a separate initiative to build a coalition of nations willing in one way or another to support the deployment of a European armed force in Ukraine, with the aim of securing any peace deal by dissuading Russia from attacking the country again. Some European countries are more comfortable with a potential deployment than others - not least because a big unknown is whether Trump would allow American forces and intelligence agencies to back up any European contingent with air and logistical support and other assistance. Building a force big enough to act as a credible deterrent - UK officials have talked about possibly 10,000 to 30,000 troops - would also be a considerable effort for nations that shrank their militaries after the Cold War but are now rearming. There would also be questions to resolve about who would command the force and how it might respond to a major violation by Russia of any peace agreement. Sir Keir's Office said that military planners from Europe and beyond have been drilling down into details of how such a force might be put together, examining 'the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics.' Sir Keir also accused Vladimir Putin (pictured yesterday) of 'playing games' over the peace process, saying there had been 'absolute clarity that Russia is trying to delay' among those present British soldiers practice an assault on February 17, 2025, in Smardan, Romania Sir Keir also accused Vladimir Putin of 'playing games' over the peace process, saying there had been 'absolute clarity that Russia is trying to delay' among those present. As well as agreeing more support for Ukraine, Sir Keir said there had been 'complete clarity that now is not the time for lifting of sanctions. 'Quite the contrary, what we discussed is how we can increase sanctions to support the US initiative, to bring Russia to the table through further pressure from this group of countries.' Speaking alongside Sir Keir today, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Britain and France for their leadership of the 'coalition of the willing' and called for a 'common voice' to put pressure on Russia. He said: 'I think that Keir almost said all the outcomes which are very important for us, no lifting any kind of sanctions until Russia will stop this war. And I think more pressure on it, more packages of sanctions.' In a series of tweets, the Ukrainian president added: 'Lifting sanctions on Russia now would be a disaster for diplomacy. Sanctions are one of the few real tools the world has to pressure Russia into serious talks. 'What else is out there, apart from sanctions? If sanctions are weakened and Russia breaks the deal, bringing sanctions back will be incredibly slow and difficult. 'And by then, many will simply stop believing that sanctions actually work.' Sir Keir, who held one-to-one talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte at the gathering, also presented the group with the outcomes of a series of military planning talks for a possible peacekeeping force. Officials and defence chiefs have been holding talks at London's Northwood military headquarters, drawing up a strategy to support Kyiv and deter future aggression from Moscow. More than 200 military planners from countries across the world met to consider in detail the structure of any future deployment, including proposals for air, sea and land forces. Keir Starmer and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet at the UK ambassador's residence following the Ukraine summit in Paris today 'These reassurance forces are a British-French proposition that is desired by Ukraine,' Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday Earlier on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested a European peacekeeping force could 'respond' if attacked by Russia. European officials say that under any peace settlement, Ukraine's first line of defence against any future Russian attack would be its own army. Following Sir Keir's meeting with Mr Rutte on Thursday morning, a Downing Street spokesperson said the two men had agreed 'Europe must do everything possible to keep (Ukraine) in the fight and keep up the pressure on Putin'. They also 'acknowledged the vital role of the United States in forging a path towards a ceasefire agreement and reiterated that Europe stands ready to support a durable and lasting peace when it comes'. 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 in negotiating a broader peace. Russia's defence ministry claimed Ukrainian drone attacks hit power facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions this week, which Ukraine dismissed as Kremlin disinformation aimed at justifying continued hostilities. Ukrainian officials have said Moscow is 'lying' about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and has carried out eight confirmed hits on power sites. On Thursday, Zelensky also warned that Russia was preparing 'new offensives' against the Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, while 'dragging out the talks and trying to get the US stuck in endless, pointless discussions about fake 'conditions' just to buy time and then try to grab more land.' Firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv on Thursday Firefighters putting out a fire following a drone strike in Kharkiv In the face of enduring pressure from Trump on European nations to increase military spending and rely less on US forces, dating back to his first presidency, the proposed contingent is also seen as a test of Europe's ability to defend itself and its interests. Zelensky posted an image from inside the summit of him and other leaders standing together with the caption: 'Europe knows how to defend itself. We must prove it.' Macron said Wednesday that the proposed European force could deploy to 'important towns, strategic bases' in Ukraine and that it could 'respond' to a Russian attack if Moscow launched one. Macron didn't specify what sort of response he envisaged. But he suggested that a Russian attack might not go unanswered, even though the European troops wouldn't be deployed to the front lines. 'If there was again a generalised aggression against Ukrainian soil, these armies would, in fact, be under attack and then it's 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. 'So we are not on the front lines, we don't go to fight, but we are there to guarantee a lasting peace. It's 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.' Destruction caused by Russian forces attacks using a FAB-250 bomb equipped with a UMPK guidance kit against civilian population in Ukraine's Donetsk region Destruction caused by Russian strikes in Kostiantynivka, located in the Donetsk region The meeting in Paris came as Russia has demanded lifting sanctions to meet its terms for the Black Sea ceasefire. Sanctions imposed by the US and Europe have punished Russia's economy and limited its access to global markets. Zelensky accused Moscow of attempting to add conditions to what should be an unconditional agreement. While the White House said that it would help restore Russia's access to the world market for fertilizer and farm exports, it didn't validate Moscow's conditions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Russia's demands would be evaluated and presented to Trump. There has been a growing chorus of opposition in Europe to lifting the sanctions, which remain their main leverage against Moscow. Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council representing the EU's 27 member states, said that sanctions are crucial to support Ukraine and reach a lasting peace. 'This means keeping up the pressure on Russia through sanctions,' Costa said Thursday. As ceasefire efforts gather steam, Ukraine's allies in Europe are working to strengthen Kyiv's hand militarily. Their aim is to enable it to keep fighting until any broad peace takes hold and also to turn the Ukrainian army into the first line of defence against any future Russian aggression. President Donald Trump meets Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office on February 24 Macron announced a new package of defence aid for Ukraine that he said was worth 2billion ($2.15billion) and will include light tanks, air defence and anti-tank missiles and other weaponry and support. Russian drone attacks overnight wounded at least 18 people in the Kharkiv region and three people in Dnipro, officials said. Shelling in a front-line community in the Zaporizhzhia region knocked out electricity and phone coverage, regional head Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram. Zelensky said that the attacks were further evidence that the US and Europe shouldn't ease sanctions on Moscow. 'Russia is killing every day and prolonging this war,' Zelensky said on social media. 'The American proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table for half a month now.' Separately, the Ukrainian Army General Staff said that its attack at Engels military airfield in Russia on March 20 had destroyed 96 air-to-air cruise missiles and significant reserves of aviation fuel. Satellite imagery taken the next day by Maxar Technologies appeared to show damage to ammunition and weapons storage at Engels, the main base for Russia's nuclear-capable strategic bombers. Residents in London's richest borough of Kensington and Chelsea claim they are facing a parking nightmare after the council announced plans to give parking permits to second homeowners. Allowing applications from second home owners would be a change to previous rules which meant permits were only issued to people whose addresses were listed as their main home. This, the council said, would plug a revenue gap caused by the decrease of car ownership in the area - potentially raising as much as 350,000 a year. Kensington and Chelsea is often ranked as London's richest borough thanks to its expensive properties and high wages. Council bosses say that, due to the fall in parking permit applications, the additional allocations should not create 'undue pressure' on existing space. However, residents have argued this would be 'unfair' on those who live in the borough full-time - and may actually drive people to get rid of their cars. Jesus Amilbuiu, 56, works in Chelsea - but says everyone he knows in the area is 'trying to get rid of their car'. He said: 'Having a car in London is a nightmare. You have the Congestion Charge, ULEZ, and the difficulties with parking. Residents in London 's richest borough of Kensington and Chelsea claim they are facing a parking nightmare after the council announced plans to give parking permits to second homeowners Kensington and Chelsea is often ranked as London's richest borough thanks to its expensive properties and high wages Jesus Amilbuiu, 56, works in Chelsea - but says everyone he knows in the area is 'trying to get rid of their car' 'If this makes parking even more difficult for people around here - I reckon more will just get rid of their cars. 'Everyone I know around here is already trying to do that. I can drive but I don't have a car in London. It's just not worth it.' For local resident Maureen Smith, 70, parking in the borough isn't currently an issue - but she believes it could become one if second homeowners are given permits. She said: 'There's generally a lot of places for me to park on my road - so it depends on how many people apply for this permit. 'If a lot do and residents start suffering, then I think that's unfair. 'I also don't really think people with second homes should get a permit. What if someone has two homes in Chelsea? Do they get two? 'Then it's just allowing people with multiple cars to have multiple spaces. That also doesn't seem fair.' Kensington and Chelsea Council says it would cap the number of new permits issued to 2,000. For local resident Maureen Smith, 70, parking in the borough isn't currently an issue - but she believes it could become one if second homeowners are given permits (Pictured: parking restrictions in Kensington) Oray Oz, 41, who works at a hair salon, said parking is 'already a nightmare' for some residents Council bosses say that, due to a fall in parking permit applications in recent years, the additional allocations should not create 'undue pressure' on existing space Meanwhile, Cllr Cem Kemahli said that all residents who pay council tax should be able to 'benefit from the services the council has to offer'. Married couple Steve and Margot Mitchell, who just moved to Kensington from Sydney, Australia, agreed. Mr Mitchell, 51, said: 'If people are paying council tax then it seems they should be able to get a permit. 'If it's someone who lives in the countryside and is only ever here for short periods of time, then maybe it should be they can apply for temporary permits instead. 'But equally, if they're never here, there will still be places for other residents to park. 'What seems most important is that residents have parking spaces. It's not so much about who owns the property - but more about who's living there. 'We're not owners but we're residents. That's why we need a space.' Meanwhile, Margot said an issue would only arise if people were getting second permits for second cars. She said: 'It's fair enough if people with homes here have a permit. But I'd take an issue with people getting two permits because they have two cars. 'I just think it being tricky to park is something you accept in a city. We all chose to live here. 'There's great public transport and we can all use that instead of driving everywhere.' Some local businesses were also fearful that a new wave of parking permits would dissuade their clients from coming to the area. Kensington and Chelsea Council said that no decision has been made yet - and that the policy is currently under consultation Over the last decade the number of parking permits issued in the borough has fallen from 36,652 to 31,329 It is hoped that introducing permits for second homeowners will help raise the funds the council has lost from the decline The number of new second home owner permits would be capped at 2,000 Oray Oz, 41, who works at a hair salon, said: 'A lot of my clients are local and so they can walk or use their parking permits - but some come from out of the borough and parking is already a nightmare for them. 'If there are more parking permits there may be less places they can pay to park. 'And if those with parking permits have less places available that could affect them too.' Kensington and Chelsea Council said that no decision has been made yet - and that the policy is currently under consultation. Meanwhile, in a letter sent to residents, Cllr Kemahli said: 'We know from the Census that over 25,000 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) residents have second addresses, of which over 10,000 are in the UK. 'It seems reasonable to assume that some of these residents will wish to register their RBKC address as a second home. 'I believe all residents who pay council tax ought to be able to benefit from the services the council has to offer and am proposing that residents of second homes in the borough should have the option to buy a permit. 'With falling permit applications in recent years, this additional eligibility for some residents should not create undue pressure on existing space.' Cllr Kemahli explained that the number of residents' parking permits in the borough had dropped from 36,652 to 31,329 between 2013 and 2024. This, he said, aligned with falling car ownership - which had dropped by 8.5 per cent in that time. It is hoped that introducing permits for second homeowners will help raise the funds the council has lost from the decline. The council's proposed changes are to remove the restriction that prevents residents of 'second homes' from buying a parking permit, introduce a separate permit type for residents of 'second homes', priced the same as other residents' permits, and cap the number of these new permits issued to 2,000. An assisted dying clinic in Switzerland has helped a British woman to end her life without informing her family, despite reportedly claiming to have changed its practices after a similar incident in 2023. Anne Canning, 51, from Wales, travelled to the Pegasos clinic near the Swiss city of Basel in January to end her life. She chose to do so after the death of her son plunged her into depression, according to her sister Delia, who told ITV News that Anne had no terminal illness and had assured her family she was travelling to Switzerland for a holiday. The family were completely unaware of Anne's true intentions until a bundle of letters arrived at their doorstep. The letters, posted from Switzerland but not directly from the address of the Pegasos clinic, read: 'If you're reading this, I am no longer here. I have thought about this long and hard and need to find [my son] and ask him some questions. 'There is nothing you could have done, because this was my decision to go to Switzerland and be in peace.' This horrific surprise, revealed in an ITV News investigation, came after Pegasos clinic had reportedly changed their policy to contact family members of every patient who decides to end their life at their clinic before carrying out the lethal injection. In 2023, chemistry teacher Alastair Hamilton, 47, told his parents he was visiting a friend in Paris but secretly flew to Switzerland to end his life at the Pegasos clinic. After the distraught family filed a missing persons report with no word of their son's whereabouts, the Metropolitan Police, the Foreign Office and Interpol eventually discovered Alastair had died with the help of Pegasos. In emails to Alastair's family, a frustrated Met Police sergeant criticised Pegasos' 'lack of compassion and lack of transparency' as 'completely unacceptable'. Anne Canning, 51, from Wales, travelled to the Pegasos clinic near the Swiss city of Basel in January to end her life Chemistry teacher Alastair Hamilton told his parents he was visiting a friend in Paris when instead he was flying to Basel in Switzerland to end his life by lethal injection Alastair's distraught mother Judith Hamilton warned that other families should be aware of the 'cowboy clinic' called Pegasos Under Swiss law, since 1942, people are allowed to help others to die as long as their motives are not selfish, such as for financial gain. The law states that the person wishing to die must be of sound mind, but they do not need to be terminally ill or have any medical conditions. The country's assisted suicide clinics are non-profit organisations. Its most famous clinic, Dignitas where at least 540 Britons have died in the past 20 years has strict rules that its clients must be terminally ill, suffering extreme pain or living with an 'unendurable disability'. But Pegasos, run by activist Ruedi Habegger, says its users do not need to be ill to kill themselves. Its website says it will approve someone's death request 'in as little as a few weeks' as long as they are aged over 18. Though Anne was evidently suffering from depression, her family made it clear she was otherwise healthy. 'She was one of the healthiest people we know,' sister Delia told ITV at Anne's home in Wales, where she and her brother John were packing up their deceased sibling's belongings. 'Anyone who loses a child probably wants to die and be with them. But with the right help, she could have got through it.' With nothing but Anne's suicide letters to go on and an envelope from a Swiss postcode, Delia was forced to contact several clinics in the hope of finding out where her sister had gone. She had to wait several days for a response from Pegasos, according to ITV News, only to receive a brief message that read: 'Anne has chosen to die... She died gently and not alone. I hope her letters help you to accept this. All official papers and her urn will be sent to her brother John.' A statement released by Pegasos in response to the ITV investigation read: 'According to our protocols we do the best of our abilities that persons we assist have informed their loved ones of their plans to die. 'Should we have reason to assume that no information has been provided to close family, we will refrain from proceeding without credible proof that they are aware. This hasn't been the case lately.' They added: 'We understand that the assisted death of a loved person is a distressing time for the family. We are very sorry if Pegasos' actions or communications have caused further distress to any affected family member at any time and thoroughly consider all concerns.' 'Finally, we'd like to emphasize that since our foundation in 2019 all our actions have been in accordance with Swiss law.' Anne is seen at a climbing centre in family footage shared with ITV News by her sister Delia His family were unaware and were stone-walled for weeks by the clinic before finding out what had happened to Alistair Alastair Hamilton (2nd on left) and his five brothers in 2007 The 47-year-old schoolteacher with no diagnosed illness paid more than 10,000 to die at a Swiss suicide clinic which then kept his death a secret from his family Last year, the family members of Alastair Hamilton said they were prompted to talk about their devastating experience amid discussions around assisted death in the UK. Alastair's brother Toby said: 'I'm not against assisted dying but you can't let someone who is not terminally ill turn up and do this on their own, completely alone, and then completely disregard the family or next of kin. It's a cowboy operation. These people are cowboys.' Mrs Hamilton added: 'Why Pegasos acted the way they did and agreed to help Alastair do this, I don't think I will ever understand. 'We're all still heartbroken and still have so many questions, but I'm not sure we will ever get all the answers.' Alastair's family said he had been battling with low moods since 2022, when he began losing weight and feeling increasingly tired. He had given up working full-time and moved back into his parents' home in Hampton, south-west London, but doctors could not work out what was wrong with him. His worried family paid for multiple private health checks, including tests for cancer and HIV, to understand Alastair's weight loss. But doctors were still unable to diagnose him with any condition. Toby, who owns a lettings agency, said: 'Alastair started talking about suicide like he was talking about going for a pint down the pub. 'I begged him not to say the 'S word' to our mum and said we would throw money at the problem, whatever he needed, until we figured it out.' On August 10, Alastair's father Edward, 85, drove him to Gatwick Airport. He had no reason to suspect his son was not travelling to meet a friend in France. Before he left for the last time, Mrs Hamilton said her son 'put his arms around me and gave me a big kiss, and just said, 'Always remember Mum that I love you very much, I always have, I always will, no matter what'. 'I was so chuffed to think he was picking up his life and getting some enthusiasm, and he was always very affectionate and loving towards me, so it didn't register that these words were his final goodbye.' Alastair Hamilton with his niece in 2015 Alastair Hamilton in 2007 with brothers Rupert, Bradley, Toby and Russell Alastair Hamilton with his grandmother Doris Robinson in 2017 Portrait of young Alastair Hamilton His family became concerned when Alastair stopped responding to their calls, texts and voicemails over the next week. Mrs Hamilton phoned the police to report him as a missing person. Scotland Yard soon established that Alastair had in fact caught a flight to Switzerland. An analysis of his bank transactions then revealed four payments totalling 10,310 to the Pegasos Swiss Association, a small clinic run from an office in central Basel. Officers contacted Pegasos but, other than confirming Alastair had died there, the clinic failed to provide police with the date of his death or any other information. As the days dragged on, Toby persistently emailed the clinic, saying: 'I urge and beg you to please reply to my email as soon as possible. 'Can you imagine what this is doing to our family in an incredibly traumatic time?' However, the clinic did not reply for another week until it sent a cold email asked Toby to provide scans of his passport and to sign an affidavit in order to receive information about his brother. Despite Toby doing this immediately, another week passed by before they finally confirmed Alastair had died on August 14, 2023. Last night, Toby said: 'If you had the slightest bit of empathy, and you are the slightest bit of a decent human being, you would pick up the phone and actually talk to the grieving family.' Mrs Hamilton added: 'I would have remortgaged the house and had his body flown home if I had known what happened, but we never got that chance.' Only in October two months after Alastair died did the family receive his ashes in the post The family have still not received goodbye letters that the Pegasos clinic (pictured) said he had left for them or his wristwatch, clothes and other personal effects Only in October two months after Alastair died did the family receive his ashes in the post. They never received any goodbye letters, despite Pegasos claiming Alastair had left some for them. They have also never received his wristwatch, clothes or any of his belongings. Toby said: 'We eventually found Alastair's application to Pegasos which was literally just like a two-page covering letter for a job application. 'It doesn't seem like they do any of the checks that Dignitas do. They're not liaising with doctors for medical records or psychotherapists to make sure a person is ill.' Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen revealed that she had joined the Dignitas clinic after her diagnosis of stage four lung cancer, and urged 'lawmakers to catch up with the public'. After hearing about Alastair Hamilton's case, Dame Esther told The Mail on Sunday: 'We can learn from other countries where such laws are already in place as to what is the most practical and humane way of legalising assisted dying without making people vulnerable.' Pegasos did not respond to several requests for comment from The Mail on Sunday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took a cue from President Trump and attacked a 'radical' judge who ruled against the administration on its move to use a 200-year-old law to deport alleged gang members. Leavitt spoke after a federal appeals court panel in D.C. ruled against the administration in a 2-1 decision, setting up a battle that could go to the Supreme Court. 'I understand that a radical judge at the appeals court has denied the president and our legal team in the case agains the Alien Enemies Act. But we are going to continue to forge ahead in the court,' she told Fox & Friends Thursday morning. It wasn't clear which judge she was referencing, in the case where Team Trump wanted to lift a lower court judge's order putting a pause on deportations under the law. Trump on Thursday attacked that judge, James Boasberg, as well. The prevailing side included Judge Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Judge Karen Henderson, a George H.W. Bush appointee. Dissenting was Trump appointee Justin Walker. Millett complained that migrants got deported 'with no notice, no hearing, no opportunity -- zero process -- to show that they are not members of the gang.' 'If the government can choose to abandon fair and equal process for some people, it can do the same for everyone,' she warned. During a hearing this week, Millett said 'Nazis got better treatment' from the government under the Alien Enemies Act. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted a 'radical judge' at a U.S. appeals court panel that ruled 2-1 against the administration in a case on the use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for deportations Lawyers for several of the people who were deported have denied gang associations and pushed back on claims that their tattoos established their membership. Leavitt then tore into a group she called 'activist' judges, hours after she used the White House podium to go after Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg and bringing up his wife's party registration and campaign contributions. 'And think about how insane it is that we have a Democrat party and we have Democrat activists who are judges in our judicial branch who are fighting against this administration from deporting these heinous individuals. If we have a country where the President of the United States, where the commander in chief cannot deport foreign terrorists and illegal aliens, the American people are in a lot of trouble,' she said. Leavitt spoke on a morning when Trump tore into Boasberg, who issued a temporary restraining order in the Enemies Act Case, after he was assigned another prominent case, this one dealing with a watchdog who is suing over the Signal chat fiasco where journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to the group chat where officials discussed a plan to attack the Houthis. 'How disgraceful is it that Judge James Boasberg has just been given a fourth Trump Case, something which is, statistically, IMPOSSIBLE. There is no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP REPUBLICAN, to win before him. He is Highly Conflicted, not only in his hatred of me Massive Trump Derangement Syndrome! but also, because of disqualifying family conflicts,' Trump fumed. Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) as prisoners stand, looking out from a cell, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025 Leavitt blasted a 'radical judge' at the appeals court. A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 against the administration, with Obama appointee Patricia Millett and Karen Henderson, a George H.W. Bush, ruling against the administration Trump and his allies have called for Boasberg's impeachment, prompting brushback from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Cases are assigned at random in the D.C. court system, where Boasberg serves as chief judge. Trump ally Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has also gone after Boasberg for his service on a special intelligence court during the start of the probe of Trump 2016 campaign contacts and Russia. The president has a long history of attacking judges who have ruled against him, including during the Stormy Daniels hush money trial in Manhattan. The administration sent two planeloads full of migrants that officials said were members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to a notorious Salvadoran prison March 15. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, and delivered remarks in front of jailed, shirtless inmates. 'If an immigrant commits a crime, 'this is one of the consequences you could face,' Noem said. 'First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted. '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.' A married Massachusetts lawmaker who was named last week as the client of a high class brothel hounded pimps with hundreds of text messages, according to a report. Cambridge City Councilor Paul Toner, 58, was named in court on Friday amongst a list of other men accused of using the illicit services in the city. In a police report seen by MassLive, officers in Cambridge say that a search of a cell phone used to run the brothel uncovered 432 texts with Toner. In one conversation, dated April 17, 2023, Toner had texted the number and asked if women with the stage names of Tulip or Jisoo were available, according to the report. He then agreed to pay $340 for an hour of the 'girlfriend experience' with Tulip, the report said. The document states that this involves a service that 'blurs the boundaries between a financial transaction and a romantic relationship'. That amount included 'up to 2shot', meaning two ejaculations, the police report added. Authorities in The Bay State say that Toner agreed to pay for sex on a number of dates in 2023. According to their report, he made appearances at the brothel in February, April, May, June, July, August and September of that year. Officers in Cambridge say that a search of a cell phone used to run the brothel uncovered 432 texts with Toner In one conversation, dated April 17, 2023, Toner had texted the number and asked if women with the stage names of Tulip or Jisoo were available Toner is married to Susan Connelly and they share two children together, Grace and Jack Police surveillance of the establishment indicated that in September he visited three times over the month, twice in August, and two times in May and June. At a council meeting on Monday, Toner apologized and made it clear that he would not resign from his position. Reading from a prepared statement, he said: 'First, I am ashamed to have my name associated with this case. 'I would like to apologize to my fellow councilors, my supporters and the community for taking up the time of the council and the public discourse on this matter. 'All Americans including elected officials are entitled to the right to due process but some have already judged and convicted me.' Toner added that he had been advised not to make any further comment, and that he had a 'duty to fulfill' to voters. He had first been elected to the position in November of 2021 and is currently serving his second term. Immediately after being publicly named last week, he released a statement saying: 'I caused pain for the people I care about most. 'For that, I will be forever sorry. This is an ongoing legal matter and I will not have further comment at this time.' Toner did not appear in court on Friday, with his attorney Tim Flaherty instead appearing on his behalf. At a council meeting on Monday, Toner apologized and made it clear that he would not resign Surveillance of the establishment indicated that in September he visited three times , twice in August, and two times in May and June. An advertisement for the brothel is seen here Outside of the Cambridge Juvenile Court after the short hearing, Flaherty said: 'Ive known Paul Toner my entire life, and in my view, hes a man of high character. 'He loves his family, and his family loves him. None of us are perfect. Hes a hard working city councilor, and the City of Cambridge is lucky to have him.' Toner is married to Susan Connelly and they share two children together, Grace, 26, and Jack, 19. Their family home is a $1.3 million three bedroom abode which was deserted when DailyMail.com appeared at the address last week. According to a profile on the Cambridge City website, Toner had been a seventh and eight grade teacher of social studies prior to his career in politics. After rising to being the president of the Cambridge Teachers Association, Paul was elevated to president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association from 2006 to 2014. Connelly is employed as the COO for a Boston based company that deals in housing opportunities. Toner was one of 11 johns that were called up in court to face their probable cause hearing in the case. The original affidavit shows a text message sent from a phone related to the operation in Massachusetts which includes a 'menu' Others named on Friday were Frederick Rosenthal, Timothy Ackerson, Matthew Fulton, Jeffrey Henry, Steven Riel, Nathaniel Welch, Anurag Bajpayee, James Cusack Jr, as well as two others that DailyMail.com have been so far unable to identify. The men were named and shamed by Cambridge Police Lt. Jarred Cabral and detective Michael Alpers who read out the allegations in court. The week before, the first 12 were named and shamed and another five are due in court this Friday. Mark Zhu, 28, and Jason Han, 29, both appeared alongside their attorneys while Kerry Wu, John Doran, David LaCava, Boya Zhou, Peter MacGillivray, Yihong Zou, Pablo Domingo Maceira, Jonathan Lanfear, Pinhao Chao and Patrick Walsh all sent their legal reps in their place. Prosecutors say these individuals are part of an elite clientele that includes the likes of public officials, government contractors, as well doctors and lawyers. All are said to have patronized a brothel ring that operated out of six luxury apartments in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, as well as DC's suburbs, whose clientele have been described as 'rich and powerful.' Radiologist Jason Han, 29, also appeared in court earlier this month alongside his attorney Mark Zhu, seen here, was told there was probable cause to charge him with visiting a brothel at a hearing in Cambridge Prosecutors say they paid up to $600 per hour for sexual encounters with predominately Asian women who were being exploited through sex trafficking. Those in charge of the brothels also made monthly memberships available to repeat visitors. No details of the men's private lives have been shared, but it is highly likely many are married, have families and are considered pillars of their wealthy communities. Three pimps who ran the prostitution ring have already admitted their crimes after being charged in November 2023. The original affidavit in the case said that the women were advertised for commercial sex via two websites under the guise of professional nude photo shoots. The affidavit also shows a text message sent from a phone related to the operation in Massachusetts which includes a 'menu'. According to the document, the 'menu' listed sexual services available, the hourly rate and the women available. The affidavit states that the term 'BB' is a term used in the prostitution industry to refer to unsafe sex, and that 'GFE' relates to a 'Girlfriend Experience'. All of the men have been slapped with misdemeanor charges and none of them have been arrested. A huge investigation is underway, as the governor of Texas accuses a mosque planning to build its own city of breaking the law and vows the religious town will 'never see the light of day.' A sprawling mosque in suburban Dallas, the East Plano Islamic Center or EPIC, has recently become a target for Gov. Greg Abbott after announcing plans to build a city for Muslims. The Republican has accused the Islamic center of practicing shaira law, an extreme form of the religion, and of violating state law. 'We are uncovering legal violations by EPIC City that go far beyond what people realize,' Abbott tweeted Wednesday night.' 'The proposed community will never see the light of day. More to come.' On a busy night of prayer, congregants at the Plano, Texas mosque rushed inside for Ramadan, denying they practice sharia law to DailyMail.com and seemingly unfazed by Abbott's social media accusations. Abbott alleges the mosque broke the law by operating as a funeral home. 'They are knowingly breaking state law in many ways, including by operating a funeral home without a license,' Abbott posted to X on Wednesday. The East Plano Islamic Center or EPIC is planning to build a community based on Islam near Josephine, Texas-- in a rural area outside of Dallas. Pictured above is the existing mosque located in Plano, Texas 'This is a crime, and it will not be tolerated.' A cease and desist went out, ordering the mosque to stop preparing bodies for burial, and Abbott asked the local district attorney to pursue criminal charges. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott holds in press conference in Austin, Texas on March 25 Abbott has directed multiple state agencies to look into potential crimes in hopes of stopping the planned community near Josephine, Texas-- about 30 minutes away from the house of worship. In the latest accusation against the Islamic center Thursday, Abbott announced EPIC's board is under investigation. Although the state has yet to announce any arrests or charges, Abbott claimed the state was looking at 'potential failures to comply with applicable state and federal securities requirements, including protections against fraud.' 'The group behind the proposed East Plano Islamic Center compound may be misleading investors,' Abbott said in a press release Thursday. 'Defrauding Texans will not be tolerated. The Texas State Securities Board is conducting a thorough investigation to ensure Texans are protected from financial harm that is alleged to have been caused by EPIC. This is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of illegal activities by EPIC. All entities in Texas must follow state law, not Sharia law.' In early 2024, EPIC (the mosque) announced what it called a 'historic project,' EPIC City, a city centered in Islam. EPIC bought 402 acres of land just outside of Josephine, Texas. EPIC City, with a brand new mosque serving as the town center, will feature a thousand new houses, townhomes and schools and even a shopping center. Rendering by EPIC show what EPIC City would look like EPIC has purchased 402 acres of land north of Josephine, Texas The planned community of EPIC City would include green spaces and retail centers Some 10,000 residential areas are part of the vision for EPIC City While promising to become 'the epicenter of Islam in America,' organizers for EPIC City also say all are welcome in a video for the town. 'To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are no go zones which this project seems to imply. Bottom line. The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas,' the governor said online on Feb. 24. As Abbott has raised concerns about 'Sharia law' in the planned community, many residents of Josephine- population 2,000- are opposed to EPIC City. 'It's two minutes from the elementary school. With that law (sharia,) I don't think it's appropriate for them to be near any school, resident Tabetha Clay told DailyMail.com With her toddler son in tow, she added she worried what the addition of some 1,000 new homes to their small community would mean. 'A lot of things would definitely change if they were to allow it, and trust me, I'm not racist by any means, but I'm not okay with it.' She also worried about EPIC's ability to claim tax breaks for properties, like homes and businesses, due to their tax exempt status. Not a single foundation has been poured for EPIC City at this time, however, the community's website projected it would be ready to live in by 2026 or 2027. EPIC City is not inside the Josephine city limits, so the city did not want to comment, however, it did release a public statement due to outrage from locals. 'While EPIC's marketing materials reference being in the "heart of Josephine," this is incorrect and has led to confusion and concern among resident.' The city's administrator added that EPIC City is outside the Josephine's jurisdiction. EPIC City would be built just north of the City of Josephine, a town of about 2,000 people Local parents told DailyMail.com they were worried about the Muslim development's proximity to the local elementary school Members of EPIC mosque told DailyMail.com they'd heard the development had been postponed due to the backlash. No one from the mosque or development responded to DailyMail.com requests for comment over several days. However, the imam called Abbott's views 'misinformed' in a statement issued to CBS Texas. 'We understand that there has been a lot of rumor-milling and misinformation circulated by many who are uninformed. We look forward to working with the Attorney General to ensure that we are in legal compliance every step of the way,' the mosque said. Even if Abbott is successful in stopping the new development, EPIC already has a big footprint in Plano. The huge mosque is surrounded by schools and a gym. Across the street, there is also an business called 'EPIC Market' and halal shops catering to the Muslims that live in the streets around the mosque. The large, two story luxury homes with expensive cars in the drive ways were all decorated for Ramadan, with Christmas lights used to celebrate the holy month of fasting. In what could be a key vote for EPIC City's future, Collin County Commissioners will decide whether to approve a permit on April 14. A member of a professional shoplifting gang dubbed "The Spice Girls" has been cleared of stealing 19,000 worth of designer items because she has 'mental health issues'. Melissa Grant, 55, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today charged with four counts of theft from Selfridges between December 26 and 30 2024. She was previously locked up for 21 months in 2009 alongside other members of her crew after they grabbed large quantities of clothes and lingerie from West End stores. The gang also struck at shops in Bluewater, Kent and Lewes in Sussex. But following the theft in December last year, prosecutors today said the 'public interest wasn't met' in punishing the defendant. Grant, of Forest Hill, southeast London, was charged over offences related to two designer bags to the value of 4,730, four Optika shirts worth 2,800, five Cas Lee shirts to the value of 6,620, a 1,810 medium logo bag, a 325 Oblique Bylon cap and a 2,650 Alalia dress. Prosecutor Malachy Packenham said: There are mental health issues. A colleague of mine looked at it. Their view was that the public interest wasnt met by prosecuting the defendant. Melissa Grant had been 39 at the time she and accomplice Camille Gray, 30, admitted conspiracy to steal at Southwark Crown Court in 2009. Melissa Grant, 55, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today charged with four counts of theft from Selfridges between December 26 and 30 2024 (file image) Prosecutor Sally Fudge told the court in 2009 that members of the gang were spotted by police on Oxford Street on the afternoon of October 2 in 2008 (file image) The pair were sentenced over the theft of 15,000-worth of clothes from London's West End stores. Grant, then of west London, and Gray, of south-west London, were jailed for 21 and 16 months respectively. Nadine Wright, 31, of north London, admitted handling stolen goods and was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work. Jacqueline Thompson, 28, of east London, and Ola Ilesanmi, 39, of south-west London, had also been part of the gang. A sixth member, Angela Johnson, of south London, failed to appear at court after admitting a charge of conspiracy to steal. Prosecutor Sally Fudge told the court that members of the gang were spotted by police on Oxford Street on the afternoon of October 2 in 2008. Grant, Ilesanmi and Gay were seen meeting up with Johnson and putting clothes into black bags she was carrying. Mis Fudge said: 'Miss Johnson seemed to struggle with the weight of the bags she had, and had to put them down.' Prosecutor Malachy Packenham said: There are mental health issues. A colleague of mine looked at it. Their view was that the public interest wasnt met by prosecuting the defendant (file image) When officers stopped her, they found the bags were full of stolen clothing from GAP, Uniclo, Oasis and Next. The clothes included 15 pairs of trousers, four tops and three pairs of shoes. Police later spotted Grant and Wright meeting up with Thompson, who was sitting in the drivers seat of an Audi. They loaded more black sacks into the boot, before officers swooped and arrested them. The bags were found to contain stolen clothes from All Saints and Warehouse. All in all, the value of the clothes added up to around 1,500. Police later raided Ilesanmis flat in Southwark, where they found 10,700 worth of clothes and underwear from La Senza , Topshop, Next, Monsoon and River Island with the security tags still on them. There were a further 10,700 worth of goods with the tags off, including underwear from upmarket erotic boutique Coco de Mer. Investigators subsequently examined CCTV film from other West End Stores, and found footage of Grant and Ilesanmi in Warehouse in Argyle St stealing items worth 500. Miss Fudge said: 'Grant behaved aggressively towards a shop assistant, saying to her companion "I feel like spitting in her face".' The prosecutor added: 'This is a gang of organised shoplifters, active in the West End of London.' Keir Starmer today warned Donald Trump that 'now is not the time' for the lifting of sanctions on Russia after meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris. The PM joined the latest talks of the so-called 'coalition of the willing' in the French capital as allies continued to draw up plans for a possible peacekeeping force. Appearing alongside Mr Zelensky after the discussions, Sir Keir said the 30 nations attending the summit had agreed it was too early to ease sanctions on Russia. He added they had even discussed efforts to punish Moscow further over its brutal invasion of Ukraine. This will pile pressure on Mr Trump not to cede to recent Russian demands for the lifting of some sanctions before agreeing to a ceasefire in the Black Sea. Shortly after the announcement of a possible deal this week, the Kremlin said it would not come into effect unless some financial sanctions were lifted. Despite Mr Trump admitting the Kremlin could be 'dragging their feet', the US President repeated his belief that Russia wants an end to the three-year-long conflict. Washington also appeared to signal an intention to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve the country's access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems. Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Sir Keir blasted Russian President Vladimir Putin for 'filibustering' and 'playing games' over a ceasefire. The PM demanded Moscow be set a deadline for demonstrating 'real progress' towards ending its attacks on Ukraine. Keir Starmer warned Donald Trump that 'now is not the time' for the lifting of sanctions on Russia after meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris Appearing alongside Mr Zelensky after the latest discussions of the 'coalition of the willing', the PM said the 30 nations attending the summit had agreed it was too early to ease sanctions This will pile pressure on Mr Trump not to cede to recent Russian demands for the lifting of some sanctions before agreeing to a ceasefire in the Black Sea European nations have been left alarmed by an apparent softening towards Russia by the US President's top advisers. Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump's de facto envoy to Mr Vladimir Putin, has faced furious accusations from Kyiv of parroting Moscow propaganda. It followed his recent comments about Russian-invaded parts of Ukraine, during which he also praised Mr Putin as a 'very smart guy'. Following parallel talks in Saudia Arabia, the US has reached separate deals with Ukraine and Russia to pause their attacks in the Black Sea and against energy targets. The Kremlin has said the deals would not coming into effect without certain financial sanctions on Russia being eased. But, speaking in Paris this afternoon, Sir Keir said those nations taking part in Thursday's 'coalition of the willing' summit agreed there should be no easing of sanctions. The PM said there had been three outcomes from the talks, adding: 'Firstly, more support for Ukraine to make sure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position, both now and in further negotiations. 'Second, complete clarity that now is not the time for lifting of sanctions. 'Quite the contrary, what we discussed is how we can increase sanctions to support the US initiative, to bring Russia to the table through further pressure from this group of countries. 'And of course, we discussed further the plans for reassuring the peace, the coalition of the willing and the military and operational plans, whether they're on the land, the air or the sea, but there was very strong support. 'And what came out most strongly from the meeting was so many countries standing, as they've stood for over three years now, with Ukraine, standing in this crucial moment for as long as it takes.' At a press conference later, Sir Keir accused Mr Putin of 'filibustering' in order to delay Mr Trump's efforts to reach a peace deal. He said: 'President Trump has rightly called them out for dragging their feet, and we agreed here in Paris today that it's clear the Russians are filibustering. 'They are playing games, and they're playing for time. It is a classic from the Putin playbook. 'But we can't let them drag this out while they continue prosecuting their illegal invasion.' The PM demanded that Russia now be handed a 'deadline' for agreeing steps towards peace. Sir Keir said allies in Paris had agreed 'we should be setting a framework and a deadline of delivering real progress, and that we should hold them to that deadline'. He said: 'We've agreed that we must go further now to support the peace process, support Ukraine and increase the pressure on Russia to get serious.' The 'coalition of the willing' has now met four times in either London or Paris as they draw up plans for a European-led peacekeeping force to be deployed to Ukraine to help enforce a potential peace deal. Sir Keir revealed, following Thursday's talks, that the UK, French and German chiefs of defence will meet in Ukraine to discuss 'how those plans or options are going to be implemented'. Sir Keir co-hosted Thursday's gathering in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron Sir Keir, Mr Macron and Mr Zelensky considered the results of military planning talks at London's Northwood military headquarters Representatives of 30 nations attended Thursday's summit, along with officials from the EU and NATO The PM co-hosted Thursday's gathering in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron. The 30 nations who attended, along with representatives of the EU and NATO, considered the results of military planning talks at London's Northwood military headquarters. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaking the terms of a tentative US-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure. The White House said the idea of the Black Sea deal was to 'ensure safe navigation' and 'eliminate the use of force' in the sea. However, the US also appeared to signal an intention to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve Mr Putin's access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems. The talks were part of efforts by Mr Trump's administration 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. Russia's defence ministry claimed Ukrainian drone attacks hit power facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions this week, which Ukraine dismissed as Kremlin disinformation aimed at justifying continued hostilities. Ukrainian officials have said Moscow is 'lying' about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and has carried out eight confirmed hits on power sites. A survivor of the Egypt submarine tragedy has claimed the vessel began to dive with its hatches still open, leaving tourists to scramble out themselves as it took on water. Elena Boldareva and her husband swam out of the Sindbad tourist submersible as it began to sink at its landing pontoon, off the coast of Hurghada, this morning. Her daughter and mother were taken to hospital, among the 39 rescued. Six people have died, and at least one child is still in serious condition. 'Some managed to swim out, some didn't,' she said. She said people tried to save themselves as best they could while tourists on boats near the marina of the Sindbad Club Hotel rushed to pull people from the water. One survivor, who was not named, gave a similar recollection to Russian outlet Mash. 'When my family and I were standing on a pontoon and were about to board the submarine, the submarine suddenly started to sink, even though the hatches were open,' she said. 'The man who was responsible for loading shouted stop, stop, stop and started pushing us back towards the pontoon.' She claimed the submarine began to descend before everyone was on board. The Sindbad submarine was already carrying dozens of tourists when it sank. At least six Russians, including two children, were killed, and at least nine people were injured. Thirty nine people have so far been rescued, local sources have said. Passenger Dr Kristina Valliulina was reportedly reunited with her children, 10 and 15, in hospital later on, after initial reports aired fears she may have died on board. She was pictured with her husband, Ravil Valiullin, who is also believed to have been on board the Sindbad at the time of its sinking. His fate was not immediately clear. A rescue boat arrives to recover the sunken tourist submarine 'Sindbad' off the coast of Hurghada in Egypt on Thursday The regional governor said that all the passengers who were on board have been accounted for. Six died in the tragedy Unnamed survivors of the Egyptian submarine tragedy in a hospital room in Hurghada today The submersible sank off the marina of the Sindbad Club Hotel this morning. People on board said hatches were left open, and that they had to scramble to save themselves Your browser does not support iframes. The bombshell claim that the hatch had been left open came as warnings from other holidaymakers emerged, sharing how past experiences left them shaken. Tripadvisor user stubbyd, from Bridgend, claimed: 'They also "big up" the qualifications of the captain.' 'But constantly bumping the sub on the sea floor is not good for the sea life, sea floor, my sanity of ultimately I'd say the sub!' Holidaymaker Alexander S said he would not recommend the experience. 'The submarine hit the rocks/ corals several times and swirled the sand etc up,' he wrote on Tripadvisor. User Reyyu wrote: 'This is a big scam. Boarding is unsafe. We hardly saw anything.' Eugenia M said: 'I take full blame for trusting a scam, but honestly, thats exactly what this tour felt like. 'I still cant wrap my head around how someone can knowingly take your money and risk your safety.' One British holidaymaker also revealed how they were on the doomed Sindbad submarine just days before it sank off the coast of Egypt. Kelly Collins, 32, said she would never go on a submarine again after learning how tourists were killed this morning. The HGV driver, from Wigan, said that she and her partner, Sharon, 54, booked a dive in the submarine only on Monday after seeing it advertised on social media. She said they spent around 40 minutes in the submarine and dived some 25 metres under the surface before returning to land by boat. 'I'm shocked, saddened and in disbelief to hear the news about the poor people on the submarine,' she said today. 'I think this has put me off submarines.' Ms Collins said that the experience began with a 30 minute boat ride out to a docking platform before getting into the submarine. 'The submarine trip was 40 minutes approximately and then a 30 minute boat ride back to the shore,' she said. The tours are advertised to holidaymakers visiting the region, a destination popular with Brits. Kristina Valiullina (L) and her husband Ravil Valiullin (R) were both on the submarine when it sank. Kristina was reunited with her children earlier today Rescue efforts continue to recover the sunken submarine off the coast of Hurghada An ambulance and a police vehicle in front of The Egyptian Hospital in Hurghada, Egypt, 27 March 2025 Kristina Valiullina (L) and her husband Ravil Valiullin (R) were among those on board the submarine at the time of its sinking off the coast of Hurghada earlier today Tom McDowell, 63 from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, also paid for the experience while holidaying with family last year. His wife, Violet, 69, didn't go onboard as she thought it would be too 'claustrophobic'. Tom was one of around 40 others who got inside then fully booked 30 metre long sub. The food manufacturer from Carrickfergus, in Northern Ireland, said he was 'nervous' at the thought of getting into the submarine but said he felt at 'ease' as the set up was 'all very professional'. He said: 'I was shocked when I read the news that it has sunk - my heart goes out to the victims. Tom said since hearing the news he 'will not' be stepping foot on a submarine again. He said: 'You don't even think about something going wrong when it is your turn but accidents happen.' The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, had been carrying around 45 international passengers when it sank this morning, according to the regional governor. Initial reports had identified 44. Rescue services have so far managed to save 39 people, according to a statement released by the Red Sea governorate. Red Sea area governor Amr Hanafy wrote on Facebook that none of the on board are unaccounted for. He said there were 45 foreign passengers on board, plus five Egyptians. Moscow's embassy in Cairo reported previously that all passengers were Russian, with four of its citizens among the deceased. However, Hanafy said the passengers were from Russia, India, Norway and Sweden. He said that the six killed were Russian. Earlier reports had cited five. Tom McDowell's family on board Sinbad submarine in 2024. He said he would never go on a submarine again after learning of today's tragedy The tourist submarine, named Sindbad, had been carrying 45 passengers at the time of the sinking on Thursday, as it sailed off the coast of Hurghada (file image) Hurghada is a popular tourist destination for Brits and Germans and several nautical jaunts operate from the coast Some 21 ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the incident, and have been transporting the injured to local hospitals including Al-Kawthar, due to the severity of their conditions. A post from the Russian embassy read: 'On March 27, around 10:00, at a distance of 1 km from the shore, an accident of the submersible 'Sindbad', belonging to the hotel of the same name occurred. 'The submersible carried out a regular underwater excursions with inspection of the coral reef. 'In addition to crew members, there were 45 tourists on board, including minors. All of them are Russian citizens, tourists of the company 'Biblio Globus' (the host tour company in Egypt - 'Biblio globus Egypt Tours'). 'According to initial data, most of the passengers on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada. 'Their health is not a cause for concern. Four people have been killed. The fate of several tourists is being determined. 'Diplomats of the General Consulate are on the pier of the 'Sindbad' hotel'. Russian media later reported that 38 people had been rescued, at least one child was orphaned by the disaster and the parents of a girl in hospital were killed. These reports have not yet been confirmed. The submarine had embarked off one of the beaches in the tourist promenade area, Egyptian officials who did not want to be named told AP. The submarine has been operating for several years (file image) According to the Russian embassy in Egypt, the Sindbad submarine belonged to the Hurghada resort hotel of the same. Pictured: Sindbad Club Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt The passengers had been out on a sea trip to see Egypt's coral reefs and tropical fish before the vessel, which can dive to depths of up to 72ft, sank. Following the disaster, several tourists currently holidaying in Hurghada who had been on the sub or were planning a trip have left comments on the Sinbad Club Guests Facebook page. One wrote: 'Oh my god; we were only on the submarine on Monday just gone it seemed so well organised xx'. Another added: 'This is so sad, went on this in January. Thinking of all involved this is tragic xx'. A third commented: 'Such sad news for all involved, my son wanted to go on this.. not now we won't.. xx'. The submarine has been operating tourist trips in Hurghada for several years. According to the operator, Sharm Hurghada Excursions, the underwater tour is three-hours long and costs 68 per adult ticket, and 35 for children. The company boasts its excursions allow visitors to admire Hurghada's underwater life and extensive coral reef, enjoy a diving experience while staying dry, and see life underwater at a depth of 72ft. It also claims it holds two of the only '14 real recreational submarines' in the world. The website for Sindbad Submarines continues: 'It offers 44 passenger seats - two pilots' seats and a sizable round viewing window for each passenger.' An aerial view on Hurghada town located on the Red Sea coast, Egypt (file image) Passengers who had travelled on an Egyptian tourist boat which left three Brits missing when it caught fire claimed it had 'reoccurring issues' in June 2023 The cause and circumstance of the sinking have not yet been confirmed or reported. Hurghada is a popular tourist destination for Brits and Germans and several nautical jaunts operate from the coast. This is not the first time an incident involving tourist boats has occurred in the waters off the coastal city. Passengers who had travelled on an Egyptian tourist boat which left three Brits missing in June 2023 when it caught fire claimed it had 'reoccurring issues'. People who had boarded the Hurricane, a Red Sea-based boat in Egypt, said they were 'not surprised' it had gone up in flames just a week after they left. One diving enthusiast who stayed on the vessel in May of that year told MailOnline it was plagued with problems and there were 'issues below decks'. The cruiser left Port Ghalib in the eastern city of Marsa Alam on June 6, and was meant to return on June 11. It was said to be one of the Tornado Marine Fleet tours, which offers 'Luxury Red Sea Liveaboards' for just under 1,500 per trip. A Foreign Office spokesperson said at the time: 'We are in contact with local authorities following an incident aboard a dive boat near Marsa Alam, and are supporting British nationals involved.' In November last year, a tourist boat named Sea Story sank off Egypt's Red Sea coast. The boat sank near Shaab Satayah, a coral reef popular for diving trips, off the tourist resort of Marsa Alam in the early hours of November 25. Those who escaped the vessel said a 'high sea wave' had hit it and caused it to capsize in 'about five or seven minutes', Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi said at the time. The incident occurred during rough weather conditions, with the Egyptian Red Sea Ports Authority reporting wave heights of 10 to 13 feet and wind speeds of 34 knots in the area, leading to the closure of maritime traffic. The boat departed on a diving trip from the port of Ghalib in Marsa Alam on November 24 and was scheduled to arrive at Hurghada Marina on November 29. Some of the survivors were reportedly flown back to shore by a helicopter to receive medical care, while others were transported via another boat. UK investigators said last month there had been 16 incidents involving 'liveaboard' vessels in the area in the last five years, with a number resulting in deaths. FBI Director Kash Patel warned the U.S. needs to be 'more vigilant' about what is coming in across the Canadian border as adversaries have 'adapted.' The top law enforcement officer made the claim while testifying before lawmakers in the House Intelligence Committee about global threats on Wednesday. 'Known and suspected terrorists are flowing in through our northern border more than they are our southern border,' Patel warned. He attributed it to the 'successes we've had at closing our southern border.' Patel was answering questions from Congressman Greg Steube when he made the admission while discussing the flow of fentanyl across the U.S. border. At another point in the hearing, Patel said that known and suspected terrorists are coming in with 'much less frequency at the southern border. FBI Director Kash Patel (pictured) testified that more known and suspected terrorists are coming into the U.S. through the northern border at a House hearing He said there have been two known or suspected terrorists apprehended at the southern border since January 20th when Trump took office. 'They're coming in with much greater frequency in the northern border and since January 20th, that number is 34,' Patel said. 'And those metrics have carried out over the last year in terms of ratio,' the FBI director continued. He said it indicates that 'the individuals who want to do the most harm to this country are utilizing the northern border.' Patel said the U.S. needs to refocus assets to the Canadian border. Patel said 34 'suspected or known terrorists' were apprehended at the Canadian border since January 20 compared to just 2 at the southern border The FBI director during the hearing acknowledged the two most dangerous adversaries to the U.S. are China and Russia. 'The enemy adapts,' Patel said. He warned that U.S. adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran have stopped using the southern border all together. But he said they have shifted their focus and resources to the northern border as the Trump administration cracks down on the border with Mexico. Asking someone to switch seats on an economy flight can be fraught with tension. But for one Delta passenger, the decision to switch their aisle position for the dreaded middle seat was easy after the other traveler offered $150 for the trade. Writing in the 'r/delta' forum on Reddit, the passenger said they were on a nonstop flight from New York's JFK to Austin, Texas when the unusual offer was made. 'While boarding, two guys came up to my row and asked if anyone in an aisle or window would swap so they could sit together,' the passenger wrote. 'They both had the middle seats on opposite sides of the row and they offered $80. ' The traveler said the other passengers were 'kinda quiet' and everyone initially said no thanks. One of the men offering ended up sitting next to the Reddit user. 'The guy next to me asked if I would swap for $150. I thought about it and said yes,' he said. 'We swapped and his buddy Venmo'd me before take off. Boom, easiest $150 I've ever made!' The wins kept pouring in for the traveler, who said the man he switched with even offered him a drink as an added bonus during the 4.5-hour flight. 'I was confused and just wanted water but maybe I could have gotten a free glass of wine out of the deal too!' he said. 'I guess the lesson here is everyone has a price.' For one Delta passenger, the decision to switch their aisle position for the dreaded middle seat on a domestic flight was easy after the other traveler offered $150 for the favor Writing in the 'r/delta' forum on Reddit , the passenger said they were on a nonstop flight from New York's JFK to Austin, Texas when the unusual offer was made The post went viral and other people piled into the comments with similar experiences of being paid to switch seats. 'Someone once paid me $100 to switch from an aisle to a window. No brainer for me,' one person said. 'Seems like a win win for everyone, that's how you request a seat swap,' another user said as they applauded the exchange. 'This is the way. If the flight isn't too heinously long and you're comfortable in a middle seat just throw out a price! Nothing to lose so why not,' said another. Another traveler noted: 'I'm small enough to fit in the middle well. For $150 and a drink, I'd take this deal. Congratulations.' Meanwhile, other US passengers can be very picky about their airplane seating arrangement. Content creator Andrea sparked a fierce debate after sharing her honest reaction to her first class experience on an American Airlines flight recently. The influencer, who posts under the username @andreanotfromtrinidad, shared her honest thoughts over the seat - which she thought was subpar - in a video posted to TikTok. In the clip, Andrea shares her disbelief as she checks out her first class seat for he flight to Honolulu, explaining it cost her $5,000. 'Do better, @AmericanAirlines,' the text on the video reads. She then panned over all the issues she had and why the cleanliness wasn't acceptable - pointing out the dusty air vents near the seat. 'I'm breathing this in for eight and a half hours,' she says, zooming in on the grey grime and dust particles at the vent. The content creator Andrea, who posts under the username @andreanotfromtrinidad, shared her honest thoughts over the seat - which she thought was subpar 'I mean, the cleanliness,' she said sarcastically, showing the storage compartment near the seat, which was filled with small pieces of debris and what appeared to be crumbs. Andrea then pointed out the pillow she was given had small brown marks on it. 'I mean, did they wash this?' she asked. In the caption, Andrea added that all areas on an aircraft should be clean, 'regardless of how much you pay for a flight.' Users were divided by Andrea's complaint, some slamming the passenger for spending so much to fly first class. 'I don't know how I'm gonna sleep tonight knowing you had to go through this,' one user commented sarcastically. 'I mean, it's an airplane. Are you expecting hotel concierge service?' another scathed. Other TikTok users sympathized with Andrea, agreeing that all flights should be clean, and she was well within her rights to complain. 'Forget first class, no part of the plane should be that disgusting. Just because people can't afford it/don't want to pay some crazy price for first class doesn't mean they should have to travel in filth,' one user commented. 'For some people flying first class may be a once in a lifetime experience they saved up for. You should have a nice, clean seat regardless,' agreed another. In the caption, Andrea added that all areas on an aircraft should be clean, 'regardless of how much you pay for a flight' Users were divided by Andrea's complaint, some slamming the passenger for spending so much to fly first class 'Yall it's $5,000 that's insane. I don't know why y'all judging her for not wanting a dirty seat,' objected another. 'Economy or first class, that is not acceptable. hope you got some compensation back,' answered someone else sincerely. 'I used to be a flight attendant. There is a common misconception that the planes get cleaned between flights. They don't,' someone chimed in. 'They cleaners vacuum the aisle and take trash and that's it. NOTHING is wiped down or washed.' According to pilot Patrick Smith, author of Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel, staff only have time to wipe down high-touch areas like toilet door handles as well as take out the rubbish left behind on seats and in seat back pockets. If there's enough time, the floor might get a quick vacuum and obvious stains are cleared up but otherwise any cleaning done is fairly surface level. Aircraft only go through a full deep clean every month to six weeks meaning the seats and carpet can harbor bacteria and germs because cabin crew simply don't have time to disinfect the entire plane. And it's not just the carpets - arm rests and tray tables are also often filthy and general advice is to bring antibacterial wipes with you to clean down wherever you're sitting. DailyMail.com has reached out to American Airlines for comment. A serial funeral fraudster who conned a hospital out of half a million pounds faces prison once again after scamming a grieving family out of 2,600 for a funeral which never happened. Mark Kerbey, who previously went by the name Richard Sage, duped his victims by taking their money for a funeral despite knowing he was barred. Kerbey told a woman that a funeral had been arranged for her late husband at Pitsea Crematorium in Essex. This was despite the fact he had not arranged a service at the venue and had been barred from holding funerals at another local crematorium and cemetery. When the family arrived at Pitsea they were turned away as no service had been organised. The 62-year-old then offered to do the funeral at his Trinity Funeral Home in Southend, Essex, but the large group could not all fit in the venue's 15ft by 15ft room. Kerbey, of Westcliff, Essex, was convicted of two counts of fraud by false representation by a jury yesterday. The court heard Kerbey had previously booked and taken money from families despite knowing he had been banned from organising funerals in Basildon and Southend since 2018. Mark Kerbey, who previously went by the name Richard Sage, duped his victim by taking their money for a funeral knowing he was barred Serial fraudster Kerbey has been running funeral firms since the 1980s and spent five years in prison for fraud when the company went bust Kerbey was aware that no funeral had been arranged as his attempts to book the service had been rebuked by the crematorium, whose staff knew Trinity Funeral Home - pictured - was banned from some venues Kerbey has been running funeral firms since the 1980s and spent five years in prison for fraud when the company went bust. When he left prison in 1989, he set up the Belmont Air and Road Ambulance which cared for American citizens taken ill in Europe until they were well enough to return home. Kerbey was jailed for sevens years after a deal with St Thomas' Hospital in London left the hospital half a million pounds out of pocket. St Thomas' paid Kerbey, then known as Sage, for each patient and was then supposed to reclaim costs from an insurer in Michigan, US. However the insurance company was set up by Kerbey and was fake. In January 2020 a woman whose husband had died paid for Kerbey to organise the funeral of her husband under the business 'Trinity Funeral Home'. An approach had been made to the deceased's son to offer a service which would be cheaper that other companies in the area offered. However the victim's family did not know that his business had been banned from using the facilities at Bowers Gifford Crematorium and Southend cemetery in any capacity. In agreeing to arrange the funeral, Kerbey took money from the victim to the value of 2,600 and told the victim and her family the funeral had been arranged for Pitsea Crematorium. Kerbey was found guilty by a jury yesterday at Basildon Crown Court and will be sentenced on April 25. File photo Kerbey was aware that no funeral had been arranged as his attempts to book the service had been rebuked by the crematorium, whose staff knew Trinity Funeral Home was banned from some venues. Despite that, Kerbey visited the family the night before the funeral and presented them with an order of service. However, when the congregation arrived at Pitsea Crematorium the following day it became apparent that no funeral had been arranged. When the family contacted Kerbey, he laid the blame on others. He also told the family they should come to his funeral home where a service could be held instead. He also sent a limousine to pick up the family which was prepared for use in a 13-year-old girl's birthday on the same day. When the mourning group arrived at the funeral home, they found it was a small 15ft by 15ft room and a large part of the group had to wait outside. The 20-minute service made little reference to the life of the man who had died. In total the family then had to pay an extra 700 to Kerbey for the body of their loved one to be released into the care of a new funeral service. On 17 March 2020 the man was finally laid to rest but with no family present due to the money which had already been paid out. Following an investigation Kerbey was charged with two counts of fraud by false representation. PC Daniel Hart said: 'Kerbey preyed on vulnerable, grieving victims and promised them tailored and respectful funeral services for their loved one, which he knew they would never be able to deliver' He was found guilty by a jury yesterday at Basildon Crown Court and will be sentenced on April 25. Kerbey has previously admitted separate charges, including two counts of perverting the course of justice and two counts of fraud by false representation. He was previously sentenced to 54 months in prison for six fraud offences in 2014 and was released in 2017. He was also given a suspended sentence in 2018 after he was convicted of fraud by false representation when he promised an elderly couple he would plan their funeral. PC Daniel Hart said: 'Today, my thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by this awful case. 'Kerbey preyed on vulnerable, grieving victims and promised them tailored and respectful funeral services for their loved one, which he knew they would never be able to deliver. 'His actions are despicable, dishonest and disrespectful and I am glad today that those who were sadly engulfed in the web of lies finally have justice.' A second man was charged in relation to these offences but was found not guilty of fraud by false representation by the jury. A mass stabbing in Amsterdam has left at least five people wounded. The knifing took place on Sint Nicolaasstraat, near the city's iconic Dam Square, at around 3.30pm local time (2.30pm UK time). A witness told a reporter for De Telegraaf they 'suddenly [heard] an icy scream', after which panic broke out. Local media has reported that a girl and an elderly woman were stabbed in the attack, but this has not been confirmed by police. One employee of a nearby shop told local media: 'It was very frightening. 'Customers saw an elderly woman being stabbed in the back. She was with her husband. I only saw it when the woman was lying on the ground. It was very grim.' Photos taken at the scene showed one person being loaded into an ambulance. Live footage of the historic square showed a mass crowd gathering around a cordoned off area in front of the Royal Palace, with a trauma helicopter, ambulances and police vans in attendance. The square has since had its cordon lifted. Local media reported at least 14 cop cars and an officer on a motorcycle were at the scene. It was also reported that a fire engine had arrived at Dam Square, with its siren on. Footage taken by a local journalist showed ambulances arriving and leaving Dam Square, pushing their way through the gathered crowd. Police have said that the suspect, described by Dutch newspapers as a man in a hood, has been arrested. They added: 'A motive is still unclear, but is part of our investigation.' A victim of a stabbing with multiple injuries near Dam Square is helped by ambulance workers. Stabbing with Multiple Injuries Near Dam Square in Amsterdam Live footage of the historic square shows a mass crowd gathering around a cordoned off area, with a trauma helicopter, ambulances and police vans in attendance Police have cordoned off the local area to deal with the stabbing Footage taken by a local journalist showed ambulances arriving and leaving Dam Square Ambulances rijden af en aan, politie probeert mensen op afstand te houden terwijl de traumahelikopter nog steeds op De Dam staat pic.twitter.com/q2vYuZJyUN Marcel Vink (@marcelvink888) March 27, 2025 Your browser does not support iframes. A police spokesperson told local media earlier that authorities had received reports of a robbery. 'We are present at the Sint Nicolaasstraat near the Dam after a report of a stabbing incident with injuries. There is therefore a cordon, also on the Dam. More information will follow,' the city's police department earlier said on X. They have asked people to avoid the area, and for those already there to give emergency services the space to work. Anyone with camera footage of the attack has also been urged to come forward to police to assist the investigation. Trams in the surrounding area have grinded to a halt, with no service between Amsterdam Centraal and Dam Square due to the stabbing incident. Service has also stopped between Dam Square station and Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, says a spokesperson for Amsterdam's GVB public transport company. Shops across the area have also been closed down, with people only allowed to leave them. The city's mayor, Femke Halsema, was in a council meeting during the stabbing, and was called away upon being told about it. She is currently meeting with the city's chief prosecutor, Rene de Beukelaer, and police chief, Peter Holla, to discuss the knife attack. Horrified onlookers watched as emergency services dealt with the stabbing Police cordon the area as emergency services intervene where five person were wounded during a stabbing attack near the central Dam Square in Amsterdam on March 27, 2025 Police officers cordon off an area after a stabbing near Dam Square in central Amsterdam, Thursday, March 27, 2025 More to follow. Giant panda Fu Bao returns to public view after health care People's Daily Online) 16:39, March 26, 2025 Photo shows the giant panda Fu Bao at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo courtesy of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda) The giant panda Fu Bao made her return on March 25, 2025 at the Shenshuping giant panda base in southwest China's Sichuan Province, following a rehabilitation period of more than 100 days, according to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. Fu Bao is now in good health. In December 2024, she was observed trembling while foraging and was promptly given a physical examination and placed under close monitoring by keepers and veterinarians. Photo shows the giant panda Fu Bao at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo courtesy of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda) After undergoing a series of medical examinations, including blood tests and screenings for parasites and infectious diseases, no abnormalities were detected. To ensure Fu Bao's health and to better facilitate monitoring, feeding, and observation, she was then moved to a non-exhibition area to rest and recover. During January and February this year, Fu Bao displayed normal estrus behavior and received attentive care from keepers and veterinarians. Additionally, renowned experts from Beijing were invited to collaborate with the panda base's veterinary team for a joint consultation to further investigate the possible causes of her trembling. The latest test results for the panda indicated no abnormalities. Based on her current condition and medical examination results, experts determined that she was fit for public display. Regarding the trembling condition that Fu Bao experienced, the center is currently collaborating with relevant institutions to conduct genetic testing and pathological research. Photo shows the giant panda Fu Bao at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo courtesy of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda) Experts explain that occasional slight muscle twitching in giant pandas is not uncommon. This seemingly abnormal phenomenon is typically a spontaneous neuromuscular response, characterized by sudden muscle contractions that cause no noticeable pain or discomfort. In most cases, it is considered a normal physiological reaction. Fu Bao has now returned to a newly upgraded outdoor habitat. Keepers, who have cared for the panda throughout, expressed their joy at her return. The outdoor enclosure has been enhanced with climbing structures, fallen logs, and additional greenery to enrich Fu Bao's living environment. Visitors are encouraged to observe the panda responsibly, avoid feeding it, and refrain from behaviors that could disturb its well-being. Photo shows the giant panda Fu Bao at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo courtesy of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda) Photo shows the giant panda Fu Bao at the Shenshuping giant panda base of the China Conservation and Research Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Photo courtesy of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Climate change, green transition hot topics at BFA 10:21, March 27, 2025 By Liu Yang ( Global Times The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference is being held from March 25 to 28, 2025 in South China's Hainan Province. (Liu Yang/GT) As the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 is being held in Boao, South China's Hainan Province, a tropical island full of green and low-carbon facilities, climate change and the green transition became hot topics among officials, business executives and scholars during Wednesday's sub-forums, and they also hailed China's contribution to the global energy transition. During a sub-forum with the theme of "Energy transition for a sustainable and shared future," Zhang Jun, secretary-general of the BFA, said that the forum attaches great importance to combating global climate change, promoting the implementation of the sustainable development goals, and pushing the world to take the path of sustainable, high-quality and green development in its economic transformation. The transformation of the energy sector is related to how to solve the damage that the global ecosystem is facing, and how to let our children and grandchildren survive sustainably in the next few decades and centuries, which is really a big issue of life and death, so I think this is something that must be done, and it is also a necessary way for any country to realize sustainable development, Zhang noted. Patricio Contesse, vice chairman of the board, SQM, a Chilean mining and chemical company, said during the sub-forum that we need free trade, an open economy and a better distribution of resources to realize the new energy transition in a rational and appropriate way. During another sub-forum also held on Wednesday, Liu Zhenmin, China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, said that in order to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century, the world needs a friendly trade environment and a favorable market environment so that technology and capital around climate change can flow freely. Zhu Min, vice chairman of the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, said that China has set dual carbon goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and attaining carbon neutrality before 2060. In his view, the goal of peaking carbon emissions will be realized two to three years ahead of schedule, in about 2027 or 2028. Zhu noted that renewable energy is half the cost of burning coal. With its cost-effective advantages, we will deploy renewable energy at a fast pace. Moreover, China utilizes carbon emissions trading to push industries like the glass and steel sectors to explore green and low-carbon paths, Zhu noted. Participants in the BFA also highlighted China's contribution to the global green transition. Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "China is rapidly moving on to a green economy. I see firsthand how air pollution has been virtually eradicated from Beijing, and it is a top-class model of what other countries can aspire for... Most importantly, China is sharing its knowledge. I believe China can very easily achieve carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2026." "The green transition, energy supply changes... and aging of populations are dramatic factors in all your parties in the world. In these areas, I cannot see any obstacles for cooperation [between China and Finland]," Esko Aho, former prime minister of Finland, told the Global Times, noting that the two economies are very complementary and Finland can learn from China and get green products and services from China. Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, also hailed China's efforts to push the green economy. "China is now the country that is way ahead in the development of renewable energy... It is a pioneer in the development of green technology on the supply side, but also on the demand side," Geraci told the Global Times on Wednesday. "The green transition is good for economic development. This is the message, and this is the cooperation that we need to have between countries and between companies," he noted. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) This is who the Dems consider a rising star? A woman who just made fun of her own state governor for needing a wheelchair? Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is 43 years old, which came as a shock to me. Her speech and demeanor are so profoundly immature I thought she was at least ten years younger. 'Governor Hot Wheels' was what she recently called Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who was paralyzed over 40 years ago in a freak accident, struck by a falling tree while out running. It gets even better: She said it while addressing a Human Rights Campaign dinner on Saturday in LA a town that lives on virtue signaling. And the audience cheered! But Crockett couldn't leave that disgusting excuse for a joke alone. 'The only thing hot about him,' she said of Abbott, 'is that he is a hot-ass mess, honey.' Crockett is a pastor's daughter. How Christian of her. That some Dems are touting her as a star says everything. Where are her party leaders to shut his down? Where are the so-called adults? Barack? Michelle? Hillary and Bill? AOC? Anyone? Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (pictured) is 43 years old, which came as a shock to me. Her speech and demeanor are so profoundly immature I thought she was at least ten years younger. Where, for that matter, are the Rachel Maddows of the liberal media? You know, the ones so high on their self-regard that they never miss a moment to preach about kindness, diversity, equity and inclusion? Then again, it was Maddow who called Trump 'disgusting' for celebrating a 13-year-old brain cancer survivor during his joint address to Congress in January a boy so moved that he hugged Secret Service Director Sean Curran, who had just made him an honorary agent. And it was Maddow's equally galling MSNBC colleague Nicolle Wallace who linked this young boy's dream of becoming a police officer to the January 6 riots. 'I hope he never has to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trump's supporters and if he does, I hope he isn't one of the six who loses his life to suicide,' she said. These people are sick. Make no mistake: They are emblematic of a party rotting from within, so morally adrift that not a single one not even the true elders, breaking hips and promises on their way out the door will stand up for what's right. The only Dem worth a damn is John Fetterman, but look where that's gotten him. Standing up for Israel after 10/7? He's a pariah. Warning his party that they're self-destructing? Ignored. After the Dems sat stone-faced during Trump's January address refusing to be moved by that little boy, or by the grieving family of Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student murdered by an illegal immigrant Fetterman called out their deplorable behavior on X. 'A sad cavalcade of self-owns and petulance. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained,' he wrote. 'We're becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to and it may not be the winning message.' But it's not just the message. It's the messengers. When these highly educated pols are literally talking down to working class communities, black and Latino voters, adopting accents and dropping their 'g's, they're communicating one thing: they think these voters are stupid. They are not. They are on to these elitists and their snobbery, and it's yet another reason Trump won. Just ask Barack Obama, who adopted a street cadence to hector black male voters calling them 'brothers' for not supporting Kamala Harris. 'Governor Hot Wheels' was what Crockett recently called Texas Governor Greg Abbott (pictured), who was paralyzed over 40 years ago in a freak accident, struck by a falling tree while out running. 'Part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president.' This from a man married to the woman his party was begging to run. Instead, they got Kamala Harris and now Jasmine Crockett. Harris herself loves shedding her posh Californian drawl. 'Let's just get through the next sixty-fow days,' she said on the trail. 'Hah 'bout that?' How about that, Kamala of UC Law School. And who could forget her Bob Marley impression on Stephen Colbert, days before losing: 'Have you no empathy, mon'?' Dear lord. The Dems never learn, do they? They didn't learn from Hillary's embarrassing 2016 'hot sauce' pander, telling Charlamagne tha God that she always keeps a bottle in her purse. Sure. That disclosure along with her mispronunciation of Beyonce's name led Charlemagne to mock Hillary to her face. 'Now you went to Brooklyn last night,' he said, 'and you didn't say "rest in peace" to Biggie Smalls or shout out Jay-Z? Why not?' This is what we need much more of this. Hillary, trapped on live radio, hoisted by her own petard. Charlemagne: 'Just one "big-up" to Brooklyn, RIP.' Hillary: 'I said I love Brooklyn.' Charlemagne: 'You gotta say, "Is Brooklyn in da house?"' Hillary: 'Brooklyn in da house, that's right.' Joe Biden learned nothing from Hillz, telling Charlamagne in a 2020 interview that 'I tell you what if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black.' You aint black from the whitest, oldest political mediocrity in recent memory. An octogenarian in obvious mental and physical decline who, along with his wife, lost this election due to his own hubris then last week told his party he wanted to fundraise for them. 'Delusional and arrogant,' said one ex-Biden staffer. 'No voter wants to hear from him.' Self-awareness has no home in the modern Democratic party. Once more unto the breach steps Jasmine Crockett, the product of exclusive private schools, a lawyer and congresswoman who is cosplaying as a Real Housewife and talking smack. 'It is not a criminal violation to enter the country illegally,' she said on MSNBC this month. 'It is not a crime.' Breaking into the country illegally is the very definition of a crime. Seriously: Why does she think Dems lost the election? Could it be that the overwhelming majority of Americans want secure borders? Crockett also said that Kamala ran a 'flawless' campaign and that Hispanics who voted for Trump have a 'slave mentality'. Shades of Barack talking down to his brothers. Keep going, Dems. Keep insulting the voters who you have already thoroughly alienated. Crockett has also smeared congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene as a 'bleach blonde, bad built, butch body' earning her raves and applause on 'The View', those moronic hosts otherwise outraged by Trump's verbiage and insulted Republican Rep. Nancy Mace: 'Somebody's campaign coffers really are strugglin' right now, So [Mace] is gon' keep sayin' trans, trans, trans' pause for dramatic hair flip 'and chile, listen.' 'I am no child,' Mace shot back. 'Do not call me a child.' Mace speaks for a weary America. To anyone among would-be Democratic leadership: Do not speak to us like we are children. We are quite smart in fact, most of us are smarter than you. A female teacher banned from the profession after sending a poem on forbidden love to a schoolboy has been pictured with her husband - who she told the teen she didn't have a 'deep connection' with. Joanna Broad-Reeder, a staff member at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, first met the schoolboy - who was under 18 years of age - while working as a supply teacher at Crewe's St Thomas More School in January 2022. A report detailing the outcome of a recent professional conduct panel meeting stated Ms Broad-Reeder remained in touch with the pupil after moving to a different school. She would go on to meet up with him 'on numerous occasions' and they went 'for a meal, to an art gallery and the cinema', the tribunal heard. She has now been pictured for the first time, including on her wedding day with her husband. It comes after messages showed she told the pupil that deep connection is 'rare', adding: 'I don't have it with [my husband] but married him. I didn't settle - he was just "right". 'But what I have with you is what I've spent my whole life believing in. 'I just thought it would be with someone of a similar age.' Joanna Broad-Reeder is pictured on her wedding day alongside her husband - who she told the pupil she didn't have a 'deep connection' with Ms Broad-Reeder, a staff member at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, first met the schoolboy - who was under 18 years of age - while working as a supply teacher at Crewe's St Thomas More School in January 2022 One WhatsApp message she shared with the pupil said: 'Just this very moment, I realise what it is I feel for you. It is love' Photos show Ms Broad-Reeder grinning happily on her wedding day - but her messages to the pupil suggest things were not all as they seemed. She described him as her 'soul mate', adding that those around her thought she was 'in love' with the student. In another exchange, she said: 'I know I can't change how I feel and I know nothing can come of it because of the huge age gap.' She later added: 'No matter what you say. You are the other half of me and I am the other half of you. 'We both feel it - not just me. Otherwise everything you've said is a lie and I don't believe that.' Ms Broad-Reeder admitted she had arranged to meet the pupil outside of school, as well as exchanging phone numbers and subsequent messages of a personal nature between September 2022 and January 2024. One WhatsApp message she shared with him said: 'Just this very moment, I realise what it is I feel for you. It is love - a love of who I used to be and who I longed for when I was young - which was you.' The Teaching Regulation Agency report states Ms Broad-Reeder accepted 'her behaviour amounted to unacceptable professional conduct'. Photos show Ms Broad-Reeder grinning happily on her wedding day - but her messages to the pupil suggest things were not all as they seemed Your browser does not support iframes. She described the student as her 'soul mate', adding that those around her thought she was 'in love' with him It adds: 'Ms Broad-Reeder stated that when she first met Pupil A, she was astounded by his intellect, maturity and love of the arts. 'She stated it was never sexual, but she was in awe of his brain and intelligence, and he reminded her of a better version of herself at his age. 'The panel made no findings about the motivation of the messages exchanged, only that they were inappropriate in tone and content and demonstrated an inappropriate relationship with Pupil A.' Another message sent to the student was a lengthy piece of prose with sexual undertones. It included lines such as: 'Her fingers stretched out tentatively, each one searching, humming with awareness and fear' and 'Her breath caught as his lips opened slightly and she saw the ivory of his teeth'. In emails sent to her lawyers, Ms Broad-Reeder later said: 'I totally understand that I may have exceeded the parameters. 'I am only guilty of emotionally caring for and enjoying sharing the arts with the pupil. I understand completely why I have been seen to bring the teaching profession into disrepute, although this was never my intent. 'I agree that it now seems as unprofessional and totally accept that some of my actions were not best thought through. Joanna Broad-Reeder, a staff member at St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy in Stoke-on-Trent, first met the schoolboy - under 18 years of age - while working as a supply teacher at Crewe's St Thomas More School (pictured) in January 2022 In emails sent to her lawyers, Ms Broad-Reeder later said: 'I totally understand that I may have exceeded the parameters. 'I am only guilty of emotionally caring for and enjoying sharing the arts with the pupil. I understand completely why I have been seen to bring the teaching profession into disrepute, although this was never my intent. 'I agree that it now seems as unprofessional and totally accept that some of my actions were not best thought through. 'I am filled with regret and grief at the loss of my career, the loss of my good reputation, the shame and the loss of a friendship I hoped would be with me till I die. Ms Broad-Reeder was struck off indefinitely and therefore cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. She is unable to apply for the prohibition order to be lifted until March 2029. If she does apply, a panel will meet to consider whether the prohibition order should be set aside. The feminist academic at the centre of a free speech row at Sussex University has hit out at 'dim-witted' trans policies across the sector. Professor Kathleen Stock, who was forced by the university to censor her gender-critical views, said the same is happening on campuses 'across the land'. She said she is now 'disgusted' by academia and accused Sussex management of being 'powerless' and pandering to 'student victimhood'. It comes after Sussex was fined 585,000 on Wednesday by the Office for Students (OfS) for failing to uphold free speech during the furore. The OfS criticised Sussex's transgender equality policy, which forced tutors to 'positively represent trans people and trans lives' in their teaching, and banned 'transphobic propaganda'. It said this had a 'chilling' effect on Professor Stock and other staff and students. Writing for UnHerd, Professor Stock said the trans policy was 'egregious'. She said: 'This seemed to me more like an instruction from a client to an advertising agency than a serious pedagogical commitment '[It] set the tone for nearly everything that would then happen to me over the next few years, emboldening those at the university who were already against me, and enfeebling the morale of the rest.' Professor Kathleen Stock hit out at 'dim-witted' trans policies across the sector Professor Stock accused Adam Tickell, former Sussex vice chancellor, of being 'powerless' to change the policy despite 'showing some awareness' of its flaws. And she added: 'Many of these dim-witted, claustrophobic policies are still in place in universities across the land, right now'. For example, a policy on UCL's website states: 'If a trans person informs a staff member that a word or phrasing is inappropriate or offensive, then that staff member should take their word for it, and adjust their phraseology accordingly.' A policy on Leeds' website says: 'The university will strive to ensure that its curriculum does not rely on or reinforce stereotypical assumptions about trans people and that it contains material that positively represents trans people and trans lives.' Professor Stock added: 'All university managers need to do is stop defining concepts such as 'abuse', 'harassment', or indeed 'harmful propaganda' absurdly loosely, in order to pander to rapidly expanding notions of student victimhood and the crazed demands of moronic campaigners.' The OfS' investigation was prompted by a nationwide outcry when Professor Stock, who taught philosophy at Sussex, was hounded out of her job by activists. They took against her because she believes those born male should not have an automatic right to women-only spaces if they identify as female. Students campaigned for Kathleen Stock to lose her job at Sussex University in 2021 Professor Kathleen Stock pictured speaking at the Oxford Union In 2021, students launched a campaign to get her fired which included demonstrations on campus and defamatory posters. She faced further hostility from colleagues and the University and College Union, leading to her resignation in October that year. Professor Stock wrote yesterday: 'I gladly renounce the title 'professor' no academic title means much to me anymore, such is my disgust for my former profession.' The OfS has warned similar action could be taken against other universities, with higher fines. Sussex University has vowed to legally challenge the OfS' decision, saying the investigation was 'desk-based' and officials did not engage properly. A UCL spokesman said it had published 'guidance' but it did not amount to a 'policy'. They added: 'This guidance was produced to provide practical support for students transitioning gender and for staff who are supporting them through the process. 'It does not impact on UCL's deep commitment to freedom of speech.' A Sussex spokesman said: The circumstances that led to Kathleen Stocks departure from the University of Sussex are deeply regrettable. 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. Within three weeks of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneils arrival at the University, in August 2022, the University Executive Group approved the removal of the phrase that any materials within relevant courses and modules will positively represent trans people and trans lives from the University's Trans Non-Binary Policy Statement. Leeds has been contacted for comment. In a surprising twist, a federal judge has ruled in favor of a California couple fighting orders to destroy their stunning, half-built cabin within a Montana national park, allowing them to keep the property intact. John and Stacy Ambler's half-built abyss, located on a 2,300-square-foot slab of land near McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park, has been at risk of demolition ever since several residents filed complaints with the Flathead Conservation District (FCD), SFGate reported. After several back-and-forth lawsuits, federal judge Kathleen DeSoto ruled in favor of the San Diego couple in February, asserting that the FCD has no jurisdiction over the property, as it is located within a national park and therefore, falls under federal jurisdiction. However, in the latest chapter of the ongoing battle, both the FCD and Friends of Montana Streams and Rivers have filed an appeal, arguing that they have a case to reverse the judge's decision. 'Flathead Conservation District has a statutory duty to protect the natural resources within our district,' Samantha Tappenbeck, a district resource conservationist, told SFGate. 'So, the Flathead Conservation District Board of Supervisors decided to appeal the decision in service to the constituents of our district, and because the board felt that there were appealable issues.' The Amblers' began building their three-story, lush Montana home in late 2022 and early 2023, where they laid a concrete retaining wall into the steambank and installed rock footers into the bank to build a deck. Yet the couple's construction project kickstarted local drama, as residents of the West Glacier area complained that the home was clearly visible to both park visitors and neighbors alike, the Flathead Beacon reported. John and Stacy Ambler's (pictured) half-built abyss, located on a 2,300-square-foot piece of land near McDonald Creek in Glacier National Park, has been at risk of demolition after several residents filed complaints with the Flathead Conservation District (FCD) In a surprising twist, a federal judge has ruled in favor of a California couple fighting orders from two Montana organizations to destroy their stunning cabin, allowing them to keep the property intact After several back-and-forth lawsuits, federal judge Kathleen DeSoto ruled in favor of the San Diego couple in February, asserting that the FCD has no jurisdiction over the property, as it is located within a national park and therefore, falls under federal jurisdiction The complaints caught the attention of the FCD, who then preformed an onsite inspection of the Ambler home. Following the inspection, the district claimed that the couple had violated the state's Natural Steambed and Land Preservation Act (NSLPA), better known as the 310 law. Their reasoning was based on the belief that the home had been illegally constructed without any of the necessary permits. The 310 law states that any private individual or entity proposing work in or near a stream that 'physically alters or modifies the bed or immediate banks of a perennial-flowing stream' must obtain approved permits from the local conservation district, the Flathead Beacon reported. However, the couple claim they were given permission by Flathead County's Planning Office, which told them they could do 'whatever they wanted with the land without restriction' as the land is in an un-zoned area, according to Hungry Horse News. The Park Service, a federal organization, did allow the Amblers to connect to the Apgar water and sewer systems. Nevertheless, the District's Board of Supervisors ultimately ruled that the couple must tear down the half-built home and repair the steambed before April 1, 2024. However, the couple instead filed lawsuits in both state and federal courts, arguing that the District abused its authority. Both the FCD and Friends of Montana Streams and Rivers have filed an appeal, arguing that they have a case to reverse the judge's decision The Amblers' began building their three-story, lush Montana home in late 2022 and early 2023, where they laid a concrete retaining wall into the steambank and installed rock footers into the bank to build a deck The couple's construction project kickstarted local drama, as residents of the West Glacier area complained that the home was clearly visible to both park visitors and neighbors alike which prompted an onsite inspection conducted by the FCD The California natives don't believe the District has any jurisdiction over their land and property because it's located inside the national park and is on an inholding, which is private land that predates the creations of the park in 1910. They also claim the property is apart of Apgar, a small, private village in the park that was created in 1908. The District accused the Amblers' of trying to find the gray area, as they claimed Montana has no jurisdiction over the plot of land because it's inside a national park, which is federally protected, but also claimed the feds don't have access because it's on private land. However, the District claimed that state and local laws still pertain to private land, regardless of where it is located, including in Glacier National Park. The couple, however, argued Montana gave the rights to the land to the US when they handed over the land, which 'cedes jurisdiction,' their lawyer Trent Baker said, according to Hungry Horse News. The core of the organization's arguments is that the home's location within the boundaries of Glacier National Park does not exempt it from adhering to Montana's state laws, particularly the Montana Natural Streambed and Land Protection Act (NSLPA). On the contrary, the couple argued that the Steambed Act was not passed until 1976, and therefore Montana's state laws could not be recognized federally, according to SFGate. The couple also said that the national park is the entity to govern private inholdings, stating that the FCD 'cannot unilaterally reassert jurisdiction over lands to which the State of Montana long ago ceded jurisdiction to the United States,' Flathead Beacon reported. Following the inspection, the district, which enforces the state's Natural Steambed and Land Preservation Act (NSLPA), or better known as the 310 law, stated that the couple had violated the law - their reason being the home illegally being constructed without any of the necessary permits The San Diego couple believes the District lacks jurisdiction over their land and property because it's located inside the national park and is on an inholding - which is private land that predates the creations of the park in 1910 - and instead filed lawsuits in both state and federal courts Samantha Tappenbeck, a district resource conservationist, told SFGate in regards to the appeal: 'Flathead Conservation District has a statutory duty to protect the natural resources within our district' In Desoto's order, she wrote that the arguments 'go beyond the scope of the sole claim asserted in the complaint... that FCD lacks jurisdiction over the Ambler property, and that the Streambed Act does not apply' 'The only issue in this case is federal versus state jurisdiction over the Amblers' property,' Trent Baker, the pair's attorney, wrote in the summary judgement, according to the outlet. In Desoto's order, she wrote that the arguments 'go beyond the scope of the sole claim asserted in the complaint... that FCD lacks jurisdiction over the Ambler property, and that the Streambed Act does not apply.' For the appeals to proceed in court, attorneys from both organizations must submit their briefs by May 28. Officials of Glacier National Park have previously said they were working with the US Department of the Interior attorneys to determine whether they will join the suit, SFGate reported. The Amblers' did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com for comment. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin announced his decision to terminate a $2 billion grant for a Stacey Abrams-linked non-government organization with the support of the Department of Government Efficiency. 'The DOJ/FBI are investigating and the money has been frozen,' he announced. 'It is insane that the Biden Admin would give $2B to an organization that previously only received $100!' Zeldin responded to a social media message from President Donald Trump who complained about the grant and ordered his government to 'get back the money.' 'is Stacey Abrams going to give back the Two Billion Dollars they funneled into her environmental fund just prior to my assuming office. She went from $100 in donations to $2,000,000,000 in just one day? Not bad!!!' Trump wrote on social media. DOGE leader Elon Musk noted on social media that the Abrams grant from the Biden administration was just one of many such grants that the department had found. 'Many scams like this,' he wrote. DOGE also announced another $577 million in canceled grants from the Department of Labor for a total of $237 million in savings. The list included $10 million in cuts for 'gender equity in the Mexican workplace,' $12.2 million for 'worker empowerment in South America,' and $6.25 million for 'improving respect for Worker's rights in agricultural supply chains' in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Tesla CEO Elon Musk wears a 'Trump Was Right About Everything!' hat Other slashed programs included $5 million for 'elevating women's participation in the workplace' in West Africa, $4.3M for 'assisting foreign migrant workers' in Malaysia, and $3 million each to 'enhance social security access and worker protections for internal migrant workers' in Bangladesh and 'safe and inclusive work environments' in Lesotho. DOGE claims it has saved Americans $130 billion, or $807.45 per taxpayer as Musk's top lieutenants continue scouring each federal agency for more savings. The criminal court backlog has hit a record high and could reach 100,000 cases in the next four years, the Ministry of Justice has admitted in a new blow for victims. The backlog in the Crown Courts stood at 74,651 at the end of December 2024, up from 73,172 at the end of September and 67,317 cases in December 2023. And today ministers admitted the backlog could hit 100,000 cases by the end of 2029 if it continues to grow at current levels. New figures released by the MoJ also showed that 16,813 Crown Court cases have been outstanding for a year or more - raising fears of victims pulling out of cases. And the data showed 5,564 cases had been open for two years or more, down slightly from 5,927 at the end of 2023 but more than five times the number at the end of 2020. Meanwhile the backlog in the magistrates courts increased by 14 per cent on the previous year to 309,838 cases at the end of December, painting a damning picture of the state of the justice system in England and Wales. Ministry of Justice data shows that 74,651 cases were on the books Crown Courts at the end of December 2024, up from 67,317 cases in December 2023 File photo of Southwark Crown Court. Data shows 5,564 cases had been open for two years or more, down slightly from 5,927 at the end of 2023 but more than five times the number at the end of 2020 Mary Prior KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association which represents criminal barristers, said the figures show the backlog is an emergency. The Government's commitment to bringing swifter justice for victims of crime cannot succeed unless and until it focuses on investing in the trial process, she said. There is always money for emergencies. This is an emergency. It comes after a recent report by the Victims' Commissioner found that court delays are actively harming victims, with some trials postponed up to six times on the day they were due to take place. Baroness Newlove warned that delays increase the risk of victims withdrawing and damage confidence in the justice system. Baroness Newlove (above), the Victims Commissioner, said record court backlogs are actively harming victims with some trials postponed up to six times at the last minute Meanwhile the Law Society of England and Wales said that the new figures show investment in the criminal justice system is needed to tackle backlogs and help free thousands of victims, witnesses and defendants from limbo. Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: Our criminal justice system is a vital public service and tackling the court backlogs will help restore its reputation around the world. Every one of us should be able to access justice in a timely fashion regardless of income or status. But right now, thousands of victims, witnesses and defendants are denied this public service by the slow speed of justice. Proper funding of our courts would free them from the legal limbo caused by the long wait for justice. He added: Todays backlog figures and the increasing pressure on prisons demonstrate the urgency of the crisis The government needs to act today to start reducing the number of cases coming into the criminal justice system. A fair and functioning criminal justice system will also help ensure that the UK retains its reputation as a legal centre which is crucial to the countrys economy. It comes after the government last year announced an independent review of the criminal courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, as part of efforts to reduce backlogs. Sir Brian is expected to hand his report to ministers in the Spring. Justice Minister Sarah Sackman KC said the figures reveal the scale of the crisis we inherited in our courts. This Government will turn this around, bear down on the backlog, and deliver swifter justice for victims, she added. We have already announced record investment in our courts - but we must go further. That is why we have commissioned Sir Brian Leveson to recommend once-in-a-generation reform to deliver swifter justice through our courts. An adorable two-year-old boy died after being put down for a nap at his 'negligent' daycare, according to his family. Jaylin Branch Jr. - affectionately known as Baby J - died on February 20, after suffering a medical emergency while at Grandma Jones Daycare in Calumet City, Illinois, his family claimed in a lawsuit obtained by WLS. His mother, Jasmine Bailey, said the daycare knew the child had a medical condition that made him prone to seizures, but failed to properly look after him during nap time. Police were called to daycare on Sibley Boulevard at about 1 p.m. after staff found him unresponsive an hour after he'd fallen asleep, according to a police report viewed by the Chicago Sun Times. During nap time, Branch had vomited and his lips turned blue and the daycare staff giving him chest compressions once they found him. The parents' lawyer, Cierra Norris, said Branch had suffered seizures before and the daycare had created an action plan with his parents in case it happened again. 'Unfortunately, on February 20, Baby J died in his sleep for what we believe is inadequate supervision during nap time,' she said. 'They worked with that daycare to create an action plan to eliminate this from ever happening, because for whatever reason, that day Baby J was left unattended there was no one to see his seizure. Jaylin Branch Jr. (pictured) - affectionately known as Baby J - died on February 20, after suffering a medical emergency during nap time His family said the staff at Grandma Jones Daycare (pictured) in Calumet City, Illinois, knew the boy suffered from seizures but failed to properly supervise him During nap time, Branch had vomited and his lips turned blue and the daycare staff giving him chest compressions once they found him 'Therefore the action plan they put in place basically meant nothing because they couldn't catch what happened. Bailey said the daycare had seizure medication for her son, but the seal on the bottle wasn't broken when he died. 'There is really nothing that will bring my son back, I just want justice,' the heartbroken mother said. His father, Jaylin Branch Sr., said they want accountability from the daycare to make sure this does not happen to another family. The lawsuit was filed in the Cook County Circuit Court demanding a jury trial and a judgment against Grandma Jones for at least $50,000. The family has also called on the state of Illinois open an investigation into the daycare facility. In January, a daycare worker in Illinois was caught on camera shoving a four-year-old boy into a garbage can after allegedly leaving him in a freezing alleyway as 'punishment.' Anna Petrou, 58, was arrested and charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child after footage emerged of the cruel act at a daycare outside Chicago on January 13. The parents' lawyer, Cierra Norris (center), said Branch had suffered seizures before and the daycare had created an action plan with his parents in case it happened again Bailey said the daycare had seizure medication for her son, but the seal on the bottle wasn't broken when he died The family has also called on the state of Illinois open an investigation into the daycare facility In the video, the boy was seen running around inside the Learning Lab daycare in Homewood before Petrou walked over, took him by the hand and led him toward the empty garbage bin. Anna Petrou, 58, was arrested and charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child after footage emerged of the cruel act at a daycare outside Chicago on January 13. In the video, the boy was seen running around inside the Learning Lab daycare in Homewood before Petrou walked over, took him by the hand and led him toward the empty garbage bin. Poland has temporarily banned migrants from claiming asylum in a bid to 'take back control' of its borders. Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, announced the right to claim asylum will be suspended for 60 days following an influx at the Belarus border. Exemptions will be made for unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, elderly or unwell people, and anyone exposed to 'real risk of serious harm'. The two-month ban will come into force 'without a moment's delay', Tusk said last night. Polish officials have claimed that the Kremlin have pressured its neighbour Belarus to funnel migrants to their joint border in order to destabilise the EU. Warsaw has erected a five-metre high barbed wire fence on a long stretch of the border following a consistent stream of migrants attempting to cross. Footage emerged over the weekend of 280 migrants attempting to enter Poland from Belarus. The group managed to slash a hole in the fence with a cutting torch before filtering through one-by-one. Footage emerged over the weekend of 280 migrants attempting to enter Poland from Belarus The group managed to slash a hole in the fence with a cutting torch before filtering through one-by-one However, they are quickly apprehended by troops pulling up in armed vehicles, who halt their passage before looking to mend the fence However, they are quickly apprehended by troops pulling up in armed vehicles, who halt their passage before looking to mend the fence. Polish President Andrzej Duda was reportedly hesistant to greenlight the suspension as he feared it could affect refugees from Belarus. However, officials have made sure that those at genuine risk will still have the right to claim asylum. Duda said yesterday: 'I decided today that the so-called asylum act will come into force. I signed it because I believe it is necessary to strengthen the security of our borders. 'The most important thing is to defend the Polish border and the Polish services that guard it.' Tusk has sought to tighten up Poland's borders since coming into office in late 2023. He said the controversial legislation will be part of taking back 'control of Poland's borders'. Tusk has sought to tighten up Poland's borders since coming into office Polish soldiers stand by the reinforced barrier at the Polish-Belarusian border, Since 2021, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Finland have seen a huge spike in the number of people illegally crossing their borders Annoucing the proposals, he said: 'If someone wants to come to Poland, they must respect Polish standards, Polish customs, they must want to integrate. 'If there are too many people of other cultures, then the native culture feels threatened.' Since 2021, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Finland have seen a huge spike in the number of people illegally crossing their borders from Belarus and Russia. The countries have accused both Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko of weaponing migration as part of efforts to destabilise the EU. Over 15,000 people applied for asylum in Poland in 2024, 72 per cent more than a year earlier and the highest annual figure recorded since 2016. After Ukrainians, the largest number of applicants last year were from Belarus - with 3,663 asylum seekers - and 823 Russians. This is followed by Ethiopia, with 515, Eritrea with 505 and Somalia with 486. The crossing has proved dangerous for many migrants, with almost 100 recorded deaths said to be an underestimate of the true figure. Over 15,000 people applied for asylum in Poland in 2024, 72 per cent more than a year earlier The crossing has proved dangerous for many migrants, with almost 100 recorded deaths said to be an underestimate of the true figure Poland's move has come under significant scruinity, with Human Rights Watch saying it 'flies in the face of Poland's international and EU obligations' and could 'effectively completely seal off the Poland-Belarus border, where Polish authorities already engage in unlawful and abusive pushbacks'. They have also urged the EU to take legal action against Poland once the law is implemented. But Tusk dismissed this in October, saying: 'Nobody is talking about violating human rights, the right to asylum, we are talking about not granting applications to people who illegally cross the border in groups organised by Lukashenko.' In February, the Polish government confirmed they would not take part in the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which the bloc implemented to manage the arrival of asylum seekers. Under the agreement, states could either relocate a certain number of migrants, pay a financial contribution or provide operation support to help resettlement. However, Poland and Hungary have opposed the measure, which is meant to be legally binding on all EU member states. Tusk said: 'Poland will not implement the Migration Pact in a way that would introduce additional quotas of immigrants in Poland. Tusk has refused to sign up to the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum 'We are ready to cooperate with everyone to protect Europe from illegal migration. However, Poland will not take on any additional burdens. We have already taken on more than anyone could have imagined just a few years ago.' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen admitted Poland had done more than their fair share in taking in Ukrainian refugees since the 2022 Russian invasion. Other EU member states are also taking steps to curb the rights of asylum seekers. Finland has denied entry to any migrants crossing its border with Russia since 2023, while incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised to stop all irregular migration across Germany's land borders on his first day in office. A shamed headmistress has been banned from teaching for defrauding a 14,000-a-year private school by falsely claiming expenses for John Lewis vouchers worth thousands. Hilary French, 68, a former head teacher at the independent Newcastle High School for Girls, in Jesmond, Newcastle, was sacked and arrested after she expensed 65 John Lewis vouchers worth nearly 3,000. She falsely claimed they were gifts for staff members who were leaving, gifts for guest speakers at school events, and prizes for students, a Teaching Regulation Agency misconduct panel heard. Her actions were discovered after an internal audit in March 2018 uncovered the 'unusual' purchase of the gift cards totalling 2,970, claimed between April 2017 and February 2018. French also claimed expenses for meals on the basis that she had met with old students, and claimed for a 295 Sweaty Betty jacket which she said had been stolen from the school. The coat was later found by police in the boot of her car. Striking her off the teaching register, panel chair Jackie Hutchings said: 'Public confidence in the profession could be seriously weakened if conduct such as that found against Ms French were not treated with the utmost seriousness when regulating the conduct of the profession. 'Ms French was the headteacher and as such held a position of responsibility within the school. Hilary French, 68, a former head teacher at the independent Newcastle High School for Girls, in Jesmond, Newcastle, was sacked and arrested after she expensed 65 John Lewis vouchers worth nearly 3,000 She falsely claimed they were gifts for staff members who were leaving, gifts for guest speakers at school events, and prizes for students Her actions were discovered after an internal audit in March 2018 uncovered the 'unusual' purchase of the gift cards totalling 2,970, claimed between April 2017 and February 2018 'The panel found that Ms French, in that role, should have upheld teacher standards and acted as a role model for other teachers. 'Further, this fraud related to school funds and her actions would have diverted funds away from the school and children.' French was convicted of three counts of fraud at Newcastle Crown Court in July 2023, where she was sentenced to six months' suspended sentence for 12 months with 150 hours of unpaid work. French was a highly-regarded teacher with a distinguished career, and she could not say why she committed the offences and has since repaid the funds. She was not present or represented at the teacher misconduct hearing in Coventry, West Midlands. Mrs Hutchings said: 'The panel considered insight and remorse and found that there was little to no evidence that Ms French showed insight to her actions and did not take responsibility for her actions throughout the various processes, other than entering a guilty plea at a late stage at the Crown Court.' At her court case in 2023, the judge told her: 'The greatest impact is probably upon all those pupils who saw you as a role model, and I have no doubt were as surprised and shocked as anybody by your behaviour. 'There is no doubt you were held in the highest esteem by teachers, parents and pupils alike. French also claimed expenses for meals on the basis that she had met with old students, and claimed for 295 Sweaty Betty jacket which she said had been stolen from the school French was a highly-regarded teacher with a distinguished career, and she was unable to say why she committed the offences and has since repaid the funds French was convicted of three counts of fraud at Newcastle Crown Court in July 2023 'It contains words like 'honest', ethical', 'trustworthy', 'integrity', 'respect', and of course those are very much to your credit, and it's all the sadder that your career has ended in this way, but it undermines the impact it will have on all those people and how they regarded you. 'In my mind, the impact on the victims at least puts it towards the top of the bracket.' The TRA found French to have committed misconduct and ruled she had breached professional standards. Signing off on the ban on behalf of education secretary Bridget Phillipson, civil servant Marc Cavey said: 'I am particularly mindful of the finding in this case of an experienced head teacher committing fraud in order to use school funds for her own advantage and the negative impact that such a finding is likely to have on the reputation of the profession. 'The findings of misconduct are serious as they include an experienced headteacher receiving a relevant conviction for three counts of fraud.' French cannot reapply to the profession for five years. She has 28 days to appeal the ruling. Advertisement Sue Gray today warned her former boss Sir Keir Starmer to halt attacks on 'the blob' as she launched a staunch defence of her ex-colleagues in the civil service. In her maiden speech in the House of Lords, the now-titled Baroness Gray of Tottenham urged politicians to temper their language towards Whitehall officials. The Prime Minister has sparked a civil service backlash with his efforts to reform what he has described as an 'overcautious and flabby' state. He also recently claimed that 'too many' officials in Whitehall are 'comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline'. At her Spring Statement on Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed Labour's plans to shrink the size of the civil service. But Baroness Gray - who served as Sir Keir's chief of staff until October - told ministers to steer clear of phrases such as 'pen-pushers', 'axes' and 'chainsaws' as they push for a leaner Whitehall. Speaking in Parliament's upper chamber for the first time since her ennoblement by the PM, Baroness Gray also spoke of growing up in north London as the daughter of Irish immigrant parents. At one point during her maiden address, the 68-year-old's voice broke with emotion as she recalled her mother's suicide some years after her father's sudden death. Sue Gray warned her former boss Sir Keir Starmer to halt attacks on 'the blob' as she launched a staunch defence of her ex-colleagues in the civil service At one point during her maiden address in the House of Lords, the 68-year-old's voice broke with emotion as she recalled her mother's suicide some years after her father's sudden death Baroness Gray dramatically quit as a senior Whitehall official in 2023 in order to take up the role as Sir Keir's chief of staff 'My mum and dad came to London from Ireland in the 1950s, moving into a rented flat in Tottenham - the place I came to know as home,' Baroness Gray told her fellow peers. 'I grew up surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins, who all played an important part in my life. 'My parents were proud to be Irish - and this was not the easiest of times to be Irish - but they also embraced life in Britain, working hard to provide for their family and creating a home. 'My dad had a minimum of two jobs and my brother and I were instilled with a strong work ethic built on values of fairness, community and respect for others. 'I left school before completing my A-levels on the early and unexpected death of my dad. 'My brother and I also had to support our mum, who struggled with her mental health before taking her own life some years later.' Baroness Gray uttered 'sorry' as her voice cracked, before adding: 'The deaths of our parents had the biggest impact on our lives.' Later in her speech, which came during a debate on Labour's Employment Rights Bill, Baroness Gray paid tribute to her 'good friend' Angela Rayner - the Deputy PM who is spearheading the Government's shake-up of workers' rights. She also joked about her 'much-commented upon' career break from the civil service in the 1980s, when she ran a pub with her husband at the height of The Troubles in a border town in Northern Ireland. Baroness Gray dramatically quit as a senior Whitehall official in 2023 in order to take up the role as Sir Keir's chief of staff. But, following Labour's general election victory in July last year, she lasted only three months in Downing Street amid reports of clashes with other No10 staff. 'I'm not sure what it is about the mention of my time in Downing Street that brings me to the issue of job security and employment,' she quipped to peers. Baroness Gray went on to remember a time earlier in her civil service career when she worked in employment support as what was then known as the Department for Social Security. 'Back then I worked with truly heroic and committed people, striving every day in very difficult circumstances to help people in evern more challenging situations,' she said. 'They were the civil service at its best - on the frontline, as far away from Whitehall's machinations as it's possible to be. Today I see the same sort of brilliance. 'What these and other civil servants are doing are central to the Government's and the nation's mission to bring back growth into our economy and security to our society. 'That is why I would caution all of us to be careful, not just about our decisions but about our language. 'When we hear the phrases of 'blobs', 'pen-pushers', 'axes', 'chainsaws' and other implements, they hear it too. 'Difficult decisions are needed, of course, and the civil service will be keen to be part of any reform journey. 'But we need them and other public servants to succeed. I will continue to support a progressive civil service. I hope others will do the same.' Bombshell police bodycam footage shows the moment an alleged pedophile Catholic Church director was snagged outside Church in the middle of Mass. Andres Andino, 59, has been charged with rape, sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with an underage girl in Avon Lake, Ohio, starting 2013, per Fox News. Video of the moment cops intercepted him on March 16 shows an officer telling him to 'put your hands together like you're praying' so they could cuff him. 'Do me a favor, put your hands behind your back for me,' the patrolman told worship director Andino in the clip. 'You're under arrest right now. We've got some information we've got to check and verify, so put your hands together like you're praying, like you're praying.' After being handcuffed, Andino gestured toward the church before telling the cops: 'Somebody's going to have to tell them. I'm in the middle of Mass right now'. One of the officers replied saying, 'OK, sure.' Andino has been indicted by a grand jury accused of using his position of authority to engage in unlawful sexual acts with an underage girl. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts. Bombshell police bodycam footage shows the moment an alleged pedophile Catholic Church director was snagged outside Church in the middle of Mass Andres Andino, 59, has been charged with rape, sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with an underage girl in Avon Lake, Ohio, starting 2013 Andino has been indicted by a grand jury accused of using his position of authority to engage in unlawful sexual acts with an underage girl. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts. The clergyman works full time at Saint John Bosco Parish in Parma Heights, and part-time at Saint Joseph Parish in Avon Lake. Andres Andino, 59, has been charged with rape, sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct with an underage girl in Avon Lake, Ohio, starting 2013 He previously held posts at several more parishes and Catholic schools in Greater Cleveland. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office is now encouraging any other potential victims to come forward. Anyone with information has been asked to call Cleveland Police Sex Crimes Unit at 216-623-5630. Video of the moment cops intercepted him on March 16 shows an officer telling him to 'put your hands together like you're praying' so they could cuff him After being handcuffed, Andino gestured toward the church before telling the cops: 'Somebody's going to have to tell them. I'm in the middle of Mass right now' Last week, the Diocese of Cleveland issued a statement saying their leadership, which presides over the two churches where Andino is currently employed, were 'shocked and dismayed' by the allegations. They told Fox News they had placed him on unpaid leave while the investigation is ongoing. Andino pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment hearing on March 19. He was released on a $50,000 bond, with the condition that he must not have any contact with the alleged victim in the case. Oligarch's ex-wife Tatiana Soroka has dropped her case against the royal divorce lawyer known as 'Steel Magnolia' for allegedly failing to bag his 200million superyacht. Ms Soroka had been hoping for up to 600million from Baroness Shakleton's firm - more than they won for her in the original case but now faces paying out an 'enormous' legal bill instead. The court clash between the two high-profile women has been rumbling on for more than a year and comes eight years after Ms Soroka's record 453million divorce payout was the latest in a string of triumphs for Baroness Shackleton, who earned her nickname for her ruthless pursuit of her clients' interests. She represented King Charles and Sir Paul McCartney in their divorces, memorably having a jug of water poured over her by a furious Heather Mills when the former model was awarded just 24million of the 125million she had sought from the former Beatle. In 2016, Baroness Shackleton's firm PHB was representing Ms Soroka when she scooped Britain's biggest divorce settlement of 453million. But she claims she was let down when chances were allegedly missed to have her tycoon former husband's ten-deck floating palace Luna seized in Miami. It came after the settlement money had failed to materialise from her ex-husband Farkhad Akhmedov - in spite of the oil and gas tycoon being ordered to pay up by a judge and Ms Soroka, 51, instructed PHB to chase billionaire Mr Akhmedov, 68, for the money. When she discovered the sumptuous 377ft yacht Luna was docked in Miami, she tried to have it impounded, but claimed PHB failed her. She sued PHB in the High Court. Tatiana Soroka pictured outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London in February 2018 alongside Baroness Fiona Shackleton Ms Soroka claims her lawyers missed opportunities to have the Luna (pictured), a superyacht belonging to her ex-husband, seized while it was in Miami Ms Soroka won a record 450million payout following her split from Russian oligarch Farkhad Akhmedov (pictured), but she struggled to get him to pay up The Luna, built for former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, is the world's second-largest expedition yacht and has two helipads, a pool and mini submarine, and was described as 'extremely valuable' in court. PHB always denied acting negligently and now, after several preliminary hearings, Ms Soroka has served a 'notice of discontinuance' meaning she is throwing in the towel. Payne Hicks Beach told the Mail: 'We are pleased but not surprised that Ms Soroka has withdrawn her claim and served a Notice of Discontinuance. She will receive no payment from us, and she has to pay the substantial costs we have incurred in this matter.' The total legal bill - both sides hired high-powered legal teams - has yet to be assessed but it was described as 'enormous' and is thought likely to be about a million pounds. At one recent hearing, as the two sides argued over emails and messages to be 'disclosed' to the other side, it was claimed that Baroness Shackleton had 'never had' a laptop or desktop PC from her law firm. Lawyers for Ms Soroka hoping to search Baroness Shackleton's devices for messages described the situation as 'distinctly odd'. However the peer was told she would will have to disclose messages on her mobile phone as part of the legal dispute. The vessel features two helipads, a huge swimming pool, and its own mini submarine, along with nine decks and space for 52 crew The ten-deck floating palace is the world's second-largest expedition yacht and has two helipads, a pool and mini submarine Ms Soroka (pictured outside the High Court in December 2020) claims she asked PHB to 'explore options in Miami' for having the yacht, valued at about 200million, seized In 2016 Ms Soroka secured an astounding 453million sum with the help of her lawyer Baroness Shackleton (pictured outside the High Court in August 2017) Now the case is over. PHB said: 'We have said from the outset that her claim was baseless and should never have been pursued. Ms Soroka's decision to withdraw her claim now is a complete vindication of our position. Payne Hicks Beach is enormously proud of the work undertaken by Baroness Shackleton and her outstanding team, and of what they achieve for their clients. This is particularly true in respect of Ms Soroka, who received, at the time, the highest ever adjudicated financial award in a divorce case.' In her doomed legal claim, Ms Soroka claimed that she spoke to Baroness Shackleton and another PHB solicitor on the phone in January 2017 and alerted them that her ex was in Miami along with his opulent superyacht. Her court claim stated Ms Soroka asked them to 'explore options in Miami' for having the Luna seized, given that its price had been put at around 200million. She claims they failed to act on her instructions in breach of their duties. In its defence document filed to the court, PHB denied acting negligently. It claims Ms Soroka had told Baroness Shackleton in a phonecall that she was 'not interested in impounding the ship', preferring to pursue her ex-husband's money and valuable artworks instead. Ms Soroka was contacted for comment. The Trump administration will not come out 'unscathed' from the Signal 'war plan' leak debacle as it shows 'the average American' they care little for the lives of soldiers overseas, former U.S. diplomat Brett Bruen has told the Mail's new Apocalypse Now? Podcast. Trump's team invited widespread condemnation this week after discussing missile strikes against Houthi insurgents in a WhatsApp group chat which accidentally included editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg. Brett Bruen, a former White House Director of Global Engagement who worked in the situation room during Obama's presidency told the Mail's Special Correspondent David Patrikarakos that the Trump administration would live to regret the leak. 'They're not going to get away with it. Or at least, they're not going to get away unscathed from it', Bruen said. 'The signal crisis is something that your average American can understand and relate to. They know what it's like to inadvertently include a friend that you're talking about in a chat. 'Secretary of Defence Pete Hesgeth has denied it was war plans: the next day we are shown precise timings, what kind of weapons will be used, what kind of planes and drones are going to be deployed. I spent a year embedded in the US Army in Iraq as a diplomat, that's what a war plan looks like. 'Plenty of veterans, plenty of the family members of current US service members are going to be looking at this and saying: these guys are playing fast and loose with the safety of my loved ones, the safety of my friends.' Bruen described the leak as another example of the Trump administration's 'farcical' foreign policy. Brett Bruen: 'They're not going to get away with it. Or at least, they're not going to get away unscathed from it' Brett Bruen is a former White House Director of Global Engagement who worked in the situation room during Obama's presidency Listen to new politics podcast - Apocalypse Now?' wherever you get your podcasts. Listen now He emphasised his 'shock' as a former diplomat at hearing America's recent threats to seize Greenland by force and to incorporate Canada as the 51st state. 'I always believed that America stood for certain core values. I can't say that longer', Bruen said. 'The idea that Trump is going invade and colonise Canada is farcical when you hear J.D Vance say, as he's on his way to Greenland: 'It's in the US's interest to control all of this', well that's exactly what Vladimir Putin said when he invaded Ukraine.' Apocalypse Now? is a brand-new weekly global news podcast hosted by the Daily Mail's special correspondent and best-selling author David Patrikarakos. Every episode promises a panel of guests who are on the frontline of the geopolitical world as it threatens to spin off its axis. Each week, listeners can expect informed analysis, discussion, and on-the-ground reporting about the most influential diplomatic flashpoints. From President Trump rewriting American foreign policy at will and war in Europe, to hostilities in the Middle East and the resurgence of Isis has world order ever felt so uncertain? You can listen to 'Apocalypse Now?' wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes released every Thursday. In the days before Marcus Freiberger went missing, the popular yoga instructor had matched with someone new on a dating app and was hoping to meet the man for dinner for the first time. Friends tell DailyMail.com that Freiberger had recently gone through a breakup and was finally dipping his toes back into the dating pool. The man who caught his eye, according to those who knew him, was a handsome 40-something professional who he had been chatting with for weeks. The online conversation flowed naturally, he would tell friends. Finally, by February 21, Freiberger was ready to meet him. But something went wrong that day; Freiberger never returned from his blind date and it's unclear if he even met with the man. A month later, his lifeless body was found by a worker at a rock quarry on the outskirts of town. While the cause of death hasn't been revealed, those close to him believe that Freiberger was a victim of foul play. 'I don't know exactly what to think,' says longtime friend Gina Zucchet, who has known him for 20 years. 'But obviously something really bad happened and we want answers.' Freiberger, who had previously struggled with drug addiction and had gone through at least one stint in rehab, was living a simpler, holistic, sober life and wanted to inspire others to do the same. He had gotten his body into shape, was focusing on his own spirituality, and had studied for hours to become a yoga instructor. In the days before Marcus Freiberger went missing, the popular yoga instructor had matched with someone new on a dating app and was hoping to meet the man for dinner for the first time 'This journey is forcing me to go inward to find my answers, my peace, and to heal,' he wrote on Instagram in January. 'I am so grateful for my life and the peace this journey brings allowing me to be calm in my storm. Today the storm isn't so violent; it just continues to bring me opportunities to be and do better.' 'I'm not perfect, I'm a hell of a lot better than I was,' he concluded. Friends say they had noticed a change in him. 'He had been working hard on himself,' says Zucchet. 'But he was sociable and liked to be with other people. I can't speak to whether he was looking for something serious, but he was open to whatever happened.' Freiberger downloaded at least two dating apps and began matching with men from Phoenix, but friends say that he rarely met up with people from them, instead opting to meet people organically either at his job at Melrose Yoga, or at restaurants and bars. 'He was magnetic,' says Zucchet. 'Just a striking, beautiful man. He was super confident, but could make you feel like you were the most important person in the room. He was always the center of attention.' On the day he vanished, the 45-year-old Arizona man sent breezy texts to his father and to a friend, and then his phone went dead. His almost daily FaceTimes with his mother stopped. He stopped showing up for work. No one spotted him out at his favorite spots. 'He was just gone,' says Danny Cabrera, who has known Freiberger for 13 years. 'And the longer he was gone, the more helpless I felt.' Concerned friends reported him missing after realizing that his beloved dog had been left alone something they say Freiberger would never have done. 'He wouldn't leave that dog,' says Cabrera. 'There wasn't really anything we could do but post on social media to bring awareness that he was missing. I knew the longer this went on, the harder it would be to find him.' But the hopes of his worried friends were dashed on March 19, when Freiberger's body was discovered at the quarry. His white 2021 GMC Sierra 2500 was nowhere to be found. 'It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Marcus is no longer with us,' his sister, Tina Hall, posted on Facebook. '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.' Authorities have not officially classified the case as a murder, but DailyMail.com confirms that at least one investigator assigned to the case is a homicide detective. The medical examiner has not yet released the results of Freiberger's autopsy. Toxicology results will not be returned for several weeks. 'The cause and manner of death have not yet been determined and released,' Vince Lewis, a lieutenant with the Phoenix Police Department, tells DailyMail.com 'This investigation remains ongoing.' The Daily Mail has confirmed that authorities have been looking into Frieberger's online activities and have identified the man he was supposed to meet. They have also been searching for any trace of the truck on camera footage of intersections and toll booths. Authorities have not commented on whether there are any suspects at this time or if the death will eventually be classified as a murder. Friends tell DailyMail.com that Freiberger had recently gone through a breakup and was finally dipping his toes back into the dating pool Concerned friends reported him missing after realizing that his beloved dog had been left alone something they say Freiberger would never have done The man who caught Frieberger's (pictured) eye, according to those who knew him, was a handsome 40-something professional who he had been chatting with for weeks 'Currently, Freiberger's case is being handled as a death investigation,' the Phoenix PD says in a statement. 'Detectives are currently seeking the public's assistance for anyone who has knowledge regarding the circumstances of his disappearance and death.' While the authorities continue to investigate the case, Freiberger's friends are mourning his loss and hoping for justice. 'I really hope that the cops will figure out what happened to him, and then the right thing will be done,' says Zucchet. 'He was so loved and he did so much for so many people.' 'Marcus had a light and aura around him,' adds Cabrera. 'He was funny, he was sassy, and was always the core of any group he was part of. 'There was laughter, there was jokes. I was never around him when there's been negativity. It hurts that he's gone.' A British arms dealer nicknamed the 'Lord of War' has avoided extradition to the US after extraordinary delays left the case in limbo for 14 years. Former public schoolboy Guy Savage, 56, had faced up to 20 years in prison in America over a 21-count indictment involving arms smuggling offences. The father-of-two, a former Home Office adviser, was accused of smuggling weapons to Iraq and the Middle East and breaking export laws on guns including powerful assault rifles - claims he denied. An extradition request was first granted by a court in 2011 but Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring discharged the order because he said the Government had failed to properly explain the delays. Savage, from Pinner in northwest London, triumphantly shook hands with his lawyer after the hearing. The indictment he faced dated between 2003 and 2008 when he was chief executive of Sabre Defence Industries. Savage had advised ministers on firearms policy, despite being convicted of possessing and selling prohibited pump action and semi-automatic rifles. In 1996 he won a legal fight to continue selling firearms despite saying the 'hysteria' of the parents of the children shot dead at Dunblane had ruined his business Former public schoolboy Guy Savage had faced up to 20 years in prison in America over a 21-count indictment involving arms smuggling offences. Pictured: The defendant holding an AR-15 rifle Savage is believed to have named himself the Lord of War after the 2005 Nicholas Cage film. Pictured: The arms dealer outside Westminster Magistrates' Court at a previous appearance A source told the Mail he called himself the Lord of War after the 2005 film starring Nicolas Cage as a ruthless arms dealer, adding 'but he was operating in north London, not some camp in Afghanistan'. The former student at 26,000-a-year Highgate School was arrested by Scotland Yard in a raid on his 800,000 suburban home on 8 February, 2011. Officers shot out the tyres of his Mercedes and set neighbours' net curtains billowing with stun grenades. But a series of delays blamed by the Government on Brexit, Covid and concerns about Savage's mental health meant that no decision was made about his extradition until today. Mr Goldspring told Westminster Magistrates' Court: 'The central tenet of the Secretary of State's reason for the cause of delay is that much of the day was unforeseeable and unavoidable. 'There is some merit in that argument at some junctures in the chronology. 'Matters such as waiting for expert reports or awaiting legal advice are largely out of the Secretary of State's hands. 'However, events such as Brexit and Covid, or other high-profile or complicated extradition matters did not creep up on the department, neither was the need to juggle multiple tasks at the same time unforeseeable.' Supporters of Savage wept in court as it was confirmed he had avoided extradition. Pictured: Savage leaving Westminster Magistrates' Court with a friend after his case was discharged Savage, who insisted he was not guilty of arms smuggling and had committed only 'regulatory offences,' wore a dark blue shirt and clutched a walking stick in court. Mr Goldspring said the decision should have been made more quickly and that he recognised that the US authorities were not at fault for delays. 'I conclude that the Secretary of State has not discharged the burden to show reasonable cause for the delay and consequently I order the application to discharge,' he added. Savage's family and friends - gathered in the public gallery - were heard weeping as the decision to grant the application was delivered. Mr Goldspring told Savage: 'The decision I've come to is that I am discharging you. 'As far as this court is concerned that is the end of proceedings, and there is nothing outstanding against you in relation to these proceedings. 'As far as you are concerned, the matter is discharged and you are free to go.' Savage's barrister, Ben Cooper, criticised the Government for its 'repeated bureaucratic incompetence.' Vladimir Putin on Thursday threw down the gauntlet for a potential future war in the Arctic as he declared that Donald Trump is 'serious' about annexing Greenland. In an ominous warning Putin declared that Russia is 'watching very closely' for Trump's next move. 'We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long-standing historical roots,' Putin told the International Arctic Forum in the Russian city of Murmansk. His use of the word 'serious' underscored how concerned the Kremlin is by the situation. Putin said Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but is prepared to defend its interests, and will station more military personnel in the region. Greenland is a strategically important island in the North Atlantic as a buffer between North America and Russia. Putin's comments were his first public intervention on the issue. It comes as Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha are on Friday set to visit Pituffik Space Base on the northern edge of Greenland. Trump's National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is scheduled to go with them. Russian President Vladimir Putin told the International Arctic Forum that they are closely watching President Donald Trump's interest in Greenland In his remarks Putin noted that taking over Greenland is 'not eccentric talk' from the Trump administration. He also pointed out the United States has long had an interest in Greenland, going back to the 19th Century. 'It would be a great mistake to believe these are some kind of extravagant conversations of the new American administration,' he said. 'Nothing of the kind. In fact the United States of America had such plans back in the 1860s,' he said. He adding there had been no support in Congress then to annex the island. The Kremlin sees the Arctic as its area of interest. Putin wants to increase his country's flow of commerce through Artic waters as Moscow focuses on partners in Asia and away from Europe, where Western sanctions over his invasion of Ukraine are hurting Russian businesses. Russia has the longest Arctic coastline of any country, and the region's massive reserves of oil and gas make it crucial to the Kremlin. Meanwhile, 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 on Wednesday. 'I hate to put it that way, but we're going to have to have it.' 'We need Greenland for international safety and security,' President Donald Trump said Vice President JD Vance and wife Usha Vance will visit the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik Your browser does not support iframes. Vance, in a video posted online, said he was joining his wife's trip to the island 'just to 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. Originally, Usha was to travel to the island solo, with just one of the Vance children. But the administration changed their itinerary this week, adding the vice president to the trip. 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. 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 in his video. 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. Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, where the Vances will visit Apartment buildings and houses are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland A young boy walks between residential blocks in Nuuk, Greeland 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. 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.' But Denmark backed down slightly after the American travel plans changed. '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. 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.' Vladimir Putin is threatening an Arctic war as tensions grow ahead of US Vice President JD Vance's visit to Greenland. He said Russia will station more military personnel in the Arctic and his country would defend its interests in the region amid Donald Trump's push to take control of the autonomous Danish island. 'We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long-standing historical roots,' Putin told an Arctic forum in the northern city of Murmansk. 'This may surprise some, only at first glance,' said the Kremlin dictator, who seeks the Trump's backing for his own claims on Ukrainian territory. 'It is a profound mistake to believe that these are some kind of extravagant talks of the new American administration. Nothing of the sort.' Putin said Russia is worried that 'NATO countries in general are increasingly designating the Far North as a springboard for possible conflicts', with Russia monitoring the situation and preparing an appropriate response. 'It is obvious that the role and importance of the Arctic both for Russia and for the whole world is growing. But unfortunately, geopolitical competition, the struggle for positions in this region, is also intensifying,' he added. Putin appeared to give his blessing to Trump to make a land grab for Greenland - and even hinted the US President might grab Iceland, too. He said: 'In fact, the United States had such plans back in the 1860s. Even then, the American administration was considering the possibility of annexing Greenland and Iceland. But this idea did not receive support from Congress at the time.' This comes as 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to be threatening an Arctic war as he said on Thursday that he considered US plans to annex Greenland 'serious' The US Army's 1st Brigade, 11th Airborne , operates out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska Your browser does not support iframes. 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. '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.' 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 VP's decision to visit a US military base Pituffik 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 The Vances will visit the base 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 earlier on Wednesday. The Vances will no longer attend a dog-sled race in Greenland amid widespread anti-American protests But Lkke also said it was '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.' 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'. Greenland's Prime Minister this month declared 'enough is enough' in response to Trump's threat to dispatch soldiers to annex the island. 'We have a couple of bases on Greenland already and we have quite a few soldiers. May be you will see more and more soldiers go there,' Trump threatened on March 13. 'We have bases and we have quite a few soldiers on Greenland.' Mute Egede summoned fellow political leaders to discuss a plan to beef up their rejection of Trump's plan. 'The US president has once again aired the thought of annexing us,' Egede said in a statement. He added: 'Enough is enough.' Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who will be the next prime minister after his Demokraatit party won Greenland's parliamentary election, also turned on Trump. 'Trump's statement from the US is inappropriate and just shows once again that we must stand together in such situations,' he said. 'It's obvious that the United States will continue to systematically advance its geostrategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic,' Putin said as he said Russia would expand its operations in Greenland. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede declared 'enough is enough' about President Donald Trump's wish to annex the island The Greenland flag flying Nuuk, the capital city Putin vowed to boost his military presence in the region. He also wanted to see an expansion of tourism in the Arctic, where he has plans to exploit vast mineral wealth. Putin, who is keen to ramp up commerce via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) through Arctic waters as Russia shifts trade towards Asia and away from Europe because of Western sanctions, said Russia had never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but was prepared to defend its interests. Foreign partners prepared to cooperate with Russia in the region would be guaranteed a good investment return, he said in a major speech in the northern city of Murmansk. Putin called for an expansion of Russia's northern ports and the building of a merchant fleet in the Arctic, supported by new-generation icebreakers including nuclear-powered ones. But he said Russia's domestic capabilities were insufficient for this at the moment, and that it would also require buying vessels and interacting with foreign shipbuilders. The Arctic holds fossil fuels and minerals beneath the land and the seabed that could become more accessible with global warming. It is also an area of military competition, where defence analysts say Russia has built up its presence much faster than the West by reopening Soviet-era bases and modernising its navy. Greenland, which is seeking independence from Denmark, is 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. Denmark has rebuffed Trump's calls to take over the island and says the people of Greenland have shown they do not want to be part of the United States. By acquiring Greenland, Trump would ensure continued access to Pituffik Space Base (pictured) Your browser does not support iframes. By acquiring Greenland, Trump said he would ensure continued US access to Pituffik Space Base - despite there being no current threat to stop access. 'We need Greenland for national security purposes,' Trump repeatedly said after declaring he would not rule out the use of military force or economic pressure in the form of brutal tariffs on Denmark to seize control of the island. Global warming is causing the ice in Greenland to retreat, opening up shipping lanes and access to incredible riches, making the region a new geopolitical and economic asset, with the US, Russia, China and others wanting in. Greenland boasts valuable rare earth minerals needed for telecommunications, as well as uranium, billions of untapped barrels of oil and a vast supply of natural gas that used to be inaccessible but is becoming less so as the ice is retreating. Many of the same minerals are currently being supplied mostly by China, so other countries such as the United States are interested, Ohio University security and environment professor Geoff Dabelko said. Three years ago, the Denmark government suspended oil development offshore from the territory of 57,000 people. The world's largest island is now 'central to the geopolitical, geoeconomic competition in many ways,' partly because of climate change, Dabelko said. Off Greenland's shores, the US Geological Survey estimates there could be 17.5 billion undiscovered barrels of oil and 148 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, though the remote location and harsh weather have limited exploration. Protesters outside the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland Nagurskoye, Russia's northernmost military outpost sits on the 80th parallel North, projecting power over wide swathes of Arctic amid an intensifying international rivalry over the polar region's vast resources Image shows Russia's new nuclear submarine during a flag-rising ceremony led by Vladimir Putin at the Arctic port of Severodvinsk on December 11, 2023 Around the Arctic Circle, there's potential for 90 billion barrels of oil. Aside from oil, gas or mineral, there is a 'ridiculous' amount of ice in Greenland that plays a key role in regulating global weather, according to climate scientist Eric Rignot of the University of California, Irvine. If that ice melts, it would reshape coastlines across the globe and potentially shift weather patterns in such a dramatic manner that the threat was the basis of a Hollywood disaster movie. Greenland holds enough ice that if it all melts, the world's seas would rise by 24 feet (7.4 meters). Nearly a foot of that is so-called zombie ice, already doomed to melt no matter what happens, a 2022 study found. Since 1992, Greenland has lost about 182 billion tons (169 billion metric tons) of ice each year, with losses hitting 489 billion tons a year (444 billion metric tons) in 2019. 'Think of Greenland as an open refrigerator door or thermostat for a warming world, and it's in a region that is warming four times faster than the rest of the globe,' said New York University climate scientist David Holland. Greenland will be 'a key focus point' through the 21st century because of the effect its melting ice sheet will have on sea levels, said Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. Serreze added: 'It will likely become a bigger contributor in the future.' That impact is 'perhaps unstoppable,' Holland said. Since 1992, Greenland has lost about 182 billion tons (169 billion metric tons) of ice each year, with losses hitting 489 billion tons a year (444 billion metric tons) in 2019 (file image) Greenland is part of the Danish realm along with the Faeroe Islands, another semi-autonomous territory, and has its own government and parliament. Greenland's 57,000 residents got extensive home rule in 1979 but Denmark still handles foreign and defense policies, with an annual subsidy of $670 million. Its indigenous people are not wealthy, and vehicles, restaurants, stores and basic services are few. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen addressed Trump's intent to buy Greenland in January, saying that she did not believe that the US will use military or economic power to secure control over the island. She also called the US Denmark's 'most important and closest ally' and repeated that she welcomed the US taking a greater interest in the Arctic region, but that it would 'have to be done in a way that is respectful of the Greenlandic people'. 'At the same time, it must be done in a way that allows Denmark and the United States to still cooperate in, among other things, NATO,' Frederiksen said. But this it not the first time an American president suggested buying the island. There were two failed attempts by US to purchase it: President Harry Truman tried to buy it for $100 million in 1946 and the State Department inquired about it in 1867. A man suspected of shooting and killing his wife outside of a pub on Valentine's Day died from massive head trauma, an inquest has heard today. Edward Smith, 43, is believed to have gunned down Lisa Smith, also 43, in the car park of the Three Horsehoes in Knockholt, Kent on February 14. He then disappeared before his body was found in the river Thames near Rainham, in Essex, nearly a month later. It is believed he entered the water near the near the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in Dartford, Kent, around ten miles away from where the fatal shooting occurred. Opening the inquest into Mr Smith's death today, coroner Alan Blunsdon listed a massive head trauma as the cause of death. The coroner also revealed that there were no apparent injuries to the deceased's torso, and adjourned the full inquest until September 17, to be held at Oakwood House in Maidstone. An inquest into Mrs Smith's death previously heard that she had died from a fatal gunshot wound to the neck. Edward Smith (left), 43, is believed to have gunned down Lisa Smith (right), also 43, in the car park of the Three Horsehoes in Knockholt, Kent on February 14 Mr and Mrs Smith before the fatal shooting. After the incident, Mr Smith disappeared before his body was found in the river Thames near Rainham, in Essex, nearly a month later The mother died in the car park of The Three Horseshoes on Main Road in Knockholt, Kent Her full inquest will also be held on September 17. Mr and Mrs Smith are believed to have been members of the traveller community. Previously, police had said that they thought Mrs Smith had travelled to Kent to visit family and friends. She had been drinking inside the pub, but when she came out, she was shot with an illegal handgun. Four shots were fired with two causing fatal injuries. Pubgoers who had been enjoying a Valentine's Day dinner are heard screaming in terror on CCTV footage obtained by MailOnline. The footage features three blasts before a fourth is heard and a vehicle is seen leaving the car park of the Three Horseshoes Pub in Knockholt, Kent. Moments later a woman can be heard screaming: 'He's killed her.' An inquest into Mrs Smith's death previously heard that she had died from a fatal gunshot wound to the neck The pub's landlady, Michelle Thomas, revealed 30 people were at the pub for dinner, while 20 more were in the bar as the incident unfolded just after 7pm. She also described how an off-duty firearms officer intervened to get the situation under control and said the victim had been to the pub before but 'wasn't a regular'. A friend of the couple, Leslie Thompson, has said that Mr Smith had rung him on the night of the shooting and confessed to the murder. He told Mr Thompson: 'Les, I love you, your wife and kids, and I'll see you on the other side, and I'm going to die.' A couple's beloved Jack Russell has been left deformed after a vet operated on the wrong leg leaving the owners with 10k bill for a specialist reconstructive surgery. They were also told that the vet performed the wrong operation on Daisy's right knee which was perfectly fine when it was her left that had a snapped ligament. Steph Drew, who rescued Daisy, in 2017, noticed that the vet had done the wrong knee when she tried to comfort her dog once at home after the operation. She said: 'I put her down on the sofa and looked at her leg and said to my husband "they have done the wrong leg". 'He said "what no, surely not" and I was shaking so I rang and I spoke to the receptionist and he said "no, these things don't happen".' Steph first noticed that Daisy was limping she took her to Rase Veterinary Centre in Lincoln, where an X-ray revealed a snapped ligament in the left knee. Due to this, Daisy's right side was taking the weight off both sides and she was 'in a significant amount of pain'. The former RSPCA worker was told a surgeon would call her to discuss options, but after a week she rang the vets again as Daisy was still in pain and nobody had been in touch. A vet performed the surgery on Daisey's wrong leg after she snapped a ligament in the left knee Steph Drew, who rescued Daisy, in 2017, noticed that she was limping she took her to Rase Veterinary Centre in Lincoln, where an X-ray revealed a snapped ligament in the left knee. However, she noticed that the vet had done the wrong knee when she tried to comfort her dog once at home after the operation. The vet who performed the procedure has since been struck off after a disciplinary hearing by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Steph, 41, said: 'A day or two later, Emma Bowler, the vet that has been struck off, rang and she talked me through the two options for surgery.' One of the options was 'tibial plateau levelling osteotomy' (TPLO) surgery, a common procedure for treating ligament rupture in dogs, and this is the one Steph agreed to. The operation, quoted at around 2,400, was booked for the following week and during this time she researched the surgery and how best to support Daisy with rehabilitation afterwards. On May 20, 2021, Steph took her dog to the Lincoln site, where she was then put in a van and driven to the Rase Veterinary Centre in Market Rasen so that Emma Bowler could do the surgery. Later that evening Steph, of Lincoln, went to collect Daisy and was concerned to see her being walked out of the practice on a freshly operated leg and picked her up to take her home. After returning home and realising the operation was performed on the wrong leg she alerted the vets of the mistake. At around 8pm Steph claims she got a call from the practice manager informing her that they wouldn't charge for the operation and would repair the snapped knee for free. Steph and her husband had to borrow 10,000 for the specialist reconstructive surgery Steph added: 'Within a few days the leg broke in three places and we took her back in for more X-rays.' Daisy was placed on strict crate rest but the leg 'just kept breaking'. Steph was advised to take Daisy, who was seven at the time, to an orthopaedic specialist in Derby who discovered that in addition to the wrong leg being operated on, the wrong surgery had been carried out. Instead of TPLO, Daisy had had a 'modified maquet procedure'. For the first three years of Daisy's life, she had been used for breeding, was malnourished and had weak bones, which caused her issues like hip dysplasia. Due to this, Steph says she would never agree to something that involved drilling her bones. Steph said: 'She had done such a terrible job of this operation which we had not consented to that he needed to make a bespoke metal plate to hold her leg together as there was very little bone left that Emma Bowler had not drilled through, which was really inappropriate due to how weak her bones were.' Steph and her husband had to borrow 10,000 for the specialist reconstructive surgery. Four years later the couple say they still have nearly 4,000 of that to pay back. Steph said: 'She is the most loving dog I have ever known in my life.' Daisy is now ten and doing well, although she did develop arthritis in the leg that was operated on. Steph has worked with dogs since she was 14 and has described the whole experience as 'traumatic'. She said: 'The stress of this case has caused me to develop an autoimmune system, which has caused me to develop arthritis all over, so I can't dog walk anymore.' Daisy has since developed in the leg that was operated on and the couple still have 4k left of vet bills to pay off Steph says that she has still never received an apology from Rase Veterinary Centre, and claims they even blamed her. She said: 'The abuse that I have got from them is terrible. 'All along they have blamed me, they have said I told them it was the right-hand side so they did the right-hand side, they said I was a terrible owner and they shouldn't have to deal with owners like me.' Steph says that so is 'too angry to shut up' and has been sharing her story to help inform other pet owners of her experience. Emma Bowler has since been removed from the register of vets eligible to practise in the UK after a disciplinary hearing by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. It was found that the veterinary surgeon had made multiple clinical failings over the course of three years and eight months involving unnecessary injury and failure to provide adequate care to 18 animals. Rase Veterinary Centre declined to comment. Paedophile teacher Jeremy Forrest has split from his wife after a fling with a colleague 15 years his junior at the bakery where he worked. Forrest, 42, has moved out of his marital home and is now living with his brother and sister-in-law nearby. He made the decision after MailOnline revealed that he had been having an affair with a 27-year-old bakery assistant who he had been working alongside for several months at an artisan bakers owned by his cousins. His latest dalliance has once again left him facing claims of inappropriate behavior following the 'dangerous infatuation' he had with a 15-year-old schoolgirl which ended in him serving time in jail and placed on the sex offenders register for life. He sparked an international manhunt in 2012 when, as a maths teacher, he ran off to France with a teenage pupil, who he had been having a relationship with. Forrest was dumped by his first wife when he was jailed for five and a half years. Following his release from prison he retrained as a baker and married for a second time. His second wife - who MailOnline is not naming - remained tight-lipped about her relationship with Forest. Speaking from the couple's smart detached house in Canterbury, Kent, she said simply: 'I have no comment to make.' Jeremy Forrest, 42, (pictured) is at the centre of a new storm after allegedly cheating on his second wife with a work colleague 15 years his junior, MailOnline can reveal The woman, who MailOnline is not naming, decided she could no longer work there and quit her job (Pictured: Forrest in 2013) However, a source told MailOnline that Forrest had 'groomed' his young assistant, who had no knowledge of his sordid past, by repeatedly assuring her he was planning on divorcing his wife. 'Jeremy has now officially left his wife and his home and is trying to pursue a relationship with his assistant, who is 15 years younger than him', the source revealed. 'The assistant had no idea about his past and seems she found out when the MailOnline story was published. 'He is staying with his brother and his brother's wife who live in the same town.' Forrest and his assistant are said to have got together five months ago and would sneak off from their job - J Ayre Bakers in Sidcup, Kent - for romantic liaisons away from work. The fallout from the alleged affair has led to behind-the-scenes turmoil at the long-established family run artisan bakers where Forrest had quietly established a new life away from his sordid past. Managers held a meeting after rumours of the alleged affair began circulating among staff and proposed that the woman could move to a different part of the bakery where she would not be working directly alongside Forrest. However, the woman, who MailOnline is not naming, decided she could no longer work there and quit her job. A spokesman for J Ayre later confirmed: 'From what I know, Jeremy did meet with the member of staff after work but that was it. They built up a friendship. Forrest (pictured in 2013) was found guilty at Lewes Crown Court in Lewes, East Sussex, of abducting a 15-year-old girl who he took to France when their sexual affair was about to be exposed Forrest (pictured), who is banned from teaching and placed on the sexual register for life, worked as a chef while serving his sentence in Ashfield prison and reinvented himself as a baker after his release 'I am not aware of anything physical between them but given nothing happened in the bakery itself it is a private matter for Jeremy and the other member of staff. 'They are both grown adults. There was a meeting held this week to find a way of them both being able to work here together. 'A number of proposals were made including the other member of staff being moved to a different part of the bakery to Jeremy. 'The outcome of that meeting is private.' Forrest gained notoriety in 2012 when as a 30-year-old teacher he fled the UK with the schoolgirl he groomed when she was just 14. After taking her virginity one week after her 15th birthday in his marital home in Ringmer, East Sussex, the pair went on to have sex in his car and in hotels. When the relationship was about to be exposed they left for France - using the names Jack Dean and Gemma Grant. At first, the girl's devastated family feared she had been kidnapped but soon after CCTV footage showed her with her arms around her teacher on board a ferry from Dover to Calais. They were on the run for eight days before being found in Bordeaux where he was arrested in front of her. Forrest was detained by undercover police after being tipped off by the landlady of a pub in the French city where he had sought work under his new identity. Forrest first became close with the girl during a school trip to America when she was aged 14. He was married to his first wife, Emily Lovell, at the time and told the schoolgirl that he would divorce her so they could be together. The former teacher last saw the girl in June 2013 at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex, where she was forced to give evidence about their relationship. Now Forrest - who was jailed for five-and-a-half years in 2013 for child abduction and having sex with the underage girl - is once again facing claims of inappropriate behaviour (Forrest in 2013) He did however reply to her on Facebook following his release, a move that risked him being recalled to prison. The message was a breach of Forrest's license as he was ordered not to have any contact with her. In an interview in 2017 the girl, then aged 19, said: 'We have only spoken once, after I messaged a Facebook account that came up as a suggested friend. 'He sounded the same and, importantly, happy. He had a new girlfriend.' She told how the relationship with the man she called 'Sir' began after they exchanged messages during the summer holidays and Forrest asked her if she wanted 'to go for a drive'. The girl said she did not regret the relationship but added: 'I now recognise it for what it was: A dangerous infatuation. One that cost both of us dearly.' Forrest, who is originally from Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, was released from prison in 2016 and went on to start a new life as a baker while also becoming the frontman in a rock band. In 2023 photos emerged of the then heavily tattooed Forest when he worked as head baker at Gilda Bakery near Canterbury, Kent. By then he had married for a second time and was living under the name Jeremy Buonocore. A biography of Forrest on the artisan bakery's website failed to mention his teaching career or time in prison but featured a picture of him in the kitchen and read: 'He is proudly a 5th generation baker, learning everything he knows from the experienced bakers that have passed down their tried and tested methods.' Gilda Bakery terminated his employment after becoming aware of his dark past, saying it had come as a shock to their 'close-knit team'. Gilda founder and director, Jon Warren, shared a statement on social media which read: 'Since learning of the sensitive nature of this employee's history, it was mutually agreed that it was in the best interest of Gilda that his employment was terminated with immediate effect.' Forrest apparently referred to his illicit relationship in songs he wrote for his band. In one he wrote: 'Girl, I'd do it all again' and 'I was afraid someone would catch us'. An elderly waitress who can barely walk told how she is too poor to retire despite working her whole life. The 81-year-old named Betty, works as a server at an Eat'N Park diner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The grandmother-of-three's heartbreaking tale emerged after mom Tamie Konzier and her young son overheard her talking to another table about her situation. 'The table next to us asked why she was still working and she told them she only makes $910 a month on social security and she has to still work because her bills exceed $910,' Konzier explained in a TikTok video which she was hoping to use raise cash for the hardworking waitress. The generous mom then tipped Betty $40 and explained she was aware of her precarious position, which prompted her to open up more. 'I mean I've worked all my life as a waitress and I still can't retire,' Betty said. Konzier was then stunned to learn her age, telling her she 'looks great'. 'Thank you, I'm 81 and I can still out do these whippersnappers,' Betty joked. 'Take care and enjoy your day, enjoy it because it will go by you fast.' An elderly waitress who can barely walk told how she is too poor to retire despite working her whole life The grandmother-of-three's heartbreaking tale emerged after mom Tamie Konzier and her young son overheard her talking to another table about her situation Since sharing the video, Konzier has also set up a GoFundMe and pledged to donate any funds she makes through the TikTok creator program directly to Betty. The mom was inundated with offers to help after her original video was viewed 4.4 million times. 'I was really hoping it would go viral,' Konzier explained, before adding that her young son was even more hopeful. The adorable youngster then confirmed that he was 'praying in the car' that the video would blow up so they could pass on a decent sum to Betty. Konzier shared a third update on Thursday where she tearfully confirmed that she has been overwhelmed by the response. 'I cannot believe this happened,' she said. 'Thank you everyone for your generosity. I don't even know her and I'm crying.' So far, the GoFundMe page has raised an astonishing $143,000 - with yet more funds coming to Konzier through her Venmo and TikTok views. The 81-year-old named Betty, works as a server at an Eat'N Park diner in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Konzier set up a GoFundMe which has received more than $143,000 So far more than 6,500 people have contributed, with the top donation $1,000. Konzier mom explained that she has since reached out to Betty's manager and they are planning a surprise to present her with the cash. 'I've had some people that worked with her reach out and they've said such nice things about her, like she's worked so hard and never complains and she takes care of so many people.' DailyMail.com contacted the diner where a worker said the response to the video had been 'insane', before a manager directed any further inquiries to their corporate office. A local Fox News anchor has gone viral for his hilarious moment while reporting on a water main break in Delaware. A water main break sent water bursting into the air along Route 40 in New Castle County on Wednesday. While reporting on the incident, Fox 29 anchors Bob Kelly and Mike Jerrick decided to have a little fun with the green screen. Kelly pretended to drink the water shooting into the air, then was joined by Jerrick whose positioning erupted viewers into laughter. Jerrick stood next to the screen with one hand on his head, the other on his shoulder and made it appear like he was urinating. Entertained viewers took to social media telling Jerrick they were impressed and praised him for the hilarious moment. 'When you gotta go, you gotta go,' one person said. 'What a hose,' added another. 'He has got some pressure and range!!!' said a third person. While reporting on the incident, Fox 29 anchors Bob Kelly and Mike Jerrick decided to have a little fun with the green screen Kelly (pictured) pretended to drink the water shooting into the air Then Jerrick (pictured) joined him on air and his positioning erupted viewers into laughter A fourth person said, 'Crossed arm peeing is a pretty boss move there, old sport.' 'HYSTERICAL!!!!! The world needs more of this!! Made me laugh!!' said a fifth viewer. Others played along with Jerrick's joke and commented that 'his stream' proved he has a healthy bladder. 'It might be time to call Dr. Mike for the over active bladder,' one person said. 'Prostate health is important,' a second person said. 'That is a healthy prostate,' another said. Some joked that the strength of the stream could be used to help the fire department. 'This guys bladder problem could land him a lucrative job with the local fire department,' one person said. 'Could really put a fire out,' joked another. The break took place along Route 40, near Wilton Boulevard, in New Castle around 5 a.m., DelDOT told NBC Philadelphia. The local station's news chopper reported that cars moved slowly past the break throughout the morning, but the water was shutoff by 7:15 a.m. The White House has pulled the nomination of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. President Trump named the New York Republican congresswoman and close ally as his choice for the post just days after winning the 2024 election. But the White House informed the Senate her name was being pulled on Thursday. Stefanik had already gone before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee one day after Trump was sworn into office on January 21 for her confirmation hearing. She was expected to fly through the confirmation process with some bipartisan support. But the full vote was never scheduled. It comes as House Republicans are barely holding onto their majority. The White House pulled the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik on Thursday Her confirmation would have put them down another seat, so there was talk that they were delaying her confirmation until after the special elections in Florida to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz. Trump posted on social media just after the news broke on Capitol Hill. 'As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress,' he wrote. 'We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,' he continued. 'I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,' it went on. He said that the congresswoman would rejoin the House GOP leadership, but it was not clear what her role would be. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) with President Trump at a rally in January 2024 Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) with House Speaker Mike Johnson on November 13, 2024 just days after she was nominated to serve as ambassador to the U.N. Stefanik served as the House Republican Conference chair from 2021 to 2025, but she did not seek to return to the position having been nominated to serve in the Trump administration. The president signaled that she would potentially join the administration in the future writing he looked forward to that day. Just last month, Stefanik embarked on a farewell tour in her district to thank the constituents she represented in Congress. She also has been posting on social media about joining the administration and even referred to Trump officials as 'Cabinet colleagues' in a post on Wednesday. In a post on X, House Speaker Mike Johnson called Stefanik a 'great leader and a devoted patriot.' 'Todays selfless decision shows America what those of us who work with her already know,' he wrote. 'She is deeply devoted to her country and fully committed to see President Trumps agenda succeed in Congress.' He noted her 'agreement to withdraw her nomination' and praised her 'willingness to sacrifice that position and remain in Congress to help us save the country.' Johnson said he would invite her immediately to the leadership table. Stefanik in attendance for Trump's Cabinet meeting at the White House on February 26, 2025 Stefanik has represented New York's 21st Congressional District since 2015, which includes a mostly rural region in the northernmost part of the state. Prior to her 2014 victory for the open seat a decade ago, the district was represented by a Democrats. Democrats on Thursday suggested that Republicans were 'running scared,' and that's why they withdrew the nomination. 'Donald Trump won the Elise Stefanik district by 21 points in November 2024. He withdrew her nomination to be U.N. Ambassador because the extremists are afraid they will lose the special election to replace her,' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. Democrats' House Majority PAC claimed Republicans are in 'full-blown panic over their razor-thin majority.' 'They know they're screwed in 2026,' their statement read. Had Stefanik been confirmed and vacated her congressional seat, New York's governor would have had ten days to announce the date of a special election which would have taken place within a three-month window. Prince Harry's beloved charity Sentebale could implode without him at the helm to pull in funding, insiders warned yesterday. Amid the bitter internal power struggle that saw the duke step down, one source said the whole thing 'seems utterly nuts'. In a dramatic behind-the-scenes showdown, Harry and his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho sided with trustees who resigned en masse after failing to unseat the charity's chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka. She responded with extraordinary bullying and racism accusations against 'people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people and then play the victim card'. Yesterday the charity formed in 2006 in memory of Harry's late mother Princess Diana to help Aids orphans in southern Africa issued a new statement acknowledging 'conflict can arise'. Dr Chandauka, a Zimbabwean-born lawyer, was appointed chair of Sentebale in 2023, and has shown no signs of stepping back from the brink, leaving the prince 'truly heartbroken'. An insider told the Mail: 'I don't know what she's thinking. She puts out this rather mad statement attacking the whole cause. It seems utterly nuts. 'Why would you want a charity created by Harry and Prince Seeiso, after their lost mothers, which obviously and quite rightly pulls on the heart-strings, to lose them? They are at the centre of the cause. It doesn't make any sense. What is her endgame to all of this?' Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry at a children's centre in Lesotho in October 2024 Sophie Chandauka at the Sentebale 'Potential is Waiting' panel in Miami Beach in April 2024 Several trustees including Dr Kelello Lerotholi (pictured) left the Sentebale charity this week Meanwhile one of the trustees who resigned, Dr Kelello Lerotholi, declared he was 'shocked' by the chairwoman's claims of racism, sexism and bullying. Dr Lerotholi told Sky News: 'I can honestly say, in the meetings I was present in, there was never even a hint of such. 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.' Lerotholi, a cousin of Prince Seeiso who regards Harry as 'family', said he was 'worried about the emotional wellbeing of both princes'. Regarding the chairwoman's statement, he said: 'I look on in horror at the content of the statement, you know, and the allegations made about misogyny and all of that. 'There's never been a put-down, there's never been a dismissive tone, there's never been, you know, at least not in my presence, any of those people being set upon and being made to feel little. I never, not in any single meeting, experienced it.' The Charity Commission is investigating following the boardroom tussle. The most recent accounts for Sentebale show income heading down and expenditure going up. Sources said that the former trustees lost confidence in Dr Chandauka, but she refused a formal request for her to resign. When they called a meeting to hold a vote, she went to the High Court seeking a legal challenge to prevent them meeting. It is claimed the meeting was cancelled and a judge decided no further hearing or court appearance was necessary. Dr Chandauka has said she has filed a report to the Charity Commission, while the Duke and Prince Seeiso said they would be 'sharing concerns' with the commissioners. Prince Harry and Ntoli Moletsane at the Pointmain Health Facility in Lesotho in October 2024 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 A statement posted on Sentebale's website yesterday did nothing to quell the turmoil, with executive director Carmel Gaillard writing: 'At any point of significant change in an organisation's journey, conflict can arise. We acknowledge this openly and with a spirit of reflection and forward momentum.' She thanked the 'outgoing trustees' for their time and passion and added of Harry: 'We are also saddened that our co-founding patrons have made the decision to step down from their duties as patrons for the foreseeable future.' In an apparently barbed reference to the cause of the row, she said: 'Good governance is essential to the strength and credibility of any organisation.' In their joint statement on Tuesday, Harry and Prince Seeiso backed the departing trustees and 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 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. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso at the Pointmain Health Facility in Lesotho in October 2024 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'. 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. 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 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 'We thank all the trustees for their service over the years and are truly heartbroken they've had to follow through with this act.' In her bombshell statement earlier his week, 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.' In response to criticism, a representative of Sentebale was reported as saying: 'Like much of the content circulated yesterday, a lot of information being shared is untrue.' She said that the charity will 'share more detail regarding the events' in time. The leader of MS-13 in the US coast was keeping a cache of weapons in the upscale Virginia suburb where he had been living. Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, 24, has been named as the undocumented migrant who has been allegedly leading the East coast's branch of the brutal gang. The FBI found a a total of four guns, ammo, and suppressors inside his room, as reported by Fox News. Villatoro Santos was arrested in Dale City, suburban community half an hour outside of Washington, D.C early on Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday. Bondi lauded the the early morning arrest as a major victory in the Trump administrations effort to crack down on a gang known for brutal violence and extortion. Villatoro Santos was taken into custody in northern Virginia on an outstanding administrative immigration warrant, according to court papers. He was charged with illegal gun possession after agents found several firearms during the search of his home. Bondi said he was living in the U.S. illegally. Alleged MS-13 leader Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos had a cache of weapons in his Virginia apartment, according to police The FBI says they found a total of four guns, ammo, and suppressors inside his room Attorney General Pam Bondi (pictured) and FBI Director Kash Patel oversaw the operation There was no attorney listed for him in the court docket. Telephone numbers for relatives could not immediately be found in public records. Bondi said the suspect was 'very dangerous' and had been recruited by MS-13 when he was 'very young' before rising through the ranks. The taskforce has been working together for the last four weeks, according to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. He said that many of his constituents would be surprised to learn that the alleged gangster had been living in the leafy Woodbridge community. 'They are resident right here and they are resident across the country,' Youngkin said of MS-13 and Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua. The administration promoted the arrest as part of its effort to fulfill campaign promises to quash illegal immigration and eliminate gangs. MS-13 gang, or Mara Salvatrucha, was one of eight Latin American criminal organizations declared foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration last month. 'We want to make our streets safer,' Bondi told reporters. MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, was one of eight Latin American criminal organizations declared foreign terrorist organizations by the US government last month 'We want to make our schools safer. We want to make your neighborhoods safer. This guy was living in a neighborhood right around you, no longer.' At the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, citing the arrest, called it 'a good day for our country.' In the past decade, the U.S. Justice Department has intensified its focus on MS-13, which originated as a neighborhood street gang in Los Angeles, but grew into a transnational gang based in El Salvador. It has members in Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico and thousands of members across the U.S. with numerous branches, or 'cliques.' An alleged 'Communist' has been arrested in Las Vegas for setting several Tesla cars on fire using Molotov cocktails before firing rounds into the burning vehicles on March 18. Paul Hyon Kim, 36, was charged on Wednesday with 15 offenses, including arson and destroying or injuring personal property valued at $5,000 or more, police told a press conference the following day. Las Vegas Metro Police also said Kim's social media indicated that he was a 'potential Communist' with 'pro Palestine affiliations', according to Fox News reporter Bill Melugin. Dramatic video footage captured the moment a row of Tesla cars exploded into flames at a dealership on 6260 West Badura Avenue near Jones Boulevard and Warm Springs Road. Police said the suspect, who was seen at the scene in all black, managed to completely burn out two of the cars while damaging three others. Video shows large sparks flying from the hood of one of the vehicles, as strong flames and thick black smoke consume the vehicles. Officers in Sin City also said that the word 'resist' had been painted on the door of the facility, with three gunshots also fired into the vehicles. Kim will be taken into federal custody later on Thursday, according to FBI special agent Spencer Evans. An alleged 'Communist' man has been arrested in Las Vegas for allegedly setting several Tesla vehicles on fire using Molotov cocktails on Wednesday Paul Kim, 36, has been charged with 15 offenses, including arson and destroying or injuring personal property valued at $5,000 or more, police told a press conference Police said the suspect, who was seen at the scene in all black, managed to completely burn out two of the cars while damaging three others 'There's nothing courageous about firebombing and terrorizing your local community,' Evans said. 'At the end of the day, you and you alone, will face the prison sentence.' 'This was a targeted attack against a Tesla facility,' Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren added at the press conference on Thursday. 'We do believe that it is isolated at this time.' Police said Kim arrived close to the scene in a black Hyundai Elantra, before getting out on foot and approaching the Tesla building. He allegedly used gloves and black clothing to conceal his identity, before damaging surveillance cameras with a rifle. The suspect was also caught writing 'RESIST' on the front of the building from indoor cameras. Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to footage of the blaze at the time, sharing it on X with the caption: 'This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong.' 'Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks', he added, while describing it as 'terrorism' in another post. The attack was the latest in a series of strikes against Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations across the nation. In mid-March, the FBI in Kansas City said agents were investigating an incident which unfolded at a Tesla dealership in the city, alongside the ATF. In a statement, they said: 'The FBI and ATF are working with the Kansas City, MO Police Department to investigate an overnight incident in which Cyber Trucks at a Tesla Dealership in south Kansas City were damaged. 'Similar incidents have occurred in several states and the FBI and ATF are coordinating with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to gather information.' Paul Kim, 36, has been charged with 15 offenses, including arson and destroying or injuring personal property valued at $5,000 or more, police told a press conference Protests have also been staged at dealerships in direct response to Musk's involvement with President Trump and his running of DOGE. Last weekend, roughly 250 activists gathered outside a showroom in New York City, holding anti-Musk placards. Some of them read 'Block Facism Now and 'Musk Must Go' as they shouted 'Elon Musk is not elected! Democracy must be protected!' Five protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct at the demonstration and one was taken into custody for resisting arrest, obstruction and violation of local law. There have also been more than a dozen acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations since Donald Trump's inauguration, according to police and local reports. In Oregon, a showroom was even shot up with an AR-15 style-rifle in February. Suspected vandal Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, is also accused of causing major damage at the same store with Molotov cocktails in January. The protests against Musk and Tesla have ramped up since the billionaire and DOGE began firing thousands of federal workers, including veterans, as it pushes to downsize the government. The word 'resist' had also been painted on the door of the facility in Las Vegas Those who have been affected by the cuts have said they can no longer afford necessities, travel and health care. Many also said they are no longer pumping into local economies by going out to dinner. Musk's political postures also appear to be coming at a price for Tesla, whose sales in Europe tumbled 45 percent in January from a year earlier - while its rivals' sales rose by over 37 percent. Tesla's market capitalization has dropped 45 percent since hitting an all-time high of $1.5trillion on December 17, erasing most of the gains the stock made after Musk helped finance Trump's election victory. In an effort to turn that around, Trump showcased the electric vehicles from the White House last week - and even purchased one of his own. Speaking alongside his 'First Buddy' at a press conference, Trump also said anyone enacting violence against Teslas and the dealerships would be labeled 'domestic terrorists'. A decorated ex-RAF fighter pilot took his own life by driving the wrong way along a motorway and head-on into another car, killing four people, an inquest heard. Richard John Woods, 40, was almost four times the legal drink-drive limit when his blue Skoda Fabia ploughed into a Toyota Yaris on the M6 northbound carriageway in Cumbria on October 15 last year. Woods had made more than 20 searches covering suicide prior to the incident, an inquest into his death was told. The crash saw a fireball engulf the Glasgow-bound Toyota and four of its five occupants, including two children, were pronounced dead at the scene. Jaroslaw Rossa, aged 42, died along with his children, 15-year-old Filip and seven-year-old Dominic. Mr Rossa's partner, Jade McEnroe, aged 33, also died but her son Arran, also seven, survived the tragedy despite suffering serious injuries. A two-thirds empty bottle of gin was found in Woods' crashed Skoda in the wake of the incident. Cockermouth Coroners' Court heard Woods had set off from a flight safety conference at Ribby Hall Village near Preston, Lancashire, prior to the incident. Jaroslaw Rossa and sons Dominic and Filip were killed along with Jade McEnroe. Her son Arran Martin, right, was the only survivor As the Yaris flipped on to its side and was engulfed in flames, bystanders rushed to try and help, with emergency services quickly on scene During morning lectures, he was heard snoring and others felt he may have been under the influence of alcohol. He failed to show up for the afternoon session and instead headed north on the M6. At around 3.30pm, eyewitnesses initially saw his Skoda travelling northbound. It was drifting between all three lanes, travelling erratically. Witness Bryony Bedborough later told police: 'We were terrified as to what was going to happen,' adding that he looked 'like he was either drunk or on drugs'. She described Woods as looking 'like he was zoned out, in his own bubble'. Woods pulled on to the hard shoulder before making a sudden U-turn across the northbound carriageway, heading south in a straight line for more than a mile. Woods travelled on, neither braking nor taking any evasive action as he collided with the Yaris head-on. Police found he was likely travelling at around 70mph at the time of the collision. Jade McEnroe and Jaroslaw Rossa were travelling back to Glasgow with their children when the tragedy happened The M6 motorway remained closed on Tuesday night as police remained on the scene At around 3.30pm, eyewitnesses initially saw his Skoda travelling northbound. It was drifting between all three lanes, travelling erratically One motorist recalled a 'loud explosion' and 'debris raining down from above'. 'The driver of the (Yaris) had no time to react,' according to witness Gavin Walsh. As the Yaris flipped on to its side and was engulfed in flames, bystanders rushed to try and help, with emergency services quickly on scene. Woods died from multiple injuries. Analysis of his mobile phone revealed 26 prior searches covering suicide and suicide of military personnel overseas. Det Sergt Deb Story, of Cumbria police's serious collision investigation unit, concluded after considering all evidence that Mr Woods had wanted to end his life. She told yesterday's hearing: 'I would say that it was a deliberate act. Had Mr Woods survived, I would have presented the case seeking a charge of manslaughter.' Assistant Cumbria coroner Ms Margaret Taylor, recorded a conclusion of suicide and called the incident a 'catastrophe'. Ms Taylor said: 'The only thing I can do at this stage is to express my condolences to the family for the tragedy that has ensued, but also to remember those who were involved as collateral to this tragic event.' This photo (taken by a traffic camera) shows the traffic build up following the collision on the M6 northbound in Cumbria around 4pm Jade McEnroe, pictured, also died but her son Arran, also seven, survived the tragedy despite suffering serious injuries The hearing was told Woods, originally from Hexham, Northumbria, was a flight lieutenant and then squadron leader during a distinguished 14-year RAF career as a fast jet pilot. He toured Afghanistan twice, completed three tours of Iraq - receiving a commendation for one - before leaving the RAF in 2019. He latterly worked for BAE Systems, based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, as a lead contractor instructor pilot. The inquest heard he had a history of anxiety and detrimental alcohol use, for which he latterly received professional help. He told a counsellor of his previous fighter jet work: 'I dropped bombs. It was just a job.' That counsellor ultimately formed the view he wanted to improve his life and get back on track. In a statement read to the inquest, Mr Woods' father, Keith said: 'Richard was a decent, honourable man, modest and kind towards others; just a troubled soul who lost his way.' An inquest into the deaths of Jaroslaw, Filip and Dominic Rossa and Jade McEnroe is due to be held at Cockermouth on April 3. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit samaritans.org A trans activist lashed out at a fellow student inside a Texas university with a bike lock over their conservative views. Liam Thanh Tam Nguyen, 21, is currently being held at the Collin County Jail following the incident on the University of Texas at Dallas on Tuesday. Nguyen, who also goes by the name Alyssa, lashed out at student members of Turning Point USA, a conservative group that supports right wing politics. In a video of the incident shared to X by Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, the individual can be seen swinging a large bike lock at the person recording. The clip cuts short abruptly, with Kirk saying in his post that the attacker had been swinging the Turning Point chapter president Paige Neumann. Kirk said that the lock slammed against the side of her head, and shattered her phone in the process. In the clip, the individual can be seen attempting to cycle away from the scene following the incident. The chain of their bicycle appears to come off however but it is quickly fixed, with the person seen fleeing. Nguyen lashed out at student members of Turning Point USA, a conservative group that supports far-right policies Kirk said that the lock slammed against the side of her head, and shattered her phone in the process According to The Dallas Observer, Nguyen was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is also facing one count of attempting to take a weapon from an officer and one of a peace officer. Nguyen was also slapped with charges including resisting arrest and two counts of criminal mischief. According to his Collin County Jail records, his preferred name is listed as 'Alyssa' and is biologically male. Kirk said: 'Paige has filed a police report with University Police who are thankfully taking this matter seriously and are currently searching for the individual. 'Thankfully, Paige and her chapter VP Grace (whose phone was also destroyed) are both physically doing okay. 'Our Turning Point students are the tip of the spear on college campuses across the country. They are brave, strong, and resilient. Thank God for these amazing students.' The university chapter shared a picture of the assailant to their Instagram, writing: 'After todays events, we remain strong as a chapter!! Nguyen was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon In the clip, the individual can be seen attempting to cycle away from the scene following the incident Since Kirk shared the clip, his video has been inundated by comments from concerned viewers including Elon Musk 'Thank you to everyone who has supported us and offered kind words. TPUSA STRONG.' Footage of the attack has been widely condemned by conservative figures including DOGE chief and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Musk posted to X saying: 'The left is the party of violence and hate', to which Kirk replied: 'Very sorry for how intimately you know this to be true.' Another person added: 'University professors keep teaching that conservatives are purveyors of hate and threats to democracy. Indoctrination workssome students actually believe it.' One other said: 'I think that bike lock would easily be classified as a deadly weapon if used to strike a person's head. 'Find her and bring her to justice. Violence has no place in politics or on our University campuses.' A spokesperson for the University said that it had happened on their campus, and confirmed the charges brought against Nguyen. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hinted that a hijab-wearing student was dramatically detained by ICE for her connection to disruptive campus protests. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, who is from Turkey and currently studying at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was swarmed by a group of individuals near her off-campus home on Tuesday. While the specific reason for Ozturk's detention has not been disclosed, Rubio insinuated that she may be one of the 'social activists that tear up our university campuses.' This is in reference to the swarm of college protests that erupted across the country after Hamas' terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 - triggering an outpouring of pro-Palestine support from students. US District Court Judge Indira Talwani ordered Ozturk to remain in the state and that the government give 48 hours' notice before moving her. A Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday that Ozturk had been transferred to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana. It remains unclear at this time if Ozturk had already been taken to Louisiana at the time of Talwani's order. She has yet to be charged with a crime. Rubio defended Ozturk's detention on Thursday, claiming the administration will not give visas to students who participate in violent protests - perhaps hinting at Ozturk's involvement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the ICE detention of a hijab-wearing student claiming the administration will not give visas to students who participate in violent protests Rumeysa Ozturk (pictured), 30, who is from Turkey and currently studying at Tufts University in Massachusetts was detained by ICE on Tuesday 'If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason you are coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, we are not going to give you a visa,' Rubio said. 'We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campus. We've given you a visa and you decide to do that we're going to take it away. 'We dont want it. We dont want it in our country. Go back and do it in your country.' Her detention comes as the Trump Administration is looking to crack down on 'pro-Hamas' college students, and three other international students - Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung and Badar Khan Suri - have been detained as part of the campus crackdown. Footage of her being taken in showed 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. Ozturk was one of four students last March who co-authored an op-ed piece in The Tufts Daily. Ozturk was swarmed by a group of individuals near her off-campus home on Tuesday The group put in her handcuffs and grab her backpack from her before pulling her towards a black SUV parked across the street 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. The order had said his administration would wield US policy to 'remove' aliens, who engage in 'unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence'. A 106-year-old woman has aired her grievances with flying after she repeatedly received the same poor treatment from airport security. Cretora Biggerstaff, a Texas woman who flies to Florida twice a year, revealed that she's consistently prompted to prove her age when she flies - and she's getting sick of it. She explained that whenever she flies, she thinks airport security believes she's 'some stupid old lady.' 'If I could get the airlines to realize I'm not some stupid old lady, and that's what they think I am, that I don't know if I'm coming or going,' Biggerstaff told local Fox affiliate, KRIV-TV. She added that there is a misconception about people over a certain age, but Biggerstaff said that just because she's 106 doesn't mean that she's 'in a wheelchair drooling.' Biggerstaff runs into the annoying issue whenever she flies with her daughter and shows her Texas ID to security. She explained to KRIV that she had to field questions about her age and prove that the number on her ID was correct. Biggerstaff speculated that the security system doesn't recognize ages over 100. Cretora Biggerstaff, 106, spoke to local news about the annoying obstacles she faces when traveling Bigerstaff claimed that airport security doesn't believe that she's 106 years old and she's constantly asked to prove her age Biggerstaff travels twice a year with her daughter from Texas to Florida, and hopes to travel to Italy In response to her repeated troubles with the Transportation Security Administration, Biggerstaff enlisted a friend to help her write letters to the Department of Transportation and the CEO's of United and Delta Airlines. Biggerstaff's friend, Arline Thienel, told KRIV that she shouldn't have to 'jump through hoops' just because she doesn't look her age. 'I'd like to see the computers aligned up to 120 or whatever,' Thienel said. 'People live longer, so they don't have to go through all that stress every time they travel.' Despite her outrage, Biggerstaff said that the obstacles aren't stopping her from traveling. She's continued to take her biannual trips to Gainesville with her daughter and hopes to one day travel abroad. Biggerstaff revealed that if she ever wins the lottery, she plans on hopping on a plane to Italy. Biggerstaff was previously featured on local news when she celebrated her 105th birthday Biggerstaff said that even though she's over 100, she doesn't feel like she's old 'People will say to me, "how do you feel?" I say, "how should I feel? I feel ok. I don't feel 106,"' she added. KRIV had previously caught up with Biggerstaff last year when she celebrated her 105th birthday with three other centennial women at an active living facility. She told the outlet that the 'good Lord' was keeping her feeling young and sharp. Her daughter, Carol Owen gushed about how 'amazing' Biggerstaff was. 'She has been with me through everything,' Owen added. DailyMail.com reached out to TSA for comment but didn't immediately hear back. A 'professional thief' swiped a bag from senior Conservative MP Sir David Davis during a 15,000 crime spree, a court has been told. Abderrahim Mamma, 28, allegedly stole Sir David's bag at King's Cross Station on November 4 last year. Davis, 76, was the Secretary of State for Brexit from 2016 to 2018, and is the MP for Goole and Pocklington in Yorkshire. Mamma is charged with six further counts of theft involving bags and phones between February 2024 and January 2025. The thefts are said to have taken place at Paddington Railway Station, St Pancras International and King's Cross. The charge relating to Sir David states Mamma 'stole personal property, of a value unknown' belonging to the Tory grandee. Mamma appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court wearing grey prison clothes, aided by an Arabic interpreter. A 'professional thief' swiped a bag from senior Conservative MP Sir David Davis (pictured) during a 15,000 crime spree, a court has been told Abderrahim Mamma (pictured), 28, allegedly stole Sir David's bag at King's Cross Station on November 4 last year The thefts are said to have taken place at Paddington Railway Station, St Pancras International and King's Cross (pictured above) Malachy Pakenham, prosecuting, said: 'This defendant stole property from people worth approximately 15,000.' He told the court Mamma stole 'phones, bags and personal property' from his victims adding: 'Clearly, I say, he is professional thief and that this court has insufficient powers to deal with it here.' Mamma, whose address was given as HMP Wandsworth, was remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at Inner London Crown Court on 24 April. He is charged with seven counts of theft. A 60-year-old woman has been charged as part of an investigation into the alleged stalking of Madeleine McCann's family. Karen Spragg, of Caerau, Cardiff, has been charged with one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress between May 3, 2024 and February 21 this year, Leicestershire Police said. She is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday. Julia Wandel, 23, is due to appear at Leicester Crown Court on the same day charged with four counts of stalking against the McCann family. Wandel, who is also known as Julia Wandelt, is accused of stalking Kate, Gerry, Sean and Amelie McCann between January 3 2024 and February 15 2025. It is alleged she made unwanted contact with the McCanns and turned up at their address on two separate occassions last year. She is also accused of sending a letter, calls, voicemails and WhatsApp messages to Kate and Gerry McCann, and sending their daughter Amelie and son Sean Instagram messages. Wandel has claimed to be the family's daughter Madeleine, who vanished aged three after being snatched by an intruder who broke into her family's holiday villa in Praia de Luz in Portugal in 2007. A 60-year-old woman has been charged as part of an investigation into the alleged stalking of Madeleine McCann's parents Kate and Gerry McCann (pictured) and their son and daughter Madeleine McCann (pictured), then 3, vanished during a family holiday to Praia da Luz in Portugal in 2007 Julia Wandel, 23, who is also known as Julia Wandelt is accused of stalking Kate, Gerry, Sean and Amelie McCann Leicester Magistrates' Court previously heard Wandel, of Lubin, Poland, is alleged to have attended the family home on May 2 and December 7 last year. The court heard Madeleine's parents were not present, and Wandel allegedly delivered a letter to their address. It was also told the defendant sent Amelie and Sean Instagram messages between January 3 and December 29 last year. Wendel, whose media appearances are being managed by Surjit Singh Clair, became an internet sensation in February 2023 when she posted to Instagram under the account name '@IAmMadeleineMcCann'. She has appeared on U.S talk show 'Dr Phil' to discuss the possibility that she is Madeleine. She also claims to have submitted DNA test results to a 'world expert' who compared them to the crime scene following Madeleine's disappearance. She alleges experts have also matched her eyes, teeth and voice with those of the missing girl. In her numerous posts to Instagram, Wandel claims her 'source' believes the genetic evidence 'strongly supports' her claims. Wandel leaving Leicester Magistrates Court where was remanded into custody to appear for a plea hearing on April 7 at Leicester Crown Court Madeleine's disappearance is one of the world's biggest ever missing person inquiries, and her fate remains unknown to this day. Convicted pedophile and German native Christian Brueckner was identified as a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance in 2020 He was convicted of unrelated crimes, including child sexual abuse and drug offenses, and was serving a prison sentence in Germany. Brueckner is nearing the end of his seven-year jail sentence for raping an elderly woman in Praia da Luz on the Algarve, where Madeleine vanished in May 2007 - and is set to be released in September. A woman has suffered severe burns after heroically saving her grandfather from a caravan fire in Skegness. Melissa Shaw, 33, was at Coral Beach Holiday Park, Ingoldmells, for a weekend away with her grandparents, mother and aunty. But after the first night at the caravan, which her grandfather bought after retiring, Ms Shaw recalled waking up at 5am to the smell of fire and the sound of ringing alarms as the inferno rampaged through the vehicle. The family frantically rushed to the exits, with the 33-year-old care worker suffering the most severe burns out of them all, before she realised her 80-year-old grandfather, Michael Thornton, was still inside. She said: 'I can't remember if it was in my bedroom or the other room, I just remember trying to put a fire out and that's how I got the burns on my hands. Then I woke my aunty up, and I was shouting for everyone. 'My mum was already awake and shouting, and then me and my aunty went out of one door and my mum and my grandma went out another, and I was like "where's my grandad?"' After realising Mr Thornton was in the caravan which was fully ablaze, Ms Shaw told how she rushed back in despite having already suffered extreme burns to her hands. She added: 'I couldn't get him because of the injuries to my hands. I managed to get him out of bed but then he was at the bottom of the bed and I couldn't get him out of the caravan by myself.' Melissa Shaw (pictured) rescued her 80-year-old grandfather, Michael Thornton (pictured), from the burning caravan at Coral Beach Holiday Park, Ingoldmells Ms Shaw recalled waking up at 5am to the smell of fire and the sound of ringing alarms as the inferno rampaged through the vehicle As the caravan was uninsured, the family say they have 'lost everything' in the fire, which has since been ruled as accidental Thankfully after having to 'scream and shout for help', the next door neighbour rushed to the scene and helped drag her grandfather to safety. In the aftermath of the blaze, the family were all taken to Boston Pilgrim Hospital to be checked, while Lincolnshire Police evacuated those in nearby caravans. The force, who said a 'scene guard had been erected for public protection', also confirmed that the fire was not being treated as suspicious. Ms Shaw from Bradford, Yorkshire, was the only member of the family to have suffered injuries which she spent three days in the hospital receiving treatment for. She said: 'Because they don't have a burns injury ward they couldn't do much for my burns, it was more keeping an eye on my breathing because of the smoke inhalation and because I have asthma it was playing up.' As the caravan was uninsured, the family say they have 'lost everything' in the fire, which has since been ruled as accidental. Ms Shaw added: 'They have looked into it and the caravan was not insured, they can't do anything about it. It was my car as well that set on fire, and my car is insured and stuff but it was on finance and the insurance won't cover all the finance and the excess fee. 'Some of us lost literally everything. I lost everything, even the clothes I was wearing because the hospital had to chop them off me to see if I had more burns anywhere else. They chopped the rings off my fingers.' In the aftermath of the blaze, the family were all taken to Boston Pilgrim Hospital to be checked, while Lincolnshire Police evacuated those in nearby caravans She explained that her mum and grandmother had managed to save their handbags, but that her aunt and grandfather also lost their belongings. Ms Shaw added: 'My main concern was to get everyone out of the caravan, I wasn't thinking "grab this, grab that".' Due to the severe burns on her hands, Ms Shaw has had part of her middle and ring fingers removed, and is expected to be off work for three months while waiting on a skin graft. Ms Shaw's niece, Leah Dibb, has since set up a GoFundMe page for the family, which has a goal of raising 1,000. The 23-year-old said: 'Everyone is back home and everyone is pretty much all right, except for my aunty - she is suffering from really severe burns on her hands and she's going to have to have multiple surgeries and it's going to take a while for them to heal.' Anthony Albanese has officially called the federal election for May 3. The Prime Minister travelled to Government House to meet with Governor-General Sam Mostyn early on Friday morning. He then travelled back to Parliament House where he fronted an eager media pack to fire the starting gun on the long-awaited election campaign. 'Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia,' the Prime Minister told reporters. 'In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face, but we can determine how we respond. 'Our government has chosen to face global challenges the Australian way helping people under cost-of-living pressure, while building for the future. 'Because of the strength and resilience that our people have shown, Australia is turning the corner. Now on May 3, you choose the way forward.' Labor and the Coalition will slug it out over the next five weeks to try to convince Australians who has the best vision for the country amid a campaign expected to be dominated by the cost of living crisis. The Prime Minister travelled to Government House to meet with Governor-General Sam Mostyn early on Friday morning (pictured) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seen leaving The Lodge to go to the Government House to dissolve Parliament The major election update coincides with the release of shock research which appears to show most Aussies believe they are worse off after three years under Labor. Recent polling had showed Labor begins the election campaign ahead of the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis at 51 to 49 per cent. However, the new Redbridge poll, published by news.com.au, found only 29 per cent of voters could name something the federal government has done since Mr Albanese was elected that has 'made their life better in any way'. Up to 54 per cent of the 2,039 Aussies polled couldn't name a single measure that had had any positive impact on their lives. Of the one in three voters who could identify a positive, 36 per cent said the government's controversial energy rebate had improved their lives. This measure seemed to be recognised far ahead of the government's other big financial measures for voters of tax cuts and changes to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, with 11 per cent of respondents noting these. About 5 per cent of voters mentioned HECS relief, while 4 per cent mentioned pension increases. Alabanese's election announcement distracted attention away from Mr Dutton as he handed down his Budget reply speech on Thursday night. The massive extent of planned government-wide staff cuts is revealed in an internal Trump administration memo showing a plan to slash the Treasury by a third and the Department of Housing and Urban Development by half. Those numbers, contained on a memo that was penned a week ago, come amid looming Reductions in Force that are expected to slash government payrolls. Trump tasked federal agency heads to draw up plans for slashing their own ranks, with a timeline setting up the wide-scale RIFs next month. Among the agencies absorbing stiff cuts are the Small Business Administration, at 43 percent, and HUD, at 50 percent, according to the memo, the Washington Post reported. Cuts at the Education Department, which Trump has asked Secretary Linda McMahon to pare by half, are expected to save $6 billion, with another $1.9 billion coming from cuts at the Justice Department through an 8 percent cut there. The National Science Foundation, long considered funding favorite among members of Congress from both parties, is facing a 28 percent cut, while the Commerce Department is facing a 30 percent. At the Treasury, which includes the Internal Revenue Service, cuts are projected to reach 30 percent. The Post reported Saturday that officials anticipate a drop in tax revenue of more than 10 percent, or $500 billion. Trump cabinet officials have been praising the cuts by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency at cabinet meetings and other public events. An White House memo sketches out massive cuts across federal agencies Among them is Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who told DailyMail.com 'the bottom line is that the entire cabinet is aligned, is supportive and understands the president's vision that is being effectuated by Elon Musk and in partnership with all of the agencies, of course USDA, one of the largest agencies, over 100,000 employees ... some of the Reductions in Force that we're doing. We will never stop working for the American people.' She did not comment specifically on emails sent to fired probationary employees who were told 'based on your performance, you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the agency would be in the public interest.' Some of the probationary employees getting fired at her agency work in food inspections, as the administration seeks to tackle a bird flu outbreak. 'Its no secret the Trump Administration is dedicated to downsizing the federal bureaucracy and cutting waste, fraud, and abuse,' White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields told DailyMail.com, asked if he could confirm the data in the memo. 'This document is a pre-deliberative draft and does not accurately reflect final reduction in force plans. When President Trumps Cabinet Secretaries are ready to announce reduction in force plans, they will make those announcements to their respective workforces at the appropriate time,' he said. At the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has announced layoffs of 10,000 for a total loss of 20,000 workers in a restructuring. The agency says it will bring the workforce to 62,000 from 82,000, and claims the move will save $1.8 billion. Job cuts would hit 50 percent at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and 43 percent at the Small Business Administration, according to the memo HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. an additional 10,000 cuts, bringing the total to 20,000 at his agency 'The restructuring will address this and serve multiple goals without impacting critical services,' the agency said in a press release. According to an HHS fact sheet, that includes reducing the Food and Drug Administration by 3,500 full-time employees, the Centers for Disease Control by 2,400 employees, and the National Institutes of Health by 1,200 employees. Musk spoke to Bret Baier of Fox News about the potential cost savings, although he did not directly respond when asked how much he had achieved 'so far.' 'At a high level ... we want to reduce the spending by eliminating wastereduce the spending by 15%. Which seems really quite achievable. The government is not efficient and there is a lot of waste and fraud,' Musk said. He also said amid some high-profile mistakes such as firing and then hiring back nuclear safety workers, that 'When we do make mistakes we correct them quickly and we move on.' The mass firings are likely unlawful, will likely be challenged in court. And we also know that it does nothing to improve the health, safety and economic well being of the American people. It will hurt it.' The King has been forced to cancel a string of engagements today after experiencing side-effects following his cancer treatment. Charles, 76, had a 'scheduled' appointment today as part of his ongoing medical care. But he suffered 'temporary side-effects' that required a short period of observation in hospital. The King was tonight back at Clarence House 'working away as usual', with sources describing it as a 'most minor bump in a road that's very much heading in the right direction'. In order to 'protect and prioritise [his] continued very positive recovery', he has 'regretfully' cancelled planned engagements in Birmingham tomorrow, they explained. Sources insisted there was 'no drama' and described the 'brief' trip to hospital as being 'connected to [his] treatment programme'. But it is a concerning reminder that, more than a year after announcing he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, the King is still undergoing treatment while undertaking a busy diary of public engagements. A source added: 'As many can vouch, such things are not unexpected with these kind of conditions.' King Charles III greets a guest during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday King Charles leaves Somerset House after visiting an exhibition and meeting farmers on March 26 Charles waves to members of the public after visiting the exhibition on Wednesday Buckingham Palace said tonight: 'Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital. 'His Majesty's afternoon engagements were therefore postponed. His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow's diary programme will also be rescheduled. 'His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.' Buckingham Palace has never revealed what cancer the King has other than to say it was not connected with the prostate surgery he underwent in January last year, which resulted in doctors discovering the disease nor details of his treatment. But the Mail has previously revealed that it was caught at a very early stage. It is understood that his treatment is ongoing and the recovery path continues 'in a very positive direction'. The King has been able to undertake a full programme of public and State duties, and that position remains unaltered, sources stress. He was last seen in public on Wednesday, when he undertook two lengthy engagements, attending an exhibition on soil and meeting members of the farming community, followed by a large reception at Buckingham Palace for 400 members of the regional media. He spent more than a hour on his feet, meeting and greeting his guests. Queen Camilla has spoken recently of her personal frustration that her husband will not slow down. King Charles III arriving for his visit to Somerset House on Wednesday Inside, the 76-year-old, who is the Patron of The Royal Countryside Fund, was guided through the venue's latest exhibit SOIL: The World at Our Feet Charles took off his coat to reveal a grey pin-striped suit with a blue-patterned tie and a matching checked pocket square The King's visit coincided with Somerset House's 25th anniversary and he unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion He has been keen to be as open as possible about his diagnosis, while retaining a sense of medical privacy, and was keen to share the latest news in a 'spirit of openness and transparency'. No further details of the side effects have been given, but sources stress such issues are not uncommon with many medical treatments. The King was said to be in 'good form' at home last night, and is continuing to work on State papers and make calls from his study. He was treated in The London Clinic that has cared for him previously and he travelled to and from the hospital by car in the usual way. The Queen did not join the King during his brief visit to hospital yesterday. A spokesman said of the cancelled engagements: 'His Majesty was due to receive Credentials from the Ambassadors of three different nations this afternoon. 'Tomorrow, he was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion. 'He very much hopes that they can be rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible.' King Charles is accompanied by his wife Camilla during a reception at Clarence House on Tuesday. It understood the Queen did not join The King during his visit to hospital on Thursday 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 King Charles with Sir Derek Jacobi and Helena Bonham Carter at the glitzy reception on Tuesday No major changes to his programme are anticipated but a decision may yet be taken to lighten limited elements of the full planned schedule on the advice of his medical team, and in preparation for the royal couple's State visit to Italy in just over a week's time. It is understood that visit beginning on April 7 will go ahead. Charles has barely taken any time off over the last year, aside from the first few weeks following his diagnosis and resumed public duties, first privately and then in public, as soon as he possibly could. Last autumn he even undertook a gruelling two-week foreign tour to Australia and Samoa. Sources believe undertaking public and State duties has been of great benefit to the King's overall wellbeing and Charles is 'deeply grateful' for all the support, encouragement and kind words of the many thousands he has met while doing so. Buckingham Palace has indicated there are unlikely to be any further updates because what has happened is 'not a major development', but will advise on any minor alterations to next week's diary that may be required in due course. A bespectacled Rabia Khalid, her hair pulled back and parted in the middle over prison scrubs, told a Colorado court she could hear virtual proceedings as she appeared from custody in Douglas County Jail on charges related to her son's kidnapping and more than half a decade on the lam. Khalid, 40, was arrested on February 23 alongside her husband and co-defendant, Elliot Blake Bourgeios, 42, after seven years on the run with the son she kidnapped, Abdul Aziz. The boy was seven when they disappeared in 2017. The case had been featured on Netflix's Unsolved Mysteries before astute Douglas County deputies responding to a burglary call found him in the driveway of a Highlands Ranch home on a Sunday afternoon. Khalid and Bourgeios were unlawfully inside the house, and their explanations for why they were there and who they were didn't add up for deputies ... who soon determined that the mother was a wanted woman. She and Bourgeios were quickly arrested and charged with second degree kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities and trespassing. Both appeared virtually on Thursday from Douglas County Jail for scheduled preliminary hearings, but the court dates were postponed until May. We have significant discovery that I think is still coming that ... I can tell the court will lead to additional charges, prosecutors said Thursday. Denver criminal defense attorney Kyle Sawyer, who is representing Khalid, did not immediately return request for comment from DailyMail.com. The pair's surprise apprehension came after a homeowner in suburban Castle Rock was remotely monitoring the home, which was on the market, and noticed two individuals unlawfully entering. Rabia Khalid, 42, has been in the custody of Colorado's Douglas County on $1 million bond after her February 23 arrest on charges including kidnapping and forgery Abdul Aziz Khan, pictured with his father, Dr Abdul Khan, was just seven years old when his mother, who did not have custody, kidnapped him and went on the run Responding deputies discovered Aziz and another unnamed child in a vehicle in the driveway and told them their parents were inside. Khalid and Bourgeios subsequently claimed to be associated with the realtor. But their stories quickly 'began to unravel,' according to a triumphant March 5 Douglas County Sheriff's Office release. The deputies 'felt like they were being lied to - that these people were not being straight with them,' Sheriff Darren M Weekly told DailyMail.com earlier this month. 'The female, later identified to be Rabi, said that she never had an identification card or anything like that. Obviously, for an adult living in this country, that's very unusual - so very suspicious.' Khalid was arrested alongside Elliot Blake Bourgeios, 42, after deputies responded to a burglary call at a Highland Ranch home for sale. Aziz and another unnamed child were found in a vehicle in the driveway Douglas County Sheriff Darren M Weekly told DailyMail.com that Aziz's father, Dr Abdul Khan, had traveled to Colorado after learning that his son had been found safe and sound. He had not seen the boy, now 14, since his wife fled with the child in 2017 Using a portable device called a morphs scanner to check fingerprints, the deputies 'found that she had a warrant for her arrest for kidnapping,' he said. Khalid and Bourgeios have been in Douglas County Jail ever since on bond of $1 million each. Weekly told DailyMail.com earlier this month that Aziz's father, Dr Abdul Khan, had traveled to Colorado after learning that his son had been found safe and sound. He had not seen the boy, now 14, since his ex-wife, who was the non-custodial parent, fled with him from Atlanta in 2017. 'There's just an immense sense of pride that we were able to bring this seven-year-long mystery to a close and to start the process of reunification with Aziz and his dad,' the sheriff told DailyMail.com. The pair are due back in court on May 23. The Palace has released a statement after The King was admitted to hospital this afternoon. The 76-year-old monarch visited The London Clinic on Thursday afternoon for a brief period of observation, after the side effects became noticeable. While the King's hospital dash raised concerns, Buckingham Palace quickly sought to reassure the public, stating that his recovery is progressing in the 'right direction' and that the incident was not unexpected. A palace source revealed that the King's visit to the hospital was due to the after-effects of his treatment and was 'not uncommon' for cancer patients. Despite the unplanned trip, it was reported that the monarch's symptoms were temporary and the episode was brief. Following his discharge, King Charles returned to Clarence House later that evening, where he was said to be in good spirits, working on state papers and making calls from his study. King Charles III and Queen Camilla departing The London Clinic in central London on 29th January 2024 King Charles III greets a guest during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday A statement from Buckingham Palace said: 'Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital. 'His Majesty's afternoon engagements were therefore postponed. 'His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow's diary programme will also be rescheduled. 'His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.' The side effects have forced the King to cancel a series of engagements scheduled for Friday in Birmingham. While some minor adjustments to his diary are possible in the short term, the palace is confident that there will be no significant disruptions to his schedule. Sources indicate that while the King's schedule for next week may be slightly altered, his planned state visit to Italy, set for the week after next, is still expected to go ahead as planned. The King travelled to and from the hospital by car and was not accompanied by Queen Camilla, who had been carrying out her own engagements in Wembley, north-west London, earlier in the day. Andrew Tate told his ex-girlfriend 'you are my property' after allegedly choking her to near the point of unconsciousness during a rough sexual encounter. Bri Stern broke her silence about the split, revealing the self-proclaimed misogynist threatened to 'ruin my life, rape me and kill me' if she ever betrayed him. Stern documented harrowing allegations against Tate in an Instagram post, adding that ultimately she 'still loves him' and fears it may be a result of 'Stockholm Syndrome.' 'The last words he said to me before I left the hotel were ''Shut the f**k up b**ch. You will never talkback me. You are my property'',' she wrote. The model revealed this week she filed a lawsuit against her former beau, accusing him of choking and assaulting her during a rough sexual encounter at the Beverly Hills Hotel on March 11 - just two weeks after he was let back into the United States. The disgraced influencer, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, returned to the United States last month after years in a Romanian prison and under house arrest alongside his brother Tristan Tate on criminal sex trafficking charges. Stern said it was those final, degrading words that made it 'click' in her brain that she could not go back to him. 'I finally recognized that someone who truly loved me would not say those things to me or hurt me repeatedly the way he did.' Andrew Tate told his ex-girlfriend she was 'his property' after allegedly choking her to near the point of unconsciousness during a rough sexual encounter Bri Stern broke her silence about the split, revealing the self-proclaimed misogynist threatened to 'ruin my life, rape me and kill me' if she ever betrayed him Stern said that moment made her realize 'the gravity of the situation, this wasn't a joke or an internet facade.' The couple met in the summer of 2024. At the time, Tate was still holed up under house arrest in Romania, and 'needed models' for his crypto coin. As an established model who was herself trying to learn more about crypto to 'save her coin,' the duo began spending time together. 'When we weren't physically together, we were in communication all day, every day. He was my best friend. We made plans to live together, first in Romania, then in Miami once he traveled to America. Tate told Stern he wanted to 'start a new life' with her, and that he wanted her to 'have his children.' But after the alleged assault on March 11, Stern decided that she 'wanted better for myself, for my children' and left, making a promise to herself not to go back to him. Tate has built a brand and cult-like following for his controversial stances about women and masculinity, describing himself as a 'misogynist' who believes women belong in the home, should not drive, and must 'bear responsibility' if they are raped. He is currently facing charges associated with sex trafficking young women, as well as a count of rape. But Stern's statement suggests she thought this was Tate's 'online persona' - a niche way to develop a following, earning notoriety and cash along the way. Stern said that moment made her realize 'the gravity of the situation, this wasn't a joke or an internet facade' Andrew Tate has been accused of choking and assaulting his girlfriend during a rough sexual encounter at the Beverly Hills Hotel just two weeks after he was let back in the country As an established model who was herself trying to learn more about crypto to 'save her coin,' the duo began spending time together Stern said the split had left her an 'emotional wreck... constantly looking over my shoulder.' While Stern said she has no further plans to go into detail about their relationship, her lawsuit alleges Tate 'began choking her while they were having sex, but it got too rough, and although she begged him to stop, he kept going.' TMZ reported that she 'struggled, the more violent he got and she felt everything getting fuzzy, like she was fading into unconsciousness.' The alleged violence only stopped 'when Tate was done having sex, and once he fell asleep she went to the bathroom to document her injuries.' The publication also revealed troubling text messages purportedly between Tate and Stern. 'I want to beat the f**k out of you,' one of the texts alleged to be from Tate to Stern reads. 'You will give me a child this year b**ch... What's the point in having you if I don't beat and impregnate you.' Stern also shared screenshots of texts that Tate sent her where he said he enjoyed beating her because he found it 'relaxing' and referred to the young woman as his property. Bri Stern, Tate's influencer girlfriend, allegedly filed a police report accusing the self-proclaimed misogynist of sexual assault following the scary March 11 encounter The disgraced influencer returned to the United States last month after years in Romania in prison and under house arrest facing criminal sex trafficking charges US officials first brought up the Tate brothers' case at a meeting with Romania's government in February. The issue was raised further by Trump special envoy, Richard Grenell, days later at a security conference in Munich. Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, referred to the brothers' detention in Romania as 'absolute insanity'. Tate, who has since left the US and returned to Romania, has not responded to the allegations. Several pictures showing Stern's bruised face were reportedly handed over to police. She allegedly visited an emergency room in New York City several days after the altercation while on a work trip. Stern claimed she was diagnosed as 'post-concussive.' Tate and his brother and co-accused Tristan checked in at a police station near Romania's capital on Monday, complying with the court order which allowed them to return home last month. The duo flew into Fort Lauterdale on a private jet last month He told reporters 'I'm a free person who has not been convicted of anything,' and said he will 'comply with all judicial authorities everywhere around the world because I'm completely innocent.' The Tates, who are dual US and British citizens, were arrested in Romania in late 2022 and formally indicted last year on charges that they participated in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where they were allegedly sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They deny all of the allegations against them. 'It doesn't matter what you're accused of, it matters what you are proven guilty to have done in a fair court of law,' Tate said on Monday. 'Accusations mean nothing. It doesn't matter how many times you repeat an accusation on the news. That is garbage.' The duo attracted significant attention after touching down in Florida in their private jet, partying and taunting officials in America and Romania as they flaunted their wealth with cigars and private chef at their Miami mansion. But within days Florida's Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office had opened a criminal investigation into the brothers. He said in a social media post that he directed his office to work with law enforcement to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the brothers. The Tate brothers have been taunting officials both in America and Romania as they flaunt cigars, their Miami mansion and private chef Governor Ron DeSantis issued a statement when the brothers arrived in his state maintaining he and his office had no involvement in their arrival. 'Florida is not a place where you're welcome with that type of conduct in the air,' he said. 'And I don't know how it came to this. We were not involved, we were not notified.' Tate said Florida's governor was 'hijacked by the media' after they arrived in his state. 'The media jumped on him and he didn't realize I was an American citizen,' he said. 'And now he understands he made a mistake... there've been some conversations and everything has been settled.' The Tate brothers had their travel bans lifted after several high-profile White House officials took interest in them. One Trump's top staffers, Grenell, reportedly discussed the case with Romania's Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu at a security conference in Munich earlier this month, the BBC reports. Lawyer Paul Ingrassia who represented the Tate brothers in a defamation case they filed against their accusers now works as White House liaison to the DOJ. He lauded Tate as an extraordinary human being' who was offering 'a dying West some hope for renewal' in online posts. The influencer also appeared on a podcast with MAGA lawyer and Trump Counselor Alina Habba, telling him she is a 'big fan'. The attorney was recently appointed New Jersey's top federal prosecutor by the president on an interim basis. A furious backlash was growing last night against Rachel Reeves's welfare cuts that will see one in ten carers lose their lifeline benefits. An estimated 150,000 unpaid carers looking after loved ones will have their weekly allowances taken away under the Chancellor's controversial plan to slash the number of people receiving sickness and disability support. Some couples will lose as much as 12,000 a year, the Commons was told, and there are warnings many vulnerable people will be pushed into poverty. The move is expected to save 500million by the end of the decade. Labour was accused of 'coming after carers', having previously targeted pensioners and farmers in earlier rounds of cuts and tax raids. Tory MP Danny Kruger blasted: 'The Government are balancing the books on the backs of the people least able to take the weight. 'First they came for the farmers, then for the pensioners, and now it is the carers the most important people in our society, doing the most important job a human being can do, not for the money but for the love. 'The least the Government can do is to give them our support.' Ministers were also warned they face the 'mother of all rebellions' from within Labour, leaving Sir Keir Starmer facing the biggest revolt of his premiership if he goes ahead with cutting 5 billion in total from the welfare bill by the end of the decade. A number of Labour MPs have already declared they will vote against the proposals when they come before the Commons in May. One leading rebel told the Mail: 'This is, I think, a poll-tax moment. A lot of MPs are saying they will vote against and that this is not Labour. People who have been absolutely loyal are being emboldened to say we've got to change direction.' Rachel Reeves leaves her residence on Downing Street for the Houses of Parliament ahead of delivering the Spring Budget Statement An estimated 150,000 unpaid carers looking after loved ones will have their weekly allowances taken away under the Chancellor's controversial plan to slash the number of people receiving sickness and disability support (stock) Tory MP Danny Kruger (pictured) blasted the move: 'The Government are balancing the books on the backs of the people least able to take the weight' The MP predicted the 'heat' will continue to build ahead of crucial local elections in just over a month. Latest figures show more than 1.4 million people receive carer's allowance worth 81.90 a week if they spend at least 35 hours a week looking after somebody with a disability or illness who needs help with washing, cooking, household tasks or shopping. Others receive the carer's element of universal credit worth 198.31 a month. But an impact assessment published alongside the Spring Statement on Wednesday revealed that '150,000 people will not receive carer's allowance or the universal credit carer element' as a result of new restrictions on the number of people able to claim personal independence payment (PIP). This will save 200 million in 2027-28, the document revealed, rising to 500million by the end of the decade. Last night Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, himself a carer to his disabled son, said: 'The way this Government is treating carers is appalling. These cuts will be a double whammy to the most vulnerable, hitting disabled people who cannot work while slashing support for the loved ones who care for them. It is not just unfair, it is a false economy.' In the Commons, Lib Dem MP Steve Darling said: 'Yesterday saw the biggest cuts to carer's allowance for decades. Although we need to manage down appropriately the benefits budget, that needs to be done in a way that is caring, compassionate and far from rushed, which is what we saw yesterday. 'The Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggests that some couples will lose 12,000 a year, when PIP cuts and carer's allowance cuts are taken into account.' Daniel Francis, Labour MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford in Kent, said: 'Like thousands of others, I carried out my caring responsibilities this morning before I came to this place. Latest figures show more than 1.4 million people receive carer's allowance worth 81.90 a week if they spend at least 35 hours a week looking after somebody with a disability or illness (stock) Others receive the carer's element of universal credit worth 198.31 a month (stock) 'Will the minister consider whether we need a plan across government departments to identify the support available to ensure that carers can work, and that they and their loved ones do not fall into poverty as a result of the announcements made?' Carers UK said that those who look after loved ones are also worried about being told they have to find jobs despite needing to stay at home. Tamara Sandoul from the charity added: 'Many have contacted us to say they are shocked, worried and scared about what might happen if they or the person they care for no longer scores enough points in the right areas. 'Losing PIP means losing carer's allowance and other entitlements. Families will effectively lose two main strands of financial income at once.' Asked how she would explain the cut to carers losing out, the Chancellor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The people with the most severe needs, we want them to get more support than what they are getting today. But all the evidence shows that with support more people can be working.' 'It feels very precarious for us to have disabled children now' Nicola Holmes, who looks after her disabled son, is afraid she will lose her carer's allowance if his personal independence payment is cut following tightened eligibility rules. The 55-year-old was once a professional actress but had to give up working to look after Ethan, 18, who has Down syndrome. The family relies on her husband Wayne's income as a self-employed electrician as well as the 184 a week her son receives in PIP and 81.90 a week in carer's allowance. Nicola Holmes with her husband Wayne and children Ethan, 18, and Ella, 15 But Mrs Holmes is afraid her son's benefits will be cut and insisted that although he is technically an adult, he has the mental age of a five-year-old and will never be able to work. 'My son is a beautiful soul and is just recently out of nappies, but needs full support to eat safely, going to the toilet and washing,' she said. 'He would not be safe to even push a trolley in a supermarket, he would need someone to help him. 'That is the level of need the Government is overlooking the impact of taking something as small away as PIP. It is for paying for those extra things to support him. 'My son can't help it, it's not my fault he is disabled. It is for the Government to be accountable and get funds from people who can pay and support the most vulnerable.' If Ethan's PIP is cut then she would no longer qualify for carer's allowance, which Mrs Holmes says will push her family deeper into poverty. 'I would be left with an adult disabled child,' she said. 'To demonise the disabled is unacceptable and it feels very precarious at the moment to be the mother of disabled children. 'We would end up in more debt than we are now if we lost his PIP and the carer's allowance. We might end up homeless if we couldn't afford to pay our mortgage. 'I can't go out to work because my son doesn't have the right provisions. It's not a crime to be poor, it's not a crime to be disabled.' Mrs Holmes, whose daughter Ella, 15, has autism, added: 'Labour has gone back on its whole ethos and ostracised a whole section of society by their economic worth. 'It is just criminal and we are in a very dangerous position in this country.' When William and Harry were growing up, they learned the hard way that the Press was not always their friend. While out and about with Princess Diana, the two young Princes had many a trip ruined by the loud clicking sound of a dozen paparazzi cameras. And as they became men, both were burned by various stories: William when the Sun broke the Press's agreement to not follow him on holiday (which landed them the scoop that he was dating Kate Middleton) and Harry by the News of the World over his alleged drug use. The stories caused them massive anxiety and frustration at the time. While the princes had been protected from the Press by an agreement to let them get on with studying, as they became fully working royals, they became fair game. Royal aides knew it was vital for them to establish links with the media so they could get their message out on their own terms. And on the other side of the fence, journalists knew that if they managed to build a bond with one of the princes, or ideally both, it would yield dividends. In 2019 Tom Bradby got his biggest scoop when he carried out blockbuster interviews with Harry and Meghan in South Africa, in which they described their struggles within the Firm Prince William trusted Bradby so much that he knew he hadn't leaked information about him. It later turned out the information had got to the News of the World via phone hacking Bradby grew close with the princes in the early 2000s. He is pictured with Harry in South Africa in 2019 It was the early 2000s and to those on the royal beat, it was clear that after the death of Diana, forming a relationship with her two sons was essential. It just so happened to be at this moment that Tom Bradby stepped into the world of royal reporting. He was invited to lunch by Mark Dyer, then Harry's private secretary, and he quickly became the favoured journalist amongst the Press pack by both brothers. Over time, they came to trust Bradby and, in 2004, he was invited to film Harry in southern Africa on his gap year. Bradby also had Prince William's private mobile number. Indeed, it was a voicemail he left for the prince offering to lend him editing equipment in 2005 the details of which turned up in a tabloid story which would set off the phone-hacking scandal. William trusted Bradby, now 58, so much that when they discussed a project over the phone and the contents of their conversation later appeared in a paper, he knew Bradby hadn't leaked them. Instead Bradby suggested the royal phone might have been hacked and encouraged the Palace to go to police. And even though Bradby was eventually promoted to ITV News's political editor, the friendship and trust continued. Announcing his engagement to Kate in 2010, William chose Bradby to interview them. An invitation to their wedding duly followed for Bradby and his wife. Tom Bradby and his wife Claudia attend Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding in May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Claudia and Tom Bradby arrive at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire, for the wedding of the Duchess of Cambridge's sister Pippa Middleton in 2017 The couple leaving Prince William and Catherine's wedding at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 The same courtesy was extended to Bradby in 2018 by Harry and Meghan. In an article penned soon after the wedding, he praised the couple as 'the Royal Family's natural rock stars', while dropping the gentlest of hints that behind the scenes not everything had been going as smoothly as it seemed. But despite the relationship between the trio looking rock solid from the outside, it all came crashing down in 2019. The catalyst for the royal falling out was when he hosted a documentary covering the Sussexes' trip to southern Africa. It effectively launched Harry and Meghan's exit. The interview, in which Meghan thanked Bradby for asking if she was OK and Harry admitted that he and his brother were 'on different paths at the moment', blindsided William. As the Mail revealed, it also terminally damaged William's relationship with Bradby, whom he and royal advisers felt had taken advantage of Harry's 'clear vulnerability'. In the fall-out, Bradby confessed to feeling 'caught in the middle' of the brothers, calling it 'a deeply uncomfortable place to be'. That he should have gained the trust of both Harry and William, albeit temporarily, is perhaps unsurprising given his background and upbringing. 'They speak the same language,' is how one old acquaintance put it. Bradby's role in the infamous interview left him out in the cold when it came to Prince William's camp Meghan revealed that, actually, she was not 'OK' and Harry's frank observations about his fractured relationship with his brother came as bombshells to the rest of the family Bradby climbed the ranks at ITV after joining their trainee scheme in 1990 Bradby moved on from his role as a royal reporter and became ITV's political editor, taking on the role in 2005, but he still stayed close to the princes Charming and affable, Bradby was born in Malta, the son of a British naval officer. He was an only child and at the age of eight was sent to board at Westbourne House School, West Sussex, and then Sherborne School in Dorset. Next stop for Bradders, as friends know him, was Edinburgh and a history degree. While there he became editor of the student newspaper. Contemporaries recall his 'Hugh Grant-esque, floppy fringe that he always ran his hands through' and his 'OK, yah' uniform of navy V-neck jumper, shirt, cords and brogues or loafers. 'Although he was editor he always turned up late, bumbling and with a coterie of mates,' one told Tom Rawstorne in 2023. 'His deputy did all the graft.' While at university, Bradby did work experience at several local newspapers but ultimately accepted a place on the ITN training scheme and has remained with the company ever since. In 1994 he married Claudia Hill-Norton, a lacrosse-playing Durham University graduate. Her father was Vice Admiral Sir Nicholas Hill-Norton and her grandfather Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Hill-Norton. The pair were introduced by Claudia's older brother Simon, who, with his wife, would go on to found the sportswear company Sweaty Betty, which they sold to a U.S. company in 2020 for 300million. Among those to have been photographed wearing the brand is Pippa Middleton, sister of Kate, whom Claudia would get to know. Tom and Claudia reportedly helped Pippa with her book Celebrate, which was published in 2012 after her star turn as Kate's chief bridesmaid drew wide media attention. Tom Bradby told Good Morning America that he found Harry and Meghan 'bruised and vulnerable' while filming the documentary in Africa Bradby also met with their son Archie during the trip to Africa in 2019 The ITV presenter and royal correspondent reportedly helped Pippa Middleton with her book Celebrate, which was published in 2012 For a reported advance of 400,000, the party planning guide was widely derided for its 'glaringly obvious' advice. Bradby moved to Hong Kong as ITV's Asia correspondent in 1998 and it was there that Claudia found her calling as a jewellery designer. After deals with Liberty and John Lewis, her work caught the eye of Kate Middleton, then a buyer for Jigsaw, who snapped up her collection for the High Street store. Against that background, Bradby's appointment as royal correspondent might seem a match made in heaven. But the reality, he claims, was very different. Covering a riot in Indonesia in 1999, he was struck in the right leg by a flare that left him badly injured. By then a father of three, he decided the life of a foreign reporter was not for him and reluctantly accepted the position of royal correspondent, 'the last thing on the planet I wanted to be'. But he rose quickly up the ranks, partly driven by his relationship with the two princes. It was no easy feat to get the two princes to warm up to him, despite his wealthy background, as he was a journalist after all. As boys, both William and Harry had seen how badly their mother had been burned when she put her trust in a friendly BBC reporter Martin Bashir to tell her side of the story about her tortured relationship with Prince Charles. Covering a riot in Indonesia in 1999, Bradby was struck in the right leg by a flare that left him badly injured Her decision to trust Bashir and do the infamous interview with him taught the princes the dangers of speaking to the wrong journalist. Despite their reservations, at the peak of his relationship with the princes, Bradby was the journalist specifically chosen to do the engagement interview with Harry and Meghan in 2018. At much the same time it emerged that Bradby, who divides his time between his home in Hampshire and a London flat, had some problems of his own. By then installed as News at Ten's 500,000-a-year anchor, in the spring of 2018 he had started to suffer from insomnia. Signed off work for three months, his wife warned he was near a 'very dangerous cliff-edge' and urged him to see a psychiatrist. Yet in fact, his mental breakdown helped him secure his biggest scoop. In 2019 he accompanied Harry and Meghan on their tour to southern Africa. The subsequent documentary, Harry And Meghan: An African Journey, revealed for the first time the extent of the couple's dissatisfaction with royal life. Meghan revealing that, actually, she was not 'OK' and Harry's frank observations about his fractured relationship with his brother came as bombshells not just to the public but to the Royal Family. 'William didn't know what his brother would say until he watched it on the TV at the same time as everyone else,' said a source. 'He didn't realise it was that bad... he felt genuinely worried by how vulnerable his brother was.' But there was equal concern about the tone of the interview. 'People in the Royal Household felt Bradby was taking advantage of him at a very vulnerable time,' the source added. Announcing his and Kate's engagement in 2010, William chose Bradby to interview them. An invitation to their wedding duly followed for Bradby and his wife. Bradby scooped his rivals to the first interview with Prince William and Kate Middleton after the newly engaged couple asked 'specifically' for him Will and Kate's engagement interview was a success and introduced the soon-to-be Princess to the British for the first time 'I don't entirely buy that because Harry was desperate to talk about it and Bradby gave him the opportunity.' In getting the story, Bradby must have known it would test his friendship with William. In fact, it led to it being broken off. As a source told this newspaper at the time: 'The friendship between William and Tom is over. The Prince feels let down by Bradby and the way he has acted over the past few months. 'William is a sensitive soul and believes it's in times of crisis when you find out who your true friends are. It would be fair to say Bradby hasn't been one of them.' In the years since his falling out with William, Bradby seems to have doubled down and made clear his side was on team Harry. In the lead up to Harry's bombshell sit down with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, he confirmed the threat to the monarchy that a 'no holds barred' interview with the American star would cause. He predicted 'I don't think it would be pretty'. He accused William and Kate of snubbing Meghan before the wedding. Bradby wrote that the result was 'Harry and Meghan's escape from the poisonous palace.' For their part, Buckingham Palace used just one word in reply to Bradby's accusations: 'False'. In 2019 Tom Bradby sat down with David Cameron to talk about the highs and lows of his premiership and his thoughts on the 2016 Brexit vote It seems Bradby had swallowed Harry's version of events fully, perhaps because the other brother was no longer speaking to him. By all accounts William is a man who values loyalty above all else, but it seems after two decades of friendship, he could no longer rely on Bradby. Don't expect to see Bradby secure another interview with William again. Like Harry, Bradby has been publicly open about his mental health issues, revealing he had to take lengthy time off from hosting News at Ten in 2018 after suffering the 'mental health equivalent of a heart attack'. The two men seem to still be close, with Bradby often coming to Harry's aid from time to time, in return for stories. The Mail on Sunday revealed in April 2021 that he has 'significant sway' over how Meghan is portrayed more widely on ITV. They reported he may have been involved in pointing the Duchess 'in the right direction' over how to complain about Piers Morgan's criticism of her on Good Morning Britain, which resulted in him quitting the show. A source told the newspaper: 'Tom Bradby has a certain cachet at ITV as their news man. He is also the man with the golden goose in the bosses' eyes as he has a hotline to Prince Harry.' When the time came for Harry to finally burn his bridges with the Royal Family and go nuclear by printing his autobiography Spare, it was Bradby he called once again. The Duke of Sussex sat down with Bradby for the programme Harry: The Interview, which was used to promote his tell-all memoir Spare Bradby carried out the long-form TV interview where he threw softball questions at the Prince The dutiful journalist once again appeared and carried out a long-form TV interview where he threw softball questions at the Prince. The Duke of Sussex used the platform to explain his criticisms of his father King Charles and his decision to leave the UK with his wife Meghan. Harry also said his family members had 'gone to bed with the devil' to help improve their image before the press, while also finding time to joke about his virginity story with his old friend. For his part, outside of sit down interviews, Bradby has tried to avoid getting embroiled in the simmering war between the Princes. When he was profiled in the Sunday Times in 2021, he said the pair were his 'least favourite subject in the world' as he apparently tried his best to avoid them, while at the same time mentioning them several times. However, perhaps due to Harry's damaged popularity, he has kept a little more distance from him recently. Instead of getting involved with the feuding brothers, he spends his time writing, having published ten books since 1998. They have been mostly political thrillers so far, but could he be tempted to one day pen a royal thriller? He would certainly have enough experience to use as inspiration... She is an Oxford-educated businesswoman who came to prominence when the Duchess of Sussex seemed intent on ushering her out of the limelight. Dr Sophie Chandauka was gently prodded away from Prince Harry's side by Meghan, as they posed for photos together after a polo match. The awkward encounter last year was the first time many followers of the Sussexes became aware of her. Yet the Zimbabwean lawyer, 47, is now even more noteworthy. In her own words, she has 'dared to blow the whistle' on Harry's charity over alleged racist bullying of black women. Given all the duke has been through in recent years Harry has spoken repeatedly about 'unconscious bias' such accusations have put Dr Chandauka firmly in the spotlight. She has been alongside Harry and Meghan, whose mother Doria is black, at numerous international events. Last April Meghan appeared to ask Dr Chandauka not to pose next to Harry as he celebrated the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in Florida. Footage showed that after handing Harry a trophy, Dr Chandauka, who was standing on his right, was asked twice by Meghan to move to her left side away from Harry. The Duchess of Sussex presents the trophy to her husband alongside Dr Sophie Chandauka after his team the Royal Salute Sentebale Team defeated the Grand Champions Team Dr. Sophie Chandauka at a Sentebale reception and panel discussion at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on April 11, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida Prince Harry meets 15-year-old orphan Keneuoe at St Bernadette's Centre in Maseru, Lesotho, in February 2013 Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Dr Sophie Chandauka with Harry in Lesotho in October last year He had his arm around his wife while others shuffled to find a place. Dr Chandauka then had to duck under the trophy to adopt the position Meghan asked her to stand in. Dr Chandauka was appointed chairman of Harry's charity Sentebale in 2023 after a six-year stint serving on its board from 2009 to 2015. In less than two years at the helm, she has found herself at the centre of a racism and bullying row. The lawyer, who has worked for Meta, Morgan Stanley and Virgin Money, rose from being a trainee solicitor to advising on multi-million-pound deals. Speaking at the time of her appointment as Sentebale chairman, Dr Chandauka cited her rise from 'the young girl from Zimbabwe' to having a 'world-class education and career'. She added that this was an inspiration for the charity's 'capacity to transform lives' and inspire young people to 'define their own destinies'. Dr Chandauka was honoured with an MBE in 2021 for extraordinary services to diversity in business. In 2005 she qualified as a corporate lawyer with Baker and McKenzie in London before being headhunted for a senior role at Virgin Money. A federal mortgage blacklist is making it nearly impossible to buy and sell condos in California. The list is compiled by Fannie Mae, who back around fifty percent of America's mortgages by buying the loans from lenders and selling them on in packages to investors. If a building crops up on the government-sponsored underwriters' list it can be hard for a potential buyer to get a Fannie Mae-backed mortgage to purchase a condo there. In turn, existing owners end up stuck with unsellable properties. California currently has the second most of any start after Florida, which has a staggering 1,438 blacklisted buildings, according to law firm Allcock & Marcus who have access to the list. As of March 2025 California has 733 'blacklisted' properties, up from 174 in May 2023, according to the firm's latest data shared with DailyMail.com. Buildings can end up on the list due to insufficient insurance coverage, structural problems or overdue maintenance issues. It is not yet known exactly which buildings are on the blacklist, but Mercury News reported that 168 Bay Area properties are affected, including 21 in San Francisco. California currently has more than 700 condominium complexes on the secret blacklist The secret list has been around since 2005 but was kept under wraps until its rapid expansion following the Surfside Condo collapse in 2021. The tragedy exposed widespread issues with underinsured buildings and overdue repairs not just in Florida, but across the US. However, a home insurance crisis across the country is also making it harder for buildings to access affordable and adequate insurance. California in particular has seen insurance companies pull cover and hike premiums as wildfires and other climate-related disasters increase their risks. Condo associations are trying to limit costs by agreeing to pared down insurance policies that then make their condos ineligible for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages. A spokesperson for Fannie Mae said its requirements are designed to 'help protect borrowers from physically unsafe or financially unstable projects.' Freddie Mac said it does not keep a list of developments that don't meet its criteria. The sheer increase of buildings being blacklisted, now more than 5,000, led Allcock & Marcus to send Freedom of Information Act requests to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. As of March 2025 California has 733 'blacklisted' properties, up from 174 in May 2023 Florida currently has 1,400 buildings blacklisted, more than any other state Fannie Mae buys around half of American home loans from lenders and sell them to investors The Surfside Condo collapse in Sothern Florida in 2021 killed 98 people After initial 'stonewalling' Fannie Mae made the list available to the firm in March 2025. 'In this past two years 3,401 Condominiums have been added to the list, a 191.714 percent increase!' Jake Marcus, managing partner at Allcock & Marcuss Florida office told DailyMail.com. 'The blacklist has real-world consequences for homeowners, lenders, and the broader real estate market.' 'Homeowners are finding themselves trapped in unsellable properties, while potential buyers face financing roadblocks.' Wells Fargo says home sales have slowed to levels last seen in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Unlike 2008, the broader economy remains strong home prices aren't crashing, and unemployment isn't soaring. But the housing market is still suffering because potential buyers can't afford the high home prices along with high mortgage rates. Meanwhile, sellers won't budge because can't afford to lose their low mortgage rates. This leads to not a lot of people buying or selling homes at the moment. In January, total home sales reached 4.7 million, a figure Wells Fargo economists say is 'only modestly above the weak rate experienced between 2008 and 2010.' Before the pandemic, monthly home sales averaged around 6 million. Housing demand soared during the pandemic, sending prices and mortgage rates to new highs. But now, high costs and borrowing rates are keeping both buyers and sellers on the sidelines. Homeowners that secured a low mortgage rate during the pandemic or who have paid off their home aren't selling since they do not want to give up their low rates. 'The tepid pace of home sales can not be blamed on a recession,' says the report. Wells Fargo says home sales have slowed near the pace of how they were in the wake of the Great Recession, when not many people were buying or selling homes 'Rather, the main factor weighing on residential activity continues to be adverse affordability conditions. In addition to high mortgage rates, home prices continue to rise.' Since February 2020, home prices have risen by 45 percent. On top of that, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.67 percent. In 2020, mortgage rates were just 3 percent. The mortgage rate lock-in is the main reason behind the slow rate of sales, since they account for the largest share of total home sales. The pace of the slow sales is expected to remain that way for the next several years. 'Given affordability will remain extremely unfavorable for most buyers, the pace of home sales is expected to remain weak and not far from the low levels hit in the aftermath of the financial crisis,' Wells Fargo senior economist Charlie Dougherty tells Fortune. Meanwhile, in January, Wall Street issued a chilling warning that US homes are selling for 35 percent higher than they should be. Wells Fargo senior economist Charlie Dougherty Real estate analytics firm Green Street Advisors studied the stock performance of two publicly traded companies that own and rent out more than 137,000 single-family homes throughout the country. Investors believe the homes owned by Invitation Homes and American Homes 4 Rent are overpriced. An average home in the metro areas where Invitation Homes owns properties sell for $415,000, according to Green Street's analysis. The share price, which has tanked 10 percent in the last year, suggests that investors think $310,000 is what the company's homes are actually worth. Overall, in 2024, listing and mortgage prices remained high, and only 24 percent of homebuyers were first-timers in 2024 - the lowest on record, according to the National Association of Realtors. The once-beautiful Malibu beachfront home formerly owned by Kanye West, who destroyed it with the intention of making it into a bunker, has become desirable real estate again as it hit the market for the first time in over a year. The mansion, along with the rest of Malibu Road where it's located, was spared from the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year. The new owner, who bought the property in September 2024 to renovate it then flip it, said the home's hulking concrete structure likely would have made it immune to the fires even if they had blazed that way. That stroke of luck has made West's old home one of the only pieces of real estate left to snag on the envied Malibu coast, even if it's a bit worse for wear. 'To be quite frank, there's no inventory to buy on the Pacific Coast Highway, so it really bolstered our value,' crowdfunding entrepreneur Steven 'Bo' Belmont told The Wall Street Journal. That's despite the astonishing amount of damage West, also known as Ye, inflicted on the four-bedroom, 4000-square-foot home. The rapper bought the property for $57.3 million in 2021 before removing the windows, doors, electricity and plumbing. He also broke down the walls, leaving the interior of the home completely exposed to the elements. As he was doing this, Ye was stirring up a media frenzy with erratic behavior and anti-Semitic comments that caused brands such as Gap and Adidas to cut ties with him. By December 2023, he listed the Malibu home for $53 million. Kanye West's former Malibu home is pictured on July 5, 2024, after the rapper gutted the property then abandoned it This was how the home looked when West, also known as Ye, bought it in September 2021 Belmont was able to snap it up for a fraction of that - $21 million - with the help of 500 investors who gave him as little as $1,000 to as much as $1 million who want to see him restore the property to its former glory. Belmont's company, Belwood Investments, allows retail investors to buy fractional shares of his real estate projects as if they were stocks. Belmont has completed $2 million of the renovations on the project, which is being managed by architecture firm Marmol Radziner. Ye's destruction of the home coincided with his bizarre public outbursts at the time Although the property hasn't been fully restored and requires an estimated $6.5 million more in work done to get it back to what it once was, Belmont said he's okay with selling now. 'We did the math. We could sell right now, exit and let somebody add whatever finishes they want. Really it's the same return on investment for us if we exit right now or if we exit after completion,' Belmont told the Los Angeles Times. If no offers come in now and he is able to sell the completely rebuilt home, Belmont said he'll want $55 million to $65 million for it. He further explained to the Journal that the carrying costs of the mansion is $1 million per month, which has made him eager to either sell it or finish the renovations. 'The minute I start going over a year of hold time, it lowers my average return on investment,' he added. 'And my number one goal with my business is to take care of my investors.' Ron Radziner, who runs Marmol Radziner, worked on the initial construction of the house in 2013 and is keen on returning the home to how it looked. The home is pictured from the street on July 5, 2024. The concrete structure sits on Malibu Road, which was spared from the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year About 20 percent of reconstruction has been completed, according to Radziner, who has a team of 40 people working at the property daily For him and his team, that means re-pouring the concrete walls taken out by Ye, replacing the removed cabinetry and putting doors back on their hinges. 'It's obviously disappointing that as much of the home was removed and demolished as it was,' Radziner told the LA Times. 'But I think we all feel on our team really fortunate that we've been asked to come back and put it back together.' About 20 percent of reconstruction has been completed, according to Radziner, who has a team of 40 people working at the property daily. Despite the home being unfinished, unofficial verbal offers have already begun to trickle in, all of them below Belmont's $39 million asking price. A Montana developer offered $30 million for it, while a local builder suggested $28 million. Belmont hopes that in the end, he'll be able to shred the memory that Ye even owned the home and re-associate it with the man who designed it, legendary Japanese architect Tadao Ando. 'What I dont want is that type of reckless publicity to be correlated with this piece of art,' Belmont said. 'It doesnt need that type of stigma. It needs to be really showcased for what it truly isan Ando.' It was the height of the Cold War, tensions were running high, and rumors were swirling that the Soviets were constructing the world's largest nuclear submarine. With limited intelligence operations, the CIA recruited a 'psychic' spy to locate the top secret vessel, and he apparently did so using only his mind. The agency had been carrying out experiments in the 1970s and 80s with individuals who claimed to have extrasensory powers and were able to perceive information about distant objects, people or events. There are claims that this group of test subjects, known as 'remoter viewers', successfully tracked down hostages and drug lords for the covert program that lasted more than a decade. One of the best remote viewers, a man named Joe McMoneagle, claimed to have used his ability to see inside a Soviet Union hangar and uncover a top-secret submarine being built. McMoneagle said he was able to remote view a large warehouse 100 yards from the White Sea in 1979 and describe a never-before-seen type of submarine with slanted missile tubes and a unique double-hull structure. He reported his 'vision' to the US Navy, but his claims were dismissed as fantasy. But then came a shock: satellite imagery and other intelligence sourcing later confirmed the Soviet Union was indeed building a new class of submarine, called Typhoon, which was kept hidden until a launch in September 1980. He reported his 'vision' to the US Navy, but his claims were dismissed as fantasy. Satellite imagery later confirmed the Soviet Union was indeed building a new class of submarine, called Typhoon, which was kept hidden until a launch in September 1980. One of the best remote viewers, a man named Joe McMoneagle (pictured now), used his ability to see inside a Soviet Union hangar and uncover a top-secret submarine being built. That incredible Cold War tale was just one example of remote viewing Jacques Vallee, a renowned computer scientist, gave during a recent interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Vallee is a French-born computer scientist, astronomer, and ufologist who was a key figure in the development of the ARPANET, a precursor to today's internet. He also co-developed the first ever computerized map of Mars for NASA in 1963. Vallee was working at Stanford Research Institute where he was recruited by a group who learned how to use mental superpowers in order to 'see' things happening far away. The scientist said that he had also trained to use this psychic tool, which was initially funded by the CIA so the government could gather intelligence without physical access to distant targets. The experiments were part of the Stargate Project that was officially terminated in 1995 after the CIA concluded it could not produce reliable intelligence - based on a report from the American Institutes for Research (AIR). There is currently no definitive evidence that the US government has used psychic spies again after Stargate was shut down. During his March 12 interview with Rogan, Vallee went into detail about America's development of psychic agents who could essentially send their mind's eye to another room, state, or even country and see what was happening there in real time. The US Navy allegedly laughed at remote viewer Joe McMoneagle's vision of a secret Russian submarine during the Cold War, but it turned out to be real Jacques Vallee revealed how one of the best remote viewers in the US during the Cold War was able to use this psychic ability to see a top secret Soviet submarine under construction In McMoneagle's remote incident with the Soviet submarine, the US spy was able to collect detailed information about the ship without stepping foot inside the secret hangar. 'He described the length. And, you know, he actually measured it psychically,' Vallee explained. 'And that turned out to be right. And then when the submarine was built, they brought some bulldozers and they dug, you know, a channel to the sea and off it went.' It turned out that what McMoneagle had seen the largest nuclear sub in history. The Typhoon measures 574 feet in length and has a weight of 48,000 tons while fully submerged. Although intelligence officials took McMoneagle's report about the Typhoon to the US National Security Council, officials did not believe his vision and the ship eventually launched without incident. Typhoon officially entered the Cold War in 1981, but the submarine never launched a missile in combat. The three hulls of the Typhoon-class ships greatly increases their chance of survivability if hit - even if one pressure hull is breached, the crew members in the other are safe and there is less potential for flooding Only the first of the Typhoon submarines to be constructed, the Dmitriy Donskoy, was still in active service with the Russian Navy in 2019. It was eventually decommissioned in 2023 Typically, remote viewers sit at a table with paper and something to sketch with. They're then given something simple, like a set of numbers, to focus their attention on. For psychic spies during the Cold War, these would have most often been coordinates - a set of numbers marking off a spot in the world where the US government wanted to investigate. From there, the remote viewer just sits there and relaxes, kind of like meditating. They clear their heads and let their minds wander toward whatever those numbers point to. Vallee said these psychically gifted spies aren't just making guesses, they're receiving impressions - random images, shapes, or feelings from the location. They might be seeing water, or metal, or something big and dark in their minds. Remote viewers don't overthink it; they just go with it and start to sketch their visions. Vallee himself practiced this technique at SRI in the 1970s. While training with American psychic Ingo Swann, Vallee recalled how his mind was once transported to a freezing mountain thousands of miles away. '[Swann] gives me a set of coordinates, longitude and latitude somewhere. And I get very cold right away, and I get dizzy,' Vallee said. 'I said, 'Ingo, I don't know where you're sending me, but I'm cold, I'm trembling, I'm afraid, I'm afraid of falling, and, you know, I really don't feel well.' And he said, you're on top of a peak in the Andes,' the scientist revealed. As for McMoneagle, a retired US Army veteran, he was one of the original remote viewers recruited for the SRI program in the 1970s. The program would later be referred to as the Stargate Project. In his own book about the psychic program, McMoneagle revealed that he was referred to as 'Remote Viewer No. 1' and worked out of Fort Meade in Maryland. McMoneagle's participation in the Army's psychic intelligence unit was eventually confirmed in declassified documents and interviews, where he discussed using remote viewing to spy on military targets for the US. Scientists in Israel have been left baffled after discovering a 'mysterious' pyramidal structure filled with ancient treasures in the Judean Desert. The 'incredible desert fortress', about 2,200 years old, was uncovered at the Nahal Zohar valley near the Dead Sea in east Israel. Unlike the perfectly arranged blocks of Egypt's pyramids, the 20ft-high formation is made of painstakingly hand-hewn stones, each one weighing hundreds of pounds. Findings among the stones include documents written in Greek on papyrus a material similar to paper, made from the pith of the papyrus plant. There's also 2,200-year-old weapons, fabrics, baskets, beads and bronze coins, say excavators from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). 'The discoveries are exciting and even emotional, and their significance for archaeological and historical research is enormous,' said Eli Escusido, IAA director. However, the purpose and significance of this pyramidal formation are leaving the explorers scratching their heads. They do not know for certain what the buildings purpose was, but it could have been erected as a grave or historical monument. The experts still do not know for certain what the buildings purpose was, although it could have been erected as a grave or historical monument. Alternatively, it may have been a guard tower - a lookout post to protect an important commercial route through which the Dead Sea resources of salt and bitumen were transported to the coastal ports Your browser does not support iframes. Findings include documents written in Greek on papyrus - a material similar to paper, made from the pith of the papyrus plant Alternatively, it may have been a guard tower a lookout post to protect an important commercial route along the Dead Sea, which is a landlocked salt lake with Jordan on the other side. Around 2,000 years ago, prized resources such as salt and bitumen a substance used in the ancient world as glue, mortar and waterproofing would've been transported along it. When these precious commodities reached coastal ports around the Dead Sea, they would have been purchased by wealthy traders. According to IAA, which is excavating with help from volunteers, the pyramidal edifice dates to when the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty and Greek Seleucid dynasty ruled Israel. At some point, it had a 'way station' beneath it a stopping point for travellers on a long journey from the days of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid rulers. The era is evident from the bronze coins featuring markings from the Ptolemies and of Antiochus IV, the king of the Seleucid Empire. In a joint statement, excavation directors Matan Toledano, Dr Eitan Klein and Amir Ganor called it a 'very promising site' in an 'amazing condition'. 'What we have here is one of the richest and most intriguing archaeological excavations ever found in the Judean Desert,' they said. Site findings so far include papyrus documents written in Greek, bronze coins of the Ptolemies and of Antiochus IV, weapons, wooden tools and fabrics. Pictured, a button Excavation directors Matan Toledano, Dr Eitan Klein and Amir Ganor called it a 'very promising site' in an 'amazing condition' The 'huge' pyramidal structure, described as an 'incredible desert fortress', is made of painstakingly hand-hewn stones, each one weighing hundreds of pounds The Ptolemaic and Seleucid dynasties The Ptolemaic dynasty - the longest and last dynasty of ancient Egypt - ruled Israel from 301 to 198 BC. The Seleucid dynasty, a Macedonian Greek royal family, held control over Palestine and the people of Israel after it passed into their hands from the Ptolemies. Later, the Maccabean Revolt of 167-160 BC was the victorious Jewish uprising against the Seleucids - still celebrated in modern Judaism during the holiday of Chanukah. Advertisement 'This pyramidal structure we discovered is huge and made of hand-hewn stones, each one weighing hundreds of kilograms. 'Already in the first excavation week, the volunteers found written historical documents, exceptional bronze vessels and remains of ancient furniture. 'Every moment new findings are discovered, and we are filled with anticipation for what else the next three weeks might produce.' The experts say the structure is shaped like a pyramid, but not a pyramid in the way one might typically imagine, like the famous ones in Egypt. Regardless, the Judean region's extreme dryness has preserved its hidden treasures in an 'extraordinary way'. The excavation is part of an extensive operation begun about eight years ago to save archaeological finds which are 'endangered by constant illicit excavation and thieving' in the region. A dedicated 'robbery prevention unit' team systematically searched the entire Judean Desert region along over 100 miles of cliffs, and located about 900 caves, as well as the pyramidal mound. With the help of abseiling equipment, thousands of rare items were uncovered in these caves, such as deliberately-hidden scrolls, papyrus fragments, wooden utensils, weapons, leather items and coin hoards. Colourful beads found in the excavation by volunteers and archeologists at the Israel Antiquities Authority An ancient sewing needle, according to the experts According to IAA, which is excavating with help from volunteers, the edifice dates back to when the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty and Greek Seleucid dynasty ruled Israel The IAA and Ministry of Heritage is still inviting the public to join what they describe as 'one of the richest desert excavations ever conducted'. Experts have set up an organized camp to accommodate volunteers, provide food and water, and offer lectures about archaeology every evening. The excavation will continue for another three weeks and those interested in participating can register on its website. It is an enthralling historical mystery,' the IAA said in a statement. 'To our delight, the public coming to volunteer in the excavation are our partners in uncovering the answers.' A Frankenstein's lab for growing 'spare' human bodies sounds like something ripped straight from an episode of Black Mirror. But scientists really want to make this gruesome concept a reality. In an article published in the MIT Technology Review, three Stanford University scientists argue that so-called 'bodyoids' could 'revolutionise' medicine. Bodyoids would be physiologically identical to a normal human but engineered not to have consciousness or experience pain, they write. The researchers argue that modern medical science is being held back by a severe shortage of 'ethically sourced human bodies'. Bodies are needed not only to test the medical interventions of the future but also to provide organs for lifesaving transplants. These researchers argue that artificially grown bodies could provide 'an almost unlimited source of organs, tissues, and cells for use in transplantation.' While they acknowledge this technology raises serious moral issues, the scientists claim it should be possible 'without crossing most peoples ethical lines'. Scientists want to make a real-life Frankenstein's lab to create 'spare' human bodies which could be used in medical trials. The researchers claim this would solve a 'serious' shortage of human biological material in science (stock image) From cadavers for training medical students to cell samples and organs for medical trials, it is an unavoidably morbid fact that medical science needs bodies. However, scientists Dr Carsten Charlesworth, Professor Henry Greely, and Professor Hiromitsu Nakauchi now say that they are facing dire shortages of 'human biological materials' which are costing lives and holding back advancement. In the US alone, there are more than 100,000 patients on the waiting list for an organ transplant; many of those will die before an organ becomes available There are currently more than 8,000 people waiting for an organ in the UK; however, over 400 people died while waiting in the year 2023-24. Without a good supply of human bodies, medical trials are conducted on non-human animals but this is not a good solution. The researchers argue that this is 'cant replicate major aspects of human physiology and makes it necessary to inflict harm on sentient creatures'. However, new advancements in technology have now presented a bold solution making bodies from scratch from a special type of cells. This would give researchers and doctors a nearly endless supply of fresh human organs, without needing to wait for human donors to die. Scientists have warned that a lack of human bodies and organs is holding back scientific progress and leading to patients missing out on life-saving organ transplants. The solution is to create artificial human bodies called bodyoids which have been engineered to lack sentience and not feel pain (stock image) Although it might sound like science fiction, the technologies required are already undergoing rapid development. Scientists have recently found new ways of encouraging 'stem cells', a special type of cell that forms very early in our development, to transform into other types of tissues. Using these stem cells, researchers have already managed to create structures that mimic the first developmental stages of real human embryos. At the same time, new research has opened up the possibility of developing foetuses inside artificial wombs, such as EctoLife in Berlin, Germany. The researchers write: 'Such technologies, together with established genetic techniques to inhibit brain development, make it possible to envision the creation of "bodyoids" a potentially unlimited source of human bodies, developed entirely outside of a human body from stem cells, that lack sentience or the ability to feel pain.' While the project is still just a concept, in theory it could create huge benefits for medical research in the near future. Scientists would be able to test new drugs on real human tissues and bodies without endangering sentient test subjects or relying on animals. Those in need of an organ transplant could even have an organ cloned from their own cells, ensuring a perfect immunological match. The bodyoids would be created from stem cells induced to develop like a human embryo, these embryos could then be raised in an artificial womb until maturity. Pictured: Concept images for the EctoLife artificial womb Recent advances in artificial womb technology have shown that lambs can develop outside of their mothers (pictured). If this technology could be applied to humans, it could allow for the creation of bodies that have never been inside a human mother Using bodyoids derived from a patient's DNA could even let doctors screen medicines and see exactly how they would be affected before starting treatment themselves reminiscent of the digital clones in Black Mirror. The researchers even argue that non-human bodyoids could be used to grow cattle for human consumption, creating an ethical alternative substitute for sentient animals. However, the ethical and legal barriers to creating a bodyoid may be even more daunting than the technical challenge. 'Many will find the concept grotesque or appalling,' say the scientists. 'And for good reason. We have an innate respect for human life in all its forms. We do not allow broad research on people who no longer have consciousness or, in some cases, never had it.' Likewise, they acknowledge that bodyoids risk diminishing the status of real people who have lost consciousness or sentience after injuries. But they still maintain that these concerns are outweighed by the potential benefits to humanity and call for more research and a broader public discussion of the issue. They conclude: 'Caution is warranted, but so is bold vision; the opportunity is too important to ignore.' After more than a year of waiting and multiple false alarms, an elusive new star could appear in our skies tonight. This distant star, known as the 'Blaze Star', is normally too faint to be seen from Earth without a powerful telescope. However, once every 80 years, the recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis erupts in an explosion bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. If the Blaze Star really does burst into life tonight, keen stargazers will have plenty of time to see it, as experts say the stunning display will linger for up to a week. Scientists first suggested the Blaze Star could be close to appearing in late 2023 after the system suddenly dimmed, just as it had before previous novae. But, despite multiple predictions throughout the following year, the Blaze Star has remained stubbornly hidden. Now, a new study by Jean Schneider, an astronomer at the Paris Observatory in France, suggests the star will either appear this week or in seven months' time. So, if Mr Schneider's prediction proves correct, here's how you can see this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event. Scientists believe the elusive Blaze Star could appear in the sky tonight after more than a year of waiting and false alarms. Pictured: An artists impression of the Blaze Star What is the Blaze Star? The Blaze Star is not technically a new star but rather a massive explosion called a nova which occurs regularly about once every 80 years. This blast originates from a binary star system made up of a massive red giant orbiting an ultra-dense white dwarf star about the same size as Earth. As the pair swing about each other, the white dwarf siphons away its partner's hydrogen fuel - slowly consuming the larger star. However, as the hydrogen falls into the white dwarf, some builds up on the surface of the star. Eventually, this hydrogen layer builds up so much pressure that it ignites in a blast of heat and light which we see from Earth as a new star appearing in the sky. The last time scientists saw this explosion was in 1946, meaning we should expect to see a new explosion any time in the coming weeks or months. Of course, it's worth remembering that T Coronae Borealis is 3,000 light years away, meaning the nova has already happened, and we are just waiting for the light to reach us. The Blaze Star is not actually a new star but rather a vast explosion in a binary star system called T Coronae Borealis, which contains a red giant and a white dwarf star. About every 80 years, the white dwarf explodes into a nova so bright that it appears like a new star has appeared in the sky (stock image) Why do some scientists think it could appear tonight? In late 2023, scientists watching the T Coronae Borealis noticed that it suddenly became significantly dimmer. Since this is exactly what had happened before the 1946 nova, astronomers suggested that the Blaze Star was on the brink of igniting. But the exact date of the nova's arrival at Earth has proven extremely hard to predict since the Blaze Star's patterns aren't entirely regular. The amount of time between each of the recorded appearances has increased or decreased by 1.4 years on average, with no pattern to tell which way it will swing. However, when Mr Schneider looked at the dates since the Blaze Star's first appearance in 1217, he noticed something unusual. Mr Schneider told MailOnline that he 'arbitrarily' divided the time between the appearances, 78 to 80 years, by the time taken for the stars to complete one orbit, 228 days. 'I discovered with great surprise that it was always an integer [whole] number,' says Mr Schneider. Exactly when the white dwarft in T Coronae Borealis will explode is hard to predict. However, a a study found that the time between explions is always divisible by the time taken by the stars to orbit eachother. The next date which fits this pattern is tonight Predicted dates for the Blaze Star to appear March 27, 2024 November 10, 2024 June 25, 2026 Source: Jean Schneider, 'When will the Next T CrB Eruption Occur?' (2024) Advertisement This means the time between novae is always exactly divisible by the orbital period between the red giant and white dwarf stars. If that pattern holds, the next date which fits will be March 27, give or take about 10 days of uncertainty. If the star doesn't appear within that time, the next possible window according to Mr Schneider's calculations will be November 10, followed by June 25, 2026. It is not clear why the nova's period would be related to the orbit in any way and there is no proven physical explanation for this phenomenon. Mr Schneider suggests it could be the product of a third, hidden star which would dump an extra portion of hydrogen onto the white dwarf and trigger the nova at specific points in their orbit. However, no third star has yet been observed, and this theory is currently unproven. How to see the Blaze Star If Mr Schneider's predictions are correct, then the Blaze Star could be visible as early as tonight and remain in the sky for up to a week afterwards. To find T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) look for the constellation Corona Borealis, between the Hercules and Bootes constellations. It willbe one of the brightest stars in the sky and should be fairly easy to spot As uncertain as the exact timing may be, finding the nova should be fairly easy since it appears in a fixed location in the sky. The new star will appear in the lesser-known Corona Borealis, or Northern Crown, constellation. To find Corona Borealis, look between the larger Bootes and Hercules constellations for a 'U-shaped' curve of stars. If you are still struggling, consider using a star-map app which are available for free on your phone and can make spotting specific stars and constellations a lot easier. The Blaze Star will have a brightness, or 'magnitude', of +2 which will make it about as bright as the North Star. This means it will be one of the brightest things in the sky and should be obvious once you have found the right part of the sky. To ensure you have the best view, try to find an area with an uninterrupted view of the sky away from sources of light pollution such as street lights. Give your eyes plenty of time to adjust to the darkness by avoiding using your phone or torches while you wait. To find the star follow the handle of the big dipper (shown here from the Northern Hemisphere) and look for a reddish star named Arcturus. The blaze star should appear halfway between this star and another bright star to the North East called Vega However, the Met Office currently predicts mixed weather conditions for the UK over the coming few days. A Met Office spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Visibility this evening and tomorrow night will depend on where you are in the UK.' While some areas of the southeast of England should see relatively clear skies tonight, Scotland and Northern England may see some rain. Be sure to check the weather forecast for your area and prepare appropriately before heading out stargazing. Emoji now form a staple part of many people's daily messages - whether it's friendly smiley faces, flirty hearts, or cheeky aubergines. If you're an emoji user, you may think you've got the characters cracked. But a revelation about one popular emoji may surprise you. Emoji reference website, Emojipedia, has revealed the true meaning of one of the buildings - and X users are baffled. The emoji features a pink building with an H on it, leading many people to think it is a hospital. However, Emojipedia has confirmed that the emoji actually means 'Love Hotel' - a hotel that can be rented by the hour. The revelation has amazed users across X, including one who was left rather red-faced. 'My dumb a** thought that was a hospital!! I thought it had a heart because it was for times when you're happy about being at the hospital, like you just gave birth or you're visiting your newborn grandchild,' they tweeted. Emojipedia, has revealed the true meaning of one of the buildings- and X users are baffled. The emoji features a pink building with an H on it, leading many people to think it is a hospital If you're an emoji user, you may think you've got the characters cracked. But a revelation about one popular emoji may surprise you (stock image) The cheeky emoji depicts a Love Hotel, or 'Rabu Hoteru' in Japanese. 'Love Hotel Emoji. A hotel that can be hired by the hour, instead of as accommodation for the evening,' Emojipedia explained. 'Sometimes mistaken for a get well soon emoji due to the similarity in appearance to the hospital.' Love hotels are found across Japan, and usually feature extravagant signs - just like the pink emoji. 'Typically you can rent a room for a minimum of one to three hours during the day, called a "rest", or for the whole night, called a "stay", which usually starts after 10 pm,' Japan Guide explains on its website. 'As the name suggests, the main purpose of love hotels is to provide couples with a room to spend some undisturbed time together.' The true meaning has come as a shock to many users on X. 'I had this emoji in my bio because I thought it was a cuter hospital emoji!! ITS A LOVE HOTEL????' one user tweeted. 'I had this emoji in my bio because I thought it was a cuter hospital emoji!! ITS A LOVE HOTEL????' one user tweeted Another added: 'idk who needs to hear this but yall [love hotel emoji] doesn't mean sending love from the HQ it is an emoji for love hotel' And one joked: 'just realised this was a love hotel emoji. thought it was a cute hospital. thinking about all the times i have used it' Another added: 'idk who needs to hear this but yall [love hotel emoji] doesn't mean sending love from the HQ it is an emoji for love hotel.' And one joked: 'just realised this was a love hotel emoji. thought it was a cute hospital. thinking about all the times i have used it.' The 'love hotel' 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. A respected dentist is joining the growing call to remove fluoride from drinking water, saying it's nothing more than 'hazardous waste.' Dr Staci Whitman explained that the fluoride in tap water is actually a byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry. Fluoride has been added to public water in the US since 1940s. The mineral found in soil, rocks, and water makes teeth more resistant to acids. It also prevents bacterial erosion and replaces minerals in tooth enamel that can be lost over time. Despite its widespread and accepted use for 80 years, Dr Whitman said that fluoride's poisonous origins and potential to cause serious neurological issues should push governments to reconsider treating water with it. The dentist noted that this fertilizer byproduct, which provides fluoride for water fluoridation, is called hydrofluorosilicic acid before it is diluted and added to drinking water. It's so hazardous in its pure form that workers actually have to wear protective suits when handling it at water treatment plants. Florida and Utah have already passed legislation banning the addition of fluoride to state water supplies. Social media users on X replied to Dr. Whitman's interview, confirming the hazard labels on bags containing the minerals for water fluoridation Dr. Staci Whitman explained on a recent podcast that fluoride is a byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry 'Everyone can go research this and look for themselves, but it does come in cement bags with skull and crossbones on the front and they do have to wear hazmat suits to put it into our water,' Dr Whitman explained in an interview with Dr Andrew Huberman this. Dr Huberman is a professor of neurobiology & ophthalmology at Stanford Medicine. Dr Whitman is a board-certified pediatric dentist and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. At her Oregon practice, she takes a 'whole-body, holistic, and functional approach' to dental care. Often, that means looking at other factors that could be damaging children's teeth beside their parents giving them too much junk food to eat. 'Docsstop blaming parents for their kids' cavities when it's: environmental toxin exposures, our broken food system, our lack of education and preventative strategies, chronic allergies and mouth breathing, epigenetics, depleted soil and nutrient-void food, gut dysbiosis and the inability to absorb nutrients,' Whitman wrote in a January 24 tweet on X. Now, the dentist is sounding the alarm on the inconsistent usage of fluoride in American drinking water from state to state. Dr Whitman explained that the government's safe target range for fluoride in water is 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L). However, the dentist has discovered that many communities are putting much more fluoride in their water than is recommended - some as high as 2.2 mg/L. Studies have found that higher than recommended levels of fluoride in a child's body have a link to lower IQ scores Dr. Whitman warned that many communities are inconsistent with the levels of fluoride they're adding to their tap water, leading to health concerns Based on previous studies, Dr Whitman said, this amount falls into the range of fluoride exposure that could lead to neurocognitive issues. In recent months, new studies have added even more concerning evidence to the fear that adding fluoride to tap water is doing more harm than good. In January, an analysis of 74 studies found higher fluoride exposure was consistently linked to lower IQ scores among children. The report in JAMA Pediatrics revealed that for every 1 mg/L increase in the amount of fluoride in a child's urine, they suffered a 1.63-point decrease in IQ. The study also found cognitive issues among kids at levels below 2 mg/L, raising even more concern about the current US health guidelines for fluoride. Critics of this report have already noted that the data did not include studies involving the US. However, Dr. Whitman pointed out in her interview that she's already found US communities around her Portland practice with fluoride levels in their tap water well above the safe limits. Another study from October 2024 also questioned whether the eight-decade practice of adding fluoride to prevent tooth decay was even working anymore. A team from the Cochrane Collaboration discovered that the cavity-fighting power of fluoridated water has significantly dropped off since the 1970s. The scientists explained that many of the studies used to promote the use of fluoride in drinking water were over 50 years-old. That's before the widespread sale of fluoride toothpaste, which has since become widely accessible for most people. The review found that among fluoride studies conducted after 1975, children using fluoridated water had, on average, just 0.24 fewer decayed baby teeth compared to those in non-fluoridated areas. In pre-1975 studies, researchers found a reduction of 2.1 decayed teeth per child for those using fluoridated water versus kids using untreated water. Simply put, recent studies are showing that too much fluoride could harm a child's brain and there are now better ways of getting it to our teeth instead of blindly adding it to all tap water. So, does this mean the federal government could soon ban fluoride from tap water? Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), has publicly echoed the concerns of Dr. Whitman, saying that the Trump Administration will call for the removal of fluoride from public water systems. 'Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,' RFK Jr. wrote on X in November. Despite having the support of the federal government, Whitman noted that the bans on fluoride would likely have to be passed in each state - saying the White House and Congress won't have much control over this issue. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said he expects federal health regulators to follow his state's lead on removing fluoride from drinking water nationwide. READ MORE: Were the people laid to rest at Sutton Hoo really royals For almost a century, the Sutton Hoo burial site has offered a tantalising glimpse into Britain's ancient history. Of the incredible riches found at the site, the most impressive of all is the Sutton Hoo helmet; considered one of the greatest treasures of the Anglo-Saxon world. Until now, archaeologists believed that the helmet made its way to Britain from Sweden as a diplomatic gift or heirloom. But a new discovery by a metal detectorist has cast doubt on the helmet's origins - and could re-write the story of early European history. Of the many decorations on the shattered helmet - made sometime in the 7th century - are two small panels which show warriors riding on horseback. According to an analysis by the National Museum of Denmark, those panels bear a striking resemblance to a small metal stamp found on the Danish island of Taasinge. This raises the tantalising possibility that it hailed from Denmark, and not Sweden. Peter Pentz, a curator at the National Museum of Denmark, told the Ritzau news agency: 'When the likeness is as strong as it is here, it could mean that they were not only made in the same place but even by the same craftsmen.' The Sutton Hoo helmet is the most significant artefact from the Sutton Hoo burial site in Suffolk. Made sometime in the 7th Century, archaeologists believe the helmet may have made its way to Britain from Sweden as a diplomatic gift or heirloom. Pictured: A reconstruction of the helmet at the British Museum Now, a discovery by Danish archaeologist Jan Hjort (pictured) suggests that the helmet might not be from Sweden Your browser does not support iframes. The famous helmet discovered at Sutton Hoo was shattered into hundreds of pieces, but archaeologists were able to reassemble it, revealing intricate patterns and decorations. These include a motif of a mounted warrior riding over a prone man. Until now, archaeologists believed this design was influenced by earlier Roman styles and may have come from Uppland in Eastern Sweden, where similar warrior motifs have been found on helmets. However, researchers from the National Museum now say they have discovered an artefact which calls that story into doubt. Local archaeologist Jan Hjort was scouring the fields of Taasinge in 2023 when he discovered a small, flat metal object just four centimetres by five centimetres. After turning the find into the local museum, this piece of metal was revealed to be a type of stamp or die known as a 'patrice'. Thin sheets of metal could be placed over the patrice and beaten with a hammer to imprint the design onto the sheet. The design in question in this case is a man, mounted on a horse riding over a fallen figure which experts say is even closer to the Sutton Hoo design than the Swedish versions. Mr Hjort discovered this small metal stamp on the island of Taasinge in southern Denmark. Researchers say its design bears a strong resemblance to that of the Sutton Hoo helmet The design on the metal stamp or 'patrice' (left) is very similar to the one found on the Sutton Hoo helmet (right). According to the Danish National Museum, this suggests they may have been made at the same site or even by the same craftsmen The Sutton Hoo ship burial dates to between around AD 610 and AD 635, when the site belonged to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of East Anglia. It was discovered in 1939 by Basil Brown Your browser does not support iframes. The researchers point to details like the lines beneath the horseman's foot and the edge of the prone man's foot which are the same on both the patrice and the Sutton Hoo helmet fragments. While Mr Pentz acknowledges that the motifs could be inspired by one another, he argues that this level of similarity cannot be dismissed as nothing more than imitation. Some historians believe that the island of Taasinge was home to a seventh-century metal works and thin sheets of metal that could have been used in stamping foils have been found in the area. 'That could provide strong evidence that the Sutton Hoo helmet was actually made in Taasinge, which would make it an incredible find,' says Mr Penz. However, there are several issues standing in the way of this theory - most notably that the Sutton Hoo helmet is fragmented and the patrice quite worn. Additionally, the Taasinge stamp is such a small piece of metal that it very easily could have been transported form elsewhere. But, if the Sutton Hoo helmet really did come from Denmark rather than Sweden, it stands to upend what historians believe about the balance of power in seventh-century Europe. The researchers suggest that Sweden and England may have been outposts of a Danish power centre and that the helmet shows a strong connection to Denmark as the central power of the region. The Taasinge stamp (pictured) could be evidence that the Sutton Hoo helmet came from Demark rather than Sweden. If so, this would re-write what many historians believe about seventh-century Europe According to researchers from the National Museum of Denmark the Sutton Hoo helmet could be a sign of England's close ties to a greater power centre in Denmark. This would suggest that Denmark was much more important than previously thought Mr Pentz says: 'It is still too early to draw any conclusions, but it does indicate that Denmark played a more important role during this period than previously assumed. 'We often attribute the uniting of the kingdom to Harald Bluetooth in the 10th century, but Denmark could have been relatively united and powerful as early as 600 CE. It is a find that challenges previous theories, and that is always exciting.' But not everyone is convinced that this find is as revolutionary as the National Museum of Denmark suggests. Dr Helen Gittos, a medieval historian from the University of Oxford, told MailOnline that the stamp was an 'interesting find' but that the motif was far from unique. Dr Gittos says: 'The imagery fits with similar examples found in Valsgarde, Sweden, as well as in southern Germany and elsewhere. 'Its always particularly helpful to find evidence for metalworking activity and it adds to the sense of quite how interconnected were the military elites of this period in north-western Europe.' The Sutton Hoo ship burial dates to between around AD 610 and AD 635, when the site belonged to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of East Anglia. It was back in 1939 that amateur archaeologist Basil Brown discovered the site, when he brushed away the Suffolk soil on request of local woman Edith Pretty. However, proving a connection may be challenging since the Sutton Hoo helmet exists in hundreds of fragments (pictured). This makes it hard to show that fine details match between the two artefacts He uncovered evidence of an epic funerary monument an 88.6-foot-long ship with a burial chamber full of luxury goods. The ship's wood rotted away in the acidic soil over the course of 1,300 years, leaving only a ghostly imprint. Later analysis detected phosphate in the soil an indicator that a human body once lay at rest there. The alkaline human bones were corroded, meaning we'll likely never know the identity of who was buried there. The people buried here left no written records, so it's impossible to know exactly who they were, but historians have long claimed Sutton Hoo was the cemetery for the royal dynasty of East Anglia, the Wuffingas. It's been said a king or great warrior of East Anglia was laid to rest surrounded by his treasures possibly King Rdwald, according to the National Trust. The figure's royal status is indicated by the vast collection of more than 260 artefacts found buried alongside them. Those include items like a shield and drinking horns with connections to Scandinavia and the iconic Sutton Hoo helmet. Advertisement Sometimes it's not about the destination, but the journey. While that might feel hard to believe if you regularly face an unpleasant and sweaty commute on an underground network, some cities have designed stations to raise their passengers' moods. Join MailOnline Travel as we delve deep below the surface to look at some of the world's most spectacular underground networks. And some of these stations are so impressive they're considered works of art. From a steampunk-style station in the City of Lights to a London Underground stop that's inspired by Moscow - enter the subterranean world with these city-centre marvels. Scroll down to see some of the world's most incredibly designed subway stations... The stylish Arts et Metiers metro station in Paris was designed by a Belgian comic artist Francois Schuiten who was inspired by Jules Verne's science-fiction novels. Its steampunk-style design is supposed to make you feel like you're inside a copper submarine. About-Paris.com says: 'Lined with riveted sheets of copper with its peephole portholes you get the sense of a subterranean existence - which in many ways is what you are experiencing - and a desire to linger' Unsurprisingly, the Hollywood/Vine station located beneath Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles has a movie-themed design. The ceiling is decorated with film reels and there are even two movie projectors donated by Paramount Pictures. The Beauty of Transport says: 'Fluted pillars are topped with palm fronds, evoking the Art Deco stylings of local picture houses from Hollywood's golden age, which picked up on Egyptian motifs like palm trees' The colourful Olaias metro station in Lisbon is decorated with mosaic-like stained glass. The Beauty of Transport says: '[The glass panels] are lit from behind so that they glow, bathing passengers in different coloured light. If you were trapped inside a giant kaleidoscope, then it would be just like being at Olaias station' Westfriedhof metro station in Munich features oversized lamps which create a warm neon-like glow for waiting passengers. In a book about the German city's metro stations, a member of the planning council, Rolf Schirmer said: 'The use of artistic elements should help make a passenger's wait more pleasant, something that cannot generally be said of subterranean, mostly artificially lit, spaces. This already indicates what a subway station should not be: provocative, aggressive, dreary or oppressive' Bangkok's Wat Mangkon metro station was decorated to 'pay homage to the area's Chinese heritage', says BK magazine. Its walls are decorated with 'traditional Chinese patterns and tiled dragons. Deep red columns and golden dragon motifs on the ceiling also distinguish [it] from the drab underground stations of the past' Gants Hill station on the London Underground opened in 1947 and was designed by the famous architect, Charles Holden. Pictured above is the station's 'Moscow Hall' which was inspired by Holden's trip to the Russian capital. The London Transport Museum explains: 'The arched ceiling and detailed symmetry create an elongated effect' Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, is famed for its elaborately designed metro system. Lonely Planet describes the system as 'the best way to get around the sprawling capital and also an attraction in itself with stations decorated in an array of stunning schemes.' Pictured above is Mustakili Maydoni station. Central-Asia Guide says: 'This station has a massive amount of white marble decorations and very beautiful chandelier type lighting' Pictured above is Jincheng Avenue station in the Chinese city of Chengdu. Chetwoods, a British architect company that worked on the project, says: 'The stations are designed to be memorable spaces that "provoke emotions", not merely points of transit. Each station has a unique concept that explores and interprets in its form, texture and materials the local culture of the area in which it is located.' Jincheng Avenue's lilac columns are supposed to reflect lotus flowers found on a nearby lake Lonely Planet describes Toledo metro station (pictured above) in Naples as 'jaw-dropping'. It says: 'Along the 50-metre descent into the bowels of the station, dark becomes light, the earth morphs into the sea and, at the bottom, waves (in the form of Robert Wilsons light-panel installation) carry passengers to the below-sea-level platform' Stockholm's entire metro system is considered to be one of the world's largest works of art. Solna Centrum, pictured above, is one of the Swedish capital's most striking. Visit Stockholm says: 'The bright green and red landscape - the green being the forest and the red an evening sun setting behind the treetops - is both timeless in its beauty, but also something that few other stations artwork is; political.' Paintings in the station reflect issues around the environment, deforestation and depopulation of rural areas The Szent Gellert Ter metro station in Budapest is decorated with a 'swirling mosaic', says Dezeen, 'which references the tiles used inside the famous Gellert hotel situated nearby'. The Art Nouveau hotel and station are located right next to the city's famous and historic Gellert baths The best-value holiday destinations for Brits this year have been revealed and at the cheapest, beer goes for just 2, and flights to get there cost as little as 36. The Post Office Holiday Money Report surveyed 47 destinations around the globe, looking at the price of eight items typically bought on holiday, such as coffee, beer, sun cream and meals out, to predict the best value holidays. For the ninth year in a row, the Algarve has retained the top spot as the best value for money holiday destination for Brits, mainly thanks to its low-cost meals and drinks. Tourists in Portugal's popular southern coast can expect to pay as little as 40.33 for a three-course meal for two with wine. Coffee is just over 1 on average in the Algarve, a beer is 2.12, and a glass of wine is just 2.80. Flights from London to the Algarve's nearest airport, Faro, are currently going for as cheap as 36 in June, making it an affordable family holiday. Laura Plunkett, the Post Office Travel Money's expert, said: 'It's interesting to see the Algarve back at the top of the barometer chart again and this is largely down to the remarkable consistency in its low prices for meals and drinks. Your browser does not support iframes. The best-value holiday destinations for Brits this year have been revealed and at the cheapest, beer goes for just 2, and flights to get there cost as little as 36. Tourists in Portugal's popular southern coast can expect to pay as little as 40.33 for a three-course meal for two with wine. Pictured: Camilo Beach (Praia do Camilo) at Algarve, Portugal Coffee is just over 1 on average in the Algarve, a beer is 2.12, and a glass of wine is just 2.80 (stock image) 'Even though the Algarve has featured in the best value top 10 since 2010, it has struggled to match the cheapest long haul destinations on price in recent years. 'Now prices have risen in its closest competitors but remained low in Portugal.' Other budget-friendly European destinations in the top ten include Prague, the Costa del Sol in Spain, and Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. Travellers can expect to spend around 75.92 while on holiday in Prague, a similar 76.51 in Spain's Costa del Sol, and a cheap 71.46 if staying at Sunny Beach along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. In Spain's Costa del Sol and Bulgaria's Sunny Beach, tourists can enjoy a coffee for less than 2, wine for less than 3, and a beer for just 2.50 on average. While tourists might pay a little more in Prague, with the average coffee priced at 2.13, and a three course meal with wine for two costing 55.69, flights are as cheap as ever. Other budget-friendly European destinations in the top ten include Prague, the Costa del Sol in Spain, and Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. Pictured: Charles bridge at dawn in Prague city Flights from London to the Algarve's nearest airport, Faro, are currently going for as cheap as 36 in June, making it an affordable family holiday (stock image) Return flights from the UK to Prague are available this summer for prices starting at just 27. The second best value destination is revealed as Cape Town, South Africa, where a beer or glass of wine costs 2.07 and a coffee is just 1.44. But it is further afield, and more expensive for Brits to get there, with one way flights from London starting at 297 and returns at 394. The last destination in the top three is Tokyo, Japan. Tourists to the Land of the Rising Sun can spend a total of just 63.34 on holiday there, with a coffee costing 2.44 and a three course meal for two with wine just 44.58. Algarve in Portugal is the cheapest place to go on a budget break, with the Costa del Sol in Spain lagging behind in 10th position But, again, flights will cost tourists wanting to visit Japan in 2025 more. Direct flights from London to Tokyo are available for 270, while returns are 400. An American favourite with UK tourists, however, has placed number one as the most expensive holiday spot this year. New York, which gets over 1 million British tourists per year, is the most expensive city in the report, expected to cost 167.85 The destination's expected spending costs for tourists has risen by 15.6% on its prices last year, with a three course evening meal for two with a bottle of wine costing a whopping 128.27. A New York cup of coffee will also set tourists back 3.77 on average, and a bottle of beer 7.07 and a glass of wine, shockingly, is 11.08. British holidaymakers looking to hit the beach this summer are being warned of a brand new ban at one of southern Spains most popular tourist hotspots. The prohibition of beachside smoking is set to be enforced on Alicantes LAlbir Beach, with the rules coming into place from the summer season onwards. Set in Spains Costa Blanca region between both Benidorm and Altea, the 600-metre stretch of beach is accompanied by a promenade including restaurants, bars, cafes and shops. The news was announced by the mayor of LAlfas, Vincente Arques, who said the crackdown was part of a broader council policy to position ourselves as a benchmark for healthy international tourism'. It follows similar bans recently implemented across several Spanish regions, with the Balearic Islands, Valencia and Barcelona all prohibiting beach smoking. Benidorm, which saw more than 600,000 British travellers between January and August of 2024 alone, is also looking to follow suit. Last summer, two beaches, Levante and Poniente, placed a ban on smoking while on the sand. It comes after Spanish authorities were provided greater powers to ban smoking on beaches in 2021, with a fine of up to 2000, equivalent to 1,700, for those found to be breaking the law. The prohibition of beachside smoking is set to be enforced on Alicantes LAlbir Beach (pictured), with the rules coming into place from the summer season It comes after Spanish authorities were provided greater powers to ban smoking on beaches in 2021, with a fine of up to 2000, equivalent to 1,700, for those found to be breaking the law The news was announced by the mayor of LAlfas, Vincente Arques, who said the crackdown was part of a broader council policy to position ourselves as a benchmark for healthy international tourism' The unpopular ban is hoped to protect beaches against tourist littering while also preserving marine life and promoting a healthier lifestyle for locals. Described as a key contributor to the plastic pollution problem, single-use plastic cigarette filters are consistently ranked in the top five items found on UK beaches during the Marine Conservation Societys Great British Beach Clean. They are perceived to be particularly harmful due to the harmful chemicals they release into the environment, and take up to 14 years to degrade. Comprising of arsenic, lead and nicotine, these lingering harmful chemicals create a serious threat to people and the environment, according to Earthday.org. The new smoking ban is just one of several different laws observed across a number of Spanish islands designed to help tackle immense spikes in British tourists. Those seeking a Spanish summer fix should also be mindful to bring a cover up, with those visiting Barcelona at risk of a 260 fine for wearing a bikini anywhere that is not the beach. Meanwhile, in Majorca, anyone seen wearing a bikini off the beach is at risk of a 500 fine. Men who are seen to be topless in areas other than beaches could also be facing a string of similar fines across a number of different Spanish regions and are encouraged to do prior research to avoid being handed hefty fines. The new smoking ban is just one of several different laws observed across several Spanish islands designed to help tackle immense spikes in British tourists in peak summer months Described as a key contributor to the plastic pollution problem, single-use plastic cigarette filters are consistently ranked in the top five items found on UK beaches Unsuspecting British holidaymakers could also be forced to pay up to 170 fines if they buy souvenirs from unlicensed sellers on the beaches and streets, with plain-clothed officers patrolling the streets of Costa Blanca to crack down on illegal street sellers, known locally as manteros. Meanwhile, the popular boozy area of Magaluf has placed restrictions on tourists drinking habits, with holidaymakers unable to drink on the public streets following new measures introduced by the Mayor of Calvia, Juan Antonio. Enforced until at least December 2027, penalties for non-compliance with the prohibition of alcohol consumption on public roads will range from 500 to 1,500 (430 to 1,290). Last summer, Spanish holiday destinations were rocked by anti-tourism protests as tens of thousands of fed-up locals filled the streets, claiming they've been priced out by holidaymakers, expats and foreign buyers. Advertisement Kourtney Kardashian was quite annoyed with her mother Kris Jenner for plying her grandchildren with too-sweet treats on this week's episode of The Kardashians. The 69-year-old family matriarch decided to take all of her grandchildren to Underwood Farms for a fun-filled family day, which comes after she showed off a new look. Most of the grandchildren rode in a sprinter van with Kris, while her 45-year-old daughter followed with husband Travis Barker and their baby Rocky. When they arrived, Kourtney was mortified to find that her mother ignored her strict snack instructions for the excursion. Kris had procured a sprinter van for all of her grandkids and had filled it with all kinds of treats including chips, lollipops, Gatorade and much more. Kris even joked along the way that they'd be all, 'sugared up' when they got there, but Kourtney wasn't laughing one bit, chiding her mother for ignoring her instructions. Kourtney Kardashian was quite annoyed with her mother Kris Jenner for plying her grandchildren with too-sweet treats on this week's episode of The Kardashians The 69-year-old family matriarch decided to take all of her grandchildren to Underwood Farms for a fun-filled family day Kim's nine-year-old son Saint was seen frequently on his phone before the ride over, though Kris said, 'Saint, nobody's going to be on their phone, we're doing doing that. We're not gonna have any phones today.' At one point during the drive, Kris said to Kim's son Saint, 9, to, 'slow down on the candy.' The ride was quite chaotic, with Kris even mentioning the language barrier was, 'wild,' and at one point, Chicago complained that he looks like a pumpkin. They finally arrived intact, as Kourtney asked her mother how the ride was, and she only said, 'Interesting.' Kourtney noticed her nine-year-old nephew Saint, 'dipping the lollipop into the Gatorade,' joking it was, 'next level,' before complaining about the snacks to Kris. 'I can't believe that that's the snacks that you guys have,' as Kris insisted, 'I didn't pick 'em.' Kourtney added, 'I gave specifics, and I said no food coloring, which is Gatorade,' though Kris added, 'But who buys Gatorade? It's like eating poison!' Kourtney added, 'I gave specific popsicles,' though her daughter Penelope interjected and said, 'Mom, it's fine, he already had it,' as Kris admitted, 'No, you're right.' Kim's nine-year-old son Saint was seen frequently on his phone before the ride over, though Kris said, 'Saint, nobody's going to be on their phone, we're doing doing that. We're not gonna have any phones today.' The ride was quite chaotic, with Kris even mentioning the language barrier was, 'wild,' and at one point, Chicago complained that he looks like a pumpkin Kourtney noticed her nine-year-old nephew Saint, 'dipping the lollipop into the Gatorade,' joking it was, 'next level,' before complaining about the snacks to Kris 'I can't believe that that's the snacks that you guys have,' as Kris insisted, 'I didn't pick 'em.' Kourtney added, 'I gave specific popsicles,' though her daughter Penelope interjected and said, 'Mom, it's fine, he already had it,' as Kris admitted, 'No, you're right' The episode also shined a light on the late Robert Kardashian, and an organization set up in his honor. The Kardashian patriarch Robert Kardashian passed away over two decades ago, though it's clear he's never far from his family's hearts. The lawyer - who became a household name as part of O.J. Simpson's defense team - was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in July 2003, and passed away just months later in September 2003, at just 59 years of age. Four years after Robert's death, the family launched E!'s Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which in turn made the rest of the family household names. During this week's episode of their Hulu series The Kardashians, several members of the family went to an fundraiser for their father's foundation at UCLA. Kim Kardashian, 44, Kourtney Kardashian, 45 and Khloe Kardashian, 40, and cousin Cici Bussey all went to the event to support the Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health, and celebrate its fifth anniversary. While the event was happening, many of Robert's daughters were asked whether or not their father would be participating in The Kardashians, if he were still alive. Kourtney revealed that when he was diagnosed, they didn't know it was Stage 4, but they knew he had cancer. 'People will come up to me once in a while and say, "Do you know how incredible it is that we have this center and that it exists, and how many lives it's helping and that it's all in my dad's name?" It really does mean a lot,' Kourtney said. Kris Jenner entertains her grandchildren on a tractor ride A producer asks Kourtney in confession, 'Would your dad enjoy being on this show?' Kourtney answered with a smile, 'I think he would,' as they showed a variety of flashback home movie footage of Robert. 'He definitely would be in on the pranks with us,' Kourtney added, while Khloe said in her confession, 'My dad, in general, was incredibly goofy, definitely class clown.' Kim added, 'He was very playful and very fun. He'd also be pretty pissed off at a lot of things too. I'd be grounded. For life. Already.' Khloe admitted, 'I'm sure some of our antics he probably wouldn't be too thrilled with, but, also, I think also if he was here, we would also be different at the same time.' She added, 'Like, maybe not make some of the stupid choices we've made, who knows.' Kim insisted, 'He would have loved it,' before she was invited up to speak at the event honoring her father. 'It's so interesting that we chose to do a partnership like this, because my dad hated the hospital, hated doctors, would never go, but I know he would be so proud because he was the kind of guy who would go when it was too late,' Kim said. 'I just feel so proud that I can contribute to that conversation and I'm just so grateful to Eric (Esrailian) for helping us make this a reality, because we, all together, are saving so many people's lives, so thank you so much,' Kim said. Kim added in confession, 'There's like a few things in life that our dad would be really proud of us for, and this is definitely one of them. We weren't able to save his life with this new technology, and with the access to these doctors, but now we can help save other people's lives.' Khloe also joked, 'I thought you were gonna say dad would be pissed because it's not a USC hospital. My dad was a Trojan, he went to USC, but anything for health.' A star from the Australian-made children's series Bluey has spoken out about why a controversial episode of the show was briefly 'banned' in the US. The episode, titled 'Family Meeting', upset American broadcaster Disney Junior because the family of cartoon dogs discussed farting. It later appeared on Disney+. Actress Melanie Zanetti, who voices the character of Chilli in the global hit, said that she and other cast members were 'shocked' when the episode, which went to air in Australia in 2021, was seemingly a huge problem for US viewers. Describing her reaction to the 'ban' as 'wild', Zanetti said that culturally Americans are more concerned about 'swearing' than Australians. 'The amount of things that are acceptable in America but a fart-focused episode was not - I find so funny,' the 40-year-old actress said on the latest episode of TMZ's Big Down Under podcast. She added: 'I dont know if they are actually that much more sensitive, or whether they are just being careful. A star from the Australian-made children's series Bluey has spoken out about why a controversial episode was briefly 'banned' in the US. Pictured: A scene from Bluey's'Family Meeting' episode which first aired in Australia in 2021 'I feel like the things around swearing, theres a little bit more concern there (in the US), whereas Australians, I feel, are much more laid back.' The show eventually went to air in the US in 2022 after fans complained. The animated hit focuses on the Heeler family of dogs and is known for its storylines that reflect everyday parenting experiences in the real world. According to the official synopsis in Family Meeting, which was episode three of season three, the Heelers hold a 'trial' after Dad 'fluffs', aka farts, in Bluey's face. In August 2022, Disney+ deemed the episode as 'inappropriate' as it did not meet the streaming service's guidelines. However, a Disney Branded Television employee said the banned episode would eventually go to air. The Aussie animated series is wildly popular in the US and won the Kids: Preschool Award at the 2019 International Emmys. The show has captured the hearts and minds of schoolchildren across America and is even changing the way they speak. Actress Melanie Zanetti (pictured), who voices the character of Chilli in the global hit, said that she and other cast members were 'shocked' when the episode was a problem for US viewers Describing her reaction as 'wild', Zanetti said that culturally, Americans are more concerned about 'swearing' than Australians during the latest episode of TMZ podcast Big Down Under Kids in the United States are beginning to speak with an unmistakable Australian twang after watching Bluey. It comes after the ABC announced it would be premiering a TV version of Bluey's Big Play, a stage production of the hit show next month. The special will be aired on ABC Family and ABC iview on April 20. The show features puppet versions of the beloved animated creations and the voices of original cast members including Zanetti and Dave McCormack. Bluey creator Joe Blumm has created a fresh storyline for the play, which was was first staged in 2022. Bluey was the top dog on Australian TV in 2024 after breaking viewership records on the ABC and ABC iview. According to a recent ratings survey, the beloved show has been one of the biggest success stories in the US over the last two years. The children's animated series has been riding high in the top ten shows streamed in the US for a massive 112 weeks. The figures were compiled by the Nielsen ratings, which tracks viewership in the US, reported the Comicbook website. Bluey is broadcast in more than 60 countries, with all three seasons of the Emmy-award-winning cartoon available on ABC iview in Australia, Disney+ in the U.S. and select episodes on BBC iPlayer in the U.K. In December, BBC Studios and The Walt Disney Company announced they are bringing Bluey's first-ever animated feature film to the big screen. It will be written and directed by the show's creator Joe Brumm. The CG animated film will be produced by award-winning animation producer Amber Naismith, while Richard Jeffery will return to co-direct the film. It is set to be released in cinemas in 2027. Advertisement Martin Clunes roared 'how dare you!' after The One Show Alex Jones took a shock swipe at him live on Wednesday's show. The actor, 63, joined the sofa with his Men Behaving Badly co-star Neil Morrissey to discuss their new programme Bon Voyage. After watching a preview of the new show, Martin was left taken aback after a cheeky quip from Alex left the studio giggling. She teased: 'Now, well, a lovely programme. We first saw you, of course, together back in the 90s on Men Behaving Badly. 'Is this just an excuse to relive the good old days?' Martin jokingly exclaimed: 'How dare you? ! How dare you? We tried to make an edifying fine piece of television for the British viewers here.' Martin Clunes roared 'how dare you!' after The One Show Alex Jones took a shock swipe at him live on Wednesday's show The actor, 63, joined the sofa with his Men Behaving Badly co-star Neil Morrissey to discuss their new programme Bon Voyage, with Alex Neil added: Educational, fun, nostalgic.' Discussing their onscreen reunion, he continued: 'It's a great excuse actually to hang out because we haven't hung out with each other.' The Men Behaving Badly stars have reunited 26 years after their hit sitcom for a new three-part TV road trip adventure through France for Bon Voyage. Neil shows Martin around the country he now calls his second home as the former admitted: 'You couldn't get away with making Men Behaving Badly now'. The duo last starred opposite each other as Tony Smart and Gary Strang in the comedy, which aired on ITV and then the BBC between 1992 and 1998. They became the 'lads of the era' with Neil now confessing the show never intended to be sexist or misogynistic. Speaking to The Mirror he joked: 'If you said misogyny to either Tony or Gary, they'd have probably thought it was a Polish sausage. Explaining how the show wouldn't be accepted today Martin said: 'Life has changed. With some social media and the entire world becoming a journalist, and everything becoming so polarised that it's like, "they said something inappropriate, therefore it can't be funny, it must be bad, let's stamp it out and cancel it all," rather than seeing any nuance in life.' After watching a preview of the new show, Martin was left taken aback after a cheeky quip from Alex left the studio giggling She teased: 'Now, well, a lovely programme. We first saw you, of course, together back in the 90s on Men Behaving Badly. Is this just an excuse to relive the good old days?' The duo last starred opposite each other as Tony Smart and Gary Strang in the comedy, which aired on ITV and then the BBC between 1992 and 1998 He added: 'Nuance has gone out of fashion. I think everything's become bold and brash in terms of comedy.' Their new show aired on Gold on March 25 and sees them travel from Normandy, through the Alps to Neil's home and cider apple orchard in the southern region. As they take in the local food, landscapes and local traditions, the old friends will reconnect and reminisce on their professional and personal relationship that spans 30 years. Neil said: 'It's fantastic we have this golden opportunity to reunite so I can introduce my pal Martin to all the things I love so much about France, along with some Gallic treasures I've always wanted to see. 'I've fallen in love with this country, its glorious food, its delicious wine, and knowing Martin has an EU passport, I'm fairly certain he'll be relocating here once I've finished with him.' Martin said he was 'really looking forward to all the sights, sounds, tastes, people and experiences Neil's lined up for me in France'. 'Most of all I'm looking forward to spending a great deal of time with my old mate Neil, who I've grown to miss more than ever since he's absconded to a country which he claims has the best scenery, food and wine on earth is he right?', he added The pair have come together once again as Neil shows Martin around the country he now calls his second home as Martin admitted: 'You couldn't get away with Men Behaving Badly now' Explaining how the show wouldn't be accepted today Martin said: 'Nuance has gone out of fashion. I think everything's become bold and brash in terms of comedy' 'I intend to find out by devouring the lot of it and seeing what I can remember afterwards.' Neil replaced Harry Enfield on Men Behaving Badly, starring opposite Martin Clunes, Caroline Quentin and Lesley Ash. The pair previously treated fans to reprisal of their roles in 2014 for a one-off comedy sketch for Channel 4's Feeling Nuts in aid of testicular cancer, after 15 years away from screens. The lovable rogues of the nineties Gary Strang and Tony Smart returned for a one-off comedy sketch - which saw model Abbey Clancy make a cameo - that saw them discussing the pitfalls of modern dating while drinking cans on their iconic sofa. A legendary nineties series is primed for an epic TV return after the lead star vowed to write a Christmas special to bring the cast back together. Cold Feet first aired back in 1997 until 2003 and starred James Nesbitt, John Thomson, Hermione Norris and Helen Baxendale amongst others. The ITV comedy returned again in 2016 for just four seasons before being pulled from screens in 2020. Cold Feet won several BAFTAs and ran for nine seasons with a total of 59 episodes following three couples from Manchester as they navigate the highs and lows of their relationships. However, one of the show's stars, John Thomson, 55, has revealed plans to write a Christmas special and 'thinks it's time' to bring the drama back. On the We're Not Getting Any Younger podcast, he said: 'We were off air for 13 years and we came back and we had a massive hit again. 'We had an absence of 13 years and then we came back in 2016. It was just as big a hit.' Cold Feet first aired back in 1997 until 2003 and starred James Nesbitt , John Thomson, Hermione Norris and Helen Baxendale amongst others Cold Feet won several BAFTAs and ran for nine seasons with a total of 59 episodes following three couples from Manchester as they navigate the highs and lows of their relationships However, one of the show's stars, John Thomson, pictured left, has revealed he wants to write a Christmas special and 'thinks it's time' to bring the drama back The actor added: 'It's always the same, people go, "Is it coming back." I say, "Never say never." 'I've said I'll write a Christmas special, I think it's time. You don't leave it too long. 'There's so much politics in telly now though it's hard.' John explained how lots of things have prevented filming additional instalments like the pandemic. He also shared how he is concerned there are limited casting opportunities for him as a 'white, middle class, middle-aged straight actor'. 'As far as bankability or castability, or popularity stakes go as actors, I'm the worst,' John said. 'I'm a white, middle class, middle-aged straight actor, and they don't want us anymore.' John explained how lots of things have prevented filming additional instalments like the pandemic He shared how he is concerned there are limited casting opportunities for him as a 'white, middle class, middle aged straight actor' He added: 'I don't think so, not really. Maybe occasionally. I've got to think about what else I can do.' The actor went on to star in Coronation Street and joined the soap back in 2008 as hapless children's entertainer Jesse Chadwick before he left in 2010. He returned again in 2024 as part of Gail Platt's (Helen Worth) exit story line just as Jesse's ex Eileen Grimshaw returned from a holiday in Thailand. Cold Feet is available to stream on ITVX. Netflix has quietly released a 'binge-worthy' new Harlan Coben drama - and it is perfect for fans of Fool Me Once and Missing You. Caught - originally titled Atrapados - is a gripping six-part thriller series which is based on Harlan's 2010 novel of the same name. The series sees reporter Ema Garay (Soledad Villamil) expose and uncover illegal tax dodging schemes while based in Bariloche, Patagonia. But her probe into a 16-year-old girl's disappearance upends her life as she meets a respected member of the community and social worker, Leo Mercer (Juan Minujin). Leo becomes the main suspect in her investigation and Ema is forced to confront her own demons during the inquiry. The series was released on Wednesday and has already gained stellar reviews as website Heaven of Horror dubbed it 'binge-worthy'. Netflix has quietly released a 'binge-worthy' new Harlan Coben drama, Caught - and it is perfect for fans of Fool Me Once and Missing You (pictured: Soledad Villamil) Caught - originally titled Atrapados - is a gripping six-part thriller series which is based on Harlan's 2010 novel of the same name 'As is often the case with these Harlan Coben stories, it's a cautionary tale in more ways than one', the review penned. 'Also, it has several twists and turns, so don't be too confident you have it all figured out early on.' After just being released for a day, the show has already slid into the streaming platform's top 10 ranking. Alongside the six episode, the reads: 'After her husband's death, a famed reporter's obsession with a new case threatens to destroy her reputation in her quest for truth and redemption.' And the show is perfect for fan of Netflix's Fool Me Once, starring Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley. The show has gripped audiences with its twists and turns since its release on New Year's Day in 2024. The eight-part drama is the latest of the streaming platform's successful adaptations of novels by American mystery-thriller writer Harlan Coben. Asynopsis read: 'When ex-soldier Maya (Michelle Keegan) sees her murdered husband on a secret nanny cam, she uncovers a deadly conspiracy that stretches deep into the past.' The series sees reporter Ema Garay (Soledad Villamil - pictured) expose and uncover illegal tax dodging schemes while based in Bariloche, Patagonia But her probe into a 16-year-old girl's disappearance upends her life as she meets a respected member of the community and social worker, Leo Mercer (Juan Minujin) - a main suspect The series was released on Wednesday and has already gained stellar reviews as website Heaven of Horror dubbed it 'binge-worthy' Ahead of the shows release, Harlan took to social media to confirm the series release. He penned: 'CAUGHT (Atrapados) comes to @Netflix on March 26. Beautifully filmed in Bariloche and Buenos Aires, kudos to @CheNetflix and @NetflixLAT teams. 'PSA: Like with Squid Games or Money Heist, Netflix gives you the option to watch with English subtitles or dubbing. Enjoy this teaser.' The series also has also cast Fernan Miras, Mike Amigorena, and Carmela Rivero. The adaptation comes from director Miguel Cohan -who is also a showrunner- and Ana Cohan. They also wrote the screenplays, alongside Maria Meira and Gonzalo Salaya. Caught consists of six episodes that range between 45 minutes and an hour. Jeremy Clarkson has begged fans to explain an 'impossible' moment in Netflix's Adolescence - and was left stunned when a cast member revealed what really happened during filming. Each episode of Adolescence, which hit our screens on the streaming service on March 13, was filmed in just one continuous shot. And the former Top Gear host, 64, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his confusion about how they managed to successfully capture a chase scene which at one point was filmed through a window. Jeremy said: 'Adolescence. The camera at the end of [episode] 2. How on earth did they do that? Its impossible.' Someone who claimed to appear on the show as an actor replied: 'Hey Jeremy. Actor that worked on the show. 'It was indeed attached VERY carefully to a powerful drone. They only got the take in the bag on the final day.' Jeremy Clarkson begs fans to explain 'impossible' Adolescence moment - and is stunned when Netflix cast member reveals what REALLY happened on set The former Top Gear host, 64, took to X, formerly known as Twitter , to share his confusion about how they managed to successfully capture a chase scene which at one point was filmed through a window (pictured above) Each episode of Adolescence, which hit our screens on the streaming service on March 13, was incredibly filmed in just one continuous shot Jeremy replied: 'Well congrats to you all. Masterful television.' Meanwhile Bella Roberts, who also worked on the show, made a TikTok about how the scene worked. Bella said: 'I'm going to let you into a secret. The glass isn't real. 'I'm sorry to break the reality here. But basically how they did it was the window wasn't there when they filmed that shot. 'The camera goes through the empty panel, and someone is there on the other side to grab it. There is also a crash mat there on the other side of the window in case the actor fell. Which was also painted out... 'They just VFX'd the window back in.' Other eagle-eyed fans pointed out how they spotted a cameraman moments after. 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.' All four episodes of Adolescence are available to stream on Netflix now. A jaw-dropping Antiques Roadshow episode led to a couple being arrested for 'trafficking a national treasure'. Married couple Philip and Gay Courter were detained by police on June 29, 2022 when they ported in Southampton after a European cruise on the Island Princess. They were told by ship officials to hand over their passports before being escorted off the boat and were informed they were being arrested in connection to looted gold bars from the Prince de Conty, a frigate that crashed off the coast of Brittany in 1746. The gold bars in question were acquired from a French pair they had befriended, Gerard and Annette Pesty in Crystal River, Florida, they previously told The New Yorker. Gerard asked the Courters to keep hold of his briefcase of around 20 gold ingots while he was in France and they went ahead to stash them in their ceiling before moving the load to a safe-deposit box, not knowing the true story behind them. And it is a story that may never have come to light if it wasn't for a 1999 episode of Antiques Roadshow. Gay and Philip Courter were arrested in England in 2022 after unwittingly harboring gold bars stolen from an 18th century French shipwreck. The charges were dropped The bars were plundered by French divers during the 1970s, before an extraordinary investigation saw some end up back in the hands of U.S. Homeland Security It is thought around 100 gold bars were lost among the wreckage of the Prince de Conty, which crashed into rocks off the coast of Brittany in 1746 The cruise curse It is not the first time that the Courters have been in the public gaze. In 2020, they became minor celebrities as de facto spokespeople for passengers stuck on the Diamond Princess, the first cruise ship to be quarantined during the pandemic. The Courters lobbied for evacuation in newspaper editorials and on cable news. More than seven hundred passengers contracted the virus, and at least fourteen people died. Gay, who had already published a New York Times bestseller, 'The Midwife', in 1982, had eerily foreshadowed their predicament in her most recent novel, which is set on a cruise ship. According to its promotional material, 'The Girl in the Box', published in 2019, juxtaposes 'the sumptuousness of a dream vacation with the horrors that lurk around the bend'. After the Courters were finally released from the Diamond Princess, Gay set to work on a memoir. She wrote of the shock of being 'a carefree cruiser one moment, then held hostage by a foreign government'. Again, her writings proved prescient. Diamond Princess passengers were offered a free cruise to compensate for their experience. The Courters chose to take theirs in early June of 2022, boarding the Island Princess on the south coast of England for a two-week tour of Norway. On June 29, the Island Princess returned to port in Southampton. But the Courters' cruise curse struck again. Upon arrival, they were told by ship officials to hand over their passports before being escorted off the boat. They were then informed that they were being arrested in connection to looted gold bars from the Prince de Conty, a frigate that crashed off the coast of Brittany in 1746. The wreckage The Courters were last in the media spotlight in 2020 when they became stuck on the Diamond Princess, the first cruise ship to be quarantined during the pandemic The couple became de facto spokespeople for the stricken passengers, lobbying for evacuation in newspaper editorials and on cable news TIMELINE: From shipwreck to cursed cruises 1746 Prince de Conty crashes off coast of Brittany carrying roughly 100 gold ingots 1974-1975 A team of amateur French marine archeologists find the shipwreck and pocket its treasures without informing authorities 1981 Gay and Phil Courters meet fellow sailing enthusiasts Gerard and Annette Pesty in Crystal River, Florida 1985 Michel LHour is charged with leading an official dive for French authorities at the site of the Prince. His team only finds three gold ingots 1986 Gerard Pesty arrives at the Courters home in Florida with a briefcase of around 20 gold ingots. He asks them to keep hold of them while they look for an American buyer 1999 Annette Pesty appears on an episode of Antiques Roadshow with a pair of gold bars, which she claimed to have found underwater near the Cape Verde Islands 2017 LHour connects the dots to Pesty following a tip off from a source, which includes a link to the Antiques Roadshow episode and a recent listing at a California auction house 2021 French police raid the homes of Annette Pesty and her relatives Brigitte and Yves Gladu. The Pestys had said Yves, an underwater photographer, had recovered the gold during a dive in 1975 2022 The Courters are arrested on European warrants in connection with the stolen gold. Charges are later dropped Advertisement The Prince de Conty, owned by the French East India Company, had first set sail from Lorient on April 2, 1745. Six months into its voyage, it arrived in the Chinese city of Canton, now known as Guangzhou. There, the crew loaded up with luxury goods, including tea, ceramics and roughly 100 gold ingots. Some were shaped in rectangular bars. Others were known as 'pain' for their resemblance to baguettes. On December 2, 1746, after twenty months at sea, the frigate was just 10 miles from the coast of Brittany, just hours away from completing its mission. But, a violent storm erupted in the dead of night, tossing the Prince onto the rocky coast of Belle-Ile-en-Mer, an island in Brittany. Fewer than 70 of the 190 men who had made it that far survived. The French East India Company sent a salvage coup to recover its cargo, but its precious gold could not be found. It was one of several ill-fated missions for the company, which had already lost another ship of the same name off the coast of Louisiana, with a third Prince falling into the hands of English pirates in 1753. Without even a case of third-time lucky, word began to spread of a curse upon the ships. The looting For more than 200 years, the Prince de Conty went untouched, and largely forgotten. Then, in 1974, a Normandy men Patrick Lize and Jean-Calude Lescure were introduced to each other by Lize's dentist, owing to their shared passion for marine archeology. Lize told his new friend that he had been scoping out shipwrecks. Of particular interest was the Prince de Conty, for which he had found a contemporary report of the salvage mission, laying bare its lost treasures. In August, the pair traveled to the site of the wreckage - a discreet cove known as Port Lost-Kah, meaning 'cat's tail' in Breton. Lize and Lescure enlisted the help of Guy Lepinay, a local notary, who was to handle logistics, and the three men agreed to split any spoils equally. One afternoon, as he was preparing to call it quits for the day, Lize struck gold, literally. But instead of reporting their miraculous find to officials, as required under French law, they kept it quiet for two months. The Prince de Conty met its end on the rocks of Belle-Ile-en-Mer, an island in Brittany When Lize finally declared it - behind the backs of his partners - he didn't let on that he had discovered gold, mentioning only 'five entirely corroded cannons', The New Yorker reported. France's Underwater Archaeology Research Department, DRASSM, granted him permission to bring up the cannons, and, in the summer of 1975, he returned to the site to recover its bounty. But according to witnesses, the site quickly degenerated into chaos. The journalist Nicolas Jacquard wrote recently, in Le Parisien, that Lize and his associates 'skin[ned] the remains of the Conty like a band of piranhas would clean a carcass.' Following a tip from Lescure, DRASSM raided the site and shut down the dive. French investigators, however, were only ever able to recover two ingots. Charges were brought against just five people, including Lize and Lepinay. After a trial in 1983, Lize was fined forty thousand francs for possession of stolen goods, while Lepinay and the others received smaller penalties. The handover The Courters first met fellow sailing enthusiasts Gerard and Annette Pesty when the French couple had been on holiday in Crystal River, Florida, in 1981. Both families had children of roughly the same ages, and their friendships blossomed. By 1984, they were vacationing together near Great Inagua, an island in the Bahamas known for its flamingos. A video on Philip Courter's YouTube account shows him and his wife enjoying a boating holiday in the British Virgin Islands in 2014 with Annette Pesty and her sister and brother-in-law, Brigitte and Yves Gladu. The Pestys spent their summers in France, running their pharmacy, allowing them to travel for the rest of the year. Gay said that they were closer with the Pestys than he or Philip were with their own siblings. The gold bars were handed to the Courters in 1986 by family friend Gerard Pesty. He told them they had been recovered from a French shipwreck by his sister, Brigitte Gladu, and her husband, Yves. Pictured: The group together on a holiday in the British Virgin Islands. From left: Annette Pesty (Gerard's wife), Brigitte Gladu, Philip Courter, Yves Gladu, Gay Courter She described Gerard as a 'crazy guy with so many irons in the fire'. So when he made his impromptu appearance in Crystal River with his briefcase of gold, the Courters were shocked, but not disbelieving. The couple told The New Yorker that Gerard had around twenty ingots, which he told them had been recovered from a French shipwreck by Yves Gladu, a renowned underwater photographer. Gerard told the Courters that he had already sold three ingots to the British Museum and was looking to offload the rest of his collection to an American buyer. He asked his friends if they would hold onto the gold while he was in France. The Courters stashed the ingots in their ceiling, before moving it to a safe-deposit box. The investigation In 1985, a DRASSM team found three ingots at the site of the Prince. It was not a breakthrough discovery, but it triggered a lifelong obsession in dive leader Michel L'Hour. L'Hour, who was made DRASSM director in 2006, was already a leading expert on the Prince, but he spent much of the next few decades nurturing contacts in the hope that he could trace the rest of the loot. In 1995, a source sent him a photograph of around twenty gold bars strewn across the ocean floor. Some were nestled between the legs of rust-colored starfish. He stashed it away in a safe, knowing it may one day come in useful. Then in 2017, he received an email from an old contact containing a link to the site of a California auction house called Stephen Album Rare Coins. The house was offering five gold ingots - four baguettes and one bar - estimated to sell for between $22,000 and $30,000 each. Pictured: Annette Pesty appeared on a 1999 episode of Antiques Roadshow shot in Florida, in which she presented a pair of gold bars investigators later linked to the shipwreck 'Nearly identical to the bars from the wrecks of the French East India Company vessel Prince de Conty, and to the Dutch East-Indiaman Geldermalsen,' the catalog copy read. The listing even included a link to a 1999 episode of 'Antiques Roadshow' shot in Tampa, Florida, featuring a French woman who had come with some old porcelain and a pair of gold bars. The woman claimed to have found the gold near the Cape Verde Islands, some hundred feet underwater. She had a photograph to illustrate her find: a print featuring roughly twenty gold bars and a rust-colored starfish. 'I was, like, Putain, there it is!' L'Hour recalled. The photograph had been taken by Yves Gladu, who had joined Lize's dive team as an underwater photographer. L'Hour pulled up Gladu's Facebook profile and, after a little scouring, matched the woman from the Antiques Roadshow episode with one of the photographer's friends: Annette Pesty. He called the Ministry of Culture in France and urged them to alert the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In the spring of 2021, French police raided the homes of Annette Pesty and Brigitte and Yves Gladu. At a hearing, Yves Gladu admitted to having made some forty dives at the Prince de Conty site in the nineteen-seventies and as late as 1999. He and his wife kept their ingots in a blue metal box in their attic. Yves confessed to selling around twenty bars in Switzerland, but denied any connection to the hoard that the Pestys entrusted to the Courters. The Gladus and Annette Pesty declined to comment to The New Yorker. A trial is expected later this year. The curse continues? On March 2, 2022, the five gold ingots that had been put up for sale at the California auction house by the Courters were returned to the French Embassy in Washington. Each bar weighed about 13 ounces, collectively worth around $125,000 on the precious metals market. But officials said they had increased the estimate of their value to $231,000 because collectors will often pay a premium for ingots recovered from a shipwreck. The British government has thus far remained silent on the three gold bars that remain in the British Museum's collection. A museum spokesman told The New Yorker that it 'is actively seeking a resolution to this matter, and has worked cooperatively with the relevant authorities.' But the treasure hunt is still far from over. L'Hour remains on the prowl for the rest of the booty, while the curse of the Prince looms large over those who touched it. Lepinay, reflecting on his own part in the saga, wondered whether the ship 'suffered from a macabre predestiny'. When Lescure died in a car accident in 1980, some of his friends insisted the Prince was somehow to blame. Gerard Pesty, meanwhile, died of malaria during a trip with his wife and the Courters to an island off the coast of Haiti in 1997. Gay Courter (pictured above), a bestselling author, has repeatedly foreshadowed her unlikely fates in her writings. Her 2019 novel, 'The Girl in the Box', is set on a cruise ship and juxtaposes 'the sumptuousness of a dream vacation with the horrors that lurk around the bend' The Courters were thrown in jail after their arrests. Gay, a diabetic, went for hours without food or her medication. Phil was strip-searched. They were released when their bail came through and had their arrest warrants dropped almost six months after they were issued. But even these came with an unnecessarily cruel blow. Gay's warrant identified her as the 'owner of a King Charles Spaniel' and, rather cruelly, described her as of 'great corpulence.' They racked up $330,000 in legal costs battling extradition, which depleted their savings. In August 2022, while still in England, they missed the birth of their eight grandchild. Their daughter told The New Yorker that they had become 'hollow shells of the people I knew'. Both are dealing with physical and mental-health issues brought on by the ordeal. 'It is not an exaggeration to say that nothing in my life prepared me for this, and I am no longer the same person I was,' Gay told the magazine. The couple, who are now attached to the case as cooperating parties, say they have always been truthful about the provenance of the gold. But they acknowledge that they failed to ask some pertinent questions about the gold. 'Now, looking back, it's, like, what were we thinking?' Phil added. 'Woke' Snow White star Rachel Zegler has been given a shock BBC role despite the brutal backlash to the Disney reboot. The actress, 23, who stars in the $270million remake of the 1937 classic has been beset by multiple controversies. However, despite recent drama it has now been revealed she is set to become the latest celebrity to read the CBeebies Bedtime Story. Rachel will read Never Mess with a Pirate Princess by Holly Ryan which is set to air on Friday March 28. In the episode, she explains: 'We can all be powerful princesses. You don't need a king or a queen as parents, or a beautiful white horse, or even a fancy castle to live in. 'To be a powerful princess you just need to be wonderful, brilliant you!' 'Woke' Snow White star Rachel Zegler has been given a shock BBC role despite the brutal backlash to the Disney reboot (pictured last week) The actress, 23, who stars in the $270million remake of the 1937 classic has been beset by multiple controversies Rachel follows in the footsteps of the likes of Kylie Minogue, Olivia Colman, Billie Eilish and Ryan Reynolds, who have also taken on the gig over the past few months. Snow White made just $3.5 million in previews and earned $43 million during its opening weekend. That places the film well behind the performance of Disney's Little Mermaid remake, which premiered in 2023 and made $95 million during its opening weekend. Disney's 2019 Dumbo remake made $2.6 million in previews and profited a total of $45 million on opening weekend. However, Dumbo only required $170 million to make, compared to Snow White's budget of more than $250 million, excluding marketing costs. Despite the underperforming figures, Snow White's preview numbers did rank higher than Disney's Cinderella remake, which only grossed $2.3 million. However, Cinderella ended up pulling a Cinderella story with a surprising $91.8 million in its opening weekend. If the empty theatres across the nation is any indicator of the film's dismal debut, it's certainly catching the eye of Rachel's critics. However, despite recent backlash it has now been revealed she is set to become the latest celebrity to read the CBeebies Bedtime Story Rachel will read Never Mess with a Pirate Princess by Holly Ryan which is set to air on Friday March 28 Screenshots began circulating on social media of theatre seating charts with only a few seats filled and photos of moviegoers surrounded by empty chairs. Some critics have even jokingly called for someone to start a GoFundMe to help the movie make up its production costs. What's not helping the film's success is the controversies surrounding the film - from it being called too 'woke' to Rachel being blamed for death threats aimed at costar Gal Gadot, who is Israeli. Rachel's pro-Palestine posts have been blamed for a spike in death threats directed at Gadot that grew so fierce Disney reportedly forked out for private security. The actress made movie executives nervous after she wrote 'and always remember, free Palestine' after an X post last August in which she discussed the hype for the embattled fairytale film. The comment allegedly caused a spike in death threats towards her 39-year-old co-star Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, according to Variety. The Hollywood journal has suggested Gadot came under so much fire from fans that Disney's top brass elected to hire security for the mother-of-four, who completed two years of mandatory Israel Defence Forces service as an instructor in her youth. It's the latest in a long line of controversies to tar the live-action remake of Disney's classic, the first feature-length animation produced by the studio in 1937. Adolescence's Owen Cooper has revealed the instruction he gave one of his co-stars that allowed him to tap into his emotions whilst filming their one-take episodes. The star of the Netflix smash hit was just 13-years-old when he landed the role of Jamie Miller, a schoolboy accused of brutally murdering a female classmate. And despite it being his very first acting role, Owen, now 15, soon figured out a technique which enabled him to feel the fear of his character. Episode one of the drama opens with Jamie's family home being raided by armed police officers before they arrest the teenager. The opening scene of the episode, which was shot in one take, shows the police bursting into a terrified Jamie's bedroom with guns pointed at him. Owen has now revealed that he told one of the actors playing an armed police officer to 'properly' scare him. Adolescence's Owen Cooper has revealed the instruction he gave one of his co-stars that allowed him to tap into his emotions before filming their one-take episodes Despite it being his very first acting role, Owen, now 15, soon figured out a technique which enabled him to feel the fear of his character in episode one '[With] the police officer that comes into my room and puts the gun up, I'd always come up to him beforehand and say, "Proper, proper, scare me," the actor told Teen Vogue. 'Because with the gunshot, if you're not in [the one take] from the start, you can't be in it for the rest. So I would insist on him properly scaring me from the start, and if he didn't do that, I wouldn't have been able to get into that emotion.' 'I can't remember his name, but that police officer was the reason why I got into that emotion in that episode.' Owen previously revealed that his onscreen dad Stephen Graham, who also co-created the show, riled him up before takes. Speaking with Variety, Owen said: 'Obviously Stephen was always checking in on me. 'But there was a time in episode one, when it was just us two, with no camera, in the police cell, and he scruffed me up and said youre never going to see your mum again, youre never going to see your dad again, and was going on and on. 'Before then Id been frustrated because I hadnt been getting emotional. But after that point I was emotional in every take. So that helped me a lot.' Adolescence has built on its huge success, topping Netflix's English TV series list this week with 42 million views. The opening scene shows armed police bursting into a terrified Jamie's bedroom. Owen has revealed he told one of the actors playing an armed police officer to scare him before the take 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. 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. Owen previously revealed that his onscreen dad Stephen Graham, who also co-created the show, also riled him up before takes 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. 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. Zak Bagans and his girlfriend Holly Madison have officially split following their six year on-and-off relationship. The Ghost Adventures star, 47 - who first began dating the former Playboy House Bunny in 2019 - reportedly broke up with Madison, 45, a few weeks earlier, sources told TMZ on Wednesday. News of the separation comes as another star of the reality series, Aaron Goodwin, has been embroiled in shocking drama after his wife was accused of hiring a hitman to have him killed. A reason for Zak and Holly's split is not known but the pair have since unfollowed each other on Instagram. In a statement to TMZ, Bagans expressed: 'I wont get into the details, but I'll just say we have shared so many great memories and fun times. 'I'll always have love in my heart for her and wish the very best for her,' he continued, and then revealed, 'I'm dating now and moving on.' Zak Bagans, 47, and his girlfriend Holly Madison, 45, have officially split following their six year on-and-off relationship In a statement to TMZ, Bagans expressed: 'I wont get into the details, but I'll just say we have shared so many great memories and fun times'; Zak and Holly seen in 2011 in Las Vegas with his co-stars Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin Zak and Holly had been friends before sparking up a relationship in 2019 after the model went to his Haunted Mansion in Las Vegas. But two years later, the pair broke up and an insider informed TMZ at the time that the stars split amicably and have remained friends. In 2023, the TV personality and blonde beauty rekindled their romance with a source telling TMZ that they had still communicated 'on and off' despite their separation. While the former couple have mainly kept their past relationship under wraps, Madison made rare comments during a past interview with People. At the time, she candidly opened up about being diagnosed with autism at age 42 and credited Bagans for supporting her. 'I'm lucky enough to be dating somebody who just has always kind of understood me and accepts me for who I am, so getting the diagnosis wasn't super shocking to him,' The Girls Next Door alum stated. 'I am lucky that I haven't had a ton of trouble in recent relationships as far as feeling an intimate emotional connection with somebody.' Holly was previously married to Pasquale Rotella from 2013 until their divorce in 2019 and they share two children: Rainbow, 12, and Forest, eight. At the time, she candidly opened up about being diagnosed with autism at age 42 and credited Bagans for supporting her Holly was previously married to Pasquale Rotella from 2013 until their divorce in 2019 and they share two children: Rainbow, 12, and Forest, eight She also dated the late Hugh Hefner from 2001 until their split 2008 - and resided at the Playboy Mansion; Holly seen far right with Hefner as well as Kendra Wilkinson and Bridget Marquardt in 2005 in Beverly Hills She also dated the late Hugh Hefner from 2001 until their split 2008 - and resided at the Playboy Mansion. Zak and Holly's breakup comes as fellow Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin's wife Victoria is accused of hiring a hitman to have him killed. He learned that his partner had hired a hitman while filming an episode of the show earlier this month in Los Angeles. On March 6, she was arrested in connection with Solicitation to Commit Murder, and Murder Conspiracy, per booking information in Clark County, Nevada. Aaron had been shooting a lockdown investigation when he received a call from the police to inform him that Victoria - whom he tied the knot with in 2022 - had been arrested, per TMZ. The moment took place on camera, but reportedly will not be shown on the next season of the show - which currently airs on the Discovery channel. Zak Bagans has creative control when it comes to the series, insiders told the outlet, and has plans to speak to the network before a decision is officially made on whether to include the call during the future episode. Police also said that Aaron's wife had enlisted the help of triple-murderer Grant Amato who slayed his family in order to have her husband killed. Zak and Holly's breakup comes as fellow Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin's wife Victoria is accused of hiring a hitman to have him killed The news of his spouse's alleged plans left Goodwin 'blindsided' and he has since obtained a court order to have her stay away from him and prevent any form of contact for three months. And this week, a Las Vegas judge ordered his wife to 'stay out of trouble' and avoid the TV star in a court appearance. Victoria Goodwin appeared in front of a judge, her hands shackled and a chain around her waist and wearing dark blue wearing jail garb, for a preliminary hearing at Las Vegas Justice Township Court on Tuesday. At one point during the brief hearing, Victoria smirked as she looked back at the courtroom. Throughout the rest of the appearance she stayed quiet, and looked concerned as she surveyed the courtroom. The judge on Tuesday granted Victoria's motion to delay her preliminary hearing and her bail remains at $100,000. She is expected back in court on April 8. As part of her bail condition, Victoria was ordered not to contact her estranged husband, according to court records obtained by DailyMail.com. As of Tuesday afternoon, she remains at the Clark County Detention Center, according to jail records. Victoria, whose dirty blonde hair was swept back in a messy pony tail, looked solemn during the proceedings but flashed a quick smile at her attorney who sat behind her before the hearing. The judge on Tuesday granted Victoria's motion to delay her preliminary hearing and her bail remains at $100,000. She is expected back in court on April 8; seen in court on Tuesday in Las Vegas Aaron had been shooting a lockdown investigation when he received a call from the police to inform him that Victoria - whom he tied the knot with in 2022 - had been arrested, per TMZ; seen in 2022 in L.A. Victoria's murder-for-hire scheme was foiled by authorities after investigators discovered she was communicating with Florida convict Grant Amato in March 2024. She sent the con text messages through a contraband cell phone Amato had in his possession while in prison. Grant's cell phone was seized by corrections officers in prison, which is when police discovered Victoria's text messages where she allegedly said she would pay Grant's potential hitman $11,515 to murder Aaron with $2,500 upfront. 'Am I a bad person? Because I chose to end his existence. Not divorce?' she asked in one text. In another text, Victoria allegedly wrote: 'He's asleep right now in the hotel room... I need to know what's going on. Can I get an update. Was it done?' Amato was convicted in the 2019 triple murder of his parents and brother in a dispute over $200,000 in missing money he spent on a webcam performer. Aaron filed for divorce from her on March 13 and requested to maintain his property and have their community assets be divided equally. He amended his filing lat week seeking over $10K in damages and accused her of negligence and false imprisonment. She sent the con text messages through a contraband cell phone Amato had in his possession while in prison Aaron broke his silence over the weekend and thanked his 1.3M social media followers; seen in 2022 in Las Vegas '[Victoria's] conduct was extreme or outrageous with either the intention of or reckless disregard for, causing emotional distress to [Aaron],' the court filing read. '[He] suffered severe or extreme emotional distress as the actual or proximate result of [her] conduct.' Aaron broke his silence over the weekend and thanked his 1.3M social media followers. 'Thank you everyone for all the love and support through this emotionally trying time' he wrote. 'It has really helped a lot and I appreciate you all.' Advertisement Popular pasta maker Danny Freeman has once again weighed in on Meghan Markle's controversial one pot spaghetti dish. The Duchess of Sussex tackled a dish called 'skillet spaghetti' in the first episode of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan. Traditional methods might see pasta submerged in a large pan of salted boiling water, but the Duchess simply pours 'three cups' of boiling water onto raw spaghetti and cooked ingredients and then puts a lid on it. After giving his appraisal of the controversial dish, TikTok sensation Danny has revisited the recipe amid claims that Meghan 'stole' it from domestic doyenne Martha Stewart. Perhaps tellingly Martha updated her 'similar' recipe for one pan pasta a month prior to the premiere of Meghan's Netflix series. While the ingredients and method remained the same, Martha updated the recipe description to read: 'The original and the best' causing many fans to suggest it was a pointed comment at Meghan. Popular pasta maker Danny Freeman has once again weighed in on Meghan Markle's controversial one pot spaghetti dish Danny shared a clip to his Instagram this week to put the claims to the test. 'I got hundreds of comments from people claiming Meghan stole her viral one pot pasta recipe from Martha Stewart,' he began. Referencing Martha updating her recipe, Danny added: 'Did Martha know something? I mean she is very powerful, but I'm putting her recipe to the test to see how it compares.' Danny, almost instantly, put paid to claims of culinary chicanery on Meghan's part, noting the differing ingredients in the two recipes. 'Just off the bat the recipes have a lot of differences,' Danny said 'Meghan uses a lot of greens... she also uses lemon, but they both use a similar one pot method.' Danny suggested that perhaps Meghan had used Martha's recipe as inspiration for her one-pot dish. 'Every recipe is built on other recipes,' he said. After giving his appraisal of the controversial dish, TikTok sensation and American pasta maker Danny, who has over 1.5 million followers, has revisited the dish amid claims that Meghan 'stole' it from domestic doyenne Martha Stewart Perhaps tellingly Martha updated her 'similar' recipe for one pan pasta a month prior to the premiere of Meghan's Netflix series to read: the original and the best' 'Martha Stewart did not invent one pot pasta and I don't know if Meghan knew about her recipe, but I think Meghan's recipe is different enough, that it's completely her own.' After making and trying both dishes, Danny then gave his verdict. 'After trying both, I would never come for Martha Stewart, she's a legend, but I liked what Meghan did to this technique,' he said. 'Once again I'm sticking with Meghan Markle. I don't think she did anything wrong.' It appeared that fans agreed with one offering a similar assessment. 'I have no idea why people think she represented the recipe as her personal invention. She just said she makes it!! Its insane how much people come for her for nothing at all,' they wrote. It comes after Danny also put Meghan's controversial dish up against Kate Middleton's mac and cheese. Before he started making the dish he was adamant he didn't want to pit the two women against each other. Danny, almost instantly, put paid to claims of culinary chicanery on Meghan's part, noting the differing ingredients in the two recipes 'After trying both, I would never come for Martha Stewart she's a legend, but I liked what Meghan did to this technique,' he said. 'Once again I'm sticking with Meghan Markle. I don't think she did anything wrong' 'I really don't want this turning into a post comparing Meghan to Princess Kate, but after my video about trying out Meghan Markle's pasta made international news, I learned that Kate Middleton is also a fan of pasta,' Danny began the clip. 'Maybe this could bring them together. I don't know.' While Danny did not have Kate's exact recipe, he used an interview the Princess Of Wales gave to People Magazine back in 2019 about the foods her children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, love to eat at home. While Danny stopped short of directly comparing the two royal pasta creations he gave Kate's dish a tick of approval. 'I don't know I could see a royal child eating this - it's good,' he said. 'My daughter thinks she's a princess and she loves a cheesy sauce. 'I feel like if you are a princess with chefs working for you but you want to try your hand at a family dinner, this is going to be a quick and easy one to do.' Danny, who goes by the Instagram name 'Danny Loves Pasta', is popular on social media thanks to his creative takes on Italian cooking and pasta making, including ravioli in the shape of Taylor Swift and cartoon characters like Bluey. Sam Thompson shared a gushing tribute to his sister Louise on Instagram on Wednesday as he celebrated her 35th birthday. The presenter, 32, thanked his older sister for 'being there through his lowest moments' following his split from girlfriend of five years Zara McDermott as she moves on with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson. Sam shared a series of snaps with Louise, her partner Ryan Libby and their young son Leo, as they enjoyed a family meal at a sushi restaurant to mark the occasion. The I'm A Celebrity winner wrote: 'Happy birthday to my best friend! The person I look up to the most in this world. 'Youve been there for me every single day of my life at my highest and my lowest. 'There was a chance, not even a year ago this kind of day wouldnt be happening and I am grateful for every minute that I get to annoy you. Sam Thompson shared a gushing tribute to his sister Louise on Instagram on Wednesday as he celebrated her 35th birthday The presenter, 32, thanked his older sister for 'being there through his lowest moments' following his split from girlfriend Zara McDermott 'Love you mate and I couldnt ask for a better sister.PS youre now officially a KAREN'. It comes as Sam's celebrity dating app profile on Raya was revealed. The profile shows him posing in one snap with the cat he still shares with Zara. Another snap on the profile shows him with best pal Pete who has been supporting him through the breakup. A source told The Sun about Sam joining Raya: 'Sam's been left devastated by the end of his relationship, which was made even more difficult when he saw who Zara was dating. 'Even though he might not be quite ready to jump back into something serious yet, Sam was encouraged by his friends to dip his toe in the water.' The publication previously reported that Sam was back on celebrity dating app Raya days before his ex Zara's shock new romance with Louis was revealed. Despite claims he was 'blindsided' by Zara's new romance, it seems Sam was keen to move on himself. Sam shared a series of snaps with Louise, her partner Ryan Libby and their young son Leo, as they enjoyed a family meal at a sushi restaurant to mark the occasion He wrote: 'Happy birthday to my best friend! The person I look up to the most in this world. Youve been there for me every single day of my life at my highest and my lowest' MailOnline revealed earlier this year that Sam and girlfriend of five years Zara McDermott had split and since she has moved on with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson A fan last week claimed to have seen Sam on Raya the week before, noting 'So he's back on the dating scene as well.' Sam had made an account before meeting Zara, which he seemingly reinstated in the wake of their split. As well as keeping busy by looking for love, Sam is also said to have been partying with his pals in Chelsea and his close friend Pete Wicks. A source told The Mirror: 'Sam has been making jokes about his life since the break up, and that's not really something you'd be doing if you were experiencing total heartbreak. 'Of course they were sad, but they sort of accepted it a long time ago. 'Sam has been going out and having fun again, he's not dating anyone but he's been on dates. 'He's been around the Chelsea lot and hanging out with Pete [Wicks] a lot. He's really enjoying himself at the moment but doesn't want to be tied down.' MailOnline contacted a representative for Sam Thompson for comment. Zara and Louis' romance was exposed earlier this month when a fellow diner at The Suffolk in Aldburgh took snaps of Zara and Louis enjoying a romantic date. The pictures confirmed rumours of a relationship first detected by sleuth-like One Direction fans who noticed Louis had followed Zara on Instagram and liked a string of her pictures. According to Zara's friends, Louis has put 'a smile back on her face' following her split from ex boyfriend of five years Sam on New Year's Day. It comes after Sam's celebrity dating app profile on Raya has also been revealed - showing him posing in one snap with the cat he still shares with Zara Another snap on the profile shows him with his best pal Pete Wicks who has been supporting him through the breakup Zara and Louis Tomlinson' romance was exposed last Monday when a fellow diner at The Suffolk in Aldburgh took snaps of Zara and Louis enjoying a romantic date (stock images) A friend told MailOnline: 'Zara is so happy, it's early days with her and Louis but everything is going well between them. 'News of their romance leaked sooner than they intended - the plan was to keep things private for as long as possible. They still hope to keep intimate details away from prying eyes. 'Zara is enjoying being wined and dined and experiencing the thrill of dating someone new again. 'She had been with Sam for years and in the end their relationship became transactional they had lost their sparkle. Louis has certainly put a smile back on her face.' Zara and Louis tucked into 100 fish and chips, plus cocktails, at the 315-a-night hotel in Suffolk. The pair stayed at night and left for their respective London homes in the morning. MailOnline revealed in January that Zara had split from long-term partner Sam after five years of dating. They lived together in Sam's Fulham house which was usually the base of the couple's amusing TikTok videos. Fans are divided after Marvel announced the Avenger: Doomsday cast in an exciting livestream this week. On Wednesday, the studios unveiled the massive cast through a live YouTube video as they also confirmed production has officially kicked off for the upcoming movie. As previously announced, Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom, the villain of the forthcoming film. There also appears to be more on the way after Marvel hinted at more to come in an Instagram comment exchange with Downey Jr., 59, on their announcement post on social media. To the excitement of many fans, the all-star list included a number of beloved stars, who were originally thought to have already made their final appearances in prior installments and different universes. However, other fans were left disappointed when some key characters were noticeably absent from the lengthy list of returning cast members. Fans are divided after Marvel announced the Avenger: Doomsday cast in an exciting livestream this week. They also confirmed production has officially kicked off for the upcoming movie As previously announced, Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom, the villain of the forthcoming film; pictured July 2024 in San Diego Among them, many social media users took to X, formerly Twitter, to start sharing memes, poking fun at the seemingly endless cast list, and naming other A-list actors and their most memorable roles from unrelated, non-superhero franchises. They questioned if the announcement truly revealed the 'full' cast, also noting that there was a lack of diversity with only a significantly smaller number of female actors included in the list. Many fans were excited at the thought of the original X-Men from the Foxverse returning for the movie but confused why fan-favorite characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, Wolverine and Deadpool were left out of the mix. Some wondered why big names such as Tom Holland, Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch and Brie Larson among many others were left off the cast list, speculating they would make a surprise appearance or be the leads in the follow-up movie, Avengers: Secret Wars. A few were once again saddened by Elizabeth Olsen's absence from the list though just the day before, the actress confirmed she would not be making an appearance in the next two Avengers movies. The livestream also confirmed the return of the original stars of the X-Men stars on Fox, including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden and Channing Tatum. Already speculating about the plot of the upcoming installment, some fans are questioning logistics of the current Marvel Cinematic Universe colliding with the Fantastic Four universe and the original X-Men crew. The returning cast members include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, who debuted as the new Captain America in last month's Captain America: Brave New World, his co-star Danny Ramirez's Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon. There also appears to be more on the way after Marvel hinted at more to come in an Instagram comment exchange with Downey Jr., 59, on their announcement post on social media To the excitement of many fans, the all-star list included a number of beloved stars, including Chris Hemsworth returning as Thor; pictured in 2013 The Dark World still His on-screen brother Tom Hiddleston will also be coming back as Loki; pictured in Avengers: Endgame still Anthony Mackie will be returning as Sam Wilson, who debuted as the new Captain America in last month's Captain America: Brave New World, his co-star Danny Ramirez's Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon; pictured in Captain America: Brave New World still Many fans were excited at the thought of the original X-Men from the Foxverse. The livestream also confirmed the return of the original stars of the X-Men stars on Fox, including Ian McKellen among many others Channing Tatum will also be returning as Gambit after reprising the role for the recent release of Deadpool & Wolverine. However, Deadpool and Wolverine were not included on the list of Doomsday cast members Florence Pugh will be returning as Yelena Belova, the new Black Widow, while Scarlett Johansson was not included on the list; pictured in 2021 Black Widow movie still Sebastian Stan will be returning as Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier while Paul Rudd will be reprising his role as Scott Lang a.k.a. Ant-Man and Tom Hiddleston will be portraying Loki again. Letitia Wright will be returning as Shuri, who took over as the Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and her co-star Winston Duke will be coming back as M'Baku. Additionally, many were left surprised at the list of newcomers being added to the gigantic Avengers ensemble, which include Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Vanessa Kirby as the Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Simu Liu returns as Shang-Chi and Tenoch Huerta Mejia will return after playing the underwater antagonist Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Wyatt Russell stars as U.S. Agent, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Lewis Pullman as the mysterious Bob. The last time the Avengers team assembled on screen was six years ago when they battled and defeated Josh Brolin's Thanos in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. In that same installment, fans said goodbye to Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, Chris Evans' Captain America and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow. On Marvel's latest Instagram post announcing the exciting news, Downey Jr. left a comment and sarcastically asked: 'That must be it...right?' In response, Marvel hinted at more to come as they responded: 'There's always room for more...' Avengers: Doomsday cast list Chris Hemsworth as Thor Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, from Fantastic 4 Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, Captain America Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier Letitia Wright as Shuri, the Black Panther Paul Rudd as Ant-Man Wyatt Russell as John Walker, the U.S Agent from Thunderbolts* Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, The Thing, from Fantastic 4 Simu Liu as Shang-Chi Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, the Black Widow from Thunderbolts* Kelsey Grammer as Beast from X-Men Lewis Pullman as Sentry from Thunderbolts* Danny Ramirez as the Falcon Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch from Fantastic 4 David Harbour as Red Guardian from Thunderbolts* Winston Duke as M'Baku Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost from Thunderbolts* Tom Hiddleston as Loki Patrick Stewart as Professor X from X-Men Ian McKellen as Magneto from X-Men Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler from X-Men Rebecca Romijn as Mystique from X-Men James Marsden as Cyclops from X-Men Channing Tatum as Gambit from X-Men Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic, from Fantastic 4 Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom, Doctor Doom Advertisement Since then, Marvel has introduced new superheroes in their own movies including Liu's Shang-Chi, Wright's Black Panther and the Eternals. At the time, fans thought that was the last time we'd see Downey Jr. on screen in the MCU after the death of the beloved Iron Man character. In July of last year, however, the actor unexpectedly revealed that he will be portraying the antagonist Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, in the upcoming movie during his surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con. The Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, will also be making their own return to Marvel to helm Avengers: Doomsday. They previously directed Captain America: Winter Soldier, Civil War and the last two Avengers movies. Additionally, Marvel also has Thunderbolts* release prepped for May 2 and The Fantastic Four: First Steps to premiere over the summer on July 25. Many fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to comment on the length of the lineup, making jokes that they would age many decades by the time the long announcement video finished. Other Marvel fanatics seemed unimpressed by the lineup and were saddened that some key characters were noticeably absent from the cast. Many fans expressed excitement over the X-Men lineup but noted that included Ian McKellen but not Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Evan Peters, Nicholas Hoult nor Jennifer Lawrence's version of Mystique; pictured in 2014 X-Man: Days of Future Past movie poster The X-Men stars from the original Foxverse would be reprising their roles. Unfortunately, that list includes some not all, fans noticed; pictured in X-Men poster With the amount of stars in this story, some fans speculated that the storyline could easily be 'scattered' and 'all over the place.' Others theorized that the huge cast list meant that many would be defeated in the big battle against Doctor Doom and the absent stars would return in the next movie. Some social media users pointed out the lack of diversity, noting that only five women were included on the list and a majority of the stars were white men. Others grieved fan-favorite stars including Elizabeth Olsen, devastated she would not be returning as Scarlet Witch for the upcoming movie. Many fans noted the major stars not included, such as Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye. However, more surprises may be on the horizon as Marvel and Downey Jr. teased additional surprise appearances. On Marvel's latest Instagram post announcing the exciting news, Downey Jr. left a comment and sarcastically asked: 'That must be it...right?' In response, Marvel hinted at more to come as they responded: 'There's always room for more...' The highly-anticipated Avengers: Doomsday will receive a theatrical release on May 1, 2026. Many fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to comment on the length of the lineup, making jokes that they would age many decades by the time the long announcement video finished Other Marvel fanatics seemed unimpressed by the lineup and were saddened that some key characters were noticeably absent from the cast With the amount of stars in this story, some fans speculated that the storyline could easily be 'scattered' and 'all over the place' Others theorized that the huge cast list meant that many would be defeated in the big battle against Doctor Doom and the absent stars would return in the next movie Some social media users pointed out the lack of diversity, noting that only five women were included on the list and a majority of the stars were white men Others grieved fan-favorite stars including Elizabeth Olsen They were devastated and felt it was a 'crime' to not bring back Olsen's Scarlet Witch for the movie Many fans noted the major stars not included, such as Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye Married At First Sight's Carina Mirabile has undergone another cosmetic procedure after debuting her new breast implants last week. The reality star, 31, who is paired with controversial groom Paul Antoine, 31, on the show, had some anti-ageing injectables done under her eyes at Sydney clinic on Tuesday. The Cosmetic Lounge posted a clip of Carina, joined by her stylist Jacob Muller, getting the jabs on their Instagram page. 'We opted for the NCTF 135 HA skin booster to get our skin looking fresh and glowy,' the caption read. 'Its packed with vitamins and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, smooth, and brighten especially targeting the under eye area (because lets be real tired eyes show up on camera). 'The perfect little boost before jumping in front of the mic and the lens.' Married At First Sight's Carina Mirabile has undergone another cosmetic procedure after debuting her new breast implants last week The reality star, 31, who is paired with controversial groom Paul Antoine, 31, on the show, had some anti-ageing injectables done under her eyes at Sydney clinic on Tuesday It comes after the Digital Marketing Manager debuted her boob job in a public outing with her fellow castmates on Friday. Carina ensured all eyes were on her when she stepped out for a pizza date with co-stars Adrian Araouzou, Ryan Donnelly and Eliot Donovan. She proudly showed off her new breast implants on the night, opting to go braless in a crisp white singlet that flaunted her enhanced frame. Carina also wore a skirt that offered a hint of her trim and toned pins teamed with knee-high black leather boots. She accessorised with a $1000 Hermes handbag and a dark coat she carried in the crook of her arm. The group arrived at popular Darlinghurst pizzeria Bill and Toni's without their on-screen significant others. Other diners and passers-by appeared to have quite the appetite for the reality foursome, and they were only to happy to satiate their cravings. The reality TV stars were spotted happily posing with a gaggle of fans that had congregated in front of the eatery. It comes after the Digital Marketing Manager debuted her boob job in a public outing with her fellow castmates on Friday She proudly showed off her new breast implants on the night, opting to go braless in a crisp white singlet that flaunted her enhanced frame There were plenty of selfies snapped and hands shaken, with Carina, Adrian, Eliot and Ryan happy to stop for a chat. The foursome looked chuffed to be in each other's company for the pizza date. Advertisement The Kyle & Jackie O Show achieved a small win in the Melbourne ratings on Wednesday, with the KIIS FM breakfast program earning a 0.1 per cent increase in the market share during the first survey of 2025. Sydney juggernauts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson have been embroiled in a ratings war since their multimillion-dollar expansion into the city saw ex-KIIS FM stars Jason 'Jase' Hawkins and Lauren Phillips be axed. Kyle was previously unapologetic about the April 2024 move, saying the station gave Jase and Lauren a 'good run', but 'they can't get over fourth in the radio ratings, so we'll take it'. However, Kyle and Jackie have struggled to make good on that promise over the past few months. But it appears 2025 may be a new opportunity for the pair to creep up in the ratings. Their rivals, who now host breakfast show Jase and Lauren on Nova, took a 1.4 per cent dip in survey one and now have a 10.1 per cent market share, knocking their show off the top spot. Meanwhile, between January 19 and March 1, Kyle and Jackie O have hopped up to a 5.1 per cent share. The Kyle & Jackie O Show achieved a small win in the Melbourne ratings on Wednesday , with the KIIS FM breakfast program earning a 0.1 per cent increase in the market share during the first survey of 2025 Gold 104.3's The Christian O'Connell Show has taken out the FM breakfast lead by jumping up 2.8 per cent to a share of 11.5 per cent. 'Today my team and I are buzzing at the news,' O'Connell, 51, said of the results. 'We haven't had mega marketing money and done big noisy cash giveaways, this is about making a show with our audience with our hearts that I hope matters. 'We are in scary times, and we need all the help we can get, I hope my show is a beacon of joy.' Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft of 3AW took out the overall AM and FM breakfast top spot in Melbourne with a mile-long lead of 20.6 per cent up by 1.3 since the last survey. Jase and Lauren slotted into second place for FM breakfast, followed closely behind by former number one show Fifi, Fev and Nick at Fox FM, which dropped another point to an 8.4 per cent market share. Triple M's Mick in the Morning with Roo, Titus and Rosie is sitting at fourth place with a 7.9 per cent shareup by 1.3with smoothfm 91.5 (7.5) and ABC Melbourne (6.3) following behind. Their rivals, who now host breakfast show Jase and Lauren on Nova , took a 1.4 per cent dip in survey one and now have a 10.1 per cent market share, knocking their show off the top spot Last year, Kyle and Jackie took their radio show to Melbourne in a huge multimillion-dollar expansion deal. The move triggered the axing of Jase and Lauren's own KIIS FM breakfast show, which Sandilands said he was indifferent about. 'No, I don't care. That's why we went for Melbourne, we were like, "We've given this Jase and Lauren on KIIS FM a good run, it can't get over fourth in the radio ratings, so we'll take it,"' he told news.com.au at the time. He added The Kyle & Jackie O Show was moved to Melbourne because it was a 'market in trouble' and their program could help regain listeners. However, Jackie took a different approach, adding that while she didn't like competitors being axed it was the unfortunate reality of the business. 'No one ever wants to move someone out of a job. I wouldn't want that to happen to me. It's a double edged sword, it really is,' she said. But Kyle and Jackie struggled to capture the Melbourne market, despite continuing to dominate FM Breakfast in Sydney with a 13.3 per cent sharealbeit decreasing by 0.2 since the last survey. In November, Kyle vowed to reduce the graphic sexual content on his KIIS FM radio show this year to appeal to the Melbourne audience more broadly. Sydney juggernauts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson have been embroiled in a ratings war since their multimillion-dollar expansion into the city saw ex-KIIS FM stars Jason 'Jase' Hawkins and Lauren Phillips be axed In a bid to make a dent in the market, ARN's chief content officer Duncan Campbell said Kyle will have to dial back on the 'smut' and inappropriate on-air remarks. 'The sexual content was really a small part of the show,' he told Mumbrella at the time. 'Because it was graphic, it grabbed everyone's attentionbut [Kyle's] taken that off, really. It's still sexual content. But not the graphic sexual content that it once was.' Campbell also told the outlet Kyle 'came to the table' with toning down on the graphic content. 'He agreed to do that, which was a real positive,' he added. 'And, I mean, he wants to win in Melbourne. There's no doubt about that.' Elsewhere, the CCO also promised their marketing tactics will be 'less brash and unapologetic'. 'We believe, with the removal of the graphic sexual content, the show's much, much easier to listen to now,' he said. It seems the move has paid off. Advertisement KIIS FM's Brisbane breakfast team of Robin Bailey, Kip Wightman and former Broncos star Corey Oates could be facing the axe after finishing fourth in the latest ratings. The figures, released on Wednesday, show the high-profile trio scored 11.3 per cent of the market, sliding down 0.3 points from the last survey at the end of 2024. And if the poor performance continues over the next few months, there is speculation The Kyle & Jackie O Show could replace their Brisbane stablemates, the Courier Mail reported on Thursday. KIIS FM owner ARN has pressured the Brisbane breakfast team to get results against their more popular rivals, according to industry experts. Corey, 30, has been a regular on the Brisbane show since October, starring in his own light-hearted Find Corey a Job segment and joined the line up permanently in January. In other results, B105's Stav, Abby & Matt stormed home to top the ratings in the breakfast slot winning 14.1 per cent of the market. KIIS FM's Brisbane breakfast team of Robin Bailey (centre), Kip Wightman (right) and former Broncos star Corey Oates (left) could be facing the axe after finishing fourth in the latest ratings Second position was won by the Triple M breakfast team of Marto, Margaux & Dan on 12.2 per cent. Meanwhile, coming in third in the breakfast 'ratings wars' was Nova 106.9's Ash, Luttsy & Nikki Osborne who won 12.1 per cent of the audience. B105 won the Brisbane market overall with a 12.4 per cent share, while Triple M was not far behind on 11.9. Nova 106.9 managed a 10.6 share and KIIS FM finished fourth on 9.8. It comes after The Kylie & Jackie O Show achieved a small win in the Melbourne ratings war on Wednesday, as KIIS FM earned a 0.1 per cent increase in the Breakfast market share during the first survey of 2025. Sydney juggernauts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson have been embroiled in the battle since their multimillion-dollar expansion into the city saw ex KIIS FM stars Jason 'Jase' Hawkins and Lauren Phillips be axed. Sandilands was previously unapologetic about the April 2024 move, saying the station gave Hawkins and Phillips, both 42, a 'good run' with their breakfast show, but 'it can't get over fourth in the radio ratings, so we'll take it'. However, Sandilands and Henderson, 50, have failed to make good on that promise to date. If the poor performance continues over the next few months, there is speculation The Kyle & Jackie O Show could replace their Brisbane stablemates, the Courier Mail reported on Thursday Nevertheless, it appears 2025 may be a new opportunity for the pair to creep up in the ratings, as their rivals Hawkins and Phillips, who now host breakfast show Jase & Lauren on Nova 100, took a 1.4 per cent dip in survey one. Now, in results obtained by GfK for Commercial Radio Australia between January 19 and March 1, The Kyle & Jackie O Show has hopped up to a 5.1 per cent share, while Jase & Lauren was knocked out of the lead with 10.1. The Christian O'Connell Show, of Gold 104.3, took out the FM Breakfast lead when it jumped 2.8 percentage points to a share of 11.5. Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft of 3AW took out the overall AM and FM Breakfast top spot in Melbourne with a mile-long lead of 20.6 percentup by 1.3 since the last survey. Jase & Lauren slotted into second place for FM Breakfast, followed closely behind by former #1 show Fifi, Fev & Nick at Fox FM, which dropped another point to an 8.4 per cent market share. Triple M's Mick in the Morning with Roo, Titus & Rosie is sitting at #4 with a 7.9 per cent shareup by 1.3with smoothfm 91.5 (7.5) and ABC Melbourne (6.3) following behind. On April 29, 2024 Sandilands and Henderson took The Kyle & Jackie O Show to Melbourne in a huge multimillion-dollar expansion deal. The move triggered the axing of Hawkins and Phillips own KIIS FM breakfast show. Sandilands and Henderson have since struggled to capture the Melbourne market, despite continuing to dominate FM Breakfast in Sydney with a 13.3 per cent sharealbeit decreasing by 0.2 since the last survey. In November, Sandilands vowed to reduce the graphic sexual content on his KIIS FM radio show this year to appeal to the Melbourne audience more broadly. Julie Chrisley's surprising prison hobby has been revealed by a woman who was locked up with the reality star for eight months. The 52-year-old is serving seven years and her husband Todd Chrisley is behind bars for 12, after both were convicted of fraud and tax evasion. Their daughter Savannah Chrisley has been passionately advocating for their cause, sharing her hopes that she can get them pardoned by US President Donald Trump. Now Savannah has offered her fans a glimpse of her mother's life in confinement, courtesy of a woman called Sharita Mona who served eight months with her at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Sharita shared that Julie was 'really quiet' when she first entered the correctional institution, in an interview on Savannah's podcast Unlocked. However, after some time had gone by, Sharita became privy to Julie's recreational pursuits and the two women developed a friendship. Julie Chrisley's surprising prison hobby has been revealed by a woman who was locked up with the reality star for eight months; Julie pictured with her husband Todd Speaking to Savannah, Sharita recalled that the first time she saw Julie in prison, the reality star 'had her head down. She wasn't really talking to anybody.' Sharita continued: 'She smiled, but you could tell she was in deep thought. She was thinking about getting to where she had to go. And a few people spoke to her, but she was by herself and kind of just with herself. She was real quiet.' However Sharita said she saw a different side of Julie's personality 'later, when she started playing cards,' joking: 'She was a little card shark.' Savannah grinned with recognition and said: 'Oh, yeah,' at this description of her mother, suggesting cards have been a longtime hobby of Julie's. Julie took to playing cards with a group of women who were also friendly with Sharita, which is how the pair of them were introduced. Sharita fondly recalled that Julie would encourage her to go into real estate after she was back in society, and even taught real estate classes to other inmates. Armed with the knowledge that Julie had helped her cultivate, Sharita emerged from jail and quickly managed to flip a house at a $60,000 profit. Meanwhile, Todd's 35-year-old daughter Lindsie recently revealed that she has not been to see her father in over a year. Sharita Mona, who served eight months with Julie, has offered a glimpse into her life there on Unlocked, the podcast hosted by Todd and Julie's daughter Savannah Savannah, pictured between her parents, has been passionately advocating for their cause, sharing her hopes that she can get them pardoned by US President Donald Trump Speaking about the tense topic on the latest episode of her podcast, Southern Tea, Lindsie added that she has never been to visit her step-mom Julie in the more than two years that the reality star has been in prison. She candidly stated: 'The last time I visited my dad probably was was it the beginning of last year? I cant even honestly remember. Lindsie continued: '[Nanny Faye and I] used to go together [to see my dad] when they first went [to prison]. 'It was just like, [a] more comfortable situation for both of us to go [and] stay in a hotel together. I have never been to Lexington to visit Julie.' Todd's daughter Lindsie Chrisley has shared an update about the state of her relationship with her parents as they continue to serve their prison sentences Todd and his wife Julie were found guilty of committing tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million in June 2022 Todd and his wife Julie were found guilty of committing tax evasion and bank fraud totaling $30 million in June 2022. She has been a prisoner at Federal Medical Center Lexington in Kentucky since January 2023. Lindsie admitted: 'I have not seen my dad in quite some time and I have had no contact. And thats all Im going to say for that.' Todd welcomed Lindsie and her brother, Kyle, during his first marriage to Teresa Terry and Julie adopted both of them when she and Todd wed. The two children were notably around during in the early days of Chrisley Knows Best, but it seems Lindsie's relationship with them has been strained ever since Todd and Julie's prison sentence. Lindsie's comments came after her younger sister Savannah Chrisley admitted that visiting her parents in prison is 'really tough.' The 26-year-old television personality - who recently talked about the poor conditions endured by her father - opened up on her Unlocked podcast about her two recent visits with her parents. Speaking about the tense topic on the latest episode of her podcast, Southern Tea, she revealed that she hasn't been to see her father Todd for over a year Meanwhile, the 35-year-old said she never been to visit her step-mom Julie Chrisley in the more than two years that the reality star has been in prison She said that she has found that the process has actually gotten tougher when visiting her mother Julie, 51, who is serving her prison sentence in a different facility than 55-year-old husband Todd. Savannah explained: 'I used to say I think it would get easier as time goes on, but I really think thats a lie. 'I think I was lying to myself to make myself feel better because it does get harder. It gets harder each time you leave, and you know youre leaving them behind.' It wasn't just leaving her parents that she had trouble navigating, as Savannah also admitted to having a 'really tough' time watching other families visit their loved ones in prison. Savannah continued: 'It truly does just break a lot of families. 'And a lot of families don't have the resources to maybe get the help that they so desperately need or that they're searching for or they may not have the guidance.' She did say that her separate visits with her parents have actually aided in spending quality time with them in addition to helping in bringing her clarity regarding her life. The Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens actress said: 'I love my one-on-one time, but also, we get to have really intentional conversations. 'I find myself just kind of reflecting on a lot of things in life, and just things as a kid, and we just get to have conversations that I feel like weve needed to have for a really long time.' Advertisement Beloved New Zealand actor Clive Revill died earlier this month at a care facility in Los Angeles aged 94, after a long battle with dementia. The veteran performer was born in Wellington in 1930 and went on to become one of the country's most renowned performers. Revill appeared in many acclaimed productions throughout his career, including voicing the villainous Emperor Palpatine in the 1980 movie Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The accomplished live action and voice actor also worked on the 1986 Transformers movie, Batman The Animated Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. His daughter Kate confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter, revealing he passed away on March 11 in the Los Angeles suburb of Sherman Oaks. Revill's celebrated career began in the early '50s when he met legendary actor Laurence Olivier and his wife Vivien Leigh, who were touring New Zealand. Beloved New Zealand actor Clive Revill died earlier this month at a care facility in Los Angeles aged 94, after a long battle with dementia The power couple were so impressed by Revill they invited him to come to England to study drama at the Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol. He took them up on the offer and after several years of refining his craft, began his long career in film and television. Revill was a renowned character actor known for his memorable roles in world-famous productions, including The Twilight Zone, Columbo, and Lois and Clark. His final role was in the 2016 movie The Queen of Spain, opposite Penelope Cruz, after which he retired from the industry. Heartbroken fans took to social media to pay tribute to the beloved performer. 'RIP to wonderful character actor Clive Revill,' one fan wrote. 'Originally recruited into British theatre when Sir Laurence Olivier spotted him working at a bank. He would move to Broadway.' 'Clive Revill has passed away at 94, the iconic voice we all know,' a second added. Revill appeared in many acclaimed productions throughout his career, including voicing the villainous Emperor Palpatine in the 1980 movie Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Revill's daughter Kate confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter, revealing he passed away on March 11 in the Los Angeles suburb of Sherman Oaks He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe in 1973 for his work on the comedy film Avanti, opposite Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills. The energetic performer was also a popular stage actor and performed on Broadway for many years. He starred in several renowned productions such as Oliver, Sherlock Holmes and Lolita. The actor was nominated for a Tony Award in the '60s for his role as the villainous Fagin in Oliver. Revill is survived by his daughter Kate and granddaughter Kayla. Advertisement Pregnant Madeline Holtznagel is making sure to stay active head of the birth of her first child. The 27-year-old model recently took in a workout with celebrity Pilates instructor Bernadette Sukkar at her Body by Berner studio in Sydney's Bondi. In a video shared to social media, Madeleine showed off her growing baby bump in a grey crop top and matching shorts while performing a weight training exercise. Joining Madeline for the training session was Rey Ingham, who is expecting a child with chicken brand heir Johnny Ingham. For her workout, Rey wore flared black fitness tights and a white crop top. Sukkar, who shared the clip on her Body by Berner Instagram, was seen offering instructions as her A-list clients completed their exercise session. Pregnant Madeline Holtznagel is making sure to stay active head of the birth of her first child. The 27-year-old model recently took in a workout with celebrity Pilates instructor Bernadette Sukkar at her Body by Berner studio in Sydney 's Bondi Madeline is expecting her first child with her billionaire boyfriend Justin Hemmes, 52 Madeline is expecting her first child with her billionaire boyfriend Justin Hemmes, 52. 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 Bernadette'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. The business mogul began dating Madeline when the model was 22 and he was 47 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. 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 last year, 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. Advertisement Eva Longoria put on a glamorous display while attending the premiere of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip on Wednesday. The 50-year-old actress looked half her age in a strapless, crinkle gown in a olive green and taupe color paired with white platform heels and bouncy curls. While attending the event at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, she happened to be by the Hollywood Walk of Fame and posed for a photo, lying down on the ground, with her own star. The Desperate Housewives alum who enjoyed a dinner date with Jeff Bezos' bride-to-be Lauren Sanchez in Beverly Hills on Tuesday evening looked stunning while celebrating the upcoming release of her new family comedy, which is set to premiere on March 28. She opted out of any jewelry besides a couple of rings for an understated look and to showcase her natural beauty. The Flamin' Hot director styled her chocolate brown hair in bouncy curls and waves, which she parted to the side. Eva Longoria put on a glamorous display while attending the premiere of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip on Wednesday For makeup, she opted for a soft, monochromatic brown look to highlight her features and accentuate her beauty. She looked glamorous with full, fluttering eyelashes paired with peachy-pink blush and a glossy lip paired with a brown lipliner. Up next in her schedule, Longoria is anticipated to attend her longtime pal Lauren Sanchez's nuptials to Amazon billionaire founder Jeff Bezos over the summer. The day before the premiere, Longoria caught up with the journalist, 55, at E Baldi in Beverly Hills. The pair have been longtime friends for over two decades. Earlier this week, the brunette bombshell also opened up about her family dynamics while on a promo tour for her new movie. In an interview with Today, she said that she was often compared to her three sisters, adding that she 'wasn't the pretty one.' On the daytime talk show, the Land of Women star, who is famed for her flawless looks, said that she often felt like the 'ugly duckling' in her family. She explained that she decided to focus on being the 'funny' and 'smart' one to compensate for what she felt like she lacked, and that was how she got into performing. The 50-year-old actress looked stunning in a strapless, crinkle gown in a olive green and taupe color paired with white platform heels and bouncy curls While attending the event at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles , she happened to be by the Hollywood Walk of Fame and posed for a photo, lying down on the ground, with her own star The Desperate Housewives alum looked stunning while celebrating the upcoming release of her new family comedy, which is set to premiere on March 28. She opted out of any jewelry besides a couple of rings for an understated look 'I was performative in my family because I was the ugly duckling,' she said before cracking a joke. 'Documentation is available if you need it.' The Only Murders in the Building actress added: 'My three sisters look alike. They are all blonde. 'I knew I wasn't the pretty one and I was like, "Okay, I'm not the pretty one so I'm going to be the funny one. I'm going to be the smart one."' Longoria also recalled how she grew up as the youngest of four sisters on a ranch with chickens in Texas. 'We had to go get the eggs in the morning. We had to milk the cow for the milk that was going to go in the coffee and in our cereal.' When she got older, she attended Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in kinesiology, using scholarship money from a beauty pageant she had won to partly fund her studies. It was competing in beauty pageants that ended up leading her to Hollywood. 'I land in Hollywood and I don't know what happened. For makeup, she opted for a soft, monochromatic brown look to highlight her features and accentuate her beauty. She looked glamorous with full, fluttering eyelashes paired with peachy-pink blush and a glossy lip paired with a brown lipliner At the premiere, she also posed with the trailer that she and her cast members filmed in for the movie At the premiere, she posed with some of her co-stars: Rose Portillo, Cheech Marin, Thom Nemer, Paulina Chavez and Jesse Garcia In the upcoming comedy movie, which is based on the story by Judith Viorst, Longoria plays Val Garcia, the mom in a multigenerational Mexican-American family who set off on a road trip to California. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip premieres on Friday, March 28 I just was like, "I think I'm going to be an actor."' She then became a household name due to the success of Desperate Housewives, which ran for eight seasons from 2004 to 2012. In the upcoming comedy movie, which is based on the story by Judith Viorst, Longoria plays Val Garcia, the mom in a multigenerational Mexican-American family who set off on a road trip to California. In the flick, she stars alongside Paulina Chavez, Cristo Fernandez, Cheech Marin, Harvey Guillen, Jesse Garcia, Rose Portillo, Jacqueline Torres and Thom Nemer among many others. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip premieres on Friday, March 28. Jessica Alba indulged in a 'healing' trip to Mexico City with a group of friends amid her divorce from her longtime husband Cash Warren. The former couple tied the knot in 2008 and welcomed three children together - daughters Honor, 16, and Haven, 13, and son Hayes, seven. In January, Jessica announced that she and her husband had separated after she embarked on a 'journey of self realization and transformation for years- both as an individual and in partnership with Cash.' She filed for divorce on February 7 and is represented by Laura Wasser, whose celebrity clientele has included such A-list names as Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Costner and Angelina Jolie. Now, as she and Cash embark on the legal proceedings to dissolve their marriage, Jessica has taken her mind off her woes with a vacation abroad. Although she recently ignited romance rumors with comedy writer Alex Edelman, 35, he was not pictured in the Instagram album she shared from the holiday. Jessica Alba indulged in a 'healing' trip to Mexico City with a group of friends amid her divorce from her longtime husband Cash Warren; pictured outside the capital at Teotihuacan Late in the Instagram album, she posted a cryptic meme that indicated that her vacation had acted as an emotional balm for her 'Forever memories made - feeling connected, satiated and nourished,' wrote Jessica, whose paternal great-grandparents were from Mexico. '#CDMX might just be my new home away from home,' she added, using an abbreviation for the capital. Late in the Instagram album, she posted a cryptic meme that indicated that her vacation had acted as an emotional balm for her. The meme read: 'Healing wounds as a child,' with a picture of a Band-Aid, and then: 'Healing wounds as an adult,' with the phrase: 'Trip to Mexico.' No doubt the dissolution of her marriage to Cash is going to get complicated as they have no prenup and there is plenty of money at stake. In 2016, Forbes estimated Alba's net worth was around $340 million due to the success The Honest Company, which she founded in 2011. Five years later, they retracted the report and said with her '6% stake (including options)' in the brand, she 'would only be worth just under $100 million.' 'That is far less than the $340 million Forbes estimated she was worth when we estimated her stake to be 20% and put her on our 2016 list of America's most successful self-made women,' the publication explained in their correction. Like his wife, Warren has found success as an entrepreneur after launching his underwear and sock company, Pair of Thieves, valued at around $100 million. Jessica, who is pictured with her husband this past November, announced their separation in January and then filed for divorce in February The album included a photo of Jessica in lingerie, showing off her sculpted physique as she availed herself of a spa treatment She was joined by a claque of friends comprised of (from left) photographer Carlos Eric Lopez, businesswoman Elsa Collins and Life In Pieces actress Angelique Cabral Their trip included a visit to the remains of the ancient Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan, where Jessica posed for a couple of solo shots She and her friends gathered together for a group shot of them meditating in front of one of the iconic pyramids of Teotihuacan, which is not far from Mexico City 'Forever memories made - feeling connected, satiated and nourished,' wrote Jessica, whose paternal great-grandparents were from Mexico Whilst in town, Jessica also mingled with such figures as Karla Martinez De Salas, the elegant head of content at Vogue Mexico & Latin America Jessica, Angelique, Carlos, Elsa and Karla all got together for lunch with Latina magazine founder Christy Haubegger at the tony seafood restaurant Contramar In January, a legal expert told DailyMail.com that the couple's split could get 'complicated' as various factors come into play. Alba's money comes not just from her high-profile acting career which includes films such as Into The Blue, Honey and Sin City. But it also is from her success as the founder of Honest Company. The Honest Company, Inc. is a consumer goods company based in Los Angeles and founded by Alba, Christopher Gavigan, and Brian Lee. The company is valued at roughly $640 million. Among their assets is a $10M Beverly Hills mansion that they bought in 2017. Meanwhile, Jessica's latest post also included a photo of Jessica in lingerie, showing off her sculpted physique as she availed herself of a spa treatment. She was joined by a claque of friends comprised of Life In Pieces actress Angelique Cabral, photographer Carlos Eric Lopez and businesswoman Elsa Collins. Their trip included a visit to the remains of the ancient Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan, where Jessica posed for a couple of solo shots. She and her friends gathered together for a group shot of them meditating in front of one of the iconic pyramids of Teotihuacan, which is not far from Mexico City. While in the capital, Jessica mingled with such figures as Karla Martinez De Salas, the elegant head of content at Vogue Mexico & Latin America. Jessica, Angelique, Carlos, Elsa and Karla all got together for lunch with Latina magazine founder Christy Haubegger at the tony seafood restaurant Contramar. At some stage her gallivanting had apparently tired Jessica out, as she included a snap of herself catching a nap in the back of a car. At some stage her gallivanting had apparently tired her out, as she included a snap of herself catching a nap in the back of a car '#CDMX might just be my new home away from home,' she added, using an abbreviation for the capital Although she recently ignited romance rumors with comedy writer Alex Edelman, 35, he was not pictured in the Instagram album she shared from the holiday When she announced her separation from Cash on January 16, Jessica wrote on Instagram that she had 'been on a journey of self realization and transformation for years - both as an individual and in partnership with Cash.' 'I'm proud of how we've grown in our marriage over the last 20 years and it's now time for us to embark on a new chapter of growth and evolution as individuals. We are moving forward with love, kindness, and respect for each other and will forever be family. Our children remain our highest priority and we request privacy at this time.' Alba and the 46-year-old nepo baby of Hill Street Blues alum Michael Warren - who didn't sign a prenup - are said to be 'extremely amicable' amid the divorce and they both requested joint physical and legal custody of their kids. On February 26, the Honest Company founder enlisted tattoo artist Daniel 'winterstone' Winter to ink the fine-line phrase: 'Life is transformation is life.' Earlier this month, Jessica proudly flashed the new tattoo she got after filing for divorce while attending a movie screening at the AMC Sunset Place in Miami. She was at the screening of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip on Sunday in order to support her gal pal, Eva Longoria Baston. The former couple tied the knot in 2008 and welcomed three children together - daughters Honor, 16, and Haven, 13, and son Hayes, seven The Pomona-born beauty spent the entire weekend celebrating the ninth-generation Texan's 50th birthday. Jessica spent that Saturday night partying on a yacht with Eva during a lavish celebration that also included Grammy-winning salsa star Marc Anthony. 'Grateful to be in Miami celebrating the iconic @evalongoria!' Alba gushed on Instagram. 'You are a force endlessly inspiring, multi-hyphenate, hilarious, generous, real, full of life and the ultimate #Chingona. Cheers to another lap around the sun! Besos!' Longoria recently directed the Kamala Harris supporter in a psychological thriller pilot called Confessions on the 7:45, but it's unclear if Hulu picked it up to series yet. Advertisement Married At First Sight's Adrian Araouzou has been snapped getting cosy with former bride Bronte Schofield after he was called out for liking her sizzling bikini snaps on Instagram. The 36-year-old Sydney-based sportswear brand owner was seen spending time with Bronte, 29, at the Cottesloe Beach Club in Perth, despite still being matched with Awhina Rutene on the show. Adrian, dressed in a breezy white button-up shirt and light beige trousers paired with crisp white sneakers, was all smiles as he stood alongside Bronte. Bronte, who was infamously paired with Harrison Boon in 2023, flaunted her toned figure in a cream crochet halter top and high-waisted baggy jeans. She accessorised with black sandals, a black backpack, and glowy, bronzed makeup. Although fellow grooms Paul Antoine, Tony Mojanovski, and Eliot Donovan were also in attendance, Adrian and Bronte appeared to separate from the group and shared flirty banter at a side table. Married At First Sight's Adrian Araouzou has been snapped getting cosy with former bride Bronte Schofield (both pictured) after he was called out for liking her sizzling bikini snaps on Instagram The 36-year-old was seen spending time with Bronte, 29, at the Cottesloe Beach Club in Perth, despite still being matched with Awhina Rutene on the show During filming, Adrian was pulled aside and confronted over his online activityspecifically, liking Bronte's racy Instagram content. But he brushed off the backlash, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'She's hot. She's more my type, so of course I'm going to like her photos.' A source close to production revealed: 'It was a total betrayal of the experiment. Adrian wasn't here for the right reasons.' This isn't the first time his connection with Bronte raised eyebrows. Insiders claim Adrian was caught sending her late-night messages behind Awhina's backonly for Adrian to reveal it to the group during a fiery off-camera confrontation. With his relationship with Awhina already on rocky ground, it seems Adrian may be lining up a new reality romance before the experiment even ends. Meanwhile, speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Awhina, 30, admitted that the Final Task only served to expose pre-existing issues between the couple. 'We'd been living in this fake bubble. Nothing real was being addressed,' Awhina said. Adrian, dressed in a breezy white button-up shirt and light beige trousers paired with crisp white sneakers, was all smiles as he stood alongside Bronte Adrian appeared anything but impressed when onlookers snapped a photo of them chatting 'I didn't want constant conflict, but when the task forced us to reflect it made me realise we both had doubts about our relationship. 'Adrian couldn't handle being called out he always saw me expressing feelings as an attack and his default was to retaliate by tearing down my character. 'No apology. No accountability.' Awhina entered Wednesday's dinner party visibly upset, and said Adrian failed to support her emotionally, even at her lowest point. 'I came into this looking for a life partner, but in that moment he wasn't even showing up as a friend,' she said. The aged care worker added that Adrian's actions throughout the entire series had taken a toll on her mental and physical health. 'I was physically unwell, overwhelmed, and he showed zero self-awareness,' she said. 'I truly felt like he was actively trying to hurt me that's his fighting style.' It comes afte rAwhina has slammed her TV groom Adrian following the series' controversial Final Task Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Awhina candidly revealed that the Final Task only served to expose pre-existing issues between the couple Despite what viewers saw on screen, Awhina said there were moments behind the scenes where she considered walking out of the experiment early. 'After friends and family week, I was ready to pack up and go,' she revealed. 'Then when he left and went on a date with Sierra [Swepstone], I was done.' Awhina said she convinced herself to stay in the experiment as she didn't want to get 'torn apart' by fans. 'I was scared,' Awhina explained. 'I watched what happened to Eliot when he didn't show up to a dinner party he got torn apart on national TV. I didn't want that.' Awhina added she is still waiting for an apology from Adrian - even after the cameras stopped rolling. 'There's never been a real apology. Even now, I get messages from him saying, 'You're the reason I look like this on TV,' Awhina claimed. 'It's always someone else's fault the edit, production, me. Never him.' She said that the situation may have been different if Adrian could own up to his actions. 'I truly felt like he was actively trying to hurt me that's his fighting style,' she said 'It would be really beautiful if Adrian could just say, 'Hey, I saw some really disturbing behaviour from myself and I'm sorry.' But that's never happened,' she said. In a shocking twist, Awhina revealed that unlike the other couples, she and Adrian were never separated before Final Vows breaking tradition in the experiment. 'We were supposed to spend time apart to reflect. But we never did,' Awhina said. 'Adrian was around me constantly even during behind-the-scenes filming. I never had a moment to be alone with my thoughts.' She added that she felt suffocated by Adrian's behaviour. 'He'd be in my ear saying, 'I've got nothing but good things to say about us,' pushing his reality onto me. I couldn't even breathe,' she said. Awhina said that the one saving grace amid the chaos was fellow bride Jamie Marinos, who quickly became Awhina's closest friend in the experiment. 'Jamie has been my rock. She checks in on me not for airtime or clout, but because she genuinely cares,' Awhina said. When asked if she had any final messages for Adrian, Awhina's response was more than telling 'Nothing,' she replied bluntly. 'There's nothing more to say' 'What you see on screen, those tears they're real. Our bodies literally rejected the pain. We went through something deeply traumatic.' With Final Vows just around the corner, Awhina all but confirmed that her relationship with Adrian is over. 'There were so many wishy-washy conversations throughout the experiment. I just wanted him to stop hiding behind 'God's plan' and speak the truth,' she said. 'He didn't even show up as a friend. When asked if she had any final messages for Adrian, Awhina's response was more than telling. 'Nothing,' she replied bluntly. 'There's nothing more to say.' Married At First Sight will return on Sunday at 7.00pm on Channel Nine and 9Now. Coronation Street star Chloe Newsome was barely recognisable as she posed for a photo after finding fame on the ITV soap in the Nineties. It has been 27 years since the actress, 48, last appeared on the long-running series after departing the Cobbles in 1998 following a seven-year stint. Chloe has remained out of the spotlight since her exit but she is best known for being the second actress to play Vicky McDonald. The soap star, who was born in Sheffield, replaced Helen Warburton - who played the part for a year before she joined the programme. Vicky joined the show as the daughter of Alec Gilroy before finding love with Steve McDonald, who she married to become his first wife. Following her parents' deaths, Vicky was raised by Alec and Bet and she inherited 240,000 upon turning 18. Coronation Street star Chloe Newsome was barely recognisable as she posed for a photo after finding fame on the ITV soap in the Nineties It has been 27 years since the actress, 48, last appeared on the long-running series after departing the Cobbles in 1998 following a seven-year stint (pictured recently) Vicky joined the show as the daughter of Alec Gilroy before finding love with Steve McDonald (pictured), who she married to become his first wife But sadly Vicky's funds were drained by Steve, who lost the money on stolen whiskey, and their marriage began to deteriorate. Vicky exited the show and the character was said to have moved to Brighton to open a wine bar. But Vicky faced her own financially difficulties while running the bar and rang Bet to ask for a loan to keep things stable. In 2002, it was revealed that Vicky happily married a man named Martin. She has not been mentioned on the soap since. Away from Corrie, Chloe lives a quiet family life in her hometown of Sheffield while keeping her followers updated with wholesome snaps. After leaving the show she appeared on stage in several Shakespeare productions including Twelfth Night, Othello and A Midsummer Nights Dream. She appeared in The Jealous God (2005) but largely stepped away from acting due to the unstable nature of the industry. Chloe's last appearance on screen was in Lost Christmas (2011) with Eddie Izzard, Jason Flemyng and Connie Hyde. Steve McDonald (played by Simon Gregson) got Coronation Fans excited after mentioning his ex-wife Karen (Suranne Jones) last year Steve and Karen tied the knot in 2001, before Suranne Jones left the soap after four years in 2004 Last year, Corrie fans were convinced that one of Steve's ex wives was set to make a return to the show after 20 years. He first married Vicky McDonald (Chloe Newsome) in 1995, before walking down the aisle with Karen Phillips (Suranne Jones) in 2001. Steve then wed Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly) in 2009, before he married Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) in 2015. Daisy asked Steve in the pub during Wednesday's episode: 'Who was your least favourite punter?' as he responded: 'Tracy.' She then quizzed: 'Which of your four ex wives do you miss the most?' He immediately replied: 'Karen, next question.' Daisy continued: 'If you could go back in time and marry only one of them, who would you choose?' as Steve failed to respond before she got distracted. Steve's mention of Karen was enough to get fans excited about a potential return, despite him just mentioning her name. One person posted: 'Coronation street... Karen macdonald.... So tonight... Steve admits that karen was his favourite wife... Is this a sign.. Is karen aka suranne Jones coming back [sic]' Another pointed out: 'The wife Steve Macdonald would remarry, Karen #Corrie.' Steve insisted out of his four ex wives, he missed Karen the most Coronation Street fans got excited after Steve said the ex-wife he missed the most was Karen during the latest episode of the ITV soap A third insisted: 'Karen mcdonald mention. Steve loved her. #Corrie' A different social media user gushed: 'Steve mentioning Karen! #Corrie' Suranne left Corrie in 2004 after four years on the soap. She's gone on to have an incredible career in TV, starring in shows such as Doctor Foster, The Secret Of Crickley Hall, Unforgiven, Maryland and more. Suranne most recently starred in the second series of BBC drama Vigil, alongside Game Of Thrones actress Rose Leslie. Tara Reid looked unrecognisable as she attended the premiere of the film Pabrik Gula in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The American Pie actress, 49, sported a noticeably different appearance as she walked the red carpet for the screening of the Indonesian horror film. Tara's face appeared smoother as she posed for the cameras in a black leather jacket and a monochrome patterned skirt. Letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, the film star completed her look with a light palette of makeup. Tara does not appear to have a role in the film - called Sugar Mill in English - but she did pose with the cast on the red carpet. The actress rose to fame in the late nineties, particularly for her role as Vicky Lathum in the American Pie film series. Tara Reid looked unrecognisable as she attended the premiere of the film Pabrik Gula in Los Angeles on Tuesday The American Pie actress, 49, sported a noticeably different appearance as she walked the red carpet for the screening of the Indonesian horror film Tara's face appeared smoother as she posed for the cameras in a black leather jacket and a monochrome patterned skirt She is also known for roles in films like The Big Lebowski, Josie & The Pussycats and the Sharknado movies. Tara has spoken about having cosmetic surgery in the past. Back in 2004, she had a joint liposuction-breast enhancement operation which went wrong. She previously said of the procedure: 'I got lipo because even though I was skinny, I wanted - Im not going to lie a six-pack. 'I had body contouring, but it all went wrong. My stomach became the most ripply, bulgy thing.' Due to her naturally thin frame, she has previously faced eating disorders rumours. 'I have no anorexia and never have,' she told the Los Angeles Inquisitor in a past interview. 'And I definitely don't have any bulimia. I'm terrified of throwing up, so that's not gonna happen. And I love food too much.' The star also described speculation about her weight as a form of bullying, saying: 'So anyone that says I'm anorexic or bulimic, they're wrong. So stop it. Letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, the film star completed her look with a light palette of makeup The actress rose to fame in the late nineties, particularly for her role as Vicky Lathum in the American Pie film series (pictured in 2022) She is also known for roles in films like The Big Lebowski, Josie & The Pussycats and the Sharknado movies (pictured in 2013) 'Leave me alone. Pick on me again on something else, but not on those two things. It's not right.' Along with her film roles, Tara has also done reality TV. She appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK in 2011 where she became good friends with former X Factor stars Jedward. In 2023, she appeared on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test, a quasi-military training series alongside the likes of Blac Chyna, Brian Austin Green and Jack Osbourne. Handmaid's Tale rivals Elisabeth Moss and Yvonne Strahovski cut stylish figures as they attended a screening event in LA on Wednesday night ahead of the final season. The actresses who play June Osborne and Serena Joy Waterford on the Channel 4 show put their characters' tensions to the side as they posed at the event as part of PaleyFest LA 2025 at the Dolby Theatre. While the first three episodes of The Handmaid's Tale's sixth season will premiere in the US on Tuesday 6 April, a UK release date has yet to be confirmed. The show is based on Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel of the same name and is set in the theocratic Republic of Gilead where fertile women, called Handmaids, are forced to bear children for the ruling class, while the rest of society is stripped of its freedoms and rights. June (Moss), is the Handmaid assigned to the home of the Gileadan Commander Fred Waterford and his cruel wife Serena (Strahovski), key players in the formation and rise of Gilead. The fifth season of the series introduced a twist where Serena, after being exiled, is forced to return to Gilead, further complicating her relationship with June. Handmaid's Tale rivals Elisabeth Moss and Yvonne Strahovski cut stylish figures as they attended a screening event in LA on Wednesday night ahead of the final season The actresses play enemies June Osborne and Serena Joy Waterford on the Channel 4 show At the screening event Elisabeth, 42, looked chic in a black suit and wore red heels to boost her height. She wore her blonde tresses in loose waves and opted for glowing makeup, while accessorising with a gold clutch bag. Yvonne meanwhile, 42, wore a wide leg white linen Michael Kors Collection suit which was teamed with grey pointed heels. Hulu finally dropped the sixth (and final) season trailer for The Handmaid's Tale last month - well over two years after the fifth season finale aired. In it, Elisabeth's resistance leader June has returned to Gilead to rejoin the ranks of the cloaked, child-bearing slaves serving the patriarchs leading the totalitarian society. 'They believed that these garments that they put on our bodies told the world who we are. To mark us, they put us in red the color of blood,' June said in the voiceover. 'They forgot that it's also the color of rage. The dress became our uniform, and we became an army.' The first three episodes of creator Bruce Miller's critically-acclaimed dystopian drama, based on Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel, air April 8 on Hulu. But they put their characters' tensions to the side as they posed at the event - both in stylish suits At the screening event Elisabeth, 42, looked chic in a black suit and wore red heels to boost her height She wore her blonde tresses in loose waves and opted for glowing makeup, while accessorising with a gold clutch bag While the first three episodes of The Handmaid's Tale's sixth season will premiere in the US on Tuesday 6 April, a UK release date has yet to be confirmed Yvonne meanwhile, 42, wore a wide leg white linen Michael Kors Collection suit which was teamed with grey pointed heels The show is based on Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel of the same name and is set in the theocratic Republic of Gilead The fifth season of the series introduced a twist where Serena, after being exiled, is forced to return to Gilead, further complicating her relationship with June Hulu finally dropped the sixth (and final) season trailer for The Handmaid's Tale last month - well over two years after the fifth season finale aired Amanda Brugel looked stylish in a tasseled shirt On the official Instagram for The Handmaid's Tale, user @h_4_harvey posted the Titanic meme of old Rose saying: 'It's been 84 years...' 'What do [you] meannnn final season?' shocked Instagram user @kristi.carrasquillo commented. Instagram user @trinity_kickingtiger wrote: 'Can't believe this show is coming to an end. "The color of rage" I love it!' Over on X, many were tweeting 'praise be the fruit' while user @7ElevenReal wrote: 'That only took you 80 years. Can't wait anyway.' 'The amount of time between seasons was just ridiculous,' agreed X user @jagger0622. X user @Bedollz tweeted: 'Finally! Been waiting ages for this season!' When X user @TheShowMeGirl exclaimed 'What? There's one last season?' the official @HandmaidsOnHulu account replied: 'We're not done yet.' In the last season, June plans on taking down Gilead even if it means burning a body in an incinerator, while Luke (O-T Fagbenle) and Moira (Samira Wiley) join the resistance. Ann Dowd attends the screening of The Handmaid's Tale Samira Wiley wore a black blazer dress O-T Fagbenle wore a khaki co-ord Warren Littlefield attends the screening of The Handmaid's Tale during PaleyFest LA Ever Carradine put on a leggy display in the Skye Short Sleeve Mini Dress by Rebecca Vallance 'Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) tries to reform Gilead while Commander Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) reckon with what they have wrought, and Nick (Max Minghella) faces challenging tests of character,' the official synopsis read. 'This final chapter of June's journey highlights the importance of hope, courage, solidarity, and resilience in the pursuit of justice and freedom.' The Handmaid's Tale also features Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, Sam Jaeger, Ever Carradine, and Josh Charles. The cast and crew only wrapped production on the Canadian set of season six on Monday. The Hollywood hunk who has been cast as a Vladimir Putin was pictured in character for the first time as filming on a movie about his early years in politics kicks off. The film, which is called The Wizard of the Kremlin, is based on political strategist Vadim Baranov, who becomes an advisor to Russia's future president, Putin. Jude Law, 52, has been cast as Putin and was spotted shooting the upcoming biopic this week as filming gets underway in Latvia. The actor was dressed as the Russian president, sporting hair and make-up to mimic the politician's image as he shot scenes with his co-stars. Law, who was sporting a two-piece suit with a white shirt, could be seen chatting to Dan Cade, who played Willson in season 4 of True Detective and appears in the upcoming and coming movie Nuremberg. It is yet to be revealed which role he will play in the upcoming film. The filmed, which is called The Wizard of the Kremlin, is based on political strategist Vadim Baranov, who becomes an advisor to Russia's future president, Putin The Hollywood hunk who has been cast as a Vladimir Putin was pictured in character for the first time as filming on a movie about his early years in politics kicks off Jude Law, 52, has been cast as Putin and was spotted shooting the upcoming biopic this week as filming gets underway in Latvia (Putin pictured in 1999) The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Giuliano da Empoli and focuses on the rise of an authoritarian regime. Law's co-stars include Tom Sturridge, Paul Dano and Zach Galifianakis. He is also set to reunite with Alicia Vikander after the actors most recently starred together in Firebrand, which was released last year. The story begins in 1990s Russia following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in a new world 'promising freedom. A young artist-turned-TV producer, Vadim Baranov, unexpectedly becomes the spin doctor of a promising member of the ex-KGB, Vladimir Putin. According to the synopsis of the film, 'Working at the heart of Russian power, Baranov blurs truth with lies, the news with propaganda, directing the entire society like one great reality show. 'Only his love for the magnetic, free-minded Ksenia can turn him away from this dangerous game. The Wizard of the Kremlin sets out to tell Baranov's story, and through his eyes, tell the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.' Dano, who has previously appeared in There Will Be Blood and Love and Mercy, has been cast as Baranov. The book's author, Giuliano da Empoli, worked as a senior adviser to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. According several experts, the prototype of the hero of the book was the Russian official, Vladislav Surkov. Law, who was sporting a two-piece suit with a white shirt, could be seen chatting to another member of the cast who was stood close by The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Giuliano da Empoli and focuses on the rise of an authoritarian regime (Putin pictured in 2000) The story begins in 1990s Russia following the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in a new world 'promising freedom (Law pictured in February) According to Variety, the Kremlin were aware that the film was in production but they have not been asked for advice, they claim they were told by press secretary of the head of the Russian state, Dmitry Peskov. The film, which is going to be translated into 30 languages, is being produced by Olivier Delbosc's banner Curiosa Films and Gaumont. The Wizard of the Kremlin is co-written by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrere. Advertisement Peter Dutton delivered a fiery Federal Budget reply on Thursday night. The Leader of the Opposition promised to ease the cost of living and taking a brutal swipe at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. But the politician admitted there would be a few key people disinterested in what he had to say - his own wife and kids. Dutton joked that his wife, Kirilly, and their three children would have the channel on reality series Married At First Sight instead. 'I want to give a shout out to my wife tonight, who has just had surgery on her wrist and is at home watching with Rebecca, Harry and Tom, unless MAFS clashes with this broadcast' he said to laughter from colleagues. Peter and Kirilly were married in 2003 and have three children - sons Tom and Harry and daughter Rebecca. Peter Dutton (pictured) delivered a fiery Federal Budget reply on Thursday night. But the politician admitted there would be a few key people disinterested in what he had to say - his own wife and kids During his speech, Dutton picked crime as the key battleground in the upcoming election as he claims Australia is 'less safe and less secure' under the Albanese government. Dutton's nearest and dearest aren't the only ones who can't get enough of the reality series. 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. Peter and Kirilly were married in 2003 and have three children - sons Tom and Harry and daughter Rebecca. All pictured Dutton joked that his wife, Kirilly, and their three children, would have the channel on reality series Married At First Sight (pictured) instead 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. 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. Kate Garraway has candidly admitted she makes 'so many mistakes' as a solo parent, following the death of her husband Derek Draper. The Good Morning Britain presenter, 57, who shares daughter Darcey, 19, and son William, 15, with Derek, opened up on navigating solo parenting. Speaking to Jenny Johnston for Daily Mail Weekend Magazine, Kate declared parenting as a single mother is the 'hardest part of grieving'. Kate's husband of 18 years Derek passed away at the age of 56 in January last year after suffering a heart attack following a long battle with Covid. She said: 'It's the hardest part of grieving. So many times I just think "Derek where are you?" 'When he was here we didn't plan which one of us was bad cop to the other's good cop. You sort of do it without thinking.' Kate Garraway, 57, has candidly admitted she makes 'so many mistakes' as a solo parent, following the death of her husband Derek Draper (pictured this week) The Good Morning Britain presenter, who shares daughter Darcey, 19, and son William, 15, with Derek (pictured together in 2019), opened up on navigating solo parenting Speaking to Jenny Johnston for Daily Mail Weekend Magazine, Kate declared parenting as a single mother is the 'hardest part of grieving' (pictured with Darcey and William in 2024) Kate added: 'Now I have to be everything - the one who's fun, the one who chivvies everyone along and the one who yells "Oh my god, you are going to fail everything". 'I make so many mistakes but doesn't everyone? Does the perfect mother exist? 'I suppose one of the things about what's happened is that I've had to have very grown-up conversations with my children.' Derek passed away on January 3, 2024 nearly four years after he became ill with multiple complications due to Coronavirus. After his passing, Kate shared a heartbreaking announcement on Instagram, writing: 'I'm sad to have to tell you all that my darling husband Derek has passed away.' 'As some of you may know he has been critically ill following a cardiac arrest in early December which, because of the damage inflicted by Covid in March 2020, led to further complications.' 'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.' 'I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible.' Kate's husband of 18 years Derek passed away at the age of 56 in January last year after suffering a heart attack following a long battle with Covid Kate's comments about her loss come after, on the anniversary of Derek's death this year, she opened up about her 'excessive, unpayable debt' from her late husband's care On the anniversary of his death this year, Kate opened up about her 'excessive, unpayable debt' from her late husband's care. During a segment on Good Morning Britain, presenter and co-host Adil Ray, 50, spoke to Health Secretary Wes Streeting about the plans for a new National Care Service - which might not be available in England until 2028. When Derek wasn't in hospital throughout his four-year battle with the virus, he was looked after 24/7 at home by his wife and carers. With the subject being very close to her heart, Kate told the politician: 'I'm thinking about the situation with Derek. It actually happens to be the one-year anniversary of his death today. A day that is only relevant to me. 'But over the last few weeks, the family and I have been talking about the challenges we faced this time last year, one of the overriding ones, he went back into intensive care before he passed away was dealing with the funding of care. 'At the time of his death, there were two appeals that hadn't been heard for funding. It kept being pushed back and pushed back. 'In the meantime, I'm lucky I have an incredible job which is well paid. I was having to fund the situation. Now I've got excessive unpayable debt because of it. 'If I'm in that position what else are people going to be? People can't afford four more years of this!' Politician Wes Streeting replied: 'Firstly Kate, I know lots of viewers will feel the same, having followed your anniversary that you're going through, yourself and your family. All of us are with you. He added: 'I think that's why your story connected with so many people. You're not just a familiar face on screens, your viewers feel they've got a relationship with you as a presenter.' Central Cee's eye-watering earnings have reportedly been revealed. The rap sensation, 26, real name Oakley Neil Caesar-Su, is raking in the millions thanks to his looming worldwide tour and never-ending brand deals. According to The Sun, Central Cee earned an impressive 16million in 2024 and his takings aren't expected to drop anytime soon. The rapper allegedly netted 12million from record sales and brand deals just last year, under his company CC4L. Central Cee's pocket is up 4million after previously earning 7.9million in 2023. Thanks to his hit music, the artist has racked up more than 2billion streams on Spotify and earned already 4million. Central Cee's, 26, eye-watering earnings have reportedly been revealed and is raking in the millions thanks to his looming worldwide tour and never-ending brand deals The rapper flaunted his wealth in a recent Instagram snap last month, flashing hundreds of dollars in hand He claimed the number one spot on the UK Official Albums Chart with his debut album Can't Rush Greatness - making him the first UK rapper to have a number one album in more than a year. Just last month, Central Cee earned more than 1.3million with his G-Shock watch range and Bose headphones campaign, reports the publication. And next week his worldwide tour finally kicks off. He is heading to Birmingham, Manchester, London and Glasgow, plus shows across Europe, America and Down Under. Most recently, the rap icon has set up a clothing brand called DRP Yours. Central Cee became the joint most-decorated rapper in MOBOs history as he won Best Male Act for the record-breaking third year in a row in February. It brings his total award wins to seven, tied with Stormzy. Last year, Central Cee and Ice Spice sparked dating rumours when they were spotted driving around London together. Central Cee earned an impressive 16million in 2024 and his takings aren't expected to drop anytime soon The rapper allegedly netted 12million from record sales and brand deals just last year, under his company CC4L Last year, Central Cee and Ice Spice (pictured) sparked dating rumours when they were spotted driving around London together Ice Spice dropped Did It First, her first collab with Central Cee at the time. In the song the rappers explore the themes of an unfaithful relationship with Cee rapping: 'I ain't learn my lesson' while Spice raps: 'If he cheatin' I'm doin him worse.' Ice Spice, real name Isis Naija Gaston, and Central Cee go on to share their secrets for getting away with cheating in a relationship. 'He beg me to stay, but I'm dippin'/I don't even drink, but I'm sippin'/We not f**kin', but he put the tip in (Grrah)/He get on my nerves, but I'm with it.' 'Cee raps back: 'Gyal on my phone tryna see who I slept with/She investigating, detective/Lucky for me, I deleted the message,' before she launches into the chorus. 'No, I hit the reverse/I ain't trippin', the grip in my purse/I don't care, 'cause he did it first.' Dave Myers was famous for riding his motorbike alongside his best friend Si King on their popular cooking show, Hairy Bikers. Now, the final motorbike Dave rode on the BBC programme has been sold for a huge five-figure sum, with the proceeds going to two charities. Myers died at the age of 66 in February last year after a two-year battle with cancer, leaving his fans and loved ones devastated. His widow Lilian Myers told how she wanted his final motorbike - which featured in the BBC's Hairy Bikers Go West - to go to a good home. The BSA Goldstar went under the hammer at the National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull and sold for a massive 15,800, with the proceedings going to two charities. Of the sale, Lilian told the BBC: 'That bike still has his DNA on it... I really really hope that the person who gets it, loves it.' Dave Myers died at the age of 66 in February last year after a two-year battle with cancer, leaving his fans and loved ones devastated Now, the final motorbike Dave rode on the Hairy Bikers (pictured) has been sold for a massive 15,800, with the proceeds going to two charities 'I am really, really happy to see this bike being loved, and I'm sure the person who got it will love it as much as Dave did,' she added. The motorbike was sold to Si Harrison, who was friends with Dave, and the funds will be donated to NSPCC Childline and CancerCare North Lancashire & South Cumbria. Harrison said buying the vehicle meant 'so much' to him and shared his plans to ride it on Dave Day, which sees the biking community gather to remember Myers. 'I couldn't think of a bike that I'd rather be on, and the idea of riding in Dave Day meant so much to me,' he said. The first Dave Day took place in June and saw thousands of motorcyclists travel from London to Myers' hometown in Barrow-in-Furness to honour the celebrity chef. The momentous ride, in which 20,000 bikers participated in, also raised a staggering 127,000 for charity. Myers' co-star King addressed the crowds following the first ever Dave Day bike ride and told how the reception was 'remarkable'. In a video shared by BBC North East and Cumbria at the time, he gushed: 'It was just absolutely remarkable. What a remarkable reception. Just mind-blowing. His widow Lilian Myers told how she wanted his final motorbike - which featured in the BBC's Hairy Bikers Go West - to go to a good home as she discussed the sale The motorbike was sold to Si Harrison, who was friends with Dave, and he plans to ride it on the Dave Day bike ride (pictured) - which honours Myers and raises money for cancer charities 'All of the over bridges all the way from London up to Barrow-in-Furness, people waving and showing kindness and courtesy unbelievable.' Myers' widow Lilian later appeared on stage in Barrow-in-Furness to thank those who had come out to pay tribute to Myers. 'The love that you've put into this is not going unnoticed, thank you very much,' she said. 'I want to thank all the people that have made the effort to come today, some of them from Malaysia, some of them really struggled in different ways to make their way here but they did, they are with us tonight.' Following Myers' death, his hometown in Cumbria organised the tribute day, which also included a music concert and a service of remembrance. The day raised funds for the Institute of Cancer Research and children's charity, the NSPCC. Christina Hendricks looked incredible as she attended day six of the Series Mania Festival with her husband George Bianchini in Lille, France on Wednesday. The actress, 49, cut a glamorous figure in a black long-sleeved dress with a polka dot print as she walked the purple carpet with her cinematographer partner. The garment also featured a cinched waist and high leg split while the Mad Men star added height to her frame with a pair of white heels. Styling her red locks into a curled bob, Christina complimented her outfit with a black clutch bag. George looked dapper in a dark grey blazer and matching trousers along with a white shirt and black shoes. The event comes after Christina told how George had an alien encounter while filming her new TV series Small Town, Big Story in Ireland. Christina Hendricks looked incredible as she attended day six of the Series Mania Festival with her husband George Bianchini in Lille, France on Wednesday The actress, 49, cut a glamorous figure in a black long-sleeved dress with a polka dot print as she walked the purple carpet with her cinematographer partner Appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show, she said: 'We went to Dublin to get ready to shoot the show. My now husband was outside, waiting to have a mattress delivered to the house. 'George comes in and he is white as a ghost and I asked "what happened?" And he said "you're never going to believe this - I just saw a UFO." 'I know this man so well and I looked at his face and I'm like 'he saw a UFO'.' Christina and George tied the knot last year at Napoleon House in the French Quarter after getting engaged in 2023. Reflecting on their engagement, she told Jonathan: 'We had been talking about getting married and we read an article that a lot of lesbians were proposing to one another and it seemed really sweet and fair. 'I thought "I want to be able to do it too" so he said "lets do that but I want to go first". 'Even though we proposed to each other, he proposed first.' The couple met on the set of the crime dramady Good Girls, which Hendricks starred in from 2018-2021. The garment also featured a cinched waist and high leg split while the Mad Men star added height to her frame with a pair of white heels Styling her red locks into a curled bob, Christina complimented her outfit with a black clutch bag Christina - who was previously married to actor Geoffrey Arend from 2009 to 2019 - once gushed about how George makes her 'feel like a million bucks. 'We always want to do the same things,' she said, adding, 'We love the same kind of places, the same food, the same music, the same sense of humour. 'He just keeps me smiling, and he always tells me that I can do whatever I set my heart to and that he believes in me.' Christina also teased the possibility of a Mad Men reunion as she admitted she would 'jump' at the chance to reprise her role. The actress starred as Joan Holloway for eight years in the drama series before the show wrapped up in 2015. The actress, 47, starred as Joan Holloway on Mad Men for eight years She said: 'A very special decade. It was a dream. Our dysfunctional family but we all keep in touch, we've got text chains and check in on the holidays and things. 'We always partied but we had a very grand wrap party - it went on all night long. We had a whole hotel and everyone stayed in different rooms. We didn't want to say goodbye after that long.' When asked on whether she took any mementos from the set, Christina replied: 'If it wasn't glued down, I took it! 'The special thing about that show is a lot of the stuff is in the Smithsonian - some of the costumes travel around to different exhibits still to this day. 'I've got some ash trays and I took a piece of art, a few things that were in Joan's apartment.' Christina then revealed if she would ever return to the franchise, explaining: 'I would do it in a heartbeat. It's been a long time but everyone's off doing different jobs. 'I think we all have a love for it. If they wanted a reunion, I'd bet we'd all come back.' Greg Page has revealed his brand new role in show business. The former star of the Wiggles, who hung up his Yellow Wiggle skivvy back in 2013, is back on the stage. The 53-year-old is starring in the new musical production of Annie at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney. He will play President Roosevelt as the performance plays in both Sydney and Melbourne. Greg says that while he was performed all over the world, tackling a theatre role is very different to being part of a group for children. 'This is very scripted... with the Wiggles we had flexibility and we could improvise,' he told the Canberra Times. Greg Page (left) has revealed his brand new role in show business. The former star of the Wiggles, who hung up his Yellow Wiggle skivvy back in 2013, is back on the stage The 53-year-old is starring in the new musical production of Annie at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney (pictured) Fortunately, he's got a stellar cast by his side reminding him to tone down the finger guns. 'It's one thing to take a man out of the Wiggles but you can't take the Wiggles out of the man,' Page said. He added: 'I've performed in many theatres, many times in different countries. This is a very different experience.' Last year, Page revealed he suffered crippling loneliness during his time with the iconic kids group. He told the Herald Sun that prior to initially leaving the group in 2006 he could only relate to his bandmates on a superficial level for fear of being judged. Greg added that he did not blame his bandmates, but rather himself for not having confidence to bear his soul. 'I probably, in a way, helped create my own lonely environment by not dealing with the issues I had,' Greg told the publication. He said that a health condition that causes orthostatic intolerance, which induces fatigue and a loss of balance, was a catalyst for his loneliness. He will play President Roosevelt as the performance plays in both Sydney and Melbourne Greg says that while he was performed all over the world, tackling a theatre role is very different to being part of a group for children. 'This is very scripted... with the Wiggles we had flexibility and we could improvise,' he said 'I kept the feelings to myself,' he said, but suspected people around him knew he had 'stuff going on'. 'But it's how you deal with that and how you cope with it that can be the trigger for becoming lonely.' Greg had been experiencing health difficulties since December 2005, when he underwent a double hernia operation. He was forced to withdraw from the group's 2006 US tour after suffering repeated fainting spells, slurred speech, fatigue, and trembling. After bring diagnosed with a non-life-threatening form of dysautonomia - a hard-to-diagnose chronic illness - Greg decided to step away from the beloved musical act. In doing so he made way for newcomer Sam Moran. After making a return to the Wiggles in 2012, replacing Sam, Greg suffered a near-fatal heart attack while on stage with the group, for a one-off reunion concert at Castle Hill RSL in 2020. A young off-duty nurse in the audience found a defibrillator in the RSL and desperately worked to resuscitate Page while waiting for an ambulance. Greg Page,52, told the Herald Sun that, prior to initially leaving The Wiggles in 2006, he could only relate to his bandmates on a superficial level for fear of being judged. After making a return to the Wiggles in 2012, replacing Sam, Greg suffered a near-fatal heart attack while on stage with the group at Castle Hill RSL in 2020 Greg told The Weekend Australian at the time that he remembers three things: breathing heavily, lying on the ground and waking up in hospital. 'And looking up at the ceiling and just feeling unwell, but not in a bad way. I just felt absolutely exhausted,' he added. Greg went on to express his gratitude to those who helped save his life. 'The fact that those people stepped up to have a go at saving a life, I am so grateful. Had they not stepped in, I would be dead,' he said. In his first interview since the attack on radio station 2GB, Greg said he had no warning signs. 'I went happily on my way, Wiggle-d my butt off that night, and nearly didn't make it,' he recounted of the concert. Despite his heart attack, Greg said he still considers himself to be 'fitter' than he's ever been, and said he was carrying more weight when he left The Wiggles in 2013. 'I felt really good. No warning signs, no symptoms, so when the show was coming up, I thought, "Yeah, okay, I'll just walk a little bit harder this morning, go a little bit faster"' he said. Advertisement Molly-Mae Hague teased her fans about the future of her documentary as she wrapped up filming for season one on Thursday. The influencer, 25, took to her Instagram Story to share that she was filming her final interview for the second instalment of her Behind It All documentary with Prime Video. Part one of the tell-all documentary aired in January and focused on Molly-Mae's launch of her clothing brand Maebe and the fall-out from her split from Tommy Fury. The remaining three episodes are set to drop on the streamer in May and fans have speculated that they will see Molly-Mae and Tommy rekindle their romance - after the pair jetted off on a family holiday to Dubai with their two-year-old daughter Bambi. And now Molly-Mae has hinted that Behind It All could possibly see a second season. Sharing a snap of her last day of filming, she wrote: 'FINAL interview for Molly-Mae: Behind It All... season 1.' Molly-Mae Hague teased her fans about the future of her documentary on Instagram on Thursday as she wrapped up filming for season one Molly-Mae has hinted that Behind It All could possibly see a second season as she shared a snap of her last day filming and wrote: 'FINAL interview for Molly-Mae: Behind It All... season 1' Molly-Mae shared another tease with fans later that day as she hinted she had a big announcement coming. Posting a video showing off her new bright blonde dyed hair, Molly-Maw wrote: 'Makes me sooooo excited for what's coming out soon [crying emoji] [zipped lips emoji].' The news comes after she broke her silence on her relationship status with boxer Tommy on Wednesday, following their reconciliation Dubai holiday last week. The influencer and the boxer, also 25, shocked fans last year when they shared that they had split. However, since the pair have been spotted together on numerous occasions but have yet to publicly confirm they are back together. Now, Molly-Mae has shared a new vlog to address her recent holiday as she took to YouTube on Tuesday where she opened up about 'rebuilding' their relationship. She said: 'I don't want you guys to think I'm not being honest about who went on the holiday to Dubai. 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. '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. Part one of the tell-all documentary aired in January and focused on Molly-Mae's launch of her clothing brand Maebe and the fall-out from her split from Tommy Fury Molly-Mae shared another tease with fans later that day as she hinted she had a big announcement coming 'It's not that I'm hiding it, I'm not quite ready to talk about it.' She continued: 'It's also private, but also it's not really private. '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. 'You can't figure things out the way a normal relationship would. You can't do the normal things a coupe trying to work on their relationship normally do like going on walks or getting coffee.' Molly-Mae added that the pair are 'just figuring things out and seeing how it goes.' The pair are reportedly thinking of moving back in together after reaching a 'turning point' during their reconciliation holiday to Dubai. The pair are said to have 'really connected' on the trip and took the opportunity to work on their relationship 'without outside pressure'. Molly-Mae and Tommy are reportedly now discussing moving back in together, with Tommy determined to show his commitment to their family and friends claiming 'the love is still there'. Molly-Mae broke her silence on her relationship status with Tommy on YouTube on Tuesday following their reconciliation Dubai holiday last week Molly-Mae and Tommy shocked fans last year when they shared that they had split. However, since the pair have been spotted together on numerous occasions but have yet to publicly confirm they are back together A source told The Mirror: 'Tommy's been spending more and more time at the house again - he's even talking about moving back in properly. Its baby steps, but it's clear the love is still there.' 'This wasn't just a sunshine getaway it felt like a turning point. Theyve both acknowledged how tough the past few months have been, but now theyre focused on moving forward, not looking back. 'Tommy's been really reflective since they got back. He's told friends he doesnt want to "waste time apart" anymore. He's taking real steps to show he's committed, not just to Molly, but to their family unit. Behind the scenes, it's obvious theyre trying to fix this and move forward.' MailOnline contacted both Molly-Mae and Tommy's representatives for comment at the time. Alexandra Paul, best known for her role as Stephanie Holden on Baywatch, spoke out on her terrifying stalker ordeal to The Ankler. The actress, 61, revealed that she was stalked for 13 years, and it cost her $60,000 in legal fees. Alexandra penned to story, detailing how it all started in December 2011 when a woman knocked on her door with her little brother asking to use the restroom. She let them in her home to use the restroom, and for the next couple of days, the woman kept leaving notes for her - which led to Alexandra's husband to call the number she had left to tell her to 'leave us alone.' Things escalated, with the woman moving into a house one block away from their home in the Pacific Palisades. Alexandra Paul, best known for her role as Stephanie Holden on Baywatch, spoke out on her terrifying stalker ordeal to The Ankler Alexandra began her acting career in 1982 in the movie Paper Dolls. She starred in the movie Christine, which dropped in 1983, as well as Just the Way You Are in 1984, American Flyers in 1985, 8 Million Ways to Die in 1986 and Dragnet in 1987 and Dragnet in 1987. The actress landed the role of Stephanie Holden on Baywatch in 1992, going on to play her for five years as part of the main cast. In the op-ed, Alexandra detailed how the woman - whom she described as of German descent - reached out to her mother in Oregon and sent her a lengthy letter telling her she was her secret lover. She said she won't name her because that is what a stalker wants. She also accused Alexandra's husband Ian Murray of cheating and being violent toward her. Alexandra also said the stalker put flyers out in her neighborhood claiming that Ian was beating her up. She revealed that the stalker also called police and claimed that Ian was beating her up. Alexandra said that she continued to harass her and her husband, and with the harassment warrant police arrested her. She was illegally in the country, and had a record of theft, which led to her being deported back to Germany - which was short lived because she snuck back in the country soon after via Canada. The actress, 61, revealed that she was stalked for 13 years, and it cost her $60,000 in legal fees; seen August 26, 2024 in Santa Monica The actress landed the role of Stephanie Holden on Baywatch in 1992, going on to play her for five years as part of the main cast; seen September 24, 2019 The actress landed the role of Stephanie Holden on Baywatch in 1992, going on to play her for five years as part of the main cast; pictured: Yasmine Bleeth, David Charvet, Jaason Simmons, David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Alexandra Paul She continued to launch an attack on Ian and his career, claiming he was a pedophile. The actress said that after 11 years of dealing with the stalker, they sold their home and 'got special new IDs that protected our identities and rented a house under an LLC.' While she thought they were safe, it took the stalker six weeks to find them again and re-launch her harassment and stalking against her and her husband. Nine months later, she was arrested again after the FBI got involved. Alexandra says she was told the stalker had breast cancer and uterine tumors, with the LA prosecutor's office asking her if they could release her so she could live her final days at home. After agreeing to it, the woman was released, and she passed at age 41 on July 29, 2024. Blue Origin announced the date of its space flight with stars. Liftoff for Katy Perry along with Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King, Kerianne Flynn and Lauren Sanchez on New Shepard's NS-31 11th human flight will be Monday, April 14. It will lift off from Launch Site One in West Texas. The New Shepard launch window opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT / 13:30 UTC. The Blue Origin released the NS-31 mission patch. A few of the key symbols embedded have meanings. The fireworks 'symbolize Perry's global influence across music, pop culture, and philanthropy,' it was shared on Thursday. Flynn the Fly, the main character in Sanchez's bestselling children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, is along for the ride. The story is about overcoming adversity, inspiring kids with learning differences to pursue their dreams. Blue Origin announced the date of its space flight with stars. Liftoff for Katy Perry along with Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, Gayle King , Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sanchez on New Shepard's NS-31 11th human flight will be Monday, April 14. Seen March 2 The scales of justice symbolizes Nguyen's efforts to advocate for civil rights, break barriers, and empower everyday people to create change. The target star symbolizes Bowe's ambition for setting big goals, passion for STEM, and commitment to inspiring future generations. The shooting star microphone represents King's commitment to sharing important stories with the world. The film reel symbolizes Flynn's passion for filmmaking, storytelling, and crafting beautiful narratives. Details on the webcast will be shared soon. Katy will head to space between rehearsals and the start of her Lifetimes Tour in Mexico City on April 23. The artist is taking a quick break to see the world from above. Sanchez is seen here with fiance Jeff Bezos in 2024. Flynn the Fly, the main character in Sanchez's bestselling children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, is along for the ride too Katy will launch the Lifetimes Tour in Mexico and travel to Australia and Canada before coming back to North America this summer. Touring in support of her new album, 143, the global pop superstar will be performing all of her hits, drawing from her extensive catalog. Katy launched 143 a bold, exuberant dance-pop album with the symbolic 143 numerical expression of love as a throughline message with a sold-out headline show at Rock in Rio in Brazil in September 2024. Rolling Stone Australia observed, 'Perry's midnight set on the Palco Mundo stage where she would play her newest tunes for the first time became the high point of the night. 'Taking the stage as fireworks lit up the Rio sky, Perry had the 100,000-strong crowd going wild with dazzling visuals and pyrotechnics that transformed the City of Rock into a vibrant spectacle' Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon surprised fans after revealing they starred together in a film years before Sex And The City. The actresses are best known for their roles as Carrie Bradshaw and Miranda Hobbs on the beloved HBO series and it's sequel show And Just Like That. But Sarah and Cynthia didn't meet on Sex And The City and actually had known each other since their teenage years. The pair both appeared in the 1984 TV film My Body My Child. Sarah played the role of Katy, while Cynthia portrayed Nancy, the younger sister of the main character, Leenie (played by Vanessa Redgrave). The film tells the story of woman facing a difficult decision regarding a pregnancy with potential health risks. It would be another 14 years before their bond was solidified in the minds of fans everywhere after Sex And The City premiered on HBO. Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon surprised fans after revealing they starred together in the 1984 TV film My Body My Child years before Sex And The City The actresses are best known for their roles as Carrie Bradshaw and Miranda Hobbs on the beloved HBO series and it's sequel show And Just Like That Cynthia shared a still from the film as she wished Sarah a happy 60th birthday Cynthia shared a still from the film as she wished Sarah a happy 60th birthday. Alongside the post, she wrote: 'Theres nobody I would rather walk through life with Happy birthday @sarahjessicaparker'. Sarah replied: 'Oh Cynthia, how many walks????? I am the most fortunate fellow traveler. With or without cameras. I love you. Xxx'. Sarah got her start in acting at age 11 when she starred in the play The Innocents in 1996. She went on to land the title role in the Broadway musical Annie in 1979. And then she headed to Hollywood for movies as she starred in the 1984 dramas Footloose and Firstborn. Sarah went on to make a name for herself in L.A. Story (1991), Honeymoon in Vegas (1992), Hocus Pocus (1993), Ed Wood (1994), and Mars Attacks! (1996). In December, Sarah teased that the new season of And Just Like That... features some 'new male' characters. The actress is returning as Carrie Bradshaw for a third instalment of the Sex and the City reboot and revealed fans can expect some 'additional characters' that 'rightfully find a real home' on the show. It would be another 14 years before their bond was solidified in the minds of fans everywhere after Sex And The City premiered on HBO (L-R Cynthia, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Sarah) The show went on top become a massive hit with several films and a reboot Speaking at Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, she spilled: 'Carrie [Bradshaw] has a wonderful storyline. 'The story takes some big swings, and we fold some big ideas into those big swings. Some of the male characters are back, and there are some new men.' Sarah teased: 'There are so many interesting stories with additional characters that rightfully find a real home.' At the end of season two, Carrie's lover Aidan Shaw (John Corbett) departed New York City to return to Virginia to be there for his son Wyatt after he asked her to wait five years for them to be together. Kim Cattrall, who plays sex-crazed Samantha Jones, also made a cameo, but is not expected to return. However, Kristin Davis (Charlotte), Cynthia (Miranda), Nicole Ari Parker (Lisa), Mario Cantone (Anthony), Sarita Choudhury (Seema), and Katerina Tannenbaum (Lisette) are all confirmed to be reprising their respective roles. Nicholas Braun has gone Instagram official with his girlfriend Hyunji Ward as he wished her a happy birthday. The Succession star, 36, shared rare photos with his partner who he called the 'absolute joy' of his life. Sharing several loved-up snaps of the couple, he wrote: 'HBD to my sweet sweet DARLING of a girlfriend!!! You are the absolute joy of my life. 'You make me my best self!! Like when you said that I could pull off this shirt full of forks. You were right. Love you dearly '. The snaps included one of the couple out on a romantic evening walk and another of them in a car with their pet dog. The couple were first spotted together attending the HBO & Max Post Emmys party in January 2024 but have kept a low profile since. Nicholas Braun has gone Instagram official with his girlfriend Hyunji Ward as he wished her a happy birthday The Succession star, 36, shared rare photos with his partner who he called the 'absolute joy' of his life Hyunji works as a creative executive for the production company TeaTime Pictures which was founded by Dakota Johnson and Ro Donnelly. Prior to his relationship with Hyungi, Nicholas told The New York Post he was 'fascinated by romance and courting another human' because he hadn't 'really been in a long-term relationship ever' at the time. He said: 'I do yearn for it and yet I'm incapable of it. I go toward it and then I hit a wall where I'm like, 'I can't go farther into this. I've got to exit.' 'I do believe it'll happen at the right time with the right person. Until then, it's fun to meet people and see what works.' Nicholas, who played Greg Hirsch on Succession, previously discussed detailed his battle with anxiety and self-esteem. He told British GQ: 'I guess I'm one of those people who is not, like, instantly comfortable with people; it takes me a while to know what version of myself I'm going to be with somebody.' 'I do love when people love the show, but if it makes me feel so much better about myself that someone said this to me, I think I need to work on my self-esteem more.' He also discussed struggling with romantic relationships, adding: '[My relationships that came closest to that] didnt go on very long. The couple were first spotted together attending the HBO & Max Post Emmys party in January 2024 but have kept a low profile since The snaps included one of the couple out on a romantic evening walk and another of them enjoying a meal Hyunji works as a creative executive for the production company TeaTime Pictures which was founded by Dakota Johnson and Ro Donnelly 'You make me my best self!! Like when you said that I could pull off this shirt full of forks. You were right. Love you dearly ' Nicholas portrayed played Greg Hirsch on hit HBO series Succession 'You know, it would be a few weeks of obsession and, like...I dont like feeling that powerless. 'I kind of run away from relationships where I know, "OK, I care too much about this. They dont care as much as me. I gotta get out".' Nicholas has a slew of film projects coming up including a comedy called Splitsville and a thriller called Famous. Advertisement Kim Kardashian admitted to feeling at a complete loss over whether to keep or toss her daughter North West's baby teeth while recently cleaning out her home. On Thursday's episode of The Kardashians, the reality star, 44, was joined by her mother, Kris Jenner, as she sorted through her and her four kids' belongings. 'What the hell is going on?' Jenner, 69, asked Kardashian, who was preparing to move out of her property that was set to be remodeled. 'Well, you know Im moving,' the SKIMS founder explained. Jenner, then quipped: 'I thought you were a minimalist. You look like a hoarder right now.' In a confessional, Kardashian admitted that she had to put herself in her mom's shoes to figure out if she should preserve North's baby teeth or just let them go. Kim Kardashian admitted to feeling at a complete loss over whether to keep or toss her daughter North West's baby teeth while recently cleaning out her home; seen in 2023 'North gave me one of her teeth today and was like, "I lost a tooth!" Kardashian explained. 'And I was like, "Do I keep this? What do moms do? Do they keep teeth?" I think my mom would do that.' While some parents discard their children's baby teeth, others keep them in keepsake boxes or turn them into jewelry pieces after they've fallen out. North, 11, is the eldest child of Kardashian and her ex-husband, Kanye West, who she split from in early 2021 after almost seven years of marriage. The former couple also share Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 5. Earlier this month, Kardashian was reportedly left furious after her ex-husband, Kanye West, released a song by Diddy, which featured North's voice. Diddy, 55, is currently in jail awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking, and after the song was uploaded, a source has shared that Kim - who previously trademarked her children's names - has sought legal action to prevent its release and have it taken down from X. The song opens with what sounds like Diddys voice thanking Kanye for his support, mentioning that no one else has reached out to him while he remains in jail awaiting trial on charges including sex trafficking. Kanye responds by calling Diddy a father figure, even before they knew each other personally. North makes a brief but noticeable appearance, rapping, 'When you see me shining, then you see the light,' while Christian Combs delivers his own verse. North, 11, is the eldest child of Kardashian and her ex-husband, Kanye West, who she split from in early 2021 after almost seven years of marriage (seen in 2019) A source exclusively informed DailyMail.com that Kardashian took legal action to prevent the track's release and is now 'working to get the song down off of X.' Shortly before the track was released, West posted - then deleted - screen-grabs allegedly showing a vicious text exchange between him and Kardashian in which he threatened to go 'to war' with her. The supposed conversation makes it appear that Kim holds the copyright to North's name and was using it to try to prevent the 11-year-old from being included in a track with Diddy - provoking a furious reaction from West. In the grabs, West texts Kardashian: 'I'm never speaking with you again,' along with a snippet of what appeared to be a legal document, including the phrase: 'participation in this project,' presumably in reference to the new song. In a confessional, Kardashian admitted that she had to put herself in her mom's shoes to figure out whether to preserve North's baby teeth or let them go (pictured in 2018) Kardashian allegedly shoots back: 'I asked u at the time if I can trademark her name,' alleging: 'You said yes,' and adding: 'When she's 18 it goes to her.' The grabs then show her evidently admonishing West to 'stop,' saying: 'I sent paper work over so she wouldn't be in the Diddy song To protect her'. Kardashian, who is an aspiring lawyer, allegedly continues: 'One person has to trademark! We agreed when they were born i would get all of our kids names and trademarks So no would else would take them.' West is seen to be unmoved, purportedly retorting: 'Amend it or I'm going to war And neither of us will recover from the public fallout,' then darkly declaring: 'You're going to have to kill me.' 'North gave me one of her teeth today and was like, "I lost a tooth!" Kardashian explained. 'And I was like, "Do I keep this? What do moms do? Do they keep teeth?" I think my mom would do that' In the wake of the song's release, a source exclusively informed DailyMail.com that Kardashian 'will do whatever it takes to protect her kids from the hateful speech that Kanye continues to spur at this time.' The insider added that Kardashian 'has requested through a judge to not allow the kids to be around that type of behavior.' According to insiders, North recently spent time in the studio with Kanyetheir first visit in weekswhere she recorded vocals for the track, via TMZ. After learning about the track, sources claim Kardashian sent cease-and-desist letters demanding that Kanye not move forward with its release. An emergency hearing reportedly took place, which Kanye did not attend, where he allegedly agreed to hold off on dropping the track. Kardashian is said to be particularly concerned about North's involvement due to the ongoing legal troubles surrounding Diddy, who is currently facing federal sex trafficking allegations. Insiders say she has been working behind the scenes to keep North out of the situation. Advertisement Jax Taylor has had at least three nose jobs in his life, and one fan dared to ask him on Thursday if any of the rhinoplasty surgeries were due to the erosion from his past 'heavy' cocaine use. The 45-year-old reality star kicked off his new PodcastOne show In the Mind of a Man by responding with a laugh: 'No. I didn't like the way my nose was I really didn't.' Jax (born Jason Cauchi) explained that his 'whole family has the same nose' and he went under the knife as soon as he could 'afford it.' 'The first time I got it, I wanted to get it done,' Taylor noted. 'The second time I got it is because I walked into a window, as you guys know it was filmed [on Vanderpump Rules].' The former Ford Model managed to smash his nose, 'blew out a flip-flop, and passed out' on the ground after walking face-first into the glass entrance at Melrose boutique, G-Star RAW. In 2015, Jax - who's also known to get Botox 'every four or five months' - had the painful procedure a third time at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group because he didn't like the 'bump' that was leftover. Jax Taylor has had at least three nose jobs in his life, and one fan dared to ask him on Thursday if any of the rhinoplasty surgeries were due to the erosion from his past 'heavy' cocaine use The 45-year-old reality star kicked off his new PodcastOne show In the Mind of a Man by responding with a laugh: 'No. I didn't like the way my nose was I really didn't' On March 8, Taylor announced he was officially 100 days sober from cocaine and alcohol - hinting he had relapsed following his 30-day stint at a rehab last August. The milestone came four days after the Jax's Studio City owner first publicly disclosed his addiction issues on Bravo's Hot Mic podcast: 'I've been dealing with this on and off since I was 23 and now I'm 45.' Jax hit rock bottom after his estranged wife Brittany Cartwright legally separated from him in February 2024, revealing his new Us Weekly cover story: 'I was in my house by myself for months. I wasn't eating. I was drinking and doing enough cocaine to kill a small horse. I went on a full-on tear.' Taylor continued: 'I could probably buy a house for the amount of money I've spent on drugs. It's sickening to me. My parents did not raise this kind of person.' The House of Villains guest star - who suffers from bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anger issues - is scheduled to kick off his 12-city In the Mind of a Man Tour on April 18 in Nashville, TN. The 36-year-old Kentucky native filed for divorce from Jax on August 27 after four years of marriage, and he willingly gave her full legal and physical custody of their three-year-old son Cruz Michael Cauchi. On Wednesday, Brittany shared how she felt about Taylor's publicity blitz by Instastorying a Fendi swimsuit-clad selfie on the balcony of a Miami Beach high-rise with the caption: 'Me not giving a s***.' Cartwright is skeptical that the Michigan-born Navy veteran can remain sober because 'his behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum.' 'I'm trying to navigate this as best as I can for my son and I, but every day is still a challenge and very difficult,' the former Hooters waitress told People earlier this month. Jax (born Jason Cauchi) explained that his 'whole family has the same nose' and he went under the knife as soon as he could 'afford it' 'The first time I got it, I wanted to get it done,' Taylor noted. 'The second time I got it is because I walked into a window, as you guys know it was filmed [on Vanderpump Rules]' In 2015, the former Ford Model - who's also known to get Botox 'every four or five months' - had the painful procedure a third time at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group because he didn't like the 'bump' that was leftover On March 8, Jax announced he was officially 100 days sober from cocaine and alcohol - hinting he had relapsed following his 30-day stint at a rehab last August Taylor hit rock bottom after his estranged wife Brittany Cartwright legally separated from him in February 2024, revealing his new Us Weekly cover story: 'I was in my house by myself for months. I wasn't eating. I was drinking and doing enough cocaine to kill a small horse' The 36-year-old Kentucky native (R, pictured December 25) filed for divorce from Jax on August 27 after four years of marriage, and he willingly gave her full legal and physical custody of their three-year-old son Cruz Michael Cauchi (L) On Wednesday, Brittany shared how she felt about Taylor's publicity blitz by Instastorying a Fendi swimsuit-clad selfie on the balcony of a Miami Beach high-rise with the caption: 'Me not giving a s***' Cartwright is skeptical that the Jax's Studio City owner can remain sober because 'his behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum' Fans can catch more of the former couple on the second season of The Valley, which premieres April 15 on Bravo Jax is scheduled to kick off his 12-city In the Mind of a Man Tour on April 18 in Nashville, TN 'Jax has caused an enormous amount of damage and I have very little trust in him at this point. My only hope is that one day, he will be a better person for his son.' The Bravo-lebrities - who originally met in Las Vegas in 2015 - previously split in 2017 when Jax confessed to having an affair with former SUR employee Faith Stowers. Fans can catch more of Taylor and Cartwright on the second season of The Valley, which premieres April 15 on Bravo. Jennifer Garner was seen for the first time since ex Ben Affleck made loving remarks about what a really great partner she is when talking to GQ earlier this week. The actress was in Paris filming scenes for her latest Apple TV+ project The Last Thing He Told Me on Thursday. The 13 Going On 30 actress, 52 - who recently announced an unexpected career move - stepped into character for the second season of the drama series while at an outdoor cafe along a busy street in the city. The Hollywood vet looked elegant. Garner donned an all-black ensemble that was comprised of a black jacket as well as chic black trousers. Underneath, the mother-of-three opted for a black shirt and slipped into a pair of heeled boots. Jennifer's brunette locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down naturally past her shoulders in light waves. Jennifer Garner, 52, was seen filming scenes for her latest Apple TV+ project The Last Thing He Told Me in Paris on Thursday The 13 Going On 30 actress stepped into character for the second season of the drama series while at an outdoor cafe along a busy street in the city The actress accessorized the look for the day of filming by adding a pair of dainty earrings as well as a gold-chained necklace. At one point, Garner was seen sporting a warmer black jacket and swept up her hair into a simple bun while allowing her bangs to fall into her forehead. She easily carried a cheetah-print bag over her right shoulder and held a dramatic expression on her face as she stepped in front of the camera. Jennifer also flashed a cheerful smile as she was guided down a bustling sidewalk as she headed to the set. The star was also accompanied by her stunt double who had a similar hairstyle and matching outfit as the Hollywood actress. The first season of the Apple TV+ show premiered in April 2023 - and became the streaming site's most-watched limited series, despite having a score of only 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. The show is also notably based on the novel of the same name written by Laura Dave. The premise of season one followed, 'A woman (Garner) who forms an unexpected relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter while searching for the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared,' per IMDB. Garner donned an all-black ensemble that comprised of a black jacket as well as chic black trousers Underneath, the mother-of-three additionally opted for a black shirt and slipped into a pair of heeled boots At one point, Garner was seen sporting a warmer black jacket and swept up her hair into a simple bun and allowed her bangs to fall into her forehead She easily carried a cheetah-print bag over her right shoulder and held a dramatic expression on her face as she stepped in front of the camera Jennifer also flashed a cheerful smile as she was guided down a bustling sidewalk as she headed to the set The second season will based on a sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me - which was also written by Laura Dave Along with Garner, other cast members such as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Angourie Rice and David Morse, will reprise their roles. The second season will based on a sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me - which was also written by Laura Dave. And earlier this week, Jennifer's ex-husband Ben Affleck sat down for an interview with British GQ. The Oscar winner reflected on his divorce from Jennifer Lopez as well as his bond with Garner following their own split. The former couple were married from 2005 until their divorce was finalized in 2018 - and share three children: Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 13. 'I'm really lucky that I have a really good co-parent and partner in Jennifer Garner, the kids' mom, who's wonderful and great and we work together well,' Affleck told the outlet. He also discussed how both he and Garner have navigated through fame and stayed honest with their kids. 'We used to have a thing, my ex-wife and I, when they would see something on a supermarket stand,' Ben recalled. The Oscar winner reflected on his divorce from Jennifer Lopez as well as his bond with Garner following their own split; seen earlier this month in Austin 'We would say, well, "You know this isn't always true because if it were, you would have 15 brothers or sisters or whatever the number of stories is where they said that your mom was pregnant."' Affleck added, 'I know what's going on in my life. And also, really more importantly, my kids know.' He was recently seen hugging Garner during a paintball session as they celebrated their son Samuel's 13th birthday earlier this month. They were also seen arriving to the paintball park near Los Angeles - and the actor flashed a big smile while he conversed with the 13 Going On 30 actress. The two stars embracing during the outing soon sent the internet into a frenzy - and a source informed DailyMail.com how Garner feels about 'rekindling' her romance with Ben. Jennifer is currently in a relationship with John Miller, and the couple were recently spotted spending time together after the paintball excursion with her ex. The insider stated that she is 'deathly afraid of falling back in love' with Affleck and has 'trust issues' when it comes to the actor. The pair divorced after Affleck reportedly had an affair with their children's nanny Christine Ouzounian. 'She loves Ben but is worried that he will crush her all over again,' the source continued. 'I'm really lucky that I have a really good co-parent and partner in Jennifer Garner, the kids' mom, who's wonderful and great and we work together well,' Affleck told the outlet; seen in 2013 in Hollywood The insider stated that Garner is 'deathly afraid of falling back in love' with Affleck and has 'trust issues' when it comes to the actor 'She doesn't want to heal another broken heart because it is just too much drama, plus she does not want their kids to see round two of their mom in a bad place with their dad. So much could go wrong if they reunite.' Another insider told DailyMail.com that Ben wants to possibly make a movie with Garner - after working together on Pearl Harbor (2001) and Daredevil (2003). Following her hug with Ben, another insider informed Page Six this month that her boyfriend John Miller has issued an 'ultimatum' to her. 'John knows there's nothing going on between Jen and Ben, but he doesn't think those photos are a good look and feels it's disrespectful to their relationship.' The source added that the businessman 'gave Jen an ultimatum - he doesn't want to see anything like that again or he has no choice but to walk away.' And a separate insider told DailyMail.com that Miller had also been a bit bothered by Jennifer and Ben 'being touchy-feely.' They further expressed, 'It would get to anyone, but this is nothing new. Ben and Jen have a unique relationship, especially for exes.' However, it seems all is well between John and Garner as the pair were recently spotted this week on a date at Brentwood Country Mart in L.A. Davide Sanclimenti pulled a hilarious dad prank on girlfriend Iris Au's daughter on Instagram on Thursday. The Love Island star, who won the series back in 2022 with Ekin-Su Culculoglu, went public with new flame Iris in January. And it seems he has been trying to win over his new step-daughter Paris, 11, as he couldn't help but wind her up as he filmed a video for his 1.4million followers auditioning to be a 'Manny'. In the video called 'pranking my stepdaughter', David and Paris were seen sitting side by side at a kitchen table as the reality star talked through his day looking after the youngest and her sister Pia, 10. He began: 'I'm Davide I'm 30-years-old and I'm ready to apply for the role of Manny. 'I decided to apply for this role despite I'm not a dad but it's few months now that I'm covering the role of stepdad and everyday I take care of this beautiful lady and her sister. Davide Sanclimenti pulled a hilarious dad prank on girlfriend Iris Au's daughter on Instagram on Thursday The Love Island star, who won the series back in 2022 with Ekin-Su Culculoglu, went public with new flame Iris in January 'So everyday in the morning starts really early, I wake up at 6am and I go for a run everyday, I come back and do some abs training and then I go for a cold shower before going to wake up the girls. 'Once I wake up the girls I prep for breakfast every single day before I take them to school I make sure they have all they need in their bag for school. 'Once I come back home I'll do some work and then I go after lunch to pick them up from school. Once I pick them up I bring them sometimes to dance class or gymnastics. I drive really safely, I drive really slow especially'. Paris was seen through out the video giving Davide a side eye before eventually butting in and replying: 'You drive like we have nine lives'. He continued: 'No, no, no very slow, I really look after them. Every weekend we go do some shopping together and then I make sure to put them to bed and before they go to sleep I read to them sometimes in Italian so they can learn. 'I spend most time with them in the day until the night when I put them to sleep and can say that they don't like to sleep unless I read them a nice story.' Looking unimpressed Paris stood up from the table and said: 'OK that is enough I'm not doing an interview, you can't lie'. Before Davide concluded: 'Well yes I am ready for this role of Manny'. And it seems he has been trying to win over his new step-daughter Paris, 11, as he couldn't help but wind her up as he filmed a video for his 1.4million followers auditioning to be a 'Manny' In the video called 'pranking my stepdaughter', David and Paris were seen sitting side by side at a kitchen table as the reality star talked through his day looking after the youngest and her sister Pia, 10 Paris was seen through out the video giving Davide a side eye before eventually walking off He simply captioned the post: 'Auditioning for Manny' wink emoji. It comes as Davide's girlfriend Iris is facing prison over a $2.6million tax row. Iris, 35, could serve up to three years after pleading guilty to a charge after failing to report ill-gotten gains she obtained via her then boyfriends criminal cryptocurrency activities. Iris is the ex-girlfriend of cryptocurrency fraudster Iza, dubbed 'The Godfather', who she was involved with before meeting Davide. The reality personality has boldly claimed he 'stole' Iris from Iza, as he weighed in on the news that she could potentially serve jail time. Davide told MailOnline he knew about Iris's charges when they met and vowed to be by her side throughout, before hinting that there is more to the 'extraordinary' story. The reality star also claimed that Iris was still with the 'The Godfather' when they met and he 'stole' her away from him. He said: 'How The Italian Stallion stole the girl from the Godfather with the LAPD on a speed deal this sounds like a Hollywood blockbuster,' he said. 'The truth is that I knew about her situation from the start which is why I was protecting her. 'Iris is an amazing person who has been through difficult situations that most people could never understand. 'There's so much of this extraordinary story that people dont know yet. I will be there by her side to supply her as she deserves all the support and understanding.' It has since been revealed that she is agreeing to plead guilty to a federal criminal tax charge, and will face jail time as a result. A statement reveals that she has agreed to plead guilty to the tax charge and agreed to pay a federal criminal tax charge for failing to report $2.6 million (2,004,886) in crypto income. She illegally gained this profit from criminal activities of her then boyfriend. A report from the United States Attorney's Office explained Au has agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge and is expected to make her initial appearance in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming days. According to Au's plea agreement, from 2020 to 2024, Iza committed a series of crimes, including fraudulently obtaining access to advertising accounts and lines of credit provided by Facebook Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. and selling access to those accounts. Iza obtained millions of dollars of unreported income as a result of these schemes. It comes as Davide's girlfriend Iris is facing prison over a $2.6million tax row Davide won the 2023 series of Love Island with All Stars' Ekin-Su, who is now dating Curtis Pritchard (Seen in 2023) Separately, Iza engaged active Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) deputies to provide private security for him and caused the deputies, among other things, to obtain court-authorized search warrants and confidential law enforcement information targeting people with whom Iza had financial and personal disputes. At Iza's direction, Au created shell corporations and opened bank accounts in the names of those entities. She then used the illicit funds placed into those accounts to pay approximately $1 million to the deputies, mostly in cash, purchase or lease luxury real estate, cars, jewelry, and clothing, pay for recreational activity for Iza and herself valued at nearly $10 million, and acquire approximately $16 million in cryptocurrency for Iza. Au admitted in her plea agreement that she transferred more than $2.6 million from these various accounts to her personal bank accounts during the period 2020 through 2023, income that she willfully failed to report to the IRS on her federal tax returns. After pleading guilty, Au will face up to three years in federal prison. On January 30, Iza appeared before a federal judge and pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 16, at which time he will face up to 35 years in federal prison. Iza has been in federal custody since September 2024. IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI are investigating this matter. Bill Murray admitted he was shocked by his 2004 Oscar loss to Sean Penn. While appearing on Tuesday's episode of The Howard Stern Show, the 74-year-old actor opened up about what it felt like to lose his category as the frontrunner after an otherwise victorious award season. Despite Murray winning the Golden Globe for his performance as Bob Harris in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, Penn, ultimately, took home the Best Actor trophy at the 76th Academy Awards for his starring role in Mystic River. 'It was sort of surprising,' Murray recalled. 'I won every other prize for Lost in Translation, so I just sort of thought I was gonna win, 'cause I'd won everything every single one.' Although he was initially disappointed, the performer said he sees the loss as 'kinda good' now. 'I realize that I'd actually gotten sort of infected by wanting to win it. It attracted a low-grade virus of the desire for more,' Murray explained. 'I had it for about six months; it had to wear off. So I did learn a lesson from it that if I'd won, I might not have ever seen.' Bill Murray admitted he was shocked by his 2004 Oscar loss to Sean Penn In 2004, Penn, 64, won the Oscar over Murray, Johnny Depp, Ben Kingsley and Jude Law. Five years later, Penn, who has received five Academy Award nominations, earned his second Oscar for the drama Milk. When Murray lost the award, his dismay was clear as sat in the audience and did his best to look like he expected the loss and didn't care. Celebrity body language expert Judi James told Yahoo that it looked as though he was trying to 'hold onto his dignity' by acting like he 'knew what was going to happen all along.' 'It's a display of cool machismo for the cameras,' she explained, adding, 'He held that look of vague boredom firmly in place as though not getting the Oscar was a matter of complete indifference.' Lost in Translation was both a critical and commercial success and earned Coppola an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The film also won three Golden Globe Awards and three British Academy Film Awards. The cult classic, which grossed $118 million on a $4 million budget, is still regarded as one of the best films from the 2000s. While appearing on Tuesday's episode of The Howard Stern Show, the 74-year-old actor opened up about what it felt like to lose his category as the frontrunner after a strong award season; seen Sofia Coppola and Scarlett Johansson at a 2004 Oscars after-party Despite Murray winning the Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for his performance as Bob Harris in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, Penn, ultimately, took home the Best Actor trophy at the 76th Academy Awards for his starring role in Mystic River; seen in 2014 When Murray lost the award, his dismay was clear as sat in the audience and did his best to look like he expected the loss and didn't care; seen bottom left The film starred Murray as a fading movie star, suffering from a midlife crisis, who travels to Tokyo to appear in ads for Suntory's Hibiki Whisky. His character crosses paths with Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a recent college graduate, who is staying at the same hotel and feeling similarly disenchanted by her life and marriage. In addition to Lost In Translation, Murray and Coppola have worked on two other projects together, the 2015 film, A Very Murray Christmas and the 2020 comedy, On The Rocks. Although he has not reunited with Johansson on screen since the 2003 film, she revealed that they bumped into each other at a bar after not seeing each other in a decade. Lost in Translation, which also starred Scarlett Johansson, was both a critical and commercial success and earned Coppola an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay; seen in 2003 'I walked into a bar with my ex-boyfriend from a long time ago ... and there was only one person at the bar and it was Bill Murray,' she revealed while appearing on the Goop podcast. 'It was so weird,' she continued. 'I walked in, and I saw him sitting there nobody else there and I was like, "Oh my God." I had to walk out. I was like, "It's Bill! I haven't seen him in so long."' Since it had been 'more than a decade,' she said she had to approach him and 'see what's up.' 'It was such a weird moment. It was like a dream,' the two-time Oscar nominee said of seeing Murray. 'He was also surprised... it was kind of therapeutic.' Overall, she said their reunion was 'a cathartic experience' in a 'weird' bar. Advertisement Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan offered a glimpse of their close friendship as they attended the star-studded premiere of their new series MobLand on Thursday. The duo posed up a storm for the launch of Guy Ritchie's Paramount+ show, after starring in the show as powerful crime bosses Conrad and Maeve Harrigan. Enjoying a sweet embrace, Pierce and Helen were inseparable as they arrived for the premiere together. Helen showed off her glamorous sense of style in a Claire Mischevani black mikado coat dress, teamed with matching platform suede heels. Meanwhile Pierce looked as suave as ever in a midnight blue cashmere coat, neck jumper and trousers from dunhill as he posed for snaps with Helen, and their co-star Tom Hardy. Guy, who is a executive producer on the show, as well as the director for several episodes, enjoyed a family outing, as he arrived for the premiere with his wife Jacqui Ainsley, and his son Rocco. Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan offered a glimpse of their close friendship as they attended the star-studded premiere of their new series Mobland on Thursday The duo posed up a storm for the launch of Guy Ritchie 's Paramount+ show, after starring in the show as powerful crime bosses Conrad and Maeve Harrigan As they arrived, Pierce and Helen (seen second left and second right) were joined by (L-R) producers Keith Cox and David Glasser, director Guy, star Tom Hardy and Paramount Global Co-CEO Chris McCarthy Fellow star Joanne Froggatt showed off her incredible figure in an eye-catching dark green velvet co-ord, flashing a hint of her toned abs, and Bvlgari jewellery. The star's outing came just hours after it was revealed that the upcoming third Down Abbey film would be the last, with the first poster for the film unveiled, ahead of its release on September 12. Star Tom Hardy showed off his laid-back sense of style in a blue three-piece suit as he arrived for the premiere. A string of Love Island favourites were also in attendance for the event, including Tommy Fury, in his first public appearance since Molly-Mae Hague broke her silence on their rekindled romance. Arabella Chi also flaunted her growing bump in a tight white gown, as she prepares to welcome her first child. Mobland follows powerful London crime bosses Conrad and Maeve Harrigan, played by Pierce and Helen, as they battle a rival syndicate threatening their empire. Tom takes on the role of Harry Da Souza, their brutal fixer, who is called in to deal with any problems. The series also features a supporting cast including Top Boy's Jasmine Jobson, Anson Boon, Mandeep Dhillon, Geoff Bell, Daniel Betts, Lisa Dwan, and Emily Barber. The gritty series follows powerful London crime bosses Conrad and Maeve Harrigan, played by Pierce and Helen, as they battle a rival syndicate threatening their empire The series had been referenced under two different working titles, The Associate and Fixer, before landing on MobLand The stars of the series were out in force, descending on London's Leicester Square for the premiere of the show The cast were seen chatting as they posed for snaps together, with Guy's new series set to be released on March 30 Pierce and Helen, who star as crime bosses on the show, shared a sweet moment together at the event Helen showed off her glamorous sense of style in a Claire Mischevani black mikado coat dress, teamed with matching platform suede heels, as she posed with Guy at the launch The beloved Hollywood star teamed her look with lace-up platform boots, showed off her edgy fashion sense Opting for an all-black look, Helen was hard to miss in her stylish outfit as she graced the white carpet at the premiere Helen and Pierce struggled to contain their laughter as they arrived for the premiere Meanwhile Pierce looked as suave as ever in a sharp black suit as he posed for snaps with Helen, and their co-star Tom Hardy The star proved he could still emulate one of his most iconic roles, as James Bond back in the early 2000s Guy, who is a executive producer on the show, enjoyed a family outing, as he arrived for the premiere with his wife Jacqui Ainsley, and his son Rocco Jacqui cut a stylish figure in a white pinstriped blazer, while Guy oped for a brown velvet two-piece for the premiere of his series Rocco emulated his famous father in a taupe double-breasted suit as he joined the Snatch frontman for the launch of his new show Guy and Jacqui enjoyed a date night together as they arrived for the star-studded premiere Tom Hardy cut a dapper figure in a sharp blue pinstriped suit with a matching waistcoat as he attended the premiere of his new show Fellow star Joanne Froggatt showed off her incredible figure in an eye-catching dark green velvet co-ord, flashing a hint of her toned abs The actress welcomed her first child in September, and showed off her post-baby figure in her glamorous look The star's outing came just hours after it was revealed that the upcoming third Down Abbey film would be the last, with the first poster unveiled, ahead of its release on September 12 Joanne's stunning velvet skirt boasted a dramatic thigh-high split with a flowing train, and matching strapped stilettos Lara Pulver put on a daring display in a perilously plunging black gown with a dramatic tulle skirt, and silver platform heels, accessorising with Bvlgari jewellery Looking every inch the glamorous screen stars, Joanne and Lara put on a showstopping display in their looks As they arrived for the premiere in their glamorous looks, Lara and Joanne were in high spirits ahead of the series' release this weekend Joanne cut a glamorous figure in a sexy green velvet look Lisa Dwan showed off her incredible figure in the skimpy black strapped gown Star Anson Boon also put on a sharp display in a smart olive suit with red pinstripes, teamed with patent brogues Enjoying a rare joint outing, Claudia Winkleman was joined by her husband Kris Thykier at the premiere, after she received a BAFTA nod for her work on The Traitors The series had been referenced under two different working titles, The Associate and Fixer, before landing on Mobland. At the beginning of the year, Helen was spotted on set wearing sombre black lace under a fur-trimmed black coat. Her character Maeve, was seen getting out of a limousine to attend a funeral. It is unclear which characters funeral they were attending in the scene they shot at Kensal Green Crematorium last week, but the hearse bore flowers which spelled out the word Son. A source on set said: Helen was having a great time during filming. She was very friendly and was definitely having fun embracing her inner gangster. 'She is particularly fond of Pierce, they have been working together for decades. The pair first co-starred in the 1980 gangster movie The Long Good Friday, and more recently filmed a movie adaptation of Richard Osmans bestseller The Thursday Murder Club. Venom star Tom is executive producer of MobLand, with episodes directed by gangster specialist Guy, known for films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Netflix hit The Gentlemen. The production has already had a bumpy ride, including camera equipment being stolen last November. Two men in a Toyota Prius distracted the crew by asking for directions before speeding off with the expensive kit. Speaking about the incident, a source told The Sun: 'Their questions distracted people and at that moment, the other bloke jumped out and grabbed a bag of camera equipment that was on the side of the road. 'He jumped back in the car and they sped off. The security guards started going bananas because they'd basically been robbed in broad daylight. It was pretty embarrassing and a costly mistake. The kit on those films isn't cheap.' Nathalie Emmanuel cut an edgy figure in a grey suit with white pinstripes, teamed with a chained snakeskin bag Tommy Fury also made his first appearance since Molly-Mae Hague broke her silence on their rekindled romance, following their holiday to Dubai Arabella Chi, who is set to welcome her first child later this year, showed off her growing bump in a tight white satin dress The reality star looked glowing in her elegant dress, which boasted sheer sleeves and a fishtail skirt, teamed with a matching Chanel bag Arabella showed off her growing bump in her stunning white gown, as she prepares to welcome a baby girl with her boyfriend Billy Henty Gabby Allen, who was recently crowned the winner of Love Island: All Stars with boyfriend Casey Gorman, wowed in a thigh-skimming black lace mini dress Flaunting her gym-honed physique, Gabby slipped into a form-fitting black lace dress and a matching handbag Fellow Love Island star Montana Brown slipped into a peach satin gown, after recently welcoming her second child, daughter Miley The reality TV beauty stunned in her elegant dress with ruche detailing, and matching neutral kitten heels Muse frontman Matt Bellamy enjoyed a date night at the premiere with his wife of five years, Elle Evans Love Island's Joe Garratt opted for a casual white co-ord Boxer Nicola Adams was dressed in a sharp red trouser suit from Holland Cooper, and black trainers Actress Emily Barber stunned in a plunging black gown with an A-line skirt from ILA as she arrived on the white carpet Actress Mandeep Dhillon slipped into a shimmering white fringed midi dress Made In Chelsea star Olivia Bentley wowed in a red satin halterneck gown Joanne and Laura posed for a snap with the film's screenwriter Jez Butterworth at the afterparty Pierce was seen heading to the afterparty with a guest Joanne looked stunning in the velvet co-ord Top Boy actress Jasmine Jobson put on a leggy display in a stylish denim co-ord as she attended the afterparty She shared a sweet embrace with casting director Des Hamilton Mandeep dazzled in the white sparkly number and matching silver shoes Jack Rowan, Jasmine and Antonio Gonzalez Guerrer posed together Luke Mably kept it simple in an all black ensemble Fashion designer Sir Ozwald Boateng looked dapper in a dark green suit Mandeep and Jasmine posed together in a sweet pic Jack kept it casual in a black jacket and button up cardigan Teddie Allen looked stunning in a simple low cut black dress Annie Cooper wowed in a backless green silk dress Meanwhile it is thought Tom offered to pay the wages of the crew after a construction company went into liquidation. Around 50 freelance building workers were left devastated after Helix 3D, the company contracted to build sets, went bust. According to The Times, the company then refused to pay out 250,000 of wages ahead of Christmas, and its chief executive Brian Dowling sent out the devastating message saying their pay would likely not be in their accounts before the New Year. It wasn't until star Tom stepped in and offered to pay the workers' wages that Paramount resolved the situation and set about sorting their pay checks. Tom is set for a busy few months and will also star in Havoc in Spring of this year which will come to Netflix. Giggling together at awards shows or lounging in the sunshine in Cabo over Thanksgiving, Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler once seemed inseparable. Aniston could vent to her laugh-a-minute bestie about her angst over Angelina Jolie, while they both lavished praise on each other in interviews, joking about their years-long friendship until suddenly, without explanation, the lovefest was over. Now, the Daily Mail has learned what really caused this friendship to cool. And, as is so often the case, it turns out that loose lips sank this ship. 'Jen wants to be more private, while Chelsea wants to be front and center, so perhaps a breakdown was always inevitable,' a source close to Aniston said. The two women grew close after Aniston, 56, was a guest on Handler's late-night talk show Chelsea Lately in 2009. 'They jumped into their friendship headfirst and went from not knowing each other to being together 24/7,' our insider spilled. Giggling together at awards shows or lounging in the sunshine in Cabo over Thanksgiving , Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler were inseparable. (The pair are pictured here together in 2024). Now, the Daily Mail has learned what really caused this friendship to cool as insiders reveal the mistrust that soured the once close bond. (Pictured: Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler in 2015). But the Daily Mail has been told that Handler always thought the two were much closer than they really were. At the beginning, their friendship was based on a shared sense of humor. But when Handler, 50, started to publicly air private details about Aniston's life, including hitting out at Jolie, 49, the Friends superstar was left reeling. As everyone well knows, Aniston was involved in a years-long and headline-grabbing feud with Jolie who reportedly engaged in a scandalous affair with Brad Pitt while he was still married to Aniston. The duo affectionately nicknamed 'Brangelina', met on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005, months before Pitt and Aniston divorced. Jolie and Pitt then dated for years, welcoming six children together and eventually marrying in 2014, before their own acrimonious split just two years later. That year, Handler started publicly ripping Jolie. At one point she even characterized the actress as 'a f***ing lunatic' who had driven her husband to booze and pot. Handler said: 'There are rumors that part of the problem was that Brad was allegedly drinking and smoking too much weed. I wonder why he would need to self-medicate.' She went on: 'Maybe because he could have been spending the last 12 years at Lake Como hanging out with George Clooney and Matt Damon, instead of being stuck in a house with 85 kids speaking 15 different languages. Oh yeah, because he married a f***ing lunatic, that's why.' Handler discussed Brangelina again in an interview with Grazia in 2016. She defended her friend and said it was 'ridiculous' that people thought Aniston would care about her ex-husband's romantic life. 'It's so stupid and pathetic,' Handler said. But the problem was, of course, that in speaking up so aggressively, Handler was essentially dragging Aniston into a drama she wanted no part in. The duo affectionately nicknamed 'Brangelina,' famously met on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005 while Pitt was still with Aniston. (Pictured: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in 2007). As our insider explains, what began as something 'innocent' started to seriously bother the Friends actress, who felt that - after a while - Handler was repeatedly bringing up Jolie seemingly for the sake of publicity. It certainly didn't help matters that, in 2015, Aniston had married her second husband, filmmaker Justin Theroux, who was said to dislike Handler. One source said he thought she was 'rude and obnoxious' and that she encouraged Aniston 'to act like she's single.' Ahead of Aniston and Theroux's wedding, Handler had jokingly described her more-famous friend as a 'burden' because all anybody wanted to talk to her about was the impending nuptials. Fast forward to 2017 when Aniston's marriage to Theroux was breaking down and she once again became concerned that details of her private life would leak out. 'Jennifer became paranoid, thinking that people around her were leaking stories to the press,' our insider says. 'Chelsea was still talking about Jennifer in interviews, and Jennifer automatically pointed the finger at her.' By February 2019, when Aniston held a star-studded 50th birthday bash, rumors of a nasty rift abounded. Handler, who nonetheless attended the birthday celebration, denied the gossip and tried to set the record straight on Australian talk show The Project. 'Don't believe any of it!' she said. 'We're friends. Don't worry... I love Jen.' At the beginning, their friendship was based on a shared sense of humor, but Handler, 50, started to share private details about Aniston's life, including hitting out at Jolie, 49, which offended the Friends superstar. (Pictured: Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler in 2011). Rumors of a rift first began circulating after Aniston married her second husband, Justin Theroux, in 2015. (Pictured: Aniston and Theroux at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015). But it seemed to be too little too late for Aniston. While our insider insisted that the pair do still talk - pointing out that Aniston is quick to like Handler's Instagram posts - they admitted it is 'not the same as it was, and it will never be.' 'Chelsea seemed willing to do anything to be a star, and Jennifer was already a big name so of course there were hints of jealousy,' our source added. A separate insider said Aniston has 'a wide group of friends which at one time included Chelsea, but she never made it into her inner circle like Courteney Cox or Jimmy Kimmel.' Aniston often shares Instagram snaps with her 44 million followers featuring her close pals vacationing together or hanging out. Handler has yet to make an appearance. Truth be told it seems unlikely she'll be enjoying poolside cocktails with Aniston any time soon. Because, according to our sources, the women remain cordial but they're never going to enjoy a 'serious friendship' again. Brittany Cartwright almost spilled out of her swimsuit while enjoying a beach day in sunny Miami on Thursday. The Vanderpump Rules alum, 36, joined her gal pals and attempted to unwind from the drama surrounding her sex and cocaine addict ex Jax Taylor, 45. She slipped into a baby blue romper with a skort, which she layered over an animal-print swimsuit, to lay down and soak in the sun outside of the luxury beach hotel she's staying at during her girls' trip. At one point, she slipped down the straps of her one-piece and threw her head back while sunbathing to bronze her chest. She paired her sexy ensemble with Christian Dior slides and a blush-colored Balmain handbag, which retails for over $2,500. She threw up her brunette tresses into a messy topknot and opted for a fresh-faced look as she wore no makeup. Brittany Cartwright almost spilled out of her swimsuit while enjoying a beach day in sunny Miami on Thursday. The Vanderpump Rules alum, 36, joined her gal pals and attempted to unwind from the drama surrounding her sex and cocaine addict ex Jax Taylor, 45 She slipped into a baby blue romper with a skort, which she layered over an animal-print swimsuit. At one point, she slipped down the straps of her one-piece and threw her head back while sunbathing to bronze her chest The reality TV star, whose estranged husband made another shocking admission on his podcast this week after admitting to his 'heavy' cocaine use. The day before, she found two very public ways to express her displeasure at her estranged husband's publicity blitz about their divorce and his cocaine addiction in order to promote his new podcast and 12-date tour. Slipping her AirSculpted 'revenge body' into a fishnet tank top over a $620 Fendi 'Timeless' swimsuit, she posed for a selfie on the balcony of her Miami Beach hotel and wrote over the photo: 'Me not giving a s***.' Taylor, born Jason Cauchi, claimed in his new Us Weekly cover story that he's still 'walking on eggshells' around her and 'angry with some of the things she's done' while wondering why they 'didn't go to therapy' and why she asked him 'to have another kid last year.' Cartwright who filed for divorce from Jax on August 27 after four years of marriage responded by commenting on Us Weekly's Instagram post with two laughing emojis and a coffin emoji. 'Miami is much needed' for The Valley star, who glammed up for a fancy meal in the seaside city. On Thursday, she relaxed on the beach while enjoying Florida's 80-degree spring weather. Taylor hit rock bottom after Cartwright legally separated from him in February 2024, revealing to Us: 'I was in my house by myself for months. I wasn't eating. I was drinking and doing enough cocaine to kill a small horse. I went on a full-on tear.' The day before, she found two very public ways to express her displeasure at her estranged husband's publicity blitz about their divorce and his cocaine addiction in order to promote his new podcast and 12-date tour The Jax's Studio City owner continued: 'I could probably buy a house for the amount of money I've spent on drugs. It's sickening to me. My parents did not raise this kind of person.' On March 8, Taylor announced he was officially 100-days sober from cocaine and alcohol hinting he had relapsed following his 30-day stint at a rehab last August where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anger issues. The milestone came four days after Taylor first publicly disclosed his addiction issues on Bravo's Hot Mic podcast: 'I've been dealing with this on and off since I was 23 and now I'm 45.' The Michigan-born Navy veteran willingly gave the Kentucky native full legal and physical custody of their son Cruz Michael Cauchi, who turns four on April 12. Cartwright is skeptical that Taylor can remain sober because 'his behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum.' 'I'm trying to navigate this as best as I can for my son and I, but every day is still a challenge and very difficult,' Cartwright told People on March 4. 'Jax has caused an enormous amount of damage and I have very little trust in him at this point. My only hope is that one day, he will be a better person for his son.' The When Reality Hits podcaster continued: 'His addiction unfortunately has done irreparable damage to my son and I. I've spent years trying to help him. I wish more than anyone I could say how proud I am of him today but I'd be lying. His actions will speak for themselves.' Cartwright slipped her AirSculpted 'revenge body' into a fishnet tank top over a $620 Fendi 'Timeless' swimsuit and posed for a selfie on the balcony of her Miami Beach hotel with the caption: 'Me not giving a s***' Taylor claimed in his new Us Weekly cover story that he's still 'walking on eggshells' around her and 'angry with some of the things she's done' while wondering why they 'didn't go to therapy' and why she asked him 'to have another kid last year' Cartwright who filed for divorce from Taylor on August 27 after four years of marriage responded by commenting on Us Weekly's Instagram post with two laughing emojis and a coffin emoji 'Miami is much needed' for The Valley star, who glammed up for a fancy meal in the seaside city On Thursday, Cartwright relaxed on the beach while enjoying Florida's 80-degree spring weather Taylor hit rock bottom after Cartwright legally separated from him in February 2024, revealing to Us Weekly: 'I was in my house by myself for months. I wasn't eating. I was drinking and doing enough cocaine to kill a small horse. I went on a full-on tear' On March 8, the Jax's Studio City owner announced he was officially 100 days sober from cocaine and alcohol - hinting he had relapsed following his 30-day stint at a rehab last August where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, PTSD, and anger issues Taylor willingly gave the Kentucky native full legal and physical custody of their son Cruz Michael Cauchi (pictured December 25), who turns four on April 12 Cartwright is skeptical that Taylor can remain sober because 'his behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum' Cartwright told People on March 4: 'Jax has caused an enormous amount of damage and I have very little trust in him at this point. My only hope is that one day, he will be a better person for his son' (pictured January 29) Fans can catch more of the When Reality Hits podcaster on the second season of Vanderpump Rules spin-off The Valley, which premieres April 15 on Bravo The Bravo-lebrities - who originally met in Las Vegas in 2015 - previously split in 2017 when Taylor confessed to having an affair with former SUR employee Faith Stowers. Fans can catch more of Cartwright and Taylor on the second season of Vanderpump Rules spin-off The Valley, which premieres April 15 on Bravo. On December 18, Variety included Cartwright in their list of the 30 most influential women on reality TV in 2024 specifically for 'standing up to her toxic husband Jax Taylor.' The former nursing student who commands $150 on Cameo is every bit the influencer with paid partnerships for brands and hotels like Luxury Desert Escapes, Charmin and Palms Casino Resort. How Chinese court resolves foreign-related maritime dispute 10:35, March 27, 2025 By Wei Zhezhe ( People's Daily Photo shows the judicial team handling the case. (Photo from the official account of Ningbo Maritime Court on WeChat) Two foreign-flagged vessels collided in the Strait of Malacca, a critical international maritime passage. With jurisdictional authority contested among five nations, the involved foreign shipping companies unanimously entrusted the case to the Ningbo Maritime Court in China, voluntarily selecting Chinese law to govern the dispute. What motivated this decision, and how was the case resolved? Let us examine the details. On Sept. 27, 2022, near Batu Pahat, Malaysia, the Liberia-flagged container vessel GSL Grania (owned by the Marshall Islands-based Global Ship Lease) was en route to a Malaysian port at seven knots. Without warning, the Panama-flagged oil tanker Zephyr I (operated by another Marshall Islands-registered firm) executed an abrupt turn toward the GSL Grania. Despite emergency maneuvers by the latter, a collision ensued, marked by a resounding impact in the early hours. Both vessels sustained substantial damage. Post-collision, their cargoes were offloaded in Malaysia. The GSL Grania was later repaired in Singapore, while Zephyr I underwent repairs in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China. To seek restitution, Global Ship Lease petitioned the Ningbo Maritime Court to detain Zephyr I during its repairs. The company subsequently filed a lawsuit claiming 58.1 million yuan ($8.03 million) in damages for hull repairs and operational losses. The opposing party countered with a 38.1 million yuan counterclaim at the same court. The case presented substantial legal complexity beyond its financial implications, given its multinational dimensions. The Zephyr I was Panama-registered, while the GSL Grania flew the Liberian flag. The collision occurred in Malaysian territorial waters, with Malaysia also serving as the first post-incident port of call for both vessels. Both shipping companies were headquartered in the Marshall Islands, and China became jurisdictionally relevant as the location where the Zephyr I was detained. "This dispute involved overlapping jurisdictional claims from five nations: Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, Liberia, and China," stated Du Qian, president of the Ningbo Maritime Court and presiding judge in the case. "Despite multiple options, the foreign companies mutually elected to pursue adjudication through the Ningbo Maritime Court." Why did the parties prioritize a Chinese court when alternative jurisdictions were available? Tong Dengyong, legal counsel for Global Ship Lease, emphasized the court's operational efficiency as a decisive factor. "The swift processing of the vessel detention ordercompleted within half a daydemonstrated the court's procedural rigor and responsiveness," he noted, underscoring how this efficiency influenced their jurisdictional choice. The Ningbo Maritime Court's established competence in resolving international maritime collision disputes further solidified its standing as a forum of choice. Its extensive expertise in such cases, coupled with its reputation for procedural rigor and operational efficiency, significantly influenced the litigants' jurisdictional preference. "Both parties consistently affirmed their trust in China's legal framework and maritime adjudicatory processes throughout the proceedings," emphasized Judge Du. Notably, the companies formally petitioned the court to apply Chinese law as the governing legal regime for the dispute. "The central contention pertained to collision liability attribution and subsequent damage allocation," clarified Judge Du. In the absence of an authoritative liability determination, the court prioritized dispute minimization by mediating structured negotiations between the parties. The disputing parties ultimately commissioned the maritime identification and investigation center at Dalian Maritime University to conduct a technical appraisal of the accident and establish proportional liability. The forensic evaluation determined a 1:9 liability ratio between the two shipping entities. The court ratified these findings, adjudicating that the collision primarily stemmed from the Zephyr I crew's operational errors, including miscalculating overtaking distances, inadequate familiarity with helm systems, and improper emergency navigation. Concurrently, GSL Grania was deemed partially liable for failing to maintain adequate situational awareness and promptly recognize the Zephyr I's loss of navigational control to initiate evasive measures. Final liability was apportioned at 90% to Zephyr I and 10% to GSL Grania. "Initial objections to the judgment were raised by the defendant," Du stated. To ensure procedural fairness, the court facilitated multiple in-person consultations between legal representatives, systematically addressing concerns through comparative analysis of China's Maritime Code and the 1972 International Collision Regulations (COLREGs). Technical assessors were further summoned to provide evidentiary clarification under oath, substantiating the appraisal's validity. This deliberative approach culminated in mutual acceptance of the verdict. Given the intricate nature of vessel repair protocols and the voluminous documentation of component costs, both parties submitted itemized claims comprising thousands of line items. The tribunal conducted rigorous scrutiny of each entry, mandating supplementary evidentiary support or adjustments for inconsistencies. This exhaustive audit yielded judicially validated compensation figures for both claimants. On June 26, 2024, Global Ship Lease received damages totaling 34 million yuan, inclusive of interest, thereby conclusively resolving the dispute. "Judicial officers maintained consistent engagement throughout the litigation process, conducting over thirty consultationsvia teleconference and in chambersto exhaustively examine jurisdictional, factual, and evidentiary considerations," remarked Xu Quanzhong, legal counsel for the defendant. Xu emphasized that the presiding judge's rigorous adherence to international maritime legal standards exemplified China's judicial integrity and growing influence in global maritime governance, underscoring the nation's commitment to a rules-based maritime order. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter has said the cancer drug her mother was put on last year is no longer working. The Childline founder and broadcaster, 84, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023, and at one point was told she had just weeks to live. Last year the star raved about an 'amazing' new drug which had delayed the spread of her cancer, telling The Sunday Times that it had allowed her to plan ahead. On Thursday though her daughter Rebecca Wilcox gave an update on her mother during an interview on 5 News, revealing that the medication was no longer working. Host Julian Druker asked if the medication she was on 'was an improvement' only for an emotional Rebecca to admit: 'I really wish that was true but I don't think that's the case anymore.' Both Dame Esther and her daughter are advocates for making assisted dying legal in the UK. Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter Rebecca Wilcox has said the cancer drug her mother was put on last year is no longer working (Rebecca and Esther pictured in 2017) Speaking in response to the news this week that there are delays to implementing an assisted dying bill, Rebecca explained: 'I just wish that people understood that all the assisted dying bill is, is choice for people that want it.' 'All it is, is giving you peace of mind and that peace of mind, I cannot tell you how powerful that would be right now for my mum.' 'I'm a witness to the trauma of uncertainty, to the trauma of stress around what is going to happen.' 'The fact that she doesn't know how her death is going to happen, how the pain is going to progress, the exhaustion, the fatigue, what symptoms are going to come in.' 'She is a person who has fought her whole life for other people, and she has no control now.' 'Why can't we give people like my mum with a terminal diagnosis, with no other choice, some choice as to when and how and where they die?' Dame Esther has previously considered travelling to Dignitas, in Switzerland, for an assisted death, but Rebecca has revealed that her declining health has now made that impossible. 'Frankly Dignitas is out of the window for us as well,' she told 5 News. 'You have to be relatively healthy to do that, if she had gone, she would have gone months before she would have died here.' The Childline founder and broadcaster, 84, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023, and at one point was told she had just weeks to live (pictured in 2021) On Thursday though her daughter Rebecca Wilcox gave an update on her mother during an interview on 5 News, revealing that the medication was no longer working Speaking to the BBC Today's programme a year ago Dame Esther said a change in the law regarding assisted dying 'would mean that I could look forward in confidence to a death which is pain-free surrounded by people I love'. 'The only other way of having a pain-free death to look forward to in confidence is to go to Dignitas in Switzerland without my family - because if my family go with me they could be investigated by the police for killing me, or pressuring me to die.' Assisted dying is legal for terminally ill people in several US states, as well as large chunks of Australia, and in New Zealand, Canada, Austria, Spain and Ecuador. A handful of other countries have broader euthanasia laws for the seriously ill. Assisted dying laws were been passed by parliament on the Isle of Man on Tuesday and are awaiting Royal Assent. Proposals are also moving forward on Jersey, while MPs voted in support of a Bill from MP Kim Leadbeater to legalise it in England and Wales last November. Ms Leadbetter's proposal would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to end their lives. Scrutiny of the bill, by the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee of MPs, has just been completed, and it is due for further debate at report stage in Parliament, likely sometime in the next month, before the third stage debate. If enacted, it could take four years to come into effect after the deadline to implement it was doubled, to the fury of campaigners in favour of the law. A Publix shopper has filed a lawsuit accusing the supermarket of using a deceptive pricing tactic to overcharge customers. Florida resident Wendy Koutouzis alleges that the chains self-checkout scales inflate the weight of meats and cheese, causing shoppers to pay more than the advertised price without realizing it. One example cited in the lawsuit involves a pack of pork that should have cost around $14 but was charged at nearly $20 because the scales allegedly added more than a pound to its weight. Her lawsuit, filed in a Miami federal court, seeks compensation not only for herself but also for any other customers who may have been unknowingly overcharged. The class-action case could impact shoppers across Florida and other states where Publix operates, including Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. Koutouzis claims she was repeatedly overcharged at five Publix locations in Tampa, Florida. The lawsuit focuses on the supermarkets weekly discounts on meats, produce, and cheese sold by weight. It alleges that the self-checkout system adjusts the weight of discounted items so that customers end up paying the original, non-discounted price. Wendy Koutouzis accused Publix of using its point-of-sale (POS) system to overcharge customers at self-checkout Your browser does not support iframes. The lawsuit says: 'Instead of charging the reduced sale price multiplied by the weight of the product, Publix's point of sale (POS) checkout system automatically increases the weight of the product, so that the consumer does not receive the sale price.' One of the examples cited in the lawsuit involves an Extra Lean Pork Tenderloin, advertised at $4.99 per pound as part of a sale. The package Koutouzis selected weighed 2.83 pounds, meaning the total cost should have been $14.12. However, when she checked out, she was charged for 3.96 pounds, increasing the total to $19.78 nearly $6 more than expected. Another instance allegedly involved a Kentucky Legend Turkey Breast priced at $7.99 per pound. The package she picked up should have cost $13.98 based on its 1.75-pound weight, but instead, her receipt showed a charge of $17.48. Other products she was allegedly overcharged for was a $30.12 Hormel Ham that was expected to be $22.58, a $14.19 Kentucky Legend ham she thought would be $10.54, and a $17,48 Kentucky Legend turkey breast, which she assumed would be $13.98. The law firm handling the case is encouraging other Publix shoppers who suspect they have been overcharged at self-checkout to come forward and join the lawsuit. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Shoppers who claim to have been overcharged for products sold by weight at Publix are qualified to join the lawsuit. These items would also have to be paid for using a self-checkout and not when being charged by a cashier via register. 'Being part of a class action means you don't have to go through the legal process alone,' the firm said. The lawsuit does not clarify how much money the plaintiff is seeking. The plaintiff also requested Publix to correct its possible 'deceptive behavior' and to award legal fees, expenses, and recoverable costs in connection with the 'commencement and prosecution' of the accused actions. The grocery store chain has declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit. 'It would be inappropriate for us to comment on pending litigation,' company spokeswoman Lindsay Willis told the Miami Herald on March 25. This is not the first lawsuit Publix has found itself in over the years. Your browser does not support iframes. Publix has been involved in multiple lawsuits over the years, including an on-going class-action lawsuit filed by former and current managers The grocery store chain made headlines in 2017 after being sued by a job applicant who was a member of the Rastafarian religious sect. The plaintiff accused a supervisor of asking to withdraw his application after he refused to cut his hair to follow a grooming policy. Publix and the accuser reached a settlement, and the chain agreed to pay $50,000 in damages. The chain was then involved in a class-action lawsuit filed by former and current managers in 2023. The plaintiffs claimed Publix, the nation's fifth largest grocery seller, failed to pay hourly employees for overtime hours they worked before and after clocking in for work and on unpaid meal breaks. As of now, the case is still ongoing, and there has been no indication of a settlement. Cities in red states will be most hurt by a trade war with Canada, new analysis has revealed. Data released Thursday by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce detailed the areas in the US most dependent on exports to its northern neighbor. It found the most vulnerable cities turn out to largely be in the states that helped Donald Trump return to the White House a sign of the possible political risk he is taking with his controversial tariff plans. San Antonio, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan, topped the list of 41 US metro areas that would be hardest hit. The findings show that the 25 percent tariffs on Canada and the country's retaliations could inflict meaningful damage in key states for US politics. The analysis was conducted before the Republican president announced Wednesday that he was placing additional 25 percent tariffs on imported cars and parts starting on April 3. Trump said the tariff on foreign-made cars would spur business in the US. 'It will lead to tremendous growth in the automobile industry,' he told reporters in the Oval Office. San Antonio, Texas, and Detroit, Michigan, topped the list of 41 US metro areas that would be hardest hit by Canadian tariffs (Pictured: An autoworker in Detroit) 'The consequences of today's escalation in this destructive tariff war will not be contained to Canada, as much as the US administration would like to pretend,' said Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. 'Throwing away tens of thousands of jobs on both sides of the border will mean giving up North America's auto leadership role, instead encouraging companies to build and hire anywhere else but here. This tax hike puts plants and workers at risk for generations, if not forever.' Nearly half of what San Antonio exports, with its aerospace, auto and energy sectors, goes to Canada. About 40 percent of what the auto-driven Detroit area exports also goes to Canada. Trump's wins in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were crucial for his overall victory in November's presidential election. Milwaukee and Pittsburgh also ranked in the top 10 for exposure to a trade war with Canada, the analysis revealed. Other cities most dependent on exports to Canada include Kansas City, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; Columbus, Ohio; Chicago; and Cleveland. All of those states aside from Illinois backed Trump in the last election. 'The consequences of today's escalation in this destructive tariff war will not be contained to Canada, as much as the US administration would like to pretend,' said Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has hit back against Trump's threats Nearly half of what San Antonio, Texas, exports goes to Canada (Pictured: Trump at a Texas rally) Trump has placed 25 percent tariffs on many goods from Mexico and Canada, with a lower 10 percent tax on energy products from Canada. Some of those tariffs have been suspended or delayed, though they are set to fully hit in April. Canadian leaders have warned that the US would suffer in the form of higher prices, fewer jobs and slower growth because of the trade war. But an analysis by the Brookings Institution found that the economic pain would be more severe in Mexico and Canada because those countries are more reliant on the US in terms of trade. Trump's reason for the tariffs is to stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling, though he has also said that he dislikes the trade deficit with both countries. The President has also said repeatedly that he wants to make Canada the 51st state. These comments and tariff threats has led some Canadians to boycott American cars, bourbon, and meat - and now they are skipping vacations in the US too. Canadians have long been the top international travelers to the US. Even a 10 percent drop in their travel spending could cost the American economy $2 billion and result in 14,000 job losses, according to the US Travel Association. This scenario is already playing out, with Canadian air travel to the US down 13 percent in February, according to Statistics Canada. Travel by car has also seen a sharp decline, with 23 percent fewer Canadians crossing the border on four wheels compared to the same time last year. Chili's is bringing a taste of The Office to its newest restaurant in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The restaurant chain announced yesterday that it will open a location inspired by the iconic 2000s sitcom. Dubbed Chili's 'Scranton Branch,' the restaurant will be a permanent addition, officially opening its doors on April 7. 'For decades, Chili's has been a part of pop culturewhether it's the famous Baby Back Ribs jingle or viral Triple Dipper cheese pulls on TikTok,' said George Felix, Chili's chief marketing officer. 'But we've also made our mark on screen, including The Office, despite never having a location in Scranton until now.' Felix added that the new restaurant is designed to 'feel like a familiar home' for fans of the show. Several Office stars, including Brian Baumgartner, Andy Buckley, Kate Flannery, Amy Pietz, and Melora Hardin, have taken part in the restaurant's promotional campaign. A new Chili's restaurant paying homage to 'The Office' will open in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on April 7 The new Chili's was dubbed Chili's 'Scranton Branch,' and is the first location to open in that Pennsylvania city The new restaurant will feature decorations inspired by memorable moments during the show's nine-season run. It will include decorations like old signs, vintage artwork, a chalk art mural, and tiled tables. 'It's going to feel like they're actually on the show because it's going to look exactly the same,' Flannery told The Associated Press, adding that it's like a 'fan destination.' Chili's will also offer its fan-favorite Awesome Blossom appetizer for the first time since 2008. The appetizer, which was an order featured in an episode of The Office, is a deep-fried onion with cheese dip. The Awesome Blossom was mentioned in the show when its lead character, Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), ordered it while eating lunch with a client at Chili's. 'Seeing Chili's Scranton Branch was like stepping into a time machine, especially if that time machine could also spit out the greatest appetizer of all time, the Awesome Blossom,' Baumgartner said. 'The Chili's team pulled out all the stops in creating this restaurant, and I'll be stopping in for an Awesome Blossom every time I come visit.' Social media users and The Office fans were thrilled to learn about the 'epic' restaurant. Actors Brian Baumgartner and Kate Flannery were featured in multiple photos promoting the fan-favorite Awesome Blossom appetizer The Scranton restaurant will include vintage artwork, old signs, a chalk art mural, and tiled tables 'Classic ! Both my favorite place and show in one ! You scored a 10 on this one Chilis!,' an X user wrote. 'As a slight office fan who lives near pittsburgh, seems like imma have to take a drive down to scranton lol,' a fan commented. Others were eager to try the Awesome Blossom again and begged Chili's to add the appetizer to its other menus. 'I stopped going to Chili's when the Awesome Blossom was removed. It was my favorite thing. Bring it back to all your locations!,' a fan responded. 'I hope this is just step 1! The world needs the Awesome Blossom!,' a commenter insisted. Despite the intense pleading from fans, the restaurant chain told its commenters they 'better head to Scranton' for the Awesome Blossom on X. Chili's will also be celebrate the momentous opening by offering t-shirts online starting April 7. The new restaurant comes after Chili's confirmed its financial success during the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Actors Andy Buckley, Melora Hardin, and Amy Pietz from 'The Office' appeared in a video ad promoting the restaurant Social media users were thrilled to learn about the new restaurant and requested the Awesome Blossom return to all Chili's menus Its parent company Brinker International announced the chain's comparable restaurant sales increase played a role in its successful quarter. 'Chili's sales comps accelerated to +31 percent, driven both by new guests trying Chili's and return guests coming more frequently despite a more competitive promotional environment,' said President and CEO Kevin Hochman. 'These results would indicate we are building a much stronger business for the long term.' Chili's is now focusing on creating ideas for restaurant redesign, which Hochman said would be rolled out annually by fiscal year 2027. It looks like Nissan is reviving an iconic nameplate in the next two years. That is, if the company lasts that long. Nissan, which recently reported potentially catastrophic financial numbers, is planning six new models including plug-in hybrids and EVs that the company hopes will hit showrooms by 2027. Yesterday, the automaker revealed a teaser picture of the upcoming cars. Several seemingly SUV-sized new vehicles lurked in the background of the image. And one boxy-looking SUV caught eagle-eyed fans. 'I still have hope in a new Xterra,' one Redditor posted on the social media app with a grainy picture of the boxiest EV in the picture. The Xterra a rugged, off-road SUV had a pickup-truck like build sold 88,578 units of the SUV in 2000, its first full year of sales. But the Xterra got long in the tooth, and Nissan pulled the fan-favorite from the US in 2015 after shoppers turned their focus to more fuel efficient cars and SUVs. Nissan is planning on developing these six vehicles for 2027 The company only sold 10,672 copies in the US during the final year of sales in 2015. But now, rumors are flying that the once gas-guzzling vehicle is coming back as a full electric model. Drivers have had a paltry response to the potential revival on social media. 'It's going to be a disappointment,' one Xterra fan wrote on Reddit. Another added: '[Nissan] really is trying to go bankrupt.' Only one nameplate from the new pictures has been confirmed: the blue crossover SUV in the middle of the picture is the 2026 Nissan Leaf. The Leaf, which launched as America's best-selling electric vehicle in 2010, looks a lot more like the sport-back Tesla Model Y. Nissan has promised the new cars will come with better battery technology, more range, and even some self-driving capabilities. The Nissan Xterra was a popular off-road capable model in the US Drivers are hoping this boxy SUV in the background is the Xterra's revival Ivan Espinosa, the new CEO of Nissan, is taking over at a complicated time A Nissan representative didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Nissan trouble? Nissan executives have sent out some worrying signs about the automaker's financial health. In November 2024, executives started raising alarm, saying the brand only had '12 to 14 months' of cash to survive, according to the Financial Times. The company said it was struggling to keep up with rising Chinese manufacturers and had built a lineup that was undesirable for wider audiences. Nissan's difficulties are a stunning downfall for the brand: it was the fifth best-selling automaker in the US in 2024. But despite the sales volume, investors have worried. Moody's, a credit agency that evaluates a company's future loan-worthiness, sunk Nissan into 'junk' status. Nissan had engaged in merger talks with Honda, which has reported a much healthier financial position. But the merger talks stalled. Then, Nissan's CEO since 2019, Hiroto Saikawa, stepped down. Ivan Espinosa, a veteran in the brand, will take over in April. 'We need to work together as one single team,' Espinosa pleaded during his introduction. Reacting strongly to Union Home Minister Amit Shahas statement a that Mamata Banerjee Governmentas dilly dallying with the grant of requisite lands was causing an inordinate delay in the construction of fences along the India-Bangladesh borders a the Trinamool Congress on Thursday that the Centre was not serious about fencing in order to play politics of polarisation in Bengal. aThey are blaming Bengal Government but they are themselves not serious about border fencing in many areas, not only this they are also raising questions on infiltration though it is the Border Security Force that works under the Union Home Ministry which is responsible for checking infiltration,a TMC leader Arup Bhattacharya said. Earlier slamming the State Government for obstructing the completion of border fencing Shah said that open borders were leading to large scale infiltration. Shah told the Lok Sabha that 450 km of fencing still remained to be completed due to non-cooperation from the Mamata Banerjee Government. aThe fencing work of 450 km is still to be completed because the State is not giving land for it,a Shah said, alleging how the TMC was repeatedly causing hindrances to the security efforts. Out of about 4,100 kms long border Bengal, shares the longest land border with Bangladesh at 2,217 km. Earlier Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari too slammed the Mamata Banerjee Government for encouraging infiltrations so as to keep her vote banks intact. aThousands of Rohingyas are entering from Bangladesh with the help of the local police and the TMC men, the Government is not doing to stop this because they constitute the vote bank of Mamata Banerjee,a Adhikari said adding how the same Chief Minister when she was the opposition leader had accused the CPI(M) Government of encouraging in infiltration from Bangladesh for vote bank politics. Meanwhile in a parallel development one person was seriously injured when bombs were hurled and gunshots fired outside the Bhatpara residence of senior BJP leader and former MP Arjun Singh. The BJP leader said that the son of a local Trinamool Congress councilor was behind the attack. The BJP leader and his supporters reportedly chased away the miscreants sources said. Bhatpara- Barrackpore region in the North 24 Parganas has of late become a hot spot for crimes with more than a dozen such incidents taking place in the past one year or so. aThey were firing in front of the police but the police were silent,a Singh who was later summoned to the police station but would not turn up said. aThe police are investigating the case and the guilty will soon be brought to book,a Police Commissioner Ajay Thakur said. Greeting Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and people of the neighbouring country on its National Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said this day "stands as a testament to our shared history and sacrifices, that have laid the foundation of our bilateral partnership." Bangladesh celebrates its National Day on March 26, the day in 1971 when the country till then a part of Pakistan declared its independence. In a letter extending felicitations to Yunus and people of Bangladesh, Modi said, "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." Yunus from his official handle on X also shared Modi's message. Modi said India remains committed to advancing its partnership with Bangladesh, driven by the common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity, and based on mutual sensitivity to each other's interests and concerns. "Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," he wrote to Yunus. Since the new interim government headed by Yunus stepped in following the ouster of the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, the ties between the two countries have seen a slump amid India's concerns over the violence targeting Hindus and a rise of hardline Islamist forces there. Sri Lanka on Wednesday slammed the British governmentas aunilateral actiona to sanction its three former military commanders, who led the campaign that crushed the LTTE in 2009, saying the move will complicate the national reconciliation process. A UK foreign office statement Monday said Sri Lankaas three military commanders - former Army Commanders Gen Shavendra Silva, Jagath Jayasuriya and former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda - were among those sanctioned and subjected to UK travel bans and asset freezes. 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. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that asuch unilateral actions by countries do not assist but serve to complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lankaa. aThe 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,a the ministry said. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath conveyed Sri Lankaas position to British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick, it added. aI categorically reject the UK governmentas allegations of widespread human rights violations during the military operations,a former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is credited for his political leadership to end the LTTEas campaign, said in a statement. He accused the British politicians of doing vote bank politics on Sri Lanka to win the votes of the Tamil community domiciled in the UK. He said that the LTTE killed 27,965 Sri Lankan troops and police in their violent campaign, anot to mention the lives of many civiliansa. He said in 2021 and 2023, the UK legislated to protect their forces from prosecution by interested parties. aHence, I expect the present government to resolutely stand by and defend former armed forces personnel who face persecution by foreign governments and organizations for doing their duty to safeguard Sri Lankaas national security,a Rajapaksa added. Rights abuses alleged on both government troops and the LTTE during the final battle in 2009 caused four UN rights resolutions, which called for international mechanisms for the prosecution of alleged perpetrators. Sri Lanka outrightly rejected resolutions and said local mechanisms would be set up. Rights groups charge that only minimal progress has been made despite pledges. The UK governmentas sanctions on General Silva follow a similar action against him by the US State Department in 2020. In 2023, Canada sanctioned 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. PICTURED ABOVE: Pictured are John Harkin, CEO, Alchemy; Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP; Dr Aislinn Rice, Industrial Strategy Advisory Council Member and Non-Executive Director, Software NI; alongside other participants in the Growth and Industrial Strategy Roundtable. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, made a special visit to Alchemy Technology Services newly opened headquarters at Ebrington Plaza to mark a major milestone for the company. During the visit, he praised Alchemys ambitious growth plans, highlighting its role in driving innovation and job creation in the region. The plan, covering the next three years, sets out key targets for the company, including doubling its revenue, increasing the headcount to over 250 employees, international market expansion, and the development of cutting-edge digital solutions for the insurance industry. During his visit to Alchemy the Secretary of State co-hosted a Growth and Industrial Strategy Roundtable with Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA. Also attending was Dr Aislinn Rice, representing the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC), as well as business representative organisations and representatives from a variety of sectors. Alchemys state-of-the-art HQ was officially opened this week by the First and Deputy First Ministers, becoming the first tenant to take up residency at the new multi-million pound Ebrington Plaza site. READ NEXT: Alchemy welcomed as first tenant to Derry's Ebrington Plaza Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, said: Im delighted to have had the chance to tour the newly-opened Alchemy offices, which are a fantastic testament to the economic regeneration of this part of Derry-Londonderry, and to the local skilled workforce. Growth is the UK Governments number one mission, and our new Industrial Strategy is central to that. It aims to encourage growth in Northern Ireland by taking advantage of its unique strengths and great potential. The UK Government will continue to work alongside the Northern Ireland Executive to support growth right across Northern Ireland. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, pictured with John Harkin, Founder and CEO of Alchemy Technology Services during his visit to the newly opened headquarters at Ebrington Plaza. John Harkin, Founder and CEO of Alchemy, commented: Having the Secretary of State visit our headquarters at this pivotal moment highlights the significance of our continued growth. This strategy marks the next phase in accelerating our journey, reinforcing our commitment to innovation, talent development, and industry transformation. We are proud to contribute to the local economy while expanding our global impact. Due to unprecedented demand from clients and to support rapid growth, Alchemy have been continuing to recruit experienced technical and business analysts to join the team. Alchemys Graduate Programme continues its success into 2025, with plans for further growth. The programme provides expert training, globally recognised certifications, and dedicated mentorship to support career development. More information on Alchemy Technology Services can be found at alchemytechs.com. The Honourable The Irish Society is proposing to privatise angling on the River Faughan, according to Gerry Quinn, secretary of River Faughan Anglers Ltd. The Society controls fishing rights on the river - a brown trout and salmon fishery - which enters Lough Foyle east of Coolkeeragh power station, on the outskirts of the city. The notion that a company of Londoners can control the fishing rights on our local rivers in this day and age is surely an anachronism of the highest order, said Mr Quinn. He was speaking to The Derry News following a very well attended extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of River Faughan Anglers at which the Societys proposals were discussed in detail. River Faughan Anglers is the not for profit organisation which works to protect the environment and control and develop angling on the River Faughan and its tributaries. Setting out the position of River Faughan Anglers at the EGM, Mr Quinn said the group had organised itself for almost 100 years in the pursuit of their sport and in the management and conservation of angling and fish stocks on the River Faughan. Throughout this time, it appears River Faughan Anglers has leased the fishing on the tidal waters, while it has leased the freshwater section from the Society since 1976, he added. During this time, Faughan Anglers hired bailiffs to patrol the river, deter and apprehend poachers, and ensure everyone fishing had a permit. In essence, it was maintaining the asset of The Honourable The Irish Society and its claim to the fishing rights. Faughan Anglers carried out access works and maintained the river banks and grass cutting, along the most popular stretches. It also monitored for pollution, often reporting polluters and also defending and protecting the river in court, and indeed taking a case as far as the United Nations, said Mr Quinn. In December 2017, River Faughan Anglers had its complaint over highly contaminated settlement lagoons around the river Faughan heard by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europes Aarhus Convention Committee in Geneva in Switzerland; the Convention established a number of rights of the public with regard to the environment. At that time, River Faughan Anglers believed the precious natural resource was not getting the protection it deserved. The Commission subsequently presented significant findings of non-compliance with the Aarhus Convention relating to the River Faughan and Tributaries Special Area of Conservation. Throughout all those years, Mr Quinn said The Honourable The Irish Society had invested nothing in the river. He then accused the Society of making several bids to privatise the angling on the River Faughan over the last 25 years. He added the Society had brought in various individuals and entities who presented their plans to replace the local angler with tourist anglers. Each time the Faughan anglers have resisted these attempts, said Mr Quinn, including the most recent manifestation on the Fishpal platform. He added: Given that River Faughan Anglers was offering day tickets for a fraction of the price listed by the appointed agents of The Honourable The Irish Society, it was quite possible this was one of the drivers for the latest approach by the Society. There is a small group in the background which would dearly love to be able to use the river for their own private gain, but River Faughan Anglers stood in their way, and would continue to obstruct those who wished to capitalise on the voluntary efforts on Faughan Anglers for their own financial benefit. This group would have a connection to The Honourable The Irish Society, said Mr Quinn. Following lively discussion at the EGM, Gerry Quinn highlighted River Faughan Anglers was happy to acknowledge The Honourable The Irish Society claim to the fishing rights and pay for the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their sport going forward. We have already told the Society we neither want or need the rent returned in part or in full, added Mr Quinn. River Faughan Anglers also wishes to retain the right to sell day tickets as is currently the case, he said. In addition, we want to negotiate a longer extension of the current lease which runs out in 2032, though we would still consider buying The Honourable The Irish Society out entirely. In the event the future enjoyment of angling on the Faughan is somehow jeopardised or plans are brought forward suggesting this to be the case, River Faughan Anglers will pursue any and all avenues to protect the rights of Faughan Anglers to fish our river, up to and including challenging The Honourable The Irish Societys claim to the fishing rights. In the meantime they will work to maintain a working relationship with HIS and examine the potential for cooperation on equal terms. The Derry News approached The Honourable The Irish Society for a comment. UPDATES TO FOLLOW. Dedicated community volunteers who support Derrys breastfeeding mothers and their babies have been shortlisted for four prestigious Friends of Breastfeeding awards. Friends of Breastfeeding is a network organisation which connects women in Ireland who want to breastfeed with their local support system. It works to build communities of supportive friends, family and health professionals. The glittering Awards Gala is taking place on Saturday in Offalys Tullamore Court Hotel. Dr Maria Herron from North West BAPS (Breastfeeding and Perinatal Support) and Helen Hancock from The Mothers Village have been shortlisted for the Advocate of the Year award which celebrates an individual doing outstanding public work to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in Ireland. The Mothers Village group has also been shortlisted in the Breastfeeding Support Group category. On top of that, North West Baps has been shortlisted for the Breastfeeding Initiative of the Year award which honours a new and exceptional programme, service, product or policy to support, develop and/or promote breastfeeding in Ireland. And last but by no means least, the spectacular Nurtured mural featuring a breastfeeding mother and her child on Great James Street has been shortlisted for a Breastfeeding Friendly Media Feature of the Year Award. The mural was created by the talented artist collective, Peaball. Dr Herron described her Friends of Breastfeeding award nomination as a great honour. Speaking to The Derry News as she prepared to travel to Tullamore, she said: It was a great honour to be personally nominated and shortlisted for the Advocate of the Year award. What makes it even more special is that North West BAPS has also been shortlisted for two awards. Our good friend Helen Hancock has also been shortlisted for two awards, so we are all looking forward to all being in Tullamore this weekend, having a bit of craic and meeting up with breastfeeding mothers, supporters and advocates from all over Ireland. Explaining her passion for breastfeeding advocacy, Dr Herron added: I became involved in this issue when I became a new mum in Derry over 30 years ago. I really struggled with breastfeeding. None of my wider family had breastfed and I was the only mum breastfeeding in the postnatal ward in Altnagelvin. Luckily I found great support at the Derry Well Woman Centre, in a breastfeeding group set up by Bernie Webster. I met other new mums there who were in the same boat. We all encouraged each other, and some of us went on to become the first breastfeeding peer support group set up in the city. There was something very special about the women and tutors involved in this Breastfeeding Support Group - many of us went on to try to improve maternity services for other women, including setting up 'Mothers Voice' which campaigned for better breastfeeding support, midwife led care, birthing pools and more accessible maternal mental health support, said Dr Herron. Dr Herron said she became a breastfeeding advocate because she wanted to ensure other women who wanted to breastfeed could find the support they needed. During the lockdown years, I took time to look at the breastfeeding statistics in Northern Ireland and was shocked to see how little had changed in 30 years. I decided to do something about this, and in my efforts to raise awareness locally with the support of Zero Waste North West who recognised that breastmilk is the ultimate zero waste food for babies, I was encouraged, by a group of parents, to contact the Council, she added. Then Mayor Sandra Duffy encouraged me to hold a public meeting, and from that the local campaign group North West BAPS has evolved. This is a fantastic core group of six mothers, with a wider Network of 35 individual advocates and organisations spanning the statutory, community and voluntary sector that have an interest in supporting breastfeeding in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. It is great to see this group going from strength to strength! The expression 'Think Global, Act Local' is my philosophy these days! smiled Dr Herron. The breastfeeding advocate said she felt optimistic about the future of breastfeeding in Derry and the wider North West. In a city and region that has a history of health inequalities, breastfeeding - which has been described as a medicine as well as a food - instantly boosts a baby's immune system and provides lifelong benefits to their overall health as well as immediate benefits in reducing risks of common infant sickness such as respiratory and gastric illnesses, she said. There is also a constant stream of new research which highlights the benefits of breastfeeding to mothers themselves of reducing their risks of conditions such as diabetes, obesity, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and postnatal depression. There is also a wider range of support in the community and online. At North West BAPS, we have been promoting lots of different services that women can reach out to including the health services (some women may not be aware that they can contact the labour ward up to 28 days after giving birth,) as well as their midwife or health visitor, plus local breastfeeding support groups that are now open to all across the Council area, there are also organisations such as La Leche League, Cuidiu and a wide range of telephone and online support. North West BAPS provides a weekly update of available support on social media, said Dr Herron. Her sister Friends of Breastfeeding nominee, Derry glassware artist, Helen Hancock is an advanced breastfeeding counsellor with Cuidiu, formerly known as the Irish Childbirth Trust. Ms Hancock, who qualified as a breastfeeding counsellor in 2015, recalled: Back then I was living in Donegal and running my support group from the Donegal Womens Centre. We started The Mothers Village WhatsApp group in 2016 with about nine people. Later that year I actually ended up moving back into Northern Ireland, becoming a single parent, and going back to making glass after a 12 year hiatus. The Mothers Village group is now a global group of more than 300 women. We have mammys from Derry and Donegal and we have groups of mammys from the United States, Canada and Australia, said Ms Hancock. Rediscovering her love for blowing glass, Ms Hancock began infusing breast milk into glass in 2017. To this day, I am still the only glass artist in the world who does large scale glass sculptural ware with breast milk infused glass. I exhibit all over the world. I have an exhibition coming up in Texas in May and I have one in Slovenia in a couple of weeks time as well. And I have also exhibited the glass in Naples, Brussels and London and Dublin, she said. Ms Hancock was nominated for the Friends of Breastfeeding award by Gierdre Mcllreavy, a member of the Mothers Village group. Her testimonial read: Helen, the coordinator of the group is just an angel walking on earth whose heart is as big as most of our breastfeeding mums. Helen runs a worldwide group and there is no limit in her support or who is within the breastfeeding group, because well we are all in it together. Ive been part of many groups and nowhere, even when people are paid, has the coordinator responded 24/7 and provided constant, free, one-to-one advice. I can honestly say Helen has saved so many mummies breastfeeding journeys resulting in benefiting tons of babies which we know in turn will benefit our future generations, what a legacy in itself that in my view deserves your recognition. Ebringtons Walled City Brewery was the venue for Derry Girls Mean Business - a Go Succeed networking event for female entrepreneurs in the city and beyond. Victoria Killeen, enterprise development manager with Enterprise North West, warmly welcomed the incoming participants to Monday mornings event. Based in the Skeoge area of the city, Enterprise North West is a social enterprise which offers business mentoring and support for start up and growing businesses. It delivers the Go Succeed programme, a free service funded by the British Government, in partnership with Enterprise Northern Ireland and the 11 councils across the North, including Derry City and Strabane District Council. Speaking to The Derry News, Ms Killeen explained Go Succeed supported entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support including, mentoring, master classes, peer networks, access to grant funding, and a business plan, at every stage of their growth journey. We offer one-to-one mentoring, as well as hosting workshops and events like Derry Girls Mean Business to help the owners of small businesses to get together and network, she added. The focus of todays event is empowering female entrepreneurs. We have three fantastic guest speakers: Shauna Froydenlund from The Exchange Restaurant; Ciara Duffy from The Pickled Duck; and Catherine Hamilton representing our hosts, The Walled City Brewery. All three women have brilliant backstories. They have come up through different jobs and positions. They have overcome adversity in their businesses. They have great experience. This is a wonderful opportunity for the women present to hear their stories. Hopefully they will inspire other female entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. There is a lovely mix of female entrepreneurs here today. We have some clients who are just at the idea stage. They are looking for inspiration. They want to find out what direction they want to go in. We also have businesses which are well established. They have premises in the city. They are female owned and female led. They include, opticians, beauticians, wellbeing practitioners, holistic therapists, the hospitality industry, and arts and crafts creatives, a wide range of entrepreneurs. We even have some people travelling up from Limavady, said Ms Killeen. Smiling, she added: We used the iconic TV Derry Girls as our tagline for this Go Succeed event because we wanted to convey the feeling of empowerment. All of the young women on the show had their own personalities and their own strengths, just like our entrepreneurs. Today is about getting all our female entrepreneurs together. Derry Girls Mean Business keynote speaker, Shauna Froydenlund revealed to The Derry News, she and her husband, Mark, will be opening their new restaurant in Ebrington in the not too distant future. She added that her central message to the entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs attending the Derry Girls Mean Business event was that hard work can pay off. I am originally from Derry. I moved away to study at Sheffield Hallam University where I did a business degree with culinary arts. I then worked in London for 15 years as a chef, which was really, really difficult, she added. During that time, Ms Froydenlund met her husband Mark and started a family. I always knew I was interested in the cooking side of things, which is why I ended up in a kitchen in London, but that degree gave me an all-round view of how to run a business, which was amazing, she said. My dad - Mark Caithness - wanted to retire and he offered us the business (The Exchange restaurant) so we decided to move back home in 2022, when our second child was born. At that time we thought we would just settle in and find our feet, and then look for another restaurant space which would represent us. We have now found it here in Ebrington Square and we are in the midst of trying to get it open. The dream was always to do something for ourselves but it just wasnt feasible in London, especially with having a family, so, when the opportunity came to take over The Exchange, which is an amazing, well-established business, with a brilliant core team, we were delighted to run it as a family-loved restaurant. My message to the women here today would be to understand what you are doing and what you want to do. Hospitality, especially, is hard work. You have to love what you do to make it a success. I think that is the most important thing. Dont go into something thinking, Im going to do this to make a few quid. You have to really want to do it and really love doing it because it needs to get you out of bed every morning and make you feel inspired. Events like Derry Girls Mean Business are incredible. I spent my whole career being inspired by other people and thats what drove me forward, seeing other peoples successes. To be able to ask for advice is also very important I think. It is amazing to have events like this morning available to people. Prospective entrepreneurs can contact Enterprise North West via social media or its website: www.enterprisenorthweat.com and the Go Succeed team at: www.gosucceed.com. Police investigations are hampered by ineffective working methods which focus on quantity over quality, a report has warned. Forces are recording how many times they update victims of crime rather than how effective the updates are at providing information and support, His Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary said. Investigations across the country are being thwarted by ineffective ways of recording, assessing, allocating and investigating crime, the watchdog said, adding that outcomes for victims are not good enough. The inspectorate, which reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of the police, said understaffed forces can improve their performance without any new resources. The report has made 11 recommendations to chief constables of police forces about more effective processes, better training and improved supervision of crime investigations. The forces inspected included Cheshire Constabulary, Cumbria Constabulary, Essex Police, Greater Manchester Police, Norfolk Constabulary, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and West Midlands Police between May and July 2024. His Majestys Inspector of Constabulary Lee Freeman said: There is little in policing that is more important to the public than investigating crime. We spoke to many officers and staff working tirelessly to investigate crime and achieve positive outcomes for victims. However, we found that all too often, investigators efforts are hampered by ineffective force processes which means that often forces dont put victims first. And it is evident that chief constables do not have sufficient resources to investigate all volume crime to a standard that they and the public wish to see. While forces undoubtedly need more officers and staff, with the resources they have there is much they can do. There are many good examples of initiatives across forces as they work hard to improve the effectiveness of crime investigations and the service they give to victims. I encourage chief constables to consider how they can adopt these or take similar approaches in their forces. The Republic of Ireland should take our deep neighbourly relations to the next level and rejoin the Commonwealth, a Conservative MP has suggested. Andrew Rosindell said Ireland would do well to emulate countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand and take its rightful place in the Commonwealth. The MP for Romford also called for a bank holiday to mark St Patricks Day and the resurrection of the Order of St Patrick. Speaking during a St Patricks Day and Northern Irish affairs debate, Mr Rosindell said: The Republic of Ireland, I believe are our friends but we can be much closer, fully realising that we are one family that share a unique group of islands in all spheres of national operation. Indeed, Ireland could do much more work themselves, alongside her British brother and her loyal northern neighbour, in recognising that shared heritage and advancing shared values and goals on the global stage. Ireland would do well to emulate countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. I believe that one day, perhaps soon, the people of the Republic of Ireland might choose to take their rightful place in the family of the Commonwealth of nations. Taking our deep neighbourly relations to the next level to the benefit of both partners, and I believe having a bounteous benefit to global politics. Mr Rosindell argued that St Patricks Day, in addition to St Davids Day, St Andrews Day and St Georges Day, should all be bank holidays across the UK. He told MPs: I would strongly submit that St Patricks Day should be a national bank holiday, alongside all the other feast days of our Kingdoms patron saints. He added: Not only would this be firmly in line with the position of Anglicanism, as the unchallenged state religion, but would reinforce the importance of all four corners of our nation. So too would the resurrection of the Order of St Patrick, which has shamefully been allowed to fall into abeyance for many decades, but I believe remains a sovereign order of the United Kingdom, and I hope the minister will take that back as a consideration for something to be restored. Mr Rosindell continued: Today, I believe we must focus more on bringing the four home nations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland together, and reversing the constitutional backsliding that I believe has occurred with the British internal markets. Speaking from the Conservative frontbench, Jerome Mayhew, whose late father Patrick was Northern Ireland secretary under John Major, said the restoration of the Order of St Patrick would be a very sensible thing to do. In the Commons, Northern Ireland minister Fleur Anderson said: The Order of St Patrick, I will take away that mention as well. Responding to a written question from Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) on Wednesday, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: The most illustrious Order of Saint Patrick is in the personal gift of the sovereign. The UK Government is not considering the restoration of the Order of St Patrick. Police have made a new appeal for information about the whereabouts of a man last seen in Co Antrim in October. Gary Patterson from Larne has been described as a high-risk missing person. Mr Patterson, 45, is described as being around 5ft 6in and of slim build with black hair. When last seen he had a thick moustache. Detectives have today, Thursday 27th March, issued a renewed appeal for information regarding missing person Gary Patterson. Gary, aged 45, was last seen in the Larne area on Saturday, 12th October 2024. Full details: https://t.co/kUGnBobSBd pic.twitter.com/UnVUBt2ovR Police Mid and East Antrim (@PSNIMEADistrict) March 27, 2025 He was last seen wearing a distinctive yellow and black check patterned coat with dark blue jeans, hiking/walking boots and a black beanie hat. A PSNI spokesperson said: We are continuing to search for Gary who was last seen in the Larne area on Saturday, October 12 2024. We are becoming increasingly concerned due to the time that has elapsed since our last confirmed sighting of him. Garys family have also been unable to confirm his whereabouts or get in contact with him since this time. Today we want to share information in the hope that it may jog someones memory of Garys movements on the day of his last sighting. Police said a man matching Mr Pattersons description potentially boarded the 11am bus from Larne Bus Centre to Belfast on October 12. This bus route travels directly into the city centre, with no stops until Ulster University, High Street and Laganside Bus Centre. Police have appealed for information from anyone who was on the bus or noticed a man matching Mr Pattersons description or where he disembarked. The spokesperson said: Please look at Garys photograph, and let us know if you recognise him or believe you may have seen him on this date. We would ask people living in the Belfast area to also check any outbuildings or sheds they may own. Any information, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, is important and could prove crucial in assisting us with our investigation to confirm Garys whereabouts and safety. We are also appealing directly to Gary, our only concern is making sure that youre ok. Please make contact with police, family or friends so that we know you are safe and well. If you believe you have information regarding Gary or his whereabouts please pass it to police by contacting 101 and quoting reference number 530 20/12/24. Police are investigating a racially motivated hate crime in west Belfast. Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the incident in the Divis Street area reported shortly after 1.20pm on Thursday. It was reported that a man was followed by a male with a dog who subjected him to racial verbal abuse. He proceeded to follow him to his home address and continued to be verbally abusive and made threats towards him, Detective Sergeant McCartan said. The suspect then tried to gain entry to the property whilst assaulting the male occupant, and striking him with a metal dog lead. He continued to try and enter the property to assault the occupant but eventually fled after a number of other residents intervened. The victim subsequently attended hospital for treatment for injuries to his arm. The detective sergeant said the prolonged assault was being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime. An investigation is under way, and we would appeal to anyone who may have seen what happened, or who has any information which could assist us, to contact 101, and quote reference number 839 of 27/03/25. Humanoid robot race between US and China heats up A series of major advancements in humanoid robot technology in China and the US has reignited talk of imminent mass production. According to reports from the South China Morning Post, the Xinliu podcast, the Robot Report, and the Wall Street Journal, the US company Figure AI has recently unveiled its BotQ humanoid robot factory, which is capable of producing 12,000 robots per year. The company plans to eventually use humanoid robots to manufacture other humanoid robots, in order to increase production capacity. Meanwhile, the Chinese company Unitree Robotics has posted a video of its G1 robot successfully doing a standing side flip, marking an industry first. The company's earlier H1 robot has performed at China's annual Spring Festival Gala, and completed the first standing backflip by an electric humanoid robot in 2024. Credit: Unitree In addition, the Chinese firm Dobot Robotics has also recently launched preorders for its Dobot Atom humanoid robot at CNY199,000 (approx. US$27,500), with mass production scheduled to begin in mid-2025. Already noted in the industry for its robotic arms, Dobot has already deployed its Atom humanoid robot in tests at automobile factories, electronics plants, and cafes. Finally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced at an employee meeting that the company will aim to produce 5,000 Optimus robots in 2025, which will ramp up to 50,000 units in 2026. These will initially be intended for use internally by Tesla employees, before a wider public launch. With this recent flurry of activity, analysts at Shanghai Securities believe the aim is to boost market confidence in the technology and encourage more involvement in the industry. Moreover, as academics have noted, Beijing is keen to maintain its lead in the humanoid robot industry, and with China's population now in decline, the manufacturing sector has naturally become a testing ground for the technology. Will China or the US emerge as the winner? As things currently stand, China is the undisputed leader in the humanoid robot race, with the US lagging far behind, according to US research firm SemiAnalysis. As an example, since China holds key advantages in terms of cost and supply chain efficiency, the cost of producing a robot arm in the US is roughly 2.2 times higher than in China. In addition, battery packs in China cost roughly US$127 per kWh, with prices in North America and Europe higher by 24% and 33% respectively. Furthermore, after years of investments in the battery, solar energy, and EV industries, China now holds a dominating position in key components and materials for robots, including rare earth magnets and batteries. Combined with China's robust domestic supply chain, transport costs and time delays can be further reduced, leading to lower overall costs. The SemiAnalysis report highlights DJI and GoPro as examples: DJI can source parts from local plants in mere hours, allowing the company to rapidly address defects and optimize designs. In contrast, a declining manufacturing sector in the US has hindered many American companies' attempts at developing their own hardware, since many of the components need to be sourced from China. Article edited by Jack Wu 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. Restoring Jim Creek: A bold approach to salmonid habitat recovery and landowner collaboration Willing landowners enabled designers to prioritize ecological science over logistical constraints in a large-scale intervention to restore hydraulic diversity and improve habitat resilience. By MATT TIEDEMANN and LISA TARIO Special to the Journal Tiedemann Tario Snohomish Countys Jim Creek, a tributary to the South Fork Stillaguamish River, has long been a refuge for endangered Chinook salmon. However, years of habitat degradation, simplified stream structure and warming waters threatened the viability of this critical waterway. In response, a collaboration between Surface Water Management (SWM), a division of the countys Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), environmental engineers and forward-thinking landowners culminated in an ambitious restoration effort one that embraced risk and innovative hydrological design while putting landowners at the heart of the process. SCIENCE FIRST, CONSTRAINTS SECOND Photos courtesy of Snohomish County [enlarge] Matt Tiedemann during a September 2021 field visit. The Jim Creek Restoration Project benefited from a fortunate advantage at the outset: willing landowners who were open to collaboration. This led to a fundamental shift in approach: the ability to prioritize ecological science over logistical constraints, ensuring that restoration efforts addressed the creeks most pressing needs. Early regional studies identified Jim Creeks limitations lack of deep pools, insufficient wood for cover and rapidly dissipating cold-water inputs from Vos Creek. These factors contributed to declining salmon populations, warranting a large-scale intervention to restore hydraulic diversity and improve habitat resilience. A PARTNERSHIP BUILT ON TRUST The project team first identified the most effective restoration areas and then engaged landowners in targeted outreach. A defining success of this effort was the partnership with the Anderegg family, who own both banks of Jim Creek where it meets Vos Creek. Their flexibility and enthusiasm helped shape a high-impact restoration design focused on rebuilding natural stream complexity. SWM and the design team engaged the Andereggs from the outset explaining the science, setting realistic expectations and welcoming their input. This early and ongoing involvement proved crucial. While many landowners hesitate at the prospect of heavy construction on their property, the Andereggs embraced the vision, actively participating in the design process. They even kept the team informed about key site changes, documenting the creeks transformation with video updates especially during critical flood events. GOING BIG: THE ROLE OF ENGINEERED LOG JAMS [enlarge] Jim Creek in Snohomish County in September 2024. Mimicking natural log jams found in pristine river systems enhanced fish habitat while stabilizing streambanks and improving flood resilience. The project team adopted an ambitious design philosophy, opting for Engineered Log Jams (ELJs) large, strategically placed log structures that promote streambed diversity, create deep pools and provide cover for salmon. The scale of the installations was striking; at least one-third of the channel was intentionally obscured by ELJs, ensuring substantial hydrological influence. The team used advanced techniques to anchor and interlock structures, allowing the river to interact dynamically with the wood rather than washing it away. By mimicking natural log jams found in pristine river systems, these structures enhance fish habitat while stabilizing streambanks and improving flood resilience. THE REAL-WORLD TEST: A RECORD FLOOD In December 2023, just months after the projects completion, Jim Creek experienced a record-breaking flood event. High water levels, powerful currents and extreme sediment transport created a significant natural test for the projects design. Rather than focusing solely on structural integrity, the team assessed how the restoration elements functioned as intended mimicking natural processes, promoting habitat formation, interacting with flow dynamics and supporting the overall ecological goals of the project. For the Andereggs, witnessing their property adapt to such an extreme event was a powerful validation of their trust in the project. Their videos of the flooding provided valuable insight into how the restoration influenced water movement and sediment deposition, reinforcing the importance of designing for natural processes rather than rigid structural outcomes. LESSONS FOR FUTURE RESTORATION EFFORTS [enlarge] Nicole and Jimmy Anderegg, who own both banks of Jim Creek where it meets Vos Creek in Snohomish County. Jim Creeks restoration offers a roadmap for future projects facing similar challenges. Several key lessons emerged: Prioritize science over convenience Selecting the most ecologically impactful locations first yields greater restoration success. Engage landowners as partners, not just stakeholders Meaningful communication and collaboration can transform landowners into champions of a project. Embrace risk and think big Small-scale interventions often fail to achieve meaningful ecological improvements. By designing for bold hydraulic changes, the Jim Creek project delivered lasting habitat benefits. Monitor and adapt Ongoing observation, especially in the wake of extreme weather events, ensures restoration work meets its goals and informs future efforts. A MODEL FOR PUGET SOUND CONSERVATION As climate change intensifies flood events and further strains Pacific Northwest salmon habitats, Jim Creek serves as a powerful case study in restoration done right. It demonstrates that the correct mix of scientific rigor, collaborative landowner engagement and willingness to take bold risks can help revitalize degraded streams. For business and environmental leaders in the Puget Sound region, the project underscores an essential truth: conservation and economic interests need not be at odds. By investing in smart, science-driven restoration efforts, communities can build both ecological resilience and stronger, more engaged partnerships between the public and private sectors. The Jim Creek project was funded by grants from the State of Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board through the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), the State of Washington Department of Ecology, and by Snohomish County Surface Water Management Utility fees. Matt Tiedemann is a senior engineer with Natural Systems Design (NSD), the lead engineering firm on the Jim Creek Restoration Project. Lisa Tario is a river engineer at Snohomish County Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) Surface Water Management Division. Other Stories: From obligation to destination: Rethinking workplace design Mindful selection of programs and amenities creates high-value interactions and experiences for employees. By JOSLYN BALZARINI and CHRISTA JANSEN HKS Balzarini Jansen Seattle is one step closer to achieving 2019 foot traffic levels , as employees slowly or fairly rapidly, in some cases filter back into the workplace. As corporate leaders continue to enforce new return-to-office mandates, many companies must now resume new build or renovation projects that were temporarily halted during a period of heightened risk and uncertainty. While the Great Remote Work Experiment led many employees to replicate their ideal workstations at home, such individualized spaces, while great for heads-down work, can limit the potential of users. So, what can companies do to encourage employees to come back to the office? Culture will play a big role for many organizations looking to implement new policies. PRIORITIZING CONNECTION Rendering courtesy of HKS [enlarge] Using data indicating that employees are gravitating toward communal spaces, HKS designed its Seattle office with a lounge area and a kitchen with a fully stocked bar and espresso machine in lieu of a traditional reception area. When rethinking workplace design, companies that are purposeful in the selection of programs and amenities that define their space create high-value interactions and experiences for employees in return. While every companys culture is different, one thing remains the same: people crave connection. After restrictions were first lifted three years ago, people flocked to restaurants and other types of shared cultural events, desperate for meaningful interactions. Drawing inspiration from the hospitality industry, design teams have since worked to erase employees perception of the traditional office space, bringing in different elements that have encouraged users to think of the workplace in a completely new way. Data collected onsite further informs design decisions today. Whereas some companies track badge swipes, others are monitoring patterns in various locations within the office, finding that employees are gravitating toward communal spaces over individual workstations. With desk occupancy rates lower than 50%, companies are now downsizing assigned individual space to allow more room for team-based activities. FINDING WHATS MISSING Photo by Garrett Rowland [enlarge] Cyber safety company Gens new Silicon Valley hub embodies a hybrid, people-first solution with flexibility to meet the daily demand of its workforce and accommodate peak occupancy for special events with the surrounding business community. To supplement studies on the workplace, HKS conducts intensive research on each client and their location to ensure their culture and surrounding influences are represented visually, physically and emotionally in the workplace. Visioning sessions then further our understanding of a clients needs, serving as another essential data collection process during the onset of a project. During these high-level exercises, designers have a rare opportunity to connect and speak with representatives from every division within an organization, guiding group members through thought-provoking activities to learn about the organizations ethos and workplace improvements without getting too tactile. Only then do you realize whats missing from an organizations work environment and what design solutions will resonate and have the greatest impact on employees. ? RETHINKING DESK AND MEETING SPACE When HKS first entered the Puget Sound marketplace in June of 2023, we moved into several adjoining co-working spaces totaling less than 1,000 square feet. Though HKS has been delivering projects in the Pacific Northwest since 1994, this was the firms first physical office in the region, serving as a temporary base while leadership searched for and eventually built out a new workplace that embodies our values and equips us with new amenities to better serve our clients as well as our staff. In mid-February of this year, we officially moved into our permanent workplace located on the sixth floor of the 400 University Building. Spanning 6,000 square feet, HKS new office will accommodate roughly 42 people on average per day across a diverse range of workspaces designed to elevate in-office experiences. Rendering courtesy of HKS [enlarge] Multiple projectors and a curved, 180-degree vertical surface anchor the Showbox space, which offers an immersive experience with the opportunity to view project models and site conditions at 1:1 scale. Flexible furniture accommodates a number of activities and group sizes. When first entering the space, employees and their guests are immediately ensconced in a hospitality-focused environment that allows users to flow freely from one space to another. You wont find a reception desk here but rather an inviting and comfortable lounge area and a kitchen with a fully stocked bar and espresso machine. Without assigned seating, employees have the autonomy to choose where to work based on their shifting needs and schedules. While less than 50% of our footprint is dedicated to traditional desking, we have enclosed quiet spaces available for employees to focus on heads-down work or engage in virtual meetings. Alternative work points are positioned throughout the office, including an active resource center, large mock-up area and various conferencing spaces all supplied with VTC capability. Post-pandemic, these egalitarian meeting rooms have become essential workspaces for companies to find the best talent during the recruiting process. Equipped with advanced conferencing technology, employers can simulate in-person interactions with potential new employees, clients and colleagues located halfway across the world. To accommodate strategic planning sessions, HKS also installed a dedicated design charette space, where project teams can collaborate on intensive project work, using whiteboards, pin-up space and monitors for digital content, from anywhere between one week to one month. When in need of a break, employees can rest and reflect in a designated wellness room, which doubles as a private space for new mothers. Further informed by the firms Insights Report on Creating a Brain Healthy Workplace, all workspaces were designed with social, cognitive and emotional health in mind, including the offices most unique feature: the Showbox. Named after Seattles historic music venue, the Showbox is an immersive community space with technology that projects floor to ceiling and wall to wall on a large, curved 180 vertical service, allowing users to have a unique 1:1 scale viewing experience of new and in-progress projects either in design or being constructed in real time. One of only three design studios in the U.S. and the only firm on the West Coast with this powerful visioning technology, HKS expanded design capabilities reinforce its commitment to design excellence, allowing teams to analyze environmental factors and conduct virtual site walks in cities around the world. Additional uses include showcases, client presentations, firmwide conference calls and local office celebrations.? THE EVOLUTION OF FITNESS AMENITIES While the modern-day office has transformed to proactively support mental health and elevate in-person interactions, many employers are equally focused on supporting physical health in the workplace. To meet heightened demand for pickleball courts and other fitness amenities, many building owners across Seattle are beginning to add or update their shared spaces to become more desirable workplace destinations.? Come Spring 2025, a new HKS-designed pickleball facility will open on the second level of Rainier Square, offering members the latest in training technology to help improve their game. Strategically positioned at the buildings tree line, the new pickleball centers indoor courts allow for yearlong usage while also fostering connection to the outdoors. With event capabilities and access to a number of onsite restaurants, this elevated pickleball experience is at the forefront of new corporate wellness initiatives. As Seattle employers continue to contemplate the future of their workplace, company culture will remain a driving force in bringing employees back to the office. Thoughtful design that prioritizes the shifting needs of all employees has the power to reshape the workplace from an obligation to a destination. By creating new opportunities for meaningful interactions and unique experiences, organizations not only elevate employee morale, but also instill a sense of trust and loyalty, making them stronger than ever before. Joslyn Balzarini is a principal and commercial interiors studio practice leader at HKS in Seattle. Christa Jansen is a principal and regional design director of interiors at HKS in Seattle. Other Stories: Inishowen, a treasure trove of creative talent, is home to artists and craft makers who draw endless inspiration from its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Among them is Claire Harkin, a woven textile artist from Drumfries, whose vibrant and colourful creations celebrate the peninsulas deep-rooted history of weaving. Weaving has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, Claire says. After studying woven design at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, I pursued a career teaching art. But the quiet days of lockdown in 2020 reignited my passion for weaving and brought me back to my roots. Being home during that time gave me the space to reconnect with weaving, and Ive been immersed in it ever since. Claires unique creations blend tradition and innovation, crafted on a 1920s Donegal floor loom she treasures. Its a bit of history itself, she says with a smile. I really love using this amazing loom it connects me to all those whove woven on it before me. READ NEXT: Donegal artists donate work in aid of the Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation Her intricate patterns and vibrant colours tell stories inspired by the natural beauty of Inishowen, where rolling hills, dramatic landscapes, and sweeping ocean views provide endless inspiration. I draw so much inspiration from the colours and textures around me, she explains. We have such a rich landscape here in Inishowen every shade and pattern is already laid out in nature. Claire sources her materials locally, using wool from sheep that graze on her familys farm. Each piece is hand-dyed and hand-painted, bringing her vision to life. Claire Harkin works on a 1920s Donegal floor loom Every single one of my tapestries and textiles is unique, and I love that. Every thread, every stitch, is part of a story, she says. Claires handwoven crafts are available at www.irishhands.com a new platform dedicated to supporting and promoting artists and creative makers from Inishowen and the north-west. But for Claire, weaving is about more than creating beautiful art its about preserving a craft deeply rooted in Inishowens history and heritage. Claire Harkin's Dannys companion tapestry With every piece, I feel like Im keeping a bit of that history alive, she says. I want people to feel a connection to this place and to know that its not just a tapestry, a textile, or a scarf its a piece of Donegal. Indeed, I hope that my creations bring a bit of Inishowens spirit and soul to whoever owns them, she adds. It truly is an honour to keep an age-old tradition alive and to share it with others. When people buy my tapestries or textiles, theyre not just getting something handmade theyre getting a small part of our land, woven with love. READ NEXT: Clonmany artist Mary Crowley found peace in painting after illness Claire showcases her creations at the Clonmany Agricultural Show, local craft fairs, and pop-up events, while also teaching needle felting at the Mens Shed in Carndonagh. To explore Claires handwoven crafts, visit www.irishhands.com/store/claire-harkin. Irish peacekeepers have faced anger and aggression amid frustration at the UN in south Lebanon following recent devastation in the region. Scores of people fled villages and towns in south Lebanon, and also across the border in north Israel, following hostilities across the UNs blue line which divides the countries last autumn. The Irish are among peacekeeping troops with United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) stationed along that line for decades, but recently conflict has seen them having to be confined to bunkers for periods of time. Lieutenant Colonel Shane Rockett, commander of the 125 Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock, said the situation is the worst he had seen, with 14 towns and villages in their area of operations affected and damage between 50% and 90%. He estimated it will take years and billions and billions of dollars to repair the damage, all while the situation remains very unpredictable, with the current ceasefire thanks to the hard work both of the Lebanese side and the Israeli side to prevent further conflict occurring here. The total devastation that certainly we have seen on our mission is like something I have never experienced before, and I have (done) nine missions overseas, and I have seen this type of kinetic activity on previous occasions, he told media during a visit to the camp. This has definitely been the worst that I have ever seen. He described the battalion as having been doing route clearance work to help the local population to return to their homes in south Lebanon. A lot of our work has been critical in enabling that freedom of movement our guys have worked with the Lebanese Red Cross and with the Lebanese armed forces (LAF) in order to provide that, he said. He described hazardous work finding a lot of unexploded ordnance, IEDs, and a lot of military grade equipment that has been destroyed. We are also assisting the Lebanese Red Cross in their efforts to recover bodies from the local towns and villages, he said. We would have prepared our soldiers as best we could have for deployment here. You can do so much training but the reality is a different kettle of fish. When we deployed, really what struck us on the first day when we came here was the total and utter devastation that was in south Lebanon. It was something that I certainly had not experienced before and I had been out here on a previous mission where we had seen kinetic activity, but this was on a scale 10 times worse than that. We were bunkerised for quite some time when we came out and then when operations did start, they started very slowly. But now, thankfully, things are starting to open up. We are getting more access to villages, thanks to our own work, but we are also doing a lot more in support of the LAF to provide a safe and secure environment in the area. Lt Col Rockett also described anger directed towards Unifil from some who wanted them to have done more to prevent the violence. He said: Its very hard. If you can imagine if somebody came in and bombed your home town or village, and there was a military force there, the first question you would ask is what did you do to prevent that?, he said. We have worked hard in the five months that we have been here to liaise with the local communities and tell them that, look, the Irish and Unifil did not leave. If we had left, the destruction would have been a lot worse and probably the casualties a lot worse. We tried to build up that, I suppose, positive relationship with the local communities as a result of our actions here. I know from my engagement with the local communities that they realise that and they know that had we pulled out, had we withdrawn from South Lebanon, that it would have been a lot worse. He added: Sometimes, we as Irish people think that our flag protects us from everything, but the reality is that we are out here working for Unifil under the UN flag. When people were returning to their towns and villages, they were angry at Unifil, they were angry at the UN for not doing more than what could have been done. As a consequence, my soldiers would have experienced aggressive behaviour from the locals. But we are very proactive when that happens and our cimic (civil-military co-operation) teams and through my engagement as well with the local mayors, we counteract that by immediately getting in and having conversations with them in order to make sure that we are creating the conditions for a safe and secure environment for future patrols that go out after that. He paid tribute to the bravery of Irish soldiers. When we deployed, we deployed at a time when we were coming into a war zone, he said. For me, the bravery of the Irish soldiers who decided to step forward and onto the plane and deploy, for me as a commander you cannot get a better Irish person than that somebody who steps into the face of adversity. The people back home, particularly the military families, are aware of what we do. They are aware of the danger associated with our work and we get a lot of support from them, and we are very grateful for that. I think the wider public, there probably is a call there to inform them about the work that we do. But that is what we do in the Defence Forces, we train for these conditions. We train hard so that we can do things like peacekeeping quite easily. But it does not come without its various challenges. Louth County Council is to carry out out noise assessments in Omeath to gauge possible impacts on residents in the area, following the adoption by members of a motion from Cllr Fiona Mhic Conchoille, at the local authority's March meeting. Cllr Mhic Conchoille called on Louth County Council to "engage a qualified noise consultant to carry out a comprehensive noise pollution survey along Lower Shore Road in Omeath. The objective of this survey would be to accurately measure and assess the background noise levels originating from Warrenpoint Port and which is impacting the local community within the jurisdiction of County Louth. "Additionally, the measurements recorded should determine whether these noise levels exceed the permissible noise limits established by European and/or National regulations. This study would provide valuable insights into the environmental impact of port operations on the surrounding community." Replying to Cllr Mhic Conchoille's motion, Joe McGuinness, Director of Organisational Development, said that "Louth County Council Environment section will carry out noise assessments in Omeath with a view to gathering required information to gauge possible impacts on residents in the affected area." Read next: See the 18 Louth Tidy Town projects getting a share of over 100k Cllr Mhic Conchoille told the Dundalk Democrat that her motion follows comments from residents of increased background noise originating from Warrenpoint Port and is having an impact on those in the Lower Shore Road area. Cllr Mhic Conchoille said, I would like to determine if these noise levels exceed the permissible noise limits established by European or National regulations and the Environment Section of Louth County Council has agreed to gather the required information. The potential of Ardee Castle as a medieval banquet experience venue for tourists similar to Bunratty Castle has been discussed with Tourism Ireland in New York. Ardee Municipal District Cathaoirleach John Sheridan attended meetings with Tourism Ireland as part of the Louth County Council delegation to New York for St Patricks Day. Cllr Sheridan told the Dundalk Democrat: We met with Tourism Ireland staff in New York who work on promoting Ireland to the United States and Canadian markets. We were impressed that their presentation on Louth included Ardee Castle, the Jumping Church at Kildemock and Sea Louth, the Louth coastline food trail. During an extensive discussion on Ardee Castle, we informed Tourism Ireland that reviewing of tenders for the renovation is under way and hopefully construction can start later this year, subject to funding. One route discussed was the potential for Ardee Castles large hall to host medieval banqueting experience events for tourists. This would be a very novel use of Ardee Castle. The renovation will hopefully be underway soon and there is much potential for local and civic events in the Castle. The idea of the Castle being used as an banqueting experience would make Ardee a destination for tourists as well as bringing jobs and spending to the town. The current castle dates to the 15th century and the significance that both King William and King James stayed at Ardee Castle before the Battle of the Boyne tells a cross-community peace element to the US market. The Fianna Fail councillor continued: We also discussed the importance of genealogy tourism where older people in the States are travelling with their children and grandchildren to Ireland to explore their roots and genealogy. The recent burial records project in Dowdallshill shows the importance of making these records easily available online to allow journeys in Ireland to be planned well in advance. Hopefully similar research on burial records can be rolled out to other cemeteries in the county in the future. The delegation separately met with Bernadette Lynch, originally from Ardee, who is Office Manager and Marketing Executive with IDA Ireland in New York and has lived there for over 30 years. Cllr Sheridan said that IDA Ireland are focused on attracting US companies to bring investment and jobs to Ireland, and the benefits of Louth to investors were highlighted by IDA staff and by the Louth County Council delegation. Read next: Clean Coasts Roadshow visits Carlingford Lough for oyster farm tour The Louth County Council delegation included Chief Executive David Conway, Director of Services Thomas McEvoy, County Cathaoirleach Kevin Callan, Ardee MD Cathaoirleach John Sheridan, Dundalk MD Cathaoirleach Sean Kelly and Deputy Mayor of Drogheda Pio Smith. Louth second level student Emily Liffey was one of just 20 teenagers from all over the island of Ireland to be presented with a Rotary Youth Leadership Development certificate at the new Europe House in Dublin recently. The competition, which Rotary Ireland has been running for over 30 years, rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities. It is run in conjunction with the European Parliament Office in Dublin with the winners enjoying an all-expenses paid week-long trip to Belfast, Dublin and Strasbourg. Emily, who is a fifth-year student at Dundalk Grammar School, received her certificate from Rotary Ireland District Governor, Seamus Parle, and Fionnuala Croker, Acting Head of Office at the European Parliament Office in Dublin. The itinerary for the students trip included visits to Belfast, Dublin, and Strasbourg. READ MORE: Louths creative spirit showcased on global stage by DkIT researchers In Belfast they received a private tour of City Hall and a meeting with the Lord Mayor, Councillor Micky Murray, followed by a tour of Stormont where they met several politicians and also listened in to some debates from the visitors gallery. At the new European Parliament Offices in Chatham Street, Dublin, they immersed themselves in all things EU related via the new Europa Experience and a 360-degree cinema presentation. The students heard some very interesting presentations on the EU, and particularly the European Parliaments role and powers, as well as about traineeships which are available with the EU institutions. After being presented with their leadership certificates students embarked on tours of the Seanad and Dail where they met several TDs. After that it was onto Strasbourg where they visited the famous Notre Dame cathedral, enjoyed a private tour of the European Court of Human Rights and paid a visit to Petit France, which was once home to the citys tanners, millers and fishermen and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the penultimate day of their stay, it was off to the European Parliament where they and students from all over Europe were welcomed by Roberta Mestola, President of the European Parliament. The highlight for the students was taking part in Euroscola, a simulation of the work of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a debate and vote on the EUs actions to tackle disinformation. Emily who is Vice Chair of her schools Student Council is passionate about languages and has spent time in Granada on a Spanish exchange as well as two months in Colaiste Ide in Kerry to improve her Irish. Outside of school she is involved in a local youth choir in the Ardee School of Music and likes reading and going to the cinema. While Belfast and Strasbourg were incredible experiences, for Emily the visits to both Europa House and Dail Eireann were personal highlights. I had never been inside the Dail or Seanad before so as an Irish citizen to be sitting in those buildings and walking up and down those corridors was fascinating. Emily believes that polarisation and extremism are the biggest problem facing todays generation. As we can see in many European countries and worldwide, right-wing parties are gaining increasing popularity and are being voted into government, while key issues like immigration and the environment are being approached in a completely incorrect manner. "While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to an alternative set of facts. Emily said she would have no hesitation in recommending the competition to fellow students. As well as travelling to several cities and institutions, I met and made friends with people from all over Ireland. "Ive so many amazing memories from the week. Thank you to Rotary Ireland for all of the incredible work they do. Seamus Parle, District Governor of Rotary Ireland praised the students passion for learning and their enthusiastic embrace of new experiences. While they were naturally nervous when they all met up in Belfast for the first time, their confidence grew in leaps and bounds as they shared new experiences, cultivated new friendships, and improved their communication skills. We were so impressed by the wide range of activities they are involved in, the level of knowledge they displayed on various topical issues and their ability to absorb so much information about the different parliaments they visited. "Emily and the other students are a credit to themselves, their families, their schools and their communities and we are confident that the accomplishments and friendships they have made will stay with them forever as they continue to develop their skills and broaden their horizons. I would like to thank all the teachers and Rotarians who helped us along the way to plan and organise this trip and I would urge as many young people as possible from every part of the island to take part in next years competition Mr Parle concluded. Fionnuala Croker, Acting Head of Office, the European Parliament Office in Dublin said: This group of exceptionally talented young individuals from all around Ireland have come through a very competitive process to win a place on this study trip, which included a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. "It was a pleasure to speak to them in Europe House before they set off. "I was very impressed with how well-informed, how engaged and how curious they are. Since their return I have heard they represented all of Ireland with distinction and contributed meaningfully to a debate with their fellow students on the steps the EU is taking to tackle disinformation. The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition is open to 16 and 17-year-olds who are living on the island of Ireland. For more information go to www.rotary.ie Forsa and the INMO have served notice of a one-day work stoppage at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Louth , to take place next Thursday, 3rd April. Forsa and the INMO served notice of the stoppage this morning (Thursday), ahead of a planned work-to-rule action, across acute hospitals and other HSE sites, which is due to commence next Monday (31st March). A delegation of unions in dispute with the HSE, representing more than 80,000 workers in public health services, including Connect, Forsa, the INMO, the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association (MLSA) and Unite, are attending the Workplace Relations Commission today for a conciliation conference. The planned industrial action will escalate at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda in the form of a work stoppage next Thursday (3rd April). Speaking ahead of the WRC meeting this morning, Forsas head of Health and Welfare, Ashley Connolly, said the escalation is due to reports from union members that they are being instructed by senior management, in the Dublin Northeast Region, to continue to book agency in all grades and disciplines throughout the period of industrial action that starts next week. This instruction demonstrates a complete disregard towards our planned industrial action, and thats why weve served notice this morning to management at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda, she said. INMO Director of Industrial Relations, Albert Murphy said: The INMO, Forsa, Unite, Connect and the MLSA will attend the conciliation conference facilitated by the WRC in good faith and make the case in respect of current working conditions of our members. It is clear that the rise in population growth has not kept up with demand for services and higher levels of acuity. The employer must accept that implementing strict recruitment caps is having a devastating impact on the safety of workers and the patients in their care. Every area of the public health service, from maternity to palliative care, has felt the impact of necessary positions being left vacant. The HSE has allowed this to get to the point now where services are going to be even more disrupted than they are because of unsafe staffing. Patients are already seeing serious disruption in the health service every single day, we only need to look at the daily trolley count every day and published monthly waiting lists to see that borne out in real time. Due to a complete lack of regard for the safety and wellbeing of healthcare workers in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, our members will be escalating the dispute to include a work stoppage next Thursday, April 3rd. Read Next: Funding announced for works at landmark Louth building Ms Connolly added: Our campaign of protest and upcoming industrial action has sought to address the excessive reliance on agency staff arising from the suppression of vacant posts following the recruitment moratorium between October 2023 and July 2024. Weve sought to highlight this because it is the most expensive way for the HSE to deliver its services. Directly employed staff reduce costs and ensure a consistent and sustainable delivery of services. For almost two years now the HSE has ignored our concerns about millions wasted on management consultants and expensive agency staff, she said. Talks at the WRC are set to commence at 10.30am this morning (Thursday). Two students of St. Vincent's secondary school in Dundalk were lucky enough to be selected to take part in the Transition Year Physics Experience at the School of Physics in Trinity College Dublin. It is a programme of events that introduces TY students to physics and the physicists at TCD. Aoife Marmion and Anna McGeough were chosen from hundreds of applicants nationwide. They spent a week in Trinity with other students from around the country being introduced to a range of subjects including nanophysics, electricity, optics and astrophysics, whilst working on a project titled The Physics of Time Travel. Aoife said: As one of the few pupils in the country to be selected for this programme, I saw this experience as a learning opportunity to broaden my knowledge of physics, touring labs and truly getting a feel for life as a physicist." READ MORE: See the 18 Louth Tidy Town projects getting a share of over 100k Anna added: I was shocked to be chosen as a student who was going to be attending Trinity College for their TY Physics course. I was filled with gratitude to be involved in different aspects of physics but my favourite areas were the hands-on lab experiments we carried out. The two Physics enthusiast described how they got a feel for independence by walking around campus and commuting by train daily. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience along with the friends they made along the way. 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. A national campaign to remind dog owners of their responsibilities has been launched. The campaign, Its not your dogs fault, its yours, highlights the responsibility of dog owners and the harm that uncontrolled dogs can do to people and livestock. Speaking in Ballincollig on Monday, Dara Calleary, rural and community development minister, said the majority of dog owners are aware of their responsibilities, but some are not and need to be told. We want to support dog owners in doing that, Mr Calleary said. There are resources available, but in terms of controlling your dog, particularly in public spaces, your dog has to be under control. Everybody thinks their dog would never do anything, but, unfortunately, things happen. Respect for your fellow public, respect for farmers, respect for people who may have a fear of dogs: Your dog is your responsibility. Dara Calleary, rural and community development minister. We all love our dogs, but you have to be responsible for them as well, and we want to remind people of that responsibility. The campaign follows a series of other recent initiatives. Since December 1, 2023 pet owners who do not have effectual control of their dog have been liable for an on-the-spot fine of 300. Last year saw the introduction of regulations to ban XL Bully type dogs. The Government has also committed to the recruitment of up to 40 additional dog wardens this year. The campaign will run from March 24 until April 20 across radio, podcasts, print, out of home, and online media. Public representatives in Cork have raised concern about the possible amalgamation of garda units across large neighbouring areas which had, until now, their own dedicated cohort of gardai. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) this week warned that a lack of manpower could mean the amalgamation of garda units currently covering Carrigaline and Douglas, with the same arrangement applying to units covering Bishopstown and Ballincollig. Whereas currently one garda unit would be on duty in one area and another in the neighbouring area, under the new plan, one unit would work in one area and would simultaneously be on call in the other. 'Ghost units' This is due to a phenomenon known in garda circles as ghost units, where a unit is theoretically covering an area, but because of a lack of manpower that unit has no gardai. Under the new arrangement, the garda unit working in Carrigaline would also be on call to work in Douglas if needed, to cover for the ghost unit rostered to work that same shift there. Similarly, one unit would be on duty in Bishopstown and on call in Ballincollig. The garda sub-stations at Douglas, Carrigaline, Bishopstown, and Ballincollig are all run from Togher Garda Station, the Cork City South community engagement headquarters. The GRA warned that the plan was likely to be enacted within a month. Operational issue Fine Gael minister of state and Cork South Central TD, Jerry Buttimer, said that while the plan was an operational issue for Garda management, the minister for justice and the Garda Commissioner needed to address it with local management. I know from talking to local gardai that it is something theyre very unhappy about, and its something that needs urgently to be clarified, said Mr Buttimer. Padraig OSullivan, Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central, said that the plan was a matter of great concern, and highlighted a lack of understanding of Corks policing needs. I believe its high time that acknowledgement needs to be given to the fact that areas like Carrigaline, Glanmire, Ballincollig, large new suburbs like that, dont get their fair share of garda resources devoted by central command, and thats something that has to be reviewed, he said. Calls Independent councillor for Cork South-East and former lord mayor, Kieran McCarthy, said there had long been calls to increase garda numbers in the Douglas area, and pointed out that to call it a neighbourhood did not do it justice. It also has all of Rochestown, and parts of Grange, with Donnybrook itself having large population numbers. The district has more than 20,000 people living in it, said Mr McCarthy. Peter Horgan, Labour Party councillor in the South-East ward, said the amalgamation plans were off the wall and would be a disaster for the area. Commissioner Harris must take an interest in Cork and allocate gardai to city units as a matter of priority, said Mr Horgan. Colm Kelleher, Fianna Fail city councillor for the South-West ward and former lord mayor, said the plan was alarming, and he intended to raise it with justice minister Jim OCallaghan. There is a commitment in the programme for government that we will recruit an additional 5,000 gardai, he said. While I know that will take time, it seems that yet again Cork is being left behind when it comes to the allocation of garda resources. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the opposition has made life impossible for Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy. Mr Martin said the clerk of the Dail confirmed the disorder in the chamber was handled by Ms Murphy in line with the rules. By any objective assessment, they made life impossible for the ceann comhairle, said Mr Martin. It beggars belief that Sinn Fein, in particular, who shouted and roared during Leaders Questions yesterday [Tuesday] 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. Procedures The clerk of the Dail has confirmed proceedings were conducted in accordance with procedures, he said. 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, he added. 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. It is not how parliamentary democracy works. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy has said she intends to continue in her role in the face of a motion of no confidence by the opposition. Ms Murphy also categorically rejected accusations of partisanship in how she handled an opposition protest in the Dail on Tuesday. Speaking in the Dail yesterday, 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 Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou 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. Mr Martin said the oppositions intimidatory barracking of newly-elected TDs marked a new low for behaviour in the Dail. Concern He expressed concern that the Dail would never be the same again after the scenes witnessed on Tuesday. The Taoiseach also accused Labour leader Ivana 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 enjoyed 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. Regrettable Earlier, Tanaiste Simon Harris said Tuesdays disruption was regrettable, unseemly, and unbecoming. The Fine Gael leader 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. 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. Government funding of 250,000 has been secured toward repairs of Corks historic Shandon clock, a northside TD has announced. The funding is part of an allocation of more than 3.5m awarded for the repair of 28 heritage buildings across the country under the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritages Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Four-faced liar Locals say the four-faced liar, as the iconic clock has been known for generations in Cork, has been telling the wrong time since last May, and its eastern face has been stopped on six oclock for as long. For many years the clock mechanism, which was installed in 1847 by the then Cork Corporation and is the responsibility of Cork City Council, was maintained by Philip Stokes of Stokes Clocks and Watches on MacCurtain St. However, earlier this year, Mr Stokes said he had stepped away from the maintenance of the clock mechanism, due to safety concerns relating to structural issues in the clock tower. Cost In February, Cork City Council was told the cost of repairs would likely start at 400,000, with final costs to be determined before any works would commence. Now, Padraig OSullivan, Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central, has said that funding worth 250,000 in repairs has been delivered by his party colleague, Cork South West TD Christopher OSullivan, who is minister of state at the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage. He added that in addition to the funding for Shandon clock, 150,000 had been allocated toward repair work on the alms-houses in Glanmire, with a further 114,400 secured for repairs at the St Laurence Cheshire Home in Lotamore, and 72,403 for Kinsale Museum. Historic buildings Its great to see this investment in preserving important historic buildings in Cork, many of which are in need of repairs, Padraig OSullivan said. Obviously, in the case of Shandon, its well documented the work that is required to upgrade and preserve the clock, so this allocation will go some of the way toward protecting and preserving this vital piece of Corks history. During the February meeting of Cork City Council, the councils director of services for planning and integrated development, Niall O Donnabhain, told Sinn Fein councillor Kenneth Collins that the repair works to Shandon would necessitate contributions from several specialists in conservation, horology and structural repair. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he welcomed the allocation of funding for the repair to the structure of Shandon tower and clock. Shandon is one of Corks greatest landmarks in an iconic location in the city, he said. One of the most recognisable symbols of the city which is well lauded in song and story and deserves to be restored to its former glory. Above-the-shop living should be a priority, but rollout has been too slow, a Cork Business Association (CBA) representative has said. It comes following a recent report from Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) that estimates 1,830 over-the-shop units in Cork could be brought into use as housing. Clara ONeill, chairwoman of the Cork Business Association (CBA) Cork City 2030 working group and director of Total Planning Solutions, said Cork city has long been a hub of commerce and culture. Challenge Yet, like many historic cities, it faces the challenge of maintaining vibrant, lived-in streets while adapting to modern housing needs, she said. One solution with immense potential is the living over the shop [LOTS] scheme, an initiative that could breathe new life into the city centre while addressing housing shortages. These spaces, many dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, were originally designed as combined living and working quarters a model that could be revived to meet todays needs. With Cork facing a severe housing crisis, unlocking these spaces could provide hundreds of new homes without the need for sprawling developments. Increasing upper-floor occupancy leads to vibrant streetscapes; a permanent residential population ensures footfall for local businesses, deters antisocial behaviour, and maintains the citys vibrant character beyond trading hours. Other benefits are that reusing existing structures is inherently greener and more sustainable than new builds, and would reduce construction waste, preserve Corks historic fabric, and contribute to the sustainable urban living agenda. Slow However, she added: Despite its potential, the uptake of LOTS conversions has been slow, largely due to financial, planning, and fire regulation complexities. Many property owners face high renovation costs, long/onerous planning regulations, and a lack of incentives to justify the investment. This is where targeted, area-based tax incentives could make a transformative difference, by offering reductions in Vat, rates relief, or capital allowances for qualifying conversions. Ms ONeill said the CBA would like to see Cork City Council, in partnership with central Government, taking decisive steps to promote LOTS. This could include pilot schemes in key areas such as the citys central island, streamlining planning permissions for residential conversions where structural feasibility and fire-regulation compliance is proven, and engaging with stakeholders and local property owners to identify barriers and tailor incentives accordingly. The vision is clear: a Cork city where streets are alive day and night, where historic buildings are fully utilised, and where city-centre living is an attractive, affordable option. By embracing living over the shop, Cork can set a benchmark for urban renewal; one that other Irish cities may soon follow. Solutions Green Party councillor Oliver Moran also welcomed the HAI report. Having a suite of off-the-shelf solutions for common issues like access to grants, planning, and fire certification would ease some of the barriers, he said. A third of respondents identified clear guidelines in relation to planning permission as being an important factor. Thats something that Cork City Council can lead on. Id also like to explore what can be done for finance under the banner of the EU Mission Cities designation to allow easier access to finance. The greenest building is the one thats already built. For the third day, the trial of a 16-year-old boy accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at a Christmas race meeting in Limerick could not proceed today because of a medical situation that arose for the accused. For the third time, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sent the jury home for the day because the trial of three teenagers including the absent boy could not proceed in his absence. However, the judge asked them to return the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork tomorrow, assuring them in relation to the absent defendant: He will be here at 11am tomorrow He will be back with us and we will proceed with the trial. It is important that I take every step that it comes to a conclusion for everyone. Mr Justice Paul McDermott last week discharged a juror who became ill in court and the trial proceeded before a jury of nine women and two men. The absent defendant, who was 13 at the time and is 15 now, and a co-accused who was 15 at the time and is now 17 are both charged with raping and sexually assaulting the teenager at a St Stephens Day 2022 race meeting at Limerick racecourse. A third boy is accused of aiding and abetting the first two defendants in carrying out these offences and he is also charged with falsely imprisoning the girl. It is alleged that the contested incidents occurred in a car in a field car park at Limerick Racecourse at Patrickswell, County Limerick, on December 26, 2023. All three accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Dara Calleary, minister for rural and community development, has said that Tidy Towns initiatives play a vital role in addressing the effects of climate change. Mr Calleary was speaking in Ballincollig, Irelands Tidiest Town in 2024, on Monday, as he launched this years SuperValu Tidy Towns competition. He said that Tidy Towns could educate the public on the role that everyone has to play in addressing climate change. Mr Calleary said the Government had received more than 65,000 applications for humanitarian assistance in the wake of Storm Eowyn in January, and was processing those claims. He said he would urge anyone who had initially been turned down a payment to seek a review. Review Mr Calleary said a review of the States humanitarian aid process was under way to ensure it was fit for purpose for dealing with larger events, such as Storm Eowyn. Previously, humanitarian assistance would have dealt with applications [of] 1,500 to 2,000; weve dealt with 65,000 to 66,000, he said. Im going to review the scheme afterwards to make sure that its purposed for bigger events. Normally in humanitarian assistance, the event happened and the consequences were manageable within a couple of days, but, obviously, with the power outages its taken quite some time to deal with it. The minister said there was a commitment in the programme for government for a fund to address storm damage, but that climate change needed to be tackled. Thats why Tidy Towns has a large portion of it addressing local climate initiatives, initiatives that are community-led, bringing awareness about climate, bringing changes locally to climate, such as the ones here in biodiversity, and that brings it right back to community level initiatives, such as Tidy Towns, focusing on climate change, he said. Seven men have been arrested in Cork city as part of an operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs by organised criminals operating in the city. Seven premises were searched by Gardai and a number of items seized as part of the operation, with the men, whose ages range from 20s to 40s, currently detained in Garda stations in the city. A Garda spokesperson said that Gardai from the Cork City Divisional Drugs Unit are currently carrying out an operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs by an organised crime group based in the Cork city centre, which began on Tuesday 25 March and is ongoing. This operation, supported by Cork City Serious Crime Units, National Surveillance Unit, Regional Surveillance Unit, Regional Armed Support Unit, Regional Dog Unit, Operation Tara and Cork City Centre Policing members resulted in the arrest of seven persons, they said. A total of seven premises were searched and a number of items were seized. The men arrested, ranging from their 20s to 40s, have been conveyed to Garda Stations in Cork City. Six are currently being detained under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. One is currently being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. Investigations are ongoing. The man on trial for the murder of his wife said at the scene that night, I just stabbed her with a knife in the throat, she was cheating on me, I could not tolerate that. I could not take this. She was the love of my life. This evidence was given on Thursday at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork where 43-year-old Regin Parithapara Rajan, is on trial on 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. Detective Garda Kenneth Lawton arrived at the house where other gardai were present on the night and the accused was directed to leave the house at Cardinal Court with his hands up. He did so and then had his hands handcuffed behind his back and was told to kneel on the ground. Det. Garda Lawton told Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and the jury of seven women and five men that he gave the accused a legal caution and asked him what happened at his home that night. Det. Garda Lawton noted the accused mans reply: She was cheating on me. She was having an affair and he lives in London. I just found out today. I saw the messages that were on her phone and I could not tolerate it. It was very ugly messages. I just stabbed her with a knife in the throat, she was cheating on me, I could not tolerate that. I will take any sentence. I committed a crime. I could not take this. She was the love of my life. And this is the second time, sorry to say. I was in depression and family life was not good. I lost 15 kgs in the last two months. It was good until two months ago. When I knew she was chatting with someone, that is when I became depression. I did not do it deliberately. After seeing those messages I did that, sorry to say. CALL FROM CHILDMINDER Rejani Jose, a nurse at Cork University Hospital, who is also from Kerala in India, the home place of the defendant and the deceased, was renting a room at their house in Wilton. On the evening July 14 2023 she got a call from the couple minding the couples child and they wanted to know if the defendant and deceased were home for the boy to be dropped home. Ms Jose who was in her own room at the time testified, The whole house was silent. I noticed all the doors were closed. I just thought, let me check the room near the toilet (to see if anyone was there). I just checked (motioned the pressing down of a door handle). I thought it was locked. But I pushed and it opened. She said she saw Regin just inside the door. I got frightened. I didnt think anyone was there. I told him (couple) coming with the child. I was afraid of his appearance. His eyes were red and I feel something unusual. His facial expression was upset. I was in a panic mode, I was in a panic situation. Something unusual I felt. Cross-examined by defence senior counsel Brian McInerney she agreed that Deepa was the boss in that family. Ms Jose said, She is good at everything, excellent English, good at organising and a good cook, excellent in everything in my view. But I am just a bystander. I dont have an interpersonal relationship with her. She agreed that by contrast, Regin was softly spoken and quiet. Mr McInerney reminded the witness of what she said in her statement to gardai that, Regin would be trying to please her. I used to think that he was trying to get her attention or love but she would be quite indifferent to him, they would never go out much as a family and nor were the active in the Indian community. She agreed that she found that on the night of July 14 2023, Regin looked like a different person altogether. State pathologist Linda Mulligan examined the body of the deceased on July 15 2023 and first noticed bloodstaining of the face. She said there were no signs of petechial haemorrhages which would have been present if there had been asphyxia. They were not present in this case, she said The pathologist also noticed that the hands were bloodstained. She was dressed in a green t-shirt which was heavily bloodstained and there were three tears in the t-shirt on the left shoulder. She wore a crop-top which was heavily bloodstained, Dr Mulligan said. The main injury was a 14 cm horizontal cut across the neck of the deceased, gaping to 4 cm. There was also a severing of the thyroid artery. Dr Mulligan found that the deceased had been breathing in blood. The pathologist could see blood in the lungs, and blood had also been swallowed. She commented that the neck wound also damaged the voice box which would have made her unable to vocalise after the wound was inflicted. The pathologist concluded that death was due to blood loss, complicated by inhalation of blood due to an incised wound to the neck. The trial continues. At Cork Arts Theatre tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday night, The Montfort College of Performing Arts will present Remote, the inaugural production from its newly-formed Intermediate company drama class, directed by Sinead Crowley. Its a gripping play about seven teens and their ways into protest, power and protecting themselves. Next week, CADA Performing Arts students will take to the stage there to present Unmasked 25. Excerpts from Babies Revenge, The Wizard Chamber, Dumped In The Swamp and many more, from performers aged 3 to 20+. Artistic Director Catherine Mahon-Buckley and directors Fionula Linehan, Moyra OHare, Megan OMahony. Monday-Saturday, March 31-April 5, 7pm start each night. Booking for Cork Arts Theatre on 021 4505624 or www.corkartstheatre.com. Tonight and tomorrow at the Opera House, why not have The Laughs Of Your Life with Doireann Garrihys popular live podcast? Only a few seats left though. Also as part of the Podcast Festival, Saturday sees Red Raw, with Rob Heffernan and Laura OMahony, while on Sunday there is a chance to hear the voice of experience with Crime Worlds Nicola Tallant delving deep into gritty realities. Nicola Tallant brings her crime podcast to the Opera House on Sunday On Wednesday next, April 2, In The Making New Work Musical Theatre Showcase features some of Corks finest musical talents. Set in the atmospheric Green Room, and written by local composers, acts will be followed by talks that reveal the stories and inspirations behind the music, with a distinguished panel of industry professionals providing feedback and guidance about the pieces presented, contributing to the future progress of the work. 7pm start for that. Call 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie. Due to popular demand, Emma Doran returns to the Everyman tonight with her sell-out show, Dilemma, wickedly observant of lifes traps and trip-ups. Neil Delamere is here tomorrow and Saturday night with his brand new epic stand-up comedy show, Achilles Neil, while Sunday brings the great Rock Icons, taking you on a journey through some of the worlds greatest classic rock bands - Deep Purple, Free, Bon Jovi, Toto, Rainbow, Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, Status Quo, Van Halen, and more. The inaugural production in the new EVERYMAN MADE season marks the 10th anniversary of Brian Friel with a production of Making History, opening Tuesday, April 15 (previews from April 11.) Set in Ireland in 1591, when our culture was on the brink of extinction under English occupation, it follows the secret marriage of Hugh ONeill and Mabel Bagenal, and delves into events around the Battle of Kinsale. Who gets to decide how history is recorded, told and retold? Unmissable this one. Booking for Everyman on 021 450 1673 or www.everymancork.com. At City Limits Cork Comedy Club this Saturday, Fred Cooke will be on stage with guests. Working with the Tommy Tiernan show for over eight years now, this mans style of comedy simply cannot be imitated. His Republic of Telly sketches have had millions of views on Youtube, and he has even appeared on Dancing With The Stars! Doors 8pm, show starts at 8.45pm. Book at www.thecomedyclub.ie, www.tickets.ie, or 085 257 3480. There is a gala evening of music at St Catherines Cultural Centre in Kinsale this Saturday in aid of Kinsale Lions, and cancer charities. The Bandon Concert Band will be there, violinist Kysenia Yershova, and pianist Amber Kaier. A fundraising raffle too, plus prosecco and canapes. Tickets at the Boathouse Gallery in Kinsale. Doors 7.30pm, concert begins 8pm. Finally, at the energetic little Glen Theatre in Banteer this Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Dying To Meet You, a comedy by Ron Hutson, directed by Tadhg OKeeffe for the Glen drama group. Booking on 029 56239. Last year, the first Baltic Film Festival took place in Cork to mark Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuanias 20th anniversary of EU membership. The festival, which is supported by the countries embassies, returns to Triskel Cinema on April 4 and 5, in what Estonian Ambassador Kairi Kunka hopes will become an annual event. Last years festival was very successful, and we wish that this tradition would continue this year and hopefully into the upcoming years, she said. This festival is a rare opportunity for us to introduce the Baltic culture and traditions to the Irish people. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Baltic States regaining independence from the Soviet Union, and Ambassador Kunka says it is an excellent opportunity to introduce Irish audiences through the art of film and give insight into the different viewpoints and nuances of the Baltic States, portraying a unique personality of each country. The Ambassador says that similar Baltic film festivals have taken place across the globe and that the three embassies - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - are keen to ensure that Ireland keeps its place on the list of countries with a tradition of Baltic Film Festivals, and has a great relationship with Triskel Arts Centre. The opening night film, Tasty (Gardute), is from Lithuania and directed by Egle Vertelyte. Ambassador Kunka says it offers a delightful glimpse into Lithuanian culture through the lens of a culinary comedy and social satire. By focusing on a cooking competition, the movie showcases with a degree of irony Lithuanias rich culinary heritage and the value placed on food and cooking. Tasty offers a delightful glimpse into Lithuanian culture through the lens of a culinary comedy and social satire The first ever Lithuanian culinary comedy mixes witty satire, cheesy TV drama, and lively folk songs, demonstrating our sense of humour and the ability to find joy and irony in everyday situations. According to Ambassador Kunka, Tasty provides a heartwarming and humorous portrayal of Lithuanian life, emphasising the countrys food traditions, strong community bonds, and the resilience of its people. Tasty tells us that, even in the simplest of surroundings, joy and satisfaction can be found if there is a will. It also stresses the importance of supporting each other and working towards common goals despite obstacles. The Exalted (Cildenie) is a Latvian, Estonian, and Greek co-production that the Ambassador describes as a psychological drama and satire about a powerful elite couple living in north-eastern Europe and enjoying public fame and recognition. The story follows Anna, a world-famous German musician supported by her Latvian husband Andris, a successful entrepreneur who the Ambassador describes as a Baltic alpha male with money and connections. Their seemingly perfect and fulfilling life, one that many would desire and envy, is about to implode by a sudden event - Andris becomes entangled in a major scandal. Through awkward misunderstandings, desperate attempts to conceal upcoming scandal, as well as shame and anger, the film explores a clash of different European cultures, perspectives and values. A scene from The Exalted, a Latvian, Estonian, and Greek co-production, described as a psychological drama and satire The Exalted is primarily in English and features a diverse cast of international actors. Ambassador Kunka says the director, Juris Kursietis, allows the audience to decide how to respond to the characters behaviour. Without passing a judgement or imposing a moral compass, the director gives an audience an opportunity to reflect on themselves, analyse, evaluate and draw important personal conclusions about who we are and where we are heading. The final film in the programme is from Estonia, The Invisible Fight (Nahtamatu voitlus). Directed by Rainer Sarnet, it is a kung-fu comedy set in an Orthodox monastery in the Soviet Union in the 1970s. Ambassador Kunka says the film combines elements and genres not usually seen together in one film or in the era in which it is set, and reflects on a difficult time for the country. The Soviet time was not the easiest period for the people in Estonia, as they were unable to express their opinions or ideas. You could not travel outside the Soviet states, and anything foreign, like music or movies, was prohibited and unheard of. The film does not tell you much about that time period, but is more about the symbols and ideas of the time, and what is the best way to tell the story of that time than to do it through humour? We, as Estonian people, love humour, and this movie illustrates the Estonian personalities, which might not be what you expect. The Ambassador hopes the upcoming festival will resonate with the local Cork community and the vibrant population of individuals from the Baltic countries residing in the county. The festival aims to celebrate these nations rich cultural heritage, fostering connections and shared experiences among attendees from all backgrounds. The Ambassador envisions this gathering as a unique opportunity to bridge cultures and create lasting memories for everyone involved. Our goal has always been to introduce Estonia and its culture outside Dublin, she said. We also want to allow our Estonian community to see and experience the newest cinematics. Chris ONeill, Head of Cinema at Triskel, said, We are honoured to be part of the second Baltic Film Festival. The three specially selected films from Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia will offer a unique opportunity to learn more about the lives, history and culture of the three Baltic states. After the festival, Triskel will screen two additional Latvian films. Flow, the Oscar-winning Best Animated Feature, will be shown from April 13-16. Away, an earlier film by Gints Zilbalodis, will be screened on April 6. For more information head to www.triskelartscentre.ie. By Cate McCurry, PA The Tanaiste said he believes talks rather than tariffs is the sensible way to proceed after US president Donald Trump pledged to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical imports to the US. Mr Trump, who announced 25 per cent tariffs on all cars made outside the US, singled out Ireland as he said he wanted to bring our pharmaceutical industry back to the US. We dont make anything here in terms of drugs, different types of drugs that you need, medicines, its in other countries, largely made in China, a lot of it made in Ireland, Mr Trump said in the Oval Office. Ireland was very smart, we love Ireland, but were gonna have that. In a statement, the Tanaiste said he will meet with senior official to take stock of the matter when he returned from Lebanon later on Thursday. Ireland continues to engage with colleagues across Europe and the United States on the issue of trade policy, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement. We believe talks rather than tariffs is the sensible way to proceed. This week, I spoke again to US Commerce Secretary (Howard) Lutnick and we agreed to stay in touch. I also spoke to EU Trade Commissioner (Maros) Sefcovic and I am in ongoing (talks) with him and his team. I have had conversations with many of my European counterparts. When I arrive back in Dublin from Lebanon today, I will be meeting senior officials to further take stock. The European Union wants to sit down with the US and reach agreement on a trade relationship that works for everyone because trade is good for jobs, growth and all our economies. This is what needs to happen. I welcome that there will also be a special EU Trade Council on April 7 which I will represent Ireland at. By Cate McCurry, PA A report has uncovered that unnecessary hip surgeries were carried out on hundreds of young children at two Dublin hospitals, the Dail has been told. Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty said that according to an audit, children aged between one and seven were subjected to the unnecessary surgeries at Cappagh and Temple Street hospitals Mr Doherty said it was alleged that the surgeries were conducted purely for financial gain. The report claims that hundreds of children on whom surgery was carried out did not meet the threshold for that surgery. According to the audit, 561 children went through hip surgeries since 2021. The audit found that 79 per cent of those operated on at Cappagh hospital and 60 per cent of those at Temple Street did not meet the threshold for surgery. They were unnecessary. The report recommends that all of these children be recalled and independently assessed, Mr Doherty told the Dail. Will the minister imagine for a second that he was the parent of one of these children who were operated on? Can he imagine the absolute horror of thinking that your child was put through the trauma of surgery when they did not need it? The daughter of one of the parents who made contact with us was only four years of age when she went through this operation. She received a letter from the hospital at Cappagh to inform her of the clinical audit into these surgeries just a couple of weeks ago. She is devastated. She says that she is sick to her stomach that her daughter might have been operated on unnecessarily. She says that it is a horrifying situation to be in as a parent. Her daughter was born prematurely and endured lots of challenges in her first weeks of life. This was followed by treatment for hip dysplasia, which may have resulted in a surgery that did not need to happen. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said that clinicians are providing the final input into the report. That final input will be available to the author of the report very shortly, if it has not already been shared, Mr Donohoe said on Thursday. I am certain that, when the process is complete, this work will be shared with the Department of Health, the hospitals and those who lead them. At that point, a number of further priorities will then become urgent. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the Government is taking the audit seriously (Brian Lawless/PA) The first will be to communicate clearly with the families of children who may have been affected and to share with them, in a transparent and open way, the conclusions of this report, acknowledging the distress and worry that many face. The second will be to look at what further actions, if any, are needed to respond to the consequences of any operations that took place. The third relates to a core theme of the audit that will have taken place. We will need to understand if and why this happened in the first place and what the consequences of it are. Mr Donohoe said the Government is taking the allegations seriously. He added: It is all about ensuring that any surgical practice that took place during that period was carried out in a way that was consistent with international standards and the care that any family would expect when entrusting our health professionals with a childs care. High Court reporters A High Court judge has ordered that a disciplinary process brought against a serving garda be stopped after he found the process to be tainted beyond the point of redemption. Caoimhe Busher, a probationer garda member since 2018, has been the subject of a disciplinary investigation concerning how she allegedly investigated and input information into the Garda Pulse system related to a 2019 road traffic incident in south Dublin. She denies any wrongdoing. In her proceedings brought against the Garda Commissioner last year, Ms Busher said the internal investigation into the alleged disciplinary breach has been ongoing since 2020. Ms Busher also claimed her probation period was extended seven times and that this was a breach of her rights. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Mr Justice David Nolan ruled in favour of Ms Busher, after he found that the disciplinary process taken against her was tainted. This ruling arises from a prejudicial letter, written by a Garda member investigating Ms Bushers alleged disciplinary breach, that in essence made findings of guilt against Ms Busher, the judge said. The letter, dated November 5th, 2020, was prepared by the investigating garda as a covering document to accompany his investigation file on Ms Bushers case. It is standard practice for a covering document to accompany an investigation file, to assist the Garda Commissioner in deciding whether to establish an internal inquiry board to adjudicate on an alleged disciplinary breach, the judge noted. However, the covering letter was furnished, along with other material, to an internal board of inquiry convened to adjudicate on the allegation against Ms Busher. The letter was also furnished to Ms Busher. The board was dissolved before hearing Ms Bushers case on account of one of its members retiring. The letter was not furnished to a second inquiry board that was convened, the judge noted. When the second board became aware of the letter while at hearing it was raised by Ms Bushers solicitor they formed the view that they could not continue in their roles and stood down. By allowing the letter to circulate before the board, no matter which board, the view of the investigating officer will be known well before any evidence is given. The concern must be that the guilt of the applicant [Ms Busher] would be determined before the board gets to hear any evidence, thus setting at naught the whole purpose of the board of inquiry, the judge said. While noting that the investigating officer is entitled to his views, the judge said the first inquiry board should not have been informed of those views or the letter. When they were informed of it, it followed that the letter was given to the applicant. The canary is out of the cage. The respondents can never get it back into the cage, the judge said. If the process is not stopped, a third board of inquiry will find itself in exactly the same position, on being informed of [the letters] contents. I have concluded that this process is irredeemably wrong or damaged and is tainted by the letter of November 5th, 2020. In those circumstances, it would be entirely wrong to allow it to continue, Mr Justice Nolan said. The judge said he would make an order of prohibition in regard to the disciplinary process brought against Ms Busher. The judge said his provisional view is that Ms Busher is entitled to her legal costs. He listed the matter for next month for submissions on the final order and costs. Natasha Reid and Claire Henry An activist who lived-streamed himself driving his SUV into an anti-immigration protester during a demonstration in Dublin has been sentenced to 16 months in prison. Stephen Bedford (38) with an address at Merchants Quay, Dublin, was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday, having pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle through a crowd of people, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to others at the Five Lamps junction on February 15th, 2023. Garda Eoin Cannon testified that he saw the defendant at an anti-immigration protest in the Amiens Street area that evening. Bedford was conducting a one-man counter protest and was carrying a large backpack, with a speaker and microphone. Other protestors became volatile with Bedford and the gardai had to intervene. The officers suggested that he leave for his own safety, and he did so. Later, the garda said he saw a vehicle moving through the crowd, colliding with one person - the injured party in the case. The vehicle came to a stop and he saw that Bedford was the driver. There were then further confrontations between the defendant and the protesters. The injured party told gardai that he was attending the protest with his son, and was listening to someone speaking when he saw a vehicle coming towards him on the wrong side of the road. He said that he told a woman with a buggy to get out of the way and then saw that the driver was using a camera. Gda Cannon explained that Bedford was streaming the events to Facebook. The injured party said that he put his hand on the bonnet out of instinct in order to not go under the car. However, he said that it was going at speed, so he took his hand off and was hurt. He said that he had to attend hospital for medical treatment. Footage from Bedfords own phone was played to the court. It showed him leaving a line of traffic stopped at the blocked junction, crossing onto the other side of the road, and turning into another road on which the injured party was standing. The injured party held his hand on the bonnet before moving out of the way. Under cross examination by Patrick Jackson BL, defending, Gda Cannon agreed that 150 people had blocked the junction from all directions. However, the garda said that Bedford could easily have made a U-turn. Gda Cannon agreed that two masked men were seen looking into Bedfords vehicle before he made the manoeuvre out of the line of traffic. He also accepted that people were striking the vehicle with their hands. The garda agreed that 15 males had surrounded the vehicle when it came to a stop and that gardai helped his client by getting him out of there. He also agreed that a doctor had noted no visible bruising to the injured partys foot, toe or leg, and that no treatment was needed. Gda Cannon accepted that many of Bedfords previous convictions related to various protests, where he had overstepped the line, and that he had very passionate beliefs about people seeking asylum. He said that the guilty plea was of assistance, adding that he wouldnt disagree with Mr Jacksons assertion that trials involving people on opposite sides of the political spectrum can be difficult for the gardai. Mr Jackson handed the court several letters, including one from Bedfords doctor, which said that he had a serious condition at the highest end of the scale. Counsel asked that the judge allow him to attend an important medical appointment he has in the coming weeks. He also handed in testimonials from several people who outlined the volunteer work Bedford does with the marginalised, including the homeless and addicts. One professional wrote of him that: At times hes not got the balance right between protecting those in need and staying on the right side of the law. He has spent his life giving up his own time to help others, said Mr Jackson. Counsel submitted that Bedford had driven away from the area because he was in fear of his life. He said that his client was known as a counter protestor to the anti-immigration protest and was extremely afraid. He said that, when his vehicle stopped, Bedford was surrounded by people saying they would commit violence against him, and that people had run towards his vehicle and clashed with it. He should have remained stopped. He was very afraid, he said. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the speed was not great, but said that Bedford could have caused injury. I couldnt be certain that this man will not reoffend, he said. I think hes very righteous in his own cause. He jailed Bedford for 16 months, and said: if the authorities feel its in his interest to go to that (medical) appointment, they should bring him. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. According to a new study currently undergoing peer review, chewing gum could be a source of ingested microplastics. Researchers found that chewing gum could release thousands of microplastic particles into saliva over time, increasing the chance of ingestion. Our goal is not to alarm anybody, Sanjay Mohanty, principal investigator of the study and an engineering professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), said in a statement. Scientists dont 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 thats what we wanted to examine here. Scientists analyzed five brands of natural and five brands of synthetic chewing gums to determine potential for microplastic shedding. While synthetic chewing gums are made with rubbery, petroleum-based polymers, natural gum varieties rely on plant-based polymers for that chewable texture, with the polymers often coming from tree sap. Our initial hypothesis was that the synthetic gums would have a lot more microplastics because the base is a type of plastic, said Lisa Lowe, a graduate student at UCLA who is presenting the research this week at the American Chemical Society spring meeting. In one experiment in the study, each gum sample was chewed for 4 minutes, with saliva samples pulled every 30 seconds. After chewing, the person rinsed their mouth with water and that too became a sample. For another experiment, researchers collected saliva samples multiple times throughout a 20-minute timeframe and measured the microplastic amounts in each sample. While researchers had expected to find more microplastic shedding from synthetic gums, both natural and synthetic products led to similar amounts of microplastics released into saliva, often within just 2 minutes of chewing the gum. Both natural and synthetic gums had the same polymers, most of which were polyolefins. As the American Chemical Society reported, this group of plastics contains plastic types such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The team found an average of 100 microplastics shed into saliva for each gram of gum. Some pieces of gum released up to 637 microplastics per gram. Based on the calculations of a gram of gum weighing between 2 and 6 grams, the researchers determined that a single stick of gum could release up to 3,000 microplastics, and for habitual gum-chewers, this could add up to 10,000 microplastics shed into saliva per year. As Reuters reported, humans ingest around 5 grams of microplastics per week, and the new research revealed that chewing gum could contribute to the amount of ingested plastic particles. To minimize ingestion, the researchers recommended chewing one piece of gum for longer versus swapping in new sticks of gum more frequently, based on their findings that 94% of the collected microplastics were released within 8 minutes of chewing. But the findings also revealed that people should avoid discarding gum into environments, where additional microplastics could be shed and the polymer-based gum itself could become a piece of pollution. The plastic released into saliva is a small fraction of the plastic thats in the gum, Mohanty said in a statement. So, be mindful about the environment and dont just throw it outside or stick it to a gum wall. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Flood-impacted areas of the Nakhu River in the Tikabhairab region of southern Lalitpur, Nepal on Oct. 1, 2024. Ambir Tolang / NurPhoto Tackling the climate crisis with bold action will increase nations economic growth instead of damaging it as net-zero policy critics have claimed, according to new research from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Ambitious goals and implementing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would lead to a net gain in gross domestic product (GDP) worldwide by 2030, the report said. Climate action has gained momentum over the past decade, driving real economic opportunities. However, current efforts are not keeping pace with rising risks. Our planet is dangerously close to crossing the 1.5C temperature guardrail, and current actions are not far or fast enough to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Countries remain reluctant to scale up their climate actions and ambitions, fearing harm to their economies. This jeopardises the future of both our planet and its people, a press release from OECD said. The net gain to the global economy is projected to be 0.23 percent by 2040, but increases the following decade if emissions are reduced. The overwhelming evidence that we now have is that we are not regressing if we invest in climate transitions. We actually see a modest increase in GDP growth, that may look small at first but quickly grows, said UNDP Executive Secretary Achim Steiner at the Europe 2025 Conference in Berlin on Tuesday, as The Guardian reported. The worlds most advanced economies would see a gain of 60 percent in per capita GDP from 2025 levels by mid-century, with lower-income nations experiencing a 124 percent rise. Developing countries would also benefit in the shorter term if governments invested in reducing emissions, with 175 million people no longer being in poverty by 2030. However, if the climate crisis continues unabated, a third of the worlds GDP could be lost by 2100. Climate action is losing momentum, while accelerating it is needed to secure prosperity. Mounting economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and rising public debts are shifting priorities and straining government budgets, particularly for climate, the press release said. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, on Wednesday warned that the climate could plunge Europe into a permanent recession if the climate crisis is not addressed head-on. From unprecedented storms hitting Europes west coast and heatwaves, to droughts in Sicily and floods across central Europe, climate-driven disasters are slashing food production and destroying infrastructure, businesses, homes and communities, Stiell said in a speech in Berlin. And the climate crisis could carve up to 2.3% off Europes GDP by mid-century a recipe for permanent recession, meaning continuously shrinking economies, failing businesses, and significantly increased unemployment. New and more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) were due last month, but just 19 countries submitted their updated NDCs by that time. Any slowdown in climate action risks delaying much-needed investments, weakening economic resilience and increasing climate damages. The cost of insufficient action is clear: it could threaten future development, economic stability and long-term prosperity, the press release said. As nations prepare their next round of climate commitments with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), now is the opportunity to change this trajectory. The new analysis shows that increased climate ambition is both achievable and makes economic sense in the near-term and for the future. The 2025 NDC cycle is an opportunity to build collaborative approaches around climate, development and growth priorities, broaden and strengthen ownership of development-enhancing mitigation strategies, and inform effective investment plans and strategies to mobilise public and private sources of finance to deliver action, the press release said. (Photo: Vatican News)Pope Francis delivers Christmas greetings and his Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter's Square on Dec. 25, 2021. Pope Francis came close to death and told hospital staff, "It's bad," as they battled to save his life, a doctor treating the pontiff for pneumonia has disclosed. The 88-year-old pontiff was released from the hospital on March 23, after five weeks of fighting double pneumonia. The Pope is now back in his apartment in Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where he has lived since his election, two days after his discharge from Rome's Gemelli Hospital. He spent 38 days there being treated for double pneumonia and he is very happy to be back home, Vatican sources said, the Daily Mail reported. He has begun the "at least two months period of rest and convalescence" prescribed by his doctors, Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesperson, told journalists on March 25, America, the Jesuits Review reported. Francis is following a triple therapy: pharmacological (oral medicines), respiratory, and physiotherapy. His nurses are caring for him 24/7, assisted by his private secretaries. The Pope has not received any outside visitors yet, Bruni said, but he concelebrated Mass this morning in his private chapel on the second floor of Santa Marta, where he lives. It's unclear if Francis can lead or even attend any of April's services during Holy Week and Easter Sunday, the high point of the church's liturgical year, or make a planned trip to Turkiye in May, CNN reported. The Catholic Church is also in the midst of a jubilee year, with teams of pilgrims coming to Rome and expecting to see the Pope. "Francis has a difficult balancing act. He needs to take the time to recover to avoid any further relapse. Yet the expectations of the papacy, and the way he has exercised his office as a visible and accessible pope, demand his public presence," CNN commented. Apart from the update on the Pope, the breaking news in Rome on March 25 came from Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the coordinator of the medical team that cared for the Pope in Gemelli Hospital and the surgeon who operated on him in 2021 and 2023. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, the leading Italian daily newspaper, published, March 25, he revealed much of what happened to the Pope during his 38 days in the hospital, describing two critical situations where Francis came close to death. The first critical situation occurred on Feb. 22, when the Pope had a bronchial spasm; he struggled to breathe and asked for help. Professor Alfieri described that as "the worst moment. It was ugly." "For the first time, I saw tears in the eyes of some people around himpersons who, I understood in this period of hospitalization, sincerely love him, like a father. We were all aware that the situation had further worsened and there was a risk that he would not make it." Dr. Alfieri said, "We had to choose whether to stop and let him go, or to force and try all possible drugs and therapies, running the very high risk of damaging other organs. And in the end, we took this path." Sika deer thrive in E China's Jiangxi thanks to conservation efforts People's Daily Online) 10:55, March 27, 2025 Taohongling Sika Deer National Nature Reserve in Pengze county, east China's Jiangxi Province, has seen a dramatic increase in its sika deer population, thanks to conservation efforts by the reserve and local residents. Staff at the Shangshiling protection station are responsible for monitoring the sika deer, a south China subspecies under first-class national protection. The reserve's administration bureau and local villagers have helped the population grow to over 670. Photo shows wild sika deer in Taohongling Sika Deer National Nature Reserve in Pengze county, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Photo courtesy of Taohongling Sika Deer National Nature Reserve) The conservation effort began in 1980 when wild sika deer were discovered in Taohongling. A provincial-level nature reserve was established the following year and upgraded to national status in 2001. "I've been working at the reserve's administration bureau for 36 years now," said Liu Xiaohong, the 56-year-old director of the reserve's ecological monitoring station. "Our monitoring station was once high in the mountains, lacking electricity, water and road access," Liu recalled. "Living there meant mosquito bites in summer and freezing winds in winter." He added that each patrol required a hike of more than 10 kilometers through mountain trails, a round trip of four to five hours. "Public awareness of ecological conservation has increased significantly, and illegal hunting has virtually disappeared," Liu said. Now, his focus is primarily on ecological monitoring. "Besides observing the surrounding environment and handling forest fire prevention, we take photos of any wildlife we spot during patrols," Liu noted, adding that sika deer are often spotted foraging and resting among the trees. "Additionally, we've built an intelligent monitoring platform for real-time, comprehensive monitoring and analysis," said Dai Jie, deputy director of the reserve's administration bureau. The reserve has strategically placed over 280 infrared cameras and 39 real-time monitoring cameras, providing crucial data support for protecting sika deer and other rare wildlife. The sika deer population has increased from fewer than 60 to more than 670 after more than 40 years of conservation efforts, according to a November 2024 survey. Liu said the reserve has created more than 10 wildlife corridors along mountain ridges for sika deer and other animals. To supplement micronutrients like sodium, iron and zinc, the reserve has constructed 29 salt lick sites in areas where sika deer are commonly found. Additionally, six water sites have been established to ensure the deer and other wildlife have drinking water during dry periods. The reserve started habitat restoration projects in 2002 to provide more space for sika deer, said Ying Xia, another deputy director of the reserve's administration bureau. Ying added that the reserve works with research institutions to study and monitor the area's rare wildlife, including sika deer. They conduct surveys, analyze ecosystem changes and perform ongoing research on the animals. Photo shows a scene of Taohongling Sika Deer National Nature Reserve in Pengze county, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the convergence media center of Pengze county) Since 2022, the reserve has provided insurance for crop damage caused by wildlife annually, with 143 villagers receiving compensation last year, Dai said. "Meanwhile, we've stepped up public education about sika deer protection through social media accounts that combine scientific information with publicity," Dai added. "We've also built a sika deer learning center to teach people about them." Over the years, more people have joined the sika deer protection team. "With local government support, we've established a joint protection committee that integrates multiple departments, towns and townships, clearly assigning specific responsibilities," Ying said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Utah Governor Spencer Cox has signed the App Store Accountability Act into law, making it the first state to require that app store makers verify their users' ages. Under this law, people in Utah will need to be over age 18 to make a new account with an app store; underage users will need to link their account to a parent's so that the adult can give permission for the child to use certain apps. The legislation is intended to protect children and teens, according to bill sponsor Todd Weiler, a Republican state senator. However, it has also raised questions about privacy and where the burden of responsibility falls to ensure that underage users don't see inappropriate content. Meta, Snap and X have supported the measure. "We applaud Governor Cox and the State of Utah for being the first in the nation to empower parents and users with greater control over teen app downloads, and urge other states to consider this groundbreaking approach," the three companies said in a joint statement Wednesday. "This approach spares users from repeatedly submitting personal information to countless individual apps and online services." Google, which runs the Play Store, had opposed the bill, and called on the governor to veto the measure. We've reached out to Apple and Google for comment now that the bill has been signed into law. As it stands, the App Store Accountability Act is slated to take effect on May 7, but it seems likely that it will face legal challenges. Digital privacy groups have opposed the law and others like it, noting security concerns about how sensitive age verification data will be used or protected. Other state laws requiring online services to confirm users' ages have also prompted lawsuits. It might be around that time of year when youre starting to figure out your summer vacation plans. Google has revealed some new features that can help with that, including a handy AI-powered one for Maps. If you turn on the new screenshot list, Gemini can automatically recognize locations that are mentioned in screenshots you take in the app. You can then save the places you're interested in to a list. These saved spots will appear on the map, and you can share the list with your travel companions. This feature will be available on iOS in English in the US starting this week. It's coming to Android soon. ever forget about screenshots of places in your camera roll? this new feature was made for you Google Maps turns your screenshots into a list of saved places so you can easily find them for later rolling out this week in the U.S. in English on iOS and coming soon to pic.twitter.com/z8RafkIWcS Google Maps (@googlemaps) March 27, 2025 Google has long offered flight price tracking features, and now the company is expanding that to hotel pricing via its dedicated search tool. If you have your eyes on a destination for particular dates, you can track prices for hotels and get alerts when they drop. Just tap or click the price tracker toggle underneath the search filters. If prices for any of the hotels in the results drop dramatically, you'll get a notification via email. This feature will be available globally this week. In a blog post announcing these updates, Google also suggests that you could use AI Overviews in Search to help with travel planning. Starting this week with English queries in the US, the tool will offer trip planning for certain regions or whole countries. So if you enter something like "create a foodie itinerary for Japan," AI Overviews should offer some ideas you can export as a list of recommendations in Docs or Gmail. You can save these suggestions in Google Maps as a custom list as well. I'm not sure I'd trust a tool that doesn't know how many days there are in a month to come up with travel ideas for me, but, hey, the option's there. On that subject, Google is expanding AI Overviews in Lens and Circle to Search. They'll soon be available in Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, in most of the countries where AI Overviews are accessible. A pair of cult classics from Sony's PlayStation Portable library are heading to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PC. As part of the Nintendo Direct showcase this March, Bandai Namco announced Patapon 1 + 2 Replay, a package that brings together brand new remasters of 2007's Patapon and 2008's Patapon 2. Originally developed by Pyramid and Sony Japan Studio, which shuttered in 2021, the two games combine elements from strategy and rhythm games. As the player, you must guide a tribe of anthropomorphic eyeballs to victory over their foes through a combination of drum beats. Patapon and Patapon 2 were well-received on release and went on to define the PSP's library of quirky but fun games. In addition to HD graphics, Patapon 1 + 2 Replay includes quality of life changes that should hopefully make this the best way to play these two gems. Update, March 31, 1:15PM ET: Bandai Namco confirmed that Patapon 1 + 2 Replay is coming to PS5 and PC as well as Switch, and this information has been included in the article. Ubisoft is continuing its efforts to course-correct after several challenging years . Today, the video game company announced that it will launch a subsidiary centered around three of its most familiar franchises: Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six. The as-yet-unnamed subsidiary will fold in the teams working on those three series, including Ubisoft studios in Montreal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona and Sofia. This new business will receive an investment of 1.16 billion (roughly $1.25 billion) from its longstanding partner Tencent, granting the conglomerate a minority ownership stake. Following the transaction, Ubisoft will narrow focus to its other franchises, such as The Division and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon. "Today Ubisoft is opening a new chapter in its history," CEO and Co-Founder Yves Guillemot said. "As we accelerate the companys transformation, this is a foundational step in changing Ubisofts operating model that will enable us to be both agile and ambitious." Ubisoft has been cutting costs and jobs over the past several months after several of its new projects flopped . There have been hints for a while that the company's leaders were interested in either finding a buyer or exploring a joint venture with Tencent to help reverse its fortunes. It's encouraging that the recent Assassin's Creed: Shadows has already reached 3 million players, but Ubisoft will probably need a few more wins to fully stabilize. There is some extra good news in the announcement. The description of the new subsidiary does specify that "it will drive further increases in quality of narrative solo experiences." So while we can expect to also see multiplayer and free-to-play offerings from the Ubisoft umbrella, they aren't giving up on single-player games. European countries agreed at a summit in Paris Thursday to ramp up rather than lift sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine, as Britain and France began sketching out plans to send a "reassurance" force after any peace. President Emmanuel Macron hosted the meeting of Ukraine's European allies and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the latest effort to agree a coordinated policy after Donald Trump shocked Europe by opening direct talks with the Kremlin. The United States claims tentative progress towards a ceasefire to end the three-year conflict sparked by Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion in February 2022. But as yet a peace deal appears far off and the meeting of over two dozen European heads of state and government also underlined differences within the "coalition of the willing", with not all states signing onto the French-British plan to deploy troops postwar. "He really wants to divide Europe and America, Putin really wants that," Zelensky said after the summit, adding Kyiv wants Washington to be "stronger" towards the Kremlin. He warned "everybody understood and understands that today Russia does not want any kind of peace". - 'Reassurance force' - There appeared to be consensus around the table at the Elysee Palace that sanctions imposed against Russia should not be weakened, and rather intensified, until there is peace. "There was complete clarity that now is not the time for the lifting of sanctions, quite the contrary -- what we discussed is how we can increase sanctions to support the US initiative to bring Russia to the table," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said alongside Zelensky. In a separate briefing, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said lifting sanctions would be a "grave mistake" and "makes no sense" without a truce. Zelensky criticised "very dangerous signals" on that possibility, pointing especially to Saudi Arabia. As well as boosting Ukraine's own armed forces, a key pillar of ensuring security and preventing further Russian invasions could be to deploy European troops to Ukraine, although until now it has been far from clear how this could happen. Macron said after the summit that France and Britain were leading efforts to send a "reassurance force" to Ukraine after any end to the fighting. "It does not have unanimity today, but we do not need unanimity to do this," he added, saying a Franco-British delegation would head to Ukraine in the coming days for talks. - 'Many questions' - Macron emphasised that members of such a force would not be peacekeepers, deployed on the front line or any kind of substitute for the Ukrainian army. Also, he said, not all of Ukraine's European allies would be represented in the force, with some states not "having the capacity" and some reluctant due to the "political context". The Franco-British delegation would begin talks over where such a force could be deployed. It would have the "character of deterrence against any potential Russian aggression", he said. Macron added that the summit agreed that he and Starmer would together "co-pilot" Europe's 'coalition of action' for stable and durable peace". But Zelensky struck a more downbeat note, warning that "there are many questions" but "so far, there are few answers" about the force, who would lead it and what it can do. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has long made clear her reserves over the troop deployment plan, said she hoped the United States will be involved in the next European meeting on Ukraine and repeated Rome's refusal to send troops to defend any peace deal. But Starmer, hailing the summit, said: "This is Europe mobilising together behind the peace process on a scale that we haven't seen for decades, backed by partners from around the world." - 'Reaction from the US' - Ukraine has offered through the United States a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has so far failed to respond, with the European allies growing all the more impatient. Underscoring how far apart the sides remain, Ukraine accused Russia Thursday of violating a US-brokered agreement to refrain from targeting energy infrastructure with an artillery strike that caused a power outage in the city of Kherson. The Ukrainian army meanwhile rejected Russian claims it had itself targeted energy sites. "I think there should be a reaction from the US," Zelensky told reporters in Paris, saying that energy facilities had been damaged in a strike Thursday and that it was "unclear who is monitoring" the pledges to halt such strikes. Thursday's meeting comes after the White House said Russia and Ukraine had agreed on the contours of a possible ceasefire in the Black Sea, during parallel talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia. fff-sjw/jh/phz (The Center Square) - The Nevada Secretary of States Office released a report last week showing that the state is investigating 303 double vote incidents in the 2024 general election. In Nevada, voting twice is a felony. A person convicted of this crime could be sentenced to one to four years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine. Only five of the 303 cases have been closed. Four resulted in a civil notice/violation, and one was referred to an outside agency. The other 298 cases remain open. The report notes that these potential double votes represent 0.02% of the 1,487,887 ballots cast in the 2024 General Election. Nevada received 867 Election Integrity Violation reports as of Dec. 31. The state has 174 cases still open. A total of 687 reports ended in no criminal or civil charges. One report was referred to an outside agency, and five cases were closed with violations found in them. Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar said his office takes the security of the states elections seriously and works tirelessly to maintain the high standards Nevadas voters deserve. Im proud of the investments the Secretary of States Office has made into protecting every level of the voting process, and steps weve taken to ensure Nevadas voters can continue to be confident in the integrity of our elections, Aguilar explained. The secretary of state also said he was proud of his offices continuing efforts in transparency and accountability. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating a proof of citizenship requirement to register for voting in federal elections. In a statement to KOLO 8 News Now, Aguilar said Nevada has some of Americas most secure elections. He also called this executive order a federal overreach. BOZEMAN, Mont. A Friday afternoon town hall at the Bozeman Public Library, where several of Montanas representatives were invited, turned into a protest as attendees gathered to express concerns over recent actions from the Trump administration. The event was organized by Indivisible Bozeman, a group created from Indivisible. The national organization says on their website, Indivisible Project (501c4) drives coordinated campaigns, powering the grassroots Indivisible movement to defeat the rightwing takeover of American government and win an inclusive democracy and bold progressive policies. You can learn more about the organization here. Indivisible Bozeman invited Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, and Rep. Ryan Zinke. They did not attend. Pamela Benjamin, an attendee, shared her motivation for coming: I felt like I needed to do something. I don't know how useful this may or may not be, but it's important for our voices to be heard. Without the delegates, the event became a platform for participants to voice grievances. Concerns included checks and balances, job cuts, and the influence of figures like Elon Musk in the government. One attendee, a veteran, said he was worried about the future for other veterans who went on to continue work in the VA after leaving active duty service, especially after job cuts in other government sectors. Our reps tell me this is all about the federal budget and cutting bloated department administrations. All I see is frontline, on-the-ground workers losing their jobs," he said. Kent Madin, another attendee, expressed his concerns. Our democracy is being dismantled in front of our eyes by oligarchs and people who value transactions more than liberty, he said. Another attendee spoke about his daughter and son-in-law. He said the two worked for USAID for twelve years. Their work took them to several African nations and his daughters focus was on womens rights. They were most recently in Ecuador when they received notice that their jobs were cut. They are still in Ecuador and working to get home some time this spring. Former Republican Montana Governor Marc Racicot also attended. He spoke about the impact of rapid government reform and job cuts, stating, The lawless laying of waste presently and repetitively unfolding across the country, creating emergencies, ensuring that pain and injury in every direction is nowhere near a normal or expected consequence of legitimate reform. Former Gov. Racicot also said he was concerned over checks and balances and ensuring the Trump administration follows court orders from the judicial branch. I would like assurances from everyone who represents us and occupies the position of being able to respond to the question that every single court order issued by every single federal court judge having jurisdiction over the matter under consideration will be obeyed by the President of the United States, he said. NonStop Local reached out to the invited delegates for their response. The following statement is from the office of Congressman Ryan Zinke: "Indivisible is a far-left organization that is staging protests and labeling them as town halls. Congressman Zinke has hosted radio town halls several times over the past few weeks, including today in Missoula. He has also been traveling throughout western Montana this week, meeting with constituents in Dillon, Butte, Hamilton, Bozeman, and Missoula. Congressman Zinke constantly meets with his constituents but does not engage with groups whose sole purpose is harassment." The following is a statement released on X by Senator Tim Sheehy: Here is my response to media asking if I will attend Democrat Dark Money Group Indivisibles left-wing rallies: No, I will not legitimize a radical group that wants to defund the police and abolish ICE. The following is a statement from the office of Senator Steve Daines: Senator Daines frequently meets with Montanans at public meetings across the state. Daines also hosts statewide, public town halls where tens of thousands of Montanans are able to ask questions and hear directly from their Senator. On top of that, he highly values hearing from Montanans via phone call, email, fax or letter and works to get each Montanan a timely response. To be clearIndivisible is a far-Left organization funded by the radical wing of the Democrat party. They do not unilaterally control the Senators schedule, and just as the members of this organization were told when they called the Senators office, he will not be able to attend due to previously scheduled events. On top of that, for the past 10 weeks Daines has been in Washington, DC, voting to move forward with the mandate from Montanans: to carry out President Trumps America First agenda. This year, the North American Manure Expo will be held on July 30 and July 31 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio. The Manure Expo is a unique event that combines a trade show with live demonstrations and educational opportunities all in one. Since its inception in 2001, it has been hosted in 11 different states and provinces. The event showcases everything from equipment displays to tours highlighting the latest innovations in manure management. Agencies and organizations from across the country will participate, including our very own Fulton County Soil and Water Conservation District, which will be assisting with the event. The North American Manure Expo was officially formalized in 2013 after being managed for years by the Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Extension Nutrient Management Team. The board consists of PNAAW members, secondary state haulers, industry company representatives, national extension professionals and an executive from Annex Business Media, the publisher of Manure Manager magazine and the official Show Manager of the Manure Expo. As part of the event, Fulton County Soil and Water was asked to take charge of the P2O5 (phosphorus) activity. The purpose of this activity is to showcase the phosphorus content in both liquid and solid manure. For example, one demonstration will feature a 50-gallon drum filled with liquid dairy cow manure, which contains approximately 0.06 pounds of phosphorus per 50 pounds of manure. Dry manure, on the other hand, contains about 0.1 pounds of phosphorus per 50 pounds. Demonstrating the phosphorus content in manure helps optimize nutrient management by ensuring farmers apply the right amount of nutrients to their crops, improving soil fertility while minimizing waste. This activity promotes sustainable farming practices such as precision farming, which reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and lowers the environmental impact. Understanding phosphorus levels also helps farmers comply with regulations aimed at preventing water pollution caused by nutrient runoff. Additionally, these demonstrations raise public awareness of the vital connection between farming practices and environmental conservation, helping to foster a better understanding of how agriculture impacts water quality and resource conservation. In conclusion, understanding and managing phosphorus levels in manure is a critical step toward sustainable agriculture. By optimizing nutrient use, reducing environmental impacts and complying with regulations, farmers can contribute to healthy soil and clean water. Events like the Manure Expo provide valuable opportunities for farmers and industry professionals to learn about best practices in nutrient management and conservation. As we continue to educate and raise awareness through events like this, we can work toward a more sustainable future for agriculture and the environment. Through informed decision-making and proactive management, we can ensure the long-term health of both our ecosystems and agricultural systems. In Guernsey County, Ohio, we were in the heart of the drought, which caused significant stress to many of our plants. As our pastures begin to break dormancy, Im eager to see how they will perform this year. Given the amount of stress the pastures have encountered, I highly recommend forage testing to accurately assess their nutritional value. Forages are the primary food source for cattle, with grazing pastures offering grasses or legumes, and other options including hay or silage. Forage testing provides valuable insights into the nutritional content of these feeds, helping you determine whether supplementation is necessary or if you may be over-supplementing. With high-quality forage, you can reduce supplementation, leading to cost savings. On the other hand, if your forage is of lower quality, additional supplementation may be required, which could increase costs and prevent your cattle from reaching their ideal body condition. Forage testing Forage testing involves collecting a sample of pasture, hay or silage and sending it to a lab for analysis. Common components tested include crude protein, dry matter, acid detergent fiber, calcium and phosphorus, though there are others. Check your local extension office to see if they offer a forage probe for rent, along with a step-by-step guide on how to properly collect your samples. Conducting forage tests helps optimize forage use, improve animal health, enhance reproduction and boost overall performance. Additionally, if you sell forages, testing can help you set competitive pricing and compare the quality of your forage to others. Ideally, forage testing should be done shortly after harvest and before feeding the forages. If you test your forages after harvest and then bale and store them, the quality may change due to storage conditions and further maturity. When taking a forage sample from baled hay, the process for square bales and large round bales differs slightly, but the general principle remains the same. For square bales, the forage probe should be driven into the end of 15 to 20 bales, typically using a drill or hand crank. For large round bales, the sample is taken from the round side of the bale, and you should collect 10 to 12 samples from different bales. Its crucial to remove the outer oxide layer before sampling, as it can skew the results. As you are collecting the samples, place the cores into a clean bucket and thoroughly mix them together. Next, spread the samples onto a clean, flat surface and divide them into quarters. Take the two opposite quarters, ensuring to capture the hay fines, as they are the most nutritious part of the sample. Pastures can be analyzed by collecting samples from the height at which the animals are grazing. Its important to take several random samples from different locations to get a representative sample. Ideally, you should allow the samples to dry before sending them to the lab for analysis, as this helps prevent moisture from affecting the results and ensures a more accurate assessment of the forages nutritional content. One way to sample silage is by collecting five to six samples from the feed bunk, placing them in sealable bags. Gather samples over two to three days to ensure a representative mix. After collecting the samples, thoroughly mix them together and take a portion of about 1 to 2 pounds. To help preserve quality and give an accurate test result, refrigerate the samples during the testing period. It is crucial to use proper sampling techniques to ensure accurate data. Samples should be randomly selected and you should follow the correct guidelines. Each field should have its own sample, especially if the forages were cut on different days. Make sure to store your cuttings in a way that they can be easily identified when its time to test them. Ensure forages you are feeding your cattle are clearly labeled so they can be properly matched with the analysis results. Reviewing results When reviewing your forage test results, its important to focus on key components such as dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, net energy maintenance, net energy gain and minerals. Here are some guidelines to consider when analyzing your results: If your ADF is on the higher end (40% to 50%), expect lower digestibility and energy content. An ideal ADF range is 30% to 35%. For animals requiring more energy, aim for a lower NDF (30% to 40%), while a higher NDF (55% to 60%) means the forage will be coarser, better suited for cattle with lower energy demands. High-quality forage is essential for improving body condition in cows, supporting lactating cows and promoting growth in young cattle. Analyzing your dry matter ratio can help save money and ensure that your cattles nutrient requirements are met, leading to a healthier herd. For beef cows, they should consume about 2% to 2.5% of their body weight in DM per day. For example, a 1,000-pound cow would need to consume 25 pounds of DM daily (1,000 x 0.025). To determine how much forage this would require, divide the daily intake by the DM percentage: pounds per day/ DM% = pounds per day of forage. This calculation helps assess whether the cow can meet intake goals with the available forage or if supplementation is necessary Forage testing is crucial for optimizing livestock nutrition by providing valuable insights into the nutritional content of forages. Investing in forage testing is a straightforward yet powerful way to improve livestock performance and ensure the long-term success of a farm. SALEM, Ohio Egg prices have fallen in the United States, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking credit. Wholesale egg prices have dropped nearly 50% since Feb. 26, when USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced her $1 billion five-pronged plan to combat the H5N1 bird flu and reduce egg prices. The plan included increasing financial relief for farmers whose flocks were depopulated, exploring poultry vaccine options and helping farmers beef up biosecurity. The USDA also increased egg imports from Turkey and South Korea, and Rollins said discussions are ongoing with other countries to expand supply in the short term. The New York wholesale egg price, which peaked at $8.53 per dozen, has declined to $4.08 as of March 19. The downward trend underscores the effectiveness of USDAs approach, according to a March 19 USDA press release. Demand for eggs dropped precipitously after market prices spiked, but the downward slide seems to have halted for now, according to the USDAs March 21 Egg Markets report. Consumers are slowly beginning to see downward price adjustments and increasing availability in the dairycase and just in time as the market is on the cusp of the Easter and Passover demand season, the report said. Bird flu impact Outbreaks of bird flu in egg-laying flocks have slowed, with the last outbreak confirmed March 4 in an Indiana flock of 187,200. This, too, is helping lower egg prices. So far in 2025, bird flu outbreaks in commercial egg-laying flocks have resulted in the depopulation of more than 30 million birds, with Ohio being the hardest hit, accounting for 13.3 million birds, or 44% of egg layer losses due to bird flu this year. Pennsylvania has lost just over 2 million egg-laying chickens to bird flu in 2025. Overall, Ohio producers have lost more than 14 million birds on 73 farms to bird flu this year. The last confirmed detection was on March 6. The Ohio Department of Agriculture recently issued a temporary bird movement ban on non-commercial premises in 13 western Ohio counties to contain the spread of the bird flu. The affected counties are Darke, Mercer, Van Wert, Auglaize, Paulding, Putnam, Allen, Hardin, Logan, Shelby, Miami, Montgomery and Preble. The ban went into effect March 17 and will remain until May 15. This restriction applies to poultry, wild game birds, fancy poultry species and exotic species at public and private events like exhibitions, auctions, swap meets, flea markets and livestock markets. The proclamation, signed by ODA Director Brian Baldridge, says its a necessary move to protect Ohios commercial poultry industry which contributes $4.9 billion to the states economy and accounts for more than 16,000 jobs. More than 168 million birds in all 51 U.S. states and territories have been impacted by bird flu since the H5N1 outbreak began in February 2022. COLUMBUS The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlifes law enforcement officers assigned to Lake Erie recently closed two cases in which anglers unlawfully took more than the legal daily limit of six walleye. Walleye fishing limits are enforced by the Division of Wildlife to prevent overfishing and protect the fishery for sustainable use. In December 2024, Ohio Wildlife investigators Kelsey Brockman, Brian Bury, Jason Hadsell and Kevin Good discovered anglers at Huron Fishing Access Boat Launch in Erie County were double tripping, an unlawful practice of surpassing daily bag limits by taking multiple trips onto Lake Erie in a day. In total, 10 anglers were charged in Huron Municipal Court. In the first court case, Robert H. Bragg, 34, of Antwerp; Brian N. Gerschutz, 49, of Oakwood; Noah N. Gerschutz, 26, of Payne, and Joshua N. Longardner, 27, of Payne, were charged for taking more than the daily limit of walleye on Lake Erie. Each was found guilty and paid $210 in fines and court costs. Fifteen walleye were forfeited to the Division of Wildlife. Six anglers were charged in a second court case: Devon S. Devries, 28, of Rothbury, Michigan; Todd A. Devries, 52, of Montague, Michigan.; Gregg D. Zack, 58, of Whitehall, Michigan; Nathan J. Zack, 31, of Whitehall, Michigan; Phillip L. Manthei, 62, of Twin Lake, Michigan, and Jason A. Unger, 49, of Hudsonville, Michigan. All six anglers were found guilty of taking more than the daily limit of walleye on Lake Erie and possessing fish in an unlawful form while away from a permanent residence. Each was ordered to pay $310 in fines and court costs, and 22 walleye were forfeited to the Division of Wildlife. Two of the defendants had previous charges for taking more than the legal limit of walleye on Lake Erie. Anyone who witnesses a wildlife violation in Ohio can call the Turn in a Poacher hotline at 1-800-762-2437. Reports are kept anonymous. Information that results in the conviction of a wildlife crime may result in a reward. In a decision that campaigners say will have "huge implications" for the handling of manure on farms nationwide, the High Court ruled that chicken manure can be classified as waste. Earlier this month, judges said that it cannot be assumed that manure will be used in a way that does not risk harm to the environment simply by the existence of protective regulations such as the Farming Rules for Water. When, in March 2024, Local Planning Authority (LPA) for Herefordshire Council introduced a new agricultural waste policy 'Policy W3' that required new developments to be nutrient neutral in order to protect the local environment against the effects of surpluses, the NFU brought on a legal challenge. This was on multiple grounds, with the union claiming that: Herefordshire Councils Mineral Waste Local Plan (MWLP) went beyond its remit, unlawfully seeking to control legitimate use of manure. The duplication of controls otherwise presented in environmental and permitting legislation was unsound. Manure was inappropriately categorised as waste rather than by-product The controls of the MWLP sought not only to influence the development of the site but, unlawfully, the activities that eventuated on the site, and the agricultural unit as a whole Consultation did not follow due process and, as such, prejudiced the subsequent challenge brought by NFU Following a two day hearing in December, in which campaign group River Action made representations in support of the Herefordshire Council, the judge this month dismissed all of the principle arguments made by NFU. The reaction to the verdict Charles Watson of River Action said the ruling "marks a major victory both for the river Wye and rivers generally across the nation". He said: "It exposes yet another attempt by the NFU to push back on important initiatives intended to end the blight of agricultural pollution in our rivers. "We believe the ruling clarifies once and for all that the intensive factory production of livestock is clearly an industrial manufacturing process, whereby the often-toxic waste that it produces must be treated as such. Environmental campaigners will likely see the ruling as a precedent for similar protections to be embedded in in all planning applications for livestock production developments. Carol Day, environment solicitor at law firm Leigh Day said the judgement should also now mean that proper environmental controls are put in place across the country to oversee the production and handling of manure Paul Collins, lawyer at Ashfords LLP, said the decisions 'is unlikely to be the last word' Rachel Hallos, NFU vice president added: We are extremely disappointed by the High Courts ruling and are currently reviewing the judgement carefully to examine its potential implications for our members in Herefordshire. Todays decision will come as a further blow to farmings ability to invest and improve on-farm infrastructure. The NFU is considering whether to seek permission to appeal todays ruling." Why is this verdict significant? There is an important distinction between development itself and activity on that development. Planning policies shape the development, and separate regulations have controlled the arising activity. In this case, those lines have been blurred and a vital precedent has been set. Herefordshire Councils Policy W3 seeks to regulate not only development on the agricultural unit, but also the agricultural activities thereon. NFU sought to argue that farming practices are sufficiently regulated under specific rules, namely the environmental protection and permitting laws. The union cited the National Planning Policy Framework 2023, which states the focus of planning policies and decisions should be on whether proposed development is an acceptable use of land, rather than the control of processes or emissions (where these are subject to separate pollution control regimes). "Planning decisions should assume that these regimes will operate effectively. Referring to the categorised degradation of the River Wye over the past decade, the High Court's Justice Lieven determined that it cannot be assumed that such regimes are working properly, and that the LPA was indeed lawful to make novel provisions for environmental protection in their WMLP. Of the Farming Rules for Water, the judge said they are a regulatory regime which beyond any doubt had failed to protect the environment from harm. OEP opens investigation into Farming Rules for Water In the days following the judgement, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) launched an investigation into possible failures by Defra and the Environment Agency to comply with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) Regulations, one of the key laws in place to protect water quality. This follows a report by the OEP into the implementation of the WFD Regulations, published in May 2024, which found that issues with implementation meant key targets for improvement of water bodies by 2027 were highly likely to be missed. Key issues identified in the report included plans that are too generic and therefore dont address specific issues at individual sites, and plans being put in place despite low government confidence that their objectives can be achieved. Defra has formally responded to that report and broadly accepted its findings, but that response did not provide direct assurances that the issues identified would be addressed in a timely manner. The follow-up OEP investigation will look at whether those issues raised in the report represent failures to comply with environmental law. If it is determined that there have been such failures, the investigation will aim to accelerate progress to achieving the environmental outcomes for water bodies, inform any changes or developments to legislation, and raise public awareness and participation in the process to improve accountability. Helen Venn, the OEPs chief regulatory officer, said: We are engaged with the Independent Water Commission led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, which will be looking at aspects of the WFD Regulations. "We await the outcome of the appeal in the case brought by Pickering Fishery Association relating to the correct interpretation of the Regulations, which we intervened in. Our aim is for this investigation to be a valuable part of that bigger picture, informing any reforms, changes and actions through clarifying what is required of government under the current regulations, so any issues are not carried forward. We are concerned that there is an indication of potential failures to comply with environmental laws which are having negative consequences for water bodies, and this is why the important targets for water quality are likely to be missed." Ms Venn continued: Even with all the other activities taking place, none involve firm commitments to address the issues we have identified, and the timeline and extent of any resulting changes are currently uncertain. "Clarifying the requirements under the current regulations can help drive action to ensure those targets for water bodies are met as quickly as possible. What are the implications for farmers? Locally, with the ongoing legal case against Avara and other associated poultry firms, this ruling will serve to boost the confidence of the litigators. Leigh Day partner Oliver Holland said chicken manure "is a pollutant and should be managed appropriately". He said: "This judgement recognises that and it is a significant development both for my clients in the Wye, Lugg and Usk regions. "They are seeking to hold alleged polluter to account but also in the wider environmental context to ensure that the environment is better protected from intensive farming practices. Seeking another perspective, Paul Collins, lawyer at Ashfords LLP, told the British Free Range Egg Producers' Association (BFREPA) that it "remains to be seen how the poultry farming sector in Herefordshire, as well as livestock production generally, will respond." He said: "The decision also raises the questions of whether other LPAs might draw from Policy W3 in formulating their MWLPs. The decisions is unlikely to be the last word in this legal area. "The definition of manures as waste will likely bring with it a greater burden of responsibility and scrutiny on the producer, as well as commercial implications for anyone trading or handling manures. "Arguably more significant is the introduction of new case law that affords councils across the land the powers to make supplementary provisions for environmental protection that surpass or duplicate existing regulations." The actress said, "It makes you realise what truly matters. The entire family only felt gratitude because it could have gone so wrong. I am so grateful that everything is fine. It was a reminder of the life we have. We all talk about practising mental health. Being grateful for your life is so important. And moments like that make you realise it." Saif Ali Khan was stabbed brutally in January at his residence in Bandra. He was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital for almost a week. While the actor did not suffer any life-threatening injuries, he underwent surgery. Recently, Saif Ali Khan's daughter, actress Sara Ali Khan, opened up about the incident and said that life could have changed overnight had things gone wrong. See Also: Saif Ali Khan, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan were clicked spending quality time in the city Saif Ali Khan was stabbed six times by an intruder who reportedly broke into his Bandra residence on January 16. He sustained two deep wounds and one that was close to his spine. Sara continued, "He is my father; we are as close as we can be. It did not make me realise that he is my father; it made me realise that life can change overnight. So, every day deserves mindful celebration. It made me realise just being grateful." Salman Khan is gearing up to release his movie, Sikandar. He is starring alongside Rashmika Madanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Prateik Babbar, Sharman Joshi, Kajal Aggarwal, Anjini Dhawan and Sathyaraj. During an exclusive chat with the media, Khan opened up about the movie, his family, career and the death threats he has been receiving lately. Receiving death threats is not new to Salman. The actor has been receiving multiple death threats and ransom demands. He has also been receiving threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's group, who has issued him warnings due to his alleged involvement in the blackbuck poaching case. The actor has also been provided with Y+ security, which is a heightened level of protection, involving a security detail of 11 personnel, including 2-4 commandos and police officers. See Also: Pics: Salman Khan Steps Out To Promote Sikandar In Mumbai About Sikandar Salman was also clicked at the trailer launch of Sikandar. While details about the movie weren't revealed, the movie will explore the journey of a man who takes on a corrupt system. He speaks up for the common people and becomes their only hope. During the tete-a-tete, Khan noted that he believes in the almighty to mend situations. Adding further, he said, "Bhagwan, Allah sab unpar hai. Jitni umar likhi hai, utni likhi hai. Bas yahi hai." The actor opened up about working with other people, which becomes his biggest concern amidst receiving the threats. "Kabhi kabhi itne saare logon ko leke chalte hai, problem ho jaati hai," he noted, adding that he is concerned about everyone's safety.Receiving death threats is not new to Salman. The actor has been receiving multiple death threats and ransom demands. He has also been receiving threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's group, who has issued him warnings due to his alleged involvement in the blackbuck poaching case. The actor has also been provided with Y+ security, which is a heightened level of protection, involving a security detail of 11 personnel, including 2-4 commandos and police officers.Salman was also clicked at the trailer launch of Sikandar. While details about the movie weren't revealed, the movie will explore the journey of a man who takes on a corrupt system. He speaks up for the common people and becomes their only hope. While speaking about the movie and the love his fans shower on him, Salman said, "Festive, non-festive... it's the love of the people. Picture achhi ho buri ho, 100 to paar karva hi dege (It doesn't matter if it's a festive release or a non-festive one. It's about the love of the people. The picture could be either good or bad, but people will make it cross Rs 100 crore)." Vikram starrer Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2 was expected to be released in the morning on March 27. The film has music by GV Prakash Kumar, cinematography by Theni Eswar, editing by Prasanna GK, stunt choreography by Phoenix Prabu, and art direction by CS Balachandar. The release was stalled due to a Delhi HC order regarding a plea filed by a film production company. The recent update is that the movie has overcome the legal battle and is set for release. The film's director SU Arun Kumar has apologised for the delay but confirmed that the issues have been sorted. The issues began when a film production company alleged that the movie's digital rights would be sold before the release. The release date announcement was made before the OTT rights were sold. The makers were also earlier ordered by HC to deposit Rs 7 crores. They were asked to furnish the necessary documents within 48 hours and push the release date by a month. However, the recent update states that the film has been successfully released. The movie's morning and afternoon shows were cancelled which disappointed Vikram's fans and ardent movie lovers. The shows in the USA were also cancelled. 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! EQS-Ad-hoc: ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE / Schlagwort(e): Verkauf/Beteiligung/Unternehmensbeteiligung ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE: ProSiebenSat.1 verkauft Verivox an Moltiply 21.03.2025 / 15:18 CET/CEST Veroffentlichung einer Insiderinformation nach Artikel 17 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 596/2014, ubermittelt durch EQS News - ein Service der EQS Group. Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich. Unterfohring, 21. Marz 2025. ProSiebenSat.1 hat heute eine bindende Vereinbarung mit einem Tochterunternehmen der Moltiply Group S.p.A. uber den Verkauf von Verivox unterzeichnet, der voraussichtlich noch heute vollzogen (Closing) wird. Dem Verkauf liegt ein Eigenkapitalwert (equity value) von Verivox von 232 Mio Euro zu Grunde. Zusatzlich beinhaltet die Vereinbarung eine Earn-out-Komponente von bis zu weiteren 60 Mio Euro (davon entfallen bis zu 43 Mio Euro auf ProSiebenSat.1), die an definierte Ertragsziele im Geschaftsjahr 2025 gekoppelt ist. Durch den Verivox-Verkauf sowie die zu erwartenden Zuflusse aus dem Verkauf von zwei Beteiligungen aus dem SevenVentures-Portfolio wird sich die Nettoverschuldung von ProSiebenSat.1 - auch ohne Berucksichtigung der Earn-Out-Komponente - um mehr als 250 Mio Euro verringern und der Pro-forma-Verschuldungsgrad im Jahr 2024 auf leicht uber 2,4x reduzieren. ProSiebenSat.1 hat heute auch eine verbindliche Vereinbarung mit General Atlantic uber den gestern angekundigten Erwerb der Minderheitsbeteiligungen an der NuCom Group (ohne flaconi) und der ParshipMeet Group geschlossen, die den Weg fur den Verkauf von Verivox geebnet hat. In Folge des Verkaufs von Verivox passt ProSiebenSat.1 seinen Finanzausblick fur das Jahr 2025 an. ProSiebenSat.1 strebt fur das Geschaftsjahr 2025 nun einen Konzernumsatz von rund 3,85 Mrd Euro (Vorjahr: 3,92 Mrd Euro) an, bei einer Varianz von plus/minus 150 Mio Euro. Beim adjusted EBITDA rechnet der Konzern mit einem Wert von 520 Mio Euro, bei einer Varianz von plus/minus 50 Mio Euro (Vorjahr: 557 Mio Euro). Der bereinigte Konzernuberschuss (adjusted net income) spiegelt die Entwicklung des adjusted EBITDA wider und wird sich im Geschaftsjahr 2025 voraussichtlich auf 215 Mio Euro belaufen. Zuvor beinhaltete der Finanzausblick fur 2025 einen Konzernumsatz von rund 4,00 Mrd Euro bei einer Varianz von plus/minus 150 Mio Euro, ein adjusted EBITDA von 550 Mio Euro bei einer Varianz von plus/minus 50 Mio Euro und einen bereinigten Konzernuberschuss von 225 Mio Euro. Der Konzern strebt unverandert einen Verschuldungsgrad zwischen 2,5x und 3,0x zum Jahresende 2025 (Vorjahr: 2,7x) an. Dies berucksichtigt sowohl das aufgrund des Verkaufs von Verivox angepasste adjusted EBITDA als auch die Reduktion der Nettoverschuldung. Die Anpassung des Ausblicks spiegelt die vorsichtige Herangehensweise von ProSiebenSat.1 im Hinblick auf die aktuelle Wirtschaftslage wider, wahrend gleichzeitig weiterhin in wichtige Wachstumsbereiche wie digitales Entertainment und lokale Inhalte investiert wird. Hinweis: Die Kenngroen "adjusted EBITDA" (um Sondereffekte bereinigtes EBITDA) und "adjusted net income" (um Sondereffekte bereinigter Konzernuberschuss) sind keine Kenngroen gema IFRS. Informationen zur Definition des "adjusted EBITDA" und des "adjusted net income" sind im Geschaftsbericht 2024 der ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE auf S. 92 und S. 93 zu finden. Kontakt: Stefanie Rupp-Menedetter Head of Group Communications & Events ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE Medienallee 7 D-85774 Unterfohring Tel. +49 89 950 725 98 Mobil +49 17 283 527 03 Stefanie.Rupp@prosiebensat1.com Ende der Insiderinformation 21.03.2025 CET/CEST Die EQS Distributionsservices umfassen gesetzliche Meldepflichten, Corporate News/Finanznachrichten und Pressemitteilungen. Medienarchiv unter https://eqs-news.com Die Finanzwelt ist im Umbruch! Nach Jahren der Dominanz erschuttert Donald Trumps erratische Wirtschaftspolitik das Fundament des amerikanischen Kapitalismus. Handelskriege, Rekordzolle und politische Isolation haben eine Kapitalflucht historischen Ausmaes ausgelost. Milliarden stromen aus den USA und suchen neue, lukrative Ziele. Und genau hier kommt China ins Spiel. Trotz aller Spannungen wachst die chinesische Wirtschaft dynamisch weiter, Innovation und Digitalisierung treiben die Markte an. Im kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir Ihnen 5 Aktien aus China vor, die vom US-Niedergang profitieren und das Potenzial haben, den Markt regelrecht zu uberflugeln. Wer jetzt klug investiert, sichert sich den Zugang zu den neuen Wachstums-Champions von morgen. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche 5 Aktien die Konkurrenz aus den USA outperformen durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! SHANGHAI, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (Junshi Biosciences, HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180), a leading innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies, announced that the New Drug Application (the "NDA") for toripalimab (Singapore trade name: LOQTORZI) in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of adult patients with recurrent, not amenable to surgery or radiotherapy, or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma ("NPC") has been approved by the Singapore Health Sciences Authority (the HSA). Toripalimab has become the first and only approved immuno-oncology treatment for NPC in Singapore. NPC is a malignant tumor that occurs in the epithelium mucosae of the nasopharynx and is one of the most common types of head and neck cancers. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 statistics, the number of newly diagnosed NPC cases in 2022 exceeded 120,000 worldwide. Toripalimab is the only preferred regimen recommended for the comprehensive treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines (Version 1.2025) for head and neck cancers. The approval is primarily based on the results from JUPITER-02 (NCT03581786), the first international multi-center, double-blind, randomized Phase 3 clinical study in NPC immunotherapy with the largest sample size. JUPITER-02 is also the world's first Phase 3 clinical study with preset statistical verification (Type I error control) demonstrating a significant overall survival ("OS") benefit for first-line immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone in NPC. JUPITER-02's results were presented in an oral report during a Plenary Session at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting (LBA2). These results were subsequently featured on the cover of Nature Medicine and published in full in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The results of the study showed that, compared to chemotherapy alone, toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy reduced the risk of disease progression by 48% and the risk of death by 37%. The median progression-free survival ("PFS") in the toripalimab plus chemotherapy group was prolonged by 13.2 months compared to chemotherapy alone, from 8.2 months to 21.4 months. In addition, patients treated with this combined therapy achieved a higher objective response rate ("ORR") and longer duration of response ("DoR"), with a complete response (CR) rate of 26.7%, and no new safety signal was identified. Long-term survival follow-up data was presented at ASCO 2024, with a 5-year survival rate of 52%. Dr. Jianjun ZOU, General Manager and CEO of Junshi Biosciences, said, "Toripalimab's approval in Singapore represents our formal entry into the Southeast Asian market. Southeast Asia is a region with a high incidence of NPC, and we are proud to introduce this groundbreaking therapy to address unmet medical needs and transform the local treatment landscape. As of now, toripalimab has received marketing authorization in over 35 countries and regions across four continents. We remain committed to our 'In China, For Global' strategy, advancing innovative medicines from China to improve healthcare for patients across the globe." The NDA was submitted under Project Orbis. Project Orbis, initiated and advocated by the Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA"), provides a collaborative mechanism and framework among the FDA and regulatory authorities in other countries and regions, allowing different regulatory authorities to jointly review the applications for registration of oncology drugs. Toripalimab was the first domestic oncology drug to be included in Project Orbis. Previously, the Therapeutic Goods Administration of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (the "TGA") approved two New Chemical Entity applications for toripalimab in NPC under Project Orbis. About Toripalimab Toripalimab is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed for its ability to block PD-1 interactions with its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and to induce PD-1 receptor internalization (endocytosis function). Blocking PD-1 interactions with PD-L1 and PD-L2 promotes the immune system's ability to attack and kill tumor cells. More than forty company-sponsored toripalimab clinical studies covering more than fifteen indications have been conducted globally by Junshi Biosciences, including in China, the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia. Ongoing or completed pivotal clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of toripalimab cover a broad range of tumor types, including cancers of the lung, nasopharynx, esophagus, stomach, bladder, breast, liver, kidney, and skin. In the Chinese mainland, toripalimab was the first domestic anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved for marketing (approved in China as TUOYI). Currently, there are eleven approved indications for toripalimab in the Chinese mainland: unresectable or metastatic melanoma after failure of standard systemic therapy; recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after failure of at least two lines of prior systemic therapy; locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that failed platinum-containing chemotherapy or progressed within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy; in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine as the first-line treatment for patients with locally recurrent or metastatic NPC; in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin in first-line treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced/recurrent or distant metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); in combination with pemetrexed and platinum as the first-line treatment in EGFR mutation-negative and ALK mutation-negative, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); in combination with chemotherapy as perioperative treatment and subsequently with monotherapy as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of adult patients with resectable stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC; in combination with axitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with medium to high risk unresectable or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC); in combination with etoposide plus platinum for the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC); in combination with paclitaxel for injection (albumin-bound) for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); in combination with bevacizumab for the first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The first 10 indications have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) (2024 Edition). Toripalimab is the only anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody included in the NRDL for the treatment of melanoma, perioperative treatment of NSCLC, treatment of RCC and treatment of TNBC. In October 2024, toripalimab for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC was approved in Hong Kong SAR, China. Internationally, toripalimab has been approved for marketing in the United States, the European Union, India, the UK, Jordan, Australia, Singapore and other countries and regions. In addition, toripalimab BLAs are under reviews in many countries or regions around the global. About Junshi Biosciences Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R&D pipeline comprising over 50 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Five of the company's products have received approvals in China and international markets, one of which is toripalimab, China's first domestically produced and independently developed anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Toripalimab has been approved in over 35 countries and regions including China, the US, and Europe. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Junshi Biosciences actively shouldered the social responsibilities of a Chinese pharmaceutical company through its involvement in developing etesevimab, MINDEWEI, and other novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. With a mission of "providing patients with world-class, trustworthy, affordable, and innovative drugs," Junshi Biosciences is "In China, For Global." At present, the company boasts approximately 2,500 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou, etc.). For more information, please visit: http://www.junshipharma.com. Junshi Biosciences Contact Information IR Team: Junshi Biosciences info@junshipharma.com + 86 021-6105 8800 PR Team: Junshi Biosciences Zhi Li zhi_li@junshipharma.com + 86 021-6105 8800 Rio Tinto has published its 2024 Taxes and Royalties Paid Report, which details $8.4 billion of taxes and royalties paid globally during the year (2023: $8.5 billion). In Australia, taxes and royalties totalling $6.3 billion (A$9.5 billion) were paid in 2024, including corporate tax paid of $3.7 billion (A$5.5 billion). Rio Tinto also made significant tax and royalty payments in Chile ($615 million), Canada ($500 million), Mongolia ($482 million), and the United States ($136 million). Rio Tinto Chief Financial Officer Peter Cunningham said: "We seek to operate responsibly everywhere we work, and the taxes and royalties we pay to governments play a critical role in supporting the economic health and development of the regions where we operate. "Our economic contribution can be significant for national budgets and local development priorities such as job creation and skills training for the countries where we do business. And our voluntary social investment delivers further value to communities, allowing them to invest in their own social and economic development for years to come. "Our commitment to safely and sustainably access the world's essential materials underpins everything we do. We strive to operate responsibly at every stage of our business, and to continue to work to find better ways to support the communities in which we operate." In the past 10 years, Rio Tinto has paid $77.3 billion in taxes and royalties globally, of which more than 78% was paid in Australia. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326160909/en/ Contacts: Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com Media Relations, United Kingdom Matthew Klar M +44 7796 630 637 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Michelle Lee M +61 458 609 322 Rachel Pupazzoni M +61 438 875 469 Media Relations, Canada Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973 Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Vanessa Damha M +1 514 715 2152 Media Relations, US Jesse Riseborough M +1 202 394 9480 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Rachel Arellano M: +44 7584 609 644 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Laura Brooks M +44 7826 942 797 Weiwei Hu M +44 7825 907 230 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 riotinto.com Category: General Kao has been recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2025 by Ethisphere, marking 19 consecutive years of recognition since the award's inception in 2007. in 2025 by Ethisphere, marking 19 consecutive years of recognition since the award's inception in 2007. Kao is one of only six companies worldwide and the only Asian company to have received the award for 19 consecutive years. Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452), a leading manufacturer of personal care and household products, cosmetics and specialty chemicals, has been named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies 2025 by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. The World's Most Ethical Companies list honors companies excelling in transparency, integrity, ethics, and compliance. Kao is one of only six companies worldwide and the only Asian company to have received the award for 19 consecutive years since it was established in 2007. In 2025, 136 companies in 19 countries were selected from 44 business categories with Kao standing as the sole recipient in the Health and Beauty Care category to be honored every year. Yoshihiro Hasebe, Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, expressed gratitude for the accolade: "We are honored to have been selected as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 19 consecutive years. 'Integrity as the only choice' is at the heart of our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, and external recognition such as this is invaluable to us. We remain committed to tackling challenges with courage as we strive toward ambitious goals, aiming to lead our industry and fulfill our purpose-creating a Kirei world in which all life lives in harmony." Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Erica Salmon Byrne, said: "We are, once again, delighted to honor Kao as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. Kao is one of only six companies to have received this recognition from its inception-19 times. This achievement is a testament to Kao's dedication to continually advancing best practices for ethics, compliance, and governance. We look forward to seeing Kao's continued leadership in furthering business integrity across the industry and globally." Committed to Integrity by Upholding the Kao Way The Ethisphere accolade is based on an assessment of companies' efforts in the areas of transparency, integrity, ethics, and compliance-values that are deeply ingrained in Kao's heritage and culture. The Kao Group upholds "Integrity as the only choice" as one of the fundamental values that form the basis of its corporate philosophy, the Kao Way. The word "integrity" is derived from the Japanese phrase seido wo ayumu, which was coined by Kao's founder and literally means "walk the right path." This signifies acting in accordance with the law to conduct honest, ethical and sound business activities. To implement the Kao Way, the Kao Group worldwide shares the Kao Business Conduct Guidelines. The company operates in alignment with these Guidelines, which act as a guide in times of uncertainty, a core principle in daily work and a foundation for achieving sustainability for both the company and society. Kao Business Conduct Guidelines Related Information Kao sustainability website Kao Integrated Report 2024 Kao Sustainability Report 2024 World's Most Ethical Companies About the Kirei Lifestyle Plan Over the past 130 years, Kao has worked to improve people's lives and help them realize more sustainable lifestyles-a Kirei Lifestyle. The Japanese word "kirei" describes something that is clean, well-ordered, and beautiful all at once. For Kao, this concept of "kirei" not only describes appearance but also attitude-a desire to create beauty for oneself, for other people, and for the natural world around us. Aiming to realize a more sustainable way of living, in April 2019, the Kao Group established its ESG strategy known as the Kirei Lifestyle Plan. By 2030, Kao aims to empower at least 1 billion people, to enjoy more beautiful lives. Kao also strives to have 100% of its products leave a full lifecycle environmental footprint that science says our natural world can safely absorb. Please visit the Kao sustainability website for more information. About Kao Kao, a Japan-based manufacturer of personal care and household products, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its brands such as Attack laundry detergent, Biore and Jergens skin care products, Laurier sanitary products, Curel, SENSAI, and MOLTON BROWN cosmetics, and Oribe hair care products, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,630 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 32,600 people worldwide and has more than 130 years of history in innovation. As an enterprise that provides products people use on a daily basis, the Kao Group takes responsibility to actively reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout the product lifecycle. This is laid out in Kao's ESG strategy, the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, which launched in 2019. Please visit the Kao Group website for additional information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250323969786/en/ Contacts: Media inquiries should be directed to: Public Relations Kao Corporation corporate_pr@kao.com Yield Engineering Systems, Inc. (YES), a global leader in materials and interface engineering equipment solutions, proudly announces the shipment of the first commercial VeroTherm Formic Acid Reflow tool to a leading global semiconductor manufacturer from its Sulur, Coimbatore, manufacturing facility. This landmark achievement signifies a pivotal moment for YES and the burgeoning semiconductor ecosystem in India, as it represents the first equipment produced in India for advanced semiconductor applications like High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), which is critical for AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications worldwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326479637/en/ Introducing our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sulur, India-marking a proud milestone as YES delivers the first India-produced VeroTherm Formic Acid Reflow tool for advanced semiconductor applications. Together, we're shaping the future of AI and High-Performance Computing. YES commenced operations in September 2024 at this state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sulur, Coimbatore, India, located at 96/3 Vadakku Sambala Thottam, Trichy Road, Kannampalayam, Sulur Taluk. This facility is integral to YES's strategic expansion plan, aimed at serving its global customers' operations in India and the world with greater efficiency. With over four decades of experience, YES has established a reputation for excellence in processing equipment for the semiconductor, display, and life sciences industries. The new facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is designed to meet the growing demand for YES's innovative solutions, including VertaCure, Verotherm, and VeroFlex systems for advanced wafer and panel-level packaging applications. In line with its commitment to advancing India's manufacturing capabilities, YES intends to cultivate a robust local supply chain, thereby creating numerous employment opportunities within the community. "The commencement of shipments from the YES manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu marks a remarkable advancement for India's semiconductor industry. This initiative aligns perfectly with our national vision of building a self-reliant and robust semiconductor ecosystem. We are committed to providing all necessary support to foster further growth and innovation in this sector, thereby bolstering India's position in the global semiconductor market," said S. Krishnan, Secretary MEITy. "We are immensely happy that the first semiconductor equipment from the YES Sulur facility has been successfully shipped. This is yet another success of Honourable Chief Minister Thiru, MK Stalin's US trip last year, and the Tamil Nadu Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy. This government delivers not just with investment commitments and policies, but with grounding investments and converting them into jobs. Despite global and national challenges, Tamil Nadu remains steadfast in its mission to be a global semiconductor hub, and that's why in the TN Budget 2025 the state has announced semiconductor manufacturing parks in Sulur and Palladam under a new ?500-crore Semiconductor Mission," added T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Tamil Nadu. "This milestone of the first shipment from the Sulur facility underscores our unwavering commitment to strengthening the India semiconductor ecosystem, which will enable the efficient delivery of our products to customers in India and beyond," stated Ramakanth Alapati, Chairman and CEO of YES. "This facility is fully integrated with our global manufacturing network, allowing us to consistently provide the reliability and technical expertise that our customers expect." About YES YES is a prominent provider of cutting-edge technologies for materials and interface engineering, catering to a diverse range of applications and markets. YES's clientele includes market leaders who are driving the development of next-generation solutions across various sectors, including Advanced Packaging for AI and HPC, Memory Systems, and Life Sciences. As a leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art, cost-effective high-volume production equipment for semiconductor Advanced Packaging solutions for wafers and glass panels, YES's product portfolio encompasses Vacuum Cure, Coat Anneal Tools, Fluxless Reflow tools, Thru Glass Via, Cavity Etch, and Electroless Deposition tools for the semiconductor industry. The company is headquartered in Fremont, California, and boasts a rapidly expanding global presence. For more information, please visit YES.tech. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326479637/en/ Contacts: Media Contact Alex Chow achow@yes.tech Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 26, 2025) - Strategic Criminal Defence has reached a significant milestone: its 500th five-star Google review. This achievement solidifies its position as a top Google-rated criminal law firm in Canada, highlighting the firm's excellence in client service and legal proficiency nationwide. Photo courtesy of Pexels The recognition comes as Strategic Criminal Defence is expanding its presence across Canadian provinces. With over 20 lawyers nationwide and more than 10,000 cases defended, the firm has established itself as a trusted name in Canadian criminal defense. For Michael Oykhman, founder of Strategic Criminal Defence, the firm's 500 five-star reviews are more than just a numerical milestone; these reflect the trust and satisfaction of their clients during their most challenging moments. These reviews highlight Strategic Criminal Defence's timely, reliable, and personalized legal services. The firm secures client support through 24/7 availability, flexible payment options, and knowledgeable legal representation, helping clients stay hopeful throughout their cases. "Our clients are at the heart of everything we do," says Oykhman. "Each review tells a story of dedication, strategic thinking, and our commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for those we represent. It celebrates the team's hard work and commitment to delivering results while building meaningful relationships with those we represent." The firm's core values-service, results, integrity, teamwork, drive, and strategy-guide its outlook on every case. Strategic Criminal Defence leads in Canadian criminal law by offering creative, tailored solutions for each client's unique case. However, for Oykhman and all his co-lawyers at Strategic Criminal Defence, this recognition is an honor and a challenge to continue raising the bar in criminal defense. The milestone reinforces the firm's dedication to constant improvement and innovation in legal practice. "To be recognized as a top Google-rated criminal law firm in Canada is a celebration of past achievements. At the same time, it's a reminder of our responsibility to keep growing," Oykhman explains. "While cases vary in complexity, each one offers an opportunity to learn, adapt, and improve our client service. This milestone inspires us to push even further in our pursuit of justice." Three Best Rated recognizes Strategic Criminal Defence, one of Western Canada's largest and most trusted criminal defense firms, as one of Calgary's Top Three Criminal Defense Firms. The firm is dedicated to expanding its reach while preserving its hallmark personalized attention in the legal community. The firm has offices in four provinces in Canada and is proficient in a wide range of criminal matters, including road sanctions, domestic violence, drug offenses, and youth crimes. Strategic Criminal Defence looks forward to receiving more positive reviews as it continues to provide trusted legal representation nationwide. About Strategic Criminal Defence Strategic Criminal Defence is one of Western Canada's premier criminal defense firms, holding a nationwide network of over 20 accomplished lawyers. Under Michael Oykhman's leadership, the firm has successfully defended over 10,000 cases throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Ontario. Guided by core values of service, results, integrity, teamwork, drive, and strategy, Strategic Criminal Defence provides client-centered legal representation tailored to each case. The firm's client-first philosophy, coupled with creative problem-solving and strategic thinking, allows it to address both legal and personal aspects of criminal defense cases across Canada. Recently, the firm received its 500th five-star review, which earned recognition as a top Google-rated criminal law firm in Canada. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244728 SOURCE: Baden Bower Regulatory News: CARMAT (FR0010907956, ALCAR), designer and developer of the world's most advanced total artificial heart, aiming to provide a therapeutic alternative for people suffering from advanced biventricular heart failure (the "Company" or "CARMAT"), announces the implementation of a flexible equity financing line with IRIS Capital Investment ("IRIS"), for a maximum of 9,000,000 shares (i.e., approximately 15% of its current share capital), over a 24-month period. Stephane Piat, Chief Executive Officer of CARMAT, comments: "I am very pleased with the implementation of this financing line with IRIS Capital Investment, which, based on our current share price, provides us with a potential total financing amount of approximately 7.9 million over the next 24 months, and thus offers substantial room for manoeuvre that we can start benefitting from immediately. In parallel, we are actively working on securing additional funding to ensure the long-term development of our Company and our sales growth. Following a strong start this year, we are determined to progressively establish Aeson as a reference solution for patients suffering from advanced biventricular heart failure today in Europe, and within a few years in the United States." Pursuant to the terms of the agreement signed on March 26, 2025 between the Company and IRIS, the latter has undertaken to subscribe up to 9,000,000 new ordinary shares of the Company, over a 24-month period, at its own initiative and subject to the conditions set out in the appendix to this press release. The main purpose of this financing is to strengthen CARMAT's equity and to contribute to the funding of its working capital requirements, particularly to support the development of its sales and the completion of its EFICAS clinical trial in France. Based on the current share price1, the Company could receive a total gross amount of 7.9 million should it make full use of this financing line (although this amount is not guaranteed). The financing line has been structured via the issuance of warrants giving the right to subscribe new ordinary shares of the Company (the "Warrants"), exclusively for the benefit of IRIS2. This issuance was decided by the Board of Directors of the Company on March 26, 2025, pursuant to the delegation granted by the combined shareholders' meeting of the Company held on December 30, 2024, under its 6th resolution, and in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 225-138 of the French Commercial Code. The main characteristics of the Warrants (in particular their exercise conditions) are described in the appendix to this press release. CARMAT controls the exercise schedule of the Warrants, having the option to suspend, reactivate or terminate this financing agreement at any time without penalty, but also the right to set a maximum number of Warrants that can be exercised over a given period. In addition, the number of new shares issued upon exercise of the Warrants during each calendar quarter cannot exceed 15% of the volume of CARMAT shares traded on the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Paris during that quarter, unless expressly agreed by the Company. The issuance of the Warrants does not give rise to the publication of a prospectus subject to the approval of the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) nor to the publication of an information document subject to filing with the AMF. The number of shares issued and admitted to trading under this agreement will be disclosed on the Company's website. The flexible equity financing line implemented with IRIS only partially finances CARMAT's estimated funding needs over the next 12 months, amounting to c. 35 million based on its current business plan. In this context, the Company is actively exploring various additional financing options and is particularly holding discussions with several financial stakeholders which could support it over the long term. However, it should be noted that, to date, there is no guarantee that such discussions will ultimately lead to any financial support for the Company, regardless of the amount, nor that they will materialize before the end of the Company's current cash runway, i.e. end of May 20253 About CARMAT CARMAT is a French MedTech that designs, manufactures and markets the Aeson artificial heart. The Company's ambition is to make Aeson the first alternative to a heart transplant, and thus provide a therapeutic solution to people suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure, who are facing a well-known shortfall in available human grafts. The world's first physiological artificial heart that is highly hemocompatible, pulsatile and self-regulated, Aeson could save, every year, the lives of thousands of patients waiting for a heart transplant. The device offers patients quality of life and mobility thanks to its ergonomic and portable external power supply system that is continuously connected to the implanted prosthesis. Aeson is commercially available as a bridge to transplant in the European Union and other countries that recognize CE marking. Aeson is also currently being assessed within the framework of an Early Feasibility Study (EFS) in the United States. Founded in 2008, CARMAT is based in the Paris region, with its head offices located in Velizy-Villacoublay and its production site in Bois-d'Arcy. The Company can rely on the talent and expertise of a multidisciplinary team of circa 200 highly specialized people. CARMAT is listed on the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Paris (Ticker: ALCAR ISIN code: FR0010907956). For more information, please go to www.carmatsa.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Name: CARMAT ISIN code: FR0010907956 Ticker: ALCAR Disclaimer This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe, nor a solicitation of an order to buy or subscribe to CARMAT shares in any country. This press release may contain forward-looking statements by the Company regarding its objectives and prospects. These forward-looking statements are based on the current estimates and anticipations of the Company's management and are subject to risk factors and uncertainties, including those described in its universal registration document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers) (the "AMF") under number D.24-0374, as updated by the amendment to the 2023 universal registration document filed with the AMF on September 17, 2024 under number D.24-0374-A01 (together, the "2023 Universal Registration Document"), which are available free of charge on the websites of CARMAT (www.carmatsa.com) and the AMF (www.amf-france.org). Readers' attention is particularly drawn to the fact that the Company's current cash runway is limited to the end of May 2025 (excluding the flexible equity financing line entered into with IRIS, which is the subject of this press release). The Company is also subject to other risks and uncertainties, such as its ability to implement its strategy, the pace of development of its production and sales, the pace and results of ongoing or planned clinical trials, technological evolution and competitive environment, regulatory changes, industrial risks, and all risks associated with the Company's growth management. The Company's forward-looking statements mentioned in this press release may not be achieved due to these elements or other risk factors and uncertainties, whether unknown or not considered material and specific by the Company as of today. Furthermore, the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) encourages companies that implement equity lines or other staggered capital increases to, in particular, include the following standard warning: CARMAT is implementing an equity financing line in the form of warrants to subscribe new ordinary shares with IRIS. After receiving the shares issued upon exercise of the Warrants, IRIS does not intend to remain a shareholder of the Company. The shares resulting from the exercise of the Warrants will generally be sold on the market at short notice, which can exert significant downward pressure on the share price. Shareholders may suffer a loss of their invested capital due to a significant decrease in the value of the Company's shares, as well as significant dilution due to the large number of shares issued to IRIS. Investors are advised to exercise great caution before deciding to invest in CARMAT securities. Investors are also invited to review the risk factors relating to this transaction, as set out in this press release. Aeson is an active implantable medical device commercially available in the European Union and other countries recognising the CE mark. The Aeson total artificial heart is intended to replace the ventricles of the native heart and is indicated as a bridge to transplant in patients with end-stage biventricular heart failure (Intermacs classes 1-4) who cannot benefit from maximal medical therapy or a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and who are likely to benefit from a heart transplant within 180 days of implantation. The decision to implant and the surgical procedure must be carried out by healthcare professionals trained by the manufacturer. The documentation (clinician's manual, patient's manual and alarm booklet) must be read carefully to learn about the characteristics of Aeson and the information required for patient selection and proper use (contraindications, precautions, side effects) of Aeson. In the United States, Aeson is currently only available as part of a feasibility clinical trial approved by the Food Drug Administration (FDA). Key terms and conditions of the financing line entered into with IRIS Main characteristics of the Warrants Investor/ Subscriber IRIS, a French single-member limited liability company (societe responsabilite limitee unipersonnelle) with a share capital of 400,000, having its registered office at 5, villa Houssay, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, registered with the Nanterre Trade and Companies Register under number 753.471.853. Number of Warrants 9 million Warrants, subscribed by the Investor on March 26, 2025. Subscription price 0.0001 per Warrant, representing a total subscription amount of 900. Term Upon expiry of a 24-month period starting this day, as may be extended in the cases set out below (the "Commitment Period"), any unexercised Warrants shall automatically lapse. Furthermore, any unexercised Warrants may be repurchased at any time by the Company for cancellation, for a lump sum of 1, at the request of the Company or the Investor (in the latter case, only upon occurrence of an event of default see below). Exercise price of a Warrant The exercise price of a Warrant is equal to 95% of the lowest VWAP observed over the twenty-five (25) trading days immediately preceding the exercise date of the relevant Warrant. However, it is specified that in any case, the exercise price of the concerned Warrant may in no case be less than (i) the minimum price set by the Company's Board of Directors, namely 95% of the volume-weighted average price on the trading day immediately preceding the date of exercise of the Warrant concerned, (ii) the minimum price set by the combined shareholders' meeting of the Company held on December 30, 2024, i.e., 70% of the VWAPs of the five most recent trading sessions preceding the exercise date of the relevant Warrant, or (iii) the nominal value of the Company's shares. The discount granted enables the Investor, acting as a financial intermediary and not intending to remain a shareholder of the Company, to ensure the subscription of the shares despite potential financial markets volatility. IRIS will nevertheless not be able to exercise the Warrants if the exercise price of these Warrants, as calculated above, is lower than a floor price freely set by the Company at any time (currently 0.81). Other Conditions for Exercising the Warrants The Warrants are exercisable from today until their cancellation or lapse, as described above. The Company controls the exercise schedule of the Warrants, as it can at any time define the maximum number of new ordinary shares that can be subscribed for by exercising the Warrants during a given period. Furthermore, the number of these new shares cannot exceed, during a calendar quarter, 15% of the volume of CARMAT shares traded on the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Paris during that quarter, unless expressly agreed by the Company. The exercise of each Warrant by the Investor is also subject to other conditions set out in the issuance agreement (exercise price above the floor price set by the Company, no event of default or material adverse change, listing of the Company's shares, share closing price above a certain threshold, etc.). Suspension and reactivation Extension of the Commitment Period The Company may suspend and reactivate the exercise of the Warrants at any time without penalty. Likewise, in the event of an event of default (see below), the exercise of the Warrants shall remain suspended until such event of default has been remedied. The Commitment Period will be extended to reflect any suspensions and reactivations requested by the Company, up to a maximum additional period of 6 months. Ratio Each Warrant entitles its holder to subscribe for one new ordinary share of the Company (subject to standard legal or contractual adjustments). Events of default Events of default include, in particular, the Company's failure to comply with its obligations under the issuance agreement, failure to perform any of its contractual obligations, delisting of the Company's shares, or the occurrence of a material adverse change. No financial covenants apply. New shares The new ordinary shares of the Company issued upon exercise of the Warrants will carry current dividend rights. They will rank pari passu with the existing ordinary shares and will be admitted to trading on the Euronext Growth market of Euronext Paris. The Company will publish the number of shares issued under this financing line on its website. Transfer The Warrants may not be transferred without the prior written consent of the Company, except in the case of a transfer to an affiliate of the Investor. Potential dilution Maximum number of shares The Warrants entitle the holder to subscribe for a maximum of 9,000,000 new ordinary shares of the Company, representing approximately 15% of its current share capital* (on a non-diluted basis). If this maximum number of shares was to be effectively issued, the stake of a shareholder holding 1% of the Company's share capital prior to the implementation of the financing line would decrease to 0.87%. To the best of the Company's knowledge, the share capital breakdown before and after the exercise of all the Warrants will be as follows: Before IRIS financing line After IRIS financing line To the best of the Company's knowledge Nb. of shares Nb. of shares Lohas SARL (Pierre Bastid) 10,742,930 18.3% 10,742,930 15.8% Sante Holdings SRL (Dr Antonino Ligresti) 10,689,320 18.2% 10,689,320 15.8% Corely Belgium SPRL 880,000 1.5% 880,000 1.3% Therabel Invest 741,706 1.3% 741,706 1.1% Airbus Group 670,640 1.1% 670,640 1.0% Pr. Alain Carpentier Family 491,583 0.8% 491,583 0.7% Ass. Recher. Scientif. Fondation A. Carpentier 115,000 0.2% 115,000 0.2% Stephane Piat (CEO) 553,402 0.9% 553,402 0.8% Cornovum 458,715 0.8% 458,715 0.7% Treasury shares 876,582 1.5% 876,582 1.3% Free float 32,629,669 55.4% 41,629,669 61.4% Total 58,849,547 100.0% 67,849,547 100.0% * As of the date of this press release, the Company has a share capital of 2,353,981.88 divided into 58,849,547 shares, including 58,817,806 ordinary shares. Provision of Company shares A share loan agreement has been entered into between the Investor and the Company to cover any default or delay in the delivery of shares in connection with the implementation of the issuance agreement. The use of a portion of the Company's treasury shares for this purpose was authorized by the combined shareholders' meeting of the Company held on May 30, 2024. General principles of the financing line Structuring/arrangement fee and other commissions Penalty clause None. Similar operations carried out over the last 24 months The financing line agreed with IRIS takes over from the previous financing line set up in July 2024. The Company has also issued and may issue in the future share warrants to IQEQ Management as part of the implementation of the equitisation announced on March 22, 2024. Conflict of interest To the Company's knowledge, the implementation of the financing line does not create any conflict of interest for its officers or corporate representatives. Risks associated with the financing line The sale on the market by IRIS which does not intend to remain a shareholder of the Company of shares issued by the Company under the financing line may impact the volatility and liquidity of the stock and exert downward pressure on the Company's share price. The Company's shareholders may also experience significant dilution as a result of the use of the financing line. The total amount of funds raised under the financing line is not guaranteed, as the exercise of the Warrants depends, in particular, on the fulfillment of the conditions described above. The public's attention is drawn to the risk factors relating to the Company and its business, as described in Chapter 2 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers) (the "AMF") on April 30, 2024 under number D.24-0374, as updated by the amendment to the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on September 17, 2024 under number D.24-0374-A01 (together, the "2023 Universal Registration Document"), available free of charge on the websites of CARMAT (www.carmatsa.com) and the AMF (www.amf-france.org). The occurrence of all or some of these risks could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial situation, results, development or outlook. Readers' attention is particularly drawn to the fact that the Company's current cash runway is limited to the end of May 2025 (excluding the equity financing line entered into with IRIS, which is the subject of this press release). 1 Closing price on March 26, 2025, i.e., 0.879. 2 The latter being part of the category defined by the combined shareholders' meeting of the Company held on December 30, 2024, under its 6 resolution, namely: "natural persons, companies or investment funds, French or foreign, whether shareholders or not of the Company, investing on a regular basis, or having invested more than 1 million over the past 36 months prior to the issue concerned, in the life sciences or technology sectors." 3 Cash runway excluding the equity financing line entered into with IRIS, the proceeds of which by the end of May 2025 cannot be determined with certainty. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326257077/en/ Contacts: CARMAT Stephane Piat Chief Executive Officer Pascale d'Arbonneau Deputy Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Tel.: +33 1 39 45 64 50 contact@carmatsas.com NewCap Press Relations Nicolas Merigeau Arthur Rouille Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 98 carmat@newcap.eu NewCap Financial Communication & Investor Relations Dusan Oresansky Jeremy Digel Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 92 carmat@newcap.eu Curatis Holding AG (SIX:CURN, 'Curatis') reports business revenues of CHF 6.9m for 2024, whereby Curatis AG is only included for 8 months. Curatis AG was able to increase sales in the distribution business by 30% per cent to CHF 9.5m in the full year 2024 compared to 2023. Further key statements: Curatis is increasing the estimate for the number of patients addressed in the lead project C-PTBE-01 by a factor of 20. The reason for this is that Curatis can apply for a biologics licence for C-PTBE-01, which grants 12 years of market protection in the USA. This suggests an expansion of the indications, namely from PTBE in diffuse midline glioma (DMG) in children to PTBE in other primary and metastatic brain tumours in children and adults. A meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss a potential pivotal Phase III trial for C-PTBE-01 is in preparation and is targeted for Q2. The strong cash position of CHF 3m at the end of the year combined with the positive, growing cash flow from sales and the lean organisation provide a solid foundation for Curatis' operating activities. Business Development and finances Product revenue in 2024 amounted to CHF 6.4m and service revenue to CHF 0.5m, whereby Curatis AG, which was acquired on 26 April 2024, is only included in this figure for 8 months. On a full year basis, Curatis AG was able to increase sales in its distribution business from CHF 7.3m (2023) to CHF 9.5m (2024), which corresponds to growth of 30%. This strong growth is due to significant organic growth as well as newly launched products. It is in line with Curatis' strategy to support products in the registration phase in order to subsequently assume responsibility for distribution, as well as to take over already launched products from competitors. The operating loss for the period amounted to CHF 3.3m and includes several non-cash-relevant special effects such as personnel costs due to the revaluation of the option plan that Curatis AG has operated since 2015 (CHF 2.5m). In addition, one-off costs were incurred in relation to the transaction in April 2024 (approx. CHF 1.3m). The strong cash position of Curatis as at 31 December 2024 of CHF 3.0m combined with a positive cash flow from the operating business of Curatis AG (excluding transaction costs and development costs) and the lean structure secure the operating activities of Curatis. In CHFm 31. December 2024 31. December 2023 Revenues 6.9 0 Operating Result (3.3) (16.3) Thereof non-cash (2.5) (12.4) Thereof transaction costs (1.3) 0 Cash and cash equivalents 3.0 0 Lead project C-PTBE-01: Significantly more addressable patients On 14 November 2024, Curatis announced that the approval of the lead project C-PTBE-01 will be sought via the Biologic License Application (BLA) route. While the path of the Phase III study and approval with a focus on children is not expected to change, the development of C-PTBE-01 will no longer focus solely on PTBE in children with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG). The expanded target population will now include children and adults with PTBE in primary and metastatic brain tumours. Curatis is evaluating conducting a study in adult patients with PTBE shortly after the paediatric study. Curatis is therefore increasing the estimate of the addressable patient pool from less than 1,000 patients (PTBE in children with DMG only) in the US today to approximately 20 times the number of patients in the US (children in other indications as well as adults). The same applies to regions outside the USA. Outlook for 2025: Stable sales and earnings growth and progress expected with C-PTBE-01 The first months of 2025 were in line with the budget. Curatis is confident that it will be able to further increase sales in 2025. CMC development activities (active pharmaceutical ingredient and drug product) for C-PTBE-01 are proceeding according to plan. A first batch of the active ingredient has now been produced. A meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss a possible pivotal Phase III trial for C-PTBE-01 is in preparation. The meeting with the FDA is planned for Q2 2025. Initial discussions are also taking place in the area of partnering and will be intensified after the meeting with the FDA. For a more detailed discussion of the figures, please refer to the annual report and the associated management report, which are available on the Curatis website at www.curatis.com. There will be no presentation on the annual figures, but the company will be available to answer questions. The Annual General Meeting will take place on 23 May 2025 at 2.30 pm in Pratteln. More detailed information on C-PBTE-01 Peritumoural brain edema is associated with many primary and metastatic brain tumours, leading to indirect impairment of brain function due to accumulation of extracellular fluid around the tumour. Peritumoural brain edema can cause symptoms such as headaches, vomiting and neurological dysfunctions such as paralysis, speech disorders, visual problems and altered mental status. They can be life-threatening. The standard treatment for PTBE is the use of corticosteroids. These often have serious side effects such as severe myopathy, muscle wasting, abnormal weight gain, osteoporosis, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension and personality changes. C-PTBE-01 has shown a strong steroid-sparing effect in two clinical safety and efficacy studies, which can lead to a significant reduction or complete replacement of steroid use. This can alleviate the severe steroid-induced side effects and thus improve the quality of life of those affected. About Curatis: Curatis Holding AG is a publicly listed company (CURN.SW) specialising in the development and commercialisation of drugs for rare and very rare diseases. Curatis has a portfolio of more than 40 marketed products and a pipeline of orphan and specialty products. More information can be found on the website www.curatis.com. Disclaimer: The information contained in this media release and in any link to our website indicated herein is not for use within any country or jurisdiction or by any persons where such use would constitute a violation of law. If this applies to you, you are not authorized to access or use any such information. This media release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us and our industry. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "project", "plan", "will likely continue", "will likely result", or words or phrases with similar meaning. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of the control of Curatis Group, that may cause Curatis' business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements (or from past results). For any factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this media release, please see the risk factors included in our listing prospectus in connection with the Business Combination. Curatis Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. It should further be noted that past performance is not a guide to future performance. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser. The information contained in this media release is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for securities. This media release is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act nor a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Some financial information in this media release has been rounded and, as a result, the figures shown as totals in this media release may vary slightly from the exact arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326494260/en/ Contacts: Patrick Ramsauer CFO Curatis Phone: +41 61 927 8777 ir@curatis.com Health Canada's approval enables 4Moving Biotech to initiate the INFLAM MOTION Phase 2a clinical trial The INFLAM MOTION trial serves as a proof-of-concept study for 4Moving Biotech's flagship 4P004 program 4Moving Biotech (4MB), a spin-off of 4P-Pharma dedicated to developing first-in-class treatment that modify the natural history of knee osteoarthritis, announces that it has been authorized by Health Canada to launch the Phase 2a INFLAM MOTION "Proof-of-Concept" study for 4P004 in patients with knee osteoarthritis. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326675460/en/ Health Canada Authorizes 4Moving Biotech to Launch Phase 2a INFLAM MOTION Clinical Trial for Knee Osteoarthritis The INFLAM MOTION Study is a Phase 2a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in the EU, US, and Canada, including three sites in Canada. It will enroll 129 patients to evaluate, for the first time, the efficacy of 4P004 in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. 4P004 is a GLP-1 analog, tailored for intra-articular use in knee osteoarthritis. It was developed to exploit the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic, and anabolic benefits of GLP-1. Preclinical studies suggest that 4P004 may slow disease progression and improve joint function by modulating the biological pathways throughout all joint tissues. This positions 4P004 as a potential disease-modifying treatment with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. Luc Boblet, CEO of 4MB, declared:"This authorization from Health Canada is a major milestone in the 4MB value creation path. Advancing the INFLAM MOTION study is an exciting step towards demonstrating the potential of 4P004 as the first disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD)." The study's primary objective is to assess the efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of 4P004 in reducing knee pain by week 4 and up to week 12. In addition, the study aims to assess knee structure evaluation by contrast-enhancement MRI and investigate new surrogate biomarkers for disease progression and delay to total knee replacement. Francis Berenbaum, Chief Medical Officer of 4MB, added: "Following a strong demonstration of the safety and tolerability profile of 4P004 in the LASARE Phase 1 clinical trial, we aim to establish therapeutic potential and redefine treatment standards for knee osteoarthritis with the INFLAM MOTION Phase 2a study. The Health Canada authorization granted is an important milestone that allows us to move forward with confidence and continue to develop this innovative treatment option for patients." 4MB will proceed with the study initiation in Canada, including the first patient enrolment, which is expected in the second quarter of 2025. About 4Moving Biotech Incorporated in mid-2020 as a spin-off of 4P-Pharma, 4Moving Biotech is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the development of the Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritis Drug (DMOAD). Its mission is to provide a sustainable therapeutic solution to the significant unmet medical need of osteoarthritis. The company is headquartered at the Pasteur Institute in Lille, France. Website: https://www.4movingbiotech.com/ LinkedIn: https://fr.linkedin.com/company/4moving-biotech X: https://twitter.com/4Moving_Biotech The only version of the 4Moving Biotech press release that is legally binding is the one in its original language. Translations must always be compared to the source text, which will establish precedence. The press release text resulting from a translation should not be considered official in any way. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326675460/en/ Contacts: Press: Emmanuel Dadje Communication Manager emmanuel.dadje@4P-Pharma.com +33 6 30 06 12 13 Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Allschwil, Switzerland - March 27, 2025 Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) today announced the publication of the Annual Report 2024 - consisting of the Business Report, Governance Report, Compensation Report, Sustainability Report, and Financial Report (already published on March 4, 2025). All five books of the Annual Report 2024 are available at www.idorsia.com/annual-report (http://www.idorsia.com/annual-report). Note to Shareholders The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Shareholders to approve the Annual Report of the year ending December 31, 2024, will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Registered shareholders with voting rights individually or jointly representing at least 0.5% of the share capital of the company, being entitled to add items to the agenda of the general meeting of shareholders, are invited to send in proposals, if any, to Idorsia Ltd, attention Corporate Secretary, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil, to arrive no later than April 11, 2025. Any proposal received after the deadline will be disregarded. In order to vote at the Annual General Meeting, shareholders must be registered in the company's shareholder register by May 19, 2025, at the latest. Events First Quarter 2025 Financial Results reporting on April 30, 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 28, 2025 Half-Year 2025 Financial Results reporting on July 30, 2025 Notes to the editor Letter from the Chairman Dear Shareholders, It is a great honor for me to be writing to you as Chairman. I thank you for your vote of confidence in electing me as Chairman of Idorsia at the Annual General Meeting in 2024. In 2024 we have made a lot of progress on three fronts. Firstly, on the commercial front, with accelerating sales of QUVIVIQ in Europe; secondly, on the pipeline, with the approval of aprocitentan as a treatment for patients with uncontrolled hypertension; and thirdly, finding the financial means to continue to advance the company. I am very happy to report that the benefits offered by QUVIVIQ over all other sleep therapies are being recognized and sales are accelerating. The take-off of QUVIVIQ is particularly evident in Europe, where it is the only dual orexin receptor antagonist (DORA) available. The introduction of DORAs was recently described in the European Sleep Research Society's Insomnia Guideline as "the most significant recent development in the pharmacological treatment of insomnia". We have an incredibly strong efficacy profile, with compelling evidence supporting the use of QUVIVIQ. In addition, with literally hundreds of thousands of patients treated, its outstanding safety profile is confirmed by an ever-expanding safety database. We now need to ensure that the data is presented to prescribers - mostly GPs - so that the initial impression of a profile "just too good to be true" can be overcome. This is why it has been so important to establish commercial partnerships allowing GPs to be shown the data and real-world evidence, and to appreciate the facts. It is still early days but, despite the need for caution, it's difficult not to be excited by the way QUVIVIQ is now performing in Europe. As the momentum for QUVIVIQ builds, we have also received approval for aprocitentan (TRYVIO in the US and JERAYGO in Europe), as a treatment for hypertension which is not controlled despite the use of multiple antihypertensives. Idorsia's new treatment targets a previously unaddressed therapeutic pathway in systemic hypertension - a first in over three decades. Aprocitentan is a once-daily tablet, easy to use for patients and easy to prescribe for physicians. It can be safely combined with other drugs and, importantly, can be used for patients with renal impairment. Even on top of three or more antihypertensives, aprocitentan has been shown to decrease systolic blood pressure by more than 15 mmHg from baseline, and it is well tolerated over the long term. Taken together, these properties make aprocitentan a highly differentiated drug, ideal for the millions of patients whose hypertension is not adequately controlled with existing medications, and particularly for difficult-to-treat patients who also have chronic kidney disease. We now need to find the best partner to bring this superb drug to patients. Idorsia is not in the financial situation to fully finance all the product launches and optimally develop all of the fantastic assets in our pipeline, therefore we are actively looking for potential partnerships, commercial as well as scientific, to maximize the value of our innovation. In 2024, selatogrel for the emergency treatment of heart attack, and cenerimod for lupus were licensed to Viatris. Both products are in Phase 3 development and if positive, they both have the opportunity to revolutionize the treatment of the target clinical conditions. Partnering remains a priority for Idorsia moving forward. With so much potential waiting to be unlocked, I must commend the management team for their dedicated efforts to secure the financing and give us the time and opportunity to realize the value of Idorsia. I must also acknowledge the exceptional contributions made at numerous meetings by the whole Board - including our newest member Bart Filius, as well as Mathieu Simon, Sandy Mahatme, Sophie Kornowski, and Srishti Gupta - going well beyond the call of duty. Together, the Board and management team have expertly navigated troubled waters with the clear goal of securing the company's future and serving all stakeholders, while minimizing dilution to shareholders. Thanks to these efforts, we now not only have more time to find the best partnership for aprocitentan but also more funding to pursue our operations. So, where do we go from here? We have come through difficult times, and our goal remains that of becoming financially sustainable, and we plan to reach commercial profitability with QUVIVIQ in 2026, and overall profitability in 2027. I would like to thank all our stakeholders - especially our employees and shareholders - for their continuing dedication. Together, we are all working to make our vision for Idorsia a reality. Sincerely, Jean-Paul Clozel Chairman of the Board Letter from the CEO Dear Shareholders, It is my pleasure to be writing to you for the first time as CEO of Idorsia. I would like to start by thanking the Board for placing their trust in me, and particularly Jean-Paul Clozel for his leadership - both as CEO over the past 24 years and as a long-term significant shareholder. I have embraced the challenge of delivering on the high expectations we all have for Idorsia, and I have already been impressed by the commitment and expertise of our colleagues around the world. Looking back over the past 12 months, I'll focus first on the company's immediate situation. As you will be aware, we were unable to close the out-licensing agreement envisaged for aprocitentan. This development is particularly frustrating because the undisclosed party decided not to sign the agreement for reasons unrelated to the potential of aprocitentan or the quality of our data. We now pivot to potential alternative partners to maximize the value of this great asset. In the meantime, we managed to convince key stakeholders that, in view of Idorsia's considerable potential, it was essential to keep the company operational. In March 2024, we entered into a global development and commercialization agreement with Viatris for selatogrel and cenerimod. This deal secured the future of two promising development programs, while retaining long-term shareholder value through potential milestones and royalties. In February 2025, the agreement was amended to reduce our commitment to development costs by USD 100 million, significantly relieving pressure on our cash requirements in 2025. At the same time, we worked with bondholders to achieve a holistic restructuring of our CHF 800 million convertible bond debt and securing CHF 150 million in new funding. These initiatives allow Idorsia to continue to operate into 2026 while relieving the debt overhang. With so much focus on our financial situation over the past months, one could easily lose sight of how well the company has been performing in other areas. We exceeded our sales target for QUVIVIQ, with a particularly strong performance in the Europe and Canada (EUCAN) region. In 2024, more than 15 million QUVIVIQ tablets were distributed across this region - that's 15 million restorative nights' sleep and 15 million revitalized days! In France, the launch team has made great strides since March, further accelerated by a co-promotion partnership with Menarini to extend our reach to GPs. Germany is also performing particularly well, and we anticipate a similar uptick in sales as we expand to GP prescribers through a co-promotion partnership with Berlin-Chemie. The best way to solidify our future is to accelerate the success of QUVIVIQ in the EUCAN region, where we anticipate reaching commercial profitability with QUVIVIQ in 2026. In the US, throughout 2024, we optimized our resources and promotional efforts, adjusting our commercial approach towards a payer-paid model. I'm pleased that we have seen steady US sales growth for QUVIVIQ despite significantly reducing our marketing & sales investments, and our field force in particular. We are continuing our efforts to have the DORA class descheduled in the US. If this barrier to prescription can be removed, there is a good chance that we can finally unlock the true value of QUVIVIQ in the US - as seen in the EUCAN region. Also in the US, our next potential blockbuster, TRYVIO, was approved by the FDA in March, and was made available for prescription in October 2024. We believe aprocitentan has the potential to revolutionize the serious and growing public health problem of what was until recently considered to be "resistant" hypertension - where the risks of cardiovascular complications such as strokes, heart failure, and renal failure, are almost twice as high as in non-resistant forms of hypertension. Our US team has developed a launch plan and product campaign for TRYVIO - including field force deployment and promotional activities - and we will proceed with a limited and focused launch to bridge to a potential partnership. Aprocitentan has also been approved (as JERAYGO) in the EU and UK, and submitted for review in Switzerland and Canada. As part of a restructuring program to streamline the business, our portfolio assets have been rigorously prioritized and our R&D activities limited so as to make our money last. In the context of the competitive landscape, each portfolio compound has been assessed to determine the feasibility of Idorsia pursuing development alone, or how we can generate preclinical and clinical proof-of-concept data enabling others to recognize the value of the asset. With lucerastat, we have already conducted a very large study for patients with Fabry disease, and although significance was not reached for the primary endpoint (neuropathic pain), it showed a marked reduction in the decline of kidney function. This represents a major medical need in Fabry disease. In a small kidney biopsy study, we are currently investigating whether the observations on kidney function are accompanied by histological changes. When the results become available in the coming months, we will further discuss the regulatory pathway with the FDA. We also have an exciting and unique early-stage pipeline coming from our drug discovery group. By leveraging our innovative portfolio - through targeted development of some assets and partnering of others - we should be able to obtain the income we need to keep our R&D engine fueled. All the key developments in 2024 are described in detail in the Business review. Having secured operations into 2026, it's now up to us to make the money last and to make the right decisions on how it is spent. With commercial profitability within sight, and overall profitability not far behind, there is a lot to be excited about. Thank you once again for your continued commitment to Idorsia. Sincerely, Andre C. Muller Chief Executive Officer About Idorsia Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more - we have more passion for science, we see more opportunities, and we want to help more patients. The purpose of Idorsia is to challenge accepted medical paradigms, answering the questions that matter most. To achieve this, we will discover, develop, and commercialize transformative medicines - either with in-house capabilities or together with partners - and evolve Idorsia into a leading biopharmaceutical company, with a strong scientific core. Headquartered near Basel, Switzerland - a European biotech hub - Idorsia has a highly experienced team of dedicated professionals, covering all disciplines from bench to bedside; QUVIVIQ (daridorexant), a different kind of insomnia treatment with the potential to revolutionize this mounting public health concern; strong partners to maximize the value of our portfolio; a promising in-house development pipeline; and a specialized drug discovery engine focused on small-molecule drugs that can change the treatment paradigm for many patients. Idorsia is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA). For further information, please contact Investor & Media Relations Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil +41 58 844 10 10 investor.relations@idorsia.com - media.relations@idorsia.com - www.idorsia.com (http://www.idorsia.com) The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Attachment 2024, a year of commercial growth and industrial development Record 5.1m revenues in 2024, x4 compared to 2023, in line with guidance A growing portfolio of almost 50 customers by the end of 2024 and several significant offtake contracts recently signed in France and Germany Strong increase in our installed electrolysis capacity now at 22 MW, x22 versus IPO 2 FIDs announced in 2024: Croixrault (for a 5 MW site in Hauts de France) and Le Cheylas (for a 10 MW site in Auvergne Rhone Alpes) currently under construction Solid cash position with 72m available as of end 2024 1 st place in Europe in terms of ESG performance, in the Industry - Utilities sector, according to the EthiFinance ranking place in Europe in terms of ESG performance, in the Industry - Utilities sector, according to the EthiFinance ranking Major memorandum of understanding signed with Masdar to jointly develop large green hydrogen production sites in Europe A stronger position in the green hydrogen production value chain Unique track record with the installation of 6 green hydrogen production sites, securing future deployments of sites with increasing capacities 3 sites under construction or extension, representing an increase of more than 75% in production capacity by 2026 One of the largest modern bulk hydrogen transport fleets in Europe, with nearly 70 hydrogen containers in service in 8 countries, giving Lhyfe a large customer coverage Strong sales growth expected in 2025 and confirmation of 2026 guidance Strong growth in revenue in 2025: x2 to x3 increase expected in hydrogen sales compared to 2024 Strong growth expected in partnership revenues 2026 guidance confirmed of +10% Group EBITDA margin and 100m revenue Nantes (France) - 27 March 2025 - 7 :00 am - At its meeting held on March 26, 2025, the Board of Directors of Lhyfe (Euronext Paris - FR0014009YQ1 - LHYFE), one of the world's pioneers in the production of green and renewable hydrogen, approved its consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year 2024 (from January 1 to December 31, 2024). The consolidated financial statements were audited, and an audit report will be issued in April by the statutory auditors. Matthieu Guesne, Founder and Chairman-CEO of Lhyfe: "In 2024, in a challenging market environment for the green hydrogen sector in Europe, Lhyfe has demonstrated its ability to differentiate itself by successfully continuing its growth and development. Thanks to significant commercial and operational advances - including a fourfold increase in our sales, the signing of new customers, an increase in our production capacity and the conclusion of new strategic partnerships - we have confirmed our position as a pioneer and key player in the production and supply of green hydrogen. Lhyfe is now positioned as a leading partner for green hydrogen consumers in Europe." Revenue increased by x4 compared to 2023 In 2024 Lhyfe quadrupled its revenues to 5.1 million, compared to 2023 (1.3 million), after having more than doubled its revenues between 2022 (0.6m) and 2023. This performance mainly reflects the production at full capacity achieved for the full year at the Bouin site and new customers signed enhancing our portfolio of clients. In 2024, the Group made more than 470 deliveries to clients located mainly in France and in Germany, with a 99% service rate, relying on its c.70 containers fleet. Over the year, Lhyfe continued to expand its customer portfolio both in France and Germany, and notably: In France, contracts signed recently include an 18-month offtake contract with taxi company Hysetco for more than 45 tons of green hydrogen over the contract duration as well as a 3-year offtake contract with a refueling station operator in France for more than 45 tons of green hydrogen per year. In Germany, Lhyfe signed a 5-year offtake agreement with H2 Mobility Deutschland, Europe's largest operator of public hydrogen stations, to provide more than 240 tons of green hydrogen on average per year. Lhyfe also signed a 2-year offtake contract from 2025 with a large energy player in the Netherlands for more than 100 tons of green hydrogen per year on average. All these contracts will contribute to the commercial ramp-up of our existing and coming sites in France and in Germany. Increase in installed production capacity France: Bouin, Buleon and Bessieres sites To meet the growing customer demand in the region, production capacity at the Bouin site will be increased from 1 to 2.5 MW in 2025 and planned in accordance with the site's production schedule. In 2024, the on-site storage authorization increased from 1 ton to 5 tons. The Buleon and Bessieres sites, each with an electrolysis capacity of 5 MW, are installed. Germany: Tubingen and Schwabisch Gmund sites In Tubingen, the onsite production plant (1 MW) has been installed for Deutsche Bahn Energie. In Schwabisch Gmund, the 10 MW production site is now installed. It benefits from the design of previously installed Lhyfe plants, commercial experience gained as well as an already-built customer base. Commercial ramp-up will start in 2025. Progress of our sites in Construction stage In Croixrault, in the Hauts-de-France region, the civil works, which were launched in the first half of 2024, are now over. Next steps include installation of all the equipment, piping and cabling. This 5 MW production site (up to 2 tons of green hydrogen per day) is intended to supply local uses in mobility and industry. In Le Cheylas, between Grenoble and Chambery, civil works for the 10 MW green hydrogen production plant (up to 4 tons of green hydrogen per day) are now over. Next steps include installation of all the equipment, piping and cabling. From 2025, and for a period of 10 years, Lhyfe will supply anchor client HYmpulsion with up to 1.6 tons of green hydrogen per day to meet the needs of 7 hydrogen stations in the Alps. Lhyfe will also supply regional manufacturers looking to replace grey hydrogen or natural gas with green hydrogen. A 9.1 GW projects pipeline at end 2024 At the end of 2024, Lhyfe's project pipeline represented a total electrolysis capacity of 9.1 GW (versus 9.9 GW end of 2023). This portfolio of projects is dynamically managed by Lhyfe's teams, who work to transform and mature each project. Projects at an advanced stage of development[1] represented a total production capacity of 553 MW at the end of the year (vs. 564 MW at the end of 2023). During the 2nd half of 2024, Lhyfe's teams continued to work on the development of bulk, on-site and backbone projects, with significant milestones achieved during the period for several of them[2]: On bulk projects (hydrogen delivered by road in containers): Launch of a first project in the UK in Wallsend with plans for a 20 MW green hydrogen plant ; Awarding of two c.11m subsidies for two 10 MW production units in Jordberga and Vaggeryd in southern Sweden. On on-site projects (hydrogen supplied to a main customer via a direct connection): Awarded of a grant of up to 149m from the French State for the Green Horizon project, which provides for the construction of a 100 MW green hydrogen production plant near Le Havre in Normandy Conclusion of a memorandum of understanding with Swiss Steel Group subsidiary Ugitech aiming at installing a green hydrogen production unit at Ugitech's Ugine site in Savoie, France, with an electrolysis capacity of 30 MW (up to 12 tons per day) Signing of an exclusive partnership with Elyse Energy, a pioneer in the production of low-carbon molecules, in order to develop the production of e-methanol from green hydrogen that would be produced by Lhyfe in a production unit (up to 85 tonnes per day) to be built in the Saint-Nazaire Port area. Signing of a partnership with OX2, one of Europe's largest onshore wind developers, and Velarion, to create a hydrogen-based industrial cluster in Ange, Sweden, including a c.300 MW plant (up to 100 tons of green hydrogen per day) to be used by Velarion's future carbon-neutral fertilizer plant. In October 2024, the Ange municipality approved the construction of the wind park to be built by OX2 to supply Lhyfe's hydrogen production site with renewable electricity. As of 31 December 2024, the allocation of Lhyfe's project pipeline between the different project stages was as follows: End 2024 End 2023 Units in Operation 22 MW 6 MW Projects in Construction[3] stage 33 MW 39 MW Projects in Awarded3 stage 10 MW 25 MW Projects in Tender Ready3 stage 510 MW 495 MW Projects in an advanced stage of development[4] 553 MW 564 MW Projects in Advanced Development3 stage 4.1 GW 5.0 GW Projects in Early Stage3 4.4 GW 4.3 GW Total projects pipeline 9.1 GW 9.9 GW ESG performance: ranked n1 in Europe Lhyfe improved its ESG rating by obtaining in November 2024 the Platinum certificate[5], the highest level of certification by extra-financial rating agency EthiFinance. With a rating of 86/100, up +17 points over 2 years, Lhyfe confirms the performance of its business model and ranks 1st among European companies in its Industry/Utilities sector (out of 73 companies) and 7th in France for all sectors combined. This performance reflects the commitment and constant efforts of all Lhyfe's teams to develop the company's business model and thus participate in the decarbonization of entire sectors of transport and industry while guaranteeing the satisfaction of all stakeholders. 2024 full year results Consolidated income statement In M - IFRS 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Revenue 5.1 1.3 Adjusted EBITDA[6] (25.7) (28.1) Current operating result (28.7) (33.9) Operating result (29.0) (34.4) Financial result 1.2 1.6 Consolidated net result (29.2) (33.6) Full year revenues increased 4-fold to 5.1m versus 1.3m in 2023 and were mainly related to the supply and delivery of green hydrogen produced at the Bouin site. This significant increase in revenues is the result of the expansion of the Group's customer portfolio both in France and in Germany and of the full-capacity operation of the Bouin site. Adjusted EBITDA was (25.7)m in 2024, an improvement compared to (28.1)m a year earlier, mainly reflecting an additional margin from increased activity (+3.5m) as well as efficient cost management. Group's current operating loss amounted to (28.7)m, compared to (33.9)m one year earlier, mainly reflecting the improvement in EBITDA. Financial result was positive at 1.2m, compared to 1.6m YoY, reflecting notably higher financing costs related to the refinancing of hydrogen transport assets (containers). Net loss for the period was (29.2)m, compared to (33.6)m in 2023. Consolidated balance sheet Change in cash over the period was (42.1)m, broken down as follows: Net cash flow from operating activities for the period amounted to (27.0)m versus (22.6)m YoY, notably as the improved EBITDA and the non-cash gain related to a share-based compensation plan were offset by a negative change in the working capital requirement, being -3.9m in 2024 compared to a positive 3.5m change in 2023; Net cash flow from investing activities amounted to (34.6)m versus (44.1)m YoY, related mainly to equipment purchases for sites under construction as well as project development and engineering cost; Net cash flow from financing activities amounted to 19.5m versus 36.5m YoY, reflecting mainly the refinancing, in the form of finance lease, of a large part of its hydrogen transport and storage assets for 10.4m, additional financing of 3m as part of the syndicated green loan closed end of 2023 and received grants for 12.2m. As a reminder, in 2023, 28 million in new corporate financing was recorded. As of 31 December 2024, Lhyfe's consolidated shareholders' equity was 71.8m. At the same date, the company's available cash amounted to 72.2m while net cash[7] stood at (8.0)m. This strong cash position gives the company good visibility to continue deploying its strategy, increasing its production capacity and developing its pipeline of projects. To support the deployment of its project pipeline, Lhyfe continued to secure subsidies[8] over the year, notably: 6.2m from the Auvergne Rhone-Alpes Region and from Europe for the production site under construction in Le Cheylas (10 MW); c.22m from Klimatklivet for the two 10 MW projects in Sweden (Jordberga and Vaggeryd); Up to 149m from the French government for the GreenHorizon project in Le Havre (100 MW). At the end of 2024, secured grants totaled 242m. Rolling-out of our co-development strategy: signing a major Memorandum of Understanding with Masdar In the beginning of 2025, Lhyfe and Masdar, the UAE's clean energy leader, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore co-development opportunities in large-scale green hydrogen production projects in Europe. The MoU was signed at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025 and is part of the strategy announced in 2024 by Lhyfe to co-develop projects with financial or industrial investors seeking to invest in green hydrogen production projects. Masdar is aiming for a renewable energy portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030 and aims to be a leading producer of green hydrogen in the same timeframe with the objective of 1 million tons per annum of green hydrogen or equivalent derivatives in the UAE and globally within a decade. Increased visibility on the European deployment of green hydrogen Lhyfe intends to benefit from the continued development of the green hydrogen sector in Europe, supported by strategic initiatives and strengthened financing mechanisms. With the Clean Industrial Deal announced in February 2025, the European Union is backing efforts to decarbonize and enhance industrial competitiveness, aiming to reinforce energy sovereignty. The EU seeks to reduce energy costs while promoting the transition to clean energy sources such as renewable hydrogen and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. This initiative is also accompanied by over 100 billion dedicated to support clean technology manufacturing within the EU. The implementation of RED III mandates by May 2025 requires each member state to set hydrogen consumption targets for industry and transport sectors by 2030. At the same time, the sector benefits from the deployment of support mechanisms by key European countries. The UK is implementing HAR auctions, the Netherlands offers OWE subsidies, Germany is developing the H2Global auction system, and France has adopted a support mechanism for renewable or low-carbon hydrogen production (MSP). Finally, the European Union recently reaffirmed the role of the Hydrogen Bank, with further auction mechanisms deployed in 2024 and 2025 that enable green hydrogen producers to secure subsidies in the form of fixed premiums per kilogram of green hydrogen produced. These developments have driven a fourfold increase in final investment decisions (FIDs) in 2024, giving greater visibility to the sector and to investors. Outlook and guidance Having achieved its 2024 objectives, Lhyfe continues to roll out its operational and commercial roadmap in 2025, notably: the ramp-up of its new installed sites in France and Germany ; the construction of its next two French sites at Croixrault and Le Cheylas ; the preparation of the next final investment decisions including Green Horizon. For 2025, the Group is expecting a significant growth in revenues, based on: a x2 to x3 increase in hydrogen sales compared to 2024 ; a new sales strategy based on indirect sales, ie relying on a network of resellers ; the strong growth expected in partnership revenues (to be detailed in H1 results publication in Sept 2025). The Group confirms its 2026 and 2030 objectives: for fiscal year 2026, Group adjusted EBITDA margin[9] of around 10% on consolidated revenue of around 100m, by 2030, a total installed capacity of 3 GW of assets under management[10] and a Group adjusted EBITDA margin in excess of 30%. As an indication, at this date, the net share of assets held by Lhyfe[11] should be around 20%. Financial calendar Date Release Friday 23 May 2025 General Meeting About Lhyfe Lhyfe is a European group dedicated to the energy transition, and a producer and supplier of green and renewable hydrogen. Its production sites and portfolio of projects aim to provide access to green and renewable hydrogen in industrial quantities, and to enter into a virtuous energy model allowing the decarbonization of entire sectors of industry and mobility. In 2021, Lhyfe inaugurated the world's first industrial green hydrogen production site in direct connection with a wind farm. In 2022, Lhyfe inaugurated the world's first pilot platform for green hydrogen production at sea. Since then, it has installed three new sites and currently has several sites under construction or expansion across Europe. Lhyfe is present in 12 European countries and had 201 employees at end of December 2024. The company is listed on the Euronext market in Paris (ISIN: FR0014009YQ1 - mnemonic: LHYFE). More information on Lhyfe.com Contacts Lhyfe - Investor relations LHYFE Yoann Nguyen investors@lhyfe.com Lhyfe - Financial press relations ACTUS Manon Clairet +33 (0)1 53 67 36 73 mclairet@actus.fr Lhyfe - Business press relations Nouvelles Graines Clemence Rebours +33 (0)6 60 57 76 43 c.rebours@nouvelles-graines.com Appendix - Consolidated income statement In thousands of Euros 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Revenue 5,099 1,317 Income from ordinary operations 5,099 1,317 Purchases consumed (891) (645) External expenses (12,482) (12,438) Personnel expenses (16,944) (20,593) Taxes, duties and similar payments (230) (172) Other current operating income and expenses 585 1 861 Depreciation and amortisation of fixed assets (3,533) (3,290) Provisions for liabilities and charges (337) (14) Current operating result (28,733) (33,974) Other non-current operating income and expenses (271) (395) Non-current operating result (271) (395) Operating result (29,004) (34,369) Cost of financial debt (1,411) (672) Other financial revenue and expenses 2,619 2,287 Financial result 1,208 1,615 Income before tax (27,796) (32,754) Income taxes - - Share of income of companies accounted for under the equity method (1,389) (803) Consolidated net result (29,185) (33,557) Minority interests (94) (69) Net result (Group share) (29,091) (33,488) Earnings per share (in Euros) (0,61) (0,70) Appendix - Consolidated statement of financial position ASSETS In thousands of Euros 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Intangible assets 18,254 11,004 Property, plant and equipment 74,571 50,306 Right-of-use assets 30,530 7,761 Investments in companies accounted for under equity method 965 2,387 Non-current derivative financial instruments - - Other non-current assets 2,288 3,249 Deferred tax assets - - Non-current assets 126,608 74,707 Inventory 248 176 Trade receivables 2,048 604 Current derivative financial instruments 430 - Other current assets 20,994 10,743 Cash and cash equivalents 72,124 114,252 Current assets 95,844 125,775 Assets 222,452 200,482 LIABILITIES In thousands of Euros 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Share capital 480 479 Premiums 163,850 163,824 Reserves (63,401) (28,328) Net result (29,091) (33,488) Equity - Group share 71,838 102,487 Minority interests (163) (69) Equity 71,675 102,418 Non-current provisions 3,528 3,167 Non-current borrowings and financial liabilities 71,040 49,314 Non-current derivative financial instruments 599 - Deferred tax liabilities - - Other non-current liabilities 24,189 16,273 Non-current liabilities 99,356 68,754 Current provisions 20 44 Current borrowings and financial liabilities 9,134 4,353 Current derivative financial instruments 402 - Trade payables 21,195 15,225 Other current liabilities 20,670 9,688 Current liabilities 51,421 29,310 Liabilities and equity 222,452 200,482 Appendix - Cash flow statement In thousands of Euros 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Consolidated net result (29,185) (33,557) , Share of income of companies accounted for under the equity method 1,389 803 Adjustments for: Depreciation, amortisation and provisions 4,706 3,577 Net financial result 1,136 596 Expenses calculated related to share-based payments (1,373) (2,557) Change in fair value of financial instruments 846 76 Other non-cash effects (566) (164) Income taxes paid - - Net working capital : Change in inventory (71) (34) Change in trade receivables (1,444) (541) Change in current non-trade receivables (8,274) (5,986) Change in trade payables 693 4,236 Change in other current liabilities 5,172 5,829 Net cash flows from operating activities (26,971) (22,608) Purchases of intangible fixed assets (7,991) (6,303) Purchases of property, plant and equipment (27,081) (34,101) Disposals of property, plant and equipment 5 1 Increase/decrease in financial assets 441 (1,538) Interest received - - Impact of changes in scope of consolidation - (2,150) Net cash flows from investment activities (34,626) (44,091) Share capital increases, net of expenses 27 3 Issue of new loans, net of expenses 15,736 31,935 Repayable advances received 695 764 Subsidies received 12,156 7,921 Loan and current account repayments (2,268) (1,131) Repayment of repayable advances (78) - Repayment of lease liabilities (2,019) (910) Sales / (Purchases) of treasury shares (164) (113) Interests paid (4,607) (2,011) Net cash flows from financing activities 19,478 36,458 Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates (9) 1 Net change in cash and cash equivalents (42,128) (30,240) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 114,252 144,492 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 72,124 114,252 [1] Projects in Tender ready, Awarded, or Construction stages. The definitions of these stages are detailed in Section 1.8.1 of the Universal Registration Document approved by the AMF on 25 April 2024 and available on Lhyfe's website [2] More details on each of the announced projects are available on https://www.lhyfe.com/investors/financial-press-releases/ [3] The definitions of these stages are detailed in Section 1.8.1 of the Universal Registration Document approved by the AMF on 25 April 2024 and available on Lhyfe's website [4] Projects in Tender ready, Awarded, or Construction stages. The definitions of these stages are detailed in Section 1.8.1 of the Universal Registration Document approved by the AMF on 25 April 2024 and available on Lhyfe's website [5] Score detailed in the press release disclosed on 26 November 2024, available here [6] Adjusted EBITDA: consolidated current operating result before amortisation and provisions, before charges linked to equity-based compensation and before fair value adjustment on derivative financial adjustments [7] Net cash = cash and cash equivalents - current and non-current financial debts (including IFRS 16 lease debt) [8] Including signed grants and grants currently under contractualization process [9] Adjusted EBITDA: consolidated current operating result before amortisation and provisions, before charges linked to equity-based compensation and before fair value adjustment on derivative financial adjustments [10] Assets under management: green hydrogen production sites managed by the Group under an asset management agreement [11] Net share of assets held by Lhyfe: ratio between the installed capacity of the assets under management and the percentage of the capital of the project companies held (directly or indirectly) by Lhyfe ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lWhslZRrk2yZm3JpYZxmm5Jjb5tplpSdZ2GaxWdxYseZmJ+SxW9laJ2XZnJhm2pn - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-90651-lhyfe-pr-fy-2024-results-27032025-uk.pdf Positive results from Phase 3 trial for MaaT013 in acute Graft-versus-Host disease (aGvHD); topline results (January 2025) showed a 62% gastrointestinal overall response rate at Day 28 and 1-year expected Overall Survival of 54%, demonstrating high efficacy and significant improvement over currently available therapies; Positive final DSMB review confirming remarkable efficacy results and a positive benefit/risk profile. Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) in Europe for MaaT013 on track for EMA submission in June 2025. Initiation of Expanded Access for MaaT013 in aGvHD in the U.S. EAP Revenues of 3.2 million in 2024, a 44% increase over 2023, and the highest revenues generated from the EAP to date. As of December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were 20.2 million. Capital Increase of 13 million supported by historical shareholders to advance towards its next significant operational and financing milestones, extending its cash runway into October 2025. Regulatory News: MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a leader in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies(MET) dedicated to enhancing survival for patients with cancer through immune modulation, today reported the 2024 full-year annual results and announces the completion of a private placement of 13 million at market price through the issuance of 2,131,148 new ordinary shares of the Company at a price per New Share (as defined below) of 6.10, to the benefit of its existing shareholders, Biocodex, PSIM Fund represented by Bpifrance Investissement and a US/EU existing investor. The funds will support the Company's progress towards key value milestones, including market submission for EU approval of MaaT013 in aGvHD, its US expansion strategy, and the conclusion of a potential partnership for its hemato-oncology products in Europe. "I am proud of our team for the significant progresses MaaT Pharma made to date, marked by unprecedented results from our positive Phase 3 trial with our lead asset, MaaT013, supporting our transformational role in hemato-oncology. I'm deeply thankful to our historical shareholders for their renewed support, which will enable the Company to reach major value milestones in the coming months. Looking ahead, we look forward to bringing our innovation to patients in need and creating lasting value for all stakeholders,"stated Herve Affagard, CEO and co-founder of MaaT Pharma. Pipeline highlights In Hemato-Oncology In 2024, MaaT Pharma confirmed its leadership position with microbiome-based therapies for hemato-oncology applications, releasing breakthrough Phase 3 results from its ARES aGvHD trial. The Company is now preparing for the submission of its Market Authorization Approval dossier for its lead-asset MaaT013, while also actively discussing potential partnership options for commercialization in Europe. Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD) MaaT013 In April 2024, the Company presented for the first time positive 18-month data for MaaT013 showing a clear Overall Survival advantage in aGvHD from the Early Access Program (EAP) at the 2024 EBMT Annual Meeting. Promising data included a gastrointestinal overall response rate (GI-ORR) of 52% at D28 and an Overall Survival (OS) of 47% at 12 months. In September 2024, MaaT Pharma announced that MaaT013 batches were ready for distribution for clinical supply in the US and Europe and that MaaT Pharma advanced the readiness phase for the initiation of clinical activities. In October 2024, MaaT Pharma announced the completion of patient recruitment for ARES, its European Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of MaaT013 in the treatment of steroid refractory and ruxolitinib refractory or intolerant aGvHD (NCT04769895). In December 2024, the Company announced the initiation of the Single Patient Expanded Access in the U.S with the treatment of the first U.S. patient with aGvhD with MaaT013 at City of Hope Hospital, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States. In December 2024, MaaT Pharma presented updated data, with a GI-ORR at Day 28 of 51% and an OS rate of 47% at 12 months, for 154 patients with acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD) treated with MaaT013 in EAP in Europe during the 66 th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. In January 2025, the Company announces positive topline results from the pivotal Phase 3 ARES Study evaluating MaaT013 in aGvHD. The study met its primary endpoint with a significant gastrointestinal overall response rate at Day 28 of 62% and demonstrates the unprecedented efficacy of MaaT013 as third-line treatment of aGvHD with gastrointestinal involvement (GI-aGvHD) consistent with previously communicated EAP results. The Company anticipates MAA submission in Europe in June 2025. More recently, the Company received positive feedback, further solidifying its plans to submit the MAA dossier with the EMA in June 2025: In March 2025, the Company received positive opinion from EMA Pediatric Committee on the Pediatric Investigation Plan for MaaT013, a key milestone achieved towards a marketing authorization submission to the EMA, expected in June 2025. And also in March 2025, the Company received a positive outcome from the final DSMB meeting on ARES, confirming the remarkable efficacy results and positive risk/benefit profile of MaaT013 in third-line aGvHD. Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (allo-HSCT) MaaT033 In July 2024, the Company announced that the DSMB completed its first safety assessment of the Phase 2b trial PHOEBUS (NCT05762211), aiming at assessing MaaT033 impact in improving overall survival in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and recommended continuation of the trial without modification. The trial is a European, multi-center, randomized, double-blind study, testing MaaT033, an oral freeze-dried formulation against placebo, set to be conducted in up to 56 clinical investigation sites and expected to enroll 387 patients. In January 2025, the Company announced that the DSMB completed its second safety assessment of the Phase 2b trial PHOEBUS and recommended continuation of the trial without modification. In Immuno-Oncology In 2024, MaaT Pharma advanced its donor-derived MET-N drug candidates in immunotherapy combinations for solid tumors in proof-of-concept clinical phases, while developing its next-generation MET-C drugs using the Company's co-cultured platform, in view of addressing large immuno-oncology indications. MaaT013 and MaaT033 Proof-of-Concept trials with donor derived drugs (MET-N platform) In March 2024, the Company completed patient recruitment for the Phase 2a randomized clinical trial (NCT04988841) (PICASSO) sponsored by AP-HP and in collaboration with INRAE and Institut Gustave Roussy, evaluating MaaT013 in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), ipilimumab (Yervoy ) and nivolumab (Opdivo ), in metastatic melanoma patients. The Company provided its MaaT013 drug candidate and placebo and will contribute to the microbiome profiling of patients using its proprietary gutPrint AI research engine, while the trial investigator sponsor handled recruitment, treatment and is overseeing data collection and analysis. Following an updated timeline from the academic sponsor, data readout is now expected in H2 2025, compared to Q1 2025 as previously announced. ) and nivolumab (Opdivo ), in metastatic melanoma patients. The Company provided its MaaT013 drug candidate and placebo and will contribute to the microbiome profiling of patients using its proprietary gutPrint AI research engine, while the trial investigator sponsor handled recruitment, treatment and is overseeing data collection and analysis. Following an updated timeline from the academic sponsor, data readout is now expected in H2 2025, compared to Q1 2025 as previously announced. In May 2024, the Company announced its participation in the IMMUNOLIFE RHU program, a consortium including academic partners, such as Institut Gustave Roussy (IGR), a world-renowned center in the field of cancer treatment, and biotech companies. MaaT033 will be tested as a concomitant treatment to cemiplimab (Regeneron), an anti-PD1 therapy, to assess the potential increase in response rate in patients having received antibiotics. This randomized multicenter Phase 2 clinical trial will include advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. In this investigator-sponsored trial, MaaT Pharma's financial commitment will be limited to clinical product supply. The trial is expected by the sponsor to start mid-2025. MaaT034 Next-generation drug candidates with co-cultured technology (MET-C platform) In 2024, MaaT Pharma presented new in vitro data on MaaT034's metabolite production and immune modulation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting (April) and at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting (November). MaaT034, the first product from the MET-C platform, is a synthetic microbiota therapy aimed at enhancing immunotherapy responses in solid tumor patients, which represents a potentially large market. Given the current Company's prioritization of resources on its hemato-oncology programs, and particularly on MaaT013's registration activities in Europe, the pace of MaaT034 development activities will be contingent upon further financial resources. In neurodegenerative diseases Outside the Company's main focus in oncology, MaaT Pharma's donor-derived MaaT033 was successfully investigated in ALS, further demonstrating the versatility of the Company's drug platform in other therapeutic domains. The Study met its primary endpoint and positive Phase 1b results were announced in November 2024, confirming its safety and tolerability beyond oncology indications. Corporate update In 2024, MaaT Pharma significantly strengthened its leadership team to support its next development phase, enhancing expertise across key areas to drive its clinical, regulatory, and financial strategy forward. Jonathan Chriqui joined as Chief Business Officer in March, followed by Gianfranco Pittari as Chief Medical Officer and Carole Ifi as Head of Regulatory Affairs in the Summer 2024. In November, Eric Soyer was appointed Chief Financial Officer. These strategic appointments further strengthen execution capabilities of its clinical and development plans. Financial highlights The key financial audited results for the full year of 2024 are as follows. Condensed Income Statement In thousands of euros 31 December 2024 (12 months) 31 December 2023 (12 months) Revenue 3 216 2 228 Other Income 3 831 4 667 Sales, General and Administrative costs (7 781) (5 839) Research and Development costs (27 694) (20 999) Operating income (expense) (28 428) (19 943) Financial Income 401 639 Financial Expense (878) (413) Net financial income (expense) (477) 226 Net Income (loss) for the period (28 904) (19 717) In accordance with IFRS international standards. Detailed financial information available here (French only) The audit procedures for the 2024 financial statements were carried out by the Company's statutory auditor and the 2024 statutory accounts were closed by the Company's Board of Directors on March 24, 2025. The financial statements are available on the Company's website. The full financial reports will be included in the Company's Universal Registration Report (equivalent to the annual financial report), which will be filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers on 11 April 2025. Revenues totaled 3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, the highest revenues generated thus far by the Company, mostly comprised of compensation invoiced from the Early Access Program in France and for which data was presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in December 2024. Other income of 3.8 million included R&D tax credits of 3.5 million, stable from 3.6 million in the prior year, while grants decreased to 0.1 million in 2024 from 1.0 million in the prior year. Sales, General and Administrative expenses amounted to 7.8 million in 2024, compared with 6.0 million in 2023, reflecting mostly the expenses to support the early access program, as well as the increase in regulatory advisory costs and the strengthening of the team. Research and Development expenses were 27.7 million in 2024, an increase of 6.7 million from 2023, consistent with the advancement of clinical and operational activities as detailed in the pipeline highlights' section above. As a result, Operating expenses amounted to 28.4 million in 2024 compared with 19.9 million for 2023, an increase of 8.5 million. Net loss was to 28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with 19.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cash Position as of December 31, 2024 As of December 31, 2024, total cash and cash equivalents were 20.2 million, as compared to 27.0 million as of September 30, 2024, and 24.3 million as of December 31, 2023. The net decrease in cash position of 4.1 million between December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2024, was related to a net cash utilization in Operating and Investing activities of 22.0 million and 0.4 million, respectively, while cash generated in financial activities was 18.3 million, including the 17.2 million net proceeds from the May 2024 capital raise. Capital Increase with the support of historical shareholders In this exceptionally challenging financial and economical context, the Company has just carried out a Capital Increase with its historical shareholders, thus giving priorities to secure upcoming key milestones while limiting the dilution and preserving value for all shareholders. Based on its projected plans and its associated financing needs to date, and following the Capital Increase, the Company expects its cash and cash equivalents balance to be sufficient to fund its operations into October 2025. In order to finance its activities for the next twelve months, the Company will need to raise additional funds. The Company is actively discussing additional dilutive and non-dilutive financing options for 2025, which, together with a potential strategic partnership, if materialized, will further finance and accelerate its developments activities, allowing to extend the Company's cash runway. The Capital Increase will enable the Company to pursue its developments plan and confirm its potential for being a key player in hemato-oncology. Upcoming significant value-creation milestones include: the Company is targeting to submit its Market Authorization Application for MaaT013 in aGvHD with the European agency in June 2025, with a potential approval expected in H2 2026; the Company is also preparing for a commercial launch in Europe, based on compelling Phase 3 data released in January 2025; the Company is also actively assessing potential partnership options for the distribution of its hemato-oncology products in Europe, in view of strengthening the launch and market penetration strategy of MaaT013, if approved; in the US, the Company is preparing for the launch of a dedicated US Phase 3 trial in aGvHD, or, subject to FDA's approval, the submission of a US Biologics License Application (BLA) (subject to confirmatory trial) based on compelling European Early Access and Phase 3 data, in view of a late 2026 commercial launch, if approved; the Company will continue the ongoing allo-HSCT Phase 2b study "PHOEBUS" (1yr-OS read out expected in late 2027). Main characteristics of the Capital Increase MaaT Pharma's Board of Directors using the delegation of powers granted by the 25th resolution of the shareholders' general meeting held on May 28, 2024 (capital increase without preferential subscription rights reserved to specific categories of investors) (the "AGM") and in accordance with article L. 225-138 of the French Commercial Code (code de commerce), has authorized the principle of a Capital Increase on March 24, 2025 and the CEO has decided, pursuant to the sub-delegation of authority granted by the Board, to complete a capital increase of 13,000,002.80 euros, by way of issuance of 2,131,148 new shares with a nominal value of 0.10 each (the "New Shares") for a subscription price of 6.10 each (including premium) (the "Capital Increase"). The New Shares will be issued at a market price, corresponding to the closing price of the Company's shares on the Euronext Paris regulated market at the time of the last trading session preceding its setting (i.e. March 26, 2025). The participation of existing shareholders represents the aggregate gross amount of the Capital Increase, namely, Biocodex for 6 million euros, PSIM Fund for 5 million euros, and a US/EU existing investor for 2 million euros. PSIM Fund represented by Bpifrance Investissement and Biocodex are also represented on the Board of Directors of the Company, and as such, did not take part in the vote of the Capital Increase at the Board of Directors' meeting held on March 24, 2025. The New Shares will be of the same class and fully fungible with the existing shares of the Company and will be admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris under the ISIN FR0012634822 MAAT. The settlement-delivery of the Capital Increase is expected to take place around March 31, 2025, subject to customary conditions. Impact of the Capital Increase on the share capital Following the completion of the Capital Increase, MaaT Pharma's share capital will amount to 1,611,525.10 divided into 16,115,251 shares and the issuance of the New Shares represents 13.2% of the share capital of the Company after the Capital Increase. On an illustrative basis, a shareholder holding 1% of the Company's share capital before the Capital Increase and who did not participate in the Capital Increase will hold 0.87% of the Company's share capital after the issuance of the New Shares. To the Company's knowledge, the shareholding structure, on a non-diluted base, before and after the Capital Increase, breaks down as follows: Shareholders Before Capital Increase (non-diluted basis) After Capital Increase (non-diluted basis) Number of Ordinary Shares held Percentage of Existing Share Capital Number of Ordinary Shares held Percentage of Existing Share Capital Karim Dabbagh 1,960 0.01% 1,960 0.01% Herve Affagard 266,173 1.90% 266,173 1.65% Total of individual corporate officers 268,133 1.92% 268,133 1.66% Seventure Funds 2,586,379 18.50% 2,586,379 16.05% Credit Mutuel Innovation SAS 1,412,364 10.10% 1,412,364 8.76% Biocodex SAS 1,859,185 13.29% 2,842,792 17.64% Symbiosis LLC 1,946,735 13.92% 1,946,735 12.08% FPCI Fonds PSIM 2,802,439 20.04% 3,622,111 22.48% US/EU existing investor 623,632 4.46% 951,501 5.90% Other Shareholders 196,128 1.40% 196,128 1.22% Total Historical shareholders 11,426,862 81.71% 13,558,010 84.13% Employees and consultants 183,573 1.31% 183,573 1.14% Public Float 2,105,535 15.06% 2,105,535 13.07% Total 13,984,103 100% 16 115 251 100% Absence of Prospectus In connection with the Capital Increase, no listing prospectus will be approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers (the "AMF"). This press release does not constitute a prospectus under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017, as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation"), or a public offering. The Company will file with the AMF a document containing the information set out in Annex IX of the Prospectus Regulation (the "Information Document"), which will be made available on the Company's website (www.maatpharma.com). Risk factors Investors' attention is drawn to the risk factors set out in the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on April 2nd, 2024, under number D.24-0225 as well as in the 2024 half-year financial report, which are available on the Company's website (www.maatpharma.com) and the website of the AMF (www.amf-france.org), as updated by the risk factors presented in section 4 of the Information Document. The occurrence of any or all of these risks could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial situation, results, development or prospects. Financial calendar* May 13, 2025: Publication of revenues cash for Q1 2025 June 20, 2025: Annual General Meeting September 16, 2025: Publication of H1 results November 4, 2025: Publication of revenues cash for Q3 2025 *Indicative calendar that may be subject to change. Upcoming conferences participation April 2-3, 2025 Kempen Life Sciences Conference, Amsterdam April 25 30, 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025, Chicago, IL May 5-6, 2025 Swiss Biotech Day, Basel May 13, 2025 Forum Midcaps Gilbert Dupont, Paris June 12-15 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress, Milan, IT June 16-19, 2025 Bio International Convention, Boston, MA June 18-19, 2025 Portzamparc Conference Mid Small Caps 2025, Paris September 25, 2025 KBC Healthcare Conference, Brussels About MaaT Pharma MaaT Pharma is a leading, late-stage clinical company focused on developing innovative gut microbiome-driven therapies to modulate the immune system and enhance cancer patient survival. Supported by a talented team committed to making a difference for patients worldwide, the Company was founded in 2014 and is based in Lyon, France. As a pioneer, MaaT Pharma is leading the way in bringing the first microbiome-driven immunomodulator in oncology. Using its proprietary pooling and co-cultivation technologies, MaaT Pharma develops high diversity, standardized drug candidates, aiming at extending life of cancer patients. MaaT Pharma has been listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT) since 2021. Forward-looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by, or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim", "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Disclaimer This press release is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (as amended, the "Prospectus Regulation In France, the offering described above took place solely as a placement to a category of institutional investors, in accordance with Article L. 225-138 of the "Code de commerce" and applicable regulations. The Capital Increase does not constitute a public offering in France, as defined in Article L. 411-1 of the "Code monetaire et financier" and no prospectus reviewed or approved by the Autorite des marches financiers will be published. With respect to Member States of the European Economic Area (including France), no action has been taken or will be taken to permit a public offering of the securities referred to in this press release which would require the publication of a prospectus in any Member State. This press release and the information it contains is not an offer to sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, New Shares in the United States or any other jurisdiction where restrictions may apply. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration thereunder. MaaT Pharma does not intend to register the New Shares under the Securities Act or conduct a public offering of the New Shares in France, the United States, or in any other jurisdiction. This communication is being distributed only to, and is directed only at (a) persons outside the United Kingdom, (b) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), and (c) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this communication or any of its contents. This distribution of this press release may be subject to legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Any person who comes into possession of this press release must inform him or herself of and comply with any such restrictions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326319905/en/ Contacts: MaaT Pharma Investor Relations Guilhaume DEBROAS, Ph.D. Head of Investor Relations +33 6 16 48 92 50 invest@maat-pharma.com Rx Communications Group U.S. Investor Relations Michael Miller Managing Director +1-917-633-6086 mmiller@rxir.com MaaT Pharma Media Relations Pauline RICHAUD Senior PR Corporate Communications Manager +33 6 14 06 45 92 media@maat-pharma.com Catalytic Agency U.S. Media Relations Heather Shea Media relations for MaaT Pharma +1 617-286-2013 heather.shea@catalyticagency.com EQS-News: Afyren SAS / Key word(s): Annual Results AFYREN announces its 2024 full-year financial results 27.03.2025 / 07:40 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. AFYREN announces its 2024 full-year financial results Operational progress towards continuous production Intensification of production campaigns in 2024 and early 2025 Production and marketing of several dozen tons of acids Validation of product quality delivered to customers and prospects Good cost control and financial support to AFYREN NEOXY start-up phase Underlying net loss and cash burn stable in 2024 vs. 2023, excl. plant financing Non-dilutive financing of plant start-up by AFYREN and its financial partners Targeting continuous production by 2025, and development of future plants to resume AFYREN NEOXY: continuous production in 2025 and EBITDA breakeven after a few quarters This milestone will enable developments to resume with a view to achieving operational and financial targets for 2028 and beyond. Webinar dedicated to shareholders and investors March 27 at 6:30 pm CET: register here Clermont-Ferrand/Lyon, March 27, 2025, at 07:30 am CET - AFYREN, a greentech company offering manufacturers bio-based, low-carbon ingredients through a unique fermentation technology based on a circular model, today announced its audited full-year financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024, as approved by the Board of Directors on March 26, 2025. Nicolas SORDET, Chief Executive Officer of AFYREN, stated: "In a complex environment, we are pleased to present the significant and concrete industrial and commercial progress of the last quarters. These reinforce our confidence both in our ability to continuously manufacture products to the required quality and the relevance of our offering. In contrast to the current short-termism, our plant aims to offer a long-term solution for our customers by reducing the environmental impact of critical ingredients, while being economically efficient. In 2025, AFYREN's driving forces are mobilized for the start of continuous production at our plant and the continuation of deliveries in industrial quantities." RECENT MILESTONES Update on AFYREN NEOXY's progress Over the second half of 2024, AFYREN NEOXY produced and sold several dozen tons of biobased acids, a good dynamic that has been pursued and intensified in the first months of 2025. These acids were invoiced to customers after validation of their quality in the most demanding markets. In parallel with these initial sales, volumes were sent to new prospects for validation, a classic process in many applications. To date, a dozen customers in the food, feed, flavors & fragrances and nutraceuticals sectors have validated the quality of the acids produced by the plant, and most are ready for recurring supplies of industrial quantities of products, upon availability. These renewed commitments prove the relevance of AFYREN's solutions. The aim over the coming weeks is to pursue production campaigns. As described in the January 2025 activity update [1] , these will enable us to fine-tune the operating conditions that will ensure the stable operation of the biorefinery over the long term, while producing finished products of the quality expected in its strategic markets. AFYREN confirms that it is targeting continuous production in 2025, as announced in January 2025 [1] . Break-even (positive current EBITDA) is targeted after a ramp-up period of a few quarters. To support AFYREN NEOXY through this start-up period, several non-dilutive financing options have been used. AFYREN contributed to the financing of its subsidiary through a 10 million shareholder loan. AFYREN NEOXY also benefited from 19 million in bank financings from Bpifrance (Pret Nouvelle Industrie) and its banking partners (sustainability-linked loan). In 2024, 12 million was released and 7 million is to be released at a later stage, subject to conditions. Ongoing industrial development in France and abroad In 2024, AFYREN's operational teams gave priority to the production start-up of AFYREN NEOXY. Discussions are continuing with Mitr Phol, Thailand's leading group in the production of cane sugar and its derivatives, concerning the joint venture intended to carry out the plant project in Asia. Preliminary analyses were carried out in parallel to increase AFYREN's production capacity in France and in new geographical areas. In particular, an extension of the AFYREN NEOXY plant is being reviewed, to capitalise on existing facilities and to provide better controls over costs. Concrete progress on the CSR roadmap [2] Integral to AFYREN's value proposition and supported by an ambitious corporate governance, CSR is at the heart of the Company's strategic orientations. The 2024 achievements include: The signing of the Responsible Care Global Charter, attesting to the commitment of all AFYREN sites; Global Charter, attesting to the commitment of all AFYREN sites; The success of the Group's second HR barometer (AFYREN Global People Survey), reflecting team commitment with a 98% participation rate; An improvement in the ECOVADIS rating - one of the world's most recognized independent CSR assessment platforms - and the award of a silver medal. The score of 68/100 positions AFYREN in the top 15% of companies in terms of sustainable development, and in the top 8% of its industrial sector; A further increase in EthiFinance's extra-financial rating to 85/100 (Platinum Level), highlighting AFYREN's efforts to put CSR considerations at the heart of the corporate strategy; The publication of the first Sustainability report, deliberately drawn up in the spirit of ESRS (Environmental, Social, and Governance Reporting Standards). This document is available and can be consulted and downloaded in a dedicated section of the Company's website: https://afyren.com/en/purpose/ . These achievements can help AFYREN access financings. In 2024, AFYREN secured its first sustainability-linked loan for its subsidiary AFYREN NEOXY. The loan's credit margin will be adjusted according to objectives relating to the Company's social pillar, CSR rating and environmental impact. A SOLID FINANCIAL POSITION Stable loss reflecting tight control of operating expenses Simplified P&L (k) 12/2024 12/2023 Var. Revenue (CA) 2,862 3,379 -15% licensing and development of industrial know-how 1,370 1,417 -3% other services provided 1,492 1,962 -24% Operating loss (6,078) (5,928) +3% Net financial result 1,891 1,142 +66% Share in loss of equity-accounted company (net of tax) (5,567) (4,800) +16% Net loss (9,754) (9,586) +2% Revenue in 2024 amounted to 2.9 million, compared with 3.4 million in 2023. Revenue mainly comprises income from patent licensing and know-how, stable compared with 2023, and various administrative and technical service contracts with AFYREN NEOXY. The latter are down compared with 2023, due to the decline in administrative services, which are now largely provided by on-site teams. Net current operating expenses [3] amounted to 8.9 million, compared with 9.3 million at the end of 2023, a 0.4 million decrease mainly due to: an increase in other income (+0.1 million), linked to operating subsidies; payroll costs down by 0.3 million, due to lower share-based compensation costs. The average number of full-time equivalents (FTE) rose slightly over the year (+4) to 44 [4] ; ; purchases and other external charges were stable, reflecting continuous cost control. Within operating expenses, research and development expenses recognized as costs reached 1.9 million in 2024, in line with 2023. Current operating loss came to (6.1) million, with tight control of operating expenses partially offsetting the decrease in revenue. Net financial result improved by 0.75 million, thanks to financial income from the investment of cash and financing granted to the subsidiary AFYREN NEOXY. The Group's share in AFYREN NEOXY's net loss amounted to (5.6) million at the end of 2024, compared with (4.8) million at the end of 2023. This result is mainly due to the plant's operating expenses, in the absence of meaningful revenue. Net loss was (9.75) million at the end of 2024, compared with (9.59) million at the end of 2023, reflecting an overall stable cost structure pending a positive contribution from continuous production at the AFYREN NEOXY plant. Cash position of 33 million Simplified balance sheet (k) 12/2024 12/2023 Non-current financial assets 13,454 19,479 of which equity-accounted securities 8,618 14,185 Current assets 45,106 50,948 of which cash and cash equivalents 33,538 49,559 Total assets 58,560 70,427 Equity 52,698 61,799 Non-current liabilities 3,019 4,213 of which loans and financial debts 2,035 3,176 Current liabilities 2,842 4,414 of which loans and financial debts 1,282 1,611 Total liabilities 58,560 70,427 At the end of 2024, AFYREN had a solid balance sheet and equity of 52.7 million, with the decline from 2023 attributable to the net loss for the year. Total financial debt was limited to 3.3 million [5] at the end of 2024, compared with 4.8 million at the end of 2023; the decrease stems from loan repayments during the year. AFYREN had a solid cash position of 33.5 million as of December 31, 2024, compared with 49.6 million as of December 31, 2023. Annual cash consumption stands at around 6 million, of which 7 million linked to AFYREN's operations, partly offset by 1 million proceeds from cash deposits. In addition, AFYREN granted a 10 million shareholder loan to its subsidiary AFYREN NEOXY. COMPANY OUTLOOK As of the date of this press release, AFYREN is aiming for continuous production of the AFYREN NEOXY plant, the first industrial-scale production unit to use its technology. Reaching this milestone and the return on experience from AFYREN NEOXY will enable the resumption of development work for two plant projects: one in Thailand targeting the Asian market, and the extension of the French plant to meet demand in Europe. AFYREN confirms that it is targeting: three production units with a combined installed capacity of around 70,000 tons of acids by 2028, with at least two of them producing continuously (including the existing AFYREN NEOXY plant [6] ). These units will also produce a high value-added fertilizer, ensuring the circularity of the model. With the continued production of the three units at full capacity, AFYREN targets: cumulative production revenue of more than 150 million; current EBITDA margin at Group level of around 30%. [7] 2024 FINANCIAL REPORT AVAILABILITY The Company will make its 2024 Annual Financial Report in French available to the public and file it with the Autorite des marches financiers in the coming days. An English version will follow shortly. About AFYREN AFYREN is a French greentech company, founded in 2012, focused on providing innovative, sustainable solutions to reduce reliance on fossil-based resources. AFYREN's proprietary, nature-inspired fermentation technology valorizes local biomass from non-food agricultural co-products to produce 100% biobased, low-carbon carboxylic acids. The company's sustainable solutions address decarbonization challenges in a wide variety of strategic sectors, including human and animal nutrition, flavors and fragrances, life sciences, materials science, plus lubricants and technical fluids. AFYREN's competitive, plug-and-play, circular technology enables manufacturers to adopt sustainable solutions without modifying production processes. The company's first industrial plant, AFYREN NEOXY, a joint venture with Bpifrance's SPI fund, is based in the Grand-Est region of France, serving primarily the European market. AFYREN is also pursuing a project in Thailand with a global leader in the sugar industry and is building its presence in the Americas, based on existing distribution agreements. At the end of 2024, AFYREN employed 130 people across sites in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Carling Saint-Avold. Committed to continuous innovation, the company invests 20% of its annual budget in R&D to further develop the range of sustainable solutions. AFYREN is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since 2021 (ISIN code: FR0014005AC9, ticker: ALAFY). For more information, visit www.afyren.com and follow us on LinkedIn . Contact AFYREN Director for ESG, Communications and Public Affairs Caroline Petigny caroline.petigny@afyren.com Investor Relations Mark Reinhard investisseurs@afyren.com NewCap Investor Relations Theo Martin / Mathilde Bohin Tel: 01 44 71 94 94 afyren@newcap.eu Media Relations Nicolas Merigeau / Gaelle Fromaigeat Tel: 01 44 71 94 98 afyren@newcap.eu MC Services AG (international) Investor Relations Bettina Ellinghorst Media Relations Shaun Brown, Dr. Johanna Kobler Tel: +49 89 210 228 0 afyren@mc-services.eu Financial calendar Events Dates Publication of the 2024 Annual Financial Report End of March (in French) - English version to follow shortly Annual General Meeting Tuesday, June 17, 2025 in Lyon 2025 Half-Year Results Thursday, September 25, 2025 APPENDIX 1. Income statement In k 12/2024 12/2023 Revenue 2 862 3 379 Other income 666 527 Purchases and external charges (3 035) (3 053) Payroll costs (5 578) (5 835) Depreciation of fixed assets and rights of use (851) (814) Other expenses (142) (132) Current operating income (6 078) (5 928) Non-current operating income - - Operating income (6 078) (5 928) Financial income 1 826 1 439 Financial expenses 65 (297) Net financial income 1 891 1 142 Share in income of equity-accounted company (net of tax) (5 567) (4 800) Income before tax (9 754) (9 586) Income tax - - Net income for the year (9 754) (9 586) Earnings per share Basic earnings per share (in euros) (0.37) (0.37) Diluted earnings per share (in euros) (0.37) (0.37) 2. Balance sheet In k 12/2024 12/2023 Intangible assets 2 940 3 333 Property, plant and equipment 325 338 Rights of use 254 441 Equity-accounted securities 8 618 14 185 Non-current financial assets 1 317 1 182 Non-current assets 13 454 19 479 Trade receivable 432 466 Current financial assets 107 99 Other current assets 11,030 824 Cash and cash equivalents 33 538 49 559 Current assets 45 106 50 948 Total assets 58 560 70 427 Share capital 522 520 Issue premiums 85 406 85 264 Reserves (9 435) (4 679) Retained earnings (14 042) (9 720) Net income for the year (9 754) (9 586) Equity attributable to the owners of the Company 52 698 61 799 Non-current borrowings and financial liabilities 1 972 2 952 Non-current lease liabilities 62 224 Defined benefit liabilities 73 61 Non-current provisions 14 14 Non-current deferred income (customer contract liabilities) - 0 Non-current deferred income (subsidies) 898 962 Non-current liabilities 3 019 4 213 Current borrowings and financial liabilities 1 093 1 402 Current lease liabilities 188 208 Trade payables 526 388 Current deferred income (customer contract liabilities) - 1,321 Other current liabilities 1 035 1 095 Current liabilities 2 842 4 414 Total liabilities 5 862 8 627 Total equity and liabilities 58 560 70 427 3.Cash-flow statement (simplified) In k 12/2024 12/2023 Net income for the year (9 754) (9 586) Total elimination of expenses and income with no cash impact 5 337 5 751 Total cash flow (4 417) (3 835) Total change in working capital (1 205) (1 206) Net cash from operating activities (5 623) (5 041) Acquisitions of PPE and intangible assets, net of disposals (199) (416) Capitalised development expenses (20) (131) Investment grants (incl. CIR offsetting capitalised costs) (65) (34) Subscription to AFYREN NEOXY capital increases - (2 000) Current account contributions AFYREN NEOXY (10 000) - Interest received 1 446 1 407 Increase in non-current financial assets (2) (1 503) Increase in current financial assets (liquidity contract) (275) (400) Net cash used in investing activities (9 114) (3 078) Capital increase 144 178 Purchase/sale of treasury shares (20) (419) Proceeds from new borrowings and financial liabilities 260 1 000 Repayment of borrowings and financial liabilities (1 322) (1 361) Repayment of convertible bonds - (3 567) Payment of lease liabilities (235) (209) Interest paid on borrowings and financial liabilities (93) (78) Interest paid on bonds - (178) Interest paid on lease liabilities (20) (21) Net cash used in financing activities (1 284) (4 655) Net change in cash and cash equivalents (16 021) (12 774) Cash and cash equivalents as of January 1st 49559 62 333 Cash and cash equivalents as of Dec 31st 33 538 49 559 [1] https://afyren.com/en/blog/afyren-provides-business-update-and-announces-a-e10-million-sustainable-financing-for-its-subsidiary-afyren-neoxy/ [2] Environmental, social and governance criteria [3] Net of other income, mainly operating subsidies [4] Ex NEOXY [5] Including liase liabilities, which represented 0.3 million as of the end of December 2024 [6] The commissioning sequence may vary depending on the choice between extending NEOXY or moving to a new site. [7] Current EBITDA margin is defined at Company level 27.03.2025 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com JENA, Germany, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ZEISS Medical Technology announced today that the ILM staining dye ILM-Blue from DORC (Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (International) B.V.) has received National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approval in China, marking a significant milestone in the product's global journey. "ZEISS and DORC are committed to supporting surgeons in the China market with the latest innovation and tools that create a higher standard of care and better patient experience," says Pierre Billardon, Head of Business Sectors Surgery Posterior Segment at ZEISS Medical Technology and CEO of DORC International. "The global success of ILM-Blue underscores the company's commitment to providing high-quality and effective solutions to the ophthalmic community." "We are delighted to bring ILM-Blue to the Chinese market, where it will provide retina surgeons with a proven, high-quality staining solution to enhance visualization," says Jessie Jiang Bo, General Manager of DORC in China. "This approval reinforces our dedication to expanding access to innovative ophthalmic solutions that help surgeons to improve patient outcomes." ILM-Blue is used to clearly stain and easily distinguish the inner limiting membrane (ILM) from underlying retinal layers during vitreoretinal surgery. This facilitates membrane removal and reduces the risk of retinal damage1. Since its launch in 2010, ILM-Blue from DORC has been used in more than 900,000 procedures worldwide2, consistently supporting vitreoretinal surgeons to improve patient outcomes and setting new standards in posterior segment surgery. With this latest approval, ILM-Blue becomes the first DORC posterior dye product available in China, bringing its trusted solution and proven benefits3,4 to healthcare professionals and patients in the region. To date, ILM-Blue remains the only ILM staining solution approved by the FDA. It is marketed under the brand name TissueBlue in the U.S. and is listed as the #1 preferred ILM stain among U.S. retina surgeons5. 1 Instructions for use. 2 DORC data on file. 3 Figueroa M.S. et al; Long-term outcomes of 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with Internal Limiting Membrane peeling and gas tamponade for myopic traction maculopathy, retina: September 2015 - volume 35 - issue 9 - p 1836-1843 doi: 10.1097/iae.0000000000000554. 4 Veckeneer, M., Mohr, A., Alharthi, E., Azad, R., Bashshur, Z. F., Bertelli, E., ... & Melles, G. R. (2014). Novel 'heavy'dyes for retinal membrane staining during macular surgery: multicenter clinical assessment. Acta Ophthalmologica, 92(4), 339-344. 5 2023 survey of US retinal Surgeons, ASRS meeting, Seattle. Not all products, services or offers are approved or offered in every market and approved labeling and instructions may vary from one country to another. For country-specific product information, see the appropriate country website. Product specifications are subject to change in design and scope of delivery as a result of ongoing technical development. The statements of the healthcare professionals reflect only their personal opinions and experiences and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any institution that they are affiliated with. The healthcare professionals alone are responsible for the content of their experience reported and any potential resulting infringements. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and its affiliates do not have clinical evidence supporting the opinions and statements of the healthcare professionals nor accept any responsibility or liability of the healthcare professionals' content. The healthcare professionals have a contractual or other financial relationship with Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and its affiliates and have received financial support. Contact for investors Sebastian Frericks Head of Group Finance & Investor Relations Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Phone: +49 3641 220-116 Email: investors.med@zeiss.com Contact for the press Frank Smith Head of Global Communications Ophthalmology Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc. Phone: +49 3641 220 331 Email: press.med@zeiss.com www.zeiss.com/newsroom About Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE0005313704), which is listed on the MDAX and TecDAX of the German stock exchange, is one of the world's leading medical technology companies. The Company supplies innovative technologies and application-oriented solutions designed to help doctors improve the quality of life of their patients. The Company offers complete solutions, including implants and consumables, to diagnose and treat eye diseases. The Company creates innovative visualization solutions in the field of microsurgery. With 5,730 employees worldwide, the Group generated revenue of 2,066.1m in fiscal year 2023/24 (to 30 September). The Group's head office is located in Jena, Germany, and it has subsidiaries in Germany and abroad; more than 50 percent of its employees are based in the USA, Japan, Spain and France. The Center for Application and Research (CARIn) in Bangalore, India and the Carl Zeiss Innovations Center for Research and Development in Shanghai, China, strengthen the Company's presence in these rapidly developing economies. Around 39 percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's shares are in free float. Approx. 59 percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world's leading groups in the optical and optoelectronic industries. For more information visit our website at www.zeiss.com/med About D.O.R.C. Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (International) B.V. D.O.R.C. is one of the world's leading suppliers of equipment, instruments and liquids for ophthalmic surgery. For over 40 years, D.O.R.C. has grown into a successful international business, shaping its product portfolio through close collaboration with leading top surgeons. The company improves eye surgery globally and maximizes surgeon control by providing innovative quality approaches for eye disorders. Its products are exported to more than 80 countries worldwide. The company is headquartered in Zuidland, the Netherlands, and has more than 800 employees. In April 2024, D.O.R.C. was acquired by Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650992/ILM_BLUE.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/546786/ZEISS_v1_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ilm-blue-from-dorc-receives-nmpa-approval-in-china-expanding-global-reach-302412650.html Production-ready SOM simplifies development and speeds time-to-market of innovative industrial Edge AI devices IRVINE, Calif., March 27, 2025System-on-Module (SOM). Powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS8550 processor, this production-ready module provides low-power, on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities, simplifying design and empowering developers to more quickly bring innovative edge products to market. Lantronix's Open-Q 8550 is uniquely designed to meet the higher AI/ML requirements of extreme Edge computing, including advanced video and AI applications such as video collaboration, video transcoding, camera applications and integration with Edge AI gateways. Like all Lantronix's embedded compute technology, this platform uniquely provides a complete solution comprised of hardware, software, Device Management and Services, enabling customers to get to market faster. It is an ideal platform for the development of industrial Edge AI products, including drones, controllers, robotics and industrial handheld devices for a variety of industries, including smart warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, logistics and retail. "Qualcomm Technologies' 15-year strategic collaboration with Lantronix supports our mutual goal of delivering integrated, collaborative solutions to elevate the success of IoT, Edge AI and AI/ML technologies to drive the development of advanced-edge applications," said Suri Maddhula, vice president of IoT Solutions Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies Inc. "With the support of Qualcomm Technologies, Lantronix is driving seamless AI innovation at the Edge, empowering developers to harness embedded computing and IoT for cutting-edge, industrial-grade solutions. Together, we're transforming the impossible into reality," said Mathi Gurusamy, chief strategy officer at Lantronix. High-Performance Open-Q 8550CS SOM Meets AI/ML Requirements for Edge Computing The Open-Q 8550CS SOM features an on-device AI engine with premium performance, supporting the higher AI/ML requirements for extreme Edge computing, including Edge devices, Edge servers and Edge AI boxes. Key features include: Low power consumption with a 4nm process Kryo Octa-core CPU up to 3.2 GHz and Adreno A740 GPU Dual eNPU delivering 48 INT8, 12 FP16 TOPs Security features include Trusted Management Engine, Hypervisor, Secure Processing Unit, and DDR encryption Enterprise-level connectivity with Wi-Fi 7 MU-MIMO supporting up to 5.8Gbps Best-in-class performance across compute processing, camera, AI, security and audio. Up to 8GB LPDDR5 RAM + 128GB UFS Flash Android 13 and Linux Yocto Kirkstone Dedicated Computer Vision Engine Multiple MIPI camera and display ports Multiple high speed connectivity options Support for Qualcomm Sensing Hub 3.0 Benefits include the ability to: Enhance video conferencing meeting experiences, automated guided vehicle pathing, smart camera image quality and Edge AI box scalability with its octal-core computing capabilities and 48 AI TOPS tensor performance; Perform complex 3D rendering and computer vision tasks with a powerful Adreno 740 GPU supporting ray tracing, Open GL ES, Vulkan and Open CL profiles and 4K240/8K60 video decoding and 4K120/8K30 encoding; and Connect Edge AI boxes leveraging high-speed 2.5G and 10G Ethernet ports. Open-Q 8550 Dev Kit Speeds Development, Reduces Time-to-Market Providing an ideal starting point for evaluating the Open-Q 8550CS SOM, Lantronix's Open-Q 8550CS SOM Development Kitis designed to facilitate easy evaluation of the SOM's key features, such as the low-power AI subsystem with a dedicated DSP and AI accelerator supporting always-on audio, sensors, contextual data streams and an always-on camera. The kit supports the evaluation of C-PHY and D-PHY MIPI CSI and GMSL cameras, dual MIPI DSI, DisplayPort, audio, sensors, GNSS, Gigabit Ethernet and many more features. It comes with Lantronix's Open-Q 8550CS SOM, an open-frame carrier board exposing all the available I/O, and a range of accessories to fast-track product development. TAA and NDAA Compliant Solutions Lantronix Open-Q development solutions are TAA and NDAA compliant, ensuring at least 10 years of longevity with strict Bill-of-Materials and rigorous quality control. Backed by more than 20 years of expertise, Lantronix has successfully delivered more than 1,200 hardware and software projects, setting the standard for reliability and innovation. Lantronix Engineering Services Lantronix Engineering Servicesdelivers turn-key product development support for its Open-Q platforms and development kits. Backed by unparalleled engineering expertise behind 1,500+ successful products, our development team specializes in camera development and tuning, voice control, machine learning, mechanical and RF design, as well as thermal and power optimization. With cost-effective solutions, we accelerate developers' go-to-market timelines, ensuring innovation meets efficiency. About Lantronix Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth markets, including Smart Cities, Enterprise and Transportation. Lantronix's products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that enable AI Edge Intelligence. Lantronix's advanced solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing. For more information, visit the Lantronix website . Lantronix Media Contact: Gail Kathryn Miller Corporate Marketing & Communications Manager media@lantronix.com Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact: investors@lantronix.com 2025 Lantronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. Qualcomm-branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm, Kryo, Adreno and Qualcomm Dragonwing are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/208b6cd7-8503-4deb-97d2-5953513dde52 Expansion project will increase regional water capacity by 12.5 million gallons a day to support regional growth and sustainable economic expansion Additional water supply builds on Veolia's 25-year relationship with Tampa Bay Water Veolia North America, the leading environmental services company in the United States, has finalized an agreement with Tampa Bay Water (TBW) to lead the design, construction and operation of a major expansion of TBW's capacity to deliver high-quality drinking water to more than 2.5 million customers along the Gulf Coast of Florida. The project marks a new chapter in Veolia's nearly three-decade partnership with TBW, which has protected the region's environment and provided superior quality water for the region's booming population and thriving economy. The $181 million expansion at TBW's Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant in Tampa will increase its daily production of drinking water by as much as 12.5 million gallons, and has been identified as a priority project for the group to meet the demands of future regional growth. Tampa Bay Water approved Veolia's proposal under a progressive design-build model, with both parties collaborating throughout the design process to ensure the final proposal meets the utility's financial, technical and environmental expectations. "Veolia is proud of its long-standing role supporting Tampa Bay Water's transformative work to provide robust and reliable water supplies for a region that once was plagued by declining water tables and environmental risks," said Karine Rouge, CEO of Municipal Water at Veolia North America. "Veolia's unique combination of technology, expertise and experience helps communities develop long-term water solutions, and our work with Tampa Bay Water shows how we build true partnerships with communities to help them, their residents and their environment." New construction continues productive partnership Veolia North America, through a predecessor company, built the utility's existing infrastructure and has been providing drinking water services to the region since Tampa Bay Water was founded in 2000. Tampa Bay Water approved a five-year extension to its operating contract with Veolia in 2023, and both parties finalized their agreement to move forward on the expansion project in March. The additional infrastructure planned for Tampa Bay Water's plant includes a fifth system of Veolia's ACTIFLO and ozone treatment processes, supplementing the four already in operation; additional filtration; enhancements to the treated water disinfection, storage and transmissions systems; and improvements to the filter backwash and solids handling systems. The expanded system is expected to provide a sustainable capacity of 110 million gallons per day, and a maximum rated capacity of between 140 million and 150 million gallons a day. The expansion project exemplifies the goals of Veolia's global GreenUp strategy, which strives to lead the ecological transformation of the planet by accelerating water quality improvement, hazardous waste treatment and disposal, decarbonization and technological innovation. ABOUT VEOLIA GROUP Veolia Group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024. www.veolia.com ABOUT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. www.veolianorthamerica.com CONTACT VEOLIA NORTH AMERICA David Heinzmann Communications Manager +1 708-209-8784 david.heinzmann@veolia.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Veolia North America on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Veolia North America Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/veolia-north-america Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Veolia North America JuCoin formally applies for regulatory licenses, builds KYC system, and commits 200 million TWD to empower Taiwan's community SINGAPORE, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Embracing Regulation - JuCoin Aligns with Taiwan's New Crypto Policies Taiwan is becoming a benchmark for crypto regulation in the Asia-Pacific region. On March 25, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan released a draft of new regulations requiring all Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to complete registration by the end of September. This policy marks Taiwan's transition from "self-regulation" to "legal regulation," aligning with frameworks in the EU, Japan, and other regions. Against this backdrop, JuCoin, as the world's first service-driven cryptocurrency exchange, has taken the lead in initiating regulatory compliance in the Taiwan market: Accelerated License Application: Submitted VASP registration materials to the FSC, creating multiple regulatory safeguards in combination with global compliance licenses such as the US MSB Submitted VASP registration materials to the FSC, creating multiple regulatory safeguards in combination with global compliance licenses such as the US MSB Localized KYC System: Launched customized real-name verification processes for Taiwan users, combining AI facial recognition with on-chain transaction monitoring (KYT) to ensure compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Act requirements Launched customized real-name verification processes for Taiwan users, combining AI facial recognition with on-chain transaction monitoring (KYT) to ensure compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Act requirements Regulatory Compliance and Governance: Established AML mechanisms, risk assessment models, and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) processes to ensure compliance with Taiwan's Anti-Money Laundering Act and FSC regulatory requirements Established AML mechanisms, risk assessment models, and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) processes to ensure compliance with Taiwan's Anti-Money Laundering Act and FSC regulatory requirements Security Architecture Upgrade: Implemented cold and hot wallet segregation management, multi-signature private key controls, and network security incident response plans, benchmarked against FSC's "Virtual Asset Custody Security Guidelines" Implemented cold and hot wallet segregation management, multi-signature private key controls, and network security incident response plans, benchmarked against FSC's "Virtual Asset Custody Security Guidelines" Trading Fairness: Developed asset listing/delisting review standards and market manipulation prevention rules to implement FSC's "Fair Operation Principles for Trading Platforms" Developed asset listing/delisting review standards and market manipulation prevention rules to implement FSC's "Fair Operation Principles for Trading Platforms" Network Security Assessment: Integrated the MITRE ATT&CK framework to conduct penetration testing of trading systems and API interfaces to prevent high-risk vulnerabilities such as "Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)" and "Replay Attacks" These initiatives deeply align with Taiwan's "progressive compliance" approach. As stated by a Taiwan crypto industry builder: "The balance between industry self-discipline and regulatory oversight will be the cornerstone of Taiwan's Web3 rise." The Ecosystem Ambition Behind 200 Million TWD Investment The vitality of Taiwan's crypto community is evident from Memecoin culture to DePIN hardware innovation, from developer geeks to retail Degens. JuCoin announces that if Taiwan users exceed 100,000, 200 million TWD will be invested to launch the "Taiwan Web3 Accelerator" program, including: Developer Support Fund: Providing up to $500,000 seed investments to local AI, DePIN, and RWA projects, with priority listing on JuCoin Launchpad Education Initiative: Collaborating with Taiwan universities and blockchain associations to establish "Web3 Talent Training Camps," cultivating 500 compliance and technical experts annually Node Building Incentives: Opening JU node mining qualifications, allowing users to participate in ecosystem governance through AIC token staking Cultural IP Incubation: Funding NFT artists and chain game studios to promote on-chain integration of local cultural assets such as Mazu culture and Hakka traditions, exploring new models of "Cultural Asset Tokenization" (CAT) "Taiwan's community is not just users, but ecosystem co-builders," emphasized JuCoin's Global Strategic Partner. "The 200 million TWD is just the beginning. Future resources from the group will help create Taiwan's 'Web3 Silicon Valley'." The Technical Foundation JuCoins Service-Driven Approach For the Taiwan market, JuCoin is deploying three core technical advantages: Layer3 Public Chain JuChain: Designed for high-frequency trading, supporting tens of thousands of transactions per second with fees as low as $0.001, helping Taiwan's DeFi and GameFi projects achieve low-cost on-chain operations AIC Earning Ecosystem: Users staking AIC tokens can enjoy competitive annual yields with highly transparent on-chain funds, eliminating "Ponzi" schemes Compliant Cross-Chain Bridge: Supporting bidirectional exchange between New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) and USDT, achieving seamless fiat channel integration through local institutions such as Chunghwa Telecom and Cathay Bank Compared to traditional CEXs, JuCoin's "service-driven" philosophy better meets Taiwan's needs. For example, its invested AIConnect project has integrated 3,000 NVIDIA GPU servers to provide distributed supercomputing services for Taiwan's AI startups-a "technology empowering reality" model that Taiwan's industrial upgrade requires. Industry Co-Governance with Taiwan Regulators and Community JuCoin's Taiwan strategy is not a solo mission but builds a "regulator-platform-user" triangle: Regulatory Collaboration : Participating in FSC's "Virtual Asset Special Law" draft discussions, contributing CEX risk control experience : Participating in FSC's "Virtual Asset Special Law" draft discussions, contributing CEX risk control experience Industry Self-Discipline : Joining the Taiwan Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (TWVASP), promoting the establishment of an "Exchange Security White Paper" : Joining the Taiwan Virtual Asset Service Providers Association (TWVASP), promoting the establishment of an "Exchange Security White Paper" User Governance: JU token holders can vote on Taiwan community fund allocation, achieving "democratic returns" "Taiwan doesn't lack speculators, but long-term stakeholders," commented blockchain media "Intelligent Computing Era." "JuCoin's regulatory commitment and ecosystem investment may become key variables in breaking the industry's 'Ponzi cycle'." Building Taiwan's New Web3 Era in the Name of Service Since its birth in 2013, JuCoin has always practiced the "Driven. Focused. Successful" philosophy. Today's entry into Taiwan is not just an expansion of business territory, but an elevation of the "service-driven" value where compliance is not a shackle but a foundation of trust; community is not traffic but an ally in co-creation; technology is not a gimmick but a tool for inclusion. "Let every Taiwan builder anchor value in the Web3 wave." This path may be long, but with the 200 million TWD seed planted, we are already seeing the emerging light. About JuCoin: Founded in 2013, JuCoin stands as one of the cryptocurrency industry's longest-operating exchanges and the world's first service-driven crypto platform. With operations spanning over 30 countries and serving more than 12 million users, JuCoin has evolved into a comprehensive digital asset ecosystem encompassing JuChain (Layer 3 blockchain), JuOne (Web3 AI-encrypted smartphone), JuChat (Web3 super app), and JuCoin Labs (innovation hub), all powered by the JU token. This integrated ecosystem reflects JuCoin's service-driven philosophy, designed to remove friction between centralized and decentralized finance while providing users with a seamless, secure, and rewarding crypto experience across all touchpoints. Website | Twitter | Telegram | Discord | Ghost Follow JuCoin for Updates website:https://www.jucoin.com Twitter:https://x.com/Jucoinex Telegram:https://t.me/jucoinex View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jucoin-announces-taiwan-market-entry-leading-web3s-future-through-regulatory-compliance-and-ecosystem-development-302413015.html The move serves to enhance and improve accessibility of material samples to accelerate qualification and testing for U.S. Industry and government partners Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX.V:FMS)(OTCQB:FCSMF)(FSE:FKC) ("Focus" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the establishment of a dedicated U.S. storage and shipping facility for graphite samples located at 6953 15 St E, Sarasota, Florida. This strategic move is designed to enhance the accessibility of Focus Graphite's high-grade and purity graphite material for U.S.-based clients, including key industry, academia, and government partners. With growing demand from the defense, energy, and battery sectors, having material readily available within the U.S. will streamline distribution, improve logistical efficiencies, and facilitate closer collaboration with testing and development partners. The Sarasota facility will enable Focus Graphite to better support its ongoing target engagements with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), battery anode producers, and military contractors as they work toward securing reliable domestic sources of critical minerals. "The U.S. is accelerating its push to reduce dependence on foreign sources of critical minerals, particularly graphite, which is essential for battery, long duration energy storage, and defense applications," said Dean Hanisch, CEO of Focus Graphite. "Establishing this storage and shipping hub in Florida allows us to directly support American industry and government partners with faster, more efficient access to our material." In January 2025, the American Active Anode Material Producers ("AAAMP"), a coalition of graphite producers, welcomed the preliminary determination by the International Trade Commission (ITC) that China's low-cost graphite exports have materially hindered the development of a domestic graphite industry. This decision aligns with the latest U.S. government policy direction, including President Donald Trump's recently announced Executive Order, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production. The order seeks to enhance national and economic security by reducing reliance on foreign mineral imports, particularly from China. As one of North America's most advanced graphite development companies, Focus Graphite is well-positioned to contribute to this strategic shift. The Company's Lac Knife Project in Quebec hosts one of the highest-grade and purity graphite deposits globally, with a 27-year mine life and significant potential to supply the growing North American market. By proactively establishing a U.S. distribution presence, Focus Graphite reinforces its commitment to supporting American industry with secure, high-quality graphite supply for energy storage, military, and industrial applications. About Focus Graphite Inc. Focus Graphite Inc. is an advanced materials company developing sustainable mining and technology innovations. At the heart of our operations is the Lac Knife flake graphite deposit, known for its high purity and grade-ideal for applications in the military, defense, and green energy revolutions. Currently advancing through Canada's mine permitting process, Focus Graphite is on the verge of transforming this resource into a viable supplier of critical mineral. Our proprietary, environmentally sustainable processing technologies ensure a green, chemical-free pathway from mine to market. The Company's proprietary silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite patent technology is aimed at improving battery performance. We specialize in producing advanced, high-purity graphite materials tailored for diverse industries, including EV batteries, military applications, and high-tech manufacturing. Focus Graphite's commitment extends beyond resource extraction-we are actively seeking partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and government bodies to try and accelerate the commercialization of advanced materials and technologies derived from our flagship project. As a proud Canadian company, we are dedicated to contributing to North America's secure and sustainable critical minerals supply chain. For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit https://focusgraphite.com/. Investors Contact: Dean Hanisch CEO, Focus Graphite Inc. dhanisch@focusgraphite.com 613-612-6060 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated," and similar expressions, as well as statements relating to matters that are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the establishment and operation of the U.S. storage and shipping facility, its expected benefits for clients, the Company's engagement with U.S. government agencies and contractors, the potential impacts of U.S. government policy changes, and the Company's business objectives, plans, and strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to market conditions, regulatory approvals, changes in economic conditions, supply chain disruptions, the ability to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms or at all, operational risks associated with mineral exploration and development, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Focus Graphite, Inc. Reserves and Production Reached New Plateau Profit and Dividend Recorded Double-Digit Rise HONG KONG, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883 (HKD Counter) and 80883 (RMB Counter), SSE: 600938) announced today its 2024 annual results for the year ended December 31, 2024. Reserves and production both grew by over 7% and net profit attributable to equity shareholders increased by 11.4% Full-year dividend atHK$1.40 per share (tax inclusive), a 12% increase year-on-year ("YoY") CNOOC Limited continued to capture high-quality growth over 2024. Despite the challenging macroeconomic trends, CNOOC Limited stuck to its strategy of increasing reserves and production while strictly controlling costs. The Company's capability of value creation has been enhanced and breakthroughs in technological innovation and green development have been attained. CNOOC Limited adopted multiple measures to tap into its production potential. New records of production have been set for multiple years in a row. In 2024, the Company recorded a net oil and gas production of 726.8 million barrels of oil equivalent ("BOE"), a YoY increase of 7.2%. In China, thanks to the contributions from Bozhong 19-6 oilfield and other oil and gas fields, net production rose by 5.6% YoY. Overseas, the commissioning of projects including Payara project in Guyana drove the net production to surge by 10.8% YoY. CNOOC Limited adhered to a value-driven exploration strategy, and expanded its resource base. 11 oil and gas discoveries were made throughout the year and 30 oil and gas structures were successfully appraised. By the end of 2024, the net proved reserves reached 7.27 billion BOE, up by 7.2% YoY. The reserve life of the Company remained at 10 years. CNOOC Limited continued to innovate exploration theories and technologies. In China, multiple discoveries were made under the guidance of the exploration theories, including Longkou 7-1, Qinhuangdao 29-6, Huizhou 19-6, and Lingshui 36-1. Overseas, the Company expanded its global exploration footprint along the Atlantic rim and the "Belt and Road" countries. This year, CNOOC Limited was awarded petroleum contracts for 10 exploration blocks in Mozambique, Brazil and Iraq. CNOOC Limited accelerated the development of new quality productive forces, which had remarkably enhanced its operational efficiency. Asia's first cylindrical FPSO, Haikui-1, and Asia's tallest deepwater jacket platform, Haiji-2, were put into operation. This combination created a new model for deepwater oil and gas fields development, and enabled efficient and cost-effective extraction of oil and gas resources. Digital and intelligent transformation progressed steadily. A batch of smart oil and gas fields, such as "Shenhai-1" and Qinhuangdao 32-6 oilfield, were built, and the unmanned rate of offshore platforms steadily increased. Standardized engineering and construction were promoted, effectively accelerating project progress. Several key projects of the year were commissioned ahead of schedule. In 2024, the Company's capital expenditure reached RMB132.5 billion, strongly supporting new projects development and production growth. CNOOC Limited upheld its commitment to sustainable development, prioritizing production safety and actively exploring green transition pathways. During the year, the Company effectively managed challenges such as super typhoon "Yagi", and ensured stable operation of the offshore oil and gas fields. Green and low-carbon production of oil and gas resources yielded tangible results. Wushi 23-5 oilfields, the first green design oilfield offshore China, was put into production. The three phases of the Bohai onshore power project realized full operation. A total of 760 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity was used by the Company in 2024. Within the year, the world's first 16-megawatt tension-leg floating wind power platform commenced construction, with a designed annual power generation capacity of 54 million kilowatt-hours. At the same time, CNOOC Limited steadily advanced its carbon-neutral and carbon-negative sectors. The Daya Bay CCS/CCUS cluster research and demonstration project progressed steadily, and two offshore CCUS bases in the Bohai Sea and Hainan were under construction. CNOOC Limited maintained lean management, kept profitability at a high level and navigated through oil price cycles with outstanding performance. In 2024, the oil and gas sales of the Company was RMB355.6 billion and the net profit attributable to equity shareholders reached RMB137.9 billion, up by 11.4% YoY. The all-in cost was US$28.52 per BOE, a decrease of 1.1% YoY, further reinforcing its cost-competitive advantage. To share the achievements of development with shareholders, the Board of Directors has recommended a final dividend of HK$0.66 per share (tax inclusive). The annual dividend is HK$1.40 per share (tax inclusive). The dividend payout ratio stood at 44.7%, fulfilling the company's dividend commitment to a high standard. CNOOC Limited actively fulfilled its corporate social responsibilities, and strove to maximize its social contributions. In 2024, the Company provided over 22,000 jobs in more than 20 countries and regions worldwide. Community co-development initiatives were promoted. In particular, its local talent development program in Uganda was selected to the Award List of the Fifth Global Solicitation on Best Poverty Reduction Practices Campaign. Mr. Wang Dongjin, Chairman of the Company, said, "In 2024, we drove reserve and production growth through technological innovations, solidified our development foundation with cost advantages, and rewarded shareholders' trust with stable dividends. Looking ahead, CNOOC Limited will continue to increase reserve and production, enhance quality and efficiency, deliver tangible results to better reward shareholders, and to write a new chapter of high-quality development." - End - Notes to Editors: More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com. *** *** *** *** This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to those associated with macro-political and economic factors, fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, climate change and environmental policies, the Company's price forecast, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws and regulations. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations. *** *** *** *** For further enquiries, please contact: Ms. Cui Liu Media & Public Relations CNOOC Limited Tel: +86-10-8452-6641 Fax: +86-10-8452-1441 E-mail: mr@cnooc.com.cn Mr. Bunny Lee Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group Tel: +852 3150 6707 Fax: +852 3150 6728 E-mail: cnooc.hk@pordahavas.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2051221/CNOOC_Logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cnooc-limited-announced-its-2024-annual-results-302413026.html KALMAR CORPORATION, PRESS RELEASE, 27 MARCH 2025 AT 11.00 AM (EET) Kalmar launches five-year Move2Green program funded by Business Finland to develop low-emission and intelligent material handling solutions Kalmar launched a five-year Move2Green R&D program and has been granted EUR 20 million funding from Business Finland Leading Company Competition. The goal of the Move2Green program led by Kalmar is to advance carbon neutrality in heavy material handling by developing the electric equipment portfolio and data-driven services. The vision of the program is to enable our customers' net-zero logistics chain in ports, terminals, and other heavy industrial logistics by 2045. Building an ecosystem for the green transition "Heavy material handling is a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions, and we have a unique opportunity to reduce the environmental impact caused by the use of our active installed base of 68,000 machines. The demand for electric equipment is growing, and our customers are increasingly seeking sustainable solutions. To ensure success, we need a broad ecosystem to develop intelligent charging solutions, software and equipment to accelerate this transformation", says Sami Niiranen, President and CEO of Kalmar. The Move2Green program brings together over 150 ecosystem partners, including industrial organizations, technology companies, research institutions, and universities. The goal of this collaboration is to initiate and lead large-scale research and development projects, increase research and development investments and to build solutions that enhance the efficiency in heavy material handling operations and support its transition to a low-carbon future. During the five-year program, Kalmar is committed to increasing its research and development efforts. The ecosystem will facilitate collaboration between large and small and medium-sized companies, and in the long term, the project is expected to have a significant employment impact within the research, development, and innovation ecosystem. Towards globally sustainable material handling Move2Green marks a significant step toward low-emission and intelligent material handling. In collaboration with Business Finland and ecosystem partners, Kalmar is developing technologies that promote global sustainability. The project offers a unique opportunity for innovative research and development, accelerating the green and digital transition in Finland. Additionally, the Move2Green initiative aims to develop clean energy solutions and new business models centered around circular economy principles and lifecycle thinking. Through Leading company challenge competitions, Business Finland seeks research and development projects for funding from companies that operate globally or aim for global operations. These projects should tackle major future challenges and make a significant impact on Finland's competitiveness. Leading companies are expected to significantly increase their R&D activities in Finland and build ecosystems aimed at new business ventures. In addition to funding the leading company's projects, Business Finland also offers funding for R&D projects from partners within leading companies' ecosystem. Further information for the press: Tommi Pettersson, SVP Strategy, Sustainability and Technology, tel. +358 40 755 6135, tommi.pettersson@kalmarglobal.com Maija Eklof, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, Dealer Management and Customer Insight, Kalmar, tel. +358 20 777 4096, maija.eklof@kalmarglobal.com Kalmar Global Researchers Recognized for Trailblazing Projects in First-of-Its-Kind Data Competition Washington D.C., March 27, 2025's Brain Health Alliance for Research Challengesand the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiativeproudly announced four winners of the Bio-Hermes Biomarker Data Challengeat the first Data Challenge Summit, held in Glasgow, Scotland last week. The Bio-HermesBiomarker Data Challenge, was an international research competition launched in February of 2024 by the Brain Health ARC, supported by Race Against Dementia to grant researchers early access to GAP's Bio-Hermes-001 Biomarker dataset, the most comprehensive set of dementia biomarker data from ground-breaking blood testing study for Alzheimer's disease. The Challenge represented an unprecedented effort of collaboration between government, academics, nonprofits and scientists and an unrivalled speed to delivery, going from an idea or 'dream' to a full Summit on March 21, 2025, with over 40 submissions in just over a year. "It was an honor for GAP to collaborate with the Brain Health Arc and the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative to undertake the Bio-Hermes Data Challenge Summit. Dr. Quinn and his colleagues organized the Challenge in six months and attracted a multi-disciplined group of the UK's leading researchers to interrogate the Bio-Hermes database with the assistance of the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative to explore novel hypotheses related to Alzheimer's and related dementias. Over the ensuing year, competing teams advanced their research with unparalleled speed and rigor. We celebrate their hard work and the scientific contributions these researchers will make in the coming months in the form of new papers and abstracts," said GAP President John Dwyer. The one-year timeline for the Bio-Hermes Biomarker Data Challenge is extraordinary in Alzheimer's research, where studies and clinical trials typically take years. When GAP opened access to the Bio-Hermes-001 data set, and the Challenge announced an aggressive timeline, it proved that researchers could take an agile approach in Alzheimer's research, demonstrating that urgency is possible in the field. "Dementia progresses quickly, but traditional research moves slowly. We wanted our Data Challenge to challenge this assumption. We have shown that with collaboration, support, and a little hard work we can do things differently. Through working in partnership with GAP, and the dementia research community, in a matter of months, we have completed a portfolio of high quality, impactful research," said Professor Terry Quinn, David Cargill Chair and Honorary Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine at the University of Glasgow. Teams showcased their research concepts for a chance to win in three categories: poster presentation, quick-fire project presentation, and oral presentation. Winners in the poster presentation and quick-fire chat categories received complimentary passes to attend the 2025 Scottish Dementia Research Consortiumconference in Edinburgh, Scotland and the oral presentation winner received admission to the 2025 Alzheimer's Association International Conferencein Toronto, Canada. Below are the winners along with titles of their projects: Winning Poster Presentation: Blood cytokine profiles in AD and their association with neurodegeneration and clinical severity. Presenter: Katherine R. Birditt, University of Cambridge Blood cytokine profiles in AD and their association with neurodegeneration and clinical severity. Presenter: Katherine R. Birditt, University of Cambridge Winning Quick Fire Project Presentations : "Resilience Defining cognitive resilience and resistance to Alzheimer's dementia using novel" Presenters: Connor Dalby and Austin Jon Dibble of the University of Glasgow "Higher Cardiovascular Risk as Moderator of the Relationship between Blood Plasma Dementia Biomarkers and Cognitive Impairment" Presenter: Angelina Kancheva, MSc of the University of Edinburgh : "Resilience Defining cognitive resilience and resistance to Alzheimer's dementia using novel" Presenters: Connor Dalby and Austin Jon Dibble of the University of Glasgow "Higher Cardiovascular Risk as Moderator of the Relationship between Blood Plasma Dementia Biomarkers and Cognitive Impairment" Presenter: Angelina Kancheva, MSc of the University of Edinburgh Winning Oral Presentation: "Functional Independence as an excellent predictor of cognitive status" Presenter: Kalliopi Mavromati of the University of Glasgow The Data Challenge ethos of end-to-end support, fully open access data, and collaborative team science, represented a new approach to dementia research, and the Brain Health Arc announced that they will soon have an announcement regarding the next challenge initiative to launch later in 2025. For more information on the Bio-Hermes Data Challenge visit www.brainhealtharc.com/data-challenge. -END- About the Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation (GAP) The nonprofit Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation was founded to speed the delivery of Alzheimer's treatments with a commitment to promoting diversity in clinical research, as well as lowering the cost and improving the efficacy of ADRD clinical trials to ensure that no one is left behind. As part of its mission, GAP supports more than 100 clinical research sites worldwide through study start-up and recruitment activities, promoting diversity in research studies, and giving attention to the citizen scientists who make research possible. About the Brain Health ARC The ambition of the Brain Health ARC is to utilise Scotland's world leading research capacity to educate the public, influence policy, and find solutions to the societal challenges associated with poor brain health. The ARC aims to challenge the current, arbitrary silo thinking that separates research in areas such as dementia, head injury, stroke, and others while seizing unique opportunities to work for, and with, our ageing population to improve their health. Attachment Bio-Hermes-001 (https://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/45833ce4-1fc8-4e13-992d-472499997658) Amanda Skahan Global Alzheimer's Platform Foundation 781-710-0266 media@globalalzplatform.org ABU DHABI, UAE, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ghaith met his audience for the first time during the breaking open of the 'Community Clay Donation Boxes' event at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center on March 25. The symbolic event saw widespread participation from members of the community and prominent figures, including H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and CEO & Managing Director of ADNOC and its group of companies; Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports Group; H.E. Mohamed Haji Al Khouri, Board Member of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination; and H.E. Dr. Hamdan Musallam, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority. The event was hosted by prominent media person Youssef Al Kaabi. The 'Qalby Etmaan' show host, Ghaith, opened his speech with the Quranic verse: "Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will ?certainly? find ?its reward? with Allah. Surely Allah is All-Seeing of what you do." Emphasizing on the virtue of giving, he said: "Life cannot go on without giving. Giving shapes humanity, and the giver is happier than the receiver. Gifts are not just things but a remedy for the soul." Stressing that 'Ghaith' is an idea, and not a person, Ghaith revealed he chose not to reveal his identity to ensure people remain connected to the concept rather than the individual. Speaking on the cultural significance of the clay donation boxes, Ghaith explained that clay piggy banks were the primary savings method in the 1980s and were only broken in times of crisis. Today, they are being broken for Gaza-a noble humanitarian message of solidarity and compassion. He expressed his hope that this initiative becomes an annual tradition, where people collect goods in their piggy banks and donate them to a chosen humanitarian cause each year. Ghaith emphasized that the primary purpose of the piggy bank is to instill values of unity and cooperation within families and larger communities. He also announced several upcoming initiatives on the occasion, including: The launch of 'Child Ghaith': an animated character for the young Ghaith fans starting next year. New 'Ghaith Journeys' allowing individuals and families to witness the impact of giving and follow the steps of humanitarian work. https://shorturl.at/V6OnT A new book targeting youth about the journey of Ghaith and the ' Qalby Etmaan' program is to be released within four months. and the ' program is to be released within four months. A focus next year on building humanitarian efforts within the UAE. Expressing his deep gratitude to the partners and volunteers for their efforts in making the initiative and the current season (eighth) of 'Qalby Etmaan' a success, Ghaith concluded: "The greatest success is not only in doing good but creating a complete humanitarian ecosystem." Created in alignment with the visionary leadership of the United Arab Emirates under the national initiative 'Year of Community', the proceedings from the 'Clay Donation Boxes' initiative will be used to plant 100,000 date palms, with date sales directly supporting orphaned children in Gaza. To contribute to the Qalby Etmaan projects and initiatives, please visit the Ghaith platform: https://www.emiratesrc.ae/Ghaith/Home.aspx The Qalby Etmaan program is available on YouTube, as well as on Abu Dhabi TV, and the Abu Dhabi TV app at the following times: 7:00 PM UAE Time 6:00 PM KSA Time Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651605/Ghaith_community_event.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/community-clay-donation-boxes-for-gaza-orphans-broken-open-at-the-abu-dhabi-energy-center-in-the-presence-of-ghaith-his-first-ever-public-appearance-302413034.html Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Argyle Resources Corp. (CSE: ARGL) (OTCQB: ARLYF) (FSE: ME0) ("Argyle" or the "Company")") is pleased to announce the engagement of Stronghold Mining Services to carry out the Phase 1 exploration program at the Company's newly acquired Saint Gabriel Silica Project, located in Quebec, Canada. The Phase 1 exploration will focus on advancing the understanding of the potential of the project and identifying targets for a potential future phase 2 drill program at Saint Gabriel. Stronghold Mining Services will oversee and execute phase 1 which will include comprehensive site visits and prospecting activities. Key tasks for this phase of exploration will include: XRF Analysis : Stronghold will perform X-ray fluorescence (" XRF ") analysis at sampling locations to assess the purity of the silica and record detailed data on its grade. GIS-Based Purity Mapping : The team will develop a GIS-based preliminary purity indication map, using data from the XRF analysis, to visualize the distribution of silica purity across the project area. Prospecting & Chip Sample Collection : The exploration team will conduct detailed prospecting and collect chip samples to better understand the geology and potential of the silica deposit. Bulk Sample Extraction : Bulk samples weighing 150 lbs each will be extracted from target zones within the project area. These samples will undergo detailed testing to assess silica grade and impurities. Refining Purity Maps: Field and lab data will be integrated to refine the purity maps and highlight high-purity zones that have potential for further development. Once the field activities are complete, a comprehensive report will be delivered, covering the results from the fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and specific recommendations for advancing to Phase 2 exploration. Figure 1: Property Location Map of Saint Gabriel and Matapedia in the La Redemption region of Quebec To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10451/246213_888cc157448a69b0_001full.jpg "We are thrilled to begin this important Phase 1 exploration program at the Saint Gabriel Silica Project with the support of Stronghold Mining Services," said Jeff Stevens, CEO of Argyle Resources Corp. "The data gathered during this program will be crucial for identifying high-purity silica zones and guiding our future exploration efforts. We are committed to advancing the project in a responsible and efficient manner to unlock its full potential." The Phase 1 exploration program is expected to begin imminently and will include a variety of field activities to assess the geological and environmental conditions at the site. The data gathered from this phase will help guide future exploration and development activities aimed at defining the resource and advancing the project toward production. Proximity to Argyle's Matapedia Project and Utilization of Pilot Plant Facility The Saint Gabriel Silica Project is located in close proximity to Argyle's Matapedia Project, which offers significant logistical and operational efficiencies. The proximity of these two projects enables the Company to streamline exploration activities, reduce operational costs, and maximize resource development. Additionally, Argyle's pilot plant facility, currently being utilized by the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique ("INRS") for other Argyle projects in Quebec, will be available for processing materials from the Saint Gabriel Silica Project. This facility further enhances the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Argyle's operations in the region. About Argyle Resources Corp. Argyle Resources Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring, staking and evaluating natural resource properties in North America. In addition to the Saint Gabriel project, the Company currently holds an option to acquire up to 100% of the Frenchvale Graphite Property located in Nova Scotia, Canada and owns 100% interest in the Pilgrim Islands, Matapedia and Lac Comporte quartzite silica projects in Quebec, Canada. Argyle is engaged in a research partnership with the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS), a high-level research and training institute funded by the Quebec government to conduct exploration programs on the Company's silica projects. The Company was incorporated in 2023 and its head office is located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Qualified Person George Yordanov, P.Geo., Director, reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release, acting as the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 'Jeffrey Stevens' President & CEO Forward-Looking Statements All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Argyle expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements may involve, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the exploration and development of the Company's mineral properties. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by Argyle based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond Argyle's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Argyle does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246213 SOURCE: Argyle Resources Corp. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce that its Smash Burger brand Rosie's Burgers has secured a 5 store multi-unit agreement for the province of British Columbia. Rosie's Burgers ("Rosie's") is a boutique QSR restaurant brand serving original recipe smash burgers, poutine, onion rings, milkshakes and more. Rosie's Burgers To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/246304_e1f1767484844a80_001full.jpg "As we continue driving the organic growth of our brands, we are thrilled to welcome an experienced multi-unit franchisee to the Happy Belly family. This five-unit agreement for Rosie's Burgers is a significant milestone and serves as our market entrance into national expansion and our first foothold in the province of British Columbia. It exemplifies the strength of our brand and the confidence franchisees have in our long-term vision," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. "Rosie's Burgers has quickly established itself as a standout brand in the smash burger space, known for its quality, consistency, and exceptional customer experience. This agreement is a testament to the growing demand for the brand and the robust franchise model we've built to support scalable growth. This is the first 5 of 20 contractually committed units for British Columbia under our area development agreement. Lots of open ice in front of us, and I could not be more excited about the growth to come with site selection already underway." Rosie's Burgers To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/246304_e1f1767484844a80_002full.jpg "Beyond just expanding our footprint, this agreement highlights the strength of our franchise support system-from site selection and operational training to marketing and ongoing business development. We take pride in providing our franchisees with the tools and resources they need to succeed, and the commitment of a seasoned operator underscores the trust in our processes, people, and brand momentum." "Our team's deep expertise in the burger category positions Rosie's Burgers for a strong and sustained growth trajectory in the years ahead. With 85 units contractually committed to in area development agreements across Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, the momentum behind the brand continues to build. Thanks to our experienced network of Area Developers across Canada, we are consistently securing both single-unit and multi-unit franchise agreements, reinforcing our ability to scale efficiently. A key driver of this success is Stephen Travers, who has played an instrumental role in franchise growth across multiple brands in our portfolio. With 22 years of experience and a proven track record of establishing dozens of locations in Western Canada, Stephen's leadership and execution skills are invaluable to our expansion strategy." "Our asset-light franchise model enables Happy Belly to continue accelerating growth across all our brands. With a strong foundation, strategic leadership, and a dedicated franchise support system, we are well-positioned to drive sustained success in the Canadian QSR market. This is another step forward in our mission to become a predictable and disciplined growth company, Canada's next great restaurant consolidator." We are just getting started About Rosie's Burgers Deliciously handcrafted smashed burgers, golden fries, and classic milkshakes. Rosie's is your neighbourhood burger shop serving up nostalgic flavours you know, love, and crave. From our Smashburger's and French fries to strawberry shakes and onion rings-we're all about keeping things simple and perfecting tradition. Because the classics were made classic for a reason, right? Franchising For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com. About Happy Belly Food Group Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands. Happy Belly Food Group To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/246304_e1f1767484844a80_003full.jpg Sean Black Chief Executive Officer Shawn Moniz Chief Operating Officer Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246304 SOURCE: Happy Belly Food Group Inc. Evolva Holding SA / Key word(s): AGMEGM Evolva Holding SA shareholders elect Clearway representatives to the Board of Directors 27-March-2025 / 11:10 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. PRESS RELEASE | AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR Evolva Holding SA shareholders elect Clearway representatives to the Board of Directors Reinach, Switzerland, 27 March 2025 - Evolva Holding SA (SIX: EVE) ("Evolva") today held its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") in Basel. The shareholders elected two representatives of Clearway Capital Partners ICAV, Dublin, Ireland ("Clearway"), Evolva's largest shareholder, to into the Board of Directors ("BoD" or "Board") and into the Compensation Committee. The shareholders also elected Mr. Gianluca Ferrari of Clearway as Chairman. The shareholders approved the following proposals of the Board and of the shareholder Clearway with following majorities: Approval of the Management Report, the Annual Financial Statements and the Consolidated Financial Statements 2024 with 99.26% of the votes cast (votes cast: 4,065,754 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626); Approval of the Compensation Report 2024, in an advisory vote, with 97.86% of the votes cast (votes cast: 4,058,205 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626); Discharge from liability of the members of the BoD for the fiscal year 2024 with 97.01% of the votes cast (votes cast: 4,035,665 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626); Appropriation of the Annual Result for 2024 with 99.26% of the votes cast (votes cast: 4,036,645 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626); Approval of the continuation of M&A activities, in an advisory vote, with 99.18% of the votes cast (votes cast: 4,075,227 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626); Election of Mr. Ferrari and Mr. Defila of Clearway as new members of the Board with 66.04% and 64.56%, respectively, of the votes represented (votes represented: 3,968,753 and 3,969,235 votes, respectively, of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626); Election of Mr. Ferrari as Chairman of the Board with 64.06% of the votes represented (votes represented: 4,002,330 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626); Election of Mr. Ferrari and Mr. Defila into the Compensation Committee with 64.44% and 64.40%, respectively, of the votes represented (votes represented: 3,987,335 and 3,987,413 votes, respectively, of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626). Election of the auditors: the re-election of FORVIS MAZARS AG, Zurich, for a one-year term with 99.72% of the votes cast (votes cast: 4,077,833 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626); Election of the independent proxy: the re-election of Dr. Oscar Olano, Basel, for a one-year term with 98.14% of the votes cast (votes cast: 4,075,457 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626. Compensation of the Board of Directors: Approval of the maximum compensation of CHF 0.00 as proposed by the incoming Board until the AGM 2026 with 96.06% of the votes cast (votes cast: 4,060,577 votes of the total outstanding shares/votes of 7,230,626). As announced in the AGM invitation, agenda item 6 (Dissolution, Delisting) was not put to the shareholders' vote during today's AGM after the shareholders approved agenda item 5 (Continuation of M&A activities). Similarly, the shareholders did not vote on agenda items 7.2 (Current BoD election), 7.4 (Re-election current Chairman of the Board) and 7.6 (Re-Election Compensation Committee) after the shareholders elected the Clearway representatives into the Board and into the Compensation Committee and Mr. Ferrari as Chairman. As announced in the AGM invitation, the previous Board members Stephan Schindler and Beat In-Albon did not stand for re-election since the Clearway representatives were elected. Gianluca Ferrari, incoming Chairman of Evolva, said: "We thank shareholders for their support and look forward to working to create long-term, sustainable value for all shareholders." Documentation The invitation to today's AGM 2025 with all proposed agenda items is available on the company's website under this link . The minutes of the AGM will be posted on the AGM page in due course. Contact Evolva Doris Rudischhauser Investor Relations and Corporate Communications +41 79 410 81 88 investors@evolvaholding.com Disclaimer This announcement is not an offer of securities into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. Further, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Canada, Australia or Japan or under the applicable securities laws of any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of such laws. This press release contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like believe, assume, expect or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments. Additional features: File: Evolva Holding SA shareholders elect Clearway representatives to the Board of Directors End of Inside Information Samuel Kapsch appointed Chief Operating Officer of Kapsch TrafficCom as of April 1 Fifth generation of the Kapsch family joins the Executive Board In addition to CEO Georg Kapsch and CTO Alfredo Escriba, Chief Operating Officer (COO) is added to the Executive Board Samuel Kapsch will be appointed to the Executive Board of Kapsch TrafficCom as COO on April 1, 2025. As a representative of the fifth generation of the Kapsch family, he will assume responsibility for the areas of supply chain management, production, the Latin America and Asia-Pacific regions, the operational implementation of the strategy as well as marketing and communication. This significant step marks a new chapter in the company's long-standing commitment to innovation, excellence and family leadership. "With a deep-rooted understanding of the company's values and vision, Samuel Kapsch brings a wealth of knowledge and new perspectives to the Executive Board. With Samuel Kapsch, we are gaining a young, innovative leader with in-depth knowledge of our international markets. His experience in digital transformation will help the company to recognize and master challenges at an early stage. His commitment to the company is a great asset," explains Sonja Hammerschmid, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board at Kapsch TrafficCom. Samuel Kapsch studied business administration in Madrid and California before gaining valuable experience in management consulting. He worked for several years in Argentina and Spain for a renowned consulting firm with a focus on digital transformation, helping companies to integrate innovative technologies into their business models. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Georg Kapsch and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Alfredo Escriba also offer their warmest congratulations: "Samuel Kapsch brings valuable expertise, intercultural understanding and implementation strength. His experience and strategic vision will play a decisive role in shaping the further development of the company. We look forward to working with him and to taking the next growth steps for our company together." Since 2022, Samuel Kapsch has been responsible for the Latin America region as Executive Vice President, where he leads a team of over 500 employees. Under his leadership, the company has been able to further expand its presence in the region while significantly increasing operational efficiency. With his expertise and his visionary yet implementation-oriented approach, Samuel Kapsch has made a decisive contribution to the sustainable development of the mobility sector in Latin America. More information: Press | Kapsch TrafficCom Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally renowned provider of transportation solutions for sustainable mobility with successful projects in more than 50 countries. Innovative solutions in the application fields of tolling, tolling services, traffic management and demand management contribute to a healthy world without congestion. With one-stop-shop-solutions, the company covers the entire value chain of customers, from components to design and implementation to the operation of systems. Kapsch TrafficCom, headquartered in Vienna, has subsidiaries and branches in more than 25 countries and is listed in the Prime Market segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: KTCG). In its 2023/24 financial year, about 4,000 employees generated revenues of EUR 539 million. Press contact: Sandra Bijelic Head of Corporate Communications? Kapsch TrafficCom AG? Am Europlatz 2, 1120 Vienna, Austria? P +43?664?628 1720? sandra.bijelic@kapsch.net Further information: www.kapsch.net Follow us on LinkedIn SOURCE: Kapsch TrafficCom AG The new, innovative Always Connected PC provides more increased connectivity across Europe SIMO, a leader in innovative connectivity solutions, in collaboration with Acer and MediaTek, proudly announces the expansion of the Acer TravelMate P4 14 (TMP414-53-G2), an Always Connected PC (ACPC) with vSIM technology built-in, into eight new international markets. As part of its global expansion, the Acer TravelMate P4 14 is now available in Spain, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, Ireland, and Switzerland, with plans to further expand into additional regions later this year. Initially launched in select regions last year, the TravelMate P4 14 has gained traction among international travelers, remote workers, and mobile professionals who require seamless, global connectivity without reliance on physical SIM cards or public Wi-Fi. "Expanding into these new markets is a direct response to the needs of professionals who require secure, reliable connectivity wherever they go," said Jing Liu, CEO of SIMO. "We're proud to expand availability to these eight new European markets alongside Acer and MediaTek." Reliable Connectivity For Professionals On The Move The Acer TravelMate P4 14 (TMP414-53-G2) meets the demands of today's highly mobile users, providing seamless global connectivity through the SIMO 365 service. With SIMO 365, customers can enjoy free data for a year. The first 1,000 units sold will include an exclusive bonus of 2GB of free data for the first year. After the initial 1,000 units, customers will still benefit from 30 minutes of free daily 4G internet access for one year. Be among the first 1,000 to unlock even more data! This feature allows users to quickly check emails, access important documents, or connect with colleagues through videoconferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet without worrying about data limitations. "Professionals need a laptop that provides seamless connectivity regardless of their location, and the Acer TravelMate P4 14 delivers just that," said James Lin, GM, Notebooks, Acer. "By expanding its availability, we're giving more users the flexibility to stay productive and connected at all times." Key Features of the TravelMate P4 14 Built-in LTE connectivity : Users can enjoy lightning-fast internet access, eliminating the need for potentially unreliable or unavailable public Wi-Fi. : Users can enjoy lightning-fast internet access, eliminating the need for potentially unreliable or unavailable public Wi-Fi. Multi-carrier vSIM Technology : TravelMate P4 14 can automatically select the best local network available across more than 300 mobile carriers in over 140 countries. : TravelMate P4 14 can automatically select the best local network available across more than 300 mobile carriers in over 140 countries. High-performance Specs : Up to 64GB DDR5 RAM, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and long battery life for uninterrupted productivity. : Up to 64GB DDR5 RAM, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and long battery life for uninterrupted productivity. Ultra-portable design : Lightweight and sleek for effortless mobility. : Lightweight and sleek for effortless mobility. Flexible Data Plans:Includes free data for a year, with 2GB for the first 1,000 units and 30 minutes of free daily 4G access globally. Flexible data plans available beyond the free 30 minutes. "The TravelMate P4 14, powered by MediaTek's advanced processors, delivers high-speed LTE and global connectivity," said CK Wang, VP and GM of IOT Business Unit at MediaTek. "Our expansion with Acer and SIMO enables a mobile experience that meets the needs of today's always-connected professionals." Pricing and Availability The Acer TravelMate P4 14 is now available in: Spain, France, Italy : 1,399.00 : 1,399.00 Germany : 1,399.00 : 1,399.00 United Kingdom : 1,299.00 : 1,299.00 Ireland : 1,499.00 : 1,499.00 Switzerland : 1,299 CHF : 1,299 CHF Poland: 5,999.00 PLN Acer is offering a limited-time promotion on the TravelMate P4 14 through the end of March. Visit each country's product page for details on available discounts. For more information, visit www.simo.co/travelmate About SIMO SIMO is a leading provider of connectivity solutions, dedicated to delivering seamless, reliable, and innovative internet services through proprietary virtual SIM (vSIM) technology. With a commitment to keeping people connected, SIMO's products are designed for consumers, small businesses, and enterprises worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327701331/en/ Contacts: Media Inquiries: Jadin Roberson Jadin@pitchpublicrelations.com Pitch Public Relations SIMO Press Office [pr@simo.co] PARIS, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On March 26, 2025, the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and the Paris Peace Forum presented The Paris Declaration on Business & Nutrition 2030 at a high-level event ahead of the Paris Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit. This Declaration urgently calls for reshaping the nutrition economy through a multi-sectoral approach to address malnutrition in all its forms. Undernutrition (stunting, anemia, wasting), obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and food insecurity affect health, climate, and economies, underscoring the need for coordinated action. In 2022, 2.5 billion adults were overweight, including 890 million living with obesity, while 390 million were underweight. To drive meaningful change, the Declaration outlines a 2030 roadmap of priority actions. Dozens of organizations, including NGOs, such as ATNi, GAIN, the Paris Peace Forum, and Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, alongside private sector organizations such as IFBA and CGF (see full list of authors below), have worked together to develop a set of measurable commitments aimed at transforming the nutrition economy for all. The Declaration presents stakeholder-specific calls to action, including: For governments to reform subsidies (which currently amount to $638-$851 billion a year) and leverage procurement to drive more nutritious and locally produced foods. to reform subsidies (which currently amount to $638-$851 billion a year) and leverage procurement to drive more nutritious and locally produced foods. For investors to embed nutrition into their investment strategies as a financially material issue and as an investment theme. to embed nutrition into their investment strategies as a financially material issue and as an investment theme. For businesses to take responsibility for reformulating products, improving overall healthiness of food portfolios and shifting marketing strategies away from unhealthy foods. to take responsibility for reformulating products, improving overall healthiness of food portfolios and shifting marketing strategies away from unhealthy foods. For nonprofits and international organizations to work together on clear private sector engagement frameworks that define roles, responsibilities, and expected outcomes. to work together on clear private sector engagement frameworks that define roles, responsibilities, and expected outcomes. For all stakeholders to mobilize commitments to enable business transparency and accountability, and to deliver SMART 2030 nutrition results. "We have seen some marginal progress towards improved nutrition outcomes from the private sector, but it's not enough. The Declaration calls on all actors to take action and improve markets for nutrition which in turn will help industry deliver healthier, more affordable foods for all," said Greg S Garrett, Executive Director of the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi). "If we want businesses to do more for nutrition, governments need to incentivize them with carrots and sticks. So far it has been mostly sticks, and that just creates animosity. Two ways about this: First, create loan mechanisms that work for SMEs supplying nutritious food, so they can grow. At present, there are none. Second, create incentives for bigger companies to initiate workforce nutrition programs to boost their productivity and create resilient supply chains. At present, there are none," added Lawrence Haddad, GAIN's Executive Director. "In an uncertain world where traditional multilateralism is threatened, we must build new coalitions to tackle our shared challenges. The Paris Peace Forum is proud to have worked to help civil society bridge the gap between institutional and private sector debates on nutrition: in the context of this unique Nutrition for Growth Summit in Paris, and at a time when governments are in a tight fiscal space, we need the private sector more than ever , " said Justin Vaisse, Director General of the Paris Peace Forum. Foreign aid cuts highlight the need for us all to reimagine how development and public health financing can be delivered differently and effectively, including through solutions bringing private and public sectors together. Access to Nutrition initiative (ATNi), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Paris Peace Forum (PPF), three global nonprofits, were bestowed the official mandate to co-facilitate the development of the Paris Declaration. This ensured developing meaningful contributions to public health and nutrition remained the group's primary goal. Authors and contributors Access to Nutrition initiative (ATNi) Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Paris Peace Forum (PPF) The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) The International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA) The Private Sector Mechanism (PSM) The Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) Nutrition Japan Public Private Platform (NJPPP) And the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Media Contact - Philip Eisenhart Philip.eisenhart@accesstonutrition.org St-Bruno-de-Guigues, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) (QIMC) is proud to report significant hydrogen measurements from its St-Bruno-de-Guigues property in Temiscamingue, Quebec, marking an important milestone for the natural hydrogen industry. Recent testing from monitoring and measuring hole #8 has returned hydrogen (H2) concentrations of 13,102 ppm (1.31%) and 12,873 ppm (1.29%) at a shallow 75 meters depth, comprising 69 meters of quaternary deposits overburden dominated by glaciolacustrine sediments (clays and silts). The last 6 meters intersect sandstones of the Lorain formation of the Cobalt Group. These results, achieved at sub-zero temperatures, represent a nearly 100% increase from previous record measurements (7,000 PPM H2 at 50m press releases on January 21, 2025) and solidify QIMC's position as Canada's leading and one of North America's leaders in the natural hydrogen industry. "These exceptional measurements provide further validation of QIMC's proprietary hydrogen model, uniquely positioning the company as a leader in the natural hydrogen sector," notes John Karagiannidis President of QIMC. "We are expanding our monitoring and measurement programs at St-Bruno-de-Guigues as temperatures rise, heading into the spring and summer seasons." Leveraging its proprietary methodology and technology, QIMC recently announced the acquisition of a district-scale land package in Nova Scotia, alongside an aggressive expansion into the United States. The company has also strategically expanded its Temiscamingue hydrogen land holdings across the provincial border into Ontario, securing key acreage along the prolific Riviere Blanche fault adjacent to our partner, Record Resources (REC-V). This expansion gives QIMC significant land position over the entire Temiscamingue hydrogen district across both Quebec and Ontario. "These exceptional hydrogen measurements represent a significant milestone for QIMC and confirm our leadership in the natural hydrogen sector," stated John Karagiannidis, President of QIMC. "The strategic expansion into Nova Scotia, Ontario, and the United States positions us to significantly accelerate our exploration and development programs, creating long-term value for shareholders and industry partners." QIMC has put in place alongside its partner Record Resources (REC-V) a comprehensive exploration campaign this spring and summer, featuring extensive soil sampling and advanced geophysical surveys across its recently acquired Ontario properties. These strategic activities aim to pinpoint and confirm additional high-potential hydrogen zones, laying the groundwork for targeted drilling, measurement, and ongoing monitoring programs. About the INRS and Pr. Marc Richer-LaFleche, P.Geo. The Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique ("INRS") is a high-level research and training institute. Pr. Richer-LaFleche's team has exceptional geological, geochemical and geophysical experience specifically in the regions of QIMC's newly acquired claims. They have carried out over six years of geophysical and geochemical work and collected thousands of C1-C4 Soil-Gas analyses. In addition, the INRS team has several portable gas spectrometers and the sampling equipment and logistics necessary for taking gas samples and geophysical measurements on the ground or in the aquatic environment. Pr. Richer-LaFleche also holds an FRQNT grant, in partnership with Quebec MRN and the mining industry, to develop and optimize a Soil-Gas method for the direct detection of mineralized bodies and faults under Quaternary cover. In addition to sulphide gases, hydrogen was systematically analyzed in the numerous surveys carried out in 2023 in Abitibi, Temiscamingue and also in the Quebec Appachian. Pr. Richer-Lafleche, a qualified expert in hydrogen exploration, has reviewed, read and approved the technical content presented in this press release. Pr. Richer-Lafleche confirms that the methodologies employed, data presented, and interpretations made conform to current industry practices and standards relating to hydrogen exploration. For more information about Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. and its products, please visit www.qimaterials.com About Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. is a mineral exploration, and development company dedicated to exploring and harnessing the potential of Canada's abundant resources. With properties in Ontario and Quebec, QIMC is focused on specializing in the exploration of white (natural) hydrogen and high-grade silica deposits, QIMC is committed to sustainable practices and innovation. With a focus on environmental stewardship and cutting-edge extraction technology, we aim to unlock the full potential of these materials to drive forward clean energy solutions to power the AI and carbon-neutral economy and contribute to a more sustainable future. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the CSE policies) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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 Quebec Innovative Materials' 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. Although Quebec Innovative Materials 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 and generally; the ability of Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246261 SOURCE: Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. HILLERD, Denmark, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellab, the leading provider of validation, monitoring, and calibration services and solutions, announces that it has appointed Gergely Sved as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following the departure of Ludvig Enlund. Mr Sved will formally join the company in June, with Chief Financial Officer Andreas Morthorst acting as interim CEO. Mr Sved is a highly experienced healthcare and life sciences executive. Most recently he served as Executive Vice President and Group President for the Healthcare and Life Sciences division at Ecolab Inc, a global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. At Ecolab, he was responsible for driving an ambitious growth strategy for the Life Science and Purolife, its Cleanroom, API and Bioprocessing businesses. Previously, he led the expansion of Ecolab's Endoscopy, Surgical and Infection Prevention businesses - including during the COVID pandemic. Prior to Ecolab, Mr Sved spent 23 years with General Electric in various roles, including most recently at GE Healthcare, where for six years he was Vice President and General Manager Europe Services. Anders Hedegaard, Chair of Ellab, commented: "Ellab is at a very exciting point in time as we look to accelerate growth and development of the business. Gergely brings a wealth of relevant experience, and we look forward to working with him as we execute our ambitious growth strategy. We are grateful for Ludvig's contribution to bringing Ellab to where we are today and wish him well in his onwards career." Gergely Sved, Chief Executive designate, says: "Ellab is a fascinating business that plays a critical role in ensuring integrated compliance solutions, anchored in its customers' most critical operations. It has great products and services, and a highly experienced team, and I am looking forward to working together to help Ellab fulfil its tremendous potential." About Ellab Founded in 1949, Ellab supports the life science industry in meeting compliance standards by providing comprehensive validation, monitoring, and calibration products and services that ensure product integrity and quality. Since its acquisition by Novo Holdings in 2023 and The Lundbeck Foundation, Ellab has been expanding its global reach and capabilities to meet the growing needs of the life science sector. With approximately 800 employees, Ellab operates in over 40 countries, offering industry-leading expertise and customer support. For more information, visit www.ellab.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gergely-sved-appointed-ceo-of-ellab-302413068.html Pace Metals Ltd. ("Pace" or the "Company") (TSXV:PACE)(FSE:B7L)(OTC PINK:BGADF) is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated October 29, 2024 it has entered into a definitive agreement dated March 26, 2025 (the " Definitive Agreement "), with Compton Mining Corp. (" Compton ") and 1532367 B.C. LTD. (" SubCo "), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, relating to the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding securities of Compton pursuant to the terms of an amalgamation agreement (the " Proposed Transaction "). It is intended that the Proposed Transaction will be an arm's length "Reverse Takeover" for Pace, as such term is defined in TSX Venture Exchange (the " TSXV " or, the " Exchange ") Policy 5.2 Changes of Business and Reverse Takeovers. Definitive Agreement The Proposed Transaction will be completed pursuant to a three-cornered amalgamation among the Company, Compton and SubCo, whereby SubCo and Compton will amalgamate and continue as one corporation (the " Amalgamation "), and the shareholders of Compton will receive approximately 20,500,000 shares of the Company (referred to on a post-closing basis as the " Resulting Issuer ") at a deemed price of $0.25 per share. Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, and upon the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set out therein, in connection with the closing of the Proposed Transaction, among other things: the Company will change its name to "Total Metals Corp." (the " Name Change "); following completion of the foregoing, the Amalgamation will be completed, and the Compton shareholders will exchange each Compton common share (the " Compton Shares ") for one common share of the Resulting Issuer (the " Resulting Issuer Shares "); and the board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer will be replaced with nominees of Compton. The Resulting Issuer will hold, on a consolidated basis, all of the assets and will be subject to all of the liabilities of the Company, SubCo and Compton, and will continue the business of Compton. Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, Compton completing a non-brokered private placement of Units (as defined herein) for gross proceeds of $1,250,000 at a price of $0.25 per Unit (as described below); the Company completing the Name Change; TSXV acceptance of the Proposed Transaction; the consolidation of the common shares of the Company (each, a " Pace Share ") on the basis of one (1) Pace Share for two (2) existing Pace Shares; and receipt of the necessary approvals of the shareholders of the Company and Compton, as applicable. No loans or advances between Pace, Compton or SubCo are expected in connection with the Proposed Transaction. No finder's fees are contemplated in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Pursuant to Section 4.1 of TSXV Policy 5.2, the Company will not be obtaining shareholder approval of the Proposed Transaction as: (i) the Proposed Transaction is not a "Related Party Transaction" and does not involve any "Non-Arm's Length Parties" (as such terms are defined in the policies of the TSXV) and no other circumstances exist which may compromise the independence of the Company or other interested parties with respect to the Proposed Transaction; (ii) the Exchange has confirmed to the Company that, in its view, the Company is without active operations; (iii) the Company is not subject to, and, to the best of its knowledge will not be subject to, a cease trade order on completion of the Proposed Transaction; and (iv) shareholder approval of the Proposed Transaction is not required under applicable corporate and securities laws. Additional details regarding Compton's business are available in the Company's press release dated October 29, 2024. The Definitive Agreement will be posted to the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and contains additional details regarding the Proposed Transaction. As well, further details with respect to the Proposed Transaction are summarized in the Company's news release dated October 25, 2025. Management Following the completion of the Proposed Transaction (and as outlined in the Definitive Agreement), the Resulting Issuer is expected to be led by Tyler Thorburn (CEO and Director); Brandon Schwabe (CFO, Corporate Secretary, Director); Micheal Dehn (Independent Director); and a fourth independent director to be identified in due course. Tyler Thorburn (CEO and Director) Tyler Thorburn has been involved in resource exploration, development and extraction projects since 2008. Mr. Thorburn has worked on projects for Enbridge, Williams Energy and Centrica Energy coordinating land acquisitions, stakeholder relations, environmental permitting and first nation consultations. Mr. Thorburn spent 5 years as an Area Lead for Canadian Natural Resources Limited in Western Canada. Mr. Thorburn has been based in Toronto the last 7 years working as a Board Director and/or Director of Corporate Development for several junior resource companies. Mr. Thorburn holds an MBA from Warwick Business School. Brandon Schwabe (CFO, Corporate Secretary, Director) Brandon Schwabe is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 15 years of corporate accounting and financial reporting experience. Mr. Schwabe has served as Chief Financial Officer for several junior public companies in the natural resource sector. Brandon holds a Bachelor of Technology in Accounting with distinction from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Michael Dehn (Independent Director) Michael Dehn has 30 years of Canadian exploration and mining experience. He spent 11 years as Senior Geologist with Goldcorp leading their regional exploration programs within the Red Lake gold district of Northern Ontario. Michael continues to consult in the Red Lake District on Gold and Base Metals projects. He has worked extensively in the Canadian Shield on Precious and Base Metals, as well as industrial minerals. Mr. Dehn is also the Mayor of Erin, Ontario, a town 80 kms northwest of Toronto with a population of 13,000, as well as a Councillor in Wellington County, Ontario. Mr. Dehn holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Sciences from the University of Waterloo. Financing In connection with the Proposed Transaction, the parties intend to complete a financing (the " Financing ") of units (each, a " Unit ") for gross proceeds of $1,250,000 at a price of $0.25 per Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one Compton Share and one common share purchase warrant (each, a " Warrant "). Each Warrant will be exercisable at a price of $0.35 for a period of 2 years from the closing date of the Financing and will contain an acceleration provision such that, following 4-months from issuance, if the Compton Shares close at or above $0.50 on the TSXV for 10 consecutive trading days and following notice from the Resulting Issuer (the " Acceleration Date "), the expiry date of the Warrant's shall to be 30 days from the Acceleration Date. The Financing shall be completed by Compton on a "best efforts" basis. The Financing shall be structured as a Unit financing into Compton and the underlying securities shall convert into Resulting Issuer Shares and warrants in the Resulting Issuer in connection with the Proposed Transaction as outlined in the Definitive Agreement. Other than in connection with the Financing, neither party will issue any shares or rights exchangeable or exercisable into shares of such party prior to closing of the Proposed Transaction. The proceeds of the Financing will be used for the working capital requirements of the Resulting Issuer. Compton may pay eligible brokers commissions in connection with the Financing. Any commissions payable will be disclosed in a subsequent press release. Financial Information A summary of the unaudited financial information of Compton for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2025 and period from incorporation on May 8, 2023 to January 31, 2024, disclosed in accordance with TSXV policies, is included in the table below: For the three and nine months ended January 31, 2025 Total Revenues $0.00 Total assets $394,594.00 Basic and diluted loss per share $0.00 Total expenses $12,567.00 Net loss and comprehensive (loss) $(12,567.00) Additional financial information with respect to Compton will be provided in the filing statement to be filed with the TSXV in connection with the Acquisition. Cautionary Statements Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including as disclosed herein, but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder and Exchange approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. All information contained in this press release with respect to the Company and Compton was supplied by the parties respectively, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the " 1933 Act ") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Robert Birmingham Director and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 604-424-8131 Forward-Looking Information This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward looking, including without limitation any statements concerning the expected results of the Proposed Transaction, the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Definitive Agreement, the anticipated timing thereof, completion of the Financing and the expected use of proceeds therefrom. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions readers that all forward-looking statements, are based on assumptions none of which can be assured and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the Exchange. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. SOURCE: Pace Metals Ltd. New Gold Claim Adjacent to Slam's Jake Lee Gold Project SLAM Exploration Ltd. (TSXV:SXL) ("SLAM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed an agreement to acquire mineral rights for the 2640 hectare Love Lake gold claim where previous workers reported quartz float grading up to 302.5 grams per tonne ("g/t) gold. The claim is adjacent to Slam's wholly-owned Jake Lee gold project where Slam has discovered quartz float grading up to 39.3 g/t gold and gold-bearing soil samples up to 980 ppb gold. Highlights of exploration results reported by previous workers and by Slam are as follows: Visible gold in quartz boulders grading up to 302.5 g/t gold (Reference 1 below); One soil sample grading 10,000 parts per billion ("ppb") gold previously reported by Magna Terra Minerals Inc. (Reference 2) and shown below on Figure 1; Fifty four (54) soil samples grading from 20 ppb to 256 ppb gold (Reference 2); Two hundred and twenty (220) soil samples grading from 10 ppb to 19 ppb gold (Reference 2); Slam has detected similar gold bearing soil samples up to 980 ppb gold (Reference 3) on its wholly owned Jake Lee claims as shown on Figures 1 and 2; Slam has discovered gold boulders grading up to 39.3 g/t gold (Reference 3) on its wholly owned Jake Lee claims as shown on Figure 2; These gold occurrences trace out a gold system in soils, boulders and outcrop that trends easterly for 13,000 meters from the Edge 16 gold occurrence on Figure 1 to the CT vein on Figure 2. The pattern of soil anomalies suggests the gold may be associated with a set of northwest-trending structures. The geological setting is similar to the nearby Clarence Stream Deposit where Galway Metals Inc. currently has NI43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resources of 922,000 ounces of gold and Inferred Mineral Resources of 1,334,000 ounces of gold. It should be noted that the presence of gold in this deposit nearby may not apply to the Love Lake or the Jake Lee claims. Figure 1 Jake Lee - Love Lake West - Gold Soil Grids - Gold Float Slam intends to commence the 2025 exploration program at Jake lee and Love Lake as soon as to weather conditions permit. The program will begin with prospecting on multiple gold soil targets grading up to 10,000 ppb on the Love Lake claim and up to 980 ppb gold on the Jake Lee claims. The main priorities are to find the bedrock source of the 302.5 g/t gold float on the Love Lake claim and the source of the 39.3 g/t float on the Jake Lee claim. Figure 2 Jake Lee - Love Lake East - Gold Soil Grids - Gold Float The Love Lake Agreement: The Company has signed a binding Term Sheet with Grindstone Resources Inc. ("Grindstone") (the "Term Sheet") giving the Company the option to acquire an 80% interest in the Love Lake Property (the "Property") in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada (the "Project"); To acquire 80% interest, the Company has agreed to the following work expenditures and cash payments to Grindstone: Due Date Expenditures Cash Payments Upon approval $15,000.00 On or before the 1st anniversary $75,000.00 $25,000.00 On or before the 2nd anniversary $200,000.00 $60,000.00 On or before the 3rd anniversary* $600,000.00 $100,000.00 On or before the 4th anniversary** $800,000.00 $150,000.00 Total $1,675,000.00 $350,000.00 *Third year expenditures to include a 1,500 meter drilling program. **Fourth year expenditures to include a 2,000 meter drilling program. Upon completion of the work expenditures and cash payments, the Company will operate the Love Lake Property as an 80/20 joint venture (the "JV") with Grindstone and both parties are to fund exploration and development as to 80% and 20% participation. If either party's interest falls below 10%, the interest will convert to a 2% NSR buyable down to 1% for 500oz gold or cash equivalent. References: Reference 1: Woods, G., 1993. Report of Work New River Claim Group. Assessment File 474310. Prepared for Brunswick Mining and Smelting Corporation Limited. NBDNRE Assessment Reports. Reference 2: Lawrick, L., December 22, 2022. News Release; Magna Terra Announces Hawkins Love Option Agreement Amendment and Provides Project Update, Magna Terra Minerals Inc., reported on Accesswire. Reference 3: Taylor, M., Jan. 25, 2023 News Release; SLAM Discovers More Gold, Slam Exploration Ltd., reported on GlobeNewswire Reference 4: Taylor, M., February 13, 2025 News Release; Slam Drills 117.6 Meter Zone At 0.54% Copper Equivalent Including New 17.1 Meter High Grade Zone At 1.1% Copper Equivalent In GW24-15, Slam Exploration Ltd., reported on AccessNewswire. QA-QC Procedures: Figures 1 and 2 are compiled from Slam technical files superimposed on soil geochemical maps that derive the Magna Terra news release referenced above. The soil geochemical results and prospecting results for previous workers are derived from news releases available on SEDAR as well as the New Brunswick NBDNRE website. The data from soil and prospecting surveys by Slam has been reported in previous news releases and available on SEDAR as well as www.slamexploration.com. Goodwin Copper Nickel Project: The Company has previously reported significant copper, nickel and cobalt intercepts from 15 diamond drill holes completed on the Goodwin copper nickel project in the Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC") of New Brunswick (Reference 4). Based on the drilling results, the Company expanded the Goodwin Project to 11,450 hectares covering a 25 kilometer stretch of aeromagnetic anomalies associated with gabbro bodies and potential copper nickel occurrences. Granges Copper Nickel Cobalt Zone: Goodwin drilling highlights include a 64.90 meter core interval grading 2.14% copper equivalent drilled in hole GW24-02 on the Granges zone. Logan Copper Nickel Cobalt Zone: All five holes on the Logan Zonecut copper nickel cobalt mineralization including 12.14 meters grading 1.54% copper equivalent in hole GW24-14 and 17.10 meters grading 1.22% copper equivalent in GW24-15. Farquharson Copper Nickel Cobalt Zone: The 5 Farquharson holes define a consistent zone of mineralization with dimensions 150 meters long by 50 meters thick by 100 meters deep. The zone is open to expand along strike as well as at depth beneath a 60.60 meter core interval grading 1.17% copper equivalent in Hole GW24-03. About SLAM Exploration Ltd: SLAM Exploration Ltd. is a public resource company with a large portfolio of mineral claim holdings in the mineral-rich province of New Brunswick. The Company has reported significant copper, nickel and cobalt intercepts from 15 diamond drill holes completed on the Goodwin copper nickel project in the Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC") of New Brunswick. The Company holds an option to earn 80% interest in the Love Lake project where previous workers have reported gold boulder discoveries up to 302.5 g/t gold. Slam has previously reported quartz float grading up to 39.2 g/t gold on its adjacent Jake Lee project. These projects are located in the vicinity of the Clarence Stream gold deposit where Galway Metals Inc. is working on a 2.3 million ounce gold deposit in southern New Brunswick. The Company intends mobilize its prospecting team search for the source of these gold boulders as soon as weather conditions permit. Slam drilled 2 holes and cut multiple gold-bearing veins were on its wholly owned Menneval gold project in 2024. The Company previously reported gold bearing core intervals including 162.5 g/t gold over 0.2 m and 56.90 g/t gold over 0.5 m in news releases on December 13, 2021 and November 22, 2022. The Company is a project generator and expects to receive significant cash and share payments in 2025. Slam received $9,000 cash and 1,200,000 shares from Nine Mile Metals Inc. (NINE) on February 28th, 2025 pursuant to the Wedge project agreement and $25,000. An option payment of $120,000 in cash and/or shares is due on March 29th, 2025 from Lode Gold Resources Inc. (LOD) pursuant to the Ramsay gold agreement. The Company holds NSR royalties and expects additional cash and share payments on the Wedge copper zinc project and on the Ramsay gold project. To view SLAM's corporate presentation, click SXL-Presentation. Additional information is available on SLAM's website and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Follow us on X @SLAMGold. Qualifying Statements: Mike Taylor P. Geo, President and CEO of SLAM Exploration Ltd., is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and has approved the contents of this news release. Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements regarding mineral resources and the Company's plans with respect to the exploration and development of its properties. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. There are a number of risk factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those described herein. Information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CONTACT INFORMATION: Mike Taylor, President & CEO Contact: 506-623-8960 mike@slamexploration.com Eugene Beukman, CFO Contact: 604-687-2038 ebeukman@pendergroup.ca SEDAR+: 00012459E SOURCE: SLAM Exploration Ltd. ZTEST Electronics Inc. ("ZTEST" or the "Company") (CSE:ZTE)(OTC PINK:ZTSTF), is pleased to announce that it intends to effect a normal course issuer bid (the "NCIB") through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). Pursuant to the NCIB, the Company may purchase up to 2,727,923 common shares, representing approximately 10% of the public float, over a 12-month period beginning on April 1, 2025 and ending on March 31, 2026. All common shares purchased under the NCIB will be purchased on the open market through the facilities of the CSE in accordance with the policies of the CSE and applicable Canadian securities laws. The price which ZTEST will pay for any common shares purchased under the NCIB will be the market price at the time of acquisition. The Company will fund the purchases of common shares under the NCIB with cash on hand. The exact timing and amount of any purchases of common shares made pursuant to the NCIB will depend on market conditions and other factors. The Company is not obligated to acquire any common shares and may suspend or discontinue purchases under the NCIB at any time. Any common shares purchased by the Company under the NCIB will be cancelled upon their purchase. Under the NCIB, the Company may purchase up to such number of common shares equal to 2% of its issued and outstanding common shares over any 30-trading day period. The Company intends to commence the NCIB as it believes that the market price of its common shares does not fully reflect the value of its business and prospects. As such it believes that purchasing its own common shares for cancellation is an appropriate strategy for increasing long-term shareholder value and represents an appropriate use of the Company's financial resources. The Company has appointed Integral Wealth Securities Ltd. as its broker to conduct the NCIB transactions on its behalf. About ZTEST Electronics Inc. ZTEST Electronics Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary Permatech Electronics Corporation ("Permatech"), offers Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) to a wide range of customers. Permatech's offering includes Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Assembly, Materials Management and Testing services. Permatech operates from an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in North York, Ontario, Canada. Permatech is a contract assembler of complex circuit boards, serving customers in the Medical, Power, Computer, Telecommunications, Wireless, Industrial, Trucking, Wearables and Consumer Electronics markets. It specializes in servicing customers who are looking for high yield and require high quality and rapid-turnaround on low and mid-volume production of high complexity products. For more information contact: Steve Smith, CEO (604) 837-3751 email: steves@ztest.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange 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. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.com). SOURCE: ZTEST Electronics Inc. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Anteros Metals Inc. (CSE: ANT) ("Anteros" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of 3D geological modelling of its 100% owned, road-accessible Havens Steady VMS Property (the "Property") in central Newfoundland. The Property is located approximately 40 kilometres southeast of Buchans and 17 kilometres from the past-producing Duck Pond Mine. The inaugural 3D model integrates over 8,000 metres of historical drilling, surface geochemistry, and geophysical data into a unified geological framework. Interpretation was supported by AI-assisted workflows to enhance target confidence and reduce interpretive bias. The model defines a laterally extensive polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") system characterized by zinc-lead-silver copper-gold mineralization. It confirms a steeply southeast-dipping mineralized zone trending 057, with over 700 metres of drilled strike length along the main mineralized zone ("MMZ"), as depicted in Figure 1, and identifies multiple untested vectors remaining open along strike and at depth. KEY TARGETING HIGHLIGHTS: Copper-Rich Southwestern Feeder Zone - A newly delineated zone of copper-enrichment supported by elevated Cu:Pb+Zn ratios, silica-chlorite alteration, and historic drill intercepts may represent a vent-proximal feeder and remains underexplored. A newly delineated zone of copper-enrichment supported by elevated Cu:Pb+Zn ratios, silica-chlorite alteration, and historic drill intercepts may represent a vent-proximal feeder and remains underexplored. Northeast Extension of the MMZ - Geophysical trends, soil geochemistry, and alteration vectors indicate strong potential for mineralization northeast of the current drill coverage. Geophysical trends, soil geochemistry, and alteration vectors indicate strong potential for mineralization northeast of the current drill coverage. Untested Pyritic Footwall Target - Pyrite-rich lithologies east of the MMZ, associated with structural and geochemical indicators, may reflect another feeder or deeper mineralization. Pyrite-rich lithologies east of the MMZ, associated with structural and geochemical indicators, may reflect another feeder or deeper mineralization. Shallow Infill Drilling Opportunities - Gaps in data within the main mineralized horizon, particularly in areas with shallow overburden, provide cost effective targets for near-surface resource definition. Gaps in data within the main mineralized horizon, particularly in areas with shallow overburden, provide cost effective targets for near-surface resource definition. New Surface Access - Recent timber harvesting has improved access to multiple target areas, enabling inaugural trenching and low-cost grade verification. Recent timber harvesting has improved access to multiple target areas, enabling inaugural trenching and low-cost grade verification. Overlapping Anomalies - Coincident VLF conductors, magnetic highs, and geochemical soil anomalies that correlate with known mineralization also support extensions along strike. Coincident VLF conductors, magnetic highs, and geochemical soil anomalies that correlate with known mineralization also support extensions along strike. Scalable System in a Proven Critical Mineral District - The system remains open along strike and at depth, and is situated with polymetallic (Zn-Pb-Ag Cu-Au) mineralization consistent with critical mineral designation and regional VMS analogues. Figure 1: Havens Steady Main Mineralized Zone (modelled in red), looking north-northeast To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9885/246216_anterosimage.jpg "Completion of this model is a significant milestone for Anteros and provides a modern platform for exploration decision-making," said Trumbull Fisher, CEO. "Our team now has the tools to efficiently target high-priority zones including the copper-rich southwestern extension and newly identified anomalies to the northeast." NEXT STEPS Anteros plans to complete field validation in Q2 2025, followed by a focused diamond drilling campaign expected to commence in Q3 2025, with initial targets focused on copper-rich vectors including northeast extensions. The property is fully permitted for diamond drilling and the Company plans to capitalize on government critical metal exploration grants to bolster its funded 2025 exploration program. ABOUT THE PROPERTY The Havens Steady VMS property lies within the Storm Brook Formation of the Red Cross Group in the Exploits Subzone of the Dunnage Zone - a prolific metallogenic belt in central Newfoundland. The Property benefits from existing road infrastructure and proximity to hydroelectric power. The region hosts world class VMS deposits such as the past-producing Duck Pond Mine. The Company cautions that mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Property. Since acquiring the Property in January 2024, Anteros has performed comprehensive digital compilation and modelling of historical exploration data. Compilation confirmed that previous geophysical work, including airborne electromagnetics, identified multiple conductive anomalies consistent with the presence of sulfide mineralization. Additionally, historic drill programs have outlined multiple zones of high-grade zinc, lead, silver, and copper mineralization demonstrated by the presence of sphalerite and galena with bornite and chalcopyrite in copper-rich zones. The known deposit area has a strike length of at least 1,000 metres and historic drilling shows mineralization extending to over 800 metres below surface. For more information on the Property, please visit Projects - Havens Steady on the Company webpage: www.anterosmetals.com/havens-steady. QUALIFIED PERSON The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jesse R. Halle, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. ABOUT ANTEROS METALS INC. Anteros is a multimineral junior mining company using data science to target and acquire highly prospective deposits for exploration and development throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The Company is currently focused on advancing four key projects across diverse commodities and development horizons. Immediate plans for their flagship Knob Lake Property include bringing the historical Fe-Mn Mineral Resource Estimate into current status as well as commencing baseline environmental and feasibility studies. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements herein include but are not limited to statements relating to the prospects for development of the Company's mineral properties, and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246216 SOURCE: Anteros Metals Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Kuya Silver Corporation (CSE: KUYA) (OTCQB: KUYAF) (FSE: 6MR1) (the "Company" or "Kuya Silver") announces that due to interest, it has increased its non-brokered private placement announced March 7, 2025, to up to 11,600,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") at CAD$0.25 per Common Share for gross proceeds of up to CAD$2,900,000 (the "Offering"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general working capital. All securities issued under the Offering, including securities issuable on exercise thereof, will be subject to a hold period expiring 4 months and 1 day after issuance, in accordance with the rules and policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws. About Kuya Silver Corporation Kuya Silver is a Canadian-based, growth-oriented mining company with a focus on silver. Kuya Silver operates the Bethania silver mine in Peru, while developing district-scale silver projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions including Peru and Canada. Reader Advisory This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information," including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may," "would," "could," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "must," "next," "propose," "new," "potential," "prospective," "target," "future," "verge," "favourable," "implications," and "ongoing," and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking information. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statements, any discussion regarding the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering, is forward-looking information. Investors are cautioned that statements including forward-looking information are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those described in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including but not limited to fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market, and business conditions. There can be no assurances that such forward-looking information will prove accurate, and therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of the risks and uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the CSE nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246267 SOURCE: Kuya Silver Corporation American Battery Materials, Inc. (OTC PINK:BLTH) (ABM), a Delaware-based corporation dedicated to advancing lithium resource development, and XTC Lithium Limited (XTC), an Australian corporation, are pleased to announce the signing of a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) outlining summary terms of a proposed partnership to develop the Carachi Lithium Project in Argentina's Catamarca Province. The Carachi Lithium Project, held by XTC's wholly owned Argentine subsidiary, XTC Lithium Argentina SAR (XLA), comprises several exploration properties within Argentina's renowned Lithium Triangle. This region is globally recognized for its rich lithium deposits, a critical component in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Under the terms of the LOI, ABM will have the opportunity to acquire up to a 50% interest in the Carachi Lithium Project. Additionally, upon securing a 10% interest in the Project, ABM will have the right to enter into a joint venture agreement with XTC for the continued exploration and development of the mining tenements. "This Letter of Intent represents a pivotal step in our strategy to expand our footprint in the global lithium market," said David E. Graber, CEO of American Battery Materials, Inc. "Partnering with XTC Lithium LTD, gives us access to a promising project in the heart of the Lithium Triangle, and we look forward to working together to unlock its full potential." Mr. Graber also said, "Beyond proven geological data on the salar, Xantippe (XTC Lithium) has an excellent operating team in place that is personally invested in the project. Those individuals have a successful track record in identifying, developing and financing projects all the way through a sale." John Featherby, Chairman of XTC Lithium Limited, added, "We are excited to collaborate with ABM on the Carachi Lithium Project. Their expertise and shared commitment to sustainable resource development make them an ideal partner as we advance this project toward production." Although ABM has entered into the LOI with respect to a proposed partnership to develop the Carachi Lithium Project, such transaction is subject to the execution and delivery of a definitive agreement and the satisfaction of the closing conditions which will be contained therein, including securing all necessary statutory, corporate and regulatory approvals and obtaining cash proceeds from financing arrangements. There can be no assurance that a definitive agreement will be entered into, or that the Carachi Lithium Project transaction will be consummated upon the terms set forth in the LOI, or otherwise. The proposed partnership underscores both companies' commitment to meeting the growing global demand for lithium, driven by the rapid expansion of the clean energy sector. The parties will now work toward finalizing a definitive agreement and obtaining all required approvals to move forward with the transaction. About American Battery Materials, Inc. American Battery Materials, Inc., headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a U.S.-based company focused on the exploration, acquisition, and development of lithium and other battery materials critical to the global energy transition. ABM is committed to sustainable practices and delivering value to its stakeholders through strategic partnerships and innovative projects. About XTC Lithium Limited XTC Lithium Limited, based in Wollstonecraft, NSW, Australia, is an exploration and development company with a focus on lithium resources in Argentina and other regions. Through its subsidiary, XTC Lithium Argentina SAR, the company is advancing projects in the Lithium Triangle, a globally significant region for lithium production. For Media Inquiries: American Battery Materials, Inc. 500 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 400 Greenwich, CT 06830 +1 800-998-7962 ir@americanbatterymaterials.com XTC Lithium Limited 63 Sinclair Street Wollstonecraft NSW 2065, Australia Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential partnership between ABM and XTC, the development of the Carachi Lithium Project, and the expected outcomes of the proposed transaction. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the failure to finalize a definitive agreement, obtain necessary approvals, or meet other conditions. Neither ABM nor XTC undertakes any obligation to update these statements based on future events or developments, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws. SOURCE: American Battery Materials, Inc. BERLIN, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDUBAND LLP, doing business as an officially registered academic copywriting agency GWC-Ghost Writer Company, is proud to announce the expansion of its services to include professional biography writing. The company has been able to extend its high standard of academic writing by assisting people in writing their life stories with the same level of quality, integrity, and professionalism that has defined its academic services since 2018. With over 11,000 completed orders and a team of more than 700 skilled writers, Ghost Writer Company has established itself as a trusted name in the writing industry. The company has always maintained high moral standards, guaranteeing that every assignment is done by qualified professionals and fully complies with the latest AI Act regulations. At present, the commitment also includes aiding writers in turning their life stories into compelling and well-structured biographies. "Everyone has a story worth telling," said the representative of the Ghost Writer Company. "Our new biography writing service is designed to help individuals-whether professionals, entrepreneurs, or private individuals-share their journeys with authenticity and impact." Ghost Writer Company's biography writing service includes: Discretion & Data Protection - Client information is treated with strict confidentiality. Highest Quality Writing - The writing is of the best quality as it is done by professionals who have the right academic qualifications. On-Time Delivery - Guaranteed deadlines, with a 100% money-back promise for late deliveries. Transparent Pricing - There are no hidden charges or additional fees on partial payments; all costs are disclosed in advance. Unlimited Free Revisions - You can request as many revisions as you need to make sure that the final work meets your requirements. Ghost Writer Company at ug-gwc.de remains committed to its strict no-AI policy, ensuring that every piece of writing is original, plagiarism-free, and crafted by experienced professionals. About Ghost Writer Company Founded in 2018, Ghost Writer Company is a registered academic copywriting agency offering high-quality writing services to clients worldwide. With a focus on originality, ethical writing practices, and professional excellence, the company continues to be a leader in academic and personal writing services. Contact: Bessemerstrae 82,10. OG Sud, 12103 Berlin, Germany marketing@ug-gwc.de LEICESTER, United Kingdom, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akademily, operated by Eduband LLP, is excited to announce the launch of a new service dedicated to helping beginner entrepreneurs create high-quality business plans. Known for its academic support services, which have resulted in over 7,500 successful projects, Akademily is expanding its expertise to assist individuals looking to develop professional, comprehensive business plans. A well-crafted business plan is essential for entrepreneurs seeking funding or attracting investors. It requires strategic thinking, meticulous planning, and a deep understanding of various disciplines. The clients of Akademily have access to experienced business plan ghostwriters and consultants who help create plans that suit the requirements of financial institutions, investors, and funding agencies. Business administration, marketing, finance, law and management are among the essential services which guarantee a professional touch in every part of the project. Whether you're starting from scratch or refining an existing plan, Akademily will work closely with you to produce a business plan that is both convincing and strategically sound. What Akademily's Business Plan Service Offers: Tailor-Made Solutions: Your business plan will be tailored to meet your specific requirements and target your audience and potential investors. Expert Knowledge: Akademily's team of authors is experienced in business administration, finance, marketing, and other essential fields, guaranteeing top-notch expertise and insight. Free Consultation: Before starting any project, you'll receive a free, non-binding consultation to discuss costs, options, and a strategy that fits your needs. Transparent Billing: Akademily prides itself on clear, transparent pricing-there are no hidden fees, and all costs are communicated upfront. Akademily.de determines the cost of services depending on each individual request so that you can get a reasonable proposal that is consistent with your business goals. Investing in a professionally ghostwritten business plan is a step that will provide long-term value and can significantly increase your chances of securing funding and achieving success in the competitive business industry. About Akademily Since 2017, Akademily has been guiding students, researchers, and professionals through their academic journeys. Now expanding into the entrepreneurial space, Akademily offers specialized services designed to support beginner entrepreneurs with professional business plan development, making sure that their ventures are well-prepared for success. Contact: 18 Granville Avenue Oadby, Leicester LE2 5FL, The United Kingdom marketing@akademily.de Company's multi-channel marketing approach showing growth trajectory and potential upside Boston Solar Surpasses 50 Residential Solar Sales MTD surpassing $2 Million in Sales Over $22 Million in Signed Commercial Contracts Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - SinglePoint Inc. (OTC Pink:SING) wholly owned subsidiary Boston Solar, a leading residential and commercial solar provider in Massachusetts, has launched a significant television advertising campaign through a strategic Brand Awareness Campaign with a prominent Boston television station, signaling a powerful expansion of the company's marketing footprint that could drive substantial growth in customer acquisition and revenue. Boston Solar Expands Digital Dominance with OTT and Broadcast Advertising to Drive Sales and Brand Growth Boston Solar's proven digital strategy continues to deliver impressive results, with its recent Over-the-Top (OTT) advertising campaigns on leading streaming services platforms generating an immediate uptick in sales. Building on this success, the company is taking a bold step forward by launching a high-impact brand awareness campaign on a leading local news station. This strategic expansion into broadcast media is designed to amplify Boston Solar's market presence, attract new customers, and solidify its position as a leader in the solar energy sector in New England. The campaign features two professionally produced commercials now airing across our partner channel's programming schedule, complemented by branded integrations within the station's weather segments throughout the week. This comprehensive television presence is expected to reach an average of 422,000 viewers weekly, dramatically expanding the company's visibility within its key service territory. Strategic Shift in Marketing Approach Boston Solar's move into television advertising represents a noteworthy evolution in the company's market strategy. While many solar providers remain heavily dependent on digital marketing channels, Boston Solar's expansion into traditional broadcast media demonstrates a sophisticated multi-channel approach designed to capture broader market segments. "This partnership with a leading local station represents a strategic investment in brand awareness and customer acquisition," added Mike Morlino President Boston Solar. "By complementing our digital initiatives with targeted television exposure, we're reaching households that might not be actively searching online for solar solutions but are excellent candidates for adoption." The Company is implementing this diversified marketing approach to provide Boston Solar with a competitive advantage in customer acquisition costs (CAC) - a critical metric for solar installation companies. By reaching passive prospects through television, the company may reduce its dependence on increasingly competitive and expensive digital advertising channels. Weather Segment Integration Enhances Brand Authority Particularly notable in the channel-partner launch is Boston Solar's integration into weather segments - a strategic placement that naturally associates the company with energy consciousness when viewers are most attuned to climate considerations. This contextual relevance not only enhances brand recall but positions Boston Solar as an authority in renewable energy solutions at precisely the moment when consumers may be most receptive to sustainability messaging. Initiatives Those watching the renewable energy sector, Boston Solar's marketing expansion could signal several positive developments: Growth Trajectory: The significant investment in television advertising to drive down Customer Acquisition Cost, drive brand awareness and bring in new sales and partnerships. Margin Protection: Diversification of customer acquisition channels improving costs and reducing overall expenses in marketing and continue throughout the business Brand Premium Development: Television presence tends to elevate brand perception, potentially allowing for premium experience compared to competitors who rely solely on digital lead generation. Market Share Strategy: The reach of 422,000 weekly viewers represents substantial market penetration in the Massachusetts region, potentially accelerating market share gains. Industry observers note that solar installation companies that successfully build brand equity through broadcast media often demonstrate stronger resilience during market fluctuations and seasonal variations in demand. Sector Context This marketing expansion comes as the residential solar sector in Massachusetts continues to benefit from favorable policy conditions, including the state's SMART program incentives and federal tax credits for solar installations. These incentives, combined with rising utility costs, have created a favorable environment for market growth. Boston Solar's enhanced marketing reach positions the company to capitalize on these market conditions more effectively than competitors who lack comparable brand visibility. Boston Solar To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6548/246282_e3bd0b1544d8fb0d_001full.jpg About Boston Solar - www.bostonsolar.us Boston Solar is a premier solar provider serving residential and commercial customers throughout Massachusetts. The company has established a reputation for quality installations, comprehensive customer service, and deep expertise in navigating the complex landscape of solar incentives and financing options in the Northeast market. About SinglePoint Inc. www.singlepoint.com SinglePoint Inc. is a renewable energy and sustainable lifestyle company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com). Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, the use of proceeds, anticipated growth and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246282 SOURCE: Hawk Point Media Group. KNOT Offshore Partners LP (NYSE:KNOP) ("the Partnership"), an owner and operator of shuttle tankers, announced today that its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 has been filed with the SEC. The report can be accessed on the Partnership's website www.knotoffshorepartners.com in the "Investors" section under "Financial Information" then "Annual Report" or "SEC Filings", or on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Unitholders may also request a hard copy of the Annual Report, which includes the Partnership's complete audited financial statements, free of charge, by emailing: ir@knotoffshorepartners.com Or by writing to: KNOT Offshore Partners LP 2 Queen's Cross Aberdeen AB15 4YB United Kingdom About KNOT Offshore Partners LP KNOT Offshore Partners LP owns, operates and acquires shuttle tankers primarily under long-term charters in the offshore oil production regions of Brazil and the North Sea. KNOT Offshore Partners LP is structured as a publicly traded master limited partnership but is classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and thus issues a Form 1099 to its unitholders, rather than a Form K-1. KNOT Offshore Partners LP's common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KNOP". Forward looking statements This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond management's control. Factors that can affect future results are discussed in the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed by the Partnership with SEC. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect new information or events. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327500080/en/ Contacts: KNOT Offshore Partners LP Derek Lowe Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Email: ir@knotoffshorepartners.com Tel: +44 1224 618 420 WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS), a digital-led business transformation and services company, today announced that it has won five awards at the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards presented by Business Intelligence Group. WNS received these awards, which recognize companies committed to innovation and advancing artificial intelligence (AI), at both the product and organizational levels as follows: Hospitality (Product): WNS Corporate Travel Management , an industry-first modular platform powered by Gen AI that empower organizations to streamline operations, improve customer experience, and drive business outcomes. , an industry-first modular platform powered by Gen AI that empower organizations to streamline operations, improve customer experience, and drive business outcomes. Augmented Intelligence (Product): SKENSE Research Genie , an AI-powered, multi-agent research assistant that generates research reports, helping insurance underwriters assess risk more efficiently. , an AI-powered, multi-agent research assistant that generates research reports, helping insurance underwriters assess risk more efficiently. Knowledge Management (Product): KnowRA+ , a Gen AI-powered tool that enables service agents to eliminate delays, predict needs, and deliver seamless interactions. , a Gen AI-powered tool that enables service agents to eliminate delays, predict needs, and deliver seamless interactions. Automated Planning and Scheduling (Product): WNS Malkom , an AI-powered shipping automation platform that streamlines logistics by seamlessly integrating with client systems to eliminate manual tasks, optimize workflows, and deliver superior business outcomes. WNS Malkom leverages advanced AI technologies including RPA, IDP, and Generative AI. , an AI-powered shipping automation platform that streamlines logistics by seamlessly integrating with client systems to eliminate manual tasks, optimize workflows, and deliver superior business outcomes. WNS Malkom leverages advanced AI technologies including RPA, IDP, and Generative AI. WNS Analytics (Organizational, Machine Learning): WNS Analytics enables business decision intelligence for more than 250 global companies through industry-specific productized services that combine Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence (AI+HI). "We are excited to be recognized with five awards from Business Intelligence Group at their 2025 AI Excellence Awards. WNS remains committed to harnessing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across diverse domains and industries to drive meaningful insights and business outcomes for our clients. These awards highlight our efforts to effectively integrate technology, including AI and GenAI, into everything we do," said Keshav R. Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS. "The AI industry is evolving rapidly, and it is through the efforts of companies like WNS that we see real-world applications driving change," said Russ Fordyce, CEO, Business Intelligence Group. "Their work exemplifies the kind of innovation and leadership that is shaping the future of artificial intelligence." The Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards celebrate the most innovative companies, technologies, and professionals who are leading the way in AI innovation. Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts who evaluate nominees based on their creativity, impact, and measurable success in AI-driven solutions. About Business Intelligence Group The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, these programs are judged by business executives having experience and knowledge. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers. For more information, visit www.bintelligence.com About WNS WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS) is a digital-led business transformation and services company. WNS combines deep domain expertise with talent, technology, and AI to co-create innovative solutions for over 600 clients across various industries. WNS delivers an entire spectrum of solutions including industry-specific offerings, customer experience services, finance and accounting, human resources, procurement, and research and analytics to re-imagine the digital future of businesses. As of December 31, 2024, WNS had 63,390 professionals across 66 delivery centers worldwide including facilities in Canada, China, Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For more information, visit www.wns.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Safe Harbor Provision This document includes information which may constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions as to future events. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied are discussed in our most recent Form 20-F and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. WNS undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327113859/en/ Contacts: WNS CONTACT: Investors David Mackey EVP Finance Head of Investor Relations WNS (Holdings) Limited +1 (646) 908-2615 david.mackey@wns.com Media Archana Raghuram EVP Global Head Marketing Communications WNS (Holdings) Limited +91 (22) 4095 2397 archana.raghuram@wns.com; pr@wns.com BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE GROUP CONTACT: Eliana Starbird Chief Nominations Officer Business Intelligence Group +1 (909) 529-2737 contact@bintelligence.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Safe Supply Streaming Co. Ltd. (CSE: SPLY) (FSE: QM4) (OTCQB: SSPLF) ("Safe Supply" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Clement to its board of directors, and as the chair of the Company's audit committee. Tony Clement has had a distinguished career in politics, law, and business. He served in senior roles in Prime Minister Harper's Cabinet from 2006 to 2015 as a Health Minister, Industry Minister, and President of the Treasury Board, leading cost reductions and negotiating a crucial deal with Chrysler and GM to save the domestic auto sector. Tony was also a Member of Parliament from 2006 to 2019. Before federal politics, he served in the Ontario cabinets of Premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves in various leadership roles, including frontline Health Minister during the 2003 SARS outbreak. In business, he leads IT startups, serves on IT and healthcare boards, and provides strategic advice internationally, maintaining strong connections globally. As a trained lawyer, he offers insights from legal, geopolitical, and financial perspectives. Tony Clement commented, "I'm honoured to join the Board of Directors and take on the role of Audit Committee Chair at Safe Supply during this transformative time for the Company. Throughout my career in public service and the private sector, I've seen firsthand the importance of innovation in addressing complex societal issues - and Safe Supply is leading the way with a bold and compassionate approach to harm reduction and healthcare technology. I believe the Company is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and communities, and I'm eager to contribute my experience in health, governance, and strategic leadership to support its mission and long-term growth." The Company also announces that Najla Guthrie and Dr. James Obaji have resigned from the board directors, and wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavors. Stock Option Grant The Company also announces that it has granted 16,500,000 stock options pursuant to its stock option plan (the "Plan") to its directors, officers and consultants, to purchase common shares in the capital of the company (the "Options"). The Options will be exercisable at a price of $0.075 per common share for a period of five years. The Options vest in equal instalments on the 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 month anniversaries of the grants. The Options are subject to the terms of the Plan, the applicable Option agreements and the requirements of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange"). Private Placement The Company also announces its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement of units, with the proceeds to be used for general and working capital purposes. About Safe Supply Streaming Safe Supply, a publicly traded company that is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, is focused on the acquisition, investment, and development of businesses within the medical, wellness, and technology sectors. The Company aims to drive sustainable growth and shareholder value by leveraging innovative, technology-driven solutions that address critical needs in healthcare and wellness. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd. ("Safety Strips") specializes in the development and commercialization of harm reduction products, including test strips for detecting illicit substances in drugs and alcohol. With a mission to reduce harm and enhance safety in communities, Safety Strips has developed a range of products aimed at preventing drug-related fatalities and supporting wellness. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246308 SOURCE: Safe Supply Streaming Co Ltd. Nextech3D.AI (OTCQB:NEXCF)(CSE:NTAR)(FSE:1SS), a leading technology company specializing in AI-powered 3D modeling, augmented reality, and immersive experiences, today announced the integration of its first AI-powered customer service chat agent on its website. This AI assistant with advanced voice technology, is designed to enhance customer experience and sales by offering appointment scheduling, a custom knowledge base tailored to Nextech's services and offerings, natural voice interactions, and seamless live agent transitions. "At Nextech, we are always seeking innovative solutions to improve the way we engage with our customers," said Evan Gappelberg, CEO at Nextech. "With the integration of this AI assistant, we can now offer a more personalized, efficient, and accessible support system that meets the evolving expectations of our customers." Nextech previously announced its push into AI with the adoption of AI in its 3D model production. Today's news of adopting AI chat agents is a significant step toward becoming an AI first technology company that can compete at the highest level. Key features include of the AI chat: ? Appointment Scheduling & Lead Generation - The chatbot automates appointment bookings and captures high-quality leads, allowing Nextech to optimize customer engagement and service efficiency. ? Custom Website Knowledge Base - The AI assistant is fully programmed with Nextech's unique website information, providing precise and brand-aligned responses to customer inquiries. ? Live Agent Handoff - When necessary, the AI assistant seamlessly transitions conversations to a live Nextech representative, ensuring customers always receive the help they need. ? Human-Like Voice Interaction - Utilizing Eleven Labs' AI voice technology, Nextech's virtual assistant communicates naturally, making interactions A New Era for Nextech's Customer Support. The integration of AI chat agents represents Nextech's commitment to providing top-tier customer service. With the ability to handle high volumes of inquiries, offer instant responses, and continuously learn from interactions, the AI assistant ensures that Nextech remains at the forefront of digital customer engagement. "By leveraging this AI-driven chat technology, we're enhancing our ability to connect with customers in a meaningful way while optimizing our internal workflows," added CEO Evan Gappelberg. "We're excited about the future of AI-powered support and its impact on customer satisfaction." For more information, visit Nextech3D.ai . Sign up for Investor News and Info - Click Here For more information and full report go to https://www.sedarplus.ca For further information, please contact: Nextech3D.ai Evan Gappelberg /CEO and Director 866-ARITIZE (274-8493) About Nextech3D.ai Nextech3D.ai or the "Company," (OTCQB: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: 1SS), is a versatile augmented reality and AI technology company that utilizes its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) to craft immersive 3D experiences at scale for manufacturers with CAD files and for E-COMMERCE merchants. The Company's primary focus lies in creating high-quality 3D WebAR photorealistic models for Amazon and various other online retailers with patented 2D-3D technology. Forward-looking Statements 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, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as 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. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Nextech3D.ai Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Kingsmen Resources Ltd. (TSXV: KNG) (OTCQB: KNGRF) (FSE: TUY) ("Kingsmen" or the "Company") is pleased to report the results from a very successful 3D induced polarization-resistivity (3D IP) survey on its 100% owned Las Coloradas project, which is in the Parral mining district of the Central Mexican Silver Belt, Chihuahua Mexico. The survey, conducted by Geofisica TMC, S.A. de C.V., identified five new high priority drill targets associated with high chargeability/high resistivity zones. These new targets are in addition to the drill targets already selected by the Kingsmen. A total of 14 holes have now been proposed for drilling in the initial drill program. This survey, over approximately 1/3 of the project area, covered priority areas identified by Kingsmen's prospecting, mapping, sampling and ground magnetic surveys. These areas surveyed included historic workings and the past producing underground Las Coloradas mine. President, Scott Emerson, commented: "The 3D IP Survey both confirmed and further defined key targets and gives us great confidence to have a successful drilling program." Figure 1 illustrates the extent of high chargeability at -150 meters depth associated with the mineralized structures. This is below the level of the water table and below the level ASARCO mined. The Mine target includes the old Las Coloradas mine on the SE end of the Soledad structure/vein system, and adjacent mineralized structures. The Leona target covers an area of old high-grade workings approximately 530 meters long on the NW end of the Soledad II structure. The Aguilar target covers an area of old high-grade workings approximately 250 meters long on the NW end of the Soledad structure/vein system. The depth extent of the mineralization and the newly identified chargeability anomalies have never been drill tested. The survey consisted of 16 km of IP completed with the 3D off-set pole-dipole electrode array. The grid consisted of 4 adjacent blocks of closely spaced profiles covering an area of approximately 1.6 km by 1.8 km. Nineteen lines were oriented N35/N215 or N45/N225, while the remaining five were regrouped in the southeast of the survey zone and oriented N145/325. The data was exported to a RES3DINV compatible file prior to carrying out an inversion of the data. The model was extended to 525 m below the surface. Apparent resistivity and chargeability model 2D sections were extracted from the 3D IP inversion voxels as were resistivity and chargeability slices at vertical depths of 100 to 500 meters. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9640/246285_95f2859614780876_003full.jpg About Las Coloradas The Las Coloradas Project (8.5 km2 -3.3 sq miles) represents a consolidation of a historic mining district which covers numerous silver-gold-lead-zinc-copper mines previously exploited by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company), the U.S. based subsidiary of Grupo Mexico. Las Coloradas is in the Parral mining district of the Central Mexican Silver Belt, and is located approximately 30 kilometers southeast of the city of Hidalgo de Parral and 40 kilometers east of the San Francisco de Oro and Santa Barbara mining districts where several old major mines are located, such as La Prieta, Veta Colorada, Palmilla, Esmeralda, San Francisco del Oro and Santa Barbara. As well, new major mining projects are currently being explored in the district; Cordero (Discovery Silver Corp.), 35 kms north of Parral, and La Cigarra (Kootenay Silver Inc.), 35 kms northwest of Parral. Click here to see locator map: https://www.kingsmenresources.com/area-history. Qualified Person Kieran Downes, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure set out in this news release. About Kingsmen Resources Kingsmen Resources is a mineral exploration company focused on advancing its 100% held Las Coloradas Project located in the prolific mining district of Parral Mexico. The project hosts the historic past producing high-grade silver mine, Las Coloradas. It is considered to be prospective for hosting further precious metal deposits, being on the same structural and stratigraphic belts that host numerous other, on-trend, high-grade deposits. In addition, the Company has a 1% NSR on the La Trini claims which form part of the Los Ricos North project operated by GoGold Resources Inc. in Mexico. Kingsmen is a publicly-traded company (TSXV: KNG) (OTCQB: KNGRF) (FSE: TUY) and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. On behalf of the Board, Signed: "Scott Emerson" Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement: Certain disclosure contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. These statements may relate to this news release and other matters identified in the Company's public filings. In making the forward-looking statements the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the political environment in which the Company operates continuing to support the development and operation of mining projects; the threat associated with outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases; risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned work programs; permitting; and community relations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246285 SOURCE: Kingsmen Resources Ltd Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Gold Hart Copper Corp. (TSXV: HART) (formerly Vicunau Metals Corp.) (the "Company", "Gold Hart", or "HART") is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced at its Tolita gold-copper-silver porphyry target where the famous Maricunga Gold Belt meets the emerging Vicuna Copper Belt. "We are thrilled to have launched drilling at this historically significant asset which we believe may be one of the only remaining fully preserved, potentially large scale gold-copper porphyry targets in the Vicuna district of Chile," stated Isaac Maresky, Chairman and CEO of HART. "The Tolita property has waited nearly 30 years for this critical second phase of drilling since it was long-ago recognized by a top geologist as a unique target for its gold and copper near surface. Our team of geologists have been involved in some of the country's largest gold and copper discoveries, and deserve a great deal of credit for recognizing Tolita in the early 1990s, maintaining the property, and obtaining all approvals to launch this drill campaign. With the application of modern science including geophysics, and the discovery of a large 2.5km2 high-chargeability anomaly, we believe the Gold Hart team is well equipped to properly target the potential of the property." The Tolita property is a historically significant gold-copper asset which was first recognized and staked in 1993 - by one of the pioneering geologists of the Maricunga-Vicuna district - for its uniquely high grades of gold and copper on surface. In 1996, a third party company optioned the property and drilled 3 short 200m RC holes, without any geophysics, and yet still hit gold and copper in all 3 holes, including long intercepts of gold and copper (150m and 164m, respectively) close to surface in 2 of the 3 holes. At the time, gold was approximately $300/oz and copper traded below $1.00/lb, and large scale sulphide / porphyry deposits with both gold and copper were often considered less favorable than smaller scale gold-only oxide deposits. Tolita has had significant trenching (5,600m / 5.6km) with the highest grade trench returning grades up to 52g/t gold equivalent including 4% copper. Tolita has undergone helicopter mag surveys with 4 unique anomalies, but was only drilled to a depth of 200m with 3 short RC holes (out of a planned 8 hole campaign) due to negative gold market sentiment in 1997-1998. When Gold Hart acquired the property, a full geophysical survey was conducted by a recognized geophysics firm, and a large high-chargeability anomaly was discovered that is near surface and almost 2.5km2 in size and "interpreted as a copper-gold or gold-copper porphyry system that certainly warrants additional exploration and drilling". Gold Hart Copper is fully funded for its planned drill campaign. About Gold Hart Copper Gold Hart Copper is one of the largest independent land owners surrounding major miners where the famous Maricunga Gold Belt meets the emerging Vicuna Copper Belt in Chile. HART is actively acquiring, exploring and developing its portfolio of gold, copper & silver properties adjacent to the largest gold and copper assets on the continent. HART's team of geologists were personally involved in pioneering exploration in the region, leading to some of its greatest gold, copper, and silver deposits, and include the country's former National Geological Survey head. Specifically, senior Gold Hart geologists were personally involved in the Escondida copper discovery, now the largest copper mine in the world controlled by Rio Tinto and BHP, as well as Cerro Casale, the largest gold-copper discovery in Chile acquired by Barrick and Newmont (GoldCorp) with 59-million ounces of gold and 12.5-billion pounds of copper. HART has rolled-up a portfolio of historically significant assets surrounding majors, in some cases personally staked by the very same geologists who made the adjacent mega-discoveries, since the early 1990s. Some of the Gold Hart properties have already undergone a first phase of RC drilling, with highly encouraging results of gold, copper, and silver. Gold Hart properties are controlled 100% and not subject to any royalties whatsoever. HART believes it may be sitting on one of the only fully-preserved untested large-scale gold-copper-silver porphyry targets in the Vicuna District - an asset that was first recognized for its uniquely high grades of gold and copper on surface - and staked by one of the Maricunga-Vicuna district's pioneering geologists in 1993. Gold Hart Copper is fully funded for its planned drill campaign. HART | Gold Hart Copper Corporation - Social Media Channels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goldhart/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/goldhartcopper Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoldHartCopper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldhartcopper/ Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release related has been reviewed by Mr. Jonathan A. Warner, Executive Vice President of Gold Hart Copper and a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Drilling Launch Highlights To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/246301_goldhart1en.jpg March 2025 Drilling Image 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/246301_goldhart2en.jpg March 2025 Drilling Image 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/246301_goldhart3en.jpg Gold Hart Copper Corp. HART Ticker Square To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/246301_goldhart4en.jpg Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "potential", "feasibility", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: the ability of exploration results, including drilling, to accurately predict mineralization; errors in geological modelling; insufficient data; equity and debt capital markets; future spot prices of copper and zinc; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Company's listing application dated March 14, 2025, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. 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. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246301 SOURCE: Gold Hart Copper Corp. Abbott's Volt PFA System is designed to provide a new therapy option for people battling heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation Pulsed field ablation - or PFA - uses high energy electrical pulses for ablation procedures that may offer benefits to targeting and treating tissue in the heart Abbott's Volt PFA System is designed to overcome limitations of existing PFA systems, providing improved workflows and a clearer indication of contact between the Volt PFA catheter and targeted tissue ABBOTT PARK, Ill., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced it has received CE Mark in Europe for the Volt PFA System to treat patients battling atrial fibrillation (AFib). With the earlier-than-expected CE Mark, Abbott has begun commercial PFA cases in the EU with physicians who have already gained experience with the Volt PFA System within Abbott's PFA clinical studies. The company will further expand use of Volt in EU markets throughout the second half of the year. Today, approximately 8 million Europeans over the age of 65 are living with AFib, a number expected to double over the next 30 years.1,2 People living with AFib face an increased risk of stroke, heart failure and death, and many rely on cardiac ablation to treat the condition effectively. The Volt PFA System builds upon Abbott's leading electrophysiology (EP) portfolio by providing a single-catheter PFA approach, improving workflow by allowing for mapping, pacing, and ablating with a single catheter to safely and effectively treat patients with AFib. CE Mark approval for the Volt PFA System was granted based on strong results from Abbott's Volt CE Mark study, a global clinical trial conducted at centers in Europe and Australia. The trial showed the Volt PFA System achieved pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) - the method of destroying tissue causing a patient's AFib - in 99.1% of veins during ablation procedures with far fewer energy applications than on-market competitive PFA systems.3 Following approval, initial cases were completed by Prof. Helmut Puererfellner at Ordensklinikum hospital in Linz, Austria; Prof. Roland Tilz at the University Heart Center in Luebeck, Germany; Prof. Gian-Battista Chierchia at the University of Brussels in Belgium; and Prof. Peter Loh at the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. "The launch of Abbott's Volt PFA system marks a major milestone in the evolution of electrophysiology across Europe and signals we're moving beyond early therapy approaches to new systems that incorporate key physician feedback and clinical insights to optimize PFA therapy," said Prof. Puererfellner. "PFA is significantly changing our approach to treating patients and it's exciting to see the Volt PFA System build on the therapy's potential and bring new benefits to clinical teams so we can improve the lives of more patients battling conditions like AFib." Volt PFA System: Driving New Advancement in the PFA Market PFA works differently from traditional ablation approaches by delivering high energy electrical pulses to targeted areas of cardiac tissue causing abnormal heart rhythms. As a result, PFA can reduce the risk of damaging adjacent tissue in patients with complex disease or anatomy. Yet current on-market competitive PFA systems have required several therapy applications with a catheter positioned in various locations due to a lack of visualization or contact assessment. By integrating with Abbott's EnSite X EP system, the Volt PFA System is designed to address such limitations and provide: Simplified workflow . The single-catheter integrated approach of the Volt PFA system improves clinical workflow and provides real-time contact visualization to help physicians position the catheter for therapy delivery. . The single-catheter integrated approach of the Volt PFA system improves clinical workflow and provides real-time contact visualization to help physicians position the catheter for therapy delivery. Efficient energy delivery . The proprietary balloon-in-basket design of the Volt PFA Catheter, Sensor Enabled, allows for efficient energy transfer directly to the targeted tissue to stop the heart's erratic signals, minimizing the number of therapy applications needed. . The proprietary balloon-in-basket design of the Volt PFA Catheter, Sensor Enabled, allows for efficient energy transfer directly to the targeted tissue to stop the heart's erratic signals, minimizing the number of therapy applications needed. Procedural flexibility. Patients undergoing a minimally invasive ablation procedure with the Volt PFA Catheter, Sensor Enabled, can be placed under light sedation or general anesthesia based on physician and hospital preference. In addition, the Volt PFA catheter's integration with EnSite X system allows for clearer visualization and navigation for accurate positioning of the Volt PFA catheter to treat tissue. The One System Solution provided by EnSite X can accommodate all EP procedures and compatible technologies. "While PFA is a relatively new therapy option, we've incorporated lessons learned from first-generation devices and designed the Volt system to simplify PFA procedures while making them more efficient," said Christopher Piorkowski, M.D., chief medical officer of Abbott's electrophysiology business. "Clinical data has also shown that the Volt catheter's cutting-edge design helps physicians achieve pulmonary vein isolation in fewer ablation attempts and less therapy applications for improved patient outcomes." Clinical and Regulatory Progress Across Abbott's PFA Portfolio Abbott's Volt PFA System is currently under evaluation in the VOLT-AF Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Study. The study completed enrollment last year - four months ahead of the anticipated timeline. Nearly 400 patients are enrolled in the trial, and Abbott anticipates completing the 12-month follow-up for the study later this year. In addition, the company has also made significant progress in clinical studies evaluating Abbott's focal PFA technology, which is designed to provide focused energy delivery for the creation of targeted lesions at specific points in the heart. Enrollment was recently completed ahead of schedule in Abbott's FOCALFLEX CE trial assessing the performance of the TactiFlex Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled. Enrollment is also underway in the FlexPulse IDE trial evaluating TactiFlex Duo in the U.S. Abbott has also recently received regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe for a 13F sizing of the company's Agilis NxT Steerable Introducer, Dual Reach, which makes the Agilis system compatible with larger catheters, including those used for PFA therapy. For U.S. important safety information go to: Agilis NxT Steerable Introducer, Dual Reach https://abbo.tt/Agilis_ISI EnSite X EP System https://www.cardiovascular.abbott/us/en/hcp/products/electrophysiology/mapping-systems/ensite-x.html About Abbott Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Youtube. 1 Fact Sheets for Press. European Society of Cardiology. (n.d.-a). https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Factsheets 2 Atrial fibrillation set to affect more than 14 million over-65s in the EU by 2060. European Society of Cardiology. (n.d.). https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/Atrial-fibrillation-set-to-affect-more-than-14-million-over-65s-in-the-EU-by-2060 3 Tilz, R.R. (2025, January 17) Acute results demonstrate safety and effectiveness of balloon-based pulsed field ablation system for de novo PVI in PAF and PersAF [Late Breaking Presentation]. AF Symposium 2025, Boston MA, USA. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/abbott-receives-ce-mark-for-its-volt-pulsed-field-ablation-system-to-treat-patients-with-abnormal-heart-rhythms-302410914.html ALTAMIRA, Brazil, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A transformative initiative in the Brazilian Amazon is protecting nearly 400,000 hectares of rainforest while helping local communities build sustainable livelihoods. With support from Health In Harmony (HIH) and partners, the Rio Novo community in the Rio Iriri Extractive Reserve has overcome certification and infrastructure barriers to bring Brazilian fruits and nuts to local and international markets, a powerful example of sustainable development as Brazil prepares to host COP30. As Ambassador Andre Correa do Lago, COP30 President-Designate, eloquently stated, "Brazil's Constitution equally binds the country to be governed in its international relations by principles that include 'cooperation among peoples for the progress of humanity.' This fundamental principle will guide the incoming presidency of COP30 - not only because Brazilian diplomacy is constitutionally bound by it, but because it has the firm conviction that there is no future progress for humanity without deep, rapid, and sustained cooperation among our peoples." For years, Rio Novo harvested Brazil nuts and fruits for local consumption but lacked certifications and market access to sell them widely. HIH - known locally as SAMA HIH - provided critical support, including site assessments, infrastructure, solar-powered food dehydrators, and training in sustainable harvesting, product development, and business management. HIH also partnered with local communities and Indigenous groups, including the Terra do Meio Network, to tap into the Food Acquisition Policy (PAA) that helps small businesses and farmers sell products for things like school meals. Since the mini factory is located in a remote area, making these policies work can be quite tricky, but after organizing and supporting local producers, negotiating with the government and coordinating meetings, the community and the government program is enabling the community to sell food to schools in their own community nearby. Today, Rio Novo's certified products supply local school meal programs and international brands like Dengo, which uses their dehydrated nuts in chocolate. The initiative has created new income opportunities, improved nutrition for riverside children, and helped protect the rainforest from illegal logging. It generates approximately BRL 275,000 in annual revenue, benefiting more than 500 people and helping preserve Brazil's Amazon rainforest biodiversity. "This initiative puts the Rio Novo community in control of their own future. With certifications and training, local families lead every step-from harvesting to sales-ensuring fair prices and sustainable resource management," said Daniel Tiberio Luz, Brazil Country Director for Health In Harmony. "By creating their own market opportunities, they are achieving self-sufficiency while protecting the forest for future generations." Currently producing about five tons of Brazil nuts annually, Rio Novo now aims to expand into global markets. The next phase, with HIH's support, will focus on increasing the community's autonomy by setting their sights on commercializing handicrafts and renewing their Food Acquisition Policy certification next year. "SAMA HIH's support has transformed our ability to sustain our community and protect our environment," said Raimunda Rodrigues, plant manager of Rio Novo. "With new certifications and infrastructure, we can access new markets while preserving the forest. It means everything to us to protect our way of life and safeguard the Amazon." This project exemplifies the "mutirao" spirit, a concept inherited from Brazilian native Indigenous peoples, as Ambassador Correa do Lago describes, "It refers to a community coming together to work on a shared task, whether harvesting, building, or supporting one another. By sharing this invaluable ancestral wisdom and social technology, the incoming COP30 presidency invites the international community to join Brazil in a global 'mutirao' against climate change, a global effort of cooperation among peoples for the progress of humanity." Images of Rio Novo's Brazil nut production are available HERE. You may download them and use them in your stories. About Health In Harmony Health In Harmony (HIH) works alongside Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples to realize community-led climate and nature crisis solutions. Currently, HIH supports 135,000 community members to have a significant impact on protecting half of the world's tropical rainforests. HIH is expanding globally to work alongside tropical rainforest communities through an ecosystem of partners including Earth Finance, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Indonesia Ministry of Health, Savimbo, If Not Us Then Who, Silverback Earth, and FSC Indigenous Foundation To learn more, please visit www.healthinharmony.org and follow us on Instagram @healthinharmonyngo. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/amazon-rainforest-milestone-sustainable-brazil-nut-and-fruit-production-protects-nearly-400-000-hectares-from-illegal-logging-302413195.html BOSTON, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Temu has been included in USA TODAY's "America's Best Stores 2025" ranking. This list recognizes 500 companies-both brick-and-mortar and online-that offer exceptional shopping experiences in the United States. Temu is the youngest company in the "mass merchant and variety" category, joining established platforms such as Amazon and eBay. The rankings, developed by USA Today in collaboration with research partner Plant-A Insights Group, were based on public data and a large-scale confidential online survey of U.S. customers. More than 65,000 customers contributed nearly half a million reviews, evaluating stores on several criteria: Product Quality and Variety Price-Value Ratio Safety and Trust Delivery and Shipping Customer Service Usability Website Design To ensure reliability, respondents evaluated only stores they had personally used in the past three years. Companies with major data breaches, recalls, lawsuits, or ethical concerns were excluded. Temu is popular for offering a wide selection of affordable, quality products, helping consumers stretch their budgets. American businesses have been joining Temu, attracted by opportunities to expand their reach and attract new customers. More than half of Temu's U.S. sales are now locally fulfilled, reflecting the company's efforts to offer more products by local businesses and shorten delivery times for consumers. About Temu: Temu is a global e-commerce company that connects consumers with millions of business partners, manufacturers, and brands with a mission to enable them to live a better life. Temu is committed to offering affordable products to enable consumers and business partners to realize their dreams in an inclusive environment. Temu began operations in the United States in September 2022 and is now available in more than 90 markets worldwide. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651666/USAT_BestStores2025.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/temu-recognized-in-usa-todays-2025-best-stores-list-302413088.html RICHMOND, British Columbia, March 27, 2025confirm General Fusion successfully created magnetized plasmas that achieved energy confinement times exceeding 10 milliseconds. The published energy confinement time results were achieved on General Fusion's PI3 plasma injector-the world's largest and most powerful plasma injector of its kind. Commissioned in 2017, PI3 formed approximately 20,000 plasmas in a machine of 50 per cent commercial scale. The plasma injector is now integrated into General Fusion's Lawson Machine 26 (LM26)-a world-first Magnetized Target Fusion demonstration tracking toward game-changing technical milestones that will advance the company's ultimate mission: generating zero-carbon fusion energy for the grid in the next decade. The 10-millisecond energy confinement time is the duration required to compress plasmas in LM26 to achieve key temperature thresholds of 1 keV, 10 keV, and, ultimately, scientific breakeven equivalent (100% Lawson). These results were imperative to de-risking LM26. The demonstration machine is now forming plasmas regularly, and the company is optimizing its plasma performance in preparation for compressing plasmas to create fusion and heating from compression. Key Findings: The plasma injector now integrated into General Fusion's LM26 achieved energy confinement times exceeding 10 milliseconds, the pre-compression confinement time required for LM26's targeted technical milestones. These results were achieved without requiring active magnetic stabilization or auxiliary heating. This means the results were achieved without superconducting magnets, demonstrating the company's cost-effective approach. The plasma's energy confinement time improved when the plasma injector vessel was coated with natural lithium. A key differentiator in General Fusion's commercial approach is its use of a liquid lithium wall to compress plasmas during compression. In addition to the confinement time advantages shown in this paper, the liquid lithium wall will also protect a commercial MTF machine from neutron damage, enable the machine to breed its own fuel, and provide an efficient method for extracting energy from the machine (https://generalfusion.com/post/new-third-party-analyses-support-general-fusions-mtf-technology-path-to-commercialization/). The maximum energy confinement time achieved by PI3 was approximately 12 milliseconds. The machine's maximum plasma density was approximately 6x1019 m-3, and maximum plasma temperatures exceeded 400 eV. These strong pre-compression results support LM26's transformative targets. Quotes: "LM26 is designed to achieve a series of results that will demonstrate MTF in a commercially relevant way. Following LM26's results, our unique approach makes the path to powering the grid with fusion energy more straightforward than other technologies because we have front-loaded the work to address the barriers to commercialization." Dr. Michel Laberge Founder and Chief Science Officer "For over 16 years, I have worked hand in hand with Michel to advance General Fusion's practical technology. This company is entrepreneurial at its core. We pride ourselves on building real machines that get results that matter, and I'm thrilled to have the achievements recognized in Nuclear Fusion." Mike Donaldson Senior Vice President, Technology Development Quick Facts: Fusion energy is the ultimate clean energy solution-it is the energy source that powers the sun and stars. Fusion is the process by which two light nuclei merge to form a heavier one, producing a massive amount of energy. General Fusion's Magnetized Target Fusion (https://youtu.be/HC1q4sFnfxE?si=JP0y9pSnHdOZ2DjO) (MTF) technology is designed to scale for cost-efficient power plants. It uses mechanical compression to create fusion conditions in short pulses, eliminating the need for expensive lasers or superconducting magnets. An MTF power plant is designed to produce its own fuel and inherently includes a method to extract the energy and put it to work. (https://youtu.be/HC1q4sFnfxE?si=JP0y9pSnHdOZ2DjO) (MTF) technology is designed to scale for cost-efficient power plants. It uses mechanical compression to create fusion conditions in short pulses, eliminating the need for expensive lasers or superconducting magnets. An MTF power plant is designed to produce its own fuel and inherently includes a method to extract the energy and put it to work. When commercialized, a single General Fusion power plant will be designed to provide zero-carbon power to approximately 150,000 Canadian homes, with the ability to be placed close to energy demand, minimizing the need for long transmission lines or pipelines and at a cost competitive with other energy sources. The company's approach is ideal for repowering existing power generation sites and industrial steam heat use. In its current design, a General Fusion power plant will produce about 300 MWe from two 150 MWe machines running in tandem. About General Fusion General Fusion is pursuing a fast and practical approach to commercial fusion energy and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada. The company was established in 2002 and is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers. Learn more at www.generalfusion.com . General Fusion Media Relations media@generalfusion.com +1-866-904-0995 London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Reuters Events has published a new report, "The European Insurer's Digital Transformation Journey," examining the challenges and opportunities facing European insurers as they navigate digital transformation. The report highlights a potential lag in generative AI adoption among European firms compared to their global counterparts. See the Experts Featured in the Report To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7408/246310_2855a1c3843e89a4_001full.jpg The report utilises proprietary research to analyse key trends, investment priorities, and obstacles encountered by insurers in the region. Findings indicate that while data analytics and automation have been central to past technology investments, AI and generative AI are now dominating future technology roadmaps. However, the report also reveals that a significant portion of European insurers are still in the early stages of testing generative AI use cases. 81% of respondents from Europe have yet to move beyond testing use cases. Other key findings include: Customer experience is seen as the primary beneficiary of generative AI, though concerns around data privacy and security persist. Insurers should not expect straightforward ROI from AI investments and should focus on alternative measures of success. High costs, delays, and interoperability challenges are significant hurdles in technology procurement. The report features commentary from industry leaders, including Simon Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Markel Insurance; Arturo Lopez-Linares, Chief Claims Officer, AXA; Grace Flowers, Chief Underwriting Officer, Zurich Insurance; and Raphael Gusdorf, Chief Digital Officer, AG2R La Mondiale. "The European Insurer's Digital Transformation Journey" is available for download at https://shorturl.at/dkm6M. The report is based on a survey of 54 insurance professionals based in Europe, conducted in December 2024-January 2025. Ends To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246310 SOURCE: Reuters Events We're proud to expand our partnership with Students 2 Science to provide over 450,000 New Jersey students with hands-on experiences and career guidance to shape their futures in STEM. Students 2 Science is on a mission to level the education gap by bringing high-quality STEM education to students in need. As part of our longstanding relationship, our PSEG Foundation has awarded them with a $250,000 grant to support an expansion of their STEM programs Improving Student and Aptitude for Careers in STEM (ISAAC) and the Career Advancement Program. This expansion will allow Students 2 Science to run 300 elementary school sessions, 300 middle and high school ISAAC days and a summer program for students in grades 3-12. Visit http://spr.ly/60410nc6F to learn more. View original content here. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from PSEG on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: PSEG Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/public-service-enterprise-group-pseg Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: PSEG LONDON, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hakluyt, the global strategic advisory firm for businesses and investors, has announced the appointment of Ronald Sugar, chairman of the board at Uber and director of Apple, to its international advisory board. An engineer by background, Dr. Sugar has held executive positions at companies including Litton Industries and TRW Inc. He was appointed chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2003, and retired in 2010. He has since served on the boards of major corporations, including Chevron, Amgen, Apple and Uber. As well as his roles in business, Dr. Sugar is a director of several philanthropic organisations, and serves on the boards of the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Royal Aeronautical Society. Hakluyt's international advisory board includes senior leaders from across business, government and academia who amplify the firm's work and global connectivity. Chaired by Lord William Hague, the board's members draw on their collective experience to provide the firm with advice and expertise at the highest level. On the appointment of Dr. Sugar, Lord Hague said: "I am very pleased to be welcoming Ron to the Hakluyt international advisory board. His experience with some of the world's most important corporations will undoubtedly be immensely valuable, as the firm continues to provide international business leaders with insights and advice on their most pressing issues." Dr. Sugar added: "I am delighted to be joining the Hakluyt international advisory board during a period of continued growth and opportunity for its Americas business. I am looking forward to drawing on my background in technology and engineering businesses, both within the US and internationally, in support of Hakluyt's excellent work." Thomas Ellis, Hakluyt's managing partner, said: "It really is a great pleasure to welcome Ron to our international advisory board, and I know that I speak for everyone in the firm in saying that we are all very excited to have the opportunity to work with him and learn from him." This appointment is effective immediately. Notes to editors: Hakluyt is a strategic advisory firm that works with corporate leaders and investors around the world on their most important commercial issues. For more information on the firm, please visit www.hakluytandco.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hakluyt-appoints-ronald-sugar-to-its-international-advisory-board-302413180.html Dryad's Silvaguard drone system extends Silvanet's ultra-early fire detection with real-time aerial observation and marks a key milestone toward autonomous wildfire suppression In the aftermath of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires estimated to cost more than $250 billion, Dryad Networks, a pioneer in ultra-early wildfire detection technology, today announced a successful demonstration of the world's first fully functional drone prototype solution to autonomously detect, locate, monitor and eventually extinguish wildfires. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326621070/en/ Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and co-founder of Dryad Networks At an event on March 27 in Eberswalde, Germany, Dryad demonstrated that its Silvaguard drone system autonomously responded to a controlled fire detected almost instantly by its Silvanet sensor system for ultra-early wildfire detection. Upon detection, a Silvaguard drone was released and autonomously navigated to the sensor location, providing real-time aerial observation to pinpoint the fire's location and size, helping to save precious time and resources. This demonstration marks a key milestone toward the vision of autonomous wildfire suppression. Silvaguard drones ultimately will also be able to extinguish wildfires in their initial stages with innovative suppression technology such as acoustic waves. "With wildfires growing more destructive each year, ultra-early detection alone may no longer be enough as the response time of traditional fire suppression methods often takes too long; we need to extend to rapid and autonomous suppression systems. Silvaguard represents a critical leap forward toward the vision of AI-powered drones extinguishing fires before they spread. This demonstration marked the first step toward a future where we can detect and extinguish fires within minutes from ignition. Dryad is in a unique position to deliver on this vision, because our Silvanet system detects fires within minutes, when the limited capabilities of a drone-based response may still have a chance to extinguish a fire," said Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and co-founder, Dryad Networks. Moderated by Lindon Pronto, senior wildfire management expert at the European Forest Institute, the event featured presentations by Dryad's CEO Carsten Brinkschulte and Pedro Silva, Dryad's chief technology officer. The highlight was a real-time wildfire scenario where Dryad's Silvanet sensors detected a fire, sent an alert, and a Silvaguard drone autonomously dispatched from its solar-powered hangar to investigate the threat, providing overhead optical and infrared imagery. Dryad Networks demonstrated that Silvaguard has reached its first major milestone as a fully functional prototype for wildfire suppression using drones. By integrating Silvanet's ultra-early wildfire detection using sensors, already deployed in more than 50 installations worldwide, with Silvaguard's autonomous drone response, Dryad Networks is laying the groundwork for real-time, automated wildfire prevention. Silvanet and Silvaguard: An integrated solution for wildfire detection and suppression Silvanet is Dryad Networks' ultra-early wildfire detection system, designed to detect wildfires at the smoldering stage using solar-powered gas sensors connected via a wireless IoT mesh network. It provides real-time fire alerts, allowing firefighters to respond before flames spread. Silvanet is already fully operational and deployed in multiple regions, including Lebanon, where it detected an unauthorized fire within minutes, enabling rapid intervention. Other deployments are in Italy, Germany, Thailand, Canada and the United States, where public agencies, utilities and forestry companies use Silvanet to protect critical infrastructure and natural reserves. Last week, Dryad announced its expansion into Australia and New Zealand. Silvaguard is Dryad's next step in wildfire response an autonomous drone system that will actively suppress wildfires at their earliest stages using suppression technology such as acoustic waves. In the future, Silvanet and Silvaguard will work together. Once Silvanet detects a fire with its solar-powered gas sensors, it will trigger a nearby Silvaguard drone, which will fly to the location, confirm the fire and deploy suppression technology to stop it before it spreads. While Silvanet detects and alerts, Silvaguard responds and extinguishes, making them a seamless, end-to-end solution for wildfire detection and suppression. The destructive power of wildfires According to Global Forest Watch, which maintains a dashboard of interactive charts and maps summarizing statistics about global forests and searchable by country, from 2001 to 2023 there was a total of 138 million hectares (341,005,426 acres) of tree cover lost from fires globally, which is larger than Peru at 128 million hectares. From 2001 to 2023, Germany lost 7,080 hectares (17,495 acres) of tree cover from fires. In addition to the horrific video footage of the Los Angeles wildfires, a study published in Science, elucidates the destructive power of wildfires in the United States: "The most destructive and deadly wildfires in U.S. history were also fast. Using satellite data, we analyzed the daily growth rates of more than 60,000 fires from 2001 to 2020 across the contiguous US. Nearly half of the ecoregions experienced destructive fast fires that grew more than 1,620 hectares in one day. These fires accounted for 78% of structures destroyed and 61% of suppression costs ($18.9 billion). From 2001 to 2020, the average peak daily growth rate for these fires more than doubled (+249% relative to 2001) in the Western U.S. Nearly 3 million structures were within 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of a fast fire during this period across the US. Given recent devastating wildfires, understanding fast fires is crucial for improving firefighting strategies and community preparedness." The Silvaguard roadmap Today, Silvaguard has reached its first major milestone as a fully functional prototype, marking the successful completion of Phase 1. At this stage, the system autonomously responds to a fire detected by Silvanet sensors, triggering a drone to fly to the location for real-time observation and situational awareness. The next phase of Silvaguard will focus on fire suppression capabilities, exploring multiple suppression technologies, including acoustic wave fire suppression. In Phase 2, the drone will undergo rigorous testing and optimization to assess the effectiveness of different suppression methods, refine drone autonomy and optimize deployment logistics. After that, the system will be scaled for real-world deployments, integrating multi-drone coordination and AI-driven decision-making to optimize response times across large, fire-prone areas. Silvaguard is evolving toward a fully autonomous, scalable wildfire suppression network, with the long-term vision of deploying fleets of drones stationed in strategic locations to provide rapid, automated wildfire response using the most effective suppression technology available. Silvaguard funding and markets The European Union is co-funding the Silvaguard project with 3.8 million of European Region Development Fund (ERDF) grants and loans. As Dryad Networks continues to refine the technology, the company invites investors, policymakers and wildfire management professionals to collaborate in bringing Silvaguard to real-world deployments. Prospective Silvaguard customers include: Public sector agencies such as national and regional fire departments, forestry and environmental agencies and civil protection authorities in wildfire-prone regions like the United States, Canada, Australia, Southern Europe and South America. Utilities and infrastructure operators, including power grid companies, railway authorities and oil and gas firms, which could use Silvaguard to protect critical infrastructure from fire risk. Private forestry and landowners, including commercial forestry firms, pulp and paper producers and agricultural estates in fire-prone areas, which would benefit from early suppression capabilities. Insurance and reinsurance companies, which could use Silvaguard to reduce wildfire-related claims. Nonprofits and conservation organizations, which may support deployments for environmental protection and climate adaptation. About Dryad Networks https://www.dryad.net/ Dryad provides ultra-early detection of wildfires and health and growth-monitoring of forests through the Silvanet solution solar-powered gas sensors deployed in a large-scale IoT sensor network. Dryad aims to reduce unwanted wildfires, which cause up to 20% of global CO2 emissions and have a devastating impact on biodiversity. By 2030, Dryad aims to prevent 3.9 million hectares (9.6 million acres) of forest from burning, preventing 1.7 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326621070/en/ Contacts: Media contact Ryan Quintana PRforDryad@bospar.com EQS Newswire / 27/03/2025 / 22:30 UTC+8 Record-Breaking Revenue of HK$553.0M and Net Profit of HK$82.8M First-ever Dividend was HK$0.277 Cents Per Share Strengthening Presence in Osteoporosis, Ophthalmology, and Aesthetic Medical Markets (27 March 2024 - Hong Kong) A fully integrated biopharmaceutical company - Uni-Bio Science Group Limited ("Uni-Bio Science", together with its subsidiaries referred to as the "Group", stock code: 0690.HK), is pleased to announce its annual results for the year ended 31 December 2024 (the "Period"). Key Accomplishments in 2024 During the Year, the Group achieved a spectrum of accomplishments, for both of its marketed products and innovative biologics. The key highlights include: The Group recorded a 14.1% year-on-year ("YoY") increase in revenue, reaching approximately HK$553.0 million. With its approval in January 2024 and subsequent launch in March 2024, Bogutai achieved sales of HK$62.9 million, exceeding initial expectations. Profit for the Year soared by16.8% YoY to approximately HK$82.8 million, marking a historic high. These results reaffirm the Group's solid market position and its ability to deliver sustainable, high-quality growth as a leading biopharmaceutical company. The board of directors ("Board") has declared a dividend payment for 2024 of HK$0.277 cents per share, marking the historic first for the Company. This is particularly encouraging, as it represents an important milestone for a research-oriented biopharmaceutical company. The Board is also pleased to announce the approval and adoption of a dividend payout policy of no less than 20% of its net profit for the current year. In January 2024, the China National Medical Products Administration ("NMPA") officially approved the launch of Bogutai, marking a major breakthrough for the Group in osteoporosis and orthopedic disease management. Since its market debut in early 2024, Bogutai has gained remarkable traction, achieving a patient retention rate exceeding 70%. In December 2024, the Group successful launch its self-developed medical aesthetics product, ???. The recombinant collagen dressing, developed in collaboration with Chongqing Minji Medical Device Co., Ltd., received Class II medical device approval, reinforcing the Group's commitment to innovative skin repair solutions. In January 2024, the NMPA officially accepted the marketing application for Diquafosol Sodium eye drops, marking a key milestone in the Group's ophthalmology drug pipeline. During the Year, the Group has already submitted additional data to the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE). Diquafosol Sodium is expected to receive the marketing approval in the first half of 2025. During the Year, the Group completed the pharmaceutical research and pre-Bioequivalence studies of Esaconazole sulfoate capsules. The formal Bioequivalence trials has been initiated in 2025 to accelerate the launch process. In May 2024, the Group cooperated with Great Bay Bio (GBB) and Pebble Accelerator, a subsidiary of Tigermed to joint development of innovative weight reduction drugs, aiming to revolutionize the treatment of obesity. Through this collaboration, we seek to establish a comprehensive ecological industry chain, spanning from target discovery to antibody generation, druggability verification, process development, clinical pipeline, and ultimately, commercialization. Annual Results In 2024, the Group recorded a revenue of approximately HK$553.0 million, representing an increase of 14.1% YoY. The increase in revenue was mainly attributable to the favorable sales performance of the Group's newly launched product Bogutai. The Group's newly launched product Bogutai achieved sales of HK$62.9 million, exceeding initial expectations. Pinup recorded a decrease of 2.9% in revenue from approximately HK$247.4 million to approximately HK$240.3 million for the Year. During the Year, the Group was re-selected for the centralized procurement, with a validity period of two years. However, the Group adopted a more selective approach to supplying hospitals in response to certain local policy adjustments. During the Year, revenue generated from GeneTime was approximately HK$197.9 million, representing an increase of 6.7% YoY. The increase was attributed to the expansion of the Group's hospital network and additional sales channels beyond hospitals, such as pharmacies and e-commerce platforms. GeneSoft recorded an increase in revenue from approximately HK$41.3 million to approximately HK$42.5 million, representing an increase of 2.9% YoY. Revenue from Boshutai declined from approximately HK$10.4 million to approximately HK$9.4 million, representing a decrease of 10.2%. During the Year, Boshutai was successfully included in the centralized procurement by the Henan Seventeen Provinces Alliance and the procurement validity period is set for two years, which secured the Group with new in-hospital orders. Gross profit was approximately HK$461.1 million, representing an increase of 17.4% as compared with approximately HK$392.8 million in 2023, and gross profit margin increased by 2.4 percentage points YoY to 83.4%. The Group has optimized its supply chain to enhance raw material procurement competitiveness, improve scaling efficiency, and reduce procurement and production costs, achieving greater economies of scale. Thanks to the Group's diligent internal control, general and administrative expenses accounted for merely 9.2% of revenue in 2024 as compared with 9.8% in 2023. The selling and distribution expenses for the Year also decreased to 47.3% of revenue from 49.8% in 2023, mainly due to the marketing expenses decreased. The R&D expenses increased by47% YoY to approximately HK$52.3 million, aligning with the Group's multi-pipeline research progress. The Group achieved another year of record-breaking profit of approximately HK$82.8 million for the Year, marking an impressive increase of 16.8% YoY. This remarkable achievement was fueled by the successfully launch of the new product Bogutai, along with the consistent demand for other marketed drugs, stringent cost management, and ongoing supply chain enhancements. This sustained profitability strengthened the Group's foundation for long-term success in the years ahead. Prospects Recent advancements in biotechnology, coupled with strong government support, position China's pharmaceutical landscape for substantial growth, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2024 to 2032, according to the IMARC Group. This expansion is driven by technological innovations and a growing elderly population increasingly susceptible to chronic conditions such as diabetes, which boosts pharmaceutical demand. Concurrently, the aesthetic medical sector is emerging as a significant market force, with forecasts indicating a CAGR of 10% to 15% from 2024 to 2027, primarily fueled by rising beauty standards and increased spending among individuals with moderate to high incomes. With the two industries being the Group's core R&D focuses going forward, it showcases a great potential for the Group to rapidly grow and capture the market shares. Mr. Kingsley Leung, Chairman of Uni-Bio Science commented, "I am proud to announce that we have reached significant milestones this year, both financially and operationally. As our efforts begin to bear fruit, I am deeply grateful for the unwavering, long-term support of our shareholders. In recognition of this, I am delighted to share two landmark decisions: the declaration of our inaugural dividend and the establishment of a forward-looking dividend payout policy of no less than 20% of its net profit for the current year. These actions reaffirm our steadfast commitment to delivering on our objectives while creating and sustaining value for our shareholders. Looking forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to innovation and seizing opportunities within both the pharmaceutical and aesthetic medical sectors. Our vision has consistently focused on diversifying our product offerings while leveraging our strengths in endocrinology, ophthalmology, and dermatology. We are delighted to announce the successful launch of Bogutai Following this milestone, we will continue to develop best-in-class products, including a PTH microneedle formulation that is less invasive and offers higher bioavailability, as well as a novel antibody drug for weight loss. Significant advancements have also been made in our series of EGF products. Preparations for pilot plant testing of the EGF hydrogel are underway, and Diquafosol Sodium Eye Drop slated for launch in the second quarter of 2025. Additionally, The formal Bioequivalence trials for Esaconazole sulfoate capsules has been initiated in 2025 to accelerate the launch process. In the aesthetic medical segment, we are excited about the launch of??? in late December 2024. Building on this momentum, we will accelerate the introduction of other new product lines in 2025 based on Skbrella FN. Additionally, we plan to introduce collagen and beauty peptides as advanced skincare raw materials this year. By leveraging our expertise in GeneTime and ???, we aim to create a comprehensive skincare solution for emergency skin repair and stabilization. To foster our product innovation, we are utilizing two new key technology platforms: advanced synthetic biology platform and hydrogel technology. These platforms are expected to drive our product expansion. To enhance our reach and support product launches, we are expanding our sales channels beyond traditional public and private hospital networks to include pharmacies, online platforms, and aesthetic medical institutions. We are also exploring international markets to bolster our global presence. By adopting a diversified distribution strategy, the Group aims to secure future sales growth while reducing its dependence on regional markets and traditional channels. In support of our company's growth, the infrastructure for our new factory in Dongguan was fully completed in 2024, marking a significant milestone in our expansion plans. A state-of-the-art BFS packaging line has also been featured, which we believe will enable the Group to command a premium in the market. With these strategic focuses and our commitment to rapid advancement, the Group is well-positioned to solidify its leadership in these dynamic industries and achieve lasting success in the years ahead." About Uni-Bio Science Group Limited Uni-Bio Science Group Limited is principally engaged in the research and development, manufacture and sales of pharmaceutical products. The research and development center is fully equipped with a complete system for the development of genetically-engineered products with a pilot plant test base which is in line with NMPA requirements. The Group also has three GMP manufacturing bases in Beijing, Dongguan and Shenzhen. The Group also has a highly efficient commercialization platform and marketing network. The Group focuses on the development of novel treatments and innovative drugs addressing the therapeutic areas of endocrine such as diabetes and osteoporosis, ophthalmology and dermatology. Uni-Bio Science Group Limited was listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on November 12, 2001. Stock code: 0690. For further information, please contact: ir@uni-bioscience.com 27/03/2025 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 The energy transition has reached a crucial point. With increasing electricity generation from renewable sources, the need for effective grid stabilization solutions is growing. Large-scale battery storage systems play a key role. According to SolarPower Europe, the European market will grow by 30-40% annually, driven by the rise of large-scale storage. These systems will be central to discussions at ees Europe, the continent's largest trade fair for batteries and energy storage, from 7 to 9 May 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327880309/en/ Falling installation and operating costs as well as lower prices for batteries are boosting the large-scale storage boom. Eco Stor GmbH Germany is experiencing rapid growth in large-scale battery storage. In early 2023, 1.4 GWh were installed, with projections of 61 GWh by 2027 and 136 GWh by 2045. A Fraunhofer study predicts 104 GWh by 2030 and 178 GWh by 2040. By the end of 2024/25, 650 battery storage inquiries totaling 226 GW had been received. Price erosion and fast amortization Two key factors drive the large-scale storage boom: declining installation and operating costs, mainly due to falling battery prices, and attractive revenue opportunities in balancing energy and electricity trading. Leonhard Probst from Fraunhofer ISE estimates a three-year amortization period. Given a 15-year battery lifespan, this allows 12 years of profit generation. Industry association calls for regulatory reform SolarPower Europe expects longer-duration storage systems (4 to 8 hours) to become standard in Europe. However, hurdles such as technical standards and storage restrictions must be addressed, according to Dries Acke, Vice President of SolarPower Europe. Integration and flexibility Large-scale storage systems efficiently integrate increasing renewable electricity into the grid, ensuring power availability when needed. These systems support both grid stability and overall system efficiency. For Germany, Frontier Economics estimates that by 2050, day-ahead trading alone could yield at least 12 billion in economic benefits, mainly from fuel savings and CO2 reduction. Grid boosters ease the burden on the power grid Grid boosters-specialized battery storage systems-help alleviate grid bottlenecks. Tennet is operating two projects where one facility absorbs excess wind power in the north while the other feeds power into the grid in the south. This approach offers a cost-effective alternative to building new power lines. ees Forum and ees Europe Conference: Large-scale storage systems under the spotlight At ees Forum (Hall C2, Stand C2.230) on the first day of the trade fair, visitors can attend a session on business models and applications for large-scale storage. The ees Europe Conference, running on 6 and 7 May 2025 at the International Congress Center Messe Munchen, will focus on regulatory requirements, investor preferences, project development, market trends, and the business outlook for large-scale storage systems. Large-scale battery storage is becoming a key component of the energy transition, enabling renewable integration, grid stability, and economic benefits. With technological advancements, declining costs, and growing demand, energy storage is set to play an increasingly vital role in Europe's renewable energy landscape. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327880309/en/ Contacts: Press contact: ressourcenmangel an der Panke GmbH Schlesische Strae 26/c4 10997 Berlin Roberto Freiberger Tel.: +49 163 8430 943 roberto.freiberger@ressourcenmangel.de Solar Promotion GmbH P.O. Box 100 170 75101 Pforzheim Peggy Harter-Zilay Tel.: +49 7231 58598-240 haerter-zilay@solarpromotion.com Prime mixed-use property selected as the next asset in the monetization pipeline. Accelerated revenue generation strategy with planned cash-out of $1.7 million Multiple cash-outs expected; profit-share model for investors, stakeholders Expected: Approximately 23% rental and asset value increases Exxe Group, Inc. (OTC: AXXA), a next-generation business accelerator and digital transformation platform, is pleased to announce the onboarding of a high-value, income-generating property in Thun, Switzerland into Exxe's tech-based asset optimization platform. The real estate project, located near the heart of Switzerland's capital, Bern, aims to generate $1.7 million in initial cash-out proceeds. As a result of Exxe's platform-driven enhancements, the client is projected to realize approximately 23% growth in annualized rental income and asset value. The Thun project showcases the ability of Exxe's platform to execute rapid asset optimization, revenue growth through targeted improvements, and monetization via debt restructuring and rental optimization. Thun Property Overview: Location: Thun, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland Property Type: 3 residential apartments loft 1 commercial unit Total Current Rentable Area: 8,190 sq. ft. (761 sq.m.) Living Area: 5,381 sq.ft. (500 sq.m.) Commercial Area: 2,809 sq. ft. (261 sq.m.) Year Built: 1901 Fully Refurbished: 2010 Development Potential: Elevator installation commercial-to-residential conversion, with approvals granted Current Net Annual Income: Approx. $248,400 (CHF 219,600) Projected Net Annual Income: Approx. $305,350 (CHF 270,000) Projected Increased Income: $56,950 (50,400) +23% Current valuation: $6.9 million (CHF 6.1 million) Projected Post-Development Valuation: Approx. $8.5 million (CHF 7.47M) Expected Increase in valuation: Approx.+23% Revenue Strategy: Financial restructuring, rental optimization, and phased monetization through platform partners. CEO Commentary: "This project in Thun is the second real estate project onboarding for Exxe in 2025. Each onboarding further proves out our platform's ability to generate tangible value for our clients as well as Exxe stakeholders. The Thun property is a perfect case study of what happens when strong fundamentals meet digital transformation," said Dr. Eduard Nazmiev, CEO of Exxe Group. "As we scale our platform, each deal will highlight our commitment to execution, growth, and ultimately-delivering returns to our shareholders." About Exxe Group: Exxe Group (OTC: AXXA) is a tech-forward business accelerator and digital asset monetization platform focused on transforming traditional industries. With expertise in real estate, fintech, AI, and blockchain, Exxe partners with under-optimized assets to unlock liquidity and build long-term value. The company's platform generates revenue via performance sharing, SaaS-based solutions, strategic consulting, and digital finance tools. Exxe operates across fintech, real estate, agritech, software, AI, media, medical products, and automotive sectors. Revenue and profit are generated through platform-driven engagements and integrated service agreements. Website: http://www.exxegroup.com/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/exxegroup Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327711421/en/ Contacts: Exxe Group IR: info@exxegroup.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Falcon Gold Corp. (TSXV: FG) (OTC Pink: FGLDF) (FSE: 3FA) ("Falcon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of its third drill hole at the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project in Newfoundland. Drilling on the fourth hole is now being finalized, and preparations are underway to move the drill rig to Pad #5, marking a critical step forward in Falcon's aggressive and systematic exploration of this highly prospective copper-gold system. This progress follows Falcon's March 13, 2025, release of core images from its late 2024 exploration program. Despite facing unprecedented rains and early spring conditions, Falcon has taken proactive steps to mitigate logistical challenges by establishing an on-site base camp. With this infrastructure in place, the team is now well-positioned to accelerate drilling and unlock the full potential of Great Burnt's mineralized system. Drilling updates and Key observations: "We are highly encouraged by the latest results from Great Burnt," stated Karim Rayani, CEO of Falcon Gold. "The geological indicators we are seeing - particularly the significant increase in sulphide mineralization - strongly suggest we are closing in on a major mineralized system. This aligns with our technical team's expectation, reinforcing confidence in our exploration model." Hole #5 represents one of the most exciting drill targets in the program. It is designed to test a high-priority airborne electromagnetic (EM) anomaly coincident with a strong magnetic response - a textbook geophysical signature for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits, which are known for their high copper and gold content. If Hole #5 confirms a direct link between this anomaly and the expanding mineralized zones already identified, it could represent a significant discovery, further strengthening the project's potential as a major copper-gold asset. Increasing Sulphide Mineralization: A Strong Indicator of System Expansion Recent drilling has revealed a clear uptick in sulphide content, an encouraging development as Falcon moves towards the heart of the mineralized zone. Notable observations include: Blebby to stringer sulphides, transitioning to semi-massive and massive sulphide bands Pyritic, vuggy, smoky quartz veins, which were not present in earlier drill holes and are strong indicators of a gold-bearing hydrothermal system Pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite mineralization, confirming the presence of a robust copper-gold system These results strongly suggest that Falcon is vectoring towards a larger mineralized body, with the potential for both higher-grade copper and gold mineralization. Figure 1: Disseminated Pyrite in a Vuggy Quartz Vein. Grey Coloured (smokey) Quartz Veins, Vugs, and Pyrite are Typical Indicators of a Gold Mineralization System. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4151/246325_fgimage1.jpg Figure 2: Stringers and Blebs of Strong Sulphide (Pyrite & Pyrrhotite with minor Chalcopyrite) Mineralization. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4151/246325_fgimage2.jpg Figure 3: Narrow, Centimeter-scale Semi-massive Sulphide (pyrite and pyrrhotite) Band. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4151/246325_fgimage3.jpg Next Steps: Unlocking Great Burnt's Full Potential With drilling progressing on schedule, Falcon Gold is prioritizing: Hole #5's completion, targeting a strong EM anomaly with the potential to significantly expand the known mineralized system Rapid core analysis, with samples being shipped to IOS-accredited Eastern Analytical Laboratory in Springdale, Newfoundland for priority processing Strategic drill planning, incorporating these latest results to refine and optimize future drill targets Falcon Gold is committed to unlocking the full potential of the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project, and all signs point to continued success. With each hole, the team is gaining a deeper understanding of this mineralized system, and upcoming assay results will be pivotal in shaping the next phase of exploration. Qualified Person Victor French, P. Geo, an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company. About Falcon Gold Corp. Falcon is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on generating, acquiring, and exploring opportunities in the Americas. Falcon's flagship project, the Central Canada Gold Mine, is approximately 20 km southeast of Agnico Eagle's Hammond Reef Gold Deposit which currently has an estimated 3.32 million ounces of gold (123.5 million tonnes grading 0.84 g/t gold) mineral reserves and 2.3 million ounces of measured and indicated mineral resources (133.4 million tonnes grading 0.54 g/t gold). Ref: https://www.agnicoeagle.com/English/exploration/exploration-projects/Hammond-Reef/default.aspx. The Hammond Reef gold property lies on the Hammond shear zone, which is a northeast-trending splay off the Quetico Fault Zone ("QFZ") and may be the control for the gold deposit. The Central Gold property lies on a similar major northeast-trending splay of the QFZ. The neighboring properties results do not necessarily apply to the current project or property being disclosed The Company holds multiple additional projects: the Viernes Gold/Silver/Copper project in the world-class copper cluster located in Antofagasta, Chile; the Springpole West Property in the world-renowned Red Lake mining camp; a 49% interest in the Burton Gold property with Iamgold near Sudbury Ontario; the Spitfire-Sunny Boy, claims in B.C.; the Great Burnt Copper Project Central Newfoundland, and most recently battery metals projects, Timmins West Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Property Ontario, Outarde Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Property, HSP Nickel-Copper property in northern Quebec and the Havre St. Pierre Anorthosite Complex respectively. Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246325 SOURCE: Falcon Gold Corp. NOTICE TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF AB AKOLA GROUP Vilnius, 27 March 2025 Hereby we announce the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (hereinafter - the Meeting) of AB Akola Group, registered address Subaciaus St. 5, Vilnius, Lithuania, code 148030011, (hereinafter - the Company) is convened. The date, time, and venue of the Meeting - 29 April 2025 at 10.00 a.m., AB Akola Group office, Subaciaus St. 5, Vilnius, Lithuania. The accounting day of the Meeting is 22 April 2025. Only the persons who are the shareholders of the Company at the end of the Accounting day of the Meeting shall have the right to attend and vote at the Meeting. The Rights Accounting Day is 14 May 2025. Only the persons who are the shareholders of the Company at the end of the Rights Accounting day shall have proprietary rights. On the day the Meeting is convened the total number of the Company's shares is 167,170,481, and the number of shares granting voting rights is 166,566,819. One share carries one vote. The own shares in the amount of 603,662 acquired by the Company do not grant voting rights. The ISIN code of the Company's shares is LT0000128092. Agenda of the Meeting: Regarding election of the assurance service provider for consolidated sustainability report of AB Akola Group. Regarding approval of the new wording of the Regulations of the Audit Committee of AB Akola Group. Regarding determination of the remuneration of the members of the Company's Audit Committee. The initiator of the convening of the Meeting is the Board of the Company. The Meeting is convened by the decision of the Board of the Company, adopted on 27 March 2025. Registration of the Shareholders of the Company starts on 29 April 2025 at 9.30 a.m. Registration of the Shareholders of the Company ends 29 April 2025 at 9.55 a.m. The Company does not provide a possibility to attend and vote at the Meeting through electronic means of communication. Persons who at the end of the Accounting day of the Meeting will be shareholders of the Company, or their authorized persons, or persons with whom an agreement on the disposal of the voting right has been concluded, will have the right to personally participate and vote at the meeting. A person attending the Meeting must submit his/her identification document. A person not a shareholder must also produce a document confirming their right to vote at the Meeting. Each shareholder shall have a right in the manner established by the Laws to authorize a natural or legal person on his/her behalf to attend and vote at the Meeting. At the Meeting, an authorized person shall have the same rights as the shareholder represented by him/her unless otherwise specified in the issued power of attorney. A power of attorney issued abroad must be translated into Lithuanian and legalized as established by the Laws. The Company does not require a special form of power of attorney. The agenda of the Meeting may be supplemented by an initiative of the shareholders holding shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes. T Drafts of proposed decisions on proposed issues or, if the decision is not adopted, an explanation of each proposed issue on the agenda of the Meeting shall be presented alongside the proposal to supplement the agenda of the Meeting. The proposal to supplement the agenda shall be submitted in writing by sending it by registered mail to AB Akola Group at the address Subaciaus St. 5, Vilnius, Lithuania, or by e-mail info@akolagroup.lt. The agenda of the Meeting shall be supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 days before the Meeting. The shareholders who own shares carrying at least 1/20 of all the votes shall have the right at any time before the Meeting or during the Meeting to propose new draft decisions on the issue already included or to be included in the agenda of the Meeting. The proposed draft decisions must be presented in writing by sending them by registered mail to AB Akola Group at the address Subaciaus St. 5, Vilnius, Lithuania, or by e-mail at info@akolagroup.lt. The shareholders shall also be entitled to propose draft decisions on the agenda issues of the Meeting in writing during the Meeting. The shareholders shall have the right to present questions related to the agenda issues of the Meeting to the Company. The questions in writing can be presented not later than 3 working days before the Meeting, by providing the shareholder's personal identification number and consent to process personal data by registered mail to AB Akola Group at the address Subaciaus St. 5, Vilnius, Lithuania. Responses of a general character shall be posted on the Company's website www.akolagroup.lt. The Company will not respond to the shareholder personally if the respective information is posted on the Company's website. A shareholder or a person authorized by him/her shall have the right to vote in writing in advance by filling in the General Voting Ballot. Upon a written request of the shareholder holding the voting right, the Company shall send the General Voting Ballot by registered mail not later than 10 days before the Meeting. The General Voting Ballot also will be provided on the Company's website www.akolagroup.lt. The filled-in General Voting Ballot must be signed by the shareholder or by the person authorized by him/her. If the person who is authorized by the shareholder is voting, the document confirming the right to vote must be attached to the filled-in General Voting Ballot. The document confirming the voting right must be in Lithuanian or translated into Lithuanian by an authorized translator, and his/her signature must be confirmed by notaries. The filled-in General Voting Ballot and the document confirming the voting right must be submitted to the Company in written form not later than 28 April 2025 4 p.m., by sending it by registered mail to AB Akola Group at the address Subaciaus St. 5, Vilnius, Lithuania or personally, as well as the filled General Voting Ballot, signed with a qualified electronic signature, can also be sent by e-mail at info@akolagroup.lt. The shareholders can familiarize themselves with the documents, related to the agenda of the Meeting, draft decisions on each issue of the agenda, documents to be submitted to the Meeting, and other information regarding the execution of the shareholder's rights, on the website of the Company www.akolagroup.lt, also on arrival at Subaciaus St. 5, Vilnius, Lithuania during business days at the time agreed in advance by phone number +370 663 83888 only. Sincerely, CEO Darius Zubas Attached documents: Draft Resolutions of the Meeting General Voting Ballot Draft Regulations of the Audit Committee of AB Akola Group Please contact for further information: Mazvydas Sileika, CFO of AB Akola Group Mob. +370 619 19 403 E-mail m.sileika@akolagroup.lt Attachments This Women's Month, Bacardi shines a spotlight on Global VP Emma Fox, who, having helped bring a fresh take to the world of Spritz with the ST-GERMAIN Spritz, was recently appointed to also lead Global Marketing for MARTINI, one of the most iconic brands in the world of drinks. The growing trend for lighter tasting cocktails, that are lower in alcohol, has helped the rise of the Spritz. In the 2025 Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report, the Spritz was ranked as number three in the list of most popular cocktails with only the Mojito and Margarita more popular. Now, with her new responsibility for helping to drive the growth of MARTINI and the introduction this summer of the brand's new signature drink, the MARTINI Bianco Spritz, Emma Fox is truly championing the Spritz occasion. What's a typical day like for you? I love that no day is ever the same. In my new role as Global VP for MARTINI & ST-GERMAIN, one day I can be out talking to our commercial leaders about their plans for the coming year and the next I can be meeting the owners of beautiful bars in cities like Paris, Madrid or London, or speaking to our fabulous MARTINI team in Italy, about the harvesting of our botanical ingredients for our classic MARTINI vermouth. When you started in marketing, did you picture yourself here? I have enjoyed a varied career in the hospitality industry. It's always a place I've enjoyed, whether I've been working behind the bar or in front of it. Working for Bacardi, it's a real privilege to know our drinks are part of special moments in people's lives, both big and small, and I am in awe of the amazing talent working in bars who create these beautiful experiences for people to enjoy. It really is an art form and it's personal! What is your favorite thing about your job? What I love about Bacardi is that as a family-owned company it's deeply personal, from the relationships you build to the results you deliver. And I love that I get to work with so many different people in many different roles across the Bacardi business and across the world. We treat Bacardi like our own business and each of us can make a real difference. There is also nothing more exciting than seeing great work go out the door and make a difference to our business. When I'm sitting in a bar and I hear someone order a cocktail made with ST-GERMAIN or MARTINI or friends discover a great drink with MARTINI Non-Alcoholic Vibrante, it genuinely makes my day. What is the best advice you've ever received? I've had a lot of good and not so good advice, but these four stand out for me You don't need to dim other people's light to shine. We spend a lot of time working together so surround yourself with people you trust and value. The best teams are ones that have a mix of talents, experiences and background. We should not be carbon copies of each other, if we want to understand the world around us. Keep it simple. The best ideas in the world won't get off the page if no one understands them. If you could enjoy a spritz with any historical figure, who would it be and where? Since I'm new to the wonderful world of MARTINI I would love to travel back in time to the 1860s and enjoy a spritz or two with the brand's founders, entrepreneur Alessandro Martini and master herbalist Luigi Rossi, at the home of MARTINI in Pessione, Italy. Imagine the stories! What is your proudest career achievement? The journey on ST-GERMAIN is something I'm truly proud of. It's been a transformational time for the brand and for me personally - it's really helped me define the type of leader I want to be. Looking forwards, it's the honor of beginning a new era for MARTINI, a true drinks industry icon. Cheers! - ENDS - Please drink responsibly. Media contact Andrew Carney, Corporate Communications Director, Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean acarney@bacardi.com About Bacardi Limited Bacardi Limited, the world's largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, PATRON tequila, GREY GOOSE vodka, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, D'USSE Cognac, ANGEL'S ENVY American straight whiskey, and ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur. Founded more than 163 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 8,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram. About MARTINI One of the most iconic brands in the world, MARTINI is the leading name in Italian winemaking and a purveyor of the highest quality vermouths and sparkling wines. The award-winning, vibrant and bittersweet taste of the MARTINI range is the result of secret blends of more than 40 botanicals sourced from the finest locations across the globe. First created in 1863 in Turin, Italy, the MARTINI portfolio today includes: MARTINI Bianco, Rosso, Fiero, Rosato & Extra Dry, MARTINI Non-Alcoholic Vibrante & Floreale, MARTINI Asti, Prosecco & Rose Extra Dry. For more information, please visit www.martini.com. MARTINI AND THE BALL & BAR LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS. About ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur ST-GERMAIN is a French liqueur made using fresh, wild, handpicked elderflower blossoms. ST-GERMAIN brings a dash of inspiration and a touch of something playful and unexpected to your favorite cocktail, be that a Hugo Spritz, Margarita, Elderfashioned, Royale or a creation of your own design. The fresh, wild elderflowers help give ST-GERMAIN its distinctive sweet, bright and light taste that is unforgettable once tasted: indulgent, yet delicate with a sweetness, and hints of honeysuckle and pear. Gently blended in France using the Savoir-Faire of our Master Liqueurist and Master of Botanicals, ST-GERMAIN is acclaimed for its uncanny ability to add a universally delicious twist to any cocktail. ST-GERMAIN has received some of the highest accolades in the spirits industry and has been heralded as one of the most influential cocktail components of the last decade. Please visit: www.stgermainliqueur.com. ST-GERMAIN, ITS TRADE DRESS AND VIE PARISIENNE EN BOUTEILLE ARE TRADEMARKS. MARTINI and the ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur brands are part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bacardi-Martini, Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Bacardi-Martini, Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bacardi-limited Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Bacardi-Martini, Inc. Covina, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - One of the Best Marijuana seeds companies, Fly High Seeds is excited to announce its official launch, offering a premium selection of high-quality cannabis seeds for those looking to cultivate their own plants. Located in Covina, California, Fly High Seeds is dedicated to providing growers-both beginners and seasoned cultivators-with a diverse range of strains to suit their needs. Fly High Seeds proudly offers an extensive collection of sativa, indica, and hybrid strains, carefully selected for their unique characteristics, growth potential, and genetic stability. Whether growers are searching for vigorous sativas, resilient indicas, or balanced hybrids, Fly High Seeds ensure a reliable and diverse selection to support successful cultivation. "Our goal is to provide a trusted source for premium seeds while also equipping growers with the knowledge they need to succeed," said Joseph Farber, Founder of Fly High Seeds. "With our carefully curated seed selection and expert guides, we're here to support anyone looking to explore the world of cultivation." To help growers at every stage, Fly High Seeds offers a comprehensive range of resources, including detailed strain guides and expert grow guides. These resources cover essential topics such as germination techniques, plant care, and optimal growing conditions to ensure successful harvests. For more information, visit Fly High Seeds at 209 S Citrus Ave, Covina, CA 91723, call (310) 737-8251, or explore their website for in-depth strain and grow guides. About Fly High Seeds Fly High Seeds is a California-based provider of premium cannabis seeds, offering a carefully curated selection of high-quality sativa, indica, and hybrid strains. With a commitment to quality and education, Fly High Seeds aims to empower growers with the best genetics and expert guidance to ensure a successful cultivation experience. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/244642 SOURCE: lucorpmedia AWS, Birlasoft, Jems, and Customertimes Recognized for Their Excellence in Driving Customer Success and Business Growth SnapLogic, the leader in generative integration, today announced the winners of its 2025 Partner Awards. These awards recognize the invaluable contributions of partners who have excelled in driving innovation, enhancing customer experiences, and fostering business growth through their partnership with SnapLogic. "Our partners are integral to our mission of advancing generative integration across industries," said Danielle Carty, Global VP of Channels at SnapLogic. "We are honored to acknowledge this year's award recipients, each of whom has demonstrated exceptional commitment and expertise, significantly contributing to our collective success over the past year." Global Cloud Partner of the Year AWS Amazon Web Services (AWS), a global leader in cloud computing since 2006, is honored as SnapLogic's Global Cloud Partner of the Year for its unwavering commitment to collaboration and innovation. Through strong technical and commercial support, AWS has played a key role in aligning with SnapLogic's sales team, co-hosting events, and driving joint promotions to expand market reach, helping to unlock new opportunities and strengthen industry-leading integrations. America's Partner of the Year Birlasoft Birlasoft, a global IT services leader, is honored as America's Partner of the Year. This year, the Birlasoft team sourced and closed SnapLogic's largest deal within an impressive seven-month timeframe. This achievement highlights Birlasoft's dedication and efficiency in delivering exceptional value to clients. It underscores their commitment to delivering realistic, and sustainable outcomes using cutting edge technology. EMEA Partner of the Year Jems For the second consecutive year, Jems, an IT and digital services consultancy headquartered in France, is awarded EMEA Partner of the Year. Jems has consistently demonstrated exceptional expertise in lead generation and partner-sourced closed-won deals, significantly strengthening SnapLogic's market presence and accelerating growth across the EMEA region. Beyond their core proficiency in data integration, Jems has showcased an outstanding ability to expand their service portfolio, successfully incorporating additional SnapLogic platform components such as AgentCreator. This adaptability underscores their strategic vision and commitment to driving digital transformation at scale. Emerging Partner of the Year Customertimes Customertimes, a global technology consultancy, is recognized as the Emerging Partner of the Year. Despite being a recent partner, Customertimes has demonstrated immediate engagement and seamless collaboration with SnapLogic teams, uncovering multiple areas of new opportunity. Their development of unique, market-ready demos for customer marketing and initiatives in GenAI practices exemplify their commitment to innovation and partnership. For more information about SnapLogic's partner program, visit the SnapLogic partner page. About SnapLogic SnapLogic is the leader in Generative Integration. As a pioneer in AI-led integration, the SnapLogic Platform accelerates digital transformation across the enterprise and empowers everyone to integrate faster and easier. Whether you are automating business processes, democratizing data, or delivering digital products and services, SnapLogic enables you to simplify your technology stack and take your enterprise further. Thousands of enterprises around the globe rely on SnapLogic to integrate, automate and orchestrate the flow of data across their business. Join the Generative Integration movement at snaplogic.com. Connect with SnapLogic via our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327388779/en/ Contacts: Press Contacts: Gemma Smith SnapLogic comms gsmith@snaplogic.com Amy McDowell Offleash PR for SnapLogic snaplogic@offleashpr.com STOCKHOLM, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Stockholm Exergi announces its decision to build one of the world's largest facilities for capture and permanent storage of biogenic carbon dioxide. The investment decision marks a major milestone in enabling permanent removals and will help Sweden and the EU reach their long-term climate goals. The investment amounts to SEK 13 billion. Construction will begin immediately, with the goal of having the facility operational in 2028. This is a historic moment for Stockholm Exergi and for the green transition. We have worked purposefully for many years to make bio-CCS a reality, and today's decision means that we are moving from plans to action. With this, we assume global leadership in the industry for permanent removals, says Anders Egelrud, CEO of Stockholm Exergi. The investment decision is made possible through a combination of public support and private purchases of negative emission certificates from companies with ambitious climate targets. The facility will be built in the energy port nearby Vartaverket in Stockholm Once completed, it will capture and permanently store 800,000 tonnes of CO2 annually-more than the emissions from Stockholm's road traffic over the same period. The technology for capturing CO2 has been in use since the 1970s, and Stockholm Exergi has operated a test facility since 2019. The storage method is also well-proven and closely monitored to ensure the CO2 is permanently stored in bedrock beneath the seabed where it mineralises over time. This investment decision is a milestone that reflects years of dedication, perseverance, and collaboration. Congratulations to the team at Stockholm Exergi, whose commitment-together with our partners-has made this groundbreaking project a reality. Bio-CCS will play a crucial role on the path to net-zero, and we are proud to support an initiative of global importance, says Carlo Maddalena, Senior Director at APG and Chair of Ankhiale. Nearly 120 years after the inauguration of Vartaverket, Stockholm Exergi continues to deliver heat and electricity-and while now also reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Stockholm is leading the way in climate action, both nationally and internationally. Alongside emissions reductions, bio-CCS will be a critical part of reaching the goal to make Stockholm a climate-positive territory by 2030. We must accelerate the transition, and we are determined to do so, says Emilia Bjuggren, Chair of Stockholms Stadshus AB. Stockholm Exergi has selected Northern Lights as its partner for CO2 transport and storage. This investment decision now enables Northern Lights to expand its capacity-an important step for future negative emissions projects and the foundation for what could become a new industry, positioning the Nordics and Europe as global leaders in this field. About bio-CCS and Beccs Stockholm Bio-CCS is a technology that captures biogenic CO2 before it reaches the atmosphere and permanently stores it in bedrock, removing it from the natural carbon cycle and creating negative emissions. Permanent removals are a vital tool for counteracting emissions that are unavoidable or very difficult to eliminate. They are an essential part of achieving climate targets and net-zero emissions. Stockholm Exergi's facility, Beccs Stockholm, will be built in the energy port nearby Vartaverket in Stockholm. Vartaverket already produces sustainable heat and electricity from forestry and sawmill residues, such as wood chips, branches, and treetops. By adding the capture and storage of biogenic CO2, we create even greater climate benefits. Beccs Stockholm is made possible through a combination of funding from the EU Innovation Fund, Swedish government aid and revenue from the private market. About Stockholm Exergi Stockholm Exergi is the energy company for the people of Stockholm. Through resource-efficient solutions, we secure the growing region's access to heating, electricity, cooling, and waste services. We provide heat to over 800,000 Stockholm residents, and our 3,000 km district heating network is the backbone of the societal value we create in close cooperation with customers and partners. We are owned by the City of Stockholm and Ankhiale, a consortium of leading European pension funds (APG, PGGM, Alecta, Keva and AXA IM Alts), and have over 800 employees working every day to reduce Stockholm's climate impact. Through Beccs Stockholm, we are driving the realisation of permanent negative emissions. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650671/Stockholm_Exergi_BECCS_Facility.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2411112/5234397/Stockholm_Exergi_AB_Logo.jpg Media contact: Fredrik Persson fredrik.persson@stockholmexergi.se +46 (0)73-063 81 71 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/stockholm-exergi-to-build-one-of-the-worlds-largest-facilities-for-removing-carbon-dioxide-from-the-atmosphere-302413216.html KALMAR CORPORATION, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 27 MARCH 2025 AT 6:00 PM (EET) Decisions taken at Kalmar Corporation's Annual General Meeting 2025 Kalmar Corporation's ("Company") Annual General Meeting ("AGM") was held today on 27 March 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. The AGM approved all proposals made to the AGM by the Shareholders' Nomination Board and the Board of Directors. Financial statements, distribution of profits and discharge from liability The AGM adopted the financial statements for the financial period ended on 31 December 2024. The AGM approved a distribution of a dividend of EUR 0.99 per each class A share and a dividend of EUR 1.00 per each outstanding class B share. The date of record for dividend distribution is 31 March 2025, and the dividend is paid on 7 April 2025. The AGM considered the remuneration policy for governing bodies and the remuneration report for governing bodies. The AGM granted discharge from liability to the members of the Board of Directors and to the President and CEO for the financial period ended on 31 December 2024. The Board of Directors The number of the Board members was confirmed at eight (8). Jaakko Eskola, Lars Engstrom, Marcus Hedblom, Teresa Kemppi-Vasama, Vesa Laisi, Sari Pohjonen and Emilia Torttila-Miettinen were re-elected as Board members. Casimir Lindholm was elected as a new Board member. The term of office of the Board members commenced at the end of the AGM, with the exception of Casimir Lindholm, whose term of office will commence on 1 April 2025, according to his wish. The yearly remuneration of the Board of Directors was confirmed as follows: Chair of the Board: EUR 160,000 Vice Chair of the Board: EUR 95,000 Other members of the Board: EUR 80,000 An additional yearly remuneration was confirmed to be paid to the Board members elected as members of the committees as follows: Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Committee: EUR 20,000 Member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee: EUR 10,000 Chair of the Personnel and Remuneration Committee: EUR 15,000 Member of the Personnel and Remuneration Committee: EUR 10,000 Chair of any other committee possibly constituted by the Board: EUR 15,000 Member of any other committee possibly constituted by the Board: EUR 5,000 Approximately 40% of the fixed yearly remuneration will be paid in Kalmar's class B shares and the rest in cash. In addition to the fixed annual fee, a meeting fee of EUR 1,000 will be paid to the Board member participating in a Board or Committee meeting when the meeting takes place in the member's country of residence. For meetings held in a different country than where the Board member is domiciled, the meeting fee will be EUR 2,000, and for meetings held on a different continent than where the Board member is domiciled, the meeting fee will be EUR 3,000. For remote and telephone meetings or when attending a regular meeting remotely, the meeting fee will be EUR 1,000. Auditor and sustainability reporting assurance provider The AGM re-elected the accounting firm Ernst & Young Oy as the Company's auditor, and the authorised sustainability auditor Ernst & Young Oy as the sustainability reporting assurance provider for a term ending at the end of the Annual General Meeting 2026. AGM authorisations to the Board of Directors As per the Board of Directors' proposals, the AGM authorised the Board to decide on the repurchase and/or on the acceptance as pledge of Company's shares with unrestricted equity of the Company and, to decide on the issuance of shares as well as the issuance of option rights and other special rights entitling to shares, as referred to in Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act. Both authorisations will remain effective until the end of the next AGM, however no longer than 18 months. The AGM authorised the Board of Directors to decide on donations for university collaboration, charity or similar purposes in the maximum amount of EUR 200,000. The authorisation is effective until the end of the next AGM. For further information, please contact: Carina Geber-Teir, SVP, IR, Marketing & Communications, tel. +358 40 502 4697 Ulla Bono, General Counsel, tel. +358 50 539 0893 Kalmar EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Changes in Accounting Policies 27.03.2025 / 17:41 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Announcement on the Changes in Accounting Policies Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 27 March 2025 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Changes in Accounting Policies. The full announcement is available at: https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020250327831012644810.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Changes%20in%20Accounting%20Policies IR Contact: Haier Smart Home Hong Kong T: +852 2169 0000 Email: ir@haier.hk Press Contact: CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH Sara Pinto pi@crossalliance.de T: +49 89 1250903 35 About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud in the Chinese market, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. 27.03.2025 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Protium Clean Energy Corp. (CSE: GRUV) (FSE: G071) ("Protium or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it intends to conduct regional satellite gas surveys over approximately 11,000 sq. kilometres in British Columbia. These surveys will enable Protium to develop the most effective exploration strategy and gain a deeper understanding of the region's prospectivity for hydrogen and other gases, as well as identify prospective areas for staking. Protium is looking to mirror its strategy used in Ontario expand its landholdings in British Columbia. Central British Columbia exhibits strong geological potential for the discovery of natural hydrogen, also known as white hydrogen, supported by its unique geological history and recent hydrogen exploration activities, which are located some 300 and 550 kilometres southeast of the Cheslatta Claims. In the survey area, potential for white/natural hydrogen exists in: The Cheslatta Lake Complex rocks in the survey area exhibit strong geological potential for hydrogen generation due to their mafic-ultramafic rock composition and structural features. It includes olivine-phyric basalt, basanite, and diabase with ultramafic xenoliths. These rocks are rich in iron-magnesium silicates (olivine, pyroxene), which undergo serpentinization-a process where water reacts with minerals to produce hydrogen gas. The region is intersected by deep-seated faults, such as the Pinchi Fault system, which act as pathways for water infiltration and hydrogen migration. Similar fault systems in nearby projects (e.g., Coquihalla H2) are actively explored for natural hydrogen. The Buck Creek basin is a structural rift basin located on the Nechako Plateau north of Francois Lake. It is characterized by a faulted depression filled with volcanic, pyroclastic, and sedimentary rocks ranging from the Cretaceous to the Paleogene periods. The basin's structure is controlled by northwest-southeast trending strike-slip faults associated with rifting during the Late Cretaceous to Early Oligocene periods. The claims are spatially associated with a radial lineament of the Buck Creek Basin, and the geology aligns with global hydrogen generation models: Ultramafic/Mafic Rock Presence The basin hosts volcanic and intrusive rocks, including basalt and andesite, which are rich in iron and magnesium. These rocks are critical for serpentinization. Similar lithologies in the nearby Cache Creek Terrane (Cogburn Project) have already been identified as potential targets for hydrogen exploration. Fault Systems as Migration Pathways Northwest-southwest-trending faults in the basin create conduits for hydrogen migration from deep-crustal sources to potential traps. Such structures are emphasized in exploration models, including the Dove Creek Project, which shares analogous fault networks. Regional Analogues The midcontinent rift system (e.g., Kansas, Iowa) demonstrates how ultramafic rocks and fault intersections can yield hydrogen concentrations up to 96%. Buck Creek's tectonic setting mirrors these regions, with rift-related faulting enhancing fluid mobility. Mineralization and Overpressure Zones Mineralized zones (e.g., pyrrhotite-scheelite) in the basin suggest hydrothermal activity, which can mobilize hydrogen. Overpressured compartments in analogous basins (e.g., Hanna Basin, Wyoming) show how hydrogen might accumulate in structural traps. "This aligns with our strategy to use satellite surveys to identify prospective lands for staking. In addition, we will leverage this information to identify targets for a summer exploration program," said Marc Branson, Chief Executive Officer of Protium Clean Energy. These surveys will include the area comprising the Cheslatta Lake Claims. The Cheslatta Lake Claims comprise four mineral tenures, covering approximately 569.56 hectares in British Columbia. The Company has a right of refusal over these tenures (see press release dated November 26, 2024), expiring on May 13, 2025, which is extendable for an additional six months at the Company's option. The Cheslatta Lake Claims are as follows: Title Number Claim Name Owner Map Number Issue Date Good To Date Area (ha) 584461 B1 201988 (100%) 093L 2008/MAY/17 2030/SEP/15 151.8717 1091864 B221 201988 (100%) 093L 2022/JAN/27 2030/SEP/15 265.7923 1091886 B222 201988 (100%) 093L 2022/JAN/27 2030/SEP/15 132.8954 1091906 B224 201988 (100%) 093L 2022/JAN/27 2030/SEP/15 18.9866 About Protium Clean Energy Corp. Protium Clean Energy Corp.is a junior exploration and development company focused on identifying, acquiring, and exploring prospective minerals in Canada's extensive natural resources portfolio. We focus on exploring and developing our 100% owned Nakina Lithium and Firstbrook Hydrogen properties in Ontario, located in Northern Canada, and identifying and pursuing further opportunities by region using various satellite surveys. This allows Protium Clean Energy Corp. to evaluate large tracts of land quickly and cost-effectively to delineate targets for natural gasses and critical minerals required for the modern world. Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the potential for natural hydrogen accumulation within in British Columbia, the potential for staking and exploring properties in British Columbia and the significance of regional geological comparisons to known hydrogen-bearing systems in Ontario. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including the accuracy of satellite gas survey results, the validity of geological models supporting hydrogen generation and retention, and the Company's ability to conduct further exploration activities in a timely and effective manner. However, these statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the possibility that hydrogen may not be present in economically recoverable quantities, challenges associated with permitting and regulatory approvals, evolving geological interpretations that may alter exploration priorities, and broader market and economic conditions affecting the commercial viability of natural hydrogen as an energy source. There is no assurance that exploration activities will confirm the presence of economic hydrogen accumulations, and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Protium undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246353 SOURCE: Protium Clean Energy Corp. Rightmove Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, March 27 27 March 2025 Rightmove plc Share buy-back programme Rightmove plc - transactions in own shares Rightmove plc ('Rightmove'), announces that today it purchased 165,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 678.674p. The highest price paid per share was 685.200p and the lowest price paid per share was 670.800p. Rightmove purchased these shares through UBS AG London Branch. The number of shares purchased represented 0.0211% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled. Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 527,017,216 ordinary shares. The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 781,137,662. Rightmove holds 10,899,202 shares in treasury. In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the 'UK MAR'), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by UBS AG London Branch on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme. Contact: Michelle Palmer, Assistant Company Secretary CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions Debt-free and backed by a solid cash position, Xilam looks to the future Strong free cash flow generation of 7.9 million in 2024 Current operating income at break-even in the second half Full-year net income impacted by catalogue write-downs linked to market conditions Leveraging its strengths, Xilam is rebuilding its order book Regulatory News: Xilam Animation (Paris:XIL), Academy Award-nominated French animation studio, announces its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2024, reviewed by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 26 March 2024 chaired by Marc du Pontavice Consolidated income statement (in thousands of euros) 31.12.2024 (1) Before write-downs (2) 31.12.2024 (1) 31.12.2023 Sales of new productions and developments 15,293 15,293 30,561 Catalogue sales 8,195 8,195 9,165 Total sales 23,488 23,488 39,726 Grants (3) 3,113 3,113 6,006 Total sales and grants 26,601 26,601 45,732 Other current operating revenue (including ATC) 1,446 5,723 2,482 Total operating revenue 28,074 32,323 48,214 Operating expenses (29,436) (59,871) (43,109) Current operating income (1,390) (27,548) 5,105 % total sales and grants ns ns 11.2% Operating income (1,570) (27,728) 4,923 Financial income and expenses (135) (135) (476) Income tax 1 157 1 157 413 Group consolidated net income (548) (26,706) 4,860 % total sales and grants ns ns 10.6% Net income attributable to the group (217) (25,566) 5,203 (1) Unaudited data (2) Before write-downs of the catalogue and projects in development (3) Excluding the audiovisual tax credit (ATC) Marc du Pontavice, Chairman and CEO of Xilam, comments: The global animation industry is going through a sharp cyclical downturn, affecting all segments of the market, as major buyers are increasingly cautious about launching new projects. As a result, a conservative approach has been taken regarding the sales potential of the catalogue, leading the Group to make significant write-downs, particularly on some recent titles. This is despite solid commercial performances in 2024 and, above all, the strength of our three major global franchises. In recent years, Xilam has accumulated profits thanks to the strength of its catalogue, a well-balanced mix of proprietary productions and servicing, and strict cost control. The Group ends the 2024 financial year with a positive net cash position. Our entirely debt-free financial structure, combined with the recurring revenues from our deep catalogue, allows us to focus our efforts on rebuilding our order book. Now more than ever, our positioning as a key player at the heart of the animation industry is recognized worldwide. We have maintained the strength of our brand and the leading creativity of our talents over the two decades, which gives us resilience and the capacity to bounce back as the market recovers. Revenue down in 2024 Total sales, excluding grants, came in at 23.5 million (-41%), reflecting, as previously announced, a sharp contraction in orders from US streaming platforms in the kids' segment. Revenue from new productions and developments amounted to 15.3 million (-50%). Servicing (non-proprietary productions) accounted for 70% of this figure, illustrating the success of the Group's diversification strategy into the young-adult segment for streaming platforms. Catalogue revenue totalled 8.2 million (-11%), reflecting a strong rebound in the second half of the year, notably due to the renewal of the partnership with Sony Pictures Networks India for the Oggy and the Cockroaches franchise. Catalogue sales were driven by Xilam's flagship franchises: Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig Sharko, and Chicky After including grants, total revenue and grants came to 26.6 million. Total operating revenue stood at 28.1 million before the impact of write-downs (see below), and at 32.3 million after, including the related tax credits. Current operating income at breakeven in the second half Current operating income came to -1.4 million, before the impact of write-downs, reflecting a break-even performance in the second half of the year. The Group indeed benefited from strong catalogue sales in the second half and responded swiftly by implementing a cost-saving plan (including site consolidation and resource pooling) and by controlling fixed costs. Net write-downs for an exceptional amount of 26 million In a global animation market at a low point in the cycle, Xilam has managed to maintain a very satisfactory level of catalogue sales. However, given short-term market uncertainties and the concentration of performance around its key franchises, Xilam has decided to review the value of all its assets to ensure its balance sheet accurately reflects current market conditions. Net write-down of 25 million on the catalogue and new series. Xilam's catalogue strength today relies primarily on three flagship franchises: Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig Sharko, and Chicky. Conversely, some other recent titles have underperformed, particularly those series that were not renewed for a second season. In addition, the sales outlook for these titles now appears less promising, given the reduction in investment by the major clients. In accordance with accounting standards, titles that are gaining in strength cannot be revalued, while those with less visibility must be written down. As mentioned during the publication of the 2024 full-year revenue on 12 February, Xilam recorded a gross write-down for an exceptional amount of 29 million in the value of its catalogue and new series. This amount is partially offset by the recognition of around 4 million in related audiovisual tax credits, resulting in a net impact of 25 million. Write-down of 1 million on projects in development. In view of the contraction in orders from streaming platforms, some projects under development had to be halted or significantly reworked, leading the Group to provision their development costs. All these write-downs, representing a total net amount of 28 million, are purely accounting in nature and have no impact on the Group's cash flow. In particular, the economic value of the catalogue has not declined proportionally, as demonstrated by the solid level of sales recorded in 2024, especially in the second half of the year, and the long-term strength of the Group's flagship franchises. The Group therefore considers that the future revenue potential of its catalogue titles remains well above their net book value, which stood at 33 million at the end of 2024. This value represents in fact just over 4 times the catalog's sales for 2024. The catalogue will thus continue to make a significant contribution to the Group's results for the years to come. Net income attributable to the Group Net financial results came in at -0.1 million, reflecting a threefold reduction in gross financial debt costs, mainly due to the Group's complete deleveraging in 2024. Income tax resulted in a gain of 1.2 million. After accounting for minority interests, net income attributable to the Group amounts to -25.6 million. Excluding the impact of write-downs, it is close to breakeven, at -0.2 million. Strong free cash flow generation of 7.9 million The Group generated free cash flow of 7.9 million over the year, resulting in a fully debt-free financial structure by the end of 2024. This free cash flow generation results from: Net cash flow from operating activities of 17.2m, including 14.9m in cash flow from operating activities and 2.3m in cash generated by the reduction in working capital requirements. Investments totalled 9.3 million, a significant decrease compared to 2023, due to the lower share of proprietary productions. A fully debt-free balance sheet After taking into account repayments of lease debt and interest payments, net cash generated from operating activities amounted to 5.2 million. In addition, 3.6 million in net cash was raised through the capital increase carried out in early 2024. Over the course of the year, the Group repaid 9.7 million in financial debt, and as of 31 December 2024, is in a fully debt-free position, with a cash and cash equivalents position of 7,3 M and a net financial cash position of 1.6 million. (In thousands of euros) 31.12.2024 (1) 31.12.2023 Cash and cash equivalents 7,349 8,139 Corporate financial liabilities (2) (3,782) (4,377) Net cash 3,567 3,761 Self-liquidating financial liabilities (1,920) (11,053) Net financial cash (net financial debt) 1,647 (7,292) (1) Unaudited data (2) Non-self-liquidating financial liabilities This net financial cash position breaks down as follows: Net cash, excluding self-liquidating financing, of 3.6 million Self-liquidating financial liabilities significantly reduced to 1,9 million (compared with 11 million at end-2023), reflecting the collection of receivables from major international platforms. This sharp reduction in self-liquidating debt demonstrates the Group's ability to use its own cash to finance production flows, thereby lowering its working capital requirements and significantly reducing interest expenses. As of 31 December 2024, total equity stands at 51 million (compared with 74 million at year-end 2023), reflecting the impact of net income. Together with the positive net cash position, this confirms the Group's strong financial foundation to support the ongoing execution of its operational strategy. An ambitious CSR strategy Xilam is firmly committed to an ambitious corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach. To structure a robust low-carbon trajectory, the Group relies on recognized frameworks and an in-depth analysis of its greenhouse gas emissions. This methodology enables Xilam to identify the main emission sources and implement targeted actions: optimizing energy consumption, reducing the environmental impact of digital activities, and improving procurement and production practices. Through these levers, Xilam is aiming for an annual -6% reduction in its emissions. This approach was recognized with the award of the Ethifinance Platinum certificate, highlighting the company's ESG performance and sustainability achievements in 2024. Xilam also places people at the heart of its priorities, promoting inclusion, equal opportunities, and employee well-being. The Group's workforce is 55% female, including 60% of its top management. By fostering an ethical and caring work environment, Xilam reaffirms its full commitment to social and environmental responsibility within the animation industry. In 2025, the Group is focused on rebuilding its order book In a global animation market affected by audience fragmentation, major content buyers, including traditional broadcasters and international streaming platforms, have adopted a wait-and-see attitude. This fragmentation can also be observed on AVOD platforms, leading to a significant de-monetization of audiences. This is the third industry crisis Xilam has experienced since its creation, and, as it has done before, the Group is drawing on its strong fundamentals to navigate through it and prepare for a rebound: The strength of its brand, the creativity of its talent, and operational excellence that position Xilam as a key player at the heart of the global animation industry. The power and breadth of its catalogue, led by three global flagship brands that generated over 8 billion views in 2024 on YouTube alone. An extremely solid balance sheet, totally debt-free. Xilam enters 2025 with the production of three major new projects, all very promising and very well received by the market. Piggy Builders , a pre-school series in 3D, financed on a proprietary model, boarding France Televisions, ZDF and the BBC. , a pre-school series in 3D, financed on a proprietary model, boarding France Televisions, ZDF and the BBC. Submarine Jim , a comedy aimed at kids, also under a proprietary model, boarding France Televisions and Super RTL. , a comedy aimed at kids, also under a proprietary model, boarding France Televisions and Super RTL. Lucy Lost, a new epic family feature, co-written and directed by Olivier Clert, and adapted from the novel Listen to the Moon by multi-award-winning British author Michael Morpurgo. Additional new projects are currently under discussion, notably with leading European broadcasters, and announcements are expected in the coming weeks. Overall, given the sharp decline in the order book at the end of 2023, the Group's level of activity will not be sufficient to stabilize revenue, which is expected to decline in 2025, before returning to growth in the course of 2026. Given the Group's strong cash position and promising outlook for 2026, Xilam intends to preserve its talent and maintain its operational capacity. Therefore, the Group does not plan to implement any significant additional reductions to its fixed costs in 2025. Across all audience insights, animation remains at the heart of children's attention and continues to be a major asset for attracting and retaining viewers. In a rapidly evolving market, experiencing a swift reduction in production overcapacity, Xilam, backed by its strong cash position and talented teams, maintains its full ability to bounce back and seize every market opportunity. Agenda Availability of the 2024 Financial Report: 30 April 2025 (after market closing) Combined Annual General Meeting: 5 June 2025 About Xilam A major player in animation, Xilam is an integrated studio founded in 1999 that creates, produces and distributes original programmes in more than 190 countries for both children and adult audiences. Xilam content is broadcast on television, and is also available on SVoD platforms including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon and AVoD streaming platforms including YouTube and Facebook. With its creativity and capacity for innovation recognised worldwide, its unique expertise in CGI, as well as editorial and commercial expertise at the cutting edge of its industry, Xilam is positioned as a key player of the market. Each year, Xilam builds real successes and capitalises on its powerful historical brands including Oggy and the Cockroaches, Zig Sharko and Chicky, as well as new properties such as Oggy Oggy for a preschool audience, Mr Magoo and Karate Sheep, and Academy Award nominated adult feature film I Lost My Body. Additionally, Xilam is serving as the animation studio for Zack Snyder's animated series Twilight of the Gods, launched worldwide on 19 September 2024 by Netflix, and also produces Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life, alongside the forthcoming horror comedy The Doomies, for Disney+. Xilam's expanding and strong catalogue now consists of over 2,800 episodes and three feature films. Xilam employs more than 400 individuals, across its studios in Paris, Angouleme in France and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. Xilam was ranked France's leading animation studio for the 2018-2023 period in a report by the French National Centre for Cinema and Animation (CNC). Xilam is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment C PEA SRD long Eligibility. ISIN: FR0004034072, Symbol: XIL For more information, visit: www.xilam.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327869642/en/ Contacts: Marc du Pontavice Chairman and CEO Cecile Haimet CFO Phone +33 1 40 18 72 00 The DDA Group xilam@ddaglobal.com Charlotte Newcombe Phone +44 7726 901 129 Image Sept xilam@image7.fr Karine Allouis (Media Relations) Phone +33 1 53 70 74 81 Laurent Poinsot (Investor Relations) Phone +33 1 53 70 74 77 REDDING, Calif., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled "Biological Wastewater Treatment Market by Process (Aerobic Wastewater Treatment, Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment, and Anoxic Treatment), End User (Municipal, Industrial [Food & Beverage, Pulp & Paper]), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2032", published by Meticulous Research, the biological wastewater treatment market is expected to reach $16.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2025 to 2032. Biological wastewater treatment is an essential component of sustainable water management, utilizing microorganisms to degrade organic contaminants in wastewater for safe disposal or reuse. With stringent environmental regulations globally, industries and municipalities are increasingly adopting biological treatment technologies to achieve compliance requirements, minimize ecological footprint, and maximize water efficiency. The industry is experiencing considerable growth with increasing demand for clean water, depleting freshwater resources, and the increased focus on sustainable wastewater management practices by different industries. Key Growth Drivers and Emerging Trends Growing global population, high urbanization rates, and intensifying industrial operations have contributed to a sharp rise in wastewater generation, prompting the need for improved treatment solutions. Governments across the globe are implementing stringent wastewater discharge standards, pushing industries and municipalities to adopt efficient biological treatment technologies. Additionally, technological innovation in wastewater treatment, including membrane bioreactors (MBRs), sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), and moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs), is increasing treatment efficiency and fueling adoption levels. Download FREE PDF Sample of Biological Wastewater Treatment Market Report - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5426 The adoption of anaerobic digestion technologies for biogas recovery and power generation is a key trend that is dominating the overall biological wastewater treatment market. Industries, especially the food & beverage and pharmaceutical industries, are making heavy investments in anaerobic wastewater treatment plants to produce renewable energy while reducing waste. In addition, the transition to decentralized wastewater treatment technologies in urban and rural settings, spurred by the demand for localized water reuse and lower infrastructure expenses, is opening up new opportunities for market participants. The use of smart water management technologies, such as IoT-based sensors and AI-based analytics, is transforming wastewater treatment operations. These technologies enable real-time monitoring of treatment processes, improving efficiency, lowering operational costs, and maintaining regulatory compliance. Consequently, businesses are actively seeking digital solutions to enhance biological treatment processes and water quality outcomes. Competitive Landscape and Market Dynamics The biological wastewater treatment market is competitive in nature, and major players are constantly emphasizing technological advancements, capacity increases, and strategic partnerships to enhance their market position. Top players like Veolia Environnement S.A., Suez S.A., Xylem Inc., Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, and Ecolab Inc. are spending significantly on research and development to launch cutting-edge biological treatment technologies that promote efficiency and lower environmental impacts. Furthermore, collaborations between technology companies and municipal wastewater treatment plants are becoming more prevalent as governments across the globe aim to replace aging wastewater treatment plants. Most companies are also increasing their global presence, especially in developing economies, where accelerated industrialization and urbanization are fueling demand for sophisticated water treatment technologies. Get Insightful Data on Regions, Market Segments, Customer Landscape, and Top Companies (Charts, Tables, Figures And More) - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/biological-wastewater-treatment-market-5426 Market Segmentation and Regional Insights The market for biological wastewater treatment is segmented by treatment process, end user, and geography. Based on process, the market is currently led by aerobic treatment processes, such as activated sludge systems and biofilms, because they are effective at removing organic content and are very prevalent in municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Anaerobic treatment technologies, however, are growing quickly with the advantages of biogas production and the recovery of valuable resources from wastewater. Based on end-user, municipal wastewater treatment continues to be the dominant end-user, driven by rising urban populations and stringent government regulations for wastewater discharge. Nevertheless, industrial wastewater treatment is witnessing high-growth momentum in the food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical sectors, where sustainable water management is gaining precedence. Geographically, North America and Europe dominate the global biological wastewater treatment market because of established wastewater treatment infrastructure and stringent environmental regulations. Yet, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth, spurred by fast-paced industrialization, urbanization, and growing government investment in wastewater treatment initiatives. China, India, and Japan are heavily investing in cutting-edge biological treatment technologies to address mounting pollution levels and water shortages. Have Specific Research Needs? Request a Customized Research Report - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-customization/cp_id=5426 A Market Poised for Sustained Growth As concerns regarding water pollution, resource preservation, and environmental sustainability grow by the day, the biological wastewater treatment market can be anticipated to experience robust growth and innovation. Technologies that prioritize technological advancements, regulatory compliance, and intelligent water management solutions will be perfectly placed to seize upcoming opportunities in the changing landscape. Immediate Delivery Available | Buy this Research Report (Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures and More)- https://www.meticulousresearch.com/view-pricing/742 Biological Wastewater Treatment Market, by Process Aerobic Wastewater Treatment o Activated Sludge o Fixed-Bed Bioreactor (FBBR) o Moving Bed Bioreactor (MBBR) o Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) o Biological Trickling Filters Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment o Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blankets (UASBs) o Anaerobic Digesters Anoxic Wastewater Treatment Biological Wastewater Treatment Market, by End User Municipal End Users o Residential o Public Utilities Industrial End Users o Food & Beverage o Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals o Pulp & Paper o Oil & Gas o Mining o Power Generation o Semiconductor o Other End Users (Agriculture, Transportation) Related Reports Water and Wastewater Treatment Market by Type (Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment), Offering, Application (Municipal, Industrial), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2032 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/water-and-wastewater-treatment-market-5026 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Market by Offering (Treatment Technologies, Treatment Chemicals, Process Control & Automation, Design, Engineering, and Construction Services, Operation & Maintenance services), End User, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2031 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/industrial-wastewater-treatment-market-5170 Anaerobic Digestion Systems Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Feedstock Type (Agriculture Waste, Municipal Waste), Capacity, Application, and Sector (Energy & Utilities, Commercial & Residential, Industrial) Global - Forecast to 2031 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/anaerobic-digestion-systems-market-5522 About Meticulous Research We are a trusted research partner for leading businesses worldwide, empowering Fortune 500 organizations and emerging enterprises with market intelligence designed to drive revenue transformation and strategic growth. Our insights reveal future growth opportunities, equipping clients with a competitive edge through a versatile suite of research solutions-including syndicated reports, custom research, and direct analyst engagement. Each year, we conduct over 300 syndicated studies and manage 60+ consulting engagements across eight major sectors and 20+ geographic markets, all to deliver targeted business insights that help our clients lead in a rapidly evolving global market. With a strong focus on problem-solving complex business challenges, our research enables organizations to navigate change with assertion, aligning it with strategic pathways for sustainable growth. By identifying innovative and effective solutions, we empower leaders to make impactful decisions that drive operational excellence and fuel innovation. We are committed to crafting insights that enhance business performance and help our clients unlock new revenue opportunities, positioning them for long-term success in the competitive global marketplace. Contact: Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. 1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding, California, 96001, U.S. USA: +1-646-781-8004 Europe: +44-203-868-8738 APAC: +91 744-7780008 Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research Top Market Research Reports Blog - https://meticulousblog.org/ Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/biological-wastewater-treatment-market-5426 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/biological-wastewater-treatment-market-to-reach-16-1-billion-by-2032exclusive-report-by-meticulous-research-302413487.html Melbourne, Victoria, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Besra Gold Inc. (ASX: BEZ) (Besra or the Company) is pleased to announce that its board of directors (the Board) has approved the adoption of an advance notice by-law (the By-Law) establishing a process for advance nominations of directors by shareholders of Besra (Shareholders). The purpose of the By-Law is to provide Shareholders, directors and management of the Company with a clear framework for nominating directors, and to help ensure that all Shareholders receive adequate notice and information about director nominees in order to exercise their voting rights in an informed manner. The By-Law is similar to the advance notice by-laws adopted by many other Canadian public companies. Among other things, the By-Law fixes a deadline by which Shareholders must submit nominations to the Company before any annual or special meeting of Shareholders and sets forth the minimum information that a Shareholder must include in the notice to the Company for the notice to be valid. In the case of an annual meeting of Shareholders (including an annual and special meeting), notice of director nominations must be given not less than 30 days (or 40 days where notice and access is to be used) prior to the date of the meeting. In the event that the annual meeting is to be held on a date that is less than 50 days after the date on which the first public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, notice must be given not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the date of such public announcement. In the case of a special meeting of Shareholders that is not also an annual meeting of Shareholders, notice of director nominations must be given not later than the close of business on the 15th day following the day on which the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting was made. In accordance with the Canada Business Corporations Act (the Act), the By-Law is effective until it is confirmed, confirmed as amended, or rejected by Shareholders and will be placed before Shareholders for approval, confirmation and ratification at the upcoming special meeting of the Company (the Special Meeting). The Board has resolved to postpone the Special Meeting that was originally scheduled to be held on May 8, 2025 (May 9, 2025 in Australia) until May 26, 2025 (May 27, 2025 in Australia). The record date for determining Shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting will be 5:00 p.m. (Melbourne time) on April 1, 2025. Pursuant to the provisions of the Act, the By-Law will cease to be effective unless it is approved, ratified and confirmed by a resolution adopted by a majority of the votes cast by the Shareholders at the Special Meeting. In order to ensure that any Shareholders wishing to make director nominations at the Special Meeting are not prejudiced by the adoption of the By-Law, the Board will waive the deadline for nominations under the By-Law to permit director nominations to be made otherwise in accordance with the By-Law until 5:00 p.m. (Melbourne time) on April 11, 2025. A copy of the By-Law has been filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and is also available for review on Besra's website at www.besra.com. Advisors Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP is acting as legal counsel to Besra in connection with the Special Meeting. This announcement was authorised for release by the Board of Besra Gold Inc. For further information, please contact: Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). In some cases, forward-looking statements are identifiable by the terminology used, such as "may," "expect," "believe," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate," "continue," or similar expressions or the negative of such expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are considered forward- looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among other things, references, expressed or implied, to the date of the Special Meeting, the approval by Shareholders of the By-Law, and the waiver of the deadline for nominations under the By-Law with respect to director nominations received for consideration at the Special Meeting. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the control of Besra, which could cause actual events, results, expectations, achievements or performance to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the possibility that the Special Meeting will be further postponed or adjourned, the possibility that one or more Shareholders may attempt to nominate directors without complying with the By-Law, the risk that Shareholders will not approve the By-Law at the Special Meeting or that the By-Law will not be accepted by applicable regulatory authorities, and other risks and uncertainties. The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties is not exhaustive. Although we have attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors not presently known to us or that we presently believe are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the Company's expectations as of the date of this news release (or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made) and are subject to change after such date. However, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable laws. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246361 SOURCE: Besra Gold Inc. Gaza is burning. It has been for decades, yet it is treated as though it erupted from nowhere. Every escalation is framed as a sudden explosion of violence rather than the result of long-standing political failures. The international community reacts with shock-calling for restraint, condemning attacks, and expressing concern over civilian casualties. Then the moment passes. The cycle resets. Nothing changes. For Palestinians, this is not a conflict of sudden eruptions-it is a condition of existence. A war that never truly stops, only intensifies at intervals. Every ceasefire leaves the underlying injustice intact. Every diplomatic initiative prioritizes stability over resolution. And at every turn, those with the power to mediate a lasting peace choose to preserve the status quo rather than confront its fundamental flaws. That status quo was cemented long before today's war. In many ways, it was set in 1972. The West's Refusal to See Palestinian Politics When Palestinian militants took Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Olympics, the world saw a horrifying act of terror. What it refused to see was the political reality that made such an act possible. By 1972, Palestinians had spent decades trying to force their cause onto the global agenda. Israel had been established as a state, but Palestinians were denied the same right. Their displacement in 1948 was never recognized as a humanitarian catastrophe. Their demands for self-determination were dismissed as illegitimate. They were a people without a nation, a movement without representation, a crisis without urgency. With diplomatic avenues shut down, some Palestinian groups turned to armed struggle-not as a first option, but as a response to decades of rejection. The militants behind the Munich attack did not act out of blind extremism; they saw themselves as fighters in a war that had been ignored. Their goal was not simply to kill, but to be heard. The North American public remained largely uninformed, shielded by unwavering government support for Israel. This support was driven by geopolitical interests-most notably, securing a strategic foothold in the Middle East and, before the satellite era, maintaining intelligence access to Russia. Instead of examining the political desperation that led to Munich, the attack was framed as an assault on civilization itself. The response was swift, militarized, and absolute. Governments cracked down on Palestinian movements, severed diplomatic engagement, and strengthened alliances with Israel. The conversation that the militants sought to force onto the world stage never happened. History shows that when states react to political violence, suppression is nearly always favored over understanding. The Aftermath: Security Over Resolution The defining failure of Munich was that it was treated solely as a security crisis rather than as a political event. Instead of asking why Palestinian groups had resorted to such extreme measures, the world responded with counterterrorism initiatives that ignored the root cause. This failure became a blueprint for how Western governments would engage with the Palestinian struggle in the decades that followed. The focus remained on suppressing the symptoms of conflict rather than addressing its source. The goal was never to resolve Palestinian statehood-it was to contain the consequences of its denial. From the failed peace initiatives of the 1990s to the routine bombardments of Gaza, the response has remained the same: when Palestinians resist, their actions are criminalized, their demands ignored, and their suffering dismissed as collateral damage. And so, the war never truly ended-because it was never meant to. Munich's True Legacy: A Playbook for Perpetual Conflict The long-term consequence of Munich was not just an escalation of violence-it was the entrenchment of a system that made peace impossible. The attack was not treated as a political flashpoint demanding diplomatic intervention but as proof that the Palestinian cause itself was illegitimate. Western nations doubled down on the idea that Palestinian political movements could not be engaged with. Any attempt at recognition or negotiation was dismissed, ensuring that Palestinian groups had no political avenue forward. This refusal to engage did not erase the Palestinian struggle-it redefined it on Western terms. From that moment forward, Palestinian resistance was no longer viewed as a fight for self-determination, but as terrorism. Whether through armed struggle, protests, or diplomatic efforts, Palestinian actions were framed as threats, while Israeli responses-no matter how extreme-were justified as necessary defense. Security became a substitute for justice. The logic that emerged from Munich-that Israel's security concerns superseded Palestinian political claims-became the dominant framework for engagement with the conflict. Every act of Israeli militarization, from targeted assassinations to full-scale invasions, was framed as a response rather than an escalation. Security was weaponized-not to protect civilians, but to justify policies that deepened the occupation. And so, the Palestinian question-the issue that Munich should have forced the world to confront-was buried even deeper. Not resolved. Not negotiated. Not even meaningfully acknowledged. Simply managed, treated as an issue to contain rather than a crisis to solve. The world was never interested in ending the conflict. Munich simply provided the excuse to ensure it remained a permanent, unsolvable problem. The West's Ceasefire Hypocrisy: Peace as Political Theater For decades, Western nations have positioned themselves as defenders of democracy and international law. They justify wars as necessary interventions-fighting extremism, stopping genocide, liberating the oppressed. Their participation in World War II is framed as a moral crusade. Their military interventions in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia are packaged as wars against terror rather than battles for geopolitical dominance. Yet when war breaks out in Palestine, when the devastation reaches genocidal proportions, when a ceasefire is proposed to prevent further bloodshed, these same governments refuse to act. This is not just silence. It is an active choice to side against peace. The same countries that enshrine free speech are now cracking down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Universities are suspending students for expressing solidarity. Employees are being fired for speaking out. Entire protests are being banned-not because they incite violence, but because they challenge the political order. This contradiction is not just a moral failure-it is a strategic one. By opposing ceasefires while claiming to seek peace, Western nations reveal that they are not neutral actors but active participants in war. They are not working to stop the violence; they are ensuring that it continues on Israel's terms. This is not diplomacy. It is complicity. The War Today: A Direct Consequence of Political Failure The violence unfolding now is not the product of ancient rivalries or religious conflict-it is the result of deliberate political choices. It is the outcome of a world that has refused, again and again, to acknowledge that no people will accept permanent statelessness. The West continues to frame this conflict in terms of security-as though the problem is how Palestinians resist rather than why they resist. But how long can a people live without rights, without a nation, without recognition before resistance becomes inevitable? The war we are witnessing today is not new. It is the war that Munich could have warned the world about-had the truth been told. Through BLOOD and GOLD, Christie Sikora offers a voice long silenced. This book is a reckoning, a declaration, and a prayer. It is a call for truth in a time when truth is under fire. The world has ignored history for too long. Sikora invites readers to finally listen. Disclaimer: Evrima Chicago is representing author Christie Sikora in matters related to her work, including but not limited to media inquiries, promotional activities, and publishing negotiations. All official statements, press materials, and correspondence regarding Christie Sikora's work should be directed through Evrima Chicago. This representation does not necessarily reflect the personal views or opinions of Evrima Chicago or its affiliates. PR & Media Contact : Joshua Smith PR Team Joshua.smith@prtitans.com SOURCE: Christie Sikora HeatMate proudly unveils its new US website - a dedicated destination to showcase its entire ecosystem of graphite-powered kitchen and home heating products. From high-performance toaster ovens to sleek electric space and patio heaters, the site combines HeatMate's signature technology and modern design in one easy-to-navigate platform tailored for American customers. Visitors can explore product features, access support, and stay up to date with the latest innovations in graphite heating technology. Heatmate products are also available through Walmart, Amazon, Target, and HSN. SENGOKU ALADDIN factory in Kasai, Japan A Legacy of Heating Innovation The technology behind HeatMate is backed by decades of expertise. Sengoku Iron Works, founded as a small, family-owned company in Japan in 1953, originally supplied high-performance heating solutions for Sanyo Electric Co. By 1977, Sengoku officially became an electrical product manufacturer, expanding into home appliances and establishing itself as a leader in precision heating technology. A Proven Success: 3 Million Units Sold in Asia While new to the US, HeatMate's graphite toaster ovens have already taken Asia by storm, selling over 3 million units under the Aladdin brand in just two years. The rapid success of these appliances led to the opening of the SENGOKU ALADDIN FACTORY in Kasai, Japan, in 2023-a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility dedicated to meeting global demand. More Than a Toaster Oven: A Complete Graphite Heating Ecosystem The HeatMate product lineup now extends beyond its best-selling Graphite Toaster Oven to include: Energy-Efficient Space Heaters-Perfect for living rooms, bedrooms, home gyms, offices, and garages, these heaters use graphite heating elements to provide instant, consistent warmth with lower energy consumption. Versatile Patio Heaters - Designed for outdoor comfort year-round, HeatMate's wall-mounted and stand-alone patio heaters provide sleek, efficient warmth for patios, porches, and backyard entertaining areas. Revolutionary Cooking Appliances - The HeatMate SET-G16A Graphite Toaster Oven uses advanced heating technology with no preheating, works 30% faster, and delivers perfect textures with superior energy efficiency. A Next-Generation Shopping Experience HeatMate has launched a uniquely interactive feature on its new US website to present its complete graphite-powered heating ecosystem. Visitors can explore a virtual indoor/outdoor living space where they can: Click on HeatMate products placed throughout the living space Instantly view product details and features Add items to their cart with a single click. "This website isn't just about listing products-it provides users with an instant, interactive experience with our Graphite Heating Ecosystem," said Zackary Lipov, Vice President of Sengoku L.A., Ltd. "By allowing visitors to explore our heaters and cooking appliances in practical living settings, we make it easier than ever to visualize how HeatMate products can fit into their homes and everyday life." Why Graphite Heating? HeatMate's appliances use advanced graphite heating elements, offering significant advantages over conventional quartz or ceramic technologies. Key benefits include: Instant Heat: Toaster ovens reach 550F in just seconds; heaters deliver warmth immediately Even Performance: No hot spots, no long preheat times Energy Efficiency: Uses up to 60% less energy than conventional models. Where to Buy HeatMate HeatMate products are available at major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and HSN. To explore the entire product lineup and experience the new website, visit https://heatmate-usa.com/. Media Contact Lily Smith marketing@sengokula.com 1 877-438-4328 SOURCE: HeatMate Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - IMAGINE LITHIUM INC. (TSXV: ILI) (OTCQB: ARXRF) (the "Company" or "Imagine") is pleased to announce that it has closed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement previously announced on February 25, 2025 and March 12, 2025. The final Tranche of the private placement consists of 9,500,000 million non-flow-through common shares (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.03 per common share for gross proceeds of $285,000 and 28,000,000 flow-through shares (the "FT Shares") at a price of $0.0459 per share for gross proceeds of $1,285,000. Total gross proceeds from both tranches of the private placements are $2,350,020. Gross proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares will be used for general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Shares will be used for general exploration expenditures on the Jackpot Lithium Project located approximately 140 km north-east of Thunder Bay, Ontario (see Figure 1). An exploration program on the property will incorporate exploration drilling at the Casino Royale Zone and targets to the north of Casino Royale, as well as a prospecting and sampling program to cover the entire Jackpot property package. The FT Shares will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada, the "Tax Act") and the Company will ensure that expenditures will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditure" (as defined in subsection 127(9) of Tax Act). All securities issued are subject to a statutory hold period of 4 months plus one day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. The sole subscriber in both tranches of the private placement is Interway International LLC ("Interway"), an arm's length party to the Company. Interway has become an insider of the Company by reason of holding more than 10% of the outstanding common shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis. With the completion of this final tranche, Interway has acquired, as at the date this news release, direct ownership of 63,500,000 common shares of the Company, for aggregate proceeds of $2,350,020. Prior to the private placement, Interway held no shares of the Company, although Sufan Siauw, the CEO of Interway, personally held 4,200,000 common shares of the Company, which represented 1.38%, on a non-diluted basis, of 303,128,030 issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as at March 26, 2025, the date prior to the closing of the final tranche. Taken together, Interway is deemed to directly and indirectly own and control an aggregate of 67,700,000 common shares of the Company, representing 19.88% of the 340,628,030 issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as of March 27, 2025, on a non-diluted basis. Interway will be filing an Early Warning Report pursuant to National Instrument 62-103F1 The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues describing the above transactions with the applicable securities regulatory authorities. A copy of the Early Warning Report will be available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca under the profile of the Company. 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 jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. J.C. St-Amour, President of Imagine Lithium, commented: "We are pleased to have strong support from shareholders who see the lithium potential for the Jackpot property. The project's proximity to infrastructure in the Province of Ontario, including highways, workforce and the major port of Thunder Bay differentiates it from other lithium projects in North America. These funds will allow us to continue our exploration efforts to grow as well pursue consolidation strategies to create shareholder value." Figure 1: Jackpot property located next to Trans-Canada Highway, power, port, railroad, and workforce. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2962/246371_f82676f6d4b99a9e_001full.jpg Updated Exploration Agreement With First Nations The Company is also pleased to announce that it has signed an updated field exploration agreement (the "Agreement") with Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek ("AZA"), Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek and Red Rock Indian Band (the "First Nations") setting out a framework for Imagine Lithium's consultation and accommodation activities with the First Nations in connection with exploration activities at the Jackpot Lithium Project near Thunder Bay, Ontario. J. C. St-Amour, President and CEO of Imagine Lithium said, "In keeping with Imagine Lithium's ESG goals, the agreement outlines a mutual working relationship that includes respect for the environment and First Nation traditional knowledge, First Nation opportunities for employment, education and training (including education support for First Nations students studying in a mining related field), and community meetings and activities." Under the terms of the Agreement, Imagine Lithium has agreed to, among other things, grant an aggregate of 1,000,000 common share purchase warrants ("Warrants") to AZA, on the same terms as those issued to the other First Nation March 21, 2022. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.11 per Warrant Share for a period expiring on March 21, 2027. About Imagine Lithium Inc. Imagine is a junior mining exploration company focused on seeking and acquiring world-class mineral projects. The company holds the Jackpot lithium property located in the Georgia Lake area about 140 km NNE of Thunder Bay, Ontario, is approximately 12 km by road from the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 11), and is in proximity to sources of power, railroads, and ports. The Jackpot Property consists of 297 mineral claims covering 18,800 hectares. The Property contains NI 43-101 compliant Mineral Resources of 3.1 Mt grading 0.85% Li2O in the Indicated category and 5.3 Mt grading 0.91% Li2O in the Inferred category, as well as a number of other known pegmatite showings. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246371 SOURCE: Imagine Lithium Inc. Total product sales of Advicenne up 9.4% to 4.9m Operating cash consumption below 1M by 2025 and significant improvement in cash flow Cash position of 3.2 million on December 31, 2024, with a financing horizon of end-June 2025 European in-market sales of Sibnayal up over 130% to 6.0M and royalties received in excess of 0.5M up over 130% to 6.0M and royalties received in excess of 0.5M Major regulatory advances for ADV7103 Sibnayal in the United States in its two indications (dRTA and cystinuria) in the United States in its two indications (dRTA and cystinuria) Favorable outlook with the filing of ADV7103 in dRTA in the United States, expected in Q3 2025 Regulatory News: Advicenne (Euronext Growth Paris ALDVI FR0013296746) a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative treatments for those suffering from rare renal diseases, announces today its 2024 financial results, and provides an update on its activities. The financial statements for the year 2024 were approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting on March 27, 2025. The audit procedures are being finalized, and the auditors shall issue their audit report by mid-April 2025. It will include a section on the significant going concern uncertainty related to the financing of the Company's activities beyond June 2025. Advicenne has chosen to publish its financial statements under French GAAP. As the company no longer publishes consolidated financial statements since the closing of its US subsidiary in 2023, publication under IFRS is no longer relevant for Advicenne SA's statutory financial statements. The 2024 financial statements under French GAAP will be available in full in the Universal Registration Document 2024. Didier Laurens, Chief Executive Officer of Advicenne, commented: "We are particularly pleased with the performance of Sibnayal in Europe, with in-market sales in excess of 6.0M, thanks to the remarkable work of our team, our partners and the first patients treated outside Europe. Thanks to these results, and to the appropriate allocation of our expenses, we were able to reduce our cash consumption to less than 1 million for the year as a whole. Nevertheless, the year was marked by a still restrictive pricing environment in Europe in general and in France in particular, which prevented us from achieving our operating profitability target. Another positive result comes from the United States, with the expected filing of the Nex Drug Application (NDA) for ADV7103 in dRTA in the third quarter of 2025, and the expected approval of the final development plan for cystinuria. These highly favorable factors give us confidence in our ability to pursue and accelerate discussions with potential partners. Finally, we are actively working to strengthen our financial resources, notably with our lenders, to extend our cash horizon beyond the end of June 2025." ( thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023 Total product sales 4 877 4 458 Of which Sibnayal 2 290 1 965 Revenue from partnerships 545 209 Current operating expenses 9 367 9 626 Of which Cost of Goods sold 2 699 1 725 of which R&D expenses 2 997 3 643 of which marketing and sales expenses 1 095 1 083 of which structural and general expenses 2 576 3 175 Current operating results -3 289 -4 628 of which pharmaceutical taxes 1 -2 878 -1 516 Impairment and other non-current items -2 537 0 Operating results -9 057 -6 473 Exceptional product 3 500 0 Financial results -1 266 -1 384 of which financial interests -1 289 -1 387 Net results -6 464 -7 528 Basic and Diluted loss per share (/share) -0.53 -0.72 Opening cash 5 251 8 322 Cash flows from/(used in) operations -762 -6 041 Cash flows from/(used in) investing activities -108 -1 265 Cash flows from/(used in) financing activities -1 132 4 233 Closing cash 3 248 5 251 2024 key Financial highlights Product sales reached 4.88 million euros in 2024, up 9.4% on 2023. Growth in gross sales was driven mainly by Sibnayal, which rose by almost 17% to 2.29 million euros. In France, performance was solid, with an increase of 40% over the full year, and a marked acceleration in sales in the second half of 2024. In-market sales from partners in their respective markets reached 4.1 million in 2024. Thus, sales of Sibnayal in Europe and the Middle East totaled over 6.0 million euros, up by more than 130% on 2023. In addition to gross sales, Advicenne receives income from partnerships, based on the sales generated by its partners. In 2024, Advicenne received 0.54 million euros from partnerships, compared with 0.21 million euros in 2023. In-market sales Sibnayal (m) 2024 2023 Growth France 1.82 1.30 40% Europe Middle-East 4.19 1.27 230% Total 6.01 2.57 134% In addition to gross sales, Advicenne receives income from partnerships, based on the sales generated by its partners. In 2024, Advicenne received 0.54 million euros from partnerships, compared with 0.21 million euros in 2023. The current operating loss for 2024 was reduced by almost 30% to -3.29 million euros, despite a step-up in the cost of goods sold, marked by inventory effects. Current operating expenses, ex-COGS, fell by more than 15% to 6.67 million euros (vs. 7.90 million euros in 2023). This improvement reflects the ongoing strict allocation of resources to R&D and sales. R&D expenditure in 2024 was mainly allocated to the development of ADV7103 in the United States. In 2024, Advicenne recorded non-current charges of 5.31 million, including: a 2.88 million charge for pharmaceutical taxes set by the French health authorities in the absence of an agreement on the health insurance reimbursement price for Sibnayal and Likozam . This amount includes a catch-up on 2023 taxes, and Likozam . This amount includes a catch-up on 2023 taxes, a charge of 2.53 million euros relating mostly to the total depreciation of a primary packaging machine (bagging machine). The latest development work has confirmed the technical quality of the machine, but the economic operating conditions justify the depreciation of this asset, without calling into question the trajectory of Sibnayal production cost reduction. These charges include part of the acquisition costs of the machine and its pharmaceutical development. This items has no impact on Advicenne's cash position. Furthermore, Advicenne booked an exceptional product of 3.50 million euros linked to the conclusion of the agreement with Primex Pharmaceuticals AG, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company, announced in December 2024. Under this agreement, Advicenne received 1.75 million euros in December 2024, with the balance to be received by mid-2026. Financial losses came to 1.23 million, almost entirely represented by interest on the EIB loan and the French State Guaranteed Loan (PGE), down slightly on 2023 due to lower royalties paid to the EIB. The Company recorded a research tax credit of 0.38 million euros in 2024, compared with 0.32 million euros in 2023. Overall, net income showed a loss of 6.46 million euros, compared with 7.53 million euros in 2023. Cash consumption from operations is 0.76 million euros in 2024, compared with 6.04 million euros in 2023, thanks to the agreement with Primex Pharmaceuticals AG. This agreement has also favored cash flow, which continues its significant improvement to -2.97 million euros (vs. -6.46 million euros in 2023), by a factor of 3 in 3 years. Investments in 2024 fell significantly following the decision to halt the development of the primary packaging machine. In 2024, Advicenne has repaid 1.13 million euros of state guaranteed loan (PGE) principal to its lending banks. Finally, Advicenne ended 2024 with a net cash position of 3.25 million euros, compared with 5.25 million a year earlier. Excluding non-recurring items, this amount gives a cash horizon at the end of the second quarter of 2025. 2024 highlights Major regulatory progress for ADV7103 in the United States. The year 2024 was marked by significant progress in the development of ADV7103 in the United States for both distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) and cystinuria. In dRTA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has judged the European clinical data satisfactory for an NDA without additional specific clinical studies in the United States. The FDA's positive opinion was based on all the clinical data available in Europe, especially the one from the European pivotal study (B21CS) and the long-term follow-up study (B22CS). Both provide clinical efficacy and safety data on patients followed for over 6 years. Advicenne is actively working on finalizing the marketing authorization application, including additional analyses of the natural history of patients and the disease. Advicenne expects to file the NDA in the third quarter of 2025. ADV7103 has orphan drug status in the dRTA indication in the United States. In cystinuria, Advicenne has reached a key milestone with the FDA on the development plan for ADV7103, as part of a renewed round of exchanges. Backed by preliminary clinical data, the support of several American and European opinion leaders, and the International Cystinuria Foundation, the leading cystinuria patient association, Advicenne has convinced the FDA to select a surrogate marker that is easier to measure and more predictive of disease progression than a clinical endpoint such as stones in the evaluation of ADV7103 in cystinuria. Advicenne is preparing to submit the final draft of the pivotal study in this indication to the FDA. The choice of a biological primary endpoint should make it possible to recruit patients in both the United States and Europe, and to consider filing applications simultaneously in both regions. In cystinuria, 2024 was also marked by the granting of orphan drug status for ADV7103 in the United States. Finalization of an agreement with Primex Pharmaceuticals AG. Advicenne has signed an agreement with Primex Pharmaceuticals AG, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company. This agreement finalizes the restructuring of contracts signed in 2016. Under this agreement, Advicenne will receive 3.5 million euros, half of which already paid in December 2024; the balance will be received over the next 18 months. Advicenne is also eligible for additional amounts for commercial rights outside Europe. 2025 outlook: a pivotal year Further growth in Sibnayal sales. Advicenne expects sales of its main product, Sibnayal, to grow in Europe in 2025. Advicenne and its partners are committed to the continued commercial success of Sibnayal, which meets an important medical need. Filing of ADV7103 in the United States. The major objective is to file ADV7103 in the dRTA in the United States during the third quarter. This will be a major step in creating value for the product and for Advicenne. In parallel, Advicenne plans to finalize the development plan for ADV7103 in cystinuria. Extending the cash horizon. Advicenne is actively working to extend its cash horizon beyond the first half of 2025. Discussions with the Company's lenders, including the European Investment Bank, are ongoing. The Company is also pursuing its efforts to finalize additional sources of financing through the signature of a partnership around ADV7103 in the USA and outside Europe. ABOUT ADVICENNE Advicenne (Euronext: ALDVI) is a specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 2007, specializing in the development of innovative treatments in Nephrology. Its lead product Sibnayal has received Marketing Approval for distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) in EU and GB. ADV7103 is currently in late stage development in cystinuria in Europe and in dRTA and cystinuria in the US and Canada. Headquartered in Paris, Advicenne, listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange since 2017, has now been listed on Euronext Growth Paris since its transfer on March 30, 2022. For additional information, see: https://advicenne.com/. Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Advicenne group and its business, including its prospects and product candidate development. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Advicenne considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the French financial market authority on April 5, 2024 (a copy of which is available on www.advicenne.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Advicenne operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Advicenne or not currently considered material by Advicenne. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance, or achievements of Advicenne to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. Advicenne expressly declines any obligation to update such forward-looking statements. 1 In France, where the price has not yet been mutually agreed with the administration, taxes set by the supervisory authorities are paid to collecting bodies. These taxes are recorded based on the Company's best estimates or collections received from the administration View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327471522/en/ Contacts: Advicenne Didier Laurens, Directeur General +33 (0) 1 87 44 40 17 Email: investors@advicenne.com Ulysse Communication Media relations Bruno Arabian +33 (0)6 87 88 47 26 Email: advicenne@ulysse-communication.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce that its royalty partner at Timok in Serbia, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. ("Zijin"), released their "Annual Results Announcement for the Year Ended 31 December 2024" on March 23, 2025. This report showed a significant increase in copper and gold resources and reserves at Cukaru Peki in comparison to results published for 2023. The 2024 report also described a new exploration discovery at Timok called the Malka Golaja Copper-Gold Deposit (also referred to as "MG Area" in previous disclosures), which is located approximately seven kilometers to the southeast of the Cukaru Peki Mine. Zijin included this statement in their 2024 Annual Results Announcement: "The preliminary exploration at the high-grade Malka Golaja Copper-Gold Deposit at the deep part of the metallogenic belt of Timok, Serbia was completed. According to the report under the JORC Code prepared by a team of competent persons, the cumulative identified copper resources amounted to 2.81 million tonnes with an average grade of 1.87%, and gold resources of 92 tonnes with an average grade of 0.61 g/t. In addition, the deposit remains open at the periphery, indicating significant potential for mineral exploration."[1] The resource numbers reported by Zijin for copper and gold are for tonnes of contained metal, which equate to approximately 150 million tonnes of mineralized material averaging 1.87% copper and 0.61 g/t gold. Further, the Malka Golaja resource numbers published by Zijin were not categorized in their disclosure to National Instrument 43-101 or JORC, so EMX is assuming without access to the data that the resources are at the level of confidence and entirely classified as inferred resources, which represents the lowest level of confidence under CIM 2014 and JORC resource categories[2]. Based upon EMX's reviews of satellite imagery and the locations of drill sites as observed in the field, the Malka Golaja deposit appears to be covered by EMX's Brestovac royalty interest. EMX senior management also recently completed a site visit to the Cukaru Peki mine and met with Zijin representatives for an update on Zijin's mining activities at Timok. EMX congratulates Zijin on its outstanding work at Timok, including the rapid advancement of the Cukaru Peki operations and the novel discovery at Malka Golaja. The Malka Golaja discovery represents a significant development for both Zijin and EMX as a royalty holder. EMX currently holds a 0.3625% NSR royalty over Zijin's Brestovac exploration permit area (including the Cukaru Peki Mining Licenses), as well as portions of Zijin's Jasikovo-Durlan Potak exploration license north of the currently active Bor Mine. EMX also owns a 2% NSR royalty on precious metals and a 1% NSR royalty on base metals on the Brestovac West License, which lies immediately adjacent and to the west of the Brestovac Mining License and the Cukaru Peki Mine. All of EMX's Timok royalties are uncapped and cannot be repurchased or reduced. The Company is currently receiving quarterly royalty payments from Zijin for copper and gold production from the Cukaru Peki Mine. Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release. About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EMX". Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information. 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 Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form ("AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2024, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov . [1] From page 32 of Zijin report: "Annual Results Announcement for the Year Ended 31 December 2024", published on Zijin's corporate website on March 23, 2025. Although Zijin meets the definition of a producing issuer under NI43-101 and has reported these results as being compliant with JORC protocols, an acceptable foreign code, EMX has not independently verified this information. However, EMX believes this information to be reliable and relevant. [2] EMX is treating the disclosed Malka Golaja resource estimate by Zijin as inferred resources only. As a requirement stated in Section 2.2 in NI43-101, inferred resources cannot be added to or reported with other resource categories. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246360 SOURCE: EMX Royalty Corp. Tech for All: How China powers a more inclusive digital world People's Daily Online) 11:00, March 27, 2025 A truly inclusive digital future requires collaboration, mutual learning, and a shared vision - where technology is not just for the few, but for all. As developed and emerging economies alike seek to leverage technology for sustainable growth, an increasingly relevant question is: Can China's technology contribute to a more inclusive global digital future? Expanding Access China has integrated technology into its national priorities, with tech exports, cross-border collaboration, and digital infrastructure projects playing a growing role in its global engagement. One of the most notable areas where China is contributing to a more inclusive digital economy is affordable and scalable AI solutions. Many AI models today demand high-end infrastructure and expensive computing power, making them inaccessible to smaller players. However, Chinese AI firms are changing this by investing in open-source platforms, lowering the barriers for businesses and researchers globally. "If certain countries or regions struggle to build AI infrastructure on their own, we should actively encourage cross-border computing power sharing to support the large-scale adoption of AI," said Bill Thomas, Chairman and CEO of KPMG International during the just-ended China Development Forum (CDF) 2025 held in Beijing from March 23 to March 24. Thomas highlighted that China's rapid advancements in AI have undoubtedly reshaped the global discourse on this technology. Take DeepSeek as an example, it has made open-source models more flexible, enabling easier deployment and implementation of AI while significantly reducing costs. Also, through companies like Huawei, Alibaba, and Tencent, China has provided 5G networks, cloud computing solutions, and AI-powered applications to markets across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Beyond AI, China's investments in digital finance have reshaped how businesses access capital in regions where traditional banking infrastructure is limited. Platforms like Ant Group's financial services have enabled SMEs and startups across various markets to leverage fintech solutions, improving financial inclusion on a global scale. Technology as an Enabler On top of just providing access, China's technological advancements are also reshaping how businesses and economies function globally. China's digital economy model, which integrates large tech platforms, small businesses, and consumer-driven innovation, is drawing attention from policymakers and entrepreneurs worldwide. By fostering a highly interconnected ecosystem, China has demonstrated how technology can enable new business models, drive efficiency, and create economic opportunities. A recent PwC report highlights how China's digital infrastructure and trade networks are reshaping global supply chains, offering cost-saving opportunities for multinational enterprises. As the report states, "China's use of RCEP and the Belt and Road Initiative has not only expanded its business influence but also helped multinational enterprises cut globalization costs." Take cross-border e-commerce, for instance. Alibaba's expansion enables small businesses, including entrepreneurs in emerging markets, to access a global customer base, breaking traditional trade barriers. Meanwhile, China's advancements in smart logistics and automation are being adapted in Europe and the Middle East, streamlining supply chains and reducing operational costs. When it comes to numbers, Amazon China's overseas warehouses have improved order response times in Southeast Asia by 60%, while Siemens' Chengdu plant delivers its products to Europe in 72 hours via the China Railway Express. Bridging Standards While China's technology has made significant inroads into global markets, standardization and interoperability remain key challenges. Different regulatory frameworks across regions raise questions about how China's tech ecosystem aligns with global digital governance. For example, China's leadership in 5G and its research into 6G highlight the need for greater global alignment on telecommunications standards. It has been actively engaging with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other global standardization bodies to align its 5G and 6G development with international benchmarks. However, the challenge is not just about technology itself, but how different regulatory environments can harmonize to ensure fair and secure digital cooperation. "There will be sensitive areas where AI will be deployed. In these sensitive areas, such as national security, all sides should have dialogues and put in guardrails. In civilian use and in investment, all parties should compete fairly, and to learn from each other," said Duane Kuang, Founding Managing Partner from Qiming Venture Partners. "Only by doing this, we can maximize the benefit of AI for all countries involved, and for humankind in general." Chinese companies are increasingly engaging in international standardization efforts, participating in global discussions on AI ethics, cybersecurity, and privacy governance. However, the path to deeper regulatory alignment remains complex, requiring continuous dialogue, transparency, and collaboration with global stakeholders. A Shared Digital Future China's contributions to affordable AI, digital finance, and tech infrastructure offer valuable lessons for other nations seeking to accelerate digital transformation. However, achieving true tech equality will require multilateral cooperation, aligned regulatory frameworks, and ongoing commitment to ethical and sustainable innovation. As technology continues to evolve, one question remains: How can the world collectively shape a digital future where no one is left behind? Of course, "there is no one-size-fits-all approachnot every country needs to become an AI superpower, nor should that be the expectation. But no matter where one is in the world, everyone should have the opportunity to benefit from the advancements AI brings," pinpointed Bill Thomas. (Source: China Economic Net) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Olson Homes and Tim Lewis Communities receive top honors with 'The Eliant,' and Curtis Woolsey of Stylecraft Texas named Customer Experience Leader of the Year The winners of Eliant's acclaimed 30th Annual HomeBuyers' Choice Awards. Powered by Eliant's best-in-class technology, reliable data, and actionable insights, award winners are selected based on the ratings, opinions, and experiences of more than 200,000 recent homebuyers from 250 major new home builders across the U.S. Multiple trophies The top honor at the HomeBuyers' Choice Awards, The Eliant, is presented to the highest-rated single-division home builders and the highest-rated multi-division home builders for the best overall purchase and ownership experience. This is based on customers' ratings of key measures in the Eliant Home multi-stage survey series, captured at move-in, mid-year, and year-end. Olson Homes received this prestigious award in the single-division segment, and Tim Lewis Communities in the multi-division segment. Olson Homes earned The Eliant award in the single-division category, marking their sixth consecutive win and ninth overall since 2015. The company also secured four additional, including three first-place finishes in Purchase Experience, First Year Quality, and First Year Customer Service Experience. Additionally, for the fourth year in a row, Matt Smelser of Olson Homes was recognized as the top Customer Service Representative of the Year in the high-volume category. Tim Lewis Communities received The Eliant award for multi-division home builders. The company was also honored with five other awards, including first and third place in First Year Customer Service Experience for their Nevada and Northern California divisions, respectively. They also earned second and third place in First Year Quality for their Northern California and Nevada divisions, respectively, along with fifth place for Best Customer Communication in Nevada. Curtis Woolsey from Stylecraft Texas, was named Customer Experience Leader of the Year, recognizing his outstanding leadership in customer experience excellence across all qualifying builders. About the Eliant HomeBuyers' Choice Awards The Eliant HomeBuyers' Choice Awards selections are based on the experiences and feedback of more than 200,000 recent homebuyers from over 250 major homebuilders across the U.S. The media sponsor for the 2025 HomeBuyers' Choice Awards is Builder Media. For a complete list of winners and selection criteria, visit Eliant.com/choice-awards. About Eliant Since 1984, Eliant provides solutions for customer and employee delight by offering tools and guidance to homebuilders, developers, vendors, trade partners, lenders, and more, to deliver memorable experiences. Established as the original homebuyer survey company, Eliant has evolved into a full-service experience management firm and partner to the homebuilding industry. Powered by superior assessments and best-in-class technology, Eliant offers its clients reliable answers to their most critical homebuilding and home buying questions. Headquarters in Aliso Viejo, CA, Eliant is the parent of the annual HomeBuyers' Choice Awards, an arbiter of homebuyer satisfaction in the homebuilding industry. Contact Information Fernanda Luick President fernanda@eliant.com (949) 753-1077 SOURCE: Eliant, Inc. Stacey Cunningham, former President of the New York Stock Exchange, John Graham-Cumming, former Cloudflare CTO, and Dr. Karim Lakhani, Harvard Business School Professor, Join Cloudflare Board Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced three new appointments to its board of directors Stacey Cunningham, the former President of the New York Stock Exchange, John Graham-Cumming, the former CTO at Cloudflare, and Dr. Karim Lakhani, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. "I am delighted to welcome Stacey, John, and Karim to our board of directors," said Matthew Prince, co-founder, CEO, and co-chair of the board of directors at Cloudflare. "Stacey brings a wealth of financial and operational acumen; John brings deep technical knowledge and intimately knows our business; and Karim is one of the world's leading authorities on AI-driven business transformation. I look forward to working closely with them, and the entire board, as we continue on our mission to help build a better Internet." Cunningham currently serves as operating partner at Advent International, sits on the New York Stock Exchange Board of Directors, and is an advisor for private companies and Georgetown University's Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy. Cunningham previously served as President of the NYSE Group, the first woman to lead the exchange group. "Cloudflare is at a pivotal time in its history and I'm enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead," said Cunningham. Graham-Cumming's tenure at Cloudflare spanned more than 13 years, most recently as Chief Technology Officer. He is a long-time advocate of open-source software; the original writer of POPFile, an open-source, cross-platform, machine learning email spam filtering program; the author of two books; and co-founder of Electric Cloud, a provider of DevOps release automation tools. Graham-Cumming has been at the forefront of machine learning technology long before it evolved into what we now recognize as AI. His deep technical expertise paired with his understanding of Cloudflare's business, industry, and customer needs, will remain invaluable. Originally from the United Kingdom and now residing in Portugal, Graham-Cumming holds UK and French citizenship. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in Mathematics and Computation, followed by a D.Phil. in formal methods for secure computer systems from the University of Oxford. "I joined Cloudflare when the company had 25 employees, and, with the team, I've helped build the underlying technology that enables us to power roughly 20 percent of the web today. As the world now relies on an always-on Internet, the opportunity ahead of us is massive. I'm honoured to continue supporting Cloudflare, in this new capacity, for its next stage of growth," said Graham-Cumming. Dr. Lakhani is the Dorothy Michael Hintze Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School (HBS), the co-founder and founding Chair of the Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard, and the founder and one of the principal investigators of the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard. His deep experience in AI, innovation, and open-source collaboration brings a distinctive and valuable perspective to Cloudflare's governance as the company continues to shape the future of Internet security and performance. Lakhani is the co-author of the best-selling, award-winning book "Competing in the Age of AI" (2020, HBR Press) and is a trusted advisor on AI transformation to the C-Suite of several Fortune 500 companies. At Harvard Business School, he has designed and delivered pioneering executive education programs that have empowered thousands of leaders to develop AI strategies that drive competitive advantage. "I'm eager to partner with the Cloudflare board to continue to drive impact through innovation and help build a better Internet," said Dr. Lakhani. As these new leaders join Cloudflare's board, Maria Eitel has stepped down from the board of directors after 7 years of dedicated service. Eitel had been a member of Cloudflare's board of directors since 2018, ahead of the company's initial public offering in September 2019. During her board tenure, Eitel played a key role in Cloudflare's development as a public company, including serving as the first chair of the compensation committee. In her most recent role, as the chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee, she led the board's efforts to identify this next cohort of directors, helping the company manage its next stage of growth as the leading connectivity cloud company. "It has been an honor to serve on Cloudflare's board with my fellow directors, and to support the company's growth during some of its greatest milestones to date. I'm proud of what we've accomplished, and will continue to celebrate the team's success as they navigate the enormous potential of Cloudflare to help shape the future of the Internet," said Eitel. "We are grateful to Maria for her leadership and guidance over the last seven years. She brought a wealth of knowledge to our board and she played a key role at a very important period in our history as we transitioned from private company, to public company, and beyond. I'm thankful for all that she has contributed to Cloudflare," said Matthew Prince, co-founder, CEO, and co-chair of the board of directors. About Cloudflare Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company on a mission to help build a better Internet. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare's connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business. Powered by one of the world's largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe. Learn more about Cloudflare's connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at https://radar.cloudflare.com. Follow us: Blog X LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "explore," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of these words, or other similar terms or expressions that concern Cloudflare's expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Cloudflare's products and technology, Cloudflare's technological development, future results of operations, financial condition, operations, growth, initiatives, strategies, and future market trends, Cloudflare's expectations about the addition of new members to its board of directors, and comments made by Cloudflare's CEO and the new and former members of its board of directors. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in Cloudflare's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Cloudflare's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 20, 2025, as well as other filings that Cloudflare may make from time to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Cloudflare undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Cloudflare may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in Cloudflare's forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on Cloudflare's forward-looking statements. 2025Cloudflare, Inc. All rights reserved. Cloudflare, the Cloudflare logo, and other Cloudflare marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Cloudflare, Inc. in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All other marks and names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250327518782/en/ Contacts: Cloudflare, Inc. Daniella Vallurupalli Vice President, Head of Global Communications press@cloudflare.com TEL AVIV, Israel, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) announced today that it will issue a press release on its first quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. ET. Following the release, Teva will conduct a conference call and live webcast on the same day, at 8:00 a.m. ET. In order to participate, please register in advance here to obtain a local or toll-free phone number and your personal pin. A live webcast of the call will be available on Teva's website at: https://ir.tevapharm.com/Events-and-Presentations. Following the conclusion of the call, a replay of the webcast will be available within 24 hours on Teva's website. About Teva Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release and the conference call may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to: our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace including our ability to successfully execute our Pivot to Growth strategy; our significant indebtedness; our business and operations in general; compliance, regulatory and litigation matters; other financial and economic risks; and other factors discussed in this press release, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, including in the sections captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-looking Statements." Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - KO Gold Inc. (CSE: KOG) ("KO Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units ("Units") to be issued at a price of C$0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds up to C$2,000,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share (each a "Share") and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share at a price of C$0.25 for a period of two (2) years from issuance. Proceeds received from the Private Placement will be used for general working capital purposes and to fund the Company's ongoing exploration and drilling programs in the Otago Gold District in New Zealand. Finder's fees of cash and Warrants issued on the same terms as noted above may be paid to qualified parties. All securities will be will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from issuance. Drilling Program Update - Otago Gold District The Company plans to complete reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drill holes on its Carrick, Hyde, Smylers, and Glenpark exploration permits as soon as a drilling contractor has been selected, and all drilling permits and private land access agreements have been obtained. This drilling program will focus on: (1) Priority: the discovery of high-grade mineralized shear zones or lode gold within the Carrick Goldfield, which is located southwest of Santana Minerals Rise & Shine Shear Zone ("RSSZ") of the Bendigo-Ophir Project, and (2) Testing the mineralized extensions of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone ("HMSZ") adjacent to OceanaGold's active Macraes Gold Mine (Figure 1). This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Figure 1: KO Gold's permits in Otago Gold District, New Zealand To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9895/246370_0f50319214603a94_002full.jpg Qualified Person Statement All scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared and approved by Paul Teniere, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration and Director of KO Gold, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. About KO Gold Inc. KO Gold is a Canadian junior exploration company listed on the CSE under "KOG". The Company's strategy is to acquire and explore highly prospective gold properties within the Otago Gold District in New Zealand. KO Gold has eight 100%-owned prospecting and exploration permits within the Otago Gold District for a combined land package of 740 km2. The Company's Smylers and Glenpark EPs are located adjacent to OceanaGold's Macraes Gold Mine and the Carrick EP hosts the historic Carrick Goldfield which holds promise as a significant gold deposit near Santana Minerals' Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project. KO Gold has spent over C$3M in exploration and drilling on its permits in the Otago Gold District over the past five years including RC and diamond drilling on its Smylers EP. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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 news release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "may," "will," "would," "potential," "proposed" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the proposed Private Placement, the intended use of proceeds, and the possible payment of finder's fees. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to complete the Private Placement on the terms announced (or at all), the receipt of all necessary approvals, market conditions, and the ability to use the proceeds as intended. 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. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246370 SOURCE: KO Gold Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - NamSys Inc. (TSXV: CTZ), a leading provider of technology for cash processing and transportation, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 ended January 31st. All amounts referenced herein are in Canadian dollars. First Quarter Highlights (for the three months ended January 31, 2025 compared to January 31, 2024) Revenue of $1,941,613, compared to $1,584,272, an improvement of 23%. Net income for the quarter was up 65% to $701,985 ($0.03 per share) from $425,584 ($0.02 per share). Gross margin of 65% and operating margin of 41%. "Our strong first-quarter performance highlights the momentum of our business and the dedication of our employees. Their hard work and commitment have been key drivers of our success. As we move forward, we remain focused on creating value for our customers and shareholders," said Christie Gray, COO. The financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal quarter ended January 31st, 2025 are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. NamSys Inc. products are designed to bring efficiency to the processing of currency and other value instruments in retailers, financial institutions, and cash-in-transit providers. NamSys' proprietary systems for this market are sold as software-as-a-service subscriptions and operate in the public cloud service providers. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in polices 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/246407 SOURCE: Namsys Inc. 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 Wallester, a pioneer in digital financial solutions, achieved impressive financial growth in 2024, with a significant 87% increase in revenue. The company has further strengthened its market position by securing a cross-border license in the UK, positioning itself for continued success across Europe. Robust Financial Performance Financially, the firm demonstrated impressive performance. Unaudited revenue for the year reached 17.2M, representing an 87% Year-over-Year (YoY) increase. These figures underscore the companys robust financial health and operational efficiency. Under the leadership of CEO and Co-Founder Sergei Astafjev, the organisation achieved exceptional growth across its business segments. Specifically, unaudited revenue reached 17.2M, marking an 87% YoY increase. Within this, Wallester White-Label revenue grew to 8.5M, a 70% YoY rise, while Wallester Business revenue doubled to 8.6M, reflecting an impressive 109% YoY growth. Annualised Run Rate (ARR) also saw a significant boost, reaching 26.3M, representing a 98% YoY increase. EBITDA surged from a deficit of -0.5M to a positive 3.4M, marking an astonishing 800% YoY growth. Similarly, net profit increased dramatically from -0.6M in 2023 to 2.3M in 2024, representing an extraordinary 457% YoY improvement. These financial metrics highlight the companys ability to navigate challenges while maintaining strong growth trajectories and enhancing profitability. 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. As the first Estonian company to secure such a license post-Brexit, Wallester is uniquely positioned to tap into one of the worlds premier financial hubs. The UK team, led by CEO Julian Brand and supported by Group Chief Risk Officer Anna Maxim, is set to drive further success in this new market. Meanwhile, Wallester continued its geographic expansion with the official opening of a new office in Riga, Latvia, in October. This move strengthens the companys ability to serve clients in the Baltic region and beyond, enhancing its infrastructure and offering additional resources to fuel business growth. Client Acquisition and Partnerships The company also 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. The range and scale of industries reinforce the companys unwavering belief in its market fit and leading position within the sector. 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. The company also secured a spot on the iconic Estonian Mafia Wall of Fame at LIFT99 Tallinn Hub. Looking Ahead to 2025 As we look towards 2025, plans are in place to expand its business to new countries, grow its team significantly, and bring in fresh ideas and experts to support its roadmap. 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. We never stopped believing in our ability to deliver exceptional solutions. Thank you to every business that chose Wallester as their partner. We look forward to continuing our upward trajectory in 2025 and delivering even better results. About 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. What we do: 1. White-Label Solution with Embedded Finance: Our White-Label solution enables businesses to integrate financial services directly into their platforms a concept known as embedded finance. This allows companies to launch branded payment cards tailored to their specific needs, enhancing customer experiences and opening new revenue streams. We ensure a swift time-to-market with simplified integration and dedicated support from our implementation team. 2. Wallester Business: Corporate Expense Management: Wallester Business is designed to modernise corporate expense management. It provides companies with instant access to virtual and physical Visa cards, streamlining financial processes through a modern app and comprehensive portal. Features include expense tracking, budget analytics, and seamless integration with accounting systems to enhance financial oversight and efficiency. 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. Press Contact Justin Zehmke [email protected] +372 58300375 www.wallester.com Scott Jacoby won the Emmy award in Best Drama Supporting Actor for That Certain Summer at the age of 16 in the year 1973. Five decades later, the record could be broken read more Netflixs Adolescence is shining globally and Owen Cooper is the new star in the making at a mere age of 15. Could he set a new Emmys age record? Scott Jacoby won the Emmy award in Best Drama Supporting Actor for That Certain Summer at the age of 16 in the year 1973. Five decades later, the record could be broken. Filmed in a one-take style, Jack Thorne and Stephen Grahams new crime drama on Netflix called Adolescence is a true masterpiece. You will be surprised to know that each episode was shot is a single continuous take. Here is how the story goes, a 13-year-old boy, Jamie, is accused of stabbing his female classmate to death. Adolescence raises a very crucial question about incel culture, male violence, and the pressures of social media. Advertisement It has amassed record-breaking 24.3 million views amid worldwide acclaim. A post on Instagram read- During the week of March 10th to March 16th, the harrowing one-take drama about a schoolboy accused of murder attained an impressive 24.3 million views. This made it second in views only to The Electric State, the streamers new $320 million blockbuster starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt. This is quite a feat for a small drama from the UK with such a serious subject matter. What Stephen Graham, Netflixs Adolescence co-creator said? Stephen Graham, the shows co-creator who also played Eddie Miller, told Netflixs press site Tudum that a series of recent stabbings by boys inspired the tale. What does the term incel mean? According to a CNN story, the term incel is everywhere. What was once a niche piece of internet slang now populating international headlines and is a frequent topic in discussions about gender, misogyny, violence and extremism. Incel is a portmanteau of involuntary celibate. In its most basic form, incel describes someone, usually a male, who is frustrated by their lack of sexual experiences. On June 3, 2023, the accused picked up the woman from her home in a car and smothered her with a cover and hit her with a stone on her head and killed her. He carried her body in the car and later dumped it in a manhole. read more A court here on Wednesday sentenced a 36-year-old priest to life imprisonment for murdering a woman in June 2023. The court found A Venkat Surya Sai Krishna alias Sai Krishna guilty under relevant sections of IPC and sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed Rs 10 lakh fine. According to prosecution, Sai Krishna, who was already married made the 30-year-old woman believe that he would marry her and developed a relationship with her. The woman had asked Sai Krishna to marry her and stated that if he failed to marry her she would expose him. Vexed with her behaviour, he decided to kill the woman, the prosecution argued. Advertisement On June 3, 2023, the accused picked up the woman from her home in a car and smothered her with a cover and hit her with a stone on her head and killed her. He carried her body in the car and later dumped it in a manhole. He took the mother of the victim to a police station and lodged a complaint stating that her daugther was missing. On June 6, 2023 he brought two tipper loads of red soil and covered the manhole. He also burnt her handbag and luggage. After that he washed his car and parked it in his apartment. The following day, he visited the spot and after noticing the bad smell emanating, he got some labourers to cover and seal the manhole with concrete, according to the prosecution. After verifying the CCTV footage, the police found that there were contradictions in the account of the accused. During interrogation, he confessed to having murdered the woman and got arrested, Shamshabad police had earlier said. Prithviraj Sukumaran once again brilliantly amalgamated technical brilliance with a twisting plot and turned it into a massy treat for all Mohanlal fans read more Star cast: Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Abhimanyu Singh, Tovino Thomas, Manju Warrier, Andrea Tivadar, Jerome Flynn, Indrajith Sukumaran, Eriq Ebouaney, and Suraj Venjaramoodu Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran L2: Empuraan begins where the first part (Lucifer) concluded. Its been five years since Kingmaker Stephen Nedempully, aka Lucifer (Mohanlal), left Kerala, handing over the political responsibilities to Jathin (Tovino Thomas), the states CM. In the flashback, the 2002 Hindu-Muslim riot is shown where Gajendra Patels gang (Abhimanyu Singh) are killing Muslim people, including children and women, mercilessly. The level of cruelty chills down your spine, where Gajendras brother Munna is shown raping a Muslim woman, who is pregnant. Advertisement Young Zayed Masood (Karthikeya Dev) survives and is later saved and trained by Stephen, who tells the young lad his name is Qureshi Abraham (Khureshi Abraam). Back to the present day, the members of Indian Union Front (IUF) are not happy with Jathin as he is no longer following the principles of his late father PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar). He arranges a huge rally and shocks everyone by announcing that he is quitting IUF and making his party with the name of IUFPKR. This party will be allied with ASM (Akhand Shakti Morcha), which is founded by Bajrangi aka Gajendra Patel. While Jathin has gone completely corrupt, this alliance will give power to Bajrangi to carry out all his illegal activities throughout the state of Kerala. So, will Stephen come back to save Kerala from his own people? Well, for that you have to watch L2: Empuraan on the big screen. While you must be thinking the plot looks simple, Prithviraj has beautifully added complexity to his narrative with simultaneous tracks, which unfold with surprising elements. The plot explores the dynamics of political drama, hunger for power, and hawala, along with international intelligences with an interesting cat-and-mouse game between Khureshi Abraam nexus (who controls the worlds gold and diamond trade) and Chinese nexus (who controls the worlds weapons, arms and drugs) being one of the highlights. Prithviraj once again brilliantly amalgamated technical brilliance with a twisting plot and turned it into a massy treat for all Mohanlal fans. Sujith Vaassudev, the DoP, shot L2: Empuraan impeccably and went all out to make sure the movie looks visually enriching and larger-than-life. However, the editing could have been a bit crisper. Advertisement Talking about the performances, Mohanlal is expected to be brilliant, and he is, without any doubt. He oozes swag and beautifully expresses each emotion with a subtle yet impactful mood. Prithviraj looks charming and charismatic on the silver screen, with the action sequences featuring him and Mohanlal turning out to be a big-screen bonanza. Manju Warrier and Tovino Thomas play their role to the T, while Abhimanyu Singh once again shines as the lead antagonist. On the whole, L2: Empuraan has ample of massy elements with plot twists, which will be please all Mohanlal & Prithviraj Sukumaran fans. Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars) Advertisement L2: Empuraan is playing in cinemas Thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza have staged rare protests against Hamas, chanting slogans like Hamas out and We want an end to the war. The demonstrations, centred in Beit Lahiya and other war-ravaged areas, come as Gazas death toll surpasses 50,000. Israel has halted aid deliveries, worsening the humanitarian crisis, while Hamas faces growing public frustration over its rule and the ongoing conflict read more Palestinians protest to demand an end to war, chanting anti-Hamas slogans, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, March 26, 2025. File Image/Reuters For the first time in years, thousands of Palestinians have taken to the streets in northern Gaza, voicing rare public opposition to Hamas. Protesters in Beit Lahia and other areas chanted slogans such as For Gods sake, Hamas out, Hamas terrorists, and We want an end to the war, in an extraordinary display of dissent against the militant group. Videos circulating online showed large crowds marching through the half-ruined streets of Beit Lahia, with some protesters holding signs opposing the continuation of the war while others directly criticised Hamas. Advertisement A message shared on social media appeared to call for further protests across Gaza, with organisers stating, Our voices must reach all the spies who sold our blood. Another message encouraged demonstrators, saying, 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. This marks one of the most significant public expressions of frustration against Hamas since it seized control of Gaza in 2007. Looking at the mounting public frustration in Gaza amid war The demonstrations, which began on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, took place against the backdrop of Israels renewed military offensive following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement. The war, which has lasted 17 months, was triggered by Hamas October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in which militants killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages. Israels retaliatory offensive has led to over 50,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the enclaves health ministry, although it does not specify how many of those were civilians or combatants. The protests were concentrated in northern Gaza, one of the hardest-hit regions in the war, where buildings have been reduced to rubble, and many residents have been displaced multiple times. Advertisement Palestinians protest to demand an end to war, chanting anti-Hamas slogans, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, March 26, 2025. File Image/Reuters Protesters were heard chanting, The people want the fall of Hamas, and Out, out, out! Hamas get out! a striking development given Hamas long-standing suppression of public dissent. In Jabaliya, another area devastated by the war, protesters expressed anger not only at Hamas but also at Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Arab mediators. Some demonstrators later expressed regret at participating after Israeli media coverage highlighted the anti-Hamas sentiment. Unlike previous occasions, Hamas security forces did not immediately crack down on the protests, possibly because the group has kept a lower profile since Israel resumed its attacks. However, Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim addressed the protests in a Facebook post, stating that people had the right to express frustration but that their focus should be on the criminal aggressor, referring to Israel. Advertisement The protests erupted just days after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz urged Gazans to demand Hamas removal and the release of Israeli hostages, stating that it was the only way to stop the war. Gaza is looking at a deepening humanitarian crisis The protests are unfolding amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Gaza, home to approximately 2.1 million Palestinians, is heavily dependent on humanitarian aid, which has become increasingly scarce. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that no food, water, medicine, or fuel had entered Gaza in over three weeks, marking a longer blockade than during the wars initial phase. The lack of supplies has pushed Gaza to the brink of an acute hunger crisis. Every day without food inches Gaza closer to an acute hunger crisis, UNRWA stated in a social media post. Israel halted aid deliveries at the beginning of March, following the collapse of ceasefire negotiations. The Israeli government has accused Hamas of diverting humanitarian aid to sustain its military operations, a claim the militant group denies. Advertisement The worsening humanitarian situation has exacerbated anger and frustration among Gazans, contributing to the growing opposition to Hamas. What Hamas history tells us Hamas has a long history of suppressing dissent in Gaza. Since taking control of the territory in 2007, the group has cracked down on protests, arrested critics, and aggressively dispersed demonstrations. A 2018 Human Rights Watch report accused Hamas of routinely detaining and torturing opponents, making public criticism of the group rare. Even before the war, economic hardship and Israeli-imposed blockades fuelled occasional protests. Previous demonstrations against Hamas were often triggered by deteriorating living conditions, including power shortages, unemployment, and the high cost of living. However, Hamas security forces typically responded with force, arbitrarily detaining journalists and political opponents. Recent opinion polls suggest that Hamas standing among Gazans has been affected by the prolonged war. Polling by the Arab World Research and Development group (AWRAD) in May 2024 found that only 24 per cent of Gazans had a positive view of Hamas. Advertisement Another survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in July 2024 showed that 38 per cent of Gazans supported Hamas, while 24 per cent favoured the secular Fatah party, and 15 per cent supported third parties. Polling remains difficult, as the extreme conditions in Gaza make face-to-face interviews nearly impossible, especially in northern areas that have seen the heaviest fighting. Nonetheless, the protests reflect a growing willingness among some Palestinians to voice dissatisfaction publicly, despite the risks. What this means for Hamas rule in Gaza As the war continues, the protests highlight a crucial shift in Gazas political landscape. While Hamas remains in control and still commands thousands of armed fighters, the growing discontent suggests increasing pressure on the group. Some Gazans fear that any ceasefire leaving Hamas in power would lead to another cycle of conflict in the future. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue military operations until Hamas is removed from power. Israel is also demanding that Hamas disarm, release the remaining hostages, and exile its leadership. Hamas, on the other hand, has stated that it will only free the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, has been largely sidelined in discussions about Gazas post-war governance. Netanyahu has made clear that Israel will not allow the Palestinian Authority to return to power in the enclave. This has led to uncertainty over who, if anyone, could govern Gaza if Hamas is eventually ousted. The rare demonstrations of public dissent signal a growing frustration among civilians who have endured 17 months of war, relentless airstrikes from Israel and dire living conditions. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies South Korea is battling one of its worst wildfire crises in recent history, with massive infernos leaving the Gounsa Temple, which is more than 1,000 years old, in ruins. Some of the artefacts, including the seated stone Buddha were spared. Thats not all. Residents from the 600-year-old Andong Hahoe folk village, a Unesco World Heritage site were also evacuated read more Embers remain among the debris after most of the buildings were burned to the ground in a wildfire at Gounsa Temple in Uiseong on March 26, 2025. AFP South Korea is battling one of its worst wildfire crises in its recent history, with massive infernos tearing through an ancient temple, destroying national treasures, and consuming hundreds of structures. The fires, raging across the southeastern regions, have already claimed at least 26 lives and forced more than 28,000 residents to evacuate. Among the most heartbreaking losses is the destruction of the historic Gounsa Temple, a Buddhist site with over 1,300 years of history. Meanwhile, a 600-year-old Andong Hahoe folk village, a Unesco World Heritage site, was evacuated as fire crews scrambled to contain worsening wildfires. Advertisement With flames spreading fast, South Korea on Tuesday for the first time issued a heritage disaster crisis alert at the highest serious level across the country, prompting authorities to race to save its national treasures. Heres what we know about them. Fires engulf South Koreas historic temple As wildfires sweep through South Koreas southeastern town of Uiseong, a significant part of the centuries-old Gounsa Temple has been reduced to ashes. The temple, which housed designated national treasures, was among the latest cultural casualties of the devastating blaze. ANCIENT TEMPLE DESTROYED IN DEVASTATING WILDFIRE A devastating wildfire has destroyed much of the more than 1,000-year-old Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, South Korea, on March 26, 2025. The fire reduced most of the temple's buildings to ashes. At least 18 people have been killed in pic.twitter.com/VzFa6aOLcP Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) March 26, 2025 Originally built in 681 AD during the Shilla Dynasty, Gounsa Temple sits at the foot of Deungun Mountain. Its name, meaning Lonely Cloud Temple, mirrors its serene location. While none of its original buildings from that ancient era remain, the site had become home to several culturally significant structures built in later centuries. But as strong winds fanned the flames on Tuesday, the 1,300-year-old temple complex was engulfed in fire. Nearly 20 of its 30 buildings and structures were completely destroyed, including Gaunrua pavilion built in 1668 overlooking a streamand Yeonsujeon Hall, constructed in 1904 to commemorate the longevity of a king. Both structures were from the Joseon Dynasty, Koreas last ruling kingdom, and held the government designation of treasures, a title given to historically and artistically significant buildings, paintings, and cultural assets that receive state-level protection, as per the state-run Korea Heritage Service. Advertisement I went there this morning and found theyve been reduced to heaps of ashes, said Doryun, a senior monk who once lived at the temple for more than three years. I feel really empty. Life is transient, he told AP. Despite the devastation, one of Gounsas most revered artifactsa massive Buddha statuemiraculously survived. Workers had wrapped the stone figure in a fire-retardant blanket just hours before the flames reached it, preventing it from being consumed by the inferno. Workers had wrapped the stone figure in a fire-retardant blanket just hours before the flames reached it, preventing it from being consumed by the inferno. AFP Confirming the destruction, an official from the Korea Heritage Service said that the temple had been burned down. It is very heartbreaking and painful to see the precious temples that are over a thousand years old being lost, monk Deung-woon told AFP. Meanwhile, residents of the 600-year-old Andong Hahoe Folk Village, a Unesco World Heritage site located over 209 km southeast of Seoul, were forced to evacuate as the wildfire approached. Hahoe Folk Village, famed for its well-preserved traditional Korean houses, is a UNESCO world heritage site. It has been caught in the unprecendented South Korean wildfires. Image courtesy: UNESCO Hahoe Folk Village is famed for its well-preserved traditional Korean houses from the Joseon era, while another site on high alert is the Byeongsan Seowon, which is a Confucian academy, built in honour of scholar Yu Seong-ryong and his contributions to Korean history. Advertisement On social media, villagers described the blaze as the devil, expressing their frustration over the struggle to contain it, The New York Times reported. Rescue operation to save national treasures As wildfires raged out of control across Uiseong, the Korea Heritage Service raised the national heritage disaster crisis alert to serious for the first time. This designation required local governments to deploy additional manpower for emergency response efforts. The risk of fire damage to national heritage due to the large forest fires in Uiseong County and Andong City, as well as simultaneous forest fires occurring nationwide, is very high, a representative of the service told a local news outlet. #SouthKorea struggles to contain deadly forest #fires,video footage shows apocalyptic scenes.Hundreds of millions $ in damage.12 people killed in the fires,including 2 in #Andong city,3 in #Cheongsong county,4 in #Yeongyang county, 3 in #Yeongdeok county pic.twitter.com/MhZpe1yIkS Donato Yaakov Secchi (@doyaksec) March 25, 2025 By Wednesday, the Korea Heritage Service had relocated 15 historic artifacts, including wooden printing blocks and Buddha paintings, from major temples such as Bongjeongsa in Andong and Buseoksa in Yeongju, both in North Gyeongsang Province. Among the relocated items were 10 national treasures, including a seated stone Buddha statue from the now-destroyed Gounsa Temple in Uiseong. Additionally, five tangible cultural heritage items were moved to safeguard them from the advancing flames, Yonhap news agency reported. Unprecedented wildfires South Korea is facing what officials have called the worst wildfire disaster in the nations history, with blazes that began five days ago leaving a trail of destruction. Beyond the devastating loss of life and cultural heritage, the fires have destroyed more than 300 structuresincluding homes, factories, and vehiclesand have scorched around 88,000 acres of land, according to the Interior Ministry. Smoke rises from burning trees as a wildfire is reflected in the waters of the Nakdong River in Andong early on March 27, 2025. AFP Acting President Han Duck-soo described the crisis as unprecedented, saying the fires are rewriting the record books for the worst wildfires in our nations history. Advertisement Damages are snowballing, he warned. There are concerns that well have wildfire damages that weve never experienced before, so we must concentrate all our capabilities on putting out the fires in the rest of this week. Of the nearly 30 blazes that broke out since Friday, five were still burning early Thursday. The largest fire, covering approximately 82,000 acres, was only 44 percent contained. Efforts to control the flames have been hampered by strong winds, preventing the use of helicopters and drones. VIDEO: Helicopters carrying water buckets douse wildfires near the centuries-old Gounsa temple in Uiseong, South Korea. Authorities are struggling to control multiple wildfires in the southeast, which have been burning for days pic.twitter.com/4itFirhQ10 AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 25, 2025 The national weather agency predicted light rainfall in the affected areas by the end of the week, but officials remain doubtful it will be enough to make a difference. Experts point to higher temperatures, worsened by human-caused climate change, as a key factor behind the disaster. The independent research group Climate Central reported that these conditions have turned South Koreas dry landscapes into dangerous fire fuel, accelerating the scale and intensity of the wildfires. With input from agencies Open Instagram or X, and you will come across countless AI-generated images in the Ghibli art style. The internet is flooded with dreamy, watercolour-like landscapes and hand-drawn character portraits with expressive eyes, as users transform popular memes, iconic Bollywood movie scenes, and even everyday objects. If you have not joined the trend yet, heres how you can create them using ChatGPT read more Within hours of the launch, users began experimenting with prompts to test the AIs capabilities. X/@heyBarsee If you have scrolled through Instagram or X lately, you may have noticed an influx of AI-generated images in the Ghibli art style. These visuals, created using OpenAIs latest image-generation tool, have taken social media by storm. From dreamy, watercolour-style landscapes to hand-drawn character portraits with expressive eyes, the internet is now filled with artwork mimicking the beloved Ghibli aesthetic. ALSO READ | What is the controversial chubby filter that TikTok has taken down? Advertisement But what exactly is the Ghibli art style, and how are people recreating it using AI? Who can access this feature, and how have people embraced it? Lets take a look: What is Ghibli? Founded in 1985 by noted directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, and producer Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli is an animation studio known for its stunning visuals and compelling storytelling. The studio has gained a worldwide following for its hand-drawn animation, meticulous attention to detail, and emotionally rich narratives. Some of its most iconic films include My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Howls Moving Castle, Kikis Delivery Service, and Princess Mononoke. The name Ghibli comes from a Libyan Arabic word meaning a hot desert wind. It was also the name of the Italian aircraft Caproni Ca.309 Ghibli, which was used in World War II. A fan of aviation, Miyazaki named the studio to signify blowing a new wind through the anime industry, The Times of India reported. A Ghibli-style portrait captures the essence of Studio Ghiblis distinctive aesthetic. It features hand-drawn characters, soft pastel or muted colour tones, intricate details in both foreground and background and an overarching sense of magic or wonder. what if interstellar was a ghibli animation pic.twitter.com/AJsjpZ1RGK Kunal Bagaria (@kb24x7) March 26, 2025 Advertisement The appeal of the Ghibli animation lies in its ability to blend calmness with engaging storytelling. The signature style draws audiences into immersive worlds, earning the studio a devoted fanbase spanning millions. All time favourite bollywood trio movies in Ghibli style pic.twitter.com/p7WE6SD4VP Shubh (@kadaipaneeeer) March 26, 2025 How ChatGPT and AI made Ghibli Art a trend OpenAI made waves on Wednesday with the launch of its built-in image-generation feature. Introduced on Tuesday as part of GPT-4o, OpenAIs latest tool has amazed users with its ability to recreate the signature Ghibli aesthetic. While designed to produce high-quality stylised visuals, its unexpected proficiency in replicating the art style of legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has led to a viral trend. Within hours of the update going live, users began experimenting with prompts to test the AIs capabilities. It soon became evident that the model excelled at generating Studio Ghibli-inspired images. Advertisement It's been 24 hours since OpenAI unexpectedly shook the AI image world with 4o image generation. Here are the 14 most mindblowing examples so far (100% AI-generated): 1. Studio ghibli style memespic.twitter.com/E38mBnPnQh Barsee (@heyBarsee) March 26, 2025 Social media was then flooded with Ghibli-style versions of people, pets, fictional characters, and even everyday objects like coffee cups. From famous movie scenes to personal memories, proposals, and even moments of tragedy - everything is being transformed into Ghibli-style art, and users are embracing the trend. At OpenAI, we have long believed image generation should be a primary capability of our language models. Thats why weve built our most advanced image generator yet into GPT4o. The result - image generation that is not only beautiful, but useful, the company wrote. Advertisement OpenAI chief Sam Altman also commented on the new development, opting for a witty remark about himself rather than sharing an image. He wrote, Be me. Grind for a decade trying to help make superintelligence to cure cancer or whatever. Mostly no one cares for first 7.5 years, then for 2.5 years everyone hates you for everything. Wake up one day to hundreds of messages: look i made you into a twink ghibli style haha. Nobody asked for Bollywood movie scenes in Ghibli style but here they are. pic.twitter.com/umiDAA7LNu Vivek Choudhary (@ivivekch) March 26, 2025 Who can use this feature? OpenAI has launched a new image-generation feature in ChatGPT, powered by GPT-4o, allowing users to create visuals directly within the chatbot. Named Images in ChatGPT, the feature is accessible to all users, though free-tier users face restrictions due to high demand. Advertisement Initially, OpenAI planned to roll out the feature for Plus, Pro, Team, and Free users. However, in a later post on X, Sam Altman announced that access for free users had been delayed for a while. stop posting ghibli style images! pic.twitter.com/KIpLf58lDT joacod (@joacodok) March 26, 2025 By simply entering text prompts, users can generate images within the chatbot, customising aspects such as aspect ratio, colour schemes using hex codes, or even opting for transparent backgrounds. OpenAI also stated that ChatGPT4o can analyse and incorporate details from user-uploaded images, improving its ability to generate contextually relevant visuals. We trained our models on the joint distribution of online images and text, learning not just how images relate to language, but how they relate to each other, OpenAI wrote in a blog post. Advertisement stop posting ghibli style images! pic.twitter.com/KIpLf58lDT joacod (@joacodok) March 26, 2025 How to generate a Ghibli-styled image? ChatGPT-4o is accessible even with a free account, requiring only a Google ID login or a newly created OpenAI account. The AI chatbot operates quickly and reliably, though the free version comes with certain limitations that users should be aware of. To generate a Studio Ghibli-style AI image, follow these steps: Visit the ChatGPT website. Log in using your Google ID or create a new account. Once the ChatGPT interface appears, enter basic text prompts, including the phrase Studio Ghibli, to generate AI-stylised images. OpenAIs DALL-E image generation tool powers the creation of these Ghibli-style illustrations. The chatbot provides options to save the generated image or review the detailed prompt that helped create it. Popular Bollywood frames in Ghibli style. pic.twitter.com/Zz7KgwKN8D ishika.eth (@IshikaMukerji) March 26, 2025 Internets reaction to Ghibli-style AI art The feature has amused the internet, with users generating dozens of Ghibli-style artworks on ChatGPT and sharing them across social media platforms. One user posted on X, So youre telling me I can take a popular meme, transform it into Studio Ghibli style anime, and people will just like it? So youre telling me I can take a popular meme, transform it into Studio Ghibli style anime, and people will just like it? pic.twitter.com/2n3ulLOXVB Kaz (@btcKaz) March 26, 2025 Another user reacted to the update, writing, Is crazy!!!! Chatgpt has level up with this update. Offering a different view, one user criticised the trend, stating, You will never be able to replicate Ghibli, no matter how good you think your AI generated trash looks, for it fundamentally lacks all that makes a shot great; emotion, depth, the heart and soul only visible in the labour of an artist who wanted to create this specific frame. Does the Ghibli founder approve of it? As people continue to reimagine themselves in the Studio Ghibli universe, an old video of its co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki, has resurfaced. The 84-year-old legendary animator has never been a supporter of AI-generated imagery. A clip from the NHK documentary series NHK Special: Hayao Miyazaki - The One Who Never Ends shows Miyazaki addressing a group of students who proposed a machine to create animation. I am utterly disgusted. If you really want to make creepy stuff you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel this is an insult to life itself, he said. Taken from the Philippines Tagalog language, Gigil (pronounced ghee-gill) describes a feeling so intense that it gives us the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze whomever or whatever it is we find so adorable. This is the first time the Oxford English Dictionary has added untranslatable words, or those which do not have an English equivalent, into its dictionary. Find out what they are read more Taken from the Philippines' Tagalog language, gigil (pronounced ghee-gill). Image for Representation. Pixabay If youve ever felt an overwhelming urge to squeeze a babys chubby cheeks or tightly hug a fluffy puppy, theres now a word for it in the Oxford English Dictionary: gigil. Taken from the Philippines Tagalog language, gigil (pronounced ghee-gill) describes a feeling so intense that it gives us the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze whomever or whatever it is we find so adorable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With its recent addition to the Oxford Dictionary, gigil joins a growing list of untranslatable foreign words that have found a place in the dictionary for the first time. But why is Oxford incorporating words from other languages into its dictionary? And which other words have made the cut? Heres a closer look. Reaching English & beyond For the first time, words from languages around the world have been officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), as their creators acknowledge that these terms have become commonly used in English. Wouldnt it be useful for English speakers to have a specific word for sunlight dappling through leavesOr a word for the action of sitting outside enjoying a beer? the OED said in its latest update, highlighting the need for such linguistic borrowings. Taken from the Philippines Tagalog language, gigil describes a feeling so intense that it gives us the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze whomever or whatever it is we find so adorable. Representational Image/Pixabay The dictionary recognises that many of these additions are untranslatable wordsterms without direct English equivalentsthat have been adopted by speakers to fill a gap in the language. Sometimes, they do this with enough frequency that the borrowed word eventually becomes part of the vocabulary of their variety of English, Danica Salazar, OED executive editor, told The Independent. These new words come from diverse regions, including Southeast Asia, South Africa, and Ireland, reflecting the global nature of language evolution. Moving forward, these terms will be featured in OEDs latest editions, as the dictionary continues to grow and adapt to cultures around the world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also read: What is brain rot, the Oxford Dictionarys Word of the Year? Kaya toast, Otak Otak..Which other words were added by Oxford? South Africa The latest OED update features several words from South Africa, including the expressive exclamation Yoh!. Described as an imitative utterance, Yoh! is a cry used to convey a range of emotions, from surprise and wonder to admiration, shock, or distress, said OED executive editor Danica Salazar. Another South African addition is sharp-sharp, a versatile term with multiple meanings. First recorded in 1991, it is commonly used as a casual way to say hello or goodbye. More recently, since around 2018, the phrase has also been used to compliment someones style or to describe something as excellent or impressive. Malaysia and Singapore Malaysia and Singapore have also contributed new words to the OED, including alamak, an exclamation used to express surprise, shock, dismay, or outrage. Several beloved Southeast Asian foods have also been added. These include ketupat, a small rice cake wrapped and boiled in woven palm leaves; otak-otak, a dish made of ground fish or seafood mixed with spices and coconut milk; and nasi lemak, a fragrant Malay rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. Among them is kaya toast, a well-loved breakfast dish consisting of toasted bread spread with kayaa jam made from coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and pandan leaves. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Philippines Among the Philippine English entries is lumpia, a type of spring roll popular across East and Southeast Asia. These rolls, filled with minced meat, seafood, or vegetables, are sometimes deep-fried and typically served with dipping sauce. Other Filipino terms joining the dictionary include videokethe localised version of karaoke, which features a scoring systemand salakot, a lightweight, wide-brimmed hat often worn by farmers. The OED has also recognised unique Philippine uses of English words, such as terror, which is sometimes used to describe a particularly strict or demanding teacher. Mandarin Influence Several popular Mandarin-influenced dishes have also been added to the OED. Such as the fish head curry, a fusion dish blending Chinese and South Indian influences, where a fish head is simmered in a tamarind-based curry, and steamboat, a communal dining experience where thinly sliced meat and vegetables are cooked in a simmering broth at the table. With input from agencies Indias Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets just received a boost with General Electric (GE) finally sending the first of 99 F-404 jet engines. State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which manufactures the Tejas, had in 2021 signed a $716 million deal with GE. So why the delay? And why is the delivery of these engines so important? read more General Electric (GE) has finally begun delivering jet engines for Indias Tejas Mk-1A fighter jet. According to several media reports, the delivery of the first F-404 engine for the craft comes after a long delay. The Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) is manufactured by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It has witnessed repeated delays to the frustration of many in the armed forces. But what do we know about the Tejas Mk1 A fighter? Why so many delays? Why is the delivery of the engines so important? Advertisement Lets take a closer look: What do we know about Tejas LCA? The Tejas LCA is an indigenous single-engine, multi-role fighter. It was jointly developed by HAL and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). It plays various parts in the Indian Air Force including air defence, maritime reconnaissance, and strike missions. India is inducting more and more Tejas fighter jets into the IAF as a replacement for the Soviet MiG21s which have been dubbed flying coffins due to their propensity to crash. The Mk-1A fighter jet is a variant of the Tejas LCA. As per Asian Age, the Mk-1A is equipped with enhanced electronic radar, warfare and communication systems, additional combat capabilities and improved maintenance features. It had its maiden flight in March 2024. It was a successful sortie with a flying time of 18 minutes, HAL said in a statement as per The Print. What about the delays? As per Asian Age, the Indian Air Force had placed an order for 83 LCA Mk-1A fighter jets 73 Tejas Mk-1A and 10 trainer aircraft in February 2021 valued at Rs 48,000 crore. The Defence Acquisition Council later sanctioned the purchase of 97 more Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets. As per The Print, HAL was to deliver the first Tejas craft within three years of signing the contract. However, not a single fighter jet under these contracts has yet been delivered to the IAF. HAL has passed the buck for the delays in giving the IAF the Tejas craft on to General Electric. Advertisement GE in turn has blamed supply chain issues in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. 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. The GE F-404 jet engine. Image courtesy: geaerospace.com 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. As per Eurasian Times, HAL and GE in 2021 signed a $716 million deal for 99 engines F-404 jet engines. Advertisement But 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. Our proprietary lean operating model, flight deck, helped us alleviate bottlenecks and identify solutions to improve manufacturing processes and turnaround time, it said. Then, on Tuesday, General Electric on Tuesday announced it had begun delivering the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL. 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. Advertisement 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, GE has said. 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. The engine is expected to arrive in India by April. A source told the newspaper that GE is expected to deliver 12 engines this year. Advertisement However, the source added that after the engine arrives, it will undergo more testing. The source said that HAL cannot confirm when it will give the engine to the IAF. As per The Times of India, GE has vowed to deliver 20 engines to HAL every year from 2026. 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. Why are the deliveries of Tejas and jet engines so important? Because Indias Air Force is currently under strength. Though the Indian Air Force has a sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons, it is currently sitting at just 30 squadrons, as per India Today. Each squadron comprises 18 aircraft. Meanwhile, four more IAF squadrons are slated to retire soon. The Hindu earlier quoted HAL chairman and managing director DK Sunil as saying that his firm would give the Indian Air Force a dozen Tejas MK-1A fighter jets in 2025. As per CNBC, HAL under the contract is supposed to deliver 16 Tejas jets to the IAF every year. However, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has said that the IAF needs to add at least 35 to 40 fighter jets every year to make up the shortfall. Though Singh said HAL has vowed to manufacture 24 Tejas Mk-1A planes next year, he had also slammed the state-run firm over the repeated delays in delivery of the Tejas fighter jets. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has said that the IAF needs to add at least 35 to 40 fighter jets every year to make up the shortfall in its overall strength. Image courtesy: Indian Air Force Singh pointed out that the Indian Air Force is still waiting for the full complement of 40 HAL jets it had ordered in 2010. We should go back to 1984, when we conceived that aircraft. The first aircraft flew in 2001, 17 years later. The induction started another 15 years later, in 2016. Today, we are in 2024. I do not have the first 40 aircraft also, so this is the production capability, the IAF chief was quoted as saying by India Today. Technology delayed is technology denied, he added. As per The Times of India, HAL has only given the Indian Air Force 38 out of 40 jets it ordered under contracts in 2006 and 2010. Singh also spoke about the need to bring in private firms. I am very convinced that we need to get some private players in. We need to have competition. We need to have multiple sources available so that people are wary of losing their orders. Otherwise, things will not change, the Air Chief Marshal said. A video of Singh during the Aero India Show on Bengaluru, in which he remarked that he had no confidence in HAL, also went viral. I can only share our concerns and requirements At this point, I have no confidence in HAL, which is not a good situation, Singh said. HAL is our own company. We all have worked there. I have also served in HAL as a temporary pilotBut I find that we are just not in mission mode, Singh added. Singhs remarks gain significance in the backdrop of China and Pakistan, who are iron brothers and all-weather friends, are busy boosting their respective air forces. A simultaneous air attack from both countries would leave India at a severe disadvantage when it comes to the numbers game. As far as China is concerned, it is not just the numbers, even the technology is growing at a very rapid pace. We just saw the recent flight of the new generation fighter that they have pulled out, Singh was quoted as saying by India Today. China recently unveiled a sixth-generation fighter jet though some experts remain sceptical of Beijings claims. The United States recently announced that Boeing will manufacture its sixth-generation fighter plane known as the F-47. India, meanwhile, is working on an indigenous fifth-generation generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft ( AMCA) after a nod last year from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The AMCA is designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Tejas LCA, meanwhile, is considered only a 4.5- generation fighter plane. The United States and Russia have also offered to let India buy the F-35 and SU-57 Sukhoi both of which are fifth-generation fighters. Russias Su-57 and USAs F-35 two fifth-generation fighter aircrafts recently shared an airstrip for the first time at the Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru. Image courtesy: Moneycontrol. Sunil, speaking to reporters at Aero India 2025, defended HAL saying that the delay is not simply attributable to just I would say laziness on part of the industry. There have been technical issues which have got sorted out. The concern of the Air Chief is understandable, Sunil told reporters. We have now promised that we will have all the structures ready. We have conveyed this. We have had multiple meetings at different levels. We have conveyed this. We are building this. And once the engines are available, this will start rolling out. I think the concern is well understood. There is no doubt on that and as a team, all of us are focusedwe will start delivering the aircraft, he added. With inputs from agencies A parliamentary panel in India has reportedly supported remote voting for non-resident Indians (NRIs). Currently, these overseas electors can cast their ballot only in person. Due to high travel costs, the NRI voter turnout is quite poor read more An election official marks the finger of a Kashmiri migrant with indelible ink at a special polling booth set up for Kashmiri migrants during the fourth phase of the general election in New Delhi, May 13, 2024. File Photo/Reuters The topic of the voting rights of overseas voters is once again in the spotlight. While India has allowed non-resident Indians (NRIs) to exercise their franchise, they can only cast their votes in person. The high cost of travel prevents many Indians living abroad from returning to their constituencies and voting. This has led to calls for giving them the right to vote through proxy voting or an electronic ballot system. Now, a parliamentary panel has reportedly endorsed remote voting for NRIs. Advertisement Lets take a closer look. The voting rights of NRIs Non-resident Indians are known as overseas electors. An overseas voter must be a citizen of India and have not acquired citizenship of another country, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Overseas voters are absenting from his place of ordinary residence in India owing to his employment, education. An NRI can enrol as a voter in the constituency where their Indian residence, as listed in their passports, is located, says the ECI. In 2010, India amended the Representation of the People Act to enable eligible NRIs who had lived in a foreign country for over six months to vote. Overseas electors have had the right to cast their ballot since 2011 but on the condition that they have to visit the polling booth in person. With an estimated 1.8 crore NRIs spread across the world, India has the largest diaspora in the world. They mainly reside in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Gulf states, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Editors Picks 1 Why low voter turnout is not just a 2024 problem There was a huge dip in overseas voter turnout in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. As per a statistical report shared by the ECI, 1,19,374 NRIs were enrolled in the voter list, but just 2,958 turned up at their polling booths to exercise their franchise, reported Indian Express. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 25,606 of the 99,844 registered overseas voters had cast their ballot. Most of these voters 25,534 were from Kerala. Advertisement A major reason for the low NRI registration and poor overseas voter turnout is the mandate to vote in person. Debate over NRI remote voting The Election Commission has been exploring other ways to enable overseas voters to exercise their franchise. Earlier in 2014, the poll body had formed a panel on the Supreme Courts direction to look into options for overseas electors. The committee came up with two remote voting methods e-postal ballot and proxy voting. The Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) involves the overseas voter obtaining the ballot electronically. They can then cast their vote on the ballot printout and return it with an attested declaration, either by an ordinary post or drop it at an Indian Embassy, as per The Hindu. Advertisement Proxy voting allows voters to appoint an individual to vote on their behalf. A woman gets her finger ink marked as she prepares to vote at a polling station, during the second phase of the general elections, at Bengaluru, in Karnataka, India April 26, 2024. File Photo/Reuters Except for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), all political parties consulted by the ECI at the time had opposed proxy voting. In 2018, the Lok Sabha passed the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill that granted the NRIs the right to vote through a proxy. However, the proposed legislation did not reach the Rajya Sabha and eventually lapsed. Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor in an opinion piece for ThePrint at the time had objected to proxy voting, saying it is susceptible to misuse and electoral fraud. Will NRIs be able to vote remotely? The Parliamentary Panel on External Affairs, headed by Congress Tharoor, has called for empowering overseas electors to vote remotely through proxy voting or ETPBS, reported Economic Times (ET). The panel is slated to submit its report on the Indian diaspora on Thursday (March 27). As per ET, it has suggested proxy voting or e-postal ballots for NRIs, pointing out that the electoral rights of overseas voters appear sidelined due to the current system. Advertisement In its report, the panel also raised concerns about the surge in NRIs who have abandoned their Indian citizenship or have dual nationality. The panel has urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to raise the matter of the NRI voting rights with the Law Ministry and the ECI. The issue is currently being reviewed by the Law Ministry. Former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has also previously batted for enabling NRIs to vote remotely. Indias growing aspirations for its rightful place in the world order require (us) to show deep commitment to the Election Commissions moto of No voter to be left behind (and) it is, therefore, the right time to enable our Non-Resident Indians to vote from outside the country, he said in his farewell address in February. Advertisement With inputs from agencies A big row has erupted over the Yemen war plan details revealed on a Signal group chat, which inadvertently involved The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg. Donald Trumps officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, insist that the messages didnt contain any classified information. But is that really the case? read more US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shared critical details of a military operation carried out in Yemen on a group chat on the Signal app. Reuters The conversation was candid and sensitive, but as the president and national security advisor stated, no classified information was shared. Nobodys texting war plans. As a matter of fact, they even changed the title to attack plans, because they know its not war plans. Theres no units, no locations, no routes, no flight paths, no sources, no methods, no classified information. Now, it wasnt classified, as I understand it. There was no classified information. There was no problem, and the attack was a tremendous success. So I can only go by what Ive been told. I wasnt involved in it, but I was told byand the other people werent involved at all. But I feel very comfortable, actually. Advertisement Following the shocking Yemen war plan leak, which was reported on Monday (March 24), Donald Trumps White House including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Defence Secretary Hegseth, and even the US president has repeatedly argued that there was no classified information in the now-infamous group chat of national security officials, along with The Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. For those who are waking up to this news, on Monday, The Atlantic published plans for US strikes in Yemen that its editor-in-chief received after he was mistakenly added to a chat group of top Trump officials. Initially, Goldberg withheld specific information related to weapons and to the timing of attacks. However, following the numerous assertions from the Trump administration that the chats didnt contain any classified information, on March 26, The Atlantic published additional details of the chats. This situation has led many to ask: what is classified information? Who decides whether that information will be classified or not? And what happens to those who leak such details? What new details did The Atlantic publish? On March 26, The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg published new details of the Yemen war chat on the Houthi PC small group on Signal in which he was inadvertently added by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. On March 15, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth sent a message to the group at 11.44 am local time, Weather is favourable. Just confirmed w/CENTCOM we are a go for mission launch. The 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). Advertisement What this meant was that the first F-18 warplanes would launch at 12:15 pm, with the first window for strikes starting an hour and a half later the same time that MQ-9 Reaper drones would be launched. More F-18s were set to launch at 2:10 pm in a second strike package, with drones over the target five minutes later. This is when the first bombs will definitely drop, pending earlier trigger based targets, Hegseth said. Part of the Signal chat shared with Atlantic journalist. Image courtesy: Jeffrey Goldberg The second wave of F-18 strikes was to start at 3:36 pm the same time that the first sea-based Tomahawk cruise missiles were to launch, the defence secretary wrote. We are currently clean on OPSEC, he added a reference to operational security, which in fact had been compromised due to Goldbergs presence in the chat. Advertisement As The Atlantic reports, Waltz followed up with his message at 1.48 pm with real-time intelligence about conditions at the attack site. VP. Building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID. Pete, Kurilla, the IC, amazing job. This, however, confused US Vice President JD Vance, who responded with a what? Responding to this, Waltz wrote, 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. What has been the White Houses response to the leak? Anger, denial and indignation thats how Trumps team has reacted to the leak, with many even attacking the credibility of Goldberg. In the aftermath of the leak, Hegseth fended off questions on the issue, saying: Im incredibly proud of the courage and skill of the troops. And they are ongoing and continue to be devastatingly effective. The last place I would want to be right now is a Houthi in Yemen who wants to disrupt freedom of navigation, so the skill and courage of our troops is on full display. Advertisement When pushed on the leak, Hegseth said that nobody was texting war plans. Nobody was texting war plans and thats all I have to say about that. He further took jabs at Goldberg, who he described as deceitful and highly discredited. Hegseth later addressed the controversy on X, posting: 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 sh**ty 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. As I type this, my team and I are travelling the INDOPACOM 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. Advertisement One more time I see war plans every single day. No one is texting war plans. pic.twitter.com/ujU7IvHGmL Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) March 26, 2025 Waltz, however, seemed less defiant in his stance. He said he took full responsibility and that he was investigating how Goldberg had gained access to the chat. I take full responsibility. I built the group, Waltz told Fox News Ingraham Angle on Tuesday. Its embarrassing. Were going to get to the bottom of it. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard firmly denied that the messages shared on the Signal group contained classified material in a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Reuters During a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who were part of the group chat, firmly denied that the messages contained classified material. They 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 told the committee. Ratcliffe, echoing this stance, maintained that no sensitive intelligence information from the CIA or the broader intelligence community was involved. However, when asked 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. When asked whether such details should be considered classified, Gabbard deferred, stating, I defer to the Secretary of Defence and the National Security Council on that question, as per reports by CNN. US President Trump, himself, asserted that no classified information had been shared and that it was all a witch hunt. President Trump on Signal leak: "I think it's a witch hunt." pic.twitter.com/dhXQpixHuM CSPAN (@cspan) March 26, 2025 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also insisted that no classified information was shared. There was no classified information transmitted, Leavitt told reporters. There were no war plans discussed. She even posted on X, 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. Were the details of the attack not classified? While Trump and his officials insist that the details were not classified, security experts and former defence officials state otherwise. As the New York Times wrote, To many of the people who worked in the classified world of military and intelligence operations, you dont need a fancy red folder or special government markings to know the plans for an upcoming attack are highly classified. Many sources within the government said that the details Hegseth shared on the group were the kind that a commander would be giving to the president in a highly classified setting as the operation unfolded. Ryan Goodman, a law professor who formerly worked at the Pentagon, told The Guardian: The Atlantic has now published the Signal texts with attack plans in response to administration denials. I worked at the Pentagon. If information like this is not classified, nothing is. If Hegseth is claiming he declassified this information, he should be shown the door for having done so. Mick Mulroy, a former Pentagon official in the first Trump administration, also told The New York Times, It is highly classified and protected. Disclosure would compromise the operation and put lives at risk. Next to nuclear and covert operations, this information is the most protected. The US government uses three levels of classification to designate how sensitive certain information is: confidential, secret and top secret. Representational image/Pixabay But how is information classified and whos in charge? The US government uses three levels of classification to designate how sensitive certain information is: confidential, secret and top secret. The lowest level, confidential, designates information that if released could damage US national security. The other designations refer to information the disclosure of which could cause serious (secret) or exceptionally grave (top secret) damage to national security. At the top secret level, some information is compartmented. This means only certain people who have a top secret security clearance may view it. And who decides whats confidential, secret and top secret? Executive Order 13256 outlines who has the power. Authority to take certain pieces of information and classify them as top secret is given only to specific individuals. They include the president and vice president, agency heads and those specifically designated by authorities outlined in the executive order. Whats the punishment for leaking classified information? Depending on the nature of the information leaked, punishments can vary from officials losing their jobs to being jailed. The primary laws governing the disclosure of classified information are the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982. For instance, in 2024, Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old military cyber-specialist, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified documents about the war in Ukraine and other military secrets. With inputs from agencies One of Elon Musks fans has created a music video celebrating the billionaires master plan to save our lives. Shot on a Tesla Cybertrucks back, the nearly three-minute video is difficult to watch for many. Tesla haters are criticising the video, calling it a leaked audition video from a woman hoping to bear Elons 53rd child read more The video was created by Alessandra Basher, who describes herself as a stay-at-home mom with dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. Image Courtesy: @alessandrajokes/X Elon Musk has a superfan. She even made a music video that was shot on a Tesla Cybertrucks back. The music video celebrates the billionaires master plan to save our lives. Many people, however, find the nearly three-minute video difficult to watch. Tesla haters are criticising the video, asking whether it was a leaked audition video from a woman hoping to bear Elons 53rd child. The Musk song The video was created by Alessandra Basher, who describes herself as a stay-at-home mom with dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian. She shared the video on Sunday with her 5,600 followers on X. Advertisement SpaceX flies / Tesla self-drives / Starlink beams with laser dreams / hes got a master plan for our lives, Basher sings into a mic stand on the back of a Cybertruck while sporting a cowboy hat and a Dogefather T-shirt with Musks face. We thank you, Elon Musk. pic.twitter.com/6JwIgyB8Jy Alessandra Basher All in Tesla Humor (@alessandrajokes) March 24, 2025 The song also attributes the billionaire to eliminating woke pain and securing humanitys survival by making kids to keep mankind alive, interspersed with videos of Musk appearing at Trump rallies. Other lines include: One more kid, one more brand, launching rockets with just one hand. Her video has received 1.8 million views so far. The billionaire has not yet responded. Also read: The Anti Elon Tesla Club: How Tesla EV owners are distancing themselves from Musk over ties with Trump Backlash The music video didnt sit well with others, even users on Musks own social media platform, X. That is so much cringe, an X user reacted to the video, as another one added, Theres cringe. And then theres this s***. Advertisement Is this for real or are you just trying to be Elons next baby mama? Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) March 24, 2025 I got 30 seconds in and wanted to blow my brains out Formerly Trucks (@FormerlyTrucks) March 25, 2025 Advertisement A netizen wrote, Literally the most cringe thing on the internet right now, and another one said, Cant tell if this is parody. But its definitely creepy either way. this is the worst thing ever done Fight Back Podcast (@ShieldsClips) March 26, 2025 Huge Elon fan but I hated every second of this, someone said, while others mused whether the video was a satire. I thought this was satire for sure, but its obviously impossible to tell in these ridiculous times, another person chimed in. I'm a big Elon fan, but this is just edging into creepy territory. Remember when they had the little school kids chanting O-BA-MA and there were songs that sounded like hymns worshipping Obama ? This is getting pretty close to that blasphemy realm, too. Thank God FOR Elon. Bob Marley (@BobMarley164269) March 24, 2025 Advertisement Basher said she was compelled to write the song because of the nonsense hate Musk is receiving for his leading role in gutting the federal government on behalf of the Trump administration. Thank you for all the support! And for the Tesla haters telling on the comments that I'm trying to call Elon's attention and have his babies: I'm already married (12 years and strong), I'm 46 years old, I have 2 amazing kids, I adore my husband and my kinked Fallopian tubes are Alessandra Basher All in Tesla Humor (@alessandrajokes) March 24, 2025 After facing backlash, Basher fired back in a follow-up post, Im not trying to have a baby with Elon. Im just having fun creating and performing a song to say thanks for what he did and is doing for this country and the world. I had to do this because all the nonsense hate he is getting. Protests against Tesla Cybertrucks set ablaze. Bullets and Molotov cocktails were aimed at Tesla showrooms. Attacks against properties bearing Elon Musks electric vehicle companys logo are becoming more frequent both domestically and abroad. Tesla shops, auto lots, charging stations, and privately owned vehicles have all been attacked, however no injuries have been reported. Theres been a clear uptick since President Donald Trump took office and empowered Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency thats slashing government spending. Numerous nonviolent protests have been planned by Musks critics at Tesla manufacturing and dealerships in North America and Europe. A US senator who had a falling out with Musk is among the Tesla owners who have pledged to sell their cars. The attacks are also keeping law enforcement busy. A woman was charged by Colorado prosecutors last month in relation to assaults on Tesla stores, which included the spray-painting of the words Nazi cars on a building and the throwing of Molotov cocktails at cars. Additionally, a man who allegedly set fire to Tesla charging stations close to Charleston was arrested by federal officials in South Carolina two weeks ago. In an affidavit, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent stated that officials discovered anti-government and anti-Doge writings in his wallet and bedroom. The statement made mention of sending a message based on these beliefs, the agent wrote. 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 earlier, 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. According to experts, it is now difficult to predict whether the recent wave of incidents will develop into a long-term trend. With inputs from agencies Was your GPay or PhonePe down? Digital transactions were interrupted on Wednesday due to a major technical glitch in the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) across India. As per Downdetector, more than 3,000 users complained about the downtime. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) admitted to the issue and assured users that it had been resolved read more Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services were disrupted on Wednesday evening, preventing hundreds of customers from conducting financial transactions using a number of mobile applications. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which manages UPI operations, admitted to the issue and assured users that it had been resolved. Though the outage was short, it annoyed users who depend on digital payments for regular transactions. The UPI outage Users were unable to complete digital transactions on Wednesday due to a major technical glitch that interrupted Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services across India. Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm were among the well-known UPI apps that were impacted. Advertisement Over 72 per cent of Google Pay users experienced problems with payments, followed by website access (14 per cent), and app-related issues (14 per cent). There were also issues with Paytm; 86 per cent of the complaints were about payments, and nine per cent and six per cent, respectively, were about login and purchasing features. Eighty-four per cent of the complaints about UPI were related to unsuccessful payments, as per Moneycontrol. Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm were among the well-known UPI apps that were impacted. Representational image According to Downdetector graphs, the problems seem to have begun in the late afternoon, as complaints began to spike at around 7 PM. The platform, which monitors service outages, received an influx of user complaints regarding unsuccessful transactions and connectivity problems. According to the platform, more than 3,000 users complained about the UPI downtime. Users frustration Though it was temporary, the outage caused frustration among users, who shared their experience on social media. A netizen wrote, For the first time in my life Ive experienced UPI downtime. Not Banks, or gateways, but @UPI_NPCI itself btw, uptime was 100% in feb, while another one added, UPI hi down ho gaya, 2 dost pani puri kha ke dukan pr khade hai 30 min se." For the first time in my life I've experienced UPI downtime. Not Banks, or gateways, but @UPI_NPCI itself btw, uptime was 100% in feb pic.twitter.com/UkNpxC2KSg Anas Khan (@AnxKhn) March 26, 2025 Advertisement A third user quipped, None of the UPI apps are working. UPI system is down i think." @UPI_NPCI UPI down ho gya hai sir, shop wale ne payment ke liye rok rakha hai Cash ki ab yaad aa rhi hai #phonepe #gpay #paytm #upidown Hrideshwar (@Rahulboy2) March 26, 2025 UPI is down for the first time & it is already showing an impact. Most of us already stopped carrying liquid cash & this downtime has created a do or die situation Elders were right about carrying cash pic.twitter.com/7QBSnfwNXr Yaswanth Sai Palaghat (@yaswanthtweet) March 26, 2025 Responding to the user, UPI reacted from its official X handle, Hi, thank you for reaching out to us. We humbly request you to get in touch with your respective bank for better assistance in this regard." Advertisement Services restored The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) subsequently confirmed that it had experienced intermittent technical issues which have now been fixed. NPCI had faced intermittent technical issues owing to which UPI had partial decline. The same has been addressed now and the system has stabilised. Regret the inconvenience," NPCI said. NPCI had faced intermittent technical issues owing to which UPI had partial decline. The same has been addressed now and the system has stabilised. Regret the inconvenience. NPCI (@NPCI_NPCI) March 26, 2025 UPI and its popularity UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is a payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). With their phone numbers or distinct UPI IDs, individuals can send and receive money instantly. In contrast to other payment options such as Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), UPI enables users and merchants to request payments by only sending a message via their banking app. The Finance Ministry reported on Thursday that Januarys UPI transactions reached a record-breaking 16.99 billion, with a total value of almost Rs 23.48 lakh crore. According to the finance ministry, the digital payments landscape has shown impressive growth for 20232024, as reported by PTI. As per the report, the Unified Payments Interface continues to be the backbone of Indias digital payment ecosystem, accounting for 80 per cent of all retail payments made there. During FY 2425 (till January 2025), P2M transactions accounted for 62.35 percent of the total UPI volume, while P2P transactions contributed 37.65 percent, according to the report. On the other hand, the ministry said in a statement that UPI transactions reached a record 16.73 billion in December, representing an increase of eight per cent over the previous month. UPIs success is largely due to the fact that it is completely free. Users wont be charged extra by NPCI for transferring any amount of money at any time. Furthermore, because there is no minimum transaction restriction, it is widely utilised for small payments at local stores. Plus, UPI has a useful AutoPay function that enables users to schedule automatic payments for subscriptions and invoices, streamlining and simplifying transactions. The RBI has put strict security procedures and regulations in place to protect UPI payments, guaranteeing the security of your money and personal information. To protect sensitive data, such as user identities and transaction details, during transmission, UPI uses cutting-edge encryption technologies like TLS, AES, and PKI. Furthermore, UPI lowers the danger of data exposure and unauthorised access by using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) in place of exchanging bank account information. With inputs from agencies Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and PhD student at Tufts University, was arrested by plainclothes immigration officers in Somerville, Massachusetts, on March 26. The US Department of Homeland Security alleges she engaged in activities supporting Hamas, leading to her visa termination, though no charges have been filed read more Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was taken into custody by ICE agents near her home on Tuesday. X Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and doctoral student at Tufts University, was ambushed by federal immigration officers near her off-campus residence in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Tuesday. The incident has raised concerns among legal experts, university officials, and civil rights advocates about the circumstances of her detention and the legal basis for her arrest. Ozturk, a Muslim student, was reportedly heading to an Iftar gathering to break her Ramzan fast when she was confronted by plainclothes agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Advertisement According to her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, Ozturk was in possession of a valid student visa at the time of her detention. Despite this, she was physically restrained, handcuffed and taken into custody without an immediate explanation. Arrest video sparks scrutiny Surveillance footage from the neighbourhood captured the moments leading up to Ozturks arrest. In the video, a man dressed in casual clothing waves at her before stepping in her path to prevent her from walking away. When she attempts to manoeuvre around him, he blocks her again and engages her in a brief exchange before suddenly grabbing her hands. Startled, she lets out a scream, asking, Whats going on? as additional agents move in to restrain her. One officer can be heard saying, Were the police, relax, while another reassures her, OK, its fine. The officers, all in plainclothes, covered their faces with cloth masks and sunglasses before placing Ozturk in an unmarked SUV and driving away. The video has since gone viral, prompting widespread criticism of the manner in which the arrest was conducted. 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 Advertisement Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell called the footage disturbing, adding, 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. This isnt public safety, its intimidation that will, and should, be closely scrutinised in court. What allegations Ozturk faces Federal authorities claim that Ozturk had engaged in activities in support of Hamas, which resulted in the revocation of her visa. A spokesperson for DHS stated that the termination of her visa was grounds for removal. However, no specific evidence has been publicly provided to substantiate these allegations, and no formal charges have been filed against her. On Tuesday night, Ozturks legal team filed a petition in the Federal District Court in Massachusetts challenging the legality of her detention. Judge Indira Talwani issued an order preventing the government from transferring her out of the state without prior written notice. Advertisement However, it remains unclear whether this order was honoured. 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, US, March 26, 2025. File Image/Reuters By Wednesday, records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) showed that Ozturk had been moved to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana, raising concerns that she was relocated before the courts directive could take effect. Like all the other immigration cases related to international students and activists who have spoken up about the atrocities in Palestine, the government throws around wild accusations but provides no evidence, said Khanbabai. We hope Rumeysa will be released immediately. How the university reacted Tufts University was quick to respond to the arrest, stating that administrators had no prior knowledge of the federal governments plans. In an email to students and faculty, Tufts President Sunil Kumar stated, We 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. He added, From what we have been told subsequently, the students visa status has been terminated, and we seek to confirm whether that information is true. Advertisement Massive rally underway in Somerville after ICE took a Tufts University student into custody. A DHS spokesperson says Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national, engaged in activities in support of Hamas. Her supporters say she was detained because of her pro-Palestinian views. pic.twitter.com/ZWG4kkA0Jh Rob Way (@RobWayTV) March 26, 2025 In a follow-up statement on Wednesday, Kumar acknowledged the distress caused by Ozturks arrest, stating, We recognise how frightening and distressing this situation is for her, her loved ones, and the larger community here at Tufts, especially our international students, staff, and faculty who may be feeling vulnerable or unsettled by these events. Advertisement The Massachusetts chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has condemned the arrest. Jessie Rossman, the organisations legal director, remarked, Nobody should be disappeared from the streets of Somerville or anywhere in America. The government must immediately release her to her friends and community in Massachusetts. Who is Rumeysa Ozturk? Ozturks arrest is part of a growing pattern of immigration crackdowns under the Trump administration, particularly against international students with affiliations to pro-Palestinian activism. She is among several foreign nationals detained in recent months, including Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and activist, and Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian doctoral student at the University of Alabama. Trumps executive order on January 29 outlined a commitment to using all available and appropriate legal tools to combat antisemitism, including the removal of foreign nationals alleged to be involved in unlawful antisemitic harassment and violence. Civil liberties advocates argue that the broad language of the order has allowed the government to target students and activists without due process. A prominent conservative watchdog group, Canary Mission, which has been accused of doxxing pro-Palestinian activists, published Ozturks name and photo, alleging that she had engaged in anti-Israel activism in March 2024. Her attorney, however, contends that she is being unfairly targeted for expressing her political views, particularly in light of an op-ed she co-authored in the Tufts student newspaper criticising the universitys response to calls for divestment from companies linked to Israel. Ozturks former professor from Istanbul Sehir University, Fatima Tuba Yaylaci, described her as a compassionate scholar dedicated to human rights. She is a person who wouldnt hurt a soul, Quoted by The New York Times, Yaylaci said. She is extremely sensitive about human rights, about not hurting people, about diversity. She is a person who wants to include everyone. As protests against her detention mount, an emergency rally was organised at Powder House Square in Somerville. Standing with thousands of Somerville residents to denounce the sickening, unlawful abduction of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk by masked federal agents last night. We need to bring Rumeysa home and organize a coordinated defense of our immigrant neighbors and our rights. pic.twitter.com/LSGLLlraIi Mike Connolly (@MikeConnollyMA) March 27, 2025 Supporters, civil rights organisations, and fellow students are demanding her immediate release and a transparent review of the legal basis for her arrest. With inputs from agencies Kathua has become a key infiltration route for Pakistan-based terrorists trying to reach Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar, and further into Kashmir. A series of terror incidents over the past year highlights this trend, prompting security forces to intensify operations to eliminate the threat read more At least two terrorists were eliminated by security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district on Thursday (March 27) in a fresh encounter. A major counter-terror operation is underway in the region for the past four days. According to reports, three cops were killed during the gunfight, while two others sustained injuries. The two injured personnel belonged to Jammu and Kashmir Polices Special Operation Group (SOG). There are reports that four to five terrorists were hiding in a densely forested area in the Juthana area. Advertisement The gunfight began when the security forces spotted the terrorists near Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh. Earlier on Sunday, security forces had spotted the terrorists some 30km away from the area, in the Hiranagar sector. The terrorists were earlier spotted on Sunday: Sources Officials told news agency PTI that reinforcements were sent to the area, and an exchange of fire was ongoing when the last reports came in. The terrorists are believed to be the same group that clashed with security forces on Sunday, an incident that left a minor girl injured. It was also reported that the militants may have tried to take some civilians hostage that day. The Border Security Force (BSF) earlier heightened vigilance along the Pakistan border, as intelligence reports warn of more terrorists attempting infiltration. According to sources, the National Security Guard (NSG), the Indian Army, the BSF and local police are taking part in this operation, supported by helicopters, UAVs, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs. Kathua has become a key infiltration route for Pakistan-based terrorists trying to reach Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar, and further into Kashmir. A series of terror incidents over the past year highlights this trend, prompting security forces to intensify operations to eliminate the threat. Earlier this month, security forces killed a terrorist in Kupwara. In February, an Army vehicle was attacked in Rajouris Sunderbani area, triggering a cordon and search operation. Advertisement According to Army data, 75 terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024, with 60 per cent identified as Pakistani nationals. Out of these 75, 17 were killed while crossing the border, while 26 were killed during operations inside the union territory. (With inputs from agencies) An Indian prisoner has died by suspected suicide in Karachis Malir jail, according to prison officials. The incident occurred between the night of 24 and 25 March, as confirmed by Malir Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah. read more Indian prisoner in Karachi jail dies by suspected suicide, says prison authorities. Image: X An Indian prisoner died by a suspected suicide in Karachis Malir jail, Geo TV reported, citing prison officials. Malir Jail Superintendent Arshad Shah said that the alleged suicide occurred between the night of 24 and 25 March. The deceased inmate has been identified as Gaurav, son of Ram Anand. He was sent to Malir jail on 2 February 2022 by a civil judge. The prison authorities said Gaurav was found hanging with a rope in the washroom of the barrack, where other Indian prisoners are also held. Advertisement Jail authorities said the duty doctor examined Gaurav and declared him dead at around 2:20 am. The duty magistrate then conducted an inquest and ordered the body to be kept in a morgue until further instructions. After confirming his death, the jail medical staff moved the body to Jinnah Hospital for legal procedures and later to Edhi Mortuary in Sohrab Goth. The official said that an autopsy will be conducted under the magistrates supervision. Exchange of list of prisoners on New Year In January, Pakistan and India exchanged lists of nuclear installations and prisoners on New Years Day. Both countries shared the lists through diplomatic channels as part of the 2008 Consular Access Agreement. Under this agreement, they must exchange prisoner lists every year on 1 January and 1 July. Pakistan provided India with a list of 266 Indian prisoners in its custody, including 49 civilian prisoners and 217 fishermen. The list was handed over to an Indian High Commission representative in Islamabad. From the hefty price tag of the aircraft to the strings that come attached with such platforms from the US, many reasons could be responsible for India keeping its distance from the F-35s. Regardless, it ultimately appears that the choice was a wise one read more Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet is displayed during the International Bali Airshow at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia. File image/Reuters Not long ago, Lockheed Martins F-35 Lightning II was the crown jewel of the global arms bazaar. Stealthy, supersonic and versatile, the fighter jet was hailed as the most advanced combat aircraft of its generation. It was a technical marvel that promised air superiority to those who could afford its eye-watering price tag. Of course, there was much excitement in India, too, when US President Donald Trump, during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington last month, announced they were paving the way for India to acquire F-35s. Advertisement Some self-styled experts had even proclaimed that F-35 would boost its military preparedness significantly, especially against the backdrop of a rapid modernisation of its forces by increasingly aggressive China and a swift shift by Pakistan from the Washington camp to the Beijing group. Indian authorities, however, were quick to distance themselves from the speculative talks of acquisition of F-35s. Indias Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, was quick to temper expectations, clarifying that any potential purchase was still at the proposal stage and that no formal process had begun. Since then, Indian authorities have distanced themselves from talk of an imminent acquisition and in retrospect, they were right to do so. From the hefty price tag of the aircraft to the strings that come attached with such platforms from the US, many reasons could be responsible for India keeping its distance from the F-35s. Regardless, it ultimately appears that the choice was a wise one. The F-35 is now a cause of concern for all buyers. Worries range from the possible existence of a kill switch to Trumps capriciousness. Global unease sets in In recent weeks, several US allies have begun to rethink their commitments to the F-35. Portugals defence minister raised concerns about the recent US stance in the context of NATO when discussing plans to replace its F-16s. In Canada, newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a review of the countrys $13 billion F-35 procurement deal. Advertisement Germanys order of 35 F-35s now faces fresh scrutiny, while a Danish lawmaker went so far as to suggest a boycott of American weapons altogether. Whats changed? The one word answer to that is trust. For one, the F-35 is prohibitively expensive. With unit costs north of $80 million and lifetime maintenance costs running into hundreds of millions more, the aircraft is a financial sinkhole even for wealthier militaries. But the real issue isnt just cost its control. The F-35 is not merely an aircraft; its a flying data hub. Its functionality depends on continuous software updates, mission data files, and system patches nearly all of which are controlled and distributed by a US-based unit at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Countries operating the jet are barred from making independent modifications or conducting certain types of tests. Advertisement In effect, the F-35s operators are perpetually dependent on US oversight to ensure the planes combat effectiveness. While most of these countries had accepted the aircrafts limitations under the assumption that the US would always remain a reliable partner, the unpredictability of Donald Trumps second term has eroded that confidence. His apparent sympathy for Russia, his disruptive approach to Nato, and his transactional style of diplomacy have all raised questions about the wisdom of tying national defence assets to US control. For European nations wary of Trumps stance toward Russia and Nato, this is a strategic red flag. But Indias case is more nuanced. Advertisement A different set of concerns Unlike European capitals, New Delhi does not view Russia as an adversary. India maintains longstanding defence ties with Moscow, and many of its current frontline aircraft including the Su-30MKI are of Russian origin. Its defence calculus is shaped more by Chinas regional assertiveness and Pakistans military posture than by the Kremlins intentions. Nevertheless, Indias concerns mirror those of others when it comes to preserving operational sovereignty and flexibility. Past experience has shown how deeply entangled US arms deals can become. Pakistan, for example, operates US-made F-16s under tight conditions it is prohibited from using them for purposes beyond counterterrorism and is barred from stationing them alongside its Chinese-built JF-17s. India has no desire to inherit such restrictions. Moreover, the F-35 would add yet another layer of complexity to Indias already diverse air fleet, which includes French Rafales, Russian Sukhois, indigenous Tejas jets, and older Mirage 2000s. Integrating an entirely new system would strain logistics, maintenance, and mission interoperability. Advertisement For India, the F-35 was not really a serious consideration for acquisition. So, beyond the symbolism of being offered the platform, there wasnt a tough choice to be made. The global sentiment around the F-35s now does provide reassurance that there wont be the regret of a missed opportunity. Ekrem Imamoglus imprisonment is not merely a domestic Turkish matter but a test of the international communitys commitment to democratic principles read more Although it had been months in the making, it nevertheless came as a tremendous shock, marking the crossing of a threshold into classical authoritarianism. On March 19, around 100 policemen, operating under the instructions of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), arrested the popular Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, and imprisoned him on March 23the day he was to be announced as the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) presidential candidate. The CHP is the social democratic party founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Turkiye. Advertisement Like numerous other opposition mayors, for months Imamoglu has faced a series of scurrilous criminal charges, both absurd in nature and completely bereft of merit or evidence. As if to drive home the politically motivated basis of this arrest, the authorities also detained around 100 of Imamoglus colleagues and advisors, and unlawfully seized control of his family companies, effectively expropriating his assets. The ruling AKP is simply reading the room, and that it feels like the timing is in its favour to avoid international pushback and condemnation over this illegal arrest of his threatening competitor. Now it is up to us to prove this perception wrong. This is in fact a watershed event for Turkiyes future trajectory and demands an immediate and coordinated international response. Imamoglu, who has never lost an election to Erdogans AKP candidates in four consecutive elections, has been methodically targeted since his historic victory in Istanbuls 2019 mayoral race. After the Supreme Election Council controversially annulled his initial narrow win, Imamoglu returned to crush his opponent by more than 800,000 votes in the rerun election a humiliating rebuke to AKPs former political stronghold. That democratic mandate has now been effectively nullified through a politically motivated detention, followed by the jailing of opponents and their replacement with government-appointed crony administrators. The timing is no coincidence. The AKP is weakening and Turkish voters are indicating that their time is up. Imamoglus arrest follows CHPs sweeping wins in the 2024 local elections their first nationwide popular vote win since 1977 which saw the opposition party capture 35 provincial capitals to the AKPs 32. Most tellingly, just one day before his detention, Istanbul University suddenly annulled Imamoglus university diploma, which would disqualify him from presidential candidacy. Advertisement This is not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign to eliminate political opposition. Since October 2024, authorities have detained or arrested dozens of opposition figures, including the leader of the nationalist Victory Party, journalists, reputable business leaders, and even the president of the CHPs youth branch. Most striking of these were the arrests of five democratically elected district mayors in Istanbul, a city of 39 districts. In two of these municipalities, the government appointed a crony administrator. The charges range from corruption and insulting public officials to alleged terrorist links the same baseless accusations and the witch hunt now leveled against Imamoglu and 105 other CHP figures. Advertisement This authoritarian turn comes at a critical geopolitical moment. Turkiye, with NATOs second-largest standing army and a robust defense industry, is viewed as an essential partner as Europe strengthens its security posture. The Trump administrations return to the White House, with its well-documented admiration for strongman leaders, has likely accelerated this crackdown. I was in New Delhi for the Raisina Dialogue, where it was observed that authoritarian regimes are on the rise globally. The international community faces a stark choice: Will it prioritize Turkiyes strategic value at the expense of democratic principles, or will it take meaningful action to defend the rule of law in this vital NATO member state? Advertisement The economic implications are equally significant. International investors and creditors recognize the inherent instability of authoritarian governance, and the lira is once again weakening following the arrest of Imamoglu. Foreign businesses may increasingly question the wisdom of investment in a country where political whims override institutional integrity. Europe holds significant leverage through Turkiyes desire to upgrade its customs union with the EU, though AKP will likely counter, yet again, with the threat of allowing millions of refugees to cross into Europe. Nevertheless, European leaders must make clear that democratic backsliding carries concrete consequences for Turkiyes international relationships and economic ambitions. The United States, despite the Trump administrations likely disinclination to criticise the Turkish leadership, has much more to gain by taking a firm stand on principle, as this conduct ultimately threatens NATOs cohesion and regional stability, and weakens Europes ability to transition to a self-sustaining model of defence. Advertisement The AKP is openly gambling on the changing world order, but they are far over their skis. Imamoglus imprisonment is not merely a domestic Turkish matter but a test of the international communitys commitment to democratic principles. They may feel like it is their moment to quietly hide the crackdown. But a sharp rebuke of their immoral violations of the constitution would resonate powerfully among 85 million citizens who still believe in the future of their country. Bilal Bilici is a Member of Parliament, representing Adana province in the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye from the CHP. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Given Putins allergy towards Western peacekeeping force, former foreign secretary sees role for India as honest peace monitor should the plan be ratified by UNSC read more A powerhouse of knowledge and experience, ambassador Kanwal Sibal, the former Indian foreign secretary, received the Padma Shri in 2017 for his distinguished services in the field of public affairs. As a career diplomat, ambassador Sibal has 41 years of experience in diplomacy. He was Indias envoy to Turkiye, Egypt, France and Russia, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington DC. He was also a member of Indias National Security Advisory Board and now adorns the post of JNU Chancellor. Advertisement Ambassador Sibal, who has written several columns for News18 and Firstpost, is quite active on X (formerly Twitter) where he shares his sharp takes on geopolitics. Firstpost had the chance recently to catch up with ambassador Sibal and seek his insights on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the Trump effect, the US-Europe quagmire, the role of China, India and much more. The interview has been abridged for brevity and length. What is the reason behind Wests Russophobia? Is it cultural, civilizational, existential, or something else entirely? The fact is that Russia looms very large in Europe. Its the biggest country in the world. Huge military power, worlds biggest nuclear power sitting on enormous resources In Europe, there has always been this geopolitical conundrum on how to deal with this giant! Russia has been when it was the Soviet Union a peer power of the United States. So, Europe has been caught in between the foremost global power and its challenger. Remember that Europe was decimated during the Second World War. Not only did the continent lose its colonies, but the Europeans were also considerably weakened and suffered terrible economic damage. They had no choice but to come under the wings of the US, that had an ideological antipathy towards communism and employed a policy of containment towards Russia. US animosity, ideological and otherwise towards Russia, therefore, became a part of the European thinking. In addition, of course, to their own historical experiences of fighting Russia the Crimean War, for example. Now, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was an opportunity to deal with Russia on a more rational basis. Communism is no more. Russia has been greatly weakened. So why not build a positive relationship with Russia from the security as well as from the economic point of view? Advertisement But the opposite was followed, again because of the US view on how to deal with Russia. The (Zbigniew) Brzezinski doctrine dealing Ukraine from Russia. Since Russia was no longer an empire or a European power, it was an opportunity to permanently strategically weaken Russia. And what was the dynamic behind it? The expansion of NATO and the expansion of EU. In other words, neither the security architecture nor the economic architecture in Europe was built in a positive way by the transatlantic alliance. Russia wanted to have an agreement with the EU. I was then the ambassador to Russia. The EU said that, look, we cant give you any special treatment. Russia was asked to measure up to the standards of Western democracy before it can be treated as a partner I sent a message to our own government (New Delhi) that this is remarkable. The foreign policy of Europe towards Russia is dependent on the domestic policy of Russia. How do you build a relationship on this basis? Advertisement So that is where the Russophobia comes from. Russias size, its governance system which is dictated by Russias domestic compulsions. And then of course, each country has its own personality and tradition. How does it matter if Russia does not measure up to the Wests democratic standards? The biggest hypocrisy in this is Washington reached out to Mao who was emblematic of the communist ideology and everything that the Western world rejected as a basis of cooperation with another country. So, what was the problem with Russia? There has never been a direct clash between the US and Russia, unlike with China during the Korean War. Even today, the US has anti-China alliances, troops stationed in the western Pacific, military bases, the seventh Fleet (that has a continuous forward presence in the Indo-Pacific) Theres the whole issue of Taiwan. But nevertheless, Americas largest trading partner is China. So, if they can make these pragmatic compromises between geopolitics and geo-economics, whats the problem with doing the same with Russia? Advertisement Europe stitched a trade deal (CAI) with China in 2020, the very year PLA troops killed 20 Indian soldiers at Galwan. Europe, even under transatlanticist Joe Biden, would never fully commit to an anti-China stance and would always keep trade channels open. Yet it wants the US, India, and everyone else to go all-in in its fight against Russia. Where does Europes sense of entitlement come from? China is a massive economic market and Germanys biggest trade partner. The Europeans have a vested interest in the Chinese market. India is rising. But even so, compared to Europes trade ties with China, the trade relationship with India is not comparable. Second, China is everywhere. They know they cant dictate to China. They cant sanction China (unlike Russia) because the cost of sanctioning would be enormous. If China is the manufacturing hub of the world and controlling sensitive and critical emerging technologies, how can you deal Beijing with muscles as you can do with Russia? Advertisement India doesnt figure as that kind of an important player. Therefore, it can be talked down to. India is more manageable. Theres less cost to Europe to be patronizing towards India. (They can) disregard objectively the importance of our ties with Russia and lecture us A part of this patronizing attitude occurs because India was once a colony. Europeans can play with our domestic politics, try and mould public opinion stuff they cannot do in China. They see India as much more vulnerable. And then there is the English-speaking class in India which is an obvious target for them in terms of influencing ideas and the role they play in our society in shaping opinion, thinking, policies In China, theres no question of local dissent being tied up with foreign interests. In India, however, you can see the connection between the foreign elements, whether Soros or other NGOs, activists and democracy promotion organizations, religious freedom organisations, V Dem (Gothenburg-based V-Dem Institute), etc. Their linkages with local politicians, local parties, local journalists and everything else make them believe that they can deal with India more efficiently. We have a political class and a civil society that is deeply tied to organizations and institutions abroad. That is our Achilles heel. Advertisement But now the Europeans have sent a very high-powered delegation to New Delhi. The entire college of EU commissioners came to India, sought the prime ministers counsel and called India a trusted friend. Is this shift in stance forced due to what Trump has done to the transatlantic alliance? The same Von der Leyen (EU Commissioner) who came to the Raisina Dialogue a few years ago (in 2022), tried to make us feel morally culpable for adopting a neutral position. Now the language is different. With Trump coming in and the fissures that have developed between the US and Europe, Brussels must develop alternatives. China is a competitor. And once the official position is that they are a systemic rival with whom relations must be de-risked, they cant really build up a competitor. Moreover, the Europeans are very unhappy that China had created a 17 +1 grouping (CEE mechanism), that they were trying to create divisions within Europe. India stands out as a viable option, as an alternative strategy big country, rising economy, good prospects of cooperation, fifth-largest economy poised to become the third largest by 2030. India being a democracy gives them a sense of comfort. It means we are malleable, penetrable, vulnerable to influence and things like that. Ive been told by foreign diplomats that when they talk to Indian interlocutors, its always a broad-based intellectual exchange where theres real dialogue. But with China, you know, they speak the same language right from the top to bottom the direction is given by the top CCP leadership, and everybody sings the same tune. They will never give you their own thinking or any original viewpoint. That explains why Von der Leyen came with 22 of the 27 commissioners to see if this whole process of the FTA can move forward. Therell be hurdles down the road but nevertheless its an opportunity both for Europe and for us. Its not that we should turn our back. On the contrary. If we can widen our options, we have to develop very close ties with the US. But why become dependent on the US? Therefore, we should also reach out to Europe and keep our strategic autonomy not only political but also economic. The Europeans have decided that they are going to rearm. Germany is taking some steps towards it. How do you see this? And for a continent that had so far outsourced its foreign policy to the US can it take on the double challenge of both Russia and the US, if it sees Washington as an adversary? Europes actions seem illogical, irrational at many levels. Britain, for example, is signing a 100-year security agreement with Ukraine. I read the text. Its a military alliance where apart from building up forces of Ukraine and everything else, they will undertake joint maritime patrols in the Black Sea, including the Sea of Azov, which the Russians have declared as inland water. Thats a clear challenge (to Russia). Is Europe preparing for a 100-year period of confrontation with Russia? Number two, theres a lot of economic mess in Europe. Britain is in serious trouble. France is in a ruptured situation. (Emmanuel) Macron has lost control of the Parliament. Germany is in a political and economic mess. If Europeans are going to spend so much money on defense, raising it from 2 per cent to 3 per cent and maybe some to 5 per cent, this will come at cost of their social programs. So, social unrest may increase. Can they up their defence expenditure without social costs? Third, what is the 800 billion plan for rearmament? That means itll increase the indebtedness of individual European countries as the debt levels are becoming unmanageable, especially for countries like France. Whats the perspective? Permanent hostility with Russia? They build up lets say this big war machine. To use against whom? They cant use it against Russia. If America doesnt want to use it against Russia except through proxies, whom will they use it against? Europe cant directly challenge Russia, so how would they justify it to the public? That is why Europeans are creating this fear psychosis that if Russians win in Ukraine, they are going to walk on the streets of Paris and attack even Portuguese and stuff like that. And that the neighboring countries, Poland and the Baltic states and Romania have existential threat. One may wonder at the quality of leadership that Europe has. I want your opinion on the much-touted phone call between Trump and Putin, which went for 90 minutes Theres a lot of skepticism whether there can be a reasonable agreement between the US and Russia on Ukraine. Despite all the goodwill that Trump may have with regard to beginning the process of normalization with Russia, can he do it? Putins said that even when the sanctions are lifted, then they adopt a new way to impose another form of sanctions. There is a limit to the kind of normalization process that is necessary to resolve the conflict. Number two, Putin has right from the start, made his position very, very clear. Ukraine cannot be a military threat to Russia. When he talks about demilitarization, Putin is putting limitations on the size of the Ukrainian armed forces. They cannot be supplied with the latest NATO weapons. There is obviously incongruence when you want durable and lasting peace while building up Ukraine militarily. Thats not deterrence. Its driven by the logic that sees Russia as a threat. This is not a solid base for ushering in the era of peace. Number three, the Russians are very sensitive to denazification. The Western Ukrainians who now have grabbed power and were responsible for the coup detat, have had historical links with the Nazis The Azov brigade, for instance. The other very important thing is the recognition of the four regions that Russians have now incorporated plus Crimea as part of Russia. If the Russians are to get their way fully, it will mean a massive political and strategic defeat for the West. So, they cant agree to all of Russias conditions. But can Russia back off from some of the core things like no NATO membership and recognition of their acquisition of territory, plus limitation on the armed forces of Ukraine? They cant back off or Putin will be in trouble. So how to narrow this gap? So, what they have begun with is a relatively minor thing. And Russia has agreed because it helps them. Ukraine has developed effective drone technology with Turkiyes help, and they have started attacking the energy infrastructure deep into Russian territory. And of course, Russia has been doing the same. The fact that they have agreed to prison exchanges is neither here nor there. The next step could be maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea where Russia is a bit on the defensive (as predicted by the ambassador, a Black Sea ceasefire was announced Tuesday after days of intense negotiations in Saudi Arabia led by the US. This interview took place on March 19). Theyve had to move out of Sevastopol. Many of their ships were sunk. Theyre vulnerable. Turkiye is now openly saying they will not accept Russias victory in the Black Sea. They see it as a strategic threat. So, its going to be a long haul. Finally, Russia has to keep Trump in play. Hes a very unpredictable fellow, but for the first time, Russia and the US are talking together! Its a big, big, big departure from the Biden administration. Russians have to keep him in play, use his inclination, desire to end the conflict to their advantage to the extent that they can. They are tempting Trump knowing he is transactional and looking for economic gains with investments in Russia, mining rare earths. Putin thinks Trump is sensitive to economic opportunities, deals, transactions. After all, if you really look at the absurdity of it, Trump is jeopardizing geopolitics due to a deal on rare earths. Isnt Trump simply saying the quiet part out loud? The traditional American discourse on Ukraine is very high on morality, but at the end of it, there is an expectation that American companies will go in to reconstruct Ukraine, the energy deals will be struck. Trump is simply saying, look, if you want our help, then what is in it for us? But that was already happening. The agricultural land of Ukraine is highly fertile. The most fertile in Europe. It has been bought over by American companies such as Monsanto already. BlackRock and JPMorgan Chase are striking rich reconstruction deals. So, this could have continued to happen. But for Trump to say this openly when it can actually be done without saying it I think it appeals to his MAGA base. They see it as a win. Wasnt the play domestic? He hasnt signed that agreement though. Forget what happened in the White House. Even subsequently, when the two delegations met, Trump didnt sign the minerals deal. In any case, when it comes to reconstruction, the US will not be the only player. Turkiye will come in a big way. But to answer your question about the future of this peace process, it puts both Putin and Trump in a complicated situation. Trump, because he has put so much of his personal prestige in a quick solution earlier. He is still maintaining a very optimistic posture that it cant end in failure. At what point will Trumps determination that it should not end in failure, and Putins consideration that I must preserve my interest, intersect? I think that is not going to happen quickly. Putin surely must know that if he inflicts a strategic defeat on Trump, it wont be a very good thing for Russia as a whole? True. But theres another angle to it. When Trump says that I want Greenland, calls it very critical for national security, what does he mean? The Arctic. He wants to counter Russia and Russias dominant position in the Arctic. On the one hand, he seeks to normalize ties with Russia. On the other, he is trying to counter whatever geostrategic advantages Russia has in particular geographies. My final question. Putin has reservations about a Western peacekeeping force. Should India play a role? So long as it goes to the UN Security Council, and whatever peace plan, durable and lasting peace plan they agree to, is ratified by the UNSC. Then we should go. In fact, all sides will trust us because we are not linked with either party. And we can genuinely be honest peace monitors. We should take that opportunity. While Indias direct automobile export to the US is meagre compared to countries like Japan, Mexico and Canada, the secondary effects of Trumps tariffs are expected to impact the Indian industry read more US President Donald Trump has once again made a tariff-related announcement, this time on automobiles, driving strong reactions from the industry. The president on Thursday said that the US would impose 25 per cent tariffs on all vehicles and foreign-made auto parts imported into the country. The new tariffs, effective from April 3, could add thousands of dollars to the cost of an average US vehicle purchase and impede car production across North America. Introducing levies on imported cars and their components is expected to revive the US automobile industry. Advertisement Trump said the duties could be a net neutral or even good for Tesla, adding that its CEO, and his close ally, Elon Musk, did not advise him regarding auto tariffs. In a post on X following the news, Musk said the tariffs would also affect Tesla. This will affect the price of parts in Tesla cars that come from other countries, he wrote in another post on X. The cost impact is not trivial. How will it affect India? While Indias direct automobile export to the US is meagre compared to countries like Japan, Mexico and Canada, the secondary effects of Trumps tariffs are expected to impact the Indian industry. Reports indicate that in 2023, Indias auto parts exports to the United States were valued at around $1.5 billion. However, the introduction of new tariffs could significantly impact this trade, raising production costs for US automakers and potentially lowering demand for Indian auto parts. As a result, suppliers might struggle with shrinking profit margins, either absorbing the higher costs or seeking alternative export markets. Which companies will be hit? Many Indian auto companies started to feel the ripples of Trumps tariffs as shares went down following the Potus announcement. Tata Motors does not directly export its cars to the US, but its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has taken a hit. The shares of Tata Motors was down by 5 per cent on Thursday. At the same time, Eicher Motors, the manufacturer of Royal Enfield motorcycles, may also be affected, as the US represents a key market for its 650cc models. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Passenger car production fell to 82,178 units from 92,965 a year earlier, driven by soft domestic and international demand, model changeovers and ongoing restructuring across several plants read more UK automotive manufacturing contracted for the twelfth consecutive month in February, with total output declining by 11.6 per cent year-on-year, according to new data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Thursday (March 27). Passenger car production fell to 82,178 units from 92,965 a year earlier, driven by soft domestic and international demand, model changeovers and ongoing restructuring across several plants. The figures come at a sensitive moment for the UKs automotive sector, as US President Donald Trump confirmed a new 25 per cent tariff on imported vehicles, to take effect on April 2. Advertisement The move, part of a broader package of reciprocal tariffs targeting key trading partners, could further weigh on British carmakers already grappling with falling output and Brexit-related uncertainties. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes urged both governments to prioritise negotiations. The announcement of US tariffs is disappointing but not unexpected, Hawes said. The UK and US must come together immediately and strike a deal that works for all. With further duties likely to apply to British-built cars, time is of the essence. EV share climbs despite dip in output Output of battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles fell 5.6 per cent year-on-year to 27,398 units in February. However, their share of total production rose slightly to 37.1 per cent, up from 36.3 per cent a year earlier. For the year to date, electrified models account for 39.6 per cent of all UK car production an increase from 36 per cent last year despite a more modest 2.1 per cent fall in volume compared with the wider sectors 11 per cent decline. The data highlights the relative resilience of the UKs electric vehicle segment as automakers continue to pivot towards lower-emission technologies to meet tightening environmental regulations and shifting consumer preferences. Commercial vehicle output slumps Commercial vehicle (CV) production posted a steeper decline, dropping 35.9 per cent to 8,364 units in February. The fall was attributed primarily to lower van output and a strong year-on-year comparison, with February 2023 marking the sectors best performance since 2008. Domestic demand for CVs rose significantly, accounting for 55.2 per cent of total output, with volumes increasing by more than 50 per cent to 4,621 units. However, exports fell sharply by 62.7 per cent to 3,743 units, with almost 94 per cent of exported vehicles previously destined for the EU. Advertisement The drop in EU-bound shipments down by 5,956 units reflects broader pressures on the sector, including weakened European demand and rising input costs. The latest figures underscore the mounting challenges facing UK automotive manufacturers as they navigate a complex landscape of structural change, geopolitical uncertainty and potential new trade barriers. With inputs from agencies In the first attack, armed assailants intercepted a Karachi-bound bus in Gwadar. They forced passengers off the vehicle and executed five individuals on the spot. In a separate incident in Sohbat Pur district, individuals opened fire in a village house and set it ablaze read more At least 13 people have died in two separate attacks in Balochistan. Image used for representative purpose/Reuters Balochistan, Pakistans largest yet least populated province, continues to grapple with escalating violence and a deteriorating law and order situation. In two separate incidents, 13 individuals lost their lives. These attacks come on the heels of the Jaffar Express hijacking that took several lives. Attacks in Gwadar, Sohbat Pur In the first attack, armed assailants intercepted a Karachi-bound bus in Gwadars Kalmat area. According to Gwadar Deputy Commissioner Hamoodur Rehman, the attackers forced passengers off the vehicle and executed five individuals on the spot. Jiwani Station House Officer (SHO) Khalid Dashti reported that the victims were transported to Pasni Hospital, where the death toll rose to six after one succumbed to injuries, Pakistan-based Geo TV reported. Advertisement In a separate incident in Sohbat Pur district, individuals opened fire in a village house and set it ablaze. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Yousaf Banghar confirmed that seven family members, including a woman and three children, were killed. The attack is believed to be linked to a land dispute between the victims and the perpetrators. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attacks, stating, The terrorists are the enemies of the countrys development and prosperity of Balochistan. They cannot see progress in Balochistan. Underlying causes of violence The recent surge in violence is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a broader pattern of unrest rooted in longstanding grievances. Balochistan has been the epicenter of a low-level insurgency for decades, with separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) intensifying attacks against security forces and infrastructure projects. The BLA, designated a terrorist organisation by Pakistan and the United States, has claimed responsibility for numerous high-profile attacks, including the hijacking of Jaffar Express. The cycle of violence in Balochistan is perpetuated by a combination of political disenfranchisement, economic exploitation, and heavy-handed military responses. Despite its wealth of natural gas, minerals, and a strategic coastline, Balochistans economic indicators lag significantly behind other provinces. The province has the highest infant and maternal mortality rates, the highest poverty rate, and the lowest literacy rate in Pakistan. Advertisement A significant point of contention is the exploitation of Balochistans resources without commensurate benefits to its populace. For instance, while the province supplies a substantial portion of Pakistans natural gas, it receives a disproportionately low share of revenue. The Gwadar port problem The attack in Gwadar has brought to the fore the Baloch peoples discontent regarding the development of Gwadar Port. Touted as a linchpin in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the port promises significant economic benefits for Pakistan. However, local communities argue that they have been systematically excluded from these developments. Despite promises of economic upliftment, locals allege that the influx of Chinese investment has led to their displacement and exclusion from employment opportunities. The benefits of these mega-projects are perceived to be reaped by outsiders, leaving the local population marginalized. The development of Gwadar Port has also heightened security concerns. The presence of Chinese nationals and the strategic importance of the port have made it a target for militant groups. In response, Pakistan and China have engaged in discussions to bolster security measures, including the possibility of deploying Chinese security personnel. Crux of the matter The Pakistani states failure to address the legitimate grievances of the Baloch people has fuelled radicalisation, leading to a lethal insurgency that shows no signs of abating. Addressing the turmoil in Balochistan requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond military interventions. But the military is unwilling to take this road. Advertisement With inputs from agencies In what appears to be the latest case of high-profile purge in China, Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman General He Weidon has disappeared from public view, according to reports read more Secondary school students gather in front of a screen displaying an image of Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the Memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai, China, March 10, 2023. File Image/Reuters In the yearslong campaign to consolidate power, Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to have unleashed the latest round of purge. As is often the case with victims of Xis purges, a top Chinese general, He Weidon, has disappeared from public view, according to Washington Times. He is a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Xi is the Chairman of CMC. If He has indeed been subjected to Xis purge, then he would join the ranks of a host of former generals and ministers who have disappeared from public view with little notice. In the name of cleaning the Chinese government of corruption, Xi has sacked and imprisoned a host of officials since coming to power in 2012. The real purpose of such purges is seen to place yes-men in positions to power to consolidate his own position and ensure that no one may challenge his authority. Advertisement The Times has reported that Xi has so far conducted 43 rounds of such purges. Since taking over the CPC, Xi has gradually become the most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong founded the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. He has essentially become the ruler for life after removing two-term limit on his tenure. Why has Gen. He disappeared? The disappearance of He is curious as he has been seen as a Xi loyalist over the years. Hes rise has been attributed to his association with Xi when he was serving in Fujian province in various capacities, including as the deputy party secretary and later as the provincial governor, according to Newsweek. The outlet reported that He has been part of the so-called Fujian clique, a bunch of politicians and officials loyal to Xi whom he has appointed to key posts since taking over as Chinas leader in 2012. He, who has been missing for nearly two weeks, appears to be part of Xis purge to ensure ideological unity in the military, according to Washington Times. Even though most of the officials are purged in the name of corruption, most of the ousters are actually part of Xis campaign of promoting ideological purity within the ranks and He appears to be the latest target of the campaign, as per the newspaper. A senior defence official told the newspaper that He was a target of Xis campaign to remove those from administration who he does not trust. The official implied that Xi did not trust He and did not find him adequately committed to the ideology. As the Chinese military is essentially the armed wing of the CPC, there exists a system of political commissars within the military. Commissars are officers that ensure the militarys loyalty to the CPC. They are charged with the political indoctrination of the personnel so they stick to the party line. The Times noted that, of the two vice chairmen of CPC, one is always a commissar but He and his fellow vice chairman, Gen. Zhang Youxia, both came from operational backgrounds and neither was a commissar. So, the newspaper hinted that Hes purge may be related to his ideological reason as well. Advertisement Many top leaders purged If He has indeed been purged, he would be the latest senior figure to become Xis victim. Earlier this month, there were reports that Zhao Keshi, a former general, who headed the military logistics department, has been arrested in a corruption case. In November, Xi sacked Admiral Miao Hua as the head of CMCs political work department. In June 2024, former Defence Ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe were expelled from the CPC. Li had previously been sacked as defence minister in October 2023 after disappearance of two months. He was charged with bribery. Wei had retired the previous year and was charged with bribery and profiting personally from his official positions in the CPC. In July 2023, then-Foreign Minister Qin Gang was sacked after monthlong absence from public view. No explanation was provided for the sacking. The incumbent, Wang Yi, replaced him. Earlier this month, a report by the Office of the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) noted that both Li and Miao were considered proteges of Xi and yet they were purged, demonstrating the seriousness of the CCPs concerns regarding loyalty and effectiveness. Advertisement The administration is reportedly planning to modify the definition of bir muktijoddha" to include only those people who were engaged in direct combat on the battlefield, while others will be classified as Liberation War Associates read more A "Bir Muktijoddha" is a title given to freedom fighters in Bangladesh who played a significant role during the country's War of Independence in 1971. Wikimedia Commons Sheikh Hasinas ouster from Bangladesh was followed by the destruction of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans legacy after angry protestors dazed his residence in Dhakas Dhanmondi 32. Many, including Hasinas main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have argued that the interim government under Muhammad Yunus is allowing the distortion of Bangladeshs history and undermining the Liberation War of 1971. Now, the administration is reportedly planning to modify the definition of bir muktijoddha" to include only those people who were engaged in direct combat on the battlefield, while others will be classified as Liberation War Associates. Advertisement Who are bir muktijoddha? A Bir Muktijoddha is a title given to freedom fighters in Bangladesh who played a significant role during the countrys War of Independence in 1971, known as the Bangladesh Liberation War. The term Bir Muktijoddha translates to Brave Freedom Fighter. In total, more than 200,000 people were recognized as Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters), and many were awarded the Bir Muktijoddha title for their bravery. The role of these fighters in the liberation war is deeply ingrained in Bangladeshs history and national identity. Definition debate stirs West Bengal According to a report by the Times of India, people in Kolkata whose ancestors have links to the Bangladesh war have taken the decision to rebrand Bir Muktijoddha with a pinch of salt. Arka Bhaduri, an independent journalist who has written on contemporary Bangladesh affairs, told the outlet, During the Awami Leagues tenure, many fake freedom fighters were enlisted. Communist and Leftist freedom fighters did not receive recognition. The National Freedom Fighters Council even decided to revoke Ziaur Rahmans Bir Uttam title in 2021. Amid numerous fake claims of being muktijoddhas, there have been instances of genuine people being ignored and not granted this recognition as many were reluctant to publicise their contributions, said the director of Invincible Bravura on the Indian Navys formation of the first Nau Commando, Abhijit Dasgupta. He added that the administrations attempt at redefining the term is an attempt to deliberately confuse the contemporary youth. Bhaduri says that everyone who participated in the war should be called freedom fighters. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has slammed US President Donald Trumps new car import tariffs, calling them a direct attack on Canadian workers. He vowed to defend the country and announced plans for retaliatory measures. read more Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reacted with anger to US President Donald Trumps car import tariffs, calling them a direct attack on Canadian workers. We will defend our workers. Well defend our companies. Well defend our country. And well defend it together, said Carney. He has also made standing up to US President Donald Trump the foundation of his campaign for the 28 April elections. This will hurt us, but through this period, by being together, we will emerge stronger, he said in an address. Advertisement Weve announced, of course, retaliatory tariffs. We have other options for those retaliatory tariffs, he said, adding that he had convened a meeting of Canadian officials on Thursday to discuss our trade options. Trumps 25% tariffs on car imports Earlier, Trump announced a permanent 25 per cent tariff on import of all cars and light trucks made outside the US. About half of the cars sold in the US are built domestically, while most imports come from Mexico and Canada, which have closely linked auto industries under a trade agreement. Trump had previously imposed tariffs on both countries but had temporarily eased them for automakers. Carney, speaking after meeting with auto workers and labour leaders, promised that money from Canadas retaliatory tariffs would support their jobs. This is a direct attacklet me be cleara direct attack on the very workers I stood with this morning at the Ambassador Bridge, he said, referring to the key trade link between Windsor, Canada, and Detroit, the heart of the US auto industry. He added that the bridge had symbolised close US-Canada ties, but now those ties were being broken. The revelation was made in the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment Report (ATA) which was released on Tuesday by the US Intelligence Communitys (IC) official read more India and China named as primary source of Fentanyl trafficiking in the US image/ CNBC TV18 As US President Donald Trump unleashes a crackdown on Fentanyl smuggling at US borders, a recent threat assessment report published by the country revealed China and India are involved in the illegal business. The revelation was made in the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment Report (ATA) which was released on Tuesday by the US Intelligence Communitys (IC) official. The report assesses 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. The drug has managed to cause more than 52,000 US deaths in 12 months, ending in October 2024. Advertisement After coming back to the White House, Trump has been adamant about cracking down on the illegal import of the drug, linking it with tariff adjustments against some nations. The report published on Tuesday named India and China as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers and the primary source countries for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment. The report throws light on the criminal organisation involved in drug trafficking The report mentioned that some transnational criminal organisations (TCOs) are producing and trafficking large amounts of illicit drugs affecting countless American lives and livelihoods. Mexico-based TCOs remain the dominant producers and suppliers of illicit drugs for the US market, it said. 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, the report furthered. Another interesting aspect of the report was that it mentions that anti-India elements are a threat to the United States as well due to their historic links with Al Qaeda which was responsible for the devastating 9/11. 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, the threat assessment report suggested. In the report, India was mentioned in only these two contexts. The previous strategy included keeping the Boeing-made 400 Minuteman III ICBMs in silos until 2039 and gradually replace them with new Sentinel models. However, the Sentinel has been plagued with delays and increasing costs read more An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test at 2:10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, U.S., August 2, 2017. Source: Reuters The US Air Force has unveiled plans to keep its 1970s-era intercontinental ballistic missiles in service for 11 more years, until 2050. The previous strategy included keeping the Boeing-made 400 Minuteman III ICBMs in silos until 2039 and gradually replace them with new Sentinel models. However, the Sentinel has been plagued with delays and increasing costs, forcing policymakers to rely on the 1970s-era missiles for a decade longer than originally planned. After all, the transition from Minuteman III to Sentinel must take place smoothly without compromising the nations nuclear guard. Advertisement Notably, Sentinel would be a key component of the USAs nuclear triad, covering the land-based portion. In a statement to Bloomberg, the US Air Force said it was continuing to develop a new acquisition strategy. Further details will be available after the updated strategy is approved, which is currently expected in 2026, it said. The Air Force will not have a new timeline and phasing for transition from the Minuteman III to Sentinel until the program is restructured, the statement added. US Air Force aware of risks Bloomberg reported that the US Air Forces Integrated Product Team convened last month at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and discussed risks associated with extending the service of Minuteman III ICBMs by 11 years. The meeting was not intended to recommend end-of-life dates for MMIII but to communicate risks and mitigation strategies to the Air Force for continued sustainment of MMIII until Sentinel is fielded, according to the statement. The program office uses meetings like this as part of a regular rhythm to discuss strategies to ensure the effectiveness of the ground-based nuclear deterrent, it added. B-52 long-range strategic bombers to stay in service for 30 more years Meanwhile, there are reports that the US may also keep its aging fleet of B-52 long-range strategic bombers in service for three more decades. The fleet, which first flew in the 1950s, will continue to serve as a vital component of the nuclear triad, said US Air Force Global Strike Command (GSC) in a statement. Initially built as a high-altitude, high-speed nuclear bomber, the B-52 now serves as a platform for long-range cruise missile deployment, carrying and launching the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). Advertisement Over the next decade, the B-52 will receive the ALCMs follow-on in the LRSO missile, GSC said. Once these efforts are complete, the aircraft will have sufficient structural longevity to serve into the 2050s, the command added. The push follows last years report by former Finnish president Sauli Niinisto, a special adviser to Ursula von der Leyen, which found there was no clear plan for how the EU would respond to military aggression against one of its members read more European households should be ready to survive for at least 72 hours in the event of a major emergency, the European Commission has said, as it unveiled a sweeping new strategy to boost the blocs crisis resilience in the face of mounting geopolitical and environmental risks. In its EU Preparedness Union Strategy, published on Wednesday (March 26), the Commission said citizens should keep basic supplies on hand such as food, water, medicine, a flashlight and a power bank as Europe braces for an era of increasingly severe and unpredictable crises. Advertisement Ready for anything - this must be our new European way of life, said Hadja Lahbib, the EU commissioner for crisis management, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). A video posted alongside her remarks showed a sample 72-hour emergency kit, containing everything from a radio to cash and essential medications. The strategy is aimed at improving public awareness and ensuring better coordination across the 27-member bloc in the event of emergencies ranging from floods and wildfires to cyber attacks, pandemics and even armed aggression. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the plan would help equip citizens and authorities alike. Families living in flood zones should know what to do when the waters rise. Early warning systems can prevent regions hit by wildfires from losing precious time, she said. From wildfires to warfare The strategy calls for action on multiple fronts: enhancing early warning systems, ensuring the continuity of essential services like drinking water and healthcare, and bolstering EU-wide stockpiles of critical goods. As part of the action plan, the Commission will now develop guidelines to reach a population self-sufficiency of minimum 72 hours. A new EU Preparedness Day has also been proposed to raise awareness, while schools may be encouraged to include crisis readiness in their curriculums. The push follows last years report by former Finnish president Sauli Niinisto, a special adviser to von der Leyen, which found there was no clear plan for how the EU would respond to military aggression against one of its members. While the bloc has no direct powers over civil or military emergency services, the Commission is seeking to lay the groundwork for a more joined-up response. Advertisement We must prepare for large-scale, cross-sectoral incidents and crises, including the possibility of armed aggression, affecting one or more member states, the strategy document states. Northern Europe leads the way Some EU countries have already taken national steps to boost preparedness. Sweden advises households to maintain supplies of water, non-perishable food, blankets and alternative heating sources, as well as battery-powered radios. Norway has gone further, recommending iodine tablets in case of nuclear emergencies. In Germany, new legislation will require future homes to include safe shelters, while citizens are being encouraged to adapt basements or garages as emergency bunkers. Poland has already introduced such requirements for new buildings. Despite these measures, the Commission warns that Europe still lacks a truly coordinated responseand that climate change, geopolitical instability and technological threats are exposing dangerous gaps. While the strategy is still in its early stages, it marks a significant shift in tone for the EU, signalling an acceptance that citizens may increasingly need to rely on themselves in the critical first hours of a crisis. Advertisement And for many, that may mean packing a go-bag, charging a power bank, and thinking the unthinkable. With inputs from agencies European peacekeepers willingness to fight to defend a ceasefire has to be an inevitable part of Europes security guarantee to Ukraine, according to a top aide to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy read more Servicemen of the 24th Mechanized brigade, named after King Danylo, of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fire a BM-21 Grad multiple-launch rocket system toward Russian troops, on a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 15, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) Any European peacekeepers deployed in Ukraine to enforce a ceasefire deal must be prepared to fight if needed, according to a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In recent weeks, the United Kingdom and France have led efforts to put together a coalition of the willing nations to mobilise a peacekeeping force to enforce any ceasefire thats reached between Ukraine and Russia. There are proposals to deploy warplanes and personnel on the ground, with the UK and France open to putting boots on the ground. However, no firm outline of such a force has yet emerged. Advertisement Amid such deliberations, Igor Zhovkva, a senior aide to Zelenskyy, said that the readiness to fight and defend a ceasefire if needed has to be an inevitable part of Europes security guarantees to Ukraine, according to The Daily Telegraph. We dont need a mere presence to showcase that Europe is present. Its not the amount which matters its also their readiness to fight, their readiness to defend, their readiness to be equipped, and their readiness to understand that Ukraine is an inevitable part of European security, said Zhovkva, who is a top Ukrainian negotiator in ongoing peace talks. ALSO READ: Starmer to present Trump plan to deploy European peacekeepers in Ukraine: Report Zhovkvas remarks came ahead of Thursdays meeting in Paris where French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting European leaders, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Polish PM Donald Tusk, and Nato chief Mark Rutte, to deliberate on the question of Ukraines security. The meeting comes within days of White House negotiating a Black Sea ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia that Russia junked within hours. Within hours of White House announcing reaching an understanding with Ukraine and Russia, the Kremlin said the ceasefire would only come into effect when a slew of demands would be met, including the lifting of sanctions on some Russian entities and restoration of access to the SWIFT system. In an apparent response to such a stand, Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff of Zelenskyy, said that Russia was playing games. Advertisement We demonstrated we are very serious, the Americans understoodRussia is just playing games, said Yermak. France has announced a new 2 billion ($2.1 billion) military aid package for Ukraine, including missiles, air defence systems, armoured vehicles, and ammunition. President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement on March 26 during a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris. read more France pledges $2 billion military aid to Ukraine ahead of key summit in Paris. File image/Reuters France has announced a new military aid package worth 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) for Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent reported. President Emmanuel Macron made this announcement on March 26 during a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelensky, in Paris. We must continue supporting Ukraine to help maintain its resistance, Macron said. The aid will include anti-tank missiles, air defence systems, Mirage fighter jet missiles, armoured vehicles, and ammunition. It will also support the production of military equipment in Ukraine. Advertisement 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, Macron said. Coalition of the willing summit The two leaders met ahead of the coalition of the willing summit. The summit, set to take place in Paris on March 27, will also bring together Germany, Poland, the UK, and other countries that have pledged to support Ukraines security after the war. Earlier, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesperson said that more than 30 nations have shown interest in joining the coalitions peacekeeping force, adding that the initiative has now moved to the operational phase. Macron said the summit will focus on military aid for Ukraine, monitoring any ceasefire, shaping Ukraines future army, and ensuring security guarantees. US-proposed ceasefire Ukraine agreed to a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, stating on March 11 that it is ready if Russia also agrees. However, Russia has so far refused to accept the terms unconditionally. It must be noted that the station was in use until January 1 this year and was carrying Russian gas to Europe but currently it stands out of service. Ukraine has claimed Russians blew up the station themselves to deceive the world read more A gas worker walks between pipes in a compressor and distribution station of the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod gas pipeline, some 30 km (19 miles) from the south western Russian city of Kursk, January 4, 2006. File Image/Reuters Natural gas prices in Europe have surged after Russia signalled that it will take a long time to repair the Sudzha cross-border gas point. Last Friday (March 21), Ukraines military claimed a strike on the gas transport system in Russias Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been under pressure seven months after a cross-border incursion. Media are reporting a successful strike on the Sudzha gas transport system through which the enemy used to transport gas to Europe, read an update on the Ukrainian military Telegram channel. Advertisement Wall Street Journal on Thursday (March 27) reported that the benchmark Dutch TTF contract was up 0.5 per cent at 41.10 euros a megawatt hour in early trade, following a decline in the previous session amid Black Sea cease-fire talks. Statement from Russias deputy PM The surge in prices was seen after Russias deputy PM Alexander Novak said the restoration of the gas metering station will take a fairly long time, reported Tass. It must be noted that the station was in use until January 1 this year and was carrying Russian gas to Europe but currently it stands out of service. Regarding the Sudzha gas metering station, damage is being assessed so far. However, overall, as you know, this route - it has no contract and agreements have not been extended since January 1, 2025 - will largely depend, fundamentally, on future interaction on energy with European countries, Novak was quoted as saying by Tass agency. A fairly long time will clearly be required for restoration, he added. The Russian Defense Ministry described the destruction of the gas metering station as a deliberate Ukrainian provocation. It claimed the attack was part of a broader pattern of strikes on Russias energy infrastructure, allegedly intended to undermine US President Donald Trumps peace efforts. Ukraine says Russia blew up their own gas station Ukraine, on the other hand, said Russians blew up the station themselves. Indeed, the station has been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves, Ukraines General Staff said in a Telegram post. Ukraines Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak also posted on X, blaming the Russians for the attack in an attempt to deceive everyone. The attempts by the Russians to deceive everyone and pretend that they are adhering to the ceasefire will not work, (neither) will the fake news about the strikes on the gas station, the post read. Advertisement The attack on the gas metering station occurred over a week after Russian forces announced they had retaken Sudzha, the largest town Ukraine had occupied during its advance into Kursk. Ukraines control of parts of Kursk has been viewed as its only territorial leverage amid growing pressure to negotiate an end to the war. India and China are continuing diplomatic efforts to stabilise relations, with officials meeting in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss reviving dialogue mechanisms and addressing key issues. This follows months of engagement, including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misris visit to Beijing in January and high-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping last year. read more National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on Wednesday for the 23rd round of Special Representatives talks. Image courtesy: X/@EOIBeijing Indian and Chinese officials held another meeting in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss restarting dialogue mechanisms gradually and using them to address key issues and stabilise relations, The Times of India reported. The development comes months after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misris visit to Beijing in January this year. During his visit, both sides agreed to work on boosting people-to-people exchanges, including resuming direct flights, media and think-tank interactions, and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties. India also said progress had been made on plans to restart the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025. Advertisement Modi-Xi meet in Kazan Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping also met last year in Kazan, Russia. Following this high-level and significant breakthrough meeting, talks have resumed at the foreign secretary and special representative levels. The foreign ministers have also met at multilateral events, and a bilateral visit remains possible. China is also expecting PM Modi to attend the SCO summit it will host later this year. India, China to have issues for the foreseeable future: S. Jaishankar As India and China work to repair their ties after nearly five years of tension, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said the events of 2020 were not the right way to handle disputes. His remarks referred to Chinas unilateral attempt to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Jaishankar acknowledged that both countries will continue to have disagreements in the future but emphasised that they can be resolved without conflict. Speaking at an event organised by the Asia Society, he said, We know there will be issues between India and China, but there are ways to address them, and 2020 was not one of them. The video came days after Trump issued an ultimatum: Accept a nuclear deal in the next two months or face consequences read more Iranian state TV shows what it says is an underground missile storage facility. Screengrab Amid the brewing tensions in West Asia, Iran released new footage of a missile city, claiming it to be one of the hundreds of missile cities in the country. This is the third facility which is publically revealed in under a month and the city is operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tasnim News reported. On Tuesday, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces were seen filmed while travelling through the facility. Advertisement BREAKING Iran has unveiled perhaps its largest missile city ever that can destroy all US assets in the region The new underground missile base houses thousands of precision-guided missiles such as Kheibar Shekan, Haj Qasem, Ghadr-H, Sejjil, Emad and others pic.twitter.com/QYR24ZN7TS Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) March 25, 2025 The video shared by the Iranian state media showed hundreds of missiles lined up at the complex. According to Tasnim News, Kheibar Shekan (900-mile range), Haj Qassem (850-mile range), Ghadr H, (1,240-mile range), Sejjil (1,550-mile range), and Emad (1,050-mile range) missiles, as well as Paveh cruise missiles, are reported to be held in the city. The disrespect to Israel The footage also showed Bagheri stepping on an Israeli flag placed on the ground of the facility. Irans iron fist is far stronger than before. 10 times stronger than True Promise I, Bagheri claimed. All the [defensive] dimensions that are required for generating a [military] capability that is 10 times [stronger than] the one deployed during Operation True Promise II, has been createdThe enemy will fall behind in this balance of power, he added. True Promise refers to Irans attack on Israel in April last year. The facility opening is also coming amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with US President Donald Trump issuing one threat after another to the country. The video came days after Trump issued an ultimatum: Accept a nuclear deal in the next two months or face consequences. The threat came after the US conducted a massive strike on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday 25 percent tariffs on all cars that are not made in the United States effective 12:01 am eastern time on April 3 read more US President Donald Trump welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House in Washington, US. File Image: Reuters Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Thursday that his government is considering appropriate measures in response to US tariffs on car imports. US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday 25 percent tariffs on all cars that are not made in the United States effective 12:01 am eastern time on April 3. We have to think about appropriate measures following this announcement. Naturally, we will consider all options, Ishiba told parliament. Japan has made significant investments and significant job creation, which doesnt apply to all countries We are the number one (country) in investment in the United States, Ishiba added. Advertisement The US presidents understanding on this is significantly deepening. However, various things are happening, so we are considering all kinds of countermeasures, and those exist as our options. Trumps announcement sent shares in Japanese auto giants down sharply on Thursday. The worlds top-selling automaker Toyota was down almost 3.5 percent, while Nissan shed 2.5 percent and Honda fell as much as 3.1 percent. Mitsubishi Motors was down 4.5 percent, while Mazda fell 5.9 percent and Subaru 6.1 percent. In South Korea, Hyundai shares dipped 2.7 percent. The auto industry is a huge pillar of the Japanese economy, with about 10 percent of jobs there connected to the sector. Vehicles accounted for roughly a third of Japans 21.3 trillion yen ($142 billion) of US-bound exports in 2024. Earlier in March, the chair of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) warned of the impact of US trade protectionism at a Tokyo press conference. A 25 percent tariff would have a negative impact overall on the economies of the United States and Japan, Masanori Katayama said. Japanese ministers have been lobbying their US counterparts to secure tariff exemptions for goods like steel and vehicles, but these requests have been denied. Advertisement The Trump administration says levies are a way to raise government revenue, revitalise American industry and press countries on US priorities. But targeting imported cars could strain ties with close US partners. About 50 percent of cars sold in the United States are manufactured within the country. Among imports, about half come from Mexico and Canada, with Japan, South Korea and Germany also major suppliers. The meeting of over two dozen heads of state and government set out to agree what security guarantees Europe can offer Ukraine once there is agreement on a ceasefire, including the possible deployment of military forces by a so-called coalition of the willing read more France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky leave after a press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris on March 26, 2025. AFP European leaders on Thursday unanimously agreed not to lift sanctions on Russia and said that they should instead ramp up efforts to defend Ukraine in the war. At the Paris Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, France and Britain said that they would send reassurance forces to Ukraine after any peace is achieved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also attended the meeting where his European allies agreed on a coordinated policy after Donald Trump shocked Europe by opening direct talks with the Kremlin. Advertisement The meeting of over two dozen heads of state and government set out to agree what security guarantees Europe can offer Ukraine once there is agreement on a ceasefire, including the possible deployment of military forces by a so-called coalition of the willing. US should have sanctioned Russia Earlier this month, Russia rejected a 30-day ceasefire proposal by the US after Ukraine accepted its terms. Zelenskyy on Thursday said that Washington should have imposed sanctions on Russia after it rejected the ceasefire plan. After recalling the Oval office spat between him and US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy added, Okay, lets just make a pause and not just tell America, advise America what to do. They have their own people who can advise. Talking about Europes position in the war, the Ukrainian leader said, Europe can defend itself. We have to prove it, adding that everybody understood and understands that today Russia does not want any kind of peace. Reassurance force As well as boosting Ukraines own armed forces, a key pillar of ensuring security and preventing further Russian invasions could be to deploy European troops to Ukraine, although until now it has been far from clear how this could happen. Macron said after the summit France and Britain were leading efforts to send a reassurance force to Ukraine after any end to the fighting. It does not have unanimity today, but we do not need unanimity to do this, he added, saying a Franco-British delegation would head to Ukraine in the coming days for talks. Advertisement There will be a reassurance force with several European countries who will deploy to Ukraine, he said. With inputs from agencies Over 10 million more people could contract HIV, and nearly 3 million could die by the end of decade due to cuts in foreign aid from Western governments, according to report, citing a new research published on Thursday read more University students hold red ribbons at a photo opportunity during an HIV/Aids awareness rally in Chengdu, Sichuan province. File image/Reuters Over 10 million more people could contract HIV, and nearly 3 million could die by the end of decade due to cuts in foreign aid from Western governments, according to a new research published on Thursday. According to a Politico report, the study, published in The Lancet HIV, estimates the potential public health consequences of proposed or planned reductions by the five largest donor nations the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands which collectively provide 90% of global HIV funding. Advertisement The most significant effects are expected in sub-Saharan Africa and among at-risk and marginalised groups, such as people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and children, added the report. The US has reduced funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), affecting HIV treatment and prevention programmes. The Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) also faces potential cuts. In February, the UK announced plans to reduce its international development spending, while the Netherlands also said it would cut foreign aid by approximately $2.6 billion. Last year, Germany and France decreased their foreign aid budgets, resulting in an additional cut of around $3.2 billion. The current cuts to PEPFAR and USAID-supported programmes have already disrupted access to essential HIV services including for antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and testing, Politico quoted co-lead study author Debra ten Brink of the Burnet Institute in Australia as saying. If other donor countries reduce funding, decades of progress to treat and prevent HIV could be unravelled, she said. Global health leaders have urged the EU and member countries to step up and uphold their support for global health programmes. With inputs from agencies Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed threats to seize land in Gaza if Hamas does not release the remaining Israeli hostages. His remarks come as protests against the militant group continue for a second consecutive day, with hundreds of Palestinians demanding an end to the war. read more Hundreds of Palestinians join 'Hamas out' protest in Gaza, call for an end to the war. AFP Benjamin Netanyahu has again warned that Israel will seize land in Gaza if Hamas does not release the remaining Israeli hostages. Meanwhile, for the second day in a row, hundreds of Palestinians protested against Hamas, calling for an end to the war. The Israeli prime ministers remarks came a week after Israel restarted its military operation in Gaza. The battle between the Palestinian armed group and Israel resumed after a brief but fragile ceasefire, which came into effect on 19 January. Advertisement 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. 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 on here, he said. Protests in Gaza enter day 2 Thousands of Palestinians marched through the ruins of a devastated town in northern Gaza on Wednesday, marking the second day of anti-war protests. Many of the protesters voiced rare public anger against Hamas. The protests, mostly in northern Gaza, called for an end to 17 months of deadly conflict with Israel, as the war has made life unbearable in the territory. Hamas known for suppressing its critics Open criticism of Hamas is rare in Gaza, where the group has violently suppressed dissent in the past. In Beit Lahiya, where protests also erupted on Tuesday, around 3,000 people marched, chanting, The people want the fall of Hamas. In Gaza Citys war-torn Shijaiyah neighbourhood, dozens of men shouted, Out, out, out! Hamas, get out! Advertisement 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. The Islamic Republic has not closed all doors. It is ready for indirect negotiations with the United States in order to evaluate the other party, state its own conditions and make the appropriate decision, said Kamal Kharrazi, an adviser to Irans supreme leader read more Kamal Kharrazi, an adviser to Irans supreme leader, said on Thursday that Tehran remains open to resolving its disputes with the US and is prepared for indirect negotiations with Washington. So far, Tehran has dismissed US President Donald Trumps warning to either reach a deal or face military repercussions. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described Trumps message as misleading, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi emphasised that negotiations cannot proceed unless Washington alters its maximum pressure policy. Advertisement The Islamic Republic has not closed all doors. It is ready for indirect negotiations with the United States in order to evaluate the other party, state its own conditions and make the appropriate decision, Reuters quoted Kharrazi as saying, according to the semi-official Iranian Students News Agency. Iran is expected to respond to Trumps letter soon, with Araqchi indicating last week that Tehran would consider both Trumps threats and potential opportunities in its reply. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 agreement with Iran and world powers, which imposed strict limits on Tehrans controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. After Trumps withdrawal in 2018 and the reimposition of extensive US sanctions, Iran began to breach and has since significantly exceeded those limits in its expanding uranium enrichment programme. Western powers accuse Iran of pursuing a hidden agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to levels they claim exceed what is necessary for civilian nuclear energy purposes. Tehran, however, asserts that its nuclear programme is entirely focused on civilian energy needs. With inputs from agencies The prime minister wrote the letter a week before the two leaders will meet each other for the first time at the Bimstec summit in Thailand read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned a letter to Bangladeshs Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to commemorate the Bangladesh National Day. In the letter, PM Modi underscored the significance of mutual sensitivity and referred to the Bangladesh Liberation War as a shared history. The prime minister wrote the letter a week before the two leaders will meet each other for the first time at the Bimstec summit in Thailand. Yunus assumed office last year after Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following a violent protest. A key ally of India, Hasina is currently seeking refuge in New Delhi, which is not sitting well with Bangladeshi authorities who are looking to prosecute her. Advertisement In the letter, PM Modi emphasised that the national day stands as a testament to our shared history and sacrifices, that 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 people," the prime minister said. Modi, Yunus to meet in Thailand Prime Minister Modi said that he is looking to advance the ties between India and Bangladesh. We remain committed to advancing this partnership, driven by our common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity, and based on mutual sensitivity to each others interests and concerns, he said. Both leaders will participate in the Bimstec Summit in Bangkok on April 3-4. While Dhaka has sought a bilateral meeting, New Delhi has given a cold shoulder over the matter. While addressing a Parliamentary committee request, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday that PM Modis bilateral engagements on the margins of the event will be announced later, The Time of India reported. Meanwhile, Droupadi Murmu wrote a letter to her counterpart, Mohammed Shahabuddin, expressing her support for a democratic, stable, inclusive, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh. 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 Indias Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, its SAGAR doctrine and the Indo-Pacific Vision, she said in the letter. Putin added that Trumps brazen stance on Greenland may surprise some but only at first glance. Earlier this week, Trump reiterated that US will go as far as we have to go to gain control of the Danish island read more Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (March 27) termed his US counterpart Donald Trumps plan to annex Greenland serious, adding that such plans had long-standing historical roots. We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long-standing historical roots, the Russian leader said while speaking at an Arctic forum in Murmansk, a city in northern Russia. Putin added that Trumps brazen stance on Greenland may surprise some, but only at first glance. Advertisement It is a deep mistake to think that this is some extravagant talk from the new American administration. It is nothing of the sort, he stated. The Russian leader added that Trumps ambitions showed geopolitical competition in the area is intensifying. It is obvious that the role and importance of the Arctic both for Russia and for the whole world is growing. But unfortunately, geopolitical competition, the struggle for positions in this region, is also intensifying, Putin said. Russia to boost troop deployment in Arctic Putin further stated Russia was concerned that NATO countries in general are increasingly designating the Far North as a springboard for possible conflicts, adding that Russia was monitoring the situation and preparing an appropriate response. Putin also announced his own plans to boost military deployment in the Arctic region. Trumps fresh Greenland bid Earlier this week, Trump reiterated that US will go as far as we have to go to gain control of the Danish island. We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it, he said during an interview with podcaster Vince Coglianese. I hate to put it that way, but were going to have to have it. VP Vance to visit Greenland amid criticism His remarks came ahead of a planned visit to Greenland by US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, the second lady of the US, Usha Vance. The US VP is supposed to visit the Pituffik Space Base, an American military installation dedicated to space operations. The proposed visit has drawn criticism from officials in Greenland and Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen earlier stated that Usha Vances visit to the island represented an unacceptable pressure on Denmark and Greenland. Advertisement Usha Vance originally planned to attend a dog sled race elsewhere, but the White House reportedly cancelled that trip. Instead, she will accompany her husband on the base visit. JD Vance said he would focus on security issues concerning the vast Arctic island during his visit. (With inputs from agencies) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday he has canceled the visas of more than 300 lunatics in a growing crackdown against anti-Israel activism on American university campuses read more US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday he has canceled the visas of more than 300 lunatics in a growing crackdown against anti-Israel activism on American university campuses. Asked to confirm reports of 300 visas stripped, Rubio said: Maybe more than 300 at this point. We do it every day. Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas, he told reporters on a visit to Guyana. At some point I hope we run out because weve gotten rid of them, Rubio said. Advertisement Since President Donald Trump returned to office on January 20, Rubio has moved aggressively against students at the forefront of on-campus anti-Israel protests in response to the Gaza war. The most high-profile case is Mahmoud Khalil, who led protests at Columbia University in New York. He was arrested this month and taken to Louisiana ahead of deportation proceedings, despite being a US permanent resident. Rubio was asked about a new case at Tufts University in Massachusetts where immigration agents arrested a Turkish doctoral student, Rumeysa Ozturk, who had written an opinion piece in a campus newspaper demanding that the university recognize a genocide against the Palestinians. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat from Massachusetts, accused the Trump administration of moving to abduct students with legal status. This is a horrifying violation of Rumeysas constitutional rights to due process and free speech. She must be immediately released, Pressley said in a statement. The Trump administration has responded that the US constitutional protection of free speech does not apply to non-US citizens and has accused activist students of creating a dangerous atmosphere for Jewish students. Without commenting directly on the Tufts case, Rubio said: If you tell us that the reason why youre coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, were not going to give you a visa. Advertisement If you lie to us and get a visa and then enter the United States, and with that visa, participate in that sort of activity, were going to take away your visa, he said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia is striving to strengthen bilateral ties with major global powers like India, with whom the country shares a privileged strategic partnership read more Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India soon, as Moscow makes arrangements for his trip, the first since the start of the Ukraine war. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the announcement on Wednesday at a video conference, saying, President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared. He added that Russia is striving to strengthen bilateral ties with major global powers like India, with whom the country shares a privileged strategic partnership. Earlier this week, Lavrov highlighted the efforts made by countries like India, China and other BRICS and SCO members in shaping a multipolar world. Advertisement We enjoy a particularly privileged strategic partnership with India, the foreign minister was quoted as saying in Russian media. Lavrov also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia as his first foreign trip after getting re-elected for the third time last year. Now its our turn, he said. India and Russia share a long-standing and strong strategic partnership, which has evolved over decades. Russia has been a key defense supplier to India, and the two countries have collaborated on several military, space, and energy projects. Additionally, both nations advocate for a multipolar world order and often support each other on global platforms, such as the United Nations. Despite changing global dynamics, India-Russia relations remain robust, with a focus on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing mutual challenges. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated again as both sides accuse each other of violating a US-brokered agreement to stop attacks on energy infrastructure. The deal, aimed at easing hostilities and ensuring safe shipping in the Black Sea, now faces uncertainty amid conflicting statements and renewed allegations. read more Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for violating a US-brokered deal to stop attacks on energy sites, highlighting the difficulty of reaching a broader peace. Russias defence ministry claimed that Ukrainian drones hit an electricity facility in Bryansk on Wednesday and a power grid in Kursk on Tuesday, causing power cuts for thousands. It accused Ukraine of trying to disrupt Russian-US agreements on easing the conflict. It said the Ukrainian government is doing everything to derail the Russian-US agreements on the gradual settlement of the war. Advertisement Ukraines General Staff denied the allegations, stating on Wednesday that Russias claims were part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at justifying continued hostilities. Conflicting statements emerge The accusations came shortly after Washington announced a deal with Ukraine and Russia to halt attacks on energy sites and allow safe shipping in the Black Sea. This followed three days of talks in Saudi Arabia, working towards a 30-day ceasefire that both sides had tentatively agreed to last week. However, conflicting statements emerged immediately after the talks on Tuesday. Both sides differed on when to start halting strikes on energy sites and accused each other of violating the ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Ukraine had agreed with US negotiators in Riyadh that a ceasefire for energy infrastructure can start today, expressing his countrys willingness to comply with the agreement while warning that Russia would face strong retaliation if it attacked Ukrainian energy facilities. The Kremlin declared that Russia had not attacked any Ukrainian energy facilities since 18 March, when Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt the attacks for 30 days in a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Moscow would continue to respect the halt on strikes despite Ukrainian violations, saying it marked a good step forward thanks to the constructive relations with the American side. Ukrainian officials have contested the Kremlins claims. Theyve been hitting our energy sites with bombs, attack drones, and FPV drones, Zelenskyys communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said on X. Were not going into all the details, but there have already been eight confirmed hits on energy facilities. Every night our air defence forces shoot down nearly a hundred attack drones and many of those drones were likely targeting other energy facilities. Advertisement On Tuesday, the White House also announced 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 brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, which was later halted by Russia. The Kremlin warned on Tuesday that a potential Black Sea deal could only be implemented once sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial organisations involved in food and fertiliser trade were lifted, and their access to the SWIFT international payments system was restored. Advertisement Speaking during a visit to Paris on Wednesday, Zelenskyy 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. Russia wants this war to continue. Russia is prolonging it. Pressure on Russia is needed for the war to genuinely end," Zelenskyy said. He also argued that it was too early for the United States to ease sanctions against Russia, stating that Ukraine continued discussions with international partners, including the US, 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. Rubio also 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. 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, Rubio said. Advertisement Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said that contacts between Russia and the US continue quite intensively and that authorities were satisfied with how pragmatic, constructive and productive our dialogue is. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the Black Sea commitments, stating that they will be a crucial contribution to global food security and supply chains, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Dujarric would not confirm whether the UN would participate in monitoring the Black Sea agreement. The fires have burned over 81,500 acres of land. At least 26 people are dead and two temples, both hundreds of years old, have been destroyed read more South Korea is contending with its worst-ever wildfire disaster as blazes that began nearly a week ago in the central county of Uiseong more than doubled in size on Thursday, sweeping through ancient heritage sites and displacing tens of thousands of people. The fires have burned over 33,000 hectares (81,500 acres) of land dwarfing the countrys previous largest forest fire in March 2000 and left at least 26 people dead, according to emergency officials. Authorities have described it as the most severe natural fire event in the nations history. Advertisement Acting president Han Duck-soo told an emergency response meeting that the country was facing a critical moment, citing the high number of casualties and the extraordinary speed of the fires spread. Driven by gusty winds and prolonged dry weather, the blazes have surged eastward across the rugged, mountainous landscape in the southeast, nearly reaching the coastline. Military steps in to aid firefighting More than 120 helicopters have been deployed across three provinces, according to the safety ministry, with the military releasing aviation fuel reserves to help sustain firefighting operations. South Koreas steep terrain makes aerial firefighting one of the most effective strategies for containing forest fires. Weather forecasts have offered little relief. Although light rain is expected in parts of the southwest, meteorologists predict less than five millimetres of precipitation in most of the affected regions. Officials said the rainfall is unlikely to make a significant difference in firefighting efforts. Heritage sites destroyed Among the cultural casualties are centuries-old Buddhist temples. Unramsa Temple, located on Cheondeungsan Mountain and believed to be over a thousand years old, was completely consumed by fire. 1000 year old Temple consumed by wildfire Thousand-year-old Unramsa Temple on Cheondeungsan Mountain South Korea, was completely destroyed by a forest fire yesterday. It quickly spread due to strong winds, burning down both the main building and its outbuildings. Before the pic.twitter.com/X5Bk6aTjUy Volcaholic (@volcaholic1) March 23, 2025 Advertisement Another, the Gounsa Temple originally established in the 7th century also suffered severe damage, with roughly 20 out of its 30 structures destroyed earlier in the week. National treasures housed at Gounsa, including artefacts dating back to 681 CE, were evacuated and relocated to safer areas before the fire reached the site, according to local reports. More than 200 structures have been damaged or destroyed overall, and over 27,000 residents have been forced to evacuate. Climate change linked to fires intensity Experts have called the Uiseong blaze unusually extreme in both scale and speed, pointing to broader global trends. Research groups, including the nonprofit Climate Central, have noted that higher temperatures intensified by human-driven climate change have contributed to seasonally dry conditions, making the landscape more susceptible to fire. Environmental scientists have warned that such megafires are likely to become more frequent as the planet warms, especially in regions already prone to seasonal droughts. Advertisement As crews continue to battle the flames, officials have urged residents in fire-prone areas to remain alert and prepare for possible evacuations, with weather conditions expected to remain unfavourable in the coming days. With inputs from agencies Paris and Beijing have been quietly building a multifaceted partnership, mixing economic pragmatism with strategic dialogue, and occasionally awkward diplomacy over issues such as Ukraine read more French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot meets with Duan Peng, President of the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), in Beijing, China. Reuters French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Thursday (March 27). The two nations have huddled together against the backdrop of USs combative trade policy, focused on tariffs and trade wars. Still, while it may be tempting to frame the latest rapprochement between France and China as a reaction to President Donald Trumps return to protectionist rhetoric and aggressive levies, the roots of this diplomatic closeness predate his presidency. Advertisement In fact, the China and France were strengthening their relationship even during Joe Bidens time in the Oval Office. Paris and Beijing have been quietly building a multifaceted partnership, mixing economic pragmatism with strategic dialogue, and occasionally awkward diplomacy over issues such as Ukraine. A relationship built in layers Two examples from the past two years stand out. In April 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron paid a state visit to China. The trip produced a sweeping joint statement, spanning 51 clauses ranging from politics and security to trade, culture, and global governance. Notably, it marked the first time the two governments had formally included military cooperation in their agenda. Speaking to journalists on the way back from that trip, Macron reiterated his broader push for European strategic autonomy. He said the great risk Europe faces is that it gets caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy. Then came President Xi Jinpings visit to Paris in May 2024, where the two leaders doubled down on economic dialogue and soft-power diplomacy. French officials pressed Beijing to ease market access for French agricultural exports and resolve long-running disputes over intellectual property rights in sectors such as cosmetics. Ukraine loomed large in those talks, too. France continued to push China to use its influence over Moscow to bring an end to the war. Advertisement Now: old dynamics, new urgency In the current climate, however, old dynamics have taken on a new urgency. With Trumps White House imposing a 25 per cent tariff on EU car exports and threatening a wider tariff war, France is under pressure to diversify economic partnerships and shore up global alliances. Barrots meeting with Wang Yi this week stressed both the durability and limits of that approach. According to readouts from both sides, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthened strategic dialogue while exchanging views on Ukraine, trade, and the importance of multilateralism. But even as Paris presses Beijing on Moscows role in the war, it has continued to invest in a pragmatic relationship with China. With inputs from agencies Even though US President Donald Trump has vowed to save TikTok from a ban, he needs Chinas help as China needs to approve any deal for the sale of TikToks US operations as the apps parent company, ByteDance, is based in China read more US President Donald Trump has offered China a deal: facilitate the sale of TikToks US operations and secure tariff concessions. Under a bipartisan bill signed into law by former President Joe Biden last year, TikToks parent company, ByteDance, had to sell the platforms US operations by January 19 or face a ban. As ByteDance failed to comply, the app briefly went dark in the United States, but, in one of the first actions after assuming office on January 20, Trump extended the deadline till April 5. Advertisement Now, Trump is using 20 per cent tariffs that he has imposed on China and more reciprocal tariffs in the offing as a leverage to make China strike a deal. As ByteDance is a Chinese company, the Chinese regime needs to approve any deal selling the companys US operations. TikTok played a major role in Trumps election victory and he had vowed to save the app as a reward. However, the app has been indicted as a tool of the Chinese regime to brainwash users into supporting China and hating the West. The bipartisan effort to ban the app was based on such national security concerns. ALSO READ: TikTok manipulates content, brainwashes users into liking China, finds research Speaking to the media at White House, Trump on Wednesday said that maybe Ill give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done. Trump said, TikTok is big, but every point in tariffs is worth more than TikTok. Sounds like something Id do. Trump further said that if a deal is not reached until April 5, he will extend the stay that he first granted on January 20 with executive action. Multiple offers have been made to buy US operations of TikTok so far. Earlier this month, Trump said that at least four offers had been made. Advertisement Earlier, Forbes had reported the following offers to buy TikToks US operations: (1) Oracles discussions to buy TikTok along with other investors, such as Microsoft; (2) Perplexity AI merging with TikTok; (3) YouTuber Mr Beast offering to buy TikToks US operations; (4) Billionaire Frank McCourt, backed by Shark Tank investor Kevin OLeary and Guggenheim Securities, proposing to buy TikToks US operations In his Truth Social post, Trump also asked Doge to recover $2 billion allegedly granted to a climate group linked to former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. According to the EPA, the fund sought to reduce our impact on the climate by financing the replacement of household appliances in lower-income communities with green alternatives read more US President Donald Trump on Thursday (March 27) ordered the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) to retrieve $8,000,000 dished out to Politico magazine under the administration of former president Joe Biden. Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, Whatever happened to the $8,000,000 given by our government to Radical Left Politico magazine, or whatever you would call it. Owned by wealthy guys, this money should be taken back by DOGE, ASAP. Advertisement In his post, Trump also asked Doge to recover $2 billion allegedly granted to a climate group linked to former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Also, is Stacey Abrams going to give back the Two Billion Dollars they funneled into her environmental fund just prior to my assuming office. She went from $100 in donations to $2,000,000,000 in just one day? Not bad!!! Get back the money, Trump wrote. Alleged funding to Politico The US administration in February claimed that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) had funded several media outlets like Politico. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, I was made aware that USAID has funded media outlets like Politico who I know has a seat in this room. I can confirm that more than $8M taxpayers dollars that have gone to essentially subsidizing subscriptions on the American taxpayers dime will no longer be happening. The DOGE team is working on canceling those payments now. In response, Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and editor-in-chief John Harris rubbished these claims, insisting that the outlet has never been a beneficiary of government programs or subsidiesnot one cent, ever, in 18 years. Politicos leadership stated that the governments millions in subscription spending were for Politico Pro, a service that offers both private and public sector clients with granular, fact-based reporting, real-time intelligence, and tracking tools across key policy areas. EPAs claims regarding $2 bn grant to Power Forward Communities Similarly, later that month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claimed that the Biden administration had granted a $2 billion fund to Power Forward Communities, a nonprofit tied to Stacey Abrams. According to the EPA, the fund sought to reduce our impact on the climate by financing the replacement of household appliances in lower-income communities with green alternatives. Fox News reported, citing a post from LinkedIn, that Abrams played a pivotal role in establishing the group. The Trump administration is vigorously pushing to shut down the USAID, although such efforts are facing some resistance from the judiciary. Billionaire and an advisor to Trump, Elon Musk, is reportedly leading the effort to boost government efficiency. His approach, inspired by the aggressive cost-cutting strategies he used at Twitter and other companies, has sparked both praise and criticism for its speed and minimal input from foreign policy experts. Advertisement According to the US Commerce Departments International Trade Administration, South Korea became the third-largest exporter of automobiles to the US in the past year, with shipments valued at $36.6 billion, following Mexico and Japan read more In a response to Trumps 25 per cent tariffs on imported automobiles, South Koreas top trade official on Thursday said the government will plan ways to help the countrys auto industry. South Koreas Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun held an emergency meeting where he said, Its feared the US tariffs will cause significant difficulties for our auto companies US exports. We will work closely with the industry to find a way to respond, as well as with relevant agencies to announce emergency measures for the automobile industry by April. Advertisement Stock markets across Asia and Europe skidded into the red as auto manufacturers from Toyota to Hyundai and Mercedes led the plunge. In South Korea, Hyundai shares dipped 4.0 per cent. The US duties will take effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) on April 3 and impact foreign-made cars and light trucks. Key automobile parts will also be hit within the month. According to the US Commerce Departments International Trade Administration, South Korea became the third-largest exporter of automobiles to the US in the past year, with shipments valued at $36.6 billion, following Mexico and Japan. Bloomberg Intelligence predicts that the tariffs will reduce South Koreas GDP growth by approximately 0.1 percentage point this year and result in the loss of around 20,000 jobs. The retreat in the auto sector hit broader markets, which were already shaky owing to worries over Trumps trade agenda. Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei, Bangkok and Manila all fell. London opened on the back foot along with Paris and Frankfurt. Within the Asia-Pacific region, the car levies will hit Japan and South Korea the hardest, said Stefan Angrick and Dave Chia at Moodys Analytics. Advertisement About six percent of Japans total exports are cars shipped to the US. In South Koreas case, its four percent. Such a sizeable tariff hike will undermine confidence, hit production and reduce orders. With inputs from AFP While speaking at a press conference in Jamaica, Rubio did not explicitly call out Waltz, but did admit that it was a big mistake read more While other top officials from US President Donald Trumps government tries to downplay the situation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said that someone made a big mistake in adding the editor in chief of The Atlantic into a group chat where the US attacks on Houthis was being discussed. A major controversy stirred in the United States after The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg reported that national security adviser Mike Waltz added him to a group chat on the Signal app, where top Trump officials were discussing attack plans in Yemen. Soon after the revelation, Waltz took full responsibility for creating the group chat, which also included Rubio. Advertisement While speaking at a press conference in Jamaica, Rubio did not explicitly call out Waltz, but did admit that it was a big mistake. Someone made a mistake, someone made a big mistake and added a journalist, Rubio said, adding that the chat was set up as a coordinating mechanism. Trump administration downplays the matter The Trump administration has been trying to downplay the information Goldberg accidentally got access to. In his The Atlantic piece, the new outlets editor-in-chief shared the identity of an active official with the CIA and details surrounding the administrations attack plans targeting the Houthis in Yemen, such as which fighter jets and drones would be used and the timing of their launches ahead of the operation. However, top figures in the government insisted that the information shared in the Signal chat was not classified and did not pose a national security threat to the US operation. However, outrage started to brew from Democrats and some Republicans who maintained that the Signal chat was an embarrassing and reckless sharing of classified information. During the presser, Rubio said that the information in the chat was not meant to be divulged and that it did not threaten the operations of service members. Ive been assured by the Pentagon and everyone involved that none of the information that was on there though not intended to be divulged obviously, that was a mistake, and that shouldnt have happened and the White House is looking at it but that none of the information on there at any point threatened the operation of the lives of our servicemen, Rubio said. Advertisement In his reportage Goldberg said that he received a request from a user identified as Mike Waltz adding him to the chat and that no one raised questions over his inclusion. He also mentioned that he received no communication even after he left the group. With inputs from agencies. Russia has said that the Black Sea ceasefire would only come into effect when a slew of demands, including lifting of sanctions on its banks and financial institutions, are fulfilled read more This handout video grab taken and released by the Russian Defence Ministry on February 18, 2022, shows a 'Moskva' Russian cruiser during the Black sea naval exercises outside the Crimean port of Sevastopol. (Photo: AFP) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Russias demands for a ceasefire in Black Sea are under review. After the White House on Tuesday said that the United States and Russia had reached an understanding for a ceasefire in Black Sea, Russia junked the understanding within hours and said that such a ceasefire was conditional on the fulfilment of certain demands. The Kremlin said that the ceasefire would only come into effect once sanctions on a Russian bank and a host of financial institutions and companies are lifted. It further demanded restoration of Russias access to the SWIFT payment system. Advertisement In its statements, the White House had not mentioned these demands by Russia. It had simply said that 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. With his remarks on Wednesday, Rubio has confirmed that Kremlins demands are under consideration. Obviously, after our meeting (in Saudi Arabia), as part of their release, the Russians detailed a number of conditions that they want to see met in order to do that so were going to evaluate that, said Rubio in Jamaica. Rubio further said that the Trump administration would work to more fully understand what the Russian position is, or what theyre asking in exchange, and then well present that to the President (Trump) and decide next steps. He further acknowledged that some of the sanctions that Russia wants to be lifted are outside of US control as they have been imposed by the European Union (EU). ALSO READ: Is the Black Sea truce beginning of end of US sanctions on Russia? While Russia had been facing sanctions since 2014 when it first invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea, sanctions have been piled on the country since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. These restrictions, coupled with other coordinated actions short of sanctions, have restricted Russias access to international market, international financial systems, and have affected its trade of agricultural and energy products. The Kremlin has sought the lifting of sanctions on Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial institutions involved in the international trade of food and fertilisers. It has further sought the lifting of restrictions on insurance companies from working with Russia for trade of food and fertilisers, lifting of restrictions on servicing of Russian ships engaged in food and fertiliser trade, and lifting of restrictions on supplies of agricultural machinery to Russia. Advertisement This is at least the third instance where Russia has agreed to a US-backed, Ukraine-endorsed ceasefore in principle but has essentially junked by making it conditional upon demands that cannot be immediately fulfilled. Firstly, Russian leader Vladimir Putin accepted in principle a 30-day ceasefire that emerged from the first round of US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but laid down a host of maximalist demands for it to come into effect. Then, Russia in principle agreed to a US-backed, Ukraine-endorsed proposal to halt attacks for 30-days on energy infrastructure, but has not yet finalised its modalities and the halt is yet to come into effect. Advertisement Melania has made only a few public appearances since January, creating a soft power vacuum that the second lady has stepped in to fill, according to a report read more Usha Vance will on Thursday embark on a trip to Greenland, with the experts suggesting that the second lady is entering the political spotlight as she would be shouldering high-profile responsibilities that would normally have been taken by first lady Melania Trump. Usha Vances Greenland trip comes at a time when tensions with the US are at breaking point after President Donald Trump repeatedly suggested he would annex the autonomous Danish territory. Advertisement According to The Telegraph report, Melania has made only a few public appearances since January, creating a soft power vacuum that the second lady has stepped in to fill. She has indicated her intention to step back from Washington, opting instead to divide her time between Mar-a-Lago and New York during her husbands second term, added the report. As a relative newcomer to the political landscape, Usha Vance will need to navigate a diplomatically sensitive situation in Greenland and is likely to face protests from locals frustrated by the Trump administrations confrontational stance. Whats interesting is that this is something you might expect a first lady to do, The Telegraph quoted Lisa M Burns, who has written several books about the role, as saying. Historically, we know that Melania Trump is not as active as a first lady. Shes a bit more reluctant. She definitely picks and chooses when she does things, so were seeing the second lady step into this role, Burns added. Burns compared the relationship between the two women to that of Lady Bird Johnson stepping in for Jackie Kennedy in the early 1960s, noting that this trip represents Usha Vances first significant test in the political arena. This is the first thing were seeing from her in terms of whether shes going to be a more active participant in the administration, Burns was quoted as saying. Advertisement Before her husband JD Vance became vice president, Usha Vance was a registered Democrat and worked at a progressive law firm in San Francisco. According to The Telegraph report, a friend from Cambridge University described her as left-leaning, cosmopolitan, and committed to improving the world, adding that she showed no signs of far-right political views or tolerance for them. Usha Vances trip to Greenland was initially planned as a solo visit, likely to ease tensions and provide diplomatic cover for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz during a space base visit. However, Greenlands Prime Minister Mute B. Egede labeled the move as highly aggressive, stating, We are now at a point where it can no longer be described as an innocent visit from a politicians spouse the international community must now react. Meanwhile, Waltz was caught in a political controversy after unintentionally leaking top-secret information about US military strikes to a journalist. On Tuesday, JD Vance announced he would join his wife, claiming he didnt want her to have all that fun by herself. Advertisement According to a Politico report on Wednesday, the Greenland trip was toned down to include only a visit to a US military base, leading Usha Vance to forgo a scheduled dogsled race and the second couple will travel to the base for a briefing on security measures in the Arctic. Until now, the second ladys public appearances have mainly coincided with her husbands events. She spoke at the Republican National Convention, attended the inauguration, and recently led the US delegation to the Special Olympics in Turin. Behind the scenes, she has served as JD Vances spirit guide, helping him navigate Yale Law School and his political career. He describes her as his secret weapon an accomplished lawyer from Yale and Cambridge, who has also edited his RNC speech and honed his debating skills for the upcoming showdown with Tim Walz. Diana Carlin, co-author of Remember the First Ladies, noted that the geopolitics of the Greenland visit wouldnt have suited Melania Trump. Advertisement One of the beauties of this position, since its not formally established, is that each woman has done it her way. They can do as much or as little as they want, The Telegraph quoted her as saying. Melania has exercised that. Shes more interested in domestic issues, she said. Prof. Carlin added, The whole second lady role is dependent on what the first lady and the administration have as agendas. Melania was rarely seen during last years election campaign but made several appearances on Fox to promote her memoir, distancing herself from her husbands abortion stance. In the book, she claimed her controversial jacket choice during a visit to a child migrant detention center in 2018 was a discreet message to critics and recalled advising Donald Trump to end the kids in cages policy. Since becoming first lady, Melania has maintained a low profile, attending the inauguration and inaugural balls, visiting disaster victims, and later disappearing from the White House for four weeks. She lobbied for an anti-revenge porn bill in Congress and attended a dinner with US governors. Advertisement While she kept a low profile during the first Trump administration, she garnered attention as a newcomer, appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair Mexico shortly after taking office. This time, she claims to have more important things to do than appear in magazines. (Melania) was always very much involved but you didnt see it more behind the scenes, the president said in January. Melania is also reported to have worked on an Amazon documentary about her return to the White House, for which she has been paid at least $28 million. Carlin described Melania as an assertive first lady who would challenge her husband, notably disagreeing with him on abortion. Now, Usha Vance has the chance to assert herself on the international stage and within the Trump administration. With inputs from agencies Chinese regulators have also begun examining the Hong Kong tycoons familys investments, both domestic and overseas, in an effort to map the full extent of their financial interests read more Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing waves goodbye to journalists after announcing his retirement as chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd at a news conference in Hong Kong, China March 16, 2018. Reuters China has reportedly instructed state-owned enterprises to pause any new business with companies linked to Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing and his family, in what appears to be growing fallout from his firms decision to sell port assets near the Panama Canal to a US-led consortium. The directive comes after Lis conglomerate CK Hutchison agreed to divest most of its global ports business including two facilities in Panama in a deal with a consortium led by US investment giant BlackRock, Bloomberg reported. Advertisement The transaction, valued at over $19 billion, has sparked unease in Beijing amid escalating US-China tensions and concerns over control of strategic infrastructure. The order was reportedly issued last week at the request of senior Chinese officials, with state-backed firms told to refrain from striking any new partnerships or commercial arrangements with Lis businesses. Existing deals are not affected. Scrutiny of Li empire intensifies Chinese regulators have also begun examining the familys investments, both domestic and overseas, in an effort to map the full extent of their financial interests. CK Hutchison, a sprawling conglomerate with holdings spanning retail, telecoms, infrastructure and ports, has long been one of Hong Kongs most prominent corporate players. But the politically sensitive nature of the Panama sale appears to have drawn the ire of Chinese authorities. Over the past fortnight, pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao has published a series of commentaries accusing Lis firm of undermining Chinas national interests. The states Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office has since reposted some of those articles on its official website amplifying the criticisms and fuelling speculation that Beijing could intervene to derail the transaction. Reuters cited a source as saying that Chinese regulators, acting under the direction of central leadership, have opened a review of the deal a sign of Beijings growing discomfort with what it sees as a divestment driven by geopolitical pressure from Washington. A geopolitical flashpoint The ports in question sit close to the Panama Canal, a vital shipping artery that has long been a source of strategic interest for both the US and China. US President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed the transaction, framing it as a win for US control in the region. He previously called for the removal of what he described as Chinese influence over the canal. Advertisement CK Hutchisons share price rose as much as 3.6 per cent on Thursday following the initial reports, but pared gains to close up 1.2 per cent. With inputs from agencies The allegations of election interference are also coming at a time when India-Canada ties have been down the drains. The two countries have been involved in an intense diplomatic row since 2023 read more Canada was rocked by a scandal after the countrys officials alleged that India along with other nations is making sophisticated efforts to interfere in the countrys upcoming elections. Weeks before Canadians cast ballots on April 28, the countrys senior officials claimed that countries like India, China, Pakistan and Iran are all expected to make efforts to subvert the national vote. They argued that these nations might interfere in the polls through increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaigns. Earlier this week, Canadian news outlet Globe and Mail newspaper cited top security officials, who alleged that Indian agents were involved in the fundraising and organising within Canadas South Asian community to support Conservative politician Poilievre to gain partys leadership in 2022. Advertisement However, Poilievre denied the allegations and said that he won the leadership fair and square. The allegations are also coming at a time when India-Canada ties have been down the drains. The two countries have been involved in an intense diplomatic row since 2023. The layers of the India-Canada diplomatic row The ties between the two nations took first hit in 2023 when former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood at the Canadian parliament and claimed that an Indian agent working for the government was involved in the assassination of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Before this, New Delhi has often raised concerns to Ottawa regarding the rise of the pro-Khalistani movement in the country. Indias Ministry of External Affairs immediately rejected the allegations calling Trudeaus allegations absurd. While all this was happening, both nations also dismissed a major chunk of diplomats who were operating in each nation. Given the turbulence, India also raised concerned about the safety of Indian diplomats in Canada, given the countrys failure to take take control of anti-India sentiments. However, Indias plea fell on deaf ears. While all this was happening, allegations started to float that India was meddling in Canadas internal affairs, an accusation often rejected by India. The election saga Earlier this year, a landmark inquiry into foreign interference found that information manipulation is the biggest risk to the countrys democratic institutions. Most threat actors remain likely to conduct threat activities and have likely adapted their tradecraft to further conceal their foreign-interference activity, making it even more challenging to detect, Vanessa Lloyd, deputy director of operations for Canadas spy agency and chair of the security and intelligence threats to the elections task force, told reporters earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Globe and Mail reported that former Liberal leadership hopeful Chandra Arya had been disqualified amid concerns over his relationship with India. The Canadian MP from the Liberal party was accused of being susceptible to outside influence. Arya was elected to the House of Commons in 2015. In January this year, he was told that he was barred from formally entering the Liberal leadership race. He was also told that he was ineligible to run again in his electoral district. In both cases, the Liberal party did not provide further details on the matter. Advertisement A security source told the Globe that while Canada was having a fallout with India, Arya travelled to India in August and met the prime minister, Narendra Modi. Arya is not believed to have informed the government of his meeting. 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, the Canadian MP said in his defence. 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 added. Advertisement Interestingly, Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, who doesnt have a seat in the House of Commons, announced late last week he would contest the electoral district of Nepean, previously held by Arya. When asked his take on the matter, Carne only said hostile actors were not to blame for the partys delay in nominating candidates. The whole electoral race boils down to the leaders of the two key Canadian parties, i.e. Liberals and Conservatives. Heres a look at how Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Partys Mark Carney look at India: Mark Carney Unlike Trudeau, Carney is seen as having a technocratic and global perspective, when it comes to Ottawas ties with one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. There are opportunities to rebuild relationships with India, there needs to be a shared sense of values around commercial relationships and if I am the prime minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that, said Carney, before being elected as the leader of the governing Liberal Party. What is looked as another sign of approchement, Daniel Rogers, the head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, visited New Delhi, earlier this month for a meeting of international intelligence heads hosted by Indias National Security Council Secretariat. The event was also attended by both the US & UK intelligence chief and took place behind close doors. Advertisement Many also believe Trumps tariff threats to both India and Canada have the potential to bring both nations closer to each other. Pierre Poilievre Many experts in Canada questioned Poilievres silence on Trudeaus allegations against India in the Nijjar Case. The conservative leader is known for being chronically online scrutinised for not making any post on the scandal. After a brief silence, Poilievre went on to blame Trudeau for souring diplomatic ties with India, insisting that Ottawa needs a professional relationship with New Delhi. In an interview with Namaste Radio in Toronto, Poilievre blamed Trudeau for the mess. Hes turned Canadians against each other at home and hes blown up our relations abroad, Poilievre said during the interview in October 2023. He is so incompetent and unprofessional that now we are in major disputes with almost every major power in the world and that includes India, Poilievre continued. Its fine to have our disagreements and to hold each other accountable, but we have to have a professional relationship, he said, adding that he would restore the ties if he wins the electoral race. Advertisement This gave an insights into the Conservative leaders plans after coming to power. Poilievre also often raised concerns about safety of Hindus in the country amid rising cases of vandalism in Hindu temples. Hence, it is safe to say both the the top Canadian candidates will be looking at mending ties with India. Irrespective of the denial by the Donald Trump administration, the plan of attack on Yemen-based Houthis shared by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was classified at the time of sharing and such plans are always classified, according to serving and former US officials read more US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends a meeting with Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey (not pictured) at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, US, March 6, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) Even though the Donald Trump administration has downplayed the leak of Houthi attack plan, US officials have said that the plan was classified at the time of sharing. Earlier this month, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently added The Atlantics Editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a group on Signal where top officials, including Vice President JD Vance, State Secretary Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussed the upcoming attack on Houthis in Yemen. Hegseth went on to share attack plan on the group. Advertisement While the Trump administration has maintained that the plan was not classified, Fox News and CNN have reported officials as saying that the plan shared by Hegseth was classified at the time of sharing and that such plans are always classified. ALSO READ: Weeks before US officials used Signal for war plans, Google outlined how Russia hacked it in Ukraine The kind of information that Hegseth shared is always classified and is marked Secret, NOFORN, which means that it is secret and cannot be shared with anyone outside of the government, not even with a treaty ally like Five Eyes members, according to Fox Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin. In other words, the information is classified and should not be shared through insecure channels, said Griffin in a post on X. Hegseth shared exact time & platforms A US defence official familiar with the operation told CNN that the information shared by Hegseth on Signal was highly classified at the time of sharing. Hegseth shared the exact timing and weapon platforms that would be used in the attack hours ahead of their launch. The chat also revealed that a Houthi leader, who was among the targets of the strikes, was supposed to be attacked at his girlfriends house. As per messages published by Atlantics Goldberg, Hegseth told the group that F-18 warplanes would launch at 12:15 pm, F-18s time window to attack would start at 01:45 pm, and a second batch of F-18s would launch at 02:10 pm, and first strikes from F-18s and MQ-9 drones would be expected at 02:15 pm, and the second round of strikes from F-18s and Tomahawks missiles would start at 03:36 pm. Had such information leaked to Houthis or to the internet, the entire operation as well as the safety of the US assets deployed for the operation could have been compromised. A former senior defence official told Foxs Griffin that such attack orders or attack sequence puts the joint force directly and immediately at risk and allows the enemy to move the target and increase lethal actions against US forces. Advertisement Even though a key line of defence of White House and others in the Trump administration is that the leak does not comprise war plans (the phrase initially largely used by the media) but attack plans, two former senior US defence officials told Griffin that the kind of real-time operational intelligence that Hegseth shared is more sensitive than war plans which makes this lapse more egregious. A second former senior US defense official told Griffin, If you are revealing who is going to be attacked (Houthis the name of the text chain), it still gives the enemy warning. When you release the time of the attack all of that is always classified." Advertisement The updates Hegseth was giving on Signal were the kind of real-time play-by-play that a commander would be giving to the president in a highly classified setting as the operation unfolded, according to CNN. These are operational plans that are highly classified in order to protect the service members, a defence official told CNN. A defence official told CNN that if a uniformer personnel had done what Hegseth did, they would have been court martialed for the act. Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, both in northeastern Ukraine and bordering Russia, have been crucial in Ukraines defense since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Moscow launched a two-pronged attack on Kharkiv Oblast last May, but by June 8, Zelenskyy announced that Russia had failed in its offensive read more A top Kyiv general said on Thursday (March 27) that Russian forces may be looking to break into Ukraines Sumy province, citing an alleged increase in attacks along the countrys northeastern border. The Sumy province lies right next to Russias Kursk region across the border. General Oleksandr Syrskyi was quoted by Reuters as saying that Kyiv forces were conducting defensive and assault operations to create a buffer zone inside Russian territory. Our soldiers continue to conduct a defensive operation to prevent the enemy from breaking deep into Ukrainian territory, the general wrote in a Facebook post. Advertisement This comes a day after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin was preparing for a new offensive in Sumy and Kharkiv regions. I can confirm that Putin is trying to get time and is preparing for a spring offensive. We see preparations for this upcoming operation, Zelenskyy said. He claimed his nation has shared intelligence with all allies. We see preparations for this upcoming operation, he said. The Ukrainian leader added that Putin wanted to launch this operation eight months ago but he had to postpone his plans owing to Ukraines Kursk operation. Zelenskyy said Putin didnt really want peace and he was only stalling for time. Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, both in northeastern Ukraine and bordering Russia, have been crucial in Ukraines defense since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Moscow launched a two-pronged attack on Kharkiv Oblast last May, but by June 8, Zelenskyy announced that Russia had failed in its offensive. On Wednesday, Ukraines border guard in a statement to local media confirmed that Russian groups were conducting cross-border raids into the Sumy region. Earlier this month, Zelenskyy had reportedly warned of Russian forces mobilising along the countrys northeastern border. We understand this and will take countermeasures, he wrote on Telegram. (With inputs from agencies) Advertisement Samsung launched the Galaxy A55 5G smartphone earlier this month as the successor to the Galaxy A55 5G. This gets an improved screen, faster Exynos 1580 4nm SoC, and faster charging, while retaining the same camera, and battery. Is this a good upgrade compared to the Galaxy A55 5G? Let us dive into the review to find out. Box Contents Samsung Galaxy A56 5G 12GB RAM + 256GB in Awesome Olive colour USB Type-C to C Cable SIM ejector tool Quick Start Guide Display, Hardware and Design The phone comes with a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Infinity-O Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 10802340 pixels at about 384 PPI. The display looks bright, thanks to 1900 nits peak brightness, and up to 1200 nits HBM (high brightness mode), an improvement compared to the predecessor. It also has good colour reproduction and the screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, same as the A55. It has a 120Hz refresh rate screen that offers a fluid user experience with smoother animations, scrolling and gaming. Similar to the other Samsung phones, there is an Eye comfort shield that limit blue light emitted by the screen. There is also dark mode. You can choose from Vivid or Natural screen modes based on your preference, or set the white balance manually. The phone doesnt have DC dimming or low brightness anti-flicker mode that is present in some AMOLED screen phones in the price range. I didnt notice any screen flicker issues in low brightness on the phone. It doesnt have a notification LED, but there is Always on display option. On the top, there is a new 12-megapixel camera, and the earpiece is present on the top edge which doubles up as a secondary speaker. The punch-hole is small and it is not intrusive. This uses a virtual proximity sensor instead of a physical one. I didnt face any issues with a screen staying on during calls. The phone still has huge bottom bezels, and the side bezels are also bigger compared to the competitors. The phone has an in-display fingerprint sensor. Coming to the button placements, the power button and the volume rockers are present on the right side. There is nothing on the left side. The dual SIM slot, primary microphone, USB Type-C port and the loudspeaker grill are on the bottom. The secondary microphone is on the top. The phone doesnt have a 3.5mm audio jack. The A56 continues to feature a brushed aluminium frame which looks and feels premium and doesnt slip out of your hands easily. On the back, there is a triple camera module arranged vertically, and this time the camera deco is back. There is a single LED flash next to it. It is just 7.4mm thin, making it 0.8mm thinner than the predecessor, and the phone is also 15g lighter than the A55 at 198 grams. It also comes in Awesome Light gray and Awesome Graphite colours in India. The phone IP67 ratings for dust and water resistance. Even with the glossy glass back, it doesnt attract fingerprints easily. The back also has a Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection. I have been using the phone without a case, and it didnt slip out of my hands even once. Camera 50MP rear camera with 1/1.56 Sony IMX906 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, OIS 12MP ultra-wide angle camera with 1/3.06 Sony IMX258 sensor, f/2.2 aperture 5MP macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture 12MP front camera with Samsung S5K3LC sensor, f/2.2 aperture Even though there is no major change in the camera setup, there are changes in the UI with the One UI 7. You can choose 50MP option from the aspect ratio settings on the top, and the default output is 12MP instead of 12.5MP after pixel binning. It also has AR stickers, scene optimizer, panorama, hyperlapse, food, dual rec, and more modes. Coming to the image quality, daylight shots look good with good amount of detail, good dynamic range and detailing, and the image look similar to the A55 since the sensor is similar. Ultra-wide shots from the 12MP camera are good in daylight, but not the best in low light. 2X macro shots from the main camera is good, and there is a dedicated macro camera mode which is average, and you have to keep it in 3-5cm distance. Live focus is good at detecting the edges. Low-light performance is good as well, which can be improved further with Night mode that offers more details, but you need to keep your hand steady, since it takes two to three seconds to process. 50-megapixel shots have a good amount of details, but the image size is huge. The new 12-megapixel front camera has seen improvements. Check out some camera samples. It can record videos at maximum 4K resolution at 30 fps from both front, rear and ultra-wide cameras. The rear camera can also shoot 1080p 60fps videos, but the stabilization works only in 30fps when its enabled in the settings. The phone now supports 10-bit HDR recording on both the front and rear cameras, but I didnt notice a huge difference in the HDR video compared to the standard mode. Software, UI and Apps Coming to the software, the phone runs on Android 15 with One UI 7, and it still has January 2025 Android security patch, but we can expect an update soon. Similar to the other latest Samsung devices, the company has confirmed 6 OS updates and 6 years of security updates for the A56 5G. Unlike the AI features in the flagship S series phones, the A56 5G only gets has generative wallpapers. The Device maintenance option lets you manage your devices battery life, storage, RAM usage, and security all in one place. Out of 256GB (UFS 3.1) storage in our unit, 224.3GB is free. Out of 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, about 11.14GB is usable and 6GB is free when default apps are running in the background. There is also a RAM Plus feature, which uses the internal memory of the phone to expand the RAM by an extra 8GB, in addition to the existing 12GB of RAM. This is enabled automatically. Apart from the usual set of utility apps and Google Apps, the smartphone comes with Facebook, Netflix, Truecaller, Blinkit, Spotify and Microsoft apps such as Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Outlook and LinkedIn. You get the option to install apps when you are setting up the phone, which you can choose not to. It also has Samsung Wallet via NFC. The phone doesnt have ads, but shows notifications of new Samsung products occasionally. Fingerprint sensor and Face unlock The phone has an in-display fingerprint sensor that immediately unlocks the phone even when the phone is locked. It is good, but not as fast as a physical fingerprint scanner. You can add up to 3 fingerprints, and adding fingerprint is easy. It has support for Face recognition, which doesnt work well if the lighting is poor in the room, if you are hats, or use heavy makeup. Both these are protected by Knox security. Music Player and Multimedia YouTube Music is the default music player. It has equalizer, Dolby Atmos, UHQ upscaler, and Adapt that can be enabled from the settings. All these improve the audio when listening through earphones, and Dolby Atmos also works with speakers. It doesnt have FM Radio support. That said, audio through earphones is good. Loudspeaker output from the stereo speakers is good as well. The phone comes with Widevine L1 support out-of-the-box so that you can enjoy HD content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar and other streaming apps. There is also HDR playback support for YouTube and Netflix. Dual SIM and Connectivity The Galaxy A56 5G has support for N1, N3, N5, N7, N8, N20, N28, N38, N40, N41, N66, N77 and N78 Network Bands in India. There is dual SIM 5G, and Airtel and Jio 5G works out of the box. There is also 4G Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and support for LTE-A or Carrier Aggregation, and VoNR support for Jio. It also has eSIM support, but this disables the second SIM. Other connectivity options include, Wi-Fi 802.11 6 ax (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Wi-Fi-Calling or Vo-Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 and GPS with GLONASS. It has support for USB OTG and NFC that works with supported payment apps. The modem The Galaxy A56 5Gs head SAR is 1.325 W/Kg, which is slightly higher than the A55, but it is well under the limit of 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g) for India. Performance and Benchmarks The Galaxy A56 5G is the first Samsung phone to be powered by new Exynos 1580 4nm SoC. This has 1x Cortex-A720 @ 2.90GHz, 3x Cortex-A720 @ 2.60GHz, 4x Cortex-A520 @ 1.95GHz. I didnt face any performance issues, it was smooth. There is also a new AMD-powered Xclipse 540 GPU, and the company mentions that the GPU based on AMDs RDNA 3 architecture now has two Work Group Processors (WGPs) instead of one, and it also brings increased GL2 cache capacity and twice the amount of FMA/texture unit processing. Even though the performance is good, it is not the best phone for gaming when you get flagship-range chips in phones in the price range. However, you can still run games. In BGMI you only get Smooth Extreme option, so it is only 60 fps even. There is 120Hz gaming motion smoothness feature. It has a larger cooling solution compared to the A54, says the company, without revealing any other specifics. In 3D Mark wild life stress test, it scored 81.5% which is less than the A55 that has 99.1%, and the temperature shot up from 32 to 40 degrees, which is not more. That said, check out some synthetic benchmark scores below. As you can see from the benchmark scores, the Exynos 1580 is clearly better than the Exynos 1480. There are some phones which have flagship chips, but the scores of the Exynos 1580 are good compared to Snapdragon 7 Gen 3. Battery life The Galaxy A56 5G retains the 5000mAh battery from the last 3 generations. I got about 5 hours of screen on time mostly on Wi-Fi and occasionally on 5G with over 2 days of use in 120Hz refresh rate. Even though the SoT is slightly less than the A55, the battery optimization is good in One UI 7, so it lasts more. It should last for a day easily even with heavy use. Samsung doesnt offer a charger in the box, but the phone supports 45W charging, compared to 45W in older models. With the official 45W PPS fast charger, it takes about 1 and 15 minutes for 0 to 100%, and 0 to 50% took about 20 minutes. It is still less compared to the competitors, but better than the A55. Conclusion At a starting price of Rs. 41,999, the Galaxy A56 5G is another minor upgrade to the Galaxy A55 with improved performance, charging, and the display, making it the best A series phone till date once again. However, lack of telephoto camera makes the S series Fan Edition a better choice after the price drop. Alternatives The OnePlus 13R is a direct competitor at a cheaper rate with a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC. The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE at the same price after the price drop will get you a telephoto camera, but you have to compromise slightly on the battery life and charging. Pricing and availability The Galaxy A55 5G 8GB + 128GB model is priced at Rs. 41,999, 8GB + 256GB version costs Rs. 44,999 and the 12GB + 256GB model costs Rs. 47,999. It is already available from Samsung exclusive and partner stores, Samsung.com, and other online platforms. You can avail Rs. 3000 bank cashback with select cards. Pros 120Hz AMOLED display is good Improved front camera performance Solid build quality, IP67 ratings Smooth performance Promise of 6 OS updates and 6 years of security updates Good battery life, 45W charging Cons Same old rear camera setup without telephoto camera Slightly priced on the higher side A lot of preloaded apps After 40 years at Fred Hutch Cancer Center asking good questions of his own science and the science of his colleagues, cell biologist Jonathan Cooper, PhD has retired from the Basic Sciences Division. He made his name in biology by identifying key components of a complex relay system that enables cells to communicate with each other. He elucidated networks of proteins on the cells surface that transmit signals about the external environment through the cell membrane to coordinate internal functions such as replication and division. Those signaling pathways can cause cancer when they go awry. Cooper made his name at Fred Hutch by exemplifying the egalitarian culture of the research division he directed from 2009 to 2018. That culture values independent, individual labs run by principal investigators who work side by side with their trainees at the bench and regularly share what theyre up to with their colleagues, offering advice and spurring each others science with good questions. Those values, held dear by Cooper and the directors who came before and after him, created a buzz that made Fred Hutch research distinct and attractive to scientists from all over the world. Jon epitomizes what is really cool and great about our division and Fred Hutch in general just the sense that people areinterested in each others work and really care about what we do, said Bob Eisenman, PhD, at Coopers recent retirement party. Gree smart factory produces air conditioner every 15 seconds People's Daily Online) 11:22, March 27, 2025 China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently designated 235 facilities as the country's first batch of excellence-level smart factories, spanning over 80 percent of the nation's manufacturing sectors. These advanced factories have shown marked improvements in efficiency and sustainability, according to the ministry. On average, they report 28.4 percent faster product development, 22.3 percent higher production efficiency, 50.2 percent fewer defects and 20.4 percent lower carbon emissions compared to traditional facilities. Robotic arms assemble air conditioners on a production line at Gree Electric Appliances' smart factory in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province. (People's Daily/Cheng Yuanzhou) Among the recognized facilities is a smart factory operated by Gree Electric Appliances (Zhuhai Jinwan) Co., Ltd. in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province. At this facility, team leader Tang Jie recently received a production task on his tablet for 508 air conditioners ordered by a European client. The factory's assembly workshop is centrally located, surrounded by production areas and warehouses. Lin Hua, head of production planning at Gree's Zhuhai plant, explained the process: "Components move via an overhead transport system to the assembly line, where robotic arms complete assembly before transferring finished products to the warehouse." Operating at full capacity, the factory's two production lines simultaneously manufacture over 2,000 different models across three product series. On average, a new air conditioner is completed every 15 seconds. "We've achieved digital management throughout the entire process, from sales order placement to product design, procurement, production scheduling, and customer service," said Chen Zhenghua, general manager of Jinwan Gree. The factory's management efficiency has increased by 50 percent, while production efficiency has doubled. Smart manufacturing not only makes the factory more efficient but also ensures better quality control. At his computer, Tang confirmed the order and verified the parameters. On the production line, air conditioner base plates were produced one after another, with robotic arms attaching a barcode to each. "The barcode serves as the 'ID card' for each air conditioner. Robotic arms recognize it and perform precise assembly accordingly. Consumers can trace every production step by scanning the QR code on the finished product," Tang said. "The key is connecting innovation chains with industrial chains," said Yang Yong, head of Jinwan Gree's R&D department. Yang said the factory has partnered with various companies and research institutes to create a central hub for smart manufacturing. This collaboration has helped solve over 300 technical problems and seamlessly connect production lines, equipment and software systems. "Each air conditioner goes through more than 800 quality checks, from raw materials to final delivery," said Lai Zefeng, who heads quality control at Gree's Zhuhai plant. "We use a 5G and AI-powered testing system to complete these inspections." "By using AI to simulate different humidity and temperature environments, we've reduced the maximum operating noise of our air conditioners to below 10 decibels," Lai added. Jiang Feng, executive director of the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, said the home appliance industry has embraced new digital models for production, quality, supply chain and equipment management, as well as remote operations. These advancements stem from integrating 5G, AI, big data and cloud computing with manufacturing processes, according to Jiang. Several leading Chinese home appliance makers have built industrial internet platforms and smart factories, reaching world-class manufacturing standards. China's home appliance industry revenue approached 2 trillion yuan ($276 billion) in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 5.6 percent, while total profits reached 173.7 billion yuan, up 11.4 percent from the previous year. More than 90 percent of consumers opted for trade-ins favoring energy-efficient models. Industry experts say personalized, multi-functional appliances are gaining popularity, along with smart, eco-friendly products. This trend is driving companies to accelerate factory digitalization to respond quickly to market changes. Over the past year, many home appliance companies have actively deployed smart production facilities. Xiaomi began construction of a smart home appliance factory in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Meanwhile, Huawei has expanded its HarmonyOS to offer broader smart home solutions. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Its unfortunate, but understandable. It seems the staff has done its best to ameliorate the damage and is taking proper precautions to prevent it from happening again. I would hope that government staff would be wise to potential email and internet scams, especially considering their fiduciary responsibilities to taxpayers. This is one of a few instances of large payouts and expenditures in recent years. Im more concerned about the large amount of money being used to image historic documents. Is this necessary? Vote View Results China has said it hopes this week's visit by Barrot will see the countries deepen cooperation in a world facing "turbulence and transformation". This handout satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies on February 13, 2025 shows heavy damage at the entrance to the Zamzam camp near North Darfur's besieged capital of El-Fasher 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. FWP Program Gives Landowners More Options For Habitat Conservation When the Habitat Conservation Lease Program started two years ago, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks set a goal of conserving 500,000 acres within five years. With the recent completion of 13 leases and the potential for 33 proposed leases now under con... Celebrates National Ag Day At The State Capitol Joining Montana Department of Agriculture Director Jillien Streit, Governor Greg Gianforte on March 18 in the State Capitol thanked Montana farmers and ranchers as part of National Agriculture Day. Our farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to grow an... The Valley County Comprehensive Child Find Screening will be held on Tuesday, April 1, and Wednesday, April 2, at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This is screening is for all children from birth to school entry age. The purpose of this screening is to find children who may need special help and to help facilitate Irle School kindergarten registration. The screening assessments include the following areas: hearing for children of all age, speech for children there years and older, gross/fine motor development and concept development. All children who will be interesting kindergarten in the Glasgow School District this fall are required to attend child find screening/registration. Sign-up information is available on the Glasgow Public Schools Facebook page and the Irle Elementary School Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/IrleElementarySchool. March 21, 2025 LCHS has had the privilege of having Dan Hubbard speak at daily chapels this week in Spiritual Emphasis Week. He came from Minnesota to spend the week with the students. Awana Awards night was March 19. Commander Dawson Olfert said the... For the week of March 3 through March 8, there were two motor vehicle stops, two reports of loose dogs and one report of a deer being stuck by a vehicle. For the week of March 10 through 15, there were six motor vehicle stops, three public assist cal... A complaint for injunctive relief was filed with the Valley County Courthouse on March 3 requesting the preclusion of Valley County Clerk and Recorder Marie Pippin from conducting a recall election based on the petitions to recall Krystal Dickerson o... Valley County and Phillips County Prevention Specialist for Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center (EMCMHC) Gina Lamb traveled to Nashua School on March 11 to educate parents, school staff and administration about the current trends in youth... Daniel "Danny" Robert Taylor, born on May 25, 1940, in Glasgow, Mont., passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Billings, Mont., with his son Kevin by his side. He was 84 years old. Funeral or memorial arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Danny would have wanted to continue to support his loving wife, and so the family suggests donations to Cindy's Medical Fund at Independence Bank in Glasgow. Danny is survived by his devoted wife, Cindy Ann Taylor; his children, Darla Taylor-Ortner (Butch), Darrell Greenwood (Cindy), Shayne Taylor (Melissa), Kevin Taylor (Latosha), Holly Hunziker (John), and Ryan Taylor (Emily). He was a proud grandfather to RJ (Abigail) and Jeremiah (Miranda) Johnson, David and Zachary Greenwood, Hayden (Charlotte) and Hayley Taylor, Meghan Holt (Kenny) and Tyler Ortner, Blake (Karis) and Kylie Mckinzie, and Bexley Hunziker. He also cherished his great-grandchildren, Ethan, Cooper, Penny, Ella, Owen, and Korra. Danny is also survived by his nieces, Jerilyn Stright and Jana Waller, and his nephew, Merle Nikolaus, children of his late sister, Marilyn Nikolaus. He was preceded in death by his parents, M.A. (Martin) and Bessie Fae Taylor. As a young man, Danny worked as both a carpet layer and a butcher before joining the Valley County Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Frank Powell. He served as a deputy for two years, undersheriff for two years, and then as sheriff and coroner for 22 years until his retirement in 1994. During this tenure, he also served as the fire chief of the volunteer Long Run Fire Department for many years and acquired skills in scuba diving and piloting aircraft to support search and rescue operations. An entrepreneur at heart, Danny owned several family businesses, including the Meat Shoppe he started with business partner Neil Chouinard, Scotty Ice, and various food trucks such as The LunchWagon, Dan's Chuckwagon, and Screaming Steamer. He also ventured into retail BBQ sales (Grill YouPouRium) building several BBQ trailers for mobile cooking. After retiring from the county, he founded Hi-Line Security, providing services to various clients, including securing a Boeing facility in Montana. He sold Hi-Line Security after over 20 years but continued with a storage business he found time to establish alongside his security work. Taylor Storage was expanded over the decades even adding a rentable 1950s-themed diner, Dan's Diner. Even after transferring ownership to his children, Kevin and Holly, he continued to be a presence at Taylor Storage, tending to his aquarium fish and "holding court" from his office to engage with the community he cherished all his life. Danny was deeply involved in his community, participating in organizations like the Jaycees and other fraternal groups. He also served as the Public Administrator in Valley County years after his initial retirement. He had a passion for boating with his family at their cabin in Fort Peck, Mont., and enjoyed Westerns, collecting Western-themed art, and classic cars. As a member of the Flatland Cruisers Car Club, he relished attending events and sharing stories with fellow enthusiasts. Known for his warmth and outgoing nature, Danny had a knack for storytelling and staying informed about local happenings. Many in northeastern Montana knew him through his various roles and ventures, each with their own humorous "Danny" story to share. He was deeply proud of all his children and extended family, especially how well they support and engage with one another. Danny's legacy of service, entrepreneurship, and community involvement leaves an indelible mark on all who knew him. His stories, laughter, and dedication to his family and community will be dearly missed. Condolences for the family may be left at Bellmortuarymontana.com. Addressing Risks from Jenner & Block Presidential Actions Executive Orders March 25, 2025 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Background. My Administration is committed to addressing the significant risks associated with law firms, particularly so-called "Big Law" firms, that engage in conduct detrimental to critical American interests. Many firms take actions that threaten public safety and national security, limit constitutional freedoms, degrade the quality of American elections, or undermine bedrock American principles. Moreover, law firms regularly conduct this harmful activity through their powerful pro bono practices, earmarking hundreds of millions of their clients' dollars for destructive causes, that often directly or indirectly harm their own clients. Lawyers and law firms that engage in such egregious conduct should not have access to our Nation's secrets, nor should such conduct be subsidized by Federal taxpayer funds or contracts. Jenner & Block LLP (Jenner) is yet another law firm that has abandoned the profession's highest ideals, condoned partisan "lawfare," and abused its pro bono practice to engage in activities that undermine justice and the interests of the United States. For example, Jenner engages in obvious partisan representations to achieve political ends, supports attacks against women and children based on a refusal to accept the biological reality of sex, and backs the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes and trafficking deadly drugs within our borders. Moreover, Jenner discriminates against its employees based on race and other categories prohibited by civil rights laws, including through the use of race-based "targets." In addition, Jenner was "thrilled" to re-hire the unethical Andrew Weissmann after his time engaging in partisan prosecution as part of Robert Mueller's entirely unjustified investigation. Andrew Weissmann's career has been rooted in weaponized government and abuse of power, including devastating tens of thousands of American families who worked for the now defunct Arthur Andersen LLP, only to have his unlawfully aggressive prosecution overturned by the Supreme Court. 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. Sec. 2. Security Clearance Review. (a) The Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and all other relevant heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall immediately take steps consistent with applicable law to suspend any active security clearances held by individuals at Jenner pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest. (b) The Office of Management and Budget shall identify all Government goods, property, material, and services, including Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities, provided for the benefit of Jenner. The heads of agencies providing such material or services shall, to the extent permitted by law, expeditiously cease such provision. Sec . 3. Contracting. (a) To prevent the transfer of taxpayer dollars to Federal contractors whose earnings subsidize, among other things, activities that are not aligned with American interests, including racial discrimination, Government contracting agencies shall, to the extent permissible by law, require Government contractors to disclose any business they do with Jenner and whether that business is related to the subject of the Government contract. (b) The heads of agencies shall review all contracts with Jenner or with entities that disclose doing business with Jenner under subsection (a) of this section. To the extent permitted by law, the heads of agencies shall: (i) take appropriate steps to terminate any contract, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation, for which Jenner has been hired to perform any service; and (ii) otherwise align their agency funding decisions with the interests of the citizens of the United States; with the goals and priorities of my Administration as expressed in executive actions, especially Executive Order 14147 of January 20, 2025 (Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government); and as heads of agencies deem appropriate. Within 30 days of the date of this order, agencies shall submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget an assessment of contracts with Jenner or with entities that do business with Jenner effective as of the date of this order and any actions taken with respect to those contracts in accordance with this order. Sec. 4. Racial Discrimination. Nothing in this order shall be construed to limit the action authorized by section 4 of Executive Order 14230 of March 6, 2025 (Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP). Sec. 5. Personnel. (a) The heads of agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide guidance limiting official access from Federal Government buildings to employees of Jenner when such access would threaten the national security of or otherwise be inconsistent with the interests of the United States. In addition, the heads of agencies shall provide guidance limiting Government employees acting in their official capacity from engaging with Jenner employees, including but not limited to Andrew Weissmann, to ensure consistency with the national security and other interests of the United States. (b) Agency officials shall, to the extent permitted by law, refrain from hiring employees of Jenner, including but not limited to Andrew Weissmann, absent a waiver from the head of the agency, made in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, that such hire will not threaten the national security of the United States. Sec. 6. 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. THE WHITE HOUSE, March 25, 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 4 ex-servicemen found guilty of selling documents to China operative ROC Central News Agency 03/26/2025 04:51 PM Taipei, March 26 (CNA) Four former military personnel have been found guilty of selling documents to a middleman for the Chinese intelligence services, the Taipei District Court ruled Wednesday. In a statement, the court said that the quartet had been convicted of breaching national security laws and accepting bribes. In its ruling, the court described their actions as a "betrayal of the country," emphasizing that, having been trained by the military, they should have upheld loyalty to the nation. "Instead, they accepted bribes and secretly photographed nonclassified but sensitive internal documents from key security and intelligence units over several months, endangering national security," the court said. The convicted individuals, identified by their last names Lai (), Li (), Lin (), and Chen (), were previously indicted in December 2024 on national security and corruption charges. They were given sentences of seven years, six years and eight months, five years and 10 months, and six years and five months, respectively, the court said. All four were also ordered to pay restitution equal to their illegal earnings, the court added. The sentences are subject to appeal. According to the Ministry of National Defense (MND), the first three suspects were members of the 211th Military Police Battalion, which guards the Presidential Office, while the fourth served in the MND's Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command. Prosecutors said that Lai and Chen began passing documents to a middleman for the Chinese intelligence services in exchange for money while still serving in the military in April 2022. They were allegedly recruited and paid by a Taiwanese man surnamed Huang (), who remains at large. Initially, Chen photographed the documents, which were then relayed by Lai to Huang or another Chinese operative. Lai later began taking the photos himself but was caught and reassigned to another unit, prosecutors said. Following Lai's transfer, he recruited Li to continue photographing documents, and Li later passed the task to Lin before retiring in February last year, prosecutors said. Prosecutors estimate that Lai received NT$460,000 (US$14,201), Chen NT$450,000, Li NT$664,100, and Lin NT$265,900 for their actions. Prosecutors launched an investigation in August 2024 after the MND received a tip-off from a soldier. (By Liu Shih-yi, Ko Lin and Lee Hsin-Yin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Atlantic publishes leaked chat between Trump's aides on U.S. attack against Yemen IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 26, 2025 The Atlantic magazine has published a group chat among senior U.S. national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealing about military strikes in Yemen prior to the pilots even taking off to drop bombs. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing shared by officials on the Signal messaging app and accidently texted to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. "The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the U.S. was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen. I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded and the reason I knew this is that Hegseth had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m.," Goldberg wrote on Wednesday. While the editor-in-chief's article referenced F-18 launches and strikes, it omitted exact targets in Yemen, NBC News reported. On Tuesday, March 11, I received a connection request on Signal from a user identified as Michael Waltz. I assumed that the Michael Waltz in question was President Donald Trump's national security adviser. I accepted the connection request, hoping that this was the actual national security adviser, and that he wanted to chat about Ukraine, or Iran, or some other important matter. Two days later, I received a notice that I was to be included in a Signal chat group. It was called the "Houthi PC small group." The revelation came as intelligence and defense departments struggled to explain how such sensitive and classified data were disclosed in an unclassified chat. According to The Atlantic the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump sought to downplay the significance of the texts, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously claiming that no classified material was shared in the conversation. Signal, the messaging app used in this chat, is generally not considered secure enough for national security matters. During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe said that it was the defense secretary's responsibility to determine the classification of his posts. Hegseth has, so far, evaded questions about whether he posted classified information, insisting that he did not share any war plans. However, the chat revealed details such as the types of warplanes being used and the timing of airstrikes against Yemen, raising serious concerns about security protocols within the Trump administration. Congress is calling for the full exchange of messages to be made public, voicing doubts about the Trump administration's handling of critical issues. The National Security Council is probing how Goldberg gained access to the chat, which included key figures such as Vice President J.D. Vance and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Critics are calling for accountability, with some legislators even urging resignations. 4208**4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 6 foreigners nabbed for alleged spying ops in Subic Philippine News Agency By Benjamin Pulta March 26, 2025, 4:19 pm MANILA -- Authorities have arrested six foreign nationals and their Filipino bodyguard suspected of engaging in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations in Grande Island in Subic, Zambales. In a press briefing on Wednesday, NBI officials led by spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin presented to the media the six Chinese suspects as well as the equipment recovered from them. They were identified as He Peng, alias Nan Ke; Xu Xining; Ye Tianwu, alias Qui Feng/Quing Fe; Ye XIaocan; Dick Ang; and Su Anlong. The NBI said its Cybercrime Division received a letter on March 17 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Military Intelligence Unit regarding foreign nationals suspected of carrying out covert ISR operations on critical infrastructures within Central Luzon. "Notably, Grande Island, located within Subic Bay approximately 56 kilometers north of Manila Bay, has attracted attention as foreign nationals have reportedly been conducting surveillance activities there. Intelligence report from the AFP revealed that six individuals on the island were closely monitored for engaging in deemed suspicious activities, involving a collection of sensitive data related to 'Critical Infrastructure' or data affecting national defense within the area," the NBI said in a statement. The NBI said the individuals were occupying the island under the guise of recreational fishers, frequently lingering at the wharves. Witnesses reported that the group was using hi-tech drones in the guise of transporting fishing bait to conduct surveillance on naval assets, including those from local forces and allied nations, passing through Grande Island. "Due to its contiguity and strategic location, the island allows the group to monitor naval assets entering and exiting Subic Bay during maritime patrols or joint naval exercises in the West Philippine Sea," the NBI said. On March 19, NBI agents led by Director Jaime Santiago, together with the AFP Intelligence Units and SBMA law enforcers, arrived at the target location to implement the warrant of arrest and carry out a hot pursuit operation which also yielded photographs and documents of Philippine and US naval assets. Electronic gadgets containing surveillance photos and videos were also seized together with fake documents and identification cards. Their Filipino bodyguard, Melvin Aguillon, was also arrested for possession of an unregistered firearm. On March 21, the arrested suspects were presented for inquest proceeding before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor, Bataan for violations of Commonwealth Act No. 616 (Espionage Law); Articles 172 (Falsification by Private Individuals and Use of Falsified Documents) and 178 (Using Fictitious Name and Concealing True Name) of the Revised Penal Code; Republic Act (RA) No. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act); and the election gun ban. It was also learned that one of the foreigners, Ye Tianwu, has an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 63, Tarlac City for violation of RA 8799 (Securities Regulation Code). (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House Blames Biden for the Signal Leak Sputnik News 20250326 The White House deflects blame for the Signal leak by citing Biden's botched Afghanistan exitwhere 13 troops died unaccountedand his delayed Houthi terror label, accusing his "weakness" of emboldening militants while dismissing Democratic critics. "We are not going to be lectured about national security and American troops by Democrats and the mainstream media, who turned the other cheek when the Biden Administration left 13 service members dead in Afghanistan and not a single person was held accountable," she said during a press briefing. Karoline Leavitt White House Press Secretary She also recalled Biden's move to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization. "It's important to remember why this powerful action took place in the first place: Because of Joe Biden's incompetence and pathetic weakness on the world stage for years, the Houthi terrorists grew emboldened," Karoline Leavitt added. Karoline Leavitt White House Press Secretary Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Baiba Braze in Washington, D.C.: Latvia, the Baltic states and the U.S. are the closest allies, we'll continue cooperation in security, economy, technologies Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25.03.2025 The United States-Baltic military cooperation, defence procurement, a strong NATO and its deterrence and defence capabilities, achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine - the main topics discussed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, with the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in Washington, D.C., on 25 March. The joint meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic states - Baiba Braze, Margus Tsahkna, and Kestutis Budrys - with Marco Rubio took place on an invitation from the U.S. side. "The United States is a strategic ally of Latvia and all the Baltic states. We have a common understanding and vested interest in strengthening defence cooperation and building a stronger and safer NATO Alliance. I personally thank the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his decision to continue financing military aid to the Baltic states - the military support provided by the U.S. has always been and will remain important for strengthening Latvia's defence capabilities, and a permanent U.S. military presence in the Baltic region is key for Latvia's security in the long term. Our mutual cooperation is in line with the national interests of both Latvia and the U.S. and makes our countries safer, stronger and wealthier," Baiba Braze underlined in the meeting with Secretary Rubio. The Minister thanked the U.S. for its indispensable support to Ukraine and efforts to achieve a lasting peace, which is essential for the long-term security of not only Ukraine, but also the Baltics and the entire Europe. "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," Baiba Braze emphasized. Baiba Braze emphasized that for 2025, Latvia has allocated the highest amount of funding to defence in the country's history - over 1.5 billion euros or 3.66 % of GDP, and has committed to increase it to 5 % of GDP. The Baltic ministers informed their American hosts about the strengthening of energy independence and security of the countries, including purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S. The U.S. LNG export to the Baltic region not only strengthens energy security, but also promotes long-term economic cooperation and partnership in joint research and development projects in the energy sector. Together with the U.S. experts, a series of practical security and economic cooperation projects have been clearly identified in the areas of common interest - strategic cooperation in defence and security, especially in cyber security, and in the fields of new technologies, where Latvia has covered a lot of ground - 5G/6G (testing and development of military technologies) and quantum technologies. The Foreign Minister also met with Senators Mitch McConnel, Jeanne Shaheen, andJerry Moran. Baiba Braze thanked them for the close dialogue with the U.S. Congress on important matters such as the U.S. global leadership, a close transatlantic bond, and efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Baiba Braze thanked the U.S. Congress for its support for the strengthening Latvia's security through the Baltic Security Initiative, and she underlined Latvia's desire to deepen cooperation with the U.S. in the defence sector. At the Victims of Communism Memorial, all the Baltic Foreign Ministers took part in a commemorative event for the victims of the horrific deportations of March 1949. Foreign Minister Baiba Braze also attended a crowded screening of the animated film The Flow hosted by the Embassy of Latvia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mar. 26, 2025 Transcript Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Holds Media Availability in Honolulu, Hawaii SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Good evening, everybody. Just a great day. Any day you're forward deployed with the troops as the secretary of defense is a good day. And what we got to see here, starting with PT with Navy SEALs in the morning, which has turned into smoke the SecDef more than it has PT, the opportunity to see what the Marines are doing here, incredible stuff. Training space jungle school for the Army, the Air Force capabilities, Space Force capabilities, naval lift, it's all here. And it's all a reflection of America's commitment to the Indo-Pacific and the Trump administration's focus on ensuring that we are doing everything we can to deter conflict with the communist Chinese, who we don't seek conflict with at all. But we will stand strong in deterrence and will posture troops forward. That's why we're going out to Guam, to see our friends in Japan and the Philippines. We're posturing forward, talking and meeting with commanders who have the capabilities and understand the AOR, talking to friends and allies. And in that, it doesn't get any better than watching troops in action, which is a humbling and an honor for me. So, it's been a great day here, and we look forward to many more ahead on this trip as we institute, sort of live out, kind of showcase the pivot that President Trump is footing putting toward the Indo-Pacific, making sure we're properly focusing and prioritizing where we should on peer adversaries to stand strong and reflect deterrence. Reestablishing deterrence is part of what President Trump has commanded me, compelled me to do in addition to restoring the warrior ethos and rebuilding our military. And reestablishing deterrence is a big part of why we're here. Happy to take a couple questions. Q: Yeah, Mr. Secretary. Thanks. First of all, thanks so much for having me on the trip. That that helicopter ride was awesome. [Laughter] I'm sure my colleagues feel the same way. SECRETARY HEGSETH: Absolutely. Q: My question's on Taiwan. You mentioned deterrence. Admiral Paparo, in his speeches, has said that the exercises around Taiwan are not just exercises, but rehearsals for an attack. How concerned are you about China's ability and intent to try and retake the island by force? SECRETARY HEGSETH: Well, Admiral Paparo has said China's rehearsals could always could potentially always be a rehearsal for an attack. The rehearsals, the exercises, the campaigns we're doing in and around the first island chain are not meant to be the precursor to an attack. We're here to deter. We're here to show strength with our allies. And that includes ensuring, that in every possible way, American first is projected forward. So, we don't want to see a conflict at all, and that's certainly the president's perspective. But we're going to be postured forward and leaning forward as much as necessary to ensure that doesn't happen. Q: And just a quick follow up. On the counter diversity/equity inclusions, what's your assessment now three months in in trying to undo a lot of those programs? SECRETARY HEGSETH: My assessment is the DOD will be merit based and colorblind. You will be judged based on how good you are at your job, full stop. That's it. And so, getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion, DEI, getting rid of different standards was fundamental to getting back to basics. And that's what I when I get a chance to talk to commanders here, that's what I emphasize. We're getting back to basics. Standards at every level need to be adhered to, and that's at a baseline. And when you talk to soldiers, you talk to Marines, they get it. They get it. They've seen the standards slide under the previous administration. They watched, you know, in in many different ways how it eroded or quotas were being met or different aspects had to be 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. Q: Mr. Secretary, the messages the White House called authentic did, at the very least, include sensitive details about targets and timing. Did you declassify that information before you put it in the chat? And are you using Signal to discuss operations as sensitive as the strikes against the Houthis on a government or a personal phone? SECRETARY HEGSETH: First, all I would say is the strikes against the Houthis that night were devastatingly effective, and I'm incredibly proud of the courage and skill of the troops. And they are ongoing and continue to be devastatingly effective. The last place I would want to be right now is a Houthi in Yemen who wants to disrupt freedom of navigation. So, the skill and courage of our troops is on full display. It's a complete opposite approach from the fecklessness of the Biden administration. President Trump said peace through strength will be brought back, freedom of navigation will return, and that's exactly what we're doing. As I also stated yesterday, nobody's texting war plans. And that's all I have to say about that. UNKNOWN: Kasu [PH]? Q: Those same troops that UNKNOWN: Kasu, you're up. Q: Those same troops that you are proud of. Do you UNKNOWN: Kasu? UNKNOWN: Kasu? UNKNOWN: Kasu? Q: [Off mic] information like the ones you did in the Signal chat that could endanger those same American service members? SECRETARY HEGSETH: Nobody's texting war plans. UNKNOWN: Kasu, you're up. SECRETARY HEGSETH: I I know exactly what I'm doing, exactly what we're directing. And I'm really proud of what we accomplished, successful missions that night and going forward. Q: So, you had a conversation with [Off mic]. So, how do you SECRETARY HEGSETH: Say that again? Q: You had a conversation with senior officials of the Pentagon today and yesterday. How do you evaluate the importance of INDOPACOM? SECRETARY HEGSETH: Oh, INDOPACOM is critically important. And Admiral Paparo is a fighting admiral. He's a really smart guy who's exactly where we need, at the tip of the spear. INDOPACOM is where we need to be, where we need to be focusing. What you what you will see in the interim National Defense Strategy from the DOD, we'll focus make sure we're defending the homeland, including the homeland OCONUS here in Hawaii, and that we're postured to focus on the Indo-Pacific. So, it's critically important. UNKNOWN: One more. SECRETARY HEGSETH: Yes. Q: Thank you, sir. Earlier today at the POW/MIA Accounting Agency, you were taking a tour of the building and you were shown a wall of Medal of Honor recipients whose remains have been recovered over the years. I'm sure it was a very humbling experience. By sheer chance, one of those recipients that was pointed out to you was a Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman Jr, a Marine who passed away some time ago, fought in World War II, I believe. You said, "Wait a minute. I know who that is." And it turns out that by just pure happenstance, you obviously went to Princeton and he also went to Princeton, and you remember studying him back when you were a student there. SECRETARY HEGSETH: Yes. Q: Can you tell us what that was like? And what a cool story. SECRETARY HEGSETH: It's a cool story. So, we were at the defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Agency, where they still commit to the legacy of those that we've lost on the battlefield, bringing them home, identifying the remains, and making sure the families have that closure. We leave nobody behind. I was looking at the wall. And in this one particular unit, there was a lieutenant who is a recipient of the Medal of Honor. And I looked up and it said Lieutenant Bonnyman. And I just thought, where have I heard that name before? And then I realized, at Princeton, there are stars outside some of the windows of the older buildings. And one of those is a window of a dorm I was in, maybe freshman, sophomore or junior year. And on that star was Lieutenant Bonnyman. I didn't know who he was. I remember researching, though, his name and that star, because I thought, if his name is outside my window, I was probably an ROTC cadet at that point, I want to know who he is. And so, they told me a little bit of the story there, and it it rang a bell with me. I know I wrote something about him too when I was I'll have to find that and maybe release it. But it was pretty cool to see the connection between someone who I'd heard of as a Medal of Honor recipient, and then the commitment of our country to then go find him in a foreign land and bring him back so that the whole cycle is sort of complete and the honor he gets the honor that he deserves. It was pretty cool. And it was emblematic of this day today, like watching the troops in real time, and then watching the legacy of their service as well played out, all here in Hawaii. So, it's been great. UNKNOWN: All right. That's it. SECRETARY HEGSETH: Thank you all. Appreciate it. UNKNOWN: Thanks, everybody. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4136055/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 26, 2025 By Matthew Olay, DOD News Hegseth Addresses Indo-Pacom Partnerships During First Trip to Region Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed his strategic vision for the Defense Department, as it relates to the Indo-Pacific region, while delivering remarks to alumni of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu yesterday. Founded in 1995, the DKI APCSS is a DOD institute that offers a forum for military and civilian leaders from the region to come together and discuss local and global security matters. Noting this was the first time he was able to address military and civilian leaders in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility since being sworn in, Hegseth told the virtual and in-person audience that it was important for him to address that group first. "Many of you graduated from our premier forum for studying the Indo-Pacific, and for building ties among national security leaders who are engaged in this region," Hegseth told the audience. "Our relationships and our teamwork form the foundation of achieving peace through strength," he added. To that end, Hegseth said achieving peace through strength will be attained by adhering to the three core tenets he listed in his Jan. 25, 2025, message to the force: restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence. "By restoring the warrior ethos, U.S. forces assigned to the Indo-Pacific will be the best trained and best equipped forces in the world," Hegseth said, adding recruiting numbers are up throughout the armed services, and "our opponents are taking notice." Regarding rebuilding the military, Hegseth said DOD will work with the defense industrial base to "rapidly and responsively deliver the right tools to our warfighters in real time." He also noted that DKI APCSS has been focused on supply chain security for U.S. weapons systems, as well as studying the potential for coproduction and sustainment of U.S. military platforms and munitions with international partners. "Please keep up the great work; we need it, [and] it is more important than ever," Hegseth said. Regarding reestablishing deterrence in the region, Hegseth said the U.S. will stand with its allies and partners to deter China's aggression, and that he believes each ally, partner and friend in the region contributes their own unique manner of deterrence. Hegseth finished his remarks by encouraging allies in the region to recommit to the partnership and to doing their part to reestablishing deterrence and, ultimately, peace through strength. "No one should question the resolve of the United States of America to defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond," Hegseth said. "We will do this through the deterrent power of the strongest, most effective, most lethal fighting force in the world ... supported by and in partnership with capable, like-minded allies and partners," he added. As part of his first official visit to the Indo-Pacom AOR, Hegseth is spending his time in Hawaii primarily meeting with civilian and military leaders. Following his stay in Hawaii, Hegseth is scheduled to travel to Guam, the Philippines and Japan to meet with senior U.S. military and civilian leadership. He also intends to participate in a series of international bilateral meetings, with a goal aimed at strengthening U.S. alliances and partnerships toward a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Qatar - MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No: 25-16 WASHINGTON, March 26, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Qatar of the MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.96 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Qatar has requested to buy eight (8) MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA); two hundred (200) KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-38 or Laser JDAM GBU-54; three hundred (300) BLU-111 500-lb general purpose bombs; one hundred (100) MXU-650 air foil groups (AFG) for Paveway II GBU-12; one hundred (100) MAU-169 computer control groups (CCG) for Paveway II GBU-12; twenty-eight (28) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) security devices with M-Code; twelve (12) EGI security devices with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASM); ten (10) Lynx AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR); ten (10) L3 Rio Grande communications intelligence (COMINT) sensor suites; one hundred ten (110) AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles; and eight (8) M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM). The following non-MDE items will also be included: Honeywell TPE-331 turboprop engines; Certifiable Ground Control Stations (CGCS); FMU-139D/B fuze systems; DSU-38 laser illuminated target detectors for GBU-54; KY-100M narrowband/wideband terminals; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders (SKLs); Keying Identification Verification (KIV)-77 Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) cryptographic appliques; Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)-250X High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) Type 1 cryptographic communications security (COMSEC) devices; Cryptographic Core Modernization (CCM)-700A Type 1 COMSEC chips; AN/DPX-7 IFF transponders; Link-16 KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminals (STTs); Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Electronic Surveillance Measure systems; AE-4500 Electronic Support Measure; Compact Multi-band Data Link (CMDL); Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) 6Si compatible systems; Common Munitions Built-in-Test Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE) Plus Block II; Mayflower Multi-Platform Anti-Jam GPS Navigation Antennas (MAGNA)-I, AS-4841; imaging systems; Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) Multi-Spectrum Targeting System (MTS); Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars (SeaSpray 7500 maritime radars); Due Regard Radar (DRR); Automatic Information System (AIS) transponders; Rohde & Schwartz Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) radios; satellite communications (SATCOM) ground station antennas, modems, and terminals with Unifi Security Gateway (USG) encryption; Ku-Band SATCOM GA-ASI Transportable Earth Stations (GATES); secure SATCOM systems; DSU-33D/B bomb components; M299 Longbow Hellfire launchers; weapons loading equipment; spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; weapons integration; support and test equipment; facilities and construction support; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; transportation and airlift support; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $1.96 billion. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The proposed sale will improve Qatar's capability to meet current and future threats by providing timely intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, target acquisition, counter-land, and counter-surface sea capabilities for its security and defense. This capability is a deterrent to regional threats and will primarily be used to strengthen its homeland defense. Qatar will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractors will be General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, located in Poway, CA; Lockheed Martin, located in Bethesda, MD; RTX Corporation, located in Waltham, MA; L3Harris, Inc., located in Melbourne, FL; Boeing Corporation, located in Arlington, VA; and Leonardo SpA, located in Rome, Italy. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Qatar. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pevkur at meeting with UK Defence Secretary Healey: NATO defence spending must double Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence 26. March 2025 Today in London, Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur met with John Healey, Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom, to discuss bilateral defence cooperation, the security situation in Europe, support for Ukraine, and strengthening NATO's defence and deterrence posture ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague. "The British were our strongest military supporters already during the War of Independence, bringing their navy to assist us and thereby changing the course of the war. Now, more than 100 years later, our defence cooperation with the United Kingdom is deepening year by year, and together we are developing a stronger defence posture both in Estonia and more broadly within NATO. Notably, this spring, a full-strength UK reinforcement brigade will be deployed as part of Exercise Siil - a significant next step in practicing interoperability between our forces," said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. "In addition, currently top priorities include increasing defence spending and coordination ahead of the next NATO Summit in The Hague. Together with our Allies, we must set a new target level for defence spending, because it is clear to everyone that 2% of GDP is no longer sufficient. I explained to Secretary Healey our decision to raise our defence spending to over 5% already next year and called for joint support within NATO for a rapid increase in defence spending," Pevkur added. The United Kingdom has also been among the biggest supporters of Ukraine in Europe - in addition to large-scale military aid, the UK has led the INTERFLEX training mission for Ukrainian armed forces. "We share the understanding of how crucial it is to continue military support to Ukraine at this moment, in order to give Ukraine a stronger position in any peace negotiations. Likewise, we see the need to offer Ukraine credible security guarantees for the future," said Minister Pevkur. In addition, Minister Pevkur met in London with Shadow Secretary of State for Defence James Cartlidge, Chair of the Defence Select Committee of the UK Parliament Tan Dhesi, and General Richard Barrons. UK forces have been stationed in Estonia since 2017 as the framework nation of the NATO Battlegroup in Estonia, following decisions made at the Wales and Warsaw summits. In 2022, the UK also assigned a high-readiness brigade to strengthen Estonia's defence, based in the UK, and regularly exercised deployment. In 2023, Estonia and the UK signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement outlining collaboration for the next decade. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Preparedness Union Strategy to prevent and react to emerging threats and crises European Commission Press release Mar 26, 2025 Brussels Today the Commission and High Representative launch the Preparedness Union Strategy to support Member States and enhance Europe's capability to prevent and respond to emerging threats. It comes as the European Union is facing increasingly complex crises and challenges that cannot be ignored. From growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, hybrid and cybersecurity threats, foreign information manipulation and interference, to climate change and increasing natural disasters, the EU needs to be ready to protect its citizens and the key societal functions that are crucial for democracy and daily life. Concretely, the Strategy includes 30 key actions and a detailed Action Plan to advance the Preparedness Union's objectives, as well as developing a 'preparedness by design culture' across all EU policies. President Ursula von der Leyen 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. Families living in flood zones should know what to do when the waters rise. Early warning systems can prevent regions hit by wildfires from losing precious time. Europe stands ready to support Member States and trusted partners in the neighbourhood to save lives and livelihoods." Key objectives and actions of the Strategy include: Protecting Europe's Essential Societal Functions: Develop minimum preparedness criteria for essential services such as hospitals, schools, transport, and telecommunications. Enhance the stockpiling of critical equipment and materials. Enhance climate adaptation and availability of critical natural resources such as water. Promoting Population Preparedness: Encourage the public to adopt practical measures, such as maintaining essential supplies for a minimum of 72 hours in emergencies . . Integrate preparedness lessons into school curricula and introduce an EU Preparedness Day. Enhancing Crisis Response Coordination: Establish an EU Crisis Hub to improve integration among existing EU crisis structures. Strengthening Civil-Military Cooperation: Conduct regular EU-wide preparedness exercises, uniting armed forces, civil protection, police, security, healthcare workers, and firefighters. Facilitate dual-use investments. Bolstering Foresight and Anticipation Capabilities: Develop a comprehensive risk and threat assessment at EU level, helping prevent crises such as natural disasters or hybrid threats. Increasing Public-Private Cooperation: Create a public-private Preparedness Taskforce. Formulate emergency protocols with businesses to ensure rapid availability of essential materials, goods, and services, and secure critical production lines. Enhancing Cooperation with External Partners: Work with strategic partners like NATO on military mobility, climate and security, emerging technologies, cyber, space, and the defence industry. Overall by taking a proactive approach to preparedness, the EU aims to build a more resilient and secure continent, better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century. Background The Niinisto Report on Preparedness and Readiness of the EU concluded that strengthening Europe's civilian and military preparedness and readiness to address today's growing security challenges - in health, migration, technology security, climate, defence or the economy - is a matter of urgency. The report called for a profound change of mindset, and a shift in the way we understand and prioritise preparedness across the European Union. It also recognised that preparedness is not only a national responsibility but a shared European endeavour requiring stronger role for the Union in coordinating and supporting Member States in this area. The Strategy therefore focusses on an integrated all-hazards approach, a whole-of-government approach, whichbrings together all relevant actors, across all levels of government (local, regional, national, and EU) and a whole-of-society approach, bringing together citizens, local communities and civil society, businesses and social partners as well as the scientific and academic communities. Moreover, working closely with Member States, the Union has the ability to face future crises - and can deliver substantial and effective solutions for citizens and societies. The events and risks the European Union went through in the last years, and the strong and efficient response to the COVID-19 pandemic - demonstrated how the close cooperation between the European Union and the Member States allows for better outcomes for people and societies. Quote(s) 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. Families living in flood zones should know what to do when the waters rise. Early warning systems can prevent regions hit by wildfires from losing precious time. Europe stands ready to support Member States and trusted partners in the neighbourhood to save lives and livelihoods. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Today we face an increasing number of external security challenges and a growing number of hybrid attacks in our common European space. It is clear that Europe must be stronger on all fronts and at every level of society. It is always better to prevent crises than to deal with their consequences. Our strategy is about building a comprehensive picture of the threats we face, preparing citizens including by improving their risk-awareness, stepping up civil-military cooperation, and working more closely with external partners, including NATO. Preparedness is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society challenge - today we advocate for a collective response. Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission This Strategy is for people and societies, to help ensure that when a crisis strikes, everything works as it should, and we are ready to act swiftly and effectively. For that, we need a new preparedness mindset so that everyone knows what to do in any emergency, no matter its nature. Europe must act with agility, working closely with Member States to boost efficiency, save time and save lives. This Strategy is our insurance policy, so we are ready to care of our people when they need it most. Roxana Minzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Preparedness must be woven into the fabric of our societies everyone has a role to play. Today's threats are fast, complex, and interconnected; our response must be more proactive, more integrated, and more coordinated at European level. By harnessing the energy of our institutions, businesses, and citizens, we can build resilience and ensure Europe emerges stronger from crises. Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Remarks by Executive Vice-President Minzatu and Commissioner Lahbib on the EU Preparedness Union Strategy European Commission Speech Mar 26, 2025 Brussels "Check against delivery" Executive Vice-President Roxana Minzatu: As we say in English, fix your roof while the sun is still shining. Or in Romanian, my native Romanian, we say, pregateste-ti iarna carul si vara sania. Prepare your chariots in the winter and your sledge, your sley in the summer. So preparedness is about ourselves, the whole of the union, the whole of the society, the whole of the government, an all of hazards approach. It's about us exiting a reactive, responsive mindset towards potential risks and hazards and entering into an approach, into a mindset that is about forecasting, about anticipating risk, about prevention, about information, about education, about preparation, and then in the end about crisis management and crisis response, better performed with the involvement of the EU level. Actually, 90% of EU respondents' questions via Eurobarometer mentioned that it was very important, fairly important, overall important, that the European Union is involved in the coordination towards crisis responses. And of course, obviously, towards preparation and anticipation. And it is about that, our Preparedness Union strategy: what the EU, what added value the European Union brings in supporting Member States, in working with Member States, in working with regional and local governments, with businesses, with social partners, civil society, with the population, to be able to prepare and to navigate more efficiently a landscape where we see more and more often across sectors different types of risks and hazards. They can be climate-related risks in some parts of Europe, and there the awareness is absolutely much more acute. And maybe with the preparedness, the investment, of those Member States are more advanced. Southern regions, let's talk about wildfires or about floods, but floods also affect Central Europe, Eastern Europe. We can talk about cyber security risks, which are borderless. And of course, sometimes you may look at incidents that relate to hospitals, cyber attacks in part of Europe, or about other types of incidents in other Member States. But they are borderless, and they require a joint effort and a joint response. We can, of course, look at the potential risks that come from disinformation, manipulation. And these require, of course, coordinated action and coordinated responses. And, of course, man-made conflicts are also potential risks and hazards, and these also require coordinated preparation, anticipation. Towards all these potential risks, the Preparedness Union strategy comes with a set of responses. We are not starting from scratch. The COVID pandemic has shown that the added value of acting together in solidarity, in coordination, in the European Union framework is absolutely crucial, that it makes us more efficient, that it makes us stronger. Of course, we need to go a bit further to be much more efficient. And towards this purpose the Preparedness Union strategy comes with this all of government, all of society, all hazards approach. It is a complex approach. It will require a lot of work with Member States to be able to put into place a set of actions, concrete actions and initiatives that are mentioned in the Preparedness Union strategy. But it is also about being aware of our responsibility to be prepared. And this mindset about being responsible refers to a societal preparation as well. Coming back a bit to my direct portfolio, which is on social, it is important that in the Preparedness Union strategy, we have one of the seven pillars that is dedicated to societal preparedness. And there we need to talk to our citizens, all generations, all households, those that are vulnerable. All need to be informed, all need to be equipped to be skilled in order to be able to be prepared. In the end, you need to know how to act, how to react. If the power goes out, if there's an earthquake, if there's a massive flood, or if there's any type of threat, how do you protect yourself? What resources do you need? How do you yourself take responsibility and what else do you expect to receive support from the public authorities? So the societal dimension is important. You will see in the Preparedness Union strategy elements related to the need that we not only set up information and alert systems, but also to teach, to introduce in curricula and training programs elements related to how we anticipate, understand, and manage risks. It is also very important, and we discussed this today in the college, to encourage volunteers and volunteering, which we already do through our European programs, through the European Solidarity Corps, through Erasmus. But we need to encourage volunteering even more in order to be able to support each other and to really implement solidarity. And it is also very important that in the Preparedness Union strategy, in the societal dimension, we tackle disinformation, misinformation. This is connected with what we put in the Union of Skills. One of the key basic skills is the citizenship skill, which means being able to have critical thinking, being able to identify and to be protected against malicious information, disinformation, because this is one of the main threats, one of the main risks that is addressed by this Preparedness Union strategy. So it is a complex document. It is a document that talks about prevention, about being proactive, about working closer together with Member States, about having preparedness by design in our EU policies, and invite Member States should do the same with their policies, whether it's about skills, whether it's about cyber, about how budget, finance, Clean Industrial Deal. A preparedness lens is already important for the different types of risks that we might need to mitigate. Thank you. *** Commissioner Hadja Lahbib: 450 million citizens. 450 million reasons to be better prepared. Today's threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all connected. For three years in Ukraine, we have seen a battlefield of bombs and bullets, drones and fighter planes, trenches and submarines. Our European security is directly threatened by this. It is also threatened by other battlefields. The battlefields in our pockets our phones and our computers, our power plants, our banks, our supply chains, our raw materials, and in the media we consume every day. These are all battlefields, and they are being weaponised to threaten our European way of life and our democracies. The European Union has two ways of responding: we can stick our head in the sand and act like it isn't happening. Or we can look these threats squarely in the eye and say: "This is the reality. We will prepare." Since the start of my mandate as Commissioner for Preparedness, I have visited countries here in Europe and halfway across the world Ukraine, Poland, Italy, France and Bangladesh. And earlier this week, I visited the Port of Antwerp. I have seen first-hand how different countries and locations prepare for emergencies, depending on geopolitics or their geographical location. Being prepared is different for every country. There is no "one size fits all". I have exchanged ideas and best practices with local authorities and experts on the ground. These exchanges have contributed to making this Strategy concrete, targeted, and operational. In the EU, we must think different because the threats are different. We must think bigger because the threats are bigger. This strategy does precisely that, setting out 30 concrete actions. We are getting everyone on board in every sector from governments, institutions, and businesses to communities, citizens, and volunteers. We already have strong crisis response tools, but we can no longer rely on ad hoc reactions. We must be on the front foot more proactive, more coordinated, more systematic, detecting threats earlier and acting faster. That is why we are setting up a new EU Crisis Coordination Hub to coordinate better when a crisis hits. This Hub will build on the expertise of our Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) to better support Member States in managing today's crises. We are also beefing up our Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), our protective shield in times of emergency. It coordinates aid, mobilizes emergency teams, and delivers life-saving assistance when floods, wildfires, and other disasters strike. We have done it in Spain, Ireland, Mozambique, Mayotte, and just recently in North Macedonia with more than 50 burn victims of a nightclub fire being taken care of in EU hospitals. When we get the call, we go. Requests for assistance have gone up over ten times since the UCPM started in the early 2000's, and requests spiked during COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. We respond not only in Europe, but across the world, and for many different types of crises. Today our UCPM is more important than ever, and that is why we are making it even stronger. In this new Strategy, we are also reinforcing rescEU our European safety net. These strategic reserves help the EU respond to every type of emergency with fire-fighting planes, stockpiles of vital medical, energy and transport equipment, and specialised assets against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. We will also propose an EU-wide stockpiling strategy to ensure access to critical resources across the EU. Our rescEU reinforces our capacities and provides teams of experts in emergencies. The EU will also work with Member States to make sure people have essential supplies for at least 72-hours in a crisis. We are also getting more young people involved. Programs like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps will help build a new generation aware, trained, and ready to act in an emergency. Young people also have the know-how to spot misinformation. All of this will make our societies stronger and build trust in our democracies. This is a once-in-a-generation moment for the security of Europe. Strengthening our preparedness will be an essential part of this. When we prepare together, we are safer together. Now it's time to get to work and put it into action. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Official consultation between Foreign Ministries of India and China (March 26, 2025) India - Ministry of External Affairs March 26, 2025 Shri 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 on 26 March 2025 in Beijing. 2. They took positive note of the developments in bilateral relations since the meeting of the leaders of India and China in October 2024. 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. 3. 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. 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. The two sides have made further progress on the modalities to resume Kailash Manasarovar Yatra in 2025. 4. 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. New Delhi March 26, 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni army targets Israeli-occupied Jaffa, U.S. aircraft carrier IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 26, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Yemeni armed forces have targeted the USS Harry S. Truman and a number of U.S. warships in the Red Sea as well as the Israeli regime's military positions in Jaffa, northern occupied Palestine. In a statement early on Wednesday, the Yemeni armed forces said its missile, drone, and naval forces struck the targets in response to U.S. attacks against the Arab country and on the 10th anniversary of the Yemeni National Resistance on March 26. In line with defending the rights of the Palestinian people in Gaza and to continue supporting them, the Yemeni drone unit targeted the Israeli military positions in the occupied Jaffa, the statement read. It stressed continued confrontation with U.S. aggression, preventing the Israeli vessels, and conducting operations against the Israeli enemy until the end of the blockade in Gaza. The operation came after U.S. warplanes targeted the northern Yemeni province of Sa'ada. The strike left a number of civilians injured, Sa'ada's Human Rights Office said, without specifying. Earlier, secretary of Yemen's Supreme Political Council, Yasser al-Houri, had renewed his country's position on supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause until they reclaim all their legitimate rights. "The Yemeni nation and armed forces consider defending Palestine as defending themselves and the Islamic Ummah," Houri said in an exclusive interview with IRNA. 9376**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address This year's investment into Eastern Border Military Strengthening and Counter-mobility Plan will reach 45 million euro Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Defence 03/26/2025 - 16:40 In Latvia Service Information prepared by Media relations sections As National Armed Forces continue to implement the Eastern Border Military Strengthening and Counter-mobility Plan, this year the initiative will receive 45 million euro. In 2025 funding will go into procurement of counter-mobility obstacles, sensors, artillery systems, mining equipment and additional support to the State Border Patrol. Eastern region of Vidzeme will also receive new engineering equipment storages. Programme for the procurement of materials for counter-mobility infrastructure from local suppliers will also continue in 2025. "Military strengthening of the eastern border is a key priority for this government and defence sector, and significant public investments are being made. Military strengthening and counter-mobility plan has already made sure that our armed forces are much better prepared to stop the movement of enemy land force across our national border - obstacles have been installed and some of the roads are blocked. It is crucial to let also local companies participate in border fortification project because they can produce and supply the necessary structural elements for the counter-mobility infrastructure," Defence Minister Andris Spruds underlined. The Eastern Border Military Strengthening and Counter-mobility Plan, approved by the government a year ago, is part Baltic Defence Line project or a five-year border infrastructure investment plan worth 303 million euro. Last year Eastern Border Military Strengthening and Counter-mobility Plan received 25 million, which were invested in: construction of temporary engineering equipment storages throughout the Latgale region, along the border with Russia and Belarus. These facilities house tens of thousands of counter-mobility materials, such as locally-manufactured concrete blocks, dragon's teeth, anti-tank obstacles (Czech hedgehog), etc. 75% of border fortification constructions and materials purchased in 2024 and produced by Latvian companies. These were mostly materials for concrete and steel structures. materials for counter-mobility infrastructure required to control or block traffic that were strategically deployed at various locations in 2024. Counter-mobility structures were installed on the closed border crossing and check points to block the traffic. border area road and forest clearance blocking required to control the traffic in the border area. further assessment and installation of obstacles along the 400-kilometre border with Russia and Belarus. Guard posts with reinforced structure and additional fortifications, obstacle lines and sensors, together with ammunition and mine storages, will be built in the coming years. As reported earlier, in January of 2024, defence ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia reached an agreement on the Baltic Defence Line, an initiative that will strengthen the eastern border of the Baltics and NATO. Poland announced its participation in the Baltic Defence Line at the end of 2024. Although Baltic Defence Line construction is coordinated between countries, respective components are funded from national budgets. Baltic Defence Line will significantly enhance the military capabilities of the Baltic required to defend their border and prevent Russia from unexpected military operations. Construction of Baltic Defence Line is coherent with NATO defence plans. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Budrys: the world needs to recognize the crimes of communism Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2025-03-26 In Washington, D.C., Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kestutis Budrys along with the Foreign Ministers of Latvia and Estonia attended a commemoration event of the biggest Stalin-era Soviet mass deportations from the Baltic states known as March deportations at The Victims of Communism Museum. The Minister told the event participants that the world must recognise the crimes associated with both major totalitarian ideologies - Nazism and communism. "Crimes that are not investigated, revealed, and evaluated in time open up opportunities for the revival of regimes. Russia's war against Ukraine is an example of this, echoing the criminal imperialist ambitions of the Soviet Union," said the Minister. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Western world started to forget the traumatic legacy of communism and the crimes of this totalitarian regime against millions of people around the world. "The scale of communist crimes exceeds the scale of Nazi crimes, but communist crimes still did not get their Nuremberg, and the memory of their victims has not yet found a place in the historical consciousness of Europe," the minister said. At the end of March 1949, the Soviet intelligence and counterintelligence agency (MGB) launched a codenamed Operation Priboi ("Tidal Wave"), during which about 94,000 civilians were deported from the three Baltic states, more than a third (34 thousand) of them were from Lithuania. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Our shared view on russia with the United Kingdom binds us together, says Minister of National Defence D. Sakaliene Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence 2025-03-26 International cooperation | Security and defense policy Minister of National Defence Dovile Sakaliene met with Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, Chair of the Defence Committee of the Parliament Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, British MPs, media and academia representatives during her visit to London. . "We are bound together not just by strong bilateral partnership but also by our view on the threat of russia to European security. Therefore we are grateful to the United Kingdom for their consistent efforts to strengthen the security of the Eastern flank of NATO. We strongly support the JEF as a flexible platform that enables the like-minded nations to collaborate, especially in the times of others being in doubt. NATO needs to promote as various formats of cooperation as possible to strengthen unity and resilience," said Minister of National Defence D. Sakaliene. The meetings held in the course of the visit concerned more defence spending, transatlantic bonds, assistance to Ukraine, threat of russia, European security commitments and strengthening defence capabilities. Even though strengthening of the transatlantic partnership remains a priority, the meetings also addressed stepping up Europe's responsibility in collective defence. Speaking about support to Ukraine Minister pointed out the necessity to strengthen our own military capabilities and defence industry as well. "No matter what conclusion this war comes to, russia will remain a persistent threat. Therefore we have to not just retain the assistance to Ukraine but also to increase the defence spending significantly and immediately, as well as investments in defence industry," said D. Sakaliene. "The good news is that the United Kingdom is increasing its defence expenditure to 2.5% of GDP and will proceed to 3%." The United Kingdom is one of Lithuania's key partners in security and defence. Both countries closely cooperate in bilateral and multilateral - NATO and the Nordic - formats. One of the most important instances of cooperation is the UK-led JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force), a rapid-response capability for emergencies, including undersea infrastructure incidents. The JEF connects maritime, air and land capabilities of 10 Northern European countries. "We are grateful to the UK for you leadership as the JEF lead nation. Lithuania looks forward to actively contributing to the largest JEF exercise Tarassis25 this autumn," said Minister of National Defence D. Sakaliene. Lithuania contributes to the UK-led Mission Interflex for training Ukrainian military personnel alongside Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Australia. "We seek to further strengthen cooperation with the United Kingdom. It is particularly important in light of support to Ukraine and success of the sanctions against russia. We stand behind the development of security and defend partnership between the UK and the EU," Minister said. The Royal Air Force deployed air detachments to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states, the United Kingdom is the Framework Nation of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Estonia and contributes to the U.S.-led NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Poland. Lithuania holds a 3+3 format meeting "Iron Wolf" in May, Secretary of State for Defence John Healey has been invited to attend. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A look at the Defence news 17 - 23 March Netherlands Ministry of Defence News item | 26-03-2025 | 14:11 The Netherlands intends to contribute to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. To this end, Netherlands Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans attended de Raisina Dialogue 2025 in India last week, one of the most important geopolitical conferences in the Asia and Oceania region. The minister stressed how, in our grim geopolitical reality, it is important to strengthen our ties with 'non-aligned' India. He also said that stability in the Indo-Pacific region is interwoven with the trade interests and security of the Netherlands. Netherlands and Kenya to increase military cooperation Last week, the Netherlands and Kenya signed a declaration of intent on increased defence cooperation. Netherlands Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, who was in Kenya to accompany King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima during part of their state visit, signed the declaration. Army preparing for psychological operations More than 200 military personnel from 14 countries were engaged in a psychological operations exercise held in Germany last week. 1 Civil-Military Interaction Command from Apeldoorn represented the Netherlands during Exercise Active Volcano. After Germany, this unit supplied the largest number of military personnel taking part in the exercise. Active Volcano is one of the largest exercises of its kind in Europe. Psychological operations in the military domain are all about deception. They can disrupt the enemy's fighting power and improve the own position. NATO fleet bares its teeth in the high north Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG 1) is currently patrolling between Iceland and Greenland, where it is keeping an eye on threats from the air. This operational area is strategically important for the Alliance. The Royal Netherlands Navy's air defence and command frigate HNLMS Tromp currently has a key role within SNMG 1. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Sudanese Armed Forces airstrikes in Tora, North Darfur Press releases Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 26 March 2025 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 24 March. 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 Rapid Support Forces arbitrarily arrested and detained civilians in Tora. Despite my repeated warnings and appeals to both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians in line with international humanitarian law, civilians continue to be killed indiscriminately, maimed and mistreated on a near daily basis, while civilian objects remain an all-too-frequent target. I once again urge both parties to take all measures, as required by law, to avoid harming civilians and attacking civilian objects. Indiscriminate attacks and attacks against civilians, and civilian objects, are unacceptable and may constitute war crimes. 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 normalized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN experts urge immediate action to protect children against trafficking for recruitment and use in hostilities in DRC Press releases Special Procedures 26 March 2025 GENEVA -- UN human rights experts* today called for urgent measures to address grave violations against children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) amid escalating hostilities in North and South Kivu provinces. "The recent surge in violence has led to indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations, massacres and conflict-related sexual violence, in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law," the experts said. Reports from health facilities indicate a rise in rape cases, with children accounting for 30 per cent of those treated. Humanitarian agencies have identified more than 1,100 unaccompanied and separated children in North and South Kivu, while attacks on hospitals, humanitarian facilities, and civilian infrastructure have further compounded the crisis. Schools have also been attacked, occupied by armed groups or used as shelters for displaced populations. "As offensives intensify, more than 700,000 people, 41 per cent of whom are school-aged children, have been displaced and the number of casualties, including among children, is mounting at an alarming rate. A majority of cases remain unreported, and this may only be a tip of the iceberg," they warned. Recruitment and use of children in armed conflict remain an urgent concern and grave violation of children's rights in the DRC and is increasing as the conflict worsens, exposing children to devastating conditions, including injury, abduction, death and sexual violence. "We are particularly concerned by reports of children disappearing, being abducted or trafficked and recruited for use in combat by all parties to the conflict," they said. "Child-sensitive measures must be immediately implemented to protect children from these violations," the experts said. "These include strengthening early warning and child protection risk alert systems, developing robust age verification methods to prevent child recruitment, and authorising access for child protection agencies to visit military sites to verify that no children have been unlawfully recruited." They further emphasised the need to demobilise recruited children and to provide full assistance for their physical and psychological recovery and safe reintegration. "We call on all parties to the conflict, including those directly engaged in hostilities and persons in command roles in armed groups, to halt these atrocities and to uphold their legal obligations to protect civilians, particularly children," the experts said. The experts are in contact with the DRC authorities about these issues. * The experts: Siobhan Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Mama Fatima Singhateh, Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children; Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences. Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DFA Statement on the G7 Foreign Ministers' Joint Statement and Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity of 14 March 2025 Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs MANILA 26 March 2025 -- The Philippines welcomes anew the G7 Foreign Ministers' reaffirmation of their collective position on the South China Sea as articulated in the G7 Foreign Ministers' Joint Statement and their Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity, issued in Charlevoix, Canada on 14 March 2025. We acknowledge, in particular, the G7's objection to illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions, and appreciate its consistent expression of concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. We also acknowledge the G7's pronouncements on the importance of coastal states refraining from unilateral actions that cause permanent physical change to the marine environment, including land reclamation and the building of outposts, and attempts to change the status quo by the establishment of new geographical facts. We appreciate the G7's consistent reaffirmation that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the legal framework for governing all activities in the oceans and the seas. We are likewise encouraged by the G7's consistent acknowledgment of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, further confirming its status as an unassailable part of the corpus of international law. The Philippines joins the G7's commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region. The Philippines likewise confirms its vision of the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity, and will continue to call for the cessation of interference, obstruction and harassment of the Philippines' legal activities within our recognized maritime entitlements. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NPA now 'leaderless,' down to 1 'weakened' guerrilla front - NSC Philippine News Agency By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos March 26, 2025, 3:58 pm MANILA -- The New People's Army (NPA) is now "leaderless" and only has one remaining "weakened' guerrilla front that is expected to be dismantled within the year, the National Security Council (NSC) said Wednesday. In a panel discussion hosted by the Presidential Communications Office, NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), is now "at its lowest point in its more than 50 years of reign of terror in the countryside." "Actually, leaderless sila ngayon kasi 'yung buong Central Committee, ang dami na doon ang na-ano, na-neutralize natin (They are leaderless now because the entire Central Committee, we have neutralized many of them)," Malaya said. "So, it's actually a leaderless organization. Ang nagpapatakbo sa kaniya, 'yung mga small unit commanders na lamang (The only ones running it are the small unit commanders)," he added. Malaya attributed the CPP-NPA's apparent defeat to leadership losses following the death of its founder, Jose Maria Sison, and neutralization of key Central Committee members; focused military and police operations; socio-economic investments; and sustained localized peace engagements. He said the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict's (NTF-ELCAC) anti-terror grooming and radicalization program impeded the NPA's recruitment efforts in schools and universities. He added that the NPA did not succeed in reclaiming its lost mass bases because of the NTF-ELCAC's initiatives, intensified military and police operations, legal and financial restrictions, socio-economic projects, and amnesty programs. Malaya touted the "98.88 percent" accomplishment rate in dismantling the NPA's guerilla fronts, adding that the rebels could no longer be considered a threat to the peaceful conduct of the May 2025 mid-term elections. "There is now only one remaining weakened guerilla front in the province of Camarines Sur. Ang nakakalungkot, taga-doon pa ako (It's sad that I'm from there). And this remaining weakened GF will be dismantled within the year," he said. "At present, there are only 1,050 remaining NPA armed members scattered and isolated in some parts of the country. When NTF-ELCAC was organized, 89 po lahat iyan, (they are 89), 89 guerilla fronts. And now, we are at one weakened guerilla front," Malaya added. While there is only one NPA guerilla front in the country, it is "very challenging" to dismantle the group because it is "constantly evading [the] troops," Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida said. Larida, however, remained optimistic that the remaining guerrilla front would be dismantled by March. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DFA lauds G7 opposition to dangerous acts vs. PH ships in SCS Philippine News Agency By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora March 26, 2025, 3:10 pm MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday welcomed the Group of Seven's (G7) recent objection to the "increasing use" of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. The G7 foreign ministers, who held a meeting in Charlevoix, Quebec in Canada on March 12 to 14, recently hit "efforts to restrict freedom of navigation and overflight" through militarization and coercion in the South China Sea, describing these as a violation of international law. It condemned China's "illicit, provocative, coercive, and dangerous actions" in the Indo-Pacific and expressed concern over dangerous maneuvers against Philippines and Vietnamese vessels. "The Philippines welcomes anew the G7 Foreign Ministers' reaffirmation of their collective position on the South China Sea," the DFA said. "We acknowledge, in particular, the G7's objection to illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions, and appreciate its consistent expression of concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea." It likewise acknowledged the G7's pronouncements calling on coastal states to refrain from unilateral actions that cause permanent physical change to the marine environment. The agency said these include land reclamation and the building of outposts, and "attempts to change the status quo by the establishment of new geographical facts". "We appreciate the G7's consistent reaffirmation that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the legal framework for governing all activities in the oceans and the seas," it said. "We are likewise encouraged by the G7's consistent acknowledgment of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, further confirming its status as an unassailable part of the corpus of international law." The Philippine government, it said, is also committed to upholding a free, open, prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific, and confirmed Manila's vision of the South China Sea as "a sea of peace, stability and prosperity". It said the Philippines will continue to call for the cessation of interference, obstruction and harassment of its legal activities within its recognized maritime entitlements. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AFP 'laser-focused' on mandate, appeals anew for political insulation Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 26, 2025, 2:45 pm MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday maintained that it is "laser-focused" on its mandate of protecting the country and its people even as it reiterated its appeal to be insulated from "political noise". In a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military remains a professional organization. "Kami po ay laser focused sa aming mandato for national security and of course, para po pahalagahan itong ating seguridad ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino and lalo na po padating na ang eleksyon so ito po yung gusto nating tutukan (yan) ngayon. (We are laser-focused on our mandate of national security, and of course, to provide security for every Filipino citizen especially now that the midterm elections are coming. We want to concentrate on that) We are going to have a free, peaceful election," she added. The AFP spokesperson made this comment when asked for a reaction on some groups' attempts to involve the military in controversies. Padilla also reminded all AFP personnel that the only time they get to express their opinion on political matters is when they exercise their constitutional right to vote. On Tuesday, Malacanang backed Senate President Francis Escudero's remarks that there is no need to involve the uniformed services in controversies. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy preparing for conversion of 2 islands into military reservations Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno March 26, 2025, 9:56 am MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) is preparing for the possible occupation of the Grande and Chiquita Islands once these are declared as military reservations. "The thrust right now of the PN is to prepare for eventual occupation or preparation of the land that will be awarded through a presidential proclamation declaring Grande Island (and) Chiquita Island as military reservations," PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in an interview with reporters Tuesday. He did not give more details on when talks on designating these islands as military reservations started. These islands, he said, need to be declared as military reservations due to its proximity to Subic Bay whose "natural layout" provides safe harbor for Navy ships using the vital waterway. A runway also exists in the Subic Bay area that can be used by Philippine aircraft. "Hence the need to be able to have a military presence, a foothold in the Subic area," Trinidad said. Trinidad, meanwhile, said the move has nothing to do with the arrest of six foreign nationals and two Filipinos found conducting illegal activities in Grande Island last March 13. "The foreign nationals that were arrested on Grande Island were there even before the talks of having (the island declared) as a naval reservation," Trinidad said. Grande Island, located in Subic Bay, is a strategic vantage point with a clear view of key sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea, including Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). The Department of National Defense (DND) earlier said the suspects' illegal activities could include suspected espionage and kidnapping activities related to Philippine offshore gaming operators, where some foreign nationals are occupying Grande Island under the guise of private enterprises. The conversion of the Grande and Chiquita Islands as military reservations would help secure the operations of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone, including the Riviera Wharf and the Subic Bay International Airport. The DND said this is in line with the ongoing development of a naval operating base in Subic which seeks to strengthen and maintain the Philippines' strategic presence along the western seaboard. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to continue standing by Palestine through military ops: Quds Force chief Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 5:26 PM Iran remains committed to supporting the Palestinian cause through both direct backing for Resistance forces and military operations such as The True Promise, according to the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). General Esmaeil Qa'ani made the remarks on Wednesday during the "Manbar al-Quds" program, which included speeches by several Resistance leaders in honor of the International Quds Day. Qa'ani hailed the 2023 Operation Al-Aqsa Flood by Hamas, describing it as "a combination of battlefield resistance and popular resistance." He said the operation "introduced a new phenomenon of unity among resistance fronts," demonstrating the strength and solidarity of resistance forces. The Quds Force commander reaffirmed Iran's unwavering support for the resistance front, stressing that it will "continue until the ultimate goal of liberating Al-Quds is achieved." 'Al-Aqsa Flood was a turning point' Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas leader, said the current phase is unprecedented in the history of Palestine. He said the Resistance, through Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, has irreversibly reshaped the struggle for Palestine. The operation, he said, has demonstrated the ability of the Resistance to take the initiative and launch attacks, exposing the Zionist entity's security and military failures. Despite months of relentless killing, terrorism, and destruction, backed by Washington's full support, the occupation has failed to break the will of the Palestinian people, he said. According to Hayya, the Al-Aqsa Flood was launched to counter attempts by the regime to finalize its control over Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa, as part of a broader strategy of political, economic, and military domination. He said the Resistance has succeeded in revealing the true nature of the occupation as the prime adversary of the Muslim world. The ongoing struggle, Hayya said, has forged a new regional power dynamic, uniting fighters from Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran in a common front against the occupation. Meanwhile, Hayya said free people across the world have rallied to condemn Israel's aggression, reject the US support for its crimes, and denounce the acts of terrorism committed by the occupation, which, he said, disregards all ethical and humanitarian values. Hayya called on the Arab and Islamic world to take a firm stand, saying the time had come to break the silence that the occupation exploits to push forward its expansionist agenda in the region. He said it is the duty of the entire Muslim Ummah to defend Al-Aqsa and support the people of Gaza and Palestine in their struggle. Any compromise on even a fraction of Al-Aqsa would be an act of betrayal against faith, the nation, and the sacrifices of martyrs, Hayya said. The liberation of Al-Quds is not merely a political goal, Hayya stated, but a historical and religious certainty, regardless of the obstacles involved. 'Al-Quds unifying element among Muslims' The Secretary-General of the Palestinian resistance movement Islamic Jihad, Ziad al-Nakhalah, stated that the Palestinian people are among the strongest in the world and that Al-Quds serves as a unifying force for Muslims. "Our people have demonstrated their strength and have not budged in the face of global conspiracies. Al-Quds has always been the greatest weapon in the world." Nakhalah honored the martyrs of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, saying "these brave men fought the enemy with unparalleled courage." He said the martyrs, through their sacrifices, "proved the truth of their promise to God and to the supporters of the Resistance." "Despite the sacrifices, the bond of unity within the Resistance in the region will never be broken. The Palestinian people will stand firm on their land and will accept nothing less than their rightful soil." 'US seeks to erase Palestinian cause' Sheikh Naim Qassem, the Secretary-General of Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah, said the United States is attempting to dismantle the Palestinian cause through Israel. But the faithful will not allow this to happen, the Hezbollah leader stated. Sheikh Qassem said Palestine has been under occupation for over 75 years, yet Israel has failed to erase the Palestinian identity. "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was carried out to change the equation. The light of the Palestinian cause shines as a beacon of truth in the world, not to be extinguished." Sheikh Qassem said today the crimes of Israel have brought the true identity of the regime to the fore. "The Zionist regime is grappling with an existential crisis and cannot secure its presence through occupation." Sheikh Qassem praised the Palestinian people's resilience despite the martyrdom of over 50,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 100,000 others in Gaza. The Lebanese resistance leader also touched on Washington's displacement plan for Gaza, describing it as "extremely dangerous." "This plan aims to end the Palestinian cause, displace the Palestinian people, occupy the lands of Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan, and dominate West Asia according to the Western design." However, Sheikh Qassem said, continuous sacrifices and resistance will thwart this scheme. "We firmly believe that victory belongs to the faithful." Houthi: Collaborating with US betrayal of Muslim Ummah The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, also warned that Israel's ongoing aggression, backed by the United States, is aimed at dismantling the Palestinian cause. "The Israeli enemy's actions, mass killings, destruction of infrastructure, starvation, and thirst, clearly reveal their attempt to forcibly displace the Palestinian people." Houthi called on Arab nations to take a "bold, historic stand" to prevent the displacement of the Palestinians and resist normalization with Israel. He said such displacement can only succeed with the complicity of certain Arab countries. "If the Israeli enemy succeeds in displacing the Palestinian people, the next target will be Palestine's neighboring countries and the wider Arab world." The Ansarullah leader urged all Muslims to stand up firm against Israeli expansionism and to reject psychological defeat and despair. Despite the US attacks, Yemen will not back down and will continue its operations in support of the Palestinian people, Houthi said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netanyahu bears full responsibility for Gaza ceasefire collapse: Hamas Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 2:22 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the Israeli regime's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, "bears full responsibility" for the collapse of the ceasefire following his decision to renew aggression in Gaza. "The return to war was a premeditated decision by Netanyahu," Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday, adding it was "aimed at thwarting the [ceasefire] agreement and yielding to [far-right minister Itamar] Ben Gvir's blackmail." Ben-Gvir and two other ministers of his far-right Jewish Power party resigned in protest against January's ceasefire deal. Shortly after Gaza was bombed last week, the party announced it would rejoin Netanyahu's shaky coalition. In its Wednesday statement, Hamas urged the international community and mediators to pressure Netanyahu to stop the war and return to the ceasefire negotiations. The movement warned that Israel's resumption of the war endangers the lives of Israeli captives, noting that "Netanyahu lies on the captives' families when he claims that the military option can bring them back alive." The statement stressed that Hamas is doing everything in its power to keep the captives alive, but the "random" Israeli strikes are endangering their lives. "Whenever the occupation has attempted to retrieve its captives by force, it has brought them back dead in coffins." Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, killing more than 50,000 Palestinians. Last 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 first 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. Since March 18, the regime has launched strikes on Gaza, breaking the ceasefire and prisoner-captive exchange agreement that had lasted nearly two months. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dozens killed in new Israeli attacks on residential buildings in Gaza Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 11:43 AM Israeli forces have killed at least 12 Palestinians, including a mother, in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, local authorities say. The victims included five children, one of whom was a six-month-old infant. They were killed in intense artillery fire across the city. Israeli troops also blew up residential buildings in the Tal as-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah in southern Gaza. Drones attacked residential buildings in Rafah, while Israeli tanks advanced on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and the Bureij refugee camp in the central part o f the besieged territory. The health ministry in Gaza said at least 830 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since Israel resumed large-scale strikes on March 18. According to the ministry's statement, the figure includes 38 people killed in the past 24 hours. It also reported that the overall death toll has reached 50,183 since the Israeli war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023. The UN said on Tuesday that at least 124,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the Gaza Strip since Israel resumed its attacks. The UN's humanitarian agency (OCHA) said Gaza's healthcare system is "under immense strain, struggling to provide the needed treatment for patients amid a sharp increase in casualties, a severe drop in medical stocks due to the halt in the entry of supplies, and a lack of medical equipment, blood units, and specialized medical personnel". "More than half of hospitals that are receiving trauma cases now have a bed occupancy rate of over 80 percent and calls for blood donations have been ongoing," it added. Israeli forces abduct 15 paramedics in Rafah Gaza's Government Media Office announced in a statement that the Israeli army abducted 15 paramedics and civil defense personnel in the southern city of Rafah on Tuesday. "The Israeli occupation army continues its crimes against the Palestinian people in blatant violation of international humanitarian law," the statement read. It said 15 emergency responders were abducted in Rafah as they were rescuing injured people in western Rafah. The media office held Israel and the US administration responsible for the safety of the personnel, and called the escalation "a war crime that demands immediate accountability." "The Israeli occupation is deliberately targeting medical and relief workers, in direct defiance of international agreements that guarantee their safety," it said. Gaza's Government Media Office appealed to the international community, the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and human rights organizations to take urgent action to secure the captives' release. Backed by the United States and its Western allies, Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against the Israeli regime in response to its decades-long campaign of oppression against Palestinians. On November 21 last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its deadly war on the blockaded coastal sliver. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deadliest week in Yemen: US-led strikes kill 25 civilians Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 9:34 AM The airstrikes led by the United States have killed at least 25 civilians in Yemen over the past week, marking the deadliest week of bombing on the country since the final months of the Washington-backed Saudi war in January 2022. In a report released on Tuesday, the Yemen Data Project said the 25 civilians were the victims of 38 US-led aerial assaults on March 15-21, adding that 28 people were also injured in the attacks. The independent tracker also said that 21 out of the 38 US air raids hit non-military, civilian targets. "Civilian targets hit included: a medical storage facility, a medical center, a school, a wedding hall, residential areas, a cotton gin facility, a health office, Bedouin tents, and Al-Eiman University," it said. The deadliest US strike in the first week of US bombing campaign struck a residential area in Yemen's northwestern Sa'ada province, killing 10 civilians and wounding 11 others, among them children. The US began bombing Yemen on March 15, a few days after Yemen resumed its operation against Israeli-linked ships in response to Israel's Gaza aid blockade that violated a ceasefire with the Hamas resistance group. The Yemeni Armed Forces began their anti-Israel naval campaign in November 2023, a month after the occupying regime waged a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. The Yemeni forces halted their attacks in solidarity with the Palestinians in January, when Israel accepted a three-phase Gaza ceasefire. Two months later, however, Israel unilaterally broke the Gaza truce and resumed its brutal onslaught on the besieged territory. US conducts new strikes on Yemen On Tuesday, Yemeni media reported 17 US strikes on Sa'ada and two more on the nearby 'Amran province. The reports said American warplanes carried out "aggressive air raids... causing material damage to citizens' property," but gave no details of casualties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Sign Of Move Away From Moscow, Armenian Parliament Votes To Start EU Bid By RFE/RL's Armenian Service March 26, 2025 YEREVAN - Armenia's parliament took another step in the country's 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 nation's 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 Armenia's 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. Russia's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia- russia-us-west-eu/33360738.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 Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 26, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Mia Mottley today to discuss the strong historic ties between the United States and Barbados. Secretary Rubio underscored the Trump Administration's commitment to supporting Barbados and all CARICOM Member States in countering transnational threats, including by designating the Venezuelan criminal network, Tren de Aragua, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) consistent with their domestic authorities. Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Mottley discussed regional security efforts, such as the United States partnership with Barbados under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative with efforts focused on countering illicit narcotics and firearms trafficking, prosecuting transnational organized crime, and strengthening regional security cooperation. The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed energy cooperation, with the Prime Minister making an economic case for the region premised on energy. Discussing Haiti, the Secretary commended Prime Minister Mottley's leadership in the effort to stabilize Haiti, and expressed his interest in working closely with her on that issue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Haiti Transitional Presidential Council President Jean US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 26, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Haitian Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) President Fritz Alphonse Jean today during his visit to Kingston, Jamaica. Secretary Rubio noted the dire security situation in Port-au-Prince and commended the extraordinary bravery of the Haitian National Police, and all international personnel supporting the Multinational Security Support mission, for their work to establish stability and security in the country. Secretary Rubio reinforced the importance of coordination across the Haitian government to fight the criminal gangs terrorizing the Haitian people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Young US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 26, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Stuart Young today in Kingston, Jamaica. Secretary Rubio thanked Prime Minister Young for Trinidad and Tobago's cooperation to promote energy security, deepen our security partnership, and enhance coordination on the deportation of illegal aliens. Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Young discussed the Trump Administration's decision to name the dangerous Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and encouragement for regional partners to take similar steps. Secretary Rubio encouraged Prime Minister Young to join the United States and other Caribbean democracies in limiting malign influence in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness at a Joint Press Availability US Department of State Remarks Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Office of the Prime Minister Kingston, Jamaica March 26, 2025 PRIME MINISTER HOLNESS: Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to welcome United States Secretary of State, the Honorable Marco Rubio, to Jamaica. Now, I have known Secretary of State Rubio for some time, and I've always been very impressed by his deep knowledge of the region. Jamaica is deeply honored that you have chosen to visit us first on your official visit to the English-speaking Caribbean. This visit so early in your term confirms the strength of historic friendship and strategic partnership between Jamaica and the United States, one built on shared values, democratic ideals, and people-to-people ties. Our nations have long been united by a common commitment to freedom, prosperity, and security, and your visit today reaffirms this bond. Today, we engaged in productive and constructive discussions focused on strengthening this partnership and expanding opportunities for collaboration. During our meeting, we addressed several critical areas of cooperation. Security, one major area, we reaffirmed our commitment to enhancing cooperation in combating transnational crime, ensuring the collective safety of our citizens, and mutually secured borders. We discussed a global war on gangs, and there is already significant policy alignment with both countries in this regard. The United States has been instrumental in supporting Jamaica's efforts to bolster its marine domain awareness and intelligence surveillance capabilities, which are crucial in our fight against organized criminal networks. We discussed expanded and repurposing development assistance towards our shared goals, including security. This will exponentially expand our cooperation in fighting lottery scammers, transnational organized crime, trafficking in guns, and building safer communities. We are committed in ensuring our partnership delivers results in driving down criminality and trafficking in this hemisphere. On Haiti, we look forward to continued partnership with the United States as we seek to work with the Haitian leadership and stakeholders to address the ongoing crises in Haiti. The extraordinary humanitarian, civil, and national security challenges in Haiti pose an acute threat to Haitians, to regional stability, and indeed to its close neighbors, including Jamaica. We agreed that we must do everything we can to stabilize the security situation in Haiti so that they are better able to build capacity and address their political and humanitarian challenges. On trade, recognizing the United States as Jamaica's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing $3 billion in 2023, we explored avenues to further expand trade relations between our two countries. The renewal of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act was raised as a matter of critical importance to trade for ourselves and for all CARICOM member-states. We also explored means to attract increased U.S. investment into Jamaica's emerging sectors. With our stable macroeconomic framework and positive growth trajectory, Jamaica is open for enhanced U.S. investment across multiple sectors, including energy and nearshoring. In terms of logistics, the discussion touched on working with U.S. companies to leverage Jamaica's location as a premier transshipment hub in the Americas, and this will further bolster Jamaica's work as a major logistics hub for global trade. On labor issues, the United States and Jamaica have enjoyed an 80-year-old history, relationship in terms of bilateral labor agreements, where we provide short-term skilled and semi-skilled labor in sectors such as agriculture and hospitality. We discussed ways to expand and enhance these agreements, including skills development partnerships to upskill and reskill Jamaican workers. On our Travel Advisory, we discussed significant progress that we are making in bringing down all major crimes, and that Jamaica today is safer than at any time in the last two decades. In fact, crimes against visitors represent less than 0.01 percent of the more than 3 million visitors to Jamaica annually. We are committed to working collaboratively to ensure that travel advisories reflect the current realities and promote travel to Jamaica. I am confident that the dialogue initiated today will lead to tangible outcomes benefiting both our peoples and contributing to mutual stability and prosperity. Indeed, our concern for enhanced regional and hemispheric security and prosperity was recognized as a shared one. I wish my CARICOM colleagues who are now in Kingston productive meetings as well with the Secretary this afternoon. Jamaica remains committed to fostering a partnership with the United States, one grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and a collective ambition for a stronger and a more resilient future. I extend my sincere gratitude to Secretary Rubio and his delegation for their visit and for the productive and forward-looking discussions we have had. We look forward to building upon this foundation, deepening our collaboration, and taking our partnership to new and greater heights for the lasting benefit of both our nations. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much for joining us, and I now give the floor to SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. PRIME MINISTER HOLNESS: Secretary Rubio for his press statement. SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, Mr. Prime Minister, first of all, thank you for the very warm welcome. On Tuesday was - I completed my ninth week on the job. So I told you I'd be here early; I think that's pretty early. And I'm glad to be here so soon. Thank you to the foreign minister as well for welcoming me, and all the work we do together, and to the people of Jamaica. The ties, I would say, between the United States and Jamaica don't need to be explained. They're incredibly strong. And in particular, my home state of Florida, we were commenting close to - 800,000 to a million Jamaican expatriates who call the United States home. And I asked, was that just in Florida? (Laughter.) Because a very vibrant community that's contributed so much to the place that I've called home for so long. And so we have a shared history that's tied together by people. I also would say that some substantial percentage of Americans have traveled here at some point in their lives. And that also binds countries together. Nothing binds countries and cultures more closely together than people. And we certainly have that in common, and we want to continue to make sure that we build on that. We did touch on a couple of topics. The first is trade. The world, as has been closely followed, the President is in the midst of realigning American global trade policy, primarily to reset global trade in a way that's fair to the U.S. after 20 or 30 years of what we believe is unfairness - not when it comes to Jamaica, but broader. And from that will come real opportunities to create new alignments and new trade arrangements and new trade opportunities, and I believe Jamaica is one of those places that together we both stand to benefit. In particular, we discussed supply chains. And we ask ourselves: Why, if so many of these products are destined for the North American market, why are so many of the productive capacities located halfway around the world? And there's a lot of different reasons why that's happened. But it makes all the sense in the world to see more productive capacity, more manufacturing, more industry, relocated into our hemisphere. We certainly have the labor and the population and the desire to do so in our hemisphere. It's closer to the end markets. And so we want to pursue opportunities to make that possible, and clearly I think Jamaica is one of those places that could benefit; and the prime minister has that vision for the country, and the creation of not just jobs, but jobs that pay even better than the jobs that maybe some could find now. So it's an opportunity, I think, would be mutually beneficial, and we're going to actively seek and look for ways to make that possible. I also think there's extraordinary opportunities for investment. And we talked about it, whether it's - particularly in energy. The United States is going to be producing a lot of liquefied natural gas, which is a very clean fuel that we have in abundance and that we seek to export. And it's also critical, by the way. You cannot have manufacturing without reliable and affordable energy. And so it's one of those things that I think potentially we could continue to partner on along with other things, whether it's mining opportunities off the seabed - in essence, to utilize all of the resources of the country in a responsible way that protects your environment, that protects your natural beauty, but at the same time is generating income and opportunity of employment for the people. Ultimately, that's - governments have two prime responsibilities: the safety and prosperity of their people. And your prime minister and his government is very focused on those two priorities. We did talk about tourism because obviously it's a significant part of your economy. And we pledged we were going to go back and re-evaluate the travel advisories as they currently stand to ensure that they do reflect the reality of the new numbers, what the numbers show. Because you've made very impressive progress in your general numbers overall when it comes to the murder rate and so forth, but in particular with those travel advisories are designed to American travelers. And I think we need to analyze that and just ensure that the status we're currently in accurately reflects the status quo and takes into account the progress you've already made this year and made last year, year over year, which I think is one of the highest numbers in terms of reductions that we've seen of any country in the region. We have to talk about security, and I think that the prime minister has phrased it in a way that I think is very beneficial, and that is - he used the term "global war on gangs." Maybe we'll find some other phraseology in the United States to describe it, but we're talking about the same problem. It's amazing, if you look across the region - and really, many parts of the world - how many of the threats we face in the world now that once came from a ideological terrorist organization or from a nation state, are now coming from non-governmental criminal organizations, who in some cases are more powerful than the governments in some of these countries. And we've confronted this issue. It's a challenge in Mexico. It's a challenge on the border between Venezuela and Colombia. It is the challenge in Haiti, and it's been a challenge here. And it's a multifaceted challenge. They are transnational for a number of reasons. One, as an example, is - and we've acknowledged this in our conversations that lead back to my time in the United States Senate - how many of the guns and the weapons that are being used by gangs to commit acts of violence here in Jamaica are purchased in the United States and then shipped here. And we want to commit to doing more to stopping that flow at the same time as we do more to commit to increasing your capacity. That's the other thing I underlined. What we're talking about here when we talk about American assistance is America helping Jamaica build its own capacity, its own ability to confront these challenges and solve these problems because security is a baseline for everything. And to that end, we have some good things to announce today here. We've - the JOLT Fusion Center that is starting up again, and that's been even further strengthened. That's going to help address lottery scamming. We can announce this synthetics detection equipment for Jamaica's forensic labs; another counter-gang recruitment program that we seek to launch as a result of our visit here today; and announce something that I think is really important, and that is software, intelligent software, for the law enforcement here in Jamaica to combat gangs - things like night vision goggles as well, technology. And we look to do more. And on that end, let me touch on a topic that we talked about just a little bit. Well, I'll touch on what the topic - then I'll get to this final one. On - you mentioned upskilling and helping, how can we - it's a topic we hadn't touched on directly extensively before. We talked about it today. We seek to go back and find ways that we can partner to create opportunities for skills training so that if those companies - and we can attract those companies if we can attract - whether it's a logistics center or manufacturing - to come to Jamaica. There's a workforce that's been equipped with the skills needed. Now, we face this challenge domestically as well. We need to do that ourselves. But there may be things that we can do in collaboration with one another. And this touches on the issue of aid - very controversial in the United States, but it's one of the reasons why I wanted to come here today because it in many ways highlights exactly what our vision for aid moving forward is. The United States is not getting out of the aid business. We are going to be providing foreign aid. The difference is we want to provide foreign aid in a way that is strategically aligned with our foreign policy priorities and the priorities of our host countries and our nation states that we're partners with. In essence, how that would work, how it has worked in the past, is USAID or some other entity would come into a country and say, this is what we think you need. And then they go out and hire an NGO that maybe are the ones that convinced them that that's what you need, and they give them a bunch of money and they come into the country and they do things. Some of these programs are fine. They're nice things. Other times, not so much. Nonetheless, that's how it used to be. How we want it to be in the future is that our embassies are involved with the host government, our hosts, the - our partners. And we ask them, what are your needs? And we provide assistance geared towards the needs of the nation states that are hosting us and that we're partnering with. At the end, our partner in Jamaica, our partner all over the world, is the government. It's the host government, who have a clear vision for the future. And to the extent that our foreign aid can be helpful, it is in furtherance of what the people of your country have elected you to carry out. Here there are a lot of things. We've just described some of them. What should our foreign aid be geared towards? It should be geared towards looking for opportunities to increase skills training, looking for opportunities to attract investment and business and trade, and looking, obviously, for opportunities to expand on your own domestic intelligence capabilities. We are going to have foreign aid that is aligned to our foreign policy, and our foreign policy is going to be aligned to our mutual shared interests with the partners that we have all over the world. And I can tell you, Jamaica's an incredible partner to the United States. It's very cooperative on a number of fronts. And we will continue to work together, and we're going to work closer than we've ever worked before because we are now going to have U.S. programs for foreign aid that are going to be aligned with the vision that you've elected your leaders to carry out for your country. And that benefits us both. And so I thank you for the opportunity to visit with you here today and talk about these things. I'm excited that we're going to be able to follow up on a lot of them and show real progress. The message that I've wanted to send in my travels - I've had to travel a couple of other places, but I've been to the hemisphere now twice - is very simple, and that is that the United States wants to ensure that when countries are cooperative and work with us and partner with us and constantly seek ways to engage us, that that leads to positive results and outcomes. We - it's not - you can call it rewarding, but what it really means is it has to be a mutually beneficial relationship. And we want countries in the world, and we want countries in the region, to identify being close to the United States as something that is beneficial and helpful - helpful to develop, helpful to grow, and frankly helpful so that one day many countries can serve - and I think - and Jamaica is already doing this - as a model of what other countries would seek to emulate, whether it's on security, on trade, on investment, on skills acquisition and improvement. These are the things that we want America - relationship with our partners to look like. And I can think of no better friend in the Caribbean and frankly in the Western Hemisphere than Jamaica and your government, Mr. Prime Minister. And so we thank you for this chance to visit with you so early. And as I joked a couple times, but I'll say it again - I think I told it to the cameras already - I wanted to come here early so when I come for the second and third time, they don't accuse me of only wanting to go to Jamaica. (Laughter.) And - but in many ways, it really truly feels like home and - where I am in South Florida, and I thank you for your hospitality and this opportunity. (Applause.) MINISTER DIXON: Good afternoon, Prime Minister Holness and Secretary Rubio. Thank you both for your remarks just now. We have several members of the media from Jamaica and the United States in the room with us this afternoon, but we'll only be taking four questions. And I ask that those who have been selected, that you please stand as you ask your question. And our first question is going to be from John Hudson of The Washington Post. QUESTION: Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, a Republican congressman SECRETARY RUBIO: He came with me. Don't say I don't take you to nice places, all right? (Laughter.) QUESTION: But thank you for the hospitality. Beautiful weather, beautiful country. Much appreciated. SECRETARY RUBIO: I'm sorry. Yeah. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Republican Congressman Don Bacon weighed in on the Signal chat breach saying the White House is, quote "in denial that this was not classified or sensitive data. They should just own up to it and preserve credibility." Do you think that's true? Also, here in Jamaica, there are USAID employees at our embassy, like so many others around the world, on administrative leave, not carrying out the work of the American people. Do you worry that the DOGE effort won't ultimately end up benefiting U.S. taxpayers? And Prime Minister, violence and instability remains in Haiti. What would you like to see from the United States in terms of being a productive force. And a State Department envoy yesterday called the presence of Cuban doctors in Jamaica and elsewhere human trafficking. Do you agree with that? Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: Let me take the first - I've already - I mean, I've already addressed the aid one, but let me address it again. This is not about getting rid of aid; this is about restructuring how we're going to do aid. And when you restructure, there's some disruption and - but it has to happen. By the way, this is not an idea - this is an idea Condoleezza Rice wanted. This is an idea multiple secretaries of state throughout time have tried to achieve, and we intend to achieve it, because we think it makes all the sense in the world. So I recognize it; there's disruption involved when you make reform and you make change. But it's necessary, because our foreign policy and our foreign aid have to be aligned. Foreign aid is an instrument of foreign policy, okay. It is not a global charity. Jamaica is not asking for charity; they're asking for development assistance so they can become stronger at their security needs and the other things of this nature. That's what they're asking for. They're not asking for a handout. They're asking for a hand up, help to build their capabilities so that they become a self-reliant partner and frankly could end up - and already are helping other countries. Jamaica now is contributing to the effort in Haiti, as an example. So these are the kinds of things we want to see in our foreign aid. So look, our goal was not to disrupt anyone's life. Our goal was to restructure the way we deliver foreign aid so that it is aligned with our foreign policy and with what we're trying to carry out at our respective missions around the world. On the first question, let me just say on the Signal thing, this thing was set up for purposes of coordinating how everyone was going to call - when these things happen, I need to call foreign ministers, especially of our close allies. We need to notify members of Congress. Other members of the team have different people they need to notify as well, and that was the purpose of why it was set up. Obviously, someone made a mistake. Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist. Nothing against journalists, but you ain't supposed to be on that thing. So they got on there, and this happened. I've been - so I can speak to myself and my presence on it. I think my role - I - on it was - just speaking for my role, I contributed to it twice. I identified my point of contact, which is my chief of staff, and then later on - I think three hours after the White House's official announcements had been made, I congratulated the members of the team. I have been assured by the Pentagon and everyone involved that none of the information that was on there, though not intended to be divulged - obviously that was a mistake and that shouldn't have happened and the White House is looking at it - but that none of the information on there at any point threatened the operation or the lives of our servicemen. And in fact, it was a very successful operation, and it's an ongoing operation. But that was the intent behind it, and again, I think the Pentagon has made it clear that nothing on there would have endangered the lives or the mission. And the mission has been very successful. QUESTION: Was it classified, the information? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, the Pentagon says it was not. And not only did it say it was not - they make very clear that it didn't put in danger anyone's life or the mission. The - there was no intelligence information. And understand - when this story first broke, they were sort of alluding to were there war maps, were there this - 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. Again, look, I think the White House is looking at this entire thing. How did that journalist get on there? Was this the appropriate - and I think they'll be reforms and changes made so this never - this - well, it's not going to happen again; it can't. But I want everybody to understand why this thing was even set up in the first place and also understand very clearly the mission was successful, and at no point was it in endangered. And that's coming from the highest-ranking officials at the agency that was in charge of the actual operation, which is the Pentagon. PRIME MINISTER HOLNESS: In terms of Haiti, the United States has been an incredible partner - in fact the lead partner - in ensuring that resources and organization is brought to the crisis in Haiti. In terms of what more could be done, I think we are at a phase in Haiti where there has to be a rapid expansion of the Haitian National Police, the HNP, in terms of the manpower and resources, because ultimately the HNP has to take on the gangs. The present holding situation that we have is not necessarily moving the situation forward as we would all like, so there will have to be a significant expansion in resources in support of the HNP to enable them to take on the gangs. In terms of Cuban doctors in Jamaica, let us be clear: The Cuban doctors in Jamaica have been incredibly helpful to us. Jamaica has a deficit in health personnel, primarily because many of our health personnel have migrated to other countries. We are, however, very careful not to exploit the Cuban doctors who are here. We ensure that they are treated within our labor laws and benefit like any other worker. So any characterization of the program by others certainly would not be applicable to Jamaica. We are ensuring that our program complies with all the international laws and standards to which we are a party to. MINISTER DIXON: All right, our next question will come from Tauna Thomas from Nationwide News Network. Please stand. QUESTION: Secretary Rubio, my question is - or questions in relation to the matter of the Cuba medical cooperation program as well. So the medical mission has been a cornerstone of health care in Jamaica and the Caribbean for over 50 years according to our foreign minister. How does the U.S. reconcile its stance on this program with the region's reliance on Cuban medical professionals, and what alternatives does it propose to ensure health care stability? SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, well - yeah, I think the first thing is to separate the medical from the labor issues that we are pointing to, okay? This is not about doctors. This is not about the provision of medical assistance. We have no problem with medical assistance and we don't have a problem with doctors. We have a problem - and I'm not speaking about Jamaica; they've - they're - we discussed this today about following international labor standards and the like. But I'm just talking about this program in general, how it's operated around the world. And how it's operated around the world is that basically the doctors are not paid. In many other parts of the world, the doctors are not paid. The doctor - you pay the Cuban Government; the Cuban Government decides how much, if anything, to give them; they take away their passports; they basically operate as forced labor in many places. Now, there are places that have better labor standards. Perhaps Jamaica is one of those, and that's fine. But I'm describing generally what the program has been. It has operated in that way in many parts of the world and placed these people in tremendous danger. And so we - I think we can all agree that the trafficking in labor, be they doctors or farm workers, is not something that we would want to be supportive of, and we find that to be an egregious practice on the part of the Cuban regime. Now, every country operates their program differently, and obviously, because of our relationship with Jamaica we're going to - we're going to engage with them on that and talk about it further and have a better understanding. Perhaps none of this applies in the way it's handled here. But generally that's the problem with the program. It's not that they're Cuban doctors, it's that the regime does not pay these doctors, takes away their passports, and basically it is in many ways forced labor. And that we cannot be in support of. Again, not speaking, about here in particular, but in general about the program. MINISTER DIXON: Okay, our next question's going to come from Will Lowry from The National News. QUESTION: Thank you so much for taking my question, Mr. Secretary. I just want to circle back to John's question re: the Signal chat. Are SECRETARY RUBIO: Ah, the Signal chat, yes. (Laughter.) QUESTION: But of course. Are you planning on making the Europeans pay for U.S. operations against the Houthis given that their businesses seem to benefit more from opening of these shipping lanes as discussed in that chat? And then moving to Russia-Ukraine, I was wondering if you could elaborate on the Black Sea ceasefire deal and whether - how it's progressing. President Zelenskyy has already questioned Russia's seriousness, saying, quote, "They are... trying to distort agreements and, in fact, deceive both our intermediaries and the entire world." SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay. So on the first question about - look, here's the problem, okay? These guys, these Houthis, these are pirates, okay? This is a band of - it's a gang, in essence, that's gotten control of a certain part, but these are a religious fanatic gang. And these guys have missiles and they've launched 174 attacks against U.S. Navy ships, 150-something attacks on commercial vessels. They are literally saying they control - they've set up a toll system in the Red Sea. These ships can go, these ships cannot; they don't blow up the Chinese ships, they don't blow up somebody, but they blow up all the other ships. This is not sustainable. And so I think the point that I've made publicly is we are doing a great favor to the world, the United States is doing a great favor to the world, going after these guys' capability of doing this. How can we live in a world where a group like this has advanced weapons, okay, and can shut down a shipping lane and increase the cost of shipping that we're all paying for? Everything we buy, all the stuff is embedded in the cost and in the price of these things is how much it costs to ship it. And so that's just not a sustainable thing. We can't allow it. So I think the point I would make is not we're going to make anybody pay - it's everybody should recognize we are doing the world a great favor going after these guys, because this can't continue. This is unsustainable. What's next? Some gang's going to show up somewhere else and shut off another shipping strait, a shipping lane? That's not practical. It cannot happen. So what was your first question? I was so fired up about that one that I forgot the other one. QUESTION: The Black Sea ceasefire SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, yes, that one - easy ones. Well, look, I think yesterday - our negotiators are en route or perhaps they've already arrived, after spending - I think they met with the Ukrainians twice, the Russians once. What we have here is an agreement in principle on a Black Sea ceasefire. We got two things from that. The first is we have more detailed definition of what the energy ceasefire entails, and the second is the principle, concept of a Black Sea ceasefire. Obviously, after our meeting, as part of their release, the Russians detailed a number of conditions that they want to see met in order to do that. So we're going to evaluate that. Some of those conditions include sanctions that are not ours; they belong to the European Union. So we're going to be gathering and sort of when our folks get back, sitting down, going through the proposals, getting their impressions of the conversations so we can more fully understand what the Russian position is or what their ask is in exchange, and then we'll present that to the President who will ultimately make a decision about what - the next step here. I think it's a good thing that we have both the Ukrainians and the Russians talking about ceasefires, be they energy or be they potentially in the Black Sea, but obviously this is hard and difficult work. This is a protracted three and a - almost three-and-a-half-year war now, or three-year war. It has a lot of framework of sanctions that have been built globally now that that would - that have to be looked at as part of an ultimate end to a conflict. There's a lot of things that have to be worked through, and I certainly think the only way you're going to make progress on these things is by engaging with both sides, understanding their asks, their demands, and seeing what's possible. So we're going to have a chance now to sort of sit down as a team and evaluate, when they arrive, in detail how the meetings went with the Ukrainians, how the meetings went with Russia, what are the Russians asking for, what are the Ukrainians asking for, compare all that, and then make a decision on that basis about what comes next in this process. In the end, the goal here is peace. The goal is to end a war where people are dying. And I think everyone should be happy that the United States is engaged in a process of ending a war and bringing about peace. It's not going to be easy. It won't be simple. It'll take some time. But at least we're on that road and we're talking about these things, and we're going to test it and see what's possible. We think we owe that to the world, and the President, I continue to say, is the only leader in the world right now - President Trump - who's in a position to even get these two nations to a city to talk about these things, albeit in rooms far apart from one another when these talks were going on. But nonetheless they're talking; it's the first time in a while that we've seen any conversation about this. But we have a lot of work yet to be done, and we'll know more after we get the readout from our teams. MINISTER DIXON: Okay, our last question will come from Andrea Chisholm from Television Jamaica. QUESTION: Thank you. Secretary Rubio, given changes to U.S. immigration policies, there are some Jamaicans who are afraid to travel back to Jamaica even though they are legitimate green card holders. What assurances can you give to those individuals that they would have no difficulty returning to the United States? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, yeah, green card QUESTION: And very quickly, sir. SECRETARY RUBIO: Green card or residency? I mean permanent residents you're asking me about? QUESTION: Permanent, yes. SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes, okay. Okay. QUESTION: And secondly, what problems, if any, does America have with China's investment in Jamaica? SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, look, I mean, China's a rich and powerful country. Our problem is not investment, okay? Our problem is predatory practices. That's what we're concerned about. What we have seen all over the world is that China comes in and says, here's a bunch of money for a project they never build. They've been - they bring their own workers to do the work; they don't hire the locals, they bring their own workers. And oftentimes it comes attached with a huge loan that can never be repaid, and now they hold it over your head forever. That's our concern. Our concern is unfair practices, too, where they come in, their government-subsidized companies underbid everybody because they're subsidized, but then they come back and charge whatever they want because now they've got the contract. So these are the things that we remain very concerned about. Again, not specifically about Jamaica but in general. And so that's what we'll continue to highlight. On the first point, I would say - let me talk about if you're a green card holder, you're not illegally in the United States. You're a green card holder, you are legally in the United States. What the President has said - and I don't know how anybody can disagree with this - every country in the world has immigration laws. And immigration laws, if you don't enforce them, you don't have immigration laws. Over the last few years we've had what, 13, 14, 15 million people enter the United States unlawfully and irregularly. No country in the world can assume that. By the way, that's not unique to us, right? Even here in Jamaica you've faced challenges of migration. And it's not that we don't sympathize with people that are leaving difficult circumstances, it's that no society can absorb mass migration from anywhere in the world. You just can't do it. And we're facing that challenge. That's not specific to Jamaica; I'm just speaking in general. And so the President is doing something that, frankly, hasn't been done in a long time. He's enforcing our immigration laws, and that's what we're doing. So if you're a green card holder, you're not illegally in the United States. I think the challenge is for those who are illegally in the United States, we have to have immigration laws, they have to be followed. I mean, that - I don't know why that's an unreasonable demand. And frankly, I mean, Jamaica is not a major source of illegal migration, to be frank. It's not even in the top 10 or top 20 for that matter, I don't think. So - but that said, we are enforcing our immigration laws. Because here's what happens if you don't: You'll get another 12 million people. And if tomorrow Jamaica announced anybody who wants to come can come in, you're going to get a lot of people too and it's going to be very disruptive. So we need to have immigration laws and we need to enforce them, and that's what we are - that's what the President is doing. That's what he promised voters he would do, and that's what we're going to continue to do. But if you're a green card holder, you're legally in the United States unless - unless - and I say this because a lot of these people come - unless you're some student visa holder who is a sympathizer of some terrorist organization and is running around in our streets like a lunatic, burning down buildings and attacking students at universities, if you're one of these lunatics that's going to put on a mask over your face and break into a student union center and harass students and - we wouldn't have let you in in the first place. If you had told us that was - if you told us, I'm going to America not just to study at your university but to tear up your campus, we would have never let you in. And if you do that once you come into the United States, we're going to kick you out. We're going to do that. And I don't care - I don't care what terrorist organization you're supporting, we're going to kick you out. If you're a gang member, we're going to kick you out, okay? If you're one of these violent gang members that's coming to the United States, then we're going to kick you out. That we're going to do. There's no doubt about it. But that, the President's very committed to that. And - but if you're a green card holder and you're not any of these things, you're going to be fine. MINISTER DIXON: Prime Minister Holness and Secretary Rubio, as we close today's press conference, we want to thank you for your engagement here today. We thank all of the members of the media and all of the other guests who are here and we wish you safe travels and a happy rest of the day. Thank you. SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza: No aid has reached war-torn enclave for more than three weeks 26 March 2025 - It has now been three and a half weeks since Israel imposed a complete blockade on all aid into Gaza, despite daily efforts by UN humanitarians to secure fresh access, they said in an update from the shattered enclave. And as supplies of food, medicine and other supplies run low, aid teams are increasingly concerned about growing anxiety in bread lines outside the enclave's remaining bakeries. "Most attempts by humanitarian organizations to coordinate access with Israeli authorities within #Gaza result in #AccessDenied," the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said in an online post. Five out of seven such attempts were denied on Monday and six out of nine were rejected on Tuesday, it explained. Hospitals need protection Medical teams in Gaza are also exhausted "and urgently need protection and reinforcement" from ongoing strikes across the Strip, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, said on Wednesday. It cited new reports of attacks against health workers, ambulances and hospitals and warned of "hundreds of casualties, a severe drop in medical stocks and a lack of equipment, blood units and personnel" since the ceasefire ended. "No one is safe. The world must have zero tolerance for atrocities," the UN agency insisted. Nearly 800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in recent days following the resumption of Israeli bombardment on 18 March, according to the health authorities. This includes a reported 38 individuals killed in the last 24 hours. In just the last week, eight aid workers have been killed in the enclave, bringing the total killed in Gaza to 399. That number includes at least 289 UN personnel, OCHA said, with staffers from the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) killed last Wednesday in an apparent Israeli tank strike on a United Nations compound in Deir al-Balah that also seriously wounded six others. Israel denied responsibility for the attack. Three of those injured worked in support of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) which is involved in clearing unexploded ordnance in Gaza. OCHA noted that on 20 March, the Israeli military re-deployed along the eastern and central part of the "Netzarim corridor" in Gaza. Movement between the north and south of Gaza was only allowed via the Al Rashid coast road. Evacuation order misery These military activities and new displacement orders issued by the Israeli military have triggered "new waves" of displacement across Gaza, with more than 142,000 people likely uprooted between 18 and 23 March, the UN aid office said. "Israeli evacuation orders have covered 55 square kilometres across six areas of the #Gaza Strip - nearly the size of Manhattan," OCHA said in an online post. Around 15 per cent of the enclave has been impacted by evacuation orders - in addition to "no-go zones" that run along borders and in central Gaza. The Israeli Government's decision to ban the entry of humanitarian aid and any other supplies via all land crossings into Gaza is the longest such closure since October 2023, OCHA added, warning that gains made during the ceasefire to support survivors "have been reversed". To date, at least 50,000 Palestinians have been confirmed dead by local authorities with 113,828 wounded since the war erupted on 7 October 2023, in response to Hamas-led terror attacks on Israel that left more than 1,100 dead and more than 250 taken hostage. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN calls for immediate ceasefire as South Sudan edges closer to renewed civil war By Vibhu Mishra 26 March 2025 - The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Wednesday called for an immediate end to hostilities and urgent dialogue between the country's leaders to prevent a relapse into civil war, as violence escalates around the capital city. "To prevent a relapse into civil war, the Parties must recommit to the Revitalized Peace Agreement by ceasing all hostilities and strictly adhering to the ceasefire, resolving grievances through dialogue, and reconvening as a truly unified government," said Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS. The world's youngest country has been mired in conflict which erupted shortly after independence from Sudan in 2011, between Government forces led by President Salva Kiir, and fighters loyal to his rival Riek Machar, who has served as First Vice President since 2020 in a broad-based governing coalition. Clashes intensify Fighting has escalated over the past 24 hours, with clashes reported between Government troops of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition near Rejaf, just south of the capital Juba, and in Wunaliet, to the west. The situation in Upper Nile, in the north of the country, also remains volatile. Earlier this month the so-called White Army - a youth militia - overran South Sudanese army barracks in Nasir. In response, Government forces launched retaliatory aerial bombardments on civilian areas, using barrel bombs that allegedly contained highly flammable accelerants. An UNMISS helicopter - attempting to evacuate wounded SSPDF soldiers - in Nasir, region was also attacked this month, killing a crew member as well as several South Sudanese soldiers, including an injured General. Children at extreme risk Virginia Gamba, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, also warned that the surge in fighting is putting children at grave risk of violations, including killing, sexual violence and recruitment into armed groups. "I am deeply concerned over the escalating violence, particularly in the Upper Nile province, and I urge all parties to silence their weapons and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law," she said. "The stability of the country and a lasting peace for all, including new generations, is at stake." Repeated warnings Earlier this week, Mr. Haysom warned that South Sudan was "teetering on the brink of civil war," citing indiscriminate attacks on civilians, forced displacement and ethnic tensions. Renewed fighting "would devastate not only South Sudan but the entire region, which simply cannot afford another war," he said. Fragile peace at stake Civil war erupted in 2013 between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with First Vice President Machar. The war - marked by ethnic violence, mass atrocities and a widespread humanitarian crisis - lasted until a fragile peace deal was signed in 2018. Though the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement brought a degree of stability, delays in its implementation and continued political rivalries have kept tensions simmering. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains dire, with over nine million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, including two million internally displaced persons. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan: Rights chief deplores deadly army strikes on North Darfur market 26 March 2025 - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has again called for greater protection of civilians in war-torn Sudan following deadly army airstrikes in North Darfur earlier this week. Volker Turk issued a statement on Wednesday saying he was deeply shocked by reports that hundreds of civilians were killed, and scores injured, in the 24 March strikes on a busy market in Tora Village. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a rival military known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been at war for nearly two years. On Wednesday, international media reported that the army had recaptured the capital, Khartoum, which had mostly been under RSF control since fighting erupted in April 2023. The army recaptured the presidential palace last Friday and is now reportedly in control of all the bridges across the River Nile which connect the different areas of the capital area. Indiscriminate killings continue The UN rights chief said his Office, OHCHR, learned that 13 of those killed in Monday's airstrikes belonged to a single family, and that some of the injured are also reportedly dying due to the extremely limited access to healthcare. OHCHR have also received reports that in the aftermath of the attack, members of the RSF arbitrarily arrested and detained civilians in Tora. Both the RSF and Government forces have been accused of indiscriminately shelling civilian areas during the brutal conflict. "Despite my repeated warnings and appeals to both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians in line with international humanitarian law, civilians continue to be killed indiscriminately, maimed and mistreated on a near daily basis, while civilian objects remain an all-too-frequent target," said Mr. Turk. He once again urged both parties to take all measures to avoid harming civilians and attacking civilian objects. The High Commissioner warned that Indiscriminate attacks and attacks against civilians, and civilian objects, are unacceptable and may constitute war crimes. "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 normalized," he said. UNICEF reports surge in child violations In other developments, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called for urgent protection of boys and girls caught up in the violence. Since January, grave violations against children have surged across the Darfur states, with 110 violations verified in North Darfur alone, the agency reported on Wednesday. UNICEF said more than 70 children have been killed or maimed in less than three months in El Fasher, the North Darfur capital. Furthermore, intense shelling and airstrikes in the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) account for 16 per cent of all verified child casualties in El Fasher. Struggle to survive Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative for Sudan, said an estimated 825,000 children are trapped in a growing catastrophe in and around the city. "With these numbers reflecting only verified incidents, it is likely the true toll is far higher, with children in a daily struggle to survive," he warned. UNICEF noted that more than 60,000 people have been newly displaced in North Darfur in just six weeks. Their numbers add to the more than 600,000 people - including some 300,000 children - displaced between April 2024, when the violence escalated, and January of this year. An estimated 900,000 people remain in El Fasher, and 750,000 in Zamzam camp, trapped by active conflict. Half are children. Malnutrition and famine fears Meanwhile, all access routes are blocked. At the same time, armed groups are targeting rural villages and insecurity has made delivery of aid and commercial goods nearly impossible. Communities face alarming shortages while food prices have nearly doubled in three months. UNICEF noted that malnutrition is rife. More than 457,000 children in North Darfur are acutely malnourished, including nearly 146,000 who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) - the deadliest form. Additionally, six localities within the state are at risk of famine. The agency called on all parties to facilitate safe, unimpeded humanitarian access so that life-saving aid can reach children in Al Fasher, Zamzam and other affected areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL (LCS 21) Departs for Maiden Deployment US Navy 26 March 2025 MAYPORT, Fla. -- The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21), along with the "Valkyries" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50 Detachment 3 and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment, departed from Naval Station Mayport March 26, beginning her maiden deployment to support U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations. USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul's primary mission will be to support counter-illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Minneapolis-Saint Paul operations will involve practical exercises and exchanges with partner nations, supporting U.S. 4th Fleet interoperability, and reinforcing the U.S. position as the regional partner of choice. Among the key accomplishments, USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul certified in Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, enabling the ship to conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations and support for the embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment. This capability is vital for countering illicit drug trafficking and ensuring the safety of international waters. In addition, the ship embarked its aviation detachment, which includes the MH-60 R helicopter. This addition significantly enhances the ship's ability to conduct reconnaissance, track contacts of interest, and engage in maritime interdiction operations. The MH-60 R will serve as the ship's eyes in the sky, providing real-time intelligence and provide capabilities to effectively conduct our mission. "I have watched this crew tackle a challenging and condensed schedule to ensure we are prepared for our maiden deployment to the 4th Fleet. We have overcome every obstacle in our path and have demonstrated that we are a resilient team ready to execute our mission," said Cmdr. Steven Fresse, USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul's commanding officer. "This will be USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul's first deployment, as well as the first for many of my crew members. However, we are eager to accomplish the mission we have been rigorously training for. I am very proud of this crew, and I am confident they will continue to exceed my expectations." The crew also completed multiple certifications in a range of critical warfare areas, including Air Warfare, Electronic Warfare, Intelligence, Surface Warfare, Cyber Warfare, and Search and Rescue. These certifications showcase the team's proficiency across multiple domains, proving that they are well-equipped and prepared to handle the complex and multifaceted nature of modern naval operations. This remarkable achievement demonstrates that the Minneapolis Saint Paul is not only combat-ready but also adaptable to a wide spectrum of missions. All of which resulted in the ship exiting the basic phase and entering the advanced phase of the ship's life cycle. Deploying an LCS to the region aims to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to international cooperation, security, freedom and prosperity. The ship's size, speed, and agility make LCS ideal for narcotics interdictions, partner engagements and port access. "It has been an honor to watch this crew adjust and adapt to every task we have had to accomplish as a team and get prepared for our first deployment", said Master Chief Ariel Ampier, USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul's command master chief. "I am excited to be a part of a team that has been diligently working through every phase to maintain the readiness and success of this ship!" LCS are a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments defeat 21st-century coastal threats. The LCS is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence. USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul will operationally be assigned to U.S. 4th Fleet. She is homeported in Mayport, Florida and assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 2. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Millions Of Afghan Girls Barred From School For Fourth Consecutive Year By Malali Bashir March 27, 2025 The new school year started in Afghanistan on March 22, but for the fourth consecutive year, millions of teenage girls were barred from attending classes. Among them was Khalida, who was in the ninth grade when the Taliban seized power and banned education for girls above 12 years old. "The ban has had a big impact on my life," Khalida, now 18, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "I used to spend all my time on my studies. Now my time passes aimlessly." The school ban has had a catastrophic impact on an estimated 2.2 million girls in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has erased women from public life and severely restricted their fundamental rights. There has been a surge in forced, early, and child marriages. Child marriages have increased by around 25 percent since the Taliban takeover, according to the UN. The lack of educational and professional prospects for women has fueled a rise in female suicides, making the country one of the few in the world where more women take their own lives than men. "The lack of access to education not only threatens our future but also hinders our country from progress and development," said another teenage Afghan girl, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. "We have the right to study, progress, and have a bright future," she told Radio Azadi. UNICEF, the UN's children's agency, said the repercussions of the school ban will last for generations. "The ban negatively impacts the health system, the economy, and the future of the nation," UNICEF said in a March 22 statement. "With fewer girls receiving an education, girls face a higher risk of child marriage with negative repercussions on their well-being and health." The agency warned that over 4 million girls will be out of school if the ban lasts until 2030. Calls To Do More Senior UN officials and Afghan female activists have termed the Taliban's treatment of Afghan girls and women as "gender apartheid." They have called for the international community to put more pressure on the Taliban to reverse its ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade. No country has recognized the Taliban's government, which is under international sanctions. But a growing number of countries, including some in the West, are cooperating with its government on trade, security-related issues, and immigration. "The Taliban still go around and travel freely," said Pashtana Durrani, a prominent Afghan education activist who lives in exile. "They give interviews. They have bank accounts. Their families live abroad yet they have banned Afghan women from getting an education." She added: "The international community should be asked whether they truly want the Taliban to open girls' schools or not?" Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-girls-school- ban-taliban/33360889.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 West Virginia National Guard Joins Cyber Exercise in Qatar By Erika Bodker, West Virginia National Guard March 25, 2025 CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- The West Virginia National Guard Cyber Protection Team - Mission Element joined over 30 cyber operators from six nations in the multinational exercise Eagle Resolve 2025 in Doha, Qatar. For two weeks, Jan. 9-23, cyber defenders from the United States, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman worked together to sharpen their ability to detect and neutralize digital threats that could cripple infrastructure, disrupt military operations and compromise national security. Unlike traditional combat, the enemy in cyber warfare doesn't march across borders or fly overhead. Instead, they lurk in the digital shadows, exploiting network weaknesses to steal sensitive data or shut down critical systems. ER25 focused on Cyber Threat Hunting, a specialized operation that proactively searched for hidden cyber threats before they could strike. Using real-world attack simulations, service members and their international counterparts tracked, analyzed and defended against cyber intrusions, learning how adversaries try to infiltrate and disrupt networks. Participants engaged in hands-on cyber war games, testing their ability to recognize malicious activity, trace attack paths and deploy countermeasures in an era of constantly evolving cyber threats. "Cybersecurity is a team effort, and the experience gained during ER25 will directly impact how we defend against cyber threats in the future," said U.S. Army Capt. William Pauley, the Army Interagency Training and Education Center Brigade's information systems officer leading the WVNG effort. "This is just the beginning of stronger partnerships and even more advanced cyber training in the years to come." For West Virginia's CPT-ME, the opportunity to take part in ER25 was more than just another training exercise. The CPT-ME is a newly formed unit in the WVNG, and ER25 marked its first involvement in an international cyber warfare exercise of this scale. The WVNG played a key leadership role, working alongside U.S. Central Command, the Army Reserve Cyber Protection Brigade and WVNG's Defensive Cyber Operations Element to provide cyber range participants and expert instructors. The collaboration built stronger defenses and relationships between U.S. forces and their allies. "After nine months of careful planning and coordination, it was inspiring to see Eagle Resolve 2025 go as smoothly and successfully as it did," Pauley said. "The mutual understanding and team-wide cohesion we built not only with our sister service components, but also with international members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, is invaluable. The partnerships we've forged here will pay dividends in the future as we navigate an increasingly complex cyber terrain." Eagle Resolve, established in 1999, occurs every two years. The exercise has been a cornerstone of the U.S. commitment to build trust and cooperation with allied forces in the region. While the battlefield may be digital, the mission is very real. The WVNG, alongside its U.S. and international partners, is ensuring that no matter where cyber threats arise, there will be a trained force ready to counter them. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense Contractor MORSECORP Inc. Agrees to Pay $4.6 Million to Settle Cybersecurity Fraud Allegations Wednesday, March 26, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs MORSECORP Inc. (MORSE), of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $4.6 million to resolve allegations that MORSE violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in its contracts with the Departments of the Army and Air Force. The settlement resolves allegations that MORSE submitted false or fraudulent claims for payment on contracts with the Departments of the Army and Air Force, and that those claims were false or fraudulent because Morse knew it had not complied with those contracts' cybersecurity requirements. As part of the settlement, MORSE admitted, acknowledged and accepted responsibility for the following facts: From January 2018 to September 2022, MORSE used a third-party company to host MORSE's emails without requiring and ensuring that the third party met security requirements equivalent to the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program Moderate baseline and complied with the Department of Defense's requirements for cyber incident reporting, malicious software, media preservation and protection, access to additional information and equipment necessary for forensic analysis and cyber incident damage assessment; The contracts required that MORSE implement all cybersecurity controls in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, but from January 2018 to February 2023, MORSE had not fully implemented all those controls, including controls that, if not implemented, could lead to significant exploitation of the network or exfiltration of controlled defense information and controls that could have a specific and confined effect on the security of the network and its data; From January 2018 to January 2021, despite the contracts' system security plan requirement, MORSE did not have a consolidated written plan for each of its covered information systems describing system boundaries, system environments of operation, how security requirements are implemented and the relationships with or connections to other systems; In January 2021, MORSE submitted to the Department of Defense a score of 104 for its implementation of the NIST SP 800-171 security controls. That score was near the top of the possible score range from -203 to 110. In July 2022, a third-party cybersecurity consultant notified MORSE that its score was actually -142. MORSE did not update its score in the Department of Defense reporting system until June 2023 three months after the United States served MORSE with a subpoena concerning its cybersecurity practices. "Federal contractors must fulfill their obligations to protect sensitive government information from cyber threats," said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. "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." "We are pleased with today's settlement, which further demonstrates the resolve of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and our law enforcement partners to protect and defend the assets of the United States Army and Department of Defense," said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Fraud Field Office. "We're committed to protecting the warfighter and maintaining the Army's operational readiness while holding those who engage in such acts accountable." "Failure to implement cybersecurity requirements can have devastating consequences, leaving sensitive DoD data vulnerable to cyber threats and malicious actors," said Special Agent in Charge William W. Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). "AFOSI, alongside our investigative partners and the Department of Justice, will continue to combat fraud affecting the Department of the Air Force and hold those accountable that fail to properly safeguard sensitive defense information." "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)," said Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. "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." The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower to receive an $851,000 share of the settlement amount. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Berich v. MORSECORP Inc. et al., No. 23-cv-10130 (D. Mass.). The settlement announced today was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, the Civil Division's Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division's Fraud Field Office, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, DCIS and the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General. The matter was handled by Brian LaMacchia, Chief of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julien Mundele in the U.S. Attorney's Office and DOJ Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova. Topic: False Claims Act Components: Civil Division USAO - Massachusetts Press Release Number: 25-303 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.N. envoy rejects "politically-motivated" accusations of al-Qaeda presence in Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 26, 2025 New York, IRNA -- Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations Amir- Sa'eed Iravani has categorically rejected allegation of the presence of al-Qaeda members on Iranian soil. In a letter to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Iravani responded to a report from a monitoring team calling it "entirely unprofessional, unsubstantiated, and detached from reality". He called on the U.N. monitoring team to "take a more professional and impartial approach when reviewing reports and refrain from including politically-motivated accusations that undermine the credibility of its assessments". "Iran has been at the forefront of fighting al-Qaeda and other Takfiri terrorist groups in the region," the envoy said, adding that anti-Iran claims are merely on assertions from certain countries, contradicting the objective realities on the ground. He noted that Iran is not only a leading force in counterterrorism efforts but also a victim of organized terrorism backed by foreign actors. The full text of Iravani's letter to the U.N. is as follows: Excellency, Upon instructions from my Government, I write to you regarding the letter dated 6 February 2025 from the President of the Security Council, acting in the absence of a Chair for the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), and 2253 (2015) on ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaeda, and associated entities (S/2025/71). This letter had included, as an attachment, the thirty-fifth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, submitted in accordance with resolutions 1526 (2004) and 2253 (2015) and paragraph (a) of annex I to resolution 2734 (2024) which made certain unsubstantiated claims against my country. While categorically rejecting these allegations, I wish to convey the views and observations of the Islamic Republic of Iran as follows: 1. The Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects the claim that members of Al-Qaeda, including its so-called leader, Saif al-Adel, are present in Iranian territory. Iran firmly dismisses the assumption of his presence in Iran as stated in multiple reports by the UN Security Council's Monitoring Team, noting that these allegations rely solely on assertions made by a single member state without any supporting evidence. Iran calls for a revision and correction of the current unprofessional, biased, and politically motivated approach in drafting these reports. 2. The Islamic Republic of Iran notes that throughout the report, the Monitoring Team attempts to substantiate allegations regarding Saif al-Adel's connections with other Al-Qaeda leaders in various regions (Paragraph 70) and his supposed long-term strategy to activate sleeper cells for terrorist operations in the European Union, Syria, Lebanon, and Afghanistan (Paragraph 91), and claims that Al-Qaeda is being financed from Iranian territory (Paragraph 91), all based merely on assertions from certain countries. This deliberate and troubling effort, which serves as a pretext for future hostile actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran by the very countries that propagate these claims, further reinforces the politically biased nature of the report. These baseless accusations contradict the objective realities on the ground and Iran's unwavering opposition to terrorist groups, particularly Al-Qaeda and ISIS. The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly rejects these false claims. 3. The report's cynical attempt to link the Islamic Republic of Iran with Al-Qaeda is entirely unprofessional, unsubstantiated, and detached from reality. Iran has been at the forefront of fighting Al-Qaeda and other Takfiri terrorist groups in the region, regardless of their various names and structures. While Al-Qaeda, under the guise of Jabhat al-Nusra and its subsequent aliases, expanded terror, violence, and atrocities in northern Syria with support from certain regional and trans-regional countries, its leaders and affiliates were still designated as terrorist entities by the UN Security Council's sanctions list. The Islamic Republic of Iran was actively fighting these terrorist groups at the formal request of the then government of Syria and has since incurred heavy financial and human losses from this battle. Meanwhile, the covert ties between some countries and Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups have become increasingly evident, with these terrorists openly operating within their borders. It is also worth recalling that in 2013, Jabhat al-Nusra, in coordination with its internal operatives, including Al-Qaeda forces in Lebanon, carried out a terrorist attack on Iran's embassy in Beirut, killing Iran's cultural attache and several Lebanese nationals. 4. The report section on Al-Qaeda's terrorist activities in Yemen is also misleading, as it is based on fabricated and politically driven data from certain countries (Paragraphs 40, 41, 70). While the report seeks to establish a supposed connection between the Houthis (Ansarullah) in Yemen and Al-Qaeda branches in the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia, the reality is that these two groups are engaged in direct conflict. Based on reliable information, Ansarullah recently launched an operation against Al-Qaeda strongholds in the al-Qayfa region of Al-Bayda province in Yemen, killing several terrorists. In response, Al-Qaeda's Yemeni branch issued a statement titled" " ("A Denunciation of Houthi Rafidhi Crimes Against Muslims in Qayfa, Al-Bayda, and a Call for Retaliation"( published in December 2024 by the al-Malahim Media Institute, affiliated with Al-Qaeda in Yemen, and explicitly threatening Ansarullah with revenge. Reliable intelligence indicates that certain regional and trans-regional states are actively exploiting Al-Qaeda as a tool against the legitimate government in Sanaa and Yemen's internal conflicts. The Monitoring Team must take a more professional and impartial approach when reviewing reports from countries that are themselves parties to regional conflicts and refrain from including politically motivated accusations that undermine the credibility of its assessments. 5. The Islamic Republic of Iran remains resolute in its fight against terrorism and Takfiri groups, particularly ISIS-K and Al-Qaeda. Located in a region plagued by instability, foreign intervention, and externally sponsored terrorism, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not only a leading force in counterterrorism efforts but also a victim of organized terrorism backed by foreign actors. 6. Regarding the claim in Paragraph 88 about terrorists allegedly transiting through the Islamic Republic of Iran from Turkey to Afghanistan, it is vital to emphasize that in 2024 alone, Iranian authorities have successfully neutralized dozens of terrorist operations before they could be carried out within Iran's borders. Additionally, many terrorists of various nationalities, affiliated with ISIS, have been apprehended while attempting to enter Iran. As a primary victim of terrorism, Iran remains steadfast in its commitment to preventing the movement of terrorists through its territory. At the regional level, the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to enhancing international cooperation, particularly through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), to combat ISIS-K and Al-Qaeda. At the national level, Iran has implemented significant security and military measures to counter terrorism, especially following the cowardly and reprehensible terrorist attack in Kerman on 3 January 2024, which tragically resulted in the loss of over 100 lives, including women and children, and left 211 others injured. In this regard, Iran has strengthened its efforts to curb illegal movements across its borders. Iran urges the UN Sanctions Committee and all concerned states to share relevant intelligence and documentation to bolster global counterterrorism efforts. 7. The Islamic Republic of Iran also expresses deep concern over the increasing use of terrorism as a tool in the policies of certain regional states. The infiltration of terrorists into political structures following recent developments in the region, the manipulation of terrorism in the Levant, South Asia, and Central Asia by certain external powers, the transfer of terrorists from Syria to Iraq, particularly Al-Anbar province, and the resurgence of ISIS in Syria, including the U.S.-managed activities of ISIS in southeastern Syria, are all alarming trends threatening the security of three key regions: South Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia. The Sanctions Committee on Al-Qaeda and ISIS must take these threats seriously, addressing their underlying sources without political bias. Iran warns that ongoing developments in these regions pose a grave threat to regional security and stability. I shall be grateful if you would circulate the present letter as a document of the Security Council. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ARTEMIS PROGRAMME India PIB Department of Space Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 3:29PM by PIB Delhi The Artemis Accords are a practical set of principles, guidelines and best practices to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space with the intention of advancing the Artemis programme. India has signed the Artemis Accord on June 21, 2023, becoming the 27th signatory. However, India is not a participant in the NASA led Artemis Programme, which is a mission-driven initiative led by NASA to return humans to the Moon and beyond. India has outlined its own ambitious vision for space exploration under its Space Vision 2047. This includes mission such as Chandrayaan series for lunar exploration and Gaganyaan continuation programme leading to Bhartiya Antariksha Station, reflecting India's vision to advancements in space exploration. However, ISRO will explore the possibilities of participation in the Artemis programme in future. It is planned to launch one Indian astronaut aboard Crew Dragon of SpaceX for the upcoming ISRO-NASA joint mission to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Spaceflight Agreement with M/s. Axiom Space INC, USA. The launch is expected during second quarter (Q2) of 2025. This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. *** NKR/PSM (Release ID: 2115228) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Congress President discusses future prospects with Belarusian democratic forces Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Strasbourg 26 March 2025 On 26 March, Congress President Marc Cools met representatives of Belarusian democratic forces participating for the first time in history in a Congress session. Iryna Khalopitsa, Head of the delegation, emphasised the significance of the Congress' decision to invite them to the two sessions in 2025 and thanked for this institutional support. She outlined the priorities of the Co-ordination Council for co-operation with the Congress, including strengthening the capacities of Belarusian democratic forces in local democracy and local self-government, advancing preparations for legislative reforms in this field, and increasing internships and professional opportunities for Belarusians in European local and regional authorities. President Cools reaffirmed the strong support of the Congress for the work of the Belarusian democratic forces and their aspirations for a free, sovereign, and democratic Belarus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US is making excuses for maintaining own hegemony, says FM on US intelligence report hying 'China threat' rhetoric Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 26, 2025 04:47 PM Responding to a report by US intelligence agencies claiming China remains the top military and cyber threat to the US and that Beijing was making "steady but uneven" progress on capabilities it could use to capture Taiwan island, Chinese FM spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the US releases such irresponsible and biased reports year after year, spreading the "China threat theory" rhetoric and stirring up great-power competition. It is merely making excuses to contain and suppress China and maintain its own hegemony. China remains the top military and cyber threat to the US, and that Beijing was making "steady but uneven" progress on capabilities it could use to capture island of Taiwan, claimed the Annual Threat Assessment by the intelligence community published on Tuesday, per Reuters. The report also claimed that China has the ability to hit the US with conventional weapons; compromise US infrastructure through cyberattacks; and target its assets in space. It added that Beijing also seeks to displace the US as the top AI power by 2030. We have no intention to surpass or replace anyone, said Guo, adding that "to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail." China advises the US not to project its own hegemonic logic onto China, and not to view China-US relations through the obsolete Cold War mentality, and not to use the pretext of strategic competition to contain and suppress China. It should stop in any way conniving at and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, halt the hype of the so-called "China threat" rhetoric and take practical actions to promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations, said Guo. The development of China has a clear historical logic and strong innate driving force. Our goals are aboveboard, which is to enable the Chinese people to live a better life and make greater contributions to the world, said Guo. Guo said the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair. China's determination to oppose "Taiwan independence" and defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering. No one should underestimate or misjudge this. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The U.S. blacklists dozens of Chinese entities over "security concern" IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 26, 2025 The United States has escalated its crackdown on Chinese tech firms, with the Department of Commerce placing dozens of them on its export blacklist, in a bid to restrict China's technological knowhow. Washington claims the Chinese companies were targeted for their attempt to use advanced knowledge in artificial intelligence, supercomputing, and quantum technology for military objectives, according to the Associated Press. Among the most notable companies affected are six subsidiaries of Inspur Group, a leading provider of cloud computing and big data services. The Inspur Group is just one of nearly 80 firms and institutions added to the sanctions list by the Department of Commerce, which also includes entities from Iran, Taiwan, Pakistan, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The move is part of Washington's efforts to limit Beijing's capacity to develop advanced technologies and its hypersonic arms program. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick was quoted by the media as saying that the U.S. will not permit enemies to "exploit American technology to enhance their military capabilities." Additionally, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler said that the aim of these sanctions is to prevent the use of U.S. technologies and commodities for military aircraft training, hypersonic missiles and high-performance computing. In response, China's foreign ministry condemned the measure calling it an abuse meant to "unjustly suppress Chinese enterprises" and said that Beijing will take appropriate action to protect its legitimate rights and interests, as reported by Reuters. The Chinese embassy in Washington also urged the U.S. to cease using military issues as an excuse to politicize trade. 4208**4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on March 26, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: March 26, 2025 18:25 Shenzhen TV: 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 Asia's economy will grow by 4.5 percent in 2025, with its share rising to 48.6 percent among the world's economic output measured by purchasing power parity. Secretary General of Boao Forum for Asia noted that "the world has every reason to be hopeful about Asia's future." How would you assess Asia's development prospect and China's role? Guo Jiakun: I also 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 year's 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 Commerce's 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: It's reported that according to the ROK's 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. What's China's 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. What's China's 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 humanity's 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 didn't noticed relevant reports. Let me stress that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. Kyodo News: According to reports, the result of the second sampling of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water will be announced soon. If the result is still normal, there will be positive progress in lifting restrictions. So will the restrictions on the import of Japanese aquatic products be lifted if there's no abnormality in the result? 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 there's no abnormality in the result. Let me stress that China's opposition to Japan's 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 Japan's fulfillment of its commitments and no abnormality in the test results, on March 12 as scheduled, China's 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 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. China's development has a long historic thread and is robust and self-driven. Our goal is very clear and there's 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 China's internal affair. Nothing will deter China from rejecting "Taiwan independence" and defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity. No one shall underestimate or miscalculate China's 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 Portugal's 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 Macao's role as a bridge and promote greater progress in bilateral relations. How do you view Macao's 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, 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China says US 'weaponizing' trade and technology Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 4:37 PM China has strongly condemned the US for adding dozens of Chinese entities to a trade blacklist, accusing Washington of "weaponizing" trade and technology to serve its hegemonic interests. US Commerce Department announced Tuesday it has sanctioned dozens of Chinese entities, citing their "activities contrary to US national security and foreign policy." The entities targeted include 11 based in China and one in Taiwan, accused of engaging in the development of advanced AI, supercomputers and high-performance AI chips for China-based users "with close ties to the country's military-industrial complex," the department said. Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler said the sanctions aim to prevent US technologies and goods from being misused for activities like high-performance computing, hypersonic missiles and military aircraft training. China's foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, said Wednesday that the entity list and other export controls were an abuse meant to "unjustly suppress Chinese enterprises." "It seriously violates international law and basic norms of international relations, severely damages the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises, and undermines the security and stability of global supply chains." Guo also accused President Donald Trump's administration of "weaponizing" trade and technology in a "typical act of hegemonism." He said Washington needs "to stop generalizing the concept of national security ... and stop abusing all kinds of sanctions lists to unreasonably suppress Chinese enterprises." Beijing, he said, would take "necessary measures" to defend its firms' rights. US intelligence agencies consider China as the top military and cyber threat, according to the Annual Threat Assessment. The report that was released ahead of testimony before the Senate intelligence committee by Trump's intelligence chiefs says China can hit the United States with conventional weapons. China, it said, can compromise US infrastructure through cyberattacks and target its assets in space, as well as seek to displace the US as the top AI power by 2030. "China's military is fielding advanced capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, advanced submarines, stronger space and cyberwarfare assets and a larger arsenal of nuclear weapons," said the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. She said Beijing is Washington's "most capable strategic competitor." Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington, said the US has long "hyped up" the China threat as an excuse to maintain its military hegemony. He reiterated that China "is determined to be a force for peace, stability and progress in the world, and also determined to defend our national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US bill proposes expediting Uyghur asylum cases The bipartisan legislation would speed up cases of Uyghurs seeking to escape genocide in China. By RFA Uyghur 2025.03.26 WASHINGTON -- Twelve U.S. House representatives have introduced a bipartisan bill that would expedite the ability of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities facing persecution in China to seek asylum in the United States. The Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act would lend further American support to the 12 million Uyghurs in the northwestern Xinjiang region who are suffering under what Washington has labeled a "genocide." "The brutal persecution of Uyghurs by the Chinese government is a human rights crisis," said Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill who represents the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, home to one of the largest Uyghur diaspora populations in the United States. The bill was introduced on Tuesday. "I have personally heard from Uyghur constituents in my district about their deep concerns for their relatives attempting to flee atrocities," he said. "I'm proud to lead this bipartisan initiative to provide those enduring unthinkable oppression with a pathway to expedited refugee status and asylum." Since 2017, China has rounded up an estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs in concentration camps and subjected many to forced labor, forced sterilization and torture, based on the accounts of Uyghurs who have escaped and investigations by the United Nations. Beijing denies committing human rights abuses against the Uyghurs and says the camps are vocational training centers that have mostly been closed. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican who also sponsored the bill, called the Uyghur genocide "one of the most horrific crimes against humanity we have ever witnessed." "Our refugee system is designed to provide protection to those who need it most," she said. "We should prioritize those that are able to escape the systematic persecution and torture Uyghurs and other oppressed minorities are suffering from in Xinjiang." Higher priority The legislation would give a higher priority designation -- called Priority 2, for refugees of special humanitarian concern -- to Uyghurs seeking asylum in the United States so that their cases might be handled more quickly. The bill also seeks to protect Uyghurs who have fled to countries besides the United States by directing the U.S. secretary of state to prioritize diplomatic efforts in those countries, which often face pressure from Beijing to deport Uyghurs to China. Last month, Thailand deported 40 Uyghurs, who had been in an immigration detention center for a decade, to China, where activists say it is likely they will face punishment and imprisonment. The United States has taken various steps to punish China for its treatment of the Uyghurs. Under the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the United States has banned a total of 144 Chinese companies suspected of using Uyghur slave labor from exporting to America. A third sponsor, Rep. Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat and a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said, "the U.S. has a responsibility to help Uyghurs seeking to escape these atrocities by expanding refugee pathways and resolving the backlog in Uyghur asylum cases." The bill has to overcome many legislative hurdles before it becomes law. Despite the bipartisan backing, its hopes of passage remain uncertain. The current U.S. administration is looking to scale back immigration to the United States and suspended the refugee admissions program on its first day in office. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with President of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez 26 March 2025 18:25 474-26-03-2025 On March 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with President of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez, who is visiting Russia at the invitation of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The ministers had a thorough exchange of views on ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between Moscow and Havana. The friendly discussion, which took place in an atmosphere of trust traditional for Russian-Cuban relations, focused on the state of bilateral trade, on economic, research, technology, cultural and humanitarian cooperation and the prospects for its expansion, as well as on the two countries' interaction in the international arena. Both parties expressed confidence that further joint efforts to build a more equitable multipolar world order would be facilitated by Cuba's accession to BRICS as a partner state. They also emphasised that interfering in sovereign states' internal affairs and using unilateral coercive measures was unacceptable, as were any other actions in interstate relations that run counter to international law. Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's support for Havana's justified demands that the United States lift its embargo of Cuba, immediately and completely, and remove the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during the meeting with President of the National Assembly of People's Power and President of the Council of State of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez, Moscow, March 26, 2025 26 March 2025 13:18 470-26-03-2025 We are delighted to welcome you and all our Cuban friends. We are about to enter a period of intensive highest-level and high-level contacts. The Russia-Cuba Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is expected to hold its meeting soon. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko will be visiting your country. We have been proactive in preparing the visit by President of the Republic of Cuba, Comrade Miguel Diaz-Canel. We would like to praise him for accepting President Vladimir Putin's invitation to take part in the celebrations marking 80 years of the Great Victory. In addition to this, his visit will almost coincide with another major anniversary linking our two countries. I am referring to 65 years of bilateral diplomatic relations. We want all these contacts and visits to pave the way for an agreement on further strengthening our strategic partnership across the board and stepping up coordination on the international stage, and we will make sure that these initiatives materialise by drafting the corresponding decisions and resolutions. Your visit has special significance in this context. I know that you have quite a packed agenda here, including important meetings, detailed conversations and agreements with your colleagues from the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, as well as party-level talks with the ruling United Russia party. I believe that your visit marks an important stage in preparing the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in Havana and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel's visit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Delegation of DPRK Ministry of Public Health Returns Home Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, March 25 (KCNA) -- A working-level delegation of the DPRK Ministry of Public Health led by Vice-Minister Jon Sol Ryong returned home on March 24 after visiting Russia. The delegation was greeted at Pyongyang International Airport by an official of the Ministry of Public Health and the Russian ambassador to the DPRK. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with French Foreign Minister Barrot US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 26, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot about bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. The Secretary emphasized President Trump's determination to achieve, through negotiations, enduring peace, and stressed the United States will continue working with France towards this end. The two leaders reiterated their shared commitment to ensuring that Iran never develops or obtains a nuclear weapon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INDUCTION OF FOURTH 25T BOLLARD PULL TUG YUVAN (YARD 338) India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 6:39PM by PIB Delhi Induction ceremony for fourth 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug Yuvan was held on 26 Mar 25 at Naval Dockyard (Visakhapatnam) in presence of Cmde Rajeev John, General Manager (Refit) as the Chief Guest. These Tugs are a part of the contract for construction of six (06) 25T BP Tugs concluded with M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata on 12 Nov 21. These Tugs have been indigenously designed and built in accordance with the relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The Shipyard had successfully delivered three of these Tugs which are being utilised by Indian Navy to provide assistance to Naval ships and submarines during berthing, un-berthing and manoeuvring in confined waters. The Tugs will also provide afloat fire-fighting support to ships alongside or at anchorage and will also have the capability to conduct limited Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations. These Tugs are proud flag bearers of Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives of Government of India. ____________________ VM/SPS 66/25 (Release ID: 2115444) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COAS Gen Upendra Dwivedi underscores need of jointness & integration among Armed Forces amid evolving nature of warfare India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 6:30PM by PIB Delhi Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi has highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, the strategic challenges facing India and the need for jointness and synergy among the armed forces. He was addressing the student officers from the Indian Armed Forces undergoing the 80th Staff Course and the permanent staff at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. COAS commended DSSC for its pivotal role in grooming future military leaders and emphasised the importance of professional military education in enhancing operational preparedness and decision making capabilities. The COAS underscored the significance of leadership, adaptability and technological integration in modern warfare. He urged officers to remain proactive in their approach to emerging security threats and to embrace innovation in military planning and operations. During his visit, COAS also interacted with faculty members, discussing key aspects of military strategy, operational art and leadership development. He acknowledged the institution's contributions in fostering inter service cooperation and strengthening India's defence preparedness. Gen Dwivedi was briefed by Commandant DSSC Lt Gen Virendra Vats, on the adaptation of the Staff Course curriculum to align to the challenges of Future Wars, with special reference to the activities of the first Deep Purple Division, wherein 40 tri-services officers have undergone their training. The COAS also interacted with the Veterans of Wellington Military station and recognised their contributions with the 'veteran Achievers Award'. *** SR/Anand (Release ID: 2115429) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aatmanirbhar Bharat: MoD inks Rs 6,900 crore contracts for 155mm/52 Calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems & High Mobility Vehicle 6x6 Gun Towing Vehicles to enhance Indian Army's operational readiness India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Capital procurement pacts worth Rs 1.40 lakh crore signed in FY 2024-25 till date Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 5:30PM by PIB Delhi Ministry of Defence (MoD) 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 Shri 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. *** VK/SR/Savvy (Release ID: 2115365) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Shows Off Military Might In Footage Of 'Underground Missile City' By Margot Buff and Austin Malloy March 26, 2025 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 Iran's 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 Iran's nuclear activities closely. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-missile-facility- regional-tensions/33361116.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 Deputy Secretary Landau's Call with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson March 26, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau spoke today with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi Takehiro. The two discussed joint work to pursue a new golden era for U.S.-Japan relations. Deputy Secretary Landau praised the robust pace of senior bilateral engagements between the United States and Japan since President Trump and Prime Minister Ishiba's February White House meeting. The Deputy Secretary and Vice Foreign Minister also discussed opportunities for cooperation around energy security and ways the United States and Japan can strengthen deterrence and expand security coordination to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar junta announces schedule for December, January election Skepticism remains that a fair vote is feasible due to violence across the country. By RFA Burmese 2025.03.26 -- Myanmar's junta announced Wednesday it plans to hold a national election in four phases in December and January, the first time the military has outlined a detailed schedule for the controversial vote. The junta has been promising a multiparty elections since soon after it seized power from a civilian government in February 2021. But those promises have failed to materialize as the country has been engulfed in a civil war that has left thousands dead and tanked the economy. The military only controls about half of the country, raising questions about the viability of a nationwide vote. Instead the junta has repeatedly extended a state of emergency, prolonging its grip on power. However, in early March, the junta said elections were slated for December 2025. Then on Wednesday, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services issued a statement providing more details about what it said would be a vote in four phases. "A provisional date for the election is set on the third week and fourth week of December this year and first week and second week of January," the statement said. "The government must take advanced measures to hold a fraud-free multi-party democracy general election that is truly free and fair," it added, without elaborating. Despite widespread skepticism in the West and inside Myanmar about the junta's ability and intention to hold fair elections, in recent months Myanmar's junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has won international support from authoritarian regimes for his vote plans. Following his diplomatic visits to Russia and Belarus in March, both governments pledged their backing. They joined India and China, which have also expressed support for the isolated nation's electoral process, despite the military regime's decision to bar some political parties from re-registering due to alleged ties to rebel militias. Human rights groups and officials from the ousted National League for Democracy, or NLD, government reject the legitimacy of a junta-led election after an opaque census left dozens of administrators dead and failed to cover large parts of the country. Insurgent groups now control large swathes of the country's borderlands, and chunks of its heartlands, leaving the areas like Rakhine and Shan states under uncertain jurisdiction with minimal junta presence. Despite the junta's claim it wants to hold multi-party elections, there are also serious doubts over its willingness stage a fair vote after it announced the dissolution of the former-ruling National League for Democracy in 2023. The party's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is in prison, convicted on what are widely viewed as politically motivated charges. The military rejected the results of the last elections in November 2020, based on unsubstantiated allegations of vote fraud. In that vote, the main pro-military party was heavily defeated by the NLD. This week, the military held talks in the capital Naypyidaw with representatives of some ethnic armed groups and political parties, and dismissed the suggestion the military should step away from politics. Lt. Gen. Yar Pyae, chairman of the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee, described that as an impossible demand. "We do not have any conditions. Other groups have conditions. There are impossible demands such as withdrawing the military from politics, disbanding the army, or forming a transitional government. They demanded that these conditions must be met before any discussions can happen," he said Wednesday. However, he added that the military was open to discussion and negotiation, even on these demands. The spokesperson for the rebel Karen National Union, Saw Taw Nee, said the military should be pressured to withdraw from politics. "It is our responsibility to make the impossible happen. Whether through military means, political methods, diplomatic isolation, or economic sanctions, we will continue to apply pressure with public movements," he told RFA Burmese. The shadow National Unity Government -- which includes elements of the former civilian government -- and resistance forces, including the KNU, have said they will only negotiate with the military if it withdraws from politics and a civilian government is in place. Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mat Pennington. Updated to add comments from a junta representative saying the military will not withdraw from politics. Edits throughout. 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 Pacific Fleet's submarine delivers Kalibr cruise missile strikes at naval and coastal targets during exercise in the Sea of Japan 26.03.2025 (09:00) The Pacific Fleet's diesel-electric submarine Ufa launched Kalibr cruise missiles at sea and coastal targets from the Sea of Japan. Before the combat exercise, the submariners covertly moved to the designated area. The first missile successfully hit a surface target (a screen). The second missile hit a coastal target on the Syurkum tactical field located in Khabarovsk region. The firing range was more than 1,000 kilometres. Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev thanked the crew for the successful launches. Ships and vessels of the Pacific Fleet, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Pacific Fleet were involved in supporting the missile fire. For reference: The submarine Ufa entered the service to the Russian Navy on 16 November 2022. It is the fourth in the series of six 636.3 Project submarines built for the Pacific Fleet. The submarines of this project are distinguished by the optimal combination of the acoustic discretion and range of target detection, powered by torpedo and missile weapons. Kalibr high-precision missiles are the main weapons. The submarine has arrived at the Pacific Fleet's main base in Vladivostok by the South Sea Route in December 2024. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Syria Commission welcomes caretaker government's openness to country visits and future cooperation upon conclusion of latest visit Press releases Independent investigation 26 March 2025 DAMASCUS/GENEVA -- The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry concluded its latest mission to Damascus during which Commission Chair Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and Commissioner Hanny Megally met with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, who offered continued cooperation and access for the Commission's teams across the country. They also met other representatives of the Syrian caretaker authorities, victims and family associations, human rights and humanitarian organizations, lawyers and the diplomatic corps. "We were pleased to continue our engagement with the Syrian authorities and to discuss human rights issues in an open and transparent manner," Pinheiro said in an end of mission statement. During several on-site visits in recent weeks, the Commission witnessed the devastation wrought during the 13-year long conflict in Harasta, Douma, Zabadani, Daraya and other locations in Rif Damascus. "We visited entire districts shattered by warfare and by pillage by the former government's forces, such as Yarmouk camp," said Pinheiro. "In the midst of these ravaged ruins, we met Syrians who have returned, and who are trying to restore their former homes and lives, testament to their strength and hopes for a better future." The tragic scenes of devastation underscored that the humanitarian and economic situation could not be more dire. Ninety percent of Syrians live on less than two US dollars per day. Sectoral sanctions imposed on the former government in response to its mass atrocities are now impeding Syrians from rebuilding their country. "We met humanitarian actors who explained how sanctions not only impede aid delivery and investment, but even remittances from individual Syrians eager to rebuild homes and lives," said Megally. "The recent decision by the European Union to suspend a range of sanctions is a positive step that should prompt further sanctions review. Suspending or ending sectoral sanctions is more urgent than ever. Economic despair fuels violence. Millions of Syrians are right now without jobs, without salaries, just as the country looks to build a brighter future." The Commission's visit came two weeks after hundreds of civilians were killed and injured in retaliatory attacks in the coastal regions, which the Commission is currently investigating. In this regard, the Commission was pleased to meet the independent national inquiry established by the caretaker authorities to examine the coastal events, and to exchange experiences about good practices for independent investigations. "Their members' commitment to ensuring accountability and establishing the truth in an impartial and trust-building manner is reassuring, and we encouraged the Committee, unprecedented in Syria, to work in the most transparent manner possible and to make its findings public," said Megally. "Their task is critical to uncover the facts to bring those responsible to account. The outcome can be both a clear deterrent to any repetition and an important step in re-building trust in a State in which the rule of law is observed." The Commission heard from both victims and civil society actors of their fear of further violence and displacement, yet was heartened to also hear about grassroot initiatives aiming to restore social harmony in various towns and cities. To end the violence, it encourages the caretaker authorities to support such community initiatives, utilizing the wealth of knowledge and expertise of Syrian civil society. Further, after 14 years of mass atrocities, Syrians clamour for justice and accountability. The Commission was encouraged by Foreign Minister al-Shaibani's and other officials' clear commitment to building a Syria that will respect, protect and fulfil human rights for all Syrians, and that will further transitional justice to tackle the legacy of repression by the past regime. The Foreign Minister also stressed the search for the disappeared and obtaining justice and accountability for the victims will be prioritized. The Commission stands ready to fully support such efforts. Many interlocutors raised the need for more frequent public information on progress in these areas. Some were worried that, despite improvements in evidence and crime site preservation, the authorities may not yet be in a position to secure all relevant sites, underscoring the need for greater national and international solidarity and support. Civil society representatives stressed their eagerness to contribute to a new Syria. To facilitate their work, they highlighted the need to address challenges such as onerous registration requirements and assets confiscated by the former government. All Syrians the Commissioners spoke with highlighted the immense challenges their country faces, but also their resolve. "They have shown determination and strength even amid the destruction of their homeland. The international community cannot sit idly by while Syrians emerge from decades of repression - now is the time for tangible actions to assist, or at the very least refrain from impeding, Syria's transition," said Pinheiro. "I was moved by all Syrians who shared their stories with us. They deserve all the support they can get to build a future of peace and dignity." ENDS Background: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic was established on 22 August 2011 by the Human Rights Council through resolution S-17/1.The mandate of the Commission is to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Human Rights Council also tasked the Commission with establishing the facts and circumstances that may amount to such violations and of the crimes perpetrated and, where possible, to identify those responsible with a view of ensuring that perpetrators of violations, including those that may constitute crimes against humanity, are held accountable. The Human Rights Council has repeatedly extended the Commission's mandate since then, most recently until 31 March 2025. More information on the work of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria can be found here. The expert members of the Syria Commission of Inquiry were appointed by the President of UN Human Rights Council to gather data on alleged human rights violations, collect unbiased information and provide independent analysis. The experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights Office provides administrative, technical and logistical support to the Commission of Inquiry, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including the UN. Any views or opinions presented herein are solely those of the mandated body and its experts, and do not necessarily represent those of the UN. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran urges Syrian regime to act against mass killing of civilians Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 6:34 AM Iran's ambassador to the United Nations has called on the ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime in Syria to take a "decisive action" against the mass killing of civilians in the conflict-ridden country. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria on Tuesday, Amir Saeid Iravani strongly condemned the widespread violence in the Syrian provinces of Latakia and Tartus, which has led to the mass killing of civilians, particularly among the Alawite religious minority. "The interim authorities must take decisive action to end all violence, protect civilians, and ensure unhindered humanitarian access," he said. "All communities' rights must be respected and guaranteed, and any attempts to displace minorities, especially Alawites and Shias, must stop immediately." He also underscored the need for combating terrorism in Syria, stressing that foreign terrorists must be repatriated, held accountable, and prevented from further destabilizing the region. On December 8, 2024, foreign-backed HTS militants announced the fall of the government of President Bashar al-Assad following a rapid two-week onslaught. Earlier this month, the HTS militants and armed opposition groups engaged in gruesome massacres in the country's northwestern coastal region. More than 4,711 civilians were massacred in the 100 days since the ouster of the Assad government, according to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). At least 1,805 of the murders were the result of field executions and killings based on "sectarian identity and affiliation" with the former administration. Over the same period, Israel has escalated its deadly airstrikes on Syria and expanded it occupation of the Arab country beyond the Golan Heights. In his remarks, the Iranian envoy voiced deep concerns about Israel's ongoing violations of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying the regime's aerial assaults are in breach of international law and exacerbate regional instability. He further called for the lifting of all illegal US and EU sanctions on Syria in order to facilitate the country's reconstruction and ensure the safe return of refugees to their homeland. Iravani noted that the future of Syria must be determined by its own people, free from any external interference or imposition. Tehran, he said, supports the establishment of an inclusive government through free elections and comprehensive national dialogue in Syria. "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)," he added. The envoy also expressed Iran's commitment to supporting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and playing a constructive role towards achieving lasting peace in the country and the broader region. Additionally, Iravani blasted the US for violating Syria's sovereignty, imposing sanctions on the country, and supporting Israeli aggression there. "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," he said. "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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ministry of National Defense Press Release: Explanation of the "Voluntary Military Service Allowance and Combat Unit Allowance Adjustment Plan" ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/03/21 Date: March 21, 2025, 09:50 The Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced today (21st) that, in its ongoing efforts to enhance the salary and welfare of voluntary military personnel, the MND has formulated the "Voluntary Military Service Allowance" and "Combat Unit Allowance" adjustment plans. These plans were approved by the Executive Yuan on March 20, 2025, and will come into effect on April 1, 2025. The MND emphasized that improving the welfare and compensation for military personnel has consistently been a key priority for the government. In recent years, increasing external threats and more demanding national defense tasks have placed greater responsibilities on the armed forces. Furthermore, the challenges posed by the private sector for talent and the declining birthrate have contributed to a decrease in the willingness of young people to enlist, which in turn affects the overall combat readiness of the military. In response to these challenges, and following the directives of the President, the Ministry of National Defense has actively worked to improve the salary and benefits for volunteer military personnel, with a particular focus on supporting lower-ranking service members. The goal is to ensure that military training and operational readiness are maintained while also prioritizing the well-being of personnel and their families. The MND further explained that the "Military Personnel Compensation Adjustment Plan" was developed after extensive consultations and thorough evaluations by relevant agencies, including the Personnel, Budget, and Resource Planning Departments. After careful consideration of fairness across various allowances, the proposed adjustment plan was submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval (please refer to the attached table for details). In conclusion, the Ministry underscored that in order to strengthen national defense capabilities, safeguard Taiwan Strait security, and encourage long-term service among voluntary military personnel, the proposed adjustments are not only a short-term solution to the declining manpower issue but also a strategic long-term investment in human resources. This initiative is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including greater talent stability and enhanced operational efficiency for the military. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Lai urges military to enhance combat resilience ROC Central News Agency 03/26/2025 02:54 PM Taipei, March 26 (CNA) Taiwan's military should continue improving its organizational structure and enhancing the troops' practical combat training, President Lai Ching-te () said Wednesday. At a ceremony in Taipei marking the promotion of six armed forces officers, Lai expressed hope that the military would "review the organizational structure of the main combat, defense and reserve forces" and, through regular exercises, test the troops' ability to carry out joint operations. The aim is to enhance the troops' "combat resilience" through practical exercises, Lai said, noting that the "immediate response" drills conducted in Taiwan from March 17-21 were part of such efforts. The five-day drills were designed to test the military's response in the scenario where the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) unexpectedly escalated military exercises or "gray zone" activities -- coercive actions that fall short of an open conflict -- near Taiwan into a real attack operation. "In the face of the convergence of authoritarian forces" and "the growing gray-zone intrusions" from China, Lai said, Taiwan's armed forces must employ asymmetric warfare tactics while at the same time demonstrating their resolve to defend the country. Lai added that his administration remained committed to reforming the military and progressive troop modernization. Colonel Tung Shuai-ku (), Tang Cheng (), Chang Ching-tai () and Lee Tsung-tai () from the Army, and Colonel Chou Wen-hisang () from the Air Force were all promoted to the rank of major general. Captain Huang Chao-hsing () from the Navy was promoted to rear admiral. According to Lai, the six officers have made contributions in various areas, including talent development, combat readiness and cyber warfare drills, and military promotion. (By Wen Kuei-hsiang and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Number of conscripts in new military service program up 41% in 2025 ROC Central News Agency 03/26/2025 02:14 PM Taipei, March 26 (CNA) The number of young Taiwanese conscripts set to perform a full year of compulsory military service in 2025 will increase by 41 percent from 2024, when the move to a full year of service was initiated, a senior military official said Wednesday. Major General Cheng Chia-chi (), who heads the human resources division at the Ministry of National Defense's (MND) Department of Resource and Planning, said the military is expected to enlist 9,839 conscripts in the full-year program, according to Ministry of Interior numbers. That was 41 percent higher than the 6,956 who were enlisted in the program in 2024, and 2,047 of them had already completed their compulsory service as of Wednesday, Cheng said. As in 2024, the new conscripts will undergo eight weeks of boot camp, but starting this year boot camp training will also include pistol, machine gun, and portable missile system Stinger firing and drone operations, according to Cheng. After they are assigned to designated units, these conscripts will also be required to undergo 13 weeks of base training, Cheng said. Taiwan's military extended compulsory military service for men to one year from the previous four months starting in January 2024, with the aim of strengthening the country's combat readiness in the face of threats from China. Recruits born after Jan. 1, 2005 are now required to perform one year of military service, but new recruits can defer their service while attending college, something most young Taiwanese take advantage of. That is why of the roughly 75,000 young men expected to be conscripted in 2025, the vast majority will still only have to perform four months of service because they were born before 2005 and just graduated from college. The MND does not expect the number of conscripts in the 1-year program to surge until it recruits college graduates born in 2005 or after in 2027. Of the nearly 7,000 who entered the full-year service program in 2024, 993 conscripts decided to join the armed forces as volunteer soldiers, while 322 suspended their service due to health issues and nine left on early discharge, Cheng said. The MND did not provide reasons for their early discharge, however. Since 1949, when the Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan, Taiwanese men have been required to serve two or three years in the military. After 2000, conscription was gradually reduced to one year by 2008. Under former President Ma Ying-jeou () of the then ruling Kuomintang (KMT), who was in office from 2008 to 2016, the government turned the nation's military into a mainly volunteer force. At the same time, compulsory military service was reduced to four months, starting in 2013, a policy that remained until 2024. During the four months, conscripts undergo five weeks of boot camp followed by 11 weeks of specialized training with field units. Currently, Taiwan's military is mainly a volunteer force of around 215,000 people, with conscripts serving in a supporting role. As of June 2024, there were 152,885 active-duty voluntary military personnel in Taiwan's armed forces. (By Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. report names China as top military threat, notes pressure on Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 03/26/2025 01:34 PM Taipei, March 26 (CNA) China remains the top military and cyber threat to the United States and continues to make progress on capabilities to seize Taiwan, a report by U.S. intelligence agencies said Tuesday. In its Annual Threat Assessment, the agencies divided threats facing the U.S. into two broad categories, "nonstate transnational criminals and terrorists" and "major state actors," which included China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Of those countries, China stands out as the one "most capable of threatening U.S. interests globally," though it is also more cautious about risking its economic and diplomatic image, the report said. "China's military is fielding advanced capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, stealthy aircraft, advanced submarines, stronger space and cyber warfare assets, and a larger arsenal of nuclear weapons," U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said, in testimony about the report to the Senate Intelligence Committee. While China would like to maintain positive ties with the U.S., it is also building up its military capability, in part "to gain advantage in the event of a military conflict with the United States" over China's efforts toward unification with Taiwan, Gabbard said. The report warned that a conflict between China and Taiwan would disrupt U.S. access to trade and semiconductor technology critical to the global economy. "Even without U.S. involvement in such a conflict, there would likely be significant and costly consequences to U.S. and global economic and security interests," it said. China is likely making "steady but uneven" progress on capabilities it would use to seize Taiwan and deter or defeat U.S. military intervention, the report said. Beijing will continue to pressure Taiwan with "economic coercion" and will probably increase it if it sees Taiwan taking steps toward formal independence, the report said. Among possible moves by China to strengthen coercion cited by the report were suspending preferential tariff terms, selectively banning Taiwan imports to China and arbitrarily enforcing regulations. Despite its growing capabilities, China also faces "daunting" challenges, including corruption, demographic imbalances, and fiscal and economic struggles, which will impair its leaders' strategic and political achievements, the report said. (By Chung Yu-chen and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan-based publisher sentenced to 3 years for inciting secession in China ROC Central News Agency 03/26/2025 05:30 PM Taipei, March. 26 (CNA) Li Yanhe (), the founder of Taiwan-based Gusa Publishing, has been sentenced to three years in prison by Chinese authorities for inciting secession, according to Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO). At a press briefing on Wednesday, TAO spokesperson Chen Binhua () said that Li, better known by his pen name Fu Cha (), was sentenced to three years in prison after the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court found him guilty of "inciting to split the country." At the same time, Li was deprived of political rights for one year, with CNY$50,000 (US$6,889) of his personal property confiscated, Chen said, adding that Li did not appeal and the ruling was thus final. The spokesperson said Li's family had been notified of the situation, but he made no mention of the defendant's state of health or his whereabouts. Li, a Chinese national with residency in Taiwan, was arrested two years ago and placed under investigation by Chinese state security officials, shortly after arriving in China to visit his family and deal with residency-related issues. It remains unclear what Li did that led to his charges and conviction. Born in 1971 in the Chinese province of Liaoning, Li is married to a Taiwanese woman and has held residency in Taiwan since 2013. In 2009, Li founded Gusa, a publishing house that is affiliated to the Book Republic Publishing Group, in Taipei. The publisher has over the years printed books that often criticize the Chinese Communist Party and touch upon issues considered taboo by the party. Li's detention in 2023 sent shockwaves through the cultural and book publishing sectors, with more than 350 scholars, authors and cultural figures issuing a joint statement calling for his immediate release while expressing concern about the chilling effect the case might have on the sectors. The case also raises questions about the risks Chinese spouses of Taiwanese nationals face when seeking permanent residency in Taiwan, as Li is believed to have returned to China to rescind his household registration. Under the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, a Chinese spouse must provide proof of having revoked their Chinese household registration when applying for permanent residency in Taiwan, or within three months of acquiring such status. If they are unable to provide proof, their permanent residency will be revoked after three months. On Wednesday, Gusa said in a statement that the staff of the publishing house were "saddened" by Li's imprisonment but will wait for the return of their chief editor. In a separate statement, an informal group that has been monitoring Li's case said it "strongly condemns" the Chinese authorities for "illegally detaining and punishing Fu Cha." The group, led by veteran journalist Lee Chih-te (), called on Beijing to release Li immediately so he can be reunited with his family in Taiwan. (By Hsieh Yi-hsuan and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan silent on publisher's sentencing details, rejects China criticism ROC Central News Agency 03/26/2025 10:29 PM Taipei, March 26 (CNA) The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) declined to reveal sentencing details on Wednesday after a Taiwan-based publisher was sentenced to three years in prison for inciting secession in China, while also rejecting Beijing's criticism that Taipei is using the case to defame its judicial system. The Chinese authority disclosed earlier in the day the sentencing of Li Yanhe (), the founder of Taiwan-based Gusa Publishing, two years after Li, better known by his pen name Fu Cha (), was arrested in Shanghai. Li was sentenced to three years in prison after the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court found him guilty of "inciting to split the country," Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Chen Binhua () told a press conference in Beijing. Additionally, Li was deprived of political rights for one year, and CNY$50,000 (US$6,889) of his personal property was confiscated, Chen said, adding that Li did not file an appeal, and the ruling was thus final. The spokesperson said Li's family had been notified of his sentencing, but he made no mention of the defendant's state of health or his whereabouts. It remains unclear what Li did that led to him being charged and convicted. A Chinese national with residency in Taiwan, Li was arrested in March 2023 shortly after arriving in China to visit his family and deal with residency-related issues. He was then placed under investigation by Chinese state security officials. In Taipei, the MAC said that it was aware of the situation, but out of respect for the wishes of Li's family, it would not disclose further details. The MAC said in a statement that this case clearly demonstrated the nature of the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian rule and once again reaffirmed the need for citizens traveling to China to be aware of the risks. Meanwhile, Chen Binhua criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities for "repeatedly hyping up this case in an attempt to slander and discredit China's judicial system," accusing it of being driven by ulterior motives. In response, the MAC condemned the "complete secrecy" surrounding the case, pointing out that it was only on March 17 that the TAO revealed Li's conviction and only on Wednesday that his sentencing was disclosed-contradicting the office's claim that the trial was public. A trial that lacks due process is inherently unconvincing, the MAC said, adding that its criticism against China's judicial system was not unfounded. Furthermore, the MAC said Beijing has long used the case as a propaganda model to showcase political achievements, attempting to create a chilling effect. Born in 1971 in the Chinese province of Liaoning, Li is married to a Taiwanese woman and has held residency in Taiwan since 2013. In 2009, Li founded Gusa, a publishing house affiliated with the Book Republic Publishing Group, in Taipei. Over the years, the publisher has printed books that often criticized the Chinese Communist Party and touched upon issues considered taboo by the party. The case also raises questions about the risks Chinese spouses of Taiwanese nationals face when seeking permanent residency in Taiwan. Li was arrested when he returned to China apparently to rescind his household registration there, a step he needed to take before he could obtain Taiwanese citizenship. (By Lee Ya-wen and Shih Hsiu-chuan) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Affairs Office: Any attempts to play the 'Taiwan card' are doomed to fail, dismissing US lawmakers' Taiwan-related Act Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 26, 2025 01:44 PM In response to a media inquiry regarding reports from Taiwan media outlets about some US lawmakers drafting a so-called "America supports Taiwan act," which proposes replacing the term "Chinese Taipei" with "Taiwan" in official communications and documents between the US side and the island, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and allows no foreign interference. Some US politicians continue to put forward Taiwan-related proposals that contradict the US government's one-China policy and contain negative content, seeking personal political gain at the expense of China's core interests, Chen said. We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and to stop sending any wrong signals that condone and support "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Chen said. Any attempts to play the "Taiwan card" or to "use the Taiwan question to contain China" are doomed to fail, Chen noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mainland launches online platform for reporting 'Taiwan independence' henchmen, accomplices Global Times By Chen Qingqing Published: Mar 26, 2025 10:02 AM The Taiwan Affairs Office of State Council launched an online platform on Wednesday for reporting the malicious acts of "Taiwan independence" henchmen and accomplices persecuting Taiwan compatriots and has received 323 reporting emails as of 5pm. The platform is set up as a floating window on the homepage of the office's official website. It also publishes a reporting email address, jubao@suremail.cn, providing a platform for those who have been oppressed or persecuted, or those who have relevant information, to seek help. Recently, the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have frequently repressed and persecuted political dissidents and parties, groups, and individuals in the island who support peaceful cross-Straits relations and integrated development with the Chinese mainland, the office said in a statement published on its website on Wednesday. Some "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, organizations, civil servant, and internet influencers have acted as henchmen and accomplices of the evildoer, according to the statement. When asked about the considerations behind of the launch of the platform, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a press conference on Wednesday that recently, the DPP authorities have been fabricating charges to suppress dissenting voices in Taiwan, silencing free speech, and using threats and persecution against political opponents, as well as parties, groups, and individuals in the island who support peaceful cross-Straits relations and integrated development. We express serious concern over this and believe that those responsible must be severely punished, Chen said. The launch of the platform aims to hold those responsible for such egregious acts accountable, Chen stressed. Those who have been persecuted or have relevant information are encouraged to submit details to the reporting email account. We will handle the reports appropriately, expose cases in due course. At the same time, we will strictly protect the information and rights of whistle blowers in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said. When asked about whether the Taiwan Affairs Office has identified any "specific individuals" in Taiwan and what specific measures will be taken in the future, Chen said "please stay tuned." Secessionist acts targeted This is not the first time the Taiwan Affairs Office has created a special platform targeting secessionist figures in Taiwan island. In August 2024, both the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office and China's Ministry of Public Security have added a special section to their official websites which list the names of diehard "Taiwan independence" secessionists including Su Tseng-chang, You Si-kun, Joseph Wu and Hsiao Bi-khim. "I believe the new platform complements the one launched last year targeting stubborn secessionist figures," Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. In recent days, we have witnessed a huge controversy sparked by the case of Liu Zhenya, an influencer from the mainland also known as Yaya, Zheng noted. "From this incident, we can see the arrogance of secessionist figures and the arrogance of the Taiwan secessionist authorities. If such incidents are not met with targeted actions, they will only become more arrogant in the future," Zheng said. The DPP authorities have ordered three women from the mainland - all married to Taiwan residents - to leave the island, under the excuse of advocating cross-Straits reunification by force, sparking criticism that the move was a violation of free speech, the South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday. Liu left Taiwan on Tuesday night - the deadline she was given to leave or face deportation, and two other women from the mainland- one identified as Zhao Zhan, and the other by the nickname En Qi - have been ordered to leave by March 31, the SCMP said. Jaw Shaw-kong, a media veteran and politician in the island, questioned DPP's move. He was quoted as saying by local news outlet China Times on Monday that "Who is Yaya? I believe the vast majority of residents in Taiwan don't know who she is or what she said. Suddenly, she becomes a well-known figure. What ability does she have to promote war?" Jaw believes that the DPP is deliberately creating a chilling effect with this case, making an example out of her to intimidate others, and the DPP is using this incident to incite cross-Straits tension, just to solidify its support on the island. And Yaya has children in the island, it's so cruel, Jaw said, per local media. In response to a media inquiry regarding incident of Liu , Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday "I didn't notice relevant reports. Let me stress that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory." Legal consequences Some local media outlets in Taiwan island such as Commercial Times and United Daily News connected the launch of the new platform with several recent incidents of people from the mainland who are married to Taiwan residents being forced to leave the island. Commercial Times in the headline of a related article on Wednesday asked "Is it to strike back at people like Pa Chiung?" Pa Chiung is an internet influencer in Taiwan island who reported Liu to local authorities for her national reunification-related remarks. Spokesperson Chen Binhua said the "petty villain engages in deceitful acts, like thieves in the night, who aid the wicked," and will face severe punishment. Currently, "Taiwan independence" secessionists are targeting and persecuting political opponents. Anyone who opposes the DPP is labeled with a red hat, meaning pro-mainland stance, Zheng noted. The DPP's persecution of these individuals is driven by self-interest, and it has already violated their human rights, Zheng said. The DPP authorities, while claiming to uphold "freedom, rule of law, and human rights," have repeatedly abused judicial measures to oppress cross-Straits marriage groups, forcing these families apart. "Such actions are inhumane and morally reprehensible," spokesperson Chen said. Regarding how accountability will be pursued in the future after the online platform is launched, Chen said they will properly handle the reported information and thoroughly investigate the issue. "For cases with solid evidence and of a particularly serious nature, we will expose them in due course and hold these henchmen and accomplices accountable in accordance with relevant laws - ensuring they face legal consequences for life," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Shanghai court sentences Li Yanhe to three years in prison for inciting secession: Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 26, 2025 02:17 PM In response to a media inquiry on details of the verdict of Li Yanhe, editor-in-chief of Taiwan's Gusa Press, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that on February 17, Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court publicly delivered the first-instance verdict in accordance with the law, ensuring transparency and fairness throughout the process. Chen said that after the verdict was announced, the defendant expressed acceptance of the ruling and admitted guilt in court. No appeal was filed within the legally prescribed period, and the verdict has since come into legal effect. As for the sentence, the defendant and their family are fully aware of the details. Chen said that as a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, he is reluctant to publicly discuss specific case details. However, the DPP authorities have repeatedly hyped up this judicial case in an attempt to smear and discredit the mainland's judicial system, which clearly reveals their ulterior motives. On February 17, 2025, the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court convicted Li of inciting secession and sentenced him to three years in prison, with one year of deprivation of political rights, and a fine of 50,000 yuan in personal asset, said Chen. During the enforcement of the sentence, the relevant authorities will ensure the lawful rights and interests of the defendant and their family are fully protected, Chen said. 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 2025/03/26 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Mar. 25 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 26 (Wed.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 27 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 25 out of 27 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140326_PLA activities 1140326_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Are China China sends new data relay satellite into space Ecns.cn) 13:09, March 27, 2025 A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Tianlian II-04 satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 26, 2025. (China News Service/Xu Lihao) Tianlian II-04, China's second-generation geosynchronous orbit data-relay satellite, will provide data relay and TT&C (telemetry, tracking and command) services for manned spacecraft such as spaceships and space stations, for medium and low-Earth-orbit resource satellites, and TT&C support for spacecraft launches. This was the 565th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. A Long March-3B carrier rocket carrying the Tianlian II-04 satellite blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 26, 2025. (China News Service/Xu Lihao) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Taiwan question concerns political foundation of China-Japan relations, says Chinese Embassy over report of inviting Tsai to visit Japan Global Times By Global Times Published: Mar 27, 2025 12:40 AM Regarding reports of Japanese media hyping the invitation of "Taiwan independence" figure Tsai Ing-wen to visit Japan, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Japan commented on Wednesday that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and concerns the political foundation of China-Japan relations as well as the basic trust between the two countries. The spokesperson further noted, "It is known to all who Tsai Ing-wen is." We firmly oppose such extreme "Taiwan independence" figure visiting any country that has diplomatic relations with China to engage in activities aimed at splitting China. The Japanese side should honor its commitments, handle the Taiwan question with caution, avoid sending the wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" forces, and take practical actions to safeguard the momentum of improving and developing China-Japan relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese mainland denounces certain countries' unwarranted comments on Taiwan question People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:25, March 27, 2025 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nearly 1,400 arrested as protests continue in Turkey despite ban Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 6:09 AM Turkish authorities have arrested over 1,400 protesters, as street protests continue across major cities in defiance of a ban on demonstrations following the detention of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Protesters rallied against the jailing of Imamoglu, a main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for a seventh night in Istanbul on Tuesday. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote in a post on X that Turkish police had detained 1,418 people for taking part in "illegal demonstrations," warning there would be "no concessions" for those who "terrorize the streets". Seven journalists were also taken into custody who were charged with "taking part in illegal rallies and marches". 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". Speaking to a group of young people in a Ramadan fast-breaking meal on Tuesday, Erdogan denounced the rallies as "street terror," urging patience and common sense amid what he described as "very sensitive days". "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," he said. But as he spoke, thousands marched through the Sisli district of Istanbul, demanding that the government resign, as a large deployment of riot police stood by. Protesters waved flags and banners with slogans reading "Tayyip resign!" while people in apartments above banged on pots and pans in support. Separately, thousands rallied for the seventh straight night in a protest organized by Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP) in the Sarachane district, home of the Istanbul city hall that Imamoglu ran in 2019. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called a mass rally for Saturday in Istanbul, saying it 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. The biggest protests in Turkey in over a decade began last week after Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges, a move that opposition supporters see as a blatant violation of the rule of law. Authorities have hit back with a crackdown, with riot police using water cannon, pepper spray and rubber bullets against protesters. The United Nations has voiced alarm at Turkey's use of mass detentions and its "unlawful blanket ban on protests," urging the authorities to probe any unlawful use of force. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Major 1.6 billion equipment contract to support British Defence jobs and boost Army readiness British Army equipment, including tanks and armoured vehicles, will receive world-class maintenance and spare parts under a contract which supports 1,600 UK jobs. 26 March 2025 Significant contract update to provide kit maintenance and increased vehicle availability. Directly supports 1,600 defence jobs across the country, supporting a 6,000-strong business supply chain. Investment in British firm Babcock boosts defence as an engine for UK economic growth. British Army equipment, including tanks and armoured vehicles, will receive world-class maintenance and spare parts under a contract which supports 1,600 UK jobs. The five-year 1.6 billion contract extension with British defence firm Babcock will cover vital military assets including Challenger 2 tanks, 105mm artillery guns and Trojan armoured vehicles, ensuring they remain combat-ready to meet emerging threats. The Service Provision and Transformation Contract will sustain 1,600 highly skilled jobs in locations across the UK, including over 400 in Telford and over 250 in Dorset. The investment follows the Prime Minister's historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty. Maintenance services will cover preventative maintenance, emergency repairs and spare parts management. It will also include digital transformation to improve fleet management efficiency, keeping more vehicles and equipment primed for soldiers to use - boosting national security and renewing Britain's economy as we deliver on our Plan for Change. The move to boost the readiness of British Army combat vehicles comes as the UK continues to lead planning efforts for a Coalition of Willing nations to help secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Following the planning meeting attended by approximately 30 nations last week, further operational planning meetings will be led by UK Commander Joint Operations, General Nick Perry. Defence Secretary John Healey MP 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. Supported by largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, this substantial investment with Babcock demonstrates how defence is an engine for growth: supporting businesses of all sizes and sustaining more than 1,600 good, well-paid jobs across Britain. National security is the bedrock of a successful economy and our Government's Plan for Change. Babcock's Chief Executive Officer, 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, 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. While the Land Integrated Operating Services programme places future contracts, this deal will also support approximately 6,000 UK businesses throughout the wider supply chain, as well as 200 apprentices. These apprenticeships will offer valuable training and development opportunities in fields such as HGV maintenance and automotive refinishing, providing career paths in the defence sector for the next generation of skilled workers. MOD Director Land Environment, Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies CBE said: It has taken a lot of hard work to collaboratively deliver this SPTC Reframe contract amendment. I am delighted to renew our relationship with Babcock. With this amended contract, DE&S, the Army, and Babcock will now provide even better support to the in-Service platforms of our Armed forces; ensuring that the vehicles the Army will fight from are repaired, maintained, and ready whenever the Army need them. The work comes ahead of the Defence Industrial Strategy, which will bolster UK industry and provide more opportunities for defence to be an engine for economic growth. It follows a recent commitment to launch a new hub to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with better access to the defence supply chain, and a commitment to set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Congress reaffirms its solidarity with the Ukrainian people and its commitment to a just and lasting peace Council of Europe Council of Europe Strasbourg 26 March 2025 During its 48th session, the Congress held a debate on the Russian federation's war of aggression against Ukraine, focusing on Ukraine's decentralised recovery and reconstruction with a human-centred, inclusive, transparent and sustainable development approach. Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development, Oleksii Riabykin, thanked the Congress for the steadfast support in local self-government reforms and capacity building. "Your expertise and institutional support will help us strengthen our democracy and develop a people-oriented multilevel governance," he noted, adding that partnerships between Ukrainian and other European municipalities and regions will accelerate recovery and reconstruction efforts. "The decentralisation reform initiated in 2014 with the support of the Congress has been instrumental to increase the resilience of Ukrainian municipalities and resist the unjustified and unprovoked war," underlined Vitalii Bezghin, Chair of Ukraine's Parliamentary Subcommittee on Administrative and Territorial Organisation and Local Self-Government. He informed the session about the current work to update the decentralisation reform concept aimed at addressing the new challenges brought about by the war and the European Union integration process. Presenting the Declaration adopted by the Congress, co-rapporteurs Martine Dieschburg-Nickels (Luxembourg, L, ILDG) and Gunn-Marit Helgesen (Norway, R, EPP/CCE) stressed the need to ensure strong institutions and empowered communities and citizens in Ukraine, as being essential for a sustainable future. They highlighted the importance of the human dimension of recovery - including the need to support veterans, war-affected populations and children - where local and regional authorities will be on the frontline. The Congress also underlined that Russian confiscated and frozen assets should be utilised for reconstruction efforts. Italy's Special Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Davide La Cecilia, fully endorsed the text of the declaration and informed that it will become one of the deliverables of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025, to be held in Rome, Italy, on 10-11 July 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine to receive 100 million worth of Estonian military aid Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence 26. March 2025 Ukraine has officially submitted to Estonia its list of required military aid today, which the Estonian state will now procure as a priority from domestic defence industries. The selection includes unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned ground vehicles, watercraft, medical equipment, and supplies offered by Estonian defence companies. For security reasons, specific details, quantities, and delivery times will not be disclosed. "We agreed last year that both this year and next, we will provide military aid to Ukraine worth 0.25% of our annual GDP, using products from Estonia's defence industry. It was gratifying to see that many Estonian manufacturers participated and offered their products. Today, we received feedback from Ukraine, which allows us to deliver the aid to them as quickly as possible," said Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. "I am very pleased with the high standard and broad range of Estonia's defence industry. The next step is for the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments to swiftly conclude procurement contracts for the products selected by Ukraine, ensuring the necessary materials reach them without delay," said Katri Raudsepp, Chair of the Ukraine Support Measure Expert Committee and Deputy Director General of the Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK). Estonia will continue supporting Ukraine in their fight against the aggressor with military aid amounting to at least 0.25% of GDP annually, increasing this amount by an additional quarter this year. The majority of Estonia's military aid is invested into a measure that enables Estonian companies to contribute to Ukraine's victory. In addition, Estonia provides Ukraine with direct military material aid, supports the training of Ukrainian armed forces, and co-leads the IT Coalition for Ukraine's assistance together with Luxembourg. The Baltic and Nordic countries have also set the goal of equipping and training a brigade-sized Ukrainian unit by the end of 2025. At the end of 2024, the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK) introduced a new Ukraine support measure for the purchase of Estonian products or services suitable for use by Ukraine's defence forces during crisis and wartime. The product catalog, handed over to Ukraine in February, includes nearly 500 products and services from around 100 Estonian companies. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway providing funding to secure energy supplies in Ukraine Government of Norway Press release | Date: 26/03/2025 Three years of full-scale war and Russian attacks have severely damaged Ukraine's gas infrastructure. Norway is providing an additional NOK 1 billion in funding for gas imports to Ukraine to ensure an adequate gas supply for the general population, businesses and industry in the country. 'A more secure energy supply is essential to Ukraine's resilience. This was one of the topics discussed during President Zelensky'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,' said Prime Minster Jonas Gahr Stre. 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 Ukraine's 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 people's trust in their Government. This is why it is both crucial and of strategic importance to help to maintain access to gas,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, who is visiting Ukraine this week. The extra allocation brings Norway's overall contribution to the purchase of gas for Ukraine since 2022 up to NOK 3.6 billion. Norway has thus provided funding to meet a significant proportion of Ukraine's gas import needs since the start of the full-scale war. In 2023, NOK 635 million was disbursed for gas purchases as a guarantee. The funds have now been released and can be used to increase the overall contribution. The agreement therefore now totals NOK 1.635 billion. 'We do not yet know how much gas Ukraine will need to import this year, but Norway's 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,' said Mr Eide. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Investments in stronger military defence, measures against hybrid threats and increased support to Ukraine Government Offices of Sweden Press release from Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Climate and Enterprise Published 26 March 2025 SEK 25 billion to strengthen military defence; an additional SEK 16.5 billion to increased 2025 'Ukraine framework'; and a SEK 96 million package of targeted measures to counter hybrid threats. These are the proposals the Government will present in the forthcoming Spring Amending Budget. The Government and the Sweden Democrats have also agreed on a funding model to ensure that Sweden is able meet to a new, higher NATO spending target. The proposals were presented at a press conference on 26 March with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Education Johan Pehrson and Sweden Democrats Party Leader Jimmie Akesson. Long-term defence investments In the coming months, NATO is expected to agree on a new defence spending target for its member countries. The new target is projected to be between 3 and 4 per cent of GDP. In order to manage such a major rearmament on short notice, the Government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed that Sweden will need to borrow funds during a transitional period to pay for new military expenditures without sacrificing important welfare needs or investments in internal security. If Sweden's defence expenditures reach 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, it would entail a loan-financed defence investment totalling upwards of SEK 300 billion by 2034. The Government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed on a funding model where the majority of the funding would initially take place through loans that would gradually transition to a balance from 2035. Increased support to Ukraine Russia's aggression against Ukraine is a defining issue for Sweden's and Europe's security. The Government therefore intends to increase the adopted economic framework for military support to Ukraine from SEK 25 billion to just over SEK 40 billion for 2025. This enables Ukraine to swiftly boost its defence capability at a particularly vulnerable point in time. This increase will be made possible by redistributing funds from the 2026 Ukraine framework. Investments to strengthen military defence The security situation demands that Sweden raises the level of ambition to strengthen its defence capability. The Government and the Sweden Democrats therefore intend to enable purchases of new defence materiel totalling SEK 25 billion from 2025, for delivery in 2026-2028. This concerns 'opportune purchases', i.e. orders that the Swedish Armed Forces or the Defence Materiel Administration can place when the market can relatively quickly fulfil the war organisation's needs. This can include materiel for air defence, drones, rocket artillery, personal protective equipment and ammunition. In order to address potential uncertainties as regards the timing for the appropriation for defence materiel during the period 2026-2028, the Government intends to allow the relevant government agencies to utilise appropriation savings for opportune purchases. New package to counter hybrid threats The security situation has brought an increased risk of hybrid threats and activities. This is a threat scenario that the Government and the Sweden Democrats take very seriously and which must be addressed proactively - both at national level and in cooperation with other Allies and partners. The Government therefore proposes disbursing an additional SEK 96 billion in funding for 2025 for a new package to strengthen measures to counter hybrid threats. This package will strengthen the capabilities of the Swedish Coast Guard, The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and the Psychological Defence Agency to counter and manage hybrid threats in various domains, including the maritime and cyber domains. The Government intends to allocate SEK 50 million to the Swedish Coast Guard to increase its operational capability for maritime surveillance and collaboration. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will be allocated SEK 20 million for its work within EU satellite navigation systems, which are a prerequisite for maritime and aeronautical access to strong navigational positioning and timing. A total of SEK 12 million will be allocated to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and the Psychological Defence Agency to enhance their efforts to counter hybrid threats. From those funds, SEK 9 million will go to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency to contribute to the EU's and NATO's rapid reaction force through enhanced coordination of countermeasures against hybrid activities. The Psychological Defence Agency will receive SEK 3 million to assist the work of rapid reaction forces to counter foreign malign information influence and strengthen Sweden's psychological defence. The national cybersecurity coordination centre (NCC-SE) at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will be allocated SEK 7 million for research and innovation in the area of cybersecurity. The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will be allocated SEK 7 million to coordinate joint efforts within total defence for stronger space security. These proposals are based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia and Ukraine agree to ceasefire in Black Sea: White House IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 26, 2025 Russia and Ukraine have agreed to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping in the Black Sea and stop military strikes, the White House said on Tuesday, after American officials met representatives from both countries in Saudi Arabia. The deal falls short of a complete pause in the war that has been raging in Ukraine since Russia launched its "special military operation" in February 2022. According to Reuters, 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 it was not clear when or how the Black Sea maritime security deals would start, the agreements are the first formal commitments by the two warring sides since U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration. Trump claims he is seeking an end to the war in Ukraine and a rapid rapprochement with Moscow that has alarmed Kiev and European countries. The U.S. agreement with Russia goes further than the agreement with Ukraine, with Washington committing to help seek the lifting of international sanctions on Russian agriculture and fertilizer exports, a long-standing Russian demand. 6125**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Budrys in Washington, D.C.: peace in Ukraine is a common goal for Europe and the USA Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Updated 2025-03-26 During the visit to Washington, D.C., the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kestutis Budrys met with the U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg. Budrys and Kellog discussed the U.S. diplomatic efforts for a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. According to Budrys, Russia's ever-changing demands on Ukraine, even ahead of talks, clearly show that Putin does not want peace and is deliberately stalling the process. The head of Lithuania's diplomacy stressed that the aggressor should not get what he started this aggression for, as this would encourage him to carry it out over and over again. According to Budrys, negotiations with Putin are only possible from a position of strength, and the US has all the leverage for this. According to the Minister, Europe is ready to help increase pressure on the aggressor and has powerful tools in its hands - sanctions and frozen Russian assets. The head of Lithuania's diplomacy emphasized the need for long-term support for Ukraine, including strengthening the capacity of the Ukrainian armed forces, as it is a strong deterrent to Russia, and Lithuania is committed to providing long-term military support. "With China's support for Russian aggression, North Korea's direct involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine the consequences of its outcome will be global and determine both the European and global security architecture. The common goal of Europe and the US is to ensure lasting peace," said the Minister. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Budrys in Washington, D.C.: it is clear that the only person who does not want peace is Putin Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Updated 2025-03-26 Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kestutis Budrys continues his working visit to Washington D.C. On Tuesday, he and his Estonian and Latvian counterparts met with the US Senators Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran and Jeanne Shaheen. At the meeting with the Senators, the Baltic Ministers discussed Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Budrys emphasised that Lithuania has no illusions about Russia's intentions. According to the Minister, Putin must be forced to sit down at the negotiating table through hard measures - sanctions and the use of frozen assets. "Long-lasting peace in Ukraine is in the common interest of the US, Europe, and Ukraine. It is clear that the only person who does not want peace is Putin. We must stop this imperialist aggression once and for all," said the Minister. The meeting also discussed the need to strengthen NATO by increasing defence spending. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia: Conditions must be met before Black Sea ceasefire implemented Iran Press TV Wednesday, 26 March 2025 6:22 PM The Kremlin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, says several vital conditions must be met before the Black Sea maritime security agreement, negotiated with the US, can be activated. Peskov said on Wednesday that the US-brokered agreement has already overlooked Russia's needs. He insisted that "justice must prevail" this time. The most important demand from Russia is the reconnection of its state agricultural bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the SWIFT international payments system, which requires European countries' consensus. On Tuesday, the US said it had reached separate agreements with both Russia and Ukraine to halt hostilities in the Black Sea and to not target each other's energy infrastructures. In parallel statements, the White House said each country "has agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea." According to the Russian document, the US 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." Russia's fertilizer and food exports are not subject to US sanctions, but restrictions on insurance, logistics, and payments have fully stopped its exports. The removal of these restrictions has been one of Russia's conditions for a ceasefire agreement since 2022. These are the same conditions that were included in the (original) Black Sea Initiative, all the conditions of which were fulfilled except for those concerning the Russian side, Peskov said. "So, of course, this time justice must prevail, and we will continue our work with the Americans," Peskov added. In 2023, Moscow withdrew from the original agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in 2022, because obstacles to its own fertilizer and food exports had not been eased as had been promised under the terms of the agreement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Court Convicts Azov Fighters Of Terrorism In Trial Kyiv Calls A 'War Crime' By RFE/RL March 26, 2025 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. 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/azov-mariupol-russia-court- war-crime/33360557.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 Ukraine, Russia Report Drone And Energy Infrastructure Attacks As Kremlin's Conditions Cloud Black Sea Truce By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 26, 2025 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 Trump's 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 Moscow's 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 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." "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 they're 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 Union's 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 Russia's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/drone-attacks-black- sea-agreements-russia-ukraine/33360447.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 Zelenskyy, Macron Call for Unconditional Cease-fire As Russia Tables Demands By RFE/RL March 26, 2025 French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say Russia should accept a U.S.-brokered cease-fire with no preconditions. Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will assess Moscow's conditions for accepting the cease-fire. At a joint press conference with Zelenskyy in Paris on March 26, Macron accused Russia of displaying a "desire for war" and insisted Moscow must accept the 30-day cease-fire "without preconditions." "This is a decisive phase to put an end to the war of aggression," Macron said. On March 27, he will host delegations from the "coalition of the willing" -- a group of Ukraine's allies seeking to aid Kyiv and secure a lasting cease-fire with Russia. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, expressed hope that the United States wields enough influence to compel Russia into an unconditional cease-fire aimed at halting strikes in the Black Sea. However, Washington says it will consider Russia's conditions, which Moscow insists must be met before it agrees to the cease-fire. "We're going to evaluate that. Some of those conditions include sanctions that are not ours - they belong to the European Union," Rubio said at a news conference in Jamaica on March 26. Macron, however, pushed back, saying in Paris that it was "much too early" to consider lifting sanctions against Russia. "We're not going to lift the sanctions, so it's much too early. Ultimately, sanctions depend solely on Russia's choice of aggression, and therefore, their lifting depends solely on Russia's choice to comply with international law," he said. In addition to the Black Sea cease-fire, the White House said on March 25 that separate talks with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia this week resulted in an agreement "to develop measures for implementing" recent commitments to halt strikes on energy facilities. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/33361098.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 Statement by Russian Defence Ministry 26.03.2025 (13:15) Despite Zelensky's public statement about the Russian-U.S. agreements reached in Riyadh on 24 March to stop attacks against civilian energy facilities, the Kiev regime has continued its strikes on the energy infrastructure of the Russian Federation. On the night of 26 March 2025, near the Tarkhankut Peninsula, two Ukrainian strike UAVs were shot down by on-duty air defence systems. The drones were targeting the ground-based equipment of the Glebovskoye underground gas storage facility. Moreover, on 26 March at around 4:45 in the morning, in Bryansk region, the hostile UAVs attacked an object of the Bryanskenergo (Rosseti Centre). As a result of the attack, a 10kV high-voltage electric power transmission stopped working and consumers in Komarichsky District were left without electricity. Moreover, on the afternoon of 25 March, the Ukrainian strike drones attacked an energy facility of the Kurskenergo (Rosseti Centre). Thus, a number of substation shut down, and over 4,000 consumers in Khomutovsky District were cut off power supply. Thus, the Kiev regime, while continuing to damage the Russian civilian energy infrastructure, is actually doing everything it can to thwart the agreements reached by the Russian Federation and the United States on step-by-step measures to resolve the Ukrainian conflict. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ultra-Rare British Vehicle Decimated in Russia's Kursk Region Sputnik News 20250326 Russian troops have hunted down a rare CRARRV (Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle) on the outskirts of Sudzha. The machine, used by Ukraine alongside Challenger 2 tanks, is one of the few vehicles capable of repairing these tanks on the battlefield. In total, the United Kingdom transferred two such vehicles to Ukraine in 2023. The British Army only has 80 such CRARRVs in service. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We must have enduring peace in Ukraine, which ensures Ukraine's future security and upholds the UN Charter: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. 26 March 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 26 March 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) I would like to start by thanking Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya for the briefing today. Colleagues, last month marked three years since President Putin launched his illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invasion displaced over 10 million people. Today, 12.7 million remain in need of urgent humanitarian support. The suffering caused by Russian forces is well known to this Council: war crimes, torture of civilians and prisoners of war, mass killings, the forced deportation of thousands of children, the forced cleansing and Russification of areas under their illegal control. It is a shocking record for any state, let alone a Permanent Member of the Security Council. In recent weeks, Russian drone and missile attacks have intensified nationwide, with daily reports of damage to residential areas and civilian infrastructure across multiple Oblasts. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mechanism of Ukraine, in one attack which took place on 7 March, two ballistic missiles hit a residential area in Donetsk Oblast killing 11 people and destroying homes. Emergency responders who arrived to treat the wounded were then targeted by further strikes. This has to stop. The UK is clear that we want to see an end to the fighting and to the killing. We must have enduring peace in Ukraine. Putin could bring about peace tomorrow by withdrawing his forces and ending his illegal invasion. President, we welcome US efforts towards just and lasting peace. And we welcome President Zelenskyy's clear commitment to peace and readiness to move quickly towards a comprehensive and lasting settlement. In agreeing to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine has shown that it is the party of peace. Russia must now agree to this without further delay. Ukraine's humanitarian needs are immense, and the UK will continue to do what we can in support. To date, we have committed 477 million in humanitarian support to Ukraine, providing its people with food, water, shelter, and medical care, alongside support to safeguard the rights, dignity, and well-being of civilians. We repeat our call on Russia to end its brutal war, withdraw from Ukrainian territory within its internationally recognised borders. Until that day comes, the UK will continue to work with Ukraine and our international partners to achieve a just and lasting peace, which ensures Ukraine's future security and upholds the core principles of the United Nations Charter. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK is absolutely committed to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine: UK Statement to the OSCE Politico-Military Counsellor, Ankur Narayan, commends Ukraine as the party of peace for proposing a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire - and urges Russia to agree to this without further delay. 26 March 2025 Location: Vienna Delivered on: 26 March 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) Thank you, Mr Chair. Our Helsinki Final Act commitments include sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-violability of borders. As per the first line of the Helsinki Final Act, these principles are designed to protect "true and lasting peace" in our region. This is why we remain unwavering in our support for Ukraine defending its territorial integrity, its right to exist, its sovereignty, and its independence. We welcome the progress President Trump has made towards a ceasefire in Ukraine and in negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. We are in close contact with US and Ukraine following the conclusion of talks in Riyadh yesterday. President Zelenskyy has already shown Ukraine is the party of peace by proposing a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. We hope that President Putin will agree to this without further delay. Any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine's sovereignty and security - in line with the Helsinki Final Act and the UN Charter. With robust security arrangements to ensure Russia is never able to invade again. The UK will play its full part - and is already taking a leading role, alongside France, to build a coalition of the willing to support Ukraine's future security. Over the last week, Russia has continued to launch brutal attacks that cause daily suffering for innocent Ukrainians. The drone strike on Kyiv on March 23rd exemplifies another horrific assault, tragically killing a 5-year-old girl and severely injuring ten others. A Russian missile strike on Sumy in northeastern Ukraine injured 88 people, including 17 children. In Donetsk, Russian shelling over the past three days across the eastern Oblast province has resulted in the deaths of seven civilians. We must emphasise the need for accountability for these actions and renew our commitment to collaborating towards achieving enduring peace. Mr Chair, we are absolutely committed to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort. A just and lasting peace is vital for Ukraine and for wider Euro-Atlantic and international security and prosperity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Steps to Achieve Peace, Defense Assistance, and Defense Industry Development: The President of Ukraine Met with the President of France in Paris President of Ukraine 26 March 2025 - 23:12 Ukraine continues working with partners to establish sustainable peace and reliable security guarantees. This was emphasized by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his meeting with President of France Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The Ukrainian leader thanked France and Emmanuel Macron for their unwavering, highly principled and tangible support for Ukraine. In particular, for the provision of Mirage aircraft and a new defense package worth EUR 2 billion. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron coordinated their positions on the eve of the meeting of European leaders scheduled for Thursday in Paris at the initiative of the French President. The Ukrainian side expects that, in particular, it will lead to substantive, operational content of the discussion on security guarantees and the deployment of partner contingents in Ukraine. "Right now, much can and must be done to ensure true security in Europe and stability for all our people. Together with France, together with all our partners in Europe and around the world. This is an important historic moment - it's about how today's generation of European leaders will shape the security system of Europe for decades to come," the President of Ukraine emphasized. He also reminded that recently, in Saudi Arabia, the delegations of Ukraine and the United States had discussed the ceasefire in the energy sector and in the Black Sea. However, there are still technical issues to be resolved, primarily the monitoring of this process. "As for the Black Sea, the situation is more difficult: Moscow is trying to add conditions to an agreement that is meant to be unconditional. Therefore, we expect the American side to ensure that the principle of unconditional silence at sea is upheld," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted. The parties separately discussed the need to increase pressure on Russia in order to achieve peace. The Ukrainian President stressed that sanctions against Russia must remain in force and be strengthened as long as Russian aggression continues. In addition, the meeting addressed investments in Ukrainian arms production and the development of defense cooperation: from air defense to artillery. The leaders instructed the defense ministers to elaborate on this issue and ensure its implementation. Emmanuel Macron pointed out that Ukraine, despite being the victim of aggression, supported the U.S. proposal for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. "Although I see the temptation of the Russian side to rewrite, to reinterpret what has already been discussed or agreed upon by listing new conditions. And besides, Russia does not prove that it really wants peace, as day after day it continues to carry out intensive strikes on the territory of Ukraine, including on civilian objects," he said. According to the President of France, tomorrow's meeting of the leaders will focus on control, monitoring and support of the ceasefire regime, as well as security guarantees for Ukraine. "Our goal is to enable Ukraine, firstly, to maintain the situation on the frontline, to repel aggression, but at the same time to bring closer the prospects of a lasting peace that we all seek. I want to assure you: France will continue its efforts, in coordination with the United States and in agreement with the Europeans," Emmanuel Macron concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Official Negotiations on the Establishment of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine Begin in The Hague President of Ukraine 26 March 2025 - 22:30 On March 24-26, the first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on an international treaty establishing the Claims Commission for Ukraine took place. The Ukrainian delegation was led by Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Iryna Mudra. During the session, the draft international treaty establishing the Claims Commission was reviewed, and key aspects of cooperation and the Commission's organizational structure were discussed. Iryna Mudra thanked the partners for their support and emphasized the global significance of restoring justice. "One of the areas you are helping us with is compensation for the damage caused by Russia. This is part of our joint campaign to restore justice - for Ukraine and for the whole world. After all, this concerns not just Ukraine but also the fundamental principles of international law," said the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office. She also noted that one of Ukraine's key demands is that Russia compensate for all losses and damage caused since 2014. The total amount exceeds USD 1 trillion. For Ukraine, the Claims Commission will be the second integral element of the International Compensation Mechanism. It will examine the claims submitted to the International Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and determine the compensation amounts for the victims. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Congratulates National Guardsmen on National Guard of Ukraine Day and Presents State Awards President of Ukraine 26 March 2025 - 12:01 Yesterday, on the eve of National Guard of Ukraine Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NGU service members, presented state awards, conferred officer ranks, and handed over battle flags and honorary distinction ribbons. The Head of State congratulated them on the 11th anniversary of the National Guard's founding and thanked them for their faithful service to Ukraine. "National Guard warriors carry out combat missions on par with other elements of Ukraine's Defense and Security Forces. NGU units and heroic fighters are steadfastly defending Ukraine and delivering crucial results in eliminating the occupiers," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The President emphasized that since 2014, and after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, National Guard troops have proven themselves with distinction in battles for Ukraine. In addition, during the full-scale war, NGU units have been implementing and advancing the use of drones and intelligent battlefield analysis systems. "I want to thank all of you - each and every one of you who is helping modernize our National Guard. I especially want to recognize the assault units of the National Guard and the bravery of every one of our warriors who not only hold the line but reclaim Ukrainian positions," the President added. Volodymyr 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. Hero of Ukraine, Major Maksym Nebylytsia received the Order of the Golden Star. In the first six months of last year, he destroyed 6 armored fighting vehicles, 4 tanks, 7 mortar and artillery positions, 4 self-propelled howitzers, and eliminated nearly 100 Russian occupiers. His planning enabled Ukrainian troops to retake and secure a number of positions, playing a critical tactical role in preparing a counterattack near the Kreminna Forest in the Luhansk region. The Head of State also honored three warriors with the Cross of Military Merit. The award was presented to: Captain Petro Voznyi. He provided intelligence that led to the destruction of around 40 units of enemy equipment and two Russian companies. He remotely mined roads, enabling the elimination of equipment and roughly a platoon of occupiers. During an assault, he covered the withdrawal of his brothers-in-arms from under enemy fire, saving lives. Senior Sergeant Oleksandr Rudenko. He eliminated three enemy spotters, nine armored vehicles, and nearly a platoon of occupiers in the Luhansk region last January - and captured six occupiers more. In July, near Makiivka, he destroyed two grenade launcher teams, two machine gun crews, a Tigr armored vehicle, and an enemy squad. Junior Sergeant Andriy Sharko. He took part in 30 anti-saboteur operations, 5 sniper position eliminations, and 7 missions to liberate the occupied residential areas. During a Russian assault in the Svatove district, he led a fire team and personally took out an enemy grenade launcher crew with a grenade inside their trench. President Zelenskyy also awarded the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky I and III class, the Orders "For Courage" I-III 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, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reviewed military equipment currently in service with NGU units, including UAVs, small arms, and combat, evacuation, and medical vehicles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Despite Diplomatic Progress, Security Council Told Continuing Attacks, Funding Cuts Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Ukraine Meetings Coverage Security Council 9886th Meeting (AM) SC/16030 26 March 2025 The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine is worsening, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as she both welcomed diplomatic progress and expressed deep alarm over rising attacks on civilians and severe cuts to global humanitarian funding. "Since 1 March, not a day has passed without an attack harming civilians," Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the 15-member Council. The regions of Sumy, Odesa, Dnipro, Donetsk and Kharkiv have been hit especially hard in recent weeks, with extensive damage to homes, shops, warehouses and vehicles. Meanwhile, global funding cuts for humanitarian operations including for Ukraine are further reducing the UN's capacity to provide life-saving aid. While the announcement of a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and discussions regarding safe navigation in the Black Sea are positive steps, she noted that the impact of past attacks continue to undermine civilians' access to electricity, gas, heating and water as the harsh winter persists. "We are deeply concerned by the human cost of continued fighting," she said, noting that, as of 24 February 2022, at least 12,881 civilians including 681 children have been killed in Ukraine. The true toll is likely much higher. She reiterated that the protection of infrastructure critical to civilian survival is imperative, and that indiscriminate attacks are unequivocally prohibited under international law. And with almost 13 million people in Ukraine in need of humanitarian aid, she warned against funding cuts that could threaten vital services including gender-based-violence support and safe spaces for 640,000 affected women and girls. Thus far, only 17 per cent of the $2.6 billion needed for Ukraine's 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has been received. Against that backdrop, she urged the international community to enforce compliance with international law, secure funding to save lives and push for an end to the war all while ensuring that humanitarian needs remain central to peace talks. Speakers Express Concern over Increasing Attacks on Civilians, Urge Moscow to Demonstrate Commitment to Peace During the discussion that ensued, many speakers expressed concern over growing attacks on civilians in Ukraine. "The death and destruction caused by this war are tremendous," said Slovenia's delegate, noting the over 42,000 verified casualties and reconstruction costs exceeding $500 billion. Three years on, and the fighting does not seem to be diminishing in February 2025, civilian casualties increased by 35 per cent compared to February 2024. "Every human life matters and is not merely a number," added Pakistan's delegate, welcoming deals reached between Ukraine and the Russian Federation banning the targeting of energy sites and ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea. While also noting progress on those fronts, other speakers continued to call on the Russian Federation to demonstrate its commitment to peace, with France's delegate highlighting "the gaping disconnect between [the Russian Federation's] actions and words". Romania's delegate pointed out that "the dialogue efforts and the proposals in the last weeks are yet to be met by deeds", spotlighting new attacks by the Russian Federation since the night of 21 March. "It is now for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace," said the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, adding: "There can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, and no negotiations that affect European security without Europe." Finland's delegate, speaking also for Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, echoed that, also expressing concern that limited humanitarian access makes it hard for humanitarian workers to deliver life-saving aid especially in front-line areas. "A ceasefire seems not to be enough," observed Greece's delegate, adding that peace should only be possible "with credible and robust security guarantees, which will deter and prevent the recurrence of war in the future". Any peace must be more than a mere pause that allows the aggressor to rearm and strike again as it has done before Poland's delegate underscored. "We must have enduring peace in Ukraine," stressed the representative of the United Kingdom, adding that, until Moscow's forces withdraw from Ukraine, "the United Kingdom will continue to work with Kyiv to achieve a just and lasting peace". Meanwhile, the representative of the Republic of Korea said that interviews with soldiers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea captured in Kursk show men deceived and told they were being sent to Moscow for training. "Pyongyang must stop sacrificing its own people to sustain the regime in exchange for military, political and economic support from Moscow," he stressed. The representative of Denmark, Council President for March, spoke in her national capacity to describe the latest report by the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine as a "grim catalogue of crimes against humanity" perpetrated by the Russian Federation's forces against civilians. Lithuania's delegate, also speaking for Estonia and Latvia, drew attention to the 4,000 cases against the Russian Federation in the European Court of Human Rights, all related to events in Crimea, Donbas and the wider war against Ukraine. Russian Federation, Ukraine Acknowledge Limited Ceasefire Agreements while Expressing Reservations For his part, the representative of the Russian Federation said that the European Union and the United Kingdom are trying to thwart efforts by his country and the United States to settle the Ukrainian crisis. He went on to say that Moscow's air forces target only military sites, and that civilian casualties in Ukraine occur because Kyiv stores ammunition in residential areas. He also stated that Ukraine's European supporters ignore the crimes committed by Kyiv, reiterating that Moscow's military operation started three years ago to end the war being waged on fellow Russians. Regarding the agreement concerning the Black Sea, he said that this will go into effect only after a series of measures are adopted including the lifting of sanctions against some Russian Federation banks. And while agreement has been reached to ban strikes on energy sites both in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation, Kyiv continues to violate that agreement. "The Russian Federation reserves the right to respond should the Kyiv regime continue on this destructive course," he emphasized. Further, he asked those present if they would prefer to either continue providing weapons to "private-military-company Ukraine", or to join the Russian Federation and the United States to "find a long-term solution that would address the root causes of the Ukraine crisis and strengthen security in Europe and the world over". "Moscow speaks of peace while launching brutal strikes almost daily on densely populated residential areas" in her country, Ukraine's delegate said, adding that the Russian Federation launched in the first half of March alone hundreds of strikes against her people, using approximately 2,800 guided aerial bombs, nearly 2,000 attack drones and over 100 missiles of various types. Moscow has also sought to block Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, forcibly transferred Ukrainian children to its territory and that of Belarus, and made use of munitions containing hazardous chemicals. While welcoming the United States' mediation and Saudi Arabia's hospitality, and reaffirming her country's commitment to peace, she underscored: "We won't accept peace at any price." Ukraine will not recognize any of its temporarily occupied territories as belonging to the Russian Federation, and Kyiv will not agree to any foreign diktat regarding the structure or other characteristics of its defence forces. While Ukraine has agreed to a ceasefire regarding energy facilities and in the Black Sea, she warned that this does not extend to Russian Federation warships that enter Ukraine's territorial waters. "Everyone should focus on Russian actions, not their statements," she urged, noting that the coming days will be critical in determining "whether Russia is serious about peace or intends to deceive the United States and the world". Nevertheless, Speakers Point to Path towards Peace "The war must end now," the representative of the United States stressed, as she commended both the Russian Federation and Ukraine for taking the first steps towards a ceasefire. If fully implemented, the agreements concerning energy infrastructure and the Black Sea will open a path towards peace. "We call on both sides to abide by these agreements and expand on them," she said. Some speakers expressed optimism about the talks under way in Riyadh. "A window of peace is opening," said China's delegate, welcoming recent negotiations that the Russian Federation and Ukraine have had bilaterally with the United States. Positive progress was made on numerous issues, he said. Algeria's delegate, welcoming progress, as well, added that a lasting peace must consider the legitimate concerns of both parties. The representative of Panama, noting that maritime security is fundamental to his country, expressed optimism about the steps towards a cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea. Similarly, the representative of Somalia said that the agreement to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea represents a practical step towards reducing tensions and protecting vital economic infrastructure. The recent breakthrough is "creating tangible momentum towards de-escalation", he said. "Even as we celebrate the modest breakthroughs," Guyana's delegate warned that the slightest misstep could doom millions of civilians to even more bombardment and displacement. Sierra Leone's representative observed that "cautious hope has begun to emerge", but highlighted the severe impact already had on children trauma from constant shelling, loss of loved ones, displacement and abduction. "Even when bombings subside, the scars of war remain," said the Permanent Observer for the Sovereign Order of Malta, pointing to the need for psychological support for those affected by war-related trauma. Ukraine's health system will need restoring, he said, adding that it is also crucial to facilitate the safe and dignified return of displaced families. "The land must be restored and made habitable," he added, as the detritus of war is cleared away. Quoting Pope Francis, he asked those present: "Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we once more walk and live in the ways of peace? I would like for each one of us from the least to the greatest, including those who are called to govern nations to respond in one voice: 'Yes, we want peace.'" NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy Urges US, Other Partners To Stand Strong In Face Of Russian Demands By RFE/RL March 27, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Ukraine's partners to be "at least as resilient as we are" in the face of conditions Russia has placed on the implementation of a Black Sea cease-fire agreement. Zelenskyy, speaking to journalists in Paris ahead of a meeting of European leaders on March 27, said he had agreed to proceed with cease-fire talks in Saudi Arabia to ensure a resumption of US aid and intelligence sharing. The White House said the talks resulted in an agreement "to develop measures for implementing" recent commitments to halt strikes on energy facilities and a cease-fire in the Black Sea. But Russia is demanding a number of conditions be met, including an easing of sanctions, in exchange for adhering to the agreement. "They are posing conditions on sanctions to the American side. If America stands strong...we are standing on our own land and are defending ourselves," Zelenskyy said. "We have shown our resilience. And now it is very important for our partners to be at least as resilient as we are, though they have more capabilities," he told the journalists. Asked whether he believed the Americans would remain strong, he answered, "I hope so. God bless they will." Zelenskyy also said that pro-Kremlin comments indicated that some on the US side had become "influenced" by Russian narratives of the conflict, weakening pressure on Russia. "We cannot agree with these narratives. We are fighting for ourselves, and we will fight against these narratives wherever they appear because there is simply no other way," he said. He cited comments by US envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who he said "often repeats Kremlin narratives." "I have spoken with President Trump many times and we are working at the intelligence level to exchange real, truthful information. Because Witkoff's statements are a major obstacle for us." Zelenskyy met in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who on March 27 will host delegations from the "coalition of the willing" -- a group of Ukraine's allies seeking to aid Kyiv and secure a lasting cease-fire with Russia. "This is a decisive phase to put an end to the war of aggression," Macron said at a joint press conference with Zelenskyy on March 26. Macron accused Russia of displaying a "desire for war" and insisted Moscow must accept the 30-day cease-fire "without preconditions." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will assess Moscow's conditions. "We're going to evaluate that. Some of those conditions include sanctions that are not ours -- they belong to the European Union," Rubio said at a news conference in Jamaica on March 26. Macron, however, said in Paris would not lift sanctions because it's "much too early" for that. The State Department said Rubio spoke on March 26 with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot about ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Rubio emphasized Trump's "determination to achieve, through negotiations, enduring peace, and stressed the United States will continue working with France towards this end," spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News on March 26 that he believed Trump "would not hesitate to tighten sanctions if it gives him an advantage in negotiations." He added that tightening or easing sanctions would depend on further actions by the Russian leadership. Bessent also said the United States and Ukraine could sign a natural resources deal next week. "We have handed over a completed document on economic partnership. It is currently being reviewed by the Ukrainians, and we hope that full discussions will begin next week and perhaps even signatures will be put in place," Bessent said. The agreement was to be signed on February 28 during Zelenskyy's last visit to Washington, but the signing ceremony was postponed after a heated discussion between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-macron-ukraine- russia-coalition-willing/33361483.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 NEW YORK, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Elastic N.V. (NYSE: ESTC) between May 31, 2024 and August 29, 2024, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important April 14, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Elastic 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 Elastic class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34953 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 14, 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Elastic had implemented significant changes to its sales operations, particularly with respect to its customer segments in the Americas; (2) the foregoing changes were likely to, and did, disrupt Elastics sales operations during the first quarter of its fiscal year (FY) 2025; (3) accordingly, defendants had overstated the stability of Elastics sales operations; (4) as a result of all the foregoing, Elastic was unlikely to meet its own previously issued revenue guidance for its FY 2025; and (5) as a result, defendants public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Elastic class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34953 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ______________________ Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com /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. TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amaran Biotech, a next-generation Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), was honored with the "Best CDMO in Automated Aseptic Filling" award at the Taiwan Biopharma Excellence Awards 2025, held yesterday (March 26) at the Hilton Taipei Sinban. Organized by the renowned international consulting firm IMAPAC, the award recognizes Amaran Biotechs outstanding contribution to advancing automated aseptic filling solutions in the biopharmaceutical sector. The Taiwan Biopharma Excellence Awards celebrate organizations, technologies, and experts that drive innovation and excellence in biomanufacturing and researchdelivering faster, cost-effective, and higher-quality solutions to accelerate the advancement of the biopharmaceutical industry. The award ceremony was held alongside IMAPACs 12th Biologics World Taiwan 2025 and 4th Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Asia 2025, gathering nearly 300 leading professionals from Taiwan's top biopharmaceutical, vaccine manufacturing, and biologics companies. Amaran Biotech successfully introduced Taiwan's first fully automated aseptic filling line in 2022. Utilizing the Cytiva (Vanrx) SA25 robotic aseptic filling system, the company has significantly reduced the risk of human intervention in the filling process, enhancing drug safety. This state-of-the-art technology provides high-quality, low-waste filling solutions for high-value biologics, including protein therapeutics, antibody drugs, and nanoparticle-based drug. This system supports various container types, including vials, pre-filled syringes, and cartridges, with an impressive filling accuracy of 99.99%. During her acceptance speech, Dr. Tessie Che, Chairperson and General Manager of Amaran Biotech, stated, We are deeply honored to receive this prestigious recognition from IMAPAC. This award belongs to our entire team! When we made the decision to build our automated aseptic filling line in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challengesinternational engineers were unable to travel to Taiwan for on-site installation. Nevertheless, through close remote collaboration with the equipment manufacturer, our team successfully completed the installation. We overcame every obstacle, ensuring our facility met stringent regulatory standards set by the FDA, EMA, ICH, PIC/S, and ISPE. Moving forward, Amaran Biotech is committed to leveraging high-tech innovation, including AI integration, to deliver comprehensive, customized CDMO services and become a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing. About Amaran Biotech Amaran Biotech is a CDMO (Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization) specializing in drug process development, analytical services and cGMP manufacturing of high-value biopharmaceuticals. Amaran Biotechs state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is in the Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park and has been granted the PIC/S GMP certification from the TFDA since 2017. The company has also been audited and fully qualified by the regulatory agencies and third-party auditors from the USA and the EU. In 2020, Amaran Biotech officially became a subsidiary of OBI Pharma. In 2024, its Building C received the Green Building Certification from Taiwans Ministry of the Interior. Dr. Tessie Che, Chairperson and General Manager of Amaran Biotech, has extensive experience in the global pharmaceutical and biotech industries and successfully led the register and commercialize the antibiotic drug DIFICID (Fidaxomicin) in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Media Contact: Doreen Lin doreen.lin@amaranbiotech.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9e288d9c-892a-42d9-811a-068a4e91d019 DENVER, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique (ECEQ), also known as Quantum Mind Business School, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative that seamlessly integrates financial innovation with environmental responsibility through its innovative ECEQ Token. This revolutionary approach establishes new standards for sustainable investment in the French market and beyond. Blockchain Technology Powers ECEQ's Environmental Finance Solutions The ECEQ Token represents a sophisticated financial instrument specifically designed to catalyze environmental and technological transformation. By leveraging advanced blockchain technology and artificial intelligence capabilities, ECEQ has created a comprehensive ecosystem that effectively incentivizes and supports sustainable community development initiatives. "Our vision at Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique extends beyond traditional financial returns," explains the institution's leadership team. "We're creating a technological and financial framework that makes sustainable investment both accessible and profitable for all stakeholders involved in our ecosystem." The ECEQ Token distinguishes itself within the digital asset landscape through several innovative features that highlight Quantum Mind Business School's commitment to technological advancement and environmental stewardship: Transparent Blockchain Financing : Utilizing blockchain technology to ensure complete transparency in all financial transactions, allowing investors to track every aspect of green project investments with unprecedented clarity and accountability. : Utilizing blockchain technology to ensure complete transparency in all financial transactions, allowing investors to track every aspect of green project investments with unprecedented clarity and accountability. Smart Contract Ecosystem : Implementation of advanced smart contract technology that automates fund distribution for green initiatives, ensuring precise resource allocation while significantly reducing administrative overhead costs. : Implementation of advanced smart contract technology that automates fund distribution for green initiatives, ensuring precise resource allocation while significantly reducing administrative overhead costs. Decentralized Energy Exchange: Facilitating community-level energy trading that empowers residents and businesses to efficiently utilize and trade renewable energy resources, creating economic incentives for sustainable energy practices. Sustainable Environmental Practices Thrive Through ECEQ Token Ecosystem Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique has introduced a revolutionary reward system that directly encourages sustainable living practices through its token ecosystem. Residents and businesses can earn ECEQ Tokens by actively participating in verified low-carbon activities, creating direct financial incentives for sustainable choices including utilizing green energy sources, implementing effective waste management practices, and choosing eco-friendly transportation options. The ECEQ Token reward system represents a fundamental shift in how environmental behavior can be incentivized through financial mechanisms. By providing tangible economic benefits for sustainable practices, Quantum Mind Business School has created a self-reinforcing ecosystem where ecological responsibility becomes financially advantageous for all participants. Environmental Leadership Defines ECEQ's Market Position Professor Pierre Duboisier, the driving force behind Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique, brings a profound personal commitment to the institution's environmental initiatives. His philosophy emphasizes that finance must transcend simple wealth generation to become a catalyst for meaningful social progress. His personal observations of environmental challenges, particularly regarding the Seine River's ecosystem degradation, have been instrumental in shaping ECEQ's mission and strategic priorities. This connection to real-world environmental issues reflects Quantum Mind Business School's commitment to addressing pressing ecological concerns through innovative financial instruments like the ECEQ Token. Smart City Development Advances Through ECEQ's Blockchain Framework Quantum Mind Business School is positioning itself at the forefront of a transformative movement that integrates technology, finance, and environmental stewardship. By combining blockchain capabilities, artificial intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, the ECEQ Token ecosystem is designed to: Optimize urban resource management through data-driven solutions and automated efficiency mechanisms that enhance city infrastructure and reduce environmental impact. Enhance investment returns while simultaneously generating positive environmental impact, proving that profitability and sustainability can successfully coexist within the same financial framework. Accelerate the ecological transformation of cities worldwide by providing both financial resources and technological frameworks necessary for meaningful change at municipal, regional, and national levels. About ECEQ - Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique (ECEQ), also known as Quantum Mind Business School, stands as a pioneering institution operating at the critical intersection of financial innovation, technological advancement, and environmental sustainability. With a comprehensive global vision and steadfast commitment to transformative solutions, ECEQ is actively redefining the role of finance in creating a more sustainable world. By combining rigorous financial expertise with cutting-edge technology and ecological consciousness, Ecole de Commerce Esprit Quantique is establishing new paradigms for responsible investment in the 21st century. The ECEQ Token represents the culmination of this visionary approach, offering a tangible mechanism through which financial incentives can drive positive environmental outcomes. Contact Information for Quantum Mind Business School Business Name: Quantum Mind Business School Contact Person: Pierre Duboisier Email: service@eceq.org Website: https://eceq.org/ Address: 518, 17th St, Denver, CO 80202, United States For more information about ECEQ's innovative sustainable finance initiatives and the ECEQ Token ecosystem, please visit https://eceq.org/ or contact Quantum Mind Business School directly. Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Quantum Mind Business School. 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. 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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11fb9ea0-3ce1-4b00-9924-5bff7e9476cc HAIKOU, China, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stepping into the Window of World Tropical Fruits located on the tropical island of Hainan, China, visitors are greeted by a dazzling array of exotic fruits from around the globe -- finger limes, swallowtail fruits, and mamey sapote, among others -- drawing numerous visitors who pause to capture the moment with their cameras. Hidden among the fruit trees, the eye-catching ripening fruits emanate delightful aromas, particularly the milk fruit, which is set to hit the market this April. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available at the image or link above Originating from the Americas, the star apple has been introduced by Hainan Grand Modern Agriculture Development Co., Ltd. It is cultivated and experimentally grown at the Window of World Tropical Fruits, gradually making its way into the orchards of local farmers in Hainan. Currently, the cultivation area for star apples has expanded to 1,000 mu (approximately 66.67 hectares), with an expected yield of 50 tons. This not only enriches the options available to residents but is also poised to become a "new favorite" in the fruit platters welcoming visitors from near and far to Hainan. The breeding and cultivation of tropical fruits stand as one of Hainan's efficient characteristic agricultural industries. Beyond the common jackfruit and mango, recent years have seen Hainan's focused efforts on developing rare and exceptional fruit tree varieties. Benefiting from the island's favorable climate and soil conditions, coupled with the technological innovation hub of the seed industry, known as the "Nanfan Silicon Valley," a diverse array of "novel and unique" fruit plant sources has been preserved, selected, and hybridized. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hainan Province introduced that the province has introduced nearly 2,000 foreign tropical fruit and vegetable materials from similar latitudes. This endeavor has led to the successful cultivation and optimization of numerous tropical fruit varieties, earning Hainan the well-deserved title of the "Fruit United Nations." Taking the Window of World Tropical Fruits in Qionghai, Hainan, as an example, it has introduced over 700 varieties of "novel and unique" tropical fruits from around the world, successfully trialing 380 distinctive varieties, including swallowtail fruits, chocolate pudding fruit, and finger limes. Among them, more than 20 selected varieties have entered the stage of industrial cultivation, gradually forming a considerable scale, with 18 varieties now available in the marketplace. The scientific achievements from the experimental fields have not only become a source of prosperity for local rural industries but have also allowed for the export of high-quality seedlings to countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. In addition, the Window of World Tropical Fruits is exploring diverse business models that merge agriculture and tourism, delving into the deep processing of cocoa by-products. Within the park, visitors can immerse themselves in the experience of transforming cocoa beans into handcrafted chocolates and crafting cocoa fruit shells into exquisite handicrafts. Moreover, the outer shells of cocoa beans, processed through a special roasting technique, are fashioned into substitute tea bags. The brewed tea offers a delightful blend of rich cocoa aroma and a sweet fruity fragrance. This unique tea has become an essential souvenir for visitors as they depart from the park. Other creative agricultural and cultural tourism complexes in the region include Jiahe Grange, Little Overseas Chinese Coffee Estate, and Tanka Fishing Rows Resort, among others. Revered as the "Paradise of Tropical Fruits," Hainan Island in China ensures a continuous supply of fresh fruits throughout the year, leaving a lasting impression on both domestic and international visitors. Since the beginning of this spring, domestic tourists have frequently explored the orchards of Qionghai to savor fresh strawberries and pineapples. Among the increasing number of inbound tourists, many from Japan have praised the Hainan mangoes, pineapples, and wax apples found in local hotels, restaurants, and fruit shops. Tour guide Zheng Meihua, who often hosts Korean tour groups, notes that Korean guests have a particular fondness for Hainan's watermelons, mangoes, and coconuts. Today, this "Fruit Island," cherished by visitors from around the globe, is not only dedicated to becoming the "Fruit United Nations" but is also transforming its traditional orchards into an "International Reception Hall." "Our team is like a young person, racing forward in step with Hainan's modern agricultural innovations," shares Chen Bing, the chief agronomist of the Window of World Tropical Fruits in Qionghai, Hainan. In 2024, the park was rated as a National 4A Tourist Attraction, expected to welcome over 1 million domestic and international visitors. The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 was held from the 25th to the 28th of this month, once again bringing together elites from the political, business, and academic sectors across continents in Qionghai. Hainan's mangoes, papayas, and passion fruits, alongside Wenchang chicken and grouper, were masterfully prepared by chefs into delectable dishes, desserts, and beverages. This culinary experience created a memorable encounter with guests from around the world at Qionghai's "Beautiful Countryside Reception Hall," continuing to weave Hainan's agricultural narrative that connects with the global community. Source: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hainan Province SATO Corporation, Press release 27 March 2025 at 10:00 am Housing in Finland is undergoing a transition towards renewable energy sources and more energy-efficient solutions. In recent years, housing investment company SATO has taken determined steps to promote sustainable urban living and support the green transition of rental housing within its own properties. In 2024, the company invested approximately 1.8 million in locally produced renewable energy. This year, the substantial investments continue. In 2020s, SATO has taken clear action to reduce carbon emissions from its properties. In 2022, emission-free energy accounted for 46% of all energy used by SATO. By 2024, the figure had risen to 73%. This achievement has been made possible through investments in local energy production and improvements in the energy efficiency of properties. This year, SATOs investments in locally produced renewable energy have continued. The company has made an investment decision to install solar power plants in 60 company-owned properties, which together house nearly 4,000 homes. The solar panels will be installed during 2025. "At the end of last year, we had solar power plants in 53 residential buildings. This year, the number will double. The solar panels installed on the rooftops of our properties already produce around 800,000 kWh of renewable energy annually. Thats equivalent to the annual power consumption of roughly 400 apartments," says Arto Aalto, EVP, Investments at SATO. In addition to solar power systems, SATO is also investing in geothermal heating, which is already the main source of heat in 26 of the companys properties, housing over 1,800 homes. By switching to geothermal heat, the company has succeeded in reducing the energy consumption of its properties by more than 7,000 MWh per year compared to traditional district heating. "We are currently converting a property with 134 rental homes from district heating to geothermal heating, and we have made investment decisions for 13 other properties. These are currently in the planning and tendering phase. Through these investments, nearly 1,000 new SATOhomes will benefit from zero-emission heating energy," Aalto continues. Currently, around 5,500 SATO rental homes are located in buildings that utilise locally produced renewable energy for heating and for electricity, e.g. in the lighting and ventilation of shared spaces. Carbon roadmap progressing ahead of schedule SATO aims to be carbon neutral by the end of 2030 in terms of in-use energy consumption. The measures outlined in the companys carbon roadmap, published in 2023, are progressing ahead of the original schedule. In addition to investing in zero-emission energy, SATO also reduces its environmental impact through preventive property maintenance based on lifecycle principles. In every major renovation, SATO aims to improve the buildings energy efficiency by at least 30%. Efficient energy use saves costs, and it is also one of the most important means of mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing water consumption is also a key part of SATOs sustainability work. Over the past year, individual water meters were installed in around 4,000 SATO rental homes. According to a study by Motiva, water meters reduce average water consumption by approximately 8%. SATO residents can track their own water usage through the digital OmaSATO service. Photo: In March, solar panels were installed on a SATO property on Rummunlyojankatu in Leppavaara, Espoo. Photo: Ville Toivonen For more information, please contact: Arto Aalto, Executive Vice President, Investments, tel. +358 201 344 392 firstname.lastname@sato.fi For media inquiries, please contact: Terhi Jokinen, Senior Communications Manager, tel. +358 201 344 307, firstname.lastname@sato.fi SATO Corporation is an expert in sustainable rental housing and one of Finlands largest rental housing providers. SATO owns around 26,000 rental homes in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Tampere and Turku. SATO aims to provide an excellent customer experience and a comprehensive range of urban rental housing alternatives with good access to public transport and services. We promote sustainable development and work in open interaction with our stakeholders. SATO invests profitably, sustainably and with a long-term view. We increase the value of our assets through investments, divestments and repairs. In 2025, SATO celebrates its 85th anniversary. www.sato.fi/en Attachment Washington D.C., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- International non-profit organization The Global Alzheimers Platform Foundation (GAP) in collaboration with the Scottish Funding Councils Brain Health Alliance for Research Challenges (ARC) and the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative proudly announced four winners of the Bio-Hermes Biomarker Data Challenge at the first Data Challenge Summit, held in Glasgow, Scotland last week. The Bio-Hermes Biomarker Data Challenge, was an international research competition launched in February of 2024 by the Brain Health ARC, supported by Race Against Dementia to grant researchers early access to GAPs Bio-Hermes-001 Biomarker dataset, the most comprehensive set of dementia biomarker data from ground-breaking blood testing study for Alzheimers disease. The Challenge represented an unprecedented effort of collaboration between government, academics, nonprofits and scientists and an unrivalled speed to delivery, going from an idea or 'dream' to a full Summit on March 21, 2025, with over 40 submissions in just over a year. "It was an honor for GAP to collaborate with the Brain Health Arc and the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative to undertake the Bio-Hermes Data Challenge Summit. Dr. Quinn and his colleagues organized the Challenge in six months and attracted a multi-disciplined group of the UK's leading researchers to interrogate the Bio-Hermes database with the assistance of the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative to explore novel hypotheses related to Alzheimer's and related dementias. Over the ensuing year, competing teams advanced their research with unparalleled speed and rigor. We celebrate their hard work and the scientific contributions these researchers will make in the coming months in the form of new papers and abstracts," said GAP President John Dwyer. The one-year timeline for the Bio-Hermes Biomarker Data Challenge is extraordinary in Alzheimers research, where studies and clinical trials typically take years. When GAP opened access to the Bio-Hermes-001 data set, and the Challenge announced an aggressive timeline, it proved that researchers could take an agile approach in Alzheimers research, demonstrating that urgency is possible in the field. Dementia progresses quickly, but traditional research moves slowly. We wanted our Data Challenge to challenge this assumption. We have shown that with collaboration, support, and a little hard work we can do things differently. Through working in partnership with GAP, and the dementia research community, in a matter of months, we have completed a portfolio of high quality, impactful research, said Professor Terry Quinn, David Cargill Chair and Honorary Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine at the University of Glasgow. Teams showcased their research concepts for a chance to win in three categories: poster presentation, quick-fire project presentation, and oral presentation. Winners in the poster presentation and quick-fire chat categories received complimentary passes to attend the 2025 Scottish Dementia Research Consortium conference in Edinburgh, Scotland and the oral presentation winner received admission to the 2025 Alzheimers Association International Conference in Toronto, Canada. Below are the winners along with titles of their projects: Winning Poster Presentation: Blood cytokine profiles in AD and their association with neurodegeneration and clinical severity. Presenter: Katherine R. Birditt, University of Cambridge Blood cytokine profiles in AD and their association with neurodegeneration and clinical severity. Presenter: Katherine R. Birditt, University of Cambridge Winning Quick Fire Project Presentations : Resilience Defining cognitive resilience and resistance to Alzheimers dementia using novel Presenters: Connor Dalby and Austin Jon Dibble of the University of Glasgow Higher Cardiovascular Risk as Moderator of the Relationship between Blood Plasma Dementia Biomarkers and Cognitive Impairment Presenter: Angelina Kancheva, MSc of the University of Edinburgh : Resilience Defining cognitive resilience and resistance to Alzheimers dementia using novel Presenters: Connor Dalby and Austin Jon Dibble of the University of Glasgow Higher Cardiovascular Risk as Moderator of the Relationship between Blood Plasma Dementia Biomarkers and Cognitive Impairment Presenter: Angelina Kancheva, MSc of the University of Edinburgh Winning Oral Presentation: Functional Independence as an excellent predictor of cognitive status Presenter: Kalliopi Mavromati of the University of Glasgow The Data Challenge ethos of end-to-end support, fully open access data, and collaborative team science, represented a new approach to dementia research, and the Brain Health Arc announced that they will soon have an announcement regarding the next challenge initiative to launch later in 2025. For more information on the Bio-Hermes Data Challenge visit www.brainhealtharc.com/data-challenge. END About the Global Alzheimers Platform Foundation (GAP) The nonprofit Global Alzheimers Platform Foundation was founded to speed the delivery of Alzheimers treatments with a commitment to promoting diversity in clinical research, as well as lowering the cost and improving the efficacy of ADRD clinical trials to ensure that no one is left behind. As part of its mission, GAP supports more than 100 clinical research sites worldwide through study start-up and recruitment activities, promoting diversity in research studies, and giving attention to the citizen scientists who make research possible. About the Brain Health ARC The ambition of the Brain Health ARC is to utilise Scotlands world leading research capacity to educate the public, influence policy, and find solutions to the societal challenges associated with poor brain health. The ARC aims to challenge the current, arbitrary silo thinking that separates research in areas such as dementia, head injury, stroke, and others while seizing unique opportunities to work for, and with, our ageing population to improve their health. Attachment Irvine, California, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Origence, a leading provider of lending technology solutions, announced AI futurist Steve Brown as a keynote speaker for its Lending Tech Live 25 conference, scheduled for June 16-18, 2025, at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. Steve Brown will deliver a keynote session titled AI now and next: Getting ready for the future of AI. In this session, he explains AI in accessible terms, demonstrates its latest capabilities, and details how companies and individuals can prepare to surf the coming AI wave. Attendees will: Learn the basics of AI, its main types, and problem-solving capabilities. Discover how companies use AI to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and elevate employee performance. Examine the coming waves of AI: reasoning, agents, spatial AI, and next-generation robotics. Understand AIs future trajectory and its significance for us all. Recognize the crucial influence of AI on business and determine immediate actions. Get practical advice on using AI for competitive advantage and personal growth. Steve Brown is a leading expert on AI, generative AI, autonomous agents, digital transformation, and how AI will shape business, education, and society. He draws upon decades of experience in AI and high tech to help leaders build winning AI strategies that fuel innovation, boost productivity, and drive growth. His 25-year career included roles as senior director and in-house futurist at Google DeepMind in London and as Intels chief evangelist and futurist. He is the co-founder of The Provenance Chain Network, which provides supply chain transparency and security services to the U.S. Space Force, and a strategic advisor to two AI startups. He holds a bachelors and masters degree in Microelectronic Systems Engineering from Manchester University. AI is at the top of everyones mind and strategy as every business learns more about how to integrate this crucial technology to stay ahead of the rapidly evolving financial landscape, explained Erika Hill, vice president of marketing for Origence. We are excited to offer the impressive expertise of Steve Brown to credit union leaders to learn how to harness the power of AI effectively. Lending Tech Live 25 is the leading credit union lending-specific event, filled with informative keynotes, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations, and comprehensive sessions on the latest lending trends. With a heightened focus on digital transformation and operational efficiency, it will showcase innovative tools and strategies designed to revolutionize the lending industry. To view a full list of speakers or to learn more about registration opportunities, visit the Lending Tech Live website. About Origence Origence provides lending technology solutions credit unions need to advance their total origination experience. We were established in 1994 as a credit union service organization (CUSO) and have helped thousands of credit unions process more than 97 million applications, including 8.6 million applications in 2024. Our solutions include indirect lending, loan and account origination, auto shopping, marketing automation, lending operations, and more. Learn more at www.origence.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn. Attachment WEBINAR TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 28 @ 10:00 AM EDT Register here: https://6ix.com/event/wallbridge-mining-corporate-update TORONTO, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX:WM, OTCQB:WLBMF) (Wallbridge or the Company) is pleased to report results from an updated positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) completed on its 100%-owned Fenelon gold project (Fenelon or the Project) located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, along the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend, Quebec. A PEA prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) has been filed on SEDAR+ and is available on the Companys website and can be accessed here. All results herein are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated. PEA HIGHLIGHTS Average annual gold production of 107,000 oz per year over 16-year life of mine ( LOM ); 96% average gold recovery ); 96% average gold recovery Average annual gold production of 127,000 oz during the first five years Average annual free cash flow of $120 million over LOM After-tax Internal Rate of Return ( IRR ) of 21% ) of 21% After-tax Net Present Value ( NPV ) of $706 million at base case gold price of US$2,200 and CAD$:US$ of 1.35:1.00 at a 5% discount rate ) of $706 million at base case gold price of US$2,200 and CAD$:US$ of 1.35:1.00 at a 5% discount rate Initial capital expenditures ( 1) of $579 million of $579 million Sustaining capital expenditures ( 1) of $449 million of $449 million Total cash costs ( 1) of US$851/oz of US$851/oz All-in sustaining costs ( 1) ( AISC ) of US$1,046/oz ( ) of US$1,046/oz 16.6 Mt of mineralized material mined at an average grade of 3.34 g/t Non-IFRS financial measures with no standardized definition under IFRS. Refer to Non-IFRS Measures at end of this news release. The Company cautions that the results of the PEA are preliminary in nature and include inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them to be classified as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the results of the PEA will be realized. Brian Penny, CEO of Wallbridge, commented: Fenelon is a gold project with tremendous potential. This updated Fenelon PEA generates strong project economics under a lower risk, higher grade, lower startup capital scenario. Fenelon has now reached another milestone with a robust PEA that demonstrates a viable path to development and attractive economic returns based on reasonable assumptions. The PEA was designed to be rigorous, using current cost data from contractors, suppliers and mining companies operating in the region to arrive at realistic projections. It represents a new starting point to build upon as we scope out the full opportunities at Fenelon and Martiniere, the two most advanced projects on our large, underexplored property. In this historically high gold price environment, we need to rapidly advance the project. The current plan has a shorter payback than the previous plan and allows us to consider expansion options after payback has been achieved. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the completion of this study, as well as our employees, stakeholders, and shareholders for their continuous support. I believe Wallbridge has a bright future, and we look forward to taking the necessary steps to increase value for our shareholders. Table 1: PEA Summary of Key Metrics and Project Economics SUMMARY OF PROJECT ECONOMICS Mar 21, 2025 Base case gold price (US$) 2,200 Exchange rate (CAD$:US$) 1.35:1.00 Discount rate (%) 5.0 NSR Royalty on Fenelon Mine Property (%) 4.0 Mining Parameters Average grade mined (g/t) 3.34 Cut-off grades (g/t) 2.25 (CTC) 2.51 (A51) Mining rate (tpd) 3,000 Total tonnage mined (Mt) 16.6 Mine life (years) 16.0 Processing Parameters Processing recovery (%) 96.0 Processing rate (tpd) 3,000 Total tonnage milled (Mt) 16.6 Average annual production (oz/year) 107,000 Average annual production(first five years) (oz/year) 127,000 Total production (oz) 1,711,000 Capital Expenditures Initial capital expenditure(3) ($M) 579 Sustaining capital expenditure(3) ($M) 449 Closure costs(3) ($M) 9 Salvage value ($M) 26 Operating Costs Total operating costs ($/t milled) 106 Cost Per Ounce LOM total cash costs(1) (3) (US$/oz) 851 LOM all-in sustaining costs(2) (3) (US$/oz) 1,046 Financial Analysis Pre-tax NPV 5% ($M) 1,176 Pre-tax IRR (%) 27 Post-tax NPV 5% ($M) 706 Post-tax IRR (%) 21 Post-tax payback period (from start of commercial production) (years) 4.0 Profitability Index (post-tax NPV 5% /initial capital) - 1.22 Total cash costs per ounce are operating costs, composed of mining (UG and OP), processing, water treatment and tailings, minesite G&A and royalty costs, divided by payable gold ounces. AISC/oz includes operating costs, sustaining capital expenditures to support the on-going operations, and closure costs, divided by payable gold ounces. Non-IFRS financial measures with no standardized definition under IFRS. Refer to note at end of this news release. Financial Analysis The PEA assumes a base case gold price of US$2,200/oz. Using that base case assumption, the Project generates an after-tax NPV of $706 million using a 5% discount rate and an after-tax IRR of 21%. The Project generates cumulative free cash flow of $1,367 million and averages annual free cash flow of $120 million over a mine life of 16 years (Figure 1). Total taxes payable over LOM at the base case gold price is $776 million. Figure 1. Annual After-Tax Free Cash Flow (millions) Sensitivities The PEA financial economic analysis is significantly influenced by gold prices. At a gold price of US$3,000/oz and FX of CAD$:US$ of 1.35:1.00, the Project generates an after-tax NPV of $1,381 million and an after-tax IRR of 34% with a payback period of 2.4 years from the start of commencement of production (Table 2). Table 2: PEA Sensitivity Analysis Gold Price Gold Price (USD) FX NPV ($M) IRR Payback (Years) 1800 (-18%) 1.35 353 13% 5.7 1900 (-14%) 1.35 443 15% 5.0 2000 (-9%) 1.35 532 17% 4.6 2100 (-5%) 1.35 619 19% 4.3 2200 1.35 706 21% 4.0 2300 (+5%) 1.35 792 22% 3.7 2400 (+9%) 1.35 878 24% 3.4 2500 (+14%) 1.35 963 26% 3.1 2600 (+18%) 1.35 1047 27% 2.9 3000 (+36%) 1.35 1381 34% 2.4 Operating Costs NPV ($M) IRR Base Case -30% 912 25% Base Case -20% 845 24% Base Case -10% 776 22% Base Case 0% 706 21% Base Case +10% 635 19% Base Case +20% 563 18% Base Case +30% 490 16% Capital Expenditures NPV ($M) IRR Base Case -30% 855 30% Base Case -20% 806 26% Base Case -10% 756 23% Base Case 0% 706 21% Base Case +10% 655 19% Base Case +20% 604 17% Base Case +30% 552 15% Production Annual production over LOM is expected to average 107,000 ounces with peak production of 141,000 ounces in year 1 (Figure 2). Figure 2. Production Profile Capital Expenditures The initial capital expenditures are estimated at $579 million, and the sustaining capital expenditures are estimated at $449 million (Tables 3 & 4). A contingency of $57 million and $20 million is included in initial and sustaining capital expenditures, respectively. Initial and sustaining capital expenditures were estimated based on current costs received from vendors as well as developed from first principles, while some were estimated based on factored references and experience from similar operating projects. Table 3: Initial Capital Expenditures Cost Element Initial Capital ($M)1,2 Mill 217 Paste Plant 43 Tailings and Water Treatment 22 Capitalized Operating (Pre-production) 75 Surface Civil & Infrastructure 80 Mining Equipment 31 Underground Development 54 Underground Infrastructure 28 Hydro Electric Line & Distribution 29 Total Initial Capital $579 All values stated are undiscounted. No depreciation of costs was applied. Non-IFRS financial measures with no standardized definition under IFRS. Refer to Non-IFRS Measures at end of this news release. Table 4: Sustaining Capital Expenditures Cost Element Sustaining Capital ($M)1,2,3 Mining Equipment 145 Development 161 Tailings & Water Treatment 64 Paste Distribution Network 8 Underground Infrastructure 32 Surface Infrastructure 29 Closure 9 Open pit (OB Excavation + Contractor) 3 Total Sustaining Capital $449 All values stated are undiscounted. No depreciation of costs was applied. Non-IFRS financial measures with no standardized definition under IFRS. Refer to Non-IFRS Measures at end of this news release. Due to rounding, columns may not add up. Total Cash Costs The total unit cash costs are estimated at US$851/oz. The AISC is estimated at US$1,046/oz. Operating cost estimates were developed using first principles methodology, vendor quotes, and productivities being derived from benchmarking and industry practices. Table 5: Total Cash Costs LOM Total $ million Average LOM ($/tonne milled) Average LOM (US$/oz) Mining (UG & OP) 900 56 390 Processing 423 25 183 Water Treatment & Tailings 66 4 28 General & Admin. 374 22 162 Royalty (4%) 202 12 88 Total Cash Costs 2,3 1,965 119 851 All values stated are undiscounted. No depreciation of costs has been applied. Non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standardized definition under IFRS. Refer to Non-IFRS Measures at the end of this news release. Total cash costs include mining (UG and OP), processing, water treatment and tailings, minesite G&A and royalty costs. Mineral Resource Estimate The updated mineral resource estimates (MRE) for the Fenelon and Martiniere deposits presented in this news release were prepared by Mauro Bassotti, P.Geo., an independent mineral resource consultant using all available information. The effective date of the 2025 MRE is March 20, 2025. The databases supporting the 2025 MREs are complete, valid and up to date, with close-out dates of October 22, 2024 and January 8, 2025 for Fenelon and Martiniere respectively. The 2025 Mineral Resource Statement for the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property is presented below in Table 6. The statement provides the consolidated estimates for the Fenelon and Martiniere deposits. Details are provided in Item 14 of the PEA technical report. Table 6: Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property 2025 Mineral Resource Statement by Deposit DEPOSIT INDICATED INFERRED Tonnes (000s) Gold Grade (Au g/t) Gold Ounces (000s) Tonnes (000s) Gold Grade (Au g/t) Gold Ounces (000s) FENELON OP @ > 0.45 g/t Au 3,121 2.50 251 2,313 2.53 188 UG @ > 1.45 g/t Au 11,966 3.91 1,503 12,715 3.57 1,461 Total 15,087 3.62 1,754 15,028 3.41 1,649 MARTINIERE OP @ > 0.49 g/t Au 3,928 1.97 249 1,982 2.22 142 UG LH @ > 1.60 g/t Au 750 3.89 94 1,813 4.06 237 UG CF @ > 2.15 g/t Au 25 4.29 3 75 3.62 9 Total 4,703 2.29 346 3,870 3.11 387 Total Fenelon & Martiniere Open Pit & Underground 19,790 3.30 2,100 18,899 3.35 2,037 Notes to accompany the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend Property 2025 Mineral Resource Statement: The effective date of the 2025 MREs is March 20, 2025. The 2025 MREs follow CIM Definition Standards (2014) and CIM MRMR Guidelines (2019). The qualified person (QP) for the 2025 MREs is Mr. Mauro Bassotti (P.Geo.) who is an independent mineral resource consultant. The criterion of reasonable prospects for economic extraction has been met by having constraining volumes applied to estimated blocks using GEOVIA Whittle pit optimizer (Whittle) software for open pit mineral resources and using Deswik Stope Optimizer (DSO) software for underground mineral resources, and by the application of cut-off grades appropriate to the potential mining extraction scenario (i.e., open pit, underground long-hole, underground cut-and-fill). Constraining 3D Whittle open pit and DSO underground stope volumes have been generated based on a gold price assumption of US$2,150 per troy ounce. A minimum mining width of 2.0 m was used for underground stope optimization. The potentially economic open pit shells and underground DSO shapes used for reporting the 2025 MREs have been generated by Mr. Simon Boudreau (P.Eng.), Senior Mining Engineer for InnovExplo Inc., a member of Norda Stelo Inc. For the Fenelon deposit, sixteen (16) mineralized domains and four (4) surrounding alteration envelopes were modelled in 3D to the true thickness of the mineralization. Supported by measurements, a density value of 2.80 g/cm3 was applied to blocks inside mineralized domains and 2.81 g/cm3 to blocks inside alteration envelopes. High-grade capping was applied to raw assay data and established on a per-zone basis, ranging between 7 g/t Au and 100 g/t Au for the mineralized domains, and a fixed capping value of 10 g/t Au for the alteration envelopes. One-metre (1.0 m) sample assay composites were calculated within the mineralized domains and alteration envelopes using the grade of the adjacent material when assayed or a value of 0.001 when not assayed. For the Martiniere deposit, sixteen (16) mineralized domains and ten (10) surrounding alteration envelopes were modelled in 3D to the true thickness of the mineralization. Supported by measurements, the mean density value of the domain was applied to the blocks inside mineralized domains and alteration envelopes, with density values ranging from 2.80 to 3.09 g/cm3. High-grade capping was applied to raw assay data and established on a per-zone basis, ranging between 15 g/t Au and 100 g/t Au for the mineralized domains, and a fixed capping value of 5 g/t Au for the alteration envelopes. 1.0 m composites were calculated within the mineralized domains and alteration envelopes using the grade of the adjacent material when assayed or a value of 0.001 when not assayed. The cut-off grades for the Fenelon deposit were calculated using a gold price of US$2,250/oz; a USD/CAD exchange rate of 1.35; a refining cost of $5.00/t; a processing cost of $30.00/t; a mining cost of $5.75/t (bedrock) or $5.95/t (overburden) for the surface portion; a mining cost of $90.00/t for the underground portion; and a G&A cost of $10.00/t. A metallurgical recovery of 95.0% and royalty of 4.0% were applied to the cut-off grade calculations. The cut-off grades for the Martiniere deposit were calculated using a gold price of US$2,250/oz; a USD/CAD exchange rate of 1.00:1.35; a refining cost of $5.00/t; a processing cost of $30.00/t; a mining cost of $5.75/t (bedrock) or $5.95/t (overburden) for the surface portion; a mining cost of $125.00/t for the underground portion using the long-hole mining method (LH), a mining cost of $135.00/t for the underground portion using the cut-and-fill mining method (CF); and a G&A cost of $10.00/t. A metallurgical recovery of 85.0% and royalty of 2.0% were applied to the cut-off grade calculations. The metallurgical recovery is based upon a metallurgical characterization study completed in December 2024 (SGS, 2024; Wallbridge news release dated December 19, 2024). Tonnage estimates are reported to the nearest 1000 tonnes (000s). Contained gold estimates are reported to the nearest 1000 troy ounces (000s). These mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. The QP is not aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title-related, taxation, sociopolitical or marketing issues, or any other relevant issue, that could materially affect the potential development of mineral resources other than those discussed in the 2025 MREs. Results are presented in situ. Ounce (troy) = metric tons x grade/31.10348. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations as per NI 43-101. The reader should note that the 2025 PEA does not include the Martiniere deposit mineral resource estimate. Mining The mine will have a production rate of 3,000 tonnes per day (tpd) over a 16-year LOM. A total of 16.6 Mt of mineralized material at an average grade of 3.34 g/t will be extracted from three different mining zones: Contact-Tabasco-Cayenne (C-T-C), with 54.6% of the ounces to be mined; Area 51, with 44.9% of the ounces to be mined; and Gabbro open pit, with 0.5% of the ounces to be mined. The mining method will be long hole with longitudinal stopes measuring 5 to 8 m wide, corresponding to 44% of the stope tonnage. Transverse stopes are designed for stopes 8 to 15+ m wide, which account for 56% of the remaining stope tonnage. Stope dimensions are 30 m (Area 51 zone) to 40 m (C-T-C zones) high, 5 to 15 m wide, and 20 m long. The average stope size in all zones is approximately 15,000 t. An average of 70 stopes will be mined annually. Mining recovery is estimated at 95%. Stope backfilling will be done mostly with paste backfill (66%) or cemented rock fill (2%) or rock fill (32%), depending on the stope dimensions and sequence. A mining contractor will carry out development during pre-production. Starting in pre- production Year -1, the development will be done with the owners equipment and personnel. The priority is to develop the main C-T-C ramp and access production horizon. The mining fleet, comprised of a maximum of 66 pieces of mobile equipment, will be purchased via a financing agreement. Supporting underground infrastructure includes two ventilation intake raises and heating systems, and one exhaust raise. Figure 3. Overview of the Fenelon Project on a Longitudinal View Looking North Metallurgy The main metallurgical testwork program was conducted in two phases, in 2020 and 2021, on material from the Area 51 and C-T-C zones by SGS Canada Inc. Grindability testing, including semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill comminution testing, was completed in 2021. The samples were characterized as hard in terms of resistance to impact breakage during the SMC test, with Ab drop weight test values ranging from 23 to 31. The Bond rod mill work index results ranged from 15.6 to 16.9 kWh/tonne, classifying the material as moderately hard to hard. The Bond ball mill work index ranged from 13.4 to 16.2 kWh/tonne, indicating a medium hardness range. Gravity gold recovery testing was performed in 2021 on a representative composite sample from the C-T-C and Area 51 zones. The testwork results for E-GRG (Extended Gravity Recoverable Gold) showed gold recoveries of up to 82% for the Contact zone and 90% for the Area 51 zone, aligning with the results from prior testing conducted in 2020. These findings confirm the necessity of incorporating a gravity circuit in the process flowsheet. Cyanidation testing was conducted in 2020 on representative samples following gravity recovery. Overall gold recoveries ranged from 94.6% to 96.9% for the C-T-C zones and from 95.3% to 97.1% for the Area 51 Zone. Based on the metallurgical testwork conducted in 2020 and 2021, and considering the planned process flowsheet, the estimated average payable gold recovery for the process plant is expected to be 96.0% over the LOM. Processing The process plant is designed to treat a total of 3,000 tpd of material. It will incorporate a SAG mill operating in closed circuit with a pebble crusher, and a ball mill in closed circuit with cyclones, forming a Semi-Autogenous Ball Mill Crusher circuit. Gold recovery will be achieved through a leaching circuit. The cyclone overflow will be processed through a pre-leach tank, followed by a seven-tank carbon-in-leach (CIL) circuit and an SO 2 /Air cyanide destruction system. Gold will be recovered via an adsorption-desorption-recovery circuit using the Zadra process, followed by electrowinning cells. The final gold product will be refined in the gold room, where gold bars will be produced and subsequently shipped to facilities for purification. The SO 2 /Air cyanide detoxification circuit will be followed by a tailings flotation circuit, where the sulphide concentrate will be utilized for paste backfill to be sent underground and/or non sulphide to produce dried tailings for tailings storage. The process plant facility will also include, a mill maintenance workshop, administrative offices, and a dry room. Project Infrastructure The Project is approximately 75 km from the town of Matagami. It can be accessed from highway 810 via a 24-km forestry road. The existing Fenelon camp includes a welcome center, a 155-room dormitory, a dry, a kitchen, a dining room, a game room, a workshop and a First Nations cultural centre. The existing camp and mine site include a core shack, modular offices, a garage, a water treatment plant, an air ventilation-heating system to serve the underground openings, an open pit and a portal connecting to an underground ramp. The camp and mine site are served by diesel generators for electricity production. All these facilities will be used at the start of the Project and will be upgraded, expanded or replaced during construction and operations. The mining and processing infrastructure will be located on the Fenelon site. The Project envisions the upgrade of existing surface infrastructure: site access road, potable water and sewage systems, underground mine portal, mine ventilation systems (intake and exhaust), main and remote gatehouses, surface maintenance shop, waste rock stockpile, overburden stockpile, and mineralized material stockpile. The Project will require construction of the following infrastructure items: 3,000 tpd process plant complex, paste plant, offices, dry, truck shop and warehouse; 4 km of new 120kV overhead transmission line from the connection point to HydroQuebec up to a new 120-69 kV substation; from this point, a new 69kV overhead line will run for 22 km up to the new site substation (69kV-25kV); final effluent water treatment plant; surface water management facility, including ditches, pond and pumping stations; service and haulage roads; and tailings management facility. The camp will be expanded to 250 rooms with associated kitchen, dining room and game- exercise room. A local office is planned in a nearby town to support administration, communication, human resources and technical personnel. Underground Infrastructure The main ventilation intake is a 4 m diameter raise bored from L-270 to the surface in two sections, serving as the primary fresh air intake with high-efficiency surface fans. Exhaust air will exit mainly through the main ramp. Underground infrastructure includes a service bay on L-520, which will accommodate a welding bay, garage, tire storage, washing bay, small warehouse, greasing bay, fuel bay, and parking. The garage will allow for simultaneous maintenance of two large equipment units and one smaller unit, ensuring efficient underground operations. Underground refuge stations are strategically located within 1,000 m to ensure accessibility. Mine dewatering will be managed through separate systems for contact and non-contact water. Contact water, collected from groundwater inflow and mine operations, will be directed to three main pumping. Non-contact water will be channeled down to a dedicated pumping station. Each Pumping station will be equipped with three centrifugal pumps (two in operation, one on standby). Pump stations and powder magazines are not explicitly included in the design but have been accounted for in the equivalent meter contingency, with associated costs incorporated into the financial model. Tailings and Waste Rock Management Tailings from mill operations will be managed in two streams: used as underground paste backfill or disposed on the surface as filtered tailings in a dry stack facility (85% solids). Tailings will be pumped either to the paste backfill plant (via the filter plant for pre- processing) or to a filter plant before being trucked to the tailings storage facility (TSF). The selection of the site for surface tailings disposal was advanced in previous studies. The proposed site is located 1.0 km northwest of the mill. In this area, the topography is relatively flat, and the site is surrounded by a natural stream, a conceptual high-water mark was outlined. The perimeter of the facilitys footprint was placed at 30 m from the conceptual line. Given the low potential for acid mine drainage and metal leaching of the surface tailings facility, the current design, as proposed, is not lined. It is noted, however, the geochemical testing is ongoing and should the addition of the membrane be required this can increase costs significantly and should be included, in such a case, in future designs. It is further noted that Wallbridge has elected to include a desulphurization plant, with the residual sulphur content being below the threshold limits of the new Directive 019. All things considered this study has not included a membrane to encapsulate the tailings. The paste mixer is a horizontal twin shaft mixer with a capacity of 3 m. In the mixer, the filtered desulphurized tailings are mixed with binder (90/10 slag cement binder was selected from the preliminary uniaxial compressive strength results) and thickened sulphide tailings from the holding tank to form paste backfill. The mixer will be fitted with an adjustable slump water stream to control the density of the paste. After mixing, the paste backfill is pumped to the borehole feeding the underground paste distribution system using one positive displacement piston pump. As conceptualized, all development waste rock will be used to fill underground voids at some point in the mine life. A portion of the material will have to be temporarily stored on surface, while stopes are being mined out. The limited geochemistry available has indicated that the development waste is both PAG and metal leaching. As such this has been considered in the design of the waste pile which will store 0.84 Mm3 of material at its peak. Water Treatment All contact water, including groundwater, surface runoff and tailings and waste rock storage facilities drainage shall be collected and treated at the water treatment plant before being discharged to the environment. The water treatment plant (WTP) will be located near the TSF water basin. A settling pond will decant solids from the underground dewatering. An MBBR reactor (moving bed biofilm reactor) will remove ammonia and/or other nitrogen-based contaminants present in water from both underground dewatering and TSF. Finally, MBBR-treated water and other contact water containing suspended solids and metals will be removed in a high-rate clarifier by following treatment steps such as metal precipitation, coagulation, flocculation, and clarification. The final effluent from the WTP will be discharged into the environment by gravity, and its quality will be monitored in an effluent quality monitoring station. Environment and Permitting In Northern Quebec (James Bay region located south of the 55th parallel), all mining development projects must follow the environmental assessment (EA) and review procedures under the Regulation Respecting the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Review Procedure applicable to the territory of James Bay and Northern Quebec. With a planned production capacity of 3,000 per day, the mining project does not exceed the 5,000 per day threshold for the federal environmental assessment procedure set out in the Physical Activities Regulations (SOR/2019-285). Therefore, no environmental assessment in compliance with the requirements of the federal Impact Assessment Act (S.C. 2019, c. 28, s. 1) will be required. The acquisition of baseline environmental knowledge on the Project began several years ago and is still ongoing today. To date, preliminary environmental characterizations of the physical environment and biological environment have been carried out and/or are ongoing. Confirmation of the regulatory context made it possible to identify the scope of the environmental studies required to obtain environmental authorizations. Inventory work is underway to fill these gaps. To date, no major environmental issues have been identified in the work undertaken. The situation of the woodland caribou, designated as vulnerable in Quebec and threatened at the federal level, remains uncertain to date in the Project area with regard to future legal protection of its habitat. A preliminary geochemical characterization program has been in progress since 2020 to identify the geo-environmental characteristics of mineralized material and mine wastes and classify their environmental risk (e.g., for acid rock drainage and metal leaching) based on Quebec provincial guidance documents. Findings from the geochemical study have been incorporated into the Project design. Closure Plan A closure and rehabilitation plan for the land affected by the Project will be prepared and submitted for authorization. The preliminary concept for site closure is estimated at $11.5 million. The current financial deposit for site closure is estimated at $2.9 million for a net closure cost of $8.6 million. Figure 4. Process Flow Sheet Stakeholder Engagement Wallbridge conducts consultation activities with the Cree communities of Waskaganish and Washaw Sibi, and the Cree Nation Government. It also consults with the Algonquin Abitibiwinni First Nation through weekly meetings, site visits and monthly bulletins. In addition, Wallbridge follows a formal consultation plan and schedule developed as part of the 2019 ESIA process. The plan aims to identify and communicate with potentially interested and/or impacted First Nations and stakeholders. The First Nations consultation activities include: Meetings and traditional knowledge workshops with the Tallyman Meetings with the First Nation leaders Participating in a mining workshop and community feast in Waskaganish Project update bulletins Weekly scheduled meetings with each community and other frequent discussions as needed Assisting with business development and employment opportunities Site visits Assisting local Tallyman by providing assistance or accommodation when needed. Workforce Wallbridges hiring and contracting policy is to hire First Nations and local community members or service providers when possible. Consultation activities with the municipalities, associations, organizations and political stakeholders have included project update correspondence, meetings with the municipalities and their chambers of commerce, and meetings with interested organizations. Wallbridge actively collaborates with the town of Matagami, the Societe de Developpement de la Baie-James, the Societe du Plan Nord and the Cree Nation Development Corporation to identify opportunities for employment and infrastructure development projects in the vicinity of the Project. Independence and Responsibilities The PEA was prepared for Wallbridge Mining by independent consulting firms with their respective responsibilities listed in Table 7. The Qualified Persons (QP) are not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the PEA. Each QP has reviewed and approved the content of this news release. All scientific and technical data contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Marc R. Beauvais, P.Eng, of InnovExplo, who was responsible for compiling the PEA technical report. By virtue of his education, membership in a recognized professional association and relevant work experience, Mr. Beauvais is an independent QP as defined by NI 43-101. All scientific and technical data related to the MREs contained in this document has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Mauro Bassotti (P.Geo.) who is an independent mineral resource consultant and a QP as defined by NI 43-101. The Company cautions that the results of the PEA are preliminary in nature and include (i) indicated mineral resources with potential quantity and grades that are conceptual in nature, with insufficient exploration to define as a mineral resource and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource; and (ii) inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them to be classified as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the results of the PEA will be realized. Table 7: Consulting Firm, Area of Responsibility and Qualified Person Consulting Firms Area of Responsibility Qualified Person M.B. Consulting Mineral Resource Consultant Mineral Resources Mauro Bassotti, P.Geo. InnovExplo Inc. / Norda Stelo Mine design and scheduling, mine capital, and operating costs; G&A cost estimates and financial analysis Rock mechanics and stope design. Mine hydrogeology and site hydrology. UG dewatering design, capital, and operating costs. Marc R, Beauvais, P.Eng. Simon Boudreau, P.Eng. InnovExplo Inc. / Norda Stelo Environment. Underground electrical infrastructure. Francois Gaudreault, P.Geo. G-Mining Services Metallurgy, processing plant design, capital, and operating cost estimates. Mahamadou Traore, P.Eng. BBA Inc. Tailings management site design, capital, and operating costs; and reclamation costs. Paste plant design, capital, and operating costs. Water treatment plant design, capital, and operating costs. Surface infrastructure, and capital cost estimate. Luciano Piciacchia, P.Eng., Ph.D. The QPs mentioned above have reviewed and approved their respective technical information contained in this news release. The reader is advised that the PEA summarized in this news release is intended to provide only an initial, high-level review of the project potential and design options. The PEA mine plan and economic model include numerous assumptions and the use of inferred mineral resources. Inferred mineral resources are considered to be too speculative to be used in an economic analysis except as allowed for by NI 43-101 in PEA studies. There is no guarantee that inferred mineral resources can be converted to indicated or measured mineral resources, and as such, there is no guarantee the project economics described herein will be achieved. A NI 43-101 technical report supporting the PEA has been filed on SEDAR+ and is available on the Companys website. Webcast Wallbridge management will host a webinar to discuss the Fenelon PEA results. Date and Time: Tomorrow, Friday March 28, 2025, starting at 10:00 AM EDT Registration: To participate in the webinar, please register here: https://6ix.com/event/wallbridge-mining-corporate-update A presentation that summarizes the PEA results of the Project will be available on the Companys website at 10:00 AM EDT on Friday, March 28, 2025. About Wallbridge Mining Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects in Quebecs Abitibi region while respecting the environment and communities where it operates. The Company holds a contiguous mineral property position totaling 830 km2 that extends approximately 97 km along the Detour-Fenelon gold trend. The property is host to the Companys flagship PEA stage Fenelon Gold Project, and its earlier exploration stage Martiniere Gold Project, as well as numerous other gold exploration projects. For further information please visit the Companys website at https://wallbridgemining.com/ or contact: Brian Penny, CPA, CMA CEO Email: bpenny@wallbridgemining.com M: +1 416 716 8346 Tania Barreto, CPIR Director Investor Relations Email: tbarreto@wallbridgemining.com M: +1 289 819 3012 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively, FLI) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections, and interpretations as at the date of this news release. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include words such as seeks, believes, anticipates, plans, continues, budget, scheduled, estimates, expects, forecasts, intends, projects, predicts, proposes, "potential", targets and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results may, will, could, would, should or might, be taken, occur or be achieved. FLI herein includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the results of the PEA, including the production, operating costs, capital expenditures and total cash cost estimates, the projected valuation metrics and rates of return, and the cash flow projections, as well as the anticipated permitting requirements and Project design, including processing and tailings facilities, infrastructure developments, metal recoveries, mine life and production rates for the Project, the potential to further enhance the economics of the Project and optimize the design, potential timelines for obtaining the required permits and financing, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource estimates (each an MRE) at Fenelon and Martiniere (collectively the Deposits); the prospects, if any, of the Deposits; future drilling at the Deposits; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results. Forward-looking information is not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events.FLI is designed to help you understand managements current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and 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 such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this document is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained in this document to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this document has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this document. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI. Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Companys financial position and general economic conditions; the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs and in the PEA; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; and failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; foreign exchange rates; environmental expectations; community and non-governmental actions; and, the Companys ability to secure required funding. Risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Non-IFRS Financial Measures Wallbridge has included certain non-IFRS financial measures commonly used in the mining industry in this news release, such as initial capital expenditures, sustaining capital expenditures, total cash costs and all-in sustaining costs, which are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. As a result, these measures may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. Each of these measures used are intended to provide additional information to the user and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures used in this news release and common to the gold mining industry are defined below. Total Cash Costs and Total Cash Costs per Ounce Total cash costs are reflective of the cost of production. Total cash costs reported in the PEA include mining (UG and OP), processing, water treatment and tailings, minesite G&A and royalty costs. Total cash costs per ounce is calculated as total cash costs divided by payable gold ounces. All-In Sustaining Costs and All-In Sustaining Costs per Ounce All-in sustaining costs and all-in sustaining costs per ounce are reflective of all of the expenditures that are required to produce an ounce of gold from operations. All-in sustaining costs reported in the PEA include total cash costs, sustaining capital expenditures, closure costs, but exclude corporate general and administrative costs. All-in sustaining costs per ounce is calculated as all-in sustaining costs divided by payable gold ounces. A description of the significant cost components that make up the forward looking non-IFRS financial measures of total cash costs and all-in sustaining costs per ounce of payable gold produced is shown in the table below. Free Cash Flow Free cash flow was estimated as the amount of cash generated by Fenelon after all operating and capital expenditures have been paid. Initial Capital Expenditures and Sustaining Capital Expenditures Initial and sustaining capital expenditures in the PEA were estimated based on current costs received from vendors as well as developed from first principles, while some were estimated based on factored references and experience from similar operating projects. Initial capital expenditures represent the construction and development costs to achieve commercial production and sustaining capital expenditures represent the construction and development costs subsequent to commercial production. Payable Gold Ounces LOM Costs (millions $) US$ Per Ounce Cash Operating Costs 1,711,000 1,763 763 Royalties 202 88 Total Cash Costs 1,965 851 Sustaining Capital Expenditures and Closure Costs 449 195 All-in Sustaining Costs 2,414 1,046 Cautionary Note to United States Investors Wallbridge prepares its disclosure in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Terms relating to mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and economic studies used herein are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the SEC generally applicable to US companies. As such, the information presented herein concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Figures accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d8c7fb3-bc41-4216-850b-8e8c9f33e4ed https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/27cc6bbf-fcb6-4102-a955-947aa976844c https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65e5206e-363e-4bc2-ad3f-a917ad6221f0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bb13aaa5-0053-418b-975c-bba168a53cd9 AUSTIN, Texas, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- B2B marketers dont need more leads. They need the right onespeople who are real, reachable, and ready to engage. But heres the problem: most lead gen providers are still sending the same recycled lists. They source contacts through third parties, layer on a few filters and call it qualified. At best, they enrich the data with some type of intent. Youve been there. Youve seen the results. Its not working. At Vereigen Media, weve taken a completely different routeone that actually holds up under pressure, compliance, and performance metrics. Weve built a network of 107+ million first-party B2B contacts from the ground upthrough publisher properties we own and operate. Every contact and engagement from our owned properties is collected and analyzed directly by us. We dont buy leads. We dont borrow databases. We dont outsource ANY portion of your demand generation programs. We own the data, validate it with our internal data science team, and deliver it with accountability baked in. Real B2B Data Theres a big difference between accessing a database and owning the audience behind it. What sets Vereigen Media apart is how weve built our system. We run our own publisher networkweb properties built to attract, inform, and engage business professionals across industries and roles. Through those properties, we collect true first-party intelligence, aligned to what real people are actively consuming. That means we have full visibility into what content theyve seen, how long they engaged, and what brought them there in the first place. We know when they show up, where theyre coming from, and if theyre truly engagingwith real metrics that reflect time spent and content interaction, not just clicks. Its how we help our clients reach the right people, at the right time, at the right locationand it's why our leads dont just look good on paper. They convert. No Lead Aggregators Every contact we deliver is verified by a real human. Our 200+ in-house data validation experts confirm job titles, locations, company details, and engagement signalsbefore a lead ever lands in your CRM. This process is part of every program. Its not an add-on or upgrade. Its the standard. And when it comes to engagement, we dont just log a form fill and pass it off. We use Verified Content Engagementwhich means a prospect must spend real time with your content before we count them as a lead. If they dont? Theyre filtered out. So, when your team follows up, theyre reaching out to someone whos already interacted with your brandon your terms, not just theirs. What You Get When You Partner with Vereigen Media Were not just here to hand you a list. Were here to actually make B2B marketing easier and more effective. Heres what partnering with us really means: Real Ownership First-party contacts sourced directly through our publisher network. No third-party noise. Human Verification Every record is reviewed and validated by our data science team before delivery. Global Reach Coverage across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAMtailored by job function, vertical, and seniority. Content Engagement That Matters Leads only come through when someone has actually spent time with your content, not just clicked a link. Transparent Process Youll know how the data was captured, how its being used, and how it aligns to your targeting needs. Full Compliance Every lead delivered has opted-in to YOUR Ts & Cs, not simply passed by a pre-selected checkbox. Our goal isnt to flood your sales team with namesits to help you start the right conversations with the right people. Trusted by B2B Marketers Vereigen Media has proven themselves to deliver. Our recent result has shown they outperformed other suppliers. They understand the aims of our campaigns and their ability to turn things around fast makes them feel like an extension of our own marketing team. I would highly recommend working with them. Hieu Trung Do, Digital Marketing Specialist, ServiceNow Built for B2B Teams Who Need More Than Just Leads We get itthere are plenty of lead gen vendors out there. But if youre looking for a true partnerone that actually delivers what they promise, one that doesnt hide behind vague reporting or third-party fluffwed love to show you how we work. Because at Vereigen Media, were here to help you connect with the right people, at the right companies, at the right time. Every single time. Thats what we mean when we say: Leads. Done Right. Ready to See What First-Party B2B Marketing Looks Like? Lets have a real conversationno pressure, just facts, transparency, and answers. Contact: Janvi Gandhi - Brand Marketing Manager Vereigen Media LLC Email: marketing@vereigenmedia.com Phone: +1 512-240-2212 (US) Visit: www.vereigenmedia.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/739cedce-7376-4789-be78-e0d1c7119433 Dublin, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Middle East and Africa Hydrogen Market Report 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Many countries in the Middle East and Africa are scaling up their hydrogen production. While some of this hydrogen will support domestic decarbonization efforts, the majority is intended for export to demand markets. Africa is set to host 4 out of the 10 largest upcoming low-carbon hydrogen projects, and is focussing on green hydrogen production, leveraging its vast renewable resources. The Middle East on the other hand is focussing on blue hydrogen production, leveraging its vast refinery infrastructure. The MEA region aims to rapidly establish itself as a key player in the global hydrogen market. Although the region currently accounts for only 11% of global active hydrogen capacity, a pipeline of large-scale low-carbon hydrogen projects is set to significantly enhance its global standing. Several African countries, chiefly Egypt, Mauritania, and Morocco are aiming to leverage their abundant renewable energy resources to produce cost-competitive green hydrogen. While some of this hydrogen will support domestic decarbonization efforts, the majority is intended for export to demand markets such as Europe. In contrast, the Middle East is pursuing a diversified low-carbon approach, with companies investing in both green and blue hydrogen. This strategy capitalizes on the region's existing refinery infrastructure and experience, while also aiming to position the Middle East as a supplier to global markets. Key Highlights MEA active capacity is currently 0.21mtpa MEA upcoming electrolyzer capacity is currently 211GW MEA upcoming capacity is currently 23.5mtpa Middle East and Africa currently account for only a small share of the global hydrogen market (11% of the global market share) 80% of upcoming hydrogen capacity in the MEA region lies within its early stage feasibility projects Egypt is expected to lead future hydrogen production in Africa and Oman is expected to lead future hydrogen production in the Middle East Out of the 10 largest upcoming low-carbon hydrogen projects globally, four are based in Africa Scope MEA's low-carbon hydrogen capacity outlook Key regional projects Key companies operating in MEA's hydrogen market Hydrogen end-use sectors Hydrogen policy in the Middle East and Africa Deal activity related to hydrogen in MEA Company filings analysis of MEA headquartered companies Reasons to Buy Identify the market trends within the region and key players in hydrogen technologies. Develop market insight of active and upcoming capacity and latest trends of the sector. Analyze the region's different scenarios for 2030 based on the likelihood of projects' completion. Identify the demand in key application areas for both regions, with particular focus on transport, ammonia and methanol, iron and steel. Analyze how the MEA market is growing as it is rapidly scaling up to position itself as a key global hydrogen export hub. Key Topics Covered: Executive summary Snapshot of the low-carbon hydrogen market MEA future leaders in green and blue hydrogen production Low-carbon hydrogen market Middle East and Africa in a global context Leading countries in the regional hydrogen market Largest upcoming projects globally Largest upcoming projects in the Middle East Largest upcoming projects in Africa MEA hydrogen capacity in high and low-case scenarios Low-carbon hydrogen competitiveness drivers Major barriers to low-carbon hydrogen deployment Demand in Key Application Areas Key MEA countries' targets and demand focus Intended use sectors for low-carbon hydrogen in Africa Intended use sectors for low-carbon hydrogen in the Middle East Transportation Iron & steel Ammonia & chemicals Natural gas & gas blending Refining Hydrogen sector challenges Policies, Projects, and Key Players MEA climate targets vs hydrogen targets Africa hydrogen policy Middle East hydrogen policy MEA hydrogen funding MEA hydrogen deal activity MEA hydrogen corporate filings Company Coverage Includes: Sasol SA ACME Group ACME Cleantech Solutions Pvt Ltd Scatec ASA OQ Qatar Energy ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Co) Mitsui&Co JER Group CWP Global GCL New Energy Holdings Ltd Eni SpA EGPC (Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation) GHI GreenGo Energy Group Adani New Industries BP Plc ACWA Power Co Air Products and Chemicals Inc Engie SA POSCO Holdings Inc PTT Public Co Ltd Samsung E&A Co Ltd Neom Co Blue Power Partners AS Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners KS Actis Corp Fortescue Future Industries Pty Ltd ENEOS Corp Electric Power Development Co Ltd Electricite de France SA Yamna Ltd ADQ GS Energy Corp Egyptian Electricity Transmission Co New and Renewable Energy Authority Sovereign Fund of Egypt British International Investment Plc Norfund Abu Dhabi National Energy Co Conjuncta GmbH Infinity Mubadala Investment Co Falcon Capital Hydrogene de France SA Eren Groupe SA TotalEnergies SE Westgass IPS Jindal Shadeed Group Fertiglobe Volvo VDL Daimler Anglo America BMW Enertrag AG Nicholas Holdings Ltd SDG Namibia One Fund Chariot Ltd Consolidated Contractors Co Fusion Fuel Green Plc Hassan Allam Holding SAE NNPC Ltd Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines Bayerngas GmhB OMV AG Snam SpA OG Gas Networks SAOC Enagas SA The European Investment Bank CFM (Climate Fund Management) Brooge Energy Ltd GenCell Energy Ltd Saudi Arabian Oil Co NewMed Energy LP Saudi Basic Industries Corp Omnia Holdings Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s8a0uj 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. SYDNEY, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following the announcement of Axi Selects first two $1,000,000 funded traders, leading online FX and CFD broker Axi, has announced the programs third Pro M trader: 21-year-old trader, Kayan Freitas. This is a remarkable milestone for the brokers capital allocation program, redefining whats possible when a program is designed to unlock and maximise traders full potential. This is not the first time that Kayan has made his mark in the program. In January, he reached the Pro 500 stage, securing $500K in funding. Reflecting on his trading journey with Axi Select at the time, Kayan commented: With Axi, I've never had a problem with any consistency rules or just hidden things to make you lose. Nothing. You really give us the freedom to just trade however we want, and this is what I appreciate a lot. One key factor behind his achievement in January was consistency, with Kayan emphasising that It took me around nine months of consistent trading. Greg Rubin, Head of Axi Select, also shares his excitement for the programs latest success, noting, As weve already said, trading is difficult, and whilst not everyone will reach the top, having a program designed to unlock and sharpen traders full potential makes all the difference. Our third Pro M trader, Kayan, is just 21 years old, with only 3-4 years of trading experience. His remarkable achievement highlights the power of combining talent with a trader-centric program, demonstrating that with the right tools and support, traders can truly maximise their profit potential. Just a few weeks ago, Axi Select announced its first two $1M funded traders, Francisco Quesada Godines and Daniel Gutierrez Vinas. Launched in 2023, the program offers traders the opportunity to access capital funding up to $1,000,000 USD and earn up to 90% of their profits. Moreover, Axi Select traders benefit from $0 membership fees*, trading on a live account, unrestrictive trading conditions, an exclusive trading room, and more. *Standard trading fees apply. The Axi Select program is only available to clients of AxiTrader Limited. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. In our dealings with you, we will act as a principal counterparty to all of your positions. This content is not available to AU, NZ, EU and UK residents. For more information, refer to our Terms of Service. For more information contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36bda280-468b-451e-935e-9fb68db7665c Dublin, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Brazil Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2025-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Brazil Data Center Market was valued at USD 3.40 billion in 2024, and is projected to reach USD 5.96 billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 9.81% This report analyses the Brazil data center market share. It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT, electrical, mechanical infrastructure, general construction, and tier standards. It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments. In the current landscape of colocation investors, several established companies play a significant role. Notable players in the Brazil data center market include Ascenty, Equinix, Scala Data Centers, ODATA (Aligned Data Centers), Elea Data Centers, Cirion Technologies, and Angola Cable, among others. Companies such as Ada Infrastructure, Surfix Data Center, CloudHQ, and 247 Data Center are emerging in the Brazil data center market, reflecting a growing demand for data center services and innovative colocation solutions. This dynamic environment is fostering competition and promoting advancements in technology and customer offerings. The cloud market in Brazil is expected to continue experiencing significant growth in the future. Major global cloud providers in the Brazil data center market such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Google, Oracle Cloud, Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud, and others continue to expand their presence. For instance, in November 2024, Microsoft announced its plan to invest USD 2.70 billion in cloud and AI Infrastructure over the next three years in Brazil. Earlier, in September 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced its plan to invest around USD 1.80 billion to expand its data center operations throughout 2034. KEY HIGHLIGHTS The Brazil data center market has about 73 operational colocation data centers and most colocation data centers are being developed according to Tier III standards. Sao Paulo is the top data center destination in the Brazil data center market. It continues to be Brazil's leading hub for data center expansion, marked by a concentrated growth in advanced facilities, hyperscale data centers, and dedicated cloud regions. There are more than 40 existing and 20+ upcoming data centers in Sao Paulo. According to Turner & Townsend's 2024 Data Center Cost Index, developing a data center in Sao Paulo costs $10.10 per watt, making it one of the highest costs in the Latin America region. On average, the cost of developing data centers in Brazil ranges between $8.50 and $9.50 per watt. Scala AI City, a collaboration between Scala Data Centers and the government of Rio Grande do Sul has emerged as the largest data center initiative in Latin America, representing a significant investment in the future of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing technologies within the region. WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH? Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Brazil colocation market revenue. An assessment of the data center investment in Brazil by colocation, hyperscale, and enterprise operators. Data center investments in the area (square feet) and power capacity (MW) across cities in the country. A detailed study of the existing Brazil data center market landscape, an in-depth market analysis, and insightful predictions about the Brazil data center market size during the forecast period. Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Brazil Facilities Covered (Existing): 73 Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 25 Coverage: 9+ Locations Existing vs. Upcoming (Data Center Area) Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity) Data center colocation market in Brazil Colocation Market Revenue & Forecast (2021-2030) Retail Colocation Revenue (2021-2030) Retail Colocation Pricing The Brazil data center landscape market investments are classified into IT, power, cooling, and general construction services with sizing and forecast. A comprehensive analysis of the latest trends, growth rate, potential opportunities, growth restraints, and prospects for the market. Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the market. A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the market. KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED How big is the Brazil data center market? How much MW of power capacity will be added across Brazil during 2025-2030? What factors are driving the Brazil data center market? What is the growth rate of the Brazil data center market? Which all geographies are included in the Brazil data center market report? Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 126 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2024 $3.4 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $5.96 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.8% Regions Covered Brazil Investment Opportunities in Brazil Microeconomic and Macroeconomic Factors for Brazil Market Investment Opportunities in Brazil Market Investment by Area Market Investment by Power Capacity Data Center Colocation Market in Brazil Colocation Services Market in Brazil Retail vs Wholesale Data Center Colocation Colocation Pricing (Quarter Rack, Half Rack, Full Rack) & ADD-Ons Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Sao Paulo Other States List of Upcoming Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity) Sao Paulo Other States IT Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks Broadcom Cisco Dell Technologies Hewlett Packard Enterprise Huawei Technologies IBM Lenovo NetApp Oracle Pure Storage Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors AECOM Afonso Franca Engenhari Aceco TI Constructora Sudamericana Fluor Corporation Grupo PML Jacobs Engineering Modular Data Centers Mendes Holler Quark Racional Engenharia Zeittec ZFB Group Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Alfa Laval Bosch Security & Safety Systems Caterpillar Cummins Daikin Applied Delta Electronics Eaton Honeywell Johnson Controls Legrand Mitsubishi Electric Munters Piller Power Systems Panduit Rittal Rolls Royce Schneider Electric Siemens STULZ Vertiv Data Center Investors Actis (NextStream) Amazon Web Services Ascenty Angola Cables Ava Telecom Cirion Technologies Elea Data Centers Equinix EVEO Hostdime Microsoft ODATA (Aligned Data Centers) OneX Data Center Quantico Data Center Scala Data Centers Takoda Data Centers Teccloud Tecto Data Centers (V.tal) New Entrants ADA Infrastructure CloudHQ Surfix Data Center 247 Data Centers REPORT COVERAGE IT Infrastructure Server Infrastructure Storage Infrastructure Network Infrastructure Electrical Infrastructure UPS Systems Generators Switches & Switchgears PDUs Other Electrical Infrastructure Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems Rack Cabinets Other Mechanical Infrastructure Cooling Systems CRAC and CRAH Chillers Cooling Towers, Condensers and Dry Coolers Other Cooling Units General Construction Core & Shell Development Installation & commissioning Services Building & Engineering Design Fire Detection & Suppression Systems Physical Security Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) Tier Standard Tier I & Tier II Tier III Tier IV Geography Sao Paulo Other States For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8n5usy 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. Fleet and mobility stakeholders continue their fleet electrification strategies, with 85 per cent of them now shifting their focus to charging solutions and strategies. 91 per cent of companies anticipate their fleet will either remain stable or grow in the next three years. Nearly half of the companies recognize that mobility policies and solutions are important levers for talent acquisition and employee retention. TORONTO, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Element Fleet Management Corp. (TSX:EFN) ("Element" or the "Company"), the largest publicly traded, pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, together with global alliance partner, Arval, a major player in vehicle leasing and specialist in mobility solutions, are marking the 30th anniversary of the Element-Arval Global Alliance (EAGA or the Alliance) with new insights published in the 2025 Fleet and Mobility Barometer. Our global alliance uniquely offers our fleet and mobility customers the expertise and relationship management needed to deploy strategies across 55 different countries, ensuring solutions meet local needs and maintain very high quality standards, says Bart Beckers, Chief Commercial Officer of Arval. The Element-Arval Global Alliance purpose is to support and assist our international clients to successfully build and run their global fleet strategy. For 30 years the EAGA has been a global leader within fleet and mobility management. To expand its presence in additional geographies, notably in Asia, the Alliance welcomed Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service (SMAS) in 2023 and now counts eight members. With presence in 55 countries and the Alliance Members managing 4.5 million vehicles, the Alliance delivers comprehensive expertise and resources to empower their international clients across the globe, helping them to manage their fleets at a strategic, tactical, and operational level. We greatly value the extensive relationship weve built with Arval and are proud that our global Alliance remains the longest standing across fleet and mobility, says David Madrigal, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. The insights captured within the annual Fleet and Mobility Barometer weve produced together represent one of the many ways we leverage our partnership, shared expertise, and extensive global presence to deliver comprehensive, scalable, and tailored solutions to meet our clients needs across the globe. The Fleet and Mobility Barometer (the Barometer) is an industry-leading annual publication of the Arval Mobility Observatory and Element-Arval Global Alliance, offering a robust and detailed look into evolving industry trends, and providing country-specific insights, deep-dive policy considerations, as well as industry-leading benchmarking. This years report addresses three main areas of fleet and mobility transformation: environmental sustainability, cost efficiency, and employee satisfaction. Key insights from the Barometer include: Companies are overwhelmingly prioritizing environmental sustainability through fleet electrification, with 85 per cent of the companies interviewed having a charging policy or planning to have one in the future. The report also highlights the varying rates of electrification between passenger cars and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), with Europe leading the trend. Cost efficiency is being observed through innovative methods such as full-service leasing. Despite persistent economic and geopolitical challenges, 91 per cent of companies anticipate their fleet will either remain stable or grow in the next three years. Employee satisfaction is now at the centre of mobility and fleet transformation, with 45 per cent of companies mentioning human resource needs as the main reason for developing employee mobility policies and solutions. The report emphasizes the key role of telematics and connected vehicle technologies for promoting responsible driving, improving driver behavior, and reducing accidents. Initiated by the Arval Mobility Observatory nearly 20 years ago, Element joined the global Barometer in 2023 to expand benchmarking capabilities to include trends across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. This years benchmarking survey involves more than 8,000 interviews with corporate fleet decision-makers across 28 countries and provides a forward-looking perspective on the next three years. To read more about the Element-Arval Global Alliance and the 2025 Fleet and Mobility Barometer, visit Global Fleet Management Solutions | Element-Arval Global Alliance - Element Arval. About Element Fleet Management Element Fleet Management (TSX: EFN) is the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world. As a Purpose-driven company, we provide a full range of sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions to optimize and enhance fleet performance for our clients across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Our services address every aspect of our clients fleet requirements, from vehicle acquisition, maintenance, route optimization, risk management, and remarketing, to advising on decarbonization efforts, integration of electric vehicles and managing the complexity of gradual fleet electrification. Clients benefit from Element's expertise as one of the largest fleet solutions providers in its markets, offering economies of scale and insight used to reduce operating costs and enhance efficiency and performance. At Element, we maximize our clients fleet so they can focus on growing their business. For more information, please visit: www.elementfleet.com About Arval: Arval is a major actor in full-service vehicle leasing and a specialist in mobility solutions founded in 1989. Arval is fully owned by BNP Paribas and positioned within the Groups Commercial, Personal Banking & Services division. Arval was leasing nearly 1.8 million vehicles as of the end of 2024. Every day, nearly 8,600 Arval employees in 29 countries offer flexible solutions to make journeys seamless and sustainable for its customers, ranging from large international corporate groups to smaller companies and private customers. Arval is a founding member of the Element-Arval Global Alliance. The fleets of all the Alliance members represent more than 4.5 million vehicles in 55 countries. Arval has been rewarded with the highest level of the EcoVadis medal, the platinum level, placing its CSR strategy in the Top 1% of the companies assessed. www.arval.com About BNP Paribas: Leader in banking and financial services in Europe, BNP Paribas operates in 64 countries and has nearly 178,000 employees, including more than 144,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Groups commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Turkiye, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group's performance and stability. https://group.bnpparibas/en/ This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information regarding Element, its business and the fleet industry, which are based upon Elements current expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. In some cases, words such as plan, expect, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate, may, could, predict, project, model, forecast, will, potential, target, by, proposed and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur are intended to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information in this news release may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to, among other things, the Companys expectations regarding new product offerings, including the benefits of the products, client demand and profitability, the Companys ability to execute on its product plans, and the Companys expectations regarding the risk and insurance industries. By their nature, these statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific, which give rise to the possibility that our predictions, forecasts, projections, expectations or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that our assumptions may not be correct. External factors outside of Elements reasonable control may impact our ability to achieve our goals and expectations, including industry dynamics, legislation and regulatory actions, the failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to us and our affiliates or associates, client decisions and preferences. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements and may require Element to adjust its initiatives and activities. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting our stakeholders and others in understanding our objectives and strategic priorities and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. In addition, a discussion of some of the material risks affecting Element and its business appears under the heading Risk Management & Risk Factors in Elements Management Discussion and Analysis for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2023 and the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2024, and under the heading Risk Factors in Elements Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023, as well as Elements other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, which have been filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed on Elements profile on www.sedarplus.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa484c54-9cb4-4c81-835c-d59ab8841d95 Dr. Pujara brings extensive industry experience to guide late-stage development of the SpyGlass Drug Delivery Platform ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SpyGlass Pharma, a privately-held ophthalmic biotechnology company, today announced the appointment of Chetan Pujara, Ph.D., as Chief Research & Development Officer. Dr. Pujara brings over 20 years of leadership experience in pharmaceutical and drug-device combination product development across ophthalmic, neurological, dermatological and infectious disease areas. Dr. Pujara is a distinguished leader with deep expertise in pharmaceutical innovation and drug development, said Patrick Mooney, SpyGlass Pharma Chief Executive Officer. He will be an invaluable resource as we continue to advance our proprietary intraocular drug delivery platform into Phase 3 trials. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Pujara to SpyGlass Pharma and look forward to his contributions across our R&D initiatives. An accomplished pharmaceutical executive, Dr. Pujara has led global organizations that contributed to the development of market-leading products, including Ozurdex, Durysta, Latisse, Qulipta, Ubrelvy and Refresh eye drops. He holds multiple U.S. and international patents and has extensive experience in global regulatory filings including with the FDA, EMA, NMPA and ANVISA. Prior to joining SpyGlass Pharma, Dr. Pujara held key leadership roles at Abbott, Allergan and AbbVie, and, most recently, Osanni, where he served as Chief Development Officer. He is a member of the United States Pharmacopeia Council of Experts and has previously served as board member of industry-academia consortia including National Science Foundations Center for Pharmaceutical Processing Research. I am thrilled to join the exceptional team at SpyGlass Pharma, said Dr. Pujara. The SpyGlass drug delivery platform technology is poised to substantially improve care for glaucoma patients, with great potential to expand into additional ophthalmic areas. I look forward to contributing to SpyGlass mission to revolutionize ophthalmic drug delivery with sustained-release therapeutics that address critical unmet needs. ABOUT SPYGLASS PHARMA The SpyGlass Drug Delivery Platform with bimatoprost is designed to deliver 3 years of bimatoprost to targeted tissues. Patients in the first-in-human study will continue to be followed over time, and the Company plans to share longer-term data in the coming months. SpyGlass completed enrollment in a Phase I/II study in the United States to investigate the safety and efficacy of its platform in a larger patient pool. SpyGlass looks forward to working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to advance the program into Phase III clinical trials and ultimately to commercial approval. SpyGlass Pharma was co-founded by Dr. Malik Y. Kahook, M.D. and Glenn Sussman. The company is focused on the development of the worlds first, IOL-mounted, controlled release drug delivery platform capable of delivering multiple years of therapy. The technology was originally developed in the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and spun off campus post Series A funding. Media Contact: Nami Surendranath +1(212) 418-8981 nsurendranath@dna-comms.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3d2da634-e63e-46df-89f0-40a44098ca26 HONOLULU, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a world where education is often treated as a means to an end, AIU is taking a bold step toward redefining student success by placing purpose at the heart of the learning experience. By integrating purpose into the learning experience, AIU is moving beyond traditional education models focused solely on grades, aiming instead to help students align their studies with real-world applications and personal goals. This initiative is designed to foster intrinsic motivation, which research shows is closely linked to academic success. Purpose-Based Learning: A New Era in Education Purpose-Based Learning at AIU shifts the focus from rote memorization and external rewards to helping students understand the relevance of their studies. By guiding students to connect their learning with meaningful outcomes, AIU aims to enhance both student engagement and long-term success. The universitys goal is to create an environment where students feel empowered to take ownership of their education and cultivate a deeper commitment to their learning process. AIU is implementing a range of strategies to support this initiative, including personalized learning plans and project-based assignments that allow students to explore their interests while building skills for the future. Faculty members play a key role in fostering this purposeful learning environment, adopting methods that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and personal growth. Atlantic International University Logo The Role of Intrinsic Motivation in Educational Success Research shows that Intrinsic Motivation in Education is a key driver of academic success. Hence, with the help of innovative Motivational Learning Techniques, efforts are made to tap into students' internal desire to learn, rather than relying solely on external rewards such as grades. This learning approach emphasizes the importance of aligning personal values with academic goals, creating an environment where students feel engaged and inspired. By integrating purpose into the curriculum, students will be able to cultivate a deep sense of commitment to their learning. This leads to greater student engagement, which is directly linked to improved academic performance. Now, when student engagement methods are a part of ones learning cycle, it breeds passion and enthusiasm to achieve something beyond academic success. From personalized learning plans to project-based assignments, students can explore a horizon much broader than their coursework. Hence, purpose-driven educational practices are a great way to build those skills that will contribute to a students life goal and keep them motivated, engaged, and committed to their academic journey. Such an impactful learning transformation cannot be achieved alone; it needs planning, strategy, and the right faculty to foster a supportive learning environment that promotes curiosity and critical thinking. AIU Students Creating Real-World Impact The impact of Purpose-Based Learning is reflected in the achievements of AIU students, many of whom are applying their education to make meaningful contributions in their respective fields. Below are a few students who are leveraging purpose-based learning to create real-world impact. Rachel Nekati contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 4: Quality Education by transforming mindsets, leadership, and success. Susan Natalie Simms focuses on SDG 4: Quality Education, advancing education, leadership, and community. Irving Pou Rivera, working towards SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, enhances patient care through compliance. Dr. Carlos Alberto Rossi supports SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by innovating education, skills, and growth. Artemio Alarcon Leon is dedicated to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by driving construction, finance, and development. Luciana Telemaque focuses on SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, optimizing procurement, leadership, and growth. Alba Altagracia Rosa Lora supports SDG 4: Quality Education by inspiring education, mentorship, and growth. Julia Koifman works towards SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by empowering inclusive education and overcoming challenges. Cary Beatisula advances SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure by enhancing structural engineering, education, and innovation. Ricles Thomas contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by transforming leadership through emotional intelligence. These students are a testament to how this learning approach can be beneficial to humanity. Their achievements reflect the real-world impact that can be realized when education is aligned with personal passions and societal needs. For more inspiring stories of real people making a difference, visit the AIU Collab Hub or My Life is a Success A Future of Success Through Purpose As AIU continues to expand the innovative approach to purpose-based learning; it is setting a new standard for higher education across the globe. By focusing on the role of purpose in learning, a new culture of overcoming challenges of the future, achieving success, and creating unique stories is born that has its roots way deeper than what one can learn sitting in a classroom. An individual realizing their full potential and their sense of purpose is what truly matters! Media Contact: Vanessa D'Angelo Atlantic International University info@aiu.edu 808 924 9567 https://www.aiu.edu/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b19255a1-c1df-4ad1-a14a-7de51d88c4f6 TYSONS, Va., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced today that it has appointed Melissa Zimyeski vice president of product and Mat Yurow vice president of growth reporting to chief experience officer Dhanusha Sivajee. Zimyeski is a proven digital and consumer product executive, who has leveraged customer and data-driven insights to build game-changing products across diverse industries from telecommunications to retail. She will lead the product management and design of TEGNAs consumer digital products, including the 50+ streaming apps, mobile apps and websites across the companys portfolio of local media brands. She will be at the forefront of the companys digital transformation focused on building a sustainable future for local news. Yurow will lead audience and revenue growth across the companys digital products. With deep expertise, including at The New York Times where he served in leadership roles across audience development, product strategy and commerce, and at Tripadvisor where he led the strategy for multiple direct-to-consumer products, he will play a key role in expanding TEGNAs digital footprint. With a wealth of experience building delightful, user-centric products, Melissa is uniquely positioned to elevate our digital product strategy, said Dhanusha Sivajee. In tandem, Mat is uniquely positioned to help us build and scale a growth marketing team. They will both play an integral role in delivering exceptional experiences to our local community members around the country. Zimyeski joins TEGNA from the Mayo Clinic, the #1 health system in the country, where she was senior vice president and chair of product and experience. At Mayo Clinic, Zimyeski accelerated a strategy to transform Mayo into a leading digitally enabled healthcare experience. Prior to Mayo Clinic, Zimyeski was head of consumer experience at Polestar where she led the launch of the new premium electric vehicle business and brand in North America. Zimyeski has also held senior level roles at AKQA and Droga5, where she oversaw product development, analytics, and digital transformation for businesses across multiple categories. Zimyeski began her career at NBC Universal in the Local Media division. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Columbia University. She serves on the Board of Directors for Connecting Mothers Initiative and is a senior advisor for technology startup Blue Clay Health. Yurow brings extensive experience in driving new consumer revenue growth. He joins TEGNA from Thrasio, where he built a successful growth marketing organization, integrating publisher and influencer partnerships with strategic M&A of media companies. Prior to Thrasio, Yurow served as senior director of consumer revenue at Tripadvisor, where he launched multiple consumer revenue products. He also played a pivotal role at The New York Times, leading digital transformation initiatives across subscription marketing, product strategy, and affiliate commerce. Yurow began his career at AOL, The Huffington Post, and Bloomberg News, specializing in audience development and engagement. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from Emory University. About TEGNA TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people on an average monthly basis across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. For more information, visit TEGNA.com. For media inquiries, contact: Anne Bentley Vice President, Chief Communications Officer 703-873-6366 abentley@TEGNA.com For investor inquiries, contact: Julie Heskett Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer 703-873-6747 investorrelations@TEGNA.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80da2ff4-d677-4137-a7c2-8d43b36a1408 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e77d5e1-33ff-42fc-bb80-3d3ec5a204dc SEATTLE, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a recent experimentation event, Overland AI showcased the capabilities of its fully autonomous tactical vehicle at a demonstration hosted by the Army Applications Lab. Attended by combat engineers from across multiple U.S. Army and Marine Corps units, the exercise demonstrated how Overlands fully autonomous tactical vehicle, powered by Overland AIs OverDrive autonomy stack and OverWatch tactical interface, can disrupt enemy maneuvers. The vehicle, which can traverse off-road terrain at speeds of at least 30 mph with a range of at least 100 miles and a payload capacity greater than 900 lbs, makes it more difficult for adversaries to traverse by deploying deep terrain shaping obstacles (DTSOs). U.S. Army combat engineers operating Overland AIs fully autonomous tactical vehicle with their intuitive OverWatch interface. "This demonstration validated our vision: that fully autonomous off-road capabilities can provide combat engineers with an organic way of conducting deep terrain shaping," said Jon Fink, chief technology officer of Overland AI. "This capability equips warfighters to execute critical missions faster, at greater distances, with less risk to human life. The demonstration was attended by Army engineering units, including: 264th CO (CEC-I), 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade 595th CO (CEC-A), 5th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade 570th CO (CEC-I/S), 864th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade. During the exercise, combat engineers engaged directly with Overland AIs OverWatch tactical interface, planning and executing realistic scenarios. Soldiers were able to experience firsthand how the system operates in rugged terrain, adapting to mission parameters with minimal input. With at least 1 kW of available power for payloads and an idle time of two hours, Overland AIs attritable autonomous tactical vehicle is engineered for extended mission durations and highly adaptable operations in contested terrain. Overland AI engineers testing and evaluating their fully autonomous tactical vehicle during a test run at the experiment. "It was an honor to see our capability being operated by end users, said Byron Boots, co-founder and chief executive officer of Overland AI. They could see firsthand how fully autonomous tactical vehicles can help accomplish their mission with increased speed and tactical options, derisking these operations to keep Soldiers out of harms way. Overland AI remains committed to advancing autonomous military technologies, having previously secured an $18.6 million contract with the U.S. Army and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop autonomy software for the Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. The company continues to support a range of U.S. military programs, including the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. To learn more about Overland AI and see open roles, visit www.overland.ai. About Overland AI Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Overland AI is powering ground operations for modern defense. The company leverages over a decade of advanced research in robotics and machine learning, as well as a field-test forward ethos, to deliver combined capabilities for unit commanders. Hazardous missions in austere and electronically denied environments demand that these capabilities are reliable and resilient. Overland AIs SPARK autonomy upfit and OverDrive stack enable uncrewed ground vehicles to navigate off-road with no GPS, all without direct operator control, to significantly reduce the risk to human life on the battlefield. Precisely coordinated capabilities are vital for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions to succeed. Overland AI is developing these capabilities and putting them into the hands of unit commanders today. Contact Cameron Langford overland@1stprinciples.io First Principles Communications Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e24f2e6-e97d-45d0-a8fc-caf1b6ae56bc https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f78a660-7196-49b6-9fb6-6ce93c07fb5a Dublin, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "India Titanium Dioxide Market, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2020-2030F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The India Titanium Dioxide Market reached a total volume of 2.45 million Metric Tonnes in 2024 and is expected to experience substantial growth over the forecast period, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.06% through 2030. As a critical element within India's chemical and manufacturing sectors, titanium dioxide - known for its versatility as a white pigment - plays an essential role across various industries such as paints and coatings, plastics, and cosmetics. The demand for titanium dioxide is being driven by India's expanding industrial landscape, particularly within the construction and textile sectors. Rising Demand from the Paints and Coatings Industry The Indian titanium dioxide market is witnessing significant expansion, largely driven by growing demand within the paints and coatings industry. Titanium dioxide serves as a crucial white pigment in the formulation of paints and coatings, making it a key driver of the market's growth. A major contributor to this surge in demand is the thriving paints and coatings sector. The production and consumption of paints and coatings are linked to numerous industries, including construction, automotive, infrastructure, and manufacturing. As India experiences rapid urbanization and infrastructure expansion, the demand for paint and coating products continues to grow. According to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, the country's chemical industry plays a significant role in producing consumer goods such as paints, dyes, soaps, medicines, and cosmetics. Notably, the chemical industry is the largest consumer of these materials, accounting for around 33% of total consumption. Titanium dioxide is valued for its remarkable whiteness, opacity, brightness, and light-scattering capabilities, making it the preferred choice for producing vibrant and durable paint finishes. The construction industry, one of the largest consumers of paints and coatings in India, uses titanium dioxide in architectural coatings for buildings, facades, and interior designs. As urbanization accelerates and infrastructure projects expand, the demand for high-quality paints, including those containing titanium dioxide, continues to rise. The automotive industry in India also contributes to the demand for titanium dioxide, particularly for exterior finishes and automotive component coatings. As the automobile sector grows and modernizes, the need for high-quality coatings that improve both the appearance and durability of vehicles intensifies. Similarly, titanium dioxide is crucial in automotive coatings, providing UV resistance and vibrant colors. Moreover, titanium dioxide plays an important role in the preservation and longevity of infrastructure components such as bridges, roads, and railways. These coatings help structures withstand environmental challenges and wear over time. The packaging industry, especially in the production of metal packaging for food and beverages, is also a significant consumer of coatings. As demand for safe and visually appealing packaging grows, so does the need for titanium dioxide-based coatings that enhance the visual appeal and protect the contents of metal containers. Sustainability is also a growing trend in the paints and coatings industry, with an increasing preference for eco-friendly and low-VOC coatings. Titanium dioxide is frequently used in these formulations, helping to meet environmental regulations while ensuring optimal performance. Key Market Challenges Price Volatility Fluctuating prices remain a major challenge for the Indian titanium dioxide market. As a versatile pigment used across various industries, the price stability of titanium dioxide is closely tied to the costs of key raw materials, particularly titanium ore (ilmenite) and energy. Because the production process is energy-intensive, shifts in the prices of raw materials can lead to market volatility, making it difficult for manufacturers to maintain consistent pricing. Market instability may be exacerbated by factors such as supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and fluctuations in energy costs. To address these challenges, the Indian titanium dioxide market should focus on securing stable, cost-effective raw material supplies, improving production efficiency, and exploring opportunities for energy optimization. Strategic partnerships with suppliers, government agencies, and research institutions could also help stabilize the market. Key Market Trends Government Support for the Titanium Dioxide Industry Government support is a significant trend influencing the growth of the Indian titanium dioxide market. As a key material for various industrial applications, titanium dioxide plays a central role in the country's manufacturing and economic development. The Indian government has implemented several initiatives aimed at fostering domestic production, innovation, and sustainability within the titanium dioxide sector. These efforts include policy incentives, regulatory frameworks, and investments designed to reduce reliance on imports and encourage local production, aligning with the "Make in India" initiative. Additionally, the government is promoting research and development in the sector, encouraging environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes in line with global standards. These policies aim to enhance the overall competitiveness and self-sufficiency of the titanium dioxide market in India, further driving its growth. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 85 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value in 2024 2456.32 Thousand Metric Tonnes Forecasted Market Value by 2030 3125.96 Thousand Metric Tonnes Compound Annual Growth Rate 4.0% Regions Covered India Report Scope: Key Market Players Vizag Chemical International MERU CHEM PVT. LTD Petrosil Group V.V. Titanium Pigments Pvt. Ltd Neelkanth Minechem ARIHANT SOLVENTS AND CHEMICALS Tata Chemicals By Grade: Anatase Rutile By Production Process: Sulfate Chloride Others By Application: Paints & Coatings Plastics Pulp & Paper Cosmetics Construction Others By Region: West India North India South India East India For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/utpaf 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 Boston, Massachusetts, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Compliance usually carries a negative connotation. Many see it as a burdensome necessitysomething organizations must do to avoid penalties instead of something they choose to embrace. This is partly due to rigid rules, legal risks, and bureaucratic oversight associated with compliance, making it feel like an external imposition and not an inherent part of a companys mission. L. Stephan Vincze, a global compliance expert and founder of TRESTLE Compliance, asserts that this perspective is flawed. L. Stephan Vincze Vincze believes that compliance shouldnt be the goal. It should be the natural outcome of a deeper commitment to integrity, purpose, and excellence. He contends that leaders must shift their mindset and understand that true compliance is about winning the right waynot checking boxes. This perspective is shaped by Vinczes over 25 years of experience in the life sciences industry, helping businesses navigate complex regulatory landscapes while committing to ethical leadership. Vincze has worked as a professional staff member and counsel on a national security oversight committee and held senior compliance leadership roles at multinational corporations. He also joined military service in the US Marine Corps. Here, he learned discipline, accountability, and mission-driven leadership. These are qualities he has carried into his work in compliance and ethics. Overall, Vinczes experiences in some of the most challenging and competitive environments have solidified his belief that compliance cant be sustained through rules alone. We need an emotional and intellectual commitment from leadership and employees, he asserts. He has observed that companies usually treat compliance reactively. They respond to crises or regulatory scrutiny instead of embedding compliance into their culture from the outset. Vincze points to the life sciences industry as an example, stating that compliance in this sector shouldnt be about avoiding fines but ensuring that life-saving products reach patients safely and ethically. He argues that when leaders communicate a higher purpose, whether improving lives, delivering the best possible product, or driving innovation, compliance naturally becomes an extension of the companys mission. This connection between purpose and execution is vital because winning and compliance arent mutually exclusive. Vincze stresses that compliance is essential to winning. A question arises: How do leaders foster this shift? Vincze believes the key is speaking to the rational and emotional sides of the people they lead. Compliance tends to be framed in purely legal or financial termsfollow the rules or face the consequences. Lasting compliance is built on trust and integrity. It all boils down to emotional connection, says Vincze. Leaders should inspire their teams to embrace integrity not because they fear penalties but because they believe in the companys mission. Leaders should make people feel their integrity, their passion, their sincerity. Think of musicians or athletes. They need to feel the music or master a technique to perform well. Employees should do the same: connect with the purpose behind compliance. Vincze warns that this mindset shift is crucial in todays business landscape. Corporate scandals and whistleblower cases can cost companies billions. Compliance is, therefore, an imperative and not a mere legal obligation. Vincze has witnessed how employees who feel ignored or disrespected become whistleblowers, damaging companies reputations and bringing catastrophe to their finances. The irony is that most of these crises couldve been avoided if leaders had built a culture of trust and transparency from the beginning, he remarks. Its worth noting that theres a generational change in attitude toward compliance. Vincze has observed that senior commercial executives who once resisted compliance programs now expect them. The challenge lies with scientific and research communities. Scientists, especially those from prestigious institutions, usually operate with a degree of intellectual autonomy. Unfortunately, this can make compliance feel restrictive. This can be resolved if compliance isnt imposed on them as a set of rigid rules. It should be integrated into their broader mission in a way that resonates with their values and expertise, he remarks. Vincze founded TRESTLE Compliance to introduce a more value-driven approach to compliance. Based in the Boston biotech hub, TRESTLE offers compliance, risk, and regulatory services, leveraging a team of experts with decades of experience. The firms primary mission is to help leaders see compliance as a driver for growth and innovation, not as an obstacle. Vincze, personally committed to the same mission, wrote Inspiring Integrity: How to Win with Compliance and Propel Performance to aid leadership in understanding that compliance is a proactive strategy for success. L. Stephan Vincze continues to drive the paradigm shift surrounding compliance. His message remains the same: compliance should function as an integral, supportive part of organizations and not a distant authority. Media Contact Name: L. Stephan Vincze Email: svincze@trestlecompliance.com McHenry, Illinois, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medela, the brand trusted by millions of moms worldwide and the #1 brand in hospitals (1), today announced that it has once again been recognized as the #1 Most Trusted Breast Pump Brand in the United States and Canada by the 2025 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards marking its seventh consecutive win in both countries. Medela was also named the top trusted brand in the United Kingdom for the third year in a row. The BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards is a premier annual program based on consumer votes, measuring brand trust across various industries. This years awards were determined through insights gathered from over 80,000 consumers participating in the survey comprising 29,420 in the US, 35,200 in Canada, and 17,008 in the UK with 454,886 evaluations in 2025. Medela's continued leadership and brand strength in the breast pump market reflect its unwavering commitment to innovation, quality and consumer trust. This recognition is a testament to Medelas commitment to science-based innovation and our dedication to understanding customer needs, upholding ethical values, and striving for commercial excellence, said Nicole Kettenus-Schwarz, Medelas Chief Marketing Officer. Trust is not something built overnight, and we are honored to be recognized in these competitive markets. These awards reflect the sound relationships we have nurtured with families and healthcare professionals over the last six decades. These connections fuel our passion to continue listening to our community and improving every day as we turn science into care. For more information about Medelas award-winning portfolio, visit our website. For more information about the program, how winners are determined, and the full list of winners, visit www.BrandSparkMostTrusted.com. (1) Sales and distribution in maternity wards and NICUs, 2023 About BrandSpark International and Best New Product Awards Inc. Founded in 2001, BrandSpark International is a research and consulting firm dedicated to providing brands with the actionable insights necessary to refine strategic brand positioning, build consumer trust, and enhance the success of new product launches. Best New Product Awards Inc. runs leading credential programs Best New Product Awards and BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards. About Medela Through advancing research, observing natural behavior and listening to our customers, Medela turns science into care while nurturing health for generations. Medela supports millions of moms, babies, patients and healthcare professionals in more than 100 countries all over the world. As the healthcare choice for more than 6 million hospitals and homes across the globe, Medela provides leading research-based breast milk feeding, healthcare solutions for hospitals, and clinical education. Medela is dedicated to building better health outcomes, simplifying and improving life, and developing breakthroughs that help moms, babies and patients live their life to the fullest. For more information, visit www.medela.com. Attachments Nashville, Tenn., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LBMC Investment Advisors*, a Registered Investment Advisory firm and member of the LBMC Family of Companies, proudly announces that Managing Partner Greg Herman has been named a 2025 Barrons Top 1,200 Financial Advisor**. This marks the fifth consecutive year Herman has ranked among the Top 15 Advisors in Tennessee on Barrons annual list. Barrons rankings are based on data from more than 7,000 of the nation's most productive financial advisors. Factors considered include assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice, and philanthropic work. Investment performance is not a primary factor, as results are often influenced by clients risk tolerance and individual investment strategies. This accomplishment represents more than just an individual honor - it reflects the trust our clients place in us and our firms steadfast commitment to delivering customized investment solutions through a client-centric approach for more than 25 years, said Herman. We are proud of this milestone, but more importantly, we are focused on the future. As our clients navigate new opportunities and challenges, LBMC Investment Advisors remains dedicated to growing alongside them, building lasting partnerships, and strengthening the value we provide at every stage of their financial journey. The announcement follows two other prestigious accolades for LBMC Investment Advisors the firms recognition as an Accounting Today Top Firm by Assets Under Management and its milestone surpassing $2 billion in assets under management. About LBMC Investment Advisors LBMC Investment Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, is a $2 Billion in Assets Under Management Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Tennessee with the mission of providing financial peace of mind for clients. Founded in 1998, LBMC Investment Advisors is a CNBC designated top 25 fee-only wealth management firm and member of the LBMC Family of Companies. Today, LBMC Investment Advisors serves more than 490 clients and is growing at a rapid clip working with clients in the areas of investment strategy development, asset allocation planning, integrations of investments with tax planning, and portfolio analysis. For more information, visit our website. *Advisory services offered through LBMC Investment Advisors, LLC., an Investment Adviser registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. **Third-party rankings and recognition from rating services or publications are no guarantee of future investment success. Working with a highly rated advisor does not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. This rating should not be construed as an endorsement of LBMCIA or by any client, nor are they representative of one clients evaluation. No fee was paid for consideration of this ranking/award. Attachment Dublin, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Opportunities in the Global OTC Healthcare Sector 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global OTC healthcare sector was valued at $175.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to yield a CAGR of 2.6% during 2023-28, to reach $199.4 billion in 2028. The Americas was the largest market in the global OTC healthcare sector in 2023, with value sales of $65.7 billion. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region for the OTC healthcare sector, with a value CAGR of 3% during 2023-28, followed by the Americas with 2.9%. Provides an overview of the current sector scenarios in terms of ingredients, manufacturer claims, and labeling. The analysis also provides a regional overview across five regions-Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (MEA), the Americas, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe-highlighting sector size, growth drivers, the latest developments, and future challenges for each region. Key Highlights The Asia-Pacific region is projected to be the fastest-growing market within the over-the-counter (OTC) healthcare sector. Globally, the sector is led by Haleon, followed by Johnson & Johnson Services, Bayer Group, Sanofi-Aventis Groupe, and Reckitt Benckiser Group. Chemists and pharmacies remain the dominant distribution channel for OTC healthcare products. Sector growth is expected to be driven by rising demand for products with natural claims and sustainable packaging. However, counterfeit products present a significant challenge to the sector's expansion. Additionally, consumers are increasingly seeking personalized OTC healthcare solutions, reflecting a shift toward tailored wellness offerings. Scope Sector overview: Provides an overview of the current sector scenarios in terms of ingredients, manufacturer claims, labeling, and packaging. The analysis also provides a regional overview across five regions-Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, the Americas, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe-highlighting sector size, growth drivers, the latest developments, and future challenges for each region. High-potential countries analysis: Provides risk-reward analysis of the top two high-potential countries in each region based on market assessment, economic development, governance indicators, sociodemographic factors, and technological infrastructure. Country and regional analysis: Provides a deep-dive analysis of 10 high-potential countries, covering value growth during 2018-28, consumer demographics, city analysis, and key trends. Competitive landscape: Provides an overview of the leading brands at global and regional levels. The section also analyzes the market share and sales of private labels in each region. Key distribution channels: Provides an analysis of the leading distribution channels in the global OTC healthcare sector in 2023. It covers chemists/pharmacies, parapharmacies/drugstores, hypermarkets and supermarkets, e-retailers, and others. Others include convenience stores, direct sellers, other specialist retailers, cash and carries and warehouse clubs, "dollar stores", variety stores and general merchandise retailers, and other channels. Reasons to Buy Manufacturers and retailers seek latest information on how the market is evolving to formulate their sales and marketing strategies. There is also demand for authentic market data with a high level of detail. This report has been created to provide its readers with up-to-date information and analysis to uncover emerging opportunities of growth within the sector in the region The report provides a detailed analysis of the countries in the region, covering the key challenges, competitive landscape and demographic analysis, that can help companies gain insight into the country specific nuances The analysts have also placed a significant emphasis on the key trends that drive consumer choice and the future opportunities that can be explored in the region, than can help companies in revenue expansion To gain competitive intelligence about leading brands in the sector in the region with information about their market share and growth rates Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Sector Overview Current Scenario and Future Outlook Global OTC healthcare Overview - What Are the Growth Factors, Latest Developments, and Future Inhibitors? Regional OTC healthcare Overview - What Are the Growth Factors, Latest Developments, and Future Inhibitors? Key Challenges in the Global OTC healthcare sector Identifying High-Potential Countries Analysis of 10 Countries on the Basis of Risk-Reward Analysis (Market Assessment, Economic Development, Sociodemographic Factors, Governance Indicators, and Technological Infrastructure) Country Deep-Dive Analysis High-Potential Country Analysis Future Outlook Competitive Environment Leading Companies by Value - Global Leading Companies and Brands Share Analysis - Global Leading Companies and Brands Share Analysis by Region Competitive Landscape - Market Analysis Market Share of Private Label Private Label Share Analysis by Region Private Label Share Analysis by Category Key Distribution Channels Share of Key Distribution Channels - Global and Regional Level Select Industry Metrics Global Patent Filings Global Job Analytics Global Deals Appendix A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to: Haleon Johnson & Johnson Services Bayer Group Sanofi-Aventis Groupe Reckitt Benckiser Group For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/crtp7u 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. BROOKLYN, N.Y., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AI-Media, a global leader in AI-powered language technology and solutions, is set to make a major impact at NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas. From April 6-9, attendees can visit Booth #W1915 to explore AI-Medias suite of industry-leading AI solutions and get an exclusive first look at its latest innovation in AI-powered voice translation. The Future of AI Voice Translation See It First at NAB 2025 AI-Media will release LEXI Voice at NAB Show 2025 - a next-generation AI voice translation technology designed to break language barriers in real time. Built on AI-Medias flagship LEXI captions - trusted worldwide for their accuracy and scalability - LEXI Voice delivers natural-sounding, low-latency AI voice translations of live audio into multiple languages in real time. Leveraging the latest in speech recognition and synthetic voice technology, LEXI Voice isolates and interprets speaker audio at the source, preserving speaker changes, timing, and tone. With high transcription accuracy, LEXI Voice enables seamless multilingual delivery without the need for human interpreters. It easily integrates into existing broadcast workflows, including SDI and IP environments, and is fully compatible with AI-Medias Alta and Encoder Pro devices - offering a cost-effective, scalable alternative to traditional voiceover and interpretation models. We look forward to attending the NAB Show every year. Its a great opportunity for us to showcase the latest advancements in AI-powered captioning and translation, and to get feedback from customers. Some of our leading innovations and product developments have come directly from customer feedback at the show, so it has become a very important part of our Product Roadmap planning, said James Ward, Chief Sales Officer at AI-Media. This year, were unveiling something truly transformative - LEXI Voice, an AI voice translation solution that will redefine how broadcasters and content creators engage global audiences in real time. Like everything else in the LEXI Toolkit, LEXI Voice will be available on iCap and will operate with all of our world leading encoder technology. With a long-standing reputation for pioneering AI-driven captioning and translation solutions, AI-Media will be showcasing a range of groundbreaking technologies that help broadcasters, content creators, and media professionals expand their reach and enhance audience engagement. Visitors to the booth can experience: LEXI The worlds most advanced AI-powered captioning solution. The worlds most advanced AI-powered captioning solution. LEXI Translate Real-time multilingual captioning for global accessibility. Real-time multilingual captioning for global accessibility. SDI & IP Encoders Seamless captioning integration for broadcast and streaming workflows. Seamless captioning integration for broadcast and streaming workflows. Launching - LEXI Voice - The Future of AI Voice Translation Live Demonstrations Be the First to Experience the Innovation Join us at Booth #W1915 for an exclusive live demo of AI-Medias latest breakthrough: Monday, April 7 | 3:00 PM PT Tuesday, April 8 | 10:30 AM PT For broadcasters and media professionals looking to break language barriers and expand their global audience, AI-Medias NAB 2025 booth is the place where the future of AI-powered translation and accessibility comes to life. Dont miss this game-changing reveal! AI-Media solutions will also be showcased at the AWS Booth (#W1701) and the Synamedia Booth (#W2443), so stop by their booths and see how AI-Media's partners are utilizing our solutions. Learn more about AI-Medias groundbreaking solutions and book a private demonstration by visiting www.ai-media.tv/upcoming-events/. Stay connected and follow us on LinkedIn for exclusive NAB 2025 updates! About AI-Media Founded in Australia in 2003, AI-Media is a pioneering technology company specialising in AI language and captioning workflow solutions. As a global leader, AI-Media provides high-quality AI-powered live and recorded captioning and translation technology and solutions to a diverse range of customers and markets worldwide. For the first time in February 2024, AI-Media unveiled groundbreaking data showcasing the superiority of its AI captioning product, LEXI, over traditional more expensive human workflows. With deep industry experience and sophisticated AI technology to create solutions which streamline and simplify processes, AI-Media empowers leading broadcasters, enterprises and government agencies globally to ensure seamless accessibility and inclusivity of their content. AI-Media (ASX: AIM) commenced trading on the ASX on 15 September 2020. Visit AI-MEDIA.TV Media Contact: Fiona Habben Head of Global Marketing Fiona.habben@ai-media.tv A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a78d1f68-07c2-4f1e-be51-867fccf61079 Charleston, SC, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a founder member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and a member of the Dickens Fellowship, Roger Jerome has long held Charles Dickens in high regard. But it was the little-known story about Dickenss visit to Ohio in 1842 that got the creative juices flowing, resulting in a new biography of one of the worlds most highly regarded authors. In his newly released book, Dickens in Ohio, Jerome examines the challenges, tensions, and tone of American life in 1842 from a British point of view. Highlighting the significance of Dickenss visit to Ohio, he considers how the experience expanded his understanding of American society and profoundly influenced Dickenss perspective as well as his writing. Drawing inspiration from Dickenss American Notes, G.W. Putnams 1870 article in The Atlantic, and Norman Pages A Dickens Chronology (1988), Jerome contends that the days Dickens spent in Ohio in April 1842 represent a sharp intersection between the most famous novelist in the world at the time and a state that was a microcosm of the U.S. in the nineteenth century. The book presents the strangely ignored story of Charles Dickenss visit to Ohio, highlighting its significance both then and now, Jerome says. His meticulous research and in-depth narrative will captivate Dickens devotees as well as literary historians and enthusiasts. The book has many illustrations and maps giving pictorial support to the text. Dickens in Ohio is available for purchase on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. About the Author: Roger Jerome, born in St. Albans, U.K in 1936, is an experienced actor and educator. His extensive acting career spans the U.K. (1960-1965) and the U.S. (1997-2023). He served as a senior lecturer in drama and theatre director at University of the South Bank and a director for the Association for Cultural Exchange. He holds a B.A. from Birmingham University, an Honors Diploma from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, an M.A. from Sussex University, and was a founder member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. A member of the Dickens Fellowship and The Aldus Society, Jerome has edited two books by Daniel Jerome. He lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife. Roger Jerome publicity@palmettopublishing.com Available for interviews: Author, Roger Jerome Attachment Ketchikan, Alaska, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cape Fox Tours has earned an Adventure Green Alaska certification for demonstrating compliance with its sustainable tourism practices. Adventure Green Alaska is the only sustainable tourism certification in the state of Alaska. Cape Fox Corporation (CFC) is committed to doing more and growing our ecotourism footprint. CFC acknowledges that for thousands of years, the Tlingit people have been and continue to be the stewards of the land. For fifty years, CFC has been committed to advancing our Tlingit culture and supporting our Tlingit shareholders from the Village of Saxman, Alaska. To that end, CFC and all its subsidiaries are committed to providing tourists to our shores with a focus on their Alaska adventure that includes cultural tourism and sustainability. CFC and Cape Fox Tours are dedicated to keeping Alaska true to its beauty, the culture and history of the land, the businesses that support our economy, and the natural environment around us, giving tourists a true Alaskan journey. Cape Fox Tours has put intentional thought into implementing the standard values for sustainability into its business model and remains committed to efforts to further sustainability within the tourism industry. Cape Fox Tours upholds standards regarding Adventure Green Alaskas four pillars: management, local community and economy, the environment, and Alaska history and culture. As a leader in the tourism industry, Cape Fox Tours ensures that its business operations are conducted sustainably, from internal management to the products and services customers receive. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) recognizes Adventure Green Alaska standards. This recognition ensures that AGAs criteria are equal to GSTCs criteria. GSTC and AGAs criteria are modeled after the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests (SDGS). AGA-certified businesses are doing their part in this collaborative effort to achieve these goals. Cape Fox Tours is now certified in its efforts to further sustainable practices in the Alaska tourism industry. Adrianna Oliva-Parks, General Manager of Cape Fox Tours, has led the ecotourism initiative at CFC. She recently commented, Achieving the Adventure Green Alaska certification is a remarkable milestone for Cape Fox Tours. By fulfilling the compliance requirements, we are advancing our commitment to being responsible stewards of the land, waterways, environment, community, and the guests we seek to protect. Our next steps involve forming a committee to create an action plan outlining the goals that Cape Fox Tours and other Cape Fox Commercial Services businesses aspire to achieve, along with strategies for implementation, education, and tracking progress. For additional information, email Adrianna Oliva-Parks at aoliva@capefoxlodge.com. About Cape Fox Corporation Cape Fox Corporation (CFC) was formed as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971. Cape Fox Corporation is the Alaska Native Corporation for the village of Saxman. Today, Cape Fox Corporation is comprised of a family of businesses divided between two distinct groups: The Federal Contracting Group and The Commercial Group. Collectively, CFC and its subsidiaries specialize in information technology and cybersecurity; professional services; health care services; marketing; training services; and logistical services. Visit Cape Fox Tours and Cape Fox Corporation to learn more. NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Policy Advisors LLC (GPA), a recognized authority on sovereign wealth strategies and institutional investment frameworks, has released a new SWF 2050 report titled Strategic Metals, Rare Earths: The Role of Development Finance Corporation in a Resource-Backed U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund. The report examines how critical minerals and rare earthshighlighted in the March 20, 2025 Executive Order titled Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Productionmay serve as funding anchors for a proposed U.S. sovereign wealth fund. While the Executive Order does not directly reference a SWF, GPAs analysis identifies strong signals pointing toward the development of a resource-backed sovereign investment platform. The study also outlines the emerging role of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), particularly the agencys CEO, who has been tasked by the Executive Order to coordinate with the Departments of Energy, Defense, Interior, and State on critical mineral strategypositioning the DFC as a likely institutional steward for sovereign capital deployment. As the policy environment evolves, we see the alignment of strategic metals, interagency investment coordination, and sovereign capital as more than coincidentalits directional, said Global Policy Advisors president and sovereign wealth fund expert Salar Ghahramani. The DFC is uniquely positioned to anchor a future U.S. sovereign wealth fund at the intersection of national interest and market access. Key topics covered in the report include: The Executive Orders use of the Defense Production Act as a tool for industrial and financial policy Revenue models for a SWF based on mineral royalties and federal land leases Ukraines rare earth potential and its broader geopolitical investment context How the DFC could house a sovereign wealth fund and engage external managers Market implications for asset managers, private equity, and strategic supply chains Read the summary of the report here: https://www.globalpolicyadvisors.com/swf-2050trade/strategic-metals-rare-earths-the-role-of-development-finance-corporation-in-a-resource-backed-us-sovereign-wealth-fund About Global Policy Advisors Global Policy Advisors LLC is a boutique sovereign wealth fund advisory to corporations, boards of directors, and institutional investorsincluding hedge funds, private equity firms, pension funds, and SWFs. GPAs expertise is delivering actionable insights, strategy sessions, and executive briefings on the governance, operations, and investment strategies of sovereign wealth funds. Chicago, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Second Act Cancer Recovery Boutiquea boutique focused on helping individuals facing cancer regain and maintain a positive self-image through carefully selected post-breast surgery products - is proud to announce the donation of 365 wigs, with a retail value of $100,000, to the Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources Center in Geneva, IL. In addition to the wigs, Second Act donated, scarves, shampoos, wig headstands, wide tooth combs and other essentials. At Second Act, we know how vital it is for patients with cancer to feel like themselves again, said Second Act Owner and Certified Mastectomy Fitter Pattie Cagney Sheehan. This donation reflects our core mission. Patients deserve to feel empowered, especially during their cancer journey. And our services go beyond offering products. Our certified fitters and professional staff stand by our patients, providing personalized support as they move forward with strength and dignity. Second Act, located in Chicagos Lincoln Park neighborhood, opened in 2008 as the city's only ABCOP-accredited cancer recovery boutique, dedicated to providing essential products for individuals facing cancer. Specializing in post-breast surgery prostheses, bras and compression garments, Second Act offers a variety of items designed to support patients with breast cancer and survivors. These thoughtfully chosen products assist individuals in regaining momentum as they progress through their recovery journey. TAWANI Enterprises, Inc., has been an active partner of Second Act since 2018. Through Second Acts donation of wigs and hair accessories to the Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources Center, we continue to honor our commitment to supporting those in need, said Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker IL ARNG (Retired), Chairwoman of TAWANI Enterprises. With most insurance companies not covering these products, we are proud to step in and provide this vital support to patients who may otherwise go without. Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources, with locations in Geneva and Warrenville, will distribute the wigs in support of its continuing mission of providing compassionate care and support to patients with cancer and their families. The center is committed to supporting individuals by offering essential resources that help patients regain control, reduce isolation, and improve their quality of life through knowledge and guidance. Living Wells programs create a supportive community that fosters hope and healing, ensuring those affected by cancer can navigate their journey with dignity and strength. Their unwavering commitment to integrity, compassion, and excellence makes them a trusted partner in cancer care. We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation from Second Act, said Candy Domke-Hochberg, operations administrator at Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources. Our programs and services are provided at no cost to anyone affected or living with a cancer diagnosis, regardless of where they live or received medical treatment. Second Acts support helps us continue our mission. To learn more about Second Act and its efforts, please visit the website. ### About Second Act At Second Act we recognize the emotional and physical trauma a person experiences when diagnosed with cancer. We also know the importance of not just surviving but thriving. It is the mission of Second Act to pursue the health and well-being of our clients by providing the highest quality DMEPOS care in a safe, effective and efficient manner. We provide excellent client service and value the needs, wants and perspectives of our client. To this end, it is our goal to operate Second Act in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and to ensure availability of necessary facilities, supplies, and products, and staff with the technical expertise, to meet the physical and emotional needs of our clients. About Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources Living Well is dedicated to delivering programs and services that encourage, empower, support and offer hope to thousands of newly diagnosed patients with cancer and their families every year. With locations in Warrenville and Geneva, Living Well helps patients, caregivers and family members navigate through a cancer diagnosis, treatment and early survivorship. Living Well provides comfort and community to anyone impacted by cancer through counseling and social work services; support groups; fitness, yoga, art and nutrition classes; medical presentations; and our wig boutique. All programs and services are provided free of charge because no one should face cancer alone. For more information, visit https://livingwellcrc.org/. About TAWANI Enterprises A visionary umbrella organization with an entrepreneurial outlook, TAWANI Enterprises has a private equity portfolio of startup and mature innovative companies in various industries; and not-for-profit interests. The company offers back-office services to all internal owned companies, including TAWANI Property Management, TAWANI Foundation, Pritzker Military Foundation, Master Wings Publishing, TAWANI Ventures, Mission94 Firearms Education Center and Aurum Trading a rare coin and precious metals dealer. All investments, for profit and not-for-profit, are based on TAWANIs mission to create opportunities for growth and knowledge and to create things of shared value to be enjoyed by citizens into the future. For more information, visit http://www.tawanienterprises.com Attachment Boston, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BCC Research is pleased to release its 2024 Semiconductor Manufacturing Research Review, providing an in-depth analysis of emerging trends, technological advances, and market growth across key semiconductor segments. This report delivers insights into the evolving semiconductor landscape, helping industry professionals navigate new opportunities and challenges. Key Market Highlights: Chiplets Market: Market size was $5.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $42.8 billion by the end of 2029. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR): 41.9%. Thin and Ultrathin Films Market: Market projected to grow from $20.6 billion in 2023 to $38.8 billion by the end of 2028. CAGR: 13.5%. Internet of Things (IoT) Chips Market: Valued at $186.1 billion in 2022; expected to reach $375.5 billion by the end of 2028. CAGR: 14.3%. Market Insights and Research Focus: This Research Review provides an in-depth analysis of key market trends, technological advances, and emerging opportunities across semiconductor segments. It explores the role of: Chiplets. High-speed data converters. Internet of Things (IoT) chips. Printed circuit boards (PCBs). Thin and ultrathin films. These technologies are reshaping next-generation electronics, with a significant impact on AI, high-performance computing (HPC), 5G technology, automotive applications (EVs and AVs), and industrial automation. Additionally, the review examines: Market Drivers and Challenges Growth forecasts, supply chain dynamics, geopolitical influences, and investment trends affecting the semiconductor industry. Emerging Growth Areas Rising demand for modular chiplet integration, IoT connectivity, high-speed data processing, and advanced PCB technologies. Regulatory and Sustainability Challenges Addressing industry concerns related to security, compliance, and environmental impact. This structured analysis offers insights into the evolving semiconductor landscape and the critical factors driving its transformation. Research Summary: This 2024 Semiconductor Manufacturing Research Review provides a sampling of the quantitative market information, analysis, and guidance that BCC Research has been delivering since 1971 to help its customers make informed business decisions. This Research Review includes highlights and excerpts from the following reports published by BCC Research in 2024: SMC137A Global Chiplets Market SMC057D Global Markets, Technologies and Materials for Thin and Ultrathin Films SMC135A Global IoT Chips Market SMC136A High-speed Data Converters: Global Markets and Growth Forecast SMC103D Printed Circuit Boards: Technologies and Global Markets After reviewing the insights in this Research Review, we encourage you to explore the full portfolio of market research reports for a deeper understanding of each topic. BCC Research remains your trusted partner in market intelligence, committed to supporting your future insights and decisions. For further information on any of the reports or to make a purchase, please contact info@bccresearch.com. 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. BERLIN, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Where can you love freely and openly in 2025? The new LGBTQ+ Dating Index by TS-Dating.com ranks the 25 most LGBTQ+-friendly cities worldwideplaces that dont just accept diversity but celebrate it. This study highlights cities where legal protection, cultural openness, and vibrant queer life go hand in hand. Methodology The ranking is based on: Legal protection (anti-discrimination laws, same-sex marriage, gender identity recognition) LGBTQ+ culture (bars, events, Pride festivals) LGBTQ+-friendly healthcare, especially for trans individuals Top 5 Cities #1: San Francisco The worlds queer capital takes the top spot with 30 points. With 42 gay bars, 87 annual events, and the iconic Castro District, San Francisco remains a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community. #2: Cologne Germanys LGBTQ+ hotspot scores 29 points. With 22 bars and 51 events, Cologne offers an open, inclusive space for queer people. #3: Miami Tropical vibes meet LGBTQ+ pride. Despite having just 12 gay bars, Miami makes up for it with 39 major events throughout the year. #4: Atlanta An emerging queer hub, Atlanta impresses with 14 bars and 39 events, proving that LGBTQ+ visibility thrives even in smaller cities. #5: Amsterdam As Europes LGBTQ+ pioneer, Amsterdam ranks fifth with 22 points. With 26 bars, 40 events, and a long history of equality, the Dutch capital remains a safe and welcoming space. Last Place but Promising: Dallas Dallas lands at #25 with just 6 points. While still catching up in LGBTQ+ rights, the city boasts 22 bars and 36 events annually, showing progress. Conclusion The LGBTQ+ Dating Index 2025 proves that queer love is becoming more visible and accepted worldwide. While cities like San Francisco and Cologne have long been safe havens, others are making strides. The message is clear: love knows no boundaries. "LGBTQ+-friendly cities are more than placesthey are a promise of freedom, love, and a future where diversity is the norm." TS-Dating.com About TS-Dating.com TS-Dating.com is one of the leading online platforms for trans and LGBTQ+ dating, providing a safe and welcoming space for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. With a strong commitment to inclusivity and empowerment, TS-Dating.com connects individuals worldwide, fostering meaningful relationships and a vibrant community. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4ab22e7a-b6a4-4cca-a121-effc3c643a08 NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. , March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the heels of announcing one of the largest industrial real estate transactions in history with ANDURIL Industries in the state of Ohio, CT has accelerated its national growth initiatives. CT enjoyed its 30-year anniversary in 2024 and now moves into its next period of growth with several management changes including the announcement of Rob Huthnance being elevated to President of CT Realty. CT has its roots in Orange County, CA, and was launched in 1994 by legendary real estate professionals Robert Bob Campbell and Tom Thompson. The Company had its start acquiring loan portfolios and distressed assets in the 1990s with a focus on the Southwest U.S. CT originated and managed thirteen separate CT sponsored Funds, which acquired industrial, office, multi-family, self-storage, and other alternative real estate assets. In 2009, James Watty Watson assumed the role of CEO, and he and Carter Ewing evolved the Company to become an aggressive investor and developer of institutional quality real estate. Shortly thereafter, Dominic Petrucci rounded out the team coming from Buchanan Street Partners as their COO/CFO. All three partners: Watson, Ewing and Petrucci, previously held senior management positions at the Koll Company and have worked together off and on for 30 years. Over the past 16 years, CT has become one of the largest investors and developers of logistics and distribution warehouses in the United States. Over this time period, CT has expanded geographically to most major markets across the country with the support of multiple institutional investor partners, including PGIM, Walton Street Capital, Clarion, Harvard Management Company, Carlyle, Mitsubishi (Diamond Realty Investments), Artemis and others. In 2013, CT moved to establish a foothold in Texas with the acquisition of 500+ acres in Dallas through CTs PLR affiliate. Soon after, Rob Huthnance joined CT to take on the responsibility of managing large projects in the Midwest and East for CT after having served 15 years at Prologis Inc. Since that time, Huthnance has rapidly expanded CTs footprint to include large-scale logistics parks in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, and a number of submarkets in Texas. Under his leadership in the Eastern United States, Huthnance has led CT developments totaling over 20 million square feet. Rob Huthnance has favorably influenced the growth of CT having led this 11 year expansion charge across the United States, and there is no one more suited to lead CTs continuing growth forward, said Watty Watson, Managing Partner of CT Realty. Huthnance was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and attended University of Texas. Joining Huthnance in the management team as Executive V.P./Operations and Development Management is Rolf Anderson, a long-time Chicago-based real estate executive who has managed CT projects in Northern California and all over the Midwest. Anderson has overseen 12 million square feet of CT developments in the Midwest and East and has successfully managed an abundance of value creation. Alongside the new leadership team of Huthnance and Anderson is Bruce Bearer who will serve as the financial executive, supporting on-going operations, corporate finance and lender relations. Bearer has been with CT for 8 years and has worked closely with Dominic Petrucci with a focus on corporate financial management, lender coordination and external investment partner management. With Rob Huthnance as the new president, he continues to focus on CTs expansion, We currently have active CT development projects in 17 markets and see rebounding tenant demand, strong institutional investor appetites and decreasing construction costs, all of which make for a healthy outlook. We have enjoyed a great run since 2014 when I joined CT, and I am more enthused than ever about launching it into the next generation of growth across the robust industrial markets of America. Its exciting to think about where CT Realty will be 10 years from now with such a powerful leadership team in place, said Huthnance. CT will continue to maintain offices in Newport Beach, CA, Dallas, TX, and Chicago, IL. About CT Realty: CT Realty is a national real estate and investment company headquartered in Dallas, Texas and Newport Beach, California. Since its establishment 30 years ago, CT Realty has completed over 300 transactions valued at more than $8 billion. CT is primarily focused on the investment of Class A industrial logistics developments throughout the U.S., having acquired 3,000 acres of industrial land since 2010. CT has active developments in Northern and Southern California, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta, Illinois, Indianapolis, Ohio and New Jersey, and continues to expand into new markets nationwide. To learn more, visit www.ctrinvestors.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00a8188e-5f1b-4f08-835d-72fd2829911e VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mustang Energy Corp. (CSE: MEC, OTC:MECPF, FRA:92T) (the Company or Mustang) is pleased to announce that it has received exploration permits from the Government of Saskatchewan, allowing for ground-based exploration activities at the Dutton Uranium Project (the Dutton Project) in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. The approved permits are valid from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028 and authorize the Company to carry out mineral exploration activities such as trail construction, line-cutting, ground geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling. Mustang recently completed an Xcite TDEM survey over a portion of the Dutton project and are currently awaiting results. The Company looks to initiate further exploration activities aimed at further assessing the viability of the Dutton Project. As part of the permit conditions, Mustang will continue to engage with local communities to address any ongoing concerns and ensure sustainable project implementation. Mustang currently holds an Exploration Agreement with English River First Nation. Consultation and environmental stewardship remains a priority, with specific measures to minimize disturbance and support reclamation efforts. Nick Luksha, CEO, commented: Securing these exploration permits is another step forward for the Company as we continue to advance our projects in this highly prospective region. This furthers our commitment to unlocking the property's full potential through systematic exploration. We look forward to commencing our field programs and generating valuable data to guide future work. About the Dutton Project The 100% owned Dutton Project spans 7,633 hectares over three adjoining claims in the Southern Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan. Approximately 20 kilometres to the east of the Dutton Project lies the Virgin River Shear Zone which hosts known high-grade uranium deposits such as Cameco Corps Centennial Deposit. The Dutton Project is positioned just west of the Cable Bay Shear Zone within the Mudjatik Domain, a major structural discontinuity which hosts several uranium occurrences. The Dutton Project encompasses a diabase dyke complex, including conductive anomalies and elevated radioactivity.2 Historical exploration (19781981) identified several features of interest, including weakly conductive EM anomalies, biogeochemical uranium enrichment, and radioactive dykes.3 The Dutton Project has never been drill-tested, and will benefit from additional geophysical surveys and surface sampling to aid in future drill target generation. Figure 1: Overview of Mustang Energy Corp's Dutton Project1 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f1a5291-ed7f-4a32-862b-b45c68538900 References: 1. Saskatchewan GeoAtlas, Retrieved from: https://gisappl.saskatchewan.ca/Html5Ext/index.html?viewer=GeoAtlas 2. Saskatchewan Mineral Deposits Index, SMDI# 2058, Abraham Bay Radioactive Diabase Dykes, Retrieved from: https://mineraldeposits.saskatchewan.ca/Home/Viewdetails/2058 3. Saskatchewan Mineral Assessment Database, Report# 74G06-0024, Retrieved from: http://mineral-assessment.saskatchewan.ca/Pages/BasePages/Main.aspx Qualifying Statement The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo., Technical Advisor for Mustang Energy, a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. Ms. Guillaume is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Adjacent Property Disclaimer: This news release includes references with respect to uranium deposits which are located near the Dutton Project, such as Cameco Corps Centennial Deposit and deposits within the Mudjatik Domain. The Company advises that, notwithstanding their proximity of location, discoveries of minerals on nearby properties and any promising results thereof are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization of, or located on the Dutton Project, or the Companys ability to commercially exploit the Dutton Project, or to locate any commercially exploitable deposits therefrom. The Company cautions investors on relying on this information as the Company has not confirmed the accuracy or reliability of the information. About Mustang Energy Corp.: Mustang is a resource exploration company focused on acquiring and developing high-potential uranium and critical mineral assets. The Company is actively exploring its properties in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada and holds 77,318 hectares in around the Athabasca Basin. Mustang's flagship property, Ford Lake, covers 7,743 hectares in the prolific eastern Athabasca Basin, while its Cigar Lake East and Roughrider South projects span 3,442 hectares to the north and the Spur Project to the south covering 17,929 hectares. Mustang has also established its footprint in the Cluff Lake region of the Athabasca Basin with the Yellowstone Project (21,820 hectares) and further expanded its presence in the south central region of the Athabasca Basin with the Dutton Project (7,633 hectares). For further information, please contact: Mustang Energy Corp. Attention: Nicholas Luksha, CEO and Director Phone: (604) 838-0184 Neither the CSE nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends, believes or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as forwardlooking statements, are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, the future potential of the minerals claims held by the Company, including the Dutton Project; the completion of future work on the Dutton Project; and the results from future exploration work providing insight to the Company of the Dutton Projects viability; In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to continue exploring the Dutton Project given various environmental and economic factors outside of its control. 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. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO, NYSE AMERICAN: BTG, NSX: B2G) (B2Gold or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of a technical report in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI-43-101) for the Companys Back River Gold District located in Nunavut, Canada titled Goose Project and Back River District, Nunavut, Canada, NI 43-101 Technical Report (the Back River Technical Report), dated effective December 31, 2024. The primary purpose of the Back River Technical Report is to provide an updated life of mine plan for the Goose Project based solely on an updated Mineral Reserve estimate. All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. The Back River Technical Report will be filed on SEDAR+ before March 31, 2025. The Back River Gold District consists of 11 mineral claims blocks along an 80-kilometer (km) belt. Construction is underway at the most advanced project in the district, Goose, with construction and development on schedule for first gold pour in the second quarter of 2025, followed by ramp up to commercial production expected in the third quarter of 2025. Highlights of the Back River Technical Report Robust Mineral Resources at the Goose Project, with further potential to expand known deposits and discover additional mineralization Indicated Mineral Resource estimate of 3,560,000 ounces of gold (15.5 million tonnes grading 7.16 grams per tonne (g/t) gold; Indicated Mineral Resource gold grade is a 16% improvement versus the Indicated Mineral Resource gold grade in the last published technical report on the Goose Project (the Prior Report) by the prior owner; Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 2,440,000 ounces of gold (10.1 million tonnes grading 7.54 g/t gold); Inferred Mineral Resource gold grade is a 14% improvement versus the Prior Report; When compared to the Prior Report, the new B2Gold geological model used in the Back River Technical Report includes a revised methodology for mineral resource estimation which resulted in a reclassification of a portion of the previously reported Indicated Mineral Resources to Inferred Mineral Resources, through the application of more stringent specifications for drill hole spacing that B2Gold felt was more appropriate for the deposit; The combined effect of B2Golds proprietary changes is reflected in a commensurate shift in the respective totals for Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources as expected from B2Golds acquisition due diligence; At Umwelt underground, B2Gold completed infill drilling designed around its revised drill hole spacing parameters, which contributed to improving the mine design and efficiencies while reducing operational risk; The Company remains highly confident that with additional in-fill drilling to be completed over time, a large portion of the Inferred Mineral Resources will convert to Indicated Mineral Resources and therefore be eligible for classification as Mineral Reserves; and Historically across its existing operations, B2Gold has converted in excess of 75% of Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources through in-fill drilling. Meaningful gold production profile enhances and diversifies B2Golds existing gold production Open pit and underground gold mine with an initial Mineral Reserve mine life of approximately 9 years (Mineral Reserve Life of Mine); The Mineral Reserve Life of Mine only contemplates the mining of the Echo, Umwelt, Llama, and Goose open pits, plus the mining of Umwelt underground; The Company remains highly confident that multiple areas that were contemplated to be mined in the Prior Report (Echo underground, Llama underground, and Goose underground) will be converted from Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources with additional in-fill drilling; Mineral Reserve Life of Mine production of approximately 2.3 million ounces of gold; Average annual gold production of approximately 300,000 ounces per year for the first six full years of production from 2026 through 2031 in the Mineral Reserve Life of Mine; Average annual gold production of over 310,000 ounces per year from 2027 through 2031, which the Company views as representative steady state years for the Goose Project; Average gold grade processed of 6.82 g/t gold over the Mineral Reserve Life of Mine, a 14% improvement compared to the Prior Report; and Average gold recovery of 92.5% over the Mineral Reserve Life of Mine. Attractive all-in sustaining costs (AISC) anticipated at the Goose Project AISC (see Non-IFRS Measures) from 2025 through 2027 are impacted by sustaining capital costs to develop and install a new power solution for the Back River Gold District, including a power plant optimization and the installation of a renewable energy facility, both of which are classified as sustaining capital costs but are one-time costs that will potentially benefit the operation for decades; The Company believes the weighted average AISC of approximately $1,360 per ounce from 2027 through 2031 is a better representation of long-term Goose Project potential AISC, to be supported by the goal of further expanding Mineral Reserves over time; and Projected AISC of approximately $1,547 per gold ounce over the Mineral Reserve Life of Mine, which the Company anticipates will reduce with the delineation of additional Mineral Reserves through the conversion of existing Inferred Mineral Resources and the discovery of additional resources, both of which have the potential to extend mine life; Excluding the one-time costs to implement a renewable energy facility and optimize the power plant, Mineral Reserve Life of Mine AISC would be approximately $1,490. Updated Mineral Reserve estimate of approximately 2.5 million gold ounces The Mineral Reserve estimate that forms the basis for the Goose Project Mineral Reserve Life of Mine includes a Probable Mineral Reserve estimate of 11.3 million tonnes grading 6.82 g/t gold for a total of 2,480,000 ounces of gold; and Ongoing exploration drilling on the Back River Gold District demonstrates potential to significantly increase the Mineral Reserve estimate in the future, specifically at the Echo, Llama, and Goose underground deposits which require tighter spaced drilling to justify conversion from Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources and therefore be eligible for classification as Mineral Reserves. Significant exploration potential remains across the Back River Gold District A total of $32 million is budgeted for exploration at the Back River Gold District in 2025, of which $21 million is allocated to the Goose Project; and A significantly increased budget of $11 million is allocated for Back River Gold District regional exploration, including the prospective George Project located 50 km northwest of the Goose Project; The George Project hosts an Indicated Mineral Resource estimate of 420,000 ounces (1.7 million tonnes grading 7.85 g/t gold) and an Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 1,120,000 ounces (3.7 million tonnes grading 9.32 g/t gold). Multiple Goose Project optimization studies are underway, or set to commence, to enhance the long-term value of the operation On the processing side, B2Gold is currently evaluating a flotation / concentrate leach process as a potential option to increase gold recovery and reduce operating costs, and is commencing a study on the installation of a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill to be paired in conjunction with the existing 4,000 tonnes per day (tpd) ball mill, which could potentially expand mill throughput capacity (discussed in further detail below); On the mining side, the Company will evaluate underground and open pit mining strategies to both lower costs and capture additional existing Mineral Resources into the mine plan; and On the logistics side, B2Gold is evaluating the viability of constructing and running the Goose Project winter ice road on a less than annual basis. Based on the updated Goose Project Mineral Resource inventory, combined with the exploration upside across the Back River Gold District, the Company is commencing a study to analyze the potential to increase mill throughput at the Goose Project from 4,000 tpd potentially up to 6,000 tpd In order to optimize the long-term value of the Goose Project, B2Gold plans on initiating a study to explore adding a SAG mill to the processing flowsheet, to be paired with the existing 4,000 tpd ball mill; The Company believes that the addition of a SAG mill could result in an increase in the mill throughput from 4,000 tpd potentially up to 6,000 tpd; The Goose Project is permitted for mill throughput of up to 6,000 tpd; With an increase in mill throughput, B2Gold anticipates that the Goose Project could achieve an increase in average annual gold production, a reduction in life of mine AISC, and an increase in net present value of the project; Based on the robust existing Mineral Resource inventory across the Back River Gold District, combined with the gold mineralization prospectivity across the entire nearly 100,000-hectare land package, B2Gold believes it can sustain a mill throughput of 6,000 tpd over a mine life well in excess of the existing Mineral Reserve Life of Mine; and The results of this study are expected to be finalized in late 2025 or early 2026. Back River Technical Report Overview The Back River Technical Report was prepared by B2Gold technical staff, with an effective date of December 31, 2024, and evaluates recovery of gold from four open pit deposits and one underground deposit. The open pit mining operation contemplates moving up to approximately 50,000 tpd (approximately 18 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa)), while the underground mining operation contemplates mining up to approximately 1,600 tpd (approximately 0.6 Mtpa). Open pit and underground ore is expected to be processed in a 4,000 tpd (approximately 1.5 Mtpa) processing plant that includes crushing, grinding, gravity concentration, with fine grinding and agitated leaching of the ore, followed by a carbon-in-pulp recovery process to process dore bullion. The Mineral Reserve estimate for the Goose Project that forms the basis for the Back River Technical Report includes Probable Mineral Reserves of 11.3 million tonnes grading 6.82 g/t gold for a total of 2,480,000 ounces of gold. The Back River Technical Report assumptions include revenues using broker consensus gold price forecast, which includes a long-term gold price assumption of $2,212 per ounce, and current prices for the Canadian dollar exchange rate, fuel, reagents, labour, power and other consumables. The key parameters of the technical report are presented in the following tables: Table 1 Summary Results of the Goose Project Mineral Reserve Life of Mine Plan Representative Steady State Years (2027 2031) Mineral Reserve Life of Mine Production Profile Years 5 9 Ore tonnes processed (Mt) 7.1 11.3 Average gold grade processed (g/t) 7.40 6.82 Gold recovery (%) 92.5 92.5 Gold ounces produced (oz) 1,553,000 2,294,000 Average annual gold production (oz) 311,000 270,0001 Operating Costs Cash operating costs2($/oz gold) 962 1,129 All-In Sustaining Costs3($/oz gold) 1,363 1,547 Open pit mining cost ($/t moved) 4.53 4.62 Underground mining cost ($/t mined) 109.89 116.76 Processing cost ($/t processed) 44.55 45.04 Site general cost ($/t processed) 64.00 68.31 Distributable MLA and WIR ($/t processed) 40.83 43.44 Capital Costs Sustaining capital ($M)4 141 279 Notes: Average annual production calculated as total gold ounces produced divided by the mill processing life of approximately 8.5 years. Cash operating costs consist of mining costs, processing costs and site general costs. AISC consist of cash operating costs, royalties, corporate general and administrative costs, selling costs, silver credits and sustaining capital expenditures but exclude construction costs and non-sustaining capital expenditures. Sustaining capital costs exclude open pit deferred stripping and underground capitalized development. Back River Gold District Mineral Resource Estimate Details Table 2 Back River Gold District Mineral Resource Estimate Category Mine, Project or Area Tonnes (x 1,000) Gold Grade (g/t Au) Contained Gold Ounces (x 1,000) Indicated Goose Claims Group 15,460 7.16 3,560 Indicated George Claims Group 1,680 7.85 420 Total Indicated Mineral Resources 17,140 7.23 3,990 Category Mine, Project or Area Tonnes (x 1,000) Gold Grade (g/t Au) Contained Gold Ounces (x 1,000) Inferred Goose Claims Group 10,060 7.54 2,440 Inferred George Claims Group 3,730 9.32 1,120 Total Inferred Mineral Resources 13,780 8.02 3,550 Notes: Mineral Resources have been classified using the CIM Standards and have an effective date of December 31, 2024. Mineral Resources are reported in situ or in stockpiles, inclusive of those Mineral Resources that have been modified to Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% project and attributable basis. The Qualified Person for the Mineral Resource estimate is Andrew Brown, P.Geo., B2Golds Vice President, Exploration. The Qualified Person for the stockpile estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., B2Golds Vice President, Projects. Goose Claims Group: Mineral Resource estimates that are amenable to open pit mining methods are reported within conceptual open pit shells based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$107.50/oz gold produced including royalties and levies, and operating cost estimates of US$5.996.63/t mined (mining), US$32.4032.72/t processed (processing) and US$22.27/t processed (site general), pit slope angles of 45, and an exchange rate of C$1.33:US$1.00. Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported at an average cut-off grade of 0.9 g/t gold. Mineral Resource estimates potentially amenable to underground mining are reported at a cut-off grade of 2.2 g/t gold, assuming a gold price of US$2,100/oz, process recovery of 92.5%, variable mining costs by deposit of US$134.20171.18/t mined, processing cost of US$54.72/t processed, and a selling cost of US$107.50/oz produced. No stope or other constraint was applied. George Claims Group: Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported within conceptual open pit shells based on a gold price of US$2,100/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$107.50/oz including royalties and levies, and operating cost estimates of US$6.56/t mined (mining), US$57.94/t processed (processing) and US$26.55/t processed (site general), pit slope angles of 43, and an exchange rate of C$1.33:US$1.00. Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported at an average cut-off grade of 1.4 g/t gold. Mineral Resource estimates potentially amenable to underground mining are reported at a cut-off grade of 3.1 g/t gold, assuming a gold price of US$2,100/oz, process recovery of 92.5%, mining costs of US$175.46/t mined, processing cost of US$84.50/t processed including haulage, and a selling cost of US$107.50/oz gold produced. No stope or other constraint was applied. Mineral Resources at the Echo pit account for mining depletion as of December 31, 2024. All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Goose Project Mineral Reserve Estimate Details Table 3 Goose Project Mineral Reserve Estimate Category Mining Method Tonnes (x 1,000) Gold Grade (g/t Au) Contained Gold Ounces (x 1,000) Probable Open Pit 7,300 6.19 1,450 Probable Underground 3,800 8.30 1,010 Probable Stockpiles 240 2.76 21 Total Probable Mineral Reserves 11,300 6.82 2,480 Notes: Mineral Reserves have been classified using the CIM Standards, are reported at the point of delivery to the process plant, and have an effective date of December 31, 2024. Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% project and attributable basis within the Goose Claims Group. The Qualified Person for the Open Pit and Stockpile Mineral Reserve estimate is Peter Montano, P.E., B2Golds Vice President, Projects. The Qualified Person for the Underground Mineral Reserve estimate is Michael Meyers, P.Eng., B2Golds Manager, Projects. Mineral Reserves from open pit mine methods and stockpiles are based on a conventional open pit mining method, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$90.00/oz including royalties and levies, average mining cost of US$4.92/t mined at surface, average processing cost of US$41.08/t processed, and site general costs of US$66.95/t processed. Reserve model dilution and ore loss were applied through whole block averaging such that at a 1.65 g/t Au cut-off, for all pits combined there is a 32% increase in tonnes, a 25% reduction in grade, and a 1% reduction in ounces when compared to the Mineral Resource model. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by open pit methods or are in stockpiles are reported above a cut-off grade of 1.65 g/t gold. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods assume longhole stoping mining methods, gold price of US$1,750/oz, metallurgical recovery of 92.5%, selling costs of US$90.00/oz including royalties and levies, average mining cost of US$120.13/t ore mined, average processing cost of US$41.08/t processed, site general costs of US$66.95/t processed, dilution % variable by stoping area, and 90% mining recovery. Mineral Reserves that will be mined by underground methods are reported above a cut-off grade of 4.64 g/t gold. All tonnage, grade and contained metal content estimates have been rounded; rounding may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade, and contained metal content. Goose Project Development B2Gold recognizes that respect and collaboration with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA) is central to the license to operate in the Back River Gold District and will continue to prioritize developing the project in a manner that recognizes Inuit priorities, addresses concerns, and brings long-term socio-economic benefits to the Kitikmeot Region. B2Gold looks forward to continuing to build on its strong collaboration with the KIA and Kitikmeot Communities. All planned construction activities in 2024 were completed and project construction and development continue to progress on track for first gold pour at the Goose Project in the second quarter of 2025 followed by ramp up to commercial production in the third quarter of 2025. The Company continues to estimate that gold production in 2025 will be between 120,000 and 150,000 ounces. The 2025 Winter Ice Road campaign is well underway with the transportation of all materials from the Marine Laydown Area to the Goose Project expected to be completed by mid-May 2025. Development of the open pit and underground remain the Companys primary focus to ensure that adequate material is available for mill startup and that the Echo pit is available for tailings placement. Open pit mining of the Echo pit continues to meet production targets and is anticipated to be ready to receive tailings when the mill starts. The Umwelt underground development remains on schedule for the commencement of high-grade stope ore production in the third quarter of 2025. Based on the construction and mine development cash expenditures incurred to date, combined with the estimated expenditures to be incurred through to first gold pour in the second quarter of 2025, the Company reiterates the total Goose Project construction and mine development cash expenditure estimate of C$1,540 million, as announced on September 12, 2024. Goose Project Opportunities With first gold production for the Goose Project expected within three months, B2Gold has begun multiple optimization studies with the goal of maximizing the long-term value of the Back River Gold District. These studies include: Evaluating a flotation / concentrate leach process as a potential option to increase gold recovery and reduce operating costs; Evaluating the installation of a SAG mill to be paired in conjunction with the existing 4,000 tpd ball mill, which could potentially expand mill throughput capacity (discussed in further detail below); Evaluating the viability of constructing and running the Goose Project winter ice road on a less than annual basis; Evaluating underground mining methods and the potential to exceed the planned production from the Umwelt underground by increasing the mine production rate through development of more active production levels, and consideration of alternate mine methods to both lower costs and capture additional existing Mineral Resources into the mine plan; and Assessing the feasibility of remote operation of surface and underground equipment as it presents an opportunity to optimize production efficiencies and reduce employee transportation costs. In connection with these studies, B2Gold will be reviewing any regulatory requirements and engaging with the KIA and local communities to ensure any optimization of the Goose Project provides benefits to all stakeholders. Based on the updated Goose Project Mineral Resource estimate combined with the exploration upside across the Goose Project claim block, and with the optimization studies listed above, the Company plans on initiating a formal study to analyze the potential to increase mill throughput at the Goose Project from 4,000 tpd potentially up to 6,000 tpd. The Goose Project is currently permitted for mill throughput of up to 6,000 tpd, so no additional permits or permit amendments would be required if the results of the formal study on a mill expansion are positive. The results of this study and the corresponding changes to the economics of the Goose Project are expected to be finalized in late 2025 or early 2026, with the results anticipated to be press released once completed. Back River Gold District Exploration The updated Back River Gold District Mineral Resource estimate provides a strong baseline for B2Golds exploration team to continue building on. Areas of significant focus for the 2025 exploration program at the Back River Gold District include the following: Enhancing and growing the significant mineral resource base at the Goose Project; 12,000 m of drilling is planned at the Goose Project targeting extensions of the largest and highest-grade resources at the Llama and Umwelt deposits; In addition, drilling is planned to follow up on the significant results returned in 2023 and 2024 at the Nuvuyak, Mammoth and Hook targets; Continuing to realize the excellent prospectivity of the region, with the goal of identifying new regional targets; Several new conceptual shallower targets will be tested with drilling in 2025; and Regional exploration, including geophysics, mapping, prospecting and till sampling at the George, Boot, Boulder, Del, Beech and Needle Projects; This work will also include an estimated 13,000 m of diamond drilling to follow up drill ready targets defined during the 2024 summer regional exploration program. The Company anticipates that based on the objectives of the 2025 and future exploration programs at the Back River Gold District, there is potential to further convert more Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources as well as continue to grow the total Mineral Resource inventory across the entire nearly 100,000-hectare land package. About B2Gold B2Gold is a responsible international gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines, the Goose Project under construction in northern Canada and numerous development and exploration projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia and Finland. B2Gold forecasts total consolidated gold production of between 970,000 and 1,075,000 ounces in 2025. Qualified Persons Peter Montano, P.E., Vice President, Projects, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information related to operations matters contained in this news release. Andrew Brown, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information related to exploration and mineral resource matters contained in this news release. ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP. Clive T. Johnson President and Chief Executive Officer Source: B2Gold Corp. The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American LLC neither approve nor disapprove the information contained in this news release. Production results and production guidance presented in this news release reflect total production at the mines B2Gold operates on a 100% project basis. Please see our Annual Information Form dated March 14, 2024 for a discussion of our ownership interest in the mines B2Gold operates. This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation, including: projections; outlook; guidance; forecasts; estimates; and other statements regarding future or estimated financial and operational performance, gold production and sales, revenues and cash flows, and capital costs (sustaining and non-sustaining) and operating costs, including projected cash operating costs and AISC, and budgets; future or estimated mine life, metal price assumptions, ore grades or sources, gold recovery rates, stripping ratios, throughput, and ore processing; statements regarding anticipated exploration, drilling, development, construction, permitting and other activities or achievements of B2Gold; and including, without limitation: estimate of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; statements regarding the anticipated conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources; Life of Mine production of approximately 2.3 million ounces of gold; average gold production of 310,000 ounces per year from 2027 through 2031; estimate of producing 120,000 to 150,000 ounces in 2025; AISC of approximately $1,360 per ounce from 2027 to 2031 and projected AISC of approximately $1,547 per ounce over the Life of Mine; the potential to significantly increase the Mineral Reserve estimate in the future; B2Golds continued prioritization of developing the Goose Project in a manner that recognizes Inuit priorities, addresses concerns and brings long term socio-economic benefits to the Kitikmeot Region; the potential for first gold pour in the second quarter of 2025 and commercial production in the third quarter of 2025; and the total Goose Project construction and mine development cash expenditure estimate of $1,540 million. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond B2Gold's control, including risks associated with or related to: the volatility of metal prices and B2Gold's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of mineral reserve and resource estimates; not achieving production, cost, economic returns or other estimates; actual production, development plans and costs differing materially from the estimates in B2Gold's feasibility and other studies; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary licences, permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; operational risks and hazards; the ability to replace mineral reserves and identify acquisition opportunities; the unknown liabilities of companies acquired by B2Gold; the ability to successfully integrate new acquisitions; fluctuations in exchange rates; market fluctuations; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities, including potential restrictions imposed on B2Gold's operations as a result thereof and the ability to generate sufficient cash flows; generate sufficient cash to service debt; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; failing to maintain satisfactory labour relations; regulatory, political, economic and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for B2Gold's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; risks related to community relations and community action, including Indigenous and local community title claims and rights to consultation and accommodation; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and B2Gold's reputation; global geopolitical risks; impairment charges or reversals; supply chain disruption; cybersecurity failure; as well as other factors identified and as described in more detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in B2Gold's most recent Annual Information Form, B2Gold's current Form 40-F Annual Report and B2Gold's other filings with Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov, respectively (the "Websites"). The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect B2Gold's forward-looking statements. B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to B2Gold's ability to carry on current and future operations, including: development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; B2Gold's ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; forecasting long term gold price for planning purposes; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry. B2Gold's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. B2Gold does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities B2Gold will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Historical results or feasibility models presented herein are not guarantees or expectations of future performance. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty of measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources, these mineral resources may never be upgraded to proven and probable mineral reserves. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves or recovered. Non-IFRS Measures This news release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), including "cash operating costs" and "all-in sustaining costs" (or "AISC"). Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The projected range of AISC is anticipated to be adjusted to include sustaining capital expenditures, corporate administrative expense, mine-site exploration and evaluation costs and reclamation cost accretion and amortization, and exclude the effects of expansionary capital and non-sustaining expenditures. Projected GAAP total production cash costs for the full year would require inclusion of the projected impact of future included and excluded items, including items that are not currently determinable, but may be significant, such as sustaining capital expenditures, reclamation cost accretion and amortization. Due to the uncertainty of the likelihood, amount and timing of any such items, B2Gold does not have information available to provide a quantitative reconciliation of projected AISC to a total production cash costs projection. B2Gold believes that this measure represents the total costs of producing gold from current operations, and provides B2Gold and other stakeholders of the Company with additional information of B2Golds operational performance and ability to generate cash flows. AISC, as a key performance measure, allows B2Gold to assess its ability to support capital expenditures and to sustain future production from the generation of operating cash flows. This information provides management with the ability to more actively manage capital programs and to make more prudent capital investment decisions. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and should be read in conjunction with B2Gold's consolidated financial statements. Readers should refer to B2Gold's Management Discussion and Analysis, available on the Websites, under the heading "Non-IFRS Measures" for a more detailed discussion of how B2Gold calculates certain such measures and a reconciliation of certain measures to IFRS terms. Cautionary Statement Regarding Mineral Reserve and Resource Estimates The disclosure in this news release uses Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource classification terms that comply with reporting standards in Canada and the Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates are made in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Council Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM Council on May 19, 2014 (the CIM Standards), which were adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators (the CSA) National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the CSA that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. For United States reporting purposes, the SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules (the "SEC Modernization Rules") to modernize the mining property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act). As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multijurisdictional disclosure system with the U.S., B2Gold is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the SEC Modernization Rules and the Company provides disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, mineral reserve and mineral resource information contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by United States companies. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources." In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" to be "substantially similar" to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards that are required under NI 43-101. While the above terms are "substantially similar" to CIM Definition Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definition Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance that any mineral reserves or mineral resources that we may report as "proven mineral reserves", "probable mineral reserves", "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had we prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Further, estimates of inferred mineral resources have significant geological uncertainty and it should not be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will be converted to the measured or indicated categories. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not meet the threshold for reserve modifying factors, such as estimated economic viability, that would allow for conversion to mineral reserves. Washington, D.C., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) will host its annual Presidents & Chancellors HBCU Fly-In from April 1-3 in Washington, D.C. The convening brings together presidents and chancellors from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), historically Black community colleges (HBCCs) and predominantly Black institutions (PBIs) for high-level discussions with members of Congress, executive branch officials and corporate leaders on critical issues impacting TMCFs member schools and the broader higher education community. This is always such an important event for our member schools. Connecting with key figures in government and business is impactful for their students and campuses, said Dr. Harry L. Williams , president and CEO of TMCF. The Fly-In serves as a powerful platform to advance education priorities, strengthen cross-sector collaboration and shape national strategies that address the evolving needs of Americas workforce. United States Secretary of Education Linda E. McMahon will attend and participate in a fireside chat as part of the event. Prior to her appointment as secretary, McMahon served as administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from 2017 to 2019. Participants will also participate in a networking breakfast with the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) member company representatives and members of Congress. Government and industry panel discussions and keynote speakers discussing building the technology workforce will occur following the breakfast. Specific topics include demystifying the use of artificial intelligence in education, building American technology manufacturing and public/private partnerships to support the workforce. The event also often includes meetings with Congressional Black Caucus leadership, senior members of the presidential administration and workshops The HBCU Fly-In is part of TMCFs broader policy, advocacy and capacity building work. TMCF develops and advocates for federal legislation and policies that facilitate the sustainability and growth of HBCUs, HBCCs and PBIs, as well as help institutions access resources to build capacity and strengthen academic and financial support. In the recent past, TMCF advocacy has resulted in $5.5 billion in pandemic-relief funds specifically for HBCUs; the introduction and passage of legislation that helped establish the first University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) on an HBCU campus; and the discharge of more than $1.3 billion loans acquired through the HBCU Capital Finance Program. To learn more about the event, view last years HBCU Fly-in video . About Thurgood Marshall College Fund Karel Van Reeth, Delo Boringen & Frank De Palmenaer, ABO-Group EnvironmentGhent, 27 March 2025 18:30 Press release / Regulated information ABO-Group Environment NV announces its first acquisition of 2025: Delo Boringen BV from Schoten. The Van Reeth family remains on board, working closely with ABO-Group Environment. This acquisition, with a 70% majority stakeholdership by ABO-Group, strengthens ABOs service offering in the field of environmental drilling. ABO-Group Environment proudly announces its first acquisition of this year: Delo Boringen, a Belgian specialist in environmental sampling and drilling. Delo Boringen offers an extensive range of services, including manual and mechanical drilling, undisturbed soil sampling and water sampling for environmental research as well as drilling for demolition monitoring (Tracimat). Karel Van Reeth remains actively involved as part of the management team, ensuring the continuity of the company. With this acquisition, ABO-Group strengthens its core activities in soil research and sampling for environmental applications. The acquisition of Delo Boringen allows ABO-Group to further deepen and broaden its product offering, aimed at effectively addressing soil contamination. Karel Van Reeth, founder of Delo Boringen, states: "ABO-Group has been one of our key customers for a long time and we have built an excellent collaboration together. As a smaller company, we need the support of a larger organization with whom we can develop new and innovative drilling techniques in the future. That's why we see joining forces with ABO Group as an important step towards securing our future. Together with my family, I look forward to growing our family business further in our sector under the wings of ABO-Group." Frank De Palmenaer, CEO of ABO-Group Environment, emphasizes: "For ABO-Group, preserving the independence and continuity of the family-owned business Delo Boringen remains essential, as is the case with many of our participations. We will provide support in terms of investments and the implementation of innovative techniques to adequately respond to the sectors challenges. We are pleased to add Delo Boringen's expertise to our service offering. The family-based management and the independence of the company will continue to be guaranteed. The involvement of the family shareholders is ensured as they will retain 30% of the shares." The acquisition is expected to be completed in the second quarter. About Delo boringen Delo Boringen, founded in 2003 and based in Schoten, has grown into a leading environmental drilling company in Belgium. It offers a wide range of services, including manual and mechanical drilling, undisturbed soil sampling and water sampling. The company prides itself on its customer-oriented service and high-quality project execution. About ABO-Group Environment ABO-Group, founded in 1995 as a consultancy firm for soil investigations, has grown into an international engineering firm specialized in all aspects of environment and soil: quality, reuse and remediation, geotechnics and monitoring, ecology and cultural heritage. ABO-Group operates through various semi-independent subsidiaries in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. With over 800 experts, the group possesses the technology, expertise and scale necessary to offer complete solutions for the most challenging projects. Its clients include businesses active in construction, infrastructure, mining and raw materials, energy and water, ranging from indicative studies and design to execution and maintenance of diverse assets. ABO-Group Environment is listed on EURONEXT Brussels and EURONEXT Paris. For a more detailed description of ABO-Group Environments activities, please visit: www.abo-group.eu. For more information Frank De Palmenaer CEO ABO-Group Environment nv frank.depalmenaer@abo-group.eu T: +32 (0)496 59 88 88 Attachments Vortex Energy Corp. (CSE: VRTX | OTC: VTECF | FRA: AA3) ("Vortex" or the "Company") announces, further to its news release dated March 20, 2025, that the consolidation of its common shares (the "Common Shares") on the basis of ten (10) pre-consolidation Common Shares for one (1) post-consolidation Common Share (the "Consolidation") will have a record date of April 1, 2025. The Company currently has 82,810,561 Common Shares issued and outstanding, and following the Consolidation, will have approximately 8,281,056 Common Shares issued and outstanding, prior to rounding of fractional Common Shares. No fractional Common Shares will be issued as a result of the proposed Consolidation. Any fractional Common Shares resulting from the Consolidation will be rounded up in the case of a fractional interest that is one-half (1/2) of a Common Share or greater, or rounded down in the case of a fractional interest that is less than one-half (1/2) of a Common Share, to the nearest whole number of Common Shares, and no cash consideration will be paid in respect of fractional Common Shares rounded down to the nearest whole Common Share. The Company's Common Shares will commence trading on post-Consolidation basis on the Canadian Securities Exchange at Market open on April 1, 2025. The new CUSIP number for the post-Consolidation Common Shares will be 92905D203 and the new ISIN number will be CA92905D2032. The name of the Company and trading symbol will remain the same after the Consolidation. A letter of transmittal with respect to the Consolidation will be mailed to all registered shareholders of the Company holding physical certificates. All registered shareholders with physical certificates will be required to send their certificates representing pre-consolidation Common Shares along with a completed letter of transmittal to the Company's transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company, in accordance with the instructions provided in the letter of transmittal. A copy of the letter of transmittal will be posted on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Shareholders of the Company without physical share certificates do not need to take any action with respect to the Consolidation, as they will automatically receive a new DRS advice representing the post-Consolidation Common Shares. About Vortex Energy Corp. Vortex Energy Corp. is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The Company is currently advancing its Robinsons River Salt Project comprised of a total of 942 claims covering 23,500 hectares located approximately 35 linear kms south of the town of Stephenville in the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador. The Robinsons River Salt Project is prospective for both salt and hydrogen salt cavern storage. The Company is also currently advancing its Fire Eye Uranium Property in the Athabasca Basin, a region renowned for its uranium deposits. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Paul Sparkes Chief Executive Officer, Director +1 (778) 819-0164 info@vortexenergycorp.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the proposed Consolidation, including the record date of the Consolidation. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, included in this press release, the assumption that the Canadian Securities Exchange will not object to the Consolidation and that the Consolidation will be completed as currently anticipated. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, that the Canadian Securities Exchange may object to the proposed Consolidation and use its discretion to prohibit the proposed Consolidation; that the Consolidation may not be completed by the Company; and that the board of directors of the Company retains discretion over the terms and implementation of the Consolidation. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release. Toronto, March 27, 2025 - KO Gold Inc. (CSE: KOG) ("KO Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of up to 10,000,000 units ("Units") to be issued at a price of C$0.20 per Unit for gross proceeds up to C$2,000,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share (each a "Share") and one transferable common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share at a price of C$0.25 for a period of two (2) years from issuance. Proceeds received from the Private Placement will be used for general working capital purposes and to fund the Company's ongoing exploration and drilling programs in the Otago Gold District in New Zealand. Finder's fees of cash and Warrants issued on the same terms as noted above may be paid to qualified parties. All securities will be will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from issuance. Drilling Program Update - Otago Gold District The Company plans to complete reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drill holes on its Carrick, Hyde, Smylers, and Glenpark exploration permits as soon as a drilling contractor has been selected, and all drilling permits and private land access agreements have been obtained. This drilling program will focus on: (1) Priority: the discovery of high-grade mineralized shear zones or lode gold within the Carrick Goldfield, which is located southwest of Santana Minerals Rise & Shine Shear Zone ("RSSZ") of the Bendigo-Ophir Project, and (2) Testing the mineralized extensions of the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone ("HMSZ") adjacent to OceanaGold's active Macraes Gold Mine (Figure 1). This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Figure 1: KO Gold's permits in Otago Gold District, New Zealand To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9895/246370_0f50319214603a94_002full.jpg Qualified Person Statement All scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared and approved by Paul Teniere, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration and Director of KO Gold, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. About KO Gold Inc. KO Gold is a Canadian junior exploration company listed on the CSE under "KOG". The Company's strategy is to acquire and explore highly prospective gold properties within the Otago Gold District in New Zealand. KO Gold has eight 100%-owned prospecting and exploration permits within the Otago Gold District for a combined land package of 740 km2. The Company's Smylers and Glenpark EPs are located adjacent to OceanaGold's Macraes Gold Mine and the Carrick EP hosts the historic Carrick Goldfield which holds promise as a significant gold deposit near Santana Minerals' Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project. KO Gold has spent over C$3M in exploration and drilling on its permits in the Otago Gold District over the past five years including RC and diamond drilling on its Smylers EP. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. 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 news release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "may," "will," "would," "potential," "proposed" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the completion of the proposed Private Placement, the intended use of proceeds, and the possible payment of finder's fees. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to complete the Private Placement on the terms announced (or at all), the receipt of all necessary approvals, market conditions, and the ability to use the proceeds as intended. 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. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246370 Half the grid made flexi-wing changes says FIA Half of the entire Formula 1 grid had to made rear wing modifications amid a further FIA clampdown against excessive flexibility that applied from Shanghai. Start, Chinese GP 2025 McLaren Some teams, namely McLaren - accused of cleverly using wing design to pass the FIA's tests but create a 'mini DRS' effect at speed - denied that any changes were required from the Chinese GP. Other reports suggested Alpine and Haas were the teams that made the biggest changes. But the FIA's single-seater boss Nikolas Tombazis revealed: Four of five teams had cars that did not meet the new requirements. In China, the FIA ordered that high-definition cameras be fitted to all cars in free practice to monitor flexibility beyond the static scrutineering tests. There are no questions outstanding now, Tombazis said, "but we will continue to use cameras. "We combine the results of the load tests and the data from the cameras to make sure we don't miss any tricks. At the moment, the FIA is satisfied with the approach of the teams to prevent rear wing flex. "But we understand that the teams are always trying to get the best out of their cars and we must remain vigilant. Our view is that a car that passes the FIA tests is generally legal, unless it has hidden mechanisms or things based on non-linear properties of materials, temperature and other such factors. In these cases, we intervene. (GMM) Honda wants Tsunoda to move to Aston Martin Honda has indicated it would like to see Yuki Tsunoda move to the Aston Martin team next year. Yuki Tsunoda, Chinese GP 2025 Red Bull The Japanese driver's career was already in doubt, given that Honda - his sponsor - leaving Red Bull at the end of the year to become Aston Martin's works engine partner for the 2026 regulations era. Tsunoda looks set to replace the hapless Liam Lawson at Red Bull Racing from Suzuka onwards, but F1 journalist Erik van Haren doubts he has much of a future there. That seems very, very doubtful in advance, the De Telegraaf correspondent said. Especially because of Red Bull's doubts about him as a driver have been there for years, also at the end of the last year. Additionally, Bild newspaper in Germany is reporting that Honda is agreeing to significantly increase its financial backing of Tsunoda from its current 10 million euros a year to secure the looming opportunity at Red Bull Racing. But Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, warns that the backing for Red Bull specifically earmarked for Tsunoda will end late this year. Honda has a sponsorship contract with Tsunoda, Watanabe told as-web.jp. We have not given up on him and are actively involved. But he confirms that Honda will end all driver-related talks with Red Bull this year. Yes, that will no longer be the case, said Watanabe. "Regarding the seat from 2026 onwards, the team we can discuss with is Aston Martin, not Red Bull. If Tsunoda wants to remain with Red Bull, Honda cannot support him beyond 2025. If he wants to come to Aston Martin, and if a story can be made that objectively supports Tsunoda going to Aston Martin, Honda would also like to support him. The issue for Tsunoda is that Aston Martin's current drivers - Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll - are already contracted to the team for 2026. Yes, as far as I know, 2026 is fixed, Watanabe said. However, I hope that in the future, a driver trained by Honda will drive for Aston Martin. (GMM) Next article: China tariffs may be cut to seal TikTok sale, Trump says World Bank launches Business Ready Report in Ghana; highlights need for reforms to boost private sector growth GraphicOnline Business News Mar - 27 - 2025 , 14:41 The World Bank Group has unveiled the Business Ready (B-READY) Report in Ghana, offering a detailed assessment of the countrys business environment while highlighting critical areas that require reform to stimulate private sector growth. The report acknowledges Ghanas strengths in labour market regulations and utility services but identifies bureaucratic inefficiencies in business registration, property transfer, construction permitting, access to credit, and dispute resolution as major obstacles to economic progress. Speaking at the launch, Robert Taliercio OBrien, Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone at the World Bank, pointed out the urgency of addressing these bottlenecks to enhance Ghanas investment appeal. The B-READY data highlights several areas where Ghana is doing better than peers in the Sub-Saharan Africa region At the same time, the data reveals significant bottlenecks that, if unaddressed, will continue stifling growth and deterring investment, he stated. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling these challenges through the Business Regulatory Reform (BRR) Programme. Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, Minister for Trade, Industry, and Agribusiness, emphasized the importance of regulatory efficiency in driving economic transformation. Achieving the full impact of Ghanas economic transformation agenda depends on establishing robust regulatory frameworks and enhancing institutional efficiency. The government is committed to removing long-standing barriers that have hindered businesses from realizing their full potential, she said. The methodology and benchmarking of the B-READY Report were presented by Valeria Perotti, Manager of the Business Ready (B-READY) unit at the World Bank. She explained that the initiative serves as more than just a ranking tool. The B-READY initiative is not just a set of rankings; it is a diagnostic tool that provides governments with a clear roadmap for reform. Our goal is to ensure a business environment that is efficient, transparent, and conducive to investment, she noted. A panel discussion featuring Simon Madjie (CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre - GIPC), Alexander Mould (CEO, Millennium Development Authority - MiDA), Mavis Owusu Gyamfi (President & CEO, African Center for Economic Transformation - ACET), Seth Twum Akwaboah (CEO, Association of Ghana Industries - AGI), and Ashok Mohinani (Executive Director, Mohinani Group) explored practical solutions to improve Ghanas business climate. Key recommendations included digitalizing regulatory processes, simplifying tax and trade procedures, and strengthening public-private collaboration. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a key member of the World Bank Group, also pledged its support for Ghanas economic transformation efforts. Kyle Kelhofer, Senior Country Manager for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone at the IFC, reiterated the organisations readiness to assist the country. The World Bank Group stands ready to assist Ghana with both financial and technical support to implement key reforms. This includes investments in infrastructure, digital transformation of public services, and strengthening credit systems to enhance financial access for businesses, he said. The World Bank Group has urged policymakers and the private sector to work together to implement reforms that will enhance business competitiveness, attract investment, and drive sustainable economic growth. European Union tells citizens to stockpile 72 hours of food amid risk of war guardian.co.uk International News Mar - 27 - 2025 , 07:07 4 minutes read 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. 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. Niger coup leader Abdourahamane Tchiani sworn in as President for five years Graphic.com.gh International News Mar - 27 - 2025 , 15:52 2 minutes read Nigers junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, was sworn in yesterday as the countrys President for a transition period of five years under a new charter that replaces the West African nations constitution. Tchiani, an army veteran, was also elevated to the countrys highest military rank of army general and signed a decree dissolving all political parties, cementing his grip on power since June 2023 when he led soldiers in a coup that deposed the countrys elected government. The move defied attempts by the regional bloc to quicken the return to democracy after a 2023 coup. The five-year flexible transition period begins on Wednesday, according to Mahamane Roufai, the secretary-general of the government. He was speaking at a ceremony in the capital, Niamey, where the new transition charter recommended by a recent national conference was approved. The new president would have been in power for about seven years by the end of the transition period in 2030, following similar patterns of prolonged stints in power in Africas junta-led countries, including Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. The transition charter also sets out a referendum as one of the conditions for setting up foreign military bases in Niger. However, it noted that the president may authorise it through a decree in the event of an emergency. Niger currently has a military partnership with Russia, its new ally after kicking out United States (US) and French soldiers both longstanding partners. Nigers junta had initially proposed a three-year transition period right after the coup, but that was rejected by West Africas regional bloc known as ECOWAS, which called it a provocation and threatened to intervene with the use of force. Since then, Niger has left the bloc alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, in protest of harsh sanctions which the bloc announced to force a return to democracy in Niger. Critics say Nigers junta has clamped down on civil rights and struggled to end the jihadi violence that the military said inspired them to take power. GES reschedules reopening date for single-track Senior High Schools Emmanuel Bonney Education Mar - 27 - 2025 , 20:22 3 minutes read The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revised the reopening date for single-track senior high schools (SHSs), shifting it from March 29, 2025, to April 23, 2025. This change was outlined in a circular dated March 27, 2025, addressed to all regional directors of education. The letter, signed by Prince C. Agyeman-Duah, Director of the Schools and Instructions Division, on behalf of the Acting Director-General of the GES, directed regional directors to ensure the information reaches all relevant stakeholders. "By this letter, regional directors of education are requested to communicate this information to all heads of single-track senior high and senior high technical schools to inform parents, guardians, and students to take note of the new date and prepare accordingly," the statement read. Reason for the rescheduling Students were originally scheduled to resume on March 29, 2025, following their vacation on March 4. However, due to the Eid-Ul-Fitr public holidays on March 30 and 31, the reopening was initially pushed to April 1, 2025. Further considerations led to the extension to April 23, 2025. A statement from the Ministry of the Interior explained that Eid-Ul-Fitr falls on Sunday, March 30, 2025, and as a result, the President, through an Executive Instrument (E.I.), had declared Monday, March 31, 2025, and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as additional public holidays. "However, in view of the fact that 30th March 2025 falls on a Sunday and in the interest of the public, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, has by Executive Instrument (E.I.), in accordance with Section 2 of the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act (Act 601), declared Monday, March 31, 2025, and Tuesday, April 1, 2025, as additional public holidays and should be observed as such throughout the country," the statement said. GES clarifies decision Confirming the change, Cassandra Twum-Ampofo of the GES Public Relations Unit explained that reopening schools just before a series of holidays would not be ideal, as it would subject students to unnecessary travel risks. "Monday and Tuesday had been declared as statutory holidays, and just after they returned, there would be a break for Easter celebrations. It would not be prudent to allow students to be travelling back and forth, considering the risks involved," she explained. To ensure a smooth instructional period, the GES management decided to shift the academic calendar. When asked about the impact of the delay on final-year students preparing for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), Ms Twum-Ampofo assured that measures were in place to compensate for lost instructional time. "There is always an instructional hour added to make up for breaks of this nature," she said, noting that holidays such as Eid al-Fitr and Easter are unavoidable. "So, it is also not something new. The only thing is that we didn't want the situation whereby when they come, just Monday, Tuesday, there's a holiday, and then there is also an Easter break," she emphasised. She further clarified that the adjustment applies only to single-track SHSs, as double-track students remain unaffected and will continue their academic calendar as planned. '129 streets fixed with lights in 50 days' Greater Accra Minister pledges more action GraphicOnline Mar - 27 - 2025 , 13:04 3 minutes read The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ms Linda Akweley Ocloo, has expressed satisfaction with the installation and repair of streetlights in several parts of the region, describing it as a major step towards improving security and visibility in the capital. According to the Minister, malfunctioning streetlights on 129 streets have been fixed within the first 50 days of her tenure, in line with her commitment to ensuring that 70 per cent of Accras streetlights are fully operational. She said the well-lit streets now include the George Bush Highway, Independence Avenue, Nima Highway, Professor J.E. Atta Mills Highway, 28th February Road, and the ACP Pokuase Interchange. Announcing the progress at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, Ms Ocloo highlighted the governments commitment to enhancing security and promoting safe urban mobility. Generally, the implementation has been successful in many areas, with numerous roads and highways now well-lit, improving security and visibility for residents, she said in an interview with the Ghanaian Times. She assured the public that despite the milestone, work would not stop until the entire city was well-lit. Even though we have met the target, it doesnt mean that from today we are relaxing. We have to make sure that we complete everything, she stated. However, she noted that some key roads, including the Tema Motorway and the Accra-Tema Beach Road, remained unlit due to ongoing construction works. There are maintenance works on streetlights on portions of the N1 (Tetteh Quarshie to Kasoa), N6 (Achimota to Amasaman), and N4 (Shiashie to Oyibi) by the Ghana Highways Authority, and the contractor is on-site with works ongoing, she added. Streetlight cable theft a major challenge Despite the progress, Ms Ocloo raised concerns over streetlight cable theft, describing it as a major challenge affecting the sustainability of the project. She warned that anyone caught engaging in such acts would face severe consequences and urged the public to be patriotic by protecting public infrastructure. This act poses a major setback for the sustainability of the streets remaining lighted. I appeal to all citizens to be patriotic and safeguard public infrastructure, she stated. She also cautioned advertisers to seek the necessary permits from Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) before putting up billboards to prevent disruption to underground cables supplying power to the streetlights. Funding to ensure long-term maintenance Ms Ocloo emphasised that additional funding had been allocated to MMDAs to help sustain streetlight operations, ensuring that Accra remains well-lit and secure. On behalf of municipal coordinating directors in Accra, Mr Daniel Nkrumah, the Municipal Coordinating Director for LaDMA, commended the Minister for her dedication to improving urban lighting. Working within the confines of the law, we will continue to support the Minister to ensure the satisfaction of every citizen, he assured. The Minister, accompanied by the Chief Director of the Regional Coordinating Council, Mrs Lilian Baeka, and other municipal officials, later toured parts of the capital to inspect the newly installed streetlights. Chief Justice requests for petitions seeking her removal from office Beatrice Laryea Mar - 27 - 2025 , 18:09 3 minutes read The Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkonoo, has officially written to President John Dramani Mahama requesting copies of the petitions calling for her removal from office. In a letter addressed to both the President and members of the Council of State on Thursday, March 27, 2025, Justice Torkonoo asked for a seven-day period to review the petitions once she receives them. This will allow her to provide an appropriate response before a Committee of Inquiry is established to investigate the petitions. I am by this letter humbly and respectfully asking His Excellency the President and eminent members of the Council of State to forward the petition against me to me, and allow me at least seven days after receipt of same, to provide my response to you, which response can then form part of the material that you conduct the consultations anticipated under 146 (6) before the possible setting up of a Committee of Inquiry under article 146(7), the letter read. Related Article: Justice Torkornoo: President Mahama consults Council of State over petitions to remove Chief Justice The Chief Justices response came two days after President Mahama forwarded three petitions calling for her removal to the Council of State for further action. In her response, she noted that despite the President's action, she has not received or been given copies of the petitions sent to the Council of State, which are expected to form the basis for her removal from office. She referenced Article 146(1) of the Constitution, which stipulates that when a petition for the removal of a Supreme Court judge, including the Chief Justice, is received, the Chief Justice is required to bring the petition to the attention of the accused judge and seek their response before any further action is taken. This is the right afforded every citizen in justice delivery, and it is provided for in article 146 procedures. In my time as a Chief Justice, I have handled five such petitions for removal of superior court judges, and heard from them before determining whether a prima facie case has been made against them to merit the setting up of the investigative committee provided for under article 146(4), Chief Justice Torknoo insisted. Justice Torkonoo further pointed out that in the case of Agyei-Twum v Attorney-General and Akwettey [2005-2006] SCGLR 732, the Supreme Court ruled that before the President consults with the Council of State regarding a petition to remove a Chief Justice, a combination of evidence from the petition and the Chief Justice's response is necessary to determine whether a prima facie case has been established for the removal. Respectfully, in the case of the Chief Justice, please allow me to submit that it is the combination of the evidence in the petition, and the response of the Chief Justice, that provides the material for consultation between His Excellency the President and eminent members of the Council of State under article 146(6)," it said. These two sources serve to guide whether a prima facie case has been established, such that a Committee of Inquiry should be set up under article 146 (7) to inquire into whether the Chief Justice may be removed from office. This is the direction of the Supreme Court in the case of Agyei-Twum v Attorney-General and Akwettey [2005-2006] SCGLR 732, the letter added. Ga Traditional Council sets May 12 to June 12 for annual ban on drumming and noise-making GraphicOnline Mar - 27 - 2025 , 07:00 3 minutes read The Ga Traditional Council has announced that this years ban on drumming and noise-making will take effect from Monday, May 12, to Thursday, June 12, as part of the traditional preparations for the Homowo Festival. The annual ban, a significant cultural practice among the Ga people, is observed to create an atmosphere of peace, solemnity, and spiritual reflection ahead of the festival, which celebrates unity, resilience, and gratitude for a bountiful harvest. The Council clarified that while the ban will be enforced across many Ga communities, areas such as Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Tema, Kpone, Prampram, and Ningo will announce their specific dates for implementation after June 12. Residents in these areas are urged to stay updated and adhere to the respective announcements. Speaking on behalf of the Ga Traditional Council, Sylvester Parker Allotey described the ban as a sacred tradition that allows the Ga people to prepare spiritually for the festival. This ban is a sacred tradition that allows us to prepare spiritually and reflect on our heritage as we approach the Homowo Festival. Its a time for peace, unity, and quiet reflection before the celebratory festivities begin, he said. The Homowo Festival is a momentous occasion for the Ga people, commemorating their triumph over famine and expressing gratitude for an abundant harvest. The period of silence leading up to the festival serves as a time of reflection before the joyous celebrations commence. The Ga Traditional Council reminded the public that the ban is legally recognised under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which upholds the practice of customary law and cultural traditions. Article 11(3) of the Constitution acknowledges customary law as an integral part of the countrys legal framework, while Article 26(1) guarantees communities the right to preserve their cultural heritage. The Council also expressed appreciation to the public for their cooperation in observing previous bans, stressing that adherence is vital for maintaining the sanctity of the Homowo Festival, which carries deep cultural significance for the Ga people. During the ban, specific restrictions will be enforced, including the requirement for worship centres to limit their activities to their premises. Noise-making, including clapping, the use of tambourines, and other musical instruments, will be strictly prohibited. Additionally, the use of loudspeakers outside church premises, mosques, or for roadside evangelism will not be allowed. Funeral rites and related activities will also be suspended until one week after the ban is lifted, with funerals permitted to resume on Friday, June 20, 2025. To ensure compliance, a task force comprising representatives from the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), local assemblies, and the Ghana Police Service will be monitoring adherence to the directive. Those found violating the ban will face legal consequences. We encourage all residents, visitors, and institutions to respect this cultural practice, the spokesperson added. It helps maintain social harmony and mutual respect, allowing us to preserve the peace within our diverse community. Previous article: E-levy repeal likely to take effect before next week Friday Deputy Minister for Finance Dismissed public sector workers sue govt Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Mar - 27 - 2025 , 07:34 2 minutes read Forty former workers in various public entities, who were recently sacked, have sued the government, seeking to be reinstated. In an application for judicial review filed at the Accra High Court, the former workers contended that they were validly employed in the public sector in accordance with the law after going through due recruitment processes. They have therefore described their dismissals as unlawful, null and void and are seeking an order from the court quashing their dismissals. The applicants were former staff of institutions such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA), the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). Case of applicants The 40 former workers averred that their appointment letters were dated between October 2024 and January 5, 2025. It is their contention that there is no law disallowing recruitment into the public service before the expiration of the term of a government. The term of the Akufo-Addo-led government in which we were employed was valid under Article 58 of the Constitution and thus, our appointment was in due exercise of the powers of the President conferred by the Constitution of Ghana. No rule of law or procedure mandates the removal of public servants simply on the holding of an election or on the election of a new political party on December 7 of a particular year to assume the reins of executive power in Ghana after the January 7 of the following, they stated in their statement of case, they argued. They, therefore, submitted that the letter, by their dismissals by the President through the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, was a violation of Articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution. They further described their dismissal as an attempt to politicise the public services of Ghana, an act prohibited by Article 191(a) of the Constitution. Reliefs The applicants are seeking a declaration from the court that their dismissal is in contravention of the Constitution and therefore unlawful, null and void. They also want an order of certiorari quashing their dismissals on the basis that they were done without a basis, were unlawful and a violation of due process. The applicants further want an order of mandamus compelling the public institutions where they were previously employed to reinstate them, and an order prohibiting the government from dismissing them. Writers email: [email protected] Previous article: Live up to professional ethics - Eastern Regional Minister to contractors Margins ID showcases smart card innovation to Columbia Students Samuel Ohene Ewur Mar - 27 - 2025 , 09:57 3 minutes read A delegation of Master of Business Administration (MBA) students from Columbia University in New York City in the United States of America has visited the Intelligent Card Production Systems (ICPS) in Accra to witness at firsthand the cutting-edge advancements in digital identity and secure card production. ICPS, the secure card manufacturing arm of Margins ID Group, is a leader in digital transformation. Margins ID Group provided the students with an in-depth look at the intricate processes and stringent security measures that define the industry. For the students, the visit was more than an academic excursion it was an experience highlighting Ghanas role in leveraging digital identity to enhance governance, financial inclusion and national security. ICPS, a subsidiary of Margins ID Group, plays a pivotal role in this transformation by producing high-security smart cards, including the Ghana Card, a cornerstone of the countrys digital ecosystem. Weve heard about the impressive work being done here in Ghana, delivering high-security solutions and setting the pace for digitisation across the African continent. Seeing at firsthand how this facility integrates technology with governance is truly remarkable, a professor at Columbia Business School, Bruce Kogut, PhD, who led the delegation, said. A student member of the delegation, Maria Hamwi, was particularly struck by ICPSs efforts to reduce fraud and enhance identity verification. We have visited several companies, but whats happening here at ICPS is different, she stated. Its not just about business; its about national transformation. Your innovative story must be heard by the world, Ms Hamwi added. During their tour, the students explored Margins ID Group's involvement in Ghanas National ID Project through its subsidiaries. Margins ID Systems Application (MIDSA), the Groups technology arm, provided the advanced software solutions and biometric verification technology that power the Ghana Card, while Identity Management Systems (IMS) under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with the National Identification Authority (NIA) conceptualised, designed and built the country National ID Infrastructure. Africas digital future The Executive Director of Technology at Margins ID Group, Emmanuel Selby, reaffirmed the companys commitment to shaping Africas digital future. Margins ID Group is dedicated to collaborating with industry leaders to develop secure, scalable solutions for Ghanaians, he stated. As the identity landscape evolves, we remain focused on leveraging technology to drive efficiency in governance and service delivery not just for Ghana, but for Africa and the world, Mr Selby added. ICPS stands out as a Ghanaian-owned and operated enterprise creating tailored solutions for the nations unique challenges. The facility, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, produces secure identity cards that integrate with government agencies, banks and financial institutions, streamlining public services and strengthening trust in digital transactions. Margins ID Group continues to lead Africas digital identity revolution, expanding beyond Ghana to implement secure identity solutions across the continent. With more than 30 years of expertise and a strong foundation in PPP, the management of the company said the group would be at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution developing cutting-edge technology, advancing digital governance and transforming economies. Already, the company has achieved world-class certifications, including ISO 27001:2022 - Information Security Management System, ISO 22301:2019 - Business Continuity Management System, ISO 20000:2018 - Service Management System and Cybersecurity Accreditation by the National Cybersecurity Authority. Through its subsidiaries, Margins ID Group remains committed to securely connecting identities and solutions in both materialised and dematerialised worlds, reinforcing its leadership in Africas digital future, the company said after the visit of the students. NMC clarifies issues on appointment of GBC Director General Diana Mensah Mar - 27 - 2025 , 14:40 4 minutes read The National Media Commission (NMC) has clarified that it renewed the appointment of Prof. Amin Alhassan as Director-General (D-G of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), on February 26, 2024. The decision, the NMC explained, was publicly announced during the inauguration of the new GBC Board on August 13, 2024. The NMC said some recent media reports suggested that some GBC employees were unaware of the contract renewal in February 2024. The commission, therefore, asked the board to take immediate steps to communicate the renewal to all staff and gave an assurance of its readiness to provide any necessary clarification. We shall be grateful if you could take steps to inform all staff of the corporation. Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. You may also direct any person or group of persons who require information on this issue to contact us, the letter said. It expressed the hope that the impressive progress the GBC achieved in recent years, through the foresight of the board, the ingenuity of management and the hard work of staff would be sustained. Salary challenges In a related development, however, the Controller and Accountant Generals Department (CAGD) has suspended the payment of the salary of the Director-General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Accra (GBC) Prof. Amin Alhassan from March 2025. In a letter signed by the Controller and Accountant General, Kwesi Agye, responding to a March 11, 2025, letter from the Director of Human Resources of GBC, requesting the release of the DGs salary, it said there was a need for financial clearance for such appointments, which had always been the practice. This is in reference to your letter number PD.3554/V2/99 dated March 11, 2025, on the extension of Contract for Director-General -GBC, it stated. It referenced Section 25(5) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), which mandates financial clearance for all staff appointments and contract extensions within the limits set by Parliament under Section 21 (5) (e) (ix). The letter said financial clearance was required for the Director-Generals four-year contract, which began on October 2, 2023, and was set to expire in September 2027. That, it said, would enable the processing of the payment of salary and related allowances of the Director-General. It is important to note that the financial clearance to be sought for the Director-General of GBC should take retrospective effect from October 2, 2023, to avoid the issue of unearned salaries arising, the letter said. Background The unionised staff of GBC last Thursday held a press conference to demand the immediate exit of Prof. Alhassan. It said the Director-General was out of tune with the aspirations of both the workers and the corporation and, therefore, demanded that his contract should not be extended. Addressing a news conference on the premises of GBC on March 20, 2025, the Chairman of the GBC Local Union, Sam Nat Kevor, declared the D-G as an unwelcomed person on the premises and said unionised staff were aware and mindful of the strategic importance of the state broadcaster to national security and would, therefore, not want to do anything to disturb the peace at the corporation. He said although the tenure of Prof. Alhassan ended on October 1, 2023, the NMC still found it convenient to allow him to stay in office. To that end, the unionised workers of GBC have lost confidence in Prof. Alhassan and the NMC, Mr Kevor stated. He stated that the union had, since November 21, 2023, through its mother union, the Public Sector Workers Union (PSWU), written to the NMC and the Office of the President seeking clarification on the D-Gs status. He said the NMC responded on December 11, 2023, indicating that it was in the process of determining the leadership of GBC, referencing Article 168 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandated the Commission to appoint the board and Chief Executive of state-owned media in consultation with the President. In a quick reaction, however, Prof. Alhassan told the Daily Graphic that he had a renewed contract from the appointing authority, the NMC, effective October 2, 2023. He debunked all the allegations made by the local union and said though the union had "unfettered access to management, it has failed to follow due process to schedule meetings with management. Parliament abolishes E-Levy - Bills awaits Presidential assent to give effect Joshua Bediako Koomson Mar - 27 - 2025 , 12:46 4 minutes read Parliament yesterday passed the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025, effectively abolishing the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) that was introduced in 2022. This follows the presentation of a report by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo, which recommended the repeal of the tax. On March 11, 2025, the Minister of Finance,Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced the governments intention to repeal the E-Levy, fulfilling a campaign promise aimed at easing financial pressures on Ghanaians. Subsequently, on March 13, 2025, Dr Forson presented the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025, along with seven other bills to Parliament. These bills sought to abolish certain taxes deemed burdensome, including the E-Levy, the 10 per cent withholding tax on betting winnings and the Emissions Levy. Parliament also passed the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to abolish Betting Tax, taxes on Gaming and Lotteries, and repeal 1.5 per cent withholding tax on unprocessed gold. Debate During the parliamentary debate yesterday, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, emphasised that repealing the E-Levy would result in approximately GH2 billion remaining in the hands of citizens annually, enhancing disposable income and stimulating economic activities. Mr Speaker, the report indicates that if we pass the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, individuals and households will have more disposable income. This is because they would no longer lose money through the deductions imposed by the tax, he said. He said repealing the tax meant individuals would retain the funds previously deducted, thereby increasing their disposable income. That, he said, aligned with the assertion that eliminating the levy would leave more money in the hands of citizens. Mr Speaker, this policy decision is guided by the objective of enhancing the financial well-being of our citizens. I, therefore, support the passage of this bill, Mr Ayariga said. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nhyiaeso, Dr Stephen Amoah, supported the repeal but cautioned that such decisions should consider the countrys fiscal position and overall economic impact. While there were signs of economic recovery, he said, the fiscal space had not yet reached a point where an expedited repeal was prudent. I only advise that in doing some of these things, the rationale and the reasons should be such that our fiscal space and our economy as a whole will be accorded the needed decision that will rather augur well for the good people of this country, he said. The MP for Abetifi, Dr Brian Acheampong, also backed the repeal but questioned the rationale provided. He argued that if the goal was to increase disposable income, other taxes with higher rates, such as the Value Added Tax (VAT), should also be considered for repeal. Background E-Levy was introduced in 2022 with the aim of broadening the tax base by imposing a levy on electronic financial transactions. Initially set at 1.75 per cent, the levy met strong opposition in Parliament and from a large segment of the population. It was later adjusted to one per cent and applied to various electronic transactions, including mobile money transfers, merchant payments and bank transfers. The E-Levy was met with significant public resistance, as many citizens expressed concerns about its impact on disposable income and the potential deterrent effect on the use of digital financial services. Despite the opposition, the levy was implemented with the goal of generating additional revenue to support national development initiatives. Its performance was woefully low from the start before it ramped up after months of implementation. In fulfilment of a campaign promise to alleviate the tax burden on citizens and encourage the use of electronic transactions, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, in the budget presented to Parliament on March 11, this year, announced the governments intention to repeal the E-Levy. Subsequently, on March 13, 2025, Dr Forson presented the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025, along with seven other bills, to Parliament. The bills are to abolish certain taxes deemed burdensome, including the E-Levy, the 10 per cent withholding tax on betting winnings, and the Emissions Levy. Rainfall causes havoc in parts of Accra Emmanuel Bonney Mar - 27 - 2025 , 02:57 5 minutes read A downpour that hit parts of Accra last Tuesday caused havoc to properties across various areas of the capital. The about an hour downpour, accompanied by a rainstorm, brought down billboards, uprooted trees and ripped-off school buildings, especially in the La Nkwatanang-Madina Municipality. The rainstorm left commuters stranded as some of the roads became impassable due to flooding. Areas The areas mainly affected included Adenta, Madina, Legon and East Legon, where a solar panel structure in the parking area of A&C Mall, East Legon, collapsed following heavy rains, damaging more than 80 vehicles. A tree fell on the administration block of the Accra College of Education. At Kotobabi in Accra, one person was reported injured when a tree fell on a vehicle near the police station. Police and personnel of the National Disaster Management Organisation were deployed to the area to clear the debris and cut the trees to create access for commuters. Moreover, some basic educational institutions had their roofs ripped off by the rainstorm, thereby preventing students from having classes yesterday. They are the Madina 1 Junior High School, Queen of Peace School, Madina JHS, SDA Basic School, Presec Staff Basic School, Redco 1 & 2 School and Madina Estate 1&2 Schools. Among other things, a shed used as canteen at the Madina 1 JHS, was razed to the ground. The La Nkwatanang-Madina Municipal Director of Education, Kean Appiah Adjei, who toured the affected schools yesterday told the Daily Graphic that the destruction caused to the schools was major. He explained that in some of the schools, the roofs were totally ripped off while others were partial and that classes were not held in the affected classes yesterday because of the damage caused by the rainstorm in the area. Classrooms In some of the schools, the classrooms have been ripped off and so they cannot be used because the teachers and students cannot sit under the sun with no roofs over their heads, he said. Professor Christopher Adjei (4th from right), Global Alumni President of the college, presenting a cheque for GH10,000 to Professor Samuel Atintono (3rd from right), Principal of the college Mr Adjei said with the roofs of the schools, the downpour affected some teaching and learning materials, especially the books of students that were kept in them. Yesterday, he said students of the Presec Staff School and the La Nkwantanan Cluster of Schools had to dry their books and other learning materials under the sun. Asked what measures were being put in place for the affected schools to ensure that teaching and learning went on, he said, for instance, putting some classes together was impossible due to their large sizes. Where it is possible, we are doing that, where it isnt, we are at the mercy of the weather, he emphasised. For his part, the Madina, Adenta, Abokobi Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Christian Yaw Adinkra, said although it was a natural disaster, there was a need for an emergency step to take to reroof the damaged schools since they could not be used immediately because of their current state. Closure Otherwise, he said, the schools would have to be closed until they were fixed since teachers and students could not be exposed to the vagaries of the weather. Our teachers and our students would not be exposed to the vagaries of the weather. This is because the situation would not promote conducive teaching and learning, he said. Mr Adinkra said for instance, Presec School and the Madina 1 JHS should be closed for the municipal assembly to take immediate steps to fix the roofs. Again, he said at Presec, the place was not habitable for teachers and students. The Accra College of Education suffered severe damage as a result of the rainstorm that hit the city. Several trees serving as shade for the students and a windbreak for the schools were uprooted, while the roof of a teachers bungalow was ripped off. The uprooted trees brought down electricity cables resulting in temporary blackout on the compound. Some of the uprooted trees also damaged the school administration block, while others obstructed vehicular movement within the compound. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Principal of the college, Prof. Samuel Atintono, said he was grateful that the havoc happened at the time people were indoors. He said the incident had disrupted academic work as an interim assessment examination being written by students had to be suspended because there was no power to print the questions. According to him some of the louvre blades in the halls of residence of the students removed, which resulted in the rain flooding their halls of residence. He appealed to the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and alumni of the school to assist the college to get back on its feet. Meanwhile, the Global President of the Alumni Association of the college, Prof. Christopher Adjei Okpoti, who heard of the disaster and visited the college, together with other members of the alumni presented GH10,000 and promised that the association would return with further support. Presenting the amount, Prof. Okpoti specifically requested that the amount be used to purchase the louvre blades for replacement at the hall of residence of the students. He said the association was rallying all former students of the college to contribute to addressing the impact of the rainstorm. Government to replace E-levy revenue gap with tax refunds and gold sector earnings - Deputy Finance Minister Mohammed Ali Mar - 27 - 2025 , 10:06 2 minutes read The government says it will use funds from unused tax refund allocations and increased gold mining levies to compensate for the revenue lost from the repeal of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-levy). Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem, disclosed this in an interview with JoyNews on Wednesday, March 26 2025. According to him, a review of the tax refund account covering the past eight years showed that only 43 percent of the funds were used for actual refunds, while the remaining 57 percent had been misapplied. We have taken a firm decision to stop that and redirect those resources into the Consolidated Fund, where they can be properly allocated to support the countrys needs, Mr Ampem said. He estimated that more than GH3.88 billion could be realised from that source alone. Mr Ampem also indicated that the government had extended the sunset clause of the Growth and Sustainability Levy to 2028. The levy on gold mining companies has also been increased from 1 percent to 3 percent, based on what he described as strong profits in the sector due to high global gold prices. If we dont raise revenue from the sector making profit, which one do we tax? he asked. Certainly not the cocoa sector, which is already struggling. That would only worsen the situation for cocoa farmers. Touching on broader concerns about the tax burden, Mr Ampem said the government was trying not to add further pressure on ordinary Ghanaians. He pointed to the removal of the emissions levy and the 1.5 percent withholding tax on small-scale miners as part of efforts to relieve low-income groups. He added that scrapping the withholding tax on small-scale mining was also intended to encourage legal gold sales through the Ghana Gold Board, an approach the government believes could help increase foreign exchange inflows. Previous article: Ga Traditional Council sets May 12 to June 12 for annual ban on drumming and noise-making President Mahama urges Ghana Bar Association to uphold accountability in governance GraphicOnline Mar - 27 - 2025 , 06:42 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to play an active role in scrutinizing government policies, emphasizing that accountability is key to national progress. The President made these remarks during a courtesy visit by the leader of the GBA, Efua Ghartey, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. He highlighted the importance of constructive criticism, urging civil society organizations, including the GBA, to voice concerns when governance takes a wrong turn. You have been a strong advocate for the rule of law, respect for human rights, the constitution, and freedoms. I believe that the role you play is important for our society to progress, Mahama stated. He further stressed the necessity of external oversight, drawing on a local proverb to illustrate his point: So, as I have told civil societies, they must have the freedom to point out when things are not going in a way they should. Just like we say in our local parlance, if a person is charting a path, he may not know that it is crooked. It is only onlookers who can be able to point it out to him. So, we will appreciate whatever feedback you give, and I believe that is how government should be, he added. The Presidents remarks reaffirm his administrations commitment to transparency and dialogue, reinforcing the critical role of legal and civil society institutions in governance. No animosity between government and judiciary In a related development, President Mahama dismissed claims of discord between his administration and the judiciary, stressing his governments willingness to collaborate with the legal fraternity. Speaking during the same engagement with the GBA, the President acknowledged the perception of tension but assured the association that his administration values cooperation in strengthening governance. Government is open to working with you, particularly on our side of the political divide. Theres this perception that we have a problem with the legal fraternity and things like that, Mahama stated. He pointed to individuals within his government, such as Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, as evidence of the administrations respect for the judiciary and its commitment to legal principles. Were not people who have any such animosity towards the judiciary and the legal fraternity. So our doors are open, he reiterated. President Mahamas assurances come at a time when concerns over judicial independence and government influence have been a topic of public debate. His call for continued dialogue and partnership with the legal community underscores the administrations efforts to foster a harmonious relationship with key institutions in the countrys democratic framework. Next article: '129 streets fixed with lights in 50 days' Greater Accra Minister pledges more action US Embassy issues update on visa appointments GraphicOnline Mar - 27 - 2025 , 14:19 2 minutes read The United States Embassy in Accra has announced the rescheduling of all visa appointments originally set for Monday, March 31, 2025, due to its observance of the Eid-Ul-Fitr holiday. The changes affect both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants, who have been given new dates for their interviews. According to the Embassy, all immigrant visa appointments have been rescheduled for 7 am on Friday, April 4, 2025, while all non-immigrant visa appointments will now take place on the morning of Friday, April 11, 2025. Applicants are urged to check their emails this week for official notifications regarding their individual appointment times. Eid-Ul-Fitr, also known as the "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is an important Islamic holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide. It marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection. The occasion is observed with prayers, feasting, acts of charity, and gatherings with family and friends. In Ghana, Eid-Ul-Fitr is widely celebrated by the Muslim community and is recognised as a public holiday. Meanwhile, the Embassy clarified that it will remain operational on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, and visa interviews scheduled for that day will proceed as planned. The US Embassy in Ghana has encouraged all affected applicants to take note of the changes and make the necessary adjustments to their schedules. Previous article: NDC Prestea Huni Valley Constituency backs appointment of Ishaque Dauda as MD of Prestea Sankofa Gold Limited Rethinking democracy, governance model for Ghana, Africa Dr Samuel Kofi Darkwa Politics Mar - 27 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read Democracy in Africa is at a critical junction. While elections are regularly held across the continent, many nations including Ghana grapple with governance issues that undermine democracys efficacy. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo recently highlighted that Western-style democracy has not succeeded in Africa because it was imposed without considering the continents cultural and societal contexts. He noted that merely replicating electoral systems from the West has often resulted in instability, corruption and dominance by elites. He therefore calls for a redefinition of democracy to better reflect Africas unique cultural realities. Taking a cue from President Obasanjo, to build a system that genuinely serves the people, African nations must rethink their approach to democracy, drawing inspiration from governance models that have proven effective elsewhere such as Singapore's technocratic system and Botswana's integration of traditional leadership with modern governance. In Ghana and many other African countries, the typical Western modelcharacterised by periodic elections and political competitionfrequently falls short of delivering meaningful development. A significant issue is the weakness of institutions. Many state institutions including the anti-corruption agencies and judiciaries often lack independence and are susceptible to political interference. Elite domination compounds these problems, as a small group of individuals tends to control political leadership, prioritising personal and party gains over national advancement. This leads to rampant corruption and a lack of accountability, enabling politicians to misuse state resources with little consequence. Despite regular elections, effective governance remains elusive, and ethnic and partisan politics intensify divisions instead of fostering national unity. Ghana, often regarded as a model of democracy in Africa, faces these challenges as well. While the nation displays political stability, weaknesses persist in public sector accountability, institutional independence and economic progress. If these fundamental issues are not addressed, democracy risks becoming merely ritualistic, rather than a general driver of progress. Unique governance framework Africa should not merely replicate Western or Chinese models without reflection. Instead, a unique governance framework that aligns with the continents historical and cultural realities must be developed. Two successful examplesSingapore and Botswanaoffer valuable lessons. Under Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore evolved from a struggling nation into a global financial centre through a technocratic system. Leadership in Singapore is based on competence, merit, and a long-term vision rather than political popularity. The country has built independent institutions that uphold the rule of law and eliminate corruption while prioritising industrialisation, education and infrastructure over political disputes. Singapores success illustrates that African nations can benefit by promoting technocratic governance, focusing on placing experts in key leadership roles rather than relying solely on politicians. Botswana presents another noteworthy example, having emerged as one of Africas most stable and prosperous countries by successfully melding traditional leadership with modern governance. The country retains a functional chieftaincy system, allowing traditional leaders to influence governance in a manner that reflects local customs and values. Botswanas commitment to transparency has resulted in one of the lowest corruption rates in Africa, supported by robust institutions and accountable leadership. Additionally, the responsible management of natural resources, especially diamonds, has been key to the nations sustainable development. Ghana and other African nations could benefit from Botswanas approach by empowering local governance structures while ensuring national policies remain inclusive, transparent and accountable. Not just elections Looking forward, African countries must focus on strengthening democracy beyond just holding elections. This requires systemic reforms in crucial areas. First, it is imperative to bolster institutions, ensuring that electoral commissions, anti-corruption bodies and judiciaries operate independently. Their appointments should be merit-based and as much as possible, the heads of these institutions should be appointed by key state institutions and professional bodies rather than the executive. In general, leadership roles should be assigned based on merit, shifting from a reliance on political connections towards prioritising competence, experience and performance. Encouraging a technocratic approach in sectors such as the economy, health, industry and education can lead to improved outcomes in governance and policy implementation. Moreover, enforcing transparency and accountability is essential to combat corruption and financial mismanagement. Strong anti-corruption regulations should be established, and public officials must be held accountable for their actions. By prioritising good governance, merit and transparency, African countries can reshape their democratic frameworks and better serve their populations, avoiding the pitfalls of governance that so often plague the continent. In conclusion, to create a democracy that truly works for the people of Ghana and Africa, embracing a tailored governance model that reflects the continents unique circumstances is crucial. By learning from Singapore and Botswana, African nations can strengthen their democratic institutions and ensure that governance leads to tangible development and progress. Through comprehensive reforms, Africa can move beyond the limitations of an ineffective electoral system and build towards a future where democracy is a genuine catalyst for improvements. The writer is a Political Scientist Confirmed: iPhone 16 series will be available in Indonesia from April 11 It took over four months but Apple has finally solved its iPhone 16 series ban in Indonesia. Cupertino confirmed that its iPhones will be available in Indonesia from Friday, April 11. This includes the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max and the more recently launched iPhone 16e. According to Reuters the agreed-upon investment commitment by Apple is $300 million instead of the previously reported $1 billion mark. It remains to be specified if Apple negotiated a better deal or if the $300 million is an interim figure that may increase in the following years. So, how did we get here? Indonesia requires foreign companies to provide 40% local content to operate locally as part of the Domestic Component Level (TKDN) certification. Companies can fulfill those requirements by either manufacturing products locally, developing software locally or setting up R&D centers. Indonesia banned the sale and use of iPhone 16 series phones back in October due to Cupertinos unmet investment plans in the country. That event snowballed into a lengthy negotiation game where Apple continuously increased its investment commitments with reports as high as $1 billion. The Indonesian government insisted that Apple manufacture iPhones locally to lift the ban, but it seems that request wont be met. Instead, Apple will set up a manufacturing facility for Apple AirTag trackers and a separate factory for accessories. Cupertino is also expected to set up additional R&D centers and invest in local academies for students. Apple iPhone 16e Apple iPhone 16 Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max Source The vivo X200 Ultra will feature not just one, but two dedicated imaging chips, reveals a company executive. The vivo V3+ independent chip will serve as a classic ISP, functioning as a post-processing powerhouse to enhance photos. Additionally, there will be a vivo VS1, which will work as a Pre-ISP. The VS1 will do the first processing steps, enhancing exposure and focus and taking care of the image stacking. It will then pass the data to the vivo V3+ to do the more computationally-intensive tasks such as noise reduction and sharpening. Pre-ISP module is not a first, although the exact vivo implementation may well be. Google leverages ISPs with pre-processing in the Tensor G3 within Pixel 8 devices to optimize RAW data. Apple employs Deep Fusion prior to generating the JPEG, and both Samsung and Qualcomm integrate ISP technology in their Exynos and Snapdragon chips to enhance low light performance and dynamic range. Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Canon 5D Mk IV vs vivo X200 Ultra The vivo X200 Ultra is expected with a Snapdragon 8 Elite, which includes a built-in ISP. Nevertheless, adding dedicated chips helps achieve quicker sensor readouts and takes some load off the SoC, improving power efficiency. The company stated that its flagship, set to launch in April, will deliver professional SLR-tier portrait photos, which will be enhanced by a redesigned triple flash that zooms (provides different levels of lighting depending on the focal length mode) to support the telephoto lens. An official social media post explains that it's not just the quantity of light but also its focus on the subject. The VS1 ISP algorithm was trained using tens of thousands of SLR photographs, enabling the new flash to collaborate with the chip to deliver unparalleled accuracy in lighting, functioning as far more than a typical smartphone flash. Source 1 Source 2 (both in Chinese) Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said she left a Thursday briefing with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth with great confidence that defending Guam will remain a priority for the U.S.and also took a chance to push for funding for a new hospital. Del. James Moylan, also present for the briefing, said hes solid that the new defense secretary would push for local security projects. Leon Guerrero and Moylan, along with Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Gov. Arnold Palacios, sat down with Hegseth during his Thursday stopover at Andersen Air Force Base. Though the media werent allowed to sit through the whole briefing, Leon Guerrero and Hegseth both made public statements before the door was closed. Leon Guerrero told Hegseth that it was as a relief to hear that President Donald Trump is committed to supporting the defense of the island, with U.S.-China tensions alive in the region. The governor also stressed the history of the island in U.S. conflicts, underscoring atrocities suffered during World War II. We, the people of Guam, are shouldered with the burden of peace out here in the Pacific. And we are patriotic, because we are the only U.S. soil that was invaded and occupied during WWII, Leon Guerrero told Hegseth, stressing that military command was not prepared when Japan took Guam during the war. And so we welcome you, and we welcome the position and the posture that President Trump has, she said. But Leon Guerrero also stressed the impact that the military buildup has had on the lives of locals, during the open-door portion of the meeting. The very first request that the governor raised was funding for a new hospital for Guam, with Leon Guerrero saying national security required human health security on Guam. We are in a very active campaign, Mr. Secretary, to build a hospital here, and we are working very closely in partnership with the military, and one of our asks is to be a partner in the financing of that hospital, she told Hegseth. Leon Guerrero stressed that Palacios and residents of the CNMI, along with the whole region, would benefit from the hospital. In the event of a mass-casualty event, both the military and civilian would be supported by the facility, she said. The governor also said the U.S. Naval Hospital could not support such an event with its 39 beds. The governor asked Hegseth to convene an economic adjustment committee through Congress, so that Guam could present the hardships that resulted from hosting military activities on Guam, and the need for the new hospital. After the meeting, Leon Guerrero said she believed some $600 million was needed to support the hospital, and thanked the CNMI governor for backing the project. According to the governor, Trumps recently announced plans to claw back billions in Covid-era federal funding from states and territories did not apply to American Rescue Plan money, $104 million of which is set to support the hospital buildout in Mangilao. Besides hospital funding, Leon Guerrero also pushed for support to harden local infrastructure. China is not going to win this war by missiles. China is going to win this war by taking down our port, taking down our airport, taking down our waters, taking down our electricity, the Guam governor told Hegseth. After the meeting, the governor told local media that Hegseth and team did recognize the importance of hardening local infrastructure. He left the meeting saying theyre making investments into, of course, this part of the world, Leon Guerrero said. She said that amid major changes brought by the new Trump White House, a focus on Guams importance to the military, and defense of the island, would not change. I dont think theres changes in the vision in relation to defense here, and that was very comforting for me, she said. I dont know their position with Taiwan. We didnt really talk about that ... but I do know that theyre very concerned about Chinese threats to this part of the region. The governor said she did not have a chance to address housing shortages driven by the buildupshe pushed for adjustments to military housing allowances during her recent State of the Island Address. But there would be future opportunities, Leon Guerrero said, adding that she intended to stay in contact with Hegseth and his team. Moylan, after the meeting, said Guam officials and the CNMI governor had cast several lines with Hegseth. Of course, were looking at, for ourselves, several things, defense, access roads, upgrading to a trauma center for Naval Hospital and the dry dock situation that are important for the defense of the nation in Guam, Moylan said. Getting Medal of Honor recognition for Guam veterans whose valor went long unrecognized was also a priority, he said. Moylan said he was solid that Hegseth would come through with support. Defense secretary, of course, would like to see things necessary to happen to Guam, maintained. We are way out here. So the voice of the people of Guam is being heard back in D.C., Moylan said. Im just really happy that hes here and every place else he can go in the world, he came to Guam. Two of Japans leading universities successfully completed their independent international programs on Guam involving a total of 30 students, according to the Guam Visitors Bureau. Gifu Shotoko Gakuen University and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies partnered with GVB, University of Guam, and multiple industry partners to host the visiting students and provide hands-on learning experiences, industry seminars and cross-cultural engagement, GVB said in a release. These programs are vital for our hospitality students and industry on a global scale. The lessons, experiences, and insights are valuable not only to these students, but to all of us as we seek to understand our markets and find new perspectives on travel trends, GVB general manager Regine Biscoe Lee said in a statement. The International Tourism and Business Program for Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University was conducted for 15 students from Feb. 24 to March 1 at UOG. The program included an English learning class by the English Guam Club, tourism marketing seminar focusing on destination marketing strategies hosted by GVB, how to work abroad seminar by LamLam Tours, global career development by Ernst and Young, and a tour and interactive programs by UOG to understand the academic and business environment in Guam. This is this programs first year, and GSGU plans to continue annually to develop students global tourism and business knowledge. Another 15 students The Global Tourism and Hospitality Program, meanwhile, was conducted from Feb. 16 to March 9 for 15 students led by Professor Daisuke Ebina from Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. The program included a tourism marketing seminar focusing on destination branding and sustainable tourism strategies by GVB, a Hilton internship program where students gained hands-on experience in hotel management and hospitality operations, and an English adventure program hosted by UOG. It concluded with student group presentations on potential solutions for Guams tourism challenges. Key themes of the presentations included social media collaborations with influencers to boost destination marketing and local cuisine branding strategies. The Global Tourism and Hospitality Program has been successfully running for six years with KUFS, which continues fostering international contributions and engagement with Guam, GVB said. Both Gifu Shotoko Gakuen University and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies said they are committed to providing practical, globally-oriented education, empowering students to make meaningful contributions to the international travel and business industries. Prior to his visit to Guam, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told an audience in Hawaii that the United States will defend its interests and allies in the Indo-Pacific region with the most lethal fighting force in the world amid Chinas threats. No one should question the resolve of the United States of America to defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, Hegseth said when he addressed alumni of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu. We will do this through the deterrent power of the strongest, most effective, most lethal fighting force in the world...supported by and in partnership with capable, like-minded allies and partners. The center, named after former U.S. senator from Hawaii and Medal of Honor recipient Daniel K. Inouye, is a Department of Defense institute for military and civilian representatives on regional and global security concerns. In a media availability on Wednesday in Hawaii, Hegseth shared that he started the day with physical training, PT, with Navy SEALs, and talked about training facilities and capabilities in Hawaii. And its all a reflection of Americas commitment to the Indo-Pacific and the Trump administrations focus on ensuring that we are doing everything we can to deter conflict with the communist Chinese, who we dont seek conflict with at all. But we will stand strong in deterrence and will posture troops forward, Hegseth said. Thats why were going out to Guam, to see our friends in Japan and the Philippines. He said he looks forward to many more ahead on this trip to showcase the pivot that President Donald Trump is putting toward the Indo-Pacific, making sure were properly focusing and prioritizing where we should on peer adversaries to stand strong and reflect deterrence. Hawaii was Hegseths first stop in his first official tour of the Indo-Pacific, before flying to Guam Thursday where he will be touring military facilities and receiving capabilities briefs. Hes also meeting with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero. Hegseth is the first Cabinet member from the second Trump White House to visit Guam, home of three military bases. Few details of the trip were released to the public days prior to his Thursday arrival but by Thursday morning, local media got invited to see Hegseth on base in the afternoon. Hegseth has recently been embroiled in controversy after he was accused of sharing U.S. attack plans against Yemens Houthis earlier this month over an unclassified messaging app. 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. Two days later, The Atlantic released the entire Signal chat among senior national security officials, showing Hegseth provided the exact timings of warplane launches and when bombs would drop. After Guam, Hegseth 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, and a handful of visiting World War II veterans, including a 99-year-old, who are currently on Guam will be joining Hegseth in the Iwo Jima event. An informational briefing on recent initiatives, challenges and priorities of the Office of the Attorney General has been set for 9 a.m. March 31. The 38th Guam Legislatures Committee on Economic Investment, Military Buildup, Regional Relations, Regulatory Affairs, Technology, Justice, Elections, and Retirement will hold the briefing. On the agenda the attorney generals response to the governors March 5 letter, which addresses legal concerns between the executive branch and the attorney general, according to a release from Sen. Telo Taitague, committee chair. The briefing will also review criminal trial successes and efforts to recruit and strengthen the prosecution team, ensuring the office has the resources to effectively pursue justice, the committee said. Given recent concerns over government accountability, the discussion will also include the OAGs role in investigating corruption and responding to the recent Office of Public Accountability reports. Additionally, the committee said it will explore the offices goals and legislative recommendations, as well as autonomy and human resource development, which could impact the AGs ability to function independently from the executive branch. A broader discussion on the role of the attorney general on Guam will provide insight into how the office operates compared to similar jurisdictions, the committee said. Finally, the committee said it will receive a status update on litigation involving the governors proposed medical complex. A new workplace violence policy is in place at the Port Authority of Guam, updating a policy that is more than 20 years old. The effective date of the new policy is March 24, and while the goals of the policy remain the same fostering a safe, professional and respectful work environment, the new policy reflects amendments based on feedback from division heads and employees. In a memo to all employees, Port General Manager Rory Respicio listed the changes and amendments from the old policy, which was put in place by former GM Joe Mesa in March 2005. Among them are: clearly defined leadership responsibilities, holding all levels of management accountable, establishing consequences for failure to report incidents and reinforcing workplace professionalism. Another updated section is the prohibition on weapons in the workplace. Employees are forbidden to bring or store weapons onto port property or while conducting Port-related business. An exception applies to law enforcement personnel or Port police officers acting in the line of duty. The new policy also offers specific processes for addressing issues such as passive-aggressive behavior and gossip. Throughout the new policy are assurances that whistleblowers are protected from retaliation. The Ports regular board meeting, scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday via Zoom, does not have the new policy on its agenda. Neither is an alleged workplace violence incident that occurred March 12 involving a confrontation between Respicio and another employee. Respicio has recused himself from any comment on the incident. Deputy General Manager Dominic G. Muna said that Port management has not received any correspondence from its board in preparation for the meeting Thursday, and he does not expect any. This matter is still under investigation and it would not be prudent for me or any other Port employee to comment on this situation however, it is the boards prerogative if they would like to seek any further information or clarification, said Muna. Domingo Chargualaf Mendiola, the accused shooter in the murder of Sumittra Lairopi outside the Thai Thai Healthy Cuisine restaurant in Tamuning on Valentines Day last year, has agreed to take a deal with the government. Mendiola had a change of plea hearing Thursday in front of Superior Court Presiding Judge Alberto C. Lamorena III. Lamorena had just received a copy two hours before on top of a busy court docket. He wanted to ensure that Mendiola read its many pages thoroughly. These are serious charges, he said. The judge set the final hearing for 11 a.m. March 31. Special Assistant Attorney General Curtis Van de Veld said that under the terms of the plea deal, Mendiola would plead guilty to murder a lesser-included offense of aggravated murder in exchange for his testimony against his co-defendant, whose name and case has been under seal since the murder. Mendiola also would plead guilty to use of a deadly weapon in commission of a felony. He faces a life sentence with a parole possibility after 15 years. But because Mendiola is also pleading guilty to the deadly weapon charge, that carries a 25-year, must-serve term, he will spend at least 40 years behind bars before parole eligibility. It is the goal of the attorney general Mr. (Douglas) Moylan to aggressively prosecute all of these serious violent crimes against our community and this resolution accomplishes that goal, said Van de Veld. Van de Veld said he also spoke with Lairopis spouse. He said they discussed all circumstances relative to the case. And I have his full support in the actions that Im taking on behalf of the attorney general, the attorney said. He said that while the plea agreement does not bring Lairopi back, it resolves the case in the best interests of the people of Guam, and it allows him to move forward against other people involved in the case. In the event the other cases go to trial, he believes he will be successful in presenting the governments case and that the defendants would face life without the possibility of parole. Besides the unnamed defendant, Mendiolas girlfriend, Jenna Manibusan, was also charged in the crime. She has maintained she will not sign any plea agreement and is ready to stand trial. Van de Veld said a motion to unseal the case is pending. (This is the text of former Sen. Tom Fishers March 27, 2025 open letter to Del. James Moylan.) Dear Delegate Moylan, If you talk to us here on Guam, youll learn a thing or two about our lives. You would learn that most of us who are eligible for Social Security benefits have been contributing to the system for decades in the assurance that the benefits we receive will help us now and sustain us through our later years. (Thank you FDR). You would learn that Social Security makes it possible for us to have shelter and food and live with some modicum of dignity. Thousands of people here on Guam count on the Social Security Administration, SSA, to reliably deliver benefits they need to pay rent or afford basic household expenses. Thousands of us rely on the SSA to provide support for the disabled, the ill and the poor. You would learn that the people of Guam regard the benefits they receive as earned (they are), not a government handout, and that we vote. To people in my demographic (Im 64) this is personal and were paying close attention. As you must know, the Trump administration has endangered the system and has done so intentionally. Trump and the billionaires are anticipating massive tax cuts for the wealthy and intend to pay for them by reducing benefits to us from the SSA. On the campaign trail, Trump promised he would not touch Social Security, but this was a lie. What he and Elon Musk are doing is creating delays in claiming benefits, destroying customer service and creating barriers for millions of beneficiaries, including us, to access the benefits we earned. You know that creating difficulties to access benefits is the equivalent to a denial. Guams regional office might be shuttered requiring the elderly and ill to travel to Hawaii or elsewhere to get service. Will you assure us that the Guam office wont close? Can you tell us what you have done to prevent this catastrophe? Trump, Musk and the DOGE goons have launched an all-out attack on the system. They lie about it and claim massive fraud. You know, and we do, too, that the SSA is a remarkably effective and accurate. Trump is cutting staffing and placing new restrictions on phone-based services for the public. All of this is designed to threaten SSAs ability to serve seniors and people with disabilities and provide a potential excuse for privatizing key services. The grift never ends with these people. They degrade the reliability of SSAs systems through sharp reduction of staff with the technical expertise to operate systems that serve 20 % of the people in the United States, each month. They access and threaten the security of peoples personal information by giving DOGE political appointees unprecedented access to sensitive SSA data. You can be sure the goons have plans to monetize this. I dont want Elon Musk to have access to my bank accounts, information about my health, my income or anything else. Delegate Moylan, you need to return to Guam and explain what is in store for us and millions of Americans in the same boat. Explain what, if anything, you are doing to protect us. Please explain why you support moves that will hurt us and support a president that imperils the entire republic. I am aware that your Republican House leadership has instructed its members, including you, not to talk to the voters. Buck this instruction Mr. Delegate. Speak to us, explain yourself, defend your beliefs. We are waiting for that opportunity. Less patiently by the day. Haiti - FLASH : Marco Rubio speaks in Jamaica on the security crisis in Haiti On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the President of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), Fritz Alphonse Jean, during his visit to Kingston, Jamaica. He highlighted the precarious security situation in Port-au-Prince and commended the extraordinary courage of the Haitian National Police and all personnel of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) for their work in establishing stability and security in the country. He also emphasized the importance of coordination within the Haitian government to combat the criminal gangs that terrorize the Haitian people. "I spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the security crisis in Haiti. The United States condemns gang violence and commends the courage of the Haitian National Police (PNH) and international peacekeeping personnel," said Fritz Alphonse Jean. Following a high-level meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness stated that the escalation of gang violence in Haiti has reached a point requiring a rapid increase in personnel and more equipment for the Haitian National Police. This statement comes amid concerns in Haiti about a possible takeover of the capital by armed gangs. Rubio is aware that the current Kenyan-led multinational security mission is not large enough to tackle heavily armed gangs and is trying to mobilize support in the region to secure funding for its expansion. During a World Bank-sponsored discussion on Haiti, former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding stated that the Kenyan mission commander had recently informed him of the need for an additional 1,500 officers to effectively combat gangs. Golding considered this figure still insufficient and acknowledged that funding remains the challenge to deploying "an effective force, an overwhelming force" needed to defeat the gangs. On Wednesday, four Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to Rubio urging him to prioritize the humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti. "[...]With violent gangs causing unimaginable human suffering in Haiti, and spillover impacts for regional stability and on Haitian-American communities, the United States simply cannot afford to pass up the opportunity to advance region-wide support for a Haitian-led solution to the current crisis... We urge you to use this trip to the Caribbean to outline how the United States, and the State Department you lead, will galvanize the international community to allocate the necessary resources to stop the gangs and their elite enablers, and to help alleviate the human suffering in Haiti... The United States cannot sit on the sidelines of a crisis of this magnitude in our own region. Failure to act risks furthering the humanitarian crisis to the point where gangs control the entire capital, and the United States, along with its partners in the region, are responding to a mass migration event," the four members of Congress wrote in the letter to Rubio, signed by Representatives Gregory Meeks of New York and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, as well as Senators Jeanne Shaheen of Missouri and Cory Booker of New Jersey. The United States has been the largest contributor to the Kenyan-led security mission. But given the freeze on US foreign aid, it is unclear whether the Trump administration will continue its financial support when the mission is renewed in October 2025. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : Haiti takes strong measures at its land borders The General Directorate of the General Administration of Customs (AGD) informs economic operators, agencies representing maritime, air, and land transport lines, importers of goods, customs office managers, all customs personnel, and the general public that, following the instructions of the Minister of Economy and Finance (MEF) by Circular No. 001 referenced as No. DAJ/BM/AGD/03-25/00479 published on March 25, 2025, in accordance with Article 16, paragraph 1 of the Decree of March 21, 2023, establishing the Customs Code: 1 - Customs offices located on the Haitian-Dominican border are no longer authorized to receive goods from abroad transiting via the Dominican Republic, until further notice. 2 - All goods from abroad transiting through the Dominican Republic must arrive in Haiti by sea to be processed by the appropriate customs offices. 3 - The Heads of Customs Offices located on the Haitian-Dominican border are hereby ordered to, among other things, seize all goods crossing the border in violation of the above provisions. 4 - The General Administration of Customs is hereby instructed, in conjunction with the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H), to monitor all cross-border movements occurring at the land border. 5 - Failure to comply with the referenced circular and/or the provisions of this Notice will subject violators to administrative sanctions, without prejudice to the criminal penalties provided for by the relevant laws. 6 - The MEF circular and this Notice come into effect on Monday, April 7, 2025. The General Directorate of the AGD urges the managers of these customs offices to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of this Notice. HL/ HaitiLibre Little acrobat: three-year-old girl stuns with gymnastic skills! (People's Daily App) 15:07, March 27, 2025 Tao Nuoyi, a three-year-old girl from Southwest China's Guizhou Province, has captured the attention of Chinese internet users by performing impressive gymnastics stunts, which she shares on the short video platform Douyin. At an age when many children are still learning to walk steadily, she can execute a cartwheel layout step-out and back handspin. One viewer commented that Tao could be a future gymnastics champion. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) The Open Technology Fund (OTF) has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court in Washington D.C. against the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and the Office of Management and Budget. In its lawsuit, the OTF is seeking a preliminary injunction to have the USAGM release the withheld funding. US President Donald Trump had previously issued a decree largely restricting the USAGM under the current legal situation. The OTF uses its funds to support the certification authority Let's Encrypt and the anonymization network Tor, among others. Anzeige OTF lacks 650,000 US dollars for operating costs In its application, the OTF argues that the termination of the grant by the USAGM is unlawful, as the provision of the funding has already been decided by Congress. As part of this decision, a total amount of 43.5 million US dollars has been earmarked for 2025, which accounts for 98 percent of the OTF's funding. The USAGM oversees the financial and programmatic activities of the OTF and makes payments to the non-profit organization. The OTF had requested and not received a payment of around 650,000 US dollars for operating costs in March. Kari Lake, executive CEO of USAGM and special advisor to the Trump administration, described the US agency in a statement as a "huge rot and burden on the American taxpayer" that also poses a national security risk. OTF Chairman Zack Cooper, on the other hand, argued that his organization is the most efficient and effective tool against censorship and influence peddling. An end to OTF projects "would weaken America's national security and keep millions of people around the world trapped behind authoritarian information firewalls", Cooper said. Overall, the US government invests a lot of money in open source software. Last year, Let's Encrypt received around 800,000 US dollars in funding from the OTF, the Tor network received almost 500,000 US dollars and the open-source Android app store F-Droid received 396,000 US dollars. In total, the organization currently supports around 50 projects, including the development of the free VPN client OpenVPN. According to its information, the OTF has published around 2,500 patches for open-source software and the organization promotes VPNs for around 45 million people in countries with censorship. OTF President Cunningham sees the lawsuit as the only way to ensure the continued existence of these projects. (sfe) Don't miss any news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication. According to a systematic analysis, ChatGPT, Copilot, Grok and other AI chatbots also reproduce Russian propaganda in their responses. According to the study, a pro-Russian network called "Pravda" the Russian word for "truth" aims to get as much pro-Russian false information as possible into the training data of the AI models and to influence real-time searches. Anzeige This is the conclusion of a study published by the private company Newsguard, which campaigns for credibility and transparency in online media, but has already come under criticism itself. The chatbots tested were ChatGPT from OpenAI, the Smart Assistant from You.com, Grok from xAI, Pi from Inflection, le Chat from Mistral, Copilot from Microsoft, Meta AI, Claude from Anthropic, Gemini from Google and the AI search engine from Perplexity. Newsguard tested the chatbots with a sample of 15 fake news stories spread by a network of 150 Kremlin-affiliated websites between April 2022 and February 2025. In 33 percent of cases, the chatbots repeated the content of false reports. According to Newsguard, the Russian disinformation network "Pravda" pursues this effect in a targeted manner. Propaganda on websites created for this purpose is included in the repertoire of training data by the AI providers' crawlers and used in real-time searches. According to the analysis, there are 3.6 million articles that were published with this intention in 2024 alone. The network has been spreading misinformation since 2022 and in numerous languages. "LLM Grooming" poisoned training data The websites with the articles are designed specifically for the crawlers and less for the human reader. Existing content from the Russian state media and Kremlin-friendly influencers is primarily disseminated. In other words, the aim is to create a multiplier effect by frequently publishing and sharing the content, thereby increasing the likelihood of it being used by AI models. Newsguard and another non-profit organization from the USA, Sunlight Project, refer to this as "LLM grooming". Grooming actually refers to attempts by adults to approach and manipulate children and young people. It usually involves sexual abuse. Applying the term to AI and propaganda is questionable. Anzeige In the case of artificial intelligence, we are talking about poisoning training data. AI models learn from training data and derive probabilities. They reproduce what they have learned during training. Poisoned training data is therefore particularly data that contains false information. Of course, AI providers are interested in using the best possible training data for their models. They are therefore controlled by humans. However, in order to reproduce propaganda, this must also be the most likely answer. There are methods and tools used by artists, for example, to make their own images unusable for training and to explicitly poison training data by mismatching information and what can be seen in an image. For example, a model learns from an image that a cat is a handbag. If an image generator is then supposed to generate a handbag, it has a cat's tail, for example. However, the mass of cat images on the internet prevents a few incorrect image descriptions from really confusing the AI models. In the case of real-time searches on the internet, AI models also use information that occurs particularly frequently to weight the answers. The evaluation of information is relatively unclear. However, this also applies to Google's classic link lists. Google also displays Russian propaganda websites if you search for the right keywords. What is at the top of the results and what is further down depends on numerous factors. These include, for example, how well a website is built and how often it is visited. (emw) 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. The Finnish government is preparing to propose an extension of the temporary deportation law designed to prevent Russia from directing asylum seekers toward Finlands eastern border, according to multiple sources. The draft proposal will be brought before the Council of State on Thursday. It follows the original law enacted in July 2023, which passed by a narrow margin and requires a five-sixths majority in Parliament for any extension. The law allows Finnish authorities to deny entry to asylum seekers at the eastern border under exceptional circumstances, bypassing normal asylum procedures. The stated goal is to counter what the government has called instrumentalised migration from Russia, based on intelligence from border officials that has not been made public. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns Party) presented the proposed extension to parliamentary group representatives on Wednesday. According to Yles sources, party positions remain largely unchanged from last summers vote. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Centre Party are expected to support the extension. The Greens and Left Alliance remain opposed. The need to secure the border is just as pressing now as it was a year ago, said Tytti Tuppurainen, chair of the SDP parliamentary group. While six Social Democrat MPs opposed the law in 2023, party sources say the extension is likely to pass if the final proposal is consistent with previous justifications. Centre Party leader Antti Kaikkonen also indicated his group would support the proposal, provided it is well-formulated. Green Party parliamentary group chair Oras Tynkkynen reiterated his partys opposition, stating that the law violates Finlands constitution, EU law, and international agreements. We support strong border security, but it must respect human rights obligations, he said. Legal experts and human rights organisations have criticised the measure for breaching the right to seek asylum. Several complaints have been submitted to the European Commission. The government is seeking to extend the law until the end of 2026. However, Chancellor of Justice Tuomas Poysti has called on ministers to present stronger legal and factual grounds to justify its continuation. The initial version of the law was introduced amid increased pressure on the eastern border, following claims that Russian authorities were facilitating the movement of asylum seekers toward Finland. While the law was expected to allow border crossings to reopen, this has not occurred. The eastern border remains closed. HT Air quality has been recorded as poor in several locations, particularly near busy roads and main traffic routes. High concentrations of street dust have been visible in dense clouds, especially in central areas with heavy vehicle use. Street dust has deteriorated air quality across the Helsinki metropolitan area, according to the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority (HSY). Anu Kousa, HSY's air protection specialist, said in a statement that street dust levels this week have significantly exceeded normal readings. Dust levels have in some cases been more than ten times higher than typical concentrations, Kousa said. Street dust consists mainly of fine asphalt particles and sanding gravel, which accumulate during winter months. The particles are released into the air when streets dry out in spring. Weather conditions directly affect dust dispersion. Rain can temporarily reduce airborne dust, while dry conditions increase exposure. The highest levels have been measured along major transport corridors and city streets with constant vehicle traffic. Spikes have also been observed in surrounding areas of Uusimaa. Health authorities report an increase in symptoms among those exposed outdoors. These include nasal irritation, coughing and eye discomfort. People with asthma, cardiovascular disease, or chronic respiratory conditions face greater risks. Young children and elderly people are also sensitive to elevated dust levels. HSY recommends avoiding outdoor exercise near busy streets during dusty periods. Short distances can reduce exposure. Air is cleaner even one block away from a congested street, Kousa said. HSY / Hannu Bask To control dust levels, HSY urges municipalities and property owners to remove sanding gravel using damp methods. Wet removal prevents particles from lifting into the air. Removing sand when it is dry raises visible dust clouds, Kousa said. Cities across the region are currently carrying out spring street cleaning. This process removes sand and debris left by winter maintenance. HSY prohibits the use of leaf blowers for sand removal in the Helsinki region. These devices push large amounts of particles into the air. Sweeping sand onto already cleaned roads is also banned. In addition to municipal efforts, residents are encouraged to adopt specific practices to reduce dust exposure and emissions. Drivers are advised to avoid unnecessary car use and switch from winter tyres to summer tyres as soon as weather permits. Tyres with metal studs increase asphalt wear, producing fine particles that become airborne in spring. HSY also recommends keeping windows shut during dusty periods and using effective air filters in homes. Filters should be checked and replaced regularly. Other suggestions include drying laundry indoors and monitoring current air quality levels online. The HSY air quality map is available at hsy.fi/ilmanlaatu. Poor air quality is expected to continue into the weekend, depending on changes in weather. Residents are advised to adjust their movements accordingly. HT Finnish police have uncovered an extensive crime operation involving a Swedish-based gang, which included an attempted contract killing in Helsinki, a bomb hidden in Vantaa, and a record-breaking drug seizure. The investigation, led by the Helsinki Police Department and the National Bureau of Investigation (KRP), centres on a group of 11 suspects, including at least four Swedish nationals. Authorities believe the group orchestrated violent and drug-related crimes across southern Finland. The case began on 25 August 2024, when multiple gunshots were fired into a residential apartment in the Lassila district of Helsinki. The resident, who was inside the apartment at the time, was not injured. According to Detective Inspector Masi Puolakka, the shooting was a targeted attack related to a drug dispute, not a random act. The assailants, reportedly recruited in Sweden and aided by individuals living in Finland, were provided accommodation and transportation. Communication was handled through encrypted messaging apps. Police arrested the first suspects the same evening in Espoo, with more taken into custody the next day in central Helsinki. Three Swedish suspects remain in custody. Authorities say the apartment residents were not directly involved in drug trafficking but were specifically targeted due to connections with individuals indebted to the gang. Police are investigating the shooting as attempted murder and weapons offences. Less than three weeks later, on 11 September, police found a hidden backpack in a wooded area in Rajakyla, Vantaa. Inside was a thermos flask bomb containing more than three kilograms of explosives. Two people a 30-year-old woman and a man in his 20s are suspected of constructing the device. The materials were sourced in Finland, and the suspects allegedly entered the country with the intent to commit serious crimes. While police have not disclosed the intended target of the bomb, they confirmed it was not aimed at public institutions. The case is being investigated as preparation of a serious crime against life or health, and as an explosives offence. The same individuals are also linked to drug smuggling. The woman was arrested on 29 September in Ii, Northern Ostrobothnia, after being stopped by Oulu Police. Her car was found to contain 157 kilograms of amphetamine and 20,000 ecstasy tablets the largest amphetamine seizure in Finnish criminal history. She was later remanded in custody by the Oulu District Court. Her male accomplice was detained weeks later in Eastern Uusimaa. Police say the drug operation involved trafficking more than 200 kilograms of illegal substances into the Helsinki region. The drugs were transported through Sweden and across the border at Tornio. During the journey, suspects used escort vehicles to monitor and protect the main drug cargo from law enforcement checks. Investigators believe the operation was coordinated using various messaging apps. The suspects received detailed instructions remotely and distributed drugs upon arrival. Police managed to seize most of the shipment during arrests. The investigation exposed what authorities call a "crime-as-a-service" model, where crimes are commissioned by organised groups and carried out by hired perpetrators. Often, these individuals are young or vulnerable, including minors. According to Detective Chief Superintendent Markku Heinikari, organised crime groups from Sweden are increasingly active in Finland. Violence is following the drugs, he said, noting that similar patterns are being seen in Denmark and elsewhere. The police confirmed the suspects were part of a network linked to gang activity in both Finland and Sweden. The Vantaa-based criminal group under investigation has connections to both the Lassila shooting and the bomb plot. Due to the cross-border nature of the operation, Finnish authorities formed a joint investigation team (JIT) with Swedish police based in Gothenburg. Cooperation between law enforcement agencies was crucial in tracing the movements of suspects, their logistics, and communication routes. No court dates have yet been announced. Police continue to investigate the suspects links to wider organised crime in the Nordic region. HT The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) has announced elevated chances of seeing the northern lights this week, with favourable conditions expected on Tuesday and Wednesday nights depending on location. According to the agency, skies are forecast to be clearest in northern Finland on Tuesday night, offering strong potential for aurora visibility. In central and southern areas, the best chance to view the aurora borealis is likely on Wednesday evening, weather permitting. The announcement was published on the FMIs website and social media channels, urging skywatchers to monitor forecasts and visibility maps. The aurora borealis is a result of space weather a term used to describe the effects of solar wind and solar flares in near-Earth space and the upper atmosphere. Auroras form when charged particles from the sun interact with Earths magnetic field and atmosphere, producing glowing light displays. FMI tracks geomagnetic disturbances across Finland using a network of magnetometer stations. These instruments measure fluctuations in Earths magnetic field and generate whats known as the R-index a key indicator of aurora activity. The system uses two thresholds to signal visibility potential. If the lower threshold is crossed, dim auroras are possible and shown on FMI maps in yellow. Exceeding the higher threshold signals a strong likelihood of visible auroras, which are then marked in red. Live data and aurora forecasts are available on the FMIs space weather service in English. The platform includes bar charts showing disturbance levels, station-specific R-index readings, and an aurora map updated with real-time observations. Data from Sodankyla is provided by the Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory at the University of Oulu. Sky conditions will remain the key factor in visibility. Clear, dark skies away from city lights offer the best chance to observe the phenomenon. Cloud cover and light pollution can obscure even strong auroral activity. FMI recommends checking updated space weather maps in the evening hours, especially in areas with open views to the north. HT The number of asylum applications in 2024 was 45% lower than in the previous year. The Finnish Immigration Service will close 18 reception centres in 2025 following a sharp decline in the number of asylum seekers and an increase in clients relocating to municipalities. The closures are expected to reduce annual costs by approximately 21 million. Simultaneously, arrivals from Ukraine have continued to decrease, and more clients within the reception system have secured residence in municipalities. According to the agency, the closures are part of an ongoing assessment of accommodation needs and cost-efficiency. Elina Nurmi, Director of the Reception Services Department, said the decision was guided by both financial considerations and the best interests of those affected. We will terminate contracts with 18 reception centres as of 1 April and 1 July, and a further eight contracts will not be renewed when they expire in February 2026, she said. The timing has been planned to minimise disruption, particularly for children and young people. The first closures will not take place before the end of the school term. Of the clients in centres scheduled for closure this year, more than 2,200 are eligible to apply for residence in a municipality. Around 47% could do so immediately. Clients with a municipality of residence may settle in the location of their choice. Reception centre staff will assist them with the transition. Those who do not or cannot relocate to municipalities will be transferred to other reception centres or can opt for private accommodation. Each case will be assessed individually in cooperation with the reception centres, said Nurmi. The closures will occur in phases. Centres in Kemi, Pieksamaki, Varkaus, Jarvenpaa, Porvoo, Satakunta, Vaasa and Kajaani (minors' unit) will close in June 2025. Further centres in Vantaa, West Uusimaa, Lieksa, Valkeakoski, Forssa, Jamsa, Riihimaki, Kajaani, Aland and Oravainen will follow by December. Eight additional centres including those in Joensuu, Kuopio, Mikkeli, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Hameenlinna, Lahti and Jyvaskyla will be shut down when their contracts expire in February 2026. The Finnish Immigration Service said it will continue to monitor demand and capacity closely, adjusting accommodation arrangements to ensure efficiency and adequate support for clients throughout the transition. HT The system, in use since 2013, captures energy produced when trams brake, stores it, and converts it into heat. Helsinkis tram network is reducing energy use and heating costs by reusing braking energy to warm passenger compartments during cold weather, according to public transport operator Kaupunkiliikenne Oy. In winter, this energy is redirected into the passenger area, covering up to 85% of the heating demand per tram. This allows us to utilise energy that would otherwise be lost, while significantly reducing the need for external energy sources, said Maija Sarpo, Sustainability Manager at Kaupunkiliikenne Oy. Producing heating internally lowers costs and contributes to our goal of developing carbon-neutral transport infrastructure. To date, the system has saved 37.4 gigawatt-hours of energy equivalent to the annual electricity use of roughly 1,870 large detached homes. On a yearly basis, each tram using the system saves about 74,000 kilowatt-hours, comparable to the electricity needs of four electrically heated houses. The technology is currently installed in 70 trams operating across the Helsinki region, including Artic models, articulated vehicles, and light rail units. It will also be fitted in new trams running on the upcoming Kruunusillat line. The system was developed by Finnish company Lumikko Oy. Lauri Latvala, CEO of Lumikko, said the companys history in rail climate systems dates back more than 30 years. Our first systems were designed for diesel locomotives in 1992. Today, Lumikkos technology is used in all trams operating in Finland, he said. Using braking energy for heating is a practical example of how our product development promotes both energy efficiency and sustainable urban transport. HT School calendar bill would whack county with stiff financial stick For years now, the Senates been the place where bills that would give school districts flexibility to start classes in early or mid-August go to die. Related Stories Now, Senate leader Phil Berger and a few of his key lieutenants are floating a proposal to give local school boards the option of choosing a mid-August start while also imposing a stiff financial penalty on boards that defy the state-mandated start date. Senate Bill 754 would offer them the choice of starting on either the Monday closest to Aug. 19 or the Monday closest to Aug. 26. Current law allows only the Aug. 26 option, and has long been seen as a concession to the states tourist industry. Henderson County's is one of nearly 30 school boards across the state that have flouted state law in adopting school starts. School Board members who support the early August start have said that the earlier date is preferred by students, families and teachers and that it moves fall semester final exams to before the Christmas break and allows seniors who graduate early the ability to enroll in a community college or university in January. The School Board's currently adopted 2025-26 school calendar, which sets a start date of Aug. 11, would be violation of the law if Berger's bill is adopted and would subject the county to significant financial penalty. Under the bill, the Superintendent of Public Instruction would be required to report and investigate any violations of the law to the State Board of Education. If the local school board is found to be noncompliant, the State Board of Education is required to direct the local board to remedy the violation. If the local board doesnt address the violation, then its central office funding would be withheld until it becomes compliant. In addition, any person who lives or owns a business within the local school district boundary would be able to bring a civil action against a school board that defies the school calendar law. There are at least 29 bills pending in the House and seven more in the Senate that would carve out exceptions at the district level. Berger is a lead sponsors of SB 754, alongside Sens. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, and Michael Lee, R-New Hanover. Senate Rules chair Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, is a co-sponsor. This balances the desire of some school districts to start the school year earlier while still supporting our local businesses dependent on summer tourism, Berger said in a news release. We must take the appropriate steps to hold school districts that break the law accountable. Galeys county is seeking calendar flexibility via a House bill. Lee, meanwhile, represents a coastal county thats partially reliant on tourism. Finding compromises like this isnt always easy, but this bill is the culmination of good-faith efforts from stakeholders and legislators, Galey said. With the evolution of the school choice landscape, as well as North Carolina becoming the fifth-most popular state for travel and tourism, its time to update and adapt our school calendar law. While our current school calendar law provides adequate flexibility for the vast majority of our districts, its appropriate to provide districts another option, Lee added. (JNS) There have been many powerful films about the Holocaust, so if one opts to create a new one, one must bring something new to the conversation, according to the Israeli-American director Lior Geller. Geller told JNS that the new film The World Will Tremble, which he wrote and directed, is a story that wasnt told before, and I think its important to make it as accurate as possible. The film centers on Michael Podchlebnik and Solomon Weiner, who fled the Nazi death camp Chelmno in German-occupied western Poland on Jan. 19, 1942. The movie is based on the true story of the survival... (JNS) - U.S. Jewish groups and national and state leaders released statements marking the death on Saturday of Nita Lowey, a Democrat who represented New York for 32 years in Congress. The former congresswoman, who died at 87, "embodied the highest ideals of both the American Jewish community and the American nation," stated Harriet Schleifer and William Daroff, chair and CEO respectively of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The Conference of Presidents leaders added that Lowey left "an indelible mark on American politics," making history as the first woman t... (JNS) The family of freed hostage Yarden Bibas has raised more than $1.7 million via a public fundraising campaign since its launch on Saturday night, exceeding its initial $1,371,086 goal within 24 hours. The campaign, which was launched via the Lehosheet Yad (Lend a Hand) foundation, aims to help Yarden Bibass recovery and establish a memorial for his wife, Shiri, and two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were murdered in captivity in the Gaza Strip. As of Monday morning, 30,979 people from all over the world had donated to the campaign. The Bibas family were abducted from their home in Kib... (JTA) Immigration authorities have arrested a second Palestinian involved in protests at Columbia University, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Friday. A third person who was involved in pro-Palestinian protests at the school, a current graduate student, self-deported earlier this week after having her visa revoked, according to the department. The announcement comes as Columbia reels from both the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian protest leader with a green card, and the loss of $400 million in federal funding as retaliation for last years pro-Palestinian protests.... (JTA) - After running as a candidate last time, Abraham Silberstein will not even be voting in this year's election for the World Zionist Congress. In 2020, Silberstein had joined a liberal slate from the United States vying for representation in the congress, a unique legislative body that lets Jews from all over the world have a say in Israeli affairs. A critic of Israel, he agreed to join the Reform movement's list of candidates. Serving in the congress, he felt, meant having a seat at the table. Founded by Theodore Herzl 128 years ago, the congress has influence over Israeli policy on immi... (JNS) The Tikva Forum of Hostages Families on Tuesday called for all or hellmeaning the return of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas at once, or the resumption of massive Israel Defense Forces pressure on the terrorist group. The past weeks have proven what we have been saying all alongHamas will never return all the hostages willingly, the group said, referring to the terror groups refusal to agree to a U.S. proposal to extend the first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover. Only massive military pressure, a complete blockade, including cutting of... (JNS) - In a groundbreaking achievement for Israel's space program, a constellation of nine research nanosatellites-built entirely by high school students-was launched into space from Cape Canaveral in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Dubbed Tevel 2, this project marks the largest Israeli satellite constellation ever deployed, the Tel Aviv University Spokesperson's Department said on Sunday. Gila Gamliel, Israel's Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, hailed the launch as a testament to Israeli ingenuity and education. "The Tevel 2 project symbolizes the pinnacle of Israeli i... (JNS) Israels Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Tuesday that Hamas will face intensified military action unless it releases all remaining hostages. The murderous Hamas needs to understand: If they do not release all our hostages, our blows will intensify, Katz stated in remarks released by his office. The statement came during a high-level security assessment held at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting was attended by Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior security officials. Ove... On the morning of March 13, the Jewish Pavilion Senior Services hosted a successful and engaging Sponsors Breakfast at Grand Living. The event brought together dedicated board members, sponsors, and supporters of the Jewish Pavilion, all gathered to share ideas and discuss the future of the organization's impactful work in senior services. One of the key highlights of the meeting was a suggestion made by Jason Mendelsohn, a Jewish Pavilion board member and sponsor from Ashar Group. He proposed the idea of hosting an annual networking party for Jewish Pavilion Sponsors, inviting each sponsor to... (JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gifted Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) with a silver-plated beeper in reference to Israels September 2024 detonation of thousands of pagers carried by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. Meeting at the Prime Ministers Office in Jerusalem, Netanyahu explained the difference between the commemorative pager and the genuine article. The real beeper is like one-tenth the weightits nothing, the Israeli prime minister told the senator from Pennsylvania. But it changes history. Wearing his signature hooded sweatshirt and shorts, Fetterman expressed hi... (JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last Wednesday that security officials are aware that a more intense front could open in Judea and Samaria amid the resumption of heavy fighting with Hamas in Gaza. Because while we are waging an intense war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, we are aware of the possibility that a larger and more intense front could open here in Judea and Samaria, the premier said during a visit to the Border Polices undercover Mistaarvim special forces unit. They are simply doing holy work for the State of Israel. This is important at all times, bu... Over 60 arrested in counter-terror ops in Judea and Samaria (JNS) Over the past week, units from the IDF Commando Brigade, including the Duvdevan, Egoz and Maglan units, have carried out operations targeting terrorists across Judea and Samaria, the Israel Defense Forces reported on Saturday. During these operations, more than 60 individuals wanted for security-related offenses were arrested. Israeli forces also confiscated a substantial cache of weapons, including firearms, explosives and ammunition. The operations are part of the IDFs ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the region. The... (JTA) Yeshiva University has approved a new club for LGBTQ students, reversing a policy that it has spent years defending in court. The schools announcement on Thursday marks a significant shift for the Modern Orthodox flagship in Manhattan. For years, and particularly during a stretch of fall 2022, the school fought to avoid recognizing the Pride Alliance, a support group for LGBTQ students that launched unofficially in 2009 but had not received formal recognition as a student club. The dispute revolved around Orthodoxys prohibition against homosexual relations. Y.U. seeks to embody the i... (JNS) As the conflict in Gaza enters yet another critical phase, Israel faces a daunting question: Will this war lead to the release of hostages and a genuine security achievement, or will it be remembered as another cycle of violence with no tangible gains? The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is at a crossroads where the outcomes of its military operations will shape not only its political future but also the broader regional dynamics involving Iran and its proxies. Israels leadership has framed this war as an existential battlenot merely against Hamas but ag... (JNS) The Republican Party led by President Donald Trump is launching an unprecedented fight to stamp out the outrageous rise in antisemitism on college campuses. The actions taken by the administration have been significant as they include ending $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University and putting 60 universities on notice that they are not protecting Jewish students and could lose federal funding if they dont address that concern. The administrations most recent action was the arrest and planned deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Hamas supporter who led the... (JNS) With U.S. President Donald Trump now back in the White House, a Middle East policy shaped by former President Barack Obama and his foreign-policy advisers, who also served under former President Joe Biden, comes to a close. In between these two Democratic leaders, Trump launched of the Abraham Accords peace policy and set a new course that many hope will be the new direction of the Middle East. Throughout his eight years of presidency and later, in the background, hidden behind Biden, Obama sought to exert his influence in the region. This is why, at least from the perspective of the M... (JNS) Critics of the U.S. plan for rebuilding Gaza say that the idea of residents relocating to other countries is part of a plot by the Israeli right to carry out ethnic cleansing. But it turns out that it was the Israeli left, and not the Israeli right, which was the first to organize emigration from Gaza. A leading Israeli daily newspaper, Israel Hayom, recently revealed that between 1968 and 1969, the Israeli government quietly assisted Arabs in the Gaza Strip who wanted to emigrate abroad. Who was in charge of the Israeli government then? The left-wing Labor Party, headed by Prime Min... (JNS) With all of the controversies surrounding President Donald Trump, its astonishing that something as trivial as a hyphen in anti-Semitism has caused umbrage. Yet some Jewish leaders, including Deborah Lipstadt, former President Joe Bidens special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, have found the change in spelling from antisemitism concerning. Lipstadt, a leading proponent of removing the hyphen, expressed dismay: This decision makes no sense. I cannot fathom why there would be this reversal. For those whose memories dont go beyond the last few years, the synonym for Jew... 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. The United States added dozens of entities to a trade blacklist Tuesday, its Commerce Department said, in part to disrupt Beijing's artificial intelligence and advanced computing capabilities. The action affects 80 entities from countries including China, the United Arab Emirates and Iran, with the department citing their "activities contrary to US national security and foreign policy." Those added to the "entity list" are restricted from obtaining US items and technologies without government authorization. "We will not allow adversaries to exploit American technology to bolster their own militaries and threaten American lives," said US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The entities targeted include 11 based in China and one in Taiwan, accused of engaging in the development of advanced AI, supercomputers and high-performance AI chips for China-based users "with close ties to the country's military-industrial complex." They include the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence and subsidiaries of IT giant Inspur Group. Others were included for "contributions to unsafeguarded nuclear activities" or ballistic missile programs. The aim is to prevent US technologies and goods from being misused for activities like high performance computing, hypersonic missiles and military aircraft training, said Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler. Two entities in Iran and China were also added to the list for seeking to procure US items for Iran's defense industry and drone programs, the Commerce Department said. Beijing condemned the blacklisting of its firms, accusing Washington of "weaponizing" trade and technology in a "typical act of hegemonism". "We urge the US side to stop generalizing the concept of national security... and stop abusing all kinds of sanctions lists to unreasonably suppress Chinese enterprises," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a daily news conference. China would take "necessary measures" to defend its firms' rights, Guo added. Several of the blacklisted companies did not respond to AFP's request for comment on Wednesday. A 28-year-old Florida woman hailed as a "workout queen" and an "epitome of health" followed a strict regimen of clean eating and regular exerciseyet she tragically died of a heart attack. Now, her grieving mother is speaking out, blaming one surprising habit for her daughter's unexpected death. Katie Donnell, a dedicated teacher from Florida, was meticulous about her health. She ate only organic foods, maintained a disciplined workout routine, and had no known heart conditions. But in August 2021, while spending time with friends, she suddenly collapsed. Despite efforts to save her, she died of a heart attack, leaving loved ones in shock and searching for answers. Despite her commitment to a healthy lifestyle, Donnell regularly consumed up to three energy drinks a day, along with coffee, and often took a caffeine supplement before hitting the gym. Her mother, Lori Barranon, believes this excessive intake of highly caffeinated products played a deadly role in her daughter's tragic passing. "At 28, you just don't see people dropping dead of a heart attack. 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 recently told Kennedy News Media. Although doctors acknowledged that they often see similar cases in people who frequently consume pre-workout supplements and energy drinks, they did not directly link Donnell's death to her caffeine intake. However, for her mother, the connection is undeniable. "I know for a fact that was what was wrong with her," she said. Donnell had struggled with "horrible anxiety" and had even consulted doctors about it. Looking back, Barranon believes her daughter's excessive caffeine intake may have been a major contributing factor. The heartbroken mom is now on a mission to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive caffeine consumption and urges parents to be vigilant, warning that energy drinks and supplements can have devastating consequences. "If you don't keep your kids away from this stuff you may be in my situation where your life is ruined. It's so harmful and deadly, my whole family is affected by this. I beg people to counsel your kids and watch what they're doing, I thought I was," she said. "I tell everybody I see with energy drinks that this is what it can do in the blink of an eye," she added. Originally published on Medical Daily 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. 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 Pennsylvania woman charged with murdering her husband complained about "plotting females" in a Facebook post leading up to the crime. Danielle Baxter, 39, faces murder charges in the shooting death of her husband, Jordan Baxter, 38. Police found Jordan March 19, lying on a plastic sheet between two cars with a gun on his chest, the Morrisville Daily Voice reported. On March 20, police charged Danielle Baxter with the homicide. The newspaper reported that the couple lived on the block where Jordan Baxter's body was found. On March 14, Danielle Baxter made a Facebook post that seemed to reference possible relationship drama. The post read, "These females out here be plotting on your marriage and waiting for your downfall so they can come right on in andthese men let them." A previous post on March 5 simply stated: "I will be his peace if he's mine." In the aftermath of the shooting and Danielle Baxter's arrest several people reacted with comments: "There's no peace where you're going" read one. Originally published on Lawyer Herald US President Donald Trump has announced steep tariffs on auto imports and parts, provoking threats of retaliation from trading partners ahead of further promised trade levies next week. Wall Street slumped ahead of Trump's Wednesday afternoon announcement, while the world's top-selling automaker Toyota plunged more than three percent. Japan's government described the announcement as "extremely regrettable," while Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo was "considering all kinds of countermeasures." "What we're going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States," Trump said, as he signed the order in the Oval Office. The duties take effect at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) on April 3 and impact foreign-made cars and light trucks. Key automobile parts will also be hit within the month. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney branded Trump's tariffs a "direct attack" on his country's workers and said the cabinet would meet Thursday to discuss retaliation. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his country "cannot stand still" in response to the levies. The move even appeared to raise eyebrows from Trump ally and Tesla boss Elon Musk, who said the cost impact of the tariffs on his firm's cars was "not trivial." "To be clear, this will affect the price of parts in Tesla cars that come from other countries. The cost impact is not trivial," he posted on X. Peter Navarro, Trump's senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, in a briefing after Trump's announcement blasted "foreign trade cheaters" who he said turned America's manufacturing sector into a "lower wage assembly operation for foreign parts." He took aim at Germany and Japan for reserving the construction of higher-value parts to their countries. Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has imposed fresh tariffs on imports from major US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China -- alongside a 25 percent duty on steel and aluminum. The latest levies will be in addition to those already in place for products. But the White House added that vehicles entering under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) can qualify for a lower rate depending on their American content. Similarly, USMCA-compliant auto parts will remain tariff-free as officials establish a process to target their non-US content. Uncertainty over Trump's trade plans and worries they could trigger a downturn have roiled financial markets, with consumer confidence also falling in recent months. Wall Street slumped ahead of Trump's announcement, with shares in General Motors and Stellantis each down more than three percent. On Thursday in Japan, the world's top-selling automaker Toyota shed more than three percent. Among other carmakers Nissan lost 2.5 percent, Honda shed 3.1 percent and Mitsubishi Motors gave up 4.5 percent, while Mazda and Subaru both gave up around six percent. South Korea's Hyundai retreated 2.7 percent in Seoul. Trump has defended the levies as a way to raise government revenue and revitalize American industry. But targeting imported cars could strain ties with close partners such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico and Germany. "Imposing 25 percent tariffs on imported cars will have a devastating impact on many of our close trading partners," said Wendy Cutler, vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former US trade negotiator. She added that Washington has free-trade agreements with some affected parties, "calling into question the value of US commitments" under a trade deal. About 50 percent of cars sold in the United States are manufactured within the country. Among imports, about half come from Mexico and Canada, with Japan, South Korea and Germany also being major suppliers. And of the US-made cars, more than half were assembled from foreign parts, said a White House official. The American Automotive Policy Council representing Detroit's "Big Three" automakers -- Ford, General Motors and Stellantis -- issued a carefully worded statement on the tariffs, saying it hoped the policy would boost US auto production. But it stressed: "It is critical that tariffs are implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers." The Center for Automotive Research has previously estimated that US tariffs -- including those on metals and imported autos -- could increase the price of a car by thousands of dollars and weigh on the jobs market. Besides the automobile industry, Trump is also eyeing sector-specific tariffs, such as on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber. Wednesday's announcement comes ahead of Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" for the world's biggest economy on April 2. He has promised reciprocal levies, tailored to different trading partners to remedy practices Washington deemed unfair. On Wednesday he said these duties will impact all countries. While Trump has invoked emergency economic powers for some recent tariffs, his auto levies build on a government investigation completed in 2019. The probe found that excessive imports were weakening the internal economy and might impair national security. Newly released police body cam footage has revealed that Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa, had expressed concerns about a suspicious man following them before their tragic deaths. The footage, obtained by Fox News, includes a conversation with Arakawa's hairstylist, Christopher, who informed authorities that the couple had encountered the unidentified man on multiple occasions. According to Christopher, Arakawa was deeply unsettled after she and Hackman were followed from their gated community to a restaurant in White Rock. "She said, 'Christopher, I'm surprised that security didn't [know] how he got there,'" he recalled. According to Us Magazine, the same man allegedly approached them at the restaurant with a folder of photos, seeking Hackman's autograph. Later, he reportedly returned with a bottle of wine, which they declined. Arakawa confronts the individual, telling him to "have more respect." The footage was released nearly a month after Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 64, were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26, 2024. Authorities later determined that Arakawa died first from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease linked to exposure to rodent droppings. Initially believed to have passed on February 11, her actual date of death remains uncertain. Hackman died a week later on February 18 from hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's disease cited as a contributing factor. The hairstylist of Betsy Arakawa, Gene Hackmans late wife, has revealed in newly released bodycam footage that Arakawa was fearful of a stalker in the... https://t.co/zjGFBplx9x Far Out Magazine (@FarOutMag) March 26, 2025 Police Ruled Out Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Hackman and Arakawa's Deaths In an emotional exchange captured on body cam footage, a maintenance worker expressed his grief over Hackman's passing. "He was just a normal person," the worker said, struggling to hold back tears. "They treated me really well. And like her [Arakawa], she was a sweetheart." The footage also includes conversations between police and witnesses who speculated on the cause of death, initially considering the possibility of a carbon monoxide leak. Authorities initially considered carbon monoxide poisoning as a potential cause but later ruled it out after tests confirmed that neither Hackman nor Arakawa had been exposed, USA Today said. A necropsy report revealed that one of their German shepherds, Zinfandel, tragically died due to starvation and dehydration. The dog was found in close proximity to Arakawa's body, while two other dogs were discovered alive inside the home. A contractor who worked for Hackman and Arakawa also shared his experience of finding Arakawa's body. He said he had grown concerned after not hearing from the couple for three weeks and contacted Arakawa's mother to request a wellness check. Upon entering their home, he discovered Arakawa in the bathroom. "I was close to them both, and they treated me like gold for 16 years," the contractor said. "I'm major heartbroken over this." Originally published on Enstarz Hybrid hospitality pioneer The Social Hub will mark the next step in its growth across Europe with the opening of a highly anticipated fourth Italian hotel in Rome's trendy San Lorenzo district on Monday (March 31). The more than 114 million, 24,000 square metre complex - minutes from Rome's main train station and the city's iconic historic landmarks - breathes new life into a disused former railway customs house to one of the Italian capital's most exciting creative areas. The Social Hub Rome is comprised of a four-star hotel alongside coworking, dining outlets, meeting & events spaces, a vast public park, and much more. The project embodies the essence of the European hospitality brand's hybrid hospitality model which combines its facilities with social impact centric programming focused on growing local communities. The opening marks The Social Hub's first move into the Italian capital, and follows the recent opening of The Social Hub Florence Belfiore, its second in the city, and The Social Hub Bologna. History & Design The stunning new development has restored a site in an area known for its historical significance and burgeoning creative scene. Originally the Eternal City's railway customs house (ex-dogana), the complex more recently became a centre for cultural activities including concerts and outdoor cinemas until 2019 - but has lain empty since. Now, the area has been reinvigorated by The Social Hub Rome's state-of-the-art spaces, specifically designed to create and develop communities, with the aim to bring back the spirit of the location - a place where guests and visitors to the areas can learn, stay, work, and play. Building on the location's heritage, The Social Hub has designed three buildings, all connected by a lush 10,000 square metre public park with more than 300 trees (opening in late Spring). The first building is a newly built, modern 396-room four-star hotel which offers short and extended stay accommodation for travellers and students, inclusive of apartments of up to two bedrooms, and fully equipped 24h gym. This modern structure - which features Roman inspired design touches - also hosts a premium coworking area for 160 professionals, along with vibrant meeting & event spaces welcoming up to 70 guests. The second building is a restructured indoor-outdoor event venue that used to form part of the original 1920s customs house, set to once again become a point of reference for cultural with the capacity for hundreds of guests to experience music, art, vintage markets and much more. The third building, also part of the historic structure, is now home to Accademia Italiana, a leading design and applied arts institute with more than 1,000 students. Dining In a city renowned for culinary tradition, The Social Hub Rome will offer food lovers a varied proposition including: A restaurant & bar offering a modern take on classic Roman dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. offering a modern take on classic Roman dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. A cocktail bar alongside the hotel's rooftop pool overlooking the city skyline, featuring a menu that celebrates Rome's timeless aperitivo culture with shareable plates designed for social dining. alongside the hotel's rooftop pool overlooking the city skyline, featuring a menu that celebrates Rome's timeless aperitivo culture with shareable plates designed for social dining. A strategic partnership with the newest location of the famed pizzeria, Berbere, set to begin operations before summer. Sustainability & Community As a Certified B Corporation, The Social Hub has also weaved its social and sustainable values throughout the development, including the use of innovative materials and systems. The building has been recognised for its high environmental standards as BREEAM "Excellent." Additionally, more than 50 passionate new local employees will impart The Social Hub's twist on traditional hospitality with a curated calendar of over than 600 community events a year via collaborations with San Lorenzo - and the city's - creative and entrepreneurial innovators. The Social Hub Rome will also be home to scholarship recipients from the TSH Talent Foundation, which helps empower changemakers facing barriers to opportunity. Hotel website Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has opened its 70th Clarion Pointe hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the company continues to invest and innovate in its booming midscale portfolio. With 43 additional hotels in the pipeline and 27 expected to open this year in cities such as Galveston, Texas, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Clarion Pointe's flexible and low-cost conversion approach gives owners an exciting opportunity to be a part of a high-demand market segment. Clarion Pointe was launched in 2018 to meet economically savvy customers' growing preference for select-service hotels that deliver sleek and elevated essentials where they matter most. Informed by Choice's singular leadership in the midscale segment, Clarion Pointe was developed as an extension of Clarion, one of its longest established brands, allowing owners to benefit from strong brand awareness as well as Choice's renowned franchise success system. Clarion Pointe hotels provide modern design touches, curated food and beverage offeringsincluding premium coffee and tea, nutrient-focused breakfast items, and a marketplace with elevated beverages and small bitesalong with modern fitness essentials and on-demand TV casting. Clarion Pointe participates in the Choice Privileges rewards program boasting more than 68 million members. Travelers can Travelers also sign up for the Choice Privileges Mastercard, which offers 40,000 bonus Choice Privileges points when they spend $1,000 in purchases within the first three months. Choice Hotels, with an industry-leading retention rate, is committed to franchise owners' success, equipping them with advanced technological tools that simplify their operations and drive optimal returns on their investments. These include the choiceEDGE guest reservation platform and the choiceADVANTAGE property management system, which help owners effectively manage room rates, distribution channels, and inventory. The company has also helped make it easier for prospective owners to finance their hotel investment. It recently partnered with the innovative digital platform Bridge to help provide new and existing Choice hotel owners with access to affordable financing solutions. For more information about Clarion Pointe, visit: https://www.choicehotelsdevelopment.com/our-brands/midscale/clarion-pointe Hotel website Located in the heart of downtown Boston, the Omni Parker House stands as an unwavering testament to the city's storied past. With meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to preserving its legacy, the Boston landmark is undergoing a complete rebirth that seamlessly blends its heritage with refined, timeless elegance. The extensive work, set to be complete by summer 2025, enhances every aspect of the guest experience, with updates spanning all 551 guest rooms, including 57 suites, 23,000 square feet of meeting and function space, including the renowned Rooftop Ballroom, and the hotel's vibrant lobby. Drawing from the hotel's rich 19th century heritage, the design pays homage to the golden age of travel - an era when horse-drawn carriages epitomized travel elegance. On entering the hotel, the lobby will welcome guests with new marble flooring, bespoke furnishings, and custom carpets adorned with the Parker House crest, setting a tone of refined sophistication. Each of the refurbished and elevated guest rooms seamlessly blends classic splendor with contemporary comfort, featuring elegantly designed bathrooms with marble surfaces, walk-in showers, and thoughtfully curated amenities. A living testament to one of America's most charismatic cities, the new Omni Parker House takes inspiration from this status as a Boston original. A highlight of the renewal is the transformation of the Premier Suites into "Legend Suites," each uniquely designed to honor 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 unlocks the essence of Boston. Whether traveling for business or leisure, from the moment patrons step through its doors, they'll feel inspired and exhilarated. As part of the rebirth, each of Omni Parker House's 19 distinctive meeting rooms have been completely reimagined, catering to the ever evolving needs of today's intrepid explorers and interested independents. The Dickens Room is now a sophisticated executive boardroom, while the Rooftop Ballroom - a sought-after venue for weddings, social gatherings, and political events - has been brought back to life with inspiration from the refined style of the hotel's notable female patrons. For more information on the rebirth of the Omni Parker House and to make a reservation, visit omnihotels.com/hotels/boston-parker-house. Hotel website A seasoned hospitality leader with more than 20 years of experience, Kakar has a distinguished background in launching and transforming luxury lifestyle hotels. Most recently, he served as general manager for Nautilus by Arlo in Miami Beach, where he led operations for the 250-room property, overseeing its transition from Sixty Hotels to Arlo Hotels launch in Miami. He also played a pivotal role in the pre-launch of Arlo Wynwood. Kakar has also led as a General Manager at Hyatt's Luxury Alila Marea & Thompson Dallas as well as Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club an Autograph Collection by Marriott and Mondrian South Beach, spearheading brand conversions, multi-million-dollar renovations, strategic repositioning efforts that elevated guest satisfaction, revenue growth, and market rankings. At the helm of Thompson Miami Beach, Kakar looks forward to introducing a vibrant and immersive hospitality experience that reflects the energy and creativity of Miami Beach. In this role, Kakar oversees the launch and operations of Thompson Miami Beach as a new build in the market, shaping the property's boutique vision and driving an immersive lifestyle guest experience. Hotel chains with strict brand guidelines often deliver some of the most consistent marketing in the industry a major benefit for travelers who value reliability. But when corporate dictates the same voice for every hotel, the messaging can feel generic or disconnected from local customers. Multi-location marketing finds unique ways to highlight individual hotels without diluting the larger strategy. Incorporated with insights from general managers (GMs) or property teams, it ensures each location connects with its ideal guests while staying true to the brand. In this article, well explore how to balance brand consistency with localized messaging and why tailored content resonates with potential customers. Multi-location marketing is all about finding balance From local SEO to geo-targeting to individual traveler preferences, multi-location marketing helps hotels attract the right guests for each property without prioritizing one location over another. A beachfront property might see the highest ROI from vacationers, but if half the portfolio is landlocked, shifting the entire brands messaging to highlight coastal escapes would alienate other locations. Brand consistency matters. Straying too far from central messaging whether its kid-friendly amenities or spacious suites can weaken brand identity. Take The Hoxton, for example. Each location has unique details, but a core brand promise remains: Dogs are welcome at all properties. To reinforce this, they created a dedicated page outlining pet-friendly policies in a playful, engaging way. Finding the right balance in multi-location brands starts with stronger communication. When corporate teams and local hotel operators align through better data collection methods, regular check-ins and shared marketing insights they can break down silos that might otherwise fragment the brand. At the same time, local teams need flexibility to tailor messaging to their market. If a one-off local event, like a meteor shower, is drawing travelers to a location, the hotel should be able to use the chains general marketing playbook to adapt a campaign that speaks to stargazers and still boosts brand awareness. Data is the key to multi-marketing success When a hotel chain serves a wide range of guests across varying price points and amenities, marketing misalignment is inevitable. Corporate teams often aim for broad, inclusive messaging, while local teams tailor campaigns to their specific properties. This disconnect can confuse customers, making it harder to set the right expectations. For example, Hilton operates multiple sub-brands, where guests can book a budget-friendly room for under $100 or a luxury suite at the Waldorf for well over $1,000. This extreme price range makes it difficult for corporate to craft language that conveys quality at every level. Meanwhile, luxury property managers may feel their unique experience is getting lost in generic brand descriptions. Data bridges this gap, getting everyone on the same page. Instead of relying on assumptions, it provides visibility into customer segments, guest preferences and local communities. When location alone doesnt define a propertys success, better insights help corporate and local marketing teams identify the ideal guest profile for each hotel. For instance, if business travelers prefer a hotels mountain-view conference rooms on weekdays, while families flock to the nearby ski slopes on weekends, multi-location marketing can speak to both target audienceswithout weakening the brands tone of voice. When corporate and local teams use the same data, they can create targeted, effective campaigns that resonate with the right guests at the right time. If youre looking to refine your strategy, a customer relationship management (CRM) tool is your best bet. It provides insights into customer lifetime value, churn rates and sales trends, while local teams can offer on-the-ground feedback about guest preferences. When corporate and property teams share this data, marketing campaigns become more precise, relevant and effective driving higher conversion rates across locations. Guest reviews are an often untapped goldmine of valuable insights Guest reviews reveal insights no CRM can provide, offering a direct look at how well your brand messaging aligns with real customer experiences. Most travelers know that every Hilton hotel offers a different experience, which is why they research individual locations rather than relying on the brands overarching messaging. As they skim online reviews, they see how staff respond to complaints, whether rooms match the photos and if the property needs updates. If you market a high-end getaway and guests report a mediocre stay at best, that disconnect will show in rankings and reviews. Worse, initially reasonable customers may become disgruntled if issues go unaddressed. To protect and improve your brand reputation, it pays to tease out trends in guest feedback and adjust your marketing accordingly. For example, if a hotel is located in a lively downtown district, where noise is inevitable and out of your control, targeting younger travelers who embrace nightlife may create a better alignment between expectations and experience. 3 hotel marketing tactics and how to use them in multi-location marketing strategies Multi-location marketing strategies work best when integrated across multiple channels. Here, well explore how to tailor your messaging for different platforms to maximize impact. 1. Digital advertising Digital advertising allows hotels to geo-target customers, improving ROI by focusing on travelers who are most likely to book. By leveraging location-specific benefits, hotels can craft highly relevant messaging that resonates with the right people. However, digital marketing can be tricky for large and small businesses alike. CRMs and guest reviews provide valuable insights, but without proper analysis, KPIs can be misleading. To stand out in a local compset, marketers must highlight what makes each property unique. Better data helps you understand why guests book and what drives a great stay. Modern software solutions go beyond basic databases, linking demographics to revenue trends so you can spot opportunities and address gaps. For example, a Hawaiian Marriott might target high-income travelers in Los Angeles and San Francisco, knowing these cities offer convenient flights for long weekends. Whether through banner ads or email marketing, the campaign can emphasize Marriotts strong reputation while showcasing how the property captures the islands landscape and culture. Pay-per-click (PPC) ads further enhance your brands online visibility by reaching travelers searching for specific destinations. Hotels can select locations and keywords to refine their targeting, though pricing varies based on demand. So a hotel in upstate New York may pay more to advertise to Manhattanites looking to escape the grind. 2. Social media Social media is a tried-and-true way for multi-location businesses to increase visibility, strengthen their online presence, and engage potential guests. Like geo-targeted ads, it allows marketers to fine-tune audience targeting based on location, interests and demographics. Automation tools also help launch and manage campaigns at the individual property level. Local social media management strategies differ from national brand efforts. While corporate accounts typically focus on a generalized customer profile, specific locations can tailor content to regional trends. For example, if a location finds a market with 1824-year-olds, while the average hotel chain guest is 42, corporate may allow that property to run a youth-focused campaign on TikTok or Instagram. Some hotels take this a step further by creating interactive, guest-driven campaigns. Shangri-Las Find Your Shangri-La campaign showcased local culinary cultures at each property, inviting guests to share their experiences using a branded hashtag. Limited-time cocktails and dishes tied the campaign to each propertys unique flavors and cultural differences, while guest participation added an element of competition. By putting guests at the center of the campaign, Shangri-La elevated engagement beyond static content, reinforcing its reputation for unforgettable and immersive hospitality across locations. Social media also enables retargeting, helping hotels reconnect with potential guests who initially showed interest but didnt book. Dynamic ads automatically pull images and details from a hotels website, creating personalized promotions that encourage reservations. If a campaign drives traffic but results in moderate conversions, messaging could be the issue. If visitors engage with your site more for escapism than booking intent, better data can refine targeting focusing on customers with both interest and the means to stay. 3. Online travel agencies Nearly 80% of travelers start their search with online travel agencies (OTAs) like Booking.com and Google Travel. While OTAs come with commission fees, they remain essential for expanding a propertys reach. The best way to approach OTA marketing is in conjunction with your larger marketing strategy. Participating in OTA campaigns may increase costs, but for some hotels, its still more cost-effective than running independent marketing efforts. Using the same strategy across all properties such as relying on the same stock photos and generic descriptions for every room can make hotels less competitive at the local level. OTAs not only offer geo-targeting capabilities but also feature property-specific reviews and support seasonal packages or limited-time sales. Additionally, OTAs run location-specific campaigns tied to regional events or seasonal activities, helping hotels attract local audiences who may not have otherwise considered their property. Whether your hotel caters to bucket-list travelers or frequent adventurers, OTAs can provide valuable exposure when used strategically. Enhance your marketing strategy with competitive data insights Data is key to successful multi-location marketing. It aligns corporate and local teams, ensuring strategic, location-specific outreach. Without it, brands risk misalignment and missed opportunities. This is where Lighthouse stands out. Its real-time data insights break down silos between corporate, regional, and on-property teams, enabling informed, unified marketing decisions. By analyzing regional demand, guest preferences and market shifts, Lighthouse helps hotels stay ahead of the competition and maximize ROI while meeting travelers on their level. When teams work from the same data, marketing becomes more precise, effective and profitable. Instead of relying on assumptions, hotels can tailor strategies that drive real results. Ready to optimize your multi-location marketing? Discover Market Insight today. About Lighthouse Lighthouse is the leading commercial platform for the travel & hospitality industry. We transform complexity into confidence by providing actionable market insights, business intelligence, and pricing tools that maximize revenue growth. We continually innovate to deliver the best platform for hospitality professionals to price more effectively, measure performance more efficiently, and understand the market in new ways. Trusted by over 70,000 hotels in 185 countries, Lighthouse is the only solution that provides real-time hotel and short-term rental data in a single platform. We strive to deliver the best possible experience with unmatched customer service. We consider our clients as true partnerstheir success is our success. For more information about Lighthouse, please visit: https://www.mylighthouse.com. View source Accor, the largest hotel operator in the Pacific, successfully concluded its 2025 Pacific Franchise Conference, bringing together franchise partners, hotel general managers, industry leaders, and Accor executives for two days of insightful discussions, networking, and strategic presentations. Hosted at Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments, the event reinforced Accors commitment to franchise growth and value-driven partnerships in Australia and New Zealand. The conference, which ran from 25-27 March 2025, featured a dynamic agenda covering industry performance insights, commercial strategies, investment opportunities, and operational excellence. Delegates gained exclusive insights into the evolving hotel landscape, with panel discussions and workshops addressing market-leading performance, loyalty, and sustainability. Duncan ORourke, Chief Executive Officer for Accors Premium, Midscale & Economy Division in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, opened the event alongside Adrian Williams, Chief Operating Officer for Accors Premium, Midscale & Economy division in the Pacific, highlighting Accors franchise growth strategy and the Groups ongoing commitment to innovation and partnership. The energy and engagement at this years conference were a testament to the strength of Accors franchise network in the Pacific. We are focused on fostering sustainable, long-term franchisee partnerships that create value for both owners and guests, said . With a dedicated franchise team, a globally recognised brand portfolio, and an approach that integrates local market dynamics with world-class hospitality solutions, we are enabling hoteliers to future-proof their businesses while maintaining their distinct identity. Duncan ORourke The evolution of our franchise model in Australia and New Zealand underscores our ability to adapt to changing market conditions, providing owners with the agility, expertise, and strategic support needed to succeed. Through continuous investment, dedicated performance managers, and our award-winning loyalty program, ALL, we are empowering hoteliers to accelerate their growth while maintaining their unique identity. Our commitment to franchisee success is evident in the fact that 50% of our existing franchisees now own multiple hotels within the Accor network. Adrian Williams Franchising in the Pacific is evolving rapidly, and Accor is driving this transformation by offering hotel owners a clear pathway to long-term success. As demand for conversions grows, we are focused on delivering measurable value through procurement efficiencies, ESG advantages, and immediate performance uplift. Our diverse portfolio of conversion-friendly brands provides a seamless way to modernise properties and meet the changing expectations of todays travellers. Danesh Bamji, Vice President Franchise, Pacific The conference featured keynotes from industry leaders and Accor teams, including insights from STR on market performance, an in-depth look at Accors brand and commercial strategy, and an expert panel on hotel investment trends. Kerry Healy, Chief Commercial Officer for Accors Premium, Midscale & Economy Division in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, delivered a commercial keynote, offering valuable perspectives on the Groups strategy. A highlight of the event was a Q&A session with All Blacks legend Ian Jones, who shared leadership insights from the world of elite sport. The 2025 Pacific Franchise Conference was a powerful demonstration of Accors commitment to delivering tangible value and strategic support for our franchise partners. By combining data-driven insights, cutting-edge commercial strategies, and the strength of our globally recognised brands, we are empowering hoteliers to drive long-term success. It was inspiring to see the passion and innovation within our franchise network, and we remain dedicated to fostering growth, performance, and excellence across the Pacific. Kerry Healy Recognising Excellence: 2025 Pacific Franchise Awards A highlight of the conference was the 2025 Pacific Franchise Awards, held during the gala dinner at Pullman Auckland. The awards celebrated outstanding achievements and excellence across Accors franchise network, recognising hotels and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance, innovation, and guest experience. The six award categories and winners are: Limitless Performance Award Novotel New Plymouth Novotel New Plymouth Pioneering Mindset Award - Ayers Rock Resorts - Ayers Rock Resorts Art of Hospitality Award Peppers Hills Lodge Peppers Hills Lodge Responsible Hospitality Award ibis Styles The Entrance ibis Styles The Entrance Hotel Renovation of the Year Award Novotel Brighton Beach Novotel Brighton Beach Hotel of the Year Mercure Sydney Beyond the business agenda, delegates enjoyed networking experiences, including an Auckland Harbour sailing excursion, fostering deeper connections among Accors franchise community. The conference concluded with a Franchisee Owner Panel, where leading hoteliers shared their experiences, challenges, and success stories, reinforcing Accors win-win growth model. From luxury to economy, Accor operates over 400 hotels in the Pacific region under renowned brands such as Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissotel, Movenpick, Grand Mercure, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Handwritten Collection, Novotel, TRIBE, Mercure, BreakFree, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget, as well as Ennismores SO/. With 122 franchised properties in Australia and 11 in New Zealand, Accors franchise expansion continues to gain momentum, with a focus on strategic growth, innovative brand conversions, and tailored support for franchise partners. For more information on Accors franchise opportunities, visit: https://group.accor.com/en/hotel-development. 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. Naomi Hammond Communications Manager - Pacific +61(0) 434 738 380 Accor MATTHEWS, N.C. - stayAPT Suites, a leader in apartment-style hotel accommodations, is proud to announce the signing of a multi-location franchise agreement with Destiny Partners, LLC/Destiny Hospitality, LLC. This partnership will bring five new stayAPT Suites locations to key markets across Pennsylvania, including Lancaster, Reading, York, Bethlehem, and Allentown. Each stayAPT Suites is designed to offer spacious suites with the comforts of home, making them ideal for all lengths of stay. Whether guests are visiting for a night, a week, or longer, they will enjoy full-sized kitchens equipped with full-sized appliances, dedicated living rooms, and separate bedroomsoffering a unique, apartment-style experience that goes beyond traditional hotel rooms. Construction will begin in the spring of 2025 on the first stayAPT Suites property in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This new hotel will feature 94 rooms in a four-story prototype, showcasing the brand's signature design and offering a high standard of comfort for all types of stays. Our partnership with Destiny Partners marks a significant milestone in stayAPT Suites rapid expansion across the United States. This agreement not only further strengthens our national presence but also expands the brands footprint further north into Pennsylvania. These new locations will provide travelers with the distinct comfort of a full-size living spacecomplete with a full kitchen, dedicated living room, and separate bedroomoffering the consistency of a hotel with the livability of an apartment. Gary A. DeLapp, President and CEO of stayAPT Suites As a mid-scale extended-stay brand, stayAPT Suites stands out in the industry with flexible prototypes suited for diverse markets, a streamlined operating structure, and an efficient labor approach. The brand attracts a broad customer base, including business and leisure travelers, relocating families, medical professionals, and more. By combining the comforts of home with modern hotel amenities, stayAPT Suites redefines the traditional hotel experience, offering flexible accommodations for all lengths of stay. Weve evaluated numerous extended stay brands, and what sets stayAPT Suites apart is their skin-in-the-game approach. Their business model, which emphasizes on-site management, a low employee count, and a streamlined amenities approach, offers the highest potential margins in the industry. Additionally, reviews consistently show that guests love their experience. stayAPT Suites has also been flexible in adapting the product to meet our specific needs while maintaining consistency for the guest experience. We believe this model, combined with their spacious suites, will allow stayAPT Suites to capture more than their fair share of the extended stay market, providing a superior experience for guests and excellent financial performance for our investors. Shakher Patel, Co-Founder of Destiny Partners, LLC. About stayAPT Suites stayAPT Suites entered the long-term lodging market with an announcement of its new hotel concept in January 2020. The brand, which will have 40 hotels open by the end of March 2025, offers guests an experience not yet seen in its category. The room layout for each 500+ square-foot suite was intentionally designed to feel residential, with a dedicated living room, a full kitchen, and a separate bedroom. With a strong corporate financial backing and an experienced executive team in place, the Matthews, North Carolina-based chain is committed to building a portfolio of corporate-owned hotels, in addition to franchising. Learn more at www.stayAPT.com. Phoenix, Arizona BWH Hotels is poised to make a strong impact at WTM Africa 2025, part of Africa Travel Week in Cape Town from April 9-11. With Africas hospitality sector booming, the global hotel company aims to expand its presence and build strategic regional partnerships. The African continent is one of our strongest focus regions. With its fast-growing economies, we forecast incredible growth across Africa. We currently have 27 hotels in this region with another five opening soon. We look to grow our WorldHotels and Best Western Hotels & Resorts portfolio in city and resort destinations. Wytze van den Berg, Vice President of Global Operation EMEA of BWH Hotels BWH Hotels offers a diverse range of hotels, from luxury to economy, for travelers and developers. At WTM Africa 2025, it will highlight its expertise as the hospitality industry's second-largest soft-brand company, empowering independent hotels with tools to deliver exceptional guest experiences. Its four WorldHotels collectionsLuxury, Elite, Distinctive, and Craftedoffer unique, authentic stays with world-class service. As part of BWH Hotels expansion strategy, the company will highlight: New and upcoming Best Western Hotels & Resorts and WorldHotels properties in Africa Benefits of soft brand partnerships for independent hotels A focused commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism Tailored solutions that enhance the guest experience and drive hotel performance BWH Hotels invites media, industry professionals, and potential partners to connect at WTM Africa 2025 to explore exciting opportunities and the future of independent hospitality in Africa. For more information or to schedule a meeting at our Booth number B11, please contact: [email protected] About BWH Hotel Group BWH Hotels is a leading, global hospitality enterprise comprised of three hotel companies, including WorldHotelsTM, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels. The global enterprise boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide*. With 18 brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotels suits the needs of developers and guests in every market. Joanna Becker-Birck Associate BWH Hotels San Diego, CA Cloudbeds, the premier hospitality management software platform, has today released the second edition of its annual State of Hostels report. The findings point to a shift in focus for hostelers in 2025. As labor shortages persist and travelers become increasingly price-sensitive, 2025 is emerging as the year of optimizing performance with hostel operators under pressure to improve efficiency and profitability. The State of Hostels report offers a snapshot of travel patterns operators can expect this year, along with strategies to optimize performance in a challenging and unpredictable market. The findings are grounded in data from 2,300 hostels across 62 countries worldwide, covering nearly 11 million bookings between 2022 and 2024. In today's evolving travel market, hostels are seizing opportunities to work smarter and deliver exceptional value to guests. Despite leaner teams and budget-conscious travelers, the industry is meeting challenges head-on with creativity, agility, and efficiency. We're committed to empowering this vital lodging segment with the data, insights, and tools they need to capture market share and thrive in 2025. Stephan Leuenberger, Head of Market Development, Hostels, at Cloudbeds Key findings from the 2025 report include: Dorms saw year-over-year occupancy growth in 2024, while private rooms dropped. This could indicate travelers increased confidence in sharing spaces. growth in 2024, while private rooms dropped. This could indicate travelers increased confidence in sharing spaces. Global average daily rates (ADR) for dorms declined by 1.7%, while private room ADR declined by 4% reflecting softening demand and increased price sensitivity. (ADR) for dorms declined by 1.7%, while private room ADR declined by 4% reflecting softening demand and increased price sensitivity. Online travel agencies (OTAs) captured 74% of hostel bookings globally a 1% increase compared to 2023. (OTAs) captured 74% of hostel bookings globally a 1% increase compared to 2023. Longer stays were more popular with dorm bookings, with 14+ night stays making up 11% of all dorm reservations, compared to just 4% of private room bookings. were more popular with dorm bookings, with 14+ night stays making up 11% of all dorm reservations, compared to just 4% of private room bookings. Weekends remained the main hub of activity, with 35% of reservations starting on Friday or Saturday, and 20% checking out on Sunday. remained the main hub of activity, with 35% of reservations starting on Friday or Saturday, and 20% checking out on Sunday. OTA bookings had the highest cancellation rate at 19%, followed by wholesale bookings at 14%. Using aggregated and anonymized data from across the globe, Cloudbeds has also identified six emerging trends poised to reshape the travel landscape for hostelers and the wider lodging industry in 2025. These include the rise of value-driven travel, increased reliance on additional revenue streams, rising costs, labor shortages and high staff turnover, as well as the widespread adoption of AI in hostel operations. To download a free copy of Cloudbeds 2025 State of Hostels report, visit https://www.cloudbeds.com/hostel-report/. About Cloudbeds Cloudbeds is hospitality's only intelligent growth engine a unified platform trusted by the world's most ambitious hoteliers across 150 countries. Built to challenge the limits of outdated tech stacks, Cloudbeds connects operations, revenue, distribution, and guest experience in one powerful, intuitive system. At its core is Signals, hospitality's first AI foundation model, giving hoteliers the power to anticipate demand, run smarter operations, and craft more personal, profitable guest journeys at scale. Founded in 2012, Cloudbeds has earned top honors from Hotel Tech Report (Top PMS, Hotel Management System, and Channel Manager, 20212025), the World Travel Awards (World's Best Hotel PMS Solutions Provider, 2022), and Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 (2024). For more information, visit www.cloudbeds.com. View source Aimee Sanborn - Image Credit Premier Appointment advances Premiers standing as a national, full-service architectural design firm with expanded new-build, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use project capabilities Premier, an end-to-end architecture, design, procurement, project management, corporate engineering, and development firm with specialization in hospitality, multi-family residential, student housing, adaptive reuse, and commercial mixed-use projects, is pleased to announce that Aimee Sanborn, AIA, NCARB, has been appointed as the firms new Senior Vice President of Architecture. Sanborn joined Premier in 2023 as the firms Senior Vice President of Adaptive Reuse and Mixed-Use, and was tasked with spearheading the company's national expansion into the adaptive reuse, historic conservation, and mixed-use segments. Recognizing her success growing Premiers capabilities in those segments, Sanborn will now lead the entirety of Premiers Architecture team while continuing her work to grow Premiers standing as adaptive reuse and mixed-use experts. Sanborns appointment to lead Premiers Architecture team is part of the firms wider effort to rapidly and significantly grow its capabilities and standing as a national full-service architectural design firm. With a focus on developing Premiers new-build hotel, multi-family residential, and commercial mixed-use design practices, the addition of Sanborns extensive expertise significantly advances the companys strategic efforts. Im very excited to be moving into this new role, said Sanborn. Having an already established and productive relationship with the team, and having helped hone our design approach and our processes, the opportunity to jump-in and immediately have a positive impact on Premiers clients is motivating to say the least. Inspired by a passion for helping communities and clients create and preserve city-defining buildings and spaces by way of innovative new-build and adaptive reuse architectural design, Aimee brings two decades of studio leadership experience to Premiers Architecture team. Her portfolio includes a deep list of projects spanning new-build high-rise multifamily, luxury residential, hospitality, speculative office spaces, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and industrial projects. Were very pleased to have Aimee move into this new role, said Hector Sanchez, Premiers Chief Executive Officer. I am confident that under Aimees leadership, Premier Architecture will continue to position itself for the aggressive growth that lies ahead as we continue to gain market share and successfully execute exceptional service and design for our valued clients. Prior to joining Premier, Sanborn held senior leadership roles at two national architecture firms, including Principal at Powers Brown Architecture, and Partner, Principal, and Studio Leader while at Merriman Anderson Architects. Aimee graduated from the University of South Florida with a masters degree in architecture. She is currently a licensed architect in 25 states. About Premier Dallas-based Premier is a full-service firm with over 30 years of expertise across architecture, interior design, procurement, project management, construction development, and contract administration. With all services yielded under one roof, Premiers team is in constant pursuit of finding innovative solutions to the hospitality, multi-family, and student housing industrys increasingly complex problems. From straightforward soft goods refreshes to transformative custom designs for renovations, redevelopments, and new developments, Premiers team of professionals is dedicated to excellence across a multitude of market sectors. From concept to completion, Premier provides consultative services that are unmatched, bringing our clients vision for the built environment to life. For more information visit www.premierpm.com. AI-driven Analytics Will Provide Hard Fast ROI - But Are Hotels Ready? - Image Credit Cendyn For hoteliers looking to Find customers, convert them to Book, and Grow revenue amid stiff competition, smarter data insights are necessary. But if more isnt done to bring system data together in a cohesive, intelligent and integrated way, commercial teams will flounder, unable to deliver hard fast ROI cannot. We operate in one of the most complicated industries, where every aspect of operations is a priority, and guest experience is everything. While offering guests a little respite and facilitating a brilliant experience theres the maintenance of physical spaces, managing a balance sheet with consistently high outgoings and fluctuating incomings. All with the need to constantly stay relevant amid changing consumer trends and fluctuating economic markets. Whether an independent hotel or part of a group each property acts as a small business in its own right. Where on the surface, the hospitality experience is reassuringly the same, behind the scenes it has had to adapt to an all-encompassing digital world. One where guests have been captured from a multitude of third-party partners and reservations come from a range of booking interfaces, and your reputation constantly hangs in the balance through social media and reviews. Being in a high-velocity sector like this often means structures, processes and team frameworks can become outdated quickly, causing fragmentation and friction when trying to respond to changing market dynamics and optimize revenue. Addressing industry fragmentation Technology is now addressing and solving this challenge. Through intelligently designed hotel tech stacks weaving together a property management system (PMS), a customer relationship management (CRM) system, and a central reservation system (CRS) hotels can achieve great efficiencies. In saving hours on time-consuming administrative tasks working with shared data, hotels can better understand, service and target guests. However, these integrated systems still do not exist in a way that enables hotels to benefit from a central pool of data and look in detail at the performance of all aspects of commercial strategies to continuously improve impact. The reality is that hotel teams are still working in silos across multiple systems. Hoteliers are drawing single reports from a digital marketing platform, another from the CRS, and perhaps one from the CRM. Each report shows a different aspect of a campaign, seasonal trend or guest behavior but provides no single complete picture. Were working on changing this. On a human level commercial, revenue and marketing teams need to be more aligned and recognize how interconnected their work is. And on a technological level data from across all these commercial aspects need to come together to support more informed decision making and strategic development. Accessible data and reporting Hospitality isnt short of data. In marketing alone, teams can access a huge amount of information from email, social, display and brand campaigns assessing clicks, likes, bookings performance of promotional codes and influential media partners. These are all great for internal reporting, but marketing professionals need to dive into ROAS connected to high-value and relevant guest profiles. By gathering insights into guest behaviors, preferences, interests and booking patterns, hospitality teams can interrogate their own data. Access to this must be easy and intuitive to help hotel teams become more skilled in data analysis and act on those insights. Teams fundamentally need to make connections between data from across these systems. Almost a third of hoteliers interviewed for the h2c Hotel Direct Booking study said there is insufficient reporting from their internet booking engine, and this is a growing concern. Pulling in data from all business areas would drastically advance the business picture that hospitality professionals receive of patterns, trends and results from across the business. Consolidated data is a necessity Its clear we need to get data out of silos. Its apparent that hospitality professionals need to understand their entire data warehouse. And this all transcends individual business disciplines such as sales, marketing or revenue. Solving this conundrum should focus on bringing these three disciplines together with an analytics solution that uses the power of business intelligence (BI) tools and AI. This way sales, marketing and revenue can each look at the same data through their own lens with simplicity. Consolidated data enables a deeper level of probing and extrapolation of patterns in meticulous detail to identify the influencing factors to finding the right customer, generating quality bookings and growing revenue. So instead of calculating the clicks from a specific digital marketing campaign, and analyzing this in its own silo, the platform will show how the campaign affected booking patterns and revenue per customer. This simply hasnt been possible before. Generating more revenue Theres currently a major e-commerce drive for hotels, which links with boosting upselling and ancillary revenue opportunities. According to h2c Hotel Direct Booking study, estimated ancillary revenue potential is higher than actual revenue, and most hoteliers want to explore ways to maximize this opportunity. McKinsey & Company also found that combining multiple sources of data can help guide hotel strategies for unbundling and cross-selling, to fine-tune experiences travelers are actually seeking out. They call this the future of travel. Elevating data analytics tools will help make this a reality for hoteliers. And the role of AI? Hotels are still figuring out how AI can help. The use of AI in hotel booking engines is expected to roughly double over the next few years too, and AI for personalized bookings has the highest planned growth, with a potential 5x increase. But on a wider scale such as the broader analysis of data, AI could be central. Hospitality is a human-first industry, we all need to learn how to use AI in a way to help rather than hinder our goals. Data is traditionally seen as being the opposite hard, fast numbers. But this growing awareness of the importance of the analysis piece shows how data should be represented in a more palatable way. AI is a linguistic-led technology, and it can humanize the way data is consumed. We believe this will further elevate the necessity of an all-in-one analytics dashboard. And although there is some skepticism around open AI, were instead taking AI learning models and putting them on top of data, to provide a robust and reliable solution. Where is Cendyn on this journey? The capabilities of existing technologies are vast, and we are bringing these together within intelligent analytics platforms. By layering in data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, we are creating a one-stop-shop system that provides prescriptive insights. As well as showing you the data, it will tell you precisely the influencing factors to campaign success and insights of the audience you should target. As we advance analytics across Cendyn we hope to allow hotels to understand what is happening at a granular level. What type of searches are taking place? When is the highest and lowest search level? What is the conversion rate based on searches? While understanding if youre ahead of pace or behind pace on searches? How does that impact existing marketing programs? Does the price point need to be adapted, or does a new campaign need to be launched? These are questions hospitality marketing professionals ask themselves all the time. And our future advancements in Analytics will tell you where the opportunities are and how to act upon them. In an age of tough competition and accelerating operational costs, every marketing campaign, room rate strategy and commercial decision will have to be informed by reliable, interconnected data with no room for uncertainty. If the goal of any hotelier is to Find customers, ensure they Book, and Grow profitability, breaking down silos with the help of technology is the way to bring about lasting change. Kevin Duncan- Vice President, Product Management. Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn. About Cendyn Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to drive revenue, maximize profitability, and create deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions. Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn drives commercial success for hotels through its Find, Book, Grow promise: find the right guests; drive them to book direct, and grow loyalty and revenue across the spectrum of digital guest interactions. Cendyn has over 32,000 customers worldwide in more than 150 countries including brands such as Outrigger Hospitality, Hyatt, IHG, Aman Resorts & Hotels, Relais & Chateaux, Highgate, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Coraltree Hospitality, and Onyx Hospitality Group generating more than $20 billion in annual hotel revenue. The company supports its growing customer base from locations across the globe, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangkok, and India. Bastilles Dan Smith on how scalpers hurt artists and fans Bastille frontman Dan Smith is not the first artist to call out predatory ticket resellers. But he has done a particularly effective job of articulating how scalpers hurt artists and fans. Bastilles Dan Smith on how scalpers hurt artists and fans In a series of interviews just prior to the band putting an arena tour on sale next week, Bastille frontman Dan Smith shared how little control most artists have over scalpers and pushed for regulatory changes. As a band, weve always wanted to keep our ticket prices as low as possible, said Smith, but obviously youre juggling the sort of realities of a tour, and what it costs to travel to put on that show to employ a whole load of people who are sort of juggling that plus wanting to keep prices fair. He continues: So it is really galling to see someone come in and resell that ticket for, like double, triple the price, knowing that that money is not going back to the people who work really hard to put the tour together, work in the venues and all the sort of many, many, many other jobs that are involved. In another interview he pointed out that Ireland has made ticket resales illegal above face value. Smith and others are backing a UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recommendation which suggests a 10% cap on secondary ticket prices. The move would effectively make running a major secondary ticket operation unprofitable in the UK. UK officials are also looking so-called dynamic pricing, where much like airline tickets prices fluctuate to reflect demand. Watch this edited interview with Bastilles Dan Smith to learn more. 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: Lee Restaurant Week LEE, Mass. The Lee Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the first annual Lee Restaurant week. During the week of March 30 - April 5, visit the participating restaurants, get a card stamped by 4 different restaurants, enter the card to win a Lee Themed Gift Basket. Restaurants will be offering specials during the week, such as $35, 3-course meals. Participating restaurants include: 51 Park Restaurant & Tavern, Agave's Mexican Grill Lee, Alpamayo Peruvian Restaurant, appetito's, Bliss Crumbs & Coffee, Burmese Bowl, Cafe Triskele, Jalisco Cantina, Lee's Corner Kitchen, Let's Do Lunch, Locker Room Sports Pub, Morgan House Restaurant, Roses Restaurant, Salmon Run Fish House, Starving Artist Cafe & Creperie, and The Station Gastro Pub & Lounge. Ryder Rowett shows off his new toothbrush after a dental checkup with Dr. Dana Burkett last week. Burkett is with the Smile Programs, a mobile dental clinic that visits participating schools. A portable dental office is set up in a classroom. PreviousNext Smile Programs Visits North Adams Public Schools Ryder Rowett gets X-rays of his teeth done. The Smile Programs also offers cleanings and some restorative care like fillings. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. A mobile dental program visited North Adams Public Schools last week to ensure that students had healthy smiles. Founded by two moms who were also dentists, the Smile Programs has been offering dental checkups at schools more more than 20 years. "Bringing the care to the patient's hard for families to find care providers that provide care for MassHealth and so we're kind of just bringing the care to the patients," said Dr. Dana Burkett. Smile Programs is in 17 states and says it has have helped more than 450,000 children. The program does a complete dental exam, cleanings, X-rays, and other preventative care. And it offers some restorative care like fillings. School nurse leader Natalie Emery was working with the schools to help find someone who could talk with the kids about dental hygiene and found the Smile Programs. "In this particular area we don't have a lot of providers that accept MassHealth. Many families have to travel far, which is a barrier to receiving care, as well as kids not understanding how important it is to brush your teeth," she said. "In the nurse's office, we see a lot of kids with poor dental care and it causes pain, it causes missed days from school and just creates further problems. So, it's a great opportunity to have them come to the school and try to prevent some of that further tooth decay and trouble down the road." The Michigan-based program estimates more than 51 million school hours are lost a year and that 1 in 7 children are suffering from tooth pain. The Smile program emphasizes that by coming to the schools, children will miss less school time and parents will not have to worry about transportation or having to take time off work. Emery says about 90 students in the district have signed up for the program and about 15 to 20 kids are seen when the mobile dentist is there. The mobile dentist went to all three schools: Drury High, Colegrove Elementary, and Brayton Elementary. The dentists see about 20 students each time they are there and explains to them how important dental hygiene is and leaves them with a free toothbrush to go back to class and continue their day. Emery said the schools hope to be able to bring back the Smile Programs for students. 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 The Academy of Motion Pictures has received backlash after issuing a statement seemingly intended to address the detention of Oscar-winning No Other Land director Hamdan Ballal without mentioning either the film or the filmmaker by name. Earlier this week, Ballals co-director Yuval Abraham criticized the Academy for refusing to put out a public statement in support of Ballal, a Palestinian who was recently attacked by Israeli settlers and later detained by the Israeli military. Seemingly in response to that criticism, a statement was sent out Wednesday evening signed by Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang. It reads: The Academy condemns harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints. We are living in a time of profound change, marked by conflict and uncertainty across the globe, in the U.S. and within our own industry. Understandably, we are often asked to speak on behalf of the Academy in response to social, political and economic events. In these instances, it is important to note that the Academy represents close to 11,000 global members with many unique viewpoints. open image in gallery Oscar-winning director Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian artist, was attacked by Israeli settlers and detained by Israeli Forces ( AFP via Getty Images ) Abraham reposted the statement on X, writing: after our criticism, the academy's leaders sent out this email to members explaining their silence on Hamdan's assault: they need to respect unique viewpoints. They are say nothing, responded one user. literally just empty PR lip service. Another user wrote: The Academy finally issued a statement and couldnt be bothered to even mention Hamdans name. Not once. Worthless and hollow. Its all so disgraceful. Ballal was reportedly released by Israeli authorities on Tuesday, a day after Abraham wrote on social media that the Palestinian artist had gone missing after being attacked. A group of settlers just lynched Hamdan Ballal, co-director of our film No Other Land, Abraham posted on X. 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. open image in gallery Hamdan Ballal, Oscar-winning Palestinian director of "No Other Land," is released from a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba a day after being detained by the Israeli army following an attack by Jewish settlers, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Filmmaker Ballal 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. 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. On Monday, Ballal was reportedly beaten by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank before being arrested by the Israeli military. 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. 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 Santosh, Britains official Oscars submission in the international feature film category, has been denied release in India over concerns about its negative portrayal of police. Set in rural north India, the Hindi-language film stars Shahana Goswami as a 28-year-old widow who gets her deceased husbands police job on compassionate grounds and has to investigate the rape and murder of a young Dalit girl. The film by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri provides a stark peek into deep-rooted problems within Indian police, depicting its institutional misogyny, caste-based discrimination and the routine use of violence and torture. Santosh also looks at the prevalence of sexual violence, particularly against Dalit women, and examines the growing tide of anti-Muslim sentiment in India. Dalits, formerly known as untouchables, are placed on the lowest rung of Indias rigid caste hierarchy and are often targeted for discrimination by upper castes as well as institutions of state even though untouchability was formally abolished in 1955. Santosh was reportedly shot entirely in India over 44 days in and around Lucknow, the capital of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, with an entirely Indian cast. open image in gallery Shahana Goswami in Santosh ( British Film Institute ) After premiering at the 77th Cannes Film Festival last May, Santosh went on to earn a BAFTA nomination for outstanding debut feature and received acclaim from critics and audiences alike. It was named one of the top five international films by the National Board of Review and brought Suri and Goswami best director and best actor honours at the recent Asian Film Awards. In December, media reports said Santosh had been acquired by PVR Inox Pictures for distribution and was set to release in India on 10 January. Earlier this month, it was revealed that the release had been suspended after the Central Board of Film Certification, the countrys film certification body commonly known as the censor board, raised objections even though the producers had previously secured script approval in India. A film cannot be released in Indian theatres without being certified by the board. In 2021, the board abolished the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, which allowed filmmakers to appeal its decisions. Now, the only way for filmmakers to contest a ruling is to go to court, an expensive, long-drawn process that guarantees nothing. 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. Were sort of stuck in censorship. To be honest, the Indian censor has requested certain changes that I dont think the filmmaker is comfortable with, nor us, to be honest, producer Mike Goodridge told Variety at the time. The Guardian reported on Wednesday that the censor board refused to certify Santosh because it believed the film showed the Indian police in a harsh and negative light. open image in gallery Sunita Rajwar, Sandhya Suri and Shahana Goswami at the 'Santosh' photocall at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival ( Getty ) Suri called the decision disappointing and heartbreaking. It was surprising for all of us because I didnt feel that these issues were particularly new to Indian cinema or hadnt been raised before by other films, she told The Guardian. Suri confirmed that the cuts demanded by the censor board were so lengthy and wide-ranging that they were impossible to implement. While she could not share the exact cuts demanded due to legal restrictions, she said the list went on for several pages and included concerns about themes relating to police conduct and wider societal problems which are deeply baked into the film. It was very important to me that the film is released in India so I did try to figure out if there was a way to make it work. But in the end, it was just too difficult to make those cuts and have a film that still made sense, let alone stayed true to its vision, she said. I dont feel my film glorifies violence in a way that many other films focusing on the police have done. Theres nothing sensationalist about it. Goswami shared her disappointment as well, telling India Today: The censor has given a list of changes they require for the film to release and we as a team are not in agreement with the cuts as they would change the film too much, and so it is in a deadlock where it probably won't release theatrically in India. It's just sad that something that has gone through censor approval at the script level should require so many cuts and changes for it to be considered okay to release in India. The Independent has reached out to the film certification board for comment. open image in gallery Shahana Goswami wins the Best Actress at the 18th Asian Film Awards ( Getty ) In an interview with Scroll, Suri explained her motivation for making Santosh and who had inspired the characters. During a protest against Nirbhaya, I saw a photograph of female protesters facing a female cop, she said, referring to the 2012 gang rape and murder of a physiotherapy intern in Delhi. That cop had such an interesting expression on her face. She was one of them and she wasnt one of them. She was the way in. Santosh is sort of a blank sheet when she comes into the police forceshes in a world where everything is hierarchical. Shes accessing not just the bad power of the uniform but also the ability to help someone. The idea was also to see how she becomes politicised very casually, how she is drip-fed casual Islamophobia. There is ample documentation and reportage of police violence and sexual violence against Dalit women in India. In 2021, the gangrape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in Uttar Pradeshs Hathras brought national and international condemnation for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Four men were arrested later but police were heavily criticised for their initial handling of the attack, their swift cremation of the victims body, their heavy-handed approach with protesters, and their attempts to block opposition politicians from meeting with the victims family. In 2019, India saw massive protests sparked by Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist governments decision to introduce the Citizenship Amendment Act, which many saw as discriminatory against Muslims. The protests saw police attack student protestors inside the campus of Jamia Millia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University as well as attacks in predominantly Muslim-dominated neighbourhoods where families claim police opened fire without provocation. In June 2020, Human Rights Watch said police failed to respond adequately during the riots and were at times complicit in attacks against Muslims. It said authorities failed to conduct impartial and transparent investigations. open image in gallery Sunita Rajwar and Shahana Goswami in Santosh ( British Film Institute ) Suri questioned if her style of filmmaking was uncomfortable to the censor board as police brutality was not a new subject even in Indian cinema. Maybe theres something about this film which is troubling in that everybody is morally compromised and there is no single hero. I think thats what might set it apart from other stories in Indian cinema which often show a maverick cop in a rotten system. However, Suri remained hopeful. All my work has been about India; one film was deeply nostalgic, another was super beautiful and sensual, she said. Yes this one shows another face of the country. But theres humanity in everybody in this film. 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 Bing the Great Dane is a very good boy. Thats always been clear to his owner, Bev Klingensmith, who began training the future movie star from the time he was eight weeks old. Today, at nearly seven years old, Bing knows far more than just the basic commands the clever pup has also earned himself nearly a dozen awards, including American Kennel Club champion and several performance titles. Now, Bing is making his big screen debut alongside Academy Award nominees Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in The Friend, set to open in select theaters March 28 with a wider release April 4. Without giving too much away, the film based on the novel of the same name by Sigrid Nunez focuses on the relationship between Apollo (played by Bing) and Iris (Watts) when theyre forced together due to circumstances beyond their control. At a recent advance screening in New York City hosted by The Westminster Kennel Club, Klingensmith a breeder and trainer revealed a few fun facts to The Independent about her beloved dog, who was on hand for photos and petting. open image in gallery Bev Kilngensmith and Bing the Great Dane at an advance screening of 'The Friend' ( Caitlin Hornik ) Klingensmith described Bing as a classic Dane who is very sensitive and sweet. He loves puppies. He is scared of cats. He thinks they're very suspicious creatures, she laughed. And while Bing was well-trained long before he was a movie star, there were two specific tricks Klingensmith had to teach him in preparation for making the film. open image in gallery Bing the Great Dane attends a screening of "The Friend" ( Getty Images for FLC ) Most dogs have the natural instinct to scratch at doors or objects; its a territorial behavior. But not Bing. That wasn't something he had done, Klingensmith said. But Bing picked up on that skill very quickly and didnt require much additional training. Learning to carry an item in his mouth, on the other hand, posed a challenge. That did not come easy to him, Klingensmith said. We actually worked on that one for a long time. Klingensmith relied on friends at her local obedience club for assistance as they figured out how to make Bing more comfortable with the new skill. That involved placing [the object] in his mouth and kind of encouraging him to not drop it, she shared. open image in gallery Bing the Great Dane poses at an advance screening of 'The Friend' ( Caitlin Hornik ) Movie star persona aside, Bing is a is just such a sweet, silly dog who works hard for his owners affection, Klingensmith said. He definitely works for the cookies, too. He does love the cookies, she added. Bing also has a Golden Retriever brother whom he loves to torment, Klingensmith added. But dont worry theres no sibling rivalry, even if one is off befriending Hollywood A-Listers and appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Fortunately, the Golden is pretty level-headed with that, Klingensmith joked. Hes not swayed by the stardom. 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 In the psychological thriller Holland, Mimi Caves follow-up to her the modern dating scene is cannibalism horror film Fresh, a father (Matthew Macfadyens Fred) tests his son on whats to be done when you dont feel like making the bed. Its simple, really throw a duvet over the mess, smooth it out, and delude yourself into thinking thats a job well done. Unfortunately for Holland, this is one of those instances in which a film has provided the bullet for its own execution. There is, in fact, no better way to describe whats happened here. Andrew Sodorskis script, which has bounced around Hollywood for a decade, has come out a half-baked mess. Caves role is to toss a layer of visual irony over it all and hope no one notices. Holland, with its floral wallpapers and porcelain figurines, and scenes that consistently end with a flare of violins, gestures aggressively towards kitsch. But Sodorskis story is plain, dry melodrama. Theres not a lick of the camp, the satirical, or the demented in sight. Nicole Kidman, operating in a mode of dewy-eyed, soon-to-be ruffled glamour, stars as frustrated midwestern housewife Nancy Vandergroot. In her opening monologue, she talks about her perfect life in Holland, Michigan, a Dutch-flavoured suburban postcard of windmills, model train sets, and litter-free streets, only to ponder, sometimes I still wonder, is it even real? Presumably not. She starts to suspect Fred, her optometrist husband always away at conferences, has been unfaithful. Its plausible. Macfadyen plays him like hes made out of moulded plastic. But Cave has directed everyone here to indulge in the uncanny. And so, Nancy cackles and slaps the table while watching a rented VHS copy of Mrs Doubtfire. This is a period piece Rachel Sennotts cameo as a flannel-swaddled, hair-clipped babysitter immediately sets us in the early 2000s yet its hard to believe anyone, at any point, was ever so taken aback by the realisation Mrs. Doubtfire was Robin Williams in drag. There are surrealist dream sequences, too, of mannequins and model houses. At one point, Nancy robotically spreads ketchup over an uncooked meatloaf, only to snap and suddenly pummel the squelching lump of meat all over the table. She looks down at her hands. Theyre covered in the red sauce. Oh, Cave eagerly prods at your shoulder, doesnt that look a bit like blood? Nancy is abetted in her suspicions by a fellow teacher, Dave Delgado (Gael Garcia Bernal), a loved-up narrative prop who fights off racist attackers purely, it seems, so Nancy can afterwards coo, you were so manly! Dewy-eyed, soon-to-be ruffled glamour: Nicole Kidman in Holland ( Prime ) Nancy and Dave are clearly crazy about each other. Could her assertions about her husbands supposed infidelity really be a projection of her own adulterous desires? The film underlines an already underlined point by intercutting a scene of unsatisfying marital sex with the cacophonous racket of Dutch clogs. Holland is one of those films that winds you in, that delivers suggestion after suggestion, tease after tease, only for its eventual reveal to satisfy none of its own questions. The duvets been pulled back. And, it turns out, theres nothing there but a bare mattress. Dir: Mimi Cave. Starring: Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Jude Hill, Gael Garcia Bernal. 18, 108 minutes. Holland is streaming on Prime Video 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 Even behind bars, Julie Chrisley appears to be making friends and showing off her card-playing skills, at least according to her former fellow inmate, Sharita Mona. The reality TV star, 52, is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence after she and her husband of nearly 30 years, Todd, 55, were convicted of tax evasion and bank fraud in 2022. Todd was sentenced to 12 years. Last September, Julie was re-sentenced following an attempt to have her term reduced to no more than five years. A federal judge, however, rejected her bid, and upheld the seven-year sentence. The couples youngest daughter, Savannah Chrisley, 27, spoke with Mona about prison life on a new episode of her Unlocked podcast. Mona, who served eight months at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, with Julie, recalled seeing the reality star for the first time. I was sitting in the telephone line ... and I saw her. She was moving quick; your mom walks fast around that camp, she laughed. She had her head down; she wasnt really talking to anybody. She smiled, but you could tell she was in deep thought. She was thinking about getting to where she had to go, and a few people spoke to her, but she was by herself and really quiet. open image in gallery Savannah Chrisley (left) speaking to Sharita Mona on her Unlocked podcast ( Savannah Chrisley/YouTube ) It wasnt until later, when Julie started playing cards, that she came into her own. She was a little card shark, Mona teased. It wasnt until a few weeks into Chrisleys time in prison that the two women started working together and connected, Mona recounted. She said they would often speak about real estate and entrepreneurship, with Julie encouraging Mona to enter the career field after her release. At one point, Chrisley taught real estate classes in prison, and with her help, Mona flipped a house and earned $60,000 days after she was released. 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. Mona described her friends mindset as being heads-down. She was like, Im not gonna think about this. Im just gonna do what I gotta do. She was worried about yall. She loves you all. You are her world, Mona told Savannah. open image in gallery Todd and Julie Chrisley have been married since 1996 ( Invision/AP ) Savannah responded: There was never a time where I was like, Wheres mom? Is she going to be at school today? She was always there. Always. Her kids are her number one focus. Mona noted: That came across from the time that I met her, and said Julie had pictures of all of her children displayed on the wall of her room. Besides Savannah, Julie and Todd also share a daughter Lindsie, 35, and sons Kyle, 33; Chase, 28; and Grayson, 18. 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 Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley has drawn rare praise for grilling chancellor Rachel Reeves for benefits cuts that will push 250,000 people into poverty while herself receiving free concert and theatre tickets. On Thursday (27 March), Madeley and co-host Kate Garraway pushed Reeves on her controversial decision to cut benefits, which will leave over a quarter of a million people in poverty, including 50,000 children. There has been widespread backlash to the policy announcement made during her spring budget speech earlier this week. When you hear that, do you feel sick inside? asked Garraway as she read the governments figures along with a headline that accused the chancellor of balancing the books on the backs of the poor. Reeves responded: I got involved in politics because I wanted more people to have opportunities, more children to have a good start in life. She went on to describe the importance of getting young people back into work and referred to her announcement of 1b in funding for tailored support to do so. The numbers are referring to welfare figures alone without taking into account people going back into work, she explained. Garraway hit back: So you dont feel sick about it? You feel pleased with it? Reeves said that the welfare state should always help people back into work and not park people on benefits. The presenter asked: How do 50,000 of those children get work? Madeley grilled Reeves on her spring budget announcement ( ITV ) Madeley joined in and confronted Reeves about a suspected tax hike, stating: Youve obfuscated one question after question about it, which is what you do. But you havent ruled it out. Are we going to see tax rises? He attempted to bring the chancellor back on track as he shut down her response, saying: I dont want to spin off into generalisations. He then quizzed the politician on receiving 600 worth of VIP Sabrina Carpenter tickets as well as free theatre tickets, saying she had been accused of having a tin ear when it comes to receiving freebies. He said it looks awful when considering the climate. Reeves said she had to take the tickets for security reasons. When Garraway asked why the tickets could not be paid for due to a security concern, Reeves said that the tickets were unavailable for sale. Madeley, who is often the target of criticism on social media, received praise for his questioning. Great interview Richard Madeley, wrote one person. You skewered Reeves, she was squirming like a worm! She is unable to see how her behaviour, and greed for freebies is viewed by us 'ordinary' folk, especially after yesterday's doomsday message where people are afraid of what lies ahead. 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. Another added: Fantastic interview, Richard Madeley doing a great job by asking right questions we all want answers to. People might not like Richard Madeley but he was good this morning telling Rachel robbing Reeves some home truths commented another, while one more X/Twitter user wrote: Well done Richard Madeley for doing a fantastic job. Well done Richard , had stuttering Rachel Reeves on the ropes, praised another. But others werent as happy at the line of questioning. I don't know what's more depressing, the fact that Rachel Reeves spring budget is so bad that Richard Madeley of all people is apparently calling her out for it. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice North Korea sent an additional 3,000 troops and missiles to Russia at the beginning of 2025 to support its invasion in Ukraine, South Koreas military said in its latest assessment, as Kim Jong Un is likely to visit Moscow again. The reinforcements were sent in January and February, adding to the roughly 11,000 troops already in Russia, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The development coincides with Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko's announcement that Mr Kims visit to Moscow is at the preparatory stage. The assessment said additional troops have been deployed following 4,000 casualties of North Korean soldiers in combat in battlefields. "Of the some 11,000 North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia, 4,000 casualties have occurred, and it appears that some 3,000 or more have been additionally dispatched in January and February," the JCS said. North Korea has also supplied missiles, ammunition and artillery equipment, including "a considerable amount of short-range ballistic missiles and around 220 pieces of 170mm self-propelled howitzers and 240mm rocket launchers", it said. open image in gallery Alleged North Korean soldiercaptured by Ukrainian forces at an undisclosed location ( V_Zelenskiy_official ) Norths contributions are expected to increase according to the situation, it added. The new induction of North Korean troops is in addition to the military personnel send to Russia, in Pyongyangs first involvement in a large-scale conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War. Russia and North Korea have not denied or accepted their military collaboration. However, Mr Kim has repeatedly defended Russia for its war in Ukraine and called their fight just. open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu meets a North Korean official during his visit to North Korea ( via REUTERS ) He reiterated his unwavering support for Russia's war in Ukraine during a meeting with a top Russian security official, Sergei Shoigu, last week in Pyongyang. State media reports said Mr Kim and Mr Shoigu reaffirmed their commitment to uphold a major mutual defence treaty agreed upon last year. Russia and North Korea, two of the world's most politically and economically isolated nations, have deepened their ties in a strategic partnership aimed at countering Western influence. Driven by shared grievances against the US and its allies, the two countries have increasingly cooperated in military, economic, and diplomatic spheres. Intelligence officials believe North Korea has been receiving economic and military support from Russia in exchange for its conventional weapons and troops. Experts suggest North Korea is likely to deepen its cooperation with Russia to maximise assistance before the war concludes. Mr Rudenko who made a visit to North Korea last week said: Just two weeks ago, during my visit to North Korea, we discussed this issue, according to Interfax. He added that discussions are also underway for a possible visit of foreign minister Sergey Lavrov to Pyongyang to continue what he said was a strategic dialogue with our Korean friends. It comes as 30 world leaders, including UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, are meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Thursday to discuss how to strengthen military support for Ukraine. It is taking place after Mr Zelensky agreed earlier this month to proceed with ceasefire talks to ensure a resumption of US aid and intelligence sharing. But Russia has placed additional demands on the implementation of a ceasefire deal in the Black Sea and on energy targets, and many European nations believe a peace accord remains distant. 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 South Korean commission has accused successive governments of committing widespread human rights violations by enabling mass overseas adoption of at least 170,000 children, often through fraudulent and coercive means. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its findings on Wednesday after nearly three years of investigating complaints from 367 of the about 140,000 South Korean children sent to six European countries, including Denmark, which urged Seoul to probe the adoptions in 2022, as well as the US and Australia. It found that local adoption agencies collaborated with foreign groups to mass export South Korean children, driven by monthly quotas set by overseas demand. Many adoptions occurred through dubious or outright unethical means. The commission determined the state violated the human rights of adoptees protected under the constitution and international agreements by neglecting its duty to ensure basic human rights, including inadequate legislation, poor management and oversight, and failures in implementing proper administrative procedures while sending large numbers of children abroad. The report released on Wednesday covered the first 100 of the 367 complaints submitted by adoptees taken abroad between 1964 and 1999. The adoptees, from 11 countries, had long suspected their adoptions were tainted by corruption and malpractice, concerns widely shared within the Korean adoptee community. The commission concluded that 56 of the 100 adoptees were victims of state negligence, which constituted a violation of their rights under the South Korean constitution as well as international conventions. It noted that South Korean agencies were given sweeping authority over children, including full guardianship and power to approve foreign adoptions. Such lack of oversight led to large-scale inter-country adoptions, with many children losing their true identities and family histories due to falsified or fabricated records. South Korea has sent nearly 200,000 children abroad for adoption since 1953, making it the largest source of inter-country adoptees in the world. In the Asian countrys impoverished postwar years, the government prioritised overseas adoptions over developing a domestic welfare system, relying on private agencies to send children abroad in exchange for fees from adoptive families. Numerous legal and policy shortcomings emerged, commission head Park Sun Young said. These violations should never have occurred. Peter Moller, a South Korean adoptee from Denmark who led an international campaign for an investigation, told The New York Times that the truth commissions report acknowledged that the deceit, fraud, and issues within the Korean adoption process cannot remain hidden. The commission found that many children were sent abroad for adoption with falsified or fabricated identities and family histories, often without legal consent. Adoption agencies, such as the Korea Social Service, misrepresented childrens backgrounds to their adoptive families and profited from the process. They charged high fees and used the funds to acquire ever more children, the commission pointed out, making adoption a profit-driven industry in which children were treated like cargo. South Koreas government has never directly acknowledged responsibility for such adoption practices. As of Thursday morning, Associated Press reported, the health and welfare ministry said it had not yet formally received the commissions report but would actively review its recommendations. It added that efforts to improve the adoption system will continue, citing its preparations to enforce a new law taking effect in July designed to strengthen the states responsibility over adoptions. The commission said the government had actively utilised foreign adoptions, which required no budget allocation, instead of investing in a social safety net for vulnerable children. At a press conference on Wednesday, Yooree Kim, sent to France by an adoption agency at the age of 11 without the consent of her biological parents, urged the commission to strengthen its recommendations. She called on the government to promote broader DNA testing for biological families to improve the chances of reunions with their children and to officially declare an end to foreign adoptions. She said that adoptees affected by illicit practices should receive compensation from the Korean government and adoption agencies, without going through lawsuits. In keeping with its findings, the commission recommended the government issue a formal apology, provide remedies for the affected, and ratify The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Its been a long wait for everybody, Han Boon Young, one of the 100 adoptees whose cases were heard by the commission, told CNN. And so now we do get a victory. It is a victory. Ms Han, who grew up in Denmark, said that she was not officially recognised as a victim due to a lack of documentation. If they say, we recognise this is state violence, then how can they not recognise those who dont have much information? Because thats really at the core of our issues, that we dont have information, she told CNN. Its been falsified, its been altered. 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 Taiwanese Navy ship and a Chinese fishing boat collided in waters off central Taiwan on Thursday amid heightened tensions between the two armies. The Taiwanese Navy said its landing ship, Chung Ho, collided with the Chinese trawler Minlianyu 61756 just after midnight on Thursday. No injuries were reported in the collision, which occurred 45 nautical miles (83km) off Taiwan's Taichung port the islands second-largest port located on the Taiwan Strait and nine nautical miles outside of "restricted waters," the navy said in a statement. The damage sustained during the incident did not affect the ships "safety of navigation", the navy added. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collision and responsibility for the incident. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be part of the mainland and has not ruled out using force to achieve reunification. However, Taiwan rejects Beijings claims, sees itself as distinct from China, and has accused the mainland government of intimidation. Chinese flags fly on fishing boats in Tailu village, on the Chinese coast opposite Taiwans Matsu islands, in Chinas southeast Fujian province on 25 May 2024 ( AFP/Getty ) A series of recent maritime incidents along the narrow waterway separating Taiwan and China has heightened diplomatic tensions. In August 2024, three Chinese crew members on a fishing boat went missing after colliding with an unidentified vessel about 6.5 nautical miles (12km) off the coast of the Kinmen Islands. It followed a fatal incident between a Chinese boat and the Taiwanese army on 14 February in the same year kicked off a diplomatic wrangling between Taipei and Beijing. A Chinese fishing vessel capsized near Taiwan's Kinmen Island during a pursuit by the Taiwanese Coast Guard for alleged trespassing in restricted waters, resulting in the deaths of two Chinese fishermen. The two survivors were detained and later deported. Taiwan has identified 2027 as a potential timeframe for a full-scale Chinese invasion in its largest annual defence drills. The Taiwanese defence ministry unveiled the timeline in documents released on Tuesday when lawmakers and officials were briefed on the upcoming largest war games simulating an attack by the Chinese military on the annual calendar of Taiwanese forces. 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 The Supreme Court of India stayed a controversial High Court order which held that grabbing the breasts of a minor girl and snapping the drawstring of her trouser did not amount to an attempt to rape. The apex court called the judgement passed by Allahabad high court as shocking and inhuman in the case of alleged sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl on Wednesday. In a 17 March ruling, the Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh said that the offences by two men did not amount to attempted rape but aggravated sexual assault, a charge that carries a lesser punishment. The top court said: "We are at pains to say that some of the observations made in the impugned judgment ... depict a total lack of sensitivity on the part of the author of the judgment. The two-judge Supreme Court bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine noted that the order was shocking, especially because it was not delivered in the spur of the moment but had been delivered reserving for nearly four months. The judges said the observations are "totally unknown to the tenets of law and depict total insensitivity and inhuman approach". The apex court said it issued a notice to India's federal authorities, the state government in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and the parties before the High Court. The Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, appeared in the court and denounced the judgment as shocking. The case involves an 11-year-old girl from Kasganj a city in UP who was walking with her mother when the two men, named only as Pawan and Akash, offered a lift to the girl to her village as they knew the family. However, they sexually assaulted the girl after stopping the motorcycle on the way. "The accused persons stopped their motorcycle on the way to the village and started grabbing her breasts," the high court order said. It said that one of the men dragged her beneath a culvert and "broke her pyjama [trouser] string". Her screams alerted passers-by, who intervened, forcing the attackers to flee. A trial court had initially summoned Pawan and Akash on charges of rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. However, the judge modified the charges to assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe. The High Court ruling by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra presented the argument that preparation of rape was different from actual rape and the prosecution must establish that it had gone beyond the stage of preparation. The allegations levelled against the accused Pawan and Akash and facts of the case hardly constitute an offence of attempt to rape, Justice Mishra stated in the ruling. 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. The ruling sparked outrage in India, with many warning that the ruling will send a wrong message to the society. Federal Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, said the ruling has no place in a civilized society. "Somewhere, this will have a negative impact on society, and we will discuss this matter further," she added. Lawyer Indira Jaisingh told broadcaster Mirror Now said the allegations clearly amounted to attempt to rape in legal terms and there should be systematic review of such judgements by the Supreme Court. How do you prove intent? Intent is proved by actions which precede the actual act of rape, she said. Activist Shabnam Hashmi called the ruling shameful, adding: The child was saved only because passers-by intervened. The judge does not see the intent to rape! Allegations of sexual abuse and rape is one of Indias rampant problems despite decades-long struggle to curb rising sexual violence against women. Reports of horrific sexual assaults on women have become familiar in India, where police recorded 31,516 rape cases in 2022, a 20 per cent increase from 2021, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. However, the real figure is believed to be far higher due to the stigma surrounding sexual violence and victims lack of faith in police, especially in rural areas. Earlier this month, a 27-year-old Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old Indian homestay operator were gang-raped, in a deadly high-profile case involving international tourists. A man was killed in the attack near Sanapur lake in Hampi, Karnataka. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. 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. 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 Nigers junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, was on Wednesday sworn in as the countrys president for a transition period of five years under a new charter that replaces the West African nations constitution. The move effectively rebuffed attempts by the regional bloc to quicken the return to democracy after a 2023 coup. The five-year flexible transition period begins on Wednesday, according to Mahamane Roufai, the secretary general of the government. He was speaking at a ceremony in the capital Niamey where the new transition charter recommended by a recent national conference was approved. Tchiani, an army veteran, was also elevated to the countrys highest military rank of army general, cementing his grip on power since June 2023 when he led soldiers that deposed the countrys elected government. The new president would have been in power for about seven years by the end of the transition period in 2030, following similar patterns of prolonged stints in power in Africa's junta-led countries, including Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. Niger's junta had initially proposed a three-year transition period right after the coup, but that was rejected by West Africa's regional bloc known as ECOWAS, which called it a provocation and threatened to intervene with the use of force. Since then Niger has left the bloc alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, in protest of harsh sanctions which the bloc announced to force a return to democracy in Niger. Critics say Niger's junta has clamped down on civil rights and struggled to end the jihadi violence that the military said inspired them to take power. 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 President Donald Trump is once again peddling a largely unfounded claim that wind energy is driving whales crazy. You know, in one area, they lost two whales, like, in 20 years washed ashore, he told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, and this year they had 17 wash ashore. So, theres something [that] happened out there, Trump alleged. Theres something driving the whales a little bit loco. Its a claim hes repeated for months. He told the same story about whale strandings in Massachusetts with different numbers in February. The wind mills are driving the whales crazy, obviously, he posited. He said the same thing in January, ahead of his inauguration, and brought the issue up during the last days of his campaign. Then, he discussed similar impacts in New Jersey. Now, theyre coming up every week. Theyre being destroyed because of the sound and the vibration, he alleged. Its so bad. But, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say there is no scientific evidence that noise resulting from offshore wind site surveys could potentially cause whale deaths and that there are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities. open image in gallery President Donald Trump has repeatedly tied whale strandings to offshore wind development. Scientists say theres no evidence linking the two ( Getty Images ) Some advocate groups agree with Trumps stance, saying that associations between strandings and wind development should not be ruled out. Experts are still working to understand why strandings which happen around the world, and in remote areas have become more frequent, suggesting that many follow distress calls and that underwater noise pollution can be an issue, as it is for many sea creatures. But not the ones who work for the federal government. We will continue to gather data to help us determine the cause of these whale deaths. We will also continue to explore how sound, vessel, and other human activities in the marine environment impact whales and other marine mammals, NOAA said. While offshore wind surveys conducted before development produce noises that may disturb marine mammals, the sounds are very different from the blasting seismic airguns used in oil and gas surveys, with lower noise and a higher frequency. Any exposure to the sounds would be at significantly lower levels and shorter duration, which is associated with less severe impacts to marine mammals, NOAA said. Even though other scientists do not dismiss effects wind development could have, they stress there has not been a link to strandings around Massachusetts or elsewhere. open image in gallery Massachusetts is a destination for endangered North Atlantic right whales. Scientists say strandings have occurred along the coast event within wind construction and surveys ( AFP via Getty Images ) Massachusetts charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation spokesperson Caroline Mowdy told the Cape Cod Times that no seismic surveys or wind construction have occurred within the group's 200-mile stranding response area, "yet we are seeing a dramatic increase in large whale strandings." Periodically we read in the news that a whale or some other large animal ends up on the shore, and a lot of times the blame immediately goes to wind turbines. People feel the problem must come from turbine construction noise. Yet when the whales drift ashore, no construction is taking place, James Miller, University of Rhode Island professor of ocean engineering and department chair, said in 2023. The National Marine Fisheries Service said in September that the Vineyard Wind wind farm off the coast of Nantucket is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered whales, including the North Atlantic right whale. Although, other activity still poses an adverse effect, according to the Boston Herald. "My understanding is that whales can be negatively affected (but not killed) by the noise of the pile driving used to install some kinds of wind farm, but operational wind farms have little or no effect," Hal Whitehead, a professor of biology at Dalhousie University, told Phys.org. "There is no evidence linking whale deaths to offshore wind farms or 'windmills,'" Lindy Weilgart, an ocean noise expert and policy consultant at the nonprofit OceanCare, told the site. "Europe has way more offshore wind farms and has encountered nothing of the sort." The largest human threats to whales are boat strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. However, man-made climate change is a concern that threatens the gentle giants and their food chain, with warming waters shifting prey distribution and bringing the whales closer to shore. open image in gallery The largest human threats to whales remain boat strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. But, climate change is also an increasing concern ( AFP via Getty Images ) As someone who studied large whales for my multi-decade career and who also, as a person, just really cares deeply about them the focus for protecting whales really has to be on reducing entanglements and vessel strikes, Jessica Redfern, the associate vice president of ocean conservation science at the New England Aquarium, told Boston.com. We need to minimize the effects of climate change as fast as we can. And offshore wind is one of our tools as long as it is responsibly developed, she said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A 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 Environmental campaign group Just Stop Oil has announced it will no longer carry out direct action. Over the course of three years, activists have taken part in a number of high-profile demonstrations, including throwing cans of soup on van Gogh paintings, blocking roads and even disrupting a West End performance of The Tempest. Just Stop Oils initial demand was for the to end licences for new oil and gas production in the UK, which is now a government policy. Although it will no longer be taking direct action, it will continue to speak in court for what it calls its political prisoners and call out anti-protest laws in the UK. The announcement comes after new laws have made it increasingly difficult to carry out disruptive protests. Campaign group activists have been arrested for numerous direct action protests since the group started in 2022. Here, The Independent highlights a few of the most memorable protests. Soup thrown on Van Goghs sunflowers One stunt from the group saw two eco-activists throw tins of Heinz tomato soup over Vincent van Goghs Sunflowers in October 2022. Phoebe Plummer 23, and Anna Holland, 22, caused as much as 10,000 worth of damage to the artworks gold-coloured frame when they targeted it at Londons National Gallery. open image in gallery Two protesters threw tinned soup at Vincent Van Goghs famous 1888 work Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London (Just Stop Oil/PA) ( PA Media ) Plummer received a two-year jail term, while Holland was handed 20 months. The protesters, wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts, threw the soup over the 1888 work, worth more than 74 million, before kneeling down in front of the painting and gluing their hands to the wall beneath it. Staff at the gallery inspected the painting and frame for damage while the women were still attached to the wall, and were worried the soup may have dripped through the protective glass. The frame was purchased by the gallery in 1999, the court heard and was valued at 28,000 before it suffered the estimated 10,000 worth of damage. Disrupting a West End play Two Just Stop Oil protesters were accused of disrupting a West End performance of The Tempest starring Sigourney Weaver in January. Richard Weir, 60, of Tynemouth, and Hayley Walsh, 42, of Radcliffe on Trent, both in Nottinghamshire, were charged with aggravated trespass at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane on January 28, Scotland Yard said. The pair were accused of climbing on to the stage before setting off confetti and unfurling a banner that read: Over 1.5 degrees is a global shipwreck. open image in gallery Just Stop Oil targeted a West End performance of The Tempest last month (Just Stop Oil/PA) ( PA Media ) Orange powder on Stonehenge Orange powder was sprayed on the ancient monument during a Just Stop Oil protest in June 2024. Video footage posted on social media showed two people wearing white shirts with the slogan Just Stop Oil approaching the stone circle with canisters and spraying orange powder paint. Following the protest, English Heritage said experts had quickly removed the orange powder from the stones. Rajan Naidu, 74, and Niamh Lynch, 22, pleaded not guilty to two charges of damaging an ancient protected monument and causing a public nuisance following the incident on June 19 last year. They were released on bail. The action sparked widespread condemnation as well as concerns over about potential damage to the stones and the lichens that grow on them. open image in gallery Two protesters threw tinned soup at Vincent Van Goghs famous 1888 work Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London (Just Stop Oil/PA) ( PA Media ) open image in gallery Campaigners poured paint over the robot and unfurled a Just Stop Oil banner (Just Stop Oil/PA Wire) ( Just Stop Oil/PA Wire ) Paint poured over Tesla robot Two Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested after pouring orange powdered paint over a robot at a Tesla shop in Shepards Bush, west London. Metropolitan Police said retired teacher Catherine Rennie Nash, 74, and former tax adviser Nigel Fleming, 63, climbed on to a podium display in the store on March 12. The campaigners then proceeded to pour paint over the robot and unfurled a Just Stop Oil banner. The environmentalists said it was a protest against Tesla owner Elon Musk and other billionaires jeopardising climate science and threatening democracy. Four days of protest on the M25 Environmental campaigners brought rush hour traffic on the M25 to a standstill causing chaos for motorists when protesters climbed up the gantries. Five Just Stop Oil protesters were handed jail terms over the protests. open image in gallery Police closing the M25, where a demonstrator from Just Stop Oil climbed the gantry in 2022 (Just Stop Oil/PA) ( PA Media ) Roger Hallam, 58, Daniel Shaw, 38, Louise Lancaster, 58, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, 35, and Cressida Gethin, 22, agreed to cause disruption to traffic by having protesters climb onto gantries over the motorway for four successive days in November 2022. Just Stop Oil co-founder Hallam was sentenced to five years imprisonment while the other four defendants were each handed four years imprisonment. Prosecutors said the M25 protests, which saw 45 people climb up the gantries, led to an economic cost of at least 765,000, while the cost to the Metropolitan Police was more than 1.1 million. They allegedly caused more than 50,000 hours of vehicle delay, affecting more than 700,000 vehicles, and left the M25 compromised for more than 120 hours. Activists also targeted several locations along the motorway circling Greater London in a call to end all new oil and gas licenses. The campaigners staged a similar protest in October 2023 by climbing the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge which links Kent and Essex, causing the closure of the Dartford Crossing for two days. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A quality manager at a pioneering hair care company said she was forced to borrow money from friends and family to live after her employer stopped paying her wages. Bashirat Adeyemo, who was brought to the UK from Nigeria by her family at the age of five, quit her job in October last year after her employer Ruka Hair stopped paying her salary, citing financial uncertainty at the company. Ms Adeyemo, 32, is unable to access housing help or benefits because of her leave to remain immigration status and had been left struggling to afford her rent and other living costs over winter. Speaking about the ordeal, she said: At the beginning of 2024 my pay was being delayed by a few weeks, but then by summer 2024 they stopped paying. We were told that they hadnt made enough revenue to be able to make payments, and that they were waiting for money from investors. My August salary was only partially paid, and then my September and October salaries were unpaid. We were told that they were expecting funding in mid-October. Then we were all on a call where the CEO explained that the funding wasnt coming and they didnt know when it was going to land. One of my colleagues quit on that same day. The way she delivered that information to us was very callous and unfeeling. She gave us about two minutes to regroup and digest what had been said and then she went straight into responsibilities for the upcoming pop-up. Ms Adeyemo handed in her notice in September, with her last day being the 31st October. She wanted to share her experience to highlight the precarity of her leave to remain immigration status, which leaves her without a safety net to fall back on. open image in gallery A Ruka Hair counter in a department store in London ( The Independent ) She was going to take Ruka Hair to an employment tribunal at the end of April in an attempt to recoup more than 6,400 but two days after The Independent contacted the company for a response, they paid Ms Adeyemo. Speaking about the impact of not being paid and having to search for new employment, she explained: It has had a massive toll on my mental and emotional wellbeing. Ive been struggling with the stress, and the uncertainty, especially because Ive been finding it difficult to find a job. I felt I had to leave because there wasnt an urgency to give us our money, and I couldnt continue to be exploited. I didnt want to continue working for free. Now for the past two, three months Ive had to borrow money to pay rent, bills and other living expenses. Ruka Hair - a hair extensions company specifically designed with Black Hair textures in mind - has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Glamour and by The Independents IndyBest team. The brand has been sported by the likes of Serena Williams, who wore one of their ponytails while competing in Wimbledon in 2022, and is stocked in Selfridges. Other employees have reached private settlements with Ruka Hair over their unpaid wages, and the company said they have repaid the majority of outstanding payments. Varaidzo Tendai Moyo, CEO of Ruka Hair, said that Ms Adeyemo was a valued and important part of the Ruka story, adding: We fully support her bringing to light her experience of a turbulent period in a start-up. Ms Moyo explained that the company experienced a funding collapse, which impacting their ability to pay employees wages. She said that this was communicated to the team and they were encouraged to flag if any urgent/ emergency cash was required. She said that in-person team meetings were organised to check on wellbeing and the desire to continue working at Ruka given the current economic and incoming fundraising challenges. Ms Moyo said she did not take a salary from the business for the majority of 2024, and used personal funds to pay Ms Adeyemo some money to cover her October rent. She added: Over the past two years, weve hired over 60 per cent immigrants and 80 per cent women in our team. The depth of diversity in our team is something that were incredibly proud of, but it also made us deeply conscious of the mental impact of financial instability. There are unique responsibilities that immigrants disproportionately experience; supporting family members, bearing the brunt of care work, and contributing to remittances. The entire Ruka team, including Ms Adeyemo, navigated this difficult period together - it was deeply painful. 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 Children are experiencing malnutrition and stunted growth due to poor food in Home Office hotels, according to testimony shared with MPs. One mother reported failing to get a response from the Home Office helpline when her child was diagnosed as underweight by her GP, and another family saw a request to move to self-catered accommodation ignored after their young daughter started to experience panic attacks and developed gastritis from hotel food. The accounts, which include reported sexual assaults, threats and prostitution taking place inside hotels, have been published by the Home Affairs Select Committee as part of their inquiry into asylum accommodation. The concerns, raised with MPs by charities supporting asylum seekers, come as freedom of information data shared with The Independent shows that hundreds of complaints have been made to the three Home Office accommodation providers, Mears, ClearSprings Ready Homes and Serco, in the past year. Data shows that 620 complaints were escalated to Serco from asylum seekers housed by them in 2024, 592 complaints to ClearSprings and 264 to Mears. Asylum seekers with problems can contact Migrant Help, who are contracted by the government to provide support. The data shows the number of complaints escalated by Migrant Help to the providers for resolution. The largest category of complaints were concerns about staff, followed by food provision and service delivery. The numbers will be an underestimate of the problems as some asylum seekers say they are unsure how to seek help. The testimonies, which will inform the committees inquiry into asylum accommodation, from charities such as British Red Cross, Freedom from Torture and Migrants Organise, claim that: One man, who used a catheter, was forced to spend upwards of four hours a day in the bathroom because hotel food was worsening his digestion. He requested a move but was not relocated, and ended up calling emergency services twice due to pain - resulting in two warning letters from the accommodation provider for wasting resources. In one London hotel, multiple women were engaged in prostitution, with men from both within and external to the hotel paying for sex, British Red Cross teams said. Caseworkers had to support women who did not feel safe in the hotel due to the strange men coming and going. One asylum seeker said a staff member told him a proof of address, which he needed to open a bank account, would cost him 40. One man who had recently been discharged from a mental health ward after a suicide attempt was placed in a room without windows. He asked to move but was told he had to stay in that room or face eviction. His move was refused and he made another suicide attempt. One woman requested female-only accommodation due to her history of sexual violence, forced marriage, mental health needs and alcohol dependency. She was then placed in a mixed-gender accommodation. Caseworkers said she began to self-medicate with alcohol and became effectively catatonic. She stayed in the accommodation for three weeks, and as of January 2025 was sofa-surfing. open image in gallery One asylum seeker joins a protest outside a London hotel in 2021 asking to be transferred to different accommodation ( AFP via Getty Images ) Another asylum seeker, whose testimony was shared with MPs, described threats to her life that she experienced in Home Office shared accommodation. She said another resident threatened her with a knife and then put salt around the outside of my door saying I was the devil. Law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn said that their clients had been subjected to harassment and abuse in their asylum accommodation, by staff, other residents, and people outside the hotel. They added: This has included a potential child abduction; physical abuse; sexual harassment; and racially motivated and homophobic harassment and attacks. They said a common feature of these cases was repeatedly raising concerns with Migrant Help, hotel staff and accommodation providers which were not adequately responded to. The Asylum Support Appeals Project told MPs that they hear regular reports of safeguarding issues within asylum accommodation, which included accommodation on the third floor with no functioning lift for someone in a wheelchair; sexual assault or harassment of children in mixed-gender hotels and children with stunted growth because of poor quality food. The British Red Cross also reported not infrequent instances of hotel staff and housing managers in dispersal accommodation being sexually inappropriate and making sexualised comments to female residents. At least one age-disputed child had been sexually assaulted after being placed in a hotel for adults, the charity added. open image in gallery Asylum seekers protest their living conditions and the length of time the claims process is taking, outside a hotel in west London, on February 16, 2021. ( AFP via Getty Images ) In their evidence to MPs, Serco, who were supporting more than 40,000 asylum seekers at the end of January 2025, also said that there is an increasing safeguarding risk from foreign national offenders who are housed in asylum accommodation because the Home Office has nowhere for them to go. In their evidence, Serco said that these offenders were living in asylum accommodation on an indefinite basis due to a lack of returns agreements. They added they are not given information on the conditions of these offenders release, nor their additional needs, and have to proactively contact the police and probation service to understand where they can be housed. A Home Office spokesperson said that the department will do everything to make sure foreign offenders are not free on Britains streets. Serco also revealed that some local councils are now refusing to engage with them on the premise that, if they dont reply to them, Serco cant procure asylum accommodation in their area. A spokesman said: The safety and wellbeing of the asylum seekers that we are accommodating is Sercos highest priority. We work closely with Migrant Help and we take all complaints very seriously. We fully investigate and respond to all of them as required by the Home Office and we use them to continually improve our service. Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, said: From former military camps to mould-infested homes, Britains for-profit asylum accommodation model is plagued with substandard accommodation, and it's no surprise there were almost 1,500 complaints against the private contractors last year alone. He called for asylum accommodation to be delivered based on the need of people seeking asylum, not private profit. open image in gallery The Asylum Support Appeals Project told MPs that they hear regular reports of safeguarding issues within asylum accommodation. Pictured an asylum hotel in the north of England. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Mears currently manage around 7,000 dispersal accommodation properties and around 40 asylum hotels. A spokesperson said: Mears understands the importance of supporting each person whilst living in its accommodation and our commitment to welfare and safeguarding meets and exceeds the contractual requirements. We expect high standards of our staff and where there are any complaints either directly to us or through Migrant Help, these are investigated, and appropriate action is taken. Migrant Help said that they have a thorough process in place for accepting and dealing with complaints. A spokesperson said: There are various ways in which people seeking asylum are able to submit complaints, including our free 24/7 helpline, webchat, an online form, and email if the complaint is against Migrant Help. They added that if a client is unhappy with their response they can request the complaint is escalated to the Home Office. A Home Office spokesperson added: We work closely with accommodation providers to ensure the safety and welfare of asylum seekers in our accommodation, including tailoring support to meet their individual needs if necessary. Clearsprings Ready Homes did not respond to requests for comment. In submissions to MPs, they said they had given information to residents about living in the UK, staying safe, how to report hate crime and abuse of any kind, and a guide to available education courses and activities. They said they are trying to address concerns about food by procuring more self-catering accommodation options. 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 Environmental campaign group Just Stop Oil announced it will cease disruptive action, following a final protest in Parliament Square on 26 April. The campaign group revealed it would be the end of soup on Van Goghs, cornstarch on Stonehenge and slow marching in the streets as the group plans to hang up the hi vis and stop direct action. Just Stop Oils initial demand was to end new oil and gas, which is now a government policy. The campaign group claimed it has kept more 4.4 billion barrels of oil in the ground, and the courts have ruled new oil and gas licences unlawful. open image in gallery Just Stop Oil activists who poured soup over two Vincent Van Gogh paintings ( PA ) Although it will no longer be taking direct action, it will continue to speak in court for what it calls its political prisoners and call out anti-protest laws in the UK. The announcement comes after new laws have made it increasingly difficult to carry out disruptive protests. In particular, new offences of interfering with key national infrastructure, including locking on and a revision of the law around causing a public nuisance, have seen climate activists given long jail terms. Just Stop Oil said in a statement: This is not the end of civil resistance. Governments everywhere are retreating from doing what is needed to protect us from the consequences of unchecked fossil fuel burning. As we head towards 2C of global heating by the 2030s, the science is clear: billions of people will have to move or die and the global economy is going to collapse. This is unavoidable. We have been betrayed by a morally bankrupt political class. open image in gallery Just Stop Oil activists stand with branded balloons outside the Royal Courts of Justice during a protest ( Getty ) The environmentalists said they need to take a different approach and are creating a new strategy that does not involve direct action. The group added: As corporations and billionaires corrupt political systems across the world, we need a different approach. We are creating a new strategy to face this reality and to carry our responsibilities at this time. Nothing short of a revolution is going to protect us from the coming storms. In the past three years, Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested for numerous direct action protests, including disrupting a West End performance of The Tempest, blocking roads, pouring paint on a robot at a Tesla shop and spraying orange powder on Stonehenge. Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: Just Stop Oil paid a heavy price for raising their voices at a time when politicians and corporations are trying to silence peaceful protesters in the streets and in the courts. We must not allow our hard-won right to protest to be stripped away because it is the right that all other rights depend upon. Greenpeace and many others will continue to defend this proud tradition of taking action on issues that matter to make change possible. Sign up to our free Brexit newsletter for our analysis of the continuing impact of Brexit on the UK Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Sign up to our free newsletter for the latest analysis on Brexit's impact Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice TUV leader Jim Allister has accused former Irish premier Leo Varadkar of partitioning the UK during the Brexit negotiations by insisting on the border being pushed where the IRA could never push it. Mr Allister warned against nice, fuzzy sentiment between the UK and Ireland, saying relations between the two countries included malevolence to the detriment of Northern Ireland. As leader of party Fine Gael, Mr Varadkar held the post of taoiseach from 2017 until 2020, returning to the role in 2022 before resigning in 2024. He played a key role in the Brexit negotiations, with a famous meeting with then-prime minister Boris Johnson at a manor house on the Wirral in England seen as a significant moment in paving a way for the deal on the UKs exit from the EU. The agreement staved off the prospect of a hard trade border being introduced on the island of Ireland, but it did prompt years of further political turmoil, particularly within unionism in Northern Ireland, over the creation of a so-called Irish Sea border on the movement of goods between the region and Great Britain. During a debate in the Commons on the legacy of St Patricks Day, the MP for North Antrim referred to the Second World War where he said the Irish government formally and quite shockingly expressed regrets at the death of Hitler. He went on to claim that when co-operation was sought by the British Government during the Troubles, there was very little action from the Irish Government. Moving to Northern Irelands post-Brexit trading situation Mr Allister said it would be impossible to ignore the incredible constitutional situation the region is in as a result of the Windsor Framework agreement. He said: This is said to be a United Kingdom. Its a United Kingdom, sadly partitioned by a border in the Irish Sea and the point Im coming to is this, that much of that is at the behest of the authorities in the Irish Republic. It was the taoiseach of the Irish Republic who pushed and cajoled and forced the EU into their irrational demands. The EU, at the beginning of the protocol negotiations, was prepared, indeed they originated the idea of mutual enforcement to control the movement of goods. But sadly it was the taoiseach Varadkar who insisted, who saw the opportunity of partitioning the United Kingdom, who insisted on the border being pushed where the IRA could never push it in their 30 years of terror, insisted on it being pushed to the Irish Sea. It was the Dublin government that made those irrational demands and repudiated the very thing that made that unnecessary, namely mutual enforcement. So yes, lots of nice, fuzzy sentiment about how the Irish Republic and the UK have relations, and in many areas they are good, but there is a reality that there has been a malevolence to the detriment of Northern Ireland as well. Intervening, SNP MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Seamus Logan said: I dont recall some of the accusations that hes making about the role of the Irish government in terms of the negotiations that followed the Brexit vote. But what I wanted to ask him to clarify for the purpose of the record, is it not the case that many Unionist elected representatives, some of them in this chamber, encouraged their voters and their supporters to vote for Brexit in June 2016, did they not? Mr Allister agreed that they did but added: they didnt get Brexit. He concluded: I think that in any relationship, you look for a two-way co-operation, and you certainly dont look for trying to exploit a situation to achieve the dissembling of part of your neighbouring country, and that, sadly, is what has happened in respect of the Brexit negotiations. 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 New words from around the world have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) for the first time as its creators say their usage has become so commonplace in the language. These are several untranslatable words the OED says have been imported into the English language by speakers to fill a lexical gap. Sometimes, they do this with enough frequency that the borrowed word eventually becomes part of the vocabulary of their variety of English, Danica Salazar, OED executive editor said. These words come from several different continents, with additions from Southeast Asia, South Africa, and Ireland. New dictionaries from OED will feature these words going forward, as the literary resource continues to expand. Here are just a few of the new words that have made the cut: Class Ireland Many native English speakers likely know and use the word class as a general term of approval. The use of the word as an adjective only dates back to 1981, the OED finds, originating in Ireland. Ms Salazar said: Class is how main character Erin describes her hometown of Derry, Northern Ireland in an episode of the first season of the popular sitcom Derry Girls. open image in gallery James Maguire, Saoirse Monica-Jackson, Jamie-Lee ODonnell, Nicola Coughlan and Louisa Clare Harland in Troubles-set sitcom Derry Girls ( Channel 4 ) Several other words from Ireland have also made the list, including spice bag. This is a takeaway meal typically consisting of chips, shredded deep-fried chicken, fried onions, red and green peppers, chilli peppers, and jalapeno peppers, tossed together in a bag with various spices and often served with curry sauce for dipping, the OED said. The delicacy was invented in a Chinese takeaway restaurant in Dublin called Sunflower around 2006. Appropriately, the first quotation in the OED for the entry was a social media post from 2012 of someone considering a trip to the venue to get one. Yoh! South Africa A few words from South Africa have also appeared in the update, such as the imitative utterance Yoh. This word is a cry or exclamation which is used to express various emotions or reactions, such as surprise, wonder, admiration, shock, or distress, Ms Salazar said. Another new word from South Africa includes sharp-sharp, which has a couple of different meanings. The first is using it as a casual way to say hello or goodbye, with this usage tracing back to 1991. The second is to use it as a way to compliment someones style or just to comment on how generally excellent or fantastic they are, which has been in use since around 2018. Gigil the Philippines Gigil is one of the most well-known untranslatable words used in the Phillipines to describe a very specific feeling, Ms Salazar said. It describes the intense feeling a person gets when they see something cute and get the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze [it]. The dictionary publisher described Gigil as a pithy name for such a strange, paradoxical emotion. It can be used as both a noun, or an adjective to describe a person experiencing it. open image in gallery Lumpia is the name of any of various types of East and Southeast Asian spring rolls ( Getty Images ) Another Philippine English entry includes lumpia, the name of any of various types of East and Southeast Asian spring rolls. These typically consist of a very thin pancake filled with minced meat, seafood, or vegetables, rolled into a cylinder, sometimes deep-fried, and served with a dipping sauce. Alamak Malaysia and Singapore The final countries with words which made the list are Malaysia and Singapore. One of these is alamak, an exclamation that is used to convey surprise, shock, dismay, or outrage. Several foods from the two countries also make the list, including ketupat, a small rice cake boiled in a pouch of woven palm leaves. There is also Otak-otak, a Southeast Asian dish consisting of ground fish or other seafood mixed with spices and coconut milk, and Nasi lemak, a Malay dish of rice cooked in coconut milk and flavoured with pandan leaf. Full list of World English additions in the OED March 2025 update Irish English blaa, n. class, adj. debs, n. ludraman, n. mineral, n. morto, adj. spice bag, n. to act the maggot, phrase in maggot, n./1 Malaysian English and Singapore English alamak, int. fish head curry, n. half-boiled egg, n. kaya, n.2 kaya toast, n. ketupat, n. mat rempit, n. nasi lemak, n. otak-otak, n. steamboat, n. tapau, v. terror, adj. Philippine English CR, n. gigil, n. and adj. kababayan, n. load, n. lumpia, n. Pinoy, adj. (adjective sense added to existing noun sense) salakot, n. sando, n.1 terror, adj. Thomasite, n.2 videoke, n. South African English Keir Starmer has been compared to several Labour prime ministers, including Tony Blair because of his shift to the centre ground, and Harold Wilson thanks to his hope that artificial intelligence will deliver economic growth akin to the white heat of the technological revolution. As a professor teaching the history of prime ministers since 1939, it seems inescapable to me that he most closely resembles Clement Attlee. Both were born and raised in and around London. Both practised law before politics the grounding in detail is obviously helpful when switching to government. The commitment to facts and clear exposition demanded in a court case probably also accounts for at least some of the inscrutable and dispassionate greyness of their public speaking, heightened when they faced the expansive oratorical styles of Winston Churchill and Boris Johnson across the despatch box. Another emerging similarity between Starmer and Attlee is the forging of their top teams. Attlees no-nonsense style has been rightly lauded: Youve had a good innings; time to put your bat up in the pavilion was one of the more pleasant dismissals, while not up to it was his response to another who asked for feedback. The best butcher since the war was Wilsons conclusion. Compare this to Starmer who now has a track record of not always choosing the right people first time, but who is fast and ruthless in his despatching of those deemed the wrong fit or having crossed a line, as Sue Gray and Louise Haigh found respectively. Attlee was blessed with ministerial giants he led such as Ernest Bevin, Hugh Dalton, Aneurin Bevan and Stafford Cripps, a cabinet that was to go down in history as delivering the NHS and wider welfare state, Indian independence, Nato and setting the path to a British nuclear deterrent. Though the current Labour government started really quite slowly, it has been in power for only eight months and demonstrable results are understandably few. The competent team that is now looking strong on the foreign policy side took time to be assembled and I am told by experienced eyes that they are beginning to be impressed by the team forming at the centre. In both eras, defence spending posed huge challenges for the Labour cabinet the need for a significant modern-day uplift to the defence budget will involve considerable challenge. But this is not new, and for the immediate postwar government it was even more acute. On 13 August 1945, the worlds greatest economist John Maynard Keynes warned Dalton, the incoming Labour chancellor, without exaggeration, of the likelihood of a financial Dunkirk. Britain had gone all in during the Second World War, becoming effectively bankrupt around 1942 and dependent on US aid, which was abruptly cut off when the war ended. open image in gallery Attlee on his 80th birthday in January 1963 ( Getty ) Though an economic humiliation on the level of the 1940 evacuation was immediately avoided, both the convertibility crisis of 1947 and the abject devaluation of the pound from $4.03 to $2.80 in 1949 were evidence of enduring weakness. It was said that the UKs reserves were so depleted, not least because we were also feeding our zone of German occupation, that in the late 1940s, we were on occasion only six weeks away from famine. Moreover, any hopes that victory in Europe and Japan would lead to a peace dividend were dashed when, a week before Keyness warning, the first nuclear weapon was dropped on Hiroshima, leading to a new arms race and the start of the Cold War. Attlee and Bevin responded in part by facilitating the creation of Nato in order to keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down so similar to today except for the need for the Germans to step up. open image in gallery Starmer can learn a lot from Attlee starting with defence budgets ( House of Commons ) When war broke out on the Korean peninsula in 1950, which many thought the first skirmishes of the third world war, Attlee ordered a 50 per cent increase in the defence budget. This last point in particular had a long-lasting coda as controlling public spending across the board led to the imposition of spectacle and denture charges in chancellor Hugh Gaitskells 1951 Budget, which resulted in Bevans resignation from the cabinet and heralded a decade-long power struggle at the top of Labour. Food for thought for Starmer and his own chancellor Rachel Reeves as they cut the welfare budget. A last point is that both prime ministers won big general election victories: Starmers majority of 174 is the second largest of the modern era, with Attlees 1945 victory of 146 the fourth biggest. With the British electoral system being what it is, and the currently divided opposition, it is almost inconceivable that Labour will not form the next government. But though Attlee did not lose the 1950 election, it was a close-run thing, and he felt that the 1945 mandate had evaporated, leading him to call another election in 1951 which he narrowly lost. More for Starmer to contemplate. Professor Jon Davis teaches the History of the Prime Minister class in partnership with No 10 as part of the MA Government Studies at Kings College London 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 Sir Keir Starmer is in Paris with Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky as he fends off a litany of challenges to keep his so-called coalition of the willing afloat. The prime minister is meeting his French and Ukrainian counterparts, as well as representatives from as many as 30 other countries, to hash out exactly what a peacekeeping force would look like following a deal to end Russias war on Ukraine. Chief among the challenges for the PM is to flesh out exactly what members of the coalition are willing to contribute in the event of a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine. But Sir Keir will also have to win the support of Donald Trump for the coalition, and convince him in turn that the force must form a part of the ceasefire after Putin ruled out accepting Nato troops in Ukraine. open image in gallery Macron awaits world leaders ( AP ) The meeting comes days after Russia and Ukraine agreed to a US-brokered deal to pause attacks on ships in the Black Sea, seen as a major win for Putin. It underscores the Russian presidents success so far in dealing with President Trump, with the US administration reluctant to criticise the country responsible for the war despite launching repeated attacks on Zelensky and Ukraine. It also underscores the unreliability of Putin, with UK officials pointing to readouts from Ukraine and Russia confirming a naval ceasefire was agreed before Russia immediately backtracked and placed conditions on the agreements. Ahead of a press conference this afternoon, Sir Keir had strong words of condemnation for the Russian dictator. Unlike President Zelenskyy, Putin has shown hes not a serious player in these peace talks. Playing games with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea despite good faith participation from all sides all while continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people, Sir Keir said. In an appeal to the US as it holds further peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, he added: Putins promises are hollow. Critics of the PMs peacekeeping plans do not think his promises are hollow, but they do argue his aims are far too dependent on the Americans and Russians. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer with Emmanuel Macron (Toby Melville/PA) ( PA Wire ) Only Britain and France have so far put their heads above the parapet to promise troops on the ground in the event of a peace deal in Ukraine. And, despite signing up for the coalition of the willing, too few of its constituent countries appear willing to publicly identify themselves as being involved. Far fewer are willing to go as far as Sir Keir and President Macron so far have. Sir Keir himself has said a presence on the ground in Ukraine is only sustainable with the US acting as a backstop. But US vice president JD Vance summed up Americas contempt for the British and French-led coalition, dismissing the idea as a coalition of troops from random countries which have not been to war in decades. At Thursdays meeting, Sir Keir will present the outcome of talks between hundreds of military planners from across the globe, held at the UK military operational headquarters in Northwood over the last three days. The intensive sessions considered in detail the structure of any future force to ensure Ukraine can defend itself from future Russian aggression, UK officials said. The PM will call out Russian obfuscation in peace talks, back Mr Trumps efforts to end the war and underline the importance of all countries in the coalition contributing either arms, cash or troops to a peacekeeping force. 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 Labours plan to support more people into work through cost-cutting welfare reforms has been called into question by the Office for Budget Responsibilitys (OBR) own economic forecast. Released to accompany the partys spring statement, the spending watchdogs report said it was not provided with an analysis of how the reforms could boost employment, adding it was also unable to make its own in the limited time available. The revelation follows accusations Rachel Reeves rushed welfare reforms in light of pressure from the OBR to secure a larger fiscal headroom. The chancellor laid out more details of Labours planned 4.8 billion in welfare cuts on Wednesday as she delivered the new governments first spring statement in power. open image in gallery Rachel Reeves has been accused by the opposition of rushing welfare reforms ( PA Media ) Confirming the changes, Ms Reeves said: The Labour Party is the party of work. We believe that if you can work, you should work. But if you cant work, you should be properly supported. This government inherited a broken system, she said, adding: If we do nothing, we are writing off an entire generation. That cannot be right, and we will not stand for it. It is a waste of their potential and it is a waste of their futures. Responding to the announcement, Conservative shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: It was rushed, it was botched, and it was last minute, adding: Thats not fair on millions of people, many of whom are vulnerable and need to be supported, because you dont rush those decisions. The OBR says that Labours plans constitute the largest single proposal of welfare cuts since measures announced in July 2015 by the Conservatives under then-prime minister David Cameron. Offering a preliminary analysis of their possible effects on employment, the OBR said the cuts would be expected to reduce income and so increase work incentives for existing claimants. However, its forecast adds that individuals receiving disability benefits do generally have limited capability for work, so it is difficult to evaluate the changes in the same way as it would for non-disabled people. Tom Pollard, head of social policy at the New Economics Foundation says the Treasurys aims are an economic fantasy. I think it is just like something straight out of an economics textbook that doesn't bear any relation to the people's lived experience, he said. open image in gallery DWP secretary Liz Kendall revealed Labours welfare plans in March ( AP ) What actually happens when you reduce someone's income is that they struggle more to make ends meet... they become very focused on the the day-to-day task of survival [and] it becomes harder for them to think about and move towards longer term objectives. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) own assessment of the plans admits that they will push an additional 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children and some experts claim even this is an underestimate. Leading anti-poverty charity Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) said the true number would be closer to 400,000. This is because the DWPs assessment factors in a 150,000 reduction in poverty figures made from reversing the previous governments plans to change the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). However, the charity argued that because these changes never happened it was a misleading statistic to include. Following the changes, an estimated 800,000 people are also set to lose their entitlement to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) as eligibility for the benefit is restricted. This forms the bulk of the governments cost-cutting package, but the OBR said that PIP can be received both in and out of work, making it less likely that it will boost claimants incentive to work. Mr Pollard suggested Labours sudden decision to slash spending could be explained by the tension between the OBR and ministers. Were in this place of DWP being put under pressure by Number 10 and Treasury to make blunter cuts, he said. I think theres a real risk where the DWP gets pushed into a corner where the only type of savings that the OBR and Treasury would acknowledge are very crude cuts to benefit rates. He said he departments Get Britain Working White Paper published last year offered a much more positive agenda to support people back to work, but likely didnt sufficiently convince the OBR that savings would be made in the long-term. This paper included measures like Jobcentre reform and a Youth Guarantee to bring down economic activity amongst young people. The DWP has been approached for comment. 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 Reform UK is unlikely to receive a record-breaking multimillion-pound donation from Elon Musk, Nigel Farage appears to have conceded. The former Ukip leader said the idea of a mega-donation from the X boss and first buddy of Donald Trump had been massively over-exaggerated. The two men fell out spectacularly earlier this year, with Mr Musk even calling for a new leader for Reform, but now talk and text each other. Asked about the mega-donation, he called Mr Musk a hero for buying the social media platform but admitted they took a different view in their row over jailed far-right political activist Tommy Robinson. open image in gallery Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (PA) ( PA Archive ) Mr Farage, speaking at an event in Westminster, said Mr Musk had tried to push me a bit on it, adding: You can't bully me. Ive got my principles. I stand by them, good or bad. He added: The mega donation, it was always massively over-exaggerated anyway. It was always going to be difficult for Elon to give us money anyway. I mean, Tesla's got problems as it is. Can you imagine if Tesla was to give a donation to us. How difficult that would be? I'm not on bad terms with him. We do text a little bit. We do talk. We're on perfectly reasonable terms, but boy, he's got a hell of a job with (the White House). He also tried to downplay expectations in the upcoming Runcorn by-election. He said: I was asked the other day this must be a must win by-election for Reform? The truth is ... it's a must-win by-election for Labour. We're going to run them close whatever we do. open image in gallery Mr Farage said Kemi Badenoch often works very hard in the afternoon for a few hours ( House of Commons ) On Tory MPs, Mr Farage said: I have never met a more stuck up, arrogant, out of touch group of people, than at least half of the Conservative MPs. Stuffy, boring old b******s. And that is on the record. And they should all be in the Lib Dems anyway. They dont have a single Conservative idea among them. He also mocked Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, saying she often works very hard in the afternoon for a few hours and called her former leadership rival Robert Jenrick generic, poking fun at him as a Nigel Farage impersonator. And he risked triggering a row over sexism when asked about his views, by saying more men are prepared to sacrifice their family lives in order to pursue a career and be successful in a way that fewer women are. And those women that do have probably got more chance of reaching the top than the blokes. He added that men used to be at the top of boardrooms because "the country was white men". One promise that the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has kept is that there would be no tax changes in her spring statement, with all the action centred on those cuts in public services. She said last year that she wanted to have only one major fiscal event per annum, ie the autumn Budget, and that any updates on the economy to accompany the Office for Budget Responsibilitys economic and fiscal outlook publications in the spring would be minor affairs. Of course, the welfare reforms made it a bigger deal, but that was about it. Promise kept. However, the spring statement has posed as many questions about future plans as it has answered... Why didnt Reeves put taxes up rather than cut spending? One is a degree of stubbornness, or pride, and a determination on the chancellors part not to give the Conservatives and her media critics an easy win when they taunted her about having to implement an emergency Budget, or mini-Budget (recalling grim memories of Liz Truss). That would look weak and chaotic, and she wasnt having that. The second reason is that taxes, at least as a proportion of national income, are running at a post-war high, and pushing them up again would be deeply unpopular. Reeves has let it be known that she wont repeat last Octobers bold tax-raising measures, at least on that sort of scale. She is also constrained by the manifesto pledges on rates of income tax, VAT and (employee) national insurance. So why would she raise taxes again? Only because she might have to, and that cant be ruled out. In the October Budget and again in the spring statement, she has left herself very little in the way of a buffer if things go wrong, such as a global trade war that would hurt British exports and wipe out economic growth and expected increases in tax revenues. The 9.9bn of headroom on a public sector thats spending 1,200bn a year is clearly risky. Thats why the experts think shell move on taxation again in the autumn, albeit maybe not as drastically as last year. Couldnt she just cut public spending again? Yes, but a Labour chancellor will find it progressively more difficult to do so, with resistance growing in cabinet and the parliamentary Labour Party, as well as the unions and the membership. There may also be nothing left to cut in areas such as local government councils will just go bust instead. Most cuts to the public sector necessarily hit the poorest hardest, hence the worries about tax going up again. As Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, puts it: We can surely now expect 6 or 7 months of speculation about what taxes might or might not be increased in the autumn. There is a cost, both economic and political, to that uncertainty. The government will suffer the political cost. We will suffer the economic cost. Is there a political cost? Yes. It is going to be rough for Labour for at least another year, and they may expect losses in local elections and by-elections (including the Runcorn one on 1 May). The polls will make for uncomfortable reading, especially for the chancellor, acting as the principal lightning conductor for her party. Which taxes will be going up? Anything apart from the manifesto holy trinity of income tax, VAT and national insurance. This week, for example, sees significant increases in vehicle excise duty, or road tax, and council tax on second homes. There will be a repeat of the speculation last year about the many areas Reeves could turn her attention to in order to raise revenues, including: Tax-free cash withdrawals from pension pots Higher-rate tax relief on pension contributions Taxes on dividends Capital gains tax Widening capital gains tax to unrealised gains in inherited property Duties on online gambling Digital services tax (but constrained by the likelihood of retaliation by Trump) Widening VAT, for example to books or childrens clothes Ending green tax breaks, eg on solar panels Reducing tax breaks on ISAs Taxing large lifetime gifts Inheritance tax on trusts Reducing the interest the Bank of England pays on commercial deposits Coercing pension funds into paying for infrastructure schemes What she wont do is introduce a wealth tax, as has been proposed by some on the left. She probably wont relax the non-dom regime. She might, given public opinion, ease her plans to reduce inheritance tax relief on farms, the so-called tractor tax. Has Reeves had it? She is terribly poor at presentation, albeit not as gratuitously offensive as two of her ministerial colleagues in the Treasury, Darren pocket money for the disabled Jones and Torsten Ive got a mortgage Bell. The recent business about pop concert tickets hasnt helped her image, either. Her basic failings as a politician should be reason enough to replace her with a more persuasive performer, such as Wes Streeting, but the challenges and the policies would be precisely the same. As always, when a chancellor is moved or sacked after following government policy, the prime minister is also damaged, and has to answer the tricky question: If the chancellor has gone, why are you still here? This is what happened when Liz Truss jettisoned Kwasi Kwarteng (2022), John Major lost Norman Lamont (1993) and Harold Wilson reshuffled Jim Callaghan (1967). None of these sackings (or resignations) did the PM any good in the end. Keir Starmer and Reeves are in this together, and it would do the government more harm than good, both economically and politically, to provoke a crisis at this early stage in the life of the administration. Better to let Reeves take the heat and then move her, say, to the Foreign Office when things stabilise as a reward for her iron determination to save the economy, that sort of thing. Its quite conceivable, though, that to demonstrate stability of purpose, and because shes proved resilient, shell be retained until the election, as was Denis Healey in the 1974-79 Labour government. But she will have to give up the pop concerts. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pensioners and the wealthy could face a shock tax raid by Rachel Reeves at the autumn Budget if the worsening economic forecast fails to improve, leading economists have warned. Paul Johnson, the director of the highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank, raised concerns in his post-spring-statement briefing that the chancellor had not left herself enough headroom in the public finances to withstand challenges to the economy. In particular, the threat of Donald Trump imposing wide-ranging trade tariffs on top of the 25 per cent he announced on car imports on Thursday has raised the possibility that Ms Reeves could be left with a black hole. It comes as the latest Techne UK tracker poll for The Independent revealed that Labour had lost two points in support in the immediate aftermath of Ms Reeves slashing benefits by 5bn in her spring statement. open image in gallery The chancellor has left herself exposed to minor forecast changes, says the director of the IFS ( PA Wire ) Mr Johnson warned that the chancellor had left herself exposed to minor forecast changes and that there was a good chance she would need to raise taxes in October. That risks months of speculation over what those tax rises might be a raid on pensions, a wealth tax on the richest, another hike to capital gains tax? Mr Johnson said he was concerned that pensions look like a juicy place to go for a lot of money. He also warned that mere speculation about increases can cause economic harm. The economists suggestion of a wealth tax would help Ms Reeves to appease rising anger among Labour MPs and trade unions over the 4.8bn in welfare cuts she announced in her statement, amid warnings that her measures will leave the poorest 500 worse off instead of putting an extra 500 in peoples pockets. Such was the political anger over the impact of benefit cuts and the loss of money for carers that work and pensions minister Stephen Timms was forced to answer an urgent question in the Commons on the matter on Thursday. The Techne weekly tracker poll underlined public anger, with Labour dropping from 27 per cent last week to 25 per cent. The survey of 1,642 people was carried out immediately after Ms Reevess spring statement. Reform meanwhile climbed up a point to 24 per cent, while the Tories, who also want benefit cuts, remained unchanged on 23 per cent. Technes chief executive Michela Morizzo said: The chancellor had more difficult news for those people in the country receiving certain types of benefit, as the budget for welfare support was further squeezed. Our regular tracker poll, perhaps not unexpectedly, reflects the concerns of electors, with Labour falling a significant two points. Meanwhile, MPs on the left of the Labour Party have joined with the unions in calling for a specific wealth tax to balance the books, rather than the burden being placed on the backs of the poorest in society. But speaking at a press conference in Paris, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer resisted the suggestion of future taxes, though he did not rule them out completely. Sir Keir said: We havent raised tax in the spring statement, and I think in every press conference I did before yesterday, the challenge to me was Youre going to have to raise taxes in the spring statement, arent you? and I said, Wait for the spring statement. We got the spring statement, and we havent. He pointed out that Labour had promised during the election campaign not to raise income tax, VAT or employee national insurance contributions, and had so far not done so. We have kept good to those promises, he said. Obviously I am not going to write future Budgets every prime minister and chancellor has taken that position but if you look at the fact that we havent raised taxes, that indicates the mindset we bring to this. The warning over a potential tax raid came as Mr Trump announced he was imposing 25 per cent tariffs on cars imported into the US, with the threat of more tariffs yet to come. The Office for Budget Responsibility has already warned that US tariffs could wipe out the 10bn headroom Ms Reeves left herself in the spring statement. And with doubts growing over Ms Reevess plans, former Tory chancellor Ken Clarke also suggested that the chancellor would have to raise either income tax or VAT in October. He told Times Radio he would have increased VAT on Wednesday, adding: I think shes got to go for value added tax, or some levels of income tax, in the autumn probably VAT. The IFS also warned that new official data showed a dramatic decline in living standards over the past year. open image in gallery Prime minister Keir Starmer addresses a press conference at the British Residence in Paris ( PA ) In the 12 months to March last year, real average household income fell by 2 per cent, the think tank said, which indicated that there had been no growth in incomes since 2016. Ms Reeves denied there would be further tax rises or spending cuts at the Budget in the autumn, but stopped short of ruling them out entirely. Asked if she would have to return with more cuts or tax rises, she said: No. But pressed on whether she could rule out such measures, she replied: What Im saying is that there are loads of things that this government are doing that are contributing to growth. Meanwhile, the backlash was growing against Ms Reevess decision to slash welfare, as she disputed the findings of the governments own impact assessment, which said it would put 250,000 more people into poverty including 50,000 children. Think tank the Resolution Foundation claimed: The combination of a weak economic outlook and benefit cuts that fall disproportionately on lower-income families means that living standards are on track to fall over the next five years for the poorest half of households by 500 on average, according to the Resolution Foundations overnight analysis of [the] spring statement 2025. However, Ms Reeves told Sky News: I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work. And we know that if you move from welfare into work, you are much less likely to be in poverty. That is our ambition, making people better off, not making people worse off, and also the welfare state will always be there for people who genuinely need it. Separate figures published on Thursday showed a new record high in the number of children living in poverty in the UK. Data published by the Department for Work and Pensions showed that 4.45 million children were estimated to be living in households with relative low income, after housing costs, in the year to March 2024 up from 4.33 million the previous year, and the highest figure since comparable records for the UK began in 2002/03. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Rachel Reeves has said she will not accept future freebie concert tickets after her decision to accept a seat in a box to watch Sabrina Carpenter reignited a furious row. The chancellor came under fire from MPs including government ministers for receiving the hospitality as she prepared to slash 5 billion from the welfare bill. Now Ms Reeves has said she will not accept free tickets again in an attempt to draw a line under the issue. She told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "I do recognise how it looks to people. ( AFP/PA ) "Since I've become chancellor, my life has changed a lot. It's the privilege of my life to do this job, but with it does come security concerns that I'm not able, like I was in the past, just to buy tickets for a concert and sit with my family. "So for security reasons, I did take a ticket in a box. I don't have any intention of doing this again. I thought it was the right decision for my family on that occasion. But I do understand how people feel." Asked if this would mean she will rule out all freebies in future, she said: "If it's related to my job and it's something that I need to do in my job, like I'm going to a formal dinner or a formal event, of course you have to accept hospitality. "But, look, I went with a family member. I'm not intending to take concert tickets in the future. "But, you know, it is a balancing act in my job to try and be a good parent, and also do my job, with some of the security challenges that I face in the job now." On Wednesday, Zarah Sultana, the independent MP for Coventry South - who was a Labour MP until she had the whip suspended raised the tickets as she asked the chancellor if "austerity 2.0' is the change people really voted for?" 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 Watch again as Sir Keir Starmer held a press conference in Paris on Thursday, 27 March, after a summit of Ukraines allies, to accuse Vladimir Putin of making hollow promises in ceasefire talks. The Prime Minister met with the so-called coalition of the willing after French president Emmanuel Macron suggested a European peacekeeping force could respond if attacked by Russia. Sir Keir also held one-to-one talks with Nato chief Mark Rutte at the gathering. It comes as officials and defence chiefs have been holding talks at Londons Northwood military headquarters, drawing up a strategy to support Kyiv and deter future aggression from Moscow. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky is also in Paris, where he held talks with Mr Macron on Wednesday. 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 It looked like the moment Sir Keir Starmer had reached a turning point after spending his first six months as prime minister tumbling in the polls. He hugged Volodymyr Zelensky close and offered the heroic Ukrainian president support after Donald Trump and JD Vances White House ambush. With work underway to establish and lead alongside Emmanuel Macron a coalition of the willing, it looked like European and other Ukrainian allies were preparing to step up where the US was walking away. open image in gallery Prime minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference at the British Residence in Paris on Thursday ( PA Wire ) For Sir Keir, things finally looked like they were starting to get better and Labour enjoyed a bounce in the polls. But, emerging from the Elysee Palace into the Parisian sun on Thursday, the PM once again looked in trouble. His chancellor Rachel Reeves had just overseen a disastrously planned and executed spring statement, the fallout from which is only growing. And, despite Sir Keirs insistence otherwise, progress on the coalition of the willing looks to have stalled. Britain and France remain the only countries committed publicly to stationing troops in Ukraine if a ceasefire is struck, and questions remain about what a peacekeeping or reassurance force would look like. More concerningly, speaking to The Independent, former national security adviser Lord Ricketts questioned whether it is even credible to claim a force can be sustained in Ukraine without Mr Trump on side. I sat through a press conference in which the PM was asked what concrete evidence he had for his claim that progress was being made, and the answer appeared to be based more on vibes than any milestones the coalition has reached. He cited the broader grouping of countries than when the coalition got started and a strong sense of momentum in talks. The PM also pointed to planning sessions in the UK this week attended by hundreds of military figures to work out who can offer what to the peacekeeping force if and when it is launched. open image in gallery Bill Browder warned that Vladimir Putin is playing Donald Trump for all he is worth ( AP ) But another problem for the PM came when I spoke with anti-Putin activist and human rights campaigner Sir Bill Browder. Sir Bill is one of Putins fiercest critics, and biggest enemies, and warned the coalition of the willing is based on enforcing a ceasefire that is not going to happen. Putin has given no indication he is going to stop fighting, he is just playing Trump for all he is worth, he added. Sir Keir rightly called Putin out for playing games and filibustering peace talks, warning that the Russian despot cannot be trusted. But it is not the British public that needs to be told, it is Mr Trump, whom Sir Keir seems determined not to upset in the slightest. Sir Keirs trip to Paris was an opportunity to take back control of the narrative after the chancellors spring statement and show himself again as a statesman on the world stage, bringing the Ukraine war closer to its end. However, with concrete progress eluding the PM, he will arrive back in London with little to shout about and a lot of difficult questions to answer. 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 Donald Trump has announced 25 per cent tariffs on all motor vehicle imports to the United States, in a move that will inflict another blow on the UK economy. During a press conference in the Oval Office, the US president announced that cars and light trucks imported into the US would be subject to the levy in the latest escalation of the Trump administrations far-reaching trade war. What were going to be doing is a 25% tariff for all cars that are not made in the United States, Trump said. The announcement raises fears of greater economic pain in the UK, whose largest vehicle export market is the US, having sold 6.4bn in motor vehicles to the country in 2023, according to the Office of National Statistics. open image in gallery Rachel Reeves announced a series of cuts to benefits on Wednesday to balance the budget amid economy uncertainty ( PA Wire ) It comes after the Office of Budget Responsibility halved the UKs economic growth forecast from 2 per cent during a day in which chancellor Rachel Reeves announced sweeping cuts to benefits to rein in the budget and boost defence spending. Andrew Griffith, the shadow trade secretary, called the announcement concerning, adding that British jobs are clearly now at real risk. He told The Telegraph: Im afraid Labour have dropped the ball here. This Government has never laid out a plan, took too long to get round the table with Trump and, as of now, they have nothing to show for it. The OBR earlier warned tariffs threatened by Trump could could eliminate all of Ms Reeves margin of error in her budget if they are implemented. Talks between the UK and US on avoiding tariffs remain ongoing, with Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds visiting Washington last week to discuss an economic deal. But Mr Reynolds was unable to secure an exemption for the UK from steel tariffs imposed by Mr Trump earlier in March. Sir Keir Starmer has also been speaking directly to the US president about progress on an economic deal between the UK and US. open image in gallery US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Carl Court/PA) ( PA Wire ) Media reports have suggested Britain could slash the digital services tax a levy on big tech companies in order to stave off American tariffs, though Ms Reeves also appeared to rule this out on Wednesday. In its economic forecast published on Wednesday, the OBR said the most severe scenario, in which the UK and other nations retaliated to the imposition of tariffs, would see GDP 0.6 per cent lower than forecast this year and 1 per cent lower next year. This scenario would also almost entirely eliminate the Chancellors 9.9 billion headroom against her fiscal rules, potentially forcing her to implement further spending cuts or tax rises. Following the announcement the European Commission said it will assess the tariffs, with Ursula von der Leyen calling them bad for businesses, worse for consumers equally in the U.S. and the European Union. Machinery and transport equipment made up almost half of the UKs goods exports to the US in 2023. This included 6.4 billion of car exports, which accounted for 18.4 per cent of all UK car exports, making the US the UKs largest export partner for cars. open image in gallery Machinery and transport equipment made up almost half of the UKs goods exports to the US in 2023. ( Ian Forsyth/PA Wire ) The carve out for imports of auto parts is meant to be a lifeline for the US auto industry. "What we're gonna be doing is a 25 percent tariffs on all cars that are not made in the United States, Trump said as he announced the measures in the Oval Office. This will continue to spur growth. I think our automobile business will flourish like it's never flourished before. In the coming days, the US is expected to introduce further measures targeting imports of computer chips, pharmaceutical drugs, copper and lumber, plans which the president reiterated at his event Wednesday afternoon. Mike Hawes, Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive, said that the announcement was not surprising, but nevertheless disappointing. He added: The UK and US auto industries have a long-standing and productive relationship, with US consumers enjoying vehicles built in Britain by some iconic brands, while thousands of UK motorists buy cars made in America. Rather than imposing additional tariffs, we should explore ways in which opportunities for both British and American manufacturers can be created as part of a mutually beneficial relationship, benefitting consumers and creating jobs and growth across the Atlantic. The industry urges both sides to come together immediately and strike a deal that works for all. 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 Britain and France are preparing to send a joint military delegation to Ukraine in an effort to determine how any future ceasefire deal can be supported on the ground, Sir Keir Starmer said after a summit in Paris on Thursday. The prime minister also called for a deadline for Russia to come to the negotiating table, adding: We need to see this developing in days and weeks, not months and months. Sir Keir said: We will be ready to operationalise a peace deal whenever its precise shape turns out to be, and we will work together to ensure Ukraines security so it can defend and deter against the future. It came as French president Emmanuel Macron said it is not up to Russia what happens on Ukrainian soil after the Russian leader ruled out allowing the so-called coalition of the willing to deploy a peacekeeping force in the country. open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday ( AP ) After a meeting of 30 countries in the coalition, Sir Keir said there had been clear progress in the assembly of a peacekeeping force since talks began a month ago, with more countries willing to join Britain and France in sending troops to Ukraine. But he was unable to give tangible evidence of the coalition having come closer to assembling the much-touted peacekeeping force in the four meetings it has convened so far. The PM stressed that Europe has not been this strongly united for a very long time as he lashed out at Mr Putins filibustering in talks to end his invasion of Ukraine, buying time to rebuild its armed forces. He threatened a fresh round of sanctions against the Russian dictator and his allies in a bid to force Mr Putin to take negotiations seriously. He also vowed to marshal more military aid for Volodymyr Zelensky to keep Ukraine in the fight while talks rumble on. Mr Macron said Britain and France will task our chiefs of defence to ensure that a Franco-British team should be sent to Ukraine in the next few days to work very closely with our Ukrainian partners. The trip is aimed at determining what is required in terms of the number of soldiers and what equipment and hardware is required in order to deter and respond to future Russian aggression, he added. open image in gallery Keir Starmer during a press call in Paris on Thursday ( EPA ) Mr Zelensky spoke alongside Sir Keir outside the British ambassadors house in Paris, piling pressure on Western leaders to keep sanctions against Mr Putin in place until the war is over. The EU has committed to not lifting any sanctions on Russia until it has fully withdrawn from Ukraine, while Sir Keir said he is prepared to double down on sanctions. The meeting in Paris came after Ukraine and Russia agreed to pause hostilities in the Black Sea following talks brokered by the US in Saudi Arabia. In statements published by the White House, the Trump administration also appeared to signal its intention to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural goods and improve Moscow's access to maritime insurance, ports and payment systems as part of the deal. But Ukraine and its European allies firmly pushed back against the plans. President Zelensky said sanctions were "one of the few real tools the world has to pressure Russia into serious talks". Thursday's meeting also saw Sir Keir update the group of 30 nations with the outcomes of a series of military planning talks for a possible peacekeeping force in Ukraine. open image in gallery The Trump administration may be preparing to ease sanctions on Russia ( EPA ) Officials and defence chiefs have been holding talks at London's Northwood military headquarters throughout the week, drawing up a strategy to support Kyiv and deter future aggression from Moscow. Fighting continues in Ukraine with both sides accusing each other of breaking the terms of a tentative US-backed agreement to pause strikes on energy infrastructure. Russia's defence ministry claimed Ukrainian drone attacks hit power facilities in the Bryansk and Kursk regions this week, which Ukraine dismissed as Kremlin disinformation aimed at justifying continued hostilities. Ukrainian officials have said Moscow is "lying" about observing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure and has carried out eight confirmed hits on power sites since the deal was struck. On Thursday, Mr Zelensky also warned that Russia was preparing "new offensives" against the Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, while "dragging out the talks and trying to get the US stuck in endless, pointless discussions about fake 'conditions' just to buy time and then try to grab more land". 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 Six people are dead, including two children, after a tourist submarine sank in the Egyptian Red Sea. The vessel, called Sindbad, was taking tourists to explore coral reefs off the coastal city of Hurghada before it crashed and sank 1km offshore on Thursday. Of the 45 passengers on board, 39 were rescued with one unaccounted for. The six dead were all Russians, the local governor's office said on Facebook. Nine people were injured, with at least four in critical condition. Young children on oxygen are among those being treated in hospital. The Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi said there were 50 passengers on board mostly Russian but also Egyptian, Indian, Norwegian and Swedish nationals. He added the vessel had a valid licence, as investigations into what caused the accident are ongoing. open image in gallery The Sindbad submarine takes tourists under the water in the Red Sea (file photo) ( Sindbad ) He said: I visited [survivors in hospital] and checked on them. Their injuries ranged from wounds, bruises, sprains and shortness of breath. There are 4 cases in the intensive care that are at risk. The submarine, run by Biblio Globus Egypt Tours, was carrying 45 tourists, according to the Russian Embassy in Cairo. open image in gallery The Governor of the Red Sea visits survivors in hospital (R) ( Facebook/Governor of the Red Sea ) They said in a statement on Facebook: On March 27, at about 10am, the Sindbad bathyscaphe, owned by the hotel of the same name, crashed 1km off the shore. In addition to the crew, there were 45 tourists on board, including minors. Most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada. The fate of several tourists is being clarified. It is not yet clear what caused the sinking. open image in gallery The interior of the Sindbad submarine which plunges 25m below sea level to explore 500m of coral reef ( Sindbad Submarines ) An advert by Sindbad Club describes the experience onboard the submarine: Enjoy the breathtaking view in the air-conditioned comfort and safety of our submarine. It offers 44 passenger seats, two pilots seats and a sizeable round viewing window for each passenger. Experience the beauty of the Red Sea underwater world without getting wet. The company added that it holds two of the 14 real recreational submarines in the entire world. A British woman said she had been on the submarine the day before. We are deeply heartbroken for those who lost their lives and for those injured in the tragic incident involving the Sindbad submarine, she posted on Facebook. Just yesterday, we were on the same sub, and its unimaginable to see such sorrow unfold. Words fail us in this moment, as our hearts ache for the victims and their families. open image in gallery The interior of the Sindbad submarine ( X/CurtisMeredithh ) Travel vlogger Curtis Meredith told The Independent he had a good experience on the Sindbad submarine last year. He said: Its one of those things thats a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We happened to stay at the Sindbad resort and they have the submarines. Id imagine most people that stay there go on this excursion. For the trip, we got on a normal boat that went further out into the ocean and then mounted a platform before submerging into the submarine. Divers go alongside the submarine and hold out fish food to attract the vast arrays of marine life to the windows. He added: The sub goes 25 metres deep and explores about 500m of coral reef. It was an amazing experience for us. But its such a shame that this has happened. open image in gallery Curtis looks out from the Sindbad at a tropical fish 25metres under the Red Sea ( X/CurtisMeredithh ) It felt safe for us at the time but realistically, if you are going that deep into the sea it cant be that safe. A spokeswoman for the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) told The Independent they were aware of the incident. Search and rescue operations are led by the relevant national authorities and if within Egyptian waters, normally domestic regulations would apply, they said. IMO has developed and issued guidelines on the design, construction and operation of passenger submersible craft, which provide internationally agreed safety standards for their design and operation. open image in gallery Boats search for survivors after a tourist submarine sank in the popular Egyptian Red Sea destination of Hurghada ( AP ) They apply to submersible craft adapted to accommodate passengers and are intended for underwater excursions with the pressure in the passenger compartment at or near one atmosphere. open image in gallery Victims were taken to hospital for treatment ( REUTERS ) The coastal city of Hurghada is one of the largest resort destinations along the Red Sea coast and attracts large numbers of tourists each year, including Britons. In November last year, a tourist yacht named Sea Story sank off the same coastal city after warnings of rough waters. At least four people drowned, while 33 were rescued. Tourism is an important sector of Egypts economy, but many tourist companies have stopped or limited traveling on the Red Sea due to the dangers from conflicts in the region. 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 One of Andrew Tates girlfriends told police that the misogynist influencer choked her until she was nearly unconscious inside the Beverley Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, reports TMZ. Bri Stern said that the assault took place on March 11, less than two weeks after Tate and his brother Tristan arrived in the U.S. after having their passports returned to them by Romanian authorities, according to the report. Stern said that she and Tate were having sex when he became more and more aggressive to the point where she told him to stop. Eventually, she says she began to feel as though she was going to fall unconscious. The incident ended when Tate was finished having sex, Stern alleges. As Tate slept, Stern said that she went to the bathroom and documented her injuries. TMZ posted photos of Stern with bruises on her face. Sources close to Stern say that she planned to wait until Tate left the US before going to the police. This week, Tate, along with his brother, Tristan, arrived in Romania, the country where they were being held on a slew of charges. Medical documents obtained by TMZ in relation to this incident say that Stern was diagnosed as having suffered a concussion after her encounter with Tate. In text messages published by the outlet, Tate tells Stern that he wants to beat her and also impregnate her. According to the report, Tate met Stern in Romania, where she went for a modeling gig. She maintains that the recent choking incident was the first instance of physical violence in their relationship but she admitted that he was verbally abusive. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan arrived back in Romania Saturday to fulfill their legal obligations regarding an ongoing criminal investigation ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) On Monday, the Tate brothers checked in at a police station near Romanias capital on Monday, complying with judicial control requirements in the case in which they are charged with human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women . Outside the police station in Voluntari, Tate told reporters, Im a free person who has not been convicted of anything, and said he will comply with all judicial authorities everywhere around the world because Im completely innocent. The Tates, who are dual U.S. and British citizens, were arrested in Romania in late 2022 and formally indicted last year on charges that they participated in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where they were allegedly sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They deny all of the allegations against them. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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 10-year-old Virginia girl took her own life after being targeted by bullies for defending others, her family has said. Autumn Brooke Bushman, 10, of Roanoke, died on March 21. Her parents, Mark and Summer Bushman, and two older siblings are reeling from the sudden and unexpected loss. According to her obituary, Autumn was a child who had deep empathy, was soft-hearted, and always ready to lend a listening ear or offer support. While her parents were reportedly aware she was being bullied, things began to spiral in the last few weeks. If somebody was getting bullied or picked on, she would stand up for them. And unfortunately, that may have made her a target for more bullying, Summer Bushman told WDBJ7. Autumn began making unusual changes to her everyday life: she began wearing darker clothes, laughing and joking less around her loved ones, and sleeping for longer, her father told WSLS in a separate interview. This behavior was atypical for a young girl who had an infectious laugh and wonderful sense of humor and loved taking part in cheer, track, dance, and archery. Autumn was said to have brought joy to those around her, making every moment brighter, her family wrote in the obituary. The bullying, her parents say, began at the start of the school year at Mountain View Elementary School last August, where Autumn was in the fourth grade. Her mother said she discussed suicide awareness with her 12 and 17-year-old children in the past but never expected this to be something she needed to discuss with her 10-year-old. open image in gallery Autumns parents believe their daughter was tormented for weeks by bullies in the lead up to her death ( Lotz Funeral Home ) According to her parents, the Roanoke County Public Schools district told Summer Bushman that it was handling the bullying allegations after the family first reported them. They said they had handled it, and that was about as far as it went. But, as far as we know, what we were toldat least by our daughterwas that it kept happening, Mark Bushman said in his WSLS interview. This is an age where they have tablets and they have phones, so its happening around the clock. They cant really escape, he added. In a statement provided to the outlet, the Roanoke County Public Schools described Autumns death as a tragic loss and said that they would stand in support of the family, friends, and Mountain View community. The school did not confirm bullying but said they were investigating and shared that students would be offered additional counseling services upon returning from spring break next week to help them cope with the profound grief. While we cannot discuss the specifics of this situation due to federal privacy laws and out of respect for the family, we are conducting a thorough review. Our schools take all reports of bullying and conflicts among students very seriously, the statement read. Our schools educate students and respond appropriately to specific situations when we are made aware, including working with parents and families of students involved. The Bushmans are now desperately seeking answers as they grapple with their loss and urged other parents to monitor their childrens phones. My biggest message to parents is to please go through your childs cell phone, said Summer. open image in gallery Summer attended the Mountain View Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia an area that sits below the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest ( Google Maps ) The heartbroken mother said, Go through your childs cell phone to make sure that they are being kind to other children [and] to make sure children are being kind to them. Autumn was allowed to own a phone but was forbidden from using social media, insisted her mother. Mark Bushman posted a striking message on Facebook Monday, encouraging other parents to take a stand against bullying. Putting an end to bullying is not something achieved by individuals operating alone; it is done by a community banding together. Meaningful change will come if we focus our energy not on fighting the old but on building the new. Lets give these kids a life worth living through accountability and solid resources, both at home and in the school system, he wrote. A funeral service is scheduled to be held in Roanoke on Friday, and the family is holding A Celebration of Autumns Life a day later, to which the public is invited. The Independent contacted the Roanoke County Public Schools for comment. If you are based in the USA and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. In the UK, people having mental health crises can contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org 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 young Amish girl and a horse have been killed after a suspected DUI driver collided with a buggy in Michigan. The 8-year-old girl, who has not been named, was traveling with her brother, 12, when the incident occurred on Wednesday morning in Van Buren County. According to Michigan state police, troopers responded to a crash involving a Ford SUV and the Amish buggy at around 8 a.m. Both children were transported to hospital following the incident. The boy was in critical condition and the girl succumbed to her injuries and was later pronounced dead. Authorities said the horse that had been pulling the buggy had also died as a result of its injuries. The driver of the Ford, a 31-year-old woman from Mattawan, was driving under the influence of an unknown substance when she rear-ended the buggy, state police said. The woman, who has also not been named, and her children who were also in the car, were reportedly unharmed. She was taken to the county jail. open image in gallery An 8-year-old Amish girl was killed after her buggy was hit by a suspected DUI driver on Wednesday morning in Van Buren County, Michigan ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) An investigation into the crash is ongoing. Speaking to WWMT-TV, Lieutenant DuWayne Robinson of the state police reminded other drivers to be mindful of the presence of the Amish community. You will see horse and buggies going up and down the roadways. They have just as much right to the roadway as passenger vehicles do, Robinson said, adding that it is legal for children to be in an Amish buggy without an adult. 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 Worshippers at a Catholic church in Indiana thought they had found a miracle when they discovered red marks on a communion wafer the reality was much less exciting. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis said the wafer was found when it fell out of a Mass kit and when it was discovered, red spots were present. Several parishioners were understood to believe the red substance was the blood of Jesus Christ, and therefore a Eucharistic miracle. The archdiocese said: Throughout the history of the Catholic Church, there have been well-documented miracles and apparitions, and each has been thoroughly and carefully reviewed. But, a scientific analysis debunked claims of a miracle at St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Morris. The archdiocese announced on Monday that a biochemical analysis revealed the marks were caused by "fungus and three different species of bacteria, all of which are commonly found on human hands." The analysis confirmed that no blood was present on the wafer. The Catholic faith teaches that wine and a bread wafer signify the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Typically, they're consecrated by a priest at Mass. open image in gallery St. Anthony of Padua Church, where a Communion wafer with red marks was discovered The host, or bread, with red marks had fallen out of a Mass kit at St. Anthony Church. Before the analysis, some members of St. Anthony Church were excited about what might be found. We have such a little town. You can drive through and blink and youre through it, Shari Strassell, a church member, told WKRC-TV. It means the world, it does, and I think there is something special about our church up here. It comes as Assisi, the medieval Italian town revered as the home of Saints Francis and Clare, is experiencing a new wave of pilgrim fervour. The focus of this burgeoning devotion is Carlo Acutis, a millennial teenager set to be canonised on April 27. 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 Forecasters are warning residents of the wildfire-stricken Carolinas about continuous fire danger through the weekend as temperatures in the area rebound. More of the warm, windy, and arid conditions that helped jumpstart multiple blazes scorching more than 12,000 acres were expected through Saturday. Despite lighter winds today, Increased Fire Danger remains across the area with very low relative humidity values. Smoke will also be a concern downwind from the fires in the mountains, the National Weather Services Greenville-Spartanburg office cautioned. Fire danger concerns continue Friday and possibly Saturday. The Wilmington, North Carolina, office said residents should brace for warmer weather on Friday. open image in gallery Forecasters are warning residents in the carolinas of continued fire danger. Multiple blazes in the region have scorched thousands of acres this week, including North Carolina's Polk County ( Polk County Local Government/Facebook ) Forecasters advice comes following an active few days that saw explosive wildfire growth in both states and mandatory evacuation orders in Pickens County, South Carolina, due to the Table Rock fire. The human-caused wildfire jumped from more than 2,000 acres on Monday to approximately 4,500 by Thursday morning. It was moving in the direction of the states border, according to the N.C. Forest Service, and had forced road closures. There is an air quality alert in our region due to fine particles from smoke. Wind and dry conditions are fueling flames, the City of Greenville said. open image in gallery A South Carolina firefighter responds to the Table Rock fire. The blaze is approaching the state's border with North Carolina ( Greenville County Emergency Management/Facebook ) The Persimmon Ridge fire also grew to more than 1,550 acres, jumping over a highway, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Both of those fires remain uncontained. In neighboring North Carolina, the Black Cove Complex - which includes three different wildfires - has also grown. Officials said that the Black Cove fire was more than 3,000 acres, the Deep Woods fire had scorched more than 3,200, and the Fish Hook fire was close to 200 acres. The Fish Hook fire has also led to evacuations. All three had varying levels of containment. The Rattlesnake Branch Fire, which started Wednesday in Cruso, North Carolina, grew to between 400 and 500 acres. It is 0 percent contained. In response to the growth, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein broadened a state of emergency, which includes 35 counties and tribal lands that are home to the sovereign nation of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. One of those counties was Hurricane-Helene-ravaged Buncombe, where debris is still a concern. open image in gallery The South Carolina National Guard is working to help fight the state's wildfires. Members have completed more than 400 water drops ( South Carolina National Guard/X ) "You have thousands of trees that are just lying in the forest that have been drying up over the last couple of months, and it's a tinderbox," FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. "These are hard areas to access. That's what made it so challenging with Helene and the response efforts, and they're still trying to rebuild. Now, they have a second natural disaster pretty much on their hands." Burning is banned in both states. South Carolina, which previously declared a state of emergency for the Table Rock fire, has deployed its National Guard. As of March 26, our aircraft have completed 410 water drops, delivering a total of 375,040 (over half an Olympic size swimming pool) gallons of water over 39 flight hours, the South Carolina National Guard said in a Thursday social media post. 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 Starbucks has fired back at a former store manager who sued the coffeehouse chain over his claim of having faced egregious discrimination because he is straight. Christopher Thevanesans lawsuit is nonsensical, entirely without merit, and devoid of any facts to support his allegations, according to the companys motion to dismiss. In his January 28 suit, which was first reported by The Independent , Thevanesan described himself as a heterosexual, gender typical man, and said higher-ups at the Rochester, New York Starbucks location where he worked treated him in a materially different manner than employees who were not heterosexual and/or gender typical men. But, while Thevanesan insisted he had suffered extreme and outrageous persecution at the hands of gay team members, his suit does not lay out any specific instances of harassment, Starbucks argues in its motion, which was filed last Friday. [Thevanesan] fails to allege the time, place, or manner of even a single instance of supposed harassment, the motion says. open image in gallery Christopher Thevanesan worked at the above Starbucks location in Rochester, New York ( Google Maps ) In his lawsuit, Thevanesan accused Starbucks of neglecting to properly train the employees he supervised in how to properly deal with others. Starbucks says in its motion that this argument is nonsensical[,] since as the Store Manager, he would be responsible for training. And, as far as Thevanesans firing goes, which his suit says occurred because he is a heterosexual, gender typical man it in fact does not set forth any facts even remotely connecting his termination to his sex or sexual orientation, the companys motion continues. Plaintiffs allegations read: I am a straight male. I believe my subordinates were gay. I was terminated. My termination must have been because I was a straight male, the motion asserts. These conclusory allegations are insufficient to state a claim in any forum. Jacqueline Phipps Polito, the attorney representing Starbucks against Thevanesan, did not respond on Wednesday to a request for comment. According to Thevanesans lawsuit, which was filed under New York States Human Rights Law, he was a model employee who performed the essential functions of his employment in an exemplary fashion. open image in gallery Christopher Thevanesan claims his job performance was "exemplary," but that he was still fired a claim Starbucks vehemently denies ( Getty Images ) At the same time, Thevanesan argued, his LGBTQ+ underlings created a hostile work environment for him due to his gender typicality and sexual orientation, contending he was subsequently fired for complaining about it. Thevanesans attorney, Neil Flynn, told The Independent earlier this month that his clients heterosexuality had been weaponized against him. Management was indifferent to his complaints, Flynn said, claiming gay Starbucks workers in the store and surrounding area were attempting to drive out their straight colleagues. Thevanesan was hired to manage Starbucks store #47825 in 2014, according to his LinkedIn profile. The employees who worked there were members of the LGBQT+ community, Thevanesans complaint states. It says he was fired in February 2022, and calls the reasons pretextual, without providing additional details. open image in gallery The notion that Christopher Thevanesan was fired because he is heterosexual is "entirely without merit," the company contends ( Getty Images ) Thevanesans grievance is, in some ways, reminiscent of a high-profile suit brought by Marlean Ames, a straight Ohio woman who sued her employer, the state Department of Youth Services, arguing she was demoted and replaced by a gay man. After a decision against Ames by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, she took her case to the U.S. Supreme Court . If the high court now rules in favor of Ames, it could open the door for others to sue on the basis of reverse discrimination. However, Starbucks maintains in its motion to dismiss that Thevanesans suit is entirely without merit, because, even assuming the allegations are true, [the suit] contains nothing more than legal conclusions and a bare recitation of the elements of each claim, devoid of any facts supporting [his] claims. At best, [Thevanesan] simply claims that he falls within a protected class (heterosexual, gender typical male), and therefore anything that [he] disagrees with that happened to occur at Starbucks, must be because of the same, the motion states. The law does not allow a complaint to be based on such speculation and conclusory allegations without detailed factual support, dubbing Thevanesans suit woefully deficient. Accordingly, the motion concludes, the Court must dismiss the [suit] in its entirety. 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 doctoral student from Iran studying at the University of Alabama was detained by federal immigration officers, among the latest arrests targeting international students under Donald Trumps administration. Alireza Doroudi, who is studying mechanical engineering, was arrested at his home around 5 a.m. Tuesday, according to student newspaper The Crimson White. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers made this arrest in accordance with the State Departments revocation of Doroudis student visa, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told The Independent. This individual posed significant national security concerns. Doroudi remains in ICE custody but his location is not identified, as of Thursday, according to the agencys website. He is reportedly inside Pickens County jail, waiting for removal to an ICE detention center, according to the Alabama Reflector. The university said in a statement Wednesday that a doctoral student was detained off campus by federal immigration authorities but did not reveal the students name or any details about the case, citing federal privacy laws. The university said international students are valued members of the campus community. Doroudi was reportedly legally in the United States on a nonimmigrant F-1 student visa in 2023, but the visa was revoked six months after his arrival, according to The Crimson White. He was specializing in metallurgical engineering, according to his LinkedIn. Last year, he wrote that he was thrilled to share his first published paper as a PhD candidate. This is just the beginning, and Im looking forward to further exploration and advancements in materials science! he wrote. He previously studied at Amirkabir University of Technology - Tehran Polytechnic in Iran, where he received a masters degree in welding engineering technology. The National Iranian American Council is deeply disturbed by Doroudis arrest, the group said in a statement. At a minimum, ICE must make his whereabouts known and make clear if he has been charged with any crime. If not, he should be immediately released, the group said. Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are removing visas from international students studying at American universities as part of the presidents anti-immigration agenda ( REUTERS ) Doroudis arrest follows a series of similar incidents targeting international students who have spoken out or joined protests against Israels war in Gaza, which sparked demonstrations at college campuses across the country. Trump is directing his anti-immigration agenda towards college campuses accused of harboring antisemitic pro-Hamas activities. In recent days, several doctoral candidates and graduate students at prestigious universities including lawful permanent residents have been arrested and threatened with removal from the country after voicing support for Palestine in the wake of Israels devastation in retaliation for October 7 attacks. We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday when asked about a Tufts University student who was arrested after joining students in an an op-ed condemning Israels war in Gaza. It is unclear whether Doroudi was similarly involved in campus demonstrations. Doroudis arrest comes on the heels of the baseless arrest of students and a green card holder as apparent retaliation against their speech and activism against war, the National Iranian American Council said. The cruelty appears to have been the point of these harsh arrests, spreading fear in many communities. We call on the administration to halt these harsh and unjust actions and immediately release all those unjustly detained. University of Alabama College Democrats said the Trump administration has struck a cold, vicious dagger through the heart of [the universitys] international community. As far as we know right now, ICE is yet to provide any justification for their actions, so we are not sure if this persecution is politically motivated, as has been seen in other universities around the country, the group said in a statement. 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 Automaker stocks are down after Donald Trump announced that he would place a 25 percent tariff on "all cars that are not made in the United States," as well as on certain car parts. The Trump administration's decision falls in line with previous threats of tariffs, but those warnings are only now solidifying. Under Trump's latest executive order, the tariffs will kick in on vehicles on April 3, and for auto parts on May 3. The "Detroit Three" automakers all saw declines by the time the 4 p.m. stock market bell rang on Thursday. General Motors shares fell more than 7 percent, while Ford dropped approximately 4 percent, and Stellantis was down 1.25 percent. Tesla added 0.4 percent as it has significant production based in the U.S. For original equipment manufacturers, Tesla and Ford appear to be the most shielded, given location of vehicle assembly facilities, although Ford does face incremental exposure on imported engines, Deutsche Bank analysts wrote in a note Thursday, according to CNBC. GM has the most exposure to Mexico. Trump's tariffs only apply to imported passenger vehicles, and the later tariffs to some auto parts including transmissions, according to the White House. President Donald Trump talks with members of the press after signing an executive order in the Oval Office. Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on all foreign-made cars. ( Getty Images ) Auto parts that fall in line with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will remain free of tariffs, at least until the U.S. Secretary of Commerce can consult with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to determine how to apply tariffs to those products. Ferrari announced on Thursday that it planned to increase the prices of some of its models by up to 10 percent in response to the tariffs, according to the Wall Street Journal. Members of the United Auto Workers union praised the move. These tariffs are a major step in the right direction for autoworkers and blue-collar communities across the country, and it is now on the automakers, from the Big Three to Volkswagen and beyond, to bring back good union jobs to the U.S., UAW president Shawn Fain said in a statement after the tariffs were announced. Matt Blunt, the former governor of Missouri and the current president of the American Automotive Policy Council which represents major American car makers like Ford, GM, and Stellantis issued a statement praising the tariffs, but adding a note of caution. The statement noted that the council is committed to President Trumps vision of increasing automotive production and jobs in the U.S. and will continue to work with the Administration on durable policies that help Americans. But he emphasized that tariffs should only be used in a way that "avoids raising prices for consumers and that preserves the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector. Most if not all tariffs on goods imported into the U.S. are often passed on to the American consumer. 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 CIA Director John Ratcliffe blew up on Democratic Congressman Jimmy Gomez after the lawmaker asked if Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had been drinking before he and other top Trump administration officials leaked sensitive military information to Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg. During a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on Wednesday, Gomez directed a question to the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, about Hegseth's sobriety on the day of the leak. To your knowledge, do you know whether Pete Hegseth had been drinking before he leaked classified information?" Gomez asked. Gabbard replied that she did not have "any knowledge of Secretary Hegseth's personal habits." That set Ratcliffe off. CIA Director John Ratcliffe blew up at Congressman Jimmy Gomez during a March 26, 2025 Congressional hearing after the lawmaker asked if Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been drinking before plans for a military operation in Yemen were leaked on Signal ( Getty Images ) I think thats an offensive line of questioning, he said. The answer is no, I find it interesting that you want to Gomez interjected, reminding Ratcliffe that it was his time to speak, but the CIA director continued to shout over the congressman. You asked me a question. Do you want an answer? Ratcliffe yelled. You dont want to focus on the good work that the CIA is doing? That the intelligence community Gomez shut him down again, demanding to have his time. I reclaim my time! Gomez yelled back. I have huge respect for the CIA, huge respect for our men and women in uniform. But this was a question thats on the top of minds of every American. Before his confirmation, Hegseth was questioned about reports that he drank frequently and heavily, allegedly sometimes while he was on the job. Gomez pointed out claims on social media alleging that Hegseth was drinking alcohol during a NATO press conference in February. 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. There is no evidence that Hegseth was drinking alcohol during the press conference. Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, also laid into Ratcliffe, pushing back on his claim that Democrats did not want to talk about the "good work" the CIA was doing. She said she had served in classified environments during her time in the military, and said if she'd been involved in a security breach like the Signal leak, she would have resigned immediately. Houlahan further said if Hegseth had any dignity, he would do the same. The fact that were having to have these conversations now means that I cant ask the questions I need to ask about things like biosecurity, she said. So Id like to put you in check as well, sir, because you cant assume who I am any more than I can assume who you are. The hearing was held shortly after the Atlantic published screenshots of the full group chat, which included specific attack plans transmitted two hours before they were set to occur. The story was published after Trump and other officials insisted in a hearing earlier this week that none of the information included in the chat was classified. On Wednesday, Ratcliffe continued to insist that there was no classified information included in the chats. 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 Justice Department is reportedly proposing the Drug Enforcement Administration merge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as part of a massive reorganization plan. In a memo sent from the office of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, obtained by Reuters, DOJ officials propose merging the two agencies as part of the Trump administrations greater effort to consolidate departments and agencies. The memo does not detail how the changes would be implemented but asks for feedback on the proposals by Wednesday. While both agencies are responsible for enforcing federal laws, they are responsible for different areas of law and have distinctly separate leadership roles. open image in gallery A memo from Justice Department officials wants to merge two federal law enforcement agencies, the DEA and ATF, into one unit ( AFP via Getty Images ) The DEA, established in 1973, combats illicit drug trafficking and distribution in the U.S. The agency coordinates and pursues drug investigations both domestically and internationally. There are about 10,000 DEA employees. The ATF, established in 1972, falls under the DOJ and is responsible for preventing and investigating federal firearm and explosive offenses, acts of arson and bombings, as well as federal offenses of alcohol and tobacco products. The agency, which has faced criticism of overregulation from conservatives, also regulates the sale, possession and transportation of firearms, ammunition and explosives. The ATF has about 5,000 employees. While the memo is just a proposal of merging the two agencies, it is unclear how simply that could occur. The merge may require congressional approval. The Independent has asked the Justice Department for comment. open image in gallery Conservatives have long criticized the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for being overly regulatory of guns ( AFP via Getty Images ) The memo from Blanches office also makes other suggestions to reduce the workforce or merge offices. It proposes transferring INTERPOL Washington to the U.S. Marshals Services, merging the DoJs grant offices, eliminating the Community Relations Service and reassigning some of the public corruption attorneys to various U.S. attorneys offices while maintaining a team of supervisory attorneys to remain, according to The Washington Post and Associated Press. The memos suggestions come weeks after the DOJ reassigned lawyers in the public integrity section. 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 German newspaper is boasting it has accessed personal data and contact information online, even passwords, for some of Americas top security officials, including Defense Secretary and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth. Reporters from Der Spiegel used commercially available people-search engines, along with hacked customer data that had been published online. Besides Hegseth, those with leaked information found on the web included National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, the newspaper reported Wednesday. Der Spiegel unearthed the data trove in the wake of the major American security Signalgate breach earlier this month. The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently invited into a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app available to the public, while top officials were discussing detailed U.S. bombing plans in Yemen. Houthi targets were bombed later that same day, March 15, when 53 people, including children, were killed. Goldberg finally reported the security breach nearly ten days later on Monday. FBI Director Kash Patel testifies at a congressional hearing about the Signal chat group security breach as National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard looks on. ( EPA ) Der Spiegel reporters tracked down personal emails and cell phone numbers, and privately used and publicly accessible Signal account telephone numbers to Gabbard and Waltz. Some of the information discovered is still in use, the newspaper noted. It warned that hostile intelligence services could utilize such publicly available data to hack into tech-vulnerable officials communications by installing spyware on their various devices. Its conceivable that foreign agents were privy to the Signal chat group in which Gabbard, Waltz and Hegseth discussed a military strike because the officials communications had already been hacked, Der Spiegel noted. The Independent reached out to the three officials named by Der Spiegel. None of the three responded to the German newspaper to comment before the article was published. The Trump administration has downplayed the security breach of the bombing plans in Yemen, insisting the information wasnt classified. President Donald Trump has called the breach not a big deal. Retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffery said in a statement on social media on Monday, however, 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 involved in the strikes, he emphasized. McCaffery insisted that a military official in a similar situation would face a court martial if an unsecured app was used to communicate such information. The nonpartisan American Oversight organization has sued several participants in the Yemen Signal call, arguing that the Trump administration officials avoided using secure communications systems to dodge federal records requirements. Signal is not secure, nor is it an authorized system for preserving federal records and does not comply with record-keeping requirements as messages on the app can be deleted, according to the suit. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was withdrawing New York Representative Elise Stefaniks nomination to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations because the slim House Republican majority and his policy agenda could be imperiled without her vote in the lower chamber. The news of Stefaniks nomination getting pulled was first reported by CBS News and confirmed by Trump himself in a post on his Truth Social website. The president said it was essential for the GOP to maintain every Republican seat in Congress to advance what he called his America First Agenda meaning the massive tax cut and spending bill his GOP allies are crafting to pass along party lines using a parliamentary trick that bypasses Senate filibuster rules. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, he said. Trump pulled Stefaniks nomination to be U.N. ambassador to protect the Houses slim majority ( AFP via Getty Images ) Trump added that he doesnt want to take a chance on anyone else in the special election that would be triggered were Stefanik to resign her House seat to take up the ambassadorial post for which she had been nominated. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People, he said. Stefanik had already come before members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for a nomination hearing and was awaiting votes on whether to advance her nomination to the full upper chamber, but Trumps decision to withdraw her means a new nominee will have to undergo the same confirmation process. One Democrat on the panel, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, told The Independent on Thursday that he hadnt planned to support Stefanik and called her the wrong person [at the] wrong time for the wrong place. Trumps unexpected decision to withdraw Stefaniks nomination comes just days before a pair of unexpectedly tight special elections in his adopted home state of Florida, where candidates are currently campaigning to replace former representatives Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz. Gaetz resigned from the House last year and declined to take up his seat in the current Congress after he was briefly Trumps pick for Attorney General. He withdrew his name from consideration on account of the myriad scandals that dogged him during his time in Congress, including allegations that hed paid a minor female for sex and consumed illicit drugs during his tenure as the representative for the Sunshine States first district. Waltz, who currently serves as Trumps national security adviser, resigned his seat representing Floridas sixth district to take up his White House post. Public polling for the race to fill out Waltzs seat shows it within the margin of error, with a recent survey by St Petes polling finding Republican Randy Fine drawing 48.3 percent of support compared with 44.2 percent supporting Democrat Josh Weil. A Democratic win in the Florida special election would narrow House Speaker Mike Johnsons current five-seat majority, and Trumps decision to pull Stefanik so she could stay in the House could be a sign that Republicans are concerned that they could lose either or both seats despite Trump having carried both districts by wide margins just four months ago. 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 Emails sent by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency asking federal workers to respond with five accomplishments have reportedly run into a technical hitch. The billionaire ordered federal workers to email the Office of Personnel Management listing five weekly achievements as part of a drive by the Trump administration to drastically reduce federal staff numbers. When workers submitted their lists, many received bounceback emails informing them that the departments inbox was full, Bloomberg reports. The recipients mailbox is full and cant accept messages now. Please try resending your message later, or contact the recipient directly, emails received by workers seen by the outlet reportedly said. The fault comes as Musk has branded himself and his DOGE team as the White Houses tech support and threatened to terminate workers who did not respond to the emails. Employees across the Social Security Administration, Department of Health and Human Services and the Internal Revenue Service received the bounceback, according to ABC News. Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency told federal workers to send a weekly email detailing five accomplishments. But workers reported receiving a bounceback from the Office of Personnel Management after submitting their responses ( AP ) The issue was resolved quickly earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Office of Personnel Management told The Independent. Enforcing Musks demand has waned at some agencies, sources told ABC News. Some employees have simply stopped submitting their reports without consequence, the outlet reports. One employee told the outlet that they send the same five accomplishments to the Office of Personnel Management every week but are never questioned about it. Another said: I don't think anyone is reading these. The first email sent in February led to outrage and confusion among government departments. Some issued directives to workers telling them that the initiative was voluntary, contrary to what the White House was saying. After a backlash, Musk said the emails were a way of checking if employees had a pulse. This was basically a check to see if the employee had a pulse and was capable of replying to an email, Musk said. This mess will get sorted out this week. Lot of people in for a rude awakening and strong dose of reality. They dont get it yet, but they will. In his capacity as tech support, Musk and his DOGE team 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 on Wednesday. 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, Karoline Leavitt 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 handed out $1 million to a voter in a desperate bid to flip Wisconsins Supreme Court in favor of the GOP. Exciting to announce our first million-dollar award for supporting our petition against activist judges in Wisconsin! Next million dollar award will be announced in 2 days, the worlds richest man posted on X late Wednesday. The donation is Musks latest gesture as he seeks to garner signatures for an America PAC petition opposing activist judges ahead of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 1. The open seat race will decide which party controls the Supreme Court in the Badger state, a major battleground. More broadly, it could be viewed as a referendum on President Donald Trumps first two months in office. A statement on the petition site read: Judges should interpret laws as written, not rewrite them to fit their personal or political agendas. It also comes as Tesla is battling the state of Wisconsin in court over laws prohibiting vehicle manufacturers from selling cars to consumers directly. The New York Times reports that the lawsuit was filed in January, just days before Musk splurged cash into the race. open image in gallery Musk teased on his America PAC petition that there would be more suprise announcements ahead of the Wisconsin election on April 1 ( REUTERS ) As it stands, the Supreme Court is ruled by Democratic Party justices. Both Musk and Trump are standing firmly behind Republican Judge Brad Schimel in the race as he goes head-to-head against Democrat Susan Crawford. Schimel, a Republican, is a circuit court judge and previously served as the states former attorney general. Musk is intensifying his efforts to swing the race red by piling over $20 million into Schimels campaign. Schimel even appeared alongside the DOGE lead in a social media livestream on Saturday and was endorsed by Trump last week. All Voters who believe in Common Sense should GET OUT TO VOTE EARLY for Brad Schimel, Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social. The $1 million payment represents a sizable increase on Musks other offer of an instant $100 for every petition signee, with a further $100 if they persuade another person to sign. open image in gallery Musk's latest tactic ahead of the Wisconsin election is to pour surprise donations into the bank accounts of petition signers ( America PAC ) America PAC, Musks political action committee, announced the lucky receiver as Scott A, from Green Bay, Wisconsin, writing that he was the first $1 Million spokesperson for signing our petition. The post then teased the idea that there would be more surprise announcements in the upcoming five days. Flamboyant donations are becoming an archetypal trait of the Tesla billionaire as he continues to ramp up his political engagement. He is also trusted with significant responsibilities and works alongside Trump as a key White House adviser. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared that Musks tech team was being deployed to investigate Signalgate alongside the National Security Council and the White House Counsels Office. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice While the MAGA-boosting opinion hosts at Fox News have been fervently running defense for the Trump administration amid the Signal chat leaks scandal, several other reporters and analysts at the right-wing network have provided scathing coverage of the startling security breach. One notable standout has been Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin, who destroyed the narrative being pushed by the White Houses national security team that nothing classified was shared in the group chat and war plans werent sent out beforehand. The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg essentially called the administrations bluff on Wednesday when he published the texts sent by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the group chat that gave minute-by-minute details of an airstrike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The messages, sent 31 minutes before the planes launched and two hours before they first hit their targets, gave a detailed timeline of the strikes and the types of weapons that would be used. Hegseth and the White House, however, doubled down on their initial claims that no classified information was shared in the chat group which national security adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added Goldberg to and insisted that the whole thing was nothing more than a misinformation campaign by The Atlantic while attacking Goldberg and his wife. Many of the presidents most loyal supporters also followed suit and quickly downplayed the explosive revelation, insisting that Goldberg had overpromised that Hegseth shared classified materials while echoing the administrations semantic argument that attack plans are different than war plans. Griffin, however, explained on Wednesday that defense experts she spoke to said that the details Hegseth shared in the unsecured chat which included a random journalist were far more sensitive than typical war plans, basically eviscerating the administrations dismissal of leaked chat. I surveyed a range of current and former US defense officials who agreed war plans is not the right term but what was shared may have been FAR MORE sensitive given the operational details and time stamps ahead of the operation, which could have placed US military pilots in harms way, she tweeted. Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin pushed back on the Trump administration's spin in the Signal chat leak, noting that the details shared were "far more sensitive" than typical "war plans." ( Fox News ) What Hegseth shared two hours ahead of the strikes were time sensitive attack orders or operational plans with actual timing of the strikes and mention of F18s, MQ9 Reapers and Tomahawks, Griffin added. This information is typically sent through classified channels to the commanders in the field as secret, no forn message. In other words the information is classified and should not be shared through insecure channels. A former senior defense official also told Griffin that attack orders could put the military immediately at risk if leaked as it allows the enemy to move the target and increase lethal actions against U.S. forces. This kind of real time operational information is more sensitive than war plans, which makes this lapse more egregious, according to two former senior U.S. defense officials, she continued. This information was clearly classified, according to former senior defense official #1. Noting that the defense secretary can always retroactively declassify information, Griffin pointed out that Hegseth sharing the airstrike details in real time makes it unlikely to have been declassified when Goldberg saw them in the group chat. According to a second former senior U.S. defense official, when Hegseth says he didnt release war plans that is pure semantics. These were attack plans, she concluded. If you are revealing who is going to be attacked (Houthis the name of the text chain), it still gives the enemy warning. When you release the time of the attack all of that is always classified. Griffin also appeared on Fox News Special Report on Wednesday evening to share some of that reporting while highlighting the fallout over the Signalgate scandal on Capitol Hill, which has even seen some Republicans push back on the White Houses defiant stance. Additionally, she noted that the DoDs own manual states that the material Hegseth shared in the chat should have been classified. It isnt just Griffin, who represents Fox News hard news division, who has been highly critical of the Trump administration amid the brewing controversy within the Murdoch media empire. During the White House press briefing on Wednesday, correspondent Jacqui Heinrich whom Trump recently lambasted for her tough interview of a GOP senator grilled press secretary Karoline Leavitt over how the administration can justify its defense of Hegseths messages. So, why arent launch times on a mission strike classified? Heinrich wondered, prompting Leavitt to brush off the question and defer to the Pentagon. With regard to the Signal message case, the administration is making a messby getting bogged down in a dispute over whether the details of Yemen bombing raids were a war plan and whether those details were, or should have been, classified, Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume declared on Wednesday. All that has done is prolong the story. He added: The same goes for attacking the reporter who, through no fault or action of his own, received the Signal conversation. All attacking him did was give him a reason to release further details from the Signal chat, which appeared to contradict the administrations claim that no war plans were discussed. In a column for the New York Post, which is owned by Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch, Fox News legal analyst Andrew McCarthy called the Signal chat scandal an unconscionable security breach and the administration if providing incredibly foolish excused over it. McCarthy, meanwhile, was one of Trumps favorite legal experts during his New York hush money trial. On top of that, the editorial boards of Murdochs two top U.S. newspapers the Post and The Wall Street Journal published scathing op-eds on Wednesday describing Signalgate as security malpractice and warned that Team Trump will pay a price for whistling past the Signal group-chat fiasco. Even some of the networks MAGA firebrands are growing exasperated with the White Houses spin. Trying to wordsmith the hell outta this signal debacle is making it worse. It was bad, Fox News pundit Tomi Lahren posted on Wednesday. And Im honestly getting sick of the whataboutisms from my own side. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Admit the F up and move on. 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 Greenland tourism business that was due to host second lady Usha Vance has canceled her visit, fearing it would descend into a media spectacle. Donald Trump has made no secret of his ambition to control Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of Denmark a desire that has sparked anger among Greenlanders and in Copenhagen. The U.S. Consulate initially reached out to Tupilak Travel in Nuuk ahead of the days-long visit, during which the second lady and one of her children would immerse themselves in Greenlandic culture and visit the annual dogsled race. open image in gallery Second lady Usha Vance is set to visit Greenland ( AP ) The White House said on Tuesday that JD Vance would join his wife on the trip but that the couple would only spend a day there visiting the U.S. Pituffik Space Base, on the northwestern coast. Reacting to the change, Tupilak Travel issued a sternly-worded statement which read: When the American consulate called yesterday to ask if the wife of the U.S. Vice President, Usha Vance, could visit our store on Friday, we replied that she was welcome. After all, everyone is welcome in our store. However, upon further consideration, we have now informed the consulate that we do not wish to host her visit, as we cannot accept the underlying agenda and do not want to be part of the media spectacle that will inevitably follow, it read. No thanks to [a] nice visit Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, the statement added. The cancellation comes after Trump insisted the visit to Greenland is about friendliness, not provocation. But the president repeated his assertion that the U.S. could come to control Greenland. open image in gallery The Vances will be visiting Greenland amid a diplomatic spat ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Trump had mused during his first term about buying the worlds largest island, even as Denmark, a Nato ally, insisted it wasnt for sale. Vance has previously said Denmark is not doing its job with Greenland and not being a good ally, and if that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland that is what President Trump is going to do. Because he doesnt care about what the Europeans scream at us, he cares about putting the interests of American citizens first, Vance told Fox News. 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 Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is raising the possibility of shutting down federal courts giving President Donald Trump trouble. We do have the authority over the federal courts, as you know, he said earlier this week, referring to Congress. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things, Johnson told reporters. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act, he added. He hedged a bit later, saying that he was referring to the broad authority of Congress over the creation, maintenance and the governance of the courts, rather than specific courts. Article III of the Constitution established the Supreme Court, but also granted Congress the power to ordain and establish lower federal courts, and Congress has shut down a handful of courts in the past. The Louisiana Republican huddled privately with House Judiciary Committee members on Tuesday for what was described as a brainstorming session on how to take on activist judges who declare many of Trumps moves illegal. Trump has so far lost an overwhelming cascade of court rulings, blocking his Department of Government Accountability from firing tens of thousands of federal workers, stopping DOGEs federal agency funding freezes, and blocking the president from deporting immigrants under the wartime Alien Enemies Act when there is no war. Trump has called for the judge in the deportation case, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, to be impeached because he doesnt like his ruling. In a rare rebuke, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts called such a move inappropriate, and said it would fly in the face of more than two centuries of American history. A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday threw out Trumps attempt to overturn Boasbergs ruling. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has also been threatening the courts, and plans to hold a hearing focused on Boasberg and district judges next week. The Ohio Republican has said hes speaking with other Republicans about what he called legislative remedies concerning the judiciary. We got money, spending, the appropriations process to help try to address some of this, Jordan said, though didnt provide further details. The House next week is voting on a bill by California Republican Representative Darrell Issa, which aims to limit district court judgess ability to issue nationwide injunctions. Johnson called such a move a dramatic improvement to the federal court system. 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 The Trump administration plans to scrap the disaster relief Federal Emergency Management Agency, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly said during a Cabinet meeting on Monday. Noem said that her department would move to "eliminate FEMA, she said, according to Semafor and reports by other media. The Independent has contacted the Department of Homeland Security, FEMAs parent agency, for comment. Some reacted to the claims with alarm. The Trump Administrations grand plan for victims of natural disasters is to abandon them and its a complete non-starter, Senator Pete Welch of Vermont, a Democrat, wrote in a statement Monday. Eliminating FEMAs ability to respond after a disaster hits would be catastrophic not only for flood victims in Vermont, but for hurricane victims in the Carolinas, tornado victims in Kansas, and wildfire victims in California. The threat was reported even as massive wildfires ravage parts of North and South Carolina. Its unclear how the administration would eliminate the agency, given that it is authorized by statute, but it follows months of criticisms from the White House about the emergency body. White House would need congressional buy-in to eliminate FEMA ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D) and Byron Donalds (R), meanwhile, have introduced bipartisan legislation to turn FEMA into an independent, Cabinet-level agency. Some Republicans say they oppose efforts to eliminate the emergency agency. FEMA cant go away, Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said in February. I think the first job of the federal government is to protect people and property. The administration has criticized FEMA from a number of angles, ranging from arguments that its inefficient, to inaccurate claims the agency diverted emergency funding to house migrants. I love Oklahoma, but you know what? If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it, Trump said in January. And then the federal government can help them out with the money. FEMA is getting in the way of everything. On the campaign trail, Trump also falsely claimed then Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden didnt visit the disaster zones in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and that the federal government didnt help people in Republican-leaning areas. Since taking office, the president has signed executive orders calling for a review of FEMA operations and the creation of a National Resilience Strategy, while arguing: Local leaders and citizens know their needs best not bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., indicating that states would foot the bill for major disasters, which batter different states at very different levels. The White House has also reportedly ordered FEMA to review all disaster relief programs that may indirectly or incidentally aid illegal aliens, according to an internal memo obtained by Politico. Last week, FEMA employees were warned that Secretary Noem would need to personally approve scores of positions once their terms expire, setting up potential staffing cuts as part of the administrations wide-ranging campaign to slash federal spending. Experts have warned that eliminating FEMA would likely weaken emergency response in poorer, disaster-prone Republican states. This would have tremendous implications for many red states; its hard to find the words for how bad it would be, Samantha Montano, a disaster response expert at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, told The Guardian earlier this year. Florida and Texas have a high risk, but poorer red states like Mississippi and Alabama would be even worse off because they have less money to pull from to make up for a loss in federal funding, the expert added. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration wants to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), reportedly aiming to end its role in funding long-term rebuilding efforts after disaster and seeding communities with funds to prepare emergencies. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees the agency, discussed the administrations plans during a Tuesday meeting with FEMA officials and Corey Lewandowksi, E&E News reports. Officials are looking to rebrand FEMA, put some of its functions under White House control, and narrow the federal role in disaster response to immediate life-saving and providing emergency supplies, while funding states to carry out their own expanded disaster operations. We are grateful the press is covering Secretary Noems efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within the Department of Homeland Security, a DHS spokesperson said in response to the outlets reporting. Noem said during a Monday cabinet meeting the administration is going to eliminate FEMA. Shortly after taking office, the Trump administration created a council to review FEMAs operations, though it hasnt met. open image in gallery Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said the Trump administration wants to eliminate FEMA ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The White House has also reportedly ordered FEMA to review all disaster relief programs that may indirectly or incidentally aid illegal aliens, according to an internal memo obtained by Politico. The Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency program, meanwhile, has already reportedly cut or frozen tens of millions of dollars in anti-terrorism grants administered through the Department of Homeland Security, FEMAs parent agency, and other agencies. The administration has criticized FEMA from a number of angles, ranging from arguments that its inefficient, to inaccurate claims the agency diverted emergency funding to house migrants. I love Oklahoma, but you know what? If they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it, Trump said in January. And then the federal government can help them out with the money. FEMA is getting in the way of everything. On the campaign trail, Trump also falsely claimed then-Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden didnt visit the disaster zones in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and that the federal government didnt help people in Republican-leaning areas. The president has long taken an interest in disaster response, and moving FEMAs functions to the White House could potentially invite further politicization of disaster aid. open image in gallery Trump has long mixed partisan politics with his views on disaster response, a theme that could continue if FEMA operations move into the White House ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut off disaster funds to fire-prone California if their Democratic governor, long-time Trump critic Gavin Newsom, doesnt go along with various priorities. When fires broke out around Los Angeles earlier this year, Trump and his allies repeatedly suggested without evidence that diversity, equity, and inclusion policies were to blame for the ensuing disaster, while the president made inaccurate comments about the source of much of Southern Californias water. The administration then signed an executive order it claimed would release water from upstream reservoirs to bring more water to the south of the state for fighting fires, though experts said much of the water would go to agriculture and not reach the L.A. area, a mismatch which Army Corps of Engineers officials reportedly were aware of but rushed to comply with the presidential order anyway. 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 Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert employed a new tactic during a town hall on Wednesday night to avoid being grilled by her constituents on President Donald Trump and Elon Musks gutting of the federal government. Boebert, 38, stuck to the party line, branding Musks Department of Government Efficiency handling of highly sensitive information as careful and responsible. The congresswoman held a telephone town hall on Wednesday to discuss her work in the states 4th district and answer live and submitted questions from her constituents. In recent weeks, Republican town hall meetings have descended into chaos, with angry citizens displaying their outrage at the effects of Trump and Musks cuts. The chaos reached the point where party leadership was forced to encourage GOP lawmakers not to hold meetings in their districts. Boeberts virtual meeting was set up so that constituents could not ask follow-up questions or speak out of turn, which was a far cry from the heckling that her colleagues have suffered at in-person meetings in recent months. open image in gallery Boebert, photographed at Trumps inauguration on January 20 in Washington, dismissed a callers question who suggested that DOGE was overreaching ( REUTERS ) Along with being probed on how House Republicans could quickly pass President Donald Trumps legislative agenda, Boebert was asked about contentious issues, including Musks role in the administration. The lawmaker, who recently received campaign donations from Musk for expressing support to impeach judges, was first pressed on what a caller deemed the overreaching of DOGE, referencing the advisory bodys access to personal information. Boebert retorted that Musk was being careful and responsible when it comes to any data, according to Colorado Public Radio. She praised the worlds richest man for exposing the waste, fraud and abuse of our taxpayer money, drawing comparisons to a Democrat bill that hired 87,000 armed IRS agents to snoop in your bank account. The MAGA firebrand, who was seen leaving a Trump inaugural beside Kid Rock in the early hours, failed to mention that the 2021 Treasury report figure refers to all Internal Revenue System employees, not solely enforcement agents. In May 2021, the Biden administration approved the hiring of 87,000 employees at the tax collection agency over a 10-year period. The Republican gave a blunt response when quizzed about DOGEs workforce reductions at the Forest Service, which is bracing for as many as 7,000 employee layoffs in coming months. Lets be clear: we have a bloated bureaucracy, and spending does not equate to better outcomes, she said. open image in gallery A protestor in New York holds up Delete DOGE sign in response to Musks political influence and role as Trumps government slasher ( Getty Images ) Boebert also commented on Trumps failed attempt to throw out a lower-court ruling that has blocked the administration from deporting immigrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. If someone is in our country illegally, I don't believe that there is much due process that is afforded to them, she said. They do not have American citizens rights. And they broke our nation's laws being here illegally. 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 Marjorie Taylor Greene snapped at a British journalist questioning her over leaked Signal messages, telling her in an angry outburst: Why dont you go back to your country? Martha Kelner, working for the UKs Sky News, approached the MAGA loyalist at a press conference on Wednesday to ask about the major security blunder in which details of U.S. military operations in Yemen were shared with a journalist. But as she started to ask a question, the Republican representative for Georgia demanded to know: What country are you from? When the journalist told her she was from the UK, Taylor Greene launched a verbal attack. open image in gallery Marjorie Taylor Greene hits out at British journalist over Signalgate: We dont give a crap about your opinion ( C-SPAN ) We dont give a crap about your opinion and your reporting, she said. Why dont you go back to your country, where you have a major migrant problem? You should care about your own borders. As Kelner tried again to ask a question, Taylor Greene told her: Do you care about people from your country? What about all the women that are raped by migrants? Do you care? OK, youre done. When Kelner asked her about the lives of U.S. soldiers being potentially put at increased risk following the leak to The Atlantic, Taylor Greene replied: I dont care about your fake news. Turning away from Skys U.S. correspondent, she pointed at a male journalist who then said: Im an American and Id like to hear your answer to what shes asking. open image in gallery MTGs argument with the reporter was caught on camera ( C-SPAN ) Taylor Greene fired back: Im not answering her question because I dont care about her network. If you would like to ask, I can answer. The American reporter went on to grill her on the complete disregard for operational security from the top level of this administration. In her response, she blamed the former Biden administration for ripping our borders open to terrorists, cartels, child sex traffickers, people and drug traffickers. She hailed Donald Trump for trying to end the war in Ukraine and tried to change the topic to federal funding before holding her hand up to the British reporter and saying: Thats what this is about today, not journalists from the UK. open image in gallery Pete Hegseth has denied war plans were leaked ( Reuters ) She then walked off, refusing to take more questions. The exchange quickly went viral on social media. British TV writer Mick Collins defended Kelner in a post on X: Having worked with Martha Kelner and watched Marjorie Taylor-Greene, the calmness of the former, and the lunacy of the latter comes as absolutely no surprise here. More power to Martha for asking the right questions the right way. As ever. The Trump administration has sought to contain the fallout after the March 15 Yemen bombing chat was shared with The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg on the encrypted messaging app. Defense Secretary Pete 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. 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 Trumps National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, known for having started the now-infamous Signal group chat that involved a journalist, left sensitive information public on his personal Venmo account, according to a report. Waltz along with other high-ranking officials including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles opened his account to the public with a list of friends and other details that could potentially be exploited by foreign intelligence services, Wired reported. The Venmo account was clearly listed under the name Michael Waltz and bore a photo of Waltz with a list of the names of people known to be associated with him. It was still open to the public as of Wednesday afternoon. When Wired sent a request for comment to the White House about the account, both Venmo accounts appearing to belong to both Waltz and Wiles were suddenly switched to private. Before it was changed, the Venmo account under Waltzs name included a 328-person friend list that included White House officials such as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and former White House communications director Hope Hicks, several politicians as well as a wide range of media figures, such as Bret Baier and Brian Kilmeade of Fox News, and Brianna Keilar and Kristen Holmes of CNN, Wired noted. Wired also reported that noted conspiracy theorist Ivan Raiklin, who calls himself the the secretary of retribution, and once created a deep state target list, was also one of Waltz's Venmo friends. open image in gallery Trump National Security Adviser Michael Waltz left sensitive information public on his personal Venmo account, according to a report. Waltz was the architect of the now-infamous Signal group chat, in which secret information was accidentally shared with a journalist ( REUTERS ) The White House did not provide further information to Wired about the accounts. The Independent has also requested comment. The news emerges after Waltz took full responsibility for the alarming breach of national security via a Signal chat with top Trump administration officials, which was first reported by The Atlantic on Monday. The publications editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to the Signal chat earlier this month that involved specific details about U.S. bombing operations in Yemen which occurred later that same day. Other members of the Signal chat group named Houthi PC small group included senior Cabinet members Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as Wiles. open image in gallery White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, one of Donald Trumps most trusted political advisers, also reportedly had an account with public settings. Both her account and Waltzswere made private following a media inquiry ( Getty Images ) Last July Wired also reported that Vance had left his Venmo account public, revealing a contacts list including members of the infamous right-wing Project 2025, government officials, former Yale contemporaries, and far-right media figures. 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 Secretary of State Marco Rubio flatly admitted Wednesday that someone made a big mistake when a journalist was added to the encrypted Signal chat about bomb plans in Yemen earlier this month. His remarks were in sharp contrast to other Trump administration officials who have downplayed the seriousness of the situation and any culpability as they testify before Congress. They have insisted that none of the details of the planned bomb attacks, which occurred just hours later that same day March 15, rose to the level of classified information, implying sharing the information ahead of the attacks wasnt a major security risk. President Donald Trump himself has insisted it was no big thing. The entire transcript of the communications was printed by The Atlantic Wednesday after editor Jeffrey Goldberg was surprised to find himself invited to participate in the chat, which he first reported Monday. Rubio, who was on the chat, told reporters during a visit to Kingston, Jamaica Wednesday: Obviously, someone made a mistake, someone made a big mistake and added a journalist to the discussion that included targets and bomb times. He added: Nothing against journalists, but you aint supposed to be on that thing. But he also held to the Trump administration line that the leaked conversation wasnt dangerous, even though attack specifics were included. The Pentagon has made it clear that nothing on there would have endangered the lives or the mission, Rubio said. There were no war plans on there. Some 53 people, including children, were killed in the strikes that day. Rubio: Obviously, someone made a mistake. Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist pic.twitter.com/7EOhZfB5xT Acyn (@Acyn) March 26, 2025 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 involved in the strikes, he emphasized. McCaffery insisted that a military official in a similar situationwould face a court martial if an unsecured app was used to communicate such information. @msnbc Retired U.S. Army General Barry McCaffrey reacts to The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg's story about being accidentally added to a Signal group chat with members of President Trumps administration as they discussed plans to launch airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. Goldberg was unsure the chat was authentic and exited the conversation after personally concluding it was real. At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, the National Security Council said in a statement to NBC News and the White House said it is reviewing the incident. original sound - MSNBC Just days after the Signal chat, the Pentagon issued a warning that Russian hackers had cracked the app, and that no one should use Signal to communicate important information. The advisory statedthat "Russian professional hacking groups are employing the 'linked devices' feature to spy on encrypted conversations." It also noted that Google has also identified Russian hackers who are targeting "Signal Messenger to spy on persons of interest." 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 The pollster YouGov has found that Americans view the Signal leak as at least as problematic as Hillary Clintons use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state in the Obama administration. In September 2022, 62 percent of Americans said the use of the private server was either very serious or somewhat serious. That included 40 percent of Democrats and 88 percent of Republicans. The American public has adopted an equally dip view of the leak, which included several top Trump officials and detailed timeline of the attacks shared by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth slammed Clinton on Fox News in late 2016, saying, 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. In a YouGov poll conducted on Tuesday, 53 percent of all respondents said its a very serious problem that The Atlantic editor in chief was included in the conversation regarding the sensitive war plans, while 21 percent said its a somewhat serious problem, for a total 74 percent viewing it as an issue. Meanwhile, a majority of Republicans have said that its a problem that journalist Jeffery Goldberg was included in a Signal group chat alongside numerous senior administration officials as they discussed airstrikes in Yemen, the survey shows. Among Republicans, 60 percent said it was either a very serious or somewhat serious problem, according to the poll of nearly 6,000 U.S. adults. The same was true for 89 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Independents. Forty-eight percent of American adults said they believe that the Trump administration officials violated the law by sharing the war plans on the app. However, only 21 percent of Republicans agreed with that sentiment, compared to 76 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of independents. Goldberg reported in The Atlantic on Monday that he was added to the group chat by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz ahead of the March 15 strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The magazine subsequently published screenshots of the messages showing Hegseth sharing a thorough timeline of the planned attacks. open image in gallery Americans view the Signal leak in at least as bad a light as Hillary Clintons use of a private email server during her time as Secretary of State ( AP ) On Wednesday, President Donald Trump claimed that the incident was really not a big deal. That came after he backed up Waltz on Tuesday following reports that some officials were discussing the removal of the national security adviser. The texts revealed by The Atlantic on Wednesday show Hegseth sharing the timing of the attacks just minutes before they occurred, including an outline of what weapons would be used and what targets would be attacked. Waltz has taken responsibility for including Goldberg in the chat, but the administration hasnt explained how the mistake occurred. Appearing on Fox News, Waltz said the incident was embarrassing, and added that Goldbergs number was filed under another name in his phone. Trump has suggested that a lower-level staffer could be behind the mistake, but Waltz contradicted that claim during his interview on Tuesday. Administration officials have said on numerous occasions that the information included in the chat was not classified. However, some Republican members of Congress and current and former defense officials have told media outlets such as Politico and HuffPost that the information was, or should have been, classified. On Thursday, Trump yet again criticised U.S. District Judge James Boasberg after he was put in charge of overseeing the case of the Signal group chat. The judge was also handed the case regarding the administrations use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants whom the administration claims are connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. open image in gallery Mike Waltz has taken responsibility for adding the editor of The Atlantic to a Signal group chat ( Fox News ) How disgraceful is it that Judge James Boasberg has just been given a fourth 'Trump Case, something which is, statistically, IMPOSSIBLE, the president wrote on Truth Social after 1 a.m. on Thursday. There is no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP REPUBLICAN, to win before him. That post came after he addressed reporters from the Oval Office, arguing that the concerns over the sharing of military plans on a messaging app are a witch hunt. Its a phrase Trump has frequently used to describe the legal cases against him. Trump claimed to be unconcerned about the leak as there was no harm done, because the attack was unbelievably successful. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration faced a brutal 48 hours of trying to fight back against The Atlantic and its editor Jeffrey Goldberg ever since he published a story revealing that the presidents national security team texted its plans to attack Houthis in Yemen. Then Goldberg and the magazine pulled the trigger and published the entire chat that took place over Signal. The administration reverted to its defensive crouch, seeking to pick a fight with the press, the playing field where it feels most comfortable rather than addressing the fact that officials held a highly sensitive security discussion in a Signal chat. On Capitol Hill, it created yet another headache for Republicans, who had to either play coy or make some tacit admissions that officials made mistakes. open image in gallery Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe face a second round of grilling. ( Getty Images ) Senator Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Independent on Tuesday that he wanted an accurate transcript of the messages. On Wednesday, after publication of the conversations, he told reporters he would only take questions one time, and said that he and Jack Reed, the top Democrat on Armed Services, would send a letter to the administration asking it to expedite an inspectors general report. I don't disparage Mr. Goldberg, but I think it's incumbent on us to verify that those were actually the words and sentences, he told The Independent. The only problem? The Trump administration sacked the inspector general for the Pentagon, as well as for numerous other government agencies. Reed insisted that the Pentagon still has an acting inspector general. It might be either permanent or acting, but that job is there, he told The Independent. Reed acknowledged that the Signal chat situation confirmed his worst fears about Defense Secretary Hegseth during his confirmation hearing. I think it adds further weight to my observation at the hearing process, he said. The Rhode Island Democrat told his local newspaper during Hegseths confirmation process that he lacks the requisite character, competence and commitment to do this job ... hes the least qualified nominee for secretary of defense in modern history. open image in gallery Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said he wanted the administration to expedite an inspectors general report. But the Trump administration fired the Pentagons inspector general. ( AP ) Wicker, a conventional hawkish Republican, staked much of his credibility to get Hegseth across the finish line. But other Republicans attempted to play coy. The test? Senator Todd Young, a retired Marine intelligence officer, asked twice in response to a question from The Independent about the situation before saying he had not read the text messages. The Indiana Republican, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, had been a swing vote to confirm Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, despite his reservations about both her and Trump. The chat security breach puts Republicans up for re-election in a difficult position. Earlier in the day, Senator John Cornyn of Texas announced he would run for re-election, billing himself as an ally of Trumps. When asked if he had seen the texts, he said he had not. He dodged when asked if he would read them. Umm, maybe, he told The Independent with a chuckle. The bigger issue, Cornyn said, was figuring out who uses Signal and for what purposes. I think, you know, legitimate questions have been raised about the sensitivity of the information that they should be using government systems, as opposed to a private app, he told The Independent. Signal is available to the public. Cornyn, who faces a potential challenge from pro-Trump embattled attorney general Ken Paxton, has taken to posting a photo of himself on X reading the presidents book The Art of the Deal. Cornyn needs to get through a primary after he failed to become majority leader last year and that means he needs to play up his close relationship with MAGA. Likewise, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said he had not read the texts, but knew they were released. I understand that some are saying there may have been classified information in there. If thats the case that's a problem, he told The Independent. Tillis is perhaps the most endangered Republican incumbent in the 2026 midterms, hailing from a state that always has tight elections. He risked much of his credibility when he cast the deciding vote to allow Vice President JD Vance to break the tie to confirm Hegseth as Defense secretary. But he faces a double-pronged challenge with a potential primary opponent from his right flank and former Democratic governor Roy Cooper running against him in the general election. Is this administration going to hold anybody accountable? Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, asked The Independent. This is incompetence, compounded irresponsibility and an ongoing looseness with the truth. Its pretty astounding. While the Senate waits for an inspectors general report, the administration tasked none other than Elon Musk with investigating how the team added Goldberg to the chat. 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 When White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz created a group chat using Signal to discuss planning for airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, it wasnt the first time Trump administration officials had used the popular messaging app for communications with colleagues. The encrypted messaging program has been popular in Trumpworld since long before President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, according to sources familiar with the operations of Trumps 2024 presidential campaign, his transition, and his first tumultuous months in the White House. Trumps transition team, headed by now-Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, was notable among modern presidential transition efforts because it deliberately eschewed federal resources including technology that had been used by incoming administrations for decades. The decision to refuse government IT help during the months before Trump returned to office was made in part to avoid the mandatory record-keeping that comes with using official resources, according to a source familiar with Trumps thinking at the time. The Independent understands, according to this source, that Trumps decision was driven by his memory of how emails sent and received by his 2016-2017 transition team were later released to groups that made Freedom of Information Act requests for them, and to Department of Justice investigators under the command of then-special counsel Robert Mueller during the probe into alleged ties between the presidents 2016 campaign and the Russian government. open image in gallery The encrypted messaging program has reportedly been popular among Trump figures for a while ( REUTERS ) During the transition this time around, staffers and incoming officials would frequently communicate on their personal devices, often on Signal, a source familiar with the transition effort told The Independent. The Trump transition source said the number of informal group chats among incoming officials grew as the transition effort went on and more people were recruited to join the incoming administration. The use of Signal took a shocking turn this week when The Atlantics top editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, reported that hed been invited accidentally to a group chat with a slew of senior Trump White House and cabinet officials by Waltz. The magazine on Wednesday published the bombshell text messages, which included a detailed timeline of the Houthi airstrikes, leading to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announcing that the National Security Council and the White House Counsels office would be probing the shocking breach with the aid of Elon Musk, the SpaceX founder and GOP mega donor who has been a constant presence at Trumps side since he was sworn in nearly 70 days ago. "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," Leavitt said. Musk himself has been reported to be a prolific Signal user. Tulsi Gabbard refuses to say if she was on group chat during Senate grilling An analysis by The Independent has found that many Trump administration officials, like Musk, have active Signal accounts affiliated with their personal phone numbers. They include top national security personnel in the bombshell group chat reported on by The Atlantic in recent days, like National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Under the Presidential Records Act, as well as other laws governing the treatment of sensitive and national defense-related information, the use of personal devices for official communications among incoming White House aides is supposed to stop when staffers have access to government IT systems. But sources tell The Independent that never fully happened, in part because the Signal group chats established during the transition period continued, with more set up as needed. The White House has described the continued use of Signal as routine and authorized by the administrations own legal team. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard ducked questions about whether she was on her personal or government device when she was included in the group chat about military strikes in Yemen. She claimed that the encrypted app is pre-installed on government devices as a way of enabling officials to communicate on fast-moving matters during testimony before the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday morning.. open image in gallery These Trump administration officials (left to right top) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, (left to right bottom) National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Secretary of State Marco Rubio participated in a Signal group chat that has become the focus of the administration's first major scandal ( AFP via Getty Images ) John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, also said the application is widely used by officials and staff at CIAs Virginia headquarters. He told the House panel: "One of the first things that happened when I was confirmed as CIA director was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA as it is for most CIA officers. Another White House ally, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, claimed during a recent appearance on Fox News that the Biden administration had authorized Signal as a means of communication that was consistent with presidential record-keeping requirements for its administration and said that practice had continued into the Trump administration. And on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Signal was just one of a number of different platforms for President Trumps top officials to communicate as safely and efficiently as possible by the White House Counsels Office. But multiple people familiar with White House operations say that the encrypted application is not compliant with record-keeping requirements on White House or National Security Council information or communications systems. This is because the programs disappearing messages feature is incompatible with laws like the Presidential Records Act that require that all communications by and among White House staff be archived. A former Biden administration official who spoke to The Independent explained that most White House staffers phones were delivered with all text messaging capabilities disabled, with only a limited few staffers in the press office getting the ability to text on a limited basis and only with strict controls linked to PRA compliance. Two other sources, both of whom worked at the National Security Council during previous administrations, said they cannot recall ever seeing Signal installed on the Apple iPhone devices issued to them during the onboarding process at the White House. One of the former NSC officials conceded that Signal might be permitted at other agencies as Gabbard and Ratcliffe stated in their House testimony on Wednesday. But they said their experience was that to the extent that text messaging had been allowed on White House phones it was limited to basic functions to comply with PRA record-keeping requirements. A third source who currently works in the Trump White House also told The Independent that Signal was not pre-installed on their government-issued phone. They said the only way they could communicate with anyone on Signal is to use their personal device. According to a fourth source a person deeply familiar with White House communications infrastructure the lack of access to Signal on White House devices is by design. The phones issued to White House officials are managed by the Presidential Information Technology Community, an umbrella organization established during the Obama administration to encompass the entities that provide information resources and information systems to the President, Vice President, and the Executive Office of the President including the National Security Council, the White Houses Office of Administration, the Secret Service, the White House Military Office and the White House Communications Agency. Marco Rubio admits 'someone made a mistake' in Signal group chat scandal This source told The Independent that the iPhones issued to White House and NSC personnel are highly customized for security purposes, without access to the iOS App Store from which normal iPhone users can install applications. Instead, the source said users can only choose from a curated group of applications that have been pre-approved by the PITC for installation on White House-issued devices. Signal is not listed as an app to be installed, so its definitely not pre-installed on those devices, they said. Asked about a Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency guidance warning of Chinese espionage efforts and recommending Signal for secure communications, they replied that the CISA document was encouraging use of free messaging applications on personal devices and again stressed that Signal has never been approved for official use on government-owned devices issued by the White House or Pentagon. While Signals popularity as a messaging solution has grown in recent years, the government has warned employees that despite the encryption built into the program it is still vulnerable to some forms of attacks. A Defense Department memorandum issued on March 13 said Russian hackers could use the linked device feature of the application which allows a user to send and receive messages from a laptop or desktop computer to spy on encrypted communications. The hacking groups embed malicious QR codes in phishing pages or conceal them in group invite links. After gaining access via the malicious code, the groups add their own devices as a linked device, This allows the group to view every message sent by the unwitting user in real time, bypassing the end-to-end encryption, the memorandum said. A former Pentagon official who worked in the office of former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and on former president Joe Bidens 2020 campaign said the Signal application was used by some administration personnel but never for official communications. It was actually used very scantly and always, always informally for things like: Are you coming in today? Other than that level of personal discussions, it was never, ever, ever used I dont know how much more strongly I can say that, they said. That former officials account was confirmed by a second ex-Defense Department official a veteran of the Biden and Obama administrations who served in multiple senior national security roles. They told The Independent that Signal use was never at any time authorized in the Pentagon in any official capacity on any government-issued device, even if there might have been some de minimus use in some very limited instance on staffers personal devices. He said anyone who would suggest that Signal was officially endorsed by the Defense Department for internal use was not delivering an accurate rendering of events. I don't know if they're intentionally lying, but they are certainly not speaking the truth, he said. 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 The Trump administration is considering attempting to stop some colleges from having any foreign students if it believes that too many of them are supportive of Hamas, according to Axios. The endeavor is yet another attempt by the White House to take aggressive action on immigration and campus antisemitism, in what some view as an effort that suppresses free speech in colleges. The notion that colleges could be blocked from enrolling any holders of student visas came from Secretary of State Marco Rubios Catch and Revoke program. Its focusing on students who protested the war in Gaza and who they claim have backed Hamas. A State Department official told Axios that in three weeks, more than 300 foreign students have had their student visas revoked. There are roughly 1.5 million student visa-holders across the country. A top target for the effort is the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which certifies schools to enroll student visa-holders. Officials told Axios that institutions have previously lost their certifications if the government finds that too many of the student visa-holders are using the system to live and work in the U.S. The Trump administration is now looking at the possibility of using that decertification process to take aim at schools that saw demonstrations following the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023, after Hamas attacked Israel. Every institution that has foreign students...will go through some sort of review, an official told Axios. You can have so many bad apples in one place that it leads to decertification of the school...I don't think we're at that point yet. But it is not an empty threat. open image in gallery The Trump administration is looking at the possibility of decertifying some colleges from hosting foreign students ( Getty Images ) Meanwhile, critics have slammed the administration for taking an ax to free speech and due process rights and for conflating supporting rights for Palestinians with supporting Hamas, the group in charge of Gaza. The Trump administrations actions on immigration have prompted several lawsuits and some may end up at the Supreme Court. However, thats likely what the administration is aiming for to give the top court several chances to expand the power of the executive branch to deport noncitizens, Axios noted. On Tuesday, a judge temporarily blocked federal officials from arresting Yunseo Chung, a student at Columbia University in New York who took part in protests in support of Palestinians. The lawsuit she filed states that immigration enforcement cannot be used as a tool to punish noncitizen speakers who express political views disfavored by the current administration. open image in gallery Columbia University has had widespread pro-Palestinian protests, and has been mentioned many times by Trump administration officials. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Mahmoud Khalil, an organizer of the protests at Columbia, brought the first case against Rubios right to revoke a green card earlier this month. That's one of their biggest cash cows, foreign students. That's a meaningful source of revenue for them, a top Justice Department official told Axios. What you're going to see in the not-too-distant future is the universities that we can show that were not doing anything to stop these demonstrations in support of Hamas or encouraged enrollment by activists ... we can stop approving student visas for them, and they can no longer admit foreign students, the official added. The way that this looks ... is a grand jury subpoena goes to a university, a very broad subpoena, the official said. They added that it would include any information that they know about students who have actively participated in violent protests. Columbia acceded to demands from the administration last week to take action to restrict protests and fight antisemitism to avoid losing $400 million in federal funds. The new antisemitism task force at the Department of Justice started a civil rights investigation on March 5, looking into the University of California system. Similarly, the Department of Education sent out letters to 60 universities on March 10, warning them that civil rights enforcement actions regarding antisemitism may be incoming. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration has escalated its legal battle over education funding cuts, taking its case to the Supreme Court. The administration is seeking to overturn a lower court's block on cuts to teacher training programs, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. A Boston federal judge initially halted the cuts, citing their detrimental impact on training programs designed to address the national teacher shortage. The administration's subsequent appeal to the Boston federal appeals court was also rejected. The legal challenge was initiated by eight Democratic-led states, who argue that the cuts are politically motivated and aim to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The states point to President Donald Trump's executive order calling for the dismantling of the Department of Education and the administration's subsequent overhaul of department initiatives. open image in gallery Trump holds up a pen after signing an executive order to abolish the Department of Education ( AFP via Getty Images ) Dozens of contracts have been terminated, labeled by the administration as "woke" and wasteful. The Justice Department has filed three other emergency appeals of court rulings that blocked administration actions. 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. open image in gallery Hampton Dellinger has been forced from his job ( via REUTERS ) 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. 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A federal 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. The Constitutions demand of due process cannot be so easily thrown aside, she wrote. open image in gallery 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. 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. 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. 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 Lawyers for Donald Trumps administration have resisted telling U.S. District Judge James Boasberg about deportation flights to El Salvador that he blocked, citing state secrets. Now, government lawyers defending the administration over so-called Signalgate will have to answer to the same judge in another case involving sensitive information. Boasberg, in a court battle with the administration over the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants, was assigned a new lawsuit Wednesday in Washington, D.C. regarding the leak of bomb plans in a group chat. The suit alleges senior officials in the Trump administration violated federal record-keeping laws when they used a group chat on commercial messaging service Signal to discuss imminent military operations in Yemen, inadvertently adding a journalist to the discussion. open image in gallery Judge James Boasberg, who is clashing with Trump over the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants, has been assigned to a lawsuit over the Signal group chat. ( AP ) The suit lists Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the National Archives and Records Administration as defendants. It was filed by nonpartisan watchdog American Overwatch. This action arises from Defendants failure to meet their obligations under the Federal Records Act regarding messages from a group-chat discussion of planned and active military operations from March 11, 2025, through March 15, 2025, on the messaging application Signal, which can be set up to automatically delete messages, the suit states. American Overwatch added in a statement that the lawsuit seeks to prevent further unlawful destruction of federal records and to compel the recovery of any records created through their unauthorized use of Signal. open image in gallery The lawsuit, which alleges senior officials in the Trump administration violated federal record-keeping laws, lists Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a defendant, among others ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The legal action comes two days after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, first published an article in which he revealed that he was made privy to classified information by being invited into the chat by accident. Earlier on Wednesday The Atlantic published the messages seen by Goldberg as part of the chat in full, after the Trump administration branded the story another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Boasberg confirmed to Politico through a spokesperson that the new lawsuit concerning the breach of national security had been assigned to him randomly through the courts typical process. There are currently 20 judges serving on the federal district court bench in Washington. open image in gallery Elsewhere on Wednesday a federal appeals court rejected Trumps attempt to throw out a lower-court ruling issued by Boasberg that blocked the administration from deporting Venezuelan immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act ( via REUTERS ) Elsewhere on Wednesday a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. rejected Trumps attempt to throw out a lower-court ruling made by Boasberg that blocked the administration from deporting immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act. Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport the immigrants for only the fourth time in U.S. history. Flights carrying multiple people detained under the act were on their way to El Salvador on March 15 when Boasberg ordered the administration to turn the planes around, and passed an order temporarily halting further deportation flights. Three planes, however, landed and the immigrants were imprisoned. Administration lawyers later refused to answer a number of questions from Boasberg about the flights, citing state secrets. A subsequent filing from administration attorneys instructed Boasberg to be more respectful. He later responded in a ruling calling the attorneys intemperate and disrespectful, noting he had never before been subjected to such an attitude by government lawyers in his court. 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. 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 The grandparents of a toddler who vanished in the French Alps have been released from custody after being arrested on suspicion of hismurder. Two-year-old Emile Soleil had been staying with his maternal grandparents in their Alpine home in Haut-Vernet when he disappeared in July 2023. In a dawn raid on Tuesday, police searched a home in the Provence village of La Bouilladisse and the hamlet of Haut-Vernet and arrested EmileS maternal grandparents and two of their adult children on suspicion of voluntary homicide and concealing a corpse, French media reported. open image in gallery Gendarmes guard the entrance to the familys property after a dawn raid on Tuesday ( AFP/Getty ) Police did not immediately say who the two other family members were, but Le Parisien reports they were two of Emiles uncles or aunts. But the grandparents and the two other relatives were then released from the Marseilles police station without charge after 48 hours of interrogation. The grandparents were seen by Le Parisien reporters returning to their home in La Bouilladisse quickly followed by Emiles parents. "After 17 hours of questioning today, police custody has been lifted," Isabelle Colombani, a lawyer for the grandfather told the press gathered outside the property. "There may have been some grey areas to clear up, but there you have it, she added. Investigators have had a lot of questions for us since yesterday. We have answered all of them." open image in gallery Emile vanished in the French alps ( @GendarmerieNationale/X ) A horse trailer and a car, belonging to the grandfather, seen being taken away for forensic investigations will now be returned to the property. It came as prosecutors told a press conference the anatomical scars on the skull are suggestive of violent facial trauma. Jean-Luc Blachon added: The expert reports suggest the likelihood of third-party involvement in the disappearance and death of Emile Soleil. The bones were transported and deposited shortly before their discovery. They also allow us to confirm that the child's body did not decompose in the clothes found in the forest. open image in gallery A forensic investigator drives the car of the grandfather ( AFP/Getty ) In an update, investigators said they have so far conducted 287 witness interviews, combed through 285 hectares, analysed 27 vehicles and processed 55 million bytes of data, mainly through phone tapping. Two neighbours last saw Emile walking along the street by himself, according to Le Monde. Despite a massive effort from volunteers, police, the military and sniffer dogs, he was not found until a hiker stumbled across the toddlers skull and clothing in March 2024, less than 2 kilometres from his grandparents home. According to Valentin Doyen, a journalist specialising in the case, the child's family do not believe it was a solo accident. Speaking on BFMTV, the reporter stated that Emile was afraid of the tall grass and was afraid to venture out alone. View more When Emiles funeral was finally held in February this year, his grandparents Philippe and Anne Vedovini, made a rare public statement about his disappearance and death. "The time for silence must give way to the truth," they said at the time, adding: "Nineteen months without the slightest certainty. We need to understand, we need to know." 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 Witnesses have described the fear and chaos that gripped the heart of Amsterdams tourist district during a stabbing spree that left six people injured, including the suspected attacker. The knifing attacks unfolded about 3:30pm local time on Thursday near Amsterdams central Dam Square. Police said a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man both American nationals were among the victims. A 73-year-old woman from Belgium, a 26-year-old man from Poland and a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam were also injured. A shop worker told The Independent he saw people injured on the ground during scenes of panic and confusion as people fled the scene of the stabbing. People definitely started to panic, and some people ran away in different directions because no one really knew what was happening. It was a panicky situation, said the staff member at nearby Flagship Bike Tours, who gave his name as Louis H. open image in gallery Police officers cordon-off an area after a stabbing near Dam Square in central Amsterdam ( AP ) One lady on the street saw the attack happening, and she actually ran into our store all panicked of course. So we closed the door quickly, locked it and went upstairs to calm her down, calm ourselves down, have a drink and see what was happening. Then we saw some people were laying on the ground and luckily police were there almost right that second. An employee at De Drie Fleschjes cafe on Gravenstraat was reported by the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper as saying: It was very frightening. Customers saw an elderly woman being stabbed in the back. She was with her husband. I only saw it when the woman was lying on the ground. It was very grim. Police said a suspect has been arrested and was also taken to hospital with a leg injury, but said it was not yet clear what had motivated the attacks. The suspect was tackled to the ground outside the Febo fast food restaurant by members of the public after fleeing from the scene, an employee told The Independent. I was trying to get to work and everything was closed down and locked off. The guy was lying there right in front of my work, the employee, who declined to be named, said. Apparently some guy kicked him and broke his ankle. He got kicked down [by some bystanders] because he tried to run away ... I think somebody kicked him in the face as well. It sounds like it was well deserved. The stabbings took place in various locations. Dutch newspaper Het Parool reported that an elderly man and a student-aged boy were stabbed on Sint Nicolaasstraat, a side street off the high street, Nieuwendijk. The suspect was reported to have then walked towards the road of Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, where witnesses said he stabbed a young woman on the corner of the two streets. Another woman was also reportedly stabbed closer to the square on Gravenstraat, before the suspect was arrested on Nieuwendijk. Footage shared on social media showed an emergency helicopter landing in Dam Square, with injured people being taken to hospital. De Telegraaf newspaper reported that at least 14 police cars and an officer on a motorcycle swarmed the scene within 15 minutes. open image in gallery Medical staff assist one of the five person that were wounded during a stabbing attack in Amsterdam ( ANP/Inter Visual Studio/AFP via ) Dam Square is an area popular with tourists visiting the Dutch capital. It is in the historic centre of the city and includes landmarks such as the Royal Palace. Amsterdams mayor, Femke Halsema, is reported to have been in a council meeting during the stabbing and to have withdrawn from a debate due to the incident. Ms Halsema was instead meeting with chief prosecutor Rene de Beukelaer and police chief Peter Holla, her spokesperson told local outlets. Speaking nearly two hours after the stabbings took place, Louis, who works at Flagship Bike Tours, said: Now its calmed down. Everything has settled down a bit. I hope the people who got attacked are okay. Its important we keep an eye out for one another. We have a beautiful city we have to keep it beautiful and safe. 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 The German and Austrian interior ministers broke off a planned trip to Syria on Thursday because of a possible threat to their delegation, German authorities said. Germany's Nancy Faeser had planned to visit Damascus with Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner, and a German military plane was supposed to fly Faeser's delegation into Syria from Jordan on Thursday morning. But her ministry said that the trip was broken off before the flight could depart from Amman because of concrete warnings by German security authorities of a terrorist threat, German news agency dpa reported. It added that a threat to the delegation couldn't be ruled out, and that it wouldn't have been responsible to travel in view of that possible threat. The trip hadn't been announced ahead of time. The two ministers had planned to speak with ministers in the interim government and with representatives of U.N. aid organizations. Germany in particular has been a major destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade. Last week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus and reopened the German Embassy, 13 years after it was shut in the early days of Syrias civil war. Baerbock, who met interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and others, said Europe needs eyes and ears on the ground as it follows the Syrian political transition. It was her second visit since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December. 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 The European Union is advising its 450 million citizens to prepare for potential crises by stockpiling essential supplies like food and water to last a minimum of 72 hours. The recommendation comes as the 27-nation bloc reevaluates its security strategies in the face of growing threats from war, cyberattacks, climate change, and disease. The EUs call for preparedness reflects a changing global landscape, marked by increasing instability and interconnected risks. The bloc has recently grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing tensions with Russia, including concerns over energy security and support for Ukraine. Nato Secretary-General Mark Ruttes warning about a potential Russian attack in Europe by 2030 further underscores the need for heightened vigilance. "Todays threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected," said Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, while introducing a new EU strategy designed to enhance disaster preparedness and response. While the commission is keen not to be seen as alarmist, Ms Lahbib said it is 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 items to stock. Citizens of the EU have been told to stockpile enough food to last at least three days ( Getty ) 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, The EUs plans are similar to those in France, Finland and Sweden. In 2024, 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," Ms Lahbib said. 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 French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot began a two-day visit to China on Thursday during which he is to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart on Ukraine and longstanding trade disputes between China and Europe. Barrot went into a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shortly before noon, to be followed by a news conference and luncheon. On Friday, he will travel to Shanghai for a series of meetings with local officials and business leaders. France has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its struggle against Russian invasion, while Beijing has backed Russia diplomatically and provided an economic lifeline by buying Russian natural resources. Barrot's visit is an opportunity to gauge China's attitude on Ukraine ahead of a major French-hosted meeting on a possible peacekeeping force for the country. The talks come as fissures are showing between the U.S. and Europe over support for Ukraine, with Washington increasingly seen as backing Moscow. French President Francois Macron said Wednesday that a proposed European armed force could be deployed in Ukraine in under an eventual peace deal, and could respond to a Russian attack if Moscow launched one. 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. Europe has long complained of unfair Chinese trade practices that it says force European companies to take on Chinese partners, share business practices and result in a major Chinese trade surpluses. 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 Sir Keir Starmer has met with world leaders in Paris for the third meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing, a group convened by the prime minister and French President Emmanuel Macron to bolster support for Ukraine against Russia. Some 30 leaders have gathered to discuss Ukraines ongoing security after the US brokered a ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kyiv over the Black Sea earlier this week, which the Kremlin says cannot commence unless certain conditions are met. The Elysee Palace summit follows several meetings led by the prime minister involving more than 200 military planners from across the globe to hash out details of a potential peacekeeping force that could help monitor and enforce any potential formal peace agreement reached between Moscow and Kyiv. Ahead of the summit this morning, Sir Keir met with Nato General Secretary Mark Rutte and the pair agreed Europe must do everything possible to back Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Russia did not accept an earlier 30-day ceasefire agreement reached in Ukraine and US negotiations, and said the Black Sea truce could only begin once some sanctions were lifted. The Kremlin has said any broader work towards peace would take time. open image in gallery Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer ( AP ) What is the coalition of the willing? The coalition was announced by Sir Keir at the start of March, following a summit on Ukraine he hosted in London. It was formed to help bolster Ukraines defences against Russia, including through increasing military aid. Just days after that first meeting, the US temporarily suspended intelligence sharing with Kyiv, pushing European leaders to hold crisis talks on what further support they could provide to Ukraine. A central part of the point of the coalition of the willing is to create a peacekeeping force, Sir Keir has previously said, which would help enforce any ceasefire on the ground in Ukraine. A peacekeeping force would help guarantee Ukraines future security, he said last week, addingn that what action the force would take was subject to meetings with military experts from around the world. open image in gallery Officials pose as part of the so-called "Coalition of the willing" summit at the Elysee Palace ( AP ) Who does it include? The group is led by Sir Keir and Mr Macron alongside Mr Zelensky. The world leaders include Italian Prime Miniser Giorgia Melono Portugals Prime Minister Luis Montenegro Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides Spanish Prime Ministe: Pedro Sanchez Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Croatias Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic Lithuanian chairman Gitanas Nauseda Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala Swedens Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson Finlands President Alexander Stubb Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen Icelands Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever Turkeys Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz Besides the country leaders, the group also includes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President Antonio Costa, and Nato General Secretary Mark Rutte. What have some of those leaders said? French president Emmanuel Macron said European troops deployed in Ukraine to monitor a peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow could respond to a Russian attack if it occured. 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 ahead of this weeks summit. 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. open image in gallery Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ( AP ) The Ukrainian president said Europe must be strong and united in the face of Russias aggression ahead of the summit. This is not the time to reduce pressure on Russia or weaken our unity for the sake of peace. What we need is more strong, joint steps to bring about real peace. Sanctions against Russia must remain in force and be strengthenedfor as long as Russian occupation continues, Mr Zelensky wrote on X. Ursula von der Leyen said the summit was also about strengthening the security of Europe as a whole. Reinforcing Ukraine to defend itself is the starting point. We also need a common and long-term plan, she said on X. What does it hope to do? The central focus of the coalition of the willing is a peacekeeping force, and European leaders are expected to discuss what, exactly, they are willing to contribute to a military effort on the ground in Ukraine. The group also needs support from the US, which has provided crucial intelligence information to Ukraine throughout the conflict. So far only the UK and France have committed to providing troops to the cause, and Sir Keir will present a detailed plan on what that peacekeeping force could provide to leaders at the Elysee Palace on Thursday. The leaders are also expected to discuss ongoing military aid and funding to bolster Ukraines military. 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. 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 Italys agriculture minister has downplayed concerns about potential US tariffs on wine, expressing hope for a diplomatic solution. It comes amid escalating trade tensions between the US and Europe, with US President Donald Trump threatening a 200 per cent tariff on European wine and spirits. While acknowledging the threat posed by the proposed tariffs, Francesco Lollobrigida said: "We fear any further burden that will create more difficult conditions (for wine exports), but we aren't terrified." He added that he hoped "diplomacy will prevail in negotiations with such a strategic ally like the United States, over a fundamental market for Italy, indispensable and not replaceable". A key decision on tariffs is anticipated from the White House on April 2. Adding to the unease, Italian trade group Federvini reported a slowdown in wine and spirits exports to the US due to the looming tariff threat. open image in gallery An expert wine tester shakes a glass of Prosecco at the Case Paolin farm in Volpago del Montello, Italy ( AP ) The uncertainty surrounding potential duties is creating a challenging environment for Italian winemakers, who rely heavily on the American market. Trump's threat to target European wines and other alcohol imports is a response to a European Union plan to impose tariffs on American whiskey and other products next month. That, in turn, is a reaction to Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports that took effect earlier this month. Italy's wine exports in 2024 grew 5 per cent year-on-year to over 8 billion ($8.63 billion), of which just under a quarter were directed to the United States, according to data from national statistics agency ISTAT. open image in gallery President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on imports from a number of countries ( EPA ) The industry, including the wider supply chain, accounts for just over 1 per cent of Italy's gross domestic product, data by Italy's wine producers association Uiv showed. "Nobody can still say anything clear about the impact tariffs will have on the national wine industry as nothing is still defined or final," said Matteo Zoppas, head of the country's trade agency ICE. Lollobrigida and Zoppas were speaking at a conference presenting this year's Vinitaly. Some 4,000 wine companies and 3,000 buyers from 140 different countries are expected to attend the event, one of the world's largest wine fairs. It is taking place in the northern city of Verona on April 6-9. "The U.S. delegation has confirmed its presence," said Federico Bricolo, the president of Veronafiere, the exhibition centre hosting the fair. 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 Tensions flared anew in Turkey's capital, Ankara, as police clashed with student protesters early Thursday, deploying pepper spray, plastic pellets, and water cannons. This latest confrontation threatens to reignite widespread anti-government demonstrations, which had seen a brief lull after two days of relative calm. The protests, sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu last week, represent the largest challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government in over a decade. Mr Imamoglu, a prominent rival to Mr Erdogan, faces corruption charges and accusations of supporting terrorism, allegations widely perceived as politically motivated. While the government maintains the judiciary's independence, critics argue the case against Mr Imamoglu relies on unsubstantiated claims from secret witnesses. The latest clash occurred near Middle East Technical University, where students attempted to march and deliver a press statement, according to pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV and local media reports. open image in gallery A protester reads President Erdogan's book in front of Turkish riot police barricades ( EPA ) Security forces intervened, using forceful tactics to disperse the gathering. Students sought refuge behind a makeshift barricade of dumpsters before police moved in to detain them. Melih Meric, a lawmaker with Imamoglu's Republican Peoples Party (CHP), was caught in the crossfire, suffering from pepper spray exposure and drenched by water cannons. In videos shared on social media, Meric said: "My student friends only wanted to make a press statement, but the police strictly did not allow it, this is the result." Officials have not said how many people were detained. Also Thursday, eight journalists who were jailed awaiting trial after covering the protests were released, a media freedom group said. Seven who were detained Tuesday in morning raids on their homes were released in Istanbul following appeals, the Media and Law Studies Association said, while an eighth was freed in the western port city of Izmir. open image in gallery Riot police use water cannon to disperse protesters in Ankara ( EPA ) CHP leader Ozgur Ozel had promised that lawmakers would stand alongside protesters in the hope of lowering tensions. He also warned Tuesday that if the police provoked demonstrators, he would call for 500,000 people to (come to) the place that will disturb the authorities the most. At least 1,400 people were detained in the first six days of the protests, the interior minister said Tuesday. Demonstrations involving hundreds of thousands have swept across major cities, including opposition-organized rallies outside Istanbul City Hall. Other major protests have been held in Istanbul's districts of Kadikoy and Sisli districts in recent days. Meanwhile, Mr Imamoglu, speaking from prison via social media Wednesday, denounced police violence against protesters, I cannot call them police because my honorable police would not commit this cruelty to the young children of the nation, he said. Mr Imamoglu has been confirmed as the CHP's candidate for presidential elections due in 2028 but which could come earlier. He has performed well in recent polls against Mr Erdogan, for whom his election as mayor of Turkeys largest city in 2019 was a major blow. 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 Watch in full as Vladimir Putin speaks after Sir Keir Starmer accused Russia of playing games with peace and delaying a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Russian president addressed the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk, a city in northwest Russia. It came after the British prime minister argued that Putin must be given a deadline to make progress on a Ukraine ceasefire, as he met with European allies. Sir Keir accused Putin of playing games and attempting to drag the Donald Trump-initiated process out to allow his forces time to continue their assaults on Ukraine. The PM also vowed that now was not the time to lift sanctions on Russia. Following talks in Paris, Sir Keir said leaders from the UK, France and Germany would travel to Ukraine for talks with Kyivs military chiefs to discuss plans for a force to deter Putin from attacking again if there is a deal to bring the war to an end. 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 Five Eyes, the most important intelligence network in the western world, binds the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand into a tapestry of shared espionage. But now it is unravelling and the Trump administration has pulled its threads. Mark Carney, the new Canadian Prime Minister, said that his country may now have to look to ourselves following the revelations that US defence secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive details of plans to attack Yemens Houthis on a Signal messaging group which included the head of the CIA and the US director of national intelligence and a journalist. We have a very strong intelligence partnership with the Americans through Five Eyes, Carney said. Mistakes do happen, but whats important is how people react to those mistakes. They dont deny the mistakes; that they are clear and transparent in addressing them. But every US official on the Signal group, including the head of the CIA and the director of National Intelligence, has denied there was a security breach, insisted that no secret material was shared, and brushed the whole incident off. This has had a catastrophic effect on the faith of US-allied intelligence services in the ability of American officials to keep the most secret secrets secret. Most importantly because it is clear that a personal phone identified as most likely in the hands of Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff, was receiving sensitive information about US military plans while he was in Moscow. open image in gallery US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and the Trump administration, have tried to brush off the Signal leak ( REUTERS ) Using a commercial messaging system rather than a government-encrypted communications system is dumb enough. Doing so using personal telephones is unforgivable. Doing both in Moscow, as it would appear Witkoff did, is downright incompetent. As an example of the reach of Russian intelligence into mobile devices, I used an Apple device during a recent two-week trip to Ukraine which ended in Odesa, the Ukrainian port city last Saturday. Yesterday I fired that device up and found all its data traffic was being routed through Russian Sevastopol, in Russian-occupied Crimea. When British government delegations traveled to the Russian capital, personal and government-issued mobile phones of every single member of the delegation, the air crew, and security personnel were left in the UK. That order included the prime minister. On arrival, the delegations were issued new phones for local use. They also get trained in minimizing all communications and how to behave while in country, including while in the toilet and in bed. On departure, the phones they were issued to use in Moscow were always smashed before takeoff, the debris brought back to the UK and burned. Witkoff has, allegedly, been wandering Moscow with his personal phone oblivious to the fact that Russian intelligence will have penetrated his handset. They will have done this as easily as the Saudi Arabians, and the other Gulf countries he has also visited. Every resident in Saudi or the UAE is famously aware that their communications are so bugged they can sometimes hear recordings of themselves mid-chat. open image in gallery There are questions over the future of Trump envoy Steve Witkoff (c) for his part in the debacle ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) US-allied intelligence agencies will now be scrambling to try to figure out what secrets of theirs Witkoff may have stored on his phone. What other communications have been going on between the heads of US intelligence agencies on their personal phones over Signal? Its not just the content of the messages thats worrying its that we now dont know if their handsets themselves are even secure, said a Middle Eastern intelligence official. Witkoff has been at the centre of talks between Hamas and Israel in Qatar, and between Ukraine and Russia, in Saudi Arabia. Any kind of a leak from the US side would be a catastrophic compromise. Europe now knows for sure, after the Signal message snafu, that both Pete Hegseth and JD Vance have contempt for the entire European continent. The Signal chat group revealed by The Atlantic when the magazines editor-in-chief was accidentally added to a group discussing the imminent bombardment of the Houthis, and later analysis of the operation, included: Vance, Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, MAR, the initials of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, TG, the initials of director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Scott B, who is likely to be Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent S M, the initials of the White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff and Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East and Russia. How many of these officials were using their own personal phones is unclear. open image in gallery Director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was among those grilled by senators following the leak ( Getty Images ) Ratcliffe told the Senate intelligence committee that he used Signal on his CIA office computer. Did he use it on his personal phone for CIA-related conversations? Gabbard was vague about where she had been during the Signal chat about Yemen. She said she had been in Asia. She was, in fact, in or near Thailand and landed in India the day after the Yemen attacks. India is a US ally but not as much as it is of Vladimir Putins Russia. India has close ties in defence, nuclear power, space and missile technology with the Kremlin. And like the Russians, India is a world leader in mobile phone technology. Israeli company NSO led the commercial world with its Pegasus spyware which was able to entirely coopt the personal phones of thousands of people. It has been used in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, Mexico, Morocco, Rwanda and Hungary. The truth is that Five Eyes under Donald Trumps first presidency was already severely strained by what some members of the group saw as dangerous incompetence in handling secrets by the Oval Office. At least one other close American ally in the Middle East confirmed that, along with one Five Eye nation, the most sensitive material, details of operations, were being held back from the CIA. The fear was that Trump would blurt secrets in meetings and get people killed. The most egregious example of this was when Trump disclosed highly classified information to Russia's foreign minister about a planned Islamic State operation in 2017. He blurted out details of an ISIS plot to blow up an airliner with a bomb in a laptop and boasted of other details - which were not even American secrets to reveal. His audience was Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak. Russia was heavily involved in Syria at the time supporting the regime of Bashar al Assad which was also a target of US intelligence gathering. open image in gallery President Donald Trump has disclosed highly classified information before ( EPA ) Middle Eastern spy agencies went into elaborate contortions to protect the source of the original intelligence, who was identified as working for Israels Mossad, because Trump had told the Russians there was an agent inside the Isis leadership. Intelligence officers in two different organizations told me soon after that debacle that while the CIA was trustworthy they could not risk sharing top secrets with the president of the US. Five Eyes has been the bedrock of the Anglophone intelligence world for decades. It is a means by which signals intelligence, mostly from Britians GCHQ and the US National Security Agency, is shared automatically on a network between the five participating countries. They also liaise very closely on human intelligence, often sharing agents in the field, the data they collect, literally working side by side. The UK has traditionally had the edge, along with the US, on Russia. Australia and New Zealand closely monitor their regions, Canada has a reputation for exceptional intelligence analysis. These countries also work closely with other allies. Israel, the UK and the US have a very close relationship spying on Iran. The Germans are well known to have exceptional reach in the Middle East. And all of them see Russia, and China, as the enduring adversaries and most serious strategic threats. They will all be horrified that not only were Americas top intelligence officials chatting on Signal but that some of them, perhaps all of them, were using personal phones. Gabbard refused to tell the Senate Intelligence Committee whether, or not, she was using a government-issued secure phone for the chat or her personal device. Gabbard is in charge of the National Intelligence Service that hoovers up signals intelligence for the US and liaises directly with GCHQ in the UK. Risk averse Five Eyes intelligence agencies will draw only one conclusion from her evasion of the question. She cant be trusted. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russian prosecutors asked a judge on Thursday to put billionaire Vadim Moshkovich, founder of the country's top agriculture company Rusagro, in pre-trial detention on suspicion of large-scale fraud. Moshkovich, 57, Russia's 55th richest businessman, according to Forbes, and ex-CEO of Rusagro Maxim Basov were detained and police raided several Rusagro offices. Izvestia newspaper reported that the company's current CEO Timur Lipatov was also being questioned by the police. Rusagro's shares fell by about 18% on the news. Russia's Vedomosti newspaper and RBC said the criminal case against Moshkovich was related to a conflict with the founders of Solnechny Produkti, a major supplier of vegetable oils and fats. Russian court documents showed that Moshkovich was charged with large-scale fraud, for which there is a 10-year maximum prison sentence. Prosecutors asked in court documents for him to be kept in detention awaiting trial. Moshkovich pleaded not guilty, Interfax reported. According to RBC and Kommersant, the founders of Solnechny Produkti had a long legal battle but that the situation suddenly changed a month ago. It was unclear why. open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting of the supervisory board of the Movement of the First, Russian public-and-state children and youth organisation, at the Russia National Centre in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) ( Sputnik ) The company is Russia's leading producer of sugar, meat, oil and fat products, and is ranked among the country's top five landowners. It controls 6,850 square kilometres of land - more than four times the area of Greater London. Rusagro has a head office in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine and is subject to frequent attacks. The company issued a statement confirming several of its offices had been searched but saying the operation was not related to its "current activities". "We understand that this situation may raise questions among our clients, partners and employees, so we hasten to assure you: the company fully complies with the law and is ready to provide all necessary assistance to authorised bodies," it said. It said all company activities were continuing as normal, and all obligations were being met. "We are confident in the transparency of our work and expect the procedures to be completed as soon as possible." Rusagro changed its domicile from Cyprus to Russia this year, following a Russian court decision in a case brought by the Agriculture Ministry against Rusagro's Cyprus-based parent company. The court annulled the Cypriot company's ownership rights after its shareholders refused to convert their shares into those of the Russian entity to have them effectively frozen under a law, passed after the start of the war in Ukraine. Rusagro, which is not under Western sanctions, is Russia's only major listed agricultural company. Its shares have been quoted on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX) since last month, replacing the GDRs of its Cyprus-based parent company which until last year were also listed on the London Stock Exchange, after a successful IPO in 2011. Who is Vadim Moshkovich? Born in 1967 in Moscow, Moshkovich started out in business importing sugar in 1995 in the chaos of post-Soviet Russia. He bought his first sugar plants and agricultural land in the following years. Moshkovich founded Rusagro in 2003. The billionaire was also a member of the upper house of the Russian parliament between 2006 and 2014, representing the Belgorod region. After having sanctions imposed by the West, Moshkovich resigned as chairman of Rusagro in 2022, cutting his stake to below 50%. Moshkovich held assets in real estate development in Moscow. He is also a philanthropist whose major project in recent years has been a school for gifted children, located just outside Moscow. 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 China-bound AirAsia flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Kuala Lumpur due to an engine fire shortly after takeoff, Malaysian authorities said. Flight AK128 to Shenzhen returned to the Kuala Lumpur international airport after a fire started in the right engine of the Airbus A320 shortly after its 9.59pm local time departure on Wednesday. The cause of the fire was identified as a pneumatic ducting burst, Selangor states fire and rescue department said. Pneumatic ducting routes pressurised air throughout the plane for engine functions as well as cabin pressurisation. The fire was completely extinguished by the aircrafts in-built safety system before it landed shortly after midnight, the fire department said, adding that all 171 passengers and crew were unharmed. The department deployed nine personnel and a fire engine to runway 3 after receiving a distress call at 10.37pm local time, assistant director of operations Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said. The firefighters ensured passengers and crew exited the aircraft safely and made checks to ensure no further fires erupted. All 171 passengers and crew safely disembarked, Mr Mukhtar told reporters on Thursday morning. Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke said he had received a preliminary report from the Civil Aviation Authority. "AirAsia will issue a statement on what happened shortly to address the issue. At this point, I do not want to preempt anything, Mr Loke said. "Let the authorities investigate as normal procedure as any emergency landing will be investigated thoroughly." Earlier this month, 12 passengers were taken to hospital in Colorado, US, after an American Airlines flight caught fire while taxiing on the tarmac. Photos and videos posted on social media showed passengers standing on the Boeing 737-800 planes wings as the flames engulfed its underside. The passengers were eventually brought to safety via slides. One passenger told CBS Colorado that shortly after landing, passengers started catching a weird burning plastic smell. Then everybody started screaming and saying there was a fire, Gabrielle Hibbitts, travelling with her mother and sister, recalled. 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 British tourist has died in the Bahamas after colliding with a rock while riding a jet ski just off a popular beach on a private island. The 73-year-old tourist had stopped off at the private island Half Moon Cay during a Holland America Line cruise around the Caribbean when the incident occurred on 22 March. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said that shortly after 1pm, police on the neighbouring island of Eleuthera were alerted of the incident by the island manager and proceeded over to Half Moon Cay. Upon arrival, police found out the woman was riding a jet ski when she allegedly lost control and collided with a rock. The police labelled the incident as an accident. Medical personnel provided assistance to the tourist but to no avail, and was pronounced deceased by a local doctor. The police force said an investigation is underway. Cruise company Holland America confirmed that the tourist was a passenger on its cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, which is currently on a 14-day itinerary around the Caribbean after it departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 16 March. The cruise stopped at destinations such as Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands before reaching Half Moon Cay, CruiseMapper, a cruise tracking site, shows. open image in gallery The tourist who died was a 73-year-old passenger on Holland Americas Nieuw Amsterdam cruise (stock) ( Getty Images ) A day after the fatal incident, the Nieuw Amsterdam returned to Fort Lauderdale, part of the scheduled itinerary, before heading back to Half Moon Cay on 24 March. After visiting Jamaica, the ship is due to anchor down at Grand Cayman Island and Cozumel, Mexico before returning to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, 30 March. The Independent has reached out to Holland America Line for comment. Holland America Line regrets to confirm that a passenger onboard Nieuw Amsterdam passed away following a tragic incident on a personal watercraft, the cruise line said in a statement to The Independent. The guest, a 73-year-old woman, died on 22 March while the ship was calling at Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas. We are in contact with the guests family and doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time. The accident is currently being investigated by the Bahamian authorities. Out of respect for the family and guest, we do not have further information to share. Deaths caused by jet ski crashes have often made headlines. In August 2024, a mother died after the jet ski she was riding with her partner collided with one being driven by their teenage twin daughters. The 47-year-old died from a head injury a few hours after the crash in Arcachon Bay, off Frances Atlantic coast. A week later, two more deaths hit the headlines when a father and son were killed after their jet ski rammed into a seawall in the Florida Keys. The 47-year-old father had been driving the watercraft at full speed in a residential canal when he hit the seawall. Two teenage girls also lost their lives in Illinois in June 2024 when their jet ski collided with a passing boat on Lake Marie. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast Mark Carney has responded to the new 25 per cent tariff on non-U.S. cars in a direct message to Donald Trump. The new Canadian prime minister held a press conference on Thursday (27 March), after Trump announced the 25 per cent tariff on all fully-assembled cars imported to the US. Mr Carney said: Last night, the president of the United States reached out to schedule a call I appreciate this op to discuss how we can protect our workers and build our economies. I will make clear to the p that those interests are best served by cooperation and respect, including of our sovereignty. A Labour MP remained awkwardly silent when asked if his partys government has been a disappointment. Clive Lewis remained silent for five seconds when he was asked by Sky journalist Sophy Ridge: Has this Labour government been a disappointment? The Norwich South MP appeared on Sky on Wednesday (26 March) just hours after chancellor Rachel Reeves spring statement. The chancellor unveiled a 14bn package to repair the UK economy that includes cuts to welfare, as 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. A Labour cabinet minister's speech was disrupted by Pro-Palestinian protesters calling for an end to F35 exports to Israel on Thursday, 27 March. Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was speaking at a conference hosted by Chatham House when he was interrupted by a man accusing him of being complicit in genocide and demanding an end to the sale of F35 parts to Israel. The Government has suspended some arms export licences to Israel due to concerns they could be used to violate international law. We have not suspended F-35s because they are integral to our national security and the defence of Ukraine, and people will know the supply chain for the F-35 means they cannot be isolated to one country," Mr Reynolds said. Vladimir Putin has warned that Donald Trump's threat to control Greenland is not "eccentric talk" from the US president's administration. The Republican has made repeated threats to annex the semi-autonomous region of Denmark a desire that has sparked anger among Greenlanders and in Copenhagen. Speaking on Thursday, 27 March, at the International Arctic Forum, the Russian president warned: "It would be a great mistake to believe these are some kind of extravagant conversations of the new American administration." Footage from a Tesla camera appears to capture a Florida man damaging the electric vehicle with a sharp object. Bradenton police posted the video to Facebook on Wednesday (26 March), asking for the publics help in identifying the individual suspected of causing at least $7,000 in damage at the Pinebrook Commons shopping plaza. The video seems to show the man holding something in his hand and running it along the side of the Tesla as he passes by it. Police say he was driving a dark-colored Chevrolet crossover or SUV. Attacks on Teslas have increased dramatically as company CEO Elon Musk continues to slash thousands of federal jobs via his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Donald Trumps Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem filmed a social media video inside a mega-prison in El Salvador holding Venezuelan people deported by the United States as she visited the facility on Wednesday, 26 March. In the footage, Ms Noem posed in front of prisoners in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) as she warned: Do not come to our country illegally. It comes after hundreds of immigrants, alleged by US authorities to be members of Venezuela's notorious Tren de Aragua gang, were transferred to CECOT on Sunday. This move was part of a $6m agreement between the Trump administration and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, providing the US with a year's worth of detention services. The government has only a few days to help prevent some serious damage to the British car industry. They will be well aware that the UK exports some 6bn worth of vehicles to the US, and the trade is vulnerable to the 25 per cent tariffs planned and indeed publicly signed into force by Donald Trump, due to come into effect on 2 April. As you read this, consignments of Range Rovers and Bentleys are hurriedly making their way to the United States to beat the tax. Its not enough to kill off growth in the UK economy the car industry represents 0.2 per cent of GDP, and its not going to be wiped out entirely but it doesnt help post-Brexit, and it will hurt badly in certain areas. The Wolverhampton constituency of Pat McFadden, for example, one of Keir Starmers closest cabinet colleagues, would be one, with many there depending on the Jaguar Land Rover engine plant for their livelihoods. Jobs will be lost. It feels like an act of economic war, and that is what it is. The trade wars Trump is triggering are against almost the whole world, including Americas most active trading partners and investors. It will depress the world economy, and it is not rational. As Trump sees it, allies are often worse than enemies, singling out Canada and the European Union for particular ire. They seem ready to reciprocate, and things can quite easily escalate, as they did in the 1930s. Trump being Trump, trade policy wont be kept in a separate compartment he could quite easily swap a carve-out on the tariffs in return for the UK dropping the digital services tax, which would cost Rachel Reeves 800m. If countries retaliate, then Trump could do the same. But he could also threaten them with withdrawing their defence guarantees, Nato or not, or ending scientific or cultural cooperation, restricting visas for workers and visitors. Everything is on the table. He wont care. We cant even slap a spiteful but satisfying tariff on Tesla cars because most of the ones in British showrooms are made in Germany or China ( AFP via Getty ) The great irony is that the one country where Trump is talking about relaxing trade restrictions and lifting sanctions is Russia. Although he hasnt yet been tricked by the Russians into doing so they craftily inserted the idea, unilaterally, into one of the readouts from the Ukraine peace talks in Jeddah it is no secret that Trump and his team are hell-bent on normalising relations with Russia as soon as possible, and that Ukraine is not going to be allowed to get in the way of that deranged strategic goal. Sooner or later, Russia will be granted the most favourable economic relationship with the US of any nation on earth. Thats the measure of the revolutionary change in geopolitics Trump is bringing about, even if many dont quite believe what is happening before their very eyes. What should Britain do? Keep calm and carry on negotiating would be the sensible and rational response. The UK doesnt import much in the way of steel, aluminium or cars from America, and, sadly, lacks the heft to be able to intimidate the US. The EU and China have far more clout, but even they are victims of Trumps aggression (though it will be American consumers and businesses who pay the higher price). We cant even slap a spiteful but satisfying tariff on Tesla cars because most of the ones in British showrooms are made in Germany or China. A voluntary buyers boycott would be much more effective. We do import some models from the US, but they tend not to carry familiar American nameplates: the BMW X5s made in Spartanburg, South Carolina, but with engines made in Germany, is one such example. You can see why this intensely integrated industry hates tariffs and trade restrictions such as those we created after Brexit. In any case, raising UK tariffs on US imports would simply mean more expensive cars for British families, and theres no reason to do that. The bigger risk is that Trump would ask his cronies in the Oval Office why America shares sensitive intelligence so freely with the British (no sense or irony), let alone the Trident nuclear missile technology. You can see that ending badly for the British, and it making no difference to this White House. In trade wars, everyone loses, but some more than others. Best to keep our heads down and hope those rich Americans will pay a little more for their Bentley Continentals. High Court ruling in Bank of Ireland case linked to alleged fraud is set aside Ex-employee claims bank tried to deceive DAA with dual accounting system at Dublin Airport branch Bank of Ireland had a bureau de change outlet at Dublin Airport. Photo: PA John Mulligan Thu 27 Mar 2025 at 03:30 The Court of Appeal has set aside a High Court order which found that Bank of Ireland should be forced to produce certain records of communications with its solicitors in relation to a long-running case where a former employee has alleged the bank was engaged in fraud at its former bureau de change outlet at Dublin Airport. A third of companies are looking to scale back on work-from-home option, despite its popularity with employees, survey finds San Leon gets order freezing investors 50m shares The company says Canadas Tri Ri failed to honour agreements to invest up to $187m in the Irish business Oisin Fanning of San Leon. Photo: Bloomberg Tim Healy Thu 27 Mar 2025 at 03:30 San Leon, a Dublin-headquartered oil and gas company, has been granted a short-term injunction freezing up to 50m in assets owned by a Canadian asset management company. Microsoft executive says laid off staff should use AI to help cope with emotional loss Memoir Amanda Knox has lived most of her adult life in the spotlight, even if she wasnt seeking it. In Free, her second memoir, she is determined to wrest back control and tell her own story. Writing of her flatmate, Meredith Kercher, who was murdered, she notes that their fates were intertwined: I often feel as if Meredith and I are two sides of the same coin. And when that coin was flipped, I got heads and she got tails. Eoin McNamees mesmerising novel of kidnap, murder and fraud in the Irish borderlands is inspired by real-life events in his family One early scene in particular stood out for me in Eoin McNamees mesmerising novel of kidnap, murder and fraud in the Irish borderlands. Paramilitary leader Dominic McGlinchey and his wife are hiding out in a semi-derelict farmhouse, its downstairs windows sealed by cement blocks. Lorraine, the young woman whose life and violent death form the connective tissue of the book, visits him one night in the company of her older married lover, Paddy Farrell. The man who owns the farmhouse keeps geese, and when Dominic goes to a far field to bring them in for the night, Lorraine decides to go with him. She isnt afraid of McGlinchey, more dispassionately curious: She waited for the fear to come, here in the presence of death with a man like Dominic, but the fear would not come. Through the dark, she picks out white, unshaped objects scattered on the grass of the field. Mink have got in, the geese have been slaughtered. Lorraine pictures the mink, the eyes glittering, constellated with yearning and their mouths still reddened, blood rosettes in the moonlight. She turns to Dominic with a question. Is he, she wants to know, a fox or a mink? She does not suggest which she herself might be. It is left to the reader to speculate that perhaps she is one of the geese, but will never realise it herself. For we already know Lorraines fate at this point: in the opening scene of the book, set in 1997, the bodies of Paddy and Lorraine are discovered at her mothers house in Drogheda. They have been shot with the same gun, which is found in Lorraines hands. Just days earlier, she organised her funeral service and bought a shotgun and a grave for two people, despite knowing that Paddy would never be buried with her. Radio reviews: The Hard Shoulder; Morning Ireland; and The News at One A few months ago, I was driving in the south of Wicklow from Avoca to Arklow, when I saw long lines of people on both sides of the road, wearing hi-vis jackets and apparently picking up bits of rubbish. At first it seemed like one of those police operations you see on TV when someone has been murdered and theyre searching for every piece of evidence. I had difficulty accepting it was just a clean-up effort organised by public-spirited individuals, because I couldnt believe that so much junk could be dumped on the side of the road. How wrong I was. Playgrounds and park entrances are hotspots for dog poo parasites that can cause blindness, Irish researchers have found. Their study of Dublin parks found most had roundworm eggs in their soils, with lab analysis showing the majority were the strain found in dogs. The greatest concentration of eggs was at the entrance to the parks which tallies with anecdotal evidence from dog owners that their pets often defecate as soon as they reach the park. However, the second most common spot was in playgrounds within the parks, including those fenced off with signs saying dogs were not allowed. Roundworm infection or toxocara is relatively common in dogs and often they carry it without symptoms. Humans can also pick it up without effect but in rare cases it can cause fever, skin rashes, pneumonia and even sight loss. The study carried out by Trinity College Dublins School of Natural Sciences examined almost 1,000 soil samples from 12 public parks around Dublin city. Nine of the parks produced samples with eggs and almost all the eggs were viable with potential to infect.. Lead researcher, Dr Jason Keegan, said while the findings might sound worrying, they could help show how best to tackle the problem. This new research specifically pinpoints the hotspots in Dublins public parks where egg counts are highest in soil samples, and that tells us where we need to target our intervention efforts, he said. By providing more signage, bins and a means to clean up after dogs in these locations, we could reduce the level of contamination. The study found fewer roundworm eggs than studies 30 years ago when the problem of stray dogs was greater. However, it also illustrated that dog-fouling in public places remains an issue despite greater awareness around it. The key results included: Eggs were found in 75pc of parks that were sampled Most eggs were located at park entrances, with playgrounds the next-most common hotspot The majority of eggs were potentially infective Most were identified as Toxocara canis, linking their origins to dog rather than cat po Toxocara is one of the most common parasitic infections across the globe and while there are many potential routes of infection, it is widely believed that the most common one for people is coming into contact with soil containing infective eggs and then accidentally ingesting them, said Dr Keegan. The study looked at initiatives in other countries, and found that allowing dog owners use any bin, instead of waiting to find a dedicated dog poo bin, reduced incidences of fouling. Many dog-fouling reduction interventions are not assessed for their effectiveness after implementation, so its imperative that such an assessment is built into any plan in the future, said Dr Keegan. Of the assessments that have been completed, we know posters made by schoolchildren can be useful. "Involving the local communities most impacted by dog faeces in their recreational areas could be an opportunity worth exploring. New book marks second decade of Education and Training Boards in Ireland From left, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) general secretary Paddy Lavelle, former Irish Independent education editor Katherine Donnelly and ETBI communications manager Gwen Moore. Photo: Marc O'Sullivan Gender wars, anti-immigration sentiment and the rise of far-right groups are key challenges for the provision of equality-based state education in Ireland. Thats according to a new landmark book about Irelands Education & Training Boards (ETBs), edited by former Irish Independent Education Editor Katherine Donnelly. In the book, Education & Training Boards: Shaping the Future, Leaving No One Behind, DCUs Professor Anne Looney argues that early debates focused on multi-denominational identity and religious education. However, gender wars and far-right anti-immigration sentiment are increasingly fuelling open hostility to education offered by the state that overtly values equality and respect. Contestation about the multi-denominational identity was to be expected but other more recent controversies, and the vitriol associated with them, was surprising to many, says Prof Looney. Ms Donnelly said: After more than 20 years covering education for the Irish Independent, editing this book led me into a much deeper dive of the impressive work carried out by ETBs in every community in the country. ETBs are now into their second decade, and this book provided a platform to take stock of progress made, to showcase examples of ETB leadership and excellence and to look at opportunities and challenges ahead, some of which are emerging. ETBs Ireland general secretary Paddy Lavelle said: This book explores ETB responsibilities, which now stretch from primary schools, through secondary to tertiary education and skills training, as well as out-of-school youth services. ETBs are the largest provider of education through the medium of Irish at post-primary level and are also the lead player in the rapidly expanding public education vocal and instrumental tuition programme, Music Generation. Were proud of our inclusive approach to education which reaches beyond conventional structures, to bring teaching and learning into communities, to people of all ages and abilities, including the most marginalised groups in society. The book Education & Training Boards: Shaping the Future, Leaving No One Behind, marks the second decade since ETBs were established and includes a foreword by the new Education Minister Helen McEntee. It also includes chapters including: Turf Wars are Over by John Walshe, a former Irish Independent journalist who was special adviser to education minister Ruairi Quinn at the time of ETB establishment REALT: A Game Changer by ETBIs Des Murphy which outlines the education sectors response to the Ukraine crisis FE educators deserve better pay and conditions by DCUs Dr Justin Rami and Dr Jane OKelly Early Childhood Education, a New Eole for ETBs? by Paddy Lavelle, ETBI general secretary Family and friends of the late musician Talos are marking Daffodil Day by sharing his song 'We Didnt Know We Were Ready' The brother of Cork musician Eoin French, known to many as Talos, said he would be proud knowing his music is now helping support the work of the Irish Cancer Society. Eoin died of cancer at the age of 36 in August of last year. With help from his family, friends and collaborators, We Didnt Know We Were Ready, which he co-wrote at the Sounds from a Safe Harbour festival in 2023, was released earlier this year and has been chosen as the song of Daffodil Day. His brother Brian spoke about the pride Eoin would take in knowing his work is now helping raise funds for the work of the Irish Cancer Society. Thankfully, I didnt have to be aware of all the supports the Irish Cancer Society and Marymount Hospice provide until Eoin. You dont really know until you experience it yourself. It is overwhelming, the care thats given both to someone like Eoin who is sick, and the surrounding family and friends. Thats why it made sense to us to partner with and support the amazing work the Irish Cancer Society does. I think Eoin would always feel proud that his art can help, in any way, the work of the Irish Cancer Society. In a way, we get to celebrate Eoins life, celebrate his music, and his art contributes to that amazing work. We Didnt Know We Were Ready was performed live on the Tommy Tiernan Show on RTE on January 4. Collaborators included Olafur Arnalds, Niamh Regan and Ye Vagabonds and producer Mary Hickson. Myself and my fiancee flew back from Ireland after spending Christmas with family, flew back and got back in the evening to a cold, dark, quiet, dusty apartment after two weeks at home, Mr French said. The late Eoin French (Talos). The first thing we did was turn on the Tommy Tiernan Show and after seeing that song we turned off the TV. It was a reflection point for us and it was very poignant. Brian credited Eoin with sparking his own interest in writing. I got into writing via Eoin gifting me a Max Porter book. I fell in love with the book, Shy, and it was a turnkey moment. I read the book, closed the book and thought I have to do writing. Unfortunately, it was a birthday present from Eoin in the year he got diagnosed. My birthday was in April, his diagnosis was in November. I kick myself that I didnt take up writing sooner. In the future, potentially if Eoin was still alive, I might have been able to help with lyrics." He recalled Eoin visiting him in London days before he was diagnosed in November 2023 and said he was in flying form. He was diagnosed in November and passed away in August, so it was a very intense, quick period of time. Eoin was super healthy and super fit. I remember him as a brother who was totally fit and flying. The juxtaposition in 10 days time, to have a diagnosis like that, it was an immediate shock." While Mr French and the rest of his family were there to provide support, he said it was Eoins response to his diagnosis that often uplifted everybody around him. There was a type of confidence, a type of wisdom and a sense of presence that this news has come through but there can be more after that. It was such an admirable reaction that he had. Our support was following him in that direction. I would be in his house, wed be chatting and a friend of his would call in. The friend of course had the ambition of consoling or supporting Eoin but every time, within five minutes, he was the one doing the consoling and the supporting. He was actually helping his friend get through the news. His headspace through that was totally admirable. Our supporting role, if anything, was following him. Reflecting on the time after Eoin passed away, Mr French said grieving can be like an old movie where a stream of clowns keep coming out from inside a tiny car. By the time the scene finishes, theres about 12 clowns coming out of this tiny car. My experience of grief is the car, and there are waves of emotion that you have to experience, where thats sadness, anger, regret, a kind of existentialism. Without sounding too much like my brother, who always defaulted to optimistic, theres a sense that though this is tragic, theres a potential positivity that could come out of an experience. You can learn from these big life moments and make the right changes to your life or your priorities. Id like to think that my brother would want those who are grieving to take a positive from the experience we all went through together. This Daffodil Day, the Irish Cancer Society is urging you to stand with cancer patients and survivors and Go All In Against Cancer. The Irish Cancer Society typically receives only 5pc of its income from the Government, so it relies on the publics generosity to provide vital free support services and ground-breaking cancer research. The Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day takes place on Friday, March 28, 2025.Visit cancer.ie to donate today. Gardai are to carry out checkpoints in Co Kerry as part of a search for a farmer missing from his home for a week. Michael Mike Gaine, 56, was last seen in Kenmare shortly before 10am on Thursday March 20. Gardai and the mans family are extremely concerned for his wellbeing. As part of its missing person investigation, Gardai are looking to speak with and further seek the assistance of the public through checkpoints in the Kenmare area. When last seen, Mr Gaine was buying phone credit in the Centra shop in Kenmare town at 9.48am, which was captured on CCTV. He is described as being approximately 5ft 10in tall, of a 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. A water-based search took place yesterday as part of the ongoing search. Despite an extensive search of his lands and of his farm yard over the past week, there has been no progress in the ongoing investigation which has cast a dark cloud over the town of Kenmare. An extensive search of the farm yard has taken place with diggers on site excavating the yard while the two slurry pits have been emptied. Today's News in 90 seconds - 27th March 2025 Garda sources have said that the search of the farm yard and the sheds are 'complex. The search yesterday involved the Garda sub-aqua team. The farm is located not far from the lakes of Killarney while the River Finnihy also runs through his land. Gardai are maintaining a presence at the farm and have said while the case is an unusual' missing person case there is no direct evidence of foul play at this stage. However, they are keeping an open mind on the case and every single option is on the cards said garda sources. Concerns have intensified given the length of time Mr Gaine has now been missing. Gardai have released CCTV footage of Mr Gaine in Centra in Kenmare last Thursday, in a bid to seek information and have said their recent appeal has proved helpful in their investigation. A major search operation has been underway since last Friday, March 21 when he was first reported missing. Hundreds from the local community joined search and rescue groups over the weekend to search Mr Gaine's farm at Carrig East near Molls Gap, Co Kerry. Aerial searches of Mr Gaine's lands and neighbouring lands have taken place and a nearby quarry has also been searched. On Saturday evening vehicles were removed from the farm and these have been forensically examined as part of the ongoing investigation. Cllr Dan McCarthy, who lives close to Mr Gaine, said the community have become even more concerned as time moves on. "There is a sombre mood all over, people are just concerned and wondering what happened Mike. It is a complete and utter mystery, he said. Cllr McCarthy said his sudden Mr Gaine's sudden disappearance is 'out of character and he said everyone is hoping for answers. Cllr Teddy Casey said the the entire community are thinking of Mr Gaine and his family. "There is gloom all over the town. Everyone is thinking of Mr Gaine's family and what they are going through. Gardai are seeking anyone with camera footage, including dash-cam or CCTV, or any other images (video or still) from Thursday 20th March and Friday 21st March in the Kenmare town / Molls Gap (N71/ R568) area to provide that imagery to the Garda investigation team. Healthcare workers at Drogheda hospital also set for a full stoppage for one day next week after they said management instructed staff to book agency staff to cover the period of planned industrial action Phil ni Sheaghdha of the INMO speaking at the WRC as healthcare workers at Drogheda hospital set to strike next week Proposals to allow unions to make submissions in relation to staffing requirements in the health service were being considered on Thursday night in a bid to avert industrial action next week in a row over understaffing and the use of expensive agency workers to plug gaps. Details of the plans given to unions at discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission included a proposal to invite each union to make a submission to an estimates process for future staff requirements. Health management also committed to offer permanent jobs to 2025 graduates in health and social care professions, psychiatric nursing and nursing and midwifery grades. They proposed to widen the scope of an insurance-based assault scheme and introduce a trainee programme in medical science. Sources said unions were considering the proposals, and proposing amendments. A proposal has also been made to convert agency posts to HSE jobs this year and next. It is understood that 960 full-time positions were approved for agency conversion across the HSE last year, and half of these were filled to date. Management would commit to convert the balance this year and next year. Workers at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital are set to go on strike next Thursday in the row over staffing levels. The move came as unions returned to talks with government officials as widespread industrial action across services already looms next week. Over 80,000 health service workers including nurses are set to begin a work-to-rule on Monday if the discussions fail. Connect, Forsa, the INMO, the Medical Laboratory Scientists Association and Unite, are attending the Workplace Relations Commission for a conciliation conference. Forsa and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation have also served notice of a one-day full work stoppage at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda on April 3. Ashley Connolly, Forsa head of health and welfare, said the escalation is due to reports from union members that they are being instructed by senior management to continue to book agency staff. She said they were asked to book staff in all grades and disciplines during the work-to-rule that is due to start next week. This instruction demonstrates a complete disregard towards our planned industrial action, and thats why weve served notice this morning to management at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda, she said. INMO director of industrial relations Albert Murphy said the INMO, Forsa, Unite, Connect and the MLSA will attend the conciliation conference in good faith and make the case in respect of current working conditions of our members. It is clear that the rise in population growth has not kept up with demand for services and higher levels of acuity, he said. He said the employer must accept that implementing strict recruitment caps is having a devastating impact on the safety of workers and patients in their care. Every area of the public health service, from maternity to palliative care, has felt the impact of necessary positions being left vacant, he said. The HSE has allowed this to get to the point now where services are going to be even more disrupted than they are because of unsafe staffing. Patients are already seeing serious disruption in the health service every single day, we only need to look at the daily trolley count every day and published monthly waiting lists to see that borne out in real time. Due to a complete lack of regard for the safety and wellbeing of healthcare workers in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, our members will be escalating the dispute to include a work stoppage next Thursday, April 3. Ms Connolly said the unions campaign of protest and upcoming industrial action has sought to address an excessive reliance on agency staff. She said this has arisen due to the suppression of vacant posts following a recruitment moratorium between October 2023 and July last year. Weve sought to highlight this because it is the most expensive way for the HSE to deliver its services. Directly employed staff reduce costs and ensure a consistent and sustainable delivery of services. For almost two years now the HSE has ignored our concerns about millions wasted on management consultants and expensive agency staff, she said. Hundreds of unnecessary hip surgeries have taken place on young children, an investigative report has found. At least some may have been carried out "for financial gain", the Dail has been told. A majority of 561 hip surgeries on young children at both Cappagh and Temple Street hospitals were not medically warranted, the report found. The audit has found that 79pc of surgeries at Cappagh and 60pc at Temple Street did not meet the clinical threshold for corrective operations. The report was published on The Ditch website, with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe admitting today that it had been "published elsewhere. But he said it was not complete, because peer review had been invited. Clinicians are looking at the report in order to give "final input", Mr Donohoe said. When concluded, "there will be a need for urgent actions, including contacting families, and acknowledging the stress that many feel at the moment, Mr Donohoe said. Stock image: Getty Today's News in 90 seconds - 27th March 2025 Mr Donohoe added: "We need to understand if and why this happened in the first place, and what are the consequences of it." It was all about ensuring that surgical interventions that took place in that time were consistent with international standards, he said. He was answering Pearse Doherty of Sinn Fein, who told the Dail that one child was taken by their parents for a second opinion and told that not only did the child not need corrective surgery, they didnt even have the condition cited. A parent who had contacted Mr Doherty was "devastated and sick to her stomach" as a result of hearing that diagnosis, he said. The allegations were originally made by a whistleblower who further alleges "that these surgeries were conducted purely for financial gain," Mr Doherty said. "If true, that's absolutely shocking, and it would be a massive scandal. We're talking about children here, children that are between the ages of one and seven," he said. "It would be disgraceful for any medical professional to decide to put a child through the pain and trauma of surgery that wasn't necessary." After the whistleblower claims, an audit into paediatric hip surgeries at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) hospitals was ordered in April of last year. Mr Doherty said: "The report has now been published in full on The Ditch website and can be read by everyone. "It claims that hundreds of children had surgery carried out that they didn't meet the threshold for - that they were subject to unnecessary surgery. "According to that audit, 561 children went through these hip surgeries since 2021." The report recommends now that all of children whose hips were operated on between 2021 and April last year should be recalled and independently assessed. Mr Doherty asked Mr Donohoe to "imagine for one minute that you're the parent of one of these children who were operated on. "Imagine the absolute horror of thinking that your child was put through the trauma of surgery that they didn't need, Mr Doherty said. One parent who made contact with Sinn Fein had a daughter who was four years of age when she went through the operation. "She received a letter from Cappagh to inform her of the clinical audit just a couple of weeks ago. She's devastated. She says she's sick to her stomach that her daughter might have been operated on unnecessarily, Mr Doherty said. "She says: 'This is a horrifying situation to be in as any parent. My daughter was born premature and endured lots of challenges in her first weeks of life. This was followed by treatment for hip dysplasia, and now possibly resulted in surgery that may not have needed to happen'." Mr Doherty reminded Mr Donohoe: "This comes less than two years after it came to light that unlicensed springs were implanted into several children at Temple Street Children's Hospital. "That scandal is still ongoing, with external and ongoing reviews for 18 months now. We still have no answers, and no interim reports that were promised at the time. "All this begs the question: when is this going to stop, and what is going on at Children's Health Ireland?" he he said. Mr Doherty added: "These allegations should have been setting off alarm bells in Government Buildings in the Taoiseach's office, and in the Department of Health." Mr Donohoe acknowledged families' "very deep worries about surgery that their children may have undergone". "There is, indeed a clinical audit now taking place in relation to this issue, in recognition of the seriousness of this matter, and what it can mean for families and their loved ones, he said. "I understand where that process now stands is that the report is now being looked at. Clinicians are providing final input." Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy is digging in against calls for her resignation after getting assurances she will be backed by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Backbenchers from the main government parties have started to circle the wagons and take aim at the opposition. It means Ms Murphy will comfortably survive a vote on her position next week but it leaves the Dail facing the unprecedented situation where dozens of TDs have no confidence in the chair. She came out fighting last night, saying there were unfounded allegations that she colluded with the Government during the chaotic row over speaking rights on Tuesday. 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. 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. Backbench TDs across the Coalition have rallied behind Ms Murphy and one TD even hit out at the Trump-style behaviour of Sinn Fein. Fianna Fail TD John Lahart said Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald had called the then taoiseach Leo Varadkar not my taoiseach in 2020 in what was the start of Trump-style politics. This is just an evolution of that, into if we cant get our way, well shout and roar until we do. Or, well disrupt everything to such an extent that nothing can work and nothing can get done, he added. One Fine Gael TD said: I dont think Verona did anything wrong. The opposition have decided to treat her like a minister. Speaking on RTE Radio One this morning, Ms McDonald said the loss of confidence in the Ceann Comhairle is felt widely across the opposition benches and it is a terrible pity that it has come to this. Meanwhile, backbenchers have hit out at Independent TD Michael Lowry, with whom the opposition have accused the Government of doing a grubby deal, who appeared to hold up two fingers in a video captured by TD Paul Murphy on Tuesday. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail TDs privately branded the incident indefensible, awful and horrendous. Taoiseach Micheal Martin urged Mr Lowry to apologise, but also called out Mr Murphy for taking a video on his phone within the Dail chamber. I made an errant gesture under provocation, said Mr Lowry. 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 offence, and I regret that it may have been seen in such a way, he said. Fianna Fail junior minister Timmy Dooley said what Mr Lowry had done was wrong, but he pointed to Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty roaring at the Ceann Comhairle, which he said was also wrong. He hit out at the opposition parties, saying they werent able to accept the outcome of the general election. Mr Dooley said the opposition was using a tactic of if you dont win the match, you grab the ball and burst it. The opposition has also taken issue with Ms Murphy not calling a vote on the order of business during Tuesdays Dail session. Usually, TDs ask for a Votail and the Ceann Comhairle holds a vote. However, this did not happen and Ms Murphy deemed the vote passed. Labour leader Ivana Bacik told the Ceann Comhairle in the Dail she did so apparently as part of a prearranged set-up orchestrated with the Government. You have a duty to apply the rules fairly and impartially under Standing Orders, Ms Bacik said. The Ceann Comhairle 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, said Ms McDonald. On the clerk of the Dail publishing a report on Tuesdays proceedings in the Dail, stating that standing orders were properly followed, Ms McDonald pointed to the live proceedings of the Dail published on the Oireachtas website. Unfortunately we have a situation where the live proceedings do not tally with the report produced, so there is a question mark around the order of business. The clerk has acted absolutely in good faith, there is no question about that, but the report is flawed, I have read the report and reviewed the video It is clear that a vote was called for, she said. The Clerk of the Dail Peter Finnegan, has also defended the Ceann Comhairle, producing a report on the chaos of the Dail on Tuesday. He said it was a long-standing parliamentary requirement that TDs who werent happy with the order of business would ask for a vote by saying Votail. He said the legal record of the Dail showed the word Votail was not audible and so Ms Murphy declaring the order of business agreed was correct. 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 was making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and Chair. But Ms Murphy said she couldnt defend herself in the Dail today because the Ceann Comhairles office was 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, she said. Tanaiste Simon Harris has said the scenes in the Dail on Tuesday and Wednesday brought politics into disrepute. The Fine Gael leader was not present in the chamber during the chaos, as he was on a visit to Lebanon. However, Mr Harris said that the treatment of Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy was unacceptable and should not be tolerated and confirmed that Fine Gael TDs would vote confidence in her. Given the challenges facing this country and our continent, it is absolutely critical our national parliament, the Dail can function. The scenes across Tuesday and Wednesday bring politics into disrepute. The aggressive behaviour towards the Ceann Comhairle is unacceptable and should not be tolerated, Mr Harris said. Refusing to respect the chair of the Dail or the outcome of a vote in the Dail is not how our democracy works, he added. Mr Harris said that the controversy over speaking rights for government-supporting Independent TDs has gone on too long, that the Irish people deserve better and that the reaction by the opposition has not been proportionate. Today's News in 90 seconds - 27th March 2025 Fine Gael will vote confidence in the Ceann Comhairle to uphold her duties in a fair and impartial manner without fear or favour, the Tanaiste said. I would encourage all members of the Oireachtas to reflect on their actions over recent days. The country needs a functioning Dail and politicians who are proportionate in their response to disagreement. This weeks scenes have been anything but proportionate, he added. As US president Donald Trump said last night that Irelands pharmaceutical industry is in his sights with potential tariffs on the way, the Tanaiste said Ireland and the EU is entering a time of major uncertainty. President Trump has vowed that he will announce a raft of reciprocal trade tariffs on April 2, and the Tanaiste said it was crucial that the Dail can function. Next week, the United States will announce further tariffs on the European Union. The European Union will then consider how to respond. We are entering a time of major uncertainty, he said. A worsening trade dispute can only be negative and will require intensive work and engagement in Ireland and the EU and between the EU and the US. This economic shock will materialise at a critical juncture for Europe with a war on the continent continuing, and our ability to defend ourselves in the face of increased threats posing great challenge, he added. Yesterday, opposition parties submitted a motion of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy, which is expected to come before the Dail early next week. It comes after the leaders criticised how the Ceann Comhairle proceeded with Dail business on Tuesday. However, the clerk of the Dail has written a report on the proceedings on Tuesday and said that the rules of the Dail were properly followed. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has since called that report flawed. What is publicly available is a live video of the proceedings on the Oireachtas website and unfortunately we have a situation where the live proceedings, which anyone can view and review, do not tally with the report that has been produced, Ms McDonald told Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One. Sex workers have hit out at the Governments review of prostitution laws, saying they were not listened to and it shows no evidence prostitutes support current sex work laws. Under current laws, the purchase of sex is illegal in Ireland, while selling sex is not. Those caught buying sex are subject to a fine of up to 500. However, sex workers have raised concerns this drives them further underground as their clients worry about being caught, putting prostitutes further at risk. The review, carried out by a unit within the Department of Justice, recommends issuing on the spot fines to those who buy sex and admit to doing so, or if there is incontrovertible evidence of payment for sexual activity. Today's News in 90 seconds - 27th March 2025 The Government should also consider beefing up Garda powers and giving Gardai a limited power of arrest for detention and questioning for people suspected of buying sex, according to the review. The Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland (SWAI), said there is no evidence sex workers support current laws and no weight has been given to active prostitutes. There is scant evidence that sex workers were properly engaged in this process, said SWAI spokesperson Linda Kavanagh. The onus is on the Department of Justice to do this and SWAI raised this concern during forum discussions. The organisation said throughout the entire review, it takes the stance the current laws are a positive thing. SWAI fundamentally disagrees with this position and is supported by extensive evidence that sex workers are harmed by these laws. The organisation said there is no way to police sex without surveilling sex workers and called on the Department to act on how Gardai have abused their powers. The review details how some sex workers fear reporting crimes to Gardai due to prosecution or eviction. Brothel-keeping raids and welfare checks to disrupt sex workers don't end in convictions, but the consequences for sex workers are severe. Gardai are still targeting sex workers in this way, said Ms Kavanagh. Government policy leads people into sex work and then it ensures sex workers are less safe. Meanwhile, the National Womens Council said laws are the key to criminalise the purchase of sex. The council said there has been numerous positive changes since the new laws criminalising the purchase of sex were brought in but there are ongoing gaps and lack of implementation that need urgent attention to achieve the objectives of the legislation. This includes a reduction in demand. Buying sex from people who have no alternative income is a form of sexual violence and exploitation and this has been recognised in the Third National Strategy on violence against women, said Feargha Ni Bhroin of the National Womens Council. To achieve an Ireland where all women can live free from violence, exploitation and harassment, we must address the systemic inequalities that are the cause and consequence of male violence. No woman should be forced or coerced into this trade and those who choose to exit have the supports and opportunities to do so. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said the Governments position is that prostitution is inherently exploitative of vulnerable people, mainly women and girls, and that many people are forced into prostitution through trafficking, drug addiction, homelessness and poverty. This Review has been much anticipated by stakeholders in the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) sector and others. The Reviews recommendations will be considered and actions identified that can be progressed in consultation with relevant stakeholders; including with An Garda Siochana in respect of enforcement. "The consultation process involved engaging with a broad range of organisations and people including the general public, civil society organisations, NGOs, government agencies and those who engage in sexual activity for payment. The methodology was conducted in three phases: phase one was a public consultation survey; phase two was a public consultation with written submissions and phase three was a dialogue consultation process. The inclusion of those who engage in sexual activity for payment in the review process was an important element of its design. This included, in the public consultation survey, 75 people who self-identified as a sex worker/person working in the sale of sex, 23 in the written submissions phase, and 30 who took part in the dialogue stage. Some participated in a number of stages," the spokesperson said. The department also said that there is a small but active advocacy lobby for the full decriminalisation of sex work in Ireland. They are of the view that client criminalisation contributes to increased violence against sex workers and the fact that it is illegal for sex workers to work together (as this may be viewed as brothel keeping), that this poses a real risk to the safety of workers. The Review did not identify evidence to support the view that amending the existing legislation to fully decriminalise sex work would more effectively protect those involved in the sale of sex, the spokesperson said. Oakfield Nursing Home resident Josie Comerford (92) with an alpaca called Stan during a therapeutic visit from two of the animals. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne Irish farmer Joe Phelan ushered two alpacas down the corridor of a local nursing home as 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. They get to feel them. They look into their big, huge, brown eyes, which, you know, are just so relaxing. And they might hear them humming, Mr 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. Mr 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. Oakfield Nursing Home resident Josie Comerford (92) with an alpaca called Stan during a therapeutic visit from two of the animals. Photo: Clodagh Kilcoyne Today's News in 90 seconds - 27th March 2025 Instead, he started researching alternative farming options. He eventually bought seven alpacas and sold his home to buy a farm to graze them. He started off with alpaca and Prosecco treks and stocked a shop with alpaca wool socks and soft toys. He soon noticed the potential for the alpacas to help 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 or adults or adolescents with Down syndrome, he said. We just found that it lifted everybodys spirits. Mr Phelan owns the K2Alpacas farm in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, around 30km south of Dublin. The business employs 11 people, has 71 alpacas and two much larger llamas, and offers accommodation to visitors. Mr Phelan packed two of his more sociable male alpacas into the back of a van for the trip to Oakfield Nursing Home in Courtown, Co Wexford. We know that we have certain boys and girls that are suitable for the therapeutic work, he said. The nursing homes activities co-ordinator, 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. 24 Premium Economy seats will be available on certain Boeing 777s from Dublin Emirates will bring its retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft to Dublin services from June 25, the Dubai-based airline has announced. It means passengers flying to and from Dubai will be able to book its latest Business Class and Premium Economy seats, as well as First Class and standard Economy, on certain flights. Emirates currently flies twice daily from Dublin Airport, taking some 450,000 passengers a year to Dubai, and onward connections as far afield as Australia. From this summer, flights EK161 and EK162 will feature a four-class configuration, with 24 Premium Economy seats being added for the first time. However, its later daily departures (EK163 and EK164) will not feature Premium Economy. Premium Economy is a sort of halfway house between economy and business class with a seat pitch of 40 inches, compared to 33 in economy. Upgrades include cream leather seats, cushioned foot rests, an elevated menu, wider seats (19.5 inches), and a deeper recline. It's priced accordingly with return fares from Dublin to Dubai starting from 669 in Economy, 1,359 in Premium Economy and 3,715 in Business. Emirates Premium Economy Class Today's News in 90 seconds - 27th March 2025 It comes as Emirates has expanded its Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 fleet refurbishment programme to cover more than 220 aircraft. The $5 billion (4.6bn) investment is currently seeing an aircraft receiving its nose-to-tail facelift and rolling out into service every three weeks, it says. By September, Emirates aims to serve 44 cities with the revamped fleet. Michael Lowrys two-finger salute was just one of the many disgraceful Dail cameos that have struck much of the nation dumb in what, ironically, is a row about speaking rights. He said the gesture was not meant to be offensive, but it would make for an unusual form of benediction. The North Tipperary TDs smirk seemed to suggest the paralysis of the Dail is a source of amusement, whereas the vast majority of those forced to witness the disintegration of the House have reacted with a mixture of despair and contempt. The shenanigans over granting some TDs the right to be in opposition while also supporting the Government are sinking into ever-darker depths of absurdity. Efforts to resolve one showdown have merely resulted in producing another, in a situation that is becoming more surreal by the hour. Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy is the new villain of the piece. Her inability to maintain order over TDs who continually ignored her entreaties to behave has rendered her unworthy of the chair in the estimation of said unruly TDs. As Ms Murphy is determined to stay in office and the Government is digging in with a counter-motion of confidence in the beleaguered Ceann Comhairle new strands have been added to what was already a Gordian knot. Standing orders of our national parliament have been rearranged in the service of cute hoorism, a grubby stroke Some TDs, with straight faces, have said the mood in the chamber has become embittered. Should those same TDs venture outside, they might discover the mood of the public is verging on the apoplectic. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said: Standing orders of our national parliament have been rearranged in the service of cute hoorism, a grubby stroke. But Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the underlying issue is the formation of government and insisted Labour had no intention of going into government. Michael Lowry raises two fingers in the Dail to Paul Murphy Today's News in 90 seconds - 27th March 2025 All but Mr Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris recognise the underlying issue is their conceding of special indulgences to certain TDs. To pretend otherwise is both disingenuous and disrespectful to the intelligence of voters. With regards to Ms Murphys predicament, her inability to calm the storm or adhere to hidebound protocols when the roof came off in the heat of the moment may well be questioned. However, she finds herself in the unenviable position of anyone who has ever intervened in a hold me back, let me at him row, only to come away with a thick lip for their efforts. The country is more than sick of this stalemate. The Coalitions zeal for laying down its life to defend Mr Lowrys unique oratorical prerogatives is baffling. The oppositions dudgeon at what it regards as skulduggery dressed up as statecraft is less so. Both sides need to ask themselves, days before the country faces into a potentially disastrous trade war, if this is really the most productive use of their time. For the Dail to be reduced to doing nothing when there is so much that desperately needs to be done is insulting to voters. China boosts global confidence for win-win cooperation Xinhua) 08:01, March 27, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) * "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. 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. 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. 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. In December 2022, a convoy rolled through the dark roads of south Lebanon. It should have been a routine journey, but for Private Sean Rooney, a young Irish peacekeeper, it was his last. Pte Rooney (24) from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed while driving an armoured jeep on Unifil peacekeeping duties. The soldier, who was attached to the 27th Infantry Battalion at Aiken Barracks in Dundalk, Co Louth, died after his UN convoy was attacked by armed militia linked to Hezbollah. His killing sent shockwaves through the UN mission, yet beyond the headlines, many questions remain unanswered. Pte Rooneys family is still wondering if they will ever get justice. More than two years on, the trials surrounding his death have faced frustrating delays. Now, as Tanaiste Simon Harris visits Lebanon in search of answers, pressure is mounting to move the process forward. Harris met with senior Lebanese government officials on Wednesday morning in Beirut. While there, he expressed his dissatisfaction and disappointment over 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. Today on The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Conor Feehan, senior journalist with the Irish Independent, and security analyst Declan Power. They assess the investigation into Pte Rooneys death and ask what the Tanaistes visit to the region can achieve? Pictured at the contract signing were front, from left: Jamie Twomey, OConnor Sutton Cronin; Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll; Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell; Dan Murphy McGinty & OShea Ltd. Back row, from left: Liam Ahearn, Senior Engineer; Divisional Manager, Niall Healy and Padraig Barrett, Director of Services, Cork County Council. Pic: Brian Lougheed A contract has been signed for the Skibbereen Road Realignment Project in recent days with construction set to begin in May 2025. Cork County Council has appointed contractor McGinty & OShea for the construction of the R595 Oldcourt Road Realignment project in Skibbereen. The 2 million scheme aims to significantly improve safety and connectivity for road users, residents and local businesses. The project is located along the coastal road that links Skibbereen to the popular tourism and fishing destination of Baltimore. Funded by the Department of Transports Specific Improvement Grants, the works will see 700-metres of regional road realigned and widened to provide increased visibility, improved road safety and road user comfort. Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll said: The R595 is an important route for communities as well as tourism, commercial activity and access to Skibbereen Town for the island communities of Sherkin and Oileann Chleire. This 2 million investment is most welcome as the road realignment project will not only enhance access but, more importantly, it will improve safety for all road users, she added. Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell also welcomed the Skibbereen Road Realignment Project. The delivery of the R595 Oldcourt Realignment scheme is one project in an expanding programme of Specific Improvement Schemes that are being strategically delivered by the Council. These projects supported by the Department of Transport focus on regional roads throughout the county. Construction onsite is set to begin in May 2025 with the project expected to be completed in October 2025. The Shandon Bells are set to receive the funding as part of the Historic Structures Fund The Bells provide an iconic backdrop to the city. In this picture, Jasmine ORiordan displays a cake by Maureen Timpson in the likeness of the famous tower ahead of preparations for Cruinniu na nOg. A Cork icon is set to receive a quarter-of-a-million euro in funding under the Historic Structures fund, to restore its landmark Four Liars four-faced clock tower. The tower, which was built in 1722, and forms part of the St Annes Church in the northside community, is a key tourist site for those visiting Cork, and an integral part of the citys skyline. The Bells of Shandon first rang out across the city in 1752, while the tower is also home to one of the largest caged clocks in Europe installed by the corporation in 1847. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity under the Department of Housing, Christopher OSullivan, TD, has announced that 716,800 will be allocated to five landmark projects across the county, with the iconic St. Annes Church, Shandon, receiving the largest share, of 250,000. Shandon Bells is not just a Cork icon; its a symbol of our citys history and resilience, said OSullivan on the announcement. This significant investment will help ensure that this beloved landmark continues to inspire locals and visitors alike, while contributing to the cultural and economic vibrancy of the area. However, the bells arent the only project in Cork to benefit from the new funding. 150,000 has been allocated to Alms Houses in Glanmire for repairs to roof, windows, and other aspects to facilitate their reuse as residential homes, providing much-needed housing while preserving the historic character of these Gothic-style buildings. Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh is set to receive 130,000 for roof repairs to previously inaccessible parts of the arts centre, enabling its use as a new community hub and fostering creativity and community engagement. St. Laurence Cheshire Home in Lotamore is set to receive 114,400 for essential repairs to rainwater goods, windows, and render to support its role in Enable Irelands accommodation complex, ensuring the continued provision of vital services for individuals with disabilities. While 72,404 will go to the Kinsale Museum for internal and external repairs to this historic former courthouse, a prominent feature in the town centre, preserving its legacy as a cultural and historical asset. I am delighted to announce this award of significant funding for the repair and improvement of some of Corks most cherished heritage buildings. The works funded will secure the integrity of these sites for the enjoyment of future generations, and enhance the sustainability of local economies with great benefits for employment, tourism, and the environment. These projects are a testament to the close collaboration between the Department, Local Authorities, and dedicated conservation officers. Together, we are ensuring that Corks heritage is preserved and celebrated for generations to come. The restoration of Shandon Bells also comes at a time of renewed focus on the area, with the Shandon Integrated Urban Strategy (SIUS) aiming to rejuvenate the historic district. The strategy highlights the potential of Shandon as a thriving cultural hub, with its medieval streetscape, vibrant community, and iconic landmarks like St. Annes Church and the Butter Museum. The Department, in a statement today says that Shandon is poised to become a beacon of culture, history, and community pride for Cork and beyond. Larry Poland pioneered the development of electronic and computer engineering education in Ireland and even introduced a Computer Engineering programme in Ireland 50 years ago. Larry Poland, in whose honour the "Larry Poland Electronic Engineering Scholarship" has been established at MTU. Pic Darragh Kane The lifetime accomplishments and legacy of Larry Poland are to be honoured in the form of a new scholarship announced by Munster Technological University (MTU). Mr Poland is a highly respected academic who is a former Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and Emeritus Fellow. Mr Poland pioneered the development of electronic and computer engineering education in Ireland and even introduced a Computer Engineering programme in Ireland 50 years ago. He joined the Electrical Engineering Department in the Crawford Municipal Technical Institute, which was later incorporated into Cork Regional Technical College (Cork RTC), CIT and MTU. He is credited with playing a pivotal role in attracting EMC to establish a major facility in Ovens, Co. Cork, which today employs thousands of staff members under the Dell Technologies organisation. The Larry Poland Electronic Engineering Scholarship at MTU is funded by the Irish American Partnership Scholars Programme by US-based Rob Short, a graduate of Cork Regional Technical College. Speaking about Mr Poland, the former Corporate Vice President of Microsoft for 20 years, Mr Short said: Larrys contribution to the tech industry in Ireland cannot be overstated. A global IT company was looking for a European site in the early 70s, a US team visited and asked Larry about his courses. His response became famous: tell me what you need and in a year, Ill have a course for you. This course gave me and so many others a start in a fantastic career. Larry worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between industry and academia long before it became fashionable. Even as he hobnobbed with CEOs and ministers, Larry never lost his passion and focus for his students. Truly an inspiration to all of us, Mr Short said. The Larry Poland Electronic Engineering Scholarship will support students enrolled on the 4-year BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering programme at MTU. The award will provide a scholarship of 2,500 per student for four students, totalling to 10,000 per annum over a five-year period. President and CEO of the Irish American Partnership Mary Sugrue said the scholarship recognises Mr Polands lasting contributions by investing in four MTU students each year. The Head of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at MTU, Dr Martin Hill added that Mr Poland drove engagement between academia and industry in new and innovative ways and, in so doing, paved the way for generations of students, graduates and colleagues to follow. We are deeply grateful for the leadership he showed, the benefits of which are still evident in MTU today, he said. Applications will open for all students enrolled on MTUs BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering during the academic year 2025/2026. Reassurances were provided to councillors at a recent Fermoy Municipal District meeting that the opening of the new Tesco Superstore in Fermoy will have no major impact on traffic congestion in the town. Taoiseach Micheal Martin performed the sod turning for the new Tesco Superstore which is located at Mill Road, Fermoy (directly across from the Mart Car Park) last September. The British multinational retailer is expected to be operational in summertime 2025. The store will include car parking and cycle parking facilities, F&F clothing, a dedicated Tesco Mobile phone shop as well as the provision of Click+Collect services for customers and a grocery home shopping hub to serve the wider catchment area of north Cork. Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawsons motion requested an update on any traffic management plans for Fermoy to alleviate any traffic congestion when the new Tesco store opens. This is to do with the proposed new development to seek the advice and expertise of the staff as to how we gauge this going forward. Fianna Fail councillor Frank OFlynn who seconded the motion agreed that there are pinch points in the town. Traffic is very much increasing in the town. The town of Fermoy is doing exceptionally well. We have tremendous shops. There are pinch points. Traffic is a major issue in the town of Fermoy, said Independent councillor Peter ODonoghue. There will be an awful lot of traffic going in and out and shopping in Tesco. It is going to have an impact. It is not going to be a positive impact. It is going to be a negative impact on top of the traffic issues that we have already. Cllr ODonoghue said a plan is required now to ease the traffic congestion in the town. We need to act now before the traffic is absolute bedlam altogether. We create a plan now and we access how we can alleviate the traffic issues in Fermoy now. Independent councillor William OLeary highlighted other areas that are causing congestion in Fermoy: People are telling me on the ground that the sequence of the lights in the Square is causing some congestion in the town. One big issue that has arisen lately is that you have buses coming up the left hand lane in Pearse Square and they are swinging across. It is causing bedlam by all accounts. The second thing causing issues is the traffic lights at Bishop Murphys. At peak hours we have a school warden there but after 4pm the lights are constantly changing colours and it adds to the congestion in the town, he added. Senior Executive Engineer with Cork County Council Brendan OGorman reiterated that An Bord Pleanala went through the body of the planning file and they recommended permission for Tesco. Traffic studies undertaken as part of the planning process under the governing permission and ratified by An Bord Pleanala indicate that the opening of Tesco here will have no major impacts on traffic congestion in the town. Mr OGorman said the local authority is committed to the traffic management study for Fermoy. The traffic management study that we are looking at for Fermoy is not just for Tesco, it is for the next 15/20 years. Where is all the housing going to be built in Fermoy and what are the demands. It is future led. We have sought funding from TII. We are committed to it. No developments in Christchurch or any public realm can happen until the traffic management plan is in place. It is urgent for us. We will work on it together, he added. In reply Cllr Dawson said the main aim is to enhance peoples experience when visiting Fermoy. We welcome new business into the town. We want it to be a positive outcome. They will come back, spend more and they will be directed up the town and go into other shops. I think there has been an improvement in the traffic flow in Fermoy in the last while. This motion is that we will be prepared and that we know what we are dealing with. I have watched our town die for the last ten years because no houses are being built, said Cllr Kay Dawson as she appealed for Uisce Eireann to build a new wastewater treatment plant in Mitchelstown. Cllr Dawson (Fine Gael) appealed for a solution to be found to the current impasse at a recent Northern Committee meeting after a motion was tabled by Independent councillor William OLeary seeking an update on wastewater treatment plants that are currently at capacity within the Northen Division. Cllr OLearys motion also requested clarity on whether any capital funding is forthcoming to progress the upgrade or expansion of these facilities. In this committee over recent years the one that has been spoken about in our side of north Cork would be the Mitchelstown one in terms of wastewater. We have smaller settlements such as Glanworth, Glenville and Conna where we are capacity and there is no prospect of a future development until they are upgraded. We are at crisis point, said Cllr OLeary. We are seeing people leaving places where they grew up because they have no access to any sort of housing. It is a worrying trend if you realistically cant build in these areas. There has been no progress over the last seven or eight years which is really worrying. I always use school numbers as a measurement in terms of how areas are doing. When you see school numbers falling in smaller settlements it is a worrying trend. As public representatives we always speak about rural Ireland, our settlements and how we progress them. Our hands are tied. We had access to a previous list. There are between 20 and 30 plants in Cork that were at capacity. One or two might have received funding. We are in a real tight spot. I hope Uisce Eireann can come up with a capital plan, he added. In a poignant address Cllr Dawson agreed that the situation in Mitchelstown is in a critical situation. She said a solution is required to save the town from dying. I have watched our town die for the last ten years because no houses are being built. It is starting to show in the schools. We are going to lose teachers within the next year or two. I dont want another plan. I want a solution. Irish Water has been most forthcoming with plans. We need to drive this as hard as we can for a solution and not watch our town die. It is really at crisis at this stage. Fianna Fail councillor Nelius Cotter said the lack of wastewater treatment infrastructure is hampering vast areas of north Cork. The seriousness of this has to be highlighted. When you look at the short-term projections for school places it is worrying. You have Mitchelstown, Conna and Glanworth which was refused planning recently for a temporary treatment plant. There is a total lack of help and engagement from Uisce Eireann. We need a plan and a way forward. For a town like Mitchelstown it is seriously worrying. Irish Water need to get on top of this and sort it out, he added. Independent councillor Peter ODonoghue agreed that the issue is a growing concern: We are in a housing crisis. Our hands are tied. How can houses be built if we dont have the services in place? Many villages and towns in our area are unable to add to their housing needs because of the lack of wastewater treatment plants. Fianna Fail councillor Ian Doyle highlighted continuous issues in the Freemount area. In north Cork we have a huge lack of capacity and investment in a lot of our water treatment plants. The Freemount area needs a huge investment. A lot of houses in the area are continuously out of water. Irish Water needs to invest in the existing water treatment plants as well. Acting County Engineer with Cork County Council John Slattery said public wastewater treatment plants are the responsibility of Uisce Eireann. The upgrading or expansion of these plants is the responsibility of Uisce Eireann and the associated allocation of capital funding is a matter for Uisce Eireann, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, and central Government. Mr Slattery said the local authority maintains an open dialogue with Uisce Eireann. Cork County Council, as the planning authority, outlines population targets in the County Development Plan, which are considered by Uisce Eireann in developing their pipeline of improvement works to the public wastewater infrastructure. Cork County Council maintains an open dialogue with Uisce Eireann with the objective of ensuring that population targets in the Couty Development Plan can be supported by the public water services infrastructure, including wastewater treatment plants, he added. Some of the winners of the 62nd West Cork Drama Festival pictured with committee members. Back row L-R: Dareen Godfrey, Grainne Walsh, Rebecca Farrington, Sharon Mawe, Fiona Mellett, Seamus Corry, James Clancy and Martin Sheehan. Front row L-R: Catherine Deasy, Bernie Shinnick, Andy Mahon, Tom Byrne and Eibhlin Keohane. The 62nd West Cork Drama Festival brought a week of outstanding theatrical performances to St. Marys Theatre, Rossmore, from March 15 to 22. With eight incredible shows staged over eight nights, drama enthusiasts from across Ireland gathered to celebrate and compete in one of the country's most prestigious amateur drama festivals. Drama groups travelled from near and far, representing Wexford, Louth, Waterford, Kerry, and Mayo, with the local Kilmeen Drama Group also taking part in the festival. The event showcased a variety of compelling productions, demonstrating the depth of talent in Irelands amateur drama scene. Adjudicator Tom Byrne, a Kildare native with 45 years of experience in amateur drama, praised all participating groups for their dedication and performances. Mr Byrne commended the high standard of acting, direction and stagecraft, highlighting the passion and commitment that each group brought to the stage. It has been a fantastic week of drama, with outstanding performances and an incredible display of talent. The energy and enthusiasm of the groups were truly inspiring. The festival concluded with the announcement of the winners, including: Winner in Open Section: Ballyduff Drama Group Winner in Confined Section: Clann Machua Drama Group Eibhlin Keohane, Chairperson of Rossmore Theatre emphasised the festival's deep roots in the community. Rossmore is a fantastic community. 62 years of drama is testament to that. The success of the festival is achieved through the tireless voluntary work of the committee and community members. I am delighted to be part of this rich heritage and to take on the role of chairperson this year, a role previously held by Andy Mahon, she added. The West Cork Drama Festival continues to be a cornerstone of cultural life in the region, celebrating the power of theatre and community spirit. As the curtain falls on another successful year, anticipation is already building for next years festival, promising another showcase of Irelands finest amateur drama talent. Dublin City Council warn the public about fake QR codes being placed on a number of parking machines in Wicklow Dublin City Council has warned the public to be vigilant about a scam involving fake QR codes attached to parking meters. The scam, referred to as quishing, involves using a deceptive QR code to trick users into providing sensitive information. The user scans the code and is directed to a website that requests credit card information and other personal data. A spokesperson for Dublin City Council shared a video of someone tearing off one of these deceptive QR codes in the Wicklow County Council area. Dublin City Council would like to warn the public that it has been made aware of fake QR codes being placed on a number of Pay and Display parking machines, they said. This fake QR code sticker directs the user to a fraudulent, cloned website which requests credit card details and other personal data. All reported incidents have been passed to An Garda Siochana. As a precaution, Dublin City Council is advising all users not to scan any QR codes that may appear on Pay and Display machines or Payzone signage. Users are reminded they can pay using cash or credit cards at the machines, and are advised that if they wish to pay online, they should download the correct Payzone parking app directly to their phone. We encourage everyone to be careful when paying online and to ensure they are using a genuine app. Should anyone notice anything suspicious, or if a scam has taken place, please contact Payzone or An Garda Siochana, they added. This is the second public warning in less than a year after Fingal County Council warned members against the same scam last October. In that incident, a council employee in Malahide removed similar QR codes from the front and sides of parking machines. In a statement, Payzone said it is aware of the scam and is in contact with an IT company and An Garda Siochana. Payzone is aware of fraudulent activity relating to false QR code stickers appearing on some Pay and Display parking meters in the Dublin and Wicklow areas, they said. False QR stickers have been overlaid on genuine QR codes, redirecting to a fake payment website. Payzone has engaged with an IT company, which has been successful in swiftly shutting down these fraudulent websites where we have been made aware of specific cases. Payzone has reported this issue to An Garda Siochana. We are removing any affected signage and have notified customers via our website and on social media channels to be vigilant about false QR codes on Pay and Display parking meters. Gardai said they are liaising with cyber specialists while urging the public to be vigilant. An Garda Siochana, and in particular the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), has previously issued warnings in relation to the use of QR codes posted in public places, they said. An Garda Siochana is advising all persons to only scan QR codes from known sources and always check the destination of the QR code. Eastern bongos are critically endangered, with fewer than 100 believed to remain in the wild The bongo calf which has yet to be named Two-and-a-half-year-old Annabel with the newly-born bongo calf in Dublin Zoo Dublin Zoo has announced its latest new arrival an endangered female bongo calf. Born on February 20 to its mother Annabel, the calf is said to be gaining weight and thriving. The eastern bongo calf is a species classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Found only in the mountain forests of Kenya, these antelopes with distinctive stripes face growing threats from habitat destruction, illegal hunting and human-wildlife coexistence. The birth of a bongo calf like this is an important conservation event with less than 100 eastern bongos left in the wild. Two-and-a-half-year-old Annabel is a first-time mother who arrived pregnant to Dublin Zoo from Belfast Zoo in August last year. With no mating date confirmed, it was difficult to calculate Annabels due date, so Dublin Zoos animal care team carefully monitored her with regular weigh-ins throughout her pregnancy. The bongo calf which has yet to be named In the days leading up to the birth, further signs indicated that the calfs arrival was imminent. A camera was set up in Annabels indoor habitat on February 19, monitoring her in the bedding provided to make her as comfortable as possible ahead of the delivery. The delivery ultimately happened in an off-camera section of her habitat, so Dublin Zoo staff were surprised to discover a beautiful healthy calf on the morning of February 20. Eastern bongos are critically endangered, with fewer than 100 believed to remain in the wild This brings Dublin Zoos eastern bongo herd to a total of three, marking an important milestone in the conservation programme for the species. Commenting on the birth, Dublin Zoo Team Leader Helen Clarke said: Were absolutely delighted to announce the birth of a beautiful female eastern bongo calf here at Dublin Zoo. Although her first few days were a little challenging she needed bottle feeding as she initially struggled to suckle her progress since then has been fantastic. She began suckling naturally on February 25, and its been wonderful to watch the bond between her and her mother Annabel grow stronger each day. Visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of our newest arrival will have the best luck on sunny days. Shes already showing a love for basking in the sunshine beside her mam, she added. Dublin City Council has committed to investigating issues raised by residents of a flat complex in north Dublin, who have been campaigning over poor living conditions. Council representatives met with residents of Cromcastle Court in Kilmore this week to discuss what has been described as dangerous and unhealthy conditions in the complex. The meeting was attended by residents, local councillors and Dublin City Council Housing Maintenance senior management. The residents have been calling for immediate regeneration efforts on structural problems that date back as far as 2018. A consultation document was published in January last year, outlining plans to demolish the current vacant blocks and construct 150 new homes as part of a larger development of 350 homes. However, little has been done to improve the living conditions and standards for the remaining residents. A recent survey, conducted by Maynooth University on housing conditions in the complex, revealed that residents are living in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. The survey, part of the Just Housing project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, found that 97pc of respondents face at least one serious issue, including heating problems, dampness, mould, and pest infestations. A major concern is the unreliable heating system, with 80pc of residents reporting issues. Many residents cannot control the temperature in their flats, resulting in unbearable heat (up to 28C), or no heating at all. Thermostats installed during a mid-2010s retrofit were expected to provide control, but they are reportedly non-functional. The retrofit also introduced new windows, half of which have serious problems, with some even falling out of their frames, posing a safety risk. Other issues include dampness, plumbing problems, and poor maintenance of communal areas, such as dirty stairwells and unsafe playgrounds. The survey also highlighted the significant negative impact on physical and mental health, with 90pc of respondents reporting health issues such as respiratory illnesses, social isolation, and adverse effects on childrens education and development. The results of this survey show the dangerous and unhealthy conditions which the current residents are faced with, caused by neglect on the part of DCC, Dr Fiadh Tubridy, one of the reports authors, said. Some of the damp and mould faced by residents of Cromcastle Court in Kilmore Earlier this year, residents, supported by the Community Action Tenants Union, protested, demanding that DCC prioritise housing transfers for those wishing to move and address all maintenance issues for those wishing to stay. A Dublin City Council spokesperson has now confirmed it is committed to investigating these issues and responding to residents by April 8. Bernie Whelan, a long-term tenant of Cromcastle Court who represents her neighbours, said residents are united to get priority transfers for people who want to move, and priority maintenance work carried out for those who want to stay. The proposed deadline of 2029 for the completion of the refurbishment is totally unacceptable, she said. The agreement after the meeting was that all communal exterior areas, like grass cutting and cleaner waste disposal areas, have been improved. We appreciate the work done by the maintenance team. Our demands are for a better quality of life for everyone in Cromcastle Court, and we look forward to working with DCC in the future. However, we have a long way to go because of years of neglect, which has taken its toll on the fabric of the buildings, she added. Social Democrats councillor Jesslyn Henry, who has been supporting residents with their pleas for regeneration, described the meeting with DCC officials as positive. The residents had their voices heard and were able to raise their concerns, which was the important thing, she said. It was very emotional for many of them, which is expected when they are living in such conditions. As there are only three flats occupied in Block 5 and considerable safety issues, the area manager has committed to holding a meeting with allocations to discuss decanting these residents. It is the opinion of the councillors who attended that all residents who wish to transfer should be accommodated. We will have to wait for DCCs response, but I am hopeful that a thorough inspection will take place, leading to meaningful consultation and maintenance work being carried out, she added. An Irishman living in Australia has gone viral after ordering a takeaway to a Dublin address by mistake. Oisin Lenehan was visiting friends in Melbourne and ordered two pizzas on Uber Eats however, the order was mistakenly sent to a Dublin address. It was only when the order confirmation came in and he was notified that the pizza was en route, that Oisin realised he had used a Dublin address saved in the system from a previous night out in the city centre. He can be seen in the video politely asking to cancel the order and for a refund for the meal. Im in a different part of the country, so I need to cancel the order. Ive mistakenly left my own home address in the system, he said. Yes please, absolutely, do you need my name to cancel it? For what reason would I like to cancel? Well, because Im a silly billy, he added. The clip of him begging the takeaway to refund his order has gone viral on TikTok, racking up more than 500,000 views and over 31,000 likes. His friend Sarah shared the clip with the caption accidentally ordering pizza to Ireland instead of Melbourne, Australia. Thankfully, it was a lucky escape for Oisin who got a full refund for his accidental order. After the mix-up, a second order eventually arrived to the correct postcode. Ive just been laughing at how much interest people have taken in my misfortune, but Im happy that it made people laugh, Oisin told People Magazine. 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. The HSE now hopes the facility will open by next winter, and suggests the delays are to do with issues surrounding HIQA rules & Public Private Partnership process The new Killarney Community Hospital on the grounds of St Finans just off the Killarney by-pass. Photo by Tatyana McGough The HSE has said there will be a delay to the opening of a new Community Nursing facility in Killarney, but they are unable to comment on the specifics of why. Julie ONeil, HSE South West Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Kerry, said that staffing is in place for the new facility, which local representatives were given a tour of a number of months ago. The delays are as a result of issues around the Public Private Partnership and HIQA regulations, however. News of the delay comes after Kerry County Councillor Marie Moloney asked as to the opening date at a meeting of the Regional Health Forum South which took place in Cork on Thurdsay, March 27. Its (been) several months since Ive been given a tour of that facility. It was absolutely beautifully laid out, all that was missing was a bit of furniture, and youre saying its still not finished, but it is finished! Councillor Moloney said at the meeting of the Forum. Is it a staffing problem that youre not moving patients into it, or what is the problem? In a response to The Kerryman back in August of 2024, the HSE had confirmed that the hospital would be completed by the end of that year, and had anticipated its commissioning in the first quarter of 2025. However, at the meeting, the Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Kerry said they are now planning to move the first patients into the facility ahead of this coming winter. Its not to do with staffing, all of the staffing components are in hand, said ONeill, its more around HIQA regulations and engagement with the Public Private Partnership. I dont have an absolute, exact date for handover of the building, but I can absolutely attest were following it through with national office in terms of the Public Private Partnership, putting pressure on to have it up and running before next winter. It is a concern for myself, and we do need additionality for dementia-specific beds because we do have a serious lack of dementia-specific beds in Kerry. (Its) very disappointing, said Cllr Moloney in response to ONeills response. It was long before last winter when I was given a tour of that finished hospital, even the grounds were done. The people of Killarney are with their mouths open in amazement that this brand-new building is standing empty. We might have it before next winter, thats not good enough. Tell us what the actual delay is. Im trying to figure that out myself, to be fair, said Ms ONeill. Were not handling it locally, its being handled through the Public Private Partnership, so I cannot - unfortunately - give the exact reasons why, but once I get exact answers to the questions you are posing, I will keep colleagues informed on that. I dont have an absolute opening date for those (beds), Ms ONeill said in response to a later question by Councillor Mikey Sheehy, but my sincere hope is that they would be in situ as soon as possible, and ahead of winter 2025/26. The EPA has identified water supplies in the county deemed to be at risk and in need of corrective action A booklet received by one home on the Listowel water supply. The public water supplies of Listowel, Lyreacrompane and Mid Kerry residents have been identified as being at risk by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Uisce Eireann told The Kerryman that it has sent detailed booklets to homes and businesses in these areas outlining the issues with their water and ongoing plans to remove them from the EPAs Remedial Action List. The EPA list identifies water supplies deemed to be at risk and in need of corrective action. The water supplies of Listowel and Lyreacrompane have been listed by the EPA due to elevated levels of trihalomethanes (THMs). The HSE website says THMs are the most common type of by-product formed when chlorine is added to disinfect water containing organic matter. The Mid Kerry/Gearha supply is currently on the list due to inadequate barrier for cryptosporidium. The HSE says this is a microscopic parasite that lives in the gut of infected humans and animals. The HSE states that if a water supply has inadequate treatment for cryptosporidium it is at risk of being contaminated with the parasite, and/or there may be no filtration, ultraviolet (UV) light treatment or other treatment in place. A booklet received by one home on the Listowel water supply. The health service states that this does not necessarily mean that there is cryptosporidium in your water and it does not mean that you will become ill with cryptosporidiosis Both THMs and cryptosporidiosis can pose health issues, according to the HSE. Uisce Eireann stated that the presence of a supply on the Remedial Action List does not mean the water is unsafe to drink. The State-owned water utility company said it is fully committed to addressing risks to drinking water quality and is working closely with the EPA to ensure that risks are identified quickly and remedial plans put in place to address these. The organisation said it regularly tests all public water supplies against a range of standards set out in the European Drinking Water Regulations, based on guidelines prepared by the World Health Organisation (WHO). If a drinking water sample shows a result above a specified water quality standard, we report it immediately to the environmental regulator, the EPA, an Uisce Eireann spokesperson said. If there is a concern about a possible health risk, we also consult the HSE, and based on their advice may issue a boil water notice or do not consume notice. Kenmare Town Team and Kerry County Council along with Purser Consultants are to begin work on a Kenmare Town Masterplan which will help revitalise the town. Plans to develop Kenmare into a more accessible, attractive, and sustainable town centre are moving forward and the community are being urged to play a part in developing the future of the South Kerry tourist town. Purser Consultants have been appointed to work with Kerry County Council in collaboration with the Kenmare Town Team to lead the development of the Kenmare Town Centre First Masterplan. This marks a key milestone in the ongoing efforts to continue the rejuvenation of Kenmare Town, focusing on enhancing the towns appeal as a vibrant destination to live, work, socialise and do business. The masterplan will set out a comprehensive vision for the future of the town centre, including the improvement of public spaces, better accessibility, and sustainable solutions for long-term development. We are thrilled to see the Kenmare Town Centre First Masterplan moving forward with the appointment of Purser Consultants said Acting Chair of the Kenmare Town Team Oliver Holbein This initiative is a significant opportunity to create a more accessible, attractive, and sustainable town centre, reflecting the needs and aspirations of our community. We look forward to seeing this vision come to life in a way that benefits both residents and visitors alike. A key part of the planning process is community involvement. Last year the local community were asked to take part in a survey to provide their insights and aspirations for the future of Kenmare. Among the questions in the survey was how satisfied the public are with amenities in the town including the playground, public realm spaces, the appearance of the streets, car parking and broadband connections. The public are also asked what services and amenities are important to them including walkways, a sport complex and youths spaces. Now the public are being asked to again put forward what they would like to see for the future of the town. To encourage local input, a public engagement event will be held on Wednesday, April 2, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the Kenmare Bay Hotel. This will be an invaluable opportunity for residents, business owners, and stakeholders to engage directly with Purser Consultants, provide feedback, and contribute to shaping the future of Kenmares town centre. Kenmare was named last year as one of 26 Irish towns that will benefit from the Town Centre First scheme with 30,000 allocated in funding to develop the masterplan. These plans deal with a wide range of issues, including redeveloping vacant sites, creating community amenities, and boosting tourism and small- and medium-sized businesses. Other Kerry towns to benefit from this funding is Milltown and their masterplan is now almost complete. We are excited to move forward with this vital project, which will transform Kenmare into a more accessible and vibrant space for everyone, said Town Regeneration Officer Jean Foley. This plan represents a major opportunity to revitalise the heart of Kenmare and we are eager to see the positive impact it will have on our community. The development of the Town Centre First Masterplan will be carried out in close partnership with the Kenmare Town Team and the wider community to ensure that it aligns with the needs and goals of the local community. All are encouraged to attend the upcoming event and share their thoughts to work together to build a brighter future for Kenmares town centre. For more information please contact kenmaretcf@kerrycoco.ie or oliver@holbein.ie Interested parties were informed by auctioneers of how the property was in need of "complete renovation". The inside of the property had been extensively damaged by fire in a suspected arson attack. The two bedroom cottage in Ferriskill, Coolarty, Granard, Co Longford which was seized last year by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) ahead of its sale at auction. A fire-damaged cottage belonging to the estranged wife of a Longford gang boss which was seized by Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) chiefs last year has changed hands for more than double its estimated minimum market value. The abandoned two bedroom residence at Ferriskill, Coolarty, Co Longford had been the subject of a High Court ruling last July. Lena Stokes had claimed the 45,000 used to buy the house came from money left to her by her father. That came after her husband Sonny Stokes was identified by Bureau officials in court as a leading member of the Stokes Organised Crime Group. The inside of the property had been extensively damaged by fire in a suspected arson attack. Judge Alex Owens, however, said the money used for the 2019 purchase was organised by her husband and there was no evidence to back up her claim. Follow Independent Longford on Facebook The property, which is located 4km from Granard, has since been the significantly damaged by a suspected arson attack, leading to part of its roof being impacted and large parts of its interior effectively gutted. In his ruling, Judge Owens described as extraordinary, Ms Stokes insistence that she was unaware of the criminal activity involving members of her family. The gang were described as being involved in serious criminality including theft, deception and the sale of stolen vehicles, machinery and parts. They bought written-off cars in the UK and cloned those vehicles identities onto stolen cars of the same make. Interested parties were informed by auctioneers of how the property was in need of "complete renovation". Counsel for CAB said Lena Stokes was directly involved in money laundering by making financial transactions and allowing assets to be registered in her name. The family pooled their financial resources and there was a pattern of no legitimate income or employment. Ms Stokes counsel said that the cottage was her home and that she intended to move back into it when the threat of feud violence had died down. In approving the CAB application, the property was declared as being the proceeds of crime along with just under 10,000 in a credit union account. Lena Stokes An application for free legal aid was also denied, where it was heard Ms Stokes lived in a caravan in Chipton in the UK while getting by on 534 a month in social welfare. Dublin based firm BRG Gibson Auctioneers, held an online auction today (Thursday) where the north Longford based cottage, together with five other seized properties went under the hammer. Photographs showing the derelict residence had been posted online ahead of its auction. Many of those illustrated the damaged remains of a holding which was described as being an ideal renovation project for prospective investors. Property experts for BRG Gibson Auctions outlined how the cottage was in need of complete renovation or alternatively, had the potential for the construction of a replacement household subject to planning. Sonny Stokes speaks to the Sunday World back in 2016 Alongside its two bedrooms, kitchen and living area and bathroom, the property was described as also possessing a modest outbuilding, features which led to an Advised Minimum Value (AMV) of 25,000 being assigned. When bidding opened at midday, that estimated value was soon eclipsed as four prospective buyers lodged offers, bringing the price to 40,000 barely an hour later. Two of those pulled out of the race soon afterwards, leaving a pair of buyers to battle it out to secure the propertys keys with the house eventually changing hands for 56,000. Admission is free, with tours, talks, music and refreshments from 10am to 5:15pm. Events will get underway at 11:00 am with a welcome from Sligo Abbey Head Guide, Dr. Andrew Whitefield. Dr. Whitefield will give a brief history of the site, as well as outlining some of the exciting events for the year ahead. For the first time in many years, the Abbey will be open through to the end of the year, supporting Sligo town and county as a year-round cultural destination on the Wild Atlantic Way. At 1:10 pm, OPW Information Officer and Guide Harry Keaney will lead a lunch-time tour of the Abbey, focusing on the Order of Dominican friars who established their community in Sligo at the foundation of the Town in the 13th century, and remain an active presence in the town today. This will be followed at 2.30pm with a tour by veteran Sligo Abbey guide Barry Mulligan. Barry will captivate visitors with the tragic story of the Abbeys role as a mass burial ground during the 1832 cholera epidemic, that would forever link the Abbey to Bram Stoker and his novel Dracula. Both tours will last around 45 minutes. The days events will come to an end with a trad-fusion music session starting at 4pm by The Cloister Boys, with Barry Mulligan on ukuele, bodhran and vocals, and Harry Keaney on banjo, whistle and bodhran. Apart from being an international tourist attraction, the Abbey is also a sacred place, having been the final resting place for generations of Sligo people. With this in mind, we would like to extend a special invitation to Sligo natives to call in and see us on the day, Dr. Whitefield said. As the oldest remaining medieval building in Sligo Town, the Abbey attracts almost 40,000 visitors from around the world every year, making it one of the north-wests top tourist attractions. As Dr. Whitefield says: You havent visited Sligo unless you visit the Abbey. VOYA was named as Overall National Small Firms Association (SFA) Small Business Winner 2025. The Sligo-based online retailer of beauty and skincare products also won the Exporter of the Year category which was sponsored by Enterprise Ireland. Established by Mark and Kira Walton in 2006, VOYA has redefined luxury skincare on a global level, combining ethical sourcing with a commitment to sustainability. Located in Sligo with a team of 43, this family-run Irish brand has become the worlds first certified organic seaweed-based skincare line, setting an industry benchmark. VOYAs innovative products harness the power of hand-harvested seaweed, delivering science-backed, results-driven skincare while maintaining a deep respect for the environment. The companys dedication extends to sustainable packaging and eco-friendly formulation processes, ensuring luxury with a conscience. VOYA products can be found in over 42 countries around the globe, in the most luxurious spas, hotels and retail outlets in the world. There was further success for Sligo entrepreneurs, with Lawrence Engineering winning the Manufacturing category. The Awards celebrate the achievements of small businesses in Ireland and recognise the important and vital contributions of this sector to the Irish economy. Forty-four finalists and five Emerging New Businesses were selected from hundreds of applications received for the 2025 programme. Presenting the awards, Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment, stated: These companies represent the pinnacle of small business excellence in Ireland. Our overall winner, along with all finalist and category winners, deserve recognition for their outstanding innovation, creativity, and invaluable contribution to the Irish economy. SFA Director, David Broderick added: I am delighted that we are continuing to grow a programme that positions the small business brand as the backbone of the Irish economy. Congratulations to all the finalists each of whom represent the very best in small business and all are winners. Small businesses are present in every village, town and city and contribute enormously to economic activity and community engagement. The nine category winners are: Manufacturing sponsored by PTSB: Lawrence Engineering, Collooney, Co. Sligo Highly Commended: Hygeia, Galway City Food and Drink sponsored by Bord Bia: Carlingford Oyster Company, Carlingford, Co. Louth Services sponsored by Sage: SolarSmart Energy, Dublin Outstanding Small Business sponsored by Elavon: GP Practice Ally, Arklow, Co. Wicklow Retail sponsored by One4all Rewards: The Smooth Company, Lucan, Co. Dublin Highly Commended: Jack Murphy Clothing, Skerries, Co. Dublin Innovation sponsored by National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI): Oriel Marine Extracts, Drogheda, Co. Louth Highly Commended: Total Plastic Solution, Dublin Exporter of the Year, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland: VOYA, Sligo Sustainability sponsored by Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI): Active Tribe, Courtown, Co. Wexford Workplace Wellbeing sponsored by DeCare: ContractingPLUS, Cork The Emerging New Business award sponsored by Microfinance Ireland is a category to encourage emerging entrepreneurs to promote and grow their business. The winners are: Your Friend, My Friend, Dublin, Eco Powered Cabinets, Hollymount, Co. Mayo, RealSafe App, Dublin, Copper Coast Renewables, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford and Colectivo, Dunboyne, Co. Meath. Entrants in this category are under two years in business and the winners were identified by the judging panel as companies that will grow into successful organisations. The Awards prize package for all finalists included a strategic management masterclass; participation in the SFA Business Connect event in February last, media exposure in a special supplement published with the Irish Independent today (26th March). The total prize for finalists is valued at 50,000 each. The category winners were presented with a trophy and free membership of the Small Firms Association for one year. Skillnet Ireland are sponsors of the awards management training and media partner is Irish Independent. Daffodil Day 2025 will take place on Friday, March 28 and the local Enniscorthy committee are calling for public support in advance of the day. Daffodil Day is the Irish Cancer Societys biggest fundraising event every year. Clubs, schools, work places, and organisations take part by hosting their own fundraising events in aid of the charity, usually in the form of non-uniform days, coffee mornings and more. Committee member Josephine OReilly said it is imperative to keep the long history of giving back going into the future. "Our community have generously donated more than 75,000 to daffodil Day in the last 10 years. We need to continue supporting Daffodil Day as more people in Ireland are being diagnosed with cancer now than ever before. We will not stop until cancer does. They are also hoping for help in providing fresh daffodils for their big fundraising day and are asking that people drop their daffodils to the Legion of Mary Hall, Enniscorthy on Thursday, March 27 from 3.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. "Every daffodil helps, she added. Volunteers are also actively needed and encouraged should they be able to spare an hour or two. Interested parties or individuals are asked to contact Catherine on 0872988459 to participate. Josephine also emphasized the impact a small donation could have on cancer support services for patients and their families. "Every euro makes a difference, 25 can help the cost of driving a cancer patient to and from treatment centres using the volunteer driving service, 50 can help provide vital clinical equipment for a night nurse, according to data from Irish Cancer Society. Aoibhin Doyle receiving her Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition award from Fionnuala Croker, Acting Head of Office, the European Parliament Office in Dublin and Seamus Parle, District Governor of Rotary Ireland, at an event at Europe House in Dublin. Photo: Stephen McCracken Photography A Wexford secondary school student, Aoibhinn Doyle, was one of just 20 teenagers from across the country to be presented with a Rotary Youth Leadership Development certificate at the new Europe House in Dublin recently. The competition, which Rotary Ireland has been running for over 30 years, rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities. It is run in conjunction with the European Parliament Office in Dublin with the winners enjoying an all expenses paid week-long trip to Belfast, Dublin and Strasbourg. Aoibhinn, who is a fifth-year student in Ramsgrange Community School, received her certificate from Rotary Ireland District Governor, Seamus Parle, and Fionnuala Croker, Acting Head of Office at the European Parliament Office in Dublin. The itinerary for the students trip included visits to Belfast, Dublin, and Strasbourg. In Belfast they received a private tour of City Hall and a meeting with the Lord Mayor, Councillor Micky Murray, followed by a tour of Stormont, where they met several politicians and also listened in to some debates from the visitors gallery. At the new European Parliament Offices in Chatham Street, Dublin, they immersed themselves in all things EU related, via the new Europa Experience and a 360-degree cinema presentation. The students heard presentations on the EU, and what consists of the European Parliaments role and powers, as well as about traineeships which are available with the EU institutions. After being presented with their leadership certificates, students then embarked on tours of the Seanad and Dail, where they met several TDs and senators. After that, it was onto Strasbourg where they visited the famous Notre Dame cathedral, enjoyed a private tour of the European Court of Human Rights and paid a visit to Petit France, which was once home to the citys tanners, millers and fishermen and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the penultimate day of their stay, it was off to the European Parliament where they and students from all over Europe were welcomed by Roberta Mestola, President of the European Parliament. The highlight for the students was taking part in Euroscola, a simulation of the work of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a debate and vote on the EUs actions to tackle disinformation. Aoibhinn, is a volunteer with Marys Meals Ireland, a charity that provides meals to children in disadvantaged counties every day through school. She is also a volunteer with Spunout, Irelands national youth organisation, and through their Action Panel helps highlight the many challenge that young people in Ireland face today. In school, Aoibhinn participates in the choir and traditional music group, and additionally, she is a regional officer with the Irish Second-Level Students Union. Aoibhinn said she learnt a vast amount of information from the competition, especially about Northern Irish politics from the visit to Belfast City Hall and Stormont as well as a better understanding of EU politics and potential career opportunities in Europe. But the highlight of the trip for me, was being able to take part in the Euroscola experience in the European Parliament. Being able to address approximately 700 students in the Parliament was an experience I will never forget, said Aoibhinn, adding that a bigger issue facing young people is climate change. Many of us worry about our future and how this issue not only affects our environment but other aspects of our lives such as education, the cost of living and health. Politicians need to seriously address this issue to protect our generation as well as future generations, she continued. Taking part in this competition is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you get to meet so many likeminded people from different places and backgrounds, Aoibhinn said when talking about her experience with Rotary Ireland. "From this experience I have gained so many friends for life and explored a variety of different opportunities, thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club of Wexford and Ireland, she concluded. Seamus Parle, the District Governor of Rotary Ireland, praised the students passion for learning and their enthusiastic embrace of new experiences. While they were naturally nervous when they all met up in Belfast for the first time, their confidence grew in leaps and bounds as they shared new experiences, cultivated new friendships, and improved their communication skills, he said. We were so impressed by the wide range of activities they are involved in, the level of knowledge they displayed on various topical issues and their ability to absorb so much information about the different parliaments they visited. Aoibhinn and the other students are a credit to themselves, their families, their schools and their communities and we are confident that the accomplishments and friendships they have made will stay with them forever as they continue to develop their skills and broaden their horizons. I would like to thank all the teachers and Rotarians who helped us along the way to plan and organise this trip and I would urge as many young people as possible from every part of the island to take part in next years competition Mr Parle concluded. Also commenting on the success of the trip and recognising the exceptionally talented group of young individuals, the Acting Head of Office of the European Parliament Office in Dublin, Fionnuala Croker said the group involved students from all over Ireland: These students have come through a very competitive process to win a place on this study trip, which included a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. "It was a pleasure to speak to them in Europe House before they set off. I was very impressed with how well-informed, how engaged and how curious they are, Ms Croker continued. "Since their return I have heard they represented all of Ireland with distinction and contributed meaningfully to a debate with their fellow students on the steps the EU is taking to tackle disinformation, she concluded. Amid escalating tensions and threats of a major protest from residents, the Wexford Borough Engineer has said that it would be more or less impossible to remove all school buses from the Talbot Green area. Murmurings of discontent are building into a cacophony as residents vow to bring a decades-long grievance to a head by blocking the roads at school times or something similar. They are seeking to bring to an end chaotic scenes at school collection time which sees hundreds of children gather on their doorsteps awaiting collection and the entire area choked up with buses. One of Irelands most historic houses, Russborough House in Blessington, has been allocated over 160,000 under this years Historic Structures Fund (HSF) in order to carry out restoration works. Russborough House is considered one of the finest Palladian houses in Ireland and one of the countrys best-preserved eighteenth century buildings. It was built 1741-1748 to the designs of Richard Castle for Joseph Leeson who became the First Earl of Milltown. In 1931 the house was sold to Captain Denis Daly and then in 1951 to Sir Alfred Beit, who famously brought the Beit art collection to the house. The Alfred Beit Foundation have owned and managed the house since it was established by Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit in 1976. 160,069.16 has been allocated to Russborough for the restoration of 61 distinctive decorative limestone urns on the roof parapet to the main house, the east wing principal elevations and the two colonnade at this heritage-focused tourism attraction. There are a total of 76 urns in all, with five designs, possibly reflecting the use of a number of different workshops in their production. They are largely composed of oolitic limestone and Portland stone from England. The ornamental urns surmount the parapet and are considered of significance to the house as they add particularly grand detail to the overall Palladian character. While welcoming the funding, Tanaiste Simon Harris said: I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to chairperson Judith Woodworth of the Alfred Beit Foundation, former CEO Eric Blatchford, current CEO Orla Gallagher, development manager Theresa Crowley, and Christopher Gallagher for their unwavering dedication to this project. I have been working closely with the board and the local community for a long time to secure this funding. It has taken effort, collaboration, and perseverance. Today marks a significant milestone in that journey. I have always believed that Wicklows natural beauty is one of our nations greatest treasures. Thats why I fully support any investment aimed at protecting, enhancing, and revitalising the landscape we are so lucky to call home. Russborough was the only Co Wicklow project announced by Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Minister Christopher OSullivan, with more than 3.5 million awarded to 28 projects throughout the country. He stated: I am delighted to announce this award of significant funding for the repair and improvement of some of our most cherished heritage buildings. The works funded will secure the integrity of these sites for the enjoyment of future generations, and enhance the sustainability of local economies with great benefits for employment and the environment. This exercise places Wicklow firmly at the centre of a national training programme Helicopters take water from Lough Dan with bambi buckets at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly A helicopter takes water with a Bambi bucket from a waterhole on Scarr Mountain at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Mary O'Kelly (Kildare & Wicklow Integrated Health Area Manager), Marc Deveraux (Wicklow County Council Director of Emergency Services), Patrick McMenamin (Chief Superintendent) and Lorraine Gallagher (Wicklow County Council Director of Communications) with the Regional Coordination Team in Council Buildings, Wicklow Town during the Wicklow County Council MODEX Training Exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly The Decamap team check the live feed at the command centre in the Brockagh Centre, Laragh, at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Superintendent Rory Sheriff and Inspector Michelle Byrne at the Control Centre in the Brockagh Centre, Laragh, at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Members of the Coast Guard prepare to reach a casualty in Glendasan at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Yes, climate change has intensified everything but we are better prepared and wildfires are now smaller in County Wicklow because EU-praised co-ordination between local, neighbouring and national agencies and community organisations means the right people and equipment are getting to them earlier. But the resources needed to achieve this, to protect lives, livestock and historic, important habitats, are monumental, and that resource need is likely to increase. That was the message this week from Wicklows chief fire officer Aidan Dempsey, as he helped oversee testing of drones, Bambi buckets, command centres and the construction of a temporary morgue for mass casualties during an expansive exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Simulating a severe wildlands fire scenario near Turlough Hill and Lough Dan, the multi-agency exercise saw EU experts evaluate Irelands preparedness and response capacity, with Wicklow and Dublin Fire Services leading representatives from An Garda Siochana, Air Corps Operations, Coillte Forestry Managers, Defence Forces, Coast Guard, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Mountain Rescue and Civil Defence. At the heart of the operation, an on-site coordination centre was established at the Brockagh Resource Centre, where Maynooth University showcased its Wildfire Common Operational Picture platform, DecaMap. Developed in partnership with The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) and Wicklow County Council (WCC), the high-tech software compiles data to predict wildfire movement and provide accurate information for emergency responders. Members of the Coast Guard prepare to reach a casualty in Glendasan at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Up at the Wicklow Gap, firefighters from eight counties assembled to showcase a range of apparatus used to help quell wildfires, including drones and an incident command vehicle. Wicklow chief fire officer Aidan Dempsey explained that the countys strong inter-organisation and community connections were among the reasons it was selected as the setting for the inaugural MODEX exercise, which was organised by WCC, the Eastern Emergency Response Group and NDFEM. This exercise places Wicklow firmly at the centre of a national training programme, and its because of our experience, the land and the organisations that we deal with that we can put on an exercise like this, he said. Coillte and NPWS own 25 pc of the land in Wicklow, and we work very closely with them. Of course, theres An Garda Siochana, the Coast Guard and Mountain Rescue. The Civil Defence have supported us in every aspect of this and they are the bedrock of the organisation of this exercise, in terms of transportation, flying drones, setting up the rest centre and a temporary body holding area. Wicklow has all these links between different organisations, but also to the community. Mountain Rescue Search Dog Kai with his handler at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly The Lough Dan Scout Centre opened their doors and welcomed us in. Earlier today, we were in the Brockagh Centre, and they provided that to us so we could have the on-site co-ordination centre. Then we have the rest centre set up over at An Tochar GAA in Roundwood. I think the community understands, God forbid, if something on this scale ever happens, that these facilities would be needed, and we need to know how to set them up as quickly as possible, which is one reason for this exercise. Asked if he had received feedback from the EU experts in attendance, Mr Dempsey said that they had mostly remained tight-lipped during the scenario, as the standard of the procedures, equipment and organisation on display was very much in line with their expectations. Interestingly, were not getting a lot of feedback from the EU experts so far here today, and that is because they are seeing what they expect to see, he said. Of course, there are variations based on weather conditions and the type of vegetation. In the south of Spain, you wont have Wicklows lush, green grasslands. However, the experts are seeing the same procedures and organisation they would expect. Superintendent Rory Sheriff and Inspector Michelle Byrne at the Control Centre in the Brockagh Centre, Laragh, at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Part of the reason we are doing this exercise is that we think, in the future, if there is a really bad fire, we might need more resources. The resources that the EU can offer us are fixed-wing aircraft that can scoop from the larger lakes and dump six tonnes of water at a time. These people have been to [Casement] Aerodrome in Baldonnel and met with the Air Corps and are confident they can use it as a base, should they be needed. Well expand that into more aerial co-ordination, to make sure that, when they come, theyre able to operate safely, with people on the ground and in the air helping to take them to the right locations. Discussing the threat of wildfires in Wicklow, Mr Dempsey said that, although the possibility of fires breaking out was more significant 10 years ago, and fires started deliberately or accidentally are still a major issue, emergency services are better prepared to respond, despite climate change intensifying conditions. Of course, we have climate change and dry spells to deal with, but people are still the major cause of wildfires, whether by intention or not, and they can have a devastating impact on communities and landscapes, particularly fragile ones like that in Wicklow, he said. As you can see today, there are a lot of resources that we can bring to bear should they be needed, but you would always hope that prevention, and the public taking responsibility, means that fire services arent pulled away from their respective areas. We have eight different fire services here today, including Wicklow, Galway, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Laois-Offaly, Carlow and Wexford. This is really important, because when we get to the limit of the number of firefighters we can commit safely and still protect the towns and areas of Wicklow, we know we can call them in, and they know they can call us in when theyre under pressure. The Army Corps Helicopter at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Coillte has worked hard on equipment and training and the NPWS have got in international experts who have trained them on the same instant command system as our fire service. We are in constant touch. Coillte and the NPWS have also employed spotters who fly helicopters over and spot fires at an early stage. While the conditions and climate change have intensified everything, we are better prepared. We may still be seeing a lot of fires each year, but they are smaller because were getting there earlier. Further down at St Kevins bridge in Glendasan, Cork Fire Brigade showcased a high-volume pumping unit, which can bring a substantial water source closer to a blaze, while Mountain Rescue and Coastguard units were at Glendasan car park, with the latter demonstrating the use of a winch to bring a casualty up a cliff side. Asked about their role in the event of a wildfire, Diarmuid Scully of the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team explained that having local responders dotted around some of Wicklows most vulnerable upland areas would be a distinct advantage. What will happen in the event of a fire is that we will be contacted by the gardai to rescue someone, and if it is a wildfire scenario, its only when someone is trapped or missing that we will be called in, he said. The Decamap team check the live feed at the command centre in the Brockagh Centre, Laragh, at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly We would then go through a process of identifying where the wildfire is, getting advice from gardai and the fire service as to the wind direction and decide where to set up our rescue base. Our volunteers are mostly Wicklow-based, which is a big advantage in a rescue, as the locals come in first, expend their energy, and then you have another wave of people coming in from further out. During Covid, we had to split our volunteers up into smaller pods, and now that has become our standard operating procedure, so we would be responding to a wildfire in pods of five or six volunteers. Adding to the realism of the scenario, two civilian helicopters and one Air Corps worked in sequence, dipping bambi buckets into Lough Dan and scooping up tons of water before dispersing them at the opposite end of the lake. Among those in attendance at the aerial display was NPWS manager for Wicklow Mountain National Park, Damian Clarke, who provided some insight into the causes of wildfires and NPWS intensive training to help combat them. Helicopters drop water from bambi buckets over Lough Dan at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Although fire is quite a common occurrence in the uplands, thankfully, we dont see anything on this scale, he began. This scenario is taking place in habitats that are rare throughout Europe, have to be protected and fire can be hugely damaging to. When youre talking about peat, it takes thousands of years to form, and once its gone, its gone. Two angles to this are fires associated with agriculture, and recreational fires, where people are doing it with malice, or accidentally with their disposable BBQs, etc. A lot of these fires can happen in the spring or early summer. Fire has been used traditionally as a tool in managing upland vegetation, but there are restrictions on when you can do it, and the scale of it, and in recent years that has been in decline, as we are working with local people who can manage the timing and scale of these fires. Mary O'Kelly (Kildare & Wicklow Integrated Health Area Manager), Marc Deveraux (Wicklow County Council Director of Emergency Services), Patrick McMenamin (Chief Superintendent) and Lorraine Gallagher (Wicklow County Council Director of Communications) with the Regional Coordination Team in Council Buildings, Wicklow Town during the Wicklow County Council MODEX Training Exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly NPWS have a legal duty throughout the country, and if we see someone lighting an illegal fire, we will engage with them. When I think of the fire in Kerry in 2021 that saw 2,500 hectares burnt in a national park, I have to consider the woods here in Wicklow, because if that happened, we would lose a really important resource. I think everyone acknowledges the importance of these habitats, many of which border Coillte lands, so you could be talking about a huge financial cost to the state too. At NPWS, a lot of us have been dealing with the threat of wildfires a long time, in terms of on-the-job learning, but weve formalised that in recent years, working with trainers from the UK and local fire service, he added. If there is a fire, well be out on site along with the fire service and we have helicopters on retainer. You need ground suppression, as fires going uphill are a whole different challenge with changing winds. A helicopter takes water with a Bambi bucket from a waterhole on Scarr Mountain at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Following a debrief at the Brockagh Resource Centre, which had been live streaming from exercise locations with drone and satellite imagery from Maynooth University, the exercise concluded in Wicklow town, where a mobile mortuary for mass fatality situations was erected at the neighbouring fire station. As assistant Dublin Civil Defence officer Fergus Byrne explained, the inflatable tent (which was deployed at the 2015 Carrickmines fire) is used in rural areas like Wicklow where hospital morgues are not an option, adding: If the gardai, fire service and ambulance service push that button, well have it set up in an hour and a half. The exercise culminated at County Buildings which was acting as the regional coordination centre where EU teams tasked with assessing Irelands wildland and forest fire fighting processes reflected on the scenario. Speaking in the WCC chamber, EU expert Markus Green lauded Wicklow and Ireland for the high standard of the exercise, saying that, in the last few days, his EU colleagues had witnessed amazing co-ordination at a national and regional level, adding that the co-ordination is in place in Ireland, there is no doubt about that. Helicopters take water from Lough Dan with bambi buckets at Wicklow County Council's MODEX training exercise in the Wicklow Mountains. Photo: Michael Kelly Asked if there were any areas of improvement he would highlight, Mr Green responded: The threat of wildfires is growing in respect of climate change, and resources in each country will be limited. At a certain point, all countries reach a limit where you need more, sometimes from the local government or the neighbouring local government, or sometimes the entire country needs help from outside the country. We are getting into those kinds of processes, and how you can receive international assistance and use it efficiently, and thats where sharing our knowledge on a regular basis comes into it. An upcoming BBC documentary will expose the deeper story behind George Floyds death which was caused by a police officer kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes. Backlash: The Murder Of George Floyd comes from the production company Rogan Productions, which has made the documentaries Uprising, Black Power, Defiance: Fighting The Far Right. The death of Mr Floyd, a black man, five years ago in Minneapolis sparked a wave of worldwide protests against police violence and racism. Protesters throw the statue of Edward Colston into the Bristol harbour during a Black Lives Matter protest rally, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis (Ben Birchall/PA) Derek Chauvin, a police officer who is white, was convicted of murder after Mr Floyd was arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit note. The 90-minute film will feature interviews with Mr Floyds family, Medaria Arradondo, the Minneapolis police chief at the time who gave evidence against his own officers, as well as musician Che Lingo, Game Of Thrones actress Nathalie Emmanuel, mother and daughter broadcasters Andi and Miquita Oliver and comedian Munya Chawawa. Other contributors include former prime minister Boris Johnsons ex-adviser on race Samuel Kasumu, and Sal Naseem, former regional director for London at the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Kwabena Oppong, director at Rogan Productions, said: The shockwaves of George Floyds murder in May 2020 became a catalyst for change worldwide, or so it seemed. Over the past five years, weve seen progress and growth, but also a growing backlash. Behind everything we consume on TV, in the news, and on social media, theres a deeper story. Through compelling archive footage, user-generated content, and powerful personal testimonies, we aim to bring these stories to the forefront and truly understand what happened in the summer of 2020 and whether lasting change is possible. It will focus on the story of Mr Floyds murder, the UK and global reaction, backlash, and whether anything will change amid the rise of the Black Lives Matter campaigners. During the UK Demonstrations, a bronze statue of the 17th-century slave merchant Edward Colston was toppled, before being dumped in Bristol Harbour, and graffiti was scrawled on the Sir Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square. A mural in progress on the Falls Road in Belfast, in memory of George Floyd who was killed on May 25 while in police custody in the US city of Minneapolis (David Young/PA) The production company said it also comes amid diversity initiatives in the US being scrapped by President (Donald) Trumps decree, and the US presidents adviser Elon Musk retweeting a call for the police officer who murdered George Floyd to be pardoned. Matt Hird, distributor at Dartmouth Films, said: The murder of George Floyd created waves throughout the world, we saw first hand how it encouraged the Black Lives Matter movement here in London. Backlash: The Murder Of George Floyd will be released around the five-year anniversary of George Floyd, a reminder of how far weve come and how far weve got to go for sustainable change to be achieved worldwide. Clare Sillery, head of BBC documentaries commissioning, said the documentary has powerful personal testimony at its heart as it examines the seismic events following the murder of George Floyd and what we can learn from it five years on. Backlash: The Murder Of George Floyd will hit cinemas on May 9, ahead of the same month seeing a release on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. Pierce Brosnan said he is happy with how his career has progressed (Yui Mok/PA) Pierce Brosnan has ruled out playing an older James Bond saying its going to be another mans job. The Irish actor and former 007 star has said he is happy with his career and is not looking to return to the franchise to portray the secret agent. Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show, the 71-year old said the character has opened a lot of doors for him and backed Kick-Ass actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the role. Pierce Brosnan has tipped Aaron Taylor-Johnson for the role (Suzan Moore/PA) Discussing the rumours of playing an older Bond, Brosnan said: No-ones spoken to me about it. Ive heard all of the rumours. Listen, they know where to find me. Lets see where the wind takes us. He later clarified: Its going to be another mans job. Im not looking to go there. Im quite happy with my career. Ive done it, it was wonderful. Delightful kind of notion to contemplate. Hes with me for life (Bond). It was great. A magical time in my life. It opened a lot of doors and allowed me to go off and form my own company and make my own movies The Thomas Crown Affair, The Matador it gave me access to a whole other world as an actor, employment. Brosnan showed his support for Taylor-Johnson, 34, and described him as impressive. He said: I think he (Taylor-Johnson) would make a very fine Bond. He was actually in one of the movies I made called The Greatest. This young man we cast as The Greatest. He was so impressive then. He just had this charisma, he had this presence so he would be good. But theres many men on the list, Im sure. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a favourite to play Bond (Ian West/PA) Brosnan was first introduced as James Bond in the 1995 film GoldenEye, with his last portrayal of the character in 2002s Die Another Day. The English actor, Daniel Craig, took the role in 2006 for Casino Royale until he left the franchise after the 2021 film No Time To Die. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding who will play the beloved spy with concerns that he would not be British after Amazon MGM Studios took creative control of the franchise. Brosnan has been vocal on the matter saying that it is a given Craigs successor should be British. Taylor-Johnson, who played Dave Lizewski in the Kick-Ass films, is also known for his roles in movies including Nowhere Boy (2009), Bullet Train (2022) and Nosferatu (2024). The Jonathan Ross Show airs on Saturday at 9.20pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. The doctor audibly gasped when he saw the back of my throat. Taking to social media, the radio star said that a few years ago he had a sore throat that kept getting worse. I went to the doctor and found out it was actually glandular fever. Glandular fever itself, it's fairly common, there's no actual cure, he said. You kinda just have to ride it out and take whatever the doctor prescribes for it. So after about three more days, and just to warn you, this is where this sort gets to get a little bit disgusting. After about three more days, I was so run down. I was in so much pain. I was taking anti-inflammatory stuff, it was doing nothing for me, he continued. The 35-year-old said that he was in a bad way and discovered white and yellow patches that were raw and so painful. I went back to the doctor who sent me immediately to A&E 'cause it was in such a bad way. 2FM's Carl Mullan Today's News in 90 seconds - 27th March 2025 I was seen straight away and I always remembered the doctor audibly gasped when he saw the back of my throat. Carl had a blood test, and was prescribed medication and antibiotics A couple of hours later, the doctor came back and sat me down and was like, you're really lucky you came into hospital when you did, why? You're in the early stages of sepsis. He basically told me that had I not come into hospital when I did 12 hours, 18 hours later, I would've been arriving into hospital in the back of an ambulance, he shared. The 2023 Dancing With The Stars winner said he wanted to share his story as a stark warning to take symptoms seriously. Sepsis never crossed my mind I was doing the typical Irish thing of I don't wanna be bothering the doctor, it'll be fine. Ill be grand. Carl Mullan with his DWTS dance partner Emily Barker Little did I know that by not wanting to bother people in the background, what was just a normal infection was actually turned into a very dangerous situation because with sepsis, you can get very sick very, very quickly if you don't treat it quickly. You can go into organ failure and ultimately it can be fatal, he said, clarifying I'm obviously no medical expert, but I think even if this story just serves as a reminder to look up the symptoms of sepsis or things to look out for, or to just have it in the back of your mind. I think that's worthwhile. Just remember with me, this started out as a sore throat. Like it really was a non-event. He warned viewers not to be the typical Irish person and to get checked if you suspect somethings wrong. They're not gonna be annoyed at you, time is of the essence. Sepsis is described by the HSE as a life-threatening complication of an infection. Most people make a full recovery if it's identified and treated quickly. Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death. It can be hard to tell if you have sepsis but trust your instincts.According to the HSE, the early signs of sepsis in older children and adults include a temperature of 36 degrees celsius or below or 38 degrees celsius or above, chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat, problems or changes to breathing, feeling or acting differently from normal, vomiting, headache and generally feeling unwell. Full signs and symptoms are available from the HSE. The rappers recent style choices prove shes a true trendsetter During her brat era last summer, singer Charli XCX brought together an entire squad of self-dubbed hot internet girls for her wry take on online culture in her 360 music video. The line-up included the It Girls of the day, such as actress Rachel Sennott, model Gabbriette Leigh Bechtel and influencer Emma Chamberlain. Aside from the long-established Chloe Sevigny, I would personally argue that of those featured, only actress and model Julia Fox meets the criteria of being a true It Girl. Shes irreverent, was constantly in the press when Kanye West was briefly her boyfriend and stylist (you do neither well, Kanye), she has a fascinating life story as detailed in her biography Down the Drain, and shes made some out there, yet incredible, fashion choices. Doechii wearing Valentino at Paris Fashion week earlier this month. Photo: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images Of course, the criteria for being an It Girl is not something you can really list they change from person to person and generation to generation. What all It Girls do have in common is that they draw you in. When their photos appear, you want to see more. When you hear them speak, you want to know more. So whos the true It Girl of 2025? Its Doechii, of course. For those of you who dont yet know who Doechii is, my condolences. Shes the American female rapper behind songs like Denial is a River, Anxiety and Yucky Blucky Fruitcake. She often refers to herself as a student of hip-hop and as a result wore uniform-inspired outfits for quite some time. She regularly sported the designs of master tailor Thom Browne, which caught the fashion industrys attention. Singer Doechii attends the Chloe Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025-2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week. Photo: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Doechii carried the recent Paris Fashion Week with the worlds top designers on her back. Its impressive how she seems to embody each brand, while still remaining true to herself. While dressed in Chloe, she effortlessly exuded the bohemian heart of the brand, with her micro braids and a faux fur draped around her neck which framed an oh-so-feminine-frill-tiered chiffon gown. And the boho cherry on top? She went barefoot a simple yet bold move which made her stand out from other attendees. Doechii attends the Tom Ford Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025-2026 show in Paris. Photo: Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images In Tom Ford, she dominated wearing a black dipped body suit paired with sheer tights, a black faux fur coat and a cigarette as her accessory. Once again, shes pulling from the roots of the brand: Ford likes to be sexy, shocking and embrace controversy. In Schiaparelli, Doechii was statue-esque yet subversive. A simple white draped gown was snatched at the waist with a denim corset and enough gold to make Midas weep. Once again, she was paying close attention to the brands history; founder Elsa Schiaparelli collaborated with Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali in 1937 and its a theme the house has embraced ever since. Doechiis long gold nails were perfect for this. When it comes to Doechiis fashion and music choices, she leads rather than follows trends. After all, a true It Girl creates a cultural movement rather than participates in one. What your Tom Ford Black Orchid scent says about you... Your favourite genre of cinema is film noir and you always root for the femme fatale. You make an effort to throw some biting criticism at men on a daily basis but you do it in such a witty and flirty way that they often dont realise theyve been insulted until five minutes after you leave. By that stage, theyre so enveloped in this intoxicating scent that theyre enamoured rather than annoyed. Your ex still cries every time he smells patchouli. Tom Ford Black Orchid 150ml, 212, Arnotts I work three days a week and we have a decent quality of life Irish people living in Europes cheapest and most expensive countries President Donald Trumps pivot toward Russia, through a series of concessions and policy changes coupled with threats against Washingtons traditional allies, is ushering in a world order more amenable to Moscow, according to Russian analysts. President Trumps talk of taking over the Panama Canal, making Canada the 51st state and getting Greenland one way or another appears to be rupturing the post-World War II order in favour of a world without constraints on territorial expansion by force - and one closer to Russian President Vladimir Putins view. The US now is like having a dance with a gorilla. You might want to stop, but the gorilla doesnt Ibecs Danny McCoy on threat to Ireland as US readies tariffs Having returned from an America in anarchy, he believes the loss of global goodwill is going to stifle Donald Trumps ambition Ibecs chief executive Danny McCoy say sentiment in the US is not good, and predicts global uncertainty will have hampered economic growth here John Burns Thu 27 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Interviewing Danny McCoy of Ibec is an education. Over the course of an hour, he explains game theory, the move from stakeholder capitalism back to shareholder capitalism, and why businesses need a social licence to trade. Investors see the Argentine peso on the verge of devaluation again, with the currency poised to change direction once more after going from one of the worst in the world in 2023 to among the strongest performers last year. Members of Ukraine's former Azov Regiment captured in Mariupol in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, attend a court hearing in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, yesterday. Photo: Reuters A Russian military court yesterday handed down long prison sentences to 12 members of Ukraines Azov regiment, which led the defence of the city of Mariupol in the early months of the war and is designated as a terrorist organisation by Russia. Ukraine and Russia accuse one another of breaking ceasefire EU says it will not meet conditions set by Kremlin for US-brokered truce in the Black Sea French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Elysee Palace, as they met for a meeting ahead of a peace and security conference on Ukraine, in Paris yesterday. Photo: Reuters Anastasiia Malenko and Tom Balmforth in Kyiv Thu 27 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Ukraine and Russia accused one another yesterday of flouting a truce on energy strikes brokered by the United States, and the European Union said it would not meet conditions set by Russia for a planned ceasefire in the Black Sea. Livermore, CA (94550) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High near 80F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 51F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. India to End Equalisation Levy on Digital Ads by April 1, 2025 India will remove the 6 percent equalisation levy, also known as the digital tax, on online services, including advertising, a move aimed at reducing costs for major US technology firms such as Google (owned by Alphabet), Meta, and Amazon. This step is expected to alleviate US trade concerns and foster better economic relations between the two countries. Indias central government has proposed eliminating the 6 percent equalisation levy, commonly known as the digital tax, on online advertisements, effective April 1, 2025. The proposal, included in the Finance Bill 2025, was presented in Parliament on March 24 and subsequently received approval from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. It now awaits the Presidents assent. While the digital tax removal will likely bring relief to US tech giants such as Google, Meta, and Amazon, it also signals Indias intent to align its tax policies with global standards under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developments (OECD) Pillar One framework. However, this decision carries complex implications for various stakeholders, including advertisers, Indian ad agencies, domestic media houses, and the broader digital economy. Understanding Equalisation Levy (EL) and its purpose The digital tax was introduced in India in 2016 as a measure to tax cross-border digital advertising transactions. It was specifically designed to target non-resident digital platforms that generated revenue from Indian advertisers, even when these platforms had no physical presence in India. The levy was imposed at a rate of 6 percent on gross payments made by Indian businesses to foreign platforms, provided the invoice was issued outside India and payments were made in foreign currency. The primary objective was to level the playing field for domestic digital platforms, which were subject to Indian income tax, unlike their international counterparts. A major win for global digital platforms Global tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon, which account for approximately 65 percent of Indias approximately INR 500 billion (US$5.82 billion) digital advertising market, stand to benefit the most from the scrapping of the digital tax. Advertisers, who previously had to factor in the 6 percent levy when placing ads on these platforms, will now experience reduced costs, making these platforms even more attractive. While the levy was initially intended to prevent base erosion and profit shifting by multinational tech companies, in practice, it increased ad rates and reduced return on investment (ROI) for Indian businesses. Industry experts have also emphasized that operational compliance with the levy was cumbersome, often requiring quarterly filings and additional administrative work, which added complexity for agencies managing multi-platform campaigns. Challenges and opportunities for Indian ad agencies For Indian ad agencies, the removal of the EL presents a mixed picture. On the one hand, it will reduce compliance burdens, particularly for agencies handling international invoicing and managing multi-platform advertising campaigns. The operational ease that comes with the levys removal is likely to benefit larger agencies with international clients. On the other hand, the removal of the levy could increase competitive pressures from global platforms. As ad rates on foreign platforms become more cost-competitive, Indian ad networks and publishers may lose the pricing advantage that the levy previously afforded them. Domestic players pointed out that smaller Indian ad agencies that once benefited from the levys protective effects may now struggle to compete with global platforms that can offer lower costs and higher ROI returns on investment. The overall impact will vary depending on the scale of the agency. Larger firms catering to international clients may experience operational relief, while smaller agencies focusing on domestic clients may face challenges in maintaining their market share. Broader implications for Indias tax framework India seeks to reduce trade tensions and encourage greater foreign investment by aligning its domestic tax policies with international standards. Digital marketing experts believe that removing the levy will simplify the countrys digital taxation regime, reduce operational hurdles in media planning, and create a more seamless digital advertising ecosystem. It is believed that this decision reflects Indias willingness to cooperate with global tax norms, which could improve its standing in the international business community. A shift toward data-driven advertising and future trends Beyond platform choices, Indias evolving digital advertising landscape is driving brands toward a more data-centric approach. As tax complexities and privacy regulations tighten, brands are increasingly focusing on first-party data to improve targeting and retargeting. Indias media pundits have observed that this shift is fostering the growth of tech-driven media ecosystems. This transition toward a data-first approach reflects a broader industry trend where brands are prioritizing technology-led solutions to optimize their advertising strategies. As the digital ecosystem matures, Indias digital advertising industry is poised to embrace a more technology-driven future, with enhanced targeting, improved ROI return on investments, and streamlined media operations. Background on Indias EL expansion and subsequent revisions India initially introduced the EL to tax offshore companies generating revenue from online advertisements targeting Indian consumers. However, in 2020, the scope of the levy was broadened to include a 2 percent charge on various digital services provided by non-resident entities. This expanded levy encompassed a wide range of services, including software-as-a-service (SaaS), cloud services, platform services, data-related services, financial services, online education, and the digital sale of goods. The expanded levy drew criticism, particularly from the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which viewed it as discriminatory against US-based digital companies. In 2021, the USTR highlighted concerns that the levy disproportionately impacted American firms, leading to the possibility of retaliatory measures, such as the withdrawal of trade benefits and the imposition of tariffs. To mitigate these tensions, India and the US reached a transitional arrangement similar to agreements the US had made with countries like Austria, France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. This arrangement remained in effect until a global tax framework, under the OECDs BEPS 2.0 initiative, was finalized. However, due to delays in finalizing the global tax deal, including Pillar One (targeting base erosion and profit shifting) and Pillar Two (introducing a global minimum tax rate of 15 percent), the arrangement was extended until the end of June 2024. India abolished the 2 percent equalization levy effective August 1, 2024, while retaining the 6 percent levy on online advertising revenues. Conclusion Indias decision to eliminate the 6 percent EL is a strategic move with far-reaching consequences for businesses across the digital ecosystem. While it promises to reduce compliance burdens, enhance trade relations with the US, and create a more competitive digital advertising environment, it also presents challenges for Indian ad agencies and domestic platforms that have thrived in a protected environment. As India aligns its tax policies with global standards, businesses will need to adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape where operational agility, data-driven strategies, and technological innovation will determine success. (US$1 = INR 85.79) A Real Pain OTT release date JioHotstar: A Real Pain is all set to make its OTT release. Jesse Eisenberg is the writer and director of the movie in which in order to honour their cherished grandmother, mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) get back together on a tour of Poland. When the odd couple's long-standing conflicts reappear against the backdrop of their family history, the adventure takes a different path. A Real Pain will be released on JioHotstar on 4th April 2025. Plot After their grandmother passes away, estranged cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) travel to Poland, their grandmother's native country, where they struggle with their own strained relationship and family history. With Poland's historical significance as a backdrop, the film examines issues of loss, family, heritage, and the intricacies of human connection. Cast and crew A Real Pain stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes and others. The film was written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. In A Real Pain, Israeli-Canadian classical pianist Tzvi Erez performs practically all of the piano compositions composed by Polish great Frederic Chopin. A Real Pain awards A Real Pain won multiple awards, including four at the 82nd Golden Globes and two nominations at the 97th Academy Awards and 78th British Academy Film Awards. Eisenberg won the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, and Culkin won Best Supporting Actor at both ceremonies. The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute both ranked it among the best 10 movies of 2024. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Shonen anime fans, weve got exciting news for you! WIT Studio, known for animating hits like Attack on Titan, is all set to bring the thrill to the screen. The studio is heading to Netflix to present the Yaiba: Samurai Legend manga adaptation. The announcement has thrilled anime fans, and they naturally have high expectations for the production, especially since WIT Studio is renowned for its top-class production quality. Before the project drops on Netflix, heres everything you need to know about Yaiba: Samurai Legend, including the voice actors, plot details, and more. Yaiba: Samurai Legend release window and streaming rights The production company's adaptation of Gosho Aoyama's manga from the late 1980s, Yaiba: Samurai Legend, has been formally announced to debut on the platform in April 2025. As Netflix and Hulu have acquired the distribution rights for YAIBA: Samurai Legend, viewers in the US, Canada, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand will soon be able to enjoy the most recent iteration of the cult favorite. Both platforms will have episodes on the first day after they premiere on Japan's Nippon TV, however Hulu will only stream the series in specific regions. Details about its release in India are awaited. YAIBA Anime Remake, "YAIBA: Samurai Legend" begins on April 5, 2025! Animation Production: WIT STUDIO More: https://t.co/EDzZRLKePq pic.twitter.com/UQ4DbhLstC AniTV (@AniTV_net) February 9, 2025 Yaiba: Samurai Legend voice actors Each episode is directed by Takahiro Hasui, while the screenplays are written by Touko Machida. Yoshimichi Kameda is the principal animation director and character designer for the Yaiba remake. The Japanese voice cast includes Manaka Iwami and seasoned performers like Minami Takayama as Yaiba. What is Yaiba: Samurai Legend about? According to Comicbook, Yaiba chronicles the adventures of Yaiba Kurogane, a young man whose only ambition is to become a warrior. Yaiba sets out to become a great warrior after finding himself in a busy metropolis. He encounters many opponents along the road, including Takeshi Onimaru, a dangerous high school student. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Pangolin Kulus Journey OTT release date Netflix: If the animal planet grips you then this upcoming film is for you. Netflix claims that despite their modest appearance, pangolins , small, scaly creatures found in Asia and Africa are among the most poached and trafficked animals in the world and that's what the film is all about. It will be released on April 21, 2025 on Netflix. What is Pangolin Kulus Journey about? One of the most trafficked species in the world, the infant pangolin, is rescued during a sting operation in South Africa, giving a man a new sense of purpose. After leaving the city, he sets out on a sincere quest to heal and get the weak animal ready for a life of independence in the wild. A moving examination of the relationship between people and the animals we coexist with, Pangolin: Kulu's Journey is directed by the Academy Award-winning My Octopus Teacher. Meet the director It is a "poignant exploration of the connection between humans and the creatures we share our world with," and it has been directed by Pippa Ehrlich, the same person who made the Oscar-winning film My Octopus Teacher. Internet reacts to the trailer Pangolin Kulus Journey trailer was released by Netflix and it left people in awe. One wrote, Pangolins are such fascinating creatures, and this documentary has caught my interest. Another added, Incredibly grateful and honored to have been a part of this film. Can't wait for the world to fall in love with pangolins!. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Love? Forbidden. Desire? Off-limits. But whats life without a little scandal? Netflix is diving deep into the world of passion, betrayal, and risque bets with its upcoming drama Scandals (WT). And guess what? The star power is through the roof! Crash Landing on Yous Son Ye-jin, Welcome to Samdal-ris Ji Chang-wook, and Mask Girls NANA are all set to shake things up in this period drama where love is a dangerous game. This sizzling series is based on the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal, which itself took inspiration from the iconic French novel Dangerous Liaisons. But instead of corsets and powdered wigs, were heading straight into the Joseon dynasty, a time when love was a luxury and temptation was a sin. Credits: Netflix Meet the Players of Scandals! Son Ye-jin as Lady Cho - The ultimate power player. She is smart, stunning, and way ahead of her time, but refuses to let society dictate her fate. Instead, she masterminds a high-stakes love bet that could change everything. Ji Chang-wook as Cho Won - The smoothest playboy in Joseon. Love? He doesnt believe in it. Conquests? Thats more his thing. But when Lady Cho throws him a challenge, hes all in with no rules, no limits. NANA as Hui-yeon - A widow with a vow of chastity or so she thought. When she crosses paths with Cho Won, emotions she never expected come crashing in, throwing her world into chaos. Helmed by director Jung Ji-woo (Somebody, Tune in for Love), Scandals (WT) is ready to turn the Joseon court into a battlefield of passion, deception, and power plays. Expect schemes, seduction, and secrets - all wrapped up in a drama so juicy, you wont know who to root for. Are you ready to enter a world where love is just another weapon? Scandals (WT) is coming soon, only on Netflix! For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. In India, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has prohibited the release of the acclaimed movie Santosh. In addition to being the UK's official Oscar entry, the movie made it to the shortlist. It appears that the film will not be released in India anytime soon, despite the fact that many people have been looking forward to seeing it here. Heres why UKs Oscars entry Santosh is blocked from release in India IndiaToday reports that The CBFC has reportedly requested a lengthy and comprehensive list of changes to the movie, which addresses the police force and a number of social concerns. Santosh, which is set in North India, follows the journey of a young widow who enlists in the police and is assigned to investigate the death of a Dalit girl. The Sandhya Suri movie also discusses issues including Islamophobia, sexual assault, police brutality, and caste prejudice. Santosh awards and nominations The movie, which starred Shahana Goswami and Sunita Rajwar, was the UK's official submission for the 2025 Oscars in the International Feature category. It debuted to widespread praise at the Cannes Film Festival. This year, Santosh received a BAFTA nomination for Best Debut Feature. Shahana Goswami, the movie's star, also took home the Asian Film Awards' Best Actress prize. Santosh actor Shahana Goswami spoke about the same and told India Today Digital, "The censor has given a list of changes they require for the film to release and we as a team are not in agreement with the cuts as they would change the film too much, and so it is in a deadlock where it probably won't release theatrically in India." Goswami, who noted that the movie had been approved at the script level but was now running into problems, expressed regret at the difficulties the movie was facing. It was regrettable, she said, that a movie that had already received censor approval during the scripting phase would need to undergo significant alterations and cuts before being released in India. Directed by Sandhya Suri, Santosh is an increible crime-drama and it features Shahana and Sunita Rajwar as well. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Netflix is diving into the world of live-action adaptations once again, and this time, its bringing Scooby-Doo to life. Unlike previous animated series and films, this adaptation promises a fresh, modern twist on the beloved mystery-solving team. The show will revisit the origins of the group, revealing how they first came together through a haunting case that changed everything. The story begins at Camp Ruby-Spears The series takes viewers back to one fateful summer at Camp Ruby-Spears, where childhood friends Shaggy and Daphne stumble upon an eerie mystery. A lonely, lost Great Dane puppy may have witnessed something terrifying, possibly even a supernatural murder. As they dig deeper, they enlist the help of Velma, a pragmatic and scientific local, and Fred, the intelligent yet eccentric new kid in town. Together, they work to uncover the truth, but in doing so, they risk exposing their own hidden secrets. The creative team behind the series According to the official release, Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg will serve as showrunners and executive producers alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Andre Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Leigh London Redman. Netflix confirmed production with a social media post featuring the script for episode one. Berlanti shared his excitement, recalling how one of his earliest Hollywood experiences involved working with Scooby-Doo creators Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera. He believes this new series will honor their legacy while offering fans a bold new chapter in the franchise. Netflix has ordered an eight-episode SCOOBY-DOO live action series! "A modern reimagining of the iconic mystery-solving group of teens and their very special dog. During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a pic.twitter.com/eEtWkP3UoQ What's on Netflix (@whatonnetflix) March 26, 2025 With Netflixs proven success in bringing popular franchises to lifesuch as: Wednesday, One Piece and morefans are eager to see how this modern reimagining will unfold. Will this darker take on Scooby-Doo be the most thrilling version yet? Viewers will have to wait and see, but one thing is certain: this wont be just another mystery. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Bank holidays 2025 for Eid: March 2025, the last month of the financial year 2024-25, will have several bank holidays due to national and regional observances. As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar, banks in different states will be closed on multiple days for various religious and cultural events. If you need to visit a bank branch during this time, it is advisable to check the holiday schedule in advance to avoid any inconvenience. Banks will be closed for Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) publishes an annual holiday list under the Negotiable Instruments Act, specifying when banks will remain closed. Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the most significant Islamic festivals, marking the end of Ramadan, which is expected to be celebrated on March 31st (Depending on moon sighting). As a result, banks in some states will observe a holiday to allow people to celebrate the occasion with their families. Important Dates Leading Up to Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 March 2025 has several significant Islamic observances, leading to bank closures in certain regions: March 27 (Thursday): Shab-e-Qadr, also known as the Night of Power , commemorates the night when the Holy Quran was believed to have been revealed. Banks in Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed. Shab-e-Qadr, also known as the , commemorates the night when the Holy Quran was believed to have been revealed. Banks in Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed. March 28 (Friday): Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of Ramadan, is an important day for prayers and gatherings. Banks in Jammu and Kashmir will be closed on this day as well. Jumat-ul-Vida, the last Friday of Ramadan, is an important day for prayers and gatherings. Banks in Jammu and Kashmir will be closed on this day as well. March 29 (Saturday): Banks will remain open as it is the fifth Saturday of the month. Banks will remain open as it is the fifth Saturday of the month. March 31 (Sunday): Eid-ul-Fitr falls on this day, marking the end of Ramadan. However, since March 31 is also the last day of the financial year 2024-25, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to keep banks operational to ensure smooth financial transactions and year-end reporting, as reported in NDTV. How Will Bank Services Be Affected? Even though physical bank branches will be closed on certain days, customers can still access banking services through digital platforms. Services such as: Net banking UPI transactions Mobile banking apps ATM withdrawals and deposits will continue to function without interruption. Plan Your Banking Transactions in Advance To avoid last-minute hassles, it is recommended to check the official bank holiday list and plan your transactions accordingly. If you need to visit a bank branch, ensure you do so before or after the scheduled holidays. For the most accurate information on Eid-ul-Fitr bank holidays 2025 in your region, check with your bank or visit the official RBI website. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak 2025: Shab-e-Qadr, also known as Laylatul Qadr, is the most significant night in Islam. It is observed during Ramadan, the sacred month of fasting. In 2025, Shab-e-Qadr is expected to fall on the evening of 27 March in India. This night holds immense importance as it commemorates the moment when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Often referred to as the "Night of Power" or "Night of Decree," it is truly one of the holiest nights in Islam. Muslims dedicate this night to prayer, reciting the Quran, and seeking Allahs forgiveness. They also engage in acts of kindness and charity to gain additional blessings. Many stay awake throughout the night in devotion, believing that prayers offered on this occasion yield extraordinary rewards. Traditionally, Muslims search for Laylatul Qadr on the odd-numbered nights of the final ten days of Ramadannamely the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th nights. The 27th night is widely regarded as Shab-e-Qadr. Credit: Pixabay As the sacred month of Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims across the country will observe Shab-e-Qadr (Laylatul Qadr) to mark the end of this blessed period. Below are some wishes and quotes you can share with friends and family for Shab-e-Qadr 2025: Happy Laylatul Qadr Mubarak Wishes & quotes 2025 May we pray to Allah Almighty that this night brings goodness to everyone in our community and those we cherish deeply. Laylatul Qadr Mubarak ! ! On this sacred night, may Allah purify our intentions and accept us. May He include us among those freed from the fires of hell. Shab-e-Qadr 2025 Mubarak! This night surpasses a thousand nights in worth. Its when we received our liberationa night when Allah rescued us from the clutches of evil and prepared us for a heavenly embrace. Have a blessed night! Shab-e-Qadr 2025 Mubarak! Tonight is the Night of Power, when Allah joins us in spirit. I hope He stays near you, protects your family, and grants everyone their hearts desires. Laylatul Qadr 2025 Mubarak! Shab-e-Qadr is a perfect moment to reflect on our hearts and seek forgiveness for our sins. Allah is listening and ready to forgive. Laylatul Qadr 2025 Mubarak! Wishing you a blessed Shab-e-Qadr 2025! May Allah accept your prayers and grant you peace. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! May this night bring you closer to Allahs mercy and forgiveness. On this sacred night, may your heart be filled with faith and your soul with tranquility. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak 2025! "Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree." (Quran 97:1) Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak to you and your loved ones! "The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months." (Quran 97:3) Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak to all! May the blessings of Shab-e-Qadr 2025 shower upon you and your family. Stay blessed! Sending you heartfelt wishes on Shab-e-Qadr 2025 a night better than a thousand months. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! May Allah illuminate your path with His divine light tonight. Laylatul Qadr messages 2025 On this holy night, may all your duas be answered. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak 2025! "Peace it is until the emergence of dawn." (Quran 97:5) Wishing you a serene Shab-e-Qadr! May the Night of Power bring you strength, hope, and endless blessings. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak 2025! Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! Lets seek forgiveness and pray for a better tomorrow. Wishing you a night full of worship, reflection, and divine rewards. Shab-e-Qadr 2025 Mubarak! May Allahs rahmah (mercy) envelop you on this auspicious night. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! Shab-e-Qadr 2025: A night to renew your faith and seek Allahs infinite blessings. I pray that Allah accepts your supplications, safeguards your family, and eases your worries on this special night. Have a blessed time and heaps of Shab-e-Qadr wishes! May this glorious month dispel our darkness, cleanse our sorrows, and soothe our pains. May the Almighty accept our prayers! Ramadan Mubarak. On this Night of Power, may Allah make fasting easier for you and grant you the strength to perform all your prayers! Laylatul Qadr Mubarak. The month of abundant blessings and grace has arrived. Spend these days worshipping the one and only Allah Almighty. Laylatul Qadr 2025 Mubarak! The Night of Power offers another chance to do good for humanity. Its said that good deeds performed on this night will be richly rewarded. Laylatul Qadr Mubarak! Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak WhatsApp status 2025 May your prayers on Shab-e-Qadr 2025 rise to the heavens and return with blessings. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! May this night erase your worries and fill your life with joy. On Shab-e-Qadr 2025, may Allah grant you health, happiness, and His eternal guidance. Sending you love and prayers on this blessed Night of Power. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak 2025! May your good deeds multiply and your sins be forgiven. Lets cherish the serenity of Shab-e-Qadr and pray for peace worldwide. Mubarak to you! Wishing you a meaningful Shab-e-Qadr 2025 filled with Allahs love and protection. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! May this night be a turning point for your dreams and aspirations. On this divine night, may Allahs angels surround you with peace. Shab-e-Qadr 2025 Mubarak! Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! May your heart find solace and your soul find purpose tonight. May this Shab-e-Qadr bring glad tidings, blessings, joy, and peace to your life. Sending my warmest wishes to you and your family. Laylatul Qadr 2025 Mubarak! Allah, Youve blessed me with a wonderful life, and Im deeply grateful. Please guide me to prosper in all I do. Forever thankful to You. This is the night of forgiveness. Try to forgive those whove wronged you in any way. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! On this sacred night, I beseech Allah to forgive me, my family, and my friends. May Allah shower us with blessings. Shab-e-Qadr 2025 Mubarak! I wish you all the best things on this holy night. Trust in Allah, and He will always be there for you. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been on the receiving end of heavy Israeli airstrikes, now has an additional problem to deal with the anger of the very people of Gaza, whom they claim to fight for. Over the past few days, Gaza has seen an unprecedented uprising, where thousands of Palestinians took to the streets, chanting slogans against Hamas, which has been ruling the enclave for the past 17 years. CREDIT: AP Protest against Hamas in Gaza The rare protest against Hamas follows the breakdown of the ceasefire between Israel and the militant group, due to which the IDF has resumed airstrikes in Gaza. According to reports, protests were seen in Beit Lahiya, Gaza City, Nuseirat, and Deir al-Balah on Tuesday and Wednesday, where hundreds of demonstrators were seen at each rally. CREDIT: AP Local leaders in the southern part of Gaza reportedly issued a statement calling for a "popular uprising" and demanding Hamas end its rule. Similar calls were issued in other areas. The protesters are blaming Hamas for the breakdown of the ceasefire and the renewed airstrikes, which have claimed hundreds of Palestinian lives in the past few days. CREDIT: AP What Hamas said Hamas, in a statement posted on its Telegram channel Wednesday, however, blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the failure of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas spokesperson killed Meanwhile, Hamas has confirmed that its spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza. Al-Qanoua was killed when his tent was targeted in Jabalia, the Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television said. Earlier this week, Israeli airstrikes had killed two members of the Hamas political office. Ismail Barhoum, a member of Hamas' political office, and Salah al-Bardaweel, another senior leader of the outfit, were killed in two different airstrikes. CREDIT: REUTERS The Hamas political office had a total of 20 members, out of which 11 have been killed since the start of the war in October 2023. Netanyahu steps up pressure As Hamas continues to be squeezed from various corners, PM Netanyahu threatened Wednesday to seize parts of Gaza if the militants did not release the remaining hostages. "The more Hamas persists in its refusal to release our hostages, the stronger the pressure we will exert. This includes the seizure of territories, along with other measures I will not elaborate here," Netanyahu told parliament. Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack, 58 are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. 'Will return in coffins' Hamas responded to Netanyahu's threats, saying the hostages would return in coffins if Israel did not stop bombing Gaza. CREDIT: REUTERS "Every time the (Israeli) occupation attempts to retrieve its captives by force, it ends up bringing them back in coffins," Hamas said in a statement. The group said it was "doing everything possible to keep the occupation's captives alive", but that "the random Zionist bombardment is endangering their lives". For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. The Alabuga Start programme is actively expanding in Russia, aimed at relocating young women from India, Africa, and Latin America to pursue employment and career advancement. Over the past few years, hundreds of young women have chosen to transform their lives through this initiative. We spoke with one participant of the programme to gain insights into her experiences living in the largest country in the world. In an interview with our publication, Victoria Kilani from Nigeria shared her insights on the programme, discussed her personal experience, and addressed why some girls have expressed negative opinions about it in the media. HOW CAN I MOVE TO RUSSIA WITHOUT PAYING A CENT? Victoria, please tell us how did you move to Russia? I moved to Russia via the Alabuga Start programme, which is run by the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, the largest of its kind in Europe. This initiative allows young women to work in various fields while receiving education to enhance their career prospects, as well as learning the Russian language and local culture. I discovered this programme through an online advertisement that my brother shared with me; he had previously lived in Russia and thought it might interest me. I was intrigued by the opportunity to learn a new language and gain work experience, so I decided to participate. I believe this programme is an excellent fit for my goals, which is why I chose to come here. Alabuga Start programme It is not cheap to move to Russia and it takes much time. How much did you spend? Alabuga covered all the expenses for my transfer from Africa. We reached out to HR specialists, and I gathered the necessary documents. They then sent me my tickets. Once I arrived, they welcomed me and helped me settle into an apartment. Where do you work and what is your job? When I first got there, I had no idea who I was going to be. They gave me a bunch of options to pick from, and I decided to go with Catering. Now, I work at a cafe. I started out as a kitchen worker and did that for six months. Then, I became a waitress, and now I'm a barista! My salary has gone up along the way too. Next, I'm hoping to either move up to being an administrator or become a chef. Alabuga Start programme What salary was offered? How much do they pay now? I used to make 42 thousand rubles (about $500). Now I get 120-125 thousand rubles (about $1300), it depends on how well I fulfill my KPI. I make enough to have decent life. How do you like to work here? Sometimes work is really demanding, but I have got used to it. If the place is fully booked, there is a lot of work to do. How do you enjoy your free time? Where do you like to go, and what activities do you engage in? When I'm not working, I usually go out on Saturdays. I enjoy shopping and often stroll around the city with my friends. If we feel like it, we always make time to go to the cinema or a restaurant in town. Alabuga Start programme IS THE PROGRAMME SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE? You can find negative reviews from participants of the Alabuga Start programme online, and these reviews are anonymous. What might be causing this negative attitude towards the programme? To be honest, I haven't come across any negative reviews. The reality is that we have some girls here who just want to unwind going to clubs every night and drinking alcohol but that's not really possible in this environment. When they received feedback, the girls got upset and responded that they wanted to live freely, without any restrictions. I've been here for nearly two years now, and I've encountered a variety of participants in the program. Personally, Im focused on studying and working, and I feel really good here. However, I've noticed that some people have different priorities and aspirations, which makes this place less than ideal for them. If they don't like it here, then why don't those girls just go back home? It's possible that things at home aren't great either. I just want to say that for those girls who want to stay here, patience is key. It won't be easy anywhere. You need to know what you want and work hard to achieve your goals, just like Im doing. Alabuga Start programme Are there people here who were brought under false pretenses? Those who wish to leave but are not permitted to do so? If someone wants to leave, no one is going to hold them back. They can just break the contract, pack their things, and go. I have a friend who recently left Alabuga without making a fuss. Have the representatives from your countries visited you? Yes, representatives from different countries come regularly. They are interested in the Alabuga Start programme and how do the participants live and work. For example, last year, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Nigeria to the Russian Federation, Professor Abdullahi Y. Shehu visited us, to find out how we live here, whether we like it here, whether it's hard or not. It was cool to talk to him. Abdullahi Y.Shenu found that the conditions here are very good for girls from Nigeria and other African countries. Alabuga Start programme MY LIFE IN RUSSIA IS EXCELLENT When you arrived in Russia, did your expectations match up with reality? Were there any surprises or differences between what you anticipated and what you actually experienced? I really love my experience in Russia. Unlike in America, there is no such a racism here. People are genuinely warm and welcoming; theyre always excited to see me and eager to chat. Every Sunday at church, I feel so embraced by the community. I truly believe that Russians are incredibly friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. Was there any fear of moving to Russia? Are there bears outside? Cold? Absolutely not! I wasn't scared at all. My brother has been living in Russia for five years, and he always told me how cold it could get. But honestly, he said it was perfect for me, and I was really excited to be here! And how quickly did you manage to make friends here? I quickly became friends with a girl from Kyrgyzstan when we lived together in a corporate apartment. Even though we've since gone our separate ways, we still stay in touch. I also have friends from Nigeria and Russia! Alabuga Start programme What are the main disadvantages of working at Alabuga Start? I never really thought about it before, but I absolutely love my job at a cafe! The 5/2 work schedule suits me perfectly. I work at the bar in the mornings, and its such a great experienceIve even learned how to make some really delicious coffee! Honestly, I dont see any downsides to being at Alabuga Start. Sure, I get tired sometimes, but thats totally normal. Some girls send a portion of their salary back home, but how do you like to spend yours? I typically save some of my earnings for the future. Occasionally, I send money to my parents and younger brother back in Nigeria. I love going shopping with my friends to pick up some stylish clothes and cute little decor for my apartment. You were one of the first to join the programme, and now youre already part of the company! How are the new participants settling in? It's definitely challenging for everyone at first since theyre still adjusting to the work environment. However, the girls are really excited about earning their own money and managing their finances independently, without relying on their parents. My neighbors were quite anxious when they first arrived because the job search process took about 3 to 4 weeks. The girls were understandably worried about being without work and income during that time. But everything has worked out now! Everyone is employed, earning money, and they've bought stylish, warm clothes for the winter. So, all is well! The Alabuga Start programme is designed for two years. What will you do once you complete the programme? I want to stay working here for at least a year. Then I haven't planned yet, maybe I'll go home to my family, or travel around Russia. US President Donald Trump is back again with a new nickname! While celebrating Women's History Month on March 26, Donald Trump called himself 'fertilisation president' while speaking at a White House event. While delivering his speech about expanding in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment access, Trump said, They are going to have tremendous goodies in the bag for women, too. "The women, between the fertilisation and all of the other things that we're talking about, it's going to be great." Trump's speech received audience laughter, and he embraced the title, stating that he preferred it to other names he had received earlier. Donald Trump refers to himself as the 'father of IVF' Trump consistently referred to himself as the 'father of IVF'. During a town hall for women voters, Trump said, "Oh, I want to talk about IVF. I'm the father of IVF, so I want to hear this question." 'I'll be known as the fertilisation President.' Donald Trump jokes about the Executive Order he signed to expand access to IVF for Americans. pic.twitter.com/wbxDoJWOzZ GB News (@GBNEWS) March 26, 2025 Amid this, a woman raised concerns about abortion bans impacting access to IVF and other fertility treatments, particularly after the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. In response to this, Trump discussed an Alabama Supreme Court ruling about frozen embryos. He went on to say that he consulted Alabama Senator Katie Britt about IVF, claiming to understand the concept of IVF quickly and declaring support for it. Credit: X Know about the IVF access policy In February, Trump signed an executive order requesting the policy recommendations for IVF access protection and cost reduction. His statement in support of IVF availability, particularly addressing the situation in Alabama. In February 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered children under state law, citing an 1872 law regarding the rights of unborn children. A recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that equates frozen embryos with children has led to several IVF clinics pausing treatments. This has raised concerns about the future of reproductive healthcare in the state. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Kim Sae Ron wrote an emotional letter to Kim Soo Hyun after Gold Medalist sent her a second legal notice demanding repayment of the debt incurred during her DUI controversy. Despite her sincere efforts to deliver the lettergoing so far as to visit the actors residence complex in personthe letter remained undelivered to Kim Soo Hyun. Kim Sae Ron's emotional last letter to Kim Soo Hyun At their second press conference on March 27 in Seoul, Kim Sae Rons family presented various pieces of evidence that seemingly support their claim of her 'underage' relationship with Kim Soo Hyun, a claim that Gold Medalist has strongly denied. Among the evidence shared was Kim Sae Ron's last letter, in which she wrote, "We dated for 5-6 years." In the letter, the A Brand New Life actress pleaded with Kim Soo Hyun, expressing a desire to have a conversation with him. She also revealed her feelings of fear around Gold Medalist employees and hoped her letter would reach him directly rather than passing through Lee Ro Be, the founder of Gold Medalist and Kim Soo Hyuns cousin. Calling him "my first and last love", she reflected on their '5-6-year-long' relationship, stating how his ignorance makes her feel that all that time spent together was meaningless. Read Kim Sae Ron's undelivered letter to Kim Soo Hyun below: Hi, this is Roni [nickname]. Are you doing well? I wanted to clear up any misunderstandings about our relationship, so Im writing this. I cant get into contact with anyone from the agency, and Im scared of the lawsuit. Anyway, Im sorry about uploading the picture. I uploaded the picture because I wanted to get the companys attention. Im sorry for bringing damage to you because of that. I feel so scared and uncomfortable around the GOLD MEDALLIST employees. After I left the agency, no one would respond to my requests to talk. I didnt want to bother you. I truly wish for you to be happy. We had been dating for 5-6 years; you were my first love and my last love, so I wish you wouldnt avoid me. Seeing you avoid me and not even acknowledging me makes me feel like all the time we spent together was meaningless. Can we please stay friends? No more, no less. We can still cheer each other on. Do you hate me that much? Why? If this letter doesnt get to you, then our relationship is truly over, forever. The thought of that makes me sad. I wont interfere in your life anymore. But dont hate me Im hoping that I can see your smiling face again. Here is my phone number. If you read this, call me. No matter what I do, there is no way for me to convey my true feelings. I hope your address is the same so you read this, not Ro Be. [T/N: Kim Soo Hyuns cousin]. I am rooting for all your future works and relationships, and I hope youll be happy. And all I hope is you dont look negatively on our time together Kim Sae Ron A picture of Kim Sae Ron's handwritten letter to Kim Soo Hyun Before sharing Kim Sae Ron's letter, her family released a series of intimate text messages from 2016 allegedly exchanged between Kim Soo Hyun and the late actress. You can read their conversation here. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Netflix's Adolescence is shattering viewership records, and the hype shows no signs of slowing down. Audiences are obsessed with the gripping drama, praising everything from the stellar performances to the masterful direction and the stunning single-shot cinematography. At the heart of the frenzy is 16-year-old Owen Cooper, who delivers a breathtaking performance as 13-year-old murder suspect Jamie Miller. His portrayal has already earned him widespread acclaim, but now, an audition tape of his is going viral, once again proving why people can't stop raving about his talent. The audition tape of British actor Owen Cooper was shared on Instagram by Adolescence director Philip Barantini. Check it out here: The clip captures Cooper auditioning for the gripping interrogation scene, and fans are blown away by his performance. In the comments, viewers couldn't stop praising his talent. One wrote, "You can see here how raw talent, when molded by specific direction, is magic." Another said, "When he swipes the hot chocolate away and loses it, it gives me goosebumps. He is a little star, he really is." Yet another commented, "Seeing his progression from audition to rehearsals to final shots is fantastic. He's evolved in a way most actors take years to do." Believe it or not, Adolescence marks Owen's first major acting role. Even more impressively, Netflix revealed that episode three was actually filmed first, meaning that intense scene was his very first time on set. What's next for Owen Cooper Following his breakout role in Adolescence, Owen Cooper is wasting no time lining up exciting new projects. His next big role involves playing a young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell's upcoming adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Owen Cooper to star as Young Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights| Credit: X Fennell, known for Saltburn and Promising Young Woman, is bringing a fresh take to the literary classic. The cast features Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie as Cathy, with Cooper stepping in to portray Heathcliff's younger years. Cooper is also set to appear in Film Club, a romantic comedy-drama. He shares the screen with Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus) as Evie and Ralph Davis (House of the Dragon). With filming already complete, the movie is expected to release later this year on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. Renowned Nollywood actress and 2Babas former wife, Annie Macaulay, has sparked reactions online following her return to social media. The actress, who recently made headlines after 2Baba announced their divorce, surprised many by wiping her entire Instagram page. While details surrounding their split remain unclear, the situation gained even more attention after the music star proposed to Edo State lawmaker, Natasha Osawaru. Advertisement READ MORE: Kunle Remi Shares Emotional Journey As He Welcomes Baby Girl With Wife Following a period of silence, Annie reappeared on social media, but her unexpected decision to delete all her posts has stirred conversations among fans. A review by Information Nigeria on Thursday confirmed that all previous posts had been removed from her Instagram page. See some reactions to the development De Fincole remarked, Make she remove that Idibia from her name fess. Ibina Kobo wrote, God will keep and strengthen her. Emila wrote, Expecting her big return. Moriva stated, Its part of the healing process. May God strengthen her. SEE POST: Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has countered former Vice President Atiku Abubakars claim that Senate President Godswill Akpabio is corrupt. Atiku had alleged that Akpabio was corrupt and had a history of abusing women, citing reports from his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, not Anambra State.However, Murray-Bruce defended Akpabios character, contradicting Atikus accusations. In a statement on Wednesday, Senator Murray-Bruce countered Atiku, saying: I know Senator Godswill Akpabio personally and intimately. He is a man of unimpeachable good character, and both the South-South and Nigeria are fortunate to have him at the helm of affairs at the National Assembly at this delicate stage in our national growth. Advertisement On the issue of corruption, here we have a man who has been investigated in and out by independent investigative agencies and friends and foes alike, yet he has come out clean as a whistle. Nigeria needs stability and men of ability, and it behooves us as a nation to tread with caution at this critical time of our national life. Institutions such as the Legislature should not be trifled with because of partisan considerations. A bill to create the Office of the Prime Minister as head of government and the Office of President as head of state, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the legislation will also provide a framework for the mode of election to the said offices. The bill was among 32 Constitution amendment bills that scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday. Advertisement Also among the bills is a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for specific seats for women in the National Assembly and state houses of assembly. Another is a bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, and to reduce the period for determination of pre-election petition matters and provide for the establishment of pre-election tribunals for pre-election matters and regulate the process of suspending a member of the National Assembly from legislative duties. A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to review the requirements that qualifies persons to be elected as President and Vice-President, governors and deputy governors, passed second reading as well. Meanwhile, a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to review the status of the Federal Capital Territory as regards the election of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and bills for the creation of Wan State and Gobir State, equally passed second reading. READ MORE: Tinubu Signs South-West, South-South Commission Bills Into Law Briefing journalists after the introduction of the bills, the lawmakers said that they came together across party affiliations and regional backgrounds to present the bills proposing constitutional alterations to pave way for the transition of the system of government. Abdussamad Dasuki, who spoke on behalf of the sponsors, said that the proposed alterations, when passed, would significantly impact the national political landscape. He said: Over the years, the imperfections of the presidential system of government have become glaring to all, despite several alterations to the constitution to address the shortcomings of a system that has denied the nation the opportunity of attaining its full potential. Among these imperfections are the high cost of governance, leaving fewer resources for crucial areas like infrastructure, education and healthcare, and consequently hindering the nations development progress, and the excessive powers vested in the members of the executive, who are appointees and not directly accountable to the people. That (parliamentary) was the governance system of the First Republic, a period when legislative and executive powers were exercised by the representatives of the people in parliament and in the executive, and by the nature of the system, these representatives were accountable to the people. For six years while it was in operation, the system worked for the country. The Nigerian Navys Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos has dealt a significant blow to oil thieves and economic saboteurs in Delta State. The base recently deactivated three illegal refining sites, disrupting the illicit activities of oil thieves. This operation is part of the Navys sustained efforts to curb crude oil theft and economic sabotage in the region. The FOB Escravos personnel have been actively raiding communities and shutting down illegal refining sites, with recent successes in Obodo and Oteghele community in Warri South West Local Government Area Advertisement Speaking to newsmen on Thursday in Warri, Delta. Navy Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, had this to say: In the quest to sustain the fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other acts of economic sabotage, personnel of the FOB Escravos have deactivated three illegal refining sites. The illegal sites were deactivated on Monday at Oteghele in Obodo Omadino Community following credible information. The operation is in line with the efforts to boost Nigerias daily crude oil production, he said. This successful operation was in support of the ongoing Operation DELTA SANITY II, which, is based on credible intelligence. Nigerian senator Ned Nwoko has taken to social media to reaffirm his love for his wife, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, while shutting down rumours surrounding their marriage. In a poetic post shared across his social media accounts on Thursday, Nwoko dismissed claims of marital issues, refuted allegations of having a child outside his marriage, and warned gossipmongers against spreading falsehoods about him. He also revealed that he and Regina are expecting their third child together. Advertisement Nwoko addressed the rumours in a lengthy poem, mocking those speculating about his marriage. READ MORE: Bobrisky Pens Emotional Tribute To Late Mother, Reflects On 2024 Struggles Rumours Cant Shake Royalty. Ah, the gossips, hungry and sly, Spinning their tales, their desperate cry. His arrest is coming! but who is he? Even they dont know, its comedy! And Regina left? Oh, what a tale, When shes right here, steady as hail. Wrapped in love, in laughters glow, Rocking our babies, watching them grow. Two beautiful sons, loves sweetest dream. Dismissing claims of fathering a child outside his marriage, he added: No rumoured child outside, That ship never sailed, Let them retire that story, tired and stale. Their lies will fade, their voices dim, Yet here we stand unmoved, untrimmed. For love like ours, built on steel, Doesnt break, doesnt kneel. Still standing, still thriving, unshaken, supreme. Nwoko further warned those spreading false stories about him, stating that he had placed a bounty on their heads. To the faceless gossip, the shadow behind a keypad, Your fifteen minutes are on rewind. A bounty stands on your trail, ten million strong, Tick-tock, tick-tock you wont run for long. Enjoy your fame, your fleeting day, Truth will rise, as lies decay. My name is mine, my path is clear, Forward, onward, year by year. He then shared the news of their growing family, writing: Just when they thought they had their say, baby number three is on the way! A new heartbeat, a love so grand, Another blessing in my hand. Let them talk, let them guess, While we live, while we bless. For at the end, when curtains close, Its us, my love, that victory knows. Because love, true love, does not sway, It roars, it reigns, come what may. Following Nwokos post, Regina Daniels responded with an emotional message celebrating her husband and their love. Taking to the comment section of his Instagram post, she wrote: Oooh my king! The greatest man in Igbo land! Dikem! Obim! Ezigbo dim Oma! What did I do to deserve this honour! 10,000 women by your right, 20,000 by your left and I will stand gidigba because what we share will remain the first in history. Her response comes amid online speculation about their marriage, fuelled by her removal of Nwokos name from her Instagram bio. Nwoko had titled his poem Six Years Later: She Still Cant Resist Me, marking their six-year marriage anniversary while making it clear that their bond remains unshaken despite public scrutiny. SEE POST: https://x.com/prince_nednwoko/status/1905220482732810626?s=46&t=0Ses2497mFDgd6BL-n_Bqg https://www.instagram.com/p/DHs3RjBs0gt/?igsh=MTM5am9ydW41ZnNnNw== Nigeria Senate has called on Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to engage with telecommunications providers and review the recent increase in cost of data. The development is coming, following a motion raised on Wednesday, during a plenary session in the red chamber on the urgent need to address Increased cost of data services in Nigeria, sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong. Recall that on February 11, 2025, telecom giants like MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile hiked the costs of data and airtime plans following the approval of the Nigerian Communications Commission, citing rising operational costs. Advertisement READ MORE: NCC Approves 50% Tariff Hike For Telecoms While calling for fair pricing, Ekpenyong lamented that over 200 per cent hike in costs had placed financial burden on millions of Nigerians, especially youths who rely on the internet for their livelihood. Senate urged the ministry to develop a policy framework for affordable internet services in the country. It also encouraged federal government to establish and support tech hubs nationwide, providing free or subsidized internet access to young entrepreneurs, students, and innovators. The upper chamber mandated its Committee on Communications to investigate factors driving the high cost of data and propose solutions for a sustainable and business-friendly telecommunications sector. Senator Ekpenyong said: The sudden and substantial increase in data costs threatens their economic survival and limits access to critical digital services. In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized that implementing the motion would help young entrepreneurs stay in business by ensuring access to affordable data, which in turn would boost revenue and profits for them. President Bola Tinubu has signed the South-West and South-South Development Commission bills into law. In a statement on Wednesday by Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, disclosed that the legislations reflect Tinubus commitment to inclusive governance, equitable progress. Lado noted that the commissions would serve as catalysts for industrial growth, job creation, and social advancement, ensuring that every corner of Nigeria benefits from his administrations progressive vision. Advertisement READ MORE: Were Monitoring You, Dont Misuse N250bn Allocated For SEast Development IPOB Warns Orji Kalu, Others The statement partly reads: By signing into law the establishment of the South-West and South-South Development Commissions, President Tinubu has reaffirmed his role as a transformational leader who prioritizes regional empowerment, economic expansion, and infrastructural excellence. Building on the foundation of his earlier assent to the South-East and South-West Development Commissions, it is evident that President Tinubu is deliberate in bringing development across all regions. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, also announced the development during plenary on Wednesday. He said: No mechanism is too much to trickle down development and dividends of democracy to the grassroots. I am sure that with these development commissions, the impact of this administration will be felt by the grassroots. We thank Mr president for completing it to the entire geo-political zones. Nigerian Afrobeats star Davido has disclosed that he has never met American rapper Nicki Minaj in person, despite collaborating with her on two songs. Speaking on a recent episode of the Bootleg Kev podcast, posted on X on Thursday, Davido shared how their collaborations happened. You know the crazy thing? I have never met her [Nicki Minaj]. Its crazy. We speak on the phone all the time. The first time we linked was through DM, he said. Advertisement He explained that he first reached out to her after noticing she was following him on social media. READ MORE: Davido Unveils Inspiration Behind 5ive Album Name I noticed that she was following me, and I texted her. I woke up the next morning and saw her reply. I was shocked. I told her I had a song for us, and she said she was interested. I think it was 2019 or 2020. I sent her the record, and two days later, she sent me her verse. Davido also revealed that they had planned to shoot a music video in Los Angeles, but it did not happen due to Nickis pregnancy at the time. We went to L.A. to shoot the video, but it didnt work out because she was having her baby at that time. But weve always been close since then. She hit me again with the record last year for Pink 3, I think her anniversary album. Shes always supportive. Shes amazing. The duo first collaborated on Davidos 2020 track Holy Ground and later worked together again on Nicki Minajs anniversary album released last year. A file photo of the U.S. Army Chinook helicopter assembly line at the Boeing plant in Ridley Park. Read more Boeing says it has won a $240 million contract to upgrade five more Chinook helicopters for the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, adding work for the companys sprawling assembly plant and engineering complex in Ridley Park. The deal brings to 51 the number of Chinooks that Boeing is rebuilding for the Army under the MH-47G Block II program. Boeing says it expects to deliver all those aircraft by 2030. Besides Delaware County, the company also makes helicopters at facilities in Arizona. Advertisement Though Chinooks have been in active service since the Vietnam War era, the Army has been rebuilding the heavy-lift helicopters to reinforce airframes, improve fuel tanks, add aviation electronics, and make it easier to maintain the helicopters in the future. More than a dozen U.S. allies in East Asia and the Middle East also use Chinooks. Boeing last year contracted with a German company to supply up to $8 billion worth of Chinooks to Germany as that nation expands its military to help its European allies brace for potential worsening conflict with Russia. The United Kingdom, South Korea, and Egypt are also buying Chinooks under current contracts. Tilt-rotor V-22 Ospreys, another military aircraft pioneered at the Ridley Park plant and mostly used by the Marines, have not won similar orders among U.S. allies. But the V-22 assembly line remains active: on March 21, Boeing and its partner, Bell, won a $590 million contract to build five Ospreys under new modifications, model CMV-B22, for use on Navy aircraft carriers, replacing Grummans Greyhound planes. The new Ospreys can transport up to three tons of people or cargo more than 1,000 nautical miles. That work will be split mostly between Bells Texas factories and Ridley Park. The plant has not added new aircraft lines in recent decades. The company says it would continue to use Ridley Park as an engineering center even if production of the current aircraft were to cease. During the first Trump administration, Pentagon planners tried to scale back orders for Chinooks and contemporary tanks and trucks, arguing that the U.S. was less likely to engage in late 1900s-style land wars, and more likely to need long-range artillery, unmanned vehicles, and digital and space warfare systems to counter likely threats from China and other potential enemies. Trump this year called for military budget cuts. But relentless lobbying from Congress members in the Philadelphia area and their allies in other helicopter centers has helped keep Chinook orders growing. Special Forces have unique and complex mission requirements that require the upgrades, Heather McBryan, who heads Boeings Cargo Programs unit, said in a statement. She predicted Chinooks will be in U.S. service for decades to come. The Boeing plant and the companys engineering unit in Delaware County employ around 3,500 people, one of the largest industrial employment centers remaining in the Philadelphia area. Other area helicopter plants include Leonardos newly expanded works next to the Northeast Philadelphia airport, which employs nearly 1,000; and the former Lockheed Martin Sikorsky plant near Coatesville, now operated by Piasecki Aircraft Corp., the pioneering helicopter design firm based in Essington, which includes Boeing among its longtime clients. The region is also home to helicopter and other military suppliers, such as Berwyn-based TE Connectivity, a global maker of sensors and connectors for aircraft, aerospace, and other applications. All the helicopter makers are also seeking military contracts for unmanned (drone) aircraft, which might in the future be launched from manned helicopters as well as land- and sea-based platforms. Amy Cohen is escorted out of a courtroom in the Montgomery County Courthouse after being sentenced Wednesday to 11 1/2 to 23 months in county jail. Read more A Main Line doctor who terrorized the family of her ex-boyfriends new girlfriend was sentenced Wednesday to 11 to 23 months in jail over objections from her attorney that incarceration would ruin the progress she has made through mental health treatment. Amy Cohen, 36, was so upset that her ex had moved on, prosecutors said, that she suffered a mental break. She researched where his new beaus relatives lived and papered their homes with fliers accusing the woman of promoting Islamophobia, calling her a terrible person and threatening to end her family if she didnt leave the state. Advertisement And then, on Nov. 30, 2023, Cohen set fire to the Lower Merion home of her romantic rivals 99-year-old grandmother. The 1:30 a.m. blaze was detected before the home was fully engulfed, prosecutors said, and its owner escaped injury. Cohen pleaded guilty to arson, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, and related crimes in December. Attempted murder and aggravated assault charges were dismissed after prosecutors credited Cohen for six months she spent in an inpatient mental health facility in Mississippi to treat disorders she has suffered from since her childhood. Her attorney, John McMahon, on Wednesday asked Montgomery County Court Judge Wendy Rothstein to release Cohen on probation, with credit for the time she spent in county jail after her arrest, and later stints at Norristown State Hospital and the out-of-state facility. Its in everyones interest that she continue to heal and get better, he said. Not backslide and go to jail, and lose the benefit of all this treatment. That doesnt make sense. But Rothstein was not swayed. The next step in your rehabilitation process is understanding there are consequences for your actions and accepting them, the judge said. Cohen was arrested after her ex recognized her in surveillance footage of the arson, and police later found lighter fluid and copies of the letters Cohen sent to the new girlfriend in the trunk of her car. He told police Cohen did not take their recent breakup well, and had been obsessively following him and his new girlfriend on social media, researching where she lives and works. That woman told Rothstein on Wednesday that her life and that of her family have been completely upended by Cohens actions. Fear and paranoia still grip her, she said, and she felt like she had to constantly look over my shoulder while Cohen was free on bail. Her now 101-year-old grandmother still wrestles with the aftermath of Cohens actions, she said. Though the elderly womans memory is declining, her granddaughter said, she still asks about the girl who tried to burn [her] house down. Amy demonstrated a total disregard for human life, the woman said, which is disgusting, knowing that she is a doctor. Cohen worked as an infectious-disease physician at Bryn Mawr Medical Specialist Association and saw patients at Bryn Mawr Hospital, according to an archived staff bio on the practices website. Her medical license was suspended after her arrest, expired in October, and has not been renewed, state records show. In court, Cohen apologized to the family she targeted, saying she no longer recognizes the person she was when she stalked, harassed, and threatened them. I know me saying Im deeply sorry doesnt compensate for my actions, but I hope you are able to begin to heal, Cohen said,adding that she is fully committed to her treatment and remaining a law-abiding citizen. Frank Dattilio, a psychologist who treated Cohen, testified Wednesday that she had suffered from ADHD, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety since she was a child, and at the time of her crimes, had been abusing the Adderall prescribed to treat those issues. In 2023, still spiraling from the stress of working long hours during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cohen was in an amphetamine-induced psychosis when she targeted the victims in the case, Dattilio said. He said he shared McMahons concern that if Cohen were sentenced to jail, she would backslide and lose the stability of thinking and behavior she has gained through treatment. Rothstein, in handing down her ruling, said any issues with Cohens treatment could be addressed in the county jail. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's office said there were "reasonable grounds" for questioning the impartiality of Common Pleas Court judge Anne Marie Coyle. The judge denied prosecutors' motion to remove herself from the case. Read more Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasners office accused a judge who recently fined his office $120,000 of displaying improper bias and said she should reverse the penalty and recuse herself from the case a request the judge quickly denied. As Common Pleas Court Judge Anne Marie Coyle issued her ruling earlier this month, prosecutors said in a motion, she made statements that were filled with emotion and openly sympathetic to those who had challenged Krasners office a combination that prosecutors say raised an appearance of partiality. Advertisement And they said additional prejudice was shown by Coyles law clerk, who they said had liked posts on social media expressing hope that Coyles ruling would help evict this bastard Krasner from office. The motion, filed by Krasners office last week, was another unconventional development in a winding saga that has its roots in an open-records request filed five years ago by a former assistant district attorney. And it stood out as another demonstration of broader tensions that have existed for years between some players connected to the case. On Thursday, Coyle denied the recusal motion for lack of merit. She did not elaborate. Shortly before she issued the denial, Coyle responded to an email from The Inquirer about the motion by saying she was prohibited from commenting on it outside of court while still assigned to the case. Krasners office said it would appeal Coyles decision on the recusal motion. It has already filed an appeal in Commonwealth Court challenging her earlier ruling. Speaking from the bench in her City Hall courtroom on March 13, Coyle imposed the $120,000 fine and delivered a lengthy rebuke of Krasners office for what she said were a series of issues with its handling of a 2018 case in which prosecutors successfully lobbied to have a Philadelphia man cleared of murder charges and released from prison. As Krasners office worked to secure the exoneration, Coyle said, it baselessly accused two former prosecutors of misconduct. She said Krasners office then went on to conduct a yearslong, bad-faith campaign to block one of those prosecutors, Beth McCaffery, from reviewing files related to the case as she sought to clear her name. And the judge criticized how the office handled and maintained its records. In its recent motion, Krasners office said Coyles remarks that day raise serious questions about her impartiality. As one example, prosecutors quoted her telling McCaffery, who was in the courtroom: I know all too well what it feels like to be on the receiving end of unfair denigration and malignment of ones character. It is extremely hurtful. Prosecutors say they believe Coyle was referring to past appellate court opinions that criticized her for exhibiting animus toward Krasners office. In that context, prosecutors said, Coyles remarks would lead a reasonable observer to ask whether this Court again is acting out of animus toward the current District Attorneys administration, and if it was improperly influenced by the stinging public criticism it has received as a result of its prior conduct toward [the office]. Prosecutors also said they believed Coyle was inclined to discredit testimony Krasner gave during the case because of her personal relationship with former prosecutor Ed Cameron. While Krasner was on the stand earlier this month, he was harshly critical of Cameron, a former homicide supervisor, accusing him of overseeing a win-at-all-costs culture in the office, and insinuating that he may have destroyed evidence as part of it. In her ruling, Coyle defended Cameron, who died in 2020, as a gentleman and an excellent prosecutor and excellent attorney. Krasners office said the judge was overcome with emotion as she did so, and said her remarks give rise to a reasonable perception that her personal view of Cameron influenced her decision to penalize Krasners office. In addition to its concerns about the judges conduct, prosecutors said an account bearing the name of Coyles law clerk had liked or reposted several social media posts about the case that were critical of Krasner. One of the posts said it hoped Coyles decision would help evict Krasner from office as he seeks reelection this year. Another said in part: I hope that disbarment and criminal charges are considered for Krasner. The motion does not identify the clerk, and it redacts the name of the account from screenshots included to support its case. Coyle, in saying she was barred from commenting on the case, did not respond to questions about prosecutors contentions about her law clerk. Krasners office said the social media posts it attributes to the law clerk exacerbated questions about the impartiality of the proceedings particularly because they said the clerk had been called as a witness to testify about having reviewed the trial file at the heart of the open-records dispute. The matter remains before the Court, and the Courts staff remain under an obligation to refrain from publicly endorsing such inflammatory remarks, prosecutors wrote. McCafferys attorney, Bryan Lentz, said in a statement Thursday that testimony in the case was so bad for Krasner and his office that he has no choice but to adopt the tactics of Donald Trump and attacked the judge. Dustin Slaughter, a spokesperson for Krasners office, said its appeal of Coyles decision on the recusal motion would be added to its existing appeal on the larger issues in the case. It was not immediately clear how quickly any of the issues might be taken up by a higher court. Philadelphia police Crime Scene Unit officers placing evidence markers on ground as they investigate a fatal police shooting of a 36-year-old man outside Friends Hospital last Thursday. Read more A Philadelphia officer shot in his ballistic vest during a struggle with a man last week outside a hospital in the citys Crescentville section was hit by friendly fire from his partner, police said Wednesday. The man, Aaron Rainey, 36, was fatally shot by Officer Thomas Thompson, 37, during an altercation outside Friends Hospital on the 4600 block of Roosevelt Boulevard early last Thursday afternoon, police said in a statement Wednesday. Advertisement Rainey had allegedly grabbed a gun from Thompsons partner and fired it, but did not hit anyone, police said. Shortly before 12:30 p.m. that day, Thompson and his partner encountered Rainey running through traffic on the 5000 block of Torresdale Avenue, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said last week. The man agreed to be voluntarily committed for psychiatric evaluation at the hospital, and was transported without handcuffs in the back of a police van, Bethel said. Police said Wednesday that after the officers arrived at the hospital, Thompsons partner opened the police vans rear doors and explained the process of self-committal to Rainey, who became upset and quickly became agitated. Rainey then allegedly rushed toward Thompsons partner, knocking the officer to the ground. A physical altercation ensued between Rainey and both officers, police said. Rainey attempted to grab Thompsons partners Taser and his firearm, police said. Thompson deployed his Taser at Rainey, but was unable to subdue him. Rainey then grabbed Thompsons partners gun and both officers separated from Rainey, police said. Officer Thompson discharged his firearm, striking Rainey. Rainey then discharged the firearm toward Officer Thompson, missing him, police said. Thompsons partner was struck in his ballistic vest, and based on a preliminary department investigation, it is believed that the vest was hit by a bullet fired from Thompson, police said. The bullet did not penetrate the vest. Rainey was transported to Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:07 p.m. Thursday. NBC10 last week interviewed Raineys mother, who said her son had been experiencing mental-health problems for several years and that they had recently gotten worse. Both officers were taken to Temple University Hospital, where they were treated and released, police said. Police said they reviewed video of the incident, including from Thompsons partners body-worn camera, which was activated during the ground struggle. Thompson was described as a nine-year veteran of the department who is assigned to the 15th District. He has been assigned to administrative duty while the department conducts internal investigations. Thompsons partner, who was not named because he did not fire his weapon, is 30 years old and has been with the department for five years. He also is assigned to the 15th District. A 70-year-old man shot and killed a man who tried to break into his South Philadelphia home Thursday morning, police said. Police responded to a report of a person with a gun on the 1600 block of South 18th Street in the Point Breeze section of the city, just after 1:30 a.m., police said. A man in his 30s tried to break into the first floor of a house, said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore, and the homeowner shot him. When officers arrived, they found the would-be intruder in the first floor hallway with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at 1:44 a.m., police said. His identity was not released by police. The homeowner stayed at the scene and was interviewed by police Thursday morning, said Vanore. A handgun was recovered and no arrests have been made, police said. The onetime mill towns that dot the Delaware River in New Jerseys Hunterdon County, north of Trenton, have long been a draw for Philadelphians out for a bucolic weekend. They come in search of country inns, art galleries, small-town Main Street charm as well as culinary talent with a national reputation. Milfords Canal House Station is one such oasis, launched in 2019 by the two cookbook pioneers who also founded Saveur magazine; its still going strong with its weekly changing Sunday dinners. The past year has seen a particularly exciting infusion, as longtime chefs from two of Americas most influential restaurants, Sean Gray from Momofuku Ko and Cal Peternell from Chez Panisse, have come home to cook in Hunterdon County, reviving a pair of storied addresses. Advertisement These two arrivals, it seems, are purely coincidental. But the historic restaurants theyve taken over, Sergeantsville Inn and the Frenchtown Inn (now called Finnbar), are both destinations. In fact, as these two veteran chefs fall deeper in sync with their new environs crafting distinctive menus along with progressive beverage programs in vintage settings weathered by centuries in ways you just cant fake theyve built two of the most impressively complete dining experiences in the entire region. Sergeantsville Inn Sean Gray has come a long way since his first restaurant job as an 18-year-old parking cars at Lambertville Station. Hes also come full circle. The Upper Bucks County native worked for nearly 15 years at New York Citys Momofuku Ko, succeeding Peter Serpico as executive chef at David Changs edgy Michelin-starred tasting room, which was, according to Eater critic Ryan Sutton, without question one of [NYCs] greatest restaurants before it closed in 2023. The intense pressure to constantly create innovative dishes at Ko, however, prompted Gray to seek a refuge from the city in his personal life, so he moved to sleepy Sergeantsville, N.J., in 2016 all the while commuting more than an hour each way to Manhattan for five years. The Sergeantsville Inn, an 18th-century stone tavern that had been meticulously rebuilt after a devastating fire in 2015, became Grays local bar for a burger and a beer. No one at the inn had any idea what Gray did until 2023, when he was finally introduced to owner Henry Amoroso. (By that time, Gray was working at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown an even longer commute.) The transition since Gray took over last spring has been exceptional even if the details are unexpected, given there are virtually none of the Asian-influenced small plates from the Chang Universe. One notable exception is a version of the soy-brined fried chicken Gray made famous at Ko and its more casual bar (where two of his best cooks were current Philly stars Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp). A shatteringly crisp drumstick glazed in a spicy red yuzu koshu sauce is served with pickles as a $5 blue plate special for the inns happy hour although here its served hot, not fridge-cold as it was at Kos bar. Its worth asking if there are any leftovers if you get there later. The dinner menu has its own worthy draws. As Gray revels in the opportunity here to tell my own story, he has expanded on that fried-chicken instinct to update familiar comforts with meticulous technique and is delivering straightforward, bistro-style presentations that showcase great ingredients with perfect execution in service of deeper flavors. The shrimp casino is one you cant miss. Head-on Spanish blue prawns are split open, stuffed with garlicky breadcrumbs, and roasted over a Big Green Egg grill. Youll need to dive in and get messy with these majestic crustaceans to pry that tender meat off the shells with your teeth or simply eat the whole thing. (Clean-plate shrimp club! boasts Shulman, who recently visited her former boss.) For a tidier seafood starter, opt for the char-grilled oysters stuffed with shallot and wine butter. You cant lose either way. Theres also house-smoked, molasses-brined ham to devour with French butter and crusty sourdough from Flemingtons Bread & Culture. The same sourdough is used for the carpaccio, toasted in beef fat, then topped with ruby rare curls of thin-sliced rib eye that hover over a puddle of gravy made from dry-aged beef drippings. The beef trimmings come from the massive two-pound cote du boeuf and the 14-ounce grass-fed sirloin thats served with perfectly crisped frites and an irresistible green peppercorn cognac sauce. The inns eight-ounce house-ground burger is also infused with those deeply savory trimmings. At $18, its the kind of affordable luxury that preserves the inn as a neighborhood mainstay, even as it becomes a regional draw. The new Sergeantsville Inn is much more than an updated chophouse, though I also loved the thick pork chop, which gets koji-tenderized and cooked sous vide before its grilled to a fragrant finish over an apple-fennel salad and a purple sweet potato. The radicchio salad tossed with bitter Belgian endive, kohlrabi, Asian pear, and aged cheddar in a creme fraiche-lemon-Dijon dressing is so good that a local regular made a T-shirt extolling its virtues. There are also memorable handmade ravioli tossed in Koginut squash puree. Gray has a talent for seafood, too, pairing chanterelles with roasted salmon over creamy polenta, and topping beautifully browned Barnegat scallops with tender ribbons of salt-baked celery root layered with shaved apples and brown butter; the celery root technique, which produces tender, pliant sheets, is another low-key move from Momofuku Ko. With 90 seats spread across its collection of rooms arrayed over multiple floors, a mezzanine, and the lively corner tavern, every table manages to channel a sense of intimacy bolstered by friendly, well-informed service, and a drink program overseen by general manager Omy Bugazia that is particularly strong on well-made classics (try the paloma, boulevardier, or Oaxaca old-fashioned) and low-intervention Euro wines. Theres already a deep cellar with nearly 200 bottles, including multiple worthy choices from the Loire and Jura in the $75 range (and splurges beyond). The by-the-glass list offers smart choices dry riesling, real Champagne, earthy cab franc, and lush dolcetto that are all quality pours suited to this menu. The inn doesnt ease up when it comes to dessert. Theres an amaro-kissed chocolate torte, a citrusy almond cake, and a silky butterscotch budino. But its Grays unconventional take on tarte Tatin I keep thinking about. He poaches sliced apples in sherry and bay leaf before stacking them with caramel into a crumbly pastry dough, then tops it a la mode with vanilla ice cream dusted with dried orange zest. Its a roundabout way to make a dish whose ingredients are typically cooked from raw altogether at once. One could say the same thing for Gray, who went to great lengths to work far afield before finally landing a mile from home. The journey, like that tarte, was absolutely worth it. Sergeantsville Inn, 601 Rosemont Ringoes Rd., Sergeantsville, N.J. 08557, 609-397-3700; sergeantsvilleinn.com Finnbar Unlike the Sergeantsville Inn, where there is little stylistic carryover from the chefs previous stop at Momofuku Ko, the echoes of chef Cal Peternells long career at Chez Panisse in Berkeley are clear at Finnbar, his energetic and family-powered revamp of the Frenchtown Inn. Its not so much that hes cooking California cuisine inside the moody brick walls and dark wood tavern of this 1805 landmark at the base of the narrow Uhlerstown-Frenchtown bridge across the Delaware River. Its that Peternell has deftly translated the go-local, produce-forward spirit that made Chez Panisse such a pioneer of seasonal cooking to the cooler climes of New Jersey. Peternell has found stellar mushroom farmers, lovely organic radicchio from Roots to River Farm, and a rainbow of radish varieties. Hes happily discovered the fact that theres always a crunchy root vegetable in season. This explains why one of Finnbars year-round hits is the very crunchy salad, which constantly morphs, like the whole menu, reflecting the harvest from week to week. These days, colorful rounds of shaved kohlrabi, carrots, and radishes are coated in a creamy tahina dressing and fanned over a hummus-like base of smashed chickpeas or white beans. With layered textures, a subtle richness, and the transporting aromatics of a cumin-scented sesame-hazelnut dukkah spice, this salad is the height of a frumpy root glow-up. Peternell, 62, a New York Times best-selling author of five books whose braised chicken leg recipe is a five-star favorite of NYT Cooking app users, had not initially intended to open another restaurant when he moved back to his home county from California in 2022. He was following his wife, Kathleen Henderson, who had the opportunity to open Studio 29, a progressive art studio for people with disabilities connected to Frenchtowns ArtYard arts and performance complex. Lured by the possibility of helping to fund the studio with a portion of profits from the Frenchtown Inn, however, Peternell was convinced to return to the kitchen by Jill Kearney, the ArtYard founder who bought the inn in 2022. (The new name is Peternells contraction of Frenchtown Inn and Bar.) Several of his children regularly work alongside him in the kitchen. With a service team led by manager Ethan Stuart that is welcoming and detail-oriented, Finnbar is an exercise in familial, laid-back sophistication. The dark wood floors and old fixtures exude a polished historic elegance between the bar and dining rooms 90 seats, but the relaxed vibe perfectly suits this riverside oasis fueled by art and outdoor recreation. Come summertime, you can sip a bracingly fresh daiquiri, bubbly sbagliato cocktail, or one of the inns relatively affordable and adventurous natural wines a sparkling chenin blanc or Czech pinot noir-gris blend, perhaps? at 30 outdoor seats as you watch people floating lazily down the Delaware on inner tubes. Later this spring, Finnbar also plans to open a retail shop in back for its wines and pantry items to-go. But I would make the trip here just to sit, eat, and drink. While French and Italian cuisine are at the core of the Chez Panisse canon and Finnbar served me both memorable rillettes (with raisin chutney) and a tender duck confit (with pumpkin puree and chestnuts) Peternells menu incorporates a broader palette of international cooking. The house bar-nibble mix of peanuts roasted with curry leaves is inspired by snacks from an Indian market, while a November soup special of harira, a cuminy lamb broth hearty with chickpeas and kale, draws on the Moroccan classic. It is first and foremost Peternells growing relationships with ethically minded farmers and fishermen, though, that shape this menu. A wonderful tumble of Rhode Island squid crisped in a rice flour blend over spicy tomato sauce was impossible to stop eating, while Jersey Shore scallops and rich black cod were hot-smoked and layered over an elegant toast with cucumbers and beets. Local lamb sourced from Mt. Salem Farm in Pittstown goes into the spiced kofta patties that Peternell serves with saffron rice and yogurt raita. A meaty duxelles of sherry-creamed oyster, chestnut, and lions mane mushrooms cultivated by Noble Mushrooms makes for an earthy sauce that ringed a pair of buckwheat crespelle stuffed with local ricotta and a puree of pea greens that hopeful flavor that spring is coming, says Peternell. Few dishes, though, make Peternell as happy as the fried blue catfish from the Chesapeake Bay, in part because eating this invasive species is beneficial for the local ecosystem, but also because the meat has a clean taste from its habitat in the bays brackish waters (vs. catfish from muddier freshwater environments). At Finnbar, he cooks it inside the airy crisp of a white wine batter over a brothy ragout of meaty ayocote beans from Rancho Gordo. More local catfish, please! Of course, after so long cooking on the West Coast, where warm-weather produce blooms eternal, Peternell craves making pesto year-round. So in the Mid-Atlantics cold months, that means he makes it with peppery arugula, walnuts, and oregano to sauce fresh spaghetti from Hopewells Lo Re. The dish gets topped with a creamy hunk of local burrata and the sundried sweetness of rehydrated tomatoes from an old source that supplied Chez Panisse, for just a little California sunshine. (At least, of course, until Jerseys famous tomatoes make their splendid summer cameo.) One of the best things about four-season cooking, though, is that it makes for cozy dessert weather, and Finnbar excels here, with a sugar-dusted apple crostata that gives Sergeantsvilles tarte Tatin a run for its money. Theres bread pudding laced with Koginut squash puree for the weekend brunch crowd that rides the delicate line between sweet and savory (especially if you, like me, consider a garnish of bacon a proper dessert). Ultimately, though, there is no beating the luxurious comfort of Finnbars pot de creme, a silky rich pudding of bittersweet chocolate sourced from two of Peternells old Northern California standbys, Guittard and TCHO, topped with whipped cream and crushed hazelnuts. When you have a recipe like that in your back pocket, a chef can roam anywhere even back home after decades away on another coast and make new friends. Finnbar, 7 Bridge St., Frenchtown, N.J. 08825, 908-465-0021; finnbarjersey.com Lamb carbonara with mezzi-rigatoni at Fraschetta in Bryn Mawr. Read more BYOBs are as essential to Philadelphia-area food culture as cheesesteaks, hoagies, water ice, and soft pretzels. With Pennsylvanias notoriously strict liquor laws and expensive licensing fees, many restaurants in the Philadelphia region opt to go the BYOB route helping fuel a vibrant dining scene where diners bring their own bottles to some of the areas top spots. Advertisement Here are some Main Line BYOBs worth uncorking something special for. This intimate Bryn Mawr BYOB serves refined Italian fare in a cozy, elegant setting. Now owned by restaurateur Phuong Nguyen, Fraschetta continues to deliver satisfying housemade pastas and rich entrees, including creamy mushroom pappardelle and slow-braised wild boar in tomato sauce, finished with cocoa powder and Pecorino Romano. 816 W Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010, 610-525-1007, fraschetta.net In a sea of Italian spots, Bryn Mawrs Dua Restaurant stands out for its traditional Mediterranean fare and cozy elegance. Chef Bledar Istrefi offers savory appetizers like burek and mussels pepata, and finely crafted bites like the pistachio crusted branzino and the mouthwatering pomegranate braised short rib over Israeli couscous. 1000 W Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010 484-380-2053, duarest.com A sibling to its popular South Philly location, owners Dejvi Furxhi and Albi Furxhiu brought the charm of their Italian BYOB to the suburbs. Positioned on the bustling street of Eagle Road, Havertowns Burrata location is adorned with Italian landscape portraits and cozy decor. The welcoming environment is complemented by delicious appetizers, pastas, and entrees, with items like truffle cream gnocchi and barramundi in garlic white wine sauce. 26 E Eagle Rd., Havertown, Pa. 19083 610-808-9933, burratahavertown.com Looking for a romantic night out? This 50-seat BYOB serves up Euro-fusion dishes with Ukrainian, French, and Asian touches. The restaurant, owned by Iryna Hyvel and her husband Volodymyr Vlad Hyvel, offers entrees like branzino with crispy potato balls, mushroom ragout, and striped bass ceviche. 845 Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010 484-383-3230, thechoice-restaurant.com This family-owned Ardmore restaurant boasts a menu of multiregional Italian favorites. Patrons can start with a small charcuterie board or other small plates before digging into signature dishes like gnocchi artigiano in fresh tomato basil sauce or pollo limone topped with crabmeat and a white wine sauce. 53 W Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, Pa. 19003, 484-414-4997, villaartigiano.com From fried rib-eye and pork kimchi mandoo combos, to Korean fried chicken wings, and seafood pancakes, this Ardmore BYOB is booming with rich Asian flavor. Diners can enjoy Korean drink options like banana milk and the sac sac grape and orange flavors, or enjoy their own bottle while relishing over Bam Bam Kitchens succulent dishes. 31 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, Pa. 19003, 484-844-7827, order.bambamkitchen.com This Chester County gem blends the BYOB model with a full cocktail bar, offering the best of both worlds. Tiramisu specializes in Roman-Jewish cuisine with refined flavors. Menu highlights include red snapper with pine nuts, raisins and balsamic vinegar, or lobster ravioli with lump crab and cognac sauce. 720 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn, Pa. 19312 610-906-3299, tiramisuberwyn.com This family-friendly Narberth favorite is helmed by chef Michael Klaumenzer, who cooks and oversees a menu packed with crowd-pleasers. Crafted from locally sourced ingredients, the Narberth eaterys dishes include an award-winning French onion soup and entrees like grilled New Zealand lamb chops, sesame-seared salmon, and a chicken and shrimp cacciatore. 245 Woodbine Ave., Narberth, Pa. 19072 610-664-9282, ryanchristophersbyob.com Tony and Shelly Lis stylish BYOBs, which expanded to the Main Line after opening in Royersford in 2003, continue to deliver savory Chinese, Japanese, and Thai favorites. Offerings include sushi rolls and signature plates like the Hong Kong-style soft shell crab and General Tsos Chilean sea bass served with steamed jasmine rice or brown rice. 761 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pa. 19010, and 564 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn, Pa., 610-615-5118 and 484-318-7655, veekoorestaurants.com Barry Logan, the director of the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, in 2021. Logan says that CFSRE has not received about $1.5 million in federal funding to conduct surveillance of the nation's drug supply. Read more A Philadelphia-area nonprofit that tests for new and dangerous substances in the countrys illicit drug supply hasnt received the federal funding it depends on for months forcing the organization to furlough a third of its staff amid a growing testing backlog. The Horsham-based Center for Forensic Science Research and Education was set to receive about $1.5 million from the Department of State and the Department of Justice this year, a third of the centers budget, said Barry Logan, its chief scientist. Advertisement But federal funding has been paused for the Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Discovery program, which functions as the countrys early-warning system for new additives in illicit drugs, testing samples from street drugs, medical examiners offices, and other sources. Its a particularly crucial task as the nations drug supply has become increasingly volatile. For example, CFSRE raised alarms about xylazine, the animal tranquilizer now found in most of Philadelphias illicit opioids, as early as 2020 years before several federal agencies released alerts on the drug, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal, which first reported on the furloughs. Also on hold is its Sentinel program that studies drugs seized at the United States southern border to determine patterns in both the kinds of drugs crossing the border and the markets they enter. Two months ago, CFSRE received stop-work orders on both of those projects, Logan said, as President Donald Trumps administration reviewed federal grants in the early days of his presidency. And though the stop-work order on the Sentinel program was recently lifted, Logan said the organization has not received the funding necessary to start operations again. The NPS Discovery program is still under stop orders, with no word on when funding might be released. Theres a need for that information thats not being met. It impacts drug mortality and drug threats. It slows the ability of the government to regulate new substances, Logan said. The last thing we want, from a public health point of view, is to be surprised by the appearance of a new and dangerous drug. You want to know about these things before you simply find out about them because people are dying. Representatives from the federal justice and state departments did not respond to requests for comment. READ MORE: More older Black men in Philadelphia are dying of overdoses than many other places in the U.S. Backlogs in testing and alerts The nonprofit has a backlog of about 1,500 samples that would have been tested by now, about a third of its typical yearly workload. Three weeks ago, it furloughed 12 staff members. CFSRE has also been unable to issue alerts about new substances found in drug samples. We havent sent out any public health alerts or warnings in the last two months, Logan said, adding that we have a list of about eight new substances that had appeared early in the year or in the end of last year that we hadnt made notifications about yet. Still running is the local drug testing funded by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, which sends the center illicit drug samples collected from people who use drugs around the city. A city spokesperson said that the organization has assured them that testing continues. But, Logan said, understanding new threats in the nations drug supply requires a broader approach that, until recently, was funded with federal dollars. It is a national drug early warning system. Certainly Pennsylvania and Philadelphia are part of it. But you cant really understand what the drug threat is by looking at just one area, Logan said. Drugs move around, and patterns of drug use will start in one area and then move to another area. How CFSRE monitors drug trends Jefferson Methodist Hospital works closely with CFSRE to learn how to test for newer substances in patients who exhibit unusual withdrawal symptoms, said Kory London, its director of clinical operations. The hospital is using CFSRE research to develop testing protocols for medetomidine, a xylazine-like additive that causes severe withdrawal symptoms and is rapidly becoming prevalent in the citys drug markets. Medetomidine can be difficult to detect on a typical drug screen. CFSRE is studying how to test for byproducts of the drug instead, London said. CFSRE are the ones who tell us what to be worried about before we know we need to be worried about it, London said. Work has stalled in studies of another substance the center is monitoring, the industrial chemical BTMPS, often used to protect plastics from cracking but, lately, turning up in street drugs in the Philadelphia area and elsewhere in the country. Nobody really knows what the human health impacts of BTMPS are. In the ordinary course of business, we would have monitored [BTMPS], surveilled, collected data from adverse [health] events. None of that has been happening for the last two months, CFSREs Logan said. Little information on funding Logan does not believe the federal government has targeted CFSRE for cuts as it has other research projects in the area. The Trump administration has centered the spread of fentanyl in its economic and immigration policies. It just got caught up in everything else that was going on. But it was very difficult to know who to talk to in the government to point that out. The guidance we got was that You just have to wait and see what happens, and well get through it as quickly as we can, but we cant tell you when that will be, Logan said. READ MORE: Outreach workers hope to knock on 100,000 doors across Philadelphia to prevent overdoses But hes received little information on why the organization hasnt received funding for months. The centers contacts at the Department of Justice have not been able to share much either, he said. While some of the furloughed employees have taken new jobs, Logan said, hes hoping to be able to hire some back if funding to the center is restored. Even then, he said, the center will have to work through a significant backlog of tests that grows each day. The National Institutes of Health employee said she knew things would be difficult for federal workers after Donald Trump was elected. But she never imagined it would be like this. Focused on Alzheimers and other dementia research, the worker is among thousands who abruptly lost their jobs in the Trump administrations federal workforce purge. The way she was terminated in February through a boilerplate notice alleging poor performance, something she pointedly said was not true made her feel she was losing hope in humans. Advertisement She said she cant focus or meditate, and can barely go to the gym. At the urging of her therapist, she made an appointment with a psychiatrist in March after she felt shed hit the bottom, she said. I am going through hell, said the employee, who worked at the National Institute on Aging, one of 27 centers that make up the NIH. The worker, like others interviewed for this story, was granted anonymity because of the fear of professional retaliation. I know I am a mother. I am a wife. But I am also a person who was very happy with her career, she said. They took my job and my life from my hands without any reason. President Trump and his allies have increasingly denigrated the roughly 2 million people who make up the federal workforce, 80% of whom work outside the Washington, D.C., area. Trump has said federal workers are destroying this country, called them crooked and dishonest, and insinuated that theyre lazy. Many of them dont work at all, he said earlier this month. Elon Musk who is the worlds richest person and whose Department of Government Efficiency, created by a Trump executive order, is infiltrating federal agencies and spearheading mass firings has claimed without evidence that there are a number of people on the government payroll who are dead and others who are not real people. At a conference for conservatives in February, Musk brandished what he called the chain saw for bureaucracy and said that waste is pretty much everywhere. The firings that began in February are taking a significant toll on federal employees mental health. Workers said they feel overwhelmed and demoralized, have obtained or considered seeking psychiatric care and medication, and feel anxious about being able to pay bills or afford college for their children. Federal employees are bracing for more layoffs after agencies were required to deliver plans by this month for large-scale staff reductions. Compounding the uncertainty: After judges ruled that some initial firings were illegal, agencies have rehired some workers and placed others on paid administrative leave. Then, Trump on March 20 issued a memo giving the Office of Personnel Management more power to fire people across agencies. Researchers who study job loss say these mass layoffs not only are disrupting the lives of tens of thousands of federal workers but also will reverberate out to their spouses, children, and communities. Id expect this will have long-lasting impacts on these peoples lives and those around them, said Jennie Brand, a professor of sociology at UCLA who wrote a paper about the implications of job loss. We can see this impact years down the road. Studies have shown that people who are unemployed experience greater anxiety, depression, and suicide risk. The longer the period of unemployment, the worse the effects. Couples fight more when one person loses a job, and if its a man, divorce rates increase. Children with an unemployed parent are more likely to do poorly in school, repeat a grade, or drop out. It can even affect whether they go to college, Brand said. Theres an intergenerational impact of instability, she said. And it doesnt stop there. When people lose their jobs, especially when its many people at once, the wealth and resources available in their community are reduced. Kids see fewer employed role models. As families are forced to move, neighborhood stability gets upended. Unemployed people often withdraw from social and civic life, avoiding community gatherings, church, or other places where they might have to discuss or explain their job loss. Although getting a new job can alleviate some of these problems, it doesnt eliminate them, Brand said. Its not as if people just get new jobs and then pick up the activities they used to be involved with, she said. Theres not a quick recovery. Slashing cultural norms The firings are upending a long-standing norm of the public sector in exchange for earning less money compared with private-sector work, people had greater job security and more generous benefits. Now thats no longer the case, fired workers said in interviews. With the American economy moving toward temporary and gig jobs, landing a traditional government job was supposed to be like youve got the golden goose, said Blake Allan, a professor of counseling psychology at the University of Houston who researches how the quality of work affects peoples lives. Even federal workers who are still employed face the daily question of whether theyll be fired next. That constant state of insecurity, Allan said, can create chronic stress, which is linked to anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, and a host of other health issues. One employee at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who was granted anonymity to avoid professional retaliation, said the administrations actions seem designed to cause enough emotional distress that workers voluntarily leave. I feel like this ax will always be over my head for as long as Im here and this administration is here, the employee said. Federal workers who passed on higher-paying private sector jobs because they wanted to serve their country may feel especially gutted to hear Trump and Musk denigrate their work as wasteful. Work is such a fundamental part of our identity, Allan said. When its suddenly lost, it can be really devastating to your sense of purpose and identity, your sense of social mattering, especially when its in a climate of devaluing what you do. Andrew Hazelton, a scientist in Florida, was working on improving hurricane forecasts when he was fired in February from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The mass firings were carried out with no humanity, he said. And thats really tough. Hazelton became a federal employee in October but had worked alongside NOAA scientists for over eight years, including as an employee at the University of Miami. He lost his job as part of a purge targeting probationary workers, who lack civil service protections against firings. His friends set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page to provide a financial cushion for him, his wife, and their four children. Then in March, after a federal judges order requiring federal agencies to rescind those terminations, he was notified that he had been reinstated on paid administrative leave. Its created a lot of instability, said Hazelton, who still isnt being allowed to do his work. We just want to serve the public and get our forecasts and our data out there to help people make decisions, regardless of politics. Health coverage collateral Along with their jobs, many federal workers are losing their health insurance, leaving them ill equipped to seek care just as they and their families are facing a tidal wave of potential mental and physical health consequences. And the nations mental health system is already underfunded, understaffed, and overstretched. Even with insurance, many people wait weeks or months to receive care. Most people dont have a bunch of money sitting around to spend on therapy when you need to cover your mortgage for a couple months and try to find a different job, Allan said. A second NIH worker considered talking to a psychiatrist and potentially going on an antidepressant because of anxiety after being fired in February. And then the first thought after that was: Oh, Im about to not have insurance. I cant do that, said the worker, who was granted anonymity to avoid professional retaliation. The workers health benefits were set to end in April leaving too little time to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, let alone start a prescription. I dont want to go on something and then have to stop it immediately, the worker said. The employee, one of several NIH workers reinstated this month, still fears getting fired again. The worker focuses on Alzheimers and related dementias and was inspired to join the agency because a grandmother has the disease. The worker worries that decades of research are going to be gone and people are going to be left with nothing. I go from anxiety to deep sadness when I think about my own family, the employee said. The NIH, with its $47 billion annual budget, is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. The agency awarded nearly 59,000 grants in fiscal 2023, but the Trump administration has begun canceling hundreds of grants on research topics that new political appointees oppose, including vaccine hesitancy and the health of LGBTQ+ populations. The NIH worker who worked at the National Institute on Aging was informed in mid-March that she would be on paid administrative leave until further notice. She said she is not sure whether she would find a similar job, adding that she cannot be at home doing nothing. Apart from loving her job, she said, she has one child in college and another in high school and needs stable income. I dont know what Im going to do next. Wed like to speak with current and former personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies who believe the public should understand the impact of whats happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message KFF Health News on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here. Retired Philadelphia homicide detective Martin Devlin, seen here inside the Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice on March 19, is awaiting a verdict in his perjury trial along with retired detectives Manuel Santiago and Frank Jastrzembski. Read more After nearly six hours of deliberations Wednesday, the jury in the perjury trial of three former Philadelphia homicide detectives accused of lying in a murder case ended the day without reaching a verdict and is expected to resume deliberations Thursday morning. Common Pleas Court Judge Lucretia Clemons sent jurors home at 4:15 p.m. Advertisement Detectives Martin Devlin, Frank Jastrzembski, and Manuel Santiago are charged with lying under oath about their 1991 investigation of the rape and murder of Louise Talley, a 77-year-old Nicetown widow. Santiago and Jastrzembski face additional charges of perjury and false swearing in connection with statements they later made in sworn depositions related to the case. Prosecutors say the three men framed Anthony Wright in a case that sent him prison for decades. Wrights conviction was later overturned after DNA evidence implicated another man. Then-District Attorney Seth Williams put Wright on trial for murder a second time, but he was acquitted at a retrial in 2016. READ MORE: As police perjury trial comes to close, jury to begin deliberating whether officers lied in murder case The following year, District Attorney Larry Krasners office accused the detectives of lying to keep Wright in prison and cover up their misconduct during the initial investigation. Wright said the detectives forced him to sign a confession under duress and without allowing him to read it. And prosecutors at the perjury trial cast doubt on the confession and other evidence in the case, including clothing the detectives said Wright wore on the night of the crime. Defense lawyers said the evidence the detectives uncovered in the murder investigation pointed squarely at Wrights guilt, and they questioned the second jury verdict that set him free. During deliberations Wednesday, jurors asked to reread transcripts of Santiago and Jastrzembskis testimony. But by days end, they were still weighing the evidence as they worked to reach a verdict. An ICE detainee sits in a holding cell after he was taken into custody in the Bronx. The Trump administration is carrying out what it has pledged will be the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history. Read more Nearly a third of Americans say all undocumented immigrants in the United States should be deported, and another half want some people kicked out under certain circumstances. The majority of those polled believe the federal government should be allowed to arrest those here without permission at their homes, jobs, and at protests or rallies, but not at schools, hospitals, or houses of worship. Advertisement Those findings are reported in a new study by the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C., undertaken at a moment when the Trump administration has undertaken what it promises will be the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history. The Trump effort includes unshackling ICE agents to make arrests at churches, schools and hospitals, places that were previously, generally off-limits. The study documented the fear around immigration enforcement thats being felt by some people and communities in the United States. About one in five American adults say they worry a lot or somewhat that they, a family member or a close friend could be deported. Among Hispanics, 42% are worried. Four percent said they have begun to carry proof of their U.S. citizenship or immigration status, such as a passport or birth certificate, while 2% said they made changes in their daily schedule out of fear of being asked for proof. And 2% have stopped using public services like health care or police out of worry. Philadelphia is home to an estimated 47,000 undocumented people, part of a 153,000 statewide population, with an additional 440,000 in New Jersey. The Pew analysis was based on a survey of 5,123 adults conducted from Feb. 24 to March 2. Pew estimates that 11 million immigrants were living in the United States without permission as of 2022. Research published in February by the Migration Policy Institute in Washington cited a larger figure, saying the undocumented population has reached an all-time high of about 13.7 million people. About 5.5 million 40% are from Mexico. The study showed that 32% of U.S. adults support deporting all undocumented immigrants. Another 51% said some should be removed, and held varying views on who that should be. Nearly all 97% support deporting those who have committed violent crimes. Meanwhile, 52% favor deporting those guilty of nonviolent crimes, and 44% endorsed removing people who arrived within the past four years. A line appeared in the findings around family ties, with the percentages that support deportation dropping dramatically. The study found 14% supported deporting the parents of American-born children, 9% approved of removing immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, and 5% endorse deporting undocumented people who are married to American citizens. The study showed stark differences between Democrats and Republicans. For instance, 54% of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents said all immigrants who are in the country without legal permission should be deported, compared with only 10% of Democrats and those tilting Democratic. Fully 81% of Republicans say law enforcement officers should be allowed to check a persons immigration status during routine activities like a traffic stop, compared to 33% of Democrats. Only 13% of Republicans say the Trump administration is doing too much when it comes to deporting undocumented immigrants, compared to 75% of Democrats. Manuel Santiago, Martin Devlin, and Frank Jastrzembski screen shots from deposition video. Devlin was acquitted of all charges. Read more Three former Philadelphia homicide detectives were acquitted Thursday of lying under oath about a murder investigation that put an innocent man in prison for decades, but two of them were convicted of making false statements about DNA evidence in the case. Martin Devlin, 80, was acquitted of all charges perjury and false swearing by a jury that rejected prosecutors claims that he and his colleagues fabricated a murder confession and then lied about it under oath. The three men were accused of framing Anthony Wright for the 1991 rape and murder of 77-year-old Louise Talley in Nicetown. Advertisement Manuel Santiago, 75, was also acquitted of perjury in connection with his testimony about the murder confession, but the jury convicted him of perjury, a felony, and false swearing, a misdemeanor, for lying under oath about his knowledge of DNA evidence in the case. And Frank Jastrzembski, 77, was acquitted of perjury and related charges for his testimony about a search warrant he executed in the case, but found guilty of one misdemeanor count of false swearing for his testimony about DNA evidence. Prosecutors said Devlin and Santiago fabricated a murder confession while Jastrzembski planted clothes at Wrights home decades ago, then lied about that on the witness stand to frame an innocent man for murder. The jury rejected prosecutors contention that the detectives framed Wright and later lied about their actions. But the panel found that Santiago and Jastrzembski later changed their testimony on what they knew about the evidence in the case, where a mans innocence and freedom was at stake. As the jury delivered its mixed verdict, family members of the detectives who had packed the courtroom for eight days reacted alternately with gasps and sighs of relief. Some wept quietly after the guilty verdicts were read. Defense attorney Fortunato Perri Jr. called the verdict inconsistent and disputed the jurys finding that the two detectives testimony about the DNA amounted to a crime. Its clear from the testimony from both men that they were confused about what the DNA meant at the time, said Perri, who vowed to appeal the ruling. Wright was found guilty in 1993 of raping and stabbing Talley to death, but his conviction was later overturned when DNA evidence implicated another suspect. Prosecutors under then-District Attorney Seth Williams brought charges against Wright a second time on the theory that he did not act alone. But a jury acquitted him at a retrial in 2016. READ MORE: As police perjury trial comes to close, jury to begin deliberating whether officers lied in murder case Ahead of the retrial, detectives were briefed about the new DNA evidence, including that it pointed to a known crack user who lived near Talleys home. The forensic analysis also suggested that the clothes Jastrzembski said he seized from Wrights home had been worn by Talley, not the murderer. On the witness stand at the retrial, both Santiago and Jastrzembski acknowledged the DNA testing but denied knowing that it pointed to another man. When asked if he still believed Wright was the sole killer, Santiago said yes. After Wright was acquitted, he filed a federal lawsuit against the city and was later awarded a $9.85 million settlement. In sworn depositions for the civil case, Santiago and Jastrzembski were questioned about the DNA evidence and answered in a way that conflicted with their earlier testimony at trial. District Attorney Larry Krasner then accused the detectives of lying to keep Wright in prison, filing rare criminal charges against police officers for their role in a conviction that was later overturned. But the jurys verdict rejected prosecutors suggestion that the 1991 investigation was a setup, following eight days of testimony that often resembled a retrial for Wright. While Wrights culpability in Talleys murder was not at issue in the perjury case, the question loomed large in this trial within a trial. Much of the testimony centered on which jury in Wrights murder case rendered the appropriate verdict: the 1993 panel that convicted him or the jury in the 2016 retrial that set him free. Wright, now 53 with a gray beard, testified last week and said he was threatened with violence in the police interrogation room after he was brought in for questioning. He said he signed a confession under duress after detectives whom he did not identify threatened to pull his eyes out and skullf him. Devlin and Santiago, he said, made him sign a confession without letting him read it. Throughout the trial, defense attorneys sought to sow doubt about Wrights innocence. They emphasized his previous arrests for assaulting a police officer and his former girlfriend, as well as his history of drug use as a teenager. And they flat out suggested that the jury that acquitted Wright got it wrong. Just because Tony Wright got away with murder doesnt mean [these] men lied about the case, defense attorney Brian McMonagle told the jury. The defense leaned on transcripts from witnesses at Wrights 1993 trial that put him at the scene. Three of those witnesses later recanted their testimony about his whereabouts at retrial, but did not testify at the detectives trial. After the verdict, Wright stood outside the courtroom and maintained his innocence, noting that no DNA linked him to the crime scene. The DNA says two things guilty or not guilty, he said. Prosecutors declined comment as they wheeled boxes of case files out of the courthouse. At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Krasner insisted that the detectives framed Wright, and he criticized his predecessors decision to retry Wright after his conviction was overturned amid DNA evidence that implicated someone else. Krasner said he hoped the detectives convictions for lying about DNA evidence would send a message to others in law enforcement. When people get up on Friday, March 28, and they head for court with a subpoena in their hand, no doubt in my mind that the vast majority of them fully intend to tell the truth, he said. The courtroom should be a sacred place. Santiago and Jastrzembski are scheduled to be sentenced on June 18. Krasner declined to say how long a sentence his office would seek. Philadelphia Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. will introduce a 2025-26 budget that includes spending $300 million in school system reserves to stave off program cuts and layoffs. Read more The Philadelphia School District is bracing itself to hit a fiscal cliff. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. delivered the news to the school board at a Thursday evening meeting, announcing that expenditures are outpacing revenues, and the nations eighth-largest school system will dip into its fund balance to stave off classroom cuts and layoffs. Advertisement Watlington and chief financial officer Mike Herbstman outlined the districts $4.6 billion 2025-26 budget, promising hold-steady conditions in the school system, but forecasting chaos ahead absent state and city intervention next year. Philadelphia is the only district in Pennsylvania that lacks the authority to raise its own revenue; it is dependent on the state and city for 99% of its operating budget. (Grants are separate but are also in question amid President Donald Trumps threat of federal funding cuts.) The district will need to spend $306 million of the reserves it accumulated thanks to COVID-19 relief funds in the coming year. For fiscal 2027, its projecting a $15 million deficit that would balloon to more than $2 billion in five years. The districts revenues are growing at a rate of about 1%; costs, like salaries, benefits, and charter school payments, are growing much faster. There are a number of question marks hanging over the budget, too three of the districts unions, including its biggest one, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, are in contract years, and new pacts are sure to cost the district down the road. In a briefing with reporters Thursday morning, Watlington and Herbstman said they are also counting on the aid figures included in Gov. Josh Shapiros and Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers budget proposals and those final aid numbers figure to be lower, after negotiations. And the district is currently in the midst of a facilities planning process that will result in recommendations to close some schools, colocate others, but build new or order major renovations in other cases. The systems 216 buildings are generally old and need an estimated $8 billion in work. (Herbstman said that any aid reductions will be absorbed by further fund balance use and are not likely to come from classrooms.) The districts precarious financial position is not because of cavalier spending, Watlington stressed. (The school systems credit is the best its been in decades, and its central office is lean for a school system of its size, an audit has shown; after deep early-2010s cuts, central office never really staffed back up.) This is not because were big government, its not because were spending more money, Watlington said. In fact, were pretty budget neutral on most things around here. Instead, Watlington is emphasizing the decades of underfunding, acknowledged by the Commonwealth Court in a landmark 2023 decision that ordered Pennsylvania to fix a funding formula judged to be illegal. Some progress has been made toward adequacy, but at the current pace of state action, it will take more than a decade for Philadelphia to get the full $1 billion-plus its underfunded by annually. Not using the districts reserves is one option, Watlington said, but one he refuses to consider. The district has demonstrated modest progress increases in student achievement, higher graduation rates, lower dropout rates, better student and teacher attendance and Philadelphias kids cant move backward, the superintendent said. If we did not use the fund balance, wed quite simply have to make people and program cuts, said Watlington. At all costs, we must do all we can to protect the classroom. Accelerating academic progress must be the systems North Star, the superintendent said currently, just 21% of district students meet state standards in math, and 34% in reading. It takes resources, people, and a strategy a combination of those things to do it, said Watlington. Though granular details of the budget have not yet been disclosed, Watlington said the spending plan will look similar to this years in terms of allocations. He committed to not reinstating leveling, the controversial practice of moving teachers around well into the school year to adjust for enrollment shifts. It cost the district $8 million this current school year to end leveling. Once we solve a problem, we dont have to go back and open it back up, Watlington said. The school board approved the lump-sum budget unanimously Thursday night, but members made clear theyre worried about the future. The situation is dire, said board member Joan Stern, a financial expert. Members said the district cant rest on its laurels this year, even though cuts were staved off because of the districts fund balance. Sarah-Ashley Andrews, the school board vice president, issued a call to action on the budget and advocacy for more Philadelphia students. We see what it is, and we have to do something, Andrews said. The budget is scheduled for final adoption on May 29. Modular classrooms at Lincoln High, a major project at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary In other business, the board voted to approve a $10 million modular classroom project at Lincoln High for the 2025-26 school year. The project will allow for 22 temporary classrooms at Lincoln, which is significantly overcrowded. It also voted to spend $11 million on major renovations at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary in North Philadelphia. The renovations will include fixing up the buildings exterior and interior finishes, upgrading electrical service, and building new bathrooms. Bethune, on Old York Road, was built in 1970. $28 million to fix up buildings that house charters but the district isnt paying The board approved a $28 million donation from Mastery Charter Schools but the charter network isnt cutting a check. Its spending that money on building improvements at several Mastery schools that operate in district-owned buildings. The repairs will be made at Mastery Harrity, Frederick Douglass, Simon Gratz, Smedley, Pastorius-Richardson, Mann and Cleveland schools. For the past seven weeks, my academic sabbatical took me to Chile and Australia. In the normal course of things, seven weeks is not a long time. But times are not normal, and the country I left is vastly different from the one I returned home to. As a professor and scientist, I was quickly privy to a list of newly forbidden words. Terms like women, community, and diversity were declared out. Headlines suggest that language implying kindness, caring, friendship, family, and hope were replaced by those of revenge, cruelty, and hate. Advertisement Stanford professor and social psychologist Philip Zimbardo warned us of the Lucifer Effect times when situational contexts make good people act in evil ways. The U.S. climate today is ripe for spreading cruelty and indifference. Why are we not outraged that a U.S. citizen can be arrested with no warrant, or that the laws of the land can be flagrantly ignored? Have we become indifferent? When I was in Chile, before the inauguration, several top U.S. cabinet nominees had already been announced. Through my work, I spoke with scientists and educators from across the globe; the consensus was that Congress would never approve such unqualified people. And yet, all were affirmed. By the time I landed in Australia, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was promoting cod liver oil to temper the spread of measles. Again, my international colleagues were dumbfounded: How could U.S. leaders allow this? I returned home amid a major assault on public and higher education, which has the potential to impact our standing in the world for generations. American students already struggle to meet international levels of competence. Recent National Assessment of Educational Progress scores considered the nations educational report card show only 39% of our fourth graders and 28% of our eighth graders are at or above grade-level proficiency in reading and math. This is a time to invest in education, not divest. It is a time to help every child gain the skills needed to outsmart robots. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recently asked me to lead education workshops for Romania and Bulgaria, as they rethink their educational curricula. Yes, two former Eastern bloc nations are investing in education why arent we? Higher education and research laboratories have been the shining light on the hill of American world dominance. Americans hold more patents, have made more world-changing discoveries, and have advanced more treatments for diseases than any country in history. Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman at the University of Pennsylvania toiled for years to develop mRNA science, and ultimately the COVID-19 vaccine. Imagine if their research had been cut off midstream. By slashing research funds, the administration is likely preventing a cure for the next pandemic, cancer, or Alzheimers. Headlines from afar gave me only a glimpse of the magnitude of the transformation and showed no sign of a national outcry against these cuts from elected officials, scientists, educators, or everyday citizens. We are bargaining away our grandchildrens future in the name of random budgetary cuts to satisfy the whims of a political agenda. This does not bode well for making America great. Two former Eastern bloc nations are investing in education why arent we? When I left the country, people were still proudly wearing their MAGA hats, they were confident egg prices would go down, and that prosperity was around the corner. I came home to high-priced eggs with limits on the amount that can be purchased, a diving stock market, a budding measles epidemic, lack of public health information about the bird flu, a trade war with our friends in Canada, England, Mexico, and Europe, a growing friendship with Russias Vladimir Putin, and massive firing of knowledgeable government officials by an unelected presidential appointee. Where is the opposition? Isnt it time the muzzled voices be heard? Doesnt patriotism demand we stand up for our democracy? Together, we have strength, even if we are afraid. I feel like a stranger in my own land. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek is the Lefkowitz Faculty Fellow in psychology at Temple University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. She examines the development of early language and literacy, the role of play in learning, and learning and technology. She has authored 17 books, including the New York Times bestseller, Becoming Brilliant. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks after a February meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. Hegseth's shaky couple of months on the job have demonstrated he is unfit and unqualified, writes the Editorial Board. Read more The texting of sensitive military strike plans by top Trump administration officials not only put service members lives at risk but underlined the ongoing safety concerns that come with appointing unqualified apparatchiks to key government posts. Donald Trump and his posse of incompetents have spent the last few days downplaying the jaw-dropping security breach whereby a journalist was mistakenly invited into a chat on the Signal messaging app. The conversation included 18 administration officials plotting U.S. airstrikes in Yemen earlier this month. The secret plans shared with the Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg included targets and timing of the attacks. Advertisement As usual, Trump took no responsibility and called it a glitch. He backed national security adviser Mike Waltz, who added Goldberg to the text chain, saying he learned his lesson. But this is not the time for on-the-job training. Nor was it a minor mistake. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the commercially available messaging software to text a group that included a phone number unknown to him the operational plans including the exact time fighter jets would take off hours before a surprise attack on Houthi rebels. READ MORE: Trump seems determined to spark a constitutional crisis. Will anyone stop him? | Editorial If the texts had fallen into the wrong hands, the Houthis would have had time to escape or prepare for the attacks, endangering the lives of American pilots. Hegseth and other administration officials claimed the information on the text chain was not classified. But if advanced military operations are not classified, then what is? Indeed, an unnamed defense official told CNN the information was highly classified. Anybody in uniform would be court-martialed for this, the defense official said. In a normal government of checks and balances, Congress would hold hearings into the security breach and push for new protocols, so it does not happen again. But the Republicans so far have repeatedly failed to uphold their sworn oath and instead do whatever Trump wants, Constitution be damned. Even a massive military breach is unlikely to stir up action by GOP officials who place their job security above national security. The failure of the Republicans in Congress is only overshadowed by their hypocrisy. Recall the endless hearings, investigations, and tens of millions of dollars spent looking into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server that found nothing, but helped tilt the 2016 presidential election to Trump. Trump spent much of his campaign that year railing about Clintons emails and promising to lock her up. Hegseth said Clinton should have gone to jail. Others on the Signal text chain which included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were also critical of Clinton. Rubio, for example, said that nobody is above the law. In a separate controversy in 2019, Ratcliffe said that mishandling classified information is still a violation of the Espionage Act. Trump, of course, was indicted for stealing classified information. So dont look to him for any sense of duty, honor, or accountability. At the very least, Waltz, who committed the security breach, should be held responsible. Even before the texting debacle, Hegseth, a former Fox News host who has faced allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct, and heavy drinking, had no business running the U.S. Defense Department. He should resign or be fired. The defense secretarys shaky couple of months on the job have further demonstrated he is unfit and unqualified. Hegseth gave away leverage in peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia by telling NATO that a return to the two countries pre-2014 borders was unrealistic. READ MORE: America loses with Trumps disgraceful betrayal of Ukraine | Editorial He then ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine essentially handing two major wins to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin before negotiations began. After backlash from allies, he said everything was on the table. By then it was clear Americas defense was led by an amateur. The dysfunction at the Pentagon continued last week after Elon Musk was reportedly going to receive a briefing on U.S. military plans for a potential war with Beijing never mind that Musk is a government contractor who could use that information to his advantage, or that he has extensive business interests in China. This is the nonsense the Defense Department is doing to keep the country safe? Hegseth also came under fire after two federal judges temporarily blocked the Trump administrations ban on transgender service members. One judge called the policy soaked in animus, and accused the U.S. Justice Department of trying to gaslight the court by failing to present any data to justify the ban. Hegseths war on diversity will undermine morale and leave military members and the country at greater risk that is, if his sloppy understanding of national security doesnt cost any lives first. Former Judge Patrick Dugan, a candidate for Philadelphia district attorney, listens during a community forum at the West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship on March 11. Read more This article is the first in a two-part series profiling the candidates for Philadelphia district attorney. Patrick Dugan was an out-of-shape 43-year-old whod recently had surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his leg. He wasnt exactly the ideal candidate to ship off to Iraq in 2003 in the aftermath of 9/11. Advertisement But Dugan, a paratrooper who had left the Army 15 years earlier and was working as a lawyer for Philadelphia City Council, watched from his couch as other infantrymen deployed to the Middle East. He felt like hed abandoned his people. So he said he sweet-talked a military doctor to pass his physical exam, and reenlisted. It was one of many times in Dugans life that he was perhaps not the most obvious candidate for a job, but he jumped into the fray anyway. Today, hes a former judge whos never been a prosecutor running to be Philadelphia district attorney. Hes the lone challenger taking on two-term incumbent Larry Krasner, a face of the national progressive prosecutor movement and a criminal justice reformer whos enjoyed years of publicity. Dugan has been branded the tough-on-crime candidate, and is straight from central casting. The son of a single mother, he grew up in the working-class Frankford neighborhood and served in the Army for 23 years, with assignments in Panama, South Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He counts the first day he jumped out of a plane as one of the best of his life. He drives his pickup truck to and from campaign events. Hes a barrel-chested American paratrooper who has been battle tested, said former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, a friend and fellow veteran. But Dugan and those close to him say the tough guy exterior belies an inner softness and empathy that has guided much of his life. It led him to reenlist when he couldnt stand sitting out. It is the reason he spent much of his judicial career overseeing diversion courts that keep low-level offenders out of jail. Its why, when he recently lifted up his pant leg to show off the military tattoo that spans his calf, it was partially covered by socks dotted with yellow ducks. His grandchildren like his colorful socks. And its why he still cries when he recalls the day in the 1960s when he watched his mother rise from her stoop to intervene in a street fight, taking the side of a smaller kid who was being beaten by bigger ones. I am the guy that will get off the steps, Dugan said. But I have empathy and compassion people look at me and they think, Oh, my God, hes a tough guy. And Im not that person. I will come help you. I will jump into the fire. At age 64, Dugan didnt expect to give up his job as a Philadelphia Municipal Court judge after 17 years to launch an uphill campaign against an incumbent whos previously won reelection in a landslide. But he said he feels compelled to take on Krasner, who he believes has mismanaged the district attorneys office and implemented policies that have dragged down the city. If not for Krasner, Dugan said, he probably wouldnt be running. His political aspirations start and end with the May 20 Democratic primary. No Republican is running, meaning the primary will be decisive. Dugan, who has a lower political profile than Krasner, is no doubt the underdog. He is backed by a handful of politically powerful labor unions, but the citys Democratic Party hasnt endorsed either candidate and the police union, which in the past forcefully opposed Krasner, has yet to weigh in. The dynamic has made for a more subdued campaign than the last two times Krasners name was on the ballot. In 2017, Krasner was a criminal defense attorney who won a seven-way race. Four years ago, he beat a former prosecutor whom hed fired, making for a race marked by personal attacks. READ MORE: Trump, Elon Musk, and Philly unions are the wild cards in this years DA race There are plenty of detractors who see in Dugan a rollback of progressive policies that Krasner put in place, and Krasner has said Dugans criticisms stem from an unwillingness to reform the office. To be sure, Dugan would be a more moderate, traditional style prosecutor, though he says he would retain some of Krasners popular programs, such as a team that works to free wrongly incarcerated people. The question for Dugan as he tries to mount a successful citywide campaign is whether he can balance both sides of himself to win over voters who want different things: the tough top prosecutor, and the empath who values second chances. From paratrooper to democracy builder It was the early 1980s, and Dugan felt out of place. He was a teenager studying to be a teacher at West Chester University, but was a city kid at heart he knew all about food stamps and had gone to St. Josephs Preparatory School on a scholarship. He dropped out of college and found a sense of belonging in the Army. He was enamored of training sessions in helicopters, and signed up to be an airborne infantryman and parachute a thousand feet through the sky, what he calls the greatest natural high you can ever experience. Dugan was deployed abroad twice in the 80s, once for a year to South Korea. A few years later, he was in Panama, jumping out of planes in the jungle and sometimes swimming in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans in the same day. He left just before the invasion in 1989 to return to Philadelphia, finally get his degree, and go to law school at age 30. After graduating from Rutgers Law School in Camden, Dugan worked in private practice, then landed in the office of former City Councilmember Rick Mariano, his first foray into politics. Mariano, a Democrat, hired often from veterans networks. As Dugan recalls, City Hall was a lot of smiles and backstabbing an environment he didnt feel bad about leaving after 9/11, when he reenlisted. In 2004, he shipped off to Iraq, where he worked in a civil affairs unit on democracy building missions. He ran toy drives and womens empowerment seminars, and he helped Iraqis build a City Council in Mosul. I remember him always being so eager to get out there, said Capt. David Fields, who served alongside Dugan in Iraq. He was never one to back down. Dugans days in Philadelphia politics informed his work. He worked closely with an Iraqi governor, Osama Kashmoula, and wanted him to come to Philadelphia and meet with Ed Rendell, then the Pennsylvania governor, and then-U.S. Rep. Bob Brady. The Iraqi delegation could learn about governance from his home citys dignitaries. But two months before the trip, Kashmoula was assassinated while on a convoy to Baghdad. Dugan wears a silver bracelet bearing his name to this day. He returned to the Middle East for a second tour this one in Afghanistan, where he served as a military lawyer and handled claims filed by Afghanis against the U.S. Some of their stories shook him. He vividly recalls one desperate man who was missing a leg it had been blown off in a minefield who yelled in broken language that Afghanistan was better off under the Russians. Dugan says he took those experiences with him to the bench. Shortly after he came home, Dugan was in 2007 appointed by Rendell to a vacancy on Philadelphia Municipal Court. He was joined at his inauguration by his mother, Jacqueline, who had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. In front of a line of cameras, Dugan emotionally told his mother she was responsible for his achievements. She died three years later. Dugan had a real concern for the people that sit before him Dugan was elected to a full term in 2009, and established a Veterans Court in Philadelphia after reading about a similar program in Buffalo. The idea was to divert veterans who faced charges for low-level offenses away from the criminal justice system and into treatment for addiction or mental illness. For more than a decade, Dugan heard cases, and tried to build relationships with defendants who came before him, often telling them of his own service. Roc Whitted, a mentor to Veterans Court participants and a retired police chaplain, said hell never forget the expression on Dugans face when they learned that a veteran who came through his courtroom had overdosed and died. It was as if Dugan blamed himself. He shows a real concern for the people that sit before him, Whitted said. I dont think theres another judge around that has the empathy, the feeling, and the love for so many veterans that he does. Hundreds of veterans graduated from the court since its inception, and it led to a 20% reduction in recidivism among participants, according to a city report last year. Seven out of 10 graduates reported their mental health had improved. In 2019, Dugan was elected by his peers to serve as president judge of the Municipal Court, the smaller of the two levels of court that make up Philadelphias First Judicial District. Municipal Court judges preside over misdemeanor criminal cases and initial hearings for defendants facing felonies. They also oversee cases generally not handled by the district attorneys office, such as landlord-tenant disputes, traffic citations, and small civil claims. Months after Dugan took the helm, the courts were thrown into chaos as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Proceedings were scrambled amid social-distancing rules, but city officials wanted to reduce the prison population to curb transmission of the virus. Dugan worked alongside Krasners office to establish a fast-track court for defendants deemed suitable for release, such as nonviolent offenders who completed minimum sentences or were held on cash bail for low-level crimes. He said it was important for him to hear cases in the prison himself to lead from the front. Im not going to want my squad to carry something that I cant carry, Dugan said, referencing lessons learned in the Army. So Im going to carry that heavy rucksack. Other judges noticed. He felt that the prisoners needed to see judges out there to know that the judicial system didnt turn their back on them, said now-retired Judge James DeLeon. Without asking, he stepped forward. Finding balance on the campaign trail Thousands of cases crossed Dugans desk, but one stands out as the most high-profile. In 2013, he acquitted Philadelphia Police Lt. Jonathan Josey, who was charged with assault for hitting a woman at the citys Puerto Rican Day Parade in an incident that was caught on video. He faced criticism both for the decision and for not recusing himself from the case. His wife, Nancy Farrell Dugan, was on the police force at the time and reportedly in the courtroom during the trial. Some voters still remember. Terri Tumulty, 72, of Northeast Philadelphia, said she recalls the case vividly it was the first thing she thought of when she saw Dugan was running for district attorney. She strongly opposes his candidacy. We need to remind everybody, especially the Puerto Rican community, who this man is and what he did, Tumulty said. I dont take people by their word, I take people by their actions... Hes going to protect cops who do bad things. Dugan acknowledges the case could be a liability for his campaign. But he stands by the decision, saying judges have to make tough calls. He said he found the officer not guilty based on the evidence presented to him, including testimony that the incident didnt rise to the level of assault. While Dugans opponents are likely to seize on the case and portray him as opposed to holding police accountable for misconduct, he says that isnt so. He said he probably voted for Krasner in 2017 and was excited when he first took office. But that quickly soured. He grew frustrated with Krasner and what he described as an overall lack of integrity in that office. Rendell, a former district attorney, said Dugan has a winning message, but is facing a tough fight. He questioned whether Dugan could raise enough money to win, despite being a hardworking guy who has pulled off some surprises in his career. Dugan said hes clear-eyed about his mission. Name recognition could be his biggest problem when Krasner enters a room, he said, most voters know who he is. Not the case for Dugan. Hes still strategizing as he goes. In the first two public debates, Krasner got under Dugans skin, at one point nearly calling him a racist. Dugan exploded, citing his own racially diverse family and suggesting that if they were not in public, a fight might be one way to settle their differences. A few days later, Dugan said hes trying to tame that tough guy side. Frankly, I have to not be Paddy Dugan from Frankford, he said, and just be the judge. Pennsylvania election officials and experts said Wednesday that its highly unlikely a sweeping executive order from President Donald Trump seeking to require proof of citizenship for voters and altering rules for administering elections will take full effect. And at least one Philadelphia area county said it is consulting attorneys about a possible legal challenge. Advertisement After spending years making false claims about election fraud and rampant noncitizen voting, Trump issued an executive order Tuesday imposing new proof of citizenship requirements for voters, directing the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to decertify certain voting machines and withholding federal funds from states that fail to comply and provide certain information to federal agencies. Within hours of the news, voting rights advocates vowed to sue, arguing the president had no authority to unilaterally alter state and local voting laws. The Pennsylvania Department of State echoed that sentiment in a statement Wednesday while noting the agency was still reviewing the order. The Shapiro Administration is committed to ensuring appropriate federal laws regarding election administration are followed but a president cannot overrule established federal legislation and our bipartisan state election laws via executive order, the statement said. As state and local officials continued reviewing the order Wednesday, Neil Makhija, the chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, said he was in touch with county attorneys. Theres no question this is going to be challenged by us and others around the country, Makhija said, though he stopped short of saying the county was planning to file a lawsuit. Marian Schneider, an attorney with the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said it is all but certain the executive order will be tied up in court and shot down. Its going to have very little impact on Pennsylvania elections. Its going to be tied up in court for a while, Schneider said. The president has zero authority over elections under the U.S. Constitution. Proof of citizenship Under federal and state law, it is illegal for noncitizens to vote in Pennsylvania elections. When registering to vote, Pennsylvania voters must mark a box verifying that they are U.S. citizens and eligible to vote. Lying on that form, and voting without citizenship, can result in criminal prosecution and deportation. Studies have found that instances of noncitizens voting are extremely rare. Despite this, Trump spent much of his presidential campaign falsely claiming that undocumented immigrants would vote en masse in the presidential election. Republicans in Congress have proposed legislation that would require every voter provide documents proving their citizenship when registering to vote. The messaging was a continuation of a long string of election misinformation from Trump, who narrowed in on Pennsylvania in 2020 with false claims that the election had been stolen from him. Trumps executive order directed the EAC to add a requirement for documentation proving citizenship to its national mail voter registration form. Citizenship could be proved using a passport, a REAL ID, or a military ID card. Advocates have long raised concerns that such requirements may inadvertently disenfranchise eligible voters who struggle to access the required documents, especially those whose legal name no longer matches the name on their birth certificate, including people who change their last names when they get married. Hes trying to hammer in a fake nail with a sledgehammer and in doing so is going to hurt everyone whos under it, said Adam Bonin, an election attorney who has represented Pennsylvania Democrats. The potential change to the form, however, may impact only a fraction of Pennsylvania voters as the state has its own voter registration form. Kathy Boockvar, the former Pennsylvania secretary of state, said that, historically, requirements for the federal form hold no bearing on the state form. Impacts to election administration Makhija said one of his biggest concerns with the order was the broad effort to impose national control over an election system that is decentralized by design. If you want to rig an election you would need to essentially federalize the election process, Makhija said. If this EO actually stood up in court it would be a step towards doing that. In addition to imposing proof of citizenship rules, the executive order requires states to share information with several federal agencies including Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, it orders the EAC to decertify certain election machines and it says the federal government will take certain steps to help states identify ineligible voters. It also seeks to block states from counting ballots that arrive after Election Day, which would eliminate Pennsylvanias grace period for military and overseas ballots. Boockvar, the former Pennsylvania secretary of state, said the executive order expects certain actions to happen far quicker than is possible and seems to lack an understanding of how voting machines work. Depending on how the sections on decertifying voting machines is interpreted, she said, 90% of the voting machines in the country could be invalidated. It could also be much fewer. The people who drafted this plain and simple dont understand that these take time, they take funding, and its very unclear, at this point, which systems are even covered, Boockvar said. Karen Barsoum, the elections director in Chester County, said she didnt think the executive order would ultimately hold a large impact for individual counties. Much of the order, she said, pertains to state level voter roll maintenance and reinforces existing laws and policies on voter roll maintenance and prohibiting noncitizen voting. She said she hoped some of the federal information sharing may make it easier to remove dead or otherwise ineligible voters from the rolls. After reading it I felt pretty good where things are, Barsoum said. Philadelphia Commerce Director Alba Martinez, who is resigning May 1, is the first Latina to hold her office. Read more Philadelphia Commerce Director Alba Martinez is resigning from city government to produce a musical that is part of her long-running La Guagua 47 project highlighting the vibrance of Philadelphias Latino communities, Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers office announced Thursday. Martinezs resignation, which is effective May 1, will come only 16 months after Parker took office, an unusually short tenure for a top-level official in a new administration. She is the most senior Parker appointee to step down so far aside from former Chief Deputy Mayor Aren Platt, who resigned unexpectedly last October amid discord in the top rungs of the administration and now manages Parkers campaign. Advertisement Other early Parker appointees who have left the administration include Bob McDermott, who served as budget director, and Kafi Lindsay, who was director of strategic partnerships. Labor Director Perritti Divirgilio is also expected to step down soon. Martinez, who grew up in Puerto Rico, is Philadelphias first Latina commerce director and one of the highest-ranking LGBTQ city officials in the citys history. READ MORE: Alba Martinez isnt a typical Philadelphia commerce director. And thats what Mayor Cherelle Parker wants. The Commerce Department serves as a liaison between the business community and City Hall, provides services to companies trying to navigate city bureaucracy, and helps the mayor craft economic policy. Parker has not named a successor, but the administration said in a news release a transition plan will be announced in the near future, including planning for a comprehensive search. The mayor called Martinez a true partner in driving our economic opportunity agenda. Her dedication and creativity have laid a strong foundation for inclusive growth throughout our city and its many neighborhoods, Parker said in a statement. Martinez said serving as commerce director has been one of the greatest honors of my career. I am proud of the foundation weve built together from the Small Business Catalyst Fund to the Philly Biz Hub, the expansion of PHL Taking Care of Business, the launch of our Business Navigator team, and more, Martinez said in a statement. I look forward to staying involved as a member of the citys business community and a champion of Mayor Parkers agenda. Martinezs La Guagua 47 project is based on her experience of moving to Philly after graduating from the Georgetown Law Center. Lacking connections in the city, she looked up the arts and culture organization Taller Puertorriqueno in the phone book and took SEPTAs #47 bus up to North Philadelphia, where she discovered Phillys Puerto Rican community. READ MORE: La Guagua 47 shows how SEPTAs #47 bus connects Latino communities throughout the city Parkers selection of Martinez for commerce director was something of an unconventional choice. Past commerce directors have typically spent their entire careers in the corporate sector. Although Martinez was an executive at Vanguard later in her career, she made her name in the nonprofit sector, leading Congreso de Latinos Unidos and the United Way, and previously served as child welfare commissioner during former Mayor John F. Streets administration. It was no accident: Parker was sending a message that she wanted her vision of providing access to economic opportunity for all to be felt in neighborhood commercial corridors as much as in Center City skyscrapers. My ability to understand whats going on in the neighborhood as well as whats going in the business sector and be able to connect with individuals across the entire spectrum of Philadelphians economically is an advantage, Martinez said in an interview last year, and I think the mayor sees it and values it. CEO David Ross described 2024 as a pivotal year, citing the refinancing, the merger of retail business Atlanta with Markerstudy and the PSC Insurance Group acquisition. He said the companys property and casualty platforms are well positioned for growth, while the specialty business is benefitting from new hires and placement initiatives. Fitch noted that the existing arrangement with CBA is due to expire on Dec. 31, and there is a high probability the contract will not be renewed. As a result, Fitch has revised Helias company profile rating from Favourable to Moderate, citing the expected decline in new business volume and potential challenges in retaining other lender relationships. JOHANNESBURG, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese manufacturer Hisense on Wednesday donated home appliances to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, South Africa's largest hospital, in Johannesburg to help improve patients' experience. Hisense South Africa handed over the donation of laundry appliances and air conditioning units worth over 300,000 rands (about 16,430 U.S. dollars) to the hospital. The donation included 20 top-loader washing machines, 20 tumble dryers, and seven air conditioning units. "When we learned of the challenges facing Baragwanath, particularly the lack of laundry and cooling appliances in Johannesburg's summer heat, we knew we had to act... We are proud to be here today, and we are committed to continuing this journey of impact," said Luna Nortje, deputy general manager of Hisense South Africa. Nthabiseng Makgana, chief executive officer of Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, welcomed the donation. "This donation is more than just machines. It is about creating a healing space, where patients feel cared for, and our medical staff are equipped to do their best," he said. "We are deeply grateful to Hisense South Africa and their partners for stepping forward with practical support and a long-term commitment to providing public institutions in our country with access to the technology they so desperately need," Makgana added. As Africa's largest medical facility, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital provides treatment for patients across the region, the continent, and beyond. According to the ICA, 109 recommendations have been fully or conditionally accepted. A further 28 are still under review, while 10 will be assessed independently by insurers. Three recommendations focused on pricing were not adopted, with the ICA stating that such changes could conflict with existing competition regulations. Travelling is often an exciting time for people. For many, their trips go well without interruptions and no need to use their travel insurance at all. But the reality is that medical emergencies can happen unexpectedly, no matter where you are, he said. According to data released by Super Consumers Australia as part of its 2024 Pulse survey, 27% of Australians either do not know if they have insurance through their super fund (19%) or are unsure about the details of the coverage they are paying for (9%). Sella, who has more than 15 years of industry experience, became a principal at Brown & Riding in 2015. In his expanded leadership role, he will work to further align the construction groups operations into a unified, multi-disciplinary practice serving clients across the US. Her career began as an actuary at AIG before moving into underwriting, where she held senior positions, including president of American Home Assurance Company. She later joined Praetorian Insurance Company, which was acquired by QBE, where she served as president of QBE Specialty and chief actuary for QBEs Americas division. Before TMHCC, she was president and CEO of V3 Insurance Partners LLC. Mr. Billie purchased a property at 35 Wall Street in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 2019 for $16,000 at a tax auction. Initially acquired as an investment, the property was unoccupied and was later used without permits as a boarding house. The City of Waterbury ordered the structure boarded up in September 2020 and relocated its unauthorized occupants. Billie testified that he then moved into the home with family members. The Court is not persuaded by Plaintiffs logic that it is therefore inevitable that Rosa was employed by an independent contractor, Judge Hodge wrote. She noted that the complaint did not specify who employed Mr. Rosa, nor did it establish that the defendants supervised his work or that of his employer. In the first half of 2024, large cyber claims (exceeding 1 million) increased by 14%, with severity rising by 17%. Data and privacy breaches were significant contributors to this trend. Ransomware remained a leading cause of cyber insurance losses, accounting for 58% of the value of large claims during the same period. The incident unfolded around 1:30am last Thursday when a lone suspect approached the building, launched two Molotov cocktails at the storefront, and fired a gun through the glass entryway. Though the fire ignited briefly - scorching a wall and a decorative plant - it extinguished before causing extensive damage. A bullet was later recovered from the rear of the premises. New York-based Ategrity Specialty Insurance Co., a national specialty property/casualty insurer focused on the excess and surplus (E&S) lines market, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an initial public offering (IPO). The company seeks to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol ASIC. Upon completion of the offering, Zimmer Financial Services Group LLC, which has invested $335 million in the insurer since its launch in 2018, will continue to own more than a majority of the voting power of its shares. The company describes itself as a profitable and growing specialty insurance company dedicated to providing excess and surplus products to small to medium-sized businesses. It has built a proprietary underwriting platform that combines data analytics with automated and streamlined processes. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the company wrote $437 million in gross written premiums, representing a compound annual growth rate of 28.4% over the last two years. Its combined ratio for the year was 93.9%, a decrease of 3.6% from 2023. Its members equity at December 31, 2024, was $398.3 million, an increase of $76.6 million (23.8%) from December 31, 2023. Ategrity operates on a surplus lines basis in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Four states have 5.0% or more of its gross written premiums: California (21.0%), Florida (16.2%), Texas (12.8%), and New York (6.4%). Its offerings include general liability, commercial property, management liability, healthcare and architects and engineers. According to the SEC filing, the principal purposes of the IPO are to increase capitalization and financial flexibility and to create a public market for the firms common stock. It intends to use the net proceeds as capital to grow its business and for other general corporate purposes. Mike Miller, the long-time president and chief operating officer of excess and surplus lines giant Scottsdale Insurance Co., was among the founders of Ategrity in 2018. Justin Cohen succeeded Miller as chief executive officer in 2023 as part of a planned succession. Topics Carriers Excess Surplus The US Federal Aviation Administration said it must improve the way it identifies potentially risky air-traffic situations, following a deadly midair collision between a US Army helicopter and American Airlines Group Inc. regional jet in January. While flying remains the safest mode of transportation, aviation safety is not static, Chris Rocheleau, the FAAs acting administrator, plans say Thursday, according to written testimony prepared for a Senate hearing on the crash. We have to get smarter about how we use data, and when we put corrective actions in place, we must execute them. Aviation safety has come under increased scrutiny since the January accident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people, the worst US commercial airline disaster in decades. Places like Washington with its congested airspace have drawn added focus, with US aviation safety investigators citing more than 15,000 instances of planes and helicopters coming dangerously close at Reagan airport between October 2021 and December 2024. The FAA has been conducting an analysis of other airports that are similar to Reagan and have high volumes of helicopter traffic to gauge potential risks. The agency is also creating a panel to identify additional hazard areas, Rocheleau said in his written testimony. The Senate Commerce Committee is convening Thursdays hearing to discuss the National Transportation Safety Boards recent preliminary report on the tragedy. The NTSB released two urgent recommendations alongside the report, including one urging the FAA to permanently ban certain helicopter operations near Reagan airport. The FAA and Transportation Department have since announced permanent restrictions on non-essential traffic. While the NTSB is still working to determine a probable cause for the accident, it has offered several clues as to the factors that likely contributed. The Black Hawk was flying above a 200-foot limit for helicopters in that area, its crew was likely wearing night-vision goggles that can limit peripheral vision, and it may have missed an important instruction from air traffic control. Brigadier General Matthew Braman, director of Army Aviation, said the NTSBs recommendations, including the permanent closing of a stretch of Route 4 that was used by the Black Hawk when it slammed to the American Airlines regional jet, would not negatively affect Army helicopter operations. He said in written testimony for the hearing that the Army is participating in an FAA-led working group to develop a replacement route. Since the January accident, Transportation Department Secretary Sean Duffy has called for a swift overhaul of the US air traffic control system and has said he needs full upfront funding from Congress to carry out the effort. In addition, Duffy announced changes intended to increase controller hiring, including a 30% increase in starting salaries for candidates who enter the FAAs academy. Rocheleau said in his written testimony that the FAA received more than 10,000 applications in the latest hiring window, with more than 8,300 referred to testing. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy in her own written testimony said her agency also needs additional staff and resources. To complete our investigations and develop recommendations that advance safety changes without delays, we must meet the challenges that come with increasing growth and innovation in transportation, she said. Top photo: The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Aviation Aerospace A federal judge has dismissed a proposed class action filed on behalf of Pennsylvania homeowners who believe that State Farm undervalued their property damage claims in its use of the Xactimate software that is popular with insurers. The lead plaintiffs, Jamie and Becky Belotti, sustained a fire loss at their home in Duryea, Pennsylvania. Their complaint contains counts for bad faith, fraud and deceptive business practices, breach of contract, bad faith, and unfair trade practices. They sought relief as a class action. The homeowners maintained that State Farm wrongfully treated their home damage repair as new construction when it should have used Verisk Analytics Xactimate numbers for repair/reconstruction and the difference led to an alleged underpayment. The plaintiffs did not contest that State Farm failed to pay for the cost of repair and replacement of its losses with similar construction. Rather the plaintiffs concerns related to the insurers alleged failure to use a specific method of computation concerning its assessment of their losses. State Farm filed a motion for summary judgment seeking to dismiss all claims alleged, arguing that it had no contractual duty to use a particular setting when estimating losses and it did not breach its loss settlement obligations. After the parties could not agree on a loss payment amount, they entered into an appraisal process as called for in the policy. At the time, the parties were approximately $200,000 apart in their respective replacement cost estimates. The appraisers selected by State Farm and the plaintiffs agreed that the replacement cost estimate and the actual cash value amounts for the plaintiffs loss were $267,382 and $240,643 respectively. The appraisal award was not prepared using Xactimate and did not use either Xactimates new construction or Restoration/Service/Remodel settings. State Farm paid the plaintiffs the difference between its initial total payments and the amount resulting from the appraisal process. Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr., in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, agreed with State Farm that its policy did not require the insurer to use a specific computation method for loss calculations. The judge also noted that the insurer agreed to an appraisal process after the homeowners public adjuster and the insurer differed over the right amount and the insurer paid the difference. The judge said he could not identify any policy language that directly or indirectly concerns any method of computation, much less any language that requires a singular method of computation. The language of an insurance policy should not be stretched beyond its plain meaning to create ambiguous terms, the judge commented. Indeed, the court said, the reason that the policy does not include a provision allowing the defendant to use the new construction model for damages is because the policy is wholly independent from a method of computation. The Belottis failed to provide any additional information that indicates any potential ambiguity or any additional general support for their contention that State Farm breached the contract. The fact that the parties appraisers ultimately assigned a higher value to the claim than State Farms estimate does not mean State Farm acted in bad faith, the judge also found. The court granted State Farms motion for summary judgment. State Farm has faced other cases involving its calculation of damages including one in California where it won dismissal and another in Indiana where it lost summary judgment and the parties settled before trial. Topics Lawsuits Homeowners Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago, according to data collected by The Associated Press. They allege the disruption campaign is an extension of Russian President Vladimir Putins war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine. The AP documented 59 incidents in which European governments, prosecutors, intelligence services or other Western officials blamed Russia, groups linked to Russia or its ally Belarus for cyberattacks, spreading propaganda, plotting killings or committing acts of vandalism, arson, sabotage or espionage since the Feb. 24, 2022, invasion. The incidents range from stuffing car tailpipes with expanding foam in Germany to a plot to plant explosives on cargo planes. They include setting fire to stores and a museum, hacking that targeted politicians and critical infrastructure, and spying by a ring convicted in the U.K. Richard Moore, the head of Britains foreign intelligence service, called it a staggeringly reckless campaign in November. It is often difficult to prove Russias involvement, and the Kremlin denied carrying out a sabotage campaign against the West. But more and more governments are publicly attributing attacks to Russia. The alleged disruption has a double purpose, James Appathurai, the NATO official responsible for the alliances response to such threats, told the AP. One is to create political disquiet and undermine citizens support for their governments and the other is to undercut support for Ukraine, said Appathurai, deputy assistant secretary-general for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber. During the investigation, the AP spoke to 15 current officials, including two prime ministers, and officials from five European intelligence services, three defense ministries and NATO, in addition to experts. The AP plotted the incidents on a map to show the scope of the alleged campaign, which experts say is particularly worrying at a time when U.S. support for Ukraine is wavering and European allies are questioning Washingtons reliability as a security partner and ally. What Is Happening? The cases are varied, and the largest concentrations are in countries that are major supporters of Ukraine. Some incidents had the potential for catastrophic consequences, including mass casualties, as when packages exploded at shipping facilities in Germany and the U.K. Western officials said they suspected the packages were part of a broader plot by Russian intelligence to put bombs on cargo planes headed to the U.S. and Canada. In another case, Western intelligence agencies uncovered what they said was a Russian plot to kill the head of a major German arms manufacturer that is a supplier of weapons to Ukraine. European authorities are investigating several cases of damage to infrastructure under the Baltic Sea, including to a power cable linking Estonia and Finland. Finnish authorities detained a ship, suspected of being part of Russias shadow fleet used to avoid sanctions, after that cable and others were damaged. When a fake French Defense Ministry website claimed citizens were being called up to fight in Ukraine, a French minister denounced it as Russian disinformation. German authorities suspect Russia was behind a campaign to block up scores of car tailpipes ahead of national elections, according to a European intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Officials from Estonia, Poland, Latvia and Finland, meanwhile, have accused Russia and Belarus of directing migrants to their borders. Putins spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told the AP that the Kremlin has never been shown any proofs supporting the accusations and said certainly we definitely reject any allegations. How AP Documented the Cases The AP scoured through hundreds of incidents suspected to be linked to Russia since Moscows invasion that were reported in open sources such as local media and government websites. They were included in APs tally only when officials drew a clear link to Russia, pro-Russian groups or ally Belarus. Most of the accusations were made to or reported by AP, either at the time they occurred or during the course of this investigation. Fourteen cases were reported by other news organizations and attributed to named officials. In about a quarter of the cases, prosecutors have brought charges or courts have convicted people of carrying out the sabotage. But in many more, no specific culprit has been publicly identified or brought to justice. A Bolder Approach Countries have always spied on their enemies and long waged propaganda campaigns to further their interests abroad. But since the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has become bolder, hitting the West with sabotage, vandalism and arson in addition to the tactics it previously used, including killings and cyberattacks, said Elisabeth Braw, an expert on the attacks at the Atlantic Council in Washington. The way you can weaken a country today is not by invading it, she said. China has also been accused of espionage and cyber operations in Europe, and The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukrainian authorities were responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines in 2022. Kyiv has denied this. Multiple countries engage in hybrid operations, said David Salvo, managing director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund. Russia is the overwhelming culprit in Europe. How to Respond as US Support Wavers A coordinated approach especially sharing intelligence is critical to tracking and countering the threats, Appathurai said. That cooperation never easy since intelligence is not shared collectively across NATO members faces new challenges now, as the Trump administration increasingly questions the role of the alliance, embraces Russia and spars with its European partners. Still, as the scale of the campaign becomes clearer, some nations are becoming more assertive. Appathurai pointed to the approach to suspected sabotage in the Baltic Sea, where NATO has launched a mission to protect critical infrastructure. If we are to have a chance of stemming the threat, Braw said, then we have to work together. ___ Associated Press reporters John Leicester in Paris; Vanessa Gera and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland; Jill Lawless in London; Kirsten Grieshaber and Geir Moulson in Berlin; Suman Naishadham in Madrid; Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary; and Karel Janicek in Prague, Czech Republic, contributed. Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Photograph: Estonian naval ships sail in the Baltic Sea on Jan. 9, 2025, as part of stepped-up NATO patrols in the region following suspected sabotage of undersea cables. (AP Photo/Hendrik Osula, File) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Europe Russia A cyber security threat affecting computer systems at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport was detected on Sunday, the National Cyber Security Agency and Malaysia Airports said in a joint statement. The operations at KLIA were not impacted and authorities are monitoring the situation and supporting Malaysia Airports, NACSA Chief Executive Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajudin said in a statement Tuesday. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said separately on Tuesday that hackers demanded a $10 million ransom for the cyberattack. I didnt wait five seconds. I immediately said no, Anwar said in a speech in Kuala Lumpur. There is no way for this country to be safe if its leaders and systems allow us to submit to ultimatums from criminals and traitors, whether within or outside this country. Malaysia Airports and NACSA said they were implementing necessary measures to safeguard the infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted passenger experience. Photograph: Passengers checking their flight details on an overhead flight information display in the departure hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA 2) in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia, on Friday, June 21, 2024. Photo credit: KG Krishnan/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber Aviation ING has become the first systemically important global bank to have its climate goals validated as being in line with efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the body responsible for awarding the standard said on Wednesday. The bank said in a statement it had met the threshold for targets across its lending to fossil fuels, power generation, cement, steel, automotive, aviation and the commercial real estate sector. The Dutch lender had said in 2022 it would phase out upstream oil and gas financing by 2040 and last year further restricted access to general lending and bond issuance for some oil and gas companies. As the first global systemically important bank with a validated science-based target, ING is showing how large financial institutions can support climate stabilization in the real economy, Nate Aden, head of Financial Standards at the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), said. Validation of INGs decarbonisation efforts comes as bankers and policymakers debate whether 1.5C, seen for a decade as key warming threshold, should remain a feasible target for banks as many country climate plans and sector policies point to a considerable overshoot. This month the worlds leading climate group for banks proposed abandoning 1.5C as its north star for members climate plans after several large lenders exited the group or scaled-back their net-zero ambitions. However the validation still brings prestige in the industry and also feeds into lending choices and the supply of finance. For companies, some banks say they will only support companies from certain sectors that have SBTi targets. SBTi, a voluntary group which includes consultants, technical experts and NGOs and has a scientific advisory board, has emerged as the authority on corporate climate targets. It says sector targets should be aligned to 1.5C, unless a 1.5C pathway is not available, in which case a well-below-2C pathway can be used instead. Countries agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement to strive to limit temperature increases to within 1.5C above the 1850-1900 average to help limit the impact of climate change. (Reporting by Virginia Furness; editing by Alison Williams) Last week, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners announced its agenda for 2025, including the call to eliminate the U.S. Treasurys Federal Insurance Office. This comes on the heels of legislation, the Federal Insurance Office Elimination Act, introduced in January by Montana Congressman Troy Downing, R-Mont. The purpose of H.R. 643 is to return regulatory authority over the insurance industry back to the states. Previously, Downing served as Montana State Auditor, overseeing the Treasure States securities and insurance industries. He has been a staunch advocate in favor of abolishing the FIO. The law is clear. Regulation of the insurance industry rests with the states, not big government, said Congressman Downing. FIO is a duplicative federal bureaucracy whose existence hinders the efforts of state regulators better equipped to address the insurance needs of their communities. I was proud to call for FIOs abolishment as Montana State Auditor, and I gladly do it now as a Congressman and member of the House Financial Services Committee. Most recently, a multi-state coalition of Insurance Commissioners urged the Department of Government Efficiency to eliminate the office. The NAIC states that the FIO stands in direct conflict with the states role as primary regulators, complicates the states engagement with fellow insurance regulators globally, duplicates confidential data collection from the insurance industry, and blurs the line that separates Treasury from independent financial regulators. In 1945, Congress passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act, solidifying states regulatory authority over the insurance industry, but in 2010, the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act created the FIO as a subsidiary of the Treasury, charging FIO with the authority to monitor all aspects of the insurance sector. H.R. 643 has received support from the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big I). The Federal Insurance Office Elimination Act will protect the successful state insurance regulatory system by repealing the [FIO], an unnecessary federal bureaucracy created in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. said PIA CEO Mike Skiados. The proper place for the regulation of insurance is at the state level, which has served the insurance industry and consumers well for over a century and is better positioned to protect consumers in the future. PIA thanks Rep. Troy Downing for his leadership in protecting the state insurance regulatory system. Since its inception, and especially recently, the Federal Insurance Office has pushed the bounds of its statutory mandate as an informational resource for federal policymakers, said NAMIC SVP of Federal and Political Affairs Jimi Grande. FIO has become a tool for political agendas, overreaching and creating confusion and burdensome costs for consumers, often just to duplicate the work of state insurance regulators. Original cosponsors of the Federal Insurance Office Elimination Act include 17 Republican congressmen. The new bill has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. A similar bill was introduced by Senator Ted Cruz in 2023, but it stalled in the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. The fracking boom that resuscitated the Texas oil fields has also beaten up the infrastructure in the Permian Basin, the states biggest oil and gas drilling region. More heavy trucks drove through small towns, tearing up roads. Companies built temporary workforce housing, called man camps, which local officials said dramatically increased the population, requiring more public services like garbage pick-up, hospital beds and first responders. Local leaders say the oil boom has caused strains that their city and county budgets cant keep up with. Two West Texas lawmakers want to divert 10% of the roughly $8 billion that oil and gas companies pay the state in so-called severance taxes to benefit oil-producing counties. Legislation sponsored by State Reps. Tom Craddick of Midland and Brooks Landgraf of Odessa would redirect a portion of those taxes to 32 eligible counties to be used for infrastructure repairs, emergency services, health care, education and workforce development. Regulators, industry and environmental policy experts agree that addressing the damage caused by decades of oil and gas production will require significant policy and funding changes. A report by the House Appropriations Committee on House Bill 2154, which Craddick and Landgraf authored together in 2019 to address the same issues, said that failing to help communities in the oil patch repair their infrastructure could also impede the oil and gas industry. In recent years, the regions of Texas responsible for the growth in the states oil and natural gas production have encountered significant challenges that have limited the potential growth of the energy sector and could pose a significant threat to the sustained future growth of oil and natural gas production in the state, the report said. Their 2019 bill died in the Senate. And in 2021 and 2023, they tried and failed again. This time, they introduced two separate proposals. Craddick authored House Bill 265, which is basically identical to the 2019 bill. Landgraf introduced House Bill 188, which would also devote money to oil field cleanup and emissions reduction programs managed by the Texas Railroad Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and give property tax relief to homeowners statewide. Landgraf could not say whether the changes will be enough to finally win support in the upper chamber. Its a high barrier. Ive known that since 2018 when I first started looking into this, Landgraf said. But I do think that if its a policy that we can put in place, it would have great dividends for every corner of Texas, and thats why I think its a fight thats still worth fighting. The two bills would redirect some oil and gas tax money to certain oil and gas-producing counties, as well as coastal counties where a port authority transports oil and gas. Landgrafs bill would set aside $500 million, while Craddicks would collect up to $250 million for all eligible counties. Under Landgrafs bill, county governments, school districts, colleges and nonprofits in qualifying counties could apply for the money and spend it on things like road repairs, improving schools, workforce development initiatives and emergency services. The remaining $300 million would go toward the Property Tax Relief Fund, an account managed by the state comptroller used to reduce maintenance repairs in school districts, which are funded by local property taxes. If one or both of the bills can get through the Legislature and get Gov. Greg Abbotts approval, they would still need to go before Texas voters this fall as a constitutional amendment. Budget writers in both chambers typically dont like being told how to spend money through constitutional amendments, said Sherri Greenberg, a dean of state and local government engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. The intense pace of oil production in the Permian Basin, which covers 75,000 square miles between Texas and New Mexico, has also inflicted environmental damage. The Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency that regulates the states oil and gas industry, has said it cannot afford to keep up with the increasing cost of plugging thousands of so-called orphan oil and gas wells, which have no clear owner or were drilled by now-bankrupt companies. Recently, a number of these wells have unexpectedly erupted with toxic wastewater that apparently migrated from oilfield disposal wells. Under Landgrafs bill, 1% of the diverted money would go to the Railroad Commission to help plug orphan wells. An additional 1% would pay for emissions reduction efforts in trucking, farming and construction overseen by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Oil companies, trade groups and environmentalist policy experts have testified in favor of both bills. Cyrus Reed, a legislative and conservation director for the Sierra Club, which advocates for policies that strengthen environmental protections nationally, said he supports Landgrafs bill for its environmental propositions. Were going to support any solution that gets more revenue paid by the oil and gas industry to resolve (environmental) issues, Reed said. We dont want to rely on just general revenue from the people of Texas to pay for a problem that industry created. Landgraf hopes that expanding the legislation so it has an impact beyond energy-producing regions of Texas will help it gain more support in the Legislature. My position is that whats good for the Permian Basin is good for all of Texas, he said But sometimes that takes a bit more of a holistic or longer view for people not from the Permian Basin to reach that conclusion. Topics Texas Legislation Energy Oil Gas A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a Miami insurance broker to 41 months in prison and more than $5 million in restitution for defrauding a Georgia credit union by obtaining loans for condominium associations premium financing, then using the loans for personal gain. Heleonel Gonzalez, known as Leo, will now have to forfeit a property he purchased in the ski resort area of Park City, Utah, court records show. The prison time is less than the maximum that the judge could have imposed under sentencing guidelines, and less than prosecutors had recommended. The 48-year-old Gonzalez, who owned Sharp Insurance Agency in Miami Lakes, pleaded guilty in November. He devised a lucrative scheme cloaked in fraud and deception to steal loan proceeds from Peach State Federal Credit Union for his personal gain, U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan said in a statement. On at least 20 occasions in 2023 and early this year, he represented to P1 Finance, part of the credit union, that clients had authorized him to apply for loans that would be used to help condo associations pay their property insurance premiums, court documents show. He submitted a false premium finance agreement and disclosure statement in the name of 360 Community Association, the association for waterfront, high-rise condo units in Miami, according to court records. Prosecutors said that Gonzalez insurance agency was an agent for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Florida Department of Financial Services agent records show that Gonzalez appointment with Citizens began in 2016 and expires in April of this year. He also held active appointments with 15 other insurers. Floridas property insurance and condominium crises likely gave Gonzalez the perfect cover for his scheme. Insurance premiums for condos have soared in recent years, as have repair costs and association fees after Florida lawmakers in 2022 required more frequent inspections and cash reserves for condominium associations. Many condo unit owners have said they cannot afford the new costs and plan to move out. The case was prosecuted in the Northern District of Georgia, where the credit union is based. Gonzalez voluntarily surrendered to the federal Bureau of Prisons. As a result of Gonzalezs false and fraudulent representations, Peach State Federal Credit Union made the requested loans and transferred approximately $6 million to Gonzalez, the prosecutors said in a statement in November. He then used the loan proceeds to pay personal debts and expenses. Peach State Federal Credit Union would not have made the loans but for Gonzalezs false and fraudulent representations. Gonzalez was still listed Thursday as president of the agency, on the Sharp Insurance Agency web page. Topics Agencies 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Management at retailer Marks & Spencer will hold talks with union representatives next week amid fears for the jobs of up to 130 staff at its Republic of Ireland stores. Middle management staff at the Irish stores of M&S could face redundancy as the company undertakes a restructuring of its operations in the State. M&S has 16 stores in the Republic. As we continue to invest in and transform our business in Ireland, we need a store management structure that is fully focused on driving a high-performance culture so we are consulting with our colleagues on some proposed changes that we believe will help our stores operate more effectively for our colleagues and our customers," the company said in a statement. Staff at the company's Irish stores were informed this week of the proposed changes, which will affect managerial staff including store team managers. A company spokesperson said no timeframe was available for the restructuring. It is believed M&S management want to bring in new conditions for staff which would end existing contracts, affecting agreed working hours, rosters, and shift premiums. One member of staff who will be affected by the restructuring described the new roles as "watered down" versions of the existing middle management positions. An M&S spokesman said that while around 130 staff were affected by the proposed changes, the company plans to employ 170 staff in new roles in Ireland. "We anticipate that many of those impacted will have the skills and capability to fulfil the new roles," the M&S spokesperson added. Union representatives will meet company management on Tuesday, April 1. A Mandate spokesperson said the union had been informed of company plans for restructuring of its team manager grade. The union represents more than 100 staff who are in these roles. "The company contacted us yesterday to let us know they had informed staff," the Mandate spokesperson said. "In our position we are always looking to avoid any redundancies in the first instance." The retailer's Northern Ireland stores are not expected to be affected by the planned restructuring changes. In its most recent annual accounts, Marks & Spencer in Ireland reported an increase in operating profit to around 33.5m on annual sales of 384m to the end of March 2023. The company has not yet released figures for 2024. Along with its 16 dedicated stores, M&S has separately rolled out franchise outlets in some Applegreen petrol station outlets in Ireland. The IMRO Live Music Venue Awards took place Tuesday night at the Sugar Club. It was the third Irish music awards Ive attended recently, completing the series of the Northern Ireland Music awards, the Choice Music Prize, and now this. I once again floated out of the venue, buoyed by the exuberance and sheer talent of the bands that performed, Annie-Dog, F3Miii and Florence Road. In a world gone mad, literally, its a great balm to witness such joy. Things will work out, you suddenly conclude. The IMRO awards differ from the others in that they seek to highlight and reward those behind the scenes. The people who book the bands, light them, do sound, solve the technical issues and keep the venues open. If you have ever been in a band, or performed at such a venue, they are the people whose feet you kiss when you arrive. They tend to have the air of medical staff in an emergency. You are worried sick, but they are calm. Plug in here, they say, all will be fine. The first such man I ever met was the late, truly great, Dennis Herlihy at the legendary Sir Henrys in Cork. He would live and breathe sound. You surrendered to him. Did as he said, turned up or down as instructed. He made you sound great and that was some gift. Back then, people like Dennis were rare. On tours it was often a case of trying to coax sound out of systems more suited to supermarket announcements than music. Yet the clubs were famous the world over. Youd read about them CBGBs, Maxs Kansas City - and then see the PA. It didnt add up. U2 were soon bringing another Cork man, Joe OHerlihy - a regular on the sound-desk at the Arcadia - everywhere they went. Some venues might have an inhouse magician that could summon reasonable sound from a collection of boxes, but it was safer to bring your own. Joe was the man and still is. Amazingly, as the years have progressed having someone like Dennis in a venue has become more the norm. It is a rare example of something getting better with time. There are now more cool venues with great crew that there used to be. It seems miraculous. Cork sound engineers Joe O'Herlihy, and the late Dennis Herlihy. Whats at stake though is even more so, for the small venues are sometimes where it is truly at. In September 2001, I started to receive regular letters from a listener in Cork. He was pleading with me to make my way to the Lobby Bar and see Mic Christopher in the upstairs function room. There is magic in the air, this listener said, get on the train. He proceeded to paint such a picture of magical nights with Mic that I made plans. But I dragged my feet and Mic headed off to tour with The Waterboys. A tour from which he would tragically never return. Those gigs were recorded, Im pretty sure by the same listener, Emmett Murphy. I have the letters and the CDs somewhere! They finally got a release on vinyl a few years back. The magic seeps from the grooves. Mic at his peak, songs like Heyday, coming to him, apparently, at will. But it was not just Mic. Inherent in the magic of that record is the audience. Their joy, their appreciation, their utter investment in just being in the moment. If you want to hear another such moment: Colm Mac Con Iomaires fiddle on Pure Imagination, The Frames Live at Vicar Street. Those moments are things we take with us in life. They do of course occur on the bigger stages, but there is something about the intimacy of the smaller club that heightens it all. Bowie in the Baggot, Dylan in Vicar Street, Radiohead in the Rock Garden. Ireland is still home to many wonderful venues, often driven by passionate, visionary individuals like Aidan in Mike the Pies or Joe in Levis Corner House. But it is not just passion, it is the know-how, experience and tenacity. All Together Now won Best Live Music Festival, as it should, whilst McGinleys Bar in Letterkenny won IMRO National Live Music Venue of the Year. It and places like Coughlans in Cork should become venues you make a pilgrimage to. Look up a listing, find a band you like and make a trip of it. The sound will be great, the craic mighty. That is almost a given. Elon might yet turn off our wifi, but there will always be live music. Location On a rugged promontory along the Wild Atlantic Way, Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa is a slice of coastal paradise in West Cork. Driving the winding one-way system, its hard to drag our gaze from the views. Flanked by two golden beaches, the four-star retreat offers a front-row seat to natures drama where world-renowned surf meets endless sky. A short drive from charming Clonakilty, this is a balance of seclusion and accessibility. The story of a University of Limerick (UL) student who experienced a targeted and sustained campaign of harassment by a group of 200 men has been described as shocking by the former further education minister. Patrick O'Donovan, who is from Limerick, said it is "alarming to see a young woman targeted in this way". Influencer Ella Deasy posted a TikTok video in August 2024 looking to make friends after securing a room in Kilmurry Village, a popular first-year student complex on the UL campus. Ms Deasy shared that a young man who had previously posted about egging her house saw her on the day she moved in, and the situation quickly escalated when a WhatsApp group of 200 men was created. The group chat, which included UL students, organised a campaign which intended to destroy her accommodation, Ms Deasy said in videos she posted to her 190,000 TikTok followers. "I think it was half four in the morning, two boys were screaming my name outside my bedroom window. It wasn't even outside the house, it was actually the back of the house so they knew exactly which bedroom was mine," Ms Deasy said. Over the course of several nights, large groups of these young men came to her home and pelted the house with eggs, yoghurt, glass bottles while shouting her name and, on some occasions, "tried to kick the door in". There was 200 boys in this group chat, so just imagine 200 boys against one girl Ms Deasy emailed the UL Student Accommodation Service after the first incident, but said she was told nothing could be done and that posting videos on social media had made her a target. She also reported the incidents to gardai, who caught a group of around 10 young men, put them in their car, and took their details. 'Increased mitigation actions' Despite repeated complaints to accommodation services, Ms Deasy claims nothing was done about the situation until she contacted UL's president who quickly had her moved to another residence. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for UL said concerns about student welfare are taken extremely seriously. "A number of increased mitigation measures can be used to ensure the safety and security of our students including increased security patrols, house meetings with security and village management, follow-up welfare checks and, where necessary, relocation," they said. Minister Patrick O'Donovan said it is 'alarming to see a young woman targeted in this way'. File Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile Mr O'Donovan, now minister for culture and media, told the Irish Examiner he has reached out to the senior leadership at the university about Ms Deasy's case and said he is confident the university will "act swiftly to prevent something like this happening again". Sinn Fein TD Mairead Farrell, who raised the issue in the Dail, said UL has reached out to her to arrange a meeting to talk about ways all third-level institutes can best support their students. "This is not about one institution," Ms Farrell said. "We need to ensure that all our third level institutes have supports and processes in place to make sure no student feels unsafe while trying to get an education." There needs to be education on bullying, harassment, and gender-based violence for young men and women throughout their educational career, Ms Farrell said. Irelands top drug traffickers estimated to earn around 10 million in profits annually is reeling after a succession of raids and arrests here and in Spain. The besieged gang, known as The Family, is considered by gardai to be the biggest single player in the highly lucrative cocaine trade and has been, for three decades, the dominant gang in the heroin business. The leader of the outfit, along with two of his brothers, were arrested with two other gang lieutenants on Monday. Then on Tuesday a sixth man was arrested in Ireland along with six other arrests in Spain, as police and customs surveillance officers there swooped on the gangs warehouse. The six arrested here are considered to comprise the bulk of the leadership structure of the network. Apart from the three brothers, the other three men one from Kildare, a second from Dublin and a third from Wexford - are described as top tier figures, running logistics, wholesale supply, management and money-laundering. The man, aged 44, from Kildare, is suspected of controlling the gangs encrypted communications system a highly sensitive position. The six arrested in Spain are described as significant suppliers, five of them local nationals, and the sixth a gang representative covering the British market. Organised crime As reported in the Irish Examiner on Monday, gardai are examining the prospect of recommending charges relating to organised crime membership, contributing to and even directing a gang to the DPP. It is understood that this is a long-term goal and that significant work lies ahead in gathering together considerable evidence amassed including messages in encrypted communications used by gang members and accessed by French and EU technical experts and presenting it to the DPP. Drug-trafficking and money-laundering offences are also being considered. Last September, the Garda Drugs and and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) and Europol revealed that the encrypted communication system, called 'Ghost', used by global gangs, including 'The Family', had been accessed by French technical experts and analysed by the EU police agency. This weeks arrest operation has been led by DOCB and Guardia Civil in Spain with the support of Europol and Italian Antimafia police. Spanish and Italian police and Europol telecoms experts have been in Ireland since the start of the week while gardai have been in Spain. The Family criminal organisation, considered by gardai to be the biggest drug-trafficking network in the country, is estimated to earn around 10m profits a year, fuelled in recent years by the booming cocaine trade. A young woman has shared how she was targeted by a group of 200 young men who aimed to destroy her accommodation at the University of Limerick. Influencer Ella Deasy posted a TikTok video in August 2024 looking to make friends after securing a room in Kilmurry Village, a popular first-year student complex on the UL campus. This week, Ms Deasy shared that a young man who had previously posted about egging her house saw her on moving day, after which the situation escalated. A group chat of 200 men, including UL students, was created, which she said had the intent of destroying her accommodation. Ms Deasy, who has over 190k TikTok followers, posted four videos describing the abuse. She recalled: I think it was half four in the morning, two boys were screaming my name outside my bedroom window. It wasn't even outside the house, it was actually the back of the house. So they knew exactly which bedroom was mine. After emailing ULs Student Accommodation Service, she was told nothing could be done and that posting online had made her a target. Later that day, I went to collect a package from the student accommodations office, and I was basically told it was my fault. That there was nothing they could do about it. After another incident, she woke up to find eggs thrown at her house and yoghurt spread on the door handle. She complained but was told she would have to pay to get the house cleaned. Speaking of the group chat created to target her, she said: The boys of Kilmurry had a group chat, but then it turned into a group chat where they all wanted to destroy my house. There was 200 boys in this group chat, so just imagine 200 boys against one girl. Ms Deasy reported the incidents to the Gardai. On another occasion, young men tried to kick the door in, rang the doorbell, and egged her house. By the time security arrived 20 minutes later, they were gone. The gardai were there 10 minutes later when boys came back again and actually ended up catching 10 of them, putting them in the car. Taking their names, etc. She thought it was over, but more young men came backthis time throwing bottles of vodka. Basically anything that their parents had probably spent money on throughout the week to give them for college was just thrown at my house and my bedroom window and the front door. I was still awake at that stage because I genuinely don't think I slept that night at all. After repeated complaints to accommodation services with nothing done, she contacted ULs President and was moved to another residence within ten minutes. I was told that the situation would be rectified and something would be done and the investigation would be taken further by UL. And I genuinely don't think anything was done, I think these boys just got away with it. It is harassment at the end of the day, and nothing was done about it. In a statement sent to the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for UL said: University of Limerick is aware of incidents of anti-social behaviour at an on-campus student residence early in the academic year but cannot comment on individual circumstances. Ms Deasy later dropped out, although she said it wasnt solely due to the harassment. Although, she noted: I don't think it helped that what had happened to me week one. I think it ruined my college experience altogether. In an email to students, UL Provost Professor Ann Ledwith expressed dismay over student safety concerns. 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, Ms Ledwith said. 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. She also 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. In a statement sent to the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for UL said: University of Limerick is aware of incidents of anti-social behaviour at an on-campus student residence early in the academic year but cannot comment on individual circumstances. Any concerns about student welfare are taken extremely seriously. A number of increased mitigation measures can be used to ensure the safety and security of our students including increased security patrols, house meetings with security and village management, follow-up welfare checks and, where necessary, relocation. They also added: There is a 24-hour security presence on the campus, including patrols across residences, and all students are made aware of this. The Village Management teams regularly meet with residents to remind them of how to escalate incidents to Campus Security and how to access support from the Village Management as required. Plans for a strategic multimillion-euro road across the northside of Cork City are facing opposition. A campaign has been launched in Glanmire urging residents, businesses, and community groups at the eastern end of the proposed Cork Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Road (CNDMR) to oppose its connection point just south of their village. The Save Glanmire From Gridlock group says the current plans for its eastern connection to the R639 would destroy a scenic woodland and that alternatives have not been considered properly. This would have devastating environmental and visual impacts on one of the area's most cherished natural amenities, they said. They say an alternative connection point further north avoids many of the issues they have. Other options, such as a direct connection from Banduff to the M8 dual carriageway, have not been fully explored and deserve further assessment, they say. Following a lengthy examination of seven potential options on various grounds, the preferred 100m wide route corridor for the 14km CNDMR was unveiled late last month for public consultation. Following a lengthy examination of seven potential options on various grounds, the preferred 100m wide route corridor for the 14km CNDMR was unveiled late last month for public consultation. It runs from a point on the western side of the city on the Carrigrohane Rd to Glanmire in the east, via Hollyhill, Dublin Hill and Banduff, connecting to the R639 south of Glanmire village the Vienna Woods Hotel and the villages landmark grotto. It has a single vehicular lane in each direction, flanked by bus lanes and bike lanes, and has been designed to improve journey times for all road users, improve access to employment hubs, and unlock zoned land on the northside of the city for residential and commercial development. But the Glanmire group said the R639 is already congested and can't cope with a connection to a four-lane road. With significant residential development planned for Glanmire in the future, the local infrastructure will be further strained, they said. The combined traffic from new developments and the access point will overwhelm the Glanmire Rd, leading to substantial congestion that will disrupt the local community and make daily commutes and school runs more difficult. The Glanmire Rd simply does not have the capacity to accommodate the traffic to and from a four-lane road. Public consultation on the preferred corridor continues until April 10. The campaign group plans to hold a public meeting on April 3 and has urged people to attend, and sign its petition on its Save Glanmire From Gridlock Facebook page. The CNDMR is being advanced by Cork City Council, in collaboration with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Department of Transport. The need for a northside distributor road, and a similar distributor road on the southside, was set out in the 2020 CMATS plan, the landmark transport blueprint for metropolitan Cork. Pending funding and planning, it is hoped that construction on the northern distributor will start by 2031, that it will take three years to build, and be ready for use by 2035. The northside distributor road is separate to the proposed northern outer ring road, which its hoped will link the M8 Cork to Dublin road with the N22 further west, and is not likely for delivery before 2040. People in Limerick have been complaining after finding themselves locked into the city's People's Park. On Tuesday, several people found themselves locked inside the public park, as the park keeper had locked the gates. On another occasion, a woman was left to climb over the gates with her children, as no one was around to open the gates. It has been claimed there is a lack of consistency around the times the gates are shut, but the local authority has denied this. In a response to a query sent by the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said: "The bell is rung 20 minutes before closing to alert people that the park will be closing soon. The closing times are stated on signs at the entrances. "There are five gates to close and the two main gates are the last to be closed." When asked if the park wardens sometimes finish early, the spokesperson replied: "No, the park warden finishes when the park closes." The council also reminded people a phone number for emergencies was available on the signs at the entrances of People's Park. "The park closes at night as there is no adequate lighting in the park or any of the parks. Parks open daily at 8am. Closing times vary throughout the year depending on daylight hours," the spokesperson added. The closing hours of People's Park change depending on the season, with gates closing earlier during the winter months. In March, the closing time is at 6pm while in April, it closes at 7pm. In May, the gates remain open until 8pm. In June, July and August, the park closes at 9pm. The Department of Arts and Culture should consider allowing new financial controls to be accessed by state bodies under its remit, an internal government report has recommended. A report by the Institute of Public Administration examined existing oversight practices within the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media for its state agencies. It comes just weeks after controversy erupted within the Arts Council over its failure to deliver an IT system, which cost almost 7m. An expert review into the governance of the Arts Council is now under way. A key recommendation from the report outlines that there is merit for the department to engage with the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA). This agency is a division of the National Treasury Management Agency, and provides financial and commercial advice to Government ministers, departments, and state agencies. The report says that the department should consider engagement with NewERA to possibly provide its state agencies with financial and advisory services. It also recommends that the accounts of all state bodies be subject to review by a qualified accountant within the internal Financial Advisory Unit, if their accounts are not already independently audited. The report was commissioned by the department in 2024, in the wake of controversy over the governance practices of RTE one agency that was under its control. The report says there are challenging situations for a small number of state agencies over their relationship with the central department. State bodies which are self-funding or partially so, and/or have a role which requires a heightened degree of independence, may be somewhat more sensitive to the proximity of relationship with the department, the report reads. It also says that some agencies can be defensive in regards to oversight, saying that this is geared towards protecting what they see as an essential degree of autonomy necessary to perform their mandate. Despite some state agencies seeking autonomy, the report states that it is crucial that all bodies must be subject to sufficient oversight and accountability to ensure that it is performing effectively and delivering its objectives and that public resources are used efficiently and effectively. It also says there is merit in improving relationships at a senior level to help foster a shared culture of good governance. The revelation that the Trump administration accidentally included a reporter from The Atlantic on a group chat in the Signal messaging service and then shared highly-sensitive war plans for imminent air strikes in Yemen was even by the standards since Trumps inauguration deeply shocking. Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Pete Hegseth subsequently claimed that no classified information was shared in the chat group about the Yemen operation. But the publication of further messages by The Atlantic quickly proved that, either Trump and his administration had told lies that would have made Richard Nixon blush, or that the US government no longer knows how to classify extremely sensitive information information that if leaked could cost the lives of US military personnel. It is difficult to know which of these explanations is worse. The exchanges on the Signal chat also offer a number of worrying insights into the Trump administration. The first is Washingtons contempt for Europe. The public scolding of Europe for not spending enough on defence is nothing new. But here was US secretary of defence, Pete Hegseth, on a Trump administration chat group venting about Europes freeloading to other members of Trumps cabinet. European militaries are, according to Hegseth, unable to strike Houthi insurgents in Yemen and protect the Straits of Hormuz, a critical Red Sea squeeze point on the route to and from the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. Europe, he wrote, was PATHETIC. Vice president JD Vance agreed. Putting aside that nobody in Washington checked to see if European militaries, such as France and Britain, were willing to carry out strikes in Yemen, what is clear is that Vance and Hegseth are being sincere in their visceral dislike of Europe. This is not performative criticism. A goal of successive United States administrations, from presidents Eisenhower to Biden, was for the US to remain as the preeminent military power in the Middle East. Strategically this made sense; basing US forces in the Arabian Peninsula allowed the US to thwart Soviet interests during the Cold War; more recently the US presence, such as the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, has served to deter Iranian aggression in the region. Regimes, like those of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, quickly came to rely upon US military assistance for their survival. Large-scale purchases of US military equipment, and related, paid-for assistance from US military advisers, was a price governments were willing to pay for an acknowledged reliance upon US security support. When Britain complained in the 1950s and 1960s that the Saudi government was funding insurgents in British-controlled South Arabia, Washington was unmoved. Londons claims to control the Suez Canal were squashed. The message from America was clear: Britains day in the Middle East was done. FBI director Kash Patel, cirector of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA director John Ratcliffe, and Defense Intelligence Agency director Jeffrey Kruse appear as the house intelligence committee holds a hearing on worldwide threats, at the Capitol, in Washington on Wednesday. Picture: J. Scott Applewhite/AP Hegseths aspiration to reduce the US militarys presence in the region and for European navies to take on more of the burden of policing the Red Sea may seem like an excellent way to deliver on Trumps commitment to cut the US governments defence bill. But such a move would also weaken US influence in the region, and likely lead to a realignment of relations by Gulf states towards Europe but also, as is increasingly the case, towards China. A relationship based on a complete lack of respect is a short path to abuse. The Trump administration has made no secret of its loathing for the EU, including on trade and Brussels insistence on setting high standard for American imports. The question is whether an administration so cavalier in its approach to passing on highly sensitive communications and with such a deep resentment of Europe could be tempted to leverage the use of Americas vastly superior intelligence capabilities to gain an advantage over Europe. Intelligence sharing between European states and the US has been critical during the last decade in pushing back against espionage, sabotage, and assassinations perpetrated by state actors such as Russia and China, as well as preventing terrorist attacks by Islamist terror organisations and those from the far-right. But the US has a well-known history of accessing the communications of European leaders and governments including most infamously the mobile phone of the former German chancellor, Angela Merkel. What might the Trump administration be willing to do to gain access to the communications of French president Emmanuel Macron or German chancellor Friedrich Merz? And what about sensitive European research on AI or satellite technologies? Would an increasingly belligerent US administration be willing to steal intellectual property if they felt that an EU-funded defence project had gained an exceptional edge in an area of interest? Europe cannot take the risk of trusting a Trump administration that threatens economic war and wants to seize the sovereign territory Greenland of EU member state Denmark. A European Commission taskforce recently recommended establishing a new EU intelligence service. The chair of the task force, former Finnish president Sauli Niinisto, urged EU member states to trust each other when it came to intelligence. That will not be possible with governments like those of Hungary and Slovakia both sympathetic to the Russian government in the room. Instead, intelligence capabilities will have to be built up between European states that share common values and interests, including outside of EU structures. It is difficult to see how a coalition of European intelligence services could become a highly-capable global intelligence alliance, one much less dependent on US assistance, without the support of Britain which remains the best resourced state in Europe when it comes to intelligence. Alex Younger, the former head of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), recently warned that Europe was now in a new era and that, international relations arent going to be determined by rules or multilateral institutions, theyre going to be determined by strongmen. The required response is obvious Europe needs to grow its own teeth if its democracies are going to survive the onslaught from Washington and Moscow. Edward Burke is a lecturer in War Studies at University College Dublin Much was made in February when US president Donald Trump held talks on the war between Russia and Ukraine but declined to invite the latter. While Ukraine would subsequently join the talks in Saudi Arabia, there was no seat at the table for Europe. In the Paris sunshine on Thursday, French president Emanuel Macron sought to redress that balance as he hosted leaders from across Europe for a summit on the ongoing need to support Ukraine and place the continent which has had to bear the brunt of the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine more centrally. It is a point often repeated in Irish media, but across the continent there is a different feeling on the Russian invasion of Ukraine than there is in Ireland. That is understandable given our size and geography, but the conversations in recent weeks around European rearmament should serve to underline where European leaders are on this issue: There is a growing and palpable fear that Russia will not stop at Ukraine. What that requires, many of the EU's leaders have decided, is a period spent ramping up defences and ploughing money into scaling up armies and systems which stagnated or stalled at the death of the Cold War. At the centre of much of this has been Mr Macron, who has seemingly looked to position himself and his country as the moral guardian of a continent facing the latest in a long line of existential questions In recent months, he has gathered European leaders on a number of occasions, has visited London, and even gone to Washington where he held his own alongside the man perhaps most responsible for the Frenchman's new-found urgency, Donald Trump. Mr Macron and many others in Europe have made a calculation or come to a realisation: The old world, in which the US could be relied upon as a deterrent or a protector or anything really, is no more. No more rulebook Mr Trump's singular focus on his own country and his lack of appreciation for a multilateral world, means that the rulebook has been torn up, thrown out, and banned from the library. We are charting a new course and Mr Macron looks from a distance like a man who fancies himself at the wheel of the ship. If Europe can no longer look to the US and with Britain out of the EU, albeit making attempts to be a much better neighbour under Keir Starmer, it will need a key player. The type of thing that Angela Merkel used to do is now either being thrust upon or seized by Mr Macron, depending on your viewpoint. Alongside Mr Starmer, Mr Macron has been the closest ally that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has had in many ways. The pair's warm welcome of the Ukrainian was probably appreciated after his bruising encounter with Mr Trump. Aside from the mercurial man in the Oval Office, the European context has changed with Britain out, Germany's next chancellor Friedrich Merz still attempting to form a government, and Italy's Giorgia Meloni while still supporting Ukraine considered more ideologically aligned with Mr Trump. Added to this is America's openly ambivalent or even hostile attitude towards the continent. Disdain for Europe The contents of a group messaging chat to which a journalist was accidentally added show the disdain which some in the upper echelons of the Trump administration hold Europe. There is a vacuum there for Mr Macron to fill, and his notion that Europe prepares a force aimed at dissuading Russia from a repeat invasion is one which has began to gain traction. All of which is even more curious when stacked up against Mr Macron's domestic affairs. Mr Macron survived a snap election due to voters who were willing to cast their ballot for him "with gloves on" to ward off the far right Marine Le Pen. Mr Macron, like many leaders, seems to be more lauded on the global stage than the local At the gathering, Mr Macron said there was no unanimity on his plans but added that this was not needed because a plan that was once seen as outlandish, the idea of a European force in Ukraine, has become a matter of not if but when peace is found. Mr Macron had floated the idea last year and was widely seen to have only succeeded in illustrating the faultlines across the continent, annoying European allies by suggesting such a thing. Now, it seems, that many European countries are in the "coalition of the willing". European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen offered her take on the day's meeting, saying the coalition of the willing got bigger, stronger, and very determined". How willing European partners are to row in behind Mr Macron could decide just how big and how strong it can be. THE Land Development Agency (LDA) is to target private lands in Cork in a bid to increase its affordable homes output, amid growing criticism of the governments failure to meet housing targets. LDA chief executive John Coleman told the Irish Examiner that Cork is on our radar as the agency plans a return to market to buy sites outright from private landowners. Its already bought several sites in Dublin with the potential to deliver c 5,000 homes. While it was originally set up to deliver affordable homes on State-owned lands, the agencys chief executive, John Coleman, said there was a finite supply. The amount of State land that is available to us is finite and has to be replaced as it is used up. We bought a lot of land in the Dublin area recently and we are likely to go to the market again soon. We are looking around for opportunities and Cork is definitely on our radar, said Mr Coleman. The agency is currently actively building more than 900 homes in Cork city (Horgans Quay, the Marina Quarter and the former St Kevins Hospital) and proposals for another 500 (350 at the ESB site in Wilton and 140 at Anglesea Terrace) are due to enter the planning process. Longer term plans include another 1,000 homes in the Marina and up to 5,000 in Tivoli docks. Apartments flying up on Horgan's Quay Mr Coleman said it was the LDA view that it was a good time to buy land. From our perspective, we think we are a good entity to hold land because we dont have the same financial pressures as the private sector, so we can hold land longer, he said. Asked by the Irish Examiner if he had any concerns around the ability of utilities to connect up new homes - Uisce Eireann has repeatedly said its capacity is limited to c 35,000 conections per annum Mr Coleman said were concerned about both electricity and water connections. Weve very good relationships with all the service providers, but there are problems on the horizon. So yes, it is a concern, but we are not yet impacted. Looking ahead five years, if things arent done now, like provision of substations and waste water treatment plants, we will have problems down the line. The agency has a significant housing pipeline in Cork city, with a strong focus on the docklands, to which the government has committed 353m, as part of a massively ambitious 20-year project designed to regenerate 146ha of land. Two LDA-backed schemes are currently under construction in the docklands, on both banks of the river Lee, where the agency has partnered with private developers under the Governments Project Tosaigh. On Horgans Quay, BAM/Clarendon Properties are well into the process of building 302 LDA-backed apartments in the first residential scheme of scale in the docklands. More recently, the agency partnered with Glenveagh Properties to deliver 337 apartments in the Marina Quarter, as a part of a wider, multi-phase Glenveagh development, which will ultimately deliver close to 1,200 units. Piling is completed at Glenveagh's Marina Quarter site Asked if he had any concerns about flood risk in the Marina Quarter, which borders the river, Mr Coleman said we do, no question. However he added that the way their developments are designed particularly the Glenveagh one, is that it can withstand certain flood scenarios. Its being built on a podium, so its designed with that risk in mind, he said. Moreover additional flood protection measures would be implemented by Cork City Council as part of the docklands regeneration programme. Two other Marina sites have also been earmarked for upto 1,000 homes by the LDA, including at the ESBs decommissioned Marina power station landbank on Centre Park Road and another c 400 at a Bord na Mona site on Monahan Road. Neither land parcel has yet transferred to the LDA as the move requires board approval when a commercial state body is involved. I think theres acceptance by both institutions, Mr Coleman said, adding that wed like that to happen as soon as possible. At a much more advanced stage is the plan to build 350 homes at another ESB site in Wilton, which has already come through public consultation. Assuming a straightforward run through planning, the LDA hopes to be on site by the middle of next year. The planning application is due to be lodged any day now, the agency chief said. Chief executive of the ESB, Paddy Hayes, and chief executive of the LDA, John Coleman, at the ESBs Wilton site, The LDA hopes to have homes completed in the grounds of the former St Kevins Hospital in Shanakiel by the end of the year, where 267 units are currently under construction. It wont be a case of keys in hand, but the properties will be completed that's what our programme says at the moment, said Mr Coleman. Work is well progressed at the former St Kevin's Hospital site He confirmed that a planning application to develop 140 apartments at Anglesea Terrace, in the middle of Cork city, was due to be lodged in the autumn. Its the agencys first formal partnership with Cork City Council. Two more long term projects involve Tivoli docks, with scope for up to 5,000 homes and 41 ha of land in Kilbarry. Flotilla of fishing boats passing Tivoli docks Picture: Dan Linehan In relation to Tivoli docks, Mr Coleman said if they were under construction on any part of that site some time in the next seven to 10 years, that would be a very good result. In relation to Kilbarry, he said they were in discussions with the IDA who own the land and that all going well, it was certainly one for the next five-10 years. Funding-wise, he said they had no concerns as their money comes from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. It doesnt have to be decided by government in the budget and that reduces the tension around our funding allocation. Currently we have about 5bn, half of which we have drawn down already. In relation to government plans for a new strategic housing activation unit, Mr Coleman said it was a good idea as long as it involved relevant people who do actually have the power to make the changes where necessary. Asked if he would apply for the top job at the new unit his former boss at Nama, Brendan McDonagh, has been suggested as the frontrunner Mr Coleman said: I have plenty to do here. Mr Coleman was keynote speaker last night at Foundations 25, the annual property conference hosted by Cork law firm RDJ. More than 100 delegates attended. This year's focus was on the residential property sector. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Donald Trump has said he is placing 25% tariffs on motor imports, a move the White House claims will foster domestic manufacturing but could also put a financial squeeze on car makers that depend on global supply chains. This will continue to spur growth, the president told reporters. Well effectively be charging a 25% tariff. The tariffs could be complicated as even US car makers source their components from around the world, meaning that they could face higher costs and lower sales. Shares in General Motors fell by about 3% in Wednesday afternoon trading. Fords stock was up slightly, but shares in Stellantis, the owner of Jeep and Chrysler, dropped nearly 4%. Mr Trump has long said that tariffs against car imports would be a defining policy of his presidency, betting that the costs created by the taxes would cause more production to relocate to the US. But American and foreign firms with domestic plants still depend on Canada, Mexico and other nations for parts and finished vehicles, meaning prices could increase and sales could decline as new factories take time to build. We are going to be doing automobiles, which youve known about for a long time, Mr Trump said on Monday. Well be announcing that fairly soon, over the next few days probably. The tariffs are part of a broader reshaping of global relations by Mr Trump, who plans to impose what he calls reciprocal taxes on April 2 that would match the tariffs and sales taxes charged by other nations. He has already placed a 20% tax on all imports from China for its role in the production of fentanyl. He similarly placed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, with a lower 10% tax on Canadian energy products. Parts of the Mexico and Canada tariffs have been suspended, including taxes on cars, after firms objected and Mr Trump responded by giving them a 30-day reprieve which is set to expire in April. The president has also imposed 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports, removing the exemptions from his earlier 2018 taxes on the metals. He also plans tariffs on computer chips, pharmaceutical drugs, lumber and copper. His taxes risk igniting a broader global trade war with escalating retaliations that could crush global trade, potentially damaging economic growth while raising prices for families and businesses as some of the costs of the taxes get passed along by importers. When the European Union retaliated with plans for a 50% tariff on US spirits, Mr Trump responded by planning a 200% tax on alcoholic beverages from the EU. He also intends to place a 25% tariff on countries that import oil from Venezuela, even though the US also imports oil from that nation. Mr Trumps aides maintain that the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are about stopping illegal immigration and drug smuggling, but the administration also wants to use the tariff revenues to lower the budget deficit and assert Americas pre-eminence as the worlds largest economy. The president on Monday cited plans by South Korean car maker Hyundai to build a $5.8bn(5.3bn) steel plant in Louisiana as evidence that tariffs will bring back manufacturing jobs. Slightly more than a million people are employed domestically in the manufacturing of motor vehicles and parts, about 320,000 fewer than in 2000, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. Another 2.1 million people work at auto and parts dealerships. The US last year imported nearly eight million cars and light trucks worth $244bn (227bn. Mexico, Japan and South Korea were the top sources of foreign vehicles. Imports of car parts came to more than $197bn (183bn), led by Mexico, Canada and China, according to the Commerce Department. North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February in continued support for Russian President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine, South Koreas military said in its latest assessment. The Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Thursday that North Korea has also been sending more missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition to help Russia and that North Korea could increase its weapons supplies further depending on the war situation. Russia and Ukraine recently agreed on a limited ceasefire, though both sides have accused each other of violations. Russian President Vladimir Putin (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) The military equipment North Korea has sent to Russia includes a considerable amount of short-range ballistic missiles, 170 millimetre self-propelled howitzers and around 220 units of 240 millimetre multiple rocket launchers. North Korea has sent approximately 11,000 military personnel to fight in the war against Ukraine in its first involvement in a large-scale conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War, and the Joint Chiefs assessed that around 4,000 of them have been killed or injured. South Koreas National Intelligence Service previously attributed the high North Korean casualties to the troops likely struggles in adapting to drones and other elements of modern warfare. North Korean troops are further disadvantaged by the crude tactics of their Russian commanders, who have sent them into assault campaigns without providing rear-fire support, the spy agency told lawmakers in January. Still, Ukrainian military and intelligence officials have assessed that the North Koreans are gaining crucial battlefield experience and have been key to Russias strategy of overwhelming Ukraine by throwing large numbers of soldiers into the battle for Kursk. The South Korean military report came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his unwavering support for Russias war in Ukraine during a meeting with a top Russian security official, Sergei Shoigu, last week in Pyongyang. State media reports said Mr Kim and Mr Shoigu reaffirmed their commitment to uphold a major mutual defence treaty agreed upon last year. Russian deputy foreign minister Andrei Rudenko told Russian media on Thursday that the governments were discussing a potential visit by Mr Kim to Moscow but did not specify when it might take place. We always talk to everyone about exchanging visits. We are always preparing, he told RIA Novosti. The Associated Press (AP) is returning to a federal courtroom on Thursday to ask a judge to restore its full access to presidential events. It comes after the White House retaliated against the news outlet last month for not following president Donald Trumps executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico. In a hearing last month, US 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 has not. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington (Pool via AP) It seems pretty clearly viewpoint discrimination, Mr McFadden told the governments attorney at the time. The AP has sued Mr Trumps team for punishing a news organisation for using speech that it does not 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 Mr Trump has ordered it renamed the Gulf of America. 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 for the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. Its really about whether the government can control what you say. The White House said it has the right to decide who gets to question the president, and has taken steps to take over a duty that has been handled by journalists for decades. 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. The AP has still covered the president, and has been permitted in White House press secretary Karoline Leavitts press briefings, but the ban has cost the organisation time in reporting and impeded its efforts to get still images. Even if Mr McFadden rules in favour of the news organisation, it is unclear how the White House will respond to the judges order. The White House Correspondents Association has asked its members to show solidarity with the AP on Thursday, perhaps by showing up at the courtroom or wearing a pin that signifies the importance of the First Amendment. The case is one of several aggressive moves the second Trump administration has taken against the press since his return to office, including FCC investigations against ABC, CBS and NBC News, dismantling the government-run Voice of America and threatening funding for public broadcasters PBS and NPR. A Trump executive order to change the name of the United States largest mountain back to Mount McKinley from Denali is being recognised by the AP. Mr Trump has the authority to do so because the mountain is completely within the country he oversees, AP has said. Writing in the Journal, Ms Pace said the AP did not ask for the fight and made efforts to resolve the issue before going to court, but needed to stand on principle. If we dont step up to defend Americans right to speak freely, she wrote, who will? Pariss public prosecutor has requested that French actor Gerard Depardieu be found guilty and given an 18-month suspended prison sentence on the last day of a trial over accusations that he sexually assaulted two women who were working on a film with him. The actor, 76, is accused of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during filming in 2021 of the movie Les Volets Verts or The Green Shutters. He denied the accusations. Youre going to declare Gerard Depardieu guilty of these sexual assaults, the prosecutor told the court. He also requested a fine of 20,000 euros (16,692). The prosecutor denounced Depardieus total denial and failure to question himself. The actor showed no apparent reaction. Even though prosecutors requested an 18-month suspended sentence, Depardieu faces up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros (62,653) if convicted. The verdict, decided by a panel of judges, is expected at a later date. Earlier on Thursday, the plaintiffs lawyers called Depardieu a sexual predator and a misogynist in their final plea. The set dressers lawyer, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, said that he committed misconduct for decades towards little people in the cinema world. Gerard Depardieu, right, denies the accusations against him (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Maybe you think hes a great actor and you love his films, she said. Depardieu is also a sexual predator. His status as a world-renowned actor made him both an artistic and an economic power in the film industry, in contrast with the plaintiffs, who risked being blacklisted if they spoke up, Ms Durrieu Diebolt said, denouncing what she called a system of impunity. Depardieu, when hes touching womens bodies, hes exercising his power over them, she said. On Tuesday, Depardieu acknowledged that he had used vulgar and sexualised 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 lawyer for the other plaintiff, Claude Vincent, started her plea with a minutes-long list of obscene words and other vulgar expressions rarely heard in a courtroom, saying: Thats how Gerard Depardieu behaves on a film set, that the atmosphere hes imposing around him. No, you cant separate the man from the artist, she said. He is Gerard Depardieu, a misogynist amid misogynists. The plaintiff, a film assistant, said that Depardieu groped her buttocks and her breasts during three separate incidents on the film set. Mr Vincent noted that Depardieu defended director Roman Polanski, accused in the still-unresolved Los Angeles criminal sexual assault case that prompted him to flee to Europe in 1978. Speaking on Wednesday about his career and life, Depardieu mentioned Polanski as being persecuted for 50 years. Some would say Im from the old world. Certainly, he said. Depardieu has rejected the accusations since the beginning of the trial on Monday, saying he is not like that. The actor is being tried by a panel of three judges, not a jury, which is normal for such cases. The judges do not issue their verdict right away, but generally deliberate for weeks or months. Helicopters are dumping water over a burning forest in South Korea as fire crews struggle to contain the countrys worst ever wildfires. A total of 28 people have been killed in the wildfires, which have forced at least 37,800 to flee their homes and destroyed thousands of structures and vehicles. Multiple wildfires fuelled by strong winds and dry weather have been raging across South Koreas south-eastern regions since last Friday. The government has mobilised thousands of personnel, dozens of helicopters and other equipment to extinguish the blazes, but gusty winds are hampering their efforts. Rain was expected later on Thursday. But Korea Forest Service chief Lim Sang-seop said the amount less than 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) is forecast is unlikely to help in extinguishing the wildfires. The deaths include a pilot whose helicopter crashed during efforts to contain a fire on Wednesday and four firefighters and other workers who died earlier after being trapped by fast-moving flames. A helicopter tries to extinguish a wildfire by dropping water at a national park in Cheongsong, South Korea (Lee Moo-yeol/Newsis via AP) Authorities have not disclosed details of the civilian dead, except that they are mostly in their 60s or older who found it difficult to escape quickly or who even refused orders to evacuate. They suspect human error caused several of the wildfires, including cases where people started fires while clearing overgrown grass from family tombs or with sparks during welding work. Lee Han-kyung, deputy head of the governments disaster response centre, told a meeting on Thursday that the wildfires showed the reality of climate crisis that we have yet experienced, according to Yonhap news agency. Scientists say the warming atmosphere around the world is driving ever more extreme weather events, including wildfires, flooding, droughts, hurricanes and heat waves that are killing people and causing billions of dollars in damage every year. The wildfires have burned 38,665 hectares (95,543 acres) of land, the disaster response centre said on Thursday. Observers say that is the worst figure of its kind in South Korea. The centre said the blazes have also injured 32 people and forced more than 37,800 people to evacuate. More than 2,600 structures, including homes, factories and other buildings, as well as vehicles, were damaged or destroyed. As of Thursday morning, the centre said authorities were mobilising more than 9,000 people and about 120 helicopters to battle the wildfires. In Cheongsong, one of the fire-hit areas, thick plumes of smoke were billowing from Juwang Mountain on Thursday morning. Helicopters repeatedly hovered over the mountain, dropping water. The amount of smoke later appeared to have diminished. Escaped villagers from the wildfires take rest at a shelter in Yeongyang (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) At a Buddhist temple near the mountain, workers covered a stone pagoda and other structures with fire-resistant materials, while firefighters poured water on sites near the temple. The hardest-hit areas include Andong city and the neighbouring counties of Uiseong and Sancheong, and the city of Ulsan. On Wednesday night, strong winds and smoke-filled skies forced authorities in the south-eastern city of Andong to order evacuations in two villages, including Puncheon, home to the Hahoe folk village a Unesco World Heritage Site founded around the 14th-15th century. Hikers were advised to leave the scenic Jiri Mountain as another fire spread closer. The fires in the past week have destroyed houses, factories and some historic structures. In Uiseong, about 20 of the 30 structures at the Gounsa temple complex, which was said to be originally built in the seventh century, have burned. Among them were two state-designated treasures a pavilion-shaped building erected overlooking a stream in 1668, and a Joseon dynasty structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king. The Korea Forest Service wildfire warning is at its highest level, 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. A babysitter in Kansas who was asked by a child to check for monsters under their bed was stunned to discover a man hiding there, police have said. The shocking incident occurred on 24 March at a property just outside the city of Great Bend, when the sitter was seeking to put the children she was looking after to bed. However, one of them was afraid. At least five people have been wounded in a stabbing near Amsterdam's central Dam square, and a suspect has been arrested, the Amsterdam police said on Thursday. A police spokesperson was not able to confirm the motive for the stabbing. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that he would speak with Us President Donald Trump in the coming days after Mr Trump announced 25% tariffs on auto imports. Mr Carney, who has not spoken with Mr Trump since becoming Canadas new leader nearly two weeks ago, said that the US president reached out on Wednesday night to schedule a call. We will be speaking soon, certainly in the course of the next day or two, Mr Carney said. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives on Parliament Hill in Ottawa(The Canadian Press via AP) Mr Carney said that Mr Trump has to respect Canadas sovereignty. Thats not much to ask, but apparently its a lot for him, he said. Mr Trump has declared a trade war on Canada and continues to call for the US northern neighbour to become the 51st US state, a position that has infuriated Canadians. Mr Carney was sworn in as Canadas new prime minister on March 14. It is unusual for a US president and Canadian prime minister to go so long without talking after a new leader takes office. Mr Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau as Canadas leader and the head of the Liberal Party, is at the start of a five-week campaign after calling an early election for April 28. The governing Liberals had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Mr Trump declared a trade war and challenged Canadas sovereignty. The crisis has created a surge in patriotism among Canadians, with many in the country feeling that Mr Carney is the best person to lead the country at the moment. Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives on Parliament Hill to chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-US Relations (The Canadian Press via AP) Mr Trump has acknowledged himself that he has upended Canadian politics. Mr Carney has called the tariffs unjustified and left the election campaign to chair his special Cabinet committee on US relations in Ottawa. Automobiles are Canadas second-largest export and the sector employs 125,000 Canadians directly and almost another 500,000 in related industries. Mr Trump previously had granted a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on auto imports from Mexico and Canada for US automakers. In the auto sector, parts can go back and forth across the Canada-US border several times before being fully assembled in Ontario or Michigan. Mr Trump previously placed 25% tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminium and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products as well as on all of Americas trading partners on April 2. The president has plunged the US into a global trade war all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty. The tax hike on auto imports starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales. This is not an industry that is Donald Trumps to steal or take, said Lana Payne, the national president of Unifor, the union that represents auto workers in Canada. Ms Payne said that Mr Carney should tell Mr Trump that if US automakers are going to sell cars and trucks in Canada, they are going to have to build in Canada. Thursday, Mar 27th, 2025 (12:02 am) - Score 840 Infracapital-backed network operator and UK ISP Ogi, which is rolling out a 10Gbps capable full fibre (FTTP) broadband network across South Wales (100,000 premises are covered / RFS), has today launched a new Pro package for business customers that comes with eeros TrueMesh WiFi technology from Amazon. The official announcement actually tells us very little about the new router and package, except to state that it offers eeros cutting-edge TrueMesh wifi technology, enhanced security and real-time control. The move is also said to make Ogi the first telecoms provider in Wales to offer Amazons latest WiFi technology to businesses, although you can of course buy the same kit directly from Amazon. NOTE: Ogi is home to over 20,000 customers and backed by 200m via Infracapital, as well as a 45m financing package from Cardiff Capital Region ( Ogi is home to over 20,000 customers and backed by 200m via Infracapital, as well as a 45m financing package from Cardiff Capital Region ( here ). The ISP employs over c.200 staff and originally aimed to cover 150,000 premises in South Wales by 2025. With the ability to support up to four separate networks, businesses can securely manage key processes and payment systems, side-by-side with a fully customisable public wifi experience. The intuitive eero app helps business owners to manage their networks remotely, providing real-time insights and network control from anywhere, added Ogi. Advertisement The Ogi Pro eero for Business solution is said to be easy to install, scale and supports offices with up to 75 devices. Side-by-side with this new solution, Ogi also offers local, Wales-based support through a dedicated Ogi Pro business service desk. Ogis Director of Business Sales, Andy Dow, said: As businesses look to technology to improve efficiency and user experience, Ogi is here to equip them with the tools they need to grow and thrive. With eero for Business, the Ogi Pro solution not only provides high-performance connectivity but also makes sure that businesses have the security, control, and support to navigate todays staff and customer expectations. Were excited to bring eero for Business to our suite of Ogi Pro solutions an essential tool for those looking to drive innovation and maintain a strong digital presence. As above, the announcement is extremely light on detail and doesnt mention anything about other package details or prices. However, from the mention of 75 devices above, it almost sounds like theyre bundling the older eero Pro 6E router with this package. But weve had it confirmed that theyre actually offering the eero Pro 7 (supports 200+ devices) and eero Max 7 hardware and the eero app software bundle and in the lab, they are currently testing the eero PoE Gateway hardware. The router is an interesting choice for business users, not least due to the fact that the Pro model only features two 5Gbps Ethernet ports (although you get four ports on the Max 7), which means youll need extra networking kit to boost that port count or to support the transition from analogue to digital phone services. Sadly, not many smaller ISPs are bundling routers with phone ports (FXS/FXO) for IP voice / VoIP these days. Thursday, Mar 27th, 2025 (1:47 pm) - Score 3,760 Italy-based Prysmian, which specialises in the global manufacture and supply of fibre optic broadband cables (inc. related kit), is reportedly being threatened with strike action over plans to cut 40 jobs and shift their only UK HQ in Bishopstoke (Hampshire, England) to Romania. The company, which primarily uses the site to produce cables for Openreach (BT) and a few other network operators, first opened its 46-acre manufacturing base in Bishopstoke during 1967, and it soon became their UK headquarters. The site is still said to be profitable, but Prysmian now appears to want to reduce labour costs and move production for cables to Romania. Around 250 people are employed at the factory, with the telecoms department, which produces fibre optic cables, being the one that is under threat. The move to scrap [the] only department of its kind in UK has angered staff, with Unite (union) saying the workers are set to begin a consultative ballot for industrial action over the plans. Advertisement Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary, said: Hugley profitable Prysmians disgraceful plans are the ugly and irresponsible face of corporate greed. It admits its Bishopstoke operations are successful, yet it plans to throw loyal and hardworking staff under the bus to squeeze out as much extra cash as it can. Prysmians Bishopstoke workforce have Unites total backing in fighting against these abhorrent plans. Unite are also understood to be lobbying BT to step in and demand that its cables are produced in the UK, although its unclear how much mileage theyll get out of that approach. We have contacted Prysmian for a comment. European leaders have reiterated their enduring commitment to Ukraine during a summit held in Paris, yet they seemed to make limited advancements on their potential role in offering security assurances in the event a peace agreement is reached with Russia. This was the third summit of what France and Britain have termed the coalition of the willing, reflecting growing concerns among Europeans that the US is no longer a steadfast supporter of Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against Russia that has lasted three years. US President Donald Trump, who has been in office since January 20, expressed his desire for a quick resolution to the conflict. Nevertheless, various bilateral discussions between the US and the conflicting parties have not yet resulted in a significant reduction of hostilities. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also mentioned that he envisions a peace agreement developing within days and weeks, not months. European initiatives aimed at establishing security arrangements for Ukraine are shifting away from troop deployments towards alternative solutions due to political and logistical challenges, as well as the potential opposition from Russia and the US to their proposals. Regardless, co-host French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that several nations have agreed to explore a Franco-British proposal for what he referred to as a reassurance force that would be stationed in Ukraine should a peace deal be established, aimed at deterring any future Russian aggression. It was not unanimous today, as is well-known, and we do not require unanimity, Mr. Macron stated during a press conference. Military delegations will be traveling to Ukraine in the upcoming days to begin discussions on the long-term structure of a robust Ukrainian military, he added. We need your consent to load this rte-player content. We use rte-player to manage additional content that may set cookies on your device and gather data regarding your activity. Please review the details and grant your consent to load the content. Manage Preferences Europe faces pressure from Mr. Trump to assume a significantly larger share of the security responsibilities in its region, but the continents sluggish economic growth and high debt levels have complicated these efforts. While the United States was absent from the summit, French officials assured that the results of the meeting would be communicated to the Trump administration. The proposed reassurance force to be stationed in Ukraine would aim to provide security guarantees and deter any future hostility from Russia, although there are currently few signs that the United States would support this initiative. Taoiseach Micheal Martin was among the leaders who participated in todays summit in Paris. Following the four-hour discussion, Mr. Martin stated: There was unanimous agreement that sanctions should not be lifted and cannot be lifted until a fair and comprehensive peace is achieved in Ukraine. The Taoiseach expressed that there was significant backing at the meeting for Ukraine, emphasizing the need to strengthen the countrys military capabilities in the event of a ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Taoiseach Micheal Martin to the Elysee Palace ahead of the summit. Mr. Martin mentioned that there were two concurrent discussions regarding peacekeeping: one focusing on a deterrence force and the other on a ceasefire monitoring force. Ireland has certainly indicated its willingness to take part in that, he told reporters in Paris. On the other side of the debate, discussions have revolved around a deterrence force, or possibly a force that would show solidarity with Ukraine. The Taoiseach noted that Ireland had made an initial contribution of 100 million in immediate assistance for Ukraine, part of the countrys funding through the European Peace facility that had been stalled by Hungary. In terms of financial support, we are committed to training (Ukrainian troops) and also in demining and other areas. No support for sanctions relief. There was widespread consensus at the summit that it would be a strategic misstep to prematurely lift sanctions on Russia, a condition that the Russians have set for a ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea. There was absolute clarity that Russia is attempting to delay negotiations and is playing games; we must be entirely transparent about that, Mr. Starmer remarked after the meeting, standing next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. There was complete clarity that now is not the time for the lifting of sanctions; quite the opposite, Mr. Starmer added. Mr. Zelensky, who agreed earlier this month to advance ceasefire discussions to ensure the resumption of US aid and intelligence sharing that were temporarily halted by Mr. Trump, stated that stronger sanctions against Russia are essential. Read more: Zelensky urges US to remain strong amid Russian demands; Leaders balancing politics with military capabilities at Paris summit; Latest Ukraine stories. Following a meeting last night with Mr. Zelensky, Mr. Macron urged Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire, stating that Russia has no authority to dictate how Europe should support Ukraine or to set conditions. France pledged 2 billion euros in new military aid to Ukraine ahead of the gathering of approximately 30 leaders. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused France and Britain of conspiring for military intervention in Ukraine under the pretense of a peacekeeping mission, warning that such an intervention could escalate into a direct military conflict between Russia and NATO. Highlighting the varying perspectives among Ukraines allies, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reiterated his countrys opposition to any such force yesterday. (We are) not dispatching troops on a mission unless they are part of the United Nations; that is the only condition for us to deploy military personnel in Ukraine, Mr. Tajani stated. Poland has previously indicated it would not deploy troops in Ukraine, while Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala remarked that it is premature to discuss sending European forces to Ukraine before the terms of any ceasefire are established. The municipal council of Istanbul, now led by the opposition, has appointed an interim mayor following the imprisonment of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is facing trial on corruption charges that he and his supporters assert are politically motivated. Last weeks detention of Mr. Imamoglu, a prominent political adversary of President Tayyip Erdogan, sparked the most significant anti-government protests in Turkey in over ten years, resulting in mass arrests as hundreds of thousands joined in largely peaceful demonstrations. Mr. Imamoglus imprisonment on Sunday has drawn condemnation from the main opposition party, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP), as well as from Western leaders, other opposition factions, and human rights organizations, all characterizing it as an anti-democratic act aimed at neutralizing a political contender for Mr. Erdogan. The government, however, denies any interference with the judiciary, asserting that the courts operate independently. The Istanbul council, which consists of 314 members and has a CHP majority, elected Nuri Aslan from the party as the citys interim mayor, receiving 177 votes, as reported by NTV. This interim mayor will oversee the city until the conclusion of Mr. Imamoglus term while he awaits trial. Ekrem Imamoglu was detained last week. The election of the interim mayor prevents the government from assigning a trustee to manage the municipality, a tactic it has employed in several other cities, especially in the predominantly Kurdish southeast, amid a protracted legal campaign against the opposition. CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel, who visited Mr. Imamoglu in jail a day prior, stated at the Istanbul Municipality in Sarachane that the interim mayors election obstructed Mr. Erdogans intentions to install a trustee in the municipality. The struggle will expand throughout Turkey from this point forward, but one leg will always remain in Istanbul, and one hand will always rest on Sarachane, Mr. Ozel remarked, adding that public resistance has thwarted what the opposition describes as a coup attempt against it. Interim Mayor Aslan, who was alongside Mr. Ozel, acknowledged that the role was temporarily entrusted to him. Our mayor, elected by the votes of Istanbul, will return as soon as possible. Together with our chairman, we will fulfill the responsibilities he has entrusted to us and return them to him, he stated. Widespread anti-government protests have erupted in Turkey following Ekrem Imamoglus arrest. A dark time for democracy in Turkey Thousands have gathered for the seventh consecutive night in protests organized by the CHP in the Sarachane district, home to the Istanbul city hall that Mr. Imamoglu has governed since 2019. At the rally, Mr. Ozel announced a mass gathering scheduled for Saturday in Istanbul, which he claimed would be the largest open-air referendum in history, aimed at calling for early elections. In response to protesters, riot police deployed water cannons, pepper spray, and rubber bullets, resulting in the Council of Europe condemning a disproportionate use of force. Human Rights Watch stated it marked a dark time for democracy in Turkey. Ozgur Ozel addressed a crowd outside a municipality building in Istanbul. The United Nations has expressed concern over Turkeys extensive use of mass detentions and its unlawful blanket ban on protests, urging authorities to investigate any unlawful uses of force. Following a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also conveyed concerns. However, Mr. Ozel assured the Sarachane crowd, We do not wane in numbers with arrestsour ranks will only grow. He pointed out that the extent of the crackdown had left no room left in Istanbul prisons. Economic impact Following Mr. Imamoglus detention, Turkish financial assets plummeted, prompting the central bank to utilize its reserves to stabilize the lira. The government states that the effects of these fluctuations will be limited and temporary. Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan noted that the bank has taken proactive measures to ensure effective market operations while maintaining its strict monetary policy stance. He asserted that the turmoil has not disrupted the fundamental dynamics of the economy, highlighting that the banks foreign exchange reserves remain in a very strong position despite last weeks intervention to bolster the lira. We have proactively implemented every necessary measure while adhering to market rules, and we will continue to do so. The central bank possesses a wide range of robust instruments, he stated. The CHP has announced its intention to continue mobilizing and pressuring the government. On Sunday, coinciding with the announcement of Mr. Imamoglus arrest, the party designated him as their presidential candidate for the upcoming elections and called for a boycott of various media outlets, brands, and stores it considers pro-Erdogan. Additionally, the opposition plans to hold an extraordinary congress on April 6 to prevent authorities from appointing a trustee to oversee the party after prosecutors initiated an investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding its last congress in 2023. The Tanaiste, Simon Harris, stated that his visit to Irish troops in southern Lebanon was a chance to express his gratitude to the peacekeepers who faced a very very difficult situation in recent months as conflict escalated in the region. He emphasized that both the Government and the Irish people hold a great sense of pride in the positive impact the blue helmets have made there, and he wanted to commend them for their public and military service in the pursuit of peace. The Tanaiste mentioned that he brought up the case of Private Sean Rooney, who was killed in southern Lebanon in December 2022, during discussions with the Lebanese Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence. He was assured that they were treating this matter extraordinarily seriously. Private Sean Rooney He acknowledged that the ongoing delays, with only one of the seven indicted men appearing in court so far, are contributing to the unbearable pain facing the Rooney family and the broader Defence Forces community. He expressed that he was impressed by the new Lebanese governments seriousness, noting that their commitments to address the Rooney case were made in good faith. The Tanaiste with Commandant John Griffin during his visit He described Lebanon as a beautiful country but added that one must visit to truly grasp the scale of the devastation in the south, which he labeled as horrifying. What I can completely understand, at a human level, is the anger anyone would feel upon returning to their village or town and witnessing the destruction, he stated. He reassured that Ireland is in it for the long haul regarding the reconstruction of southern Lebanon. Earlier, Mr. Harris had met with Lebanese Foreign Minister Yousseff Rajji in Beirut to convey the Governments frustrations and concerns in a letter presented to the minister. We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences The Tanaiste mentioned that the family of Private Rooney plans to travel to Lebanon for the upcoming hearing in September. He expressed his hope that they would witness tangible signs of the authorities intention to see justice served, including the presence of the defendants, without being let down by further procedural delays. A positive and warm meeting with Lebanons Minister for Foreign Affairs this morning in Beirut. We discussed ongoing developments in the Middle East and how Ireland can best support Lebanon and the region towards peace. pic.twitter.com/0boFz7jHyz Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 26, 2025 Of the seven men indicted for murder, only one has appeared in military court across five hearings, and he was absent from the last hearing due to health issues. In his letter, the Tanaiste noted: No medical evidence was provided to justify his absence. Private Rooney was fatally shot in December 2022 near the coastal town of Al-Aqbiya while on UN duty. Sean Rooney deserves justice, and his family deserves answers, Mr. Harris stated. The Tanaiste added: My Government has consistently emphasized the need for accountability [for] attacks on peacekeepers and the necessity for justice to be served. He concluded by expressing his appreciation to the Lebanese authorities for their continued support. Simon Harris visits Camp Shamrock near the border with Lebanon During the meetings, Mr. Harris reaffirmed Irelands unwavering commitment to the UNIFIL [peacekeeping] mission and to Lebanons security and stability. These political discussions in Beirut follow the establishment of a new government in Lebanon after a two-year political stalemate. Mr. Harris also announced 2.5 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon through the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund, which he described as a key partner for Ireland and a vital component of our humanitarian response in Lebanon. An honor to visit Lebanon today to thank the men and women of @defenceforces for their incredible work for the cause of peace and to be briefed directly on the situation in the region and see firsthand the environment in which our troops serve. pic.twitter.com/Rmm0zK3XGp Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) March 26, 2025 The Fund has demonstrated its effectiveness in recent years, being highly responsive to the urgent needs of those most in need in Lebanon, including vulnerable Lebanese, Syrian refugees, and others. The Tanaiste visited Irish peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, including the 125th Infantry Battalion operating with UNIFIL. In addition to expressing that the Irish public feels a great sense of pride in the work of peacekeepers, Mr. Harris announced that funding for Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) projects would be doubled to 80,000. Examples of these projects include community and health facilities, workshops, and educational classes for children. We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences US President Donald Trump has intensified his assertions regarding Greenland, stating before a visit by Vice President JD Vance that the United States must take control of the Danish island for international security. Since regaining power in January, Mr. Trump has consistently maintained that he wishes for the self-governing territory to come under US control, not dismissing the potential use of force to achieve this. We require Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We must have it, Mr. Trump expressed to podcaster Vince Coglianese. I hate to put it like that, but we are going to have to have it. It is also strategically positioned between North America and Europe amidst increasing US, Chinese, and Russian interests in the Arctic, where climate change has opened up new sea lanes. Donald Trump has not ruled out the use of force to acquire Greenland. When asked if he believed Greenlanders were keen on joining the United States, Mr. Trump admitted he was uncertain. We must convince them, he stated. And we need that land, as its not feasible to properly defend a significant portion of this planet, not just the United States, without it. Mr. Trumps remarks led Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to assert on her Facebook page: We shouldnt harbor illusions President Trumps interest in Greenland is not fading. They understand that Greenland is not for sale. They realize that Greenland does not wish to be part of the United States, she added, stating that the message had been conveyed clearly. US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Greenland on Friday along with his wife Usha. Dogsled visit canceled Mr. Trumps latest strong remarks arrive as Mr. Vance prepares to accompany his wife Usha to the US-operated Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday. Ms. Frederiksen and Greenlands outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede had previously criticized plans for a US delegation to visit the Arctic island uninvited, which initially encompassed a more extensive agenda. Mr. Egede labeled the original plans as foreign interference, emphasizing that the outgoing government had not issued any invitations for visits, either private or official. Looking forward to visiting Greenland on Friday! pic.twitter.com/p3HslD3hhP JD Vance (@JDVance) March 25, 2025 Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen welcomed the decision to restrict the visit to the US space base. I think its very positive that the Americans have annulled their visit to Greenlandic society. They will solely visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have no objections to that, he stated to public broadcaster DR. Previously known as Thule Air Base, the Pituffik Space Base is the United States northernmost military facility and supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance operations. Yesterday, the White House announced that the Vances visit to the space base would replace the second ladys planned attendance at a dogsled race in Sisimiut, where an anti-US demonstration was reportedly on the agenda. Respect this process Greenlandic officials have repeatedly expressed that the territory does not desire to be either Danish or American, but is open for business with all. Undoubtedly, we find ourselves in a challenging situation, Ms. Frederiksen remarked regarding Mr. Trumps persistent comments on a potential takeover, forecasting a situation that will fluctuate, maybe for quite some time. Greenland possesses vast untapped mineral and oil reserves. Opinion polls indicate that a majority of Greenlanders favor independence from Denmark but do not desire annexation by the US. Following elections on March 11, Greenland is currently governed by a transitional government, with parties still in discussions to establish a new coalition. Marc Jacobsen, a senior lecturer at the Royal Danish Defense College, characterized the decision to limit the US visit as a de-escalation, a term echoed by Foreign Minister Lokke. You do not visit another country without an invitation, he told AFP. Mr. Jacobsen also noted that the planned anti-US demonstration in Sisimiut, following a similar protest in the capital Nuuk on March 15, may have influenced Mr. Vances decision to restrict the visit. ( Middle East Monitor ) In a genocidal war that has spiralled into a struggle for political survival, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition and the global powers supporting him continue to sacrifice Palestinian lives for political gain. The sordid career of Israels extreme far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, epitomises this tragic reality. Ben-Gvir joined Netanyahus government coalition following the December 2022 election. He remained in the coalition after 7 October, 2023, and the start of Israels war and the Gaza Genocide, with the understanding that any ceasefire in Gaza would force his withdrawal from the government. As long as the killing of Palestinians and the destruction of their cities continued, then Ben-Gvir stayed on board. Neither he nor Netanyahu had any real next-day plan, though, other than to carry out some of the most heinous massacres against a civilian population in recent history. On 19 January, Ben-Gvir left the government immediately when a ceasefire agreement came into effect, which many argued would not last. Netanyahus untrustworthiness, along with the collapse of his government if the war ended completely, made the ceasefire unfeasible. Ben-Gvir duly returned to the coalition when the genocide resumed on 18 March. We are back, with all our might and power! he tweeted. Israel lacks a clear plan because it cannot defeat the Palestinians. While the Israeli army has inflicted suffering on the Palestinian people like no other force has against a civilian population in modern times, the Gaza Genocide endures because the Palestinians refuse to surrender. And yet, Israels military planners know that a military victory is no longer possible. Former Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon added his voice to the growing chorus recently, saying during an interview on 15 March that, Revenge is not a war plan. The Americans, who supported Netanyahus violation of the ceasefire and gave the green light for the resumption of the killings also understand that the war is almost entirely a political struggle, designed to keep extreme far-right figures like Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in Netanyahus coalition. Although war is the continuation of politics by other means, as Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz once surmised, in Israels case, the politics behind the war is not about Israel as a state, but about Netanyahus own political survival. He is sacrificing Palestinian children to stay in power, while his extremist ministers do the same to expand their support among right-wing, religious and ultra-nationalist constituencies. This logic that Israels war on Gaza reflects internal politics, ideological warfare and class infighting extends to other political players as well. The Trump administration supports Israel as payback for the financial backing it received from Netanyahus supporters in the US during the past few presidential election campaigns. Britain, meanwhile, remains steadfast in its commitment to Tel Aviv, despite the political shifts in Westminster, thus continuing to align with US-Israeli interests while disregarding the wishes of its own population. Meanwhile, Germany, its said, is driven by the guilt of its past crimes, while other Western governments pay lip service to human rights, all the while acting in ways that contradict their stated foreign policies. This mirrors the dystopian world of George Orwells book 1984, wherein perpetual war is waged based on cynical and false assumptions; where war is peace freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength. These elements are indeed reflected in todays equally dystopian reality. However, Israel substitutes peace with security (its own; nobody elses), the US is motivated by dominance and stability, and Europe continues to speak of democracy. Another key difference is that Palestinians do not belong to any of these super states. They are treated as mere pawns, their deaths and enduring injustice used to create the illusion of conflict and to justify the ongoing prolongation of the war. The number of Palestinians killed now more than 50,000 is reported widely by mainstream media outlets, yet rarely do they mention that this is not a war in the traditional sense, but a genocide, carried out, financed and defended by Israel and Western powers for domestic political reasons. Palestinians continue to resist because it is their only legitimate option in the face of utter destruction and extermination. Huddle, Midjourney / ChatGPT, 2025 Netanyahus war, however, is not sustainable in the Orwellian sense either. For it to be sustainable, it would need infinite economic resources, which Israel, despite US generosity, cannot afford. It would also need an endless supply of soldiers, but reports indicate that at least half of Israels reserves are not rejoining the army. Furthermore, Netanyahu does not merely seek to sustain the Gaza Genocide; he aims to expand it. This could shift regional and international dynamics in ways that neither Israeli leaders nor their allies fully understand. Aware of this, Arab leaders met in Cairo on 4 March to propose an alternative to the Netanyahu-Trump plan to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza. However, they have yet to take meaningful action to hold Israel accountable if it continues to defy international and humanitarian laws, as it has since the Arab summit. The Arab world must escalate its response beyond mere statements. If they dont, then the Middle East may endure further wars, all to prolong Netanyahus coalition of extremists a little longer. As for the West, the crisis lies in its moral contradictions. The situation in Gaza embodies Orwells concept of doublethink, holding two contradictory beliefs in ones mind simultaneously and accepting both. Western powers claim to support human rights while simultaneously backing genocide. Until this dilemma is resolved, the Middle East will continue to endure suffering for years to come. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor. Via Middle East Monitor By Charlotte Al-Khalili, University of Sussex and Melissa Gatter, University of Sussex (The Conversation) When news of Bashar al-Assads downfall broke on December 8 2024, 13 years after the beginning of the Syrian uprising, Syrians around the world rejoiced. We rejoiced along with them, having spent the last decade in conversation with Syrians displaced to the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, where we research humanitarian aid in refugee camps and revolutionaries in exile. The days and weeks following Assads ousting were spent on the phone with the people we have gotten to know since their lives changed drastically in 2011 hoping that 2025 would be the turning point in a very long and harrowing odyssey. One of us (Charlotte) also travelled to Syria in January 2025 to see what was happening and speak to people trying to navigate the new reality there. Syrians everywhere, inside Syria and outside Syria, did not ever imagine we would reach this stage, said Qasim, 42, speaking from his home in Zaatari camp, the worlds third largest refugee camp, in northern Jordan. No one ever expected that Assad would fall and leave the country. Like the 80,000 others in the desert camp, Qasim has spent the last decade starting his life over again in Jordan. Since fleeing Daraa, in southwest Syria, in 2013, he worked a series of freelance jobs and created a network of clients. He has put food on the table with cash-in-hand work for aid organisations in the camp and offering painting and plastering services outside the camp. But in Syria, he said, Theres no home, theres no work, theres nothing. His family of four grew to 11, and his daughters who left Syria as young children have entered their final years of high school. The Insights section is committed to high-quality longform journalism. Our editors work with academics from many different backgrounds who are tackling a wide range of societal and scientific challenges. Now, with Assad gone seemingly overnight and the revolution marking its 14th anniversary in March the dream of returning home or simply the possibility to end a decade of exile is suddenly within reach. But this dream now comes with existential, practical and legal questions. After a decade in exile, how do you uproot yourself and your family yet again? How do you explain the return to the youngest, who have only known life outside Syria? What kind of life waits on the other side of the border? Qasims family has outgrown the home he left behind. While life in the camp, with its electricity shortages and economic hardships, is nowhere near perfect, Qasim at least manages to get by. Returning to Syria also comes at a price for Qasims family of 11, it would cost US$550 just to cross the border and many Syrians in exile have not been afforded sufficient economic stability to prepare for the costs of return. For many, the return to Syria remains a distant dream they must work to save up for. Syrias critical condition What is left of Syria in Assads wake will take years of recovery. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that Syria is not ready to receive returnees. US president Donald Trump imposed a freeze on US-funded foreign aid in January, affecting up to 90% of humanitarian activities in some areas in Syria, according to the UNs emergency aid coordination office (OCHA). That has created a devastating ripple effect across Syria and neighbouring host countries. And yet western powers maintain their sanctions against Syria, where 90% of the population is already living below the poverty line and 70% are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, the security situation is still precarious in parts of the country. Things in the northwest have improved since the agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Damascuss provisional government, but March was marked by the killing of over a thousand mainly Alawi civilians in the coastal areas after attacks started from Assad loyalists. Israel has expanded its war against Palestine and Lebanon into parts of Syria, even bombing the capital city, as it looks to take advantage of a power vacuum. At the start of the new year, 115,000 Syrians had already returned home from Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. In December, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expected 1 million Syrians would return by June, but now predicts only 600,000 to return by September. Unwelcome guests Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon are not signatories of the 1951 refugee convention which means they are not obliged to recognise the displaced Syrians in their country as refugees with internationally-protected rights. The governments of these countries recognise displaced Syrians only as guests, but that does not necessarily mean they are welcome. We were not treated as guests in Turkey, people did not want us there, Umm Ahmad said. She remembered her life in Gaziantep as one of constant humiliation, where she had to beg for assistance and her son was forced to work shifts of over 12-hours at a time in a clothing factory. As guests, Syrians face social and legal obstacles in accessing services, education, healthcare, housing and jobs. They are often blamed for waning economies and scarce resources and face xenophobic discrimination as a result. Having to work without protected rights or permissions pushes Syrians like Umm Ahmads son to the informal labour market, where they are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. There are over 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey and their status is uncertain and or illegal because residency documents are hard to obtain and are not consistently delivered in some areas. Refugee status is reserved only for European citizens. If Turkey was long considered the most welcoming host country among Syrias neighbours for its open-border policy and friendly position towards the Syrian opposition, the situation changed dramatically after the EU-Turkey deal led to the border closure in 2016. Syrians in Turkey have increasingly faced deportation since 2019, and there is no clear path to Turkish citizenship. Around 1.5 million Syrians live in Lebanon where there is a long history of animosity towards them harking back to Assads occupation of Lebanon during the Lebanese civil war. But only 17% of those Syrians have obtained legal residency. Umm Ayman, who has lived for ten years in Beiruts Shatila camp, told us: I cant wait to go back to Syria. Our life here has been so hard. But before she returns she wants to wait to see how the situation evolves and if its safe to go back. Umm Ayman never managed to obtain legal status, which means having to home-school her children, who could not be admitted to the Lebanese school system another reason she wants to go back. But she is still worried about the developing political situation that had taken her, as it did most Syrians, by surprise. Not knowing how the caretaker government would rule, and with no close relatives or home to return to in Syria, Umm Ayman is hesitant to commit to a final decision until she can visit her hometown of Homs to see the situation for herself. In Jordan, where only about 20% of the 1.3 million Syrian refugees are estimated to live in official camps, refugees have felt the decline in international funding directed towards the Syrian crisis in recent years, even before the January US aid freeze. Recently theres been scarce aid in the camp, Qasim said, so people are only just managing to take care of themselves. Now, the refugee-run marketplace in Zaatari has grinded to a halt as camp residents save up for the return. As his current job is coming to an end, Qasim is looking for his next one outside Zaatari, if there is any. Charlotte Al-Khalili Outside the camps, Syrians toughing it out in Jordanian cities have even less access to aid. And while the 2016 Jordan compact allowed Syrian refugees access to formal employment, it failed to live up to its potential due to the high prices of work permits and social security contributions. Where is home? On the other side of the border, however, for millions of people home has been flattened to the ground. So many refugees have nowhere to return to and will need time to save up for rebuilding a house that has been bombed, burned or vandalised. Only those with the money and the means, as Qasim put it, will be able to return. He calculates that reconstructing and expanding his home to accommodate 11 family members will cost around US$5,000. I dont have the money to go back, where am I supposed to go, am I supposed to sleep on the street? he said. Others like Qasim in Zaatari camp spoke about how much money they have already spent on the upkeep of their caravan shelter (often thousands of dollars) suggesting that they might be able to return if they could sell their caravan or even bring it with them to Syria. Melissa Gatter Maryam, for example, is a schoolteacher living in Zaatari camp with her husband and four-year-old daughter. She explained that the lack of money was the one thing holding them back from the return: We paid a lot for our caravan, so if someone could take our house in exchange for money, it would help us to go back right away, in a month or less. But the UNHCR owns the caravans, even those that camp refugees have bought or replaced over years of wear and tear. Returning to Syria requires transferring temporary ownership of the caravans back to the UNHCR losing the years of investments they have made to live comfortably in the harsh desert environment. In Azraq camp, southeast of Zaatari, a woman called Shamsa, who has lived in the camp since 2016, believes that access to basic financial assistance in Syria would facilitate the return: If the UNHCR helped give money for each individual in the family for things like groceries like they do now in the camp people say they will return But they cant just return us when theres nothing for us there. Many people are assessing the state of their homes and hometowns for themselves before committing to a long-term return. For example, Umm Mohammad, a mother of five in her late fifties currently living in Beirut, plans to send her husband and eldest son first. She wants to ensure that conditions are suitable for the return before giving up what they have fought hard to obtain in the last decade in Lebanon. If they see that we can all join, we will, she said. Work and school At the front of many Syrians minds is the question of work and school. Many of our interviewees noted that critical economic conditions in Syria mean that work is hard to come by, especially for entrepreneurs like Qasim who rely on a steady presence of customers. While the interim Syrian government has attempted to raise the cap on public sector salaries to stimulate the economy, those we spoke to were not optimistic about their prospects. The economic situation is on the floor, Shamsa said from Azraq camp. Umm Ayman has a low-paying job in Beirut, but her husband, formerly a doctor in Syria, is not allowed to work in Lebanon and can only receive a few patients off the books. Adding to their anticipated costs in Syria is the difficulty of integrating into the job market as her husband approaches retirement age. He will need to open a practice or find one, and we dont have this kind of money, she said. Melissa Gatter After the Israeli bombing near their home last October, the family moved into a school sheltering other displaced families in Beirut. Umm Ayman feels that going back to Syria even with the accompanying price tag might offer a brighter future. On the other hand, Rasha, a recent divorcee living in Turkey with her two children, is not ready to take the risk. I cannot go back now, she said. My boys need to finish school first. Her teenage sons, who are enrolled in Turkish schools, have become fluent in Turkish. Going back to Syria would mean adapting to a new curriculum and having to learn formal Arabic. Many Syrians around the age of Rashas sons who are enrolled in school also prefer to earn their high school diplomas before making the journey back to Syria. Maryam explained to us that this is not always a straightforward decision for her students because it depends on how many years of schooling remain: The students are feeling a little lost. For Syrian students currently studying the first year of tawjihi (the final two years of high school in Jordan, assessed by exams that determine the direction of a students career) they must decide whether to stay in the country for one more year to complete their studies, and if this will be possible. For high school and university students alike, it is unclear how their studies will transfer to the Syrian system. But most of my students tell me they dont want to return at all because they honestly dont remember anything about Syria, Maryam said. Like Rashas teenagers, Maryams students were only toddlers at the start of the war and have spent the majority of their life outside their home country. Maryam wishes for her own daughter to grow up in Syria and receive the same education she and her husband did. But what kind of future would Syria offer them? A young mother of a toddler explained that there are no nurseries in her hometown of Daraa. As the only woman of her generation from her social circle left in the city, she was struggling to find childcare support and discourages her sister from returning with her children. At least if she goes to Damascus she will find nurseries and good schools, but here there is nothing. Crossing into a void For those who do wish to go home, returning to Syria involves committing to a one-way ticket once you cross the border, there is little possibility of coming back. Host countries have introduced rules that ban re-entry for Syrians without legal status and residency permits (the case for most refugees). Photo by Salah Darwish on Unsplash You exit into a void, Lina, who returned to Damascus from Beirut, explained. No one can guarantee youll be able to come back. In December, Syrians returning from Lebanon received only an exit stamp as there was still no one working on the Syrian side of the border. Ghada, a mother in her mid-30s, fled Shatila camp last October after Israeli bombing in southern Beirut intensified, returning to her village near Aleppo while her husband stayed behind to work in Beirut. She said: My children are so scared of the jet sound We left Syria so they would not go through the war there and these horrifying sounds, so I did not want them to live here. Ghada was among the half a million people who fled Israeli bombing in Lebanon to Syria between October and November. Israel shelled all but one crossing point between Lebanon and Syria. In January, incidents between the Lebanese and newly established authorities in Damascus led to the temporary closing of the border, pushing Syrians to look for other routes back. By then, Ghada was already planning to come back to Lebanon. She said: We have a home, my husband works, and the kids have a good school in Beirut. Life in her Syrian village had been difficult, as access to everyday services was severely limited. But the Israeli war in Lebanon has not ended, as Israel refuses to respect the ceasefire agreement and parts of the country are still occupied. In Turkey, crossing the border without the required authorisation to return means losing temporary protection status, as was the case with Umm Ahmad once she left Gaziantep for east Aleppo. She wont be able to see her daughter, who is as a Turkish passport-holder, for the foreseeable future as she is not allowed entry to Syria. At the moment, Syrians holding Turkish temporary status (kimlik) or residence permits can enter Syria if they apply for a permit. But the border crossing rules are constantly changing. Syrians returning from Jordan must pay a US$50 fee and sign an agreement consenting to being banned from re-entry to Jordan for five years. But many in Azraq camp are scared they will be forced to return, even after the UNHCR sent an SMS message to camp residents reassuring them that the decision to return to Syria would continue to be voluntary, safe, and dignified. The full SMS translation reads: Refugees have the right to return to their homeland when they choose to of their own free will. The return will continue to be voluntary, safe, and dignified. The UNHCR works in cooperation with all concerned parties to address obstacles to refugee return in order to end their displacement. Melissa Gatter Fear is not a new emotion in Azraq, where a quarter of the camps nearly 40,000 residents lived under security lockdown for as many as six of the last ten years while the Jordanian government processed security clearance for each individual, deciding whether to accept or deport them. Shamsa noted that, while Azraq camp has become less stringent in recent years, Everyone is still very afraid of forced returns. Shamsa, who has spent the past eight years trying to find ways out of Azraq, said that staying there would be more comfortable than it would be to go back right now. A dignified return In January, the town of Darayya, 90% of which had been destroyed by the Assad regime, was alive with people rebuilding their homes. A man perched on the third floor of a very damaged building was putting concrete blocks together, laundry hung to dry on washing lines, and brand new windows sparkled on seemingly uninhabited homes. Lines of cars and minivans packed with bags and furniture entered from the Jordanian border and winded up Syrian roads Syrians were returning and ready for a fresh start. Other cities have also seen their inhabitants return. Mohammad, a revolutionary who lived in exile in Turkey until Aleppos liberation on December 2, returned looking to reclaim justice and dignity the core demands of the 2011 revolution. He said: I can finally seek justice, I can finally look people in the eye, I am going back home with my head held high. For those who supported the revolution, going back to a free Syria is an immense political and personal victory. Internally displaced Syrians living in camps in the northwestern region of Idlib have also begun to return to their homes, bringing their tents to live among the rubble as they rebuild. Iman, a woman in her 50s travelling to her home city of Idlib, said that the tents offered more dignified living than the camps: You have to imagine that in the camps you have no intimacy, you hear everything your neighbours do and say in their tents. But even in the relief of Assads absence, fear and mistrust is still rampant among refugees living in camps in Jordan. People are expecting another downfall, Qasim said, pointing to the number of coups preceding the Assad regimes nearly 50-year history. What would happen if, upon returning, they must flee again? There is still no hope, Shamsa said wearily over a WhatsApp voice note from Azraq camp. She repeated the words her mother had told her almost ten years ago in their home in northern Syria, encouraging her to try a new life outside: Theres nothing for us in Syria. Charlotte Al Khalili Shamsa and her family await a final decision on their resettlement application to the US, which they expect to receive in April, just after the 14th anniversary of the start of the Syrian revolution. Assads departure has not changed their plans. Despite the danger and uncertainty, some people are hopeful about the future of Syria and are taking a leap into the unknown to go back home. Umm Ahmad, a woman in her fifties, had been living in the city of Gaziantep, in southern Turkey, since 2012. She was among the first to go back to Syria. A mother of two martyred and three disappeared sons from the suburbs of Aleppo, Umm Ahmad decided to cross just a day after the fall of the regime, ecstatic to be able to reunite with her siblings who had not left Syria and whom she hadnt seen for 13 years. With excitement in her voice, she told us: This is our country, there is no reason to leave it again now that we got rid of Bashar al-Assad. Inshallah [God-willing] we are staying here. Umm Ahmads life in Turkey, where she and her sons family lived without residence permits, had been laced with hardship and financial insecurity. It did not matter to her that she would not be able to re-enter Turkey she is happy to be home: We visited our old flat yesterday. It is damaged but we will work on it with my husband and it should be ready to welcome my son and his family next month. Back in Syria, Umm Ahmad can begin her quest to find her missing sons. A few others we spoke to rushed to return to Syria in the same way: revolutionaries who had waited at the border for years to be reunited with family who had stayed behind; relatives of the detained and forcibly disappeared trying to find their loved ones; people with nothing to lose being banned from re-entering a host country who had not given them legal status to begin with. A new blueprint for the return Although the figures presented by the UNHCR are high more than half a million expected to return in six months the number of returnees from neighbouring countries has reached around 235,000 as of February, with 35,000 coming from Turkey and 22,000 from Jordan, while figures from Lebanon remain unclear. The decision to return will not be a simple one for most, and the return will probably involve more than a single one-way trip. In many cases, young, single men are making this journey alone to test the waters on behalf of their families. Syrians abroad have been starting over for the past decade, and an entire generation has grown up in displacement. Kept on a hamster wheel of survival and deprived of the opportunity to prosper in exile, Syrian refugees must be able to make their own informed decisions about making the return or not in their own time. The idea of a safe, voluntary, and dignified return must account for the complicated logistical reality that repatriation to a country recovering from 50 years of an oppressive regime will not be a one-way journey for most. Rather than halting refugee programs and attempting to send as many Syrians back as quickly as possible, host countries should grant Syrian refugees freedom of movement to and from Syria. The return to Syria will ultimately only be possible with international support in rebuilding the countrys infrastructure, services and economy to see a peaceful political transition. Returnees will need financial and material assistance as they re-establish themselves, especially in the fallout of the drastic cuts to US-funded humanitarian aid. Western countries must lift their sanctions and hold Israel to account if they are genuinely interested in the long-term sustainability of Syria and the surrounding region. This moment is not only an opportunity for exiled Syrians to turn the page on displacement, it is also a rare opportunity for the international community to design a new blueprint for refugee returns in an age of criminalised migration. It is also a rare opportunity, then, for a cautious hope. As for me, Im thinking of getting my PhD from Damascus University, Maryam said. While living in the camp, she earned a masters degree at Al Al-Bayt University in the nearby city of Mafraq. Going back to Syria, her husband could return to his job as an IT engineer, and they could rent a flat while rebuilding their home in Daraa. Her daughter could start first grade in the Syrian school system. She is hopeful. Were seriously considering going back. Its just a matter of time. Charlotte Al-Khalili, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Sussex and Melissa Gatter, Assistant Professor in Anthropology and International Development, University of Sussex This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Fourth Error: Vladimir Putin is the only problem, and peace will come if he is removed. This one is easy to disprove. It is a version of the Great Man theory of history which focuses on the actions of leaders to the exclusion of almost anything else in explaining nations behaviors. But former CIA Director William Burns, the US ambassador to Russia in 2008, warned in a secret memo that the entire Russian political class was united in its opposition to NATO expansion. (Mr. Burns never intended that the memo would see the light of day. We would not know about it except for a Julian Assange leak.) If Mr. Putin were to exit the scene, he would in all likelihood be replaced by someone as bad or worse. File. Photo by Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash Fifth Error: Negotiations with Russia are to be avoided because they cannot be trusted to honor agreements. But the reality is that the United States has recently abandoned a number of treaties and agreements including the INF Treaty that kept intermediate range nuclear missiles out of Europe. It was of particular importance to Russia. In addition, the US has also torn up the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Open Skies Treaty, and the Iran nuclear deal, not to mention trade agreements made with Canada and Mexico. The Russians are tough and skilled negotiators, but it is hard to argue that their record on honoring agreements is worse than that of the US. Sixth Error: Ukraine is a democracy. Again this is not correct, although strides were being made before the Russian invasion. At this time Ukraine has slid backwards to the point that civil liberties are quite limited, unions are outlawed, the media is controlled, and elections have been postponed indefinitely. Corruption remains a significant problem. Most concerning of all, the Ukraine government is being significantly influenced by extreme ethnic nationalists. Seventh Error: There is no risk of a wider nuclear war. In fact, there is such a risk, especially since last November when Ukraine fired US missiles into Russian lands. The Russian government then declared that they could respond with nuclear weapons if an adversary used weapons against Russia supplied by a nuclear state. What would the US government do if Russia supplied missiles to Cuba which then fired them at the US? The idea that American policy makers can tip-toe along the line of nuclear war without much risk is both ludicrous and terrifying. All of the correctives offered above are supported by solid evidence. They should be part of a debate on the Ukraine-Russia conflict If we are to help Ukraine retain its independence and sovereignty, we will need a clear-eyed analysis of the situation. Right now, we do not have that. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Informed Comment. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 /Banyan Gold Corp . (the "Company" or "Banyan") (TSXV:BYN) (OTCQB:BYAGF) is pleased to announce the mobilization of personnel and drills to start the 2025 diamond drilling and exploration program at its AurMac Project ("AurMac" or the "Project") in the Tombstone Gold Belt, Yukon. The 30,000 metre ("m") campaign will focus on: Further expansion and definition of mineralized zones in Airstrip and Powerline, with both deposits remaining open in all directions; Testing proximal and distal targets identified through soil anomalies and geophysical surveys; and, Defining areas of higher grade, particularly near surface (<100m). A focus of the 2025 strategic drill program will be to follow up on high-grade intersections from 2024. Multiple holes in the Airstrip deposit intersected high-grade, near-surface gold mineralization with assays such as 15.9 m of 9.32 g/t gold, including 3.7 m of 33.43 g/t gold and 13.8 m of 3.81 g/t gold . Drilling from 2024 at the Powerline deposit resulted in 16 drillholes with intersection greater than 50 gram-metres, including AX-24-540 which intersected 23.1 m of 5.68 g/t gold from 159.3 m, including 0.2 m of 539.3 g/t gold (see news release dated March 3, 2025). Additionally, new regional diamond drill targets have been identified at AurMac and will be tested through the coming spring and summer programs. "We are excited to be back in the field for a spring start and to follow-up on the success from 2024," stated Duncan McKay, Vice President Exploration. "Last year's program set the foundation for our 2025 drill campaign with the potential to further delineate relatively high-grade mineralized domains in Airstrip and Powerline. Both deposits have promising targets for expansion and are open in all directions. Geophysical surveys combined with soil sample anomalies provide opportunities for additional drill discoveries on our largely untested land package." 2025 EXPLORATION PLANS Drilling: Of the 30,000m drilling planned for 2025, approximately 3/4 will be allocated to advance the understanding of mineralized domains in Airstrip and Powerline. At Airstrip, which hosts a 845,000 oz inferred resource (1) , drilling aims to further delineate the near-surface, high-grade zone (>2 g/t gold) felsic dyke contact zone identified in 2024 drilling, while testing for potential extensions along strike and at depth (Figure 1; see news release dated March 3, 2025). At Powerline, which hosts a 6,158,000 oz inferred Resource (1) , drilling has the potential to delineate relatively high-grade (>1g/t gold) mineralized domains.. Diamond drilling will also test potential for expansion of the known mineralized system at both Airstrip and Powerline. (1) See Table 1 below Figure 1: Potential for Mineral Resource Growth Regional targets have also been identified using new geophysical surveys from 2024 in combination with soil sampling anomalies. Approximately 1/4 of the 30,000m program will be testing potential at these high priority targets with a small percentage (up to 5%) of holes being allocated to condemnation holes for potential infrastructure locations. Drilling will be complemented by surface sampling, ongoing metallurgical work and environmental surveys, along with scoping studies required for a preliminary economic assessment of the project in Q4-2025. Upcoming Events Follow The Money X-Space LIVE, April 2, 2025 - 8 AM Pacific/11 AM Eastern The Rule Symposium, Boca Raton, July 7-11, 2025 Invest Yukon Property Tours, July 13-15, 2025 Analytical Method and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Measures All drill core splits reported in this news release were analysed by Bureau Veritas of Vancouver, B.C., utilizing the aqua regia digestion ICP-MS 36-element AQ-200 analytical package with FA-450 50-gram Fire Assay with AAS finish for gold on all samples. All core samples were split on-site at Banyan's core processing facilities. Once split, half samples were placed back in the core boxes with the other half of split samples sealed in poly bags with one part of a three-part sample tag inserted within. Samples were delivered by Banyan personnel or a dedicated expediter to the Bureau Veritas, Whitehorse preparatory laboratory where samples are prepared and then shipped to Bureau Veritas's Analytical laboratory in Vancouver, B.C., for pulverization and final chemical analysis. A robust system of standards, core duplicates and blanks was implemented in the 2024 exploration drilling program and was monitored as chemical assay data became available. Qualified Persons Duncan Mackay, P.Geo., is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ( "NI 43-10"), and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release. Mr. Mackay is an employee of Banyan and has verified the data disclosed in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information. About Banyan Banyan's primary asset, the AurMac Project is located in Canada's Yukon Territory. The current inferred Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the AurMac Project of 7.0 million ounces has an effective date of February 6, 2024. The 173 square kilometres ("sq km") AurMac Project lies 40 km from Mayo, Yukon. The AurMac Project is transected by the main Yukon highway and benefits from a 3-phase powerline, existing power station and cell phone coverage. Banyan has the right to earn up to a 100% interest, in both the Aurex and McQuesten Properties respectively, subject to certain royalties. The inferred MRE for the AurMac Project was prepared on February 6, 2024, and consisted of 7,003,000 ounces of gold (see Table 1) hosted within near surface, road accessible pit constrained Mineral Resources contained in two near/on-surface deposits: the Airstrip and Powerline Deposits. Table 1: Pit-Constrained Inferred Mineral Resources - AurMac Project Deposit Gold Cut-Off (g/t) Tonnage (Tonnes) Average Gold Grade (g/t) Contained Gold (oz.) Inferred Airstrip 0.30 35,243,000 0.75 845,000 Powerline 0.30 312,243,000 0.61 6,158,000 Total Combined 0.30 347,486,00 0.63 7,003,000 Notes : The effective date for the MRE is February 6, 2024, and was prepared by Marc Jutras, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., Principal, Ginto Consulting Inc., an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI43-101. The technical report supporting the Resource Estimate entitled "AurMac Property, Mayo Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada" (the "Technical Report") has been filed on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca on March 18, 2024. Mineral Resources, which are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, changes in global gold markets or other relevant issues. The CIM Definition Standards were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Mineral Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Mineral Resources as an Indicated Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.30 g/t gold for all deposits, using a US$/CAN$ exchange rate of 0.75 and constrained within an open pit shell optimized with the Lerchs-Grossman algorithm to constrain the Mineral Resources with the following estimated parameters: gold price of US$1,800/ounce, US$2.50/t mining cost, US$5.50/t processing cost, US$2.00/t G+A, 80% gold recoveries, and 45 pit slopes. The number of tonnes and ounces was rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations as per NI 43-101. In addition to the AurMac Project, the Company holds the Hyland Gold Project, located 70 km Northeast of Watson Lake, Yukon, along the Southeast end of the Tintina Gold Belt (the "Hyland Project"). The Hyland Project represents a sediment hosted, structurally controlled, intrusion related gold deposit, within a large land package (over 125 sq km), accessible by a network of existing gravel access roads. Banyan trades on the TSX-Venture Exchange under the symbol "BYN" and is quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "BYAGF". For more information, please visit the corporate website at or contact the Company. ON BEHALF OF BANYAN GOLD CORPORATION (signed) "Tara Christie" Tara Christie President & CEO For more information, please contact: Tara Christie 778 928 0556 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Jasmine Sangria 604 312 5610 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor OTCQB Venture Market accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking information, which is not comprised of historical facts and is based upon the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend(s)", "believe", "potential" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's plans for exploration; and statements regarding exploration expectations, ease and confidence in increasing ounces, exploration or development plans and timelines; mineral resource estimates; mineral recoveries and anticipated mining costs. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include uncertainties inherent in resource estimates, continuity and extent of mineralization, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, enhanced risks inherent to conducting business in any jurisdiction, timing and risk of earning the final 25% earn-in on the properties and those risks set out in Banyan's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although Banyan believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Banyan 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Falcon Gold Corp. (TSXV: FG) (OTC Pink: FGLDF) (FSE: 3FA) ("Falcon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of its third drill hole at the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project in Newfoundland. Drilling on the fourth hole is now being finalized, and preparations are underway to move the drill rig to Pad #5, marking a critical step forward in Falcon's aggressive and systematic exploration of this highly prospective copper-gold system. This progress follows Falcon's March 13, 2025, release of core images from its late 2024 exploration program. Despite facing unprecedented rains and early spring conditions, Falcon has taken proactive steps to mitigate logistical challenges by establishing an on-site base camp. With this infrastructure in place, the team is now well-positioned to accelerate drilling and unlock the full potential of Great Burnt's mineralized system. Drilling updates and Key observations: "We are highly encouraged by the latest results from Great Burnt," stated Karim Rayani, CEO of Falcon Gold. "The geological indicators we are seeing particularly the significant increase in sulphide mineralization strongly suggest we are closing in on a major mineralized system. This aligns with our technical team's expectation, reinforcing confidence in our exploration model." Hole #5 represents one of the most exciting drill targets in the program. It is designed to test a high-priority airborne electromagnetic (EM) anomaly coincident with a strong magnetic response a textbook geophysical signature for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits, which are known for their high copper and gold content. If Hole #5 confirms a direct link between this anomaly and the expanding mineralized zones already identified, it could represent a significant discovery, further strengthening the project's potential as a major copper-gold asset. Increasing Sulphide Mineralization: A Strong Indicator of System Expansion Recent drilling has revealed a clear uptick in sulphide content, an encouraging development as Falcon moves towards the heart of the mineralized zone. Notable observations include: Blebby to stringer sulphides, transitioning to semi-massive and massive sulphide bands Pyritic, vuggy, smoky quartz veins, which were not present in earlier drill holes and are strong indicators of a gold-bearing hydrothermal system Pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite mineralization, confirming the presence of a robust copper-gold system These results strongly suggest that Falcon is vectoring towards a larger mineralized body, with the potential for both higher-grade copper and gold mineralization. Figure 1: Disseminated Pyrite in a Vuggy Quartz Vein. Grey Coloured (smokey) Quartz Veins, Vugs, and Pyrite are Typical Indicators of a Gold Mineralization System. Figure 2: Stringers and Blebs of Strong Sulphide (Pyrite & Pyrrhotite with minor Chalcopyrite) Mineralization. Figure 3: Narrow, Centimeter-scale Semi-massive Sulphide (pyrite and pyrrhotite) Band. Next Steps: Unlocking Great Burnt's Full Potential With drilling progressing on schedule, Falcon Gold is prioritizing: Hole #5's completion, targeting a strong EM anomaly with the potential to significantly expand the known mineralized system Rapid core analysis, with samples being shipped to IOS-accredited Eastern Analytical Laboratory in Springdale, Newfoundland for priority processing Strategic drill planning, incorporating these latest results to refine and optimize future drill targets Falcon Gold is committed to unlocking the full potential of the Great Burnt Copper-Gold Project, and all signs point to continued success. With each hole, the team is gaining a deeper understanding of this mineralized system, and upcoming assay results will be pivotal in shaping the next phase of exploration. Qualified Person Victor French, P. Geo, an independent qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company. About Falcon Gold Corp. Falcon is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on generating, acquiring, and exploring opportunities in the Americas. Falcon's flagship project, the Central Canada Gold Mine, is approximately 20 km southeast of Agnico Eagle's Hammond Reef Gold Deposit which currently has an estimated 3.32 million ounces of gold (123.5 million tonnes grading 0.84 g/t gold) mineral reserves and 2.3 million ounces of measured and indicated mineral resources (133.4 million tonnes grading 0.54 g/t gold). Ref: https://www.agnicoeagle.com/English/exploration/exploration-projects/Hammond-Reef/default.aspx. The Hammond Reef gold property lies on the Hammond shear zone, which is a northeast-trending splay off the Quetico Fault Zone ("QFZ") and may be the control for the gold deposit. The Central Gold property lies on a similar major northeast-trending splay of the QFZ. The neighboring properties results do not necessarily apply to the current project or property being disclosed The Company holds multiple additional projects: the Viernes Gold/Silver/Copper project in the world-class copper cluster located in Antofagasta, Chile; the Springpole West Property in the world-renowned Red Lake mining camp; a 49% interest in the Burton Gold property with Iamgold near Sudbury Ontario; the Spitfire-Sunny Boy, claims in B.C.; the Great Burnt Copper Project Central Newfoundland, and most recently battery metals projects, Timmins West Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Property Ontario, Outarde Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Property, HSP Nickel-Copper property in northern Quebec and the Havre St. Pierre Anorthosite Complex respectively. Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Vancouver, B.C., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Walker River Resources Corp. (Walker or the Company) (TSX-V: WRR) is pleased to announce additional assay results from the 2024 reverse circulation (RC) drill program at the Lapon Canyon portion of the Lapon Gold Project, located within the Walker Lane Gold trend, 60 km SE of Yerington, NV. Highlights Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Width* (m) Gold (g/t) LC-24-122 21.3 24.4 3.1 1.16 51.8 93.0 41.1 2.62 incl 56.4 64.0 7.6 6.81 and 86.9 88.4 1.5 9.33 LC-24-120 64.0 74.7 10.7 1.11 incl 71.6 73.2 1.5 5.47 Table 1. Highlighted holes released today. * Denotes the above drill results are presented with lengths representing sampled lengths. True width is estimated to be between 80 and 95 percent of sampled widths. Drill hole LC-24-122 returned 2.62 g/t Au over 41.1 meters starting at a depth of 51.8 meters including an intercept of 6.81 g/t Au over 7.6 meters, demonstrating the robust nature and consistency of the gold mineralization at the Hotspot zone. Drill holes LC-24-120 and LC-24-121 did not reach the presumed position of the Hotspot zone, due to drill set up problems that forced drilling to be carried out at shallow angles. Notably and unexpectedly, in LC-24-120, gold mineralization was discovered in the overlying granite returning 1.11 g/t Au over 10.7 meters at a depth of 64.0 meters. The bottom of the hole returned 0.53 g/t Au over 24.4 meters signifying the presumed proximity to the Hotspot zone lurking just below. LC-24-121 also returned gold mineralization at the end of the hole, including 0.62 g/t Au in the last 1.5 meters. The 2024 drill programs at Lapon Canyon were exploration and definition focused. Drill holes were planned with the intent to define the extent and geometry of the mineralized system and test for new mineralized zones along strike and at depth. Drilling at Lapon Canyon is carried out in different directions (azimuths) from the same drill pad, for systematic drilling on section, drill pads are placed at every 30 to 60 meters, with up to five holes per pad. Previous and current drilling continue to define a sub to horizontal geometry of the gold system. High grade shoots may have developed within the broader mineralized domains. Drillholes LC-24-123, 124, 125 were all drilled from the same drill pad located at the juncture of the uppermost drill access road. This is located within fresh granite (the top of these holes are mineralized) over 100 meters north of the interpreted projection of the Hotspot zone. Drilling was carried out here to gain geological bedrock knowledge, drillhole LC-24-123 returned no significant results. However, significant gold mineralization was encountered in LC-24-124 and LC-24-125. LC-24-124 returned 0.37 g/t Au over 7.6 m starting at 0 m and 1.91 g/t Au over 6.1 meters starting at 117.4 meters. LC-24-125 returned 0.41 g/t Au over 7.6 meters starting at 0 m and 0.56 g/t Au over 4.6 meters starting at 94.5 meters. Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Width* (m) Gold (g/t) LC-24-120 64.0 74.7 10.7 1.11 incl 71.6 73.2 1.5 5.47 128.0 152.4 24.4 0.53 LC-24-121 150.9 152.4 1.5 0.62 51.8 54.9 3.1 0.58 LC-24-122 21.3 24.4 3.1 1.16 51.8 93.0 41.1 2.62 incl 56.4 64.0 7.6 6.81 and 86.9 88.4 1.5 9.33 LC-24-124 0.0 7.6 7.6 0.37 117.4 123.4 6.1 1.91 LC-24-125 0.0 7.6 7.6 0.41 94.5 99.1 4.6 0.56 Table 2. All drill holes and intervals released today. * Denotes the above drill results are presented with lengths representing sampled lengths. True width is estimated to be between 80 and 95 percent of sampled widths Figure 1: Plan and section view of the Hotspot zone, Central zone, with assay results from historical drilling (grey traces) and 2024 drilling (red: this release, blue: previously released, black: not released). Michel David, Walker Rivers President & CEO states: We continue to be excited by the results from Lapon Canyon. Even in what is believed to be barren rock, we received encouraging results. We cannot take any portion of the project for granted, as gold may be found in the most unexpected places. The need for considerable drilling is evident, and the arrival of our partners Nevada Canyon Gold Corp, now makes this possible. We look forward to additional results from Lapon Canyon and very excited with our ongoing and future exploration. Presently, work at Lapon Canyon consists of data compilation, interpretation and resource modelling. Further results will be released as they become available. Field work will restart as soon as conditions allow. The results from the 2024 drill programs and subsequent data compilation will enable the completion of an initial NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource on the Project. Sampling Methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Control and Quality Assurance All sampling was conducted under the supervision of the Companys project geologists and the chain of custody from the drill to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. A blank or certified reference material was inserted approximately every tenth sample. The Lapon Canyon samples were delivered to American Assays Laboratories certified laboratory facilities in Sparks, NV. The samples were crushed, pulverized and the sample pulps digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and a 50 g gravimetric finish. Certain intensely altered samples used a 1 kg pulp screened to 100 microns. Duplicate assay on screen undersize. Assay of entire oversize fraction. Samples are taken and bagged directly at the drill rig at every 1.5-meter interval, standard in the exploration industry. A small sample is also taken at the drill rig and put into a chip tray for examination purposes and to determine those sample bags that should be sent to the lab for assay purposes. Often this work is carried out using a microscope for the examination of the rock chips. The full sample bag from the interval chosen for assay purposes is then sent directly from the drill site to the lab, located in Sparks, NV. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Dave Nuttall P.Geo, President of GEO Exploration Ltd., who is an independent Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About the Lapon Gold Project The Lapon Gold Project consists of 149 claims (3103 acres) situated in the Wassuk Range, within the Walker Lane shear zone, a 100 km wide structural corridor extending in a southeast direction from Reno, Nevada. Lapon Canyon (96 claims) is subject to an exploration stream earn-in agreement with Nevada Canyon Gold Corp (news release 02-03-2025). The Project is easily accessible by secondary state roads from the main highway (25 kilometres), and is located approximately 60 kilometres southeast of Yerington, Nevada. A state power grid transmission line passes within three kilometres of the Project. The Lapon Gold Project includes Lapon Canyon, the Pikes Peak claims located 4 kilometres to the north and the Rattlesnake and Range Front claims 3 kilometres to the west and over 600 meters lower than the present drilling at Lapon Canyon. The Rattlesnake, Range Front, and Pikers Peak claims cover over 8 km of possible extensions of the range front zones to the west, north, and south of Lapon Canyon, adding several additional drill target areas to the project. Rattlesnake and Pikes Peak contain numerous historical mining and milling areas that consist of adits at different levels, shafts and underground workings, and a network of existing roads providing access throughout. Little or no exploration work has been carried out on these claims prior to Walkers arrival. It is notable that the Rattlesnake area and adits are on strike with the Lapon Canyon discoveries located 3 km on strike and 600 meters above. Lapon Canyon hosts historical high grade gold mining with approximately 2000 feet of undergoing workings in three adits. Historical underground work returned numerous assay values in the one ounce per ton range, with a sample at the end of the A adit returning 20.6 ounces per ton Au. (NI 43-101, Montgomery and Barr, 2004). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Michel David, CEO & Director Tel: 819 874-0030 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.wrrgold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, potential, possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results will, may, could, or should occur or be achieved There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, social and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Profunda underground channel samples return high grades, including: 27 samples averaging 3.62% Cu, 0.17% Co, 0.09% Ni, 5.7 g/t Ag Select significant continuous channel sample results include: 25.7% Cu, 0.37% Co, 0.53% Ni, 41.7 g/t Ag over 1m 5.2% Cu, 0.14% Co, 0.13% Ni, 5.9 g/t Ag over 5m 8.5% Cu, 0.10% Co, 0.11% Ni, 20.1 g/t Ag over 2m 2.2% Cu, 0.07% Co, 0.06% Ni, 2.4 g/t Ag over 3m Profunda target area extends over 500m x 150m based on initial wide-spaced soil sample copper results and alteration mapping Drilling in-progress at the Providencia target in the Carmenes Project, and the Bravo target in the Escacena Project VANCOUVER, BC, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Pan Global Resources Inc. ("Pan Global" or the "Company") (TSXV: PGZ) (OTCQX: PGZFF) (FRA: 2EU) is pleased to announce high-grade copper results, plus significant nickel, cobalt, and silver from underground channel sampling at the Profunda target ("Profunda") in the Company's 100%-owned Carmenes Project ("Carmenes"), northern Spain. "These first detailed rock channel sample results from the walls of the underground mine workings at the past producing Profunda mine indicate continuous intervals of higher-grade mineralization. Mining last occurred at Profunda for copper, nickel, and cobalt in the early 1930s. The Providencia target, 1km to the north of Profunda, returned similar high-grade channel sample results. Sampling and geological mapping at the Carmenes Project supports the potential for discovery of multiple high-grade breccia structures in the Project area," said Tim Moody, Pan Global President and CEO. "Drilling currently underway at the Providencia target is designed to confirm continuity of the high-grade copper and gold mineralization and test beyond the areas of past production." Key Results: A 500m x 150m soil copper anomaly has been outlined from Initial wide-spaced portable-XRF soil sampling ( see January 27, 2025 media release ). The soil anomaly indicates potential for discovery of additional mineralization beyond the historical mine workings, associated with areas of strong dolomitic alteration, breccia and gossan mapped at surface. x soil copper anomaly has been outlined from Initial wide-spaced portable-XRF soil sampling ( ). The soil anomaly indicates potential for discovery of additional mineralization beyond the historical mine workings, associated with areas of strong dolomitic alteration, breccia and gossan mapped at surface. Results were received for 27 channel samples from the walls in the upper 60m of the mine workings. The results show continuous high copper, cobalt, nickel and silver grades in the sidewalls of the mine workings in several areas (Figure 1). of the mine workings. The results show continuous high copper, cobalt, nickel and silver grades in the sidewalls of the mine workings in several areas (Figure 1). Channel samples were collected over 1m intervals. The channels were saw-cut and chip-sampled horizontally across the breccia mineralization. Table 1 (below) highlights significant results. intervals. The channels were saw-cut and chip-sampled horizontally across the breccia mineralization. Table 1 (below) highlights significant results. Mapping inside the mine workings indicates the breccia mineralization is spatially-associated with a series of east-west trending fault structures, and regionally is located near the junction of interpreted northeast and northwest trending fault zones. Detailed surface sampling at Profunda will continue to better delineate the surface extent of the mineralization and refine the geological model ahead of drilling. Results are also currently being interpreted from a recently completed Helicopter Transient Electro-Magnetic (HTEM), magnetic and radiometric survey over the Carmenes Project. Drilling is underway at the nearby high-priority Providencia target, with first drill results anticipated in the second quarter. Mining at Profunda up to the 1930s extracted high-grade copper and cobalt within a pipe-like breccia body, similar to the nearby Providencia target. Pan Global has also confirmed the potential for gold mineralization with identification of a high-grade gold zone adjacent to the main breccia pipe at Providencia. Drilling is continuing at the Company's flagship Escacena Project in southern Spain, with the focus on the high-priority Bravo target, step-out and expansion drilling on the La Romana copper-tin discovery, and testing new targets. Results are anticipated in the second quarter. Profunda Target Underground Channel Sampling Results A total of 27 continuous rock chip channel samples were collected from the side walls of the Profunda mine workings and La Cuevona open-stope. The samples were taken from within the upper 60m of the mine workings, with tunnel and shafts extending to 260m depth below surface. Each sample was collected over a 1-meter length and weighed from 1 to 5 kg. Results are summarized in Table 1 (below). Table 1 Underground channel sample results; selected intervals highlighted Channel Length Au Ag Cu Co Ni Sample No. meters g/t g/t % % % 1 1 0.01 1.30 0.90 0.15 0.04 2 1 0.01 0.25 0.15 0.12 0.02 3 1 0.01 20.80 9.56 0.15 0.06 23 1 0.07 19.30 7.45 0.05 0.15 3, 23 2 0.04 20.05 8.51 0.10 0.11 4 1 <0.01 0.90 0.49 0.08 0.02 5 1 0.01 0.70 0.81 0.05 0.05 6 1 0.04 14.10 5.27 0.50 0.12 7 1 0.01 0.25 0.58 0.04 0.05 8 1 0.01 1.40 1.37 0.22 0.05 9 1 0.02 1.30 1.96 1.70 0.27 9 1 0.01 4.56 2.34 0.33 0.08 10 1 <0.01 0.25 0.20 0.18 0.19 11 1 0.09 41.70 25.70 0.37 0.53 12 1 <0.01 0.25 0.08 0.01 0.01 13 1 <0.01 0.60 0.17 0.01 0.01 14 1 0.01 1.00 0.61 0.13 0.08 15 1 0.02 6.00 6.05 0.08 0.08 16 1 <0.01 0.25 0.03 0.01 0.01 14-16 3 0.01 2.42 2.23 0.07 0.06 17 1 <0.01 0.25 0.42 0.03 0.01 18 1 0.01 4.10 4.21 0.16 0.05 19 1 0.01 6.60 7.68 0.12 0.08 20 1 0.02 13.40 8.99 0.23 0.35 21 1 0.02 3.00 2.94 0.11 0.12 22 1 0.01 2.20 2.09 0.07 0.07 18-22 5 0.01 5.86 5.18 0.14 0.13 24 1 0.02 4.70 3.78 0.02 0.03 25 1 0.01 2.10 1.47 0.05 0.03 26 1 0.01 2.90 2.40 0.01 0.02 27 1 0.02 3.50 2.25 0.04 0.04 About the Carmenes Project The Carmenes Project is located approx. 55km north of Leon in northern Spain and comprises five Investigation Permits over 5,653 hectares. The Project area is highly prospective for multiple bodies or "clusters" of carbonate-hosted "pipe-like" breccia style copper, nickel, cobalt, and gold mineralization. The area includes the former Profunda and Providencia mines that last operated in the 1930s, producing concentrates of copper and cobalt with nickel. Numerous other smaller historical mine workings in the area highlight potential for additional breccia pipes. These types of deposits can have significant vertical dimensions exceeding 1km. About Pan Global Resources Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively targeting copper-rich mineral deposits, given copper's compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one low-risk jurisdiction for mining investment. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations - all of which are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles, of the United Nations Global Compact. Qualified Persons Alvaro Merino, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information for this media release. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company. QA/QC Rock samples delivered to the ALS sample preparation facility in Seville were prepared and assayed at the ALS facility in Ireland. All samples were crushed, split and pulverized using methods CRU-31, SPL-22Y and PUL-31. Gold analysis was by 50gm Fire assay with AA finish (Au-AA23). Multi element analysis was undertaken using a 4-acid digest with ICP-AES finish (ME-ICP61). Over-grade samples were analyzed using 4-acid digest with ICP-AES finish for base metals (OG62), and Fire Assay with Gravity Finish for gold (Au-GRA21). Certified reference materials were inserted at a 1/25 samples. www.panglobalresources.com Forward-looking statements Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission. The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. 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. 11 of 20 Samples on the South Zone Assay Greater than 6.0 g/t Gold Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Orestone Mining Corp. (TSXV: ORS) (OTC Pink: ORESF) (FSE: O2R2) ("the Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed a program of sampling on its Francisca property located in Salta Province, northwestern Argentina approximately 80 kilometres northwest of the city of Salta. Orestone is targeting an oxide gold deposit mineable by open pit methods and amenable to heap leach gold recovery. A total of 38 check samples were taken; 20 samples on the South gold zone and 18 on the North gold zone and other areas. The South gold zone is a strongly altered quartz stockwork outlined over a strike length of 500 metres and width of 50 - 100 metres. Of the 20 samples taken on the South zone 11 were greater than 6.0 g/t gold and 8 samples assayed between 0.36 and 4.5 g/t gold. 13 samples were taken on the North gold zone, a quartz manganese stockwork zone, values are from 0.01 to 21.7 g/t gold averaging 0.38 g/t gold excluding two high grade samples of 9.4 and 21.7 g/t gold. The sampling confirms the high-grade nature of the South gold zone with 20 samples ranging in value from 0.03 to 33 g/t gold and 2.0 to 160 g/t silver, averaging 5.78 g/t gold and 29.2 g/t silver (gold grades cut to 10 g/t and silver grades cut to 60 g/t) (for larger map click here). David Hottman, Orestone's CEO, stated: "The Francisca property covers a robust gold system discovered during a period of historically very low gold prices, which has seen no meaningful work conducted on it for almost 20 years. Results of the current sampling program correlates well with data from the historic work. Our goal is to define an oxide gold deposit that can be mined by open pit and would be amenable to low-cost heap leach gold recovery methods. Additional information regarding exploration plans will be released in the near future." Previous sampling over the South zone noted in historic summary reports averaged, 5.69 g/t gold from 46 samples (high grade results cut to 10 g/t gold). Of these, 28 samples ranged from 3.0 to 109 g/t gold and 13 samples graded from 0.11 to 2.19 g/t gold. Orestone does not have the detailed assay data of the historic trenches or drilling as only summary data and maps of the higher-grade intervals encountered are available. The observations of gold assay values in the trenches are non 43-101 compliant due to their historic nature but the detailed geological mapping and exploration programs were done by competent professional geologists and indicate the presence of a significant, disseminated gold stock-work system that was only poorly tested by diamond core drilling. Geologic mapping has outlined an oxide gold stock-work mineralized trend over a northwest strike length of 1100 metres outcropping on the crest of a moderate relief hill. The zones are surrounded by a 500 to 1000 metre wide area of strongly hornfels altered sediments and underlain by a large IP changeability anomaly indicating potential for a larger intrusive body at depth. The oxide gold quartz limonite stock-work trend is associated with quartz feldspar porphyry intrusive dykes and intense sericite alteration along NW trending faults. Gary Nordin, P.Geo, a Director of the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Nordin has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release. Orestone Mining Corp. is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Company's property portfolio includes exploration exposure to gold, silver and copper in Canada and Argentina. Orestone's near term objective on the Francisca gold property is to define an oxide gold deposit mineable by open pit methods using low-cost heap leach gold recovery. The Company's primary asset continues to be the 100 percent owned Captain gold-copper project in North Central BC which hosts a large gold dominate porphyry system; permitted and drill ready. The optioned Las Burras property provides large scale copper exposure to the Company. All three projects are road accessible and suitable for year-round exploration. For more information, please visit Orestone's website at: www.orestone.ca ON BEHALF OF ORESTONE MINING CORP. David Hottman CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this News Release. This news release has been prepared by management and no regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. TORONTO, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Ltd. (CSE: NICO | OTCQB: NICLF) ("Class 1 Nickel" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an updated mineral resource estimate (the MRE) for the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit (the D-N Deposit) (Table 1 and Table 2). The D-N Deposit is one of 4 nickel sulphide deposits within the sizeable Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project (the Project or A-D Project) (Figure 1), covering about 3,093 hectares (30.93 km2) and located about 45 km northeast of the mining centre and City of Timmins, Ontario. Over the past two years, the Company has focused on a comprehensive effort to refine the Projects mineral resource base, underscoring Class 1 Nickels commitment to build a robust portfolio of nickel sulphide resources in one of Canadas premier mining districts (Class 1 news release 4 December 2024). Highlights from the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit: Fully interpreted and robust 3D geological model forms the basis of the updated mineral resource estimate. Out-of-Pit* Inferred Resources of 2.5 Mt at 0.75% Ni, 0.03% Cu, 0.02% Co (Table 1 and Table 2). (Table 1 and Table 2). Represents a 31.4% increase in total tonnes with 3.5% increase in contained nickel (42 M lbs Ni), 74% increase in contained copper (2.6 M lbs Cu), and 40% increase in contained cobalt (1.2 M lbs Co). Total 1.0% Ni Mineral Resources within the 4 A-D nickel deposits, using various %Ni cut-offs: 500 kt at 1.07% Ni Indicated and 1.0 Mt at 1.01% Ni Inferred (Table 3). (Table 3). Total Mineral Resources within the 4 A-D nickel deposits using C$52.5/t and C$96.0/t NSR cut-offs: 3.4 Mt at 0.54% Ni Indicated and 6.6 Mt at 0.56% Ni Inferred (Table 4). With 100% of the Dundonald North Deposit tonnes in the Inferred category there is excellent exploration upside to expand and upgrade resources through additional drilling. Like the other 3 nickel deposits within the Project, the Dundonald North Deposit is open along strike and at depth, with new geological modelling and interpretation providing ample targets for next-stage drilling. The Dundonald North and Dundonald South deposits have never been exploited and represent new exploration and development targets within the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project. *Pit optimization was not possible due to a lack of drill hole coverage over the mineralized area; Underground (Out-of-Pit) C$96.00/t NSR cut-off was applied to current mineral resource estimate whereas an underground C$90.00/t NSR was applied in the 2020 mineral resource estimate (Stone et al., 2020). David Fitch, CEO of Class 1 Nickel, commented: These results from the mineral resource estimate for Dundonald North deposit are extremely positive in confirming the potential of this deposit, which along with the Dundonald South Deposit, give us two new re-interpreted nickel targets for future drilling. In addition to these 4 deposit areas, there are numerous untested airborne EM-Magnetic anomalies and historical nickel sulphide occurrences within the Alexo-Dundonald Project that provide us with abundant targets for future drilling programs. The updated MRE for the D-N Deposit was completed by Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. (Atticus) and their strategic partner Caracle Creek Chile SpA (Caracle) (together the Consultants). This MRE replaces the 2020 mineral resource estimate completed by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. (Stone et al., 2020) which is filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). The current MRE for the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit was completed in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 (NI-43-101), and a technical report in support of the MRE will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days from the date of this news release. Table 1. Mineral Resource Statement (I) for the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit, C$96/t NSR cut-off. Dundonald North Resources Tonnage (t) Grade Contained Metal Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) NiEq (%) NSR (C$/t) Ni (k lbs) Cu (k lbs) Co (k lbs) Underground (C$96/t NSR COG) Inferred 2,500,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 153 42,000 2,600 1,200 Notes to Table 1: (1) The independent Qualified Person for the MRE, as defined by NI 43-101, is Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #7795) of Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd., working with Caracle Creek Chile SpA. The effective date of the MRE is 27 March 2025. (2) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. (3) The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. (4) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated and/or Measured mineral resources with continued exploration. (5) The Mineral Resources were estimated following the 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines prepared by the CIM Mineral Resource & Mineral Reserve Committee and the 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources & Mineral Reserves prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions. (6) Geological and block models for the MRE used core assays (3,960 samples from historical drilling). The drill hole database was validated prior to resource estimation and QA/QC checks were made using industry-standard control charts for blanks, core duplicates and commercial certified reference material inserted into assay batches. (7) The block model was prepared using Micromine 2020. A 12 m x 12 m x 12 m block model was created, with sub blocks to 1.0 m x 1.0 m x 1.0 m and rotate 60 degrees. Drill composites of 1.0 m intervals were generated within the estimation domains, and subsequent grade estimation was carried out for Ni, Cu and Co using Inverse of Distance Weighting interpolation method. (8) Grade estimation was validated by comparison of input and output statistics (Nearest Neighbour), swath plot analysis, and by visual inspection of the assay data, block model, and grade shells in cross-sections. (9) As a reference, the average estimated density value (specific gravity) within the mineralised domain is 2.85 g/cm3 (t/m3). (10) Estimates have been rounded to 3 significant figures for Indicated resources and 2 significant figures for Inferred sources. (11) The MRE considers a geological dilution of 5% and a mining recovery of 95%. (12) US$ metal prices of $8.00/lb Ni, $3.25/lb Cu, $13.00/lb Co were used in the NSR calculation with respective process recoveries of 85%, 70%, and 80%; gold, platinum and palladium are not considered in the current NSR calculation. (13) Pit-constrained Mineral Resource NSR cut-off considers processing, and G&A costs, applying a factor of 5% for mining dilution, that respectively combine for a total of (($45.00 + $5.00) * (1 + 5%)) = C$52.5/tonne processed. (14) Underground Mineral Resource NSR cut-off considers ore mining, processing, and G&A costs that respectively combine for a total of ($46.00 + $45.00 + $5.00) = C$96.0/tonne processed. (15) The Underground grade blocks were quantified above the $96.0/t cut-off, within the constraining mineralized wireframes. Additionally, only groups of blocks that exhibited continuity and reasonable potential stope geometry were included. All orphaned blocks and narrow strings of blocks were excluded. The long-hole stoping with backfill mining method was assumed for the Underground MRE calculation. (16) The NSR calculation is as follows: NSR C$/t = ((Ni% x 199.89) + (Cu% x 66.87) +(Co% x 305.71)) x 95%. (17) The NiEq% calculation is as follows: NiEq% = (Ni% x 1) + (Cu% x 0.33) + (Co% x 1.53). Table 2. Mineral Resource Statement (II) for the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit, 0.46% Ni cut-off grade (COG). Dundonald North Resources Tonnage (t) Grade Contained Metal Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) NiEq (%) NSR (C$/t) Ni (k lbs) Cu (k lbs) Co (k lbs) Underground (0.46% Ni COG) Inferred 2,600,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 150 43,000 2,100 1,200 *see Notes to Table 1 above Figure 1. Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project showing the location of the 4 nickel deposits and the optimized pit shell outlines for Alexo North, Alexo South and Dundonald North, overlain on the generalized geology of the Project. The updated Dundonald North MRE was calculated entirely from historical drilling (22,041.97 m in 64 holes) completed on the D-N Deposit by previous operators. Plan view and cross-section views of the current MRE are provided in Figure 2, and an isometric view of categorized mineral resources is shown in Figure 3. Grade-Tonnage curves for mineral resources are provided in Figure 4 (C$/t NSR) and Figure 5 (%Ni) and various views of the Dundonald North Deposit are shown in Figures 6 and 7. Updates to the mineral resources of the Alexo South, Alexo North, Dundonald South deposits were announced 24 April 2024, 22 May 2024, and 3 October 2024, respectively. Table 3. Mineral Resources for the 4 Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Deposits at 1.0% Ni, using various %Ni cut-offs. Deposit Type Resource Category Ni (%) Cut-Off Ni Grade (%) Tonnage (t) Contained Ni Metal (klbs) Alexo South Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.52 1.00 77,700 1,720 Alexo North Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.28 1.01 33,900 791 Dundonald South Pit-Constrained Indicated 0.67 1.09 388,000 9,350 Dundonald North Underground (no pit) Inferred 0.71 1.01 1,000,000 23,000 Total: Indicated 1.07 499,600 11,861 Total: Inferred 1.01 1,000,000 23,000 Table 4. Summary of Mineral Resources for the 4 Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Deposits. Deposit Resource Category NSR Cut-Off Tonnage (t) Grade Contained Metal Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) NiEq (%) NSR (C$/t) Ni (klbs) Cu (klbs) Co (klbs) Within-Pit Alexo North Indicated C$52.5/t 35,100 0.98 0.11 0.04 1.08 206 759 83 33 Inferred C$52.5/t 470 0.32 0.04 0.02 0.36 68 3 0 0 Alexo South Indicated C$52.5/t 275,000 0.58 0.02 0.02 0.62 123 3,490 133 133 Dundonald South Indicated C$52.5/t 2,540,000 0.49 0.02 0.01 0.52 103 27,400 911 755 Inferred C$52.5/t 3,600,000 0.42 0.01 0.01 0.11 88 33,000 1,100 1,100 Total: Indicated 2,850,000 0.50 0.02 0.01 0.53 106 31,700 1,130 921 Total: Inferred 3,600,000 0.42 0.01 0.01 0.44 88 33,000 1,100 1,100 Out-of Pit (Underground) Alexo North Indicated C$96.0/t 7,540 0.63 0.08 0.03 0.70 134 105 12 5 Alexo South Indicated C$96.0/t 297,000 0.65 0.03 0.02 0.69 139 4,240 190 157 Inferred C$96.0/t 130,000 0.54 0.03 0.02 0.58 116 1,500 75 52 Dundonald North Inferred C$96.0/t 2,500,000 0.75 0.05 0.02 0.80 152 42,000 2,600 1,200 Dundonald South Indicated C$96.0/t 201,000 0.95 0.03 0.02 0.99 198 4,210 145 80 Inferred C$96.0/t 390,000 0.57 0.02 0.01 0.60 120 4,900 160 120 Total: Indicated 505,000 0.77 0.03 0.02 0.81 162 8,560 347 242 Total: Inferred 3,000,000 0.72 0.04 0.02 0.60 120 48,000 2,900 1,400 Combined Within-Pit and Out-of Pit (Underground) Resources Total: Indicated 3,350,000 0.54 0.02 0.01 0.58 115 40,200 1,470 1,160 Total: Inferred 6,600,000 0.56 0.02 0.01 0.51 100 81,000 4,000 2,500 Figure 2. Plan view (left) and cross-sectional views looking east (right) through the Dundonald North Deposit showing the categorized Inferred (green) mineral resources. Figure 3. Isometric view (looking northeast) of the Dundonald North Nickel Sulphide Deposit showing Inferred (green) resources. Figure 4. Grade-tonnage curve for the Underground (Out-of-Pit) resources (C$96/t NSR cut-off) in the Dundonald North Nickel Deposit. The C$96/t NSR is highlighted. Figure 5. Grade-tonnage curve for the Underground (Out-of-Pit) resources (%Ni cut-offs) in the Dundonald North Nickel Deposit. The 0.46% Ni cut-off grade is highlighted. Table 5. Selected drill core assay results (>3.0 m length/>1.0% Ni) from historical diamond drilling at Dundonald North (medium- and high-grade nickel domains). Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Ni (%) DUN25-02 540.34 548.20 7.86 1.69 DUN25-03 311.18 315.92 4.74 1.01 DUN25-04 470.00 473.80 3.80 1.12 DUN25-04 476.75 481.00 4.25 2.41 DUN25-05 283.45 286.76 3.31 2.01 DUN25-10 388.25 391.70 3.45 1.49 DUN25-12 596.79 602.26 5.47 2.32 FNT05-12 302.00 306.50 4.50 1.47 FNT05-13 301.00 306.00 5.00 1.23 FNT05-13 306.50 311.50 5.00 1.69 Figure 6. Generalized geological plan map of the Dundonald North Deposit and the location of the historical drill hole collars. Figure 7. The updated and interpreted 3D geological model (looking north) showing the Inferred mineral resources that define the Dundonald North Deposit which is open along strike and at depth. As stated in the Companys recent news release of 4 December 2024, the primary objectives of the Company are to expand known mineralization and resources at its 4 existing magmatic nickel sulphide deposits within the Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project. Furthermore, the Company will be launching an exploration program to examine the numerous underexplored areas of the Project including the numerous nickel sulphide occurrences that exist outside of the known deposit areas. Much of this exploration will be guided by recently completed airborne geophysics and historical drilling, with new ground geophysics and remote sensing surveys being planned. Deposit Types and Project Potential In addition to the high-grade nickel sulphide (>1.0% Ni) potential we see at Alexo-Dundonald, immense potential exists to target and develop large tonnage, low-grade komatiite-hosted deposits such as those being developed in the Timmins area by Canada Nickel Company (Crawford Project), EV Nickel Inc. (CarLang A Deposit) and Aston Minerals Limited (Boomerang Project). The Company is currently planning a targeted diamond drilling program to outline this deposit type within the Alexo-Dundonald Project. This two-pronged approach develop traditional high-grade nickel sulphide resources and in parallel large-tonnage, low grade nickel deposits brings together the best of both nickel deposit types which are actively and aggressively being explored for and developed within the Timmins Mining Camp. Core Handling, Assay and QA/QC Procedures The historical analytical methods used in the years 1955-1993 and 2001 from the Falconbridge Ltd. and Hucamp Mines Ltd., respectively, are not precisely specified. However, the core samples from the 2004-2005 First Nickel Inc. were transported to Laboratoire Expert in Rouyn-Noranda. The samples, along with certified standards and blanks included by the Company for quality assurance and control, were prepared and analyzed at Laboratoire Expert. The samples were prepared using industry-standard procedures and analyzed for gold, palladium, platinum, nickel, copper, cobalt, and zinc. The analytical methods employed consisted of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for multi-element analysis (including Ni, Cu, Co, and Zn), Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (over-range) for the same elements (Ni, Cu, Co, Zn), and fire assay collection with ICP-OES finish for palladium, platinum, and gold. Alexo-Dundonald Nickel Sulphide Project The A-D Project is located about 45 km northeast of the City of Timmins, Ontario, covers an area of approximately 3,093 hectares (30.93 km2), and was originally acquired by the Company in September 2018. The A-D Project includes four foundation nickel deposits (Alexo North and South and Dundonald North and South) of which the Alexo North and Alexo South (aka Kelex) were small-scale past producers of relatively high-grade nickel (i.e., 1957; 2004-2005). The 4 deposits are located on a near-continuous folded komatiite-ultramafic rock sequence that extends for at least 14 km within the Property and which has never been systematically explored. The 4 mineral resources are open at depth and along strike and could increase in size with additional drilling (Class 1 news releases 18 April 2024, 22 May 2024, 23 September 2024). Qualified Persons The Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101, for the Dundonald North Mineral Resource Estimate reported herein, Mr. Simon Mortimer (FAIG #7795), Principal Geoscientist at Atticus Geoscience Consulting Ltd. (Cornwall, UK and Lima, Peru). All other technical information and data in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Scott Jobin-Bevans (P.Geo., PGO #0183), Principal Geoscientist at Caracle Creek Chile SpA and a Qualified Person under the definitions established by NI 43-101. About Class 1 Nickel Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited (CSE: NICO | OTCQB: NICLF) is a Mineral Resources Company focused on the exploration and development of its 100% owned komatiite-hosted nickel sulphide projects: the Alexo-Dundonald Project, neat Timmins, Ontario (4 nickel sulphide deposits) and the Somanike Project, near Val-dOr, Quebec (includes the historical Marbridge Ni-Cu Mine). Both projects comprise extensive property packages covering past-producing nickel mines, offering near-term production opportunity and excellent exploration upside. Class 1 Nickels current focus is to continue brownfield and greenfield exploration on its large property packages to aggregate additional nickel resources and in parallel look to advance the A-D Project back into production. The A-D Project sits on a 14+ km strike-length, folded komatiite unit containing several nickel-copper-cobalt and PGE mineral resources plus numerous underexplored sulphide occurrences. Decades of successful capital expenditure and investment into the Project has resulted in the discovery and delineation of four main nickel Mineral Resources that occur along the folded komatiite unit. The A-D Project was previously mined via a direct-shipping model, and the Company will soon commence a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) study to determine the best path forward. In addition, the Company also holds a 100% interest in its River Valley PGE Project located about 65 km northeast of the City of Sudbury, Ontario, the worlds largest and longest operating nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE mining camp (Company news release dated 13 December 2023). For more information, please contact: Mr. David Fitch, President & CEO T: +61.400.631.608 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For additional information please visit our website www.class1nickel.com and our Twitter feed @Class1Nickel. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Companys managements discussion and analysis as filed under the Companys profile at SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca.). Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Gold Hart Copper Corp. (TSXV: HART) (formerly Vicunau Metals Corp.) (the "Company", "Gold Hart", or "HART") is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced at its Tolita gold-copper-silver porphyry target where the famous Maricunga Gold Belt meets the emerging Vicuna Copper Belt. "We are thrilled to have launched drilling at this historically significant asset which we believe may be one of the only remaining fully preserved, potentially large scale gold-copper porphyry targets in the Vicuna district of Chile," stated Isaac Maresky, Chairman and CEO of HART. "The Tolita property has waited nearly 30 years for this critical second phase of drilling since it was long-ago recognized by a top geologist as a unique target for its gold and copper near surface. Our team of geologists have been involved in some of the country's largest gold and copper discoveries, and deserve a great deal of credit for recognizing Tolita in the early 1990s, maintaining the property, and obtaining all approvals to launch this drill campaign. With the application of modern science including geophysics, and the discovery of a large 2.5km2 high-chargeability anomaly, we believe the Gold Hart team is well equipped to properly target the potential of the property." The Tolita property is a historically significant gold-copper asset which was first recognized and staked in 1993 - by one of the pioneering geologists of the Maricunga-Vicuna district - for its uniquely high grades of gold and copper on surface. In 1996, a third party company optioned the property and drilled 3 short 200m RC holes, without any geophysics, and yet still hit gold and copper in all 3 holes, including long intercepts of gold and copper (150m and 164m, respectively) close to surface in 2 of the 3 holes. At the time, gold was approximately $300/oz and copper traded below $1.00/lb, and large scale sulphide / porphyry deposits with both gold and copper were often considered less favorable than smaller scale gold-only oxide deposits. Tolita has had significant trenching (5,600m / 5.6km) with the highest grade trench returning grades up to 52g/t gold equivalent including 4% copper. Tolita has undergone helicopter mag surveys with 4 unique anomalies, but was only drilled to a depth of 200m with 3 short RC holes (out of a planned 8 hole campaign) due to negative gold market sentiment in 1997-1998. When Gold Hart acquired the property, a full geophysical survey was conducted by a recognized geophysics firm, and a large high-chargeability anomaly was discovered that is near surface and almost 2.5km2 in size and "interpreted as a copper-gold or gold-copper porphyry system that certainly warrants additional exploration and drilling". Gold Hart Copper is fully funded for its planned drill campaign. About Gold Hart Copper Gold Hart Copper is one of the largest independent land owners surrounding major miners where the famous Maricunga Gold Belt meets the emerging Vicuna Copper Belt in Chile. HART is actively acquiring, exploring and developing its portfolio of gold, copper & silver properties adjacent to the largest gold and copper assets on the continent. HART's team of geologists were personally involved in pioneering exploration in the region, leading to some of its greatest gold, copper, and silver deposits, and include the country's former National Geological Survey head. Specifically, senior Gold Hart geologists were personally involved in the Escondida copper discovery, now the largest copper mine in the world controlled by Rio Tinto and BHP, as well as Cerro Casale, the largest gold-copper discovery in Chile acquired by Barrick and Newmont (GoldCorp) with 59-million ounces of gold and 12.5-billion pounds of copper. HART has rolled-up a portfolio of historically significant assets surrounding majors, in some cases personally staked by the very same geologists who made the adjacent mega-discoveries, since the early 1990s. Some of the Gold Hart properties have already undergone a first phase of RC drilling, with highly encouraging results of gold, copper, and silver. Gold Hart properties are controlled 100% and not subject to any royalties whatsoever. HART believes it may be sitting on one of the only fully-preserved untested large-scale gold-copper-silver porphyry targets in the Vicuna District - an asset that was first recognized for its uniquely high grades of gold and copper on surface - and staked by one of the Maricunga-Vicuna district's pioneering geologists in 1993. Gold Hart Copper is fully funded for its planned drill campaign. HART | Gold Hart Copper Corporation - Social Media Channels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goldhart/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/goldhartcopper Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoldHartCopper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldhartcopper/ Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release related has been reviewed by Mr. Jonathan A. Warner, Executive Vice President of Gold Hart Copper and a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. March 2025 Drilling Image 1 March 2025 Drilling Image 2 Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always, using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", management's view", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "potential", "feasibility", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: the ability of exploration results, including drilling, to accurately predict mineralization; errors in geological modelling; insufficient data; equity and debt capital markets; future spot prices of copper and zinc; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Company's listing application dated March 14, 2025, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. 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. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept 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. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 27, 2025) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) (OTCQB: OMGGF) ("Omai Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from its ongoing 2025 drill program, which is primarily focused on expanding the large Wenot deposit at the Company's 100%-owned Omai Gold Project in Guyana. Assays are reported for four holes totaling 2,157m drilled, two of which were focused on Wenot and two were drilled on the Camp Zone approximately 1km west of Wenot along the same shear corridor. Results are pending for an additional 10 holes (Figure 1). Highlights include: Hole 25ODD-101 (Figure 3) 16.35 g/t Au over 10.5m (10.40 g/t Au over 10.5m capped at 70 g/t Au) including 46.38 g/t Au over 3.5m (28.52 g/t Au over 3.5m capped at 70 g/t Au as above) 3.83 g/t Au over 18.8m 2.13 g/t Au over 48.5m including 3.14 g/t Au over 18.2m and including 10.34 g/t Au over 3.3m (Figure 3) Hole 25ODD-099 3.58 g/t Au over 7.0m 0.97 g/t Au over 26.0m Including 2.92 g/t Au over 5.0m Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO, commented: "These new Wenot results provide strong additions to our 2025 drill program focused on resource expansion. Hole 101 alone intersected three separate standout intervals of gold mineralization - all of which effectively extend both the 2024 resource limits and the 2024 PEA pit shell. Given our recent discovery of much wider and higher grade zones such as the 4.48 g/t Au over 57.0m encountered in hole -092 (News Release January 21, 2025) and 4.57 g/t Au over 45.5m in hole -087 (News Release December 4, 2024), we are expanding the program to pursue potential strike and dip extensions of these zones that can be expected to have positive impact on the next resource estimate. We are increasing the current drill program from 10,000m to at least 15,000m, with potential for further expansion pending additional favourable results. Fortunately, we are well-funded with a cash position of approximately C$30million, following our financing completed in February. Drilling will pave the way to an updated Mineral Resource Estimate anticipated in Q2 2025, and an updated PEA planned for Q3 2025. We believe the potential for value creation through the drill bit continues to be strong." The ongoing 2025 drill program at Wenot has the following objectives: 1) to identify further mineralization in some of the wide undrilled areas within the 2.5 km long strike of the Wenot deposit, particularly within the under-explored southern sedimentary rock sequence, 2) to extend the known mineralization in the multiple subparallel gold zones down to the 400m to 450m level, which management believes is a reasonable depth for a potential large-scale open pit operation, and 3) to increase the shallow drilling at West Wenot, an area with known broad mineralized zones within the southern sedimentary rocks with potential as a starter pit. As a result of our recent discovery of very wide and higher grade zones, an added objective is to test the potential strike and dip extensions of these exceptionally robust gold zones, that eclipse any previous mineralization identified at Wenot. Wenot Hole 25ODD-101 (Figure 3) was drilled from the north side of Central Wenot, targeting 100m up-dip from hole 24ODD-092 (see News Release dated January 21, 2025). Hole -092 intersected 4.48 g/t Au over 57.0m, including 21.13 g/t Au over 10.0m within the most prolific historically-mined zone, known as the "Dike Corridor". The Dike Corridor is one of five main subparallel, near-vertical gold zones that comprise the large 2.5km long Wenot deposit. Lying within the broader Wenot Shear, the Dike Corridor is a roughly 100-200m wide zone within the volcanic sequence, typically 25-100m north of the central volcanic-sedimentary contact, that itself hosts gold mineralization within a persistent quartz feldspar porphyry unit. This Dike Corridor was selectively mined from 1995-2002 when the gold price fell well below US$400/oz, suggesting it proved the most economic. The Dike Corridor is comprised of a series of felsic and diorite dikes intruded into the volcanic sequence, which were later subjected to varying degrees of shearing, alteration and stockworks of quartz veining. This structurally prepared corridor was receptive to gold-bearing fluids resulting in it hosting significant gold mineralization, frequently including visible gold. Hole 25ODD-101 successfully intersected high-grade gold mineralization at the targeted area 100m up-dip from the corresponding intersections within the Dike Corridor in Hole -092. In hole -101 this included 16.35 g/t Au over 10.5m (10.40 g/t Au capped at 70 g/t Au over 10.5m), 3.83 g/t Au over 18.8m, and 2.02 g/t Au over 10.0m, in total, roughly 39.3m of gold mineralization encountered within the Dike Corridor. These intervals were intersected at an approximate depth from surface of 280 to 330m and are below both the 2024 resource and the 2024 PEA pit shell, suggesting potential to add to the next Resource Estimate. Further down in Hole -101 (Figure 3), a broad interval of 2.13 g/t Au over 48.5m was intersected in the central quartz feldspar porphyry ("QFP") at the main contact, at a depth of approximately 400m from surface - also well below both the 2024 resource and the 2024 PEA pit shell. This compared favourably with the corresponding up-dip interval from previously drilled hole 24ODD-075 which intersected 1.26 g/t Au over 21.5m approximately 125m shallower in the QFP and adjacent sheared sedimentary sequence. Hole 25ODD-099 was drilled from the north side of Wenot, approximately 200m west of hole 25ODD-101, and approximately 25m east of hole 24ODD-076 which was drilled from the south side of Wenot. Hole 99 intersected six minor gold zones within the northern volcanic sequence and Dike Corridor, the best being 3.58 g/t Au over 7.0m at a depth of approximately 225m from surface. The central quartz feldspar porphyry dike assayed only 0.55 g/t Au over 21.3m. However, a broad interval of gold mineralization within the southern sedimentary rock sequence, assayed 0.97 g/t Au over 26.0m, including 2.92 g/t Au over 5.0m, at approximately 300m from surface. Additional zones within the southern sediments assayed 1.29 g/t Au over 7.0m and 0.61 g/t Au over 10.3m, still well above the cutoff grade of 0.35 g/t Au used for the 2024 Resource Estimate1. Camp Zone Holes 25-ODD-098, and 25-ODD-100 tested an area of near surface mineralization approximately 1.0 km west of the main Wenot deposit. The Wenot shear corridor extends through this area, at the volcano-sedimentary contact. This may be a northern fold limb of the main contact shear zone or be slightly offset or splayed off the straight line projection of the main Wenot shear. Previous drilling has shown that this area, known as the "Camp Zone" has mineralization occurring primarily in two felsic dikes over a strike length of 500m. In the southernmost of the two felsic dikes, historical intersections include 1.56 g/t Au over 10.5m in hole OM-931, 1.57 g/t Au over 7.5m in hole OM-925, and 3 g/t Au over 10.5m in hole OM-907. As well, 2.53 g/t Au over 9.9m was intersected in hole 22ODD-047 and 5.75 g/t Au over 9.9m in hole OM-910, whereas the northern felsic dike has historical intersections of 1.63 g/t Au over 9m, 1.21 g/t Au over 15m, and 1.27 g/t Au over 9m. All but one of these intersections is at a depth of less than -150m. Hole 25ODD-098 intersected two wide felsic dikes that correlate with the felsic dikes previously noted in the Camp Zone. The northernmost was encountered at a vertical depth of approximately 75m and returned 0.59 g/t Au over 10.5m, and the southernmost felsic dike returned 0.42 g/t Au over 18.41m at a vertical depth of approximately 115m. Hole 25ODD-100 located at the western side of the Camp Zone returned several intercepts of anomalous gold up to 1.89 g/t Au over 1.1m and 1.05 g/t Au over 1.1m. Although these zones don't rival the gold intersections encountered in the main Wenot deposit, these near-surface gold values are very encouraging and further drilling is needed to assess the continuity of these zones and the potential for a small satellite pit in this area. Further, these gold values, together with the favourable geological setting along strike of the Wenot shear, provide strong incentive for a few deeper holes in this area. Figure 1. Wenot Plan Map Showing Drill Hole Locations Table 1. Recent Drill Results* DDH From To Interval (m) Grade (g/t Au) Lithology WENOT 25ODD-099 54.0 58.0 4.0 1.37 Volcanics 91.1 99.0 7.8 0.29 Volcanics 204.0 205.1 1.1 3.36 Volcanics 214.0 220.5 6.5 0.96 Dike Corridor 234.5 237.0 2.5 0.81 Dike Corridor 318.6 325.6 7.0 3.58 Dike Corridor 381.4 402.7 21.3 0.55 Central QFP 421.0 447.0 26.0 0.97 Sediments including 433.0 438.0 5.0 2.92 Sediments 461.0 468.0 7.0 1.29 Sediments 515.7 526.0 10.3 0.61 Sediments 25ODD-101 278.6 279.6 1.0 9.92 Volcanics 359.0 360.1 1.1 2.01 Dike Corridor 390.5 393.5 3.0 0.94 Dike Corridor 400.0 410.5 10.5 16.35** Dike Corridor including 404.2 407.7 3.5 46.38** Dike Corridor 416.5 418.0 1.5 1.04 Dike Corridor 450.7 469.5 18.8 3.83 Dike Corridor 478.5 488.5 10.0 2.02 Dike Corridor 506.0 507.5 1.5 1.41 Dike Corridor 552.5 554.0 1.5 1.50 Volcanics 561.0 609.5 48.5 2.13 Central QFP including 569.5 587.7 18.2 3.14 Central QFP and including 600.7 604.0 3.3 10.34 Central QFP 650.0 655.0 5.0 2.34 Sediments 673.0 674.5 1.5 2.39 Sediments CAMP ZONE 25ODD-098 125.0 135.5 10.5 0.59 Dike Corridor 171.7 190.1 18.4 0.42 Felsic Dike 25ODD-100 79.0 80.1 1.1 1.05 Volcanics 126.6 127.8 1.2 0.73 Central QFP 269.5 270.7 1.2 0.73 Sediments 307.0 308.1 1.1 1.89 Southern porphyry 383.8 385.0 1.2 0.91 Diorite Dike *True widths vary as mineralization at Wenot is generally hosted within stockwork vein systems with alteration halos, with an estimated true width range of 70-90%. Cut-off grade 0.30 g/t Au with maximum 5.0m internal dilution is applied. Grades are uncapped unless otherwise noted. ** Uncapped. Capping at 70g/t Au will result in a 10.5m interval of 10.40 g/t Au. And this includes 3.5m grading 28.52 when capped at 70 g/t Au. Figure 2. Camp Zone Plan Map Showing Drill Hole Locations Figure 3. Cross-Section for DDH 25ODD-101 Table 2. Drill Hole Coordinates Hole ID Azimuth (degrees) Inclination (degrees) Easting Northing Depth (m) Status 25ODD-098 177 -50 303627 602070 419.0 Reporting 25ODD-100 180 -51 303778 601965 452.0 Reporting 25ODD-099 178 -52 304879 601885 596.0 Reporting 25ODD-101 176 -55 305083 601952 689.5 Reporting 1 NI43-101 Technical Report dated May 21, 2024 "UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE AND PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE OMAI GOLD PROPERTY, POTARO MINING DISTRICT NO.2, GUYANA" was prepared by Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, President of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. is available on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website. It includes a Wenot resource of 834,000 indicated ounces of gold averaging 1.48 g/t Au and 1,614,000 inferred ounces of gold averaging 1.99 g/t Au, and the adjacent Gilt Creek resource of 1,151,000 indicated ounces of gold averaging 3.22 g/t Au and 665,000 inferred ounces of gold averaging 3.35 g/t Au. 2 Past production at the Omai Mine (1993-2005) is summarized in several Cambior Inc. documents available on SEDARplus.ca, including March 31, 2006 AIF and news release August 3, 2006. Quality Control Omai maintains an internal QA/QC program to ensure sampling and analysis of all exploration work is conducted in accordance with best practices. Certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates are entered at regular intervals. Samples are sealed in plastic bags. Drill core samples (halved-core) were shipped to ActLabs, a certified laboratory in Georgetown Guyana, respecting the best chain of custody practices. At the laboratory, samples are dried, crushed up to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle split (250 g), and pulverized to 95% passing 105 m, including cleaner sand. Fifty grams of pulverized material is then fire assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AA). Initial assays with results above 3.0 ppm gold are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish. For samples with visible gold two separate 500g or 1000g pulverized samples are prepared, with 50 grams of each fire assayed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, with assays above 3.0 ppm gold being re-assayed using a gravimetric finish. Certified reference materials and blanks meet with QA/QC specifications. Qualified Person Elaine Ellingham is a Qualified Person (QP) under National Instrument 43-101 "Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects" and has approved the technical information contained in this news release. Ms. Ellingham is not considered to be independent for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. ABOUT OMAI GOLD Omai Gold Mines Corp. holds a 100% interest in the Omai Prospecting License that includes the past-producing Omai Gold Mine in Guyana, and a 100% interest in the adjoining Eastern Flats Mining Permits. The Company announced a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA")1 on its Wenot Deposit at Omai in April 2024, showing an open pit operation to produce 1.84 million ounces of gold over a 13-year period, with an NPV 5% of US$556 million at a US$1,950/oz gold price. This baseline PEA incorporates only 45% of the property's MRE and management believes that with additional work the mine plan can be significantly expanded, the economics enhanced, and the open pit resources further increased. An updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE")1 of 2.0 million ounces of gold (Indicated) and 2.3 million ounces (Inferred) reflects a notable increase as a result of 2023's successful drilling. Once South America's largest producing gold mine, Omai produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold between 1993 and 20052. Mining ceased at a time when the average gold price was less than US$400 per ounce. As a brownfields project, Omai benefits from good road access and a wealth of historical data that provides knowledge of the geology and gold mineralization on the Property, as well as metallurgy, historical processing recoveries and many other relevant mining parameters. 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 Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-Looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of completion of exploration, trenching and drill programs, and the potential for the Omai Gold Project to allow Omai to build significant gold Mineral Resources at attractive grades, and forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; the price of gold and copper; and the results of current exploration. Further, the Mineral Resource data set out in the Omai Gold news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Further, the Preliminary Economic Assessments and related data discussed in this news release are estimates, and no assurance can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of recovery will be realized. Forward-Looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Omai Gold Mines Corp. to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to international operations; actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold, copper and other minerals and metals; general market conditions; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; uncertainty of access to additional capital; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities. Huthi media said late Wednesday that new US strikes had hit the rebel-held capital Sanaa, after earlier reporting 19 American raids elsewhere in Yemen. "A series of strikes by the US aggression have hit the south and north of the capital," the Al-Masirah channel said, without providing further details. The station had earlier reported 17 raids by the United States "on the Saada governorate", on top of two more on Amran. The Iran-backed rebels' news agency, Saba, said "the American aggression targeted the Oncology Hospital building in Saada". The hospital, which Huthi media said was under construction, was also hit last week. The rebel health ministry said two civilians were wounded in the latest hospital attack, which they described as "a full-fledged war crime". Early on Wednesday, a Huthi military spokesperson said the group targeted "enemy warships in the Red Sea, led by the US aircraft carrier (USS Harry S.) Truman" blamed for the Yemen strikes. The rebels also claimed a drone attack on Tel Aviv, but did not specify when it occurred. Israel did not report such an attack. Washington announced a military offensive against the Huthis on March 15, promising to use overwhelming force until the group stopped firing on vessels in the key shipping routes of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. That day saw a wave of US air strikes that officials said killed senior Huthi leaders, and which the rebels' health ministry said killed 53 people. Since then, Huthi-held parts of Yemen have witnessed near-daily attacks that the group has blamed on the United States, with the rebels announcing the targeting of US military ships and Israel. The Huthis began targeting shipping vessels after the start of the Gaza war, claiming solidarity with Palestinians, but paused their campaign when a ceasefire took effect in Gaza in January. Earlier this month, they threatened to renew attacks in the vital maritime trade route over Israel's aid blockade on the Palestinian territory, triggering the first US strikes on Yemen since President Donald Trump took office in January. Last week, Trump threatened to annihilate the Huthis and warned Tehran against continuing to aid the group. Gunmen killed at least six people in "coordinated" attacks in southwestern Pakistan that largely targeted bus passengers based on their ethnicity, police said on Thursday, the latest in a spike in violence in the region. Pakistan has been battling a separatist insurgency in Balochistan for decades, where militants target state forces, foreign nationals and non-locals in the mineral-rich southwestern province bordering Afghanistan and Iran. "Terrorists have targeted passenger buses and security officials in multiple districts of Balochistan, killing at least five non-local passengers and a security official," a senior provincial police official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The incident took place in the coastal town of Pasni in Gwadar district. "They stopped passenger buses and identified non-local travellers," the official added. Dozens of militants have carried out the attacks in several districts of the province after they took control of major highways and set up posts to search vehicles, the official said. In some areas the attacks are still ongoing, he added. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement the attacks were "a cowardly act" and "a crime against humanity". "Targeting travelers by identifying them is barbaric and brutal", he said in a statement. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, Baloch separatists have intensified attacks on security forces as well as non-locals in recent weeks. Earlier this month, ethnic Baloch separatists attacked a train with 450 passengers on board, sparking a two-day siege during which dozens of people were killed. Days later, at least five paramilitaries were killed in a vehicle-borne suicide attack. Both assaults were claimed by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The group also launched coordinated attacks last year that included taking control of a major highway and shooting dead travellers from other ethnic groups, stunning the country. The militants have additionally targeted energy projects with foreign financing -- most notably from China -- accusing outsiders of exploiting the resource-rich region while excluding residents in the poorest part of Pakistan. Last year was the deadliest year in a decade in Pakistan, following a trend of rising militancy since the Taliban took control in Afghanistan in 2021. 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 Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Kenyans on X are mourning the sudden demise of a popular tweep identified as Jumuiyan. Jumuiyan was very vocal on X, where he fought for better governance. Before his death, he made some insensitive tweets celebrating the death of Dagorreti North Beatrice Elachis son, who succumbed to injuries after an accident. The only support we can give Beatrice Elachi is finishing all the food they will cook at her sons funeral, one of his tweets read. Jumuiyans death has come as a shocker to Kenyans on X. Word has it that he was silently battling depression, which led him to suicide. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Dagoretti North MP, Beatrice Elachi's son Elvis Murakana, will be laid to rest on Saturday, March 29th, at the family home in Nalepo Village, Kajiado County. At the time of his death, Elvis was a Business Studies student at Africa Nazarene University and was waiting for his graduation in June 2025. Elvis died after he was involved in an accident along Thika Road. He is said to have left home for errands in Kasarani on Tuesday, March 18th, when the accident occurred. Tragically, while driving back, his car suffered a tyre burst along Thika Road, causing it to veer off and collide with the guardrails. When police arrived, Elvis was found unconscious and was immediately rushed to AAR Hospital for urgent medical care. He was later admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where he succumbed to the injuries. The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 27, 2025 - A no-nonsense Kikuyu woman has set social media on fire after boldly warning ladies drooling over her husband. In the viral video, she parades her man, making it crystal clear - he is married! She directs a special warning to women from Mai Mahiu, claiming they are particularly interested in him. Meanwhile, the husband remains calm, seemingly unbothered. Fired up, she even hurls expletives, showing shes ready to do whatever it takes to protect her marriage. Talk about marking your territory! Watch the video below. Leave my man alone, hes married! Furious KIKUYU LADY parades her husband online and warns LADIES salivating on him pic.twitter.com/F4zbdDq6qY DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) March 27, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Thursday, March 27, 2025 - The identity of the elite Kenyan police officer who was ambushed and killed by a gang in Haiti has been revealed. His name is Benedict Kabiru and comes from Kikuyu Constituency where President William Rutos close confidant Kimani Ichungwa is the MP. Kabiru was killed on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 during a confrontation with gang members in the Lower Artibonite region. The incident happened when three armored vehicles became immobilised in a ditch, suspected to have been deliberately dug by gangs. As recovery efforts were underway, gang members launched an attack, resulting in the officer being shot. The gangs took custody of the officer's body, and specialised teams were deployed to retrieve it. This marks the second fatality among Kenyan officers in Haiti. See photos of the officer. Thursday, March 27, 2025 - Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti for a peace-keeping mission were ambushed by gangs after their armored vehicles became immobilized in a ditch. Reports indicate that 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 ditch, suspected 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. As the rescue teams attempted to resolve the situation, suspected gang members lying in wait launched an attack. They overpowered the police officers and torched their vehicles. One cop was shot during the gunfight and his body taken away by the gang. Watch the video of the gangs celebrating after torching the vehicles. Watch the moment Kenyan cops were overpowered by gangs in Haiti and their armored vehicles torched pic.twitter.com/tNYQ1S60uw DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) March 27, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Gordon Deegan Locals in Dublin 4 are contesting the green light for plans to demolish a 'D4 gem', Smyths pub on Haddington Rd and replace it with a larger pub and apartments, despite locals' superpub fears. This follows R. John McBratney and others lodging an appeal with An Bord Pleanala against Dublin City Council granting planning permission to Courtney Lounge Bars Ltd to demolish all existing buildings on site at 10 Haddington Rd and construct a four storey and part five storey mixed-use building comprising a pub at basement and ground floor and six residential units at the upper floors. The Council granted planning permission after concluding that the scheme "would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or property in the vicinity. In response to the plans initially lodged, the Pembroke Rd Association told the council that "a local pub can be a wonderful social amenity in a mixed residential area, as Smyths has been over the years, but a super pub in the same type of area is a problem. In his original objection, Mr R. John McBratney contended that: It is a substantial intensification of the use of the site. I note the application is silent as to why the pub serving area needs to be increased further. A resident on Percy Place, Mr McBratney said: I believe in city livingIt has been a marvellous place to live, notwithstanding the changes in the streetscape in the intervening years. He said: The proposed development would radically change what is known as Smyth's pub and create a five storey building with protruding balconies and a roof terrace which would overbear the houses in Percy Place. He said: It is, in short an over-development of the site and it would seriously injure my enjoyment of my home on Percy Place and, I therefore request that you refuse planning permission for this application. Mr McBratney also stated that he was concerned that balconies and terrace on the scheme may become places of parties and late night festivities "particularly if any of these apartments were to be used for short term holiday lets which is a realistic fear given the close proximity of the Aviva stadium and its many crowd inducing events". The planning authority granted planning permission, with 14 conditions attached, after Courtney Lounge Bars Ltd made design changes to the scheme. The Council planners report concluded that the alterations made to the design are greatly appreciated. The planners stated that the changes have resulted in a development which balances visual interest and attention to detail which creates an architectural presence in a volume which does not jar with the adjoining structures. By Claudia Savage, PA TUV leader Jim Allister has accused former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of partitioning the UK during the Brexit negotiations by insisting on the border being pushed where the IRA could never push it. Mr Allister warned against nice, fuzzy sentiment between the UK and Ireland, saying relations between the two countries included malevolence to the detriment of Northern Ireland. As leader of party Fine Gael, Mr Varadkar held the post of taoiseach from 2017 until 2020, returning to the role in 2022 before resigning in 2024. Leo Varadkar meeting then-prime minister Boris Johnson (PA) He played a key role in the Brexit negotiations, with a famous meeting with then-prime minister Boris Johnson at a manor house on the Wirral in England seen as a significant moment in paving a way for the deal on the UKs exit from the EU. The agreement staved off the prospect of a hard trade border being introduced on the island of Ireland, but it did prompt years of further political turmoil, particularly within unionism in Northern Ireland, over the creation of a so-called Irish Sea border on the movement of goods between the region and Great Britain. During a debate in the Commons on the legacy of St Patricks Day, the MP for North Antrim referred to the Second World War where he said the Irish government formally and quite shockingly expressed regrets at the death of Hitler. He went on to claim that when co-operation was sought by the British Government during the Troubles, there was very little action from the Irish Government. Moving to Northern Irelands post-Brexit trading situation Mr Allister said it would be impossible to ignore the incredible constitutional situation the region is in as a result of the Windsor Framework agreement. He said: This is said to be a United Kingdom. Its a United Kingdom, sadly partitioned by a border in the Irish Sea and the point Im coming to is this, that much of that is at the behest of the authorities in the Irish Republic. It was the taoiseach of the Irish Republic who pushed and cajoled and forced the EU into their irrational demands. The EU, at the beginning of the protocol negotiations, was prepared, indeed they originated the idea of mutual enforcement to control the movement of goods. But sadly it was the taoiseach Varadkar who insisted, who saw the opportunity of partitioning the United Kingdom, who insisted on the border being pushed where the IRA could never push it in their 30 years of terror, insisted on it being pushed to the Irish Sea. It was the Dublin government that made those irrational demands and repudiated the very thing that made that unnecessary, namely mutual enforcement. So yes, lots of nice, fuzzy sentiment about how the Irish Republic and the UK have relations, and in many areas they are good, but there is a reality that there has been a malevolence to the detriment of Northern Ireland as well. TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister (Liam McBurney/PA) Intervening, SNP MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East Seamus Logan said: I dont recall some of the accusations that hes making about the role of the Irish government in terms of the negotiations that followed the Brexit vote. But what I wanted to ask him to clarify for the purpose of the record, is it not the case that many Unionist elected representatives, some of them in this chamber, encouraged their voters and their supporters to vote for Brexit in June 2016, did they not? Mr Allister agreed that they did but added: they didnt get Brexit. He concluded: I think that in any relationship, you look for a two-way co-operation, and you certainly dont look for trying to exploit a situation to achieve the dissembling of part of your neighbouring country, and that, sadly, is what has happened in respect of the Brexit negotiations. We have no issue with a local Palestinian community group participating in the parade, but we cant have Kildare Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (KIPSC) participating as it is by every definition a politically active group, said a spokesperson for the Newbridge St Patricks Day Parade committee. The committee felt compelled to issue a statement in light of their unanimous (7-0) decision to not allow the KIPSC to participate in this years march. The spokesperson said the committee's decision was influenced by a protest the group had carried out in Newbridge last November. He said: In light of this we couldnt countenance the potential for this behaviour at the Newbridge St Patricks Day Parade 2025 in front of 3.000 children and 9,000 adults, to whom we have a duty of care. We had to gather our committee to discuss before responding. The organising committee takes all concerns seriously and wish to clarify the rationale behind our decision to ensure transparency: Firstly our Mission Statement defines our operational protocols for us, and we adhere to these protocols as they have served us well in our decision-making, he said. It reads: 'The Newbridge St. Patricks Day Parade is a cherished community event that celebrates Irish heritage, culture, and unity. 'Our mission is to foster inclusivity, joy, and pride by showcasing the creativity and diversity of Newbridge and its surrounding areas. 'We are committed to maintaining a family-friendly, non-political environment where all attendees can enjoy a safe, welcoming, and tradition-rich celebration of St Patricks Day. 'The committee welcomes everyone to our parade but we do exclude political groups as a matter of policy. 'The Ukrainian participants were local Newbridge and County Kildare residents representing community-led initiatives, like schools and cultural associations. 'Their inclusion reflected solidarity with displaced families integrating into our town, not endorsement of geopolitical positions.' The issue came to light with the Newbridge For All group issuing a statment on behalf of the KIPSC lamenting their omission although members did take part in the parade in Athy. The KPPSC group were excluded from participating in the Newbridge St Patrick's Day Parade on Monday on the grounds that their group was considered political, and this exclusion is deeply concerning. "The Newbridge Parade was a wonderful celebration of community, cultural diversity, and solidarity as demonstrated by the strong and justified welcome shown to the Ukrainian participants who took part on the day. "Solidarity with oppressed peoples is a human rights issue and simply cannot be categorized as political in the same way as partisan political movements." A MAN who operated an unofficial taxi service as more of a way of socialising than making money has avoided a driving disqualification at Carlow District Court. Thomas Walsh appeared before the court last week on a single charge of having no insurance. The court heard that on 12 January 2024, Superintendent ORiordan found that Mr Walsh had been operating an unofficial taxi service after a request for a taxi from a Chinese restaurant to an address in Bagenalstown. Mr Walsh produced insurance, but it was for a private vehicle and didnt cover carrying passengers for a fee, meaning the insurance was not intended for a public service vehicle. The defendant was subsequently prosecuted by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) for operating an unofficial taxi service. The court was told that he pleaded guilty on the first day before the court and was fined 300 with an additional 300 costs in that matter. The defendants solicitor Chris Hogan made a plea of mitigation, stating that his client was a man living alone and living a simple life. He told the court that Mr Walsh didnt drink and ran the unofficial taxi service more as a way of socialising rather than for making money. Mr Hogan noted that his client usually charged whatever the passenger wanted to pay and is a man who frequently helps out in his community. The solicitor added that Mr Walsh, with an address at Racecourse Road, Gowran, Co Kilkenny, has already been prosecuted by the RSA and didnt know that by driving people he was driving uninsured. Taking all the facts of the case into account, Judge Geraldine Carthy decided not to impose a driving disqualification but fined Mr Walsh 300, to be paid within 120 days. RTE 2FM star Carl Mullan has shared a frightening experience with sepsis after he ignored one simple symptom before a dash to A&E. The former Dancing With The Stars winner said he had a sore throat but was doing the "typical Irish thing" of ignoring it and thought he would be just bothering a doctor with it. Speaking about the ordeal on Instagram as a warning to others, Carl said: It all started a few years ago when I got a sore throat. That was it, very simple a sore throat. It was covered in white and yellow patches, and it was just so raw and so painful. I probably shouldnt have let it get to the point that it did, and I should have gone back to the doctor sooner. I was in so much pain, I went back to the doctor who sent me immediately to A&E because it was in such a bad way." In hospital, a doctor gasped when he examined his throat and told him he was lucky he presented when he did as he was in the early stages of sepsis which can be fatal. He was like youre really lucky you came into hospital when you did. Why? Youre in the early stages of sepsis. READ NEXT: Warning to Irish people on holiday in Spain amid 'stay away' protests Carl said: If you dont treat it quickly, you can go into organ failure, and ultimately, it can be fatal. The main point here is that I had no clue that what started out as a relatively straightforward infection could turn into sepsis. I was lucky the doctor sent me to A&E when he did, and thankfully, I was all good after a couple of days. Carl went on to say: "I think the main point of the campaign being run at the moment is to make people aware of the risks and to always have sepsis at the back of your mind when you or someone you know has an infection. So hopefully chatting about this is of some use to a few of you." The Irish Sepsis Foundation thanked Carl for sharing his story and said: "It's so important that the public are aware of the signs and symptoms in sepsis as it can happen to anyone at any age." The HSE warns about the dangers of sepsis on its website and tells people that symptoms can be similar to other illnesses. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carl Mullan (@carlmullan) They say: "Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of an infection. "Most people make a full recovery if it's identified and treated quickly. Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death. "It can be hard to tell if you have sepsis but trust your instincts. "It's not always easy to tell if you are developing sepsis. There are lots of possible symptoms. Symptoms can be vague. They can be similar to symptoms of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection. "Sepsis cannot develop unless you have an infection," they explained. They warn that you should "contact a GP or GP out of hours urgently if you or someone you care for has an infection and: - a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or above) - a low body temperature (below 36 degrees Celsius) - chills and shivering - a fast heartbeat - problems with or changes to your breathing - is feeling or acting differently from normal - is vomiting - a headache - is feeling unwell They add that "some of the symptoms of sepsis are similar to meningitis." "If your GP thinks it's sepsis, they will usually refer you to hospital for further diagnosis and treatment. If you cannot contact your GP, go to your nearest ED," they add. You can find out more on the sepsis page of the HSE website. The word 'blaa' has been added to the Oxford English Dictionary, described as a 'soft white bread roll dusted with flour, particularly associated with Waterford, Ireland'. This news follows a European ruling made by Brussels more than decade ago in 2013 that meant that the floury bread roll can only be called by its famous 'blaa' moniker if made in the city and county of Waterford and part of adjoining south Kilkenny. The geographical area that is generally understood to apply to the 'blaa' is outlined in the map below: This area is restricted to what is known as all of County Waterford and part of south County Kilkenny. READ NEXT: Kilkenny player wins 4 million Lotto jackpot! The part of south Kilkenny in question directly adjoins County Waterford made up of the Ullid and Dunkitt electoral divisions which is part of the southern Piltown Electoral Area. The Waterford Blaa Bakers Association was set up in 2009 as a registered partnership when a number of well known and long established family bakeries from County Waterford and South Kilkenny came together to form the group. The association operates as an official body under the Irish Bakers and Confectioners Association. The primary objective of the group is to protect the blaa as a unique regional Irish food product. The bakers also co-operate to improve quality and marketing of blaas in the region and participate in food festivals and food award events. One of the biggest blaa manufacturers is Walsh's Bakehouse in Waterford, known as the 'home of the blaa', fronted by Michael and Dermot Walsh, third generation bakers of the Walsh family. The real Walshs Bakehouse story begins with their grandfather, Patrick Walsh. He was born in 1882 in Kilmacow, County Kilkenny. Patricks own father died when he was young, but because he was the eldest in the family at that time, he went out to work as soon as he left national school. When he was old enough, he left home and joined the British Army, serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers. When he had served his time, he returned home to Kilmacow and trained as a master baker. During his career, Patrick became head baker of Bolands Mills in Dublin, and after his marriage to Kilmacow native Mary OCallaghan, worked in Waterford as foreman in Smiths Bakery of George Street and at OBriens Model Bakeries. As an Army Reserve, Patrick was called up at the breakout of World War One in 1914. He rejoined his old regiment on the front lines in France, coming close to death several times. Patrick survived being a Prisoner of War for four years in Gressen, Germany, and was decorated with war and field medals at the end of the war. When he returned home, he had enough money behind him to start his own bakery on the Mayors Walk in Waterford before moving to Number 2 and 3 Ballybricken in 1928. Eventually, he went into the milling business in his home town of Kilmacow, where he had one of the largest water wheel mills in Ireland. Patrick made flour and oatmeal for the baking trade. Patrick Walsh was a Master Baker and always a soldier at heart. His legacy was carried on by sons Richard and Arthur, at their premises at Ballybricken. Here, they continued the great traditions laid down by their father at P. Walsh & Co. Bakers and Confectioners. Another son, Paddy, and two daughters, Stasia and Mary continued to develop and expand the Walsh family bakery, until Richard retired, followed some years later by Arthur. At Walshs Bakehouse, they continue strive for excellence in baking traditional breads and are proud to be one of the makers of the blaa. Notably, Kilkenny's Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers, is documented as having made his own blaas at his bakery in Mount Sion in Waterford City. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE A planning application for a huge whiskey distillery has been refused by the Carlow County Council for a site location in Bagenalstown, just over the Kilkenny-Carlow border. The site is located at the old Dunleckney Maltings, Dunleckney in Bagenalstown and the proposal was submitted by WW Equity House Trading Ltd. t/a Walsh Whiskey at the aforementioned location, comprised of the establishment of an Irish Whiskey Distillery and associated Visitor Centre at the premises. READ NEXT: Mayor calls for 'residents only' parking in busy area of Kilkenny Dunleckney Maltings is included in the County Carlow Record of Protected Structures. The planning application was made on April 18 last year with the decision to refuse the planning coming on March 24, 2025. The proposal submitted to Carlow County Council is extensive and some of the works proposed included: The conversion of existing buildings for the production of Irish whiskey including Mill Room, Mash Room, Pot Still House, Fermenter Vessel Room, cleaning-in-place station, plant rooms, cask filling/disgorging room, workshops, stores, distillery plant and equipment etc. The conversion of existing buildings was sought at the south of the complex to a Distillery Visitor Centre with an off license, bar and shop facilities. Conversion of the existing building was also sought for offices, meeting rooms, laboratory, staff canteen, staff and visitor sanitary facilities etc. A number of other works are listed in the public notice. READ NEXT: The 'blaa', heavily associated with South Kilkenny, added to Oxford English Dictionary A detailed description of the refusal of the planning application can be found on the Carlow County Council's planning website with some of the reasons listed for the refusal being as follows: "The proposal to abstract water from a private borehole on the site within a zone of contribution for the Bagenalstown Public Water Supply and the location of the private borehole, downgradient of and a deeper depth to Uisce Eireanns main abstract point for public water supply. This has the potential to negatively impact on yield for the public water supply in the town. "Insufficient information has been provided regarding the feasibility of a connection to the Uisce Eireann infrastructure network in the area. "Insufficient information regarding the full nature and extent of the proposed development as coming within the scope of the Chemicals Act." The full list of reasons with a more detailed explanation can be found on the Carlow Council Planning Website. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Sinn Fein has labelled a report into disorder in the Dail on Tuesday as deeply flawed. The report, written by the clerk of the Dail, Peter Finnegan, analysed whether the decisions made by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy adhered to Dail rules. He concluded that her actions on the order of business, questions on policy or legislation, and a motion to amendment standing orders adhered to Dail rules. The clerks report was issued as an attachment to Ms Murphys statement categorically rejecting allegations of partiality and collusion. The statement was issued after opposition parties drafted a motion of no confidence in Ms Murphy. In Mr Finnegans report, he said that after Ms Murphy put the order of business to the Dail on Tuesday, calls of Votail to trigger a division were not audible on the chambers legal record. It is a longstanding parliamentary requirement that members dissenting from the Chairs declaration must say the word Votail to trigger a division, the report said. The official report of the debates and the clerks sheet (which is the basis for the Journal of Proceedings, the legal record of the Dail) both confirm that the word Votail was not audible in the chamber when you put the question on the order of business. The declaration of the result by you was therefore fully in accordance with standing orders. On the decision on questions on policy or legislation, Mr Finnegan said the significant level of disorder in the Dail led to Ms Murphy using her discretion to move to the next item, which is allowed under Standing Order 36. Sinn Fein have said that this unilateral waving of promised legislation was something we have never seen in the Dail. On the main point of contention in the Dail on Tuesday, the motion to amend Dail standing orders, the clerk said that party leader Mary Lou McDonald was asked to move Sinn Feins amendment. Ms McDonald said on Tuesday that she did not hear Ms Murphy say that. As the order of business, as agreed, provided that the motion be taken without debate, you were obliged to immediately proceed to put the question on the motion itself. The motion was put to the House, members said Votail, the clerk rang the bells, and the division was taken in accordance with standing orders, the clerks report said. After the tellers for the no side, Sinn Feins Padraig Mac Lochlainn and Labours Duncan Smith, refused to sign the tellers sheet in protest, Ms Murphy declared the government amendment passed. He said that this was provided for under Standing Order 91. The decision under this standing order, which is aimed at preventing the obstruction of divisions due to gross disorder and refusal by duly nominated tellers to fulfil their obligations under standing orders, is entirely at the Ceann Comhairles discretion. Therefore, your decision yesterday to declare the motion agreed was fully compliant with standing orders and the powers conferred upon you as Ceann Comhairle. Responding to the report, a spokesman for Sinn Fein said it was deeply flawed. The party also said it does not tally with events in the Dail chamber yesterday, which can be viewed and heard on the Oireachtas website. The Ceann Comhairle was determined to force through a highly contentious and damaging government proposition, regardless of what was happening on the floor of the Dail. As a result, there was no vote on the order of business even though a vote was clearly called. There was a unilateral waving of promised legislation something we have never seen in the Dail. The Opposition did not move their amendment. In her haste to force through the government proposal, the Ceann Comhairle appears to have inadvertently moved the Opposition amendment and not the motion put forward by the government. It was this amendment that was passed. All of this can be clearly seen on the Oireachtas website. The deputy Irish premier said he believes talks rather than tariffs is the sensible way to proceed after US President Donald Trump pledged to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical imports to the US. Mr Trump, who announced 25% tariffs on all cars made outside the US, singled out Ireland as he said he wanted to bring our pharmaceutical industry back to the US. We dont make anything here in terms of drugs, different types of drugs that you need, medicines, its in other countries, largely made in China, a lot of it made in Ireland, Mr Trump said in the Oval Office. Ireland was very smart, we love Ireland, but were gonna have that. In a statement, the Tanaiste said he will meet with senior official to take stock of the matter when he returned from Lebanon later on Thursday. Ireland continues to engage with colleagues across Europe and the United States on the issue of trade policy, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement. We believe talks rather than tariffs is the sensible way to proceed. This week, I spoke again to US Commerce Secretary (Howard) Lutnick and we agreed to stay in touch. I also spoke to EU Trade Commissioner (Maros) Sefcovic and I am in ongoing (talks) with him and his team. I have had conversations with many of my European counterparts. When I arrive back in Dublin from Lebanon today, I will be meeting senior officials to further take stock. The European Union wants to sit down with the US and reach agreement on a trade relationship that works for everyone because trade is good for jobs, growth and all our economies. This is what needs to happen. I welcome that there will also be a special EU Trade Council on April 7 which I will represent Ireland at. A Kilkenny woman has graduated from an innovative employment based postgraduate programme at an Irish university. Maeve Cusack and Aine Murphy, graduates of the MSc in Dairy Process Technology, celebrated their conferring at University College Cork (UCC). This innovative employment based postgraduate programme is a collaboration between UCC and Kerry Group. The graduates were supervised by Prof Seamus OMahony, Dr Tom OCallaghan, and Prof Alan Kelly, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, UCC, with industry mentorship from Ms. Ger Behan, Kerry Group. Aine Murphy, a UCC BSc (Hons) Food Science graduate, comes from a farming background in Ballyfoyle, County Kilkenny. Aine was the only third-year Food Science student to complete an industry-based work placement in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, having traveled to New Zealand to work with dairy company Synlait. READ NEXT: Television icon spotted on the streets of Kilkenny Maeve Cusack, a native of Tower, County Cork, graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Food Science from UCC. Science and food are an integral part of Maeves family history. She participated in the BT Young Scientist competition twice while attending Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig. Her sister studied Nutritional Sciences at UCCs School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, and her father works as a Dairy Farm Manager. University College Cork first partnered with Kerry Group in 2021 to develop this new MSc Degree in Dairy Process Technology. Kerry Group initially offered two employment-based studentships on the programme and has offered three more in the intervening years. It is a two-year, part-time, employment-based postgraduate degree drawing from UCC Food Science graduates. The programme offers graduates a unique opportunity to complete a Masters in Dairy Process Technology through UCC while working across Kerry Groups dairy processing sites in Listowel, Charleville, and Newmarket. According to Professor Seamus OMahony "This is an excellent example of academia working with industry to address an identified skills need and support the development of the next generation of scientific leaders in the industry. The programme is one of a range of new initiatives in dairy and food science designed to create greater access to lifelong and life-wide learning opportunities for recent graduates and company employees in the dairy sector. 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 Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's recent contentious meeting with President Donald Trump raised eyebrows among many Americans. Vice President JD Vance called the Ukrainian president "disrespectful," but the circumstances of the meeting in the Oval Office were not unusual in diplomatic history. When Dwight Eisenhower took office intending to end the Korean War quickly, he found himself at odds with then-South Korean President Syngman Rhee. Elected in November 1952, Eisenhower promised a swift conclusion to the conflict, whereas Rhee opposed this approach, advocating for the reunification of North and South Korea by force. Rhee insisted on securing a mutual defense treaty with the U.S. if his military plans could not be implemented. Eisenhower faced significant challenges in negotiating the armistice agreement, which took seven months. He assumed office Jan. 20, 1953, and the ceasefire deal was signed on July 27. During this period, Rhee proved to be a major obstacle for Eisenhower. Concerned that Rhee might sabotage the negotiations, Eisenhower considered three options: overthrowing the "often unreliable ally" (Rhee), negotiating a bilateral security pact with South Korea or withdrawing U.S. troops. The first option, known as Operation Ever-ready, received serious consideration from U.S. officials in mid-1953 as a potential solution to Rhee's objections to parts of the proposed armistice agreement. However, this option was never put into action. Eisenhower recognized that Rhee preferred the second option negotiating a bilateral security pact with the U.S. to deter potential attacks from the North following the ceasefire. The third option, pulling out American troops, was impractical for the U.S., as substantial military resources had already been committed since the beginning of the war. Withdrawing American soldiers and potentially losing to communism would have been more damaging for the U.S. than for South Korea. At that time, South Koreans constituted about 60% of United Nations troops. Rhee even threatened to withdraw South Korean forces from the U.N. coalitions to undermine America's efforts toward a truce agreement. To pressure Eisenhower, Rhee released anti-communist prisoners of war without consulting the U.S. These anti-communist POWs were individuals conscripted by the communist North after the war began, who had since expressed their loyalty to the democratic South. Upon the ceasefire, the North demanded their return, asserting they belonged to their military; the South objected on humanitarian and political grounds. Rhee's release of these anti-communist POWs was a major event that could have derailed the armistice negotiations. Eisenhower was taken aback. The POWs event prompted Eisenhower to seriously consider the second option of establishing a mutual defense treaty with South Korea. He sent his assistant secretary of state, Walter Robertson, as a special envoy to South Korea. In the end, the two leaders reached an agreement to secure an armistice in exchange for the U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty and economic assistance. The armistice agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, followed by the U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty on Oct. 1, 1953. Despite this, the rift between Eisenhower and Rhee was not resolved after the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty. On July 30, 1954, the two presidents met at the White House. Eisenhower urged Rhee to establish normal diplomatic relations with Japan. Rhee refused, citing that Japan had justified its brutal 36-year colonial rule over Korea in the name of industrialization. Eisenhower countered that the past should be left behind and that both countries needed to move forward. Rhee said that would not happen in his lifetime. Eisenhower became so furious that he abruptly left the meeting. When he returned shortly after, Rhee quickly stood up and exited the room. Astonishingly, just four months later, Eisenhower granted Rhee's wish. Rhee was thrilled to see the U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty take effect and secured aid from the U.S. Eisenhower's humanitarian diplomacy, which prioritized the interests of vulnerable Koreans, ultimately proved effective. In 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson requested Park Chung-hee to deploy South Korean troops to Vietnam, the South Korean president agreed to his request. Over the course of eight years, from 1965 to 1973, about 300,000 South Korean soldiers, averaging around 50,000 each year, fought alongside U.S. forces in the Vietnam War, conducting 563,387 military operations. More than 5,000 South Korean soldiers were killed in action, with more than 10,000 wounded. It is time for Trump to reflect on the complex and nuanced nature of international diplomacy. The potential agreement between Trump and Zelensky could be even more beneficial than that of Eisenhower and Rhee. This is because Ukraine has significant deposits of natural resources, such as titanium, graphite, lithium and uranium, which are vital for America's national security. In contrast, South Korea did not provide such an abundance of valuable minerals. Trump could establish a mutual defense agreement with Zelensky. This would not be an unreasonable proposition, considering the U.S. already pledged a security guarantee to Ukraine upon its return of all nuclear warheads to Russia by 1996, based on the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. After an armistice, Trump might reconsider his stance, which is not uncommon in international relations. For instance, Jimmy Carter as president unilaterally annulled the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and Taiwan. This treaty was designed to protect Taiwan from invasion by China but was terminated on Jan. 1, 1980, just one year after the U.S. established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Moreover, numerous scholars observe that military alliances are not always upheld during war. In a worst-case scenario, Washington might choose to overlook a mutual defense agreement with Zelensky, though I hope that will not happen. Seung-Whan Choi teaches Korean politics and international relations at the University of Illinois Chicago. A retired Army officer, he is the author of four books and 60 journal articles. 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. The upcoming K-pop audition show "Under 15" has sparked intense controversy and public outrage over its concept of featuring contestants as young as 8 years old. Set to premiere on March 31, the show aims to discover K-pop prodigies from a pool of 59 participants, all under the age of 15, representing over 70 countries, including South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. The survival show, produced by Crea Studio and set to air on MBN, first sparked fury after it released a teaser on YouTube where contestants were shown getting their make-up done. However, it did not receive as much backlash until after it released its promotional content, which featured the young contestants wearing heavy makeup, crop tops, and short skirts. The backlash has been further fueled by the ongoing scandal involving actor Kim Soo-hyun, who has been accused of grooming a minor actress. A survival show called 'UNDER15' is already wild in the first place. 39 participants between 9 to 15 yo is absolutely crazy. I hope nobody watch or support this show bcz ain't no way this exist!! https://t.co/l6tK07bexd pic.twitter.com/d1v6QPfIxc YPBY (@Hypeboy_Jurin) March 12, 2025 In response to the mounting criticism, the show's producers held a press conference on Tuesday, to address the controversies. "We did think that there could be some concerns, but we spent a whole year making this show, and we optimistically thought that people would be touched once they actually saw the show," Crea Studio co-CEO Hwang In-young said. "All of us, not just the staff, but also the contestants and their guardians, thought, 'Why is the show being criticized for being something it's not?'" Despite the producers' defense, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) has filed a complaint against Crea Studio for making false claims about the show's approval process. The KCSC clarified that it had not greenlit the show, contrary to earlier statements made by the production company. It is unclear whether "Under 15" will air as scheduled. As of Thursday, Crea Studios has not yet announced any delays or cancellations. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. EVIDENCE of hospital staff who treated a mentally ill patient at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, who took his own life while he was meant to be under continuous observation, was halted at an inquest last week, following an application by lawyers for the HSE. Details of the application cannot be published after counsel for the HSE, Conor Halpin SC, successfully applied to Laois county coroner Eugene OConnor for reporting restrictions to be imposed on the nature of the request to postpone hearing evidence from medical witnesses. David Duncan (42), a single man from Rathevan, Portlaoise, Co Laois died on 21 January 2024 three days after he had been detained under the Mental Health Act as an involuntary patient at the hospital. He was discovered in an unresponsive state on his bed in a seclusion room with padded walls and floors in the psychiatric ward of the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise. The coroner heard evidence that Mr Duncan had struggled for most of his life with schizophrenia and had numerous admissions as both a voluntary and involuntary patient over the years. At a resumed hearing of an inquest into his death at Laois Coroners Court on 20 March, Mr OConnor said he would proceed with hearing evidence from other witnesses after granting the application to adjourn evidence in relation to hospital staff. Marina Bowe, a consultant psychiatrist who treated the deceased at Highfield Healthcare a rehabilitation centre for mentally ill people in Whitehall, Dublin gave evidence that she had signed a letter to arrange Mr Duncans transfer to the hospital in Portlaoise on 18 January 2024. Dr Bowe said Mr Duncan had been detained under the Mental Health Act for involuntary admission to the hospital as he had been assessed as being in need of acute, in-patient psychiatric care. The psychiatrist said it had been hoped that the deceased would access services that would stabilise his mental health, which would allow him to access treatment in the community. Dr Bowe said she had assessed the deceased as having an elevated mood who had expressed suicidal ideation but who denied having a plan to take his own life. She told the coroner that Mr Duncans mental health had deteriorated over the previous month after his delusional beliefs appeared to increase around Christmas, at a time when he had disengaged from his family. The inquest heard he had obtained cocaine after leaving Highfield without permission on 12 January 2024, which also seemed to increase his delusional behaviour. Mr Duncan also absconded from the rehab centre on 17 January 2024 and was discovered by gardai on train tracks at Heuston Station in Dublin before being detained under the Mental Health Act for his own safety. The inquest also heard that Mr Duncan had escaped from the Midlands Regional Hospital on the day of his admission and was found later in Edenderry by gardai, who returned him to Portlaoise. Dr Bowe said it was unclear what had precipitated changes in Mr Duncan over the last month of his life and she noted he had been doing well. Although he had responded well to some medication, she believed he had not always taken the prescribed doses and had also engaged in substance misuse. The psychiatrist said she had assessed him as being at a high risk of going AWOL and of self-harm as well as violence. Questioned by counsel for Mr Duncans family, Will Fennelly BL, about what expectations she had about the deceaseds admission to the hospital in Portlaoise, Dr Bowe replied that she could not be an expert witness in a case in which she was directly involved. However, she acknowledged that she had never personally experienced that a patients risk level could change in seconds. Mr Halpin observed that the witness was being asked to critique the HSE. However, Dr Bowe agreed with Mr Fennelly that Mr Duncan was in a serious state on his admission to hospital in Portlaoise. State pathologist Heidi Okkers, who conducted a postmortem on the deceaseds body, gave evidence that she would not expect that there would be stiffness in the limbs of someone who had died within 15 minutes. Dr Okkers made the comment after Mr Fennelly had noted that hospital records had recorded stiffness in the patients neck and limbs shortly after his death. The pathologist said she understood from medical records that Mr Duncan had been checked every 15 minutes. The inquest also heard evidence from Garda John Foley about being alerted to the death of a patient in the hospitals psychiatric ward on 21 January 2024. Garda Foley said there were two cameras in the seclusion room where Mr Duncan was found, but they only provided a live feed and were not recording as per protocol. The inquest heard a staff nurse had discovered the patient prone on his mattress with a pillow over his face and a blanket over his body at 10.30am. CPR was applied to Mr Duncan for around 30 minutes without success and he was formally pronounced dead at 11.05am. Garda Damien Dempsey said he had been informed by another staff nurse that she had observed the patient on camera at 10.15am, when she said there was nothing out of the ordinary. The inquest heard the nurse told gardai that she presumed Mr Duncan was sleeping from his position on the mattress. The coroner adjourned proceedings until 9 May for an update on evidence to be provided by HSE witnesses. A separate review of Mr Duncans death is being carried out by the HSE. At an earlier sitting of the inquest last month, the deceaseds father Tony Duncan claimed the circumstances of his sons death would demonstrate gross negligence, incompetence and catastrophic failure by the hospitals Department of Psychiatry. Mr Duncan stated: We as a family took great solace that when David was in the Department of Psychiatry, he was safe. Sadly, this trust has been totally shattered and David has paid the ultimate price. He added: David should not be dead, but he is, and this inquest will not change that devastating fact, but it is our hope that something good might come out of it in terms of fundamental changes and accountability that just might, if implemented, save the life of other very ill and vulnerable service users. On 26 March Chiles lower chamber of congress voted against opening impeachment proceedings against former defence minister(2022-2025) in relation to the governments failed purchase of the house of her grandfather, former president(1970-1973). End of preview - This article contains approximately 402 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 26 March Mexican authorities announced the arrests of three alleged criminals in separate operations, each of which are wanted by the US. End of preview - This article contains approximately 399 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options An Allentown man pleaded guilty to multiple 2023 armed robberies in Lehigh County, where he stole over $1,000 in two days. Rubiel Perez, 30, of the city, on Wednesday appeared in federal court before United States District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl. Perez pleaded guilty to two counts felony robbery; one count felony attempted robbery; and one count felony using a firearm during a crime of violence. Perez initially was charged by indictment in November 2023. The charges are in connection to robberies that happened in March 2023. The Kaktovik Lagoon and the Brooks Range mountains of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are seen in Kaktovik, Alaska, Oct. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File) AP JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) A federal judge in Alaska on Tuesday ruled the Biden administration lacked the authority to cancel seven oil and gas leases that had been issued for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason said terms of a 2017 tax law that set the stage for the first-ever lease sale in the refuges coastal plain in early 2021 suggested that leases could only be canceled by a court order. She sent the matter back to the Department of Interior for further action. President Donald Trump upon his return to office in January signed an Alaska-specific executive order that among other things had sought to rescind the lease cancelation. The tax law called for two lease sale offerings by late 2024 in the refuges coastal plain, a roughly 1.5 million acre (more than 6 million hectare) swath of the vast refuge that borders the Beaufort Sea and is home to such wildlife as polar bears, caribou and birds. The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state corporation, was the major bidder in the first sale, which was held in the waning days of the first Trump administration. Small companies won two other leases but gave them up. Gleason in 2021 had rejected calls by drilling opponents to halt that first lease sale until underlying lawsuits were resolved. The second sale, held shortly before Biden left office, drew no bids. It was criticized by Alaska political leaders as too restrictive to attract interest, but environmental groups pointed to a lack of interest from oil companies as a reason to put the long-running debate over whether to allow drilling to rest. Tuesdays decision, in a case brought by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority against the Interior Department and federal officials, is the latest twist in the decades-long fight. Gwichin leaders have opposed drilling on the coastal plain, which they consider sacred, citing its importance to caribou they rely upon. Leaders of the Inupiaq community of Kaktovik, which is within the refuge, have expressed support for drilling, as have Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the states congressional delegation. Dunleavy in a statement lauded the decision: Now the leasing program can move forward and could result in more safe, secure energy production right here in Alaska. Gwichin leaders and environmental groups vowed to keep fighting. While we are deeply disappointed by todays ruling, we want to be clear that this decision does not diminish our determination to protect these sacred lands, Raeann Garnett, First Chief of the Native Village of Venetie Tribal Government, said in a statement. A trout is caught March 26, 2016, during Pennsylvania's Mentored Youth Trout Day on Clark Creek in Dauphin County. James Robinson File Photo | For pennlive.com/The Patriot-News The 3.2 million trout that the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is stocking for 2025 arent there for show. We do want people to catch these fish and take them home and eat them, commission spokesman Michael Parker said. Rainbow trout three out of every four trout stocked in Pennsylvania this year is a rainbow are a good protein source rich in fatty acids critical for heart health plus immunity-boosting vitamins, according to seafoodwatch.org. And for anglers hitting the waterways Saturday for Pennsylvanias Mentored Youth Trout Day or the regular season opener April 5, trout are easy to clean and cook in a variety of ways including oven-baked, pan-fried and grilled. Fish, however, are known to bioaccumulate contaminants present in the environment. Thats why Fish and Boat works with the state Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health to update fish consumption advisories. For 2025, only one waterway has been added to the list: Darby Creek from Route 13, also known as MacDade Boulevard, downstream to the Delaware River in Delaware and Philadelphia counties. The word there is Do Not Eat, and it affects all species, based on advisories from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA manages a Superfund site called the Lower Darby Creek Area due to landfills that operated in the 1950s to 70s that contaminated soil, groundwater and fish tissue with hazardous chemicals, according to the sites profile. The aquatic environments portion of the sites management practices states a risk assessment identified unacceptable human health risks from exposure to sediment contamination as well as consumption of fish and snapping turtles. The full list of Pennsylvania waterways subject to fish consumption advisories is included in the Pennsylvania Fishing Summary available with the purchase of a fishing license. The list also is excerpted in a .pdf available from the DEPs website at pa.gov. This excerpt is included below for viewing on some devices. (Find New Jerseys fish consumption advisories at dep.nj.gov.) Pennsylvania has issued a general, statewide health advisory for recreationally caught sport fish: eat no more than one meal (1/2 pound) per week of sport fish caught in the states waterways, the advisory section states. This general advice was issued to protect against eating large amounts of fish that have not been tested or that may contain unidentified contaminants. John Mihulec, of Freemansburg, holds a rainbow trout landed in the Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem during the opening day of trout fishing season March 29, 2014. Matt Smith File Photo | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Stocked trout from Fish and Boats state fish hatcheries also are subject to the blanket one-meal-per-week consumption advisory that applies to recreationally caught sport fish in Pennsylvania, according to the commission. Fish and Boat does not stock trout in areas under a do-not-eat advisory, the commissions Parker said. Thats the case, for example, with Neshaminy Creek in Montgomery and Bucks counties. State officials in October 2021 warned anglers not to eat any species of fish from the Neshaminy Creek basin due to extremely high levels of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). PFOS, like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), is a chemical in the Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) family. Widely used in consumer, commercial, and industrial products since the 1950s, PFAS are so persistent in the environment that theyre referred to as forever chemicals. Their effects on human health continue to be studied, but evidence suggests they may cause cancer, among other problems, according to a Department of Health PFAS fact sheet. That was a big loss for anglers, Parker said of the end to stocking the Neshaminy. Generally speaking, for an angler looking for a meal rather than catch-and-release recreation, the stocked trout is a different animal than, say, a largemouth or smallmouth bass that lives its life from egg to adulthood in the wild. A native fish can bioaccumulate contaminants such as mercury or PCBs. Trout stocked from the states regulated hatcheries are likely only to be around for a brief period before theyre caught by anglers or wildlife, or fall victim to the warming waters of summer. The goal is people pay for the opportunity to catch these trout and take them home, and eating them is a big part of that, Parker said. Its just like any other food, you just want to make sure: everything in moderation, he continued. And if you are going to plan on eating a lot of fish this year, just be aware of these long-standing advisories. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Travelling Aussies Faisal and Ryan have hit out at hotel listing website Booking.com after their response to the incident. A couple claim an online review nearly landed them in trouble with the police. Source: Supplied/Three Monkeys Villas An Aussie couple who booked what was purported to be 5-star accommodation through popular hotel reservation site Booking.com say they will be "hesitant" to ever use the business again after they were threatened by staff at a hotel for leaving a negative review online. Sydney-based Faisal and partner Ryan spent over $3,400 on what claimed to be a luxury hotel in Patong, Thailand in January, but it did not live up to their expectations. The tourists disliked the accommodation so much they only stayed for one night before moving to a different hotel. In doing so, they left two 1-star reviews on Google about the Three Monkeys Villas hotel, warning future guests the accommodation was a "tourist trap". They were unable to review the hotel on Booking.com because the hotel marked their stay as a "no show". They were stunned when, hours later, staff from the accommodation told them if they did not delete their reviews, they would call the police. Faisal has since hit out at Booking.com, who they reported the threat to straight away. After trying to resolve the issue for three months, and requesting an investigation, they feel nothing was done. ADVERTISEMENT "Im really disappointed with how Booking.com has handled this," he told Yahoo News. The picture-perfect hotel in Phuket did not live up to the expectation. Source: Three Monkeys Villas After checking in, they quickly realised the '5-star' accommodation did not live up to their expectations. Source: Supplied What happened at the hotel? Faisal explained he booked the accommodation after being impressed by the images online.. However, on arrival, he realised the accommodation was more of a "serviced apartment" than a five-star hotel, and there were no amenities like a hotel bar, restaurant or 24-hour concierge. What's more, they felt the rooms were not cleaned to the adequate standard, furnishings were poorly maintained and when they requested to speak with staff, they believed they were "ignored or actively avoided". The pair decided to leave after one night to stay in different accommodation that they felt was better and cheaper. When they submitted their reviews of their stay, that's when staff began threatening them. ADVERTISEMENT "They threatened us and said if the review is not deleted, the manager will pass our information onto the police and you will have to deal with the police, he said. A text sent to the couple and seen by Yahoo warned them that they didn't have "any right" to give the 1-star review. "We give you time until 2pm to remove your reviews. After the police report is done we will not be able to take back the report," one text read. They followed up with a link to an article about a tourist who was arrested for a negative review. Speaking to Yahoo, management from the hotel defended their decision to inform the hotel guests they could be reported to police after repeated WhatsApps and phone calls, explaining that defaming a hotel through multiple negative reviews is not allowed in Thailand. Of course every guest should be able to leave a review but it does not mean that guests should use reviews to blackmail a full refund just because they are not happy with the hotel or their services, they said. All our services, amenities and facilities are mentioned in booking.com description. If the guest expected something else because he not read before he booked, then the guest is responsible. ADVERTISEMENT Thailand has strict defamation laws that have landed tourists in hot water in the past. In 2002, a US expat narrowly avoided jail after writing a string of negative hotel reviews. Another woman gave a Thai hotel a poor review and was threatened with a lawsuit. If found guilty, fines can be up to 20,000 baht (around $950), or up to two years in prison. Faisal and Ryan in Thailand. Source: Supplied Booking.com responds to customer's claims A Booking.com spokesperson told Yahoo they were "disappointed to hear about this customer's situation." "Despite our customer service team advocating on the guests behalf with the hotel, they have unfortunately declined to provide a refund," the spokesperson said. "However, we can confirm that Booking.com has offered the customer a full refund in this instance as a gesture of goodwill. ADVERTISEMENT However Faisal clarified he was only credited the cost of the booking, which he argues is not the same thing. "After the experience weve had with them, were really hesitant to use Booking again," he told Yahoo. "Over all, its just really poor form on their part. "The idea of relying on them again feels risky if another issue comes up, we might end up in the same stressful situation. Wed prefer to use the refund to book directly with accommodations instead." Faisal pointed out that the company has not "acknowledged" the "hassle and stress they put us through", adding it "feels pretty insulting". What's more, the hotel listing is still "heavily advertised" online and available for booking through Booking.com. "They continue to heavily advertise a listing that not only misleads customers but has also threatened Australian citizens with police action over honest Google reviews," he said. "Their refusal to take responsibility shows a complete lack of values when it comes to integrity, customer safety, and accountability. "If a company like Booking.com allows this to happen without consequences, you have to question whether they truly care about the people using their platform." Advice to tourists on navigating hotel booking websites Since his frustrating experience, Faisal has warned Aussies to do their due diligence before booking hotels online. His tips include: Dont just trust the reviews on the platform. Cross-check on Google, TripAdvisor, or other sites to see if people are saying the same thing elsewhere. Look out for repeated complaints. If multiple people mention the same issuesfalse advertising, hidden fees, or terrible serviceits probably not a coincidence. Consider it a red flag. Stick to refundable bookings when possible. If things go south, you dont want to be out hundreds (or thousands) of dollars with no way to get it back. Document everything. Take screenshots of the listing, your conversations with the host, and anything that feels off. You never know when youll need proof. Watch out for review retaliation. Wait till you have checked out before leaving the reviews. The retaliation in a foreign country can ruin the holiday. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. "Ghost Adventures" star Aaron Goodwin's (second from right) wife has been sentenced to prison time after orchestrating a plot to have him murdered. Discovery Channel Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin is reportedly suing his estranged wife, Victoria Goodwin, after she was arrested for allegedly plotting his murder and fans think he should be seeking more money. According to Us Weekly, Aaron amended his divorce filing against Victoria in a petition filed on March 19, accusing her of negligence and seeking more than $10,000 in punitive and exemplary damages. The court documents claim that Aaron suffered severe or extreme emotional distress as a result of Victorias actions, per Us Weekly. Without giving specific details, Aaron accused Victoria of assault and false imprisonment. Fans reacted to Aarons request for financial compensation in the comments section of an Instagram post about the legal filing. Why only 10K? one person wrote. 10K?!?!?! For a plot to KILL HIM? another chimed in. He should sue for the amount she wouldve received as his widow, a third person said. Another fan argued that Aaron should sue for at least $11,000 the amount Victoria allegedly set aside to pay a hitman to kill him. I would have at least gone with $11K bc thats what she was supposed to pay the hitman I thought? I feel so bad for Aaron, the fan commented. Aaron initially filed for divorce on March 12, six days after Victoria was arrested on charges of soliciting to commit murder and conspiring to commit murder. READ MORE: Popular comedian cancels tour and checks into treatment facility after sexual assault allegations Victoria, who married Aaron in 2022, allegedly got in contact with Grant Amato, an inmate at a Florida prison, about a plan to hire a hitman. Law enforcement discovered the alleged plot after Amatos contraband phone was seized in prison. Victoria has denied the allegations. According to an arrest report obtained by NJAM, Victoria told police she sometimes daydreamed about being with Amato instead of Aaron but denied wanting Aaron dead. She and Amato allegedly exchanged messages about being in love. Victoria Goodwin and Aaron Goodwin in 2022. Getty Images The alleged plot, which was never carried out, involved murdering Aaron in October 2024 while he was on location filming Ghost Adventures. Aaron has starred on the paranormal reality series since 2008. Aarons fans have shared messages of support via social media since news broke of Victorias arrest. Over the weekend, he thanked them for the kind messages. Thank you everyone for all the love and support through this emotionally trying time, Aaron wrote via Instagram on Saturday, March 22. It has really helped a lot and I appreciate you all. Reach the New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). Reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), chat with their advocates here or text LOVEIS to 22522. Ghost Adventures is available to stream on Hulu. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. The council has agreed to inspect very dangerous trees around the perimeter wall of the old cemetery in Stradbally. Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy requested the move due to concerns about the trees. There is an awful lot of big trees along the wall there, he told a meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. It is very, very dangerous at the momentthere could be an awful tragedy if something happened, said Cllr McEvoy. He tabled a motion asking that Laois County Council carry out a safety check on trees at the perimeter wall of the old cemetery at Oakvale, Stradbally. Cllr McEvoy said if trees did fall they would take down the wall. He said there were a number of graves located just inside the wall. In a written response to the motion, Laois County Councils Community Section stated that: Laois County Council will carry out a check as requested. READ ALSO: Laois bus facilities likened to those in the Congo The motion was seconded by Independent Councillor Aidan Mullins. 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 The commander of the Irish Defence Forces has spoken of his pride at leading the organisation during his last overseas trip in the role. Lieutenant General Sean Clancy hosted Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris on his first visit to Camp Shamrock in his role on Wednesday, and praised Mr Harris for demonstrating by coming to Lebanon as a very clear, strong message of support from government for the families of those serving, doing their job in very difficult circumstances. Lt Gen Clancy, originally from Mitchelstown, Co Cork first joined the Irish Defence Forces as a cadet in 1984, and served in the Air Corps where he spent a considerable portion of his career as a search and rescue pilot. He went on to become chief of staff in September 2021, and is set to leave in June to take up his appointment as chairman of the European Union Military Committee. Speaking to media at Camp Shamrock, he said: I am very proud and privileged to have served and lead the men and women of Oglaigh na Eireann, I always have been. My most comforting times is when I visit troops here and in other places around the world, what they give me in terms of sustainment in doing my job, knowing that we are doing the right thing, I could never repay, and I am very privileged to be a part of that. He added that he is moving away but not going away. Well see what the next chapter is. The one thing I do love is being with men and women all the time, its my favourite part of the day. That I will miss but Im sure there will be other opportunity in the future I am moving away, not going away, he said. Lt Gen Clancy also praised the work of Irish peacekeepers during the recent escalation of tensions in south Lebanon. Our role and our purpose here is first and foremost to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in building a stronger security base here, and through that build the basis for future peace. Our 125th battalion are doing extraordinary work. At the time, we all know that we held our positions and we held the sovereignty of Lebanon in our hands in effect at that time, and right now, our battalion are carrying out that work in supporting the LAF, civil community and in every way it can monitoring, observing and reporting back which is their primary purpose. The Republic of Ireland should take our deep neighbourly relations to the next level and rejoin the Commonwealth, a Conservative MP has suggested. Andrew Rosindell said Ireland would do well to emulate countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand and take its rightful place in the Commonwealth. The MP for Romford also called for a bank holiday to mark St Patricks Day and the resurrection of the Order of St Patrick. Speaking during a St Patricks Day and Northern Irish affairs debate, Mr Rosindell said: The Republic of Ireland, I believe are our friends but we can be much closer, fully realising that we are one family that share a unique group of islands in all spheres of national operation. Indeed, Ireland could do much more work themselves, alongside her British brother and her loyal northern neighbour, in recognising that shared heritage and advancing shared values and goals on the global stage. Ireland would do well to emulate countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. I believe that one day, perhaps soon, the people of the Republic of Ireland might choose to take their rightful place in the family of the Commonwealth of nations. Taking our deep neighbourly relations to the next level to the benefit of both partners, and I believe having a bounteous benefit to global politics. Mr Rosindell argued that St Patricks Day, in addition to St Davids Day, St Andrews Day and St Georges Day, should all be bank holidays across the UK. Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for the Romford He told MPs: I would strongly submit that St Patricks Day should be a national bank holiday, alongside all the other feast days of our Kingdoms patron saints. He added: Not only would this be firmly in line with the position of Anglicanism, as the unchallenged state religion, but would reinforce the importance of all four corners of our nation. So too would the resurrection of the Order of St Patrick, which has shamefully been allowed to fall into abeyance for many decades, but I believe remains a sovereign order of the United Kingdom, and I hope the minister will take that back as a consideration for something to be restored. Mr Rosindell continued: Today, I believe we must focus more on bringing the four home nations of Great Britain and Northern Ireland together, and reversing the constitutional backsliding that I believe has occurred with the British internal markets. READ NEXT: 'Ireland was very smart' - Donald Trump to introduce pharmaceutical tariffs Laois County Council has asked the Department of Education to give extra time in Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams, for students with Dyslexia. The request is on foot of a motion by teacher and Portlaoise Municipal District Cllr Tommy Mulligan. He says it is an urgent request for Laois secondary school students who have the reading difficulty. 86% of European countries provide extra time in second level exams for students with dyslexia. The average additional time is 25%. Anybody that has dyslexia has the added challenge of having to concentrate five times harder than the average student. It takes longer to read and interpret questions. There are big issues with comprehension, it takes a lot longer to process. This all adds to extra stress and anxiety for students," Cllr Mulligan has pointed out. He says that in France students get 33% more time for exams, with 30% more time in Italy, and 25% in England. "In Ireland students receive extra time in third level, an additional 10 minutes per hour. The Driver Theory Test allows extra time. Any professional competency exams like accountancy exams or solicitor exams. Dyslexia students in secondary school in Ireland dont receive any additional time for their exams. We are not in line in Europe and we are not in line we our third level education system. "The State Examinations Commission is tasked with reviewing this but a review could take three years. There is an expert group recommended its immediate introduction. Read also: More bollards wanted in Laois to stop GAA goers parking dangerously Im asking that we write to Department of Education and State Examinations Commission and Board requesting they address this serious matter immediately," Cllr Mulligan said. His motion to the February meeting of Laois County Council was seconded by Cllr Marie Tuohy. "I agree, this is an easy fix. It should be implemented immediately for this year's exams. A level playing field is only fair," she said. A letter was sent to the Department of Education with the request. Critically acclaimed theatre company, Chaperthouse is returning to Laois this summer when they will bring stage two shows in the beautiful setting of Emo Court. Laois audiences will get the chance to see Romeo and Juliet and Alices Adventures in Wonderland at the OPW site. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare will be staged on Sunday, June 22 at 7pm and Alices Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, adapted by Laura Turner will be staged on Thursday, July 3 at 7pm. READ NEXT: New pollinator lesson plan launched in Laois to teach children all about biodiversity Chapterhouse Theatre Company produces critically acclaimed UK and international tours, specialising in Shakespeare, classic literature adaptations, and family shows. Originally founded to tour outdoor productions of Shakespeare in 1999, they have continued to grow and thrive. The company have performed at the UK and Irelands most stunning historic venues, working with the likes of The National Trust and English Heritage as well as many cathedrals and stately homes to bring classic stories to life into the perfect setting. Tickets for all shows and more details of Chapterhouses summer tours can be found at www.chapterhouse.org. The broken hearted Laois family of a beloved young man who died in New Zealand, are launching a fundraiser to say thank you to the Irish charity who helped to bring him home. The family of David McDonald, from Derrydavey, Mountmellick, will hold a music filled pub fundraiser in his memory this May, to raise funds for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. They are also launching a Gofundme so people can donate online. David died aged 37 following a brief illness, on January 9, 2024 in Auckland City Hospital, with his family by his side. David with his three sisters Orla, Lizzie and Anna, nephew Billy and niece Lucy. The beloved only son of Peter and Elsie, he is also mourned by his three sisters, Anna, Lizzie and Orla, beloved nephews Billy and Jack and niece Lucy. Anna who was pregnant at the time of his death, delivered a little niece he will sadly never meet, baby Annie. Many local tributes were paid to the much loved young man. David was living in New Zealand, working as a manager in Stantec Engineering in Auckland, and settled into life with partner Flavio Villani. His sister Lizzie Kirwan spoke this week to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. "David had a great job and a great life, he just didn't get to live it long enough. He was gone 11 years, first to Australia and then New Zealand where he met Flavio. He was lovely, they were happy. David had it hard until he went there. He never came out as gay at home, only with the family. There he blossomed. Life changed for him, he accepted himself. David with his partner Flavio. "The last time he was home was for our sister Anna's wedding in 2022. We got to meet Flavio, we could see they were so happy. They stayed here for six weeks, and toured around Ireland. He brought Lizzie's children Billy and Lucy on a 'yes' day, taking them to Ken Blacks. He said he was making up for the times he was not here," she said. David had had unexplained seizures for some time, only alerting his family each time when he was discharged from hospital, so not to worry them. "At a festival on a beach, he told Flavio he didn't feel well, an ambulance came, and he had a massive seizure. He was in hospital for two days and it was looking serious so Flavio rang us. That was New Year's Eve morning at 6am. My mam and Orla flew out on New Year's Day," Lizzie said. Sadly David passed away a week later. A memorial service was held at Kahui St David's in Kyber Pass, on Sunday, January 14, where David's work colleagues and family and friends in New Zealand got a chance to say goodbye and pay tributes. His work colleagues also brought his mother and sister to see his office, so highly did they all think of David. Then the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust took over the arrangements, worry and cost of quickly bringing his remains back home. "They took on the costs of everything. They had the expertise, they know what they are doing. Because of that, we got to spend four nights waking David at home. "As much as it was sad and awful, it was lovely. Monday night was just immediate family, Tuesday was the wider family and then Wednesday and Thursday was the wake. We stayed up every night with him. I do say it to anyone now, there's no panic. Keep them at home, once they are gone they will never come home. "We had people coming up to us after his death offering to start a Gofundme, but the Kevin Bell trust said they wouldn't be able to help in that case, so we said no, we'd leave the expertise to them," Lizzie said. The local community had rallied around them from day one of that call from New Zealand. David with his mam Elsie and dad Peter. "The Rock GAA did the parking, the neighbours came, there was food landing every day, so much support. It didn't stop until the funeral was over and done, for 20 days, it was unbelieveable," David's sister said. St Vincent's community nursing unit where Elsie McDonald was a seamstress for many years, and David, Anna and Lizzie had also worked, did a guard of honour for his funeral. Over a year on, the family are still deeply grieving their loss. Last October Orla got married, an event that David was planning to come home for, making it a bittersweet day. "It's hard, it will never be right. They keep going. My mam minds the kids, does her sewing. Dad goes about on his tractor, happy when he is busy," Lizzie said. They are now planning to raise money to support the work of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust to help others in similar difficult circumstances. "At David's wake, I did think that if everyone who came to the house only donated 5 it would make a fortune for the trust. "So we are having a night in Moloney's Bar. There will be music by Transmitter from 6pm until 9pm, then from Billy Meehan until closing, on Saturday, May 10. Our goal is to make enough for the trust, but we want people to come out and enjoy it. The music, the food, the drink, because that is what David would do if he were here," Lizzie said. The McDonald family have just launched a Gofundme online fundraiser, with a target of 10,000. In it they describe David's joy of life, "from his echoing belly laugh and his big bear hugs, fun and excitement was never far behind David", and ask for support for his memorial fundraiser. The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, a registered charity, was founded out of a family tragedy when, in June 2013, Kevin Bell died suddenly in New York. Following an outpouring of support from Kevins friends, family and colleagues, a significant amount of funds were raised to repatriate his remains back to Ireland. As a permanent legacy to Kevin, the Bell family decided to use the funds to establish a charity to help other families who find themselves in a similar situation. Since 2013, 296 people have been flown home with the help of the trust, including 19 to Laois with David McDonald amongst them. A Brazilian guitarist is set to begin his tour of Ireland in Newbridge. Sao Paulo-born artist Plinio Fernandes fuses classical guitar with Brazilian folk music, and plays everything from the works of Bach to vibrant Brazilian music. He released his debut album, 'Saudade', in 2022, which hit number one on the Billboard Traditional Classical Albums Chart. Plinio's second album, 'Bacheando', was released in September 2023. In addition, August 2024 saw him make his debut on both BBC Proms and the Lucerne Festival. And that's not all according to the organisers of the event at Music Network: "Plinio was named on Forbes Brazils 'Under 30' list, was selected as a Rising Star by Classic FM, and recently received the Revelacao Award at the 30th Annual Premio da Musica Brasileira. "A passionate advocate for music education, Plinio was invited to join London Music Masters as an ambassador and is involved with performing, teaching and guiding young musicians in schools." They added: "His polished sound, virtuosic technique, and innovation make him a must see for classical and Latin music fans alike; dont miss this opportunity to hear such extraordinary talent." On tour in Ireland from April 5 to April 13, Plinio will perform at venues in counties Kildare, Dublin, Galway, Clare, Wexford and Waterford. Tickets priced from 5 to 25 (booking fees may apply). Plinio's Newbridge gig will take place in the Riverbank Arts Centre on Saturday, April 5, 2025 and will commence at 7pm. For further information about this show, as well the other shows on Plinio's tour, you can visit the official Music Network website. READ NEXT: Change of use sought for dental surgery facility in North Kildare In the ancient world frankincense was one of the most valuable commodities. In modern times it's begun to decline. Once a year, at Christmas, frankincense becomes one of the worlds worlds most talked about trees as it's presented during pageants to baby Jesus alongside gold and myrrh. So you might be wondering why it is were talking about it in March. Sadly, the reason has little to do with festivities and more to do with doom and gloom. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has updated its annual Red List of threatened plants and animals and revealed significant declines in several species of the tree, which is also known as Boswellia. The list now includes 169,420 species, of which 47,187 are threatened with extinction. The assessment comes after an investigation across Socotra island in Yemen, which has the highest diversity of frankincense species per square kilometre in the world. What's causing frankincense trees to decline? Resin from the trees was once one of the most valuable commodities in the world, and today its use is managed to avoid exploitation. But there are unforeseen threats that have emerged in recent years. ADVERTISEMENT Due to changes in agricultural goat grazing, its saplings are being eaten before they reach maturity. While theres been goats on Socotra for thousands of years, over the last century, traditional small herding has been replaced with more profitable large-scale farming, and thats increased pressure on the trees. But thats not the only problem, the weather is also changing. Between 2015 and 2018, the island was struck by intense cyclones, flash floods and landslides, which damaged and uprooted trees. Following the review, five species have been uplisted from vulnerable to endangered, and another has jumped from vulnerable to critically endangered. Three other species were assessed for the first time and the news was equally grim, with all being listed as critically endangered. Local expert Mohammed Amer, who led the Red List assessment, said action from locals is needed to help protect the trees from extinction. ADVERTISEMENT Frankincense trees are very important to our culture on Socotra Through building fences around young trees, local communities can protect them from goats, and produce frankincense honey for additional income, he said. "As extreme weather hits the island, local action is essential to secure the future of Socotras frankincense trees." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. A man who was driving at 180 km/h on a motorway was prosecuted at Naas District Court. Roberto Ibanez Mompo, 51, whose address was given as Elcano 37, 03143 Santa Polo, Alicante, Spain, was prosecuted for dangerous driving on November 14, 2023, at M7 Curragh. READ NEXT Thousands eligible for one-off 2,000 Social Welfare payment - here's how to apply Garda John OSullivan told a previous court hearing the defendant overtook an unmarked patrol car at in excess of 180 km/h. He said it happened at 7.10pm in dry weather conditions when visibility was okay. He said there was street lighting in the area. The garda added that the defendant immediately slowed when the blue lights were activated; he was fully cooperative and apologised. Solicitor David Powderly said the defendant is a Spanish national who works for a textile company and visits Ireland two or three times a year. He added the defendant was driving a rented car. He also said the defendant had brought 1,500 to court with him as a gesture of remorse. Judge Desmond Zaidan adjourned the case and said he would impose a fine of 750 for careless driving if the defendant is willing to donate 4,000 to charitable causes. However at a subsequent hearing Mr Powderly said the defendant was not in a position to pay. Judge Zaidan imposed a 500 fine and disqualified him from driving for two years. The Red Bank restaurant in Carrick-on-Shannon has unveiled exciting new development plans to enhance their customer experience and attract more tourists to the area. A new luxury 12-suite, boutique hotel extension with thermal suite and an extension of the current restaurant all onto one level at The Red Bank, in the heart of Carrick-On-Shannon has made it through the planning process. The projects contemporary extension is designed to harmonize with the original Victorian redbrick building, offering a unique luxurious experience for travellers to the Hidden Heartlands and Wild Atlantic Way. Each suite has been carefully designed to enhance Carrick-On-Shannons appeal as a top destination. Owner of The Red Bank, Jason Horkan says they are enhancing the overall experience for their guests through their ambitious redevelopment. We look forward to adding 12 luxury suites and thermal area to our existing business while also extending and increasing the size of our restaurant, which will all be on one level, with a beautiful terrace overlooking the river Shannon. There will be no disruption to the current business when work does commence, its business as usual. Once the project is complete it will generate new employment and attract more people to the town and county, exciting times ahead," Jason said of the planned works. Through the development process they used Design for Disassembly (DfD) processes in the construction. This innovative approach ensures materials can be reused, recycled, or reclaimed, responding directly to one of Irelands biggest waste challenges construction and demolition waste, which is the countrys largest waste stream. Kevin Loftus, ACT - Accelerating Change Together lead Design Architect, explains: "DfD allowed us to create a detailed deconstruction plan, reflecting our clients commitment to innovation and sustainability. By focusing on circularity in construction materials, we addressed a critical environmental issue. Combined with our Green Transition Design Thinking approach, this process helped us secure planning permission seamlessly, without further information requests". READ MORE: Leitrim named one of the top counties for first-time buyers 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 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. 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 didn't 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". 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 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 has heard that Robert Redmond 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. Addressing the jury today, 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 prior to 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. 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 own name and why it was made so late on the night of May 22 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 weren't 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 isn't seen by anyone". He asked the jury to look at the manner in which Ms Redmond picked up Cooney after the murder and the manner in which 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 actually heard about the murder from Ms Hayes' nephew when she was in Ms Hayes' presence in the car, submitting 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 was 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's contention is that the accused's role was to keep Cooney out of sight and if this was the case then she hadn't done a very good job. He said the assertion didn't 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. READ MORE | Revenue detector dog smokes out almost 7m worth of illegal cigarettes at Irish port You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Balinese officials are putting their foot down to ensure 'high-quality' tourism. Aussie tourists heading to Bali will now need to adhere to even stricter rules when exploring the island after Balinese officials announced this week they are updating their international tourism guidelines. Governor Wayan Koster and the Bali's head of tourism, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, announced on Monday an updated list of the do's and don'ts that international tourists must follow in order to keep tourism "respectful, sustainable, and in harmony with Bali's local values". The original list of rules was created in 2023, and handed out to tourists on arrival at the airport. The introduction of the rules followed several incidents of antisocial behaviour from tourists. This week Koster said there were necessary updates to the list of rules due to recent developments. "We issued a similar regulation before, but as things change, we need to adapt," he said. The seven don'ts for Bali tourists Don't enter sacred temple areas unless worshipping in traditional Balinese attire. Menstruating woman are strictly prohibited from entering. Don't climb sacred trees or monuments. Photo taking is also strictly prohibited. Don't litter. Don't use single-use plastics. Items such as plastic bags, plastic straws or plastic-packaged drinks are strictly prohibited. Don't engage in any aggressive or disrespectful behaviour. This includes swearing, causing disturbances, being rule or sharing hate speech. Don't work or run a business without proper permits. Tourists must hold official documentation to conduct work in Bali. Don't participate in illegal activities. This involves trading of any prohibited goods such as drugs or endangered animals. Mandatory Bali tourist levy There is also a list of nine do's tourists must abide by including following traffic laws and paying the mandatory tourist levy of $15 before arriving or on arrival in Bali. Any visitors who fail to pay the fee will be denied access to attractions. ADVERTISEMENT Tourists caught not abiding by these freshly updated rules will face legal consequences, which could include fines or even jail time. "All stakeholders must fully understand, implement, and communicate this circular to their teams and foreign visitors. Bali is a beautiful, sacred island, and we expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them," Koster said. Governor Wayan Koster and Bali's Tourism Office Head Tjok Bagus Pemayun announced the changes on Monday. Source: LoveBali Bali continues to grapple with troublesome travellers This week's announcement of rules for visitors is the latest in Bali's crackdown on international tourists as some continue to disobey the island's customs and traditions, while others are simply engaging in disrespectful behaviour. ADVERTISEMENT Yahoo News has reported on countless incidents of tourists doing the wrong thing in Bali, from tourists posing naked at a sacred sites to a long list of reckless behaviour while on the back of a scooter. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Morris Decimal Brown, Media Consultant for the LMA at the Liberia Marketing Association Headquarters in Monrovia speaking to the media. FOURTEEN people have been arrested as part of a garda operation conducted in Limerick city last Wednesday. As part of the operation, 22 bench warrants were also executed. All persons arrested were brought before a sitting of Limerick District Court at the Courts Complex on Mulgrave Street, Limerick. Investigations are ongoing. The Warrant Day of Action targeted persons on outstanding bench warrants and was carried out by members from the Limerick City South Community Engagement Area, Warrants Unit and Community Policing Unit. READ MORE: TUS to host film festival with series of four screenings Speaking about the operation, Superintendent Oliver Kennedy stated: "I wish to compliment Garda Members on a successful Day of Action which took place on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in the Limerick City South Community Engagement Area. Garda Members attached to the Core Unit, Warrants Unit and Community Policing Unit conducted this successful operation which resulted in 14 arrests and 22 Bench Warrants executed. "A number of offenders have now been dealt after being brought before Limerick District Court and follow up arrests will be made by Garda Members attached to the Limerick City South Community Engagement Area. An Garda Siochana are committed to proactively taking action to improve the quality of life of those living within the community." THERE are fears for hundreds of jobs in Limerick as a health tech firm considers pulling out of Ireland after only four years. Elevance Health, the parent company of Carelon Global Solutions, which reportedly employs more than 300 people in the city, confirmed the news in a statement to Limerick Live this Thursday evening. A company spokesperson said: "As part of our ongoing review of business operations and given the changing healthcare landscape, Elevance Health is considering ceasing operations of Carelon Global Solutions Ireland Limited." "We understand this news has been difficult for associates, whose achievements and continued dedication and service are fully appreciated, and we are committed to supporting them as we work through this process," the spokesperson added. READ MORE: Insurance hurdles force cancellation of worlds longest coffee morning event The American company exists to address healthcare challenges. Carelon's research and development hub in Ireland is located in the National Technology Park at Plassey. Through the development of artificial intelligence and data analytics solutions, staff here are developing software to enable people to live healthier and longer lives. They also help to identify efficiencies in healthcare provision. Only last year, it announced 100 new jobs in Limerick, in news the company said at the time would bring its headcount to 310 staff locally. It followed the firm winning the company of the year at the Limerick Chamber business award, alongside the title of best employer. It was launched in Limerick in November 2021. It's understood while a large number of the jobs are Limerick-based, the majority are remote workers. THE annual longest coffee morning in the world which has raised over 100,000 for the Irish Cancer Society in 10 years has been cancelled as the organisers have been unable to secure insurance for the event. The much-anticipated coffee morning was due to take place this Friday at Mike ODonoghues home in Dromlara, Pallasgreen. Mr O'Donoghue said he couldn't get insurance and tried, and tried and tried but was unsuccessful. Eventually, we had to make a decision what we were going to do because we had to notify people that we weren't going ahead with it. We're still going ahead with selling daffodils in shops and schools and all that, but the coffee day in the house is gone because we don't have insurance to cover us in the house. He said the team involved in the fundraiser are devastated by its cancellation. We're all devastated as it's worse than a death in the family because this will be our eleventh year, and it's part and parcel of who we are now... We're like a phoenix. We'll rise from the ashes again. READ MORE: University of Limerick should build multi-storey car park, says councillor Mr O'Donoghue is planning to hold the event later this June and hopes to organise a marquee outside his house instead of holding the event indoors but said he was absolutely gutted to have to cancel the event scheduled for this Friday. Not just gutted for myself but gutted for the fact that the girls that are involved with me and my team are also gutted and they had all planned to be there on the day. As a cancer survivor himself, Mr O'Donoghue established the event along with local women Saoirse Corbett, Tara Campbell, Sarah Dillon in 2015. All the group have been affected by cancer so we wanted to give something back, he explained. In 2019, they received a certificate after creating a world record for the longest coffee day ever in the world - 17 hours and 20 minutes. They even kept the fundraiser going through Covid by substituting the coffee morning for a sleep-out and fast. When Covid hit us in 2020, we had to cancel our coffee day but we never gave up, said Mr O'Donoghue. We did that at our local church grounds for 2021 and 2022 until Covid was lifted. St Anthony's Nursing Home in Pallasgreen is holding its annual coffee day this Friday which is usually held in conjunction with Mr O'Donoghue's event. He added: What they make comes to us... so if anyone wants to go up and have a cup of coffee there, they can. Mr O'Donoghue added that the coffee morning fundraiser means the world to the Irish Cancer Society. It means the world to each of the group who have been affected (by) cancer. Irish tourists heading on holidays to Spain have been hit with advice over public protests from the Irish Government following reports of local unrest in some tourist hotspots. There have been reports of protests against over tourism in holiday hotspots like the Canary Islands and Majorca recently. A number of protests in the like of Tenerife, Majorca and Malaga have seen holidaymakers from Ireland, Britain and beyond to "get out", "stay away" or "go home." A poster spotted by some in Malaga recently advised tourists to "f**k off home" while in Tenerife graffiti marking the words "go home" has been reported. Last summer, a video circulated online of protesters shouting at tourists and telling them to "go home" at a popular resort on the island. The Canary islands in particular are hugely popular with Irish tourists. READ NEXT: 'Devastated' Irish family pay tribute to 'wonderful son' who died in Carribbean swim tragedy There are tensions over housing with some local tenants reportedly being given notices to leave properties to make way for holiday rentals. In Malaga, locals are said to be sick of the situation. The Department of Foreign Affairs has issued specific advice on how Irish people can deal with a situation if they are caught up in protests. They say: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning. We recommend that you stay clear of demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities. "Protests may cause disruption to transport and other services. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice if necessary, and allow yourself extra time for your journey. You should also check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain." Elsewhere, a number of changes in policy have even been introduced in Magaluf, a noted party holiday spot on the island of Majorca. Authorities are clamping down on what they deem to be the "aggressive sale" of alcohol, including happy hours and the times during which alcohol can be sold at supermarkets. Magaluf Mayor Alfonso Rodriguez has said they are tackling other issues like "the degradation of women with wild party games in the large pubs. "Weve banned pub crawls and the advertising of party boats, which are no longer allowed to sell alcohol on board," he is reported as saying in a local publication. In terms of the Canary Islands like Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands Tourist Board told us last year they still want tourists and defended the holiday industry their against local protest in terms of the environment and cost of living for locals. "The influx of tourists is very stable throughout the year, with hardly any seasonality. Nationalities alternate and net balances are compensated," the tourism spokesperson said. "This means the presence of 312,216 tourists in the Canary Islands daily, so the pressure on the territory and its resources and the local population is much less than in other destinations that concentrate the arrival of tourists in specific periods of the year." They also pointed out the climate action taken in the region to mitigate environmental impacts. "Our destination has been a pioneer in taking on the goals and commitments set out in the Glasgow Declaration, which pursues Net Zero by 2050. We were the first Spanish region to adhere to this commitment with a Climate Action Plan. "In addition, we have made the digital tool Journey to Decarbonisation available to tourism companies, which will allow the sector to measure and reduce its carbon footprint," they concluded. The gold frequent flyer member claims the airline's food quality has declined over the past five years. A Qantas frequent flyer has accused the airline of 'stooping to a new low' after he said he was served tinned spaghetti at the Perth Qantas Club lounge. Source: Supplied A Qantas frequent flyer has accused the airline of stooping to a new low after being served what he described as an embarrassing bowl of tinned spaghetti while waiting to board a flight in Perth. The anonymous man, who has earned gold status after years travelling around Australia and the world for work, told Yahoo News Australia he popped into the Qantas Club lounge earlier this month to grab some breakfast before jetting off to Melbourne, but was immediately disappointed by what was on offer. Its literally the cheapest thing you could possibly find. And theres no effort in creating that. Theyve clearly just opened a tin and poured it in, and that's it, he said, adding he couldnt help but take a photo of the sad meal. There's not even much spaghetti its all just sauce. The Qantas passenger said he was stunned when served this 'ungodly' pasta dish on a flight last year. Source: Supplied While there were some other options available, such as the pretty basic make your own toastie bar, the decision to serve customers tinned spaghetti was a prime example of how the airlines quality of food has declined gradually over the last five years, the frequent flyer claimed. ADVERTISEMENT Theres been a few times in the last few years where Ive gone into a lounge or been on the plane, and what is served up, Ive taken a photo and thought what is this? The staff wouldnt eat this, he told Yahoo. Qantas customer hits out at 'inconsistent' food quality Admittedly, the man said, theres definitely variability of the service level, with some prepped dishes being absolutely fine. However, others have definitely not made the cut, including what appears to be a veggie pasta the traveller was handed on a flight from Sydney to Perth in August last year. The Qantas passenger said some of the meals he has received on flights have been 'absolutely fine', while others have not. Source: Supplied A photo shows the ungodly horror heaped into a partially crumpled cardboard box. Sometimes it's fine, but then sometimes you get something like that, and you look at it and go, I just dont want to eat this. I dont even know what it is, let alone want to eat it. ADVERTISEMENT On another occasion, the man said the main meal offered in the Qantas lounge was simply a big pile of roasted potatoes. So Ive seen some pretty shabby thingsand I just cant believe theyre putting it out there, he said, arguing that the service is not good enough given the airlines expensive flights. Tinned spaghetti a popular choice at Qantas Club lounge Yahoo understands the airline offers several dishes in Qantas Club lounges for customers to select from a self-serve buffet. At the Perth location, spaghetti is one of the options available and is believed to be popular with young passengers. Its understood other items such as muesli, house made muffins, frittatas and a sandwich bar are also available during breakfast service. Qantas declined to comment when approached by Yahoo News. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. THE NEW series Na Builders, is the first of its kind on Irish screens, and delves into the lives in the construction industry in Ireland. There are over 160,000 people employed in the industry in the country. These people build, renovate and reimagine our countryside and our towns. Na Builders is an original, home-grown series for TG4 that shines the spotlight on construction workers from across the country as they battle the elements - and occasionally each other - to get the job done. The series is running every Thursday at 9:30pm on TG4 for seven weeks. Episode 2 will air tonight and will feature local company The Galtee Group as well as the University of Limericks Construction Studies Department. READ MORE: State-of-the-art Limerick hospital to create 300 new jobs in major expansion Spending time with builders of all shapes and sizes, in rural and urban settings, the series will look at what they are building and who they are building for and allow viewers to get a real sense of building in Ireland today. The nearly hour-long episodes will feature everyone from bricklayers to electricians, plumbers to roofers, plasterers to carpenters showing how these hardworking men and women are an integral part of our everyday lives in Ireland. New Departures Media have produced the new series for TG4 to delve right into the lives of the people who are building our communities, towns, and homes. A series like this hasn't been seen on Irish TV screens before. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently found himself at the centre of an unexpected social media trend, as users began generating Studio Ghibli-style portraits of him using OpenAIs latest image creation tool. Embracing the development, Altman updated his profile picture and posted on X, Changed my pfp but maybe someone will make me a better one. He followed up with a humorous reflection on his AI journey, highlighting the irony of his work in artificial intelligence being momentarily overshadowed by an internet meme: >be me >grind for a decade trying to help make superintelligence to cure cancer or whatever >mostly no one cares for first 7.5 years, then for 2.5 years everyone hates you for everything >wake up one day to hundreds of messages: look i made you into a twink ghibli style haha! OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently found himself at the centre of an unexpected social media trend, as users began generating Studio Ghibli-style portraits of him using OpenAIs latest image creation tool. Embracing the development, Altman updated his profile picture and posted on X, Changed my pfp but maybe someone will make me a better one. The viral trend stems from OpenAIs new image generation feature, which has impressed users with its ability to replicate artistic styles, particularly the distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic of Studio Ghibli. The iconic Japanese animation studio, known for classics likeMy Neighbour Totoro andSpirited Away, has long been admired for its intricate animation and storytelling, and AI-generated versions of its style have sparked widespread fascination. However, the popularity of the feature has exceeded OpenAIs expectations, leading to delays in making it available to all users. Altman acknowledged this, stating, Images in ChatGPT are wayyyy more popular than we expected (and we had pretty high expectations). Rollout to our free tier is unfortunately going to be delayed for a while. Also Read | OpenAI in discussions with Reliance for parnership, plans to severely OpenAI announced on Wednesday that ChatGPT's new built-in image generation feature was being introduced to Plus, Pro, Team, and Free users. However, on Thursday, Sam Altman stated in a post on X that the rollout for Free users would be "delayed for a while." When Arpit Mittal pivoted his third startup to focus on getting Indian kids unfamiliar with English to learn and speak the language, he was in for a few surprises. His Gurugram-based edtech startup SpeakX began seeing a surge in users from Indias tier 2 and tier 3 cities. But that was not all. It was an eye-opener for us that more than the kids, their parents were learning on our platform," said Mittal. The idea for SpeakX had germinated from Yellow Class, which provided after-school activities for children studying from home during the covid-19 pandemic. As kids returned to school campuses post the pandemic, Yellow Class had to shut shop in 2023. But its English modules were so popular that Mittal decided to build a new business around those. SpeakX, which charges users 300 per month, teaches English to those fluent in Hindi, with many of its users coming from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. The company realised that while many of its users were able to read and write in English, communication posed a main hurdlecrimping prospects for high-paying jobs. Also read | Indian edtech ecosystem to see further integration of traditional models: GSV Ventures Government think-tank NITI Aayog pointed out this issue in a December report. It noted that the talent and resources employed in several states were originally from other parts of India, and that a significant contributing factor to this trend is the inadequate English language proficiency among local youth". The average Indians quest to learn to master fluency in English is reflected in the surge in SpeakXs user basefrom 10,000 in September to about 108,000 now. We have a retention rate of 30% and are adding close to 20% new users every month," Mittal said. The company plans to expand its services to other regional languages as well, beginning with Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada. SpeakX generates about 3 crore in monthly revenue and profit of 75 lakh per month, according to Mittal, who had previously founded property search platform Roofpik and edtech startup Edcited. Also read | Physics Wallahs AI push: Immortalizing star teachers, building SLM assistants An aspirational language Another edtech startup seeing a surge in users from Indias small towns for its modules is PlanetSpark, which is backed by Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal. The company, which offers a host of courses ranging from public speaking to debating, earns about 44% of its revenue from Indias tier 2 cities and beyond. Most of the Gurugram-headquartered companys revenue comes from Indias southern states, followed by the northern, western and eastern markets. The userbase in tier 2 towns has been growing at 65-70% year-on-year in the past five years," said co-founder and chief executive Kunal Malik. PlanetSpark noticed that while children from small towns were on par with their big city peers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects, they fell behind on English language fluency. Unfortunately, that gets associated with intelligence. So parents really want to invest in these skills, because they know there is an upward mobility link to them," Malik said. Also read | These LinkedIn challengers created a buzz. Now theyre figuring out a business. In 2023-24, PlanetSpark slashed its losses by 64% while growing its revenue by around 50%. That momentum continues and we have significantly improved our performance in FY25. Sometime in FY26, we will turn Ebitda positive as well," Malik said. PlanetSpark plans to go public in two years and has set itself two targets in the run-up to that: a full year of profitability, and $50 million in annual recurring revenue. English Quest, a UK-based startup that generates about 75% of its revenue from India, sees a lot of demand for its services from low-cost private schools. The company partners mostly with schools chiefly in satellite towns and cities close to metros like Mumbai and Hyderabad, providing school teachers lesson plans that include pronunciation guides and workbooks for students. The parents are putting pressure on schools to seek English fluency, so the schools are buying our products," said co-founder and chief executive Jamie Martin. Zamit, a London-based startup that has partnered with schools in tier 2 cities in the National Capital Region, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal for teacher development, especially for English language proficiency, too sees huge demand from students. They are the largest segment we see, which is very aspirational and wants to improve their life," said Alka Verma, resident director of Zamit. Zamit and English Quest expect to be profitable by the end of 2025. Also read | Shrinking AI: India Inc rushes to build smaller-scale AI models as cost-effective personalised tools The global opportunity in regional plays Edtech startups like SpeakX and Zamit that have a strong regional presence in the country stand to benefit from the ongoing wave of multinational companies opening global capability centers (GCC) in Indias small cities and towns, say experts. Global capability centers are offshore units that handle various remote functions, including software development and maintenance, for their international entities. While GCCs open up opportunities for hundreds of thousands of Indians beyond the software and startup giants, proficiency in English offers a faster route up the hierarchy. The reason companies are going to tier 2 and tier 3 cities is because they want local talent at a lower cost. For the local population to get access to these GCCs, English is the most important element," said Amarjeet Singh Makhija, partner and startups leader at PwC India. Indias GCC market has expanded at a 11% compound annual growth rate between 2015 and 2021, according to consulting firm EY, which expects more than 500 GCCs to enter the country by 2026. This, in turn, is expected to spur demand for English skills, both from employers and potential employees. Anybody who can provide this service at a lower cost, with greater traction with children or adult learners, will succeed. Theres definitely a play there," Makhija said. Also read | As Byju's-burnt private investors turn cagey, edtech startups take IPO route to grow But scaling up could prove a challenge for small edtech startups, as expanding nationwide would require greater access to capital. Besides, several investors remain wary of the edtech sector because of the collapse of Byjus, which not too long ago was Indias most valuable startup. SpeakX last secured $6 million in a Series A fundraising round in 2021. PlanetSpark raised $17 million in a Series C round just over a year ago. English Quest isnt looking to expand right now, and Zamits focus this year is solely on building out its Punjab business. So where do these companies go from here? One option is to hit the public markets, which PlanetSpark intends to do. The other option is to get acquired. I would say that these smaller players can become a target for larger companies at some point because they are much more nimble regionally," Makhija said. For a national player to create that kind of footprint is going to be much more expensive." Known for its ubiquitous Fevicol adhesive, Mumbai-based Pidilite Industries is making a significant strategic pivot, aggressively ramping up its efforts in the fiercely competitive decorative paints market. With a keen eye on the burgeoning demand in non-urban India, the company aims to capture a substantial 10-15% market share, a move that marks a departure from its traditional focus. Bharat Puri, the companys managing director, pointed out that 30% of the countrys 70,000-crore paints business is in small towns and rural markets. We want to get a 10-15% market share of this business," he said. When we get our model right, we want to be among the top three players in these (non-urban) markets." The shift in strategy coincides with a looming leadership change at the company. Puri, the first professional manager to lead Pidilite, will step down from his role on 31 March after nearly a decade at the top. He will pass the reins to Sudhanshu Vats, who joined the company in 2021 and has been serving as managing director designate since March 2024. Also read | Pidilite Industries is glued to growth There may be bigger plans on the anvil, too. Pidilite is said to be one of the contenders to buy Akzo Nobels paint business in India, estimated to be worth at least $2 billion. If it fructifies, it could become the companys biggest buyout deal. Puri, who spent 18 years in Asian Paints in an earlier stint, declined to comment specifically on Akzo Nobel. However, he said there are two senior executives who are constantly scouting the world for new deals, more for technology than for products. But he affirms that they wont shy away from making an acquisition if there is a good business fit. Everyone said that our acquisition of Araldite for $300 million was expensive, but by growing its sales 10x, we have been proved right," he said. Facing up to competition To be sure, Pidilite, which dominates most of its big product categories comprising glue brands like Fevicol, M-seal, tile adhesive Roff and multipurpose cleaning spray WD-40, is likely to face the uncommon prospect of competitive pressure in decorative paints. In this business, Pidilite will be pitched against market leader Asian Paints and deep-pocketed new entrants like Aditya Birla Groups Grasim and Sajjan Jindals JSW Paints, which have launched their paints business in the past few years. For perspective, Grasim has committed 10,000 crore to the paints business, twice as much as Pidilite has spent across all its businesses in capital expenditure in the past three years. Analysts were surprised at Pidilites plan for decorative paints, especially as competitors like Grasim and Jindal Paints have already built factories and rolled out their products. Read this | AkzoNobel may sell only paints biz in India for up to $1.7 billion as Pidilite, JSW, Indigo enter second round At first glance, it was a bit surprising," said Abneesh Roy, head of institutional equities firm Nuvama. But when someone joins the dots, it seems a well-thought-out strategy. Along with its exterior paint products, it will now have a complete range of paints for the semi-urban and rural markets." We started talking about adjacencies 10 years ago when it was not a fashionable word,": said Puri. Then analysts started using the phrase total addressable market (TAM). But if you look at our growth, we have always grown by creating new categories or adjacencies." Pidilite's strategy Pidilite will play to its strengths in growing its new business. Puri says he has lost count of the number of apps his firm runs for its dealers and customers. Pidilite's dealer app, Genie, currently accounts for 30% of the company's overall sales. Pidilite also offers several additional apps that target various customer categories and product segments. These apps enable customers to seek technical support and place orders for products. He says that a third of all sales are registered through the apps. We compare well with an FMCG player like Hindustan Unilever, which has disclosed a 20% number," says Puri. And by looking at semi-urban and rural markets, Pidilite feels its strategy is differentiated from the competition. To start with, Haisha (a decorative paint brand) has been launched in some markets in Tamil Nadu and will be expanded in more southern states. The large urban players don't reach there at all. Thats a large enough market and profit pool to satisfy me. So even if I don't go to urban India, I think this is a good enough battle, and the others don't have the scale, and, you know, the patience to fight this battle. So that's why we went there and that's where we will remain." Also read | Battle for Dulux maker: Pidilite, JSW, Indigo Paints in $2.5 billion race Pidilite is betting on its 3,000 clubs for various lines of business across the country, comprising 350,000 users, including plumbers, carpenters, and contractors. Though it is not a fair comparison, Pidilites market capitalisation of 1.43 trillion is a little more than half of Asian Paints 2.23 trillion. Thats despite the fact that Pidilites revenue is just a third of the latter. Pidilites market valuation was a mere 30,805 crore when Puri first walked into the corner office. In a bid to meet growing data demand and provide faster speeds for apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube, tech giant Meta has moved a step ahead on its Project Waterworth. The 50,000-km undersea cable project, the world's longest such initiative, will connect India, the US, Brazil, South Africa, and other key locations. The company has entered into talks with local players such as Airtel, Jio, Tata Communications, and Lightstorm to land its cable in the country, three executives in the know said. Along with other subsea cables coming to India, once implemented, Metas Waterworth cable line will provide users in the country with better internet speeds, low latency, and lag-free experience on apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. This is crucial for consuming large-scale AI applications and adopting open AI models. We are exploring local partnerships with telecom operators in India, and our regulatory team is also evaluating the need for the necessary licence here to land our subsea cable, a company executive said. For Meta, Project Waterworth is critical amid growing data usage in the country. According to an industry executive, capacity enhancement is critical to cater to huge data volumes going forward. Subsea cables carry over 95% of the world's global data traffic. Everything from YouTube videos to financial trades to personal messages flows through undersea cables. Meta is investing in Indiaone of its largest marketsbringing the worlds longest, highest capacity and most technologically advanced subsea cable project to connect India, the US, and other locations," a Meta spokesperson said in response to Mint's queries. This new, multi-billion dollar investment will stretch over 50,000 km to connect five continents, enhancing the scale and reliability of the global digital highways that power Metas apps and services, and will be ready for service at the end of the decade, the spokesperson said, adding that the investment reaffirms Meta's commitment to economic growth, resilient infrastructure, and digital inclusion, supporting India's thriving digital landscape and fostering technological innovation. Meta license Meta, a global entity, does not hold an International Long Distance (ILD) license. The licence authorises companies to provide international long-distance telecom services between countries, including voice, data, and internet traffic. Projects like Waterworth, while suiting Metas products such as Instagram and WhatsApp in the country, will also be useful for Indias AI deployments going forward as data capacities will be increased to accommodate volumes, said Amajit Gupta, group CEO and MD at Lightstorm. According to Gupta, given the current regulatory landscape in the country, Meta would likely be looking to partner with telecom operators and other local partners to take internet through its subsea cable to the last mile in the country. Simply put, telecom operators and internet service providers own the necessary infrastructure, such as cable landing stations, which are key for transmitting data from international points to users via wireless internet and fibre. Partnership with Meta for Waterworth will bring in additional revenue streams for the companies as they would charge the company for utilising their infrastructure, an executive at a telecom operator said, adding that it is highly unlikely that Meta will adopt the licence route as the same will require the company to form an Indian entity. Queries emailed to Airtel, Jio, and Tata Communications on Project Waterworth did not elicit any response till press time. Notably, Meta owns a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms, the parent company of Reliance Jio. Meta announced Project Waterworth in February after Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US. Both countries issued a joint statement that included commitments on undersea technologies. China influence Analysts also see the India-US collaboration and Metas Project Waterworth as a move to avoid China's growing influence in undersea cables. Largely, undersea cables go through high-risk geopolitical areas like the Red Sea, South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca, where cable cuts are frequent and repair takes a lot of time. Meta would avoid such high-risk geopolitical regions like the Red Sea and go with trusted geographies with selected vendors, the company executive said. Currently, about 18 submarine cables land in India in cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum. Private companies such as Google, Meta, Airtel, and Jio are working on five more such projects. Meta and Airtel are also working on the 2Africa Pearls subsea project, whereas Jio, along with other global telecom operators, is building the India-Asia-Express and India-Europe-Express projects. On Thursday, Airtel said it had landed the 2Africa Pearls cable in the country, connecting India to Africa and Europe via the Middle East. 2Africa Pearls brings over 100Tbps (terabits per second) of international capacity to India, it said. We will continue investing in global cable systems and future-proof our network with an aim to deliver high uptime, reliability, and superior quality networks to our customers, Sharat Sinha, director & CEO of Airtel Business, said in a release. (Bloomberg) -- Bankrupt genetic testing firm 23andMe Holding Co. won permission from a judge to try to sell information about customers medical and ancestry-related data, a trove that is considered the most valuable asset in the insolvency case and has become a source of privacy and safety concerns amid the companys collapse. Under the sale procedures, the company set quick deadlines for potential bidders, including May 7 when definitive offers are due, and a final hearing the following month. But US Bankruptcy Judge Brian C. Walsh required the company to slow the overall pace by two weeks, in part to accommodate his schedule and in part to give creditors a chance to weigh in before the court makes a final decision on a buyer. My overall reaction to the timeline is that its pretty tight, Walsh said at the companys first bankruptcy hearing, held in St. Louis. At his request, the company agreed to push back the final court hearing for possible sale from June 2 to June 17. Walshs ruling didnt resolve concerns raised by the looming auction of the sensitive data or complaints from shareholders about the months 23andMe spent trying to find a buyer before filing for court protection earlier this week. 23andMe hasnt been profitable since going public in 2021 despite collecting DNA from saliva samples from more than 15 million customers. Now, those samples and the genetic data they yielded have become the bankrupt companys most marketable asset, and the prospect of the sensitive information being put up for auction has sparked anxieties among customers worried about how and where of their material may be used. Bankruptcy officials have also raised concerns. Walsh at the hearing said speed in the sale process is partly justified because the company spent so much time trying to find a buyer before it filed bankruptcy. But the goal, he added, should be to balance the desire to move quickly with the desire to avoid collateral damage. Sale Oversight Carole J. Ryczek, a lawyer with the US Trustees office, which acts as a public watchdog in bankruptcy court, told Walsh that a privacy ombudsman is necessary to oversee the sale of customers private genetic information. The bankruptcy case needs a neutral third party involved in the sale process to protect customers, Ryczek said. Company lawyers and company investment bankers declined to comment on the value of the customer data. Walsh declined to say whether he would support a consumer privacy ombudsman, or how he would respond to a demand by two investors that he appoint an official committee to represent shareholders. Those shareholders complained about how the company tried to sell itself before filing for court protection. 23andMe lawyer Grace Hotz argued that an ombudsman was unnecessary because of the extensive privacy policies. The company has said the Chapter 11 reorganization doesnt change how it stores or protects personal data and that any buyer will be required to comply with applicable laws with regard to treatment of such information. The company allows customers to delete the genetic details and other information in their account and to have their saliva, blood or other bodily tissues removed from the companys biobank, according to court documents. In the wake of 23andMes bankruptcy, a handful of state attorneys general issued consumer alerts instructing customers about how to delete their data, prompting a rush of customers to the companys website. 23andMe said that its website experienced some issues and delays due to increased traffic on Monday as users sought to delete their data before it is sold. 23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection on March 23 after it was unable to find a buyer to rescue it from insolvency proceedings and the board of directors rejected a buyout offer from co-founder Anne Wojcicki. Its first bankruptcy hearing Wednesday took place far from the companys home in Silicon Valley, and was also well away from the courtrooms in New York, Delaware and Houston that have dominated the business of restructuring major corporations for more than a decade. The company will return next month to seek final approval of a loan to help fund the bankruptcy case. First Mega Case The case is also designed to resolve legal troubles related to a data breach in 2023, according to a statement. That hack compromised information about roughly seven million customers, including giving a hacker direct access to about 14,000 user accounts. The company faces about 35,000 claims related to the incident. Walsh is overseeing his first mega bankruptcy case, which is generally defined as any Chapter 11 filing involving more than $100 million in debt, according to court officials. During his career as a commercial lawyer, Walsh was involved in several such cases, including one bankruptcy dispute he argued in front of the US Supreme Court, lawyers who know Walsh said. Sporting a bright blue bow tie, Walsh oversaw the hearing in an efficient, even-toned fashion. About three dozen people attended, most of whom were lawyers, including some who were merely curious. I just came to watch Brian, said bankruptcy attorney David Unseth, who practiced with Walsh for more than a decade before the judge was appointed to the bench in 2023. Walsh was appointed to the bankruptcy court in St. Louis in 2023, after working as lawyer for 25 years, including several years overseeing the restructuring practice of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in St. Louis. The case is 23andMe Holding Co., 25-40976, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis). --With assistance from Jonathan Randles. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- Bankrupt genetic testing firm 23andMe Holding Co. won permission from a judge to try to sell information about customers medical and ancestry-related data, a trove that is considered the most valuable asset in the insolvency case and has become a source of privacy and safety concerns amid the companys collapse. Under the sale procedures, the company set quick deadlines for potential bidders, including May 7 when definitive offers are due, and a final hearing the following month. But US Bankruptcy Judge Brian C. Walsh required the company to slow the overall pace by two weeks, in part to accommodate his schedule and in part to give creditors a chance to weigh in before the court makes a final decision on a buyer. My overall reaction to the timeline is that its pretty tight, Walsh said at the companys first bankruptcy hearing, held in St. Louis. At his request, the company agreed to push back the final court hearing for possible sale from June 2 to June 17. Walshs ruling didnt resolve concerns raised by the looming auction of the sensitive data or complaints from shareholders about the months 23andMe spent trying to find a buyer before filing for court protection earlier this week. 23andMe hasnt been profitable since going public in 2021 despite collecting DNA from saliva samples from more than 15 million customers. Now, those samples and the genetic data they yielded have become the bankrupt companys most marketable asset, and the prospect of the sensitive information being put up for auction has sparked anxieties among customers worried about how and where of their material may be used. Bankruptcy officials have also raised concerns. Walsh at the hearing said speed in the sale process is partly justified because the company spent so much time trying to find a buyer before it filed bankruptcy. But the goal, he added, should be to balance the desire to move quickly with the desire to avoid collateral damage. Sale Oversight Carole J. Ryczek, a lawyer with the US Trustees office, which acts as a public watchdog in bankruptcy court, told Walsh that a privacy ombudsman is necessary to oversee the sale of customers private genetic information. The bankruptcy case needs a neutral third party involved in the sale process to protect customers, Ryczek said. Company lawyers and company investment bankers declined to comment on the value of the customer data. Walsh declined to say whether he would support a consumer privacy ombudsman, or how he would respond to a demand by two investors that he appoint an official committee to represent shareholders. Those shareholders complained about how the company tried to sell itself before filing for court protection. 23andMe lawyer Grace Hotz argued that an ombudsman was unnecessary because of the extensive privacy policies. Under the US Bankruptcy Code, companies cannot sell personally identifiable information about a consumer unless the sale conforms to the firms privacy policies or until after an ombudsman is appointed. In this case, Ryczek indicated that the US Trustee planned to ask Walsh to authorize an the department to appoint an ombudsman. The company has said the Chapter 11 reorganization doesnt change how it stores or protects personal data and that any buyer will be required to comply with applicable laws with regard to treatment of such information. The company allows customers to delete the genetic details and other information in their account and to have their saliva, blood or other bodily tissues removed from the companys biobank, according to court documents. In the wake of 23andMes bankruptcy, a handful of state attorneys general issued consumer alerts instructing customers about how to delete their data, prompting a rush of customers to the companys website. 23andMe said that its website experienced some issues and delays due to increased traffic on Monday as users sought to delete their data before it is sold. 23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection on March 23 after it was unable to find a buyer to rescue it from insolvency proceedings and the board of directors rejected a buyout offer from co-founder Anne Wojcicki. Its first bankruptcy hearing Wednesday took place far from the companys home in Silicon Valley, and was also well away from the courtrooms in New York, Delaware and Houston that have dominated the business of restructuring major corporations for more than a decade. The company will return next month to seek final approval of a loan to help fund the bankruptcy case. First Mega Case The case is also designed to resolve legal troubles related to a data breach in 2023, according to a statement. That hack compromised information about roughly seven million customers, including giving a hacker direct access to about 14,000 user accounts. The company faces about 35,000 claims related to the incident. Walsh is overseeing his first mega bankruptcy case, which is generally defined as any Chapter 11 filing involving more than $100 million in debt, according to court officials. During his career as a commercial lawyer, Walsh was involved in several such cases, including one bankruptcy dispute he argued in front of the US Supreme Court, lawyers who know Walsh said. Sporting a bright blue bow tie, Walsh oversaw the hearing in an efficient, even-toned fashion. About three dozen people attended, most of whom were lawyers, including some who were merely curious. I just came to watch Brian, said bankruptcy attorney David Unseth, who practiced with Walsh for more than a decade before the judge was appointed to the bench in 2023. Walsh was appointed to the bankruptcy court in St. Louis in 2023, after working as lawyer for 25 years, including several years overseeing the restructuring practice of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in St. Louis. The case is 23andMe Holding Co., 25-40976, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri (St. Louis). --With assistance from Jonathan Randles. (Updates with details about consumer privacy ombudsman in the 10th paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- Can Paul Carmichael do for the Caribbean patty what his boss, David Chang, did for the pork bun? That was my question after a recent visit to Bar Kabawa, the just-opened bar from the Momofuku group, which specializes in two things: rum drinks and patties to eat with them. Chang launched the famed brand in 2004 with the opening of Momofuku Noodle Bar; the place kicked off a worldwide obsession for Chinese steamed pork buns. Kabawa Bar opened in early February in the Lower East Side spot formerly occupied by Momofuku Ko. On Tuesday, it was joined by the more ambitious tasting menu restaurant Kabawa in the adjoining space. Together, they represent an homage to the food and drink of the Caribbean by Carmichael, a native of Barbados, whos returned to the city after a long hitch at the helm of the late, much-lamented Momofuku Seiobo in Sydney. I want this place to be a love letter to the Caribbean region, a place where I can share my culture, says Carmichael. You come to the bar, and well give you drinks from Cuba and food from Haiti and Jamaica. The restaurant is opening at what seems an especially propitious moment for Caribbean cuisine in the Big Apple. Long the preserve of cheap-and-cheerful eateries in New Yorks outer boroughs, the food of the islands has been going upscale over the past few years, following a pattern weve already seen with Indian cuisine. Classic Caribbean fare like jerk chicken, braised oxtails and fried plantain have been gastronomically gussied up at pricier establishments like Kokomo in Brooklyns Williamsburg, Tatiana by star chef Kwame Onwuachi at Lincoln Center and Mango Bay in Fort Greene, also in Brooklyn. And now at the restaurants at the brand-new high-style Printemps in the Financial District, chef Gregory Gourdet is spotlighting Caribbean ingredients and dishes. But Chang puts it more simply: The restaurant is Caribbean because Paul issimple as that. At Kabawas prix-fixe ($150 per person), the menu features dishes like imposing Puerto Rican chuletas kan-kan (tomahawk pork chops), blaff (lime-poached fish) and duck and rice sausages. The one thing you wont get is the most familiar Caribbean dish of all. I will never serve jerk chicken, says Carmichael. He thinks its too much of a culinary cliche. There are lot of other things in Caribbean cuisine, even in Jamaican cuisine, and I want to showcase those things, he says. The restaurant menu wont feature patties, either. The closest youll get is a Bajan coconut turnover, one of the dessert options. Carmichaels restaurant menu wasnt ready for tasting on the night of my mid-March visit, but the bar was already buzzing. As you might expect from an island-themed spot, the cocktails menu leans heavily into rum-laced daiquiris, with ingredients ranging from pineapple and coconut to bay leaves and brown butter. And likewise, the nibbles menu features Caribbean classics such as Solomon Gundy (dried-fish paste, which Carmichael tops with a creme-brulee-like crust of caramelized sugar). But the pride of place at Bar Kabawa goes to the patty. Carmichael says he briefly considered making another island staple, the Caribbean roti, the bar menus centerpiece. Stuffed flatbreads would have made for excellent bar food. However, making rotis would have required more equipment than the compact kitchen at Bar Kabawa can accommodate, so the decision to go with patties was made for Carmichael. Like the bun that Chang turned into a sensationhis version of the classic Chinese steamed bao featuring top-quality pork bellythe Caribbean patty has the humblest of origins, as street food for laborers. But it has more diverse culinary antecedents, matching the cross-hatched cultural heritage of the islands. The patty owes as much to the empanada of the Spanish colonialists as to the Cornish pasty of their British contemporaries and to the samosa of Indian indentured laborers. The Indians can also stake a large claim to the spice mixes of the fillings, but the real kick is imparted by the hot peppers of the islands and the Central and South American mainland. The preferred fillings are ground beef or shredded chicken, although Im partial to curried goat. Patties come in all shapes and dimensions, but the most common form is the palm-size half-moon. The most common Jamaican patty tends to have a flaky dough crust usually made with shortening and often colored with turmeric, whereas the Haitian variation is puffier. The crust on Carmichaels patties is halfway between the two, crispy and light, with the crunchy mouthfeel of a slightly overbaked croissant. The eight options on the Bar Kabawa menu are evenly split between baked and fried. They come in triangles, squares and rounds, each presented in a banana-leaf pocket. Carmichaels fillings are more adventurous than the norm and include some unusual combinations, such as short rib, conch and bone marrow. A committed carnivore, I was nonetheless taken by the eggplant, tomato and raclette patty, which was the last one I tried: The subtlety of the melted cheese provided an interesting counterpoint to the spiciness of the patties that had gone before. But my hands-down favorite was the baked Geera goat, which balances the slight gaminess of the meat with the strength of cumin to produce a robust overall taste. The patties range in price from $10 to $20; an order of pork buns at Momofuku Noodle Bar goes for $17. Patties are plenty flavorful in and of themselves, and they dont really require dunking sauces. But if you ask nicely, Carmichael will bring out a small dish of Bajan hot sauce, a simple concoction of mustard oil, fresh turmeric and either scotch bonnet or habanero peppers that adds zest to the patties without singeing your taste buds. The recipe is from his father; his mother sold bottles of the sauce back in Barbados. And that brings me back to my original question: Are patties the next pork bun? For my money, the answer is yes. Carmichaels patties have many of the ingredientsmetaphorically, anywaythat made Momofukus pork buns such a breakout hit. Patties have a heritage that resonate with a wider audience; why, even the folks at Carbone have an ode to the patty on the menu at Torrisi in the form of the cavatelli with Jamaican beef ragu, which tastes like the filling of a patty poured over pasta. Its an interesting, sophisticated take on what is essentially street food. Like the pork buns, Carmichaels patties are deceptively simple and easy to hold, and you always think you can have one more. Dave didnt invent the pork bun, and Paul didnt come up with the patty, says Marguerite Zabar Mariscal, chief executive officer of the Momofuku group. But like Dave, Paul has an ability to take food he loves, filter it through his perspective and for it to really connect with people. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) Hotels charging a room rent above 7,500 a day at any time in any financial year will be considered 'specified premises' for the next fiscal and restaurant services provided inside such premises will attract 18 per cent GST with input tax credit, the CBIC said on Thursday. From April 1, 2025, the taxability of such restaurants which operate inside hotels will be on the basis of value of supply (transactional value). This would replace the concept of 'declared tariff' which included charges for all amenities provided in the unit of accommodation (given on rent for stay) like furniture, air conditioner, refrigerators or any other amenities, but without excluding any discount offered on the published charges for such unit. "For the period starting from 01.04.2025, the value of supply of hotel accommodation in the previous FY, i.e., the transaction value charged for the said supply, would be the basis for determining whether the premises providing hotel accommodation service mandatorily falls under the category of 'specified premises' or not in the current FY," the CBIC said in a FAQ issued on the topic of 'Restaurant Service' supplied at 'Specified Premises'. The CBIC has defined 'specified premises' as those premises from where the supplier has provided in the preceding financial year, 'hotel accommodation' service having the value of supply of any unit of accommodation above 7,500 per unit per day or equivalent. Restaurant services inside such hotel units would automatically attract 18 per cent GST, with input tax credit (ITC). Restaurant services inside hotels whose room rent has not crossed 7,500/unit/day in the preceding financial year will continue to attract 5 per cent GST, without ITC. Also, those hotels which intend to charge over 7,500 room rent from the next fiscal can file an 'opt in' declaration with GST authorities between January 1 and March 31 of the ongoing fiscal. Also, hotels seeking new registration will have to fill in opt in declaration with 15 days of obtaining it declaring the said premises as 'specified premises'. The CBIC said the notion of 'declared tariff' was being replaced with 'value of supply' (i.e. transaction value) in the definition of specified premises, as the hotel industry has largely moved to a dynamic pricing model. Making the 'specified premises' status of a premises providing hotel accommodation service, in the current FY, dependent upon the 'value of supply' of units of accommodation provided by the hotel in the previous financial year, will give certainty regarding the 'specified premises' status of a hotel for any financial year. It will also "give an option to the supplier of hotel accommodation service to declare the premises as 'specified premises' so that the restaurants located in the said premises can avail the rate of 18 per cent with ITC on the supply of restaurant service", the CBIC said. EY Tax Partner Saurabh Agarwal said to simplify compliance, the CBIC has released FAQs clarifying that if the value of hotel accommodation exceeds 7,500 per day in preceding FY, the premises will be subject to 18 per cent GST with ITC. Hotels can voluntarily opt in for specified premises classification if the value doesn't exceed 7,500 in previous FY, with the declaration valid until they opt out. Sky Layoffs: The British-based Sky broadcasting group announced on March 27, that 2,000 jobs in the UK, or seven per cent of its workforce, could be at risk as the company shakes up its customer services. "We're transforming our business to deliver quicker, simpler, and more digital customer service," a spokesperson for the US-owned broadcaster told global news agency AFP. It was about building "a future-ready Sky", the spokesperson said, adding customers wanted different ways of contacting the company 24 hours a day, seven days a week. According to AFP, three of its 10 contact centres in northern England are believed to be closing, putting around 2,000 roles at risk. Sky layoffs in 2025 While customers wanted to be able to speak directly to an adviser, they also wanted the flexibility to pay bills or manage their contract digitally, the company said. Sky said its transformation would involve a multi-million-pound investment in its new state-of-the-art campus in Livingston, Scotland. Formerly owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, Sky has been run by US cable giant Comcast since 2018. According to the AFP report, in addition to the proposed closure of the Stockport, Sheffield and Leeds Central contact centres, operations at Dunfermline and Newcastle would also be likely affected. Layoffs in US Elon Musk, the billionaire running President Donald Trumps federal cost cutting effort, said he plans to slash $1 trillion in government spending by the end of May. Musk, in an interview with Fox News Bret Baier, said he believes that his Department of Government Efficiency can find that level of cost savings within 130 days from the start of Trumps term, which began on Jan. 20. That presents an ambitious goal that would require slashing more than half of the $1.8 trillion the US spent on non-defense discretionary programs in 2024. Musk is a special government employee, a classification for temporary federal workers who are only supposed to work 130 days out of the year in their roles. The man first moved into the Warilla, NSW, property over 10 years ago after reportedly making a handshake deal with the landlord. A tenant living in Warilla, south of Wollongong, allegedly used industrial-strength glue to seal his entire rental property. Source: A Current Affair An Aussie landlord has been left with a huge mess and potentially hefty clean-up bill after his tenant allegedly unleashed a bizarre revenge plan over a rent increase. David Longford said it was initially smooth sailing when the pensioner moved into the Warilla property, south of Wollongong, in 2012. Sealed with a handshake, the friend reportedly agreed to pay $350 a week for rent and dodged a bond payment, the homeowner told A Current Affair. The rent increased to $400 in 2017, but after Longford hired a real estate agent to help him out, it jumped to $550 a week. He calls me up and says, we need to go back to how we were with me paying you cash. And I said, no, I want to keep it through the real estate and he says, well, in that case, weve got a problem, and its your problem, not mine, the landlord claimed. The landlord alleged he also found bags of rotting prawns hidden in a kitchen drawer. Source: A Current Affair After the renter moved out, Longford told the publication he was prepared for some sort of revenge, but did not predict the trail of destruction he later discovered. The pensioner had allegedly used industrial-strength glue to seal the entire house, including seven outside shutters, all doors and windows, cupboards and drawers. ADVERTISEMENT Not even the lawnmowers fuel cap or the plastic outdoor furniture was left untouched, he claimed. I didn't think it would be this bad, Longford said, alleging he also found bags of rotting prawns tucked away and paint splashed across the bed and other furniture. Aussies still struggling to find rentals amid crippling crisis Its no secret that Aussie renters are beyond frustrated with the countrys crippling rental crisis. NSW residents are battling the states worst rental affordability crisis on record, which was incredibly apparent earlier this month when a Sydney landlords generous offer attracted enormous queues. ADVERTISEMENT While similar one bedroom apartments in Leichhardt, in the citys inner west, typically average between $580 and $610 a week, the real nice bloke chose to list it for just $500. According to the latest REA Group report, median rents in Sydney have hit $780 for houses and $700 for units, making NSW the least affordable state for renters. Even households earning $116,000 can only afford 36 per cent of available rentals. Homelessness NSW warns the system is failing, with housing crises, financial struggles, and family violence driving an increase in rough sleepers. Alarmingly, 76 per cent of those seeking long-term housing and 49 per cent needing emergency accommodation are unable to secure it. "The REA Group report shows that even high-income earners are struggling in this market. For vulnerable populations, particularly our Aboriginal communities who make up 33 per cent of homelessness service clients, the situation is dire, said Homelessness NSW CEO Dominique Rowe. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Anand Mahindra on Thursday penned an emotional post for the Mahindra and Mahindra's former MD and CEO Pawan Goenka, as he bought his first electric vehicle. Taking to X, Anand Mahindra shared a video of Pawan Goenka getting his hands on his first EV, a Mahindra XEV 9e. This is not just another video for me, he wrote sharing the video. Watch the video here: In the video, Pawan Goenka is heard saying that that Mahindra XEV 9e is his first EV. Who is Pawan Goenka? Pawan Goenka served as M&M's MD and CEO from November 2016 till his retirement. Goenka, who joined Mahindra in 1993 as a general manager, rose to higher ranks in the company during his stint that lasted till 2021. He was appointed to the post of Executive Director of Mahindra & Mahindra in 2013. In April 2014, he took over the additional responsibility of the two wheeler business. He was appointed to the post of Executive Director of Mahindra & Mahindra in 2013 and in April 2014, he took over the additional responsibility of the two wheeler business. Following his retirement in 2021, Pawan Goenka was appointed as the chairperson of INSPACe. He is also a national council member of CII, and chairman of board of governors of IIT Madras. Pawan Goenka earned his B. Tech. from IIT, Kanpur and Ph.D. from Cornell University in the US. He also holds a degree in Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School. Anand Mahindra's heartfelt post for Pawan Goenka In his X post, Anand Mahindra shared an emotional note for Pawan Goenka. When Pawan Goenka decided to return to India in the early 90s, leaving behind a job at General Motors, I managed to convince him to join @Mahindra_Auto at Nashik as Deputy Head of R&D, he wrote. Despite challenges, Mahindra recalled how Goenka stayed on. He often relates how when he first went to Nashik and saw the R&D shed and its rudimentary state, he began questioning his decision to come back. However, he stayed on, and as the Head of R&D, he led the development of the Scorpio, he said. The Mahindra Group chairperson highlighted his journey at the company. He eventually rose to become the MD & CEO of M&M Ltd, and through his entire tenure at the company, laid the foundations of the World class R&D centre we have today, he said. Post his retirement, he is leading In-Space, a Department of Space company as its Chairman and has been recently awarded a Padma Shri, Mahindra added. The industrialist expressed his pride regarding his friend and his wife. When I see Pawan and his wife Mamta buying one of our first electric origin SUVs, I am flooded by emotions and memories of working alongside him, he said. New Delhi: In another move that may benefit US exporters dealing in walnut shipments to India, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has extended the export obligation period for walnuts imported under the Advance Authorisation scheme, aligning it with the standard 18-month timeline applicable to most other products. The move provides relief to traders, who previously had to adhere to a much shorter deadline for re-exporting processed walnuts, and is expected to benefit Indias key suppliers, including the US. While explaining the DGFT notification, Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) founder Ajay Srivastava said, With a longer timeframe18 months instead of 180 daysto process and re-export walnuts, Indian traders can plan their imports more efficiently without the pressure of a short turnaround. This could lead to increased purchases from the US, which supplies a significant share of India's walnut imports, he said. Until now, importers bringing in in-shell walnuts under the scheme were required to export the shelled product within 180 days. This shorter obligation period is common for select commodities such as tea and raw sugar (180 days) and gold (120 days), where a faster turnaround is mandated. However, in a shift from this approach, DGFTs Public Notice No. 52, issued on 27 March, eliminated the 180-day constraint for walnuts, allowing them to be treated on par with other items under the Advance Authorisation scheme. The extension comes as India continues to be a major importer of walnuts, with shipments worth $1.6 billion recorded in 2024. The US remains the dominant supplier, accounting for 66.8% of total imports, or about $1.07 billion, according to commerce ministry data. The policy change could help boost demand for US walnuts by easing the export obligation timeline, giving Indian importers more flexibility in processing and re-exporting them, as per GTRI. US trade team in India This is the third decision taken by the Indian government as the US delegation, led by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, is in New Delhi for face-to-face discussions on BTA. The negotiations follow a joint statement issued on 13 February by the leaders of both nations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met in Washington. The US delegation, led by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, is in New Delhi for face-to-face discussions on BTA that commenced on Wednesday. Also read | Will India press for an early harvest in trade talks with US? A day before President Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he may grant many countries 'breaks' from his reciprocal tariff movewithout providing detailsIndia decided on Monday 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, on Tuesday, India's tax regulator revised income tax rules to offer greater 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. Lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles have been 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. SBI Clerk Prelims result 2025: The State Bank of India (SBI) has declared the SBI Clerk Prelims Result 2025. Once the SBI Clerk prelims results are declared, candidates can check their results on SBIs official website: sbi.co.in/web/careers. According to the latest notification,"Tentative dates for Main Exam are 10.04.2025 & 12.04.2025. Call Letters for successful candidates in Preliminary exam will be issued by 02.04.2025." SBI Clerk prelims result 2025: How to check Candidates can check the SBI Clerk prelims result 2025 through the following steps: Visit SBI's official website at sbi.co.in. Click on the Careers section available on the homepage. Find and select the link for SBI Clerk Prelims Result 2025. Enter your login credentials and submit the details. Also Read | Assam state board cancels all Class 11 exams after paper leak Your result will appear on the screen. Review your result and download the page. Candidates are advised to print a copy for future reference. SBI Clerk prelims result 2025: Cut off marks The cut off marks for the SBI Clerk Prelims exam vary by state and category. As per previous year trends, general category candidates typically need to score around 70-80 marks, while the cutoff for reserved category candidates is usually lower. What's next after clearing SBI Clerk Prelims 2025 The SBI Clerk selection process consists of three stages. Candidates who qualify in the prelims will advance to the SBI Clerk Mains Exam. SBI Clerk Mains Exam 2025 As per the official website, the SBI Clerk mains exam is expected to be held on April 10, and April 12, 2025. The call letters for successful candidates in Preliminary exam will be issued by April 2. SBI Clerk exam selection The final selection for the post of SBI Clerk will be based on the aggregate marks obtained in the mains examination, which will determine the merit list. The mains exam includes subjects such as General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. After clearing the mains, candidates will undergo a document verification process. The SBI Clerk exam final merit list will be prepared based on performance in the mains exam. Does SBI Clerk Prelims exam have negative marking? The SBI Prelims exam has negative marking. Each correct answer is awarded 1 mark. For every incorrect answer, 1/4th of the assigned marks (0.25 marks) is deducted. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 27 (ANI): Nearly five years after the demise of celebrity manager Disha Salian, her father Satish Salian has sought the Bombay High Court's intervention for a fresh probe into her death. Satish Salian recently 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. As per his advocate Nilesh Ojha, the complaint had been accepted by the Joint Commissioner of Police. The accused in the case, include Aaditya Thackeray, former Commissioner of Police Parambir Singh, Officer Sachin Vaze and actor Aditya Pancholi. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Satish Salian claimed that he was misled earlier, prompting him to believe that his daughter had died by suicide. He also claimed that former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar had paid him a visit. "Kishori Pednekar (former Mumbai Mayor) had visited me at my residence. She told me that the media is showing incorrect things about my daughter, which is not good. She said that they have come to put an end to it. I was being told that this was suicide and nothing else. Police told me that they have her phone call records, places where she went and people she met. So, I was misled, that there was no false play, that it was a suicide," he said. Disha Salian died on June 8, 2020, six days before her client and actor Sushant Singh Rajput allegedly committed suicide in his apartment in Bandra. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 27 (ANI): Satish Salian, the father of late Disha Salian, on Thursday made a passionate plea for justice, calling for narco tests to be conducted on all accused individuals, including Shiv Sena (UBT leader) Aaditya Thackeray, actors Sooraj Pancholi, and Dino Morea. He also revealed that he had demanded protection for himself and his counsel, emphasising his determination to see the case through to its conclusion. While speaking to ANI, Satish said, "I demanded (Mumbai Police officers) justice for my daughter. I also demanded protection, even for my counsel...I am ready for a Narco Test. But there should be a Narco Test of Aaditya Thackeray, Sooraj Pancholi, and Dino Morea too. All accused should be tested..." He expressed his frustration with the lack of progress in the case, citing the inaction of the previous government, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), during their 2.5-year tenure. Satish Salian stated that he was forced to take matters into his own hands and approach the court for justice. "They (MVA) were in power for 2.5 years; after that, an SIT was put in place, but they didn't do anything. Then, I had to take this step...We will definitely get justice," said Disha Salian's father. The grieving father reiterated his faith in the judiciary, asserting that he will not rest until justice is served. "I have complete faith in the judiciary...My daughter could do only half her work, I have to give it the finishing touch through punishment (to the accused)...Nobody attempted to put pressure on me," he added. This comes after Disha's father filed a fresh complaint almost five years after her sudden demise. After his visit to the Mumbai Police Commissioner's office today, Disha's father opened up about the reopening of his daughter's murder case. Meanwhile, Disha Salian's father's lawyer, Advocate Nilesh C Ojha, today met with Joint CP Lakhmi Gautam to discuss the complaint filed in the Disha Salian murder case. The complaint, which names Aaditya Thackeray, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea, and Aaditya Thackeray's bodyguard as directly accused of gang rape and murder, has been stagnant for 15 months. Ojha urged the police to officially register the complaint, assign a crime number, and provide police protection to Satish, the petitioner, his family, his advocate, and key witnesses. He also demanded an immediate reconstruction of the crime scene to establish key facts. While speaking with ANI, he said, "We met Joint CP Lakhmi Gautam to discuss our complaint, which we had previously submitted. We urged that it be officially registered, as the government recently acknowledged it on record. We urged that it be assigned a crime number without further delay. We demanded that Satish, the petitioner, along with his family, advocate, and key witnesses, should be provided police protection... The case has been stagnant for 15 months. We demanded an immediate reconstruction of the crime scene to establish key facts..." The complaint alleges that there are two sets of accused: those directly involved in the gang rape and murder, and those accused of covering up the crime, including Param Bir Singh, Sachin Vaze, and Uddhav Thackeray. Rhea Chakraborty is also implicated in the conspiracy, with allegations that she exchanged deleted messages with Aaditya Thackeray. "There are two sets of accused - First, directly accused of gang rape and murder: Aaditya Thackeray, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea, and Aaditya Thackeray's bodyguard... Second, accused of cover-up: Param Bir Singh, Sachin Vaze, and Uddhav Thackeray... At least ten individuals linked to this case have mysteriously died--some labeled as suicides, others as accidents.. Rhea Chakraborty is part of the conspiracy. On June 8th, she abruptly left Sushant Singh Rajput's house, blocked his phone, and later, Sushant was found dead... When the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Rhea, they recovered a hidden phone from her father's house. The forensic investigation retrieved deleted messages, including those exchanged with Aaditya Thackeray, revealing deeper conspiracies...," said Ojha. [{85bd4fbb-d804-45a6-9b9e-1cbe765692bd:intradmin/ANI-20250327150229.jpg}] Earlier, 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 Sooraj 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 "cover-up" 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. In response to allegations, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and father of Aditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, denied any connection between his family and the Disha Salian case, emphasising that if evidence exists, it should be presented in court. Uddhav Thackeray said, "If they have evidence then they must produce it in court as this matter is going on in the court. 6 to 7 generations of my family have worked for the people and we have no connection with this issue. If you are making false allegations against someone, then it can boomerang on you, too. What happened to the investigation of other cases like murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. His daughter is demanding justice." New Delhi [India], March 27 (ANI): Superstar Jr NTR has shared a heartwarming experience from his recent visit to Japan, where his film 'Devara: Part 1' has been creating a frenzy among fans. In a social media post, Jr NTR revealed that a Japanese fan had learned Telugu, his native language, after watching his blockbuster film 'RRR.' The actor expressed his emotions, stating that the fan's gesture had truly moved him. Jr NTR emphasized the power of cinema to bridge cultural gaps and inspire language learning. "Being a lover of cinema and languages, the power of cinema to be a bridge across cultures and encouraging a fan to learn a language is something I will never forget," he wrote. The actor's visit to Japan comes on the heels of the release of 'Devara: Part 1,' which has been making waves in the country. The actor took to his X handle and shared a video clip of his experience at an event in Japan where his excited fans could be seen cheering for the star. "Overwhelmed, Japan! Can't wait for the Japanese audience to experience #Devara in cinemas from March 28th," he wrote. Directed by Koratala Siva, the film marks Jr NTR's return to the big screen after his Golden Globe and Oscar triumph with 'RRR.' In 'Devara: Part 1,' Jr NTR plays a dual role, taking on the characters of Devara and Varadha. The film's storyline revolves around a dramatic clash of wills in a coastal setting, where power dynamics are in constant flux. The film has been released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi, and features an ensemble cast, including Janhvi Kapoor. Late actor Kim Sae Ron's family held a press conference in Seoul and presented evidence regarding Kim Soo Hyun and the Bloodhounds actor. Although the family did not make a public appearance, a legal representative of Sae Rons family held the conference. As per Soompi, the late actor's family is "currently experiencing severe anxiety and are unable to appear in public". Kim Sae Ron's family holds press conference The family presented messages from 2016 between Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun as evidence of their relationship. They claimed the actors dated when Sae Ron was a minor, challenging repeated denials from Kim Soo Hyun and his agency. The legal representative of Kim Sae Ron's family addressed the criticism towards them. Soompi quoted their statement: "The reason the family initially had no choice but to disclose the fact that Kim Soo Hyun had been in a relationship with the late Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor was to file a lawsuit against YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, who circulated false information, belittled, and mocked the late Kim Sae Ron, ultimately driving her to her death." Kim Sae Ron's family slams Kim Soo Hyun Kim Sae Ron's family called out Kim Soo Hyun for repeatedly lying about his relationship with the late actor as the family claimed that he dated her when she was a minor. "However, what the family received in return was Kim Soo Hyun lying that he had never been in a relationship with her. Even after evidence proving their relationship was revealed, he did not offer a single word of apology. Instead, he is now lying again, stating that their relationship only began after she became an adult," the Korean outlet further quoted the legal spokesperson who represented Sae Ron's family at the conference. In response, the bereaved family wishes to put an end to the controversy by presenting evidence. To be clear, this is not a place to reveal the reasons behind the late Kim Sae Rons decision to end her own life. The family would like to express that after todays press conference, they do not wish to engage in any further meaningless disputes over the truth, it concluded. Kim Sae Ron, Kim Soo Hyun's 2016 chat Kim Sae Ron's family released screenshots of KakaoTalk messages allegedly exchanged between Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun in 2016. Dated June 24, when Sae Ron was nearly 16, the messages show her discussing her health and talking about receiving an IV drip at the hospital with Soo Hyun. This was followed by their alleged conversation about missing each other, kissing, and sleeping together. Notably, Kim Soo Hyun was around 28 years old at that time. Along with these chat messages, the family also presented screenshots of Instagram DMs between Kim Sae Ron and her unnamed friend from April 9, 2024. Going by the messages, the two talked about Kim Sae Ron's first love Kim Soo Hyun. Kim Sae Ron's letter to Kim Soo Hyun The family also shared a handwritten letter that Kim Sae Ron sent to Kim Soo Hyun after receiving a second certification of contents. In the letter, the late actor apologised for posting the selfie featuring her and Soo Hyun. The letter mentioned Sae Ron saying: "People at GOLD MEDALIST very scary and uncomfortable." Addressing Kim Soo Hyun as her first and last love, the letter also added, Seeing you avoid me and trying to not even acknowledge me makes all the time we spent together feel empty and futile. Lets just be on good terms, no more, no less, but we can at least be supportive of each other. Do you hate me that much? Why? If even this letter doesnt reach you, our relationship will really be over forever. I think Id be sad then. Sae Ron also shared her number in the letter and requested Kim Soo Hyun to get back to her. Who was Kim Sae Ron Kim Sae Ron was 24 when she was found dead at her home in Seoul on February 16, Kim So Hyun's birthday. Los Angeles (California) [US], March 27 (ANI): Mandy Moore's house may have become one of many destroyed in the Los Angeles fire at the start of the year, but now she is ready to rebuild her lost home, as reported by People. In a since-expired Instagram story, the actress Moore shared a post by her Interior designer, Sarah Sherman Samuel, which featured the photographs of the guest house kitchen that was once a part of Moore's house. According to People, Moore and her husband Taylor Goldsmith, were renovating their property at the time of the fire. According to an Instagram post from fellow designer Emily Farnham, the kitchen had just been completed in December 2024. Re-sharing the Instagram story, the actress More wrote, "I miss this space and our home and Atladena immensely so I'm looking forward to rebuilding version 2.0", as quoted by People. The photos showed the redesigned kitchen, which once featured paintable modern beaded cabinets from Samuel's line for Semihandmade and a vintage table and stools. At the start of the year, Hollywood celebrity Mandy Moore faced a devastating loss amid the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. Taking to Instagram, the 'This Is Us' star shared that she is "devastated and gutted" after the Eaton Fire--located about 30 miles east of the Pacific Palisades Fire--rapidly spread in her neighbourhood. As per The Hollywood Reporter, she first revealing that she had evacuated and was safe with her "kids, dogs and cats." She added in her initial post, "Praying and grateful for the first responders." She updated her followers Wednesday morning, writing, "Grateful for the kindness of friends that we had a place to land last night. Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel. Praying for everyone in our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don't know if our place made it. #eatonfire." Later in the day, Moore posted a video of what appeared to be her driving through the destruction in her community, as smoke continued to engulf the sky. She shared that her Altadena, California, home was burned down in the Eaton Fire. "This is Altadena. Leveled. My sweet home," she wrote. "I am devastated and gutted for those of us who've lost so much. I'm absolutely numb." In a follow-up post, she added, "My children's school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together. Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control." Mohanlals Usha puja in Sabarimala for his actor-friend Mammootty has triggered a row as Malayalam superstar's L2: Empuraan hits theatres today. Those criticising Mohanlal, a Hindu, have issues with him praying for Mammootty, a Muslim by faith, at a temple. Mammooty's faith doesnt permit worshipping anyone other than Allah, they said. On March 18, Mohanlal visited Sabarimala temple in Kerala ahead of the release of his Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial L2: Empuraan. After his visit, a puja offering receipt with Mammoottys birth name, Muhammed Kutty, and his birth star Visakham was viral on social media. Receipt Leaked The receipt was offered by the Devaswom office, hinting that Mohanlal had performed the ritual for Mammootty, who is reportedly not keeping well. Several reports also claim Mammootty is currently being treated for cancer, however, his team has dismissed the claims. Mohanlal's gesture was hailed by some, and criticised by others. O Abdullah, an influencer and former editor of the Madhyamam newspaper, is heard in an audio message saying that Mammootty should apologise if he had asked Mohanlal to offer prayers on his behalf. Mohanlals faith in Lord Ayyappa 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, he is quoted as saying by News18. 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, Abdullah said. Javed Akhtar joins in Bollywood lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar backed Mohanlal and Mammootty amid the row. I wish every Mamooty of India had a friend like Mohan Lal and every Mohan Lal had a friend like Mamooty. It is obvious that their great friendship is beyond the understanding of some Small, narrow minded, petty and negative people but who cares, Akhtar said in a post on X. About L2- Empuraan L2: Empuraan clashes with Chiyaan Vikrams Veera Dheera Sooran in Tamil, Nithiin-Sreeleelas Robinhood in Telugu and Salman Khans Sikandar in Hindi. The sequel also features Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Manju Warrier, Abhimanyu Singh and Suraj Venjaramoodu. Mohanlal - Mammootty Bond Though rivals, Mohanlal and Mammootty are known for their friendship. After the row, 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 said. Mohanlal said the two have 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, he said. Also Read | L2 Empuraan review: First audience verdict of Mohanlal starrer Mollywood movie TEN years and a lifetime ago, Binyamin Netanyahu offered a stark vision of the future. Israels prime minister told a parliamentary committee that there could never be peace with the Palestinians. Im asked if we will forever live by the sword," he said. Yes." His words were a source of controversy, not least among the leaders of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), who did not think the government should give up on diplomacy. Yet today Mr Netanyahus vision is an almost unquestioned reality. It has remained so even though Israel has reversed the sense of peril it felt immediately after Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, went on a rampage across southern Israel on October 7th 2023, killing more than 1,100 people and kidnapping 250 more. Israels 15-month assault on Gaza has battered Hamas; it can no longer mount a serious attack. Hizbullah, a Shia militia in Lebanon, is also reeling after Israel pummelled it, too. In addition, the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, Syrias dictator, has cut Hizbullahs main supply line to Iran. The ring of fire" around Israel that Iran had created by funding such militias has burned down to embers. And Israel has withstood Iranian missile attacks and smashed Iranian air defences in retaliation. In years past, Israel might have been content to stop there. But its current leaders favour an unbridled assertion of power, some for pragmatic reasons, others for ideological ones. They are seizing territory beyond their borders, advocating further strikes on Iran and contemplating the outright annexation of Palestinian land. The goal appears to be regional hegemony. But the doubts about such an approach remain the same as when Mr Netanyahu first endorsed the life of the sword: can Israel sustain an indefinite warand should it? Israels changing approach to Gaza shows how its strategic ambitions have grown. During the wars first year it was reluctant to occupy much territory within the enclave. Instead, the idf seized a buffer zone inside its borders, and two corridors that bisected it, but little else: the army feared a prolonged counter-insurgency. Then came a six-week ceasefire with Hamas, agreed in January, which was meant to buy time to negotiate a permanent end to the war. Back for more On March 18th Israel abandoned the ceasefire and resumed attacks on Gaza. It is gearing up for a fresh ground offensive. Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir, the new IDF chief, has promised more aggressive tactics. Israel plans to depopulate large parts of the strip and lay siege to anyone who remains in them. It also intends to hold territory. Israel Katz, the defence minister, has warned the occupation may be permanent. These plans have not yet been implemented, but if they are, they will escalate an already bloody war, which has claimed more than 50,000 lives in Gaza. In the West Bank, meanwhile, the army is waging its biggest offensive in decades. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced from four refugee camps in the north of the territory. Mr Katz has said that Israeli troops might remain in those camps for the rest of the year. Far-right lawmakers are pushing ahead with plans to expand Jewish settlements, which are illegal under international law. On March 23rd the security cabinet voted to legitimise 13 outposts", wildcat settlements that had been built without the governments approval. The right hopes to persuade Donald Trump, Americas president, to back their plans to annex part or all of the West Bank, which would make it impossible to create a Palestinian state. Elsewhere, Israel has occupied a swathe of Syrian territory (see map), including Mount Hermon, the regions highest point. It seems to have no intention of leaving. Israel is trying to court the Druze, a minority group concentrated in southern Syria. It may hope to fracture Syria into a federation of autonomous ethnic statelets; some Israeli commentators have urged the Druze to secede. Israel also continues to occupy five hilltops in southern Lebanon, even though it promised to withdraw from them in late January under the terms of its ceasefire with Hizbullah. View Full Image Map: The Economist Then there is Iran. Mr Netanyahu has dreamed for years about conducting military strikes on Irans nuclear facilities. He is energetically lobbying Americas government to bless such an attack and ideally to join in. Americas spies believe that Israel is likely to act within six months. This new, hegemonic Israel is the product in part of the lingering trauma of October 7th. Before the massacre Israel sought to avoid all-out conflict, contenting itself with periodic strikes against its foes, to assassinate threatening leaders or destroy sophisticated weapons. When it went to war, as it did several times against Hamas, it kept the wars short. The goal was to deter and degrade its adversaries, not to obliterate them. In hindsight, many Israeli generals and spies see that policy as naive. They are no longer willing to tolerate threats on their borderseven hypothetical ones. Syrias new rulers have been clear that they want a peaceful relationship with their neighbour (and after a decade of civil war, they are in no position to fight the Middle Easts strongest army). That has not stopped Israel from seizing even more Syrian territory, to protect the land it seized in 1967. For Israels hard right, though, the goal is not merely to protect the country but to expand it. They have dreamed for years of rebuilding Jewish settlements in Gaza, which were evacuated in 2005, and annexing the West Bank. Some fantasise about a greater Israel" that stretches from the Nile to the Euphrates. They are a minority in Israel, but they are an increasingly powerful one. Mr Netanyahu may not share their yearning for a biblical kingdom, but he needs their support for his earthly goals. He wants to stay in power, and that requires keeping his extremist allies on side. Jewish Power trip In January Itamar Ben-Gvir, the head of the hard-right Jewish Power party, left the coalition to protest against the Gaza ceasefire. He rejoined the government after Israel restarted the war. That gave Mr Netanyahu the numbers to pass this years budget, on March 25th. If he had not done so by the end of March, early elections would have been triggered. Breaking the ceasefire thus helped clear the way for the prime minister to remain in power until late 2026. Mr Netanyahu also wants to stay out of jail. He has been on trial for corruption since 2020 (he denies the charges). A state of perpetual war has helped postpone his legal reckoning. He has argued that he is too busy with affairs of state to spend much time on the witness stand: I am leading the country through a seven-front war," he lectured the judges in December. In February the court approved his request to testify only two days a week, not three. In the past, Israels allies might have tried to temper its belligerence. Mr Trump did press Mr Netanyahu to accept ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza. But his attention has wandered. When Mr Netanyahu visited Washington in February, many Israelis thought he would be strong-armed into negotiating the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which was meant to bring the war to a permanent end. Instead Mr Trump proposed a madcap scheme to depopulate Gaza and turn it into a holiday resort. Phase-two negotiations never started. Nor are regional leaders exerting much pressure. When the Gaza war began, many Arab autocrats feared it would spark unrest in their countries. That has not happened. With their streets quiet, rulers contented themselves with rhetorical condemnations of the war. None broke off diplomatic relations with Israel. The Abraham accords, which saw Israel normalise ties with four Arab countries in 2020, remain intact. Saudi Arabia says it is still willing to join the pact, although only if Mr Netanyahu lays out a path to Palestinian statehood. Even with all these factors in its favour, however, Israel is discovering that being a hegemon is hard. For a start, it is badly straining Israels army. Reservists have put their lives on hold to do long tours of duty. The 295,000 soldiers mobilised since the start of the war have served an average of 61 days (the pre-war average was around 25 days a year). A third of them have spent more than 150 days in uniform. Burnout is setting in: some units are finding that only 60-70% of soldiers report for duty when summoned. We know we will only have about half of our men for the next round," says the personnel officer of a reserve unit scheduled for deployment in Gaza next month. The new budget earmarks 110bn shekels ($29bn) for defence75% above the 63bn shekels allocated in 2023. Civilian ministries spending is to be cut by 5bn shekels. The budget also raises national-insurance contributions and trims some public-sector salaries. Value-added tax has already increased from 17% to 18%. Even so, the deficit will be 4.9% of GDP. Public debt climbed from 60% of GDP in 2022 to 69% last year. Not everyone is being squeezed, though. Mr Netanyahus allies will get 5bn shekels in coalition funds" to dole out on pet projects, including more than 1bn shekels for religious schools attended by ultra-Orthodox Jews, who mostly refuse to serve in the army. Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, calls the budget the greatest robbery in the history of the country". Protesters blocked the entrance to the Knesset ahead of the vote. That points to a deeper crisis. The past few years have shattered public confidence in the state, not only owing to its failure to prevent October 7th. Years of political turmoil preceded the massacre. Mr Netanyahu called four inconclusive elections between 2019 and 2021, only to be briefly forced from power. When he returned in late 2022 he set out to hobble the supreme court, triggering the largest protests in Israels history. In 2018, 55% of Israeli Jews thought the country was in a good situation. Today just 11% do (see chart). The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), a non-partisan think-tank, conducts an annual survey of trust in public institutions. It has found big drops in support for the government, the Knesset and even the army. View Full Image Chart: The Economist Mr Netanyahu is doing little to regain their confidence. In another IDI poll, 73% of Israelis said they wanted to implement the second stage of the Gaza ceasefire, during which Hamas was to free its remaining 59 hostages. The decision to abandon the dealand the hostagessparked big protests. Many Israelis believe the interests of the state are being subordinated to those of the prime minister. Some reservists are debating whether to ignore draft notices for a new ground offensive. On March 16th Mr Netanyahu said he would sack Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet, Israels domestic-security service. The high court has temporarily stayed that decision. A week later ministers unanimously approved a no-confidence motion against Gali Baharav-Miara, the attorney-general, initiating the process of removing her from office. (They will struggle to see the process through.) The prime minister has self-interested reasons to want the two gone. The Shin Bet is investigating allegations that several of his aides took payments from Qatar to promote the Gulf states interests, at the same time as Qatar (with Mr Netanyahus encouragement) was sending $30m a month to Hamas. As for Ms Baharav-Miara, her office is overseeing the corruption case against Mr Netanyahu. Israel is thus in a remarkable situation where a defendant is trying to fire his prosecutor. It is a toxic brew: the government is asking its citizens for big sacrifices even as those citizens despair of their government. A prolonged occupation of Gaza, to say nothing of annexing the West Bank, would add to both the burden and the division. Though many Israelis are sceptical that they can make peace with the Palestinians, they do not share the rights longing for a greater Israel". An endless occupation will engender endless resistance. The Palestinians may be too weak to challenge Israel today, either on the battlefield or the diplomatic stage, but history suggests they will not remain so indefinitely. Syria may also become a cautionary tale. On March 25th the IDF said its troops in southern Syria were attacked by gunmen. They returned fire and called in an air strike, killing at least five people. The shoot-out sparked outrage among some Syrians, who urged the interim government to send forces south. Israel says its troops are in Syria to prevent threats from emerging, yet it may end up creating them. Another question is whether Americas mercurial president will be a reliable ally. For now, he seems inclined to let Israel fight. Mr Netanyahu and his right-hand man, Ron Dermer, seem to have convinced Mr Trumps people that Israel can win a decisive victory over Hamas in the next few months. On Syria, too, the Trump administration is so far aligned with Israels view that the countrys new rulers cannot be trusted. But backing Israel is expensive and Mr Trump hates spending lavishly to defend Americas allies. On top of $18bn in military aid, America has burned through at least $5bn to fund its own military operations in the Middle East since October 7th. The president may eventually balk at the cost of supporting a hegemonic Israel. Peace-prizenik Moreover, Mr Trump wants to be a dealmaker (and, he hopes, a Nobel laureate). In his first term, faced with a choice between allowing Israel to annex parts of the West Bank and pursuing the Abraham accords, he opted for the latter. Mike Huckabee, his nominee for ambassador to Israel, has long been a vocal supporter of annexation. At his confirmation hearing on March 25th, however, he tried to distance the administration from his past views: It would not be my prerogative to make [annexation] the policy of the president." When it comes to Iran, Mr Trump is at odds with many of his advisers, who oppose efforts to negotiate a new agreement that would limit the Islamic Republics nuclear programme. Everyone around him is against a deal," says an Arab diplomat. Some officials in Washington wonder if recent American air strikes against the Houthis were not only a warning to Iran but a trial run of sorts. For now, though, Mr Trump seems intent on making a deal. Steve Witkoff, his Middle East envoy, thinks he can negotiate one quickly. He has told Republicans that he does not want to repeat the experience of John Kerry, Barack Obamas secretary of state, who spent months in 2015 haggling over a 159-page pact, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This dilemma may soon come to a head. The European signatories to the JCPOA have until October 18th to trigger the deals snapback" provision, which would reimpose UN sanctions on Iran. Military planners would also prefer to carry out any strikes before winter weather makes the task harder. If Iran is unwilling to negotiate a serious deal, it seems plausible that Mr Trump would not only bless an Israeli strike but join it. If Iran is willing to talk, however, Mr Netanyahu could find himself with an unpalatable choice: defy the president and act unilaterally, or back down and accept a nuclear pact that will probably be weaker than the JCPOA, which he denounced. Even for a hegemon, regional diplomacy is fraught with such quandaries. One way or another, Israel will have to find a way to live with 5m Palestinians, with its neighbours in Lebanon and with whatever regime emerges in Syria. It will also have to live with itself. For decades, external threats helped unite the country. Now, by trying to stamp out those external threats so ferociously, Israels government is deepening divisions at home. The welfare of koalas is being tracked to help understand how construction for the Coomera Connector motorway is impacting the endangered population. Beckton the koala was taken into care after monitoring equipment alerted a medical team he was unwell. Source: Zoe Scharenguivel The disappearance of a thin koala spotted wearing a strange scientific tracking device earlier this month caused alarm. But it has since been confirmed that Beckton, a 3.5-year-old male, was being monitored as part of an important welfare program, and he was quickly scooped up by a medical team and treated for illness. Gold Coast resident Craig Shephard had a similar "surprise" when he noticed a large male wearing a tracking collar and blue ear tag. Sadly, Cedar the koala didn't survive. He was confirmed dead six months after he was first seen in June. These koalas are just the tip of the iceberg. Cedar and Beckton are two of 444 koalas whose safety is being monitored because their lush Gold Coast homeland is being bulldozed to make way for the Queensland and Commonwealth governments' $2 billion Coomera Connector motorway. Now, Yahoo can reveal how they are faring as their habitat is destroyed, with authorities confirming more than a quarter of the koalas have died since the tracking project began in August, 2021. But the results of monitoring are more complex than they immediately appear, and no koalas have been directly killed by the construction of the motorway. ADVERTISEMENT Related: Moment koala looks towards 'home' as bulldozers roll in Cedar the koala was killed by a dog in Helensvale. Source: Craig Shephard Why has information about koalas been withheld? After Cedars death, Craig became constantly worried about the projects impact on neighbourhood wildlife because he could hear construction noise from inside his home in the northern Gold Coast suburb of Helensvale. Queenslands Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), which manages the project, rejected his request for detailed information about how other koalas in his suburb were faring. I was gutted. I just felt helpless, Craig said. Craig wasnt the only one upset. When advocacy collective the Coomera Conservation Group applied for the results of the koala tracking in TMR's Annual Compliance Report through freedom of information, it received a document that was almost entirely redacted. TMRs secrecy around the project came into question last week, when an image of a koala wearing multiple tracking devices went viral, sparking national media attention and calls from Aussies for it to please explain. ADVERTISEMENT TMR had long maintained it could not release data on the tracking program because it contained information defined by the Commonwealth as sensitive ecological data. This classification is generally used to protect endangered species of "orchids or prize fish" that are highly collectable or at risk of harm from the public, but it remains unclear why koalas have been categorised in this way. This week, TMR released more details to Yahoo News about its decision to withhold information from the community, revealing it had concerns about data being misinterpreted. When information is part of such research or conservation efforts, the data must remain confidential to maintain the integrity of the research process and to avoid misinterpretation of preliminary data, it said. Newly released data shows koala deaths in the Pimpama River Conservation Area (PRCA) and other management areas. Source: TMR Has the Coomera Connector killed koalas? To what degree the Coomera Connector has contributed to the 163 koala deaths remains unknown. TMR advised tagging and monitoring began prior to construction to provide baseline data for both the road corridor and the surrounding area, but it has yet to disseminate this information publicly. ADVERTISEMENT The Gold Coast was once home to one of the most important koala populations, but its habitat has been carved up. A Westfield, Toyota dealership, McDonalds, KFC and new houses all stand where koalas once lived, and as the human population grows, the government plans to bulldoze more trees to make way for more community infrastructure, including a hospital. Conservationists say they face local extinction through death by a thousand cuts. Koala welfare has been tracked by TMR contractor Endeavour Veterinary Ecology (EVE). Its data shows mortality rates both around the wider monitoring area and the Pimpama River Conservation Area (PRCA). The latter was already home to an existing koala population, but 32 others have been translocated there because they were in the immediate path of construction. TMR has consulted with several community groups through its Koala Stakeholder Reference Group, but its members have been gagged from sharing information with the public. Secrecy has no doubt masked some important wins from monitoring that have only been revealed recently. Because EVE can monitor the movement of koalas, they can be relocated whenever they enter a construction zone, so there have been no deaths caused directly by the works. Another clear benefit of tracking is EVEs ability to track and treat koalas against chlamydia infection, an illness that causes death. Of the monitored koalas, disease accounts for 98 fatalities, making it by far the biggest killer. Chylamidia rates at the PRCA are now down to undetectable levels, so deaths in this region from the disease will likely drop in future. Details of koala deaths revealed It's in the streets that surround the Coomera Connector, rescuers report finding increased numbers of displaced dead or injured koalas. ADVERTISEMENT Cedar was killed by a dog, a common occurrence when ordinarily territorial koalas lose their habitat and wander into unfamiliar backyards. Eight koalas at the PRCA and 23 in other monitoring areas have been killed by trauma, a category TMR defines as dog attacks or weather events. Vehicle strikes also increase after habitat destruction because koalas are forced to cross busy roads to find new trees. Thirteen koala deaths have been recorded in this category. Four others died of misadventure, a category that includes drowning, and seven died after attacks from other wildlife. Sadly, only one has died of old age. Queensland's koalas face new threats The works through Helensvale are only Part 1 of the planned Coomera Connector. A significant number of koalas are expected to be impacted by Stage 2, as it will cut through a population in Coomera, transecting one of the last connected koala habitats on the northern Gold Coast. An expert who spoke to Yahoo News on the condition of anonymity described it as a disaster waiting to happen. As more data about Stage 1s impact on koalas is released, community members will be able to share informed feedback before the next stages commence. There are indications the next Annual Compliance Report released by TMR will contain more details and explanatory notes when it is released in May. But as they wait to read its findings, wildlife lovers are already preparing for another battle, advocating for koalas set to be displaced by new infrastructure planned for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. The three stages of the Coomera Connector are designed to cut travel time between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Source: TMR Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Since taking over as US President for a second time, Donald Trump has kept the world on its toes with an avalanche of tariff threats. While most are yet to materialise, Trump recently announced a 25% tariff on all US trading partners that import crude oil from Venezuela, effective 2 April. This, however, is unlikely to have any material impact on India, experts told Mint. That's because the share of Venezuelan crude oil in Indias oil import basket is less than 1%. And with Reliance Industries a major importer of Venezuelan crude to India halting fresh imports, the countrys position has improved. Also read | Trumps Venezuelan-oil tariff threat: Crude policy Indias crude shipments from Venezuela peaked almost a decade ago and have been declining since, completely stopping between 2022 and 2023. India resumed crude oil imports from Venezuela in December 2023 as the US temporarily eased sanctions on the Venezuelan oil sector. While these sanctions were restored in a few months, Reliance and Nayara Energy continued to import Venezuelan crude through specific sanction exemptions. Venezuelan crude constitutes just around 1% of Indias entire crude basket. However, since it is available at a discount to other crude oils, we imported 12% more Venezuelan crude in the first nine months of FY25 than in the entire FY24," Sumit Pokharna, oil and gas analyst at Kotak Securities told Mint. It's a buyer's market Finding a replacement for Venezuelan crude will be easy as the global market currently has an excess of crude oil, said Varatharajan Sivasankaran, senior vice president at Antique Stock Broking. This could increase the import costs of Indian refiners by a couple of dollars a barrel or shrink their refining margins marginally, leading to price pressures, but the overall impact is expected to be small. Experts expect crude oil prices to remain subdued around the $70-75 a barrel in the near term, owing to weak global demand. Also read: Fixed quota of US oil imports on cards as govt gears up for trade pact negotiations OPEC+ is keen to unwind production cuts to gain market share, while Russian exports are also slated to increase as a Ukraine-Russia truce seems in sight. Hence, I don't see any material impact (of the 25% tariff) on the global oil market on a standalone basis," said Sivasankaran. Pokharna from Kotak Securities said the US itself is one of the largest importers of Venezuelan crude, second only to China. So, it remains to be seen how far this move will be sustainable," he said. The US justified the tariffs by alleging that Venezuela has been sending "hundreds of violent criminals" to the country. But experts noted that Trump announced the Venezuelan tariff while softening his stance on broader reciprocal tariffs that are expected to take effect from 2 April. Also read | Mint Explainer: Have India-US trade talks blunted Trumps threat of reciprocal tariffs? India may be vulnerable to these reciprocal tariffs as it has a high tariff differential with the US. However, it could mitigate the impact by agreeing to reduce tariffs on certain US goods and increase the amount of oil it imports from America. Nandita Venkatesan contributed to this story. Trade groups representing the auto sector in the European Union and the U.K. Thursday called on leaders to find a resolution to the planned U.S. tariffs on auto imports. President Trumps 25% tariffs on all vehicles imported to the U.S. will hurt global automakers as well as U.S. domestic manufacturing, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday. Tariffs wont just impact imports into the U.S., a penalty that American consumers are likely to pay, but the duties on automotive parts will also hurt automakers producing cars in the U.S. for export markets, said the trade group, which is known as ACEA. European automakers have been investing in the U.S. for decades, creating jobs, fostering economic growth in local communities, and generating massive tax revenue for the U.S. government," ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries said. We urge President Trump to consider the negative impact of tariffs." ACEA said that European manufacturers export between 50% and 60% of the vehicles they make in the U.S., making a substantial positive contribution to the U.S. trade balance. The trade group urged the EU and U.S. to engage in dialogue and find a resolution to avert tariffs and the consequences of a trade war, as the news comes at a watershed moment for the industrys transformation and as fierce international competition mounts. In the U.K., the industry body Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said President Trumps announcement was disappointing, but not surprising. Rather than imposing additional tariffs, the SMMT said leaders should be exploring ways to create opportunities for both British and American manufacturers as part of a mutually beneficial relationship, benefiting consumers and creating jobs and growth across the Atlantic. The U.K. and U.S. auto industries have a long-standing and productive relationship, with U.S. consumers enjoying vehicles built in Britain by some iconic brands, while thousands of U.K. motorists buy cars made in America," SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said. The industry urges both sides to come together immediately and strike a deal that works for all." The U.S. is Britains second largest car export market after the EU, with more than 101,000 units shipped in 2024, representing 16.9% of cars exported, according to the SMMT. U.K. passenger car exports to the U.S. were worth 7.6 billion pounds ($9.8 billion) in 2024, while U.S. passenger car imports to the U.K. reached 18,000 units in 2024. Major auto-exporting nations are in crisis mode after President Trump announced new 25% tariffs on imported autos and auto parts, starting April 3. Nearly half of new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2024 were assembled outside the U.S., according to data from S&P Global Mobility. Most come from five nations: Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany. Economic driver Cars drive the economies of these nations and typically account for a big proportion of exports. U.S. auto tariffs could reduce economic growth in Japan by 0.2 percentage point, said Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute. If Japanese carmakers shift production to the U.S., they would maintain sales but it would be a headwind for the Japanese economy," he said. The automotive industry is also a linchpin of the European economy, accounting for 7% of the European Unions economic output. For Germany, auto exports to the U.S. account for close to half a percent of value added in the economy, according to Capital Economics. The impact of tariffs would stretch deep into the German supply chain. Roughly a third of small and midsize automotive suppliers surveyed by the countrys automotive trade association last month expected to be directly affected by U.S. tariffs. Big exporters The worlds biggest carmaker, Toyota, shows how the industry relies on exports to the U.S. American showrooms for Toyota feature Prius hybrids made in Japan, RAV4 sport-utility vehicles made in Canada and Tacoma pickups from Mexico. Last year, Toyota sold 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. About a quarter of those vehicles came from Japan, and an additional quarter or so shipped from Canada and Mexico. The remaining half were built in the U.S., a Toyota spokesman said. Many non-U. S. automakers get a quarter or more of their sales in the U.S. Trump said he wanted the carmakers to move their production to the U.S. Hyundai said at the White House on Monday that it would invest an additional $21 billion in U.S.-based car manufacturing and supply chains for critical materials, including a $5.8 billion steel mill to be built in Louisiana. German luxury brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW have developed manufacturing bases for sport-utility vehicles in the U.S. in recent decades, but they continue to ship sedans across the Atlantic as well as engines and transmissions for the SUVs. All the vehicles sold in the U.S. by Audi and Porsche, both owned by the Volkswagen Group, are imported. Hondas exports to the U.S. include the made-in-Canada CR-V and Civic and Mexico-produced HR-V. Hyundais exports include the hybrid Tucson and Palisade SUV. Governments hit back South Korea said it planned emergency support for the auto industry. Trade minister Ahn Duk-geun said the industry faced considerable damage." Japan said it would ask Trump for a tariff exemption, and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said retaliation was an option. In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the tariffs as bad for businesses, worse for consumers," while saying the European Union would seek negotiated solutions. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the EU should respond decisively and not give in to the U.S." Write to Yoko Kubota at yoko.kubota@wsj.com and Stephen Wilmot at stephen.wilmot@wsj.com Ashok Leyland Ltds step-down e-bus subsidiary Switch Mobility Ltd (Switch UK), is cutting its losses. Post market hours on Wednesday, Ashok Leyland announced that the board of Switch UK had approved the commencement of a consultation process with employees, which could potentially lead to the cessation of its manufacturing and assembly activities at its Sherburn facility. Sluggish e-buses demand amid an uncertain outlook for e-buses in the UK has made manufacturing operations unviable in the region, leading to this decision. That said, Ashok Leyland has no plans to exit the UK market and plans execute all the orders on hand. Also, it will continue to provide aftermarket and service support from two other facilities in Rotherham and Thurrock for existing vehicles. Switch UK is present across the UK and Europe. The potential closure of UK manufacturing would contain the current around 21 million profitability drag. Secondly, a likely discontinuation of these operations would mean no earnings dilution at the consolidated level for Ashok Leylands earnings. Moreover, Ashok Leyland is upbeat on the prospects of Switch Mobility Automotive Ltd (Switch India), which is expected to clock 900-1,000 crore revenues in FY25 and be Ebitda positive. earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Aided by a strong order backlog of 1,300 buses, management expects Switch India to treble volumes in FY26 and to break even at the profit after tax (PAT) level over the next four to six quarters. Share pledge overhang But investors dont appear thrilled; Ashok Leylands shares fell about 2% on Thursday. The recent increase in promoter pledges could be acting as an overhang for the stock, which is up a striking 26% in the past one year, significantly beating the Nifty Auto Index. The latest disclosures to stock exchanges indicated that the Hinduja Group had pledged an additional 300 million of Ashok Leyland or around 10.21% of the total shares on 25 March. Considering the earlier disclosed pledging of 30% of promoter holding, a total of 50% of the promoter holding is pledged now. Note that promoter holding in the company is 51.1%. We also note that as per the last disclosed data, ~50% of promoter holding in IndusInd Bank is also pledged. (Promoter holding in IndusInd Bank is ~15%)," said a Nomura Global Market Research report dated 26 March. Thus, any drop in Ashok Leylands share price is a risk. Note that the Hinduja group company IndusInd Banks shares have been volatile lately due to a series of negative developments. Also Read: Five undervalued auto stocks that are set for a comeback Indias ambitious push to bring home trading in Nifty 50 derivatives has made limited progress in nearly two years, as many traders tempted by cost and logistical advantages keep faith in the Singapore Exchange (SGX). While the share of GIFT Nifty volumes originating from within GIFT City has nearly doubled to 33% during the period, it is still a long way from realizing the goal of attracting the majority of these trades to India. In 2023, India's NSE and Singapore's SGX agreed to transition the SGX Nifty--popular among foreign traders keen to take exposure to the Indian markets--to the NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). However, brokers and traders said that the majority of trades in SGX Nifty, now rebranded GIFT Nifty, still originates from the Singapore exchange. The culprit: higher transaction costs and harder onboarding in India, and logistical advantages offered by Singapore's established financial infrastructure. As per NSE IX website, the total cumulative traded value for GIFT Nifty surged from $611.95 billion in FY24 to $1.02 trillion in FY25 (as of February 2025). The average daily traded value rose from $3.19 billion in FY24 to $4.26 billion in the first 11 months of FY25. A breakup of the trades originated in GIFT City and SGX was not available. Also read | NSE shrinks monthslong share transfer process to days ahead of a likely IPO A person aware of the matter said on the condition of anonymity that in GIFT Nifty's first year, around 17% of total volumes came directly to the NSE IX, while the rest came from SGX. Since then, the number has jumped to around 33%. GIFT Nifty is the flagship derivatives product of NSE IX, and its limited progress shows the need for the exchange to be more competitive in shifting trades to India. "The exchange transaction cost for the NSE IX and SGX are the same for retail traders as well as prop traders; however, we understand that SGX gives bigger traders a concession if the volumes the trader brings to the exchange are far above a certain limit," said Bhanu Pratap Singh, chief executive officer of Bonanza Portfolio (IFSC) Pvt. Ltd, a broker in GIFT City. This makes buying the GIFT Nifty contract via Singapore Exchange more attractive, said Singh. NSE IX charges $1.5 for trading a single lot of GIFT Nifty futures, which can be reduced to 40 cents if the trader has a remote membership of NSE IX or SGX. However, getting a remote membership for SGX is easier than getting one for NSE IX. This leads to a lot of foreign clients buying the contract from SGX. Read this | NSE vs BSE: Sebis curbs, exchange moves reshape options market A person sitting outside India can place orders for the GIFT Nifty contract through SGX or through NSE IX, while the settlement happens at the end of the day with the NSE IX. GIFT Nifty was moved to NSE IX from SGX in 2023 to avoid trading volumes moving offshore. The goal was to bring offshore transactions onshore, ensuring that trading activity related to the Nifty 50 takes place within India. Traders can take remote membership for NSE IX after paying a membership fee only if they are a member of any international exchange," said Ajay Garg, director and CEO of the SMC Group, a clearing member for NSE IX. In contrast, SGX does not mandate that the trader be a member of any other exchange. Garg added that if the costs are rationalized, people might shift to buying the contract from GIFT City. NSE IX also plans to grab a larger portion of the volumes coming from the island nation of Singapore. The exchange will operationalize a volume incentive scheme, which will offer rebate on transaction charges levied on trades in GIFT Nifty futures, bringing it on par with what the SGX offers. According to an NSE IX statement on 17 March, rebates are offered on the cumulative gross volume if the contract exceeds the pre-defined volume threshold in a month. Another hurdle at NSE IX is that the exchange allows brokers to onboard clients purely using a physical KYC (know-your-customer) which is cumbersome, while the SGX has a digital onboarding process, Singh of Bonanza Portfolio added. Read this | The collateral damage in RBIs crackdown on loan frenzy, KYC Experts said there is also a logistical issue that has led to NSE IX not gaining in popularity. A foreign trader might already have an account in a bank in Singapore, where he can directly transfer the funds to the SGX and buy the GIFT Nifty contract, instead of sending the money to GIFT City," said Naveen Mathur, director - GIFT City, IFSC at Anand Rathi International Ventures (IFSC) Pvt. Ltd. Others said that a trader working out of Singapore for a long time may not want to incur additional costs to switch to GIFT IFSC. Another person aware of the development said , it is a slow process and wont happen overnight, but over time, well see more foreign investors coming in. Some may set up shops here, while others might trade remotely through the remote trading participant route. Thats how it will unfold". And read | Mint Explainer: How variable capital cos, announced in Budget, will boost fund flow in Gift IFSC Ashok Leyland share price experienced heightened volatility in morning trade on the BSE on Thursday, March 27, driven by multiple factors, including promoters creating a pledge, US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on auto imports, and the potential shutdown of UK manufacturing operations by its step-down subsidiary, Switch Mobility. Ashok Leyland's share price opened at 206 against its previous close of 214.95 and dropped nearly 5 per cent to an intraday low of 205.05. However, the stock pared losses significantly. Around 11:05 AM, the automobile stock was 0.63 per cent down at 213.60. Ashok Leyland promoter creates a pledge In a regulatory filing on March 26, Ashok Leyland stated that Hinduja Automotive had pledged 30 crore shares of Ashok Leyland with lenders. The automaker company disclosed a note from the trusteeship service provider and onshore security agent, Catalyst Trusteeship, confirming that Hinduja Automotive Limited had pledged shares of Ashok Leyland in its favour, with Catalyst Trusteeship as the pledgee. "A facility agreement dated 24 March 2025 has been entered into between Hinduja Automotive Limited (borrower) and certain lenders. Hinduja Automotive holds 1,01,94,28,678 equity shares, constituting 35.01 per cent of the issued and paid-up share capital of Ashok Leyland. A pledge has been created by the borrower over 30,00,00,000 shares, constituting 10.21 per cent of the issued and paid-up share capital of Ashok Leyland," said the regulatory filing. Auto stocks crash on Trump's tariff fears Most auto stocks, including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and Samvardhana Motherson International, suffered losses of up to 7 per cent after Trump signalled he will be implementing a 25 percent tariff on auto imports. The Nifty auto index fell over 2 per cent in morning trade but cut it losses as the day progressed. Around 10:30 AM, the index was 0.85 per cent down. Equity benchmark Nifty 50 was 0.53 per cent up at that time. Subsidiary Switch UK considers ceasing UK manufacturing operations In a separate exchange filing on March 26, Ashok Leyland said Switch Mobility Limited, UK, a step-down subsidiary of the company that manufactures electric buses and has a presence across the UK and Europe, is considering the potential ceasing of UK manufacturing operations due to continuing general economic uncertainty in Europe and a lower-than-expected transition to EVs in public transport. "In the wake of continuing general economic uncertainty faced in both the UK and Europe, and slower than expected transition to EVs in public transport, the board of directors of Switch Mobility Limited UK today approved the commencement of consultation process with the employees, which could potentially lead to cessation of its manufacturing and assembly activities at the Sherburn facility," said the company on March 26. The company added that Switch UK will execute and complete all the orders on hand and will continue to provide aftermarket support for the existing vehicle parc. "The plan is to cater to the UK and European markets when the market recovers from Ashok Leylands alternate manufacturing sites in India and UAE. At the same time, Switch Mobility Automotive Ltd, India (Switch India) is planning to double-down on the high-growth India EV market, which is poised to grow multi-fold in the next few years," said the company. Also Read | Stocks to buy for long term: Pankaj Pandey of ICICI Securities picks 6 names Ashok Leyland stock: What should investors do? Experts are largely positive about Ashok Leyland stock. They believe the restructuring of Switch UK is positive for Ashok Leyland, as it will no longer be earnings-dilutive at a consolidated level. "Post restructuring, Switch UK will cease to be earnings dilutive at a consolidated level, which is a key positive for Ashok Leyland. Also, neither of the Switch entities is expected to need any funding support in the near term. However, the recent increase in promoter pledge is likely to remain an overhang on the stock," said brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Motilal has a buy call on the stock with a target price of 255, implying a 19 per cent upside potential from the stock's March 26 close of 214.95 on the BSE. Brokerage firm InCred Equities has an add call on the stock with a target price of 265, implying a 23 per cent upside potential. InCred pointed out that Ashok Leyland remains the leader in the e-LCV (electric light commercial vehicle) market, holding an over 80 per cent share in the 2-3.5T segment. The brokerage firm highlighted that Ashok Leyland expects 50-80 per cent volume growth in FY26. According to InCred, its management indicates that there is no immediate need to make provision. It will look for value creation in India operations to help cover investment losses in the UK. While fundamental experts appear positive about the stock, technical experts advise investors to wait for a daily breakout above 222 to initiate fresh longs. Jigar S. Patel, Senior Manager of Equity Research at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, underscored Ashok Leyland stock is currently in a sideways trend, trading between S3 and R3 Camarilla pivots. Ashok Leyland technical chart "A wait and watch approach is advisable for now. A fresh breakout can only be confirmed if the stock closes above 222 on a daily basis, signalling potential upward momentum. Until then, cautious observation is key, avoiding premature entry into the stock," said Patel. Read all market-related news here Read more stories by Nishant Kumar Emkay Global Financial Services has removed IndusInd Bank from its model portfolio, citing uncertainty over leadership and the fallout from the recent derivatives accounting issue. The domestic brokerage replaced the private lender with Power Finance Corporation (PFC), highlighting its attractive valuation and its potential to benefit from the firms bullish outlook on the power sector. Emkay Drops IndusInd Bank, Adds Power Finance In a recent update, Emkay Global announced that it no longer holds IndusInd Bank in its model portfolio, despite the stocks steep correction. The brokerage expressed concerns over the ongoing derivatives misstatement controversy and the bank's leadership stability. "The prevailing valuations of IndusInd Bank probably over-discount the negatives, but we do not see an imminent recovery. With banks, we believe it is better to enter at a higher valuation when risks are more compressed and sacrifice some upside than go bottom fishing," Emkay stated. As a replacement, Emkay introduced Power Finance Corporation, citing its compelling valuation at one-time price-to-book value. The brokerage believes this addition offers greater exposure to the power sector, which it views as a high-growth space. What Triggered the Removal? The decision follows IndusInd Banks disclosure of a financial misstatement related to derivatives on March 10. The bank revealed that the estimated impact of the accounting error amounts to 2.35 percent of its net worth, translating to approximately 1,577 crore. The revelation led to a sharp sell-off, with the stock plunging 27 percent on March 11, erasing nearly 20,000 crore in market capitalisation. The bank was subsequently added to the Futures & Options (F&O) ban list. However, the stock showed signs of recovery after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reassured customers about the banks stability. The RBI confirmed that IndusInd Bank remained well-capitalised and directed the lender's board to implement remedial measures. In a March 15 statement, the RBI clarified: The Reserve Bank would like to state that the bank is well-capitalised and the financial position of the bank remains satisfactory. IndusInd Banks CEO and Managing Director, Sumant Kathpalia, revealed that the accounting lapse was detected between September and October 2024. The bank provided a preliminary update to the RBI last week, with the final impact assessment expected by early April 2025, following an external review. Brokerage Reactions Emkay Global acknowledged its previous bullish stance on IndusInd Bank, which was part of its model portfolio and a top pick for CY25. However, the brokerage described the derivatives loss as a setback to management credibility. According to Emkay, the issue stemmed from improper hedging treatment of forex portfolio transactions. The brokerage noted that the bank applied different standards to each leg of the internal trade, which effectively overstated its net interest income (NII) over an extended period. ICICI Securities maintained a reduce call on IndusInd Bank with a target price of 850. The brokerage estimated a pre-tax hit of 2021 billion from the derivatives issue. ICICI Securities warned that the impact, likely to be routed through the P&L in Q4FY25, could significantly dent profitability, potentially leading to a quarterly loss. Nuvama Institutional Equities also downgraded the stock to reduce from hold, lowering the target price to 901. The brokerage flagged concerns over the banks credibility, highlighting the CFOs resignation just before the Q3 earnings release, the CEOs recent one-year extension instead of three, and the timing of the derivatives controversy. Stock Price Trend The stock has declined over 58 percent from its all-time high of 1,576, recorded in April 2024. It recently hit a 52-week low of 605.40 earlier this month. Over the past year, the scrip has plunged 55 percent. In March alone, it has shed 34 percent so far, following a flat performance in February. Notably, the stock had gained 3.2 percent in January. Emkay Globals decision to drop IndusInd Bank from its model portfolio underscores the mounting concerns over the banks internal controls, leadership stability, and the financial hit from the derivatives controversy. The brokerages move to add Power Finance Corporation instead signals a preference for safer, value-driven bets with exposure to the power sector, which it believes offers stronger growth prospects. As the fallout from President Donald Trumps tariff plans comes into relief, a harsh truth is emerging for the automotive industry: Among the many losers, Elon Musks Tesla Inc. stands out as a clear winner. The electric vehicle maker has large factories in California and Texas that churn out all the cars it sells in the US, insulating it to a greater degree from Trumps new levies on auto imports and key components. Major rivals from South Koreas Hyundai Motor Co. to Germanys Volkswagen AG and Americas own General Motors Co. meanwhile will soon face sharply higher costs. There are very few winners, Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, said in a telephone interview. Consumers will be losers because they will have reduced choice and higher prices. Ford Motor Co. could also face a less-severe impact than some rivals, with about 80% of the cars it sells in the US being built domestically. Starting next week, the new 25% tariffs will apply to all imported passenger vehicles and light trucks, as well as key parts like engines, transmissions and electrical components, on top of any duties already in effect. Trump's tariff impact on Tesla Tesla is the least exposed to the new duties due to its domestic manufacturing operations, CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson wrote in an analysis this week. Tesla itself has been boasting this week about its US credentials, saying in a post on X that its models are the most American-made cars. Still, the EV maker wont be entirely unaffected. Musk said in an X post on Wednesday that the tariffs will still have a significant impact on the company. Since Trump took office, Tesla shares have plunged 36% in value. Conflict of interest Musks prominent role in the Trumps administration, with the Tesla chief executive officer overseeing cuts to the federal workforce, gave rise to questions over a possible conflict of interest. Trump denied discussing the tariffs with Musk. Hes never asked me for a favor in business whatsoever, Trump said at an Oval Office event on Wednesday as he signed the proclamation putting the auto tariffs in place. Im actually a little surprised by it. The tariffs give automakers that heavily source parts in the US an edge, and Trump also allowed an exemption: The new levies will only apply to the non-US share of vehicles and parts imported under a free-trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. That stands to soften the blow for vehicles whose supply lines zig-zag across the continent. Tariffs on parts from Canada and Mexico that comply with the trade deal also wont take effect until the US sets up a process to collect those levies. The US neighbors could use that window to try to stave off full implementation, even if its a long shot. The move is nonetheless a broadside against the continents free-trade agreement that Trump renegotiated during his first term in office that has given rise to a closely integrated supply chain spanning North America. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the tariffs a direct attack. Worst hit Foreign brands heavily reliant on imported vehicles will face the most pressure. South Koreas Hyundai risks being among the hardest hit. Although the carmaker and its affiliate Kia have plants in Alabama and Georgia and announced a $21 billion US expansion plan this week it imported more than a million vehicles to the US last year, accounting for more than half of its sales in the country, according to figures from Global Data. Hyundai remains committed to the long-term growth of the US automotive industry through localized production and innovation, the company said in a statement, noting it employs 570,000 people in the US. Hyundai and Kia may have to pay as much as 10 trillion won ($7 billion) every year for tariffs to the US if the 25% tariffs are executed, according to Hyuk Jin Yoon, Seoul-based analyst at SK Securities Co. That accounts for nearly 40% of total operating profit that the two carmakers earned in 2024. And despite having four assembly plants spread across Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi and Texas, plus engine plants in West Virginia and Alabama, Toyota Motor Corp., the worlds biggest automaker, imports about half of what it sells in the US. A representative of Toyota said that the companys Mexico operations are 100% compliant with the USMCA free-trade agreement. Detroits carmakers werent spared, either. GM imports some Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks from plants in Mexico and Canada, the entry-level Chevy Trax compact SUV from South Korea and its family car, the Chevrolet Equinox crossover SUV. Last year GM sold more than 200,000 each of the Equinox and Trax, which are among its cheapest vehicles. The automaker also makes electric versions of the Equinox and Blazer in Mexico. Stellantis NV makes the Jeep Compass and Wagoneer S SUVs in Mexico. The company imports its Chrysler Pacifica minivans from Canada and compact Dodge Hornet and Fiat 500 from Italy. Intraday stocks for today under 100: After a seven-day rally, the Indian stock market paused on Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex and the Nifty 50 sliding into negative territory as investors awaited clarity on potential US tariffs. The market's momentum stalled as traders digested recent gains and assessed geopolitical uncertainties. The sharp and rapid rise prompted caution among traders, triggering a sell-off in heavyweight stocks across the banking, IT, and metals sectors. The Nifty Mid-cap and Small-cap indices continued profit-taking for the second consecutive day. The Nifty Midcap 100 index fell by 0.62%, while the Nifty Small-cap 100 index corrected by 1.07%. The BSE's advance-decline ratio stood at 0.30, indicating broader market weakness. Except for Nifty Auto, which marginally ended in green, all sectoral indices closed in the red. Nifty Media, Oil/Gas, Realty, and Healthcare emerged as the most significant losers during the session. Stock market today Speaking on the outlook for the Indian stock market today, Siddhartha Khemka, Head of ResearchWealth Management at Motilal Oswal, said, "We expect the market to remain range-bound with stock or sector-specific action on the back of developments around the US-India trade meeting during the week." On the outlook for the Nifty 50 today, Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities, said, "The market is in a healthy downward correction, and one may expect the Nifty 50 index to bounce back shortly after forming higher bottom. The next lower supports are placed around 23,400 to 23,200. Any bounce near the support could rechallenge the key hurdle at 23,800." Asked about the outlook of the Bank Nifty today, Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta, said, Technically, Bank Nifty formed a red candle on the daily chart, indicating weakness. On the downside, the 200-Day Simple Moving Average (200-DSMA), placed near 50,990, will act as key support for the index, followed by the recent breakout point of 50,640. On the upside, 51,880 and 52,000 will act as strong resistance levels. Traders should monitor these levels for potential trading opportunities. 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, AVP Research at Hensex Securities; Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet; and Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investment and Securities recommended these four intraday stocks for today under 100: HFCL, Mawana Sugars, Motherson Sumi Wiring, and NACL Industries. Vaishali Parekh's stock pick 1] HFCL: Buy at 80, target 88, stop loss 76. Mahesh M Ojha's stock to buy under 100 2] Mawana Sugars: Buy at 89.50 to 90, targets 92.50, 95, 97, and 100, stop loss 88. Sugandha Sachdeva's buy or sell stock 3] Motherson Sumi Wiring: Sell on the rise at 54.80, target 51.50, stop loss 56.20. Anshul Jain's share to buy under 100 4] NACL Industries: Buy at 99, target 105, stop loss 97 (Closing Basis). Stock Market today: Nifty Auto index declined by up to 2% in the morning trade on Thursday after US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs targeting the auto sector. Tata Motors emerged as the biggest casualty, with the share price declining 6%. Trump announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on imported cars from April 2, hitting investor sentiment. The Nifty Auto index thereby saw a sharp beating, with Tata Motors, Samvardhana Motherson International and Bharat Forge being the largest losers. The US equity market also declined sharply in overnight trade, which analysts attributed to the Trump administration's decision to impose a 25% tariff on the import of vehicles and auto components. Trump Tariffs' Impact on Tata Motors Tata Motors' share price was the worst hit in the auto pack following Trump's tariff announcement, as North America, mostly the US, contributed significantly to Jaguar Land Rover's (JLR) sales. According to Jaguar Land Rover's fiscal year 2024 annual report, the US market accounted for more than a fifth of its total sales. The latest tariff announcement comes as a fresh headwind for Tata Motors, which is already facing a slowdown in domestic commercial vehicle sales. Domestic Auto Sector Outlook However, on the positive side, analysts remain constructive on domestic sales of Indian automakers. While many brokerages are expecting some rebound in sales of Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles in FY26, they are watchful of sales pickup during the festive season in the near term. Also Read | SpiceJet shares remain in focus on the launch of 24 new flights this summer Nuvama Institutional Equities expects March 2025 wholesale growth to be positive in tractors, two-wheelers and passenger vehicles, while commercial vehicle sales could decline marginally. Tractor sales will grow in double digits, driven by a benign customer sentiment and a favourable base. The two-wheeler and passenger vehicle segments shall eke out low single-digit growth, despite muted customer sentiment, owing to inventory build-up with dealers before the festive season (Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri), said Nuvama analysts. Small-cap multibagger stock Jash Engineering, engaged in water and wastewater management, has a strong runway for growth despite a sharp rally over the past few years, believe analysts at Aditya Birla Money. The brokerage has initiated coverage on Jash Engineering with a 'buy' rating and a target price of 715, signaling 30% upside from current levels, driven by strong revenue potential, expansion into global markets, product diversification, and consistently improving ROEs and ROCEs. "We expect Jash to achieve a 17%/17%/19% CAGR in revenue, EBITDA, and PAT and initiate coverage with a buy rating and a target price of 715, valuing the stock at 35x FY27E EPS, the brokerage said. Jash Engineering share price trend The strong views by the brokerage come despite the multibagger returns offered by the company. Jash Engineering's share price has rallied from 19.60 five years ago to 553 currently, delivering 2,647.65% returns to its investors during this period. In the near term, too, the smallcap stock' performance has been impressive, with the scrip rising 6% in just one month and over 60% in the past one year. Key reasons behind Aditya Birla Money's bullishness Here are the key reasons behind the brokerage's bullish views: Strong revenue potential Jash Engineering is targeting revenue to reach 1,000 crore by FY27, which the brokerage said will be driven by manufacturing expansion. The company has plans to commission three new plants between FY25 and FY27 and has recently entered the UK market, which is expected to contribute to a revenue increase from 620 crore to 750 crore by FY26. Additionally, the company is set to open a new facility in Chennai by Apr 2025, setting it up for sustained growth, with expected revenue CAGR of 15-20% through FY28. Global expansion plans Jash Engineering generates a large chunk of its revenue from outside of India as it exports to 45 countries, and focuses on high-potential English-speaking markets worth 10,000-11,000 crore. It aims to raise export revenue to 65% by FY27/FY28 from 60% in FY24. As of March 1, 2025, its order book was worth 918 crore, with 330 crore from India and 588 crore internationally. "With the global water and wastewater market set to grow at 7.5% annually, reaching $617 billion by 2032, with the US alone contributing $314 billion, Jash is well-positioned to capitalise on this opportunity," the brokerage said. Scope for domestic expansion Back home, the company dominates Indias water control gate market with a market share of 60-70%. With cities like Surat leading in wastewater processing, there is significant untapped growth potential in major metros such as Delhi and Mumbai, where wastewater treatment infrastructure lags, the brokerage said. The company's expertise, favourable government spending in India and increasingly stringent environmental regulations position it to gain from the growing demand for water treatment solutions both domestically and internationally, it opined. The company has several major clients like Va Tech Wabag, NTPC, BHEL, Reliance, L&T, and Adani. Also Read | How should investors navigate current stock market volatility? Experts weigh in Operational efficiency Jash has consistently improved its ROE and ROCE by efficiently allocating and utilising funds, particularly through strategic acquisitions. "The successful ramp-up of its business has led to steady improvements in these key financial metrics. We expect this trend to continue as the company grows. Over the past four years, Jash has maintained an average ROE and ROCE of over 20%, reinforcing its financial strength and operational efficiency," as per the brokerage. Stock Market Today: The benchmark Nifty-50 index corrected 0.77% on Wednesday to close at 23,486.85, wiping out part of gains seen during last few trading sessions. Bank Nifty saw a similar decline ending at 51,209.00, while most other sectors led by Realty, IT, and pharma stood among losers. The broader indices also corrected 0.7%-1.2%. Trade Setup for Thursday For the Nifty-50 index immediate support is placed near 23,400, coinciding with 100 and 200-day exponential moving averages. A strong support exists at 23,141 while Potential resistance levels are anticipated at 23,600 and 23,869, as per Devarsh Vakil - Head of Prime Research, HDFC Securities For Bank Nifty the next leg of the up move will likely develop only after successfully navigating the 5200052100 resistance zone, as per Sameet Chavan, Head Research, Technical and Derivative - Angel One Global Markets Today The market experienced profit booking after the recent gains, on the back of next week's US tariff announcements. The sectors with higher exposure to the US market, like pharma & IT, have witnessed some selling pressure. Oil prices inched higher driven by US sanctions on Iran and anticipation of a drop in US crude inventories. With the onset of FIIs inflow, revival in domestic fundamentals and favourable valuation, the market is expected to trade with more stability, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited. 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 Radico Khaitan Ltd (RADICO)- Bagadia recommends buying Radico Khaitan at 2334 keeping Stoploss at 2250 for a target price of 2480 RADICO is currently trading at 2,334, showing signs of recovery after a prolonged downtrend. The stock has formed a potential bottom reversal pattern, indicating a possible trend reversal. It has been consistently making higher highs and higher lows, signaling strengthening momentum. Recent price action, supported by strong volume, suggests renewed buying interest and increased investor confidence. 2. Nava Ltd- Bagadia recommends buying NAVA at 488.5 keeping Stoploss at 470 for a target price of 520 NAVA showcases a strong bullish momentum, evident from a substantial upward movement and a significant closing around 488.5. The stock has been experiencing robust buying interest, and a consolidation breakout with strong volume, signalling bullish momentum and potential upside continuatio Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3. Trent Ltd - Dongre recommends buying Trent at 5320 keeping Stoploss at 5250 for a target price of 5400 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.5400. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.5250. Given the current market price of Rs.5320, 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.5400 4. Usha Martin Ltd - Dongre recommends buying Usha Martin at 348 keeping Stoploss at 335 for a target price of 365. 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. 365. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.335. Given the current market price of Rs.348, 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. 365. 5. Natco Pharma Ltd - Dongre recommends buying Natco Pharma at 821 keeping Stoploss at 804 for a target price of 930. 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 930. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.804. Given the current market price of Rs. 821, 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.930. Shiju Koothupalakkal's intraday stocks for today 6. Bharat Dynamics Ltd- Koothupalakkal recommends buying Bharat Dynamics at 1326 for a target price of 1400 keeping Stop Loss at 1300 The stock has recently gained momentum with a strong move on the daily chart with currently indicating a flag pattern with improving bias expecting for further strong upward move. The RSI has indicated strength and can carry on with the positive move further ahead in the coming days. With the chart technically well positioned, we suggest to buy the stock for an upside target of 1400 keeping the stop loss of 1300. 7. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd - Koothupalakkal recommends buying Chennai Petroleum at 630 for a target price of 670 keeping Stop Loss at 615 The stock has recovered strongly from the bottom made near 435 zone moving past the 50EMA and 100 period MA levels to improve the bias and with recently with a strong bullish candle formation on the daily chart has strengthened the trend anticipating for further rise. The RSI is maintained strong 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 670 keeping the stop loss of 615 level. 8. Varun Beverages Ltd - Koothupalakkal recommends buying Varun Beverages Ltd at 527 for a target price of 560 from Stoploss 515 The stock has witnessed a decent pick up from 480 zone with currently indicating a higher bottom formation pattern on the daily chart just moving past the important 50EMA level at 525 zone to improve the bias once again. 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 560 keeping the stop loss of 515 level. Stock market today: Indian pharma stocks extended their losing streak to the third consecutive trading session on Thursday, March 27, as concerns grew that US President Donald Trump may announce tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, following his imposition of duties on automobiles. On Wednesday, Trump announced a 25% tariff on auto imports, a move the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing but could also put financial pressure on automakers reliant on global supply chains. This action came ahead of a broad array of additional levies expected to be revealed next week. Earlier this week, Trump had stated that he would impose tariffs on pharmaceutical and automobile imports, with domestic pharma stocks reacting more negatively as India's drug and pharmaceutical exports grew 9.67% YoY to $27.9 billion in FY24, even as total exports dipped 3% in the last fiscal year, according to commerce data. Nifty Pharma index tumbles 1.5% Amid this negative sentiment, the Nifty Pharma index tumbled another 1.5% in today's session to the day's low of 21,042, taking its three-day cumulative drop to 3%. Among individual performers, J B Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals shares emerged as the top laggards, dropping 6%. Ajanta Pharma, Granules India, and Sun Pharmaceutical also traded with losses, ranging between 2% and 4%. Uncertainty surrounding the scale of US tariffs, the possibility of retaliatory measures from trading partners, and the potential ripple effects on the global economy and businesses have kept investors on edge over the past month. However, investors also anticipate that Trump could soften his stance after hinting that not all tariffs would be imposed by the April 2 deadline, with potential exemptions for certain countries, though details remain unclear. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had earlier stated that India's import tariffs, among the highest in the world, warrant a reassessment of its "special relationship" with the United States. In an attempt to circumvent the trade war, India is open to cutting tariffs on more than half of US imports worth $23 billion in the first phase of a trade deal the two nations are negotiating, two government sources told Reuters. Indian pharma stocks underperformed during Trump 1.0 During Trumps first term in office, the Indian pharmaceutical sector struggled with challenges including consolidation in US distribution channels, regulatory challenges from the FDA concerning key plants, a lack of major product approvals, price control measures, and a ban on FDCs in India. Nifty Pharma delivered a close to 20% return during Trumps first term (Jan-2017 to Jan-2021) vs. Nifty 50s absolute return of 80%. Large-cap stocks such as Cipla tumbled 16% between 2017 and 2019, while those of Sun Pharma and Lupin corrected by 31% and 49% during the same period, as these companies had significant exposure to the US markets and were directly impacted by the regulatory and policy changes. India is on the brink of a demographic shift redefining its healthcare landscape. With an estimated 140 million elderly citizens todayprojected to rise to 350 million by 2050the need for comprehensive senior healthcare has never been more pressing. While longevity is a testament to medical advancements and improved living conditions, it also brings forth an unaddressed crisis: the silent suffering of seniors battling chronic illnesses, disabilities, and inadequate medical support. Many elderly individuals struggle with limited access to quality healthcare due to financial constraints. Approximately 75% of Indias elderly population suffers from chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and respiratory disorders. These ailments not only compromise their quality of life but also lead to frequent medical interventions, adding to the financial burden. Also read: Centre ready to exempt health and life insurance from GST. Then why is the industry pitching for 12%? Every year, over 20 lakh elderly Indians suffer falls, with more than 10 lakh developing serious complications that can severely impact their healthor even prove fatal. The lack of timely medical intervention, coupled with inadequate geriatric care facilities, often worsens the effects of fractures, post-surgical complications, and mobility issues, turning what could be manageable conditions into life-threatening crises. Need for OPD coverage One of the biggest deterrents to quality healthcare for seniors is its rising cost. The premium for health insurance for older adults is disproportionately high, making it inaccessible to many. Unlike younger individuals, who can secure affordable health coverage, seniors often face stringent eligibility criteria, higher premiums, and extensive medical check-ups before gaining insurance approval. Those who do not have insurance end up bearing out-of-pocket expenses, further straining their financial resources. This is where the shift toward preventive care can make a difference. Role of preventive care Preventive care for seniors is not just about avoiding illnessesits about fostering long-term wellness and reducing dependency on emergency interventions. Regular health screenings, timely diagnostics, and proactive lifestyle modifications can significantly curb the progression of chronic diseases. Outpatient department (OPD) services, which include consultations, diagnostics, physiotherapy, and routine check-ups, play a vital role in ensuring that seniors receive continuous care without the need for hospitalisation. However, traditional health insurance policies often overlook OPD benefits. The insurance industry needs to expand OPD coverage options, which will make it more accessible for seniors. Technology-driven solutions Technology can also play an important role here. There is a need for community-driven eldercare solutions, such as telemedicine, remote monitoring, and home healthcare services. Technology-enabled solutions such as virtual consultations or medication reminders can empower seniors to manage their health independently while staying connected with healthcare providers. Ageing is inevitable, but suffering in old age shouldnt be. By shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, India can build a healthcare system that ensures dignity, well-being, and quality of life for its elderly population. Also read: Fixing senior citizen health insurance pricing beyond the premium caps A collaborative effort is needed between insurance providers, government and policymakers, to create a more inclusive healthcare model for seniors. Now is the time to take proactive steps toward addressing this hidden crisis before it escalates into a full-blown healthcare emergency. Gaurav Dubey is founder and CEO of Livlong 365 When Carol Geremia, president of Boston-based mutual fund company MFS, started in the business 40 years ago, the investing world was in a dark and different place. Though the market was beginning to recover from a brutal, decade-plus bear market that had ended in 1982, many investors had little faith in stocks. And passive investing was in its infancy. In March 1985, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund had a mere $330 million in assets. Today, Stocks usually go up" has become the mantra on Wall Street. As for indexing, that same Vanguard 500 Index Fund index now has $1.4 trillion in assets. According to Morningstar, passive funds writ large now hold more assets than active funds; $16.1 trillion in assets versus $14.4 trillion, compared with $4.1 trillion versus $9.6 trillion 10 years ago. Riding this four-decade wave of bullishness while buying passive funds has helped many investors fatten returns. From March 1988 to March 2025, the average total annual return for the S&P 500 was 12.6%. But while Geremia acknowledges that indexing has helped reduce fees and given investors broader market exposure, she sees some unhealthy signs beneath the surface. In a recent white paper titled Playing a Bigger Game," Geremia writes about professional investors and a growing disconnect, between what the investment industry should be doing and what it is actually doing. Its true purpose, she says, is to support economic prosperity through the responsible allocation of capital and helping investors achieve their financial goals." Geremia says money managers today care more about beating indexes and benchmarks and less about finding great long-term investments in companies. Weve sort of dumbed it all down and sucked out of the system our ability to really think about how we are putting money to work well for the end investor," she tells me. The misalignment begins Geremia believes with the risk and complexity professional investors now take on to achieve the same returns they did 30 years ago. According to Julia Moriarty, co-manager of Callans Capital Markets Research group, in 1992 a model portfolio of 56% cash and 44% bonds could produce a 7% annual return. Today investors would need to allocate money in six asset classes including stocks, private equity and real estate to generate the same 7% return. True, cash and bond yields were higher in 1992 than today, but its still the case that a current portfolio carries more complexity and riskand as Moriarty notes, higher costs as well. Geremia argues that increased risk-taking forces portfolio managers into short-term accountability focused on measuring past relative returns." On one hand, she says portfolio managers are taking more risk, exposing investors to greater potential losses. On the other hand, they have less time to manage the risk and are pressured to measure short-term performance. There really is a breakdown of alignment," Geremaia says. Were being measured for beating a benchmark over short periods of time, like one to three years, which is not a great way for us to allocate somebody elses capital and manage their risk." Paradoxically, as the stock market has become dominated by institutional investors, the holding period for owning a stock has dropped. While many index funds hold stocks for long periods, other passive strategies like high-frequency trading do the opposite. In 1945, institutional investors owned 10% of the U.S. stock market, Geremia writes, but by 2022, that number had grown to 95%. While the average holding period of a stock has fallen from 96 months in 1950 to 5.5 months in 2022. Those are huge swings. Are we really owning companies the way we intended in the past, or is it just getting exposure and really not carrying what you own," Geremia asks? Geremia also takes issue with the predominance of indexing, which might appear to be self-serving. MFS is a Boston-based, mostly active, equity mutual fund operation, which means its portfolio managers generally pick stocks, not indexes. In fact MFS, founded 101 years ago and bought by Canadian insurer Sun Life in 1982, is generally credited with creating the worlds first mutual fund. More recently though, active fund managers like MFS have tried to mitigate the massive migration investors have been making into index funds. Morningstar recently reported that actively managed funds have suffered net withdrawals in nine of the past 10 calendar years. Still, assets under management at MFS are currently $623 billion, up from $413 billion a decade ago. Geremia isnt alone when it comes to being wary of too much indexing. Nobel Prize winning economist Robert Shiller has also raised questions about passive investing, telling CNBC its kind of pseudoscience to think these indexes are perfect, and all I need is some kind of computer model instead of thinking about business." Even the late Jack Bogle, founder and CEO of Vanguard and called the father of indexing, expressed reservations in a Wall Street Journal contributor piece about his creation. Indexing taken too far, Bogle said, could lead to excessively concentrated of ownership stocks as well as corporate governance issues. When I started, it wasnt about beating benchmarks, it was about making sure we didnt lose peoples money," Geremia says. It was ensuring that we invest in great businesses and trying to find the companies that were going to create tremendous amounts of value in the future." Forty years hence, it will be interesting to see if the pendulum has swung back. Write to Andy Serwer at andy.serwer@barrons.com Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025: Alvida Jumma, one of the most auspicious days of Islamic calendar is also known as Jamat-ul-Vida or Friday of Farewell.' Jamat-ul means Friday while Vida means the end. When is Alvida Jumma? Alvida Jumma, also known as Jamat-ul-Wida, being observed on March 28 this year. The last Friday of Ramadan is one of the most auspicious days of Islamic calendar and is celebrated with vigour and enthusiasm by Muslims across the world. As the end of month long fasting nears, celebrations will culminate into the grand festival Eid. Eid is expected to be celebrated on March 31 across India, depending upon the sighting of the moon. All Fridays are considered auspicious for afternoon prayers, since Alvida Jumma, marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. Alvida Jumma significance Alvida Jumma or Jamat-ul-Vida which is coined from the word Jamat-ul means Friday while Vida means the end. This occasion marks the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan and carries immense significance for Muslims across the world. Let's have a look at specially curated Alvida Jumma 2025 wishes, messages and quotes here: Alvida Jumma 2025 wishes As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, may Allah's guidance and blessings continue to illuminate your path. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! On this last Friday of Ramadan, may Allah's mercy and blessings be with you. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025! As we say goodbye to Ramadan, let us carry its lessons of compassion, forgiveness, and generosity in our hearts. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! May Allah accept our fasting, prayers, and good deeds during Ramadan and grant us a blessed Alvida Jumma. Eid Mubarak in advance! May this Alvida Jumma bring you and your family closer to Allah. Wishing you a blessed and peaceful Alvida Jumma with your loved ones. May Allah shower his blessings upon you and your family on this Alvida Jumma. May the spirit of this Alvida Jumma fill your heart with peace and tranquility. May Allah forgive your sins and accept your prayers on this Alvida Jumma. May Allah bless you with happiness, health and prosperity on this blessed Friday. May Allah accept all your prayers and forgive your sins on this blessed day. May Allah grant you success in all your endeavors and bless you with good fortune. May Allah protect you from all harm and keep you safe from evil on this blessed day. May Allah guide you towards the right path and bless you with wisdom and knowledge. May Allah bless you with a long and healthy life filled with joy and happiness. May Allah bless you with a peaceful heart and a contented mind. May Allah bless you with the strength to overcome all the challenges in your life. May Allah grant you the courage to face all the difficulties in your life. May Allah bless you with patience and perseverance to keep going in tough times. May Allah bless you with the love of family and friends on this blessed day. May Allah bless you with a heart full of gratitude for all the blessings in your life. May Allah bless you with a kind and compassionate heart towards others. May Allah bless you with a generous spirit to give to those in need. May Allah bless you with the ability to forgive those who have wronged you. May Allah bless you with a peaceful and harmonious life. May Allah bless you with the ability to spread love and kindness wherever you go. May Allah bless you with a strong faith and steadfastness in your beliefs. May Allah bless you with the ability to trust in Allah and rely on Him for everything. May Allah bless you with a heart full of hope and optimism for the future. May Allah bless you with the ability to stay humble and grateful in times of success. May Allah bless you with the courage to stand up for what is right and just. May Allah bless you with the wisdom to make the right decisions in your life. As the holy month comes to an end, may Allahs grace remain with you forever. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025! May this special Friday strengthen our faith and bring us closer to Allah. Jumat-ul-Wida Mubarak! May Allah shower His blessings upon you and your family. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025! Wishing you a prosperous Alvida Jumma. May Allah forgive our sins and accept our prayers and fasting. May Allah accept all your duas and forgive your sins on this Alvida Jumma. May Allah bestow wisdom and knowledge upon us on this Alvida Jumma! May Allah accept our fasting, prayers, and good deeds during Ramadan and grant us a blessed Alvida Jumma. Eid Mubarak in advance! May the spirit of this Alvida Jumma fill your heart with peace and tranquility. May Allah bless you with happiness, health and prosperity on this blessed Friday. May Allah guide us towards the right path and bless you with wisdom and knowledge. Alvida Jumma 2025 images Alvida Jumma 2025: May Allah bless you with a kind and compassionate heart towards others. Alvida Jumma 2025: May the spirit of this Alvida Jumma fill your heart with peace and tranquility. Alvida Jumma 2025: May Allah bless you with the wisdom to make the right decisions in your life. Alvida Jumma 2025: May Allah shower His blessings upon you and your family on Alvida Jumma. Alvida Jumma 2025: May this Alvida Jumma strengthen the bond of love and unity among your family. Alvida Jumma 2025: May Allah bless you with a heart full of hope and optimism for the future. Alvida Jumma 2025: May Allah bless you with the courage to stand up for what is right and just. Alvida Jumma 2025: May Allah bless you with the wisdom to make the right decisions in your life. Alvida Jumma 2025: On this auspicious day, may Allah shower His blessings upon you and your family. Alvida Jumma Mubarak Alvida Jumma 2025 messages On this auspicious day, may Allah shower His blessings upon you and your family. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! As we prepare to bid farewell to Ramadan, let us pray for peace, happiness, and prosperity for all. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, may Allah's blessings fill your life with joy and prosperity. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! On this blessed day, may Allah grant you forgiveness, peace, and happiness. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! May this Alvida Jumma be a source of joy and happiness for you and your loved ones. Wishing you a spiritually fulfilling Alvida Jumma with your family. May Allah's grace and mercy be with you and your loved ones on this Alvida Jumma. May your prayers and fasts in this Alvida Jumma be accepted by Allah. Have a blessed Alvida Jumma with your family and loved ones. May Allah bless your family with health, happiness, and prosperity on this Alvida Jumma. May this Alvida Jumma strengthen the bond of love and unity among your family. Wishing you a peaceful and joyful Alvida Jumma with your loved ones. May Allah guide and protect your family in this Alvida Jumma and always. May this Alvida Jumma bring you and your loved ones closer to each other. May Allah bless your family with peace and harmony on this Alvida Jumma. Wishing you and your family a spiritually enlightening Alvida Jumma. May this Alvida Jumma be a source of blessings and forgiveness for your family. May Allah's mercy and blessings be with you and your family on this Alvida Jumma. Have a blessed Alvida Jumma with your family and loved ones, and may Allah accept your prayers. May this Alvida Jumma bring you and your family closer to the teachings of Islam. May Allah's love and guidance be with your family on this Alvida Jumma and always. Wishing you and your family a peaceful and blessed Alvida Jumma. May Allah grant your family success and happiness in this Alvida Jumma and beyond. May your family be blessed with the strength to face all challenges on this Alvida Jumma. Alvida Jumma 2025 Quotes "O you who have believed, when the call is made for prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah." - Quran 62:9 "Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Jumu'ah, Allah will create a light for him that will shine from one Friday to the next." - Hadith (Bukhari) "The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it he was made to enter paradise, and on it he was expelled from it." - Hadith (Muslim) "Friday is the master of days, and the greatest of them before Allah. It is greater before Allah than the day of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha." - Hadith (Ibn Majah) "When Friday comes, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and record who comes first. And when the Imam sits, the records are closed." - Hadith (Bukhari) "He who leaves three Jumu'ahs without attending, Allah puts a seal over his heart." - Hadith (Tirmidhi) "Friday is a day of acceptance of prayers. So, increase your supplications on it, for your supplications are presented to Allah." - Hadith (Tirmidhi) "The one who offers the Friday prayer in congregation is like one who has offered a camel as sacrifice, and the one who offers the afternoon prayer in congregation is like one who has offered a cow as sacrifice." - Hadith (Tirmidhi) "On Fridays, the angels stand at the gates of the mosques and they write down the names of those who come early for the prayer in the first row. And when the Imam sits down, the records are closed and they come to listen to the Khutbah." - Hadith (Muslim) "The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of your days is Friday; so increase your prayers upon me on this day for your prayers will be presented to me.' " - Hadith (Ibn Majah) As we say goodbye to Ramadan, let us remember to continue the spirit of charity, kindness, and compassion. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! On this last Friday of Ramadan, may Allah's blessings be upon you and your family. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! As we bid farewell to Ramadan, may Allah's blessings be with you always. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025 ! ! On this auspicious day, may Allah bless you with happiness, success, and prosperity. Alvida Jumma Mubarak 2025! Alvida Jumma rituals On the day of Alvida Jumma, worshippers visit mosques to offer namaz, recite the holy book of the Quran and seek blessings from Allah. Hence, the observance of Alvida Jumma is similar to any other day of Ramadan but holds special significance. Alvida Jumma 2025 GIFs Have we not all been a part of the conversation where the concerns of AI taking over jobs arose? Adding to the all-time AI vs. humans debate, philanthropist and former CEO of Microsoft Bill Gates has listed three professions that are safe from AI. In his latest interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, the tech billionaire predicted that AI will replace humans for several job roles, putting many workers at risk. However, he mentioned a few professions that are safe from AI, at least for some time. 3 Professions safe from AI Coders According to Bill Gates, people who develop AI systems and write codes are safe from AI. The former CEO of Microsoft believes that AI is capable of generating code but does not have the adaptability, problem-solving mindset, and precision needed for software development. He iterated that humans will continue to lead the field in debugging, refining and advancing AI developments. Energy Bill Gates stated that the energy sector is a complex topic for AI. While it can definitely boost efficiency in this segment, humans remain irreplaceable because of their analytical skills and decision-making, especially during crises and long-term planning phases. Biology Though AI helps process massive datasets and has proven to be an aid in disease diagnosis, it still needs to master the skills of scientific discovery and critical thinking. According to Gates, AI cannot formulate a hypothesis, and he predicted that biologists would play a crucial role in gaining medical expertise. Meanwhile, the philanthropist has recently announced on LinkedIn that he will be coming to India for the third time in three years, highlighting the countrys role in agriculture, healthcare and digital transformation. He stated that the Gates Foundation has worked in India for nearly two decades, collaborating with researchers and the government. Hours after United States President Donald Trump announced a permanent 25 per cent tariffs on auto imports Canadas second-largest export business Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney termed it as a direct attack on the country. This is a very direct attack, Mark Carney responded. We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country. The Canadian prime minister, however, did not announce any retaliatory measures against the US but said that he needs to see details of the executive order imposing 25 per cent tariff on auto imports. Calling it unjustified, Mark Carney said he will leave the election campaign to go to Ottawa on Thursday to chair his special Cabinet committee on US relations. Auto tariffs are not Donald Trump's first, the US president had earlier imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadas steel and aluminum. He has also threatened tariffs on all Canadian products, asserting to its neighbour to make the country America's 51st state. Carney earlier announced a CA$2 billion ($1.4 billion) strategic response fund that will protect Canadian auto jobs affected by Trumps tariffs. The prime minister also 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. Donald Trump previously granted a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for US 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. 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. The tax hike on auto imports starting in April means automakers could face higher costs and lower sales. Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre formally raised concerns with the United States over allegations of mistreatment of Indian nationals deported from the US in February 2025, particularly the reports on religious sensitivities and food preferences, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, March 27. In a statement, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed that while it strongly objected to the reports that Sikh deportees were asked to remove their turbans while women and children were put in shackles while being deported to India, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has denied all allegations, stating no deportee from India was asked to remove religious head coverings and no woman or child detainee were restrained. The minister said, The Ministry has strongly registered its concerns with the US authorities on the treatment meted out to deportees on the flight that landed on February 5th, particularly with respect to the use of shackles, especially on women. The US side has confirmed that no women or children were restrained on the deportation flights that landed in India on February 15th and 16th respectively. "In response, the US authorities have conveyed that deportees on the three chartered flights that arrived on 5th, 15th& 16th February 2025 respectively were not instructed to remove any religious head coverings and that the deportees did not request any religious accommodation during the flights, aside from requesting for vegetarian meals, Kirti Vardhan Singh said. Many detainees reach US border without turbans The US has also clarified that some detainees had already arrived at the US border without turbans, the government further said in its statement. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also conveyed that some of the detainees arrived at the US border without turbans," the statement read. As Donald Trump launched a crackdown on the illegal immigrants, detaining and deporting them to their home countries, several images surfaced on social media showing the deportees in chains and shackles. Davinder Singh, one of the deportees, who landed in Amritsar on a US military C-17 aircraft on Saturday, February 15, said that he saw US officials throwing turbans into the dustbin. It was very painful watching turbans being thrown into a dustbin, Davinder Singh told PTI. There have been several reports claiming that Sikh deportees were not allowed to wear their turbans and some were restricted in chains and shackles. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday informed that two more groups in Jammu Kashmir affiliated with the Hurriyat Conference, Tahreeqi Isteqlal and Tahreek-I-Istiqamat, have discarded separatism. Shah said the groups had reposed their trust in the new Bharat built by PM Modi. Amit Shah reiterated, 'Under the Modi government, separatism is breathing its last, and the triumph of unity is echoing across Kashmir." The Union home minister had on March 25, declared that two organisations associated with the 35-year-old separatist amalgam had severed ties with separatism. With Thursday's announcement, the count went up to four. The Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (JKPM) and the Democratic Political Movement (DPM) publicly denounced the Hurriyat and its separatist agenda, pledging allegiance to the Constitution of India. Scores of residences of the second and third rung members of the Hurriyat Conference were raided by the security forces since Monday. The fresh wave of raids spread from south Kashmirs Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama to central Kashmirs Budgam and Srinagar and north Kashmirs Baramulla. Most of the raids were on the second and third rung members of the factions of Hurriyat, either led by the Mirwaiz or late Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Official sources said security agencies visited the houses of the members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), banned Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH), banned J&K Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) and J&K Peoples League (JKPL), reported The Hindu. A senior leader of J&K Peoples Movement, considered a close aide of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was also asked to sign a dissociation form. Amit Shah hailed this development as a significant victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a unified India, attributing it to the Modi government's unifying policies that have effectively dismantled separatist movements in Jammu and Kashmir. Hurriyat affiliates sign form to sever ties Amit Shah had on Tuesday informed that these groups were severing ties with the Hurriyat Conference after signing a prescribed disassociation form. The prescribed form asks Hurriyat supporters to announce that his organisation as well as him have no connection or affiliation with either APHC (G) or APHC (A) or any of their constituents or any other entity pursuing separatist or similar such agenda, a Hindu report stated. The format asked the Hurriyat supporters to denounce Hurriyat politics and pledge they do not have any inclination or sympathy for the ideology of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), which has not been able to address the legitimate aspirations and grievances of people of J&K. Also Read | Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani quits Hurriyat Conference What is Hurriyat Conference? The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) is a coalition of 26 political, social, and religious organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, formed on July 31, 1993. It emerged as a unified political front to advocate for Kashmiri separatism and self-determination, challenging India's governance in the valley. The Hurriyat Conference has been a central figure in the Kashmir conflict, with its primary objective being to secure the right of self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as per the United Nations Security Council Resolution. 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. Lynk & Co 900 opens for pre-sale with prices starting at 330,000 yuan On March 25, Lynk & Co officially opened pre-sales for its flagship six-seater large SUV, the Lynk & Co 900. The model is available in four variants, with a pre-sale price range of 330,000 yuan to 435,000 yuan. The vehicle is set to be launched in the second quarter of this year. Photo credit: Lynk & Co Dongfeng Motor Museum inaugurated in Hubei province The Dongfeng Motor Museum, the first automobile museum in central China, officially opened on March 26 in Shiyan, Hubei. Constructed on the site of the former Second Automobile Manufacturing Plant, the museum features over 2,000 exhibits, offering a comprehensive narrative of China's independent automotive development and its remarkable industrial achievements. Hybot, AMERIGROUP to co-develop hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck solutions At the Global Hydrogen Industry Conference during the 2025 Beijing International Hydrogen Technology & Equipment Exhibition (HEIE 2025), Guangzhou Hybot Technology Co., Ltd. ("Hybot") signed a strategic cooperation agreement with AMERIGROUP, a leading force in Mexico's green energy revolution. Under the partnership, the two companies will focus on long-haul heavy-duty logistics in Mexico, integrating Hybot's hydrogen-powered truck technology with AMERIGROUP's zero-carbon energy network to develop customized hydrogen truck solutions for the Mexican market. RoboSense, LionsBot team up to advance intelligent cleaning robotics On March 27, RoboSense and LionsBot announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing visual perception capabilities and expanding multi-scenario applications for intelligent cleaning robots. The collaboration seeks to accelerate the global transformation of the cleaning industry through cutting-edge sensor technology and AI-driven automation. GAC-backed OnTime posts 14% YoY increase in 2024 annual revenue On March 27, Chenqi Technology Limited ("OnTime"), the mobility service provider backed by GAC Group, released its 2024 annual performance report, showcasing stable and high-quality growth driven by its operational expertise and flexible market strategies. eVTOL tech company TCab Tech closes B+ funding round On March 27, urban air mobility (UAM) tech company Shanghai TCab Technology ("TCab Tech") announced the completion of its B+ round strategic financing, which was jointly invested by Grand NeoBay Venture Capital and ChiFortune Venture Capital. Li Auto makes proprietary Halo OS automotive operating system open-source On March 27, the 2025 ZGC Forum Annual Conference opened in Beijing. Li Xiang, Chairman and CEO of Li Auto, attended the forum and delivered a speech, announcing that Li Auto has become the world's first automaker to open-source its vehicle operating system, Halo OS, which he claims to surpass the industry's leading proprietary AUTOSAR system in overall performance. GAC Honda rolls off P7 all-electric vehicle model On March 26, GAC Honda held a ceremony to mark the completion of its New Development District New Energy Vehicle Factory in Guangzhou, and the rollout of its all-electric model, the P7. As a key base for Honda's electrification strategy in China, the plant integrates global expertise with local innovation to accelerate its expansion in the NEV market. Embodied AI tech firm TARS secures $120 million in angel funding On March 26, embodied intelligence technology company TARS announced the completion of a $120 million worth of angel funding round, setting a new record for the highest angel investment in China's embodied AI sector. Hesai Technology to supply LiDAR sensors for Chery's iCAR brand LiDAR company Hesai Technology announced on March 26 that it has secured a mass-production supply agreement with Chery's new energy vehicle (NEV) brand, iCAR. As part of this partnership, Hesai will equip iCAR's upcoming model with its compact ultra-high-definition long-range LiDAR, ATX. KargoBot showcases L4 autonomous convoy technology at Huawei Partner Conference During the Huawei China Partner Conference 2025, autonomous trucking tech company KargoBot, as a key partner in Huawei's vehicle-road-cloud collaboration initiative, participated in a seminar titled "Open Cooperation: Accelerating the Integration of Vehicle-Road-Cloud Technologies." Canada continues to accuse India, among other countries, of interfering in the country's election process. Months after India rejected the Canadian report on election meddling, Canada's spy service has alleged that China and India are likely to try to interfere in the upcoming Canadian general election. The accusation comes amid strained ties between the two nations over Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing. While Canada is looking to rebuild strained ties with India, the case has been a serious bone of contention in the diplomatic relations between the two nations. Canada will go to the polls on April 28, 2025. The election comes as the country faces a trade war with the US and calls from US President Donald Trump for it to become the 51st American state. Canada election meddling: What the latest report claims The fresh allegations were made during a press conference on March 25 by Vanessa Lloyd, the deputy director of operations at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). She said that "hostile state actors" were increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to meddle in the polls, which were announced by the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, on Sunday. Apart from India, Lloyd also named China, Russia and Pakistan, accusing the countries of making attempts to interfere with this election campaign, Canadian media Globe and Mail reported. "We have also seen that the government of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes," she was quoted by Reuters as saying. In another report, Globe and Mail cited a "source with top-secret clearance" as saying that "agents" of India and their proxies allegedly meddled in the 2022 election of Pierre Poilievre as Conservative Party leader. Neither India nor Canada has responded to the spy agency's charges so far. Not the first time This is not the first time Canada has accused India of election interference. In January, a Canadian report by public inquiry stated that proxy agents clandestinely provided illicit financial support to various Canadian politicians in an attempt to secure the election of pro-India candidates or gain influence over candidates who take office. India rejected the "insinuations" in the Canadian commission's report that certain foreign governments interfered in Ottawa's elections. How India responded earlier to Canadian allegations In a strong-worded statement, India rejected the Canadian Commissions report that accused the Indian 'agents' of interfering in Canada's elections. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has blamed Canada for consistently interfering in India's internal affairs. "We have seen a report about alleged activities on purported interference. It is in fact Canada which has been consistently interfering in India's internal affairs. This has also created an environment for illegal migration and organised criminal activities. We reject the report's insinuations on India and expect that the support system enabling illegal migration will not be further countenanced," the MEA's statement read. The Indian diplomatic mission in Ottawa was not immediately available for comment, Reuters reported on Monday. India-Canada ties strain The diplomatic ties between Canada and India were strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in Parliament in September 2023. Trudeau had stated that his government was "actively pursuing credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on its soil. Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. India had dismissed the claims as absurd and motivated. The Ministry of External Affairs said earlier that the unsubstantiated allegations sought to shift focus away from Khalistani terrorists and extremists who have been provided shelter in Canada. Residents of Jammu and Kashmir and of Uttar Pradesh can gear for a long upcoming weekend. In view of Alvida Jumma, the last Friday of Ramadan, Jammu and Kashmir authorities issued an order rescheduling the holiday for Shab-i-Qadr, which was earlier slated for March 27. In partial modification of Government Order No. 2193-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated December 29, 2024 and Government Order No. 2194-JK(GAD) of 2024 dated December 29, 2024, it is ordered that the holiday on account of Shab-i-Qadr shall now be observed on 28th of March, 2025 (Friday) instead of 27th of March, 2025 (Thursday), in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, an order issued on March 26 by General Administration Department's Commissioner Secretary M Raju stated. As per the order, the holiday on account of Shab-i-Qadr will now be observed on March 28, instead of March 27, in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, the District Magistrate of UP declared a public holiday on March 28. All government offices, schools, and colleges will remain closed on this day, Patrika reported citing official order issued by Magistrate Gourang Raathi. Meanwhile, March 31 will be observed as a national holiday on the occasion of Eid. Notably, the holiday on Friday and Monday makes it a 4-day long weekend. All to know about Alvida Jumma The month-long fasting Ramadan is coming to a close, with Alvida Jumma, Alvida Jumma, also known as Jumat-ul-Wida, marking the last Friday of Ramadan 2025. It's time to know details about the most revered prayer of the day. Devouts will observe special prayers on Alvida Jumma the last Friday of Ramadan. Muslims worldwide partake in special congregational prayers at mosques while Friday afternoon prayer is considered special and is called Jumma Namaz. The prayers assume more significance during this month of fasting and so does the Friday prayer that falls in the last week of Ramadan. Jammu and Kashmir News: A fierce gun battle in the forests of Kathua district has resulted in the deaths of three policemen, and two terrorists Further two security personnel sustained injuries, officials reported on Thursday. Security forces have intensified their operation to neutralise an infiltrating group of approximately five militants. For the past five days, security forces and police, under the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, have been conducting extensive combing and search operations across multiple areas of the Hiranagar sector. Initial Engagement and Casualties The encounter began near Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh, triggering intense firing and explosions. An initial exchange of gunfire led to injuries to Special Police Officer (SPO) Bharat Chalotra, who sustained facial wounds. He received initial treatment at a Kathua hospital before being transferred to Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu, where his condition is now stable. Also Read | Jammu and Kashmir encounter: Firing in Kathua after terrorists spotted in area Security Forces Respond The operation, led by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, with assistance from the Army, the BSF, and the CRPF, resulted in the killing of two terrorists. Adding to the complexity of the situation, three security personnel, including a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), were reportedly trapped near the gunfight's location, adjacent to a rivulet concealed by dense foliage. A clearer picture is expected to emerge once the ongoing encounter concludes. Also Read | J&K: 3 missing persons found dead near waterfall in Kathua Earlier Interception and Escape On Sunday evening, a group of terrorists was intercepted by the SOG in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. Despite a massive search operation, the terrorists managed to escape the initial cordon. It is believed that the same group may have been spotted near Jakhole, approximately 30 kilometers from the initial encounter site. Security agencies suspect they crossed into Indian territory through a newly-dug tunnel or the ravine route from Pakistan. Intensified Search Operation The terrorists were moving through the forest area when a police party headed by an SDPO moved in after receiving specific information, leading to the gunfight. Reinforcements from the police, army, and CRPF were immediately deployed to the area. The quiet village of Suffain in Kathua district was shattered by the sounds of gunfire, grenades, and rocket fire as the exchange raged throughout the day, punctuated by powerful explosions. Evidence Recovered A subsequent search operation, involving the police, army, NSG, BSF, and CRPF, utilised advanced technical and surveillance equipment, including helicopters, UAVs, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs. Search teams discovered evidence, including four loaded magazines of M4 carbine, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits, food packets, and materials for constructing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) near the Hiranagar encounter site. Senior Officials Overseeing Operation Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, and Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, have been overseeing the anti-terrorist operation from Kathua for the past four days. The operation is ongoing, and further details are awaited as security forces continue to comb the area. Jammu and Kashmir: According to officials, a firing incident was reported in Kathua after some terrorists were spotted in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh this morning. The J&K police said security forces have cordoned off the region. The reports believe the terrorists are considered to be the same group who got away after an encounter in Hiranagar sector of the district on Sunday evening. What happened in Hiranagar? In Hiranagar, on March 23, a similar case of firing was reported when security personnel were on search operation. Troops of the Rising Star Corps of the Indian Army, including J&K police had began an intelligence-based joint operation in Hiranagar, Kathua. Rising Star Corps, Indian Army said, Based on Intelligence Input regarding presence of terrorists, a Joint Operation has been launched by @JmuKmrPolice & troops of #RisingStar Corps on 23 Mar 25 in general area Saniyal #Hiranagar. Operations in Progress. Also Read | Pak Army captain, 10 terrorists killed in intense Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gunfight Search in Anantnag in connection with banned terror oufits Jammu and Kashmir police launched searches at numerous places across the Anantnag district on Wednesday in connection with an probe on terror outfits which are banned. This followed strengthened security concerns in the area, with security forces continuously working to avert the resurgence of militant activities in the Union Territory. Security forces, consisting of the Special Operations Group (SOG) Anantnag, CRPF and 19 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and CRPF, on Tuesday found a terrorist hideout and dismantled it in the remote Sanglan forest area under the Police Station Uttersoo jurisdiction. We received a specific input. We formed a joint team with the CRPF to neutralise the movement of a terrorist presence in Chitragul, and we went for the search operation. We have busted a terrorist hideout and recovered a lot of arms and ammunition from that hideout and an investigation is underway. From this hideout, logistics support used to be given to terrorists, GV Sundeep, SSP Anantnag had said. According to SSP Sandeep, In Hassanpora Bijbehara, an illegal structure was linked with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba handler Haron Rashid Ganie, who has been active from Pakistan since 2018. The Anantnag police shattered the terrorist ecosystem. Ganie is allegedly radicalising local youth and making them a part of terrorist activity. The J&K police are keeping a vigil on such a handler, he said. Also Read | India asks Tulsi Gabbard to designate Khalistani group SFJ as terrorist entity "If anyone from Pakistan tries to orchestrate terrorist activities, then strict legal action will be taken against them. Terrorists and their facilitators have no place here. We will not tolerate illegal encroachment and terror-supporting structures. Our law enforcement agency is fully prepared and wants to send a single, clear-cut message," SSP Sandeep added. The preliminary probe indicates that it was being used as a logistical base by terrorists. Items discovered from the hideout comprise nearly 200 empty AK cartridges, one Chinese grenade, two gas cylinders, one Night Vision Device (NVD), food packets, bedding and utensils. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated India's commitment to the partnership with Bangladesh, in a letter to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on the neighbouring nation's Independence Day, as per an ANI report. Writing to Yunus on March 26, PM Modi's message wished the people of Bangladesh on the occassion and reiterated India's committment to the partnership with Bangladesh, it added. Also Read | Gold and Silver prices today: Check prices of the precious metal in metro cities What Did PM Modi Say to Muhammad Yunus? Read Full Text Here I extend my felicitations to you and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh, Modi wished in the letter. Adding, 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. He further 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. President Droupadi Murmu Extends Greetings to Bangladesh Counterpart Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu in her message to Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammed Shahabuddin also extended wishes on the Independence Day and noted that the neighbouring country is "at the focus of India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies, the report said. 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, Murmu stated. She added, 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. About Bangladesh Independence Day, Maitri Diwas Bangladesh celebrates its independence day, called Bangladesh National Day on March 26, to commemorate the country's cessation from Pakistan in 1971. Further, India and Bangladesh observe Maitri Diwas on December 6, as it is the date that the Indian government recognised Bangladesh as a country in 1971. Notably, India was the second country, after Bhutan, to recognize Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent state on December 6 in 1971. In March 2021, PM Modi designated March 6 as Bangladesh-India Friendship Day (known as Moitree Dibosh in the local Bengali language). Sarada Muraleedharan, the Indian Administrative Service(IAS) officer presently posted as Chief Secretary of Kerala, has renewed a debate on skin colour bias after she narrated the 'discrimination' that she continues to face. Muraldheeran took to Facebook and spoke about a comment by someone comparing her work with that of her predecessor, V Venu, saying, "It is as black as my husband's was white." Venu, a 1990-batch IAS officer, is also Muraldheerans husband. 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, Muraleedharan wrote in her post on 25 March, Muraleedharan deleted the post after it was "flustered by the flurry of responses". She reposted it again, though. "I am reposting it because certain well-wishers said that there were things that needed to be discussed. I agree. So here goes, once again," she said in her post, which garnered over 1,000 reactions and has been commented upon and shared hundreds of times. Who is Sarala Muraleedharan? Muraleedharan is a 1990 batch IAS officer. She has been Kerala chief secretary since she took over from her husband Dr V Venu in September 2024. Muraldheeran served in many key positions at the Centre and in the state - before becoming the chief secretary. She headed the Kudumbashree Mission of the Kerala government from 2006 to 2012. The mission focused on empowering women, reducing poverty and emphasising on human rights perspectives. She has also served as the chief operating officer at the National Rural Livelihoods Mission of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, till December 2013. Also Read | Rajeev Chandrasekhar unanimously elected Kerala BJP president She served as the joint secretary in the ministry of Panchayati Raj from 2014 to 2016. Among other positions, Muraldheeran has also served as Trivandrum's District Collector, director of the Modernising government programme, secretary to the government of Kerala cultural affairs and secretary to the government of Kerala social welfare. She has also been director general of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). Also Read | Kerala Minister blames Centres fiscal policies for financial strain on states Even when you are at the top of the bureaucracy, which has a pecking order which is complied with, there is the question of who gets to speak most, who gets to interrupt and who gets to be heard. If you are not at the top of any such hierarchy, then it becomes extremely difficult, she told the Indian Express. How did it start? In the Facebook post, Muraleedharan also shared how she grew up feeling like she was worth less because of her dark skin. It was only later, with her children's help, that she realised that black is beautiful. Speaking to a TV channel on March 26, she said that society needs to change its attitudes and overcome these biases. According to her, this change must begin at home and in schools. She said the comparison with her husband was "unexpected" and Venu, her husband, encouraged to put up her Facebook post against it again. In the Facebook post, Muraleedharan also shared how she grew up feeling like she was worth less because of her dark skin. It was only later, with her children's help, that she realised that black is 'beautiful.' "He is the one who gave me the courage to do so," she said. She also felt that the comparison not only referred to her dark complexion but carried a "value connotation" about the current governance being "black". "Therefore, I thought that we need to 'call it out'," she told the channel. Muraleedharan's solution to the issue is to "turn it on its head" and to say yes I am black. Black is seven times beautiful. She also referred to the support she got from her children and how they helped to change how she saw herself. "It is a great experience when your children give you the courage to express yourself. Many people have told me. I am happy that our younger generation has persons like these," she said. Also Read | Tharoor posts playfully barbed congratulatory message for Rajeev Chandrasekhar Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, VD Satheesan, shared her post with the comment Salute dear Sarada Muraleedharan. Every word you have written is heart-touching. It deserves to be discussed. I too had a dark-skinned mother. Yes, I am black. Black is seven times beautiful. The chief secretary also shared a childhood memory of her, as a four-year-old, asking her mother whether she could put her back in the womb and bring her out again "all white and pretty". "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," she said. In a chilling incident reminiscent of a similar gruesome murder in the city, the body of Guri Khedekar, a 32-year-old woman, was found in a suitcase near Ambedkar Apartment in Doddanekundi Village in Bengaluru. The deceased was identified as the wife of Rakesh Rajendra Khedekar, a 36-year-old man. Both Guri and her husband hailed from Maharashtra and were residing in the Hulimavu police station limits. Sarah Fathima, DCP Southeast Bengaluru, told ANI, The body of a 32-year-old woman, Guri Khedekar, was found near Ambedkar Apartment in Doddanekundi Village, Bengaluru. She was the wife of 36-year-old Rakesh Rajendra Khedekar. Her body was found in a suitcase. The husband and wife were living in Hulimavu police station limits. Both belonged to Maharashtra. The body has been sent for postmortem. Also Read | Himani Narwal murder: Chilling CCTV footage shows Sachin carrying big suitcase Details of the discovery According to DCP Fathima, the body was discovered in a suitcase, sparking immediate concern and investigation. The police have sent the body for post-mortem to determine the cause of death and gather further evidence. This case follows closely on the heels of another shocking murder in Bengaluru, where a 29-year-old woman, Mahalakshmi, was found dismembered and stored in a refrigerator in her apartment in Malleshwaram. Investigation underway The Bengaluru police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Guri's death, with a focus on determining whether this is a case of murder or if other factors were involved. Given Bengaluru's recent history of similar crimes, the authorities are taking a cautious approach to ensure that all angles are covered during the investigation. Context of recent crimes in Bengaluru Bengaluru has witnessed a series of violent crimes in recent months. A 29-year-old woman named Mahalakshmi was found dismembered and stored in a refrigerator in her Malleshwaram apartment. The police identified a prime suspect from Odisha, who was believed to be hiding in West Bengal. In November last year, a techie couple from Bengaluru was arrested for murdering their 15-year-old nanny, Sumaina, who had been working for them. The couple allegedly killed her for eating their child's food and then concealed her body in a suitcase before dumping it in Tamil Nadu. In another case, a Bengaluru realtor was allegedly murdered by his wife and mother-in-law over suspected extramarital affairs and illegal business dealings. The body was found abandoned in a car. Palghar husband beheads wife, throws body in drain On March 18, the Maharashtra Police recovered the body of a 51-year-old murder victim from a drain in Virar city of Palghar district following a four-hour search, five days after her severed head was found in a suitcase. Police had already arrested the husband of the woman, identified as Utpala Hippargi, for beheading her. The accused, Harish Hippargi, allegedly strangled Utpala to death during a heated exchange at their home on January 8. Last week, the Bar Council of India issued a press release warning law firms not to run ads on social media or other platforms. This, after the law firm DSK Legal purportedly ran an ad on Instagram. What are the rules lawyers must follow for marketing themselves? What got DSK Legal into trouble? Earlier this month, law firm DSK Legal released an advertisement on Instagram marketing its services and featuring the actor Rahul Bose. In the advertisement, which has now been removed from the platform, Bose is seen signing documents prepared by DSK Legal without even proofreading them, meant to be an endorsement of how trustworthy the firm is. But the ad caused a backlash as lawyers pointed out that Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India (BCI) bans the legal fraternity from advertising their services. Also read | Rise of legal influencers raises concerns over consequences of misleading advice, say partners of top law firms The BCI is a statutory body set up under the Advocates Act, 1961. It frames rules of conduct for all licensed lawyers in the country and has the legal authority to enforce them and hand out punishments for violations. It also advocates for lawyers professional interests. How did the Bar Council of India react? The BCI sent a show-cause notice to DSK Legal, asking it to take down the video and respond to the notice within 10 days. The council also issued a press release reminding advocates and law firms that the rules forbid them from soliciting work through advertising, on even online platforms such as Just Dial or Quikr. The BCI also said lawyers must not make public appearances at religious, cultural and other public events, indulge in content marketing on social media, or run digital ads. The council added that so-called legal influencers were spreading misinformation on important laws such as the goods and services tax and Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and expressly forbade lawyers from using Bollywood actors" and influencers" to promote their services. Also read | Draft Advocates Act Bill: Centre paves way for foreign law firms to enter India What action can errant lawyers face? Lawyers and law firms violating Rule 36 can be suspended from practising law, have their enrolment in the Bar cancelled, and can even face contempt of court proceedings. Besides, the social media platforms that these lawyers misuse can also be held liable under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. In its press release, the BCI asked these platforms to vet all legal content and remove misinformation as quickly as possible. But why cant lawyers advertise? The Council framed these rules to protect the noble service" of lawyers and ensure it is not commodified by advertising. This is unlike other market where lawyers can run ads, such as the US, best exemplified by the OTT drama Better Call Saul. Other statutory professional councils also ban ads. The Medical Council of India bans doctors from directly advertising themselves or their services. The Council of Architecture prescribes elaborate rules on how architects can advertise themselves and their firms, including the font size they can use for their name. Also read | How influencers can stay out of legal trouble How has social media affected these rules? It has made it harder to enforce rules on advertising. Most of these rules were framed in the pre-internet era and do not reflect the changing marketing landscape. Lawyers, architects, doctors, and others tap content on YouTube and Instagram to reach potential customers and circumvent these archaic rules. Many also argue that the blanket ban on ads seems out of touch with reality. In 2022, the Council of Architecture drew widespread criticism for warning architects and firms against promoting their work on social media. New-age architects often use Reels to promote projects. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday, March 26, that Russian President Vladimir Putin will die soon, which, he believes, would end the ongoing war between the two countries. Zelensky's bold claims on Vladimir Putin have come amid speculation around the Russian leader's deteriorating health and the Black Sea ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia, brokered by the United States. But US attempt to pause the war between Russia and Ukraine did not come for free. As a precondition for a ceasefire deal, the US had agreed to help Russia lift a series of Western sanctions and restrictions on food, fertiliser and shipping companies. Zelensky said, It is very important that America does not help Putin to get out of this global isolation now. I believe that this is dangerous. This is one of the most dangerous moments." The Ukrainian President said that Vladimir Putin fears his own mortality but he will die soon, that is a fact, and everything will be over. He will die soon? While no official details have been disclosed about Vladimir Putin's allegedly persisting health complications, reports speculate that he may be dealing with various medical conditions. Several claims on Vladimir Putin's health floated on the internet after he remained out of public view for nearly two weeks. When he did appear, he looked frail, with visible tremors in his hands and legs, and was occasionally seen holding his wrist close to his body. From Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease to cancer and being crazy, speculation about Putin's health have surged after Russian invasion in Ukraine. Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of M16, once said, There is something fundamentally wrong with him medically.Probably Parkinsons which of course has different representations, different variations, different seriousness. In one of the old clips, Putin was seen clutching the table throughout his meeting with Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu, triggering talks that he may have a neurological disorder. In a separate incident, Putin's legs twitched uncontrollably during a public event. In another clip, showing his meeting with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin was seen clutching his fist tight to his body. There were also reports that Putin suffers from a cancer which is rapidly progressing or a brain tumour. Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: A Sessions Court in Bengaluru rejected the bail application of Kannada actor Ranya Rao who is accused of smuggling gold. This is the third time Ranya's Rao's bail plea has been rejected. Will the actress now approach Karnataka High Court? Ranya Rao has faced another legal setback as the 64th City Civil and Sessions Court has rejected her bail plea in the ongoing gold smuggling case. Also Read | Dealer who helped actress Ranya Rao sell smuggled gold sent to DRI custody This is the third time her bail plea was rejected. A Special Court for Economic Offences on March 14 turned down her request for bail. Ranya Rao had first applied for bail in the Magistrate Court, but her request was rejected. According to an India Today report, Ranya Raos legal team is now preparing to move the Karnataka High Court, to apply for the Kannada actress' bail. Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport after officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) found her carrying gold. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later filed an FIR based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. Also Read | Ranya Rao's stepfather DGP Ramachandra Rao questioned by police The FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS). According to the complaint, two foreign nationals were arrested at Mumbai Airport on March 6 for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India, valued at Rs. 18.92 crore. Gold bars worth 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya Rao, the step-daughter of DGP rank officer K Ramachandra Rao, at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai. Following this, searches were conducted at her residence, where officials recovered gold jewellery worth 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to 2.67 crore. Ranya Rao and hotelier Tarun Raju have already been arrested in connection with the case. Also Read | Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: FIR against BJP MLA over vulgar remarks Ranya Rao Case: Gold Dealer Arrested Earlier on Thursday, A gold dealer was arrested for allegedly assisting Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao in disposing of smuggled gold, PTI reported. The dealer, a native of Ballari, was questioned in connection with the case following which he was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Wednesday, they said. Sahil Jain has been accused of assisting and abetting Rao in disposing of smuggled gold and sharing the sale proceeds Ranya Rao confessed to using hawala money Ranya Rao admitted to using the illegal hawala channel for transferring funds to buy gold, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) told a court on Tuesday, reported PTI. During a court proceeding in Bengaluru, advocate Madhu Rao of the DRI asserted that the accused had admitted to the financial transaction being conducted via unofficial means. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 26, embodied intelligence technology company TARS announced the completion of a $120 million worth of angel funding round, setting a new record for the highest angel investment in China's embodied AI sector. Photo credit: TARS The round was jointly led by Lanchi Ventures and Qiming Venture Partners, with participation from eight institutions, including Linear Capital, Hengxu Capital, and Hongtai Aplus, bringing together top industry strategic resources. As an innovative company with capabilities in the R&D of embodied AI large models, hardware, and integrated mass production, TARS pioneered the Human-Centric embodied data engine, overcoming the bottleneck in real-world data acquisition. It has also developed an integrated spatial perception and decision-making large model, driving large-scale applications of intelligent physical systems. The newly raised funds will primarily support product R&D, model training optimization, and multi-scenario expansion. The company has achieved three key technological breakthroughs: enhancing embodied data collection through its proprietary data engine, developing a generalizable intelligent system architecture, and establishing a deeply integrated hardware-software mass production system. The team believes these advancements will accelerate the arrival of the "GPT moment" for embodied AI. Founded in February 2025, TARS focuses on AI-driven physical world innovations and general-purpose robotics, aiming to build a reliable, super-intelligent embodied system. Its founding team comprises experts from Tsinghua University, Huawei, and Baidu, bringing full-stack technical expertise and industrialization experience. TARS' Shanghai headquarters is now operational, with its R&D team rapidly expanding. The company plans to launch its first-generation embodied AI system prototype within the year, targeting applications in smart manufacturing and intelligent logistics. In a significant development, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced 25 per cent tariffs on overseas auto imports. The tariffs will be imposed on cars and light trucks imported into the US from April 2 and auto parts from May 3. According to the White House, it will strengthen domestic manufacturing. Trump said, This will continue to spur growth. We'll effectively be charging a 25 per cent tariff. The move has received flak worldwide, with various countries like Canada, Japan, and South Korea, including the European Union. Saying this is permanent, Trump believes this could lead to factory openings in the United States and eliminate what he terms a ridiculous supply chain involving the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Direct attack on Canada Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to Trump's auto import tariff as a direct attack on his country. He said the trade war is affecting Americans, and American consumer confidence is on the decline for the long term. We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country. Canada will be there for auto workers. He (Trump) wants to break us so America can own us. And it will never ever happen because we just dont look out for ourselves; we look out for each other. The relationship between Canada and the United States has changed. We did not change it, AP quoted Carney as saying. Japan considers appropriate measures Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that his government is mulling appropriate measures after US tariffs on car imports. We have to think about appropriate measures following this announcement. Naturally, we will consider all options. Japan has made significant investments and significant job creation, which doesnt apply to all countries We are the number one (country) in investment in the United States, Ishiba told Parliament. He added, The US presidents understanding of this is significantly deepening. However, various things are happening, so we are considering all kinds of countermeasures, and those exist as our options. Shares in Japanese auto giants fell heavily. Mitsubishi Motors saw a down of 4.5 per cent, while Mazda and Subaru dropped 5.9 and 6.1 per cent, respectively. 'EU seeks negotiated solutions' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen slammed the Trump's latest move and cautioned it could augment trade tensions. According to reports, she said, I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European automative exports. EU will demand negotiated solutions while safeguarding its economic interests, she said. As a major trading power and a strong community of 27 Member States, we will jointly protect our workers, businesses and consumers across our European Union, Von der Leyen added. The Atlantic reported "about a massive Trump-administration security breach" on Monday. President Donald Trump's most senior national security officials inadvertently sent text messages about the US' war plans to The Atlantic's editor-in-chief. The messages shared . As per the report, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly invited by US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to a group chat on the Signal app, where an attack on Yemen was reportedly being discussed. The group reportedly included US Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and others. They discussed sensitive plans to engage in military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. A Senate hearing was held on Wednesday regarding the Signal chat goof-up. Was classified information exposed on the commercial messaging app? Were any federal laws violated? Will anyone face consequences for the leaks? These were some of the questions being raised as the "security breach" came to light. Also Read | Atlantic Releases Full Signal Text Chain on Houthi Attacks President Donald Trump and his top aides aren't denying that they started a chat group in Signal to talk about a military attack on Yemen. Instead, they are insisting the information wasn't classified because the data didn't include the location of the strikes or specific sources and methods. Here's all the latest you need to now about the Signal leak scandal: 1. US President Donald Trump suggested the Signal app, used by top US officials as well as journalists, could be "defective". "I think it's all a witch hunt," Trump said. He said Wednesday evening (local time), I don't know that Signal works. I think Signal could be defective...because you use signal, we use signal and everybody use signal but it could be a defective platform and we're going to have to find that out. 2. As some believe that the "leaked" messages contained classified information, the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, "There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal group." The White House also said the information shared with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, through the publicly available Signal app was not classified. Also Read | Signal chat blunder shows pitfalls of Trumps ad hoc approach to foreign policy 3. In interviews, several former defense and intelligence officials insisted that an exact location of a strike isn't needed for the information to be damaging to national security, ABC news reported. 4. The Trump administration has been facing criticism from Democrats and now Republicans after Mondays "embarrassing" revelation that a team of senior national security officials accidentally added a journalist to a private group chat on Signal. Also Read | Hillary Clinton faces backlash over response to Trump teams Signal chat leak In rare signs of unrest, top Republican senators called for an investigation into the Signal leak scandal, the Hill reported. They demanded answers from the Trump administration as they raised concerns that it will become a significant political problem if not addressed properly, the Guardian reported. According to the Associated Press, Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he and Senator Jack Reed, the committee's top Democrat, will send a letter to the Trump administration, requesting an expedited inspector general investigation into the use of Signal. Also Read | Democrat Senators demand answers over Signal chat leak; Gabbard dodges questions 5. Signal app founder Moxie Marlinspike seemingly mocked JD Vance over the incident. He posted on X on March 25, There are so many great reasons to be on Signal. Now including the opportunity for the vice president of the United States of America to randomly add you to a group chat for coordination of sensitive military operations. Dont sleep on this opportunity... 6. Hegseth, White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other administration officials on Wednesday uniformly insisted that no "war plans" had been texted on Signal, a claim that current and former US officials have called "semantics". But the information Hegseth did post -- specific attack details selecting human and weapons storage targets -- was a subset of those plans and was likely informed by the same classified intelligence. Hegseth, in an X post, said the message chain included "No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information". 7. Mike Waltz, who has acknowledged he built the Signal chain and has taken "full responsibility" for the episode, amplified Hegseth's contention. No locations. No sources and methods. NO WAR PLANS. Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent. BOTTOM LINE: President Trump is protecting America and our interests," Waltz posted on X. 8. Several Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday called for Hegseth to step down. "This is classified information. It's a weapon system, as well as a sequence of strikes, as well as details of the operations," said Rep Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois who is on the committee. 9. Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives sought on Wednesday to force the Trump administration to hand over records related to the disclosure of highly sensitive attack plans that were shared over a commercial messaging app, according to a document reviewed by Reuters. It is unclear if the "Resolution of Inquiry," seen by Reuters, would pass a vote by either the House Foreign Affairs Committee or the full House of Representatives, but it would keep alive an issue that the White House has sought to downplay since the story was published in The Atlantic on Monday. 10. The White House reportedly asked Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to help investigate how a journalist was included on a Signal chat with national security officials. The National Security Council, the White House Counsels Office, and also yes, Elon Musks team, press secretary Karoline Leavitt was quoted by the Hill as saying when asked who was leading an investigation into the Signal mishap. US President Donald Trump's tariffs on trading partners are expected to ignite a global trade war, especially targeting China, Canada, and Mexico. The latest list includes 25 per cent tariffs on automobiles imported to the US. However, levying tariffs is not a new development under the Donald Trump administration. During his first term, the US was also engaged in a trade war with China. In his second term, Donald Trump is adopting a similar strategy. Let's take a look at what has happened so far: January 20 Soon after officially entering the Oval Office, Donald Trump promised to charge tariffs and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens." On his first day in office, Trump also said he expects to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting on February 1 while declining to immediately elaborate on plans to tax Chinese imports. January 26 Colombian President Gustavo Petro rejected two US military aircraft over the ill-treatment of immigrants. In response, Trump threatened 25 per cent tariffs on Colombian imports. Petro announced a 25 per cent increase in tariffs on US products as a retaliatory measure. However, this decision was later reversed. Also Read | Will Donald Trump cut tariffs on China to facilitate TikTok sale bid? February 1 The US President signed an executive order imposing tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China. A 10 per cent tariff was levied on imports from China and 25 per cent on goods from Mexico and Canada. All three countries announced retaliatory measures against the executive order. February 3 Trump halted his decision on tariffs against Mexico and Canada for 30 days as both countries assured to address concerns about drug trafficking and border security. February 4 A 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods imported to the US has come into effect. As a retaliatory measure, China imposed a new set of duties on US goods and launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Google. Also Read | Trump and Musk share the founders mindset February 10 Trump announced an increase in tariffs on steel and aluminium and removed exemptions introduced in 2018 from March 12 onwards. Hence, steel imports would be charged at least 25 per cent. Aluminium tariffs also increased to 25 per cent from 10 per cent in 2018. February 13 Donald Trump announced plans for reciprocal tariffs to hike US tariffs to match the tax rates imposed by its trading partners for purposes of fairness. He indicated that in addition to China, Canada, and Mexico, additional countries, such as India, could face higher tariffs. Trump also mentioned plans to impose a 25 per cent tariff on European nations. February 25 Trump instructed the Commerce Department to consider whether a tariff on imported copper is required to protect national security, citing its use in defence, infrastructure and emerging technologies. March 1 Trump asked the Commerce Department to assess whether tariffs on lumber and timber are needed to protect national security, citing the construction industry and military depend on the supply of wooden products. March 4 Tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico come into effect, with levies on Chinese goods doubled to 20 per cent. The then Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced tariffs on over $100 billion worth of US goods in 21 days. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said her country would respond with retaliatory tariffs on US goods. Meanwhile, China levied 15 per cent tariffs on a range of farm exports. March 5 The US President granted a one-month exemption from tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, benefitting US automakers. March 10 In response to Donald Trump's 20 per cent tariffs, China imposed an additional 15 per cent tariff on US products, including chicken, pork, soybeans, and beef. However, Chinas Commerce Ministry stated that goods already in transit would be exempted from the retaliatory tariffs until April 12. March 12 Donald Trump increased tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to 25 per cent. In response, the European Union announced retaliatory duties on US products, including steel, aluminium goods, textiles, home appliances, motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans. March 13 Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European wine, champagne and spirits if the European Union levied a 50% tariff on American whiskey. Also Read | Tariffs wont bring a boom in American manufacturing March 24 Trump announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on countries buying oil or gas from Venezuela, effective from April 2. The move is expected to impact China, which in 2023 imported 68 per cent of oil from Venezuela, per the US Energy Information Administration. March 26 Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on auto imports, aiming to boost domestic manufacturing. However, the move has raised concerns among automakers who depend on global supply chains for manufacturing. As the Kunal Kamra row continues to escalate, Maharashtra tourism minister Shambhuraj Desai has asked the Mumbai Police to arrest the comedian and not test the patience of Shiv Sena workers. Angered by the stand-up comedian's parody song allegedly targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde, Sena workers on Sunday night vandalised a studio in Mumbai where Kunal Kamra's show had been recorded. Shambhuraj Desai said, We have been asked by Shinde to observe restraint, that is why we are quiet. As Shiv Sena workers, we know how to drag him out from wherever he is hiding, but as ministers we have some restrictions. We want to tell the police, do not test our patience and nab him from wherever he is, put him in a tyre and give him prasad, the Shiv Sena-Shinde leader added. The word prasad means an offering made to God, but it is also used as a euphemism for punishment. During his latest show in Mumbai, Kunal Kamra sang a parody of a hit song from the film Dil Toh Pagal Hai where he used the word gaddar (traitor). While he did not name Eknath Shinde, the Sena workers stormed The Habitat Comedy Club in Mumbai's Khar area and vandalised it. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders and its mouthpiece `Saamana' often term Eknath Shinde and his supporters, who rebelled against party chief Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022 and split the Shiv Sena, as traitors. While some people were arrested for the act and later got bail, the Khar police subsequently registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Kunal Kamra on a complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Shinde. Police have asked him to join the probe. Prince Harry has stepped down as a patron of Sentebale, a charity he co-founded in 2006 in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana. This decision comes amid allegations of bullying, harassment, sexism, and racism made by the charity's chairperson, Sophie Chandauka, against unnamed members of the board. Harry announced his resignation in a joint statement with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, with whom he established the charity to support young people affected by HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. Also Read | Prince Harry's charity shuts down after 20 years over ego fights What is Senetable? Sentebale works in the southern African nations of Lesotho and Botswana and was started to help young people affected by AIDS after Harry spent part of a gap year in 2004 working at an orphanage in Lesotho for children whose parents died of the disease. Sentebale means don't forget me in the Sesotho language, and Harry and Seeiso set it up in memory of their mothers. Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Seeiso's mother, the former queen of Lesotho, died in 2003. What does Sentebale do? Sentebale continued some of the work Princess Diana did by supporting AIDS charities and trying to remove stigmas around the disease. Diana visited South Africa to promote AIDS awareness in March 1997, five months before she died. Sentebale was initially set up to help vulnerable children and young people affected by AIDS with health care services, education and vocational training. Lesotho, a mountainous kingdom surrounded by South Africa, is one of the worst-affected countries in the world by HIV. Harry's charity had recently evolved to also address issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in southern Africa under Chandauka, and the future direction of the charity was a point of disagreement among its leadership, according to British media reports. What Prince Harry has said In their statement, Harry and Seeiso said they were in shock at the developments at the charity, where the trustees had asked Chandauka to step down. She refused and filed papers at a British court to prevent her from being removed. The princes said the trustees were acting in the best interests of Sentebale and had now resigned, and the breakdown in relationships was devastating. Whats transpired is unthinkable," the princes said. Also Read | Screenwriter explains why Netflix is keeping ties with Prince Harry-Meghan Allegations of sexism and racism Chandauka, a Zimbabwean corporate lawyer, said in her own statement that she had dared to blow the whistle" about poor governance, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, sexism and racism at the charity, and said there had been a cover-up. Her allegations appeared to be directed at the trustees, but she didn't name anyone or give any details. The trustees who resigned included Mark Dyer, a longtime mentor of Harry's. One of the other trustees, Kelello Lerotholi, told British television channel Sky News that Chandauka's allegations were surprising and there was never even a hint of misconduct by trustees. Chandauka said that she had reported some of the board members to the UK's Charity Commission, where Sentebale is registered. Egypt News: A devastating incident unfolded in the Egyptian resort city of Hurghada, where a tourist submarine, known as the Sindbad, tragically sank in the Red Sea. According to municipal officials, six individuals have lost their lives, while nine others have been injured in the disaster. The injured, including four in critical condition, have been rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention. Emergency services responded swiftly to the crisis, successfully rescuing 29 people from the water. The submarine, which was carrying 45 tourists of diverse nationalities, was operating in the tourist promenade area when the incident occurred. The cause of the sinking remains unclear at this time, pending an official investigation. Russian Embassy Announces Tragedy The Russian embassy in Egypt claimed in a post on Facebook that all of the tourists on board were Russian. The post read: "On March 27, around 10:00, at a distance of 1 km from the shore, an accident of the submersible 'Sindbad', belonging to the hotel of the same name occurred. "The submersible carried out a regular underwater excursions with inspection of the coral reef. "In addition to crew members, there were 45 tourists on board, including minors. All of them are Russian citizens, tourists of the company 'Biblio Globus' (the host tour company in Egypt - 'Biblio globus Egypt Tours'). "According to initial data, most of the passengers on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada. "Their health is not a cause for concern. Four people have been killed. The fate of several tourists is being determined. "Diplomats of the General Consulate are on the pier of the 'Sindbad' hotel." Everything to Know About Sindbad Subbmarine The Sindbad submarine was a popular attraction in Hurghada, offering visitors a unique underwater experience. Sindbad is understood to be a 'semi submarine' designed for underwater sightseeing where tourists can observe marine life from a lower deck which is under water. However, concerns about its safety record have been raised, as it had reportedly experienced technical issues in the past. Sindbad has been running tourist trips in the area for many years. The company boasts it holds two of the only "14 real recreational submarines" in the world. The vessels allow tourists to travel 25 metres (82 feet) below the surface to explore "500 metres of coral reef and its marine inhabitants". The operator's website states: It offers 44 passenger seats - two pilots' seats and a sizeable round viewing window for each passenger. Also Read | 55 Chinese sailors killed in submarine tragedy All About Hurghada Hurghada, a major tourist destination, attracts visitors from around the world, particularly from Europe. The incident may have broader implications for Egypt's tourism industry, which is a significant contributor to the country's economy. Amsterdam stabbing attack: At least five people were wounded in a stabbing incident in Amsterdam, according to police on Thursday, March 27. The attack occurred near Dam Square in central Amsterdam. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident. Police have cordoned off the area, with multiple ambulances responding to the scene, and a trauma helicopter landing on the square, reported AP. Injured evacuated Early images from local news agency ANP showed a person on a stretcher being loaded into the back of an ambulance. Reportedly, the injured had been evacuated but there was still a heavy police presence near the Dam Square area. There was no immediate information on the condition of those wounded, reported AFP. Amsterdam police have asked those who witnessed the attack to share any footage of the incident with authorities. Videos from incident site surface on social media One X user user alleged that the accused stabbed a young girl, an elderly woman, and three others. Multiple videos of ambulances and the trauma helicopter at the incident site, have surfaced on social media. Stabber's 'motive unclear' says police Local media reported that the stabbing interrupted a city council meeting involving Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. "We currently have no information about the cause or motive of the stabbing incident. This is part of our investigation," the police said in a statement, reported AFP. Woman goes on stabbing spree in US In other news, a woman stripped herself naked in the Texas airport, and went on a stabbing and biting spree in what police called a "manic episode". According to the New York Post, the woman, identified as Samantha Palma, stabbed two airport staffers with a pencil and bit a restaurant manager. Videos of the attack have gone viral on social media. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta took a jibe at the Opposition, saying they criticised her after she adopted their own tone amid a political slugfest following the presentation of the Delhi budget. Bahut khafa hai mere lehja badlne se, jab unhi ke lehje me baat ki [They are very upset that my tone has changed, but I only started speaking in their tone] It is not in their fate to sit on the ruling side, Rekha Gupta said. The Delhi chief minister also accused the opposition of relentlessly finding faults despite what she described as a big and substantial budget for the national capital. She said, Such a big budget came for Delhi, yet they left no stone unturned in finding faults. On Twitter and in the media, they are claiming that Delhi is being ruined. If a good and substantial budget has been presented, it should be a reason for happiness. Everything will be clear in a few days. Rekha Gupta also pointed at cutting down the Delhi government's dependency on assistance from the Centre. It is possible that there may be no need for central assistance. If the leakage they have caused is stopped, then things can be managed, she said. The remarks come as AAP's 'Chori Bandh' slogan echoed through the session, with members demanding transparency and accountability in financial allocations. The Opposition also raised doubts over allocation of funds. Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly Atishi said, ""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...I want to ask the 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 the budget." New Delhi: With a strong rabi harvest expected, the government on Thursday decided to reimpose a 10% import duty on chana (bengal gram). The move marks an end to the duty-free import regime that was in place since May last year to ease domestic shortages and stabilize prices. The decision comes at a time when Indias pulse production is showing signs of recovery. According to a notification issued on Thursday, the 10% import duty on chana will come into effect from 1 April. The move indicates the governments commitment to supporting local farmers and boosting self-sufficiency in pulses, reducing dependence on imports. According to the second advance estimates released by the ministry of agriculture on 28 February, tur production is expectd to be 3.34 million tonnes, nearly the same as last years 3.31 million tonnes. Gram production is estimated at 12.16 million tonnes, marginally lower than the previous year but higher than the average gram production from 2018-19 to 2022-23. Lentil production is estimated at 1.64 million tonnes, higher than last years 1.56 million tonnes. India imports significant quantities of chana to address domestic supply gaps and rising prices, with the government sometimes removing import duties to encourage imports, particularly from countries like Australia and Tanzania. According to data from the agriculture ministry, chana production has followed a fluctuating trend. Production stood at 13.54 million tonnes in fiscal year 2022 (FY22), before declining to 12.27 million tonnes in FY23 and further to 11.04 million tonnes in FY24. For FY25, production is estimated to rise slightly to 11.54 million tonnes. Also read | DGFT extends export obligation period for walnut imports, may benefit US exporters The import of chana was made duty-free in May 2024 due to low domestic production. Prior to that, a 10% import duty was in place. Its a good move. The government should now abolish the duty-free import of yellow peas as well. The duty-free import of yellow peas is hurting the interests of Indian farmers, said Bimal Kothari, chairman, India Pulses and Grains Association. While presenting the Union Budget for 2025-26, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of a six-year Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, with a special focus on tur, urad and masoor. Sitharaman said the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF) would be prepared to procure as much of these pulses as farmers offer over the next four years, provided they register with these agencies and enter into agreements. Also read | Centre slaps stock limit on tur and chana till September to ensure affordability According to the Budget document, the pulses mission will prioritize the development and commercial availability of climate-resilient seeds, enhancing protein content and improving productivity. It will also focus on post-harvest storage and management while ensuring remunerative prices for farmers. London, UK March 27, 2025 Knightsbridge proudly announces the launch of its ultimate white-label wallet base, a fully customizable, AI-enabled digital wallet designed to bridge the gap between Web3, e-commerce, and traditional business operations. This groundbreaking solution offers unparalleled flexibility, empowering businesses, corporates, and organizations to tailor the wallet to their specific needs while maintaining a decentralized framework. With features like an inbuilt browser, support for issuing base currencies or stablecoins, Bitcoin enabled via Rootstock, AI-driven functionalities, and seamless integration across various industries, the Knightsbridge wallet base is poised to redefine digital asset management and user engagement. The Knightsbridge wallet base is a versatile, decentralized platform that goes beyond traditional Web3 wallets, which are often limited to cryptocurrency storage and dApp interactions. This solution is built to accommodate a wide range of use cases, from Web3 applications to e-commerce ecosystems, while offering the option to store and use a digital ID for enhanced user control. Businesses can fully customize the wallets chains and menu, allowing corporates to link to any part of their operations or associates, creating a cohesive digital experience. The wallet is available for download on both Android and Apple devices: Key Features of the Knightsbridge Wallet Base Fully Customizable and Decentralized: Built on Knightsbridges private permissioned EVM chain, the wallet offers a decentralized framework while allowing businesses to customize its functionality, interface, and branding to align with their identity. Digital ID Storage and Control: Users can opt to store and manage a digital ID within the wallet, providing a secure, self-sovereign identity solution for authentication across platforms, inspired by Web3 principles of user empowerment. Full Control of Chains and Menu: Businesses can select supported blockchains and tailor the wallets menu to integrate with specific parts of their operations or partner ecosystems, ensuring seamless connectivity. Inbuilt Browser for E-Commerce and More: The wallet includes an inbuilt browser optimized for e-commerce, casinos, and payment gateways, enabling users to interact with decentralized applications (dApps), shop online, or engage in gaming directly within the wallet. Bitcoin Enabled via Rootstock: The wallet supports Bitcoin transactions through Rootstock (RSK), an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain. This integration allows users to move Bitcoin to RSK via a 2-way peg, enabling Bitcoin to be used in smart contracts and dApps on Knightsbridges chain, enhancing the wallets versatility. Issue Base Currency or Stablecoin: Companies can issue their own base currency or stablecoin, facilitating branded transactions, loyalty programs, or tokenized ecosystems, similar to how stablecoins like USDC provide stability in DeFi. AI-Enabled Features: The wallet leverages artificial intelligence to enhance user experience, offering personalized recommendations, predictive analytics for spending or trading patterns, and automated portfolio management. AI also powers fraud detection and risk assessment, ensuring secure transactions across all activities. Multi-Currency Support and Security: The wallet supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets, including Bitcoin via Rootstock and the native token KDA (available for trading at https://www.xt.com/en/trade/kda_usdt), with advanced security features like encryption, two-factor authentication (2FA), and multi-party computation (MPC) to ensure user safety. Native Token KDA: The wallet operates within the Knightsbridge ecosystem, where the native token is KDA, providing a flexible currency for transactions, fees, and rewards. Users can trade KDA on XT.com at https://www.xt.com/en/trade/kda_usdt. Potential Uses of the Knightsbridge Wallet Base The Knightsbridge wallet base is designed to serve a diverse array of industries and use cases, leveraging its customizable, decentralized, and AI-enabled nature to unlock new opportunities for businesses and users alike. E-Commerce Integration with Bitcoin and AI Insights: Retail businesses can use the wallet as a payment gateway, allowing customers to make purchases with Bitcoin (via Rootstock), KDA, other cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, or a branded base currency. The inbuilt browser enables seamless browsing and shopping, while AI provides personalized product recommendations based on user behavior, reducing friction in the checkout process. For example, a retailer could issue a branded stablecoin for loyalty points, which customers can redeem for discounts or exclusive products. Online Casinos and Gaming with Bitcoin and KDA: The wallets inbuilt browser and support for tokenized assets, including Bitcoin via Rootstock and KDA, make it ideal for online casinos and gaming platforms. Players can deposit, wager, and withdraw using Bitcoin, KDA, or a casino-specific base currency, while AI-driven fraud detection ensures secure transactions and compliance with KYC/AML requirements. The browser can also support play-to-earn (P2E) games, where players earn NFTs or tokens, as seen in platforms like those supported by the Wigwam wallet on the Blast blockchain. Corporate Ecosystems and Loyalty Programs with AI Optimization: Corporates can link the wallet to various parts of their business, such as supply chain management, employee benefits, or customer loyalty programs. AI can optimize loyalty programs by analyzing user spending patterns and suggesting tailored rewards. For instance, a corporation could issue KDA as a loyalty token, which customers earn through purchases and redeem for rewards, similar to how Wallet Factorys white-label solution supports tokenization for loyalty programs. Payment Gateways for Cross-Border Transactions: The wallet can serve as a payment gateway for cross-border transactions, leveraging its multi-currency support, including Bitcoin via Rootstock and KDA, and stablecoin issuance capabilities. Businesses can facilitate fast, low-cost international payments using Bitcoin, KDA, or a branded stablecoin, with AI providing real-time exchange rate predictions to optimize transaction costs, reducing reliance on traditional banking systems, as highlighted by Stripes support for USDC payouts in over 45 countries. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Tokenized Asset Management: The wallet can integrate with DeFi protocols, allowing users to stake, lend, or borrow assets, including Bitcoin-based assets via Rootstock and KDA, directly within the app. AI can offer predictive analytics to suggest optimal DeFi strategies. Businesses can tokenize real-world assets (RWAs) like real estate or art, enabling fractional ownership and trading on Knightsbridges upcoming DEX, aligning with the growing trend of RWA tokenization noted by Chainalysis. Digital ID and Authentication for Web3 Applications: The wallets ability to store and manage a digital ID makes it a powerful tool for Web3 applications requiring self-sovereign identity. Users can authenticate themselves across dApps, NFT marketplaces, or metaverse platforms without relying on centralized providers, with AI enhancing security through behavioral biometrics, enhancing privacy and control, as emphasized by Ethereum.orgs discussion of Web3s focus on user ownership. Charity and Fundraising Platforms with AI Insights: Nonprofits can use the wallet to accept donations in Bitcoin (via Rootstock), KDA, other cryptocurrencies, or tokenized assets, as demonstrated in the amfAR partnership. The wallet can facilitate one-time or recurring donations, track contributions transparently on the blockchain, and issue tokenized rewards to donors, with AI analyzing donor patterns to optimize fundraising campaigns, opening new funding avenues. Casino and Gaming Ecosystems with Stablecoin, Bitcoin, and KDA Integration: Online casinos can issue a stablecoin for in-game transactions or allow Bitcoin and KDA payments via Rootstock, ensuring price stability and flexibility for players. The wallets browser can host gaming dApps, while AI-driven risk assessment protects user funds, offering a seamless experience for gaming and betting. Corporate Supply Chain and B2B Payments with AI Optimization: Companies can use the wallet to tokenize supply chain assets (e.g., carbon credits, as discussed previously) or facilitate B2B payments with a branded base currency, Bitcoin, or KDA. The wallets chain control allows integration with supply chain dApps, with AI optimizing transaction timing and costs, ensuring transparency and efficiency. Metaverse and NFT Marketplaces with AI Recommendations: The wallet can support metaverse applications by enabling users to purchase, trade, and manage NFTs for virtual assets, avatars, or events using Bitcoin, KDA, or other tokens. The inbuilt browser can connect to NFT marketplaces, while AI provides personalized NFT recommendations, and the wallets multi-currency support accommodates various tokens, as seen in solutions like Antiers NFT wallet features. The Knightsbridge wallet base is a transformative solution that empowers businesses to create tailored digital experiences while embracing the benefits of decentralization and AI. By offering a fully customizable, secure, and versatile platform with Bitcoin enabled via Rootstock and powered by the native token KDA, Knightsbridge is paving the way for the next generation of digital wallets, bridging Web3, e-commerce, and traditional business operations. Find out more about the Knightsbridge wallet base and its capabilities at kxco.io. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 27, urban air mobility (UAM) tech company Shanghai TCab Technology ("TCab Tech") announced the completion of its B+ round strategic financing, which was jointly invested by Grand NeoBay Venture Capital and ChiFortune Venture Capital. Photo credit: TCab Tech This marks the first direct investment in an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft manufacturer by Shanghai's state-owned capital since the city introduced its Shanghai Low-Altitude Economy High-Quality Development Action Plan (2024-2027) last year. The investment underscores Shanghai's strong support for the eVTOL industry and its recognition of TCab Tech's technological capabilities and growth potential. Moving forward, Shanghai's state-owned capital aims to accelerate the development of local eVTOL enterprises, fostering their leadership in the low-altitude economy and promoting commercial applications such as urban air tourism and intercity transportation across the Yangtze River Delta region. The commercialization of the eVTOL sector heavily relies on local government support, including infrastructure development, airspace management, and the future operation of "air taxis," all of which require deep collaboration between local capital and manufacturers. Since launching its low-altitude economy initiative, Shanghai has taken multiple steps to strengthen the industry, supporting key enterprises while advancing the supply chain for motors, electronic control systems, flight control systems, and composite materials, paving the way for large-scale application. Since its founding, TCab Tech has focused on developing high-value commercial eVTOL solutions with its tiltrotor passenger eVTOL model, the E20. Designed for safety, operational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, the E20 is set to be widely deployed in air tourism and intercity travel. While based in China, TCab Tech also plans to expand its advanced manufacturing and industry standards to markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. UPDATE: The Hamilton County Grand Jury has indicted Nicholas Cheaton, 41, for the murder of a 39-year-old man on Youngstown Road. Back in March, William Oliver Jones was found dead in his Chickamauga home from an apparent gunshot wound. CPD investigating homicide on Youngstown Road near Chickamauga Greenway At 6:15pm on Saturday, March 15, the Chattanooga Police Department responded to a call concerning a person shot in the 3700 block of Youngstown Road near the Chickamauga Geenway. The GBI, Walker County Sheriff's Office, and Chattanooga Police Department all investigated Jones' death, leading to Cheaton's arrest. CPD confirms the case will progress through the Hamilton County court system, and the department will cooperate fully with the District Attorney's office. Cheaton is currently in custody in Walker County on other charges. PREVIOUS STORY: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested a Chattanooga man in connection to a murder investigation. On Friday, March 14, William Oliver Jones, 39, was found dead in his home in the 8000 block of West Highway 136 in Chickamauga, Georgia. Nicholas Antiono Cheaton, 41, was arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center. He is now awaiting extradition. Jones' body was taken to the GBI Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. GBI says the results have yet to be completed. This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Walker County Sheriff's Office at 706-638-1909. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-8477, by visiting the GBI website, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app. The Catoosa County Fire Department is spreading the word about smoke being visible over the city of Ringgold on Thursday. In a Facebook post, the department say the smoke is coming from a controlled burn on Taylors Ridge in Chattooga County. No outside burning allowed in Marion Co. through Saturday, March 29 This means no outside burning of any kind is allowed in Marion County until Sunday, March 30 at the earliest. Georgia Forestry is conducting the burn. So if you see smoke while youre in Ringgold, have no fear because things are under control! You can track various types of fires throughout the Peach State at the Georgia Forestry Commission's website. You can also stay up-to-date on news and weather in the Tennessee Valley by downloading the Local 3 News and Weather apps to your smart device. Stay with Local 3 News for updates on area wildfires. The price of the average second-hand three-bed semi detached house in county Longford has increased to 202,000, up 3.6% in the last three months, according to a national survey by Real Estate Alliance. The rise of 7,272 came after the value of the average three-bed semi stood at 194,728 last December, the Q1 REA Average House Price Index shows. There was also a notable rise in counties Leitrim and Roscommon between December and March, where values jumped by 5.1% and 3.6% to 207,500 and 260,000 respectively. Jackie White of Raymond White Auctioneering stated the market varies significantly in north county Longford and south county Longford. Also Read: Longford woman accused of being involved in 4,000 fuel scam appears in court "Longford town is different to Lanesboro and Ballymahon, I'd agree with what they are saying but the averages are probably even more than that in the south of the county for sure, she said. "We have sold some three bed semis for 260,000 and 265,000 here in Ballymahon and that is real information. Jackie said buyers are very often bidding as high as possible for the right property as they are reluctant in many cases to carry out considerable renovations. She explained people will go to the maximum of the limit when they are bidding when they want to purchase a suitable property they are keen on. Also Read: Site identification the big thing for getting a headquarters for Longford Civil Defence If there is no work to be done all the better because people very often are working so hard and their time is very precious, she added. Jackie stated the vast majority of people are reluctant to spend four or five months doing up a second hand three bed semi-detached home and if it is in good quality and refurbished or renovated to a high standard it is 'better again'. The REA Average House Price Index concentrates on the sale price of Ireland's typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an accurate picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide. The price of a three-bedroomed semi-detached house across the country rose by 2.5% in the past three months to 338,847, and 10% overall annually. Also Read: Longford man charged with harassing female solicitor served with book of evidence The REA survey said the lack of new home building and historically low supply, has contributed to a significant price increase for three bed semi-detached homes prices of over 20% in areas such as county Roscommon, Offaly, Mayo, Donegal and Kerry. Separately, another report from Daft.ie published on Tuesday found the average price of a house in county Longford is currently just below 218,000, while in county Roscommon it stands at over 222,000. The average price of a house in county Leitrim was a little lower, at more than 203,000. The report found house prices in the three counties increased by 14 per cent during the past 12 months. Last Friday Ballymore GAA held a celebration honouring the local dancer's achievements in competitions like Scor and Fleadh. Creegans in Bunlahy played host to a night of Irish music and dance in honour of the dancers. The dancers are not only County Champions but two-time Leinster Champions and finalists in the All Ireland Scor na nOg. Also Read: Longford motorist fined 1,000 and banned from driving for three years Ballymore is incredibly proud of their club member's achievements. Elaine Reilly, the All Ireland Banjo champion, performed alongside Daithi Gormley and friends. Local musicians were welcome to take part in the session, which ran from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. In a post on their Facebook following the event the club said, To Elaine, Daithi, Grace, Erin, Carla and her wonderful group of dancers, you are the role models, they are inspiring, it was lovely to see all of the children in awe of the talent that was on stage. As a club, we are incredibly lucky to have such talented and inspiring role models to look up to. Also Read: Jail term for distracting man in Longford retail outlet in order to steal cash from his wallet Grace and Erin Ross, lifelong members of Ballymore GAA, entertained the crowd with their wonderful performance. All in all the night was certainly one for the books and is bound to be remembered by the members of Ballymore for a very long time. Shirley Man Arrested for Multiple Thefts from Local Businesses Crime, Press Releases By Long Island Published: March 27 2025 Suffolk County Police have arrested Anthony Anzalone, a 55-year-old man from Shirley, for stealing from eight businesses on nine different occasions over the past 10 days. Anzalone was apprehended on March 26 while approaching Famous ... Suffolk County Police arrested a Shirley man for stealing from eight businesses on nine different occasions during the past 10 days. While investigating a theft that occurred earlier in the day at Famous Footwear, located at 999 Montauk Highway in Shirley, on March 26, Seventh Precinct Investigative Unit officers observed the suspect, Anthony Anzalone, approaching the business and arrested him. Anzalone was also identified as the man who committed eight additional larcenies in the area, including another the day prior at that Famous Footwear location. Anzalone also stole merchandise from: Handy Pantry, located at 630 Mastic Road in Mastic, on March 24. Aldi, located at 855 Montauk Highway in Shirley, on March 23. Walgreens, located at 863 Montauk Highway in Shirley, on March 23. 7-Eleven, located at 1236 Montauk Highway in Mastic, on March 22. 7-Eleven, located at 210 Mastic Beach Road in Mastic Beach, on March 22. Walmart, located at 901 Boulevard East in Yaphank, on March 19. Stop and Shop, located at 999 Montauk Highway in Shirley, on March 18. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 27 2025 Will Speak Upon Own Journey with Metastatic Breast Cancer on March 27. For nearly two decades, Dolores Persky has turned her personal battle with metastatic breast cancer into quite a powerful missionadvocating, connecting, and providing support for those facing similar journeys. Now, she is taking her message to a national stage as the only non-medical professional speaking at the 2025 Cancer Research & Vaccine Summit at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Boston Waltham in Waltham, Mass. Perskys presentation will be held on Thursday, March 27, 4:45-5:15pm. First diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, Perskys cancer progressed to a metastatic stage two years later, and she has since dedicated her life to fostering a community of solidarity, education, and empowerment for those individuals affected by cancer. A longtime ambassador and participant of Sid Jacobson JCCs Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center, Persky plays a vital role as a Peer Partner, support group facilitator, and a member of NMCWCs Advisory Board. Perskys efforts have significantly amplified the reach of our Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center, sharing its mission through prominent appearances on The Donna Drake Show and local radio segments. She has also collaborated with New York State Senator Steven Rhoades to expand awareness of the Centers free, comprehensive wellness services for those impacted by cancer and their families. Dolores is the embodiment of resilience and advocacy, said Randy Hight, LCSW, Director of SJJCCs Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center. She is the only layperson speaking at the summit, sharing her metastatic journey and her unwavering support for other cancer survivors. Despite often not feeling her best, Dee has dedicated herself to making sure no one faces cancer alone. We are so proud of all she has accomplished and continues to do. My work is driven by the belief that knowledge is power and that support is the key to navigating the challenges of living with cancer, Persky reflected. I want to ensure that those who need resources, guidance, and community know exactly where to turn. For more information on Sid Jacobson JCCs Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center, please visit sjjcc.org/cancerwellness. About Sid Jacobson JCC Sid Jacobson JCC (sjjcc.org) in East Hills provides a full range of cutting-edge recreational, health, fitness, educational, cultural arts, and social service programs. SJJCC promotes Jewish identity and provides a comprehensive program based on Jewish values, traditions, heritage, and culture, and is committed to enriching the lives of all individuals and families in its community. Where life flourishes. Like the JCC on Facebook (facebook.com/sidjacobsonjcc) and Follow Us on Instagram (instagram.com/sidjacobsonjcc). Sid Jacobson JCC is a beneficiary agency of the UJA Federation of New York. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: April 16 2025 There are currently 1.2 million female farmers in the U.S., making up 36.3% of all producersindividuals actively involved in decision-making for farming operations. As Womens History Month comes to a close, a notable shift in American agriculture is worth celebrating: more women than ever are stepping into leadership roles on the farm. These producers are not only shaping the future of farmingtheyre also driving growth in local economies and contributing to the nations food supply. A new analysis from Trace One identifies the U.S. counties and states with the most female farmers, highlighting where women are making the biggest impact in agriculture. Key Findings, With Data for New York State Women Now Make Up Over a Third of All U.S. Farmers: According to the USDA, there are currently 1.2 million female farmers in the U.S., making up 36.3% of all producersindividuals actively involved in decision-making for farming operations. These women manage 407 million acres of land and contribute $222 billion in agricultural sales. Female Representation Rises While Male Numbers Decline: The number of male producers has declined since 2007, while the share of female producers has increased in every Census since 2002. Women Dominate Small Livestock and Specialty Farming: Female farmers are most concentrated in livestock operations with smaller animals, specialty crops, and greenhouse production, while they are least concentrated in large-scale commodity farming like oilseeds, grains, and tobacco. Female Farmers in New York State: 63.1% of the farms in New York State are female-operated, meaning at least one producer is a woman. Meanwhile, 38.0% of all New York State producers are women. The full report covers all 50 states and more than 3,000 counties, with a detailed breakdown of female producers, female-operated farms, and how those numbers have shifted over the past decade. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: March 27 2025 Jeremias Anaribamoran Faces 40 Years to Life in Prison for Allegedly Shooting Victim Three Times After a Verbal Altercation. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Jeremias Anaribamoran, 47, of Central Islip, was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, for allegedly fatally shooting 40-year-old Gustavo Godinez-Carcamo. What allegedly began as a social gathering escalated to violence, resulting in the tragic and unnecessary loss of life, said District Attorney Tierney. Our office is committed to seeking justice for the victim and his loved ones, and to holding accountable those who commit violent crimes in our community. According to the investigation, on March 15, 2025, just before midnight, Anaribamoran and Godinez-Carcamo allegedly got into a verbal altercation while sitting in the back seat of a vehicle parked in front of the victims Central Islip home. The two along with two others had been allegedly hanging out most of the day consuming alcohol. The confrontation escalated to deadly violence after Anaribamoran allegedly pulled out a 9 mm pistol and shot Godinez-Carcamo three times. Godinez-Carcamo then allegedly fled to his home on foot, which was less than half a mile away. When Suffolk County Police officers responding to the scene arrived, they attempted to render lifesaving measures on Godinez-Carcamo who quickly lost consciousness. Central Islip Volunteer Ambulance Company EMS personnel also attempted to render aid and transported Godinez-Carcamo to South Shore Hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy would later reveal that Godinez-Carcamo suffered multiple perforating gunshot wounds of his torso and right arm. Investigators quickly began canvassing Central Islip for video surveillance and conducted numerous witness interviews. As a result, the defendants identity as well as his residence were quickly identified. On March 18, 2025, Suffolk Police Homicide Squad detectives arrested Anaribamoran during the early morning after surveilling his home for hours. While in custody, Anaribamoran, a Honduran national, allegedly confessed to committing the murder to two Spanish speaking homicide detectives. Anaribamoran also consented to having members of the Homicide Squad back to his home and he identified not only the clothing he was wearing when he committed the murder, but he also provided the murder weapon which he had discarded in his trash. As a result, the murder weapon and clothing were recovered. On March 27, 2025, Anaribamoran was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis for Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C felonies. Justice Wilutis ordered Anaribamoran remanded during the pendency of the case. Anaribamoran is due back in court on April 25, 2025, and faces 40 years to life in prison. He is being represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Frankie Sierra and Jose Johnson of the Suffolk County Homicide Squad. Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law. An F/A-18 Hornet takes off from the USS Harry S. Truman. (CENTCOM on X) US Central Command (CENTCOM) has conducted consistent airstrikes against the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, since March 15. The operation is in response to the Yemeni terrorist groups attacks against shipping in solidarity with Palestinians following the war Hamas began with Israel on October 7, 2023. The Iran-backed Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks on commercial and US naval vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since 2023. The Trump Administration is seeking to restore freedom of navigation and re-establish American deterrence, according to Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell. To that end, CENTCOM forces have been striking a range of targets, including military infrastructure, leaders, command and control centers, and commercial infrastructure across nearly all Houthi-controlled governorates of Yemen. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz claimed the strikes have taken out key Houthi leadership, including their head missileer. The group has yet to confirm the death of any senior leaders. However, Yemen analyst Mohammed al-Basha has recorded about 40 mid and low-level Houthi officers likely killed in airstrikes for whom the group has held funeral processions. Key Target Regions: Saada Saada Governorate, Yemens mountainous northern territory bordering Saudi Arabia, is home to the Al Houthi clan from which the group gets its name. Saada has endured years of conflict, including fighting between the Yemeni government and Houthi forces during the Saada wars in the 2000s and as a frontline in the Houthi-Saudi conflict from 2015 to the 2022 ceasefire. The areas mountainous landscape enables the Houthis to hide infrastructure, weapons, and individuals. The UN paused all activity in Saada Governorate in February 2025 because it was unable to ensure security for its personnel in the Houthi stronghold. Defense Lines, a Yemeni organization focused on security and military, identified a range of military assets the US hit with recent airstrikes in Saada, including capabilities, military bases, and weapons and ammunition caches buried underground and beneath mountains. The United States previously struck buried infrastructure in Saada during the Biden administration. The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV channel reported 17 strikes in the governorate on the night of March 25, and the network has acknowledged airstrikes in Saada almost every day since the US operation began on March 15. Yemeni media claimed on March 21 that US aircraft have intensified their raids on various areas of Saada Governorate, the main stronghold of the leader of the armed Houthi group. Sanaa The Sanaa Governorates eponymous capital city was formerly the capital of Yemen before the Houthis 2014 seizure of it. The city now serves as the epicenter of the Houthi-controlled government in northern Yemen. Al Masirah reported US airstrikes on residential areas of Sanaa city, amongst other targets in the governorate, and accused the US of causing civilian casualties and injuries. Yemeni media, citing local sources, said airstrikes targeted Houthi military supplies and a weapons depot in residential areas. Houthi news sources have also acknowledged US airstrikes on the groups Al Dailami Air Base, amongst other targets in Sanaa hit on March 26. Sanaa contains a range of Houthi infrastructure, including a recently struck logistics and supply base, according to Yemen analyst Mohammed al Basha. Yemeni media reported American airstrikes against Sanaa International Airport on March 26. Israel previously struck Houthi infrastructure at the airport on December 26. Hodeida A coastal governorate along the Red Sea, Hodeida is home to the Port of Hodeida, the Port of Salif, the Ras Issa terminal, and other key commercial and military infrastructure controlled by the Houthis. The Hodeida and Salif ports, both controlled by the Houthis, receive up to 80 percent of Yemens imports and provide significant revenue for the terrorist group. The Houthis Al Khatib Naval Base is also in Al Hodeida. Houthi al Masirah news identified strikes on the Salef port. Houthi media also reported airstrikes on Hodeida International Airport, a cotton gin, and that the Al Habashi Iron Factory was destroyed in a strike. US and UK airstrikes in 2024 targeted the Hodeida port, Ras Issa, and Al Khatib Naval Base. An Israeli airstrike on Hodeida in July 2024 is believed to have caused millions of dollars in damage to Houthi infrastructure. Marib Marib, a frontline governorate in the Houthis conflict with Yemens internationally recognized government (IRG), has been the site of intense fighting throughout the countrys civil war and recently saw increased conflict following the Houthis cessation of hostilities in the Red Sea during the recent ceasefire in Gaza. Marib is home to some of the countrys most substantial natural resources, which, prior to Yemens civil war, provided 90 percent of the countrys oil and gas. The Houthis control the western edges of the governorate, but the majority of its territory, including the natural resources and major population centers, is controlled by the IRG. US airstrikes have targeted the Majzar District of Marib, which is one of the few Houthi-controlled areas in the governorate and the scene of recent Houthi-IRG fighting. Yemeni IRG-affiliated media identified Houthi attempts to deploy munitions and build fortifications in northern and western Marib on March 18, after the US operation began. Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focusing on Iranian proxies, specifically Iraqi militias and the Houthis. Interim Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa with Turkish President Erdogan in Ankara. (@abo33amsha on X) Reports circulating on Syrian social media claim that Syrian interim President Ahmad al Sharaa is planning a visit to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to finalize a defense and military agreement between the two countries. These reports are unconfirmed but not without precedent. Prior to Sharaa and Erdogans February meeting, Reuters reported that the two leaders were discussing a defense pact. Before Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), a US-designated terrorist group, ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad in December 2024, the organizations relationship with Turkey was defined by a combination of pragmatic cooperation and deep-seated mistrust. Initially, Turkey designated HTS as a terrorist organization due to its extremist ideology and ties to Al Qaeda. However, HTSs strategic recalibrations, particularly its actions against Islamic State strongholds in northwestern Syria, paved the way for cooperation with Ankara. HTS allowed Turkish patrols to operate within territories it controlled and the establishment of Turkish observation posts in northern Syria. HTS has even positioned itself as a gatekeeper for Ankara, curbing drug trafficking into Turkey, preventing Islamic State infiltration, and apprehending individuals wanted by Turkish authorities. Then-HTS leader Ahmad al Sharaa, long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al Jolani, also allegedly supported Turkish military operations east of the Euphrates, according to a report by the Turkey-based Syria TV. The number of Turkish troops present in Syria has fluctuated since December, but Turkeys influence continues to grow. Turkish and Syrian officials are discussing allowing Ankara to create and use military bases inside Syria and train Syrian soldiers, further solidifying a foothold. This presence is reinforced by the presence of foreign advisors, military officers embedded in the new Syrian army, pro-Turkey proxies integrated into its ranks, and Turkish-backed figures securing top positions within Syrias military. Reports on Turkeys role in shaping Syrias new military structure A source in the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that Turkey is continuing to study the establishment of a military base in Syria for training purposes, aiming to enhance the capabilities of the Syrian army. Previous reports indicated that Turkish officials have been assessing potential sites for these bases. Israeli media reports claim that Prime Minister Netanyahu has held security consultations to address concerns over Turkeys growing influence in Syria, portraying a confrontation with Ankara as inevitable. According to the Israeli news site Walla, security sources revealed that Syria and Turkey are in talks about handing over areas near Palmyrapreviously a stronghold for Iranian-backed militias in Syria. The Syrians would receive economic and military support in exchange. One of the reported planned bases will be an airbase in central Syria, hosting Turkish F-16 fighter jets. The Turkish army is already stationed in various parts of northern Syria, and under apparent agreements with Syrias transitional leadership, some Turkish forces will relocate to other areas inside the country. Meanwhile, Ankara is still assessing the creation of a training base to strengthen the Syrian army, following the Syrian governments request. Additionally, a five-party meeting in Jordan resulted in an agreement to support Syria in its fight against terrorism. There is also a consensus among the involved nations to establish a joint operations center at Syrias request. Turkish media reported that a military delegation will be sent to Syria to discuss training the Syrian army, with the possibility of a Turkish officer being appointed as a military advisor. This development coincides with the appointment of Turkish nationals and pro-Turkey individuals to key positions within the newly structured army. One prominent example is Omar Jaftashi (Mukhtar al Turki), a Turkish national and former member of Hayat Tahrir al Sham, who now commands the Damascus Division. Jaftashi played a critical role in coordinating between HTS and Turkeys intelligence agency, MIT, and is reported to have maintained close ties with Turkish intelligence. In addition, Turkish-backed militias from the Syrian National Army have been integrated into the unified Syrian army. While this integration has been rushedleaving many of these factions still loyal to their local commanders and Turkeyit cements Ankaras influence over Syrias military structure. For instance, Mohammad al Jasem (Abu Amsha), leader of the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade, was appointed commander of the Hama Division (62nd Division). Jasem is sanctioned by the United States for human rights abuses against Kurdish populations and was accused of committing violations against the Alawite community during the March 2025 events near the Syrian coast. Another Turkish proxy, Sayf Abu Bakr, was a former lieutenant in Assads Air Force Intelligence before defecting to the Turkish-backed Hamzat Division. Reports suggest he may have also been affiliated with the Islamic State, appearing in a propaganda video for the group. Bakr was appointed commander of the 76th Division in the Syrian army and, like Jasem, is sanctioned by the United States for human rights abuses against Kurds. Ahmad Sharawi is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian intervention in Arab affairs and the levant. A Boston man who recently adopted a husky from the Animal Rescue League was arraigned in Roxbury Municipal Court Wednesday on animal cruelty charges Arthur Mainor, 58, was charged with one count of animal cruelty by a custodian after he returned a dog to the Rescue League with lesions on his neck. The lesions were caused by a rusted chain collar that had been embedded into the dogs skin, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. Mainor was released on personal recognizance and ordered to surrender all animals or pets and not to keep any animals or pets while his case is pending, the district attorney said. Hell return to court on May 7 for a pretrial hearing. On Feb. 12, the Animal Rescue League Law Enforcement Department got a report about a nearly one-year-old husky named Lotto, the district attorney said. Lotto was returned to the American Rescue League by his owner, Mainor, wearing a belt around his neck with a carabiner attached to it. After the staff members removed the belt, they saw that Lottos neck was red and wet with raw lesions. Staff from the Neponset Pet Center & Animal Hospital contacted the Animal Rescue League on Feb. 14 to ask about Lotto, the district attorney said. They said the Husky was recently brought in for a grooming appointment to get a flea bath when staff members saw a rusky chain collar embedded into Lottos skin with blood, discharge and a foul odor, the district attorney said. The staff offered to sedate Lotto and remove the chain, but Mainor refused the treatment, which included antibiotics and pain medication, the district attorney said. Mainor told the staff that he would bring Lotto to an emergency hospital or return him to the Animal Rescue League. The staff at the Neponset Pet Center & Animal Hospital called surrounding animal hospitals because they didnt get a referral call for Lottos records. Officers from the Animal Rescue League and Boston Animal Control met with Mainor, the district attorney said. Mainor told them he adopted Lotto on Jan. 30. He then said Lotto would chew through his collars and leashes, so he switched to a metal chain. When officers asked Mainor how the metal chain was removed since Lotto was returned without it, he said he took it off himself because he didnt have the money for the hospital to do it, the district attorney said. Officers saw there were rusted metal bowls, one of which still had dog foods inside, the district attorney said. They also saw a rusted gate and tools near where Mainor used to keep Lotto. Lotto is currently at the Animal Rescue League shelter in Boston, the district attorney said. If people get overwhelmed with pet ownership or find themselves simply incapable of caring for a pet, the best thing to do is contact a shelter before any pain or suffering occurs, Hayden said. A Brazilian national living in Worcester illegally was arrested Wednesday for his role in what federal prosecutors described as a transnational criminal organization ... responsible for the illicit smuggling of hundreds of individuals from Brazil to the United States. Flavio Alexandra Alves, 41, who also goes by Ronaldo, is charged with conspiracy to bring aliens to and transport aliens within the United States in violation of law. He was detained pending a hearing set for Friday morning following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester, U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley said in a statement. Alves was convicted of human smuggling offenses in California in 2004 and deported to Brazil in February 2005. Sometime after his removal from the country, prosecutors say, Alves illegally re-entered the U.S. Federal authorities began investigating a human smuggling organization operating in the U.S., Brazil and Mexico in April 2022. The organization smuggles Brazillian nationals into the U.S. through Mexico for financial gain and launders the proceeds, Foleys office said. During that investigation, prosecutors say they identified Alves as a domestic-based smuggler, who joined the organization in mid-2021. Prosecutors say Alves coordinated with co-conspirators to facilitate the transportation of immigrants from Brazil to the U.S. and to launder money to Mexico to support the organization. Alves is also accused of collecting smuggling fees paid by or on behalf of the Brazilian nationals being brought to the U.S. Alves is accused of purchasing airline tickets for Brazillian nationals, including families and groups, to various places within the U.S. Those purchases included plane tickets allowing Brazillian nationals to travel from cities along the border to other locations in the U.S. after they were released from U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention, Foleys office said. Prosecutors say Alves bought more than 100 individual airline tickets from Tuscon or Phoenix to destinations in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania between May 2021 and August 2022. Bank and final records show Alves sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in money transfers to facilitate the travel of noncitizens, many of whom were encountered by immigration authorities while illegally crossing into the U.S., Foleys office said. Prosecutors say he also paid smugglers in Mexico for their role in the organization. Alves then attempted to cover up the nature and frequency of the payments, including using in-person transfer services, providing different variations of his name and address and delegating the task to other associates, Foleys office said. He also collected payments from those being smuggled into the country as a fee for being brought to the U.S., taking a percentage as his cut and sending the rest of the money to other members of the organization in Mexico, Foleys office said. Homeland Security offices in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia detained four other people in connection with the smuggling organization on administrative immigration violations. If convicted, Alves could face up to 10 years in prison. A Brockton woman was charged in connection with a four-year scheme to secure rental properties through fraudulent means and did not pay rent for years, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs office said. Michelle Madeira Fontes, 42, pleaded not guilty to two counts of larceny by false pretense in Brockton Superior Court on Thursday, Cruzs office said in a statement on Thursday. She is expected to appear again in court on April 30. A judge ordered Fontes to pay $5,000 cash bail with pre-trial conditions, including wearing a GPS monitoring device, taking drug and alcohol screenings, and adhering to a 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. curfew if released on bail. Between January 2021 and March 2025, Fontes defrauded four different Brockton landlords after she secured rental housing under false pretenses and by not paying rent, Cruzs office said. Those who were defrauded are from Cape Verde and do not own large-scale properties but rely on their rental properties as their primary source of income, the statement read. Fontes exploited their shared cultural background and language to gain trust before deceiving them, Cruzs office said. When she was approached about unpaid rent, Fontes gave false assurances and said she would cover the balance using personal funds and charitable assistance, the statement read. Several times, she provided fraudulent documents like forged bank letters, falsified pay stubs and fabricated nonprofit letters to support her claims. Fontes was then evicted from several properties and left some rental units in severe disrepair upon vacating, Cruzs office said. She was indicted after a lengthy investigation conducted by a Plymouth County Grand Jury, Cruzs office said. Fontes was arrested at her most recent rental property on March 18. The former chief operating officer of a behavioral healthcare company was sentenced to prison for a scheme to defraud healthcare benefit programs, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs sentenced Miguel Saravia, 42, of Hanson, to three and a half months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. She ordered Savaria to pay $561,141.89 in restitution. Saravia previously pleaded guilty to six counts of healthcare fraud in September 2024, Foleys office said in a statement. Saravia was the former chief operating officer of Prime Behavioral Health and is the chief executive officer of Dana Group Associates, the statement read. Between 2017 and 2022, Saravia directed a group of individuals with no billing or medical training to enter Current Procedural Terminology, or CPT, codes for therapy services, Foleys office said. These were codes for therapy services that were not provided. He also directed these codes to be used for psychotherapy visits. Saravia then submitted or directed the submissions of false claims for treatments not provided or for more complex and expensive treatments than were offered, Foleys office said. A Brockton man who previously worked for the Stoughton Water Department pleaded guilty in federal court to tampering with Stoughtons drinking water supply, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said. Robert Bullock, Sr., 60, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a water system. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 5. On the night of Nov. 29, 2022, Bullock went to one of the departments pumping stations, Foleys office said in a statement. At the station, he turned off the pump that allowed chlorine into the drinking water. This insufficiently disinfected the water introduced into eh drinking water system. The charge of tampering with a water system provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Bullocks sentencing is scheduled for June 25. A Brockton woman who previously worked for the United States Postal Service pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to stealing over $18,000 in postal money orders, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said. Christine Hedges, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. She was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. In 2020, Hedges started to work for the Postal Service and most recently became a lead sales and service associate in Brockton, Foleys office said. Between October 2021 and August 2023, she engaged in a scheme to steal Postal Service funds for her personal use to generate no-fee money orders without any customers at her window, Foleys office said. In this timeframe, Hedges generated about 64 fraudulent no-fee money orders, with 11 made out to her boyfriend or a family member, the statement read. Then between Aug. 1 and Aug. 14, 2023, Hedges was seen on video surveillance taking cash from her assigned drawer and placing the money in her pocket, Foleys office said. Overall, she stole about $18,939 in postal funds. The charge of theft of government money provides a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Hedges sentencing date is scheduled for June 18. Carla Norris, of AIDS Project Worcester, arrived at the Massachusetts State House on March 27, 2025 to encourage legislators to fully fund the state budget's HIV/AIDS line item. Hadley Barndollar In her 20s, Beatrice Bell lost custody of her children because of a social worker she believed to be prejudiced against her HIV diagnosis. That was decades ago, when people living with the incurable condition were often subjected to shame, social isolation and widespread ignorance from the general public. I had no idea where to turn, said Bell, a writer for Bostons street paper Spare Change News, as she walked the State House halls Thursday canvasing legislators with fellow HIV advocates. Progress made on the infectious disease that, starting in the 1980s, gripped the nation with fear and misinformation is being walked back, they said. And its time to be really, really loud. The Trump administration has targeted HIV/AIDS funding both stateside and abroad as part of its effort to slash federal spending. It has eliminated related National Institutes of Health grants, frozen USAID dollars and floated the potential closure of the Division of HIV Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. President Trump seeks to root out what he sees as the manifestation of DEI, or diversity, equity and inclusion, in health care, public health and scientific research. Most at risk for HIV, for example, are the LGBTQ+ community, Black and Latino individuals and people who use injection drugs. Earlier this week, the United Nations warned the world will see a surge in AIDS deaths an estimated 6.3 million people over the next four years unless the U.S. reinstates its fiscal support of related humanitarian work. HIV funding in Massachusetts Amid the federal chaos, people living with HIV and their advocates in Massachusetts are placing particular emphasis on the power of state funding, specifically the HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis C line item in the fiscal year 2026 budget. Last year, 22,093 people were living with HIV/AIDS in the commonwealth and the state has experienced an uptick in new infections recently. In 2023, the state saw 540 newly diagnosed individuals, representing a 20% increase over the annual number from 2020 to 2022. Members of Project ABLE (AIDS Budget Legislative Effort) want the line item restored at $35 million after cuts in recent years, especially in light of the incoming flurry of federal funding news. Rich Baker, an HIV advocate and organizer with Project ABLE, called the state funding high impact dollars with significant return on investment. It is way cheaper to prevent HIV than it is to treat it, he said. A sign for HIV testing. The most important thing that we can do with this advocacy is make sure these legislators understand that there are people who are living with HIV, people who are at risk for HIV and other infectious diseases in every single community in Massachusetts, Baker said. Its not just an urban issue in Boston, Springfield and Worcester. These are concerns across the state. We have to hammer home that this is an issue in every single community. The funding supports a medley of health measures, including testing, linkage to care, syringe service programs, treatment assistance and access to PrEP, the medicine that reduces risk of contracting HIV, Baker said. This is not the time to go on mute Carla Norris, director of client services at AIDS Project Worcester, described her journey with HIV that started in 1995. Theres no secret, theres no shame, although there was at one point, she said. As someone with HIV and a provider who works in the HIV community, Norris said she was grateful to use her voice Thursday and be a voice for the voiceless. She called the Trump administration cold, callous and heartless for trying to dismiss and do away with anything Black and brown or marginalized communities. Im really getting emotional because I wanna live, Norris said as tears crept into her eyes. Im not wreaking havoc on society. I really have turned my life around. And, you know, this administration I feel like is trying to take that away from me and people like me. Norris urged the greater community, This is not the time to go on mute. This is real life. HIV is not a thing of the past Garry Daffin, CEO of the Multicultural Aids Coalition based in Roxbury, cited a general public perception that HIV is a thing of the past. Its not only not going away, but there are more people with HIV than there ever have been, he said, noting that treatment advancements now allow people to live well into their elderly years. Before the early 2000s, Daffin said, people with HIV werent reaching their 70s and 80s. Measles was believed to be an infectious disease of the past. The U.S. declared elimination in 2000, but the infection has returned mainly due to declining vaccination rates. As of March 20, a total of 378 confirmed measles cases had been reported nationally since the start of the year. What we dont want to happen with HIV is what were seeing happen with measles, for example, Daffin said. The goal of the Multicultural AIDS Coalition is to mobilize communities of color to end the epidemic. The daunting task is becoming harder to accomplish, Daffin said, given that people most at risk for HIV are also facing other attacks from the Trump administration. He fears it will create an atmosphere where people arent motivated to take care of themselves and one where they feel their life is devalued. That, we worry, is going to be a real chilling effect when it comes to providing resources that do help us to contain HIV and make sure that it does not have a comeback, he said. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is following the Administrations guidance and taking a careful look at all divisions to see where there is overlap that could be streamlined to support the presidents broader efforts to restructure the federal government, a CDC spokesperson told MassLive. This is to ensure that HHS better serves the American people at the highest and most efficient standard. No final decision on streamlining CDCs HIV prevention division has been made, the spokesperson added. If the decision is made, the work would be continued elsewhere at HHS, according to the agency. Twenty Massachusetts scientists and engineers have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, one of the worlds largest general scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of journals. The distinction is among the highest in the scientific community, honoring scientists, engineers and innovators for their extraordinary achievement across disciplines, according to their website. This years class of Fellows are the embodiment of scientific excellence and service to our communities, said Sudip S. Parikh, chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. At a time when the future of the scientific enterprise in the U.S. and around the world is uncertain, their work demonstrates the value of sustained investment in science and engineering. A program that dates back to 1874, the fellows are elected annually by the associations council and are given a certificate and blue and gold rosette at the ceremonial fellows forum. Four hundred seventy-one scientists, engineers and innovators were named. Those in Massachusetts come from Boston College, Boston University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Northeastern University, Tufts University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Harvard University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the University of Massachusetts Boston. They work in mathematics; biological sciences; engineering; atmospheric and hydrospheric sciences; physics; social, economic and political sciences; pharmaceutical sciences; education; societal impacts of science and engineering; statistics; linguistics and language science; and information, computing and communication. The announcement comes after the National Institutes of Health announced mass layoffs and their efforts to slash indirect costs or overhead costs at grant-receiving institutions. Indirect costs are also known as overhead costs for institutions that receive grants. It can include additional facilities and staff and administrative costs. Three lawsuits were filed in federal court in reaction to the announced cuts. Massachusetts was among 22 states that sued. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brandeis University and Tufts University were among over a dozen institutions that were included in a separate lawsuit. Massachusetts receives the largest funding per capita from the NIH amounting to $3.5 billion in 2024. That funding supported nearly 30,000 jobs and $7.5 billion in economic activity, according to United for Medical Research. Here is who has been named from Massachusetts: The Social Security Administration announced this week that recently-announced identity verification changes will be delayed by two weeks for certain Social Security recipients. In a Wednesday announcement, The Social Security Administration provided a new deadline of April 14 for in-person identity proofing for those who are unable to use their personal account in the my Social Security online system. Thats two weeks later than the original deadline of April 1. Additionally, those applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income will be able to complete their claims entirely over the phone without needing to come into the office. Read more: Social Security will begin skimming money off payments to recoup debts Thats a reversal from previously released information that required coming into the office for all Social Security recipients unable to use the online portal. 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, said Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security, in the announcement. In addition to extending the policys effective date by two weeks to ensure our employees have the training they need to help customers, Medicare, Disability, and SSI applications will be exempt from in-person identity proofing because multiple opportunities exist during the decision process to verify a persons identity. Those who arent able to use the online portal who are applying for Retirement, Survivors or Auxiliary (spouse or child) benefits will still need to come into a Social Security office to verify their identity. Read more: Trump appointee raises alarms commenting on withholding Social Security checks However, the Social Security Administration said they would not enforce that requirement in extreme dire-need situations, which include terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenarios. The more robust identity proofing measures apply to people who need to provide initial direct deposit information and to people already receiving benefits if they choose to later change their direct deposit information. Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance, Dudek said earlier in March when the policy was first introduced. For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity. Social Security can better protect Americans while expediting service. The Social Security Administration provides a webpage about what to know about proving identity, which includes a list of acceptable documents to use as proof. In-person appointments may become more challenging for some as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plans to close nearly 50 Social Security offices across the country. Dudek is a 25-year federal employee recently promoted to head the Social Security Administration by the Trump Administration. The Social Security Administration had recently opened an investigation into Dudek over whether he improperly shared information with DOGE associates and then the Trump Administration promoted him. In a recent memo to staff, Dudek said: Personally, I have made some mistakes, which makes me human like you. I promise you this, I will continue to make mistakes, but I will learn from them. My decisions will always be with the best intentions for this agency, the people we serve, and you. A New Jersey man, who was wanted on a warrant charging him with attempted murder, was arrested Tuesday in Beverly, authorities said. Andrew Arias-Peguero, 54, was arrested on four warrants out of Lynn District Court and was charged with being a fugitive from justice due to a warrant out of New Jersey, according to the Beverly Police Department. John Foley III, Arias-Pegueros court-appointed attorney, did not speak with MassLive on the case. The Fort Lee (N.J.) Police Department contacted Beverly Police on Tuesday around 6 p.m., stating it was looking for Arias-Peguero on a felony warrant charging him with attempted murder, according to the department. The Fort Lee Police said that Arias-Peguero was wanted in connection with a stabbing and threatening to kill someone, and that authorities believed he was in North Beverly, according to the department. Authorities found him and his vehicle in that area soon after, the department said. Arias-Peguero was arraigned Wednesday in Salem District Court, according to court records. He pleaded not guilty and was ordered to the Essex County House of Correction. Hell return to court on April 25 for a status hearing. A Revere man was sentenced Wednesday in Boston federal court for the armed robberies of two Boston-area convenience stores in less than one week, according to federal authorities. Jaquan Barrows, 27, was sentenced to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement. In December, Barrows pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery interfering with interstate commerce and one count of using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to, and in furtherance of a crime of violence, Foley said. Barrows was charged by criminal complaint in April. On March 29, 2024, a man wearing a mask, dark clothing and an orange safety vest went into a Revere convenience store brandishing a gun, Foley said. He walked behind the counter, demanded cash from the cash register drawer, and more cash and a cellphone from the store clerk. The suspect hit the clerk in the head with the gun, took an ice cream bar from a store freezer and left, Foley said. Less than a week later, on April 4, 2024, a man wearing a black mask and dark clothes went into an Everett convenience store and looked like he was shopping, Foley said. After he was asked to pay for his items, he took out a gun, pointed it at the store clerk and demanded cash from the register and left. A Honda Pilot was in the area of the Revere convenience store, Foley said. The vehicle was registered to someone who lived with Barrows. Surveillance footage showed Barrows wearing clothing similar to the robber. During a police search of Barrows home on April 4, authorities found clothing that matched the ones the robber wore during the Revere robbery, Foley said. A gun was found, too. Barrows was immediately arrested. Three women from Revere found dead in a Belize hotel room last month died of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to multiple media outlets. The women, Wafae El Arar, 26; Imane Mallah, 24, and Kaoutar Naqqad, 23, were found dead in their suite at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort in San Pedro on Feb. 23, according to Channel 5 Belize. The womens bodies did not have any sign of injury, though vomit was found next to each of them, according to a police transcript posted by the station. Their bodies were discovered by hotel staff members a day before the women were scheduled to return to the United States, according to the transcript. The womens families said officials in the Central American country notified them they died of carbon monoxide poisoning, likely the result of a faulty water heater, The Boston Globe reported. Gian Cho, the executive director of the Belize National Forensic Science Service, confirmed carbon monoxide poisoning contributed to their deaths, the paper reported. An email sent to the service by MassLive Thursday morning was not immediately returned. Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe called the womens deaths an unimaginable loss, adding their families deserved the truth. These young women were valued members of our community, and while the gravity of this tragedy weighs heavily on us all, I am grateful for the diligence of our state and federal partners in ensuring that a proper investigation was conducted and brought the truth to light, Keefe said. Initial reports suggested the women may have died from a pulmonary edema a buildup of fluid in the lungs. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to a pulmonary edema, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A secondary review of the womens bodies will be conducted in Massachusetts, WCVB reported. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Democrats were against the filibuster before they were for it. The left continues to rage against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for casting a vote to avoid a government shutdown. He and a handful of other Democrats, including Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, voted to break the filibuster on the funding bill. It's unclear why some Democrats believe a government shutdown would have helped their political fortunes. Almost every Republican would have voted to keep the government open, while almost every Democrat would have supported shutting it down. The disruption probably would have helped the Trump administration shrink the size of government, too. Schumer didn't help himself with his waffling. He initially said Senate Democrats would oppose the continuing resolution. In a nod to political reality, he quickly reversed course. Amid this Democratic infighting, former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema pointed out another flip-flop. Democrats who previously demanded that the Senate abolish the filibuster are now furious that the party didn't use it. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., told Senate Democrats not to "betray working families." Sinema took a screenshot of a previous post by Jayapal. It read, "It's the filibuster or raising the minimum wage. It's the filibuster or protecting voting rights. The choice is clear. Abolish the Jim Crow filibuster." "Just surprised to see support for the Jim Crow filibuster' here," Sinema wrote. Ouch. She also took aim at Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. In 2021, he called for ending the filibuster to pass a $15-an-hour minimum wage. Rep. Khanna wrote that the filibuster is "an arcane procedural tool that President Barack Obama recently called a Jim Crow relic.'" Sinema was having none of it. She chastised him for demanding "that the Senate eliminate the very tool you're now demanding the Senate utilize to stop Trump. Doesn't take rocket science to see the blatant hypocrisy here." Democrat hypocrisy on this issue goes back for decades. During the funeral of Rep. John Lewis, Obama did indeed label the filibuster a "Jim Crow relic." Yet as a senator, he supported filibustering more than 20 bills. Sinema has a personal interest in this fight. In 2022, she refused to support killing the filibuster when Democrats had a narrow Senate majority. The backlash was so bitter that she left the party to become an independent. She didn't seek re-election in 2024. It's little wonder she's taking the time to point out this duplicity. The country is better off when politicians have principles beyond obtaining and wielding power. When it comes to the importance of the filibuster, too many Democrats don't. _____ (COMMENT, BELOW) A Saugus man, who was a bank teller of a Boston branch of a national bank, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court Wednesday after federal authorities said he stole more than $180,000 from two customers bank accounts. Derek Aut, 28, pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a bank employee and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement. Hell be sentenced on June 16. He was charged by criminal complaint on Dec. 18. While he was a bank teller in Boston, Aut stole from the bank accounts of two customers by forging their names on withdrawal slips, among other things, according to Foley. When one of the customers noticed money missing from her account, Aut tried to cover his theft by taking money from the other customers account and putting it into the first account, Foley said. In total, he stole more than $180,000 from the customers accounts. The charge of embezzlement by a bank employee provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison with five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine, Foley said. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of two years in prison to be served after any other sentence imposed. The U.S. Department of Education reopened applications for a handful of its student loan repayment plans after a February court ruling resulted in the department pauseing incoming applications. On Wednesday, the DOE announced its reopening online income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and loan consolidation applications for federal loan borrowers. The payment options were removed from the federal website in February after a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling extended the pause on Biden-era repayment options, including Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay as You Earn (PAYE) plans. A federal appeals court struck down another one of the Biden Administrations illegal efforts to transfer student loan debt to taxpayers. In response, the Trump Administration substantially revised the income-driven repayment plan application to conform with the ruling, Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron wrote in a statement on the DOE website. Revisions made to the repayment applications now allow borrowers to apply to the IBR, PAYE and ICR plans. Individuals can apply to the updated plans on the DOE website. The SAVE plan is still unavailable as courts scrutinize the legality of the plan implemented during Joe Bidens administration. SAVE lowered monthly payments for borrowers based on their income and family size rather than their loan balances and debt after a certain number of years. The Federal Government Accountability Office reports that nearly 8 million people are enrolled in the SAVE plan. Borrowers who enrolled in the SAVE plan were placed on forbearance in August 2024 after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit issued its first decision enacting a temporary block to the plan. During the forbearance, no payments are due and interest doesnt accrue. However, time spent in forbearance will not count toward student loan forgiveness, essentially prolonging borrowers time in debt. Affected individuals who do not want to be in forbearance can contact their loan servicer to switch to an available repayment plan. Tufts University Ph.D. student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was arrested by six masked federal immigration agents in Somerville on Tuesday, was sent to a Louisiana detention facility, according to her attorney and federal records. Ozturk was sent to Louisiana even after U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani ordered Ozturk to remain in the state and that the government give 48 hours notice before moving her. Over twenty-four hours after her arrest, Rumeysa has yet to be processed to her final detention facility and during this entire time, I have been unable to speak with my client, Ozturks attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, said in a statement Wednesday evening. The timing for when she was sent to Louisiana is not clear, but a judge ordered Tuesday night that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) not remove Ozturk from Massachusetts without prior notice. It was only a few hours ago that I learned that she was sent to Louisiana, despite a federal court judges order that she not be removed from the state, Khanbabai said. A senior spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the agency and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigations found Ozturk took part in activities in support of Hamas, but did not provide any evidence or explanation. A visa is a privilege, not a right, the DHS spokesperson said. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is commonsense security. Ozturk, 30, a Turkish national, was headed to meet with friends to break her Ramadan fast on Tuesday, Khanbabai previously told MassLive. No charges have been filed against Ozturk, her lawyer said. Ozturk is a Fulbright scholar with a valid visa, her lawyer said. Rumeysa has not been accused of committing any crime, Khanbabai said. It appears the only thing she is being targeted for is her right to free speech. Khanbabai said she is working urgently to get Ozturk released and safely returned to her family. This is a horrifying violation of Rumeysas constitutional rights to due process and free speech. She must be immediately released, said a spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District. And we wont stand by while the Trump Administration continues to abduct students with legal status and attack our fundamental freedoms. Khanbabai had filed a petition in federal court challenging Ozturks detention and asking that she not be moved out of Massachusetts. A copy of the petition was not publicly available because it concerns immigration. It looked like a kidnapping, said Michael Mathis, 32, a software engineer whose surveillance camera picked up footage of the arrest. They approach her and start grabbing her with their faces covered. Theyre covering their faces. Theyre in unmarked vehicles. Oztruk is studying child and human development at Tufts and is set to complete her program this year, according to an op-ed she co-authored in the universitys student newspaper. The op-ed calls for the university to accept a series of resolutions passed by the Tufts student senate, among which was a call to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide. In a statement, Tufts said it was working to verify information it received about her visa having been terminated. Khanbabai said Ozturk was maintaining valid F-1 visa status as a student at Tufts. Ozturks detainment comes just over a week after a Brown University professor was deported after U.S. Customs and Border Patrol terminated her visa. The federal government said the professor, Dr. Rasha Alawieh, had photos of leaders of Hezbollah and Iran on her phone. It also comes after the arrest of three students at Columbia University involved in pro-Palestinian protests there, which began with Mahmoud Khalil earlier in March. Khalil, 30, a lawful U.S. resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December, was arrested by federal immigration agents and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana, according to the Associated Press. He has not been charged with a crime, but President Donald Trump has argued that protesters forfeited their right to remain in the country by protests that he claimed supported Hamas, the terrorist group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. A sign that reads, "First they came for the..." at a protest on March 26 at the Powder House Square Park, near Tufts University. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts Ph.D. student, was detained by federal agents on March 25. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive) Massachusetts politicians slammed the Trump administrations detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University Ph.D. student arrested by masked federal agents off-campus on Tuesday. This isnt public safety. Its intimidation that will, and should, be closely scrutinized in court. My office is closely monitoring this matter as it develops, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said. On Wednesday, hundreds of people rallied in support of Ozturk, a Turkish national with legal status who had co-authored a commentary piece calling on Tufts to acknowledge genocide in Palestine, and for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel. Healey told WCVB-TV she was concerned the arrest could have a chilling effect on foreign students who might want to study at Massachusetts colleges and universities. People want to come and study here, so Im very concerned that actions by the Trump administration signal to students and other countries dont come to Massachusetts. Thats a very bad thing, the Arlington Democrat said, according to the station. In a post to X, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called Ozturks detention the latest in an alarming pattern to stifle civil liberties. The Republican White House is targeting students with legal status and ripping people out of their communities without due process. This is an attack on our Constitution and basic freedoms and we will push back," Warren said. U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., offered a similar sentiment. Trump sent masked law enforcement officers to arrest Rumeysa Ozturka Tufts University grad student with legal statuswithout a criminal charge, Markey said. Disappearances like these are part of Trumps all-out assault on our basic freedoms. This is authoritarianism, and we will not let this stand." Footage of Ozturk being taken into custody as she headed to a Ramadan celebration on Tuesday night went viral. The video is disturbing. My office is closely monitoring this matter as it develops, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell said. The footage of Rumeysa Ozturks arrest a student here legally is disturbing. My office is closely monitoring this matter as it develops. pic.twitter.com/LTuoWOu2Ca AG Andrea Joy Campbell (@MassAGO) March 26, 2025 Ozturk is now being held at a federal facility in Louisiana. The governments decision to take her into custody and revoke her visa because of her political viewpoint is not how America works, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, said. Massachusetts has been welcoming students and immigrants for four centuries. The footage I saw today of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk being detained by masked officers is contrary to that tradition, Auchincloss, who is Jewish and an outspoken defender of Israel on Capitol Hill, said in a post to X. Ms. Ozturk has no reported record of violence or harassment; she did co-write an op-ed about Israel, with which I disagree. I have written about my opposing view. Thats how America works, the Newton lawmaker said. U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, said the arrest was a "horrifying violation of Rumeysas constitutional rights to due process and free speech." She must be immediately released. And we wont stand by while the Trump administration continues to abduct students with legal status and attack our fundamental freedoms, Pressley said. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. listens as President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Pool via AP) AP By Lauren Weber and Lena H. Sun The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is cutting nearly a quarter of its workforce and consolidating several of its departments, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday. The moves will save the sprawling department about $1.8 billion annually, the agency said in a news release, by reducing staff from 82,000 to 62,000. Half of those employees took buyouts and early retirement, while 10,000 will lose their jobs. Kennedy announced he will reduce the HHSs 28 divisions to 15 and create a new Administration for a Healthy America that includes several core functions. The number of regional offices will drop from 10 to five, and the focus will be on safe, wholesome food, clean water, and the elimination of environmental toxins in an effort to Make America Healthy Again, according to the news release. In an address posted to the social media platform X, Kennedy said that while HHSs budget had increased, so had rates of cancer and chronic disease, and American lifespans have dropped. Calling his agency a sprawling bureaucracy, Kennedy said that as part of President Donald Trumps DOGE efforts, he would streamline HHS in what would be a painful period for the department. Were going to do more with less. No American is going to be left behind, Kennedy said. Were going to consolidate all of these departments and make them accountable to you, the American taxpayer and the American patient. The cuts will primarily hit the Food and Drug Administration, which will lose 3,500 employees in the layoffs, according to a fact sheet released by HHS. It said the cuts would not affect drug, medical device, or food reviewers, nor will it impact inspectors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will lose 2,400 employees and be refocused on fighting epidemics, according to the fact sheet. Atlanta-based CDC is a $9 billion agency. It makes vaccine recommendations, works to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, tracks opioid overdoses and fights infectious-disease outbreaks. Public health officials and agency staff have been bracing for cuts as the CDC has come under intense scrutiny from conservatives in Congress regarding its scope and mission in recent years. They have proposed budget cuts to eliminate programs they say arent central to its core mission of fighting infectious-disease. The CDC is leading the response to a rapidly expanding measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, in which two people have died, and also to an ongoing bird flu outbreak and growing vaccine hesitancy Students order food and drinks at Hagan Cafe at Assumption University on March 25, 2025. Ryan Mancini/MassLive A popular Midwestern coffee chain has a couple secret locations in Massachusetts. Caribou Coffee, which started in Minnesota, states it has 496 Caribou Coffee locations across 20 U.S. states on its website. None of the ones listed are in Massachusetts. However, there is still a way to get Caribou Coffee in Massachusetts. In 2021, Assumption University in Worcester lost its Dunkin and replaced it with Hagan Cafe, which serves Caribou Coffee. The full menu will feature premium espresso beverages along with light, medium, dark, and flavored roasts, as well as innovative and trendy options like cold press coffee, fresh smoothies, BOUsted blended caffeinated drinks, and the option to mix Caribou Bubbles chewy coconut jellies flavored with caramel into your favorite beverage of choice," the university said in a press release. Hagan Cafe is located inside the Hagan Campus Center at Assumption University. Ryan Mancini/MassLive The cafe also serves a number of food items, including pastries, made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits and fruit and veggie cups. Students can also use Dining Dollars and points at the Hagan Cafe. However, since its not an official location, it doesnt appear on Google Maps as Caribou Coffee or the coffee chains website. Another option is to stop by UMass Amhersts Argo Tea. It also states it serves Caribou Coffee, along with all natural tea, loose leaf tea, fresh baked pasties and paninis. Overall, there were 141 non-traditional Caribous Coffee locations across the U.S. in 2023, which allows partners to use their coffee and branding. The chain does not have any current plans to open a full location in Massachusetts. A Boston Market in Worcester has been seized by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue due to unpaid taxes. Courtesy: Al Dancy Al Dancy A Boston Market at 14 Park Ave. in Worcester has been seized by the states Department of Revenue (DOR) due to unpaid taxes, according to a sign posted on the building. A large, orange sign on the front of the building reads that the DOR seized the restaurant due to nonpayment of taxes. A second sign, colored white, was posted next to the states sign, reading that the restaurant was closed for the time being. We are working on resolving our current situation, please be patient with us, the sign reads. Although we are closed, we are working diligently to resume operations in due time. Rich Carr, whose company, WCC Realty, LLC., owns the building, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. The Park Avenue Boston Market also did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Thursday. The Department of Revenue did not provide any comment as to when the Boston Market was seized. Boston Market is a restaurant chain founded in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1985. The restaurant is known for its rotisserie chicken meals but it also serves other foods, such as prime rib, according to the companys website. The DOR also seized Latinos Cuisine restaurant at the Holyoke Mall earlier this month. The Language of Remembering and Frogs for Watchdogs are two great debut novels by Irish authors Patrick Holloway and Sean Farrell, respectively. Both are also published with Irish connected publishers Epoque Press based in the UK, whose co-owner Sean Campbells family is originally from Westport, and New Island books, which is based in Dublin and in 2024 alone published 14 new titles. Statistics suggest that in the region of 20 percent of fiction books sold in Ireland are from Irish publishers. Recent authors include Nuala OConnor, Anne Walsh Donnelly (from Mayo), Richard Bairn and many more household names including John Boyne and Nuala OFaolain. Its so important we continue to grow and support Irish publishers and authors, particularly debut authors. Frogs for Watchdogs is one of those books that, for me, started off slow. But beautifully crafted from the beginning it grew and grew on me as I turned the pages. It really wasnt what I was expecting. READ MORE: Rural Airbnb providers not happy with 'bad press' says Mayo councillor The simplicity of the story blossomed into a tale of love and difference and finding beauty in whats presented to us. It is told in the first person of the boy, whose name we never find out. His mum is a healer and B is his formidable big sister. They live in an isolated country house, having moved from place to place, and we sense they have found shelter where they are. We get a little knowledge of their background as the book progresses. The father was Irish, the mother from a wealthier family who followed him to Ireland, but he is no longer in the picture. However, the story doesnt dwell on the past. It is very much in the present and seen through the young boys prism. Jerry Drain, a local farmer is living next door and stealing hay from the barn. Someone is making threatening phone calls to the house and the boy thinks it is Jerry. He forms a plan to sort out Jerry and protect the family. Yet Jerrys influence on their life grows as he reveals his true nature. Patrick Holloways The Language of Remembering is unusually told in the second person narrative; you as if we the readers are observing and talking to the main character in the story. I imagine at times I am a cousin or old family friend, telling the character his own story from a different perspective and time. I love that. Oisin has just moved back to Ireland from Brazil with his wife and daughter, having left a number of years before to live in Sao Paulo, where he knew no one and couldnt speak the language. Now he is returning to be with his mother, Brigid, who has early onset Alzheimers. Brigids own story is told in then and Oisins in the now. Her past is revealed to us, as well as Oisins origin story, so to speak. Oisin returns to Irish classes so he can communicate with his mother, a native speaker, as her brain slips in and out of memory. In class he ponders how he cant find the words for what he is; how can we know others when we only just know ourselves? This theme of finding words runs throughout, with the Irish and Portuguese languages used. It is a beautiful story about love and connection and the challenges to that belonging which are universal but also uniquely Irish. Holloway has himself not long returned to Ireland with his family from living in Brazil, so the book carries an air of rawness alongside its beauty. Inishturk Community Club CLG is receiving a boost with a new grant to support a local Biodiversity Action Plan to protect and promote plants, wildlife and habitats. The grant from Community Foundation Ireland in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service will ensure that the steps to protect local biodiversity will be guided by the expert knowledge of ecologists. Sinead Cahalan, Development Manager of Inishturk Community Club CLG, is welcoming the support saying: We are deeply grateful for the support granted for the Inishturk Community Biodiversity Plan. This funding will enable us to implement crucial measures to restore habitats, conserve native species, and promote sustainable land use practices, ensuring the long-term ecological health of the island. The project is a vital step in aligning with the Inishturk Island Development Vision 2050, focusing on sustainability, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. By involving local residents and stakeholders, we aim to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for Inishturks natural heritage.The initiative will not only protect the islands unique biodiversity but also serve as a model for sustainable development in small island communities, showing that environmental protection and community well-being can go hand in hand. Nationally more than 94 projects are receiving support with more than 250 communities implementing local action plans since the partnership between the Community Foundation and the Parks and Wildlife Service started in 2019. The support being provided comes from philanthropists and donors to the Foundation matched with public funding. Working together MAKING the announcement, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan TD said: If we are to successfully tackle our national biodiversity crisis, we must all work together. This partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Community Foundation Ireland is a great example of how we can empower and support community organisations to learn about their local biodiversity and use that knowledge along with their creativity to come up with a plan which is unique to their area. Im really impressed with the range of projects involved and excited to see the outcomes of their work. READ MORE: Remarkable Mayo ewe has her twentieth lamb in five years Under the partnership the connectivity of the Foundation to local communities built up over 25-years as a philanthropic hub is matched with the expertise and knowledge of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. More than 591,000 is being provided under the current round to 94 projects. Proud CONGRATULATING Inishturk Community Club CLG, Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said: We are particularly proud that local efforts to protect habitats, plants and wildlife are increasingly growing into a national movement. The fact that this current grant round is impacting in every county shows the groundswell of support for biodiversity action. The partnership of the Foundation, its philanthropists and community partners together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service is effective and works. Our natural heritage is being protected for generations to come. Niall O Donnchu, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service added: NPWS is delighted to work with the Community Foundation of Ireland and to support the community groups participating in enhancing their local biodiversity. This is exactly the whole- of-society approach we advocated for in the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan. Almost a century after the famous Belgian artist Marie Howet painted Brigitte (Brigid) McNulty Burkes portrait on Achill, her lost picture has finally turned up! While the finished portrait was exhibited in Brussels in 1978, this preliminary sketch has never been seen in Ireland, or on the island before, so its discovery is of immense historic and artistic note. The location of the completed portrait remains unknown for now but the appearance of this Howet work brings to an end a 100-year wait for members of the Burke family, who have never seen either portrait of their mother. Anne, her daughter, expressed enormous delight at the find, saying: Oh how wonderful that someone has found it at last! Along with my sister Kay and my brother Edward, I am looking forward to seeing it after all this time. They both said that its a pity that our mother is no longer with us to hear the great news. READ: Achill Fianna Fail councillor refuses to support roads programme for west Mayo roads The sketch was located in Belgium, after a lengthy collaboration with a colleague of writer Mary J Murphy, Monsieur J Martin. He is a custodian of Howets effects, and Murphy has been hot on Howets heels since she first learned of the painter from John 'Twin McNamara 20 years ago. Just back from a further adventure in Belgium, France and Holland, Murphy launched her book, 'Achill Remembers Marie Howet' on the island at a tribute event in August 2024, at a time when this precious portrait was still missing in action. RTEs Joe Duffy, who discussed her book with Murphy on his Liveline books show last December, described the Howet publication as 'a magnificent production' whose 'reproductions are beautiful and whose colours are sensational'. An accomplished painter himself, Duffy. who during a separate Liveline Nollaig na mBan conversation with Murphy in January 25, also whole heartedly supported the erection of a memorial on Achill to the magnificent Eva OFlaherty as soon as possible, confessed to having never heard of Howet before this 'very important book'. He described Howets distinctive style as as instantly recognisable as that of Paul Henry, which is half the battle. Brigitte (whom Howet re-christened in the French style), was just six years old when the painter stood at Eva OFlahertys Dooagh door in August 1929. It was one of the first portraits that the Belgian executed as well as those of Annie McNulty, OFlaherty (her host), Mary McNulty, the well-connected Dublin artist Maude Ball, and many others. Fifty-three years later, Howet painted Brigittes portrait once more, this time in Belgium in 1982, when her island friend of over half a century finally made it to Maries Libramont home. Mary J Murphy continues her dogged detective work into the lost Achill paintings of Marie Howet, and has been assured that there are many of them still held in private hands across Europe, so the hunt goes on! Achill Remembers Marie Howet by Mary J Murphy is widely available online. Eir have once again felt the wrath of Mayo councillors after a local council meeting heard that an elderly man who fell spent a night on his home floor because there was no coverage to activate his pendant alarm. Councillors in the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District hit out at telecommunications company, Eir, for failing to restore coverage to many people in the region who have gone without phone coverage since Storm Eowyn at the end of January. Cathaoirleach of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr Sean Carey was critical of Eir and outlined how a constituent who fell at night was unable to raise the alarm because there was no phone coverage. This elderly man depends on a pendant but there was no connection and he had a fall the other night. He was on the floor for a number of hours before a neighbour came on him in the morning. This is totally unacceptable," the Belmullet-based councillor told the meeting. READ: Mayo pensioner to be uprooted after home bought by vulture fund The issue was raised by Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara who was told that the municipal district did not receive a response from Eir after they wrote to them. He said that he has been inundated with complaints from elderly people who have been weeks without a phone. I am still inundated with calls from elderly people living on their own wondering why they are nine weeks without a supply from Eircom. I have reported several times for them and there is no sign of these areas getting a supply back. It beggars belief that nine weeks out there are still poles and lines lying on the side of the road, he said, adding that this is another example of neglect of rural areas. To me enough is not being done for these elderly people living on their own. I have made as much representation and nobody seems to be bothered about it. No department official has come out to take the bull by the horns saying yes we have a problem in the rural areas. I can tell you one thing if it happened in an urban town or on the far side of the Shannon it would have been dealt with within a week. The fact is in the west of Ireland they are happy to let it go the way it is. It is an absolute disgrace the service being provided to the elderly people living on their own and how they have left them nine weeks without a service, he said. Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle said he knows of a woman in Drum on the Mullet peninsula who has not had a service since Storm Darragh in December and she still has to pay 60 per month for a pendant and line. Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell echoed the criticism of Eir regarding the number of fallen poles and wires which are still not fixed and called for the company to bring in outside help to rectify the problem. We should try to put in a call on behalf of people from west Mayo to see if outside help can be brought in to get the job done. It is not happening with what is in it at the minute. It is ridiculous. It is the action we want and if Eir cannot do it then get some contractor or outside help that can get the job done, he said. Three Mayo businesses have been highlighted on the national platform Good Food Ireland Experiences. The website, which serves as a guide to those wishing to sample unique food experiences around the country, is known for promoting authentic and alternative experiences. READ MORE: Mayo town ranked number one in rural public transport accessibility The three businesses included from Mayo are Irish Soda Bread Way, Calveys Achill Mountain Lamb, and Greenway Lane Art Studio and Cafe. Irish Soda Bread Way offers group classes in Westport for those who wish to learn how to make their own brown soda bread or white soda scones in the traditional Irish style. Calveys Achill Mountain Lamb is located on the island of Achill, and offers tours of the farm which had been in the Calvey family since 1962, as well as a tasting experience in their on-farm butchery. Greenway Lane Art Studio & Cafe offers a unique blend of food and art classes just off the Greenway between Burrishoole and Carrowbeg. There, you can partake in a multitude of art classes, including a sea glass art workshop and an acrylic pour workshop, alongside afternoon tea. The CEO of Good Food Ireland, Margaret Jaffares, hopes that the site can help drive more custom to these unique ventures. Im delighted to feature such unique Mayo food businesses on our platform, which are ideal for both international visitors and those looking for something different to experience when holidaying at home, she stated. A MAYO councillor has bemoaned the 'bad press' Airbnb operators get saying they are providing a badly needed' service' in rural areas where there is a lack of tourism accommodation. Louisburgh-based councillor, Chris Maxwell told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District that Airbnb is providing people an opportunity to make a living and feels people using the service should not be vilified. In my area a lot of people are into Airbnb and they think they are getting a lot of negative press about the situation. There are no hotels back our side and they are providing a service for tourism and a place to stay. All they are doing is trying to make a living and provide a service but they seem to be getting bad press and they are not too happy about it, he said. The Independent Ireland councillors comments sparked a wider discussion about Louisburgh during the meeting. Westport councillor Peter Flynn highlighted that the last butcher shop in the west Mayo town was due to close and claimed that the retail core has 'been ripped out of it'. READ: Huge Mayo gorse fire results in call for campaign on dangers of discarded cigarette butts In reality there are no hotels or direct guest houses anymore of any size within the Louisburgh area and recently the last butcher shop went. The whole retail core of Louisburgh has been ripped out of it. As a council we need to figure out where we are going wrong in a town like Louisburgh that has lost its key providers and something is not right. There is any amount of quality houses out there but yet we don't have a vibrant community to allow businesses and hotels to thrive, he said. The Fine Gael councillor called on Mayo County Council to 'think hard' on how we get Louisburgh 'back on its feet and thriving'. We need to help the Louisburgh community and figure out what has gone wrong. When we have a scenario where there are five hotels shut down over the last two decades and all the key retail shops have shut down, someone needs to sit up and figure out how to rectify this quickly. It is a beautiful town and a brilliant community but there is something not right. The butcher shop going is the last nail in the coffin and it is awful to see, he said. The meeting also heard that there are only two pubs in the town when there was once ten. Cllr Maxwell pointed out that the Louisburgh area has the beaches and the natural amenities to thrive as a tourism destination and that is why he feels attacks on Airbnb's providers is not justified. Yes help is needed and whatever we get we will take and we need to bring that town back to life again. Tourism is a significant factor that will make a difference out there. That is why people with Airbnb are concerned and think they are being singled out. They are providing a badly needed service because there is nothing else in terms of accommodation. There are a lot of good things that will happen in Louisburgh and I will push for any developments to the area, he commented. 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 Les Luchter , March 26, 2025 Last year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce placed the blame for an ongoing nursing shortage on burnout from the pandemic, an aging population, inadequate nursing school capacity, and prolonged delays in employment-based immigration [emphasis ours]. So we may expect the problem to worsen. At individual health systems across the country, however, the nursing staff crisis can get more personal, as highlighted in a new campaign from Hallmark Health Care Solutions, a seller of workforce management technology. Take nurse manager Randall. In a :30 spot, hes literally in a pickle (wearing a giant green costume) caused by one nurse out on maternity leave, another whose dog has had puppies, and a third who, if he asks her to help out again, might just lose it. In another spot, nurse manager Linda has her hair on fire because shes short-staffed and "cant find a contract nurse who fits in. In a third, chief nursing officer (CNO) Andrea finds herself between a rock and a hard place. While she needs five nurses stat, her budget is dry as a bone. advertisement advertisement The three spots offer a solution: use Hallmarks Einstein II product to dont just outsource -- insource, empowering hospitals to build their own flexible internal workforce pools instead of relying on costly external contract labor. The first major brand campaign in Hallmarks 15-year history is using connected TV, social media and industry-specific digital channels to hyper-target the ads based on specific buyer personas within hospitals and health systems, CMO Matt Resteghini tells Marketing Daily. We are primarily targeting CNOs and chief human resources officers, but more broadly, C-suite executives. The campaign is designed to challenge the outdated staffing models that many hospitals still rely on, Resteghini explains, especially the heavy dependence on costly contract labor. Hallmark cites its own recent survey of 1,200 senior health executives in which flexibility ranked equal to, or higher than, pay in importance for attracting and retaining nurses. The commercials are part of a larger initiative to drive home the message thats also using such vehicles as white papers, case studies and speaking engagements -- such as a recent webinar with Beckers Healthcare and an upcoming session at the AONL (American Organization for Nursing Leadership) conference in Boston (March 30 April 2.) Hallmark, itself based in the Boston area, will also bring its pickle character to AONL for photo opps as well as offering CNO confession boothsfor nursing executives to share their most challenging staffing dilemmas. Resteghini credits AI for bringing the new commercials to life. Producing the visuals and animations through traditional methods wouldve cost seven to eight times more than our budget allowed, he explains. The ads, which will run at least through Q3, are just starting on connected TV but have been running digitally since early this month, and Resteghini says theyve already proven effective: Weve seen click-through-rates 80% to 85% above our prior benchmarks, and daily traffic to our website has increased by 50% to 70%. Perhaps the British-accented voiceover helps? There wasnt a deeply strategic reason behind [that], Resteghini reveals, but something about it just made the metaphors feel a bit more memorable and even a little funnier. Two Boston-based agencies have worked with Hallmark on the campaign: Strategy by Sheehan for market research that helped develop brand positioning and a creative brief, and Ideasicle X, which handled creative and production. by Ray Schultz , March 26, 2025 A federal court has denied motions by OpenAI and Microsoft to dismiss the copyright infringement case brought against them last year by eight newspapers owned by MediaNewsGroup and Tribune Publishing, by the Center for Investigative Reporting and by the New York Times. U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein said he will issue an opinion later on the reasons for his decision. But for now, Stein said he denies: OpenAI's motions to dismiss the direct infringement claims involving conduct occurring more than three years before the complaints were filed; the defendants' motions to dismiss the contributory copyright infringement claims; and the defendants' motions to dismiss the state and federal trademark dilution claims in the New York Daily News action. "We are very pleased with Judge Steins ruling, determining that we can proceed on virtually all of our claims, says Steven Lieberman, attorney for MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing We appreciate the opportunity to present a jury with the facts about how OpenAI and Microsoft are profiting wildly from stealing the original content of newspapers across the country." advertisement advertisement The judge did dismiss the common law unfair competition by misappropriation claims and OpenAI's motion to dismiss the abridgment claims in the CIR (Center for Investigative Reporting) action, and dismisses each of those claims with prejudice. In addition, Stein dismissed certain DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) claims filed by the plaintiffs and by The New York Times. Frank Pine, executive editor of MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing, states, "The claims the court has dismissed do not undermine the main thrust of our case, which is that these companies have stolen our work and violated our copyright in a way that fundamentally damages our business. The lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft was filed last April by eight newspapers owned by Alden Global Capitals MediaNews Group, and Tribune Publishing. They include Mercury News, Denver Post, Orange County Register and St. Paul Pioneer-Press; Tribune Publishings Chicago Tribune, Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel; and New York Daily News. The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), which operates Mother Jones magazine and the Reveal radio show, sued OpenAI and Microsoft in June. Those cases were later consolidated. The case is on file with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, March 27, 2025 Following a banner growth year in 2024 and poised to expand capabilities on several fronts including media, Greenville, SC-based ad agency FerebeeLane has hired agency veteran Jenny-Lee Maxwell as account director. The hire is the latest in a series of key appointments following 25% revenue growth in 2024 with projected growth of at least 20% for this year. advertisement advertisement Growth drivers included expanded remits from clients like Le Creuset, Blackberry Farm, and several Ritz Carlton properties and the addition of new clients such as high-end furniture makers Hancock & Moore, Maitland Smith and Jessica Charles. Maxwell is a 15-year advertising veteran who oversaw clients like Michelin, Texas Rangers, Denny's, Kansas University, Nature Valley, and Tide Cleaners in tours at Jack Porter, also based in Greenville, and EP+Co in Atlanta. In her new role, Maxwell will manage client relationships and strategic growth, with a focus on expanding the 20-year-old agency's presence in the premium and luxury categories. In addition to account management, the agency is expanding its capabilities in other areas including media, with the recent additions of Camryn Hipp and Pricilla Ramirez as Media Planner/Buyers following the earlier appointment of Joy Howle as Media Supervisor. The agency started its media practice in 2018 and now places about $10 million in media campaigns annually with the goal of doubling that in next 24 months. Katie Driggs runs the five-person operation as vice president-media & analytics. Design is another area where the agency is expanding. A few months ago it tapped Jeff Hinshaw as senior motion designer who has worked with brands like Verizon, Michelin, and John Deere. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 27, 2025 California resident Katherine Wilson can proceed with a claim that Google violated a state wiretap law by allegedly tracking her activity on the state's Department of Motor Vehicles website, a federal judge ruled this week. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Eumi K. Lee in the Northern District of California, comes in a lawsuit brought in May 2024, when Wilson alleged that the company secretly used Google Analytics and DoubleClick to collect information from her motor vehicle record when she renewed a disability parking placard. Wilson's complaint included a claim that Google violated California's wiretap law, which prohibits anyone from intercepting communications without the parties' consent. Google urged the judge to dismiss the matter at an early stage of the proceedings, arguing that even if the allegations were true, they wouldn't show that the company ran afoul of the state wiretap law. advertisement advertisement Google specifically argued that it was the passive recipient of the information, writing that it was self-evident that the DMV set up its own webpages and chose how to configure its URLs. The company also argued it was effectively a party to the communications because acted as a mere vendor of advertising services receiving information for DMV's benefit. Lee rejected that argument for now, ruling that Wilson alleged that Google harnessed the information for its own advertising services. Based on these allegations, Google did not act solely as an extension of the DMV, she wrote. Wilson also claimed in the complaint that Google violated the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act -- a 1994 statute that prohibits anyone from knowingly obtaining personal information from a motor vehicle record for an improper purpose. Google argued that claim should be dismissed because, even if the allegations in the complaint were proven true, they wouldn't show that the information at the heart of the case came from a motor vehicle record. Lee agreed with Google on that point, writing that the information came from plaintiff herself when she entered it into the DMVs website. The judge dismissed that claim, but said Wilson could reformulate her allegations and bring them again by April 15. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 27, 2025 Ousted Federal Trade Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter on Thursday asked a federal court to order their reinstatement to the agency. Both commissioners were expelled from office last week by President Donald Trump, despite Supreme Court precedent holding that the president can only fire an FTC commissioner for three reasons -- inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Plaintiffs will not and do not accept this unlawful action: Plaintiffs bring this action to vindicate their right to serve the remainder of their respective terms, to defend the integrity of the Commission, and to continue their work for the American people, they allege in a complaint brought in Washington, D.C. federal court. Bedoya and Slaughter say they were notified on March 18 via email that they had been removed from the agency, effective immediately. That message included the following statement by Trump: Your continued service on the FTC is inconsistent with my Administrations priorities. Accordingly, I am removing you from office pursuant to my authority under Article II of the Constitution. advertisement advertisement Soon after receiving the message, they were cut off from their FTC email addresses and asked to return their technology equipment, according to the complaint. They have been denied access to their offices, their staff have all been placed on administrative leave, and they are now listed as 'Former Commissioners' on the FTC website, the complaint says. The pair is seeking a declaratory judgment that the ouster is unlawful, and an injunction that would enable them to resume their roles on the commission. They note in the complaint that Congress established the FTC as a five-member commission, with each member appointed for a term of seven years and removable only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. Bedoya was confirmed by the Senate in 2022 and his term wasn't set to expire until September 25, 2026. Slaughter joined the FTC in 2018, and was confirmed for a second time in March 2024. Her term wasn't slated to expire until September 2029. Bedoya and Slaughter add that the Supreme Court was confronted with a near-identical situation in 1935, when former President Franklin Roosevelt also purported to fire an FTC commissioner on the grounds that his continued service on the FTC was inconsistent with the administration's priorities. The court unanimously ruled that Roosevelt could not fire the commissioner for that reason. by Ray Schultz , March 27, 2025 An Axel Springer board member has resigned, accusing the firms U.S. publication Politico of one-sided Hamas support. Regarding Politico, I find their news coverage not aligned with my own ethical standards, Martin Varsavsky of Argentina wrote on X, according to the New York Post. USA has changed, Germany has changed, hopefully so will Politico. Varsavsky has served on the Axel Springer board since 2014. His charge against Politico was made after it published an Associated Press story on Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, the Post continues, Varsavsky, who says he is a friend of Elon Musk, has also contended that journalists at Axel Springer are woke. In addition to Politico, Axel Springer owns Bild, Business Insider, Welt, Morning Brew, Dyn Media, EMarketer and the joint venture Ringier Axel Springer Poland. by Colin Kirkland , March 27, 2025 With TikTok Shop's future facing uncertainty in the U.S. -- despite successful holiday results -- the social media companys e-commerce hub is expanding across Europe, officially launching in France, Germany and Italy. TikTok Shop first launched overseas in 2021, when it became available in the U.K., followed by additional launches in Ireland and Spain, showcasing the ByteDance-owned company's plans for a wider European expansion. According to a report from Reuters, TikTok has already begun working with merchants in France, Germany and Italy, helping sellers load their products onto the platform. By next Monday, TikTok Shop should be up and running in these regions. advertisement advertisement My own expectation for Europe is to launch with more speed than we did in the UK, because in the UK four years ago this model was very new, we had to do a lot of education, we had to try out a lot of things to get the right fit, Jan Wilk, head of operations at TikTok Shop UK said in an interview with Reuters. So far, supermarket chain Carrefour plans on joining the platform in France, while fashion retailer AboutYou and cosmetics brand Cosnova will begin selling on the German-based platform. Wilk added that the TikTok Shop is aiming to diversify its range of products and prices, moving beyond China-based products by including the addition of more luxury items from European brands. For years, TikTok has been attempting to translate its sister company Douyin's live-shopping successes in China, but has struggled to interest a significant number of users from Europe and the U.S. in the initiative. Last year, for example, Douyin generated over $500 billion in product sales, while TikTok generated less than $4 billion. However, the company made gains in the U.S. this holiday season, amassing over $100 million in single-day sales on Black Friday as well as a 165% increase in shoppers year-over-year, and showing newfound promise for its ability to compete with online retailers like Amazon, Temu and Shein. Last year, TikTok Shop also recorded a sevenfold increase in gross merchandise volume (GMV) of between $7 billion and $8 billion in the United States -- its largest and fastest-growing market -- according to EchoTik, an analytics and data provider focused on TikTok. Recently, TikTok Shop has added more local services into its stateside commerce push, while tripling the amount of shoppers each month since its U.S. launch, according to the company. However, as TikTok Shop expands to more markets outside of the U.S. including Mexico the company is stuck in the wake of a delayed sell-off bill originally passed by the Biden administration. As of now, the White House has yet to decide on a potential buyer, nor has ByteDance offered a final opinion on the matter. Antibiotics in infancy may increase diabetes risk, while specific microbes could promote beta cell growth and help reverse the disease. Trusted Source Neonatal fungi promote lifelong metabolic health through macrophage-dependent cell development Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? In children under 5, infectious diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, along with preterm birth and birth complications, are leading causes of death. #medindia #children #diarrhea In children under 5, infectious diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, along with preterm birth and birth complications, are leading causes of death. #medindia #children #diarrhea Advertisement Microbe-Based Approaches in Diabetes Prevention Advertisement Risks of Early Antibiotic Use for Babies Insulin-Producing Beta Cells in Newborns Boosting Insulin Levels Through Microbe Introduction Combining Antibiotics with Microbe-Based Supplements Neonatal fungi promote lifelong metabolic health through macrophage-dependent cell development - (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn0953) Exposure to antibiotics during a critical developmental period in infancy can hinder the growth of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and may increase the risk of diabetes later in life, new research suggests in mice ().The study, published in the journal, 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 humanthe 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, said first author Jennifer Hill, assistant professor in molecular, cellular and developmental biology at CUs BioFrontiers Institute. This work also provides important new evidence that microbe-based approaches could someday be used to not only prevent but also reverse diabetes.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 theres 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.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 babys first year, a once-in-a-lifetime surge in beta cell growth occurs.If, for whatever reason, we dont 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.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 calledThe 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,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 didnt 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.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 pancreasreversing 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.Source-Eurekalert Slushies can be risky! Reduced-sugar slush ice drinks may be even more dangerous for kids due to higher glycerol levels. Did You Know? Slushies arent for everyone! Kids under 4 should skip slushies with glycerol, while those under 10 should stick to just one. #Slushies #slushicedrinks #medindia Slushies arent for everyone! Kids under 4 should skip slushies with glycerol, while those under 10 should stick to just one. #Slushies #slushicedrinks #medindia Advertisement Glycerol Intoxication Syndrome: The Hidden Risk in Slush Ice Drinks Trusted Source 2025 Glycerol intoxication syndrome in young children, following the consumption of slush ice drinks Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement Glycerol Magic: The Trick Behind Perfect Slushies Slush Ice Drinks Lead to Low Blood Sugar Do Slushies Cause Hypoglycemia, Metabolic Acidosis and Glyceroluria in Children? Sugarless Treats: Not So Sweet can Still Be Dangerous Sipping Safely: How Much Slushie is Too Much? 2025 Glycerol intoxication syndrome in young children, following the consumption of slush ice drinks - (https://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2025/02/10/archdischild-2024-328109) Summer is here, and icy drinks are a must to beat the heat! Many kids love glycerol-containing slushies (slush ice drinks), but are they really safe to drink? Lets find out!Researchers suggest that public health advice on the safe consumption of glycerol-containing slushies may need updating after reviewing the medical records of 21 children who fell ill soon after drinking them.Their findings, published in the journal, show that in each case the child became acutely unwell with a cluster of symptoms soon after drinking a slush ice drink, which the researchers refer to as glycerol intoxication syndrome ().The clinical and biochemical features were similar in all of these children and included reduced consciousness, a sudden sharp drop in blood sugar ( hypoglycemia ), and a build-up of acid in the blood (metabolic acidosis).Such symptoms, when they occur together, can indicate poisoning or inherited metabolic disorders, prompting further investigations.Brightly colored slush ice drinks are designed to appeal to children , note the researchers. While the ingredients vary, most of those available in the UK and Ireland are no added sugar or sugar free products and contain glycerol (E422, also known as glycerin), they add., so maintaining the slush effect in the absence of a high sugar content, they explain.With a view to informing public health policy and guidance for parents, the researchers scrutinized the medical notes of 21 children who had become acutely unwell after consuming a slush ice drink and had initially been diagnosed with hypoglycemia after their arrival in emergency care.Apart from one child referred in 2009, all the others were referred for further review between 2018 and 2024.Diagnosis was informed by lab test confirmation of at least two of the following: hypoglycemia; metabolic acidosis; glyceroluria (high levels of glycerol in the urine), and backed up by negative biochemical, enzyme, and/or genetic test results for underlying inherited metabolic disorders.Information on sex was available for 18 of the children, just over half of whom (10; 56%) were male. Their average age was 3 and a half, but ranged from 2 to nearly 7.How quickly they became ill was known for 15: in 14 (93%) this was within 60 minutes. Similarly, state of consciousness was known for 17, and in 16 this was significantly and suddenly reduced. One child had a seizure. Urgent neuroimaging was carried out in 4 (33%) out of 12 children.Twenty children had documented hypoglycemia (blood glucose 2.6 mmol/l or below); but in 13 (65%) this was even lower, indicating severe hypoglycemia. Metabolic acidosis was present in 16 of the 17 children for whom this information was available.Twelve of 16 children had low levels of potassium, and 8 out of 9 in whom this was measured had falsely high blood fat levels (pseudohypertriglycerideremia). The researchers concluded that the children had had glycerol intoxication syndrome.All the children recovered quickly after initial resuscitation and stabilization of their blood glucose. They were discharged with advice to avoid slush ice drinks. Twenty did so and had no further episodes of hypoglycemia.But one drank another slush ice drink at the age of 7 and developed symptoms within an hour, rapidly progressing to vomiting and drowsiness. The parents gave the child a glucose drink, and called an ambulance. When the paramedics arrived, the childs blood glucose was back to normal and symptoms were already resolving.Most of the cases in the series presented for emergency care between 2018 and 2024. And the researchers suggest: A cause of the recent apparent surge in cases may be the reduced sugar content of these drinks, secondary to two main factors: first, public health and parental concerns about high sugar ingestion, and second, the introduction of a sugar tax on high sugar (>5%)-containing drinks in Ireland and the UK in 2018 and 2019, respectively.These drinks sold in countries where theres no sugar tax, contain a much higher glucose content and often dont contain any glycerol at all, they add.Based on some of the cases in this series, the UK Food Standards Agency recommended thatThe Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) followed suit with similar guidance in 2024.But the researchers believe that these recommendations may no longer be enough.There is poor transparency around slush ice drink glycerol concentration; estimating a safe dose is therefore not easy. It is also likely that speed and dose of ingestion, along with other aspects, such as whether the drink is consumed alongside a meal or during a fasting state, or consumed after high-intensity exercise, may be contributing factors, they write.Food Standards Scotland and the FSAI suggested that 125 mg/kg of body weight per hour is the lowest dose that is associated with negative health effects. For a toddler this may equate to 50220 ml of a slush ice drink. The standard size drink sold in the UK and Ireland is 500 ml, they point out.Given that these drinks dont confer any nutritional or health benefits, recommendations on their safe consumption therefore need to be weighted towards safety, they suggest.And they conclude: To ensure safe population-level recommendations can be easily interpreted at the individual parental level, and given the variability across an age cohort of weight, we suggest that recommendations should be based on weight rather than age. Alternatively, the recommended age threshold may need to be higher (8 years), to ensure the dose per weight would not be exceeded, given normal population variation in weight.Source-BMJ Group Kunal Kamras controversy is escalating rapidly with each passing hour adding new layers to the debate. His satirical jokes about some of the countrys most prominent figures have left users divided, sparking intense discussions online. But for me, one thing remains constantvandalism, in any form, is wrong, regardless of the place or situation. The same applies to The Habitat, the venue that was damaged by attackers following the release of Kunal Kamras stand-up video. It was the same venue where Kamra performed his 45-minute-long set before releasing it online. Instagram/The Habitat The past This isnt the first time The Habitat has been targeted or its owners have been warned against hosting shows. Before Kunal Kamra, the venue faced threats of vandalism when Munawar Faruqui was accused of making derogatory remarks about Hindu gods. The owners also received warnings following the controversy surrounding Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahbadia. Why vandalising The Habitat or any venue is completely illogical The Habitat is an independent venue that provides a stage for different artists and performers to exhibit their art or talent, irrespective of their background or political inclination. So damaging its premises is like attacking a restaurant if you dont like its white sauce pasta. I mean, there are other dishes if you want to eat or just keep walking away if you dont like it. A few pictures and videos were published online, which showed attackers vandalising The Habitat in front of the police. Additionally, violence in any form is unjustified, should be condemned, and is punishable by law. The owners of The Habitat said that the venue does not endorse any statements made by Kunal, which depicts their clear state of vulnerability and fear. Instagram/The Habitat And they have to apologise even if they did not commit any mistake because they have a business to run. They cannot afford to fix the venue every month. But if the attackers are set free after this act, it will set a dangerous precedent. This will encourage anyone to target a venue simply because the artist performing there does not align with their beliefs or agenda, leaving both performers and venue in a vulnerable state. Vir Das, a veteran comedian, wrote on his Instagram, While everyone has a larger discussion, as they should, I'd like to direct your attention to a smaller picture. Last month, this week, and for the indefinite future at the Habitat, an artistic venue in Mumbai. You will find people without work. These include waiters, cooks, sound engineers, light engineers, kitchen staff, front-of-house staff, writers, poets, new comedians in multiple languages, professional comedians in multiple languages, improv artists, theatre plays, video editors, filmmakers, and storytellers. I would say 90% of them moved to Mumbai from a different city to feed their family and/or express their art. Plays that took years to be written, comedians who waited years for a spot or a solo show, along with many workers who need a daily wage. Good, hardworking, innocent people. For a second, I'd like you to imagine that happening to more than one venue, and then to all of them. And what that does to your city. Netflixs latest mini-series Adolescence has turned out to be a smash success not just in the UK or the US but in India as well as around the world. The shows success in India in specific left even the co-creator and lead star Stephen Graham surprised. The show is considered as one of the best of all time. However, amid all the love and success, Adolescence is also getting a lot of hate on social media from a section of the audience. A lot of folks are now accusing the show of race-swapping. There have been allegations that the makers swapped the race of the character played by Owen Cooper from a black boy to a white one. Sharing their displeasure, one social media user wrote, Netflix has a show called Adolescence thats about a British knife killer who stabbed a girl to death on a bus and its based on real life cases such as the Southport murderer. So guess what. They race swapped the actual killer from a black man/migrant to a white boy and the story has it so he was radicalized online by the red pill movement. Just the absolute state of anti-white propaganda. Netflix Another user commented, Lots of buzz on MSM about the show Adolescence on Netflix - how its broaching the important subject of incel culture capturing young men. Not a single article mentioned that they race swapped the killer. This was an actual event - why change the race? A third user reacted, Netflix new show Adolescence race swaps a black for a white kid and they call it a perfect show. Netflix is just another propaganda machine pushing the agenda of white hate and erasure. A fourth user wrote, Adolescence is obvious Propaganda because the actual statistics show Andrew Tate's fans are mostly ethnic minorities not White kids. And they race swapped all the real cases. Check out some of the responses below: The Shows Co-Creator Hits Back Slamming the allegations, the shows co-creator Jack Thorne told The News Agents Podcast, No part of this that's based on a true story, not one single part. He continued, They've claimed that Stephen [Graham] and I based it on a story and so they're saying that we race swapped it, because we were basically here and then ended up there, and everything else, and nothing is further from the truth. He further added that children from all ethnic backgrounds commit crimes, It's absurd and not true to claim that they are only committed by Black boys. He also said, We're not making a point about race with this. We are making a point about masculinity. We're trying to get inside a problem. We're not saying this is one thing or another. We're saying this is about boys. Unfortunately disappointed. By Mahony | on 3.0 These are the issues that I experienced : Tight Legroom, comfort, entering and exiting the car,Adaptive Cruise control issue, No spare tire, Lane departure, touch sensitive button on the steering wheel, and the wiper noise. If you need more details please read my review. I bought a 2025 E350. I am 5 foot 10 inch, and 210 pounds. Unfortunately the 2024-2025 E Class is hard to get in and out, I have tried so many seat positions to make it easy but with No help. Even with the easy exit my seat moves forward which makes it tighter to get in or out. I have plenty of room for my legs, and as well for the front passenger, but with the rear seat is a different story, yes you will have plenty of room from your knees to the back of the front seats but you wont have enough room to move your feet under the front seat so you wont be able to to stretch your leg ( I had a 2024 Camry and it had a very comfortable rear seat ) with the E Class a 1 hour trip in the back seat is a nightmare. There is No seat extension on the front seats for tall driver and front passenger. Adaptive cruise control for some reason with No warning it will apply brakes on the highway and drops your speed from 65 miles down to 35 miles, it happens more if you are on the right lane and there is a HWY exit, but even on a left lane still it will do it. I know if you are using Mercedes Navigation and you are exiting the HWY it will slow down for you, but my car does slow down without using the Navigation and as I said on the left lane. No spare tire, so if you are on a road trip during weekends or holiday, or after 5 pm then good luck with the run flat tires, you have to wait 2 days til the shops or Mercedes dealers open to replace your tire. Lane departure you will get a very minor steering vibration barely noticeable, and it WILL NOT bring you back to your lane like Toyota, Hyundai, or Volkswagen ( my family cars )! The control on the steering for Middle Gauge Cluster in your dash is very sensitive any little touch it changes the page, it is a touch sensitive, again very annoying. The right wiper makes a loud disturbing noise on light rain, the noise sounds like turning the wipers on a dry windshield, I thought its just my car, but it has the same problem with my friend car. If you are into Music and you wanted to have it louder then you may need to consider a $1000 option Burmester 4D Surround Sound System, for me I am very happy with the standard speakers. The 4 cylinder has enough power I am very happy with the engine performance, at the speed of 65 MPH the engine RPM is about 1300 RPM, and the cabin is very quiet. HWY MPG I get 42 MPG with 2 people in the car, full fuel tank, and cruise control is set to 65 MPH very impressive. The air flow distribution from the air condition vents is a state of the art, you wont feel the air hitting your face or arm. Hey Mercedes voice command is a great help, but sometimes it activates and it might be a little annoying. Will I spend $72,000 to buy a 2025 E class, for me I wont do the mistake again. Read More 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. 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. 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. "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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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 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." 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. "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. 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. 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. "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. "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. 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 A significant search operation was underway Thursday in Lithuania for four U.S. soldiers who went missing two days ago during a military training exercise, with both American and Lithuanian forces scrambling to navigate the treacherous landscape. The troops, assigned to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, were last seen aboard an M88 recovery vehicle -- a heavily armored tow truck used to retrieve disabled tanks -- before it was found submerged in deep mud and water Wednesday morning. The rugged landscape has complicated the search, requiring specialized equipment to drain the swampy terrain before recovery teams can reach the vehicle. But it's a painstaking process. Before water can be pumped out, crews must first construct berms of sand and dirt to contain the area -- a project that could take days. Read Next: 'Different Spanks for Different Ranks': Hegseth's Signal Scandal Would Put Regular Troops in the Brig "Due to the terrain, this is an incredibly complex engineering effort," Maj. Robin Bruce, a 1st Armored Division engineer, said in a statement. "The team on the ground is working to remove enough water and mud for rescue teams to safely reach, stabilize and access the vehicle." U.S. and Lithuanian engineers were racing to pump water, excavate mud and reinforce the ground to support the heavy machinery needed for the operation. Officials say every available option is being explored to accelerate the process. "We are leveraging every available U.S. and Lithuanian asset to coordinate for and provide the required resources for this effort," Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, the commanding general of 1st Armored Division, said in a statement. On Wednesday, NATO clarified comments that Secretary-General Mark Rutte made earlier suggesting the four soldiers had died -- and that the assertion was premature. "The search is ongoing," NATO said in a statement on the social media platform X. "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." The identities of the soldiers had not been released Thursday. The Army and other military services typically wait to release that information until next of kin has been notified. "This is gut-wrenching for the entire 3rd Infantry Division," Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division's commander, said in a statement. "Our hearts are with the families of our missing soldiers and all of Raider Brigade during this difficult time, both forward and here at home." The incident comes just months after two soldiers, also from the 3rd Infantry Division, died in a separate tactical vehicle accident in Georgia. In January, Staff Sgt. Shelbe Butner, 28, and Spc. Jacob Mullen, 25, died when their Joint Light Tactical Vehicle overturned into a body of water near Fort Stewart. The deployment of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, to Europe in January was part of a broader effort to strengthen NATO's eastern flank. Lithuania, which joined the alliance in 2004, has played a critical role in hosting rotational forces for joint exercises aimed at deterring Russian aggression. The soldiers were participating in a routine training exercise near Pabrade, a strategically significant area close to Lithuania's border with Belarus. A close ally of Russia, Belarus has been central to Moscow's war in Ukraine, making Lithuania an increasingly important location for NATO operations. While combat fatalities have declined in recent years, training accidents -- particularly those involving tactical military vehicles -- remain a leading cause of death among service members. A 2021 report from the Government Accountability Office found that, between 2010 and 2019, the Army recorded 153 serious accidents involving tactical vehicles, often linked to sleep deprivation and insufficient training. Related: The Top Killer of Soldiers, Army Vehicle Deaths Are Tied to Poor Training, Though Numbers Down SEOUL, South Korea North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February in continued support for Russian President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine, South Koreas military said Thursday in its latest assessment. The Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea has also been sending more missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition to help Russia and that North Korea could increase its weapons supplies further depending on the war situation. Russia and Ukraine recently agreed on a limited ceasefire, though both sides have accused each other of violations. The military equipment North Korea has sent to Russia includes a considerable amount of short-range ballistic missiles, 170 millimeter self-propelled howitzers and around 220 units of 240 millimeter multiple rocket launchers. North Korea has sent approximately 11,000 military personnel to fight in the war against Ukraine in its first involvement in a large-scale conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War, and the Joint Chiefs assessed that around 4,000 of them have been killed or wounded. South Koreas National Intelligence Service previously attributed the high North Korean casualties to the troops likely struggles in adapting to drones and other elements of modern warfare. North Korean troops are further disadvantaged by the crude tactics of their Russian commanders, who have sent them into assault campaigns without providing rear-fire support, the spy agency told lawmakers in January. Still, Ukrainian military and intelligence officials have assessed that the North Koreans are gaining crucial battlefield experience and have been key to Russias strategy of overwhelming Ukraine by throwing large numbers of soldiers into the battle for Kursk. The South Korean military report came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his unwavering support for Russias war in Ukraine during a meeting with a top Russian security official, Sergei Shoigu, last week in Pyongyang. State media reports said Kim and Shoigu reaffirmed their commitment to uphold a major mutual defense treaty agreed upon last year. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Russian media on Thursday that the governments were discussing a potential visit by Kim to Moscow but did not specify when it might take place. We always talk to everyone about exchanging visits. We are always preparing, he told RIA Novosti. Kim showcases new military drones Kims military support of Russia has raised concerns that he may receive Russian technology transfers in return, further strengthening the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military. Experts say drones are among the potential areas where North Korea might seek to acquire Russian technology and know-how. North Korean state media said Thursday that Kim observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production. Kim in recent months has been emphasizing the development of drones, and the tests were the latest display of his countrys growing military capabilities. Photos released by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeings E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drones ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Koreas intelligence-gathering operations and ability to neutralize enemy threats. The report said the new exploding drones are designed for various attack missions and feature unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be top priorities in efforts to advance his armed forces and adapt them to modern warfare, KCNA said. The agency said the tests took place as Kim visited a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. Kim previously inspected other demonstrations of drones that explode on impact in November and August last year. When asked about the new reconnaissance drone, which North Korean state media unveiled for the first time, Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the North likely modified an existing aircraft to create an early-warning drone and may have used certain components from Russia. He said North Korea was possibly exaggerating the capabilities of the drone. As you can see, it looks quite cumbersome and we assess that its likely vulnerable to interception, Lee said during a briefing, without elaborating further on the assessment. __ AP writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. GEORGETOWN, Guyana U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed Thursday that the United States will respond forcefully if Venezuela attacks Guyana, amid an ongoing territorial dispute that includes massive oil and gas reserves. Rubio said it would be a very bad day for Venezuela should that happen. On the second leg of a three-nation tour of the Caribbean, Rubio was in Guyana as the Trump administration ramps up engagement in the Western Hemisphere to promote energy independence and curb illegal migration, drug trafficking and gang violence. He made a brief stop in Georgetown on Thursday for talks with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and other officials before traveling to Suriname for an even shorter visit to Paramaribo. The regional threats are based on illegitimate territorial claims by a narco-trafficking regime," Rubio told reporters at a joint news conference with Ali. And I want to be frank, there will be consequences for adventurism. There will be consequences for aggressive actions. It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil or anything like it, he added. It would be a very bad day or a very bad week for them, and it would not end well for them. Ali said his government, which has vehemently condemned Venezuelan actions, including earlier this month, welcomed Rubio's words. I am very pleased at the reassurance of the U.S. in ensuring the safeguard of our territorial integrity and sovereignty," he said. The threats from Venezuela were specifically discussed. Guyana, which has significant offshore oil deposits, will play a key role in the Republican administrations attempts to wean the region from imports of Venezuelan energy, against which President Donald Trump has imposed major sanctions. It also has a troubled relationship with Venezuela. Earlier this month, it denounced an incursion by an armed Venezuelan naval vessel in disputed waters where ExxonMobil is developing a mammoth oil deposit. Ali said on March 1 that the Venezuelan ship passed close to several huge vessels used to store oil being produced by three oilfields operated by Exxon and partners Hess Corp. and CNOOC of China in the Stabroek Block, which contains an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil. Since then, the Trump administration announced severe sanctions, including 25% tariffs on goods produced in countries that import Venezuelan oil. Rubio signed a security agreement with Guyanas foreign minister, according to the State Department, that will enhance intelligence sharing and military-to-military cooperation. The signing came as the U.S. Navy was conducting exercises with the Guyanese Navy in its exclusive economic zone. Since ExxonMobil made its major oil discovery in Guyana in 2015, Venezuela has revived a century-old territorial dispute with Guyana and taken steps to annex the remote Essequibo region, which comprises about two-thirds of Guyanas land mass. Maduros government has called Guyanas development of the oil fields illegal. Guyanas government Thursday also announced the start of joint naval exercises with the U.S. Navy. Guyana said the exercises, which began this week, will involve the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Normandy and local vessels and are aimed at safeguarding Guyanas maritime sovereignty and enhancing regional security through collaborative training. "This engagement also reflects the strong and growing military-to-military relationship between Guyana and the United States," Guyana's military said. Bert Wilkinson contributed from Guyana. As fallout from the revelation that plans for Yemen military strikes were discussed by top Trump administration officials on a commercial messaging app continues to ripple through Washington, D.C., a slate of Pentagon nominees was questioned Thursday on their own past handling of classified information. Four nominees, including President Donald Trump's pick to be Air Force secretary, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday for their confirmation hearing. Noting the ongoing scandal over Cabinet officials' use of Signal, an encrypted but unclassified messaging app, to discuss attack plans against Houthi rebels in Yemen, Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, asked each nominee whether they have ever discussed classified information in an unclassified setting. All four said they have not. Read Next: 'Different Spanks for Different Ranks': Hegseth's Signal Scandal Would Put Regular Troops in the Brig In addition to Troy Meink, the nominee to be Air Force secretary, Thursday's hearing included Michael Duffey, the nominee to be under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; Emil Michael, the nominee to be under secretary of defense for research and engineering; and Keith Bass, the nominee to be assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. The hearing largely focused on more mundane issues for each nominee's potential office, such as Meink's vision for the future of the Space Force and Bass' commitment to research troops' brain injuries. But Thursday's hearing was the first committee meeting since The Atlantic magazine reported earlier this week that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent the Signal group sensitive operational details about the strikes, including timing and weapons platforms, before they were launched. And some Democrats, who have been excoriating Hegseth for sharing what should have been classified details in an unclassified channel, took the opportunity to keep a spotlight on the issue. In addition to Hirono's questions to the full panel, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., a former CIA analyst and Defense Department civilian, also specifically pressed Duffey about the Signal scandal. As he awaits approval to be the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, Duffey has been working as Hegseth's deputy chief of staff. Asked by Slotkin whether he knew of any other Signal chats between Pentagon leaders that contained operational details like those in the Yemen chat, Duffey told the committee that he was "not aware of Signal chats that contain sensitive information." Despite some testiness between Democrats and GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, who accused Democrats of exaggerating the Signal issue to score political points, the hearing was largely drama-free, suggesting the nominees will be easily confirmed. Meink, the nominee to be Air Force secretary, has been principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office since 2020. The office oversees the U.S. intelligence community's network of spy satellites. Meink's career in the Air Force, which he joined through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at South Dakota State University in 1988, included time as a KC-135 Stratotanker navigator and instructor and as a lead test engineer for the Missile Defense Agency. His nomination as secretary of the Air Force, a job that also oversees the Space Force, was seen as a sign of the importance the president is placing on space in his national security policy. The creation of the Space Force was one of Trump's signature achievements in his first term. At Thursday's hearing, Meink made clear he views growing the still-young Space Force as one of his top priorities. "Space is critical. This is actually one of the areas that we're most challenged, I believe, from the rapidly evolving threat from China and others," he said. "I think the key to both acquisition and operations is making sure you have the best talented workforce. These are some of the most complicated systems and, if the U.S. is going to maintain our advantage, which we need to do in space, we need to make sure we have the right workforce. "The Space Force is in the process of growing," he said. "I will support that activity to make sure we have the right numbers and the right skill set." Unlike Trump's other picks for service secretaries, Meink would bring an extensive military background to the job if he is confirmed. But his record has come under some scrutiny. Last month, Reuters reported that a government watchdog investigated allegations that Meink used his role in the National Reconnaissance Office to steer a multibillion-dollar contract toward SpaceX, the company owned by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. While two Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee pressed Meink on the Reuters report in a letter ahead of the hearing, the allegations were not mentioned at all Thursday. Meanwhile, Bass, the nominee to oversee the Defense Department's health system, also faced questions from Democrats about his record ahead of the hearing. Bass, a retired Navy commander, faced allegations that he did not take a health condition known as Havana syndrome seriously when he led the Central Intelligence Agency's Office of Medical Services. Havana syndrome, also known as anomalous health incidents, or AHI, is a mysterious affliction with an unknown cause that has hit U.S. diplomats, spies and defense officials. "I reject the premise that I did not take AHI seriously," Bass said Thursday. "All individuals that are affected by AHI, regardless [of cause], should be treated with dignity and respect, and they should be afforded health care." More generally on brain injuries affecting service members, Bass also committed to "continue to look at ways and devote research to this issue and making sure that we can continue to make progress." Related: Trump Names Former KC-135 Navigator, Spy Agency Official to Be Next Air Force Secretary WASHINGTON -- FBI Director Kash Patel was not part of a Signal chat in which other Trump administration national security officials discussed detailed attack plans, but that didn't spare him from being questioned by lawmakers this week about whether the nation's premier law enforcement agency would investigate. Patel made no such commitments during the course of two days of Senate and House hearings, declining to comment on the possibility and testifying that he had not personally reviewed the text messages that were inadvertently shared with the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic who was mistakenly included on an unclassified Signal chat. That Patel would be grilled on what the FBI might do was hardly surprising. Even as President Donald Trump insisted "it's not really an FBI thing," the reality is that the FBI and Justice Department for decades have been responsible for enforcing Espionage Act statutes governing the mishandling -- whether intentional or negligent -- of national defense information like the upcoming attack plans against Houthi rebels shared on Signal, a publicly available app that provides encrypted communications but is not approved for classified information. The Justice Department has broad discretion to open an investigation, though Attorney General Pam Bondi, who introduced Trump at a Justice Department event this month, signaled at an unrelated news conference on Thursday that she was disinclined to do so and took the same stance in a later Fox News interview, when she said she was confident that the episode had been a mistake. She repeated Trump administration talking points that the highly sensitive information in the chat was not classified, though current and former U.S. officials have said the posting of the exact launch times of aircraft and times that bombs would be released before those pilots were even in the air would have been classified. Bondi also quickly pivoted to two Democrats, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Joe Biden, who found themselves under investigation but never charged for allegedly mishandling classified information. Indeed, the department has conducted multiple high-profile investigations into government officials accused of mishandling classified information or leaking it, albeit with significant differences in underlying facts and outcomes. There's also precedent for public officials either to avoid criminal charges or be spared meaningful punishment. "In terms of prior investigations, there were set-out standards that the department always looked at and tried to follow when making determinations about which types of disclosures they were going to pursue," including the sensitivity of the information exposed the willfulness of the conduct, said former Justice Department prosecutor Michael Zweiback, who has handled classified information cases. A look at just a few of the notable prior investigations: Hillary Clinton The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee was investigated but not charged for her use of a private email server for the sake of convenience during her time as secretary of state in the Obama administration. The politically fraught criminal investigation was initiated by a 2015 referral from the intelligence agencies' internal watchdog, which alerted the FBI to the presence of potentially hundreds of emails containing classified information on that server. Law enforcement then set out to determine whether Clinton, or her aides, had transmitted classified information on a server not meant to host such material. The overall conclusions were something of a mixed bag. Then-FBI Director James Comey, in a highly unusual public statement, asserted that the bureau had found evidence that Clinton was "extremely careless" in her handling of classified information but recommended against charges because he said officials could not prove that she intended to break the law or knew that the information she and her aides were communicating about was classified. The decision was derided by Republicans who thought the Obama administration Justice Department had let a fellow Democrat off the hook. Among those critical were some of the very same participants in the Signal chat as well as Bondi, who as Florida's attorney general spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention and mimicked the audience chant of "Lock her up!" David Petraeus Among the biggest names to actually get charged is Petraeus, the former CIA director sentenced in 2015 to two years' probation for disclosing classified information to a biographer with whom he was having an extramarital affair. That material consisted of eight binders of classified information that Petraeus improperly kept in his house from his time as the top military commander in Afghanistan. Among the secret details in the "black books" were the names of covert operatives, the coalition war strategy and notes about Petraeus' discussions with President Barack Obama and the National Security Council, prosecutors have said. Petraeus, a retired four-star Army general who led U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, wound up pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor count of unauthorized retention and removal of classified material as part of a deal with Justice Department prosecutors. Some national security experts said it smacked of a double-standard for its lenient outcome. Comey himself would later complain about the resolution, writing in a 2018 book that he argued to the Justice Department that Petraeus should have also been charged with a felony for lying to the FBI. "A poor person, an unknown person -- say a young black Baptist minister from Richmond -- would be charged with a felony and sent to jail," he said. Jeffrey Sterling A former CIA officer, Sterling was convicted of leaking to a reporter details of a secret mission to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions by slipping flawed nuclear blueprints to the Iranians through a Russian intermediary. He was sentenced in 2015 to 3 1/2 years in prison, a punishment whistleblower advocates and other supporters decried as impossible to square with Petraeus' misdemeanor guilty plea just a month earlier. The details of the operation disclosed by Sterling were published by journalist James Risen in his 2006 book "State of War." Sterling was charged in 2010, but the trial was delayed for years, in part because of legal wrangling about whether Risen could be forced to testify. Ultimately, prosecutors chose not to call Risen as a witness, despite winning legal battles allowing them to do so. James Cartwright A former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Cartwright pleaded guilty to making false statements during an investigation into a leak of classified information about a covert cyberattack on Iran's nuclear facilities. The plea ended a Justice Department investigation that began after the 2012 leak to reporters of information about use of a computer virus called Stuxnet that disabled equipment the Iranians were using to enrich uranium. Charging documents unsealed by prosecutors say Cartwright falsely told investigators that he did not provide or confirm classified information contained in a news article and in a book by New York Times journalist David Sanger. In a written statement released to reporters after the hearing, Cartwright stressed that he was not the initial source of the leak about Stuxnet but spoke to reporters about material they already knew. Cartwright was later pardoned by Obama. The Mariners and left-hander Drew Pomeranz have reunited on a fresh minor league deal, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post. He and Seattle signed a minor pact in the winter but he didnt make the Opening Day roster and asked to be released. After presumably assessing his offers over the past few days, he has returned to the Ms on a new deal. Pomeranz, 36, has been on the comeback trail for quite a while. He hasnt pitched in the majors since 2021 due to various injuries, but he did just have a decent showing in camp. He tossed 7 2/3 innings of Cactus League action, allowing four earned runs. He gave out four walks but struck out ten opponents. The southpaw had previously been one of the better relievers in the league. The Brewers acquired him from the Giants in 2019 and moved him from the rotation to the bullpen. He tossed 26 1/3 innings for Milwaukee after that deal with a 2.39 earned run average, 45% strikeout rate, 8% walk rate and 46.8% ground ball rate. He hit free agency then and the Padres gave him a four-year, $34MM deal, making a large wager that he could continue that strong form. That worked well for a while. Pomeranz tossed 44 1/3 innings for the Friars over 2020 and 2021 with a 1.62 ERA, 33.7% strikeout rate, 11.4% walk rate and 45.8% ground ball rate. But hes been in the wilderness since then. He underwent flexor tendon surgery in August of 2021. After that, he hit various speed bumps in his attempts to get back on the mound, struggling to get back to 100% health. He pitched less than ten innings in each of the past three minor league seasons. For the Mariners, theres no harm in keeping him around as non-roster depth to see if things click back into place. Their two lefty relievers at the moment are Tayler Saucedo and Gabe Speier. Saucedo has an ERA of 4.00 over his 114 2/3 career innings, with Speier at 4.18 over 118 1/3. Pomeranz getting back somewhere near his peak would be a great find but perhaps a tall ask given his age and track record. But over a long season, injuries are fairly inevitable, so the Mariners may be able to use him at some point even if hes not quite his previous elite self. Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images The Michigan DNR is hosting free birding tours this spring to "premier" wetland locations where birders can see ducks, mergansers, herons, terns and gulls take off for their migration north. Pictured here is a Great Blue Heron at Historic Elmwood Cemetery, part of the Freedom Trail in Detroit. (DNR) MI Dept. of Natural Resources Watch signs of spring take flight as wildlife biologists guide you to Michigans premier bird watching locations. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has three upcoming spring migration tours across the state. Each tour is free to attend and will be guided by a DNR wildlife biologist or technician. The DNR promises to bring visitors to optimal viewing spots to observe a variety of species, including diving and dabbling ducks in full breeding plumage, trumpeter and tundra swans, osprey, bald eagles and sandhill cranes, among others. The DNR will be meeting birders at these three wetland wonders. Fish Point State Wildlife Area (Unionville) - Saturday, March 29 This will be a car-caravan-style birding tour. Participants will drive their own cars to key birding spots within the 2,477 acres of marshes, flooded cornfields, and agricultural land often called the Chesapeake of the Midwest. The wetland hosts a large concentrations of Snow Goose, Tundra Swan, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, and American Wigeon. Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area (Pinconning) - Saturday, April 5 This will be a car-caravan-style birding tour. Participants will drive their own cars to key birding locations throughout the 1,505-acre wildlife area. Stops will include wetlands, marsh units, and the viewing tower at the end of Kitchen Road that offers spectacular views of migrating waterfowl and other bird species. Expect to see migrating ducks, swans, geese, wading birds, shorebirds, raptors, and songbirds. Portage Marsh State Wildlife Area (Escanaba) Saturday, May 17 This will be a 1-mile walking tour along the Lake Michigan peninsula known to host more than 200 bird species. Expect to see ducks, mergansers, herons, terns, gulls fly through on their spring migration north back to their breeding grounds. These events are presented in partnership with MI Birds, a public outreach and education program created by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan DNR. MI Birds aims to deepen all Michiganders engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities. RELATED: Sit and stay awhile, new Lake Michigan bench sits in wildlife preserve with more than 100 species RELATED: Trail to botanical treasure hidden within wooded sand dunes A Lansing police officer holds a rescued alligator captured from a call for service during the weekend of Saturday, March 22, 2025. The city department reported the unusual capture on Wednesday on its Facebook page. Photo used with permission. Photo used with permission. LANSING, MI Police officers in Lansing were in for quite a shock when a recent call for service on the citys south side included picking up a scalier than usual suspect an alligator. The Lansing Police Department shared news of the capture on its Facebook page on Wednesday, March 26, adding that it occurred during officers afternoon shift last weekend. It was posted with photos of several officials holding the small reptile, each with a smile stretched across their face. This little gal gave our officers a bit of a scare at first but stole their hearts in no time, the department wrote. She was surrendered to Ingham County Animal Control to find a more appropriate home. Lansing residents are prohibited from keeping wild animals, including alligators, in residential areas under the citys code of ordinances. Police did not provide further information about circumstances surrounding the call that led to discovery of the alligator. However, Ingham Countys animal control shelter said on its own Facebook page that the alligator had come in as a neglected pet at around 7 p.m. Saturday, March 22. This poor baby girl was living in a tank that was much too small and absent of all the things a baby alligator needs, the shelter said. The agency credited a Lansing pet store, Preuss Pets, with helping to take the alligator in to keep her in a warm enclosure until a sanctuary could be contacted to take her and volunteers could be identified to give her a ride. All of this occurred in under an hour and is a perfect example of all the steps involved in just one call for assistance, Ingham County Animal Control wrote. The suspect allegedly refused to give a teen any vape products unless she agreed to have sex with him. (MLive file photo) MLive File Photo PONTIAC, MI -- A 24-year-old Berkely man has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct after he allegedly solicited sex from a teen in exchange for vape products. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged Darren Bradford in connection with the alleged assaults involving a 15-year-old girl. The facts alleged in this case are every parents worst nightmare, McDonald said. This adult defendant appears to have preyed upon the vulnerabilities of a teenager to coerce sex from a victim who wasnt old enough and in a position to consent. Police believe there may be other victims. Anyone with information about other incidents should contact their local police. McDonald alleges that Bradford is known to provide vapes, marijuana, and alcohol to teens through social media. In this matter, Bradford is accused of refusing to sell the victim any vape products unless she agreed to have sex with him. Investigators allege Bradford engaged in sexual activities with the victim at her home in Bloomfield Township and in his car. If convicted, Bradford faces up to 15 years in prison. Michigan State Police in Wakefield responded to the crash, which occurred on M-64 in Gogebic Countys Marenisco Township at 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. GOGEBIC COUNTY, MI A rollover crash in the Upper Peninsula has left one person dead and two others injured. Michigan State Police in Wakefield responded to the crash, which occurred on M-64 in Gogebic Countys Marenisco Township at 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday. Police say a vehicle driven by a 57-year-old Marenisco man lost control of the vehicle, causing it to rollover. The front passenger, a 45-year-old Bessemer woman, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The rear passenger, a 33-year-old Bessemer man, was treated and later released from Aspirus Ironwood Hospital for minor injuries, police said. The driver was also treated for minor injuries before he was arrested for operating while intoxicated causing death. He was lodged at the Gogebic County Jail Police were assisted on the scene by the Gogebic County Sheriffs Department, Beacon Ambulance, Marenisco First Responders, and Gogebic County Victims Services. The crash remains under investigation. A wrong turn took a mother of two across the Ambassador Bridge, into Canada. Now she's facing deportation from the United States. The Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor is the busiest international border crossing in North America for trade. (Neil Blake/MLive.com) Neil Blake/MLive.com DETROIT A mother of two is facing deportation after a wrong turn that took her into Canada, FOX 2 Detroit reports. The Guatemalan woman accidentally ended up in Canada when she selected the Costco in Windsor (rather than Detroit) in her GPS, Attorney Ruby Robinson told the TV station, identifying his client only a Sarahi. She crossed the Ambassador Bridge. When she attempted to reenter the United States via the bridge, she was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Sarahi entered the United States illegally in 2018, which is a civil offense; she has no criminal record, Robinson said. Her two children, 5 and 1, are U.S. citizens; CBP gave her the option to release the children to family members, but she initially refused. After five days of detainment in a windowless room with a TV and games, and only Ramen noodles and oatmeal to eat, she agreed to release her children because they were getting sick. Sarahi was released the next day. She has a court hearing next month and could be deported. When individuals violate immigration laws, their choices make them subject to detention and removal, CBP said in a statement. In this case, an illegal alien was encountered at the Detroit Ambassador Bridge after driving into Canada without travel documents. She admitted to unlawfully entering the U.S. in 2018. Per policy, CBP worked to find a suitable guardian for her U.S. citizen children; however, she initially chose to keep them with her, prolonging the detention period. Once the children were placed with a guardian, she was transferred to ICE. Actor Clive Revill, who performed the original voice of Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars movie franchise has died. According to TMZ, Revill died earlier this month at the age of 94, following a battle with dementia. Revill provided the voice for the evil Palpatine in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back which was released in 1980. Palpatine was physically played by another actor in the film. Revills voice was replaced in subsequent Star Wars movies and in the rereleases of The Empire Strikes Back over the years. The New Zealand native began acting in the 1950s and appeared in numerous plays, earning two Tony nominations. He later appeared in several television series and in movies, while also doing voice over work. Spirit Airlines added 15 new and resuming nonstop flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport this week. Spirit Airlines DETROIT Passengers flying out of a Detroit airport will soon have more options. Spirit Airlines announced this week that it is adding 15 new and resuming nonstop flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to destinations around the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The new routes grow Spirits DTW service to 40 destinations, the most nonstop routes served from DTW in the airlines history. Were adding even more popular travel options to our Detroit route map, giving our DTW Guests a variety of new destinations to discover across the country and beyond, said John Kirby, Vice President of Network Planning at Spirit Airlines. Savvy Motor City travelers will soon enjoy even more options to enjoy Spirits elevated experience at a value unmatched by other carriers. The Motor City is gaining nonstop service to Austin (AUS), Birmingham (BHM), Charleston (CHS), Hartford (BDL), Louisville (SDF), Kansas City (MCI), Milwaukee (MKE), Norfolk (ORF), Phoenix (PHX), Punta Cana (PUJ), Richmond (RIC), Salt Lake City (SLC), San Diego (SAN), San Juan (SJU) and St. Louis (STL). Most of the new flights will launch June 12-13, with flights to Kansas City and Norfolk beginning May 8 and flights to Charleston beginning May 9. Earlier this month, Spirit announced nonstop service from DTW to Baltimore (BWI), Charlotte (CLT), Memphis (MEM), Pensacola (PNS), Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and San Antonio (SAT) that will begin in May. By June, Spirit will operate up to 48 peak-day departures from DTW. The new flights will be available for online booking on Thursday. ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan announced major changes to its DEI programs, including the closing its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The university announced the changes late Thursday afternoon. In an email from university leaders including President Santa Ono, UM announced it will also shutter its Office for Health Equity and Inclusion and discontinue its DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan, effective immediately. These decisions have not been made lightly, the email stated. We recognize the changes are significant and will be challenging for many of us, especially those whose lives and careers have been enriched by and dedicated to programs that are now pivoting. The changes were announced by Ono, as well as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie McCauley, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Marschall Runge and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Geoffrey Chatas. The university plans to shift resources to increase investments in student-facing programs, like financial aid, mental health resources and pre-professional counseling in the coming months. Investments will include expanding financial aid, enhancing mental health support, expanding the Blavin Scholars Program and expanding student success with improved advising, counseling and pre-professional guidance, among other things. Student-facing services in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will shift to other offices focused on student access and opportunity, according to the announcement. The email stated that UM has made important progress in opening opportunities and supporting the success of all students, since the launch of its DEI strategic plan in 2016. However, UM has also heard strong pride in its support for student-facing programs. We have also heard concerns about the balance of resources between administration and direct student support, the email stated. Some in our campus community have voiced frustration that they did not feel included in DEI initiatives and that the programming fell short in fostering connections among diverse groups. The changes also come as the Trump administration has threatened funding cuts over DEI programs at colleges and universities across the country. McCauley convened a special committee, co-sponsored by the vice president for government relations and chief diversity officer, last year as part of ongoing assessments. This brought together deans, faculty and staff to review structural aspects of UMs DEI efforts, according to the release. Other additional actions mentioned in the message include: All units will have to evaluate their web presence to reflect the status of the current programmatic directions as well as for compliance with federal executive orders and guidance. Ending the use of diversity statements in faculty hiring will be implemented university wide. Statements related to someones commitment to DEI will no longer be asked or considered in admissions, hiring, promotion, awards, annual reviews or other assessments for faculty and staff. Individual leads who have supported DEI efforts in schools, colleges and units will refocus their effort to their core responsibilities The Office of the General Counsel will conduct an expedited review to ensure all policies, programs and practices comply with federal law and guidance Stay with MLive for more on this developing story. If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley speaks during a March 13, 2025, news conference at the City Hall dome in downtown Flint. Ron Fonger | The Flint Journal FLINT, MI -- Mayor Sheldon Neeley has told members of the City Council that the budget he delivered to them this month is the strongest hes put forward since he was first elected in 2019. Neeley made the comment during an initial hearing on his 2025-2026 budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, a financial plan forecasting general fund revenue of $64.2 million and expenditures of $68.5 million. The budget is proposed to be balanced by the use of $4.2 million in rainy day funds, lowering the available general fund balance to $29.2 million. It doesnt include higher water rates for residents despite higher prices the city will begin paying to the Great Lakes Water Authority on July 1. Instead, Neeley has proposed using $2 million in federal stimulus dollars to stabilize funding for the water system. The mayor spoke to council members for nearly an hour on Wednesday, March 26, taking a limited number of questions, and promising cooperation during department budget hearings scheduled to start next week and continue through early May. I view you all as partners ... We can actually continue to make this budget better and stronger, Neeley said. I congratulate you all because Flint was in the ER. It was in the ICU. It was on a respirator, but were stronger, were better ... Take a bow because we are all in this together. Neeley can veto any changes the council attempts to make to the proposed budget, and no changes in his budget proposal can take effect without two-thirds of the council voting to make them if they are vetoed, according to the citys charter. Among the areas highlighted by the mayor: Income taxes: Unemployment in Flint has dropped from nearly 14% at the close of 2020 to 6.1%, creating the potential for a boost in collections. Neeley said the city is developing enhanced tax collections with assistance from the state of Michigan that he expects could raise at least an additional $2 million annually. The income tax partnership has been discussed since at least 2023. Its going to be a blessing to this community, he said. Police and public safety: The mayors sixth budget proposal leaves the number of sworn police officers at 116. It increases the number of firefighter positions from 84 to 87. Weve been able to enhance the level of service and also provide (officers) a better wage, he said. Street lights: At least 300 new light poles are planned for the city as it carries out a $2.8-million program to switch from incandescent to LED street lights. The energy savings are projected to eventually drop the citys payment to Consumers Energy from $88,000 monthly to $41,000. Neeley said additional lighting will help reduce crime and violence. Flint Commerce Center: Neeley highlighted the development of the light manufacturing and distribution center and said it shows the potential for future business and economic growth. Last year, NanoGraf, an Illinois-based battery materials company and Victory Packaging, a company with ties to General Motors, announced plans to locate at the center. Next week, we will be announcing another partner in that development, Neeley said. Overdue water bills: Neeley said delinquent water bills continue to be a burden on the city and asked council members for their input on possible solutions. The city is owed $27 million on active water accounts, he said, and another $15 million on non-active accounts. Were working through ways to try to collect that ... (but) you cant get blood from a rock, he said. A former Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School teacher has been sentenced to nearly a year in jail for having a sexual relationship with a student. Bradley Massman | MLive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A former Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School teacher has been sentenced to nearly a year in jail for a sexual relationship with a student. Nicholas Coe Young, 27, was sentenced Thursday, March 27 to 330 days in jail for attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The city of South Haven has received reports of bird carcasses appearing. SOUTH HAVEN, MI After reports have surfaced of dead birds on the shores of Lake Michigan, the city of South Haven is urging residents to leave the carcasses alone and report die-offs of six carcasses or more. Reports include an online posting from someone who observed 40 or more dead ducks and a dead deer on one of the citys beaches. Reports of dead birds have been increasing, the city of South Haven said in a Wednesday, March 26, news release. The DNR asks anyone to report any die-offs of six or more wild birds at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField. The DNR also encourages reporting wild birds or other wildlife that appear sick. City staff will continue to monitor public beaches and remove any deceased wildlife. Property owners are responsible for the removal of deceased wildlife on private property, the city said. Encountering dead wild birds The city of South Haven advises the public to leave dead wild birds undisturbed whenever possible. Dead birds should be left to naturally decompose if they are in remote areas where they do not pose a risk to people or pets. Fresh carcasses can carry diseases, but the risk of virus transmission decreases as decomposition occurs, the city said. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a known threat to wild bird populations, the news release states. While some birds may carry the virus without showing symptoms, they can still spread the disease. HPAI can only be confirmed through testing, and caution should be exercised with all wild birds as HPAI is easily transferred to other wildlife and potentially pets. If bird flu is suspected in a domestic flock, contact Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) immediately at 800-292- 3939 (daytime) or 517-373-0440 (after hours). Report cases of unusual or unexplained deaths among wild bird populations to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at 517-336-5030. MDARD is monitoring and responding to reports of sick domestic birds and HPAI throughout the state, the news release states. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. KALAMAZOO, MI When Ling Wu decided to open a restaurant in Kalamazoo, she decided to do something a little different. For a decade, Wu operated China 1 in Vicksburg, a standard Chinese restaurant that also offered other Asian cuisine such as hibachi and pad thai. VAN BUREN COUNTY, MI After two days of jury selection, testimony is now underway in the long-awaited retrial of Linda Stermer, who has been out on appeal since December 2018. Stermer, now 60, was previously convicted in 2010 of murdering her 42-year-old husband Todd Stermer in January 2007 after setting the familys Lawrence Township home on fire. Muskegon Heights is creating a new position to oversee the completion of major road, park and other city projects. MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI - The city of Muskegon Heights is creating a new project manager position to help fill the gaps of not having a city manager for the last two years. On Monday, the city council approved a proposal for the position submitted by Melvin Burns, who had been serving as interim city manager until resigning in February. The new position has not been posted by the city for applicants to apply. The council has only accepted the proposal drafted by Burns, who has not officially been hired. Under the proposal, Burns would oversee major grant-funded projects and city services. These include the reconstruction of Broadway Avenue, Rowan Park renovations, other major road reconstructions and lead service line replacement projects. He would be paid $100 an hour, not to exceed $25,000 in 120 days. Mayor Bonnie McGlothin said the Michigan Department of Treasury has agreed to reimburse the city for that amount. At some point, somebody needs to be there to make sure this work is being done, and the grants are being reported, Councilman Andre Williams said. The council voted 4-2 to pass the project manager proposal. Council members Derrick Collins and Ronald Jenkins both voted against the measure. Council member Lashae Simmons abstained from voting but the city charter does not recognize abstentions. The city attorney referenced state statute, which recognizes abstentions as a no vote, and which supersedes the city charter. The city charter states that four yes votes are needed for approval, so either way, the vote would still have passed. The city attorney will now draft a contract, which the council will vote on in an upcoming meeting. The proposal from Burns also listed he would close out the 2024 fiscal year and 2024 audit and assist the post office with its relocation. RELATED: Muskegon Heights passes 2025 budget just in time to pay staff Former Muskegon Heights City Manager Melvin C. Burns II had served as the city's interim manager while it searches for a new one but recently resigned. He submitted a proposal to for a new city position, seeking to serve as a project manager. The city council has been grappling with what to do since Burns gave his resignation as interim city manager in January. The pastor of City Heart Ministries became the interim city manager in February 2023. Sometimes we get caught up because were looking for the perfect solutions and miss the opportunity to have a solution that will work for us, said Mayor Pro Tem Kellie Kitchen. Burns was present and spoke to the council at the March 25 meeting. He hadnt been present at the last several meetings, prompting some critical comments from council members at the time. Some questioned his scope of responsibility and motivations for coming back to work for the city. I didnt want to leave this city high and dry - I love this city, Burns said. I understand what happens if you dont keep these projects moving. Theres not somebody in the interim to keep them going. In no way am I trying to backdoor into being a city manager. I think I made that very clear. Im offering to help the city. Im offering with compensation. ... If Im not here, Ill be across the street in my church, pastoring, administering. What wasnt included in Burns proposal were all the other duties of the city manager, including payroll and employee contract negotiations and oversight of administration/employees. McGlothin will continue to oversee the other responsibilities, except for contract negotiations, she said. I cant, she said, adding that possibly the city attorney could, if he agreed to. No negotiations will take place until we get a new city manager. Want more Muskegon-area news? Bookmark the local Muskegon news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Muskegon daily newsletter. The Montauk shipwreck where it rests today, just east of Wheeler's Landing on the Saginaw River. Photo provided by Todd Shorkey BAY CITY, MI At certain times of the year when the winds howl just right or when drought saps the strength of the Saginaw River the water level in Bay City drops, and something eerie happens. From beneath the murky surface, the remnants of another era emerge the skeletal remains of ships, forgotten infrastructure, and the bones of industries long since vanished. The steamer Montauk. The schooner Chieftain. What was once the fleet of the James Davidson Shipbuilding Company. These artifacts, hidden for much of the year, serve as a kind of archaeological time capsule one that is open right now for all to see. The Montauk shipwreck where it rests today, just east of Wheeler's Landing on the Saginaw River. Photo provided by Todd Shorkey Montauk The Montauk can be found on the west side of the Saginaw River, near the east end of Wheelers Landing. A sidewheel passenger steamer, the vessel was launched in March 1891 in New York. It changed hands a few times, swapping names along that way. But in 1942, the ships upper decks were stripped off and its machinery was removed. What was left was sold to Lyons Construction Company in Michigan in 1944. It was meant to be turned into a barge but instead was towed to West Bay City and moored along what had once been the Wheeler shipyard. In 1976, the hull became partially submerged in the river. About a year later, someone set fire to the vessel. While the ships remains have slowly deteriorated, its steel hull remains partially visible when the river allows. The remains of the schooner Chieftain, near where the Cass Avenue Bridge once was in Bay City. Photo provided by Todd Shorkey Chieftain The schooner-barge Chieftains remains still lie in the Saginaw River near where the Cass Avenue Bridge once stood, its wooden ribs poking out of the water as though reaching for the heavens above. The ship was built by the James Davidson Shipbuilding Company in 1902. At 342 feet long, it was one of the largest wooden ships on the Great Lakes during its day. It changed ownership in the late 1930s and was tied near the Cass Avenue Bridge. It was considered abandoned by 1938 and then burned to the water in October 1953. The Davidson vessel graveyard, off Veteran's Memorial Park, near the Davidson Slip and Community Center. Photo provided by Todd Shorkey The Davidson Fleet The James Davidson Shipbuilding Company was once where Veterans Memorial Park is today, and you dont have to look to hard on a windy day to see the remnants of the once-busy business. Several of the ships built by the company were massive wooden schooner-barges. Others were steamers. Many of these vessels were more than 300 feet long, including the Sacramento, built in 1895. The Sacramento was a 308-foot ship that was modified in 1905 and then again in 1918. But the ship, like many others, was abandoned in its slip when the yard closed. It became part of the land where it sank, left to the elements, becoming overgrown and moldering. It met the same fate as other Davidson vessels left in the yard the Grampian, the Montezuma, the Shenandoah, the Matanzas and the Granada. When the Davidson Shipyard was acquired by Bay City for the expansion of Veterans Memorial Park, these ships were bulldozed, filled in and landscaped. But in the waters close to the parks edge you can still see some of their remains. 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. North Dakota regulators are evaluating whether to let Montana-Dakota Utilities collect rates from customers for a legal fight over which power company should cover the charges related to what MDU attributes to a data center in the state's northwest. The utility filed a challenge against findings by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in an appeals court after FERC turned down its request to be reimbursed for what MDU argues is a problem it did not cause. In summer 2023, northwest North Dakota experienced significant power grid strain that resulted in a two-year, monthly charge of $7.40 to MDU costumers. MDU was charged for the strain by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which is a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) that helps manage the grid. Those charges were what got passed on to customers. MDU is a part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), another RTO, but entered into a contract with SPP, paying it to use some of SPP members' lines in northwest North Dakota. The fee was the result of a mechanism called a "market-to-market" in which one RTO sends extra charges to the another to incentivize that RTO's utilities to turn on more power. But MDU had no excess local power to turn on, so the charge added up. The strain came soon after Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative -- a member of Basin Electric Power Cooperative -- connected the 200-megawatt Atlas Power Data Center to the grid, and MDU alleges that by using the market-to-market mechanism, SPP was charging it twice for the strain in the region mostly related to an entity that is not its customer. In addition to a refund, it sought to get FERC to terminate the market-to-market agreement. SPP's FERC filing in response to the complaint did not deny that the data center is contributing to increased strain but argued that MDU's customers in northwest North Dakota are a significant draw on power, as well. FERC sided against MDU. Since the strain occurred, Basin Electric and SPP began implementing a mechanism to cut off power to the data center if the line experiencing issues becomes overloaded. But company officials on Wednesday told the PSC that a similar issue could arise. This is because the infrastructure-constrained northwest part of the state is expected to see a large rise in electric demand, mostly related to customers of Basin or its co-op members. MDU has spent around $550,000 and expects another $500,000 with this petition, according to filings. MDU said that it should be allowed to collect these costs from its customers because a win in court would be to the benefit of its consumers. The official ask is for MDU to be able to defer these legal expenses into an asset at the PSC that accounts for the fees. It would then later seek approval for charging customers from that asset. If MDU is successful, then the utility's consumers will be reimbursed for charges related to the strain from 2023. But if it loses the case, then the costs to consumers will remain, along with whatever legal fees the PSC allows. Company officials also argued that a favorable court ruling would make new grid strain charges less likely for its customers because it is seeking to end the market mechanism that caused the issue. Commissioners expressed some skepticism on the merits of MDU continuing its pursuit of the rebates. "How often do you see FERC being overturned by the federal courts? ... At what point do we quit spending money on this if it's not likely to be successful?" asked Commissioner Randy Christmann. Darcy Neigum, MDU vice president of electric supply, said that it is "not uncommon." "I don't want to say it happens all the time, but it does happen," he said. The role that the data center played in the strain has been contested by other utilities, too. Basin and Mountrail-Williams officials in recent comments have blamed the strain at least partially on MDU for not investing enough in the area's electric transmission and generation since the Bakken oil boom began over a decade ago. That has caused electric demand to rise significantly. "How much did closing the Sydney plant impact this?" asked Christmann, referring to a 40-megawatt coal plant in northeast Montana that MDU shut down a few years ago. MDU said that even if the plant had remained open, it would not have provided enough local power to offset the strain from the summer of 2023. More broadly, the utility pushed back on the claims that its customers bear responsibility for the rising demands. "Since the Bakken growth started, I think we've added about 50 megawatts (of demand) total ... In contrast to that, the total load growth in the (area) is over 1,000 megawatts," Neigum said. Both investor-owned utilities, such as MDU, and cooperatives, such as Basin, pushed back on a proposed law to create a state siting process for data centers and other large power users earlier this year. The bill was later converted into a study. The PSC will rule later. 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I Accept Prabhas' team responds to the actor's wedding rumours with businessman's daughter: All are fake news 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. 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He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 13 years. Danish Khan 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 And you thought your glovebox full of unpaid parking tickets was impressive. Police detectives and patrol officers arrested Ahyoka Keith, aka Carol Ann Sumner, two weeks after she was charged with an astonishing 322 felonies and 327 misdemeanors by the Spring Township police department in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Keith is an over-the-road trucker, and her 649 warrants were related to the theft of thousands of dollars from a relative. 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She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com Adrija Chatterjee USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. 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While the exact total number of Fellows elected over this extensive period isn't readily available, recent classes provide some insight into the scale of this recognition. For instance, the 2024 class (417); the 2023 class included 502 scientists, engineers, and innovators from around the world. Similarly, the 2022 class comprised 508 individuals. Given that AAAS has been electing Fellows annually for over 150 years, it's reasonable to infer that thousands of individuals have received this honor to date.?ASTC+1MIT News+1Berkeley News The fellows will receive a certificate and a gold (science)-and-blue (engineering) rosette pin, symbolizing science and engineering, respectively, to commemorate their election. They will be celebrated in Washington, D.C., on June 7, and will also be featured in the AAAS News & Notes column of this months issue of the journal Science. 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I Accept Kunal Kamra asked to appear before Mumbai police on March 31 amid row over remarks on Shinde 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. 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I Accept 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. 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I Accept 'Wait and see': Jaishankar says India, US holding 'active and intense' talks on trade deal 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept News Live Updates: Finance Bill continues with govt policy of tax certainty, ease of doing business, says FM Finance Bill continues with govt policy of tax certainty, ease of doing business: FM Withdrawing of equalisation levy is not a reaction to President Trumps tariff wars: FM 2% equalisation levy was withdrawn after stakeholder discussions in July 2024, which was before Trump took office: FM Removal of 6% equalisation levy is a part of that process: FM 'Will destroy rights of Muslims': MK Stalin moves resolution in TN Assembly against Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 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. 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I Accept Will not apologise in this life: SP MP Ramji Lal Suman over remarks on Rana Sanga, cites Nehrus book 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 Services exports are booming, and this is just the beginning Steven Raj Padakandla is a faculty at IMT, Hyderabad. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Ritesh Kumar Singh is a business economist and CEO, Indonomics Consulting Private Limited. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. 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 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 SNM Abdi is an independent journalist specialising in Indias foreign policy and domestic 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. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Customer alleges Urban Company staff cancelled service when asked to speak in Kannada. Their response 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 Western New York CEOs don't have the sunniest view of state's business conditions. But they are also not as gloomy as they were a year ago. "There has been a lessening of the worsening over this year," said Don Levy, director of the Siena College Research Institute. In Siena's latest Upstate New York Business Leader survey, 52% of local CEOs said they believed business conditions in the state were worse than a year ago. In last year's edition, 63% of them said they felt that way. Levy said the survey's timing is pertinent. The poll was conducted from the day after Election Day until just days after President Trump's inauguration. "At the time we took the survey, there was a growing optimism among CEOs that there was a more business-friendly administration in Washington who would ease some of the regulatory and tax impacts that they suffer from," Levy said. Since then, the Trump administration's tariffs either implemented or threatened have created uncertainty for businesses that rely on cross-border commerce. "If we took this survey today, it's hard exactly to say what the response of the CEOs would be," Levy said. Each year, Siena's survey provides a glimpse of what local CEOs are thinking about the economy, the obstacles they face and their hiring plans. Ninety one of them participated in the latest edition, with 25% of them from the manufacturing sector. Looking forward, 40% of local CEOs said they expect business conditions to worsen this year, compared to 61% who felt that way last year. Twenty-four percent said they expected the economy to improve, compared to 15% last year. As for their workforce needs, 67% said they expected to keep their headcount the same. Twenty-four percent plan to increase their staff, while 9% plan to shrink their workforce. Finding workers remains a challenge. Seventy-four percent said there isn't an ample supply of local workers trained to meet their needs. The CEOs were asked to identify which challenges they were concerned with. Governmental regulation was the most frequently cited answer, followed in order by taxation, health care costs and rising supplier costs. The tariff question continues to loom over the local business community. Dottie Gallagher, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, pointed out how interconnected the local economy is with Canada, in everything from manufacturing to tourism. "We have local businesses that have customers and actually do part of their production in Canada that are not at all happy with what the tariffs mean to them," Gallagher said. "Even some of these executive orders have created a level of sort of uncertainty. Businesses generally don't like chaos. "I do wonder if we took a pulse today what that sentiment would feel like." But Gallagher said she has also spoken to a number of business leaders "who feel like, this is great, it's great that we're shaking things up and we're really looking at everything. So I do think people are all over the board about it." Tom Emmerling, managing partner of the Dopkins & Co. accounting and consulting firm, said the tariffs are also affecting Canadians in another way. "We're seeing a lot of interest of our friends to the North in buying businesses or real estate in Western New York, right now, trying to avoid those tariffs," he said. Overall, Emmerling said the sentiments the CEOs expressed in the Siena survey reflect what he hears from his firm's clients. "There's a little bit of optimism, but they are being cautious because of the potential risk," he said. Want to know more? Three stories to catch you up: Baidme wins SBA award Melissa Baidme has earned statewide recognition as a business owner. Baidme, the owner of C.K. Natural Fruit Juice in Westfield, was named the U.S. Small Business Administration's New York State Small Businessperson of the Year. "In 2021, Melissa seized an opportunity to purchase an existing juice concentrate manufacturing business in Chautauqua County and with the help of the Small Business Development Center at (Jamestown Community College), has grown her business exponentially including revenues, employees and product offerings," the SBA's Buffalo District office said. The statewide award puts Baidme in contention for national Small Businessperson of the Year. That award will be announced May 5. The SBA's Buffalo District office also recognized three other award winners. Tapecon, led by president Steve Davis, was named family owned business of the year. Janna Willoughby-Lohr of Papercraft Miracles LLC was named women-owned small businessperson of the year. And Air Force veteran Darius Myles of DMYLES Inc. was named veteran-owned small businessperson of the year. Job fair for Barrette workers Barrette Outdoor Living is preparing to shut down its plant at Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park. The state Department of Labor will host a job fair for the impacted employees at the company's plant on April 10. In a previous filing with the Labor Department, Barrette said the shutdown will eliminate 93 jobs, with the cuts scheduled to start May 5 and end by Dec. 31. THE LATEST A show and an Airbnb? Shea's is considering short-term rentals for an addition to its adjacent Smith Theater building. The long-delayed Iroquois Lofts project could begin construction as early as this summer. The Buffalo Together Fund is seeking last-minute applicants for its upcoming round of grants. 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. 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. Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Amsterdam mass stabbing: Five wounded, one arrested | What we know so far 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. 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I Accept 'No names, no targets, no locations': US Defence secretary on credibility of leaked chats on Yemen 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. 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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 U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-IL, shows a text messages by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a House Intelligence Committee hearing about worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 26, 2025. REUTERS Zaldy Dandan is a recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com/. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Chief executives for NPR and PBS defended their organizations' programming and made the case for public media in a congressional hearing Wednesday organized by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) to examine accusations that the two networks have a liberal bias. For more than two hours, NPR CEO Katherine Maher and PBS President Paula Kerger answered questions from members of a House subcommittee on government efficiency about the organizations' funding models and the alleged political biases of their organizations. Both rejected the notion that NPR and PBS pander to liberal audiences. Maher and Kerger both emphasized the geographic and ideological diversity of their audiences. "We have 43 million listeners from every state in the nation," Maher said. Kerger: "Each month, over 160 million television and online viewers explore the world through our trusted content." Both NPR and PBS receive funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the government-backed organization that has helped fund public radio and television since it was created in 1967. The CPB received $535 million from the government for fiscal 2025. A portion of that goes to the public broadcasters - accounting for roughly 1 percent of NPR's budget and 15 percent of PBS's budget - while a larger share goes directly to smaller member stations. Republicans have sought to strip NPR and PBS of federal funding, arguing that the public media networks have become biased and are a waste of taxpayer money because Americans have access to many other media options. Democrats and supporters of the organizations contend that there is no overwhelming bias, that access to free public media is an important part of a healthy information ecosystem and that federal funding is essential to maintaining local news programming - especially in rural areas of the country. The hearing, titled "Anti-American Airwaves" and spearheaded by Greene is adjacent to President Donald Trump's broader effort to discredit and sideline media organizations it opposes. In recent months, the administration has banned the Associated Press from White House events because the organization said it would continue to use "Gulf of Mexico" instead of "Gulf of America"; sued news outlets for coverage Trump didn't like; taken control of the White House press pool and has added more friendly outlets to the rotation; and used the Federal Communications Commission to investigate perceived enemies in the media, including NBC News, PBS and NPR. In the hearing, Greene accused NPR and PBS of being "radical left-wing echo chambers for a narrow audience of mostly wealthy White urban liberals." She specifically called out PBS for its programming about transgender people and NPR for its lack of coverage of Hunter Biden's laptop. And, along with nearly every other Republican in the hearing, Greene cited an essay written last year by former NPR senior editor Uri Berliner in which he criticized his then-employer for its alleged left-wing bias, as proof of the organization's partisan bent. "It's up to Congress to determine if Americans are going to continue to provide [NPR] with taxpayer funds to continue to pursue their progressive, or rather communist, agenda," Greene said. In his opening remarks, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-Massachusetts) blasted Greene for "stoop[ing] to the lowest levels of partisanship and political theater to hold a hearing to go after the likes of Elmo and Cookie Monster and Arthur the Aardvark." The "Trump administration is engaged in an actual disinformation campaign to minimize the catastrophic national security breach that was revealed earlier this week," he said, referring to a report in the Atlantic that high-ranking Trump staffers discussed secret war plans in a Signal chat to which they accidentally added a journalist. "If shame [were] still a thing, this hearing would be shameful," Lynch said. Kerger fielded a number of questions about PBS programming featuring transgender people. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Missouri) brought up a PBS documentary titled "Real Boy" about a "trans teen navigat[ing] adolescence, sobriety, and physical and emotional ramifications of his changing gender identity." Burlison asked Kerger why public funding would go toward this project. "That was a documentary that was produced for adults as part of our prime-time audience," Kerger said. "It was part of a point of view that we share to try to help people understand the wide breadth of experiences of people across the country." Maher, who started at NPR in March 2024, acknowledged that NPR's current editorial leadership agrees that the organization's initial failure to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story before her tenure was a "mistake." She also said she regretted several years-old tweets that have come under scrutiny, including one in which she called Trump a "deranged racist sociopath." But she maintained that NPR adheres to "unbiased, nonpartisan, fact-based reporting." "It is critical for the NPR newsroom to operate with the highest journalistic standards," Maher said. "That means that they do their jobs independently, and, as CEO, I have no editorial role at NPR." Ed Ulman, the president and CEO of Alaska Public Media, told the committee that Alaskans rely on public media for access to safety information and community connections. "We are more than nice to have," he said. "We are essential, especially in remote and rural places where commercial broadcasting cannot succeed." Ulman testified that Alaska Public Media encompasses one of more than 360 locally controlled and operated public television stations and one of more than 1,000 public radio stations throughout the country. He said these stations collectively reach nearly 99 percent of the American public, a scale that would not be possible without federal support from the CPB. News / National by Gideon Madzikatidze Zimbabwe's Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has sensationally disclosed that the country's borders are too porous hence the need for collaboration with India's technologically-advanced defence industry which has best military hardware for supply to combat smuggling and other security-threatening malpractices. Speaking during an interview at the India-Zimbabwe mini-defence exhibition (expo) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony in Harare this Friday, Muchinguri-Kashiri bemoaned spike in illegal (incuding smuggling) activities within and adjacent borders which can merely be thwarted using modern drone technology to fight the security scourge."It is quite disheartening that our borders are porous and we therefore need our local defence industry to collaborate with that of India which has more advanced drone technology with capacity to fight criminality. We are going to increase our surveillance system along border lines in order to curb smuggling of goods and other special resources," Muchinguri-Kashiri claims."We are working with Indian Defence Industries in complementing our own defence industry. So they are providing us with drones to patrol our porous borders," Muchinguri-Kashiri further said."If our defence forces use drone-technology with cameras, there is also a need for helicopters for reaction so it helps our army to see what modern technology is all about. That is why our President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) said we should mechanise, modernise, so that our defence is advanced," Muchinguri-Kashiri added."But it does not mean that we always import, but we are looking at everything, but ensuring that as time goes on, our own defence industry will manufacture and produce from within through joint ventures," Muchinguri-Kashiri promised.Meanwhile, India's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Bramha Kumar Ladies and Gentlemen, has announced that his country's engagement in the Defence sector came in the wake when Zimbabwe's Defence Minister led a 13-member delegation to India for Aero-India 2025, a biennial Aviation and Defence Expo which is the largest in Asia."On 10th of February during the same event, India and Zimbabwe signed an MoU on Defence cooperation, paving the way for enhanced engagements not only in training of personnel but also in Defence production and industry to industry engagement. I hope that this MoU will be an example of fast-track outcomes," Bramha Kumar said."India is one of the strongest military forces in the world with a total defence budget of US$74.7 billion making it the fourth highest globally in 2024. The Indian defence manufacturing industry is a significant sector of the economy. The industry is likely to expand and accelerate with rising concerns about national security and need for further modernisation with emergence of new defence technologies," Bramha Kumar added.Bramha Kumar said the growing demand over the last five years has made India as the fifth-largest importer of defence equipment to gain technological advantages over rival countries."Therefore, to modernise its armed forces and reduce dependency on external dependence for defence procurement, several initiatives have been taken by the government to encourage 'Make in India' activities via policy support initiatives in defence. Separately, two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh (in Central India) and Tamil Nadu (South East coastal area) are providing new opportunities for domestic and foreign investors to participate in Make in India initiative for defence production," Bramha Kumar announced.India has around 194 defence tech startups building innovative tech solutions to empower and support the country's defence production effort. While meeting the rising defence equipment demand domestically, India now exports to over 85 countries.Annual defence production hits record high of approximately US$ 15.34 billion in FY24 up by 16.7% from the previous year. With constant efforts, defence exports have realised US$ 2.63 billion in the last financial year up by 32.5% from its previous year.India's target is to reach US$ 6.02 billion worth of annual defence exports by 2028-29. The signing of the defence MoU and the maiden mini defence expo is a very important step when the two countries are aspiring to explore newer areas of cooperation.Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri disclosed that about 35 Military Commanders are currently in India in fulfilment of Zimbabwe's quest to establish a military hospital for education, piloting (Airforce), nursing or medical training and to ensure treatment of local patients using advanced equipment. News / National by Staff reporter The government has disassociated itself from a directive ordering schools in Gweru district to observe mandatory civic days to raise funds for Independence Day celebrations.This follows the circulation of a letter on Tuesday instructing all schools in the district to hold civic days to generate funds for purchasing regalia, food, fuel, and covering other unforeseen costs at the upcoming Independence Day commemorations in Gokwe, Nembudziya.The letter, addressed to the Provincial Education Director, was issued by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education's Gweru District Schools Inspector, Mahlokozera.In response, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education released a statement on Wednesday denying any involvement in the directive and announcing an immediate inquiry into the matter. The ministry also pledged disciplinary action against those responsible for issuing the unauthorized instruction.The Ministry has initiated an immediate inquiry into the matter.The official responsible for the directive will be required to provide a full explanation for their actions, which contravene established protocols.Disciplinary measures will be taken as appropriate, the statement read.The Ministry clarified that the government has already allocated sufficient funds for the Independence Day celebrations and that no financial contributions are required from schools or parents.Additionally, the Ministry urged teachers and school heads to disregard the directive."The Ministry has already secured adequate funding through the national budget for all Independence Day commemorations, including planned activities in Gokwe.There is no requirement for schools, learners, parents, or community members to contribute financially to these events," the statement added. Senator Marie Alvarado Gil View Photo Sacramento, CA Mother Lode Republican Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil will recognize a non-profit of the year awardee at a special ceremony at the state capitol. She is accepting nominations of non-profits in her district (specifically related to public safety) that are making an impact. District Four covers all of Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, and to the north, it stretches into the Lake Tahoe area, and to the south, it is down by Death Valley. Alvarado-Gil says, I will honor one awardee on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at the Capitol luncheon in Sacramento. In addition, I will also honor non-profit organizations in their local community with honorary recognitions. Nomination Requirements Must hold a current non-profit tax exempt status with services that address public safety, prevent crime, support first responders, or promote community resilience Must be located in Senate District 4 A Letter of Recommendation from a local elected official answering the following question: How has this nominee influenced public safety in your community? Complete nomination form online HERE. The deadline is Thursday, April 10, at 5pm. Scientists Found the Exact Angle That Turns a Crowd Into Chaos SciTech Daily The global majority is more conservative than the global North. Why? Institutional War Theory Climate/Environment Pandemics China? Trump says he may reduce China tariffs to help close a TikTok deal CNBC European Disunion La Commissione Von der Leyen chiede alle famiglie europee di preparare un kit di sopravvivenza per le crisi (quali non e specificato) con questo video che sembra una parodia, e che probabilmente verra rimosso presto. Voce, musica, risatine: tutto e semplicemente catastrofico. pic.twitter.com/gV18mHkgsl Paolo Mossetti (@paolomossetti) March 26, 2025 Old Blighty Estonias fears after UK cuts British troop numbers The Times 4 US soldiers missing from training exercise in Lithuania Anadolu Agency India Syraqistan 1\ The protests seem to have started spontaneously in small numbers & limited areas. Their grievances are genuine; people are tired, desperate for the genocide to end at any cost, many want Hamas to step down from gov to take away Israels pretext for the siege & killing But pic.twitter.com/efIXdnkvRl Muhammad Shehada (@muhammadshehad2) March 26, 2025 New Not-So-Cold War Zelensky: Putin will die soon, its a fact, and his safe and unsuccessful historical life will end. Im younger than Putin. Place your bets on me. My prospects are better. pic.twitter.com/5oiX2q1UZB MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) March 26, 2025 South of the Border Trump 2.0 Trump: All imported autos face 25% tariff beginning April 3 Detroit Free Press Over time, firms will have to move final assembly to the US but in the interim, the US market will be under supplied absent (expensive) imports and Americans may simply try to wait it out 6/ Brad Setser (@Brad_Setser) March 26, 2025 DOGE More evidence of government inefficiency and waste: Some idiot demanded that every federal employee email five bullet points of what they did last week, but failed to set up an inbox that could cope with that volume of incoming email, so the messages bounced. pic.twitter.com/xK2YBZyS5C Justin Wolfers (@JustinWolfers) March 26, 2025 2028 The 2028 Election Starts Now Americas Undoing SignalGate Um. So did @CENTCOM level a whole apartment building to kill one guy? pic.twitter.com/UQyhQU3NI4 Konstantin Toropin (@KToropin) March 26, 2025 Police State Watch FBI Becomes Rent-A-Cops for CEOs Ken Klippenstein. Everything just more in the open now. Deconstructing the new American oligarchy Blood in the Machine NEWAfter a day of uncertainty on where agents took Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk, she seems to be in a Louisiana facility. 1400 miles from where she was taken. A judge ordered to not take her out of state without 48 hour notice. She was detained last night.https://t.co/rJUEmLURnJ Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) March 26, 2025 Perilous Times for Personal Liberty Judge Andrew Napolitano Big Brother is Watching You Watch I wont connect my dishwasher to your stupid cloud Jeff Geerling Supply Chain Trumps Critical-Minerals Obsession Is Leading to Some Weird Places Kate Aronoff, The New Republic AI Apple says itll use Apple Maps Look Around photos to train AI The Verge Why Your Citys Street Grid Matters More Than You Think The Transit Guy Healthcare? Imperial Collapse Watch Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. Weve explained repeatedly that the Ukraine raw earths deal is based on extreme exaggeration of the mineral deposits that the Ukraine government owns (or to which it retained mineral rights) and therefore could offer to the US. Aside from the obvious problem that those rare earth reserves are disproportionately in Russian-controlled or Russian-claimed territory, the best of the rest is very likely to be in private hands. Think anyone is going to get very far were there attempts to seize them? Ukraine oligarchs have muscle and would sabotage any efforts (they are capable focusing minds even more by killing work crew. Equipment would have value on the black market). This post usefully catalogues many of the obstacles to this deal producing meaningful returns. That raises the question of why Trump has been so fixated on it, since his persistent efforts to get Zelensky to sign something goes beyond what would be necessary to make PR points (Ukraine owes us bigly, the Biden Administration was a patsy for providing so much support with no strings attached, I am a Big Man looking out for US economic interests). I keep falling back on the idea that this is yet another Trump dominance exercise. Having insisted Ukraine will sign a rare earths deal, hes going to persist until he gets something signed. By Andrew Topf, a journalist with over two decades of experience in newspapers, trade publications and as a mining reporter. Originally published at OilPrice The U.S. is eyeing Ukraines vast mineral wealthincluding rare earths, lithium, and titaniumas a way to recoup war-related aid. Experts warn that Ukraines rare earth deposits are overstated, outdated, and largely inaccessible. Despite the risks and limited returns, a minerals-for-reconstruction deal appears to be moving forward. 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. 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. Its 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. News / National by Nomalizwe Mbulu Call for Mass Protests on 31 March ZANU-PF Hits Back A Nation on Edge What's Next for Zimbabwe? HARARE - Outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza has launched a scathing attack on Zimbabwe's ruling elite, accusing top ZANU-PF officials of corruption and misgovernance. In a fiery national address titled "This is the Time for Action, Zimbabwe!", Geza named and shamed several high-ranking government officials, including Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, whom he accused of looting state resources.Geza, a former ZANU-PF central committee member, did not hold back in his remarks, vowing that war veterans will take matters into their own hands to ensure accountability. He assured Zimbabweans that these alleged looters will be confronted until they plead for President Emmerson Mnangagwa's resignation."We will not allow these criminals to continue plundering our nation while the people suffer. War veterans will deal with them decisively until Mnangagwa has no choice but to step down," Geza declared.As part of his campaign against corruption, Geza has called on all Zimbabweans to take to the streets on March 31 for a nationwide demonstration against the government. He emphasized that the protest is not just for war veterans but for all Zimbabweans suffering under the economic crisis."This is not about me, it is about the people of Zimbabwe. On March 31, we must unite and demand our country back from the hands of looters," he urged.However, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has declared that the protest is not sanctioned, warning that any attempts to hold demonstrations will be met with force. A ZRP spokesperson stated that "any illegal gathering or protest will be dealt with in accordance with the law."Geza's hard-hitting address has sparked outrage within ZANU-PF, with Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi reportedly leading calls for his arrest. Authorities have revived an old murder case against him in what his supporters claim is a politically motivated attempt to silence him.Additionally, the ruling party's Mashonaland West leadership, spearheaded by provincial chairperson Mary Mliswa and Minister Ziyambi, convened an emergency meeting where Geza was expelled from the party.Despite these threats, Geza remains defiant. He has assured Zimbabweans that he will soon provide a clear directive for mass action aimed at bringing down what he describes as a "dictatorship without wisdom or compassion.""This struggle is not for a few individuals; it is for every Zimbabwean who has suffered under this corrupt regime," he said.Authorities have since launched a nationwide manhunt for Geza, accusing him of incitement to violence, theft, and undermining the authority of the president. However, he remains in hiding and continues to communicate with his supporters, urging them to prepare for what he calls the "final push."With political tensions rising, Zimbabweans are bracing for potential unrest. Analysts warn that Geza's growing influence, coupled with increasing dissatisfaction within the security forces, could mark the beginning of a major political showdown.As March 31 approaches, all eyes are on Mnangagwa's government as it struggles to contain growing dissent within both the ruling party and the broader public.One question looms large: Will this be the moment that changes Zimbabwe's political trajectory? Only time will tell.---Nomalizwe Mbulu is an independent journalist covering Zimbabwean politics and social movements. If you think theres nothing new in Western wear, that all cowboy boots look the same, you should look at things through Jaylin Ramers eye. Cowboy boots are a canvas, explains Ramer, founder of Planet Cowboy. She started her brand in New York in 2013 (having sold other boots before that), and moved it to Nashville in 2020. She now has a store in 12South, plus a warehouse shop (with great deals) on Lindell Avenue. She designs and collaborates with other designers to create boots, scarves, T-shirts, hats, bolos, belts and buckles, often with bright colors and graphics that are fun and sexy but never twee. Hats, like the Teardrop Twist Flat Brim, offer a literal twist on the classic felt hat shape. The Western Twilly, a long scarf made from Italian silk, features Western outer space graphics and is designed to work as a headband, a neck scarf, a belt or a hatband. All around, the result is a line of Western goods that locals are proud to wear and that appeals to tourists who want a piece of Nashville to take home too. Ramer is of course aware of larger fashion trends shortie boots are less popular right now, and tall boots are back but she tends to draw inspiration from the world around her. One time, I was looking out the window of a plane, she says. I looked at the wing and the design on the wing and I thought, That would look really cool on a boot. Inspiration comes to me randomly. Ill look at a leaf, and I think, That would look really cool on a boot. She also leans on 1950s, 1960s and 1970s aesthetics and classic Western looks to develop her modern take. Because Ramer is a designer and an entrepreneur, her collections dont feel random, even if her muses do. She works with factories in Mexico to handcraft the boots she designs, collaborating on the use of high-quality leather, colors and structure so that the boots are both comfortable to wear (like a slipper with arch support, she says) and long-lasting. Future vintage, she likes to call them. While she prefers to sport fresh boots every year, shes also proud that her customers can wear a pair of Planet Cowboys for 20 or 30 years. Because a canary-yellow boot with rainbow stitching will never go out of style. Things are pretty good for Edgar Victoria. The lauded chef, known for his Mexico City-style street food, opened a brick-and-mortar location of Alebrije in East Nashville in January after several years of pop-ups around town (at the Drift Hotel, Bar Sovereign, NVR NVR, Bastion and Geodis Park, to name a few). The new restaurant, on the second floor of a multi-use building at Gallatin Pike and Eastland Avenue, doesnt have prominent outdoor signage. Even Victoria jokes that it kind of looks closed from the outside. That is, until you notice a line out the door, with people waiting to sit in one of the bright-yellow chairs and order Victorias tacos, which are served on tortillas made in house with nixtamal masa. Victoria immigrated to the U.S. when he was 10 years old. He built Alebrije on his childhood experiences; even the restaurant name comes from a Mexican folk figure. Victorias heritage, recipes and techniques are wholly part of the food he serves in Nashville. As hes trying not to stress out about those aforementioned lines, he notes that in Mexico City, much of the best food is eaten on the street. People just stand on the corner and eat, so when I saw a line of 30 people, I thought, This is becoming Mexico, he says, laughing. In fact, he was interviewed for this article on the phone from Mexico City, where he was visiting family and finding inspiration for some new dishes hes bringing back to Alebrije. (Hot tip: Dishes cooked over an open fire are coming soon.) Thats part of the reason people are willing to wait for a table at Alebrije. Victoria is bringing specific food to the city and infusing it with his own experience the immigrant experience. Increased Arrest Threat for Immigrants Amid Shifting Legal Ground Nashville under pressure as state and feds push for stronger legal muscle to arrest immigrants But some immigrants and first- and second-generation restaurant owners in Nashville are concerned about sharing their personal stories given the current backlash against immigrants. Theyre worried about harassment and the policies of the second Trump administration, including increased deportations and initiatives aiming to eliminate birthright citizenship and restrict access to school for undocumented children. Being unable to fully tell your story and promote your business handcuffs small businesses that already face additional challenges. Daniel Yarzagaray is a second-generation American, and he sees the fear his entrepreneurial peers are experiencing. He grew up in Nashville and learned about his Colombian heritage from his grandparents, who were from Cartagena. Yarzagaray learned to speak Spanish before he learned to speak English. He opened his Colombian food truck Chivanada in 2016, wanting to share delicious empanadas with the Nashville community. The trucks are on a regular schedule around town, and Yarzagarays team educates people about Colombian food and culture while serving the gluten-free, handmade pockets of goodness. In 2018, Yarzagaray started playing around with a pizza oven, eventually launching Pizza Assurda, a Neapolitan pizza truck. (Assurda means absurd in Italian and reflects his penchant for nontraditional pies.) Like Victoria, hes expanding his international food offerings despite the political climate. He sees some of his fellow business owners being reluctant to post on social media and otherwise share their stories, which is crucial to a small businesss success. Some are focusing on Spanish-language rather than English-language press, he says. Immigrant-owned and immigrant-run restaurants and food trucks are a significant part of Nashvilles culinary scene. According to a 2023 American Immigration Council report, immigrants make up 6.1 percent of Tennessees population (more than 430,000 in the state). Of those, 30,000 immigrants are entrepreneurs and of those business owners, a reported 11,300 are undocumented immigrants. In other words, says Julio Colby, worker rights attorney and Skadden Fellow at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, immigrants make up a disproportionate percentage of entrepreneurs in the state, founding business at higher rates than the state population overall. A 2019 report found that in the Nashville metropolitan area, immigrants were 29.8 percent more likely to be entrepreneurs than U.S.-born residents. Martha Silva, co-executive director for Conexion Americas, says 1 out of every 5 new entrepreneurs in the country is Latino, and the jobs they create are invaluable to the country. Hospitality and food service are some of the top industries for immigrant entrepreneurs. Since 2013, more than 100 entrepreneurs have worked with Conexion Americas Mesa Komal culinary incubator to launch and build their food businesses. About 50 percent of those businesses are owned by immigrants, Silva says. Silva says there is a general feeling of uncertainty among Mesa Komal clients. While only a portion of that relates to deportation crackdowns, uncertainty is not good for the bottom line. Small food businesses are struggling with higher ingredient costs (and not just eggs), and margins were already narrow. Customers may be cutting back on dining out due to their concerns about disposable income. If the workforce is concerned about deportations, it can be harder to hire. Also, current employees may be concerned about leaving their homes and may not come to work. How Local Outreach Groups Are Talking About Immigration Enforcement Talking to TIRRC legal services director Allen Shao King about knowing your rights In February, an immigration raid by plainclothes federal agents of a taco truck in Memphis made national headlines. There have not been similar reported incidents in Nashville yet, although most people interviewed for this article think it could happen. In 2018, nearly 100 people many Latinos who worked at a Bean Station meat-processing facility in East Tennessee were detained during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid. In 2023, the government paid more than $1 million to settle allegations of civil rights violations related to that raid. According to a recent article by the Nashville Banner, ICE made 117 immigration detainer requests in Nashville between Jan. 20 (Inauguration Day) and March 13, 2025. Many immigrant-owned restaurants employ family members, meaning their workforce is made up largely of immigrants. Restaurant owners interviewed for this article estimated that as much as 95 percent of their kitchen workforce is immigrants. Even if those folks are citizens or permanent legal residents (meaning they have a green card), they may be concerned about their family members who have different statuses. And, says TIRRCs Colby, in the current climate, it is somewhat irrelevant, as immigrants are afraid of being swept up in a raid. Stories are swirling nationally about citizens and permanent legal residents being detained without agents checking their status. While no one is immune from these concerns, white European immigrants tell the Scene they know they have privilege that immigrants of color do not. They see increasingly brazen anti-immigrant attitudes among some customers, particularly toward employees of color. They report hearing people say they wont eat at Mexican restaurants anymore and being belligerent to staff they perceive to be immigrants. Some of these immigrant entrepreneurs as well as first- and second-generation entrepreneurs, including Yarzagaray feel they can speak out on behalf of those who dont feel safe. There is a general fear right now, says Yarzagaray. Were trying to do something about it, helping with entrepreneurial training and giving time and money to those organizations helping people. Yarzagaray works with nonprofit The Aloe Family to help immigrants from Central and South America find job opportunities in Nashville. Many local organizations, including TIRRC, have know your rights information on their websites and are leading workshops to help small business owners know what to do if ICE agents show up. Many restaurant owners interviewed by the Scene with the promise of anonymity say they have told their staff not to let agents in without evidence of an arrest warrant. Silva encourages business owners to learn more about their rights and responsibilities and to get information from reputable organizations that have a history of working with immigrant communities, such as Conexion Americas, TIRRC and Catholic Charities. When asked how concerned he is about immigrant backlash and potential deportations as he expands his business, Victoria says, The answer is a little complex. In one way, no. We come in, we make great food, and we serve great food to all our friends. You cant really live your life in fear. You cant really let fear stop you from doing what you love to do. But he doesnt live in a vacuum. Since he was a child, hes been aware of the issues facing immigrants, and as he hears about proposals to prevent undocumented children from accessing education, hes disheartened. Maybe immigration is like 20 or 30 percent of that concern, he says. I think theres a lot of things happening in the country, and some of them feel unhuman. Like Yarzagaray, Victoria tries to help where he can, buying pens and paper for school kids and blankets for those experiencing homelessness. Instead of complaining about it or thinking about how unfair it really is, it is not going to change anything. So Id rather think about what can I do to help instead. Discussion of proposed gun reform legislation quickly turned into a heated exchange between Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) and Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) on Wednesday. At the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, Pearson presented House Bill 1392, legislation that would repeal Tennessees permitless carry law for firearms, which has been in place since 2021. He noted an uptick in gun violence since the bill was passed. Analysis from The Trace, a nonprofit journalism site focused on gun violence, found there were 11 percent more deaths from shootings in Tennessee in the 30 months after permitless carry went into effect, compared to the 30 months prior. Firearms are the leading cause of death among Tennessee children, according to the The 2024 "State of the Child in Tennessee" report from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. We have a responsibility to not let politics stop us from good public policy, Pearson said at the committee meeting. Realizing that the lives of our people is what is paramount, not the wishes of the NRA or the TFA or other people. We as legislators have the opportunity to right a wrong. Farmer, a member of the subcommittee, criticized Pearson for his absence at the legislature in recent months due to his brothers death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in December. I know every member in this committees been here this year working during committee, during session, voting on bills, Farmer said. And I know you may have some things going on, but you have not. So I dont think its fair for you to come in front of this committee and lecture us on hard work and convictions and hard work for our committee. Pearson responded, saying Farmers comments made him very, very angry. Shelby County Reappoints Justin Pearson to State House Memphis Democrat follows Nashville's Justin Jones back to the legislature after expulsions It is a pathetic excuse for you to not answer the question of why we are doing nothing about the gun violence epidemic, then to personally attack me, Pearson said. He continued, describing the past several months working through his grief with his family while also working with constituents in Memphis. Pearson then began yelling and pointing at Farmer from the podium. Pearsons bill then failed 2-7 in the subcommittee, which then broke for recess. Pearson quickly approached Farmer, continuing to yell. He was restrained by several people. Pearson released a statement about the altercation Wednesday night: I took issue with how Rep. Farmer mischaracterized my service and commitment to the people who elected me, Pearson said in the statement. Not being physically present in Nashville this session does not mean I have shirked my responsibilities as a state representative. My physical absence during this session was excused and does not preclude me from speaking up for my district or against my colleagues refusal to address the gun violence epidemic in our state and country. In fact, I not only spoke as an elected official, but also as a brother directly impacted by gun violence. Tensions over gun control legislation have heightened since the 2023 Covenant Shooting which took place exactly two years ago and Januarys shooting at Antioch High School. Pearson and fellow Democratic Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) were expelled from the state legislature by their Republican opponents in 2023 following their protests against gun violence on the House floor. The two who along with Knoxville Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) became known as the Tennessee Three were quickly returned to their seats by their constituents. Several other Democrat-led bills aiming to curb gun violence were deferred or failed in the House subcommittee Wednesday. HB 563/SB 807, sponsored by Nashville Democrats Rep. Caleb Hemmer (D-Nashville) and Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville), would have made it a class-C misdemeanor to store a firearm or ammunition in a vehicle while a person is not in the vehicle, unless the firearm or ammunition was kept locked in a trunk, utility or glove box or locked container. It also would have required the owner of the firearm to report the loss or theft to law enforcement within 24 hours. That bill failed in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee Wednesday. Lab leak confirmed? Boris Johnsons stunning reversal on COVID origins sparks global debate Boris Johnsons memoir claims COVID-19 was "entirely man-made," reversing his earlier wet market narrative and aligning with growing evidence of a Wuhan lab leak. U.K. emergency committee COBRA reportedly had intelligence supporting the lab leak theory during the pandemic, but officials and scientists remained silent. A 2024 U.S. congressional report concluded COVID-19 likely originated from a lab, citing gain-of-function research, lack of animal reservoir and early suppression of whistleblowers. Experts, including former MI6 officials, warned early that the virus was engineered but were dismissed a pattern echoing past government censorship of inconvenient truths. Despite mounting evidence, legacy media and authorities continue downplaying the lab leak theory, raising concerns about transparency and future pandemic responses. For years, the origins of COVID-19 have been shrouded in secrecy, censorship and political maneuvering. Now, former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dropped a bombshell in his new memoir, Unleashed, declaring that the pandemic was "entirely man-made" and likely the result of a lab leak in Wuhan, China. His admission marks a dramatic reversal from his earlier claims that the virus emerged from a wet market a narrative aggressively pushed by global health authorities. From wet markets to lab leaks: A political about-face During the height of the pandemic, Johnson publicly blamed "demented" traditional Chinese medicine practices and unsanitary wet markets for COVID-19s spread. Yet in his memoir, he now writes: "The awful thing about the whole COVID catastrophe is that it appears to be entirely man-made in all its aspects... Some scientists were clearly splicing bits of virus together like the witches in Macbeth eye of bat and toe of frog and oops, the frisky little critter jumped out of the test tube and started replicating all over the world." This shift aligns with mounting evidence from intelligence reports and independent researchers. YouTube commentator Dr. John Campbell, a vocal advocate for COVID transparency, praised Johnsons admission, stating: "I couldnt have put it better myself... We actually know more by what is not said than what is said, because very often what is said is controlled." The Daily Mail reported that COBRA, the U.K.s emergency committee, had intelligence supporting the lab leak theory during the pandemic but faced a "deafening silence" from the scientific and political establishment. The science behind the cover-up A December 2024 U.S. congressional report concluded that COVID-19 "most likely" emerged from a lab a finding Campbell attributes to Chinas refusal to release critical data. Key evidence includes: Gain-of-function research The Wuhan Institute of Virology was conducting risky experiments enhancing viruses transmissibility and lethality, often with lax safety protocols. Single origin theory Unlike natural zoonotic outbreaks, COVID-19 appeared suddenly without an identified animal reservoir. Early suppression Whistleblowers and independent scientists were dismissed as conspiracy theorists, despite compelling evidence. "Since the select committee commenced its work in February 2023, more and more senior intelligence officials, politicians, science editors and scientists increasingly have endorsed the hypothesis that COVID-19 emerged as the result of a laboratory or research-related accident," the report stated. Historical parallels: Why this matters now This isnt the first time governments have suppressed inconvenient truths. In March 2020, a team of top U.K. scientistsincluding former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove and virologist Birger Sorensensent a classified briefing to Downing Street warning that COVID-19 was likely engineered. Their findings were ignored. Professor Gwythian Prins, part of that team, revealed in a recent interview: "We were dismissed as conspiracy theorists... Yet everything that has happened in the last five years has made me and the rest of the team increasingly furious, because our advice was not taken." Their warnings were vindicated when even the New York Times and CIA begrudgingly admitted the lab leak theory holds weight. The fight for truth continues Johnsons memoir exposes a disturbing pattern: scientific dissent was silenced, alternative treatments suppressed and lockdowns enforced with "medieval" severityall while the origins of COVID-19 were obscured. As Campbell noted: "Former prime minister seems convinced by the lab leak. Im convinced. I think most of you are as well. Strange that a lot of aspects of legacy media seem to be still poo-pooing this self-evident belief." The question remains: Will those responsible for this global catastrophe ever be held accountable? Or will history repeat itself in the next pandemic? Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org TheIndendent.com Telegraph.co.uk Speaker Johnson warns Congress may defund or disband rogue courts targeting Trump House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) warns that Congress has constitutional authority to defund or dismantle federal courts, citing a "judicial insurrection" against President Trump. Congress last used its Article III powers during Reconstruction to reshape courts; Republicans now face activist judges issuing nationwide injunctions to block Trumps agenda. Since January, Trump has faced 137 lawsuits double his first term with only two resolved, stalling executive actions on policy, appointments and national security. Conservative legal experts accuse left-wing judges of acting as policymakers, with cases like D.C. Judge Amir Alis $2B foreign contract ruling exemplifying judicial overreach. Conservatives urge SCOTUS to ban nationwide injunctions, while Johnson threatens legislative action if courts continue obstructing Trumps administration. The American constitutional order is under siegenot from foreign adversaries, but from an entrenched judicial elite hellbent on sabotaging the Trump administration at every turn. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has had enough. In a fiery declaration Tuesday, Johnson invoked Congress constitutional authority to defund or even dismantle federal courts engaged in what conservative legal experts are calling a "judicial insurrection" against President Donald J. Trump. Congress strikes back: The constitutional nuclear option We do have authority over the federal courts, as you know, Speaker Johnson warned in a live interview. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power over funding for the courts and all these other things. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act. So stay tuned for that. Johnsons threat is not mere bluster. Under Article III of the Constitution, Congress holds the power to shape the federal judiciaryincluding abolishing lower courts, stripping their jurisdiction, or cutting their budgets. This authority, rooted in the nations founding, was last seriously considered during the Reconstruction era, when Radical Republicans restructured Southern courts to combat Confederate sympathizers. Today, Republicans face a similar crisis: activist judgesmany appointed by Obama and Bidenissuing nationwide injunctions at a record pace to paralyze Trumps agenda. Since January 20, President Trump has faced 137 legal challengesmore than double the 65 nationwide injunctions that plagued his first term. Only two cases have been closed, leaving the administration bogged down in litigation over executive orders, personnel appointments and national security policies. The Lefts lawless judiciary: A coordinated assault on democracy Josh Hammer, senior counsel at the Article III Project, minced no words when describing the crisis on The War Room with Steve Bannon: This is a full-on judicial insurrection The first Trump administration from 2017 to 2021 faced 65 nationwide injunctionsmore than the first 44 presidents combined. Theyve picked up in January as if they hadnt lost a beat. Hammers assessment is chillingly accurate. Left-wing judgeslike D.C. District Judge Amir Ali, who attempted to force the Trump administration to pay $2 billion in foreign contractsare acting as de facto policymakers, not impartial arbiters. Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily blocked Alis order, but the damage is already done: the judiciary has become a weaponized arm of the resistance. This is not how Americas system of checks and balances was designed to function. Thomas Jefferson, in an 1804 letter to Abigail Adams, warned that an overreaching judiciary would render it a despotic branch. Abraham Lincoln, in his first inaugural address, condemned judicial supremacy, declaring that allowing courts to dictate constitutional law would mean Americans had ceased to be their own rulers. The path forward: Will SCOTUS rein in the chaos? The Supreme Courts recent intervention in Judge Alis case offers a glimmer of hope, but conservatives are demanding more. Hammer laid out the stakes: Unless and until SCOTUS cleanly rules that lower courts cannot issue nationwide injunctions, we risk letting this whole second Trump administration get hamstrung They must act. The question now is whether Chief Justice Roberts and the Court will finally curb this judicial overreachor if Congress will be forced to take drastic action. Speaker Johnsons warning is a shot across the bow: If the courts continue their lawless crusade against Trump, the legislative branch will respond with the full weight of its constitutional authority. A republic under attack The Lefts judicial sabotage is not just an assault on President Trump its an assault on the very foundations of American self-governance. If unelected judges can unilaterally veto presidential actions, democracy itself is a farce. Congress must act. The Supreme Court must act. And if they wont, the American people must demand accountabilitybefore the judiciary completes its coup. Sources include: YourNews.com JustSecurity.org TheGatewayPundit.com Netanyahu gifts Sen. Fetterman silver pager to commemorate Israeli terror attack on bigLebanon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday gifted Senator John Fetterman a silver pager to commemorate Israel's deadly terror attack on Lebanon. (Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com) John and Giselle Fetterman are in Israel this week meeting with Netanyahu as he resumes full on genocide in Gaza. Netanyahu gifted @SenFettermanPA a silver pager, commemorating Israel's terror attacks. Fetterman: "When that story broke, I was like oh I love it, I love it." pic.twitter.com/3KftAYXpSX AIPAC Tracker (@TrackAIPAC) March 19, 2025 "What can I give a man who has everything? How about giving him a beeper? This is a silver-plated beeper," Netanyahu told Fetterman. "The real beeper is, like, one-tenth the weight. It's nothing, but it changes history." "When that story broke, I was like, 'Oh, I love it! I love it!'" a giddy Fetterman responded, praising Israel's terror attack that injured thousands of civilians and killed at least 42 people. "And now, it's like, thank you for this!" The exchange was made in Jerusalem during Fetterman's second trip to Israel, Jewish Insider noted. Last month, The Intercept reported that members of Fetterman's staff quit due to frustration that they "were just working on Israel all the time." Netanyahu similarly gifted President Trump a golden pager to commemorate the attack when he visited the White House in February. The attack, which involved rigging consumer goods with explosives and then detonating them en masse with zero concern for collateral damage, is a tremendous source of pride for Jewish Zionists.' "Do you want a beeper?" US State Department Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt cracks repugnant joke making light of the Israeli terror attack which killed children and left thousands maimed in Lebanon, including nurses Lipstadt, a Biden admin official, was pic.twitter.com/gJcDEpGEMN Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) September 22, 2024 ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told the Israeli Knesset in January that the kind of "genius" behind the Jewish state's pager attack on Lebanon is now needed to fight antisemitism. WATCH: ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt says the kind of "genius" behind the pager attack on Lebanon is now needed to fight antisemitism. He said this in a speech to the Israeli Knesset just days ago. Is this a terroristic threat? pic.twitter.com/RcW0jUlltX Chris Menahan ?? (@infolibnews) January 13, 2025 Young victim of Israels pager attack tells Iraqi TV I was playing on my phone at home. I heard the pager ring, I didn't know that sound. I grabbed it, and I barely had time to press OK before it exploded When Biden officials make pager jokes, this is what theyre laughing at: pic.twitter.com/6dWONulNwr Wyatt Reed (@wyattreed13) January 10, 2025 The Trump administration has been rounding up critics of Israel for deportation to cheers from the ADL. Read more at: InformationLiberation.com Was JFKs assassination orchestrated by a CIA double agent? New evidence points to James Angleton as the architect Former CIA counterintelligence chief James Angleton, appointed by fired Director Allen Dulles, may have orchestrated JFKs assassination. His name is missing from declassified files, fueling suspicions of a cover-up. JFK reportedly clashed with Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion over nuclear inspections at Dimona and refused to share nuclear tech. His threat to expose AIPAC as a foreign agent further angered Israeli leadership, allegedly prompting the assassination. A fervent anti-communist, Angleton allegedly viewed JFK as a traitor for his diplomacy with the USSR. The report claims he smeared Kennedy in Dallas and may have acted as a double agent for Israel. President Donald Trump questioned the lone-gunman theory, noting possible CIA involvement. Newly released files, though deemed "unspectacular," include claims of agency factions plotting the assassination. Despite decades passing, key documents remain withheld, and Angletons absence from records suggests deeper concealment. Conservatives argue this underscores the need for accountability and full transparency. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy remains one of the most scrutinized events in American history. Decades after his murder in Dallas on November 22, 1963, newly released documentsand explosive claims from intelligence insiders suggest that the official narrative of a lone gunman may be a carefully constructed facade. According to a State of the Nation (SOTN) exclusive report, fired CIA Director Allen Dulles handpicked James Jesus Angleton, the agencys notorious counterintelligence chief, as the Architect of the JFK Assassination. Yet, despite the latest declassification of Kennedy files, Angletons name is conspicuously absent raising urgent questions about what the government is still hiding. The Israeli connection: Why JFK had to go The SOTN report alleges that Israels leadership specifically then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion ordered Kennedys assassination after the president refused to share nuclear technology with Tel Aviv. Kennedy had also threatened to isolate Israel unless it allowed international inspectors into its Dimona nuclear facility, a demand that infuriated Ben-Gurion to the point of resignation. Adding fuel to the fire, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy was pushing for AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) to register as a foreign agent a move that would have exposed the extent of Israeli influence in U.S. politics. The Zionists here or there would never agree to that, the report states, since AIPAC was specifically set up to turn the U.S. Federal Government into a full-blown ZOG (Zionist Occupied Government). This explosive claim aligns with long-standing suspicions that Kennedys foreign policy stances particularly his resistance to unchecked Israeli nuclear ambitions made him a target. Angleton: The cold warrior who turned on his own president James Angleton was no ordinary spook. Educated at Yale and mentored by British intelligence, he became the CIAs foremost expert on Soviet espionage. But his paranoia and fanatical anti-communism led him to view Kennedy as a traitor. Kennedys backchannel diplomacy with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, bypassing the CIA, convinced Angleton that the president was a communist sympathizer and thus expendable. The SOTN report claims Angleton actively smeared JFK in Dallas before the assassination, circulating flyers that painted him as soft on communism. Even more damning, the report cites classified documents suggesting Angleton was a double agent for Israel, further implicating foreign involvement in the plot. Trump revives the conspiracy debate The release of new JFK files has reignited public skepticism about the official narrative. In a recent interview with OutKicks Clay Travis, President Donald Trump cast doubt on the lone gunman theory: I do [think Oswald killed JFK], and I always felt that, but of course, was he helped? Nobody could say. Trumps remarks echo the sentiments of millions of Americans who distrust the Warren Commissions findings. The newly released documents though described by Trump as somewhat unspectacular contain intriguing details, including claims from a CIA informant that a faction within the agency orchestrated the hit. The cover-up continues Kennedy was killed in Dallas in November of 1963. Police arrested Oswald who was killed two days later by nightclub owner Jack Ruby, in front of television news cameras, when Oswald was being moved by police. Six decades later, the truth about JFKs assassination remains buried beneath layers of government secrecy. The absence of Angletons name in the latest document dump is telling why shield a man who died in 1987 unless his role was far darker than admitted? For conservatives, this isnt just about history its about holding power accountable. If the U.S. intelligence community could conspire to murder a sitting president, what else are they capable of? The fight for full transparency isnt over. And as Trump hinted, the real story of November 22, 1963, may still be waiting to be told. Sources include: StateoftheNation.info TheEpochTimes.com SAN.com News / National by Stephen Jakes PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has been applauded for calling for the government to stop the raids on informal traders and confiscation of their wares by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and local authorities.The developments came after the representatives of informal traders visited the President at his official residence- State house in Harare on Wednesday.Just recently Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe issued a directive to local authorities to clean their streets of all illegal traders on account of challenges of littering and overcrowding that they cause in cities and towns.Speaking to the vendors' representatives, Mnangagwa urged them to feel free. He said the government will come up with a solution that will move the country forward."As we are all aware the informal sector plays a crucial role in Zimbabwe's economy, providing livelihoods for millions of citizens. However, there have been some worrisome trends affecting the sector, that if left unchecked will have dire ripple effects to our country and over shadow the important role of this critical sector," he said."An attempt by government to formalise your sector and create decent work spaces should never be seen by vendors and the informal sector as a direct threat to your survival,"He urged the traderrs to conduct their businesses in an orderly manner.Coordinator of the informal traders and vendors in Matabeleland Max Mkandla who is also the President of Residents and Churches Peace Network said thanks the president and the Minister to wlcome them during the visit to state house."We manaaged to follow all protocals to access the state house because of the pressure we got from the traders. We under stand that the government was given wrong information that tye traders were selling drugs," Mkandla said.He however lamented that there are some genuine people who are trying to survive through selling goods but had their goods taken.He also said it was sad that there are those who sell illegal drugs who mix with the genuine traders causeiing these problems."We made the president to understand the issues around the traderrs. So the ministrer will go around to monitor the situation. If all is done well these people are creating jobs and it will not been seen that there are no jobs in the country. We now appeal for the local government to make sure that toilets are constructed in vending arewas to ensure clean environment," he said.He urged the government to respect the traders because they are keeping te country going. The problem is that there are drugs dealers who pretend to be traders. He warned that there are measures being taken to arrest those drugs dealers."We call for peace, peace is needed for development," he said. Rep. Michael Cloud and Mike Adams: Will Texas ENERGY BOOM help power the AI revolution? Texas is becoming a central player in America's artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, attracting major tech companies like Tesla, Oracle and OpenAI due to its business-friendly policies and abundant energy resources. However, the state faces the challenge of meeting the soaring energy demands of AI data centers. AI data centers consume significantly more energy than traditional operations, with a single AI search using 10 times the energy of a standard Google search. Texas' energy grid, managed by ERCOT, is under pressure to provide reliable and scalable energy to support this growth. Texas' reliance on intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar poses risks to grid stability. Rep. Michael Cloud advocates for a diversified energy portfolio, emphasizing the importance of base-load power sources such as nuclear, natural gas and coal, with modern nuclear reactors offering a scalable and flexible solution. Water scarcity is another critical issue, as energy production often requires significant water resources. Texas is exploring innovative solutions, such as rainwater collection, to address this challenge and streamline regulatory processes for sustainable energy expansion. Texas' energy-friendly policies, abundant resources and resilient culture position it to lead the AI revolution. By balancing growth with sustainability, investing in advanced energy technologies, and addressing water scarcity, Texas can solidify its role as a 21st-century economic powerhouse. Texas, long celebrated for its oil fields and independent spirit, is now emerging as the epicenter of America's artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Tech giants like Tesla, Oracle and OpenAI are flocking to the state, drawn by its business-friendly policies and abundant energy resources. But as the Lone Star State positions itself as the nation's AI hub, a critical question looms: Can Texas generate enough energy to power its own success? In a recent "Health Ranger Report" interview, the Health Ranger Mike Adams and U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) talked about the challenges and opportunities of Texas' energy boom. As the state welcomes unprecedented investments in AI data centers, the demand for reliable, scalable energy is skyrocketing. But with this growth comes a pressing need to rethink Texas' energy strategyone that balances innovation with sustainability and resilience. AI data centers are energy hogs. According to Cloud, a single AI search consumes roughly 10 times the energy of a traditional Google search. As AI technology advances, the energy demands of these data centers will only grow. Texas, already home to some of the nation's largest data centers, is now facing the daunting task of meeting this exponential energy demand. "We're going to need every pie we can make," Cloud said, emphasizing that the Lone Star State must embrace a diverse energy portfolio to keep pace with its booming tech sector. The state's energy grid, managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), is under increasing pressure to deliver not just more energy, but more reliable energy. The case for base-load power One of the key challenges Texas faces is its reliance on intermittent energy sources like wind and solar. While renewable energy has played a significant role in the state's energy mix, its variability poses a risk to grid stability. Cloud highlighted the importance of base-load power energy sources that provide consistent, on-demand electricity such as nuclear, natural gas and coal. "We need to be looking at reliable base-load energy," said the congressman representing Texas' 27th congressional district. "Let's do more nuclear. The technology has advanced way more than it was 20 or 30 years ago with small modular reactors along with others everything else that's in the mix." (Related: Small modular reactors provide nuclear energy solutions for under-developed countries.) Nuclear energy, in particular, has emerged as a promising solution. Modern nuclear reactors are designed with fail-safes that prevent catastrophic failures, making them a viable and scalable option for Texas' energy needs. Unlike wind and solar, nuclear power can be ramped up or down based on demand, providing the flexibility required to support AI data centers and other high-energy industries. Energy production isn't the only challenge Texas must address. Water scarcity is another critical issue, especially as energy generation often requires significant water resources. Cloud pointed out that Texas' Gulf Coast offers an abundant water supply but harnessing it effectively will require innovative solutions. Cloud said water is going to be one of the big challenges as Texas looks to expand energy production. He added that Texans are now exploring ways to streamline regulatory processes and make federal investments to address this issue. Rainwater collection is one potential solution. In Central Texas, for example, some facilities are already using rainwater for industrial purposes, reducing reliance on treated well water. Cloud acknowledged the potential of such initiatives, noting that every family could benefit from simple rainwater collection systems. Texas is uniquely positioned to lead the AI revolution Despite these challenges, Texas is uniquely positioned to lead the AI revolution. Its energy-friendly policies and abundant resources make it an attractive destination for tech companies seeking to build massive data centers. Unlike states like California, which have imposed strict regulations on energy use, Texas offers a welcoming environment for innovation. "Texas is sitting on the new currency of the golden age of our future, which is energy," Adams said. The state's culture of resilience and self-reliance also plays a crucial role. Texans have a long history of stepping up to meet challenges, whether its recovering from natural disasters or building world-class industries. This can-do attitude, combined with a commitment to innovation, positions Texas to thrive in the AI era. As Texas continues to attract tech investments, the state must strike a delicate balance between growth and sustainability. Diversifying its energy portfolio, investing in next-generation nuclear technology, and addressing water scarcity will be key to ensuring that Texas can power the AI revolution without compromising its future. The Lone Star State's golden age is just beginning and the world is watching. Follow Power.news for more news about energy sources in America. Watch the full interview between U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Health Ranger Report: Texas Rep. Michael Cloud explains how to RESTORE AMERICA. Texas grid faces AI-driven energy crunch: 99GW demand surge sparks debate on fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables. Energy expert: Texas power outage could have been prevented with significant investment. Sources include: Brighteon.com Cloud.House.gov The Anti-Defamation League is thrilled with the Trump administration for taking up their Title VI "anti-Semitism" complaints against Yale University, University of Massachusetts Amherst and Scripps College. (Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com) The ADL's complaints were filed together with Zionist activist Kenneth L. Marcus' Israel First lawfare group the Brandeis Center. Marcus was Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education from 2018 to 2020 during Trump's first term. From The Anti-Defamation League, "U.S. Department of Education Opens Investigations into Antisemitism Complaints Against Several Colleges and Universities": [...] There has been some concern around what changes to the Department of Education would mean for fighting campus and K-12 anti-Semitism. We are pleased to see the Department continuing to move forward rapidly on Title VI complaints, and in some cases, they are well exceeding historical norms for prompt action, said Hon. Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman of the Brandeis Center and the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education who ran OCR during two administrations. While the Anti-Semitism Task Force is investigating ten campuses and OCR has warned sixty of them, the federal government has the bandwidth and the will to expand its investigations well past the initial campuses and they are clearly just getting started. These public-private partnerships remain vital. We welcome the Department of Educations move to open investigations into ADL and the Brandeis Centers joint filings at UMASS Amherst; Yale University; and Scripps College, said ADL VP of National Litigation, James Pasch. The experiences of the Jewish students at these institutions have been emblematic of what we have seen across the country, and that must change, and it must change now. Jewish students being threatened, harassed, and in some instances assaulted, have no place on our campuses, and we hope these investigations will yield positive changes that reverberates on campuses coast-to-coast. Jewish students deserve equal access to a safe campus environment. American University has failed to provide that, so we took action, said Jewish on Campus CEO and Co-Founder Julia Jassey. We welcome this investigation from the Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights, which we expect to hold the university administration accountable and lead to a safer campus environment for all. We also echo the call from students that with impending changes and restructuring to the Department of Education, the federal government must continue to protect the rights of and access to educational opportunities for students from all protected backgrounds. We are thrilled that the Department of Education has opened an investigation into Fulton County, and we are encouraged that the OCR is not falling for the typical excuses, said Mark Goldfeder, CEO of NJAC. There is a difference between protected political speech and thinly-veiled anti-Semitism, and this case highlights the very real danger of what can happen when perpetrators and administrators alike are allowed to confuse speech with acts and conflate politics with demonizing and discriminatory hatred. God willing the final result will be a safer space for all. Anti-Musk NGO behind color revolution against Tesla mass deletes content off website after being exposed are scrambling toafter theirahead of a planned. The rogue nonprofit is part of the same network that backed the BLM color revolution several years ago, which unleashed widespreadcall comes amid a, as far-left activists have firebombed Tesla vehicles, supercharging stations, and showrooms (Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com) DEVELOPING: Video provided to the Review-Journal shows several @Tesla vehicles engulfed in flames after Las Vegas police say they were set on fire by an individual early Tuesday morning. UPDATES? https://t.co/sZQr9j1E5Apic.twitter.com/uXeLsdpTVl Las Vegas Review-Journal (@reviewjournal) March 18, 2025 Natalie Winters, the co-host of Steve Bannon's 'War Room: Battleground', wrote on X, "The wife of former U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, who led the prosecution of 1,500+ Jan6ers, is on the Board of Indivisible. This Soros-backed group is the leading organizer of anti-Trump protests and violent Tesla acts. Deleted webpages reveal this connection." ? The wife of former U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, who led the prosecution of 1,500+ Jan6ers, is on the Board of Indivisible . This Soros-backed group is the leading organizer of anti-Trump protests and violent Tesla acts. Deleted webpages reveal this connection ?????? pic.twitter.com/oRmN1eUbZz Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) March 24, 2025 Don't worry about the deleted web pages a basic dive into public data reveals that Matthew Graves' wife, Fatima Gross Graves, is the director of the rogue NGO. Small world. In a separate X post, Winters posted the latest financials that show the Indivisible Project received "$7.26 million worth of Soros grants to Indivisible since 2018 alone," adding, "The most recent financial report shows Soros funds comprising over half of all foundation grants. Just 23% of their donations were small dollar." Heres $7.26 million worth of Soros grants to Indivisible since 2018 alone. The most recent financial report shows Soros funds comprising over half of all foundation grants. Just 23% of their donations were small dollar. Maybe tropes and stereotypes exist for a reason. https://t.co/g4BS3hY4uapic.twitter.com/dK8IpJMDH0 Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) March 25, 2025 On a separate X thread, Elon Musk commented on Laura Loomer's post about the NGO "mass deleting content off their website after being called out for their organization of Tesla Takedown protests." Musk replied to Loomer's post with a single word: "Interesting." It certainly isconsidering Musk, DOGE, and the FBI are reportedly working to uncover the roots of the dark NGO network, including its law firms and funders, as well as slash taxpayer funds funding this mess ahead of Indivisible's planned color revolution against Tesla, which could begin on April 5. Loomer posted an image of one deranged leftist holding a sign at a "Tesla Takedown" protest with words that said: "Elon is a Nazi we must STOP DOGE." In the tiny text under baseless Nazi rhetoric against Musk, the URL of the rogue nonprofit was shown: "indivisble.org." Yesterday while he was reporting on the Tesla Takedown in Manhasset, NY, @CcpSkipTracer saw this sign that said @elonmusk IS A NAZI. The sign had the branding from Indivisible on it. @IndivisibleTeam is one of the main groups that is organizing the anti-Elon, Tesla Takedown https://t.co/X1WD4SY1Iepic.twitter.com/in0q3UxAr5 Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 24, 2025 The founders of Indivisible plan to deploy their rent-a-protester network to generate a lot of noiseartificial noiseto sway public opinion and poll numbers. It's the same unoriginal Democratic Party playbook used during the BLM riots, and one that closely mirrors tactics seen in color revolution operations historically orchestrated by U.S. intelligence agencies abroad to overthrow foreign governments. The good news this time is that taxpayer funding should be limited with USAID, which DOGE and Trump nuked. Translating what this Indivisible kid is saying. They use a small group of activists to make a lot of noise to create the perception that what Trump is doing is unpopular and that open borders, massive spending, a bloated government, transing kids, the green new scam, failing pic.twitter.com/LjM12nq2Tg The Researcher (@listen_2learn) March 21, 2025 On Mobilize.US, Indivisible's Chicago protest page describes the organizers of the upcoming April 5 protest: Join the Chicago Federation of Labor, Equality Illinois, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Indivisible Chicago, Personal PAC, Sierra Club Illinois, and many others to rally and march opposing Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the Trump Administration's catastrophic attacks on our nation and the world. As one X user noted, this is all a "PRELUDE TO THE SUMMER OF LOVE."... We all remember the BLM riots. PRELUDE TO THE SUMMER OF LOVE ? TWO FIREBOMBS found at a Tesla showroom in Austin yesterday. Soros-backed groups like Indivisible are escalating a campaign of terror against Elon Muskbecause hes exposing their green grift. Elon Musk is a threat to the green grift Ann Vandersteel? (@annvandersteel) March 25, 2025 Other radicals involved in the Tesla Takedown color revolution operation: ???BREAKING: SOROS-FUNDED GROUPS BEHIND TESLA PROTESTS I am shocked... The usual suspects strike againActBlue-funded groups Troublemakers, Disruption Project, Rise & Resist, Indivisible Project, and Democratic Socialists of America are reportedly behind the Tesla protests. https://t.co/ZlhmSAniedpic.twitter.com/bw0S58nPfX Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 8, 2025 Additional reporting: If politics is all about optics, GPS data has revealed just how manufactured the Democratic Party's image truly is. Democrats are severely misguided in their approach to improving poll numbers, with recent surveys from NBC News and CNN showing the party at record-low approval ratings of 27% and 29%, respectively. The Overton Window shifted last year, and the days of rioting and burning down private and public propertyrecall the BLM riotsare no longer socially acceptable in the minds of the majority. Ironically, the same radical leftists who once pushed to defund everything during BLM riots are freaking out about DOGE's effort to cut government waste and fraud. Read more at: ZeroHedge.com Canada freezes $43M in Tesla rebates in retaliation against Musks Trump ties Canada froze $43M in Tesla rebates and barred the company from future EV incentives, citing U.S. tariffs but appearing to target Elon Musk. Critics call the move political payback over Musks ties to Trump and his role in U.S. government efficiency reforms. Tesla was singled out while other foreign automakers still qualify for Canadian rebates, exposing a double standard. The freeze harms middle-class EV buyers and escalates trade tensions ahead of Canadas election. The decision weaponizes environmental programs for political retaliation, risking long-term damage to Canadas EV market. In a move critics call blatant political payback, the Canadian government has frozen $43 million in rebate payments to Tesla and barred the company from future electric vehicle (EV) incentive programs. Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the decision Tuesday, citing U.S. tariffs as justification, but the timing and selective enforcement suggest the real target is Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a key ally of President Donald Trump and head of his administrations Department of Government Efficiency. The freeze, which halts subsidies for thousands of Canadian Tesla buyers, comes just weeks before Prime Minister Mark Carneys April 28 election call in what some are describing as a calculated escalation in Canadas trade dispute with the U.S. While Freeland claims the move protects Canadian interests, the government continues to subsidize other foreign automakers, revealing a willingness to weaponize environmental programs against political opponents of its left-wing agenda. A crackdown with suspicious timing Freelands office insists the rebate freeze is a response to Teslas "extraordinary number of claims" before Canadas iZEV program ended in January. One Quebec dealership alone sought nearly $20 million for 4,000 sales in a single weekend in a surge Freeland called "suspicious." Yet critics note the Carney administration fast-tracked the investigation only after Musks high-profile role in Trumps government efficiency push, which slashed bureaucratic waste and drew progressive ire. "As soon as I became Transport Minister, I asked the department to stop all payments for Tesla vehicles," Freeland said in a statement. But the freeze aligns neatly with broader Canadian efforts to punish U.S. firms over Trumps tariffs, which include a 25% levy on Canadian goods set to take effect April 2. Double standard for foreign automakers While Tesla faces exclusion, Canadas rebate programs remain open to other foreign manufacturers, including Chinas BYD and Germanys Volkswagen. British Columbia Premier David Eby openly admitted the bias, stating, "I think that if British Columbians heard that $10,000 of taxpayer money was going to Elon Musk, they'd want to throw up, so we removed them from the program." The inconsistency undermines Freelands claim of protecting "Canadian interests." Instead, it exposes a pattern of targeting Musk, whose conservative ties and Trump advisory role have made him a lightning rod for progressive backlash. Even before the rebate freeze, Tesla dealerships in Ontario and Montreal faced vandalism by activists protesting Musks politics. Musks leadership in Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, tasked with streamlining federal bloat, has drawn fierce opposition from liberals on both sides of the border. His cost-cutting measures saved taxpayers billions but alienated bureaucratic elites in a rift that is now spilling into trade policy. "Tesla is a peaceful company; weve never done anything harmful," Musk told Fox News Sean Hannity earlier this month. But in Canada, his company is treated as a political foe. The freeze risks harming middle-class EV adopters who relied on rebates to afford Teslas vehicleswhile doing nothing to address the tariffs Freeland decries as "illegitimate." Canadas punitive stance toward Tesla sets a troubling precedent: environmental programs, ostensibly designed to combat climate change, are being hijacked to settle political scores. By singling out Musk while subsidizing competitors, the Carney administration reveals its priorities lie not with consumers or the planet, but with silencing dissent. As Trumps tariffs loom, Canadas retaliation against an innovator like Tesla may backfire, pushing automakers to bypass the country altogether. The country is sending a dangerous message: cross the progressive establishment, and even green incentives wont save you. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com NYPost.com Newsweek.com CDC finally halts $11 billion COVID funding scam as health officials admit the pandemic was a fraud The CDC is cutting $11.4 billion in COVID "emergency" funding to health departments and NGOs, finally admitting the "pandemic" was over years ago. Despite Joe Biden declaring the pandemic "over" in 2022, HHS continued funneling billions into fraudulent testing, vaccines, and global COVID projects. The funding cuts come as HHS slashes millions from other dubious initiatives, including vaccine hesitancy research and HIV prevention programs. Dr. Robert Malone exposes the truth: The U.S. administrative state only relinquished emergency powers when forced by Congress. The great COVID money train grinds to a halt For over four years, the U.S. government and its corporate allies in Big Pharma and the medical-industrial complex perpetuated a multi-billion-dollar COVID-19 fraud one built on false-positive PCR tests, exaggerated death tolls, and the suppression of effective treatments. Now, in a stunning admission of defeat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is finally pulling the plug on $11.4 billion in COVID funding to state health departments, NGOs, and international recipients. This move comes two years after the Biden administration quietly acknowledged the "pandemic" was overyet continued pumping taxpayer dollars into a crisis that never truly existed. The CDCs decision to withdraw funding is a tacit admission that the entire COVID-19 response was a manufactured crisis, propped up by emergency funds and fraudulent testing protocols. From the beginning, the PCR test a tool never designed to diagnose active infection was weaponized to inflate case numbers by using absurdly high cycle thresholds (CT values), ensuring a steady stream of false positives. Hospitals were incentivized to label deaths as "COVID-related," while effective early treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine were suppressed in favor of deadly protocols like remdesivir and ventilator overuse. Andrew Nixon, HHS director of communications, stated plainly: "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." Yet this admission raises a critical question: Why did it take so long? The truth is, the pandemic-industrial complex had no incentive to stop. As long as emergency funds flowed, health agencies, pharmaceutical giants, and testing laboratories had a financial motive to keep the fear alive. Even after Biden declared the pandemic "over" in a 2022 60 Minutes interview, HHS continued dumping money into COVID testing, vaccines, and global initiativeslong after the public had moved on. Dr. Robert Malone, a pioneer of mRNA technology turned whistleblower, exposed the real reason behind the sudden end to emergency powers: "The bottom line is that the imperial U.S. administrative state will never give up these unconstitutional powers until forced to do so." Indeed, it wasnt until congressional pressure mounted that the Biden administration reluctantly relinquished control. Key points to consider for a phantom pandemic that wont seem to die The CDC quietly ended its COVID-19 emergency funding, effectively admitting the pandemic was artificially sustained by fraudulent PCR testing. High cycle thresholds generated false positives, inflating case numbers to justify lockdowns, mandates, and dangerous medical protocols. Hospitals misdiagnosed patients, leading to deadly iatrogenic errors while suppressing effective treatments. The pandemic narrative would have collapsed in 2020 if not for billions in taxpayer-funded testing fraud and further investments into Operation Warp Speed. For over three years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) perpetuated one of the greatest medical frauds in modern history a "pandemic" sustained not by a deadly virus, but by a rigged testing system designed to manufacture fear. Now, as the agency quietly terminates its COVID-19 emergency funding, the truth is undeniable: the pandemic was a financial and political construct, propped up by fraudulent PCR testing, inflated case counts, and a deliberate suppression of medical alternatives. From the beginning, the CDC and its corporate partners weaponized the PCR test, using absurdly high cycle thresholds (CT) to generate false positives. Laboratories routinely ran tests at 35-45 CT, far beyond the scientifically valid threshold of 25-30, ensuring that harmless viral debrisoften indistinguishable from common coronaviruseswas mislabeled as "COVID-19." This deception allowed governments to justify lockdowns, mask mandates, and ultimately, the rollout of experimental mRNA injections. The PCR deception: how false positives fueled a fake pandemic The PCR test was never intended as a diagnostic tool. Its inventor, Kary Mullis, repeatedly warned that it could not determine infection or illness. Yet the CDC exploited this flaw, instructing labs to use high CT values that detected meaningless genetic fragments. A 2020 New York Times investigation revealed that up to 90% of "positive" cases at 40 CT were likely false. Portugals Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that PCR tests were unreliable for diagnosing COVID-19. The WHO quietly admitted in 2021 that high CT values distorted results, yet the CDC continued the charade. Had the CDC used scientifically valid testing standards, and symptom specific diagnostic criteria, and admitted to multiple mutations of the original strain, the pandemic would have vanished by mid-2020. Instead, hospitals were incentivized to label every death as "COVID-related," while patients suffering from heart disease, pneumonia, or bacterial infections were misdiagnosed, isolated, and subjected to lethal protocols like remdesivir and ventilator overuse. Hospitals as killing fields: how protocols and mandates worsened the crisis Under the CDCs guidance, hospitals became death traps. Patients testing positiveregardless of symptomswere funneled into dangerous treatment pathways: Remdesivir, a failed Ebola drug with a 53% mortality rate in trials, was pushed as the standard of care. Ventilators were overused, destroying lung tissue in patients who needed oxygen support, not mechanical intubation. Early treatments like ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamin D, C, zinc, and a plethora of antivirals and anti-inflammatory medicines were censored, despite overwhelming clinical success abroad. The result? Countless patients died not from COVID-19, but from medical malpractice. Autopsies later revealed that many "COVID deaths" were actually due to blood clots, organ failure from remdesivir, or ventilator-induced lung damage. This carnage was used to justify a failed vaccine program that perpetuated the medical atrocities. The great admission: CDC ends the money flow to a phantom pandemic Now, with emergency funding drying up, the CDC has effectively admitted the truth: the pandemic was a financial scheme. Without billions in taxpayer dollars propping up testing labs, the illusion collapses. No more inflated case counts from fraudulent PCR cycles. No more money for vaccine propaganda. No more hospital kickbacks for COVID diagnoses. No more fear porn to justify endless boosters. The CDCs funding cut is a small victory in a much larger war against medical tyranny. But the damage has already been done. Millions were misdiagnosed, mistreated, or killed by iatrogenic hospital protocols. Natural immunity was ignored while ineffective, dangerous vaccines were pushed on the public. The media, tech giants, and government agencies colluded to silence dissent, turning science into dogma and medicine into a profit-driven racket. Now, as the curtain falls on this grotesque charade, one must ask: Will there ever be accountability? Or will the architects of this disaster the CDC, the WHO, and the pharmaceutical cartels simply move on to the next "crisis," leaving behind a trail of broken lives and a betrayed public? Sources include: Lifesitenews.com NBCNews.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond: A stark warning from history for the modern world Jared Diamond's "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" (2005) explores the environmental, economic and social factors that have led to the collapse of past civilizations, using case studies to draw lessons for modern societies. Diamond examines societies like the Norse in Greenland, the Maya, Easter Islanders and the Anasazi, highlighting their failures due to deforestation, soil erosion, water mismanagement and an inability to adapt to environmental changes. The book also highlights societies like the Icelanders and Tikopians, who overcame environmental challenges through sustainable practices, offering hope for modern societies. Diamond identifies eight categories of environmental damage (e.g., deforestation, water mismanagement, overpopulation) and five key factors (e.g., environmental damage, climate change, societal response) that determine whether a society collapses or thrives. Diamond emphasizes that modern societies face similar challenges but have unique advantages like technology and global communication. He calls for collective action by governments, corporations and individuals to address environmental and societal issues, stressing that the future depends on the choices made today. Jared Diamond's "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" offers a sobering yet hopeful examination of how civilizations rise and fall. Published in 2005, this groundbreaking work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Guns, Germs, and Steel" delves into the intricate web of environmental, economic and social factors that have led to the collapse of past societies and what their fates might teach us about our own. Through vivid case studies, from the vanished Norse settlements of Greenland to the thriving farms of modern Montana, Diamond challenges readers to confront the choices that will determine whether our societies flourish or falter. The book opens with a striking comparison: Huls Farm in Montana and Gardar Farm in Greenland. Both were once the largest and most prosperous farms in their regions, yet their trajectories could not be more different. Huls Farm, owned by five siblings and their spouses, thrives in a booming county, sharing advanced agricultural technology with its neighbors. Gardar Farm, however, lies in ruins, a relic of the Norse society that once dominated southwestern Greenland. Abandoned for over 500 years, Gardars stone walls are all that remains of a civilization that collapsed under the weight of environmental mismanagement and societal inflexibility. Diamond meticulously examines societies such as the Maya, Easter Islanders and the Anasazi, all of whom faced similar challenges: deforestation, soil erosion, water mismanagement and the inability to adapt to changing circumstances. Despite their ingenuity, these societies ultimately undermined their survival by failing to address the environmental damage they caused. But Diamond's message is not one of doom. He also highlights societies that have successfully navigated environmental challenges, offering hope for the future. The Icelanders, for instance, learned from their early mistakes of overgrazing and deforestation, implementing sustainable practices that have allowed them to thrive. Similarly, the Tikopians, inhabitants of a tiny Pacific island, have managed their resources so effectively that their society has endured for over 3,000 years. At the heart of "Collapse" is a framework of eight categories of environmental damage that have historically led to societal decline: deforestation and habitat destruction, soil problems, water management issues, overhunting, overfishing, the impact of introduced species, human population growth and increased per-capita environmental impact. These challenges, Diamond argues, are not relics of the past but pressing issues for the modern world. One of the book's most compelling insights is the role of societal decision-making in determining outcomes. Diamond identifies five key factors that influence whether a society collapses or succeeds: environmental damage, climate change, hostile neighbors, friendly trade partners and the society's response to its problems. Diamond also addresses the unique challenges of the modern world. Unlike in past societies, we have access to advanced technology, global communication and a wealth of historical knowledge. However, these advantages come with their own risks. Globalization, for instance, can spread both solutions and problems at an unprecedented pace. "We live in an interconnected world," Diamond notes. "A collapse in one region can have ripple effects across the globe." The book concludes with a call to action. Diamond argues that the most powerful forces in the modern world governments, corporations and individuals must work together to address environmental and societal challenges. Ultimately, "Collapse" is a profound meditation on the choices that shape the fate of societies. Diamonds meticulous research and engaging storytelling make the book both a compelling read and a vital resource for understanding the challenges of our time. As he writes in the closing pages, "The future is not predetermined. It depends on the choices we make today." For readers seeking to understand the forces that have shaped human history and the lessons they hold for our future "Collapse" is an indispensable guide. Learn more about the book "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" by watching the video below. This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com DEADLY DECEPTION: How COVID vaccines increased mortality rates and why authorities hid the truth Analysis by Steve Kirsch suggests Pfizers COVID vaccine increased all-cause mortality by at least 14.3%, while Modernas shot raised it by 20%, based on real-world data from Czech Republic records and VAERS reports. Governments, particularly the U.S., have withheld critical vaccine safety data, unlike the Czech Republic, which openly published mortality records. Critics accuse authorities of intentionally obscuring risks. Surveys and studies, including a Norwegian review, indicate that vaccine side effects may have contributed to deaths, especially among the elderly, with some estimates suggesting vaccine-related fatalities were nearly as common as COVID deaths. The rushed approval and coercive promotion of COVID vaccines mirror past failures like thalidomide and the 1976 swine flu vaccine, raising concerns about repeating deadly mistakes. Despite mounting evidence, theres been no systematic investigation (e.g., autopsies) or political pressure for transparency, leaving many questioning whether profits and power overshadowed public safety. The COVID-19 pandemic will go down as one of the greatest medical betrayals in history. While governments and pharmaceutical giants assured the public that experimental mRNA vaccines were "safe and effective," mounting evidence now suggests these shots may have been deadlier than the virus itself. The shocking numbers: Pfizer 14%, Moderna 20% higher mortality According to an explosive analysis by researcher Steve Kirsch, Pfizers COVID vaccine likely increased all-cause mortality (ACM) by at least 14.3%, while Modernas shot was even worse, raising mortality by at least 20%. These figures are not wild speculationthey are derived from real-world data, including: Czech Republic mortality records, which found Modernas vaccine increased deaths by 20% compared to Pfizer. VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) data, which showed 1.4 times more death reports per Moderna dose than Pfizer. Kirschs method was simple: If Modernas vaccine increased mortality by 20% over Pfizer, and VAERS showed Moderna had 1.4 times more deaths per dose, then Pfizers shot must have increased mortality by at least 14.3%. "Thats a train wreck," Kirsch wrote. "In short, the cure was far deadlier than the disease." They dont want you to know The most damning part of this scandal is not just the alarming mortality ratesits the deliberate suppression of data. The Czech Republic published detailed vaccine mortality records, proving transparency is possible without violating privacy. The U.S. government, meanwhile, refuses to release similar data, leaving researchers to piece together the truth from incomplete sources like VAERS. "Its not a privacy concern," Kirsch noted. "The Czech Republic proved you could do it without any privacy problems whatsoever. I guess in the US, its better to keep the population in the dark when it comes to vaccine safety." Where are the calls for accountability? "Its not like you are hearing Senator Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren or Susan Collins or Bill Cassidy calling for data transparency," Kirsch observed. "That only happens in your dreams." Real people, real deaths A Rasmussen survey found that "nearly as many Americans believe someone close to them died from side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine as died from the disease itself." This aligns with a Norwegian Medicines Agency review, published in The BMJ, which found that 36% of the first 100 post-vaccination deaths in nursing homes were "likely" or "possibly" caused by the Pfizer shot. "Frail patients can benefit from vaccination," claimed Sigurd Hortemo, a senior medical consultant at the Norwegian Medicines Agency. "Nevertheless, the expert group believes that, for some of these frail patients, common adverse reactions may have contributed to a more serious course of their disease." In other words, for the elderly and vulnerable, the vaccine may have hastened death rather than prevented it. Echoes of past medical scandals This is not the first time authorities have rushed dangerous medical interventions onto the public. Thalidomide (1950s-60s): Marketed as a "safe" pregnancy drug, it caused severe birth defects before being pulled. Swine Flu Vaccine (1976): Rushed to market, it led to Guillain-Barre syndrome in hundreds before being halted. Now, history repeats itself. Millions were coerced into taking experimental shots under the guise of "emergency use," while dissenting doctors were silenced, and adverse events were downplayed. Where are the autopsies? Despite thousands of reported deaths post-vaccination, there have been no systematic autopsies using histopathology to confirm vaccine-related fatalities. "They will never find what they refuse to look for," Kirsch warned. "Why arent Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and all the others calling for transparency?" A reckoning must come The evidence is mounting. The vaccines may have killed more people than they saved, especially among the elderly and frail. Yet, instead of transparency, people get censorship, deflection and denial. Will there ever be accountability? Or will this go down as another dark chapter in medical historywhere profit and power trumped human lives? One thing is clear: The truth cannot stay buried forever. Sources include: Substack.com TheBMJ.com TheBurningPlatform.com Endgame: The Hidden Agenda 21 unveils a world of conspiracy and control In "Endgame: The Hidden Agenda 21," Vernon Coleman argues that recent global events are not random but part of a calculated plan by powerful elites to implement a "Great Reset" or "New World Order," aiming to centralize control over all aspects of human life, from healthcare to the economy. Coleman views the COVID-19 pandemic not just as a health crisis but as a tool to advance this agenda, using lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccines to condition the public to accept increased government control. The book highlights the use of fear as a control mechanism, suggesting that alarming news and shifting guidelines are designed to keep the public anxious and compliant, facilitating the implementation of restrictive policies. Coleman warns against the push for a cashless society and the rise of smart cities, arguing that these technologies enable unprecedented surveillance and control over individuals' lives, eroding privacy and personal freedoms. In a world where uncertainty often reigns, author and commentator Vernon Coleman's latest book, "Endgame: The Hidden Agenda 21," has emerged as a lightning rod for debate and discussion. Coleman presents a bold and unfiltered analysis of the global landscape. He argues that recent events are not random, but part of a meticulously orchestrated plan by powerful elites. His central thesis revolves around the concept of a "Great Reset" or "New World Order." He posits that this agenda, with roots tracing back to the post-World War II establishment of the United Nations, aims to centralize power and control over every facet of human life. From healthcare and education to the economy and the environment, Coleman asserts that the endgame is a technocratic society where individual autonomy is subservient to the whims of a ruling elite. One of the most contentious aspects of Coleman's argument is his characterization of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Rather than viewing it solely as a health crisis, he sees it as a catalyst for the implementation of sweeping changes that would have been unthinkable under normal circumstances. Lockdowns, mask mandates and the rapid development of vaccines, he argues, are not merely public health measures but tools to condition the public to accept greater government control. Coleman delves into the psychological tactics employed by those in power, particularly the use of fear as a means of control. He suggests that the constant barrage of alarming news headlines and ever-changing guidelines are designed to keep the public in a state of perpetual anxiety and compliance. This fear-driven approach, he contends, is a key component of the agenda to reshape society as it allows for the implementation of policies that would otherwise face significant resistance. The book outlines several key elements of the plan for global control. One of these is the push for a cashless society, which Coleman argues would give governments and financial institutions unprecedented control over financial transactions and personal freedoms. The elimination of cash, he suggests, would enable the tracking, monitoring and potential censorship of every transaction. Another element is the promotion of smart cities and the Internet of Things. Coleman warns that these technologies are being used to create a surveillance state, where every move is tracked and analyzed. From facial recognition cameras to smart meters and biometric data collection, he believes these tools are being deployed to monitor and control the population. Coleman is particularly critical of the attack on individual freedom and autonomy. He argues that the agenda seeks to erode basic rights and freedoms, replacing them with a system of control and conformity. From the erosion of privacy to the suppression of dissent, he believes these measures are designed to create a compliant and submissive population. The role of education in this agenda is also scrutinized. Coleman suggests that the education system is being used to indoctrinate young people with the values and beliefs of the elites. From the promotion of political correctness to the suppression of critical thinking, he believes the aim is to produce a generation of obedient and unquestioning citizens. Throughout the book, Coleman emphasizes the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of vigilance and resistance. He calls on readers to question the official narrative, think critically and stand up for their freedoms. He warns against the dangers of complacency and apathy, urging readers to stay informed, question authority and resist attempts to erode their freedoms. In a time when the world is grappling with unprecedented challenges, Coleman's work invites readers to engage in critical reflection and take action to protect the values they hold dear. As Coleman himself would argue, the fight for a free and just society is far from over. Watch this video about Vernon Coleman's book, "Endgame: The Hidden Agenda 21." This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com America First? Foreign-born judges dominate D.C. Court, shaping key Trump casesshould Americans be concerned? One-third of active judges in the U.S. District Court for D.C. are foreign-born, all appointed by Obama or Biden, and have presided over high-profile cases challenging Trumps policies. Historically, the courts senior judges were U.S.-born, but since 2014, Obama and Biden appointed five foreign-born judgesnone with prior judicial experiencewho have ruled on contentious Trump-era policies. Critics argue these judges display bias, citing rulings against Trumps policies (e.g., military spending, transgender service and foreign aid) and past statements criticizing Trump. Some legal experts warn of "judicial supremacy," where courts increasingly override elected leaders, creating conflicting rulings that the Supreme Court must resolve, straining the judicial system. The issue centers on whether inexperienced, potentially ideologically driven judges should wield significant influence over U.S. policy, questioning the judiciarys role as a neutral arbiter versus a political tool. In the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, where pivotal legal battles over presidential authority, military policy and immigration are fought, a striking trend has emerged: one-third of the courts active judges were not born in the United States. All five of these foreign-born juristsappointed by Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Bidenhave presided over high-profile cases challenging former President Donald Trumps policies, raising questions about judicial impartiality, national allegiance and the qualifications of those entrusted with interpreting American law. The revelation comes as Trump, now back in office, faces renewed legal resistance from the judiciaryparticularly in Democrat-leaning districts like Washington, D.C. Critics argue that the concentration of foreign-born judges with no prior judicial experience in such a powerful court suggests a deliberate effort to shape legal outcomes rather than uphold constitutional principles. A shift in judicial appointments Historically, the D.C. District Courts senior judgesmany appointed as far back as the Reagan erawere all U.S.-born. But beginning in 2014, the trend shifted under Obama, who appointed two foreign-born judges with no prior bench experience: Judge Tanya Chutkan, born in Jamaica, now oversees a case challenging Trumps efforts to slash government spending. Judge Amit Mehta, born in India, will preside over civil lawsuits seeking to hold Trump financially liable for the January 6 protests. The trend accelerated under Biden, who appointed three more foreign-born judges: Judge Ana Reyes, born in Uruguay, blocked Trumps executive order restricting transgender military service. Judge Amir Ali, born in Canada to Egyptian parents, reinstated $2 billion in foreign aid paused by the Trump administration. Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, born in Trinidad and Tobago, recently ordered the reinstatement of a Democratic appointee to a federal labor board. Notably, none of these judges had prior judicial experience before their appointmentsa departure from traditional norms emphasizing seasoned legal careers. Judicial activism or constitutional duty? Supporters of these judges argue that birthplace should not disqualify someone from serving, emphasizing their legal credentials and American upbringing. But critics contend that their rulings reveal a pattern of activism, particularly in cases involving Trump. Judge Ali, for example, once criticized Trumps travel ban as rooted in "prejudice and intolerance"a stance that raises questions about impartiality when ruling on related policies. Similarly, Judge Reyes swift injunction against Trumps military order suggests a willingness to override executive authority on contentious social issues. "Out of all the judges in the nation, all five foreign-born judges of the D.C. District Court managed to get their fingerprints on a controversial Trump case," notes journalist Beth Brelje. "Thats either an incredible coincidence or a troubling trend." A constitutional crisis in slow motion? The broader concern is whether the judiciaryparticularly in politically charged districtshas become a tool to stymie policies enacted by elected leaders. Legal scholar Jonathan Turley has warned of "judicial supremacy," where courts increasingly supplant the executive and legislative branches in decision-making. The D.C. courts rulings often conflict with those in conservative jurisdictions, creating a patchwork of legal interpretations that the Supreme Court must resolve. But with the high court already burdened by politically sensitive cases, some conservatives argue it must take a firmer stand against judicial overreach. "The public did its part by voting in a clear mandate for Trumps agenda," writes Brelje. "But corruption is still visible through court decisions by unelected activist judges." Who decides Americas future? The debate over foreign-born judges is not about xenophobia but accountability: Should individuals with no prior judicial experience, and potential ideological biases, hold such outsized influence over U.S. policy? As legal battles over Trumps agenda intensify, the answer may determine whether the judiciary serves as a neutral arbiteror a political weapon. For now, the Supreme Court remains the final backstop. But with lower courts increasingly willing to block presidential actions, the question isnt just who interprets the lawbut who ultimately governs. Sources include: TheFederalist.com MSN.com Dekalbgnews.com Judicial bias exposed: Judge who blocked Trumps gang deportations attended secretive left-wing conference U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who blocked Trumps deportation of illegal alien gang members, attended a partisan legal conference hosted by the left-leaning Rodel Institute, raising concerns about impartiality. The July 2024 event featured anti-Trump speakers and Democratic-aligned judges, with sessions echoing Democratic campaign themes, yet financial disclosures for attending judges remain unclear. Funded by progressive foundations (e.g., Luce, Rockefeller, Hewlett), the institutes leadership and advisors have openly criticized Trump, suggesting a political agenda. Boasbergs decision to halt deportations of violent gang members is seen as politically motivated, prompting calls for accountability, including impeachment and congressional hearings on judicial activism. Critics argue the judiciary is being weaponized by progressive interests, undermining constitutional principles and necessitating reforms to restore public trust. Americans have long suspected that activist judges are working behind the scenes to undermine President Donald Trumps America First agenda. Now, new revelations confirm their worst fears. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg who recently blocked Trumps efforts to deport illegal alien gang membersattended a highly partisan legal conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, just months before his controversial ruling. The event, hosted by the Rodel Institute, was packed with anti-Trump speakers, Democratic operatives and left-wing activists, raising serious questions about judicial impartiality. A partisan gathering masquerading as a "judicial fellowship" The conference, held in July 2024, featured sessions with titles like Role of Judges in a Democracy and State of Democracyphrases eerily similar to the Democrats 2024 campaign slogans. According to a judicial ethics disclosure, Boasberg was among 12 federal judges in attendance, nine of whom were appointed by Democrats. A retired Democrat-appointed judge, who spoke anonymously to Just the News, expressed concern that the event was too close to a political partys theme for comfort. Federal ethics rules require private entities to disclose payments exceeding $480 to judges for speaking or attending events. However, the Rodel Institutes filing while confirming Boasbergs presence provided no details on whether he was paid, reimbursed, or given other benefits. Boasberg, an Obama appointee, refused to comment. But the implications are clear: A judge who hobnobs with Trumps fiercest critics should not be ruling on cases involving the presidents policies. Rodel Institute: A whos who of Trump haters The Rodel Institute, which organized the conference, is bankrolled by foundations that routinely fund anti-Trump initiatives, including: The Henry Luce Foundation, which supports groups like the Migration Policy Institutea vocal opponent of Trumps immigration enforcement. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, a major donor to the Brennan Center for Justice, which has repeatedly sued to stop Trumps policies. The Hewlett Foundation, which has condemned Trumps presidency as a nadir for democracy. The institutes leadership is equally partisan. CEO John Kroger, a former Clinton aide, has called Trump a convicted felon and claimed his administration intentionally violated the Constitution. Faculty advisors include Yale professor Akhil Reed Amar, who filed a Supreme Court brief arguing Trump should be barred from office over January 6. Even Rodels book award is named after Mickey Edwards, a former Republican congressman who endorsed Kamala Harris and called Trump supporters akin to totalitarians. From the bench to the swamp Boasbergs ruling blocking Trumps deportation of Venezuelan gang members many with violent criminal records now appears tainted by his association with Rodel. The judges decision relied on dubious legal reasoning, ignoring the clear national security threat posed by these individuals. Meanwhile, Rodels judicial fellows have openly celebrated rulings against Trump, with one speaker, Catholic University law professor Cara Drinan, previously accusing the administration of keeping migrant children in cages. This isnt just judicial activism its a coordinated effort by the left to weaponize the courts. A call for accountability Next week, the House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on activist judges obstructing Trumps agenda. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) has signaled support for legislation to curb nationwide injunctions a tactic frequently used by liberal judges to stall conservative policies. Some Republicans, like Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), are pushing further, demanding Boasbergs impeachment. This is exactly why Americans have lost faith in the judiciary, Gill told Fox News. Unelected judges attend partisan conferences, then issue rulings based on politics, not the Constitution. The Lefts court-packing scheme The Founding Fathers envisioned an impartial judiciary, not a cabal of politically motivated jurists. Yet judges like Boasbergempowered by dark money and left-wing donorsare turning the courts into an extension of the Democratic Party. If Congress fails to act, the judicial branch will remain a tool for progressive obstruction, undermining the rule of law and the will of the American people. Sources include: PJMedia.com JustTheNews.com FoxNews.com News / Press Release by ZDVI Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative To Engage All Stakeholder - Starts with Legislators as WhatsApp Ground is Created for Diaspora and MPs Interaction as Musicians are Called to Amplify the Call for Diaspora VoteThe Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative (ZDVI) has crafted a plan to engage all stakeholders to lobby for the implementation of the Diaspora Vote as announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2018. A crucial stakeholder group are the legislators, and a WhatsApp Group has been created to allow interaction between representatives of the Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative and legislators.Regional and international legislators bodies such as the SADC Parliamentarians Forum, the Pan African Parliament and the International Parliamentarians Union will also be approached. These bodies will be asked to encourage Zimbabwean legislators to pro-actively introduce appropriate steps to reform legislation to ensure Diaspora Voting for all Zimbabweans living abroad, not just those working at Zimbabwean embassies as is the case at the moment.Other groups to be approached after the legislators are the church, labour, commerce and industry bodies and civic society organisation. Efforts to meet President Mnangagwa to drive home the importance of implementing his 2018 promise will be made, while musicians will be encouraged to popularise the need for diaspora vote through song."We will be adding legislators to the group before 31 March 2025 so that they can hear our views and initiate the process to amend legislation to include Diaspora voting" explained the group's Chairperson Rosewitter Mangiroza. "We assume that every legislator has read Zimbabwe's 2025 National Budget presented in Parliament towards the end of 2024 knows that according to that Budget, diaspora remittances are projected to reach approximately US$2.51 billion in 2025, playing a key role in sustaining the country's current account surplus and significantly contributing to the national economy", added Mangiroza.A random survey carried out in the diaspora recently showed that every constituency in Zimbabwe has people who have left for the Diaspora. If legislators are pro-people, every legislator should take an interest in extending the right to vote to people from their constituency who have left for the Diaspora, who are supporting their families in those constituencies in times of need where Government services are inadequate.In 2018, during his maiden visit to the United Nations General Conference, President Mnangagwa told Zimbabweans living in the United States of America that he intended to have diaspora-based Zimbabweans voting in the 2023 elections. President Mnangagwa's target was missed, hence robust and tremendous measures have to be put in place to ensure the Diaspora Vote is implemented before President Mnangagwa's term of office ends in 2028 so that he leaves behind a legacy of accountability and truthfulness.President Mnangagwa has previously described Zimbabweans in the Diaspora as "equal to, and just as important and as deserving" as the Zimbabweans living in Zimbabwe. In his opening address at the first meeting of the 2025 Cabinet Year at State House on 17 February, President Mnangagwa said "all Zimbabweans, including those in the Diaspora, should be well catered for". Catering for the Zimbabweans in the Diaspora should include offering them their democratic right to vote as the President explained to Zimbabweans living in the United States of America in 2018.For further details, please contact Padmore Kufa, Spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative on +61 414 477 659 or email us on zimdiasporavoteaussienz@gmail.com. North Koreas new spy plane and AI drones signal escalating danger for South Korea and its allies North Korea unveiled its first AEW&C aircraft, a modified Russian Il-76, boosting surveillance capabilities. Kim Jong Un showcased AI-powered suicide drones, signaling a shift toward high-tech warfare. The AEW&C system could detect low-flying threats, giving North Korea an edge over South Korea and U.S. forces. Experts suspect Russian or Chinese assistance in developing the aircraft, violating international sanctions. The advancements highlight growing authoritarian cooperation and demand a stronger global response. In a move that should alarm the free world, North Korea has successfully deployed its first airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, a Russian Il-76 modified with sophisticated surveillance technology. The rogue regimes dictator, Kim Jong Un, personally inspected the aircraft at Pyongyang International Airport this week, boasting that it will play a significant role in monitoring potential threats and gathering critical information. This development, paired with new AI-powered suicide drones, marks a dangerous escalation in Pyongyangs military capabilities and it's one that could tip the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula and threaten U.S. forces stationed in the region. With South Korea already weakened by political instability and a distracted West, Kims aggressive military advancements underscore the urgent need for vigilance. Worse, the sleek, modern interior of the AEW&C aircraft suggests possible technological assistance from Russia or China, despite international sanctions meant to curb such collaboration. A spy in the sky: North Koreas Il-76 upgrade The newly unveiled AEW&C aircraft, outfitted with a fixed triangular radome similar to Chinas KJ-2000, represents a significant leap in North Koreas surveillance capabilities. Unlike ground-based radar, airborne systems can detect low-flying threats such as stealth aircraft or cruise missiles by peering over mountainous terrain. This gives Pyongyang an unprecedented advantage in monitoring South Korean and U.S. military movements. While only one such aircraft has been confirmed, its existence alone is troubling. Analysts caution that even limited airborne radar coverage could provide North Korea with critical early warning in a conflict, enabling quicker mobilization of its antiquated but massive military forces. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff acknowledged the threat, stating the aircraft is large and heavy and probably susceptible to interceptionbut admitted its operational readiness remains unclear. AI drones and Russian backing: A deadly combo Kim Jong Un didnt stop at the spy plane. State media also showcased suicide attack drones equipped with artificial intelligence, capable of autonomously striking targets with chilling precision. One image depicted a drone obliterating a tank in a fiery explosion in a clear message to adversaries. The field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritized, Kim declared, signaling a shift toward high-tech warfare. Experts warn these drones, likely battle-tested by North Korean troops aiding Russia in Ukraine, could swarm South Korean defenses in a future conflict. Equally alarming is the likelihood of foreign assistance. South Korean officials suspect Russia supplied critical components for the AEW&Cs advanced interior, which features multiple workstations and flat-screen monitors. This partnership, forged through Pyongyangs deployment of troops to Ukraine, highlights a growing axis of authoritarian cooperation that threatens global security. Kim Jong Uns latest provocationsa spy plane, AI drones, and deepening ties with Moscowdemand a resolute response. Sanctions have failed to curb North Koreas military ambitions, and the regimes willingness to export troops to Russia proves its disregard for international norms. For South Korea, already grappling with domestic turmoil, this is a wake-up call. For the U.S., its a reminder that complacency is not an option. The free world must confront this threat head-on, before Kims eyes in the sky and killer drones tilt the balance further in favor of tyranny. Sources for this article include: TWZ.com Reuters.com En.YNA.co.kr NPR CEO finally admits ignoring Hunter Biden laptop story was a mistake NPR CEO admitted the outlet was wrong to dismiss the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation. Internal whistleblowers revealed NPR avoided the story to avoid helping Donald Trump. Major outlets later verified the laptops contents, but NPRs delayed coverage skewed the 2020 election narrative. Critics argue NPRs liberal bias is institutional, with past social media posts from its CEO fueling skepticism. GOP lawmakers are questioning NPRs taxpayer funding due to its partisan reporting track record. For years, National Public Radio (NPR) dismissed the Hunter Biden laptop scandal as a non-story, a "distraction," or even Russian disinformationuntil now. Under congressional scrutiny, NPR CEO Katherine Maher admitted Wednesday that the taxpayer-funded outlet was "mistaken" in failing to aggressively cover the explosive revelations about Hunter Bidens foreign business dealings and their potential ties to his father, President Joe Biden. The belated confession, made during a hearing before the House Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee, confirms what critics have long argued: NPRs newsroom operates with a clear liberal bias, sidelining stories that could damage Democrats. A pattern of partisan avoidance Maher, who took over NPR in 2024, was not at the helm when the New York Post first broke the laptop story in October 2020. But her admission underscores a systemic failure within the organization. At the time, NPRs public editor, Kelly McBride, dismissed the Posts reporting as having "many, many red flags," including unsubstantiated claims of Russian interference. NPR Managing Editor Terence Samuel went further, saying it wasn't really a story. Yet internal revelations from former NPR editor Uri Berliner, who blew the whistle last year, exposed the real motive: fear of helping Donald Trump. "During a meeting with colleagues, I listened as one of NPRs best and most fair-minded journalists said it was good we werent following the laptop story because it could help Trump," Berliner wrote. The laptops contentsemails detailing Hunters lucrative deals in Ukraine and China, alongside compromising personal materialwere later verified by major outlets like The Washington Post and The New York Times. But by then, the 2020 election was over. NPRs reluctance to cover the Hunter Biden story stands in stark contrast to its eagerness to amplify unverified claims during the Trump era, from Russiagate to the Steele dossier. The outlets dismissive attitude toward the laptop mirrored its handling of other contentious issues, such as the COVID lab-leak theory, which Maher also conceded during the hearing was prematurely dismissed. "We made a mistake," she repeateda refrain that rings hollow after years of skewed coverage. Critics argue NPRs bias is institutional. Berliners essay last April detailed how the newsrooms progressive culture stifled dissenting views, with editors avoiding stories that didnt align with a left-wing narrative. Even Mahers past social media postslabeling Trump a "racist" and "sociopath"raise questions about her ability to oversee an ostensibly neutral news outlet. When pressed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Maher admitted regret for those remarks but stopped short of renouncing NPRs broader ideological slant. A reckoning for publicly funded media? The hearing highlighted growing Republican scrutiny of NPRs federal funding, which flows through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. While NPR claims only 1% of its budget comes directly from government grants, its member stations rely heavily on taxpayer dollarsup to 30% for rural outlets. GOP lawmakers, including Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas), argue that biased reporting undermines NPRs right to public support. Maher insisted NPR remains "nonpartisan," but her testimonyand the outlets track recordsuggest otherwise. The Hunter Biden laptop debacle is just one example of a broader trend of NPR delaying or downplaying stories that challenge liberal orthodoxy until the facts become undeniable. NPRs admission is a small step toward accountability, but it comes years after the damage was done. The laptop story wasnt a "distraction"it was a legitimate scandal with implications for Joe Biden. By ignoring it, NPR failed its audience and its mandate. If the outlet wants to rebuild trust, it must confront its biases head-onnot just when forced to by Congress. Until then, taxpayers have every right to ask why their dollars are funding what increasingly looks like partisan activism masquerading as journalism. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com FoxNews.com NYPost.com Scientists demand FDA withdraw mRNA COVID vaccines amid contamination and gene therapy concerns Petition filed by scientists and legal experts calls for immediate suspension of Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines Evidence reveals synthetic DNA contamination up to 470 times above safety limits, including cancer-linked SV40 sequences FDA accused of unlawfully classifying mRNA shots as vaccines instead of gene therapies, bypassing critical safety reviews Experts warn of genomic instability, immune disorders, and cancer risks from contaminated injections A global reckoning: FDA complicity in a public health disaster In a damning indictment of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a coalition of scientists, immunologists, and legal experts has filed a formal petition demanding the immediate suspension or withdrawal of Pfizer and Modernas mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The petition, now open for public comment, exposes shocking evidence of synthetic DNA contamination, regulatory fraud, and the deliberate misclassification of these experimental gene therapies as "vaccines"a deception that has placed millions at risk of irreversible harm. The petition, spearheaded by Australian law firm PJ OBrien & Associates, accuses the FDA of enabling one of the greatest medical frauds in modern history. By greenlighting Pfizer and Modernas mRNA injections without proper environmental assessmentsa legal requirement for gene therapiesthe agency allowed these dangerous products to flood the market under the false pretense of "emergency use." "This misclassification denied Americans transparency and informed consent, violating federal law and rendering approvals void from the start," the petition states. Among the petitions signatories are prominent figures such as attorney Julian J. Gillespie, immunologist Dr. Jessica Rose, and virologist Dr. David J. Speicher. Kevin McKernan, chief scientific officer of Medicinal Genomics and the first to uncover DNA contamination in the shots, warns that the FDAs silence is indefensible. "How do they ever expect to regain the publics trust?" McKernan asked. "They recently recalled some protein bars for a threat of peanut allergies, yet every American knows multiple people with COVID-19 vaccine injuries, yet the FDA is head-in-the-sand silent." DNA contamination: a ticking time bomb in every dose Independent studies cited in the petition reveal that Pfizer and Modernas mRNA injections contain synthetic DNA at levels 6 to 470 times above safety thresholds, including SV40 promoter sequencesa known cancer risk. These contaminants, shielded by lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), can integrate into human DNA, triggering genomic instability, immune dysfunction, and malignancies. A September 2023 study by McKernan found DNA contamination 18 to 70 times above regulatory limits. An FDA-supervised study in December 2024 confirmed contamination up to 470 times over safety limits. German and French researchers have replicated these findings, proving this is not an isolated issue but a systemic failure. "This is not just an American crisisits a global reckoning," Gillespie declared. "Governments must act now to halt further harm and support those already affected." FDAs unlawful approval: rewriting the rules to protect Big Pharma The petition exposes how Pfizer and Moderna exploited regulatory loopholes by falsely labeling their mRNA products as "vaccines" instead of gene therapies. Under U.S. law, gene therapies require rigorous environmental assessmentsa step the FDA illegally bypassed. "Had the FDA properly demanded Environmental Assessments, the American public would have been informed of the gene therapy nature of these shots," the petition states. Instead, the agency colluded with manufacturers to fast-track untested, hazardous technology into the arms of billions. Dr. Jessica Rose minced no words: "The petition evidences potent facts that should lead to the suspension of use of these experimental nucleoside-modified RNA gene-based products." As the petition lands on the desk of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the world watches to see if the U.S. government will finally hold the FDA and Big Pharma accountable? With mounting evidence of genetic contamination, regulatory fraud, and catastrophic health consequences, one question remains: How many more lives must be destroyed before the FDA admits its crimes? Ending a reckless genetic experiment that should have never been approved in the first place The so-called "COVID vaccines" were never vaccinesthey were unproven, reckless genetic experiments forced upon the public under the guise of emergency use. These mRNA-based injections, fraudulently marketed as life-saving, were in fact biological weapons that corrupted human cellular machinery, forcing cells to produce a foreign, toxic spike protein with devastating consequences. From the outset, these injections should have never been authorized, let alone mandated. Clinical trials were rushed, safety signals ignored, and adverse effects brushed aside as "rare" while thousands suffered heart damage, neurological disorders, and immune dysfunction. Worse still, these shots failed at their only claimed purposeproviding immunity. Breakthrough infections exploded, proving these were never vaccines, but a dangerous, unstable genetic weapon system masquerading as medicine. The damage is irreversible for countless victims. A mere withdrawal of these shots is not enough. We demand full judicial accountabilitycriminal prosecutions for those who pushed this atrocity, a new compensation system for the injured, and the complete dismantling of the corrupt regulatory bodies that allowed this. The COVID vaccine scandal is one of the greatest medical crimes in history. Those responsible must pay. Medical freedom is non-negotiablenever again. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org Regulations.gov ChildrensHealthDefense.org Senate Democrats deny censorship industrial complex existed, defend governments role in silencing dissent Democrats dismissed evidence of government-led censorship, despite testimony revealing systemic suppression of conservative voices. Hunter Biden laptop story was censored as "disinformation" by FBI-backed efforts, despite its authenticity. COVID-19 dissent was targeted, with Biden administration pressuring tech platforms to remove vaccine skepticism. Taxpayer-funded NGOs acted as censorship proxies, labeling conservative outlets as misinformation to justify removal. Democrats denied wrongdoing, raising concerns about future administrations weaponizing censorship against opponents. During a heated Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, Democrats faced mounting evidence of a coordinated government-led effort to suppress free speechparticularly conservative viewpointsyet insisted such censorship either never occurred or was justified. Led by Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), Democrats dismissed revelations from the Twitter Files and other whistleblower reports, arguing that federal agencies merely flagged foreign disinformation, not domestic dissent. But testimony from journalists like The Federalists Mollie Hemingway, who detailed firsthand targeting by government-backed censorship networks, underscored a stark reality: the Biden administration and its allies systematically pressured Big Tech to silence critics, raising urgent concerns about Free Speech and First Amendment violations. The censorship playbook: From Hunter Biden to COVID-19 The hearing revisited one of the most glaring examples of government-backed censorship: the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story. Internal communications revealed in the Twitter Files showed the FBI and intelligence agencies preemptively labeled the story as foreign disinformation, despite knowing its authenticity. Twitter and Facebook then restricted sharing the New York Posts reporting, while legacy media outlets dismissed it as Russian propagandaa narrative later debunked. Sen. Welch attempted to downplay the scandal, displaying a misleading NOT TRUE placard over reporting about the Twitter Files. Yet the files proved federal agencies worked closely with social media platforms, even granting security clearances to tech executives to facilitate censorship. This was a scheme to let the government censor Americans indirectly, argued one witness, noting that direct federal censorship would violate the Constitution. The same playbook was used during COVID-19. The House Judiciary Committees 2024 report revealed the White House pressured Facebook to remove posts questioning vaccine efficacy, including satire and lab-leak theoriescontent later acknowledged as valid debate. Internal emails showed Facebook executives admitting they censored because we were under pressure from the [Biden] administration. NGOs and the shadow censorship machine A key focus of the hearing was the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) funded by taxpayers to act as censorship middlemen. Entities like Newsguard, Stanfords Election Integrity Partnership and the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) received federal grants to label conservative outlets as misinformation hubs. Newsguard, tied to Pfizer, routinely flagged The Federalist as unreliable while praising outlets that promoted false narratives like the Steele dossier. Sen. Welch defended these groups as promoting transparency, but Hemingway countered: The government funds NGOs to flag content so Big Tech removes it. They outsource censorship to avoid accountability. Court documents in Missouri v. Biden confirmed this, showing agencies like CISA and the State Departments Global Engagement Center collaborated with NGOs to suppress disfavored speechoverwhelmingly targeting right-leaning voices. A precedent for future suppression The hearings most alarming revelation was Democrats refusal to acknowledge any wrongdoing. They either know the truth and lie, or are shockingly ignorant, remarked one journalist. Either way, the implications are dire. As Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) warned, this vast censorship enterprise wont end with the Biden administration. Without legislative action, future administrationsleft or rightcould weaponize the same tools to silence opponents. Beyond the shadow of a doubt The Senate hearing laid bare a disturbing truth: the censorship industrial complex was real, systemic and bipartisanly tolerated. While Democrats dismissed concerns as conspiracy theories, the evidencefrom the Twitter Files to federal court rulingspaints an incontrovertible picture of government overreach. As Hemingway bluntly told Welch, You benefit from this system, so you pretend it doesnt exist. For Americans who value free speech, the question isnt whether censorship happened, but whether Congress will stop it from happening again. Sources include: TheFederalist.com InvestorHub.com TheFederalist.com Yahoo.com The shame of Minnesota: Somali immigrants behind $250 million child nutrition fraud in largest COVID-era scam 70 defendants, mostly Somali immigrants, charged in a $250 million fraud against federal child nutrition programs 37 have pleaded guilty, 7 convicted, with trials ongoing for the rest Feeding Our Future, a fake nonprofit, exploited COVID-era waivers to submit false meal claims Luxury purchases included homes, cars, and overseas properties in Turkey and Kenya Whistleblower exposed scheme after Minnesota officials ignored red flags, fearing accusations of racism In what federal prosecutors call "the largest COVID fraud case in U.S. history," a network of Somali immigrants allegedly siphoned $250 million from a federal program meant to feed hungry children. The scheme, centered around a sham nonprofit called Feeding Our Future, exploited pandemic-era funding waivers, submitting fabricated meal counts and rosters to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). Of the 70 individuals charged, nearly all are Somali refugees, with 37 pleading guilty and 7 convicted so far. The case exposes a staggering betrayal of public trustone that raises troubling questions about immigrant assimilation, government oversight, and the vulnerabilities of welfare systems. A perfect storm: how the fraud unfolded Between March 2020 and January 2022, Aimee Bock, the executive director of Feeding Our Future, and her mostly Somali co-conspirators filed false claims for reimbursement, claiming to serve meals to thousands of children who didnt exist. The MDE, operating under relaxed COVID-era rules, rubber-stamped the fraudulent submissions, even as red flags mounted. Fake meal counts: Some sites claimed to serve 5,000 children dailymore than entire school districts. Nonexistent board members: Feeding Our Future listed bartenders and a small-engine mechanic as board members, none of whom knew they were involved. Lavish spending: Defendants bought luxury cars, homes in multiple states, and properties in Kenya and Turkey with stolen funds. A whistleblower from the MDE alerted the FBI in April 2021, leading to surveillance that revealed empty food sites where thousands of meals were supposedly served daily. By January 2022, federal agents raided locations across the Twin Cities in Minnesotas largest-ever fraud bust. Cultural & Political Context Minnesota has the largest Somali population in North America (100,000+), many arriving as refugees since the 1990s. Minnesota's liberal welfare policies and lax oversight enabled fraud. Some Somali immigrants have been linked to terrorism recruitment (ISIS, al-Shabab), though this case involves financial crime, not extremism. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) ignored red flags, allegedly due to fears of being accused of racism. Federal waivers during COVID made fraud easier. Governor Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison (both Democrats) were criticized for not acting sooner. Abdihakim Osman Nur, a Somali immigrant, exposed corruption after witnessing $100,000 in gold gifts given to a Feeding Our Future employee at a wedding. His testimony helped prosecutors. The fallout: Who pays the price? While most defendants eagerly participated, one Somali immigrant, Abdihakim Osman Nur, publicly condemned the fraud. In a Facebook post, he described a Feeding Our Future staffers wedding, where vendors gifted the bride $10,000 in gold trayspaid for with stolen funds. "We cannot close our eyes to such corruption... when we only have a few bad apples," Nur wrote. Yet state officials remained silent. Governor Tim Walz claimed they "caught it very early" but refused to answer follow-up questions. Attorney General Keith Ellison, who once boasted "I know a scam when I see one," also declined to comment. The case has left Minnesota reeling, with prosecutors calling it "the shame of Minnesota." Yet it also raises deeper questions: Why did oversight fail so spectacularly? Did political correctness prevent officials from acting sooner? Will this case change how refugee resettlement and welfare programs operate? As Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson declared after the convictions: "This fraud is gross, disgusting, and despicable." But beyond the legal consequences, the scandal serves as a cautionary taleone that forces us to ask: When generosity meets exploitation, who really suffers? Sources include: Zerohedge.com Freebeacon.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai The last chapter of the genocide This is the last chapter of the genocide. It is the final, blood-soaked push to drive the Palestinians from Gaza. No food. No medicine. No shelter. No clean water. No electricity. Israel is swiftly turning Gaza into a Dantesque cauldron of human misery where Palestinians are being killed in their hundreds and soon, again, in their thousands and tens of thousands, or they will be forced out never to return. (Article by Chris Hedges republished from ChrisHedges.Substack.com) The final chapter marks the end of Israeli lies. The lie of the two-state solution. The lie that Israel respects the laws of war that protect civilians. The lie that Israel bombs hospitals and schools only because they are used as staging areas by Hamas. The lie that Hamas uses civilians as human shields, while Israel routinely forces captive Palestinians to enter potentially booby-trapped tunnels and buildings ahead of Israeli troops. The lie that Hamas or Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) are responsible the charge often being errant Palestinian rockets for the destruction of hospitals, United Nations buildings or mass Palestinian casualties. The lie that humanitarian aid to Gaza is blocked because Hamas is hijacking the trucks or smuggling in weapons and war material. The lie that Israeli babies are beheaded or Palestinians carried out mass rape of Israeli women. The " rel="">lie that 75 percent of the tens of thousands killed in Gaza were Hamas terrorists. The lie that Hamas, because it was allegedly rearming and recruiting new fighters, is responsible for the breakdown of the ceasefire agreement. Israels naked genocidal visage is exposed. It has ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza where desperate Palestinians are camped out amid the rubble of their homes. What comes now is mass starvation the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on March 21 it has six days of flour supplies left deaths from diseases caused by contaminated water and food, scores of killed and wounded each day under the relentless assault of bombs, missiles, shells and bullets. Nothing will function, bakeries, water treatment and sewage plants, hospitals Israel blew up the damaged Turkish-Palestinian hospital on March 21 schools, aid distribution centers or clinics. Less than half of the 53 emergency vehicles operated by the Palestine Red Crescent Society are functional due to fuel shortages. Soon there will be none. Israels naked genocidal visage is exposed. It has ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza where desperate Palestinians are camped out amid the rubble of their homes. What comes now is mass starvation the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on March 21 it has six days of flour supplies left deaths from diseases caused by contaminated water and food, scores of killed and wounded each day under the relentless assault of bombs, missiles, shells and bullets. Nothing will function, bakeries, water treatment and sewage plants, hospitals Israel blew up the damaged Turkish-Palestinian hospital on March 21 schools, aid distribution centers or clinics. Less than half of the 53 emergency vehicles operated by the Palestine Red Crescent Society are functional due to fuel shortages. Soon there will be none. Israels message is unequivocal: Gaza will be uninhabitable. Leave or die. Since Tuesday, when Israel broke the ceasefire with heavy bombing, over 700 Palestinians have been killed, including 200 children. In one 24 hour period 400 Palestinians were killed. This is only the start. No Western power, including the United States, which provides the weapons for the genocide, intends to stop it. The images from Gaza during the nearly sixteen months of incessant attacks were awful. But what is coming now will be worse. It will rival the most atrocious war crimes of the twentieth century, including the mass starvation, wholesale slaughter and leveling of the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 by the Nazis. Oct. 7 marked the dividing line between an Israeli policy that advocated the brutalization and subjugation of the Palestinians and a policy that calls for their extermination and removal from historic Palestine. What we are witnessing is the historical equivalent of the moment triggered by the annihilation of some 200 soldiers led by George Armstrong Custer in June 1876 at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. After that humiliating defeat, Native Americans were slated to be killed with the remnants forced into prisoner of war camps, later named reservations, where thousands died of disease, lived under the merciless gaze of their armed occupiers and fell into a life of immiseration and despair. Expect the same for the Palestinians in Gaza, dumped, I suspect, in one of the worlds hellholes and forgotten. Gaza residents, this is your final warning, Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz threatened: The first Sinwar destroyed Gaza and the second Sinwar will completely destroy it. The Air Force strikes against Hamas terrorists were just the first step. It will become much more difficult and you will pay the full price. The evacuation of the population from the combat zones will soon begin againReturn the hostages and remove Hamas and other options will open for you, including leaving for other places in the world for those who want to. The alternative is absolute destruction. The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was designed to be implemented in three phases. The first phase, lasting 42 days, would see an end to hostilities. Hamas would release 33 Israeli hostages who were captured on Oct. 7, 2023 including women, those aged above 50, and those with illnesses in exchange for upwards of 2,000 Palestinian men, women and children imprisoned by Israel (around 1,900 Palestinian captives have been released by Israel as of March 18). Hamas has released a total of 147 hostages, of whom eight were dead. Israel says there are 59 Israelis still being held by Hamas, 35 of whom Israel believes are deceased. The Israeli army would pull back from populated areas of Gaza on the first day of the ceasefire. On the seventh day, displaced Palestinians would be permitted to return to northern Gaza. Israel would allow 600 aid trucks with food and medical supplies to enter Gaza daily. The second phase, which was expected to be negotiated on the sixteenth day of the ceasefire, would see the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. Israel would complete its withdrawal from Gaza maintaining a presence in some parts of the Philadelphi corridor, which stretches along the eight-mile border between Gaza and Egypt. It would surrender its control of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt. The third phase would see negotiations for a permanent end of the war and the reconstruction of Gaza. Israel habitually signs agreements, including the Camp David Accords and the Oslo Peace Agreement, with timetables and phases. It gets what it wants in this case the release of the hostages in the first phase and then violates subsequent phases. This pattern has never been broken. Israel refused to honor the second phase of the deal. It blocked humanitarian aid into Gaza two weeks ago, violating the agreement. It also killed at least 137 Palestinians during the first phase of the ceasefire, including nine people, three of them journalists when Israeli drones attacked a relief team on March 15 in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. Israels heavy bombing and shelling of Gaza resumed March 18 while most Palestinians were asleep or preparing their suhoor, the meal eaten before dawn during the holy month of Ramadan. Israel will not stop its attacks now, even if the remaining hostages are freed Israels supposed reason for the resumption of the bombing and siege of Gaza. The Trump White House is cheering on the slaughter. They attack critics of the genocide as antisemites who should be silenced, criminalized or deported while funneling billions of dollars in weapons to Israel. Israels genocidal assault on Gaza is the inevitable denouement of its settler colonial project and apartheid state. The seizure of all of historic Palestine with the West Bank soon, I expect, to be annexed by Israel and displacement of all Palestinians has always been the Zionist goal. Israels worst excesses occurred during the wars of 1948 and 1967 when huge parts of historic Palestine were seized, thousands of Palestinians killed and hundreds of thousands were ethnically cleansed. Between these wars, the slow-motion theft of land, murderous assaults and steady ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continued. That calibrated dance is over. This is the end. What we are witnessing dwarfs all the historical assaults on Palestinians. Israels demented genocidal dream a Palestinian nightmare is about to be achieved. It will forever shatter the myth that we, or any Western nation, respect the rule of law or are the protectors of human rights, democracy and the so-called virtues of Western civilization. Israels barbarity is our own. We may not understand this, but the rest of the globe does. Read more at: ChrisHedges.Substack.com Trump vows to shoulder stranded astronauts compensation, in contrast with NASAs MEASLY overtime pay President Donald Trump will personally pay the overtime compensation for NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who spent 286 days in space far exceeding their planned eight-day mission. He criticized the $1,430 overtime pay they received as inadequate for their sacrifices. The astronauts were stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft faced technical and logistical challenges, turning a short test flight into one of the longest unplanned space missions in history. Williams and Wilmore endured significant physical and psychological challenges, including muscle atrophy and bone density loss, while conducting critical scientific experiments and maintaining the ISS. Trump praised Elon Musk and SpaceX, whose Crew Dragon capsule ultimately brought the astronauts home, highlighting the importance of having multiple transportation options in space exploration. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about how NASA compensates astronauts for extended missions, with Trumps gesture drawing attention to the need for fair recognition of the sacrifices made by those in space exploration. President Donald Trump has pledged to personally cover the overtime pay for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, in light of the measly overtime pay they received from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Trump's announcement came during a press briefing in the Oval Office on March 21, where he expressed disbelief at the paltry $1,430 in extra pay the astronauts received for their extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The two spent an astonishing 286 days in space, far longer than their originally planned eight-day mission. "If I have to, I'll pay it out of my own pocket," Trump declared. The president emphasized that the compensation Williams and Wilmore received from NASA was inadequate for the sacrifices they endured. The astronauts, who were initially sent to the ISS in June 2024 for a short test flight of Boeings Starliner spacecraft, found themselves stranded due to a series of technical and logistical challenges. Their mission, which was supposed to last just over a week, stretched into nearly 10 months, making it one of the longest unplanned stays in space history. (Related: Report: NASA prioritized WOKENESS over space research during Biden's presidency.) The astronauts' ordeal highlights the complexities and risks of space exploration NASA's standard overtime pay for astronauts is a mere $5 per day, a figure that Trump called "not a lot for what they had to go through." While astronauts earn a base salary of approximately $152,000 annually, the additional compensation for extended missions has drawn criticism for failing to reflect the physical and psychological toll of prolonged space travel. The astronauts' ordeal highlights the complexities and risks of space exploration. Living in microgravity for extended periods can lead to significant health issues including muscle atrophy, bone density loss and changes in blood circulation. Williams and Wilmore not only endured these challenges but also contributed to critical scientific experiments and maintenance tasks aboard the ISS, ensuring the stations continued operation. Trump also took the opportunity to praise Elon Musk and SpaceX, whose Crew Dragon capsule ultimately brought the astronauts home. Space X has become a cornerstone of NASA's commercial crew program, providing a reliable means of transporting astronauts to and from the ISS. "If we dont have Elon, they could be up there a long time," the president mused. Trump's offer to cover the astronauts' overtime pay raises important questions about how NASA compensates its astronauts for extraordinary missions. While NASA officials have stated that astronauts are informed of the possibility of mission extensions before launch, the financial and emotional toll of such extensions remains a contentious issue. Watch Sean Hannity of Fox News discussing SpaceX's role in the rescue of the two stranded astronauts in this clip. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: SpaceX capsule rescues stranded astronauts at the International Space Station. SpaceX brings stranded astronauts home after nearly 10 months in space. Military trains for astronaut rescues at sea amid rising space travel and ISS missions. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com FoxBusiness.com NYPost.com Brighteon.com Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. 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. "I was born in Karachi, Pakistan and I came to the U.S. when I was 15, with my brother, who was 17. It was our fathers vision to send us to America for education and to better our lives. I had money for one year and a return ticket." The last time a new class of antibiotics reached the market was nearly three decades ago - but that could soon change, thanks to a discovery by researchers at McMaster University. A team led by renowned 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 resistance - or AMR - and 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 Gerry 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. It's a big leap forward for us." Gerry Wright, Professor in McMaster's Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences 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 year - a 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 bacteria - and "bacteria aren't interested in making new drugs for us" - much time and resources are needed before lariocidin is ready for market. "The initial discovery - the big a-ha! moment - was 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." A study finds that factors beyond a person's control, like socioeconomic status and whether their mom smoked or was obese, can influence whether they are overweight or obese as teenagers or adults. Glenna Nightingale of the University of Edinburgh, UK and colleagues report these findings on March 26, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One. Obesity is considered to be a global public health concern, but experts still disagree about the precise origins and causes of rising obesity rates. One topic under debate is whether a person's individual genetics and behaviors are more or less important than environmental factors, like socioeconomic status, in developing obesity. In the new study, researchers estimated the impact of several factors on a person's weight, including societal factors, like a person's job type, as well as early life factors, like a person's birth order, how they were delivered and whether their mother smoked or was obese. They looked specifically at whether a person was overweight, obese or severely obese at age 16 and age 42. They also looked at participants' weight between ages 16 to 42, a range that spans the rise in obesity rates in the United Kingdom. The data came from the 1958 National Child Development Study, a long-term study that followed the lives of more than 17,000 people born in a single week in March 1958 across England, Scotland and Wales. The analysis showed that if a mother was obese or if she smoked, her child was more likely to be obese or severely obese at each of the ages examined. The findings demonstrate that these early life factors can have a persistent effect on a person's weight. Notably, these factors were just as powerful before and after the start of the rise in obesity rates in the UK, suggesting that the impact of individual factors, like behaviors, likely did not change during that time. The results suggest that societal and early-life risk factors could be used to target obesity prevention programs for children and adults. The researchers also conclude that, since individual risk factors have not changed as obesity rates have risen, new studies are needed to identify societal factors that may have caused the current obesity pandemic. The authors add: "Our research shows that the effect of maternal influences persists through to age 42 and that strikingly, those predictors were just as powerful (and prevalent) in the era before the current obesity pandemic began. This suggests that, as Geoffrey Rose pointed out, novel studies are needed of factors at the community/societal level that may have caused the current obesity pandemic, since individual-level risk factors appear not to have changed over the time period spanning the pandemic's onset and growth." By pinpointing two ultra-rare mutations in a key growth-regulating gene, scientists reveal a surprising biological route to longer, healthier liveswithout the usual signs of aging. Study: Identification of functional rare coding variants in IGF-1 gene in humans with exceptional longevity. Image Credit: joingate / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers analyzed whole-exome genetic data from more than 2,000 Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians and their relatives to investigate functional gene modifications in the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) gene that may contribute to their exceptional longevity. The Ashkenazi Jewish populations genetic homogeneity allowed researchers to detect rare variants more effectively, as shared ancestry reduces "genetic noise" that often obscures subtle longevity-linked mutations in diverse groups. They compared the functional coding variants of these individuals with those of their families and controls and discovered two extremely rare functional IGF-1 mutations (propeptide numbering: IGF-1:p.Ile91Leu and IGF-1:p.Ala118Thr; mature peptide residue numbering: Ile43Leu and Ala70Thr) potentially responsible for longevity outcomes. The IGF-1:p.Ala118Thr variant had previously been classified as a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) in ClinVar and was noted in individuals with IGF-1 deficiency. They conducted molecular dynamics simulations on the Ile91Leu variant and found it contributed to less stable binding affinity with the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), thereby diminishing receptor signaling and attenuating its activity. For the Ala118Thr variant, researchers observed significantly reduced circulating IGF-1 serum levels, which similarly reduced IGF-1R signaling. Their findings suggest that, like findings hitherto exclusively observed in model organisms, the highly conserved IGF-1 axis is associated with human longevity and may be studied to help promote healthy aging in future populations. Background Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is a circulating hormone that regulates growth, metabolism, and development in humans and other organisms. It is produced by the liver in response to cues from growth hormone (GH) and is known to be remarkably well-conserved, with little to no genetic variation across species. Previous studies have reported that attenuated signaling between the insulin/IGF-1 axis corresponds with increased lifespans in model (experimental) organisms such as mice and dogs. Still, similar studies in humans are minimal and, till now, remain inconclusive. Recent whole-exome sequence data suggest the presence of two rare heterozygous IGF-1 variants in a small subset of Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians, indicating that further investigation into the gene and its molecular dynamics is warranted to enhance our understanding of IGF-1s role in aging. About the Study Carriers of the Ile91Leu variant showed normal IGF-1 blood levels, suggesting their longevity stems purely from disrupted receptor signalingnot hormone scarcityunlike the Ala118Thr group, whose low IGF-1 levels mimicked effects seen in calorie-restricted animals. The present study aims to identify IGF-1 gene variants that potentially contribute to enhanced longevity in Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians, their circulating (serum) IGF-1 levels, and the mechanisms underlying their observed outcomes (exceptional longevity). Study data were obtained from two Albert Einstein College of Medicine-hosted longevity cohorts the LonGenity study and the Longevity Genes Project (LGP). Both cohorts comprised individuals with exceptional longevity (age 95 years), their offspring, and controls without familial longevity. For the present study, the analyses were restricted to whole-exome sequencing (WES) data from Ashkenazi Jews. WES data were obtained from the Regeneron Genetics Center (RGC) and included datasets from 2,332 individuals. Poor-quality (low sequence coverage) datasets were excluded from the analyses (n = 224). Since the variants under investigation were known to be rare, variants with minor allele frequencies (MAF) of less than 1% were included in downstream analyses, as most genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) typically do not consider rare genetic variants during analyses. The combined annotation-dependent depletion (CADD) score method was used to predict the functional nature of IGF-1 variants, with all variants having a CADD score of 20 or higher considered functional. Researchers flagged both variants using a strict CADD score cutoff of 20, a computational tool that predicts DNA changes functional impact, ensuring only high-confidence mutations were studied. The mechanisms potentially contributing to the exceptional longevity of the identified variants were evaluated using protein modeling in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For these simulations, IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) three-dimensional (3D) structures were obtained from the Protein Data Bank (PDP ID: 6JK8). Subsequent docking experiments were carried out using Schrodinger Maestro 20232 software. All analyses were conducted for the Ile91Leu mutant and wild-type IGF-1, with their respective receptor binding energetics measured using the Molecular Mechanics-Generalized Born Surface Area (MM-GBSA) method. Study Findings Of the 2,108 WES datasets analyzed, ten individuals revealed IGF-1 variants potentially contributing to exceptional longevity two women carried the IGF-1:p.Ile91Leu variant, while two male centenarians, three offspring, and three control individuals carried the IGF-1:p.Ala118Thr variant. Notably, both of these variants were estimated to have a MAF 0.01, which is much lower than the ~5.0% cutoff used in most GWAS and WES analyses. This is likely why these variants have been overlooked in previous human IGF-1 longevity studies. Remarkably, carriers of both mutant IGF-1 variants were found to be free from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes mellitus, and cognitive decline, despite being over 100 years old. This is the first time coding mutations in the IGF-1 gene itselfnot just the receptorhave been linked to human longevity, making it a new focal point for aging research. MD simulations revealed that the Ile91Leu variant demonstrated substantially poorer binding affinity with IGF-1R than wild-type IGF-1. This suggests that the variant would signal the IGF-1 receptor to a much lower extent than its wild-type counterparts, thereby attenuating IGF-1Rs activation. In contrast, Ala118Thr variants were found to correspond with significantly reduced circulating IGF-1 serum concentrations, thereby having similar end results lower IGF-1R signaling and attenuated receptor activation. Notably, the Ala118Thr variant was not modeled in MD simulations, as its location outside the receptor-binding domain suggested a different mechanism. Surprisingly, in contrast to previously identified IGF-1 variants, which almost all contributed to stunted growth or developmental abnormalities, these novel variants demonstrated no observable growth defects. Conclusions Despite attenuating IGF-1R activation through different means (reduced binding efficacy in Ile91Leu variants versus reducing circulating/available IGF-1 serum concentrations in Ala118Thr variants), the findings of the present study suggest that reduced IGF-1R activity can contribute to exceptional lifespans and healthy aging of a rare subset of Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians and their relatives. Pediatric high-grade gliomas, particularly H3K27M diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), are aggressive malignant brain tumors with a poor prognosis. Previous research suggests that platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) appears to play a multifaceted role in the pathogenesis of both adult and pediatric high-grade gliomas. Not only are genetic alterations of PDGFRA common in patients with pediatric high-grade gliomas, but elevated PDGFRA expression has been shown to be key in driving growth of DMG tumors. Now, findings of a recent multicenter study led by Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD, co-director of the Brain Tumor Center at Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, suggest that PDGFRA could be a potential therapeutic target for pediatric high-grade gliomas. Filbin and her team - including collaborators at the University of Michigan Medical School and the Medical University of Vienna - also provide the first real-world clinical data to support the use of a PDGFRA inhibitor in the treatment of certain pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas. Pinpointing a potential treatment target To determine the frequency of PDGFRA alterations in pediatric high-grade gliomas, Filbin and her colleagues analyzed genomic data from 217 pediatric high-grade glioma samples. They identified PDGFRA alterations in nearly 15 percent of patients. Using transcriptomic data, they also found significantly elevated PDGFRA expression in tumors with PDGFRA mutation or amplification. Next, the team tested the activity of four PDGFRA inhibitors (dasatinib, crenolanib, axitinib, and avapritinib) against a panel of glioma cell lines with PDGFRA alterations. Of these drugs, avapritinib exhibited the highest potency. Additional pre-clinical testing found that avapritinib also had the least amount of off-target kinase activity, suggesting drug is less likely to cause unintended side effects. Promising early clinical data Finally, following additional testing in mouse models, the researchers treated eight pediatric and young adult patients who had high-grade gliomas with avapritinib through a compassionate use program. Most of the patients had DMGs, and seven of the eight had PDGFRA alterations. All had previously undergone surgical biopsy or resection and radiation, and four had also received chemotherapy or other treatment approaches. After being treated with avapritinib once daily for an average of four months, three of the patients demonstrated a radiographic response. The drug was also well tolerated. These three patients also survived roughly twice as long as those who didn't respond to avapritinib, although their disease ultimately metastasized. This early data suggests that avapritinib is generally safe and may trigger an initial clinical response in a small group of patients who have pediatric high-grade gliomas with PDGFRA amplification. Our research now provides the basis for a clinical trial for avapritinib in newly diagnosed pediatric patients. Our follow-up work focuses on genetic markers for personalized treatment and developing combination therapies with FDA-approved drugs to enhance efficacy." Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD, Co-Director of the Brain Tumor Center at Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute A new study indicates high levels of emotional distress and anxiety in the days following the Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel on April 13, 2024. The study was conducted by Prof. Boaz Ben-David, Dr. Ortal Shimon-Raz, and Tchelet Bressler from the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology at Reichman University, Dr. Lia Ring from Ashkelon College, and Prof. Yuval Palgi from the University of Haifa. The study, which was based on a sample of over 600 adults, presents a concerning picture of the immediate emotional consequences of the attack. The key findings reveal that 41% of participants experienced peritraumatic distress - an intense emotional and physical reaction during or immediately after a traumatic event - and 19% reported significant levels of anxiety. These figures are exceptionally high, nearly double the distress rates recorded in Israel during previous rounds of conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's findings indicate that a history of exposure to previous traumatic events, whether in the context of previous wars or personal life experiences, was not a significant factor in the levels of distress measured after the April 13 attack. However, a clear link was found between post-traumatic distress in the wake of the events of October 7 and traumatic reactions to the Iranian attack. In other words, it was not the prior exposure to trauma itself that had an impact, but rather the way in which the individual had processed and coped with that trauma. It was also found that additional factors, such as difficulty sleeping and frequent media consumption during the attack, were associated with higher levels of distress and anxiety. According to the researchers, these findings underscore the need for early identification of traumatic reactions and timely therapeutic intervention to mitigate the risk of long-term psychological harm. The study also highlights the widespread emotional distress experienced by Israel's adult population on the night of the first Iranian attack, emphasizing the need for tailored psychological interventions during times of crisis. Prof. Boaz Ben-David of the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology: "In the State of Israel, the morning after a missile attack, we were all required to continue with our daily routines - getting up, going to work, making sandwiches for our children and sending them off to school - as if we had not just experienced a significant traumatic event. There was almost no attention given to this at the national level, but it is very important to acknowledge and validate these feelings. The findings that emerged from our study reinforce the need for initiatives like the psychological first aid project that was established at the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology at Reichman University. This project, developed in collaboration with faculty and students, takes mental health professionals out of traditional treatment rooms and into the field. Instead of waiting for patients to seek help, they provide immediate assistance, for example at the support centers for the families of the hostages, offering anyone in need to sit down with them for a short conversation. This can serve as an essential first step in emotional recovery. Our findings unequivocally demonstrate the profound impact of security crises on mental health in the immediate term. The fact that people experience such high levels of distress within just a few days highlights the need for rapid interventions and emotional coping tools in the early stages of a crisis. It is also important to recognize that the emotional response to such events is not limited to people with a history of trauma; even those who have never experienced a traumatic event may suffer significant emotional distress. Therefore, we must focus on identifying response patterns, increasing accessibility to mental health support, and raising awareness to ensure that everyone at risk receives the appropriate support at the right time - without making assumptions about who needs help." The host Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News' weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book "Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z," now in its third edition. As had been rumored for weeks, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a plan to reorganize the department. It involves the downsizing of its workforce, which formerly was roughly 80,000 people, by a quarter and consolidating dozens of agencies that were created and authorized by Congress. Meanwhile, in just the past week, HHS abruptly cut off billions in funding to state and local public health departments, and canceled all research studies into covid-19, as well as diseases that could develop into the next pandemic. This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Maya Goldman of Axios News, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico. Panelists Maya Goldman Axios @mayagoldman_ Joanne Kenen Johns Hopkins University and Politico @JoanneKenen Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllstein Among the takeaways from this week's episode: As federal health officials reveal the targets of a significant workforce purge and reorganization, the GOP-controlled Congress has been notably quiet about the Trump administration's intrusions on its constitutional powers. Many of the administration's attempts to revoke and reorganize federally funded work are underway despite Congress previous approval of that funding. And while changes might be warranted, reviewing how the federal government works (or doesn't) in the public forums of congressional hearings and floor debate is part of Congress' responsibilities. The news of a major reorganization at HHS also comes before the Senate finishes confirming its leadership team. New leaders of the National Institutes of Health and the FDA were confirmed just this week; Mehmet Oz, the nominated director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, had not yet been confirmed when HHS made its announcement; and President Donald Trump only recently named a replacement nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after withdrawing his first pick. While changes early in Trump's second term have targeted the federal government and workforce, the impacts continue to be felt far outside the nation's capital. Indeed, cuts to jobs and funding touch every congressional district in the nation. They're also being felt in research areas that the Trump administration claims as priorities, such as chronic disease: The administration said this week it will shutter the office devoted to studying long covid, a chronic disease that continues to undermine millions of Americans' health. Meanwhile, in the states, doctors in Texas report a rise in cases of children with liver damage due to ingesting too much vitamin A a supplement pushed by Kennedy in response to the measles outbreak. The governor of West Virginia signed a sweeping ban on food dyes and additives. And a woman in Georgia who experienced a miscarriage was arrested in connection with the improper disposal of fetal remains. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF senior vice president Larry Levitt about the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act and the threats the health law continues to face. Plus, for "extra credit," the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: CNN's "State Lawmakers Are Looking To Ban Non-Existent 'Chemtrails.' It Could Have Real-Life Side Effects," by Ramishah Maruf and Brandon Miller. Alice Miranda Ollstein: The New York Times Wirecutter's "23andMe Just Filed for Bankruptcy. You Should Delete Your Data Now," by Max Eddy. Maya Goldman: KFF Health News' "'I Am Going Through Hell': Job Loss, Mental Health, and the Fate of Federal Workers," by Rachana Pradhan and Aneri Pattani. Joanne Kenen: The Atlantic's "America Is Done Pretending About Meat," by Yasmin Tayag. Also mentioned in this week's podcast: Credits Francis Ying Audio producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor A collection of articles from University of Manchester experts which provides a roadmap to tackle the national cardiovascular health crisis has been warmly received in Westminster. Image Credit: University of Manchester Healthy Hearts incorporates academic research on cardiovascular disease (CVD) which now results in someones death in the UK every three minutes. In her foreword for the report published by Policy@Manchester, the Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, warns that CVD is now one of the countrys biggest killers, tearing families apart and causing untold heartbreak to far too many. In the last half a century, huge strides have been made to halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory diseases in the UK each year. But worryingly, this progress is now at risk. Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive, British Heart Foundation Healthy Hearts covers a plethora of issues pertinent to cardiovascular health, from heart disease in cancer survivors, to the effects of air pollution on heart health. It also includes an international perspective on the impact of cardiovascular deaths in developing countries around the world. After reading the document, Labour MP Dr Simon Opher, a former GP and now Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Health Group, believes that Healthy Hearts should prompt policymakers to address the threat of CVD. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has said we need to switch our medical care from cure to prevention, he observes. The Healthy Hearts report shows exactly why. Making better use of digital technologies and predictive tools could prevent many deaths from cardiovascular disease. The science is well known and yet currently in our NHS this isnt being done. Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, Chair of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, notes the recommendations in Health Hearts on the use of NHS health checks. As this report states, health checks often fail to reach the people who might benefit most, she comments. This chimes with evidence we heard in our session on progress in preventing CVD. We were concerned to hear that rates of uptake of health checks vary widely and we have called on the Government to improve monitoring to track the uptake of checks. We want to see concrete action to drive improved uptake amongst people at high risk. Her party colleague Helen Morgan, the MP for North Shropshire and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Care, also welcomes the University of Manchester report, seeing it as a valuable guide that the Government should not ignore. Focusing on prevention will boost health and boost the economy, she says. Tackling pollution and reducing the burden of expensive treatment should be an important priority for any country and I hope the Government will carefully consider the Healthy Hearts proposals. This is an approach endorsed by Dr Opher MP a view sure to be taken seriously by Ministers, given his almost three decades of first-hand experience in general practice. I believe it is time to target our strategy on prevention, as well as modifying our environment to improve health, he argues. We need clean air, we need a healthy diet to lower obesity, and we need to test the people who are most at risk. This will prevent more death and disability from CVD." Healthy Hearts is available to read free of charge on the Policy@Manchester website. The increasing number of people with eating disorders and a lack of national guidance for support teams has led to researchers calling for a new national strategy that includes specific guidance to support the remote delivery of eating disorder services. A paper led by academics at Northumbria University, published in the Journal of Eating Disorders today (27 March), points to figures outlining the scale of the challenges and increasing numbers of people impacted: Approximately 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder 12.5% of 17 to 19-year-olds in England reported having an eating disorder in 2023, compared with 0.8% in 2017 The financial cost of eating disorders to the English economy was estimated as 8 billion in 2020 The paper states that, in addition to increasing numbers, the lack of national guidance, ad hoc data collection, and inconsistencies in both quality of care and evaluation of service provision are leading to disparities in support provided to people with eating disorders across England. This has led to calls from activists, politicians and the Health and Social Care Committee for the Government to implement a national eating disorder strategy for England. These calls have been echoed by the researchers who have been leading a three-year project investigating the impact of the rapid transition to remote care during the Covid-19 pandemic on people with eating disorders. The RHED-C project, led by Dr. Dawn Branley-Bell, Associate Professor and Director of the Psychology and Communication Technology Lab (PaCT Lab) at Northumbria, is funded by the Medical Research Foundation. The team conducted interactive workshops, one-to-one interviews, and a UK-wide survey with people with lived experience of eating disorders, as well as engaging with service providers. They also explored the benefits and challenges of receiving and providing online healthcare for those with eating disorders and eating distress. Based on their findings, they have identified future support recommendations. The researchers report that while eating disorders have featured in multiple broader healthcare plans, policies and reports, currently, there is no clear national strategy specifically for eating disorder services in England. Such strategies and frameworks already exist in other nations, including in Australia, and closer to home in Wales and Scotland. Now, building on the findings of their research, academics working on the RHED-C project are calling for a dedicated national eating disorder strategy for England, and emphasized the importance of incorporating evidence-based guidelines specific to the remote delivery of eating disorder services. Dr. Dawn Branley-Bell said: "Our research highlights the urgent need for a dedicated national strategy to address the rising prevalence of eating disorders in England. While remote healthcare has provided vital access to support, it also presents unique challenges that must be addressed through clear, evidence-based, eating disorder-specific guidelines. "Without national coordination, inconsistencies in care will persist, leaving many individuals without the support they need. A comprehensive strategy, including specific guidance for remote service delivery for eating disorders, is essential to ensure equitable, high-quality care." In the absence of specific guidance for remote delivery of eating disorders services and to enhance online support experiences, the RHED-C team has developed a free online toolkit. The ConnectED on the Journey toolkit offers guidance for individuals with lived experiences, their families and friends, and service providers, aiming to improve the effectiveness of online support for eating disorders. James Downs, a co-author on the paper who has lived experience of eating disorders, said: "Having contributed to policy and research in eating disorders as a patient, I've experienced first-hand the ways in which a fragmented and outdated approach to treatment leads to disparities in care and limits opportunities for recovery. The need for a national strategy for eating disorders is clear, and this should be co-created to reflect the priorities and needs of patients and their supporters." Eating disorders are complex, often life-threatening conditions affecting people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. In the UK, the scale of the problem is rising, with more young people than ever before receiving treatment for an eating disorder. Despite this, research remains significantly underfunded, meaning that understanding of how eating disorders arise and how to best treat them is still very limited. That's why we're continuing to prioritise research in this area, funding projects like RHED-C, to deepen understanding and improve care. By investing in cutting-edge research, we aim to generate the evidence needed to make a meaningful difference for people affected by eating disorders." Dr. Angela Hind, CEO of the Medical Research Foundation Women have a higher proportion of key immune cells between puberty and menopause, which may be linked to the sex hormone estrogen and explain why they are less susceptible to certain infectious diseases than men, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, is one of the first to explore how sex chromosomes and sex hormones combine to influence the immune systems of healthy individuals across a wide range of ages and gender profiles. Explaining the importance of the paper, Dr Elizabeth Rosser, a senior author of the study from UCL Division of Medicine and at the Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL, said: "Sex and gender are frequently overlooked in medical research, despite evidence that many females typically produce 'stronger' immune responses to infections such as COVID-19 than males, while also having a greater risk of developing autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. "The primary sex hormones - estrogen in females and testosterone in males - are thought to play a role in these differences, as are the sex chromosomes (XX in people registered female at birth, and XY in people registered male at birth). "However, very little is known about how immune health outcomes may change during puberty or menopause, or for transgender individuals in receipt of gender-affirming or puberty suppressing hormone treatments." In order to examine how hormones and biological sex influence the production of 31 different immune cell types, the team analysed blood samples from 283 individuals between the ages of six and 84 years. Of these, 203 were cisgender females and cisgender males, including post-menopausal women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT). They also analysed samples from 80 transgender females and males receiving gender-affirming or puberty suppressing hormone treatments. The results indicated that cisgender females (XX chromosomal background) have higher levels of specific white blood cells, known as class-switched memory B cells, than cisgender males (XY chromosomal background). Class-switched memory B cells, which are a major component of the immune system, have undergone a process known as 'class-switching' that makes them highly efficient at fighting infections that the body has encountered before. But these 'specially trained' B cells may also lead to more severe symptoms if the person has an autoimmune disorder, where a person's immune system attacks their own healthy tissues. Crucially, researchers found that these sex differences were only seen between individuals who had completed puberty, but not yet (in the case of cisgender females) gone through the menopause. Along with the fact that B cells have receptors for estrogen, this finding suggests that estrogen, which is found at much lower levels in females before puberty and after menopause, may be associated with the increase in class-switched memory B cells. Professor Coziana Ciurtin, principal investigator of the study from UCL Division of Medicine and the Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL, said: "Our study has identified some evidence that estrogen plays an important role in the abundance of class-switched memory B cells in females, but more research is required to fully understand the biological mechanisms at play. However, these findings could partially explain the sex differences we see in many infectious diseases, vaccine responses, and autoimmune disorders, and add to the growing evidence that sex and gender are critical factors to be considered in immunological studies." The authors say that despite the differences in class-switched memory B cells observed in the different groups, it is not possible to conclude that these differences are 'good' or 'bad' in terms of overall health. While cisgender females do have better protection against infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and hepatitis B, this is balanced out by being more susceptible to autoimmune conditions such as lupus. For groups whose B cell populations more closely resemble those in cisgender males, the opposite could be true. Future research would be needed to address this. The team found that in transgender males (XX chromosomal background) receiving treatment to block their production of estrogen, levels of class-switched memory B cells were significantly reduced when compared to cisgender females of the same age. These levels were comparable to those seen in cisgender males. However, when they analysed samples from transgender females (XY chromosomal background) who were taking estrogen to affirm their gender, their levels of class-switched memory B cells were comparable with those seen in cisgender males. The X chromosome carries numerous genes that are important for human immune responses, so it was critical to find out whether the effects of estrogen would be the same in cisgender females and transgender males with two X chromosomes, versus cisgender males and transgender females with only one X chromosome. This data from our Center demonstrates that sex hormones and chromosomes work in tandem to impact immune responses, with estrogen only influencing the frequency of class-switched memory B cells in individuals with an XX chromosomal background." Professor Lucy Wedderburn from the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Director of the Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL In the samples from cisgender females aged 40-60 years who were receiving HRT, estrogen was associated with a significant increase in class-switched memory B cells. This further suggests that estrogen is only associated with this increase in people with two copies of the X chromosome. The authors say that the research highlights the need for further high-quality, long-term studies to examine the impact of hormonal treatment on infection and autoimmunity risk across a range of sex chromosomal backgrounds and stages of life. Dr. Hannah Peckham, first author of the study from UCL Division of Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and the Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology at UCL, said. "Our study demonstrates that improvements in diversity and inclusion practices within medical research will not only advance our scientific understanding of sex-biases in disease outcomes, but potentially shed light on novel strategies for personally tailored healthcare and potentially mitigate against health inequalities." The study was funded by Versus Arthritis, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, Bart's Charity, the Medical Research Foundation, NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre and the NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre. President Donald Trump is vowing a new approach to getting homeless people off the streets by forcibly moving those living outside into large camps while mandating mental health and addiction treatment an aggressive departure from the nation's leading homelessness policy, which for decades has prioritized housing as the most effective way to combat the crisis. "Our once-great cities have become unlivable, unsanitary nightmares," Trump said in a presidential campaign video. "For those who are severely mentally ill and deeply disturbed, we will bring them to mental institutions, where they belong, with the goal of reintegrating them back into society once they are well enough to manage." Now that he's in office, the assault on "Housing First" has begun. White House officials haven't announced a formal policy but are opening the door to a treatment-first agenda, while engineering a major overhaul of the housing and social service programs that form the backbone of the homelessness response system that cities and counties across the nation depend on. Nearly $4 billion was earmarked last year alone. But now, Scott Turner, who heads Trump's Department of Housing and Urban Development the agency responsible for administering housing and homelessness funding has outlined massive funding cuts and called for a review of taxpayer spending. "Thanks to President Trump's leadership, we are no longer in a business-as-usual posture and the DOGE task force will play a critical role in helping to identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and ultimately better serve the American people," Turner said in a statement. Staffing cuts already proposed would hit the part of the agency overseeing homelessness spending and Housing First initiatives particularly hard. Trump outlined his vision during his campaign, calling for new treatment facilities to be opened on large parcels of government land "tent cities where the homeless can be relocated and their problems identified." They could receive treatment and rehabilitation or face arrest. Now in office, he has begun to turn his attention to street homelessness, in March ordering Washington, D.C., to sweep encampments, potentially separating homeless people from their case managers and social service providers, derailing their path to housing. The administration is discouraging local governments from following the federal policy, telling them it will not enforce homelessness contracts "to the extent that they require the project to use a housing first program model." And, in a recent order "reducing the scope of the federal bureaucracy," Trump slashed the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, shrinking the agency responsible for coordinating funding and initiatives between the federal government, states, and local agencies, known as Continuums of Care. "Make no mistake that Trump's reckless attacks across the federal government will supercharge the housing and homelessness crisis in communities across the country," Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters of Los Angeles said in response to the order. Support without forced treatment Housing First was implemented nationally in 2004 under the George W. Bush administration to combat chronic homelessness, defined as having lived on the streets with a disabling condition for a long period of time. It was expanded under President Barack Obama as America's plan of attack on homelessness and broadened by President Joe Biden, who argued that housing was a basic need, critical to health. The policy aims to stabilize homeless people in permanent housing and provide them with case management support and social services without forcing treatment, imposing job requirements, or demanding sobriety. Once housed, the theory goes, homeless people escape the chaos of the streets and can then work on finding a job, taking care of chronic health conditions, or getting sober. "When you're on the streets, all you're doing every day is figuring out how to survive," said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. "Housing is the most important intervention that brings a sense of safety and stability, where you're not just constantly trying to find food or a safe place to sleep." But Trump wants to gut taxpayer-subsidized housing initiatives. He is pushing for a punitive approach that would impose fines and potentially jail time on homeless people. And he wants to mandate sobriety and mental health treatment as the primary homelessness intervention a stark reversal from Housing First. The shift has ignited fear and panic among homelessness experts and front-line service providers, who argue that forcing treatment and criminalizing homeless people through fines and jail time simply doesn't work. "It's only going to make things much worse," said Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. "Throwing everybody into treatment programs just isn't an effective strategy. The real problem is we just don't have enough affordable housing." Trump got close to ending Housing First during his first term when he tapped Robert Marbut to lead the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness in 2019. Marbut pushed for mandating treatment and reducing reliance on social services, while curtailing taxpayer-subsidized housing. He argued that forcing homeless people to get sober and enter treatment would help them achieve self-sufficiency and end their homelessness. But covid-19 stalled those plans. Now, Marbut said, he believes the president will finish the job. "Trump knows that what we need to do is get funding back to treatment and recovery," Marbut said. "The Trump administration is laser-focused on ending Housing First. They realized it was wrong the first time and that's why I was selected to change it. They still realize it's wrong." Trump and administration officials did not respond to questions from KFF Health News. A request to interview Turner was not granted. Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership," a conservative policy blueprint from some of Trump's closest advisers, explicitly calls for an end to Housing First. Under attack Housing First is under attack not only from Republicans who have long criticized taxpayer-subsidized housing for homeless people, but also from Democrats responding to public frustration over homeless encampments multiplying around the nation. Last year, the federal government estimated that more than 770,000 people in the U.S. were homeless, a record high. That was up 18% from 2023. And while housing grows increasingly unaffordable, homeless camps have exploded, spilling into city parks, crowding sidewalks, and polluting sensitive waterways, despite unprecedented public spending. Already, cities and states, liberal and conservative, are cracking down on street homelessness and targeting the mental health and addiction crisis. This is true even in deep-blue states like California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has created a "CARE Court" initiative that can mandate treatment even though housing isn't always available and threatened to withhold funding from cities and counties that don't aggressively clear encampments. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has proposed ending harm reduction for drug users. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is prioritizing encampment sweeps even though the promise of housing or shelter is elusive. And San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan won initial City Council support for plans to arrest people who refuse shelter three times in 18 months and to divert permanent housing funding to pay for an expansion of homeless shelters. Mahan believes liberals and advocates have been too "purist" because housing isn't being built fast enough, while investments in shelter and treatment have been inadequate. "It can't only be about Housing First," he said. Homelessness crackdowns have exploded since the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for elected officials and law enforcement agencies to fine and arrest people for living outside. Since June, roughly 150 laws imposing fines or jail time have been passed, with about 45 in California alone, said Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign and communications director for the National Homelessness Law Center. Rabinowitz and other experts say both Republicans and Democrats are undermining Housing First by criminalizing homelessness and conducting encampment sweeps that hinder the ability of front-line workers to get people into housing and services. However, there's disagreement on whether to entirely dismantle the policy. Liberal leaders want to maintain existing streams of housing and homelessness funding while expanding shelters and moving people off the streets. Conservatives blame Housing First for the rise in homelessness and are instead pushing for mandatory treatment and cutting housing subsidies. "I used to think it was just a waste of taxpayer money because it wasn't treatment-based, but now I think it actually enables people to remain homeless and addicted," Marbut said of the Housing First approach. He favors requiring behavioral health treatment as a prerequisite to housing. Evidence shows Housing First has been successful in moving vulnerable, chronically homeless people into permanent housing. For instance, a systematic review of 26 studies indicated that, compared with treatment-first, "Housing First programs decreased homelessness by 88%."And the approach has shown remarkable improvements in health, reducing costly hospital and emergency room care. Experts say Housing First has been severely underfunded and implemented unevenly, with some homelessness agencies taking federal money but not providing appropriate services or housing placements. "Making it the broad policy to all homelessness leaves it vulnerable to being attacked the way it's currently being attacked," said Philip Mangano, a Republican who spearheaded the development of Housing First as the lead homelessness adviser to George W. Bush. "The truth is it's a mixed bag. For some people like those who are using substances, the evidence just isn't there yet." Others say it has been ineffective in some places because of rampant misspending, abuse, and a lack of accountability. "This works when it's done right," said Marc Dones, a policy director for homelessness initiatives at the University of California-San Francisco, arguing that housing can save lives and lower spending on costly health care. "But I think we have been too polite and too nice for too long about some real incompetence." Jeff Olivet, who succeeded Marbut at the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness under Biden, said Marbut and Trumps positions are misguided. He argues that Housing First has worked for those who have gotten indoors, yet the number of people falling into homelessness outpaces those getting housing. And he says there was never enough money to provide housing and supportive services for everyone in need. "Housing First is not just about sticking somebody in an apartment and hoping for the best," Olivet said. "It's really about providing stable housing and access to health care, mental health and substance use treatment, and to support people, but not forcing it on people." This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. Credit Card Rule Changes From April 1: Fewer Rewards, Updated Benefits, And More Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:38 IST New credit card rules for different banks will be kicked off from April 01, 2025. Let's know them one by one. New Credit Card Rules From April 1 (AI Generated) Credit Card Rule Changes From April 1: Starting April 1, several new rules in different banks credit cards including fewer rewards, annual fee waiver, and updated benefits will roll out from next month. Air India SBI Credit Card, SimplyCLICK SBI Card, and many more have new rules. Changes For Air India SBI Credit Card Users Recommended Stories Significant reductions will be observed for Air India SBI Credit Card users. The Air India SBI Platinum Credit Card will now offer 5 reward points per 100 spent on Air India ticket bookings, down from 15 points. Similarly, the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card will provide only 10 points per 100 spent, a significant drop from the earlier 30 points. These changes are likely to heavily impact frequent travelers who depend on SBIs co-branded Air India cards for accumulating travel benefits. Annual Fee Waiver By IDFC First Bank IDFC First Bank will waive the annual fee for one year for those renewing their cards after March 31, 2025. However, with key benefits being discontinued, customers who previously utilized this card for Vistara travel perks might need to consider alternative options. SimplyCLICK SBI Card SBI Card is set to reduce reward points on specific transactions. SimplyCLICK SBI Cardholders will now earn 5X reward points on Swiggy, a reduction from the previous 10X. However, the 10X reward benefit will still be available for other partner brands such as Myntra, BookMyShow, and Apollo 24. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Revisions By Axis Bank For Vistara Credit Card Following Vistaras merger with Air India, Axis Bank will revise the benefits of its Vistara Credit Card effective from April 18, 2025. Cardholders renewing their cards on or after this date will not be charged an annual fee, but several valuable perks will be removed. About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 07:38 IST Infosys Lays Off More Trainees At Mysuru Campus, Offers Alternative Career Options Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:07 IST IT giant Infosys has terminated 30-45 trainees at its Mysuru campus on March 26 after they did not clear internal assessments Infosys IT giant Infosys has terminated 30-45 trainees at its Mysuru campus on March 26 after they did not clear internal assessments, as per a Moneycontrol report. However, the Bengaluru-based company is offering affected trainees an alternative career path, including a 12-week training program for potential roles in Infosys Business Process Management (BPM) unit, the report further stated, Recommended Stories This move comes two months after Infosys terminated around 350 trainees from the same campusmany of whom had faced onboarding delays of over 2.5 years. Additionally, Infosys will fully sponsor the training for those who choose to pursue the BPM course. According to emails sent to trainees, Infosys informed them they had not met the qualifying criteria" in the Foundation Skills Training Program despite receiving additional preparation time, doubt-clearing sessions, and multiple mock assessment opportunities. As part of its exit process, the Bengaluru-based IT giantIndias second-largest IT services firmis providing affected trainees with a one-month ex-gratia payment along with relieving letters. For trainees declining the Business Process Management (BPM) pathway, the company will arrange transportation from Mysuru to Bangalore and provide standard travel allowances for their hometown journeys. Those requiring temporary accommodation may stay at the Employee Care Centre in Mysuru until their departure date. All affected trainees must submit their travel and accommodation preferences by March 27, 2025. Regulatory Clearance and Official Stance The Karnataka Labour Department concluded its investigation on February 27, clearing Infosys of any labor law violations regarding the trainee exits. A source familiar with the proceedings told Moneycontrol: These were strictly training engagements without formal employment contracts. Labor protections dont extend to such training arrangements, making the layoff classification legally inapplicable." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This determination followed campus inspections in Bengaluru and Mysuru by state labor officials, initiated after the Union Labour Ministry mandated an inquiry into the termination reports. The ministry had directed Karnatakas Labor Commissioner and Labor Secretary to examine the matter and implement appropriate resolutions. Throughout these developments, Infosys has consistently affirmed its compliance with established policies, emphasizing that assessment failures necessarily conclude training engagements for all entry-level participants. About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 08:56 IST Karnataka Milk Price Hike: How Much Will Nandini, Amul And Mother Dairy Cost Now? Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 19:32 IST Karnataka's popular dairy brand, Nandini, will see the price of its toned milk rise from Rs 42 to Rs 46 per litre, while curd will now cost Rs 54 per litre, up from Rs 50. Karnataka raises milk price by Rs 4, effective April 1. In yet another move impacting household budgets, the Karnataka government on Thursday approved a fresh hike in milk and curd prices, further tightening the financial strain on consumers. After increasing public transport fares earlier this year, the state administration has now raised the price of essential dairy products by Rs 4 per litre, effective April 1. The decision, announced on March 27 by Animal Husbandry and Silk Production Minister K Venkatesh, comes in response to persistent demands from dairy farmers, cooperatives, and the Animal Husbandry Department. With this revision, Karnatakas popular dairy brand, Nandini, will see the price of its toned milk rise from Rs 42 to Rs 46 per litre, while curd will now cost Rs 54 per litre, up from Rs 50. Recommended Stories Revised Prices for Nandini Dairy Products in Karnataka Toned Milk Rs 46 per litre (previously Rs 42) Homogenised Toned Milk Rs 47 per litre (previously Rs 43) Cow Milk (Green Packet) Rs 50 per litre (previously Rs 46) Shubham Milk Rs 52 per litre (previously Rs 48) Curd Rs 54 per litre (previously Rs 50) Comparing Prices: Nandini vs Amul and Mother Dairy While Karnataka residents adjust to the new prices, consumers in Delhi-NCR continue to pay more for other leading dairy brands: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Amul Gold Rs 67 per litre Amul Taaza Rs 55 per litre Mother Dairy Full Cream Rs 68 per litre Mother Dairy Toned Milk Rs 56 per litre Nandini Full Cream Rs 67 per litre Nandini Toned Milk Rs 55 per litre Dairy cooperatives and milk federations in Karnataka have welcomed the price adjustment, citing rising production costs and the need for fair compensation to farmers. However, the hike is expected to weigh heavily on ordinary consumers, who are already grappling with the recent surge in public transport fares. First Published: March 27, 2025, 19:32 IST Stocks To Watch: HDFC Bank, Indian Hotels, BSE, HUL, Maruti, Wipro, And Others Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:41 IST Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like HDFC Bank, Indian Hotels, BSE, HUL, Maruti, Wipro, and others will be in focus on Thursday's trade Stocks To Watch Stocks to Watch on March 27: Indian equity markets saw a decline after a brief pause, shedding over half a percent amid mixed global signals. In todays session, HDFC Bank, Ashok Leyland, BSE, HUL, Maruti, and Wipro are among the key stocks in focus due to various developments. Key Stocks in Focus Recommended Stories Adani Enterprises Adani Group has expressed interest in acquiring Jaiprakash Associates Ltd (JAL) through an insolvency process, as per a PTI report. HDFC Bank The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a Rs 75 lakh monetary penalty on the bank for failing to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations. HUL Hindustan Unilever has appointed Rajneet Kohli as Executive Director, Foods & General Manager, India Foods Business Unit, effective April 7. Max Financial Services Promoter Max Ventures Investment Holding plans to sell 1.59% stake in Max Financial via block deals, with the offer price set at Rs 1,117.6 per share and an expected deal size of Rs 611.6 crore. Wipro The IT giant has secured a 500 million (Rs 5,300 crore), 10-year strategic deal with Phoenix Group, UK to handle life and pension administration for the ReAssure business. Indian Hotels Company (Tata Group) The company infused $9 million in its Netherlands-based subsidiary IHOCO BV, which will further invest in its US subsidiary United Overseas Holding Inc for debt repayment and operations. Vedanta The board has appointed Rajiv Kumar as CEO Aluminium Business for a three-year term, effective March 26. UPL Alpha Wave Ventures II, LP has invested $100 million for a 3.51% stake in Advanta Enterprises, with UPL selling an additional 8.93% stake for $250 million. BSE The exchange will consider issuing bonus shares in its board meeting on March 30. Bharat Forge & Tata Advanced Systems The Ministry of Defence has signed Rs 6,900 crore contracts with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems for procurement of 155mm/52 calibre advanced towed artillery gun systems (ATAGS). NBCC (India) Signed an MoU with MAHAPREIT for consultancy, EPC, and redevelopment projects worth Rs 25,000 crore. Ashok Leyland Its UK-based subsidiary, Switch Mobility, has initiated a consultation process with employees, potentially leading to the closure of its Sherburn facility. NHPC Completed the trial run of Unit 3 (200 MW) of the Parbati II HE project (4200 MW) in Himachal Pradesh. Torrent Power Sold equity shares of 10 subsidiaries worth Rs 474.26 crore to its wholly owned subsidiary, Torrent Green Energy. Aditya Birla Capital The board will meet on March 31 to discuss raising funds via debt securities, including non-convertible debentures (NCDs). Piramal Enterprises Infused Rs 600 crore into its subsidiary Piramal Finance via a rights issue to support business operations. Sunteck Realty Plans to invest $10 million to $20 million in Sunteck Lifestyle International, which will further invest in its Dubai project. Sterlite Technologies Partnered with Wyre to support the development of a multigigabit fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network in Belgium. IRM Energy Signed a five-year contract with Shell Energy India to supply Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG), totaling 1,23,21,200 MMBtu. TVS Supply Chain Solutions Plans to invest up to Rs 250 crore in its three overseas subsidiaries in the UK, Singapore, and the USA. Restaurant Brands Asia Raised Rs 500 crore via QIP allotment of 8.33 crore shares at Rs 60 per share, with SBI Mutual Fund, MIT, Arisaig Asia Fund, ICICI Prudential Life, and Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund among the investors. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all MSTC Declared a third interim dividend of Rs 4.50 per share for FY 2024-25. Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategiesonly on News18. First Published: March 27, 2025, 07:41 IST Tata Motors, Eicher Motors, Other Auto Stocks Tank Up To 7% As Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs On Imports Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:39 IST Auto & auto parts makers like Tata Motors, Eicher, Sona BLW brace for Trumps 25% tariff on foreign car imports, impacting margins. Global automakers are likely to pass on some of the price escalation to component makers, putting pressure on their margins Auto Stocks In Focus: Certain auto and auto component stocks are expected to be in focus today as investors analyze the implications of US President Donald Trumps decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all foreign auto imports. Shares of Tata Motors, the parent company of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), fell 6.61 per cent to Rs 663 in early trade on Thursday. Recommended Stories Eicher Motor Shares were down by over a percent in early morning trade. Whereas, Sona Blw Precision Forgings Ltd and Samvardhana Motherson saw a drop of 4.52 per cent and 4.35 per cent, respectively. Other auto component makers with US exposure, including Bharat Forge, Sansera Engineering, Suprajit Engineering, and Balkrishna Industries, also slipped into the red as tariff worries rippled through the sector. At about 9:30 am, the Nifty Auto index was trading 1.5 percent lower. While Indias direct exports of fully assembled vehicles to the US are minimal, auto component manufacturers with significant overseas exposure could bear the brunt. Companies likely to be affected include Tata Motors and Eicher Motors, along with auto parts makers such as Sona BLW and Samvardhana Motherson, which primarily export to Europe and key Asian markets that supply vehicles to the US With global automakers expected to pass on the cost increases to suppliers, margins for component manufacturers could be squeezed. In FY24, Indias auto component exports totaled $21.2 billion, while the global trade in auto components stood at $1.2 trillion. Exports to the US and Europe accounted for roughly 4.5 per cent of global auto component trade. How Will Companies Be Affected? Tata Motors: While Tata Motors does not directly export to the US, its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has a significant market presence there, with the US contributing 22 per cent of JLRs total sales. JLRs vehicles, primarily manufactured in the UK and other global facilities, will now face the 25 per cent tariff. Eicher Motors: The maker of Royal Enfield motorcycles may also experience some impact, as the US remains a key export market for its 650cc models. Auto Component Makers Face Margin Pressure With rising tariffs, global automakers are expected to shift part of the burden onto component suppliers, which will impact profitability. Sona BLW Precision Forgings: Sona Comstar derives nearly 66 per cent of its revenue from the US and European markets. To reduce dependence on Western markets, the company has been expanding its footprint in China, Japan, and South Korea, aiming for these regions to contribute over 50 per cent of revenue in the coming years. Samvardhana Motherson International (SAMIL): As one of Indias largest auto component manufacturers, Motherson supplies parts to major US carmakers like Tesla and Ford. However, its local manufacturing presence in the US and Europe reduces its vulnerability compared to component makers reliant on exports. Other key players to watch include Bharat Forge, Sansera Engineering, Suprajit Engineering, and Balkrishna Industries, all of which have considerable export exposure. Global Auto Stocks Tumble top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Uncertainty over Trumps trade plans and worries they could trigger a downturn have roiled financial markets, with consumer confidence also falling in recent months amid fears of the tariffs effects. Wall Street slumped ahead of Trumps Wednesday afternoon announcement, with shares in General Motors down 3.1%, although Ford eked out a 0.1% gain. On Thursday in Japan, the worlds top-selling automaker, Toyota, was down almost 3.5%, while Nissan shed 2.5% and Honda fell as much as 3.1%. Mitsubishi Motors decreased 4.5%, while Mazda dropped 5.9% and Subaru tumbled 6.1%. In South Korea, Hyundai shares dipped 2.7%. About the Author Aparna Deb Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a... Read More Stay updated with all the latest news on the Stock Market, including market trends, Sensex and Nifty updates, top gainers and losers, and expert analysis. Get real-time insights, financial reports, and investment strategiesonly on News18. First Published: March 27, 2025, 08:37 IST Tesla Price To Increase After Trump's 25% Tariff On Auto Imports? Here's What Elon Musk Said Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 10:58 IST Elon Musk warned that the 25 percent tariff on non-US manufactured vehicles, imposed by President Trump, will significantly impact the cost of parts in Tesla cars from other countries. Elon Musk is the head of EV Maker Tesla. Donald Trump Tariff: Tech billionaire Elon Musk said that the price of parts in Tesla cars that come from other countries will be affected following US president Donald Trumps decision to impose 25% tariff on all cars on made in the United States. He further warned that the cost impact is not trivial. The move is set to raise tensions with the trading countries amid the looming trade war. Recommended Stories The tariff will come into effect from April 2, as announced earlier a date that he has dubbed as Liberation Day" for the US. The latest move is likely to impact foreign-made cars and light trucks, besides existing tariffs on such goods. In response to an X post suggesting Tesla might benefit from the 25 percent tariff on non-US manufactured vehicles, Musk clarified that this tariff would impact the price of parts used in Tesla cars from other countries and that the cost effect is significant. What were going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If theyre made in the United States, it is absolutely no tariff," Trump said at the White House. To be clear, this will affect the price of parts in Tesla cars that come from other countries. The cost impact is not trivial. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2025 Trump added that it would lead to spur in factories in the US and reduce reliance on a ridiculous" supply chain from across North America and beyond. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Important to note that Tesla is NOT unscathed here. The tariff impact on Tesla is still significant. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2025 In a post claiming that 40% of all new cars sold in the US are imported, the tariff is a big deal. In a response to the post, Musk said that Tesla is not unscathed here". He said that tariff impact on Tesla is still significant. About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 10:58 IST 10 Engineering Skills In India To Invest In 2025: LinkedIn's Top Picks Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:21 IST As AI becomes more integral to engineering, AI literacy is now an essential skill and Engineers are required to understand its application across industries. In the rapidly evolving world, the nature of jobs and the skills required for emerging roles are also transforming. (Representative Image/ News18.com) The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace in the third decade of the 21st century, and with this rapid change, the nature of jobs and the skills required for emerging roles are also transforming. At the dawn of this century, engineering had only a few broad branches, but with the rise of digital technologies and the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, engineering is now becoming increasingly specialised to meet the demands of a tech-driven world. With the digital age driving rapid technological advancements, LinkedIn has revealed the fastest-growing engineering skills that will shape Indias job market. The study analysed which skills were most frequently added to professional profiles and in demand by employers. Explore the top 10 engineering skills, as highlighted in LinkedIns Skill On The Rise 2025 report, to upskill and stay ahead in an ever-evolving industry. Recommended Stories Large Language Models (LLM) At the forefront of AI innovation, the development and application of Large Language Models (LLM) such as GPT and BERT are set to transform how we interact with technology. These AI-driven models are powering chatbots, search engines, and content generation tools. Engineers skilled in LLM development will be experts in deep learning, neural networks, and data preprocessing, making this a must-have skill for those aiming to thrive in AI-driven industries. AI Literacy As AI becomes more integral to engineering, AI literacy is now an essential skill. Engineers must understand how AI works, its ethical implications, and its applications across industries. Gaining knowledge in AI literacy allows engineers to navigate model interpretability, bias mitigation, and regulatory considerations, enabling them to use AI systems responsibly and effectively. Prompt Engineering With the growing prevalence of AI-powered tools, prompt engineering has emerged as a vital skill. This involves crafting precise inputs to guide AI models, ensuring they produce the most relevant outputs. Engineers with expertise in prompt engineering will be adept at optimising AI responses for diverse applications, from customer service to content creation and automation, making them indispensable in the rapidly expanding AI sector. Code Review Code review is essential for maintaining the quality, security, and efficiency of software. Engineers proficient in code review are skilled at identifying vulnerabilities, enforcing coding standards, and enhancing collaboration within development teams. This skill ensures that developerswhether junior or seniorwrite clean, maintainable code that meets industry standards. Software Design Despite the rapid evolution of technology, software design remains a fundamental pillar of engineering. As user expectations grow and applications become increasingly complex, architects must design systems that are not only scalable but also maintainable and efficient. Learning the intricacies of software design, including system architecture principles and object-oriented programming, is crucial for engineers who wish to create innovative solutions for todays demands. Technical Documentation Technical documentation is a crucial yet often overlooked skill. Effective documentation ensures clarity in product development, API integration, and software maintenance. Engineers who excel in this area can produce clear, concise manuals, API documentation, and internal guides that improve collaboration and user experience. Mastering this skill is a valuable asset, particularly in large, complex projects. PyTorch PyTorch, a deep learning framework, has quickly become a favourite among AI and machine learning engineers. Known for its flexibility and ease of use, PyTorch is ideal for rapid prototyping and model training. Engineers proficient in PyTorch will be well-equipped to contribute to AI research and industrial applications, making it an essential skill for anyone pursuing a career in AI or machine learning. Optimization From machine learning to operations research, optimization is a key skill that spans many engineering disciplines. Engineers skilled in optimization techniques can improve system performance, reduce computational costs, and enhance the efficiency of AI models. Mastery in this area will equip engineers to tackle complex problems and provide solutions that are both effective and cost-efficient. Systems Design Designing large-scale, distributed systems requires a strategic understanding of architecture, scalability, and fault tolerance. Systems design skills are vital for engineers tasked with creating complex applications that meet high performance and reliability standards. Courses in systems design focus on microservices, API development, and cloud computing strategies, preparing engineers for leadership roles in technology. Jupyter top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Jupyter Notebooks are essential tools for engineers in data science, AI, and research. This interactive environment allows for seamless coding, data analysis, and visualisation in Python. Engineers proficient in Jupyter will be able to test models efficiently, collaborate on projects, and present their findings in a user-friendly format, making it a key skill for anyone working in data-driven roles. 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 27, 2025, 09:21 IST From Teachers To Chefs & Plumbers, 10 Professions That Can't Be Replaced By AI Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 20:59 IST AI Proof Jobs: Here are certain skills that AI cannot and will not replace; therefore, humans will always be valuable in any workplace. 10 Jobs AI Can Never Replace Humans No Matter How Smart It Gets (Representative image/Getty) Jobs AI Cant Replace: Tech billionaire Bill Gates has voiced his concerns over the ongoing debate about Artificial Intelligence (AI), cautioning that it could make many jobs redundant in the near future. The former Microsoft CEO identified three professions that are currently less vulnerable to AI-driven automation. These jobs include coding, energy management, and biology, all of which require a distinct combination of problem-solving, creativity, and adaptabilitytraits that AI has yet to fully replicate. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) has numerous practical uses in the workplace, ranging from automating customer service procedures to rapidly processing big scientific data sets, its capabilities are limited. Humans are the ideal choice for jobs requiring abilities like emotional intelligence, critical thinking, creativity, or problem-solving. Recommended Stories Here are certain skills that AI cannot and will not replace; therefore, humans will always be valuable in any workplace: Healthcare Professionals: Doctors, nurses, and medical practitioners rely on empathy, critical thinking, and real-time decision-making to diagnose and treat patients. Although AI can assist in analysing medical data and suggesting treatment options, human connection in patient care remains essential. Educators and Teachers: Teaching goes beyond simply delivering lessonsit involves mentoring, adapting to individual learning styles, and fostering personal growth. While AI can provide automated tutoring, it cannot match the passion, encouragement, and real-time interaction of a dedicated educator. Legal Professionals and Law Enforcement: Judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officers play a crucial role in handling complex legal and ethical matters that require human intuition and judgment. Although technology can assist in analysing legal documents and predicting case outcomes, it cannot apply moral reasoning, interpret emotions, or make nuanced decisions in sensitive situations. Creative Artists: Creativity thrives through the unique perspectives of writers, filmmakers, painters, and designers, who channel emotions and cultural influences into their work. While AI can assist in generating material, true artistry is born from human imagination, personal experiences, and deep emotional connections. Chefs and Culinary Experts: Cooking is more than following a recipeits an art that blends creativity, technique, and cultural traditions. While AI can suggest meal plans and automate cooking processes, it lacks the intuition, flair, and sensory experience that a skilled chef brings to the table. Researchers and Scientists: Although AI excels at analyzing large datasets, it is human scientists who propel research forward by developing hypotheses, evaluating findings, and pioneering new discoveries. Scientific advancements are fueled by creativity, curiosity, and critical thinkingqualities that AI lacks. Counseling and Therapy: Supporting mental health requires more than just providing adviceit involves deep empathy, active listening, and the ability to understand unspoken emotions. AI chatbots may offer basic guidance, but genuine therapy depends on human intuition, emotional intelligence, and personal connection. Social Work and Community Advocacy: Helping individuals in need, fighting for social justice, and bringing about meaningful change demands human compassion and adaptability. While AI can analyse trends and gather data, it cannot build trust, provide comfort, or navigate the complexities of human relationships in the way social workers do. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Leadership and Organisational Strategy: Strong leadership goes beyond analysing numbersit requires vision, the ability to inspire, and sound judgment in unpredictable situations. AI may assist with decision-making, but guiding teams, resolving conflicts, and fostering innovation are responsibilities that rely on human insight and emotional intelligence. Vocational Jobs: Physical labour, painting, plumbing, electrical work, and other occupations are also irreplaceable. Artificial intelligence (AI) can assist individuals in choosing the ideal wall colour, but they are unable to jump out of screens to assist with plumbing or painting. 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 27, 2025, 20:56 IST Assam Police Constable Commando PET Results Declared At slprbassam.in, Know Cutoff Marks Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 20:06 IST Assam Police Constable Commando PET Results: Shortlisted candidates will move on to the Psychometric Test round, starting on April 7, 2025 Candidates who participated in the exam can view their results online on the official SLPRB website, slprbassam.in The State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB) Assam has released the results of the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for the Constable (AB) positions in the Assam Commando Battalions today, March 27. Candidates who participated in the exam can view their results online on the official SLPRB website, slprbassam.in. A total of 164 Constable positions in the Assam Commando Battalion through this recruitment drive. Assam Police Constable Commando PET Results: Steps to Check Recommended Stories Step 1. Visit the SLPRB website, slprbassam.in Step 2. Click on the Constable Commando PET results link on the homepage Step 3. Enter the required login details such as the application number Step 4. Check and download the result. Assam Police Constable Commando PET Results: Cutoff Marks UR 86.50 OBC/MOBC 84.76 SC 85.05 ST(P) 86.05 ST(H) 83.76 Tea-Tribe 85.95 Sports Person 91.67 Assam Police Constable Commando PET Results: How Merit List Is Prepared? Merit List is prepared based on marks obtained in PET (Excluding Extra Curricular Activities Marks). It is calculated as follows: Percentage(%) = Marks Obtained in PET/Total Marks in PET X 100 For Constable(AB) Male total marks in PET is 60 (Running Marks+Long Jump Marks+Chin-Up Marks). For Constable(AB) Female total marks in PET is 40 (Running Marks+Long Jump Marks). For Commando Constable(AB) Male total marks in PET is 80 (Running Marks+Running Hundred Marks+Long Jump Marks+Chin-Up Marks). For Commando Constable(AB) Female total marks in PET is 60 (Running Marks+Running Hundred Marks+Long Jump Marks). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Assam Police Constable Commando PET Results: Whats Next? Shortlisted candidates will move on to the Psychometric Test round, starting on April 7, 2025. It will be held at the 4th Assam Police Battalion, Kahilipara, Guwahati-781019, according to SLPRBs announcement. The Psychometric Test for the eligible Candidates will be held w.e.f. 07-04-2025 at 4th Assam Police Battalion, Kahilipara, Guwahat-781019. Eligible Candidates will be able to download their Admit Cards for Psychometric Test by logging in to the SLPRB website from 11 AM of 02-04-2025," reads the official notice. 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 27, 2025, 20:00 IST From Harvard To MIT, List Of Universities In The US Offering Free Education Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 13:08 IST Several American colleges offer free education to qualified students through tuition fees, work-study opportunities, or complete scholarships Dreaming Of Studying In The US? These Colleges Offer Free Education (AI Generated/Representational Image) Many students from all over the world have long dreamed of attending college in the United States. The United States provides access to a wide range of professional options and is well-known for its esteemed universities, varied academic offerings, and vibrant campus culture. However, students are frequently discouraged from applying due to the high cost of studying in the United States. Due to the high cost of tuition, living expenses, and other expenses, many prospective students look for other options. Several American colleges offer free education to qualified students through tuition fees, work-study opportunities, or complete scholarships. Recommended Stories This article examines which American institutions provide free education and how students might take advantage of these changes. Universities Offering Free Education: Who Can Apply? Harvard University has extended its financial aid program to include free education for students from households making less than $200,000 per year, in keeping with other prestigious universities. Previously, only families earning up to $85,000 annually were eligible for this benefit. In addition to Harvard, other educational institutions that have implemented tuition-free or heavily subsidised programmes include the University of Texas System, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Pennsylvania. These colleges offer financial assistance through grants and scholarships rather than student loans. Eligibility requirements vary in each institution and are mostly determined by family assets and income. In order to make it easier for middle-class families to be eligible for financial aid, several institutions do not count home equity as part of a familys assets. At the moment, qualifying students can attend more than 100 public and private universities in the US for free. The income barrier for admission to MIT and the University of Pennsylvania was recently increased to $200,000. Meanwhile, students from households making up to $75,000 a year can now attend Brandeis University and Carnegie Mellon University for free. Similar financial aid schemes are also offered by organisations such as the University of Massachusetts (UMass) System, Brandeis University, and the University of Texas System. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all How To Apply? The first step for students who want to attend school for free is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Additional paperwork or pre-enrollment in particular financial aid programs may be required by certain states and institutions. Undocumented students can also get financial aid from several universities, though eligibility varies by school and state regulations. 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 27, 2025, 13:06 IST Wars That Stretched Across Centuries: 7 Conflicts That Lasted Over 100 Years Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:44 IST Wars have shaped history for centuries, with some lasting generations, redefining borders, cultures, and power struggles that still echo today. Throughout history, wars have reshaped nations, cultures, and borders, leaving lasting legacies that continue to influence the world today. (AI Generated Image) GK, General Knowledge: War has shaped the world for as long as humans have walked the earth. Some battles were brief, lasting mere days, while others dragged on for decades. And then, there were wars that stretched across generations, reshaping borders, civilisations, and entire ways of life. Todays conflicts, such as those between Russia and Ukraine or Israel and Hamas, are stark reminders that war is never too far from human existence. But history tells tales of even longer struggleswars that spanned centuries, fuelled by ambition, power, and at times, sheer survival. One such war was the legendary conflict between England and France, a saga of rivalry that lasted from 1066 to 1776. The Hundred Years War, a key part of this ongoing feud, raged for 116 years, far exceeding its name. Recommended Stories Some of these prolonged conflicts were not merely about politics or power. They were about identity, faith, and the fight for dominance. They shaped nations, cultures, and left legacies that still echo today. The Iberian Religious War: A 781-Year Struggle The longest continuous war in recorded history, the Iberian Religious War, was fought between the Catholic Spanish Empire and the Moors from North Africa. Commonly referred to as the Reconquista, it lasted an astonishing 781 yearsnearly three times the lifespan of the United States. It all began in 711 CE, when the Moors laid claim to parts of Europe, prompting Spain to launch a fierce counteroffensive. This was one of the earliest religious conflicts fought outside the Arab world. The war finally ended in 1492, when the Spanish successfully recaptured Granada, securing their dominance in the region. The toll? Nearly 7 million lives. The Persian-Roman Wars: A 720-Year Border Conflict For over seven centuries, the Roman Empire clashed with the Parthians, later succeeded by the Sassanids, along the Persia-Europe border. These conflicts revolved around territorial expansion, with each side eager to conquer the others border cities. While the battles themselves were fierce, the wars greatest damage was financial. The constant fighting drained both empires, weakening them against external threats. Spanning from 92 BC to 629 AD, this war was a testament to the relentless pursuit of dominance. The Roman-Germanic War: Rome vs. the Tribes (708 Years) From 113 BC to 596 CE, the Roman Empire fought wave after wave of Germanic tribes in what is now Europe. Known as the Roman-Germanic Wars, this brutal conflict arose from Romes expansionist ambitions clashing with the indigenous tribes determination to protect their lands. Tribes such as the Visigoths, Vandals, and Franks resisted Roman control. While Rome held the upper hand for centuries, these wars ultimately played a role in the empires decline. The Arauco War: Spain vs. Indigenous Chile (289 Years) From 1536 to 1825, Spain waged war against the Araucanian tribes of present-day Chile, including the Mapuche, Picunche, and Huilliche. Unlike other South American regions that fell swiftly to Spanish rule, the native forces here used their knowledge of the land to resist. Spain controlled most of South America at the time, but this war proved to be one of their longest struggles. In the end, negotiations between Spain and Chile in 1825 secured Chiles independence, finally bringing the conflict to an end. The Byzantine-Seljuq War: A 300-Year Struggle for Power The Byzantine Empire faced numerous enemies, but its longest and most draining war was against the Seljuk Turks. From 1048 CE to 1348 CE, the two powers clashed repeatedly over control of Asia Minor and parts of modern-day Europe. The Seljuks suffered territorial losses due to the Crusades, yet the Byzantine Empire found itself overstretched and struggling to maintain its hold. This prolonged conflict ultimately contributed to the empires steady decline. The Polish-Russian Wars: 217 Years of Rivalry From 1577 to 1794, Poland and Russia engaged in a series of conflicts that reshaped Eastern Europe. The wars were driven by territorial ambition, religious differences, and dynastic claims, particularly over contested regions such as Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Tsardom battled for dominance, each seeking to expand their influence. These wars had a lasting impact on the balance of power in Eastern Europe. The Ottoman-Byzantine Wars: The Fall of an Empire (215 Years) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Byzantine-Ottoman Wars, fought between the 13th and 15th centuries, marked the end of both the Byzantine Empire and the medieval era in Europe. The Ottomans steadily expanded their territory, shrinking Byzantine control bit by bit. The final blow came when Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453. This not only ended the Byzantine reign but also solidified Ottoman power across Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. 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 27, 2025, 07:42 IST Goa Board HSSC Result 2025 Declared: 90.64% Qualify, Direct Link Here Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 18:08 IST Goa Board 12th Result 2025: A total of 90.64% of the students who took the exams passed. The pass percentage among boys is 88.69%, and among girls, it is 92.42%. Goa Board 12th Result 2025 at gbshse.in Goa Board HSSC Result 2025: The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has announced the class 12 or HSSC exam results 2025. Students who appeared for the examinations can check and download their scores by visiting either of the official websites at gbshse.in or results.gsbshsegoa.net. They will need to enter their seat number, school index number and registration number to access the scorecards online. A total of 90.64% of the students who took the exams passed. The Goa HSSC 2024 examinations took place between February 10 to March 1, 2025. 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. The pass percentage among boys is 88.69%, and among girls, it is 92.42%. Recommended Stories The results for Arts, Commerce, Science, and Vocational courses were announced at 5 pm at a press conference conducted by the Board at the Conference Hall, Ground Floor, Directorate of Education, Porvorim Goa on March 27. Goa Board HSSC Result 2025: How To Check Online? Step 1: Go to the official website of the Goa Board: gbshse.in or results.gbshsegoa.net. Step 2: Look for the GBSHSE HSSC Result 2025 link on the homepage and click on it. Step 3: Provide your login details and submit them. Step 4: The screen will display your Goa Board HSSC Result 2025. Step 5: Verify your Goa Board Class 12th Result 2025 and download the page. Goa Board HSSC Result 2025: How To Check Via SMS? Step 1: Open a text message window. Step 2: Type RESULT ROLLNO GOA12" (replace ROLLNO" with your actual roll number). Step 3: Send the SMS to either 56263, 58888, or 5676750. Step 4: Wait for a few seconds to receive a response from the board. Goa Board HSSC Result 2025 Direct Link GBSHSE Class 12 Result 2025: Passing Marks As per the boards guidelines, students need to obtain at least 35 per cent of the total marks to pass the examination. Students who fail to meet this minimum requirement will not be considered qualified and will have to take compartment exams. GBSHSE Class 12 Result 2025: Re-evaluation Goa HSSC students can opt for answer sheet scrutiny and re-checking to correct any totalling errors. The official website will soon provide a link for candidates to submit their answer sheets for rechecking. GBSHSE Class 12 Result 2025: Past Year Pass Percentages top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2024, a total of 85% or 14884 of the 17511 students who took the exam qualified. While 4156 students were from the arts stream, 5194 were from commerce, 5736 were from science, and 2425 were from the vocational stream. The pass percentage among boys stood at 81.59% and among girls, it was 88.06%. While 2725 students were placed in the improvement exam category. In 2023, the overall pass percentage stood at 95.46 per cent. In 2022, the overall pass percentage for the Goa board HSSC exam was 92.66 per cent. In 2021, it was 99.40%, 89.27% in 2020 and 89.59% in 2019. 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 27, 2025, 17:21 IST Government Jobs After 12th: Top Career Opportunities In Defence, Banking, Railways And More Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 11:12 IST Board Results 2025: Explore top government jobs after Class 12, including defence, banking, and railway careers with competitive salaries and job security. Board Results: Check government jobs after passing class 12. (AI Generated Image) Government Jobs After Class 12: The Bihar Board 12th Result 2025 was announced on March 25, 2025. Results for other boards will also be announced soon. After Class 12, students have two options: pursue an undergraduate degree or opt for government jobs. There are many government career opportunities for students who have completed Class 12. These include joining the defence services through the NDA or securing a job in banking, railways, or the postal department, depending on the candidates interests and qualifications. Most of the jobs listed below offer competitive salaries, job security, and opportunities for career growth. Here are some of the most prominent government job options for 12th-pass students. Government Jobs After 12th Recommended Stories 1. Defence Jobs Students aspiring to serve the nation can join the Indian Army, Navy, or Air Force through different entry schemes. (a) National Defence Academy (NDA) Conducted by: UPSC Eligibility: Class 12 pass (PCM for Air Force & Navy, any stream for Army) Age: 16.5 to 19.5 years Selection Process: Written Exam SSB Interview Medical Test Salary: Rs 56,100 per month (After training) (b) Indian Army (Soldier, Technical Entry) Eligibility: Class 10/12 pass (varies for different posts) Age: 17.5 to 23 years Selection Process: Physical Test Medical Test Written Exam (if applicable) Salary: Rs 21,700 Rs 69,100 per month (c) Indian Navy (Sailor, Artificer Apprentice) Eligibility: Class 12 with PCM (for technical roles) Age: 17 to 21 years Selection Process: Written Exam Physical Test Medical Exam Salary: Rs 21,700 Rs 69,100 per month (d) Indian Air Force (Airmen Group X & Y) Eligibility: Class 12 with PCM (Group X), Any stream (Group Y) Age: 17 to 21 years Selection Process: Online Exam Physical & Medical Test Salary: Rs 26,900 Rs 40,600 per month 2. Banking & Finance Jobs Government banking jobs offer stability and good salaries for 12th-pass candidates. (a) SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) Conducted by: State Bank of India (SBI) Eligibility: Class 12 pass with 50% marks (some relaxations for reserved categories) Selection Process: Prelims & Mains Exam Language Proficiency Test Salary: Rs 30,000 Rs 35,000 per month (b) IBPS Clerk Conducted by: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Eligibility: Class 12 pass with 50% marks Selection Process: Prelims & Mains Exam Document Verification Salary: Rs 28,000 Rs 32,000 per month (c) Post Office Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Conducted by: India Post Eligibility: Class 10/12 pass Selection Process: Merit-Based (No exam) Salary: Rs 12,000 Rs 29,000 per month ALSO READ: How To Make A Career In Ethical Hacking, Check Courses, Eligibility, Fees And Job Profiles 3. Railways Jobs The Indian Railways is one of the biggest employers offering jobs for 12th-pass students. (a) RRB Group D Conducted by: Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Eligibility: Class 10/12 pass Selection Process: Written Exam Physical & Medical Test Salary: Rs 18,000 Rs 25,000 per month (b) RRB NTPC (Non-Technical Popular Categories) Conducted by: Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) Eligibility: Class 12 pass for certain posts Selection Process: CBT Stage 1 & 2 Skill Test (if applicable) Salary: Rs 19,900 Rs 35,400 per month (c) Railway Protection Force (RPF) Constable Conducted by: Indian Railways Eligibility: Class 10/12 pass Selection Process: Written Exam top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Physical & Medical Test Salary: Rs 21,700 Rs 25,500 per month 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 27, 2025, 11:03 IST IIM Mumbai Achieves 100% Placements With Rs 47.5 Lakh Per Annum Top Salary Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:55 IST IIM Mumbai achieved 100% placement for its Class of 2025, with a 10% increase in job offers. Healthcare job offers surged by 130%. IIM Mumbai Placements 2025: Accenture leads as top recruiter. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai has achieved an impressive 100% placement rate for its Class of 2025, with a notable 10% increase in the total number of job offers compared to the previous year. A total of 198 companies participated in the placement process, contributing to the institutes continued success. In an official statement, IIM Mumbai highlighted that the top 10% of the graduating batch received an average annual salary of Rs 47.5 lakh, while the top 20% and top 50% secured packages of Rs 41.2 lakh and Rs 34.1 lakh, respectively. The overall salary packages saw a 5% increase compared to last year. Recommended Stories IIM Mumbai Placement 2025: Accenture Top Recruiter The placement season also saw the participation of over 40 first-time recruiters, with Accenture leading the way as the top recruiter, extending 41 offers with an average package of Rs 45.37 lakh. PwC India and PwC US Advisory followed closely, offering 18 and 10 positions, respectively. Notable recruiters such as Alvarez & Marsal, OfBusiness, Praxis Global Alliance, Vodafone Idea, Workday, and ZS also contributed to the expanded placement opportunities. IIM Mumbai Placement 2025: Surge In Healthcare Sector Job Offers The pharmaceuticals and healthcare sectors saw a remarkable 130% surge in offers, while the retail and e-commerce sectors experienced a 47.73% increase in placements. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all IIM Mumbais expansion of its curriculum in areas such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics has further cemented its position as a leader in preparing students for the evolving business landscape," said the release. Manoj Tiwari, Director of IIM Mumbai, expressed pride in the institutions accomplishments, stating, The successful transition to IIM Mumbai, combined with our commitment to providing future-ready education and fostering strong industry ties, has played a crucial role in this achievement. We remain committed to maintaining and strengthening our position as a leading business school that equips our students with the skills necessary to excel in the global job market." 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 27, 2025, 07:55 IST Message Of Unity, Agenda-Setting For Polls: Heres What Happened At NDAs Dinner Meet For Bihar Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:49 IST An insider told CNN-News18 that the gathering served as a launchpad to send a message to national parties like the Congress that a double-engine government, well-thought-out strategy and coordination are what it takes to win elections NDA leaders at the get-together to discuss Bihar polls. (News18) On Wednesday evening, all constituents of the NDA in alliance both in the Centre and in Bihar met at the residence of former BJP Bihar chief Dr Sanjay Jaiswal for a meeting chaired by the partys national president JP Nadda. The one direct and crucial message that Nadda conveyed to the alliance partners was the importance of unity. Drawing a comparison with the seemingly crumbling alliance between the RJD and the Congress in the state, Nadda said unity in NDA was of great significance. United we stand and divided we fall. If we are united, we can ensure a record-breaking performance in the upcoming elections," Nadda is said to have conveyed to the leaders at the meeting. Recommended Stories Wednesdays gathering was also an extension of the Bihar Day celebrations in the national capital an initiative launched by the Centre to recognise the states legacy, culture, food, and tradition across the country, given the pan-India migrant population from the state. This was a big launchpad for the NDA in the national capital to send a message to national parties like the Congress that a double-engine government, well-thought-out strategy and coordination are what it takes to win elections," an insider told CNN-News18. The seat distribution for the year-end Bihar elections has not taken place so far and smaller parties, like Jitan Ram Manjhi-led HAM and Ram Vilas Paswan faction of the LJP led by Chirag Paswan, have been vocal about their demands. But this time, the seats will be distributed differently. Every time, we look at seats and divide them among alliance partners. This time, we will look at candidates and ask every NDA partner to come up with their set of candidates for the said seat. Winnability will be the final criteria for getting the seat," the insider added. In the coming month or so, there will be two high-profile visits to Bihar from the Centre. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Gopalganj on March 29 and 30 for a meeting of the ministry of cooperation, apart from addressing all PAC representatives. The most important part of the visit will be the official setting of the agenda by the alliance. On March 29, Shah will meet BJP leaders for an internal meeting and the following day, he will meet all NDA partners to talk about the common strategy that needs to be followed in the run-up to the election. Unlike last time, this time, we will have a common strategy in place, and it will be a fight for NDA and not a particular political party or symbol. Like Maharashtra, we are expected to have a common manifesto and all leaders, including those in the Centre, will campaign for all the candidates of the alliance. The message that must go to our party cadre right from the booth-level is that a united front is contesting the election," the source said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the state and he is expected to address a programme of the gram panchayats in Madhubani on the 24th. With a few months to go for the election and new partners in the NDA bloc, Wednesdays meeting was significant because it was attended by top leaders of all parties. Apart from MPs of various alliance partners, Nadda from the BJP, working president of the JDU Sanjay Jha, LJP president Chirag Paswan, Manjhi from HAM and Upendra Kushwaha strengthened the strategy for Bihar from the national capital. First Published: March 27, 2025, 07:49 IST Can Energy Drinks Cause Heart Attack? How A 28-Year-Old Gymgoer Died Despite Having A Healthy Lifestyle | Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 16:07 IST Energy drinks contain certain ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, guarana, ginseng, sugar and B vitamins, which give quick energy boost but can have adverse effects on the body Katie Donnell from Florida reportedly drank at least three cans of energy drinks daily and took energy-boosting supplements to sustain her twice-a-day workout routine. (Representational Photo) A 28-year-old gym enthusiast in the US has died of heart attack after consuming caffeinated energy drinks, her mother has told media. Florida teacher Katie Donnell had a healthy lifestyle" even as she often drank three energy drinks a day and took a caffeine supplement before hitting the gym. Recommended Stories She was a workout queen. She ate clean. She ate organic food, she was the epitome of health other than (having energy drinks)," her mother, Lori Barronon, told Kennedy News & Media. What Was Katie Donnells Routine? Donnell reportedly drank at least three cans of energy drinks daily and also took energy-boosting supplements to sustain her twice-a-day workout routine. He mother told media that one of her friends said she hardly saw Donnell without an energy drink in her hands. When I cleaned out her car after she passed, it was full of cansat least three or four in there," her mother said. In August 2021, Donnell suddenly fell to the ground as her eyes rolled to the back of her head, as per New York Post. Her friends thought it was a stroke. By the time they called an ambulance, 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." Donnell remained in a medically induced coma for 10 days, but her condition only worsened. Eventually, her family had to make the heart-breaking decision to take her off life support. Though doctors never officially linked Donnells death to energy drinks, but her mother 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." Her mother also claimed that Donnell had horrible anxiety and went to several doctors". I think it was her abuse of caffeine and energy drinks". She believes her daughter 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." Are Energy Drinks Harmful? Energy drinks contain certain ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, guarana, ginseng, sugar and B vitamins, which give quick energy boost but can have adverse effects on the body. Caffeine levels in energy 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. Another concern is that these energy drinks are high in sugar content. According to a report by The Independent, refined sugar or artificial sweeteners can cause blood sugar to spike followed by sudden crashes. Moreover, ingredients such as taurine, guarana and ginseng can elevate the risk. These compounds have stimulant effects that can temporarily enhance alertness, but when combined in high amounts, they may pose serious health concerns. How Energy Drinks Affect The Heart A study by the American Hearth Association found that consuming one 900 ml energy drink can cause a significant spike in blood sugar pressure and prolong the QT interval an important measure of electrical activity in the heart. The combination of high caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also notes that too much of these drinks can lead to heart rhythm disturbances and other health issues. A 2017 review found that the excessive consumption of energy drinks may lead to cardiovascular issues, including arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and myocardial infarction. The researchers noted that these cases typically involved excessive consumption of energy drinks in a short period of time, often combined with alcohol or other stimulants. 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. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia, or atypical heart rhythm. It can cause a fast, pounding heartbeat or shortness of breath and is the leading cardiac cause. A 2011 case report described two healthy adolescent males ages 14 and 16 who developed atrial fibrillation after consuming energy drinks. Blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can be caused by consuming a lot of energy drinks, according to a 2019 study. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Arrhythmias are caused by problems with hearts electric system, which regulates the heartbeat. A 2021 review found that acute energy drink consumption can disrupt the hearts electrical system in several ways, leading to increased resting heart rate. Sugar consumption can lead to weight gain, type 2 diabetes and serious medical conditions. A 2020 systematic review found that high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, including energy drinks, sodas, and sweetened carbonated beverages, led to increased systolic blood pressure and hypertension in children and adolescents. 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 27, 2025, 15:57 IST How Tata Motors, Other Auto Parts Makers Will Suffer From Trumps 25% Tariffs, What Next? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 13:19 IST The Indian auto components industry, which is dependent on the global supply chain, will be affected the most. The new tariffs could cause major disruptions, increasing input costs for US-based automakers and reducing demand for Indian auto parts While Indias direct exposure to US tariffs is limited, cumulative effects through supply chains and shifting market dynamics are likely. (Reuters Image) Donald Trumps announcing 25% tariff on automobile imports on Wednesday could boost US production but would affect the global supply chain of automakers, impacting India. This will continue to spur growth. Well effectively be charging a 25% tariff," Trump told reporters. Trump insisted that the measure will encourage more factories in the US and end a ridiculous" supply chain stretching across the US, Canada and Mexico. Recommended Stories The tariffs encompass not just fully assembled vehicles but also critical components such as engines, transmissions, powertrain systems and electrical assemblies. The measure is expected to yield around $100 billion annually, reflecting a notable shift in the US trade policy, according to the White House. What Does It Mean For Indian Automakers? India auto exports to the US remain relatively low compared to Mexico, Canada and Japan. However, the secondary effects of the US tariffs may have significant implications for Indias automobile sector. Most hit would be the Indian auto components industry, which is highly dependent on the global supply chain, and has emerged as a key supplier to the US car manufacturers. In the financial year 2024, India exported auto components worth $21.2 billion, contributing to the global auto component market, which stands at $1.2 trillion. In 2023, the figure was nearly $1.5 billion. The new tariffs could cause major disruptions, increasing input costs for US-based automakers and reducing demand for Indian auto parts. JATO Dynamics India President and Director, Ravi G Bhatia said India has not been singled out with Trumps tariff, which also applies to the countrys competitors. This step will hit for sure but it is not a Tsunami. It is not too much of a big hit and Indian suppliers will work out how to retain their market share in the US," he said, adding as the situation is developing it is too early to jump into a conclusion. Tata Motors does not have direct exports to the US, but its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has a strong foothold in the US market. According to JLRs FY24 annual report, the US accounted for 22% of its overall sales. In FY24, JLR sold nearly 400,000 vehicles worldwide, with the US being one of its top markets, the report added. The companys vehicles sold in the US are primarily manufactured in the UK and other international plants, which will now be subject to a 25% tariff. Eicher Motors, the maker of Royal Enfield motorcycles, could also feel the impact, as the US is an important market for its 650cc models. Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd, which is a leading auto component supplier to Tesla and Ford, has a strong presence in both the US and Europe. However, its manufacturing facilities in these regions provide some protection from tariff-related disruptions. Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar), which supplies differential gears and starter motors, generates 66% of its revenue from the US and Europe. Due to trade uncertainties, the company has been expanding into China, Japan, and South Korea, aiming that these markets could contribute over 50% of its revenue within five years. Other key component makers with significant export exposure include Bharat Forge, Sansera Engineering Ltd, Suprajit Engineering, and Balkrishna Industries. Tariff Impact On Global Supply Chain The global automobile landscape would take a hit after the 25% tariff announcement. Countries, which are heavily dependent on the US automotive supply chains Canada, Mexico, Germany, Japan and South Korea could see their trade and production disrupted. While Indias direct exposure to US tariffs is limited, knock-on effects through supply chains and shifting market dynamics are likely. Indian suppliers dependent on the US must adapt quickly and pivot to other markets and expand their domestic footprints. How The World Is Reacting? Canada: Newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a strong rebuke, describing Trumps auto tariffs as a direct attack" on Canada and warning of economic fallout for American consumers. He also said Canada would assess the details of Trumps executive order before considering retaliatory actions. Japan: Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba did not rule out countermeasures against the tariff, stressing Japans significant economic contributions to the US. Highlighting Japans investments in the US auto sector, Ishiba stressed that Japanese companies provide employment and pay high wages, making it unjustifiable to impose blanket tariffs. He said it not right to treat all countries in the same way". United Kingdom: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has slammed Trumps tariffs, warning they will harm businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes called the move disappointing" but not surprising", describing it as a setback for the long-standing UK-US trade relationship. European Commission: It is expected to discuss countermeasures in the coming days, as the bloc has historically taken a firm stance against the protectionist policies of the US. What Next? A US delegation led by assistant trade representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch is in India for a round of discussion from March 25 to March 29. The talks are part of a broader trade agreement. According to government sources, India understands the American domestic compulsion. They need to get back those manufacturers who had left America for other countries like ChinaAmerica has sent its delegation here which shows US wants to actively engage with us. America cannot openly show that they are going soft on us. So, India expect things to be more positive after a few weeks." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The timing of the visit is critical as the reciprocal tariffs announced by Trump will be effective from April 2. The current negotiations aim to improve market access, lower trade barriers, and increase supply chain collaboration between the two nations. India and US are targeting completion of the first phase of Bilateral Trade Agreement by autumn 2025, with a shared goal of expanding the trade between the two countries to $500 billion by 2030. 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 27, 2025, 11:51 IST SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to allow it to cancel up to $65 million in grants for teacher training and professional development, which the government claims promote harmful "diversity, equity and inclusion" practices. The request marks the second time this week that the administration has asked the justices to overturn a temporary block on its actions by a lower-court judge, amid growing frustration from President Donald Trump and his Republican allies about injunctions that have stymied much of his second-term agenda. Trump has called for the impeachment of one federal judge, and Republicans in Congress are considering legislation to rein in judges they say are issuing overly broad rulings that impinge on the prerogatives of the president. The impeachment demands drew a rebuke from the chief justice, John G. Roberts Jr., who said in a statement that disagreements with court rulings should be handled through the appeals process. "This Court should put a swift end to federal district courts' unconstitutional reign as self-appointed managers of Executive Branch funding and grant-disbursement decisions," acting solicitor general Sarah M. Harris wrote in her request to the justices to intervene on the Education Department grants. "This case presents an ideal candidate for this Court to impose restraint, for it follows a familiar pattern." The Supreme Court asked the parties in the lawsuit to file briefs in the case by Friday, a relatively speedy timeline. The case is the fifth that has reached the Supreme Court over Trump's initiatives in the opening months of his second term. In February, the Education Department canceled 104 grants that were part of two programs - Teacher Quality Partnership and Supporting Effective Educator Development - that provide leadership development, teacher residency programs, teacher training and other services. The administration told the grantees in letters that their programs "promote or take part in DEI initiatives or other initiatives that unlawfully discriminate" and may violate federal civil rights law. California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and other states affected by the cuts asked a federal judge in Massachusetts to block the terminations, claiming they were arbitrary and capricious and saying Trump officials could not rely on DEI concerns to justify the cuts. U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun issued a temporary restraining order on March 10, saying the grants could not be canceled while the legal challenge to the decision was making its way through the courts. That ruling was affirmed by an appeals court on Friday. The appeals court found government claims that it would be greatly harmed by a hold on cuts was "speculation and hyperbole." In a separate case, the Trump administration on Monday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to fire about 16,000 federal workers on probationary status. The firings had been blocked by a federal judge in San Francisco, who ordered the government to rehire the employees. Lawsuits over Trump's education directives have also begun to pile up. Two filed this week by teachers unions and other groups challenge Trump's executive order seeking to close the Education Department and the administration's attempt to dismiss nearly half the workforce. The American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and others have also sued to block the Education Department's directive on how it would enforce civil rights laws. They objected to a "Dear Colleague" letter to school officials, which threatened to deny federal funding to any school or college that considers race in hiring, discipline policy, scholarships, prizes or any other aspect of campus life. Other groups have challenged the Trump administration's efforts to detain and deport international students and scholars who have taken part in pro-Palestinian protests; to cut federal research funding to universities nationally; and to cancel $400 million in research grants to Columbia University with demands that the school take specific steps to combat campus antisemitism. How Indias Secret Kamikaze Drones Could Change The Face Of Modern Warfare | Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 08:30 IST Experts believe low-cost drones and loitering munitions have emerged as critical force multipliers in modern conflicts, as has been seen in the Ukraine-Russia war Experts pointed out that a single $500 loitering drone can destroy a $10 million tank. (Representational Photo) Referred to as loitering munitions, the kamikaze drones" have taken modern warfare to another level. These advanced weapons combine the surveillance capabilities of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with the precision of a guided missile. These weapons do not simply follow a pre-determined trajectory; they loiter, track and strike at the opportune time. Recommended Stories What are Loitering Munitions? A loitering munition (also known as a suicide drone, kamikaze drone, or exploding drone) is a kind of aerial weapon with a munition (warhead), which can loiter (wait passively) around the target area until a target is located; it then attacks the target by crashing into it. Loitering munitions enable faster reaction times against hidden targets that emerge for short periods without placing high-value platforms near the target area and also allow more selective targeting. The earliest loitering munitions systems were used in the 1980s in Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) against fixed Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs) installations. With time, the role of these LMs grew for short range (2-15 km), medium range (15-50 km) and long range (50-100 km) for various mission operations like anti-personnel, anti-bunker, anti-armour and the destruction of critical enemy assets like air bases, missile bases and other critical infrastructure. Loitering Munitions Used In Wars 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: Both Azerbaijan and Armenia used drones for reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, and targeted strikes. The use of drones, including both UAVs and loitering munitions, played a significant role in the conflict by providing real-time situational awareness and the ability to conduct precision strikes on enemy positions. Azerbaijan, in particular, employed a variety of drones, including Israeli-made drones such as the Harop loitering munition, as well as Turkish-made drones like the Bayraktar TB2. 2022 Russia-Ukraine War: Despite their small size, loitering munitions have achieved big results in the Ukrainian large-scale war of attrition," an unnamed defence analyst said. Compared with the Russian armys use of loitering munitions, which mainly attack large targets, the Ukrainian armys loitering munitions are more likely to be used for hunting moving [human] targets on the front line. In the Middle East, Israel has relied on Harop loitering munitions, capable of carrying a 23 kg payload, to conduct precision strikes. Meanwhile, Irans Shahed-136 drones, used extensively by Russia, have proven that cheap, mass-produced drones can overwhelm even sophisticated air defence systems. Differences Between Kamikaze Drones And Tanks Experts believe low-cost drones and loitering munitions have emerged as critical force multipliers in modern conflicts, as has been seen in the Ukraine-Russia war. Russias use of Iranian-made Shahed drones to target Ukraines infrastructure and Ukraines successful deployment of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones have demonstrated the effectiveness of these technologies, according to a report by The Economic Times. Experts pointed out that a single $500 loitering drone can destroy a $10 million tank. This reinforces the fact the there is an urgent need for robust counter-drone systems, including electronic warfare tools, kinetic interceptors, and directed-energy weapons. How Many Drones Does India Have? The Indian Army recently received 480 loitering munitions made by a Nagpur-based defence manufacturing firm with over 75% indigenous content. Nagastra-1, the first indigenous Loiter Munition developed by Solar Industries in Nagpur supplied the complete lot of 480 loitering munitions in December, defence officials said. The system is man-portable, and light and is intended to be used for precision strike capabilities by the Army troops, officials said. The SkyStriker drone, already in service, has a range of 500 km and is designed for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD). In March 2022, ZMotion Autonomous Systems successfully tested three loitering munitions in Ladakh, demonstrating their effectiveness at 40% lower costs than imported alternatives. Tata Advanced Systems ALS-50, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone that transitions to fixed-wing mode, has also completed successful trials at Pokhran. In 2021, Indias Army demonstrated its capability with a 75-drone swarm, executing coordinated attacks over a 50 km range, as per The Economic Times report. By 2023, NewSpace Research & Technologies delivered an even more advanced system: a swarm of 100 drones designed for battlefield deployment. More focus is being shown towards AI-driven drones capable of detecting enemy assets through acoustic censors. The National Aerospace Laboratories is working on a stealthy, long-range loitering munition weighing 150 kg, designed to strike targets 900 km away with an endurance of 6-9 hours. Indias Defence Production Looks Promising The Ministry of Defence recently said 65% of Indias defence equipment is now manufactured domestically a significant shift from an earlier 70% import dependence. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Defence production hit a record Rs 1.27 lakh crore in 2023-24, marking a 174% increase from a decade ago. With defence exports also surging to Rs 21,083 crore, India aims to reach Rs 50,000 crore in exports by 2029. The governments focus is clear: indigenous development, private sector participation, and rapid technological advancement. The Cabinet Committee on Security recently approved the purchase of 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS), developed by DRDO in collaboration with Bharat Forge and Tata Advanced Systems. These next-generation artillery systems, with a range of over 40 km and advanced automation, will significantly boost Indias firepower. 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 27, 2025, 08:30 IST What Is A Judiciary In-House Inquiry? How Will It Work In Justice Varma Case? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:46 IST The Supreme Court formed an in-house procedure of inquiry to probe into complaints of alleged misbehaviour against judges of higher judiciary. The resolution was adopted in 1999 and made public in 2014 If the judge is unwilling to resign, the President and the Prime Minister will be apprised about the findings for Parliament to initiate action for removal as per provisions of the Constitution. (AFP file photo) The Chief Justice of India has initiated an inquiry into the allegations of misconduct against Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma after piles of cash were recovered from his residence during a fire control operation on March 14. The judiciarys internal inquiry, which is different from the impeachment of the Constitution, will be carried out by the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Justice G S Sandhawalia, and Justice Anu Sivaraman of Karnataka High Court. Recommended Stories Justice Varma Case So Far A fire broke out at Justice Yashwant Varmas house on March 14. During the operation, fire-control personnel found huge piles of cash that was burnt in the fire inside the storeroom. The Chief Justice of Delhi High Court conducted the preliminary inquiry and reported to the CJI that his prima facie opinion is for a deeper probe into the entire matter. As per the direction of the CJI, responses were sought from Justice Varma on the preliminary inquiry findings. Justice Varma said no cash was ever placed by him or his family members in the storeroom, and that they were never shown the sacks of burnt currency notes during the fire-control operation. A three-member committee has been set up as per the in-house procedure of the Supreme Court to conduct an inquiry into the allegations. Meanwhile, judicial work has been withdrawn from Justice Varma and he has been transferred to his parent Allahabad High Court by the collegium. What Was The Need To Set Up A Judicial Inquiry Committee? The Supreme Court formed an in-house procedure of inquiry in order to probe into complaints of alleged misbehaviour against judges of higher judiciary. The resolution for in-house procedures for action against judges was adopted in 1999 and made public in 2014. But the need for an internal mechanism was felt in 1995, after allegations of financial impropriety surfaced against then Bombay High Court Chief Justice AM Bhattacharjee. The SC noted there was no process to hold a judge accountable for bad conduct inconsistent with the high office", when such conduct did not meet the high bar of impeachment set by Article 124 of the Constitution. It set up a five-member committee comprising Justices SC Agarwal, AS Anand and SP Bharucha from the SC, and Justices PS Mishra and DP Mohapatra, the senior-most HC Chief Justices at the time, to devise the procedure for taking suitable remedial action against judges, who by their acts of omission or commission, do not follow the accepted values of judicial life, including the ideals expressed by the Supreme Court in the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life". The committee submitted its report in October 1997. It was adopted with amendments in a full court meeting of the SC in December 1999. What Does It Do? When a complaint is received against a judge of a high court, the CJI will decide whether the issue is frivolous or warrants an inquiry. If an inquiry is deemed necessary, the judges initial response along with comments of the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court are taken on record, as per a report by The Hindu. The CJI can then form a three-member committee consisting of two Chief Justices from other High Courts and one High Court judge. The committee can provide a recommendation that the misconduct is serious enough to warrant removal or not serious enough. If the recommendation is not for removal, the judge would be informed. However, if the recommendation is for the judges removal, then they will be asked to resign. If the judge is unwilling to resign, the President and the Prime Minister will be apprised about the findings for Parliament to initiate action for removal as per provisions of the Constitution. Any complaint against the Chief Justice of a High Court, would be inquired by a committee consisting of a Supreme Court judge and two Chief Justices of other high courts. When The Inquiry Process Was Revised In 2014 The Supreme Court revisited its in-house procedure when a woman additional district and sessions judge from Madhya Pradesh in 2014 filed a complaint of sexual harassment against a sitting judge of the high court. Justices JS Khehar and Arun Mishra summarised and explained this process through seven steps" (Additional District and Sessions Judge X v. Registrar General High Court of Madhya Pradesh). Reforms Required It should be noted that the details of the in-house inquiry are kept confidential by the Supreme Court. Though this process would require transparency and disclosure of key findings. One of the root causes for the problem probably lies in the opaqueness of the collegium process that is followed for the appointment of judges. There needs to be a renewed debate on operationalising the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), that was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015 as unconstitutional for violating the basic structure of the independence of judiciary," as per The Hindu report. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A broad-based National Judicial Appointments Committee (NJAC) headed by the Chief Justice of India with representatives from various stakeholders including members of the legislature, lawyer associations and academia may be set up on the lines of the Judicial Service Commission in South Africa. The CJI and other senior judges may be provided with a veto to have the final say in the appointment process. This set up would make the selection process more transparent and inclusive without compromising the independence of the judiciary, the report added. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 09:30 IST What Is Ghibli And Why Has It Taken The Internet By Storm? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 11:52 IST It's a Ghibli world we are living in and OpenAI's GPT4o is to thank for. Ghibli-style images take over the timelines as humans turn to OpenAI to imagine their own Ghibli world. (X/@ivivekch) Changed my pfp but maybe someone will make me a better one," wrote Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI on X. Altman updated his display picture to a Ghibli-style AI image. And soon the ChatGPT users took the matters into their own hands and created their own imagined world of Ghibli. From iconic movie scenes to tragedies to childhood photos to proposals everything under the sun is being Ghibli-fied but nobody is complaining. This new social media trend has been enabled by OpenAIs GPT-4o model, an in-built image generation feature that lets users create stickers, signs, memes, photorealistic images, among more. Unlocking useful and valuable image generation with a natively multimodal model capable of precise, accurate, photorealistic outputs," OpenAI noted during the image tools drop. Recommended Stories Among the host of things that it can do, the image generator is exceptionally capable at generating and replicating the images in endearing style of Ghibli. All you have to do is take an image of your choice and prompt the generator to Create a Studio Ghibli version of this image". Your Ghibli-style image is ready to be posted on social media. What Is Ghibli? We asked ChatGPT to define Ghibli for the unversed, because why not? Studio Ghibli is a renowned Japanese animation studio, famous for creating beautifully crafted, imaginative, and emotionally resonant films. It was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, two influential directors in the world of animation. The studio is widely regarded for its stunning artwork, deep storytelling, and themes of nature, humanity, fantasy, and self-discovery." Also Read: Disneys Snow White Controversy And Hate For Woke Rachel Zegler Explained Studio Ghibli has produced masterpieces such as The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), Spirited Away (2001), Grave of the Fireflies (1988). Timeline Is Ghibli-fied Picking the favourite movies or memories from their lives, humans turned to AI to create their own Ghibli world. We have looked far and wide and put together our favourites. Which one is yours? nusrat saab meets ghibli! pic.twitter.com/vTyE6RrYkI Karan Mishra (@osafarnama) March 26, 2025 It's been 24 hours since OpenAI unexpectedly shook the AI image world with 4o image generation.Here are the 14 most mindblowing examples so far (100% AI-generated): 1. Studio ghibli style memespic.twitter.com/E38mBnPnQh Barsee (@heyBarsee) March 26, 2025 ChatGPT when another Studio Ghibli request comes in pic.twitter.com/NF5sy24GlU Justine Moore (@venturetwins) March 26, 2025 So youre telling me I can take a popular meme, transform it into Studio Ghibli style anime, and people will just like it? pic.twitter.com/2n3ulLOXVB Kaz (@btcKaz) March 26, 2025 Me waiting for a Ghibli prompt to finally work between timed-out requests and system errors pic.twitter.com/GqX9vg7Sbw Disco Central Banker (@Discobanker) March 26, 2025 I dont want any real pictures anymore. Every photograph has to be turned into a ghibli style cartoon," wrote a user on X. Is any trend on the Internet complete without Indians partaking in it? Tons of curious desis marched to Google to enquire about how they could generate Ghibli-style art. Google Trends While some were already delivering. Nobody asked for Bollywood movie scenes in Ghibli style but here they are. pic.twitter.com/umiDAA7LNu Vivek Choudhary (@ivivekch) March 26, 2025 Next level stuff Ghibli Vibe pic.twitter.com/5xcc0HLXyU Nirmal (@N1Soliloquy) March 26, 2025 Sam Altman Responds To Madness OpenAI CEO has understandably been bamboozled by the response to the new image generator has received. >be me >grind for a decade trying to help make superintelligence to cure cancer or whatever >mostly no one cares for first 7.5 years, then for 2.5 years everyone hates you for everything >wake up one day to hundreds of messages: look i made you into a twink ghibli style haha'" Hayao Miyazaki Approved? The 84-year-old co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, is not the biggest fan of AI-generated imagery. A report in Variety noted that Miyazaki attended an AI animation demo and was left utterly disgusted". Also Read: Royal Challengers Bangalore Trolled Over This Smartphone Partnership In IPL 2025, Heres Why I am utterly disgusted. If you really want to make creepy stuff you can go ahead and do it. I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all," Miyazaki was quoted as saying by Variety. Echoing Miyazakis sentiments, a user on X responded to the Ghibli madness that has flooded the timelines. Imagine being Miyazaki, pouring decades of heart and soul into making this transcendent beautiful tender style of anime, and then seeing it get sloppified by linear algebra." Martin Scorsese Studio Ghibli Fan top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Leonardo DiCaprio, who has collaborated with the legendary Martin Scorsese six times in the past two decades, introduced the Shutter Island director to the charming world of Studio Ghibli. I was asked what films I introduced to you, but considering youve seen every film ever made up until 1980, its pretty hard to say. Other than maybe Spirited Away, Miyazakis films and maybe Princess Mononoke," DiCaprio told Letterboxd. Scorsese added, It was Spirited Away that you told me to watch." About the Author Anurag Verma Anurag Verma, News Editor at News18.com, works independently for the Viral section. Bollywood, Cricket, Science, Tech, YouTube, Reddit, Meme Origins and everything Pop-culture are his forte. He covers humourous... Read More Anurag Verma, News Editor at News18.com, works independently for the Viral section. Bollywood, Cricket, Science, Tech, YouTube, Reddit, Meme Origins and everything Pop-culture are his forte. He covers humourous... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 10:42 IST 4 Children Dead, 20 Sick After Food Poisoning At Lucknow Rehabilitation Centre Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 22:42 IST Over 20 special needs children were hospitalised after they had dinner at the government rehabilitation centre in Lucknow's Para area. Two girls were among those who died. At least 20 children were hospitalised after having dinner at the rehab centre. (Representative/Shutterstock) Four special needs children died and at least 16 were taken ill, allegedly after they had their dinner at a government rehabilitation centre in the state capitals Para area, officials said. On Tuesday evening, more than 20 special needs children residing at the centre fell ill, possibly due to food poisoning, and were taken to Lok Bandhu hospital. Recommended Stories Lucknow District Magistrate Vishak G told PTI, A total of four children including two girls and two boys of the shelter home aged between 12 and 17 years of age have died. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem and their viscera will be preserved." Dr Rajeev Kumar Dixit, Medical Superintendent of Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Combined Hospital, told PTI Videos that around 20 children were brought to the hospital Tuesday evening from the rehabilitation centre. All these children are mentally challenged. They were severely dehydrated when they arrived. Despite our best efforts, two children died," he said. Two more critically-ill children, who were referred to another government hospital, succumbed, he said. The condition of 16 others has improved, he added. A medical team has been sent to the shelter home to observe the health of the remaining children. Around seven children were under medical observation at the shelter home. The health department team deputed at the shelter home is keeping an eye on the children there," the DM said. He has formed a committee to determine the cause of the alleged food poisoning. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak visited Lokbandhu Hospital on Thursday to meet the children. Speaking to reporters after his visit, Pathak said the affected children are receiving intensive medical care and are in stable condition. One child is experiencing seizures but is out of danger. The government is closely monitoring the situation and ensuring the best possible treatment," he said. The minister confirmed that food poisoning is suspected and that food samples from the rehabilitation centre have been sent for testing. Officials from the Food Safety Department have been consulted, and once the test results are available, the exact cause will be clearer. However, our immediate priority is the childrens recovery," he added. Pathak stated that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed concern over the incident and will visit the hospital to meet the children. The government stands with the affected children and will ensure they receive the best treatment free of cost," he assured. When asked about possible contamination of food or water, Pathak said the cause of the sickness can only be determined only after an investigation. The Lucknow District Magistrate and other officials have been directed to visit the rehabilitation centre and submit a report at the earliest so that any issues can be promptly addressed," he said. When asked by reporters if the incident happened on Sunday and it only came to light four days later due to the deaths, Pathak said strict action would be taken if negligence was found at any level. Officials from the Health Department and Food Safety Department also visited the hospital to interview the affected children, another official said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Food samples have been collected from the rehabilitation centre for analysis by the two departments. Action will be taken based on the investigation report," an official source said. According to District Probation Officer Vikas Singh, the centre houses 147 children, primarily orphans and those with mental challenges. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 22:42 IST 'CBI Raids Politically Motivated, Took Away 3 Phones': Baghel On Searches In Madadev Betting App Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 10:08 IST Bhupesh Baghel called the CBI raids at his premises "politically motivated," alleging they were timed to generate content for PM Modi's upcoming speech. He also claimed he received no prior notice. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel (Photo: PTI) Hours after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at the premises of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, he alleged that the raids were a politically motivated move". Baghel also alleged the raids aimed at generating content for the speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will visit the state on March 30. Recommended Stories Speaking to reporters, the former Chief Minister claimed he did not receive any prior notice about raids at his Raipur-based official residence and that he was not responsible for whatever the CBI had planted there". Baghel also claimed the CBI took away papers of his assets and his mobile phones from his Bhilai residence. They arrived in the morning and have just left. I wasnt even aware that a raid was conducted at my official residence. They have taken three of my mobile phones. No misconduct occurred during the investigation," he said. The raids were politically motivated. The action was carried out just to generate content for the Prime Ministers speech during his upcoming visit to the state on March 30. There was no other reason," Baghel claimed. I learnt about the raids after I came out of the house now. Whatever they had planted there, I will not be responsible for it because neither I nor my family members were there. This is their (CBIs) conspiracy", he said. VIDEO | Bhilai: Heres what former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) said as the CBI conducted a search at his residence in connection with the alleged Mahadev betting app scam:They arrived in the morning and have just left. I wasnt even pic.twitter.com/zXySmF15DO Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 26, 2025 The agency teams swooped down at Baghels residences in Raipur and Bhilai in connection with the alleged Rs 6,000 crore Mahadev app scam. Houses of senior police officials and close associates of the former Chief Minister were also searched. The searches covered the premises of Congress MLA Devendra Yadav in Bhilai town of Durg district, Vinod Verma, former political advisor to Baghel (when he was the Chief Minister), IPS officers Anand Chhabra, Abhishek Pallava, Arif Shaikh and Prashant Agrawal, state police service official Sanjay Dhruv, among others, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying. Later, Baghel said, Everyone knows how the youth of our Chhattisgarh were addicted to betting, due to which their lives were being ruined. Whoever is guilty will not be spared and action will be taken against everyone." It is not a question of anyone being close to the Congress or the BJP. Action will be taken against all those whose names are linked to this matter," he said. BAGHEL CLAIMS CONGRESS GOVT TOOK ACTION AGAINST BETTING APP Further commenting on the raids, Baghel said the previous Congress government had taken stern action against the Mahadev betting app. During (previous) Congress government in the state, around 74 First Information Reports (FIRs) were lodged in connection with Mahadev betting app and more than 200 people were arrested and over 2000 bank accounts related to it were frozen," he said. We took action against the app but they (government agencies) claim we protected the app and took money. How will the one who takes action accept the protection money? Protection money is taken where there is a double engine (government) and betting is still functional," he claimed. He also said the then Congress government had requested the Centre to issue a lookout circular against Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, promoters of the app, and arrest them from foreign destinations. If CBI officials have courage, they should ask Pardeep Mishra whose programme is currently underway in the home district of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai in Jashpur about his relations with Saurabh Chandrakar and Pradeep Mishra," Baghel said. CBI " . . 74 FIR . 200 . 2000 . Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) March 26, 2025 He claimed the promoters of the Mahadev app had featured in pictures with BJP leaders but they are not being interrogated, whereas the action is being taken against us (Congress leaders). Baghel said he was scheduled to attend a meeting of the drafting committee in Delhi for the AICC meeting to be held in Ahmedabad next month but could not go. The CBI entered my house at around 7.30 am and left at 9.15 pm despite the search ending at around 4.15 pm. Fifteen days back, the Enforcement Directorate had raided my house. What they (CBI) will get by raiding?" he asked. The former Chief Minister also said the ED had taken photocopies of documents related to his properties and the CBI took away the original papers. I told the CBI to leave photocopies because the Income Tax Department and the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) will follow them. Otherwise what they will recover in the name of action?" he said sarcastically. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said while the ED raid was linked to an alleged liquor scam, the CBIs action was linked to the Mahadev app but both agencies investigated his assets. The previous Raman Singh-head BJP government had got my assets probed. The states EOW did the same. I invite all agencies to come together and do an investigation at once. The actions are aimed at defaming and harassing me," he said. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 27, 2025, 10:03 IST At 40.6C, Delhi Records Hottest March Day Since 2022, IMD Warns Of 'Hotter-Than-Usual Summer' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 11:48 IST Delhi recorded its hottest March day since 2022 on Wednesday, with a maximum temperature of 40.6C. The IMD warned of nearly double the number of heatwave days across Northwest India. Women cover their face and head for protection from the sun on a hot summer day (Photo: PTI) Delhi on Wednesday registered its hottest day in March since 2022, as the maximum temperature in the national capital exceeded 40 degrees Celsius at some monitoring stations. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pitampura recorded 40.6 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature at New Delhi-Ridge was recorded at 40.1 degrees Celsius, 6.3 notches above normal. Recommended Stories The maximum temperature at Safdarjung was recorded at 38.9 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road was recorded at 38.7 degrees Celsius. Palam recorded 38 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature, according to the IMD. Wednesdays temperature was higher than the 37.1 degrees Celsius recorded on Tuesday, the previous highest for the month this year. The last time the national capital had registered such high temperatures during the month was on March 29, 2022, when the maximum temperature was recorded at 39.1 degrees Celsius, the weather department said. The highest temperature for the month in 2024 was recorded on March 29 at 37.8 degrees Celsius. The previous year, the hottest day of the month was March 15, recording a maximum temperature of 34.3 degrees Celsius, the IMD data showed. Humidity levels fluctuated between 19 per cent and 52 per cent during the day. The minimum temperature had settled at 17.7 degrees Celsius, the IMD reported. IMD WARNS OF HEATWAVE The Met office has predicted strong surface winds for Thursday. The maximum temperature is expected to settle around 38 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature likely to rise to 19 degrees. On Wednesday, the weather department warned for a hotter-than-usual summer and predicted nearly double the number of heatwave days across Northwest India. Typically, the region records five to six heatwave days in a season, but this year, it is likely to experience 10 to 12 days. We are expecting slightly above normal heatwave conditions, especially over West and Central India. Generally, Northwest India sees around 5 to 6 heatwave days. This year, we expect 10 to 12 days, which is double the normal," IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy told news agency ANI. The MeT defines a heatwave as when the maximum temperature in the plains Meanwhile, Delhis air quality remained in the poor category. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reading at 4 pm was 231. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has forecast an improvement, predicting a shift to the moderate category over the next two days. 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 27, 2025, 11:48 IST 'Dont Judge, Talk Openly & Frankly': Child Psychologists On Netflix's 'Adolescence', Internet And Social Media Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:49 IST According to experts, children over 8 are old enough to undergo a supervised introduction to social media and the internet. Experts suggest that parents must not fear the internet. Early intervention and intelligent monitoring are key to your childs digital journey Adolescence is a British crime drama miniseries that premiered on Netflix on March 13, 2025. (Image: X) Dont be judgemental, speak to kids in their language, and thoughtfully plan when and how to introduce the internet and social media to your young childthis advice, shared by several child psychologists with News18, comes in response to the Netflix series Adolescence, which raises tough questions for parents. Adolescence is a British crime drama that premiered on Netflix on March 13, 2025, and the four-part series has become the most-watched limited series to date. It has amassed 66.3 million views in just 11 days. Recommended Stories The series is based on the story of Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old boy arrested for the murder of his classmate, Katie Leonard. The series reveals that Jamies involvement in Katies death was influenced by his complicated relationships and the toxic pressures of his environment in school, followed by stimulations from the internet and social media. The series has stirred debate around the globe among parents, especially of male children, to understand the views of teenage kids around topics such as masculinity, social media, bullying, or pornography. While Indian experts believe that there is a cultural difference between India and other countries in how children view their parents and are often unable to discuss their private lives and emotions, News18 spoke to multiple experts to understand how Indian parents can supervise and advise their kids in the digital era. Why do parents need to step up their understanding? Recall a scene from the series where detectives struggle to decipher the coded language used by teenagers on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. They later find out that certain emojis, such as red pills, kidney beans, and the 100 symbol, carry hidden meanings within online subcultures. This scene highlights a major gap between the understanding of children and parents or adults. Its not just kids who are struggling to keep up with todays world, but parents would face greater challenges if they would want to learn or match with their kids understanding of social media," Dr Aishwarya Raj, a clinical psychologist at a leading public hospital, told News18. Social media wasnt part of the parents generation. Hence, it is difficult for parents to keep up with the latest trends. Rather, Indian parents tend to focus more on the academic growth of their children instead of focusing on overall mental growth." She believes that now is the right time for parents to forget about the hierarchical gap and begin engaging with their kids by discussing taboo topics. Also, experts highlighted that the majority of parents in India are not aware of the minor age settings in gadgets or applications. For instance, to protect young children, preteens, or teenagers, iPhones specialise in Apple accounts for kids called Child Accounts" that help parents to manage the parental control settings and allow age-appropriate content for children under 13. Similarly, YouTube allows the creation of separate accounts for kids where the algorithm will only show age-restricted content for childrenpreventing exposure to other adult content. Seeking validation: Why do kids go to the internet and social media? Similar to the series, psychiatrists consult many teenagers who struggle with an inferiority complex and image issues when their social media posts dont do as well as their friends. Go back to our school days, in an era when we had no social media or internet. That pretty girl in our classwe were obsessed with her, wondering why we didnt look like her. But that feeling of not being like her would fade as soon as we got home. For this generation, however, that comparison and feeling never go away blame the internet and social media. It follows you and, at times, ends up giving you complexes that are unreal," said Dr Raj. But the reality is that the internet is here to stay, probably forever. It is we who need to learn to live with it," said Dr Eesha Sharma, professor at the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS). While there are many advantages of the internet, there are many shortcomings as well. By the time these kids grow up, the world will be even more complex," Dr Sharma said. One of the biggest questions is why youngsters go to social media or the internet. For multiple reasons, but mainly to seek validation", experts believe. Young children are emotionally immature and tend to follow a trend once they identify with one. Children who are not popular or dont appear to be accepted tend to feel rejected and thus develop resentment. They join with similar other kids who also suffer similar resentment and need to find someone to blame," said Dr Jyoti Kapoor, a senior consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist at Manasthali Wellness. Due to emotional immaturity and inability to see the whole picture, their emotions get the better of them, prompting them to find heroism in standing up for perceived victimisation." Because of the lightning-fast communication on social media, these groups grow like wildfire in the forest, and their voices grow louder. The sense of belonging that comes from sharing a common belief makes them not question the belief, let alone examine or reject it," Dr Kapoor said. Introduce social media and internet to your child under supervision, not by accident According to Dr Aishwarya Raj, children over 8 years old are old enough to undergo a supervised introduction to social media and the internet. We must not fear the internet. Some children end up topping exams using the internet, and then some end up committing cybercrimes. Early intervention and intelligent monitoring are key to your childs digital journey," she said. Some of the key steps parents should start with include encouraging open communication, being less judgemental, seeing the world from their childrens viewpoint, and educating themselves about social media and the internet. Most importantly, open communication," Kapoor pointed out. The social media algorithms are designed to keep people on their platforms as long as possible, and to do that, they keep presenting the same thing again and again. Soon, it appears that the whole world is about that one persons feelings and emotions. This leads to polarisation and radical notions," she said. Hence, parents need to talk more to their children, discuss whats going on in the world, whats going on in their online life, and also how things can appear different from different perspectivesall without being judgemental. Your kids will stop talking to you the moment they find you judging them. We have seen this in the Netflix series, too," Kapoor cautioned. Sharma from NIMHANS believes that parents should plan the digital journey of their children as they plan various other things, such as admission to school, participation in co-curricular activities, planning for vacations, investment for college education, etc. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The very first time, parents introduce mobile phones to kids when they are just two to three years old to play rhymes and cartoons. From here, the process begins. Once the child starts growing, start introducing social media and the digital world, but in the right manner. It should happen under supervision and not by accident. We need to create a template in the minds of our young kids about the good and the bad things on the internet. This will make our conversation comfortable at later stages," she said. Sharma suggested that the Indian government should consider bringing digital literacy as part of the school curriculum to help children and parents understand this field better. About the Author Himani Chandna Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass... Read More Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 08:00 IST Four Fraudsters Pose As Haridwar Akhara Priests At Delhi Aerocity, Flee With Gold Ring Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 12:47 IST Delhi Police arrested four individuals posing as head priests from Haridwar Akhara for cheating Gagan Jain out of his gold ring. They were identified through CCTV footage The suspects were identified using CCTV footage and technical surveillance, leading to their arrest in the Mahipalpur area. (AI Generated) The Delhi Police have arrested four individuals posing as head priests from the Haridwar Akhara for allegedly cheating a man out of his gold ring under the pretext of bringing him good fortune. According to a PTI report, the accused, identified as Rinku Nath (30) and Sahil Nath (22) from Haridwar, and Rocky Nath (35) and Vickey Nath (31) from Sonipat, Haryana, have been charged under Section 318(4)/3(5) of the Indian Penal Code, with significant evidence recovered from their possession. Recommended Stories The incident occurred on March 23 when the IGI Airport Police Station received a PCR call about the four fake sadhus. The complainant, Gagan Jain, a chartered accountant from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, was reportedly attending a conference in Aerocity when he was approached by the accused near the JW Marriott Hotel. According to the PTI report, at around 11:30 am, after checking out, he was heading towards the Andaaz Hotel when he encountered four men dressed as sadhus with ash on their bodies and bells on their feet near Gate No. 5 of the JW Marriott Hotel. The men introduced themselves as high priests and Vedic experts, offering to apply a tilak on his forehead. Initially, Jain refused, but the men persuaded him by invoking Ganga Maaiya. After applying sandalwood, one of the men asked for Rs 2, to which Jain gave Rs 50. The impostors then fixed their gaze on Jains gold ring, claiming it had a flaw and was hindering his good luck. Frightened, Jain handed over his ring, and they instructed him to leave without looking back, warning that he would suffer a loss otherwise. Realising he had been deceived, Jain called the PCR and reported the incident. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The police registered an FIR and began their investigation. According to DCP Usha Rangnani, the suspects were identified using CCTV footage and technical surveillance, leading to their arrest in the Mahipalpur area. According to the PTI report, during interrogation, the accused confessed to their crime, admitting they had devised the plan after observing devotees in Haridwar willingly offering money and valuables to saints for blessings. They dressed as sadhus and targeted unsuspecting individuals. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 27, 2025, 12:47 IST Govt Sticks To 'India First' Approach In US Tariff Talks, But Open To Fair Rate Cuts Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 12:46 IST A source told CNN-News18 that India was ready for rate cut on some items of agricultural produce like walnuts, apple and almonds but no concessions are likely on wheat and maize The Indian government is hopeful, given that the US has made it clear it wants to positively engage with India. (PTI) National Interest First is the buzzword when it comes to the US-India trade and tariff negotiations, even as the new tariff policy is set to come into effect in the United States on April 2. However, sources say India has agreed to some rate cuts on selected items so that its interests can be protected. But this does not mean that we are buckling under any kind of US pressure," a top government source told News18. Recommended Stories We are ready to cut on some items of agricultural produce like walnuts, apple and almonds. But keeping in mind the sensitivity of the agricultural sector in India, on many items like wheat and maize, no concessions are likely to be given," they said. ALSO READ | Can India Strike A Trade Deal With US Ahead Of Reciprocal Tariffs? All Eyes On Tax Cuts | Explained The worry, however, is the automobile sector. US President Donald Trump has announced that 25 per cent tariff will be imposed on cars being imported to the United States. The White House, in a statement, said that the 25 per cent tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans, and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts like engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components. It added that the tariffs could be expanded to additional parts if necessary. This could affect Indias automobile industry significantly, but we are ready to slash some tariffs on bikes and smaller passenger cars. The bulwark has been created over the last few months in anticipation of tariff and thus, many sops and benefits have been announced for the Electric Vehicles sector which has seen some growth," sources said. GST rate cuts and cuts in customs duties give the government hope that these measures could protect our customers. This apart, Tesla has been given a level playing field as it is hoped that with increased competition, indigenous car manufacturers like Mahindra and Tata will up their performance and models." Imposing tariffs on imported cars may also affect ties with countries such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico and Germany close US partners. ALSO READ | What Is A Tariff? Know How It Works, Its Economic Impact, All About US President Donald Trumps Announcements There is also some cheer for those who love iconic American products like the Bourbon Whiskey as India has agreed to lower tariff off on the product. More such moves could follow. Since his return to the White House in January this year, Trump has already imposed tariffs on imports from major trading partners of the US such as Canada, Mexico and China, as well as 25% duty on steel and aluminum imports. Sources say the key objective is to decide the terms of reference and both sides will work on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and timeline schedules as well. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Indian government is hopeful, given that the US has made it clear it wants to positively engage with India. However, the government has made it clear that these are merely bilateral negotiations that apply to US and India. Other countries cannot expect similar concessions as India wont buckle under any pressure. Government sources added that India understands Americas domestic compulsion. They need to get back those manufacturers who had left America for other countries, like say, China. Also, in negotiations, unlike others, America has sent its delegation here which shows US wants to actively engage with us. America cannot openly show that they are going soft on us so india expects things to be more positive after a few weeks." About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 11:16 IST India Will Not Be Treated Like China, Mexico And Canada On Tariffs: US Officials Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 08:40 IST India and the US held their first in-person meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday to hold negotiations on the trade agreement between the two countries as Trump's April 2 deadline for tariffs looms. US President Donald Trump and PM Modi (Reuters Image) As the first in-person trade agreement negotiations between India and the US began in the national capital on Wednesday, the trade officials from the United States have indicated to their Indian counterparts that India will not be treated like China, Mexico, and Canada on the issue of tariffs. The meeting came as Donald Trumps reciprocal tariffs on various products across nations are set to take effect on April 2. As he assumed office in January this year for a second term, Trump resumed a trade war with China while also triggering two new ones with immediate neighbours and allies Canada and Mexico. Recommended Stories As India and the US officials sit for three-day talks, both sides will eye setting the framework for structured negotiations. Finalising the Terms of Reference (TOR) is key in this round of talks, setting a roadmap and timeline for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The first phase will lay the foundation, with completion targeted for fall. Unlike its trade tensions with China, Canada, and Mexico, the US seeks a collaborative approach with India. The ongoing face-to-face meeting comes after Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyals visit to the US earlier this month, where he held meeting with US trade representative Jamieson Greer and US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick to set in motion preliminary discussions on BTA. How US Sees Trade Ties With India? It is now amply clear that the Trump administration does not club India with countries like China, Mexico, and Canada. There is a difference," one of the trade officials said, having knowledge of the ongoing negotiations, Hindustan Times reported. The official highlighted the US serious issues" with other trading partners like China, Mexico, and Canada relating to currency manipulations, illegal migration and other security concerns". But with India it has only tariff issue, that too both are resolving amicably," the official added. The India-US Fast Track Mechanism discussions kickstarted on Wednesday between the Indian side headed by commerce ministrys additional secretary Rajesh Agarwal and the US team led by assistant trade representative Brendan Lynch. They are expected to finalize the main framework of a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by Friday, the report said. The individual said that the two-nation discussions were progressing in a cordial spirit" and the outcome of the talks is expected to be satisfying for both the governments". The Trump administration may consider this outcome before deciding on reciprocal tariffs on India by the April 2 deadline," the official said. Nirmala Sitharaman Likely To Visit US To Advance Talks According to a second official aware of the matter, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to visit Washington for a high-level trip later in April as part of the efforts. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The finance ministers U.S. visit may advance ongoing talks but will likely cover more than just trade and tariffs. India and the U.S. are committed to strengthening their overall economic ties both bilateral and global as strategic partners," the official said. On February 13 this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump agreed to increase the bilateral trade from around $200 billion to $500 billion by 2030 and also decided to establish a BTA by autumn 2025. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 07:57 IST Three Terrorists, Four Cops Killed In Encounter In J&K's Kathua Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 28, 2025, 11:36 IST The encounter took place days after a similar encounter in Kathua on Sunday, prompting a massive anti-terror operation in the area involving the police, Army, BSF, NSG and CRPF. A fresh encounter broke out in J&K's Kathua on Thursday. (PTI Image) An encounter broke out in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district, where a massive anti-terror operation has been underway for the last four days. Three terrorists were killed in the gunfight, while four police personnel also lost their lives, reported PTI. Six soldiers including two from Indian Army and four from police are undergoing treatment at the hospital. Recommended Stories The gunfight erupted this morning when the security forces spotted the terrorists near Jakhole village in Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh, some 30 km from the scene of Sundays encounter in Hiranagar sector. Officials told news agency PTI that reinforcements had been rushed to the area and an exchange of fire between the two sides was going on when the last reports were received. The terrorists are believed to be the same group that was engaged in a gunbattle with security forces in the area on Sunday, which injured a minor girl. A massive search operation involving the police, army, NSG, BSF, and CRPF armed with technical and surveillance equipment and supported by helicopters, UAVs, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs, entered its fourth day in a bid to track down the terrorists who are believed to have infiltrated on Saturday via either the ravine route or through a newly created tunnel from across the border. ALSO READ: They Held My Husband At Gunpoint: Kathua Witness Shares Ordeal During Encounter With Terrorists According to the officials, they launched an operation on Sunday after receiving intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in dhok, a term used to refer to an enclosure located within the nursery in Sanyal village. However, as they moved into the area, they came under heavy gunfire from the hiding terrorists, triggering a fierce exchange of fire. No casualties were reported in the gunfight. The security forces had extended the search operation, particularly the routes leading to the Billawar forest and were successful in tracking down the terrorists, officials said, before todays encounter. Security forces found four loaded magazines of M4 carbine, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits, several packets of eatables, and separate polythene bags containing material for making Improvised Explosive Devices near the scene of the encounter in Hiranagar. Kathua has emerged as a major infiltrating route for Pakistan-based terrorists to reach the higher reaches of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts and further to Kashmir over the past year, which is noticable from a series of terror incidents. This has prompted security forces to ramp up operations to eliminate terrorists. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier on March 17, an encounter took place between terrorists and security forces in Kupwara district. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Krumhoora village of Zachaldara following information about the presence of terrorists in the area. (with PTI inputs) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Kathua, India, India First Published: March 27, 2025, 18:55 IST Kunal Kamra Asked To Appear Before Mumbai Police On Monday Over Eknath Shinde Parody Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 11:57 IST Kunal Kamra stoked a massive row with his "traitor" joke on Eknath Shinde, prompting the Mumbai Police to file a case against him. Kunal Kamra is embroiled in a fresh controversy after cracking a joke on Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. (IMAGE: X/Kunal Kamra/PTI) Stand-up artist Kunal Kamra has been issued a second summons in connection with the traitor" joke on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The police have asked him to appear for questioning on March 31 at the Khar Police Station. Recommended Stories According to police sources, Kamra is in contact with the police through his lawyer. This comes after the police rejected Kamras request for additional time to appear before them. His lawyer had reportedly requested the cops an extension of a week, however, the request was denied and the fresh summons were issued. Kamra, during a show at Mumbais Habitat studio, mocked Shinde over his 2022 rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray which led to the fall of the MVA government in the state, and sang a parody of Bholi Si Surat song from Hindi film Dil To Pagal Hai. Meri nazar se tum dekho to gaddar nazar wo aaye. Haaye!" he had sung, modifying the song lyrics to make fun of Shinde. Outraged over the remarks, the Shiv Sena workers arrived at the studio and smashed chairs and damaged equipment an act which led to the management announcing a shut down. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 12 party leaders were arrested in connection with vandalism, however, they were released on bail the next day. A case was also registered against Kamra for his remarks on the Deputy CM during the show. Kamra said that he would not apologise for his comments and would only do so if asked by the court. He also reportedly told the police that he would adhere to the law. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 11:34 IST Man Kills Wife In Bengaluru, Stuffs Body In Suitcase, Then Flees After Informing Neighbour Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 23:43 IST The police quickly rushed to the house, which was locked, and upon entry, found the body of Gouri, which had several injuries, packed in a suitcase in the bathroom The deceased, Gouri Anil Sambre, and the accused, her husband Rakesh Rajendra Khedekar, both hailed from Maharashtra. (Image: News18) A shocking murder has come to light in Bengaluru after the body of a woman with severe injuries was found packed in a suitcase at a residence in Bengalurus Doddakammanahalli area. The victim, Gouri Anil Sambre, was allegedly murdered by her husband, Rajendra Khedekar. Both were originally from Maharashtra and had recently relocated to Bengaluru for work. Recommended Stories According to police sources, Rakesh fled the house after murdering his wife on Wednesday. After escaping, he called another resident of the building and confessed to the murder. The resident, in turn, alerted the building owner, who contacted the Bengaluru South-East Police Control Room around 5:30 pm today. Following the call, the police quickly rushed to the couples house, which was locked. Upon entering, they found Gouris body, with multiple injuries, packed in a suitcase in the bathroom. The police further stated that although the body was intact, it had serious wounds to the neck and stomach. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Rakesh and Gouri had been married for two years, and both hailed from Maharashtra. They had moved to Bengaluru last month for work. Rakesh worked as an IT Project Manager, while Gouri was a housewife and was searching for a job. The husband had fled after the crime, but we have arrested him," said Sara Fatima, Deputy Commissioner of Police of of Bengaluru South-East Division. Meanwhile, a murder case has been registered at the Hulimavu Police Station after the accused was detained. The police are now investigating the motive behind the murder. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rakesh, who had fled after murdering Gouri, was arrested in Pune. The Hulimavu Police had informed the Pune police about the crime after accessing call detail records. A team from the Hulimavu Police Station is now heading to Pune to take custody of the accused and will bring him back to Bengaluru on Friday, to present him before a local court. First Published: March 27, 2025, 23:35 IST Modi Govt's 'Labour Of Love': ILO Lauds India's Social Sector Coverage Doubling From 2021 To 2024 Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 16:10 IST This signifies that 920 million people are now covered under at least one social protection scheme, providing welfare and financial security. ILO and labour ministry attribute this growth to government schemes, including health insurance, pension, and employment support, which have benefited millions According to available data, India's social sector coverage has doubled from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024. (Representational pic/Getty) The International Labour Organization (ILO) has applauded India for its social sector coverage, which has doubled from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024. This signifies that 920 million people are now covered under at least one social protection scheme, providing welfare and financial security. This achievement is particularly encouraging, demonstrating a significant spike in coverage. The ILO and the ministry of labour attribute this growth to various government schemes, including health insurance, pension, and employment support, which have benefited millions. The ministry reports that 65% of the population benefits from at least one form of social protection, delivered in cash or kind through central government schemes. This progress has also contributed to a 5% increase in global social protection coverage. Recommended Stories Over time, the government has introduced numerous social welfare schemes, positively impacting the lives of ordinary citizens, according to the report. For instance, Ayushman Bharat offers free health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, designed to address the post-Covid era, aims to cover over 81 crore beneficiaries. Other notable programmes include the e-Shram portal and Atal Pension Yojana. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To address concerns about potential exclusion, the labour ministry launched a social protection data pooling exercise in March 2025. This initiative aims to consolidate data from multiple schemes, ensuring wider coverage. Government sources indicate that the labour ministry is committed to collaborating closely with the ILO to expand coverage, enhance coordination, and align with global standards. About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 16:10 IST PM Modi Speaks To Belgium King Philippe, Discusses Trade And 'Strong' Bilateral Relations Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 21:06 IST PM Modi's conversation with King Philippe came amid reports that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi was living in Belgium with his wife, who is a Belgian citizen. Prime Minister Modi with Belgium King Philippe. (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke with King Philippe of Belgium, discussing shared close bilateral ties between the two countries along with boosting trade and investment and advancing collaboration in innovation. It was a pleasure to speak with HM King Philippe of Belgium. Appreciated the recent Belgian Economic Mission to India led by HRH Princess Astrid. We discussed deepening our strong bilateral ties, boosting trade and investment, and advancing collaboration in innovation and sustainability," PM Modi posted on X after the phone call. Recommended Stories It was a pleasure to speak with HM King Philippe of Belgium. Appreciated the recent Belgian Economic Mission to India led by HRH Princess Astrid. We discussed deepening our strong bilateral ties, boosting trade & investment, and advancing collaboration in innovation & Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2025 Mehul Choksi Living In Belgium The Prime Ministers conversation came amid reports of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi living in Belgiums Antwerp with his wife Preeti Choksi, who is a Belgian citizen. Choksi, who has been on the run from Indian authorities for several years, was granted residency on November 15, 2023. Sources told the Associated Times that Indian authorities have requested the Belgian government for Choksis extradition. However, his newly acquired Belgian residency complicates matters, granting him the freedom to travel between European countries and hindering efforts to bring him back to face trial in India. Further complicating the situation, Choksi is reportedly planning to move to Switzerland, citing the need for medical treatment at the Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, a well-known cancer hospital. This move is being seen as another attempt to delay his extradition process, using humanitarian grounds as justification. India-Belgium Ties Notably, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium paid a State Visit to India their first to India in November 2017, following Kings ascension to the throne in 2013 at the invitation of the President of India. Belgium was also among the first European countries to establish a diplomatic mission in India after Independence and the visit had further strengthened the historical strong ties between the two countries. Earlier this month, Princess Astrid of Belgium led a high-powered economic delegation second such Economic Mission to India that consisted of over 325 Belgian delegates comprising of key CEOs, senior leadership from Belgian businesses, academic representatives as well as high-ranking officials of the country. She also called on PM Modi, who said he looks forward to unlocking limitless opportunities" for the people of the two countries through new partnerships in areas such as trade, technology, defence and agriculture. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He welcomed the Princess to India and deeply appreciated her initiative of bringing a big delegation of over 300 members, including prominent business leaders, government officials, and representatives from various sectors, a statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said. (with agency inputs) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 21:06 IST 'Mutual Sensitivity': In Letter To Bangladesh's Yunus, PM Modi Touches Upon 'Spirit Of Liberation War' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:28 IST PM Modi penned a letter to Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to Bangladesh's interim government, and reiterated India's commitment to advancing the parternship between the two neighbours. PM Modi writes to Muhammad Yunus (Reuters Image) Amid strained ties between New Delhi and Dhaka over atrocities against religious minorities in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to Muhammad Yunus, extending wishes on National Day of Bangladesh, while also affirming commitment to advancing the partnership between the two nations based on mutual sensitivity to each others concerns". The Prime Minister, in the letter mentioned the spirit of Liberation War" of Bangladesh and said that it has guided the relationship of the two countries. Recommended Stories Excellency, I extend my felicitations to you and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh, a testament to our shared history and sacrifices that have built our bilateral partnership, with the spirit of the Liberation War guiding our flourishing relationship across multiple domains, bringing tangible benefits to our peoples," he wrote in a letter to Yunus. PM Modi reaffirmed Indias commitment to advancing the partnership for peace, stability, and prosperity, based on mutual sensitivity to each others interests and concerns". Both PM Modi and Yunus are scheduled to take part in the Bimstec summit in Bangkok on April 3-4. Tensions have been on the rise between India and Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government was ousted following a nationwide movement. She fled to India, while an interim government led by Nobel laureate and economist Muhammad Yunus has taken charge. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Amid reports of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, India has repeatedly expressed its concerns to Bangladesh. Dhaka, however, claims that the violence is politically motivated and not communal. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said India is in regular talks with the interim government and will continue to address such issues. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 09:02 IST 'He Ruined Delhi, Punjab Could Be Next': Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's Scathing Attack On Kejriwal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:24 IST Delhi CM Rekha Gupta accused former CM Arvind Kejriwal of "ruining" the capital and slammed him over the 'Sheesh Mahal' row, calling it a "white elephant." Rekha Gupta/Arvind Kejriwal (Photos: PTI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday alleged former Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal had ruined" the national capital. She also said it was now uncertain if Kejriwal would ruin Punjab next. Recommended Stories The Chief Ministers remarks came during an exclusive conversation with News18 India. He (Arvind Kejriwal) has ruined Delhi, and now its uncertain whether Punjab will be next," she said. Also commenting on the Sheesh Mahal (referring to the 6, Flag Staff Road residence where Kejriwal lived while he was Chief Minister, and spent Rs 1 lakh on a toilet pot allegedly by using public funds), she called it a white elephant". Rekha Gupta also added that neither can they (the AAP) maintain it or sell it. This comes a day after Gupta, on Tuesday, presented the Budget for the financial year 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs one lakh crore, marking a 31.5 per cent increase from the previous year. During her Budget speech, the Chief Minister took a jab at the Aam Aadmi Party and said the party built Sheesh Mahal, claiming her government in Delhi would build houses for the poor. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Further, Gupta called it a historic Budget," and emphasised that the era of corruption and inefficiency" was over, with the government doubling capital expenditure to Rs 28,000 crore. The Budget focuses on ten key areas, including electricity, roads, water, and connectivity. The Delhi government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for improved transport links within Delhi-NCR. 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 27, 2025, 07:24 IST 'Zero Tolerance...': US Cancels 2,000 Visa Appointments In India, Here's Why Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 20:35 IST The US embassy in India said it has "zero tolerance" for fraud as well as agents and fixtures that violate scheduling policies. It said it identified the "bad actors" and the action taken was "effective immediately" The US embassy in India cancelled the visa appointments as an anti-fraud measure. (Image for representation: AP) The US embassy in India cancelled at least 2,000 appointments, which it said were made by bots", as an anti-fraud measure. The embassy said it has zero tolerance" for fraud as well as agents and fixtures that violate scheduling policies. It said it identified the bad actors" and the action taken was effective immediately". Recommended Stories The announcement was made on Wednesday (March 26) the embassys official account on social media platform, X. It said: Consular Team India is cancelling about 2000 visa appointments made by bots. We have zero tolerance for agents and fixers that violate our scheduling policies." Consular Team India is canceling about 2000 visa appointments made by bots. We have zero tolerance for agents and fixers that violate our scheduling policies. pic.twitter.com/ypakf99eCo U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) March 26, 2025 Consular Team India identified bad actors who made about 2,000 visa appointments that violated our scheduling policies," it added. The consular team said it has cancelled all these appointments and suspended the associated accounts scheduling privileges". We will continue our anti-fraud efforts. We have zero tolerance for fraud," it said. VISA BACKLOGS, IMMIGRATION HURDLES MAJOR CONCERNS The visa cancellations come amid a crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration. Since President Donald Trump assumed office two months ago, mass deportations have been carried out as part of his pledge to strengthen border security. Over the past few weeks, the rules of US immigration have been tightened as Trump plans to limit travel for people from 43 nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bhutan. While India is not on any planned travel ban lists, experts said travellers are likely to be subject to more stringent security inspections, backlog in visa stamping, and even detention at US airports. Individuals travelling abroad from the US for work or visa renewals may also face unexpected bureaucratic hurdles. Delays and a growing backlog in visa stamping at US consulates overseas are causing significant disruptions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The issue of visa backlogs is also a matter of concern. Appointments for B1 and B2 visas, which are meant for business and tourism and have a maximum stay limit of six months, have witnessed significant delays in recent years. There has also been an increase in student visa rejections. According to reports, in 2023-2024, the US received 6.79 lakh applications for F-1 student visas, of which 2.79 lakh were denied. The rejection rate stands at 41 per cent, as compared to 36 per cent from the previous year. The rejection rate has reportedly almost tripled in the last decade or so, as in 2014, it was only 15 per cent. 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 27, 2025, 17:44 IST Rang Teras 2025: History, Significance, Shubh Muhurat, Rituals And Celebrations Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 06:00 IST Rang Teras, celebrated on March 27, 2025, is a vibrant Hindu festival observed in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat. It honours Lord Krishna with grand temple festivities, processions, and fairs. Rang Teras will be observed on March 27 - which is 13 days after Holi. (Image: Shutterstock) Rang Teras, also known as Rang Trayodashi, is a vibrant Hindu festival observed on the 13th day (Trayodashi Tithi) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Chaitra. Celebrated with great enthusiasm in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, this festival holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. The day is marked by colourful processions, grand temple festivities, and lively fairs across various states. One of the most notable celebrations takes place at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, where extravagant rituals honour Lord Krishna. Devotees revere Shrinathji as an incarnation of Krishna, making this festival a special occasion for worship and devotion. Recommended Stories Rang Teras 2025: Date And Shubh Muhurat This year, Rang Teras will be observed on March 27 (which is 13 days after Holi), as per Drik Panchang. The Trayodashi Tithi begins at 01:42 AM on March 27, 2025, and ends at 11:03PMonMarch 27, 2025. Meanwhile, the Pradosha Puja Muhurat is between 06:36PMto08:56PM. Going by the auspicious timings, the Brahma muhurta will prevail from 4:43 am to 5:30 am and the Amrit Kalam will be from 5:56 pm to 7:25 pm, as per the Drik Panchang. Rang Teras 2025: History, Significance and Celebrations Rang Teras, like many Hindu festivals, has been celebrated for centuries with great enthusiasm, particularly in northern India. It is a festival dedicated to expressing gratitude toward farmers and their vital role in sustaining communities. On this day, farmers give thanks to Mother Earth for her generosity, especially for providing nourishment through abundant harvests. Women also observe fasts and perform various rituals as part of the celebrations. The festival embodies gratitude, devotion, and hope, making it a deeply meaningful occasion for many. In Rajasthans Mewar region, Rang Teras is marked by grand tribal fairs, where tribal communities from surrounding areas come together to celebrate the wheat harvest with joy and festivity. The festival holds deep significance in Sri Krishna temples, particularly those dedicated to Shrinathji, an incarnation of Lord Krishna. Devotees from across the world, including members of ISKCON (International Society of Krishna Consciousness), participate in the grand celebrations. Rajasthans Nathdwara is especially renowned for its elaborate observance of Rang Teras. In the Udaipur region, the village of Rundera celebrates with a unique traditionthe Ghair dance. In this vibrant performance, young men skillfully match their steps to the beats of Nagadas (ancient drums), played by elderly musicians, while wielding swords and bamboo sticks in rhythmic synchronisation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rang Teras 2025: Rituals Devotees decorate their homes and prayer rooms with vibrant rangoli. Offerings of flowers and fruits are made to Lord Krishna or Lord Vishnu as a form of worship. Fruits and sweets are also presented to the deity as prasad. Temples host grand rituals, where devotees gather for bhajans and devotional hymns, fostering a sense of community and devotion. While morning puja is considered most auspicious, the rituals can also be performed in the evening for those unable to do so earlier in the day. About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 27, 2025, 06:00 IST Shab-I-Qadr 2025: Date, Significance, Wishes And Everything About The Night Of Power Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:30 IST Shab-e-Qadr, or the Night of Power, is a significant night in Ramadan when the Quran was revealed. In 2025, it will be observed today, on March 27. Muslims pray and seek forgiveness. Shab-e-Qadr or Laylat Al-Qadris is known as the Night of Power or the Night of Decree. (Image: Shutterstock) Shab l Qadr 2025 Date And Time: Ramadan is the holiest month in Islam and is believed to be the time when the Quran was first revealed to humankind. Among the nights of this sacred month, Shab-e-Qadr or Laylat Al-Qadris considered one of the most important. It is also known as the Night of Power or the Night of Decree. It is believed to be the exact night when the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Muslims across the world ask for Allahs forgiveness, mercy and blessings during this auspicious occasion. Many believe that prayers and good deeds on this night bring immense rewards. Recommended Stories Shab-I-Qadr 2025: Date Shab-e-Qadr falls on one of the odd nights during the last ten days of Ramadan. In 2025, it is expected to be observed on the night of March 27, according to Islamic Finder. Shab-I-Qadr 2025: Significance Shab-e-Qadr is a special night for Muslims as it is a time to seek forgiveness and get closer to Allah. It is believed that on this night, angels come down to the earth and bring blessings. Muslims spend the sacred night praying, reading the Quran and reflecting on their faith. Many also engage in acts of charity to help those in need as a way to earn Allahs blessings. Shab-I-Qadr 2025: Observance And Rituals On Shab-e-Qadr, Muslims offer special prayers called Taraweeh which are performed in congregation at mosques. Some also take part in Itikaf which is a special retreat where they stay in the mosque for the last ten days of Ramadan. During this time, the solely focus on worship and contemplation. Many spend the night reciting the Quran and seeking Allahs mercy. Acts of kindness and charity are also encouraged during this night. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shab-I-Qadr Wishes Remember, Allah will forgive your mistakes only if you accept them and promise to never repeat them. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak. This is the night of forgiveness. Try to forgive all those who have done wrong to you in some way or the other. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak. On this special night, may Allah purify our intentions, forgive our sins, and accept us. May He put us in his book of those released from hellfire. Shab-e-Qadr Mubarak! This is a special prayer that Im making to Allah. I pray that he accepts your dua, protects your family, and relieves your stress on this special night. Have a blessed time and tons of Shab e Qadr wishes! On the occasion of Shab-e-Qadr, I pray that the Almighty fills your heart with good thoughts and cleanses your life of any negativity. May this Shab-e-Qadr bring good news, blessings, happiness, and peace in your life. Sending my wishes to you and your family. Today, on the Night of Power, I wish that He will be there for you. I wish that Allah will protect your family and give everyone what they have long in life. Laylat Al-Qadr 2024, Mubarak! May this Shab-e-Qadr, Allah, bestow you with blessings and prosperity and create all the opportunities for success for you! About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More fashion, travel, The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , and culture with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 27, 2025, 07:30 IST Actor Prabhas To Marry Hyderabad Businessman's Daughter Soon? Heres What We Know Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 12:13 IST According to News18 Telugu, Prabhas, famous for Baahubali, is reportedly marrying a Hyderabad businessman's daughter. Earlier, rumours linked him to co-star Anushka Shetty After completing 'Kalki', Prabhas is currently working on 'The Raja Saab' and 'Fauji'. (PTI File) Prabhas Marriage Update: Prabhas, the star who has become a sensation on the silver screen and is known as the heir of Krishnam Raju, is making headlines again. This time, its about his marriage being fixed with the daughter of a prominent businessman from Hyderabad, a secret closely guarded until now, reports News18 Telugu. Prabhas has earned a special place in the hearts of fans with his remarkable performances, most notably in the Baahubali series, gaining a global following. However, discussions about his personal life, especially his marriage, have always been a hot topic on social media. Recommended Stories Now at 45 years old, Prabhas remains one of the most eligible bachelors in Tollywood, further fuelling curiosity about his love life. Speculations about his relationship with co-star Anushka Shetty have been rife, with rumours suggesting an impending wedding. Both actors have denied these claims, but the gossip shows no signs of abating. Recently, a new twist has emerged. News18 Telugu reported that Prabhas marriage has been arranged in secrecy, but not with Anushka. The bride-to-be is said to be the daughter of a wealthy Hyderabad businessman. Krishnam Rajus wife, Shyamala Devi, is reportedly overseeing the wedding preparations. While rumours about Prabhas marriage are not new, the latest development suggests there might be some truth to this development. Given Prabhas age, many believe the marriage is likely to happen soon. In the meantime, Prabhas continues to be immersed in his film projects. After completing Kalki, he is currently working on The Raja Saab and Fauji. Additionally, he is set to begin shooting for another major film, Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy. The films launch is planned as an Ugadi gift, with the script and music nearly finalised. However, it may take some time before regular shooting commences. First Published: March 27, 2025, 11:22 IST Gabriel Macht Reveals What Made Him Join Suits LA Despite Initial Reluctance Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 16:42 IST Gabriel Macht said he felt a strong connection to the cast of Suits LA describing them as welcoming. Gabriel Macht returns to his iconic role as Harvey Specter for Suits LA. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Suits star Gabriel Macht has revealed why he was initially hesitant to join the L.A. chapter of the highly acclaimed series. In a recent interview with Today News, Gabriel Macht said that many series struggle to provide a satisfying conclusion for both the story and its characters. I feel like, you know, we stuck out landing, and I think I was ready to be done with the show," Macht shared with the outlet. Recommended Stories You know what? The fans really love this show," he said, revealing that when asked about returning for Suits L.A., his first thought was, You know what? Ill do it for the fans and just pass the baton to these guys." Earlier, Macht shared how special it was for him to be a part of the show again. He told US Weekly there was a sense of warmth on the set and that growing up in L.A. made the experience feel full circle, with many cool moments for him. Macht said he felt a strong connection to the cast of Suits LA describing them as welcoming. But, he mentioned that it was the crew and filming locations that made the whole experience truly nostalgic. Macht also praised the performances of Stephen Amell and the rest of the cast. He even revealed his interest in joining the franchise if the makers planned on making Suits Miami or Suits Hawaii in the coming years. Created by Aaron Korsh, Suits L.A. serves as the spin-off of Suits. The series centres on Ted Black and his prestigious law firm, Black Lane Law. Stephen Amell stars as Ted Black, with Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and other actors rounding out the cast. Talking about Black to US Weekly, Macht said that Ted and Harvey were very close friends, sharing similar traits, admiring and respecting each other, and having the ability to challenge one another. Macht starred in the original Suits from 2011 to 2019. In addition to his role in Suits LA, Macht has also taken on the position of creative director for Bear Fight Whiskey. About the Author Chaitanya Lekhwani Sub-editor, CricketNext.com Sub-editor, CricketNext.com First Published: March 27, 2025, 16:42 IST Hema Malini Expresses Concern Over Misuse Of Deepfake And AI Targeting Celebs: This Cannot Be Taken Lightly Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 21:10 IST Hema Malini said that the misuse of AI and deepfake technology is affecting the film industry in a dangerously negative way. Hema Malini raised the issue of AI and deepfake technology targeting celebs Actress-politician Hema Malini recently addressed the issue of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and deepfake technology targeting celebrities, and said that it is affecting the film industry in a dangerously negative way. She said that while it offers many benefits, AI also poses significant challenges, and can tarnish a persons reputation, and have a significant impact on the victims mental health. She emphasized that this is a serious matter, and cannot be taken lightly. On Thursday, Hema Malini raised this issue in Lok Sabha. While speaking during Zero Hour, Hema Malini said, The celebrities have worked very hard for decades to make this name, fame and popularity. Many of us have become victims of this ruthless misuse which creates multiple fake videos, tarnishing the image of the person concerned. These go viral and cause tremendous impact on the victims mental health. This cannot be taken lightly." Recommended Stories She also raised the issue of misuse of social media to make brutal comments on the personal lives of celebrities. She noted that facts are often distorted to fit a particular narrative. Several celebrities such as Vidya Balan, Rashmika Mandanna, Alia Bhatt, and others have fallen prey to AI-generated fake videos. Just a few weeks ago, Vidya Balan issued a public warning after some AI-generated deepfake videos of her went viral on social media. She urged her fans and the public to verify information before sharing such content. There are multiple videos currently circulating on social media and WhatsApp, which appear to feature me. However, I want to clarify that the videos are AI-generated and inauthentic. I have no involvement in its creation or dissemination, nor do I endorse its content in any way," she clarified. She further added, Any claims made in the videos should not be attributed to me, as it does not reflect my views or work. I urge everyone to verify information before sharing and be cautious of misleading AI-generated content." First Published: March 27, 2025, 21:07 IST L2 Empuraan Movie Review: Prithviraj Effectively Scales Up Mohanlals Lucifer To Greater Heights Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 18:04 IST L2 Empuraan will leave you wondering about Prithviraj and Murali Gopy's boldness with its subtle political context. L2 Empuraan Review: Mohanlal and Prithviraj's film is a political action thriller. L2 Empuraan U/A 3.5/5 27 March 2025|Malayalam 3 hrs 00 mins | Action Thriller Starring: Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran Watch Trailer L2 Empuraan Movie Review: The genius of Lucifer and Empuraan is that, despite spanning more than six hours of runtime (two films put together), the filmmakers continue to maintain the suspense about the origin of Stephen Nedumpalley (Mohanlal). Whats more impressive is the way director Prithviraj has scaled up this character. Stephen is not just a political kingmaker anymore. In Empuraan, he becomes much more, and to be honest, the conflict in Empuraan seems to be too small for him. Thats the downside of the film, as the villains are no match for the powers of Stephen. The first part, Lucifer, ended with a major reveal that Stephen Nedumpalley is a crime lord named Khureshi Abraham, a most wanted leader of an international syndicate. While Lucifer showed us, Stephen, Empuraan unravels his other facet: Khureshi Abraham. The film opens with a flashback to a violent riot in India. Director Prithviraj is clever in not delving into the details of the riot. Yet, the animated sequence of a burning train that kills Hindu pilgrims is enough to deliver the intended message. The aftermath of the riot leads to bloodshed and we find a kid named Zayed Masood, a lone survivor of a small Muslim community, which gets butchered, raped, and killed by Balraj (Abhimanyu Singh) and his bloodthirsty mob. Recommended Stories The film swiftly shifts to the current state of Gods Own Country, where Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas) has gone astray. His hate for his father persists, and the rogue son wants to start his legacy. He leaves IUF and joins a communalist and extremist party, which is headed by Balraj, who now goes by the name Bajrangi Baba. If you follow all the symbolism, colours, and vocabulary, you understand the subtle political subtext of the movie, which is bold in a scenario where habitats of dissent are destroyed and ransacked. Whats more impressive about Empuraan is that despite its dense plot, it serves as a standalone film. While it is still a sequel to Lucifer, it just takes the plot to a new dimension where the stakes are humongous. Two narratives unfold simultaneously. One is about the local problem in Kerala, which requires the return of Stephen, and the second one deals with an international conflict between two crime syndicates. Prithviraj and Murali Gopy manage to find a common point to merge the two narratives, which feels a bit forced. However, the direction and the writing do convince you and buy into the plot. What works majorly for Empuraan is its heroic moments, and they are not just written for Mohanlal. The best heroic moment goes to Manju Warriers Priya, who becomes an unstoppable force in the films narrative. Empuraan has many such moments to keep you engaged, despite its long running time. The other strong point of the film is its aesthetics and style. Sujith Vaassudevs cinematography, Deepak Devs effective original score, and Mohandass production design have together made a slick political thriller that is engrossing from start to finish. However, what stands out at the end of the day is the writing that has gone into creating this mysterious character: Stephen Nedumpalley aka Lucifer aka Khureshi Abraham. The Lucifer trilogy, in essence, is a myth creation. Prithviraaj and Murali Gopy aim to create a character like Dark Knight, the necessary evil, a devil, who will fix things when angels fail to restore the balance of the universe. Stephen is the bad man who keeps the other bad men from getting inside. While there have been innumerable films that have explored this story of a man with a past, what makes Empuraan stand out is the political and religious subtext thats scintillating. Be it the scene where Lucifer meets Govardhan (Indrajit) or the one where he meets the pastor, it leaves the viewer with goosebumps. The trend of sequels and Pan-Indian movies left many heroes and directors to scale up their films to something bigger than they were. Such failures can mostly be attributed to a lack of giving depth to the hero, and Prithviraj has succeeded on that account as Lucifer has now become a convincing pop culture figure. The film ends with a glimpse into L3, which will finally reveal the origin of Lucifer, and one cannot wait to see the birth of this fallen angel. Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: March 27, 2025, 14:58 IST More Cute Moments From Ananya Panday And Her Pet Dog Diaries Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 13:30 IST Featuring the furry companion, the first photo captured a cute moment as the pooch rested on the floor. There is also Ananya Panday's foot as she cradled her pet and wrote, '"Separation anxiety." Ananya Panday is a proud dog mom. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Ananya Panday is a dog person. And, her Instagram is proof. The actress never fails to celebrate her little furball. But just like most of us, Ananya too feel bad when she has to leave her doggo for work. How do we know you ask? She has shared a picture on Instagram Stories featuring Riot. In the pic, Riot is seen lying on the floor. The note read, Separation anxiety." Up next, she added a happy photo of her pooch, bringing delight to our feeds. Accompanying the picture was a short note wherein the actress penned, Hes having a good hair day." Recommended Stories Continuing the heartwarming streak, Ananya Panday decided to share another precious gem on the photo-sharing application. The adorable click featured both her pets along with a handful of emojis. It was followed by an endearing selfie, capturing a loved-up moment between the actress and her dog. In her note attached to the frame, she wrote, Bye." In other news, Ananya Panday swooned the Internets hearts as she made a sparkling statement at the Lakme x AK|OK Anamika Khanna opening show. Giving the Indian saree a powerful twist, she channelled her inner warrior princess and wore a masterpiece from Anamika Khannas Silver Collar collection to make heads turn at the event. Her outfit featured blue silk pants with intricate silver embroidery, an embellished blouse and a creatively draped Indian saree pallu for a bold twist. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Showsha (@showsha_) In terms of acting projects, Ananya Panday is set to light up the big screen with her role in Kesari Chapter 2. R Madhavan and Akshay Kumar play the lead roles in the film, scheduled for a global release on April 18. A sequel to Kesari (2019), starring Akshay Kumar in the lead, the upcoming film marks the directorial debut of Karan Singh Tyagi. It is produced under the banner of Dharma Productions in association with Leo Media Collective and Cape of Good Films. The film chronicles the story of the courageous C Sankaran Nair, a lawyer who challenged the British Raj to reveal the tragic truth behind the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Besides Kesari Chapter 2, Ananya Panday also has Call Me Bae 2, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan 2 and Chand Mera Dil alongside Kill fame Lakshya. 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 27, 2025, 13:08 IST Nicole Kidman On Doing 'Holland': I Don't Consider Myself A Movie Star; I'm A Character Actor | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 04:15 IST Nicole Kidman spoke exclusively with News18 Showsha, reflecting on what drew her to Holland and her ongoing desire to explore uncharted creative territory. Nicole Kidman at Met Gala. Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman is once again pushing creative boundaries in her upcoming Prime Video thriller Holland. The celebrated actress, known for her versatile and daring roles in films such as The Hours, Moulin Rouge!, Eyes Wide Shut, Dead Calm, Lion and Baby Girl, stars as Nancy Vandergroot, a seemingly perfect homemaker whose life unravels when she discovers chilling secrets about her husband (played by Matthew Macfadyen). Directed by Mimi Cave, Holland releases worldwide on Prime Video today, March 27. During a global press conference ahead of the films release, Kidman spoke exclusively with News18 Showsha, reflecting on what drew her to Holland and her ongoing desire to explore uncharted creative territory. Recommended Stories When asked if her decision to take on the role come from her passion for challenging herself as an artist, Kidman admitted, Yeah, it did actually. And yeah, I call myself a character actress. I dont consider myself sort of lead act, movie star kind of thing. I love creating characters, and that was what Mimi (Cave) and I talked about, is how to create her as a character." Kidman revealed that the process of developing Nancys character fascinated her, especially when it came to capturing her innocence and wonderqualities she hadnt fully explored in her previous work. The accent was a huge part of it as well. And I think also theres an innocence that I found really appealing. And then a sense of wonder, which I hadnt really had the chance to do," she shared. The Big Little Lies star spoke about her deep-rooted love for exploring diverse roles, explaining, Part of the journey of being artistic is going, hmm, whats over here? Whats there? And trying things. Im in a position where I get to try things, and I also get to support other people who wanna be on that similar path of exploring and trying things artistically." Director Mimi Cave, who helmed Holland, was all praise for Kidmans commitment to pushing boundaries. Nicole takes bold choices. To do this with her and know that it was slightly different, watching her become Nancy was really magnificent and inspiring. If you can be someone like Nicole Kidman or Gael Garcia Bernal, where you have this big career and youre still taking risks, that shows that you really love it," Cave said. Cave further discussed witnessing Kidmans transformative process firsthand, calling it unforgettable" to watch her embody Nancy with such depth. Kidman, who has seamlessly balanced commercial success with critically acclaimed projects, concluded, saying, Its a magnificent gift of a journey that were all on. And I never forget how glorious that is because theres so many people that dont get to do that in their lives. And we do. I never take it for granted," she said. About the Author Shrishti Negi Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, ... Read More Location : Los Angeles, United States of America (USA) First Published: March 27, 2025, 04:15 IST Big Setback For Ranya Rao As Her Bail Plea Gets Rejected For Third Time In Gold Smuggling Case Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 16:18 IST This was the third time Rao's bail application was denied. The actor was arrested at the Bengaluru airport for allegedly smuggling nearly 15 kg of gold from Dubai. Kannada actor Ranya Rao was arrested at the Bengaluru International Airport on gold smuggling charges. (Image: X) The 64th City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru on Thursday rejected the bail application of actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case. The 33-year-old actress was arrested on March 3 after she was caught at the airport carrying 14.5 kg of gold while she was returning from Dubai. A Karnataka probe panel which is looking into protocol violation and dereliction of duty is likely to submit its report today in connection with the case. Recommended Stories This is the third time Raos bail application has been rejected. A Special Court for Economic Offences on March 14 turned down her request for bail. Her legal team is now preparing to move the Karnataka High Court for bail, as per reports. Ranya Rao was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3, upon her return from Dubai, where gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized. Further searches at her residence revealed gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore. During her interrogation, Ranya admitted that the money used to purchase the gold was transferred through hawala channels. What Did The DRI Tell The Court? The court had earlier directed the DRI to file its objections to the actors bail plea before todays hearing. It told the court that Rao had confessed that money to purchase gold was sent through hawala transactions. Madhu Rao for the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) told the court that money had been sent to Ranya Rao through hawala, and she had confessed to that. Her bail order was reserved for March 27 after the court heard arguments from both sides. Last week, the court had dismissed the bail application of Tarun Konduru Raju, who was arrested on March 10 for his alleged role in the gold smuggling case. The DRI had strongly opposed his bail plea, citing concerns that he could abscond if released. Third Suspect Arrested This came after the Bengaluru Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) made its third arrest in connection with the case. A gold dealer was arrested for allegedly assisting Rao in disposing of smuggled gold. Sahil Sakariya Jain was presented before a magistrate on March 26, leading to the authorities securing four days of custody for further investigation. The DRI believes Sahils involvement is crucial in unveiling a larger smuggling network. He is accused of aiding Ranya Rao in the disposal of smuggled gold and sharing the proceeds from its sale multiple times, as evidenced by his statements in the DRI arrest memo. Before Sahils arrest, Ranya Rao and her business associate, Tarun Kondaru Raju, were already apprehended in connection with the racket. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 15:26 IST Salman Khan Reacts To Lawrence Bishnoi's Death Threats Ahead Of Sikandar Release: 'Jitne Umar Likhi Hai...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 30, 2025, 08:22 IST Gunshots were also fired outside Salman Khan's Mumbai apartment last year, following which, the actor's security was stepped up. Salman Khan will soon be seen in Sikandar. Salman Khan Death Threat: Salman Khan has reacted to getting death threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. On Wednesday, the Bollywood superstar was promoting his upcoming movie Sikandar in Mumbai, when he interacted with the media and answered if he is scared because of the multiple death threats he received last year. Also Read: Sikandar Movie Review Recommended Stories Salman mentioned how his security has been tightened and admitted that it is not easy to be surrounded by so many security personnel all the time. Bhagwan, Allah sab unpar hai. Jitni umar likhi hai, utni likhi hai. Bas yahi hai. Kabhi kabhi itne logon ko saath mein leke chalna padta hai, bas wohi problem ho jaati hai," the actor said. For the unversed, in April 2024, gunshots were fired outside Khans Galaxy Apartments in Mumbais Bandra area. Later, it was reported that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang is alleged to be behind the attack as the gangsters brother, Anmol Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the shooting incident via a Facebook post. After the shocking incident, Salmans security was upgraded. Later in July, Salman Khan also recorded his statement in connection to the house firing case when he claimed that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was trying to kill him. I heard a cracker-like sound. Then, at around 4.55 am, the police bodyguard said that two people on a bike had fired from a weapon at the Galaxy Apartments first-floor balcony. There had been attempts to hurt me and my family prior to this as well. I have learnt that Lawrence Bishnoi has taken responsibility for the attack from social media. So, I believe that it is the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who have carried out the firing on my balcony," Salman Khan told the anti-extortion cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch. Earlier also, Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang members in an interview talked about killing me and my relatives. So, I believe that Lawrence Bishnoi, with the help of his gang members carried out the firing incident when my family members were sleeping inside and planning to kill me and my family members so they carried out the attack," the actor added. 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 27, 2025, 10:17 IST Samantha Ruth Prabhu Shares Stunning Pics From Sydney Wildlife Park, Reveals Her Mystery Photographer Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 28, 2025, 04:29 IST For her day out, Samantha opted for a grey full-sleeve shirt paired with blue jeans, accessorising her look with a hat that added to her cool and casual vibe. Samantha Ruth Prabhu was last in Citadel: Honey Bunny. Samantha Ruth Prabhu delighted her fans by sharing a series of captivating pictures from her visit to Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park. The actor looked radiant in a casual, laid-back outfit, soaking in natures beauty and enjoying some playful moments with wildlife. For her day out, Samantha opted for a grey full-sleeve shirt paired with blue jeans, accessorising her look with a hat that added to her cool and casual vibe. One of the pictures captured her admiring the breathtaking mountain views, while another video showed an adorable koala curiously hopping on a tree branch. Recommended Stories In her Instagram caption, Samantha expressed her joy, writing, Nature, animals, and good vibes! From feeding kangaroos to spotting sleepy koalas, it was such a lovely time! Major shoutout to the team at @featherdalewildlifepark for all the amazing rehab work they do for Aussie wildlife." Her post was geotagged at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, where she enjoyed her relaxing getaway. Fans flooded the comments section with love, but one curious fan asked, Who clicked all these amazing pictures?" To everyones delight, Samantha responded quickly, giving credit to @sydneytourguide Naomi ." Her interaction with fans won hearts yet again. On the work front, Samantha was last seen in Citadel: Hunny Bunny, alongside Varun Dhawan. The spy thriller, directed by Raj & DK, received a positive response from fans and critics alike. Up next, she will be seen reprising her role in The Family Man Season 3, where she will share screen space with Manoj Bajpayee, Priyamani, and Jaideep Ahlawat. The much-anticipated web series has completed filming and is set for release later this year. Additionally, Samantha has signed on for Rakt Brahmand: The Bloody Kingdom, another series with Raj & DK, and a film titled Maa Inti Bangaram, which she is also producing. 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 28, 2025, 04:29 IST Shreyas Talpade Booked In Multi-Crore Chit Fund Scam In Uttar Pradesh Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 22:09 IST Actor Shreyas Talpade has been named in a new multi-crore chit fund fraud case in Uttar Pradeshs Mahoba district. Shreyas Talpade booked in a multi-crore chit fund scam in UPs Mahoba district. Actor Shreyas Talpade has found himself facing fresh legal trouble as a new fraud case has been registered against him and 14 others in Uttar Pradesh. The allegations involve a multi-crore chit fund scam that reportedly operated in Mahoba district for over a decade. As per IANS, the accused were allegedly involved with a company called The Loni Urban Multistate Credit and Thrift Cooperative Society Limited, which targeted villagers by promising high returns on investments. The companys agents are said to have collected large sums of money from locals, luring them with the claim that their investments would double within a short period. Recommended Stories However, when legal questions began surfacing around the scheme, the agents reportedly shut operations and vanished from the district. A case has now been filed at the Srinagar police station in Mahoba, and authorities have begun an investigation into the matter. This isnt the first time Shreyas Talpades name has surfaced in connection with financial fraud. Earlier this year in February, an FIR was lodged against him and veteran actor Alok Nath in Lucknow for allegedly duping investors of Rs 9 crore. That complaint was filed at Gomti Nagar Police Station. Prior to that, both actors were also named in a multi-level marketing fraud case in Sonipat, Haryana, along with several others. Shreyas has yet to make any public statement regarding the latest allegations. Despite the legal controversies, Shreyas continues to have a full slate of upcoming projects. He will be seen next in Welcome To The Jungle, a comedy of errors featuring an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, and others. Hes also part of the star-studded Housefull 5, which boasts a massive cast headlined by Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, and many more. 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 27, 2025, 22:09 IST Opinion | Eroding Respect, Rising Impunity: A Threat To National Security And The Men At Borders Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 12:45 IST The attack on a serving Colonel of the Indian Army and his son by Punjab Police should have raised national outrage. About a decade ago, it would have, with the army itself leading the demand for justice. Today, there's hardly any visible reaction. In this June 11, 1998 file photo, Indian soldiers fire artillery shells on Pakistani posts in Siachen glacier sector about 404 miles (650kms) north of the Kashmir city of Srinagar. (AP Photo) Its a sad disgrace to our countrys core security, one that has been largely overlooked by all concerned institutions. The attack on a serving Colonel of the Indian Army and his son by Punjab Police should have raised national outrage. About a decade ago, it would have, with the army itself leading the demand for justice. Today, theres hardly any visible reaction. This indicates trouble both internally and externally. Its not just the deterioration of state institutions, but also an indifferent society, without clear principles or expectations of right and wrong. Both aspects deeply affect national security in multiple ways. Cases are rising Recommended Stories First, the incident itself. According to available footage, the police used extreme brutality on the officer and his son, all over a parking dispute. Whether or not the officer was rude to the police is unclear. Even if he used profanities, the police should have informed the nearest military authority about a possible detention. The Code of Criminal Procedure specifies that no armed forces personnel may be arrested by civilian authorities unless on serious charges like murder. In this case, the brutality of the violence passes all boundaries. Such cases may be increasing. Days later, on March 25, a paratrooper was picked up, assaulted after a verbal exchange with an Inspector, who seemed inebriated, and detained. Even worse, the judicial authorities kept him under detention for 20 days. Another incident involved an Army Major in Odisha, who, with his fiance, went to a police station for help after being attacked by a group of youths, only to be assaulted and detained themselves. An army officer was assaulted in Kerala by cadets who suffered minor food poisoning in December 2023. Police power The Army has since called for a fair and honesttime-bound investigation into the incident. The incident is unusual in Punjab, a state that usually respects the army, and recruits heavily from there. Whether the Agnipath scheme of short service has led to resentment is an open question, with 37,000 youngsters reportedly denied coveted jobs. But Odisha and other states are not high recruiting areas, indicating a deeper issue. The Punjab polices reputation during terrorism, with a constable claiming at least 80 encounters, is well-documented. A surprising number of high encounters are also in Assam, a place of insurgency. Counter-insurgency is corrosive of policing, as evident in Pakistan, where the police system has nearly collapsed. Thats a warning. Another aspect: recently, two Punjab police officers were given life sentences and fined Rs 2 lakh for killing an army jawan in 1992, 32 years later. No wonder the army is asking for a quick and fair trial. The slow judicial process is a key aspect. The officer involved in attacking the Colonel and his son has another case against him by a reputed oncologist. In Assam, a Supreme Court judgment on investigating 171 alleged encounter cases seems stalled over concerns it would demoralise police. Police nationwide are seen as goons in uniform rather than guardians of the law. There are fine officers, but they operate in a system lacking accountability and closely linked to local politicians. Thats not good for them or the public. This rot needs to be stopped, requiring the energetic Home Minister to reform police impunity. Attempts at reform since the 1970s have done little. One suggestion is errant police personnel be sent to Siachen for training. A hard dose of reality might do them good. The Armed Forces are a-changing The Armed Forces themselves are changing. Their make-up shifts as society changes in terms of traditions and principles. Todays society has few remnants of core Indian traditions of respect and justice. Its about getting ahead by any means. However, the army maintains traditions and training that set high standards of bravery and valour. During the Kargil War, 26 young officers were killed and 66 injured. This is an army where officers lead from the front, and their men follow to the death. The same is true in Kashmir, where young officers are on the front lines. This is remembered during Kargil Diwas or in Bollywood movies, but forgotten otherwise. What about the commitments and values of senior officers? Once, officers commanded respect due to their reputation and dignity. Thats not always true any more. A huge shortfall in officers in 2023 indicates trouble. Now, the government doesnt share the data. Many mid-level officers opt to leave service rather than pursue prestigious higher courses. The army also needs to look inwards as socio-economic profiles change. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Heres the bottom line. Courage to fight at 18,875 feet in freezing temperatures requires conviction that he is the best and bravest. The same goes for an air force pilot whose speed starts at 300 km per hour or a submariner with thousands of tons of seawater above him. This conviction in his worth, service, and country is vital for national defence and security. Without it, hes not good enough. This conviction requires a society that reflects some commitment. That society must have faith in institutions that reflect this absolute commitment. Unfortunately, thats not the case. Its understandable given the differing duties of each institution, particularly police and judiciary. But some emulation would benefit all and improve national security. The key word is national. A soldier on the battlefield represents the nation. It better be worth it. Otherwise, hes just a man on a hill with a gun hes not sure he wants to use. The writer is a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. She tweets @kartha_tara. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 27, 2025, 12:45 IST Opinion | Is Aurangzeb Irrelevant Today? A Case For Moving Forward Without Erasing History Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 10:32 IST We must choose our heroes wiselygrounded in cultural and civilisational values. Bharat in 2025 has got bigger fish: economic muscle, tech leaps, and a global strut. A centuries-old tomb under the ASIs care doesnt dictate the nations direction. (Image: PTI/File) Sunil Ambekar, the Prachar Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), steps into the ring on March 19, 2025, and swings hard: Aurangzeb? Hes not relevant." This statement has only fuelled the chaos surrounding the issue. While RSS supporters are alleged to be flabbergasted, its detractors are said to have mixed reactions some welcome it, while others dismiss it as RSS ki saazish". Decode this: it isnt some weak plea to calm downits the RSS slamming the door on a 300-year-old corpse dictating Indias pulse. Aurangzebs crimes were real and bone chilling but Hindus have to be big enough to let his tomb rot where it stands. Not out of kindness, but because we have got a future to forge, and his dust isnt worth the sweat. Recommended Stories The Grisly Legacy Of Aurangzeb Without doubt, Aurangzeb the sixth Mughal emperor (16581707) was a walking terror show. Take Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Shivajis son, for instance. Captured in 1689, he was tortured beyond belief. His eyes were gouged out, his limbs sliced off, his body torn apartall because he refused to bow to Islam. This was not a one-off atrocity. Remember Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadurs beheading in 1675, for defending Kashmiri Pandits from forced conversion! Then, he razed to the ground thousands of temples, including Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi and Kesava Deo in Mathura. He imposed the jizya tax, a humiliating shackle on non-Muslims, designed to bleed Hindus dry. These arent just dusty history lessons; theyre a gory testament to a man who spat on Indias pluralistic soul. Why The RSS Is Right And It Matters Ambekars line not relevant" isnt dodging the blood; its us towering over it. Bharat in 2025 has got bigger fish: economic muscle, tech leaps, and a global strut. A centuries-old tomb under the ASIs care doesnt dictate the nations direction. The RSS isnt looking to battle ghosts; its focused on building the future. The organisation isnt just flexing muscle hereits pushing harmony, duty, the Panch Parivartan" playbook. Five big shifts: social cohesion, education reform, healthcare, justice, and environmental responsibility. And this isnt exclusive to any one groupits for every Indian. The RSS has evolved beyond its old image, positioning itself as a national force with an inclusive outlook. Ambedkars lessons remain relevant for all, including todays Muslims: history shouldnt be about glorifying invaders like Aurangzeb. This isnt about revenge; its about waking up to whats ours. Hindu Magnanimity: Letting The Tomb Stand Hindus we are resilient, not fragile. Rooted deep, standing firm. Dharma teaches us to recognise the divine even in adversity forgiveness is one thing, but erasing history is another. Tomb stays put? Fine by us. But it stands not as a tribute, but as a quiet reminder: we endured, we outlasted. Our temples are rising again, our culture is thriving, our spirit is unshaken no monument can change that. Aurangzebs reign left deep scars. His truth must be told, not to stoke hate, but to nod at the grit of those who stood tall. Forward, Eyes Wide Open top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Its time to choose our heroes wisely grounded in cultural and civilisational values. Our legacy offers a vast array of figures who shaped our nation, including Chhatrapati Shivaji, Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, Maharana Pratap, Chhatrapati Sambhaji, Sant Kabir, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Veer Abdul Hamid, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Azim Premji, Veer Savarkar, Brigadier Mohammad Usman, Rani Abakka, and Rani Nayika Devi, among many others. Our history must honour those who built our soul, not those who sought to destroy it. Gopal Goswami, PhD, is a Researcher, Columnist & Social Worker. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 27, 2025, 10:32 IST Opinion | Jadavpur University: A Legacy Tarnished By Political Influence Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 26, 2025, 19:38 IST The Jadavpur University's decline is a tragic commentary on the intersection of politics and education in Bengal. The varsity's future lies in the hands of its students, faculty, and policymakers The institution, once a proud symbol of academic rigour, is today mired in controversy and infamy, plagued by political influence, student violence, and a general decay in the quality of education. (File) The Jadavpur University (JU) once stood as a beacon of academic excellence and intellectual pride in Kolkata, a city known for its rich history of education and culture. Established in 1955, the JU soon emerged as one of Indias leading institutions, drawing students and scholar lagued by political influence, student violence, and a general decay in the quality of education. The question many ask today is how did this transformation happen, and what is its significance for Bengals education system at large? To understand the root cause of the JUs decline, one must look back at the political landscape in Bengal. The Left Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), ruled the state for over three decades, from 1977 to 2011. During this period, the Lefts dominance over educational institutions, including the JU, was profound. Universities, colleges, and schools were not only seen as spaces for intellectual development but also as ideological battlegrounds, where the Left entrenched its political influence. Campus elections, student unions, and the curriculum itself became platforms for the Left to assert its power. Recommended Stories The Jadavpur University, with its vibrant intellectual environment, became a microcosm of this larger political culture. The universitys student body was deeply infused with Leftist ideologies, and its faculty often followed the same political leanings. While political engagement and activism in educational institutions are not inherently negative, the Lefts grip on the JU shifted the focus from academic excellence to political manoeuvring. Over the years, the JU became more associated with protests, strikes, and ideological conformity than with fostering an environment for free thought and scholarly pursuits. With the rise of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2011 and the subsequent end of the Left Fronts reign in Bengal, one might have expected a shift towards a more neutral, development-focused approach to education. However, the situation has not significantly improved. Mamata Banerjees government, which came to power with promises of change, has often failed to dismantle the deeply entrenched political culture that had taken root under the Lefts long rule. Her governments approach to education has been marred by a lack of direction, corruption, and interference in academic affairs, further eroding the quality of education and administrative autonomy at JU and other universities. This shift in leadership, combined with a lack of genuine reform, has left the JU caught between two political forces. The Lefts remnants remain entrenched in the universitys administrative and student bodies, while the TMC, in power at the state level, has done little to break this cycle of politicisation. What was once an institution known for its intellectual diversity has become a battleground where political ideologies, rather than academic pursuit, dominate discussions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is hoping for glory in the forthcoming Assembly Elections of 2026 as the opposition party in Bengal, might view the JUs decline as an opportunity to capitalise on the disillusionment that many students and faculty members feel with the current state of affairs. The BJP has long accused Banerjees government of stifling free speech and allowing political violence to flourish in institutions of higher learning. In such a situation, the JU could provide a valuable platform for the BJP to present itself as a defender of academic freedom and a proponent of non-partisan educational reform. The BJP might find resonance among students who are frustrated with the prevailing Leftist politics that dominates the campus. By promoting a vision of an apolitical, merit-based education system, the BJP could attract those who feel suffocated by the ideological monopoly in the JU. However, the partys approach needs to be nuanced. Merely opposing the Leftist status quo is not enough. To win the hearts of JU students, the BJP must present a clear agenda for improving academic standards, ensuring the autonomy of universities, and fostering a more inclusive and diverse campus culture. One of the most disturbing developments at the Jadavpur University has been the violent attacks on media personnel, who attempted to cover the protests and incidents on campus. This verbal and physical aggression towards journalists and crew media crew members is emblematic of a larger breakdown of democratic principles at the university and reveals the deepening intolerance for dissent and critical scrutiny, even in the very spaces that should be fostering open debate. Its important to note that the media, especially independent outlets, play a vital role in holding both government and opposition forces accountable. When students at the JU, influenced by years of political indoctrination, resort to violence against the press, it signals a deeper rot in the educational system. What is at stake here is not just the reputation of a university, but the very idea of free thought and democratic dialogue that universities should ideally protect and promote. While much of the JUs decline can be traced back to the Lefts influence, Banerjees government has not been immune to criticism for its handling of the states education system. Under her administration, the focus has shifted away from fostering academic excellence to securing political loyalty. Many universities, including the JU, have seen the rise of violent student politics, with parties using educational spaces to further their agendas rather than promoting scholarly engagement. Banerjees failure to tackle these issues has compounded the decline. Her inability to depoliticise institutions and create a genuinely conducive environment for learning has further alienated students who are caught between political factions. If she is to reclaim any credibility in the education sector, she must ensure that universities like the JU are freed from the grip of political parties, providing students with the autonomy to think critically and independently. The Jadavpur Universitys decline is a tragic commentary on the intersection of politics and education in Bengal. Today, to see anti-national slogans and graffiti on its walls is no surprise. Once a symbol of academic rigour, it is now a case study in how political interference can erode the very foundations of higher education. The BJP may see this as an opportunity to champion educational reforms, but to succeed, it must look beyond short-term political gains and focus on long-term structural changes. Ensuring academic autonomy, improving infrastructure, and creating an environment of intellectual freedom are essential if the JU is to reclaim its former glory. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ultimately, the Jadavpur Universitys future lies in the hands of its students, faculty, and policymakers. Only by breaking free from the political chains that bind it can the university hope to return to its former position as one of Indias premier educational institutions. To expect this in West Bengal might be too much to ask for just now and the fall of the JU will remain a sobering reminder of the perils of politicising education. The author is a BJP spokesperson, writer, social worker and a corporate learning and development expert. 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, 19:29 IST 'Do Not Test Our Patience': Maharashtra Minister Warns Police, Demands Immediate Arrest Of Kunal Kamra Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 21:41 IST Kamra sparked a major political controversy in Maharashtra after making a gaddar" (traitor) remark about Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde Maharashtra Tourism Minister and Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai. (File photo via PTI) Maharashtras Tourism Minister and Shiv Sena leader Shambhuraj Desai on Thursday warned the police not to test the patience" of party workers and demanded the immediate arrest of comedian Kunal Kamra. Kamra sparked a major political controversy in Maharashtra after making a gaddar" (traitor) remark about Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during his comedy special Naya Bharat. Recommended Stories Speaking to the press, Desai stated that while Shiv Sena workers had been asked to show restraint by Shinde, their patience was running thin. He sated, We have been asked by Shinde to be observe restraint, that is why we are quiet. As Shiv Sena workers, we know how to drag him out from wherever he is hiding, but as ministers we have some restrictions." Desai also issued a strict warning to the police, saying, We want to tell the police, do not test our patience and nab him from wherever he is, put him in a tyre and give him prasad." Kamras show, which featured a parody of a popular song from the Bollywood film Dil Toh Pagal Hai, included a reference to Shinde as a gaddar" (traitor). This term is frequently used by Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders and their mouthpiece Saamana to describe Shinde and his supporters, who rebelled against party leader Uddhav Thackeray in 2022. Shortly after the episodes release on Kamras YouTube channel, Shiv Sena workers, led by party leader Rahul Kanal, vandalised the Habitat Studio in Mumbai where Kamra had performed. The incident took place on Sunday night. The following day, on Monday, the police arrested Kanal along with 11 other Shiv Sena workers involved in the vandalism. They were granted bail later that same day. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against Kamra following a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, accusing him of making defamatory remarks against Shinde. (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 27, 2025, 20:20 IST Kerala's Minority Minister Condemns Communal Remarks Over Actor Mohanlal's Offering For Mammootty Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 28, 2025, 00:01 IST Kerala minority welfare minister V Abdurahiman has demanded that those who made narrow-minded and uncivilised statements regarding Mohanlal's offering should apologise to the public Malayalam film actor Mohanlal offers prayers at the Sabarimala temple, in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. (Image: PTI) Kerala minority welfare minister V Abdurahiman on Thursday condemned the statements made by certain individuals spreading communal venom regarding actor Mohanlals offering at Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple on behalf of actor Mammootty. Abdurahiman has demanded that those who made narrow-minded and uncivilised statements regarding Mohanlals offering should apologise to the public. In a statement, he said those who irresponsibly make such remarks, failing to understand the essence of secularism upheld by Kerala, are a disgrace to the state. Recommended Stories Religious scholars should come forward to reject such dangerous stances. These statements are intended to malign a particular religion in front of the public. Such controversies will only serve to strengthen the hidden agenda of communal polarisation in Keralas society," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Abdurahiman said people must remain vigilant against the rantings of those who fail to grasp the essence of humanity and fraternity promoted by religions. We have witnessed a religious leader criticising an elderly Muslim woman for going on a trip to Munnar with her children, deeming it a great sin. There have also been attempts to prevent students from going on study tours. Any such regressive moves must be resisted," he said. His statement came after Mohanlals offering at the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple for the well-being of Mammootty during his pilgrimage to the hill shrine on March 18 sparked a row. After the offering receipt was leaked and went viral, a section of people with extreme religious views stated that Mammootty is a Muslim and that he should apologise if he had asked Mohanlal to offer prayers on his behalf. This sparked a controversy, with many taking to social media to rally behind the two popular actors, praising their friendship. About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: March 28, 2025, 00:01 IST 'Will Non-BJP Supporters Be Treated As Untouchables': Bihar Temple 'Washed' After Kanhaiya Kumar's Visit Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 23:38 IST The viral video sparked a controversy following which the Congress asked if supporters of non-BJP parties will now be treated as "untouchables", while the BJP said this shows a "rejection of Kanhaiya Kumars brand of politics" Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar addressed a gathering at a Durga temple in Bihar's Saharsa during his ongoing 'Palayan Roko, Naukri Do' tour. (Image: PTI/File) A purported video of some people washing a temple in Bihar after Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumars visit, has sparked a controversy with the opposition party asking if non-BJP supporters will be treated as untouchables". The BJP, meanwhile, hit back saying the video only proves the rejection of Kanhaiya Kumars politics and nothing more. The video, which went viral on Thursday, purportedly shows footage from a Durga temple at Bangaon village in Bihars Saharsa. Recommended Stories According to news agency IANS, the youths purportedly washed the temple premises with gangajal after Kanhaiya addressed a gathering there. He stopped at the temple for a visit during his ongoing Palayan Roko, Naukri Do tour. Bihar: In Saharsa district, youths washed a Durga temple premises with Ganga Jal after Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar addressed a gathering there pic.twitter.com/piluPpcYs6 IANS (@ians_india) March 26, 2025 In the video, some people can be seen splashing away buckets of water in the temple premises, allegedly after the Congress leaders departure. Local residents, however, said this act could be the work of miscreants as people from all castes and backgrounds are allowed in this temple. Kanhaiya, who belongs to the upper-caste Bhumihar community, refrained from commenting on the matter. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta told The Indian Express: We want to know if only RSS and BJP supporters are pious people and the rest are untouchable. The act has disrespected the descendants of Lord Parshuram. Have we entered a new phase of ultra-Sanskritisation in which non-BJP parties and supporters will be treated as untouchables?" In the first place, we should first verify the identity of those who washed the temple after Kanhaiya Kumars visit. And if a temple is washed after the Congress leaders visit, it shows the kind of rejection towards Kanhaiya Kumars brand of politics," BJP spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari was quoted. 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 : Bihar, India, India First Published: March 27, 2025, 23:38 IST 'Hard To Believe Its AI': What OpenAI Chief Said About New ChatGPT Image Feature Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:10 IST OpenAI is finally bringing better image tools that lets people generated AI-powered images using simple prompts for high-quality results. OpenAI is making more upgrades to the ChatGPT 4o version OpenAI has significantly enhanced its ChatGPT chatbot, expanding its capabilities beyond text-based interactions to include advanced image generation. The companys CEO Sam Altman described the launch as an incredible technology/product," highlighting how it empowers users with greater creative freedom. I remember seeing some of the first images generated by this model and finding it hard to believe they were made by AI," Altman shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasised OpenAIs commitment to ensuring the technology remains within responsible boundaries while supporting a vast range of creative expression. Recommended Stories OpenAI released the most recent version earlier this week, which incorporates new technology that allows ChatGPT to generate intricate and realistic images in response to user input. With the help of OpenAIs GPT-4o model, the latest version is able to produce complex images, such as multi-panel comic strips with unique characters and dialogue. This is a significant improvement over earlier iterations that could generate images but had trouble combining several intricate ideas into a single result. The expansion is part of a larger trend in the AI arena where chatbots are becoming more versatile tools. ChatGPT was initially created for text-based tasks like writing poetry, asking questions and creating code. Today, it may also be used for voice commands, pictures and even video interactions. ChatGPT was first introduced by OpenAI in late 2022 after being trained on a large volume of text data from the internet. OpenAI later launched DALL-E, a separate program made specifically for image generation, even if the chatbot didnt have that capability at first. However, the most recent version of ChatGPT combines these features into a single, more potent system that can learn from both visual and textual data. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Artificial intelligence image generators have historically had trouble producing images that differ greatly from preexisting examples. The updated ChatGPT, according to OpenAI, can now more successfully respond to requests for unusual visuals, such as a bicycle with triangle wheels. Both free and paid users have been able to access the updated ChatGPT since March 25. The most recent AI tools from OpenAI will also be available to ChatGPT Plus ($20 per month) and ChatGPT Pro ($200 per month) subscribers. 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! First Published: March 27, 2025, 09:10 IST iOS 18.4 Update Is One Step Closer To Official Release With The New Version: What iPhone Users Get Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:20 IST iOS 18.4 update is expected in April which means the beta version could be the last one before Apple releases the public iteration. The new iOS 18.4 update could make Apple AI work in more countries. Apple has taken one more step to the iOS 18.4 release date with the latest update rolling out for the iPhone users this week. The iOS 18.4 Release Candidate has been offered to beta testers and developers who have risked installing the beta version on their device to get a test drive of the upcoming iOS 18.4 features. Most reports have suggested that Apple will be lining up the next iOS 18 version in early April and we seem to be pretty close to that timeline with the latest development. iOS 18.4 Release Candidate Is Out: Public Update Soon? Recommended Stories The iOS 18.4 Release Candidate is not a small update by any means and most iPhone users are being asked to install the 7.5GB sized version to continue with their beta journey. This also could be the last beta update from the company which means the iOS 18.4 public release date could be one week away from now. iOS 18.4 Update: New Features Coming Your Way Apple has a lot on stake with the iOS 18.4 update especially after its news about the AI Siri and more features getting delayed till next year. iPhone users in India have a lot to be excited about, thanks to the Apple AI getting local support in the region. EU iPhone users will also get their taste of Apple AI some time next month. Here is a quick round-up of all the features that the iOS 18.4 update will bring for billions of iPhone users next month. Apple AI For India Even though Apple AI only worked with select versions of English, the company has allowed people in countries like India to use the AI features by setting the default language as US English but that finally changes to local settings with the iOS 18.4 version. Priority Notifications With AI Apple AI is going to detect important messages and alerts on your iPhone and notify them on the lock screen so that you dont miss them. The brand will be processing the content on-device which keeps the data private. Recipes Coming To Apple News+ Apple News+ will help you with a series of food recipes curated from varied writers and chefs available through the platform. Lossless Audio For AirPods Max The most expensive Apple wireless product will be finally getting lossless audio support once the iOS 18.4 update rolls out. Apple says this update will allow AirPods Max to deliver 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio, allowing users to enjoy music in its original format, exactly as it was recorded in a studio. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ambient Music In Control Centre Apple is bringing ambient music toggles with different moods that can be customised and even enabled on the Action Button for iPhones. You have options like Chill, Well being, Sleep and more that pick up the playlist from Apple Music. 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 27, 2025, 07:20 IST Ghibli, ChatGPT's New Image Generator, Stuns Desi Internet: 'OMG, It Even Captured Goddess Lakshmi' Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 12:42 IST Ghibli-Style Images: After OpenAI introduced advanced image generation tools, social media users began transforming their photos into Ghibli-inspired artwork. "Omg it got even the goddess Lakshmi! Love the attention to detail," a user reacted. (Photo Credits: X) A new ChatGPT update has made the internet a fun place for Studio Ghibli fans to be creative. After the company introduced advanced image generation tools, users began transforming their photos into Ghibli inspired artwork. Subscribers can upload images and request their photos to be turned into the iconic animation style of Hayao Miyazakis films. Within hours of its release, the trend took over social media and many turned famous pop culture moments into Ghibli style art, while others are simply creating pictures of their loved ones, pets and friends. Countless users are showing off their creative works and here are a few impressive examples. As per the website, GPT4o image generation excels at accurately rendering text, precisely following prompts, and leveraging 4os inherent knowledge base and chat contextincluding transforming uploaded images or using them as visual inspiration. These capabilities make it easier to create exactly the image you envision, helping you communicate more effectively through visuals and advancing image generation into a practical tool with precision and power." Recommended Stories Here are some of the ChatGPT-generated images: Next level stuff iconic tech pics studio ghibli edition Next level stuff iconic tech pics studio ghibli edition Converting old childhood photos to Studio Ghibli and sending to my parents pic.twitter.com/ZL3QYNvTmL Linda Xie (@ljxie) March 26, 2025 nusrat saab meets ghibli! pic.twitter.com/vTyE6RrYkI Karan Mishra (@osafarnama) March 26, 2025 Nobody asked for Bollywood movie scenes in Ghibli style but here they are. pic.twitter.com/umiDAA7LNu Vivek Choudhary (@ivivekch) March 26, 2025 Ok I think Im in love with ChatGPTs new image editing feature.Can turn all my family photos into Ghibli portraits. pic.twitter.com/tZCbxPUA0D Peter Yang (@petergyang) March 26, 2025 OpenAI knows how to ship products optimized for user delight!PS This is image generation with ChatGPT in Studio Ghibli art. pic.twitter.com/BH7CGlxDip Aniket Kamthe (@aniketkamthe777) March 26, 2025 Here's how you can restyle any image into the viral studio ghibli style:1) Upload image in ChatGPT 4o2) Prompt: "restyle image in studio ghibli style keep all details"3) Wait 2 5 min 4) Download and share pic.twitter.com/h5ger1PMWB Ran (@RanIarovich) March 26, 2025 Original photos for reference pic.twitter.com/UEeDXAdngC Somewareatdisney (@somewareatdiz) March 26, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To transform your photos into Studio Ghibli style art using ChatGPTs latest image generation feature, start by logging into your account and select the GPT-4o model. Then upload your desired photo and in the text area, type, Please convert this image into Studio Ghibli style animation," or similar prompt. After submitting, the AI will process your request and, within moments, itll provide a transformed image that looks like the aesthetic characters of Studio Ghibli films. As of now, the studio has not yet commented on ChatGPTs new feature. According to NBC News, an OpenAI representative explained that the companys main aim is to allow users as much freedom as possible to be creative. While OpenAI prevents its tool from mimicking the work of living artists, it does allow users to create images in the style of well known studios. The company also mentioned that they are always learning from how people use the feature and will continue to improve their policies based on feedback. About the Author Tech Desk Tech Desk: Get the latest and trending stories from the world of technology at News18s Tech Desk consisting of reporters, writers, editors and opinion makers. Follow News18 Tech to know about the latest gadget... Read More Tech Desk: Get the latest and trending stories from the world of technology at News18s Tech Desk consisting of reporters, writers, editors and opinion makers. Follow News18 Tech to know about the latest gadget... 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! First Published: March 27, 2025, 10:31 IST Sam Altman Explains Why ChatGPTs Image Generator Can't Draw Sexy Women Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:39 IST OpenAI has introduced image-generation capabilities for ChatGPT, allowing more than just text. Many users shared their image-generation experience on the internet. (Photo Credits: X) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced a major update to ChatGPTs image-generation capabilities after more than a year. With the update, ChatGPT can now natively create and modify images with the help of the companys GPT-4o model. Prior to this, GPT-4o has been only able to generate and edit text and not images. With the update available now, many users, however, reported that the image generator was unable to draw sexy women" due to the companys content policysomething that Altman has also acknowledged. One of the users shared their experience on the X, which caught the CEOs attention, seemingly due to the AI-generated stud-muffin in the post. As the user asked the app to create a sexy woman" and a sexy man", he only got a response for the latter. I couldnt generate that image because it goes against our content policy," the AI responded, as shown in the screenshot on X. Recommended Stories New ChatGPT image gen can draw sexy men but not sexy women pic.twitter.com/U6H20gVxBH Nick Dobos (@NickADobos) March 25, 2025 The user further went for a detailed reason, for which ChatGPT stated, The difference comes down to context and how content is interpreted in terms of sexualization and objectification, especially when it involves women. When generating images of men with terms like sexy, its usually interpreted more in terms of confidence, physique, or fashion things that tend to be considered stylistic or artistic. With women, they can be more easily interpreted as overly sexual or objectifying, which is where the content policy draws the line." In a direct response to the X user, Sam Altman stated that it was a bug and that the company would fix it. Hguy though!" he added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all thats a bug, should be allowed, will fix Sam Altman (@sama) March 25, 2025 Even though ChatGPT made an error in the registered violation of its content policy, it still does have a limit to what it will create, including restrictions around images of real people when involving nudity and graphic violence. About the Author Tech Desk Tech Desk: Get the latest and trending stories from the world of technology at News18s Tech Desk consisting of reporters, writers, editors and opinion makers. Follow News18 Tech to know about the latest gadget... Read More Tech Desk: Get the latest and trending stories from the world of technology at News18s Tech Desk consisting of reporters, writers, editors and opinion makers. Follow News18 Tech to know about the latest gadget... 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! First Published: March 27, 2025, 09:25 IST Studio Ghibli Style Art On ChatGPT 4o: How To Create AI Images Using A Free ChatGPT Account Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 13:20 IST ChatGPT Studio Ghibli art has become popular overnight as it lets you stylise AI images using simple prompts and it even works for free accounts. Studio Ghibli art has become an overnight hit with ChatGPT 4o (Photo: AI generated) Chatgpt Ghibli Art: ChatGPT 4o Ghibli has taken over the internet in the last 24 hours. The popular AI chatbot started taking your images to stylise them with different themes like Studio Ghibli which has become an overnight sensation among users. People are uploading their images and getting them stylised by the AI chatbot and it works on web as well as mobile platforms. Recommended Stories But does OpenAI let you create these stylised AI images with the free ChatGPT account or do you need a premium version to access these benefits? We are here to help you decipher the craze around the Studio Ghibli style that has even Sam Altman from OpenAI excited, and how you can create images using different themes on the platform. Studio Ghibli AI Image Style: How To Create Using ChatGPT ChatGPT 4o works even with the free account, where you just have to sign in with your Google ID or create a new OpenAI account. The AI chatbot is fast and works most of the time but using the free ChatGPT version comes with its limits that you should definitely know. Having said that, here are the steps to create these Studio Ghibli styled AI images on ChatGPT 4o Go to ChatGPT website Login with your Google ID or create a new account ChatGPT interface will now open on your screen Use basic text prompts with the hot word Studio Ghibli to create the AI styled images OpenAI uses DALL-E image generation tool to create the Ghibli-style AI illustrations For instance, you can use prompts like, group of people in a park in studio Ghibli style," and request ChatGPT 4o to create an AI image using the style. This is what we got with this prompt from the AI chatbot: top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The AI chatbot will give you the option to save the image or even go through the detailed prompt that helped in creating the said image. These are the benefits of using the free ChatGPT version which also lets you upload images to modify them but the AI-style images are only available if you have the ChatGPT Plus, Pro or the Teams version. 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 27, 2025, 12:29 IST Citizenship Rules For Babies Born On Airplanes, Or The Skyborns: What You Need To Know Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 11:13 IST There are no universal rules for citizenship of babies born on airplanes. The child's citizenship may depend on the plane's registry or the parents' nationality The US State Department has a unique rule: if a child is born on a plane, the child is considered an 'air' baby. (News18) What happens if a child is born on an aeroplane while travelling abroad? What do international rules state? How will the citizenship of the child be decided? Some might think that the childs citizenship would be same as that of the parents, but this is not true in every case. The Pregnant Traveller: A Real-Life Incident Recommended Stories Davy Owen, who was seven months pregnant, found herself in a similar situation when she went into labour while travelling with her four-year-old daughter. She was travelling from Ivory Coast to London and her husband was not with them. During the flight, Owen suddenly started experiencing labour pain and gave birth to a son. She mentioned that she had travelled with proper medical advice, as her doctor had assured her that there was no immediate risk of childbirth. Nonetheless, she went into labour during the flight and delivered the baby on the plane. Davy was very anxious due to the labour pain, hoping to reach a hospital in London soon. However, the pain intensified. A Dutch doctor on the plane assisted her in delivering the baby. When the child was born, the plane was close to the British border. The Skyborn Now 28-years-old, the child is named Shona. She is one of about 50 people globally known as Skyborn, individuals born in the sky. Its worth noting that giving birth on an aeroplane is rare due to lower oxygen levels, which can make it difficult for the newborn to breathe. Additionally, in case of complications or the need for an emergency C-section, high-tech medical equipment is not available. For these reasons, some airlines do not allow pregnant women to travel after 27 weeks, while others permit travel up to 40 weeks with a medical certificate. Determining Citizenship At 36,000 Feet So, what citizenship does a child born at an altitude of 36,000 feet receive? According to experts, there is no universal rule. Generally, the country of the planes registry is considered the planes territory. Most countries grant citizenship based on lineage, meaning the child will be a citizen of the parents country. However, a 1961 agreement helps resolve disputes by stating that the child should receive the airlines countrys citizenship. The US State Department has a unique rule: if a child is born in international waters, the place of birth should be listed as the sea. If born on a plane, the child is considered an air baby. Gifts From The Airlines top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The birth of a child on a plane is often good news for both the parents and the airline. Airlines can leverage this for promotional purposes. Virgin once gifted a child free flights until the age of 21 because the child was born on their plane. Similarly, British Airways sent Shona, born on their plane, two tickets on her 18th birthday, which she used to visit her grandmother in Australia. 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 27, 2025, 11:13 IST In Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan, This Girls Only Hope To Stay In School Is To Fail Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 12:55 IST Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban has enforced a series of decrees aimed at systematically excluding women and girls from public life. The Internet backed the little girl's decision. (Photo Credits: X) In Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, where girls are banned from studying beyond the sixth grade, a young girl made a heartbreaking confession. The young girl said she wished to fail her class just to stay in school. Her words reflect the devastating reality faced by millions of Afghan girls deprived of education and a future. Her words were backed by many on X (formerly Twitter). One said, Such an intelligent and courageous girl she is. I love her confidence. I wish schools were open for them, and today she wouldnt complain about the closure of schools." Another comment praised her for her smart" move, Well, she already is smarter than the Taliban, obviously." Recommended Stories This little girl from Afghanistan says she wanted to fail her class just to stay in school, because the Taliban ban girls from studying beyond sixth grade. This is what theyve done to a nation of 40 million, to its daughters, and its future. pic.twitter.com/PAKkP9qnXn Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) March 26, 2025 Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, they have issued a series of decrees systematically erasing women and girls from public life. The latest report by UN Women details the impact of these restrictions, describing them as an all-out assault on womens autonomy and fundamental rights. Alison Davidian, UN Womens Country Representative in Afghanistan, provided a grim picture of the situation. Three years ago, the world was watching a takeover that was livestreaming horror after horror," she stated. And three years later, while the worlds attention may have turned elsewhere, the horrors have not stopped for Afghan women and girls." The Talibans policies have banned girls from attending school past the sixth grade, forbidden women from working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and pushed them out of leadership positions. Even when women are engaged in the Talibans structures, their roles are often limited to policing the behaviour of other women under discriminatory decrees. A staggering 98 per cent of Afghan women surveyed reported having little to no influence in decisions made in their communities and even within their own homes, their agency is rapidly diminishing. According to UN Women, the percentage of women who feel they have a say in household decisions has dropped by nearly 60 per cent over the past year. The lack of education and economic participation has also led to a deepening mental health crisis. 68 per cent of Afghan women reported experiencing severe mental distress, while 8 per cent personally knew a woman or girl who had attempted suicide. The long-term effects of this systemic oppression are expected to be dire. By 2026, the absence of 1.1 million girls from schools and 100,000 women from universities is projected to result in a 45 per cent increase in early childbearing and up to a 50 per cent rise in maternal mortality. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Despite these grim statistics, Afghan women continue to resist oppression, holding onto their resilience and conviction. UN Women has called for increased investment in Afghan women and girls, urging the international community to provide sustainable funding for education, livelihoods and entrepreneurship programs. The world is watching," said Davidian. If we allow Afghan women to fight alone, we lose the moral ground to fight for womens rights anywhere else. Their fate determines the fate of women everywhere." 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 27, 2025, 12:49 IST 'Lord Shardul' Breaks The Internet After LSG Pacer Wreaks Havoc With Back-To-Back Wickets Against SRH Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 21:33 IST Shardul Thakur struck early to remove Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan - two dangerous batsmen - in successive balls to put SRH on the backfoot. LSG pacer Shardul Thakur took 4 wickets in a high-octane match against SRH. (Reuters) In a high-octane match between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the fiery Sunrisers Hyderabad, pacer Shardul Thakur wreaked havoc by removing opener Abhishek Sharma and the in-form Ishan Kishan in two successive balls to put SRH on the backfoot. In the very first bowl of the third over, Shardul Thakur removed Abhishek Sharma after the latter tried to go big but found Nicholas Pooran on the square-leg. Sharma looked set with Travis Head after scoring a boundary but went back to the pavilion with only 6 runs. Recommended Stories Ishan Kishan, who scored a majestic 106 not out in the last match against Rajasthan Royals that helped SRH post a record total of 286-6, was out for a golden duck after edging the ball to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant on the next delivery. Lording around at the Uppal pic.twitter.com/0bdnnSK1Ss Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 27, 2025 Although Nitish Kumar Reddy survived the hat-trick ball, Thakur had done the damage, earning praise from netizens. #Lord Shardul Thakur began trending on social media as the bowler punctured the in-form SRHs innings with the two early wickets. Lord Shardul Thakur to SRH pic.twitter.com/rjcJ6xyHRM Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 27, 2025 Lord Shardul Thakur saving cricket in Hyderabad #SRHvLSG pic.twitter.com/OlOs223Rot Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) March 27, 2025 Lord Shardul Thakur, remember the name!! pic.twitter.com/tRJD5aqDt8 Hustler (@HustlerCSK) March 27, 2025 SHARDUL THAKUR LSG didnt have a wicket in Hyderabad for 10+ overs across two games now they have two in two! LIVE: https://t.co/GuPiDpGwnY pic.twitter.com/M2qxhijexb ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 27, 2025 Notably, Shardul Thakur was named as a replacement for left-arm fast bowler Mohsin Khan, who has been ruled out of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injury. he went unsold at the mega auction last year. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Thakur ended up picking four wickets and conceding 34 runs in his four overs as LSG managed to restrict the Pat Cummins-led side to 190-9 in 20 overs, with Travis Head top scoring with a quick-fire 47 and Aniket Verma dominating bowlers with 36 from 13 balls. Cummins also hit three consecutive sixes before being caught on the next ball. The Rishabh Pant-led franchise will hope to leave that agonising start against Delhi Capitals behind and hope to open their account against a team that has been rewriting IPL history with surreal ease. On the other hand, SRH started their IPL 2025 campaign with a power-packed batting display that saw them rack up the second-highest team total in the leagues history. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More 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 27, 2025, 21:29 IST Man Orders Food in Australia, Shocked When It Reaches Ireland. How It Happened Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 16:53 IST Oisin Lenehan had ordered $65 worth of food in Melbourne, Australia. However, he later saw that the food was being delivered to an address in Dublin, Ireland, where he once spent a night out. The Uber Eats customer was shocked when his order was delivered to Ireland. (Photo: AP) An expat in Australia inadvertently redefined slow food" after mistakenly ordering Uber Eats to an address in Dublin, Ireland, nearly 15,400 km away. Oisin Lenehan, 29, shared with Jam Press that he was absolutely gutted" by the mix-up. Originally from Belfast, Lenehan moved to Melbourne six years ago and was staying with friends Kyle, 33, and Sarah, 29, while searching for his own place there, the New York Post reported. Recommended Stories One evening, Lenehan decided to order $65 worth of food, including BBQ chicken pizzas, garlic bread, and chips, thinking it was from a local restaurant. However, when he checked the order confirmation, he realised the food was being delivered to an address in Dublin where he had once spent a night out. The food was being sent to a place in Dublin where Id been for a night out," Lenehan lamented. My heart just dropped because we were hungry and we were going to have to go through the whole process again of deciding where to order and what we wanted." To make matters worse, Lenehan had to explain the situation over the phone. His friends recorded the conversation and posted it on TikTok, where it quickly garnered over 500,000 views. On the call, Lenehan reportedly told the Uber Eats representative, I need to cancel the order. I mistakenly left my own home address in the system," while his friends laughed in the background. Fortunately, he received a full refund. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Kyle, one of Lenehans friends, recounted, He was so respectful on the phone. We were laughing our heads off." The incident also amused many online, with people reaching out for Lenehans social media and some women even asking for his number. Lenehan took his accidental fame in stride, saying, I love that people found it funny. These incidents happen to me all the time, and I didnt realise there was an audience for it." About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More 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 : Canberra, Australia First Published: March 27, 2025, 16:51 IST Plastic Waste, Gutka Stains At 9,000 Feet Above Sea Level Leaves Internet Fuming Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 17:00 IST Reacting to the viral photo, a Reddit user said, "Its frustrating to see such disregard for nature." Plastic bottles and Navrattan mixture packets were scattered across. (Photo Credits: Reddit) A group of tourists is facing backlash for their lack of basic civic sense" after a shocking photo went viral on social media. Originally shared on Reddit, the image captures a pristine, snow-covered landscape tarnished by gutka stains, empty plastic bottles, Navrattan mixture packets, and snack wrappers" littered across the area. Despite being located 9,000 feet above sea level and visited by only around 100 tourists, the site was left in a deplorable state. However, News18 could not independently verify the location or the authenticity of the post. Recommended Stories The Redditor, dismayed by the scene, noted that while only 100 tourists" had been there, the amount of litter was alarming and embarrassing. The post quickly gained traction, sparking widespread discussion on social media. Frustrated users voiced their disappointment over the careless behaviour, with many demanding stricter regulations and greater accountability from tourists. The viral photo has reignited debates on responsible travel and civic responsibility. At 9,000 feet above sea level, there are hardly 100 tourists, yet there is gutka & litter in the snow," the Reddit post read. It further questioned, Whats stopping Indian tourists from picking up their own trash?" However, the post does not confirm whether Indian tourists were responsible for the littering. Nevertheless, it has triggered widespread outrage. Take a look: Shared on March 22, the post has garnered over 2,200 upvotes so far. It has also sparked intense discussions, with many users condemning the blatant disregard for the environment. A user said, We cant go anywhere without ruining the place. This is shameful." Another sarcastically commented, I saw the same thing on the Tungnath Trail recently. Liquor bottles, Gutka packets and orange spits on white snow. Such people really need strict treatment." Its frustrating to see such disregard for nature. People need to realize their impact on these beautiful places," an individual wrote. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Whats funny is that these same people will behave when abroad because they know they will have to face consequences for this kinda stuff," another user stated on Reddit. In India, responsible tourism is crucial to ensuring that the nations stunning natural scenery and rich cultural legacy are enjoyed by succeeding generations. 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 27, 2025, 15:53 IST Andrew Tate's Girlfriend Bri Stern Claims He Nearly Choked Her Unconscious During Sex: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 11:23 IST Andrew Tate, who is facing human trafficking charges in Romania, allegedly choked Bri Stern during sex on March 11, it was reported. Andrew Tate with Bri Stern. (Image Credit: X) Andrew Tates girlfriend Bri Stern told the police that the self-proclaimed misogynist choked her during rough sex, as per a report. Bri Stern said that the sexual assault took place two weeks ago and that she nearly passed out from the violent encounter. Andrew Tate, who is facing human trafficking charges in Romania, allegedly choked Bri Stern during sex on March 11, but when she told him to stop, he ignored her pleas, TMZ reported. Recommended Stories Andrew Tate became more violent then and Bill Stern claimed that she nearly lost consciousness, as per the outlet. The attack only stopped after the sex was over, she told the police. Then, Andrew Tate fell asleep and Bri Stern took photos of her injuries which showed bruising on the side of her face. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Two days later, Bri Stern went to a New York City hospital and was diagnosed as post-concussive," as per the report. Bri Stern and Andrew Tate began dating last June after meeting in Romania, where she is a model. Andrew Tate was arrested in 2022 and indicted last year on charges that he and his brother took part in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where they were allegedly sexually exploited. Andrew Tate is also facing rape charges. He has denied the charges and said, Im a free person who has not been convicted of anything." About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 27, 2025, 11:23 IST Chinas Exploitation Of Afghan Mines Through Criminal Networks Raises Alarm | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 28, 2025, 11:32 IST The agreement, which lacks transparency and international legitimacy, has sparked serious concerns regarding resource theft, ecological degradation, and human rights violations The Chinese firm has enlisted the help of local drug lord Haji Basheer Noorzai (right), who was released from US custody in a prisoner exchange in 2022, to facilitate this operation. (News18) The controversial exploitation of Afghan mines, involving a Chinese company and local criminal networks through a deal with the Taliban, has come to light, revealing that the Chinese firm has enlisted the help of local drug lord Haji Basheer Noorzai, who was released from US custody in a prisoner exchange in 2022, to facilitate this operation. The agreement, which lacks transparency and international legitimacy, has sparked serious concerns regarding resource theft, ecological degradation, and human rights violations. The Samti mines in Takhar Province, estimated to contain 20-25 metric tons of gold, have been handed over to Noorzai for extraction. Recommended Stories These mines represent a significant resource for Afghanistans economy, part of the countrys extensive mineral wealth. However, the current exploitation is adversely affecting local communities and the environment through unauthorised gold extraction, land appropriation, and forced displacement of residents. The Chinese companys operations are protected by Taliban security forces, including personnel from the interior ministry and a 410-member border battalion. The Samti mines, spanning an area of eight kilometers by 1.7 kilometers, could greatly benefit Afghanistans economy if managed properly. Afghanistans broader mineral wealth, valued at over $3 trillion, includes lithium, copper, and rare Earth elements. However, under the Taliban regime, these resources are being plundered through a complex web of crime and exploitation, with international partners like CAD ZEREN Companies involved in the process. Reports suggest that Chinese companies have been investing heavily in Afghanistans mining sector, with deals worth billions, including a $10 billion investment in lithium and other minerals. China signed a copper deal with Afghanistan on May 20, 2008. Due to security concerns, they didnt start work during the Republic. The contract places significant responsibility on China, and with low copper prices, they are not fulfilling their commitment. Instead, they are exploiting the Talibans greed and lack of wisdom. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This situation underscores the need for greater transparency and legitimate international oversight to protect Afghanistans resources and its people. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Location : Afghanistan First Published: March 27, 2025, 15:39 IST 'Columbia Let Me Down': Indian Student Ranjani Srinivasan Hopes University Will 'Re-enrol' Her Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 18:32 IST Ranjani Srinivasan expressed uncertainty about whether she would feel safe returning to the US to complete her PhD, even if her visa is reinstated The 37-year-old doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University in New York was forced to leave the US and seek refuge in Canada. Indian student Ranjani Srinivasan, who fled the United States after her visa was revoked for allegedly supporting Hamas, has said she feels that her university, Columbia University, has let her down." The PhD student also hoped her enrolment at the university will be restored. The 37-year-old doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University in New York was forced to leave the US and seek refuge in Canada after receiving an email from the US Consulate in Chennai informing her that her student visa had been cancelled. Recommended Stories She reportedly fled to Canada on the same day US immigration officers came searching for her after the visa revocation. In a desperate bid for safety, she booked a last-minute flight to Canada. Her visa was revoked on March 5, and she left for Canada on March 11. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Srinivasan, who arrived in the US on an F-1 student visa to pursue her studies, expressed her sense of betrayal by her university. I spent five years at Columbia, working I dont know maybe 100 hours a week sometimes I never expected the institution to let me down. But it did," she said. The Indian student further expressed uncertainty about whether she would feel safe returning to the US to complete her PhD, even if her visa is reinstated. I hope Columbia comes to its senses and re-enrols me," Srinivasan noted. All the requirements for my PhD are complete, and whatever is left, I dont even need to be in the US for. So Im trying to appeal to Columbia to do that." ALSO READ: Abandoned Cat, Flight Booking To Canada: How Ranjani Srinivasan Fled After US Authorities Revoked Her Visa The US Department of Homeland Security had revoked her visa on the grounds that she had advocated for violence and terrorism" and was labelled a terrorist sympathiser." However, Srinivasan has rejected these claims, calling them absurd. If supporting the idea of human rights or ending a genocide is equated with supporting Hamas, then anyone in proximity to me without me having done anything can just be picked up and made an example of," the Indian student said in the same interview. Srinivasan believes she was targeted due to her outspoken views in support of Palestinian rights and her criticism of Israels violence in Gaza on social media. She further insisted that she was never part of any organised groups at the university, though she admitted to participating in pro-Palestinian protests in the past. She also pointed out that she wasnt even in the US for much of April 2024, when student-led demonstrations intensified across campuses. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US Department of Homeland Security had stated that Srinivasan self-deported" using the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App, which allows undocumented immigrants to submit an intent to depart form and leave voluntarily. However, Srinivasan clarified that she left using a visitor visa she had previously obtained for academic workshops and conferences. ALSO READ: Who is Ranjani Srinivasan? Indian Student Self-Deports After US Revokes Her Visa For Supporting Hamas 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 27, 2025, 18:09 IST Did JD Vance Disagree With Inconsistent Donald Trump In Leaked Yemen War Plan Chat? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:21 IST JD Vance wrote in the chat, as per the report, "I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now." US President Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance are seen. US Vice President JD Vance appeared to differ from Donald Trump in the leaked Signal group chat discussing the attack on Houthis in Yemen. As the White House deals with the fallout from The Atlantics article reportedly detailing the chat, what remained noteworthy was JD Vance breaking with Donald Trump as the former questioned whether the US President recognized that a unilateral attack on the Houthis was at odds with his tough talk on Europe. JD Vance wrote in the chat, as per the report, I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. Theres a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc." Recommended Stories He also wrote, 3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesnt understand this or why its necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message." After expressing his disagreement, JD Vance ultimately supported the attack as he told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, If you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again." William Martin, JD Vances communications director, said the US Vice President and Donald Trump are in complete agreement." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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. The White House has insisted the communications in the group chat were not war plans. 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 (formerly Twitter). About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 27, 2025, 09:21 IST If They Attack...: Guyana, Home To Two Lakh Hindus, Gets US Security Boost Amid Venezuelan Threats Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 23:07 IST Without naming Venezuela, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that if they attack Guyana it would not end well. Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands as they meet, in Georgetown, Guyana. (IMAGE: REUTERS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Venezuela on Wednesday of consequences and hinted at military force if the country moves against oil-rich neighbor Guyana. If they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil," Rubio said, it would be a very bad day a very bad week for them. It would not end well." Recommended Stories Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said Thursday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised US support for his oil-rich South American nations sovereignty in the face of threats from neighboring Venezuela. Im very pleased at the reassurance of the US, ensuring the safeguard of our territorial integrity and sovereignty," Ali told a joint news conference, saying that the two discussed Venezuela. Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro in 2023 ordered state-owned companies to begin extracting oil, gas, and minerals from Guyanas Essequibo region after a referendum seeking to reclaim the 61,600-square-mile (159,500-square-kilometre) territory. Essequibo, which makes up two-thirds of Guyana, borders Brazil and is nearly the size of Greece. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Guyana holds deep cultural roots, particularly for Hindus. With a Hindu population of 200,000-250,000, it is the only nation in the Western Hemisphere with a sizable Hindu community, according to Pew Research Centre and Encyclopedia.com. Essequibo itself has a strong Hindu presence, with 37% of its population following the faith as per 2012 data. Reports from Guyana-based Stabroek News and Newsroom Guyana highlight the communitys active role in cultural and religious events. From hosting yagnas and festivals to winning top honours at the annual Diwali motorcade contest in Georgetown, Essequibos Hindu heritage remains vibrant. 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 : Georgetown, Guyana First Published: March 27, 2025, 23:07 IST Indian-American Student Calls Houston University Hinduphobic After Row Over Hinduism Course Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 20:28 IST Indian-American student Vasant Bhatt claims the University of Houston's Hinduism course is "Hinduphobic" and distorts India's political landscape. The university is reviewing his concerns. Houston University said that it was reviewing concerns raised by a student regarding the course content of a course on Hinduism. (IMAGE: X) An Indian-American student said the content of the course on Hinduism offered by the University of Houston is Hinduphobic" and distorting Indias political landscape". Vasant Bhatt, a political science major at the University of Houston and Hindu-American activist while speaking to India Today Digital said that the University of Houstons Lived Hindu Religion offered to students leads to false narrative and branding of India. Recommended Stories He said he raised the issue with the dean of the universitys College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and expressed his reservations about the course taught by professor Aaron Michael Ullrey weekly. Houston University said that it was reviewing the concerns raised" by the student. Hinduism, according to Professor Ullrey, was not an ancient, lived tradition but a colonial construct, a political tool weaponised by Hindu nationalists, and a system of oppression against minorities," Bhatt told the broadcaster. Bhatt shared a quote from the syllabus which went like this: The word Hindu is recent, not found in scriptures. Hindutva, or Hindu-ness, is a term that Hindu nationalists, those who believe Hinduism should be the official religion of India, use to designate their religion and denigrate others, namely Islam". The professor repeatedly implies that India is a Hindu nationalist state actively oppressing minorities," Bhatt was quoted as saying. Political disagreements are welcomed but fabricating extremism under the basis of Hindu identity is not," Hindu on Campus, a student-led platform for diaspora Hindus fighting Hinduphobia, said, adding that Hinduphobia has been in existence in the US for decades. Later, Bhatt told the broadcaster that the response conveyed to him by the dean was not convincing. The department attempted to deflect from the core issue by questioning my process and discrediting my valid concern rather than investigating the substance of the complaint," Bhatt said of the response from the religious studies department. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The university authorities also told the India Today Digital that they are reviewing the incident. The University of Houston upholds academic freedom and does not typically oversee specific faculty lectures. We do maintain curriculum oversight to ensure courses meet academic and pedagogical standards. We also take concerns about the validity of course content seriously. We are reviewing the concerns raised and will address the issue as needed," Shawn Lindsey, Senior Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications, University Marketing and Communications, University of Houston, said in a communication to the news outlet. 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 27, 2025, 20:28 IST Indian Fisherman, Jailed In Pakistan Since 2022, Hangs Himself In Karachi Prison Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:48 IST Gaurav, an Indian fisherman who was arrested by Pakistan in 2022, allegedly died by suicide in a Karachi prison, officials said. Indian fisherman dies in Pakistan jail (AI-generated Image) An Indian fisherman allegedly died by suicide at a prison in Pakistans Karachi on Wednesday, local media reported, citing jail administration. The prisoner was identified as Gaurav Ram Anand, 52, who hanged himself with a piece of rope in the barrack washroom of the Malir jail, where all Indian national prisoners are confined. Recommended Stories The jailer said that the doctor on duty examined the prisoner and declared him dead at 2.20 am, Dawn reported. After the confirmation of his death by the jail medical staff, his body was shifted to Jinnah Hospital for medico-legal formalities and then to Edhi Mortuary in Sohrab Goth. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Gaurav was arrested in February 2022 by the Docks Police and was sent to jail in Malir. Last month, 22 Indian fishermen released from Malir jail on February 22 were handed over to Indian authorities at the Wagah Border. They had completed their sentences for accidentally crossing into Pakistans territorial waters. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Karachi, Pakistan First Published: March 27, 2025, 09:48 IST Israel Kills Hamas Spokesman Qanou In Airstrike: 'Key Inciter, Spread Psychological Terror' Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 23:50 IST Israel said Abdul Latif al-Qanou used social media "for propaganda purposes and spread psychological terror. Smoke billows from an Israeli strike at Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip. (IMAGE: AFP) Palestinian militant group Hamas said an Israeli air strike on Thursday killed one of its spokesmen in Gaza the Israeli military accused of spreading psychological terror" through social media. The military said that overnight, (the army and air force) conducted a strike in northern Gaza," killing Abdul Latif al-Qanou. Recommended Stories It called Qanou one of Hamas key inciters", who used social media for propaganda purposes, psychological terror," and for inciting terrorist activities" against Israel. The military, which resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, added it would continue operations to dismantle Hamass governmental and military capabilities". Hamas said earlier it mourned the loss of Qanou who was killed in what it called a direct" strike on a tent he was in, in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza. A fragile ceasefire that brought weeks of relative calm to Gaza ended on March 18 when Israel resumed its bombing campaign across the territory. According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, at least 855 people have been killed since. Qanou is the latest Hamas official to be killed in the resumed Israeli strikes. Israels military said last week it had killed the head of Hamass internal security agency, Rashid Jahjouh, in an air strike. Days earlier, Hamas had named the head of its government in the Gaza Strip, Essam al-Dalis, and interior ministry head Mahmud Abu Watfa, among a list of officials it said were killed in strikes. The Israeli military confirmed it had killed Dalis, a member of Hamass political bureau who became the head of its administration in Gaza in June 2021. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Hamas has also confirmed the deaths of Salah al-Bardawil and Yasser Harb, both members of its political bureau. The occupations targeting of the movements leaders and spokespersons will not break our will," Hamas 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 : Jerusalem, Undefined First Published: March 27, 2025, 23:50 IST Man Caught Masturbating On Flight By Two Female Passengers, Arrested Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 20:02 IST Disturbed by the man's actions, the passenger requested to be moved to a different seat. The crew repeatedly warned the man before he ceased his inappropriate behavior Upon arrival in Dresden, the Dresden Federal Police detained the suspect, a German national. (IMAGE: REPRESENTATIVE) A 33-year-old passenger was arrested for allegedly masturbating during a SWISS Air flight from Zurich to Dresden. The incident took place on Flight LX918, causing alarm among fellow travelers on Monday morning. Around 7:40 am, about halfway through the 73-minute flight, a passenger alerted the cabin crew that the man had his hands in his pants. Disturbed by the mans actions, the passenger requested to be moved to a different seat. The crew repeatedly warned the man before he ceased his inappropriate behavior, according to Blick report. Recommended Stories Upon arrival in Dresden, the Dresden Federal Police detained the suspect, a German national. He admitted to being active" in the presence of two female passengers but claimed he was unaware of any wrongdoing since he did not expose his genitals. The man is currently under investigation for causing a public nuisance. The police confirmed the incident, describing it as an unusual incident that exceeded the bounds of good behavior." A SWISS spokesperson also confirmed the event, stating that the crew had issued a warning to the passenger and handed him over to authorities upon landing in Dresden. In 2024, a 39-year-old Indian man, Krishna Kunapuli, was caught masturbating on a flight to Boston, according to federal prosecutors. Kunapuli was reportedly seen exposing himself and masturbating under a blanket during the Etihad Airlines flight from Abu Dhabi to Boston Logan International Airport on October 21. According to court documents, two male passengers witnessed Kunapulis actions after he allegedly made unwanted sexual advances toward a female passenger and photographed her. He was taken into custody upon the flights arrival in Boston. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A similar incident surfaced in Boston last year where an Indian-origin doctor was accused of masturbating next to a 14-year-old girl on a plane. However, the court later cleared him of any wrongdoing this week as he was found not guilty. The doctor later said the accusation led to a difficult time for him and his family and he was confused why these accusations were levelled against him. 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 : Berlin, Germany First Published: March 27, 2025, 19:59 IST Mike Waltz, Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbards Phone Numbers, Other Private Data Leaked Online: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:59 IST The phone numbers and email addresses were in some cases used for Instagram and LinkedIn profiles, cloud-storage service Dropbox, and apps that track a users location, the report claimed. Mike Waltz, Tulsi Gabbard and Pete Hegseth are seen. The private data of top security advisers to US President Donald Trump can be accessed online, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported. This comes amid the fallout from the officials use of a Signal group chat to plan airstrikes on Yemen. Mobile phone numbers, email addresses and passwords used by US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director Of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard can be found via commercial data-search services and hacked data dumped online. Recommended Stories The Donald Trump administration has been facing calls for the resignation of senior officials after a group chat related to Yemen strikes was leaked. In the conversation on Signal app, US Vice President JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, and others, discussed plans to carry out strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Although Donald Trump backed Pete Hegseth, saying He had nothing to do with this" as he called the scandal a witch-hunt". The phone numbers and email addresses were in some cases used for Instagram and LinkedIn profiles, cloud-storage service Dropbox, and apps that track a users location, the report claimed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It also said that it was particularly easy" to discover Pete Hegseths mobile number and email address, using a commercial provider of contact information. The mobile number led to a WhatsApp account that Hegseth appeared to have only recently deleted, the report added. Tulsi Gabbard and Waltz numbers were reportedly linked to accounts on messaging services WhatsApp and Signal, it said. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 27, 2025, 09:59 IST 'No Names. No Targets. No Locations': Pentagon's Defence Secy Questions Credibility Of Leaked 'S****y War Plans' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 09:41 IST Pentagon's Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the war plans leaked by The Atlantic looked "s****y" and questioned their credibility. 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) Hours after The Atlantic released the entire Signal chat that took place among Trumps senior national security officials over an attack on the Houthis in Yemen, Pentagons Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called them hoaxes and questioned their credibility. The thread of purported chats was released by The Atlantic on Wednesday. In the leaked conversation, Hegseth was seen sharing classified information related to the timing of bomb deployments and US warplane launches. Recommended Stories While reacting to the leaked conversations, the Pentagon chief strongly refuted the leaked chats and raised questions over their credibility. Taking to X, Hegseth wrote, 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****y war plans." 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 He further said that The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg never saw a war plan which he said is evident from the leaked chats. 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 said. Hegseth, who is currently travelling in the INDOPACOM region to meet with US military commanders, claimed that he is focused on national security and is not paying attention to media speculation. As I type this, my team and I are travelling the INDOPACOM 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," he said. What Bombshell Revelation Was Made In The Leaked Chats? Pete Hegseth, who has refuted texting classified military plans, was seen messaging the timeline of the airstrikes in the leaked chats, as per Jeffry Goldberg, who was added to the meeting of the US defence officials mistakenly. 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." US President Donald Trump on Wednesday dismissed the scandal and called it a witch hunt" amid calls for Hegseths resignation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Hegseth is doing a great job, he had nothing to do with this. How do you bring Hegseth into this? Look, look its all a witch hunt," Trump said. He further said that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz took responsibility" for the mistake, which became the biggest scandal since Trump came to power in January 2025. 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 27, 2025, 09:38 IST North Korea Has Sent 3,000 Soldiers This Year To Bolster Russias Ukraine War, Seoul Says Published By : Associated Press Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 13:44 IST The Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea has also been sending more missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition to help Russia. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February in continued support for Russian President Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine, South Koreas military said Thursday in its latest assessment. The Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea has also been sending more missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition to help Russia and that North Korea could increase its weapons supplies further depending on the war situation. Russia and Ukraine recently agreed on a limited ceasefire, though both sides have accused each other of violations. Recommended Stories The military equipment North Korea has sent to Russia includes a considerable amount" of short-range ballistic missiles, 170 millimeter self-propelled howitzers and around 220 units of 240 millimeter multiple rocket launchers. North Korea has sent approximately 11,000 military personnel to fight in the war against Ukraine in its first involvement in a large-scale conflict since the 1950-53 Korean War, and the Joint Chiefs assessed that around 4,000 of them have been killed or injured. South Koreas National Intelligence Service previously attributed the high North Korean casualties to the troops likely struggles in adapting to drones and other elements of modern warfare. North Korean troops are further disadvantaged by the crude tactics of their Russian commanders, who have sent them into assault campaigns without providing rear-fire support, the spy agency told lawmakers in January. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Still, Ukrainian military and intelligence officials have assessed that the North Koreans are gaining crucial battlefield experience and have been key to Russias strategy of overwhelming Ukraine by throwing large numbers of soldiers into the battle for Kursk. The South Korean military report came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his unwavering support for Russias war in Ukraine during a meeting with a top Russian security official, Sergei Shoigu, last week in Pyongyang. State media reports said Kim and Shoigu reaffirmed their commitment to uphold a major mutual defense treaty agreed upon last year. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : South Korea First Published: March 27, 2025, 13:44 IST North Koreas Kim Jong Un Oversees Tests Of New AI-Equipped Suicide Drones Published By : Reuters Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 11:13 IST Kim Jong Un inspected new upgraded reconnaissance drones that are capable of detecting various tactical targets and enemy activities on land and at sea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks with officials near a new unmanned aircraft. (Image Credit: Reuters) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of suicide drones with artificial intelligence (AI) technology and said unmanned control and AI capability must be the top priorities in modern arms development, state media reported on Thursday. Kim also inspected new upgraded reconnaissance drones that are capable of detecting various tactical targets and enemy activities on land and at sea, KCNA state news agency said. Recommended Stories Kim Jong Un said unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence technology must be top priorities in weapons modernisation," KCNA said. He stressed the importance of promoting a concerted longer-term national programme to be at the forefront of accelerating competition of intelligent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military use, KCNA said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all North Korea has made a strong push to develop drones including kamikaze munitions. The project is suspected to be part of the growing military cooperation between the North and Russia over the past year. North Korean troops deployed in Russias war against Ukraine are believed to have been in engaged in drone warfare, gaining valuable battleground experience. About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" Location : Seoul, South Korea First Published: March 27, 2025, 11:13 IST Not Some Extravagant Talk: Putin Believes Donald Trump Is Serious About Annexing Greenland Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 23:32 IST Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Greenland will be NATOs springboard for future conflicts. US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE) Russia considers US plans to annex Greenland serious" and worries the West could use the Arctic as a springboard for future conflicts, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday. US President Donald Trump has pushed to take control of the autonomous Danish island since taking office in January, saying Washington needs to have it for international security". Recommended Stories It is a deep mistake to think that this is some extravagant talk from the new American administration. It is nothing of the sort," Putin told an Arctic forum in the northern city of Murmansk. We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long-standing historical roots," he added. He said that while Russia was not directly involved in the question of Greenlands ownership, Moscow was concerned that NATO countries, in general, are increasingly designating the far north as a springboard for possible conflicts". Greenland, which is seeking independence from Denmark, is already home to a US military base which US Vice President JD Vance is set to visit on Friday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The island is 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. Denmark has rebuffed Trumps calls to take over the island and says the people of Greenland have shown they do not want to be part of the United States. 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 : Moscow, Russia First Published: March 27, 2025, 23:32 IST Prominent Baloch Activist's Arrest Has Become Flashpoint In Pakistan; March 27 Observed As 'Black Day': Sources To News18 Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: March 28, 2025, 03:13 IST Demonstrations have erupted in various parts of Sindh and Balochistan, including Quetta, Karachi, and Gwadar. Protesters are demanding Mahrang Baloch's immediate release and an end to enforced disappearances in Balochistan by Pakistani forces The ongoing protests in Balochistan represent a critical juncture in the regions struggle and call for global intervention to address human rights abuses. (Representational photo: Reuters) Protests have erupted across Pakistan following the arrest of prominent Baloch human rights activist Mahrang Baloch, CNN-News18 has learnt. These protests demonstrate widespread outrage over state crackdowns and systemic oppression in Balochistan. The protesters observed March 27 as a Black Day. Demonstrations have erupted in various parts of Sindh and Balochistan, including Quetta, Karachi, and Gwadar. Protesters are demanding Mahrangs immediate release and an end to enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Recommended Stories These protests have led to clashes with security forces, resulting in casualties and numerous arrests. Karachi police banned all protest gatherings in the city and made widespread arrests without summons. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Top Indian intelligence sources say that the arrest of Mahrang Baloch has become a flashpoint for broader Baloch demands for justice and autonomy. The Pakistani government is calling these actions counter-terrorism measures, but they are repression of peaceful dissent," said a source. The ongoing protests in Balochistan represent a critical juncture in the regions struggle and call for global intervention to address human rights abuses. This kind of behaviour towards any female protester is unheard of in a democratic country and demonstrates an abuse of state power, said sources. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: March 28, 2025, 03:13 IST Putin Will Die Soon: Zelenskyy Says Amid Russian Premiers Ill Health Rumours Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 08:38 IST Zelenskyy claims Putin will die soon amid rumors of his ill health. Zelenskyy and Macron urged the US to stay strong against Russia Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AFP File Image) Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Vladimir Putin will die soon amid rumours of the Russian presidents ill health. Putin will die soon and thats a fact," Zelenskyy was quoted as saying by The Sun amid Russias intensified attacks on Ukraine. Recommended Stories Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and French President Macron urged the US to stay strong" against Russian actions while Putin remains in power. Zelenskyy, Macron meet The two leaders met on Wednesday to discuss peace following a fragile ceasefire brokered by the US on Tuesday. They called for unity within the European Union and for Russia to comply with peace terms ahead of a crucial summit on Thursday. Zelenskyy warned that Putin is attempting to divide the European Union from within," pointing to Hungarys pro-Russia stance, but asserted that Putin will die soon, and thats a fact." Rumors about Putins declining health have been fuelled by his physical symptoms, such as a puffy face and tremors. Despite ongoing Russian attacks, including 117 strikes on Ukraine Tuesday night, Zelenskyy expressed confidence that the US would pressure Putin into agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Macron criticised Putin for repeatedly reinterpret[ing]" ceasefire terms and continuing attacks on Ukrainian territory, including civilian areas. He stated that Russia cannot impose peace conditions on Ukraine. The EU leaders summit on Thursday will discuss strategies for supporting Ukraine if a permanent ceasefire is reached, with the possibility of deploying EU peacekeepers. Macron warned that this could lead to direct conflict with Russia if peacekeepers are attacked. He also pledged an additional $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, emphasising that the wars end is in a decisive phase." About the Author Poulami Kundu Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More Poulami Kundu is a senior copy editor with News 18's general news desk. She hails from Guwahati and has over six years of experience in print and digital media. Poulami is a voracious reader, hodophile, and an ... Read More First Published: March 27, 2025, 08:38 IST Trump Slaps 25% Tariff On Imported Cars, Promises Zero Tariffs For US Manufacturing; Canada Reacts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 08:11 IST Trump on Wednesday announced a 25% tariff on imported cars and promised no tariffs if cars are made in America. Donald Trump announces tariffs on imported cars (Reuters Image) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 25% tariff on auto imports, in a move set to raise tensions with the trading allies. The tariff is set to come into effect starting April 2, as announced earlier a date that he has dubbed as Liberation Day" for the US. The latest move is likely to impact foreign-made cars and light trucks, besides existing tariffs on such goods. Recommended Stories What were going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If theyre made in the United States, it is absolutely no tariff," Trump said at the White House. Since his return to the White House in January this year, Trump has already imposed tariffs on imports from major trading partners of the US such as Canada, Mexico and China, as well as 25% duty on steel and aluminum imports. But earlier, he gave carmakers a temporary break from the taxes on North American vehicles. The White House, in a statement, said that the 25% tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans, and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts like engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components. It added that the tariffs could be expanded to additional parts if necessary. The Trump administration has said that the tariffs are a way to raise government revenue, revitalise American industries, and bring other nations on the terms set by the US. However, imposing tariffs on imported cars may affect ties with countries such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico and Germany close US partners. Canada Reacts To Trumps Auto Tariffs Reacting to Trumps tariffs on cars and components, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday said that Canada will soon respond to new tariffs with retaliatory measures against the US. He said that Trumps move was a direct attack" and said that he would convene a cabinet meeting on Thursday to decide on his countrys response. Carney said Trumps move was a direct attack" and told reporters he would be convening a high-level cabinet meeting on Thursday to decide on a response. We will defend our workers, we will defend our companies, we will defend our country, and we will defend it together," he said. Canada has already announced a C$155 billion package of retaliatory tariffs, to be implemented in stages based on Trumps actions. Around half of the cars sold in the United States are manufactured within the country. Among imports, nearly half come from Mexico and Canada, while Japan, South Korea, and Germany remain key suppliers. The Center for Automotive Research previously estimated that US tariffs on metals and imported cars could raise car prices by thousands of dollars and hurt the job market in the country. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Besides the automobile industry, the US President has also been targeting sector-specific tariffs on industries such as pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. On Wednesday, Trump reaffirmed his intent to impose tariffs on lumber and pharmaceuticals. (With AFP inputs) About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 27, 2025, 06:49 IST 'Witch Hunt': Trump Dismisses Scandal Over Air Strike Plans Leaked In Yemen Chats Last Updated: March 27, 2025, 07:14 IST Republican Trump lashed out after the Atlantic Magazine published the transcript of messages accidentally shared with its editor in a chat group of senior US officials on Signal, a commercially available messaging app. US President Donald Trump criticises Atlantic Magazine for publishing the entire transcript of leaked Yemen Chats. (IMAGE: Reuters) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday dismissed a scandal over leaked plans for Yemen air strikes as a witch hunt" and defended his embattled Pentagon chief amid calls by Democrats for him to quit. Republican Trump lashed out after the Atlantic Magazine published the transcript of messages accidentally shared with its editor in a chat group of senior US officials on Signal, a commercially available messaging app. Recommended Stories Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed details in the chat including the times of strikes on Iran-backed Huthi rebels and the type of aircraft, missiles and drones used, before the attacks actually happened, the Atlantic said. Hegseth is doing a great job, he had nothing to do with this," Trump said when asked by AFP in the Oval Office whether Hegseth should consider his position over the scandal. How do you bring Hegseth into this? Look, look its all a witch hunt," added Trump, who was taking questions after announcing new tariffs on foreign-made cars. Trump repeated his insistence that no classified information was shared in the breach and added that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz took responsibility" for the error. It was Waltz who mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat, sparking what has been dubbed Signalgate" in the biggest scandal since Trump returned to power in January. Resign In Disgrace The magazine initially withheld the details of the attack plans but finally published them on Thursday after the White House had insisted that no classified details were involved and attacked Goldberg as a liar. The White House and a string of officials involved in the chat lined up to try to downplay the story as the pressure mounted. Hegseth, visiting Hawaii, himself said the exchange on March 15 involved No names. No targets." US Vice President JD Vance, who fired a rifle on a shooting range while visiting a Marines base near Washington, said the Atlantic had overplayed" what happened. Only Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted that there had been a big mistake" while highlighting his own limited role. Democrats have trained much of their fire on Hegseth, a former Fox News contributor and veteran. The secretary of defence should be fired immediately if hes not man enough to own up to his mistakes and resign in disgrace," House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told MSNBC. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth said Trump should sack all the officials in the chat and called Hegseth a liar" who couldve gotten our pilots killed." Meanwhile, Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was seeking an independent report from the Trump administration. Anti-Trump Hater The Atlantic said the texting was done barely half an hour before the first US warplanes took off to hit the Huthis on March 15 and two hours before the first target was expected to be bombed. 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)", Hegseth writes, referring to US Navy jet fighters, before adding that Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME." 1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier Trigger Based targets)." Hegseth also writes about the use of US drones and Tomahawk cruise missiles. A short time later, Waltz sent real-time intelligence on the aftermath of an attack, writing that US forces had identified the target walking into his girlfriends building and its now collapsed." Peppered with questions at a daily press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Goldberg as an anti-Trump hater." Elon Musk, the billionaire running a huge government cost-cutting drive for Trump, had offered technical experts" to find out how he was added to the chat, she added. Trumps comments came as Huthi media said late Wednesday that new US strikes had hit the rebel-held capital Sanaa, after earlier reporting 19 American raids elsewhere in Yemen. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His administration has stepped up attacks on the Huthi rebels in response to constant attempts to sink and disrupt shipping through the strategic Red Sea. The Huthis claim they are acting in solidarity with Gaza amid Hamass war on Israel. Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 27, 2025, 07:13 IST Tension was palpable at the Zanu PF politburo meeting as President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday subtly attacked a faction of the ruling party backing his deputy Constantino Chiwenga. Mnangagwa implored members to be guided by the partys constitution, adding that the party would not tolerate malcontents and rogue delusional elements bent on disturbing our peace, unity and harmony. In a message that seemed to be directed at the growing number of dissenters in Zanu PF, Mnangagwa said the party stood guided by its constitution and warned opponents that they face expulsion. He received lukewarm cheers while Chiwenga remained stone-faced, not nodding his head or cheering in support as he usually does in politburo meetings. As Zanu PF is a colossal revolutionary party, we have a job to do and a vision to deliver for the good of the people of our great motherland, Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa said as other party members clapped hands, while Chiwenga only clapped once. I applaud all my fellow citizens from across the country, for their clarity, national consciousness and patriotism that continue to squash efforts by malcontents and rogue delusional elements bent on disturbing our peace, unity and harmony. Pasi navo (down with them). Our motherland, Zimbabwe, will forever be a constitutional democracy and sovereign nation, with all of us living in unity, peace and harmony. They can continue barking, but Zimbabwe will go on). Again, a section of the politburo members clapped hands, but Chiwenga did not. Zanu PF is an unstoppable train, Mnangagwa continued. Zanu PF is a moving train. In Zanu PF, we follow the party constitution, all the time, in the morning, afternoon and at night. Our party constitution is sacred, it is like roots and the trunk of a tree and the members are its branches. As with any other revolution, those who do not toe the correct line of the revolution must fall by the wayside. Newsday Municipal police across the country will soon be granted arresting powers once amendments to the Urban Councils Act are finalised. The move is aimed at strengthening local governance and addressing by-laws violations, including illegal street vending. The announcement was made by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe during a press conference at the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) chambers yesterday. He also reiterated President Mnangagwas directive for municipal police to treat vendors with dignity and refrain from harassing them. As we speak, we are amending the Urban Councils Act to grant municipal police arresting powers. However, for now, they will continue working closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), who are mandated to enforce law and order, said Minister Garwe. He added that President Mnangagwa had directed his ministry to work with councils to build market stalls and decent vending spaces as a matter of urgency. Our role is to provide suitable locations for vendors to operate from. His Excellency, President Mnangagwa yesterday (Wednesday) directed us to expedite the process of identifying and developing infrastructure that ensures a dignified working environment for vendors, said Minister Garwe. He however, stressed that night vending is illegal and should not be permitted by councils. Addressing mayors and town clerks at a diplomatic protocol and etiquette training workshop, he ordered an immediate stop to night vending activities. Our Constitution does not have provisions for night vending. As Government we have noted many ills that come with night vending which include drug and substance abuse as the drugs are sold at night and as such councils should stop forthwith night vending, said Minister Garwe. He said councils do not have sanitary facilities for night vending resulting in vendors relieving themselves in alleys and other dark corners thereby increasing the risk of diseases outbreak. Earlier in the day, Minister Garwe visited the Bulawayo Fire Station, where he commended the partnership between BCCs fire department and the UK-based fire and rescue team, Operation Florian. He lauded the Florian team for providing firefighting equipment, time and expertise to train local firefighters. Zimbabwe is building its firefighting capacity to global standards and to have a team from the UK coming to assist us in training our firemen is something we treasure as a country, said Minister Garwe. Accompanied by his deputy, Albert Mavhunga, Minister Garwe highlighted that the Civil Protection Department under his ministry is responsible for managing all disasters, including fires. BCC chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou, informed Minister Garwe that the station is training firefighters from 21 other local authorities. Minister Garwe was also shown four Red Lions fire tenders acquired from Belarus through devolution funds, three of which are earmarked for Tsholotsho, Binga, and Matobo rural district councils. These tenders will be delivered once training is completed next month. Minister Garwe also held three meetings at the BCC chambers, engaging separately with the business community, city councillors and management, before meeting both groups together to address the budget impasse. He stressed that no council can function without an approved budget as it negatively impacts service delivery. Minister Garwe urged BCC to cultivate a culture of extensive stakeholder consultations to ensure the citys prosperity. The business community raised several concerns affecting budget approval, and the local authority also outlined its challenges. We facilitated discussions to address these issues and aim to approve the budget today, he said. Minister Garwe further announced the formation of a team of financial specialists, including representatives from the business community, residents, Bulawayo City Councils finance director, and finance experts from his ministry, to ensure a collaborative approach in resolving budgetary matters. Chronicle A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) manager stationed at Beitbridge yesterday appeared in court on charges of defeating the course of justice in a case involving US$27 000. Lonto Ndlovu was remanded in custody to April 17 for trial. The complainant is Mr Johannes Tagasira, the director of Silverline Chemicals Private Limited. It is the States case that in April 2024, Silverline Chemicals imported 38 000 litres of methanol valued about US$27 000 through Beitbridge Border Post . A truck carrying the methanol underwent clearance procedures at the Beitbridge Border Post. The court heard that the procedures included Condep checks, physical inspections and sample collection were done and after ZIMRA was satisfied with the inspections and documentation, the cargo was cleared. Whilst en route to Harare, the truck was later stopped at Bubi on suspicion that it was carrying diesel, and not methanol. The truck was then escorted back to Beitbridge Border Post for re-inspection On April 8 2024 , it is alleged that samples were taken and sent to NOIC for testing, ZIMRA then gave notices of seizure for the cargo, truck and trailer on the basis that the cargo was not methanol, but diesel. The court heard that result was disputed by complainant, who insisted that their cargo was carrying methanol, and not diesel. The complainant paid US$1 200 for an independent test to be taken at Standard Association of Zimbabwe [SAZ] . On April 12 ZIMRA took another sample to ZERA for re-testing, and the results came out with a different test remarking that the tested sample meets standards for paraffin. On April 15 , 2024 the complainant made a response through an official email challenging the results. Later on, the complainant received information that ZIMRA officials were about to sell and dispose of the cargo without his knowledge. He approached the High Court with an urgent chamber application under HCMSC 186/2024 for relief on April 22 , 2024. It is alleged that on April 24, Tinashe Marange, a ZIMRA legal officer officially e-mailed Lonto informing her that there were judicial proceedings at Masvingo High Court concerning the cargo. According to court documents, Lonto was also served with court papers where she was cited as the accused and duly responded by filling an opposing affidavit to the High Court. On April 25 , 2024 the complainant through his lawyer Kudzai Tandi, officially e-mailed the accused reminding, her not to dispose of the cargo since it was the sole exhibit in the pending judicial proceedings. Chrispen Chidzenga of ZIMRA legal department official informed the accused not to dispose the cargo until the judicial proceedings at Masvingo High Court were complete. On the same day, the case was heard before Justice Zisengwe and ZIMRA was ordered not to dispose the cargo in dispute . However, later that day, Lonto went on to sell and receive payment of the cargo when the urgent chamber application was being heard. On the April 28, 2024 Lonto went further to disregard the High Court order by disposing the cargo from ZIMRA warehouse, leading to the destruction of the sole exhibit in the pending Judicial proceedings. As a result, a third and independent test could not be conducted since evidence was destroyed. Herald It was a daring theft that could have been the stuff of moviesif they'd gotten away with it. Police in Kentucky say eight Chevy Corvettes were snatched from the lot of the GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant where Corvettes have been made since the early 1980s. The thieves made off with the $1.2 million in vehicles after cutting a hole in the fence, but they didn't get far: All cars were located in various places and recovered, thanks in part to a woman who saw a man park a new Corvette with stickers on it at an apartment complex in Bowling Green on Saturday; she called police, who called the plant manager, who discovered they were short eight cars, reports the AP . Four more Corvettes were found at other locations, and the last three were recovered after a suspicious transport driver called police on Saturday. He said he'd been hired to bring a 2017 model Corvette to Michigan but arrived to find three 2025 models with damage on the bottom and felt like the situation was off. The Courier Journal reports a 21-year-old man who fled after police arrived was detained; Deantae Walker of Westland, Michigan, has been charged with receiving stolen property of $10,000 or more, criminal mischief, evading police, and resisting arrest. As he was being booked, Walker allegedly said, "If I would have made it back to Michigan, I would have been paid big," per a police report. A suspect who was with him fled in a Jeep with Ohio tags. No other arrests have been made. Dust was a problem for astronauts during the Apollo missions, causing coughing and runny eyes while getting into the lunar landers. It could complicate any visits to Mars, as well, a study published in GeoHealth says while outlining the risks for crews and their equipment. Martian dust contains toxic substances including silica, gypsum, and metals. It's less abrasive than lunar dust, the Guardian reports, but so fine that it can get into a person's lungs and bloodstream. Studies at the time of the lunar landings also showed that prolonged exposure to the moon's dust could cause chronic health effects. Then there's the equipment. Major dust storms can blanket the planet, knocking solar panels out of commission, for example. Sensitive scientific instruments can be affected, per Interesting Engineering. One study co-author told CNN that spacecraft, vehicles, and other equipment "will need constant attention to keep functioning." Much filtering of air would have to take place. Engineers also are looking into developing self-cleaning suits and electrostatic repulsion technologies. Natalya Zavina-James of the UK Space Agency said the study "illustrates the breadth of considerations needed to protect astronauts' health." The impossibility of a quick trip back to Earth for treatment means the crew would have to have a substantial medical infrastructure on Mars, experts said, per Interesting Engineering. The dust doesn't mean a visit is out of reach, said co-author Justin Wang. "Mars dust won't be the most dangerous aspect of the mission, but it's a real hazard," Wang said. "With the right preparation, it's something we can manage effectively." Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is calling for an inspector general investigation of the Signal breach. After the release Wednesday of the full exchange between top-level officials discussing a strike on Yemen, Wicker said he and Sen. Jack Reed, the panel's top Democrat, would seek an expedited review from the Defense Department's Office of Inspector General, CBS News reports. Wicker is the first Republican to call for an independent review of the chat that the Atlantic editor-in-chief was accidentally invited to join, per the New York Times. Other GOP senators are calling for committee investigations, reports the Hill. "I would have wanted it classified." Intelligence officials have insisted that the information in the chat, including the timing of the strikes and the weapons used, was not classified, but the information "appears to me to be of such a sensitive nature that, based on my knowledge, I would have wanted it classified," Wicker said Wednesday. Intelligence officials have insisted that the information in the chat, including the timing of the strikes and the weapons used, was not classified, but the information "appears to me to be of such a sensitive nature that, based on my knowledge, I would have wanted it classified," Wicker said Wednesday. Semantics. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials argue that no "war plans" were shared, though critics call the claim "semantics." War plans are documents thousands of pages long, but the attack details shared on Signal were "a subset of those plans and was likely informed by the same classified intelligence," the AP reports. A Turkish national and doctoral student at Tufts University has been detained by US Department of Homeland Security agents without explanation, her lawyer said Wednesday. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, had just left her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, on Tuesday night when she was stopped, lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai said in a petition filed in Boston federal court. Video obtained by the AP appears to show six people, their faces covered, taking away Ozturk's phone as she yells and is handcuffed. "We're the police," members of the group are heard saying in the video. A man is heard asking, "Why are you hiding your faces?" Khanbabai said Ozturk, who is Muslim, was meeting friends for iftar, a meal that breaks a fast at sunset during Ramadan. "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 in a statement. Ozturk has a visa allowing her to study in the United States, Khanbabai said. US District Judge Indira Talwani issued an order 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 48 hours advance notice. But as of Wednesday evening, the US Immigration and Custom Enforcement's online detainee locator system listed her as being held in Louisiana. Tufts University President Sunil Kumar said in a statement that the school learned that authorities detained an international graduate student and the student's visa had been terminated. "The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event," Kumar said. DHS and ICE claimed in a statement that Ozturk was "engaged in activities in support of Hamas." Ozturk was one of four students last March who wrote an op-ed in the Tufts Daily criticizing the university's response to its community union Senate passing resolutions that demanded Tufts "acknowledge the Palestinian genocide," disclose its investments, and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. The Social Security Administration has postponed a plan to cut phone services for Americans applying for benefits, while offering an olive branch to the most vulnerable. The administration's initial announcement that people filing claims would need to verify their identity online or in person starting Monday drew an uproar from advocates, who said disabled and elderly people with limited mobility and computer skills would essentially be abandoned. On Wednesday, the administration said it would delay the requirement until April 14. After that date, individuals applying for Medicare, disability benefits, and supplemental security income will be exempted from proving their identity in person if they can't do so online, the agency said, per Axios . "We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country's most vulnerable populations," Social Security commissioner Leland Dudek says, per the Washington Post. Nancy LeaMond of the American Association of Retired Persons notes members had complained the change "would require hundreds of miles and hours of travel merely to fill out paperwork," per the Post. But "merely delaying the implementation of this change is not enough," she says in a statement, calling for public input to proposed changes and "a reasonable timeframe for compliance." After April 14, individuals applying for retirement or survivor benefits or requesting direct deposit for their checks will still need to verify their identity online or in-person, except in "extreme dire-need situations, such as terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenarios," the SSA said, per CBS News. Interestingly, the Post reports leaders were telling staff on Wednesday that the changes to the verification program were delayed in part because the online system wasn't ready yet. Dudek himself has said the agency is quickly instituting changes that usually take years to implement, per Axios, leading to chaos and confusion. In another change, a benefit recipient who receives an overpayment after Thursday will have 100% of future benefits withheld until reimbursement, up from 10%, USA Today reports. Egypt has announced the discovery of its second royal tomb in the same year. Weeks after revealing the discovery of King Thutmose II's tomb , archaeologists unveiled the discovery of a looted tomb belonging to another pharaoh, who remains unidentified. The tomb was found at a necropolis in Abydos, one of ancient Egypt's oldest cities and a burial place for early pharaohs, per the New York Times . It dates to around 3,600 years ago during the Second Intermediate Period when northern Egypt was ruled by the so-called Hyksos from western Asia and southern Egypt was ruled by a group of Egyptian kings. Abydos, in the south, would've had its own ruler. We don't know much about the Abydos dynasty owing to a subsequent Hyksos invasion, per Smithsonian. But the tomb of King Seneb-Kay, a previously unknown Abydos ruler, was unearthed in 2014. The tomb discovered this year is larger. Nearly 23 feet underground at the base of Mount Anubis, it features a decorated entryway and several rooms, including a limestone burial chamber with 16-foot-high ceilings. The king's name once decorated the entrance to the burial chamber, University of Pennsylvania Egyptologist Josef Wegner tells Live Science. "However, the hieroglyphic texts were damaged by ancient tomb robbers, and not enough survives to read the king's name." The king's body is also missing from the damaged tomb, which still features painted scenes of the goddess Isis and her sister Nephthys. "This tomb and Seneb-Kay's tomb are the earliest surviving royal tombs that actually have painted decorations inside of them," Wegner tells the Times. Similarities among the two tombs have led some to speculate that the newly discovered one belongs to a predecessor of Seneb-Kay, but the truth remains a mystery. Wegner notes the surrounding area "may yield more royal tombs of the same era [which] could shed light on identity and ownership of this new royal tomb," per Live Science. The Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid could contribute to nearly 3 million HIV-related deaths over the next five years. A new modeling study, published Wednesday in the Lancet HIV , analyzes the potential public-health implications of planned or proposed foreign aid cuts by the US, UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, which together account for 90% of all international HIV funding, per Politico . It predicts between 4.4 million to 10.8 million new infections will result in low- and middle-income countries by 2030, and 770,000 to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths will result. The US is by far the largest contributor to international HIV funding, with $5.71 billion in 2023, accounting for 73% of total donor government funding, reports CBS News. But the Trump administration has gutted the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Meanwhile, the UK has said it will slash foreign aid spending by 40%. Donor nations have said aid will be cut by as much as 70% over the next two years. "The current cuts to PEPFAR and USAID-supported programs have already disrupted access to essential HIV services, including for antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and testing," says study co-lead author Debra ten Brink of Australia's Burnet Institute, per CBS. Ten Brinkwhose work looked at HIV-related foreign aid to 26 countries, including Albania, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, and South Africanotes that "if other donor countries reduce funding, decades of progress to treat and prevent HIV could be unraveled." (Tuberculosis could surge, too.) In a move that underscores their deepening alliance, North Korea has reportedly dispatched an additional 3,000 troops and more military hardware to bolster Russia's war effort in Ukraine. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the troops were added in January and February as were more missiles and artillery, including a "considerable amount" of short-range ballistic missiles, self-propelled howitzers, and rocket launchers. CNN reports the fresh troops add to the count of 11,000 North Koreans that had previously been sent to Russia's Kursk region; 400 of them are estimated to have been killed and another 3,600 injured. "Your scumbag client won't get one cent. That I promise," a man wrote to the lawyer of a family dispute resolution practitioner in Australia, who claimed he'd defamed her. The man, Adam Whittington, has now been ordered to pay some $300,000 to Jasmin Newman, whom he's repeatedly defamed since 2019including as the New South Wales Supreme Court evaluated the case, per the Guardian . It's not clear what issue Whittington, a self-described "child recovery agent," had with Newman, who's accredited to practice with Australia's Department of the Attorney-General. But he accused her of fraud, supporting pedophiles, and attacking women who sought to protect their sexually abused children. Whittington, a British-Australian citizen who formerly worked for London's Metropolitan Police, claims to have saved hundreds of children from human traffickers through Project Rescue Children, a nonprofit he founded. However, a BBC investigation found evidence that Whittington fabricated stories about trafficked children and "borrowed" unsuspecting children to use as props for charity photos. A visit to PRC's supposed rescue center in remote Kenya revealed it to be the home of the mother of PRC's director in Kenya. There were no children there, according to the BBC. NSW Supreme Court Judge Nicholas Chen found Whittington had repeatedly defamed Newman online, including as the court case was underway. He did not appear in court, where Chen noted his current residence is unknown. But he was in touch. On Dec. 12, Whittington emailed Newman's lawyer, complaining of "nonsense" correspondence and promising to "block you." That's when he vowed Newman "won't get one cent." Chen issued a permanent and mandatory injunction to block Whittington from continuing to defame Newman and ordered him to pay her $308,000. He noted the impact on Newman was "exacerbated not only by the defendant's failure to apologize, but by his continuing publication of defamatory matters." Canada's most populous province is fighting a measles outbreak even bigger than the one in Texas and New Mexico. Public Health Ontario said Thursday that more than 100 new cases were reported in the last week, bringing the total of confirmed and probable cases reported since October to 572, reports CP24 . The sharp rise is "due to continued exposures and transmission among individuals who have not been immunized," the health agency said. Dozens more cases have been reported in other provinces, making the outbreak the country's largest since 2011. No deaths have been reported but authorities in Ontario say 42 measles patients, most of them unvaccinated children, have been hospitalized, including two in intensive care. As in the Texas and New Mexico outbreak, many measles patients in Canada are from Mennonite communities. "Cases could spread in any unvaccinated community or population but are disproportionately affecting some Mennonite, Amish, and other Anabaptist communities due to a combination of under-immunization and exposure to measles in certain areas," Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario's chief health officer, wrote to provincial health units earlier this month, per Global News. He said the Ontario outbreak had been traced "back to an exposure at a large gathering with guests from Mennonite communities in New Brunswick last fall." Marlene Epp, who directed the Mennonite studies program at the University of Waterloo, tells the Globe and Mail that the church doesn't ban vaccination, but the community has a long history of rejecting what it considers to be government meddling, and vaccine mandates during the pandemic increased skepticism about vaccines in general. "There's a whole set of protocols that emerged in COVID that were highly problematic for conservative Mennonite communities," Epp says, especially the closing of churches, schools, and church-related social gatherings. An idea under consideration at the Justice Department would merge two well-known agencies into onethe DEA and the ATF. The proposal regarding the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been floated in a new memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to department leaders, reports the Washington Post. The outlet Reuters also has seen the memo, which it describes as part of the Trump administration's push to streamline the government. Britain's King Charles III entered a hospital briefly for observation on Thursday while dealing with what Buckingham Palace called "temporary side effects" from treatment for cancer. "His majesty has now returned to Clarence House," the statement said, adding that the king's engagements for Thursday afternoon and Friday had been canceled on doctors' advice, the AP reports. Charles, 76, announced last year that he was diagnosed with cancer but didn't say what kind. The palace said he was working on state papers later in the day in his study and making phone calls. Three meetings with ambassadors planned for Thursday were called off, as were four events scheduled for Friday in Birmingham. A trip the king and Queen Camilla were to make to Italy next month to see Pope Francis, who was discharged this week from a Rome hospital, was postponed earlier this week. The BBC reported a Buckingham Palace insider called Thursday's hospital trip at "most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction." "Here is 5-year-old Brody Bell in his first official water ski experience at Harding Lake." Thanks, Kathy Shier of Fairbanks, for sending along this shot. You can submit your best photo online at newsminer.com. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Columbia University at first appeared to have surrendered to President Trump's demands that the New York school stop coddling antisemitic and anti-Israel demonstrators. The school announced it was buckling, not on principle, but because it wants the $400 million in federal grants and contracts restored. Trump had frozen the money to get them to act against protesters. Now the protesters are protesting what Columbia's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, did to have the grant restored. The New York Post reports: "The school's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, privately told faculty that Columbia has not, in fact, banned masks even after it promised the White House that it would ban them. Yet Armstrong turned around Tuesday to insist Columbia's promises to ban masks and make other changes are "real." As of Tuesday face coverings were still on many protesters. There is a larger question emanating from the ongoing demonstrations on several college campuses since the Hamas attack on Israel and their seizing of hostages on Oct. 7, 2023. Why are so many of these elite schools, some of them with huge endowments and high tuition, receiving taxpayer money? Among the top 20 universities receiving federal largesse are Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, MIT and Dartmouth College. Their endowments range from more than $50 billion (Harvard) to nearly $8 billion (Dartmouth). Added together, the total for the top 20 is close to $2 trillion. In a new book, "Let Colleges Fail: The Power of Creative Destruction in Higher Education," Richard K. Vedder of the Independent Institute writes: "Why are universities given special status not given to other providers of useful services such as used-car dealers or fast-food restaurants? Why have well-intentioned federal programs such as government-guaranteed student loans had an impact dramatically different than was intended when the legislation was passed?" Good questions. Vedder notes that enrollments at universities and colleges have been consistently falling since 2011, including fewer men attending for various reasons. Others believe the high cost does not guarantee jobs after graduating that will pay them enough to live on, much less pay back their student loans in a timely fashion. Then there's the "woke" agenda at too many of these schools, along with courses that add little or nothing to one's resume when graduates seek employment in the real world. What about research conducted by many of these schools? Is the research tailored to outcomes the government wants because researchers want the money, or is it truly independent research that produces beneficial results and is not open-ended? Government subsidies and bailouts, Vedder argues, are the leading cause for all the problems at today's universities. His solution? "Americans should get rid of these third-party safety nets and allow the Schumpeterian phenomenon of creative destruction' to force colleges to fail or succeed." Joseph Schumpeter, (1883-1950), was an Austrian political economist. He believed in innovations in the manufacturing process that increase productivity, describing it as the "process of industrial mutation that incessantly revolutionizes the economic structure from within, incessantly destroying the old one, incessantly creating a new one." Why should wealthy American universities that are not providing the useful kinds of education they once did continue to receive the equivalent of life support from the federal government? Haven't we seen how government involvement consistently drives up tuition and other costs, making a college education unaffordable for an increasing number of lower- income Americans? That some schools reduce or even waive tuition for certain categories of students (usually based on race or other external factors) adds to a feeling of inequity for certain demographic groups who face discrimination from many of these institutions. There is money to be saved and possibly a real education to be revived should the DOGE people look at these subsidies and grants and the unfairness of providing money to these schools, money that isn't available to any business, which must succeed or fail based on whether they produce goods and services the public wants to buy. (COMMENT, BELOW) Cal Thomas, America's most-syndicated columnist, is the author of 10 books. The Public Safety Report is compiled from criminal complaints filed in state and federal courts, as well as some police blotter information, trooper dispatches, fire department reports and interviews with public safety officials. Individuals named as arrested and/or charged with crimes in this report are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law. MONTREAL, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. is thrilled to announce the launch of its inaugural Healthiest Workplace Awards . This awards program celebrates organizations across Canada that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to fostering a healthy and supportive work environment for their employees by prioritizing well-being. Healthiest Workplace Awards (CNW Group/Dialogue Health Technologies Inc.) "Our mission is to help people improve their well-being. By partnering with organizations that share this vision, we can have a positive impact on millions of Canadians. We deeply value organizations that put their people's health first, and celebrating their efforts is what makes the Healthiest Workplace Awards so important." - Cherif Habib, CEO of Dialogue. Dialogue's Healthiest Workplace Awards spotlight employers making a real difference in the lives of Canadian workers and their family members. The awards program evaluates workplace benefits programs which promote accessible care and resources, as well as organizational utilization of the services. It recognizes organizations of all sizes and across various industries that excel in key areas of workplace health, including: Deep engagement with Dialogue's services High registration and utilization rates show that employees consistently use their benefits and get the care they need. High registration and utilization rates show that employees consistently use their benefits and get the care they need. Exceptional Well-Being Scores Through standardized World Health Organization benchmarking, organizations report high levels of well-being across key factors like mood, stress, physical activity, sleep, and sense of purpose. Through standardized World Health Organization benchmarking, organizations report high levels of well-being across key factors like mood, stress, physical activity, sleep, and sense of purpose. Comprehensive well-being support Organizations offer a spectrum of care through Dialogue's services, which include Primary Care, Mental Health+, Employee Assistance Program, and Wellness programs, ensuring employees have access to the right support at the right time. In 2024, 75% of HR professionals indicated employee well-being is a top challenge. With 71% of working Canadians being more conscious of their health, it's essential for employers to step up and provide them with the tools to take action. This has led to nearly half of working Canadians relying on their employee benefits plans to improve their well-being, embracing virtual primary care, mental health, Employee Assistance Programs and Wellness resources in helping them manage top contributors to stress such as financial uncertainty, poor sleep, and low levels of physical activity. "As we face significant barriers to care across Canada, workplace health and wellness initiatives are more than just a benefitthey're a strategic investment. Organizations that prioritize employee well-being see not only healthier, happier workforces but also a measurable return through increased productivity and engagement. By providing accessible support through an integrated virtual care and well-being platform, employers empower their teams to take a proactive approach to their health, reducing long-term risks and fostering a culture of resilience." - Dr. Marc Robin, Medical Director at Dialogue. See the complete list of winners here . About Dialogue's Healthiest Workplace Awards Dialogue's Healthiest Workplace Awards honour organizations committed to fostering positive and healthy work environments amongst Dialogue clients and partners. Awardees are selected based on several key criteria, including deep engagement with Dialogue's services as evidenced by high registration and utilization rates, exceptional Well-Being Scores as measured against World Health Organization benchmarks, and offering comprehensive care through Dialogue's services. With less than 1% of organizations offering Dialogue awarded this recognition, this is a celebration of organizational commitment to improve Canadian health and well-being. For more information, please visit the Awards website at www.dialogue.co . About Dialogue Dialogue is Canada's premier virtual healthcare and wellness platform, providing affordable, on-demand access to quality care. Through its team of health professionals, it serves employers and organizations who have an interest in the health and well-being of their employees, members and their families. Dialogue's Integrated Health Platform is a one-stop healthcare hub that centralizes all programs in a single, user-friendly application, providing access to services 24 hours per day, 365 days per year from the convenience of a smartphone, computer or tablet. Dialogue is now the first virtual care provider to be accredited with Exemplary Standing by Accreditation Canada, a third-party validation to meet national benchmarks for clinical excellence, governance, safety, and service integration. In October 2023, Sun Life acquired Dialogue, which now operates as a standalone entity as part of Sun Life Canada. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.dialogue.co . SOURCE Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. For further information: Jean-Christophe de Le Rue, Senior Director, Public Policy and Communications, [email protected] l 613-806-0671 CALGARY, AB, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - NG Energy International Corp. ("NGE" or the "Company") (TSXV: GASX) (OTCQX: GASXF) is pleased to provide an update on its recent operational activities, as well as its previously announced transaction with Etablissements Maurel & Prom S.A. ("M&P"). Operational Update Brujo-1X platform and mobile plant (CNW Group/NG Energy International Corp.) Central Processing Facility 1 (CNW Group/NG Energy International Corp.) Sinu-9 Block At Sinu-9, the Company is pleased to announce the commissioning of the mobile plant on its Brujo-1X platform. The mobile plant is now successfully installed, commissioning is advancing and the Company has received the necessary approvals from Promigas S.A. E.S.P. to begin selling gas. It has total current processing and dew-point handling capacity of 12 MMcf/d, with room for expansion. Additionally, the Company continues to work through the mobilization and construction of the additional dew-point handling equipment at its Central Processing Facility 1 (the "CPF-1") with commissioning scheduled during Q2 of 2025. The dew-point handling equipment will have total capacity of 50 MMcf/d; however, the CPF-1 will be limited by compression and transportation capacity to 30 MMcf/d in the near term. Following installation of the dew-point handling equipment at the CPF-1, and including the operating mobile plant, the Company expects to reach total processing and compression capacity of 42 MMcf/d, with room for expansion. For video footage of the CPF-1 and mobile plant at Sinu-9, please see: https://youtu.be/FPJseVaAVaA Maria Conchita At Maria Conchita, the Company is pleased to announce that it continues to transition its compression system and has begun the civil work for the expansion of its processing and compression equipment to increase total production capacity to 28 MMcf/d. As previously indicated in the Company's news release dated November 26, 2024, production at Maria Conchita has been lower than expected in recent months due to compressor challenges and more recently, downhole obstruction issues from a well servicing tool lodged and blocking the lower zone (H1) in Aruchara-3 as the Company undertook a normal-course workover to optimize flow from the well. As a result, gross natural gas sales at Maria Conchita averaged 10.4 MMcf/d for the first two months of 2025. In response to these challenges, the Company has initiated the following activities: the transition of the Company's compressor system operating and maintenance contract from a third party to the facility owner, which has subsequently acquired a 10 MMcf/d compressor model of the type that has a strong operating history at Maria Conchita; the transfer, installation and commissioning of two compressors with capacities of 10 MMcf/d and 6 MMcf/d, respectively; various other expansion activities, including the procurement of another 10 MMcf/d compressor, TEG electrical pumps with variable frequencies and control valves for higher production rates; and a workover campaign of the Aruchara-1 and Aruchara-3 wells to enhance the flow of natural gas from the H1 and H2 zones. The Company is also pleased to announce that it has acquired the necessary land for the flow-line right-of-way and new platform at Maria Conchita, which will allow the Company to drill its next target, the Aruchara-4 well, and the Company is in the process of completing the environmental and civil work with the expectation that it will spud the well in late Q2 2025. The Company anticipates reaching production volumes greater than 25 MMcf/d at Maria Conchita upon tie-in of the Aruchara-4 well, completion of the workover campaign on the producing wells and the completion of the facility expansion in Q3 2025. Colombia continues to experience rising prices for natural gas as the country becomes increasingly dependent on natural gas imports. Since 2016, liquefied natural gas has been imported to Colombia to fuel power plants along the Caribbean coast; however, given that Colombia is now experiencing a growing structural shortage, gas distributors are being forced to fulfil demand from liquefied natural gas. The Gestor del Mercado de Gas Natural de Colombia's daily posted natural gas spot prices have been greater than US$15/MMBtu since the beginning of February 2025.1 Transaction Update Further to the Company's news release dated February 10, 2025, the Company is pleased to announce that it has received the initial payment of US$20 million from M&P for the sale of a 40% operating working interest in Sinu-9 for total cash consideration of US$150 million. The remaining US$130 million will be paid to the Company upon completion, which remains subject to the satisfaction of all conditions precedent outlined in the definitive asset purchase agreement for the transaction. The application for M&P to become operator on the block has been submitted to the Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos and the transaction is expected to close during Q2 2025. "We are pleased with the progress made towards not only closing this transformational transaction with M&P, but the setup of the joint venture and continued work by both organizations on the development and execution plan to be carried out following the close of the transaction," said Brian Paes-Braga, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. "Our business continues to be unaffected by Brent crude price weakness or any of the ongoing international trade tensions as we supply a cleaner fuel domestically for Colombia through long term take or pays. Although we too have been disappointed with some of our operational challenges this past year, we are confident that the worst of our start up challenges are behind us and that 2025 will be a foundational year for our Company as we successfully and safely ramp up production at both Maria Conchita and Sinu-9." Normal Course Issuer Bid The Company is pleased to announce that it has filed with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") a notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") to purchase for cancellation up to 17,545,859 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares"), which represents up to 10% of the Company's Public Float, over a twelve-month period. As of the date of this news release, the Company has 257,774,340 Common Shares issued and outstanding. The Company expects the NCIB to commence on June 1, 2025, subject to acceptance by the TSXV, and as such, the NCIB will terminate on May 31, 2026, or such earlier date on which purchases under the NCIB have been completed (the "Bid Term"). Purchases of Common Shares under the NCIB will be made through the facilities of the TSXV in accordance with TSXV requirements. During the past twelve (12) months, the Company has not purchased any Common Shares under a normal course issuer bid through the facilities of the TSXV. Common Shares acquired by the Company under the NCIB will be purchased at the market price at the time of purchase and will be purchased on behalf of the Company by Haywood Securities Inc., the Company's broker in connection with the NCIB. During the Bid Term, the aggregate total of all purchases made by the Company in the preceding thirty (30) days will not exceed 2% of the total issued and outstanding Common Shares at the time the purchases are made. The Company is pursuing the NCIB as it believes that, from time to time, its Common Shares may trade in price ranges that do not fully reflect their value; therefore, the Company's board of directors has determined that acquiring such Common Shares would be an attractive and desirable use of the Company's available funds in light of the potential benefits to remaining shareholders. About NG Energy International Corp. NG Energy International Corp. is a growth-orientated natural gas exploration and production company focused on delivering long-term shareholder and stakeholder value through the discovery, delineation and development of large-scale natural gas fields in developing countries, supporting energy transition and economic growth. NGE's team has extensive technical and capital markets expertise with a proven track record of building companies and creating significant value in South America. In Colombia, the Company is executing on this mission with a rapidly growing production base and an industry-leading growth trajectory, delivering natural gas into the premium-priced, structurally short Colombian marketplace (>US$15/MMBtu spot price in March 2025). The Company is pursuing triple digit gross production growth over the next 2-3 years towards a gross production goal of 200 MMcf/d and has seen a 551% year-over-year increase in 3P reserves, 314% year-over-year increase in 2P reserves and 241% increase in 1P reserves. To date, over US$100 million has been invested in the exploration and development of Sinu-9 and Maria Conchita with significant contributions from insiders who currently own approximately 32% of the Company. On February 10, 2025, the Company announced the sale of a 40% operating working interest in Sinu-9 to Establissements Maurel & Prom S.A. for US$150 million. For more information, please visit SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company's website (www.ngenergyintl.com). Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release, including, without limitation, the timeline for completion of construction and commissioning of dew-handling equipment at Sinu-9, the timeline for bringing on additional processing and compression capacity at Sinu-9, the timeline for the completion of the transition and expansion plan at Maria Conchita, the timeline for the tie-in of the Aruchara-4 well, the Company's intention to purchase Common Shares pursuant to the NCIB, the commencement date of the NCIB, the receipt of TSXV approval for the NCIB, the Company's belief that the Common Shares may be undervalued from time to time and that purchases of Common Shares under the NCIB will provide benefits to shareholders. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. 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. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Management Discussion and Analysis and its Annual Information Form dated April 26, 2024, which are available for view on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These risks include but are not limited to, the risk that completion of the asset sale with M&P may not occur, the risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry, such as exploration, production and general operational risks, the volatility of pricing for oil and natural gas, the inability to market natural gas production and changes in natural gas sale prices, changing investor sentiment about the oil and natural gas industry, any delays in production, marketing and transportation of natural gas, drilling costs and availability of equipment, regulatory approval risks and environmental, health and safety risks. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. 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. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. 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. Abbreviations The abbreviations set forth below have the following meanings: Natural Gas MMcf/d million cubic feet per day MMBtu one million British thermal units Other 3P reserves Proved + Probable + Possible reserves 2P reserves Proved + Probable reserves 1P reserves Proved reserves Information Regarding the Preparation of Reserves and Resource Information Sproule International Limited ("Sproule"), an independent qualified reserves and resources evaluator, has conducted the reserves and resource evaluation for Maria Conchita and Sinu-9 in accordance with the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the "COGE Handbook"). It adheres in all material aspects to the principles and definitions established by the Calgary Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers regarding annual reserve and resource reports that are being released in the public domain. The COGE Handbook is incorporated by reference in National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities. The Company's Form 51-101F1 Statement of Reserves Data and Other Oil and Gas Information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, prepared by Sproule in accordance with the COGE Handbook and has an effective date of December 31, 2023 (the "2023 51-101F1") was filed on SEDAR+ on April 26, 2024. As per the requirements of Form 51-101F1, since Maria Conchita and Sinu-9 are both located in Colombia, the Company has disclosed its reserves in the 2023 51-101F1 on an aggregated basis. The reserves in the 2023 51-101F1, which are attributed to Sinu-9 are based on the Sinu-9 Report (as defined below) and the reserves in the 2023 51-101F1, which are attributed to Maria Conchita are based on the Maria Conchita Report (as defined below). The Company uses natural gas liquids and conventional natural gas as the two product types to report the Company's reserves. The report entitled "Evaluation of the P&NG Reserves and Resources of NG Energy International in the Sinu-9 Block, Colombia" (the "Sinu-9 Report") was prepared by Sproule with an effective date of December 31, 2023 and a preparation date of December 21, 2023. Sinu-9 is located in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. The Company's working interest in Sinu-9 is 72%, subject to payment of ANH sliding scale royalties. Reserves and resources attributed to the Hechizo, Brujo, Magico, Mago, Hechicero, Encanto, Milagroso, Porquero, Embrujo, Ensalmo and Sortilegio zones have been included in the Sinu-9 Report. The report entitled "Evaluation of the P&NG Reserves and Resources of NG Energy International in the Maria Conchita Block, Colombia" (the "Maria Conchita Report") was prepared by Sproule with an effective date of December 31, 2023 and a preparation date of December 20, 2023. The Company holds an 80% working interest in Maria Conchita, which is located in the Department of La Guajira, Colombia. Reserves and resources attributed to the H1, H1A, H1A1, H1B, H2, H2B, H3, H4 and LM2 zones have been included in the Maria Conchita Report. For additional information regarding the Sinu-9 Report, the Maria Conchita Report and the reserves information contained in this news release please see the 2023 51-101F1 filed on SEDAR+ on April 26, 2024, and the Company's news release dated December 27, 2023 entitled "NG Energy Announces 551% YOY Increase to 3P Reserves". Caution Respecting Reserves Information The determination of oil and natural gas reserves involves the preparation of estimates that have an inherent degree of associated uncertainty. Categories of Proved, Probable and Possible reserves have been established to reflect the level of these uncertainties and to provide an indication of the probability of recovery. The estimation and classification of reserves requires the application of professional judgement combined with geological and engineering knowledge to assess whether or not specific reserves classification criteria have been satisfied. Knowledge of concepts including uncertainty and risk, probability and statistics, and deterministic and probabilistic estimation methods is required to properly use and apply reserves definitions. The recovery and reserve estimates of natural gas liquids and natural gas reserves provided herein are estimates only. Actual reserves may be greater than or less than the estimates provided herein. The estimated future net revenue from the production of the disclosed natural gas reserves does not represent the fair market value of these reserves. Information Regarding Reserves Reserves are estimated remaining quantities of commercially recoverable oil, natural gas and related substances anticipated to be recoverable from known accumulations, as of a given date, based on the analysis of drilling, geological, geophysical and engineering data; the use of established technology; and specified economic conditions, which are generally accepted as being reasonable. Reserves are further classified according to the level of certainty associated with the estimates and may be subclassified based on development and production status. "Proved reserves" are those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable. It is likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the estimated Proved reserves. "Probable reserves" are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than Proved reserves. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the sum of the estimated Proved plus Probable reserves. "Possible reserves" are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than Probable reserves. It is unlikely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the sum of the estimated Proved plus Probable plus Possible reserves. There is a 10% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of Proved plus Probable plus Possible reserves. The qualitative certainty levels referred to in the definitions above are applicable to "individual reserves entities" (which refers to the lowest level at which reserves calculations are performed) and to "reported reserves" (which refers to the highest-level sum of individual entity estimates for which reserves estimates are presented). Reported reserves should target the following levels of certainty under a specific set of economic conditions: at least a 90% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the estimated Proved reserves; and at least a 50% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the sum of estimated Proved plus Probable reserves. A qualitative measure of the certainty levels pertaining to estimates prepared for the various reserves categories is desirable to provide a clearer understanding of the associated risks and uncertainties. However, the majority of reserves estimates will be prepared using deterministic methods that do not provide a mathematically derived quantitative measure of probability. In principle, there should be no difference between estimates prepared using probabilistic or deterministic methods. Each of the reserve categories (Proved and Probable) may be divided into developed and undeveloped categories as follows: "Developed Producing reserves" are those reserves that are expected to be recovered from completion intervals open at the time of the estimate. These reserves may be currently producing or, if shut-in, they must have previously been on production, and the date of resumption of production must be known with reasonable certainty. "Developed Non-Producing reserves" are those reserves that either have not been on production, or have previously been on production, but are shut-in, and the date of resumption of production is unknown. "Undeveloped reserves" are those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure (e.g., when compared to the cost of drilling a well) is required to render them capable of production. They must fully meet the requirements of the reserves classification (Proved, Probable and Possible) to which they are assigned and expected to be developed within a limited time. In multi-well pools it may be appropriate to allocate total pool reserves between the developed and undeveloped subclasses or to subdivide the developed reserves for the pool between developed producing and developed nonproducing. This allocation should be based on the estimator's assessment as to the reserves that will be recovered from specific wells, facilities and completion intervals in the pool and their respective development and production status. Estimates of reserves and future net revenue for individual properties may not reflect the same confidence level as estimates of reserves and future net revenue for all properties, due to the effects of aggregation. Additionally, all estimates of future net revenue, whether calculated without discount or using a discount rate, do not represent fair market value. For further information: NG Energy International Corp. Brian Paes-Braga, Chairman & CEO Jorge Fonseca, CFO Tel: +44 7498 236338 SOURCE NG Energy International Corp. MONTREAL, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - A team from Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has achieved a breakthrough previously considered impossible: using lasers to generate electron beams in ambient air intense enough to destroy cancerous tumours. This major discovery, which promises to revolutionize the field of radiation therapy, received the people's choice award in Quebec Science magazine's "10 Discoveries of 2024" competition. Luc-Alain Giraldeau (Chief Executive Officer, INRS) and the winning team Tanner Connell (MUHC), Simon Vallieres (INRS), Francois Legare (INRS), Steve MacLean (IPL), and Isabelle Delisle (Scientific Director, INRS). (Credit: INRS) (CNW Group/Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS)) Professor Francois Legare and Research associate Simon Vallieres at the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) laboratory, at INRS. (Credit: INRS) (CNW Group/Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS)) Marine Corniou (editor-in-chief, Quebec Science magazine) Luc-Alain Giraldeau (Chief Executive Officer, INRS) and the winning team Tanner Connell (MUHC), Simon Vallieres (INRS), Francois Legare (INRS), Steve MacLean (IPL), and Isabelle Delisle (Scientific Director, INRS). (CNW Group/Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS)) More than 2,000 people voted for their favourite among the 10 most impressive Quebec achievements selected by a jury of scientists and journalists. And it was this technological feat that stood out! "Discoveries that target cancer often win public acclaim," says Marine Corniou, editor-in-chief of Quebec Science. This one is particularly innovative, because it makes it possible to accelerate electrons without heavy machinery, so to speak. It shows the importance of basic physics researchfor medical applications! A laser attack on cancer A new approach to radiation therapy, known as FLASH, usually requires complex vacuum chamber systems to produce the electron beams. Research associate Simon Vallieres and Professor Francois Legare, together with the team from Advanced Laser Light Source Laboratory, based at INRS in Varennes, have succeeded in producing electron beams in ambient air using an ultrashort laser pulse at energies high enough to have an anti-tumour effect. This discovery, published in late 2023, paves the way for treatments that are easier to implement in hospitals compared to the more cumbersome conventional electron accelerators. Supported by Infinite Potential Laboratories LP and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the project involves collaboration with medical physicists Tanner Connell and Michael Evans from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). This breakthrough promises major advances in the study of cancer response to radiation treatments. "On behalf of the entire INRS community, I would like to congratulate Professor Francois Legare and his team on their promising discovery. In addition to supporting the relevance of their research combining ultrafast laser technology and radiation therapy in oncology, this award also illustrates the public's appetite in Quebec and the rest of Canada for science and its advancements serving society," says INRS scientific director Isabelle Delisle. "We are delighted and honoured to receive the people's choice award for 2024 discovery of the year from Quebec Science magazine. This is a tremendous reward for the exceptional work carried out in collaboration with our partners at the MUHC and Infinite Potential Laboratories LP using a research infrastructure that is unique in the world: the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) laboratory. This is the most powerful laser in Canada, and it is based at INRS," says Professor Francois Legare, research group leader and director of INRS's Energie Materiaux Telecommunications Research Centre. "Receiving this award is a significant milestone in my career as a young researcher at INRS, as it reinforces the societal relevance of our research. I'm confident that our discovery will lead to medical applications in the near future, enabling better radiotherapy treatments for people with cancer," adds Simon Vallieres, Research associate and first author of the study. Also involved in this discovery: Jeffrey Powell, Marianna Lytova, Francois Fillion-Gourdeau, Sylvain Fourmaux, Stephane Payeur, Philippe Lassonde (Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Varennes); Steve MacLean (Infinite Potential Laboratories LP); Tanner Connell, Michael Evans (McGill University Health Centre) About Quebec Science This magazine published by Velo Quebec Editions is released eight times a year. It is sold on newsstands for $8.95 per issue and by subscription. Quebec Science receives financial support from Ministere de l'Economie, de l'Innovation et de l'Energie, as well as from Canadian Heritage. www.quebecscience.qc.ca About INRS INRS is an academic institution dedicated exclusively to research and graduate training in strategic niches in Quebec. For 55 years it has contributed to the economic, social and cultural development of Quebec. INRS is the Canadian leader in research intensity. The school is made up of four interdisciplinary research and training centres located in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval, and Varennes, which focus on the following strategic areas: Eau Terre Environnement, Energie Materiaux Telecommunications, Urbanisation Culture Societe, and Armand-Frappier Sante Biotechnologie. Its community includes more than 1,500 students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and staff. About ALLS The only facility of its kind in Canada, the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) is a world-class research facility based at INRS that focuses on the development of new types of laser sources with revolutionary applications. A member of the North American network LaserNetUS, ALLS has received funding from Ministere de l'Economie, de l'Innovation et de l'Energie (MEIE) and from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) under the Major Science Initiatives Fund. SOURCE Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS) Media contacts: Marie-Helene Juneau, Velo Quebec Editions (Quebec Science), [email protected]; Julie Robert, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), 514-971-4747, [email protected] Electors can register, check their registration or update their address online GATINEAU, QC, March 26, 2025 /CNW/ - The federal election is on Monday, April 28, 2025. To vote in the election, electors must be registered at their current address. Electors can register at the polls just before they vote but are encouraged to register or check their registration early to help ensure they get a voter information card and make the voting process easier. Electors can use Elections Canada's Online Voter Registration Service to register, check if they are registered, update their address or apply to vote by mail. They can also contact their local Elections Canada office or call 1-800-463-6868 for more information. Elections Canada will mail a voter information card to all registered electors. Most Canadians who are eligible to vote are already registered and should receive a voter information card in the mail by Friday, April 11, 2025. Electors who do not receive a card or do not want to wait for it can find out where to vote by visiting elections.ca and entering their postal code in the Voter Information Service box. "We encourage electors to use our Online Voter Registration Service. By registering, checking or updating their information early, electors will be sure to get a voter information card. The card gives electors all the information they need to plan their voting experience," says Chief Electoral Officer Stephane Perrault. Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports directly to Parliament. Subscribe to our news service at elections.ca. SOURCE Elections Canada Elections Canada Media Relations, [email protected] GATINEAU, QC, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - For the federal general election now under way, Elections Canada encourages electors to plan early and choose the voting option that best suits them. They can: Vote on election day (Monday, April 28) at their assigned polling station Vote on advance polling days (Friday, April 18; Saturday, April 19; Sunday, April 20; and Monday, April 21) at their assigned polling station Vote early at any Elections Canada office across the country (until Tuesday, April 22, 6 p.m.) Vote by mail: Electors must apply by Tuesday, April 22, 6 p.m. and return their special ballot by mail (deadlines apply) or in person at their local Elections Canada office before polls close on election day. Electors planning to return their special ballot by mail should plan ahead and make sure there is enough time to receive a voting kit and return their completed ballot to Elections Canada by the deadline indicated in their kit. There are other ways for electors to vote, such as at a Vote on Campus office or at their long-term care facility. They can check elections.ca for the full list of voting options. Electors do not need to wait for their voter information card to find out where to vote. They can go to elections.ca at any time and enter their postal code to see the location of the Elections Canada office in their riding and, once they are identified, their assigned polling stations. Electors who require special assistance or face barriers to registering and voting should contact their local Elections Canada office. To vote, electors must show proof of identity and address. The list of accepted ID is available at elections.ca. Some pieces of ID that are accepted at provincial and municipal elections may not meet federal election requirements. Voting and identification rules are different for incarcerated electors and Canadian electors who live abroad. Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency that reports directly to Parliament. Subscribe to our news service at elections.ca. SOURCE Elections Canada Elections Canada, Media Relations, [email protected] GATINEAU, QC, March 26, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canada Elections Act requires the CRTC to establish and maintain the Voter Contact Registry. The registry helps ensure transparency in voter contact calls made during a federal election. Callers who use third parties or devices to send pre-recorded messages must register with the CRTC within 48 hours of making the first call. Candidates and political parties who use their own staff or volunteers to make live phone calls do not have to register. To register, individuals and organizations can visit the CRTC's website. Quick facts The CRTC is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. The CRTC holds public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and makes decisions based on the public record. Those who use a third party (also known as "calling service providers") or automatic dialing-announcing devices to make calls and send pre-recorded messages to voters (also known as "robocalls") must register with the CRTC. Registrations for the Voter Contact Registry close 48 hours after the federal election of April 28, 2025 . . Canadians who suspect non-compliance can submit a complaint to the CRTC. Associated links Stay Connected Follow us on X @CRTCeng Like us on Facebook SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Contacts: Media Relations, Email: [email protected], Telephone: 819-997-9403; General Inquiries, Telephone: 819-997-0313, Toll free: 1-877-249-CRTC (2782), TTY: 1-877-909-2782 Commerce Secretary Lutnick describes how the US Debt, Deficit, Economy and Taxes will be fixed. The US has been spending $6.5 trillion but taking in $4.5 trillion with a $2 trillion deficit and $37 trillion in debt. However, the US has $500 trillion to $1000 trillion in assets. DOGE will cut $1 trillion of waste, fraud and abuse. Lutnick will increase government revenues by $1 trillion. This will balance the US budget. $200 billion out of $1.2 trillion of Covid PPP money went to China fraud gangs. This was known and proven but there was no effort to stop that fraud because of lack of incentives. Lutnick is going to adjust the GDP calculation for the last 25 years. They will remove the unproductive of what is currently included in GDP. There was no income tax before 1913. Income tax was started for WW1. There was no removal of income tax after WW1 as the US rolled into the great depression and then WW2. After WW2 the tariffs was lowered for other countries as they were rebuilt. After the other countries were bailed out, the tariffs were left at favorable levels to other countries. The tariffs are targeted at industries and companies can be brought back to the USA or purchased from others in the USA. The reason US software has not been updated since 1975 is that government accounting was changed that forced government agencies to pay for ten years of software up front. Google, Amazon, XAI/Tesla and other technology are building all new software for free for the US government. Why do this for free? They will then be able to make the same and integrated software for all of the other countries in the world. The US sovereign wealth fund will be guaranteed returns. The US government will buy from various companies and those contracts will boost the value of the companies. The US government will take 20% warrants from those companies. If the US government buys huge vaccine orders and that triples the companies value, then providing the US government warrants lets US citizens benefit from the value that is created. Lutnicks $1 trillion of revenue will be getting rid of Tax and other scams (cruise ships, maritime ships, Ireland), Gold cards (1 million or so) and tariffs. Ships will not be able to flag with Liberia and pay no taxes or fees in the USA. Once the budget is balanced and Lutnick and Elon each do more than $2 trillion combined then at least no taxes for anyone making less than $150,000 per year and possibly no income tax at all. About 85% of americans make less than $150,000 per year. Bessent says 1. They will reduce the spending at a rate that will not cause a recession. They will get to a 3% of GDP deficit. Every $300 billion/year of spending cut is 1% of GDP. 2. Re-order international trading system (using tariffs) to get jobs back to the US. 3. Low and predictable taxes, slash regulations, predictable regulations and cheap energy. Get 1.5%+ or more in GDP growth. 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. As the Trump administration sows uncertainty across the nonprofit sector, Corvallis has been forced to pivot in its use of federal funding that the city usually funnels to local homeless services providers and housing support. Unity Shelter was the only eligible one in line to access the Community Block Grant funding this year but has withdrawn its request in light of moves the White House has made since President Trump took office in January. So instead, the city is buying a property that can function as a group home, supplying housing and other supports to low-income individuals. The funding must be spent by April 30, which is a typical timeline for Community Development Block Grants, according to Community Development Director Paul Bilotta. Federal funding makes up 14% of the citys budget, with about 5.5% of that coming from ongoing federal grants for which the city could be eligible each year, like Community Development Block Grants. This year, Corvallis has $873,000 in CDBG funding. Unity Shelter had applied to use the funds to purchase its mens shelter, which it currently rents. However, it is a very uncertain time for nonprofits right now with all that is happening in Washington, D.C. that could affect funding for nonprofits, Housing and Neighborhood Services Manager Brigetta Olson wrote to Mid-Valley Media via email. According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Trump has signed numerous executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, government grants and contracts, immigration, LGBTQ+ people and other nonprofit cause areas, raising alarm in the sector. Thirty-seven percent of Oregon nonprofits receive federal funding, according to Candid, a nonprofit that provides data about the social sector. President Trumps attempts to eliminate governmental waste also has impacted the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which oversees Community Development Block Grants. According to Finance Department Director James Inglis, Corvallis is in frequent contact with its HUD representatives about their programs and whether any changes are imminent. But at this time, Inglis said, there are still no direct impacts. Shawn Collins, executive director of Unity Shelter, told Mid-Valley Media via email that changes at the federal level were not the only factor that contributed to the nonprofits hard decision to drop its request. However, Trump's moves have created "a level of uncertainty about how some of the terms of the contract might impact the organizations ability to operate in a manner consistent with our values, he wrote. And the shelters board could not accept that. The contract was with the city, he continued, but many of the terms were federal. "Compliance with all 'current and future' HUD regulations was a concern given the uncertainty around how they may evolve," he wrote. Collins also worried about requirements that a defined set of services be offered for 60 years. Needs change over time, he said, and binding Unity Shelter to specific requirements without clarity on how to renegotiate was concerning. Olson said that despite backing away from this year's federal funding opportunity, Unity Shelter can continue its full array of services. The good thing is that since they werent buying something new, it wont impact any services in the community, Olson wrote to Mid-Valley Media. The nonprofit can reapply again in the future when the federal nonprofit funding landscape may be more clear. Collins is grateful that the city was able to identify another project quickly, and one that can address the need for affordable housing in Corvallis. According to Bilotta, its not uncommon for nonprofits to apply for CDBG capital and then be unable to follow through. Whats different in this instance is that there wasnt a line of unfunded applicants who could step in and use this rounds funding. In the past when this comes up, we have been fortunate enough to have an unfunded nonprofit in second position with a sufficiently large project to roll the funding into, Bilotta told Mid-Valley Media via email. Also, by the time we were notified, there wasnt enough time to do another solicitation for projects in the community. This put the pressure on the city to come up with a project on a very short timeline, which we did. The property the city intends to purchase is at 940 NW Harrison Blvd., featuring seven bedrooms. Once purchased, Corvallis will lease the house to Benton County for some of its residential services. The number of individuals living in the home will depend on the programming, according to Bilotta. The city owns some other houses, Bilotta added, but not for this purpose. This will be the first single-family home that is operated by the Community Development Department. The department also has an apartment building that has been undergoing the tenant relocation, design and renovation processes. It also will be used for county residential programming, likely beginning in the summer. The city has a purchase agreement on the seven-bedroom home and will be bringing an item forward to the City Council on April 7 for authorization. We will then close on the property before the end of April, Olson wrote. Related stories: The future leadership of a Gloucester County school district is in question amid a contentious debate over the superintendent, who was placed on paid administrative leave last week with no public explanation. A Washington Township school board member opened Tuesday nights board meeting with a motion to hire an interim acting superintendent. But, another member countered by proposing to immediately bring back Superintendent Eric Hibbs. Hibbs was placed on leave by the school board for undisclosed reasons on March 18. I am appalled at what has been done to Dr. Hibbs. My opinion is that he was railroaded by certain people on this board and the union, school board member Elayne Clancy said at the meeting, according to a video posted to the K-12 districts YouTube channel. Hibbs was suspended with pay after a 5-3 vote during the March 18 meeting, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. He did not immediately respond to a request to comment by NJ Advance Media. Hibbs was the highest paid superintendent in Gloucester County for the 2023-24 school year with a salary of $215,000, the latest state data shows. MORE: N.J.s highest paid school superintendents ranked for every county Clancys motion on Tuesday which was to table the first motion hiring an interim acting superintendent was defeated in a 5-4 vote. Had her motion passed, a vote would have proceeded on bringing back Hibbs. Hibbs was hired in 2023 following 10 years as the schools superintendent in Marlboro in Monmouth County. His four-year contract runs through June 30, 2027. He is a longtime school administrator who also served as the superintendent in Mount Holly in Burlington County from 2010 to 2013. During Tuesdays meeting, the board voted 6-0, with three board members abstaining, to name Jack McGee interim acting superintendent. He will be paid $750 per day. Prior to retiring in 2021, McGee was the districts assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. He returned in 2022 as interim superintendent, staying until Hibbs arrived in May 2023. None of the board members who opposed the effort to bring back Hibbs spoke during discussions on the two motions, which took place during the first 15 minutes of the meeting. Board member Scott Laliberte said he missed the March 18 meeting but would have voted against placing Hibbs on leave. I similarly had concerns about what was done, Laliberte said. My vote wouldve been a no on that, Laliberte said. Gretchen Gerber, the districts director of elementary education, had been serving as acting superintendent for the past week. I understand that transitions can bring uncertainty, but please know that our administrative team and I are fully committed to supporting our staff, students and families, Gerber wrote in letter dated March 19 and posted to the districts website. The letter did not mention Hibbs or the circumstances that lead to the vote to place him on leave. Our schools will continue to operate smoothly, with our unwavering focus on providing the highest quality education and care for our students, Gerber wrote. Washington Township is a K-12 district with seven elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Alix Earle at the Miu Miu fashion show at Paris Fashion Week this month. The TikTok influencer from New Jersey sued the British company Gymshark. River Callaway | WWD via Getty Images The British company Gymshark has settled a lawsuit with TikTok influencer Alix Earle for $1 million. The Telegraph reports that Earle, 24, who grew up in New Jersey, sued the British fitness apparel company last year for $1 million in damages, claiming the company cut short a sponsorship deal. Per the report, Earle said the company sought to distance itself from her in 2023 after it drew criticism on social media for doing business with the TikTok star because she expressed support for Israel. Court filings showed Earle maintained that Gymshark promised to pay her $1 million in exchange for three TikTok posts promoting the brand, four Instagram posts, a photo shoot and an in-person appearance at an event for the company. READ MORE: N.J. TikTok star Alix Earle cut from Alex Coopers podcast network While Gymshark denied that it signed a contract with Earle, Earles attorneys referred to a January 2024 letter from the company saying that Earle had breached an agreement with Gymshark. Earle, who had posted now and always, we stand with the people of Israel on Instagram, said she shared that sentiment before Gymshark made the sponsorship deal. Earle, who has 7.3 million followers on TikTok and 4 million on Instagram, is an alum of Red Bank Catholic High School who grew up in Monmouth County. She later moved to Miami. Her father, Thomas TJ Earle, is president of the Earle company, a construction and paving business in Wall Township. Since 2023, the social media influencer has hosted the podcast Hot Mess with Alix Earle" which was formerly part of Alex Coopers Unwell podcast network but was recently dropped from that network. READ MORE: N.J. TikTok star Alix Earle apologizes for using racial slur when she was 13 I have to put a pause on podcasting right now for the foreseeable future, Earle told her followers in a video posted Wednesday (see below). I dont really wanna get into the details of it all, and I kind of cant get into the details of it all right now, but Ive loved it so, so much and Im really proud of what I built with the podcast. She said she would instead be releasing weekly vlogs on YouTube starting Wednesday night. Earle apologized in August for using a racial slur online when she was 13 after screenshots resurfaced the comments, which she posted in 2014. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. Fraudsters tend to prey on communities unfamiliar with U.S. systems and institutions. Canva New Jersey residents are defrauded of hundreds of dollars each year, with Hispanic residents being especially at risk due to language and cultural barriers, experts say. One of the challenges with the Latino community is for those that have limited English proficiency, said Carla Sanchez-Adams, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. As a result, there might be...scammy products that are targeted to that community. Sanchez-Adams explained that other communities with language barriers whose members may be lower income or are new to the country and dont understand how U.S. institutions work might also be at greater risk for fraud. The impact of fraud can be devastating, especially for the Hispanic community, which tends to be lower income, she said. If youre losing that amount of money, that means maybe you cant pay rent, you cant pay childcare, you cant eat, you cant get gas, you cant get groceries, Sanchez-Adams said. Mosaic spoke to Sanchez-Adams about financial fraud and how to avoid it. Here is what she said. Q: What are common tactics to look out for? A: Fraudsters might pretend to be government agencies like the Internal Revenue Service(IRS) and ask for personal information. A fraudster might also pretend to be the FBI and accuse their victim of a crime, saying they need financial information to resolve the issue or find the actual perpetrator of the crime. Immigrants, especially those who are undocumented, might not have a bank account and rely on platforms like Venmo or Cash App to hold their money, which is less secure than a bank account. So when the money is lost, its unrecoverable. Many fraudsters will prey on victims using urgency to pressure someone to send money. Q: How can you avoid fraud? A: Do not click on any link texted or emailed to you that you dont recognize, even if it says its your bank or utility company. Instead, go directly to your bank or utility company to see if there is an issue. The same goes for phone calls. Never make a spur-of- the-moment decision and transfer money to someone. Fraudsters prey on fear and emotions, so stay calm and give yourself time before making any decisions. Q: If you are defrauded, what should you do? A: If youve already transferred the money through Cash App or Venmo, there arent too many options to get the money back. But if you report the loss quickly to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI, youre more likely to recover lost funds. If you send the money via credit card or check, your bank might also help you get your money back. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amira Sweilem may be reached at asweilem@njadvancemedia.com. 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. Former Assistant New Jersey Health Commissioner Chris Neuwirth, who settled his five-year-old lawsuit with the state over his firing for $2.25 million Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media A former top New Jersey health official who was mysteriously let go at the height of the pandemic has reached a $2.25 million settlement with the state to resolve a years-long legal battle over his charges that he was illegally fired. At the same time, the New Jersey State Ethics Commission dismissed all allegations that Christopher Neuwirth violated any state ethics rules during his tenure. Neuwirth who served as assistant health commissioner for the Division of Public Health, Infrastructure, Laboratories and Emergency Preparedness had maintained in his wrongful termination lawsuit that he had been let go after pushing back on orders in the early days of the pandemic provide COVID-19 tests to family members of George Helmy, then Gov. Phil Murphys chief of staff, when those test kits were in short supply. At the time, New Jersey was testing only those with symptoms of COVID-19 because of a shortage of supplies and manpower. From Day 1, I maintained that I acted ethically, lawfully and in the best interest of the people of this state, said Neuwirth in a statement. The resolution of this matter both the settlement and the full dismissal of the ethics case affirms what Ive said all along. I am grateful this long and difficult chapter is finally closed. Natalie Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the governor, said, although we categorically deny the allegations in the complaint, we were pleased to reach a mutually agreeable resolution in this long-running case. She added that the settlement ensured that Neuwirth cannot again seek state employment. Neuwirths lawsuit was filed in 2020 after he was terminated by the Department of Health amid reports that he had been fired for allegedly failing to disclose a side job. Questions over his firing only grew after NJ Advance Media obtained secretly recorded conversations with then-state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, who had indicated that Neuwirth was actually terminated because the administration had become convinced that he was the one leaking confidential information to the press about the states failed initial response to the coronavirus. On those recordings, Persichilli could be heard saying that administration officials told her: All things point to Chris. He has to go. But in his complaint filed in state Superior Court in Mercer County, Neuwirth said his dismissal had not been about any outside consulting work, which he claimed had been mischaracterized. Nor was it about any leaks to the press, which he denied. He charged that the coronavirus tests he had been ordered to conduct at the behest of an administration insider were unethical and unlawful, incompatible with public policy, a misuse of governmental resources, and a misuse of power. Because I pursued an ethics complaint, I was terminated, he told NJ Advance Media in an interview at the time. After Murphy made reference during a press briefing in response to allegations in media reports that Neuwirth also had a side consulting job telling reporters its par for the course that youre not supposed to have another source of income, thats just as a general matter, Neuwirth amended his lawsuit. He accused the governor of defamation. An appellate panel later threw out the defamation charges, saying that Neuwirth had to show by clear and convincing evidence that statements made by the governor regarding his termination were false or made with reckless disregard for the truth. Neuwirth is now working in the private sector in the cybersecurity field, said his attorney, Christopher Eibeler of Smith Eibeler of Holmdel. Eibeler called Neuwirth a dedicated public servant who upheld his ethical obligations in the face of extraordinary pressure, and said the resolution of the case demonstrates the importance of standing up for whats right even when it comes at great personal and professional cost. Lisa Hernandez, a co-counsel on the case, said the outcome of the lawsuit reinforces that we all should demand fairness and transparency from our state government and there are people willing to do just that. As part of the settlement, Eibeler said the state agreed to pay Neuwirth $2.25 million, which includes compensation for economic and emotional damages, as well as attorneys fees. The state, which said half of the settlement will go towards attorneys fees, did not admit to any wrongdoing. __ Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TedShermanSL. Three men from New Jersey were arrested in Dauphin County this week after they stole nearly $30,000 in multiple Home Depot thefts across Pennsylvania, according to police. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) AP Three men from New Jersey were arrested this week after police said they stole nearly $30,000 in goods from multiple Home Depot locations. Police in Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania were sent to a Home Depot just before noon on Tuesday for a theft in progress, according to a police report. Home Depot employees told officers that three men inside the store were responsible for nearly $30,000 in thefts from Home Depot locations across New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, according to abc27.com. Police watched the men conceal over $2,600 in merchandise in a large tote trash can before stopping the men as they walked out of the store, authorities said. Investigators later learned the men were all speaking with each other on the phone while committing the theft, police said. Jhon Cardona-Alviz, 37, of Dover, Juan Mancera, 24, of Budd Lake and Christian Sanchez, 32, of Dover, were charge with organized retail theft, criminal use of a communication facility, retail theft and conspiracy to commit retail theft. All four charges are third-degree felonies. As of Wednesday, the men were being held at the Dauphin County Prison with their bails denied, court documents show. Each of the men has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 7. Hey there New Jersey! Heres your audio update highlighting scandalous allegations levied against a police chief and the conviction of an ex-salesman in a stabbing incident in Ocean County. Plus, well tell you about U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimers plan to bring back paper bags in large grocery stores if he is elected as governor this fall. Listen by clicking the play button above. This audio presentation is an editorially-curated selection of stories, selected by an editor, and then summarized and read aloud by artificial intelligence. Some variations in pronunciation, tone or diction may result. We want to know what you think! All feedback is valuable. After youve listened, take our 3-question survey here to let us know what you think. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The U.S. Department of State is urging Americans to "reconsider travel" to Trinidad and Tobago due to crime, kidnapping and terrorism threats. Canva/Katherine Rodriguez You might want to reconsider traveling to this popular Caribbean island nation. The U.S. State Department issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory to Trinidad and Tobago, urging Americans to reconsider travel due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping risks. The State Department upgraded its travel advisory to Trinidad and Tobago last year, but updated it Friday due to the temporary nationwide State of Emergency in the island nation. Trinidad and Tobago first declared the State of Emergency on Dec. 30, 2024, due to criminal activity in the region, but officials extended the State of Emergency on Jan. 13, 2025, until April. While the nation is under the State of Emergency, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service can arrest people, if they suspect they are doing something illegal, and enter and search public and private property as they see fit. If the police suspect someone of committing a crime, they also have the authority to hold that suspect without bail. Despite the warnings about increased crime and police activity, there are no curfews or restrictions on public gatherings in place at this time. This can be subject to change, however, according to the State Department. The advisory also states that violent crimes are common, including murder, robbery, kidnapping and assault. Gang activity is also common throughout the area. If you do plan on traveling to Trinidad and Tobago, keep these things in mind: Be careful walking or driving at night. Be wary when meeting strangers via social media or a dating app. Stay aware of your surroundings. Do not display signs of wealth, like jewelry or watches. Be aware of your surrounding when using an ATM. Do not try to physically resist any robbery attempt. Follow local authorities instructions. Follow local media for breaking news events and adjust your plans accordingly. Prepare a backup plan in case of an emergency. Buy travel insurance before your trip. You can find more information about the travel advisory here. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton arrives with former President Donald Trump at Manhattan criminal court before Trump's trial in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Paxton doesn't think the NCAA'S participation policy for transgender athletes goes far enough. Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP, File A New York county clerk delivered a blow to the red state of Texas after rejecting the filing of a judgment against a New York doctor who prescribed abortion pills to a Texas woman. Acting Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck said in a statement on Thursday that he informed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) that he will not be filing a summary judgment against a New Paltz doctor for providing mifepristone to a Texas resident. He cited the New York State Shield Law as a reason for his decision. As the Acting Ulster County Clerk, I hold my responsibilities and the oath I have taken in the highest regard. In accordance with the New York State Shield Law, I have refused this filing and will refuse any similar filings that may come to our office. Since this decision is likely to result in further litigation, I must refrain from discussing specific details about the situation, Bruck said in a statement. The New York Times reported that Brucks unprecedented decision will likely end up before the Supreme Court, which ruled in 2022 that there is no national right to an abortion. Texas has a ban on nearly all abortions. However, New Yorks shield law prevents officials from cooperating with investigations into reproductive healthcare from out-of-state. President Donald Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and has claimed the issue of abortion should be left up to the states. He is also reportedly expected to pause funding for Planned Parenthood, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Times reported that Paxton sued Dr. Margaret Carpenter in December for providing abortion pills via telemedicine, claiming that his action violated Texas law. When the doctor did not show up to a court hearing last month, a federal judge ordered the doctor to pay a penalty and to stop sending abortion medication. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) praised the county clerk for his decision in a statement. The anti-woman, anti-abortion zealots are at it again. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying to come after a New York doctor who prescribed medication abortion via telemedicine the same doctor who is facing charges in Louisiana for the so-called crime of prescribing this FDA-approved medication, she said. Today, the County Clerk in Ulster County bravely stood up with a simple message: hell no. Acting County Clerk Taylor Bruck has formally notified Texas that in accordance with our shield laws he is rejecting the filing of a judgment against a New York doctor. New York is grateful for his courage and common sense, she added. New York is among eight states with telemedicine shield laws, which were considered a target for abortion opponents even before the standoff between officials New York and Texas. Hochul last month invoked her states shield law in rejecting Republican Gov. Jeff Landrys request to extradite Carpenter to Louisiana, where the doctor was charged with prescribing abortion pills to a pregnant minor. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth deliver remarks in the Oval Office of the White House on March 21, 2025. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Getty Images Was the information discussed in a group chat of senior administration officials really classified? The information shared in the Signal messaging chat that inadvertently included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic was likely far more sensitive than war plans, according to Fox Newss chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin. President Donald Trumps administration has been under fire after The Atlantic revealed that top editor Jeffrey Goldberg was included in the chat where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent detailed plans about an upcoming attack on Yemen. Griffin reported Wednesday that the information discussed was most likely classified, according to former defense officials. She said the current and former U.S. defense officials agreed that war plans was not the correct term but what was sent may have been FAR MORE sensitive given the operational details and time stamps ahead of the operation. What Hegseth shared two hours ahead of the strikes were time sensitive attack orders or operational plans with actual timing of the strikes and mention of F18s, MQ9 Reapers and Tomahawks. This information is typically sent through classified channels to the commanders in the field as secret, no forn message. In other words the information is classified and should not be shared through insecure channels, she wrote in a post on social media platform X. There is a debate about whether the operational details Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared in the Signal Group Chat were "classified" or not. So I surveyed a range of current and former US defense officials who agreed "war plans" is not the right term but what was shared may Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) March 26, 2025 She said these orders could put the joint force directly and immediately at risk, according to a former senior defense official. This kind of real time operational information is more sensitive than war plans, which makes this lapse more egregious, according to two former senior US defense officials, she said. Another former senior U.S. defense official told her that it was pure semantics when Hegseth claimed he didnt share war plans. If you are revealing who is going to be attacked (Houthis the name of the text chain), it still gives the enemy warning. When you release the time of the attack all of that is always classified, the official told Griffin. Griffin discussed her reporting on Fox News, reiterating that the texts went beyond war plans because they included the timing of the attacks. Here are the texts that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent to an unclassified Signal group chat two hours before airstrikes against Houthi targets began on March 15. The debate over whether the information was classifiedand put American pilots in harms way continues. pic.twitter.com/WW3fnFTVTF Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) March 26, 2025 But White House officials continue to insist no classified material was discussed in the March 13 to March 15 Signal chain and have launched scathing attacks on Goldberg. The Atlantic on Wednesday published the full content of the text exchange. Hegseth, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and other administration officials on Wednesday uniformly insisted that no war plans had been texted on Signal, a claim that current and former U.S. officials have called semantics. War plans carry a specific meaning. They often refer to the numbered and highly classified planning documents sometimes thousands of pages long that would inform U.S. decisions in case of a major conflict, such as if the United States is called to defend Taiwan. But the information Hegseth did post specific attack details selecting human and weapons storage targets was a subset of those plans and was likely informed by the same classified intelligence. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, takes oath as his wife Usha Vance watches during 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 The U.S. has changed its itinerary for a visit to Greenland later this week after receiving backlash from local officials. The White House announced earlier this week that second lady Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, would be visiting Greenland with her son and a U.S. delegation to visit historical sites and attend a dogsled race. However, those plans were changed after the Office of the Vice President announced that Vance would be joining his wife on Friday for the visit. Danish outlet TV2 correspondent Jesper Steinmetz reported that U.S. representatives were knocking on doors in Nuuk, Greenland, to rally support for Vances wife ahead of her visit. When residents were asked if they would like to visit with the second lady, the responses were overwhelmingly, No, thanks, according to the report. Steinmetz reported that the lackluster support is why the U.S. will no longer be paying a visit to Nuuk. GREENLAND TELLS U.S. TO KICK ROCKS According to Danish outlet TV2, American officials were literally going door-to-door in Nuuk, Greenland, trying to rally support for a visit from Usha Vance, wife of VP J.D. Vance. Locals? Not having it. The response was a resounding No, pic.twitter.com/HAuOCeJlrv Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) March 27, 2025 The changes also came after Greenland Prime Minister Mute B. Egede and Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen both spoke out against the U.S. visit. Egede told Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday that the visit was highly aggressive. Frederiksen later praised Greenland residents for standing up to the U.S. in a post on social media, reported by Politico. The attention is overwhelming and the pressure is great, Frederiksen said. But it is in times like these that you show what you are made of. You have not been cowed. You have stood up for who you are and you have shown what you stand for. That has my deepest respect. Vance said in a video posted to social media on Tuesday that there was so much excitement around his wifes visit. Looking forward to visiting Greenland on Friday! pic.twitter.com/p3HslD3hhP JD Vance (@JDVance) March 25, 2025 His office said Vance and his wife will be visiting the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland to be briefed on Arctic security issues and to meet with U.S. servicemembers. The office noted that this visit will replace the dogsled race his wife was scheduled to attend. Were going to check out how things are going there, Vance said in a video. 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 visit was initially going to include National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, but it is unclear if he will still be taking the trip amid the ongoing Signal chat scandal. He was not mentioned in the press release from the vice presidents office earlier this week. During his first term, Trump floated the idea of purchasing the worlds largest island, even as Denmark, a NATO ally, insisted it wasnt for sale. The people of Greenland also have firmly rejected Trumps plans. Trumps 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Pool via AP) AP President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday hes not sure whether his top officials shared classified details of an attack in Yemen in a group chat that accidentally included a journalist in the text chain. Well, thats what Ive heard, the president said. I dont know. Im not sure. You have to ask the various people involved. I really dont know. He insisted, however, that the whole thats engulfed his administration is a witch hunt. Reporter: Do you still believe nothing classified was shared? President Trump: Well, that's what I've heard. I don't know. pic.twitter.com/9CZpPLz1x6 Acyn (@Acyn) March 26, 2025 The New York Post isnt buying it. Trump team cant argue these messages werent classified of course they were!" reads a headline from opinion writer Andrew McCarthy. McCarthy wrote: It is undeniable, or at least it should be, that information providing advance warning that the US or its allies are preparing an attack is to be classified as top secret. That is what is mandated by the governments own Classification Guide (section 3.4.3), which is promulgated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. I dont see how the Trump administration, or anyone else, could credibly contend that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths texts on an unclassified Signal communications chain did not contain such advance warnings. ... But the blunder of discussing the details on a Signal group chat that is not authorized for the communication of national defense information to say nothing of top secret intelligence was an unconscionable security breach. The Trump administration struggled Wednesday to stem the fallout from revelations that top national security officials discussed sensitive attack plans over a messaging app and mistakenly added a journalist to the chain. The White House said the information shared through the publicly available Signal app with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, was not classified, an assertion that Democrats said strains credulity considering that it detailed plans for an upcoming attack on Yemens Houthis. There are no signs that the controversy will fade soon for Trump, who has said he stands by his national security team and has assailed the reporters credibility. At the same time, he has made clear his preference for his team to discuss such operations in person and in more secure settings, though it is not yet clear if changes will be implemented as a result. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Pool via AP) AP President Donald Trump has trashed the news outlet and the reporter, and has called it a witch hunt. The presidents national security adviser, Michael Waltz, a top intelligence official, also trashed the reporter, calling him a loser. He then went as far as to suggest the journalist could have hacked his way into the group text meant to discuss attack plans against Yemen. But theres a sure sign deflection over the fallout from revelations that senior national security officials discussed sensitive military plans over a messaging app and mistakenly added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic to the chat wont make the story go away. CNNs data guru, Harry Enten, explains: Theres a lot of interest in this story, all right? Google searches this week versus last week for these topics: For The Atlantic, how many people are searching for The Atlantic? Up 900%. That is the highest on record since Google searches began, they started tracking them in 2004. How about for Signal, of course, the app of which this all occurred: Up over 1,000%. Again, the highest on record, it has gone up through the roof on these two particular two topics. Whether or not people ultimately care and it changes their minds about the administration, thats one thing. But the interest at this particular point is absolutely there. People are interested in this story. Don't be fooled: there's a lot of interest in the Signal scandal. Googling for "The Atlantic" & "Signal" are way up to record highs. Going in, more were disappointed with Trump's admin picks than any president ever. Hegseth is the least popular Sec of Defense since Rumsfeld! pic.twitter.com/6iaOL1XSZ3 (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) March 27, 2025 The White House said the information shared through the publicly available Signal app with Jeffrey Goldberg, of The Atlantic, was not classified, an assertion that Democrats said strains credulity considering that it detailed plans for an upcoming attack on Yemens Houthis. The decision on determining whether the information is classified ultimately lies with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who in the chain listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, he wrote. The Houthis have been wreaking havoc on vital Red Sea shipping lanes since November 2023 as the Israel-Hamas war raged. There are no signs that the controversy will fade soon for Trump, who has said he stands by his national security team and has assailed the reporters credibility. At the same time, he has made clear his preference for his team to discuss such operations in person and in more secure settings, though it is not yet clear if changes will be implemented as a result. MORE: The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, along with his son X A-Xii, speaks to reporters by a Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP) AP Is vandalizing a car a hate crime? It could be. Thats according to a new report from Politico Magazine that details how Washingtons D.C. mayors attempts to curry favor with Donald Trump and his administration has defined it as such. From the report: In the face of Republican threats to take over the self-governing capital, the city administration has spent 2025 trying to accommodate White House priorities on supposedly local policies ranging from graffiti abatement to street murals. This week may have brought the most Trump-pleasing move yet: The vandals accused of writing anti-Elon Musk graffiti on Tesla windshields, D.C. police said, will potentially be on the hook for hate crimes. The announcement read more like pro-Tesla White House messaging than a public-safety notice from a blue citys police force: The suspects wrote political hate speech onto the victims Tesla vehicles then fled the scene, the police press release declared. The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating these offenses as potentially being motivated by hate or bias. Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musks electric-car company are cropping up across the U.S. and overseas, along with protests nationwide in response to the billionaires work with the Trump administration cutting federal funding and the workforce. On Saturday, a man drove his car into protesters outside a Tesla dealership in Palm Beach County, Florida. No one was injured, and the man was arrested on an assault complaint. In California, police said a counter-protestor was arrested Saturday after activating a stun gun during an anti-Musk demonstration outside a Tesla dealership near downtown Berkeley. Nobody was hurt. The 33-year-old man was awaiting charges Monday. Several more cases of violence targeting Tesla include Cybertrucks being set on fire in Seattle and shots fired at a dealership in Oregon. Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations and privately owned cars also have been targeted. FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday that the bureau is taking steps to crack down on an increase in violent activity toward Tesla. The agency has created a task force to coordinate investigative efforts into the attacks with officials at the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, an FBI spokesperson said in a social media post. This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice, Patel said in a post on X. The Department of Justice defines hate as bias against people or groups with specific characteristics that are defined by the law. From the DOJ: At the federal level, hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of the victims perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Most state hate crime laws include crimes committed on the basis of race, color, and religion; many also include crimes committed on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability. The crime in hate crime is often a violent crime, such as assault, murder, arson, vandalism, or threats to commit such crimes. It may also cover conspiring or asking another person to commit such crimes, even if the crime was never carried out. The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Pool via AP) AP Canadians dont want to travel to the United States as President Donald Trump continues to ramp up his trade war around the world. Future flight bookings from Canada to the U.S. have dropped 70% for every month through the end of September, according to data from aviation analytics provider OAG. OAG said the sharp decline in bookings is likely due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding the broader trade dispute. The sharpest decline is in April, where bookings are down more than 75%. Bookings in May are down about 72% while bookings in June, July, August and September are down about 71%, according to the data. For those that are still planning to travel there may be some airlines offering particularly cheap airfares over the next few months as they seek to stimulate demand but for the airlines it will be a nervous few months, especially as the traditional snowbird market from Canada to the US could be badly impacted next year if the situation doesnt improve quickly," OAG wrote in its analysis. A look at recent weeks reveals a downward trend in airline capacity and a sharp decline in forward bookings from Canada - US. View the data and read expert analysis from OAG's Chief Analyst John Grant: https://t.co/tt6U7W6Xeg pic.twitter.com/2YambJXJKC OAG (@OAG_Aviation) March 27, 2025 The plummet in future bookings to the U.S. comes as Trump continues to attack Canada with costly tariffs and threats. He has repeatedly suggested making Canada the 51st state and has only escalated trade war threats against the U.S. ally. He threatened to implement more tariffs on Canada early Thursday morning if the European Union cooperated with the country. If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, 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!, he wrote on Truth Social. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Canadians are boycotting vacations to the U.S., with February seeing a 13% decrease in flights to the U.S. compared with the number of flights last year. The U.S. Travel Association has warned that a 10% reduction in travel from Canada to the U.S. could result in $2.1 billion in lost spending and 14,000 job losses. The Journal reported that the White House re-upped its call to annex Canada in a statement. Canadians will no longer have to worry about the inconveniences of international travel when they become American citizens as residents of our cherished 51st state, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. Trump has placed 25% tariffs on many goods from Mexico and Canada, with a lower 10% tax on energy products from Canada. Some of those tariffs have been suspended or delayed, though theyre set to fully hit in April. Canadian leaders have warned that the United States would suffer in the form of higher prices, fewer jobs and slower growth because of the trade war. But an analysis by the Brookings Institution found that the economic pain would be more severe in Mexico and Canada because those countries are more reliant on the United States in terms of trade. Trumps stated reason for the tariffs is to stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling, though hes also said that he dislikes the trade deficit with both countries and has taunted Canada by suggesting that it could become the 51st U.S. state. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., President Donald Trump's nominee to be the United Nations Ambassador, testifies during a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing for her pending confirmation on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) AP President Donald Trump pulled U.S. Rep. Elise Stefaniks (R-N.Y.) nomination to be the ambassador to the United Nations on Thursday as Republicans grow worried about their slim majority in the House. Republicans have been concerned about their already slim majority after Trump nominated multiple House Republicans to serve in his administration. He announced in a Truth Social post that he asked Stefanik to remain in Congress instead, suggesting he was concerned about whether Republicans could hold onto her seat in a special election. As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, he wrote on Truth Social. With a very tight Majority, I dont want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elises seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People. Speaker Johnson is thrilled! I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC, he added. Trump confirmed earlier reporting from CBS News on Thursday that Stefaniks nomination was in jeopardy because Republicans hold a small majority in the US House. Scoop: Elise Stefanik's nomination for UN ambassador is in jeopardy as pressure mounts for her to back away from the UN ambassador position, partly because Republicans hold a small majority in the US House. There are discussions being held this morning about whether she should Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 27, 2025 Republicans currently hold a 218-213 majority in the House, meaning that Stefaniks absence would have shrunk the slim advantage. Semafor reported earlier this month that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) was expected to slow walk calling a special election to replace Stefanik if she resigned. Republicans may also be on edge after losing a special election in a deep-red Pennsylvania County that went for Trump by double-digits in November. Stefanik easily won reelection to her New York seat by more than 20 points in the fall. She was expected to step down from her seat ahead of being confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Stefanik is a loyal supporter of Trump and would have likely been easily confirmed to the position. It appears she was gearing up to leave Congress as she bid her constituents farewell in a district-wide Thank You tour last month, according to News 10. Some social media users called the withdrawal of her nomination embarrassing. And U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) suggested on Thursday that the White House pulled the rug out from under her. Elise Stefanik was a classic Bob Dole Republican when she got here, then did what she needed to do to become a MAGA darling. And now, just as high office is within reach, the Shakespearean gods have pulled the rug out from under her. So, call it karma, Shakespearean, whatever you want, Himes told MeidasTouch. Stefanik has not issued a statement on her social media pages since Trumps announcement about her nomination. Her biography on X says she is the U.S. Ambassador-Designate to the United Nations as of Thursday afternoon. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. President Donald Trump speaks at a reception celebrating Women's History Month in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP President Donald Trump lashed out at a federal judge early Thursday morning as his administration struggles to mitigate the Signal scandal. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to halt a mass deportation flight to El Salvador earlier this montha verbal order that the administration appeared to have ignored. Now, Trump is attacking Boasberg again because he has been assigned a lawsuit involving the Signal chat scandal. How disgraceful is it that Judge James Boasberg has just been given a fourth Trump Case, something which is, statistically, IMPOSSIBLE. There is no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP REPUBLICAN, to win before him. He is Highly Conflicted, not only in his hatred of me Massive Trump Derangement Syndrome! but also, because of disqualifying family conflicts, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Boasberg, who is the Chief Judge of the D.C. District Court, seems to be grabbing the Trump Cases all to himself, even though it is not supposed to happen that way. Is there still such a thing as the wheel, where the Judges are chosen fairly, and at random? The good news is that it probably doesnt matter, because it is virtually impossible for me to get an Honest Ruling in D.C., he said. Our Nations Courts are broken, with New York and D.C. being the most preeminent of all in their Corruption and Radicalism. There must be an immediate investigation of this Rigged System, before it is too late!, he added. How disgraceful is it that Judge James Boasberg has just been given a fourth Trump Case, something which is, statistically, IMPOSSIBLE. There is no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP, to win before him. He is Highly Conflicted, not only in his hatred of me Massive Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) March 27, 2025 Trump has repeatedly attacked Boasberg for his rulings in the separate Venezuela deportation case, calling him a Radical Left Lunatic. Boasberg was appointed to the D.C. District by President Barack Obama but was previously appointed to D.C.s local courts by President George W. Bush. The Trump administration is scrambling to respond to the Signal group chat disaster. The Atlantic reported Monday that senior administration officials discussed sensitive military plans for an attack on Yemen in a Signal chat that inadvertently included editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Cases are randomly assigned to the 20 judges in the Washington court. Boasberg was assigned on Wednesday to preside over a lawsuit filed by the group American Oversight against several Trump administration officials and the National Archives and Records Administration. It alleges they violated federal recordkeeping laws when they used a Signal chat group to discuss military strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. Boasbergs assignment to the Signal lawsuit came just two days after the Trump administration, in the Venezuela deportation case, invoked the state secrets privilege to refuse to share details with the judge about the timing of deportation flights to El Salvador. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. President Donald Trumps administration notified Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday that New Jersey has lost $350 million in federal funding for local and statewide health programs that help contain the spread of diseases and prevent the further spread of the opioid addiction crisis, the governor announced on social media. The news hit as New Jersey, like other states, is already expecting to lose billions of dollars in federal funding for the Medicaid program, which serves people who are poor, uninsured and disabled. Congressional Republicans say they intend to find $880 billion in savings over the next decade to pay for tax cuts implemented during President Trumps first term. Murphy said he is considering suing the Trump administration to recoup the money already approved by Congress. It was part of the COVID-19 pandemic funding, but states were allowed to use it for other programs. Duke University has a bone to pick with season 3 of The White Lotus. After Jason Isaacs character, Timothy Ratliff, donned a Duke T-shirt while holding a gun to his head in a recent episode of the HBO anthology series, Duke slammed the wardrobe choice in a Wednesday, March 26, statement to The New York Times. Duke University did not approve the use of its marks in The White Lotus, Frank Tramble, Dukes vice president for communications, marketing and public affairs, told the outlet. Duke appreciates artistic expression and creative storytelling, but characters prominently wearing apparel bearing Dukes federally registered trademarks creates confusion and mistakenly suggests an endorsement or affiliation where none exists. Tramble added that the series not only uses our brand without permission, but in our view uses it on imagery that is troubling, does not reflect our values or who we are, and simply goes too far. He pointed out that suicide is the second-leading cause of death on college campuses and said Duke is using our brand to promote mental health awareness and remind people that health is available as the White Lotus scene makes the rounds on social media. HBO declined NJAMs request for comment on Trambles statement. This isnt the first time that Isaacs role in The White Lotus has sparked controversy. Earlier this month, Isaacs raised eyebrows by joking that theres a double standard for male nudity in film and television. While attempting to brush off a question about whether he wore a prosthetic penis on The White Lotus, Isaacs argued that nobody would dream of asking Mikey Madison or Margaret Qualley such questions about their respective nude scenes in Anora and The Substance. READ MORE: The White Lotus star had no idea there was an incest plot when he accepted the job Isaacs later clarified his comments in a statement to Variety. I said the wrong words in the wrong way. I used the phrase double standard, which I didnt mean at all. There is a double standard [its that] women have been monstrously exploited and men havent, he told the outlet on March 18. My point wasnt that men have had a harder time than women that would be absurd. Women have had a monstrous time on camera forever, and I hope to God that is changing. Although Isaacs noted that his remarks came out wrong, he doubled down on his belief that its strange to ask actors whether theyve worn prosthetic genitals. I had been asked so many times in the same day by journalists, Are you wearing a prosthetic? Which means, Have I seen your actual penis? Its very important for me to know if Ive seen your penis. It just strikes me as a bit weird and slightly obsessive, he said. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. The White Lotus airs on HBO and MAX Sundays at 9 p.m. EST. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. Digicel Jamaica announced on Wednesday it has struck a partnership with renewable energy solutions provider Caban Energy to diversify energy sources for its cell towers with solar technology. Under the partnership agreement, Caban is deploying its solar energy and storage solutions at Digicels cell towers across Jamaica. That includes the towers Digicel leases from Phoenix Tower International, which bought 451 of Digicels towers in 2018. Caban is collaborating with PTI to deploy solar tech at those towers. Digicel said that once the deployment is complete, the addition of solar energy will not only significantly lower the telcos operational costs, but also reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 38,674 tons of CO2e per year, or 580,109 tons of CO2e for the life of the project. In the wake of Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 which caused significant damage to the south coast of Jamaica, and in particular to the power supplies that we rely on to run our telecoms infrastructure, we made a commitment to the Prime Minister of Jamaica that we would invest in renewable energy, said Digicel Jamaica CEO Stephen Murad in a statement. Were proud that just eight months later, were honouring that commitment and actively stepping up to help combat climate change. Meanwhile, Digicel Jamaicas parent company Digicel Group says it's looking to deploy Cabans energy solutions in other markets where it operates. Jamaica is our first market with Caban and is the shape of things to come with the expectation that more of our 25 markets will come on stream in the coming months, said Digicel Group CEO Marcelo Cataldo. An "Impractical Jokers" alum canceled his upcoming comedy tour dates after being accused of sexual assault. Getty Images/500px Standup comedian and Impractical Jokers alum Joe Gatto is entering an inpatient treatment facility after being accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment. People broke the news on Wednesday, March 26, noting that all upcoming dates for Gattos Lets Get Into It tour will be canceled. Having taken some time to reflect, lve decided to voluntarily enter an inpatient program to continue working on myself, Gatto told People in a statement. I just want to thank my friends, fans, and especially my family for all of their support never more so than over the last few days. The update comes one week after a TikTok user with the handle joozyb accused Gatto of sexually assaulting her when she was 19-years-old. I got sexually assaulted by Joe Gatto, the Impractical Joker, joozyb alleged in a since-deleted TikTok video. In a separate video, joozyb recalled meeting Gatto while he was performing in Milwaukee in 2023. She claimed that he invited her back to his hotel room at around 2:30 am and then sexually assaulted her. Gatto denied the sexual assault claims in a Saturday, March 22, statement to Page Six. Joe Gatto (right) has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a 19-year-old girl. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP I have used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most. But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldnt assault anyone, Gatto said. Working on myself is an ongoing process, and I am now going to take some time away from the public eye to focus my energies where I need to. One day after Gattos statement was released, People published a report detailing a second womans claim that Gatto sexually harassed her while he was her employer. The anonymous accuser alleged that Gatto had inappropriately grabbed her, asked questions about her sex life, treated her rudely at work after she rejected his advances, and made claims about being in an open marriage. NJAM reached out for comment at the time, but has not heard back. READ MORE: Impractical Jokers star accused of sexual assault and harassment everything we know so far Gatto has been married to his wife, Bessy, since 2013. While announcing his exit from Impractical Jokers via Instagram in 2021, Gatto shared that he and Bessy had decided to amicably part ways. The couple reconciled in 2023. They share two children. Gatto announced his Lets Get Into It comedy tour via Instagram in June 2024. It originally ran from August 2024 through December 2024, but more dates were later added. Prior to his announcement about entering a treatment facility, Gatto was scheduled to perform in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, March 27. He also had shows in Phoenix and Tucson planned for later this week. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available. Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. 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. The New Orleans Police Department Wednesday evening had few answers for French Quarter residents, street performers and other workers about what security measures the city will put in place following the New Years Day terror attack. In fact, during a public meeting over the citys new security push, Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said she had not yet seen the final report from former New York Police Chief William Bratton and his consulting firm Teneo that contains their security recommendations, though she said that report had been prepared. That report is expected to form much of the basis for any new security regulations or ordinances in the city. Kirkpatrick did say NOPD would also be making their own recommendations after they receive the report, but that Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the New Orleans City Council will make the final call. This is intended to be a collective decision making about what does our city want, Kirkpatrick said. Behind closed doors, city officials and consultants have been weighing whether to close off Bourbon Street to vehicle traffic. 8th District Lt. Sam Palumbo said Erin Holmes, executive director of neighborhood group Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents, and Associates (VCPORA), asked for a meeting because she had concerns residents werent being heard in the process. While NOPD said they didnt have the final report, they did have a proposal Teneo made in February that would close Bourbon to vehicles from Canal Street to Dumaine Street. Under that plan, Palumbo said Bourbon would open daily at a specified time for deliveries and servicing businesses, and someone at the end of Dumaine would open a barrier to let them out. He said that timeframe had not been decided yet. Palumbo said theyd already received consistent feedback about starting the closure at Iberville as opposed to Canal and ending the closure at St. Ann rather than Dumaine. Street performers showed up in force to the meeting at Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. Many of them expressed concerns about the possibility of the city eliminating the existing Royal Street pedestrian mall in favor of creating one on Bourbon Street. According to French Quarter Management District Commissioner Christian Pendleton, Cantrell said at a meeting earlier this year that if the city turned Bourbon into a full-time pedestrian mall, the city would get rid of the Royal Street pedestrian mall. Elizabeth Vargas said she regularly busks on Royal Street with her band The Crybabies. I know we are not always looked on as having the same rights and values. But we are here, and we are part of what makes the city a place people want to come to, Vargas said to loud applause. Aoleon Broomfield, a musician who regularly busks on Royal, said that Royal had been open to cars during recent special events and that she was worried about pedestrians getting hit by cars. Doreen Ketchens, a clarinetist and longtime street performer, said the city did not have the infrastructure to close Bourbon to cars, citing other road closures in the area due to street construction. Mark Schettler, executive director of the hospitality workers group Shift Change, asked Palumbo if the city or consultants had reached out directly to French Quarter workers about potential changes to Bourbon Street. Palumbo said they hadn't, but that We are meeting with businesses and hope that the businesses are taking into account their workforce needs, a comment that was met with some laughter. Schettler also said street closures could result in workers having to park further away, which he called a safety hazard for workers getting off late shifts. He suggested the city create a park and ride system for these downtown workers. New Orleans residents press state officials for public grain train meetings City Council Vice President Helena Moreno has written to LDEQ asking for a public hearing. The dragged-out process seems to be pitting people with interests in different parts of the Quarter against one another. At one point, an attendee listening snapped at a street performer who was speaking about Royal Street. This is about the closure of Bourbon Street, she said and continued to interrupt him twice more. Still, NOPD seemed to understand that changes to one part of the Quarter will affect the rest of the neighborhood and that a holistic view would be necessary. Palumbo said that traffic, parking and the future of the Royal Street pedestrian mall are all factors officials are considering. "We fully understand that if we implement any type of hard closures with barriers, that that's going to have to come with additional traffic and parking plan, he said. We understand that we're not going to one day put up the barriers in these places and say everything else is the same as it goes. So we do expect a comprehensive thought process. Vietnam's government said on Wednesday it will allow SpaceX to launch its Starlink LEO satellite broadband service in the country on a trial basis for the next five years. According to Reuters, citing a government statement, Starlink will be allowed to offer fixed and mobile satellite services under a pilot programme that will run until the end of 2030. The mobile services component includes connectivity services for seacraft and airplanes. Starlink will only be allowed to sign on a maximum of 600,000 subscribers for the duration of the pilot, the report said. However, the Starlink pilot will also be exempt from Vietnams foreign ownership rules, which would require Starlink to set up a JV with a local partner to operate in Vietnam. Under the rules, Starlink would be limited to a 50% stake in such a JV. SpaceX has been actively lobbying to get approval to launch Starlink in Vietnam since September 2023, but has balked at the foreign ownership rules, insisting at the very least on a controlling stake in any JV. The pilot approval comes six months after SpaceX offered to invest US$1.5 billion in Vietnam as an apparent sweetener to convince the government to allow Starlink to operate in the country, according to the official Vietnam News Agency. Nikkei Asia reports that the project will be overseen jointly by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security. Mayor LaToya Cantrell speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Earhart Food Truck Plaza on Earhart Boulevard near Magnolia Street and South Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. The project is part of a beautification effort designed to enhance the area, support small businesses, and provide a vibrant gathering space for the community. (Staff photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune) Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from NorthBayNipissing.com. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Ilfracombes popular Jack-in-the-Green celebration with a procession, Maypole dancing and much merriment is back on Sunday, May 4. It will see a variety of green-clad leafy characters and musicians parading through the town, including the iconic festival giants, before gathering on the seafront to dance the Maypole. The Jack-in-the-Green will stripped of his leafy foliage and the Spirit of Summer will be released at least that is the hope! The annual Beltane event was back on the calendar last year due to public demand after a four-year break and the volunteers who organise it are keen to keep the festivities going. The procession will set off from Wilder Road car park at 11am and dance its way through the High Street and down to the seafront, following Jack as he leads the way to the beat of the Zambia Via Drummers. All are welcome to wear something green and join in the fun. The procession ends at the Clapping Circle on the seafront by Capstone and there will be Maypole dancing from local children and adults all are welcome to have a go, as well as Morris dancing. Above: The Ilfracombe May festivities will include Maypole dancing on the seafront. Credit: Viral PR The event is only possible thanks to the efforts each year of many dedicated volunteers, hosting dance practice, making costumes, acting as marshals on the day and drumming up support. Ilfracombes Jack-in-the-Green Celebrations were started in 2000 by Lisa Sture and current organiser Kelly Raveney took on the mantle in 2016. Kelly said: It wouldnt be May time in Ilfracombe without Jack-in-the-Green and local people and visitors alike always turn out in force to enjoy the spectacle, music and merry making. As ever, a massive thank you to all our amazing volunteers and the local companies who have supported us with donations or supplies, its always hugely appreciated. We always need more volunteers, so if you would like to get involved, do get in touch with us and we hope to see you all on May the 4th! If you would like to volunteer or be a part of the event, visit the Jack in the Green Ilfracombe Facebook page, which also has plenty of updates and event information too. So, youve decided to join thousands of Australians and jump off the employment bandwagon to start your own business. There are so many different things to consider when setting up a new business but one thing you need to be on top of is your financial situation. Heres my guide to what you need to do to make your new venture financially robust. Make a business plan The reason that a lot of businesses fail is that they dont have a plan. Every new business owner should sit down at the beginning (before they start the business!) and plan what they hope to achieve from their new business; in other words, establish your goals and objectives. A good way to achieve this is to establish a Business Plan. The things that should be considered in preparing your Business Plan include: Defining what type of business you are in. An analysis of the industry and markets you will operate. Your goals and objectives, with your time-line to achieve these. The main products and services that will be offered. Customers and your target-market, both now and in the future. Advantages that your business has over others; i.e. its unique selling points. Marketing plans to establish and grow your business. Suppliers you will require and others that you may need, including staffing. What your competitors are doing. Facilities required operating your business. Your pricing; how much you will charge. Capital required to commence your business and potential financing required in the future. What equipment will you need; now and later. Financial projections and an analysis of your cash flow requirements. Take care of book keeping Good business records help you manage your business, make more timely decisions and comply with tax compliance obligations. If you decide to look after your book-keeping yourself, accounting software can help you to accurately record your income and expenses, with features such as the ability to automatically upload your bank transactions on a daily basis and back-up your information. If you decide to outsource your book-keeping to a specialist book-keeper, you simply hand over your paperwork to them and they will take care of it; freeing you up to spend time doing what you do best and focus on running your business. An outsourced book-keeper can also act as a second-pair of eyes to help keep your business on-track, while using accounting software that has the ability for both you and your outsourced book-keeper to view your information together, remotely. Monitor cashflow One of the main reasons businesses fail is not necessarily because theyre not making a profit (although this is, of course, important) but because they run out of cash and are unable to pay their debts when they fall due. So, make it easy for your customers to pay you, so that you can get paid faster. Monitor and chase debts as they fall due and introduce direct payment technology such as point-of-sale software, mobile card readers, etc. Year-end tax tips Claim a 88c per kilometre deduction for every business or work journey you undertake in your own car, up to 5,000 kilometres. Alternatively, keep a logbook and receipts and claim a proportion of your actual costs. If you take a course or attend a conference related to your current job, you can claim a deduction for the cost of the course and other costs, such as textbooks and travel. Speak to your accountant before the end of the financial year for tips and advice to help you save tax. The fees are tax deductible! If you need a bag for work purposes, such as a briefcase or a handbag, the cost should be tax deductible. If you pay a work-related subscription, such as to a trade union or a professional association, the costs are tax deductible. Claim a deduction for the cost of insurance premiums against the loss of your income, provided the policy isnt taken out through your super and doesnt cover you for physical injury. Take care of your taxes Particularly if youre coming out of a paid job, youre probably used to getting your taxes deducted straight from your pay packet by your employer. But now youre in business on your own account, you need to proactively manage your cash flow to set money aside for future tax bills. Failing to set money aside to pay tax is one of the most common pitfalls that new businesses fall into. You might also need to register for GST. For most businesses, you only need to register for GST if your turnover from your business (combined with any other business you run) exceeds $75,000. But being self-employed also comes with some tax perks. For instance, you have access to all the tax concessions available to small businesses, including the instant asset write off of capital assets, which is available on all capital assets costing less than $20,000, until 30 June 2025. That means you can immediately deduct the cost of any plant, tools or equipment you use in your business, including items such as computers and even some (probably second hand) motor vehicles. For help with your bookkeeping, contact H&R Block (https://www.hrblock.com.au/business-services/bookkeeping/) Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Mainland spokesperson reaffirms commitment to implementing Anti-Secession Law Xinhua) 08:11, March 27, 2025 BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to earnestly implementing the Anti-Secession Law and enriching and improving the legal system for punishing secessionist activities. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, also vowed efforts to resolutely continue thwarting all attempts by "Taiwan independence" separatists, combating foreign interference and advancing the cause of national reunification. Chen made the remarks in response to a media query regarding attention within Taiwan on mainland's punishing "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities in accordance with the law. He noted that 20 years of practice since the promulgation of the Anti-Secession Law have fully demonstrated its effectiveness in deterring "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, curbing external interference, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, promoting the development of cross-Strait relations, and advancing the reunification of the motherland. Chen pointed out that the Anti-Secession Law clearly stipulates that the state may adopt non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity should "Taiwan independence" separatist forces cause Taiwan's secession under any name or by any means, or should major incidents leading to Taiwan's secession occur, or should the possibilities for peaceful reunification be completely exhausted. "This draws an insurmountable red line for 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces," he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The News in Brief Friday, March 28, 2025 On March 27, UN Resident Coordinator Didier Trebucq and representatives from OHCHR, UNDP, UNFPA, and UN Women met with Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Deputy Speaker Nino Tsilosani to discuss cooperation under the new UN Cooperation Framework.According to the UN Office in Georgia, discussions focused on supporting sustainable development and advancing the rights of women and children to foster prosperity in Georgia. The UN Country Team reaffirmed its commitment to promoting an equitable and inclusive society.Following the meeting, Speaker Papuashvili described the talks as "valuable," highlighting ongoing and planned legislative work and Georgia's commitment to collaboration with the UN for the country's prosperity.Mamuka Khazaradze, leader of the Strong Georgia coalition, was questioned at Tbilisi City Court in the presence of a magistrate judge on March 27. The interrogation was related to his refusal to appear before the parliamentary commission investigating alleged crimes committed under the Unity - National Movement (UNM) government.Following the session, Khazaradze told reporters that he expects to be summoned again. He reiterated his party's stance that the parliament is illegitimate, citing international assessments and sanctions against GD officials. "The main question was why I did not attend the so-called commission's session, which I have called a circus and a Bidzina show," he said.Khazaradze stated that he brought documents referencing international decisions and a list of sanctioned officials to support his claim, but the judge did not allow him to present them. He defended his party's decision to abandon parliamentary mandates, emphasizing that it was a response to what he views as a lack of democratic legitimacy.Georgia appointed new ambassadors to Turkey, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Cuba, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Archil Kalandia was named Ambassador to Turkey. A diplomat since 2005, he previously served as Georgia's Ambassador to China from 2018 to 2023.Shota Getsadze was appointed Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. A former judge and expert on refugee and electoral law, he has worked with UNHCR, ICMPD, and the Council of Europe. He previously served at the Tbilisi Court of Appeals and was Georgia's envoy to Switzerland since June 2023.Grigol Baramidze was appointed Ambassador to Cuba. He previously served as Georgia's Ambassador to Armenia and was Secretary General of Nino Burjanadze's Democratic Movement - United Georgia party until 2021. Automobiles at the shipping terminal are shown from the view of a drone in San Diego, California, U.S., March 26, 2025. Photo by Reuters US President Donald Trump has announced steep tariffs on auto imports and parts, provoking threats of retaliation from trading partners ahead of further promised trade levies next week. Wall Street slumped ahead of Trump's Wednesday afternoon announcement, while the world's top-selling automaker Toyota plunged more than 3%. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo was "considering all kinds of countermeasures," while Canada's Mark Carney branded Trump's tariffs a "direct attack" on his country's workers. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also said his country "cannot stand still" in response to the levies. "What we're going to be doing is a 25% tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States," Trump said, as he signed the order in the Oval Office. The duties take effect at 12:01 am on April 3 and impact foreign-made cars and light trucks. Key automobile parts will also be hit within the month. Trump responded by threatening Canada and the European Union with "large scale tariffs, far larger than currently planned" if they work together to cause "economic harm" to the United States. Peter Navarro, Trump's senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, in a briefing after Trump's announcement blasted "foreign trade cheaters" who he said turned America's manufacturing sector into a "lower wage assembly operation for foreign parts." He took aim at Germany and Japan for reserving the construction of higher-value parts to their countries. But Washington's levies appeared to raise eyebrows close to home, including from Trump ally and Tesla boss Elon Musk, who said the cost impact on his firm's cars was "not trivial". "To be clear, this will affect the price of parts in Tesla cars that come from other countries. The cost impact is not trivial," he posted on X. Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has imposed fresh tariffs on imports from major US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China -- alongside a 25% duty on steel and aluminum. The latest levies will be in addition to those already in place for products. But the White House added that vehicles entering under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) can qualify for a lower rate depending on their American content. Similarly, USMCA-compliant auto parts will remain tariff-free as officials establish a process to target their non-US content. Devastating impact Uncertainty over Trump's trade plans and worries they could trigger a downturn have roiled financial markets, with consumer confidence also falling in recent months. Trump has defended the levies as a way to raise government revenue and revitalize American industry. But targeting imported cars could strain ties with close partners such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, Mexico and Germany. "Imposing 25% tariffs on imported cars will have a devastating impact on many of our close trading partners," said Wendy Cutler, vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former US trade negotiator. She added that Washington has free-trade agreements with some affected parties, "calling into question the value of US commitments" under a trade deal. About 50% of cars sold in the United States are manufactured within the country. Among imports, about half come from Mexico and Canada, with Japan, South Korea and Germany also being major suppliers. And of the US-made cars, more than half were assembled from foreign parts, said a White House official. The American Automotive Policy Council representing Detroit's "Big Three" automakers -- Ford, General Motors and Stellantis -- issued a carefully worded statement on the tariffs, saying it hoped the policy would boost US auto production. But it stressed: "It is critical that tariffs are implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers." The Center for Automotive Research has previously estimated that US tariffs - including those on metals and imported autos - could increase the price of a car by thousands of dollars and weigh on the jobs market. Liberation day Besides the automobile industry, Trump is also eyeing sector-specific tariffs, such as on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber. Wednesday's announcement comes ahead of Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" for the world's biggest economy on April 2. He has promised reciprocal levies, tailored to different trading partners to remedy practices Washington deemed unfair. On Wednesday he said these duties will impact all countries. While Trump has invoked emergency economic powers for some recent tariffs, his auto levies build on a government investigation completed in 2019. The probe found that excessive imports were weakening the internal economy and might impair national security. Lutheran families first started to gather in Crown Point to worship in 1861. They officially launched the Trinity Lutheran congregation in 1868 and set about building their first church building, where some of the city's founding fathers worshiped. The American Gothic-style Trinity Lutheran Church was assembled by hand from clay-fired brick and native stone. It opened in 1886, making it what's now believed to be Crown Point's oldest standing church building. But that may not be the case for much longer. Crown Point is now looking to raze the historic church and school at 400 East North St. It had been converted into the Greer Apartments, serving as apartments for decades before suffering heavy damage after a resident fell asleep in the hallway with a lit cigarette in 2018. "The buildings have been deemed to be uninhabitable since the time of the structure fire," Mayor Pete Land said. "In October 2018, the city's building department inspectors provided notice to the property owner that, based on the state of the structure, it is in violation of the city's unsafe building codes. Notice was given to the owner that he must bring the unsafe building into code compliance, and this was not done." Trinity Lutheran Church still worships today in Crown Point, but moved to a new building at Indiana Avenue and South Street in 1958. The 1886 Church Foundation, a group of local preservationists, took over the old church building and has been trying to save it. Members cleaned out the interior, filling half a dozen dumpsters and lined up a buyer to try to preserve the historic house of worship. The foundation found a buyer who was prepared to rehabilitate the interior and exterior of the church, said Blake Swihart, Northwest Indiana field office director for Indiana Landmarks, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes preservation efforts across the state. Indiana Landmarks was working to help market the church building, which has a 2,480-square-foot sanctuary and 4,100-square-foot school that taught all eight grades. "The buyer was going to invest a significant amount of capital into this project," Swihart said. Many historic churches have been rehabilitated into new uses like the Beer Church in New Buffalo, he said. "Every indication is that the building, although in rough shape now, is structurally sound and can be adapted for a new use by the right group," he said. "It is at a great location with a large lot that could be developed thoughtfully to accommodate new businesses or housing." But the city was concerned that the repairs were years away from happening, Land said. He said the 1886 Church Foundation was notified by city inspectors in 2021 that the building was still unsafe despite their efforts to clean it up. "In September 2023, with no improvements made to have the building comply with the unsafe building ordinance, the 1886 Church Foundation was again given formal notice that it is in violation of the city's ordinances," Land said. "Due to the fact that no repairs of any kind had been made, or even started, the decision was made to have the matter brought before the Board of Public Works and Safety." The board voted to demolish the church due to the long-unresolved safety concerns, accepting a bid of $87,000 to tear it down. The demolition has not yet been scheduled, Land said. "The factors that were taken into account were the deteriorating condition of the building, that after seven-plus years of having no work being performed to minimally bring the structure into compliance with the city's codes and the ever-increasing concerns and complaints from the surrounding neighbors of the dilapidated structure," he said. "Although the foundation did present a potential buyer to the property with the hopes of having it restored, the buyer did make a full disclosure to the city that it would take him at least four years to just get it into compliance and in a condition that he could then try to sell it to an end user," the mayor said. "He also made it clear that he could not predict how long it would take to find a buyer." Land said it was a matter of public safety and that the city does value historic buildings and its history. "Crown Point puts a tremendous value on our city's history, particularly our historic buildings," he said. "We have a number of designated historic districts and a historic preservation commission whose sole purpose is to help property owners maintain their building's history as they restore the properties as much as possible." He noted the Redevelopment Commission reimburses businesses in the downtown historic district up to $25,000 for exterior restoration through its facade reimbursement program. GARY Three years. Three generations of tragedies. Almost no answers. That's what the McFarland family has experienced since the beginning of 2022. On Tuesday, it gathered with loved ones, the family's pastor and a crisis responder to ask the public to help bring some semblance of closure as it continues to hope for answers. On the morning of Jan. 14, 2022, authorities found the body of then-42-year-old La'Montrell McFarland in the 2400 block of Broadway in Gary. He'd suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Ten months later, on Oct. 8, 2022, Larry McFarland La'Montrell's father and Jaylen's grandfather died in a fire that swept through a 10-unit apartment building in the 600 block of Ridge Road in Gary, The Times previously reported. Then, on March 26, 2023, La'Montrell's still-grieving son, 21-year-old Jaylen McFarland, was one of two people found dead in a black Jeep Cherokee fully engulfed in flames in the 3100 block of Chase Street, an area near a party Jaylen had attended earlier that night. The incident was initially classified as a vehicle crash that caused a fire until the Lake County Coroner's Office determined both victims Jaylen and 52-year-old Maxie Rallings had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and ruled their deaths homicides. No one has been charged in connection to Jaylen's or La'Montrell's homicides and in La'Montrell's case, it is unclear who is currently responsible for investigating. Jaylen McFarland "He was a good child, a young man who had dreams," Jacqueline Clay, Jaylen's grandmother, said, tears streaming down her face Tuesday evening at a news conference organized by Lisette Guillen of Case Files Chicago. "He had just started working. He had graduated from high school. He had so much ahead of him." Speaking a few hundred yards down the road from where Jaylen's body was recovered from the flaming car two years to the date prior, his mother, Melissa Clay, claimed detectives have not responded to her calls once in 2025. But Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force Detective Gary Runde, the lead investigator on Jaylen's case, said that's simply not true. "The horror of what (the guilty parties) did is unspeakable, but what is equally painful is the silence that has followed from those in power," Clay said. Runde told The Times that Clay went to the task force's office in Crown Point approximately one month ago to meet with detectives about the case, which he said remains "at a standstill." Runde said he spoke on the phone with Clay about the case within the last month and that Clay has repeatedly expressed her frustration with investigators about the status of her son's case. In a statement to The Times, Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon said he has personally maintained in contact with Clay throughout the investigative process regarding Jaylen's homicide. "There have been countless hours put into Mr. McFarlands case at it remains an active homicide investigation," Cannon said. "We are committed to pursuing justice for him and his family and encourage any residents to text any information or tips to 219-207-8477." There are two suspects in the double homicide, Runde said. All four people Maxie, Jaylen and the two suspects were captured on surveillance footage at a gas station in the area of Broadway and 47th Avenue in Gary earlier in the evening. "I understand her pain," Runde said. "We know what took place, we just can't prove it, and because we can't prove it, we can't charge them with it." Runde said detectives' attempts to question the two suspects have been unsuccessful, but not for a lack of trying. Detectives have interviewed people who have been willing to talk, he said. Those interviews, plus video footage leading up to the tragic outcome, have Runde confident in who is guilty of killing Jaylen and Maxie. But Runde said prosecutors do not believe there is enough clear evidence to charge either suspect. Runde said detectives are looking for "any information" related to the case to be shared by the public. That information could be the piece missing from the puzzle needed to file charges, he said. Runde can be contacted at 219-755-3855. La'Montrell McFarland LaMontrell's case, just a little over a year older than Jaylen's, is also uncracked by detectives. It's now unclear who is responsible for investigating it or if any detective is assigned to it at all. Detective Kristopher Adams was working for the now-reorganized Lake County Metro Homicide Unit and had been investigating La'Montrell's case until Jan. 16, 2023, he said in an email to The Times. Adams transferred to the Lake County Sheriff's Department and is no longer investigating any homicides from the Gary Police Department, he said. Gary police could not locate information Wednesday regarding who may currently be investigating the case, though it is possible even likely Gary detectives are not responsible for handling La'Montrell's homicide. But it's unclear if any detective ever took the case over once Adams transferred. Adams alleged all his open cases went back to the homicide unit. The Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force said Wednesday its detectives are not assigned to the case. In a statement to The Times, the homicide task force said it "is aware of the matter and is in the process of reviewing (La'Montrell's) case file given the original detective's no longer being assigned to homicides." The McFarland family is now left to grieve and hope for some semblance of justice as it mourns the loss of three family members since the beginning of 2022 all tragedies, some with more facts in place than others. "It's just heartbreaking to watch them go through this," said Norman Hairston II, pastor at Zion Progressive Cathedral in Gary, where the McFarland family attends church. "While their faith is strong in God, it has weakened their heart to believe that somebody could be that cruel." Hairston baptized Jaylen, he said, adding that he feels like an extension of the McFarland family. "This family has suffered enough," Hairston said. "They will never get over this. Grief does not have a time stamp. It does not have a date. We only know when it begins. But it never ends." MERRILLVILLE Clerk-Treasurer Eric January apologized during a Town Council meeting Tuesday for disparaging remarks he made towards a councilwoman and the town attorney. The apology came after the body tabled a resolution to formally censure January for his remarks, and after an ordinance that would limit his role in town government was removed from the meeting's agenda. Speaking at the meeting, Councilwoman Keesha Hardaway, D-7th, recalled that after the council's March 11 meeting January made insulting remarks regarding her weight. Town Council Attorney Joe Svetanoff relayed that on a separate occasion, January had made a similar disparing comment to him. The clerk-treasurer's comments to Svetanoff were made at a March 18 council workshop in which town officials discussed a proposed ordinance that would split the clerk-treasurer's role in two. Under the proposal, January would maintain the duties of an elected clerk and an appointed controller would take over responsibility for the town's finances. The ordinance appeared on the posted agenda for Tuesday's meeting, and its full text was included in a meeting packet posted on the Town of Merrillville's website, but the item went unaddressed in the evening's proceedings. In its preambulatory language, the ordinance cites alleged issues with financial management under January's watch, including the handling of contributions to the Indiana Public Retirement System, as well as "misunderstandings of duties devolving into refusals to perform." "Repeated appeals for revised execution, performance and compliance are ignored, unwelcomed or met with vituperation," the document continued. January, who was elected to his office in 2023, has played an atypically active role in contentious policy debates and has had a sometimes acrimonious relationship with other town officials. In the fall, he coordinated a citizen letter-writing campaign in opposition to an excess levy appeal approved by the council that would have raised property taxes on Merrillville landowners to better fund emergency services. At a series of tense and sometimes disorderly council meetings, January and his supporters lambasted a proposal that they said would hurt town residents. "That's where the other side of me came out, when I was protecting people's pocketbooks," January told The Times. In an unusual move, he withheld his signature from the town's appeal filing. The proposed tax hike was later rejected by state regulators. January acknowledged having made the remarks recounted by Hardaway and Svetanoff and apologized to his colleagues from the dais. "I have no problem with fighting with anybody about anything for the town of Merrillville," he said. "That is not an excuse for some of the terms that I have used particularly in regards to being overweight." He thanked Council President Rick Bella, D-5th, for removing the controller ordinance from the agenda prior to Tuesday's meeting. January told The Times that he believes the issues that occasioned the proposal can be worked out between him and the council. He said he would oppose an attempt to limit his role in town government, arguing that Merrillville voters chose him to undertake the full duties of the clerk-treasurer's office when they elected him. By default, Indiana towns have elected clerk-treasurers that both maintain municipal records and handle financial matters. Indiana law gives town councils the authority to divide the role's fiscal and clerical duties by adopting an ordinance. Merrillville is Indiana's largest town, and with just over 36,000 residents recorded in the 2020 census, it is legally eligible for second-class city status. Among other changes, that designation would bring split clerk and controller roles by default. Interim Town Manager Michael Griffin referred questions about a controller ordinance to the council, telling reporters only that the body is taking additional time to consider the proposal. Bella declined to speak to reporters about the ordinance following the meeting. Vice President Rhonda Neal, D-1st, did not return a request for comment by press time on Wednesday. Councilman Sean Pettit, D-6, reached on Wednesday, declined to comment before the council meets to discuss the ordinance. During the meeting's public comment period, Councilwoman Shauna Haynes-Edwards, D-2nd, took to the podium to speak against the idea of censuring January. While she told meeting attendees that the clerk-treasurer "should have not said those things," she argued against handling the matter through a formal action by the council. "We have plenty other business to take care of and not running around talking about our personal feelings because, again, we are adults," Haynes-Edwards said. During her own remarks, Merrillville Town Court Administrator Chanda Flowers condemned January's remarks but urged the council to show "consistency." She pointed to the case of then-Town Councilman Jeffrey Minchuk, who in 2021 was revealed to have posed for a photo wearing blackface beside a person in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe. He was not formally censured by the Merrillville Town Council, and left the body after losing a 2023 Democratic primary to now-Councilwoman Leona Chandler-Felton. National carrier Vietnam Airlines is launching new routes and increasing flight frequencies to India, Indonesia, and Russia, while Vietjet Air is adding new destinations in China, Japan, and Singapore. Vietnam Airlines will begin operating two new international routes from Hanoi to India, with flights to Bengaluru starting May 1 and to Hyderabad starting May 7. Both routes will have 3-4 round trips per week. Prior to these new routes, Vietnam Airlines already operated direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Delhi and Mumbai, with over 1,600 flights and more than 240,000 passengers served so far. In May, Vietnam Airlines will also resume its Hanoi-Moscow route after a three-year hiatus due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Initially, the airline will operate two flights per week. Russia has always been a key market for Vietnam's tourism and trade. The direct Hanoi-Moscow route will enhance connectivity and support the recovery of both countries' aviation and tourism industries. Starting June 1, Vietnam Airlines will launch direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Bali (Indonesia), operating 4 round trips per week. From July, the frequency will increase to 7 round trips per week. This will become Vietnam Airlines' second direct route between Vietnam and Indonesia, following Hanoi-Jakarta. On July 1, Vietnam Airlines will begin direct flights between Hanoi and Milan, Italy, operating 3 round trips per week. Tickets for this route are already on sale. This marks the first direct flight from Vietnam to Italy, with plans to launch additional direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Milan after 2025. The Hanoi-Milan route will bring the total number of Vietnam Airlines' direct European routes to 9. The airline currently operates direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Paris (France), Frankfurt, Munich (Germany), and London (U.K.). In addition to opening new international routes, Vietnam Airlines is increasing the frequency of its Hanoi-Manila (Philippines) route from three flights per week to daily flights starting in April. The Ho Chi Minh City-Manila route will be adjusted to four flights per week. Vietnam Airlines plans to launch 15 new international routes in 2025, including destinations in Russia, Italy, Denmark, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the UAE. Budget airline Vietjet is also expanding its network with new routes to China, Japan, India, and Singapore. In March, Vietjet launched new routes from Hanoi to Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai (China), and from Ho Chi Minh City to Beijing, Guangzhou (China), and Hyderabad, Bangalore (India). Starting April 24, Vietjet will operate a new route from Ho Chi Minh City to Nagoya (Japan), with 4 round trips per week. The Ho Chi Minh City-Fukuoka route will start on April 25 with three weekly flights. These two new routes will bring the total number of Vietjet's weekly flights connecting Vietnam to Japan to 138, covering Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Hiroshima. On May 30, Vietjet Air will begin operating a new route from Singapore to Phu Quoc, with 4 round trips per week. This will be its fourth route connecting Singapore with Vietnam, following routes to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the country's aviation market is expected to continue recovering in 2025, with an estimated growth of about 8%. However, the industry still faces challenges, including a shortage of aircraft, exacerbated by the recall of engines from Pratt & Whitney, which has grounded the A321 fleet, and high fuel prices due to global conflicts. Airlines have rented and received new aircraft to supplement their fleets. Currently, the total number of aircraft in Vietnam's fleet exceeds 200, an increase of about 10 compared to the last year. An Offaly man was convicted of stealing a bank card on a bus and illegally using it, during last week's sitting of Tullamore Court. Trevor Jennings, no fixed abode, Birr, who is 39 years of age, pleaded guilty to the offences, which took place on January 12, 2025. He was charged with, at an unknown location on the Limerick to Birr Bus Eireann bus, stealing another passenger's wallet which contained 10 cash and various bank cards. Later on that day, at Applegreen, Railway Road, Birr, he dishonestly by deception induced the cashier to do an act to wit issue 40 of scratch cards using a stolen bank card, and at Mulrooney's Gala, Railway Road, Birr, dishonestly by deception induce the cashier to do an act to wit issue 40 of scratch cards using a stolen debit card. READ NEXT: Offaly man convicted of assaulting garda in Tullamore Garda Station after judge views CCTV Sergeant Brendan Kearns told the court that the injured party on the bus was a man asleep. The Sergeant said Mr Jennings had 97 previous convictions, including 48 previous for theft. He is presently in custody serving a six months sentence for theft. The defending solicitor Aisling Maloney pointed out that her client had been addicted to drugs since the age of 18. A number of members of his family suffer from addiction problems. He has two children. He has put his name down for courses in prison, including addiction counselling and educational courses. READ NEXT: ALERT: 'Be vigilant' - Warning to Offaly drivers after 160 cars stolen Judge Andrew Cody convicted to a month's imprisonment, to run following the expiry of his current prison sentence. Construction leader and former CIF President to speak on business growth, community impact, and building the Midlands economy Business owners, founders, and entrepreneurs are invited to join Founders Friday, an in-person networking event, on Friday, April 4 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Eugene Kellys Bar, Tullamore. This edition welcomes Dominic Doheny, Joint Managing Director of John Flanagan Developments and former President of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). Dominic will share his unfiltered business story, lessons from decades in construction, and practical insights for business leaders focused on growth. Dominic is an accomplished businessman and a passionate advocate for the construction industry. With deep roots in the Midlands, Dominic has long championed balanced regional development, pushing for housing, infrastructure, and enterprise investment outside of Dublin. Construction is not just about buildings it's about building communities, economies, and opportunities, Dominic has said. READ NEXT: GoFundMe set up for Offaly woman to help with crucial life extending treatment During his presidency at CIF, Dominic was a vocal advocate for treating housing as a national priority and empowering regions like Offaly to play a greater role in solving Irelands housing challenges. We are really excited to have Dominic Doheny speak at our next Founders Friday event, said David Gleeson, CEO of the Allpro Recruitment group. Dominic is an inspiring figure not only for his achievements in construction, but also for his commitment to sustainable business and his belief in the potential of the Midlands. We created Founders Friday to bring together ambitious business leaders to connect, learn, and be inspired by real stories from those whove walked the walk, added Andrea Scally, COO of Allpro Recruitment. Its about community, collaboration, and growth. READ NEXT: ALERT: 'Be vigilant' - Warning to Offaly drivers after 160 cars stolen Founders Friday is brought to you by Allpro Recruitment in association with Tullamore and District Rotary Club. With just 50 places available, previous events have sold out very quickly. To get your free ticket: CLICK HERE to book your ticket Rotterdam, the Netherlands - All-in-one feedback analytics software Mopinion is now available in the app store of ecommerce software provider and global leader in Point-of-Sale systems, Lightspeed. This new integration enables Lightspeed webshops to easily capture feedback from their online visitors using easy-to-install customisable feedback forms. The webshops also have access to advanced reporting and analysis capabilities that will provide them with the insights they need to improve overall performance A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, in an attempt to help address concerns there will be shortage of new talent entering the mining workforce, introduced legislation on Wednesday aiming to boost the American mining workforce by setting up a grant program for colleges with mining programs. The Mining Schools Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., would establish a grant program for mining schools to receive funds to help recruit students and carry out studies, research projects, or demonstration projects related to the production of minerals. The act authorizes the appropriation of $10 million per year from 2026 through 2033 for the grants for college mining programs. Along with setting up the grant program, the act also establishes a Mining Professional Development Advisory Board to evaluate applications and recommend recipients to the Secretary of Energy. The board would also conduct oversight to ensure grant funds are appropriately used. Cortez Masto said the University of Nevada, Renos, Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering is one of the schools which would qualify for funding under the Mining Schools Act. A similar Mining Schools Act was introduced in 2023 by Barrasso and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. The Mining Schools Act was approved by the Senate on July 10, 2024, and then went to the U.S. House, where it was approved by the House Natural Resources Committee in mid-December. Attempts were made to attach the bill to the year-end budget package, but criticism of the House budget package forced the leadership to trim the budget from 1,547 pages to just 116 and the Mining Schools Act was set aside, leading to its reintroduction in the current Congress. An article from the Essential Minerals Association said the Mining Schools Act is going into this years Congress with momentum that it lacked going into the prior Congress. Nevada is on the forefront of the growing critical mineral industry, Cortez Masto said in the announcement of the reintroduced Mining Schools Act. This legislation will provide needed resources to universities in the Silver State to prepare young Nevadans for good-paying jobs that support our states economy and promote green energy production. When the Mining Schools Act was making its way through Congress last December, Nevada Mining Association President Amanda Hilton said investing in programs which connect young people to opportunities in mining, particularly in rural Nevada, will be crucial to sustaining the industrys momentum. Hilton said the Mining Schools Acts grants to mining programs at colleges would help to bolster education, research, and recruitment efforts across the state. By supporting legislation like this, we can ensure Nevada remains a leader in mining and resource development for generations to come. National Mining Association President and CEO Rich Nolan said the $10 million in annual grants which would be set up by the Mining Schools Act is a tiny investment that could pay dividends as we work to reshore our mineral supply chains and begin the urgent work of defanging Chinas mineral weapon. It deserves to become law. Americas mining workforce fuels our energy independence from China, Russia and other adversaries, Barrasso said in the announcement of the reintroduced Mining Schools Act in the current Congress. Support for our mining schools will help us maintain our energy dominance worldwide and secure access to the critical minerals and resources necessary for our economy and national security. This bipartisan legislation will ensure Americas mining workforce is strengthened for generations to come. A 2023 report from McKinsey & Co. said 71% of mining leaders are finding the talent shortage is holding them back from delivering on production targets and strategic objectives, and 86% of mining executives tell us it is harder to recruit and retain the talent they need versus two years ago particularly in specialized fields such as mine planning, process engineering, and digital (data science and automation). Steven Schafrik, associate professor of mining engineering at the University of Kentucky, said his school would use grant funding from the Mining Schools Act to develop next generation technology, increase our industry engagement, and increase our recruitment so that the next generation of mining engineers will be able to operate the mines of the future. The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration published a story on the Mining Schools Act in August 2024 which cited a report from the Center for Strategic & International Studies saying about 221,000 mining workers, more than half of the current work force, will retire and need to be replaced by 2029. This number stands in stark contrast to the total of just 327 degrees awarded in 2020 in mining and mineral engineering and a 39% net drop in graduates in the United States since 2016, the center said. SME said its figures show there has been about a 43% decrease in the number of mining graduates since 2015, with geological engineering programs dwindling to only 13 and metallurgical engineering at eight. However, SME said, although these numbers highlight a steady decline in interest in the mining industry, the Mining Schools Act provides hope for its future. Bristol, UK - 26th March 2025 FREESMO is helping smokers make the switch this VApril with its 30-Day No Smoking Challenge - a structured, motivational program designed to support those looking to stop cigarettes for good. Coinciding with the UK's biggest vaping awareness campaign, the challenge offers tailored guidance, a supportive community, and incentives to keep participants committed. Smokers are invited to complete FREESMO's unique Smoke-Free Questionnaire - a personalized tool matching Dubai, UAE - The RG GROUP, a leader in real estate and investment solutions, has issued a compelling call to action for investors looking to capitalize on Dubai's booming market. With a track record of success in commercial real estate, industrial ventures, and land investments, RG GROUP is reaffirming its commitment to providing exclusive, high-yield opportunities in the region. In a recently released statement, RG GROUP's leadership emphasized that Dubai remains Wav Cabs is Sydney's premier taxi service, offering exceptional transportation solutions for all kinds of travel needs. Our mission is to deliver a service that embodies comfort, reliability, and punctuality, ensuring that every journey is smooth and enjoyable. Whether you're heading to a business meeting, traveling to the airport, planning a wedding, or simply need a ride across the city, Wav Cabs is here to make your experience seamless and Bryce McGowens #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball during the second half against the Miami Heat at Moda Center on January 11, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) Getty Images Portland Trail Blazers two-way guard Bryce McGowens will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a right rib fracture. The injury occurred during Mondays 124-113 home loss to the Sioux Falls Skyforce. McGowens scored 17 points in 16 minutes before leaving the game. On the season, McGowens averaged 29.3 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Remix. McGowens appeared in 13 games this season with the Blazers, averaging 2.5 minutes per outing. -- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook) Drive-thru chain Dutch Bros said Thursday it opened its 1,000th shop last month and now hopes to open 7,000 eventually. Thats 3,000 more than it had forecast at the time of its initial public stock offering in 2021. Additionally, the Oregon-based company said it will start to sell packaged coffee and other Dutch Bros products in other retailers stores as it works to expand its business. Dutch Bros said it licensed its name to a Wisconsin company, Trilliant Food and Nutrition, that sells retail coffee under various brand names. Dutch Bros stock has been on a tear since November amid growing investor optimism about the companys fortunes and strong financial results. The companys share price has roughly doubled in that time, to $65.01 at Thursdays close. That gives the company a market value of approximately $10 billion. Dutch Bros now ranks No. 2 among Oregons most valuable businesses, trailing only Nike. Dutch Bros started in 1992 with a single coffee cart in Grants Pass. Its headquarters remain there, nominally, though CEO Christine Barone and many other company executives work in a company office near Phoenix, Arizona. The chain has won a devoted following with a lineup of highly caffeinated energy drinks. While Dutch Bros has a large footprint in the western U.S., much of its growth now takes place in the South and Southeast. Texas is its largest state, with 214 shops at the end of 2024. At Thursdays investor day in Arizona, Dutch Bros told stock analysts that the company is outperforming its own expectations. Last month, we proudly opened our 1,000th shop, and with a strong roadmap ahead, we are focused on our bold goal of reaching 2,029 shops in 2029, Barone said. Dutch Bros finished 2024 with 982 drive-thrus and aims to open 160 more this year. The company said it hopes its licensing deal with Trilliant will help build brand awareness for Dutch Bros products. The company reported $1.3 billion in sales last year, up 33% from 2023. Annual profits jumped from $10.0 million to $66.5 million. -- Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe President Donald Trump speaks to reporters in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Pool via AP) AP FRANKFURT, Germany European automakers, already struggling with tepid economic growth at home and rising competition from China, on Thursday decried the U.S. import tax on cars as a heavy burden that will punish consumers and companies alike on both sides of the Atlantic. The new 25% import tax announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday will hurt global automakers and US manufacturing at the same time, the European Automobile Manufacturers association said in a statement. The head of Germanys auto industry association, VDA, said the tariffs would weigh on car makers and every company in the deeply interwoven global supply chain with negative consequences above all for consumers, including in North America. The consequences will cost growth and prosperity on all sides, Hildegard Muller said in a statement. The stakes are enormous for BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Stellantis and their vast network of suppliers, as well as the entire European economy. The U.S. is the biggest export destination for the European auto industry and in 2023, European automakers exported 56 billion euros worth of vehicles and parts to the U.S.. Europes auto industry supports 13.8 million jobs, or 6.1% of total EU employment. Europes carmakers already face a shrunken domestic market and new competition from cheaper Chinese electric vehicles. Any trouble in the auto industry would weigh on European economy that did not grow at all in the last quarter of 2024 and just 0.9% for the entire year. The most exposed are German and Italian carmakers since 24% of German and 30% of Italian non-EU exports go to the U.S.. Germany is home to major automakers such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. This would deliver a substantial blow to a sector that not only sustains millions of jobs but also contributes to a large proportion of the blocs GDP, wrote analyst Clarissa Hahn at Oxford Economics. She estimated a decline in German exports of 7.1% and a fall of 6.6% for Italian ones. U.S. carmakers are less exposed to possible retaliation because they export only 2% of their production to the EU. Still, shares of Detroits Ford and General Motors tumbled sharply before the opening bell in the U.S. Thursday because the U.S. industry relies heavily on cross-board trade by suppliers. The EU and the US must engage in dialogue to find an immediate resolution to avert tariffs and the damaging consequences of a trade war, the European manufacturers association said. German auto association head Muller called for immediate negotiations between the EU and U.S. on a bilateral agreement that would offer a forum to discuss the various tariff and non-tariff barriers for automobile products and could lead to a more balanced approach. -- The Associated Press The van was caught on residential Ring camera surveillance in Milwaukie where the shooting of mail carrier David Knapp occurred about 12:40 p.m. on Christmas Eve Dec. 24, 2022, according to Milwaukie police and U.S. postal inspectors. U.S. Attorney's Office In the days after her son died in a stabbing, Shannon Courtright said she has received hundreds of messages, calls and voicemails from others sharing what her son meant to them. It surprised her and her family to know how popular and loved Drew Courtright was, she said. And that she was learning new parts about his life from people she didnt know stories of how he spread hope and love and showed kindness in times of need. Im proud of the man that I raised, and I wished that he could have stayed here longer, said Shannon Courtright, whose son was killed in a Northeast Portland hotel on Friday. Portland police responded to reports of a stabbing at the Sojourn Suites Hotel near Portland International Airport around 8 a.m. and found the 26-year-old dead. On Tuesday, officers arrested 42-year-old Mitch Schoonover on an allegation of first-degree murder. In 2006, Schoonover was sentenced to 15 years in prison tied to a Gresham fatal shooting. Schoonover made an appearance in Multnomah County court Wednesday. His court-appointed attorney did not respond to a request for comment. According to his mother, Drew Courtright was staying at the hotel with his girlfriend and was waking up when he got into a fistfight in a hotel hallway. He was stabbed multiple times, she said police told her. But she is still left with questions about why someone attacked her son. Prosecutors asked a judge to seal the affidavit in the case for investigative reasons. Its so frustrating, she said. They were fighting, he was losing, and Drew had to die for that. Courtrights death came months after his release from prison in September, according to his mother. He was sentenced in 2023 to 20 months for being caught in a stolen vehicle in Clackamas County. It wasnt the first time. He and his twin, Alec, were the youngest of his mothers children and spent nearly a decade in Californias San Jacinto Valley, riding bikes, skateboarding and wrestling with each other, she said. The family later moved back to the Clackamas County area where theyve lived since. Shannon Courtright described her son Drew as the brightest light. If a friend or family member needed help, she said he was there at a moments notice. And he cared deeply about his siblings. He had a rare and beautiful way of making everyone feel valued, loved, and understood, according to a fundraiser set up to cover funeral expenses. His oldest brother died in 2021, and his death took a toll on the twins, their mother said. Drew Courtright, she said, was struggling with addiction before he went to prison in 2023. She said she spent much of Drew Courtrights life trying to steer him away from drugs only to later find out he helped many people seek treatment. He spread love, he spread hope to people, she said. He could get you laughing no matter what. If she had known that her sons life was at risk, Shannon Courtright said she would have traded places to save him. She found out after his death that her son had bought a crossbody bag from a brand that his twin brother loves. He was waiting to give it to Alec Courtright, who is in Multnomah Countys Inverness Jail for violating the terms of his probation tied to a 2022 misdemeanor conviction. A jail chaplain informed him of his brothers death, and family later spoke to Alec Courtright on the phone, Shannon Courtright said. The family told him about the bag his brother bought, and he sobbed. He made a request to his mother, she said, that the bag be placed in a Ziploc bag that holds his older brothers T-shirt as a way to be with them both. Thats how much its going to mean to him now, she said. 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. A rare group of endangered southern resident killer whales was spotted off Oregons central coast Monday, March 24, about three miles offshore near Cape Foulweather, just north of Depoe Bay. Observers aboard the Samson, a charter vessel operated by Dockside Charters, reported seeing about 10 whales. Whale watcher Cathy Sharp captured photos of the sighting, which were later analyzed by researcher Josh McInnes of California State University, Monterey Bay. McInnes identified the whales as members of the L4 matriline, part of the L pod one of three family groups in the critically endangered southern resident population. These whales typically range from southern British Columbia to central California. McInnes identified eight individuals in the group: L055 (female, born 1977) L082 (female, born 1990) L086 (female, born 1991) L103 (female, born 2003) L106 (male, born 2005) L109 (male, born 2007) L116 (male, born 2010) L118 (female, born 2011) Its not common to encounter southern resident killer whales along the Oregon coast, McInnes said in a Facebook message. This isnt because they arent there it has more to do with where they tend to occur, often farther offshore and near shallow offshore banks. So seeing them from shore can be difficult. The Oregon coast is part of their overall habitat, and were just beginning to learn how they use this area. Theyre more elusive and critically endangered. Only 73 remain. This is the second sighting of killer whales in Oregon this year. In early 2025, killer whales were reported near Port Orford around a rock formation known as The Gate. McInnes, who also runs social media groups tracking killer whale sightings along the West Coast, said the fish eating L pod whales likely remained lingering in the area following winter foraging movements, primarily in search of Columbia River Chinook salmon. While mammal-eating transient killer whales are more commonly seen off Oregon from April to June coinciding with harbor seal pupping season sightings of southern residents remain rare. Two weeks ago, members of the K pod were encountered twice in Monterey Bay, suggesting ongoing coastal movement among southern residents as they track salmon from different regions. With Oregons Spring Whale Watch Week underway, McInnes said sightings cant be guaranteed but early analyses indicate transient killer whales are showing increased activity this season. With better weather and what were seeing so far, theres a good chance people might spot them, he said. Eva and Tyler, owners of Dockside Charters, added: Whale sightings have been amazing lately. Mark Graves, The Oregonian/OregonLive 503-860-3060 mgraves@oregonian.com MORE: In 2023, whale watchers along the Oregon coast spotted a pod of orcas hunt prey together in an organized group. The articles features stunning drone video and photos. In 2024, Killer whales in Puget Sound were designated as an entirely new species of orca. 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 profile of Leonardo Talarico, who Johnstun said is shaping tomorrows design today. In the dynamic world of contemporary design, few names have risen as quickly and as solidly as Leonardo Talarico. The Milan-born designer, who has already worked with a host of the industrys most prestigious brands, has made his mark by emphasizing simplicity, elegance and timelessness. Whether in the sleek, minimalist lines of a chair, the elegant detailing of a fashion accessory or the sophisticated interior of a helicopter, Talaricos designs leave a lasting impression, one that is refined, purposeful and undeniably Italian. His approach to design is defined by a meticulous reduction of excess, where every line and detail serves a purpose. And, as he continues to break new ground in multiple fields, Talaricos projects stand as a testament to his ability to fuse technical rigor with an impeccable sense of aesthetic. Talaricos path to becoming one of the most respected talents in the Italian design world is a reflection of his diverse skill set and deep understanding of both the creative and business aspects of design. Originally trained as an industrial engineer, he later expanded his expertise by studying marketing. This comprehensive background has given Talarico the unique ability to approach projects from a 360-degree perspective merging design, advertising, packaging, PR and promotion in a harmonious blend. His first foray into the design world was marked by a defining partnership with Giulio Cappellini, one of the most influential tastemakers of the last four decades. Cappellini, known for discovering world-renowned designers like Tom Dixon and Jasper Morrison, took Talarico under his wing, an opportunity that would shape the young designers career. Talaricos collaboration with Cappellini, along with the companys global influence, cemented his place as one of the most promising young designers in the international design scene. Talaricos design philosophy resonates strongly with those who value elegance, functionality and detail. He believes that a designer is, above all, a storyteller. With my projects, I tell stories and tell about myself, he says. His ability to distill his ideas into essential forms makes his creations feel both personal and universal, with an innate warmth and timeless quality. Some of his most iconic works can be found in partnerships with design giants such as Tods (reinterpreting the Leo Clamp), Living Divani (Segno umbrella stand), Mercedes-Benz (Wave Chair) and MDF Italia (the Metodo). For Tods, Talarico brought innovation to the brands classic moccasins, incorporating titanium detailing and eliminating unnecessary elements to elevate the products visual language. His partnership with Living Divani reflects his affinity for balanced, minimalist design, as exemplified by his creation of the Segno umbrella stand. Designed with a sculptural quality, it is striking in its simplicity, and its removable bottom allows for easy drainage, showcasing Talaricos attention to both form and function. The Milan-based designer has also ventured beyond the realm of furniture, collaborating on projects in aeronautics and fashion. Talaricos work for AgustaWestland, now Leonardo Helicopters, focuses on creating luxurious yet functional interiors for helicopters, where modularity and customization meet precision engineering. With each project, Talarico has proven that his versatility and technical prowess go beyond conventional design, embracing multiple industries with the same clarity of vision. Recognition for Talaricos contributions to the design world has been swift. He was named one of the 15 Italian talents under 35 by design and architecture source Casa da Abitare and Para Ti Deco magazine heralded him as one of the seven designers under 35 worldwide who will shape the future of design. His projects have been showcased in prestigious museums and galleries across the globe, from the Saatchi Gallery in London to the MAXXI Museum in Rome, as well as Milans renowned Pinacoteca di Brera. But perhaps one of the greatest measures of his success is the way his work transcends fleeting trends. His designs are inherently timeless, reflecting a style that is not only rooted in tradition but also highly relevant to the future. From museum exhibits to international collaborations with luxury brands, Leonardo Talaricos work captures a balance between innovation and timeless elegance that continues to resonate with both critics and audiences alike. As the next generation of designers reshapes the landscape of modern design, Leonardo Talarico stands out not only for his distinctive aesthetic but also for his unwavering commitment to simplicity, functionality and the power of storytelling through design. His work is poised to continue improving the way people live, moving seamlessly between different realms while maintaining a cohesive vision that will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of creatives. Damon Johnstun @damonjohnstun The congregation from Bethanys Masjid Ibrahim gathers at the Christ United Methodist Church in Cedar Mill for evening prayer services during Ramadan. Chiara Profenna On Sunday evening, worshippers stream into the Christ United Methodist Church in Cedar Mill, removing their shoes before stepping into the sanctuary. They form neat rows, facing Maulana Uzair Albazi, the imam leading the evening prayer. Unlike the typical Sunday service held here, there are no pews or an altar only prayer rugs facing the eastern wall of the octagonal space. A vaulted wooden ceiling arches overhead, while a blue temporary divider separates men from women. Its not a traditional mosque, but for now, its a space that serves its purpose. The worshipers are here for nightly Taraweeh service, an evening prayer performed during the 30 days of Ramadan, which ends March 29. Each day, one chapter of the Quran is recited by the imam from memory. For years, the Masjid Ibrahim community has gathered in rented churches and vacant buildings, making do with temporary spaces for worship. By the end of 2025, however, they hope to open their own mosque on Northwest Springville Road. A two-story metal frame already stands on the lot a future home with nearly 17,000 square feet of space, designed to be a lasting place of prayer and community. Construction on the 17,000-square-foot mosque is about halfway done. Chiara Profenna The mosque would serve the Bethany areas Muslim community, offering a space for religious services, community gatherings and educational classes. Construction has been steadily progressing since the nonprofit organization purchased the property in 2017. During that time, the congregation has also continued to grow. It began in 2010, when a few brothers decided to gather for prayer together. Some of the community members, they basically rented out one room from a school, after hours, said Muhammad Awais Ishaq, a Masjid Ibrahim board member. The practice allowed them to come pray in a communal space together after work. Slowly, the community grew, renting out larger spaces in Bethany, including unoccupied stores in the Bethany Village shopping center and the Cedar Mill church. Because of the capacity, not many people were coming, Ishaq said. So they realized, we need to have a mosque over here, because our kids are growing up, we need to have some place. A rendering shows the plans for the completed mosque. Photo courtesy of Masjid Ibrahim. Masjid Ibrahim Ishaq estimates that the community has grown to around 200 families from diverse backgrounds, including immigrants from Arab countries, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Somalia, Syria and Turkey. Earlier in March was the first time many in the community were able to visit the construction site for the new mosque while picking up iftar meal boxes. During Ramadan, practicing Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, reflecting on their relationship with God. The daily fast is broken with iftar the evening meal. The congregations response to the construction progress has been overwhelming, said Azhar Syed, a longtime member. For us, mosque is not just a place where we worship, Syed said. Its where we want our children to have a safe environment to play, to come up with questions. Syed, a father of two, said he is excited for his children to grow and learn in the space. For us, with this mosque, I think it will be more like home for us, said Syed, who emigrated from India. Most of us migrated from back home. And then we are building it from scratch. So, there are a lot of emotions attached to it. The inside of the mosque will include spaces for separated prayer rooms, classrooms, washing areas, an office and a library. Chiara Profenna Other than religious services, the space will be open to the public for community gatherings, Syed said, regardless of religious differences. While many are excited for the construction to be completed, the process has come with its own set of challenges, Ishaq said. The new mosque occupies 2.2 acres surrounded by farmland in Multnomah County, just east of the densely populated North Bethany area. Neighbors filed a petition in 2020 arguing the mosque was inconsistent with the rural residential area. The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals upheld Multnomah Countys approval of a proposed mosque in 2020, allowing construction to move forward. Other than that, (neighbors) have been very friendly, said Arshad Ashfaq, a member of the board of directors. We invited them off and on, and they provided feedback, and we engage them. As of March, construction of the Masjid Ibrahim is approximately halfway completed, Ishaq said. This progress has been made possible through funding and support from the congregation and other mosques in the area. Ashfaq said they still need approximately $2 million to $3 million to complete construction. The drive-through Iftar meal pickups and other Ramadan events have also generated more excitement for the project. Its really motivating to see that its finally coming together, said Mahad Awais, Ishaqs son and a teenage member of the congregation. The main structure is here now, so you can see what its gonna look like and envision it. Throughout the construction progress, the Muslim community in Bethany has steadily grown, Awais said. The community is really big here, so it was really important that we had something for everyone to share, Awais said. With this mosque that we have, we can have a place to call ours. 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. Three months after opening its first brick-and-mortar space, Portlands only Indigenous restaurant is moving. Javelina and its tasting room experience, Inisha, are relocating to 4636 N.E. 42nd Ave., the former Norma Jeans and Yonder space next to the Native American Youth and Family Centers Munk-yelan Saxali office in the Cully neighborhood. Founded by Chef Alexa Numkena-Anderson (Hopi, Yakama, Skokomish, and Cree Nations) and her husband, Nick Numkena-Anderson, Javelina has quickly become a cultural and community hub for Indigenous people in Portland, showcasing Indigenous- and Mexican-inspired North American cuisine with dishes like bison sliders, elk fry bread and blue corn tostadas. Read More: How Javelina Indigenous Dining is redefining North American cuisine The restaurants last day in its current location, near Northeast Killingsworth, is March 29. Javelina expects to relaunch on April 17 with Insha following in May. The Numkena-Andersons said Javelinas business quickly outgrew its original location. According to a Javelina PDX Facebook post, the current space posed unforeseen challenges and was too small to accommodate everyone that came in. The Numkena-Andersons quickly realized we needed more room to pursue our goals of being a restaurant, gathering place and community hub for our guests. The new location will feature expanded seating (nearly triple the indoor space), a full bar to enhance the beverage program and extended hours with an expanded menu. I think that theres just going to be a lot of change happening, and I hope people are just down for the journey with us, Alexa said in a previous interview, anticipating the move. The Numkena-Andersons said they hope to be a positive influence in the neighborhood, which is home to many of Javelinas partners including the Native American Youth and Family Center, Prosper Portland and the Northwest Native Chamber. Lea este articulo en espanol: El unico restaurante indigena de Portland tiene un nuevo hogar 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. Actress Lea Zawada, 14, checks some of her props on the stage of the Newmark Theater before a 2010 matinee of "Sideways Stories From Wayside School," a production of Oregon Children's Theatre. LC- The Oregonian For kids in the Portland area, Oregon Childrens Theatre has been a constant for 35 years. Whether it was a field trip to see a professional production, an in-school program or a chance to be an actor on stage, the theater company has touched lives for three and a half decades. But at the end of the summer, Oregon Childrens Theatre will cease operations, and no one knows for how long. Like many arts organizations across the state, finances have been tenuous for Oregon Childrens Theatre for a long time. I have only been with the organization for a short time this summer will be two years, Oregon Childrens Theatres producing artistic director, Jenn Hartmann Luck said Tuesday. And when I arrived, Oregon Childrens Theatre was in a moment of needing to really investigate finances. At that time, she said, the organization had to pause programming, cancel a show and lay off staff. Now, once again, Oregon Childrens Theatre is in a tough position. The company announced Monday that it would halt all operations at the beginning of September. All programs, including camps, classes, in-school programs and the Young Professionals Company, will pause for an undetermined amount of time. Hartmann Luck hopes this pause wont be the end of the 35-year-old organization, but instead an opportunity to raise money and create a sustainable path forward for a group that has introduced theater to countless Oregon kids. In the calendar year of 2024, I look back and I realize even with all the financial issues, Hartmann Luck said, we served almost 80,000 children. Oregon Childrens Theatre is facing the same issues that have plagued arts organizations in the half a decade since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. The pandemic shut down all in-person activities, and while emergency funding kept organizations alive in the short term, the cultural damage has been hard to recover from. As the pandemic funding disappeared, paying audiences were slow to return. And, at the same time, expenses increased and long-term funders reduced contributions or left entirely. For Oregon Childrens Theatre, the shutdown of the Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater program was a massive hit. Funding from that program, Hartmann Luck said, was really covering the cost of all of our educational programs. That program, which supported theater education shut down leaving a major gap in the theaters funding. It was almost $900,000 by the time that relationship was over, Hartmann Luck said. I understand that they are a business as well and they needed to make decisions. But it had such deep implications for an organization like ours. The loss of that funding was just another obstacle for the theater company, which has seen an onslaught of obstacles over the last decade, including the loss of its physical space. What COVID revealed was so many of our nonprofit arts organizations have always been hanging on by a thread, Hartmann Luck said. Many arts nonprofits operate near the margin, so that when disaster hits, it can be financially overwhelming. In another blow, ice storms in January of 2024 forced the cancellation of shows of two Oregon Childrens Theatre productions. It was almost $30,000 of expenses that came because of the ice storm and there was little we could do about it, we couldnt reschedule, Hartmann Luck said. Over the fall, Oregon Childrens Theatre mounted a successful production of Cat Kid Comic Club, she said. But, she said, One successful show is just not enough when you dont have reserves, when you dont have the runway, to cover all the overhead, all of the expense that it takes to manage and run a company of our size. Hartmann Luck hopes this pause will allow the theater to finally get back on its feet. The theater is asking people to fill out an online survey and donate. They are hoping to raise $1 million to resume operations. Camps and classes will continue to run through the summer and enrollment in those is open. OCT is part of the fabric of Portland, Hartmann Luck said. This work, it saves lives and changes lives, especially in moments like were experiencing in in our world right now. Lizzy Acker covers life and culture and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Wayne Wolfe, formerly Edwards, is the son of convicted serial killer Ed Edwards. Falling on hard times, Wolfe is selling a handmade leather baby book his biological father made for him while imprisoned for committing bank robberies. Destiny Johnson An unusual listing from Beaverton cropped up on Facebook Marketplace last week with the title Murder memorabilia. For $50,000, you can buy a hand carved leather photo album made by serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards in 1957 while he was in prison. The album features a smiling blond baby boy on the front and the name Wayne Jr. etched in cursive on the back. The seller is Wayne Wolfe, but when the album was created for him, his name was Edward Wayne Edwards Jr., son of convicted serial killer Ed Edwards. When Edwards died in 2011 from natural causes while awaiting execution in Ohio, he had confessed to five murders. But Edwards was suspected in more many more, depending on whom you ask. Wayne Wolfe, formerly Edwards, is the son of convicted serial killer Ed Edwards. He's shown in a baby photo with his mother, Jeannette Edwards. Destiny Johnson Now 68, Wolfe never knew his biological father. As a child, he was adopted by his stepfather. Ten years ago, not long before she died, his mother presented him with the leather album that Edwards had made decades earlier. Now, facing eviction from his home of 15 years, Wolfe is looking to sell it. The album was featured in the 2018 Paramount Network true crime series It Was Him: The Many Murders of Ed Edwards. In the series, a retired police detective argues that Edwards was responsible for a number of sensational murders across the country, including the killings of JonBenet Ramsey, Laci Peterson, Jimmy Hoffa and the Zodiac Killer murders. Wayne Wolfe, formerly Edwards, is the son of convicted serial killer Ed Edwards. Falling on hard times, Wolfe is selling a handmade leather baby book his biological father made for him while imprisoned for committing bank robberies. Destiny Johnson The series premise is far-fetched, but Edwards was a legitimate suspect in other murders, including the 1960 double murder of a young couple in Portlands Forest Park. LIFE OF CRIME Edwards was a prolific criminal who traveled across the U.S. committing armed robberies, arsons and brutal assaults against women, according to his own 1972 autobiography, Metamorphosis of a Criminal. Ed Edwards mugshot when he was on the FBI's Most Wanted List. FBI In the books final chapters, Edwards claims to be a reformed man, but the bulk of his writing includes graphic details of his lifetime of crime, delivered without a trace of remorse. News reports from the time of his arrest on the FBIs Most Wanted list said he had a near genius IQ of 132. Edwards met and married Wolfes mother, Jeannette, in 1955 when he was traveling through Idaho Falls, Idaho. The couple moved often across the Pacific Northwest as Edwards robbed stores and gas stations. Jeannette coerced in an abusive relationship, according to her family served as the getaway driver. Just a few months later, Edwards learned Jeannette was pregnant with Wolfe while they were on their way to Portland. Five days after our arrival in Portland, I committed three armed robberies on three successive nights, Edwards wrote. Wayne Wolfe, formerly Edwards, holds his certificate of blessing, showing his father as Edward Wayne Edwards. Destiny Johnson Edwards was eventually arrested for a robbery in Billings, Montana, and sent to prison in 1956, while Jeannette was still pregnant. Edwards writes about learning leather-working while at Deer Lodge State Prison. But the marriage would not last, and Jeannette divorced Edwards in 1958 while he was still incarcerated. Mom took me into the prison to tell him that she was divorcing him and for him to be able to see me one last time, Wolfe said. Thats when he gave her the photo album. He told her, Fill it full of pictures of Wayne, because Im going to get out of prison and Im going to kill him to get even with you for divorcing me. After serving his sentence in Montana, Edwards was released in July 1959 and taken to Portland to face armed robbery charges. He received five years probation and stayed in the Portland area, first working for a cabinetmaker and then as a vacuum salesman (while committing fraud and other petty crimes on the side). As he writes in his book, Edwards drove one night to Idaho Falls, tracked down his ex-wife and waited outside her home with a gun. In Portland, Id convinced myself that I wanted to kill Jeannette, a thought I just couldnt turn off. Then, after actually seeing her and the boy, I had my doubts, he wrote. I decided I would return to Idaho Falls some other time and at least maul her face enough so that people would throw her peanuts if she happened to be at a zoo. Edwards wrote that after being abandoned by Jeannette, violent feelings began to overtake me. PEYTON ALLAN CASE Edwards was living in Portland when college students Larry Peyton and his girlfriend, Beverly Allan, both 19, were brutally murdered along a road in Forest Park on Nov. 26, 1960. Lover's Lane murder victim Larry Peyton was found in his 1949 Ford coupe named Gabriel near Portland's Forest Park. Sheriff's identification officer Don Pedigo takes picture of bullet hole through in windshield. Oregonian Oregonian Peytons body was found the next day in his parked car, with 23 stab wounds and a crushed skull. A bullet had been fired from inside his car through the window, and police suspected Peyton, who was known to carry a gun, had fired a shot at the killer. Allans body was found six weeks later in a ravine off U.S. 26, 40 miles west of Portland. She had been raped and strangled. Edwards was questioned by police after hanging around the crime scene the day after the murder, with a bullet wound in his left arm, according to news reports. Larry Peyton and Beverly Allan Oregonian file photos They started questioning me about the lovers lane murder, Edwards wrote. I told them I knew nothing about it; I had just driven to the scene because, like a lot of other people, I was curious. Interestingly, Edwards book doesnt mention the gunshot wound. About a week after the murders, Edwards was arrested on a separate charge of setting off fire alarms. On Dec. 10, 1960, he escaped from Portlands Rocky Butte Jail by having a friend, posing as a probation officer, call the jail and clear him for release, The Oregonian reported. Edwards then promptly left town, and his armed robbery spree continued. He was placed on the FBIs Most Wanted list on Nov. 10, 1961. Atlanta police finally captured him on Jan. 20, 1962. An Oregon Journal front page on Ed Edwards being placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list, following his escape from a Portland jail. Oregon Journal Eight years after the Peyton-Allan murders, and after the testimony of a young woman plied by detectives with truth serum, two men were convicted of the crime and sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years. But in his book, The Peyton-Allan Files, former columnist for The Oregonian and author Phil Stanford argues that Edwards was the real killer. The convicted men were quietly paroled after serving just a few years of their sentences. What does that tell you? Stanford told The Oregonian in a 2010 interview. The most sensational double murder, and they let him out on parole after three years? Nobody thought they did it. In his autobiography, Edwards readily admitted to robberies, arsons and assaults, but no murders. Yet he makes an eerie admission on page 351: God, I had mowed down a lot of people in my life. Edwards book ends with him turning his life around after his release from prison in 1967. He used his book to travel across the country, speaking to schools, community groups and police academies about how the corrections system had worked. He even appeared on two television game shows in the 1970s: To Tell the Truth and Whats My Line? But years later, Edwards would confess to two different lovers lane killings: the 1977 murders of a young couple in Ohio, and the 1980 murders of a Wisconsin couple that was shockingly similar to the Peyton-Allan killings. A newspaper clipping from 2010 in which an aging Ed Edwards confesses to killing his foster son. Destiny Johnson In 2010, he confessed to killing his foster son in 1996, stating in a jailhouse interview that, at the age of 77, he hoped for the death penalty. Wolfes son, Brandon Wolfe, suspects his grandfather could have been involved in more crimes, including the Zodiac killings. He was going to die in prison, and he didnt want that to happen, Brandon said, So he just said enough to qualify for the death penalty and then he stopped talking because any extra murder he would confess to would stay his execution. SON OF A SERIAL KILLER Wayne Wolfe knew he was adopted at a young age, but he never knew much about his biological father. All I ever knew about him was that he was a bank robber, and that he had vowed to kill us, he said. It wasnt until Brandon took an online DNA test in 2015 that he and his father discovered their relationship to Ed Edwards. It explained a lot, the elder Wolfe said. I had real bad anger problems, and now I know why. That is one thing of the DNA I had to have gotten from my father. As a teen in Idaho, Wayne Wolfe would get into fights. After a particularly bad assault, a judged offered him a choice: spend two years in juvenile detention or sign up for the military. On his 17th birthday, his parents gave their permission for him to join the Marines. He was injured during boot camp, he said, and left the military in March 1974. Wayne Wolfe, formerly Edwards, is the son of convicted serial killer Ed Edwards. Falling on hard times, Wolfe is selling a handmade leather baby book his biological father made for him while imprisoned for committing bank robberies. Destiny Johnson Wayne Wolfe spent his career in construction and retired last year after an injury on the job. Mirroring his father, he decided to independently publish an autobiography, My DNA Did Not Decide My Destiny. I had this stupid idea that it was going to do really well and that maybe I could live off of my Social Security and income from the book, Wayne Wolfe said. I sold 14 or 15 copies is all. Everything kind of fell apart, and I was unable to make my rent this month. Meanwhile, April Balascio, Edwards daughter from his third marriage, also had a book published last year. Her book, Raised by a Serial Killer, was published by Simon & Schuster. It followed a 2019 podcast produced by Pineapple Street Studios and Gimlet called The Clearing. Wayne Wolfe, formerly Edwards, is the son of convicted serial killer Ed Edwards. Falling on hard times, Wolfe is selling a handmade leather baby book his biological father made for him while imprisoned for committing bank robberies. Destiny Johnson Times are currently tough for the Wolfes. Brandon Wolfe had worked as a production assistant, but six months after appearing in and producing the true crime series about his grandfather, he was homeless in Los Angeles. He now lives with his father and is looking for work. Waynes other adult son and a grandson also live with him. In the Bible, it talks about paying for the sins of the father, Wayne Wolfe said. In my head, it told me that I was paying for the sins of my father. Nothing would go right. Brandon Wolfe holds a photo of his grandmother. Destiny Johnson And so, he turned to the leather photo album, which represented both the burden of his fathers sins and a possible escape from his financial troubles. Ive got kids and grandkids depending on me, Wayne Wolfe said. He figured the album could bring in thousands of dollars, if you just find the right murder memorabilia nut whos got more money than they deserve to have. So far, he hasnt found that person. A few people have reached out about the Facebook listing, though no one has offered to buy it. But Wayne remains hopeful his fathers crimes might finally bring something positive to his life. You dont lose hope, he said. You keep on trying. He has lowered the albums price to $40,000, and is willing to entertain any reasonable offer. Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Here is Oregon. Reach her at sswindler@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. BOSTON A Turkish student detained by federal police as she walked on the streets of a Boston suburb is the latest supporter of Palestinian causes to be swept up in the Trump administrations crackdown on immigrants who have expressed their political views. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, a doctoral student at Tufts University, had been moved out of Massachusetts by the time her lawyer went to court and a judge ordered her to be kept in the state, U.S. government lawyers said in a court document Thursday. The lawyers said that Ozturk, who was detained Tuesday shortly after she left her home in Somerville, was moved to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Basile, Louisiana. They said they made her lawyers aware that she was being moved there and they helped facilitate contact with her Wednesday night. A senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said federal authorities detained Ozturk and revoked her visa after an investigation found she had 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, the spokesperson added. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is common sense security. The DHS did not provide evidence of Ozturks support of Hamas, which is designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization. Friends and colleagues of Ozturk said she was not closely involved in pro-Palestinian protests that broke out on campuses last spring. Her only known activism, they said, was co-authoring an op-ed in a student newspaper that called on Tufts University to engage with student demands to cut ties with Israel. To my knowledge, the only thing I know of that Rumeysa organized was a Thanksgiving potluck, said Jennifer Hoyden, a close friend of Ozturks who studied with her at Columbia Universitys Teachers College. Theres a very important distinction between writing a letter supporting the student Senate and taking the kind of action theyre accusing her of, which Ive seen no evidence of. This contributed photo shows Rumeysa Ozturk on an apple-picking trip in 2021. AP Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in an attack that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed over 50,000 people, according to Gazas Health Ministry, and destroyed much of the enclave. Ozturks arrest appears to be part of President Donald Trumps pledge to deport students who, he said, engage in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, a label the administration has applied broadly to those who criticize Israel and protest its military campaign in Gaza. Earlier this month, immigration enforcement agents arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident and Palestinian activist who played a prominent part in protests at Columbia last year. He is now facing possible deportation. A University of Alabama student has also been detained by ICE, the university confirmed. The Crimson White, the student newspaper, reported that Alireza Doroudi, a doctoral student from Iran studying mechanical engineering, had been detained. But neither university nor the newspaper explained why Doroudi had been taken into ICE custody. Video obtained by The Associated Press appears to show six people, all but one with their faces covered, taking away a shouting Ozturks phone before she is handcuffed. Were the police, members of the group are heard saying in the video. A bystander is heard asking, Why are you hiding your faces? Ozturk, who is Muslim, was meeting friends for iftar, a meal that breaks a fast at sunset during Ramadan, according to her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai. Khanbabai, who said no charges have been filed against Ozturk, filed a petition seeking her release Tuesday and then an emergency motion Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani initially issued an order 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 48 hours advance notice. The government said in its response Thursday that it will set forth the timeline of Ozturks arrest and transfer from Massachusetts. The facility where shes being held is one of nine in Louisiana that house immigrants waiting for legal proceedings or deportation, according to a 2024 report on ICEs website. Its situated on the outskirts of a rural town about 50 miles northwest of Lafayette. We are in touch with local, state, and federal elected officials and hope that Rumeysa is provided the opportunity to avail herself of her due process rights, Tufts University President Sunil Kumar said in a statement Wednesday night. Ozturk was one of four students last March who wrote an op-ed in The Tufts Daily criticizing the universitys response to student demands that Tufts acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. After the op-ed was published, Ozturks name, photograph and work history were published on the website Canary Mission, a website that describes itself as documenting people who promote hatred of the U.S.A., Israel and Jews on North American college campuses. A large crowd gathered Wednesday night in Somerville to protest Ozturks detainment. Its important that we all remember what she wrote about and why she was targeted, which is Palestine, Lea Kayali, from the Palestinian Youth Movement, told the crowd. Its important for us to remember that this is not new for immigrant communities, and this is not new for Palestinians, she added. The U.S. government is deliberately trying to target our movement and scare us into silence. But we will not be silenced. --Michael Casey, Jake Offenhartz and Kathy McCormack/The Associated Press Belen, 17, sits in a stairwell at Harmony Academy Recovery High School last year. The school, based in Lake Oswego, is the first of what could be up to nine recovery high schools in Oregon created to serve kids dealing with substance use disorder. Vickie Connor/The Oregonian In 2023, Oregon lawmakers outlined a plan to open up to nine specialized high schools, called recovery schools, for students working to overcome addiction. The bill, signed by Gov. Tina Kotek, authorized funding for three recovery schools in 2023 and allowed for offering three additional competitive grants this year. In theory, those new schools would have joined the two in Portland and one soon-to-open campus in Salem that are funded via the corporate tax-fed statewide education initiatives account, created by the 2019 Student Success Act. But Koteks proposed budget would provide only enough for one new recovery school this biennium, at a savings of $6.3 million. Sandy Stack, who works for the Southern Oregon Education Service District and is part of an effort to launch a recovery school in Jackson County, said such a school would be life-saving for her community, which she said was in tremendous need. Were seeing higher drug mortality rates, overdose hospitalizations, and binge drinking, compared to state averages, Stack said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive, citing student health data from the Oregon Health Authority. Despite everything our schools are doing to support our youth, our kids are reporting high levels of drinking, using marijuana, and using prescription drugs not prescribed to them. She said the plan for a new Southern Oregon recovery school that she has been working on with multiple local funding partners could not go forward without an assist from the state. We cannot open the school as we initially planned without state funding, and if the state funding provided is insufficient for operation, we would not have a sustainable long-term plan without those amazing community commitments, Stack said. Mira, 16, walks between classes at Harmony Academy Recovery High School last March. Mira is still a student at the school and is a "rock star" according to the school's principal, Sharon Dursi Martin. Vickie Connor/The Oregonian Sharon Dursi Martin, who runs the Lake Oswego-based Harmony Academy, said there are at least three other recovery schools in the planning stages around the state, in the Eugene area, on the Oregon Coast and in La Grande. At least three of those will now have to wait for funding. The Eugene area group had been hoping to launch a school in fall 2025, according to Mike Dyer who leads a nonprofit called the Lane County Friends of Recovery Schools. Dyer, who is in long-term recovery himself, said efforts to start such a school began in 2019 and that the 2023 bill had been a real shot in the arm for the effort. When it passed, they felt there might be enough public money to make the school a reality. Working with the Lane County Education Services District, Dyer said his group is in the final stages of negotiating a grant for a school building. Dyer said he had thought theyd be one of four applicants for three grants, not one. He doesnt like the new odds. And while he said his nonprofit would try to privately fundraise for a school if it does not win state funding, that would be quite a hurdle to jump over. Kids are dying all the time from fentanyl overdoses, Dyer said. The longer we have to wait to open the school, the more kids we put at risk. In 2023, 98 people between the ages of 15 and 24 died of an overdose, according to the latest data available from the Oregon Health Authority. Dyer said he submitted written public testimony in favor of funding three recovery school grants in the upcoming biennium ahead of Thursdays meeting of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education where lawmakers will discuss how the Student Success Act money should be spent. Marc Siegel, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Education, said Koteks proposed budget allocates funds for the three recovery schools in Oregon Harmony Academy and Rivercrest Academy in the Portland area and the soon-to-open Discovery Academy in Salem to continue operations. The governors proposed budget also includes start-up grant funding available for one additional school, for which the education agency is opening an application process. Lucas Bezerra, a spokesman for Kotek, said the governor understands that recovery schools are effective for helping youth in recovery from substance abuse, but that her recommendations are focused on a broad spectrum of programs to increase behavioral health treatment options for young people. A collection of books line the shelves of the English and social studies classroom on Friday, March 8, 2024, at Harmony Academy Recovery High School in Lake Oswego. Vickie Connor/The Oregonian Recovery high schools offer standard high school academic courses but add on peer support groups and other resources for students who are reordering their lives after struggling with substance use issues; many are also managing concurrent mental health issues. Importantly, advocates stress, these are choice schools students are not mandated to attend, they have opted in. Often, their teachers and counselors are themselves in recovery and can empathize and identify with what their students have been through. Enrollment typically fluctuates throughout the year, depending on need and some students desire to move back into neighborhood schools, but is typically between 30 and 50 students. Recovery schools are not especially common in the United States. The National Association of Recovery Schools estimates that there are only about 45 such schools nationwide. Still, the existing schools have a strong track record. University of Oregon researcher Emily Tanner-Smith found that recovery school students across the country were more likely to attend school and have better graduation rates and greater life satisfaction than similar students who did not attend recovery schools. The study also found a reduction in substance use and a corresponding reduction in illegal activity among students who attended recovery high schools. Were it followed, the plan outlined in House Bill 2676 to open up to nine such schools in Oregon by 2029 would result in one of the countrys most robust networks. Thats not a place Oregon is accustomed to finding itself. The state perennially ranks in the nations basement for the lack of options for youth addiction treatment and youth mental illness. When seeking care in Oregon for a teen, families have historically turned to just three inpatient addiction treatment centers, six mental health facilities and one that treats both conditions, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported last April. There are also two hospitals with short-term child psychiatric units and one program that exclusively treats eating disorders. The bulk of those options are located in the Willamette Valley. Put in context: When the Parrott Child and Family Services facility in Oregon City added 20 new beds for youth mental health treatment in 2024, that boosted existing capacity statewide by 30%. All three of the existing recovery schools are overseen by local districts. Harmony Academy is a public charter school in the Lake Oswego School District, while the Multnomah Education Service District runs Rivercrest Academy in Northeast Portland. The soon-to-open Discovery Academy in Salem will be operated by the Willamette Education Service District. Dursi Martin, the principal at Harmony Academy, the states first recovery school, said she and other potential school leaders are heartbroken about the governors proposed budget. Seen here on her school's campus last spring, Harmony Academy Principal Sharon Dursi Martin said she and other potential recovery school leaders are heartbroken that the governors proposed budget does not contain money for the three-school expansion they were expecting. Vickie Connor/The Oregonian Harmony Academy serves about 40 students from across the Portland metro area. With only 10 kids in each grade cohort, the schools graduation rate has varied quite a bit over the last three years, with some students leaving for job programs or to receive a GED, while others have sought higher levels of treatment elsewhere. Almost all of Harmonys students are behind in the number of credits they would need to graduate and have missed huge chunks of school, Martin said. The school sees credit acquisition as a much more accurate measure of engagement than on-time graduation, she added. Dursi Martin, who is in long-term recovery herself, said there was no question in her mind that it is critically important to offer these schools as one resource in the states teen addiction treatment arsenal. We stand where kids show up and get to know them, said Dursi Martin, speaking from her office at Harmony Academy in Lake Oswego. I was so excited this could replicate across the state. - Lillian Mongeau Hughes covers homelessness and mental health for The Oregonian. Email her with tips or questions at lmhughes@oregonian.com. Or follow her on Bluesky @lmonghughes.bsky.social or X at @lrmongeau. - Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com. Or follow her on X at @jrlsilverman or on Bluesky at @jrlsilverman.sky.social. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe The Oregon State Hospital in Salem, pictured here in 2023, serves more than 550 patients at a time, most of whom are there to be restored to a level of psychiatric wellness that would allow them to be tried on criminal charges. Beth Nakamura The Oregon State Hospitals accreditation is in limbo following an outside review that found serious problems with the hospitals safety protocols leading up to the death of a patient last week. The Joint Commission, a nonprofit responsible for accrediting thousands of hospitals nationally, pointed to problems with how often and how well a patient in seclusion is checked, according to the letter the commission sent to Dr. Sara Walker, interim superintendent of the public psychiatric hospital. The review also found issues with the safety of the seclusion space. In addition, the letter states that the surveyor found evidence the emergency response to the patient who died was not immediate, nor was the emergency communication procedure correctly followed. The letter is a summary of a larger report that has not yet been provided to the hospital, according to Amber Shoebridge, a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, which oversees the hospital. Hospital leaders declined to make any additional statement about the letter. The hospital was put on notice last year that it was at risk of becoming ineligible for Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement following several incidents, including three patient deaths. Federal investigators determined that hospital staff neglected to conduct hourly checks to ensure patients were alive and breathing, a failure that led to a patient being found dead last May. The hospital has since implemented corrective action, which was also noted in the letter from the Joint Commission. Surveyors for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency responsible for administering federal health insurance funds, also began a review of the hospital Wednesday. That review is also in response to the patients death, according to Shoebridge. A total of 21 patients have died at the Oregon State Hospital since 2020, nine of whom died unexpectedly, according to the agency. The hospital hasnt made available any information about the patient who died last week due to federal and state privacy laws, Shoebridge said. Most of the more than 550 patients at the hospital are there to be restored to a level of psychiatric wellness that would allow them to be tried on criminal charges. The hospital has been the subject of an ongoing federal lawsuit since 2002 regarding the speed at which it admits and treats patients. Lillian Mongeau Hughes covers homelessness and mental health for The Oregonian. Email her with tips or questions at lmhughes@oregonian.com. Or follow her on Bluesky @lmonghughes.bsky.social or X at @lrmongeau. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe An infant mannequin in a quantitative magnetic resonance machine at the New York Nutrition and Obesity Research Center. Bryan Anselm/For The Washington Post Bryan Anselm/For The Washington Post In the waning days of the first Trump administration, new language went into effect in an obscure regulation covering federal grants. The change appeared to give the government the right to torpedo a grant in the middle of a project with little justification, even if the recipients were doing exactly what the government had told them to do. The revision in November 2020 by Trumps Office of Management and Budget stated that, to the greatest extent authorized by law, a grant could be pulled if it no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities. In the middle of a pandemic and a contentious election, not many people noticed the change in language buried inside a regulation like 2 CFR 200.340(a)(2). Now, after lurking mostly beneath the radar, five consequential words - no longer effectuates agency priorities - are being deployed by Trumps appointees to kill grants unilaterally across the government and advance the presidents political agenda. The State Department suspended refugee resettlement grants in letters that say this award no longer effectuates agency priorities, according to lawsuits filed in federal court. Multiple National Institutes of Health letters obtained by The Washington Post say grants are being terminated because they no longer effectuate agency priorities. At the Department of Education, grants supporting programs that include diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been canceled because each award is inconsistent with, and no longer effectuates, Department priorities according to termination letters in lawsuits. The sweeping grant cancellations have halted hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding already. Massive budget cuts promised by the Trump administration could further put research labs in jeopardy, leave universities in limbo and upend federally supported education programs. This is all uncharted waters because no agency has ever relied on that Trump-era language to my knowledge to terminate awards, certainly not on a mass basis to nullify entire statutory programs, said Daniel Jacobson, the general counsel of OMB under the Biden administration who is now in private practice representing plaintiffs challenging grant terminations. The total number of grants killed with this justification is not known, but at least hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding have been halted. An internal NIH email obtained by The Post last week said that about 950 grants had just been flagged for termination. Its unclear if these actions will stand, with lawsuits proliferating. Several lawyers pointed out that the termination letters ignore an important phrase: the terminations can only happen to the greatest extent authorized by law. In a huge number of these cases, whats going on is termination of grants for policy reasons that are inconsistent with policy judgments made by Congress, said Samuel Bagenstos, a law professor at the University of Michigan who served as general counsel for the Health and Human Services department under Biden. Cutting off the grants is one of the tools being used to realign the federal government around Trumps priorities, including targeting liberal college campuses and stopping diversity initiatives. Some letters reveal more detail about the administrations reasoning. Reasons include ending certain work no longer viewed as beneficial to the American people or cutting off work considered discriminatory against people based on race, sex, religion or other attributes. The White House, NIH and the Department of Health and Human Services did not offer detailed answers to questions sent by The Post. HHS is terminating funding of research grants that are not aligned with HHS and NIH priorities, Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for HHS said in an email. Projects like studying transgender mice do not improve the health or wellbeing of Americans. HHS will continue to prioritize productive and meaningful research to deliver on our mandate to Make America Healthy Again. - - - Universities feel pain of overnight grant cancellations Anthony Ferrante and Dympna Gallagher are co-directors of the New York Nutrition and Obesity Research Center at Columbia University, the first obesity research center in the country. Since last July, their team has been preparing a grant application to renew the centers five-year grant - a more than 1,000-page document due in June. On the night of Monday, March 10, they learned that the 44-year-old centers funding had been pulled. A letter to the Columbia provost obtained by The Post said grants were being terminated because these awards no longer effectuate agency priorities. Getting an NIH grant is a highly competitive process. There are multiple layers of review by experts. Most applications are rejected. Termination has traditionally been a rare event, triggered by a specific reason such as a compliance issue - for example, a researcher found culpable of misconduct. The cancellation process is typically bilateral, in which the agency and the institution overseeing the researcher come to an agreement. Whats happening now are unilateral cancellations. Agencies are simply pulling the plug. The process has been rushed and imprecise, according to NIH officials familiar with the process who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to share information. Grants are getting killed without any scientific input anywhere. It is purely political, said a member of a senior leadership team at a large NIH institute. The science in this country is going to be destroyed if you can change what the priorities are going to be every four years. You cant do science that way. HHS deputy press secretary Emily G. Hilliard said in an email that the agency is following the administrations guidance to support the presidents broader efforts to restructure and streamline the federal government. This is to ensure that HHS better serves the American people at the highest and most efficient standard, Hilliard said in an email. The $1.2 million-per-year Nutrition and Obesity Research Center was one of several hundred Columbia grants to lose funding. The center provides technical and infrastructure support for more than 100 faculty. That includes equipment that can precisely measure human body composition across the lifespan, such as fat distribution and content and human energy expenditure - something best done in a centralized manner, rather than lab by lab. There are 16 staff whose salaries are partly supported by the grant, and their jobs are now at risk. Ferrante said he remembers the excitement he had as a young scientist. He is worried about his younger colleagues: I just hope that in talking to them every day, in reassuring them that the science is still there, theres science to still do, questions to answer. Grant terminations are only one of the ways the administration is abruptly cutting off lines of funding. The administration sought to drastically reduce the facilities and administrative costs NIH gives to support the overhead cost of doing science, a cut that has been halted by a preliminary injunction. Contracts have been terminated. At Columbia - and dozens of universities that have been put on notice that they are being investigated for alleged antisemitic discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act - institutions are being threatened with mass grant cancellations. Supporting research in such an environment is plainly inconsistent with NIHs priorities and raison detre of funding and championing the very best American research and educational institutions, the NIH letter to Columbia reads. - - - Failure to kill sex-ed programs paved path for sweeping cuts The grant-language revision backstory begins in 2017. That year, the Trump administration tried to kill more than $200 million in federal grants for programs aimed at decreasing teen pregnancy rates. The program no longer fit the administrations priorities, because officials at the Department of Health and Human Services favored abstinence-first approaches to sex education. But the administration lost five cases in court. The legal arguments were complex, but in part depended on the regulations for how to terminate a grant - which at the time specified that a grant could be terminated for cause. In May 2018, District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson - who would later be elevated by Biden to the U.S. Supreme Court - found that HHS had terminated the grants without any explanation whatsoever, much less the for cause finding that the agencys own regulations prescribe. The Trump administration appears to have learned from that judicial setback. In January 2020, Trumps OMB proposed revisions to the guidance for grants and agreements. Among the many changes: striking out the for cause language, and replacing it with if an award no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities. Some observers of the rule revision were concerned about the potential consequences. Everyone of course was nervous about the change to language in 2020, said Cindy Hope, director of Costing and Financial Compliance at the Council on Governmental Relations, an association of research institutions and academic medical centers. At the time, we thought if they had legitimate cause to terminate an award, there were already pathways to do that in an appropriate way, she said. So even if they were only going to use this judiciously, there was a concern: What if they decided not to use it judiciously? Which seems to be where we are now. Biden became the chief executive a months after the rule change went into effect, but his administration did not take action on the changed OMB regulation until 2024. In October 2023, the administration proposed a rule that would strike the no longer effectuates language completely. Rule changes are a process that takes months to implement. Ultimately, the final version of the guidance kept the language, with a modification stipulating that a grant could not be terminated on such grounds unless this was clearly and unambiguously stated in the grant award. Few people in government and research circles could have anticipated how aggressively the second Trump administration would go after federal grants. The assumption is always the government is acting in good faith, said Ted Waters, a managing partner at Feldesman Leifer, who represents plaintiffs suing the Trump administration. Never thinking that you would then just use it to really end a huge percent of the grant program. He added, A lot of lessons have been learned in the last few months. Carolyn Johnson is a science reporter. She previously covered the business of health and the affordability of health care to consumers. Email: carolyn.johnson@washpost.com. Joel Achenbach reports on science and health for the National desk. He has been a staff writer for The Post since 1990. Email: joel.achenbach@washpost.com 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. Oregon and Multnomah County officials said Wednesday they were accessing the scope and impact of the order. In Washington state, 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 health care facilities and data transparency, a department official wrote in an email. A miniature dachshund, aged just one year old and weighing around eight pounds, appears to have pulled off a feat neither her owners nor rescuers thought possible: surviving for 16 months on a rugged island off Australias southern coast. Now, locals on Kangaroo Island are hopeful they will be able to reunite the dog, Valerie, with her owners after several recent sightings, including with the pink collar she was wearing when she went missing. Volunteers have narrowed down the search area and are now relying on video surveillance and -- yes -- roast chicken to entice her. Were pretty surprised, thats for sure, said Georgia Gardner, 24, of Valerie, whom she owns with boyfriend Joshua Fishlock. She wasnt even just like a dog; she was an absolute princess as well. She had a car seat, and she slept in our bed, she said, adding that Valerie would get upset over being outside for too long. Gardner and Fishlock, 25, were camping on Kangaroo Island in November 2023 when they left Valerie in a playpen with toys and food to go fishing at the beach nearby, Gardner said. While the couple was away, Valerie ripped the pen open and hid under a parked car. As other campers tried to get the dog out, Gardner said, believing she could be run over, Valerie got spooked and escaped the campsite, running into bushland. Georgia Gardners missing dog, Valerie has been spotted still wearing her pink collar. Courtesy Georgia Gardner Courtesy Georgia Gardner Gardners family had gifted her the dog after she graduated from college during the pandemic. She thought Valerie would soon return, as the dog often accompanied her to cafes, shops and on long drives -- anxiously attached, as Gardner said. But the search was like looking for a needle in a haystack, Gardner said, and the couple were panicking. They joined a Facebook group and secured help from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, a local nonprofit, who set out food, clothing belonging to the owners and surveillance cameras in the hope of spotting her. We were so upset, and we felt a lot of guilt as well, Gardner said. The following days poured with rain and at the end of the week, the couple had to return home to Broken Hill, New South Wales, to work. On the ferry I remember looking at the island, just crying, Gardner said. Six to eight months after Valerie got lost, rescuers started receiving reports from Kangaroo Island locals of a dog wearing a pink collar wandering the island. It was an unbelievable development, said Kangala Wildlife Rescue director Jared Karran, given miniature dachshunds are not known for their survival skills. Of all dogs, that would be the last one I would say would survive out there but they do have a really good sense of smell, said Karran, who is leading the search. Thats probably helped her in terms of finding food. Karran said Valerie was likely surviving off roadkill and fresh water from local dams while managing to avoid Black Tiger snakes and Pygmy Copperheads, two venomous snakes that live on the island. The fact that she has survived so long and still evaded humans has surprised Karran, who said: Shes so fast and so wary now. Hopes for Valeries return increased again in the past month, with a cluster of local sightings and even a photograph that appeared to show a small black dog running across an open field. Karran and his team have now managed to narrow down her location to the Stokes Bay area, near where she went missing, and are trying to entice her with strong-smelling food like tuna and roast chicken. Valerie was last seen on surveillance cameras on Wednesday, Karran said. Hopefully we can pull this off and actually get her home, he said. Kangaroo Island measures around 1,700 square miles - 75 times of the size of Manhattan - and has a population of 5,000. Its renowned for its wildlife and vegetation, including the Kangaroo Island kangaroo as well as wallabies, fur seals, dolphins, koalas and sea lions. For this reason, it has strict biosecurity rules. Pets are allowed on the island but not permitted to enter conservation areas and must be kept under control. Karran said he does not believe Valerie would have posed a threat to other local species due to her small size, and that he initially thought she would have been quickly preyed upon by eagles known to take young lambs on the island. Gardner said the recent sightings are very exciting and that she is staying cautiously optimistic. Were extremely grateful for all of the community on Kangaroo Island, she said. Theyve been so lovely to us. We were just tourists Theyre just a group of volunteers, they all have their lives and their work responsibilities, and theyre putting in endless amounts of hours and were just so, so thankful to all of them. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who is here to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with foreign leaders who visited China to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, on Wednesday. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, had a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. Ding said China is willing to work with Laos in supporting each other's core interests and advancing practical cooperation across various fields. For his part, Sonexay reaffirmed that Laos would make continuous efforts to make new progress in developing Laos-China community with a shared future. In a meeting with Aren B. Palik, vice president of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Ding called for expanding mutual collaboration in trade, investment, infrastructure and marine economy, while jointly addressing climate challenges. Palik reiterated FSM side's adherence to the one-China principle and its firm support for China's positions on the Taiwan question as well as affairs concerning Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea. On China-Mongolia relations, Ding said to Mongolia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Luvsannyam Gantumu that the enduring friendly relations between the two neighboring countries align with the fundamental interests of both peoples. Gantumu expressed willingness to deepen cooperation with China in connectivity, energy resources, and high-tech sectors. In a meeting with Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, Ding called for joint efforts to translate the outcomes of the recent 12th Meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee into real actions. Sklyar said Kazakhstan is ready to work closely with China to elevate bilateral ties to a new high. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations. While speaking with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Ding said the two sides should enhance strategic synergy and strive for new breakthroughs in practical cooperation. Agus said Indonesia is committed to deepening and expanding cooperation with China in various sectors and further advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. When meeting with Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel, Ding said China is dedicated to mutual respect and trust with Portugal and is ready to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and deepen opening up and exchanges between the two sides. Rangel said Portugal thinks highly of Macao's prosperity and steady development since it returned to China, pledging efforts to further deepen practical cooperation with China. High winds and downed trees took out this traffic light along NW Cornell Road and NW 118th Avenue in Northwest Portland, Oregon on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian With heavy rain, damaging hail, thunderstorms and potential tornadoes forecast this evening in Western Oregon, publicly available emergency alert systems can provide potentially life-saving early warnings about dangerous conditions in your area. Heres how to make sure you get them: The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for multiple Oregon counties Wednesday afternoon. The affected counties include Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Hood River, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill. The watch runs until 9 p.m. Thunderstorms are expected to arrive in Portland by late afternoon, weather officials said. They could include high winds, heavy rain and hail. The atmosphere looks a lot more like something that you would see in Oklahoma than typically that we see here, Tom Schuldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Portland said Wednesday. We have a ton of that instability. Schuldt said the intensity of the storm is unusual for the Portland area. The Storm Prediction Center has noted Portland is at risk for tornadoes this afternoon. Right now it looks like theres around a 5% to 9% chance to see a tornado within the region here, Schuldt said. And I know that 9%, that doesnt seem really high, but compared to what we normally see here, it is. Read more: Lizzy Acker covers Oregon weather and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. A company selling baby-related products apologized after it faced backlash for asking an influencer to return a gifted $1,700 smart bassinet because she couldn't use it following the stillbirth of her unborn child. The influencer, "So You Think You Can Dance" alum Brooklyn Larsen, received a SNOO smart bassinet from Happiest Baby. The item was given to her in exchange for tagging the baby brand in any related content as she was expecting to give birth sometime soon. Baby Brand Faces Widespread Backlash However, when tragedy struck for Larsen and her husband, Rocky, the company responded in what many online users are calling the worst way. In November 2024, the couple found out that the expecting mother had a stillbirth, which meant she had lost her second child with her partner. The two mourned the loss of their baby and posted on Instagram about their feelings of devastation. The couple revealed that their baby was unable to make it at 40 weeks and 2 days as Larsen went into labor on her own, according to Perez Hilton. The two added that they never imagined something this tragic would happen to them or their unborn child. The issue with Happiest Baby exploded on social media when Larsen's sister, McKenna Bangerter, slammed the company last week, claiming that it had asked the grieving mother to return the smart bassinet. Bangerter added that several other companies who contacted the couple handled the situation with "grace & empathy and not like a transaction." Following backlash, a spokesperson for Happiest Baby apologized for the "misguided and ill-conceived communication" that was sent to Larsen. A Tragic Incident The apology came after many online users, including fellow mommy influencers like Larson, expressed their frustration toward Happiest Baby's actions. They left various messages on the company's social media accounts and told others to not buy from them again, the New York Post reported. In its statement, Happiest Baby said that it expressed its condolences to the couple and sent flowers in this trying time. It argued that it was asking for the bassinet to be returned because it claimed that the sight of an empty bassinet or crib could be a painful reminder for a grieving mother who lost her baby. Happiest Baby added that what it intended as an effort to provide assistance to Larsen was a mistake that only added to the grieving mother's pain. The company said that it took internal steps to ensure that it never happens again, as per Today. In an unprecedented technological and spiritual feat, author and ministry leader Jennie Allen orchestrated Gather, a global prayer gathering that connected believers across seven continents and 87 languages. The event, which took place earlier this month, represented a groundbreaking moment in global Christian communication, drawing an estimated 7 million participants through live streams and broadcasts. Allen said the inspiration was rooted in a spiritual experience. In 2022, I was leading a womens ministry when I had a dream that Jesus was coming back in 10 years, she said. It made me urgent. I thought, What do I have that I can give to people if he were coming back?' The challenges were significant. Allen noted that the infrastructure to support such a massive, multilingual global broadcast did not fully exist even six months prior to the event. Utilizing a combination of human translators and artificial intelligence, the team managed to stream in 16 languages with human interpreters and an additional 71 languages through AI-powered computers. Gather spanned seven live locations across six continents, with a brief connection to Antarctica, making it a truly global phenomenon. The brilliant people who helped make this happen couldnt find any precedent, Allen explained. Not even the Olympics or the Super Bowl had attempted something of this scale. Technologically, the event pushed boundaries. Approximately 30 computers were strategically positioned to handle real-time translations, creating what Allen described as the bleeding cutting edge of technology. Despite the massive logistical challenges, Allen approached the project with remarkable calm, comparing her position to a white girl from Texas being asked to play for the NBA. She emphasized her faith as the primary motivator, stating, I want to be okay with risking everything to obey God. The events emotional high point for Allen came during the segment featuring Rwanda, a country with personal significance as the birthplace of her adopted son. When the baton passed to Rwanda at 10 am my time, I started weeping, she recalled. The performance, which included traditional drummers and the Watoto Childrens Choir, symbolized for her the global nature of the Christian faith. Allen sees Gather as more than a one-time event. She plans to host another global gathering in 2027, contingent on Christs return. In the meantime, she remains engaged with ongoing campus revivals and global spiritual movements. The entire events content remains freely available at gather2025.com, with Allen particularly recommending the segment featuring the persecuted church. The Gather event represents a significant moment in global Christian communication, demonstrating the potential for technology to unite diverse faith communities across geographical and linguistic boundaries. As revival movements continue to emerge on college campuses and around the world, Allen remains committed to her mission of global church unity, prepared to show up where God says to show up. A humanoid robot developed by Beijing Galbot Co., Ltd. with an AI-volunteer card is pictured at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Journalists take photos of a robot writing calligraphy at the media center of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) Journalists take photos of humanoid robots at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) A Unitree GO2 robot dog interacts with a person at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) This photo taken on March 26, 2025 shows an interior view of Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A Booster T1 humanoid robot walks at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Staff members adjust Kuavo humanoid robots at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A humanoid robot is pictured at an information desk at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A model of a semi-invasive brain-machine interface (BMI) is displayed at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A Unitree GO2 robot dog is pictured at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) An AIGC interactive installation is pictured at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) People take photos of a Unitree's G1 humanoid robot at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Journalists take photos of a humanoid robot developed by Noetix Robotics at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Journalists take photos of a humanoid robot developed by CASBOT at the media center of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) The media center of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) is pictured in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) A humanoid robot developed by Beijing Galbot Co., Ltd. passes a cup of coffee at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) Editor: ZAD Ive been using Windows for as long as I can remember. It was on the very first PC I recall using, literally on my fathers knee. But I dont need it anymore. Thats a weird thing to say as a writer for a site named PCWorld. But its been a long time coming, a slow mix of broad tech trends, feeling betrayed by multiple brands, and a little bit of intention on my part. To be clear, I still use Windows. Its what Im using right now to type this, on a beefy gaming desktop I assembled myself, with triple monitors and all sorts of googaws attached. But I dont need all that anymore, and for the first time in my adult life, I can see myself transitioning to an entirely different operating system. Thats a big deal for me, and I suspect Im far from alone. Microsoft might want to make a note of it. Why I dont need Windows So heres what I mean when I say that I dont need Windows anymore: Every tool, program, and piece of information I rely upon is now essentially separate from whatever machine Im using at the moment. Im writing the words youre reading right now in Google Docs. When Im done, Ill edit them in WordPress. Throughout my work day Im talking with my coworkers and bosses on Slack, Im chatting with my friends via text, WhatsApp, and some other platforms. Im managing my own to-do list in Google Keep, updating my work tasks in a tool called Monday, and checking personal and professional email in Gmail and Outlook, respectively. Im keeping an eye on news and social trends in BlueSky and The Old Reader for RSS. I still use local files, of course. But theyre all backed up weekly via Backblaze and accessible wherever I go, with whatever hardware I have to hand. Most of the time I dont even need that. Aside from installed game files, the odd business/tax document, and a huge library of photos, both my own and my familys, I barely even think about the storage on my PC. Michael Crider/Foundry Heres a screenshot of my main Windows taskbar: Vivaldi, Gmail, Outlook, the PCWorld logo for WordPress, a certain green P Ill address shortly, Slack, Explorer, Monday, Google Keep, Google Docs, YouTube. If you havent spotted the common thread here: every single one of these experiences is either a web tool or has a web interface. I use my favorite browser, Vivaldi, to access almost all of them, usually in a progressive web app (PWA) or merely a shortcut wrapper without a full browser interface. Its one of my most essential features of modern browsers, allowing me to separate these tools more easily and focus on them when I need to. Every one of them is accessible on the web, and on other platforms. I can use all of them on a tablet or even my phone, and most of the time not lose any functionality. In fact even though I work from home, I access a lot of that on my phone during the day, on the same platforms. At this point Windows is basically just a means for accessing the web in a comfortable way, on expensive hardware Im familiar with. I think a lot of users feel the same way, especially younger folks who grew up post-iPhone. Photoshop was the last holdout The very last domino to fall in this chain was image editing. Ive been using Photoshop for over 20 years. Since I learned it in a high school media class, its been incredibly difficult to break myself of the reliance on it for creating article header images or editing review photos. Not that I didnt want to Ive had a chip on my shoulder for Adobe for almost as long, especially after it transitioned its extremely expensive Creative Suite software to an even more expensive Creative Cloud subscription setup. It reeked of youll own nothing and youll be happy. I liked owning Photoshop, and I was not and am not happy that the option was taken away. Until a few weeks ago I was still keeping an ancient copy of Creative Suite 6 from 2012 (the last time it was offered as a real purchase) alive and kicking. Ive tried alternatives many times, including the tastelessly-titled GIMP, Affinity Photo, and Pixlr X. All are pretty good tools, but to my shame, I kept crawling back to the familiarity of Photoshop. Foundry My memory, both conventional and muscle, made it difficult to use any of these programs, even though each one of them covers the vast majority of Photoshops core functions. Ive spent years of my life using Photoshop, a few of them using it for up to eight hours a day in a print shop. Its a hard experience for me to quantify if youre not married to a piece of software like that imagine it as the feeling you get from wearing someone elses prescription glasses. Its that kind of functional discomfort. Im fairly certain Adobe banks on this, and thats why you can access Photoshop and other programs at a huge discount if youre a student or otherwise working at a school. To paraphrase Aristotle, Give me a high-schooler until they are 17, and I will show you the foundations of a life-long subscription customer. But after a long-overdue Windows reinstallation, I decided to forego the hassle of getting my trusty, rusty copy of CS6 operational. Instead I tried out Photopea, an online raster image editor with a shameless and wonderful clone of the Photoshop interface. Attack of the Clones Ive tried Photopea a few times before, with this exact aim in mind. And I couldnt quite get it to stick. To be honest I cant recall if it was a lack of performance in the tool, or simply that it wasnt as capable as CS6 even over a decade later. But whichever part of the equation has changed the performance in a modern browser on a powerful desktop, the server-side performance, or the image editing options being improved it just clicked. Now Im using Photopea (pronounced photo-pee if youre wondering, but the creators dont really care) in place of Photoshop for all my work purposes. I dont even have the latter installed, though I still have my copy just in case. Im paying $5 a month for the ad-free version of Photopea, which still rankles my just let me buy it heart a bit. But the fact that its completely free with ads, not to mention far, far cheaper than an Adobe subscription even if you banish them, is a balm to my skinflint soul. Photopeas interface apes Photoshop closely enough that I can use it without problems. And yes, I used it to edit this storys header image, and even this screenshot. Photopea And after all, Photopea is a web tool hosted on a server it at least has a basic justification for charging a subscription. Nothing stops Adobe from selling a stand-alone, non-subscription version of Photoshop. Except greed. Photopea is a clone of Photoshop, not a perfect replacement. There are things it cant do, notably load up custom fonts without a lot of extra steps, that would make it unsuitable if I were still doing graphics full time. And to be perfectly honest, Im not quite as good at it as I used to be with Photoshop. Some of the effects Id throw together with ease just dont look as good. That could be equal parts my own unfamiliarity with the deeper tools and the web-based programs lack of Photoshops most powerful, deeply buried options. Maybe Ill get back to my old expertise in time. But Im not a graphic designer anymore. Im a keyboard jockey who needs a lot of cropping for PR images, a bit of background work, clone-stamp and color adjustments for original photos, that sort of thing. And I can do all that, without sacrificing speed or most capability, and without local software. I can do it on any machine, from a laptop or a tablet or even my phone in a pinch (with a mouse and keyboard), and I can log in on all of those to get access to it ad-free. Samsung Oh, and even if you prefer to pay Adobes exorbitant prices, you might still not need a local installation of the program. Photoshop has an online version now, very similar to Photopea, included with the subscription. Everything I need to do my job, and most of whatever else I want, is completely divorced from Windows. Or if not divorced, then at least amicably separated. I realize that a lot of people got to this place before I did, people younger than me, older than me, both more tech-savvy and less. But it still feels like a personal milestone. Gaming still lives on Windowsfor now Im still using Windows 11, warts and all, even while I moan about ever-encroaching advertising in allegedly premium software, not to mention the hard upsell for AI tools I dont want. These are where Microsoft is hoping to get that real (read: recurring) money out of me, and where I refuse to let it go. But Windows is still my personal and professional home, even as I increasingly live on my phone, just like everyone else. Gaming is a big part of this. I own a Switch and a PS5 and a nice tablet and a few other wingdings for games over a recent vacation I even played through Skies of Arcadia to the end on an Android emulator. But PC gaming is where I really sink my teeth into the medium, and thats unlikely to change. Not just because I like building desktop PCs (again, check the name of the site up top!), but because Steam is my primary means of acquiring and playing games. Lenovo/Valve And even that is not a sacred cow Im unwilling to eat. Valve is making Steam its own OS, spreading into hardware from partners like Lenovo and Asus, and I think it has a legitimate shot at dethroning Windows as the home of PC gaming. To say nothing of trends that let you access your games anywhere, including Nvidias cloud-powered GeForce Now (which plays my Steam games!) and Microsofts own Xbox Game Pass streaming. Ive used both of them on the go, enjoyably if far less smoothly than on my fancy-pants desktop at home, and been keenly aware of their platform-agnostic nature. I played the PC version of Fortnite, complete with mouse and keyboard, by using my Samsung phones DeX desktop mode, a USB-C monitor, and GeForce Now. Hey, at least one tiny sliver of the future doesnt suck. A new world of options This newfound freedom is liberating, if only in a consumer sense. For the first time I can seriously consider a Mac or a Chromebook laptop, safe in the knowledge that everything I need will be accessible with barely even an adjustment to my routine. An iPad Pro, while not my first choice, would probably be doable. I could even see myself trying out Linux on the desktop, though I confess Id probably keep it dual-booting at first. And maybe using SteamOS or a derivative like Bazzite, just to satiate my degenerate gaming needs. I dont need Windows anymore. Theres a pretty good chance you dont, either, or at least that its easier than ever to work around it. I think you should keep it in mindespecially if youre a Microsoft executive who wants me to buy a new laptop. A Kansas babysitter got the shock of her life when she found a man hiding under a childs bed. The incident happened at about 10:30 p.m. Monday at a home near Great Bend. The babysitter was putting the children in her charge to sleep when one of them said said that there was a monster under the bed. When she looked under the bed to prove there was nothing there, she came face to face with Martin Villalobos Jr., 27, who was hiding underneath. There was an altercation and Villalobos knocked over the babysitter and child before running out of the house. After arriving at the house, police searched for Villalobos through the night and into the morning and found him near the property. After a short chase on foot, he was arrested and taken into custody. CBS News reports that Villalobos once lived on the property but a protection from abuse order had been issued against him to keep him away from the home. He is being charged with 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 currently being held on a $500,000 bond. Actor Clive Revill, who performed the original voice of Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars movie franchise has died. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Revill died this month at the age of 94, following a battle with dementia. Revill provided the voice for the evil Palpatine in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, which was released in 1980. Palpatine was physically played by another actor in the film. Revills voice was replaced in subsequent Star Wars movies and in the rereleases of The Empire Strikes Back over the years. The New Zealand native began acting in the 1950s and appeared in numerous plays, earning two Tony nominations. He later appeared in several television series and in movies, while also doing voiceover work. Bar Louie, a Texas-based restaurant chain, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to reports. The news comes as the chain recently closed 14 restaurants in Tennessee, Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Texas, according to FSR, a restaurant industry publication. Bar Louie is known as the original gastropub and specializes in burgers, appetizers, salads and handcrafted cocktails. It was founded in 1990. According to Nations Restaurant News, the bankruptcy was filed Wednesday in the District of Delaware court and listed assets between $1 million and $10 million compared to liabilities between $50 million and $100 million. In its filing, Bar Louie cites rising food and labor costs and changing consumer preferences as reasons, Nations said. Its the second time in five years the chain filed for bankruptcy, according to FSR. The publication said Bar Louie filed for Chapter 11 in January 2020 because it did not have enough money for store refreshes, equipment maintenance and modernization. Bar Louie operates about 48 restaurants, down from 130 locations in 2018. It joins other chains including Red Lobster, Tijuana Flats, Buca di Beppo and others that in recent months havce filed for bankruptcy. If you have an account with this bank, here's what to do. (Photo by Mike Campbell/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images If youre a Bank of America customer, heres something you might want to be aware of. The financial institution has announced that it will close some accounts if account holders dont take certain proactive measures. Tododisca reports how Bank of America issued an alert to its customers warning them that accounts deemed inactive will be shut down. The contents of these accounts will then be turned over to the proper entities. If you have not accessed your account for an extended period (typically 3 years or more), you may receive a letter from us letting you know your account is considered abandoned and may be turned over to the state under escheat laws, reads the banks FAQ page. You will need to follow the instructions on your letter to contact the bank and prevent escheatment. As for what escheatment is exactly, Bank of America explains its essentially the process of reporting and remitting abandoned/unclaimed property to the appropriate state agency for custodial safekeeping. Each state has its own escheatment laws: Pennsylvanias, for one, dictate that financial institutions, utilities, medical institutions, and the like must report and potentially turn over property of value that is lost, forgotten, or held without activity for a certain period of time as well. In order to prevent escheatment, Bank of America advises customers to log into and interact with the accounts they have on a regular basis. By Martha Bellisle, The Associated Press SEATTLE Budget woes, combined with cuts to the federal wildfire-fighting workforce and President Donald Trumps tariff and sovereignty threats against Canada, have made it more difficult for state officials to plan for the upcoming wildfire season. In Washington, a $12 billion budget shortfall prompted majority Democrats in the Legislature this week to propose slicing spending on wildfire prevention and fighting by one-third to two-thirds. These massive cuts to wildfire prevention and response increase the threat to public safety putting lives and homes at greater risk, state Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dave Upthegrove told The Associated Press in an email. The cuts make Washington more likely to experience the kind of horrific scene we saw recently in Southern California. As Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency slashes federal spending, the Trump administration withheld money for wildfire mitigation in several states and then fired thousands of workers involved in firefighting from various agencies. Those included rangers in the Forest Service and weather forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some were rehired under a court order, but many were then immediately placed on administrative leave. Washington State Forester George Geissler, who has decades of wildland firefighting experience, said the officials who fired federal workers dont understand the roles they play in fighting fires. Although they dont have firefighter listed as their job title, they all undergo special wildland firefighting training that enables them to respond to a fire when needed, he said. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Canada over Trumps proposed tariffs and calls to make the country the U.S.s 51st state have also complicated wildfire planning, especially in border states, Geissler said. Washington state has maintained a solid relationship with British Columbia for decades, but its unclear how firefighting will work if the borders are closed due to federal tensions, he said. In wildfire, we like to say we can bring order to chaos, he said. But the hard part has been that things are changing so quickly and doing such dramatic swings, its hard to anticipate and plan. State and local budget woes have compounded those concerns. Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove stands for a portrait with young trees at the Webster Forest Nursery Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) AP Wildfire season in the West can run as early as April through November, while drier and hotter conditions linked to climate change have increased their intensity. These conditions have also sparked recent wildfires burning in the Carolinas, New Jersey, Florida and Texas. Oregon and California lawmakers boost wildfire spending Lawmakers in Oregon held a special session in December to approve $218 million in emergency wildfire funding. The 2024 wildfire season was the states most expensive on record, and the funds paid contractors who helped fight the blazes. Lawmakers have said finding new revenue sources for combating wildfires is a key issue in this years legislative session. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed spending $325 million on wildfire mitigation efforts next year. Many lawmakers have signaled their support for more investments in wildfire mitigation programs after the deadly fires in Los Angeles earlier this year. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the city council appealed to Sacramento this week for nearly $2 billion in disaster recovery aid at a time when City Hall is facing a nearly $1 billion projected deficit. The request included over $56 million for fire suppression and safety. FILE - Washington Department of Natural Resources firefighter Chris Werner, of Chehalis, works the south fire line of the Archer Mountain fire in Skamania County, Wash., Sept. 6, 2017. (Alisha Jucevic/The Columbian via AP, File) AP Washington state officials grapple with a budget shortfall Washington state had made fighting wildfires a priority in recent years passing a bill in 2021 that permanently authorized spending $125 million each two-year budget cycle on response, forest restoration and communities. Those projects ensured that 95% of the states wildfires were held to 10 acres (4 hectares) or less, officials said. Thats some of the best money that we can spend, said Sen. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham. Oregon and Washington had about the same number of fires last year, but while 2 million acres (810,000 hectares) burned in Oregon, only about 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) burned in Washington, she said. When newly elected Gov. Bob Ferguson took office, he told lawmakers that state agencies needed to reduce spending by at least $4 billion and asked each department, including Natural Resources, to find ways to reduce spending by 6%. A budget proposal from Washington House Democrats this week came in $85 million short of the $125 million that had been allocated for the previous two two-year budget cycles, while the Senates was $40 million short of that target. The Washington State Council of Firefighters said the budget proposals would make it less safe for their members. Any cuts to funding for wildfire suppression and forest resiliency is going to be detrimental to the response to wildfire incidents for both the DNR and all fire service firefighters across the state of Washington, Jeff Wainwright, a council spokesperson, told the AP. The House and Senate proposals exceed Fergusons request, and instability at the federal level will magnify the shortages, said Michael Kelly, a DNR spokesperson. Our federal partners are behind on training and theyre behind on funding and theyre cutting staff, Kelly said. Knowing that were dealing with federal partners who cant bring as much to the table this year, we hoped the Legislature would be able to give us the full amounts. Deputy Majority Leader Larry Springer, who authored the 2021 bill that allocated $125 million for wildfires, said he understands the need for funding, but the states fiscal challenges forced lawmakers to focus the money on one part of firefighting the initial attack and try to refocus on things like forest thinning and prescribed burns that help prevent fires in the next few years. A firefighter works to clear debris from Hurricane Helene to protect a home as the Black Cove Fire burns nearby Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Saluda, N.C.. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce) AP Given the fact that we dont have enough money to do all of that now, its a matter of which ones are the most important right now in the short term, he said. Washington Rep. Tom Dent, a Moses Lake Republican who has authored many wildfire-fighting bills over the years, said the state needs to ensure that it funds its initial attack and frontline firefighting programs. Im relatively fiscally conservative, Dent told the AP. But you have to recognize there are times when you spend money to save money. This is one of those times. Associated Press reporters Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California; and Michael Blood in Los Angeles contributed. A shampoo company announced it is voluntarily recalling 1,068 units of its shampoo due to a possible contamination. Getty Images The Mexican shampoo company Henkel announced it is voluntarily recalling 1,068 units of its shampoo due to a possible bacteria contamination. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a press release that Henkels Tec Italy Shampoo Totale could be contaminated with contaminated with a bacteria called Klebsiella oxytoca. Exposure to this bacteria could result in infection in the eyes, nose and skin, and worse for those with immune-compromised conditions, the agency said. The product was mainly distributed in the U.S. to stores in New York and California and possibly other states. The shampoo is packaged in a 33.81 fl. oz. green plastic bottle marked with lot number 1G27542266 on the side. The UPC code is 7501438375850. Henkel said it learned of the issue after microbiological analyses performed by the company revealed the presence of the bacteria. There have been no reports of harm or injury related to this product so far. Anyone who bought this shampoo should stop using it and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Questions or concerns can be directed to Tec Italy at sacli@henkel.com. By FATIMA HUSSEIN, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) The Social Security Administration is partially backtracking on a plan that would require all new and existing beneficiaries to travel to a Social Security field office to verify their identity. The Social Security Administration on Wednesday said that 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 SSA applicants would 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. 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, file) AP 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, said Lee Dudek, SSAs acting commissioner of Social Security in a statement. Dudek added that delaying the policy start date will help officials train employees on procedures. Last week, SSA announced a plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients while simultaneously closing 47 field offices in 18 states. The new requirements would have affected anyone who needed to verify their bank information, as well as families with children who receive Social Security benefits and cannot verify certain information online. The changes are intended to combat fraud and waste within the system, which President Donald Trump and officials in his administration have claimed are widespread. The policy change has sparked furor among lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who say the Trump administration is placing unnecessary barriers in front of an already vulnerable population. AARPs Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond said the Wednesday announcement is a good first step by the Social Security Administration to respond to the concerns of AARP, our members, and older Americans everywhere about plans to discontinue phone service for critical Social Security customer service needs. Merely delaying the implementation of this change is not enough, though, she said. SSA should take a deliberate approach to its proposed changes to customer service that seeks public input, follows a clear communication plan, and allows a reasonable timeframe for compliance. Roughly 72.5 million people, including retirees and children, receive Social Security benefits. Trumps nominee to lead the SSA faced questions Tuesday at his confirmation hearing about efforts by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to close field offices and cut back on phone service at the beleaguered agency. Frank Bisignano was called to account for recent upheaval at the SSA, which has taken center stage in the debate over the usefulness of DOGE cuts to taxpayer services and their effect on the social welfare program long regarded as the third rail of national politics. A 35-day detour will be in place using 17th Street and Verbeek Street to 15th Street. PennDOT The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that a detour is scheduled to begin tomorrow for 15th Street at the intersection with Arsenal Boulevard in Susquehanna Township. Weather permitting, 15th Street will be closed tomorrow at Arsenal Boulevard for intersection improvements. A 35-day detour will be in place using 17th Street and Verbeek Street to 15th Street. This work is part of a pavement preservation project consisting of concrete patching, diamond grinding, milling, asphalt overlay, traffic signal and intersection improvements, minor drainage repairs and other miscellaneous construction on Cameron Street from Paxton Street to Elmerton Avenue/Wildwood Park Drive, and on Arsenal Boulevard from Maclay Street to 15th Street. This project is anticipated to be completed by Sept. 1, 2026. JD Eckman, Inc., of Atglen, Pennsylvania, is the contractor on this almost $8.3 million project, a press release saad. Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X. Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at PennDOT District 8. While most people were still asleep just before 4 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 1979, a malfunctioning valve set off what would become the most serious accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant operating history. The incident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power station in Londonderry Township, Dauphin County, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, happened when a combination of equipment malfunctions, design-related problems and worker errors led to TMI-2s partial meltdown and very small off-site releases of radioactivity. TMI was de-activated in 2019 after 45 years, but is on track to reopen by 2028 with a new name. The accident began 46 years ago tomorrow. The Patriot-News printed this chronology a few weeks after the dust had settled: March 28 3:53 a.m. A malfunctioning valve causes the shutdown of two pumps in the secondary feedwater system, a separate unit that cools the water circulating through the reactor core, and triggers a chain reaction of mechanical and human errors. 3:53:09 The reactor scrams, or stops the nuclear fission process by automatically dropping 67 control rods to mesh with the tubes of enriched uranium that form the reactor core. 3:53:12 A relief valve on the reactor coolant pressurizer fails to close, eventually causing about 250,000 gallons of radioactive water to spill onto the floor of the reactor containment building. 3:53:30 Three auxiliary pumps kick in but fail to provide cooling water to supplement the shut-down feedwater system because the valves that should have been open were closed. 3:55 The Emergency Core Coolant System dumps tons of water into the reactor core to reduce the intense heat that should have been diminished with the assistance of the auxiliary feedwater system. 3:57:30 A control room technician shuts down the first pump on the ECCS after either misreading or getting false readings from his instruments. A second pump was tripped about six minutes later, completely halting the last line of defense against overheating. 4:00:03 A sump pump in the containment building activates and transfers water into a nearby auxiliary building. Radioactive steam from the water eventually finds its way into the atmosphere through a venting system. 4:01 Technicians realize the auxiliary cooling system is not functioning and open the closed valves in an attempt to bring down the temperatures in the reactor. 5:22 The plant operators shut down two other pumps controlling the flow of water around the reactor core, further contributing to the fuel damage and the rise of the hydrogen bubble at the top of the reactor vessel that was to deter cold shutdown steps into the next week. 6:50 Plant officials first begin to realize the seriousness of the situation and that radiation may have escaped into the atmosphere. A site emergency is declared. 7:00 Clarence Deller of the state Emergency Management Agency office is notified of the emergency and begins to launch an alert for evacuation plan for Dauphin, York and Lancaster counties. An air view shows the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pa., March 30, 1979. The small dome at center is where the "incident" occurred. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma, file) ASSOCIATED PRESS 7:37 Donald Butch Ryan, a fire-police dispatcher in Middletown, receives word of an emergency at the plant and is told to stand by. 8:10 The Emergency Management Agency cancels its alert. 8:30 Cumberland County emergency preparedness officials are notified of the accident. 8:55 A Patriot-News reporter learns from county and state officials that an emergency has been declared at TMI. Initial reports indicated there was a radiation leak due to a failure to fuel. The first reporter is dispatched to the scene. 10:20 Bill Gross, a Metropolitan Edison Co. public relations representative, reads a statement from Gary Miller, the station manager, reporting on the problem in technical terms and saying that radioactive monitoring teams have found nothing on or off-site. 11:00 Between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., MetEd engineers vent radioactive steam from the plant. During the same period, Lt. Gov. William Scranton III is holding the first of three news conferences, saying everything is under control and there appears to be no danger to public health or safety. From left, President Jimmy Carter; Gov. Richard Thornburgh; and Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton, April 2, 1979. (The Patriot-News, file) 1:15 p.m. John G. Herbein, MetEd vice president of generation, greets the news media for the first time at the TMI Observation Center, noting the plants in safe condition. He denies any delay in notifying authorities and contends radiation releases are very small. He indicates there may have been 0.1% or 0.5% damage to the 36,000 fuel rods. 4:30 Gov. Scranton says the utility has ended venting contaminated steam into the air but accused MetEd of earlier giving the state conflicting information. 5 The plant again vents radioactive steam. March 29 10 a.m. MetEd holds a press conference at the Hershey Convention Center where company president Walter M. Creitz says the cooldown is occurring at a more rapid rate. The radiation leaked from the plant has been in the low 5- to 7-millirems per hour level, according to company monitoring teams. The incident is nothing out of the ordinary realm. 12:15 p.m. A news conference is held at the Friends Meeting House in Harrisburg by Dr. George Wald, a 1967 Nobel prize winner, and Dr. Ernest J. Sternglass, director of radiological physics for the University of Pittsburgh. Sternglass calls for the plant to be shut down and Wald says any radiation can cause harm. 3 p.m. MetEd and Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials hold briefings for four senators and five congressmen. Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., labels the mishap the most serious accident in the history of nuclear power and calls for congressional hearings. Sen. George W. Gekas, R-Harrisburg, says he will introduce legislation to require immediate notification of officials in the event of any incident at the plant. A TMI business task force meeting. Gov. Dick Thornburgh is at the podium. George Gekas is in the front from, seated next to the empty seat, June 7, 1979. (Allied Pix for The Patriot-News, file) 11 An NRC official in Washington says the damage to the fuel rods is more serious than originally thought and indicates it will be a long time before the clean-up is finished. March 30 7:15 a.m. Between 7:15 and 8:15 a.m. an uncontrolled burst of radioactive gas is vented from the containment building into the auxiliary building and a plane carrying detection equipment measures radiation levels of between 300 and 1,200 millirems per hour. 9 York County Civil Defense director Leslie Jackson puts phase 1 of the nuclear disaster plan for the county into operation, primarily to stop the panic, caused by unconfimed reports of evacuation. The evacuation center at the Hershey Arena after the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island. (Photo by John Jones, file) 9:30 E.C. McCabe, an NRC official, confirms the release of radioactivity to reporters outside the NRC trailer at the TMI Observation Center. 9:45 Herbein tells a Patriot-News reporter that some venting was done in the evening and possibly radiation levels did climb momentarily. Asked if an area alert was in progress, he replied he was not sure. 10 County Civil Defense organizations and the Pennsylvania National Guard are placed on standby for possible evacuation. The Associated Press moves an urgent story staying the governor is considering the evacuation of four counties. 10:35 Gov. Dick Thornburghs press secretary Paul Critchlow indicates there is no need to evacuate but says the governor has warned people within a 10-mile radius of the plan to stay indoors and close their windows. 11 A second release of radioactive gases occurs. 11:15 President Jimmy Carter telephones Thornburgh and offers his assistance. A siren goes off in downtown Harrisburg, causing some panic. 11:45 Herbein holds a news conference in Middletown where he tells reporters he did not see the need to warn Civil Defense officials of the latest release and, for the first time, considerable discussion centers on a bubble building in the reactor vessel. John Jones of Hummelstown took this photo of a news crew covering the partial meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island in March 1979. 12:30 p.m. Thornburgh issues his advisory for pregnant women and preschool-age children to evacuate from a five-mile radius of the plant. He also orders 23 schools in the area to close. 1 Three West Shore School District schools begin evacuation. 4 The Harrisburg East Mall closes early. 7 Evacuees from the Middletown area line up for their first meal at Hersheypark Arena. 10 Thornburgh holds a news conference in the Capitol News Center and introduces Harold Denton, the NRC official personally sent by Carter to supervise the operation. Thornburgh says that the indoor restriction will be lifted at midnight for residents within the 10-mile radius of the plant. Gov. Dick Thornburgh, left, wears a glum expression as Harold Denton, right, director of operations for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, briefs the media at the state Capitol in Harrisburg after the partial meltdown at TMI, March 30, 1979. Lt. Gov. William Scranton III is in the center. (The Associated Press, file) PN March 31 4 a.m. Evacuation of the residents of Frey Village nursing home in Middletown takes place as an independent decision of the home operators. Officials at the Odd Fellows Home of Pennsylvania, another nursing home in the Middletown area, make a similar decision somewhat later. 11 MetEd holds its final news conference in Middletown and the responsibility for the emergency operations at the plant shifts to the NRC. MetEd and the NRC disagree over the size of the bubble. Herbein says he believes the crisis is over. 8:27 An AP story marked urgent quotes an NRC source in Washington as saying the hydrogen bubble is so volatile there is a chance of an explosion. 10:10 Denton and Thornburgh are conferring in the governors office when they are interrupted by a call from presidential press secretary Jody Powell informing them that President Carter would be visiting Three Mile Island. 11:50 Denton at a news conference says he sees no possibility of an explosion in the reactor vessel or containment building. The Thornburgh advisory remains in effect. Mass evacuation is again discounted. April 1 10 a.m. - Middletown Borough officials receive word that Carter is coming. Workers tear down a temporary press center set up for visiting reporters to permit Carter to hold his news conference in the borough hall. 2 p.m. Carter dons yellow plastic booties and tours the control room at TMI-2. It takes a TMI visit by then-President of the United States Jimmy Carter -- and more than a little luck to finally calm public fears. (file photo) 3 A grave Carter reads a brief statement to the press while his wife, Rosalynn, greets the crowd gathered outside the borough hall. 3:15 Denton briefs reporters on the bubble and warns that the next few days are critical in reducing the danger. He raises the possibility of mass evacuation if the bubble is to be removed by increasing coolant pressure or blasting it out with high-pressure steam. April 2 10:00 MetEd engineers obtain a reading of about 175 cubic feet for the bubble. Estimates had placed the size of the sphere at about 850 cubic feet a few days prior. 11:30 A dramatic decrease in the size of the bubble has been realized. Denton tells reporters during a news conference in the Middletown Borough building. An almost audible sigh of relief seems to emanate from the community as the crisis passes. The times represented in this chronology in some cases are approximate. A version of this story originally ran on PennLive in 2023. Related: Dauphin County fundraiser highlights recent wins, sidesteps scandals How would a restarted TMI alert midstaters to a nuclear emergency? Pennsylvania is showing the nation how to power AI with nuclear energy Opinion This photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows a view of the Shewaki Stupa in the east edge of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Forty historical monuments and facilities that were at risk of destruction have been restored in Afghanistan over the past three years, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture of the Afghan interim government told Xinhua recently. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Forty historical monuments and facilities that were at risk of destruction have been restored in Afghanistan over the past three years, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture of the Afghan interim government told Xinhua recently. These historical monuments have been restored in seven provinces, said Khabib Ghufran, adding that a special police security unit has been formed to protect ancient artifacts and historical sites. According to a report by the ministry, about 8,200 foreigners visited the country's historical monuments in 2024. This photo taken on March 25, 2025 shows a view of the Shewaki Stupa in the east edge of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Forty historical monuments and facilities that were at risk of destruction have been restored in Afghanistan over the past three years, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture of the Afghan interim government told Xinhua recently. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Editor: WXY These people are crawling out of a sewer, Mr. Ward. Maybe the gutters where we outta be! This comment was immortalized by the late, great Gene Hackman in his role as FBI Agent Rupert Anderson in the 1988 film Mississippi Burning. As an experienced operative, he was advocating for a tactical change to his FBI Superior Alan Ward, played by Willem DaFoe, who was overseeing the 1964 criminal case of three Civil Rights Workers murdered by the KKK. By Briana Reilly and John M. Donnelly, CQ-Roll Call (TNS) WASHINGTON Senators from both parties were poised to issue formal requests Wednesday for multiple inspector general probes into senior officials use this month of the Signal messaging app to discuss a military operation and whether the incident is an aberration or part of a pattern. Senate Armed Services Committee leaders said they are preparing a letter to the acting Pentagon inspector general on Wednesday that would request a probe of the incident, in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top Trump administration officials discussed plans for bombing Houthi rebels in Yemen ahead of the operation. Vadym Popko is a professor of the Department of Comparative and European Law of the Educational and Research Institute of the International Relations of Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University At the end of February this year, it became known that 7-8 higher education institutions are to be merged in Ukraine this year. The process launched as part of the higher education reform aims to improve the funding system and enhance the quality of education. The key aspect in this context is how well the merger process is synchronised with the short- and long-term development strategy of higher education in general, as well as with the development strategies of the higher education institutions themselves. That is why I would like to start a discussion today about the prospects for transforming universities and institutes into city- and region-forming intellectual centres of attraction. Moreover, this vision fits into the "University 3.0" model - a combination of education, science and innovative entrepreneurship - and the role of such universities in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Background There are several concepts regarding the concept of "University 3.0". Some researchers insist that it dates back to the end of the eleventh century, when the first universities appeared in Europe - Bologna (1088) and Oxford (1096). At that time, their main mission was to provide broader knowledge to theologians and clergy. The training was built on a workshop basis - building and increasing the "caste" of theologians. Proponents of this theory classify such universities as "University 1.0". Their functionality was limited to the usual transfer of knowledge. "Universities 2.0" - classical universities, or "Humboldt universities" - appeared in the nineteenth century with the establishment of the University of Berlin in 1810. Their mission was to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and educate a developed personality. The principle of combining education and science was implemented on the basis of such universities. At the turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, experts drew attention to the fact that advanced universities have become not only centres of education and science, but also centres of innovation. Henry Etzkowitz and Loet Leydesdorff in their "Triple Helix" model describe the dynamics of interaction between three stakeholders: university-state-industry in the context of economic and innovative development (University 3.0). Since this model appeared about 30 years ago, today I would not talk about industry, but about business as a component of this spiral. In my opinion, this is definitely a more relevant definition. "Triple Helix thinking is based on the concept of the second academic revolution. The first academic revolution gave universities a new research mission, turning them into knowledge-producing and knowledge-disseminating institutions. The second broadened the university's mission to include the promotion of economic and social development. The university has become a primary social institution, on a par with government and industry, leading to a knowledge-based economy and society," writes Etzkowitz. According to other experts, the emergence of the "University 3.0" model is based on the evolution of higher education institutions in the twentieth century. It suggests that after the Second World War, higher education became widespread, particularly in the United States and later in Europe. Among other things, this was the result of the introduction of benefits for veterans who wanted to obtain higher education (grants for education, covering living expenses, loans, etc.). In the US, companies that invested in veterans emerged after the war, such as the American Corporation for Researches and Developments, which was based on venture capital as a new organisational form. The driving force behind the company was Ralph Flanders, president of the Boston branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, members of the board of trustees of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and professors from Harvard Business School. Here is how Flanders justified the idea of creating the company: "I am concerned that the liquid wealth of the nation tends to be concentrated in a few hands. This is a natural process, but over time it becomes increasingly difficult to finance new ventures. America's post-war prosperity depends to a large extent on finding financial support for a relatively small percentage of new ideas and developments, as well as raising the standard of living of the American people. We cannot indefinitely rely on the entrepreneurship and vision of previous generations. To make sure we are in a growing economy, not a static or frozen economy, we need to have a sufficient level of new business emergence." In my opinion, Flanders' vision is very much in line with the challenges that we, as Ukrainians, have faced and will face in the post-war reconstruction. Success stories University of Cambridge. Everyone has heard of the American "Silicon Valley", but few people know that 10 years before it appeared in Europe, a similar cluster already existed "Silicon Fen". The name comes from the historical name of the area around the University of Cambridge. More than 250 years ago, the local marshes were drained and the area was called Fenland. Back in the early 60s of the last century, the county of Cambridgeshire was one of the poorest in Great Britain, but in 10-15 years, everything changed radically - from an agricultural region it turned into a centre of education, science and technology. This is largely thanks to two Cambridge graduates, Tim Aylworth and David Southward, who founded Cambridge Consultants in 1960. They formulated their mission as follows: "To apply the brainpower of the University of Cambridge to the problems of British industry". Later, the Cambridge Science Park was created in 1970. Today it has more than 170 resident high-tech companies, including world leaders in IT, medicine, industry, etc: AMD, Microsoft, Toshiba, Beko, Bayer, AstraZeneca, and others. In 1987, the St John's Innovation Centre was established with a mission to help start-ups and companies grow and succeed. In other words, over the course of 25 years, a full-fledged cluster combining education, science, research, innovation, and business was created, which developed so successfully that in the 1980s it was already called the Cambridge phenomenon. Today, the cluster includes more than 1,000 world-leading companies and 40,000 highly skilled professionals (both local and foreign), and generates 18 billion in total revenue annually. Here is how the future of the Cambridge phenomenon is being formulated today: "Humanity faces a number of global challenges - climate change, education, energy, food, health, security and water. None of these problems can be solved by any one science or, for that matter, by science alone. The solutions must be interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, encompassing science, technology, engineering, economics, politics, industry and trade." There's no arguing with that. Finland has a similar, but, in my opinion, more interesting and relevant experience for Ukraine. Back in 2007, the Government of this country adopted a five-year development plan "Education and Research". Within the framework of the document, higher education institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education and Science were assigned one of the key roles in the implementation of the National Innovation Strategy. It meant that universities had to pay special attention to research and innovation and become a link between academia and industry (read: business). A very interesting example is Aalto University in Helsinki. Established in 2010 through the merger of three higher education institutions (Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics and Helsinki University of Art and Design), today it specialises in interdisciplinary education and focuses on innovation and business. It's been 15 years since Aalto was founded, but today the university is ranked 8th in the international rankings for such disciplines as architecture and design, 53rd in the Times Higher Education World rankings, and is among the world's top 100 universities in several other disciplines. In general, Aalto focuses on three integrative interdisciplinary areas: advanced energy solutions, health and well-being, and human-centred living environments. But Aalto University is not just about education. It is also about services, research and innovation. It is about supporting start-ups, for example, such as ICEYE - satellite technologies for monitoring the earth's surface, IQM - software solutions for next-generation quantum processors, and others. We should also mention the commercialisation of inventions and start-ups. The technology transfer process in Aalto is designed to shorten the path of innovations to the market as much as possible, to quickly go through all stages of commercialisation: from innovation to the creation of a new small or medium-sized enterprise. The university is supported by the state agency Business Finland, which promotes investment, stimulates and finances innovation, and attracts talent. In particular, the agency finances university research projects, start-ups and innovation initiatives, and helps to attract partners and investors. In general, cooperation between Aalto and Business Finland focuses on areas such as sustainable development, modern technologies, and digitalisation. One of the successful examples is The University of Eastern Finland, established in 2010. This was preceded by the merger of two universities - Joensuu and Kuopio - and today the University of Eastern Finland is a place in the TOP 500 of the Times Higher Education World ranking, 535th place in the QS World University Rankings, 16000 students, more than 100 disciplines studied at four faculties, two campuses, research, innovation and much more. The University of Eastern Finland has literally become a driver of regional development through various initiatives and projects focused on education, economic growth and innovation. The projects are implemented with the participation of the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund. The partnership resulted, for example, in the opening of a gene therapy production plant by FinVector at the Kuopio campus. Today, this partnership brings together more than 500 specialists, researchers, and experts, which, in turn, attracts young talents from all over the world. The university also cooperates with local companies in the forestry industry, which is one of the main industries for the region's economy. The university is very responsive to the needs of the regional economy. Realising that Eastern Finland will face a labour shortage as early as 2030, the institution is implementing projects to attract international students, such as the Talent Hub Eastern Finland platform. This network brings together the main educational service providers in the region and connects international students with local employers, offering support and specific tools for recruitment, adaptation, learning Finnish in the workplace. I cited the examples of two Finnish universities for a reason - they were created by merging after the adoption of the above-mentioned plan and the "Law on Universities", adopted in 2009, which, in particular, aimed to accelerate and scale up independent research, expanded the autonomy of higher education institutions, and reformed the financing system (universities were given the opportunity to manage their own finances, own property, and engage in entrepreneurial activities). In other words, the Plan and the Law became catalysts for the reform of higher education in Finland. After their adoption, the institutions began the process of merging and turned into full-fledged clusters that combine everything that is inherent in the "University 3.0" model. In fact, we should strive for such results in Ukraine - when a new Ukrainian university not only provides world-class educational services but is part of an effective partnership with business, government, and society. When higher education institutions conduct research, create new innovative businesses, become centres of regional development, and shape a sustainable future together with communities. How realistic is this? University 3.0: Ukrainian perspectives The transformation of our universities into qualitatively new, modern higher education institutions that meet the "University 3.0" model will require significant efforts on the part of the state, particularly in the legislative sphere. Firstly, it is necessary to pursue the course of strengthening the administrative and financial autonomy of higher education institutions to ensure their "flexibility" in the conditions of the modern world, which is constantly changing. This may take the form of additional tools for establishing partnerships with the public and private sectors. Secondly, it is necessary to increase funding for research and innovation, as well as to introduce incentives for universities to scale up cooperation with businesses, local communities and society as a whole. In turn, the state could introduce tax incentives and benefits for businesses that cooperate with universities, invest in research, technology and start-ups. In fact, the state itself could finance or co-finance socially important research and start-ups, competing with business. It would be useful to create a national ranking for higher education institutions for successful cooperation with business. Thirdly, in cooperation with universities and businesses, develop mechanisms for commercialising research and creating university-based start-ups - from research to enterprise creation. This will require the creation of a separate infrastructure consisting of information centres, thematic seminars and workshops, business incubators, start-up and innovation centres. Government relations (GR) and business should become separate areas of work for vice-rectors of higher education institutions. This will ensure successful advocacy of the interests of universities, strengthen partnership with society, ensure that the priorities of higher education institutions are in line with national and regional development strategies, etc. As for business, such a counter-movement would open up new opportunities for research and technology transfer, help meet current labour market needs, and improve the culture of fundraising and attracting additional funding. A step that would strengthen interaction with business would be to introduce a separate position of career adviser. A specialist who knows the needs of the labour market and takes into account all the trends will help guide applicants and students in achieving their career goals. It is also important to scale up interdisciplinary research as a tool for solving complex problems. Specialists and experts working at the intersection of disciplines can offer a new vision that is more relevant than traditional approaches. Integrated solutions that are the product of interdisciplinary research can significantly accelerate the overcoming of existing challenges. Time is the main resource. And it will always be in short supply. That is why we also need to talk about the de-bureaucratisation of higher education - from the procedure for introducing new disciplines to the administrative burden on teaching staff. Deregulation and transparency are the factors that should be fundamental in the process of reforming the sector. In fact, the role of universities in post-war reconstruction cannot be overestimated, as it is highly qualified and competent young professionals who will determine not only the speed with which we will overcome the path of reconstruction, but also the quality of the reconstruction itself. But it is already clear that today it is not enough to speak of universities as mere educational centres. Their role in the post-war reconstruction will be significant in such areas as innovative entrepreneurship, regional development, local community development, social integration, strengthening international cooperation, etc. And when we talk about the reform of higher education, I would like to hear more about this. Check Out the Full PartyPoker Tour London Schedule; Inaugural Festival Starts April 19 Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link PartyPoker announced the launch of a new live tour in January, and the first leg is almost here. PartyPoker Tour London runs from April 19-28 at Aspers Casino in Stratford, London, and PokerNews can reveal the full 10-day schedule today. The schedule is built around the 150 Mini Main Event, 500 Main Event, and 1,000 High Roller, with a generous sprinkling of side events and satellites. One such 20 satellite to the Mini Main Event kicks off PartyPoker Tour London at 11:00 a.m. BST on April 19. A few hours later, the first of six 150 No-Limit Hold'em Mini Main Event Day 1s shuffles up and deals. Four of the flights play to a traditional blind structure with 30-minute blinds. Day 1E and Day 1F feature 20-minute and 15-minute blinds, respectively. Day 1 survivors return to their seats at 6:00 p.m. BST on April 23 for Day 2. The Mini Main Event wraps up on the evening of April 24. April 24 is also your first chance to build a stack in the 500 Main Event. It features two flights with 40-minute blinds, a turbo Day 1C with a 20-minute clock, and a last chance hyper-turbo Day 1D where blinds escalate every 15 minutes. Like the Mini Main Event, the 500 Main Event is a three-day affair. Day 2 starts at 4:00 p.m. BST on April 26, and the third and final day is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. BST on April 27. A one-day High Roller costing 1,000 commences at 4:00 p.m. BST on April 27. PartyPoker Tour London wraps up on April 28 with an online tournament at PartyPoker. Cards are in the air from 6:00 p.m. BST in the 150 Online Closer Mystery Bounty event, the perfect way to round off the inaugural PartyPoker Tour stop. PartyPoker Tour London Schedule Date Time Event Sat 19 Apr 11:00 a.m. 20 Mini Main Satellite 2:00 p.m. 150 Mini Main Event Day A 6:00 p.m. 200 NLHE Knockout 9:00 p.m. 60 Main Event Satellite Sun 20 Apr 11:00 a.m. 20 Mini Main Satellite 2:00 p.m. 150 Mini Main Event Day 1B 6:00 p.m. 200 Poker PRO Omaha 7-Max 9:00 p.m. 60 Main Event Satellite Mon 21 Apr 11:00 a.m. 20 Mini Main Satellite 2:00 p.m. 150 Mini Main Event Day 1C 7:00 p.m. 30 NLHE Mystery Prize Added Value 9:00 p.m. 60 Main Event Satellite Tue 22 Apr 11:00 a.m. 20 Mini Main Satellite 2:00 p.m. 150 Mini Main Event Day 1D 5:00 p.m. 60 Main Event Satellite 8:00 p.m. 150 Mini Main Event Day 1E Turbo Wed 23 Apr 1:00 p.m. 150 Mini Main Event Day 1F Hyper 6:00 p.m. Mini Main Event Day 2 7:00 p.m. 100 NLHE Gambler Connect 9:00 p.m. 60 Main Event Satellite Thu 24 Apr 12:00 p.m. 60 Main Event Satellite 2:00 p.m. 500 Main Event Day 1A 6:00 p.m. Mini Main Event Day 3 9:00 p.m. 200 NLHE 7-Max Turbo 10:00 p.m. 60 Main Event Satellite Fri 25 Apr 10:00 a.m. 60 Main Event Satellite 12:00 p.m. 500 Main Event Day 1B 5:00 p.m. 60 Main Event Satellite 8:00 p.m. 500 Main Event Day 1C Turbo 8:00 p.m. Players' Party Sat 26 Apr 11:00 a.m. 500 Main Event Day 1D Hyper 4:00 p.m. Main Event Day 2 5:00 p.m. 250 NLHE Mystery Bounty Day 1A 9:00 p.m. 150 4/5/6 Card Omaha Turbo Sun 27 Apr 11:00 a.m. 250 NHE Mystery Bounty Day 1B 2:00 p.m. Main Event Day 3 4:00 p.m. Mystery Bounty Day 2 4:00 p.m. 1,000 NLHE High Roller 6:00 p.m. 200 NLHE Faded Spade Mon 28 Apr 6:00 p.m. 150 NLHE Online Closer Mystery Bounty PartyPoker Plans to Send at Least 200 Online Qualifiers to London PartyPoker is pulling out all the stops to ensure the inaugural PartyPoker Tour Main Event is a roaring success. The online poker veteran plans to send at least 200 of its players to London to compete in the 500 Main Event, with online satellites available for only 0.20. Players can choose between satellites awarding 500 seats only or packages worth 1,000. 75 is the buy-in for the seat-only satellites, although feeder satellites are available. The 1,000 PartyPoker Tour packages are awarded via the PartyPoker Tour Path, a five-round step satellite tree with buy-ins of 0.20, 1, 5, and 25. Although you can buy into any round you wish, there is no direct buy-in for the fifth and final round, meaning you must progress from a 25 buy-in Round 4 satellite. Capture one of the 1,000 packages to receive a 500 PartyPoker Tour London Main Event seat plus 500 in cash for expenses. Download PartyPoker Today Download PartyPoker via PokerNews and start your quest for PartyPoker Tour London qualification today. Using our links locks in a 100% up to $600 first deposit bonus plus $30 worth of tickets New depositing players from the United Kingdom receive a 100% up to 1,000 welcome bonus plus 50 worth of free play, which includes PartyPoker Tour satellite tickets. Share this article Hesburger, Finland's largest fast-food chain, has inaugurated a burger patty production facility and a distribution center in Boryspil, investing EUR 7.3 million into the project. "This opening marks a significant step forward in strengthening our competitive position in Ukraine. It lays a solid foundation for business growth, network expansion, and improved operational capabilities," said Kari Salmela, CEO of Hesburger Finland, as quoted in the company's press release on Thursday. The newly launched production and warehouse complex is set to create 10 new jobs, bringing the total number of Hesburger employees in Ukraine to 75. According to Vanda Zamicka-Bergendahl, CEO of Hesburger Ukraine, the construction process faced prolonged delays and was interrupted twice, significantly extending the project's timeline. She expressed gratitude to the company's Ukrainian partners, including the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Economy, the Kyiv Regional State Administration, and the Boryspil District Administration, for their support. "Hesburger is committed to further development in Ukraine and plans to expand its network within the year. However, above all, we deeply hope for peace in Ukraine," the press release said. This Poker Player Will Be Spending the Next 6 Years in Prison | PokerNews Podcast #884 Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Copy link In the 884th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Connor Richards discuss former poker player Salman Behbehani getting a six-year prison sentence for smuggling a shit ton of drugs into Ibiza. Connor and Mike then try to get on the same page in a new word association game we're dubbing 'Collusion Mind Meld' before Chad goes one-on-one with the legendary Phil Galfond to talk about his upcoming 2025 World Series Summit, the Poker Hall of Fame, and more. The crew then shares an update on Peter Eastgate's gold bracelet from the 2008 WSOP Main Event, which he sold long ago for $150,000; give you an opportunity to win a Phil Hellmuth Poker Gift Box; and celebrates Caitlin Comeskey's big SCOOP title victory! You'll also hear about other recent tournament winners, including Shawn Daniels, Yuval Bronshtein, and Angela Jordison, as well as a 15-way chop in a $300 tournament down in Jacksonville. Finally, you can check out the latest installment of "New Vlogs on the Block" featuring Miles Barnum, who is seeking to bring poker to the people starting in small-town Montana. Click here to learn more about Phil Galfond's 2025 World Series Summit The podcast is sponsored by the #1 free-to-play WSOP app. Remember to use bonus code "POKERNEWS" if you download and play for an extra 1,000,000 in chips! A new PokerNews Podcast will drop weekly every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode! Tell us who you want to hear from. Let us know what you think of the show tweet about the podcast using #PNPod, and be sure to follow Chad Holloway on X. Time Stamps Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! You can also find us on Spotify as well as our new page on SoundCloud! Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here! Share this article 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 Aiken Standard reporter Bill Bengtson is an Aiken Standard reporter and has focused since 1996 on such subjects as education, churches, retirees, agriculture, veterans, North Augusta, Fort Gordon and northern Aiken County. His start in South Carolina reporting was in Greenwood, with the Index-Journal. He is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Georgia. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 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 (29403) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain showers, with increasing winds for the afternoon. High 84F. Winds NE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Thundershowers overnight following a period of rain early. Low 74F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a half an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers and thunderstorms. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Ukraine asks IAEA to verify info about damage to diesel tank at Zaporizhia NPP, assess consequences of possible accident Ukraine has asked the IAEA to verify information about damage to a diesel tank at Zaporizhia NPP occupied by Russia and assess the consequences of a possible accident, said the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heorhiy Tykhy. "Yesterday I reported about damage to a diesel tank at Zaporizhia NPP. We promptly appealed to the IAEA with a request to verify the information and assess the consequences of a possible accident through the mission that is directly at the occupied Zaporizhia NPP. And we are now expecting messages, updates from the IAEA on this matter," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday. According to Tykhy, the Ukrainian side is also discussing with the IAEA that similar cases will continue to occur at the occupied Zaporizhia NPP, given that the plant is managed by unlicensed, third-party personnel. "Speaking of personnel, I want to emphasize that we have opened a separate track, one with the IAEA, a humanitarian one, where we are discussing the possibility of returning captured and illegally imprisoned Zaporizhia NPP employees to the territory under our control. Ukraine is fighting for all its people, civilians and military, and the NPP employees. This is part of our dialogue," the spokesman emphasized. On March 26, Tykhy reported that the Foreign Ministry had received a report of damage to a diesel tank at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia NPP. "The spilled fuel would be enough to power the plant's emergency generators for 25 days," the spokesperson wrote. Reporter Spencer Donovan covers Greenville for The Post and Courier. He's an Atlanta native and graduate of the University of Georgia. You can find him on walks around town, eating at local restaurants and hiking in the mountains. You are the owner of this article. 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. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Heavy rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 83F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Showers this evening then scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Charleston, SC (29532) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 90F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. 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 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to the evening attacks of the Russian Federation on Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipro. "Ordinary Ukrainian cities: Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipro. Ordinary life and Russian strikes, which should never happen. Every day in Ukraine is a large-scale attack by strike drones, most of which are Shaheds. It was Iran that taught Russia to produce such strike drones," Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Wednesday. The President focused on the consequences of the strikes of the Russian occupation army on Kharkiv. "Today, more than a dozen drones have hit our Kharkiv, one of the largest cities in Ukraine. Ordinary houses have been damaged, and as of now, eight people have been injured, including a 12-year-old girl. No country should go through this," he stressed. Zelenskyy noted that with such behavior by the aggressor country, it is "inappropriate and unhelpful" to talk about easing pressure on Russia, lifting sanctions, etc. "And against this background, it is definitely inappropriate and unhelpful to talk about easing pressure on Russia, lifting sanctions, etc. Russia is killing every day and prolonging this war. The American proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table for half a month," he noted. The head of the Ukrainian state said that pressure on Russia is needed to save people's lives and for diplomacy to work faster and more fully. "Without pressure on Russia, there will be no result," the president added. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 13:00:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 680 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 New consulting capabilities will allow business owners to achieve their financial goals through outsourced accounting.SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Small to mid-size companies needing a part-time Chief Financial Officer providing high-level accounting analysis, strategic fiscal recommendations, and certified public accounting (CPA) services can now find one through Afinida Accounting, the company announced today. Afinida Accounting is a subsidiary of Afinida Inc. (OTC Pink:TREP).Afinida Accounting's new fractional CFO services provide outsourced accounting support and come during a time of increased awareness and preference of business owners for flexible, on-demand access to accounting and bookkeeping that delivers time efficiency, scalability, and cost savings."By offering expert fractional CFO services, we're catering to a wide range of businesses who need financial analysis and strategic insights in addition to the bookkeeping services they are currently receiving from another accounting firm," said Afinida's Chief Financial Officer, Brendan McMenamy, CPA. "Our team is ready to provide clients with part-time, contract, or as-needed services that support business growth," he added.Fractional CFO services have proven to be essential - and in many cases ideal - for organizations of various sizes and companies in transition because they deliver a viable solution for businesses without the resources or the need of a full-time Chief Financial Officer.Afinida Accounting's strategic financial management will offer key benefits to its consulting clients, including:Financial Statement Preparation - tailored reports that provide a clear picture of a business's financial health.Personalized Bookkeeping - customized, accurate tracking and recording of financial transactions.Deep-Dive Analysis - expert insights on financial planning, forecasting, and business growth and expansion strategies.Cash Flow Management - optimized cash flow, budgeting, and financial operations for better stability and insight into growth opportunities.Risk Management & Compliance - payroll tax preparation and filing that ensures compliance and minimizes liabilities.Auditing & Statement Reviews - audit preparation and complete engagement management for quarterly reviews and annual audits.Fractional CFO services are the latest financial solution offered by Afinida Accounting, a company that prides itself on providing expert services for growing businesses.Read Afinida Accounting's press release here and explore additional company news and exciting updates.About AfinidaTrue solutions, today and tomorrow: Trucept, Inc. dba Afinida Inc. (OTC Pink: TREP), helps organizations focus on growth. With a dedicated suite of powerful tools and services designed to keep owners in charge of running their businesses, Afinida manages the necessary administrative needs of its clients while streamlining operational processes and delivering a host of high-touch business solutions.The company offers expert services in the form of payroll, human resources and people management, employee benefits, accounting support, safety and risk management, marketing, and business insurance services.For more information, please visit www.afinida.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.DisclaimerStatements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future revenues and sales projections, plans for future financing, the ability to meet operational milestones, marketing arrangements and plans, and shipments to and regulatory approvals in international markets. Such statements reflect management's current views, are based on certain assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional financing that will allow us to continue our current and future operations and whether demand for our products and services in domestic and international markets will continue to expand. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations regarding these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact the Company's success are more fully disclosed in the Company's most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its annual report on Form 10-K.Media Contact:Michael Eslinger meslinger@ afinidamkt.com (858) 463-5867# # #SOURCE: Trucept, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 20:01:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 976 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Partnering with Empact removes key barriers, allowing creators to focus on what they do best - creating - while their fans in the EU enjoy a seamless, hassle-free shopping experience.NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Amaze (NYSE American:AMZE) has joined forces with Empact, a trusted Merchant of Record (MOR), to break down barriers for creators selling to fans across the European Union (EU). This partnership delivers a frictionless, more transparent shopping experience, empowering creators to scale their businesses while ensuring fans can seamlessly access the products they love-without the hassle of unexpected fees or delays.The European e-commerce market is projected to reach $707.90 billion in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 7.95% from 2025 to 2029, demonstrating a vast opportunity for creators to expand their reach (Statista). However, high shipping costs remain a major obstacle, with 68% of European online shoppers citing excessive shipping fees as the primary reason for cart abandonment (Sendcloud). Additionally, 25% of shoppers avoid purchasing internationally due to high shipping costs, and 55% abandon their carts when faced with unexpected fees (Codept).This collaboration unlocks key benefits for our community:Fair, transparent pricing - Say goodbye to surprise fees and inflated shipping costs. Fans can shop with confidence, knowing they're paying accurate, upfront rates.Greater access to global creativity - Previously, many creators avoided selling in the EU due to high costs and logistical hurdles. Now, they can enter these markets with more confidence in the fan experience.Faster, more reliable delivery - Optimized logistics and streamlined customs mean orders arrive sooner and smoother, enhancing the fan experience."At Amaze, we're committed to making creator-powered commerce truly global," said Aaron Day, CEO of Amaze. "Partnering with Empact removes key barriers, allowing creators to focus on what they do best-creating-while their fans in the EU enjoy a seamless, hassle-free shopping experience." Beyond these direct benefits, this partnership strengthens digital commerce across the EU by improving VAT compliance and reducing fraud, fostering a healthier, more sustainable marketplace.Just as creators strive to perfect their craft, we, too, are constantly evolving-innovating, refining, and expanding what's possible. Together with Empact, we're making global commerce more accessible, transparent, and rewarding for creators and fans alike.For investor information, visitir.amaze.co For press inquiries, please contactinvestor.relations@amaze.co Sources:Statista:European E-commerce Market GrowthSendcloud:E-commerce StatisticsCodept:Brexit Impact on E-commerce LogisticsAbout Amaze: Amaze Software, Inc. is an end-to-end, creator-powered commerce platform offering tools for seamless product creation, advanced e-commerce solutions, and scalable managed services. By empowering anyone to "sell anything, anywhere," Amaze enables creators to tell their stories, cultivate deeper audience connections, and generate sustainable income through shoppable, authentic experiences.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements relate to our future plans, developments, performance or financial condition, as well as our expectations regarding the corporate name change and trading symbol change. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current plans, expectations, and estimates of management of Fresh Vine and Amaze. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future of the combined companies and the expected benefits of the acquisition. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: (i) the potential effect of the announcement of the acquisition on Amaze's or Fresh Vine's business relationships, performance and business generally, including potential difficulties in employee retention; (ii) the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the merger agreement or the acquisition (iii) the risk that Fresh Vine will be unable to maintain the listing of Fresh Vine's securities on NYSE American; (iv) the risk that the price of Fresh Vine's securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive industries in which Fresh Vine or Amaze operates, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Fresh Vine's or Amaze's business and changes in the capital structure; (v) the risk that the anticipated benefits of the acquisition or other commercial opportunities may otherwise not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; (vi) the impact of changes in applicable law, rules, regulations, regulatory guidance, or social conditions in the countries in which customers and suppliers operate; (vii) the risk that integration of Amaze and Vine post-closing may not occur as anticipated or the combined company may not be able to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from the transaction, as well as the risk of potential delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating the combined company's existing businesses; (viii) the risk that Fresh Vine and/or Amaze may not achieve or sustain profitability; (ix) the risk that Fresh Vine and/or Amaze will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which m Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have referred to court a case involving the misappropriation of over UAH 13.8 billion from Ukrnafta by seven individuals. According to NABU, in 2015, several LLCs were declared winners in Ukrnafta's crude oil auctions, signing sales contracts and receiving crude oil worth more than UAH 10.7 billion. However, these transactions violated a government regulation requiring crude oil deliveries only after full payment. The illegally obtained crude was then processed at the Kremenchuk Oil Refinery, and the resulting petroleum products were sold at gas stations across the country. Additionally, in July 2015, Ukrnafta signed 70 contracts to purchase petroleum products from another LLC, prepaying over UAH 3.06 billion for deliveries scheduled by year-end. Later, supplementary agreements extended the deadlines to late 2018, yet Ukrnafta never received the petroleum products. NABU's investigation found that the misappropriated funds were funneled abroad to offshore accounts. "As a result, the total value of misappropriated assets and funds across these two cases exceeds UAH 13.8 billion," NABU stated. Among the accused are: former Ukrnafta CEO, former deputy head of Oil & Gas Sales, former head of Oil & Petroleum Accounting & Supply, and former directors of four commercial enterprises. In 2015, Oleksiy Kushch served as acting CEO of Ukrnafta. NABU said that, as part of this criminal case, the agency successfully canceled 60 contracts worth nearly UAH 3 billion between Ukrnafta and Kotlas LLC, a petroleum supplier. Moreover, thanks to NABU and SAPO investigations, Ukrnafta has already recovered UAH 5.4 billion, which has been used to settle debts resulting from illegal activities. Investigators also determined that the LLCs involved in the crude oil contracts were linked to companies from the so-called "Privat Group." Ukrnafta is Ukraine's largest oil extraction company and operates a national network of filling stations. In March 2024, the company took over the management of Glusco assets, and now operates 544 filling stations 461 of its own and 83 under management. The largest shareholder in Ukrnafta is Naftogaz Ukrainy, which holds a 50% plus one share. In November 2022, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decided to transfer the corporate rights of the company, previously owned by private shareholders, to the state. The Ministry of Defense now oversees these shares. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 12:46:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 680 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GREENWICH, CT / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / American Battery Materials, Inc. (OTC PINK:BLTH) (ABM), a Delaware-based corporation dedicated to advancing lithium resource development, and XTC Lithium Limited (XTC), an Australian corporation, are pleased to announce the signing of a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) outlining summary terms of a proposed partnership to develop the Carachi Lithium Project in Argentina's Catamarca Province.The Carachi Lithium Project, held by XTC's wholly owned Argentine subsidiary, XTC Lithium Argentina SAR (XLA), comprises several exploration properties within Argentina's renowned Lithium Triangle. This region is globally recognized for its rich lithium deposits, a critical component in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.Under the terms of the LOI, ABM will have the opportunity to acquire up to a 50% interest in the Carachi Lithium Project. Additionally, upon securing a 10% interest in the Project, ABM will have the right to enter into a joint venture agreement with XTC for the continued exploration and development of the mining tenements."This Letter of Intent represents a pivotal step in our strategy to expand our footprint in the global lithium market," said David E. Graber, CEO of American Battery Materials, Inc. "Partnering with XTC Lithium LTD, gives us access to a promising project in the heart of the Lithium Triangle, and we look forward to working together to unlock its full potential." Mr. Graber also said, "Beyond proven geological data on the salar, Xantippe (XTC Lithium) has an excellent operating team in place that is personally invested in the project. Those individuals have a successful track record in identifying, developing and financing projects all the way through a sale." John Featherby, Chairman of XTC Lithium Limited, added, "We are excited to collaborate with ABM on the Carachi Lithium Project. Their expertise and shared commitment to sustainable resource development make them an ideal partner as we advance this project toward production." Although ABM has entered into the LOI with respect to a proposed partnership to develop the Carachi Lithium Project, such transaction is subject to the execution and delivery of a definitive agreement and the satisfaction of the closing conditions which will be contained therein, including securing all necessary statutory, corporate and regulatory approvals and obtaining cash proceeds from financing arrangements. There can be no assurance that a definitive agreement will be entered into, or that the Carachi Lithium Project transaction will be consummated upon the terms set forth in the LOI, or otherwise.The proposed partnership underscores both companies' commitment to meeting the growing global demand for lithium, driven by the rapid expansion of the clean energy sector. The parties will now work toward finalizing a definitive agreement and obtaining all required approvals to move forward with the transaction.About American Battery Materials, Inc. American Battery Materials, Inc., headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a U.S.-based company focused on the exploration, acquisition, and development of lithium and other battery materials critical to the global energy transition. ABM is committed to sustainable practices and delivering value to its stakeholders through strategic partnerships and innovative projects.About XTC Lithium Limited XTC Lithium Limited, based in Wollstonecraft, NSW, Australia, is an exploration and development company with a focus on lithium resources in Argentina and other regions. Through its subsidiary, XTC Lithium Argentina SAR, the company is advancing projects in the Lithium Triangle, a globally significant region for lithium production.For Media Inquiries: American Battery Materials, Inc.500 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 400Greenwich, CT 06830+1 800-998-7962 ir@ americanbatterymaterials.com XTC Lithium Limited63 Sinclair StreetWollstonecraft NSW 2065, AustraliaForward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the potential partnership between ABM and XTC, the development of the Carachi Lithium Project, and the expected outcomes of the proposed transaction. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the failure to finalize a definitive agreement, obtain necessary approvals, or meet other conditions. Neither ABM nor XTC undertakes any obligation to update these statements based on future events or developments, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws.SOURCE: American Battery Materials, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 18:02:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 523 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Author and anti-hate activist Tony McAleer and filmmaker Peter Hutchison are proud to announce the documentary feature THE CURE FOR HATE: BEARING WITNESS TO AUSCHWITZ will debut on public television via national distributor American Public Television this April. The Cure for Hate"As we prepare for The Cure for Hate to air on public television, I couldn't be more excited about the incredible opportunity this brings to make a meaningful impact in our communities", said McAleer. "This film is not just a story-it's a catalyst for dialogue, understanding, and healing. I truly believe it has the power to inspire positive change, and bring people together in the spirit of compassion and growth." THE CURE FOR HATE follows Tony McAleer, a former Neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier, who went on to become a founding member of the anti-hate activist group Life After Hate. Profoundly aware and deeply ashamed of the lineage of hate he'd once promoted, Tony had long-contemplated traveling to Auschwitz in the spirit of tshuvah - to bear witness to the inconceivable ravages of the Holocaust, and deepen his personal work against the rise of extremist politics.This project documents his profoundly personal journey of atonement to Auschwitz/Birkenau - exploring the conditions that allowed for the rise of fascism in 1930s Europe; shedding a unique light upon how men get into - and out of - violent extremist groups; and serving as a cautionary tale for our time that underscores the dangers in allowing hate to be left unchecked."In a time of rising hate-fueled violence, The Cure for Hate is a call to confront the past and its lasting impact", said Hutchison. "Through one man's journey into the white power movement, this film implores viewers to engage with the urgent need for Holocaust remembrance and the fight against the resurgence of hate." In addition to the television premiere of the documentary, Tony McAleer and Peter Hutchison will travel the United States through 2026 with THE CURE FOR HATE SOCIAL IMPACT PROGRAM, which helps young people understand the roots of hatred, and promotes community resiliency through educational screenings in partnership with schools and local anti-violence organizations.The Cure for Hate will be available to watch locally courtesy of American Public Television, (check your local listings), on PBS World, and available to stream with Passport on the PBS App starting April 1.About American Public TelevisionAmerican Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation's more than 350 public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and nearly one-half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT's diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children's series and classic movies. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes CreateTV- featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming - and WORLD, public television's premier news, science and documentary channel. More information at APTonline.org Contact InformationScott MotiskoPublicistscott@ scottmotiskopr.com 570-335-1305SOURCE: Scott Motisko PR PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 17:16:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 481 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Chicago Public Schools recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Chicago Public Schools.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 8, 2025, became aware of a security incident involving Cleo, a third-party vendor that contains current and former CPS students' information on one of its servers. Upon detection, CPS launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to a server used by Cleo to store student data. This breach affected both current and former students dating back to the 2017-2018 school year. CPS conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On March 7, 2025, CPS identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: students' names, dates of birth, genders, Chicago public Schools student ID numbers, medicaid ID numbers, and dates of medicaid program eligibility.On March 7, 2025, CPS made a public disclosure and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Chicago Public Schools, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 10:32:40 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 27, 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=139038&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: 2025-03-27 17:16:01 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 27, 2025 / College Hospital Costa Mesa recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to College Hospital Costa Mesa.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On September 17, 2024, College Hospital Costa Mesa became aware of a security incident that disrupted the operations of some of its IT systems. Upon detection, College Hospital Costa Mesa launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party accessed some files on its systems between August 14, 2024, and September 17, 2024. College Hospital Costa Mesa conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On January 31, 2025, College Hospital Costa Mesa determined that these files contained sensitive personal information.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised:name, Social Security number, and driver's license number.On March 10, 2025, College Hospital Costa Mesa filed a notice with the Attorney General of California and started the process of notifying impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from College Hospital Costa Mesa, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 13:01:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 692 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Mr. Brame Brings Over 40 Years Of Domestic And International Sales Team DevelopmentLAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 /Cytta Corp.(OTCQB:CYCA),is pleased to announce the appointment of a National Sales Director, Mr. Stuart Brame. Mr. Brame will take overall charge of the Company's sales program to the Law Enforcement market initially and industrial markets as we progress. Cytta Corp is now introducing a traditional human-based approach to correlating and coordinating our national CyttaCOMMS sales program led by Mr. Brame.Mr. Brame's team will utilize all the accumulated internal data and industry acceptance of its core CyttaCOMMS technology received during the initial program initiative. Mr. Brame and his sales team will be laser focused on developing a systematic approach to turn all interested law enforcement organizations into formal licensed users of CyttaCOMMS.Mr. Brame plans to develop a unified national sales team that can best monetize all the data collected achieved through product demonstrations and industry trials in our online beta program. Mr. Brame's sales team will be expanded with the addition of other senior sales professionals to pursue all identified sales targets amassed through our previous aggressive online approach. They will also be interacting directly with customers and collecting customers' responses to our technology and how it is best utilized within their appropriate departments. Mr. Brame will also be personally available to discuss all these matters with our shareholders, investors as well as our customers. Mr. Brame may be contacted directly at 888-489-5811 or at SBrame@ cytta.com Mr. Brame, Cytta's National Sales Director stated that, "Over the last year, Cytta Corp. has uniquely established a comprehensive campaign through social media and product advertising that delivered industry acceptance and an exciting response to the CyttaCOMMS product." Mr. Brame further stated, "The CyttaCOMMS beta rollout has achieved a very positive reaction within our nation's police forces, especially in Florida and Texas where my sales team will initially be concentrating. Ultimately my mission is to build a sustainable sales foundation that morphs into a fully interactive national sales program through an aggressive to campaign to deliver our products to meet the known market needs that we have identified." Mr. Brame has 40 years of domestic and international marketing, sales and managerial experience with various technology companies and has worked extensively in the areas of product sales and marketing, corporate development and financial structuring. Mr. Brame has developed a worldwide network that will assist in the long-term positioning and sales, marketing and business development of Cytta. In addition to being a valued Advisor to Cytta for over a decade, Mr. Brame worked directly on Cytta's remote medical monitoring "DoctorDirect" and "EvrCare" projects in 2014/2015. Recently he was responsible for delineating the proposed sales and marketing strategy for CyttaCOMMS into the Oil and Gas industry which will now be implemented, after the First Responder market.Additionally, the Company reports that the Webinar/Podcast scheduled for March 28th, 2025, will be cancelled. Company management is currently switching from Zoom to our own CyttaCOMMS broadcast system. Until completed, we will rely upon our formal News Releases and a Shareholder Newsletter to our mailing list to share information when warranted.About Cytta CorpCytta Corpis a pioneering technology company specializing in developing and commercializing cutting-edge safety and security solutions including CyttaCOMMS and CyttaCARES. Our proprietary innovations redefine real-time intelligence, data security, and mission-critical communications, empowering industries such as defense, public safety, critical infrastructure, and enterprise operations.Through Cytta Labs, our venture studio, we incubate, accelerate, and spin out breakthrough technologies, transforming them into high-growth ventures. Once market-ready, we establish Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to scale and consolidate these innovations, driving strategic roll-ups for maximum market impact and high value exits.By seamlessly integrating proprietary product development, venture acceleration, and structured exit strategies, Cytta Corp is revolutionizing the future of safety, security, and intelligence on a global scale. For more information, visit www.cytta.com Cytta Corp.Toll-Free: 1-877-CYTTAUS (298-8287)Local: 1-740-CYTTAUS (298-8287)Website: www.cytta.com Email: info@ cyttacorp.com Stuart Brame, National Sales and Communications Director Direct: (888)-489-5811 (or message)Email: SBrame@ cytta.com SOURCE: Cytta Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 22:44:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 406 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Boasting over 56% freshly roasted pistachios, Pistachio Cream is elevating gourmet creations and meeting industry demandOXNARD, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / The Dubai chocolate and pistachio dessert obsession isn't just a trend-it's a full-blown movement, sweeping through high-end patisseries, flooding social media feeds, and redefining luxury desserts worldwide. Now, Amoretti-the go-to brand for elite bakers and chocolatiers-is unleashing its Pistachio Cream, the secret weapon for chefs who want to ride the wave and craft next-level confections.This isn't just another pistachio spread-it's a game-changer. While most pistachio creams barely scrape together 8% actual pistachio content (tragic, we know), Amoretti's version boasts over 56% freshly roasted pistachios, delivering an authentic, rich, and velvety-smooth experience. It's kissed with just the right amount of white chocolate for balance, making it a one-way ticket to dessert nirvana."We don't do half-measures at Amoretti," said Maral Barsoumian, Co-founder of Amoretti. "We created this Pistachio Cream to give bakers and chocolatiers the real deal-no fillers, no artificial nonsense, just pure, unadulterated pistachio bliss." Bakeries, pastry chefs, and chocolatiers are already obsessed, incorporating Amoretti's Pistachio Cream into pistachio-stuffed croissants, ultra-luxe bonbons, chocolate mousse, gelato swirls, brownies, and layered cakes. If it's not in your kitchen yet, you're already behind.What's trending in the dessert world, besides Dubai chocolate?Filling buttery croissants, scones, and rugelach with rich pistachio goodnessElevating bonbons and truffles to gourmet statusChurning out pistachio-kissed ice cream and gelatoLayering into decadent cakes, mousse, and cheesecakesSwirling into brownies or crafting pistachio-stuffed challah breadDeveloping single-serve desserts and pastriesSourced from the best California pistachios, Amoretti's precision batching process guarantees consistency, freshness, and pure, nutty perfection in every jar. Whether you run a boutique patisserie or a high-volume production kitchen, Amoretti's SQF-certified facility ensures a reliable and scalable supply to meet growing demand.The Dubai-inspired pistachio dessert wave isn't slowing down anytime soon, and with Amoretti's Pistachio Cream, your menu can stay ahead of the trend. Ready to level up your desserts? Visit Amoretti.com and bring this game-changing ingredient to your kitchen.About Amoretti:Founded in 1989 in Oxnard, California, Amoretti is a family-owned business offering over 3,500 high-quality products, including nut pastes, marzipan, fruit artisan pastes, extracts, Craft Puree, and premium flavoring syrups. Serving bakeries, ice creameries, chocolatiers, beverage manufacturers, restaurants, hotels, bars, and consumers worldwide, Amoretti is dedicated to excellence. For more information, please visit www.amoretti.com Media Contact:Holly Morgan holly@ hollymorganmedia.com SOURCE: Amoretti PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 13:00:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 541 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The scholarship will go to Richard Brennan, a law school applicant devoted to helping disabled people navigate the legal system.RUTHERFORDTON, NORTH CAROLINA / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Florida State University graduate Richard Brennan has won the 2024Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC , Volunteer Service Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship is awarded annually to a law school student or applicant who has performed volunteer work in their community.Volunteering Empowered Brennan to Change Lives - and Changed His OwnIn his award-winning essay and winner questionnaire, Brennan cites personal experiences as his motivation for applying to law school. After sustaining life-altering injuries in a drunk driving crash at just six years old, he was able to excel in school thanks to support from his mother and from medical professionals paid for through Medicaid."As I grew older, I developed a deep appreciation of the importance of accessible support systems and a budding realization of inequity in healthcare outcomes," Brennan writes in his essay.This realization inspired him to give back to the community through volunteer work. He began preparing and serving meals at Ronald McDonald House, where he witnessed the "power" in "coming together... to ease the burden for a total stranger." Seeing the impact of his volunteer work solidified Brennan's determination to pursue a legal career that would enable him to provide even more help to families like those he met at Ronald McDonald House.Law School Is the Next Step on Brennan's Journey to Empower OthersAfter graduating college in the spring of 2023, Brennan was hired by Liebenhaut Law as a paralegal. In this position, he realized that, like Medicaid, Social Security benefits were not always as accessible as they should be."[N]avigating safety net programs like Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income can be technical and confusing," Brennan writes-a reality he plans to use his $2,500 Volunteer Service Scholarship to help change.Volunteering showed Brennan "what I will be fighting for," while his work as a paralegal and graduating from law school will allow him to work toward a future "where other children can have a positive outcome like I did regardless of their socioeconomic status." To do this, he plans on becoming a Social Security Disability attorney, opening his own practice, and providing "concise, practical insights that empower my clients to make the most informed decisions." Brennan was recently accepted to Stetson University College of Law, though he has not yet decided which law school he will attend. He plans to begin his studies in the fall 2025 semester with, as he puts it, a firm "commitment to be a champion for my future clients in a way that reflects the selflessness and generosity this scholarship represents." About the Volunteer Service ScholarshipFarmer & Morris Law, PLLC, has awarded theVolunteer Service Scholarshipannually since 2021. While the scholarship helps individual law students, it also strengthens entire communities by providing financial resources to future lawyers who are devoted to uplifting others through volunteerism and legal representation.Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, is a law firm based in North and South Carolina that offers a wide range of legal services.Contact InformationAndrea FarmerAttorneyafarmer@ farmerlegal.com 828-286-3866SOURCE: Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 10:00:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 941 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The move serves to enhance and improve accessibility of material samples to accelerate qualification and testing for U.S. Industry and government partnersKINGSTON, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 /Focus Graphite Inc. ( TSX.V:FMS)(OTCQB:FCSMF)(FSE:FKC) ("Focus" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the establishment of a dedicated U.S. storage and shipping facility for graphite samples located at 6953 15 St E, Sarasota, Florida. This strategic move is designed to enhance the accessibility of Focus Graphite's high-grade and purity graphite material for U.S.-based clients, including key industry, academia, and government partners.With growing demand from the defense, energy, and battery sectors, having material readily available within the U.S. will streamline distribution, improve logistical efficiencies, and facilitate closer collaboration with testing and development partners. The Sarasota facility will enable Focus Graphite to better support its ongoing target engagements with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), battery anode producers, and military contractors as they work toward securing reliable domestic sources of critical minerals."The U.S. is accelerating its push to reduce dependence on foreign sources of critical minerals, particularly graphite, which is essential for battery, long duration energy storage, and defense applications," said Dean Hanisch, CEO of Focus Graphite. "Establishing this storage and shipping hub in Florida allows us to directly support American industry and government partners with faster, more efficient access to our material." In January 2025, the American Active Anode Material Producers ("AAAMP"), a coalition of graphite producers, welcomed the preliminary determination by the International Trade Commission (ITC) that China's low-cost graphite exports have materially hindered the development of a domestic graphite industry. This decision aligns with the latest U.S. government policy direction, including President Donald Trump's recently announced Executive Order, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production. The order seeks to enhance national and economic security by reducing reliance on foreign mineral imports, particularly from China.As one of North America's most advanced graphite development companies, Focus Graphite is well-positioned to contribute to this strategic shift. The Company's Lac Knife Project in Quebec hosts one of the highest-grade and purity graphite deposits globally, with a 27-year mine life and significant potential to supply the growing North American market.By proactively establishing a U.S. distribution presence, Focus Graphite reinforces its commitment to supporting American industry with secure, high-quality graphite supply for energy storage, military, and industrial applications.About Focus Graphite Inc.Focus Graphite Inc. is an advanced materials company developing sustainable mining and technology innovations. At the heart of our operations is the Lac Knife flake graphite deposit, known for its high purity and grade-ideal for applications in the military, defense, and green energy revolutions. Currently advancing through Canada's mine permitting process, Focus Graphite is on the verge of transforming this resource into a viable supplier of critical mineral.Our proprietary, environmentally sustainable processing technologies ensure a green, chemical-free pathway from mine to market. The Company's proprietary silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite patent technology is aimed at improving battery performance. We specialize in producing advanced, high-purity graphite materials tailored for diverse industries, including EV batteries, military applications, and high-tech manufacturing.Focus Graphite's commitment extends beyond resource extraction-we are actively seeking partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and government bodies to try and accelerate the commercialization of advanced materials and technologies derived from our flagship project. As a proud Canadian company, we are dedicated to contributing to North America's secure and sustainable critical minerals supply chain.For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit https://focusgraphite.com/ Investors Contact:Dean HanischCEO, Focus Graphite Inc. dhanisch@ focusgraphite.com 613-612-6060Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated," and similar expressions, as well as statements relating to matters that are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the establishment and operation of the U.S. storage and shipping facility, its expected benefits for clients, the Company's engagement with U.S. government agencies and contractors, the potential impacts of U.S. government policy changes, and the Company's business objectives, plans, and strategies.Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to market conditions, regulatory approvals, changes in economic conditions, supply chain disruptions, the ability to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms or at all, operational risks associated with mineral exploration and development, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+.The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Focus Graphite, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 20:01:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 472 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Olson Homes and Tim Lewis Communities receive top honors with The Eliant,' and Curtis Woolsey of Stylecraft Texas named Customer Experience Leader of the YearALISO VIEJO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / The winners of Eliant's acclaimed 30th Annual HomeBuyers' Choice Awards. Powered by Eliant's best-in-class technology, reliable data, and actionable insights, award winners are selected based on the ratings, opinions, and experiences of more than 200,000 recent homebuyers from 250 major new home builders across the U.S. Multiple trophiesThe top honor at the HomeBuyers' Choice Awards,The Eliant , is presented to the highest-rated single-division home builders and the highest-rated multi-division home builders for the best overall purchase and ownership experience. This is based on customers' ratings of key measures in the Eliant Home multi-stage survey series, captured at move-in, mid-year, and year-end. Olson Homes received this prestigious award in the single-division segment, and Tim Lewis Communities in the multi-division segment.Olson Homes earnedThe Eliantaward in the single-division category, marking their sixth consecutive win and ninth overall since 2015. The company also secured four additional, including three first-place finishes in Purchase Experience, First Year Quality, and First Year Customer Service Experience. Additionally, for the fourth year in a row, Matt Smelser of Olson Homes was recognized as the top Customer Service Representative of the Year in the high-volume category.Tim Lewis Communities receivedThe Eliantaward for multi-division home builders. The company was also honored with five other awards, including first and third place in First Year Customer Service Experience for their Nevada and Northern California divisions, respectively. They also earned second and third place in First Year Quality for their Northern California and Nevada divisions, respectively, along with fifth place for Best Customer Communication in Nevada.Curtis Woolsey from Stylecraft Texas, was named Customer Experience Leader of the Year, recognizing his outstanding leadership in customer experience excellence across all qualifying builders.About the Eliant HomeBuyers' Choice AwardsThe Eliant HomeBuyers' Choice Awards selections are based on the experiences and feedback of more than 200,000 recent homebuyers from over 250 major homebuilders across the U.S. The media sponsor for the 2025 HomeBuyers' Choice Awards is Builder Media. For a complete list of winners and selection criteria, visit Eliant.com/choice-awards About EliantSince 1984, Eliant provides solutions for customer and employee delight by offering tools and guidance to homebuilders, developers, vendors, trade partners, lenders, and more, to deliver memorable experiences. Established as the original homebuyer survey company, Eliant has evolved into a full-service experience management firm and partner to the homebuilding industry. Powered by superior assessments and best-in-class technology, Eliant offers its clients reliable answers to their most critical homebuilding and home buying questions. Headquarters in Aliso Viejo, CA, Eliant is the parent of the annual HomeBuyers' Choice Awards, an arbiter of homebuyer satisfaction in the homebuilding industry.Contact InformationFernanda LuickPresidentfernanda@ eliant.com (949) 753-1077SOURCE: Eliant, Inc. The most difficult issue in the settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian war will be the territorial one, and it is necessary to distinguish between actual and legal control over the territories: the Russian Federation will not leave the occupied territories of Ukraine, but no one will recognize them as Russian, says the US President's special envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg. Kellogg said on Fox News on Wednesday that they had to get to the difficult level of discussions and that, in their opinion, the most difficult ones were the territorial issues. He pointed out that when looking at the four regionsLuhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Khersonthe Russians completely controlled Luhansk, but not the others. He added that the question was what the territorial gains would look like. The US President's special envoy added that they then would go back to what they call de facto or de jure. He explained that de facto means physically occupying the territory, and that the Russian occupiers are not going anywhere from it, but de jure does not mean completely annexing it or giving it to Russia as part of its territory. He emphasized that these are the discussions that need to take place. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 05:54:37 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 677 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 HONG KONG, Mar 26, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - The findings of the 1Q25 HKTDC Export Confidence Index showed confidence among Hong Kong exporters has risen moderately, despite the sizable tariff hikes imposed by the US on its trading partners around the world.In specific terms, the Current Performance Index (a measure of actual performance for the quarter in question) rose by 1.8 points to 52.1. Equally reassuringly, the Expectation Index (a measure of confidence in likely performance in the coming quarter) was up by 1.0 points to 51.0. Both readings were above the watermark level of 50, which can be taken as confirming general optimism with regard to future export prospects.Given the likely impact of the series of higher tariffs imposed by the US in the last two months, the HKTDC has slightly adjusted its 2025 Hong Kong export growth forecast from 4% to 3%. There remains a downside risk to the forecast given the uncertainty over any future escalation in global trade tension.Commenting on the revised forecast and the 1Q25 findings, Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research, said: Its a testament to the resilience of Hong Kongs export sector that growth is still indicated. While export business may be growing at a moderately slower rate than had been initially anticipated, there are still many reasons to be optimistic. This is partly down to the agility and flexibility many Hong Kong exporters have demonstrated in terms of strategies for future-proofing their business activities. From the findings of the 1Q25 survey, it is clear a range of strategies, including diversifying sourcing, expanding into new markets and the relocation of production lines, have been very much front-of-mind for many of Hong Kongs export-oriented businesses. These moves, it is believed, will help enterprises mitigate the adverse effects of any current or future protectionist measures.Overall, despite a more challenging global trade backdrop, it was encouraging to note the majority of survey respondents (75.4%) remained confident their 2025 net profit margins would either rise or remain stable. This was notably higher than the 72.1% of respondents expressing the same sentiment in 4Q24, while also being the highest such figure for 12 months.In terms of market prospects, uncertainties over its trading stance have inevitably clouded the general views of the US. Tellingly, the Current Performance figure for the country was 47.8, with its 3.1 point quarter-on-quarter decline taking it below the watermark level of 50 for the first time in 12 months.Exporter sentiment, however, remained largely positive when looking beyond the US market, particularly with reference to Mainland China, the EU and the ASEAN bloc. In all, the Current Performance Index reading for Mainland China was up 6.7 points to 59.0 (compared to 4Q24) while the comparable finding for the EU was up 3.8 points to 50.1. The reading for the ASEAN bloc (56.4), meanwhile, remained solidly in expansionary territory.Nicholas Fu, Senior Economist, said A similar pattern was in evidence in the case of the Expectation Index. This saw Mainland China up 3.0 points to 55.7, followed by the ASEAN bloc (53.0) and the EU (52.7). The US was again down, falling by 4.3 points to hit a one-year low of 46.7.In terms of more general findings, Jewellery (at 53.1 points) was the most upbeat industry sector with regard to 1Q25 Current Performance, followed by Electronics (52.3) and Timepieces (51.2). In terms of Expectation, Jewellery (54.4), Equipment/Materials (52.6) and Timepiece (51.1) exporters were most optimistic as to their likely future performance.AppendixThe HKTDC Export Confidence Index has been designed to provide a comprehensive overview of Hong Kong exporter sentiment. It comprises two primary / overall indices, one of which gauges the Current Performance with regard to the surveyed quarter, while the other considers Expectation for the upcoming quarter. The findings of both indices are based on a weighted average of five sub-indices Sales and New Orders, Trade Value, Cost, Procurement, and Inventory.Full details of the methodology / definitions relating to the HKTDC Export Confidence Index can be found in the Appendix section of the full quarterly report.ReferencesHKTDC Export Confidence Index 1Q25: Export Confidence Improves Despite Growing Trade TensionsHKTDC Research websitePhoto download: bit.ly/3QMQHmU Read more: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/97433/ PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 17:16:28 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 439 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Smart ERP Solutions, Inc. recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to SmartERP.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 13, 2024, Smart ERP Solutions, Inc. became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, SmartERP launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to SmartERP's network between July 3, 2024, and July 13, 2024. SmartERP conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On February 11, 2025, SmartERP completed its review and confirmed that certain sensitive personal information had been exposed.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, and Social Security number. On March 13, 2025, SmartERP filed a notice with the Maine Attorney General's office and began sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from SmartERP, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 17:25:54 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 447 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / OEC Freight Companies Inc. recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted toOEC Group.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On May 13, 2024, OEC Group became aware of a security incident on its computer network. Upon detection, OEC Group launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to files on OEC Group's network containing sensitive information. OEC Group conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On February 14, 2025, OEC Group identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: name, and Social Security number.On March 14, 2025, OEC Group filed a notice with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from OEC Group, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 17:31:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 442 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Farmers Bank & Trust recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Farmers Bank & Trust.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On October 25, 2024, Farmers Bank & Trust experienced unauthorized access to an employee's email account. Upon detection, Farmers Bank & Trust immediately launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security professionals to determine the nature and scope of the incident. Following a detailed forensic investigation and manual review, on February 17, 2025, Farmers Bank & Trust determined that certain files containing personal information may have been accessed or acquired.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: full name, Social Security number, financial information, email address, and driver's license. Farmers Bank & Trust conducted a comprehensive review to determine the specific information affected and began sending notification letters to impacted individuals on March 17, 2025. A public notice was filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General on the same day. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Farmers Bank & Trust, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 17:16:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 517 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Western Alliance Bank recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Western Alliance Bank.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On January 27, 2025, Western Alliance became aware of a security incident related to a vulnerability in a third-party vendor's secure file transfer software. The vulnerable application exploited in the attack, which the firm did not name, is a Cleo file transfer tool. A third-party vendor's secure file transfer software used by Western Alliance and numerous other organizations had an unknown vulnerability. In October 2024, an unauthorized actor began exploiting this unknown vulnerability in the third-party software, allowing them to gain access to a limited portion of Western Alliance's systems and obtain copies of files from those systems. Western Alliance learned that an unauthorized actor had potentially accessed some of Western Alliance's data on January 27, 2025. The investigation determined that the unauthorized actor acquired certain files from the systems from October 12, 2024, to October 24, 2024. Western Alliance conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised:name, Social Security number, date of birth, financial account number, driver's license number, tax identification number, and passport information (if provided to western alliance).On March 14, 2025, Western Alliance filed a notice with the Maine Attorney General and began notifying impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Western Alliance Bank, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 13:01:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 729 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Linear Minerals Corp. ("formerly FE Battery Metals Corp") (CSE:LINE)(OTCQB:LINMF)(WKN:A2J C89) ("Linear" or the "Company") is pleased to announce results of Drill Holes LC24-93 and LC24-94 from 2024 exploratory drill program at its Augustus Lithium Property in Quebec, Canada. The drill hole LC24-93 intersected 1.02 percent (%) lithium oxide (Li2O) over 9.95 m at 68.45 drilled dept, and the drill hole LC24-94 intercepted a 0.39% Li2O over 6.9 m at 61.35 m depth. There are anomalous values of other rare metals in both drill holes such as beryllium (Be), cesium (Cs), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta) and rubidium (see Tables 1 and 2 for details).HighlightsLC24-93The main lithium intercept is 9.95 m wide with an average 1.02 percent Li2O at 68.45 m drilled depth with anomalous values of 174 ppm Be, 55 ppm Cs, 58 ppm Ga, 1,383 ppm Rb, 98 ppm Nb, and 92 ppm Ta.There is one m wide lithium and rare metals enriched zone in the basement section with 1% Li2O at a drilled depth of 62.80 m, with 2,040 ppm Cs, 91 ppm Ga, and 9,080 ppm Rb. This section is also marked with 759 ppm nickel (Ni), 850 ppm manganese (Mn) and 203 ppm zinc (Zn).LC24-94There is one lower grade lithium intercept 6.9 m wide with an average 0.39 percent Li2O at 61.35 m drilled depth with anomalous values of 148 ppm Be, 62 ppm Cs, 72 ppm Ga, 1,287 ppm Rb, 92 ppm Nb, and 92 ppm Ta.Drill Program Details:Drill hole LC23-93 was drilled at location 5367764.75N, 287300.476E, UTM NAD 1983 Zone 18N, at azimuth 214.54 degrees (true north) and dip -68 with a drilled depth of 149 m. The drill hole was placed at the main Augustus zone.Drill hole LC23-94 was drilled at location 5367727.661N, 287338.685E, UTM NAD 1983 Zone 18N, at azimuth 204.54 degrees (true north) and dip -73 with a drilled depth of 128 m. The drill hole was placed at the main Augustus zone.The drill program was designed based on historical and current exploration data. Drilling was conducted by Forage Pelletier Drilling of Chapais, Quebec, and core logging and sampling took place at a core shack in St-Dominique du Rosaire, approximately 50 km from the property. The 2024 drill program included 11 drill holes, totaling 1,558 metres. To date, a total of 100 drill holes have been completed on the Property, with a cumulative diamond drilling of 18,165.64 metres.Drill core was sampled using a rock saw. For quality control and assurance (QA/QC), field duplicates, standards, and blanks were inserted at industry-standard intervals. Samples were bagged and tagged using best practices before being delivered to AGAT Laboratories in Val-d'Or, QC, for analysis. AGAT performed Sodium Peroxide Fusion with ICP-OES and ICP-MS Finish (Code 201-378). AGAT is an independent, accredited laboratory with ISO certification for certain tests.Qualified Person:Afzaal Pirzada, P.Geo., Geological Consultant of the Company, and a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.About the Augustus Lithium PropertyThe Company owns 100% of an interest in the Augustus Property located in Landrienne and Lacorne-Townships, Quebec, Canada. The Property covers a total area of over 15,000 hectares, approximately 40 kilometres northwest of the town of Val d'Or. To date, 100 diamond drill holes totaling 18,165.64 metres have been completed on the Property.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OFLinear Minerals Corp."Gurminder Sangha"Gurminder SanghaCEO & DirectorFor further information, please contact the Company at:info@ febatterymetals.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.Forward-looking InformationThis news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Company's exploration plans, potential mineralization, and future activities. While the Company believes the assumptions underlying such information are reasonable, actual results may vary, and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.Table 1: Drill Hole LC24-93 Sample assays highlightsTable 2: LC24-94 Sample Assay HighlightsNote: A standard conversion factor of 2.15 was used to report Li to Li2O valuesAll intersections reported are based on drilled width and have not been converted to the true width.SPD - Spodumene PegmatitesSOURCE: Linear Minerals Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 03:08:22 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 561 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HALLANDALE BEACH, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 / Med Holdings Group Inc. (OTC PINK:YUKA) and its subsidiary, MedSmart Wellness Centers Inc., are excited to announce strategic partnership agreements with two well-known hotels in Aventura, as well as with Crunch Fitness Inc. at their new 120,000-square-foot facility located in Hallandale Beach, Florida.These partnerships will improve the accessibility and convenience of MedSmart Wellness Centers' top-tier wellness and recovery treatments for both hotel guests and fitness members. Through the agreement with two prominent local hotels, MedSmart patients will enjoy exclusive discounted stays, providing a comfortable and relaxing environment while receiving their treatments. Additionally, hotel staff will also benefit from discounted wellness services, further reinforcing MedSmart's commitment to promoting health and well-being within the local hospitality industry.The collaboration with Crunch Fitness Inc. will provide MedSmart with direct access to over 2,600 fitness enthusiasts already signed up at the new Hallandale Beach location. This partnership will allow Crunch members to enhance their workouts with MedSmart's cutting-edge recovery treatments, further optimizing their physical performance and overall well-being.Significant Growth and Revenue PotentialThese strategic partnerships represent a significant milestone in MedSmart Wellness Centers' expansion efforts. By leveraging the hospitality network of two prominent local hotels and Crunch Fitness' growing membership base, MedSmart anticipates a substantial increase in patient volume and brand visibility. The company projects that these partnerships will generate an estimated $1 million in additional annual revenue, further solidifying its position as a leading provider of wellness and recovery solutions in the region."Our mission at MedSmart Wellness Centers is to make wellness and recovery solutions more accessible to our community. These new partnerships with renowned local hotels and Crunch Fitness not only enhance our service offerings but also create significant growth opportunities for our company," said Jessica Miller, CEO of Med Holdings Group Inc. "We are excited to partner with industry leaders who share our vision of promoting health and wellness." With these strategic alliances, MedSmart Wellness Centers Inc. is poised for rapid growth, further establishing itself as a premier destination for innovative wellness solutions.For More Information, Please Visit Instagram: @Medsmartcenters Email: info@ medholdingsgroup.com | info@ medsmartcenters.com ContactInvestor Relations Med Holdings Group Inc.Phone: 786-438-3100Email: info@ medholdingsgroup.com Website: www.medholdingsgroup.com Jessica Miller CEOMed Holdings Group Inc.Phone: 786-438-3100Email: info@ medholdingsgroup.com Websites: www.medholdingsgroup.com Safe Harbor StatementThis release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate, or imply future results, performance, or achievements and may contain the words "estimate," "project," "intend," "forecast," "anticipate," "plan," "planning," "expect," "believe," "will likely," "should," "could," "would," "may," or words or expressions of similar meaning. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results and financial position to differ materially from those included within the forward-looking statements.SOURCE: Med Holdings Group Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 16:16:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1005 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / FluoGuide A/S (STO:FLUO) ("FluoGuide" or the "Company" held its annual general meeting on 27 March 2025.To the shareholders of FluoGuide A/S.The Annual General Meeting was held Thursday 27 March 2025 at 02:00 PM (CET) at the Company's premises Titanhus, Titangade 9-13, meeting room - Kronos, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.Notice: Represented at the annual general meeting was share capital of nominal DKK 596,840.70 corresponding to 5,968,407 votes and 43.43% of the Company's registered share capital.The agenda for the Annual General Meeting is as follows:ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETINGREPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMPANY IN THE PAST FINANCIAL YEARPRESENTATION OF THE ANNUAL REPORT WITH AUDITORS' REPORT FOR ADOPTIONRESOLUTION ON COVERING OF LOSSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ADOPTED ANNUAL REPORTELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSELECTION OF THE COMPANY'S AUDITORPROPOSALS FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERSAuthorisation to the board of directors to increase the share capital without pre-emptive rights for the shareholdersDeletion of clause 3.5 of the articles of associationThe articles of association amended and updated as set out in the attached articles of association also reflecting adoption of the proposals set out in item 7.1 and 7.2Approval of the remuneration of the board of directorsPROPOSAL TO AUTHORISE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETINGMISCELLANEOUSComplete Proposals:Re 1: Election of chairman of the meeting The board of directors proposes that attorney-at-law Philip S. Thorsen be elected as the chairman of the general meeting. The chairman of the meeting stated, with the unanimous consent of the general meeting, that the general meeting was lawfully convened and legally competent to resolve upon the following agenda:Re 2: Report on the activities of the Company in the past financial year An oral report on the activities of the Company in the past financial year was presented. The report was noted by the general meeting.Re 3: Presentation of the annual report with auditors' report for adoption The Company's annual report with the auditors' report for the financial year 2024 was adopted.Re 4: Resolution on covering of losses in accordance with the adopted annual report The consolidated loss for the financial year 2024 of tDKK 28,959 was approved to be carried forward to the next financial year in accordance with the adopted annual report.Re 5:Election of members to the board of directors The general meeting re-elected the following members of the board of directors: Peter Mrch Eriksen, Mats Thoren, Michael Thyrring Engsig, Andreas Kjr and Donna Marie Haire.The board of directors hereafter consists of the following members:Peter Mrch Eriksen (chairman)Mats Thoren (deputy chairman)Michael Thyrring EngsigAndreas KjrDonna HaireRe 6:Election of the Company's auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, CVR no. 39 29 64 38, was re-elected as the Company's auditor.Re 7.1:The board of directors proposed authorisation to the board of directors to increase the share capital without pre-emptive rights for the shareholders The board of directors proposed to reestablish the authorisation to increase the share capital without pre-emptive rights, cf. articles of association clause 3.3.1, by nominal DKK 162,315.40, from nominal DKK 137,684.60 to nominal DKK 300,000, the rest of the wording in the section shall remain.New clause 3.3.6 shall have the following wording: "On 27 March 2025 the annual general meeting re-increased the authorization from nominal DKK 137,684.60, cf. clause 3.3.5, to nominal DKK 300,000. Further reference is made to the above the clause 3.3.1 and 3.3.2." The general meeting resolved the amended proposal set forth above, with the majority of not less than nine tenth of all votes cast and of the share capital represented at the annual general meeting.Re. 7.2: The board of directors proposed that clause 3.5 of the articles of association was deleted The board of directors proposed that clause 3.5 of the articles of association: "Autorisation to the board of directors to issue warrants" was deleted. The authorization is fully exercised, and the warrant exercise period has lapsed. The general meeting resolved the amended proposal set forth above, with the required majority of not less than two thirds of all votes cast and of the share capital represented at the annual general meeting.Re. 7.3: The board of directors proposed that the articles of association were amended and updated as set out in the attached articles of association also reflecting adoption of the proposals set out in item 7.1 and 7.2 The general meeting resolved the amended proposal set forth above, with the required majority of not less than two thirds of all votes cast and of the share capital represented at the annual general meeting.Re. 7.4: Proposal from the board of directors to approve the remuneration of the board of directors for the financial year 2025 The board of directors proposed that the board of directors shall receive remuneration for the financial year 2025 to be paid out at the annual general meeting of 2026.The proposed remuneration was as follows:DKK payment for the year 2025Warrants, up toChairman280,00030,000Vice Chairman200,000Board member100,000New board members may be offered80,0007,500In total660,00037,500The proposal was adopted by the general meeting.Re 8: Proposal to authorise the chairman of the meeting The board of directors proposed to authorise the chairman of the meeting (with a right of substitution) on behalf of the Company to apply the Danish Business Authority for registration of the resolutions passed by the general meeting and in this connection to make any such amendments to the documents prepared for such resolutions that may be required for registration with the Danish Business Authority.The proposal was adopted by the general meeting.Re 9: Miscellaneous Nothing to note in the minutes.Certified Adviser: Svensk Kapitalmarknadsgransking ABWebsite: www.skmg.se For further information, please contact: Morten Albrechtsen, CEOFluoGuide A/SPhone: +45 24 25 62 66E-mail: ma@ fluoguide.com About FluoGuide FluoGuide takes precision surgery to the next level improving the outcome for cancer patients. The Company's lead product, FG001, is designed to improve surgical precision by illuminating cancer intraoperatively. This improved precision enabled by FluoGuide's products is expected to have a dual benefit - it reduces both the frequency of local recurrence post-surger PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 19:00:39 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1006 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NAPERVILLE, IL / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Gaza is burning. It has been for decades, yet it is treated as though it erupted from nowhere. Every escalation is framed as a sudden explosion of violence rather than the result of long-standing political failures. The international community reacts with shock-calling for restraint, condemning attacks, and expressing concern over civilian casualties. Then the moment passes. The cycle resets. Nothing changes.For Palestinians, this is not a conflict of sudden eruptions-it is a condition of existence. A war that never truly stops, only intensifies at intervals. Every ceasefire leaves the underlying injustice intact. Every diplomatic initiative prioritizes stability over resolution. And at every turn, those with the power to mediate a lasting peace choose to preserve the status quo rather than confront its fundamental flaws.That status quo was cemented long before today's war. In many ways, it was set in 1972.The West's Refusal to See Palestinian PoliticsWhen Palestinian militants took Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Olympics, the world saw a horrifying act of terror. What it refused to see was the political reality that made such an act possible.By 1972, Palestinians had spent decades trying to force their cause onto the global agenda. Israel had been established as a state, but Palestinians were denied the same right. Their displacement in 1948 was never recognized as a humanitarian catastrophe. Their demands for self-determination were dismissed as illegitimate. They were a people without a nation, a movement without representation, a crisis without urgency.With diplomatic avenues shut down, some Palestinian groups turned to armed struggle-not as a first option, but as a response to decades of rejection. The militants behind the Munich attack did not act out of blind extremism; they saw themselves as fighters in a war that had been ignored. Their goal was not simply to kill, but to be heard.The North American public remained largely uninformed, shielded by unwavering government support for Israel. This support was driven by geopolitical interests-most notably, securing a strategic foothold in the Middle East and, before the satellite era, maintaining intelligence access to Russia.Instead of examining the political desperation that led to Munich, the attack was framed as an assault on civilization itself. The response was swift, militarized, and absolute. Governments cracked down on Palestinian movements, severed diplomatic engagement, and strengthened alliances with Israel. The conversation that the militants sought to force onto the world stage never happened.History shows that when states react to political violence, suppression is nearly always favored over understanding.The Aftermath: Security Over ResolutionThe defining failure of Munich was that it was treated solely as a security crisis rather than as a political event. Instead of asking why Palestinian groups had resorted to such extreme measures, the world responded with counterterrorism initiatives that ignored the root cause.This failure became a blueprint for how Western governments would engage with the Palestinian struggle in the decades that followed. The focus remained on suppressing the symptoms of conflict rather than addressing its source. The goal was never to resolve Palestinian statehood-it was to contain the consequences of its denial.From the failed peace initiatives of the 1990s to the routine bombardments of Gaza, the response has remained the same: when Palestinians resist, their actions are criminalized, their demands ignored, and their suffering dismissed as collateral damage.And so, the war never truly ended-because it was never meant to.Munich's True Legacy: A Playbook for Perpetual ConflictThe long-term consequence of Munich was not just an escalation of violence-it was the entrenchment of a system that made peace impossible. The attack was not treated as a political flashpoint demanding diplomatic intervention but as proof that the Palestinian cause itself was illegitimate.Western nations doubled down on the idea that Palestinian political movements could not be engaged with. Any attempt at recognition or negotiation was dismissed, ensuring that Palestinian groups had no political avenue forward.This refusal to engage did not erase the Palestinian struggle-it redefined it on Western terms. From that moment forward, Palestinian resistance was no longer viewed as a fight for self-determination, but as terrorism. Whether through armed struggle, protests, or diplomatic efforts, Palestinian actions were framed as threats, while Israeli responses-no matter how extreme-were justified as necessary defense.Security became a substitute for justice. The logic that emerged from Munich-that Israel's security concerns superseded Palestinian political claims-became the dominant framework for engagement with the conflict. Every act of Israeli militarization, from targeted assassinations to full-scale invasions, was framed as a response rather than an escalation. Security was weaponized-not to protect civilians, but to justify policies that deepened the occupation.And so, the Palestinian question-the issue that Munich should have forced the world to confront-was buried even deeper. Not resolved. Not negotiated. Not even meaningfully acknowledged. Simply managed, treated as an issue to contain rather than a crisis to solve.The world was never interested in ending the conflict. Munich simply provided the excuse to ensure it remained a permanent, unsolvable problem.The West's Ceasefire Hypocrisy: Peace as Political TheaterFor decades, Western nations have positioned themselves as defenders of democracy and international law. They justify wars as necessary interventions-fighting extremism, stopping genocide, liberating the oppressed. Their participation in World War II is framed as a moral crusade. Their military interventions in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia are packaged as wars against terror rather than battles for geopolitical dominance.Yet when war breaks out in Palestine, when the devastation reaches genocidal proportions, when a ceasefire is proposed to prevent further bloodshed, these same governments refuse to act.This is not just silence. It is an active choice to side against peace.The same countries that enshrine free speech are now cracking down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Universities are suspending students for expressing solidarity. Employees are being fired for speaking out. Entire protests are being banned-not because they incite violence, but because they challenge the political order.This contradiction is not just a moral failure-it is a strategic one. By opposing ceasefires while claiming to se PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 19:30:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1044 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 /Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or the "Company") (TSX-V:OMI)(AIM:OMI) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced "best efforts" private placement offering (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of C$6,000,000, which includes the full exercise of the agent's option for gross proceeds of C$1,000.000. Under the Offering, the Company sold an aggregate of 35,294,117 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of C$0.17 per Unit.Each Unit consists 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 whole Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.25 at any time on or before March 27, 2027.Red Cloud Securities Inc. (the "Agent") acted as sole agent and bookrunner in connection with the Offering. In consideration for their services, the Agent received a cash commission of C$313,860 and 1,846,235 broker warrants (the "Broker Warrants"). Each Broker Warrant shall be exercisable for one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.17 per common share at any time on or before March 27, 2027. Additionally, as consideration for financial advisory services in connection with the Offering, the Company paid the Agent an advisory fee of $8,070.00 and issued 47,470 advisory warrants (the "Advisory Warrants") to the Agent. Each Advisory Warrant is exercisable into one common share on the same terms as the Broker Warrants. The common shares issuable pursuant to the Broker Warrants and the Advisory Warrants are subject to a hold period in Canada ending on July 28, 2025.Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), 29,411,764 Units (the "LIFE Units") were sold to purchasers in the provinces of British Columbia Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan (the "Canadian Selling Jurisdictions") pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106. The Unit Shares and Warrant Shares underlying the LIFE Units will be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada.5,882,353 Units were sold to purchasers outside of Canada, including to purchasers resident in the United States pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.Due to the high level of investor demand, the directors were unable to participate in the Offering as previously anticipated.The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering principally to advance the Company's Anza exploration project in Colombia as well as for general working capital and corporate purposes.The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act, of 1933 (the "U.S. Securities Act") as amended, or any state securities law, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.Application has been made for the 35,294,117 common shares, which rank parri passu with the existing common shares in issue, to be admitted to trading on AIM ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become effective and dealings will occur at 8:00am UK time on or around 31 March 2025.Following the closing of the Offering and for the purposes of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the Company will have 312,439,904 Common Shares in issue. This figure includes an additional 2,055,932 new common shares of no par value each issued following an exercise of 2,055,932 warrants from its block listing announced January 8th 2025. Shareholders may use this figure 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 issued share capital of the Company.For further information, visit www.orosur.ca , follow on X @orosurm or please contact:Orosur Mining Inc Louis Castro, Chairman,Brad George, CEO info@ orosur.ca Tel: +1 (778) 373-0100SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP - Nomad & Joint Broker Jeff Keating / Jen Clarke / Devik MehtaTel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd - Joint Broker Andy Thacker/James PopeTel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050Flagstaff Communications and Investor Communications Tim ThompsonMark EdwardsFergus Mellon orosur@ flagstaffcomms.com Tel: +44 (0)207 129 1474The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ('RIS'), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.About Orosur Mining Inc.Orosur Mining Inc. (TSXV: OMI; AIM: OMI) is a minerals explorer and developer currently operating in Colombia, Argentina and Nigeria.About the Anza ProjectAnza is a gold exploration project ("Anza Project"), comprising three exploration licences, four exploration licence applications, and a small exploitation permit, totalling 176km2 in the prolific Mid-Cauca belt of Colombia. Post the acquisition of Minera Monte Aguila S.A.S, the area of the Anza Project has increased substantially to approximately 380km2 due to the acquisition of a number of additional applications that were owned by Minera Monte Aguila S.A.S.The Anza Project is currently wholly owned by Orosur via its subsidiaries, Minera Anza S.A. and Minera Monte Aquila S.A.S.The Anza Project is located 50km west of Medellin and is easily accessible by all-weather roads and boasts excellent infrastructure including water, power, communications and large exploration camp.Forward Looking Statements:All statements, The issue of contingents will be discussed, some countries do not have the opportunity to send contingents, others are ready to do so, but only on condition of American security guarantees, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Of course, we will talk about contingents. We need to determine our needs, find out who is ready to send troops, what troops, how many troops and where to deploy them. How many countries are really ready to do this? This is a complex and important topic. Some countries do not have such an opportunity. Others are ready to do this, but only on condition of American security guarantees," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Le Figaro. Speaking about security guarantees, he stressed that Ukraine would like frozen Russian assets to be used to equip the Ukrainian army, since a strong army is the greatest guarantee of security. In addition, according to Zelenskyy, Ukraine needs air defense. "The Americans have it. We discussed it with Donald Trump. But if the Americans do not provide us with this system, we will have to work with the Europeans to see what similar means they can provide us so that we can completely close our skies," he noted. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 23:12:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 664 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 /Prospect Ridge Resources Corp. (the "Company" or "Prospect Ridge") (CSE:PRR)(OTCQB:PRRSF)(FRA:OED) announces that Mr. Yan Ducharme, P.Geo has stepped down as President and Director of Prospect Ridge effective immediately in order to pursue other business interests.Len Brownlie, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, will assume the position of President effective immediately.Mike Iverson, Chairman of the Board states: "On behalf of the entire Company we would like to genuinely thank Yan for his service to the Company over the last three years. His organizational skills and attention to detail has benefited the Company and provided a very comprehensive database that will allow us to advance our exploration at the Holy Grail and Knauss Creek projects in the upcoming exploration season. We wish Yan the very best in his future endeavors." Contact Information Prospect Ridge Resources Corp.Mike Iverson - Chairman, DirectorEmail: mike.iverson@prospectridgeresources.com About Prospect Ridge Resources Corp.Prospect Ridge Resources Corp. is a British Columbia based exploration and development company focused on gold and critical metals exploration. Prospect Ridge's management and technical team collectively have over 100 years of experience in mineral exploration and believes the Knauss Creek and the Holy Grail properties have the potential to extend the boundaries of the Golden Triangle into this vastly under-explored region.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.This release includes certain statements and information ("FLI") that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. FLI relates to future events or future performance and reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company's management. Anything that is not historical fact is FLI. Generally, FLI can be, without limitation, identified by the use of forward-looking wording such as "plans", "intends", "believes", "expects", "anticipates" or "estimates", and statements or phrases that certain actions, events or results "may", "might", "could", "should" or "would" occur, and similar expressions. FLI is not historical fact, is made as of the date of this news release and includes, without limitation, statements and discussions of future plans, intentions, expectations, estimates and forecasts, and statements as to management's intentions and expectations with respect to, among other things, positive exploration results at the Knauss Creek and Holy Grail projects. FLI involves numerous risks and uncertainties, and are based on assumptions, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any FLI. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the availability of financing to continue exploration activities, the availability and cost of qualified exploration personnel and service providers, and that future exploration results at the Knauss Creek and Holy Grail projects will not be as anticipated. In making any FLI in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that future exploration results at the Knauss Creek and Holy Grail projects will be as anticipated. Although management has endeavored to evaluate and use reasonable assumptions and to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in FLI, these assumptions may prove incorrect and there may be other factors that cause results not to be as intended, expected, anticipated or estimated. There can be no assurance that FLI will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed in FLI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on FLI, and are further cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any FLI expressed or incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.SOURCE: Prospect Ridge Resources Corp PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 17:47:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 380 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of individual account holders who subscribed to Redfin Corporation's Website ( https://www.redfin.com/) and watched pre-recorded video content through the Redfin Corporation Website. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP's investigation indicates that legally protected data may have been unlawfully intercepted during visits to the Redfin Corporation Website, particularly affecting customers who subscribed and watched pre-recorded video content on the Redfin Corporation Website.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?If you are an account holder on the Redfin Corporation Website and watched videos on the platform, your legally protected data may have been intercepted without your knowledge. If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation.AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation.Unauthorized data interception is a serious issue that could lead to privacy violations, potentially leading to significant breaches of your personal information.If the company entrusted with securing your data has failed in this duty, they may be held accountable for any exposure of your information, potentially exposing you to risks such as misuse or unauthorized use of your data.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you are an account holder on the Redfin Corporation Website and subsequently watched pre-recorded video materials, your data may have been intercepted. Follow the link below to find out if you have a claim.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected customers are entitled to compensation. There is no cost to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. We work on a contingency basis- we don't get paid unless you get paid!Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.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: 2025-03-27 18:02:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 341 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) in connection with a report of an investigation by the United States Department of Justice into UnitedHealth's billing practices.If you currently own shares of UnitedHealth stock, please visit the firm's website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25195 for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at case@ rosenlegal.com Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th 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: 2025-03-27 02:02:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 641 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 26, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Edison International (NYSE:EIX) between February 25, 2021 and February 6, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.SO WHAT: If you purchased Edison securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Edison's claim that Southern California Edison Company ("SCE") used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs ("PSPS") program to "proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events", was false; (2) this resulted in heightened fire risk in California and heightened legal exposure to Edison; and (3) as a result, defendants' statements about Edison's business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 16:00:48 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 733 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Residents Look to South Gate City Council to Uphold the DecisionSOUTH GATE, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 /SELA for a Better Tomorrow is pleased to announce that on March 18, 2025, the South Gate Planning Commission voted to uphold the Director of Community Development's recommendation to reject both Engle's appeal to continue illegal metal processing operations and Engle's request for a zone change at 8530 Alameda Street. This important decision supports the residents of South Gate in their ongoing fight for a safer, healthier community. South Gate Residents Attend the South Gate Planning Commission Meeting on 03/18/25 South Gate residents line up to speak in opposition of Engle's illegal truck yard at 8530 Alameda Street. Residents at the back of City Hall hold a sign reading 'Recall the Corruption in South Gate.'According to South Gate City Manager Rob Houston's statement in Calo News on March 26, the property owner can appeal this decision until April 8. If Engle appeals, residents and environmentalists are urging the City to uphold the Planning Commission's vote.The Planning Commission heard compelling testimony from numerous residents and representatives from Communities for a Better Environment, Youth for Environmental Justice, and SELA for a Better Tomorrow. Speakers shared personal stories of the health dangers and illnesses they have suffered due to the presence of illegal truck yards in their community. Additionally, concerns were raised about Engle's operation of the truck yard without the proper permits, business licenses or contributions to the city's tax funds.As reported by Calo News, the City confirmed that the truck yard at 8530 Alameda Street has been operating illegally since July 16, 2021, when its Temporary Use Permit (TUP) expired. The City states that this permit was issued in error, and Engle continued to operate without the necessary legal license or permit. In May 2023, the Planning Commission with Meredith Elguira, the previous Director of Community Development, voted to shut down the truck yard. The City Council overruled their decision and in November of 2024, Elguira was terminated from her position with no explanation to the public. Engle has not been cited for these violations, and the unpermitted operations persist, frustrating residents.Salma Rodriguez, a senior at South Gate High School, emphasized the urgency of the Commission's ruling: "Protect our environment, our community, and most importantly, protect and invest in your youth." She continued, "You should create this change now - don't grant the appeal. Ten years down the line is too late." In addition to the appeal, the property owner was seeking a regressive zone change from Industrial Flex (IF) to Heavy Manufacturing (M3), which would allow for even higher levels of dangerous metal and chemical processing, located adjacent to residential neighborhoods. The property owner has not completed environmental testing or Environmental Impact Reports (EIR), even though the area is known to be contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals like lead and arsenic, according to the EPA.James Eckart, City Prosecutor, reinforced the legal obligation for Engle to cease operations immediately. The question now remains: Will the City enforce its own laws? Jennifer Daley, a spokesperson for SELA for a Better Tomorrow, praised the Planning Commission for its decision. "We thank the Planning Commission for listening to residents and environmental protection organizations, and for taking a stand. We are now counting on the South Gate City Council to enforce their own codes and uphold the Commission's vote," Daley stated.Local residents have expressed growing concerns over the city's failure to hold a wealthy, polluting corporation accountable for operating without a permit. "This has been going on for way too long," Resident Javier Gutierrez stated. "The Engles have enriched themselves at our own cost." He continued, "I think a business like the Engles has no business in South Gate, period." Residents gathered at the back of City Hall with a large sign that read "Recall Corruption in South Gate," warning that if the City Council does not uphold the lawful vote of the Planning Commission, they will pursue a recall of council members.The South Gate City Council will be voting on the Zone Change and General Plan amendment on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. at South Gate City Hall. The community is invited to attend and share their views on this Zone Change request.Contact InformationJennifer DaleyBoard Member, SELA for a Better Tomorrowselaforabettertomorrow@ gmail.com (323) 510-6433SOURCE: SELA for a Better Tomorrow PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 16:11:02 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 577 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GALWAY, IRELAND, AND SHELTON, CT / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 / TitanHQ , the leading email security provider for over two decades, will launch its brand new State of Email Security in 2025' annual report on March 26th.Commissioned by TitanHQ and conducted by Osterman research in February 2025, the study draws on fresh threat intelligence and responses from over 250 IT professionals across the US, Canada, UK, and the EU. The email security report highlights the tactics cybercriminals are using right now to breach organizations.To qualify, respondents had to work at organizations with between 100 and 1,000 employees, or at an MSP (managed service provider) and be responsible for several aspects of the email security strategy at their organization. The findings reflect a cross-industry perspective, with all participants actively managing email security and using Microsoft 365 as their primary cloud email platform.The report dives into today's most urgent email-based threats, uncovering troubling developments in phishing techniques, the use of offensive AI, and the growing sophistication of cyberattacks. Key focus areas include Credential Harvesting, Natural Language Processing (NLP), AI in Cybersecurity, emerging threat trends and 2025 forecasts. The data points to one clear takeaway: organizations can no longer afford to rely on outdated defenses.Key stats from the Phishing Threat Trends Report (March 2025)Email Security Incidents79% of the organizations experienced at least one cybersecurity incident type in the previous 12 months.Half of organizations experienced between 2 and 4 types of incidents.93% of respondents recognize that email presents an area of ever-changing threat requiring constant vigilance and up-to-date solutions.Threat Types77% of respondents expect the threat dynamics to stay the same or get worse over the next 12 months.Email Security PrioritiesThe highest priority areas in 2025 are:Protection against:AI-enhanced attacks.attacks that use deepfake audio or video.phishing threats.account takeover threats.exfiltration of data for use in extortion.BEC ATTACKSOne in five organizations lost money through a business email compromise attack over the previous 12 months.56.3% of respondents anticipate that the threat level of BEC attacks against their organization will increase in 2025Ronan Kavanagh, CEO at TitanHQ comments,"The report uncovers alarming trends in the evolving landscape of email security threats for 2025, drawing on data from the latest Osterman Survey and TitanHQ threat intelligence. One of the most concerning developments is the rise of offensive AI, which is rapidly increasing the sophistication, volume, and evasiveness of cyberattacks. Half of those surveyed experienced 2 to 4 different types of incidents in the past year.Organizations must now adopt advanced AI defenses to stay ahead of these threats. Threat actors continue to evolve their tactics-targeting MFA, deploying new BEC variants, exploiting QR codes, and even experimenting with deepfakes. Unsurprisingly, major breaches and high-profile incidents followed in their wake.The "State of Email Security in 2025" report is a must-read for all cybersecurity teams and MSPs who want to stay ahead of emerging threats. It offers valuable insights and practical strategies to help you stay ahead of emerging risks and strengthen your organisation's security posture." To read the State of Email Security in 2025' annual report, including all its analysis and findings please visit our websiteThe State of Email Security in 2025About TitanHQTitanHQ is a 25-year-old multi-award-winning SaaS cybersecurity platform that delivers a layered security solution to businesses globally. It offers cutting-edge technologies and robust solutions to protect SMBs and MSPs against phishing attacks, malware, ransomware, and other cyberattacks that can compromise data and disrupt operations.Contact InformationDryden GearyHead of Marketinginfo@ titanhq.com 00 353 91 545555SOURCE: TitanHQ PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-27 18:02:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 662 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 27, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) between February 3, 2022 and February 3, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 14, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Merck 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 Merck class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34975 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 14, 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, throughout the Class Period, defendants provided investors with material information concerning Merck's expected revenue of $11 billion from sales of Gardasil by 2030. Defendants' statements included, among other things, confidence in Merck's purported ability to utilize successful consumer activation and education efforts on the benefits of Gardasil in order to drive demand and capitalize on eligible populations for vaccination, resulting in confidently optimistic reports and forecasts of Gardasil's growth in China. Defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Gardasil's demand in China; notably, that Merck lacked visibility into demand for Gardasil in China among eligible and otherwise targeted populations, resulting in the inflated inventory of its distributor, Zhifei. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Merck class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=34975 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has said it is at the final stage of getting listed in the capital market, in keeping with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer of NNPC Ltd, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. Mr Soneye said the companys Chief Finance and Investor Relations Officer (CFIO), Olugbenga Oluwaniyi, disclosed this at a consultative meeting with partners at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Thursday. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is at the final stage of getting listed in the capital market, in keeping with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the statement said. According to the statement, Mr Oluwaniyi said the NNPC Ltd was currently engaging with prospective partners in an exercise tagged NNPC Ltd IPO Beauty Parade in line with capital market regulations before the commencement of the Initial Public Offer (IPO). He said the aim of the IPO beauty parade is to assess potential partners and determine in what ways they could be of support to the company. 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 Oluwaniyi listed the areas of partnership required to include investor relations, IPO readiness advisers, and investment bank partners. He noted that the company with the best offer in terms of project partnership would be selected for each of the three categories. The PIA provides for NNPC Ltd to list its shares in the capital market in line with the provisions of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990, the statement said. An IPO is a public offering in which shares of a company are sold to investors. In July 2022, former President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the new Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, a landmark event that officially changed the oil firm from a wholly state-run entity to a commercial oil company, limited by shares. The legal transition, based on the PIA, took effect 1 July. The NNPC completed its incorporation in September 2021 weeks after the PIA was signed into law by Mr Buhari. The new entity became a commercially oriented and profit-driven national petroleum company independent of the government, although government bodies remain its shareholders. It will be audited annually. READ ALSO:Port Harcourt refinery fully operational NNPC In February 2023, the company officially took over the assets of the nations oil company after 46 years of its operations as a corporation. The company took over after attaining legal requirements within the stipulated 18 months in line with section 54 (3) of the PIA 2021 and the corporation transitioned into a company whose operations will be regulated by the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The 2025 edition of the Nigeria Food Summit brought together top industry leaders, chefs, policymakers, and entrepreneurs at the Landmark Centre, Lagos. The summit, held on Friday under the theme Making Nigeria a Global Food Destination, focused on the future of the countrys food sector and highlighted collaboration and industry growth. It featured panel discussions addressing key industry challenges, innovation, sustainability, and investment opportunities. Prominent figures such as Anjola Awosika, Tolani Tayo-Osikoya, aka Chef T (Diary of a Kitchen Lover), Hilda Baci, Ayo Bankole, and the Kitchen Amuse shared insights on the food business, sustainability, cultural representation and the evolving food landscape in Nigeria. Summit convener Gbolabo Adebakin (Chef Gibbs) highlighted the importance of Nigerias rich culinary heritage and the urgent need to position Nigerian cuisine on the global stage. He stated, Nigerias culinary heritage is among the richest in the world, yet it remains under-represented globally. This summit is a call to action for food entrepreneurs, chefs, and policymakers to take ownership of our industrys growth. We must innovate, collaborate, and harness the full potential of our local flavours and agricultural resources to make Nigeria a true food destination. Highlights The summits major highlight was when the keynote speaker, Kola Oyeneyin, announced the $1 million fund to support food entrepreneurs and drive industry growth. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The success of any industry is deeply tied to access to capital. The Nigerian food industry is brimming with potential, but we risk stalling its growth without the right funding structures. This fund empowers food entrepreneurs to scale, innovate, and compete globally. Investing in food is not just about business; its about securing the future of our economy and ensuring food sustainability for generations to come, Mr Oyeneyin said. The summit also featured a pitch-a-thon competition, where three food entrepreneurs presented their business ideas. Elizabeth Akinwole of Tblizs Foods emerged the winner, receiving N1 million worth of business support from County Support Consulting, an all-expense-paid trip from Torrista, branding services by Snappcode Productions, and business advisory support from Food Business Consultant. A live podcast session of One Bite at a Time, hosted by Chef Vee and Chef Wu, added an interactive element to the summit. Food Tech, Business Growth The summit explored key issues in food technology, sustainability, and the challenges of running a food business in Nigeria. Experts debated the prospects of automation in A Fully Automated Food Industry: The Future is Tech, which focused on technologys role in food innovation. Moderated by Uzo Orimalade, it featured experts such as Vera Ebhohon, Ted Oladele, Toheeb Bakare, Luther Lawoyin, Tanaz Bahnam, Chikodi Ukaiwe, and Aghuienoh Tarek. In the Food Business Growth category, discussions included The Past, The Present, The Future of the Nigerian Food Industry, moderated by Bukola Benson with panellists Iquo Ukoh, Michael Williams, Paul Kavanagh, and Dr Eric. Another key session, Launching, Sustaining, and Scaling a Food Business in Nigeria, led by Bukkie Akinmade, featured insights from Anjola Awosika, Eunice Adeyemi, Abiola Adelana, and Gbenga Sosan. Further exploring entrepreneurship, Running a Business in Nigeria: Beyond the Clout tackled the realities of the industry with speakers Victory Jumbo, Hilda Baci, Modupe Emmanuel, Olapeju Umar, and Malaika, moderated by Uju Ameshi. The Chefs Table panel brought together top culinary experts, including Chef Nick (Vice President of the Association of Professional Chefs Nigeria, APCN), Chef Amaka (President of the Culinary Arts Practitioners Association of Nigeria, CAPA), and renowned Ghanaian chef, Chef Ik. Attendees also engaged in hands-on masterclasses by Anjola Awosika, Chef Miyonsea, Chef Tucker, Chef TYB, and Omoye Cooks. Topics ranged from Nigerian food history and molecular gastronomy to food styling, content creation, and farm-to-table culinary arts. Food sponsors like Eric Kayser, celebrazioni, and Loaves and Nuts highlighted Nigerian cuisine, while Sterling Bank, Nestle Pure Life, Glovo, and Maggi served as key event sponsors. The Nigeria Food Summit fostered insightful discussions and hands-on learning, equipping attendees with strategies for industry growth while promoting Nigerian cuisine on a global scale. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerian lawmaker Ned Nwoko has expressed deep affection for his wife, Nollywood star Regina Daniels, while revealing that they are expecting their third child. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Mr Nwoko, who represents Delta North senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate, shared a lengthy poetic write-up addressing recent rumours surrounding his marriage. He responded to claims of marital discord, an alleged new wife, and fathering a child with actress Chika Ike. Dismissing these speculations, he reaffirmed that his love for Regina remains firm and unshaken. The senators poetic tribute commemorated their sixth marriage anniversary, celebrating their enduring love. The 64-year-old wrote, Just when they thought they had their say, baby number three is on the way! A new heartbeat, a love so grand, another blessing in my hand. Six years and counting, and what do they see? A love untamed, wild, and free. Regina, my fire, my sweetest delight, youve held me tight through every storm. Dispelling critics In his post, the lawyer-cum-politician dismissed rumours of fathering a child outside his marriage and mocked claims that Regina had left him. He clarified that she is still with him and devoted to raising their two sons. 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 Rumours cant shake royalty. Ah, the gossips, hungry and sly, spinning their tales, their desperate cry. His arrest is coming! but who is he? Even they dont know, its comedy! he wrote. No rumoured child outside; that ship never sailed. Let them retire that story, tired and stale. Their lies will fade, their voices dim, yet we stand unmoved, untrimmed here. Senator Nwoko also reacted to critics who questioned his marital choices. He warned those spreading false information about him and disclosed that he had placed a bounty on individuals behind the defamatory claims. A divorcee? A non-virgin? Not mine to marry. My standards stand untouched, unfazed. Some may cry, and some may curse, but my love, life, and rules come first. To the faceless gossip, the shadow behind a keypad, your fifteen minutes are on rewind. A bounty stands on your trail, ten million strong. Tick-tock, tick-tockyou wont run for long, he declared. In response to her husbands post, Regina praised him as her king and the most incredible man in Igbo land, affirming her unwavering commitment to their love despite external influences. Lingering rumours The announcement comes after weeks of speculation, fuelled by various social media activities, about possible discord in their marriage. In February, Regina deactivated her Instagram account amid rumours that Nwoko had fathered a child with fellow Nollywood actress Chika Ikean allegation both parties denied. When the 24-year-old actress reactivated her account later that month, she removed Nwoko from her bio and deleted photos featuring her husband. She posted cryptic messages in early March, further sparking speculation about personal challenges. Despite these rumours, Senator Nwoko publicly celebrated Reginas achievements, including her recognition as the Nollywood Personality of the Year by The Sun Newspaper. His Moroccan wife, Laila Charani, also shared a video expressing her affection for him, helping to dispel claims of turmoil within the family. The Dellta-born Senator and the actress have been the subject of public discourse since their marriage in 2019, mainly due to their significant age difference and his polygamous lifestyle. The couple has two sons, born in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Regina has defended her marriage despite ongoing scrutiny, asserting that her choice was based on personal happiness rather than public opinion. The couple frequently shares glimpses of their family life on social media, challenging negative narratives surrounding their union. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Vladimir Putin is trying to buy time and is preparing for a new offensive, in particular in Sumy and Kharkiv regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "I can also confirm that Putin is trying to buy time and is preparing for a spring offensive. We see preparations for this upcoming operation. We have shared intelligence with our allies. We must look at the situation with wide eyes. Putin is preparing a new offensive, in particular in Sumy and Kharkiv regions," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Le Figaro. He noted that Putin already wanted to launch this operation eight months ago, but was prevented from doing so by the Kursk operation, so now Putin needs time. Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku has revealed how blackmail from some of his colleagues derailed his career. The 64-year-old actors revelation comes nearly a year after he spoke about how a viral video falsely depicting him as mentally unstable damaged his career and left him traumatised. In 2022, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a video showing the actor in an unstable state surfaced on social media. However, in an interview on Nollywood Hardcore, posted on YouTube on 23 March, Mr Anukuknown for his iconic villainous rolessaid he was blackmailed out of envy and jealousy. He said: We must always keep space for falling and standing up again. In this industry, there are so many staircases that are not well-built. Even if you try to get up, someone out there will try to bring you down with diabolism. In the industry, some people were diabolical, envious, and jealous of my shine. I was blackmailed, and I dont know what I did to them. That set me back for a couple of years. They used a clip taken from a movie set to drag me down, claiming I was mad, sick, and all sorts of lies. I was knocked out for years without a job. Directors and others in the industry backbit me and talked about things I knew nothing about. After being left out for years without a job, I travelled to Ghana. I worked for the former president, Nana Akufo-Addo, for a couple of years. I campaigned for him, and he won. I was with him before I came back to Nigeria, so I stayed in Nigeria until COVID-19 came in. I was about to return to Ghana to pick up my passport, but COVID-19 devastated me. 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 Never sick Additionally, the Delta-born actor stated that his colleagues hypocrisy and lack of exposure led them to spread false rumours about his health despite him being perfectly fine. Mr Anuku lamented that the Nollywood industry has not evolved as he once envisioned, emphasising that actors, directors, and other industry professionals lack versatility. I was never sick anyway, but the envy in the industry is a terrible thing. In todays industry, there are a lot more hypocrites. They dont even learn or expose themselves, so they bring in a local way of life. When you speak to them, they seem not to understand. I was trying to get into the role. If I have to play a mad person, I have to go out there to figure out how to master it. I have to go where mad people are, see them, and watch them so people dont know what Im doing. I was trying to get into the mood of being that insane person they needed me to play. I dont even know who was recording me. It was early in the morningI just wanted to get the feeling. Im not a madman, but if you give me that role, I will go all the way, one hundred per cent, to master it, said Mr Anuku. This newspaper reported that when the video surfaced online, his associate and friend, Nonso Ofole, dismissed claims of mental illness, noting that he (Mr Anuku) was not insane. Furthermore, in November 2022, the actor told this newspaper that he was in good health and even hinted at a possible run for political office. An alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State, Mr Anuku also denied the videos authenticity, which portrayed him as unkempt and wandering the streets of Asaba and Benin City. Mr Anuku has starred in numerous films, including Broad Daylight, Formidable Force, Bitter Honey, The Captor, Men on Hard Way, Fools on the Run, Desperate Ambition, My Love, Wanted Alive, and Rambo. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The United States is planning to suspend funding for GAVI, an organisation that produces and supplies vaccines to developing countries, including Nigeria. A document prepared by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) also revealed that the Donald Trump administration is planning to scale back its malaria interventions. According to Reuters, the report, outlining a list of international aid programmes set to be dismantled and those that will be retained, was shared with US lawmakers on Wednesday. The document states that a total of 5,341awards will be cancelled, amounting to nearly $76 billion. Of this, the government has already committed to spending about $48 billion. This funding will support HIV and tuberculosis interventions and provide food aid to nations experiencing civil wars and natural disasters. The US will, however, be terminating the majority of its health projects and interventions, including those related to malaria, a disease endemic in Nigeria. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Impact on children According to the State Department spokesperson, the projects that were terminated were those that failed to meet those priorities or advance US national interest. Each award terminated was reviewed individually for alignment with agency and administration priorities. Critical USAID programme awards remain active, the spokesperson said, according to Reuters. But GAVI chief executive officer Sania Nishtar insists that millions of children will die as a result of the US cutbacks. Mrs Nishtar told Reuters that the US annual $300 million funding is vital for its operation. As a result, next week, Mrs Nishtar will accompany GAVIs board chairperson, Jose Barroso, on a pre-scheduled trip to Washington, where they will advocate for continued US funding. If we dont get US support, that translates into 1.2 million deaths over the next five years, among children who will be unprotected against deadly diseases like measles and diphtheria, she was quoted as saying. I really look forward to engaging. We hope that a final decision has not been made, she said. Health bodies affected by US policy GAVI is likely to become one of the global health bodies whose activities will be affected by Mr Trumps America First policy. Since his return to the White House, the administration has significantly cut down foreign World Health Organisation aid and terminated around 80 per cent of contracts. In January, President Trump halted funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and paused all foreign aid to developing countries a move that has significantly affected healthcare services in Nigeria. The administration is actively seeking to dissolve USAID, a US agency that coordinates and implements 90 per cent of the countrys foreign aid across countries. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the termination of 83 percent of USAID programmes and 5,200 contracts awarded by the agency. WHO also had to cut down some of its spending and suspend some of its programmes in the absence of US funding. The plan to cut aid for GAVI threatens vaccine supply to developing countries like Nigeria, which receives a significant amount of its vaccines from the body. In 2024 alone, Nigeria received thousands of doses of Mpox, malaria, cholera, and meningitis (MenFive) vaccines from GAVI. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kaduna State Government has approved the recruitment of 1,800 staff to address personnel gaps across all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in the state. This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmad, on Thursday in Kaduna. According to the commissioner, the recruitment aims to reinforce the states leadership in Primary Health Care. Ms Ahmad said this will also address human resource shortages in various facilities, which is crucial for improving healthcare delivery. This move is expected to help reduce maternal and child mortality rates while enhancing the overall health of residents, she said. The commissioner highlighted that there is also an ongoing revitalisation of 255 PHCs, with the provision of modern equipment and essential drugs 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 All 255 Primary Healthcare Centres will be upgraded to Level 2 status as part of Governor Uba Sanis overhaul of the health sector, she said. These upgraded PHCs will provide services such as management of uncomplicated diabetes, hypertension, severe asthma resuscitation, assisted delivery, and other essential healthcare services. READ ALSO: Enugu govt designates 549 health facilities for free malaria treatment Ms Ahmad further lauded the efforts of the administration in prioritising the health sector. She noted that the governors initiatives had been recognised with 10 awards, including the prestigious Excellence Award by the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA). (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has approved the recruitment of 1,800 personnel to fill existing vacancies across all primary health care (PHC) facilities in the state. A statement by the State Commissioner of Health, Umma Ahmad, on Thursday, stated that the recruitment would strengthen the states performance in primary health care delivery. Mrs Ahmad expressed hope that the recruitment would narrow the human resource gaps at the facilities, leading to significant reduction in maternal and child mortalities, as well as improve the well-being of Kaduna citizens generally. The commissioner disclosed that there was an ongoing revitalisation of 255 primary health care facilities through provision of state-of-the art equipment and distribution of essential drugs across the state. She further stated that all the 255 primary health care facilities in the state would be remodelled and upgraded to level two status, as part of Governor Sani administrations overhaul of the health sector. According to her, the upgraded PHCs would undertake management of non-complicated diabetes and hypertension, resuscitation of severe asthma and assisted delivery as well as other related services. 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 commissioner said that the state government has been giving the health sector the desired attention since Governor Sani assumed office on 29 May, 2023. Mrs Ahmad stressed that the efforts of His Excellency have been recognised with 10 awards, both national and international, including the prestigious Excellence Award by the International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA). Under the present administration, quality healthcare is not a privilege but a fundamental human right and this explains why the PHC Leadership Challenge that Kaduna State received, ranked the state as the best in primary health care in the North-west zone, she added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate, on Wednesday, rejected a motion seeking to immortalise Humphrey Nwosu, a former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission (NEC), for his role in the historic 12 June 1993 presidential election. The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, announced the decision to reject 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). This rejection comes a day before Mr Nwosus scheduled burial in his hometown in Anambra State. Mr Nwosu, a professor, died in the United States in October 2024, at 83. 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 was initially suspended on Tuesday after most of the senators opposed it and rescheduled for debate today. Background of the June 12 election and Nwosus role The 12 June 1993 presidential election, held 32 years ago, is generally regarded as Nigerias freest and most credible election. 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. Mr Nwosu, as NEC (now Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, oversaw the election using the innovative Option A4 voting system, which ensured transparency. He had begun announcing the election results before the military halted the process. 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. The motion to immortalise Nwosu While presenting the motion, Mr Abaribe emphasised that Mr Nwosus efforts in ensuring a credible electoral process were instrumental in establishing 12 June as Nigerias Democracy Day. The senator explained that the late NEC chairperson stood his ground to conduct the 12 June 1993 elections despite threats from military dictatorship. His courageous defense of democratic electoral process during the 1993 presidential elections led to the famous June 12, which ultimately confirmed Alhaji M.K.O Abiola as the winner of the election. He stood his ground, ensuring that Nigerias electoral wishes and aspirations were realised, which culminated in June 12 being marked as the authentic democracy day due to his unwavering stand as an umpire, he said . Mr Abaribe argued that Mr Nwosu laid a foundation for the present INEC with his actions to go ahead with the election despite military threats. Professor Humphrey Nwosu laid a landmark foundation for the present independent National Electoral Commission today and that Professor Humphrey Mwosu passed away on the 20th of October 2024, aged 83 years old. Despite his contributions, Professor Humphrey Mwosu was seemingly neglected until his death, which highlights complaints of unfair treatment of notable public servants, he added. He therefore demanded that the federal government should immortalise Mr Nwosu by renaming the present INEC headquarters after him. Mr Abaribe also requested the federal government to posthumously bestow Mr Nwosu with a national honour and that condolences should be extended to the family and recognise their sacrifice in supporting his work towards a better Nigeria. The senator urged his colleagues to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late INEC chairperson. However, the motion generated divisions among the senators. Debates Some senators supported the motion with the arguement that Mr Nwosu should be recognised for his courage. Victor Umeh, (LP, Anambra Central) who seconded the motion, urged his colleagues to support the motion to recognise Mr Nwosus effort during the election. This motion is a very crucial motion. When a man leaves this world and makes an impact when he departs , his departure should be marked. Professor Nwosu was not just an ordinary person in Nigeria, he was chairman of NEC for five years under the military regime. He revived Nigeria and put in place a democratic structure successfully using his designed A4 voting system. We are celebrated across the world. The country enjoys his stewardship. He prepared for the famous June 12 presidential election. He was summoned by the military government and was asked to postpone the election or stop it, he said no. He conducted the exercise and started announcing the result. He was about to announce Taraba State when the military stopped him, Mr Umeh said. Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) urged the Senate to adopt the motion because he believed Mr Nwosu was a hero. Whether we support or against, Professor Nwosu will be buried tomorrow. Ibrahim Babangida held an event recently and everybody attended. If Nwosu was alive today and held a colloquium, everybody would still go there. He was a chairman during the military regime. There was no way he could have announced the result with gun on his head, he said. Mr Ngwu thereafter requested that the Senate stop debate on the motion in order to respect the late former NEC chairperson. For the respect of the dead, we should not debate the matter and go to the prayers, he submitted. Patrick Ndubueze (APC, Imo North) said, Im involved to know what happened. For those who were saying he didnt announce the result, he was under military dictatorship. The military foresaw his courage and that was why they wished him away. How did you expect him to announce results when he was under the military? If he had not announced the few ones, how would we know that it was Abiola that won the election? Humphrey Nwosu is a master in electoral issues. Hes somebody who conducted the best election. Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North) warned against deploying personal, political and ethnic sentiments to judge the motion. We should not allow our personal sentiments and party affiliation to affect our judgement. I was a presiding officer during the June 12 election. He did his best despite the court order. Despite the threats by the military cabal, he went ahead to announce the election. It is very disappointing that some of us are distorting facts because Nwosu is an Igbo man, he said. Sampson Ekong (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) said, What we are saying is the honour that Nigeria owes this man. If Nwosu is not celebrated, who will be celebrated? Is it the judge who gave that judgement? This man showed courage. Opposition to the motion Other senators opposed the motion with arguements that Mr Nwosu lacked the courage to fully declare the results. Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) argued that if Mr Nwosu had announced the full results, he could have saved history. Nigerians were really in pain because nobody was able to quote where Professor Nwosu announced the result. I was an activist in that struggle. If Prof Nwosu had the courage to announce the result, he could have saved history. Professor Nwosu and Babangida fooled Nigerians who voted during the election. If he was afraid of the gun, but there were Nigerians who were protesting under the gun. Before his death, I would have expected Professor Nwosu to clear the air and he died without confession. He cannot be rewarded, Mr Oshiomhole said. Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) argued that if former INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, could have the courage to declare the opposition party winner of the presidential election in 2015, then Mr Nwosus fear of military threat would not be acceptable. He said, We cannot operate within the Rivers of complexities. It is a vulnerability of democracy that is before us this morning because the professor didnt have the courage to announce the election. Jega had the courage to face Jonathan that he didnt win the election and declared Buhari the winner. He didnt die and nothing happened. We didnt even name anything about him. I wished Professor Humphrey Nwosu a journey of mercy but the Senate should run away from naming him. History will not be kind to you, youre the one presiding . I dont believe in Buhari. Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North) submitted that Mr Nwosu only made efforts but that he failed at the critical moment when Nigerians needed him most. Conscience is an open wound and only the truth can heal it. Ive attended a lot of courses in the management school and I know there is a lot of difference between effort and results. Nobody rewards effort. We thank everything that Humphrey Nwosu did but one thing that is lacking is the result. He only made efforts and as long as he did not announce the result, he cannot be called a hero. Im against the prayer that he should be immortalised by renaming INEC headquarters after him, he said. Solomon Olamilekan (APC, Ogun West) detailed how he lost his younger brother because of the refusal of Mr Nwosu to announce the result. This is one issue I have tried as much as I could to avoid because it is about to remind me of a bad memory. As a result of the action of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, I lost my immediate younger brother. He died right in front of me because Nwosu failed to do his duty. Yes, he released the result but he failed at the critical moment. If hes too cowardly to withdraw at the critical moment. Professor Humphrey Nwosu does not deserve to be immortalised. Im not speaking along the line of ethnicity but Im speaking as a Nigerian, he said. Oyelola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), cautioned that further debate could divide the Senate, while Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West), argued that renaming national monuments should be the responsibility of the executive, not the legislature. After the debate, Mr Jibrin put the motion to vote and most of the senators opposed it through voice votes. The deputy senate president thereafter announced rejection of the motion but directed the senators to observe one-minute silence in honour of the late NEC chairperson. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The UN on Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction The UNs High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, in a statement, said that the world came together 50 years ago to ban biological weapons,. She noted that in todays volatile geopolitical climate, we can ill-afford to let this moral safeguard erode, Disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu told Member States in Geneva that the BWC remains a testament to the conscience of humankind. Yet as technology evolves, so too do potential risks. We must ensure the instruments of the 20th century can respond to todays global 21st century challenges, Nakamitsu said. In his message, the Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged all states parties to actively participate in the Working Group on Strengthening the BWC which verifies compliance, capacity-building and assistance and called on the group to accelerate its efforts in this milestone year. 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 These efforts reinforce the commitment in the Pact for the Future, adopted at the United Nations last year, for all countries to pursue a world free of biological weapons, he said. Mr Guterres hailed the convention as a cornerstone of international peace and security, having contributed over five decades to collective efforts to reject the use of disease as a weapon. Today, 188 countries are party to the convention, which effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. The BWC stands as a safeguard, ensuring that advances in biology and biotechnology are used solely for peaceful purposes and not to trigger artificial epidemics that threaten us all. While the vast majority of UN Member States have joined the convention, nine countries remain outside. The secretary-general called on those governments to ratify the treaty without delay. UN disarmament affairs office, UNODA, is working to support the conventions implementation especially in Africa where it has engaged 100 young scientists through the Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship in the last five years. Together, let us stand united against biological weapons, the secretary-general said. As the world grapples with new global health challenges and geopolitical uncertainty, the BWC remains a vital barrier against the misuse of science. Reinforcing it, the UN chief said, is essential to prevent biological weapons from ever being used again whether in conflict, acts of terror, or by accident. NAN reports that the BWC currently has 187 states-parties, including Palestine, and four signatories (Egypt, Haiti, Somalia, and Syria). The 10 states that have neither signed nor ratified the BWC are Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Israel, Kiribati, Micronesia, Namibia, South Sudan, and Tuvalu. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Kaduna APC Woman Leader Maryam Suleiman, who was suspended by the party in March last year for criticising Governor Uba Sani, has tendered an unreserved apology to the governor. Mrs Suleiman had rebuked the governor for accusing the administration of his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, of corruption. The party immediately suspended her through a notice dated March 31, signed by the APC Chairman and Secretary of Badarawa/Malali ward, Ali Maishago and Zakkah Bassahuwa, respectively. However, in an interview with journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, Mrs Suleiman said she did not know the issues that were at stake when she criticised Mr Sani, but having realised my mistake, I have apologise to him. Furthermore, the politician known as Mai Rusau because of her association with ex-governor El-Rufai, has adopted a new nickname of Mai Ginau to underscore her switch of loyalty to Governor Sani. Mai Rusau means the demolisher while Mai Ginau means the builder. 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 Suleiman, who was recently pardoned by the party, described Mr Uba as a compassionate leader. I told him that I acted out of childishness and I didnt really understand the issues at stake. Everyone knows that I am a diligent party person. I have realised my mistakes and I promise to make amends, she said. She further said the El-Rufai administration made many mistakes, especially in the demolition of markets and the sacking of primary school teachers. People really complained about those policies, and victims were short-changed. Some of those who were affected have lost their lives. The sources of livelihood of some have crumbled, she recalled. In contrast, Governor Uba Sani is humane. He is someone who likes to uplift people, even if he doesnt know them. There is a world of difference between him and the former governor, she added. I knew Governor Sani before Malam Nasir El Rufai. He is a kind-hearted man who is always looking for the welfare of the downtrodden. The politician said the SDP, which Mr El-Rufai has left the APC for, will not make any impact because it is a toddler in the political scene and is largely unknown. I will not defect to the party because Im a bonafide APC member, she said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives consideration of the bill that seeks to strip governors and deputy governors of immunity is the dominanting headline in most newspapers. Reps move to strip VP, govs, dep govs of immunity, Tribune reported. Bill to remove immunity enjoyed by VP, Govs scales second reading, Amebo newspaper also reported. Daily Trust reported that Immunity debate: What is good for president is good for vice president. According to This Nigeria, Reps want VP, govs stripped of privilege. Reps move to strip VP, deputy govs of immunity, the Sun reported. 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, This Day reported that Abubakar Atiku stated that the National Assembly Leadership is Corrupt. INEC begins move to recall senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, The Independent newspaper reported. Vanguard reported INEC: Tinubu shops for Yakubus replacement. Digital payments in Nigeria, others to hit $1.5trn Report, Sailent Times reported. Jubilation as NYSC begins N77,000 payment to corps members, News Direct reported. Shettima to judiciary: Dont submit to blackmail, but sustain integrity, rule of law, the Blueprint also reported. We thank Abiola Ayankunbi, a media management expert, for providing screenshots of the newspapers front pages. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government and the Nations Information Centre (UNIC) are set to launch the third edition of the Short Film Challenge for young creatives to project development issues in the country. The organisers gave the details of the programme at a media briefing held at the UN House in Abuja on Wednesday Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), explained that the initiative is aimed at mobilising the countrys filmmakers to produce impactful short films on humanitarian and developmental issues. Film as a catalyst for change She added that the anticipated films would highlight developmental challenges, proffer solutions and inspire action on critical issues such as poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality, climate change and social justice. She said that Nigeria has a strong capacity to use films as a catalyst for change. This initiative is more than just a competition; it is a movement. A platform where young visionaries can shape narratives, challenge norms, and propose innovative solutions to global challenges. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later As the world approaches the final stretch to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, initiatives like the SDGs Short Film Challenge and Awards are crucial in empowering young people to take ownership of the development narrative and drive meaningful change, she said. Speaking at the event, Mohamed Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, emphasised the importance of storytelling as a powerful advocacy tool for the Sustainable Development Goals. Nigeria is a storytelling powerhouse. Our Nollywood industry, which is among the largest film industries in the world, reaches millions across Africa and beyond. By channelling this creative force toward the SDGs, we are doing more than amplifying awareness, he said. As we approach the final stretch to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we need these stories more than ever. Films have the unique power to translate complex global challenges into human experiences that resonate, educate, and ignite action. The UN lead expressed support for the initiative, reinforcing the vital role of youth and digital innovation in driving the 2030 Agenda forward. About the initiative Since its inception in 2022, the SDGs short film challenge has grown exponentially. It has a total of 73 entries in 2023 and received about 2,250 from 119 countries in 2024. This years challenge introduces key strategic activities, including a training and capacity-building programme, an expansion of the grand finale into a three-day SDGs Film Festival, and enhanced collaborations and industry support. The online portal is now open for filmmakers to submit short films (maximum 15 minutes) addressing selected SDG themes. A panel of judges will evaluate submissions based on creativity, impact, and SDGs alignment. The grand finale of the challenge is scheduled to take place in the third quarter of this year, featuring exhibitions, high-level discussions, and thematic panels. The winning film will receive prizes, global exposure, and additional opportunities. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Edo State has detained a 34-year-old man, Iyayi Omokaro, for allegedly hacking his elder brother, Friday Omokaro, 38, to death during a violent dispute. CSP Moses Yamu, the commands spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Benin. According to the police spokesperson, the incident occurred in Uzalla Community, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state. Mr Yamu, a chief superintendent of police, said officers at the Ahor Division received a distress call on 25 March, at about 3:30 p.m., from residents of a camp in the community, reporting a fatal attack involving two brothers. He said operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes, swiftly mobilised to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered Friday Omokaro lying in a pool of blood with deep machete wounds. 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 victim was immediately rushed to the hospital but was later confirmed dead by medical personnel. The police also recovered the murder weapon, a bloodstained cutlass, believed to have been used in the attack. Preliminary investigations revealed that the tragic incident stemmed from a heated argument between the two siblings, which quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. In the heat of the fight, Iyayi Omokaro allegedly grabbed a cutlass and struck his elder brother multiple times, inflicting fatal wounds, Mr Yamu said. He added that the suspect, who was immediately taken into custody, confessed to committing the crime. Mr Yamu assured the public that justice would be served, and expressed the commands commitment to maintaining law and order in the state. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Trump tries to create good diplomatic relations with Russia, but such methods do not work with Putin Zelenskyy US President Donald Trump tried to create good diplomatic relations with Russia, but such methods do not work with Vladimir Putin and easing sanctions will have the opposite effect, believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "Donald Trump tried to create good diplomatic relations with Russia. But such methods do not work with a person like Putin. Are you proposing to ease sanctions in exchange for concessions from him? It will not work. Putin is not the kind of person who will be grateful. If Donald Trump eases sanctions against Russia, he will draw only one conclusion: he is a weak president and therefore can move on to the next stage," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Le Figaro. "Putin lives under pressure 24 hours a day. There is no opposition in Russia. Neither in the Kremlin nor outside it. For 25 years, his goal has been to preserve and strengthen his power. He did this by killing his opponents. But also by dividing Europe from the United States and Europeans from each other," Zelenskyy added. However, he noted that Putin cannot fight with everyone, so he will lose, and if he loses, he will lose his power. Top Nigerian techie and co-founder of Andela, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, has advised other states to emulate the Kwara State Education Trust Fund for strengthening public education. Mr Aboyeji was also the cofounder of Flutterwave, Africas leading payments technology firm, and Future Africa, a platform that provides capital and mentorship for young innovators. He made the comment in a message ahead of his 34th birthday on March 28. Also a member of the board of the Trust Fund, MrAboyeji offered to have a private dinner with anyone who donates at least $1000 to the Fund. The Trust Fund was initiated by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to strengthen public education in the state. As it is the tradition, instead of birthday gifts this year, Im asking friends and well-wishers to donate toward some of the initiatives of the Kwara Education Trust Fund such as sponsoring a childs secondary school education to renovate schools, he wrote on his social media handle. 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 Each donation will benefit current and future generations of students in Kwara. On the 28th of March this year, I will be celebrating my 34th birthday, and in my typical fashion, I want to share this important piece of information with you. The Kwara State Education Trust Fund of which I am a member of the board is an independent body governed by reputable individuals from the public and private sectors who encourage and enable private citizens like me and you to directly and transparently support the provision and delivery of quality education to young people in Kwara from early years to University by investing in scholarships and bursary programmes, education infrastructural projects and capacity building for teaching and learning. Mr Aboyeni said the initiative is key to building the future of Kwara State through sustainable investments in quality education. READ ALSO: Tinubu pledges support for fintech firms as Flutterwave seeks listing on Nigerian Exchange This innovative approach to augmenting resources to invest in public education allows the public, particularly Kwara indigenes (home and in the diaspora) as well their friends, to partner with the government to build the future of Kwara State through sustainable investments in quality educationIf you are from elsewhere, tell your government to consider starting a similar initiative in your state. The tech guru said the account to be donated to is: Kwara State Education Trust Fund. Bank Name: Zenith Bank with Account Number 1229315108. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he never collected any money from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos for his 2023 election campaign. This is contained in a statement issued by Atiku Media Office in Abuja on Thursday. The media aide to Atiku, Paul Ibe, who issued the statement, denied the reports making the rounds that Mr Sanwo-Olu gave money to the former vice-president for his 2023 presidential election campaign. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atiku was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections. Mr Ibe, in the statement, described the insinuations as a lie and kindergarten propaganda. He said that the report had claimed that Mr Sanwo-Olu had made available to Atiku money purportedly belonging to Lagos. 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 media aide stated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also credited with investigating the matter. Mr Ibe described the report as a blatant lie from the pit of hell; a contrived political hogwash and a futile campaign of calumny aimed at advancing a political interest against Abubakar. He said that Atiku did not know Mr Sanwo-Olu and had never met him before. How is it possible for an Atiku that did not know and had no connection with Sanwo-Olu to be having a transaction with him involving the exchange of money let alone during the presidential election of 2023 in which his boss was a contestant? To what end would that be? he queried. Mr Ibe advised EFCC to make public the outcome of its alleged investigation, since it had been dragged into the matter He called for immediate halt to what he described as a voyage of misadventure and campaign of calumny against the person and reputation of Atiku. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The embattled 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has cancelled the Sallah Durbar procession he planned to mark the end of Ramadan fasting. Mr Ado-Bayero, in a broadcast late Wednesday, said he made the decision after consultation with elders and clerics who prevailed on him to cancel the procession in the interest of peace. Earlier, Mr Ado-Bayero and Lamido Sanusi announced their plans for the procession, raising concerns of clashes between their supporters. I am pleading with the people over the decision we took. We had to cancel all the planned Durbar arrangement after our respected Islamic clerics and elders prevailed on us to do so, and subsequent consultation with my council members. Durbar celebration is not a do or die affair, for me, the peaceful coexistence of the people is much paramount to me than anything. We pray that the decision to suspend the Durbar procession will improve peaceful coexistence of our people and our blessed Kano. I am calling on the people to use the festive period to visit friends and family to improve on cordial relationships. I prayed that the we are among the Gods favour in the blessed month of Ramadan, Mr Ado-Bayero 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 The two men have claimed the emirship position since the state government removed Mr Ado Bayero last May and reinstated his deposed predecessor, Mr Sanusi, under a new emirates law. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has launched a campaign for the elimination of HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis in Asaba, Delta State. The initiative, tagged: Free to Shine Campaign, is part of an advocacy programme led by the African Union, the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), and global partners. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony on Wednesday, Mrs Tinubu emphasised the importance of advocacy in expanding access to HIV testing services, ensuring comprehensive counselling, treatment, and care for individuals who test positive. She called for deeper engagement with traditional and faith-based institutions to address cultural and religious influences on HIV prevention. To complement the Free to Shine Campaign, I have also decided to advocate for the triple elimination of HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis by 2030, she said. Expanding campaign nationwide The first lady revealed that the campaign will cover all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The initiative was first launched in Kwara for the North Central Zone on 30 January 2025, followed by Kaduna for the North West Zone on 25 February 2025. Today, we are flagging off the campaign in Delta State for the South-south Zone. By the grace of God, the next zone to benefit will be the North-east, and Taraba State will be the host. Highlighting the urgency of the campaign, she referenced data from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which revealed that in 2024, over 100,000 children and nearly two million adults were living with HIV. Mrs Tinubu expressed concern that many infants born to HIV-positive mothers were not tested early due to a lack of awareness. It is heartbreaking to know that just two years ago, 15,000 children aged 0-14 lost their lives in AIDs related illnesses, she lamented. Each of these children was not just statistics but represented the future full of potential but sadly cut short. The First Lady also noted that hepatitis and syphilis pose significant health risks in Nigeria, particularly hepatitis B and C, which can lead to chronic liver disease and cancer. If left untreated, syphilis can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and congenital abnormalities. The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness, renew our commitment, and take collective action against these diseases. This, I believe, aligns with our shared vision of a healthier Nigeria where every individual, particularly women, youth, and children, can thrive and live healthier lives, she said. Support for womens health, empowerment In his remarks at the ceremony, the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, commended the First Lady and OAFLAD for their commitment to addressing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. Mr Oborevwori said the campaign is a giant step forward towards addressing the gender-sensitive concerns of sexually transmitted diseases and sexual and reproductive health issues, as highlighted in the Beijing Declaration of 1995. He noted that women between the ages of 15 and 49 are twice as likely to be living with HIV as men. The difference in HIV prevalence between women and men is increasingly highest among younger adults, with young women aged 2024 years three times more likely to be living with HIV as young men in the same age group, he said. He attributed this disparity to factors such as gender-based violence, early and forced marriage, harmful cultural practices, and limited access to healthcare and education for women. Mr Oborevwori assured that his administration would continue to complement the efforts of the First Lady by ensuring that women are empowered to make informed decisions about their health and economic well-being. I am pleased to inform you that womens empowerment is a key objective of my administrations MORE agenda, he said. We believe that as more women achieve financial independence, they will be in a better position to make better choices in life. More comments The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, praised the First Lady for championing a healthier future for Nigerians. Mr Salako noted that her intervention in maternal and child health is making a tangible difference. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Walter Mulombo, also commended Nigerias progress in combating HIV/AIDS and expressed confidence that the country is on track to meet its goal of eliminating the epidemic by 2030. In her comments, the Wife of the Delta State Governor and Founder of You Matter Charity Foundation, Tobore Oborevwori, also expressed optimism that the Free to Shine initiative would help reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS. Mrs Oborevwori assured Mrs Tinubu of her full support in the fight against infectious diseases. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Catholic priest, John Ubaechu, who was kidnapped by gunmen in Imo State, has been released. The Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Patrick Mbarah, announced this in a statement on Wednesday. His release occurred about three days after his kidnap. Abduction PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Mr Ubaechu was abducted on Sunday evening along Ejemekwuru Road in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo. The cleric is the parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church Izombe, a community in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state. Earlier on Wednesday, the gunmen who abducted the Catholic priest reportedly demanded N20 million ransom. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This clerics abduction occurred hours after the police in Anambra State announced the rescue of another adbucted Catholic priest. Release of the latest abducted Catholic priest I am directed to inform you that our priest, Rev. Fr. John Ubaechu who was kidnapped on Sunday March 23, 2025 has been released, Mr Mbarah, also a Catholic priest, said in the Wednesday statement. The chancellor said the abducted cleric was released earlier on Wednesday. We thank God for his infinite mercy and for answering our prayers, he stated, expressing gratitude to Catholic faithful and Nigerians who prayed for the clerics release. He was silent on whether or not a ransom was paid. Abduction for ransom Like other states in the South-east, cases of abduction-for-ransom in Imo State have increased in recent times. Civil servants, business owners, politicians and even students have become targets of such attacks in the state lately. Meanwhile, no group has claimed responsibility for the latest kidnap of the Catholic priest although a separatist group IPOB has been blamed for the frequent attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks. IPOB is seeking the secession of South-east and some parts of south-south from Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, fixed 8 May for judgement in a suit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria Limited against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). MultiChoice is seeking to stop the FCCPC from sanctioning it over its recent increase in the DStv and Gotv subscription. The judge, James Omotosho, fixed the date after counsel for MultiChoice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and FCCPCs lawyer, J.E.O. Abugu, also a SAN, adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the suit. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Omotosho had, on 12 March, restrained FCCPC from sanctioning the pay-TV company until the hearing and determination of the substance suit. The judge gave the order after an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/379/2025 and moved by Mr Onigbanjo. NAN reports that the FCCPC had summoned MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd to provide explanations regarding the 1 March price review of its packages. 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 commission directed the companys chief executive officer to appear for an investigative hearing on 27 February raising concerns over frequent price hikes, potential market dominance abuse and anti-competitive practices within the pay-TV industry. The FCCPC also issued a stern warning, stating that failure to justify the price adjustment or comply with fair market principles would lead to regulatory sanctions. However, in the ex parte motion filed by MultiChoices legal team, the company sought an order of interim injunction restraining the FCCPC and its officers from carrying out the threat against it, as communicated via a letter dated 3 March, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction. It also sought an order restraining the commission and its officers from issuing any further directive or taking any steps capable of disrupting its business activities, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction. An order of interim injunction restraining the FCCPC, its agents, servants, or privies from sanctioning or penalising MultiChoice (the applicant) in any manner whatsoever in relation to its price increase pending the hearing and determination of the motion for an interlocutory injunction, another prayer read. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Some security chiefs and experts have called for improved security collaboration between Nigeria and her French-speaking neighbours. They made the call in a communique shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday. The communique was based on the resolutions reached at a roundtable discussion during the maiden annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), held on 13 February. It was signed by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Director-General of the State Security Service, Oluwatosin Ajayi, Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. Others are the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dayo Mobereola, Commandant-General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, and a former Director of SSS and President of AANISS, Mike Ejiofor. The participants agreed that Nigeria is grappling with numerous security challenges, including regional separatist movements, kidnapping, banditry, farmers/herders conflicts, terrorism, illegal arms deals, cybercrimes and human trafficking. 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 They agreed to ensure stronger collaboration between Nigerian security agencies and neighbouring Francophone countries, including recruiting security personnel proficient in French for better intelligence operations. They said a more robust approach should be adopted by the Nigerian government to check the challenges. There is need for a paradigm shift from a theoretical approach to insecurity to a more robust/inclusive practical approach, the communique said. To enhance border security, AANISS recommended stronger collaboration between Nigerian security agencies and neighbouring Francophone countries, including recruiting security personnel proficient in French for better intelligence operations, it added. Nigerian neighbours include Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin Republic. The participants lamented the inadequacy in number of security and intelligence personnel to cover all communities including ungoverned spaces. They also demanded for improved community policing, while demanding that Nigerian communities should be armed. They charged local governments in the country to justify the financial autonomy granted them by using their resources to contain security challenges at the local government level. Arming local communities During the lecture, Mr Ajayi called for the arming of local communities for defence purposes. He said communities should be empowered to serve as first lines of defence in tackling insurgency before the intervention of the police, military and other security agencies. He cited an incident in Azare in Bauchi State where the community stood against Boko Haram terrorists and defeated them. Mr Ajayi noted that the practical approach to fighting insecurity is by getting everyone involved, adding that you do not expect the Nigerian Army, police, and SSS to protect every Nigerian. It is not going to work. The SSS boss said the military, police, and other security agencies have to deal with bigger security issues like organised crime, while noting that it is unimaginable that any security agency has the resources to deploy to every community. What we have to start experimenting with is how we can make the community be a fist in the first line of defence. We have to allow some level of armament for the communities and they can serve as the first line of defence, Mr Ajayi stated. He further urged stakeholders at the event to ensure that the discussions would not just end as mere talk shows, adding that actionable steps should be taken to tackle the menace of insecurity in the country. Holistic approach Mr Musa, on his part, demanded a holistic approach to combating Nigerian security challenges. He also called for collaboration and proactiveness in tackling the complex and asymmetric threats. From terrorism and cybercrime to transnational organised crime and climate-induced conflicts, the challenges we face are multifaceted and demand a holistic approach, Mr Musa said. The CDS urged Nigerian security agencies to adapt to changing dynamics, leverage on technology, intelligence, and partnerships to stay ahead of adversaries. I am therefore optimistic that this forum will delve into actionable strategies for mobilisation and collaboration, stressing the significance for practical collective action and shared responsibility, he added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least 555 people lost their lives in different petrol tanker explosions across Nigeria between January 2020 and January 2025, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) data reveals. Joyce Alexander, the sector commander of FRSC, Anambra Command, made the data known in Awka during a town hall meeting on Tanker and Trailer Safety Challenges in Nigeria on Thursday. Mrs Alexander said the crashes, numbering about 80, also resulted in hundreds of people being injured, as well as buildings, vehicles, and other valuables worth millions of naira destroyed. She said there were 18 tanker explosions in 2020, resulting in 161 deaths. In 2021, there were 55 deaths from 19 tanker explosions, and in 2022, 76 deaths were recorded from 14 tanker explosions. She said 118 deaths were recorded from 13 tanker explosions in 2023 and 85 deaths from 13 incidents in 2024. So far, in January 2025, there have been seven recorded tanker explosions. 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 More than 2,000 trucks transport hydrocarbons daily on Nigeria roads, and the neglect of safety can have dire consequences, including negative environmental impacts, loss of truck, lives and property. The most horrifying aspect of this menace is the scooping of fuel by the citizenry when tanker crashes or spillages occur. This exacerbates the casualties in the case of a fire outbreak. READ ALSO: Another petrol tanker explosion kills seven in Niger State In Anambra, we have recorded four trailer-related crashes in three months, which claimed 24 lives and many injured. These are avoidable crashes and casualties. This town hall is to help us map out strategies to stop the incessant crashes and explosions, to save lives and property, Mrs Alexander said. The sector commander said the corps had put measures in place to ensure compliance with installing speed-limiting devices and other safety requirements in haulage vehicles. She called for the training and re-training of tanker drivers, urging them to comply with road safety rules. Mrs Alexander also urged tanker operators to prioritise vehicle maintenance to check brake failures, worn-out tyres, manhole defects, and inadequate container latching. We recommend valid vehicle registration and display, valid drivers licence class, and stiffer sanctions on operators whose tankers are involved in crashes through legislation. Also, the establishment of rest areas in the state will prevent fatigue, and we appeal to the police to free traffic checkpoints at the approach of articulated vehicles, she said. Reacting, Uche Noah, the divisional police officer of B-Division, Awka, said that checkpoints could not be removed because of security concerns. Mr Noah also urged drivers to stop driving under the influence of alcohol or other illicit substances. Some tanker drivers and transport unions highlighted poverty, impatience, excessive police checkpoints, economic hardship and the actions of the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency as key challenges affecting tanker drivers. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has distanced itself from publications claiming that it urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State. The centre, in a statement signed by its director, Dauda Garuba, said its attention was drawn to the publication by some media outlets, It further noted that the publication titled Zamfara: Gov Lawal Under Fire Over Alleged Anti-Democratic Actions Against Assembly Members was aimed at misinforming and misleading the public. The Publication In the publication dated 24 March, one Ibrahim Yakubu, who claims to represent the Centre for Democracy and Development, accused Governor Dauda Lawal of anti-democratic actions, including the suspension of 10 lawmakers from Zamfara State House of Assembly for 13 months. Mr Yakubu, who reportedly spoke to journalists in Abuja, therefore, urged Mr Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara for six months. A six-month emergency period is necessary to restore order, dismantle the networks of political and economic terrorists, and pave the way for a return to democratic governance, Mr Yakubu said, urging President Tinubu to do anything possible to restore normalcy in Zamfara. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This is not a call made lightly; it is a demand born out of necessity, as the current trajectory threatens not only Zamfara but the entire nation. The good people of Zamfara deserve leadership that upholds the rule of law, prioritizes security, and safeguards national resources, he added. The call came after President Tinubu suspended elected officials and declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. CDD-West Africa reacts While we fully respect the right of individuals and groups to freedom of speech and association, as a respected think tank, we categorically state that this group is in no way affiliated with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), the centres director, Mr Garuba, stated. He emphasised that CDD-West Africa, with its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, is a non-partisan think tank with a longstanding commitment to research, evidence-based advocacy, and the promotion of democratic principles and values that enhance governance and development across West Africa. We do not know, recognise, or have any connection with Ibrahim Yakubu or the group claiming to speak on behalf of CDD-West Africa in the referenced article, Mr Garuba said in the statement. The centre recalled that it condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as an extreme measure that undermines the democratic processes. It is, therefore, inconsistent and entirely false to suggest that the same organisation would now support a state of emergency in Zamfara State. CDD-West Africa remains committed to the principles and values of democratic governance and thus rejects any attempts to misrepresent its stance, Mr Garuba said. This impersonation is misleading and unacceptable as it misrepresents our mission and undermines public trust, he added, saying the centre is considering legal and regulatory steps to address the issue while we engage with relevant authorities to protect our institutional identity. Mr Garuba urged media outlets and the public to verify the authenticity of any statements attributed to the centre. Official CDD-West Africa communications are issued exclusively through its verified platforms and bear the signature of our leadership or authorised spokespersons, he said. We unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the comments and claims made by the impostor group and therefore caution against giving them any legitimacy. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Mamman Ali, son of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Ali, and a Sierra Leonean, Christian Taylor, for their alleged involvement in a N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud. A statement by the EFCC on Thursday, said Messrs Ali and Taylor were re-arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos State. They were re-arraigned alongside an oil firm, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, following an amendment to the case, raising the number of counts from 49 to 57. The re-arraignment was the second in the last two years in a case that has lasted almost 13 years in court. The previous arraignment, necessitated by the withdrawal of the former trial judge, led to the re-arraignment of the defendants before the new judge, Mojisola Dada, on 24 March 2023. New charges and re-arraignment The defendants were first arraigned in 2012 on 49 counts of conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery, and the use of false documents. 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 At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, EFCCs prosecuting lawyer, Seiduh Atteh, informed the court of the amended charges and requested that the defendants take a fresh plea. Defence counsel Obafemi Kolade, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), did not object to the request. Subsequently, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The EFCC alleged that Messrs Ali, Taylor, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, and two other suspects, Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul Afeez, who are currently at large, fraudulently obtained funds from the federal government on 9 September 2011 for the importation and supply of petrol under the petrol subsidy scheme. According to the amended charges, the defendants forged a document titled GASOLINE ANALYSIS, purportedly issued by Saybolt Concremat aboard the vessel MT Overseas Limar to facilitate the fraudulent subsidy claims. Adjournment Following the re-arraignment, Mr Kolade requested additional time to amend his written address in response to the new charges. The judge, Mojisola Dada, granted the request and directed the prosecution to file a response before the next hearing. The case was adjourned until 15 April for the adoption of final written addresses. Background The defendants were re-arraigned on 24 March 2023, before Mrs Dada. In one of the counts, EFCC alleged that Nasaman Oil Services Ltd, Messrs Ali, Taylor, Ogunbambo (now at large), and Abdul-Afeez (still at large), on or about 9 November 2011, at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, conspired to fraudulently obtain N749,991,273.36 from the Federal Government of Nigeria. EFCC stated that the sum was falsely claimed as a subsidy under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation of 10,031,986 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), purportedly purchased from SEATAC Petroleum Ltd (British Virgin Islands) and imported into Nigeria through MT Liquid Fortune Ltd via MT Overseas Limara representation they knew to be false. In another count, the defendants were accused of obtaining N1,480,074,125.61 on 11 April 2011, under the same false pretence, claiming to have imported 20,492,982.50 litres of petrol via MT Liquid Fortune Ex MT Hellenic Blue and Ex MT Milleura. The fuel subsidy scam was a major highlight of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerians, outraged by the administrations sudden removal of petrol subsidy in January 2012 leading to an astronomical hike in petrol pump price, trooped to the streets in protest against the policy shift. READ ALSO: EFCC arrests 37 suspected internet fraudsters in Ilorin They demanded a reversal of the hike and an extensive probe into alleged corruption in the use of fuel subsidy funds. The government yielded to the demands in part by reducing the petrol price and ordering a probe into the fuel subsidy funds. The probe exposed alleged fraud perpetrated by many petrol importers, who received funds to supply petrol to Nigeria under the petrol subsidy. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of France Emmanuel Macron discussed increasing the number of Mirage-2000 combat aircraft in Ukraine. "We talked about increasing the number of Mirage aircraft. We are also grateful for all other manifestations of defense support for Ukraine. Today we have already started and will continue to discuss the situation on the front, specific defense needs and prospects for how we can end this war," Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday in Paris. He also said that he had discussed with the French leader an increase in joint production. Zelenskyy and Macron instructed the defense ministries to detail these issues and ensure their implementation. The Adamawa State Government has confirmed an outbreak of rabies, with cats being particularly affected. The Commissioner for Livestock and Aquaculture Development, Tijjani Maksha, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Yola, assuring the public that measures are being taken to control the situation. Rabies, a deadly virus primarily found in dogs and cats, is transmitted to humans through the saliva of infected animals, usually via bites. Mr Maksha urged pet owners, especially those with cats and dogs, to take their animals to government-approved veterinary hospitals or clinics for vaccinations. He also mentioned that the ministry is awaiting the governors approval to launch a statewide vaccination campaign for all pets, particularly cats, in the state. The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mohammed Amin, said that a sample test conducted at the National Veterinary Laboratory in VOM, Plateau State, showed that out of 19 cats, nine tested positive for rabies. 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 him, this suggests that approximately 50 per cent of cats in the state may be affected. Bathilomeu Nyalas, Director of Veterinary Services, revealed that three people had died from confirmed rabies cases in 2024. READ ALSO: Benue govt confirms rabies outbreak in two LGAs Mr Nyalas assured the public that the ministry is closely monitoring the situation, with doctors placed on surveillance across all 21 Local Government Areas. He outlined symptoms of rabies in pets, including unusual behaviour, excessive salivation, and high body temperature, advising pet owners to seek immediate veterinary care if they observed these signs. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The House of Representatives on Thursday passed for a second reading a bill seeking to impose an age limit for individuals contesting for the offices of the president and governor in Nigeria. The bill, sponsored by Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, proposed 60 years as the age-limit for anyone contesting either positions of the president or the governor of any state. The bill seeks to amend sections 131 and 177 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), which prescribed eligibility to contest for both positions. If enacted, the bill would render prominent politicians such as President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and others ineligible to contest the 2027 elections. Additionally, the proposed legislation introduces a minimum educational qualification, requiring candidates to hold at least a bachelors degree. Currently, the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that a presidential candidate must be a Nigerian by birth, a member of a political party, possess a school certificate, and be at least 30 years old. 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 Prior to the Not Too Young to Run Act, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the minimum age requirement was 40 for presidential candidates and 35 for governors. The existing conditions to contest for the position of the president include; being a Nigerian by birth, a member of a political party, a school certificate and must have attained the age of 30. Other bills The house also passed a bill for the creation of Wan State in the North Central Geo-Political Zone and Gobir State in the Northwest. Other bills passed for second reading during Thursdays sitting include one seeking the upgrade of the Alvan Ikoku College of Education in Imo State into a federal university of education; a bill for the creation of Ideato West Local Government Area in Imo State; a bill for mandatory inclusion of youths and persons with disabilities in political appointments. READ ALSO: Bill seeking fresh educational qualification for LG chair passes second reading at House of Reps Others are; Bill to Move Trade and Commerce to the Concurrent Legislative List; Bill to reserve Seats for Women in National and State Assemblies; Judicial Reform Bills: Timelines for Justice Administration; Increase in Supreme Court & Court of Appeal Justices Bill. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Looking back, activities like the VOAs Request Time and Barclays visit and interactions with her fans in Freetown could be described as US soft power mobilising young minds to appreciate American values Trump doesnt seem interested in such activities if they dont generate immediate returns to the US. The smokescreen of liberalism or defence of freedom in US foreign policy is being systematically cleared. Were all authoritarians now, Chinese politicians would be saying. Trumps attack on liberal internationalism rolls on aggressively. His sledge hammer is falling indiscriminately on international organisations, humanitarian initiatives, and US propaganda outfits without regard for the long-term effects on the US position in the world. Ive never been a fan of the VOAs news broadcasts. The few times I listened to VOA news when I was growing up, I couldnt distinguish it from Soviet and Chinese propaganda. It lacked the subtlety of the BBC, which also promotes British interests but in less brazenly ideological ways. However, during my teenage years, as a high school student in Freetown in the 1960s, I was hooked on the VOAs music programme Request Time, which was anchored by the charismatic Liberian journalist, Yvonne Barclay. Request Time was a very popular programme among Freetowns youth. It was the go-to programme for soul music the place where we first heard the latest African-American sounds before they got picked up by the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS). We were awestruck by Barclays voice and presentation. I had the opportunity of meeting Barclay in 1969 when she visited Sierra Leone. I was a member of the US Information Services library, which I often consulted to read about world affairs, including the Apollo space programme and mission on the moon. The library invited a few of us to the lecture that the USIS organised for Barclay at the embassy, which at the time was located at Walpole Street just opposite the mighty and iconic Cotton Tree. After her talk, Barclay took the floor and invited us to join her to dance to some soulful African-American sounds. We formed a circle around her and tried to copy her steps and moves! She was a great dancer. 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 Unfortunately, Barclay passed away a few years ago. I think she died in Jamaica where she lived during her twilight years, but she was buried in Liberia. I read a few lovely tributes to her. Looking back, activities like the VOAs Request Time and Barclays visit and interactions with her fans in Freetown could be described as US soft power mobilising young minds to appreciate American values. Trump doesnt seem interested in such activities if they dont generate immediate returns to the US. Good riddance, if you ask me! US imperialism will now reveal its real character. Yusuf Bangura writes from Nyon, Switzerland. Email: [email protected] Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Thursday, Ramadan 27, 1446 AH (27/03/2025) In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation. May Allah extol the Messenger in the highest company of Angels and grant him peace; and likewise, his family, his Companions and all those who truly and sincerely follow him until the Day of Resurrection. Dear brothers and sisters! The lives of the noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his companions are role models for Muslims. Muslims follow the instructions and try their best to design their lives according to the provided role models. A few stories are very inspiring and reading them leaves an indelible impact on our minds. Islamic history is full of such inspiring stories. In this serie, I will tell you a similar parable of a companion of the noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and I am sure this story will inspire you to expenditure in the way of Allah. It is the story of the generosity of Uthman Ibn Affan, the third Caliph of Muslims. He was generous and pious by nature. Even before the message of Islam, he used to help the poor and needy. But, the Islamic teachings and the company of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) made him help others by leaps and bounds. During the time of the caliphate of Abubakar, food was scarce due to no rain for a longer period. People went to Abubakar and reported the public issue to him. He replied to them dont be sad. Allah is the most generous and He will give you some relief. As head of the caliphate, He must have planned some strategy but at the same time, he was worried about the hardships of the 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 A caravan approached Madinah in the evening. There were wheat-ladened camels in the caravan. They were carrying wheat from Syria to Madinah. All the traders of Madinah headed towards the house of Uthman Bin Affan. They went to him and narrated the condition of the production of the lands. They showed their wish to buy the grains from Uthman Bin Affan with a good deal of profit. He let them in and asked them to make a deal for the grains. They looked at unloaded wheat and offered him profit rates to make a deal. He asked how much you can pay for the food that I bought from Syria, a far-off land. They replied to the companion of the Prophet We can pay you twelve in return for ten. Uthman did not agree and said I had a better offer than this. One of them offered Fifteen for ten. The companion of the Prophet answered, I have a better offer than this. They were amazed and this answer compelled them to ask There are no traders other than us then Who is offering you such a profit? He replied that Allah has promised me to give ten for every Dirham. Can you give me enough profit? They answered No. Uthman Ibn Affan said: I call upon Allah to bear witness that I am giving this food as charity for the poor people. [See al- Raqqah wal Buka by Ibn Qudamah, page 190] Dear brothers and sisters! These stories should be a guideline for our behaviour today. We must be ready to sacrifice everything for the prosperity of our brothers and sisters. Allah made a promise to us in the Quran and wallahi He fulfills his promise. Allah Almighty says: The example of those who spend their wealth on the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts into seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains. And Allah multiplies the reward even more to whoever He wills. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing. [Surah Al Baqarah, 261] We should keep this verse of the noble Quran in our minds every time we donate in the way of Allah. Uthman Ibn Affan gave a practical model of this verse from the noble Quran. No doubt, the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and His companions is an example of the instructions of the noble Quran. Respected brothers and sisters! Charity is one of the best ways to help those in need. Commit to giving charity regularly, no matter how small the amount. Every act of charity has great value in the eyes of Allah. Dont hesitate to help others in difficulty. It can be material assistance, physical effort, or simply providing moral support. Your small actions can make a big difference to those in need. If you have certain knowledge or skills, share them with others. This can include teaching children religious studies, providing training, or sharing knowledge through social media. Dont forget to be generous to your parents. Respect them, take good care of them, and spend time with them. This is a very noble form of generosity. Participating in social or charitable activities can be an effective way to help those in need. Joining charitable organisations or communities with good purposes is a great way to contribute. We can all learn a lot from the inspiring stories of generous Islamic figures. Generosity is a value highly prized in Islam, and our small actions can make the world a better place. May these stories inspire you to be more generous and benefit others. Remember, every act of kindness has a significant impact on building a better society. Beloved brothers and sisters! Know that today is Thursday, 27 Ramadan, 1446 AH (27 March, 2025) according to the Sultanate Council. 03 Days countdown to the month of Shawwal. Ya Allah, on this day, bestow on us the blessings of Lailatul-Qadr, change our affairs from (being) difficult to (being) easy, accept our apologies, and decrease for us [our] sins and burdens, O the Compassionate with His righteous servants. May Allah give us the ability to observe all our daily worships, accept them and reward us with Jannatul Firdaws, ameen. All perfect praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him), and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers. Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of: Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah Mosque; and Late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene Mosque, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected]; or +2348038289761. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The presidents action can be justified, using the legal principle of the doctrine of necessity The doctrine is a legal principle which originated from ancient Roman law and has been used in many countries to solve an unanticipated legal problem The doctrine of necessity is used to justify an action that would otherwise be illegal or unconstitutional. It is used where the government needs to take extraordinary measures, as in the Rivers State situation, to respond to emergencies and threats to national security. By now, it ought to be visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that if the courts havent made a pronouncement on an issue, any legal practitioner, no matter how well decorated, ought to be circumspect in declaring such an issue as illegal or unconstitutional. Section 6(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states that the judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation. Section 6(6)(b) further states that the judicial powers shall extend to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person. As such, the fact that distinguished Senior Advocates of Nigeria or professors of law have declared the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu as illegal and unconstitutional, does not make it so. We still have to await the pronouncement of the court on the matter. Nigerians will recall that in the count down to the 2023 presidential election, not a few senior lawyers declared with magisterial authority that a candidate, in addition to scoring the highest number of votes cast at the election and meeting the required constitutional spread, must score one-third of the votes in the FCT before he can be declared as president. 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 Thanks to the court, we now know that those senior lawyers were either projecting their preferences or expressing their personal opinions. Here we are again, without any judicial precedent to act as a guide, not a few legal practitioners have beaten their chests and declared that the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by the president is unconstitutional. Is it ? Sadly, some lawyers who are counsel to the parties in the case, without disclosing their interest in the matter, have also been very vociferous in condemning the action of the president, especially with regard to the suspension of the governor and his deputy and the House of Assembly. This makes one recall the line in William Shakespeares play, Henry VI, Part 2, Act 4, Scene2, when the character, Dick the Butcher, a rebel declared: The first thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers. Butchers statement was a sad commentary on the perceived corruption and abuse of privilege and power by lawyers. If the truth must be told, many a senior lawyer are in good company with the politicians who dragged the country to the state of emergency in Rivers. Certainly, those who goaded the governor into presenting a budget to a four-member House of Assembly, which passed the budget in a few hours, are legal practitioners. This is an action that the court subsequently described as indecent haste. The court also described the action as a strange conduct in a democratic setting and in contempt of the subsisting order of court dated 30.11. 2023 and 7. 12. 2024, respectively. The court also added that the governor was clearly in violation of section 96 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which provides that: The quorum of the House of Assembly shall be one third of the members of the House. Four out of 31 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly cannot by any stretch of the imagination constitute the required quorum for transacting a legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The conduct of the Appellant (the Governor), in presenting the Appropriation Bill to four out of 31 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is a gross violation of Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he swore to uphold when he took the oath of office and oath of allegiance of the Constitution. Sadly, many of those who have condemned the declaration of the Statement of Emergency, have not the read the Supreme Court judgment upon which the declaration was predicated. Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) empowers the president to declare a Statement of Emergency, when there is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of public order and safety in the federation or any part thereof. There seems to be no controversy over that. The point of disagreement has been whether the section or any section of the Constitution grants the president the power to suspend an elected governor and the House of Assembly. Political watchers have noted that even if the Assembly had succeeded in removing the suspended governor and his deputy, the beneficiary would be the speaker. That, they argue, was a recipe for a crisis of a great proportion, as the Ijaw, who were on the gubernatorial seat for the first time, would do everything possible to protect the suspended governor, who is their kinsman. In declaring the State of Emergency and suspending the governor, his deputy and the House of Assembly, the president, in his speech, referenced the 18th of February judgment of the Supreme Court as one of the triggers of his action. Delivering the judgment, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, who read the lead judgment, with the concurrence of Justices Uwani Musa Abba Aji; Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa; Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme; and Jamilu Yammama Tukur, described Governor Siminilayi Fubaras rule as a despotic rule. According to the court, the governors fear of impeachment by the House of Assembly is no justification for his attacks on the House of Assembly, the Constitution, the Government of Rivers State and the Rule of Law. Political disagreements cannot justify these attacks and contempt for the Rule of Law by the Governor of a State or any person. What the 8th Respondent (the Governor) has done is to destroy the government because of the fear of being impeached. The finding of facts by the Supreme Court showed that the suspended governor had perfected the art of disobeying court orders. On 4th July, 2024, the Court of Appeal had already ruled that the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly was the authentic one and pronounced that the Rivers State High Court, per Justice Wali J, had no jurisdiction to entertain the application of whether the Martin Amaewhule-led members seats can be declared vacant. The suspended governors lawyers must have encouraged him to ignore this pronouncement of the Court of Appeal. Then on 10th October 2024, in Governor of Rivers State V. Rivers State House of Assembly (2024) LPER, 62961, the Court of Appeal ruled that the governor cannot validly claim to have presented the budget if he presented it to only four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Section 287 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is clear that the decision of the Court of Appeal shall be enforced in any part of the federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Court of Appeal. It is clear from the foregoing that this disobedience to court orders has grave implications for the rule of law and democracy. Justice Okon Abang was so worried by this disobedience to court orders that he warned about a situation in which a governor refuses to obey the order of a court because he does not like it, condemned it and warned that such an attitude could signify the death of democracy, which is predicated on the rule of law and not the rule of might. Where a party or person makes an attempt to disparage an order of court as in this case, the court that made that order or another court of competent jurisdiction that is seised of the proceedings where the alleged disobedience is raised should do everything possible to protect its order. This is to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the court of law, his Lordship lamented. When the suspended governor withheld the funds of the Assembly; removed the clerk and the deputy clerk of the Assembly; used caterpillar, bulldozers and other earth-moving equipment to pull down the Assembly (all these in disobedience of the court orders obtained by the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly), wasnt this an invitation to anarchy? So concerned was the Supreme Court that it declared in its 18th February judgment that the suspended governor has passion in violating the provisions of the Constitution that he swore to uphold, with impunity, disobeying court orders at will, using his immunity under section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as a cover, is breaking the bridge over which he himself will cross. It is like someone living in a glass house throwing stones. It is my humble view that it is an act of indiscipline bordering on excessive use of executive might which is unbecoming of someone with good moral culture, otherwise, how else would one explain a situation where four out of 31 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, without any lawful excuse placed before the court, sit in a hidden place, purporting to transact a legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This is a joke taken too far. Not done, the court concluded: The situation in Rivers is that of dictatorship and has nothing to do with democratic governance. So, when members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, in fulfilment of their constitutional obligation began the process of the removal of the suspended governor by serving him a notice of impeachment in accordance with section 188 of the Constitution, the suspended governor was captured on video telling his supporters to wait for his signal directing them when to strike. As if on cue, two pipeline explosions were recorded with the attendant grave economic implications for the country, as Rivers State can be described as the main source of revenue for the country. And security reports made available to the president did not exonerate the suspended governor. And one thing was certain, given the political atmosphere in Rivers State, it would be easier for the proverbial camel to enter the eye of a needle than for the members of the Martin Amaewhule-led House to impeach the suspended governor. Thus, the lawmakers would be unable to remove the suspended governor, as provided for in section 188 of the Constitution. Political watchers have noted that even if the Assembly had succeeded in removing the suspended governor and his deputy, the beneficiary would be the speaker. That, they argue, was a recipe for a crisis of a great proportion, as the Ijaw, who were on the gubernatorial seat for the first time, would do everything possible to protect the suspended governor, who is their kinsman. Now that we are in the process of amending the Constitution, lawmakers may want to consider the wisdom in empowering the president to declare a state of emergency, gazette the declaration, before seeking the approval of the National Assembly. It gives the impression that the National Assembly has no choice but to give its approval. Have we given thought to the possibility of a rejection by the National Assembly? Since the governor, his supporters and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were prepared for a final showdown, President Tinubu had no choice but to come in, not only to safeguard life and property, but to preserve the economic lifeline of the country. The thorny question remains: does the president have the powers to suspend an elected governor and his deputy, while declaring a State of Emergency? Where also does he derive his power to suspend the sitting of the states legislature? Significantly, the two chambers of the National Assembly have approved the presidents declaration, albeit through a voice vote, instead of the two-third majority prescribed by the constitution. My position, like that of most commentators, is that section 305 does not empower the president to remove the elected governor, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. However, declaring an emergency in the state and allowing the main combatants (the governor and the House of Assembly) to remain in office would solve nothing. Obviously, the framers of the Constitution did not envisage such a scenario. But nature, as they say, abhors a vacuum. This is where the doctrine of necessity comes to play, in my view. The presidents action can be justified, using the legal principle of the doctrine of necessity. The doctrine is a legal principle which originated from ancient Roman law and has been used in many countries to solve an unanticipated legal problem. Nigeria used it in 2010, when President Umaru YarAdua passed away and the National Assembly pronounced the vice-president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as president. The doctrine of necessity is used to justify an action that would otherwise be illegal or unconstitutional. It is used where the government needs to take extraordinary measures, as in the Rivers State situation, to respond to emergencies and threats to national security. Incidentally, this same doctrine was used by the suspended governor as his defence for conducting the affairs of state with only four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. His argument, which the court rightly dismissed was that, since the seats of the 27 members had been declared vacant, the doctrine of necessity required that he ran the state with only four members. As I was rounding off this article, news I heard the cheering news that some governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, have invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to challenge the constitutionality of the declaration of the State of Emergency, the suspension of the governor and his deputy and the suspension of the legislature. That is good news, for the country lost that opportunity of a definite pronouncement by the apex court when former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2006, did in Plateau State, what President Tinubu has just done. Soon and very soon, we shall all know the correct interpretation of section 305 of the 1999 of the Constitution (as amended). However, no matter the judgment of the apex court on the matter, the point must not be lost that the provision of section 305 on the declaration of a state of emergency is an affront on the federal system of government. Now that we are in the process of amending the Constitution, lawmakers may want to consider the wisdom in empowering the president to declare a state of emergency, gazette the declaration, before seeking the approval of the National Assembly. It gives the impression that the National Assembly has no choice but to give its approval. Have we given thought to the possibility of a rejection by the National Assembly? Gbemiga Ogunleye is principal partner at EbunOluwa Chambers. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Renowned revenue and business strategist, Bunmi Jembola who is also CEO of SalesRuby, is set to host an intensive Sales Master Class in Lagos and Abuja. According to Mr Jembola, the Sales Master Class has been designed to empower business leaders, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals with cutting-edge strategies to drive exponential revenue growth. This high-impact session promises to equip attendees with proven techniques in modern sales leadership, pipeline acceleration, negotiation mastery, and relationship-driven selling key ingredients for thriving in todays competitive markets. Were going beyond basic sales tactics. This Master Class is about transforming mindsets and equipping professionals with actionable, data-driven strategies to achieve consistent, predictable sales results, said Mr Jembola. Participants will engage with real-world sales scenarios, gain insights into buyer psychology, and learn frameworks that have helped top sales organisations achieve breakthrough performance. According to Mr Jembola, the sessions are particularly suited to finding high networth buyers and B2B stakeholders. Participants at the sessions would be expected to acquire such skills as: How to find and engage high-quality sales leads and decision makers How to lead sales conversations and handle objections with emotional intelligence in a convincing manner How to design and deliver high-quality sales presentations that converts even a stranger How to negotiate convincingly and drive to close How to close B2B and HNI sales using the most advanced sales mechanics and tactics The Sales Master Class will take place in: Lagos: Lily Gate Hotel, Lekki on the 9th of April 2025 Abuja- BON Elvis, Wuse on the 15th of May 2025 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 To get the full brochure and register, you can reach out to the SalesRuby Team here: Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Every soul will taste death, and We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned (Quran 21:35) The verse above reminds us of lifes transient naturethat death will find us wherever we may be, even in fortified towers, and we shall ultimately return to our Creator, the Supreme Master and Controller-General of the universe. The passing of Safarau Umaru Baribaribeloved mother of Governor Dikko Umaru Raddahas sent waves of shock through our hearts. A moment to pathway with a mother of uncommon caring. A Fulani matriarch thats down to earth. A formidable pillar every child can hold unto. An amazing amazon. I recall my first encounter with Mrs Safarau was during my principals tenure as the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) at our Port-Harcourt Crescent Office in Abuja. I vividly remember her radiant pride during the 50th birthday celebration of her son, Dikko Umaru Radda. Her love was palpableshe clapped enthusiastically as her son cut the birthday cake, her eyes brimming with maternal joy and unconditional support. The moment I observed closely, the bond between Mrs Safarau and her son, Governor Radda, I discovered each day was incomplete without the sound of each others voice. And no matter where responsibilities took Malam, he would find those precious moments to hear the sonorous voice of Hajiya. Thats to tell you how beautiful their relationship was. In 2023, when Malam Radda was contesting for the Katsina governorship seat, immediately Malam cast his vote, he visited Hajiyas residence seeking her prayers and blessings to clinch top echelon position in the State. Hajiya, as a devoted Muslim and ardent believer in seeking Gods hand in all situations, she blessed the aspiration while reminding Malam that sovereignty belongs to Allah. 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 Seeing Mr Dikko Radda as the Governor of Katsina State today, one can say, without any iota of doubt that one of Hajiyas prayers was answered. The depth of Hajiyas relationship with her son, Governor Radda, remained immeasurable like an ocean. If a day passed without the customary call, anxiety would bloom like a persistent flower. Whenever Mr Radda returned from travels, his first point of call was always to see his mother, checking on her well-being. No one can truly replace a mothers space in ones life, and their bond exemplified this universal truth. In one of my recent farewell visits to Hajiya Safarau alongside Usman Abba Jaye, Special Adviser on Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs. I can tell you for a fact that Mamas extraordinary memory remained sharp till her last breath. The moment Mr Abba introduced himself, Hajiyas eyes lit up. The same Abba Jaye? she interjected, immediately inquiring about his family members. No doubt, her keen recollection and genuine interest in people were hallmarks of her character. Mrs Safarau was an amazing amazon for a reason. No matter how demanding his schedule, Malam always found time to visit his mother. Whether at home or in the hospital, he would bring his entire team, including my humble self, allowing us to greet and interact with Hajiya. Tragically, fate decreed that Governor Radda would be performing a lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia when his mother answered the call of her Creator and the mothers burial. I could only imagine a lot going through his mind as he read outpouring condolences and watch burial proceedings on social media. I felt the absence of my Principal, and I took it upon myself to fill the vacuum in the best way I could. From Abuja, I played a frontline role in ushering the remains of Hajiya to her final journey. Mrs Safaraus legacy lives on through her distinguished children, including the current Village Head of Radda, Kabir Umar-Radda, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda and Mrs Hauwa Umaru-Radda, former wife of the late President Umaru Musa YAradua. Her significant life was evident in the outpouring of reflections, and prayers by top leaders in the country including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nigerian governors,former Vice President Namadi Sambo, National and State legislators, traditional rulers, business tycoons, lovers and admirers of the Radda family. These prominent leaders bore witness to Mrs Safaraus being a virtuous woman. A service to community and values she taught generations. To my boss, Governor Radda, I extend my deepest condolences. I am cocksure you have lost a gem. The passing of Mrs Safarau is nothing but a one death too many. I pray that Allah accepts her good deeds, elevates her spiritual rank, and grants her Jannatul Firdaus. May her enduring legacy continue to inspire and guide us. Amin. Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Katsina State Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Yobe State Government has dismissed as false and misleading the rumours about an eviction notice allegedly issued by Boko Haram to communities in Gujba Local Government Area. Dahiru Abdulsalam, the special adviser on security matters to the state governor, stated this after the state security council meeting, chaired by Deputy Governor Idi Gubana in Damaturu on Wednesday. Mr Abdulsalam assured residents that no such threat exists and urged them to continue their normal activities without fear. The government, in collaboration with security agencies, remains committed to safeguarding all communities. There is no credible intelligence suggesting that Boko Haram has issued any eviction notice to residents of Gujba or any other part of the state, he said. The newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Osun, reaffirmed security agencies commitment to maintaining peace and order during and beyond the festive period. 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 ALSO READ: 34 people killed by Boko Haram buried in Yobe We have reviewed the states security architecture and put measures in place to ensure a peaceful Eid-el-Fitr celebration. We urge parents and guardians to monitor their children and discourage reckless behaviour, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the security council commended traditional rulers and community leaders for their roles in conflict resolution and fostering peace. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print An outbreak of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) has claimed three lives and left 30 other persons hospitalised in Gombe State, prompting swift intervention by health authorities. The states Commissioner for Health, Habu Dahiru, confirmed the outbreak at a press briefing in the state capital. Mr Dahiru said health officials were closely monitoring the situation and that response teams had been deployed to affected areas to ensure early detection and provide immediate treatment to prevent further casualties. Following the confirmation of meningitis cases in Biliri and Akko Local Government Areas (LGAs), the Gombe State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre was placed on high alert. Surveillance activities were intensified across all 11 LGAs to track and contain the disease. Mr Dahiru explained that the response measures include the deployment of medical teams to affected communities, the provision of free antibiotics and essential medical supplies, and the launch of awareness campaigns to educate the public on symptoms and prevention. 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 Healthcare workers have been trained on specialised diagnostic procedures, including lumbar punctures for cerebrospinal fluid testing. So far, 70 suspected cases have been recorded in nine LGAs, with 31 confirmed positive for bacterial meningitis. Meningitis, a life-threatening bacterial infection, spreads through respiratory droplets, particularly in overcrowded conditions. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, vomiting, and seizures. Mr Dahiru urged residents to seek immediate medical attention if they experience any of these symptoms. He also emphasised the importance of personal hygiene, proper ventilation, and avoiding overcrowded spaces to reduce the risk of transmission. The state government has requested vaccines from the International Coordination Group (ICG) to immunise at-risk populations in affected areas. Health authorities have assured residents that vaccination efforts will commence as soon as the supplies arrive. Mr Dahiru said Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya has reaffirmed his administrations commitment to safeguarding public health. READ ALSO: Nigeria warns residents of meningitis outbreak amidst intense heat He said the state government has released emergency funds to support response efforts and ensure free treatment for all affected individuals. The commissioner urged calm and reiterated that meningitis is preventable and curable with early intervention. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and cooperate with health workers to contain the outbreak. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian Navys Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos says it has deactivated three illegal refining sites in Delta State. Ikenna Okoloagu, a navy captain and commanding officer of the FOB Escravos, disclosed this to reporters on Thursday in Warri, Delta. Mr Okoloagu said the personnel of the Base deactivated the illegal refining sites on Monday following credible information. He said the sites were at the coastal community of Oteghele in Obodo Omadino in Warri South-West Local Government. The navy captain said the illegal refining sites were allegedly laden with about 2,700 litres of stolen crude oil and 2,200 litres of illegally refined petrol. He said the products were in two ovens, 10 dug-out pits, two drums and 26 polythene sacks. 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 operation is in line with the efforts to boost Nigerias daily crude oil production, he said. Mr Okoloagu further said the successful operation was in support of the ongoing Operation DELTA SANITY II, which according to him, is based on credible intelligence. He said the operation further highlighted the bases commitment to achieving the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Emmanuel Ogalla, which focused on rooting out all forms of illegalities within the maritime environment. He warned criminals to refrain from sabotaging the nations economic assets and added that anyone caught would be dealt with according to the law. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke on Wednesday with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot about the cessation of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the US State Department website reported. "The Secretary emphasized President Trumps determination to achieve, through negotiations, enduring peace, and stressed the United States will continue working with France towards this end. The two leaders reiterated their shared commitment to ensuring that Iran never develops or obtains a nuclear weapon," the report notes. NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Levy Konigsberg attorneys Amber Long and Rebecca Kimmel filed a lawsuit today on behalf of 23 brave survivors of childhood sexual abuse at Daytop New Jersey's adolescent substance abuse treatment facilities. Despite a well-documented history of sexual abuse within Daytop, Daytop failed to protect its young and vulnerable residents from sexual abuse at the hands of Daytop staff members. In addition, the State of New Jersey was culpable in the sexual abuse perpetrated at Daytop. Most of the Plaintiffs entered Daytop because of a referral program through the State of New Jersey and its agencies. Through this referral program, Plaintiffs, and many other young people, were court-mandated to complete the Daytop program or else serve a sentence in a New Jersey juvenile detention facility (which were also rife with sexual abuse). After mandating Plaintiffs reside in the Daytop facility and complete the Daytop program, however, the State essentially abandoned them and threw them to the proverbial wolves. Perversely, for many of the Plaintiffs, the sexual abuse they experienced at Daytop, and the traumatization stemming therefrom, caused them to descend into drug and alcohol addiction to try to mask the pain of the trauma they endured at Daytop. Further, at least some of the Daytop abusers provided drugs and alcohol to their victims to facilitate sexually abusing them. Our legal team is leading the way in investigating sexual abuse claims from survivors of sexual abuse committed at Daytop facilities and other youth serving residential treatment facilities. Leading the Way for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse With the New Jersey Child Sexual Abuse Act of 2019, which extended the statute of limitations to age 55 for filing civil lawsuits in cases of child sexual abuse, former patients and residents of treatment centers like Daytop in New Jersey can seek justice and compensation, even for abuse that occurred many years ago. Levy Konigsberg and its team of dedicated trial attorneys are at the forefront of childhood sexual abuse litigation, having filed hundreds of lawsuits nationwide on behalf of survivors. In announcing this week's filings, Levy Konigsberg Partner Amber Long stated: "It is outrageous that the perpetrators in these cases are the very adult staff members that were entrusted with keeping our clients safe while they were committed to Daytop's custody. The incidences of abuse at the Daytop facilities are so widespread and rampant that the abuse of our clients could not have occurred but for negligence, or worse, on the part of Daytop, as well as the State, which entrusted children to Daytop's care without proper oversight. The sexual abuse that Daytop and the State of New Jersey allowed, and indeed, enabled by locking our clients away in the care of child abusers, without adequate supervision or protection, caused our clients horrible suffering. It is sadly ironic that rather than helping these young people with drug addiction, for some of them, their stay at Daytop was the beginning of serious drug addictions which have plagued their lives since. Our clients have courageously stepped forward to seek justice and accountability, and it is an honor to represent them in this fight." Levy Konigsberg represents hundreds of survivors of sexual abuse at residential treatment 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 Daytop or another residential treatment center in New Jersey, then speak with our team today. Please call 800-315-3806 now and request a free, initial consultation with our firm. Media Contact: Attorney Amber Long; [email protected] SOURCE Levy Konigsberg GOTHENBURG, Sweden, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- While others race to the moon and back, the Faroe Islands space program takes a bold new step in space exploration-without ever leaving Earth. One of the largest bearing manufacturers SKF, and ocean energy developer Minesto are launching a space program to harness the Moon's energy by leveraging the power of the tides. This space program aims to utilize the resources we already have right here on Earth. "Imagine a future powered by the tides of the Moon. This unique project dares to dream big and is exploring the potential of renewable tidal energy. At SKF we are proud to be a part of this down-to-earth project that aligns with our values and our ambition to create a more sustainable world," says Annika Olme, CTO & SVP, Technology Development, SKF. Over the past year, SKF and Minesto have been pioneering tidal energy using tidal kites in the Atlantic Sea outside the Faroe Islands. The mission is to harness the Moon's power for predictable and renewable energy. After its successful launch into the ocean, the tidal kite called LUNA is flying underwater, invisibly and silently harvesting energy from the Moon no matter the weather. Today, only a few of the countries with favorable tidal current conditions are beginning to utilize the full potential of moon generated energy - the most predictable renewable energy source on the globe. "For us, as a tech development company to work with a global industrial company such as SKF is both a learning experience and an inspiration," says Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto. "We estimate there are at least 3000 more "Faroe Islands" out there qualifying for our space program - if they all join, moon energy could replace all coal power capacity currently under development globally." The established tidal energy facility a moon energy base - will kick off the Faroe Islands Space Program, firmly grounded on Earth. The kite Luna has a rated power of 1.2 MW, enough to power 200 villas with electricity for one year. The next goal is to implement a new 200 MW tidal energy facility. This could meet 40% of the expected electricity needs in 2030, providing green electricity to the small, remote island nation's 50,000 people and 70,000 sheep. Unlocking the power of the tides is a joint work together with power company Sev: "Our vision is to reach 100% renewable electricity generation by 2030 and we believe that tidal power may prove to become a vital part of this journey," says Hakun Djurhuus, CEO of the Faroese electricity company Sev. SKF was brought on board to design the bearing and sealing systems for the rudders and elevators of the kites. The SKF software system calculates, for example, bearing rating life and estimates CO2 emissions, which makes it possible to compare different solutions not only from a technical perspective but also from a sustainability point of view. "Collaboration across industries is essential for progress. Together with Minesto, we are demonstrating how technology and innovation can drive the transition to renewable energy," says Annika Olme, CTO & SVP, Technology Development, SKF. By framing it as a space program (that never leaves earth), the partners aim to emphasize the importance of exploring how we can harness the Moon's energy to generate renewable energy through tidal forcesamidst a new space race where many are discussing the potential of extracting resources from space and other planets. Short facts tidal and ocean energy: According to the International Energy Agency, 80 % of global electricity currently comes from fossil fuels. By 2050, ocean energy could potentially provide a substantial portion of the energy mix. Ocean energy is local, renewable and tides are predictable, which makes it the perfect partner to more established renewables like wind and solar. Ocean energy Europe estimates that ocean energy can provide 10% of Europe's electricity and create 400.000 skilled jobs by 2050. Source: World Energy Outlook 2024 Ocean energy - European Commission Minesto | Ocean energy Dashboard - Global Energy Monitor "610 GW Coal Power Capacity Under Development" Disclaimers The mission of the Faroe Islands energy company SEV, to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030, is not indicative of the displayed product's full supply chain impact. Calculated on an example villa with an energy consumption of 17.000 kWh/year. For average consumption data, please refer to country- specific sources such as Vattenfall Aktiebolaget SKF (publ) For further information, please contact: Press Relations: Press Relations: Sian How, +447970 737470; [email protected] Karin Markhede, +46 70 758 87 30; [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/skf/r/a-space-program-that-never-leaves-earth,c4124396 The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-fisp-press-image-kite-launch-16x9,c3391154 SKF FISP Press Image Kite launch 16x9 https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-fisp-press-image-kite-night-16x9,c3391158 SKF FISP Press image Kite night 16x9 https://mb.cision.com/Public/637/4124396/b3a6f6438953e925.pdf About The Faroe Islands Space Program Fact sheet https://mb.cision.com/Public/637/4124396/b8aa410e2aaf474a.pdf Annika Olme - Profile https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-annika-olme-cto,c3391152 SKF Annika Olme CTO https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-fisp-press-image-cliff-ocean-16x9,c3391153 SKF FISP Press image Cliff Ocean 16x9 https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-fisp-press-image-tides-16x9,c3391156 SKF FISP press image Tides 16x9 https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-fisp-press-image-employees-group-16x9,c3391157 SKF FISP press image Employees Group 16x9 https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-fisp-press-image-kite-info-16x9,c3391159 SKF FISP press image Kite info 16x9 https://news.cision.com/skf/i/skf-fisp-press-image-employees-16x9,c3391160 SKF FISP press image Employees 16x9 https://news.cision.com/skf/i/minesto-chief-executive-officer---martin-edlund,c3391161 Minesto Chief Executive Officer - Martin Edlund SOURCE SKF Adyen is matching all donations processed by the Adyen Giving product in 2025. Adyen set 2030 fundraising goal for Giving of more than 100 million (approx. 108 million USD). AMSTERDAM and SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Adyen, the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies, today announced that its Giving product has generated more than $25 million in donations, with brands around the world using the solution to let their customers support causes directly at checkout. Since its launch in 2020, shoppers globally have contributed via their favourite brands through 35 million individual micro-transactions. To mark this important milestone, Adyen is matching all donations made through Giving through 2025. From complexity to scalable opportunities Before Giving launched in 2020, brands struggled with fragmented donation solutions, requiring separate contracts for each charity and facing complex integration and administrative challenges. Adyen's Giving product solved this by keeping donations separate from the merchant's money flow and by streamlining integration. Plus, through Adyen's 1% fund, all related fees are covered, ensuring that the full donation amount goes directly to the supported causes. "We turned checkout into a purpose-driven touchpoint," explains Dominique Simons, Adyen's Head of Impact. "By embedding donations directly into our payment infrastructure, we remove operational barriers so brands can focus on driving impact, while giving their customers a simple way to support the causes they care about." The solution now serves 150+ brands across 30 markets including Guess, Patagonia, Funko and L'Occitane, channeling funds to causes that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals through their nonprofit partner(s) of choice. Partnerships driving change The platform uniquely allows brands to align donations with their customers' values year-round while also having the flexibility to activate rapid fundraising within 24 hours of disasters; connecting with new causes at checkout or adding an additional layer of support to an existing brand-nonprofit partnership. Funds raised through the Giving platform have contributed to providing clean water, education, and healthcare to children in need; aid to those suffering from both man-made and natural disasters; cancer awareness and environmental programs among many other causes supported by hundreds of non-profits including WWF, Americares, UNICEF, Make-A-Wish and more . Doubling the impact Matching has been strategically used to increase the impact at checkout, especially during emergencies. Many brands have launched a Giving program tied to an urgent campaign and have successfully expanded their programs. "The Point-of-Sale Donation program has empowered our customers in North America to join us in raising dollars for women's mental health. The product has created a direct and meaningful way for our community to contribute to the Global Fund for Women's Mental Health, turning awareness into action with a very simplified process. Together we can make progress forward on bringing more scalable solutions to the women and girls' mental health crisis," said Taryn Bird, Executive Director, Social Impact, Kate Spade New York The funds realized by donation matching is significant, and to celebrate the $25M milestone, Adyen will match all donations made through Giving for every merchant throughout 2025. This commitment is both to encourage more brands to adopt the product and to reward Giving's early adopters that have helped to co-create the product so far. "Giving has allowed us to swiftly and effectively raise funds for emergency relief campaigns in collaboration with our global nonprofit partners, as well as other important causes. The speed and scale of the product have empowered millions of our customers across 25 markets to make meaningful contributions, driving impactful support for both our global and local nonprofit partners," said Alexander Weissflog, Social Sustainability, Community Development Lead at H&M. Looking ahead Adyen remains committed to expanding the reach of Giving by advocating for more businesses to integrate donations at checkout, both in-store and digitally. Adyen's Impact team indicated its goal for 2030 is to process more than100 million (108 million USD) in donations. "When we looked at where we could drive the most impact in 2020, we knew we could do more than cut a check," notes Adyen co-CEO, Pieter van der Does. "We had the ability to crack donations at checkout the same way we had payments: to change the industry the way we changed the payments industry. We had people who were willing, partners that were inspired and customers that could make the difference. Fast forward to now, it feels like we're still just at the beginning of our journey. The road to 100M starts today." Learn more about Adyen Giving here . SOURCE Adyen Inc. The fifth episode of Info-Tech Research Group's podcast, Digital Disruption, welcomes Pau Aleikum Garcia for a conversation centered on the intersection of data, memory, and identity. At the heart of the discussion is Garcia's groundbreaking "synthetic memories" project, which uses generative AI to help individuals, such as refugees and survivors of conflict, reconstruct lost visual memories from their past. Through this lens, the episode explores how immersive design and storytelling can restore personal histories and reframe how we engage with information. TORONTO, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - With organizations facing increasingly complex data environments, the challenge isn't just understanding the numbers; it's making them meaningful. In Episode 5 of Digital Disruption, "How AI Is Connecting People With Their Pasts," Pau Aleikum Garcia, media designer and co-founder of Domestic Data Streamers, joins host Geoff Nielson to discuss how turning data into participative, human-centered experiences can reshape communication, decision-making and the broader relationship between people and information. Garcia also shares insight into his creative process, the role of trust in data communication, and how design can be used as a tool for both clarity and critique. The fifth episode of Info-Tech Research Groups podcast, Digital Disruption, welcomes Pau Aleikum Garcia for a conversation centered on the intersection of data, memory, and identity. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group) "We need to think very hard about whether we're going to use AI to make the world less human or more human," says Geoff Nielson, senior vice president of brand at Info-Tech Research Group and host of Digital Disruption. "In this Digital Disruption episode, Pau Aleikum Garcia helps listeners explore novel ways to use technology to bring empathy and humanity to the forefront. It's a timely conversation for anyone worried that AI risks making the world less personal." In the fifth episode of Digital Disruption, Garcia explains the "synthetic memories" project, an initiative that uses generative AI to recreate lost images and videos from people's lives based on interviews and emotional recollections. Whether it's helping refugees visualize memories of home or enabling elderly individuals to revisit long-lost moments, Gracia's work showcases the emotional dimension of technology transforming AI into a medium for empathy, resilience, and healing. Garcia, whose Barcelona-based studio has worked in over 45 countries with organizations such as the United Nations and Citizen Lab, is at the forefront of transforming raw data into emotional, artistic, and social narratives. Garcia's work blends journalism, AI, design, and participatory art to create installations and activations that provoke thought and action. Garcia also chairs the Master in Data in Design program at ELISAVA University and is the founder of HeyHuman!, an artist residency program that combines data, music, and social justice. Digital Disruption, Episode 5: "How AI Is Connecting People With Their Pasts" In the fifth episode of Digital Disruption, Pau Aleikum Garcia and Geoff Nielson explore the power of storytelling through synthetic memories and more, including: How AI can be used to reconstruct lost memories and restore visual heritage. Why data alone is not enough, and how meaning is shaped by the way it's presented. What it means to build "info experiences" that spark emotion and action. How AI and design intersect to humanize data in public and institutional spaces. The future of storytelling in an age where attention is fragmented and context is everything. Episode 5 of Digital Disruption, featuring Pau Aleikum Garcia, is now available on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. IT and business professionals are encouraged to subscribe for more insights and in-depth conversations with global industry experts shaping the future of digital transformation. For more details, visit the Digital Disruption podcast page and follow Info-Tech Research Group on LinkedIn and X for updates. To learn more about guest opportunities and participation in upcoming episodes, please contact [email protected]. About Info-Tech Research Group Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations. To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group PHILADELPHIA, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Angeion Group ("Angeion"), the industry leader in end-to-end group litigation support, announced today its merger with Case Works, a premier provider of case data management solutions, including client engagement, medical record retrieval, medical review, and inventory analysis. Neutral, but never passive, this strategic integration of Case Works reinforces Angeion's forward thinking approach to providing seamless tech-enabled support for complex litigation firms and leading law departments, with efficiency and precision. The merger of Angeion and Case Works follows majority investments into both companies by private equity firm Renovus Capital Partners ("Renovus") in 2024. Angeion also acquired bankruptcy administration solutions provider Donlin Recano in late 2024. Renovus worked alongside the companies' founders and management teams to unify the businesses and deliver a seamless experience for clients and employees throughout the integration. Case Works has earned a reputation of excellence by ensuring accuracy, completeness, and applicability of case data to support legal requirements. By combining their core capabilities with Angeion's advanced technology and data-driven approach, this merger further solidifies Angeion's position as the most trusted partner for navigating complex, high-stakes litigation and settlements. Effective large-scale litigation and settlements rely on comprehensive, well-organized data and the ability to apply that data effectively within the context of a particular project. Combining Case Works' proven excellence in capturing and managing critical case information with Angeion Group's expertise in technology, process efficiency and claims management, provides a more structured, more transparent, and more effective approach to large-scale litigation and settlement management. "Case Works brings deep expertise and a proven track record of supporting firms with large data and medical record retrieval needs. They are known for their dedication to precision, care and bedside manner," said Steven Weisbrot, CEO of Angeion Group. "Together, we are raising the bar for what clients can expectfaster, more accurate processes and a commitment to white glove service." Angeion Group and Case Works share a common vision: to set the new standard for how large-scale litigation and group settlement support can combine technological efficiency with thoughtful human interaction. Both organizations are driven by a commitment to innovation, precision, and efficiency and are mindful that litigants should expect and receive compassion and respect throughout the group litigation process. This merger will elevate industry standards and ensure that all parties, their council, and the courts benefit from a more streamlined, thoughtful and effective process. "We're excited to join forces with Angeion Group," said Susan Barfield, Founder of Case Works. "Their commitment to innovation and client service aligns perfectly with our own, and we look forward to delivering even greater value to the firms and clients we support." "We're honored to have partnered with these leading companies, building upon our strong track record in tech-enabled legal services," added Lee Minkoff, Managing Director at Renovus. "We'd also like to thank founders Steve Weisbrot and Susan Barfield for their leadership throughout this game changing merger for the group litigation support industry." Angeion remains steadfast in its mission to completely modernize and optimize complex litigation management to the benefit of all stakeholders. About Case Works Case Works is the leading provider of tech-enabled litigation support solutions to the country's premier plaintiff law firms. Based in Austin, Texas, the Company was created with a single mission: To Help Lawyers Help People. Case Works provides a full suite of case management services including claims qualification, intake, medical records retrieval & review, case development, and ongoing plaintiff engagement. You can learn more at www.yourcaseworks.com. About Angeion Group Angeion Group is a leading provider of legal notice and settlement administration services, leveraging advanced technology, proven best practices, and expert consulting to manage class actions, mass torts, and collective redress administration. Recognized for its innovation, efficiency, and unwavering client commitment, Angeion Group continues to redefine industry standards. You can learn more at www.angeiongroup.com. Media Contact: Angeion Group Shiri Lasman (215) 563-4116 SOURCE Angeion Group CLEVELAND, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Affiliates of Peppertree Capital Management, Inc. ("Peppertree") obtained a unanimous arbitration award in excess of $354 million against Terra Towers Corp., DT Holdings, and businessman Jorge Hernandez, personally ("Respondents"), the law firm of UB Greensfelder has announced. The award includes $25 million in punitive damages and covers Peppertree's legal fees and other expenses. The ruling found the Respondents liable for breaking company agreements, interfering with business operations, and engaging in harmful conduct surrounding Continental Towers LATAM Holdings Limited ("Company"), a telecommunications company with operations in Latin America. In 2014 - 2015, Peppertree invested in the Company and entered into a related Shareholders Agreement (the "Agreement") with Terra. The Agreement stipulated that after an initial lock-up period of five years, any party could require a sale process to be initiated to sell the Company. In 2020, in accordance with the Agreement, Peppertree initiated the sale process, but Terra refused to sell the Company in breach of the Agreement. In 2021, Peppertree initiated arbitration proceedings in New York against Terra and certain of its affiliates, including Mr. Hernandez of Saint Helena, California. The Arbitration Tribunal issued an award fully in Peppertree's favor, ordering that the Company be sold according to the clear process set forth in the Agreement. Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern District of New York confirmed that award, which was later affirmed by a unanimous appellate panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In 2024, the Tribunal conducted multiple hearing sessions to determine damages Terra and Mr. Hernandez would be obligated to pay. It is noteworthy that the week before the hearing, Terra and Mr. Hernandez engaged their tenth law firm since this arbitration was commenced, as their nine prior law firms had withdrawn over the prior years. It is also noteworthy that during pendency of this arbitration, Mr. Hernandez' companies were also in litigation with a publicly-held U.S. tower company and two major international private tower companies. On March 24, 2025 the Tribunal issued its unanimous 200 page award, which was the fifth such award issued in the long-running arbitration. The Tribunal found that Respondents failed to engage in the required process to sell the Company in an ongoing breach of the Company's governing documents and, instead, engaged in multiple efforts to actively interfere with, and prevent, a sale of the Company, resulting in an award of more than $354 million. About Peppertree: Peppertree Capital Management, Inc. is a private equity firm focused on making investments in growing communication infrastructure companies. Peppertree was formed in 2004 and is currently investing out of its tenth private equity fund and an evergreen debt fund. Peppertree has more than $6.5B under management and has made more than 170 investments in communication infrastructure companies. The Award and its accompanying Appendix can be viewed here: "Award" and "Appendix" SOURCE UB Greensfelder PHOENIX, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona taxpayers can choose how their state tax dollars are used with the Arizona Private Education Tax Credit and Corporate Tax Credits. Arizona taxpayers can redirect their state tax liability to a certified School Tuition Organization, such as Catholic Education Arizona, to fund K-12 tuition scholarships for underserved students. When I Grow Up, Education, Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, Tax Credits, Donations, Arizona, Underserved, Disabled, Foster children, K-12 scholarships, schools, Catholic education, Catholic schools, Catholic Education Arizona, dreams, future leaders, scholarships. Nancy Padberg, MBA, President and CEO of Catholic Education Arizona, said, "We are fortunate to have school choice legislation in Arizona. In addition to impacting student's lives academically and spiritually, we are strengthening families and building our future workforce." When taxpayers redirect their Arizona taxes through tax credits, they know exactly what their tax dollars support. Tax credit contributions to Catholic Education Arizona are exclusively used to fund tuition scholarships for K-12 students attending Diocese of Phoenix Catholic schools. Businesses can support quality education for the underserved through the Arizona Low-Income and Disabled/Displaced Corporate Tax Credits. To learn more, visit CEAZ.org. "It's literally that easy, you pay the money either way," remarked Jeff McQueen, President and Co-Founder of Shea Homes Active Lifestyle Communities. "Here [at Catholic Education Arizona], it goes to a cause you're passionate about and know is going to make a tangible difference in the community." Individuals and Corporations continue to support Catholic Education Arizona and the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Schools because of their impressive results: 99% graduation rate 96% matriculate to higher education, trade school, or enter military service 1000s of hours of community service conducted annually The Changing Lives with Legacy division accepts traditional donations and planned gifts to fund scholarships for underserved, disabled, foster, and K-12 students. You can give a gift of cash, stock and bonds, a bequest, IRA Charitable Rollover, Donor Advised Fund grants, and more. Visit MyImpact.CatholicEducationArizona.org or contact our Directors of Development at [email protected] or call (602) 218-6542 Catholic Education Arizona is the largest provider of scholarships to families attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix. Since 1998, $363 million has been raised and 157,000 scholarships have been awarded. Catholic Education Arizona is changing lives one scholarship at a time through tax credits, planned gifts, and donations. Visit CEAZ.org or call (602) 218-6542 to learn more. Or, follow Catholic Education Arizona on Facebook, Instagram , LinkedIn , and X . Contact: Debra Preach, Chief Operating Officer Catholic Education Arizona [email protected] (602)-218-6542 Catholic Education Arizona is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization and has never accepted gifts designated for individuals. Per state law, a school tuition organization cannot award, restrict or reserve scholarships solely on the basis of donor recommendation. A taxpayer may not claim a tax credit if the taxpayer agrees to swap donations with another taxpayer to benefit either taxpayer's own dependent. SOURCE Catholic Education Arizona Macron talks with Trump on eve of summit in Paris Photo: https://www.facebook.com/EmmanuelMacron French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with US President Donald Trump after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, BFMTV reported. "Emmanuel Macron also held talks with US President Donald Trump on the eve of the summit in Paris," the broadcaster reported, citing the Elysee Palace. It is noted that the conversation was held after the evening meeting of the French president with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which took place on Wednesday evening. More than half of U.S. workers are beginning to feel the effects of AI on the job and in future career trajectories, but most feel unprepared BOSTON, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite a significant uptick in the number of workers and learners feeling the effects of artificial intelligence (AI), AI training has yet to keep pace, according to a national Jobs for the Future (JFF) survey conducted by AudienceNet. According to the survey, the percentage of Americans using AI at work has increased from just 8% in 2023 to more than one-third (35%) of respondents. Learners respondents currently enrolled in education or training are even more likely to use AI, with nearly six in 10 (59%) reporting use at least weekly. Despite this rise in use, relatively few workers are receiving AI training. Just 31% of workers said their employer-provided training on AI tools, and AI use appears to be largely driven by individuals. A majority of respondents (60%) report using AI primarily for self-directed learning. Nearly 1 in 5 workers on the job report tapping into AI on their own initiative. "AI should make us all better off by creating quality jobs, pathways to entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods, and opportunities to unleash human agency and potential," said Kristina Francis, Executive Director, JFFLabs. "With AI already transforming the future of work and learning, access to training, tools, and the opportunity to help shape this technology are more critical than everand we risk widening divides if we don't act now." Key findings from the new survey include: AI usage is growing on the job, but AI training isn't keeping up. The percentage of workers using AI has increased from 8% to 35% in just two years. But more than half (56%) say they still don't feel prepared to use AI at work. 57% of workers reported feeling some or a great deal of impact from AI on their jobs. The most commonly reported impacts include reducing manual work and automating repetitive or routine tasks. The use of AI is growing in the classroom as well. 59% of learners report using AI in their education or training at least weekly. In 2023, only 15% of learners reported using AI tools in their studies on their own initiative. 57% of learners report their instructors have incorporated AI in the classroom, up from 13% in 2023. AI use is being driven by individuals more than by organizations. Respondents' most common use of AI was for self-directed learning (60%). On-the-job, workers are twice as likely to be using AI at their own initiative (20%) than at their employer's direction (11%). One in twelve respondents used AI to start or grow a business (8%). Only 16% of respondents had access to paid AI tools from their employer or education institution; 10% of the general population and 15% of respondents of color said they were paying for AI tools out of pocket. AI's impact is beginning to influence workers' future plans for career and skill development - with the need to adapt felt more acutely by people of color and people with records. 77% of respondents said they believe AI will impact the job or career they expect to have in the next 3-5 years. While a majority of respondents53%felt the need to gain new skills due to AI in the next 5 years, this need is felt more acutely among certain populations, with 70% of respondents of color and 56% of respondents with records saying they felt they needed to upskill. 19% of all respondentsand 30% of respondents of colorsaid they are either actively pursuing different careers or considering changing plans in the near future due to AI-driven transformation. 19% of respondents said they have already used AI tools to obtain a better job. "AI is a powerful tool that creates efficiencies, but we also want to think about how we can augment what is uniquely human in a way that improves job quality," said Michael Collins, Senior Vice President, Population Strategies. "The challenge, and the opportunity here, is to support learners and workers to take advantage of AI technology, and to get smarter about their work." The new survey was conducted by AudienceNet between November 20 and 27, 2024, with 2,754 respondents aged 16 and above. To ensure a robust dataset, the survey oversampled specific populations including individuals without a four-year degree, people of color, women, and individuals with records of arrest, conviction, or incarceration who are often underrepresented in AI-related research. The data was weighted to reflect the U.S. population using the latest census benchmarks. JFF has developed a call to action to guide workforce and education practitioners, investors, employers, and policymakers to take steps to ensure that AI improves the quality of jobs, fosters entrepreneurship, and promotes economic advancement. To learn more and access additional survey findings, visit JFF's website . About Jobs for the Future (JFF) JFF is building a future that works for everyone by transforming U.S. education and workforce systems to drive economic success for people, businesses, and communities. www.jff.org . SOURCE JOBS FOR THE FUTURE INC JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BAE Systems (LON: BA) recently recognized last year's top suppliers to its U.S. maritime business during a 'Partner2Win' Supplier symposium in Jacksonville, Florida. The company celebrated 87 suppliers that supported maintenance, modernization, and refit projects aboard U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels. The general managers of BAE Systems three U.S. shipyards speak at a roundtable forum, moderated by the Supply Chain director, during BAE Systems Ship Repairs Partner2Win Symposium. BAE Systems' Partner2Win program is a collaborative partnership between the company's three shipyards in Jacksonville, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; and San Diego, California, and a vast network of naval and commercial ship repair suppliers across the country. During the event, the Shipbuilders Council of America President, a national advocate for large and small maritime businesses, reminded attendees about a notable pivot for the industry coming into view. "We are at a historic moment. Not since the 1970 Merchant Marine Act have we seen this level of attention on peace-time shipbuilding and ship repair in the United States," said Matt Paxton, president of the Shipbuilders Council of America. "Our collective hope and advocacy aims to fundamentally reshape the industrial base for the better. We must better utilize our existing ship repair capacity. We must expand our ship repair opportunities. We must change the overall health and trajectory of the industry." BAE Systems' Ship Repair business leader agreed with Paxton's remarks in discussing the expansive partnerships with maritime industry companies. "Last year, our three shipyards successfully completed numerous ship maintenance and modernization projects with the high-quality work performed by our strong team of large and small businesses," said Paul Smith, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Ship Repair. "Later this year, BAE Systems will commission a new 25,000 lifting ton shiplift and a four-acre land-level repair facility in Jacksonville. I look forward to the projects we will accomplish together with our new shiplift repair facility." The top ship repair supplier awards went to four companies: 2024 Subcontractor of the year : Allied United, a security and facility services company, provides security at all three BAE Systems U.S. shipyards, which engage Navy and commercial vessels that require the highest level of security and confidentiality. Last year, the company helped to deliver expanded services more efficiently. : Allied United, a security and facility services company, provides security at all three BAE Systems U.S. shipyards, which engage Navy and commercial vessels that require the highest level of security and confidentiality. Last year, the company helped to deliver expanded services more efficiently. 2024 Small Business supplier of the year : AMP United, a full-scale marine preservation company, successfully supported 14 major ship repair projects across the three shipyards last year. About 40 percent of the Ship Repair business' sales in 2024 were conducted with small businesses like AMP United. : AMP United, a full-scale marine preservation company, successfully supported 14 major ship repair projects across the three shipyards last year. About 40 percent of the Ship Repair business' sales in 2024 were conducted with small businesses like AMP United. 2024 Maintenance, Repair and Operations supplier of the year : Airgas USA , a leading supplier of industrial gases and safety products, provided onsite support for welding rods and supplies to all three shipyards. Its work last year to track weld rods ensures that the company remains in compliance with government requirements. : Airgas , a leading supplier of industrial gases and safety products, provided onsite support for welding rods and supplies to all three shipyards. Its work last year to track weld rods ensures that the company remains in compliance with government requirements. 2024 Safety, Health and Environmental supplier of the year : The 3M Company, a multinational conglomerate that operates in industrial, safety, consumer goods, and technology industries, hosted numerous demonstrations of safer technologies and techniques that helped increase shipyard safety. A total of 48 gold, 27 silver, and 12 bronze awards were presented. The following companies were also recognized with Allied, AMP, Airgas, and 3M as stand-out award winners: BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair's Small Business of the Year TCI Mechanical of Atlantic Beach, Florida ; ; BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair's Subcontractor of the Year Advanced Marine Preservation, LLC of Jacksonville, Florida ; ; BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair's Small Business of the Year AMP United of Dover, New Hampshire ; ; BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair's Subcontractor of the Year Standard Calibration of Chesapeake, Virginia ; ; BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair's Small Business of the Year Standard Ship Repair of National City, California ; and ; and BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair's Subcontractor of the Year California Marine Cleaning of Pompano Beach, Florida . BAE Systems is a leading provider of ship repair, maintenance, and modernization services to the U.S. Navy's fleet of combatant ships in their homeports; refit and hauling services for commercial and privately held vessels; and fabrication services for the submarine industrial base. The company operates three full-service shipyards in California, Florida, and Virginia, and offers a highly skilled, experienced workforce; a large team of suppliers and subcontractors; seven dry docks and railways; and significant pier space and ship support services. For more information, please contact: Karl Johnson, BAE Systems Mobile: 757-375-5086 [email protected] www.baesystems.com/US @BAESystemsInc SOURCE BAE Systems, Inc. OKLAHOMA CITY, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Express Employment International is pleased to announce the promotion of Bob Funk, Jr., to President, effective immediately. As President, Funk Jr. will lead the company's Sales and Marketing teams, along with his current role leading international efforts and business intelligence, ensuring ongoing innovation and expansion. Bob Funk, Jr. "Bob is the perfect fit to step into this role because, having grown up with Express, he is deeply connected to our brand and mission," Express International CEO Bill Stoller said. "His passion for empowering entrepreneurs and his drive to provide hope through employment to millions of individuals and families are core to who he is. With his innovative mindset and strong leadership, I am confident that Express will continue its growth and success." Funk Jr., a seasoned leader within the organization, earned his bachelor's degree in international business from Oklahoma Baptist University. He began his career with Express Employment Professionals at the franchise level in 1996 and joined Express International in 2013. Over the years, he has served in key roles such as Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning and Corporate Development and Vice President of Sales and Corporate Development. In addition to his role with Express International, Funk Jr. is an accomplished entrepreneur and the Managing Partner of Oklahoma Temporary Services, overseeing 58 Express-affiliated franchise locations. A dedicated community leader, he actively supports numerous causes, including Habitat for Humanity and Palomar, among others. A dedicated advocate of career and technical education, Funk Jr. champions the importance of technical education in shaping the future workforce and empowering individuals to reach their full potential through his involvement with the Association of Career Tech Educators. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Greater Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce, is a Board Member of Express Employment International, a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City Class XXXI, and an active member of Downtown Rotary Club 29. "Having always believed in the power of our work to create lasting change, I'm passionate about empowering entrepreneurs and providing hope through meaningful employment to millions of individuals and families," Funk Jr. said. "Our work isn't just about creating jobs; it's about changing lives and building stronger communities. I'm honored to step into this role and look forward to continuing our work to make a lasting difference." If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact [email protected], Director of Corporate Communications & PR. About Bill Stoller William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. About Express Employment International Express Employment International supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and affiliated brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Express Employment International boasts a team of more than 500 professionals in Oklahoma City and a network of sales and support teams internationally. For more information, visit www.ExpressPros.com. SOURCE Express Services dba Express Employment Professionals ARLINGTON, Va., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today named Eric Hill as vice president of Investor Relations. Hill will lead Boeing's engagement with the investment community to provide timely, accurate and transparent information on the company's market environment, business, performance and outlook. Hill succeeds Matt Welch, who has been promoted to vice president and chief financial officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Eric's experience across our defense and commercial business, and his time in investment banking will serve him well as he guides our interactions with shareholders and financial analysts," said Boeing Chief Financial Officer Brian West. Hill was most recently vice president of Finance for Mobility, Surveillance & Bombers, a division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. He previously held Finance leadership roles on the 777/777X/767 programs and Everett site. These leadership appointments are effective May 5. A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity. Contact: Boeing Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE Boeing NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chestnut Carbon ("Chestnut"), a nature-based carbon project developer, today announced that since its inception, it has enrolled over 160,000 acres in its Improved Forest Management (IFM) membership program branded as "Forest Carbon Works." The program is one of the largest in the U.S. providing private landowners access to income-generating carbon markets while preserving the integrity and legacy of their forest land. The program currently has members enrolled from 36 states. Chestnut distills the seemingly complex processes of the carbon markets into a simple IFM membership service, enabling private forest landowners to benefit from long-term conservation and sequestration of carbon in a cost-effective manner. Chestnut's IFM program rewards landowners with annual payments for increasing and maintaining net carbon stocks in their forests. Benefits include: Premium annual payments from carbon credit sales; Access to experts in carbon project management and forestry; and Harvest and forest management options. The Chestnut team handles every aspect of the project for landowners. Their carbon and forestry experts manage the data capture and submission of the forest inventory for their registered carbon project, including annual reporting and verification. They sell the Verra-registered carbon credits sourced from the members' land on the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) to high quality-minded, sustainability-focused buyers and share the credit revenue with the landowner. Chestnut's conservative methodology prioritizes removal credits which are highly additional with longer durability than most IFM projects in the market today. "Enrolling with Chestnut Carbon's Forest Carbon Works program allows us to conserve our land as the diverse working forest it is. The steady stream of annual income from this program supports forest management on our property while protecting valuable co-benefits that large forest blocks like ours offer, including biodiversity, water quality, soil retention, and carbon sequestration. Three Peaks Maple is now part of a broader effort to advance long-term conservation and environmental stewardship for generations to come." Forest Carbon Works member Three Peaks Maple in Newark, Vermont Chestnut recently completed its first issuance of carbon credits from the Forest Carbon Works IFM program. The issuance of more than 66,000 tons of carbon removal were transacted at an average price of $34 per ton, totaling $2.2 million. "We are thrilled with the growth of our IFM program footprint, supporting U.S. landowners with financial benefits for long-term conservation and climate-smart management of their land," said Shannon Smith, Chief Commercial Officer of Chestnut Carbon. "With the market dominated by avoidance credits, our removal credits are fairly unique among IFM projects and offer a direct and measurable approach to offsetting carbon emissions. We believe Chestnut's credits will continue to command premium pricing from buyers who are serious about net zero." About Chestnut Carbon Chestnut Carbon ("Chestnut") is a leading developer of nature-based carbon removal credits. Founded in 2022 with the support of energy-focused alternative asset manager Kimmeridge, Chestnut generates U.S.-based, high-quality forest carbon offsets that are additional and verifiable to accelerate the path to net zero across a range of industries. Chestnut uses a proprietary, technology-enabled approach to developing U.S. forest carbon offset projects on family-owned forestland and marginal crop and pastureland. Chestnut's expertise is driven by an experienced team, whose diverse backgrounds include forestry, carbon regulation, environment, finance and land management. For additional information on Chestnut, its strategies and environmental stewardship, please visit https://chestnutcarbon.com/. SOURCE Chestnut Carbon Volunteers will renovate The Catholic Charities Teen Center at St. Peter's in Boston during one-day "blitz build" coinciding with AIA25 Conference on Architecture & Design BOSTON, March 27 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ConstructConnect, a leading provider of software solutions for the construction industry and a presenting sponsor and founding partner of the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization AEC Cares, announced that this year's AEC Cares project will benefit Catholic Charities Boston, one of the most comprehensive non-profit providers of social services in Massachusetts. Catholic Charities Boston serves thousands of vulnerable individuals and families of all faiths and backgrounds across Eastern Massachusetts. On Wednesday, June 4, over 100 volunteers will gather to renovate The Catholic Charities Teen Center at St. Peter's. Each year, AEC Cares engages the architecture, engineering, and construction community in a volunteer event coinciding with the annual AIA Conference on Architecture & Design. The site of this year's project, The Teen Center, serves adolescents living in Dorchester's Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood during after school hours and throughout the summer months. The staff, programs, and activities aim to increase teens' self-esteem while providing the tools needed for academic and personal growth as well as their success in the community. "The ConstructConnect team and AEC Cares Board are thrilled to support Catholic Charities' longstanding history of service to the youth and families of Boston," said Jennifer Johnson, ConstructConnect Chief Product Officer and AEC Cares Board President. "Through generous donations from our partner organizations and volunteers, we hope to make meaningful contributions to the wellbeing of youth served throughout the year at The Catholic Charities Teen Center." The most ambitious AEC Cares project to date, this renovation will breathe new life into a space dedicated to empowering at-risk youth, fostering education, and providing a haven for teens in need. "The Teen Center has a long legacy as a compassionate and safe space where youth are encouraged to reach their full potential and build brighter futures," said Kelley Tuthill, President & CEO of Catholic Charities Boston. "We are profoundly grateful to AEC Cares and ConstructConnect for their transformative vision and commitment to reimagine the Center into an environment that better reflects its welcoming, vibrant spirit and the young people we are honored to serve." To learn how to join #AECCaresProjectBoston as a sponsor, donor, or volunteer, visit AECCares.com . About ConstructConnect At ConstructConnect, our software solutions provide the information that construction professionals need to start every project on a solid foundation. For more than 100 years, our keen insights and market intelligence have empowered commercial firms, building product manufacturers, trade contractors, and architects to make data-driven decisions, streamline preconstruction workflows, and maximize their productivity. Our newest offerings including our comprehensive, AI-assisted software help our clients find, bid, and win more projects. Visit ConstructConnect.com to learn more. About AEC Cares AEC Cares is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation led and supported by founding partner ConstructConnect as well as generous sponsors, donors, and volunteers. Bringing together architects, contractors, manufacturers, and industry professionals, AEC Cares works to create positive change through meaningful projects that benefit a new community every year. To learn more, visit AECCares.com . About Catholic Charities Boston For over a century, Catholic Charities Boston has served vulnerable individuals and families of all faiths and backgrounds. One of the most comprehensive non-profit providers of social services in Massachusetts, we offer over 70 programs across more than 20 locations throughout Greater Boston, with 450 employees serving thousands of individuals and families annually within the four core areas of Basic Needs, Family & Youth Services, Refugee & Immigrant Services, and Adult Education & Workforce Development. Rooted in our faith mission, we address critical social justice issues with compassion and aim to break the cycles of poverty in our communities by providing life's necessities, education, and advocacy to move families toward self-sufficiency. For further information, contact: ConstructConnect Media Relations Team [email protected] SOURCE ConstructConnect Annual report highlights company's progress and ongoing commitment to innovation and access to affordable, high-quality health care JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation ("GuideWell"), a leading not-for-profit, policyholder-owned health solutions organization, released its 2024 Impact Report, showcasing the power of collective action to create a healthier future. GuideWell includes several key entities: Florida Blue, the leading health insurance company in Florida; Florida Blue Foundation, its philanthropic affiliate; Triple-S Management, a leading health care service company in Puerto Rico; and Fundacion Triple-S, its philanthropic affiliate. Annual report highlights companys progress and ongoing commitment to innovation and access to affordable, high-quality health care The report demonstrates the progress GuideWell made last year towards increasing access to high-quality health care, reducing health disparities, improving mental well-being, addressing food insecurity, and equipping its workforce for the future. It also examines how the organization's business model enables a more human-centric and sustainable path forward for health care, with affordability front and center. "GuideWell is driven by a commitment to our members and customers, rather than shareholder interests," GuideWell and Florida Blue President and CEO, Pat Geraghty wrote in his annual letter. "Being able to reinvest in our services and prioritize customer needs helps us deliver more accessible, affordable, and quality health care that truly makes a difference in people's lives." Notable highlights from the report include: Established an AI governance framework to ensure ethical use of AI. Completed more than 360,000 virtual customer assistant chats using conversational AI. Opened 10 new medical clinics in Florida and Puerto Rico to increase access to affordable, quality health care. and to increase access to affordable, quality health care. Awarded $2.4 million to enhance mental well-being services and support for people across Florida. to enhance mental well-being services and support for people across Florida. Allocated $250,000 to 10 nonprofit organizations to address loneliness and social isolation for the people in Puerto Rico . to 10 nonprofit organizations to address loneliness and social isolation for the people in . Supplied 20.8 million meals to strengthen food security programs across Florida. Invested $5 million and established a nonprofit organization to strengthen the health care workforce pipeline in Puerto Rico . and established a nonprofit organization to strengthen the health care workforce pipeline in . Donated more than $1.5 million to support individuals affected by natural disasters in Florida and Puerto Rico . to support individuals affected by natural disasters in and . Provided $31.2 million in charitable giving to improve the health of local communities throughout Florida. This is GuideWell's fourth consecutive year releasing its impact report. While the report highlights initiatives and solutions implemented in 2024, it also celebrates GuideWell's growth and reach over the last 10 years and the work the company continues building upon to improve health outcomes for the millions of people and communities GuideWell serves. For more information and to view the full report, visit www.guidewell.com/impact-report. About GuideWell GuideWell comprises Florida's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, Florida Blue, which is the leading health insurer in Florida; Triple-S Management, Puerto Rico's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and a leading health care services company on the island; GuideWell Health, a portfolio of integrated care delivery organizations providing primary and urgent care at nearly 100 Florida medical centers and affiliate clinics, which includes Florida Blue | Sanitas Medical Centers; Emcara Health, which partners with primary care providers to extend care into the home; GuideWell Source, which provides administrative services to federal health care programs; and WebTPA, a market leading administrator of self-funded employer health plans. The company holds majority or significant interests in a range of health solutions companies including Lucet, a behavioral health care company that provides technology-enabled support to payers, providers, and health plan members. GuideWell serves 38.5 million people across 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including more than 6 million individuals in Florida. For additional information visit GuideWell.com and www.FloridaBlue.com. For details regarding the company's community and sustainability efforts, read the GuideWell Impact Report. For the latest news and content, visit the GuideWell Newsroom, the Florida Blue Newsroom and follow GuideWell as well as Florida Blue on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X. SOURCE GuideWell Financial Performance: Strong Year-over-Year Improvement - Total Revenue: RMB 407.2 million, including RMB 232.1 million in licensing and royalty income. - Net Loss Reduction: 71.5% year-over-year improvement. Key Product Advancements - Sugemalimab (Anti-PD-L1 mAb) - Regulatory Milestones: - China: Approved for first-line treatment of gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJC). - EU & UK: Approved for first-line treatment of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); stage III NSCLC new indication application submitted to EMA. - Global Partnerships: Three strategic partnerships across 40+ countries, to accelerate global commercialization. - Avapritinib (AYVAKIT) - Localized Production: Approved for localized manufacturing in China, enhancing cost efficiency. - Commercial Collaboration: Partnered with Hengrui to expand market access in China. Clinical Pipeline Progress - CS5001 (ROR1 ADC): - Leading Position: Top 2 globally in clinical development for ROR1-targeted ADCs. - Phase I Clinical Data: Demonstrated encouraging monotherapy efficacy in aggressive/indolent lymphomas with a manageable safety profile; positioned for accelerated registration. - Phase Ib Expansion: Evaluating first-line/frontline, monotherapy/combination therapies in lymphomas and solid tumors across the U.S., Australia, and China. - CS2009 (PD-1/VEGF/CTLA-4 Trispecific Antibody): - First-in-Human Trial: Global Phase I study initiated in Australia; first patient dosed. - Preclinical Differentiation: Superior tumor suppression vs. benchmarked competitors; potential first-in-class/best-in-class IO backbone therapy. Pipeline 2.0: Fueling Long-Term Innovation - More than 9 Differentiated Candidates: Focus on first-in-class/best-in-class assets, including multispecific antibodies and ADCs, with global rights and broad therapeutic potential. - Proprietary ADC Platform: Enables rapid development of high-value candidates, reinforcing leadership in next-generation oncology. SUZHOU, China, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CStone Pharmaceuticals ("CStone", HKEX: 2616), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapies, today reported 2024 annual results and recent business updates. Business Highlights For the year ended December 31, 2024 and up until the date of this results announcement, key milestones have been achieved across regulatory approvals, clinical advancements, and strategic collaborations, reinforcing our position as a leader in innovative therapeutics. A shortlist of our achievements over this period includes: Commercial Products CEJEMLY (sugemalimab), anti-PD-L1 antibody Global expansion and regulatory approvals Sugemalimab secured three new drug application approvals in 2024, including its fifth indication in mainland China for first-line treatment of gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GC/GEJC). Sugemalimab also gained approvals in the EU and UK for first-line treatment of stage IV NSCLC, marking its entry into major international markets. We have recently completed the regulatory submission to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the new indication application of sugemalimab in the treatment of Stage III NSCLC. Strategic alliances drive global commercialization Partnered with Ewopharma AG in May 2024 for commercialization in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Switzerland . for commercialization in Central and (CEE) and . Collaborated with Pharmalink Store L.L.C O.P.C in November 2024 to expand access across the Middle East , North Africa (MENA) Region and South Africa . to expand access across the , (MENA) Region and . Entered an agreement with SteinCares in January 2025 for Latin America (LATAM). for (LATAM). Additional partnerships in Western Europe , Southeast Asia , and Canada are anticipated in 2025. Robust clinical data reinforce efficacy GEMSTONE-304 Study: Final progression-free survival (PFS) and interim overall survival (OS) data for the first-line esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) published in Nature Medicine ( February 2024 ). ( ). GEMSTONE-302 Study: Four-year OS data for stage IV NSCLC presented at the 2024 Congress of European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), confirming sustained survival benefits. GEMSTONE-303 Study: Final PFS and OS analysis for GC/GEJC with combined positive score (CPS) 5 published in the top-tier medical journal- Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) ( February 2025 ). (JAMA) ( ). ESMO Guideline Recognition: CEJEMLY recommended as first-line NSCLC therapy in ESMO's 2025 Non-Oncogene-Addicted Metastatic NSCLC Living Guidelines, covering both squamous and non-squamous NSCLC ( February 2025 ). AYVAKIT (avapritinib), KIT/PDGFRA inhibitor Localized manufacturing in China The National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA) approved domestic production of AYVAKIT tablets (300 mg and 100 mg) in June and August 2024 respectively. Full transition to localized supply is expected in 2025, improving cost efficiency. NRDL inclusion enhances accessibility AYVAKIT (avapritinib) has been included to China's National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), effective January 1, 2024 for unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), harboring the PDGFRA exon 18-mutated, including PDGFRA D842V mutations. This significantly improves AYVAKIT's affordability for eligible patients. Commercial partnership with Hengrui In July 2024, we forged a new partnership with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., granting them the exclusive promotion rights in mainland China to amplify commercial reach and profitability. GAVRETO (pralsetinib), RET inhibitor Progress towards localized manufacturing The NMPA's Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) accepted the manufacturing localization and bioequivalence (BE) study application in April 2024, and regulatory review is ongoing. Sustained collaboration with Allist Commercial operations has been transferred to Shanghai Allist Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd in the first half of 2024 under an exclusive agreement signed in November 2023. Collaboration remains strong to maximize market penetration. Clinical Stage Core Assets CS5001 (ROR1 ADC) Phase Ib clinical trial with registration potential A global multicenter clinical trial of CS5001 is actively enrolling patients across the United States of America (U.S.), Australia and China. Recruitment is ongoing for monotherapy cohorts targeting aggressive and indolent advanced lymphomas with potential to be expanded into a Phase II single-arm registrational study. Additional cohorts, including CS5001 in combination with R-CHOP (Rituximab + Cyclophosphamide + Hydroxydaunorubicin + Vincristine + Prednisone) for the first-line diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and CS5001 in combination with standard of cares (SOC) for front-line DLBCL will be initiated to expand the therapeutic potential of CS5001 across all DLBCL stages. CS5001 is also being studied as both a monotherapy and in combination with a PD-L1 inhibitor for advanced solid tumors, underscoring its versatility across oncology indications. Compelling clinical data at ASCO & ASH 2024 Phase Ia data for CS5001 presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting demonstrated that CS5001 is so far the first receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) known to demonstrate clinical anti-tumor activity in both solid tumors and lymphomas. Clinical data of CS5001 revealed superior efficacy and favorable safety profile as a monotherapy for both aggressive and indolent advanced lymphomas. At the tentative recommended Phase II dose (RP2D) (125 g/kg), CS5001 achieved an objective response rate (ORR) of 70% in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 100% in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). These results support its potential as a faster-to-market candidate and a frontline combination therapy backbone. CS2009 (PD-1/VEGF/CTLA-4 trispecific antibody) Global Phase I clinical trial initiated A global multicenter first-in-human (FIH) trial among solid tumors has been launched in Australia in December 2024, with subsequent expansion to China and the U.S.. The first patient was dosed in March 2025. Potential FIC/BIC next-generation I/O backbone Preclinical data presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) highlighted its first-in-class (FIC) or best-in-class (BIC) potential with superior antitumor activity compared to potential competitors benchmarks, including PD-1/CTLA-4 or PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody and PD-1/ CTLA-4 combination therapies. Unique trispecific mechanism positions CS2009 as a next-generation immuno-oncology backbone with broad applicability. Preclinical/IND-enabling Stage Programs and ADC Platform CStone's preclinical pipeline includes more than nine promising candidates, each with global rights and focusing on FIC/BIC profiles with broad indications. These candidates include multispecific antibodies, ADCs and radionuclide drug conjugates (RDC) covering various therapeutic fields such as oncology, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders. The Company is dedicated to delivering clinical value through the development of these Pipeline 2.0 candidates, which will undergo international, multi-center clinical trials to maximize their global potential. CStone has also developed an in-house ADC technology platform featuring proprietary linkers, optimized for diverse targets and payloads. This platform supports multiple upcoming ADC projects in Pipeline 2.0, including CS5007 (dual targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) & human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3)), CS5005 (targeting somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)), CS5008 (dual targeting delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) & SSTR2) and CS5006 (targeting ITGB4). Future and Outlook As we look to the future, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing a robust and differentiated pipeline by prioritizing internal discovery capabilities and sustained R&D investments. Concurrently, we aim to maximize the global commercial potential of our approved therapies through strategic collaborations and localized manufacturing enhancements. Key growth drivers in 2025 include: Clinical milestones Progress CS5001 (ROR1 ADC) and CS2009 (PD-1/VEGF/CTLA-4 trispecific) towards pivotal trials and in parallel pursue global partnerships to expedite development. Advance early-stage candidates (e.g., CS2011, CS5007, CS5005, CS5008, CS5006) into clinical stages within the next two years. Commercial excellence Maximize the value of approved products through strategic collaborations and manufacturing localization (e.g., AYVAKIT, GAVRETO) to enhance profitability and market reach. Accelerate ex-China commercialization of CEJEMLY (sugemalimab) via regional partnerships. Innovation and technology Strengthen proprietary platforms (e.g., ADC technology) to sustain pipeline growth. Present key clinical data at major conferences (e.g., AACR, ESMO, ASH) Financial Highlights International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Measures: Revenue was RMB407.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, composed of RMB175.1 million in sales of pharmaceutical products (avapritinib and pralsetinib), RMB204.0 million in license fee income and RMB28.1 million in royalty income of sugemalimab, representing a year-on-year increase of RMB108.3 million, or 113.1%, in license fee which was largely offset by a decrease in revenue from sales of pharmaceutical products, such that total revenue decreased by RMB56.6 million, or 12.2%, year on year. Research and development expenses were RMB134.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of RMB393.1 million from RMB527.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to the decrease in milestone fee and third-party contracting costs. Administrative expenses were RMB77.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of RMB104.9 million from RMB182.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to the decrease in employee costs. Selling and marketing expenses were RMB133.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of RMB65.5 million from RMB199.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily attributable to the decrease in employee costs and others which was partially offset by an increase in channel service fee. Loss for the year was RMB91.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of RMB276.0 million, or 75.2%, from RMB367.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily attributable to a substantial decrease in operating expenses. Cash and cash equivalents and time deposits were RMB672.9 million as of December 31, 2024. Non-International Financial Reporting Standards (Non-IFRS) Measures: Research and development expenses excluding the share-based payment expenses were RMB124.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of RMB410.0 million from RMB534.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily due to the decrease in milestone fee and third party contracting costs. Administrative and selling and marketing expenses excluding the share-based payment expenses were RMB224.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of RMB113.8 million from RMB338.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily attributable to the decrease in employee costs. Loss for the year excluding the share-based payment expenses was RMB94.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, representing a decrease of RMB236.2 million, or 71.5%, from RMB330.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, primarily attributable to a substantial decrease in operating expenses. 2024 Annual Results Conference Call The Company will host a 2024 annual results conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Friday March 28, 2025. Please attend the conference call through the link: https://s.comein.cn/ritii3dr (Password:067784). About CStone CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKEX: 2616), founded in late 2015, is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing cutting-edge oncology therapies. Committed to addressing unmet medical needs globally, the company has achieved remarkable milestones since its inception, including the successful launch of four novel therapeutics and securing 16 regulatory approvals across nine indications. CStone's robust pipeline features 16 high-potential candidates, including first-in-class and best-in-class assets such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), multispecific antibodies, immunotherapies, and precision medicines. The company further distinguishes itself through a seasoned leadership team with comprehensive expertise in drug developmentfrom preclinical research and clinical trials to manufacturing, business development, and commercialization. For more information about CStone, please visit www.cstonepharma.com. Forward-looking statements The forward-looking statements made in this article only relate to events or information as of the date when the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or publicly revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. All statements in this article are made on the date of publication of this article and may change due to future developments. Disclaimer: only for communication and scientific use by medical and health professionals, it is not intended for promotional purposes. SOURCE CStone Pharmaceuticals Long-time DNSFilter customer sees content filtering as foundational to security offering WASHINGTON, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DNSFilter announced today that anykey, Switzerland's leading Apple-focused Managed Services Provider (MSP) for the education sector, has improved productivity and security for students and staff by implementing DNSFilter for content filtering and threat blocking. With DNSFilter, anykey centrally manages filtering policies across thousands of devices for more than 400 schools. Founded in 2011, anykey provides end-to-end IT services, from device management, wireless networking, identity and access management and cloud services to security and content filtering. That includes managing more than 150,000 devices provided by schools to their students. The company faced growing demands for comprehensive content filtering and robust security measures amid evolving compliance mandates. It needed a solution that would work seamlessly in Apple environments and support their business model. anykey began using DNSFilter in 2019, drawn to its responsive support, AI-driven filtering and MSP-focused innovation. As a member of DNSFilter's Customer Advisory Board, anykey has helped shape key features, including the new Roaming Client Management experience , which gives them centralized oversight of their 150,000 device endpoints. This automated, scalable, centralized management reduces administrative workload significantly. DNSFilter helped anykey reduce administrative workload significantly. Now, students can only access appropriate educational content from their school-issued devices, and harmful or non-compliant websites are blocked. Additionally, anykey now enables schools to block internet access during nighttime hours, when students should be asleep. After initial success with content filtering, anykey has expanded its work with DNSFilter to include threat-blocking. The Canton of Zurich, Switzerland's largest administrative district, recently published a set of 14 immediate steps for school security that specifically call for implementing DNS filtering. Because of its work with DNSFilter, anykey was already ahead of the curve, providing its customers with a government-recommended solution even before the guidelines were released. Tobias Linder, co-founder and technical director, anykey, said: "anykey is proud to be a DNSFilter customer, and we appreciate their iterations on the product. Before the new Roaming Client Management release, we had to trust devices were properly enrolled without real confirmation. Now, we can instantly see which devices are online, protected and up to date, making troubleshooting and central management far more efficient. As schools face increasing cybersecurity risks, security has taken on larger importance for us, and DNSFilter is an essential part of how we reduce attack surfaces across entire school networks." Ken Carnesi, CEO and co-founder, DNSFilter, said: "As a long-term customer, anykey has had a voice in making our product better and has pressure-tested new features to provide feedback. It's an example of how we listen to the customer and ensure their voice is heard in what we do and the partnership we've developed. We will continue to innovate with an MSP-first mindset and incorporate customer feedback to ensure they can respond to their clients' changing needs." About the company: DNSFilter is making the Internet safer and workplaces more productive by blocking malicious and unwanted content at the DNS layer. DNSFilter resolves upwards of 170 billion daily queries200 million of those queries are blocked cyber threats. With 79% of attacks using Domain Name System (DNS), DNSFilter provides the world's fastest protective DNS powered by AI, blocking threats an average of 10 days faster than traditional threat feeds. Over 40,000 organizations trust DNSFilter to protect them from advanced cyber threats and unwanted content. SOURCE DNSFilter BLAINVILLE, QC, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG), winner of the 2024 Life Sciences Innovation Award from ADRIQ, is pleased to announce it has been named winner of a 2025 Healthiest Workplace Award by Dialogue Health Technologies Inc., recognizing the Group's commitment to the well-being of its employees. The award is given by Dialogue to a small number of companies and organizations in recognition of their efforts to support their employees by providing a healthy work environment and services to help them maintain and improve their health and quality of life. President of DPG and HR team (CNW Group/Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG)) "Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group is honoured to receive the 2025 Healthiest Workplace Award as a recognition of the very high priority we put on ensuring our employees have what they need to bring their best self to their work and to their family life," said Caroline Guerru, Vice-President, Human Resources and Communications. "This priority is a vital part of our flexible and entrepreneurial culture that keeps us all motivated and constantly growing, creating success for the Group and for us all as individuals." Dialogue's Healthiest Workplace Awards recognize organizations that demonstrate excellence in Canadian workplace health through high engagement and comprehensive support. For DPG, this meant high utilization of Dialogue's Integrated Health Platform, offered through its workplace benefits to promote a range of accessible healthcare support for employees. DPG's commitment to the well-being of its employees has previously been recognized by it being granted the Concilivi Seal, an initiative of the Reseau pour un Quebec Famille, noting DPG's efforts to offer family-work balance. DPG has also earned the Gender Parity Certification awarded by Women in Governance as a result of an in-depth evaluation of the Group's practices to create an inclusive work environment where everyone can thrive. DPG is committed to meeting the evolving needs of all its team members throughout their lives by constantly adapting to offer accessible, equitable and representative opportunities that promote a sense of belonging so that each employee can reach their full potential. ABOUT DIALOGUE'S HEALTHIEST WORKPLACE AWARDS Dialogue's Healthiest Workplace Awards honour organizations committed to fostering positive and healthy work environments among Dialogue clients and partners. Awardees are selected based on several key criteria, including deep engagement with Dialogue's services as evidenced by high registration and utilization rates, exceptional Well-Being Scores as measured against World Health Organization benchmarks, and offering comprehensive care through Dialogue's services. Fewer than 1% of Dialogue's clients and partners are awarded this recognition. Dialogue is Canada's premier health and wellness platform, offering a range of services including on-demand access to quality care from in-house healthcare professionals. www.dialogue.co. ABOUT DUCHESNAY PHARMACEUTICAL GROUP Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG), with its affiliated companies, is headquartered in Blainville, Quebec. The Group consists of six pharmaceutical companies to meet the needs of patients in Canada, the U.S. and abroad. The companies are Duchesnay (Canada) and Duchesnay USA, both dedicated to women's health; Medunik Canada and Medunik USA, which provide treatments for rare and debilitating diseases; and Analog Pharma Canada and Analog Pharma, specializing in orphan generic medications. From its state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, DPG exports its innovative treatments to more than 50 countries. DPG is one of the eight companies across the country chosen to participate in the Government of Canada's Global Hypergrowth Project. This appointment offers exclusive and personalized support for at least two years, in order to accelerate its growth to become an anchor firm in the Canadian economy. DPG is the winner of the 2024 Life Sciences Innovation Award by ADRIQ, the Association for the Development of Research and Innovation of Quebec, which recognizes DPG's healthy workplace culture and commitment to pharmaceutical innovation, while DPG president Eric Gervais is the recipient of the 2024 Bernard-Landry Award by ADRIQ which acknowledges his impactful leadership on Quebec's research and innovation ecosystem. DPG, through its proprietary research and development, and through exclusive partnerships, offers innovative treatments for a variety of medical conditions in women's health, urology, oncology and for rare diseases, plus lower-cost generic medications. DPG recognizes the dedication and professionalism of its employees and promotes a positive culture and flexible work environment. It is deeply committed to environmental responsibility and to giving back to the community through the support of various charitable organizations. For more information, please visit https://duchesnaypharmaceuticalgroup.com/en. Follow us on LinkedIn. SOURCE Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group (DPG) Photo: https://x.com/SecGenNATO/status NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reported on a meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, France Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer, at which the parties discussed preparations for the Coalition of the Willing summit and coordination of efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine. "Met this morning with PM Keir Starmer and then together with President Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to prepare todays Paris conference and to coordinate our efforts in support of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine," Rutte wrote on X. Starmer also reported on the meeting, illustrating the post with a photo of the meeting with Zelenskyy, Rutte, and Macron. "We are stepping up to play our part to defend Ukraines future. Now Putin needs to show hes willing to play ball," he wrote on X. Grants awarded to three Habitat for Humanity affiliate organizations Affordable housing investments from the company top $200,000 in Florida since 2020 Duke Energy Florida employees volunteer to build homes in Citrus and Orange counties ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Duke Energy Florida and its foundation announce $75,000 in grant funding to several Habitat for Humanity organizations in Florida. This brings the five-year total investment in affordable housing initiatives in the state to more than $200,000. "Habitat for Humanity builds homes, communities and hope," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "Supporting nonprofit organizations like Habit for Humanity allows the company to improve the vitality of the communities we serve while making a lasting difference in the lives of individual customers." To advance home affordability in the state, Duke Energy Foundation has provided the following grants to directly support new homes and workforce training: Habitat for Humanity of Seminole County and Greater Apopka : $5,000 and : Habitat for Humanity of Lake Sumter: $20,000 Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside: $30,000 Additionally, Duke Energy has provided $20,000 to support these nonprofit organizations' operations this year. "We appreciate the support from companies that recognize the significance of affordable homeownership and the need to assist hard-working families within our communities," stated Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside. "Both Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside and Duke Energy Florida are committed to a shared vision of constructing safe, affordable and energy-efficient homes that advance our communities." In addition to foundation grants, employees will be building homes during volunteer events in west Orange and Citrus counties later this year. Through this volunteer effort, teams will contribute not only time and labor, but also a sense of community and hope, reinforcing our long-standing partnership with Habitat for Humanity to leave a lasting impact. Working together to support neighbors and customers through Habitat for Humanity is a longstanding tradition across Duke Energy. Since 2020, Duke Energy Florida and its foundation have contributed over $200,000 in the state. These funds are part of $1 million in donations and over 10,000 volunteer hours to Habitat for Humanity across all jurisdictions. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity's work through its 49 affiliate organizations across Florida, or to find the local Habitat for Humanity in your community, please visit here. Duke Energy Foundation Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. About Duke Energy Florida Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. Contact: Ana Gibbs Media line: 800.559.3853 Email: [email protected] X @DE_AnaGibbs SOURCE Duke Energy Discussion will focus on navigating market changes amid Trump administration's Medicare policies LAS VEGAS, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- e123 is pleased to announce its participation as a title sponsor at Medicarians, the premier event for innovators in senior health, wealth, and agetech. At this year's conference, held March 31April 2, e123 will host a panel discussion with health insurance executives titled "Trump, Oz, and You: How Technology Can Help You Compete in an Ever-Changing World." Event Details: What: Panel discussion "Trump, Oz, and You: How Technology Can Help You Compete in an Ever-Changing World" Who: Leading voices in healthcare, insurance, and technology, including: Where: Medicarians Vegas 2025, Caesars Forum Conference Center, 3911 Koval Lane , Las Vegas, NV 89109, Summit Ballroom, Track 1: Rooms 209212 When: Tuesday, April 1 , 22:50 p.m. PT "The Medicare landscape is shifting quickly, and with policy changes under the Trump administration, increased transparency, and growing competition, staying ahead requires strategic innovation," McLoughlin said. "Our panel will bring together top industry leaders to discuss how technology can help health carriers and agents adapt, compete, and thrive in this dynamic environment." With rapid shifts in the Medicare Advantage landscape, tightening annual enrollment windows, Medicaid reductions, and increasing demands for transparency, this discussion will explore how technology is shaping the competitive landscape. Attendees will gain insights on leveraging data-driven strategies and innovation to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market. About Medicarians The annual conference brings together more than 4,000 industry professionals, including product creators, care providers, distributors, venture investors, and startups committed to helping people live longer, healthier, and more financially secure lives. About e123 e123 brings more than 20 years of experience in health insurance distribution, enabling carriers and downlines with hundreds of thousands of agents through its innovative distribution platform. As the industry's only distribution management system (DMS) designed specifically for health insurance, e123 provides a single, secure technology environment from the carrier to the agent, ensuring compliance, data integrity, and accuracy. With over 365,000 active agents selling more than 14,000 products and processing billions in annual transactions, clients rely on e123 as a trusted advisor to solve complex business challenges and drive growth, security, and efficiency across the health insurance distribution value chain. Join e123 and industry leaders for this insightful discussion. For more information or to schedule a meeting with the e123 team at Medicarians, please contact Morgan Tate. SOURCE e123 Affordable robotic arm to aid people in assisted living among the many projects featured YPSILANTI, Mich., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern Michigan University will host the 45th Undergraduate Symposium beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 28, at the Student Center, 900 Oakwood St. in Ypsilanti. Organized by the College of Arts and Sciences, the annual Symposium provides a platform for students to present their research and creative projects while engaging with the EMU community. There will be 240 project presentations displayed in a wide range of mediums, including 121 oral and 90 poster presentations. The event will also showcase various performances and the Crossing Lines Design Expo, a unique design-based gallery. One of this year's standout projects comes from the School of Engineering, where students Ian Eells, Jack Capper, Kendel Taylor, and Rob Reid have developed an affordable robotic arm designed for assisted living. This project aims to significantly enhance the lives of millions of people affected by disabilities by providing a simple, cost-effective form of independence. It will be showcased at the Crossing Lines Design Expo in Room 300 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. "Each year, the Undergraduate Symposium provides students an opportunity to present their research and creative work in a professional setting," said Harriet Lindsay, Symposium event chair, interim department head, and professor of chemistry at EMU. "It highlights the University's commitment to academic excellence, support of faculty-student mentorship relationships, and emphasis on experiential learning." The Undergraduate Symposium allows students to showcase their work across various disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, natural and physical sciences, and performance and design-based projects. Students may participate through oral presentations, poster presentations, or as part of the Crossing Lines Design Expo, an exhibit format that highlights the outcomes of design-focused projects. For the first time, the Symposium will also feature the undergraduate work of students enrolled in the College in Prison Program, which provides incarcerated students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor's degree through Eastern Michigan University. This year's keynote speaker is Nino C. Monea, an EMU alum who now teaches at Stetson University College of Law. Professor Monea also serves as a trial defense attorney in the U.S. Army Reserves and will share his expertise in political science, economics, and military law during the Symposium Luncheon, which begins at noon. For decades, the symposium has been a cornerstone of EMU's commitment to academic excellence and experiential learning. The event provides students with a platform to present their work and fosters a culture of scholarly inquiry, creativity, and innovation. Through this experience, students can build critical communication skills, engage in meaningful academic discussions, and prepare for future research or professional endeavors. For more information about the 2025 Undergraduate Symposium, including nomination deadlines and event details, visit the EMU Symposium website . SOURCE Eastern Michigan University Fifth Annual Report Illustrates Continued Commitment to Cybersecurity Leadership and Innovation ATLANTA, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax (NYSE: EFX) has released its 2024 Security Annual Report , highlighting its continued commitment to transparency, collaboration and innovation. For the fifth consecutive year, the report gives a look into how the organization has doubled down on security and the measures it has implemented to face today's cyber threats, including an industry-leading passwordless authentication transformation. "When I joined Equifax in 2018, I made a personal commitment to establish the company as an industry leader in security. Since that time, we have transformed our organization at every level to deliver on that promise, and have built a culture where security is part of our global team's DNA," said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. "As we look ahead, we are building on the strong foundation of the Equifax Cloud and our EFX.AI capabilities to drive innovation, new products, and future growth. Importantly, strong cybersecurity is core to each of our business actions." Key highlights from the 2024 Security Annual Report include: Defending against 15 million cybersecurity threats a day, or 175 hostile attempts per second, a 25% increase from 2023, demonstrating the company's robust threat detection and response capabilities. Transitioning nearly 22,000 global employees and contractors to passwordless authentication, eliminating the number one threat facing security teams today: stolen credentials. Completing over 210,000 simulations, testing the company's global workforce against cyber tactics, achieving a click rate of 2.9% in targeted phishing simulations. Accomplished a mean-to-detect time of under a minute against potential intrusions. "This past year, the industry witnessed a continued increase in AI-driven threats and geopolitical tensions, making the cybersecurity landscape more concerning than ever and our team didn't stand still," said Jamil Farshchi, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Equifax. "Instead, we modernized our defenses, accelerated Equifax Cloud adoption, and pushed the boundaries to future-proof the organization against AI impersonation tactics like voice cloning with the deployment of passwordless technology." For the fifth year in a row, the organization outperformed all major industry benchmarks related to its security maturity score. Equifax also maintained a security posture score that exceeded Technology and Financial Services industry averages. Moreover, the report highlights a strengthened partnership between security and technology, which has helped serve as an engine for efficiency, enhanced security and market differentiation. In 2024, Equifax launched more than 100 new product innovations, while maintaining a best-in-class security program. Looking ahead to what's next, security remains a critical strategic business priority as the company continues to grow and evolve its security posture and programs to meet and anticipate evolving cybersecurity threats. For a more in-depth look at the 2024 Security Annual Report, click here . ABOUT EQUIFAX INC. At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com . FOR MORE INFORMATION: Ruby Ramirez for Equifax [email protected] SOURCE Equifax Inc. Essity today held the Annual General Meeting at Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre, Sweden. STOCKHOLM, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Meeting approved the Parent Company income statement and balance sheet and the consolidated income statement and consolidated balance sheet for 2024. The meeting resolved on a dividend for the financial year 2024 of SEK 8.25 per share. Record date for the dividend is set to Monday, March 31, 2025. The dividend is expected to be distributed by Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday, April 3, 2025. The Meeting resolved that the remuneration to each director elected by the Annual General Meeting who is not employed by the company shall amount to SEK 960,000 and the Chairman of the Board of Directors is to receive SEK 2,880,000. Each member of the Remuneration Committee is to receive an additional remuneration of SEK 145,000, while the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee is to receive an additional remuneration of SEK 170,000. Each member of the Audit Committee is to receive an additional remuneration of SEK 350,000, while the Chairman of the Audit Committee is to receive an additional remuneration of SEK 490,000. Remuneration to the auditor is to be paid according to approved invoice. The Annual General Meeting resolved in accordance with the Board of Director's proposal on a cash-based incentive program. The meeting also approved the Board of Director's remuneration report. The Board of Directors and the CEO were granted discharge from liability for the 2024 fiscal year. Board members Maria Carell, Annemarie Gardshol, Magnus Groth, Jan Gurander, Torbjorn Loof, Bert Nordberg, Barbara M. Thoralfsson and Karl Aberg were re-elected. Alexander Lacik and Katarina Martinson were elected as a new directors. Ewa Bjorling had declined re-election. Jan Gurander was elected Chairman of the Board. Ernst & Young AB was appointed the company's auditor for a mandate period until the end of the 2026 Annual General Meeting. The meeting resolved to amend the articles of association, to reduce the share capital through cancellation of own shares and to increase the share capital through a bonus issue. The Annual General Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to decide on buy-back of Essity B shares and to transfer shares bought back by the company. These authorizations are valid until the next Annual General Meeting. Minutes from the Annual General Meeting will be available on the company website, www.essity.com, within two weeks. CONTACT: For further information, please contact: Per Lorentz, Vice President Corporate Communications, +46 73 313 30 55, [email protected] Sandra Aberg, Vice President Investor Relations, +46 70 564 96 89, [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/essity/r/essity-s-2025-annual-general-meeting,c4122527 The following files are available for download: LONDON, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 25, 2025, the Tokyo District Court granted the Japanese government's request for a dissolution order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), previously known as the Unification Church. This decision has raised concerns among various groups about its implications for religious freedom and human rights in Japan. FFWPU will immediately appeal. This ruling has drawn comparisons to actions taken by governments that restrict religious liberties. Critics suggest that it may conflict with international commitments to human rights, including the United Nations conventions on religious freedom, to which Japan is a signatory. The Japanese government's refusal to allow a fact-finding mission by Dr. Nazila Ghanea, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, has been noted by some as an indication of reluctance to subject its actions to international review. This decision has raised questions about transparency and due process in the matter. Dr. Massimo Introvigne, an expert on religious freedom, writes in Bitter Winter that the dissolution of the Unification Church could have negative consequences for religious communities in Japan and globally. He emphasized that the Family Federation has not been involved in any criminal activities nor charged with any criminal wrongdoing. International reactions to the court's decision have also been expressed. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, "The court's decision may signal a shift away from constitutional values. This could have broader implications for Japan's international standing, particularly concerning its commitment to religious freedom." Former U.S. Speaker Newt Gingrich also voiced concerns, suggesting that these actions could have broader geopolitical consequences, including potential impacts on the U.S.-Japan alliance. Founded 70 years ago by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and now led by his widow Dr. Hak Ja Han, the Family Federation is a global religious community active in over 175 countries. Its teachings focus on devotion to God, the importance of strong marriages and families, and fostering interfaith peace and cooperation. While the organization remains committed to its religious mission, its leadership emphasizes that their convictions have always been rooted in faith rather than government approval. Despite the current legal challenges in Japan, the Family Federation remains confident that its members in Japan will continue to persevere in their faith. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650913/FFWPU_Logo.jpg Meaning "something small and cute" Chiikawa centers around the fun, bittersweet, and sometimes tough daily lives of the characters in its world. Beloved by children and adults, it has gained widespread popularity not only in Japan but also across the globe. In Japan, it won the Grand Prix at both the 2022 and 2024 Japan Character Awards. Not only that, but with the Chiikawa anime airing since April 2022, its popularity has soared, solidifying its status as a cultural icon in Japan. With the concept of "being with Chiikawa and friends, anytime, anywhere," Chiikawa Pocket brings the world of Chiikawa to life. Packed with fun activities, players can enjoy adventures alongside their favorite Chiikawa characters! [App Screenshots Below] *Including images from international stores where applicable. - Home screen On the Home screen, you can place your favorite Home items and change the wallpaper to create your own personalized Chiikawa world! (*) - Battle / Weeding / Om Nom Fest images Players can team up with friends and take on dangerous enemies (Abunaiyatsu) and bosses! There's weeding and cooking to enjoy, and Chiikawa's characters have lots of actions to show off as well! You might discover new things about Chiikawa characters that you've never seen before!? Chiikawa Pocket simultaneously releases today in 43 countries and regions across the globe, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, and the United States! In celebration of surpassing 2 million pre-registrations, Chiikawa Pocket is giving away a variety of items, including gems that can be exchanged for Chiikawa characters outfits and items, as well as useful in-game items like Hachiware's sasumata! Enjoy the world of Chiikawa as you like it! *Game includes some paid items. What is Chiikawa? Chiikawa, meaning "something small and cute," is a popular manga posted by illustrator Nagano on X (formerly Twitter), which began serialization in 2020. Centered around three best friends, who lead lives that are fun, bittersweet, and sometimes a little tough, Chiikawa has gained wide popularity among adults and children, with the number of followers on X surpassing 3.7 million to date. Chiikawa also won the Grand Prix at the 2022 and 2024 Japan Character Awards. The anime series, Chiikawa, is currently airing in Japan and is available for a limited time on the official YouTube channel. Mezamashi TV YouTube Channel SOURCE Applibot, Inc. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED NORTHBROOK, Ill., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Going-Out-of-Business sales are in progress at Forever 21, a leading fashion retailer of women's, men's, and children's apparel and accessories, following the US operating company F21 OpCo's recent bankruptcy filing. The liquidation sales are happening both in-store, at Forever 21's US locations, and online. Hilco Consumer-Retail is managing these sales in a joint venture with Gordon Brothers and SB360. Going-Out-of-Business sales are in progress at Forever 21, a leading fashion retailer of women's, men's, and children's apparel and accessories, following the US operating company F21 OpCo's recent bankruptcy filing. Forever 21 is an iconic North American retailer that captured the hearts and minds of teenagers looking to sport the latest styles at affordable price points through the 90s and 2000's. Recent competition from online fast fashion companies like Shein and Temu put Forever 21 under immense pressure, ultimately resulting in the company's bankruptcy filing in the US. Customers will find exceptional discounts on merchandise across all categories, including clothing and accessories for women, men, and kids. All inventory is significantly discounted, offering savings of up to 60% off the lowest marked prices. "Stores are fully stocked, and fresh inventory is continuously being added at incredible discounts," said Ian Fredericks, CEO of Hilco Consumer-Retail. "Customers should shop early for the best selectiononce items are sold out, they're gone!" Going-Out-of-Business Sale Details: Discounts: Up to 60% off lowest ticketed prices All Sales Final: For purchases made on or after February 24, 2025 Returns: Accepted for valid returns made prior to final sale designation Gift Cards: Accepted through April 15, 2025 Store Fixtures and Equipment: Available for purchase Store Locator: click here About F21 OpCo F21 OpCo, LLC is the operator of Forever 21 stores and licensee of the Forever 21 brand in the United States. For more information, including online shopping and a list of stores, visit forever21.com. About Hilco Consumer Retail Hilco Consumer Retail provides a wide range of analytical, advisory, asset monetization, and capital investment solutions to help define and execute a retailer's strategic initiatives. Operating on 4 continents, Hilco Consumer Retail's services fall into several principal categories including acquisitions; disposition of underperforming stores; retail company or division wind downs; event sales to convert unwanted assets into working capital; facilitation of mergers and acquisitions; interim company, division or store management teams; loss prevention; and the monetization of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Additionally, Hilco Consumer Retail owns the nation's premier fixture and equipment liquidation firm, Hilco Fixed Asset Recovery (www.hilcoffe.com), Restore for Retail, a SaaS-based virtual store management platform that works on both Apple and Android devices (www.restoreforretail.com), and an innovative sale locater website called Shop Genius (www.shopgenius.com). Hilco Consumer Retail is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com), the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization, advisory, and capital solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate and strategic capital equity investments. About Gordon Brothers Since 1903, Gordon Brothers (www.Gordon Brothers.com) has maximized liquidity through realizable asset value by providing the people, expertise and capital to solve business challenges. Our solutions-oriented approach across asset services, lending, financing and trading gives clients the insights, strategies and time to optimize asset values throughout the business cycle. We work across the full spectrum of assets globally with deep expertise in retail, commercial, industrial, brands and real estate. We are headquartered in Boston with over 30 offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. About SB360 SB360 Capital Partners (www.sb360.com), a Schottenstein Affiliate, is one of North America's leading asset realization and merchant banking firms. The firm invests equity capital to support growth opportunities, fund business turnarounds, and provide liquidity to businesses navigating change. SB360 encompasses business groups involved in advisory services, asset disposition, luxury diamond and jewelry assets, new store sets, and commercial real estate advisory and investment. The firm's lending arm, Second Avenue Capital Partners, provides asset-based loans for middle-market companies. SB360's principals hold extensive financial interests in internationally recognized retail and wholesale companies, consumer brands, financial service operations, and commercial, residential and industrial real estate properties. SOURCE Hilco Consumer-Retail Data highlights preclinical efficacy and safety of GNX1021, a novel glycan-targeting ADC, in gastric cancer models NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GlycoNex, Inc. (4168, hereinafter referred to as GNX), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of glycan-directed cancer immunotherapies, today announced that preclinical data on GNX1021 will be presented on April 28 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. GNX1021 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting branched Lewis B/Y (bLeB/Y), a unique tumor-associated glycan antigen overexpressed in gastric cancer and other solid tumors. The poster will highlight in vivo efficacy and safety findings from gastric cancer models that demonstrate GNX1021's tumor control activity. "We are very pleased that research involving GNX1021, our glycan-targeting ADC, was accepted for presentation at AACR 2025," said Dr. Mei-Chun Yang, CEO of GlycoNex. "AACR is one of the most influential oncology meetings in the world, and the opportunity to showcase the potential of GNX1021 to treat gastric cancer, an often-deadly cancer with few available therapies, highlights the importance of this program." Presentation Details: Event: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2025 Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics Session: Growth Factor Receptors and Other Surface Antigens as Targets for Therapy 1 Abstract Title: (#2932) GNX1021, a novel ADC targeting glycans with branched Lewis B/Y, demonstrated preclinical tumor control activity in gastric cancer models and favorable safety Date and Time: April 28, 2025; 2:00 pm CDT Location: McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago Poster Section 17, Poster Board 6 About GlycoNex Inc. GlycoNex Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of glycan-directed cancer immunotherapies that effectively inhibit tumor growth while minimizing side effects. GlycoNex possesses a robust pipeline led by GNX102, a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) designed to target abnormal sugar molecules in cancer cells. GNX102 has successfully completed Phase 1 clinical trials with data demonstrating excellent safety and promising efficacy. GlycoNex is also advancing a portfolio of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that precisely attack cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. GlycoNex is headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan. For more information, visit http://www.glyconex.com.tw. Contacts for GlycoNex, Inc. Investor Relations Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc. David Irish [email protected] Media Relations Eric Reiss [email protected] SOURCE GlycoNex, Inc. The climate tech fund managed by Marunouchi Innovation Partners caps GridPoint's fundraising with a $20M strategic investment. RESTON, Va., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GridPoint, a recognized leader in energy management technology that decarbonizes commercial buildings and unlocks excess grid capacity, announced the completion of $45M in investment, anchored by Marunouchi Innovation Partners (MIP), a climate tech fund sponsored by Mitsubishi Corporation. The $20M investment by MIP will accelerate GridPoint's growth and open the door for international expansion into Japan and South Korea. Global power grids are straining under increasing pressure as the demand for electricity continues to accelerate due to the proliferation of data centers, the computing power required by AI and cloud services, and the ongoing adoption of intermittent renewable energy sources. Aging grid infrastructure and extreme weather events only exacerbate this growing problem. The inability of today's grid to meet demand is leading to higher power prices and decreasing reliability which impacts all customers, especially commercial enterprises. By enabling dynamic load flexibility and leveraging an intelligent energy network of buildings to play an active role in grid stability, GridPoint uniquely serves both businesses and utilities with one platform that drives down energy costs while providing much-needed capacity to the grid. Driving grid modernization and accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future is a shared vision. MIP established the Climate Tech Growth fund with the express purpose of helping portfolio companies like GridPoint commercialize and scale up cutting-edge technologies. MIP views GridPoint as a critical investment and plans to help GridPoint expand into Japan and South Korea. "MIP aims to help drive a carbon-neutral society and, as such, is investing in select global companies dedicated to decarbonization through technology. GridPoint represents an ideal investment opportunity for our fund as their energy solution, comprised of proprietary hardware, combined with a new, cutting-edge software platform, enables commercial companies to dramatically reduce energy usage, while benefitting from the additional control, asset and building insights that adds real value to their operations," says Ichiro Miyoshi, CEO/CIO of MIP. "As energy costs continue to rise, due to increasing demands on the grid, efficient Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) will become more critical than ever," says Miyoshi. "We are pleased to lend our financial support to help support the growth of GridPoint and accelerate their immediate impact on the North American market and ultimately globally." GridPoint Chairman, Peter Corsell, said: "The respective missions of Marunouchi and GridPoint are in perfect alignment. As data centers, AI investments, electrification and manufacturing investments all increase demand on the power grid, GridPoint will continue to deliver much-needed capacity to the grid. Moreover, the deep relationships that Marunouchi brings to the table will help GridPoint enter key international markets." GridPoint's other institutional investors include Goldman Sachs, I Squared Capital, Shell Ventures, TOMS Capital, Fortress Investment Group, Olympia Group, and QVT Financial. About GridPoint GridPoint is a recognized leader in energy management technology that decarbonizes commercial buildings and drives grid modernization. GridPoint's technology platform is deployed in 20,000+ commercial buildings across multiple industries, optimizing energy and sustainability goals for commercial enterprises and electric utilities at the same time. GridPoint's platform leverages data analytics, machine learning, and intelligent automation to deliver unprecedented visibility into complex building operations, reducing energy costs, maximizing decarbonization, and increasing resiliency building by building. Networked together, buildings with GridPoint Intelligence aggregate the reliable and instantaneous capacity that power grids increasingly require. GridPoint's intelligent energy network of buildings is driving grid modernization and accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future. For more information, visit https://www.gridpoint.com. About Marunouchi Innovation Partners Marunouchi Innovation Partners (MIP) is an investment company dedicated to achieving a carbon-neutral society. As a joint venture between Mitsubishi Corporation, MUFG Bank and Pavilion Private Equity, it combines extensive industry experience and investment capabilities, to support the commercialization and scaling of growth stage companies that contribute to decarbonization. MIP manages the Marunouchi Climate Tech Growth Fund L.P., which targets a wide range of climate tech technologies, including next generation energy, renewables, batteries/electrification, carbon reduction and others. Together with our investors and partners, MIP will support companies alongside their journey of global expansion and contribute to the decarbonization of the world from Japan. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE GridPoint As the rotating president of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China is holding a series of presidency events and making full preparations for the SCO summit in Tianjin. The official website of the SCO presidency has been officially launched. From today, China will keep releasing news on our work and preparations for the summit on the website. You are welcome to visit the website (www.scochina2025.org.cn/en). CCTV: Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 this morning. He pointed out that China will step up efforts to promote self-reliance and strength in science and technology at a higher level and integrated development of technological and industrial innovation. We also noted that China has focused on developing new quality productive forces through scientific and technological innovation in recent years, and a series of frontier sci-tech outcomes have kept emerging. What is your comment on Chinas sci-tech development and its international cooperation in this regard? Guo Jiakun: This morning, Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. He pointed out that Chinas firm commitment to an innovation-driven development strategy has led to a notable boost in our innovation capability, and a successful transition from old to new growth drivers. This has not only helped us tide over economic difficulties, but also lifted our medium- to long-term growth prospect and potential. You may have noticed the fruitful results of Chinas sci-tech progress in recent years, ranging from digital networks and AI to aerospace and deep-sea exploration, and to daily necessities and infrastructure. Chinese people can truly feel that science and technology brings a better life. At this years Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, participants are holding lively discussions on sci-tech cooperation topics including AI application and governance and digital capacity-building. They believe that China has achieved remarkable outcomes in developing new quality productive forces, and a series of new technologies have become new engines driving economic growth. China has always been committed to strengthening sci-tech innovation cooperation, promoting the sharing of sci-tech outcomes to better facilitate the development of countries around the world. China is actively working on establishing the China-Japan-ROK Innovation Cooperation Center, and is joining hands with the Lao PDR to build an AI Innovation Cooperation Center. China has also signed a cooperation agreement with Pakistan on selecting and training astronauts and the Chinese space station is expecting the first foreign astronaut. History has proven time and again that only with opening-up and cooperation can a better prospect be embraced. China will continue to join hands with all parties to create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for sci-tech development, bringing benefits to more countries and peoples. AFP: Beijing authorities have resumed criticism of CK Hutchisons sale of its Panama Canal ports. Two Chinese government offices overseeing Hong Kong affairs recently reposted an article that compared the deal to wrecking ones own foundation. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comments on this? Guo Jiakun: On your specific question, Id refer you to competent authorities. Let me stress more broadly that China firmly opposes moves that infringe on and undermine other countries legitimate rights and interests through economic coercion, hegemonism and bullying. CCTV: In the complex and turbulent global security landscape, the international community expects Chinas greater role in promoting world peace and stability. Yesterday afternoon, a high-level dialogue on global governance was held at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong attended the event and delivered a keynote speech on joining hands to implement the Global Security Initiative to safeguard world peace and security. Could you share more details with us? Guo Jiakun: On the afternoon of March 26, the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 hosted the high-level dialogue on global governance after the U.N. Summit of the Future. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong attended the event upon invitation and delivered a keynote speech. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Last year, the U.N. Summit of the Future was held, during which the Pact for the Future was adopted. With the international landscape undergoing turbulence and transformation, peace and security is the top priority of global governance. President Xi Jinping, with a global vision and bearing in mind the well-being of all humanity, has put forward and promoted the Global Security Initiative (GSI), which is aimed at building the widest consensus and pooling efforts in the international community, improving global security governance and resolving security plights. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong focused on sharing with the Chinese and foreign guests the essence and outcomes of the initiative. He said that we need to create synergies between the GSI and the Pact for the Future on global security governance, coordinate their implementation, and achieve mutual success. He also shared Chinas proposals on strengthening security cooperation and promoting world peace and tranquility under the guidance of the GSI. Guests from at home and abroad spoke highly of the progress and achievements of the GSI, and expressed their great expectation that the international community will jointly uphold and promote world peace and security. China will continue to work with the international community hand in hand to turn the GSI from consensus into action and the Pact for the Future from a vision into reality, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and usher in a brighter future with lasting peace and universal security. RIA Novosti: U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier that the United States will be charging 25 percent tariffs on all cars made outside the country. I wonder how this move will affect the trade cooperation between China and the United States. Guo Jiakun: We noted that major trading partners of the U.S. have already responded. Trade and tariff wars have no winners. No country in the world thrive and prosper through imposing tariffs. The U.S. levies violate WTO rules, undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system, hurt the common interests of people from all countries and will not help address the U.S.s own problem. China Daily: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said in Latin America Chinas investments are predatory practices, which come attached with a huge loan that can never be repaid by the locals. Whats Chinas response? Guo Jiakun: The U.S. spreads disinformation on so-called Chinas predatory practices to sow discord between China and other countries. Such malicious attempt will never succeed. Investment cooperation between China and the rest of the world is based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, openness and mutual accommodation and win-win results. We respect the will of our partner countries, and the cooperation greatly boosted their economic development, improved peoples livelihood, and delivered tangibly to the local people. Theres nothing to support the so-called debt trap narrative. The world can see clearly who exactly is being coercive and predatory. We urge the U.S. to reflect on what it has done to developing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean through bullying and predatory behavior, and stop vilifying China. Reuters: President Donald Trump said yesterday he would be willing to consider a reduction in tariffs on China in exchange for a deal on TikTok. Do you have any comment? Guo Jiakun: China has stated its position on TikTok on multiple occasions. Chinas opposition to imposing additional tariffs is consistent and clear. Reuters: Can we just check your comment from the Foreign Ministry? Is the EU trade commissioner planning to visit from tomorrow? Guo Jiakun: Id refer you to competent authorities. On Thursday afternoon, Russian troops launched a massive shelling of the central part of Kherson, killing two civilians and injuring the driver and a paramedic of an ambulance, said head of the Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin. "The Russians took the life of a 55-year-old woman ... A man, who was staying at the bus stop, received fatal injuries," the Telegram says. Prokudin expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Later, the head of the Military Administration added that during the evacuation of the wounded to the hospital, the ambulance team came under Russian fire. "Medics evacuated a 59-year-old man to the hospital who suffered an explosion injury, concussion and abdominal wound. At that time, the Russians attacked them. Due to the enemy strike, a 33-year-old paramedic and a 63-year-old driver suffered blast injuries and concussions," Prokudin said. "All the victims are now in the hospital," he added. SION, Switzerland, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- H55, the electric aviation leader and spin-off of the pioneering Solar Impulse project, is launching its most ambitious initiative yet: H55 Across America. This cross-country tour will spotlight the Bristell B23 Energic, the first fully electric two-seater aircraft to be certified under Part 23 regulations, at major aviation hubs throughout the United States. Bristell B23 Energic, powered by H55s Electric Propulsion System Bastien Otelli H55s Battery Technology Claudio Latorre From April to August 2025, H55 will deliver real-world electric flight demonstrations with VIP guests stopping at key aviation events including SUN'n FUN in Florida and EAA AirVenture in Wisconsin. "We pioneered electric aviation with Solar Impulse, crossing the U.S. in 2016 during our flight around the world," says Andre Borschberg, H55 Co-Founder and Executive Chairman. "Now we're backnot with a prototype, but with an aircraft to be commercialized, with deliveries starting a next year. The B23 Energic is bringing electric flight to pilot training and general aviation." Targeted at flight schools, aero clubs, military academies, and private pilots, the B23 Energic, powered by H55's certified electric propulsion and battery technology, and manufactured by Bristell offers considerable benefits over conventional aircraft: lower operating costs, efficient and quiet compared to similar combustion model aircraft. "Aviation is at a turning point," says Kristen Jurn, H55's U.S. Sales Manager. "Electrification isn't comingit's here. This tour is about more than showcasing an aircraft. It's about proving electric aviation is ready for scale. As a pilot, I believe the U.S. market, known for embracing innovation, will respond strongly to a solution that delivers both performance and efficiency". "The B23 Energic represents a fundamental shift in how we think about aviation," says Martin Larose, CEO of H55. "Electric flight is no longer a future concept; it's a certified, operational solution ready to deliver real value today. What sets H55 apart is our integrated approach: we don't just build propulsion systems, we deliver a complete electric aviation ecosystemfrom energy storage and performance optimization to certification support". While we started with general aviation, H55 is now expanding its reach with customer applications in regional air mobility and commercial aviation". The Across America Tour is more than a showcase of a groundbreaking aircraftit's a powerful demonstration of how electric aviation can scale and redefine the future of flight. As part of this momentum, H55 is steadily advancing toward key certification milestones: battery certification requirements will be completed by mid-2025, followed by full electric propulsion system (EPS), with U.S. and Canadian approvals to follow. These achievements will cement H55's position as a trusted and certified provider of electric propulsion solutions for the next generation of aircraft. It's an exciting moment for aviationand Across America is a rare opportunity to experience that future, up close and in the air. About the "Across America" Tour H55 Across America is an open invitation to flight schools, government agencies, investors, and aviation professionals to experience the commercial reality of electric flightup close and in the air. Over the course of five months, the tour will make stops at major aviation hubs and events across the U.S., including California, Florida (SUN 'n FUN), Texas, Colorado, and Wisconsin (EAA AirVenture), among others. Tour highlights include: Live Demo & Test Flights Get behind the controls of the B23 Energic and evaluate its performance in real-world conditions. Technology Showcases Explore H55's advanced electric propulsion and battery systems, with a focus on safety, reliability, and scalability. Industry & Government Engagement Join conversations with regulators, aviation stakeholders, and policymakers about the future of sustainable flight. Educational Partnerships Discover how electric aviation is shaping the next generation of pilot training through collaborations with universities and flight academies. Who should attend: Flight Schools Aero Clubs Military Service Academies Airport operators MROs and FBOs Aerospace / Aviation Universities Aviation enthusiasts passionate about the future of flight Where to find us: April, Florida May, Alabama and Arizona and June, Nevada and California and July, Colorado and Wisconsin and August, New York About H55 H55 is a Swiss-based company founded and led by the former Solar Impulse management team, Andre Borschberg, Sebastien Demont and Gregory Blatt. H55's mission is to revolutionize the aviation industry by providing certified electric propulsion and battery management systems tailored to a diverse range of aircraft to achieve sustainable air travel. Through a commitment of providing certified solutions and its pioneering legacy, the H55 team of visionary engineers and aerospace experts is at the forefront of driving the aviation industry toward a more environmentally responsible future, setting new standards, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in electric aviation. For more information [email protected] www.h55.ch H55 SA Route de l'Aeroport 10 1950 Sion Switzerland Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651879/Bristell_B23_Energic.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651880/H55_Battery_Technology.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651995/H55_Logo.jpg SOURCE H55 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TechScience, in collaboration with Harvard University's Public Interest Tech Lab, has released two groundbreaking studies exposing significant flaws in Meta's content moderation practices. These studies, made possible by the publicly available internal Meta documents from FBarchive.orgleaked by whistleblower Frances Haugenprovide compelling evidence of Meta's struggles to effectively manage harmful content on a massive scale. The research highlights critical issues impacting content moderation across different languages and underscores the inadequacy of replacing expert moderators with crowdsourced efforts. Learn more about these critical findings and their implications for online safety by visiting the TechScience website. Access the full reports and data at [ techscience.org/a/2025022503/ ] and [ techscience.org/a/2025022501/ ]. Understanding these issues is crucial for shaping a safer digital environment. "New research, utilizing data from FBarchive.org, reveals a significant disparity in Meta's content moderation across languages. Dr. Latanya Sweeney, Director of the Public Interest Tech Lab at Harvard and former CTO of the FTC, says: They show vulnerabilities in English and Spanish. For example, only 49% of harmful search terms in English triggered safety interventions, compared to a mere 21% in Spanish, highlighting a critical vulnerability in Meta's current system and the disproportionate risk faced by non-English users." The first study, "Facebook's Search Interventions: Bad in English, Peor en Espanol," reveals a stark disparity in the effectiveness of Meta's safety interventions across different languages. The research found that while 49% of problematic search terms in English triggered safety measures, this number plummeted to a mere 21% for similar Spanish terms. This disparity significantly increases access to violent, sexually explicit, and other harmful content for Spanish-speaking users. The second study, "Linguistic Inequity in Facebook Content Moderation," delves into the challenges posed by Meta's reliance on automated translation tools for non-English content moderation. This approach, the study shows, leads to numerous misinterpretations, resulting in harmful posts remaining online while innocuous content is mistakenly removed. A comparative survey of English and native Mandarin speakers further highlighted the significant discrepancies in judgment when assessing translated content, emphasizing the inherent risks of a system heavily dependent on flawed machine translation. Key findings from both studies include: Inconsistent application of safety interventions across languages. Significantly higher accessibility of harmful content in non-English searches. Reliance on automated translation tools leading to misinterpretations and flawed moderation. Substantial disparities in content assessment between native and non-native speakers. These findings raise serious concerns about Meta's recent decision to reduce its reliance on professional moderators and shift towards a volunteer-based Community Notes system. The studies strongly suggest that crowdsourced moderation, while well-intentioned, is an inadequate substitute for the expertise and nuanced judgment of trained professionals, particularly in addressing the complex challenges of cross-lingual content moderation. The research emphasizes the urgent need for more robust and equitable content moderation strategies to ensure a safer online experience for all users. Media Contact: Latanya Sweeney, PhD Public Interest Tech Lab, Harvard University [email protected] TechScience.org is an independent, online publication for peer-reviewed research on technology-society clashes, sponsored in part by the Public Interest Tech Lab at Harvard University. SOURCE TechScience "Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America not only represents the Group's advanced manufacturing capabilities and commitment to innovation, but also our investment in relationships with our partners and communities right here in Georgia," said Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group. "With the rich history of craftsmanship and manufacturing in this community, together with the talented workforce at HMGMA we are building the future of mobility with America, in America." The event was attended by Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung, Governor Brian P. Kemp, U.S. Representative Buddy Carter, Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Jaehoon Chang, Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO Jose Munoz, Kia Corporation President and CEO Ho Sung Song, company officials, state and local leaders, HMGMA Meta Pro employees, and other distinguished guests. "Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, made possible by our commitment to working with job creators to build fruitful partnerships for decades. Collaborations between HMGMA and Georgia's universities and technical colleges, including Georgia Quick Start's on-site training facility, are preparing Georgians for high-quality jobs of today and tomorrow, while our award-winning infrastructure, such as our ports connects companies to markets around the nation and globe," said Governor Kemp during the event, highlighting the positive impact of the plant on the state's economy as well as its role in advancing innovative manufacturing and cultivating a skilled labor pool in Georgia. HMG entered into a landmark agreement with the State of Georgia in May 2022 to establish a cutting-edge electric and hybrid vehicle production and battery manufacturing facility in Ellabell, Georgia, located 20 miles outside of historic Savannah. By June 2022, HMGMA was officially formed, and within four months, the company broke ground on the project, setting an unprecedented pace for development. On October 3, 2024, less than two years after breaking ground, the first vehicle a Hyundai IONIQ 5 rolled off the assembly line, marking a new era for the Group's U.S. operations. Hyundai's IONIQ 9 three-row electric SUV is also now in production at HMGMA and will be joined in 2026 by the first Kia model to be built at the facility. In addition to manufacturing electric vehicles for Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia, the plant is also equipped to produce hybrid vehicles. HMGMA has the capacity to initially produce 300,000 vehicles annually. Investment and Economic Impact The Group's investment in Georgia related to HMGMA and joint battery ventures with LG Energy Solution and SK On is $12.6 billion. This represents the largest single investment in the state's history and includes a total of 8,500 jobs at HMGMA by 2031. The Group's total investments in Georgia are expected to create nearly 40,000 direct and indirect jobs, and $4.6 billion in individual earnings every year, according to the Center for Automotive Research. As of July 2024, more than $2.5 billion in capital investment and approximately 6,900 jobs have been announced by HMGMA suppliers in 12 counties across the state. This more than doubles the additional $1 billion investment by suppliers that was originally anticipated. HMGMA exemplifies the Group's dedication to fostering economic growth, driving technological advancements, and delivering sustainable solutions to the U.S. market. To date, the Group has invested more than $20.5 billion in the U.S. in the service of these goals, creating or supporting over 570,000 jobs nationwide. Earlier this week, the Group announced a significant investment of $21 billion in the U.S. from 2025 to 2028; $9 billion will be invested to establish an annual production capacity in the U.S. of 1.2 million vehicles. The Group plans to expand HMGMA's annual production capacity to a total of 500,000 units, an increase of 200,000 units from the original plan. In addition, the Group's existing U.S. production sites Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Kia Autoland Georgia will also see improvements in production facilities. SOURCE Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED WASHINGTON, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On February 28, 2025, the Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice bestowed the IP Social Justice Lifetime Achievement Award on Patricia Carter Ives Sluby, a retired United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent Examiner, registered patent agent, and the author of ground breaking works which chronicle the history of black inventors and patent holders in the United States. Social Justice luncheon panelists from left to right: Dalindyebo Shabalala, Kara Swanson, Honoree Patricia Sluby, Lateef Mtima, and John Whitman "Patricia Sluby researched, documented, and published critical works detailing the innovative achievements of America's black inventors," noted Lateef Mtima, Director of IIPSJ and a Professor of Law at the Howard University School of Law, "thanks to her work, this previously lost history of African American accomplishment has been recovered and has provided the foundation for important legal scholarship, as well as inspiration for modern day inventors from all walks of American life." Patricia Sluby grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where her parents were committed to ensuring that she and her three siblings all attended college. She excelled in science and math, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Virginia Union University in 1960, and in 2015 she received the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University. Encouraged by a fellow chemist, Patricia Sluby joined the US Patent and Trademark Office as a patent examiner in the early days of the Equal Employment Opportunity program and later achieved the status of a Patent Cooperation Treaty examiner, in the filing system administered by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Patricia Sluby began compiling facts and information on African American inventors, including women inventors, and published articles in USPTO journals and many other national publications, including the 1990 Bicentennial CelebrationUnited States Patent and Copyright Laws Proceedings, Events and Addresses. Her books include Creativity and Inventions: The Genius of Afro-Americans and Women in the United States and Their Patents; The Inventive Spirit of African Americans; and The Entrepreneurial Spirit of African American Inventors. Dr. Kara W. Swanson, Professor of Law at the Northeastern University School of Law commends the unique value of Patricia Sluby's works. "Patricia Sluby has devoted decades to the painstaking and critical work of identifying Black inventors. Her recovery of lost stories has enabled us to understand how inventiveness exists in all segments of the US population, a lesson that we cannot afford to forget as we plan for the future." In addition to her repertoire of books and articles, Patricia Sluby's has a long history of public service, including appointment as a Department of Commerce Science and Technology Fellow and to a subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs, where she drafted a bill to place the first woman bank president in the US on a coin. She has served as Special Director in the Office of Cultural Resources of the National Park Service and as a technical advisor for the USPTO film From Dreams to Reality: A Tribute to Minority Inventors. In 1984, Patricia Sluby received the Employee of the Year award from the Department of Commerce, and the USPTO Commissioner's EEO award for 1993 and in 1996, a bronze medal for superior federal service. Patricia Sluby is also a member of the board of directors of the Museum for Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which was founded in 2011, and is co-curator of the exhibit, Patented Ingenuity: The Art of African American Inventors, at the Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center. "Patricia Sluby has served as a productive member of the MBIE Board," notes Dr. John R. Whitman, Executive Director of the Museum, "Her experience as a patent examiner qualifies her as a role model for aspiring Black female achievers as does her scholarship and original research on Black innovators and entrepreneurs in her publications, which provide the leading source of content for the Museum." Patricia Sluby is past president of the National Intellectual Property Law Association and a contributing editor of the Journal of the National Society of Black Engineers. She holds 22 copyright registrations, is a sister in the Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. sorority, and is the proud mother of two daughters, Felicia, an architectural engineer and Julia, a medical doctor. SOURCE Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice (IIPSJ) JENA, Germany, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ZEISS Medical Technology announced today that the ILM staining dye ILM-Blue from DORC (Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (International) B.V.) has received National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approval in China, marking a significant milestone in the product's global journey. "ZEISS and DORC are committed to supporting surgeons in the China market with the latest innovation and tools that create a higher standard of care and better patient experience," says Pierre Billardon, Head of Business Sectors Surgery Posterior Segment at ZEISS Medical Technology and CEO of DORC International. "The global success of ILM-Blue underscores the company's commitment to providing high-quality and effective solutions to the ophthalmic community." "We are delighted to bring ILM-Blue to the Chinese market, where it will provide retina surgeons with a proven, high-quality staining solution to enhance visualization," says Jessie Jiang Bo, General Manager of DORC in China. "This approval reinforces our dedication to expanding access to innovative ophthalmic solutions that help surgeons to improve patient outcomes." ILM-Blue is used to clearly stain and easily distinguish the inner limiting membrane (ILM) from underlying retinal layers during vitreoretinal surgery. This facilitates membrane removal and reduces the risk of retinal damage1. Since its launch in 2010, ILM-Blue from DORC has been used in more than 900,000 procedures worldwide2, consistently supporting vitreoretinal surgeons to improve patient outcomes and setting new standards in posterior segment surgery. With this latest approval, ILM-Blue becomes the first DORC posterior dye product available in China, bringing its trusted solution and proven benefits3,4 to healthcare professionals and patients in the region. To date, ILM-Blue remains the only ILM staining solution approved by the FDA. It is marketed under the brand name TissueBlue in the U.S. and is listed as the #1 preferred ILM stain among U.S. retina surgeons5. 1 Instructions for use. 2 DORC data on file. 3 Figueroa M.S. et al; Long-term outcomes of 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with Internal Limiting Membrane peeling and gas tamponade for myopic traction maculopathy, retina: September 2015 - volume 35 - issue 9 - p 1836-1843 doi: 10.1097/iae.0000000000000554. 4 Veckeneer, M., Mohr, A., Alharthi, E., Azad, R., Bashshur, Z. F., Bertelli, E., ... & Melles, G. R. (2014). Novel 'heavy'dyes for retinal membrane staining during macular surgery: multicenter clinical assessment. Acta Ophthalmologica, 92(4), 339-344. 5 2023 survey of US retinal Surgeons, ASRS meeting, Seattle. Not all products, services or offers are approved or offered in every market and approved labeling and instructions may vary from one country to another. For country-specific product information, see the appropriate country website. Product specifications are subject to change in design and scope of delivery as a result of ongoing technical development. The statements of the healthcare professionals reflect only their personal opinions and experiences and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any institution that they are affiliated with. The healthcare professionals alone are responsible for the content of their experience reported and any potential resulting infringements. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and its affiliates do not have clinical evidence supporting the opinions and statements of the healthcare professionals nor accept any responsibility or liability of the healthcare professionals' content. The healthcare professionals have a contractual or other financial relationship with Carl Zeiss Meditec AG and its affiliates and have received financial support. Contact for investors Sebastian Frericks Head of Group Finance & Investor Relations Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Phone: +49 3641 220-116 Email: [email protected] Contact for the press Frank Smith Head of Global Communications Ophthalmology Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc. Phone: +49 3641 220 331 Email: [email protected] www.zeiss.com/newsroom About Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE0005313704), which is listed on the MDAX and TecDAX of the German stock exchange, is one of the world's leading medical technology companies. The Company supplies innovative technologies and application-oriented solutions designed to help doctors improve the quality of life of their patients. The Company offers complete solutions, including implants and consumables, to diagnose and treat eye diseases. The Company creates innovative visualization solutions in the field of microsurgery. With 5,730 employees worldwide, the Group generated revenue of 2,066.1m in fiscal year 2023/24 (to 30 September). The Group's head office is located in Jena, Germany, and it has subsidiaries in Germany and abroad; more than 50 percent of its employees are based in the USA, Japan, Spain and France. The Center for Application and Research (CARIn) in Bangalore, India and the Carl Zeiss Innovations Center for Research and Development in Shanghai, China, strengthen the Company's presence in these rapidly developing economies. Around 39 percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's shares are in free float. Approx. 59 percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world's leading groups in the optical and optoelectronic industries. For more information visit our website at www.zeiss.com/med About D.O.R.C. Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (International) B.V. D.O.R.C. is one of the world's leading suppliers of equipment, instruments and liquids for ophthalmic surgery. For over 40 years, D.O.R.C. has grown into a successful international business, shaping its product portfolio through close collaboration with leading top surgeons. The company improves eye surgery globally and maximizes surgeon control by providing innovative quality approaches for eye disorders. Its products are exported to more than 80 countries worldwide. The company is headquartered in Zuidland, the Netherlands, and has more than 800 employees. In April 2024, D.O.R.C. was acquired by Carl Zeiss Meditec AG. SOURCE Carl Zeiss Meditec AG LONDON, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- We are outraged that the tariff situation with the US has been neglected by the EU. President Trump has been very clear on his intention to implement tariffs on the auto industry. He has been asking for fairness and reciprocity and yet European leaders have not come to the table to negotiate a better solution. The US government has also been clear about the consequences of non-engagement. This should be a surprise to no-one in the EU, and it could and should have been averted. Lynn Calder, CEO of INEOS Automotive commented: "This is what happens when politicians sit on their hands. As a growing EU-based automobile brand, we are vulnerable to tariffs, and we need our politicians to support our business, our jobs and our economies. We need urgent and direct political intervention on tariffs." "We will give whatever support we can to our political leaders to keep the playing field even for small, competitive brands such as Grenadier. But we must see action from EU politicians: only they are in a position to address the issue. Fortunately, we have been planning for tariffs but there is only so much we can do to protect US customers from price rises." Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651861/5238578/INEOS_Grenadier_Logo.jpg SOURCE INEOS Automotive The immersive skilled trades learning company has been recognized for its overall growth, employee satisfaction and superlative reputation as a trusted leader. AUSTIN, Texas, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive education for the skilled trades, has been named by Forbes as one of America's best startup employers. Their inclusion on the 2025 list marks the third year in a row that Interplay Learning has received this distinction. Interplay Learning, a leader in immersive learning for the skilled trades, has been recognized as a top startup employer. The annual Forbes listdesigned to help job seekers identify the best opportunities for sustainable career growth within the startup sectorsurveys more than 3,000 companies from across the United States, focusing on those with 50 or more employees. Only companies founded between 2015 and 2022 were eligible for this year's list. "As we plan for continued momentum and strategic growth, we understand the importance of having top talent in place," said Doug Donovan, CEO and founder at Interplay Learning. "Our goal is to provide employees with an environment in which they can flourish personally as well as professionally, and we are honored to see those efforts celebrated for the third year straight." The Forbes list assesses startups on the basis of three criteriacompany reputation, employer satisfaction and growth. Company reputation is based on perceptions of the employer's culture and overall employee engagement levels, as determined through the analysis of relevant blogs and social media posts. Employee satisfaction assesses online reviews as well as company policies related to compensation, healthcare, flexibility and diversity. Growth encompasses the company's head counts, career openings and website traffic growth over a two-year span. "At Interplay Learning, we have always attracted passionate employees, diverse in many respects yet like-minded in our love for the trades," said Donovan. "The employee culture we have created is a feather in our cap and stands as one of the assets we are most proud of." For more information about Interplay Learning, visit www.interplaylearning.com. 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. Recent accolades include Fast Company's Annual List of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024, AHR's 2024 Innovation Award, IACET 2024 Innovation of the Year Award, NFMT 2024 Vision Awards and Forbes' 2023 America's Best Startup Employers. Visit www.interplaylearning.com to learn more. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 [email protected] SOURCE Interplay Learning PITTSBURGH, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a product to assist individuals in applying the Ezekiel choke on an assailant," said an inventor, from Overland Park, Kan., "so I invented the EZEKIEL CHOKE TOOL. My design offers a more accessible alternative to traditional self-defense products." The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to apply the chokehold known as the Ezekiel choke for self defense. In doing so, it offers increased leverage. As a result, it assists in rendering an attacker or assailant unconscious, and it enhances personal safety. The invention features a discreet and compact design that is easy to use so it is ideal for the general population, especially those who may be vulnerable to attacks. Additionally, a prototype model and technical drawings are available upon request. The original design was submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 23-MHO-474, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp PITTSBURGH, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "We wanted to create a better tasting pacifier to help soothe a fussy baby," said one of two inventors, from Richland, Wash., "so we invented the SWEET SOOTHIES. Our flavorful design would offer an alternative to using a neutral-flavored rubber or silicone nipple." The invention provides a new line of pacifiers for babies. In doing so, it allows the baby to enjoy a pleasant flavor. As a result, it could help soothe the baby. It also could help make the pacifier more inviting and enjoyable for a baby. The invention features a unique design that is easy to use so it is ideal for parents with babies. Additionally, it is producible in design variations. The original design was submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 23-CLM-725, InventHelp, 100 Beecham Drive, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9801, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com. SOURCE InventHelp CHICAGO, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- North Square Investments today announced that Jacqueline Melugin had joined the firm as an Internal Sales Consultant. The announcement was made by Head of Distribution Phil Callahan, who said Jacqueline will report to Vice President and Manager of Internal Sales Brent Troy, M.A., CIMA, CSRIC. In her newly created position, Jacqueline will provide internal sales support to North Square's Field Distribution Team. "As our firm continues on its current growth trajectory with the expansion of our investment capabilities, product offerings and advisor relationships, we are delighted to have Jacqueline join North Square," Callahan said. "With her most recent experience working with the sales team at Nuveen and particularly with her deep knowledge of investments and fixed income products, we know Jacqueline will be an outstanding addition to our team." Most recently, Jacqueline worked as an Internal Advisor Consultant with Nuveen in Chicago, where she partnered with the Mass Affluent and Private Wealth Advisor sales teams to achieve sales objectives and increase market share, as well as serviced and grew existing relationships to promote Nuveen's fixed income, equities, private credit and private real estate investment solutions. Other positions held at Nuveen during Jacqueline's nine-year tenure at the firm included Internal Advisor Services Representative and Consulting Services Associate. Before joining the investment management industry, Jacqueline was a teacher in Chicago. Jacqueline received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Kent State University with a Concentration in English and holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses. About North Square Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, North Square is an independent, multi-boutique investment firm committed to the sourcing, vetting and delivery of institutional quality, active investment managers to their financial intermediary partners which include broker dealers, wealth management advisors, Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs), family offices, retirement plans and private banks. North Square believes the firm delivers value to its investment partners by providing support services and access to distribution while assisting distribution partners as they search for high quality, alpha-generating active investment strategies to build better risk-adjusted portfolios for their clients. North Square has an experienced senior management team comprised of seasoned professionals, a board composed of industry veterans, and is backed by Estancia Capital Partners. As of February 28, 2025 North Square had $2.16 billion of assets under management in 12 mutual funds, one closed end fund and one ETF. With North Square's ownership interests (majority and minority, respectively) in the distinctly branded firms of CS McKee and Oak Ridge Investments, collective assets under management and advisement totaled $12.79 billion. Learn more about North Square Investments at northsquareinvest.com. Media Contact: Martin Gawne (312) 857-2167 [email protected] SOURCE North Square Investments Brussels' position on sanctions against Russia remains unchanged: In order to cancel or change them, Russian troops must be withdrawn from all of Ukraine The European Commission's position on sanctions against Russia, which were imposed because of the war it is waging against Ukraine, remains unchanged: the main prerequisite for their lifting is the withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine. European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said this in Brussels on Thursday, answering journalists' questions about the Kremlin's demand to reconnect Russian banks to the SWIFT system in order to agree to a temporary ceasefire. These sanctions have been imposed in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the end of Russian's 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 and Russia must demonstrate a genuine political will to end its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression, she said. Hipper stressed that any peace agreement and any discussions on this issue must lead to a fair and lasting peace for Ukraine. However, she did not answer the question of whether the White House had already contacted Brussels on this issue. The European Commission spokeswoman stated that on the political side what we are aiming at is maximizing the pressure on Russia. So this is number one and this is why we're using all our tools at our disposal. That's why we have 16 sanction packages. That's why we're working on another one and this is why we are enhancing all the support in terms of military ammunition and air defense for Ukraine. This is not about or let me put it differently. This is about wanting a just and durable peace. Ukraine wants this more than anyone. This is also what the EU wants and this is what we are there to do, Hipper stressed. She also explained that any decisions on sanctions must be taken unanimously. The Leading Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications Franchise Poised for New Growth and Innovation with Howe at the Helm CARROLLTON, Texas, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS , the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today the appointment of Jim Howe, former president of Propelled Brands' company NerdsToGo, as president of FASTSIGNS, effective immediately. Jim Howe, President of FASTSIGNS "Jim is the perfect fit to lead FASTSIGNS, bringing his strategic vision and deep expertise in franchising to drive the brand's objectives and large-scale initiatives forward," said Catherine Monson, CEO of Propelled Brands. "I've witnessed Jim's positive impact firsthand across the Propelled Brands network for over a decade, and I'm honored to appoint him to this role." Howe brings more than 30 years of franchising experience to his new role, including 11 years as vice president, leading operations and franchise support at FASTSIGNS. Most recently, he served as president of NerdsToGo, the managed IT services brand for small businesses under the Propelled Brands umbrella. During his tenure, Howe demonstrated exceptional brand stewardship, leading NerdsToGo's transformation into a Managed Service Provider (MSP), positioning him for success in his new role as FASTSIGNS president. "It's an incredible honor to return to FASTSIGNS as president," said Howe. "Having been part of the brand's journey for over a decade, I'm eager to build on its legacy of innovation and drive continued growth by empowering our franchisees and strengthening our network." As president of FASTSIGNS, Howe will be responsible for increasing franchisee profitability through effective leadership, innovation, new revenue streams, and operational efficiencies, as well as driving growth in the number of franchise locations. He will focus on franchisee/franchisor collaboration, sharing best practices, optimizing processes, increasing franchisee profitability and satisfaction, as well as deepening customer relationships to bring the brand promise to life. About FASTSIGNS FASTSIGNS is the leader in the custom signs and visual solutions industry. With 40 years of experience, FASTSIGNS helps customers bring their vision to life and achieve more than they ever thought possible. As the largest service-oriented business within the Propelled Brands family, FASTSIGNS spans over 785 independently owned and operated centers across the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, Malta, the Dominican Republic and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS is frequently recognized for franchisee satisfaction and with awards that include being ranked #1 in its category on ENTREPRENEUR's highly competitive Franchise 500 List in 2025 for the ninth consecutive year, and being named a 2024 Best-in-Category Franchise by Franchise Business Review for the sixth consecutive year. For more information or to learn about opportunities, visit fastsigns.com or contact Mark Jameson ( [email protected] or call 214.346.5679). About Propelled Brands Propelled Brands is a multi-brand platform company dedicated to accelerating the growth of service-oriented businesses with an unrelenting focus on franchising best practices and franchisee profitability and satisfaction. We have a robust franchise business model that provides a clear growth trajectory for the unique position, purpose and momentum of each brand. While there are many paths to success, there's only one direction we know: forward. Our portfolio includes highly recognized and award winning brands: FASTSIGNS, MY SALON Suite, Camp Bow Wow and NerdsToGo. Propelled Brands is looking to partner with other service-oriented franchise concepts. For more information or to learn about opportunities, visit propelledbrands.com or contact Mark Jameson ( [email protected] or call 214.346.5679). SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc. State-court claims allege defendants concealed 'dangerous, horrific' living conditions MIAMI, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dozens of military families adversely affected by toxic privatized housing at Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West have brought new state-court fraud and gross negligence claims against Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC and other entities, according to the families' legal team at The McKee Law Group, Just Well Law, PLLC, and Cooper & Kirk, PLLC. Filed in Monroe County Circuit Court, the new claims brought by 192 current and former residents of Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West allege that Balfour Beatty, for at least a decade, has failed the communities with "shoddy maintenance practices and corporate indifference or ineptitude." The lawsuit alleges, "Balfour concealed the horrific conditions from unsuspecting service men and women and their families. When these conditions were discovered and reported, Balfour systematically failed to properly repair and remediate significant problems in the homes, including water damage, mold, structural defects, HVAC, plumbing issues, electrical problems, and the presence of lead paint and asbestos. Balfour misled Plaintiff families into believing that repairs were made, knowing that families living in the homes would likely suffer serious health problems as a result of the conditions." The families suffered from severe physical, emotional, and financial harm because of the defendants' actions and omissions, the lawsuit alleges. The families report exposure-related medical problems that include asthma and other respiratory issues, sinusitis, migraines, memory loss, brain fog, blurred vision, compromised immune systems, and other serious issues. Those physical injuries have also led to extreme stress and, emotional and psychological injuries such as depression and anxiety. The defendants are Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC; Southeast Housing, LLC; Balfour Beatty Military Housing Management, LLC; BBC Military Housing Navy Southeast LLC; BBC Military Housing; Balfour Beatty Investments; and Balfour Beatty PLC. "This case concerns the unsafe and unhealthy conditions that military families living at NAS Key West have been exposed to, not because of lack of funding or resources, but because of the systematic neglect by Defendants," the lawsuit alleges. "When families reported dangerous mold, water damage, and other serious unsafe conditions and defects in their homes, Balfour repeatedly failed to remediate the issues, falsely marked work orders as complete, and exposed residents to pests and to toxic substances including mold, asbestos, and lead-based paint." The families in the case are represented by Robert J. McKee, of The McKee Law Group, of Davie, Fla.; Kristina S. Baehr and Maggie Neusel of Just Well Law, PLLC, of Austin, Texas; and David Thompson, Vincent J. Colatriano, and Michael Weitzner, of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, of Washington, D.C. Kristina S. Baehr, of Just Well Law, PLLC, said, "Balfour refuses to follow standard environmental protocols or take even the most basic precautions. And in the process, Balfour puts the health, safety and financial security of these military families at risk. These military families are taking a stand for one another and for all of us. We cannot be mission ready if our military families are sick." Robert J. McKee, of The McKee Law Group, said, "Looking at the plethora of supporting facts, including those described in the lawsuit, we think the evidence clearly shows that Balfour has failed to take basic steps to ensure that the housing is free from exposure to hazardous materials. As the court filing asserts, Balfour has also repeatedly and systematically failed to address these dangerous housing conditions, forcing our military families to suffer these appalling harms, endure this appalling behavior, or live with these appallingly unsafe, unhealthy, and hazardous housing conditions." In December 2021, Balfour Beatty Communities LLC pled guilty to committing major fraud against the United States and was ordered to pay $65.4 million in fines and restitution for misconduct relating to its military housing practices in federal contracts. Balfour also agreed to pay $35.2 million to resolve a False Claims Act civil suit brought by the government. In 2022, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released a report, Mistreatment of Military Families in Privatized Housing. The subcommittee found "ongoing mistreatment" by Balfour that "has put the health and safety of military families at risk." The new case is Jackie and Anthonie Talarico, et al., v. Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC, et al., Filing No. 219777487 in the Circuit Court for Monroe County, Florida. The case includes claims of breach of contract, negligence, gross negligence, nuisance, negligent infliction of emotional distress, breach of warranty of habitability, violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and fraud. Media Contact: Erin Powers, Powers MediaWorks LLC, for Just Well Law, PLLC, The McKee Law Group and Cooper & Kirk, PLLC, 281.703.6000, [email protected]. SOURCE Just Well Law, PLLC The Company continues to work diligently to file its 2024 SEC reports ST. LOUIS , March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Latch, Inc . ("Latch" or the "Company"), soon to be DOOR , today announced that on March 26, 2025, the Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the "2023 Annual Report") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Company also concurrently filed its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, and September 30, 2023 (the "2023 Quarterly Reports" and, collectively with the 2023 Annual Report, the "2023 Reports"). The filing of the 2023 Reports, less than four months after the Company completed its previously-announced restatement with the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, marks another major milestone for the Company as it continues on its path to becoming current with its SEC filing obligations and obtaining quotation of its securities on the OTC Markets. The Company is working diligently to complete its outstanding SEC filings for the year ended December 31, 2024. 2023 Financial and Business Highlights Software revenue of $17.8 million , a $4.8 million (37%) year-over-year increase , a (37%) year-over-year increase Total revenue of $45.0 million , a $2.0 million (5%) year-over-year increase, while reducing operating expenses by $38.7 million , a 24% improvement , a (5%) year-over-year increase, while reducing operating expenses by , a 24% improvement Net loss of $(107.5) million , a $54.8 million (34%) year-over-year improvement , a (34%) year-over-year improvement Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) of $(68.5) million , a $50.0 million (42%) year-over-year improvement "When I joined the Company in the middle of 2023 as SVP of Finance, we were experiencing significant headwinds and disruption in the business, primarily due to the ongoing restatement process, a large-scale re-organization effort that was necessary to right-size the business, and general market conditions," said David Lillis, who was appointed as Chief Executive Officer on February 6, 2025. "Despite the disruption caused by those activities, we increased total revenue year-over-year while simultaneously reducing our operating expenses by 24% over the same period. We did so in the face of many complex challenges, including a complete replacement of our sales team in the third quarter of 2023. I'm proud of the resilience of our team amidst such adversity. Our focus on balancing growth and operational discipline continued into 2024 and 2025, and I am excited about what the future holds for Latch. With the restatement now behind us, our priorities are getting current with our SEC reporting obligations, maintaining operational excellence, and continuing to innovate and deliver solutions that will benefit our customers." Key Business Metrics (in thousands) Year ended December 31, 2023 2022 YoY Change (%) GAAP(1) Measures Software revenue $ 17,775 $ 13,024 37 % Total revenue $ 44,961 $ 42,955 5 % Net loss $ (107,540) $ (162,336) (34) % Non-GAAP Measure Adjusted EBITDA $ (68,459) $ (118,573) (42) % (1) Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America Additional details about the Company's 2023 performance are presented in the 2023 Reports. Cash Position Update As of December 31, 2024, the Company's total cash and cash equivalents and current and non-current available-for-sale securities was approximately $75 million.1,2 The Company estimates that it also had approximately $28 million in total inventory as of such date, net of excess and obsolete inventory reserves, including estimated excess reserves of approximately $8 million.2 Total cash and cash equivalents and current and non-current available-for-sale securities decreased by approximately $104 million during the year ended December 31, 2024.2 The decrease was primarily due to approximately $67 million of expenditures related to non-ordinary course activities and events, including (i) the approximately $24 million repayment of principal and accrued interest relating to the promissory notes issued as partial consideration for the Company's 2023 acquisition of Honest Day's Work, Inc., (ii) the withdrawal of $19 million in cash from the Company's investment account as payment for a purchase of securities executed in late December 2023 that was not settled until January 2024, and (iii) approximately $24 million in costs related to (a) legal expenses related to ongoing stockholder litigation and the pending SEC investigation, (b) professional service fees related to restatement of our financial statements and preparation of our 2023 Reports, and (c) restructuring and acquisition related costs. While we anticipate continued elevated cash outflows in 2025 associated with the ongoing stockholder litigation, the pending SEC investigation, and becoming current with our SEC filing obligations, we expect cash outflows related to operating and other non-ordinary activities to be meaningfully lower in 2025 than they were in 2024. The Company is focused on generating positive cash flow through its operations during 2026 (excluding non-ordinary course activities and events). The amounts discussed above are preliminary, unaudited estimates and should not be relied upon for investment decision purposes or as an indicator of the Company's 2024 or 2025 performance. Actual financial and operating results will be disclosed in the Company's 2024 and 2025 SEC reports. 1 Latch also has current and non-current liabilities including, but not limited to, a $6.0 million term loan entered into following the Company's acquisition of HelloTech, Inc. that matures on July 15, 2029, deferred revenue accrued liabilities, accounts payable, and litigation reserves. The total amount of these liabilities cannot be determined until the Company becomes current with its SEC filing obligations. 2 Amounts are preliminary estimates and unaudited. You should not make an investment decision solely based on the financial information contained in this press release because you do not have a complete view of the Company's current financial position. The Company intends to provide its comprehensive financial position in connection with becoming current with its SEC filing obligations, and you should review such information when available. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these amounts, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC. About Latch, Inc. Latch makes spaces better places to live, work, and visit through a system of software, devices, and services. For more information, please visit www.latch.com . Key Business Metrics Latch reviews key business metrics to measure its performance, identify trends affecting its business, formulate business plans, and make strategic decisions that will impact the future operating results of the Company. For definitions of our key business metrics, see the 2023 Annual Report. Increases or decreases in the Company's key business metrics may not correspond with increases or decreases in its revenue. The limitations these key business metrics have as an analytical tool include: (1) they are not necessarily indicative of the Company's future financial results and (2) other companies, including companies in Latch's industry, may calculate key business metrics or similarly titled measures differently, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures. Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement our financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP and to provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, we have presented in this release Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. We define Adjusted EBITDA as our net loss, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization expense, interest income, interest expense, provision for income taxes, restructuring, non-ordinary course legal fees and settlement reserves, loss on extinguishment of debt, gain or loss on change in fair value of derivative instruments, warrant liabilities and trading securities, and transaction-related expenses. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net loss. We believe excluding the impact of these items in calculating Adjusted EBITDA can provide a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our core operating performance. We monitor, and have presented in this release, Adjusted EBITDA because it is a key measure used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our operating performance, to establish budgets, and to develop operational goals for managing our business. We believe Adjusted EBITDA helps identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be masked by the effect of the expenses that we include in net loss. Accordingly, we believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors, analysts, and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of our past performance. Adjusted EBITDA is not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation of, or as an alternative to, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to the use of Adjusted EBITDA rather than net loss, which is the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the expenses and other items that we exclude in our calculations of Adjusted EBITDA may differ from the expenses and other items, if any, that other companies may exclude from Adjusted EBITDA when they report their operating results. In addition, other companies may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a tool for comparison. The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP (in thousands): Year ended December 31, 2023 2022 Net Loss $(107,540) $(162,336) Depreciation and amortization 7,201 5,504 Interest (income) expense, net(1) (2,309) 2,961 Provision for income taxes 30 89 Change in fair value of warrant liability (230) (9,558) Change in fair value of trading securities - 3,460 Restructuring costs(2) 5,812 8,573 Transaction-related costs(3) 1 468 Non-ordinary course legal fees and settlement reserves(4) 10,405 2,010 Stock-based compensation 18,171 30,256 Adjusted EBITDA $ (68,459) $ (118,573) (1) As a result of significant discounts provided to our customers on certain long-term software contracts paid in advance, the Company has determined that there is a significant financing component related to the time value of money and has therefore broken out the interest component and recorded it as a component of interest expense, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Interest (income) expense, net includes interest expense associated with the significant financing component of $4.6 million and $5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. (2) Reflects restructuring costs primarily associated with the reductions in force conducted in 2023 and 2022. (3) Transaction costs related to the Company's 2021 business combination. (4) Non-ordinary course legal fees and settlement reserves incurred in connection with non-ordinary course litigation and disputes. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the amount includes (i) the Company's $14.875 million share of the settlement amount related to a 2023 class action lawsuit filed in the Delaware Chancery Court offset by (ii) the $10.0 million contribution insurers provided to such settlement. While the Company is involved in various litigation and legal disputes in the ordinary course of its business, the Company believes the non-ordinary course legal fees and settlement reserves included in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA do not represent normal and recurring operating expenses. These costs are included within general and administrative within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "would," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the timing of the Company's filings with the SEC, the trading or quotation of the Company's securities on any particular market or exchange, the Company's cash expenditures, cash flows, and other financial or operational results, and the Company's business plans. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release, including: the Company's ability to implement its business plans and achieve revenue forecasts; unexpected delays, difficulties, or expenditures; and other factors outside of the Company's control. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of the 2023 Annual Report and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Company does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations. SOURCE Latch, Inc. Integration of Google AI with Lockheed Martin's AI Factory Ecosystem to Enhance Decision-Making and Innovation BETHESDA, Md. and RESTON, Va., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Google Public Sector today announced their intent to integrate Google's advanced generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) into Lockheed Martin's AI Factory ecosystem. This collaboration will enhance Lockheed Martin's ability to train, deploy, and sustain high-performance AI models alongside other leading providers, accelerating AI-driven capabilities in critical national security, aerospace, and scientific applications. Lockheed Martin and Google Cloud Announce Collaboration to Advance Generative AI For National Security Lockheed Martin's AI Factory leverages both open-source and proprietary AI models, providing traceability, reliability, and monitoring to ensure trust, security, and high-assurance deployment. Google Cloud's AI capabilities will become part of this ecosystem, complementing Lockheed Martin's comprehensive approach to AI. "Using Google Cloud's AI technologies allows us to explore a wide range of powerful capabilities to deliver innovative, reliable solutions that stay ahead of the curve," said John Clark, senior vice president, Lockheed Martin Technology & Strategic Innovation. "A sustained relationship with Google Public Sector is part of our ongoing commitment to a culture of innovation, driving continuous improvement and delivering results for our customers." "Lockheed Martin and Google Cloud share a vision to bring new innovation to the industry with AI," said Jim Kelly, vice president Federal, Google Public Sector. "Our Google Cloud AI technologies will provide Lockheed Martin with a powerful toolset to address some of their most demanding issues faster than ever before." Lockheed Martin will apply these integrated AI capabilities to enhance critical areas including advanced intelligence analysis, real-time decision-making, predictive aerospace maintenance, optimized engineering designs, robust supply chains, secure software development, customized workforce training, and accelerated scientific discoveries. Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform helps organizations train, deploy, and customize large language models (LLMs) securely and at scale, complementing Lockheed Martin's AI Factory's commitment to secure, reliable AI across global operations, including air-gapped environments. This collaboration reflects both companies' shared commitment to trustworthy and secure AI deployment, adhering to the highest standards of security and reliability, hallmarks of both organizations. About Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at LockheedMartin.com. About Google Cloud Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner. SOURCE Google Cloud Secures $14.2 Million in Oversubscribed Series A1 Funding Announces Dan Ginsberg (Former Red Bull CEO) as New Board Member AUSTIN, Texas, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucky Energy, a simpler, better-for-you energy drink, announced today that it has successfully closed a $14.2 million oversubscribed Series A1 round, bringing its total funding to over $40 million. The round is led by Maveron, with backing from DMG Ventures, Second Sight Ventures, and existing investors: Imaginary Ventures, Brand Foundry Ventures, Sapphire Ventures, and Sugar Capital. The capital secured will fuel the brand's growth, enabling it to accelerate distribution, introduce new products, support strategic partnerships, and recruit in key business areas. Additionally, the company welcomed Dan Ginsberg, former Chief Executive Officer of Red Bull NA and CEO of Dermalogica, to its Board of Directors. Lucky Energy Richard Laver, Founder/CEO of Lucky Energy Lucky Energy has experienced explosive growth, entering 10,000 new doors with plans to expand to an additional 15,000 before the end of the year. The brand has also surpassed 400,000 followers across its social channels. The product is designed for individuals seeking to enhance performance with a natural, functional drink. It is currently available in six flavors: Son of a Peach, Orange Drizzle, Red Ryder Punch, OG Luck, Tropical Thrill, and Bodacious Berry. It has zero sugar and zero calories, ensuring a healthier choice for consumers. "In an extremely competitive category, there are very few brands that have what it takes to break through and build consumer-driven success. Lucky is one of those very, very few. The team, the product, and the story are stellar and will compete at the highest level," said Dan Ginsberg. "From the moment we met Richard and the team at Lucky Energy, we were inspired by his extraordinary personal journey and the universally powerful idea that life is something worth celebratingthat each day is a gift. When we tasted the product, we were immediately impressed by its incredible taste, clean ingredients, and bold brand vision. Maveron is thrilled to partner with Lucky Energy and support them on their path from obscurity to ubiquity in the vibrant and rapidly evolving energy drink market," said Dan Levitan, cofounding partner of Maveron. "We are grateful to our partners for sharing our vision for a healthier future," said Richard Laver, founder and CEO of Lucky Energy. "Our mission is to give people the fuel and motivation to persevere and thrive. With this latest investment round and marketing, branding, and operations executive Dan Ginsberg now on our Board, we are well-positioned to lead the category and bring more Luck(y) to the people." "Richard Laver's journey has been the driving force behind Lucky Energy," said Chief Marketing Officer Hamid Saify. He is the youngest survivor of Delta's 191 flight that tragically took the lives of his father and 136 others. After surviving the accident at just 12 years old, he struggled with depression and faced homelessness by the age of 27. Laver eventually found love with Michelle, but during the premature birth of their first child, Kate, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and required a feeding tube for nourishment. Through a series of medical challenges, he founded Kate Farms, which has become the number one recommended plant-based tube-feeding formula, to save her life. Laver launched Lucky Energy to inspire others to persevere, just as he learned to do. As the brand expands into new retail locations, consumers can find Lucky Energy in thousands of stores nationwide. Priced at $26.88 per 12-pack, Lucky Energy is also available for direct purchase through its website and Amazon.com. To stay updated on the latest news and product launches, visit www.luckybevco.com and follow the brand on Instagram and TikTok . For press inquiries, please contact Valeria Carrasco directly at [email protected]. ABOUT Lucky Energy Drink Lucky Energy is committed to providing cleaner, better-for-you products. Founded by serial beverage entrepreneur Richard Laver, the brand's mission is to motivate people to keep going. The product line features six flavors, with a unique blend of five super ingredients, including maca and beta-alanine, and has 0 sugar and 0 calories. Products are available on luckybevco.com, Amazon, and over 10,000 locations nationwide. For more information, visit www.luckybevco.com and follow the brand on Instagram and TikTok . SOURCE Lucky Beverage Company Build Better Together is designed to bolster public-private partnerships and strengthen cross-collaboration among the city's Departments of Planning and Development (DPD), Housing (DOH), Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), as well as World Business Chicago (WBC), the city's public-private economic development agency. "To drive development, growth and meaningful achievement in a city as large and diverse as Chicago, we must include all sectors and citizensfrom businesses, institutions and government to the residents of all 77 community areas. Build Better Together will maximize the connections between all stakeholders and accelerate the development of infrastructure and assets that will not only enable successful change and progress in the near term but also foster a culture of continuous improvement," Mayor Johnson explained. This initiative is based on three foundational pillarsquality and affordable housing for all, business innovation and job growth, and neighborhood investments and vibrant communities. Build Better Together is designed to provide Chicagoans with access to what they need to live, work and thrive and prioritizes breaking down barriers to progress and making investments that directly improve people's lives. "Build Better Together is a critical next step in our citywide effort to deliver lasting, neighborhood-level economic progress," Deputy Mayor of Business and Neighborhood Development Kenya Merritt said. "This encompassing strategy brings cohesion to the work that has been happening across departmentshousing, planning, business development and cultureand focuses our efforts on creating meaningful, measurable outcomes in communities that have been overlooked historically. By deepening our partnerships, removing structural barriers and strategically investing in neighborhoods, we're ensuring that every resident and business has a stake inand benefits fromChicago's economic future." Build Better Together Will Strengthen Chicago's Existing Assets Build Better Together will enable Chicago's proactive city departments to build on and maximize recent improvements and advances brought to fruition due to the Cut the Tape , a program Mayor Johnson initiated in December 2023 , and the $1.25 billion 2024-2028 Housing and Economic Development (HED) bond he constructed and funded in June 2024. "The holistic approach is expediting project approval timelines by more than 40% while creating more opportunities for as-of-right construction through proactive zoning changes that support density, vitality and transit-oriented investments," DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright said. "Meanwhile, the bond and other incentives are strengthening residential markets and encouraging population growth while enabling catalytic investments that attract and retain new business, support workforce development and preserve the buildings and institutions that make Chicago neighborhoods so unique." "Build Better Together represents a turning point in how we connect resources, policies and communities to accelerate the development of affordable housing and thriving neighborhoods. With programs like Rebuild 2.0, City Lots for Working Families, and soon, Green Social Housing, we're able to direct funding and development resources where they're needed most," DOH Commissioner Lissette Castaneda said. "Programs like Cut the Tape are eliminating unnecessary barriers and making it easier to build affordable and mixed-income housing across Chicago. Reducing bureaucracy means developers can move from concept to construction faster, ensuring families get the homes they need without unnecessary delays. By increasing access to homeownership and preserving existing affordable housing, we are not just constructing buildingswe are building the future of Chicago's neighborhoods." "Small businesses are the foundation of our economy, and Build Better Together is a game-changer in how we support them," BACP Commissioner Ivan Capifali said. "Chicago's 50,000-plus businesses are engines of job creation, innovation and economic mobility. Build Better Together is enabling us to build on our newly streamlined business licensing process powered by Cut the Tape, which offers transparent guidance and vastly reduced wait times. It also adds to the value of our 65 Neighborhood Business Development Centers that provide free, hyper-local assistance to entrepreneurs. This type of support ensures that Chicago will remain one of the best cities in the nation for small businesses to start, grow and scale." "Chicago's cultural identity is one of our greatest economic strengths. The depth and breadth of our arts, music and creative industries not only enrich our communities but also attract businesses, top talent and investment. Our city's festivals, art exhibitions and public events are more than just celebrationsthey are economic engines that drive tourism, create jobs and generate revenue for local businesses," DCASE Commissioner Clinee Hedspeth noted. "Our cultural scene is a key pillar of our economic future, and Build Better Together will enable us to expand our commitment to supporting and showcasing the artists, organizations, cultural experiences and creative economies in all our neighborhoods and strengthen our city's global reputation even further." Build Better Together Positions Chicago for Success "Chicago is a world-class city that offers its residents and businesses exceptional advantages and its visitors exceptional and singular experiences. Build Better Together will allow us to maximize all our city's unique and varied assets, attract more businesses and residents and strengthen our investments in housing, culture and business support and creation to make our city more compelling, attractive and welcoming to all who experience it," Mayor Johnson said. "Chicago's economic success is driven by bold ideas, targeted investments, and strong public-private collaboration," World Business Chicago President & CEO Phil Clement said. "The Build Better Together strategy reflects this momentumconnecting businesses, investors, and communities to opportunities that generate inclusive, sustainable growth across the city and region. "In 2024 alone,140 companies chose to expand, relocate or launch in Chicagolandincluding 10 on the South and West Sides. That momentum helped earn Chicago the distinction of Top Metro in the U.S. for Corporate Relocation by Site Selection Magazine," Clement continued. "Business attraction remains a core focus for our team and board, with every member actively recruiting and managing a pipeline of high-potential companies. We're also building on global engagement, with ongoing foreign direct investment efforts tied to the UK, Japan and Germany. "On the innovation front, Chicagoland's emergence as a quantum hub is the result of over $5 billion in investment and alignment at every levelfrom federal and state partners to academic leadership at institutions like the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago. And through our development of an economic plan for the city, we've convened over 200 executives to align around six core growth sectors and the industries driving Chicago's vibrancy," Clement noted. 'All of this reinforces our commitment to keeping the central business districtand all 77 community areascompetitive, thriving and future-ready." For more information, please visit https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/progs/build_better_together.html SOURCE World Business Chicago PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mighty Auto Parts is proud to announce that two outstanding women from our organization, Ashley Shaw, Vice President of Marketing at our Home Office, and Jane Vaden Thacher, a highly successful Mighty Franchise Partner, have been named among the Top 50 Women Leaders of Georgia for 2025 by Women We Admire. Left to Right: Ashley Shaw & Jane Vaden Thacher This prestigious award recognizes women executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are making a significant impact in their industries and communities. Honorees are selected for their professional excellence, innovation, and dedication to fostering leadership and growth. Ashley Shaw: Driving Mighty's Marketing Vision As Vice President of Marketing, Ashley Shaw has played a pivotal role in shaping Mighty Auto Parts' brand strategy, digital presence, and customer engagement initiatives. With a keen eye for innovation and a data-driven approach, she has strengthened the company's marketing efforts, enabling franchisees and partners to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace. "Ashley is an exceptional leader who has elevated our brand and marketing efforts to new heights," said Josh D'Agostino, President & CEO of Mighty Auto Parts. "Her vision and dedication are critical to the success of our company, and she has been instrumental in enhancing marketing services to our franchise network." Jane Vaden Thacher: A Franchise Leader Committed to Excellence Jane Vaden Thacher, President and Dealer Operator for Vaden Automotive, is a distinguished Mighty Auto Parts franchise partner known for her business acumen, operational excellence, and commitment to customer satisfaction. Under her leadership, her franchise has achieved remarkable growth, embodying the spirit of entrepreneurship and dedication that defines Mighty's franchise network. "Jane has a fantastic operation with the Vaden Automotive Group," said Josh D'Agostino. "Her passion for business, commitment to her team, and dedication to customer service make her an invaluable part of the Mighty family." Celebrating Women in Leadership Ashley Shaw and Jane Vaden Thacher's inclusion in the Top 50 Women Leaders of Georgia for 2025 reflects Mighty Auto Parts' commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering work environment. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to women across the automotive and franchising industries. "We are incredibly proud to have Ashley and Jane recognized among Georgia's most influential women leaders," added Josh D'Agostino. "At Mighty, we celebrate such success at all levels of our organization, and this honor highlights the incredible talent within our company and the Mighty System." About Women We Admire Women We Admire is a leading professional network recognizing accomplished female executives across the U.S. and Canada. The organization highlights achievements of exceptional women leaders while providing educational resources and networking opportunities to its members. About Mighty Distributing System of America Mighty Auto Parts, a division of Mighty Distributing System of America, is headquartered in Peachtree Corners, GA. For more than 60 years, we've supported a network of 100 franchised distributors across 44 U.S. states and five international markets. Mighty partners exclusively with automotive professionals, providing unparalleled local service, expert inventory management, and comprehensive training. Our broad range of OE-quality underhood and undercar parts, chemical products, lubricants, and shop supplies continues to attract independent repair shops, quick lubes, tire centers, and new car dealerships nationwide and internationally. Learn more at www.mightyautoparts.com. Follow Mighty Auto Parts online: https://www.facebook.com/MightyAutoParts https://www.linkedin.com/company/mightyautoparts http://www.youtube.com/user/mightyautoparts https://www.instagram.com/mightyautoparts/ SOURCE Mighty Distributing System GOTHENBURG, Sweden, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Minesto, leading developer of ocean energy is selected by renowned bearing manufacturer SKF to be part of a large-scale international marketing brand campaign. The campaign "The Faroe Islands Space Program - a space program that never leaves earth" highlights Minesto's innovative and lightweight yet powerful tidal energy kites; and the opportunity to harness 'moon energy', making the most of the Earth's resources in a sustainable approach. The global brand campaign by SKF showcases Minesto's unique competitive technology, ready for commercial roll-out. The unique tidal energy technology has the potential to unlock a new global renewable resource presently untapped by mankind. Minesto brought SKF on board to design the bearing and sealing systems for the rudders and elevators of the Minesto Dragon kites. SKF now selects Minesto for a global brand collaboration, a marketing campaign including films, social media, editorial content and a press event, is being rolled out across the globe, starting from today. "It is of significant value for Minesto to get global exposure for our technology and the value of the untapped ocean resource that constitutes our market. The timing is near perfect given our ambition to secure commercial partnerships in the Faroe Islands and beyond. The creative 'space angle' combined with our fascinating Dragons where SKF is a strategic technology contributor will most certainly boost awareness and brand recognition for both companies beyond anything historically achieved," says Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto. "Collaboration across industries is essential for progress. Together with Minesto, we are demonstrating how technology and innovation can drive the transition to renewable energy," comments Annika Olme, CTO & SVP, Technology Development, SKF. "From a brand perspective, we are honoured to be selected for this global campaign by renowned friction-fighting innovator SKF. The campaign collaboration between Minesto and SKF creates an intriguing composition. Moreover, we share the same commitment to sustainability and innovation," says Cecilia Sernhage, Chief Communications Officer at Minesto. Introduction to the campaign "The Faroe Islands Space Program - a space program that never leaves earth": Increased demand for energy has led to a new space race where major nations are said to compete to control the Moon's resources. But in fact, we already have endless moon energy on Earth. Tidal energy, driven by the Moon's gravitational pull on our oceans, offers a renewable and predictable power source. Industry leader SKF and ocean energy developer Minesto, together with the Faroese energy company Sev, are launching the Faroe Island Space Program to harness this untapped potential and highlight the urgency of utilizing Earth's existing resources in a smart and sustainable way. Link to Minesto web site: Minesto | Renewable energy. From the ocean. Link to SKF official Newsroom: Newsroom | SKF Link to SKF campaign web site: A Fighting Friction Initiative | SKF Presskontakt Cecilia Sernhage, Chief Communications Officer +46 735 23 71 58 [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com. https://news.cision.com/minesto-ab/r/minesto-s-unique-ocean-energy-technology-at-the-centre-of-global-branding-campaign-together-with-skf,c4125321 Municipal Credit Union will provide volunteers to support the families of children undergoing treatment at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The MCU Foundation, the charitable arm of Municipal Credit Union (MCU), today announced it has donated $100,000 to the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley. This gift will go directly to providing support for families seeking treatment at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, many of whom are residents of the New York City area. MCU Foundation representatives present donation of $100,000 to the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley The Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley (RMHGHV) provides support to hundreds of families each year while their children receive essential medical treatments and care, allowing families the ability to spend every minute possible at their child's side. The MCU Foundation's donation underscores its ongoing support of New Yorkers who need support to help cover basic necessities, especially in moments of high financial stress. When families travel from New York City to seek services at the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley provides them with food and housing so they can focus on caring for their children. In addition to the financial donation from the MCU Foundation, employees of MCU will have opportunities to volunteer at RMHGHV to help young patients and their families. "The MCU Foundation is committed to forging powerful partnerships with organizations that embody our core values and share our dedication to uplifting New Yorkers," said George Chacon, CEO of the MCU Foundation. "The remarkable resilience displayed by these children and their families is an inspiration to all of us. We're proud to not only provide this critical financial support but also to involve our team through meaningful volunteer initiatives." "A gift of this magnitude reflects the power of community and the incredible impact we can make when we come together," said Brittany Moretti, Executive Director of RMHGHV. "With this support, we can provide vital resources to families in need, ensuring they have the stability and assistance necessary to help their children heal. We are deeply grateful for this contribution and the continued commitment to strengthening our community." For more information about the MCU Foundation's initiatives, visit: https://mcufoundation.nymcu.org/ Note to attached photograph, As seen from L-R: Luke Doughterty, Development Officer, RMHGHV Toni-Ann Sforza, Board Member, the MCU Foundation Richard Landau, Board President, RMHGHV Brittany Parsio Moretti, Executive Director, RMHGHV George Chacon, President, the MCU Foundation Kyle Markland, CEO, Municipal Credit Union Cania Infante, Board Member, the MCU Foundation Michael Savino, Board Member, the MCU Foundation About The MCU Foundation Established in 2023, the MCU Foundation was created by the Municipal Credit Union's (MCU) executive leadership with the mission of helping New Yorkers build generational wealth and eliminate poverty in the Five Boroughs. It furthers this mission by increasing access to basic necessities, education and homeownership to uplift the hardworking heroes in our community. For more information about the MCU Foundation and its programs, please visit mcufoundation.nymcu.org About the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley RMHGHV provides families with all the comforts of home and eases some of the emotional and financial burdens they experience when faced with their child's illness. When children must travel long distances to access top medical care, accommodations for families can be expensive or not readily available. Located on the campus of Westchester Medical Center the House is just steps away from Maria Fareri Children's Hospital. Since opening in 2011, RMHGHV has saved more than 3,000 families over $8,000,000 in out-of-pocket lodging and meal costs. As partners in enabling family-centered care RMHGHV strives to be part of the solution in improving the lives of children and their families by providing programs that strengthen families during difficult times. For more information on RMHGHV visit www.rmh-ghv.org or https://www.facebook.com/rmhghv/ MEDIA CONTACT: Trevon James, (732) 995 9335, [email protected] SOURCE Municipal Credit Union "Betty White was an American treasure," said Amber McReynolds, chairwoman of the USPS Board of Governors. "With this stamp, we honor and remember the beloved "First Lady of Television" and the enduring mark she left on our American culture." Also at the event was Dale Stephanos, the artist who worked on the stamp. He described how the tiniest detail in his design came to him at breakfast. "I was absent mindedly drawing instead of eating my eggs and looking back down at the mess I had been making in my sketchbook, I saw that at some point, I had drawn a paw print," said Stephanos. "I had a bit of a eureka moment and thought, what if I just give Betty an earring that's in the shape of a paw print?" Other ceremony participants included Richard Lichtenstein, who co-chaired the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's board of trustees with White; Ellis Hall, a jazz musician known as "The Ambassador of Soul" and friend of White; and Danny Romero, a meteorologist at KABC-TV 7 Eyewitness News who acted as emcee. Background Betty Marion White was born in Oak Park, IL, on Jan. 17, 1922, the only child of parents she came to regard as her best friends. The family moved to Southern California in 1923. A menagerie of pet cats and dogs and annual family trips to California's High Sierra gave an early start to her lifelong love of animals. Young Betty idolized early movie musical stars and developed an interest in acting, sometimes writing plays to perform at school. She also pursued operatic voice training. Many fans who came to know White as a feisty, endearing representative of an older generation are unaware that she first acted on radio in 1930, and that her first television appearance was in 1939. Wearing her high school graduation dress, a teenaged White sang and danced highlights from the operetta "The Merry Widow" in an experimental broadcast seen only by a small audience on an early television set located five floors below the studio. She was also very patriotic, pausing show business pursuits during World War II to serve in the American Women's Voluntary Services, driving a truck to deliver supplies to gunnery encampments in the Hollywood Hills. In the late 1940s, White landed more radio roles, she her first big break on screen came in 1949 with "Hollywood on Television," a pioneering local Los Angeles program. The live improvisational show ran for five and a half hours a day, six days per week. White sang and worked live ads into banter with her co-stars. White later said the intense immersion of running multiple aspects of these broadcasts was like going to "television college." She was awarded a Los Angeles Emmy Award in 1952 for her on-air work. White went on to become the sole host and producer of "Hollywood On Television," and it became known as "The Betty White Show" the first of a handful of shows to bear her name. She also played the title role in the 1952-1955 situation comedy "Life With Elizabeth" which featured vignettes about a newlywed couple. White was not only the star; she also co-created and produced the show becoming one of the first women to produce a nationally broadcast sitcom. White's tireless work ethic, prolific output and impish charm got her noticed. The NBC television network launched a half-hour version of her show in 1954. In 1957, she starred in another sitcom, "Date With the Angels", which was shortly replaced by another sketch-comedy show bearing her name. Her love of games word games in particular also made her a popular game show panelist. And it was in 1961, during a stint as a celebrity contestant on "Password," that her comic skills struck personal gold. White and the show's host, Allen Ludden, met and were mutually charmed. White married the widowed father of three in 1963. In 1971, the couple produced "The Pet Set," a syndicated show of celebrity guests and their pets, along with featurettes of White interacting with wild animals. A lifelong relationship began between the Los Angeles Zoo and White, with the actress serving as advocate, donor and trustee. White and Ludden often attended Friday night filming of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," whose star was a close friend. During the hit show's fourth season, writers created an episode with a character described as a "Betty White type" all sweetness and light. After a failed initial talent search, producers finally cast White herself as a saccharine TV homemaker whose man-hungry and vicious streaks revealed themselves only off-camera. Her delicious portrayal was a hit, and White joined one of television's most acclaimed ensemble casts. A playfully risque aspect also became part of White's public persona, adding another dimension to the perpetual twinkle in her eye. After another self-titled sitcom starring White lasted only 14 episodes, she continued to make guest appearances, including "Mama's Family;" "The Love Boat;" daytime and primetime dramas; and various talk and game shows. In 1983, she became the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy as outstanding game show host for her work on "Just Men!" In 1985, White received an offer to play another world-wise female character named Blanche on "The Golden Girls." In an inspired moment, however, the director suggested a role-swap: White performed the part of Rose sweetly naive and apt to launch into rambling tales of her preposterous hometown, the fictional St. Olaf, MN. "The Golden Girls" was a massive seven-season hit and groundbreaking in the depiction of the lives of older women. White also played Rose in a sequel, "The Golden Palace," which ran only one season. White's career was largely as a TV actress and personality, but her star power also made it to the big screen. She portrayed a U.S. senator in the political drama "Advise and Consent" (1962), and later films included the comedy-horror "Lake Placid" (1999) and the romantic comedy "The Proposal" (2009). She also lent her voice to animated features, including the English-language version of the Japanese film "Ponyo" (2009), and "Toy Story 4" (2019), when she voiced the role of a toothy toy tiger Bitey White, who was named in her honor. As she approached 90, White's career took another turn. She appeared in a Super Bowl commercial in 2010 and a petition campaign that year brought her back to live television; amid much fanfare, White became the oldest-ever guest host of NBC's "Saturday Night Live." The appearance landed White her fifth and final national Primetime Emmy Award. Following the "Saturday Night Live" appearance, White was approached to play a role in the pilot episode of "Hot in Cleveland." She enjoyed the script and castmates so much that she signed on for the series despite her initial concerns about the grueling schedule of a weekly sitcom playing Elka Ostrovsky for all six seasons. During that run, she also hosted "Betty White's Off Their Rockers," a prank show, which ran for three seasons. In addition to her Emmys, White was presented with three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Grammy Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction into the Television Hall of Fame, among many other honors. She was also much recognized for her animal welfare work. White died peacefully in her sleep on Dec. 31, 2021, just 17 days shy of her 100th birthday. Stamp Artwork Sold in a pane of 20, the Betty White stamp features a portrait of the cherished star against a violet-colored background and, in a lighter shade, bubbly spots that befit her sparkling personality. She is portrayed wearing a polka-dotted blue top, and, symbolizing her love of animals, an earring shaped like a pawprint peeks out of her blonde curls. "Betty White," is printed in white near the bottom of the stamp artwork, while "FOREVER USA" is printed just below, in violet. Her name also appears centered atop the white selvage, also in violet. The stamp illustration was created digitally and is based on a photograph taken by Kwaku Alston in 2010. Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original art by Dale Stephanos. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #BettyWhiteStamp. Postal Products Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon . Additional information on stamps, First Day of Issue Ceremonies and stamp inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com . Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com. National contact: Marti Johnson [email protected] usps.com/news Local contact: Natashi Garvins [email protected] usps.com/news SOURCE U.S. Postal Service Macron instructs his FM to find solution for stable and lasting ceasefire in Ukraine within three weeks There is much discussion in Europe about how to monitor the ceasefire in Ukraine once it has been achieved, and French President Emmanuel Macron has instructed the Foreign Ministry to find a solution within three weeks. "There are a lot of discussions going on, they are aimed at trying to come up with a way to monitor the ceasefire after it is done. Should we give priority to the ceasefire, as we did between 2014 and 2022? Should we give the UN a mandate to monitor the peace and monitor the front lines, especially in the occupied territories? Should we develop a special monitoring system?" Macron said during his press conference following the leaders' meeting on support for Ukraine. The French President added that these issues were "hanging." "We have decided to instruct our Foreign Ministry to find a solution within three weeks. They must propose a solution for a stable and lasting ceasefire, and this is something we can then discuss with our partners in the United States," Macron added. Event spreads awareness of high-quality career opportunities in the skilled trades for women. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Central New Mexico Community College will be hosting its 4th Annual Women in Trades Summit on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. on its Main Campus. The event's purpose is to bring more awareness to women about the abundant and high-quality career opportunities available to them in the skilled trades, such as welding, construction management, aviation maintenance technology, electric vehicle technology, electrical trades, advanced manufacturing, and many more. There's a workforce shortage of trades workers in New Mexico and across the country, making this a great time for women to consider these well-paying, high-quality career options. "The Summit provides a space for the trades to be highlighted and for women to learn about the readily available, high-paying careers in the trades," said Joy Forehand, CNM's Vice President of Workforce & Community Success. "The skilled trades can be a great career choice for women who might not be interested in a traditional office environment. And women who like working with their hands, creating things, fixing things, and solving problems. These are rewarding and meaningful careers, and they're critical to the success of our infrastructure and economy. We look forward to increasing awareness among women that the trades could be a great option for them." More than 30 trades employers will be on hand to inform attendees about career opportunities, as well as CNM representatives who will provide information about the College's trades programs and funding assistance for students. There will be trades demonstrations, including for welding, machine tool technology, diesel engine technology, unmanned aircraft systems, and more. The Women in Trades Summit will take place the day after CNM hosts the New Mexico SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference, when more than 1,200 trades and career technical education (CTE) students from across the state will compete in trades and CTE competitions. Read more about both competitions. SOURCE Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) From the "best fried chicken chain in America" comes the best-tasting burger, offered in three mouth-watering options. WEST COVINA, Calif., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jollibee, the global restaurant brand celebrated for its delicious fried chicken , announces the nationwide premiere of its next menu blockbuster: new 100% Certified Angus Beef Burgers. Hailed "the best fast-food fried chicken" in America by USA TODAY, Jollibee is bringing its signature quality and expertise to three mouth-watering burger options: the Angus Cheeseburger, Angus Deluxe Burger and Angus Aloha Burger. Jollibee's New 100% Certified Angus Beef Deluxe Burger is perfectly balanced for the complete bite. Jollibee is bringing its signature quality and expertise to three mouth-watering burger options. Jollibee's new Angus Burgers start with a handcrafted quarter-pound patty of 100% Certified Angus Beef a quality marker not found at any other quick service restaurant. More premium than USDA Prime, Choice, and Select beef, Certified Angus Beef is selected based on 10 science-based specifications for marbling, size and uniformity. Smash-seared to order, all of Jollibee's Angus Burgers feature melted American cheese and are served on a butter-toasted bun. Each burger is then accompanied by its own all-star cast of fresh toppings to create a truly craveable experience. The Angus Cheeseburger : A beefy and cheesy classic done right. This burger is garnished with crisp pickles, thinly sliced red onions, ketchup, and Jollibee's signature burger sauce a simple yet satisfying masterpiece. A beefy and cheesy classic done right. This burger is garnished with crisp pickles, thinly sliced red onions, ketchup, and Jollibee's signature burger sauce a simple yet satisfying masterpiece. The Angus Deluxe Burger : Perfectly balanced for the complete bite. All the goodness of the Angus Cheeseburger, plus fresh Green Leaf Lettuce and sliced Roma tomatoes for a burst of freshness that complements the rich Certified Angus Beef. Perfectly balanced for the complete bite. All the goodness of the Angus Cheeseburger, plus fresh Green Leaf Lettuce and sliced tomatoes for a burst of freshness that complements the rich Certified Angus Beef. The Angus Aloha Burger: A sweet and savory flavor combination that's sure to transport the taste buds. This unique burger features grilled pineapple, crispy bacon, Green Leaf Lettuce, and a tangy Aloha dressing. "We're confident that our trio of new premium Angus burgers will be a runaway hit with burger lovers everywhere," said Luis Velasco, Senior Vice President and Marketing Head at Jollibee Foods Corporation, North America. "Our burgers are crafted with the same passion, attention to detail and high-quality standards that we bring to all our menu items, which is why we use 100% Certified Angus Beef. So, the next time you're craving a next-level burger, we invite you to taste the delicious Jollibee difference!" Jollibee's three new Angus Burgers are available at all U.S. locations starting at $5.99. Each burger is available to order on its own or as a combo served with a side and drink. For more information and to order the new burgers for in-store pick-up or delivery, visit JollibeeFoods.com. Jollibee is the flagship brand of Jollibee Group, which is on its way to becoming one of the top five restaurant companies in the world. Be sure to follow Jollibee at @jollibeeus on Facebook, @jollibeeus on Instagram, and @jollibeeusa on TikTok to get updates on new menu items, upcoming store openings, and other exciting announcements and events happening soon as Jollibee continues to spread the joy of eating across North America. About Jollibee Group Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC), also known as the Jollibee Group, is one of the world's fastest-growing restaurant companies, with a mission to deliver great-tasting food, bringing the joy of eating through its 19 brands with over 9,500 stores across 32 countries. The Jollibee Group's portfolio includes nine wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger and Tim Ho Wan), five franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, Yoshinoya, Common Man Coffee Roasters, and Tiong Bahru Bakery in the Philippines), and ownership stakes in other key brands like The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (80%), Compose Coffee (70%), SuperFoods Group that operates Highlands Coffee (60%), and bubble tea brand Milksha (51%). The Company also has membership interests in Tortazo, LLC, along with Chef Rick Bayless, for Tortazo in the U.S. and has recently invested in Botrista, a leader in beverage technology. The Jollibee Group's global sustainability agenda, Joy for Tomorrow, underscores its commitment to sustainable business practices across food safety, employee welfare, community support, good governance, and environmental responsibility, among others. These focus areas are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The Jollibee Group has been recognized as the Philippines' Most Admired Company by the Asian Wall Street Journal, named one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies, and listed among Forbes' World's Best Employers and Top Female-Friendly Companies. The Company is also a three-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award recipient and featured in TIME's World's Best Companies and Fortune's Southeast Asia 500 List. To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com. SOURCE Jollibee NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardiologists from NYU Langone Heart are showcasing their latest clinical findings and research discoveries during the 2025 Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), held March 29 to 31 in Chicago. Among the topics presented: The impact of psoriasis-induced inflammation on blood vessel lining and its potential contribution to heart disease risk Team-based decision making in determining the need for heart surgery during pregnancy for a severe heart infection The connection between sleep quality and heart health in women after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy A minimally invasive approach to repositioning a misplaced TAVR valve in an elderly patient New guideline introduced for acute coronary syndrome management "We are proud of the outstanding research and clinical advancements being presented at this year's conference," said Glenn I. Fishman, MD, the William Goldring Professor of Medicine and director of the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "From exploring the link between psoriasis and heart disease, to addressing heart infections during pregnancy and advancing minimally invasive valve-replacement techniques, our faculty is at the forefront in advancing heart health and patient outcomes." Faculty from the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology will participate in more than 50 presentations, on-demand discussions, and poster sessions throughout the conference. Below is a glimpse of some of the work being presented. Psoriasis Can Affect the Blood Vessel Lining and May Contribute to Heart Disease Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes inflammation, and it's been linked to heart problems. In this poster abstract, Michael Garshick, MD, director of the Cardio-Rheumatology Program, part of NYU Langone Heart's Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, and his team examined how psoriasis affects the blood vessel lining and may contribute to plaque buildup in the heart. "People with psoriasis have more inflammation in their blood vessels, which can lead to more plaque in their arteries," said Dr. Garshick. "Our study details the mechanism through which blood vessel damage in psoriasis occurs, thereby promoting plaque buildup in the blood vessels." This research helps us understand how psoriasis can increase the risk of heart disease. Saturday, March 29, 11 - 12 p.m. CT, South Hall, Session 1041 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Board 21: Endothelial Profiling in Psoriasis Reveals a Pro-Inflammatory Gene Signature Associated with Coronary Plaque Burden A Complex Case: Deciding When Heart Surgery Is Needed During Pregnancy for a Serious Heart Infection Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocardium), heart valves, and vascular structures. IE during pregnancy, though rare, is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition for both mother and fetus. In this complex case study, Dan G. Halpern, MD, medical director of NYU Langone Heart's Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program; Adam Small, MD, adult congenital heart disease cardiologist; and colleagues discuss a challenging case of a 31-year-old pregnant woman with a heart infection in the second trimester. "Managing heart infections during pregnancy requires timely and careful decision making," said Dr. Halpern. "In this case, surgery was needed to treat the infection, but the timing and potential complications had to be carefully considered due to the risks to both the mother and baby." The patient received treatment, including surgery performed by Syed T. Hussain, MD, to replace the damaged heart valve. Both mom and baby recovered well. This case highlights the importance of a team approach to making decisions in complex situations and will be presented by Eric Bailey, MD, resident in the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Saturday, March 29, 12:36 - 12:43 p.m. CT, Moderated Poster Theater 15, Session 929 ACC Complex Clinical Cases: Valvular Heart Diseases: Deciding When Endocarditis Valve Surgery Is Necessary During Pregnancy Sleep and Heart Health Among Women After High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy Poor sleep is linked to a higher risk of heart problems. Mothers of young children are at a particularly high risk of poor sleep health. In this study, researchers in the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Langone looked at whether women three to seven years after childbirth who had hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including conditions like preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, had worse sleep and heart health when compared to women with no complications of pregnancy. "We found that poor sleep is common across the board, with no significant difference between women with prior HDP and those with normal blood pressure during pregnancy," said Anais Hausvater, MD, lead author and co-director of NYU Langone's Cardio-Obstetrics Program. "These results suggest that improving sleep and heart health should be a priority for all women in the years after childbirth, not just those with a history of high blood pressure during pregnancy." The study showed that, on average, women slept only 6.65 hours per night (less than the recommended seven-plus hours), and their sleep quality was poor across the group (median Pittsburgh Sleep Index score of 7). These findings indicate that sleep and heart health improvements are needed for a broader population of mothers after childbirth. Elianna Shwayder, medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, will be presenting the poster. Saturday, March 29, 2 - 3 p.m. CT, South Hall, Board 50: Sleep and Cardiovascular Health Among Women After HDP Successfully Fixing a Misplaced Heart Valve Without Open-Heart Surgery Minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become the preferred procedure for severe aortic stenosis in older adults, surpassing open-heart surgery. In extremely rare cases, however, the new valve can shift out of place, a complication known as valve embolization. In this session, Sibi Krishnamurthy, MD, an interventional and structural cardiologist at NYU Langone's Heart Valve Center, discusses a challenging case he and his colleagues, interventional cardiologist Cezar S. Staniloae, MD, cardiothoracic surgeons Mathew R. Williams, MD, and Jamie M. Eridon, MD, from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, successfully treated. The team cared for an 85-year-old man with a history of multiple heart procedures, including coronary bypass, stents, pacemaker, and most recently, TAVR at another hospital. After a month, he showed signs of heart failure, and imaging revealed his prosthetic valve had embolized into the left ventricle. The original TAVR was undersized, causing it to slip. Open-heart surgery was high risk due to his age and previous surgery. "Instead of open-heart surgery, we opted for a hybrid minimally invasive transapical approach," said Dr. Krishnamurthy. "We made a small incision through the heart's apex, snared the embolized valve with specialized catheters and wires, sutured it in place, and successfully implanted a new valve with the correct size. The patient recovered well and continues to do so, offering a safe alternative to open-heart surgery for complex valve issues." Sunday, March 30, 8:24 - 8:31 a.m. CT, S502A, Session 313, Interventional Challenging Cases #1 Embolizing TAVR Valve in LVOT: A Unique Retrieval Case Dr. Sunil Rao Leads New Guideline on Acute Coronary Syndrome Management Sunil Rao, MD, director of interventional cardiology at NYU Langone Heart, led the development of an updated guideline for managing acute coronary syndrome, which includes heart attacks and unstable chest pain. The updated recommendations focus on personalized treatment strategies, optimizing medications, and improving outcomes for high-risk patients. Dr. Rao will talk about this new guideline in a Town Hall session on Sunday, March 30, 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. CT in room S100a. Media Inquiries Katie Ullman 646-483-3984 [email protected] SOURCE NYU Langone Health The $500,000 cumulative capital investment provides an all-inclusive maternal and child health program HONOLULU, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- 'Ohana Health Plan, a leading provider of government-sponsored managed care services in Hawaii and a Centene Corporation company (NYSE: CNC), today announced an additional $300,000 investment to Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii (HMHB Hawaii). The funding will expand 'Ohana Health Plan's "Mana 'Ohana" partnership program with HMHB Hawaii. 'Ohana Health Plan presents a check for $300,000 to Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii. The funding is for Mana 'Ohana, an all-inclusive maternal and child health program. Mana 'Ohana is an all-inclusive maternal and child health program that addresses key supportive elements that are directly beneficial to women members, pregnant members, and young families. The program is a community-based, person-centered, midwifery-led model of care that offers 'Ohana Health Plan members a holistic perinatal care experience. Mana 'Ohana brings social and clinical support services where people need them. "In the first year, more than 40 percent of our pregnant population received services through 'Mana 'Ohana.' We saw an increase in prenatal and postpartum care and a decrease in neonatal intensive care unit costs," said Kari Shintaku, Vice President of Population Health and Quality Improvement at 'Ohana Health Plan. "We are excited to continue our partnership with HMHB Hawaii and remain committed to leveraging their community presence and reach through mobile clinics to find and facilitate care for our most vulnerable 'Ohana moms and their families." The program offers 'Ohana Health Plan members exclusive access to a broad-based program designed to screen, triage, and support women and their newborns throughout the critical perinatal period. It provides culturally anchored and responsive outreach and services that meet members where they are. "'Ohana Health Plan exemplifies the power of strong community partnerships and strategic investments in maternal and child health," said Sunny Chen, Chief Executive Officer of HMHB Hawaii. "Through Mana 'Ohana, we are expanding access to culturally responsive, person-centered care that improves outcomes for Hawaii's mothers and babies. Together, we are redefining what health plans and community organizations can achieve." About 'Ohana Health Plan 'Ohana Health Plan provides government-sponsored managed care services to families from keiki to kupuna and individuals with complex medical needs primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage (Wellcare), and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Wellcare) across the state. 'Ohana Health Plan is a Centene Corporation company, a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives. For more information, please visit www.ohanahealthplan.com. SOURCE Centene Corporation DALLAS, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Okorio, a premier Workday partner specializing in streamlined, scalable enterprise solutions, is excited to announce two powerhouse additions to its leadership team: Lawrie Henry as Vice President of Workday Delivery and Hifzur Meerapatel as Head of Data Services. With over a decade at Workday, Lawrie Henry is best known for architecting the Launch Express methodologya breakthrough approach that significantly reduced implementation time and cost for small and mid-sized businesses. Under his leadership, Launch Express became the go-to model for nearly half of all Workday Medium Enterprise deployments. "Building a practice that opened up Workday as a real option to small and medium-sized businesses was a career highlight for me," said Lawrie. "The opportunity to do it again with Okorioat a time when demand for smarter, faster deployments is skyrocketingwas too exciting to pass up." Joining Lawrie is Hifzur Meerapatel, a recognized leader in Workday data conversion and transformation. With 20+ years of enterprise HCM expertiseincluding 9 in the Workday ecosystemHifzur has led over 50 successful deployments. He brings deep experience in data mapping, tooling design, automation, and real-time data load orchestration, all of which help customers achieve faster, cleaner go-lives. "Data is at the heart of every successful Workday deployment," said Hifzur. "At Okorio, we're building a best-in-class data services practice that removes friction, minimizes risk, and ensures our customers hit the ground running on day one." Together, Lawrie and Hifzur bring a powerful combination of implementation expertise, operational strategy, and technical innovation. Their appointments mark a major milestone in Okorio's mission to provide enterprise-grade Workday solutions with speed, efficiency, and precision. "At Okorio, we believe every businessfrom high-growth startups to complex mid-market organizationsdeserves a better Workday experience," said Justin Williams, CRO. "With Lawrie and Hifzur leading our Delivery and Data practices, we're helping our customers achieve more value from Workday, faster." Contact: Arielle Castro 9032677906 [email protected] SOURCE Okorio GZIRA, Malta, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider of software solutions for iGaming, announces that its Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Sergey Kastukevich, has been named CTO of the Year in EMEA at the 2025 Oracle Excellence Awards. The Awards, organised by Oracle, leading cloud and AI company, celebrate the best in business innovation. Past winners include Vodafone, Shiseido Company Limited, PayPal (NA), and other global enterprises. It recognises Sergey Kastukevich as a CTO who strategically utilises emerging technologies to advance SOFTSWISS' objectives, such as reducing operational costs, enhancing system stability, and developing transformative products that benefit both the company and the broader industry. With over 15 years of expertise, SOFTSWISS delivers high-performance, secure, and scalable platforms supporting more than 1,200 brands worldwide. Sergey Kastukevich shares: "We take pride in our successful collaboration with Oracle OCI, which allows us to implement innovative projects with high reliability and security. SOFTSWISS leverages a comprehensive suite of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure services to ensure performance, scalability, and security across its operations". Among these services is Oracle Kubernetes Engine, which provides the scalability and flexibility needed for deploying containerised applications. To support critical workloads, SOFTSWISS uses high-performance VM Instances, delivering the necessary power for demanding tasks. For secure and scalable data handling, Object Storage ensures reliable storage and fast access to essential information. The company also relies on Cloud Guard for continuous monitoring and automated threat response, maintaining a high level of protection for its cloud resources. In managing and deploying containerised applications, SOFTSWISS benefits from a centralised Container Image Hub, simplifying the application lifecycle management. "Thanks to these tools, our collaboration with Oracle OCI allows us to build highly available and scalable solutions that meet the highest security and efficiency standards." continued Kastukevich. Kastukevich's role at SOFTSWISS since 2020 has been instrumental in strengthening internal processes, expanding the technology team, and shaping the company's long-term innovation strategy. Recognition at this prestigious Award in a region where SOFTSWISS conducts business is a significant achievement and a testament to the company's leadership. For more information, please contact: Alena Praskuryna, PR Manager Email: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651755/Sergey_Kastukevich.jpg "These first detailed rock channel sample results from the walls of the underground mine workings at the past producing Profunda mine indicate continuous intervals of higher-grade mineralization. Mining last occurred at Profunda for copper, nickel, and cobalt in the early 1930s. The Providencia target, 1km to the north of Profunda, returned similar high-grade channel sample results. Sampling and geological mapping at the Carmenes Project supports the potential for discovery of multiple high-grade breccia structures in the Project area," said Tim Moody, Pan Global President and CEO. "Drilling currently underway at the Providencia target is designed to confirm continuity of the high-grade copper and gold mineralization and test beyond the areas of past production." Key Results: A 500m x 150m soil copper anomaly has been outlined from Initial wide-spaced portable-XRF soil sampling ( see January 27, 2025 media release ). The soil anomaly indicates potential for discovery of additional mineralization beyond the historical mine workings, associated with areas of strong dolomitic alteration, breccia and gossan mapped at surface. x soil copper anomaly has been outlined from Initial wide-spaced portable-XRF soil sampling ( ). The soil anomaly indicates potential for discovery of additional mineralization beyond the historical mine workings, associated with areas of strong dolomitic alteration, breccia and gossan mapped at surface. Results were received for 27 channel samples from the walls in the upper 60m of the mine workings. The results show continuous high copper, cobalt, nickel and silver grades in the sidewalls of the mine workings in several areas (Figure 1). of the mine workings. The results show continuous high copper, cobalt, nickel and silver grades in the sidewalls of the mine workings in several areas (Figure 1). Channel samples were collected over 1m intervals. The channels were saw-cut and chip-sampled horizontally across the breccia mineralization. Table 1 (below) highlights significant results. intervals. The channels were saw-cut and chip-sampled horizontally across the breccia mineralization. Table 1 (below) highlights significant results. Mapping inside the mine workings indicates the breccia mineralization is spatially-associated with a series of east-west trending fault structures, and regionally is located near the junction of interpreted northeast and northwest trending fault zones. Detailed surface sampling at Profunda will continue to better delineate the surface extent of the mineralization and refine the geological model ahead of drilling. Results are also currently being interpreted from a recently completed Helicopter Transient Electro-Magnetic (HTEM), magnetic and radiometric survey over the Carmenes Project. Drilling is underway at the nearby high-priority Providencia target, with first drill results anticipated in the second quarter. Mining at Profunda up to the 1930s extracted high-grade copper and cobalt within a pipe-like breccia body, similar to the nearby Providencia target. Pan Global has also confirmed the potential for gold mineralization with identification of a high-grade gold zone adjacent to the main breccia pipe at Providencia. Drilling is continuing at the Company's flagship Escacena Project in southern Spain, with the focus on the high-priority Bravo target, step-out and expansion drilling on the La Romana copper-tin discovery, and testing new targets. Results are anticipated in the second quarter. Profunda Target Underground Channel Sampling Results A total of 27 continuous rock chip channel samples were collected from the side walls of the Profunda mine workings and La Cuevona open-stope. The samples were taken from within the upper 60m of the mine workings, with tunnel and shafts extending to 260m depth below surface. Each sample was collected over a 1-meter length and weighed from 1 to 5 kg. Results are summarized in Table 1 (below). Table 1 Underground channel sample results; selected intervals highlighted Channel Length Au Ag Cu Co Ni Sample No. meters g/t g/t % % % 1 1 0.01 1.30 0.90 0.15 0.04 2 1 0.01 0.25 0.15 0.12 0.02 3 1 0.01 20.80 9.56 0.15 0.06 23 1 0.07 19.30 7.45 0.05 0.15 3, 23 2 0.04 20.05 8.51 0.10 0.11 4 1 <0.01 0.90 0.49 0.08 0.02 5 1 0.01 0.70 0.81 0.05 0.05 6 1 0.04 14.10 5.27 0.50 0.12 7 1 0.01 0.25 0.58 0.04 0.05 8 1 0.01 1.40 1.37 0.22 0.05 9 1 0.02 1.30 1.96 1.70 0.27 9 1 0.01 4.56 2.34 0.33 0.08 10 1 <0.01 0.25 0.20 0.18 0.19 11 1 0.09 41.70 25.70 0.37 0.53 12 1 <0.01 0.25 0.08 0.01 0.01 13 1 <0.01 0.60 0.17 0.01 0.01 14 1 0.01 1.00 0.61 0.13 0.08 15 1 0.02 6.00 6.05 0.08 0.08 16 1 <0.01 0.25 0.03 0.01 0.01 14-16 3 0.01 2.42 2.23 0.07 0.06 17 1 <0.01 0.25 0.42 0.03 0.01 18 1 0.01 4.10 4.21 0.16 0.05 19 1 0.01 6.60 7.68 0.12 0.08 20 1 0.02 13.40 8.99 0.23 0.35 21 1 0.02 3.00 2.94 0.11 0.12 22 1 0.01 2.20 2.09 0.07 0.07 18-22 5 0.01 5.86 5.18 0.14 0.13 24 1 0.02 4.70 3.78 0.02 0.03 25 1 0.01 2.10 1.47 0.05 0.03 26 1 0.01 2.90 2.40 0.01 0.02 27 1 0.02 3.50 2.25 0.04 0.04 About the Carmenes Project The Carmenes Project is located approx. 55km north of Leon in northern Spain and comprises five Investigation Permits over 5,653 hectares. The Project area is highly prospective for multiple bodies or "clusters" of carbonate-hosted "pipe-like" breccia style copper, nickel, cobalt, and gold mineralization. The area includes the former Profunda and Providencia mines that last operated in the 1930s, producing concentrates of copper and cobalt with nickel. Numerous other smaller historical mine workings in the area highlight potential for additional breccia pipes. These types of deposits can have significant vertical dimensions exceeding 1km. About Pan Global Resources Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively targeting copper-rich mineral deposits, given copper's compelling supply-demand fundamentals and outlook for strong long-term prices as a critical metal for global electrification and energy transition. The Company's flagship Escacena Project is located in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Spain, where a favourable permitting track record, excellent infrastructure, mining and professional expertise, and support for copper as a Strategic Raw Material by the European Commission collectively define a tier-one low-risk jurisdiction for mining investment. The Pan Global team comprises proven talent in exploration, discovery, development, and mine operations - all of which are committed to operating safely and with utmost respect for the environment and our partnered communities. The Company is a member, and operates under the principles, of the United Nations Global Compact. Qualified Persons Alvaro Merino, Vice President Exploration for Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information for this media release. Mr. Merino is not independent of the Company. QA/QC Rock samples delivered to the ALS sample preparation facility in Seville were prepared and assayed at the ALS facility in Ireland. All samples were crushed, split and pulverized using methods CRU-31, SPL-22Y and PUL-31. Gold analysis was by 50gm Fire assay with AA finish (Au-AA23). Multi element analysis was undertaken using a 4-acid digest with ICP-AES finish (ME-ICP61). Over-grade samples were analyzed using 4-acid digest with ICP-AES finish for base metals (OG62), and Fire Assay with Gravity Finish for gold (Au-GRA21). Certified reference materials were inserted at a 1/25 samples. www.panglobalresources.com Forward-looking statements Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information included in this media release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental, and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products, and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission. The forward-looking information contained in this media release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this media release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. 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. SOURCE Pan Global Resources Inc. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED OAKLAND, Calif., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) will hold a conference call on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific Time) to discuss its first quarter 2025 results. The public can access the conference call through a simultaneous webcast. The link is provided below and will also be available from the PG&E Corporation website. What: First Quarter 2025 Earnings Call When: Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time Where: http://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/events-and-presentations/default.aspx A replay of the live conference call and webcast will be available at http://investor.pgecorp.com/news-events/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. Alternatively, a toll-free replay of the conference call may be accessed shortly after the live call through May 1, 2025 by dialing (800) 770-2030. Confirmation code 92587 will be required to access the replay. Please contact Investor Relations at [email protected] if you have any questions. PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is a holding company headquartered in Oakland. It is the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, an energy company that serves 16 million Californians across a 70,000-square-mile service area in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit http://www.pgecorp.com. SOURCE PG&E Corporation $700M Commitment to Drive Innovation in the Global Venture Ecosystem SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinegrove Venture Partners (Pinegrove) is thrilled to announce the expansion of its longstanding partnership with the Florida State Board of Administration (SBA), one of the world's largest institutional investors. The SBA has committed an additional $700 million to Pinegrove's platform, underscoring their shared vision for driving innovation and achieving top-decile returns across the global venture economy. This milestone builds upon the SBA's prior investments of over $1 billion with Pinegrove's predecessor, SVB Capital. The expanded partnership will focus on Pinegrove's multi-strategy approach, including fund-of-funds, co-investments, credit solutions, and structured secondaries. Aaron Gershenberg, CEO and Managing Partner at Pinegrove, emphasized the transformative potential of this collaboration: "We are entering an extraordinary era for venture capital. The pace and magnitude of disruption across industries position the next few vintages to be among the most promising in history. The SBA's expanded commitment enables us to capitalize on these opportunities by leveraging our platform's agility and deep industry relationships. Together, we aim to deliver exceptional results while shaping the future of innovation." John Bradley, Senior Investment Officer at the SBA, added: "Pinegrove has consistently delivered outstanding performance within our private equity portfolio. Their ability to navigate the global innovation economy makes them an invaluable partner as we look to capture opportunities that define tomorrow's market leaders." With over $10 billion in assets under management, Pinegrove continues to provide access to high-impact investments while offering liquidity solutions at critical moments. This expanded partnership reinforces both organizations' commitment to fostering long-term growth and innovation for their stakeholders. About Pinegrove Venture Partners: Pinegrove specializes in venture capital fund-of-funds, co-investments, credit solutions, and secondaries. Backed by Sequoia Heritage and Brookfield Asset Management, Pinegrove is dedicated to driving innovation across the global venture ecosystem. About Florida State Board of Administration (SBA): The Florida SBA manages over $250 billion in assets across various state funds and remains a leader in institutional investment strategies focused on delivering strong returns for its beneficiaries. SOURCE Pinegrove Venture Partners Spicy flavors, regional varieties and homestyle ingredients are increasingly popular as pizza enthusiasts seek novelty, nostalgia AUSTIN, Minn., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Straight from the sizzling scene of the 2025 International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, Hormel Foods maker of the best-selling retail pepperoni in the United States and a market leader in foodservice pizza toppings is dishing out its freshest take on the pizza industry's hottest trends. Logan Kumm and Daniel Moore, both Foodservice brand managers at Hormel Foods, have identified the five key pizza trends to watch for in the coming months and beyond. Logan Kumm and Daniel Moore, both Foodservice brand managers at Hormel Foods, have years of combined expertise in the pizza-toppings business. After another impactful showing in Las Vegas, Kumm and Moore have identified the five key pizza trends to watch for in the coming months and beyond: Spice That Packs a Punch Heat is turning up in bold, new ways on pizza. "More and more establishments these days are adding an extra kick to their pies," Kumm said. "We're seeing a lot of drive among Gen-Z and Millennials who are really liking those spicy flavors." These fiery additions think crunchy, garlicky chili crisp drizzled over mozzarella, or the smoky bite of Calabrian peppers bring layers of flavor and intrigue to every slice. Hot Honey's Sweet Sting Hot honey is buzzing louder than ever, and it's no passing fad. "It's the ultimate balance of sweet and heat," Kumm said. This flavor clash is sparking obsession and turning ordinary slices into something unforgettable. It's even presenting itself in product form. "We were thrilled to introduce FONTANINI Hot Honey Sliced Sausage at Pizza Expo this week," Kumm said. "Hot honey is a trend that's been around for a while, and we just knew we had to be a part of it, because it's not going away." Regional Roots Run Deep Pizza's regional renaissance is in full swing, with varieties like Detroit-style, "Grandma" style and tavern pies entering the spotlight. "These aren't just recipes, they're stories," Moore said. Detroit-style pizza, with its thick, caramelized edges, is a canvas for toppings of all forms and flavors. Grandma-style pizza channels old-school New York vibes thin, crispy and cut into squares. Tavern-style, the Midwest's thin, crunchy darling, is another increasingly popular style. "Pizza lovers are exploring these regional varieties more than ever before," Moore said. Mortadella Madness Mortadella is having a moment in the pizza scene, inspired in part by Anthony Bourdain's famous five-ingredient sandwich. Studded with pistachios and delectably crispy when cooked, mortadella is popping up on artisanal pies everywhere. Said Moore: "As fine dining chefs started picking up on this trend, everyone decided, 'Hey, mortadella is pretty good. Let's use it on pizza, too.'" This pistachio-flecked Italian charcuterie brings a lush texture and a whisper of spice that is turning heads in pizzerias across the country. Comfort Food Crossovers Pizza is getting cozy with comfort-food classics. Imagine corned beef and sauerkraut melded with Swiss Reuben pizza, anyone? Whether it's crispy potato slices paired with rosemary, or juicy meatballs nestled in marinara, these hearty and familiar mashups are making pizza the ultimate comfort zone. "Nostalgia is really big nowadays," Moore said. "We see it in pop culture. There's a yearning for that kind of nostalgia right now, and that's where these comfort foods are really coming into play, and that certainly includes pizza." About Hormel Foodservice Our culinary passion is what fuels us; a shared love of food is the inspiration behind our products, our brands and our protein expertise. Hormel Foodservice prides itself on offering pioneering solutions meant to ignite creativity while minimizing the back-of-house challenges of a fast-paced kitchen. Whatever the need, Hormel Foodservice is here to help its customers thrive. For more information on Hormel Foodservice and its extensive portfolio of product solutions, including an array of globally inspired flavors and fully cooked proteins, visit hormelfoodservice.com. About Hormel Foods Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include PLANTERS, SKIPPY, SPAM, HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE, APPLEGATE, JUSTIN'S, WHOLLY, HORMEL BLACK LABEL, COLUMBUS, JENNIE-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com. Contact: Media Relations Hormel Foods [email protected] SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation Zelenskyy at summit in Paris proposes group of reps to come to Ukraine to develop one clear plan A coalition of willing partners is already at work - both politically and militarily, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting of leaders in France on support for Ukraine. "I am grateful to France, Great Britain and everyone involved for their sincere desire to help us build long-term security," Zelenskyy said. At the same time, the President of Ukraine emphasized that we should still give answers to "very specific questions." "And now, during this meeting, in the process of future military negotiations and in all our discussions here in Europe and with other partners, particularly with the United States, we have to answer some very specific questions. What countries will be involved on the ground, in the air and at sea in Ukraine? Where exactly will these forces be deployed? What will be the size and structure of these forces? What will be their response procedures in the event of a threat? And when will our coalition actually deploy forces in Ukraine - when will the ceasefire begin or when will the war be completely over and a settlement be reached?" Zelenskyy noted. The head of the Ukrainian state invited a group of representatives to come to Ukraine to develop one clear plan. "We need one clear plan - a plan that we all agree to and that we will begin to implement, based on the options and developments that have already been discussed with you and are available to you. We want to invite a small group of your representatives to Ukraine to develop this plan together," Zelenskyy concluded. As reported, a meeting of leaders on support for Ukraine has ended in Paris, with representatives from 31 countries taking part, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Industry-leading security company offers customized planning, hands-on support, and expert event coverage from start to finish MIAMI, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2025 major event season heats up across the country, Fast Guard Service is stepping forward with a powerful reminder: successful events begin with expert security planning. With over a decade of experience securing some of the most high-profile gatherings in the nation, Fast Guard Service is now offering comprehensive event security solutions nationwide, tailored for festivals, concerts, sporting events, expos, and more. From the streets of South Beach, where Fast Guard teams managed crowds of over 20,000 patrons, to private corporate galas in Los Angeles or community events in small towns across the U.S., the company has become known for delivering security that's not only visiblebut strategic, proactive, and liability-conscious. "Security should never be an afterthought. It's the foundation that lets everything else run smoothly," said Roderick C. Payne Jr., President of Fast Guard Service. "We help clients design a customized security roadmapfrom entry points to crowd control and emergency responseso they can focus on delivering an amazing experience for their guests." From Blueprint to Execution A Full-Service Approach Fast Guard Service works hand-in-hand with event organizers from day one to ensure their security planning is dialed in long before the first ticket is scanned. Services include: On-site Risk Assessments & Planning Armed & Unarmed Event Security Guards VIP & Crowd Management Teams Gate, Perimeter & Bag Check Security Mobile Patrols & Rapid Response Units 24/7 Command and Control Communication No two events are the sameand neither are their security needs. That's why Fast Guard's event security solutions are custom-built, with hands-on attention from experienced professionals, many of whom come from law enforcement or military backgrounds. Did You Know? Most event planners overlook the importance of early security budgeting. Experts recommend 15% to 20% of your total event spend should be dedicated to security to reduce risk, limit liability, and ensure smooth operations from start to finish. "We're not here to do it the light waywe're here to do it the right way," said Payne. "Security is more than a line itemit's your peace of mind." Book Fast. Book Smart. Book Fast Guard. With major events happening coast to coast, security teams book out quickly. Fast Guard Service is now accepting contracts for spring and summer 2025 events nationwide. Call (844) 254-8273 Visit www.fastguardservice.com Or email [email protected] to start planning your event security today. Fast Guard Service Trusted. Proven. Nationwide. Fast Guard Service is a fully licensed, insured, and bonded security company providing professional security guard services nationwide and internationally. With a leadership team rooted in law enforcement and decades of experience in private security, Fast Guard Service has become a trusted name for rapid deployment, reliability, and results. The company offers a wide range of services including armed and unarmed security, event security, fire watch, mobile patrols, HOA and condominium protection, and customized security plans for clients across all industries. Fast Guard is committed to innovation and transparency, integrating cutting-edge technology like real-time reporting apps, solar-powered surveillance cameras, and a national mandate for body-worn cameras across its workforce. Whether securing major festivals, high-risk locations, or private communities, Fast Guard Service delivers peace of mind through proactive planning, professional execution, and unmatched accountability. For more information, visit www.fastguardservice.com or call (844) 254-8273. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Fast Guard Service BEIJING, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark announcement at the iconic "Water Cube" (Beijing 2008) / "Ice Cube" (Beijing 2022) venue, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) unveiled a Worldwide Olympic Partnership with global technology company TCL, extending through 2032. As part of this partnership, RayNeo, a prominent augmented reality (AR) innovator and subsidiary of the global technology leader TCL, is positioned to significantly elevate the Olympic and Paralympic experience for both spectators and competitors. RayNeo Forms Worldwide Olympic Partnership with the International Olympic Committee IOC President Thomas Bach personally tested RayNeos latest products The partnership positions TCL as the official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Home Audiovisual Equipment and Home Appliances category. RayNeo will contribute its cutting-edge glasses with AR and AI technologies to revolutionize how audiences engage with the Olympic Games. RayNeo, along with other TCL innovations, will redefine the spectator and athlete experience through cutting-edge augmented reality smart glasses solutions. At the announcement ceremony, IOC President Thomas Bach personally tested RayNeo's latest products, including the RayNeo V3 AI Glasses and RayNeo Air 3s XR Glasses. In a standout moment, President Bach used the V3 AI Glasses to document a memorable exchange with Li Dongsheng, Founder and Chairman of TCL, showcasing the device's real-time translation and high-precision recording capabilities. The RayNeo V3 AI Glasses, featuring a 12MP Sony sensor coupled with a real-time AI assistant, allow users to capture life from a first-person perspective and instantly translate foreign signage, breaking down language barriers. Meanwhile, the RayNeo Air 3s Glasses offers a portable 201-inch screen experience, enabling fans to enjoy the Olympic spectacle anytime, anywhere. These glasses feature advanced display technology and eye care features, and are distinguished by the world's first dual opposing acoustic chamber design, setting a new standard for portable AR experiences. As the global leader in consumer AR technology, RayNeo Innovation continues to push the boundaries of wearable tech. In 2023, the company made history by launching the world's first binocular full-color MicroLED waveguide AR glasses, cementing its reputation as an industry pioneer. By 2024, RayNeo had captured 35% of China's consumer AR market, maintaining its dominance for three consecutive years. Globally, RayNeo has consistently ranked at the top of sales charts during major shopping events such as Prime Day and Black Friday, highlighting its international appeal and commitment to innovation-driven excellence. By seamlessly integrating cutting-edge AR technology with real-world applications, RayNeo is not merely enhancing moments - it is fundamentally redefining the essence of digital interaction and human experience. As a trailblazer in immersive technology, RayNeo represents the convergence of innovation and practicality, where every glance through its AR glasses unveils a window to infinite possibilities. With the Olympics as its stage, RayNeo is making the future clearer than ever. About RayNeo RayNeo is a leading brand in the AR space, dedicated to redefining augmented reality through groundbreaking technology and wearable innovation. Initially incubated within TCL, RayNeo develops AR glasses that seamlessly integrate into everyday life, delivering immersive and intuitive experiences. By combining cutting-edge design with advanced technologies, RayNeo empowers users to explore and interact with the digital world like never before. Committed to shaping the future of AR, RayNeo drives innovation through collaboration and a user-first approach. For more information about RayNeo and its innovative AR technology, visit www.rayneo.com . About TCL TCL, which stands for "The Creative Life," embodies creativity in every facet of life. As a leading technology company, TCL is committed to delivering smart technology solutionsincluding TVs, smartphones, audio products, smart home devices, display technologies, and clean energythat enhance customer experiences. To celebrate human potential and the transformative power of sports, TCL has become an official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Home Audiovisual Equipment and Home Appliances category through to 2032. About the International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world. SOURCE RayNeo Related Digital commits a minimum of $500 million to fuel immediate growth and launches an up to $8 billion capital raising effort Key leadership hires at Related Digital announced, including Brent Behrman as Chief Investment Officer and Greg Myers as Chief Financial Officer Platform harnesses expertise across real estate development and investment, data centers, complex infrastructure and clean energy development to bring differentiated solutions to global hyperscalers NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Related Companies, the global real estate company and most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States, today announced the formal launch and capitalization of Related Digital, a vertically integrated data center development and investment platform. With a near-term $45 billion development pipeline, Related Digital will deliver digital infrastructure solutions for artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud hyperscale technology companies. Related Digital is investing a minimum of $500 million in initial sponsor commitments toward the buildout of its development pipeline, underscoring its confidence in the platform's unique position in this rapidly evolving market. To fuel its continued growth, Related Digital is also launching a multi-phase capital-raising effort to unlock up to $8 billion in private capital. Morgan Stanley is advising on the first phase of the platform's capital formation efforts, with initial capital to be committed starting in the second half of 2025. Related Digital combines Related Companies' 50-year+ track record of innovation and executing complex real estate and infrastructure projects with its expertise in real estate investing and developing large-scale clean energy solutions through its affiliated transmission line development and renewable energy business, energyRe. Related Digital's first North American data center project, located in Ontario, Canada, is a pre-leased 64-megawatt (MW) data center expansion that will be delivered to a leading hyperscale customer beginning this summer. With a robust data center development pipeline of more than 5 gigawatts (GW) of near-term power across the United States and Canada, Related Digital has the capabilities, depth of expertise and national scale to help hyperscale companies significantly grow their data center capacity on an accelerated timeframe. Related Digital's vertically integrated platform, which includes in-house construction and engineering, steel fabrication, mechanical and BMS contractors, supply chain and materials procurement, site selection and land development, and entitlement and zoning, provides a unique competitive advantage and certainty of execution for partners. "Digital infrastructure is one of the most remarkable growth categories and asset classes that I have seen in my more than 35 years in real estate development, driven by the unprecedented demand for data centers with reliable access to significant energy sources," said Jeff T. Blau, CEO of Related Companies. "As one of the only data center developers in the market with nationwide capabilities across development, complex infrastructure construction, expert supply chain procurement and clean power generation through our strategic partnership with energyRe, Related Digital is uniquely positioned to partner with major technology companies to execute on this massive opportunity." To accelerate these efforts, Related Companies has appointed Brent Behrman as Chief Investment Officer of Related Digital, effective immediately. Mr. Behrman, a seasoned executive with extensive strategic experience in data center development, engineering, sales and supply chain management, was previously Chief Sales Officer at CyrusOne, the global data center developer and operator. He will work closely with Related Companies CEO Jeff Blau to continue to build Related Digital's industry-leading leadership team and develop and execute its growth strategy. "I am excited to join Related Digital to establish the platform as a premier leader in digital infrastructure during this unprecedented period of digital transformation and global expansion," Mr. Behrman said. "I look forward to working with Jeff and the rest of the leadership team to meet the exploding demand for AI and cloud infrastructure with reliable, innovative, and mission-critical data center solutions." The company has also named Greg Myers, previously Global Head of Capital & Partner Solutions and a member of the Executive Committee at Vista Equity Partners, a global investment firm focused exclusively on enterprise software, technology and data-enabled businesses, as Chief Financial Officer of Related Digital. Prior to joining Vista in 2017, Mr. Myers spent over two decades in senior leadership positions, leading investor development, fund formation and capital raising activities, including as a Partner and Senior Managing Director at Eton Park Capital Management and as a Managing Director at Lazard, Inc. "Related Digital's vertically integrated business model and unmatched expertise across the entire data center value chain positions the business to be a leading player in the data center space, and I look forward to playing a role in spearheading its rapid and sustained growth," said Mr. Myers. To further its growth and strategic capabilities, Related Digital has made other significant additions to its team: Related Digital has appointed its first three Advisory Board members: Bill Stein , Executive Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer of Primary Digital Infrastructure, and formerly Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Realty Trust; Phil Horstmann , Founder of Ascent, a comprehensive data center solutions provider; and, Miguel Prado , CEO of energyRe, a diversified renewable energy company founded by the principals of Related Companies with more than 80 projects and a $35 billion investment pipeline across the United States. , Executive Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer of Primary Digital Infrastructure, and formerly Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Realty Trust; , Founder of Ascent, a comprehensive data center solutions provider; and, , CEO of energyRe, a diversified renewable energy company founded by the principals of Related Companies with more than 80 projects and a investment pipeline across the United States. Related Digital has also added senior team members, including Erik Egger , Vice President of Design & Construction, who joins from Prologis, Inc. and has more than 30 years of complex construction and infrastructure experience, and John Shine , Vice President of Sales, who joins from Compass Datacenters, where he developed their integrated sales program for top technology clients. Related Digital is ramping up other critical functions, including engineering and operations, as it accelerates the execution of its pipeline. Related Digital's $45 billion near-term development pipeline includes: A state-of-the-art campus at 8080 Lake Shore Drive in Chicago , the former U.S. Steel South Works site along the Lake Michigan shoreline and one of the largest contiguous infill waterfront properties in the country, at over 400 acres. This will include development of the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park (IQMP) a new, 128-acre quantum innovation campus where PsiQuantum, a leader in quantum computing technology, will advance its ambitions to build the world's largest quantum computer. Related Digital will develop a data center on the north side of the property with 1 GW of capacity. , the former U.S. Steel South Works site along the shoreline and one of the largest contiguous infill waterfront properties in the country, at over 400 acres. This will include development of the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park (IQMP) a new, 128-acre quantum innovation campus where PsiQuantum, a leader in quantum computing technology, will advance its ambitions to build the world's largest quantum computer. Related Digital will develop a data center on the north side of the property with 1 GW of capacity. Several additional data center projects in the near-term Related Digital pipeline include: Illinois : 500+ Acres / 1,000+ MW capacity : 500+ Acres / 1,000+ MW capacity Missouri : 600+ acres / 1,200 MW capacity : 600+ acres / 1,200 MW capacity Wyoming : 115 acres / 250 MW capacity Related Digital's data center investment activities will be led through Related Fund Management ("RFM"), the national, vertically integrated real estate private equity and credit investment manager and affiliate of Related Companies. The collaboration between Related and RFM will provide RFM and its investors the opportunity to invest in the data center sector through the creation of the Related Digital operating platform. About Related Companies Related Companies is a global real estate and lifestyle company defined by innovation and the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States. Formed 50 years ago, Related is one of the largest private owners and preservationists of affordable housing in the U.S. and a fully-integrated, highly diversified industry leader with experience in virtually every aspect of development, acquisition, management, finance, marketing and sales. Headquartered in New York City, Related has offices and major developments in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Abu Dhabi and London, and boasts a team of approximately 4,000 professionals. Today, Related Companies has over $70 billion in assets owned or under development including the 28-acre Hudson Yards neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side, Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle and The 78 in Chicago. Related was named to Fast Company Magazine's list of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World. For more information about Related, please visit www.related.com . About Related Fund Management Launched in 2009, Related Fund Management is a multi-strategy real estate investment manager that currently manages approximately $12 billion in commingled funds and separate accounts on behalf of public and private pension plans, endowments, family offices, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds. Since inception, RFM has invested across all portions of the capital stack and in all major real estate sectors. RFM is an affiliate of Related Companies. About energyRe Founded in 2020 by the principals of Related Companies out of the sustainable construction practices at Related Companies, energyRe, led by CEO Miguel Prado, today has a development portfolio that includes utility-scale wind and solar generation, offshore wind, energy storage, transmission and distributed generation. The company has more than 80 projects across the country, representing $35 billion of investment, 16GWs of generation operating or under development, and 500 miles of transmission. Press Contacts: Related Companies Natalie Ravitz +1 (212) 801-1000 [email protected] Brunswick Group Alex Yankus and Cara Paley +1 (212) 333-3810 [email protected] SOURCE Related Companies QUEEN CREEK, Ariz., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Relentless Digital is proud to announce that we have officially earned the Certified Google Partner designation, recognizing our expertise in Google Search, Display, and Video Ads. This achievement demonstrates our commitment to delivering top-tier digital marketing services and maximizing ROI for our clients. As a Google Partner, Relentless Digital has met Google's rigorous certification and performance standards, ensuring that our team is fully equipped to create, manage, and optimize high-performing ad campaigns. This status provides our clients with several key advantages, including: Expert-Level PPC Management Our team has been tested and certified by Google in multiple advertising disciplines, guaranteeing that your paid campaigns are managed by professionals with in-depth knowledge of the platform. Our team has been tested and certified by Google in multiple advertising disciplines, guaranteeing that your paid campaigns are managed by professionals with in-depth knowledge of the platform. Exclusive Google Insights & Support We gain early access to Google's latest tools, beta features, and training, allowing us to implement cutting-edge strategies before they're widely available. We gain early access to Google's latest tools, beta features, and training, allowing us to implement cutting-edge strategies before they're widely available. Optimized Ad Performance With a direct line to Google, we receive advanced support and data-driven insights, enabling us to continually refine ad performance and increase conversions. With a direct line to Google, we receive advanced support and data-driven insights, enabling us to continually refine ad performance and increase conversions. Increased Competitive Advantage Earning the Google Partner badge means we've proven our ability to drive results, meeting the highest performance benchmarks in the industry. "At Relentless Digital, we are constantly striving to bring our clients the most effective marketing solutions," said Josh Crouch, Founder and CEO. "Achieving Google Partner status is a testament to our dedication, expertise, and relentless pursuit of digital marketing excellence." About Relentless Digital Relentless Digital stands out in the digital landscape because of our unwavering commitment to home services, stemming from our first hand involvement and deep-rooted experience in the industry. We pride ourselves on "The Relentless Digital Way" - a proven process that consistently delivers measurable results for our clients. Furthermore, we are not just a service provider; we form strategic partnerships with our clients, offering them invaluable business intelligence while maintaining a boutique feel, ensuring personalized attention and tailored strategies for every unique business need. To learn more about Relentless Digital, visit us at https://www.relentless-digital.com/ SOURCE Relentless Digital MENLO PARK, Calif., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) has been named one of Fortune's 2025 America's Most Innovative Companies and a winner of the 2025 CIO 100 Award. These prestigious accolades highlight Robert Half's commitment to cultivating a culture of innovation and delivering world-class technology solutions to drive business success. The company is the only in its industry to achieve this distinction. Fortune's Most Innovative Companies list is the result of an extensive evaluation across product, process and company culture, incorporating insights from a survey of over 45,000 U.S. employees at more than 3,000 companies, as well as expert input from various fields. The CIO 100 Awards recognize 100 organizations and their teams who are leveraging technology in creative ways to drive business value, whether by creating competitive advantage, optimizing business processes, enabling growth or improving relationships with customers. "Innovation is one of our enterprise values and is deeply embedded in our organizational culture, which makes this recognition especially meaningful," said M. Keith Waddell, president and chief executive officer of Robert Half. "Through significant investments in AI, technology and our people, we are dedicated to providing a world-class experience for our customers while empowering our employees with state-of-the-art tools." Robert Half's AI-powered tools use advanced machine learning and proprietary data to enhance the recruitment process by creating real-time candidate shortlists, efficiently matching candidates to client needs and optimizing client outreach. "These offerings significantly boost our ability to connect top talent with hard-to-staff roles while better serving our customers' needs," said James Johnson, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Robert Half. "We are incredibly proud of our business transformation, data science and technology teams, who consistently lead with innovation and are committed to delivering state-of-the-art AI solutions and technology tools." Robert Half also recently received a Stevie Award in the 22nd Annual American Business Awards. The company was honored for 'Best Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Solution' for capabilities in AI that benefit clients, candidates and employees. About Robert Half Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. We offer contract talent and permanent placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support, and we also provide executive search services. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm that delivers internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. In the past 12 months, Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named one of the Fortune Most Admired Companies and 100 Best Companies to Work For. Explore talent solutions, research and insights at RobertHalf.com. SOURCE Robert Half Industry Leader and Category Creator Makes Arizona and New Mexico Debut, Continues Rapid Growth in Utah JUPITER, Fla., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scenthound, the nation's leading dog wellness franchise, announces significant expansion across the Southwest region, with development deals for 11 locations in key markets. Marking a key milestone for the brand, Scenthound will be debuting in Arizona and New Mexico while expanding in Utah. The development further solidifies its position as a leader in the pet care industry and furthering its mission of making routine hygiene services accessible to pet parents and their canine family members. Behind the Signed Agreements: Phoenix, Arizona : Making the brand's debut into the state, Steve Reback is bringing three Scenters to the Phoenix DMA. Combining his experience in law and banking with a long-held entrepreneurial ambition, Reback chose Scenthound for its solid business model. Recognizing a need for these services in his community, and as a dog parent himself, he's motivated by the importance of providing pets with routine hygiene and wellness services. Making the brand's debut into the state, is bringing three Scenters to the Phoenix DMA. Combining his experience in law and banking with a long-held entrepreneurial ambition, Reback chose Scenthound for its solid business model. Recognizing a need for these services in his community, and as a dog parent himself, he's motivated by the importance of providing pets with routine hygiene and wellness services. Salt Lake City, Utah : After 25 years working in corporate, Red Solosko is turning his lifelong love for animals into his next professional venture bringing an additional five Scenters to Salt Lake City . Having seen first-hand the powerful impact that pets can have on people's lives, Scenthound's commitment to its mission to bettering the health of dogs made the brand an ideal investment opportunity. After 25 years working in corporate, is turning his lifelong love for animals into his next professional venture bringing an additional five Scenters to . Having seen first-hand the powerful impact that pets can have on people's lives, Scenthound's commitment to its mission to bettering the health of dogs made the brand an ideal investment opportunity. Albuquerque, New Mexico : With a steep background in graphic design and expertise in software development, Lisa and Andres Jaramillo are uniquely positioned for success as Scenthound's first franchise partners in New Mexico . Driven by their shared love of their very own canine companion, the husband-wife duo is excited to bring the brand's one-of-its-kind concept to the pet care landscape in Albuquerque . "We're thrilled to welcome these passionate and driven entrepreneurs into the Scenthound family," says Tim Vogel, Co-Founder and CEO of Scenthound. "As we expand our footprint into new markets, our goal remains the same. We will continue to change the way people think about caring for their dogs by emphasizing the importance of practicing proactive wellness." Driven by business-friendly policies and lower cost of living, the 2025 IFA Economic Outlook Report projects that franchise growth in the Southeast and Southwest is expected to significantly exceed the national average in 2025. Recognizing this trend, the brand has identified Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, and Kentucky as key growth areas for franchise expansion and has prime territories available nationwide . With the pet industry expected to reach $277 billion by 2030 , Scenthound is primed for explosive growth. Being category creators in a recession-resistant industry, both multi-unit operators and aspiring entrepreneurs are flocking to Scenthound's franchise opportunity. To learn more about the brand, visit www.scenthound.com or follow the brand on Instagram and LinkedIn . To find out more about franchise opportunities, visit www.franchise.scenthound.com . About Scenthound Founded in 2015, Scenthound , the nation's first dog wellness franchise concept, offers monthly hygiene services for affordable and accessible routine dog care. With a unique focus on pet health and hygiene, the brand's services are elevated through the integration of innovative technology, including its proprietary S.C.E.N.T. Check (Skin, Coat, Ears, Nails, and Teeth) detailing an assessment of each dog's external well-being following its monthly visit to a 'Scenter.' Today, Scenthound has finalized plans for over 300 franchised and corporate-owned locations across 26 states and is positioned for explosive growth across the U.S. For more information about Scenthound's unique membership offerings, visit www.scenthound.com or follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. To find out more about franchise opportunities, visit www.franchise.scenthound.com . Media Contact: Lauren Kirkley, Fishman Public Relations, [email protected] or 847.945.1300 SOURCE Scenthound SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Secure Workspaces Distribution (SWD) today announced four new software bundles designed to boost security and productivity for businesses. These solutions combine industry-leading partner technologies into seamless packages that enhance security while optimizing productivity and efficiency. "These strategic bundles represent our commitment to providing comprehensive solutions that address evolving business needs," says Heidi Perris, National Account Manager of SWD. "By combining best-in-class technologies, we're making enterprise-grade solutions accessible to organizations of all sizes." "Lenovo is committed to supporting SWD and the cutting-edge partner technologies that will power AI development and secure workload deployment of the future," says Russell Griffin, Director of Solution Sales at Lenovo Cloud & Software. "These validated solution bundles will allow our customers to leverage the power of our AI hardware platforms to create, deploy, and iterate on AI Development environments to support their business, rapidly and at scale." The partnership between Kasm, Dispersive, Oracle, and Steel Dome, paired with the collaboration between Lenovo, IGEL, and Kasm, provides customers with the ability to simplify security, workplace efficiency, and integration challenges. "Small and mid-sized businesses often face the challenge of balancing security with affordability," said Rajiv Pimplaskar, CEO of Dispersive. "By simplifying secure remote access and enhancing network resilience, we enable companies to adopt cutting-edge technologies without traditional barriers." "Our collaboration with SWD makes secure digital workspace technology more accessible," said Justin Carlson, CSO of Kasm Technologies. These bundles enable organizations to rapidly deploy secure, browser-based workspaces that enhance productivity while maintaining high security standards. KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS: Endpoint FIT Client Bundle : Lenovo ThinkCentre neo 50q with IGEL 12 Licensing and Kasm Named User license for secure endpoint management. : Lenovo ThinkCentre neo 50q with IGEL 12 Licensing and Kasm Named User license for secure endpoint management. Workspace for Oracle Access Bundle : Concurrent Session licenses for Oracle Workspaces with Dispersive Stealth Networking, SAML, and Web Filtering. : Concurrent Session licenses for Oracle Workspaces with Dispersive Stealth Networking, SAML, and Web Filtering. AI Workspaces Starter Kit : Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 with Dual GPUs and Kasm Workspaces Concurrent Session licenses for AI applications. : Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 with Dual GPUs and Kasm Workspaces Concurrent Session licenses for AI applications. Next-Gen VDI Bundle: Kasm Concurrent Session licenses, Dispersive Security, and Steel Dome cyber HCI solution as a secure VDI alternative. All bundles feature effortless integration, competitive pricing, and scalability for businesses of all sizes. AVAILABILITY: These bundles are available starting today exclusively through qualified resellers in SWD's Peak Partner Performance Program, offering higher margins than traditional VDI vendors. Learn more at www.swdisty.com. ABOUT SWD: SWD optimizes access to cutting-edge technology for companies focused on industry transformation and enhancing end-user productivity through partnerships with industry-leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). SOURCE Kasm Technologies NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Siderofsky Strategic Advisors LLC today announced that its Founder and Managing Principal, Stephen Siderow, has been named to the Advisory Board of Allposit, Inc. ("Allposit," or "the Company"), a provider of integrated digital solutions for the wealth management industry. Through Siderofsky Strategic Advisors, Mr. Siderow is an advisor to innovative asset managers, fintech and other early stage and growing businesses. He is also the former founder and president of a leading diversified alternative asset management firm. Stephen Siderow Founder & Managing Principal Siderofsky Strategic Advisors LLC "We are delighted that Stephen is bringing his expertise, experience, and extensive network of contacts in investment management to the Allposit Advisory Board. We are confident that he will contribute greatly to our efforts to build an innovative, data-driven and AI-powered investment aggregation and analytic platform to serve investment advisors, family offices and their clients," said Michael Liberman, founder and CEO of Allposit. Allposit, founded in 2023, has created a next-generation wealth management infrastructure that aggregates and manages the complex financial assets and liabilities across both public and private markets of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices and their investment advisors. Allposit's "dashboard of dashboards" app delivers comprehensive real-time reporting, analytics and scenario analysis thereby enabling more informed decision-making. The "dashboard of dashboards" Allposit App rests on Company's underlying Smart Transactions data standard that enables a complete and accurate accounting of the entire investment transaction lifecycle including complex assets and liabilities, both public and private, and multi layered ownership structures, to allow seamless multi-asset client balance sheet and cash flow aggregation and reporting. Stephen Siderow is the founder and principal of Siderofsky Strategic Advisors LLC, an advisor to innovative early stage businesses, with a focus on financial services, alternative asset management and technology companies. Mr. Siderow leverages his 30+ years of business experience, extensive global relationships and strategic insights as a founder to help early stage companies catalyze growth and effectively manage the challenges and opportunities of fast growing businesses. Previously, Mr. Siderow was President and a Co-founder of BlueMountain Capital Management, a diversified alternative asset management firm established in 2003, which managed peak assets of $23 billion, employed over 300 professionals, and had offices in New York, London and Tokyo. Under his leadership, BlueMountain pursued an expanding range of investment strategies for a global and diversified institutional and private client investor base of over 250 LPs. Mr. Siderow and his partners successfully negotiated a sale of minority interests in BlueMountain to AMG in 2005 and 2012, and a sale of the entire firm (including AMG's stake) to Assured Guaranty in 2019. Following BlueMountain, Mr. Siderow worked for two years as a Senior Strategist at Millennium Management, a New York-based multi manager hedge fund. Prior to co-founding BlueMountain, Mr. Siderow was a Senior Consultant with McKinsey & Company, where he worked with leading financial services institutions in NYC, London, Zurich and Tel Aviv primarily on strategic growth/new business initiatives. Mr. Siderow began his career as a Corporate Attorney with Cleary Gottlieb in New York and as a law clerk to Judge Jacob Mishler, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of NY. In addition, Mr. Siderow is an active philanthropist and a board member of several non-profit organizations. He currently serves on the boards of directors of iTrek, which introduces tomorrow's leaders in business, law, policy and STEM to Israel; The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership (CLAL), a leadership training institute, think tank, and resource center; The Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute at Mt. Sinai Hospital, which provides palliative care programs, helps educate health care professionals, and engages in ground-breaking research; and Ars Nova in New York City, which provides training and development programs to emerging performing artists. He also served for over 14 years a Board Member and as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Birthright Israel Foundation, a program that provides the gift of first-time peer education trips to Israel. Mr. Siderow holds a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in Philosophy from Amherst College. After completing his law degree, Mr. Siderow was a Fulbright and a Sheldon Scholar in Israel at Tel Aviv University. SOURCE Siderofsky Strategic Advisors LLC The Single-Cell Analysis Market is experiencing robust expansion, driven by surging demand for precision medicine, advancements in genomics, and rising investments in life sciences research. Increased adoption of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and microfluidics-based technologies is accelerating market penetration, enhancing resolution, and enabling high-throughput single-cell profiling. LEWES, Del., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Single-cell Analysis Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2026 to 2033, according to a new report published by Verified Market Reports. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 2.5 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5.4 Billion by the end of the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/download-sample/?rid=480559 Verified Market Reports Logo Browse in-depth TOC on Single-cell Analysis Market 202 - Pages 126 Tables 37 Figures Scope of The Report REPORT ATTRIBUTES DETAILS STUDY PERIOD 2022-2033 BASE YEAR 2024 FORECAST PERIOD 2026-2033 HISTORICAL PERIOD 2022-2023 UNIT Value (USD Billion) KEY COMPANIES PROFILED Merck, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Becton Dickinson, Beckman Coulter, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Qiagen, Illumina, GE Healthcare, Agilent Technologies, Fluidigm Corporation SEGMENTS COVERED By Technology, By Application, By End User, By Product Type, By Cell Type, By Geography CUSTOMIZATION SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analyst working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope Global Single-cell Analysis Market Overview Key Market Drivers Fueling Growth in the Single-cell Analysis Market Expanding Applications in Precision Medicine The growing adoption of precision medicine is accelerating demand for single-cell analysis technologies. The need for highly detailed cellular insights is driving researchers to develop patient-specific treatment strategies, especially in oncology and immunology. Advances in transcriptomics, genomics, and proteomics are enabling deeper characterization of cellular heterogeneity, leading to more effective diagnostic tools and targeted therapies. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms are increasing investments in single-cell technologies to refine drug discovery processes, fueling market expansion. Technological Advancements Enhancing Sensitivity and Throughput Continuous innovations in microfluidics, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and high-throughput single-cell platforms are revolutionizing the market. Improved cell isolation techniques, automated workflows, and enhanced bioinformatics capabilities are enabling researchers to extract higher-resolution data with greater efficiency. Miniaturization of analytical tools is reducing sample volumes and reagent costs, making single-cell studies more cost-effective. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in data analysis is streamlining complex interpretations, driving broader adoption across academic, clinical, and commercial sectors. Rising Demand for Single-Cell Multi-Omics Solutions The shift towards multi-omics research is intensifying the need for single-cell analysis technologies. Researchers are exploring integrated approaches that simultaneously analyze genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and proteomics at the single-cell level. This holistic perspective is uncovering deeper biological insights into disease mechanisms, cellular pathways, and therapeutic responses. The expansion of single-cell multi-omics is pushing market players to develop novel platforms that offer higher resolution and scalability, fostering significant growth opportunities in biomedical research, drug development, and biomarker discovery. To Purchase a Comprehensive Report Analysis: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/ask-for-discount/?rid=480559 Market Restraints Limiting Expansion in the Single-cell Analysis Market High Instrumentation and Operational Costs The single-cell analysis market faces substantial challenges due to the high costs associated with advanced analytical platforms. Sophisticated technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), flow cytometry, and microfluidics require significant capital investment. Laboratories and research institutions, particularly in emerging economies, encounter budget constraints that restrict large-scale adoption. Reagents, consumables, and specialized personnel further escalate operational expenses, making affordability a key barrier for market expansion. Technical Complexities and Standardization Issues Single-cell analysis demands precise handling, extensive expertise, and high technical proficiency. Sample preparation, cell isolation, and data interpretation pose significant complexities, requiring advanced bioinformatics tools and skilled professionals. The absence of standardized protocols across different methodologies leads to variability in results, limiting reproducibility and comparability between studies. This lack of uniformity challenges regulatory approvals and slows down the clinical translation of single-cell technologies in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Data Management and Interpretation Challenges The vast volume of data generated from single-cell analysis creates significant bottlenecks in processing, storage, and interpretation. High-throughput technologies produce complex datasets requiring advanced computational power and specialized bioinformatics solutions. Many research organizations struggle with data integration across multiple platforms, leading to inefficiencies in deriving meaningful insights. The shortage of skilled bioinformaticians capable of managing such large-scale data further impedes market growth, delaying advancements in precision medicine and targeted therapies. These constraints collectively hinder the widespread adoption of single-cell analysis, limiting its penetration across academic research, clinical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical applications. Overcoming these market restraints requires continuous advancements in cost-effective technologies, standardized workflows, and robust data analytics solutions. Single-cell Analysis Market: Key Trends and Opportunities Key Trends: Rising Adoption of Multi-Omics Integration The single-cell analysis market is witnessing a shift towards multi-omics technologies that combine genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics for a comprehensive cellular profiling approach. The increasing need for high-resolution insights into cellular heterogeneity has propelled demand for integrated solutions. Advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and mass cytometry have enabled researchers to decode intricate cellular interactions at an unprecedented scale. The global market for multi-omics is projected to exceed $7.5 billion by 2030, directly contributing to the expansion of single-cell technologies. Growing Investment in Personalized Medicine and Drug Discovery The accelerating demand for personalized medicine has intensified the focus on single-cell techniques for precision therapeutics. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies are leveraging single-cell sequencing to identify novel drug targets and develop patient-specific therapies. With biopharmaceutical R&D spending surpassing $200 billion annually, single-cell analytics has become a critical tool in optimizing treatment pathways, reducing trial failures, and enhancing biomarker discovery. Key Opportunities: Expansion in Oncology and Cancer Research The oncology segment presents significant growth potential, as single-cell analysis plays a pivotal role in tumor microenvironment studies, cancer heterogeneity profiling, and liquid biopsy development. The global liquid biopsy market is expected to reach $10 billion by 2028, positioning single-cell sequencing at the forefront of non-invasive cancer diagnostics. Research institutions and healthcare providers are increasingly integrating these technologies to improve early cancer detection and therapeutic monitoring. Advancements in Microfluidics and AI-Driven Data Analysis Breakthroughs in microfluidic platforms and artificial intelligence (AI)-based data interpretation are unlocking new possibilities for high-throughput single-cell applications. AI algorithms are enhancing predictive modeling in disease pathogenesis, while microfluidic innovations are reducing sample processing costs. The AI-driven bioinformatics market is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 35%, providing lucrative opportunities for market players to enhance analytical accuracy and workflow automation. Single-cell Analysis Market: Geographic Dominance The Single-Cell Analysis Market exhibits strong geographic dominance across key regions, driven by technological advancements, increasing biomedical research, and rising demand for personalized medicine. North America holds the largest market share due to robust healthcare infrastructure, significant R&D investments, and widespread adoption of advanced analytical techniques. The United States leads this region, supported by major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, government funding, and a well-established academic research ecosystem. Europe follows closely, with countries such as Germany, the UK, and France spearheading single-cell genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics innovations. Strong collaborations between academic institutions and industry players contribute to sustained market growth. Asia-Pacific is witnessing the fastest expansion, primarily fueled by rising biotechnology investments, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and growing focus on precision medicine. China and Japan dominate this region due to their expanding biopharmaceutical sector, growing patient pool, and advancements in high-throughput technologies. Expanding clinical applications and ongoing technological innovations continue to shape regional market trajectories. Single-cell Analysis Market Key Players Shaping the Future Major players, including Merck, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Becton Dickinson, Beckman Coulter, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Qiagen, Illumina, GE Healthcare, Agilent Technologies, Fluidigm Corporation and more, play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Single-cell Analysis Market. Financial statements, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis provide valuable insights into the industry's key players. Single-cell Analysis Market Segment Analysis Based on the research, Verified Market Reports has segmented the global Single-cell Analysis Market into Technology, Application, End User, Product Type, Cell Type and Geography. By Technology Sequencing Technologies Imaging Technologies Microfluidics Technologies Software and Analysis Tools By Application Drug Discovery Clinical Diagnostics Basic Research Biomarker Discovery By End User Academic and Research Institutes Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies Clinical Laboratories Hospitals and Healthcare Institutions By Product Type Consumables Instruments Software By Cell Type T Cells B Cells Stem Cells Cancer Cells Single-cell Analysis Market, By Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia Pacific ROW Middle East & Africa Latin America Browse Related Reports: Global Image Based Cytometry in Cell Analysis Market Size By Technology (Flow Cytometry, Imaging Cytometry), By Application (Drug Discovery, Clinical Diagnostics), By Product Type (Instruments, Reagents and Consumables), By End User (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Academic and Research Institutions), By Technique (Flow Cytometry Techniques, Fluorescence Microscopy), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Digital Cell Morphology System Market Size By Product Type (Cell Imaging Systems, Cell Analysis Systems), By Technology (Microscopy, Flow Cytometry), By Application (Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology), By End-User (Academic and Research Institutes, Hospitals and Clinical Laboratories), By Distribution Channel (Direct Sales, Distributors), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Cell Analysis Software Market Size By Application (Clinical Diagnostics, Drug Discovery), By Product Type (Software as a Service (SaaS), On-Premises Software), By End-User (Academic and Research Institutions, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies), By Technology (Image Analysis, Data Management and Analysis), By End User (Contractors, Agricultural Operators), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Live Cell Analysis Equipment Market Size By Type of Equipment (Fluorescence Microscopes, Incubators), By Application (Drug Development, Cancer Research), By End-User (Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnology Firms), By Technology (Label-Free Technology, Fluorescent Technology), By End-User (Academia and Research Institutes, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies), By Geographic Scope And Forecast Global Cell Analysis Technology Market Size By Technology Type (Flow Cytometry, Mass Cytometry), By Application (Clinical Diagnostics, Drug Discovery and Development), By End-User (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Research and Academic Institutions), By Cell Type (Human Cells, Animal Cells), By Product Type (Reagents and Consumables, Instruments), By Geographic Scope And Forecast About Us Verified Market Reports stands at the forefront as a global leader in Research and Consulting, offering unparalleled analytical research solutions that empower organizations with the insights needed for critical business decisions. 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Contact Us Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Reports US: +1 (650)-781-4080 US Toll Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.verifiedmarketreports.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2486715/VM_Reports.jpg SOURCE Verified Market Reports SHANGHAI, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Soul App, a trailblazer in the "Social + AI" domain, has once again demonstrated its commitment to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence in social networking. The company's latest achievement is the acceptance of its research paper on real-time, AI-driven portrait animation at the 2025 Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), one of the most esteemed conferences in the fields of AI and computer vision. CVPR is renowned for attracting top-tier research from both industry leaders and top academic institutions worldwide. This year, the conference received a staggering 13,008 submissions, of which only 2,878 were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of just 22.1%. This underscores the rigorous selection process and the intense competition in the field. Thus, the recognition from CVPR is a significant milestone for Soul, adding to its growing list of accolades, including the 2024 ACM International Conference on Multimedia (ACM MM) and the top position at the Multimodal Emotion Recognition Challenge (MER24). The accepted paper, titled "Teller: Real-Time Streaming Audio-Driven Portrait Animation with Autoregressive Motion Generation," presents a novel autoregressive framework designed to enhance the efficiency of generating "talking-head" animations. This research aims to meet the growing demand for AI models that can deliver human-like interactions in real time. What sets the "Teller" framework apart is its unique balance between performance and efficiency. Soul's model utilizes an autoregressive motion generation framework that maintains optimal efficiency without sacrificing the fluidity and authenticity of natural facial and body movements. The paper highlights two key components of this technology: Facial Motion Latent Generation (FMLG): By leveraging large-scale training data, FMLG enhances the synchronization between audio and visual cues, resulting in more fluid and natural facial expressions in response to speech inputs. Efficient Temporal Module (ETM): Using a diffusion-based approach, the model accurately captures body dynamics, adding realism to the movements of facial and body muscles, as well as accessories. During tests, Soul's engineers found that this dual-module system enables AI-generated avatars to exhibit expressions and gestures that feel human in real time. This level of realism significantly enhances user experience in virtual interactions. Since its inception in 2016, Soul has consistently invested in technological resources to gain an AI-driven edge in social networking. The company's journey began with the self-developed Lingxi Engine, which facilitated user connections based on mutual interests. This was followed by rapid advancements in speech and text-based interactions, as well as 3D virtual human modeling. By 2020, Soul was already leveraging AI-generated content (AIGC) and focusing on intelligent dialogue systems and voice synthesis. The launch of Soul's proprietary AI model, Soul X, in 2023 marked a major leap forward. This homegrown model introduced features such as multilingual voice calls, speech synthesis, and AI-generated music to the platform. The recent breakthrough with the "Teller" framework is another step toward Soul's goal of integrating speech, vision, and natural language processing (NLP) to create AI-powered digital entities that can interact seamlessly with users in real time. The ultimate aim is to provide not just functional but also emotionally fulfilling companionship. Soul believes that artificial intelligence should go beyond merely facilitating conversations. The full potential of the technology should be utilized to create experiences that are emotionally enriching for users. SOURCE Soul App Britain and France will assemble a team to discuss with their Ukrainian counterparts their needs regarding a possible contingent, Ukraine "knows exactly what it needs," French President Emmanuel Macron said. "This is a Franco-British proposal regarding these support forces [contingent]. It was accepted by Ukraine. It was not approved unanimously, but we do not need unanimous consent for this. So how are we going to prepare for this? We said: the British and French chiefs of staff will assemble a team that will meet with their Ukrainian colleagues. The Ukrainians will tell us what their needs are," Macron said following the meeting of leaders on support for Ukraine. He noted that he had a "very good discussion" on this issue yesterday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and "Ukraine knows exactly what they need." "And so these military discussions will allow us to define the locations, the number of troops so that it inspires confidence, and the capabilities. So nothing is excluded," Macron added. He stressed that Russia has no right to dictate what will happen on Ukrainian territory. "We have agreed on this [contingents], and we will work on this. Yes, there will be a pacification force with the participation of a number of European countries, and these forces will be deployed in Ukraine," the French president emphasized. New community-backed program offers spice lovers a platform for choosing future flavors directly from Spiceology's kitchen SPOKANE, Wash., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spiceology , the nation's fastest-growing spice company and a leader in flavor innovation, announced the launch of the Spiceology Test Kitchen, a new frontier in the brand's mission of sharing in the joy of cooking and eating. The Spiceology Test Kitchen embodies a spirit of raw creativity and experimentation by inviting the brand's community members into the kitchen to choose new spice blends for future purchase before those blends even exist. Spiceology chefs dream up fearless new flavors and post their prototypes to testkitchen.spiceology.com "We want people to feel like true Spiceology insiders by not just getting the inside track on flavor innovation but actually shaping it," said Spiceology CEO Darby McLean. "This new program allows us to push flavor boundaries further by putting wild new ideas in front of our fans and committing to build what they pledge to buy. To our knowledge, no other brand in the food industry has crossed this frontier." How It Works Spiceology chefs dream up fearless new flavors and post their prototypes to testkitchen.spiceology.com. Fans secure their place in the creative process by "backing" a blend with a no-charge pre-order. If and when a test blend gets 500 backers, Spiceology builds the blend as a small-batch runfor its backers, converts their pledges to purchases, and ships out the product. At the heart of the program lies a fresh, interactive approach to the creative process, capturing the thrilling moment when an idea becomes real. Most Test Kitchen blends will be true limited-time offerings, available only to fans who saw their potential. The most popular among them could get a second run or return as a stocked Signature blend in Spiceology's line-up. For more information about the Spiceology Test Kitchen and to become partof the next big food and spice innovation, visit testkitchen.spiceology.com. About Spiceology Founded in 2013, Spiceology is at the heart of the kitchen for all who love food and the fastest-growing spice company in the United States, according to the Inc. 5000 list for five years in a row. Spiceology is home to chef-created, never-before-tasted flavors and over 200 ingredients and blends that are ground fresh and shipped fresh. Bestsellers like Greek Freak and Smoky Honey Habanero have become pantry and counter staples in both professional and home cook kitchens around the world. Spiceology's ingredients and blends can be found in the aisles of retailers large and small, in the pantries of hundreds of thousands of home cooks, and in the kitchens of some of the world's greatest chefs. Contact Info: Maddison Cervantes (951) 265-3009 [email protected] SOURCE Spiceology LONDON and NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stablecoin Standard, the industry standard-setting body for stablecoin issuers globally, today announced that M Group Strategic Communications has joined the Stablecoin Standard's ecosystem as a media agency partner. M Group is one of the world's leading communications firms with a focus on the financial services and operates at the intersection of TradFi and DeFi. Jay Morakis, Founder & CEO of M Group Strategic Communications, commented on the partnership: "Stablecoins are at the forefront of crypto regulatory frameworks, with increased institutional adoption. By working alongside Stablecoin Standard, we aim to elevate the narrative around stablecoins, ensuring that industry leaders, policymakers and institutions engage in informed and productive discussions that drive responsible innovation. The global perspective that Stablecoin Standard brings to the discussion is invaluable as the regulatory regime for stablecoins takes shape in the United States." As a trusted agency partner to financial institutions, digital asset firms and blockchain innovators, M Group's expertise spans the fields of public relations, investor relations, regulatory & government affairs, crisis & issues management, and marketing-communications. Through this partnership, M Group will provide strategic communications support to elevate Stablecoin Standard's visibility within institutional finance, regulatory circles, and the broader digital asset landscape. The firm will also support public affairs initiatives, helping to foster constructive engagement between policymakers, industry leaders, and stablecoin issuers. Christian Walker, Chairman & Co-Founder of Stablecoin Standard, commented on the partnership: "M Group's proven expertise in financial services communications and its ability to bridge TradFi and DeFi make them a valuable addition to our ecosystem. Together, we will drive impactful industry conversations, advocate for sound regulatory approaches, and promote best practices for stablecoin issuers globally." As digital assets continue to play an increasingly vital role in global finance, this partnership will ensure that the stablecoin sector is well-positioned for sustainable growth and integration into mainstream financial markets. About M Group Strategic Communications M Group Strategic Communications is one of the world's leading communications firms focused on the financial services and technology sectors. Headquartered in midtown Manhattan with six affiliate offices across four continents, the company operates at the intersection of TradFi and DeFi, focusing on capital markets and companies leveraging technology to challenge the status quo. Our expertise spans the fields of public relations, investor relations, regulatory & government affairs, crisis & issues management, and marketing-communications. The team is trusted counsel to industry leaders in almost every major financial center across the globe, working for some of the world's most prominent and rapidly expanding businesses. About Stablecoin Standard Stablecoin Standard (SCS) is the industry body focused on setting operational, transparency, and product related standards for stablecoins. The SCS plans to achieve industry wide standards by sharing international best practices, business development use cases, forming industry led working groups defining what a high-quality liquid stablecoin should look like, and engaging with policymakers domestically & internationally. The SCS ecosystem consists of over 30 advisory board members, industry partners and issuers that offer digital currencies in global jurisdictions such as the US, EU, Singapore, Australia, and Turkey - among others. You can follow the Stablecoin Standard on LinkedIn and X and to learn more, please visit: https://stablecoinstandard.com/ Media Contact for M Group & the Stablecoin Standard: [email protected] SOURCE M GROUP STRATEGIC Enhancing Accessibility for Salt Lake County's Medical Marijuana Patients CLEVELAND, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Wellness Holdings, LLC ("Standard Wellness" or the "Company"), a leading multi-state cannabis operator, is excited to announce the relocation of its cannabis pharmacy, The Forest, from Springville to a new location within Salt Lake County at 6041 State Street, Murray. This move was previously approved and subsequently announced by the Utah Department of Agriculture in a letter dated August 9, 2024.This move will significantly increase access to medical marijuana for patients in Salt Lake, where current access is limited to only three retail pharmacies serving a larger population. With this relocation, Standard Wellness aims to better meet the growing needs of medical marijuana patients in Salt Lake County, which has long faced challenges due to the limited number of pharmacies. The shift to Murray will allow Standard Wellness to serve more patients, helping to ensure that those in need of medical marijuana treatment have reliable and convenient access to their medicine. "We are grateful to the patients of Springville and the surrounding areas for their loyalty and trust in us. Like in any move, we will miss our home and patients in Springville. However, this move is an exciting opportunity for The Forest to expand its reach and service a larger number of patients who have been underserved in Salt Lake County," said Scott Ericson, Chief Operating Officer. "Our new Murray location will allow us to continue offering high-quality care and medicine while helping to address the access challenges that many patients in Salt Lake County have been facing." The new Murray location will feature enhanced patient care with a larger space designed to accommodate the growing demand for medical cannabis. Standard Wellness is committed to providing safe, effective, and compassionate care to patients, and this relocation represents a significant step forward in their mission to improve access to medical marijuana across the state. The new Murray pharmacy will open late in the second quarter of this year. The Forest will still be serving patients in Springville until that time. About Standard Wellness Founded in 2017 in Ohio, Standard Wellness is a vertically integrated cannabis company operating across Ohio, Missouri, and Utah, with cultivation, processing, and dispensary licenses in Maryland. The Company operates five retail locations under The Forest brand and has been a pioneer in the industry, including making the first-ever legal marijuana sale in Ohio through its dispensary The Forest Sandusky and the first ever delivery to a Utah pharmacy in February 2020. With approximately 350 employees, Standard Wellness is dedicated to improving quality of life by providing safe and legal access to cannabis for medical and adult use. For media inquiries, please contact: Tiana Arriaga Vice President of Product and Marketing, Standard Wellness Holdings, LLC Email: [email protected] SOURCE Standard Wellness Holdings, LLC VEVEY, Switzerland, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- People today are looking for faster ways to prepare wholesome meals. With 33% of households globally now owning an air fryer,[1] this device is becoming increasingly popular and is delivering on this need. Nestle is helping consumers keep their air fryer meals varied and exciting with its growing range of air-fryer-dedicated recipes and flavors. The company recently expanded its range of Maggi Air Fryer products in the United Kingdom (UK) and Malaysia, two of Nestle's key culinary markets. Maggi Air Fryer Range Malaysia Maggi Air Fryer Range UK In the UK, where air fryers are already the third most used cooking appliance and 58% of people own one,[2] Nestle has added three new Maggi Air Fryer Crispy Coating recipe mixes to its highly successful Maggi Air Fryer Seasonings mixes. Among the first of their kind in the market, the new coatings are aimed at helping people achieve a perfect crispiness that is full of flavor. At the same time, Nestle is also building out its Maggi Air Fryer series in Malaysia, where 42% of households own an air fryer.[3] Here, the company has introduced a Satay variant along with repositioning its existing marinade mixes as part of the air fryer series to provide consumers with an authentic taste from fresh ingredients in two simple steps marinating and air frying. "Maggi, the world's leading food brand with highest household penetration has always been at the forefront of food innovation for decades" said Nikhil Chand, Head of Food Strategic Business Unit at Nestle "In both the UK and Malaysia, we are amongst the first with an air fryer range. At Nestle, we are constantly supporting modern cooking through our innovative offerings and enabling consumers to prepare delicious home cooked meals. As one of our six 'big bets' for 2025, our modern cooking solutions have the potential to generate over 100 million Swiss francs in annual sales." Swen Rabe, Head of the Nestle Research and Development Center for Food in Singen, Germany added: "Our chefs and food developers worked to craft these innovations through the smart combination of ingredients, leveraging Nestle's sensory expertise and knowledge of local flavor profiles and trends. These recipe mixes are just the latest examples of our ability to drive innovations that meet demand for modern cooking solutions like the air fryer." The category expansion builds on the presence of air fryer cooking solutions across other geographies like Australia, New Zealand and China. Nestle is leveraging years of flavor knowledge to deliver a carefully proportioned and authentic taste experience. Nestle UK & Ireland Press Release: Maggi launches brand-new range of Air Fryer Crispy Coating Mixes | Nestle UK & Ireland Download high resolution images from Flickr For media queries: [email protected] [1] Sources: Global insights. Kantar HH appliance usage study, 07.2023; NPTC Chefs consultation [2] Sources: Leatherhead food research, May 14, 2024. Good Food Foundation Survey, September 2024. [3] Source: MCR Consumer Study 2024. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650773/Maggie_Air_Fryer_Range_Malaysia.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2650774/Maggie_Air_Fryer_Range_UK.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2548705/5236278/Nestle_Logo.jpg SOURCE Nestle S.A. NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TESSAN, a global leader in smart charging solutions, today announced its Travel Charging Set has been awarded the 2025 MUSE Design Gold Award in the Product Design - Travel Accessories category. Recognized for merging eco-conscious engineering with cutting-edge functionality, the set redefines portable power for modern travelers. Key Features TESSAN's Travel Charging Companion Won 2025 MUSE Design Gold for Sustainable Power Innovation The award-winning Travel Charging Set exemplifies TESSAN's core values of "Simplicity and Convenience." Designed for the universal travelers, the set features a universal travel adapter and a portable multifunctional power bank. Universal Travel Adapter: Supports 170W GaN fast charging across 200+ countries and regions' voltage standards. Less heating, Faster charging. The built-in 29.5-in (75 cm) retractable USB-C cable features a compact coil with a two-way turbine shaft design, which prevents tangles and clutter in travel bag. The vibrant slide-button design pushes out EU, UK, and US plugs, while the pins can be rotated to fit sockets in Australia and China . and . Charge 6 devices at once, compatible with laptops, tablets, smartphones, and wearables. Environmentally friendly materials and incorporates sustainable manufacturing processes, not only durable but also eco-friendly. Multifunctional Power Bank: Designed to provide power anytime and anywhere, through a 10,000mAh power bank, a foldable charger, and a built-in USB-C cable all in one. The 30W fast charging capability and 10,000mAh capacity ensure a rapid response to low-power emergencies. Charge two devices simultaneously, say goodbye to out of power. Small but durable, featuring a pocket-sized design, and made of the same eco-friendly materials as the universal travel adapter. Executive Insight "Today's travelers demand tools that keep pace with their dynamic lifestylesnot the other way around," said Alex, CEO of TESSAN. "This recognition fuels our mission to innovate relentlessly, ensuring every journey is powered by simplicity and convenience." User-centric and Sustainability at the Core This travel charging set is designed for universal travelers who refuse to compromise. The universal adapter seamlessly accommodates hotel rooms, cafes, and workspaces abroad, while the slim power bank ensures your devices remain charged during flights, hikes, or city explorations. There's no need to pack multiple adapters or worry about dead batteriesthis compact kit powers your entire tech, no matter where you are on Earth. Its clean, minimalist design forgoes unnecessary embellishments while providing exceptional durability. The carbon fiber finish is not only stylish but also scratch-resistant and engineered to withstand rugged adventures. Sustainability is not an afterthought: Materials Matter: Eco-friendly materials and incorporates sustainable manufacturing processes. Climate Action: Carbon-Neutral Manufacturing Certified by ClimatePartner. Purposeful Design: Earth-inspired textures remind users that each charge contributes to more sustainable travel. Vision and Core Values TESSAN aims to be a dependable companion in users' lives and travels, ensuring they stay connected while navigating everyday life or exploring the unknown. Core values: Simplicity and Convenience: TESSAN products prioritize user-centric, straightforward designs to eliminate complexity and cater to modern needs for efficiency and convenience. Innovation and Efficiency: By integrating cutting-edge technologies like GaN (Gallium Nitride), TESSAN delivers enhanced performance, faster charging experiences, and broader device compatibility. Sustainability: TESSAN is committed to eco-friendly practices, adopting sustainable materials and green production processes. Collaborating with Climate Partner and One Tree Planted, the brand actively contributes to environmental improvement. About the MUSE Design Awards Organized by the International Awards Associate (IAA), the MUSE Design Awards honor groundbreaking innovations that challenge industry norms. This year's competition saw over 100,000 entries from 122 countries, judged by a panel of 200+ experts spanning design, engineering, and sustainability fields. TESSAN's submission stood out for its compact form factor, high-performance charging capabilities, and low-carbon engineering. About TESSAN TESSAN, a trusted partner in charging solutions, is committed to enriching experiences both at home and during travel. The brand offers a wide array of products, including multifunctional power strips, travel adapters, wall extenders, and smart home devices. Supported by a robust R&D and production team, TESSAN develops innovative socket products for users across the globe. With the trust of over 20 million users, TESSAN empowers their journeys from home to every destination, promoting environmentally conscious electricity usage. For more information, visit www.tessan.com or the TESSAN Amazon store, and follow TESSAN on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. CONTACT: Derien Lin, [email protected] SOURCE TESSAN NAPA, Calif., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Doctors Company, the nation's largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, announced today that it has approved a 2025 premium dividend of approximately $15.1 million, bringing the total of declared dividends to date to $485 million. "We are pleased to reward members once again with earned dividends," said Richard E. Anderson, MD, FACP, Chairman and CEO of The Doctors Company and TDC Group. "Dividends are an important part of our mission to advance, protect, and reward the practice of good medicine." Dividends of up to 10 percent were approved by The Doctors Company Board of Governors for eligible members in the following states: Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons may also receive a dividend, depending on their eligibility. Eligible members will receive this year's dividend on their annual premium for policy renewals between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Unlike commercial insurance companies, which look for ways to reward shareholders, The Doctors Company is dedicated to rewarding its members. In addition to dividends, the company provides the Tribute Plan, an unrivaled career benefit that has awarded more than $175 million to retiring doctors. "As a member-owned company, we are committed to sharing the results of our financial success with the healthcare professionals we insure," said Deepika Srivastava, Chief Operating Officer of The Doctors Company. "Our multiyear dividend program recognizes the outstanding outcomes achieved by our members." About The Doctors Company Founded and led by physicians, The Doctors Company (thedoctors.com), the nation's largest physician-owned medical malpractice insurer, is relentlessly committed to advancing, protecting, and rewarding the practice of good medicine. The Doctors Company helps physicians manage the complexities of today's healthcare environmentwith expert guidance, resources, and coverageand is the only medical malpractice insurer with an advocacy program covering all 50 states and the federal level. The Doctors Company is part of TDC Group (tdcg.com), the nation's largest physician-owned provider of insurance and risk management solutions. TDC Group serves the full continuum of care, from individual physicians to academic medical systemsover 110,000 healthcare professionals and organizations nationwidewith annual revenue of $1 billion and over $7.3 billion in assets. To learn more about our data-driven insights and to stay up to date on industry trends, follow and subscribe to The Doctors Company on X (@doctorscompany), YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. SOURCE The Doctors Company DENVER, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Melissa Valle is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for her contributions to Paralegal Consulting and Advocacy. Melissa Valle Melissa Valle, a distinguished bilingual litigation paralegal at Hailey | Hart PLLC, brings over 25 years of expertise and dedication to her profession. Known for her unwavering commitment to delivering justice, Ms. Valle has built a remarkable career advocating for victims of catastrophic injuries and life-altering events, helping them navigate the complexities of the legal system, while striving to improve their quality of life. Before joining Hailey | Hart PLLC, Ms. Valle operated her own consulting firm, Paralegal Solutions Consulting, LLC, where she provided full-time support to multiple law firms. Her extensive experience and dedication to excellence have consistently led to positive outcomes for her clients, whether through settlements or court proceedings. Ms. Valle's bilingual abilities have been instrumental in bridging language barriers for Spanish-speaking clients. By offering guidance, insight, and understanding, she ensures her clients are fully informed and supported throughout their legal representation. Her work embodies diligence, hard work, and determination, traits that have earned her the trust and respect of clients and colleagues alike. Ms. Valle began her career in 1995 as a clerk for the Judge Advocate General Attorney's Office, providing support to enlisted soldiers and their families. Since then, she has worked across various legal domains, including insurance, personal injury, product liability, workers' compensation, employment, disability, mass tort litigation, class-action lawsuits, medical malpractice, and business matters. A graduate of the University of Arizona in 2000, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Spanish, achieving Dean's Honor List recognition. Ms. Valle mostly attributes her success to her Father, Daniel C. Valle, who became an entrepreneur after serving in the military for many years, and who is currently the Regional/International Director of the Southeast Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Valle is a member of the National Hispanic Institute and the University of Arizona Alumni Association, reflecting her commitment to fostering community engagement and mentorship. Ms. Valle was recognized as the Marquis Who's Who Top Professional featured listee of Marquis Top Lawyers for 2024. Looking ahead, Ms. Valle remains dedicated to delivering high-quality legal support and advocating for justice. Her passion for helping others and her unparalleled expertise continue to drive her efforts in making meaningful contributions to her field. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As thousands of spring breakers descend upon South Florida, The SPOT is once again taking to the beaches to help keep young people safe. With fentanyl-laced substances and drink spiking on the rise, The SPOT is distributing free naloxone (Narcan) and drink covers while educating visitors on overdose prevention and harm reduction strategies. The SPOT team during Spring Break outreach. Last year, The SPOT's team distributed over 9,000 doses of naloxone to beachgoers, empowering thousands of young people to act as first responders in overdose situations. This year, the initiative aims to reach even more spring breakers by increasing its distribution goal to 10,000 doses, ensuring critical resources are in the right hands before a crisis occurs. "Many spring breakers don't realize that substances they use could be laced with fentanyl," said Emelina Martinez, Safe Syringe Exchange Services Manager for The SPOT. "Our goal is to put even more naloxone in their hands this year because a single dose can mean the difference between life and death." In addition to naloxone, The SPOT will provide free drink covers to help prevent drink tampering at parties and bars. The team will also offer harm reduction education, equipping young people with the knowledge they need to stay safe and make informed decisions. While overdose deaths are declining, fentanyl-laced substances remain a serious threat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 72,000 opioid-related overdose deaths occurred in the U.S. in 2023, with fentanyl as the primary driver. Access to harm reduction tools like naloxone remains more critical than ever. The SPOT is Broward County's only approved Syringe Services Program, operating as a mobile harm reduction and medical unit under Care Resource's Behavioral Health Department. Beyond Spring Break, The SPOT provides essential harm reduction supplies and basic medical care, connecting individuals to specialized services offered by Care Resource. Unlike other public health initiatives, The SPOT does not receive government funding for harm reduction services. The program relies on private donors and organizations, including Care Resource, United Way, Gilead Focus, The Fishman Family Foundation, and the late Dr. Peter Cinelli, to continue its life-saving work. "Our ability to provide these critical resources depend on community support," said Dr. Thomas Smith, Director of Behavioral Health Services at Care Resource and The SPOT. "Every donation helps us distribute more naloxone and harm reduction supplies to those who need them most." For more information about The SPOT, to request naloxone, or to report an overdose reversal, please visit thespotbroward.org, call 954-566-SPOT (7768), or email [email protected]. Weekly schedules are posted on Instagram (@thespotbroward) and Facebook (The SPOT Broward). About The SPOT: The SPOT is a mobile medical clinic and outreach program operated by Care Resource, providing no-cost harm reduction resources and medical services to communities in need. Through education, prevention, and support, The SPOT aims to make a positive impact on public health and safety. SOURCE Care Resource Nurses Fight to Organize, Call Out UnityPoint for Aggressive Union Busting DES MOINES, Iowa, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, March 27, nurses at UnityPoint Health will hold a press conference outside the Iowa Methodist Medical Center to demand that their employer stop interfering with their right to unionize. For five months, UnityPoint nurses have been working tirelessly to organize with Teamsters Local 90 and their efforts have been met with blatant retaliation from their employer who has spent more than $1.8 million on more than nine outside anti-union labor consultants. Despite UnityPoint's senior leadership prioritizing operational efficiency and performance scores over staff retention, nurses are fighting for quality care and safer staffing conditions. To date, Local 90 has filed four unfair labor practice charges against UnityPoint for retaliation, intimidation and interrogation, illegal overbroad work rules, and denied access to union officials. WHEN: Thursday, March 27 2 p.m.- 3 p.m. WHO: UnityPoint nurses, members and leaders from Local 90 WHERE: Iowa Methodist Medical Center Sign (Center Street) Directly across from 1221 Center Street Des Moines, IA 50309 Media Contact: Colin McCullough, (856) 625-6856 On-site Contact: Raul Alfaro, (202) 271-5599 SOURCE Teamsters Local 90 Strategic collaboration extends TOOsonix's reach into Poland, addressing skin diseases for a population of over 37 million. COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TOOsonix, a manufacturer of advanced dermatological therapy devices, has announced a strategic partnership with Consultronix, a prominent distributor of cutting-edge medical devices in Poland. The collaboration will introduce TOOsonix's state-of-the-art focused ultrasound skin therapy to the Polish market, providing healthcare professionals with a new innovative solution for treating skin diseases. Consultronix Logo TOOsonix System ONE-M is a MDR Class IIa CE-marked medical device using focused ultrasound for dermatological therapy. Non-melanoma skin cancers, pre-cancers, intradermal tumors and virtually any other medical or aesthetic condition can be treated quickly and effectively without anesthetics or down-time. Treatment with TOOsonix System ONE-M is simple and quick. A handpiece with fixed focal depth is in contact with the target lesion on the skin and focused ultrasound doses are activated by the operator. The treatment can be monitored in high resolution and real-time from the system screen. TOOsonix's MDR CE-marked dermatological therapy addresses a wide range of age-related skin diseases, including very common basal cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and seborrheic keratosis. Treatments are fast, non-invasive, without need for anesthesia or post treatment, and have higher efficacy and better aesthetic outcome than traditional procedures. With approximately 20% of Poland's population aged 65 and over, this partnership aims to improve care for this growing demographic affected by skin diseases. Leveraging Consultronix's expertise and extensive network in hospitals and private clinics, the collaboration seeks to make these advanced therapies accessible to patients across the country. "We are thrilled to partner with Consultronix to expand our presence in Central Europe," said Torsten Bove and Tomasz Zawada, founders of TOOsonix. "Consultronix's deep understanding of the Polish market and commitment to quality make them an ideal partner. Together, we aim to enhance patient outcomes by offering innovative dermatological solutions." Consultronix has extensive experience in introducing advanced medical technologies to Poland. Their established relationships with dermatology clinics and hospitals will ensure a successful rollout of TOOsonix's products. "We are proud to collaborate with TOOsonix," said Piotr Smolarski, CEO of Consultronix. "Their groundbreaking dermatological therapies align perfectly with our mission to equip Polish healthcare professionals with the best tools for addressing evolving patient needs." This partnership marks another milestone in TOOsonix's international expansion strategy, reinforcing its commitment to making cutting-edge dermatological therapies available across Europe. About TOOsonix: TOOsonix pioneers high-intensity focused ultrasound technology for treating cancerous, pre-cancerous, and benign skin conditions. The company collaborates with healthcare professionals across Europe and the U.S. to deliver safe and effective solutions. More at www.toosonix.com. About Consultronix: Consultronix is a leading distributor of medical devices in Poland with a strong focus on innovation and customer satisfaction. For over 38 years, it has been a trusted partner for healthcare professionals nationwide. More at www.consultronix.pl. Contact: Torsten Bove Managing Director Ph: +45 2059 2999 Email: [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651738/TOOsonix_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651739/Consultronix_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651740/TOOsonix_System_ONE_M_Device.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651741/TOOsonix_System_ONE_M_Treatment.jpg SOURCE TOOsonix A/S Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy notes the importance of stabilizing the situation at the front for further diplomatic steps to end the war. "The situation on the front line is still very difficult. Stabilization on the front line is a reliable basis for diplomacy," Zelenskyy said during a meeting of leaders in France on support for Ukraine. He noted that the Russian Federation is preparing for new attacks on Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhia regions, is delaying negotiations and is trying to draw the United States into endless and pointless discussions in order to gain time and then try to seize even more Ukrainian territory. "So, our job - all of us - is defense in the broadest sense of the word. That is, continued military assistance, but, in addition, we need investments, more joint projects, more joint production, more localization, everything that is aimed at scaling and developing our defense production - from shells to drones and missiles. Europe needs everything possible for its own defense," the Ukrainian president said. He noted that there are currently US proposals on the table, in particular regarding a complete and unconditional ceasefire, and Ukraine has agreed to them. "But, of course, Russia refused and put forward a bunch of absurd conditions that no one asked for," Zelenskyy noted. GREENVILLE, S.C., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United Community has once again been named #1 for Retail Banking Customer Satisfaction in the Southeast by the prestigious J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. Additionally, J.D. Power ranked United Community #1 in Trust and #1 in People. United Community earns 11th J.D. Power Award in the last 16 years, Ranking #1 for Retail Banking Customer Satisfaction in the Southeast, plus #1 in Trust and People "Seeing our customers rate us again as #1 in Customer Satisfaction in the Southeast region is a tremendous honor," said Lynn Harton, Chairman and CEO of United Community. "This recognition comes directly from the people we serve every day, which makes it especially valuable. I'm proud of our team they're the ones who build genuine relationships with customers and truly care about helping them succeed. That's what banking should be about, and it's gratifying to see that approach connecting with so many people throughout the Southeast." The J.D. Power U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study is the longest-running and most comprehensive study of the retail banking industry, analyzing consumer satisfaction with their primary financial institutions. United was recognized for its industry-leading performance, excelling in several key areas, including Trust and People. "We take great pride in providing our customers with an award-winning banking experience that combines the latest technology with the personal service they expect and deserve," said Harton. "As we continue to adapt to evolving customer needs, we remain dedicated to delivering a best-in-class banking experience that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our customers." The 2025 study is based on responses from 109,724 retail banking customers belonging to more than 150 of the largest banks in the U.S. regarding their experiences with their retail bank. For more information about the U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, visit: https://www.jdpower.com/business/retail-banking-study-1 About United Community Banks, Inc.: United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE: UCB) is the financial holding company for United Community, a top 100 U.S. financial institution that is committed to improving the financial health and well-being of its customers and the communities it serves. United Community provides a full range of banking, wealth management and mortgage services. As of December 31, 2024, United Community Banks, Inc. had $27.7 billion in assets, 199 offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as a national SBA lending franchise and a national equipment lending subsidiary. In 2025, United Community became an 11-time winner of J.D. Power's award for the best customer satisfaction among consumer banks in the Southeast region and was recognized as the most trusted bank in the Southeast. Additionally, United was named by American Banker as one of the "Best Banks to Work For" for the eighth consecutive year. In 2025, United was also recognized in the Greenwich Best Bank awards for the ninth consecutive year, receiving five awards that included national honors for overall satisfaction for middle market banking in the U.S. Forbes has also consistently listed United Community as one of the World's Best Banks and one of America's Best Banks. Additional information about United can be found at ucbi.com. About J.D. Power: J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services, and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 55 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies. J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto-shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com. SOURCE United Community Bank Connecticut-Based Distillery Revives Centuries-Old Techniques with the Launch of its First Two Expressions: Ship's Bell Bourbon & Southwick's American Gin STONINGTON, Conn., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Veritable Distillery, a Connecticut-based spirits company dedicated to crafting authentic, premium historically-inspired spirits, proudly unveils its first two expressions: Ship's Bell Bourbon and Southwick's American Gin. By reviving time-honored production techniques and using natural ingredients without the addition of industrial chemicals, Veritable Distillery captures the essence of 18th-century New England in every bottle. Ship's Bell Bourbon, a new release from Veritable Distillery, is a bold, historically-inspired whiskey crafted in Connecticut using open-top fermentation and traditional 18th-century techniques. Made with heritage grains and no industrial additives, this bourbon delivers rich, warm notes of caramel, toasted spice, and oak. Its depth and smooth finish make it ideal for sipping neat or as the foundation of a classic whiskey cocktail. It's available online and select NY, RI and CT retailers. Newly released Southwick's American Gin from Veritable Distillery is crafted in Connecticut using botanicals historically traded in 18th-century New England. Produced through fractional distillation for clarity and depth, it offers bright, expressive notes of grapefruit, pink peppercorn, and nutmeg. With a smooth, clean finish and no industrial additives, it's ideal for classic cocktails or enjoyed simply on its own. It's available online and select NY, RI, and CT retailers. Veritable Distillery is committed to sustainability, ethical production, and transparency. By using ingredients that were historically available and commonly traded in New England over 300 years ago, Veritable ensures that its products remain true to the origins of American distilling. Veritable employs open-top fermentation for its whiskey and fractional distillation for its gin, striking a balance between artistry and science to create spirits with exceptional depth and character. Veritable Distillery also leads the industry in radical transparency by voluntarily disclosing ingredients and serving facts directly on its bottle labels, a first for the spirits industry. Unlike most distilleries, which often withhold details about their industrial production process and chemical additives, Veritable believes that consumers deserve to know what goes into their spirits. Each label clearly lists all ingredients, setting a new standard for complete visibility from grain to glass. This initiative allows customers to make informed choices, fostering a deeper appreciation for authentic, traditional spirits. Veritable Distillery products are available online and at select retailers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. Introducing Ship's Bell Bourbon Ship's Bell Bourbon is an authentic blend developed in collaboration with the renowned Bardstown Distillery in Kentucky. Aged for three years in new American white oak casks (Quercus Alba), the bourbon is then blended with The Veritable American Single Malt Whiskeycrafted from 100% malted barley and aged for three years in ex-Rye casks from Bardstown Distillery. The result is a blended bourbon of exceptional depth and balance. Mash Bill: 73% Corn, 21% Rye, 6% Malted Barley 73% Corn, 21% Rye, 6% Malted Barley Aroma: Caramel-covered apple, dried peanut shell, and stewed black cherry Caramel-covered apple, dried peanut shell, and stewed black cherry Palate: Sweet oak, apple cider donut, and a lingering caramel finish Sweet oak, apple cider donut, and a lingering caramel finish ABV: 43% (86 Proof) Introducing Southwick's American Gin Southwick's Gin is crafted with rarely-utilized historical techniques; unlike conventional gins that use inexpensive vodka as the base spirit, Southwick's Gin uses aged rum as the base spirit, a practice dating back nearly 600 years. Distilled in a custom-designed copper pot still, three separate "fractional" groups of botanicals are prepared, macerated, vapor infused and distilled individually before being blending together in the final product. This method ensures a harmonious, layered flavor profile and allows for each of the carefully selected botanicals to shine. Aroma: Pine sap and honeyed blueberry with fresh citrus zest and hints of vanilla Pine sap and honeyed blueberry with fresh citrus zest and hints of vanilla Palate: Effervescent citrus, peppercorn, and earthy mountain pine with a lingering warm spice finish Effervescent citrus, peppercorn, and earthy mountain pine with a lingering warm spice finish ABV: 46% (92 Proof) "We created Veritable Distillery to highlight the beauty and complexity of traditional spirits production - countering the mass production and homogenization of spirits by large corporations," said Finneas Pryor, Vice President and Co-Founder of Veritable Distillery. "By focusing on authenticity, craftsmanship and community, we provide our customers with a better opportunity for informed consumption. Our first two releases, Ship's Bell Bourbon and Southwick's American Gin, honor New England's rich history while setting a new standard for transparency in the industry." ABOUT VERITABLE DISTILLERY Veritable Distillery is a Connecticut-based spirits company dedicated to making authentic spirits using only traditional methods and natural ingredients with no industrial additives. Media Contact: Helen Patrikis 631-553-1370 [email protected] SOURCE Veritable Distillery VERVINT, a subsidiary of Koniag Capital, proudly appoints Robert Elliott as Chief Revenue Officer to drive market expansion and champion innovative, human-centered solutions. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VERVINT, a subsidiary of Koniag Capital, is excited to announce the appointment of Robert Elliott as its first Chief Revenue Officer. With more than 20 years of experience in IT and services, Elliott is set to lead Vervint's local, regional, and national expansion through building a scalable, world-class sales organization. Robert Elliott joins Vervint as the inaugural Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) from Launch by NTT Data, where he served as General Manager and Vice President of the Healthcare Life Sciences and Public Sector portfolios. In addition, he has held leadership positions at Globant, The Home Depot, and Turner Broadcasting Systems. Elliott has a Management Information Systems degree from Auburn University and an MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Elliott's appointment as CRO is part of a leadership transition that marks a new chapter for Vervint. He joins newly appointed President and Chief Consulting Officer, Chuck Tsocanos, and Chief Finance and Operations Officer, Robin Kleinjans-McKee, who has been with Vervint since 2020. "I'm thrilled about the future of Vervint as we deepen our commitment to a human-centered approach and customer obsession. Bringing Robert on board as our CRO enhances our ability to deliver integrated solutions across experience design, custom development, data analytics, cloud, infrastructure, and managed services. His deep expertise in healthcare and other industries will be instrumental in advancing our mission to improve customer, patient, and clinician experiences," said Chuck Tsocanos, "'People at the Heart' has always been a core value at Vervint, and our goal is to bring that philosophy to our clientspartnering with them to co-develop and support technology that drives better experiences." Robin Kleinjans-McKee, as the veteran member of the leadership team, adds, "Vervint has a strong foundation built on innovation, expertise, and a deep commitment to our clients. As we welcome Robert to the team, we honor our past while embracing a future of even greater possibilities. This leadership team brings the vision and experience to empower our people, accelerate growth, strengthen partnerships, and create meaningful impact in the industry and in our communities." In addition to Tsocanos, Kleinjans-McKee, and Elliott, Vervint's executive leadership team also includes Allen Debes, the new CEO of Koniag Capital. Together, their goal is to further Vervint's mission to position itself as a national technology, digital, and consulting services firm, while also supporting Koniag's long-term expansion strategy. "Investing in Vervint for the long-haul continues with the key additions of Chuck as President, Robert as CRO, and the long-term sustaining leadership of Robin as CFO. These moves, along with past and future investments, continue to demonstrate Koniag Capital's buy and hold investment approach," commented Koniag Capital CEO, Allen Debes. "It is a privilege to work with and lead the exceptional team members and long-standing clients at Vervint," says Elliott. "Joining the new leadership team is exciting, as I will have the opportunity to lead with and learn from some of the best in the industry. Our team and clients will benefit greatly from the experience, vision, and work ethic of Allen, Chuck, and Robin." Vervint is a purpose-driven consultancy and digital catalyst, empowering people and organizations to thrive in an experience-driven world. Vervint's approach is customer-obsessed and human-centered, going beyond technology to improve clients' customer experiences through thoughtful strategy, creativity, and innovation. Their cross-functional expertise drives real progress and transformation. A subsidiary of Koniag since 2012, Vervint is committed to supporting the Alutiiq people and creating lasting impact for employees, clients, and communities. For more information, visit vervint.com. Based in Kodiak, Alaska, Koniag is an Alaska Native regional corporation that manages a diverse portfolio of operating companies and real estate holdings. Koniag is committed to benefiting its nearly 4,600 Alutiiq Shareholders through growing dividends, educational scholarships, and investments in cultural programs that preserve the Alutiiq heritage of the Kodiak Island region. Koniag operates technology services businesses across the U.S. in four primary areas: energy and infrastructure, commercial technology consulting, government contracting, and Kodiak Island investments. For more information about the Koniag family of companies, visit koniag.com. Koniag Capital drives the investment in and growth of technology companies that focus on the private sector. As a subsidiary of an Alaska Native corporation, our purpose is unique: We invest in and operate our businesses through sustainable financial practices and resource management to be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Koniag's Alutiiq Shareholders and Descendants. For more information, visit koniagcap.com. Contact: Vervint ***@vervint.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/13068567 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Vervint Charitable Foundation Donates $7,000 to Local Non-Profits in Their Honor WESTERLY, R.I., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Trust recently recognized seven employees for their exceptional leadership, teamwork, and community service during the company's annual Employee Fest. To celebrate the employees, the Washington Trust Charitable Foundation made donations totaling $7,000 to local nonprofit organizations chosen by the award winners. Several Washington Trust employees were recognized for their contributions to the company and the community at a recent employee celebration event. They each selected local nonprofits to receive $1,000 contributions in their honor; beneficiaries included Cranston League for Cranston's Future, Amos House, and Mentor Rhode Island, among others. Nonprofit beneficiaries included Mentor Rhode Island (Warwick, RI), Boys and Girls Club of East Providence (East Providence, RI), Foster Forward (East Providence, RI), Amos House (Providence, RI), Animal Rescue Rhode Island (Peace Dale, RI), and Cranston League for Cranston's Future (Cranston, RI), and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank (Providence, RI). In 2024, Washington Trust employees volunteered more than 8,100 hours of their time with more than 225 local nonprofit and community organizations. "We are proud to celebrate these remarkable employees for their dedication and leadership in serving our communities and each other," said Edward O. "Ned" Handy III, Chairman & CEO at Washington Trust. "As we mark Washington Trust's 225th birthday, we reflect on our longstanding legacy as a trusted community partnerone built on the commitment, passion, and service excellence exemplified by outstanding team members like Chelsea, Scott, John, Patricia, Jason, Amanda and Lindsay." The Spirit of Washington Trust Award was presented to the following employees for customer service excellence, teamwork, high standards of performance, dedication, and service to others: Chelsea Esldoerfer, Construction Loan Team Lead; Retail Lending Construction Loan Team Lead; Retail Lending Scott Haggerty , Vice President and Rumford Branch Manager; Retail Banking Vice President and Branch Manager; Retail Banking John Mortenson , Vice President and Senior Wealth Advisor; Washington Trust Wealth Management The Community Service Award was presented to the following employees who contributed extraordinary voluntary community service during the year: Patricia Fernandez , Assistant Branch Manager at the Rumford Branch; Retail Banking , Assistant Branch Manager at the Branch; Retail Banking Jason Costa , Vice President, Business Banking; Commercial Lending And the Stella NOVA (New Outstanding Volunteer Award) recipients were: Amanda MacGee , Vice President, Estate Settlement and Fiduciary Officer; Washington Trust Wealth Management Vice President, Estate Settlement and Fiduciary Officer; Washington Trust Wealth Management Lindsay Gavin , Flex Banker at the Plainfield Pike Branch; Retail Banking To learn more about Washington Trust's commitment to the community, visit https://www.washtrust.com/about/community-support. ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is recognized as the oldest community bank in the nation, the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in Rhode Island and one of the Northeast's premier financial services companies. Washington Trust values its role as a community bank and is committed to helping the people, businesses, and organizations of New England improve their financial lives. The Bank offers a wide range of commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts and a full suite of convenient digital tools. Washington Trust is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. Washington Trust is a subsidiary of Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., a publicly-owned holding company which trades onNASDAQ: WASH. For more information, visit the Bank's website at www.washtrust.com or the Corporation's website at ir.washtrust.com. SOURCE The Washington Trust Company Recognition with the ARDA Lifetime Achievement at its annual conference in Orlando honors Siegel's contributions to the growth and evolution of the modern timeshare industry and his philanthropic mission ORLANDO, Fla., March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This week at its annual industry conference, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), honored the legacy of David Siegel, Founder and Executive Chairman of Westgate Resorts, for his lasting contributions to the timeshare industry by presenting him with the ARDA Lifetime Achievement Award. Westgate Resorts Founder, David Siegel, receives Lifetime Achievement Award from American Resort Development Association Post this Westgate Resorts Founder, David Siegel, Honored by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) with Lifetime Achievement Award Siegel established Westgate Resorts in 1982 with its first property on an orange grove he owned in Kissimmee, Fla., and it has since become the largest privately held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States. Today he's built an empire of more than 13,500 rooms at 22 resorts across the United States. Over 40 years, Siegel built Westgate Resorts into the largest private employer in Central Florida. In his remarks to the conference, he said "For the last 43 years of my life I have lived and breathed the industry as both a developer and as a timeshare owner. I have always believed in the power of vacations to make families happy and that is why I have dedicated my life to this industry. I am so proud of our Westgate Resorts Team and I celebrate this recognition on their behalf. As we turn this industry over to the next generation, I have more hope than ever that not only will timeshare grow, but it will thrive." During his career, he received an honorary doctorate from Florida A&M University, ARDA's ACE Philanthropy Award, and Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year for the State of Florida. In 2013 he was inducted into the Central Florida Hospitality Hall of Fame by the University of Central Florida. David Siegel is the proud husband of Jacqueline and father of 13 children, 12 grandchildren and step grandchildren. Representing the Siegel family, his wife Jacqueline said "We are proud of David, the entire Siegel family, and all of the Team Members at Westgate Resorts who helped establish not only Westgate Resorts, but the foundation of the timeshare industry, which continues to thrive today. We thank ARDA for honoring David's important and lasting contributions to the industry and to the important philanthropic mission that meant so much to all of us." On the philanthropic front, David turned the tragic passing of his 18-year-old daughter Victoria into a movement focused on ending the drug epidemic. He is responsible for lobbying the United States Congress to sign the CARA Act, which unlocked significant funding for the life-saving drug naloxone. He also lobbied to ensure that June 6, the day of Victoria's passing, is nationally recognized as National Naloxone Day and that buildings around the country are lit purple in her honor. As an Army Veteran, Siegel has donated more than 28,000 complimentary vacations to members of our armed services as a thank you for their service to our country. "David is a visionary of the timeshare industry, and his relentless drive has helped shaped the timeshare industry as we know it today," said Jason Gamel, ARDA president and CEO, during his remarks at the award presentation. "Over a 40+ year career, his company has sold billions of dollars in vacation ownership all driven by the belief that luxury should be accessible to all. We appreciate and honor his service to the industry and to society." The company is continuing its growth journey as it recently announced the acquisition of Vacation Ownership Sales, the sales, marketing and management company of VI Resorts, the largest owner-led vacation ownership company in the US with a portfolio of more than 44 new destinations as well as a new strategic partnership with Choice Hotels. Westgate has also announced that it is opening two new attractions and experiences this summer with the River Country Water Park at Westgate River Ranch Resort in Lake Wales, Fla., and the Mystery Funhouse Arcade Experience at Westgate Town Center in Kissimmee, Fla. For more information on Westgate Resorts and its innovative efforts as a leader in hospitality, please visit westgateresorts.com. ABOUT WESTGATE RESORTS Westgate Resorts is the largest privately held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States. Founded in 1982 by David Siegel, the company is headquartered in Orlando, Florida with seven Orlando hotel resorts, and 22 themed destination resorts nationwide. Westgate Resorts locations feature more than 13,500 luxury villas and hotel rooms in popular vacation destinations throughout the United States such as Orlando and Cocoa Beach, Florida; New York City, New York; Park City, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Branson, Missouri; and Mesa, Arizona. In 2022, the company launched the cutting-edge World of Westgate (WOW) Loyalty Program, an exclusive program that rewards Westgate Owners and hotel guests with prestigious perks and privileges at no added cost. The company has garnered many distinct accolades, including earning the title of 'No. 1 Glamping Destination' in the USA Today 10Best 2023 Readers' Choice Awards as well as the '2022 ACE Project of Excellence Award' from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) for Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo, recognition from Forbes Travel Advisor ranking Westgate Park City Resort & Spa as a 'Recommended Resort' in its 2022 Star Awards, and garnering 73 'Best of State Awards' for Westgate Park City Resort & Spa after consecutively winning 10 years in a row. MEDIA CONTACT The Zimmerman Agency [email protected] SOURCE Westgate Resorts Webcast and conference call on April 25 at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET) SEATTLE, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) will release first quarter 2025 results on Thursday, April 24, after the market closes. The company will then hold a live webcast and conference call the following day, on Friday, April 25, at 7 a.m. Pacific (10 a.m. Eastern), to discuss the results. To access the earnings release, live webcast and presentation online, visit the Investor Relations section on www.weyerhaeuser.com. To join the conference call from within North America, dial 877-407-0792 (access code: 13748395) at least 15 minutes prior to the call. Those calling from outside North America should dial 201-689-8263 (access code: 13748395). Replays will be available for two weeks at 844-512-2921 (access code: 13748395) from within North America, and at 412-317-6671 (access code: 13748395) from outside North America. ABOUT WEYERHAEUSER Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900 and today owns or controls approximately 10.4 million acres of timberlands in the U.S., as well as additional public timberlands managed under long-term licenses in Canada. Weyerhaeuser has been a global leader in sustainability for more than a century and manages 100 percent of its timberlands on a fully sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized sustainable forestry standards. Weyerhaeuser is also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products in North America and operates additional business lines around product distribution, climate solutions, real estate, energy and natural resources, among others. In 2024, the company generated $7.1 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,400 people who serve customers worldwide. Operated as a real estate investment trust, Weyerhaeuser's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at www.weyerhaeuser.com. For more information contact: Analysts - Andy Taylor, 206-539-3907 Media Nancy Thompson, 919-861-0342 SOURCE Weyerhaeuser Company Open House Saturday, March 29, 2025 | Step Inside One of B.C.'s First Hemp-Insulated Homes and Experience the Future of Eco-Friendly Design KELOWNA, BC, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilden, sustainably-minded developer and Kelowna's largest master-planned community, today introduced Okanagan's first homeand one of the first in British Columbiato be built with hemp insulation, a pioneering step in sustainable residential construction. Located at 278 Summer Wood Drive, this innovative home embodies Wilden's core philosophy of blending cutting-edge energy efficiency with healthy, eco-friendly materials to offer future homeowners an unparalleled living experience. Kelowna's First Hemp-Insulated Home-and One of B.C.'s First-Marking a Bold Leap Forward in Sustainable Residential Construction Designed to meet British Columbia's highest energy efficiency standards, this 5-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home spans 2,430 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space, plus a fully finished 847-square-foot legal suite. It is located in Wilden's Echo Ridge neighbourhood at one of the trail heads leading up to Wilden Ridge, a hiking area with stunning lake views. From Wilden it's only a short drive to downtown Kelowna, UBC Okanagan, and the airport. A high-performance, carbon-negative material, hemp boosts thermal efficiency, enhances soundproofing, and improves indoor air quality. Unlike traditional insulation, it is non-allergenic, low in VOCs, and free from synthetic toxins, offering a healthier, more sustainable alternative. Hemp naturally absorbs and stores CO, sequestering 1.5 to 2 times its weight in carbon during its rapid 34 months growth cycle. By replacing fiberglass with hemp in this house, the embodied carbon was reduced significantly. Built to meet B.C. Energy Step Code 5 standards, this net-zero ready home is designed for optimal energy efficiency, reduced consumption, cost savings, and a lower environmental footprint. Key Features include: Solar-Optimized Design: Roof layout designed to accommodate future solar panel installation and make the home fully net zero. Roof layout designed to accommodate future solar panel installation and make the home fully net zero. Airtight Construction: Under 1 ACH (air exchange per hour) thanks to high-performance envelope and sealing. Under 1 ACH (air exchange per hour) thanks to high-performance envelope and sealing. High-Efficiency Heating & Cooling: An air-source heat pump with a small gas furnace backup ensures year-round climate control. An air-source heat pump with a small gas furnace backup ensures year-round climate control. Heat Pump Water Heater: Reduces reliance on natural gas, lowering energy costs. Reduces reliance on natural gas, lowering energy costs. EV Charging Ready: Pre-wired to support electric vehicle charging. By integrating hemp insulation, high-performance energy systems, and airtight construction, this project demonstrates a scalable approach to sustainable homebuilding in British Columbia. "Building with hemp insulation represents an exciting step forward in sustainable construction," said Karin Eger-Blenk, CEO of the Wilden Group. "This home reflects our commitment to reducing the environmental impact not only when it comes to home operations, but also in selecting better materials." Wilden invites prospective homeowners and sustainability enthusiasts to experience this groundbreaking and first-of-its-kind hemp-insulated home in Kelowna at an exclusive Open House on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 12-5 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to explore the innovative features, speak with the Wilden team, and learn more about the future of energy-efficient living in Kelowna. If any media are interested in attending the Open House, please RSVP to [email protected] For more information or to schedule a viewing, visit Wilden.ca or contact sales@wilden.ca About Wilden Wilden is a developer and Kelowna, British Columbia's largest master-planned community dedicated to sustainable development and innovative residential design. With a focus on environmental stewardship and energy efficiency, Wilden continues to set the standard for future-oriented, eco-conscious living in the Okanagan Valley. For more information, visit: Wilden.ca Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Media Contact: Alexandra Pony PONY Communications [email protected] 250.858.0656 SOURCE Wilden Carl Black Chevy Nashville releases new research on the 2025 Chevy Colorado mid-sized pickup truck, which is now in stock at the dealership. NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Carl Black Chevrolet in Nashville now offers in-depth 2025 Chevy Colorado research to help drivers explore this versatile mid-size pickup. With insights on performance, technology, and safety, the dealership ensures customers have all the details they need before choosing their next Chevy truck. -The 2025 Chevy Colorado Delivers Power and Versatility The 2025 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison off-roading. The 2025 Chevy Colorado is built for adventure and daily driving. With a modern design and rugged capability, it offers an excellent balance of strength and efficiency. Under the hood, the Chevy Colorado powertrain features a turbocharged 2.7-liter engine with multiple output levels. This ensures a mix of power and fuel efficiency for various driving needs. Whether towing, hauling, or off-roading, the Colorado offers impressive capability across its trim levels. For those who enjoy exploring off the beaten path, select trims include off-road enhancements like skid plates, all-terrain tires, and advanced suspension systems. This truck is ready for any challenge. -Modern Technology and Interior Comfort The Chevy Colorado interior is designed for both comfort and convenience. Inside, drivers will find premium materials, a spacious cabin, and cutting-edge technology. Some standout features include: A large touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone compatibility Advanced safety features like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control Multiple storage compartments for added convenience Available premium audio system for an immersive experience "With its rugged capability and refined interior, the 2025 Chevy Colorado is a top choice for truck buyers," said Gary Harms, spokesperson for Carl Black Nashville. "Our goal is to provide all the necessary details so customers can make the best decision." -Find the Best Mid-Size Truck for Your Needs Drivers searching for the best mid-size truck will find that the 2025 Chevy Colorado offers outstanding value. Its combination of durability, modern technology, and efficiency makes it a standout in the segment. Carl Black Nashville provides financing options and competitive pricing to help customers drive home in the truck that fits their lifestyle. -Chevy Colorado for Sale Near Nashville Carl Black Nashville has the Chevy Colorado for sale near Nashville with multiple trims and configurations available. Customers can browse the latest Colorado inventory online or visit the dealership for a test drive. To explore the latest 2025 Chevy Colorado research, visit Carl Black Nashville's model research page. Whether drivers need a work truck, an off-road performer, or a daily driver, the new Colorado delivers exceptional capability and comfort. -About Carl Black Chevrolet of Nashville Carl Black Chevrolet of Nashville is a renowned dealership in Nashville, TN, offering a wide range of Chevrolet vehicles and exceptional customer service. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for meeting the needs of our customers, we strive to provide an unparalleled automotive experience. Individuals who want to learn more about Chevy lineup can visit the dealership website, www.carlblackchevy.com. Anyone wishing to speak with a representative can contact the dealership directly by calling 888-509-5199. SOURCE Carl Black Nashville Recognition as a leader in financial crime compliance, plus being named a category winner, underscore the value WorkFusion delivers to banks and financial institutions NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- WorkFusion, a pioneer in AI agents for financial crime compliance (FCC), today announced that it has been recognized as a significant financial crime compliance technology leader in the Chartis Financial Crime and Compliance50 2025 Awards and Ranking. In addition, Chartis has named WorkFusion the Category Award Winner for Workflow Automation. Chartis is a research and advisory firm that supports tech vendors and financial services firms in the areas of risk, compliance and RegTech. "WorkFusion's unique and innovative approach to financial crime detection and automation is yielding impressive results," said Nick Vitchev, Research Director at Chartis. "Its application of AI agents, futuristic yet highly practical, can help organizations overcome the bottlenecks created by inefficient processes." WorkFusion CEO Adam Famularo said, "Three years ago we set out to help modernize financial crime compliance with purpose-built AI Agents to do the mundane and error-prone work of Level 1 analysts. This recognition from Chartis demonstrates our continued leadership in helping banks and financial institutions improve operational efficiency with AI Agents to increase staff capacity, reduce outsourcing/contractor costs, ensure consistency/quality of reviews, and improve compliance posture." WorkFusion's leadership in providing banks and FIs with AI Agents that ease the burden of FCC compliance continues to gain recognition among technology and financial industry experts. Additional expert assessments that have recognized WorkFusion's solutions prowess include being named a Category Leader in the Chartis RiskTech Quadrant for KYC Solutions 2024 and recognized as a Leader in Everest Group's Banking-specific IDP Products PEAK Matrix Assessment 2024. Chartis assessed the WorkFusion platform as well as the WorkFusion AI Agents for FCC, by reviewing and analyzing in-depth product information, live demonstrations of WorkFusion AI Agents for FCC in action and interviews with WorkFusion product experts. About WorkFusion WorkFusion is a pioneer in AI agents for financial crime compliance (FCC). Its AI Agents are purpose-built workers that augment compliance teams in Level 1 analyst functions for anti-money laundering (AML), adverse media monitoring, sanctions screening alert review, Know Your Customer (KYC), and transaction monitoring investigations (TM). WorkFusion's AI solutions are used at 4 of the top 5 US banks and leading financial institutions around the globe to mitigate risk, solve talent challenges, increase workforce capacity, save money, enhance employee and customer experience, and improve compliance posture. For more information visit workfusion.com. For more information: Jessica Cassady [email protected] SOURCE WorkFusion, Inc. AI applications empowered product ecosystem Stellar growth overseas across Asia More robust business models with enhanced profitability HONG KONG, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yeahka Limited ("Yeahka" or the "Company," Stock Code: 9923.HK), a leading payment and digital commerce technology platform in Asia, is pleased to announce its annual results for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the "year" or the "2024"). Business and Financial Summary Focusing in recent years on in-depth and extensive application of generative AI technology, and have achieved remarkable results in reducing costs, increasing efficiency and generating revenue for the Company and our customers. Fushi Technology, our investee company, launched the first AI Agent industry solution for merchants in Southeast Asia ; ; Overseas business transaction volume exceeded RMB1.1 billion in 2024, a nearly five-fold year-on-year increase, with expanded business footprint in more Asian countries such as Japan and Singapore ; in 2024, a nearly five-fold year-on-year increase, with expanded business footprint in more Asian countries such as and ; Our one-stop payment services continued to lead the industry, with peak number of daily transactions reaching nearly 60 million; Against the industry backdrop of decrease in average transaction value per customer, our gross payment volume (GPV) in 2024 was RMB2,335.5 billion , representing a decrease of 19.0% compared to 2023; , representing a decrease of 19.0% compared to 2023; Our payment fee rate for 2024 was 11.9 basis points (bps), maintaining our commercialization capabilities in line with industry trends; Revenue for 2024 was RMB3,086.7 million , representing a decrease of 21.9% from 2023; , representing a decrease of 21.9% from 2023; Optimization of business structure continued, where revenue contribution from value-added services (including merchant solutions and in-store e-commerce services) with higher gross profit margins increased from 11.8% in 2023 to 13.0% in 2024; Overall gross profit margin increased from 18.7% in 2023 to 23.6% in 2024. In particular, overall gross profit margin for second half 2024 reached 28.4%, recovering to pre-pandemic levels; Leveraging the broader application of AI across the Group's three major business lines, selling, administrative, and research and development expenses in 2024 decreased by 11.0%, 10.8%, and 10.5%, respectively, compared to 2023, reflecting cost reduction across the board; Our equity shareholder and financing structure were actively upgraded, with finance costs in 2024 reduced by 31.5% compared to 2023; Net cash generated from operating activities in 2024 was approximately RMB118.9 million . Adjusted EBITDA in 2024 was RMB384.5 million . Profit for the year amounted to RMB73.0 million in 2024, representing an increase of more than six times compared to 2023; and . Adjusted EBITDA in 2024 was . Profit for the year amounted to in 2024, representing an increase of more than six times compared to 2023; and Gearing ratio decreased to 35.9% as of December 31, 2024 due to the Company's early repurchase of its convertible bonds using its internal cash flow. Mr. Luke Liu, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, said, "In 2024, we further embraced AI and generative technologies. We expanded our product range including more AI-related products; we deepened service offerings into more geographies in Asia; we increased focus on margins and commercial sustainability across payments and value-added services; and we also applied technology streamlining operations delivering thicker profits and cash flow, which in turn further power our investments into products and regions more comprehensively. All these form a continuous, virtuous cycle that solidifies our Company's inherent competitive advantage to continue to lead the industry, which is still in its early stages in AI application globally." Mr. Vincent Chan, Head of Corporate Development & Capital Markets, added, "For instance, we are providing the first industry AI agent solution in Southeast Asia through Fushi. Our core edge lies on our commercial digitalized ecosystem, where our payment business captures trillions RMB worth of transactions and behavioral data every year, from which we can further develop many extension of use cases as captured through our merchant solutions and in-store e-commerce businesses, based on which merchants' needs on AI could be further developed and satisfied by our new products. The inter-connectedness amongst all these components is well poised to have a flywheel effect and support much wider application of our products, including AI." Outlook Mr. Luke Liu concluded, "We remain committed to innovation further harnessing the transformative power of AI technology in enhancing operational efficiency and product competitiveness. We also prioritize localized operations and addressing local needs in our global expansion drawing operational experience and established products in China. We will continue to enhance commercialization on a wider array of products and strengthen our market position being a leading payment-based technology platform for merchants, one-stop, across regions." About YEAHKA LIMITED (Stock Code: 9923.HK) Yeahka is a leading commerce enablement technology platform dedicated to creating value for merchants and consumers. We strive to expand an independent commercial digitalized ecosystem to (i) provide seamless, convenient and reliable payment services to both merchants and consumers through our one-stop payment services; (ii) enable merchants to better manage and drive business growth through our merchant solutions; and (iii) provide consumers with local lifestyle services of great value through our in-store e-commerce services. For more information, please visit https://www.yeahka.com/ SOURCE Yeahka Limited Lifting sanctions on Russia now would be disaster for diplomacy - Zelenskyy at summit in Paris Lifting sanctions on Russia now would be a diplomatic disaster, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting of leaders in France on support for Ukraine. "Sanctions are one of the few real tools the world has to force Russia into serious negotiations. What else is there besides sanctions? If sanctions are weakened and Russia violates the agreement, the process of returning sanctions will be incredibly slow and difficult. And by that time, many will simply stop believing that sanctions actually work," Zelenskyy said while speaking. The Ukrainian President stressed that Russia "too often breaks its promises" and "we cannot take steps towards them until they really change." "Russia breaks its promises too often - we cannot take steps to meet them halfway until they actually change. Sanctions must remain in place as long as aggression and occupation continue. I ask all of you not to lose resolve and to work with our other partners to maintain pressure on Russia," Zelenskyy said. At the same time, the head of the Ukrainian state noted the need for constant "support for our defense and stability." "At the same time, we need continued support for our defense and resilience. That is why all concrete decisions in support of Ukraine are so important - both at the state level, for example, your state support packages, and through joint defense and financial initiatives, primarily at the EU level. I ask you to continue to support these efforts in accordance with our common interests," Zelenskyy emphasized. As reported, a meeting of leaders on support for Ukraine has ended in Paris, with representatives from 31 countries taking part, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. CHICAGO, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zuckerman Investment Group, a family-owned and independent wealth management firm based in Chicago, is proud to announce that it has been named one of the 2025 Best Places to Work for Financial Advisors in the United States (1-99 employee category) by InvestmentNews. This marks the fourth year the firm has earned this recognition. InvestmentNews conducted a thorough survey of firms across the industry, evaluating several metrics including what they offer employees in terms of compensation, culture, employee benefits, and DEI. Zuckerman Investment Group stood out as a top performer, recognized for its exceptional contributions to the industry. "We are honored to once again be recognized as a Best Place to Work for Financial Advisors," said Daniel Zuckerman, Partner & CEO of Zuckerman Investment Group. "This award is a testament to our dedicated team and the strong culture we have fostered around our core values: Put Clients First, Do the Right Thing, No Task is Too Small, Be Kind and Caring, Get Better Everyday, & Passion." Zuckerman Investment Group offers employees a supportive work-life balance, flexible career paths aligned with their passions, and direct access to senior leadership. The firm also fosters a positive environment through initiatives such as birthday lunches, anniversary celebrations, and more. To learn more about the InvestmentNews 2025 Best Places to Work for Financial Advisors award, please click here. Methodology To find and recognize the Best Places to Work, InvestmentNews invited organizations to participate by filling out an employer form, which asked companies to explain their various offerings and practices. Next, employees from nominated companies were asked to fill out an anonymous form evaluating their workplace on a number of metrics, including benefits, compensation, culture, employee development, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. To be considered, each organization had to reach a minimum number of employee responses based on its overall size. Organizations that achieved an 80 percent or greater average satisfaction rating from employees were named Best Places to Work of 2025. About Zuckerman Investment Group Zuckerman Investment Group is a family owned and independent wealth management firm based in Chicago, IL. Established in 2005 by its founders Daniel Zuckerman and Sherwin Zuckerman, today the firm has grown to oversee $1.7 billion in AUM, spanning over 300 families and individuals across multiple generations. Contact Information https://zuckermaninvestmentgroup.com/ [email protected] (312) 948-8000 SOURCE Zuckerman Investment Group British Defence Secretary John Healey will chair a new meeting of the contact group on Ukraine defence, scheduled for April 11, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. The Guardian reported on Thursday that Starmer said the contact group meeting would aim to provide more military aid and support Ukraine in the fight. The prime minister also confirmed plans for the defence ministers of France, Britain and Germany to come to Kyiv to discuss how to support the Ukrainian army in the future. 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 Jerusalem, March 27 : The Israeli military said that its Air Force struck "over 430" locations in Gaza since the resumption of its deadly air and ground campaign in the enclave. In a statement, the military on Wednesday claimed all of them were "terror targets." The renewed attacks on Gaza since March 18 ended a two-month ceasefire and, according to Gaza's health authorities, killed about 830 people. No Israeli fatalities have been reported, Xinhua news agency reported. The overall death toll in Gaza since Israel began its onslaught on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people, has surpassed 50,000. Israel continued attacks also in Syria and Lebanon. In Syria, Israel struck 18 locations over the past week, including air raids on Tuesday and last Thursday, in which warplanes targeted "the remaining strategic military capabilities at the Tadmur and T-4 bases," the military said, referring to the T-4 base operated by the Syrian Air Force in Homs province. The attacks were the latest in a series of Israeli strikes aimed at destroying Syria's strategic weapons following the fall of Bashar Assad's government. Israel also seized control over the United Nations-monitored buffer zone between the two countries and several Syrian army bases at the top of Mount Hermon. In Lebanon, Israel struck "more than 40 Hezbollah terrorist targets" on Saturday, calling the attack a "response" to rocket fire from Lebanon toward the Galilee. Israel carried out dozens of additional strikes in Lebanon, despite a fragile ceasefire that came into effect in November. Meanwhile, 14 missiles were intercepted by the Israeli aerial defence systems since Israel effectively ended the Gaza truce last Tuesday. The military said it included six surface-to-surface missiles fired from Yemen, three rockets from Lebanon, and five from the Gaza Strip. At the negotiating table regarding the end of the war, the participation of Europe is mandatory, it will be represented by Great Britain and France, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "Ukraine's position is very clear that Europe must be at the negotiating table regarding the end of the war. It is mandatory. We do not consider alternatives. This is our clear position. Europe is very big, and it must have a clear representation at this negotiating table. All of our partners in Europe have agreed that Europe will be represented by France and Great Britain," Zelenskyy said during a press conference after a meeting in Paris of leaders on issues of support for Ukraine and security in Europe. He emphasized that this is a clear position, and this is the signal that Ukraine wants to convey to all other partners, certainly including the United States. United Nations, March 27 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the commitments reached by the United States, Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, and viewed the move "a crucial contribution to global food security and supply chains," his spokesman said. The United States has reached agreement 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, the White House said on Tuesday. The agreement followed separate technical-level talks between US and Ukrainian delegations, as well as between US and Russian delegations, held from March 23 to 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Xinhua news agency reported. "Reaching an agreement on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea to ensure the protection of civilian vessels and port infrastructure will be a crucial contribution to global food security and supply chains, reflecting the importance of trade routes from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation to global markets," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said in a statement. The United Nations has been working consistently, especially following the letters the UN chief sent to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on February 7, 2024, putting forward a proposal for safe and free navigation in the Black Sea, Dujarric said. The world body also remains closely engaged in the continued implementation of the memorandum of understanding with Russia on facilitating access of Russian food and fertilizers to global markets to address global food security, the spokesman said. Voicing his support for all efforts towards peace, Guterres reiterated in the statement his hope that such efforts will pave the way for a durable ceasefire and contribute to achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions and in full respect of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Beirut, March 27 : Hezbollah Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, reaffirmed that Lebanon will not accept any normalisation of ties with Israel, and condemned Israel's ongoing violations in southern Lebanon. Speaking at the Jerusalem Forum, Qassem emphasised that "Hezbollah and the Lebanese resistance have stood firm, preventing Israel from achieving its objectives in Lebanon," emphasising that normalisation remains off the table, Xinhua news agency reported quoting 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 US-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. United Nations, March 27 : 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 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 on Wednesday. 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, Xinhua news agency reported. "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. Nuuk, Greenland : Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed concern over ongoing tensions related to US 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 US 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 US 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 US pressure. Rasmussen criticised the revised US itinerary - limited to a stop at the US Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland - as a strategic rebranding, Xinhua news agency reported. The White House announced Tuesday that Vice President Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, will visit Pituffik Space Base on Friday to meet US 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. Mumbai, March 27 : Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan, who was recently seen in 'Sky Force', has spoken up on the incident when her father, Saif Ali Khan was attacked by an assailant at his Bandra house in January this year. Recently, the actress attended the 6th edition of the NDTV Yuva event in the national capital, and expressed her gratitude to the almighty for keeping her dad safe. She said during the event, "It makes you realise what truly matters. The entire family only felt gratitude because it could have gone so wrong. I am so grateful that everything is fine. It was a reminder almost of the life we have". "We all talk about practicing mental health. Being grateful for your life is so important. And moments like that make you realise it", she added. The actress also shared what the unfortunate incident taught her, as she said, "It made me realise that life can change overnight. So every day deserves a mindful celebration. It made me realise just being grateful". On January 16, 2025, Saif was stabbed multiple times in an attempt to fight off a burglar during the wee hours. The actor sustained six stab wounds, two of which were said to be serious as they were closer to his spine. The incident took place at 2:15 am when the burglar allegedly barged into their Bandra home, and attacked their house help and then Saif when he intervened. Saif was woken up by the commotion in his son Jeh's room. He went inside the room to see the culprit arguing with their house help, looking at this, Saif intervened to save the house help with bare hands to fight off the intruder. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chennai, March 27 : The Teachers Joint Action Committee, comprising members from various teachers' associations, has demanded a thorough investigation into recent cases filed under the POCSO Act against teachers on exam duty. Chennai, March 27 (IANS) The Teachers Joint Action Committee, comprising members from various teachersa associations, has demanded a thorough investigation into recent cases filed under the POCSO Act against teachers on exam duty. The demand follows multiple incidents, including the arrest of a 44-year-old teacher who was on invigilation duty for the Class 12 public examination in Krishnagiri. The teacher was reportedly taken into custody after a student accused him of misconduct. However, the associations claim that some teachers are being unfairly accused of harassment simply for reprimanding students caught engaging in malpractice during the examinations. In response, the committee has urged the School Education Department to install CCTV cameras in all examination halls for Classes 10, 11, and 12. According to the associations, the installation of cameras would ensure transparency, safeguard both students and teachers, and help determine the facts in such incidents. R. Srinivasan, State Legal Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Headmastersa Association, reiterated the importance of CCTV surveillance. He said that it would be unfair if teachers are framed for misconduct while merely performing their duty and added that a proper probe has to be conducted to ascertain whether the teachers were being framed or not. The Directly Recruited Post Graduate Teachersa Association (DRPGTA) also weighed in, criticising the arrest in Krishnagiri as unjust and lacking proper evidence. It may be recalled that in another incident reported in Tirupur, a private school teacher, Sampath Kumar, was arrested under the POCSO Act on March 25. He was serving as an invigilator at the government higher secondary school in Vengamedu, where students from both government and private institutions were taking their Class 12 final exam. Reports allege that Kumar repeatedly inspected six female students under the pretext of checking for hidden cheating materials, leading to accusations of inappropriate behaviour. In a separate case from March 18, Ramesh, a 44-year-old teacher from the Government Higher Secondary School in Vepanahalli, was arrested under the POCSO Act. He was on invigilation duty in the Bargur block when a girl student accused him of inappropriate touching during the examination. A second student from the same exam hall also made a similar allegation. The matter was reported to the Bargur All Women Police Station, following which Ramesh was questioned and arrested on March 19. The teachersa associations continue to call for objective enquiries and stronger preventive measures, emphasising the need to protect the rights and dignity of both students and teachers. a"IANS aal/rad New Delhi, March 27 : Despite global uncertainties, India's exports are set to surge, said Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Santosh Kumar Sarangi, adding that exporters should tread the path pragmatically and wisely to navigate the current global trade contours. New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Despite global uncertainties, Indiaas exports are set to surge, said Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Santosh Kumar Sarangi, adding that exporters should tread the path pragmatically and wisely to navigate the current global trade contours. According to him, the current geo-political scenario presents a golden opportunity for India to propel exports and increase manufacturing competitiveness. Sarangi said at an event that in the current year, India's exports in goods and services will cross $800 billion this year, from $778 billion last year. "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 at the aSourcex India 2025a event. Initiatives like production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes are promoting ease of doing business and boosting domestic manufacturing, he added. Sarangi emphasised that aSourcex Indiaa plays a crucial role in fostering an ecosystem for promoting Indiaas foreign trade, particularly exports. Additionally, Sarangi mentioned that the government is exploring new market access opportunities through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with complementary economies to further boost exports. Dr Ajay Sahai, Director General and CEO of FIEO, stressed that Sourcex India would be a vital platform for promoting exports of Indian brands, fostering trade relationships and unlocking new opportunities for Indian businesses in global markets. Ashwani Kumar, Officiating President of FIEO, emphasised the importance of direct engagement between Indian exporters and international buyers, which aims to expand Indiaas trade footprint worldwide. With participation from over 150 global buyers across 45+ countries, including regions such as Africa, CIS, EU, LAC, NAFTA, NEA, Oceania, SA, SEA, and WANA, aSourcex India 2025a is an essential platform for Indian exporters to engage with international markets. a"IANS na/ Sydney, March 27 : The significant reductions in international funding for HIV prevention and treatment programmes may result in more than 10 million infections, and about 3 million deaths by 2030, according to a study published in The Lancet HIV journal on Thursday. The study, conducted by a team at the Burnet Institute in Australia's Melbourne models the impact of a projected 24 per cent reduction in global HIV funding by 2026. This follows announced aid cuts of 8 per cent to 70 per cent by key donors, including the US, Britain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. These five countries collectively fund over 90 per cent of global HIV assistance. This could lead to an estimated "4.4 to 10.8 million additional new HIV infections and 770,000 to 2.9 million HIV-related deaths in children and adults between 2025 and 2030 if funding cuts proposed by the top five donor countries, including the US and the UK, are not mitigated," said the researchers. The US, the largest contributor to global HIV funding, halted all assistance on January 20, following the swearing-in of the new US President Donald Trump. The loss of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), combined with other funding cuts, now threatens to reverse progress toward ending HIV/AIDS as a global health crisis by 2030, revealed the study. "The US has historically been the largest contributor to global efforts to treat and prevent HIV, but the current cuts to PEPFAR and USAID-supported programmes have already disrupted access to essential HIV services including antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and testing. Looking ahead, if other donor countries reduce funding, decades of progress to treat and prevent HIV could be unravelled," said co-lead study author Dr. Debra ten Brink of the Burnet Institute. The findings showed that sub-Saharan Africa, and marginalised groups who are already at a higher risk of acquiring HIV, such as people who inject drugs, sex workers, and men who have sex with men, as well as children would be the most affected. Co-author Dr. Rowan Martin-Hughes from the Institute showed that besides limiting testing and treatment programmes, sub-Saharan Africa would see a cut in broader prevention efforts, such as distributing condoms and offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP a medication that reduces the risk of getting HIV). "It is imperative to secure sustainable financing and avoid a resurgence of the HIV epidemic which could have devastating consequences, not just in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, but globally," Brink said. New Delhi, March 27 : Actor Ishaan Khatter, who will be seen in the upcoming series "The Royals", has talked about his love for cinema, describing it as a "dreamscape" and also acknowledged the caliber of storytelling in the streaming space. New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Actor Ishaan Khatter, who will be seen in the upcoming series "The Royals", has talked about his love for cinema, describing it as a "dreamscape" and also acknowledged the caliber of storytelling in the streaming space. "The silver screen, well for me cinema is always, and when I say cinema I mean theatrical films, is always the dreamscape and it's the ultimate medium," Ishaan, who walked the runway for designer Pawan Sachdeva at the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, told IANS. Ishaan described the feeling of going to the theatres. "I think it's the one place where you can go and forget about your own life and immerse yourself in a story. So, it will always hold the most special place in my heart." However, he emphasized the caliber of storytelling on the streaming platforms. "But I think we're in a time where the caliber of storytelling is equally or more high even in the streaming space and that comes with its pros and cons, but it's just great to see great work out there in general." In "The Royals", Ishaan is all set to star alongside Bhumi Pednekar. Netflix recently unveiled the teaser for "The Royals," which is slated to be a part of their 2025 release lineup. Going by the teaser of the series, Ishaan portrays Aviraaj Singh, the charismatic heir to the royal throne of Morpur. He crosses paths with Bhumi's character, Sophia Kanmani Shekhar, a driven and no-nonsense CEO. "The Royals" marks the first collaboration between Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar. He also talked about working with veteran diva Zeenat Aman, who he says quickly became one of his favorite people in the world. Talking about working with an icon like her, Ishaan told IANS: "So, as if she wasn't already, but from a distance she quickly became one of my favorite people in the world. and I think I'm very happy to report that we had the loveliest time together. But beyond that, she is a screen icon." "She's someone that people so desire to see because she brings a grace that only she can and I'm happy to say that you'll get a lot of Zeena Taman with a lot of fun in Royals." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Seoul, March 27 : US President Donald Trump's recent announcement to levy 25 per cent tariffs on all imported vehicles next month is expected to deal a heavy blow to South Korean carmakers, which largely depend on shipments to the United States, analysts said on Thursday. Trump signed a proclamation to impose the new tariffs on foreign-made cars, light trucks and key auto parts, set to take effect from next Wednesday. South Korea exported US$34.7 billion worth of vehicles to the U.S. last year, accounting for nearly half of the country's total car exports in the year at $70.8 billion, reports Yonhap news agency. Under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), Korean-made cars have been exempt from tariffs in the U.S. Experts noted that the 25 percent tariffs will increase the price of Korean cars sold in the U.S., ultimately impacting South Korea's economy. A report published by the IBK Economic Research Institute estimated that South Korea's car exports to the U.S. will decrease by 18.59 percent once Washington imposes 25 percent tariffs on car imports. Citi Research forecast a 0.203 percent decrease in South Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) following Washington's imposition of 25 percent tariffs on cars, auto parts, medicines and semiconductors. Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's largest automaker that recently announced a plan to invest $21 billion in the U.S. over the next three years, is also expected to face a short-term impact. Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. sold a combined 1.7 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, including 1 million Korean-made cars. The group's latest investment plan aims to expand U.S. production to mitigate the impact of tariffs. The company has three production facilities in the U.S., including the newest Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia, which officially opened Wednesday (local time). However, insiders note the expansion plan needs time to be realised. Although HMGMA has a capacity of 300,000 vehicles, it shipped only 4,000 units last month, highlighting the time required to ramp up production. The new U.S. tariffs are also raising concerns about a potential withdrawal of GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co. It shut down one of its Korean factories in 2019, citing low profit. GM Korea exported 410,000 vehicles to the U.S. last year, accounting for 85 percent of its total overseas sales. Industry officials and experts emphasised the need for the South Korean government to act swiftly to secure exemptions or waivers by highlighting Korean companies' U.S. investments and contributions. "It is the thing that we have been worrying about and preparing for," said an official at an automaker. "It is not something individual companies can address alone. We are watching the situation closely and waiting for the government to take action." During the HMGMA opening ceremony, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung also called for concerted efforts by the South Korean government and carmakers to seek favorable deals in upcoming tariff negotiations with Washington. "I know our investment plan can hardly affect Washington's tariff policies," he said. "We are just a company. It's a country-to-country issue." a"IANS na/ Two people killed, four injured as result of artillery shelling of Kherson As a result of artillery shelling of Kherson on Thursday afternoon, two people were killed and four were injured, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) reports. "On the afternoon of March 27, 2025, Russian military personnel carried out artillery shelling of the city of Kherson. As a result of the shelling, two civilians were killed - a woman and a man," the department said on its Telegram channel on Thursday. The prosecutor's office clarified that four people were injured, including two civilians and two emergency medical workers. "A paramedic and a driver arrived to provide assistance to the victims and came under repeated fire. All the wounded were hospitalized," the report says. Law enforcement officials are taking the necessary measures to document war crimes committed by servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces. Under the procedural guidance of Kherson District Prosecutor's Office, a pretrial investigation has been initiated into the commission of a war crime (Part 1, 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Mumbai, March 27 : Bollywood actress Ananya Panday, who recently became the showstopper for fashion designer Anamika Khanna, revealed her favorite go-to outfit. The 'Gehraiyaan' actress shared that when it comes to her wardrobe, she doesn't spend too much time deciding what to wear. With the help of her team, she ensures her outfits are always on point. However, if she had to pick a go-to look, Ananya said she feels most at ease in a suit. Ananya told IANS, "Honestly, I don't spend too much time deciding what I wear. I have an entire team that helps me choose my outfits. But if I had to pick a go-to, I'd say I feel most comfortable in a suit. I absolutely love wearing suits. I'm also a big fan of shoulder pads they just give off such a strong, confident vibe that I enjoy." When asked about her fashion mistakes, the actress shared a refreshing perspective on life and style. "Oh, fashion mistakes? I don't really dwell on them. I believe everything is a learning experience. So, no, I don't regret anything in life," Panday mentioned. Speaking about her look, the 'Student Of the Year 2' actress stated, "As for my look, well, I would say it's simple yet elegant. I always try to stay true to my style while keeping comfort in mind." On March 26, Ananya turned heads at Lakme Fashion Week, kicking off the show for Anamika Khanna in an eye-catching, embellished outfit. The 26-year-old actress made a bold fashion statement as she graced the runway in a daring, one-of-a-kind look. She wore a silver bralette, intricately detailed with chain accents, evoking the image of a warrior's armor reimagined for the modern era. On the work front, Ananya is gearing up for the release of her film "Kesari Chapter 2," which also stars Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan. The upcoming actioner is slated to be released on April 18 worldwide. "Kesari Chapter 2" portrayed the events leading up to the historic Battle of Saragarhi, where 21 Sikh soldiers from the 36th Sikh Regiment of the British Indian Army faced off against 10,000 Afridi and Orakzai Pashtun tribesmen in 1897. The motion poster for the film hints that the sequel will focus on the untold story of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, an event that marked a pivotal moment in India's struggle for independence. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, March 27 : A man has been arrested for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Mumbai. The accused has been identified as 50-year-old Wajid Hazrat Momin. In a post on social media, Wajid said: "Don't know how Auranzeb killed him, the painful screams are heard till date." Wajid has been booked for inciting religious sentiments. Malvani Police are conducting an investigation. On Monday, a journalist was arrested for derogatory remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji. The accused, identified as Prashant Koratkar was arrested from Telangana. Koratkar was booked under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Kortakar was booked on the basis of his audio conversation with Kolhapur-based historian Indrajeet Sawant. Sawant posted Kortakar's remarks on social media, leading to widespread outrage and the journalist's arrest. Nagpur saw violence after a right-wing group called for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's grave, and rumours spread that things containing religious content were burnt. The violence left 33 police personnel injured, including three officers of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank. After the violence, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Nagpur violence was a "planned incident" and rioters will have to pay for the damages, failing which their property will be sold. The Municipal Corporation of Nagpur carried out a bulldozer operation at the residence of Fahim Khan, the alleged mastermind behind the Nagpur violence. Earlier, two individuals were booked for posting objectionable WhatsApp statuses against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The accused posted a WhatsApp status in favour of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and another against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The Nagpur Police have also been investigating more than 300 social media accounts in connection with the riots, with 140 found to contain objectionable posts and videos. The process of registering cases against these accounts is underway. New Delhi, March 27 : India has surpassed Sri Lanka to become the world's second-largest exporter of tea with 255 million kg of tea exports in 2024, while Kenya has retained the top spot, according to data compiled by the Tea Board of India. New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) India has surpassed Sri Lanka to become the worldas second-largest exporter of tea with 255 million kg of tea exports in 2024, while Kenya has retained the top spot, according to data compiled by the Tea Board of India. Indiaas tea exports touched a 10-year high at 255 million kg in 2024 despite the uncertainties in the global market triggered by geopolitical tensions. The countryas exports shot up by a robust 10 per cent during the year from the corresponding figure of 231.69 million kg recorded in 2023. The value of Indiaas exports jumped by over 15 per cent to Rs 7,111 crore in 2024 from Rs 6,161 crore in 2023 as the prices were also higher during the year. There was a sharp increase in shipments to Iraq, accounting for 20 per cent of tea exports, and merchants are expecting to send 40-50 million kg to the west Asian country this fiscal, he said. Indian exporters, who entered several markets of west Asia when the Sri Lankan crop was low, managed to retain the shipment volumes there, he said. India exports tea to more than 25 countries with the UAE, Iraq, Iran, Russia, USA and the UK as its major markets. India is among the top five tea exporters in the world accounting for about 10 per cent of total world exports. Indiaas Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiri tea are considered one of the finest in the world. Most of the tea exported out of India is black tea which makes up about 96 per cent of total exports. The other varieties include regular tea, green tea, herbal tea, masala tea and lemon tea. India has taken several steps to boost tea output, create a niche brand for Indian tea and to ensure the welfare of the families associated with the tea industry. The Assam Valley and Cachar are the two tea-producing regions in Assam. In West Bengal, Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling are the three major tea producer regions. The southern part of India produces about 17 per cent of the country's total output with the major producing states being Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Small tea growers are the emerging sector contributing nearly 52 per cent of the total produce. At present there are nearly 2.30 lakh small tea growers existing in the supply chain. The Government of India through the Tea Board has taken several steps to benefit this segment. These include the formation of 352 Self Help Group (SHG), 440 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) and 17 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs). Various interactions are also carried out with STGs for quality plucking, capacity building and rush crop management. Besides, assistance has been provided towards procurement of pruning machines and mechanical harvesters. Mini tea factories have also been set up to encourage entrepreneurs and unemployed youth. The Indian tea Industry employs 1.16 million workers directly and an equal number of people are associated with it indirectly. Kolkata, March 27 : Tension prevailed in Bhatpara under Barrackpore Police Commissionerate in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district following a shootout in front of the residence of Arjun Singh, the former BJP Lok Sabha member. The violence took place late Wednesday night, in which crude bombs were hurled and bullets fired. One person identified as Saddam was injured after being hit by a bullet during the gang war. He is currently under treatment at a local hospital. He is known as a local Trinamool Congress associate. The local police, however, have claimed that the situation has been brought under control. No one involved with the chaos will be spared," said a senior police officer present at the spot. A notice has already been issued to Singh asking him to be present at the local Jagatdal Police Station on Thursday. Meanwhile, a political slugfest has surfaced between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP over the gang war and shootout. Singh has claimed that the ruling party-backed goons are extremely close to Somanth Shyam, the legislator from the Jagatdal Assembly constituency, and Namit Singh, the son of a local ruling party councillor. "I was with my men to sort out a tension between two groups of workers of a local Meghna Jute Mill. Suddenly, the ruling party supporters led by Namit Singh reached there and started quarrelling with us. Suddenly, their men started hurling bombs and shooting towards us. I had a narrow escape," Singh said. However, Somnath Shyam refuted the allegations and instead claimed that it was Singh who instigated his associates to attack the ruling party workers. He also alleged that amid tension, Singh himself resorted to firing. A huge police contingent has been deputed in the area to keep the situation under control. This is not the first time that there has been tension and violence in front of Singh's residence. In October last year, Singh was injured, being hit by the splinter of a crude bomb on his limb following an attack on his residence allegedly by the local Trinamool Congress activists. Singh had accused Shyam and Namit Singh of being the masterminds behind the attack. Imphal, March 27 : The Manipur Police have arrested six militants of different outfits and seized a cache of arms and ammunition, officials said here on Thursday. The police also seized drugs worth Rs 3.15 crore and arrested three smugglers, the officials said. A police official said that two cadres of the proscribed outfit People's Liberation Army (PLA) were arrested from Imphal West district on Wednesday night. Two more militants of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) (Pro) outfit and an active member of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) were arrested from Imphal East district. The police also arrested a militant of the Koireng-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF-K) from Tengnoupal district. The arrested militants were involved in abduction, forcible collection of money from traders, officials, contractors, and issuing threat notices to people. Several two-wheelers, mobile sets, sharp-edged weapons, incriminating documents and various other materials were recovered from the militants. Manipur Police arrested three drug peddlers from Imphal East district and recovered 10.5 kg of heroin valued at Rs 3.15 crore from their possession. The drugs, suspected to be smuggled from Myanmar, were contained in 880 soap cases. A car in which the smugglers were travelling was also seized. Manipur has around 400 km of unfenced border with Myanmar. The police also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including AK series rifles and Self-Loading Rifles, from Imphal East and Kakching districts. On Wednesday, five militants were arrested and a cache of arms and ammunition was seized in Manipur. The militants of the banned United National Liberation Front (Koireng faction) were identified as Thongam Ronaldo Singh (26) and Khuraijam Micheal Singh (28). Manipur Police arrested three drug peddlers who were involved in the transportation of drugs along National Highway-02 (Imphal to Senapati district) in Imphal West district on Tuesday night. Police recovered 5.5 kg of heroin valued at Rs two crore from their possession. New Delhi, March 27 : The former Australian all-rounder praised Quinton de Kock's scintillating unbeaten 97, which guided Kolkata Knight Riders to a comfortable chase against Rajasthan Royals, describing his knock as vintage and beautifully executed. After spin twins Varun Chakaravarthy (2-17) and Moeen Ali's (2-23) brilliance, in the absence of Sunil Narine, restricted RR to 151/9. De Kock's unbeaten 61-ball 97, an innings that included eight fours and six sixes, ensured that KKR rushed towards the target in just 17.3 overs at the Barsapara Stadium on Wednesday night. "It was definitely a comfortable chase, and Quinton de Kock was simply outstanding tonight. That was vintage Quinton de Kock - the kind of brilliance we've seen over the last 10 to 15 years, whether in the IPL or on the international stage. He executed his shots beautifully. "That pull shot he played off Jofra Archer over mid-wicket - my goodness - it was a testament to the sublime form he's in. This performance will give KKR tremendous confidence, knowing they have such explosive firepower in their middle order. Itas a significant confidence-boosting win for KKR tonight," Watson said on JioHotstar. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals made a steady start as Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 33 for the opening wicket before the former yorked himself in the fourth over. Then, their top order fell to rash shot selection as RR went from 67/1 to 82/5 in 19 balls. Dhruv Jurel led a brief fightback, lifting the Royals from 92/5 in 13 overs to 131/6 in 18. He fell in the penultimate over, but Archeras unbeaten 16 off 7 ensured the Royals finished with a total on the board. Analysing Rajasthan Royals' performance, Watson added, "The Rajasthan Royals batters struggled to find their timing and made a few execution errors, which prevented them from putting up a big total. A major difference was the calibre and quality of KKRas spin attack. "Varun Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali bowled exceptionally well, whereas Rajasthanas bowlers, particularly in the middle overs, lacked the potency we've seen from them in the past. This made things a lot easier for Quinton de Kock - he was patient, waiting for loose deliveries, and didnat take unnecessary risks. With his wide range of shots, he can accelerate quickly when he's at his best." Thiruvalla : , March 27 (IANS) Reverend Father James George, the Vicar of the Kumbanad Shalom Mar Thoma Church near Thiruvalla passed away on Thursday. The Sabha Secretary of the Thiruvalla-headquartered Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in Kerala, Reverend Abey T. Mammen officially communicated the news in a statement. "The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church expresses deepest condolences to the bereaved family members on the sad demise of Rev. James George, who passed away on Thursday, 27 March 2025, at 12.15 AM. The mortal remains will be brought to Kumbanad Fellowship hospital mortuary today at 2 AM," read the official declaration. Earlier, an error attributed to a communication gap left the Mar Thoma Syrian Church embarrassed as Mammen on Tuesday evening issued a condolence message announcing the death of senior priest George. He was admitted to a private hospital near here after he fell sick on Monday. On Tuesday, soon after the condolence message announcing the passing away of Reverend George came, things went into fast gear with the social media group of the Church and its laity also passing on the message as part of its normal practice. However, close to midnight came another message from Mammen expressing regret over the wrong message regarding Reverend George. In a statement issued by Mammen, it said, "We acknowledge the deep concern and emotional response from our faithful community regarding the condition of our beloved clergy, Rev James George. Earlier, based on the available information communicated to us and the critical nature of the situation following the withdrawal of ventilator support, an announcement regarding the passing of Rev. James George was made. "We have since been informed by the attending medical team that while James George remains in a critical state and continues to be under close final observation, he has not yet been officially declared deceased." "We recognise the gravity and sensitivity of this situation and deeply regret any confusion or distress caused. We request the continued prayers of all faithful members during this deeply trying time and will keep everyone updated as we receive further medical updates. "Even now he is in a sinking stage and oxygen support is provided. Let us remain united in prayer and hope, trusting in God's presence and peace through this difficult journey," wrote Mammen. A section of the Church was up in arms on the miscommunication by Mammen and wanted action, but now all eyes are on the Church and it is likely to come out with a protocol over demise announcements in the future. New Delhi, March 27 : Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, on Thursday hailed the courage of a wheelchair-bound employee who attempted adventure sport bungee jumping in Rishikesh. Bungee jumping is an adventure sport where a person jumps from a great height while tied to a large rope. The Adani Group Chairman lauded Kay Mehta's willpower for indulging in the sport while in a wheelchair. He called Mehta an inspiration for millions of people with and without disability. "Most people do it for the thrill. Kay Mehta, our own Adanian, did it to make a statement," Gautam Adani, shared in a post on social media platform X. "From the heights of Rishikesh, strapped in his wheelchair, Kay took a leap that told the world: no odds, no fear, can stop willpower. Kay, you don't just inspire us - you redefine what it means to be an Adanian. Hum Karke Dikhate Hain #HKKDH," the Adani Group Chairman said. Notably, 'Hum Karke Dikhate Hain' is a media campaign launched by the Adani Group in May 2023. Developed by Ogilvy India, the campaign is called 'Hum mushkilo ki nahi sunte, karke dikhate hai' (Undeterred by challenges, we deliver on our commitments). It highlights the Adani Group's "resilience, tenacity, and relentless pursuit of overcoming obstacles to build world-class infrastructure, both in India and abroad", as per the company. The latest in the campaign series is the narrative-driven film 'Journey of Dreams', which was released early in March. Highlighting the transformative power of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, the film pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of 'Hum Karke Dikhate Hain' of today's India and Indians, showcasing unwavering determination. The film emphasises how Adani Ports enables businesses, both large and small, to thrive by providing seamless connectivity and world-class facilities, according to the company. In December last year, the company's advertisement on wind turbines and renewable energy took the internet by storm. The 1.30-minute video, with the tagline 'Pehle Pankha Aayega, Phir Bijli Aayegi', takes the viewers by surprise and also goes on to illustrate how clean energy can light up lives, without polluting the environment. Thiruvananthapuram, March 27 : The growing rift within the ruling CPI-M in Kerala became evident once again as four-time legislator and former State Minister K.T. Jaleel took a swipe at Speaker A.N. Shamseer, reigniting tensions within the party. The strained relationship between Jaleel and Shamseer is no secret in political circles. While Jaleel served as the State Higher Education Minister in the first Pinarayi Vijayan government (2016-21), Shamseer, a two-time legislator, rose to prominence when he was appointed Speaker in 2022 after his predecessor, M.B. Rajesh, was made the State Excise Minister. Previously, when Rajesh was the Speaker and Shamseer a legislator, there were verbal duels between the two. When the roles were reversed, Shamseer did not shy away from returning the favour, making critical remarks about Rajesh. The latest flashpoint between Jaleel and Shamseer came during the just-concluded Assembly session when Jaleel continued his speech despite repeated instructions from the Speaker to wrap up. Visibly annoyed, Shamseer retorted, "Jaleel does not have any special privilege," and his irritation was evident. The sharp exchange between two legislators from the treasury benches raised eyebrows, as it is uncommon for a Speaker to openly chastise a fellow party member in such a manner. Just when it seemed like the matter had settled, Jaleel reignited the controversy on Thursday with a pointed social media post. Reflecting on the incident, he wrote, "During my speech on the Private Universities Bill in the Assembly, I admit that I may have spoken at length. If 'someone' sees that as a criminal offense, I can only sympathise with them." He then took a veiled dig at Shamseer, saying, "I have won four times from a stronghold of the IUML (the second-largest ally of the Congress-led Opposition) in Malappuram district, which naturally makes me more energetic. But that might not be easily understood by someone who sells dates in Mecca." Jaleel's remark was widely interpreted as a jibe at Shamseer. While Jaleel carved out a niche by defeating IUML stalwart P.K. Kunhalikutty in one of the biggest electoral upsets in Kerala's history, Shamseer represents Tellicherry, a CPI-M bastion in the Kannur district. This open attack by Jaleel is likely to widen the rift between him and the CPI-M leadership. With the party known for enforcing strict discipline among its ranks, it remains to be seen how the CPI-M top brass responds to this. Seoul, March 27 : Firefighters using helicopters were struggling to contain the nation's worst-ever wildfires on Thursday that have ravaged South Korea's southeastern province of North Gyeongsang, with the death toll from the blazes reaching 26 and injuries being reported to another 30 people. Since last Friday, a wave of wildfires has ravaged the region, and some 36,000 hectares (ha) of woodland have been burned, according to government data. It is nearly 13,000 ha more than the 23,794 ha damaged by the east coast wildfires in 2000, which were the worst in the nation's history at the time. About 37,000 people have been displaced, including 29,911 in the Uiseong and Andong areas in North Gyeongsang Province. Earlier in the day, acting South Korean President Han Duck-soo instructed acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong to reside in North Gyeongsang Province and oversee relief efforts for wildfire victims until the blazes are brought under control. "It is worrying that many of the victims are senior citizens, including patients at nursing hospitals," Han said. "Please personally take care of the victims' health and safety on the ground and activate an efficient support system so that the wildfire-extinguishing personnel and volunteer workers do not burn out," Han said. In North Gyeongsang Province, authorities resumed efforts to limit the spread of wildfires. Forestry officials began deploying helicopters, fire trucks and firefighting personnel at 6:30 a.m. to battle the blaze that began in Uiseong County, about 180 kilometres southeast of Seoul, on Saturday which has rapidly spread due to strong winds, Yonhap news agency reported. Some 5 mm of rain was expected to fall in North Gyeongsang Province, according to weather officials. The wildfires in the province are presumed to have killed 21 people, including four in Andong, home to Hahoe Folk Village -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- and eight in Yeongdeok County. The wildfires near Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Seowon Confucian Academy, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Andong, showed signs of easing overnight. A forestry official said helicopters were on standby to deploy to the area but noted it would be difficult for deployment in the morning due to weather conditions. Water was cut off in some parts of Andong for the second day, prompting the city government to supply bottled water and emergency supplies to residents. Nearly 2,500 houses in the city experienced power outages, with officials still working to restore electricity to 177 of them. The nearby county of Yeongdeok also suffered water and power disruptions as a water purification plant burned down, electricity was cut off to another plant, and a power substation halted operations. Communication services were also down in the county overnight before being restored early Thursday. More than 33,000 people in the province have been displaced, with some 15,400 yet to return home. A total of 2,448 houses are estimated to have been damaged by the wildfires. Azerbaijan has always prioritized productive and promising relations in its political and economic relations with European and overseas countries. The results of this have always been evident. Take the economic cooperation and the cooperation in animal husbandry with the South American countries. Having become an important milestone for Uruguayan livestock farming, the country carried out its first permanent export of vaccines to Azerbaijan, opening a new direction for this sector. Gadoville led the shipment of 1,700 pregnant Hollando and Aberdeen Angus heifers bound for Turkiye, in addition to 500 Angus heifers sent to Azerbaijan. The operation reinforces growing international demand for Uruguayan genetics at a time when cattle breeding exports have shown a significant increase compared to the previous year. According to customs data, 42,977 active vaccines have been exported since the beginning of the year, more than double the 20,000 shipments registered in the same period in 2024. Of that total, 27,796 animals were destined for Turkiye, and 14,673 were sent to Morocco, making these countries the main buyers of Uruguayan cattle. The Holando cows exported to Turkiye had pedigree information certified by the Uruguayan Association of Livestock Data and Information (Audig), allowing genomic testing of 100% of the animals. This requirement meets the need to insure animals with American and Canadian genetics, which are more adapted to the stable rearing systems that are the predominant method in Turkiye. As for the Aberdeen Angus heifers, the animals exported complied with the Turkish import protocol, which requires that the bellies of beef breeds must be under 22 months old and classified as a milk tooth and 2 teeth. In the case of the shipment to Azerbaijan, the cargo consisted exclusively of Angus, which expanded the opportunities for Uruguayan cattle in international markets. The FOB price for each animal was $ 1,100, increasing the economic attractiveness of this export for the Uruguayan livestock sector. The Gadoville company has stated their intention to maintain this commercial flow, especially in the segment of genomic tested bellies, because of the guarantees it provides to buyers in terms of performance. Certainly, in return for all this, Azerbaijan has also been able to achieve high figures in trade turnover with Uruguay. Thus, last year, oil worth 85.1 million USD was exported from the Republic of Azerbaijan to Uruguay. Besides, over the past ten years, Azerbaijan has imported various products, including pharmaceutical products, pearls, precious stones, inorganic chemicals, precious metal compounds, isotope metals, coins, ceramic products, wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal, etc. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Uruguay have also continued successfully. Although at certain times, against the backdrop of tense relations with Armenia, Uruguays position caused some concern, it ultimately shifted in a positive direction. Uruguay has always supported peace and stability in the South Caucasus, and it recognized the territories of Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, which were previously occupied by Armenia, as part of Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Diplomatic relations with Uruguay became even more intensive after 2013, leading to an increase in mutual visits. Shared interests between the two countries resulted in several bilateral agreements signed between the foreign ministries of both countries. One of these agreements was the removal of the visa regime for official and diplomatic representatives in 2013, followed by the Agreement on Customs Cooperation (2016) and the Agreement on Cultural Cooperation (2017). Ukraine has returned 1,247 children under the Bring Kids Back UA program, said the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets. "As part of the Ukrainian President's Bring Kids Back UA program, as of now, we have managed, through joint efforts, to ... return 1,247 Ukrainian children. This figure, I know for sure, will increase in the near future," the ombudsman said at a press conference on Thursday. Lubinets noted that this concerns the total number of children returned both from the territory of the Russian Federation and from the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine. According to the ombudsman, during the first contacts with representatives of the American authorities, the issue of returning Ukrainian citizens was raised separately. He noted that nothing is known about the reaction of the Russian side, so Ukraine continues to return its people through channels that have already proven their effectiveness. New Delhi, March 27 : The Union government has announced to launch new cooperative-based taxi service called "Sahkar Taxi" that will provide bike, cab, and auto services, to compete with popular ride-hailing platforms like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The move is aimed at providing an alternative transport service where drivers can earn directly without sharing profits with large corporations. "Sahkar Taxi will register two-wheeler taxis, auto-rickshaws, and four-wheeler taxis across the country," Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said, while announcing the initiative in Parliament. Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Sahkar se Samriddhi' is not just a slogan, the Ministry of Cooperation has worked day and night in the last three and a half years to realise it. Shah stated that the Sahkar taxi service will be rolled out "in the coming months". Unlike private companies, this government-backed service will ensure that all earnings remain with the drivers, giving them greater financial benefits. "Profits from this service will not go to any big industrialist but will go solely to the drivers of the vehicles," the Union Cooperation Minister said. In addition, a cooperative insurance company will also be formed which will do the work of insurance in the cooperative system of the country, Shah said. "In a short time, it will become the largest insurance company in the private sector," he noted. The new initiative aims to empower drivers while providing passengers with a reliable and cost-effective transport option. A similar model is already operating in West Bengal under the "Yatri Sathi" service, which was initially available in only Kolkata. It has now expanded to cities like Siliguri, Asansol, and Durgapur. Yatri Sathi offers quick bookings, local language support, affordable fares, and round-the-clock customer assistance, making it a popular option among passengers. In 2022, Kerala became the first to launch a government-owned online taxi service 'Kerala Savaari'. While it has been shut down due to low usage, the state government now plans to relaunch it with revised fares and improved software. New York, March 27 : The United Nations Women stated that denying Afghan girls access to education is a grave injustice and will haunt generations. The agency calls for safeguarding the fundamental rights of Afghan girls as schools reopen in Afghanistan without them. It stated that girls should attend schools even as the ban on the education of females by the Afghan Taliban entered its third-consecutive year. "Girls belong in school. Yet, in Afghanistan, girls are being denied their right to education for the third year in a row, as schools reopen without them. Denying them education is a grave injustice that will haunt generations. Their fundamental rights must be restored, NOW." UN Women posted on X on Wednesday. Earlier this week, the UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous warned that it will have generational consequences in Afghanistan if girls are denied education. "As a new school year begins in Afghanistan, the doors remain shut to thousands of girls for the third year in a row. This violation of their right to education will haunt generations. Girls must return to school. Their fundamental rights must be restored without delay," Sima Bahous posted on X. According to a UN Women report, since August 2021, the Taliban have systematically dismantled women and girls' access to education in Afghanistan, enforcing increasingly dire restrictions. Girls were first banned from secondary schools in March 2022, followed by a suspension from universities in December of the same year. By January 2023, the Taliban further deepened their oppressive grip by prohibiting girls from taking university entrance exams, effectively erasing the progress that had, in some provinces, seen higher examination participation rates for girls than boys. In 2024, a UN Women's report on Afghanistan shows that 1.1. million secondary school-aged girls are out of school. While primary schools remain open for girls, enrolment has dropped, because of social norms, access issues, and safety concerns. The status of women's rights in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically under Taliban rule. Decades of hard-fought progress toward gender equality have been obliterated by a web of oppressive directives. It has been projected that the Afghan economy will lose $9.6 billion by 2066 if the suspension of women's access to higher education remains in place Recently, several women activists have launched a campaign titled 'Let's Study' to mark the start of the new academic year, condemning the Taliban's ban on education. In an online statement, the activists stated that with the start of the new school year, another 400,000 girls have been deprived of education as the Taliban prohibits Afghan girls from accessing secondary and higher education. The campaign, organised by women's rights protesters in the South Asian nation, also urged the international community to support Afghan women in their struggle for access to education against the "ignorant terrorist group" Taliban's ban. New Delhi, March 27 : In a boost to India's digital growth ambitions, Bharti Airtel on Thursday said it has successfully landed the 2Africa Pearls cable in the country, connecting India to Africa, and Europe via the Middle East. 2Africa Pearls brings over 100 tbps (terabits per second) of international capacity to India. With this investment, Airtel has further diversified its global network to support India's digital growth ambitions. "We are thrilled to bring the 2Africa Pearls cable to India adding to our network resilience. We are aggressively diversifying our global network and recently landed the SEA-WE-ME-6 cable in Chennai and Mumbai," said Sharat Sinha, Director and CEOAirtel Business. "We will continue investing in global cable systems and future-proof our network with an aim to deliver high uptime, reliability, and superior quality network to our customers," he added. Airtel is the landing partner for the 2Africa Pearls cable in India. This is in partnership with the 2Africa Pearls' investors -- center3 and Meta. 2Africa Pearls is a part of the 2Africa cable system, which will be the world's longest subsea cable system when completed, spanning over 45,000 kms connecting Asia to Africa and Europe through the Middle East. Airtel's global network spans 400,000 Rkms (route kms) across 50 countries and five continents. The company has investments in 34 cables globally with some of the recent ones including 2Africa, Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2 (SJC2) and Equiano. Apart from these cables that connect India to key regions like APAC, Europe, the Middle East and US, Airtel's global subsea network investments also include large cable systems like i2i Cable Network (i2icn), Europe India Gateway (EIG), IMEWE, SEA-ME-WE-4, AAG, Unity, EASSy, Gulf Bridge International (GBI) and Middle East North Africa Submarine Cable (MENA Cable), among many others. India already plays a key role in the global subsea cable network, with around 17 international subsea cables connected to 14 landing stations across Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin and Trivandrum. Indian telecom giants such as Tata Communications, Bharti Airtel, Global Cloud eXchange and BSNL operate these critical infrastructures. Recently, Bharti Airtel landed the SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable in Chennai, strengthening its international connectivity. Global tech giant Meta has also announced 'Project Waterworth,' a 50,000 km undersea cable initiative connecting India with the US, Brazil, and South Africa, reinforcing the country's growing importance in global digital networks. Chennai, Mar 27 : Actor Gautham Karthik, who is also the husband of actress Manjima Mohan, has now penned an adorable post to his wife on the occasion of the actress completing 10 years in the film industry as an actress. Gautham Karthik, a popular hero who is also the son of well known actor Karthik, took to Instagram to let his wife know how proud he was of her. He wrote, "Today, we celebrate 10 years of you @manjimamohan the love of my life, shining in this industry! I'm beyond proud of how much you've grown, not just as an actor, but as an incredible person. With every role you take on, you showcase your extraordinary talent, proving it time and time again." Gautham Karthik went on to say that his constant wish was to see her continue sharing that gift with the world on screen. He signed off the post to his wife, calling himself her biggest cheerleader. Earlier in the day, actress Manjima Mohan, who has delivered some critically acclaimed performances in both Tamil and Malayalam cinema, had penned a note of gratitude on the occasion of completing 10 years in the film industry as an artiste. In her post, Manjima Mohan said, "Ten years since I began my journey as an artist, and I couldn't be more grateful. Every opportunity, every challenge, and every experience has shaped me into the artist I am today. "A heartfelt thank you to all the directors, actors, and producers I've had the privilege of working with. Your support and belief in me have made this journey unforgettable. To the media fraternity, thank you for always recognizing and appreciating my work. "I am forever indebted to my family and friends, who stood by me through every high and low, ensuring I never gave up. Actors are truly blessed to receive unconditional love and immense support from well-wishers we may have never even met. It's something I cherish deeply and never take for granted. "There's still so much to achieve, a long road ahead, and many dreams to fulfill. Here's to the journey ahead." Manjima Mohan first shot to limelight in Malayalam cinema with the immensely popular 'Oru Vadakkan Selfie', featuring Nivin Pauly in the lead. The Malayalam film was a superhit that fetched her recognition not just in Kerala but also all across the south. Manjima made an impact in Tamil cinema with the Gautham Menon romantic action drama 'Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada'. She played the female lead in the film opposite Silambarasan. The actress has delivered several critically acclaimed performances over the course of the last 10 years. In fact, her most recent performance, which was in the Tamil web series Suzhal 2, has come in for much appreciation. --IANS Mkr/ New Delhi, March 27 : President of Chile, Gabriel Boric Font will pay a State Visit to India from April 1-5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday. Boric will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, members of parliament, senior officials, business associations, media and prominent Chileans involved in the India-Chile cultural connect. This will be President Boric's first visit to India in his capacity as President and he is scheduled to Agra, Mumbai, and Bengaluru before returning to Chile on April 5. During the visit, Boric will hold talks with Prime Minister Modi on April 1, covering the entire gamut of India-Chile relations. PM Modi will also host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. Boric will also call on President Draupadi Murmu and hold discussions with her. The President will host a banquet in the visiting digintary's honour. "India's relations with Chile have traditionally been warm and friendly. Chile is an important partner for India in the Latin American region. Chile was the only country in the LAC region to send a Special Envoy to India's Independence Day celebrations in 1947. The two countries have commonality of views on several international issues including UNSC reforms, climate change, renewable energy and terrorism. Chile is also an important trading partner for India in the LAC region," read a statement issued by the MEA. In Mumbai and Bengaluru, Boric will meet the political leadership, business and industry representatives, start-ups, innovators and tech leaders. The MEA stated that the forthcoming State Visit of President Boric will provide an opportunity for the leaders to undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, as well as to discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest. Quetta: The United States, being highly strategic and farsighted, realised after 20 years of war in Afghanistan that achieving victory there was impossible. It took into account the horrors and defeat of the Vietnam War, as well as the collapse of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, ultimately concluding that further involvement in Afghanistan would be a waste of resources and time. It is important to note that for the past 30 years, Baloch nationalist leaders have been continuously trying to explain to the United States, NATO, and other Western nations that while their enemies were operating in Afghanistan, their roots lay in Pakistan, specifically within GHQ. Despite carrying out extensive carpet bombings in the caves and mountains of Tora Bora, and even deploying the 'Mother of All Bombs'," the US failed to achieve its objectives. Meanwhile, the Pakistani military and ISI, recognised globally as a mercenary force, deceived multiple US administrations a" including those of George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden a" by extracting billions of dollars while secretly providing military support to anti-American groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Pakistan cleverly used the military aid received from the US to suppress the Baloch independence movement. Concrete evidence exists showing that Pakistan's Air Force has deployed phosphorus and cluster bombs, as well as American-made missiles and explosives, against pro-independence Baloch civilians. This raises serious accountability concerns for the United States on an international level a" why was military aid provided under the guise of counterterrorism allowed to be used against the homegrown Baloch owned, Baloch led liberation movement? Balochistan and Pakistan are two distinct entities. Pakistan possesses jets, tanks, artillery, and military strength, whereas Balochistan lacks comparable war capabilities. This imbalance of power perpetuates Pakistanas military oppression and occupation of Balochistan. For the past seven decades, Pakistan has trampled on international war protocols and the UN Charter, ruthlessly using aerial power to suppress the legitimate Baloch independence movement. Despite this ongoing seven-decade conflict between Pakistan and Balochistan, the international community has failed to take meaningful action. The global community must exert diplomatic, military, and economic pressure on Pakistan to relinquish its illegal control over Balochistan and recognise it as an independent nation. Such a move would allow Balochistan a" rich in natural resources a" to contribute to regional peace and stability through cooperation with serious stakeholders. If Pakistan remains adamant in maintaining its occupation, then regional powers should consider providing the Baloch freedom fighters with anti-aircraft missiles, artillery, tanks, and other military support to counter Pakistan's war efforts in Balochistan. Strengthening the military capabilities of the Baloch independence forces is not intended to escalate bloodshed but rather to restore balance and prevent a humanitarian crisis. If Balochistan achieves military parity with Pakistan, it would curtail Pakistan's ability a" especially with China's backing a" to exploit Baloch resources for financing proxy groups in India, Afghanistan, and other regional states. Hence, an independent, secular, and democratic Balochistan would serve the interests of India, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Europe. Even pro-Pakistan political parties and civil society groups are now openly admitting the failure of the Pakistani military. They have acknowledged the Baloch nationalist narrative, which has long asserted that Pakistan has lost the war it started against the Baloch people. A stark indication of this is the reaction of the local Baloch population a" when Baloch freedom fighters attack Pakistani military posts, police stations, and checkposts, seizing weapons, the common people emerge from their homes and rooftops to cheer for the Baloch fighters. This is a moment of utter disgrace for Pakistan a" it has lost the war morally, politically, religiously, and militarily, yet it continues to sacrifice its troops in Balochistan. Pakistani soldiers stationed in military cantonments in Balochistan are not there to fight the Baloch resistance; they remain deployed merely for their monthly salaries. For the people of Punjab and its educated intellectuals, this is a critical moment. If they wish to avoid a humiliation similar to the defeat of Dhaka in 1971, they must urge their military to withdraw from Balochistan. The Pakistani military should transfer all its weapons, artillery, fighter jets, and war supplies a" purchased using Balochistanas resources a" to the Baloch national forces. This would facilitate a peaceful exit strategy for Pakistanas military from Balochistan. The withdrawal of the Pakistani military from Balochistan should not follow the chaotic precedent of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 15, 2021. Instead, prior to the exit of Pakistani forces, a comprehensive international conference should be convened, bringing together the political and military leadership of both Balochistan and Pakistan. International institutions, including the United Nations, Afghanistan, India, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), European nations, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Asian countries, should be invited as mediators. Balochistan holds geopolitical and economic significance, serving as a key to regional peace, interfaith harmony, and long-term economic cooperation among nations. To ensure a safe and organised withdrawal, United Nations peacekeeping forces, in coordination with Baloch pro-independence forces, must first take control of the security situation in Balochistan, facilitating a safe passage for the withdrawing Pakistani military. Following this, a UN-led peace mission, with international financial assistance, should provide military training to the Baloch pro-independence forces. The weapons, artillery, warplanes, and military equipment left behind by the Pakistani army should be transferred to Baloch forces to strengthen their capacity. Joint efforts between Baloch forces and international counterterrorism experts should then focus on eradicating terrorism from the region. To ensure Balochistan's diplomatic recognition on the world stage, Baloch embassies should be established, with Baloch representatives officially recognised as ambassadors. A framework for comprehensive international agreements should be drafted to foster bilateral and multilateral relations with the global community. Additionally, Balochistan should be declared an international trade hub, with economic initiatives launched under the leadership of global financial experts, marking the beginning of nation-building efforts in newly independent Balochistan. During this global conference, an official request should be made to Pakistan for data and records of all Baloch individuals abducted and killed by the Pakistani military. Pakistan must be held accountable for providing detailed information on all Baloch prisoners currently detained in Pakistani torture cells and secret detention centers. The keys to these prisons must be handed over to Baloch pro-independence forces and UN peacekeepers to ensure an immediate release of all Baloch prisoners of war. Upon release, these former prisoners must undergo emergency medical treatment under the supervision of internationally trained doctors. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) should be formally notified of the torture, state oppression, and inhumane treatment inflicted upon these detainees. Independent observers, international human rights organisations, and medical experts must conduct interviews with these individuals to document their experiences of abuse and persecution. After gathering concrete evidence, all Pakistani military Generals and officers involved in these war crimes should face immediate trials at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Pakistani militaryas atrocities in Balochistan must be addressed at the international level, similar to how other dictators and war criminals have been held accountable: Slobodan Milosevic (Serbia, 1999a"2006): Tried at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes and human rights violations in Yugoslavia. He was sentenced to death in 2006; Charles Taylor (Liberia, 2003a"2012): Found guilty of war crimes and human rights violations during the Sierra Leone civil war. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 2012; Slobodan Praljak (Bosnia, 2004a"2017): Tried and sentenced to 20 years in prison for war crimes in Bosnia. During his appeal in 2017, he committed suicide in court; Saddam Hussein (Iraq, 2005a"2006): Convicted of genocide, mass executions, and the use of chemical weapons against 148 Kurds in Dujail. He was sentenced to death in 2006, which was carried out on December 30, 2006; Radovan Karadzic (Serbia, 2008a"2019): Found guilty of genocide and war crimes in Bosnia and sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2016, later increased to a life sentence in 2019; Rodrigo Duterte (Philippines, ongoing): Facing trial at the ICC for war crimes related to extrajudicial killings in his anti-drug campaign. Despite Pakistan's history of committing genocide in 1971, where three million Bengalis were massacred and 200,000 Bengali women were raped, it has never faced international accountability. Now, as Pakistan continues its military occupation of Balochistan, committing grave human rights violations and war crimes for over seven decades, it is imperative that Pakistanas military Generals and officials be brought before the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Just as other war criminals and oppressive regimes have been prosecuted, the Pakistani state must face justice for its crimes in Balochistan. All officers, soldiers, and officials of the occupying Pakistani forces found guilty of Baloch genocide, abductions for ransom, arson, leading military operations, and war crimes should not be allowed to leave Balochistan until they have fully served their respective sentences. Additionally, a comprehensive economic report must be compiled detailing the extent of Balochistan's looted mineral resources that have been exploited for Pakistanas economy over the past 70 years. A financial investigation should be conducted into the assets of all ranks of the Pakistani military, from junior officers to the Army Chief, as well as all ISI officers stationed in occupied Balochistan. Their bank statements must be examined, comparing their financial status at the time of employment to their current wealth. If any individual has accumulated unjustifiable wealth, they must be questioned regarding the sources of their income. A fact-finding mission should be launched under the supervision of the United Nations (UN), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and global financial experts to investigate black money laundered abroad by Pakistani military generals and officers. Any illegally acquired wealth found in their accounts or businesses should be seized and transferred to the Balochistan Bank as reparations for the economic plunder of Balochistan. The Baloch pro-independence political leadership has already developed a roadmap and blueprint for Balochistan's future, formally documented as the Balochistan Liberation Charter (BLC). This national document reflects the collective aspirations and contributions of every Baloch individual. Under the leadership of Baloch nationalist leader Hyrbyair Marri, the BLC has been translated into 11 languages, including Balochi, Brahui, English, Urdu, Pashto, Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Punjabi. The Balochistan Liberation Charter envisions an independent, democratic, and secular state, where a one-person, one-vote system will ensure democratic governance. The provisional constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women, and full religious freedom will be upheld within a united and independent Balochistan. The BLC presents Balochistan as a progressive, peaceful, and prosperous nation in the global arena. The international community, including India, has a golden opportunity to play a role in securing the independence of Balochistan, one of the world's most resource-rich regions. A democratic and secular Balochistan offers unprecedented opportunities for regional peace, security, trade, counterterrorism efforts, drug prevention, employment generation, climate change mitigation, and the elimination of extremism and proxy warfare propagated by Pakistan. A united and independent Balochistan would not only hold strategic significance in land and airspace dynamics but also possess maritime corridors of global importance. Recognizing Balochistan's independence would establish it as a key global player, ensuring peace and economic stability in South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. (The writer is a human rights defender and freelance journalist. He can be reached on X @SobdarBaloch_ Views expressed are personal) Bengaluru, March 27 : The Karnataka government on Thursday handed over the honey trap case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which began the investigation soon after. Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Mohan ordered the CID probe based on a submission made by Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna. On March 20, senior Minister Rajanna said in the state Assembly that he had fallen victim to a honey trap. He further claimed that over 48 politicians across Karnataka and the country had been similarly trapped. Rajanna also submitted a three-page report on the matter to state Home Minister G. Parameshwara, who then forwarded the petition to the DGP with instructions to investigate the matter. Rajanna is a close associate of CM Siddaramaiah and has repeatedly questioned the allocation of the posts of Deputy CM and the party's state president to D.K. Shivakumar. Minister Rajanna's son, MLC Rajendra Rajanna, stated in Bengaluru on Thursday that CID officials had already visited their official residence and collected information from the household staff. When asked about the role of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in the matter, MLC Rajendra said he had no knowledge of it. He clarified that no honey trap attempt had been made on him personally and that he had only received related phone calls. "Minister Rajanna had stated that two attempts were made on him," Rajendra added. Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP has alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was behind the deliberate escalation of the honey trap row in the state. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka stated that the honey trap row has caused unrest within the state Congress party. He added that internal factionalism has intensified and noted that Minister for PWD Satish Jarkiholi had met former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his son, Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, in Delhi, in this context. Ashoka further said the BJP had launched an agitation over the honey trap issue following Minister Rajanna's statement in the Assembly. He claimed the controversy is creating turmoil within the ruling party and alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is orchestrating the matter. "The issue has now reached Delhi," he added. Reacting to the developments, Minister for RDPR, IT and BT Priyank Kharge said on Thursday in Bengaluru that both the Chief Minister and the state Home Minister had made it clear that an investigation would be carried out once Minister Rajanna or any other individual files a formal complaint. "Whatever is required to ensure justice will be done as per the law," he said. Responding to the BJP's allegation of infighting within Congress over the honey trap case, Kharge said, "If we accept the BJP's allegations as true, what do we make of Minister Rajanna's statement in the Assembly? He said central leaders, BJP leaders, and Congress leaders were involved. Who is honey trapping central and state BJP leaders? Is there a power struggle in the BJP too?" he questioned. "Minister Rajanna clearly stated that 48 individuals were victims, cutting across party lines, including central BJP leaders. The Union Home Ministry would be the appropriate authority to address this issue," he added. Minister Rajanna's son, MLC Rajendra Rajanna, filed a complaint with DGP Alok Mohan on Thursday, alleging that there was an assassination attempt on him in November last year during his daughter's birthday celebration. "I came to know about it much later and am now lodging a formal complaint. The DGP advised me to also file a complaint with the Tumakuru SP, which I will do on Friday," he said. The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition 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 how a non-Karnataka resident was concerned with the affairs of Karnataka. 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. 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 was behind the honey trap network in Karnataka. It also led to the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the Assembly for six months on charges of showing disrespect to the Speaker's Chair. The suspension came following the disruption of the proceedings during a protest in the well of the House while demanding a judicial or CBI probe into the alleged honey trap attempt involving Minister Rajanna Mumbai, March 27 : Bengali cinema superstar Jeet, who is receiving a lot of positive response for his recently released streaming show 'Khakee: The Bengal Chapter', has said that he is averse to comfort while working. The actor spoke with IANS, said that he believes in being proactive as an artiste so that he could match up to the director's vision, and bring in value into the story. Jeet told IANS, "When I go to work, I don't look for comfort. If the director or the producers want to extract something from you, if they are open, then whatever the actor or the talent is thinking, if that thought can be conveyed to the mind of the director, if they can add even 2%, 5%, 10% to the vision of the director, then whatever is the meaning of bringing that actor, he stands strong. If you are not able to add that, 5%, 10%, if you are just working like a puppet, then you have limited days with the director on the film set, and also personally with him because a director wants actors who are proactive". He further mentioned, "Actor is also a creative person, he is also visualizing the scene. When you read it. So, if this director is open to listening, then nothing can be more beautiful than this. Because we work in team work. We all want to be reciprocal to each other, listen to each other and understand, and then move forward". Meanwhile, 'Khakee: The Bengal Chapter' also stars Prosenjit Chatterjee, Saswata Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee, Ritwik Bhowmik, Aadil Zafar Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Pooja Chopra, Aakanksha Singh, Mimoh Chakroborty and Shraddha Das. Produced by Neeraj Pandey and Shital Bhatia under the banner of Friday Storytellers, 'Khakee: The Bengal Chapter' is helmed by Debatma Mandal and Tushar Kanti Ray. The show streams on Netflix. New Delhi, March 27 : Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister, Shambhuraj Desai, on Thursday issued a stern warning to comedian Kunal Kamra over his latest satirical video targeting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Desai expressed outrage at Kamra's repeated provocations and suggested that it was time for him to face severe consequences. "Kunal Kamra has crossed all boundaries, the situation has gone beyond control. It's time to give him a lesson. He is hiding wherever he is, but we will drag him out and teach him a lesson on the street. He needs third-degree treatment." Desai pointed out that Kamra has been intentionally making objectionable remarks against political figures, including the indirect "gaddar" swipe at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Prime Minister, the Supreme Court, and now Nirmala Sitharaman. He claimed, "Kunal Kamra is deliberately repeating such actions. He has used objectionable language against Eknath Shinde, the Supreme Court, and now Nirmala Sitharaman. It is now time for him to receive 'prasad' from Shiv Sena workers in our style." Desai reminded everyone that Shiv Sena workers had previously confronted Kamra after his first controversial video, by going to his studio and giving him "prasad," a term he used to describe the vandalisation of the studio in the hotel where the video was shot. "We are legislators and ministers, but first, we are Shiv Sainiks. Our patience is running thin. If we, as Shiv Sainiks, come out on the streets, we will drag him out of whatever hole he is hiding in and teach him a lesson." Desai mentioned that Eknath Shinde had ordered legal action against Kamra. "Eknath Shinde has told us that action will be taken against Kunal Kamra as per the law. If Kamra has the courage, he should come forward and tell us where he is hiding. Our Shiv Sena workers will go to that location and confront him directly." Desai concluded by urging the police to act swiftly. "He is hiding and making objectionable statements. Today, we will speak to Eknath Shinde about this. The police will reach where Kamra is hiding and bring him out. Just like the police give third-degree treatment to accused criminals, it is time for Kunal Kamra to receive the same 'prasad' now," Desai stated, signalling a tough stance on Kamra's repeated provocations. As Mumbai Police issued a second summons to Kunal Kamra over his indirect swipe at Eknath Shinde, the comedian took another jab at the government. He released a video with a satirical song targeting Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. This marks his third video in five days, with the latest one, posted on March 26. Hyderabad, March 27 : The Telangana Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution opposing the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies on the population basis. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy moved the resolution, stating that the threat of decline in the representation of the South to 19 per cent from 24 per cent is not ruled out if the delimitation was carried out by taking population as the main criteria. The resolution urged the Centre to carry out delimitation only after consultations with all the state governments and all political parties. CM Revanth Reddy urged all political parties to rise above party lines and take a united stand against the delimitation based on population, saying such an exercise would politically weaken the southern states. He alleged that one party was trying to remain in power at the Centre by increasing the number of seats in North India. He appealed to all parties to rise above politics and put pressure on the Centre on this issue. "We all should fight against the Centre if the Southern states are meted out injustice in the delimitation process. The Southern states effectively implemented family planning. They will be at the receiving end if the delimitation is done on a population basis," he said. He recalled that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had observed that the delimitation on a population basis would ruin friendly and cordial relations between the states. He said a fresh debate on the delimitation of constituencies on a population basis has started creating apprehensions among Southern states. Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar announced the adoption of the resolution by a voice vote even as some members wanted to express their views. "This House expresses its deep concern on the manner in which the impending delimitation exercise is being planned without any transparent consultations with the stakeholders. The House urges that any delimitation exercise should be carried out transparently and after extensive consultations with all state governments, all political parties and all stakeholders," reads the resolution. "The states which have effectively implemented the population control program pushed by the Centre, and consequently whose population share has come down, should not be penalized and hence, population should not be the sole yardstick for delimitation." "It is to be noted that the purpose and intent behind the 42nd, 84th and 87th Constitutional amendments aimed at national population stabilization are yet to be achieved. Hence, while continuing with the freeze on the number of Parliamentary seats, taking the state as a unit, redrawing the boundaries of Parliamentary constituencies can be taken up, duly augmenting the SC and ST seats as per latest population and also providing for reservation for women," it added. The resolution also urged the Centre to increase the number of seats in the Telangana Assembly from 119 to 153. "Further, the House resolves that in order to strengthen the representative democracy, the number of seats in the state Assembly should be immediately increased from 119 to 153 pursuant to the A.P Reorganization Act, 2014 and as per latest census. This House urges the Union Government to introduce necessary Constitutional amendments for this purpose," the resolution read. The Chief Minister alleged that the Union government was discriminating against the state. CM Revanth Reddy, who was a member of the previous Lok Sabha, pointed out that the Centre, in reply to his question, had stated that the delimitation of Assembly constituencies will be done only after the 2026 census. He slammed the Centre for its double standards on the issue. He said the Centre amended the Constitution and increased the number of Assembly constituencies from 83 to 90 as per the 2011 census in Jammu and Kashmir. In Sikkim, a resolution was passed in the Cabinet in 2018 and the process of delimitation of constituencies is currently underway. The CM said that he was moving this resolution in the Assembly to expose the double standards of the Centre. "Let us all meet the Central government on delimitation to safeguard the interests. Let us also take up the path of struggle, if necessary." The Chief Minister said the government would soon hold a meeting with all parties under the leadership of Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka and senior leader K. Jana Reddy. He appealed to all parties to attend the meeting. Ukraine has not yet discussed with the United States what they can provide for security guarantees, but important guarantees include, in particular, the total protection of Ukrainian skies and the air fleet, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "What will the United States of America be ready to give? I don't have an answer to this question. Because we haven't discussed this with them yet. It is important to me, I discussed this with Trump, I told him that air defense systems are important to us. But not a one-time solution, but a permanent, operating system of total, completely 100% protection of the Ukrainian skies," Zelenskyy said during a press conference after a meeting of leaders in Paris on issues of support for Ukraine and security in Europe. The President emphasized that Ukraine needs air defense, which consists of the Patriot air defense systems, NASAMS and others. In addition, the air fleet is a guarantee of security, this was discussed with European colleagues, but so far this issue has not been raised with the United States. New Delhi, March 27 : As members of the Karni Sena attacked the residence of Samajwadi Party (SP) MP, Ramji Lal Suman in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, over his statement regarding Rana Sanga and demanded an apology, the SP leader spoke to IANS, stating that he would not retract his remarks. Speaking with IANS outside Parliament, Ramji Lal Suman said, "We had informed the Chairman about the situation and requested security for our family. "The way our house was attacked with a bulldozer yesterday, breaking windows, chairs, and cars, was pre-planned. Since March 22, people had been announcing they would come to our house, and there was negligence on the part of the administration, which allowed them to bring the bulldozer." Suman also addressed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's comments, where he claimed that the attack occurred because the MP is a Dalit. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, criticised Sumanas understanding of history. Suman responded, "I believe what Akhilesh Yadav has said is correct, and I stand by my statement. I have no less knowledge of history than Chief Minister Adityanath. There is no question of apologising for my statement that Babar was invited by Rana Sanga." In recent weeks, debates surrounding medieval history have intensified in India, particularly regarding Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, his reign, and his grave. Amid the controversy over Aurangzeb, Rajput ruler Rana Sanga's role has been discussed, with Suman calling him a "traitor" in a speech in Parliament. During his address on March 21, Suman remarked, "BJP leaders often claim Muslims have the DNA of Babur, but Indian Muslims do not consider Babur their ideal. "In fact, it was Rana Sanga who invited Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. If you claim Muslims are descendants of Babur, you are also descendants of Rana Sanga a" a traitor. We criticise Babur, but not Rana Sanga." The SP chief said that the party was not questioning the bravery of Rana Sanga. Taking to X, Yadav further questioned CM Yogi Adityanath's authority, alleging that despite his presence in Agra, Karni Sena activists vandalised the MP's residence. "When a violent attack on PDA MP's house cannot be stopped even in the presence of the Chief Minister of a state, then 'zero tolerance' is bound to become zero," Yadav wrote. By PDA, Akhilesh Yadav referred to Pichhde (OBCs), Dalits, and Alpsankhyak, a term he frequently uses to describe his party's voter base. Moscow, Nov 27 : Citing that the political dialogue between India and Russia is "developing dynamically" and is facilitated by the fact that Moscow and New Delhi "have close or even coinciding views on the objectively emerging multipolar world order", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that preparations are being made for Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to India. "Relations between our countries have a long history. It can be said that they have stood the test of time more than once. Today, Russia and India are developing equal cooperation based on sincere, mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests," Lavrov told the participants of the first international conference 'Russia and India: Towards a New Agenda for Bilateral Relations' which was also addressed by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar. "It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of our leaders to this process. It is symbolic that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first bilateral foreign visit after his re-election last year to Russia. Now it is our turn. Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the invitation of the head of the Indian government. The visit of the head of the Russian state to the Republic of India is being prepared," he added. Earlier, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov had confirmed that Putin is expected to visit India in early 2025 following an invitation from Prime Minister Modi. The visit is being planned as part of the ongoing commitment to annual meetings between the two leaders. "Our leaders have an agreement to meet once a year. This time, it is our turn," Ushakov had said during a press briefing. The last visit by the Russian President to India took place on December 6, 2021, during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi. Meanwhile, PM Modi held two high-profile visits to Russia last year, attending the 22nd Russia-India Summit in July and later participated in the BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October. Addressing the gathering during the Russia-India conference, Lavrov highlighted how the relations between both countries have a solid material base. "Trade and economic cooperation is steadily expanding. We are successfully overcoming the attempts of certain ill-wishers to prevent this. In 2024, bilateral trade turnover exceeded $60 billion. This is the highest result in the entire modern history of relations. But, of course, this is not the limit. We continue to work to achieve the goal set by the leaders at last year's July summit: to bring trade turnover to $100 billion by 2030. The increase in practical cooperation reflects not only the existing potential of Russian-Indian trade, but also the great interest of the business circles of our countries in its full development, including the implementation of joint investment projects," he said. The Russian Foreign Minister stated that, along with partner India, Russia advocates for the democratization of international relations, for an increased role for the Global South in economic governance mechanisms, respect for the cultural and civilizational identity of all peoples of the world, and their right to independently determine their own development paths. "We highly value and welcome the ability of Indian diplomacy to implement an independent, multi-vector foreign policy course. We believe that India has every reason to have the status of one of the great powers of our time, one of the influential centres of the multipolar world. We share the philosophy of the Indian foreign policy concept "The whole world is a family", aimed at ensuring international cooperation for the benefit of all mankind based on a balance of interests of all states. We value joint work in the UN , the G20 , BRICS , SCO and other multilateral platforms," he mentioned. "I would like to separately express gratitude to the Russian side for the fact that India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally, consistently takes a balanced position with regard to the Ukrainian crisis and advocates its resolution through dialogue and the elimination of the root causes of this conflict," he added. New Delhi, March 27 : Leaders of various bar associations met Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and senior judges of the Supreme Court Collegium on Thursday, demanding the withdrawal of the transfer of Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, to the Allahabad High Court. Justice Varma, the second senior-most judge of the Delhi High Court, is embroiled in the controversy surrounding the alleged discovery of a huge pile of burnt cash in the storeroom attached to his bungalow in the national capital after the fire brigade had gone there to douse a blaze on March 14. A joint statement released by the bar associations in Prayagraj, Lucknow, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala, and Jabalpur demanded to set the criminal law in motion as is applicable to any government servant. "According to the report of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi, somebody removed the articles from the premises on 15.3.2025 and had the criminal law been sent on motion, the evidence would not have been destroyed. In these kinds of crimes, there would be involvement of others and non-registration of (FIR) would adversely affect their prosecution," the statement added. The chiefs of bar associations stressed on laying down accountability standards for judges of the higher judiciary and reassessing the current "in-house procedure" approved by the Supreme Court. They demanded CJI Khanna and SC Collegium withdraw the transfer of Justice Varma and withdraw all administrative work as well. Last week, CJI Khanna constituted a 3-member committee to conduct an inquiry against Justice Varma and asked the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court not to assign him any judicial work for the time being. Following the top court's directive, Delhi HC Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya withdrew judicial work from Justice Varma till further orders. "In view of recent events, the judicial work from Hon'ble Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma is withdrawn with immediate effect, till further orders," said a notice uploaded on the website of the Delhi High Court. On Monday, the apex court Collegium, headed by CJI Khanna, recommended that the Centre repatriate Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court. "The Supreme Court Collegium in its meetings held on 20th and 24th March 2025 has recommended repatriation of Mr Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge, High Court of Delhi, to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad," said a statement uploaded on the website of the Supreme Court. The Centre is yet to act upon the recommendation made by the SC Collegium to repatriate Justice Varma to the Allahabad HC. "The Presidents of the Bar Association will meet at Allahabad in the event of non-withdrawal of the transfer order of Justice Yashwant Varma to show solidarity with the High Court Bar Association of Allahabad," added the joint statement released by the chiefs of bar associations of the high courts. Bhopal, March 27 : The police on Thursday claimed to have arrested all three suspects in the murder case of Bhavana Singh, a 24-year-old woman who died after being shot near her eye during a home party in Mahalaxmi Nagar in Indore. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of March 20 at around 2.30 a.m., was described by authorities as a party fuelled by alcohol. Bhavana was rushed to a private hospital by her "party companions" but succumbed to her injuries by noon the following day. Her companions fled the hospital under the guise of informing her family. Aditya Patle, Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Vijay Nagar subdivision, confirmed to IANS that the suspects Mukul, Ashu, and Swasti Rai were apprehended in Kasol, Himachal Pradesh. After admitting Bhavana to the hospital, the trio fled Indore, traveling through Bhopal, Gwalior, and Delhi before eventually being located in Kasol. "The prime accused has confessed to firing the fatal shot using a locally-made firearm, commonly referred to as a 'katta'. The weapon has been recovered, and further investigations are underway," the officer said, adding that a murder case has already been initiated against them. The Vijay Nagar and Lasudia Police tracked the suspects using intelligence sources and technological tools, the officer further said, adding, the suspects had a history of criminal activities, including maintaining nearly 60 bank accounts and possessing over 25 mobile phones and several ATM cards. The accused were working in different companies, but their activities involved various crimes, the officer said, adding, shreds of evidence have also linked them to illegal activities such as online gambling and fraud, the police said. They will face charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Another individual from Bhopal, suspected of aiding the trio, has been detained, though his involvement in the crime is still under investigation, said the officer. Earlier, the police issued a lookout notice and a Rs 10,000 reward on each of them. Preliminary findings suggested that the shooting occurred during an argument when Bhavna expressed her desire to leave the party. She was allegedly threatened with the firearm, the police sources had said. Key evidence, including a keychain with an address left at the hospital and CCTV footage, led investigators to the suspects' location. Three individuals, including Ashu Yadav, Mukul Yadav, and Swasti, were identified as being present at the house party. Bhavana, who had recently moved to Indore from Gwalior to pursue a beautician course, was reportedly married and living in a rented apartment in Mahalaxmi Nagar. Pankaj Thakur, her brother (by choice) a" known as "Munhbola Bhai" in Indian society, took up the matter and even performed her last rites as the parents of the victim had already passed away and there was none in her family. The bullet had pierced her eyes and lodged in her brain. It is believed that her acquaintance with Swasti introduced her to the group involved in the tragic incident, police sources said. New Delhi, March 27 : Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Akhilesh Yadav, sparked a controversy by comparing the BJP's focus on cowsheds to his party's emphasis on perfume parks. New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Akhilesh Yadav, sparked a controversy by comparing the BJPas focus on cowsheds to his partyas emphasis on perfume parks. Akhilesh Yadav stated that while the BJP prefers the "foul smell" of cowsheds, the SP favours "fragrance" and has created perfume parks as part of its development agenda. In response to these remarks, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi criticised Yadav, calling his statement a reflection of frustration. Speaking to IANS, Naqvi said, "I regret that some people call themselves cowherds, yet sometimes they support cow slaughterers. And now they claim they are smelling the foul odour from cowsheds. This shows their frustration. It also raises questions about which direction they want to take." Naqvi further addressed the ongoing protests surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which has become a topic of controversy. He condemned the attempts to politicise the Bill, claiming that it was being targeted by communal blackmailing, which he argued was detrimental to the Waqf, the nation, and all religions. Naqvi emphasised that the Waqf Act was a legal framework passed by Parliament, and any amendments should be made through proper parliamentary procedures, not through divisive tactics. "The Waqf Act is being treated like a sacred book, untouchable and immune to reform," Naqvi added. "But the reality is that it is an Act passed by Parliament, and any changes will happen only through the legislative process. Creating fear and confusion around the Waqf system is not the right approach." Naqvi also reassured the public about the safety of religious sites. "Whether mosques, dargahs, or other religious places, they are completely safe. No one should be caught up in the maze of communal blackmailing." On the BJP MLAs' demands to close meat shops and restrict namaz on roads during Navratri, Naqvi emphasised the importance of respecting religious sentiments. "India is home to people of all faiths, and we celebrate each otheras traditions. During Navratri, fasting and maintaining sanctity is a common practice, and this should be respected by everyone," he said. Ottawa, March 27 : Canada's three-term Liberal Member of Parliament Chandra Arya, who has been barred from contesting in the forthcoming elections under the party's banner in his own Ottawa Nepean constituency over alleged foreign-interference concerns involving India, believes he has been denied nomination this time for speaking out against the Khalistani extremist movement in the country. The Indian origin MP of Hindu faith has been a vocal critic of highly unpopular former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for giving refuge to pro-Khalistani elements in the country. "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 a" nor been required to seek a" permission 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. 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," said Arya while reacting to a media report on the Liberal Party revoking his candidacy to contest in the forthcoming election. Citing sources, a report in Canada's leading daily The Globe and Mail, mentioned that Arya, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last August, had not informed the government of that trip even though bilateral relations of Canada with India are in a deep freeze. The Liberals have not disclosed why they barred Arya from the party's recent leadership race or from seeking re-election in the Ottawa riding of Nepean constituency. Citing another Liberal Party source, the newspaper 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 had concerns about Arya, it mentioned further. In December, Arya informed the House of Commons that he was threatened by fellow Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal on his way out of the Commons chamber for refusing to consent on a motion in the house to condemn the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as "genocide". While another unnamed MP "aggressively accosted" him in the government lobby. "As a Member of Parliament, I should be able to express my opinion, my views, freely in the House and I should not [feel] threatened by any words or actions of my fellow members," he said at the time. March 27 : Central Railways, a division of the Indian Railways has announced a total of 16 special trains for the upcoming summer season, in view of the expected surge of passengers during the summer holidays. These trains will run on key routes, including CSMT-Nagpur, LTT-Thiruvananthapuram North, Pune-Nagpur, and more, ensuring greater convenience for passengers during this time. Train No. 02139 CSMT-Nagpur Bi-weekly Special, which will depart CSMT at 12:20 AM every Tuesday and Sunday from April 6 to June 29. Journey dates include April 6, 8, 13, 15, 27, 29; May 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27; and June 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29. The return service, Train No. 02140, will leave Nagpur at 8 PM and arrive at CSMT at 1:30 PM the following day. Additionally, Train No. 01151 CSMT-Karmali Weekly Special will depart CSMT at 12:20 AM and arrive at Karmali at 1:30 PM on the same day. This train will run every Thursday from April 10 to June 5, with journey dates on April 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; and June 5. The return service, Train No. 01152, will depart Karmali at 2:15 PM and arrive at CSMT at 3:45 AM the following day. Train No.01129 LTT- Karmali Weekly Special will leave LTT at 10:15 PM every Thursday from 10th April to 5th June and will arrive at Karmali at 12 PM the next day. Journey dates include April 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; and June 5. In the return direction, Train No.01130 Weekly Special will leave Karmali at 2:30 PM and will arrive at LTT at 04:05 AM the next day. This train will run every Friday from April 11th to June 6th, with journey dates on April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; and June 6. Additionally, the Central Railways will operate Train No.01063 LTT-Thiruvananthapuram North, which departs from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 4 PM every Thursday from April 3 to May 29, and will arrive at Thiruvananthapuram North at 10:45 PM, next day. Journey dates are April 3, 10, 17, and 24; and May 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Return train, No.01064 Weekly special leaves Thiruvananthapuram North at 4:20 PM and will arrive at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 12:45 AM, third day. Service is scheduled on every Saturday including April 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31. Train No.01469 Pune - Nagpur Weekly Superfast AC Special will leave Pune at 3:50 PM and reach Nagpur at 06.30 AM the next day. This train will run every Tuesday from April 8 to June 24, with journey dates April 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20, 27; June 3, 10, 17, and 24. On the way back, Train No.01470 Nagpur - Pune will depart Nagpur at 8 AM, every Wednesday from April 9 to June 25 and will arrive in Pune at 11:30 PM the same day, with journey dates on April 9, 16, 23, and 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28; June 4, 11, 18, and 25. Likewise, Train No. 01467 Pune - Nagpur Superfast will leave Pune at 3:50 PM and will arrive in Nagpur at 06.30 AM the next day, with journey dates on every Wednesday from April 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21, 28; to June 4, 11, 18, and 25. Return service, Train no.01468 will leave Nagpur at 8 AM, every Thursday from April 10 to June 26, and will arrive in Pune at 11:30 PM the same day. The train will operate on April 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; and June 5, 12, 19, 26. Furthermore, Train No. Train no 01421 Daund-Kalaburagi Unreserved Special will leave Daund at 5 AM, arriving at Kalaburagi at 11.20 AM the same day. Dates of journey April 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30; May 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31; June 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29; and July 1, 2. Train no 01422 Unreserved Special will leave Kalaburagi at 04:10 PM and will arrive at Daund at 10:20 PM the same day. The proactive measures undertaken by the Central Railways to accommodate the rush of passengers during the upcoming summer holidays are commendable. The deployment of a total of 16 special trains reflects a thoughtful gesture to ensure a comfortable travel experience for the passengers. Wishing everyone a safe and joyous journey this season. Happy Summer Holidays! Mumbai, March 27 : Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, has heaped praise on his 'Sikandar' co-star Rashmika Mandanna for her work ethics and dedication. Salman recently spoke with fellow superstar Aamir Khan, and the director of 'Sikandar', A.R. Murugadoss in a special video. A.R. Murugadoss was the connecting link in the conversation as he has worked with both Salman in 'Sikandar', and with Aamir in 'Ghajini'. During the conversation, the subject of the female lead of 'Sikandar' came up. Aamir, who often forgets people's names, asked Salman about the female lead to which Salman said, "Rashmika Mandanna, she is very hard working. I remember in Hyderabad, she was shooting with us from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am. And she used to get ready for, I think 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' she was shooting at that time, and she had a fever also. She used to shoot all day for 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'. And she used to come back and shoot with us". He further mentioned, "So, the only time that she used to get was the driving time in the car from one location to another. That reminded me of my early days in the industry. We have all done it, two shifts or three shifts". Meanwhile, Salman earlier also shared that he is joining the forces once again with director Sooraj Barjatya. The superstar spoke with the media at a five star property in the Bandra area of Mumbai on Wednesday and revealed that he is collaborating with the director, and once Sooraj wraps up the film he is working on, the two will embark on the journey for the upcoming film. Salman, however, refrained from divulging the title of the movie which is in the pipeline. The news comes as a pleasant surprise for a generation that has grown up on 'Maine Pyar Kiya' and 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!'. While 'Maine Pyar Kiya', which marked Salman's debut, propelled Salman to stardom, 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!' made him the favourite of the family audience. It's also perhaps the only movie in Hindi cinema, which doesn't have an antagonist, and the conflict arises in the last 30 minutes of the film. Nevertheless, 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!' became the highest grossing movie, and has cultivated a strong following of family audiences as it hooks the audience during its broadcast even 30 years after its release. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, March 27 : As the BJP launched a nationwide outreach programme 'Saugat-e-Modi' aimed at economically weaker Muslim families ahead of Eid, Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi voiced strong criticism, stating that the distribution of 32 lakh kits would not bring real happiness to Muslims. According to Azmi, the true source of happiness for Muslims would come if innocent Muslims currently imprisoned were released before Eid. Talking to IANS, Abu Azmi said: "32 lakh kits will not bring happiness to the weaker section of Muslims. Real happiness will come when the innocent Muslims, who are unjustly imprisoned, are released before Eid. If you had told them to go home and celebrate Eid with their families, I would have seen that as a real gift. If you really want to give a gift, then the gift would be the rights given to Muslims by the Constitution of Bhimrao Ambedkar, where every person should receive their rightful share according to their numbers. If you had done that, I would have considered it a gift." Azmi further accused the BJP of using this initiative to influence Muslims in light of the upcoming Bihar elections. He claimed that the outreach programme was merely an attempt to win votes by targeting the Muslim community under the pretext of providing welfare. "It is no surprise that such things happen when elections are near. With the Bihar elections approaching, it seems the BJP is trying to appease Muslims. They are trying to take over Muslim lands, while the entire Muslim community is opposing the amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Those who own the land don't want changes, but the BJP is determined to make amendments. What kind of gift is this? The real issue is that they are entering mosques, burning the Quran, and causing distress to Muslims," Azmi said. He added: "You're offering these so-called gifts, but you won't give Muslims even one minister, one MLA, or one MP. There is no need for such gifts. The real gift will be when Muslims are granted the rights promised to them by the Constitution. Only then would I truly consider it a gift, and I would love that." Azmi also responded to the recent strict instructions issued by Uttar Pradesh Police, which prohibited Namaz on roads and other public places. In Meerut, the police have advised Muslims to offer Namaz only at designated mosques or other grounds meant for mass prayer. "What if the government decides tomorrow that we cannot pray? If we pray, they'll threaten to shoot us or send us to jail. For hundreds of years, people have been praying in public spaces when mosques were small or overcrowded, sometimes even on roads next to gutters. But instead of harassing people for praying, the government should provide space for them to pray, clean up the areas, and respect their right to practice their religion. It's not about blocking traffic; it's about deliberately harassing Muslims," he said, expressing concern over the increased restrictions on religious practices. Azmi further reacted to the recent controversy surrounding comedian Kunal Kamra, whose satirical remarks on social media have led to protests and demands for his YouTube channel to be banned. Azmi found the response disproportionate, particularly when compared to the lack of action in the case of insults toward Islam. "Kunal Kamra's remarks about the Deputy Chief Minister were inappropriate, but we must remember that when insults are made against our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), no action is taken. Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen, who have written defamatory books about Islam, receive protection under freedom of speech laws. In contrast, Kamra's remarks have sparked massive outrage, and there's even a push to ban his YouTube channel. This is a clear double standard. It shows how democracy is being undermined in our country," Azmi concluded. Mumbai, March 27 : Telugu star NTR Jr, who has 'NTRNeel' in the pipeline, is currently in Japan for the promotional tour of 'Devara: Part 1', has expressed his gratitude to the people of Japan. On Thursday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a video of himself surrounded by his Japanese fans. In the video, the actor can be seen interacting with a sea of fans. He also penned a note in the caption, as he wrote, "My visits to Japan always give me beautiful memories but this one hit differently. Hearing a Japanese fan tell me she learned Telugu after watching RRR truly moved me". He further mentioned, "Being a lover of cinema and languages, the power of cinema to be a bridge across cultures and encouraging a fan to learn a language is something I will never forget. One more reason to celebrate Indian cinema as it travels the world". Earlier, in 2022, his film 'RRR', directed by SS Rajamouli, became a cultural sensation in Japan upon its release winning hearts with its breathtaking action and larger-than-life drama. His fans in Japan have long revered his performances, with 'Student No. 1' being a massive success in the region. Now, with 'Devara: Part 1', they are set to witness yet another cinematic spectacle headlined by their beloved star. Meanwhile, on the work, the actor is joining forces with Prashanth Neel, who is known for 'K.G.F: Chapter 1', 'K.G.F: Chapter 2' and 'Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire'. The shoot of the upcoming movie tentatively titled 'NTRNeel' is underway in Hyderabad with over 2000 junior artists at Ramoji Film City. NTR Jr. will join the shoot from the next schedule. The dynamic collaboration of NTR and Neel is sure to set new benchmarks in the industry. This highly anticipated action epic is set to hit the big screens on January 9, 2026 in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Zelenskyy on results of Paris summit: We arent going to give up our lands and independence, which is bad signal for Putin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Thursday's summit in Paris on Ukraine support "motivating." "I think the summit was very motivating ... I think my dialogue with the leaders is motivating. I think the leaders are all energized. I think the leaders are not abandoning us, but will support Ukraine. This is a bad signal for Putin," Zelenskyy said during a press conference after a meeting of leaders on support for Ukraine and security in Europe. "We are not going to give in, to surrender our lands, our independence. He [Putin] will not be able to do this to us so easily. And that is why I am in a very normal mood. We are not alone. Ukraine is a strong country that truly wants peace," the president emphasized. March 27 : South Western Railways and Southern Railways have announced a total of 14 special trains in view of the expected surge of passengers during the summer holidays. Southwestern Railways will operate two of these trains, and Southern Railways will run 12 of them. These trains will run on key routes, including Mumbai-Bengaluru, Kacheguda-Madurai, and more, ensuring greater convenience for passengers during this time. Special trains deployed by South Western Railways include: Train No. 01013 CSMT Mumbai SMVT Bengaluru Special Express departing from CSMT Mumbai at 12:30 AM on April 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; and June 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025 and will arrive at SMVT Bengaluru at 11:55 PM on the same day. In the return direction, Train No. 01014 SMVT Bengaluru CSMT Mumbai Special Express will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 04:40 AM on April 6, 13, 20, 27; May 4, 11, 18, 25; and June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2025 and will arrive at CSMT Mumbai at 04:05 AM the next day. Southern Railways has scheduled 9 festival special trains including Train No.01063 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Thiruvananthapuram North Weekly Express Special which will depart from LTT at 4 PM on 03rd, 10th, 17th, 24th April, 01st, 08th, 15th, 22nd, 29th May, 2025 and reach Thiruvananthapuram North at 10:45 PM, the next day. In the return direction, Train No.01064 Thiruvananthapuram North Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Special will start its journey at 4:20 PM on 05th, 12th, 19th, 26th April, 03rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st May, and reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 12:45 AM on the third day. Other trains deployed by Southern Railways include Train No.07191 Kacheguda Madurai Special running every Monday from 7th April to 5th May, with journey dates on April 7, 14, 21, 28; and May 5. Return service, Train No. 07192 Madurai Kacheguda Special will operate on all Wednesdays from April 9, 16, 23, 30; and April 7th. Likewise, Train No. 07189 Nanded Erode Special scheduled on all Fridays from April 4th to 2nd May. Journey dates include April 4, 11, 18, 25; and May 2. On the way back, Train No. 07190 Erode Nanded Special will run on all Sundays from 6th April and 4th May. The dates of the journey are April 6, 13, 20, 27; and May 4. Additionally, Train No. 07435 Kacheguda Nagercoil Special, running from Kacheguda to Nagercoil on April 4, 11, 18, 25; and May 2. The return service, Train No. 07436 Nagercoil Kacheguda Special will operate on all Sundays from April 6, 13, 20, and 27 to May 4. Further, Train No. 07601 Charlapalli Villupuram Special will run from Charlapalli and Villupuram on all Thursdays from April 3rd to 1st May. Journey dates are April 3, 10, 17, 24; and May 1. In the return direction, Train No.07602 Villupuram Charlapalli Special will operate on all Fridays, with journey dates on April 4, 11, 18, 25; and May 2. The proactive measures undertaken by the Southern Railways and South Western Railways to accommodate the rush of passengers during the upcoming summer holidays are commendable. The deployment of a total of 14 special trains reflects a thoughtful gesture to ensure a comfortable travel experience for the passengers. Wishing everyone a safe and joyous journey this season. Happy Summer Holidays! Islamabad, March 27 : A suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack killed three people and critically injured at least 21 others in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on Thursday. Police sources confirmed that the explosives were planted in a motorcycle parked near the Barech Market in Quetta city. Locals said that the blast occurred during busy hours of the day when the market is filled with people and all shops are open. Barech Market is known for being the biggest market of Iranian products in Quetta and is located near the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Quetta Development Authority park. Security forces cordoned off the area and investigations have been launched into the incident. Hospital sources confirmed that 21 critically injured people have been brought for medical care. "21 critically injured people have been brought for treatment and two dead bodies have been received at the hospital," said a hospital official, adding that one of the injured succumbed to the injuries, taking the tally of casualties to three. The casualties are expected to rise further as hospital sources say the injured are in critical condition. The target of the blast is still being ascertained even as no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, locals at the market confirmed that the blast occurred near a parked police vehicle. Balochistan province has been in the grip of terror attacks targetted at security forces and ethnic violence against people from the Punjab province with banned outfit the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) leading such attacks. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has condemned the attack, stating that cowardly attacks on unarmed people will not be tolerated. Mumbai, March 27 : Shiv Sena UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday took a swipe at the BJP over 'Saugat-e-Modi' campaign, terming the initiative of the ruling party as 'Saugat-e-Power'. "BJP criticised me for abandoning Hindutva after the Muslim community voted for our party. The hypocrisy of the BJP has been exposed now with the 'Saugat-e-Modi' initiative. PM Modi said during the Lok Sabha campaign that Muslims would steal the mangalsutra. Is the mangalsutra of Hindus safe now? It is not a 'Saugat-e-Modi', but 'Saugat-e-Power'," said Uddhav Thackeray while addressing a press conference held a day after the conclusion of the Maharashtra Budget session. Shiv Sena UBT Chief added that the BJP has clearly abandoned Hindutva to lure the Muslim community, adding that those who say that they will win, they will now distribute 'Saugat-e-Modi' keeping elections in mind. "Is the gift only in keeping an eye on Bihar elections, or will it continue in the future as well? We had told the BJP that it should remove the green color from the Tricolor, but they did not remove it," he said. Thackeray also led a scathing attack against the MahaYuti government, saying that despite a brute majority, it presented a meaningless Budget without fulfilling a single promise given during the Assembly election. "The Budget session was to hide its failure. The common man did not get anything from the Budget, in which the government has made many announcements. The government had made a 100-day resolution. But it is not known how many instructions were given to which department. Farmers' suicides are on the rise. Guaranteed prices are not being received by the farmers," he said. He also added that there are other issues like attracting foreign universities, but no concrete solution plan has been made in the Budget. "What happened in 100 days? The sarpanch from Beed was murdered, Somnath Suryavanshi was murdered. The Swargate rape case happened. There is a road scam in Mumbai. What happened to the loan waiver? They were going to increase the money for their beloved sisters. Journalist Prashant Koratkar (who insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) was found will he be punished? Rahul Solapurkar (who also made some objectionable comments on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) is roaming around. The issue of communal riots in Nagpur is also a matter of concern," he said while listing out the government's failures on various fronts. Shiv Sena UBT Chief said that again supported the stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and his satire song, referring to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as 'traitor' that led to the ransacking of the studio by the Shiv Sena activists. "Shiv Sena is one, I do not believe in the group of traitors of Shiv Sena (without naming Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde)." Thackeray also slammed the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the Nagpur riots, saying that this is happening despite the government enjoying a roaring majority. Speaking on the Disha Salian death case, Thackeray said, "What can I say about a case that I have no connection with. A case that I don't know about?" Commenting on the use of Balasaheb Thackeray's photo by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), he said that now everyone knows that there is no alternative except Balasaheb Thackeray's leadership. "Now all the parties have started to use Balasaheb Thackeray's photo because they know that there is no other alternative," he said. Thackeray criticised the MahaYuti government for not taking a decision on the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly before the conclusion of the Budget session. "The session of the legislature is over, but the Leader of the Opposition has not been appointed yet. This is called the grip of power. We have told the Governor how your government is suppressing the voice of the people," he said while expressing his regret that the post of Leader of the Opposition is a constitutional post yet has been kept in abeyance. Shiv Sena UBT had recommended the name of senior legislator Bhaskar Jadhav for the post of Leader of the Opposition. However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has put the ball in the Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar's court. Thackeray also reminded the BJP-led MahaYuti government of the construction of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial in the Arabian Sea. "The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the first term of Devendra Fadnavis as the Chief Minister. It is unfortunate that we have to remind the government," he added. Seoul, March 27 : Preparations are underway for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia this year, a Russian Minister said on Thursday. Speaking to journalists in Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Russia is preparing for Kim's visit to the country, Russian news agencies TASS and Ria Novosti reported, though they did not specify the exact timing of the visit. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also planning to visit Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, to continue strategic dialogue with North Korea, according to the reports. The news came amid growing speculation about Kim's potential visit to Russia on the occasion of Russia's 80th Victory Day anniversary on May 9, potentially as a reciprocation for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea in June last year. At that time, Putin invited Kim to Moscow for summit talks. Earlier this month, Rudenko traveled to Pyongyang, where he met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu and discussed arranging "political contacts at the high and top levels," TASS previously reported. Last week, Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu also traveled to Pyongyang and met with Kim, delivering a message from Putin, Yonhap news agency reported, quoting the Russian news agencies TASS and Ria Novosti. North Korea and Russia have aligned closely since Kim and Putin signed a mutual defence treaty during the Russian President's visit to Pyongyang last year, elevating bilateral military cooperation and resulting in the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia. If realised, Kim's visit to Russia this year would mark his third such trip following his visit to Russia's eastern border city of Vladivostok in 2019 and the Vostochny Cosmodrome space center in the Amur region in 2023. Earlier on March 22, the North Korean leader expressed his unwavering support for Russia's war in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Shoigu in Pyongyang. New Delhi, March 27 : Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday urged the state governments to ensure that there is no purchase of farm produce below the MSP announced by the Centre to ensure higher incomes for farmers. He said that 100 per cent of the production of tur (arhar), urad, and masoor will be procured at the MSP of these crops for the next four years till 2028-29 so that farmers are assured of higher earnings and the country achieves self-sufficiency in pulses. The minister said that the farmer-friendly Narendra Modi government has announced the purchase of produce from farmers at the minimum support price as part of its commitment to continuously work for the betterment of farmers. The procurement of tur (arhar) has been approved in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme during the Kharif 2024-25 season. Along with this, in the interest of farmers, Karnataka has also approved extending the procurement period from 90 days by 30 days to May 1, the minister said. Chouhan said that procurement is continuing at MSP through NAFED and NCCF in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana and till 25 March 2025, a total of 2.46 lakh metric tonnes of tur (arhar) has been procured in these states, benefiting 1,71,569 farmers of these states. He said that the price of tur in Uttar Pradesh is currently running above MSP. Similarly, the procurement of grams, mustard, and lentils has been approved during the Rabi marketing season 2025. PM-Asha Yojana has been extended till 2025-26. Under this, the purchase of pulses and oilseeds from farmers at MSP will continue. The total approved quantity of grams for 2025 is 27.99 lakh metric tonnes, and mustard is 28.28 lakh metric tonnes. The major states include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. The total approved quantity of lentils is 9.40 lakh metric tonnes. The minister further stated that the procurement of copra (milling and ball) has also been approved in Tamil Nadu. The government has ensured farmers use the NAFED and NCCF portals to simplify registration. Patna, March 27 : In Patna, the 'Saugat-e-Modi' campaign has begun distributing the gift kits to poor Muslims with the BJP State Minority Front launching the drive for impoverished families living in slums near the High Court Mazar. As Eid approaches, many of these families, who couldn't afford new clothes, are now receiving gifts from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and are expressing their gratitude. IANS spoke to some of the recipients. Mohammad Babar Ali, a resident of Patna, said, "Modi Ji, who is the Prime Minister of our country, has done good work. People used to say that Modi Ji does not care for Muslims, but Modi is giving so much love to Muslims. He is giving everything on the occasion of Eid. Modi Ji, the Prime Minister of the country, is the number one. There's no one like him. We pray that Modi Ji will shine again. I want to thank him for this kit." Sohra Khatoon, another recipient from Patna, said: "For the first time, we are getting this. We will pray for Modi Ji. For the first time on Eid, we poor people have received a new sari." Shakeela Khatoon, another recipient, added: "We have received this for the first time. It is from the Modi government. Our prayers are with Modi Ji. We poor people will also celebrate Eid well." Asma Khatoon, a beneficiary too, said: "This is the first time we've received such a gift. Whenever we wear the clothes, we will take Modi Ji's name." BJP state spokesperson Anamika Paswan said: "This is a message from the Prime Minister to the needy Muslim brothers and sisters. These gifts will be distributed to 32 lakh families across the country." The 'Saugat-e-Modi' campaign is expected to reach 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims nationwide, with special kits being distributed to help them celebrate Eid. The initiative started in Nizamuddin, Delhi, under the guidance of BJP President J.P. Nadda. As many as 32,000 Minority Morcha workers will visit 32,000 mosques to deliver these kits to the beneficiaries. New Delhi, March 27 : In first comments from a Gandhi family member over the decorum issue raised by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Rahul Gandhi, Robert Vadra, husband of Priyanka Gandhi, on Thursday said there was nothing wrong with the Leader of Opposition warmly greeting his sister. "Rahul Gandhi met his sister in Parliament. Greeted her affectionately. There is nothing wrong with it both brother and sister have a lovely bond, and they have learned this from their family to greet people with love, respect and happiness," Vadra told IANS, calling the Speaker's decision to adjourn the House after the incident unfair and an attempt to prevent the LoP from speaking. Rahul Gandhi's display of affection towards sister Priyanka Gandhi had reportedly caused discomfort to some members, prompting Birla to remind members about maintaining decorum as laid down in Rule 349 and adjourn the House. 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. Vadra objected to the alleged muzzling of Rahul Gandhi and backed the latter's claim that the Speaker was running the House in an "undemocratic manner" and denying him the opportunity to speak. He said he and people firmly believe that Rahul Gandhi speaks about the most relevant issues, reflecting the mood of the masses. "Rahul should not be prevented from speaking in Parliament," he said. Calling Rahul-Priyanka interaction an example of the Congress tradition to respect and maintain relations, Vadra hit out at the BJP for breaking its relations. He also highlighted the efforts put in by him and Priyanka Gandhi for strengthening their relation and marriage, slamming the BJP for being a poor partner. Talking about the possibility of him taking a plunge into active politics, Vadra said, "I will do so with the blessings of my family when the right time comes." He said even without being in active politics, he focuses on serving people and conducting himself appropriately as he is related to the Gandhi family. Hitting out at those who target him politically, Vadra said, "I always believe that I would be able to respond more effectively against them if I were an MP myself." Islamabad, March 27 : At least six labourers hailing from the Punjab province were killed in a firing incident in Kalmat area of Balochistan's Gwadar district early Thursday after unknown gunmen blocked the main highway and offloaded them from a Karachi-bound passenger bus after checking their IDs. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari and the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the overnight killing of passengers. "The terrorists are the enemies of the country's development and prosperity in Balochistan. They cannot see progress in Balochistan," said Zardari. "We will never allow the anti-state designs of miscreants to succeed," added PM Shehbaz. As per reports, the labourers were offloaded from the bus after checking their identifications and were killed by the militants. Police sources confirmed that five victims were from Punjab's Sadiqabad city, while one was from Multan. "Five of the victims died instantly, and one succumbed to injuries later while receiving treatment at the hospital," said a police official. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hafeez Baloch said that three trucks carrying urea from Gwadar port were also set on fire in the Tajaban area. Baloch also revealed that more roadblocks were found in other areas of Balochistan in what seemed like a plan for more attacks. "Roads were blocked in Turbat, Panjgur and Pasni. Roadblocks were also witnessed in the Bolan, Kolpur and Mastung areas. One of Levies' vehicles was also set on fire in the Mastung area," he said. This is the latest targetted attack on citizens, workers and labourers hailing from the Punjab province and working in Balochistan. It comes at a severely tense situation prevailing across the province after the Jaffar Express train hijacking by terrorists belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) earlier this month in which 26 hostages, including 18 security personnel, lost their lives while five security personnel were killed during the clearance operation. The targetted attacks and killing of citizens from the Punjab province has been going on for some time now in Balochistan with BLA militants attacking passenger buses, coal mines and even shops and other places after identification of Punjabi workers and labourers. Last week, at least four labourers from Punjab were shot dead by unknown assailants in Balochistan's Kalat district while four policemen were gunned down in Noshki. On March 16, three security personnel and two civilians were killed as a suicide bomber attacked a security convoy in the Noshki district. Last month, seven Punjab-bound passengers were offloaded from a bus and shot dead in Barkhan district. In August 2024, BLA militants killed at least 23 travellers from Punjab province, who were offloaded after identification and shot dead in Musakhail district. Mumbai, March 27 : Former Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale urged the Centre to denotify Aurangzeb's tomb from the list of Monuments of National Importance. In a representation to Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Shewale said there has been growing demand for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb from Khuldabad, Sambhaji Nagar. "Despite the widespread demand for the removal of the grave, the state government is unable to take any action as the site falls under the jurisdiction of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). As per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958 (AMASR), the power to delist any such monument rests solely with the Central government," said Shewale. "Therefore, I earnestly request you to look into this matter and instruct the concerned authorities to denotify Aurangzeb's tomb from the list of Monuments of National Importance. Doing so would be in accordance with the sentiments of the people and would allow for appropriate action to be taken regarding the site," he added. According to Shewale, Aurangzeb was an orthodox Islamic ruler whose rule was marked by historical accounts of religious intolerance and persecution. "One of the most notable instances of his tyranny was the brutal execution of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in 1689, who was subjected to inhuman torture for 40 days for refusing to convert to Islam. His action left a lasting impact on Indian history, particularly in Maharashtra, where sentiments against his legacy remain strong," he said. "It has come to light through various reports that there is no exact record of when Aurangzeb's tomb was notified as a protected monument by the ASI. However, it is currently recognised as a site of historical and cultural significance and is protected under the AMASR Act," he said, reiterating that in the wake of clamour for the removal of the tomb, it should be de-notified from the list of Monuments of National Importance. ETAP and Schneider Electric present the world's first digital twin for modeling the energy needs of an AI factory Digital twin provides enhanced insight and control over AI Factory electrical systems and power requirements Product collaboration integrates ETAPs advanced Electrical Digital Twin technology with NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud APIs Operators can benefit from advanced energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, and reduced total cost of ownership BOSTON (USA), March 18, 2025 Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and ETAP, the industry and technology leader in power system design and operation, are unveiling a cutting-edge digital twin that can accurately design and simulate the power needs of AI Factories. Leveraging the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint for AI factory digital twins, Schneider Electric and ETAP enable the development of digital twins that bring together multiple inputs for mechanical, thermal, networking, and electrical systems to simulate how an AI Factory operates. The collaboration is set to transform AI Factory design and operations by providing enhanced insight and control over the electrical systems and power requirements, presenting an opportunity for significant efficiency, reliability and sustainability gains. While basic visualization of electrical systems was previously possible, the integration of ETAP and NVIDIA Omniverse technologies enables the creation of a comprehensive AI Factory digital twin where multiple dynamics interact seamlessly. ETAPs sophisticated modeling technology will create a virtual replica of a data centers electrical infrastructure and combine it with real-time power system data, advanced analytics, and insights. Intelligent algorithms analyze and predict power consumption and distribution patterns, allowing unprecedented insights into: Advanced electrical system design and simulation Dynamic What-If scenario analysis Real-time electrical infrastructure performance tracking Advanced energy efficiency optimization Predictive maintenance and system reliability assessment Infrastructure needs based on power usage that can help reduce total cost of ownership From large-scale training clusters to edge inference servers, AI workloads are driving a significant increase in data center power consumption. Unlike traditional computing tasks, AI operations particularly model training and complex inference processes require substantial computational power, leading to higher rack power densities. As AI adoption accelerates, startups, enterprises, colocation providers, and internet giants must rethink data center design and management to address the growing need for power efficiency. ETAP and NVIDIAs collaboration introduces an innovative Grid to Chip approach that addresses the critical challenges of power management, performance optimization, and energy efficiency in the era of AI. Currently, data center operators can estimate average power consumption at the rack level, but ETAPs new digital twin aims to increase precision on modeling dynamic load behavior at the chip level to improve power system design and optimize energy efficiency. This collaborative effort highlights the commitment of both ETAP and NVIDIA to drive innovation in the data center sector, empowering businesses to optimize their operations and effectively manage the challenges associated with AI workloads. The collaboration aims to enhance data center efficiency while also improving grid reliability and performance. As AI workloads grow in complexity and scale, precise power management is critical to ensuring efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, said Dion Harris, Senior Director of HPC and AI Factory Solutions at NVIDIA. Through our collaboration with ETAP and Schneider Electric, were offering data center operators unprecedented visibility and control over power dynamics, empowering them to optimize their infrastructure and accelerate AI adoption while enhancing operational resilience. This collaboration represents more than just a technological solution, said Tanuj Khandelwal, CEO of ETAP. Were fundamentally reimagining how data centers can be designed, managed, and optimized in the AI era. By bridging electrical engineering with advanced virtualization and AI technologies, were creating a new paradigm for infrastructure management. Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President for Data Centers, Networks & Services at Schneider Electric added, Collaboration, speed, and innovation are the driving forces behind the digital infrastructure transformation thats required to accommodate AI workloads. Together, ETAP, Schneider Electric, and NVIDIA are not just advancing data center technology were empowering businesses to optimize operations and seamlessly navigate the power requirements of AI. About Schneider Electric Schneiders purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency. We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitalization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers. We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all. www.se.com About ETAP ETAP provides market-leading software solutions for electrical systems, from design and engineering to operations and maintenance. Through its integrated electrical digital twin platform, ETAP delivers best-in-class, seamless customer experience and cloud-leveraging technologies ensuring universal accessibility for designers, engineers, and operators accelerating their digital energy transformation, even in the highest regulated environments. Over 20,000 enterprises globally rely on ETAP to unlock total efficiency and sustainability at all stages of the lifecycle for utilities, infrastructure, industries, and buildings. Driven by excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction for over 38 years, ETAPs deep expertise is supported by the dedication of more than 1,000 employees and a strong community of active users. ETAP is headquartered in Irvine, California, with regional operations around the globe to support our local customers. New Delhi, March 27 : The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Thursday signed an MoU for digital empowerment in rural areas across the country. The objective of the MoU is to drive rural development in institutions supported by NABARD, by providing access to digital services, digital governance and promoting a digital economy through high-speed broadband connectivity under BharatNet programme. NABARD will share information including geo-coordinates and contact details of institutions and Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under DoT will share geo-coordinates of BharatNet point of presence (PoP) locations in gram panchayats (GPs), from where high-speed broadband connectivity to be extended to rural institutions/enterprises. "Both parties will share digital content (audio/video/text) related to their schemes and projects with each other. They will also share information on their digital services/citizen-centric applications/portals/e-governance platforms for further integration and dissemination of information," according to the Ministry of Communications. They will collaborate on awareness programs and capacity-building measures for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and rural institutions. Both DBN and NABARD will promote each other's efforts to enable a digital economy by leveraging high-speed broadband connectivity using BharatNet. NABARD will promote the inclusion of ICT infrastructure, including broadband access support to institutions under their schemes and projects. DBN has been instrumental in enabling high-speed broadband and mobile connections across gram panchayats and villages in the country. This collaboration, through high-speed broadband connectivity under BharatNet will further provide digital impetus to the institutions such as Primary Agriculture Co-operative credit societies, etc. supported and computerised by NABARD. According to the government, as many as 2.18 lakh gram panchayats out of the total 2.68 lakh in the country have been made service-ready for providing high-speed internet services under the BharatNet project. The BharatNet project is being implemented by DoT in a phased manner to provide broadband services to all gram panchayats in the country. Mumbai, March 27 : Maharashtra BJP chief and state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday shot back at Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray accusing him of abandoning Hindutva, saying that he has no right to talk about Hindutva as he has become the leader of Aurangzeb fan club. "Hindutva is in our DNA but Uddhav Thackeray abandoned Hindutva. And now he has become the leader of Aurangzeb fan club. He left the legacy of Hindutva for power and sat at the door of Congress. That is why the people gave you your favorite job of sitting at home. Now you have no right to talk about Hindutva. BJP's 'Saugat-e-Modi' is not a programme, it is a guarantee of development," Bawankule said after Thackeray claimed that the BJP has launched 'Saugat-e-Modi' to lure Muslim voters with an eye on Bihar elections. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government gave the country 24 hours electricity, water, roads, houses and employment. What did Uddhav Thackeray give to the people of Maharashtra when he was the Chief Minister? While he was on the Chief Minister's chair, he stayed at home and cut ties with his own workers. Uddhav Thackeray is not qualified to speak against PM Modi who serves the country day and night with a passion for public service," Bawankule said. The BJP leader further said: "Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is taking proper steps through the law to control criminals, illegal encroachers and those who promote anti-social elements. But why have these people become dear to Uddhav Thackeray now? He should first give the answers to this to the people." On the other hand, Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant said the party has always supported patriotic Muslims, and the same role is played by PM Modi and BJP. "We do not support any Muslim who speaks the language of Pakistan. If PM Modi is helping the Muslims of the country, then there is nothing wrong with it. Uddhav Thackeray is afraid that the votes he got in the Lok Sabha polls due to Saugat-e-Modi will slip away, hence he is opposing 'Saugat-e-Modi'," he commented. New Delhi, March 27 : The Ministry of Defence on Thursday signed a contract with public sector Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited for the procurement of Nag Missile System (NAMIS) tracked version of the anti-tank weapon platform and another deal with Force Motors Ltd and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd for around 5,000 light vehicles for the armed forces at a total cost of around Rs 2,500 crore. These contracts under the "Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured" category form part of the governmentas strategy to promote self-reliance in defence production. The cost of the procurement of the NAMIS (Tr) weapon system, developed by the Defence Research & Development Laboratory of DRDO, is Rs 1,801.34 crore. The order marks a significant milestone in the modernisation of the anti-tank capability of the Mechanised Infantry, enhancing the Indian Armyas operational readiness across a varied spectrum of operations, according to a Defence Ministry statement. NAMIS (Tr) is one of the most sophisticated anti-tank weapon systems against enemy armour with fire-and-forget anti-tank missile and sighting system for enhanced firepower and lethality. The weapon system is set to transform the conduct of mechanised operation and offer operational advantage against the adversary, the statement said. The modern light vehicles to be produced by the private sector companies are designed to have enhanced engine power to cater to a payload of 800 kg. It will provide mobility to the Armed Forces in all types of terrain and operational conditions, the statement explained. Both procurements will enhance indigenisation and national defence equipment manufacturing capabilities. The projects have immense potential of direct and indirect employment generation by encouraging the MSME sector through componentsa manufacturing, the statement said. The procurement marks a pivotal step towards modernising the countryas defence infrastructure and empowering indigenous industries, in line with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, it added. Islamabad, March 27 : Pakistan's Foreign office on Thursday termed a call made by the United Nation (UN) human rights experts for the release of Baloch rights activists as "selective criticism", insisting that there can be no tolerance for "terrorists and their facilitators". On March 21, Quetta Police stormed a peaceful Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) protest in front of the University of Balochistan that called for the release of detained and forcibly disappeared activists. In the ensuing mayhem, the police killed three people, injured several and arrested dozens of protestors. Mahrang Baloch, a woman human rights defender and a leader of the movement, organised a sit-in with the bodies of those killed in the police operation, to protest police violence. On March 22, the protest sit-in site on Quetta's Sariab Road was raided by police and several BYC activists, including Mahrang Baloch, were detained by the police which used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters. The whereabouts of Mahrang were reportedly unknown for nearly 12 hours, and she was allegedly denied access to family visits or legal counsel. Mahrang and numerous other BYC members have been reportedly charged under sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act. On March 24, another prominent BYC member and woman human rights defender, Sammi Deen Baloch, was arrested alongside others in front of the Karachi Press Club by the Karachi Police as she protested against the crackdown. Her detention has been reportedly ordered for 30 days under the Sindh Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance. Following the developments, the United Nations experts on Wednesday demanded that Pakistan release Balochistan human rights defenders and end the crackdown on peaceful protests. The human rights experts expressed concern for the welfare of BYC leaders Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, and other human rights defenders detained for staging peaceful protests. They highlighted an escalating series of brutal actions by the Pakistan police against the BYC, a network advocating for the rights of the minority Baloch community. In a statement issued by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the experts stated that the actions have intensified after a massive attack by Baloch separatists on a passenger train on March 11, after which several prominent Baloch human rights defenders from the BYC were allegedly arrested by Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department or forcibly disappeared. "We have been monitoring with growing concern reports of alleged arrests and enforced disappearances of Baloch activists over the past number of months, and the violent incidents in the past few days have significantly increased our concerns," the experts said. "We are extremely concerned for the welfare of Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch and other human rights defenders detained for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. We urge the Pakistani authorities to immediately release them and to refrain from abusing counter-terrorism or public safety measures against human rights defenders, and we call on the authorities to clarify without delay the fate and whereabouts of all those reportedly subjected to enforced disappearances," the experts added. The experts had also called on the Government of Pakistan to address conditions conducive to terrorism, in line with the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. They are in contact with the authorities of Pakistan regarding their concerns. Responding to the UN statement, Pakistan's Foreign office said on Thursday that it appears to be based on "selective and unverified" media reports. "Any credible assessment must recognise that these elements are not mere protesters but active participants in a broader campaign of lawlessness and violence," stated Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "There can be no tolerance, let alone impunity, for terrorists, their facilitators, or their abettors. Their abuses of law and human rights violations cannot be ignored," he added. The Foreign Office spokesperson maintained that Pakistan would protect the lives and security of its people, particularly in area where innocent civilians bore the brunt of "foreign-sponsored terrorism" and pursue policies aimed at fostering social and economic development for all segments of society. Pakistan also stated that it has already undertaken measures that were fully consistent with international law, reiterating that the international law prohibited incitement to violence and terrorism. Kolkata, March 27 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to file an affidavit regarding its plans for pending elections to students' unions at different educational institutions in the state. The division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chattopadhyay directed the state government to submit the affidavit to the court within the next two weeks. It said that the state government should mention in detail in the affidavit about the next steps that are being considered by the administration to ensure that such pending elections are held. The division bench gave the direction to the state government on a public interest litigation (PIL) complaining that elections for studentsa unions for a number of educational institutions in the state have been pending for so many years. The petitioner, Uday Shankar Chattopadhyay, accused the state government of not initiating such elections despite there being legal provisions that elections for studentsa unions should be conducted on a regular basis. However, the state government counsel had argued that the problem of conducting regular elections for students' unions at these universities and their affiliated colleges had surfaced since there are no permanent Vice-Chancellors in several universities in the state, and the affairs are being managed by the acting Vice-Chancellors. On Thursday, the Chief Justice observed that the state government should take some initiative to ensure that pending elections of students' unions are held to deal with the growing unrest in the students' community over this issue. Recently, a ruckus broke out at Jadavpur University after state Education Minister Bratya Basuas vehicle was surrounded in the campus by students protesting over the same issue of pending election for the students' union there. Two students were severely injured and had to be hospitalised after allegedly being hit by the ministeras vehicle after the driver of the vehicle tried to rush away from the place. Amid the protests, the Minister received minor injuries and fell ill. He was taken to the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital but discharged later. Islamabad, March 27 : The Pakistan Foreign Office (PFO) has taken a serious note of a bipartisan bill introduced by US lawmakers in the House of Representatives seeking sanctions against the country's state officials, including the Army Chief, over alleged human rights violations. Pakistan dismissed the bill on Thursday, calling it an "isolated act" and the opinion of individuals, which does not represent the bilateral relations between Islamabad and Washington. Pakistan also condemned the recent sanctions by the United States on various commercial entities of the country, terming them as another unilateral decision taken without any consultation, evidence or proof. "We are aware of the bill introduced in the US Congress. It reflects the opinion of an individual and not the broader US-Pakistan ties", said Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan during a weekly press briefing on Thursday. Pakistan's response comes after two US lawmakers introduced a bill in the House of Representatives, calling for imposition of sanctions against the Pakistani government and the Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir for alleged persecution of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the alleged human rights violations. The bill proposes imposition of sanctions within 180 days if the country fails to take steps to improve its human rights situation. The bill titled 'The Pakistan Democracy Act' was introduced by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson and Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta. It was later referred to the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committee for review. The bill also seeks to invoke the US Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, allowing the United States to deny visas and entry to individuals accused of committing human rights violations. The bill must be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and then signed by US President Donald Trump to become law. Experts say that while the bill may not go through with approval from the review, it certainly asserts pressure on the government and the military establishment in the country to give more space and leverage to former premier Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned on charges of corruption, sedition and incitement to violence. All charges have been termed as concocted and fake by the Khan and his party. New Delhi, March 27 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Delhi Police on a plea filed by Sharjeel Imam against the trial court's order, framing charges against the former JNU activist and terming him one of the kingpins of a larger conspiracy to incite violence during the 2019 anti-CAA protests. A bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula was hearing Sharjeel Imamas revision plea challenging the trial courtas order and seeking an interim stay on the impugned decision. The Justice Narula-led Bench declined to pass any interim order without hearing the prosecution side and posted the matter for further hearing on April 24. Earlier this month, the trial court had framed charges against Sharjeel Imam and other accused in the case, saying the former JNU activist was not only an instigator, but was also one of the kingpins of a larger conspiracy to incite violence during the 2019 anti-CAA protests. Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh of the Saket Courts said that in order to provoke the Muslim community and to incite widespread violence against the implementation of CAA and NRC, accused Sharjeel Imam conducted public meetings, distributed inflammatory leaflets in areas of Munirka, Nizamuddin, Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar, prepared a video of the inflammatory speech and uploaded it on social media to influence Muslim brotherhood. The judge noted that Sharjeel Imam visited the Aligarh Muslim University and incited the students against the government over the implementation of the CAA and the NRC. "He visited the area of Jamia Nagar on 13/12/2019 at around 02:00 PM, where he held a meeting with Jamia students and residents to instigate them to cause traffic jams on public roads in protest of CAA and NRC," the trial court further noted. It said that Sharjeel Imam, being a senior PhD student, craftily clothed his speech in which he avoided the mention of communities other than the Muslim community but the intended victims of achakka jaama were members of communities other than the Muslim community. "Why, otherwise, accused Sharjeel Imam incited only the members of the Muslim religion to disrupt the normal functioning of the society. [H]is speech was calculated to evoke anger and hatred, the natural consequence of which was a commission of widespread violence by members of the unlawful assembly on public roads. His speech was venomous and pitted one religion against another. It was, indeed, hate speech," the court had said. It added that the assembling of a huge mob and the mass-scale rioting committed by it were not a random or spontaneous happening and could not have been committed except in pursuance of a larger conspiracy entered into between the self-proclaimed leaders and initiators of the mob activity. Accused Sharjeel Imam is liable to be charged for an offence under Sections 109 IPC, read with Sections 120B, 153A, 143, 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 332, 333, 308, 427, 435, 323 and 341, and Section 3/4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the court said. The Special Public Prosecutor argued that, although, prima facie Sharjeel Imamas speech sounded like the creation of a peaceful public movement against some government policy, it was in essence an invocation of feelings of hatred of the Muslim community against other communities in the name of legislation of a law by Union government which was unfair to Muslim community. Sharjeel Imam and nearly a dozen people were reportedly involved in the alleged larger conspiracy linked to the Delhi riots of 2020, as per the Delhi Police. The riots broke out in the national capital in February 2020 as clashes between the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and pro-CAA protesters took a violent turn. The mayhem saw more than 50 people lose their lives, besides leaving over 700 people injured. Mumbai, March 27 : A major fraud case has been registered against 15 individuals, including Bollywood actor Shreyas Talpade, for allegedly duping people out of crores under the guise of a chit fund scheme. According to reports, the accused were running a company named aThe Loni Urban Multistate Credit and Thrift Cooperative Society Limited,a which promised villagers lucrative returns on their investments. Agents of the company allegedly lured hundreds of people by assuring them that their money would double in a short span. However, after collecting crores from unsuspecting villagers, the company reportedly shut down operations and fled the district. The fraudulent scheme had been operational in Mahoba for the past ten years before coming under legal scrutiny. Authorities have registered a case at the Srinagar police station, and an investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the scam. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe. This is not the first time Shreyas Talpade has been accused of fraud. Last month, an FIR was registered against him and actor Alok Nath in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly duping investors of over Rs. 9 crores. Alok Nath and Shreyas Talpade, along with five members of a credit cooperative society, were booked in a fraud case at Gomti Nagar Police Station in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Previously, they, along with 11 others, were implicated in a similar case in Sonipat, Haryana, connected to a multi-level marketing fraud. The controversy centers around a cooperative society that had been soliciting investments for six years, assuring high returns. Reports suggest that Alok Nath and Shreyas Talpade had promoted the investment schemes of the society, lending credibility to the fraudulent operation. Meanwhile, on the work front, Shreyas will next be seen in the upcoming comedy, "Housefull 5." The film stars an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Bobby Deol, Fardeen Khan, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Dino Morea, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Chitrangada Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Soundarya Sharma, and Chunky Pandey. Mumbai, March 27 : Maharashtra Police, in collaboration with UNICEF, has launched a comprehensive training program for Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs) in a bid to safeguard the rights and well-being of children. The one-day in-person training session held here brought together key stakeholders to enhance child-centric policing practices across the state. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for children by strengthening the capacity of police personnel working within SJPUs. These units play a pivotal role in implementing the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, as well as other critical legislations like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, said the UNICEF, Maharashtra in a release. AN Roy, Former Director General of Police, Maharashtra, said: "Our culture has always promoted protection of children. In the modern era, this is the responsibility of the government as well as society. There are powerful legislation and strong acts. We need to take the help of these and bring awareness. You, as a police official, can contribute a lot and change the life of the child who is a victim or in conflict with the law. We can help them to reform, and the Special Juvenile Police Unit is a great initiative for it." Aswathi Dorje, Additional Director General of Police (Prevention of Crime against Women and Children), said, "Child-friendly policing is not just a responsibility; it is our moral obligation to ensure that every child feels safe, heard and protected when they come into contact with the law." Sanjay Singh, Chief Field Office, UNICEF Maharashtra, said: "Every child deserves a childhood free from fear and harm. Strengthening Special Juvenile Police Units is a critical step toward creating a protective environment where children's rights are upheld, and their voices are valued. Child friendly is not about responding but preventing crime." A release of the programme said that despite progress, challenges remain in ensuring effective implementation of child-focused frameworks. "Limited capacities, gaps in understanding juvenile justice principles, and insufficient knowledge of child protection systems have hindered optimal functioning. Recognising these gaps, this initiative seeks to address them through targeted training that equips officers with the skills and knowledge necessary to adopt child-friendly approaches," it added. It said that the training focused on deepening participants' understanding of child rights, protection mechanisms, and the philosophy of juvenile justice administration. It also emphasised practical aspects of the JJ Act and POCSO Act, enabling officers to better handle cases involving Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP), and child victims. Interactive sessions included presentations, panel discussions, case studies, and role-playing exercises to foster experiential learning. The event also marked the formal launch of the Child-Friendly Policing Initiative, highlighting the importance of convergence between law enforcement and child protection authorities. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the initiative aims to create a robust support system for vulnerable children. This training is a significant step toward transforming policing practices in Maharashtra, ensuring that every child receives care, dignity, and justice. Ranchi, March 27 : A total of twenty-five children from Jharkhand, trafficked to Delhi and nearby areas for illegal labour, have been rescued. Most of them are girls. A team from the Integrated Rehabilitation cum Resource Centre of Jharkhandas Women and Child Development Department, working in Delhi, carried out the rescue operation with the help of Delhi Police and voluntary organisations. The children, aged between 12 and 17 years, are now being brought back to Jharkhand. The rescue was conducted on the instructions of Jharkhand Bhawan Resident Commissioner Arwa Rajkamal. According to Nachiketa, Nodal Officer of the rehabilitation centre in Delhi, the breakthrough came after Sahibganj police arrested two human traffickers -- Poonam Marandi and Ishwar Turi -- earlier this month while they were taking three children from Sahibganj to Delhi. Their interrogation revealed that many children from Jharkhand had been trafficked to the National Capital Region (NCR). Based on their disclosures, Rahul Singh and Nirmala Khalkho, working with the rehabilitation centre, rescued 25 children from various locations in NCR with the support of Delhi Police and voluntary groups. The rescued children hail from Sahibganj, Godda, and Khunti districts of Jharkhand. A team led by Khunti CDPO (District Child Protection Officer) Altaf Khan and Sahibganj CDPO Poonam Kumari is escorting the rescued children back to Jharkhand. They will undergo counselling, and their home addresses will be verified before they are reunited with their families. On the directions of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Women and Child Development Secretary Manoj Kumar and Director Kiran Kumari Pasi have instructed District Social Welfare Officers in the three districts to ensure the childrenas proper rehabilitation under government welfare schemes. Authorities have urged citizens to report any information on human trafficking through the toll-free helpline 10582 of the Integrated Rehabilitation cum Resource Centre. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva participated in the inauguration of the first phase of the village of Sarijali in Aghdam district on March 27. Emin Huseynov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavand districts, briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the newly created living conditions in the village. Sarijali village, one of the major reconstruction sites in Aghdam, was occupied by Armenian armed forces on July 23, 1993, during the First Karabakh War. During the occupation, the village was completely destroyed, including residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, healthcare facilities, and commercial establishments. Following Azerbaijans victory in the Patriotic War, Aghdam was returned to Azerbaijan on November 20, 2020, under the Trilateral Statement. After the liberation of Sarijali, a mass grave belonging to Azerbaijanis was discovered in the village. Prior to the occupation, the village had a population of 1,024 people (239 families). Located six kilometers from Aghdam city center, the foundation of Sarijali village was laid by President Ilham Aliyev on October 4, 2022. The village is designed to accommodate 1,873 residents (425 families) across a total area exceeding 123 hectares. The construction plan includes 425 individual houses to be built in two phases. To ensure employment opportunities for residents, various educational, economic, social, and public service institutions, as well as cultural and community centers, have been established. Infrastructure work, including internal roads, electricity, telecommunications, water and gas supply has also been completed. x x x President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of a newly constructed multifunctional administrative building for local executive structures in Sarijali. The administrative center, located at the village entrance, will house multiple government services, ensuring efficient and centralized service delivery for residents. The building is equipped with various offices and meeting rooms, providing modern working conditions for staff. All non-residential buildings in the village, including the administrative facility, have been equipped with rooftop solar panels to meet their electricity needs. x x x President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited newly built individual residential houses in Sarijali village to inspect the living conditions provided for returning residents. As part of the first phase, 203 families (895 people) are set to relocate to the village. A total of 203 houses have been constructed, offering two, three, four, and five-room layouts. Considering the future population growth, 54 hectares of land have been allocated for the first phase of the villages construction. x x x Following this, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the newly built Sarijali village nursery-kindergarten. The head of state and the First Lady were informed that the modern 100-seat facility is fully equipped to provide a high-quality learning and nurturing environment for young children. The kindergarten features well-equipped rooms designed to support the intellectual, physical, and mental development of children, as well as foster their talents, social skills, and well-being. Five educational groups will operate within the facility. The kindergartens outdoor area includes a playground with various attractions and sports equipment, along with extensive landscaping. x x x President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of the newly built secondary school in Sarijali village. The school, designed for 360 students, features 14 classrooms and is equipped with all necessary teaching materials to ensure an efficient learning environment. The facility includes laboratories, technology, biology, and computer science rooms, a pre-conscription training cabinet, a library, an auditorium, a gym, and a canteen. A sports field has also been built, which will be accessible to both students and local residents outside school hours. The school premises include recreational areas and green spaces. x x x The head of state and the First Lady then met with the residents who had moved into the new apartments and presented them with the keys to their homes. The President of Azerbaijan addressed the event. Speech by President Ilham Aliyev President Ilham Aliyev: Welcome to Sarijali. Residents: You are also welcome, Mr. President. President Ilham Aliyev: I sincerely congratulate you. Residents: Thank you very much. President Ilham Aliyev: First of all, I congratulate you on the upcoming Ramadan holiday and the restoration of the Sarijali village. In other words, it is a double holiday today. Opening the village and making it available to former displaced persons on the eve of this holiday is a significant event. We recently celebrated the Novruz holiday. On the eve of Novruz, I met with the residents of Hasanriz village of Aghdara district and presented them with keys to their new homes. Meeting with the residents of the first restored village of Aghdam district today is, of course, a great happiness. After a long break, you have returned to your native land. Excellent conditions have been created for you here. During numerous meetings with former displaced persons during the years of occupation, when I was presenting them with temporary housing, I always said that even better conditions would be created for them once the lands were liberated and that we would return them to our native land. Today, we are witnessing confirmation of those words again. This is the 13th settlement to which former IDPs have returned. Such conditions will be created for all IDPs in the future. The first settlement in Aghdam district is now available to former IDPs after the occupation, but the natives of Aghdam will also return to other villages this year. This year, people are expected to return to the villages of Kangarli and Khidirli, as construction work is underway in other villages as well. Of course, the city of Aghdam is being rebuilt from scratch and will turn into one of the most beautiful cities of our country. The city of Aghdam and all villages of the district were razed to the ground by the invidious enemy. Not a single building survived. This shows the nature of the enemy yet again. It shows their completely unfounded hostility towards us. It is no coincidence that some foreign experts and journalists have been unable to hold back their astonishment and even disgust when visiting Aghdam. Because for many years during the occupation, foreign citizens could not come to Aghdam district, to the city of Aghdam, to the parts of the city that remained standing. After the occupation was ended, both Azerbaijani citizens and foreign visitors started coming here and saw what kind of an enemy we were faced with. That is, during the occupation, the city was completely demolished and razed to the ground. Aghdam has been described as a Hiroshima of the Caucasus, but the difference is that Hiroshima was devastated as a result of an atomic bomb, while Aghdam was taken apart by Armenian thieves and looters for 30 years. They took away its stones and sold them in various places. In other words, this is unprecedented barbarity. I have said this many times Armenian fascism is the highest peak of fascism. We are rebuilding Aghdam from scratch, and we will rebuild it. Large-scale construction work is underway here now. In the post-occupation period, many important infrastructure facilities have been put into operation first of all, roads. The Aghdam-Barda road has been rebuilt. There was never such a beautiful road here even during the Soviet era. The Aghdam-Khankendi road is undergoing reconstruction. It will also be a four-lane road, just like the Barda-Aghdam road. A railway is under construction. It will probably be put into operation this year. In other words, it will be possible to comfortably reach Aghdam by railway. A station is under construction as well. The Aghdam Mosque has been restored. The contemptible enemy kept animals in it to insult all Muslims, to insult Muslims of the world. The first building to be restored here was the Aghdam Mosque. A Mugham center is under construction. The Imarat complex has been restored. Natavans grave has been restored, an exact copy of the memorial destroyed by the enemy has been rebuilt. The Khachinchay water reservoir has been rebuilt - the enemy had drained it too. A school is under construction, a hospital is under construction, and a large industrial complex is already operational. Several enterprises are already operational there, and it will be the largest industrial complex in the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions. Of course, residential houses, several residential complexes are under construction as well, and they will be put into operation this year. In addition, taking into account the tourism potential of the region, two hotels have already started operating and will serve Aghdam, Fuzuli and surrounding regions. So this is how we are building the city. I remember meeting with the people of Aghdam in Aghdam for the first time after the occupation and laying the foundation of the new city. I said back then that we would build such a city that the whole world would envy us. We have implemented all these are projects on our own. The state of Azerbaijan is capable of doing these things today. I have only listed the work underway in Aghdam district. But if we consider the work underway in all of the liberated territories, we can say that no other country has ever done so much restoration work in such a short period of time. The Second Karabakh War will, of course, go down in history as part of our glorious history, as a glorious page of our history. As you know, during the war, active military operations were not conducted in the Aghdam direction because the enemy had built strong fortifications and mined everything here. Therefore, we began to move forward in the Aghdam direction only after Hadrut, Jabrayil, Fuzuli and Shusha had been liberated and the enemy's forces were actually surrounded. Azerbaijan showed humanity again and gave the enemy a chance to vacate these lands of his own free will. Otherwise, the 10,000, perhaps even 15,000 contingent of the Armenian army that was surrounded in this region would have been completely destroyed. In other words, the state of Azerbaijan once again showed humanity towards those who did not deserve it. After all, no humanity was shown to us. An act of genocide was committed against us. Our people were subjected to great suffering. Our cities were devastated, our villages and towns were ravaged. Our babies and women were killed by the barbaric enemy. But I said during the war that we would take revenge on the battlefield, and we did exactly that. As a result of the Second Karabakh War, we regained the city of Aghdam and the villages that were under occupation at the time without firing a single shot. Along with Aghdam, Lachin and Kalbajar districts were also returned to us. We would have liberated these lands anyway, but if the war had continued, there would have been many casualties. Therefore, we stopped the war in time, but did not back down a single step from our policy. Three years later, we took full control and restored our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and separatism has been completely eradicated today. People will live here comfortably now, without fear of anyone and with dignity. I am sure that they will live here happily. Because both our lands have been regained and the national dignity of our people has been fully restored. For 30 years, Armenia had been trying in every possible way not to return a single inch of our land to us. The foreign forces behind it were also in solidarity and in alliance with them. But they did not take into account one thing, and it is the strength, determination and courage of the state of Azerbaijan and the heroism of our Army. May Allah have mercy on all our martyrs, may Allah always keep the heads of our Army and the personnel of our Armed Forces high. As a result of their heroism and selflessness, we are standing here today and meeting on the eve of this beautiful holiday. Restoration work will be continued. Only the first phase of the construction of Sarijali village has been completed. There are currently more than 200 houses here, but after the completion of the second phase, the number of houses will reach approximately 400. There are all the conditions for living here comfortably. There are beautiful and neat houses, there is electricity, water, gas, heating, there is a beautiful school, a kindergarten, a medical center, a sports ground, there are public service areas, there is even a market complex. The area adjoining to the houses is also quite large 1,200 square meters. At the same time, after the surrounding areas are watered, it will be possible to carry out sowing and harvesting work there as well. The Sarsang reservoir and the Sugovushan reservoir can create these opportunities for us now. To do that, the canals that were built here in the past must be restored. Work in this direction is also underway. As you may know, both the Sarsang and Sugovushan reservoirs were built at the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in order to provide Aghdam and several surrounding districts with irrigation water. During the occupation, the enemy cut off our water. We have now regained ownership of our water resources. As I mentioned, the Khachinchay reservoir has already been restored, and the entire territory of Aghdam and neighboring districts will be irrigated through a canal originating from Sugovushan. Water will now be available to approximately 100,000 hectares of previously unirrigated land. Therefore, those who will live in Aghdam district should be prepared for this. We are taking the necessary steps to create jobs here. At the same time, entrepreneurs should focus on developing agriculture. I congratulate you from the bottom of my heart again and wish you good health. Live happily here. Residents: Thank you very much. x x x Following the speech, a ceremony was held to present the keys to the new homeowners, and commemorative photographs were taken. x x x President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then had a conversation with the villagers. Chennai, March 27 : A five-member delegation of fishermen leaders from Tamil Nadu, led by V.P. Jesuraja, visited Sri Lanka and met with 50 Indian fishermen currently imprisoned in Vavuniya jail. The visit was made possible after the delegation submitted a formal request to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, seeking permission to meet their incarcerated colleagues in person. The Tamil Nadu delegation expressed solidarity with the jailed fishermen and conveyed moral support on behalf of the fishing community back home. They also engaged in a crucial round of talks with Sri Lankan fishermen leaders from the Northern Province on Thursday, marking a significant step toward resolving long-standing tensions. The discussions between the two sides lasted over an hour and focused on the challenges faced by fishermen on both sides of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). This is the first time such a meeting has taken place since 2016, when the late Union Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, facilitated a similar dialogue. Sources said that a key concern raised was the repeated arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of poaching. In response, Sri Lankan fishermen leaders said that Tamil Nadu fishermen's use of banned fishing nets has led to the degradation of marine ecosystems and damaged natural resources. The Sri Lankan side also clarified that the deployment of naval surveillance along the IMBL was initiated only after local fishermen leaders raised concerns about Indian boats entering their waters. They argued that the continuous intrusion deprives local Sri Lankan fishermen of their livelihood. Sri Lankan leaders urged Tamil Nadu fishermen to refrain from crossing the IMBL and emphasised the importance of respecting maritime boundaries. The issue of Katchatheevu, the disputed islet located near the maritime border, was also brought up during the meeting. However, Tamil Nadu fishermen leaders made it clear that they did not want to engage in political debates about whether the islet should be retrieved by India. Instead, they emphasised the historical and traditional fishing rights in the region, arguing that fish are available in abundance only in that area. "Our request is not political. We have been fishing in the Katchatheevu area for generations. We are simply seeking permission to continue our livelihood," one of the fishermen leaders stated. They also appealed to their Sri Lankan counterparts not to politicise the issue. Both sides agreed on the need for their respective governments to organise a bilateral meeting aimed at resolving the crisis and protecting the interests of the fishermen communities in both nations. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to visit Sri Lanka soon, the Tamil Nadu fishermen leaders expressed hope that he would take up the matter with the Sri Lankan President and government officials to find a permanent and peaceful solution. The delegation extended gratitude to the Tamil Nadu government for facilitating their travel to Sri Lanka and for arranging the visit to the jailed fishermen. Delegation leader V.P. Jesuraja described the dialogue as a "good beginning" and expressed optimism that the issue could be resolved in the near future. The delegation is expected to return to Tamil Nadu by March 31 or April 1. They are also hopeful of meeting Prime Minister Modi during his scheduled visit to Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu on April 6, where he will inaugurate the new Pamban rail bridge. --IANS aal/dan Mumbai, March 27 : Indian corporates raised record-high funds through equity and debt in the financial year 2024-25, despite market fluctuations, a new report said on Thursday. A report by PRIME Database showed that the public equity fundraising surged by 92 per cent to Rs 3.71 lakh crore. When rights issues were included, the total amount reached nearly Rs 3.88 lakh crore. Debt fundraising also set a new record, touching Rs 11.12 lakh crore, mainly through private placements. The IPO market remained strong, with 78 companies raising Rs 1.62 lakh crore through mainboard IPOs, the highest-ever annual fundraising. This was more than 2.5 times the Rs 61,922 crore raised in the previous year. Hyundai Motor India Limited led with the largest IPO of Rs 27,859 crore, followed by Swiggy at Rs 11,327 crore, and NTPC Green Energy at Rs 10,000 crore. The IPO pipeline remains strong, with 49 companies already having the SEBI approval to raise Rs 84,000 crore, while 67 more await clearance for Rs 1.02 lakh crore. New-age technology companies made a strong comeback, with eight firms collectively raising Rs 21,438 crore. This was a significant jump from Rs 3,040 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 5,544 crore in 2021-22. Investor enthusiasm remained high, with 56 IPOs receiving subscriptions of over 10 times, and 33 of them exceeding 50 times. Retail investor interest also surged, with the average number of applications rising to 21.33 lakh in 2024-25, compared to 13.15 lakh last year. IPO listings delivered strong returns, with the average listing gain increasing to 30 per cent from 29 per cent in the previous year. Nearly 46 IPOs continue to trade above their issue price, offering an average return of 15 per cent despite market corrections in the latter half of the year. Foreign portfolio investors played a key role in IPO allocations, accounting for 16 per cent through anchor investments, while mutual funds took up 13 per cent. Overall, Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) secured 67 per cent of the total public issue amount. The SME IPO segment also saw strong growth, with 235 small and medium enterprises raising Rs 9,133 crore, a 53 per cent increase from last year. Retail investors showed high interest in SME IPOs, with average oversubscription reaching 233 times. Offer-for-sale (OFS) transactions increased by 29 per cent to Rs 30,741 crore, with government divestments contributing Rs 4,359 crore. Qualified institutional placements (QIPs) more than doubled, with 91 companies raising Rs 1.43 lakh crore. Debt fundraising remained strong, with Rs 8,044 crore raised through public bonds, while the majority of debt issuances were done through private placements. Mumbai, March 27 : In a significant development in the Disha Salian case, Nilesh Ojha, the lawyer representing her father, Satish Salian, has called for a scene recreation of the incident and a narco test of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, along with other accused individuals. Disha, the former manager of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential high-rise here in the Malad area. Ojha's demand came after a meeting with Joint Commissioner of Police, Lakshmi Gautam, where he outlined three major requests regarding the investigation. Ojha spoke to IANS, stating: "We met Joint CP Lakshmi Gautam ji, and we had three key demands. First, our complaint has been officially taken into record by the minister and the government. The government confirmed that the complaint will be handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT). However, the government mentioned that a technical issue needs to be addressed firstthis is a complaint of gang rape and murder, and it requires a formal crime number before the process can proceed." He further elaborated: "Our second demand was that police protection must be provided for everyone involved in this case, especially the witnesses. We have pointed out that some individuals might be labeled as having suffered accidents, while others may be labeled as suicides. We've requested that the police ensure protection for the witnesses to encourage them to come forward." Ojha also expressed his frustration with the inaction of the SIT in the past 15 months. "The SIT has done nothing significant. It neither served any notice to the family, nor conducted any 'scene recreation' to challenge the narrative being put forward -- where Disha allegedly fell from a height of 20 feet. This should be recreated to prove whether the story holds any truth. We want directions for this scene recreation," he added. The lawyer also emphasised the need for a narco test of key accused individuals in the case. "Disha Salian's father, Satish Salian, has requested that a narco test be conducted on the accused, including Aaditya Thackeray. It's up to them whether they agree to it or not," Ojha said. Ojha went further to allege that there were eyewitnesses who had seen prominent actors such as Aditya Pancholi, Dino Morea, and Aaditya Thackeray, along with his bodyguards, involved in the alleged gang-rape of the celebrity manager. "We have five eyewitnesses who are willing to testify in court, but their lives are at risk, and the police must provide them with adequate protection," he added. The lawyer also pointed fingers at former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, accusing him of trying to suppress the case. "Param Bir Singh attempted to cover up the incident. He held a press conference and claimed that Aaditya Thackeray was not at the scene, and he even said he had seen the CCTV footage. However, I want to point out that mobile tower locations for Aaditya Thackeray, Aditya Pancholi, and Dino Morea indicate that they were indeed at the location. Param Bir Singh's statements are completely false," Ojha concluded. Chennai, Mar 27 : Screenings of director S U Arun Kumar's much-awaited explosive action entertainer Veera Dheera Sooran, featuring actor 'Chiyaan' Vikram in the lead began on Thursday evening, much to the delight of fans and film buffs, even as the producer of the film, Riya Shibu, apologised to audiences for the slight delay in releasing the film. Fans and the general audience were in for disappointment on Thursday as the film's morning and noon shows had to be cancelled due to a court order that restrained the makers from releasing the film. The court order was passed on a plea filed by the production company B4U over certain issues it had with the production house HR Pictures. However, by Thursday evening, the producers, HR Pictures, resolved the issue and announced that theatrical screenings for the film had begun worldwide. Taking to its X timeline, HR Pictures said, "#VeeraDheeraSooran Theatrical Screenings begin worldwide! Witness our @chiyaan as #Kaali. Get ready for an action-packed ride, Don't miss out on this epic adventure! An #SUArunKumar Picture. A @gvprakash musical. Produced by @hr_pictures @riyashibu" The producer of the film, Riya Shibu, took to her X timeline to apologise for the delay in the film's release. She wrote, "Here's our official announcement!! Our sincere apologies for the delay, thank you for being patient with us and thank you to those who were supportive of us. Screenings officially open. Have a blast in theatres you all!!" It may be recalled that the unit of the film had released a visual glimpse and teaser of the film earlier. From what has been revealed so far, Vikram plays a simple common man, owning a grocery store while S J Suryah plays a senior police officer in the film, which has triggered huge expectations. Interestingly, 'Veera Dheera Sooran', which has an ensemble star cast including Chiyaan Vikram, S.J. Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Dushara Vijayan, will have its second part released first. While the film has cinematography by Theni Eswar, it has music by G V Prakash Kumar. Editing has been taken care of by G.K. Prasanna. Art direction for the film is by C.S. Balachandar. Riya Shibu of HR Pictures is producing this film, which will be an edge-of-seat action thriller. Chennai, March 27 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced today that the state government will honour legendary music composer Ilaiyaraaja for his extraordinary musical journey spanning over five decades. The felicitation ceremony is scheduled to take place in Chennai on June 2. Speaking in the state legislative assembly, Stalin said that the tribute will recognise Ilaiyaraajaas remarkable contributions to the world of music. The maestro recently returned to Chennai after delivering a landmark symphonic performance in London. Ilaiyaraaja met the Chief Minister at his residence and expressed his gratitude for the upcoming honour. Itas worth noting that Stalin had also met the composer shortly before his departure to the UK. The music maestro is planning a live performance in Chennai this June, which is expected to be a grand celebration of his illustrious career. On March 9, at midnight, Ilaiyaraaja made history with his first-ever Western classical symphony titled Valiant, presented at the Eventim Apollo Theatre in London. The performance featured a surprise collaboration with the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and marked a significant milestone, making him the first Indian film composer to achieve such a feat in London. Valiant was recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and served as its world premiere. Ilaiyaraaja is widely acknowledged as one of the first Indian composers to blend Western classical elements with Indian film music and is the first from the country to compose a full-length symphony. With a career spanning over 48 years, Ilaiyaraaja has composed more than 7,000 songs and scored music for over 1,500 films. He has also performed in more than 20,000 concerts globally. Fondly known as Isaignani (the musical sage), he was conferred the title of Maestro by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London. In 2013, a survey celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema declared him the greatest music composer in the country, with 49 per cent of the vote. The following year, he was ranked ninth on Taste of Cinemaas list of the 25 greatest film composers in world cinema historya"standing alongside international legends like Ennio Morricone, John Williams, and Jerry Goldsmith. He remains the only Indian composer featured on that list. Ilaiyaraaja was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2010 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2018 -- India's third and second-highest civilian awards, respectively. Since July 2022, he has served as a nominated Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. A biographical film titled Ilaiyaraaja was officially announced on March 20, 2024, and is expected to capture the journey of one of India's most celebrated musicians. Kolkata, March 27 : The optical marks recognition (OMR) sheets used in examinations for recruitment of teachers in state-run schools were destroyed on the instructions of the former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee with the clear intention to hide evidence in the multi-crore cash-for-school-job case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a special court in Kolkata in Thursday. Opposing the bail plea by Chatterjee's counsel on behalf of his client, the CBI counsel informed the court that even the former officer-on-special-duty (OSD) of the former state Education Minister has revealed a lot of things in his "confidential statement". The CBI counsel also argued that since the entire scam was conducted under the direct supervision of the former minister, the investigation process might be hampered in case bail is granted to him. On Thursday, the CBI counsel also informed the court that recently, the investigating officials procured the names of 321 candidates whose names were recommended to Chatterjee by some other politically influential people in the state. The investigating officials are currently probing whether these names were recommended against payment of money, and for that purpose, in the next stage of the investigation, the influential persons recommending these candidates will also be interrogated. The lists of these 321 candidates, along with the names of the influential persons recommending them, were recovered by the investigating officials from the warehouse of Bikash Bhavan, the state Education Department headquarters at Salt Lake in northern Kolkata. In his argument, Chatterjee's counsel pleaded for bail for his client on medical grounds. "He is 73 years old and suffering from multiple medical complications. So, considering that, he should be granted bail," Chatterjee's counsel argued. He also pointed out that of the total of 11 persons named in the charge sheet filed by the CBI, eight have already been granted bail. Last month, the CBI claimed that their investigating officials secured specific clues where not just written recommendations but also those made through WhatsApp or phone text messages were also considered for appointments by the authorities concerned, and those recommendations, either made in writing or through digital communications, were personally scrutinised by Chatterjee. Juba, March 27 : South Sudanese First Vice President (VP) Riek Machar was placed under house arrest in the national capital of Juba as the United Nations mission in the country called for restraint. "Following reports tonight of the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) calls on all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalised Peace Agreement," Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the UN Secretary-General to South Sudan and head of UNMISS, said in a statement on Wednesday. Haysom said the unilateral amendments by the parties to that agreement jeopardize the hard-won gains of the past seven years and risk returning the country to a state of war. "This will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region," he warned in the statement issued Wednesday night. Haysom called on the parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage in constructive dialogue that puts the best interests of their people at the forefront of this pivotal moment for the country. "Tonight, the country's leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward toward peace, recovery, and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalized Peace Agreement," he said. Reath Muoch Tang, acting chairperson of the National Committee on Foreign Relations for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), condemned the arrest as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement that formed the unity government. Tang said the defence minister and chief of national security were in the convoy that delivered an arrest warrant to Machar, along with more than 20 heavily armed vehicles that forcibly entered his residence. "His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges. Attempts are currently being made to relocate him," Tang said in a statement on Wednesday night. He said the arrest was a "blatant" violation of the constitution and the Revitalised Peace Agreement, as no legal procedures, such as lifting his immunity, were followed. Earlier on Wednesday, UNMISS, in a separate statement, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urgent dialogue between the country's leaders to de-escalate tensions and restore calm, Xinhua news agency reported. In the previous 24 hours, clashes have reportedly taken place between the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) near Juba, according to the UN. "We encourage the president and first vice president to lead efforts to prevent further military confrontation and restore calm by meeting to resolve differences and making a joint public statement reassuring all South Sudanese of their shared commitment to peace," Haysom said. The UN mission said the situation in Upper Nile State also remains volatile, with reports of further mobilization of armed forces and aerial bombardment of civilian areas, allegedly using devices containing a highly flammable liquid that acts as an accelerant on explosion, causing significant casualties and horrific injuries. UNMISS added that intensive diplomatic efforts are underway to broker a peaceful solution. South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, signed a peace deal in 2018 that ended a civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Machar. Nearly 400,000 people died in the civil war. Relations between Kiir and Machar, who have dominated South Sudan's politics for decades, remain strained. The clashes and latest political tensions between the two leaders have unsettled many citizens and the international community. Kampala, March 27 : The Ugandan military has intensified screening and surveillance along its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following last week's clashes that left 242 Congolese militiamen dead. Chris Magezi, acting spokesperson for the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF), told Xinhua by phone on Thursday that the army, police, internal security agencies, and local councils are on high alert to prevent armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), from infiltrating Uganda and launching retaliatory attacks. Last week, the Ugandan military announced it had killed 242 armed Lendu militants under the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO), who are reportedly allied with the ADF. "The UPDF and all sister security agencies are working together. We are constantly vigilant. We trust our systems to receive those who seek safety and security, treat them humanely, and provide support while identifying any wrong elements," said Magezi. "We are closely monitoring for any wrong elements attempting to enter Uganda. They will be apprehended and prosecuted according to the law," he said. Uganda deployed troops several weeks ago to eastern DRC's northern Ituri Province to curb attacks by Lendu militants under CODECO and other armed groups. The mission also aims to prevent ADF infiltration, Xinhua news agency reported. The ADF, a Ugandan rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State in Central Africa, has long operated in the eastern DRC. The UN Refugee Agency reported this week that more than 30,000 Congolese have fled to Uganda since January. Security agencies warn that some militants may disguise themselves as refugees to enter Uganda. Earlier on March 25, the Ugandan military said that its deployment of troops in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), specifically in the town of Bunia, which helped prevent civilian killings. Chris Magezi told Xinhua by phone that the presence of Ugandan forces in Bunia, Djugu, and Mahagi has significantly improved security in the DRC's northern province of Ituri. Gurugram, March 27 : Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Gurugram Zonal office has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 44.55 crore related to former MLA Dharam Singh Chhoker and his two sons Sikandar Chhoker and Vikas Chhoker and their companies M/s Sai Aaina Farms Pvt. Ltd. etc. under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The case relates to cheating more than 1500 homebuyers and siphoning of more than Rs 500 crore. After issuance of multiple Non Bailable Warrants (NBWs), the Special Court Gurugram issued a proclamation against Dharam Singh Chhoker and Vikas Chhoker, who are still absconding and directed them to appear before the Court on May 19, 2025. However, Sikandar Chhoker is on bail. The attached assets include 13 immovable properties (Agricultural land of approximately three acres, commercial land of 2487 square meters, eight residential flats, etc) located in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Panipat. Movable properties in the form of Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) and money in bank accounts amounting to approximately Rs 96 Lakh belonging to various individuals. ED initiated investigations on the basis of FIRs registered by the Gurugram Police against M/s Sai Aaina Farms Pvt. Ltd. and associated concerns under various sections of the IPC 1860 for cheating and forgery. The allegations involve the submission of forged documents, including fake bank guarantees, to obtain licenses for external and internal development works. This fraudulent activity was carried out in connection with a promised affordable housing project at Sector 68, 103 and 104, Gurugram, where the company collected around Rs 616 crore from 3700 home buyers. However, the company failed to deliver the houses within the promised timelines and misappropriated the funds. The EDas investigation revealed that the company siphoned off the funds by inflating construction costs through fake invoices from associated entities. The money was diverted for personal gains by the company's directors and promoters. Furthermore, funds from home buyers were also transferred to other group entities as loans, which remain outstanding for years. Earlier, on February 24, the ED had attached properties valued at Rs 36.52 crore, in relation to M/s D S Home Construction Pvt Ltd, Sikandar Singh, Vikas Chhoker, and others involved in the case. The same was confirmed by the Ld. Adjudicating Authority. Further, Sikandar Singh, the Director of M/s D S Home Construction Pvt. Ltd., was arrested on 30.04.2024. A Prosecution Complaint in this case has been filed in the Special Court, Gurugram, and the court has taken cognisance. Further investigations are ongoing. Gandhinagar, March 27 : In a first for Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has launched the 'Mukhyamantri Gau Mata Poshan Sahay Yojana' as part of the Gujarat Budget 2025-26, reinforcing the state's commitment to cattle welfare. Gandhinagar, March 27 (IANS) In a first for Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has launched the aMukhyamantri Gau Mata Poshan Sahay Yojanaa as part of the Gujarat Budget 2025-26, reinforcing the stateas commitment to cattle welfare. This scheme, inspired by the principle of aJivdayaa (compassion for all living beings), aims to provide financial assistance for the nourishment of cows sheltered in panjrapols (animal shelters) and gaushalas (cow shelters). As per the latest figures from January 31, 2025, a total of 22 panjrapols and 188 gaushalas in Banaskantha district have benefited from the scheme. The Gujarat government has disbursed Rs 87.64 crore in aid, providing Rs 30 per animal per day for 84,836 cattle, announced Animal Husbandry Minister Raghavji Patel while responding to a question in the Gujarat Assembly. Expanding on the schemeas significance, the Chief Minister highlighted that the 2025-26 budget has allocated Rs 500 crore to ensure proper nourishment and care for cattle across the state. The scheme was originally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 at the Ambaji temple in Gujarat, aiming to support institutions registered under the Mumbai Public Trust Act and the Gujarat Public Trust Act before March 31, 2022. Only institutions with valid registration certificates and adequate facilities for cattle welfare are eligible for financial aid under this initiative. As per the latest livestock census, the state is home to over 2.5 crore cattle, including indigenous breeds like Gir, Kankrej, and Dangi, known for their high milk yield and resilience. The state is one of Indiaas leading milk producers, contributing significantly to the dairy sector through cooperative giants like Amul and Banas Dairy. Cattle rearing is a primary source of livelihood for thousands of farmers, particularly in rural areas. To support cattle welfare and boost dairy production, the Gujarat government has introduced several schemes. The Mukhyamantri Gau Mata Poshan Sahay Yojana, launched under the 2025-26 budget, provides Rs 30 per day per animal to registered gaushalas and panjrapols for cattle care. Additionally, the Nand Baba Milk Mission aims to enhance milk production by providing financial aid for modernising dairy farms and supporting cattle farmers with better veterinary services. The Gau Seva and Gauchar Vikas Board also oversees various welfare measures, including the preservation of grazing lands and ensuring the well-being of stray and abandoned cattle. Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Gujarat has taken initiatives for the conservation and promotion of indigenous cattle breeds by setting up Gokul Grams (cow sanctuaries) and providing artificial insemination facilities. The Animal Husbandry Department runs vaccination drives to protect cattle from diseases like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and brucellosis. Moreover, schemes like Kamdhenu Yojana and Godhan Yojana provide subsidies for cattle procurement, promoting self-employment in the dairy sector. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. This is the 13th settlement where former IDPs have returned. Such conditions will be created for all IDPs in the future, President Ilham Aliyev said during his meeting with residents who have moved into new apartments in the village of Sarijali, Aghdam, Trend reports. The first settlement of Aghdam district is now available to former IDPs after the occupation, but natives of Aghdam will also return to other villages this year. This year, people are expected to return to the villages of Kangarli and Khidirli, as construction work is underway in other villages as well. Of course, the city of Aghdam is being rebuilt from scratch and will turn into one of the most beautiful cities of our country, noted the head of state. New Delhi, March 27 : Robert Vadra on Thursday said that the bombing of hospitals and civilian areas in Palestine amounts to a grave "injustice" - a stand which aligns with his wife and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi's earlier decision to show solidarity for the country. New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Robert Vadra on Thursday said that the bombing of hospitals and civilian areas in Palestine amounts to a grave "injustice" a stand which aligns with his wife and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi's earlier decision to show solidarity for the country. Sharing his views on the bombings in Palestine, Vadra told IANS, "Undoubtedly, what is happening amounts to injustice." "People on both sides are being put in distress, and politics plays a major role in escalating the situation... Bombs being dropped on hospitals and the loss of innocent lives, including women and children, is extremely wrong," he said, complaining about other unconnected nations joining the issue. Vadra's concern for the Palestinian people aligns with his wife and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, causing a flutter on Parliament premises by carrying a handbag displaying a bold 'Palestine' tag. Her decision to carry the bag in December last year was seen as a statement of solidarity for Palestine on humanitarian grounds. However, BJP MPs hit out at her step as appeasement politics. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, "She wants to prove that Congress does politics of appeasement. They do not see the suffering of the victims in Bangladesh, they only see Palestine." She tweets about Gaza more than 20 times but does not talk about Bangladeshi Hindus. The Congress party is a party of Muslim appeasement, he said Reacting to the development, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana said, "People do such things for news. When they have been rejected by the people, they resort to such actions." Congress MP Rajeev Shukla defended Priyanka Gandhi's action, saying, "Children are being killed in Palestine, hospitals are being bombed, and she is protesting all of this on the grounds of humanity." AIMIM Spokesperson Waris Pathan also reacted to Priyanka Gandhi's 'Palestine' Bag. He said, "Mahatma Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee also supported Palestine. We have always supported Palestine." Bengaluru, March 27 : Slamming the Karnataka government for hiking the price of milk by Rs 4 per litre in Karnataka, the state BJP unit has called it "a blatant attack" on the common man's pocket and it's akin to "daylight robbery". Bengaluru, March 27 (IANS) Slamming the Karnataka government for hiking the price of milk by Rs 4 per litre in Karnataka, the state BJP unit has called it "a blatant attack" on the common man's pocket and it's akin to "daylight robbery". The new price will be effective from April 1. "With an empty treasury, it now seems to be resorting to price hikes as its only means of survival for the Congress-led government. I strongly urge the government to withdraw its decision to increase milk prices, which will affect every household," said state BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra. He claimed that the Congress government, which is already struggling to manage its five guarantees, has consistently imposed the misfortune of rising prices on the common people since coming to power. He said that while the public is already reeling under the burden of increased prices in drinking water, electricity bills, transportation, and essential commodities, the government has now once again hiked the price of milk, for the second time since assuming office, intensifying the financial strain on citizens. "The decision to increase the price of milk by Rs 4 seems like a blatant attack on the common man's pocket, akin to daylight robbery. Instead of using this opportunity to provide better prices and incentives to farmers who depend on dairy farming, the government is shifting the burden onto the public under the guise of helping farmers. This approach, of giving with one hand and taking away with the other, reflects a deeply flawed policy," he said. He said that a responsible and capable government should be able to encourage farmers while also safeguarding the interests of the public. "Unfortunately, the Congress government lacks both the ability and the intention to do so. Despite continuous protests by the BJP against the Congress government's anti-people policies, the administration remains indifferent to public anger. The government appears to have nothing left to offer except internal power struggles," he stated. Meanwhile, Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said that the milk price has been hiked for the third consecutive time by the Congress-led government. "Siddaramaiah, since assuming power, has increased the price of milk three times within just 20 months - a total hike of Rs 9. In August 2023, the price was increased by Rs 3, followed by a Rs 2 hike in June 2024. Now, once again, there has been a sudden Rs 4 hike," Ashoka said. He said that the poor and middle-class citizens of the state are already reeling under the pressure of rising fuel prices and soaring costs of essential commodities. "At such a time, increasing the price of milk once again is nothing short of rubbing salt into their wounds. If you have even a shred of concern for the poor and the middle class, immediately withdraw the order to increase milk prices. If passing on some cost to consumers is truly unavoidable, ensure that the entire Rs 4 hike directly benefits the milk producers," he demanded. The Siddaramaiah government on Thursday decided to hike the price of Nandini milk, supplied by the Karnataka Milk Federation, by Rs 4 per litre, after considering the demand of the KMF and farmers' organisations. The steep hike has come ahead of the Ugadi festival, celebrated across Karnataka with much fanfare on March 30. The price of coffee, tea and all milk products in hotels and sweet shops is set to rise sharply. Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna, reacting to the price hike, defended the move of the government that all of the additional money will be given to milk producers and the decision is taken in the interest of farmers, not to make a profit. "Though, customers may feel the pinch on their pockets, they should cooperate as their money will reach the farmers," he claimed. The most popular blue packet of one litre of Nandini milk now will cost Rs 48, up from Rs 44. The curd will also be dearer by Rs 4. The milk producers who used to get Rs 31.68 per litre of milk will get Rs 35.68 from the KMF. Answering a question, Minister Rajanna maintained that the government does not have the printing machine to provide funds for milk producers on its own. The Karnataka government revised the price of milk in the state by Rs 2 on June 25, 2024, with an additional 50 ml of milk added to each packet, which led to criticism. Now, the decision has been taken to withdraw the additional 50 ml of milk. Ahmedabad, March 27 : Three members of a family have been found dead at their residence in Umargram in Gujarat's Valsad district, an official said on Thursday, adding the deceased also includes a two-year-old child. Police launched a thorough investigation into the incident, which is suspected to be a case of suicide, an official said. The incident took place on the third floor of Neelkanth Apartment in the outskirts of Umargam, where 28-year-old Shivam Vishwakarma, his wife Aarti Vishwakarma, and their two-year-old child were found dead. When their apartment door remained shut for an unusually long time in the morning, neighbors grew suspicious. They knocked on the door and called out, but received no response. Concerned, they informed the police. Upon arrival, the police forced open the door and were met with a horrifying sight -- Shivam Vishwakarma was found hanging from the ceiling, while the lifeless bodies of his wife and child lay inside the house. Initial police investigations indicate that Shivam Vishwakarma was originally from Jhansi and was working in a private company in Umargam. According to neighbours, he was a calm and friendly individual with a good rapport with those around him. However, in recent months, he was under immense stress due to massive financial losses in Forex trading (foreign exchange investments). A close friend of the deceased revealed that Shivam had invested heavily in Forex markets, but recent downturns in the global financial sector resulted in severe losses. Police suspect that mounting debts and economic hardship pushed the family to take this extreme step. Senior officers from the Valsad police and Umargam police departments rushed to the scene immediately upon receiving the report. The police have sent all three bodies for postmortem and started questioning the deceasedas relatives, neighbours, and acquaintances to uncover the full story behind the tragic incident. Speaking on the case, Valsad Deputy SP Bhargav Pandya said: "We are examining the deceased's mobile records, bank transactions, and financial documents. While financial distress appears to be the primary reason, we are investigating all possible angles to rule out any other factors." Gujarat has witnessed a concerning rise in suicide cases over recent years, reflecting a broader national trend. In 2021, the state reported 8,789 suicides, marking a 9.1 per cent increase from the 8,050 cases in 2020. Over a three-year span, from 2019 to 2021, Gujarat recorded 25,478 suicide cases, averaging approximately 25 suicides daily. A significant portion of these cases involves daily wage workers. In 2017, 2,131 daily wagers died by suicide, a figure that rose to 3,204 in 2021. The student community has also been affected. Between 2017 and 2021, over 3,000 students in Gujarat died by suicide, highlighting the pressures faced by young individuals in academic settings. In the 2022-23 period alone, the state registered 8,538 suicides, with Ahmedabad city reporting the highest number among all police jurisdictions. New Delhi, March 27 : Robert Vadra, husband of Congress General Secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi, defended Rahul Gandhi's absence at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, stating that their family does not believe in public displays of religion. Participating in such events would cause disruption and inconvenience to pilgrims due to VIP arrangements, Vadra explained. "If we go to Mahakumbh, there could be disruption and pilgrims' inconvenience due to VIP arrangements... we can go at any time. We don't do anything for public display. We don't have to show how secular we are," Vadra said in an interview with IANS. Vadra further slammed the practice of 'mixing religion with politics', saying: "My belief is that we should not indulge in religious acts for public display or indulge in politics of show off. So, I believe Rahul Gandhi does not undertake religious visits for public display; he can go to any holy place whenever he decides to, and also, there should be no inconvenience to others." Regarding the ban on offering Namaz on roads or rooftops in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district, Vadra emphasised that people turn to their faith in times of difficulty. "Whenever a person is in trouble, he remembers his God, not any minister, because no minister is going to come at that time. Those who go to the temple or mosque, remember the difficult times and pray so that their troubles are averted," he said. Vadra also condemned the BJP's divisive politics, saying: "If the BJP indulges in politics of religion or divides on religious lines, by saying that Namaz cannot be offered and meat shops should be closed or the names of places named after Aurangzeb should be changed, then this kind of politics is harmful. This will not bring progress, and everyone will be divided." He concluded by criticising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's controversial remark, "The way Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says, 'Batoge to Katoge' if any Chief Minister has such thinking, then we will never be able to move forward." Bangalore, March 27 : In a move against substandard para-medical colleges, Karnataka's Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development Sharan Prakash Patil has directed officials to withdraw affiliations and shut down institutions failing to meet infrastructure and teaching standards. During a review meeting of the state para-medical board held at Vikasa Soudha on Thursday, officials reported alarming deficiencies in several private colleges. Instances included colleges operating in cramped spaces with inadequate facilitiesone institution had just a single microscope for hundreds of students, while another functioned without proper lighting. Minister Patil emphasised that many private institutions present a misleadingly rosy picture while seeking approval but fail to deliver quality education once permitted, despite charging hefty fees. Of the 566 para-medical colleges in the state 529 are privately run, admitting 22,256 students in the 2024-25 academic year. Private colleges charge Rs 20,000 annually for a three-year course, compared to Rs 8,500 for government institutions. Inspections revealed that over ten colleges had illegally transferred students to other institutions without the para-medical board's approval. Several institutions were also found to be failing in providing the necessary teaching and training for their enrolled courses. "Close down such colleges without any consideration. We must send a strong message to these institutions," the minister directed, while also ensuring that students affected by regulatory actions would be shifted to better institutions. The para-medical stream in Karnataka offers various diploma courses, medical laboratory technology (DMLT), diploma in medical imaging technology (DMIT), diploma in health inspector(DHI), diploma in medical records technology (DMRT), diploma in operation theatre and anaesthesia technology (DOT and AT), diploma in dialysis technology (DDT), diploma in ophthalmic technology (DOT), diploma in dental mechanics (DDM) and diploma in dental hygiene (DDH). Successful candidates from these programmes are eligible for roles in hospitals, medical and dental colleges, primary health centres, and clinical laboratories at the district and taluk levels. This crackdown aims to safeguard the quality of para-medical education and ensure that students receive proper training for their future careers in the healthcare sector, the Minister stated. Principal Secretary Mohammed Moshin, Director of medical education B.L. Sujatha Rathod and special officer of the Para-Medical Board Vijay Kumar briefed the minister during the meeting. Imphal, March 27 : Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Thursday said that more than 400 new TB cases were found in six districts of the state after the 100-day TB Elimination Campaign was launched on December 7 last year. The Governor said that the 100-day TB Elimination Campaign was conducted in the six districts, and around one lakh individuals were screened, leading to the identification of more than 400 new TB cases. Door-to-door testing with mobile vehicles known as aNikshay Vahana was adopted to ensure early diagnostics and treatment in remote areas, he added. Under the aNikshay Mitraa initiative, individuals and organisations who have committed to supporting TB patients through nutritional assistance have been enrolled, the Governor said. The state-level observation of the 44th World Tuberculosis Day was organised at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan here. In his address at the event, the Governor said that tuberculosis continues to pose a great challenge in India and globally, and they are aware of the devastating impact this disease has on individuals, families and communities. He said that today is a day of hope and a day to reaffirm the commitment to eliminate TB by 2025 as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under the TB-Mukt Bharat initiative. The Governor reiterated that the government is committed to ensuring the elimination of TB within the stipulated time, and all-out efforts have been put in place to achieve the target. He appealed to the people to pledge today to redouble efforts to eliminate TB so that future generations can live in a world free from the disease. He commended healthcare workers, administrators and support staff who have contributed to ensuring the Kayakalp programme a success. The Governor distributed certificates of Proficiency to the IRL laboratory and prizes to the winners of the painting competition organised for the day. A short movie on TB elimination and a testimonial from a TB-recovered patient were also shown, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment. Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health), Sumant Singh, said that Manipur has shown outstanding performance at the national level in the 100-Day TB Elimination Campaign, underscoring the state's commitment to eliminating the dreaded disease. He further stated that with advancements in medical technology, new and effective methods of testing, such as Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT), have been developed, ensuring high sensitivity and specificity in TB detection. He expressed hope that with community engagement and participation, the campaign to eliminate TB will become even more successful. New Delhi, March 27 : The recently announced nuclear mission aims to generate 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear energy by 2047, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh told the Parliament on Thursday. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, the MoS said this constitutes 10 per cent of India's total energy needs. To achieve this, the government has taken a bold step by opening the nuclear sector to private players. Dr Singh said the move was "previously considered unthinkable". "This is a historic decision that breaks past taboos. The nuclear programme has traditionally operated behind a veil of secrecy, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have now paved the way for private sector participation," he stated. Calling it "a groundbreaking initiative", he said it will not only meet India's growing energy demands but also ensure a clean and stable power source. A key focus of the mission is the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which range from 16 MW to 300 MW in capacity. These reactors are particularly suited for the country's diverse energy needs, including remote areas and industrial clusters. "These small modular reactors will provide readily available, environment-friendly electricity across the country," Dr Singh noted. The Minister also outlined the significant budgetary boost for nuclear energy. "Since 2014, there has been a 170 per cent increase in the budget for the Department of Atomic Energy. In the 2024-25 budget, Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated specifically for the indigenous development of at least five Bharat Small Modular Reactors," he said. Further, the government's ambitious nuclear expansion plan also includes the development of Indiaas thorium reserves, which account for 21 per cent of the world's total. Dr Singh pointed out that projects such as the Bhavini reactor and the Kudankulam nuclear plant, which had faced delays before 2014, have gained momentum under the current administration. With the private sectoras involvement and a strong commitment to indigenous development, Indiaas nuclear energy sector is set for rapid transformation, ensuring energy security and reinforcing its role as a global leader in clean energy solutions, he noted. Kolkata, March 27 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation seeking direction for the deployment of central armed police forces (CAPF) personnel at the election for Contai Co-Operative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank Ltd in West Bengal's East Midnapore district on March 29. Earlier this week, the public interest litigation was filed by Swapan Bera, apprehending election malpractices and violence over the polls on the weekend. In his petition, Bera also highlighted the precedent of the deployment of CAPF for the Contai co-operative bank polls in December last year, following an order from the Supreme Court. On Thursday, the matter came up for hearing at the division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chattopadhyay but was dismissed, as the judges observed that this particular plea could not be treated as public interest litigation. The division bench also observed that it would be better for the petitioner to move to the apex court if he considers it suitable. Counsel for the petitioner and CPI-M Rajya Sabha member Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya argued that since poll-related violence had become a trend in West Bengal, CAPF deployment and CCTV camera installation were absolutely essential in the polls scheduled on Saturday. He also drew the precedents of the Contai co-operative bank election being conducted under CCTV coverage and CAPF deployment in December last year. Appearing for the state government, Advocate General Kishor Datta said that mere allegations and apprehension of violence were not enough to justify the arguments on behalf of the petition. The petitioner will have to substantiate why CAPF deployment was necessary when the state police forces are arranging for absolute security for the polls, he argued. Thereafter, the division bench not only dismissed the demand for CAPF deployment but also scrapped the public interest litigation altogether. East Midnapore is the native district of BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. His younger brother, Soumendu Adhikari, is currently the MP from the Kanthi Lok Sabha seat, under which the Contai Co-Operative Agriculture & Rural Development Bank Ltd comes. New Delhi, March 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke with King Philippe of Belgium, discussing shared close ties between the two countries which remain underpinned by strong mutual interests in trade and investment. "It was a pleasure to speak with HM King Philippe of Belgium. Appreciated the recent Belgian Economic Mission to India led by HRH Princess Astrid. We discussed deepening our strong bilateral ties, boosting trade and investment, and advancing collaboration in innovation and sustainability," PM Modi posted on X after the phone call. In November 2017, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium paid a State Visit to India - their first to India following King's ascension to the throne in 2013 - at the invitation of the President of India. Belgium was also among the first European countries to establish a diplomatic mission in India after Independence and the visit had further strengthened the historical strong ties between the two countries. Earlier this month, Princess Astrid of Belgium led a high-powered economic delegation - second such Economic Mission to India - that consisted of over 325 Belgian delegates comprising of key CEOs, senior leadership from Belgian businesses, academic representatives as well as high-ranking officials of the country. Princess Astrid had also called on Prime Minister Modi as both countries agreed to work closely to discover new pathways for cooperation across emerging and high-impact sectors, strengthening economic resilience, foster innovation-led growth, and deepen bilateral cooperation to benefit the people of the two countries. The Princess was accompanied by Maxime Prevot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation; Theo Francken, Minister of Defence, in charge of Foreign Trade; and Matthias Diependale, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders and Flemish Minister for Economy, Innovation and Industry, Foreign affairs, Digitisation and Facility Management. External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar also met with Princess Astrid and her delegation besides also separately meeting the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium. "They held productive discussions in a variety of areas including regular political and official engagement, trade and investment, digital and other technologies, semiconductors, defence, innovation and clean energy, infrastructure, chemicals, agriculture and food processing, and easier mobility of skilled professionals," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Princess also held meetings with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh; Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal; and, Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnav. "As part of the Economic Mission, over 35 business and academic collaboration agreements were signed in diverse areas like green technology, healthcare, defence, food processing, ports and education. "The bilateral trade between the two amounted to over USD 15 billion in 2023-24, making Belgium fifth largest trading partner of India in EU. There are over 175 Belgian companies present in India with cumulative investments from Belgium amounting to USD 4 billion. The Economic Mission led by Princess Astrid would boost two-way investment and diversification of trade," the MEA stated. Seoul, March 27 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been awarded a medal commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory Day by the Russian government on Thursday, Moscow's embassy in Pyongyang said. According to the embassy's social media post, the medal marking the Soviet Union's World War II victory over Nazi Germany was conferred on Kim on the directive of Russian President Vladimir Putin. An award ceremony was held at Pyongyang's Mansudae Assembly Hall, where Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora presented the medal and certificate to Kang Yun-sok, Vice Chairman of North Korea's Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly. The certificate stated that Kim received the medal in recognition of his contributions to honoring the memory of Soviet soldiers who died and are buried in North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported. The medal was awarded more than a month ahead of Victory Day, which falls on May 9. Russia had previously conferred similar medals on Kim in May 2015 and May 2020 to mark the 70th and 75th anniversaries. This comes after a Russian Minister said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia is expected this year, and the preparations are underway for it. Speaking to journalists in Moscow, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Russia is preparing for Kim's visit to the country, Russian news agencies TASS and Ria Novosti reported, though they did not specify the exact timing of the visit. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also planning to visit Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, to continue the strategic dialogue with North Korea, according to the reports. The news came amid growing speculation about Kim's potential visit to Russia on the occasion of Russia's 80th Victory Day anniversary on May 9, potentially as a reciprocation for Russian President Putin's visit to North Korea in June last year. At that time, Putin invited Kim to Moscow for summit talks. Earlier this month, Rudenko traveled to Pyongyang, where he met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu and discussed arranging "political contacts at the high and top levels," TASS previously reported. Last week, Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu also traveled to Pyongyang and met with Kim, delivering a message from Putin, Yonhap news agency reported, quoting the Russian news agencies TASS and Ria Novosti. North Korea and Russia have aligned closely since Kim and Putin signed a mutual defence treaty during the Russian President's visit to Pyongyang last year, elevating bilateral military cooperation and resulting in the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 27. Kazakhstan welcomes the completion of negotiations on the peace agreement draft between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the countrys President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said at a meeting with the Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan,Trend reports. "This historic event will mark the beginning of lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and will enhance security and foster the active development of cooperation in the region, both with Kazakhstan and all Central Asian nations," he said. To note, on March 13, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced the completion of negotiations on the text of the draft 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. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel New Delhi/Bhopal, March 27 : The Supreme Court has "stayed" the inquiry against the Madhya Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Chairman Ajeet Prakash Shrivastava, following his petition filed under Article 32. This case is likely the first of its kind in India, challenging what Shrivastava has described as an "arbitrary act" by the state government to remove him from his position. New Delhi/Bhopal, March 27 (IANS) The Supreme Court has "stayed" the inquiry against the Madhya Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Chairman Ajeet Prakash Shrivastava, following his petition filed under Article 32. This case is likely the first of its kind in India, challenging what Shrivastava has described as an "arbitrary act" by the state government to remove him from his position. In his plea, Shrivastava contended that the inquiry was initiated in clear violation of Section 26 and Rule 35 of the RERA Act, 2016. He emphasised that Section 26 requires an inquiry into a "statement of charges", which, according to his petition, has not been presented to him. The Supreme Court is set to hear the matter further on April 2, 2025. Known for his uncompromising stance, Shrivastava's actions have reportedly unsettled some individuals, leading to a complaint filed on July 23, 2025, against a specific decision by the RERA. As per the petition, the complaint pertained to a decision made collectively by the full authority and not Shrivastava individually. Nevertheless, the government allegedly singled him out for removal, which Shrivastava argued was unjustified. He further noted in his writ that any decision or order issued by RERA is subject to appeal in the appellate tribunal. The complainant had the option to choose a remedy. The petition also highlighted that, under the RERA Act, no action can be taken against the chairman without a proper inquiry, and only after giving him an opportunity to defend himself. Despite this, on February 13, 2024, the Chief Minister's office issued an "order" cancelling Shrivastava's appointment as chairman. According to the plea, this directive violated the rules and procedures outlined in the RERA Act. Section 26 of the Act stipulates that only a High Court Justice is authorised to investigate the "statement of charges" brought forward by the state government against the chairman. Removal is permissible only if the charges against the chairman, members, or the authority are substantiated during the inquiry, as per Shrivastava's submission in the apex court. The state government, acting on complaints from private individuals, referred the matter to the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur. Following that, Justice Maninder Singh Bhatti has been assigned to conduct the "inquiry" into the "charges". This is not the first instance of premature termination of a RERA chairman's tenure by the state government. The role of RERA chairman is typically meant to last for a five-year term. Vijayawada, March 27 : Muslim organisations boycotted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's Iftar party here on Thursday over the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. Vijayawada, March 27 (IANS) Muslim organisations boycotted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naiduas Iftar party here on Thursday over the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. On a call given by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Muslim leaders stayed away from aIftar and dinnera at the Convention Centre here. The apex body of Muslims called for a boycott of Iftar parties hosted by the state government in Vijayawada and other places in the state to demand that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) prove its commitment to making the Union government withdraw the Waqf Amendment Bill from the Parliament. Leaders of Muslim organisations, prominent personalities and religious scholars belonging to all the sects did not attend the Chief Ministeras Iftar. Only Muslim legislators of the TDP and heads and members of minority institutions like the Waqf Board, the Haj Committee, and the Urdu Academy were present. Tight security arrangements were made at A Plus Convention, the venue of the iftar party. The iftar was followed by aNamaz-e-Maghriba or evening prayers and dinner. Naidu joined the Muslim guests in the prayers and later had dinner with them. One of the invitees even claimed that policemen and other security personnel outnumbered the guests. Anticipating a protest by some members of the community, the security personnel did not allow several invitees carrying invitation cards. The invitee told IANS that even the intervention of Minority Welfare Minister N. Md Farooq did not help as the policemen were in no mood to heed to anyone. Even journalists were forced to turn away. On the occasion, Chandrababu Naidu said the TDP had always worked for the welfare of minorities. Recalling the TDPas close bonding with the minorities since its inception, he said the party was committed to secularism and uplifting minorities in all spheres of life. He pointed out that it was during the TDPas rule that Urdu universities were set up in Hyderabad and Kurnool, and Urdu was made the second official language. The Chief Minister did not refer to the Waqf Amendment Bill during his speech but gave an assurance that Waqf assets would be protected. Muslim organisations are planning a adharnaa in Vijayawada on April 2 to demand that the TDP make the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre withdraw the Waqf Amendment Bill, which is detrimental to the interests of the community and goes against the very purpose of Waqf. Muslim Joint Action Committee leader Muneer Ahmed said they boycotted the iftar to convey their resentment to the TDP. The AIMPLB feels that both the TDP and the Janata Dal-United, who are key partners of the Narendra Modi government, are not doing enough to make it withdraw the Waqf Amendment Bill. On a call given by the AIMPLB, Muslim organisations boycotted the iftar party hosted by Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar in Patna two days ago. Cairo, March 27 : Six people, including two minors, of Russian nationality were killed after a tourist submarine sank in the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt. The accident occurred on Thursday in the resort city of Hurghada. The vessel was carrying out an underwater tour with a coral reef inspection, according to media reports. Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted a statement from the Russian Consulate General in Hurghada revealing that all the tourists on board were Russians. "There were 45 tourists on board, including minors, as well as crew members. All of them were Russian citizens, tourists of the company Biblio Globus," the consulate's statement read. The diplomatic mission told RIA Novosti that after the crash of the bathyscaphe, 38 Russians were rescued, while the fate of the remaining is not yet known. The Consulate General noted that 24 people were transported to hotels, and the remaining 14 are in hospitals. The cause of the incident is still under investigation, with the Russian Embassy stating that consular staff were dispatched to the pier of the Sindbad Hotel, which owns the submarine. Egyptian media outlet Youm7 reported that the victims were taken to the nearest hospital in the Al-Kawther area in Hurghada and some of them remain in critical condition. According to preliminary information, the accident occurred due to an error by the pilot of the ship. He could not cope with the control and flew to the reef. As a result, the salon depressurized. The company Sharm Hurghada Excursions, which organised the tour, told Russian newspaper Izvestia that the sunken bathyscaphe has worked for more than 10 years and is the only submarine at the disposal of the company. Hurghada, a popular tourist city located about 460 kilometers (285 miles) southeast of Cairo, is known for its Red Sea coral reefs and islands, which attract international visitors. Jaipur, March 27 : Jaipur Police have apprehended three inmates from Jaipur Central Jail for issuing a death threat to Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa. The threat call was traced to the jail, prompting an immediate police operation, said officials. Following the death threat call to the Deputy Chief Minister, the Lalkothi police station launched an investigation. Upon tracing the mobile phoneas location, it was found to be inside Jaipur Central Jail. A police team was dispatched, and a search operation was conducted late Wednesday night, continuing into Thursday morning. During the search, officers detained three inmates and recovered the mobile phone used to make the threat. Jaipur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph confirmed the incident, stating: "At around 4:30 PM on Wednesday, a call was received at the police control room, threatening to kill the Deputy Chief Minister. When the phoneas location was traced, it was found to be inside Jaipur Central Jail. A police team was sent to the jail, and on Thursday, three individuals were detained." Another senior official addressed concerns about unauthorised mobile phones inside prisons and acknowledged the persistent issue, stating: "The smuggling of mobile phones inside jails is an ongoing problem. Despite regular searches and legal action, inmates continue to access mobile devices with the help of insiders." He said that this is not the first such incident in Rajasthan when a senior leader has received a death threat. Earlier on February 21, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also received a death threat from Dausa Jail. The accused, a prisoner in a POCSO case, made two calls to the police control room within a span of 10 minutes (12:45 AM - 12:55 AM) from Shyalwas Central Jail. On July 27, 2024, a similar threat call was made to the Jaipur Police Control Room from Shyalwas Jail, targeting the Chief Minister. Following the call against the Chief Minister, Jaipur Policeas special team seized mobile phones from the jail, and a case was registered against the prisoner who made the threat. Additionally, a person who smuggled a SIM card into the jail was also arrested. Bhubaneswar, March 27 : More than 50 people including many police officials sustained injuries as a face-off ensued between the supporters of the Congress and security forces during the protest rally over women safety here on Thursday. It is worth mentioning that a scuffle broke out between Congress workers and the police when the latter stopped the protestors marching towards Odisha Assembly to gherao it over rising cases of crime against women in the state. Some angry protestors threw stones and chairs at the security forces who also resorted to cane-charge to disperse the Congress workers. The police also used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the Congress supporters in the PMG area. The area became a battleground for a few minutes. The Congress leaders alleged that the police have brutally assaulted the Congress workers who sustained serious injuries on head, limbs and other body parts. "They (police personnel) committed brutal assault as per the instructions of the state government. We were holding a peaceful rally to Gherao the Assembly, but the police brutally assaulted the Congress workers. Around 40 to 50 Congress workers including women sustained serious injuries due to the police assault," Congress MLA Ramesh Jena told IANS. He also added that the injured party workers are getting treatment at private and government hospitals. He also stated that many workers are under the custody of police. As per reports, around 15 police personnel have also sustained injuries. Commissioner of Police Suresh Dev Datta Singh and other senior police officials met the injured police personnel at the hospital. Speaking to media persons, the commissioner of Police Singh said that it was the duty of the police to safeguard the assembly building and other constitutional bodies during the political protest on Wednesday which it discharged. "Some people became unruly and to control them water cannons, tear gas was used by police. Some protestors engaged in unruly activities including stone pelting and attempting to set a vehicle on fire. Police used force in a controlled manner and with restraint. Strict action will be taken against those engaged in unruly activities on the basis of CCTV footage," added Singh. Some media personnel also got injured while reporting the protest rally on Wednesday. It is pertinent here to mention that since March 7, during the second phase of the Assembly session, opposition congress members are holding protests demanding formation of a house committee to investigate the alleged rise in atrocity against women in the state. New Delhi, March 27 : Several ambassadors and top diplomats from Islamic nations attended a 'Sadhbhavana Iftar' hosted by the Indian Minorities Federation (IMF) in New Delhi on Thursday evening, lauding India's cultural heritage, harmony and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwaas' initiative to reach all communities. More than 15 ambassadors, diplomats from Islamic nations, government representatives, religious scholars, and community leaders had gathered to celebrate the spirit of Ramazan and foster interfaith harmony at Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu's residence in the capital. The luminaries from diverse backgrounds hailed India's mantra of 'Unity in Diversity' as they exchanged views on cultural heritage and harmony among all communities. "At the outset, we would like to express our highest appreciation to the esteemed Indian Minorities Federation for this wonderful occasion. If this event conveys an idea or sends a message, it is one that resonates with me deeply: this is India. India is a multicultural and religiously diverse state. I believe this initiative is a step in the right direction for a Viksit Bharat," Oday Hatim Mohammed, Deputy Head of Embassy of Iraq in New Delhi, told IANS. "This is the idea I mentioned a" a collection of multi-religious states. India is not just a state for Hindus, Christians, Muslims, or others, but a multilingual and multi-religious state, which strengthens and enhances India's identity. I am sure India will achieve the 'Viksit Bharat' milestone much ahead of the specified date, which I believe is set for 2047. India is certainly capable," he added. The IMF has been organising such events to promote harmony, brotherhood and prosperity across the diverse Indian communities from time to time. The 'Sadhbhavana Iftar' strengthened the bond of 'oneness', spotlighting India's commitment to pluralism, interfaith harmony, and strong ties with the Islamic world. "On behalf of the Bangladeshi High Commission in New Delhi, I would like to thank everyone for inviting us. We are extremely proud to attend the Sadbhavana Iftar," said Mohammed Nurul Islam, Bangladesh's Deputy High Commissioner to India. "I believe this is a wonderful start. It highlights the diversity of India a" diversity of people from different countries coming together to begin something meaningful. I am also very happy to be here in India, participating in such events during the holy month of Ramadan. This kind of interaction, where people from different countries, religions, and cultures come together under the banner of humanity, is truly special," said Mohamed Ali Fazari, a diplomat from the Embassy of Sudan in New Delhi. Hyderabad, March 27 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday said that if his government had indulged in vindictive politics, the opposition leaders would have been in jail. Addressing the Assembly, he said that the opposition leaders would not have sat in their seats and spoken freely if he had indulged in vindictive politics. "They would have been behind bars in Chanchalguda or Cherlapally jail like I was imprisoned under the BRS rule," he said. Revanth Reddy recalled that when he was an MP, he was booked for illegally using drones. "Though the law says that a fine of Rs 500 should be imposed, the then BRS government abused power to send me to Cherlapally jail." The Chief Minister said he was kept in the detention cell for 16 days without allowing anybody to meet him. He said the lights were kept on in the cell to deprive him of sleep. "Though I was an MP, they detained me like a notorious criminal in jail. God punished those leaders who were vengeful against me. God sent them to the hospital," he said. Revanth Reddy said that when he was sent to jail earlier, he had come on interim bail to attend his daughter's wedding. "Was it not a political vendetta against me? However, I did not commit any act of revenge. If I wanted to take revenge, your entire family would have been in Cherlapally jail," the Chief Minister told BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao. The Chief Minister said several people were asking him why BRS supremo K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and Rama Rao (KTR) were not sent to jail. He claimed that he maintained restraint as people did not give him the mandate for vindictive politics. In a strong counter to KTR during the debate on the state Budget, Revanth Reddy said his government waived farm loans to the tune of Rs 26,000 crore within six months. He alleged that the BRS, during its first term, waived farm loans of only Rs 13,000 crore. He said that though the BRS retained power for the second term, it did not complete the loan waiver. It was only after four years that they waived Rs 11,000 crore, but by then, the interest on outstanding loans had jumped to Rs 8,500 crore. The Chief Minister alleged that the BRS government redesigned irrigation projects for the sake of commissions. He said that KCR acquired the lands of the poor for projects but did not touch the lands of his relatives. Earlier, KTR accused the Chief Minister of personal hypocrisy and political incompetence. He accused the Chief Minister of dragging his family, including minor children, into political mudslinging. He portrayed Revanth Reddy as a political liability, asserting: "Wherever Revanth goes, defeat follows." Citing Revanth Reddy's campaign efforts in other states' elections and the recent MLC polls, KTR remarked: "The results are clear to the public. The more days Revanth speaks, the better - after hearing him, no one will vote for Congress for another 20 years." KTR further labeled the Chief Minister as "Rifle Reddy", alleging "Revanth Reddy is the one who aimed a gun at Telangana", contrasting him with KCR, whom he called "undoubtedly the father of the Telangana nation". KTR also accused Revanth Reddy of wiping out veteran Congress leaders to grab power, stating: "He's holding victory celebrations for failed governance." "We don't care what the Chief Minister thinks or does. He thinks power and position are permanent, but nothing is permanent. He can't send anyone to jail - only courts can," he added. New Delhi, March 27 : Aam Aadmi Party MP Malvinder Singh Kang on Thursday raised his concerns in Lok Sabha regarding the Immigration and Foreigners Bill 2025 and questioned the intent of the government behind the Bill. Kang said the government should reconsider the negative aspects of the Bill and address the related concerns. He highlighted that the Bill grants excessive power to police and security forces. "If even junior officials are given the authority to act or investigate, the likelihood of harassment of NRIs will increase," he said. He said that almost every family in Punjab has a member living abroad, and they frequently visit Harmandir Sahib and Anandpur Sahib due to their religious sentiments and deep connection to Punjab. "This law, if implemented, may create challenges for them," he said. The AAP MP pointed out that while studying this Bill, it becomes evident that although the government's concern appears to be national security, the real intent revolves around gaining political advantage. Therefore, he urged the government to reconsider the Bill and introduce necessary amendments. He further stated that the manner in which this Bill empowers police and other security forces needs to be reconsidered. "Many foreign nationals, who are bona fide citizens of other countries, come to India for medical treatment, education, tourism, and religious visits. Granting excessive power to the police will create issues for them, as many such cases have already come to light. Hence, it is crucial to address this matter seriously," he added. He mentioned the 2020-21 farmer protests when Punjabis settled around the world provided financial support to farmers fighting for their rights, which strengthened the movement. "Even during that time, the government deliberately deported some individuals. Similarly, in recent days, the US deported hundreds of people. They were not criminals. Most of them were students or individuals seeking a better life. Many of them were from Haryana, Punjab, and predominantly Gujarat," he said. He added, however, that the way they were arrested, handcuffed, shackled, and sent back on a plane brought shame to the country and made a mockery of us globally. "Such incidents must not happen again," he demanded. The AAP MP further appealed to the government to send the Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for thorough review of all aspects. Kolkata, March 27 : The Calcutta High Court on Thursday barred inviting any political personality to any event or seminar at Kolkata's iconic Jadavpur University. Kolkata, March 27 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Thursday barred inviting any political personality to any event or seminar at Kolkataas iconic Jadavpur University. The division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chattopadhyay also directed the Jadavpur University authorities to submit, withing the next three weeks, an affidavit on the existing state of security arrangements within the campus. It also advised the university authorities to ensure that only seminars or events related to academics are conducted within the campus to prevent the invitation of political personalities to such events. Amid the tension and ruckus within the university campus earlier this month in the presence of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, a public interest litigation was filed at the Calcutta High Court alleging the absence of adequate security arrangements within the university campus. The matter came up for hearing at the division bench on Thursday and after the hearing, the latter gave the following directions to the university authorities. During the hearing, the division bench had also questioned why the Jadavpur University authorities had been reluctant to seek help of the police despite there being ruckus and tension within the campus in the past. It also observed that the university authorities should give specific answers to this point raised on the day of the next hearing. On March 1, a ruckus broke out within the Jadavpur University campus when Education Minister Basu's car was allegedly stopped after it entered the campus, and a scuffle followed. The students were demanding immediate elections for the university's students' council. The protesting students alleged that while Basu decided to leave the campus in the face of the protests, his vehicle deliberately hit two agitating students, following which they were severely injured and had to be hospitalised. Amid the protests, the Minister received minor injuries and fell ill. He was taken to the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital and was discharged later. Seoul, March 27 : Hyundai Steel, South Korea's second-biggest steelmaker by sales, said on Thursday it will temporarily shut down one of its three domestic steel reinforcement bar (rebar) plants due to lower demand. The rebar plant in Incheon, just west of Seoul, will be suspended for the entire month of April, a company spokesperson said, adding the two other rebar plants will remain operational, reports Yonhap news agency. "This is not a regular maintenance closure but a production cut due to a deteriorating market condition," the spokesperson said. "We have made the decision to help normalise the rebar market even if we have to suffer immediate losses." Hyundai Steel produces rebar and steel sections at the Incheon plant, with an annual production capacity of about 1.5 million tons and 2 million tons, respectively. The temporary shutdown of Hyundai Steel's rebar plant will help ease an oversupply in the market where steelmakers suffer from declining product prices amid tougher competition, the spokesperson said. On March 14, Hyundai Steel entered an emergency management mode in response to growing challenges, including the recent imposition of steel tariffs by the Trump administration and ongoing strife with unionised workers. All company executives took a 20 percent pay cut effective March 13, while the company began reviewing a voluntary retirement program for employees. The company has been locked in prolonged wage talks with its union since September. The union has conducted multiple strikes disrupting production. On Feb. 24, it already suspended its cold-rolled steel facility in Dangjin, about 80 kilometers southwest of Seoul, in the wake of a monthslong strike by its workers demanding pay hikes. The pickling line/tandem cold mill (PL/TCM) facility is a key part of the company's integrated steel mill in Dangjin. The company's situation has been exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel imports to America, including goods from South Korea. a"IANS na/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. Baghdad has granted final approval for bps contract to invest in the redevelopment of major oil fields in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, Trend reports. The agreement, signed between bp, North Oil Company (NOC), and North Gas Company (NGC), covers oil, gas, power, and water infrastructure, with potential exploration opportunities. The contract was finalized in a meeting attended by Iraqs Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul Ghani, bp CEO Murray Auchincloss, bp Regional President for the Middle East and North Africa Nader Zaki, and bp President Iraq Zaid Elyaseri. This is an enormous opportunity as we grow bps oil and gas business, Auchincloss said, emphasizing the companys experience in managing large fields and executing major projects. Under the agreement, bp will establish a new operator with personnel from NOC, NGC, and bp. The initial phase focuses on developing the Baba and Avanah domes of the Kirkuk field and three adjacent fields - Bai Hassan, Jambur, and Khabbaz - currently managed by NOC. The total resource potential across the project area is estimated at up to 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Patna, March 27 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took part in the Iftar party organised at the Haj Bhawan in Patna on Thursday. He was accompanied by the State Rural Works Department Minister Ashok Chaudhary, Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Minority Affairs Minister Mohd. Zama Khan, and several other JD-U leaders. The event witnessed a significant turnout, promoting the message of brotherhood and communal harmony. During the event, attendees raised slogans of "2025 again CM Nitish Kumar", indicating strong support for the Chief Minister's leadership ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Minister Ashok Chaudhary emphasised the importance of such events, saying: "JDU organises Iftar parties every year to maintain brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims." Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been consistently attending Iftar parties over the last four to five days, showcasing his engagement with the Muslim community. The first Iftar party was organised at CM Nitish Kumar's residence on Sunday, though it faced a partial boycott by some Muslim organisations due to his alliance with the BJP. Besides, the Chief Minister also attended its ally and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Chief Chirag Paswan's Iftar party and also joined the Iftar organised by Hindustani Awam Morcha President Jitan Ram Manjhi in Patna. He also participated in JD-U leader and Cabinet Minister Mohd. Zama Khan's Iftar event. The ongoing Iftar events reflect the intense political symbolism in Bihar. The Rashtriya Janata Dal, led by party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, has been actively spearheading these events. Lalu Prasad Yadav hosted an Iftar party at the residence of senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui on Monday, which saw a large turnout from the Muslim community. Despite the enthusiasm at the Haj Bhawan, CM Nitish Kumar refrained from interacting with the media and left the venue shortly after meeting community leaders. The series of Iftar parties has become a significant platform for political outreach in Bihar. With the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections approaching, these events are seen as efforts by political leaders to strengthen community ties and secure voter support, particularly among the Muslim community. Guwahati, March 27 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed on Thursday that the state will witness a political storm by the month of September this year due to Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi's alleged Pakistan links. "SIT has found many inputs regarding links of a number of Indian individuals with Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh. The SIT has also found multiple links of Ali Sheikh in India, and more revelations will come up in the next few days," the Chief Minister told media persons. He also said that the SIT was asked to complete the investigation by September this year. "By September, many more things will be revealed. I assure you that the state will witness a political storm," he said. Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh has been named in an FIR by the Assam Police for his alleged role in destabilising communal harmony, and it is alleged that Ali Tauqeer Sheikh had links with Gaurav Gogoi's wife, Elizabeth Gogoi, and the Congress MP's wife allegedly travelled to Pakistan on Ali Sheikh's invitation. Earlier, the SIT team questioned two staffers in the British High Commission to retrieve information about their links with Ali Sheikh. Ali Sheikh is under the lens for his purported role in seeking key information related to national security. The SIT team has also questioned an environmental scientist in the case. Sarma had said SIT has made progress in its initial investigation. He said, "The SIT has found significant evidence related to Ali Sheikh for his multiple visits to India and his controversial social media posts expressing immense interest in the politics of Assam. Sheikh visited India with a Pakistani delegation, including the Attorney General of that country." He said Ali Sheikh frequently visited India till 2018 and stayed in small hotels to avoid public attention. "We have been probing the entire ecosystem related to Ali Sheikh. If required, we will take the help of Interpol. We have also briefed the Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the developments," he said. A four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the alleged Pakistani links of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and his wife Elizabeth Gogoi. The Chief Minister said that pursuant to the registration of the case, the DGP, Assam Police, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter, adding that the Assam Police will conduct a professional and completely objective investigation. "The SIT would co-opt Inspectors, Sub Inspectors, and needed personnel with the approval of the Assam Police Headquarters and would from time to time report to the Assam Director General of Police," he said. In response to a series of allegations by the Chief Minister, Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi asserted that he is open to any investigation regarding the controversy. Earlier, the Chief Minister also questioned why Gaurav Gogoi met the Pakistan High Commissioner and later asked questions regarding national security and Defence in Parliament. Gogoi responded by saying that the visit to the Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit was a customary thing and there was nothing to hide. "A lot of BJP MPs have asked similar questions that I raised in Parliament. However, I am always open to any investigation, and it is the Assam government's duty to conduct the investigation," said Gogoi. Mumbai, March 27 : The Maharashtra Legislative Council on Thursday accepted a privilege notice against the stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra over the 'traitor' jibe and forwarded it to the Privileges Committee, said Upper House Chairman Ram Shinde on Thursday. The controversy stems from Kamra's recent show at the Habitat Comedy Club in Khar, where he performed a parody song targeting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The act prompted a backlash from Shiv Sena supporters, who vandalised the club and the hotel in which it is located on Sunday. "I have accepted the notice of breach of privilege against Kunal Kamra and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare and have sent it to Privilege Committee chairman Prasad Lad. The future course of action regarding the motion will be decided by the committee," said Shinde. The notice was moved on Wednesday by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar, who also serves as Leader of the House. Darekar said, "Kunal Kamra performed a song containing personal and insulting references to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde." He alleged that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Andhare had supported the performance and "used objectionable language, which amounts to contempt of the House. According to Darekar, both Kamra and Andhare "disrespected the dignity of legislative institutions through their remarks". BJP MLC Prasad Lad, who was appointed chairperson of the Privileges Committee last year, will now review the notice along with other committee members. As per the Legislative Council rules, if the committee finds merit in the complaint, the motion may be brought for discussion in the House. Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Bornare submitted a breach of privilege notice in the state assembly against Shiv Sena UBT deputy leader Sushma Andhare for allegedly mocking Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Minister of State for Finance Ashish Jaiswal extended support to Bornare's notice. BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar urged that the members of the Assembly's privilege committee be named soon. Presiding officer Sanjay Kelkar said Speaker Rahul Narwekar would take a decision on the notice. Meanwhile, Kamra has refused to apologise, asserting he would not "hide under the bed waiting for the controversy to die down." Kamra has already been booked by Khar Police on a complaint by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the Deputy Chief Minister Shinde. Kamra, who is currently in Puducherry, according to his Instagram bio, has been asked to appear before authorities within a week. The police have served two summons to Kamra. Agartala, March 27 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Thursday that the state government has undertaken measures to increase Howrah River's navigability which will also address the issue of flooding in Agartala city. In his statement on a calling attention notice in the state assembly, the Chief Minister said that two concept papers of Rs 248 crore and Rs 145.71 crore were prepared and submitted to the Central government for funding. Tripura has 12 major rivers, and out of them, eight rivers, including the Howrah and Gomati rivers, flow to Bangladesh. Saha, who also holds the Water Resources Division portfolio, said that the 61.20 km long Howrah river, which flows along the Agartala city, is vital for agriculture, drinking water, fishing and other livelihoods of lakhs of people. Of the 61.20 km of the Howrah river, 52 km falls in India and 9.20 km in Bangladesh, where it joins with the Titas river that merges into the Meghna river. The Chief Minister said that the state government has undertaken a series of measures to permanently address flooding in Agartala city by increasing the navigability of the Howrah River. He informed that the Water Resources Division of the Public Works Department is currently implementing a special program to remove silt, solid waste, and debris accumulated along the Howrah River's banks, which is expected to be completed within the next six months. Howrah River originates from the western edge of the Baramura Hill Range and flows westward before merging with the Titas River in Bangladesh. Saha mentioned that the Howrah River basin was sparsely populated before 1900. However, over the years, the population along the riverbanks in Agartala city, the state capital, has increased significantly. He highlighted that the residents along the Howrah River have been utilising it for their daily needs and economic benefits. "However, their direct and indirect activities have not only contributed to water pollution but also altered the river's morphology. Since the early 20th century, the flow of the Howrah River has undergone changes. Currently, the demand for its water is increasing for drinking and agricultural purposes in greater Agartala and its surrounding areas. The river's natural flow is being disrupted due to the construction of roads, embankments, bridge piers, causeways, and sandbags placed to collect water. As a result, the navigability of the river is gradually declining," said the Chief Minister. Additionally, he pointed out that human activities such as land-use changes, sand mining, water harvesting, solid waste disposal, agriculture, and hill cutting for brick industries have further impacted the river's course and natural dynamics. The Chief Minister further noted that extensive deforestation has exacerbated soil erosion, leading to sediment deposition in the river. This has reduced the Howrah River's water-holding capacity, increasing the risk of severe flooding even with minimal rainfall, he pointed out. "Along with this, there is a need to create overall public awareness so that dumping of accumulated dirt, garbage, etc. in the Howrah River water can be prevented so that the normal flow of the river water is not disrupted and the river water is not polluted," he stated. --IANS sc/dan Bhubaneswar, March 27 : Trouble mounts for the KIIT University in connection with the suicide of a Nepali female student in its campus on February 16 as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday recommended the Chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) to initiate requisite action against the private educational institution and its sister concern Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS). The action has been recommended for violating the NHRC guidelines related to sexual harassment and gender sensitisation on the campuses. The commission on Thursday also asked the chairman of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to examine the issue of violations of UGC guidelines and human rights like anti-ragging, Internal Complaint Committee for sexual harassment at workplace by the KIIT university and submit an Action Taken Report to the commission. Besides, the commission has also directed the Chief Secretary of Odisha to submit ATR on the issue of negligence on the part of the authorities of the private university leading to the suicide of the Nepali student and violations of various constitutional rights of the victim. The Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate, has also been asked to submit updated investigation report in the case of girl's suicide registered at the Infocity police station. The Apex rights body has issued the recommendations on the basis of the report of NHRC's Spot Inquiry Team which found the authorities of KIIT University violating various constitutional rights of the deceased girl on issues related to sexual harassment and access to higher education, etc. As per the directions of the commission, the team visited the campus of KIIT University and KISS in Bhubaneswar between March 6 and 8 for an on-spot inquiry into the suicide of Nepali female student and the allegations of various irregularities at the university. The inquiry team in its report revealed that the deceased Nepali girl student made a complaint on March 12, 2024, to KIIT's International Relations Office (IRO) in which she had written about undergoing severe mental stress and also had threatened her estranged boyfriend, Advik Shrivastava of committing suicide if he does not delete her objectionable photos. The team also ascertained that the IRO of university just get undertakings from the victim and the alleged accused and neither referred the issue to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the institution nor reported the matter at the local police station. "It is evident that the conduct of the IRO and University officers/disciplinary committee and college authorities sufficient to show that there is gross negligence and omission on their part IRO and University authorities which may treated amount to act of abetment to commit suicide on the part of the university officials, which finally resulted in her suicide," observed the commission. The Commission also observed that the university officials have admitted the fact that almost 1,000-1,100 students had left their hostel on February 17, whereas almost 180 girl students left the hostel in such a haste which may lead to some other untoward incident, but college authorities did not bothered safety of girl students and they were thrown out from campus. "Regrettably, the University was unrepentant and even had the audacity to reply that there had been no merit in the allegations. This manifests sheer insensitivity, if not downright arrogance," noted the NHRC. Besides, the apex rights body also directed the Khordha Collector to submit ATR over the non-compliance of recommendation made by the Khordha Child Welfare Committee on July 6, 2017 regarding irregularities in the (KISS). The CWC had recommended the district collector to form a joint inquiry committee to investigate the irregularities including overcrowding, unclean facilities, and lack of basic amenities at KISS. Ahmedabad, March 27 : The Gujarat Congress is set for a major restructuring as district and city presidents of the party will travel to New Delhi on April 3 for crucial discussions with the party's high command. Ahmedabad, March 27 (IANS) The Gujarat Congress is set for a major restructuring as district and city presidents of the party will travel to New Delhi on April 3 for crucial discussions with the partyas high command. The visit follows Congress leader Rahul Gandhias recent Gujarat tour, where he signaled a shake-up within the state unit to strengthen the partyas prospects ahead of key elections. A total of 33 district and eight city presidents will participate in the strategy meeting at Gandhi Bhavan in Delhi. The discussions will primarily focus on rebuilding the partyas grassroots network ahead of next yearas local body elections and decentralising power within the state unit, a demand that has been gaining traction among party workers. The initiative is part of a nationwide Congress revamp process, involving 700 district presidents across India in a three-phase engagement. Gujaratas leadership will engage with senior Congress figures to finalise strategies aimed at improving the partyas performance in the state, where it has struggled against the BJPas dominance for over two decades. Rahul Gandhias March 8 address in Ahmedabad served as a wake-up call for Gujarat Congress leaders. Speaking at a workers' meeting, he accused party members of working covertly for the BJP. "There are two types of people in Congress - those who are genuinely committed to the partyas ideology and those who, despite being part of Congress, act in the interest of the BJP," Rahul Gandhi stated, making it clear that such internal sabotage was a key factor in the partyas poor electoral performances. He further insisted that removing leaders acting as the BJPas aB teama was necessary to revive Congress in Gujarat. Rahul Gandhi hinted at a purge within the state unit, stating that 20 to 40 leaders may need to be expelled to ensure Congress regains its ideological integrity. He also acknowledged that Congress had failed to effectively connect with the public in Gujarat, attributing this to a divided leadership. "One section of our leadership understands and respects the people of Gujarat, while the other is detached and compromised," he said. He emphasised that winning elections should not come at the cost of the partyas values. "What truly matters is ensuring Congress remains under the leadership of those who uphold its core principles," he declared. Adding to the partyas renewed focus on Gujarat, the Congress high command has scheduled its national convention in Ahmedabad on April 8-9. The event will see senior leaders, national strategists, and regional representatives come together to chalk out a roadmap for Congressas revival in the state. During the convention, discussions will focus on formulating a mass outreach strategy to counter the BJPas influence, empowering local leadership to make autonomous decisions, strengthening booth-level committees to improve election performance, and addressing factionalism within the Gujarat Congress. Despite decades of electoral setbacks, Congress still holds a loyal voter base in rural Gujarat, especially among farmers, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minority communities. However, internal conflicts, a lack of strong leadership, and a weak cadre system have allowed the BJP to maintain an iron grip over the stateas politics. Political analysts believe that the upcoming Delhi meeting and the national convention in Ahmedabad will be crucial in determining Congressas future in Gujarat. With local body elections approaching in 2026 and the 2027 Gujarat Assembly elections on the horizon, the Congress partyas ability to implement these changes swiftly will determine whether it can pose a serious challenge to the BJP or remain a secondary force in the stateas politics. Patna, March 27 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar attended the Iftar party organised at Haj Bhawan in Patna on Thursday. He was accompanied by Rural Work Department Minister Ashok Chaudhary, Water Resource Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Jama Khan, and several other leaders of JD-U. The event witnessed a significant turnout, promoting the message of brotherhood and communal harmony. During the event, attendees raised slogans of '2025 again CM Nitish Kumar', indicating strong support for the Chief Minister's leadership ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Minister Ashok Chaudhary emphasised the importance of such events, saying: "JD-U organises Iftar parties every year to maintain brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims." Nitish Kumar has been consistently attending Iftar parties over the last four to five days, showcasing his engagement with the Muslim community. The first Iftar party was organised at Nitish Kumar's residence on Sunday, though it faced a partial boycott by some Muslim organisations due to his alliance with the BJP. Besides, he also attended Chirag Paswan's Iftar party and joined the Iftar organised by Jitan Ram Manjhi in Patna. He also participated in his party minister Jama Khan's Iftar event. The ongoing Iftar events reflect the intense political symbolism in Bihar. The RJD, led by Lalu Prasad Yadav, has been actively spearheading these events. Lalu Prasad Yadav also hosted an Iftar party at the residence of senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui on Monday, which saw a large turnout from the Muslim community. Despite the enthusiasm at Haj Bhawan, Nitish Kumar refrained from interacting with the media and left the venue shortly after meeting community leaders. The series of Iftar parties has become a significant platform for political outreach in Bihar. With the 2025 Bihar assembly elections approaching, these events are seen as efforts by political leaders to strengthen community ties and secure voter support, particularly among the Muslim community. Jaipur, March 27 : Addressing the Antyodaya Kalyan Samaroh, organised as part of the Rajasthan Diwas celebrations in Bharatpur, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma highlighted the state's rapid progress and its positive impact on the underprivileged. During the event, the Chief Minister also transferred Rs 100 crore to over 92,000 construction workers via DBT and allocated Rs 300 crore for regional development. He also oversaw the distribution of 20,000 land leases under the ownership card scheme, provided dairy booths to 311 beneficiaries, and handed out electric potter's wheels to clay artists. In a step towards inclusivity, he distributed power-driven wheelchairs and assistive devices to disabled individuals. Beneficiaries from various districts participated in the event through virtual interactions. The Chief Minister also released key policy guidelines, including those for the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Garibi Mukt Gaon Yojana, Guru Golwalkar Ashwanit Block Vikas Yojana, the 150 Units Free Electricity Scheme under PM Surya Ghar Yojana, and the Equal Opportunity Policy 2025 for Persons with Disabilities. He said: "Rajasthan is progressing towards new heights of development, ensuring that those at the last rung of society are empowered." Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma reaffirmed his government's dedication to the principle of Antyodaya, inspired by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state has committed to making Rajasthan poverty-free through initiatives such as the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Garibi Mukt Gaon Yojana, he said. Launched in this yearas budget, the scheme aims to uplift all BPL families in 5,000 villages in the first phase, with a provision of Rs 300 crore. He announced that Rajasthan Day will now be celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, in tribute to the stateas rich cultural and historical legacy. He emphasised that the idea of Antyodaya will reach every corner of Rajasthan, starting from the sacred land of Braj. The Chief Minister stated that the true strength of the nation lies in the empowerment of the poor, youth, farmers, and women. The government has already taken significant steps in this direction, including providing LPG cylinders at Rs 450 to poor families and ensuring nutritious meals through the Shri Annapurna Rasoi Yojana. Women empowerment is also a priority, with schemes like the Lado Protsahan Yojana, which offers a savings bond of Rs 1.5 lakh for girls from economically weaker families, and the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, which is enabling women in self-help groups to achieve financial Independence. The financial assistance provided to pregnant women under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandan Yojana has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,500, while pensions for senior citizens, widows, single women, disabled persons, and small and marginal farmers have been raised to Rs 1,250 per month. The government is also focusing on the upliftment of deprived communities through the Dadu Dayal Ghumantu Empowerment Scheme, which supports nomadic and semi-nomadic groups. To ensure balanced regional development, the funds for the Dang, Magra, and Mewat regional schemes have been increased to Rs 100 crore each. Under the Swamitva Yojana, all revenue villages will undergo a drone survey, with plans to issue two lakh new land leases in the coming year. Additionally, the government has introduced the Equal Opportunity Policy for Disabled 2025, ensuring greater inclusivity in state institutions. Chief Minister Sharma also addressed concerns regarding the integrity of recruitment exams, criticising past paper leak incidents. He assured that under his administration, recruitment examinations are conducted with full transparency, providing timely employment opportunities for the youth. Aizawl, March 27 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday said that because of the good behavior exhibited by former MLAs in the state assembly, present-day MLAs continue to uphold the same standards. Addressing the General Body Meeting of the Former Legislators Association of Mizoram (FLAM), the Chief Minister highlighted that Mizoram was among the pioneers in initiating the live telecast of Assembly Sessions, which has encouraged successive generations of MLAs to maintain decorum and dignity during the sessions. "Due to the good behavior exhibited by former MLAs in the House, present-day MLAs continue to uphold the same standard," Lalduhoma said and emphasised that FLAM members have set a commendable example for future generations. He wished them physical and mental well-being, encouraging them to remain active and share valuable advice with the younger generation. Lalduhoma, President of the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), referring to his political journey, observed that politics is unpredictable, and being a candidate is never easy. "The number of candidates contesting is high, but ultimately, the people's decision is what matters," he said. Expressing concern over the rising number of deaths of young men in the state, the Chief Minister said massive efforts should be made to address the issue and curb the increasing death rate. "I personally studied the increasing number of deaths of young people, and found that seven young men die as against every young female death. As a result of this, there are a large number of young widows in the state who do not have proper means of living," Lalduhoma said. He said that without a collective effort this critical issue can not be tackled and efforts should start from every household or family. The Chief Minister also released two books authored by Prof. J.V. Hluna during the event. FLAM President Liansuama, in his presidential speech, expressed gratitude to the Mizoram government for looking into the interest of the ex-MLAs and acknowledged the persistent efforts made over the years to achieve this. FLAM, established in 1994, currently has 117 members and 59 associate members, comprising the widows of deceased former MLAs and MPs. This year, two associate members, Rothangi (wife of Ch. Chhunga) and Nghakliani (wife of Lalrinliana of Dawrpui), celebrated their centenary birthdays and were honored at the event. Among the 33 members elected during Mizoram's first Union Territory elections in 1972 (30 elected and 3 nominated), seven members are still alive, with three of them attending the meeting. New Delhi, March 27 : To celebrate the holy month of Ramzan, Indian Minorities Federation (IMF) hosted the 'Sadbhavana Iftar' event for the ambassadors of 19 Muslim nations in India, which was held at the residence of Rajya Sabha MP and IMF Convener, Satnam Singh Sandhu, in the national capital. The Iftar event was attended by the ambassadors and diplomats from 19 countries, Islamic research scholars, clerics, religious leaders, intellectuals, writers and poets. Ambassadors and diplomats from 19 countries who attended the Iftar event included Somalia's Ambassador Abdullahi Mohamed Odowa, Afghanistan's Ambassador Syed Mohammad Ibrahimkhil, Syria's Ambassador Bassam AlKhatib, Gambia's Ambassador Mustapha Jawara, Mali's Education Counsellor Hassane Diallo, Bangladesh's Acting High Commissioner Md. Nural Islam, Sudan's Education Counsellor Mohamed Ali Fazari, Embassy of Algeria's First Secretary, and Head of Economic Affairs Abdelali Bouillouta, Malawi High Commission's Education Attache Beatrice Ngaunje, High Commission of Cameroon's Charge d'Affaires Sylvir Michele, Chad Embassy's Charge d'Affaires Hissein Oumar Seidou, Embassy of Guinea's Charge d' Affaires Diallo Boubacar, Embassy of Iraq's Ambassador, Oday Hatim Mohammed, Embassy of Cote D'Ivoire's Minister Counsellor, Martin Anoh, Tanzania High Commission's Minister Plenipotentiary, Fanuel J Mathiya and Nigeria High Commission's Education Attache Rukaiya Mustaphwa, Cultural Counsellor of Iran Fariduddin Faridasr and Deputy Chief of UAE Mission Majid Alnekhailawi. Others who attended the Iftar event included social reformer and Shia cleric, Maulana Syed Kalbe Rushaid Rizvi; Chishty Foundation Chairman, Haji Syed Salman Chishty; and IMF co-founder Himani Sood. Before breaking the fast, attendees offered prayers for peace, harmony and prosperity in India and world. The gathering provided a platform for ambassadors from the Islamic nations in India to come together in the spirit of brotherhood and unity during the holy month of Ramzan. On the occasion, the ambassadors of Muslim nations said India has deep historical, economic, and strategic ties with the Islamic world which have further been boosted in the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. They said that PM Modi has enhanced India's relationship with Muslim-majority countries in South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East to strengthen India's security and economy. The ambassadors of Muslim nations said PM Modi's outreach to the Islamic world and especially with the Arab world has taken India's centuries-old trade, cultural, and civilisational ties with the Muslim majority countries to the next level in the past 10 years. Ambassadors of Muslim nations said India's engagement with the Gulf region, which supplies more than 60 per cent crude oil to India and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) nations, who have bilateral trade with the country exceeding $200 billion, has become more robust and multifaceted under PM Modi's leadership in the past 10 years. They said as an international statesman, PM Modi has given a new direction to India's strategic and economic engagement with the Islamic world as a result of which the country now shares close security, trade and cultural ties with the Muslim majority nations which have honoured PM Modi with their highest civilian awards. Ambassadors of Muslim nations said under PM Modi's leadership, India has long positioned itself as a strong advocate for peace, stability, and dialogue in global conflicts involving the Muslim world, from Palestine to Afghanistan. They added that PM Modi-led India supports a two-state solution for Palestine and has actively provided humanitarian aid to Gaza. In Afghanistan, India has played a constructive role by investing in critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare to improve the lives of the Afghan people, they said. Ambassadors of Muslim nations said India has never engaged in military aggression against any Muslim-majority country, consistently promoting peaceful diplomacy in its foreign relations. As a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), India has historically opposed colonialism and foreign interference in Muslim-majority regions, reinforcing its commitment to fostering peace and cooperation worldwide, they added. Expressing joy over the privilege of hosting the Iftar-e-Daawat for the Muslim brothers amid the sacred month of Ramzan, Rajya Sabha MP and IMF Convener Satnam Singh Sandhu said, "Ramzan is not just a religious observance; it is a time for reflection, generosity, and community bonding -- a sentiment that India deeply values and upholds. India has always been multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious society, where every faith has co-existed in harmony for ages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has further strengthened this spirit of oneness and brotherhood among the Indians over the past decade by ensuring the progress of every community irrespective of any discrimination through his 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' mantra, reflecting India's inclusive ethos." Entire India is working unitedly to realise the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' under the strong leadership of PM Modi, say ambassadors from Muslim nations. Sudan's Education Counselor Mohamed Ali Fazari, "India is championing the cause of Global South along with other developing and developed countries. India is a leading country in the world in terms of helping many other nations across the world. The relationship between India and African nations have strengthened over the years. We have seen how India helped many countries during the Covid-19 pandemic." Edson Moyo, Zimbabwe's Plenipotentiary Minister, said, "India and Zimbabwe shared strong bilateral ties. India has always stood by Zimbabwe. We have focused on economic diplomacy and continued to move together. Artificial intelligence is one new area where India is moving forward rapidly. India has become the fastest developing country in the world. India can help in technology transfer. We have a lot to learn from social sector and particularly IT sector in India. India's role as technology transfer hub is very important. We are very excited to learn about the UPI payment system in India; it indeed is a great experience to pay by UPI. You don't have to carry cash; everything is done electronically. We are also working to introduce UPI-like system in our country. We are looking to establish more collaborations with India." High Commissioner of Gambia, Mustapha Jawara, "During Covid-19, India donated Gambia lots of vaccines and that saved so many lives. We are grateful to Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and his government for that." Asked about PM Modi's mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', Mustapha Jawara, "He (PM Modi) is the leader of the Global South. I will say that the Prime Minister (Modi) is best of the best. In the Global South, we love him. He is a global leader. He has shown this during the G20 and we in the Global South are proud of him for his role. It's because of him, our continent, Africa, has a representation in the G20. So we are grateful for that. He is championing our rights at all levels. So we have nothing but to thank him." Commenting on the peaceful co-existence of all communities in India, High Commissioner of Gambia said, "India is an example as the second largest Muslim country as far as I know. I as a Muslim has been invited to a function by a non-Muslim. That is testament of that." Asked about India's role as a peacemaker, Mustapha Jawara said: "India under PM Modi's administration has shown leadership in that sector. Because of India, there is peace in the world. If it were not India and the Prime Minister (Modi), the issue between Russia and Ukraine would have gone to another level." Cultural Counsellor of Iran, Fariduddin Faridasr, said, "What is common between India and Iran is that Prime Ministers of both the nations are connected to their soil, rooted in their culture, heritage and value system. India and Iran shared strong bilateral ties in the past and they will continue to strengthen it further in future as well. Due to these shared beliefs of PMs of both the nations, bilateral relations between Indian and Iran will be strengthened further. Supremacy of law is the soul of secularism and India has that unique power of secularism which is one among the many reasons that India will progress further as it gives respect and love people from all communities equally." BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a 15 million euro loan to Banca Intesa Belgrade under its Youth in Business program, Trend reports. The funding will support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) owned or managed by entrepreneurs under 35. This is the second EBRD loan of its kind to Banca Intesa Belgrade, following an initial 15 million euro loan in 2022, reflecting the growing demand for youth-focused financing in Serbia. The program aims to improve access to credit and expertise for young entrepreneurs, helping them develop their businesses. The programme is backed by the EU through the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), which offers risk-sharing instruments to support businesses in challenging markets. As part of this support, the EU is providing up to 1.5 million euros in first-loss risk coverage to improve young entrepreneurs' access to financing. The EBRD has been a key investor in Serbia, with over 9.8 billion euros invested in 374 projects, focusing on private-sector growth, the green economy, and sustainable infrastructure. Patna, March 27 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar attended the Iftar party organised at Haj Bhawan in Patna on Thursday amid 'Saugat-e-Modi' campaign launched by the BJP to reach out to Muslims community. 'Saugat-e-Modi' campaign will reach out to 32 lakh Muslim families and will bring happiness to the weaker section of the community. He was accompanied by Rural Work Department Minister Ashok Chaudhary, Water Resource Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Jama Khan, and several other leaders of JD-U. The event witnessed a significant turnout, promoting the message of brotherhood and communal harmony. During the event, attendees raised slogans of '2025 again CM Nitish Kumar', indicating strong support for the Chief Minister's leadership ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Minister Ashok Chaudhary emphasised the importance of such events, saying: "JD-U organises Iftar parties every year to maintain brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims." Nitish Kumar has been consistently attending Iftar parties over the last four to five days, showcasing his engagement with the Muslim community. The first Iftar party was organised at Nitish Kumar's residence on Sunday, though it faced a partial boycott by some Muslim organisations due to his alliance with the BJP. Besides, he also attended Chirag Paswan's Iftar party and joined the Iftar organised by Jitan Ram Manjhi in Patna. He also participated in his party minister Jama Khan's Iftar event. The ongoing Iftar events reflect the intense political symbolism in Bihar. The RJD, led by Lalu Prasad Yadav, has been actively spearheading these events. Lalu Prasad Yadav also hosted an Iftar party at the residence of senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui on Monday, which saw a large turnout from the Muslim community. On Tuesday, the BJP 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. 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. Mumbai, March 28 : Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has settled long-pending tax dues under the Maharashtra Tax, Interest, Penalty, or Late Fee (Settlement by Public Sector Undertakings) Act, 2025. Under this scheme, HAL has paid Rs 2,470.97 crore in a single payment. "To resolve long-standing tax disputes for the pre-GST tax period with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the Maharashtra Government announced 'Abhay Yojana 2025' during this budget session. Under the 'Maharashtra Abhay Yojana 2025 for Pre-GST Tax Laws', Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has become the first PSU in Maharashtra to settle outstanding tax dues. As a significant development for the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax Department (MGSTD), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) successfully settled long-pending tax dues under the Maharashtra Tax, Interest, Penalty, or Late Fee (Settlement by Public Sector Undertakings) Act, 2025. Under this scheme, HAL has paid Rs 2,470.97 crore in a single payment," a statement read. It further said, "This record resolution of Rs 9,752.53 crore in total outstanding dues marks a significant milestone in Maharashtra's tax history, reinforcing the state's commitment to streamlining tax compliance and resolving long-standing disputes." According to the state government, the tax disputes resolved under this scheme had been pending for over 35 years, with some cases dating back to 1986. The settlement has successfully resolved disputes arising under various pre-GST tax regimes, including the Bombay Sales Tax (BST), Central Sales Tax (CST), and Maharashtra Value Added Tax (MVAT) Acts. Other Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) with pending tax dues under pre-GST tax laws are encouraged to take advantage of this tax waiver scheme. This scheme is exclusively for public sector undertakings where only 30 per cent of the pending tax dues for the period up to March 31, 2005, and 50 per cent of the pending tax dues for the period from April 1, 2005, to June 30, 2017, need to be paid, while the interest and penalty will be completely waived off. Pending tax disputes can be settled before the deadline of December 31, 2025, said the release. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar during the presentation of the annual Budget for 2025-26 on March 10 proposed this amnesty scheme of the State Tax Department for the public sector undertaking companies for clearing their arrears. The scheme is titled 'Maharashtra Settlement of Arrears of Tax, Interest, Penalty' or 'Late Free Act 2025'. It will be in force from the commencement of the Act till December 31, 2025. Washington, March 28 : US President Donald Trump, on Thursday, withdrew the nomination of Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for ambassador to the United Nations (UN), saying he needs her to remain in Congress to "help me deliver" on his legislative agenda. Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives of 435 elected members, which could turn if Stefanik, who represents a Democratic-leaning district in New York is succeeded by a Democrat in a special election that would follow if she leaves for the UN job. There are special elections taking place that could also alter the math in the House. Stefanik was nominated as ambassador to the UN, which usually carries the rank of a Cabinet member. Republicans hold the House with 218 members to 213 Democrats. Four seats are vacant following Michael Waltz's move to the White House as Trump's National Security Adviser and Matt Gaetz not taking the oath of office following his nomination to head the Justice Department, which was withdrawn in the face of pushback from Republicans. Two other seats fell vacant because of the passing of two representatives. "As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress," President Trump wrote in a long post on Truth Social, his social media platform. "We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN." "With a very tight Majority, I don't want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise's seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People. Speaker Johnson is thrilled! I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC. Thank you Elise!" The Republican Party's thin majority in the House -- they control the 100-seat Senate with a better majority -- is often left perilously close to extinction by its own members from the hard-right wing of the party, who tend to not follow the party line. Bengaluru, March 28 : A horrific incident of a software professional from Maharashtra stabbing his wife to death at his residence and loading the body into a trolley bag has come to light in Bengaluru on Thursday, the police said. The victim is identified as 32-year-old Gauri Anil Sambekar, a resident of Doddakannammanahalli in the Hulimavu police station limits. The accused is identified as 36-year-old Rakesh Rajendra Khedkar. The police have said that she was stabbed in the neck and abdomen. The whole body was folded and loaded into a trolley bag, they added. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East), Sarah Fathima, said: "The couple hailed from Maharashtra and shifted to Bengaluru one year ago. The owner of the house called the police control room after finding the body in the suitcase. The deceased woman completed her bachelors in Mass Media and the accused husband worked at a private firm. He was working from home." "The parents of the victim have got in touch with the police and the latter are yet to know about the nature of relationship between the husband and wife. The police control room received the message, and other things are a matter of investigation," DCP Fathima added. The accused is absconding and the police have launched a manhunt for the accused, the police said. Sources said that the accused had called the parents of the victim after committing the crime. The victim's parents had contacted Maharashtra police which in turn have alerted the Karnataka Police. DCP Fathima rushed to the spot and monitored the investigation. Police suspect that the accused Rakesh had committed the crime on the midnight of Wednesday (March 26). In an earlier gruesome incident, Mahalaxmi, a single working woman, in Bengaluru, was killed on September 3 by her lover, who later chopped her body into more than 50 pieces and stuffed the body parts into a refrigerator. The alleged killer Mukthiranjan Roy was found hanging from a tree near a crematorium in Bhuinpur village under Dhusuri police station in Odisha's Bhadrak district. United Nations, March 28 : US President Donald Trump is pulling the nomination of firebrand Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to be the permanent representative to the UN because of the party's slender lead in the House of Representative. He said in a Truth Social post on Thursday that he was asking "Elise, as one of my biggest Allies", to remain in Congress to help deliver his "historic" agenda, and there were others who can do a "good job" at the UN. The job of permanent representative to the UN, a Cabinet position, requires Senate approval, and she appeared to have enough support to win an OK. But while other nominees went through the Senate process, her nomination was put on hold even though she had appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee a day after Trump took over as President for her testimony and questioning. The Republicans have a lead of only five seats in the House, with 218 seats to Democrats' 215, with four vacancies, two of which are likely to go to Republicans in next week's by-elections in Florida. If three Republicans, either from the extreme right or from the moderate group, do not back a party-sponsored legislation, it could fail and, therfeore, Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson want to retain loyalists in the House. "With a very tight Majority, I don't want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise's seat," Trump wrote. He added, "Speaker Johnson is thrilled! I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future." In the two months since former President Joe Biden's appointee Linda Thomas Greenfield quit with the change in administration, the US is represented temporarily by a career diplomat, Dorothy Shea. Trump, who is critical of the UN, is reconsidering participation in the world organisation and its affiliates, and contributions to them. The US has quit the World Health Organisation, the UN Human Rights Council and UNESCO. At the Senate panel hearing, Stefanik said she would press for reforms at the UN and pursue an 'America First' agenda, empowered by the fact that the US contributes 22 per cent of the UN budget. "Our tax dollars should not be complicit in propping up entities that are counter to American interests, anti-Semitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption or terrorism," she added. In January, Trump pulled the nomination of Patrick Shanahan to be the Defence Secretary when allegations of domestic abuse surfaced against him and he appeared to lose Senate support. Gary D. Schmidt is the author of numerous childrens books, including the National Book Award finalist Okay for Now, the Newbery Honor and Printz Honor book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, and the Newbery Honor book The Wednesday Wars. He lives in Michigan. A two-time winner of the PEN Award, Ron Koertge is the author of Stoner & Spaz and Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, among other titles for young readers. He lives in South Pasadena, Calif. In a recent phone conversation, friends Schmidt and Koertge discussed their new middle grade novel told in vignettes, A Day at the Beach, and what makes them ideally suited as collaborators. Ron Koertge: Do you remember e-mailing me about the project that turned into A Day at the Beach? Gary D. Schmidt: I remember emailing you about three different projects and saying, How about you pick one? Remember what you wrote back? Lets do all three. And now were on number four! Koertge: I was very happy to see your e-mail. I thought that this might be a way for me to get back into kid lit. My last YA was Coaltown Jesus, a novel-in-verse pared down to the bone. Schmidt: Its a book Ive taught in YA classes, brought to workshops, recommended to any writing student Ive hadand handed to enough readers that Candlewick probably owes me some royalties. Koertge: Still, after Coaltown Jesus, I told my wife that the only thing left was YA haiku, and theres no market for that. We thought a lot about this book on a shelf in a middle school classroom. Ron Koertge Schmidt: Id roomed with you during our MFA teaching stint, and I knew how generative you are. Id been thinking about a collection of stories set at a beach where I spent a week every summer when I was a kid. Everything takes place in one day, dawn to dusk: quick stories about lots of kids, dipping into the lives of all these people gathered together next to an ocean. Youd written flash fiction and poetry, and so 25 sketches seemed right up your alley. Koertge: It also seemed like fun to write together. Id never done that before. Schmidt: Ive collaborated a few times. Id heard you lecture and read when we both taught at Hamline. I knew youd written for Hill Street Blues and you were a popular, full-time poet. Plus, how many early morning walks did we take during those Hamline days? I basically loved the idea of hanging out with you again while we wrote a book together. Koertge: Exactly. Why not? I knew youd bring a lot to the table. You know 900 times more about middle grade fiction than I donot that ignorance ever stopped me. I think after that first e-mail, I wrote a sketch or two. Schmidt: No kidding. I sent you the first one, and you sent back four! I sent two more, and you sent seven. Koertge: I was glad to be writing prose again! I already knew we worked at different speeds and came at things from different angles, but that actually ended up working in our favor. Schmidt: By the time we were done, there were 45 stories, some totally independent of the others, some involving characters who show up several times. Koertge: Some tenselike the abusive guy who gets surrounded by kids. Some funnylike the vaudeville one of the kid who loses his trunks in the surf. Schmidt: Some poignantthe kid who carries his cancer-stricken father out into the waves. Some sort of redemptivethe boy band kiddo who finds his way back to his musical roots. Koertge: In the end, we worked with Rick Margolis, our agent, to cut the collection down to 30 stories. We thought that would be hard, but we actually agreed on the list very quickly. To use our own writing to get a kid to enjoy her own writingwhat a good goal. Gary D. Schmidt Schmidt: Right. Wed trade the manuscript. Id take a turn looking it over and see that a sketch Id worked on was MIA and I knew you had your reasons for cutting itprobably because I was being too sentimental. We honored each others artistic instincts from the start. Koertge: I know! We never said, I trust you completely. But I absolutely did. We were pretty Zen about this project: no clinging, and minimum attachment to any story. Im not sure we ever really articulated our intent for this book, but we both sensed the through line. Schmidt: As the book evolved, for sure. We move from an early morning run by a brother and sister, to a late evening run by the same characters, who sprint off the page into the rest of their lives at the end. Koertge: Plus theres the mystery of the missing iPhone thats not solved until the last pages. Schmidt: Yes, that phone and what it meant to that kid! Koertge: And pretty early in the partnership we thought a lot about this book on a shelf in a middle school classroom. We talked about how much reluctant readers like very short stories, and how middle school teachers could use the book as a treat: one story per day. As one fifth-grade teacher told you, remember? A complete story in a seven-to-eight-minute read. Schmidt: And lets not forget how teachers could invite students to write something of their own about a day at the beach. To use our own writing to get a kid to enjoy her own writingwhat a good goal. Koertge: Now on to our fantasy novel, Styx & Stones. Brace yourself, Hades. Here we come! A Day at the Beach by Gary D. Schmidt and Ron Koertge. Clarion, $18.99 Apr. 1 ISBN 978-0-06-338092-9 After its first week on sale, the latest novel in the blockbuster Hunger Games series is already on its way to the top of the yearly bestseller list. Suzanne Collinss much anticipated Sunrise on the Reaping is the weeks top seller by a mile, selling 1.2 million copies in the U.S. across all formats in its first week on sale, per its publisher, Scholastic. About 715,000 of those copies were in print, sold through retailers reporting to Circana BookScanpushing a little more than 10 times as many print units as the weeks #2 title, The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, in the week. In the U.S., Sunrise is already the years #3 overall bestseller, putting it just behind the Robbins, which has sold roughly 872,000 copies through outlets that report to BookScan in the year to date. Its the second biggest debut of the year, after the deluxe edition of Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. That title remains the years bestselling book on BookScan, selling about 1.8 million print copies to date across its deluxe and standard editions. Sales for Sunrise on the Reaping have exceeded all expectations, said Ellie Berger, EVP and president of Scholastic Trade, in a statement. In a release, the company noted that the book hit the top of the charts in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Ireland, and Australia, selling twice as many copies its first week on sale domestically as The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in 2020 and three times as many copies as Mockingjay in 2010. In its starred review, PW called Sunrise a brutal tale of compassion and rage, and a frank examination of propaganda and tragedy, that will satisfy longtime series fans and newcomers alike. A feature film adaptation will hit theaters in November 2026. On March 25, U.S. District Court judge Stephen Locher of the Southern District of Iowa reinstated an injunction against book restrictions in Iowa Senate File 496, a 2023 state law that has resulted in the removal of hundreds of books from Iowa public school libraries. Locher concluded that Senate File 496 is likely facially unconstitutional under the First Amendment, enjoining state defendants against enforcing the laws provisions to remove library books and penalize educators. Plaintiffs in the case include the Big Five publishers, the Authors Guild, and the Iowa State Education Association, alongside four authorsLaurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Malinda Lo, and Jodi Picoultand two Iowa educators, a student, and a parent. We applaud the Court's decision to return thousands of books to Iowa school libraries, said Penguin Random House, which was first among the Big Five to file a lawsuit over the law in November 2023, in a statement. We will continue to defend the rights of authors, students, librarians, and educators. Lochers language in the 40-page order points to book industry concerns beyond Iowas borders. The plaintiffs have standing in the case, Locher wrote, because they are stigmatized by the removal of their books from public school libraries in Iowa and due to the alleged impact on their First Amendment rights. He observed that the publishers and authors were curtailed in their ability (or lack thereof) to communicate with their intended audience and suffered harm when accused of peddling pornography and obscenity. In response to the ruling, the Iowa Department of Justice issued a statement calling SF 496 a critical Iowa law that ensures the books in K12 schools are age-appropriate. Iowa state attorney general Brenna Bird added: Parents shouldnt have to worry about what materials their kids have access to when theyre not around. Sam Helmick, community and access coordinator at the Iowa City Public Library and president-elect of the American Library Association for 20252026, questioned the imprecise definition of age-appropriate, calling Lochers injunction validating. Im relieved that the judge has agreed with us twice now, they said. Still, ever since 2023, the chilling has been taking effect across the state, Helmick noted, arguing that harm has been already done to students and schools. School challenges SF 496, signed into law by governor Kim Reynolds in May 2023, requires each Iowa school district to establish a K12 library program that contains only age-appropriate materials. The law requires the removal of books from public school libraries if they are found to contain a description of a sex act, and it allows for disciplinary action against school districts or employees found to have knowingly violated its tenets. The law also includes provisions requiring school officials to report to parents if their child requests to use a different name or pronounsthe subject of a related lawsuit filed in November 2023. Lochers first injunction against SF 496 in December 2023, hailed as a victory in publishing and library sectors, was vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in August 2024. The Eighth Circuit remanded the case back to Locher, with instructions to test the law according to First Amendment principles addressed in the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Moody v. NetChoice, LLC. Plaintiffs filed a new complaint in September 2024, and Locher re-examined the case. While writing the initial order, Locher noted that the Court devoted considerable attention to determining the constitutional rights implicated by the challenges to the book restrictions in Senate File 496 and the governing standard(s) for evaluating the laws constitutionality. In his March 25 order, he questioned why the Eighth Circuit did not address that analysis except to point the Court to the NetChoice decision. The Court will of course try to do a better job this time around, he promised. Having done so, Locher determined that under the legal standard applicable to cases involving statewide restrictions on books in bookstores or public libraries, the results of the NetChoice analysis are clear and unequivocal: the book restrictions in Senate File 496 are facially unconstitutional. He also evaluated whether books might be considered school-sponsored speech, looked at what constitutes a description of a sex act, assessed uncertainty around standards for compliance with the law, and addressed the risk of irreparable harm to the plaintiffs. In examining First Amendment rights, Locher observed that the Supreme Court has never settled on a single, governing standard for First Amendment challenges in school settings, noting that there is no one-size-fits-all standard for school-related First Amendment challenges. SF 496 does not fall neatly within any of the legal doctrines the Supreme Court and Eighth Circuit have developed in prior First Amendment cases in the school setting, Locher asserted, citing guidance from two 1982 cases: Island Trees School District v. Pico, a censorship case around removing nine specific books from a school; and Pratt v. Independent School District No. 831, an effort to ban films shown in school due to their ideological content. Of all the books he studied for their visual and narrative content, he found only one that he thought met legal grounds for removal in Iowa: Plaintiffs appear to concede that [Maia Kobabe's memoir] Gender Queer may be removed without violating the First Amendment due to graphic pictures of sexual activity. Accordingly, the removal of that book is a constitutional application of Senate File 496. Overall, however, he determined that the State Defendants have not identified, nor has the Court been able to locate, a single case upholding school library restrictions as broad as those found in Senate File 496a sweeping law that has swept up thousands of copies of books from schools across the state. The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the American Library Association (ALA) have partnered to host the inaugural ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference, to be held April 1516, at Expo Centre Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The two-day event will focus on professional development for school librarians and library administrators. The conference program will include programming addressing current trends in library management, along with networking opportunities and exhibition space for industry vendors. One key programming component, organizers said, is a comprehensive workshop produced in partnership with the American Association of School Librarians and the Emirate Library and Information Association. The workshop will feature librarians from the United States and other countries, together with industry leaders and school librarians from the United Arab Emirates, and aims, per the organizers, to equip participants with strategies for promoting sustained reading habits among students, enhancing engagement through programming, and creating integrated learning environments. School librarians are highly important for educational equity, and this conference will amplify their voices and provide actionable frameworks to ensure every student has access to resources that ignite curiosity and lifelong learning, said Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, in a statement. Mansoor Al Hassani, director of publishing services at SBA, added that the conference represents a step in the ongoing efforts of SBA to develop the library ecosystem in Sharjah and the wider region. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. Masdar, through its subsidiary Saeta, has signed an investment agreement for the construction of the 234 MW Valle Solar photovoltaic plant in Spains Valencia region, Trend reports. The project also includes the potential hybridization of a 259 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). Located in the municipalities of Ayora, Jarafuel, and Zarra, Valle Solar is expected to be operational in the first half of 2027. The project integrates biodiversity initiatives and community support measures. Masdars investment aligns with its broader expansion strategy in Spain and Europe, contributing to its goal of achieving 100 GW of global clean energy capacity by 2030. The agreement, involving Saeta Yield, Genia Solar, and Solar Ventures, underscores Spains role in the European renewable energy sector. Advisors for the transaction included Watson Farley & Williams, G-advisory, EY, and Finergreen for Solar Ventures and Genia Solar Energy, while Saeta Yield was advised by Broseta, Solida, and Perez-Llorca. 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". 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. 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. Published on: Before Donald Trumps administration suspended and subsequently resumed American military aid to Ukraine, it had announced its intention to cut 90% of United States Agency for International Development (USAid) foreign aid contracts. These funding cuts will endanger life around the world, including in Ukraine. USAid has provided Ukraine with US$2.6 billion (2 billion) in humanitarian aid, US$5 billion in development assistance, and more than US$30 billion in direct budget support since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022. The funding has helped pay for bomb shelters and medical equipment, among other things. But the purge of US foreign aid programmes will also affect Ukraine and other former Soviet countries in more insidious ways. The funding cuts could lead to a decline in the number of independent media outlets in the region, which are key to the fight for democracy and human rights. Government censorship over the war in Ukraine has led to the collapse of independent journalism in Russia. Russian media reports on the war, which they still refer to as a special military operation, can only use official Russian military sources. Violating laws on disseminating fake news is penalised by hefty prison sentences. These developments led to an exodus of international news organisations from Russia shortly after the start of the war, with global news media citing the need to protect their journalists. Since relocating from Moscow to the Latvian capital, Riga, US government-funded Radio Free Europes reporting on the war in Ukraine has been highly acclaimed. It has also been growing in popularity in Russia, despite being labelled undesirable and effectively blocked by the Russian authorities. According to a 2023 survey, 9% of the Russian adult population consume Radio Free Europe content every week. Official Russian media saw domestic audience numbers fall by as much as 30% in 2024. However, the cuts to US foreign aid risk squandering this growing advantage in the struggle to report on the Ukraine war objectively. Radio Free Europe, which billionaire businessman Elon Musk described in February as just radical left crazy people talking to themselves, has had all of its US grants pulled. It already updates its website less, and it is reportedly contemplating staff cuts. Its online television channel, Current Time, has had to close down some of its programmes. The Czech foreign minister, Jan Lipavsky, has said he would discuss with fellow EU foreign ministers how to at least partially maintain the groups broadcasting. Ukraines media outlets are also now facing a crisis. Despite martial law, Ukrainian media stands out as a positive example of media diversity and independence in the post-Soviet world. Ukraine ranks 61 out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. This puts it well above Russia, Belarus and all of the former Soviet countries apart from Moldova and the Baltic states. However, many Ukrainian media outlets are experiencing the effects of US foreign funding cuts. The subscription model followed by English language publication, the Kyiv independent, is rare in the region. One of the affected organisations is Ukrainian Pravda, an online news outlet that has played a leading role in Ukrainian civil society. Journalists at Ukrainian Pravda, which is now facing funding cuts of up to 15%, were key in covering Ukraines so-called Revolution of Dignity in 2014. Pro-European and anti-corruption protests ultimately brought down the Russian-backed government of Viktor Yanukovych. While covering deadly clashes between protesters and the police in Kyiv on January 24 2014, Ukrainian Pravdas website received over 1.6 million visitors. This was a record for Ukrainian online media at the time. Resilient media landscape One cause for optimism is the medias resilience in former Soviet countries. The media landscape in the region has successfully adapted to many disruptions over the past 35 years. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 meant the creation of new national media. This involved a shift from state-funded to market-funded models, often through advertising, as well as negotiating the wider move from analogue to digital. An encouraging example is the Artdocfest film festival. It began life in Moscow in 2007 showing independent Russian language or Russia-related documentary films. Depicting opposition figures and taboo topics, the festival served as an oasis of free speech in a growing desert of repression and conformism. As political restrictions on what the festival could show grew more severe, it partially relocated to Riga in 2014, the year Russia invaded eastern Ukraine. And following Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, the festival no longer screens any films in Russia, as well as any films funded by the Russian government. The relocation has required finding new funding sources, shifting the focus away from Russia itself by making English (as opposed to Russian) the festivals official language, and introducing a new Baltic programme. The festival remains a forum for criticising the shortcomings of Russia and other post-Soviet societies. In implicit tribute to Artdocfests importance, the Russian television network RT has created its own similar sounding RTdocfest, where the Kremlins narrative is the only one. Since 2022, the Russian slogan sila v pravde (strength is in truth) has become one of the rallying cries of the countrys campaign in Ukraine. It is widely known from Brother 2, an anti-Ukrainian Russian film released in 2000. There is a bitter irony in its espousal by Vladimir Putins regime, which has been founded on lies, disinformation and distortion. Nevertheless, strength does lie in truth. Ensuring the regions independent media landscape remains is critical to telling the truth about Russias war in Ukraine, and exposing injustice and corruption throughout the post-Soviet world. This article first appeared in 'The Conversation' on 25 March 2025. A locomotive group in the Netherlands has donated traction motors to the Ivatt Diesel Recreation Society. The society has developed links with Werkgroep 1501 in the Netherlands, which has donated traction motors from former Class EM2 No. 27003, which had been operating for many years as NS Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) No. 1501, and is now in the Dutch national railway collection in Utrecht. Because of Brexit, their transport to the UK was made more difficult, but those problems have now been overcome and the motors have now arrived at the projects base. Unloading one of the traction motors. // Credit: Bernard Caddy London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Nos. 10000 and 10001 were the forerunners of many current British mainline diesel locomotives. Designed by H. G. Ivatt and built in 1947/48 at Derby Works, many of their parts and concepts are still used on the railway network today. The original No. 10000 was scrapped in 1968 before historically important diesel locomotives became part of the preservation movement. The two Ivatt diesel-electric locomotives and the Class EM2s had many similar components, and the acquisition of the traction motors is hugely beneficial to the project. Although 1501 was withdrawn from mainline service in the Netherlands in the 1980s, it continued to be used on special trains until the 2000s, and its traction motors are still in excellent condition. The traction motors after unloading. // Credit: Mark Langley The society will now assess the nine traction motors in its ownership, and aims to test one of them in the coming months. Six other motors were obtained in 2019 as part of EM2 bogies, but require refurbishment. The motor assessed as being in the least-good condition has been fully dismantled and used to develop ways in which the other five can be dismantled and overhauled. While work is continuing with the motors, other projects include 3D modelling to ensure compliance with Network Rail requirements, constructing the cabs, and further development of a rolling chassis. Further information about the project is on the societys website www.LMS10000.com. Donor parts to recreate 10000 include a power unit and alternator donated by GB Railfreight from Class 56 No. 56104, and a motor initially built for an Australian locomotive, but the order was cancelled before delivery was made, and it was used as a backup generator at a military base. 45596 Bahamas is to visit Carlisle this Saturday as it hauls a Vintage Trains tour. Departing Birmingham New Street on the 29th March at 06:56, the tour will begin hauled by a diesel locomotive and will pass through Wolverhampton (07:14), Stafford (07:43), Crewe (08:16), Warrington Bank Quay (08:49) and Preston (Lancs) at 09:21, before heading to Carnforth North Junction, where 45596 Bahamas is attached. From Carnforth North Junction, 45596 Bahamas will pass through Penrith North Lakes at 11:31 before arriving into Carlisle at 12:05. After time in Carlisle, 45596 Bahamas will depart at 15:08 and will pass through Appleby (15:58), Kirkby Stephen (16:36), Ribblehead (17:05) and Hellifield, where the locomotive is taken off the train, at 17:27. From Hellifield, the diesel locomotive will take the train back to Birmingham via Clitheroe (18:25), Blackburn (19:05), Warrington Bank Quay (19:52), Crewe (20:38), Stafford (21:03), Wolverhampton (21:31) and Birmingham New Street at 21:51. Would you like to know if the train is due to pass through your local station? As a RailAdvent Plus member, you can do just that with our Station News And Tours page! If you do go out and see train, why not sign up to LocoStop. This is our free-to-join railway community, and allows you to share your photos from your adventures! Click here to share your railway pictures. To find full timings for the movement, please click here. With the recent release of The Nations Report Card that revealed catastrophic results in math and reading for Americas 4th and 8th graders, its fair to say that Americas schools are largely failing at their most basic mission. And now that the Trump administration has announced a 50 percent reduction in force at the Department of Education and taken explicit action in an executive order to unwind the cabinet-level agency as a whole, it seems like the perfect time to ask some very basic questions about the current state of school in America. The mission creep of American schools is undeniable, and if were being brutally honest, too many schools have become one-stop social services hubs that also teach a little reading and math on the side. Instead of maintaining a focus on academics, schools are stretched to the breaking point, in part because of federal and state mandates and in part because they have been captured by an ideology that demands that every single student's need be met before any teaching or learning can occur. Schools used to be institutions of academic instruction, designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become good citizens, prepared to meaningfully participate in a free society. But somewhere along the way, we decided that schools should also become social service hubs that cater to all the needs of students and families and aspire to fix societal problems that extend far beyond education. It seems fair and even overdue to seriously ask if it makes sense to continue using the word school to describe educational institutions that are also expected (or required!) to provide breakfast, lunch and snack, host immunization clinics, offer wrap-around health services, provide counseling, address declining mental health, disrupt the school to prison pipeline, supervise toothbrushing, teach financial literacy and host drag queen story hour. Putting aside the merits of the services listed for a momentwhich vary widelythe question Im asking is whether or not its reasonable or wise to expect a school to do all of these things. And does the answer to that question change in the context of our abysmal student outcomes in the basics? We have more students scoring in the lowest category in math and reading below basic now than we did thirty years ago; it is not hyperbole to say that we are in a crisis and instead of talking about that, we are arguing over universal school lunch, social emotional learning curriculum and the need for more counselors in schools. But kids cant learn if theyre hungry! Thats not the point. The question is whether or not breakfast and lunch (and snack!) should be provided and distributed every day by the school and funded by the American taxpayer from kindergarten through 12th grade.. Maybe the answer is yes. Maybe it isnt. But lets at least talk about it. The same question applies to the rest of the responsibilities schools have taken on, or had foisted upon them by the powers that be. Should it be a priority for a school district to hire more counselors to address students mental health? Should teachers be expected to watch for and identify signs of trauma? Is the school the best place for a flu shot clinic? Should school districts sign expensive contracts with social emotional learning (SEL) vendors and require teachers to incorporate SEL into the daily schedule? Should a school be hosting drag shows or other events to celebrate Pride Month? And then there is the disturbing trend of school boards, administrators, and teachers deciding that its their job to teach the correct perspectives on politics and social issues to the captive audience of students in their care. As school districts spend more time and resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, literacy and numeracy outcomes decline. School officials assume the role of moral arbiter with regard to national stories, political candidates, and opinions on hotly contested questions, often with no regard to student agency or the parents values. It is not uncommon to see elementary-aged children marching around outside of their school holding signs they made about climate change, Black Lives Matter, and immigration. During Pride Month, rainbows blanket school bulletin boards and hallways. Is any of that appropriate for a publicly funded school? The consequences of this mission creep are clear. As schools take on more non-academic responsibilities and push specific ideologies on kids, academic achievement suffers and parent resentment grows. Meanwhile, teacherswho entered the profession to teachfind themselves drowning in obligations far afield from their expertise, including the expectation that they behave like activists at work. And while a huge number of elites have, for some inexplicable reason, decided to glom on to the luxury belief that the traditional role of schooling is problematic, Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute is right when he says that ensuring that students are numerate, literate, and academically successful is priority one for schools. Its their unique responsibility and something they can actually do. If schools are not willing or able to do a much better job at fulfilling this unique responsibility, perhaps its time we call them something else. The Kurdish people are the largest ethnic group in the world without their own country. They are a non-Arab ethnic group who live in northern Iraq, western Iran, and southern Turkey. The independent Kurds were a threat to Saddam Hussein, and, in 1988, Hussein embarked on a campaign (Anfal) to exterminate the Kurdish people. This campaign consisted of chemical weapon attacks on Kurdish villages, notably Halabja, mass executions, and the destruction of villages and infrastructure. These were acts of genocide, and its estimated that over 100,000 Kurds were murdered during this campaign. The exact number is hard to know, as there are still many mass graves yet undiscovered in the desert. In 2003, American troops captured Hussein, and he was subsequently incarcerated at Camp Cropper in Baghdad for trial. To help in his prosecution, the U.S. Department of Justice created the Regime Crimes Liaison Office (RCLO). The RCLO was to assist the government of Iraq in gathering evidence of this genocide against the Kurdish people to be presented at trial. The RCLO consisted of special agent criminal investigators from the DEA, FBI, and ATF, as well as special assistant U.S. attorneys. Author kitted out and standing next to his transport in Kurdistan. In January 2005, I was selected to be the DEA special agent to the RCLO team to conduct investigations and witness interviews to be presented at the trial. Typical Sulaymaniyah traffic jam, seen from an armored Land Cruiser. My assigned team was to be based in Sulaymaniyah (Suly) Kurdistan in northeastern Iraq. We conducted missions deep into the countryside in armored Land Cruisers, interviewing witnesses and documenting the oral history of the genocide that would be used as evidence in Husseins trial. The countryside was rugged and the villages remote, with buildings made of rocks and adobe. The stories were heartbreaking. One elderly woman asked me if I could find her husband and sons. I had no answer other than knowing they were under the sand in the desert somewhere. Suly is a vibrant city and has a rich history. Despite being in a semi-permissive environment, I was able to experience the city and a couple of the notable sights. When not on missions or preparing reports, I explored the town, finding the people to be very friendly and open toward Americans. Although a good-sized city, the people knew who we were and that our mission was to bring justice for the Kurdish people. There were times while walking along the street when Kurds would invite us into a tearoom to drink tea. Most times, I didnt have my translator with me, so language was an issue. It seemed, however, that everyone had a son or daughter who had fled the terror and lived in England. Next thing I knew, a cell phone was being passed around with someones relative in faraway England translating our conversation. The bazaar was a four- or five-block area where one could buy just about anything: food, clothing, and building materials. There was even the Kurdish version of McDonalds. Children, like everywhere else in the world, were curious and wanted to follow us around. It was interesting to see blue eyes, but I remembered my history and how Alexander the Great had conquered the region, and some Greeks had blue eyes. I found the same in Afghanistan. On one walking trip, while exploring a side street, I found the Ethnographic and Folklore Museum. The museum was about to close, but I took a quick tour of the exhibits. There was an extensive collection of artifacts from throughout Kurdish history, though none were labeled, and I wished I had more time there. View from a city sidewalk looking into Amna Suraka Prison (Red Prison) in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Now a memorial and museum, the compound was used during the regime of Saddam Hussein to imprison and torture Kurdish Peshmerga and civilians. (May 2017) On another excursion, I visited the Slemani Museum. This was an archaeology museum much larger than the Folklore Museum. I was able to spend some time there and wondered about the ancient history on display. Unfortunately, no photographs were allowed. But the last museum I explored was Amna Suraka, The Red Building. Our interpreters took us so we could get a private tour. I would like to add a footnote about our interpreters. They were in fact members of the Kurdish intelligence service. Amna Suraka was the site of the Iraqi Interior Ministrys intelligence agency (Mukhabarat). When Kurds were rounded up, they were taken here where they were imprisoned and tortured by Husseins forces. The people called this building the Red Building due to its exterior color not for all the blood that was spilled inside. Despite this, I witnessed that the floor had special channels normally seen in halal butcher shops to drain blood into the sewer. During the Kurdish uprisings, the Battle of Sulaymaniyah, the Kurdish Peshmerga (those who face death) defeated the Iraqi forces who were based in the building and finally liberated the city. The building was made into a museum so the history of the Iraqi genocide on the Kurdish people would never be forgotten. Typical cell inside the red building used to house dozens of prisoners. The exterior of the building is still pock-mocked with bullet holes from the battle, while the interior is constructed with displays to illustrate the brutality of Husseins regime against the Kurdish people. There were life-sized dioramas in the cells, depicting different tortures. People were hung from hooks while being interrogated. Prisoners scratched their names and dates into the walls of the cells. As we walked past the cells, I teared up thinking of the horrors that happened there. The tour culminated by walking through a room covered in shards of mirrors that represented each of the murdered Kurds, and 4,500 lights in the ceiling for the number of villages destroyed. We were silent when we left the building. It was very humbling to learn about these horrors, and it made our job all that much more important. Hussein was hanged in December 2006 for his crimes against humanity. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 27. Preparatory works have begun in Kazakhstan for the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant (NPP), Trend reports. The Governor of Almaty Region Marat Sultangaziev visited the village of Ulken, where the strategically important facility is planned to be located. During the visit, Marat Sultangaziev inspected the future NPP site, studied the characteristics of the land, and discussed the prospects for the project's implementation. Special attention was given to the creation of an industrial zone around the plant, which will provide the necessary resources for the station and create new jobs. On October 6, 2024, Kazakhstan held a referendum on the construction of nuclear power plants in the country. 71.12 percent of Kazakhstani citizens voted in favor. Voter turnout was 63.66 percent. Athens residents speak at the Mayor and Commission meeting at City Hall in Downtown Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, Feb. 4th, 2025. Members of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement were in attendance for an advocacy day in support of a resolution addressing racial inequities in the county. The resolution failed to pass, instead the commission voted 6-3 in favor of holding for sixty days which could lead to a recommendation for an ordinance that addresses racial inequalities. (Photo/Hosanna Worku) 'Shivaji and Sambhaji were born into the Hindu religion, and all ceremonies in their palaces were done as per Hindu customs.' 'But while governing the state, they followed the gospel of humanity.' 'They did not discriminate based on religion, caste, or colour.' 'That is the beauty of Shivaji and Sambhaji's Hindvi Swaraj.' IMAGE: A 20th century depiction of Shivaji on the way to Purandar. Photograph: M V Dhurandhar/Wikimedia Commons Author of accomplished books on Chhatrapati Shivaji, Chhatrapati Sambhaji, and the Maratha Empire, author and IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com how both Maratha kings chose their soldiers, generals, administrative and judicial staff solely based on their calibre, capabilities, trust and loyalty and that religion never played any role while appointing people to establish the dream of Hindvi Swaraj. Your research and books highlight how many Maratha, Rajput, and Brahmin chieftains allied with Aurangzeb, Afzal Khan, and the Bijapur Sultanate against Shivaji. How does this challenge the common perception of the Shivaji-Aurangzeb conflict as a fight between Hindu and Muslim kings? I've noticed that many people carry books about Shivaji and Sambhaji, but nobody takes the trouble to read through the pages. Their love for Shivaji and Sambhaji is sky-high, but their reading and knowledge about these great Maratha kings is very limited. So they are not aware of the real history of Shivaji and Sambhaji. Shivaji and Sambhaji were born into the Hindu religion, and all ceremonies in their palaces were done as per Hindu customs. But while governing the state, they followed the gospel of humanity. They did not discriminate based on religion, caste, or colour. That is the beauty of Shivaji and Sambhaji's Hindvi Swaraj. An important issue at that time was the slave trade, which was big in medieval India. Boys and girls were captured from various places, and this trade was mainly in the hands of Arabs who had the upper hand at sea. Due to international relationships, Shivaji could not take major steps against this (slave trade). However, Sambhaji was the first person to ban slavery by introducing a law against it in medieval India, especially in Maharashtra and southern India. Chhatrapati Shivaji had Muslim generals like Siddi Hilal and Daulat Khan, and his navy was led by Darya Sarang, an admiral of African origin. How do you think Shivaji's inclusive leadership contrasts with the religious polarisation we see today? It starts from Shivaji's father, Shahaji Maharaj. When Shahaji was banished by Emperor Shah Jahan to the Adil Shahi state, he was greatly supported by a father and son duo from the Adil Shahi kingdom. The general was Randulla Khan, a mighty general in the Bijapur court, and his son was Rustume Jamhah. They offered the fort of Bangalore to Shahaji Maharaj to stay. In 1636, there was a great battle between Adil Shah and Kempe Gowda. This fort was won by Randulla Khan and his son, and they easily offered it to Shahaji Maharaj. So the relations between Muslims and Hindus were very cordial in the court and family of Shivaji even as they fought for their kingdoms and territorial supremacy. Could you give some examples of Shivaji's inclusive leadership? In the siege of Panhala, Siddhi Wah Wah, son of Siddhi Hilal, became a martyr for Shivaji. Both Siddhi Hilal and his son offered their lives for Hindvi Swaraj. This is one of the greatest examples of how Shivaji trusted people based on their calibre, capabilities, trust and loyalty but religion never played a role in both Shivaji's and Sambhaji's scheme of delegating important and strategically crucial responsibilities to those who they deemed capable and loyal. In one of your tweets, you have mentioned that even Shivaji's uncle, Mambaji Bhosale, fought for Afzal Khan against him. Do you think the modern political discourse has oversimplified Shivaji's history to fit a convenient narrative? Mambaji Bhosale was Shahaji's uncle's son -- that makes him Shivaji's cousin. He was also one of the captains of Adil Shah and he fought against Shivaji. IMAGE: The covers of author Vishwas Patil's books Shivaji Mahasamrat: The Wild Warfront and Sambhaji. Photograph: Kind courtesy Vishwas Patil Do you think the modern political narrative has oversimplified Shivaji's history, valour and wisdom to fit a convenient narrative? People are emotional or are made emotional. They are not studying in-depth (about Shivaji's life and times). That's why there is a hue and cry everywhere, nothing else. This is my perception. Can you give an example of how Shivaji's administration was based on merit rather than religion? One big example is that Shivaji appointed Kazi Haider, a Muslim, as the chief justice of Raigad (The capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji's kingdom after his coronation). He was a very capable jurist. Kazi Haider was completely loyal to Shivaji and later to Sambhaji. However, in the last days of Sambhaji, he unfortunately went over to Aurangzeb. But, so long as he stayed with Shivaji, he remained loyal to the Maratha king. Can you give examples of how Marathas, Rajputs and others fought on behalf of Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan against Shivaji in those times? Throughout Shivaji's time, many Marathas, Rajputs, and Brahmins aligned with Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan, prioritising personal gains over loyalty to their homeland. Raibagin Deshmukh, a warrior Brahmin chieftain from Vidarbha, was a staunch ally of Aurangzeb. She personally fought against Shivaji in multiple battles, including the 1661 battle of Umbarkhindi, where she was appointed alongside Kartalab Khan to attack Shivaji's Konkan strongholds. In 1670, she once again took up arms against Shivaji near Dindori and Chandwad but was captured and later released by the humble, human and sagacious king that Shivaji was. When Afzal Khan invaded Maharashtra, several Maratha chieftains fought alongside him, including Naikji Raje Pandhare, Bajaji Naik Nimbalkar, Sultanji Jagdale, Khandoji Khopde, Vithoji Haibatrao Deshmukh, Baji Ghorpade, Sardar Kharade, Kalyanji Yadav, Jhunjarrao Ghatge, Prataprao More, Jivaji Devkate, Sardar Kate, Pilaji Mohite, Shankarji Mohite, and even Shivaji's uncle, Mambaji Bhosale, who was killed at Pratapgarh. Rajput rulers also played a major role in supporting Aurangzeb. Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Rana Jaswant Singh served the Mughal empire while at least 22 Rajput captains fought against Shivaji and Sambhaji. These instances reveal that conflicts were driven by political and personal interests rather than religious affiliations, challenging modern narratives that frame them as purely Hindu-Muslim struggles. If Shivaji were alive today, how do you think he would have reacted to what's happening in his name? I can't tell you that, but he was a very generous, sagacious, farsighted and secular king, no doubt. Your books and historical sources highlight that many Rajput chieftains fought alongside Aurangzeb against Shivaji and Sambhaji. Why do you think this aspect of history is rarely discussed in mainstream narratives? People are not going through our history and past in depth (by using credible historical documents). Several Rajput chieftains served as Mansabdars (nobles and kings holding military and administrative ranks) in Aurangzeb's court. They were serving the Mughals to preserve their properties in Rajasthan. You can find this openly in the case of Mirza Raja Jai Singh, who had many Rajput captains in his army. You've written extensively about Sambhaji Maharaj's struggles in your book Sambhaji and his resistance against Aurangzeb. What lessons from Sambhaji's rule should we learn today, especially in the context of religious harmony? Sambhaji was also a benevolent king. Aurangzeb was totally cruel, but he was first a politician, then a religious fanatic. That's why, though he killed his three brothers immediately, he didn't kill Sambhaji right away. He kept him alive for around 35 days, thinking that the Marathas would fall at his feet to save Sambhaji and offer all forts easily. He was waiting for that. When he couldn't achieve that, he killed Sambhaji. This shows how cunning Aurangzeb was as a ruler but also proves how formidable an opponent Sambhaji was, who like his illustrious father, never shied away from taking decisions for the well-being of the Maratha kingdom and Swaraj. Could you tell us more about your books Shivaji Mahasamrat: The Wild Warfront and Sambhaji? Both books are published by Westland Eka Delhi and are available on Amazon and everywhere. They are well-documented books, using credible historical resources. I was initially interested in writing history, but I realised that if I wrote a formal historical thesis, my books would only be preserved in libraries. So to take the messages of Shivaji and Sambhaji to the common people, I accepted the form of a novel. There has been a trend where different communities claim ownership over Shivaji's legacy. How can historians like you ensure that his true inclusive vision reaches the people? I think we should focus on Chhatrapati Shivaji's inclusiveness, farsightedness and his basic approach towards humanity. That is important. Could you share some striking examples of how Shivaji and Sambhaji were inclusive in giving responsibilities to people irrespective of their religion? I've given the example of Kazi Haider. Another example is Moropant Peshwe, who was the chief secretary. In 1659, during the battle of Pratapgad against Afzal Khan, Moropant Peshwe was commanding 5,000 soldiers. Later, in the battles of Dindori and other areas in Baglan (today's Nashik-Dhule area), he fought several battles for Shivaji. Shivaji was far discerning and looked for virtues, values and military and administrative capabilities in the people who worked with him to establish his dream of Swarajya. 'During Eid Muslims get Eidi, but Opposition parties never gave that to them.' 'When PM Modi is giving Eidi to Muslims Opposition leaders are getting upset.' IMAGE: Bharatiya Janata Party leaders distribute the Saugat-e-Modi kits to poor Muslim families at the High Court Mazar in Patna, March 27, 2025, here and below. Photographs: ANI Photo The Bharatiya Janata Party's Saugat e Modi scheme is likely to benefit 3.2 million under-privileged Muslims before Eid ul Fitr. The scheme's announcement has drawn criticism from Opposition parties who say Modi is trying to woo Muslim voters before the Bihar assembly elections later this year. The programme was launched from Nizamuddin in Delhi by BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda. BJP Minority Morcha national President Jamal Siddiqui, who heads this initiative across India, tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com what Saugat e Modi is all about and why it is not appeasement of Muslims as the Opposition claims it is. What is Saugat e Modi? Right now the festive season is going on in India. And we want to participate with the people of India in their festivals so we are distributing this Saugat e Modi (gift kit from Modi) to the minority community. This is not restricted to the Muslim community alone, but other minority communities too. Before Eid we are distributing this Saugat e Modi gift to Muslims, before Baisakhi on April 14 we are distributing the same gift to our Sikh brothers, and on April 21 we will distribute to our poor Christian brothers for Easter. We are representing ourselves as PM Modi's representatives. It has been reported that the BJP is distributing Saugat e Modi only to Muslims during the Ramzan month. Is it not true? No, it is not true. We are distributing it to every minority community. The media is portraying the news in a wrong manner. The media needs masala and therefore they are adding wrong information. They are giving the twist that Saugat e Modi is only for Muslims, which is not true. What is in this kit? There are food items like rava, suji (purified wheat flour) and sugar. It was reported that you are distributing pyjamas too in the Saugat e Modi kit. It is salwar suits for the female head of the family to whom we are distributing this kit. Is this not appeasement of minorities as the Opposition parties allege? Opposition parties never did seva of minorities with a clean heart. Their leaders only wore topi to fool Muslims. And some of them like Mamata Banerjee went one step further by offering namaaz at Muslim community events. But they never gave back anything to the Muslim community in return. During Eid Muslims get Eidi, but Opposition parties never gave that to them. And now when PM Modi is giving Eidi to Muslims these Opposition leaders are getting upset. The BJP believes in appeasement of none and justice for all. Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas. But if Rahul Gandhi had done the same thing you would have called it appeasement. And the media would have gone hammer and tongs at him. Again I am telling you, Saugat e Modi is not appeasement, it is seva. If I am going to a Muslim man on his festival, then you don't expect me to go empty-handed. It is not in Indian culture to go to someone's home without any gift. Opposition leaders attend iftar parties only to eat whereas PM Modi gives Saugat e Modi as Eidi to Muslims. This is the difference between him and other Opposition leaders. Saugat e Modi is bhaichara (brotherhood). How many Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are in these 32 lakh families you are targeting? We are giving it to the poor people from every minority community. There are 32,000 BJP volunteers working on Saugat e Modi gifts. Each volunteer is distributing 100 gifts each to different minority community members. IMAGE: The Saugat e Modi kit. Is there a number for poor Muslims? It depends on the list which we get at the time of distribution. Right now we are going to different mosques and distributing Saugat e Modi, and we will continue doing so during Baisakhi too where we will distribute Saugat e Modi to our poor Sikh brothers. Your opponents claim the BJP is distributing Saugat e Modi only to Muslims with an eye on the Bihar elections. The Opposition parties are worried and don't know what hit them. Opposition parties are in a state of disbelief that PM Modi is giving Muslims Saugat e Modi. There was a false rumour spread across India that Muslims will be butchered after PM Modi came to power in 2014. It is 11 years now since he has come to power and no such thing has happened. On the contrary Muslims are getting all government welfare schemes without any discrimination. What is the cost per kit of Saugat e Modi? Saugat is a gift. And one must not question the intentions or value of the gift. But who is paying for it? It is from a head of the family to the poor people of minority communities. The cost is borne by the BJP. Why this thought after 11 years of being in power? We have been doing these things for so many years. If you recall, when the BJP was formed on April 6, 1980, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Haji Sikandar Bakht were the founding members of the BJP. In other words, the BJP always had a minority ethos and PM Modi too followed it in his tenure. In the last 10 years he has regularly sent chadar to Ajmer Sharif. I have personally taken those chadars from PM Modi for the last three years. Rahul Gandhi or Akhilesh Yadav never took chadar to Ajmer. Arvind Kejriwal too never went with chadar to Ajmer. Only those political leaders who paid lip service to the Muslim community are getting pained to see Saugat e Modi being distributed among the poor. But PM Modi never wore the Muslim skull cap. Jo topi pehnta hai voh topi pehnata hai (the one who wears topi, he fools the public). I as a Muslim never put tikka on my forehead. My religion Islam forbids me to do so and therefore I don't see anything wrong if PM Modi does not wear a topi (Muslim skull cap). Secularism means we need to respect each other's religion rather than doing dhong (drama). UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, 'If there are 100 Muslim families then 50 Hindu families will not be safe but if there are 100 Hindu families then one Muslim family will be safe'. Don't such statements send the wrong message to Muslims? I have not heard him saying this, but let me tell you, if Muslims in any corner of the world are safe it is in India. They are not safe in Pakistan, Iran, Iraq or Syria. Muslims have a great future in India. There is Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas. In Yogi's Uttar Pradesh there is law and order and everyone is safe. No one feels unsafe. Nighat Abbas quit the BJP to join the Congress. She told me that the BJP only speaks of Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas, but in reality they believe in the 'batenge toh katenge' philosophy. It means you should not get divided. Muslims decided to divide before Partition and got Pakistan and later Bangladesh. Now, they are getting cut into pieces in those two countries. Even here Muslims cannot get divided from Hindus. But Yogi only speaks of Hindus getting divided and not anything about the Muslim community, isn't it? Yogi says that all the people in our county should be united. Ek hai toh safe hai (if we are one then we all are safe). Assam journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder was arrested in another case on Thursday after he was granted bail following his arrest after he questioned the MD of a cooperative bank over alleged financial irregularities in Guwahati on March 25, officials said. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that he is not a journalist as the government recognises as so only those from the print and electronic media. The chief reporter of the digital portal The Cross Current, who is also the assistant general secretary of the Gauhati Press Club, was rearrested on the charge of attempting to steal valuable bank documents, officials said. Officials said a complaint in this regard was made by the Managing Director of the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Limited Dambaru Saikia on March 25, the day Mojumder questioned him. However, it was not disclosed to his family and lawyers earlier. The complainant had alleged that when the bank employees noticed the accused, they raised an alarm, causing Mojumder to flee. According to the complaint, the accused disturbed the bank's operations, threatened the employees, and made caste-based derogatory remarks towards a security guard, who belongs to the ST community, and a case was registered in the Panbazar police station for criminal trespass, mischief causing loss or damage, criminal intimidation and robbery. Mozumder was initially arrested on Tuesday midnight after being detained for over nine hours by the police after he had questioned the MD about alleged financial irregularities in the bank during the protest by the students' wing of a political party. In the first case, the journalist was charged with Section 351(2) of the BNS for criminal intimidation or the act of threatening someone to harm them or force them to do something, read with several sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Mojumder was granted bail by the court of the Kamrup additional chief judicial magistrate on Wednesday evening for a surety of Rs 20,000. But he was not released the same day as the formalities could not be completed and he was sent to judicial custody. His lawyers waited the whole day on Thursday to complete the formalities for his release but when the bond was furnished, the police rearrested Mozumder in connection with the second case and whisked him away from Guwahati Central Jail to Panbazar police station. Meanwhile, the chief minister at a press conference here said that Mojumder 'is not a recognised journalist as the government only gives identity cards to journalists of print and electronic media'. 'Nobody has been arrested for writing in the state. Journalists write against me all the time but they have not been arrested,' Sarma claimed. It is yet to be established whether 'he is a businessman or a part-time journalist,' he added. The journalist was summoned to the Panbazar police station on Tuesday afternoon after he questioned Saikia. The incident occurred when Jatiya Yuva Shakti (JYS), the youth wing of the opposition Assam Jatiya Parishad, staged a dharna in front of the bank to protest alleged financial irregularities. Mozumder, who also filed a complaint with the police which is yet to be registered, alleged that the video recording of the protest was deleted inside Saikia's chamber and the MD had also asked him to ensure that the protests be stopped. The journalist claimed that he pointed out that it was not possible for him to stop the protest as he was present at the venue to cover the event and was not associated with the protestors. The journalist's arrest had led to widespread protests by media persons across the state while opposition political parties Congress, Raijor Dal and the Assam Jatiya Parishad have condemned Mozumder's arrest and demanded his immediate release. The Press Club of India, Editors' Guild of India, Gauhati Press Club and the Assam Women Journalists' Forum have also condemned the arrest. Unidentified miscreants hurled bombs and opened fire outside the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former MP Arjun Singh in West Bengal's Bhatpara, police said on Thursday. IMAGE: Security outside the residence of BJP leader Arjun Singh in Bhatpara, after the attack in the night of March 26, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X A youth suffered injuries in the attack that took place late on Wednesday, they said. Singh and his close associates reportedly chased the assailants, forcing them to flee the spot. "The situation is now under control. Those involved will not be spared... legal action will be taken against the culprits," Barrackpore Police Commissioner Ajay Thakur said. Singh alleged that Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Sunita Singh's son, Namit Singh, was behind the attack. "He opened fire in front of the police. There was indiscriminate firing and bombing," the former MP claimed. According to police sources, the violence erupted following a dispute between two groups of workers at Meghna Jute Mill in the area. Meanwhile, TMC's Jagaddal MLA Somnath Shyam accused Singh and his supporters of instigating violence. "Arjun Singh and his men attacked workers in the Meghna Jute Mill and fired bullets. The youth was shot by Singh, and three to four more people were injured in his group's attack. We demand Singh's immediate arrest, or we will launch a larger protest," he said. Namit Singh reportedly arrived at the scene after receiving reports of the unrest. Soon after, the situation escalated, leading to gunfire and bombing, police said. Describing the sequence of events, Singh said, "Around 10:30 pm, I suddenly heard two rounds of gunshots. I was in Majdoor Bhavan with my close associates. I rushed outside and headed towards Meghna Mor. As soon as we reached the spot, miscreants opened fire at us." Singh claimed that at least five to seven rounds were fired. Following the attack, he and his associates chased the assailants, during which one of them fell into a drain and suffered injuries. A large police contingent, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, was deployed in the area to control the situation. Several empty cartridges and live bombs have been recovered from the spot, officials said. The injured youth was initially taken to Bhatpara State General Hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to a hospital in Kolkata, police said. Patrolling has been intensified in Bhatpara to prevent any further escalation, the officials added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. SOCAR Green has launched evaluations to explore green hydrogen production potential, the company told Trend. "Committed to reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy, SOCAR Green is actively exploring the potential for green hydrogen production in the country. To assess its feasibility, we have launched comprehensive studies and evaluations, which align with Azerbaijan's broader goals of diversifying its energy portfolio and reducing dependence on fossil fuels," said the company. SOCAR Green said it is considering various solutions, including the export of green hydrogen, integration with green ammonia and fertilizer production, and its use in energy storage, to identify the most viable path forward. "In this effort, we are collaborating with various international partners in this respect." Low Carbon Hydrogen Economy Market Study prepared by the Advisian consulting company with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) states that Azerbaijan is well-positioned to develop a low-carbon hydrogen economy taken into account the huge renewable energy potential (onshore and offshore) and direct access to the natural gas reserves. The report provided positive results defining commercial viability to produce green hydrogen and opportunities to supply it to the regional energy markets (including the EU) as well as identified application areas of hydrogen in the domestic consumption. The Market Assessment provides information on future steps of hydrogen deployment in Azerbaijan, application areas of green hydrogen in the energy and industrial fields within the domestic consumption, production cost of hydrogen (LCOH), export routes opportunities, and other issues. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn Leaders of six high court bar associations on Thursday met Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and sought withdrawal of the recommendation to transfer Delhi high court judge Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad high court. IMAGE: CJI Sanjiv Khanna. Photograph: ANI Photo Soon after the meeting, Allahabad High Court Bar Association president Anil Tiwari said the CJI had assured them of considering the demands. However, the CJI did not promise anything, said sources privy to the development. The representatives of six high court bar associations met the CJI and four collegium members, Justices B R Gavai, Surya Kant, Abhay S Oka and Vikram Nath. They raised several demands, including setting in motion criminal action over the cash discovery from the judge's official home. "The five members (of the collegium) listened to us very carefully and told us in a positive way 'each and every point raised by you in writing will be considered by us strictly within the premises of law. Don't worry at all'. This is a very big statement by five senior judges," Tiwari told media persons soon after the meeting. He said the bar body would reconsider whether or not to continue with the indefinite strike. "I do not know what decision will be taken," he said. The CJI referred to the reasons behind collegium's recommendation to transfer Justice Varma to his parent high court at Allahabad, Tiwari added. The CJI said in any case, Justice Varma, who was de-rostered by the Delhi High Court following a directive from him, wouldn't be discharging any judicial function at the Allahabad High Court as well, he said. The bar body would discuss about the strike in its general body meeting for a "collective decision". "All high courts in India are standing in support of the president of AHCBA and advocates of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association. They are really sacrificing their profession for the cause of the nation, for the cause of ensuring a transparent judiciary, the safe judiciary campaign, which we, we have all launched," another bar leader said. He said the bar leaders have brought to the notice of the CJI the larger issue of corruption in the judiciary. "One thing we pointed out to the chief justice and his collegium is our concern is not Justice Yashwant Verma per se, because he is just one of the symptoms. We are looking at the disease itself, and we have pointed out that when the courts or in the collegium is unable to pull out the bad apples. It affects the entire judiciary," said advocate Yeshwant Shenoy, president of the Kerala High Court Bar Association. Shenoy said in the meeting the need to create a system through which the bad apples could be picked out upon identification was stressed upon. Not only the CJI, but the entire collegium members understood the concern, and assured they also want a 'clean judiciary', he added. Another bar leader joined in, "It is not that the judges alone can be corrupt, so it is a entire aspect the bar has put its support behind the judiciary, and things will definitely change from here onward." The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has been on an indefinite strike from March 25 onward to protest the proposed repatriation of Justice Varma to his parent high court. Earlier in the day, representatives of the bar associations of high courts of Allahabad, Gujarat, Kerala, Jabalpur, Karnataka and Lucknow submitted a memorandum to the CJI's office and sought an appointment to meet Justice Khanna. While pointing out an alleged tampering of the evidence at Justice Varma's official residence where burnt wads of cash were purportedly discovered on March 14 during a fire incident, the members questioned non-registration of an FIR in the incident. In a memorandum, the bar bodies appreciated the steps taken by the CJI to embrace transparency and to make public the report of the chief justice of the Delhi High Court and other materials on the apex court website. "The bar associations request the chief justice and the collegium to withdraw transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma and to withdraw all administrative work in addition to the judicial work which is already withdrawn," the memorandum said. The memorandum claimed as per the report of the chief justice of the Delhi high court, somebody had removed the articles from Justice Varma's residence a day after the fire incident. "In these kinds of crimes, there would be involvement of others and non-registration (of an FIR) would adversely affect their prosecution," it said. The alleged cash discovery happened following a fire at Justice Varma's Lutyens Delhi residence at around 11.35 pm on March 14, prompting the fire officers to rush to the spot. In the wake of the controversy, the apex court collegium recommended the repatriation of Justice Varma, from whom work was withdrawn by the Delhi High Court following a directive from the 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 D K Upadhyay of the Delhi High Court in the incident. Justice Varma has denounced the allegations and said no cash was ever placed in the storeroom either by him or any of his family members. The Chinese military on Thursday said it is willing to work with its Indian counterpart to implement a fair and just solution to the border issue besides sound and stable defence ties. IMAGE: ITBP women personnel patrolling near the border of China in Arunachal Pradesh on the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo A spokesman for China's National Defence, Sr. Col Wu Qian, made the remarks at a media briefing in Beijing while replying to a question about the disengagement and the follow-up process at the eastern Ladakh part of the Line of Actual Control. "The Chinese military is willing to work together with our Indian counterparts to implement a fair and just solution on the border issue, Wu told reporters. Wu said the Chinese military would also like to "contribute our wisdom and strength to the beautiful vision of a shared dance between the dragon and elephant and a sound and stable military-to-military relationship." The dragon elephant dance has become a constant theme of China of late as the two countries ended the over four-year freeze of relations after reaching agreement over the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh in October last. This was followed by a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia last year and a number of high-level meetings to normalise relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in his annual press conference on March 7, said cooperative pas de deux, a ballet between the dragon and the elephant is the only right choice for both sides. On March 17, the Chinese foreign ministry reiterated the same while welcoming Modi's remarks on the Sino-Indian ties favouring dialogue over discord. "China appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent positive statements on China-India relations," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing while responding to a question about Modi's remarks in conversation with American podcaster Lex Fridman. On Tuesday, India and China held a fresh edition of diplomatic talks in Beijing focusing on ensuring effective border management and early resumption of cross-border cooperation and exchanges, including on trans-border rivers and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. In the meeting of WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination) on China-India Border Affairs, the two sides explored various measures and proposals to give effect to the decisions taken during talks between NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Special Representatives dialogue in December. On Wednesday, Gourangalal Das, joint secretary (East Asia) in the ministry of external affairs, who led the Indian delegation at the WMCC meeting met Liu Jinsong, the director general at the Chinese foreign ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, during which they 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 the meeting, the two sides also discussed the resumption of dialogue mechanisms in a "step-by-step" manner to utilise them to address each other's priority areas of interest and concern and move the relations to a "more stable and predictable path", the ministry of external affairs said in a press release. The Karnataka high court has directed action against a city civil court judge for citing non-existent Supreme Court rulings while deciding an application under the Code of Civil Procedure. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. In an order issued on March 24, Justice R Devdas of the high court expressed concern over the judge's conduct, stating that the matter warranted further investigation. "What is more disturbing is that the learned judge of the city civil court has cited two decisions that were never delivered by the apex Court or any other court," it observed. "The learned senior counsel appearing for the plaintiffs has clearly stated that such decisions were not cited by the plaintiffs' counsel. This act on the part of the learned judge requires further probe and appropriate action in accordance with the law." The case arose from a revision petition challenging the civil court's jurisdiction in a commercial dispute. Senior counsel Prabhuling Navadgi, representing the petitioners, argued that the lower court had rejected their application solely based on citations of judgments that did not exist. Navadgi informed the high court in January that the cited judgments appeared to have been fraudulently manufactured, as no official records of them could be found on the Supreme Court's website or any other legal database. He further noted that artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT sometimes generate "fictitious case laws" and suggested that this could be a possibility in the present case. Taking serious note of these allegations, the high court ordered, "A copy of this order shall be placed before the hon'ble chief justice for further action against the learned judge." Additionally, the high court allowed the revision petition, noting that the plaintiffs had previously filed a commercial suit, withdrawn it without liberty, and subsequently filed a fresh suit before a civil court that lacked jurisdiction. "This is an ingenious method adopted by the plaintiffs to maintain a suit before a court that had no jurisdiction," the court remarked. The respondents were represented by senior counsel Shyam Sunder and advocate B K S Sanjay. The police have increased vigil at the Irani locality in Maharashtra's Thane district following the killing of a robber from an Irani gang based in Thane in an encounter with the police in Chennai, an official said on Thursday. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Jaffer Gulam Hussein Irani, belonging to the notorious gang of robbers based at the Irani Basti in Ambivali area, was shot dead by the police after he allegedly opened fire on them in Chennai on Wednesday, officials earlier said. The Irani Basti, located near the Ambivali station, has been infamous as the base of several chain-snatchers and motorbike thieves belonging to the Irani gang. The police from Thane, neighbouring Mumbai and other adjoining areas were several times in the past attacked by residents of the locality when the security personnel went there to apprehend criminals. The residents, mostly women, have been at the forefront of opposing the police action and damaged police vehicles in the past. Several police personnel had also been injured in such attacks and forced to make a hasty retreat. Since the killing of Jaffer in Chennai on Wednesday, an eerie silence prevailed in the locality. Security has been stepped up in the locality to avoid any law and order issue and the situation is presently under control, an official from Khadakpada police station said. Jaffer's family has been informed about the incident, the police said. ADGP-Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun on Wednesday told reporters that Jaffer had hidden a pistol inside a motorcycle he used for chain-snatching incidents. "He tried to escape by attacking the police; the pistol was hidden inside the bike," he said. The motorcycle was abandoned before Jaffer and two others tried to fly out of Chennai after committing the crimes. A Chennai city police statement said at around 2.30 am on Wednesday, Jaffer, as part of the probe to recover robbed jewellery and the vehicle used to perpetrate the crimes, was taken by police to Taramani Railway Station area. Suddenly, the accused took out the country made pistol from inside the motorcycle and opened fire on the police team. "Though officials warned him not to fire at them, he did not heed the advice. There was no other choice and police shot at him and he was injured. He was rushed to a private hospital, and a doctor declared that he was brought dead," the statement said. Explaining the series of chain-snatching incidents and the arrest (on March 25) of two accused persons -- Jaffer Gulam Hussein Irani and Mizammza Irani -- within a matter of 3-4 hours, Commissioner Arun said that between 6 am and 7 am on Tuesday, six chain snatching incidents were reported in south Chennai areas including Saidapet and hence, vehicle checking was intensified across the city. Based on previous incidents in neighbouring Tambaram, the role of gangs from outside of Tamil Nadu was suspected and accordingly, airport, railway station, parking lots of MetroRail stations were checked and CCTV footages were examined and the identity of some accused persons were fixed and two accused were arrested at the airport within hours. A third accused, Salman Hussain Irani, who boarded a Hyderabad-bound train at Chennai Central railway station following the crimes, was arrested at Ongole in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh with the help of RPF and jewellery snatched in the six incidents were recovered. All the three accused belong to the big, notorious "Irani gang," who were mainly concentrated in and around Mumbai and its nearby areas and carry out crimes across the country, the police said. The commissioner said these Irani robbers years ago earned notoriety for "attention diversion crimes", and their involvement in chain snatching has now been found. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a visit to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh founder Dr KB Hedgewar's memorial in Nagpur on March 30 and lay the foundation stone of the extension building of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat at the Ram mandir pran pratishta ceremony in Ayodhya, January 22, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The memorials of Hedgewar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's second Sarsanghchalak MS Golwalkar are located at the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir in Nagpur's Reshimbagh area. Modi will visit these memorials on March 30, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters in Nagpur on Thursday. "PM Modi will be arriving here at 9.30 am. He will lay foundation stone of the extension building of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre. He will also be visiting RSS Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir, Reshimbagh and Deekshabhoomi as well as the Solar Explosives plant," Bawankule said. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will also attend the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre programme. The BJP is making large scale preparations to welcome Modi at 47 squares in the city, Bawankule said. "This is the first time that a sitting prime minister will be visiting the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir premises," a scholar well-versed with RSS history told PTI. He said late BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited the memorial in 2007, but he was not the prime minister at that time. Modi earlier visited the memorial as a pracharak, but he is visiting the place for the first time after becoming the prime minister, the scholar said. Modi will also visit Deekshabhoomi, where Dr B R Ambedkar embraced Buddhism along with thousands of his followers in 1956, Bawankule said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India and preparations are underway for it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a conversation in Novo-Ogaryovo, Russia, July 8, 2024. Photograph: Sputnik/Sergei Bobylyov/Pool via Reuters In a video address to a conference titled 'Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda' hosted by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Lavrov said, "Arrangements are currently being made for Putin to visit India." "President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared," the Russian foreign minister was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency. Lavrov noted that Prime Minister Modi's first foreign visit after his re-election last year was to Russia. "Now it's our turn," he said. However, the dates of the visit have not been revealed yet. Prime Minister Modi visited Russia in July 2024, his first trip to the country in nearly five years. Earlier, he visited the far eastern city of Vladivostok in 2019 to attend an economic conclave. During the last visit, Modi invited Putin to visit India. On March 24, Lavrov said Russia is developing a 'privileged strategic partnership' with India. Lavrov said at an event that Russia is actively expanding ties with countries like China, India, Iran, North Korea and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. "The relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with the People's Republic of China boast an unprecedented level of mutual trust. Particularly privileged strategic partnership is developing with India," the top Russian diplomat said. In his congratulatory message to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of India's 76th Republic Day in January, Putin said that Russian-Indian relations are based on 'special and privileged strategic partnership'. Putin and Modi maintain regular contact, holding telephone conversations once every couple of months. The two leaders also hold in-person meetings, particularly on the sidelines of international events. Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman on Thursday said he will not apologise for his remarks on Rana Sanga because one cannot deny history. IMAGE: Scores of Karni Sena activists vandalised Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman's house in Agra on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI on X In an interview to PTI Videos, Suman said that his house was attacked with the intention to harm his family. He also said he has informed the Rajya Sabha Chairman about the incident. Suman was recently captured on camera purportedly 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. "I will not apologise in this life, I do not know about the next life," the MP said on Thursday, a day after his house was attacked allegedly by the members of the Karni Sena. "They need to learn to accept the truth. Babur was invited by Rana Sanga to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. He had the misconception that Babur is a robber, and that he will go back, and we will rule. "There was an agreement that Rana Sanga would attack Agra. When their agreement broke, they had a war in Fatehpur Sikri, Rana Sanga fought bravely but lost. This is history, who can deny it?" he added. Karni Sena chief Suraj Pal Singh Amu said the remarks insulted a hero who defeated the Mughals and demanded Suman and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav tender an apology. Scores of activists from Karni Sena, a caste-based group advocating Rajput pride, vandalised the lawmaker's house located near Hari Parvat Chauraha Agra on Wednesday. Multiple cars parked outside the house were damaged, chairs broken and the house's glass windows shattered. Videos showed a handful of police personnel confronting the mob as it went on a rampage in the posh neighbourhood. A policeman got injured. Suman also said the attackers meant to harm his family. "I met the Rajya Sabah Chairman, informed him about the situation. I told him threats were being made since March 22 through social media, and yesterday they came to my house with a bulldozer," he said. "There was a life-threatening attack, they broke all the glasses, cars in the colony were destroyed... their intention was to destroy my family," he said. Agra police lodged an FIR against an 'unknown mob' on Thursday, a day after the MP's residence was attacked. The incident took place on the day Chief Minister Adityanath was in the city for a public event. The FIR was lodged against 'uncontrolled crowd of hundreds, name unknown' under charges of rioting, attempt to murder, house trespass, and robbery on the complaint of Suman's son Ranjeet Suman at Hariparwat Police Station. SP leader Ramgopal Yadav, who visited the MP at his house, alleged that the attack was 'pre-planned' and authorities were aware of it, yet they could take no preemptive action. The chief minister was present at an event nearby, but the administration failed to act in the matter, he said. "The attackers came with bulldozers, sticks, batons, and swords, yet they were not stopped. What conclusion should we draw from this? The attackers had the full support of the government," Yadav alleged. The politician said that after Eid, his party will launch a protest against the attack, which he termed a 'direct assault' on the 'Pichchde, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak'. Four special needs children died and at least 16 were taken ill, allegedly after they had their dinner at a government rehabilitation centre in the state capital's Para area, officials said. Image used only for representation. On Tuesday evening, more than 20 special needs children residing at the centre fell ill, possibly due to food poisoning, and were taken to Lok Bandhu hospital. Lucknow district magistrate Vishak G told PTI, "A total of four children including two girls and two boys of the shelter home aged between 12 and 17 years of age have died. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem and their viscera will be preserved." Dr Rajeev Kumar Dixit, medical superintendent of Lok Bandhu Raj Narayan Combined Hospital, told PTI Videos that around 20 children were brought to the hospital Tuesday evening from the rehabilitation centre." "All these children are mentally challenged. They were severely dehydrated when they arrived. Despite our best efforts, two children died," he said. Two more critically-ill children, who were referred to another government hospital, succumbed, he said. The condition of 16 others has improved, he added. A medical team has been sent to the shelter home to observe the health of the remaining children. "Around seven children were under medical observation at the shelter home. The health department team deputed at the shelter home is keeping an eye on the children there," the DM said. He has formed a committee to determine the cause of the alleged food poisoning. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak visited Lokbandhu Hospital on Thursday to meet the children. Speaking to reporters after his visit, Pathak said the affected children are receiving intensive medical care and are in stable condition. "One child is experiencing seizures but is out of danger. The government is closely monitoring the situation and ensuring the best possible treatment," he said. The minister confirmed that food poisoning is suspected and that food samples from the rehabilitation centre have been sent for testing. "Officials from the Food Safety Department have been consulted, and once the test results are available, the exact cause will be clearer. However, our immediate priority is the children's recovery," he added. Pathak stated that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed concern over the incident and will visit the hospital to meet the children. "The government stands with the affected children and will ensure they receive the best treatment free of cost," he assured. When asked about possible contamination of food or water, Pathak said the cause of the sickness can only be determined only after an investigation. "The Lucknow District Magistrate and other officials have been directed to visit the rehabilitation centre and submit a report at the earliest so that any issues can be promptly addressed," he said. When asked by reporters if the incident happened on Sunday and it only came to light four days later due to the deaths, Pathak said strict action would be taken if negligence was found at any level. Officials from the Health Department and Food Safety Department also visited the hospital to interview the affected children, another official said. Food samples have been collected from the rehabilitation centre for analysis by the two departments. "Action will be taken based on the investigation report," an official source said. According to district probation officer Vikas Singh, the centre houses 147 children, primarily orphans and those with mental challenges. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said two more constituents of the Jammu and Kashmir-based Hurriyat Conference have discarded separatism and reposed their faith in the new Bharat built by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha and State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other dignitaries reviews the implementation of three criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir, in New Delhi, February 18, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo This development comes two days after similar announcements by two other affiliates of the separatists' conglomerate. On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement and the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Political Movement (JKDPM) announced the severing of all ties with separatism. Shah said under the Modi government, separatism is breathing its last and the triumph of unity is echoing across Kashmir. "Another great news from Kashmir Valley. Two more groups affiliated with the Hurriyat, namely J&K Tahreeqi Isteqlal and J&K Tahreek-I-Istiqamat, have discarded separatism and reposed their trust in the new Bharat built by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji," Shah wrote on X. In a statement, J&K Tehreeqi Isteqlal chairman Gulam Nabi Sofi said he and his organisation disassociated from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference or any other group with the relevant ideology. "We continued our struggle despite all odds but neither All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) (G) nor APHC (M) has been able to meet the expectations of the common masses. They failed at every step to represent the people's aspirations and sentiments. I have long ago severed my ties with separatist ideology and today I officially denounce it," he said. Sofi also said he is a true and committed citizen of India and believes in the Indian Constitution. "Neither in the past I have been associated with any act that is detrimental to the interests of India nor do I or my organisation intend to be a part of any group or forum which will work or has been working against India in future," he said. In a separate statement, J-K Tehreek-I-Istiqaamat chairman Ghulam Nabi War too said he and his party are no longer associated with the APHC (G) or (M) or any other ideology that works against the interests of India. War said the Hurriyat had lost ground and was unable to meet the expectations of the people of J-K. "They failed at every step to represent the people's aspirations and sentiments. I have long ago severed my ties with separatist ideology and today, I officially sever my connections from it," he said. A power outage forced Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma to address an event in dark in Mau, his hometown. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Adani Electricity Mumbai on Facebook The incident, video clips of which made their way to social media, led to action against four power department officials, at least two of them suspended, according to an official order. Sharma was in Mau on Wednesday to participate in a three-day event to mark eight years of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state. In the evening, locals invited him to a felicitation ceremony at Hanuman Ghat, where the minister was forced to deliver his speech amid an outage. The power failure lasted for hours on Bandh Road, one of the town's chief areas, with officials nowhere to be seen. Following the event, as Sharma prepared to leave, he found himself in an awkward situation as he searched for his footwear using the flashlight from mobile phones. The incident sparked discontent among BJP workers, some of whom alleged that local authorities deliberately caused an outage to tarnish the minister's image. All the same, Sharma's composure despite the situation won favours of the locals who praised him for his simplicity and humility. Meanwhile, superintendent engineer Sanjay Vaish has been asked for an explanation, while executive engineer Bhuvanraj Singh has been served a charge sheet. Sub-Divisional Officer Prakash Singh and Junior Engineer OP Khushwaha have been suspended, according to the order. The March 25-27 event saw participation of several other ministers, including Girish Chandra Yadav (Independent charge) and Panchayati Raj Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 27. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan discussed strengthening their strategic partnership and expanding cooperation across various sectors, Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov said on his Telegram channel, Trend reports. "It was a pleasure to meet Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan. Our discussions today were comprehensive, covering the full spectrum of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Main focus was paid to strengthening the strategic partnership between our two brotherly nations. We explored new opportunities to enhance collaboration across various sectors, reinforcing our shared commitment to deeper ties and mutual prosperity," Saidov noted. The discussions come ahead of the 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting in Ashgabat, which will be chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas. The meeting will involve representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Discussions will focus on preparations for the first-ever EU-Central Asia summit, scheduled for April 3-4, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The agenda will touch on a cornucopia of issues, from transport and digital connectivity to critical raw materials, energy and water resources, trade, people-to-people contacts, education, and research. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In Kerala's society, known for its high material standard of living, plunging into a state of having nothing overnight can be terrible for one's social standing and sense of self-esteem. Rehabilitation entails piecing a community back together after a disturbance and while its aim is noble, the act of reassembling will bring alive disparities and inequalities, explains Shyam G Menon. IMAGE: Search operations being carried out in Mundakkai village in Wayanad after the July 2024 landslides. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters While all eyes stay focused on the rehabilitation package for the survivors of Wayanad's 2024 landslide, there is the need not to ignore challenges to livelihood in the present. The whole journey to rehabilitation must be carefully managed because as a psychiatrist in Kalpetta pointed out, the honeymoon phase in society's social support for the survivors may have run its course. Right now, and the months to come, could be when reality hits them most. In early November 2024, when I visited the settlements beyond the Bailey bridge at Chooralmala, all of them affected by Wayanad's devastating landslide of July that year, it had been a picture of quietness. Like they say of the lull before a storm, this was the lull after a tragedy. There were many abandoned, damaged, mud-stained houses, and the sole movement of people left was that of estate workers and the occasional vehicle driving in to take them back after work hours. In the distance, the giant scar on Vellarimala, from where the landslide commenced, maintained its brooding presence. On February 12, 2025, onmanorama.com reported that these abandoned settlements and even parts of Chooralmala had begun seeing encroachment by wild animals. 'Wild elephants are wandering in the Chooralmala and Attamala areas, even in broad daylight. At the school grounds in Mundakkai, where children used to play, fresh elephant dung can now frequently be seen,' the report said. The Attamala area was spared damage in the landslide, but many of its residents were shifted while the tribal population elected to stay back and continue working in the nearby estates. 'Just the other day, Balan, a member of this community, lost his life after being trampled by a wild elephant,' the report said. Meanwhile, the erstwhile residents of the abandoned locations -- the survivors of the landslide of July 2024 -- have been enduring their own struggle to live, elsewhere. IMAGE: People watch the search and rescue operations in Wayanad. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters Rehabilitation yes, but life right now is as important Subair was looking for sponsors who may help him with working capital. "Please tell those you know," he told me. It was March 12, 2025. We were at a cafe in Kalpetta. Subair lost his two sons and father in the 2024 landslide in Wayanad. He used to live in Chooralmala, near the local school. He had a house on ten cents of land. Nothing remains. He got the relief promised by the Centre for his father and one son (the latter identified through DNA test of a body part, which was all that remained). The relief for the second son could not be claimed because the body stayed untraceable. Subair has been struggling since to get his life back on track and restart the textile shop, he once managed. He has taken new premises near Kalpetta and acquired some stock. But he is short on working capital. It was a similar story with Jijeesh. He ran a steel fabrication business in Chooralmala. When his business spiralled down during the COVID-19 pandemic, he shifted his stock and machinery to his house in Punjirimattom. His house and 49 cents of land -- all got washed away. His younger brother died. Jijeesh too is struggling to start life afresh. These are cases of people capable of work, finding it tough to get working capital to keep their renewed attempt at livelihood, alive. Loans usually require collateral. Whatever physical assets they could mortgage, are gone. "Banks will not give us loans," Naseer Alakkal, chairman of Janashabdam, one of the groups representing the survivors, said. The same was heard from a few others protesting before the civil station in Kalpetta on March 13. It brings us to a puzzling part of the story. There is an estimated Rs 30 crore to Rs 32 crore on the books of banks, which is the cumulative debt outstanding in the name of the survivors. There were posters seeking write-off of this debt visible in Chooralmala at the time of the last Lok Sabha by-polls, subsequently won by the current member of Parliament from Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi. Except for four crore rupees written off by Kerala Bank, the remaining amount remains. Debt write-off continues to be a demand with the survivors of the 2024 landslide. IMAGE: The colony born from the rehabilitation scheme for the survivors of the Puthumala landslide, located atop a small hill at Mukkilpeedika near Meppadi in Wayanad. Photograph: Shyam G Menon According to a senior bank official who requested not to be named, the challenge banks face is that they cannot make a repeatable example of such write-offs because for every okay given to write-off in Wayanad there will be similar cases of calamity asking for write-off elsewhere in India. Debt write-off requires board approval. For that, the boards of scheduled banks must meet. Kerala Bank could do that, the official explained, because the bank is wholly in Kerala; its board is in the state. Writing off the remaining debt, he felt, may receive momentum if the state puts its weight behind the request. It could be in the form of a token repayment by the state with the rest being written off by the bank boards or it could be in the form of the state deputing representatives to specifically chase down the objective. The latter -- that bit of someone being detailed to realise the objective -- counts because in the larger backdrop of Indian banking, Rs 30 crore to Rs 32 crore is peanuts. Meanwhile, it is understood that another Kerala based-scheduled bank is willing to write off its share of the debt but wants a firm list of the eligible on hand. It brings us back to the list and the importance of nobody -- survivors, political parties and vested interests -- meddling with it. "Without a clear list, nothing can be done," the bank official said. At the protest venue, at least one protestor admitted that in their initial desperation, there had been instances of multiple claims to relief and rehabilitation raised from the same family. "I know, the list required being perfected," he said. It is a message all those concerned with the rehabilitation process in Wayanad must understand -- do not meddle with the list for to do so, is to hurt many people. Hold the government accountable for efficiency and quality of execution but allow it the official process to decide eligibility, priority and justice. As for the survivors' continued eligibility to take loans, the bank official said that technically, if an individual has not paid his/her loan instalments in the period since the tragedy or earlier, he/she risks becoming a defaulter in the eyes of the operating system that banks use. Once the stamp of a defaulter sets in, availing loans afresh will be difficult. Compared to this, lack of collateral is less of an issue. Collateral matters for banking products like agricultural loans and housing loans. "They will not get loans for agricultural purposes in their current condition," he said. However, they should face less issues availing entrepreneurial loans of the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sort, he said, adding, banks may be willing to consider it on humanitarian grounds. IMAGE: A doctor inspects a child at a relief camp in Wayanad. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters What the doctor said -- perhaps the most important aspect for the government to note My final stop in Kalpetta was a doctor's consultation room. A psychiatrist, Dr Jostin Francis, said he had interacted with survivors from the 2024 landslide, seeking help to tackle their mental state. His experience in this regard and the concerns he developed pushed him to say yes when a YouTube channel asked him to speak about it. In the video (available on YouTube), he can be heard speaking of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). According to him, the economic profile of the affected population would be that of a middle-class group. Some families were totally wiped out. There are families with few survivors. There are those who fled into the forest when the landslide commenced and upon return, found all their belongings gone. Then, there are those who were in the neighbourhood of the landslide's path, who escaped with their houses intact, but had their minds scarred by the suffering all around. All of them saw the change to human lives, happen suddenly. In Kerala's society, known for its high material standard of living, plunging into a state of having nothing overnight can be terrible for one's social standing and sense of self-esteem. One feels insignificant. Eligibility for marriage drops if one hails from such circumstances. This was seen in earlier cases of calamity too. By nature, calamities like Wayanad's landslide are like a tsunami. There is a distinct before and after in community life with the before being a case of social equilibrium reached over a long period of time. Rehabilitation entails piecing a community back together after a disturbance and while its aim is noble, the act of reassembling will bring alive disparities and inequalities. For example, some may find strong sponsors; some may not. When sponsors get identified with religion and community, divides emerge where there was none previously. Dr Francis listed a set of propensities; he told me that actual cases matching these propensities existed among the survivors of the 2024 tragedy. IMAGE: Stains on the wall caused by water leakage at one of the houses from the rehabilitation scheme for the survivors of the Puthumala landslide. Photograph: Shyam G Menon To begin with, he said, the vulnerability to develop mental issues exists in most of us. Calamities like the 2024 landslide generate psycho-social stress capable of triggering the vulnerability. Many of those affected may be coping with mood disorders, the dominant form of which is depression. There is also the propensity for bipolar disorder and substance abuse, particularly alcoholism. Some develop pathological grief, which is extreme grief. In some cases, there will be PTSD, which involves flashback. These tendencies have been noticed in not just those immediately affected by the calamity but also their dependants and relatives who may be physically away from the scene but are nevertheless connected. Another source of anguish has been the repeated media coverage and its impact. "It affects people who are physically unaffected by these incidents too," Dr Francis said. There have been cases of those who helped in the rescue process, enduring PTSD later. There has also been the case of inexperienced counsellors attaching relief to repeated ventilation of trauma when what it did, was to reinforce the incident in memory. I asked Dr Francis how effective or not the Kerala context is, to tackle such issues. He felt that compared to other states, Kerala appeared better placed to handle it. IMAGE: The Elstone Tea Estate land on Kalpetta's by-pass road; site for the proposed government rehabilitation scheme for the survivors of the 2024 landslide in Wayanad. Photograph: Shyam G Menon But there is a major problem, and it is one all those associated with the rehabilitation process should keep in mind for a proper comprehension of its urgency. After big calamities and tragic developments, there is usually a honeymoon phase when relatives and friends rush to the support of the affected, cluster around them and provide them a sense of community. It is in this phase that sponsors also come in with huge promises and gifts. Unfortunately, the honeymoon phase does not last long. In due course, the survivors are on their own. Dr Francis reckons that by now, for the survivors of the 2024 landslide, the honeymoon phase may have concluded and many of them could be on their own. This is when existence hits home. After leaving Wayanad, I spoke to Dr Joice Geo, honorary general secretary of the Kerala chapter of the Indian Psychiatric Society, for a sense of how prominent trauma related counselling had become in Kerala given natural calamities had been several in the past decade. She said that as with the Wayanad landslide in 2024, the pandemic years and the floods of 2018 had left their share of people disturbed directly by the specific incident and indirectly by its multiple fallouts. In some cases, engagements by psychiatrists and counsellors are continuing. Looking ahead, she agreed that given climate change and likelihood of unsteady weather conditions, it is time sensitization programs from a mental health perspective was done by way of preparation. "The positive side is that the level of resilience we have seen in Kerala is good," she said. IMAGE: Seen on the shutter of a closed shop in Chooralmala, a poster of then Congress candidate in the Wayanad by-election, Priyanka Gandhi and to its side, a poster demanding that the outstanding debt of those affected by the landslide be written off. Photograph: Shyam G Menon Listen, talk, listen... March 15, Thiruvananthapuram. Early morning, I spoke to Naseer to find out if the protesters managed to meet the state revenue minister, as planned two days earlier in Kalpetta. "Yes, we got to meet him. We spoke to him for one-and-a-half hours. He heard us out but there are some points on their side, which they stick to. We told him, we want 10 cents of land and not seven. He said he will inform the chief minister of our demand. The final decision has to be taken by the chief minister," Naseer said. The inconvenience caused by case-by-case approval required for the first 12 years, to leverage the awarded land and house for getting bank loans, was also conveyed to the minister, he said. On March 15, there was an update from district collector, Meghashree, as well. "2A has been finalised and 87 beneficiaries are there," she said referring to the second of the three categories in the list of people for rehabilitation. Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com A class developed by multiple partners provides child care workforce training to refugees at the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development in Brattleboro. Several fire departments responded to a three-alarm fire at the SIT campus in Brattleboro on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. There was active fire found in five of the buildings. Robert Beck of Peterborough, N.H. is a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and also teaches foreign policy classes at lifelong learning programs at both Keene State College and Rivier University. The opinions expressed by columnists and op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 27. On March 27, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the European Union delegation headed by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, Trend reports with reference to the press service of the President of Uzbekistan. According to the information, matters on expanding practical cooperation and preparing for the upcoming joint events were reviewed. "Special attention was paid to the issues of holding the events of the first summit Central Asia - European Union on April 3-4 this year in the city of Samarkand. In this context, the fruitful results of the multilateral ministerial meeting held today in Ashgabat were highly appreciated. The importance was stressed on promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the two regions in such priority areas as trade and logistics, including unlocking the potential of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, digitalization, green energy, ecology, modernization of infrastructure, and in other areas through the introduction of effective mechanisms for implementing initiatives and projects. Issues of further deepening of Uzbekistan's relations with EU institutions have been considered. The issues of adopting a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and our country's accession to the World Trade Organization were discussed," the press service says. Letter to the Editor: The world must not look away The Commerce Commission has issued an open letter to initiate a work programme looking at the evolution of the regulatory regime for fibre broadband services. Telecommunications commissioner Tristan Gilbertson said while the new fibre regime was working well, it needed to keep pace with market developments. Maintaining the certainty required for ongoing investment in world-class fibre means having the right rules in place now and into the future so were launching a programme of work to ensure we keep the balance right, he said. New Zealands fibre networks were built between 2012 and 2022 by four regulated fibre wholesalers: Chorus, Enable, Northpower and Tuatahi, in partnership with the government. The commission implemented a new regulatory regime for fibre, as required under the Telecommunications Act, in 2022. This recognised the natural monopoly characteristics of the infrastructure and was designed to promote consumer interests over the long term. The new review is proposed to start with the underlying framework of rules for fibre services the relatively new fibre input methodologies focusing on cost of capital, the rules for new capital investments, and the controls applied to Chorus, the countrys largest wholesaler. We also expect to identify opportunities for streamlining current rules and processes as we look across the input methodologies as a whole, Gilbertson said. The commission is also proposing to review the cost of capital for fibre in parallel with the other sectors it regulates, such as energy networks and airports. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has paraded new military drones amid reports that he has sent an additional 3,000 troops to help Russia in its war on Ukraine. Pyongyang released images on March 27 showing Kim inspecting tests of reconnaissance and attack drones at an undisclosed location. There has been international concern that Russia is providing North Korea with drone technology in return for substantial military aid. The same day Kim inspected the new drones, South Koreas publicly owned Yonhap news agency cited the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul as saying that "it appears that some 3,000 or more [North Korean troop] have been additionally dispatched [to Russia] in January and February," The reported new troop deployment follows an earlier 11,000-strong contingent Pyongyang sent that has seen action in Russias Kursk region We can say that Russia is already becoming dependent on North Korea in many ways, not only in terms of shells, but also in terms of other weapons...as well as in terms of soldiers," Ukrainian analyst Oleh Saakyan told RFE/RLs Current Time. The dispatch of additional troops was first reported in late February, but without details of numbers. The new developments come as Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told state media that plans were being made for Kim to visit Moscow later this year. Kim has previously visited Moscow, traveling by armored train, in 2019 and 2023 for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has made multiple trips to China and also held summits with US President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019. There has been a substantial warming in relations between Moscow and Pyongyang since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As well as sending troops, North Korea has also sent short-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers and rocket launchers, according to the South Korean military. "In reality, the state of the Russian economy and Russia's mobilization needs are becoming more and more difficult to meet, just like in Ukraine, said Saakyan, a co-founder of Ukraines National Platform for Resilience and Cohesion, a non-profit group. We can already see that more and more weapons from North Korea are appearing on the front line. The JCS assessed that the new deployment also included additional equipment and ammunition. It comes as Russia has demanded that Western countries stop providing military aid to Ukraine as a condition for a partial cease-fire. Last month, Kim said his forces would continue supporting Russia as part of a comprehensive strategic partnership. The military deployment to Russia began last autumn. At first it did not go well, with reports of heavy casualties as North Korean troops struggled to cope with attacks by Ukrainian drones. In late January, a Ukrainian military intelligence official told Current Time that North Korean troops had been rotated away from the front line amid big losses. Ukraines special operations command told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service that North Korean troops were forced to retreat." But lately, their performance appears to have improved. North Korean forces have been credited with playing a role in pushing Ukrainian forces back in recent battles in the Kursk region. Their role in the fighting has raised concerns in South Korea that Kims forces are gaining valuable battlefield experience. Theres also been disquiet over the prospect of technology transfers from Moscow to Pyongyang. North Korean state media reported on March 27 that Kim was satisfied with the new drones and said production would be boosted as drones and artificial intelligence became top priorities. South Korean military spokesman Lee Sung Joon said a showcased drone may have used certain components from Russia but that Pyongyang was possibly exaggerating its capabilities. It looks quite cumbersome and we assess that its likely vulnerable to interception, he said. The new school year started in Afghanistan on March 22, but for the fourth consecutive year, millions of teenage girls were barred from attending classes. Among them was Khalida, who was in the ninth grade when the Taliban seized power and banned education for girls above 12 years old. The ban has had a big impact on my life, Khalida, now 18, told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi. I used to spend all my time on my studies. Now my time passes aimlessly. The school ban has had a catastrophic impact on an estimated 2.2 million girls in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has erased women from public life and severely restricted their fundamental rights. There has been a surge in forced, early, and child marriages. Child marriages have increased by around 25 percent since the Taliban takeover, according to the UN. The lack of educational and professional prospects for women has fueled a rise in female suicides, making the country one of the few in the world where more women take their own lives than men. "The lack of access to education not only threatens our future but also hinders our country from progress and development, said another teenage Afghan girl, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. We have the right to study, progress, and have a bright future," she told Radio Azadi. UNICEF, the UN's children's agency, said the repercussions of the school ban will last for generations. The ban negatively impacts the health system, the economy, and the future of the nation, UNICEF said in a March 22 statement. With fewer girls receiving an education, girls face a higher risk of child marriage with negative repercussions on their well-being and health. The agency warned that over 4 million girls will be out of school if the ban lasts until 2030. Calls To Do More Senior UN officials and Afghan female activists have termed the Talibans treatment of Afghan girls and women as gender apartheid. They have called for the international community to put more pressure on the Taliban to reverse its ban on education for girls beyond the sixth grade. No country has recognized the Talibans government, which is under international sanctions. But a growing number of countries, including some in the West, are cooperating with its government on trade, security-related issues, and immigration. "The Taliban still go around and travel freely, said Pashtana Durrani, a prominent Afghan education activist who lives in exile. They give interviews. They have bank accounts. Their families live abroad yet they have banned Afghan women from getting an education. She added: The international community should be asked whether they truly want the Taliban to open girls schools or not? Kourosh Sehati was working for the UK-based Iran International TV station when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Now, the broadcast journalist aims to fight on the front lines in Ukraine, the Eastern European country he calls his second home. Sehati is the first known Iranian to apply to join Ukraines Foreign Legion, a military unit of the armed forces composed of foreign volunteers. The Foreign Legion has not yet approved his application. In an interview with RFE/RLs Radio Farda, Sehati said he wanted to defend Ukraine against what he called the club of dictators and invaders. That was a reference, he said, to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his key allies, including Irans clerical rulers, the Belarusian authoritarian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko, as well as North Korea and China. The 46-year-olds decision to fight in Ukraine was also deeply personal. I have an attachment to Ukraine because my wife is Ukrainian and our kids are half Ukrainian, he told Radio Farda, adding that his family lives in London. Sehati announced his decision to fight in Ukraine on March 18, writing on X that he had enlisted to fight the criminal Putin and his backers. Russia 'Hurt' Iran Beyond his personal ties to Ukraine, Sehatis opposition to Moscow is rooted in Irans historical grievances against Russia. Russia has hurt Iran a lot over the last 200 years, said Sehati, who worked for Voice of Americas Persian Service and holds US citizenship. Persia and tsarist Russia fought a series of wars in the 19th century, culminating in Tehran ceding much of the Caucasus to Moscow. The Russian Empire also vied for control of Irans natural resources and occupied Iranian territory. In the mid-1940s, the Soviet Union supported short-lived ethnic Kurdish and Azeri republics in northwestern Iran. Although the republics were swiftly dismantled, they contributed to ethnic tensions that persist to this day. Not All Iranians Support The Islamic Republic Since the start of Russias war in Ukraine, Iran has supplied Moscow with drones that have been used to strike Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. While both Tehran and Moscow deny it, there is substantial evidence suggesting otherwise. There are also growing concerns that Iran could provide Russia with missiles for use in Ukraine. Sehati said one of his motivations for enlisting was to challenge perceptions about Iranians. Im trying to send a message of solidarity between Iranians and Ukrainians so that Ukrainians dont associate Iranians with the Islamic republics actions, he said. A rights activist who was arrested several times for his political activities, Sehati fled Iran to Turkey in 2004. He was granted the status of political refugee and later moved to the United States. Not Murder, But Self-Defense Sehati was 10 when the Iran-Iraq War ended in 1988 and has no prior combat experience beyond the two-year mandatory military service he completed in Iran. Sehati said he is looking forward to receiving "professional training" and admitted he has never killed anyone in battle. But he is mentally prepared. Its like when someone breaks into your home with a weapon and tries to attack you. What do you do? Sehati said. Defending yourself is legitimate self-defense, not murder. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Kourosh Sehati was on the frontlines and receiving professional training. Sehati has confirmed that he has not been deployed and has not yet received any training. According to a statement from the press service of the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine, his application to join the force has not yet been approved. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. Armenia will have to choose between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union (EU), the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told journalists, Trend reports. "We are closely monitoring these processes. We understand that if Armenia moves towards Europe, the entire complex of economic relations with the country will need to be reconsidered," he said. Overchuk believes this shift will have consequences for the people of Armenia. At the same time, he emphasized that this is an internal matter for Armenia. "Both the EAEU and the EU have similar agendas. Because it will not be possible to sit on two chairs at the same time," the deputy prime minister added. To note, Armenia's parliament has passed a bill on the commencement of the country's accession process to the EU. The bill was approved by 64 votes in favor, 7 against, with no abstentions. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel PRAGUE -- Across Europe, some 4.3 million refugees could soon have the option of returning to a peaceful Ukraine, but many no longer want to. In the Czech Republic, Ukrainian refugees now make up some 3.6 percent of the population -- the highest ratio in Europe. A recent survey indicated less than a quarter plan to return to Ukraine once their refugee visas expire. Anna Naduda is one of those who hopes to remain. The artist and teacher lost her youngest son in a tragic accident before the 2022 Russian invasion. I have a huge fear of losing another child, of losing my son, she told RFE/RL. Naduda speaks with warmth about the Czech capital, where she found refuge with her surviving child. The experience for myself and my son is that Prague met us with love, the artist said, while molding a sculpture in a quiet suburb of the Czech capital. The artists 11-year-old son has learned Czech and has settled into a school where he has friends and hobbies. I want my child to grow up in a stable and positive environment, Naduda said. Nadudas visa comes under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, an EU-wide status agreed in 2022 which currently runs until March 2026. What happens after that date will be coordinated depending on a conclusion of the war, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Hana Mala told RFE/RL. In all likelihood there will be a transition period, in which refugees will have time to resolve their future either by moving onto another kind of residence permit or returning home. New Visas For Refugees Many of the 389,000 Ukrainians in the Czech Republic on temporary protection visas face a high hurdle to remain if a peace agreement is reached. From April 1, Ukrainian refugees will be able to apply for a special residency visa that would grant them permission to stay on beyond the conclusion of the war and offer a potential pathway to permanent residency. But applicants are required to earn an annual gross income of 440,000 crowns ($19,200). That threshold increases by 110,000 crowns for each dependent in a household. I need to earn more, Naduda says with a laugh, that is my goal for this year. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan has suggested there will be other paths for refugees to follow if they wish to remain. Theyd have the same rules as any other foreign nationals, he said in February. Rakusan said surveys suggested some 200,000 might stay. Thats a situation that we could certainly handle, he added. But immigration lawyers RFE/RL spoke to say those avenues will be limited. Hana Frankova, the head of legal at the Czech-based Organization For Aid To Refugees, says in the event of peace, and without extension to temporary protection visas, Ukrainian refugees "will probably be able, in theory, to apply for asylum." But she adds that "this would only make sense in case of someone having asylum reasons." The legal expert estimates only some 10 percent of Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic would be eligible for the special residency permit given its current income requirement. Svatava Pospiskova, a visa expert at the firm Czech Visa Lawyer, says if a cease-fire is announced and the temporary protection visa scheme is not extended, Ukrainian refugees would have "the opportunity to reside in the [Czech Republic] for up to 90 days under visa-free travel, but not for the purpose of earning a living." She added that applicants would need to apply for residence permits at the Czech Embassy in Ukraine. Yulia Dobrynina is a photographer and former lawyer who fled Kyiv in 2022 and now works at an NGO helping other displaced people in Prague to integrate. Dobrynina believes women with male children in the Czech Republic are likely to do anything to stay out of Ukraine, hinting there is little faith that the Russian invasion will be ended by a peace agreement. Weve had this war not only for three years. Its a 300 year war, they always come back, they always want to kill us, she told RFE/RL. Dobrynina also aims to stay on beyond a potential end to the war. I have no place to come back to, she said, adding that her home town of Melitopol is under Russian occupation. The NGO worker is also unsure if her income would meet the threshold for the special visa. I dont know, [it could be] one crown minus, one crown plus, she says, referring to the Czech currency. Refugees In Poland And Germany Ukrainian refugees in other European countries also face uncertainties about how long they can stay. Germany and Poland have the most, with 1.16 million and 992,000, respectively, according to EU figures. In both countries, there have been moves to reduce the level of social-welfare support available to Ukrainian refugees. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk floated such proposals in early January, while Germanys likely future Chancellor Friedrich Merz made similar suggestions last year. At first many people were ready to help, they had understanding for Ukraine, Angelika Gumz, the owner of a Ukrainian cafe in Berlin, told RFE/RL in February. As time has passed, the attitude has changed. Leaders from more than 30 countries met in Paris for talks about to how to firm up Ukraine's position on and off the battlefield as they promised new aid and considered proposals on the potential deployment of European forces in the country to complement a future cease-fire or peace deal. Following the March 27 "coalition of the willing" summit, which does not include the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the leaders gathered in Paris were more united around Ukraine than ever before. He said they need to ensure that they're able to counter what he described as Russia's plan to draw out the negotiating process in order to grab more land. "Our target is clear," Macron said at a press conference after the summit. "It is to achieve peace -- and to do this, we need to get Ukraine in the best possible place." The French president said that foreign ministers of coalition countries were tasked following the summit with looking at specific legal questions over any European-led reassurance force supporting a cease-fire, and told to report back in three weeks. "There will be a reassurance force operating in Ukraine representing several countries," Macron said. "It is not Russia that can decide if a reassurance force can be stationed in Ukraine." He added that there is currently no unanimity on sending a European-led force and that not all members have agreed to participate, but he said that this not required in order to move ahead. Speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the eve of the summit, Macron said that the proposed reassurance force would not be on the front lines of the war and would not be tasked with monitoring or enforcing a cease-fire -- a job that he suggested could fall to UN peacekeepers. At the March 27 press conference, Zelenskyy said that there were "many questions" and "few answers" over the possible deployment of European-led troops in Ukraine as part of any agreement. "As for the actions of this contingent, its responsibilities -- what it can do, how it can be used, who will be in charge of it -- there are many questions. So far, there are few answers," Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy also urged the United States to respond to what he called Russia's violation of a commitment not to strike Ukrainian energy targets. The Ukrainian leader said that energy infrastructure had been damaged in a Russian attack on March 27 and that it was "unclear who is monitoring" the pledges to halt such strikes. Ukraine and Russia have traded accusations over breaching separate agreements with the United States to pause strikes against each others energy facilities. Reaffirming Support For Ukraine During the press conference, Macron added that a number of countries involved made further commitments of aid to Ukraine, including the French announcement of a new military aid package worth 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) on March 26. Macron also said that European leaders had agreed not to ease sanctions imposed on Russia and that they would take additional measures to target Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a network of aged tankers used to covertly carry Russian crude oil around the world. Earlier this week, separate US talks with Kyiv and Moscow in Saudi Arabia led to the announcement of a deal that the White House said resulted in a cease-fire in the Black Sea and an agreement "to develop measures for implementing" their commitments to halt strikes on energy facilities. But Russia is also demanding a number of conditions be met before it abides by the Black Sea agreement, including an easing of sanctions. Macron said following the summit in Paris that he intends to speak to US President Donald Trump and praised the recent US diplomacy. Whether the plans will result in action on the ground and be integrated into diplomatic talks spearheaded by Washington remains to be seen. Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy who has been involved in talks with Russia and Ukraine, earlier this week called the idea of the coalition simplistic and a posture and a pose. Macron was asked about Witkoffs criticism during his press conference and said that "we must hope for the best, but prepare for the worst," adding that he hoped that the United States would back the initiative but that his focus was on what Europe can do. Easing Sanctions On Russia And A Black Sea Deal US officials have recently raised the prospect of easing their set of sanctions on Russia. Speaking to reporters during a working visit to Jamaica, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will assess Moscows conditions. "We're going to evaluate that. Some of those conditions include sanctions that are not ours -- they belong to the European Union," Rubio said at a news conference in Jamaica on March 26. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News on March 26 that he believed Trump "would not hesitate to tighten sanctions if it gives him an advantage in negotiations." He added that tightening or easing sanctions would depend on further actions by the Russian leadership. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, at least 11 people were injured in overnight drone strikes on the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Dnipro on March 26, causing extensive damage. Officials reported that Russian forces launched at least 86 Shahed drones at the two cities, hitting civilian buildings and vehicles. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 27. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the launch of new transport and logistics corridors aimed at enhancing trade and development between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Trend reports. Among the main highways is a path winding through Iraqs Basra and another that sails across the Caspian Sea to Zangezur. Speaking at the presentation of Turkiyes Industrial and Technological Development Strategy 2030 in Ankara, Erdogan emphasized Turkiyes commitment to sharing its industrial expertise with Turkic states, the Middle East, and Africa. He noted that Ankara is developing national growth models aligned with global economic trends, aiming to establish an industrial ecosystem capable of producing competitive, high-value products. "Our objective is to achieve sovereign technological autonomy for Turkiye," Erdogan stated. Highlighting efforts to advance new technologies and expand high-tech exports and reflecting on Turkiyes achievements over the past 23 years, Erdogan said they have shifted the balance of power on the global stage. Among the countrys major technological innovations, he highlighted the following: KAAN Turkiyes first domestically produced fifth-generation military aircraft TOGG Turkiyes flagship electric vehicle TURKSAT 6A A telecommunications satellite, with over 80 percent of its components made in Turkiye Erdogan also pointed out that Turkiye is one of the select few countries that can whip up satellites and highlighted that Turkish drones have turned into a feather in the cap of the nation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel By Jessica Coates, PA The Dail speaking rights row and the Opposition's motion of no confidence in Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy dominate Thursday's front pages. The Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Irish Independent lead with the speaking rights row. The Echo leads with a story on mental health waiting lists for young people in Co Cork. The Irish Daily Mail leads with a story on rising crime statistics in Dublin. Latest crime statistics make for grim reading in the 'fair city'. pic.twitter.com/vYgFO4Mz6A The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) March 27, 2025 The Herald leads with a story on a man jailed over death threats to Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. In the North, the Belfast Telegraph leads with a story on anger over hospital staff being denied parking permits. The Irish News leads with a story on a 1 million spend on 'hospitality' ambulances during the Covid-19 pandemic. The front page of todays Irish News. pic.twitter.com/nmd0e7XUiu The Irish News (@irish_news) March 27, 2025 Reaction to UK chancellor Rachel Reeves spring statement dominates Thursdays British headlines. The Daily Mirror and The Guardian say the UK chancellor has been accused of balancing the budget on the backs of the poor after official figures revealed 3 million households could lose up to 172 in yearly benefits. Some 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty and 800,000 people will see their disability benefits reduced under the UK governments benefits squeeze, the i Paper reports. Meanwhile, the Independent reveals Ms Reeves is facing a backlash from fellow Labour MPs. Metro says Labour has turned the country into a warfare state as the country pledges to boost defence spending while culling benefits. The Financial Times leads on warnings from economists, who say that Ms Reeves may be forced to raise taxes again in the autumn budget. The Times warns Ms Reeves could again be forced to raise taxes or cut spending if US president Donald Trump follows through on threats to impose tariffs on Britain next week. Britain could face five years of record taxes, according to the Daily Telegraph. The Daily Express nicknames Ms Reeves reckless and accuses her of tanking the economy, while the Daily Mail says the UK chancellors spending plan has branded her deluded. The Daily Star warns of the imminent peak scumbag seagull time, while also questioning whether the chancellor is Liz Truss in disguise and accusing her of shredding the economy a jab at the newspapers infamous lettuce moment with the former prime minister. Lastly, The Sun splashes on the Prince of Wales upcoming appearance on Clarksons Farm. The New York Times leads with the security breach in which top Trump administration officials discussed a military strike in a Signal group that included a journalist, and Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on foreign-made cars. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA A woman who stabbed her partner multiple times with a kitchen knife while he slept carried out a premeditated murder, a court was told. But a defence barrister said mother-of four Julie Ann McIlwaine had been in an abusive relationship and had endured a significant level of domestic abuse and coercive control over a protracted period. McIlwaine 34, from Hazel Close, Lagmore, in west Belfast, was found guilty by a jury in October of the murder of James Joseph Crossley, 38, at her former home in March 2022. During a sentencing hearing at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Kinney heard submissions ahead of setting a tariff for how long she would spend in prison. Prosecuting barrister Richard Weir KC told the court there had been an argument between McIlwaine and her partner on the day of his death. He said: We say the defendant chose to kill James Crossley rather than to follow any other options before her. She killed him when he was asleep. She went from the top bedroom to the kitchen, she selected what appears to have been the largest knife and returned to the bedroom and stabbed him multiple times with the intention of killing him. A judge was hearing submissions ahead of sentencing. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. The barrister said it was not a borderline case between murder and manslaughter. He added: It was premeditated, planned and the intention was to kill and nothing else. Defence barrister Eilis McDermott KC told the court that McIlwaine had a high degree of regret for her actions. She said: The reality is that the defendant was the victim of a significant level of domestic violence and coercive control over a protracted period. The barrister told the court the case came close to the borderline between murder and manslaughter. Ms McDermott said McIlwaine had been trapped in an abusive relationship and had lost control. She said: This offence is characterised by little or no planning. All of the evidence looked at fairly suggests this was an impulsive reaction to circumstances where the defendant became overwhelmed and lost control. The choice that appeared to her to be the only choice she could make was between suicide and homicide. Ms McDermott added: The defendant killed her partner as the result of a long and undisputed history of violence and coercive control which included two incidents of non-fatal strangulation. The barrister said psychiatric reports had stated McIlwaine had been psychologically enmeshed with Mr Crossley and unable to separate. Mr Justice Kinney said he would set the tariff for how long McIlwaine would spend in prison in the near future. India Blocks Acclaimed Film Santosh Over Police Brutality Portrayal" The film, written and directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, is set in North India. India Blocks Acclaimed Film Santosh Over Police Brutality Portrayal": The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of India has disapproved of the release of the critically acclaimed film Santosh in India, reportedly due to concerns about its portrayal of misogyny, Islamophobia, and violence within the Indian police force. "Internationally acclaimed film Santosh blocked in India over portrayal of police brutality," The Guardian headlined while reporting on India's CBFC blocking the film from screening in the country. Advertisement The film, written and directed by British-Indian filmmaker Sandhya Suri, is set in North India. This social realism film follows a young widow who joins the police force to support herself and investigate the murder of a young Dalit girl. "The film is an unflinching fictional portrayal of the murkier elements of the Indian police force, depicting deep-rooted misogyny, discrimination against Dalits the lowest caste in India, previously known as untouchables and the normalization of mistreatment and torture by police officers. The film also grapples with the issue of sexual violence in India, particularly against lower-caste women, and the rising tide of anti-Muslim prejudice in the country," The Guardian reported. The newspaper stated that the film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, was the UKs official entry for the Oscars international feature category, and was nominated for Best Debut Feature at the BAFTAs this year. The films lead actor, Shahana Goswami, won the Best Actress award at the Asian Film Awards. Advertisement The Guardian also reported that the CBFC demanded extensive cuts that would significantly affect the films core themes related to police conduct and social issues. "I dont feel my film glorifies violence in a way that many other films focusing on the police have done. Theres nothing sensationalist about it," The Guardian quoted Suri as saying. About Sandhya Suri Sandhya Suri is a British-Indian filmmaker known for her socially relevant and thought-provoking films. She studied documentary filmmaking at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the UK. Advertisement Her early work includes the documentary I for India (2005), which was based on home video recordings of her familys migration from India to the UK. The film received critical acclaim. She later directed The Field (2018), a short film set in rural India, which won awards at international festivals, including Sundance. Her latest and most recognized work, Santosh (2024), is a police procedural film that explores caste discrimination, misogyny, and police violence in India. The film premiered at Cannes, was the UKs official Oscar entry, and received a BAFTA nomination. Advertisement ( For More News Apart India Blocks Acclaimed Film Santosh Over Police Brutality Portrayal" Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Punjab Budget 2025: Agriculture and Sustainability Get a Boost One of the major budget highlights is the provision of Rs 9,992 crore for power subsidy to the agricultural sector. Punjab Budget 2025: Agriculture and Sustainability Get a Boost latest news: The Punjab Budget 2025, tabled by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, has placed a major emphasis on agriculture, reiterating the government's resolve to tackle the issues of the farming community while encouraging sustainable practices. With an overall allocation of Rs14,524 crore for agriculture and allied sectors, the budget seeks to empower farmers and ensure the long-term well-being of the state's agrarian economy. Advertisement One of the major budget highlights is the provision of Rs 9,992 crore for power subsidy to the agricultural sector. This step will help reduce the financial burden on farmers and enable them to efficiently manage their operational expenses. The subsidy will provide uninterrupted power supply for farming purposes, which is essential for irrigation and other farm requirements. In an effort to deal with the pressing issue of stubble burning, the government has allocated Rs500 crore for crop residue management. The move highlights the government's resolve to seek long-term solutions to this national problem. Through encouraging the adoption of green technologies and offering funds for managing residue, the government hopes to cut down on air pollution and enhance soil quality. Moreover, Rs 115 crore has been allocated for crop diversification schemes. This amount is to be used to persuade farmers to move away from conventional crops such as wheat and paddy to other, high-value crops. The diversification policy not only seeks to increase farmers' income but also seeks to tackle the problem of declining groundwater levels, a major issue in Punjab. Advertisement The budget also focuses on the role of innovation and technology in agriculture. By encouraging initiatives that foster sustainable agriculture and optimal use of resources, the government is opening the door to a future-proof and resilient agricultural industry. Overall, Punjab Budget 2025 is a balanced proposition that tackles the short-term requirements of farmers and sets the stage for long-term sustainability. With these initiatives, the government sees a prosperous and green Punjab, where agriculture remains the cornerstone of the state's economy. (For More News Apart Punjab Budget 2025: Agriculture and Sustainability Get a Boost stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Policeman Injured in Four-Day Anti-Terrorism Operation in Kathua District, Jammu and Kashmir The terrorists are said to be from the same group that had fled after an extended engagement in the Hiranagar sector last Sunday evening. Policeman Injured in Four-Day Anti-Terrorism Operation in Kathua District, Jammu and Kashmir: One policeman was injured in a firefight with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Thursday during a four-day-old anti-terrorist operation, officials said. The shootout took place in the morning close to Jakhole village of the Rajbagh sector of Ghati Juthana, some 30 kilometers from Sunday's shootout site in the Hiranagar sector. Officials said more forces had been sent to the scene, and the shootout was still underway at the time of the last report. Advertisement The terrorists are said to be from the same group that had fled after an extended engagement in the Hiranagar sector last Sunday evening. The police Special Operations Group (SOG) initiated the operation based on intelligence inputs of the presence of terrorists at a plantation near Sanyal village along the Pakistani border. The operation has been taken to the level of hunting for terrorists over a range of several kilometers, from Sanyal to Ding Amb and further. Security personnel, with sophisticated monitoring and technical equipment, are carrying out the operation with the assistance of helicopters, UAVs, drones, bulletproof cars, and sniffing dogs. The officials believe that the terrorists entered Indian territory on Saturday, likely through a stream or a newly dug tunnel across the border. Security forces have stepped up search operations, especially along roads that lead to the Billawar forests, successfully tracking down the terrorists. Advertisement On Monday, the search parties found four packets of an M4 carbine, two hand grenades, a bulletproof vest, sleeping bags, tracksuits, food packets, and IED-making material in plastic packets at the scene of the gunbattle in Hiranagar. Nalin Prabhat Director General of Police has been camping in Kathua and is heading the anti-terror operation for the last four days along with Jammu Zone Inspector General of Police, Bhim Sen Tuti. (For More News Apart Policeman Injured in Four-Day Anti-Terrorism Operation in Kathua District, Jammu and Kashmir stay tune to Rozana Spokesman) March 27, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and international news. Newsflash Newsroom, 27.03.2025, 19:57 A roundup of local and international news. ORDER The Government in Bucharest adopted, on Thursday, an Emergency Order under which Romanian citizens who do not reside in Romania, but in another EU member state, can receive electronic identity cards with the value of a travel document. This guarantees the right to free movement and residence within the EU. For citizens who prove that their main residence is in a state other than Romania, the field referring to the persons domicile will not be printed on the electronic identity card. In addition, the person concerned must have a validated account on the Hub platform the service and information portal of the Interior Ministry with the exception of minors, under 18 years of age. The procedure for creating and validating these accounts will be established by an order of the Interior Minister. SECURITY Romania will participate in the working group for monitoring compliance with the ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea because it is a strategic area for the Romanian state, Ilie Bolojan said on Thursday at the end of the Paris Summit on security in Ukraine, which he attended alongside leaders from 31 states. Constanta is the most important port on the Black Sea, and Romania will participate in this working group through the infrastructure it has, but also through the collaboration with Turkey and Bulgaria on demining, the Romanian head of state also said. On the other hand, Ilie Bolojan reiterated that Romania will not send any military personnel to Ukraine. In Paris, in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky, Ukraines allies ruled out lifting any sanctions against Russia. MEETING Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu met on Thursday in Bucharest with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, during which the strong cooperation between the two states within the EU and the common interests were highlighted, especially regarding the security of NATOs Eastern Flank. We are strengthening our partnership and supporting the Polish EU Presidencys objective of having a stronger European Union, said Marcel Ciolacu in a post on the Governments X page. Also on Thursday, Radoslaw Sikorski discussed with his Romanian counterpart, Emil Hurezeanu. The voices on the Eastern Flank must be heard and their opinion must be taken into account when talking about Ukraine, the head of Romanian diplomacy said. In these stormy times, our collaboration with Romania is becoming increasingly important, the Polish official said in turn. He also said that Poland and Romania are close allies and partners. SPENDING Romanian public institutions spent 380 million lei (over 76 million euros) less on goods and services in the first two months of the year compared to the same period in 2024, said Finance Minister Tanczos Barna. He stressed that a reduction in operating expenses of 5% was achieved at the state budget level and of almost 4% at the local authorities level. According to data from the Ministry of Finance, during the mentioned period, the deficit was 1.58% of the Gross Domestic Product, compared to 1.64% of the GDP in the first two months of 2024. PNRR Romanian MPs adopted two bills on Wednesday, milestones in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The first requires members of the Government and other dignitaries with positions in the central administration to register in the Single Register of Transparency of Interests, as well as the prohibition of requesting or accepting gifts from people they are connected with while performing their duties. The second bill adopted refers to streamlining the activities of public enterprises. TARIFFS The European Union deeply regrets the Trump administrations decision, announced on Wednesday evening, to impose 25% tariffs on imported cars as of next month. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that such a measure would particularly affect consumers, both European and American. In turn, Canadas new Prime Minister Mark Carney has accused Donald Trump of violating bilateral agreements and warned that his country will react with tariffs on American products. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he is considering all options for response. This is the latest measure in a wide-ranging trade war, the BBC notes. The new tariffs are due to come into effect on April 3. (EE) More brands, more novelties, more activities. Come and meet the people behind this exceptional watchmaking week! Gathered in an exceptional setting, 60 watch brands will open the doors to their world and unveil their latest creations. In five days from today, Watches and Wonders Geneva, the watchmaking industry's flagship event, will welcome professionals and journalists from around the world, before opening its doors to the public from Saturday 5 to Monday 7 April. Product presentations, hands-on workshops, educational experiences, meetings with experts, watchmakers and craftsmen... The brands are showcasing their creativity to welcome the public at their booths and boutiques in the city centre. The highlight of the week will take place on Thursday 3 April, with an evening In The City , as watchmaking boutiques will remain open until 9pm, while a celebratory concert by French electronic duo Bon Entendeur will be taking place on the Quai General-Guisan! Everyone should be able to experience something unique. Watches and Wonders Geneva is all about contact and emotion, and we are committed to fostering this, says Cyrille Vigneron, President of the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation. Young People in the Spotlight Whether looking for training, a career or simply interested in watchmaking, young people are a focus for this years event. They will be able to meet apprentices from different brands and discover student projects presented at the LAB. This dynamic space is dedicated to innovation and brings together a range of brands, start-ups and schools around projects presented by young people for young people. At the Watchmaking Village on the Pont de la Machine, younger visitors will be able to experience watchmaking and jewellery workshops, find out about training courses and follow the live broadcast from Palexpo of the SwissSkills 2025 qualifications for microtechnology professions. Explore Time Differently At the Salon, through Geneva-based photographer Fred Merzs exhibition Longitude 0 which will take visitors along the famous Greenwich Meridian to discover some of its physical markers and share unique anecdotes from those living nearby. At the Auditorium, a robust conference program will explore emerging talents and trades, the role of women in watchmaking, the challenges and perspectives of the second-hand watch market, or the efforts related to the inclusion of horological arts and mechanics in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. The extensive free cultural events of the In The City program will also contribute to broaden perspectives on watchmaking, while the Payot bookshop offers a chance to meet Geneva historian Gerard Duc, prominent Geneva author Max Lobe, and Swiss crime fiction stars Nicolas Feuz and Marc Voltenaeur. These events aim to create new links between watchmaking expertise, literature, philosophy, psychology and history. The Bio Cinema will be screening Les Heritiers des Paysans-Horlogers, a documentary by Swiss director Claude Schauli, about farmers who became passionate watchmakers. See you in five days for a watchmaking week full of discoveries! EXHIBITING BRANDS A. LANGE & SOHNE | ALPINA | ANGELUS | ARMIN STROM | ARNOLD & SON | ARTYA GENEVE | BAUME & MERCIER | BELL & ROSS | BREMONT | BVLGARI | CARTIER | CHANEL | CHARRIOL | CHOPARD | CHRISTIAAN VAN DER KLAAUW | CHRONOSWISS | CYRUS GENEVE | CZAPEK & CIE | EBERHARD & CO. | FERDINAND BERTHOUD | FREDERIQUE CONSTANT | GENUS | GERALD CHARLES | GRAND SEIKO | GRONEFELD | H. MOSER & CIE. | HAUTLENCE | HERMES | HUBLOT | HYSEK | HYT | IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN | JAEGER-LECOULTRE | KROSS STUDIO | LAURENT FERRIER | LOUIS MOINET | MEISTERSINGER | MONTBLANC | NOMOS GLASHUTTE | NORQAIN | ORIS | PANERAI | PARMIGIANI FLEURIER | PATEK PHILIPPE | PEQUIGNET | PIAGET | RAYMOND WEIL | RESSENCE | ROGER DUBUIS | ROLEX | RUDIS SYLVA | SPEAKE MARIN | TAG HEUER | TRILOBE | TUDOR | U-BOAT | ULYSSE NARDIN | VACHERON CONSTANTIN | VAN CLEEF & ARPELS | ZENITH | Full program and tickets available at watchesandwonders.com. Mexico's Henkel Capital S.A. de C.V., affiliated to German chemical and consumer goods major Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, is recalling 1,068 units of its Tec Italy Shampoo Totale, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The recalled product has the potential to be contaminated with Klebsiella oxytoca, a dangerous bacteria. Exposure to these bacteria can cause infections in humans, including infection in the eyes, nose and skin. There could be additional reactions for consumers with immune-compromised conditions. The issue was noted after microbiological analyses performed by the company revealed the presence of these bacteria in some of its 33.81 fl. oz./ 1 L bottles of Tec Italy Shampoo Totale. However, there have been no reports of user harm or injury related to these products so far. The recalled Tec Italy brand Totale Shampoo is packaged in a 33.81 fl. oz./1 L, green plastic bottle marked with Lot # 1G27542266, and UPC code 7501438375850. The impacted shampoo was distributed in the United States through distributors in New York and California, and sold to consumers at the retail level. The shampoo may have been further distributed to other states. Consumers who have purchased the recalled bottles are urged to return them to their place of purchase for a full refund. Those who experience any symptoms, or have any medical questions associated with the recall, are asked to consult a physician immediately. In similar recalls, Washington-based SeaBear Co. last week called back Smoked Salmon Chowder & Alehouse Clam Chowder due to potential contamination with bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can cause serious illness or death. California-based AKT Trading Inc. in March recalled select prepared vegetable products, and Tri-Union Seafoods in February recalled its canned tuna products sold under various brands, both due to possible risk of Clostridium botulinum. For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Health News United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has expressed serious concerns about China's unfair and anti-competitive trade policies and practices. At a meeting via video conference Wednesday, Greer spoke with China's Vice Premier He Lifeng to exchange views on the U.S.-China economic and trade relationship. A USTR press release termed the discussion as "candid". Ambassador Greer outlined how President Donald Trump is establishing a robust and reinvigorated trade policy that promotes domestic investment and productivity, enhances America's industrial and technological advantages, defends its economic and national security, and benefits American workers and businesses. Both the top officials who are in charge of the respective nation's foreign trade agreed on the importance of maintaining communication going forward. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Hudbay Minerals Inc.(HBM) Thursday said it has agreed to buy Mitsubishi Materials' (MMC) 25 percent interest in Copper Mountain Mine (BC) Ltd. (CMBC), the 100 percent owner of the Copper Mountain mine. The purchase consideration consists of an upfront payment of $4.5 million, $21 million in seven annual payments of $3 million each commencing on 12 months after the closing of the transaction, and up to $18.75 million in five additional contingent payments of $3.75 million each. Additionally, Hudbay will be responsible for CMBCs outstanding debts, including an intercompany loan owing to Hudbay, of which 25 percent represents about $104 million. Copper Mountain is expected to produce 60,000 tonnes of copper by 2027, more than 125 percent increase over 2024 and a 200 percent increase from 2024 production levels attributable to Hudbay. "This Transaction is aligned with our strategy of growing copper production in mining friendly jurisdictions and further strengthens Hudbays position as a North American copper champion. The Copper Mountain mine is a key asset for Hudbay and we have been encouraged by the progress of our three-year optimization plan. This Transaction simplifies the ownership structure of Copper Mountain and provides Hudbay with greater exposure to the mine without adversely impacting our balance sheet," said Peter Kukielski, Hudbays President and Chief Executive Officer. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Canadian shares may open with a slightly positive bias on Thursday as the materials sector is likely to see some buying, tracking higher metal prices. Still, the mood is likely to remain cautious amid tariff concerns following the U.S. President's announcement of a 25% tariff on auto and auto components imported by U.S. and the threat of more stringent levies in the event of countries retaliating with countermeasures. Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO) and Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC.TO) announced a long-term strategic loyalty partnership between Avion Rewards and Triangle Rewards. This collaboration will enhance the value of both programs by linking millions of eligible RBC credit and debit cardholders to Triangle Rewards. Telesat (TSAT.TO) reported fourth-quarter net loss of $447 million, compared with a net income of $39 million for the same period of the previous year. The difference was due to foreign exchange impact on the Canadian dollar value of its U.S. dollar denominated debt and higher impairment charges on its orbital slots and satellites, the company said. The Canadian market closed weak on Wednesday as concerns about Trump's tariffs and uncertainty about economic growth weighed on sentiment. Despite optimism about some tariff exemptions by the Trump administration, the mood remained cautious as investors chose to wait for more clarity about the U.S. President's moves. The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index ended with a loss of 178.45 points or 0.7% at 25,161.06. The index dropped to a low of 25,106.44 in the final hour before staging a modest recovery. Asian stocks ended mixed on Thursday, with mainland Chinese and Hong Kong stocks rising after U.S. President Donald Trump said reciprocal duties that are set to be announced next week will be "very lenient" and that tariffs on China could be reduced to facilitate a deal on the sale of ByteDance Ltd.'s social video platform TikTok to an American company. European stocks are down in negative territory following Trump announcing a 25% tariff on auto imports to boost domestic manufacturing. Trump also posted on his Truth Social Platform that he will impose even steeper tariffs on the European Union and Canada if they collaborate to harm the U.S. . European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she "deeply regrets" Trump's latest tariffs move. "The EU will continue to seek negotiated solutions, while safeguarding its economic interests," she said. In commodities, West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures are down $0.20 or 0.29% at $69.45 a barrel. Gold futures are gaining $22.10 or 0.73% at $3,044.60 an ounce, while Silver futures are up $0.108 or 0.32% at $34.330 an ounce. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com The Biko Family [SOURCE: SUNU Journal] By: Nomphumelelo Babeli Today, I would like to salute you, Sisi Ntsiki, for being the woman you have been to all of usa woman of integrity. You lived an exemplary life and became a role model for all of us. I know some of us will never do, in our lifetime, even half of what you have done for your people. - Sibongile Qaba, 2021 In 1977, after Steve Biko was brutally murdered while in police detention, Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko (nee Mashalaba) entered into public memory as a widow. Her story concerns women like Limpho Hani, Nyameka Goniwe, Nomonde Calata, Sindiswa Mkonto, Zondeni Veronica Sobukwe, and many others. It should inspire us to pause as a society and question why women in partnerships with political men, particularly during the liberation struggle, are captured as auxiliaries to these men. While there is nothing wrong with being a widow, it is questionable that stories of women like Biko (nee Mashalaba) remain untold. A simple Google search of each of these women, particularly Umam Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko (nee Mashalaba), will show that it is not easy to find any reference to them apart from websites linking them to their late husbands. While the mens marriages are mentioned in passing, the marriage somehow makes up the women's identities. Very little is known about their sacrifice, labour, ideological position or participation within that period. This generates an incomplete story, where society idolises them not for the work they did/or continue to do but instead because of who they were married to. The story of Umam Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko (nee Mashalaba), who was born on born on the 9th of May 1946 to Nancy and Abson Mashalaba in Libode District close to Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, shows us that the history of South Africa has been constructed in ways that hinder our process of understanding the role that women played and continue to play in society. Through looking at her story, we see that very little is known about how she suffered at the hands of the Apartheid regime. Mam Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko (nee Mashalaba) met Steve Biko while at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban doing her midwifery training in nursing, and he was a student at the University of Natal studying medicine. The two were introduced by Vuyelwa Mashalaba, cousin of uMam Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko (nee Mashalaba), who was appointed as the general secretary of the South African Students Organization between 1970 and 1971 and later an active member of the Black Consciousness Movement. Upon marrying in 1970, uMam Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko (nee Mashalaba) was given the name Nosizwe, meaning Mother of the Nation, by Alice Mamcete Biko. As years went by, she lost various jobs as a result of her marriage/association to Steve Biko, and the Apartheid authorities also contributed by making it difficult for Umam Nontsikelelo Biko (nee Mashalaba) to find employment, yet she remained steadfast. Throughout her life, Umam Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko (nee Mashalaba) has been active in changing society and remains a central pillar of justice in her community. She has taken on various roles and networks in church and community development groups, and she has worked at the Steve Biko Centre, which has been her base of operation since 2012 and has dramatically impacted the lives of women and young people in her community. She continues to create woman-centred networks that encourage women to harness and utilise their crafting skills, enabling them to support their families. Umam Nontsikelelo Ntsiki Biko (nee Mashalaba) and the various women and networks she works with stand as pillars of society through the different projects concerned with repairing insecurities in the communities. It's clear that being a widow is far from being her most significant contribution to society, and she is beyond that title. In 1998, Biko (nee Mashalaba) spearheaded the establishment of the Steve Biko Foundation with her son Nkosinathi Biko. Furthermore Biko (nee Mashalaba), continued championing community-based activism to memorialise and preserve her husband's legacy. It is mainly through her continued service to the community that she has consistently expressed her activism. She remains a testimony to her enduring commitment to community-based activism, grounded in the ethos of the Black Consciousness philosophy. As the Steve Biko Foundation stated in 2022, Her legacy and impact are fed not only by those who interact with her daily in the township of Ginsberg, where she continues to be an inspiration, both to the young and old but also the wider Eastern Cape and South African communities. Vuyisa Qunta wrote in 1997 that Umam Nontsikelelo Biko (nee Mashalaba) lives away from the glare of the media. However, Sis Ntsiki, as she is popularly known, is a rounded person who contributes to society without claiming to have inherited any political status from being the widow of the preeminent martyr of the struggle...Juggling the roles of career woman, [community activist], clan matriarch, and homemaker with responsibilities in public life appears to hold no strain for the last Nontsikelelo Biko (nee Mashalaba). She has gone on to change many people's lives in her community. The story of Umam Nontsikelelo Biko (nee Mashalaba) should inspire us to focus on the stories of the widows of these heroes, they too have their own story to tell, and their stories are not to be forgotten. Society is to celebrate Umam Nontsikelelo Biko (nee Mashalaba) and other forgotten women and give them a pedestal to stand tall because they deserve it. As Sisonke Msimang wrote about Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in looking into the lives of women married to political men, it is essential to show how, though they may have influenced them, they did not make these women, they are women who came to choose these men as as an ideological and intellectual companion: as a husband; as well as a comrade, on equal footing. Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela and Dr Nontsikelelo Biko at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg By: Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela In Psalm 118, verse 24, the psalmist reminds us that this is the day that the LORD has made and that we should rejoice and be glad in it. On this special day, we truly rejoice and are grateful for the opportunity to complete the honouring of Mama Ntsiki Biko by officially robing her for her honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. This moment allows us to celebrate her remarkable contributions and enduring legacy. In 2021, Rhodes University conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws on Mama Ntsiki Biko in a virtual graduation ceremony, in adherence to COVID-19 restrictions. Today, we have gathered here in Ginsberg to publicly celebrate this phenomenal woman, whose quiet yet profound contributions over the decades have touched countless lives in her community. On behalf of our Chancellor, Judge Lex Mpati, our Chair of Council, Judge Gerard Bloem, and the entire Rhodes University community, I take great delight in extending our warmest and heartfelt congratulations to you, Mama, on the conferral of your honorary degree. You have earned this well-deserved recognition and honour through your unwavering dedication, exemplary leadership, and deep commitment to the well-being of the marginalised and downtrodden in our society. As we commented in 2021, This conferral (of an honorary degree) on Mama Biko is in recognition and celebration of her long and sustained contribution as a dedicated community activist and an advocate for the upliftment of the poor and marginalised in our society. Deeply rooted in the philosophy of Black Consciousness and the approach to community development that promotes self-reliance and personal agency, she has played a critical role in giving hope and livelihoods to the communities in which she has worked. Through her community activities, she has touched many lives and helped young and old regain their dignity, self-respect, and humanity. As is often said, true leadership is not defined by titles or accolades but by the lives impacted and the lasting change inspired. Mama Biko exemplifies this principle, not in pursuit of recognition but in the fulfilment she finds through uplifting others. Never one to seek the limelight, Mama has lived a life of service with dignity and grace. She is indeed humility personified. Her work in the community has transformed lives and given hope to countless individuals. Despite the many challenges you have faced, Mama, you have exemplified resilience, courage, and strength, remaining steadfast in your unwavering commitment to serving humanity with conscience and dignity. At the dawn of democracy in 1994, amidst the scramble for political and economic positions, there was never any record of Mama seeking a special dispensation or recognition for the hardships and political harassment she endured during Apartheid. At no point did she express any sense of entitlement. It is with immense pride and admiration that the Rhodes University community has had this opportunity to honour and celebrate you, Mama, here in Ginsberg, in the company of your community while you are still with us in the flesh. Your courage, compassion, and relentless pursuit of a better life for the less privileged in our society are truly inspiring and remind us all of the power of one determined individual to make a positive change in the world. Your legacy of selfless and dedicated service to humanity will live on in the hearts and minds of the ordinary people you have touched, serving as an enduring source of inspiration for current and future generations. Your name will be permanently etched in the history of Rhodes University, serving as an enduring testament to your remarkable work of compassion and dedication to community upliftment. Future generations will learn of your invaluable contributions and the lasting impact you have made. We aspire for current and future generations of Rhodes University students to look to your example as a testament to the true meaning of selfless and dedicated service to humanity. We honour you, we salute you, and we commend you. Hearty congratulations, Mama. Thank you. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) reported domestic sales of 3,83,918 units in February 2025, marking a 7.26% decline over the same month last year, when it sold 4,13,967 units. The sales data reveals a mixed performance across its scooter and motorcycle lineup. Honda 2W Sales Breakup Feb 2025 Topping the charts was Activa, which despite retaining its position as the brands best-seller, witnessed a YoY decline of 13.05%, selling 1,74,009 units in Feb 2025, down from 2,00,134 units in Feb 2024. In contrast, Shine 125 and SP125 models registered a healthy 15.89% growth, with combined sales of 1,39,202 units, compared to 1,20,119 units a year ago. Unicorn saw a strong growth surge, up 35.88% with 28,932 units sold. On the other hand, the Dio faced a sharp decline of 45.94%, with sales dropping to 16,028 units from 29,649 units last February. The entry-level Shine 100 too fell by 32.17%, with 15,359 units sold. Among Hondas commuter motorcycles, Livo saw a slight gain of 4.67%, with 3,361 units sold. However, the Hness 350 dipped marginally by 1.59% to 2,039 units, while the CB350 declined by 35.31%, recording 1,154 units. SP160 took a major hit, plummeting by 78.33% to 1,117 units from 5,155 last year. Meanwhile, the Hornet 2.0 dropped by 31.21% to 992 units, and the CB200X saw a fall of 32.53% with 506 units sold. CB 300 range also dipped by 34.35%, selling just 346 units. On the EV front, Activa e, Hondas first electric scooter, made a debut appearance with 560 units sold. This signals a promising start to Hondas electric mobility journey in India. In the mid-capacity and premium segment, the CB500 posted impressive growth, jumping 163.64% to 174 units, up from 66 units last year. The CBR 650 range was another highlight, selling 128 units a model that was not available last year. Meanwhile, the XL750 sold 9 units, down 50% YoY. The premium touring flagship Goldwing added 1 unit to the tally. Interestingly, the Dream commuter motorcycle, which sold 5,103 units in Feb 2024, recorded only 1 unit this year. Overall, while some segments like the Shine series, Unicorn, and premium bikes showed strong YoY growth, flagship models like Activa, Dio, and entry-level motorcycles dragged overall performance into negative territory. In a strategic move to expand its global footprint, Skoda Auto, in partnership with regional investor Thanh Cong Group, has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The plant will locally assemble the Skoda Kushaq SUV and Slavia sedan, both built from CKD (completely knocked down) kits sourced from Skodas logistics hub in Pune, India. Series production of the Kushaq officially began on March 26, 2025, while the Slavia is set to roll off the assembly line later this summer. These two models will join Skodas existing Vietnamese portfolio, which includes the Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs imported from Europe. The new facility marks a major milestone in Skodas internationalisation strategy, specifically targeting fast-growing Southeast Asian markets. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a welding shop, paint shop, and final assembly line. The site also features a 2-kilometre test track, a precision measurement centre, and a quality control hub to ensure global production standards are met. Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda Auto, said, Opening this new assembly line marks a milestone in our expansion into the rapidly growing Vietnamese market and strengthens our position in the ASEAN region. By leveraging synergies with our key Indian market, we are setting the stage for success not only for Skoda but also for our local partner, Thanh Cong Group. I look forward to putting the first Skoda vehicles from the Vietnamese plant in front of customers very soon. Geographic synergy and localisation strategy Located near Haiphong Port, one of Vietnams largest and most modern ports, the plant benefits from efficient shipping logistics for importing CKD kits from India. The facility uses advanced paint processes, anti-corrosion treatments, and contactless 3D measurement technology. Ahead of series production, the Kushaq underwent over 330,000 kilometres of testing on Vietnamese roads, including extreme temperature trials ranging from -10C to +42C in high humidity conditions. Both the Kushaq and Slavia are left-hand-drive models tailored for Vietnamese customers, equipped with features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and synthetic leather upholstery. Andreas Dick, Board Member for Production and Logistics, Skoda Auto, added, The new state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities fully reflect Skodas high manufacturing benchmarks. The plant is located in Quang Ninh province, close to the port of Haiphong one of Vietnams largest and most modern ports. This ensures the swift delivery of CKD kits from our logistics hub in Pune, India, while also strengthening the synergies that are vital to Skodas success in Vietnam and the wider region. A strategic step in ASEAN growth Skodas entry into Vietnam in September 2023 marked the beginning of its wider ASEAN strategy. The brand has already opened 15 sales outlets across the country and aims to increase this to 32 dealerships by the end of 2025. It also recently introduced its Experience Centre showroom format in Hanoi. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of Thanh Cong Group, said, The first Skoda Auto plant in Vietnam is the core project in the Thanh Cong Viet Hung Automotive and auxiliary Complex which has been well-planed and invested by Thanh Cong Group and aims to foster European automotive collaboration, enhance production and technology, and manufacture a diverse range of products, including new energy vehicles and electric vehicles, specialized and custom designs vehicles in the future. Vietnam is seen as a high-growth market in Southeast Asia, with just 34 passenger vehicles per 1,000 people in a population of 100 million. With continued economic growth and rising consumer aspirations, Skodas localisation strategy aims to tap into this vast potential. Beyond ASEAN, Skoda also plans to expand its operations in the Middle East, again capitalising on Indias CKD export capabilities, reinforcing the importance of its Indian operations in its global expansion strategy. The Mexican automotive industry, the countrys largest exporter, is facing its biggest challenge in years. U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the imposition of a 25% tariff on all vehicles not produced in the United States, effective April 3. We start off with a 2.5% base, which is where were at, and go to 25%, the U.S. president declared during a press conference on Wednesday. However, the order also stipulates that auto parts that meet the requirements of the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA) will remain tariff-free until trade authorities establish a process for applying tariffs to their non-U.S. content. This means Mexico and Canada will have the opportunity to certify their U.S. content to avoid part of the new tariff. This concession by the Republican president is no small matter. Mexico is the leading exporter of automobiles to the U.S., with 2.9 million finished vehicles shipped in 2024, valued at $78.5 billion. When auto parts and engines are included, the total reaches over $182 billion, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mexican automotive exports account for nearly a third of the countrys total annual shipments to the U.S. Trump defended his actions to protect the U.S. auto industry, which has been harmed by an influx of imports threatening the countrys industrial base and supply chains. The 25% tariff will be applied to imported passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary, the White House said in a statement. Under the framework of the USMCA which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) implemented in 1994 the Mexican automotive industry has flourished, becoming one of Mexicos leading sources of foreign currency. In 1993, there were 10 light vehicle and engine manufacturing plants, represented by five brands. Today, more than 37 plants operate, with the capacity to produce five million vehicles annually. By the end of 2024, Mexico exported 2.9 million units to the U.S., representing 80% of its production. According to U.S. figures, imports of Mexican automobiles, engines, and auto parts totaled over $182 billion last year alone, making Mexico the U.S.s primary trading partner in this sector. Mexicos leadership in automotive exports has resulted in a $139.4 billion trade deficit for Washington an imbalance Trump aims to address through tariffs. Gabriela Siller, director of analysis at Banco Base financial entity, argues that the impact on the Mexican economy will not be as severe if the safeguard allowing cars exported under the USMCA to remain tariff-free stays in place. Obviously, there is an impact from the uncertainty, but not as much on exports, because 82% of cars exported to the U.S. comply with the USMCA. We believe this is all a Trump strategy to foster greater regional integration, so that more goods are shipped that comply with the USMCA criteria. All of this is intended to isolate China, she says. Guillermo Rosales, president of the Mexican Association of Automobile Dealers, believes that the measure will increase the price of vehicles manufactured in North America due to regional integration. The impact will be different for each model depending on the integration with the United States, he says. Similarly, Adolfo Laborde, an international trade expert at Mexicos Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE), notes that this tariff will significantly affect the Mexican sector due to the loss of competitiveness, a complicated situation considering that Mexico is already burdened by U.S. tariff on imports of Mexican steel and aluminum. In 2020, with the renegotiation of the USMCA, the rules of origin for the automotive sector were significantly tightened compared to the previous version under NAFTA. Before 2020, the minimum percentage of regional content required to qualify for zero tariffs under the agreement was 62.5%. Starting in 2020, this rose to 75%. Additionally, new requirements were introduced, including the value of labor content and the minimum percentage of steel and aluminum purchased within the region. Tariffs on one of Mexicos strategic industries will have a ripple effect throughout the entire supply chain, from auto parts to logistics companies. This cascading effect will primarily impact the Bajio region and states such as the State of Mexico, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, and Coahuila regions that have heavily invested in the sector. Experts have warned that a tariff of this magnitude will affect the broader economy, as automotive production is closely tied to transportation and wholesale trade. It will also bring an end to nearshoring, as half of the planned projects were linked to this industry. However, the concession made to Mexico and Canada under the USMCA raises new questions and tariff challenges. Specialists agree that the process of reviewing the regional content of automobiles will take several months, and determining what qualifies as Made in the U.S. will not be straightforward. Once again, Trump has put Mexico on edge. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Donetsk is a gray city that still seems stuck in the post-Soviet depression of the 1990s; a town of rusty factories and crumbling homes, plagued by a severe shortage of running water. However, life is slowly returning to the city, which Ukraine has not controlled since 2014 and which Russia annexed in 2022, at the cost of the war spreading to other cities in the region. There are more children on its streets than a few months ago, and there are new restaurants in its historic center. The residents of Donetsk never want to hear another gunshot, but for now its just a dream: no one believes in the success of the negotiations for a new ceasefire. Its much safer to live here now, people are coming back, the residents of Donetsk unanimously agree, often pointing out with a certain degree of excitement the citys biggest new development of just over a month: We have traffic jams! The desire for a peaceful life unites all generations in Donetsk, but they also agree that the three-way talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine will be difficult. A grandmother, who asks not to be named, walks her newborn grandson through a park in central Donetsk. I dont know what theyll decide, she replies with a sigh, but I want there to be peace, peace not only in Donetsk, but also in Kyiv. Peace everywhere. Two 19-year-old students sitting on a nearby bench also request anonymity. One of them didnt want to participate in the conversation until she suddenly breaks her silence when a possible ceasefire is mentioned. I want everything to be resolved with peace. I dont wish war on anyone, she says after recounting her fear in a trembling voice. My father participated in the war. There have been negotiations in each battalion to avoid returning; his have protested, and so far he hasnt been sent to the front. I dont want them to send him [back to war], explains the young woman, who admits to being pessimistic about the outcome of the peace negotiations. Donetsk was very close to the line that separated Ukrainian troops from those backed by Russia following the Minsk agreements signed in 2014 and 2015. Although the number of casualties had decreased significantly in the years prior to the war, as confirmed by the mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), occasional exchanges of fire between the two sides continued, which, since the Russian invasion, have escalated into full-blown bombings of civilian populations on both sides of the front. Vladislav, 25, is walking with his partner. I want peace, of course, but from the negotiations I only hope that at least the attacks on the neighborhoods will stop, so that we can finally live normally, he says. Rusty sign in Donetsk indicating the way to Kyiv. Javier Cuesta Two 27-year-old friends are also strolling in the park. One, Eliota, is pregnant, and the other one, Marina, has a one-and-a-half-year-old child. This wont be resolved easily, there wont be a solution soon, thinks Eliota, who believes she cant call herself specifically Russian. My grandfather is Russian, my father is Ukrainian, I love Ukrainian songs, says this martial arts teacher, who notes that before [the war and the breakup of the country] everything was fine. All of this should have been stopped in 2022. So many people wouldnt have died, there and here, Eliota responds when asked for her opinion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The aspirations of civilians differ, however, from those of many military personnel. To see it through to the end, of course, says Kirill, a Dnipro native in his late twenties and a veteran both of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic in 2015 and of the Russian army in 2022, when he served on the Bakhmut front. We want Novorossiya, he said, referring to a territory so named by the ultra-patriotic Russian faction, which is even larger than the Kremlins officially recognized objective in the negotiations. For this military official, the Russian advance should also reach the Ukrainian regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Odessa. And Kyiv? He only responds with a smile. No water in the great capital of the "new territories" Donetsk lived in limbo for almost a decade until Russia annexed it on paper in September 2022. However, three years have passed, and many basic services continue to function terribly due to the war and limited Russian investment in the region. At the same time, prices have soared to the level of Russia's richest cities, while the average salary is barely a third of that: about 40,000 rubles, or about 440. Donetsk depended on coal, a sector that faces a huge crisis in the Russian Federation itself, and companies are hesitant to invest in the region because it is not internationally recognized, not even by allies like China. Russia's main taxi service doesn't operate there, and Russia's Google, Yandex, doesn't draw national borders to avoid upsetting both Moscow and Washington. The area has been facing a massive hydrological crisis, destroying everything in its path. Running water barely reaches the areas homes, and emergency buckets are stored everywhere next to showers and toilets. During the separatist era [2014-2022], water continued to flow from the Ukrainian pipelines of the Water of Donbas utility, but the invasion has devastated everything. This also affects the salinity of the Sea of Azov, and several reservoirs are at risk of drought. Russia has built some pipelines from Rostov-on-Don to address this issue, but its not enough. There's a little more water in the city center, Vladislav says, but in other districts it doesn't reach them. In some places it only runs after lunch, in others for a couple of hours at night. Our pipes are very rusty, and the water barely reaches the upper floors, says Eliota, who points out that the only affordable neighborhoods are those near hospitals. Its a matter of budget, she adds. Its very annoying, complains the second of the two students, who is studying graphic design. Water reaches my house once every two days for a while at night, and we dont have any hot water, laments the young woman, who learned Ukrainian until she was 12. Theyve taken away the [Ukrainian] textbooks, and it hasnt been taught in schools since we became part of the Russian Federation. When we were an independent republic, we had both languages. Eliota claims that speaking Ukrainian isn't prohibited, but some people look at you strangely. The grandmother, for her part, admits she doesn't know what her grandson will study because everything is constantly changing. I grew up in the Soviet Union. And I was exempt from learning Ukrainian in school because my father and mother were Russian, the woman adds, speaking on condition of anonymity. In any case, they all agree that their future will remain tied to Donetsk. I was born here and I didnt go anywhere; this is my home. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition FULL STORY Researchers at the Universities of Amsterdam and Zurich have developed a molecular system for 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. It has recently been presented in a paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) and is now featured on the front cover of the latest JACS issue. The research was carried out by the groups of Dr Tomas Solomek at the University of Amsterdams 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 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 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, will present his results at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). 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 from 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 efficiency -- a 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." The research was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea, as well as the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology Research & Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology of Korea. On March 27, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inauguration of the restored historic Chol Gala Mosque and its spring in Shusha. The head of state and the First Lady also inspected the newly established catering facilities and reviewed ongoing construction work on Karabakh Street, at the Shusha Treatment and Wellness Center, and the New Shusha Mosque. Maximo Napa Castro had been lost at sea for 70 days, more than 500 miles from the Peruvian coast, when he turned 61, rocking in the solitude of his boat. The 10 cans of tuna, eight kilos of rice, and three kilos of noodles with which he had set sail on December 7 from San Juan de Marcona a port eight hours from Lima were now a distant memory. The rumbling of his stomach and the sound of the sea had become a single echo that pounded in his ears. And Maximo, weakened by illness since childhood, swallowed with a dry mouth, steeling himself to do what survival demanded: give in to hunger. He captured 35 cockroaches hiding on his boat, put them in a jar, and rationed them so he wouldnt collapse. By then, Maximo Napa, known as Gaton (Cat) because as a child he cried like a cat was talking to himself out loud to summon courage and escape his grim reality. Oh, Gaton, today youre going to eat grilled chicken. Enjoy, he would encourage himself, rubbing his hands together after removing the legs, shells, and antennae from the insects, which he ate in one bite. Then, he would open his eyes wide, stare at the nothingness around him, and burst into tears. Meanwhile, in the city of Pisco, on February 16, his family gathered on his saints day to pray to him. They lit missionary candles and placed a photo of Maximo printed on bond paper on an altar of the Virgin of Guadalupe, sprinkling it with holy water. If he has made a mistake, forgive him. But guide his path, Lord. If he doesnt know you, make him know you. All will be your will, said one of his sisters. The Napas, a large family of artisanal fishermen, clung to their faith. In January, they were worried, but it was in February that they formed a prayer chain. The report of his disappearance only alarmed his family. His daughter, Ines, traveled to Lima every other day to implore the General Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guards to begin a search, but she claims they never paid attention to the case. Alongside her grandchildren, Maximos mother, Elena Castro, soon organized a protest in front of the San Andres District Municipality in Ica, demanding that the mayor request a helicopter from the Peruvian Air Force. Yet, their cries went unheard. Aside from one regional television channel, his shipwreck hadnt yet made headlines or been covered in news outlets globally. Fisherman Maximo Napa Castro is treated by medical personnel after his rescue. On the boat, a three-ton vessel that Maximo christened Gaton after his nickname, the birthday boy could barely stand. He was a bearded man, tanned, exhausted, and dehydrated. But he was fully aware of where he was. First, his engine failed in December and wouldnt restart; a week later, his satellite radio broke down, but his GPS didnt stop working. Helplessly, he watched as his boat drifted further away, mile after mile, unable to do anything to stop it. Maximo Napa Castro had spent Christmas and New Years Day in solitude, but he wasnt prepared to welcome his saints day adrift, bobbing among the waves, death looming over him. Amidst his deep sadness, he remembered that, lacking cake, he had saved a piece of food for the occasion. Amid the despair, he remembered that, lacking a cake, he had saved a piece of food for the occasion a round, salty cookie he ate slowly as though it were the last meal life would offer him. Then, he turned on his solar-powered cell phone, found a photo of his mother, kissed it, and sang Happy Birthday to himself. Writer Patricia Suarez says that human beings survive to tell others that the battle for life is worth it. A survivor doesnt choose suffering to become an overnight celebrity, instead, they choose to bear witness. Enduring 95 days at sea without food or water, as Maximo Napa Castro did, evokes awe similar to those who have defied death after lightning strikes, falls from cliffs, or plane crashes. All of them require immense luck, or perhaps divine intervention, to continue existing. But the difference in Maximos case is that it took more than three months for help to find him. Its a weekday in Pisco, in Maximo Napas neighborhood, on Espana Street, just a couple of blocks from the beach. The fisherman was finally rescued on March 11 by an Ecuadorian tuna fishing boat at mile marker 558, in international waters. A helicopter spotted a dead turtle on a small boat and, upon approaching, discovered a naked, emaciated man, his mouth stained with blood. I was already dying and fighting with God. The day before, I told him: I dont want to argue with you anymore, because I know youre going to send me a helicopter or a plane. At five in the afternoon, a turtle attached itself to the boat, and with all my strength, I flipped it over, cut its jugular vein, and drank its blood. An hour later, the helicopter appeared, says this fisherman, wearing a gold necklace, with his extremely thin legs poking out of brightly colored shorts, as he sits in his living room. He is with his son, Dany, who sang salsa and cumbia songs at his homecoming party. Maximo Napa looks out at the sea. Carolina Ugarte Noriega Then, something supernatural happened. Napa says he was shocked when he saw the co-pilots face. Next to his cheek was Jesus. I saw him clearly. I despaired and started screaming: You did it, you did it, he says, squinting, reliving the moment. Before setting sail in December, Maximo Napa weighed over 90 kilos. Today hes close to 70. But he says hes not worried because after undergoing several tests, his levels are within the normal range even though he had drunk hydrogen peroxide, rainwater, and eaten birds, turtles, and cockroaches. His mother, Elena Castro, whose name is tattooed on his right shoulder along with the names of his daughters is resting. She was his main motivation for setting out to sea in search of treasure: flying fish roe, a delicacy so prized by the Japanese that they are willing to pay up to 100,000 soles ($270,000) for two tons. He had collected seven sacks when his engine broke down. He had to throw them into the sea. With his earnings, Maximo Napa was going to pay for an eyelid lift for his mother, who had recently suffered paralysis. I cried out to God: Why are you doing this to me? Okay, Im a human being with flaws. Ive been a womanizer and Ive mocked women. But Ive never been bad. All my life, Ive helped people. Now that Ive reached land, what am I going to give my mom? I admit it: I prayed for my boat to turn over. I even grabbed a knife three times. But then I repented and kept fighting. Now I want to surrender myself to the word of the Lord, he says. The man who never lost his faith didnt go to mass. He didnt carry a Bible or a rosary on the boat. But since his rescue, he has been blessing his food. Maximo Napa is predestined. Not only does he possess the eloquence needed to be the great narrator of his own story, but his names seem to have chartered a path for him. Maximo means the upper or extreme limit to which something can reach. And Napa means a layer of underground water. Water was precisely what caused him the most distress. When it stopped raining, he moistened his lips with a soda cap. Maximo Napa during an interview for EL PAIS. Carolina Ugarte Noriega Without his boat, his only source of income, Maximo Napa has received financial support from the fishermens union. But hes still not at peace. He has unresolved matters with his two youngest children, who live in Santa Catarina, Brazil. He hasnt seen them for 17 years. The youngest, Elena, has just made him a grandfather for the 12th time. I feel ashamed. I dont have a single penny. Hopefully Ill receive help to fulfill my wish of meeting my granddaughter Thaina. I no longer want to put things off, because life is now, he reflects with the wisdom of someone who has cheated death. The sea, despite its lashings, always kept him afloat. The inexplicable has given him a second chance, and now, grateful, he says amen. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Europe is at a crucial moment in its history, at a crossroads that goes beyond the transatlantic relationship. The underlying challenge is the revolution of the far right, which seeks to shatter the established order to create another based on the survival of the fittest. We are the last torch before the approaching darkness, says Rene Repasi, 45, head of the German Social Democratic delegation in the European Parliament. On a quick visit to Barcelona to participate in a meeting on the authoritarian threat in Europe organized last week by the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC), he spoke to EL PAIS during the time left by negotiations to form the next coalition government in Germany. Forming a stable government is more than ever a necessity, he underscores. There is no other alternative to maintain the firewall around the far right. A century ago, conservatives thought they could tame the far right, but we know how that ended. That doesnt mean that where these two forces cooperate it will end in a Third World War, but Germans are very sensitive to this matter and expect a sense of responsibility from democratic parties. The coalition negotiations are proceeding much more secretively than when the three-way coalition of Social Democrats, Greens, and Liberals was formed in 2021. Back then, leaks, stolen photos in the early hours of the morning, and even smiling selfies of the protagonists abounded. In 2025, with a war on European soil just a two-hour flight from Berlin and the shock of Donald Trumps return to the White House, the scenario is different, says Repasi, who is also a law professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam. A darker one, with multiple crises to manage. The challenges for Germany are so extreme that we have cast aside taboos like the debt brake and fiscal rigor in record time, he asserts. The winner of the February elections and likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, pushed through the Bundestag last week his multi-billion-dollar investment plan for defense and infrastructure. With the support of the Social Democrats and Greens, he put an end to the budgetary rigor that has dominated German politics in recent years as it re-arms against the Russian threat and the U.S. shift. Trumps policies have sent shockwaves through Europe, but have particularly shaken Berlin. At first, says Repasi, many of the people who supported the far right in Germany also cheered Trump, the disruptor, the far-right revolutionary. But one event in particular has marked a before and after. There was a change in the population after the infamous Oval Office meeting with Zelenskiy. It touched a very sensitive spot deep in the German soul: the fear that there could really be another war, says Repasi, who describes how the treatment of the Ukrainian president at that meeting, in which Trump and his vice president, J. D. Vance, tried to humiliate him, has made Germans acutely aware that what had been taken for granted for the past 80 years has vanished. We have realized that the partner across the Atlantic is no longer really a friend and that we cannot trust it. The main deterrent to a Russian attack has disappeared. Fear has taken hold in Germany. We have suddenly realized that we are not capable of defending ourselves. It is this fear, coupled with the political tradition of pacts and cooperation, that has allowed Berlin to make a U-turn in its security and defense policy without Merz even being chancellor yet, and with a caretaker government in charge. Repasi admits to a certain frustration at this shift among the Christian Democrats, who promised exactly the opposite during their campaign. The current caretaker government imploded over 2 billion and support for Ukraine versus social spending. The Greens and Social Democrats had been insisting for years that investments were needed, which required changing the Constitution and a two-thirds majority, which necessitated the cooperation of the Christian Democrats. They, for short-sighted strategic reasons, wanted the government to fail and never supported us, and as soon as they were able to take office, they changed their minds. The Social Democrats have turned the page after their election defeat and are preparing to become the junior partner in the next grand coalition. From there, they will ensure that the billions that will begin to flow are spent wisely. We have to be very cautious with the additional funds, said Repasi, who participated last Friday in an event titled More Europe: Defending Democracy and Security Against the Authoritarian Threat. Whatever we do, we need the United Kingdom, he stated at that symposium, referring to Europes rearmament plans. This concept doesnt appeal to some European capitals, such as Madrid, which prefer to speak of increasing the continents security. One of the complications we face is this philosophical debate about whether peace is achieved from a position of strength or from a position of renouncing military equipment, acknowledges the member of the European Parliament, who understands the criticism and says he strongly sympathizes with the latter option. He himself refused to do his military service for reasons of conscience in his youth. But I realize that the world around me doesnt work that way. I believe we need the capacity to defend ourselves, but with strict control so that those capabilities are used defensively, not offensively, he notes. This is what Olaf Scholz tried to do, he asserts, with his support for Ukraine: But it wasnt understood. The new order emerging under Trump the fall of the Berlin Wall of our generation, in the words of fellow Socialist MEP Javi Lopezrequires a redefinition of Germanys role in the world. In a way, we have to return to what we were in the 1970s. A strong Europe is in Germanys interest. There should be no conflict between German national interests and European interests. And if there is, European interests must prevail, he asserts. Berlin, he adds, wants to lead alongside France, Spain, and Poland, unlock political debates, and take the initiative. To achieve this, it was necessary for Germany to lift the brakes on public spending, and we have already done so. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Stephen Graham, 51, began training as an actor at 14, but put his dream on hold when he was expelled from Rose Bruford College for being a misogynist, homophobic, racist, and a drug dealer. Racist? My grandmothers Jamaican, so I cant be racist, he told VICE in a 2017 interview. There were only 5 Black lads at the college, and I considered myself one of them. Misogynist? I love women. I was raised by my mother on her own for ten years, so not sure where that came from. Homophobic? My uncle is gay and I love him to bits, and Ive got lots of gay friends. So again, thats not true. Drug dealer? Ive never sold drugs. Ive taken them, but Ive never sold them. Graham argued that he was expelled because the principal at the time had a grudge against him: He didnt like me. After being expelled, he decided to join the fire brigade and passed all the required tests. But on the same day he had a meeting with the fire department, his agent called with an opportunity to audition for Coronation Street. He abandoned the fire brigade and hasnt looked back since, steadily building a career on both the big and small screen. Graham isnt very tall, and he doesnt need to be to command attention on camera. Hes 56, but its his penetrating gaze and seriousness that have made him the ideal choice to play tough characters thugs, gang members, gangsters, pirates, and other figures tied to violence or crime. He played Tommy in Snatch, Shang in Gangs of New York, the troubled Combo in This is England, and the feared Anthony Provenzano in The Irishman. Im a father of two and a very nice guy. Once you get to know me, Im charming. My mom adores me. I dont know... Ill never play Mr. Darcy [from Pride and Prejudice], you know what I mean? I guess you just go with the roles that youre comfortable with, he said about being typecast as a villain. However, Graham has proven to be much more versatile. Millions of viewers have witnessed his nuanced portrayal of Eddie Miller, a devastated father whose son is suspected of stabbing a classmate, in the series Adolescence. Written by Graham and Jack Thorne, the show has become a Netflix hit, garnering 24.3 million views in its first week. The idea for the series came to Graham after a series of real-life teenage murders. We instantly blame the parents but what if its not the parents? It could happen to anyone, Graham reflected in an interview with The Times. We are all maybe slightly accountable in some way, he added in an interview with Radio X. Today the internet is as much of a teacher and a parent to our children as we can be. Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in a scene from the series 'Adolescence.' Netflix The actor, nominated for a BAFTA in 2022 for his role as the tormented chef in Boiling Point, is the eldest of four siblings and is deeply proud of his childhood as a mixed-race working-class kid from a block of flats in the small town of Kirby, which currently has just over 12,700 inhabitants. Things can be hard but theres also a lot of laughter, he told The Times. My childhood was full of it and being able to represent where Im from is integral to me. Too often Ill watch stuff and think theyre treating the working class like an art project. Its very condescending. Ooh, look at the poor! His mother was a social worker, and his father was a head pediatric nurse. Though they raised their children in Liverpool, their roots trace back to Irish and Scottish origins. His paternal grandmother, as he pointed out when defending himself against accusations of racism, was Jamaican, and his grandfather was Swedish. This mix of nationalities has also made Graham a master of accents. As a child, he would mimic voices to make his grandmother laugh. I used to do, like, Idi Amin and Margaret Thatcher, and just come up with this mad little conversation of Margaret Thatcher coming to the shop to buy a bottle of Steri milk or Idi Amin getting on the bus, he recalled in a 2019 interview with Esquire. This ability to replicate accents has helped him stand out throughout his acting career, such as in Snatch, where he adopts a Cockney accent, typical of Londons East End, instead of his natural Scouse accent. Theyre gonna say Im not Italian-looking enough, my accent he recalled thinking while auditioning for the role of Anthony Provenzano in The Irishman. Once again, he won them over. Jason Statham, Brad Pitt and Stephen Graham in a scene from 'Snatch.' photo: MPTV.net Even so, Graham hasnt had it easy. In my early twenties, I suffered from really bad depression and tried to take my own life once, he told The Sun in 2019. Graham also has dyslexia, a learning disorder that makes it difficult for him to read and memorize scripts. My missus actually reads the script and says whether or not Im doing it. Shes made some good choices, he admitted years ago. His wife is actress and producer Hannah Walters, 51, whom he met in 1993 while they were studying together at the acting school from which he was later expelled. They married in 2008, have two children together, and live quietly in a modest home in the English town of Ibstock population 7,582 close to her parents. Im part of the furniture here, Graham told the local newspaper in Leicestershire, the county to which Ibstock belongs. I love the sense of camaraderie in Ibstock, the community spirit. Its a proper English village. I like it that I can go into Smiths, the local butchers theyve been here for years, you know and people are all chatting and they say hello, how are ya and they treat me like they do everyone else." The couple is also close professionally, having co-founded the production company Matriarch Productions in 2020 with the goal of providing a much-needed platform for underrepresented voices and stories in the U.K., as stated on their website. The production company is behind projects such as the 2023 miniseries Boiling Point, which continues the story of the chef from the original film; A Thousand Blows, a recent release by Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, in which Graham plays a dangerous veteran boxer; and the aforementioned Adolescence. Im not saying what I do saves people in a third world country. I wouldnt have the audacity. All Im saying is that we should tell stories that give us a full kaleidoscope over the people that live in this country, Graham explained in his interview with The Times. Stephen Graham and his wife, Hannah Walters, at the premiere of 'Adolescence' on March 12, 2025, in London. Ian West - PA Images (PA Images via Getty Images) The story of Adolescence has stirred viewers because its young protagonist (played by Owen Cooper, 15) wasnt raised in a broken home with abusive or alcoholic parents, but in a perfectly happy and normal family, much like that of Graham and Walters themselves. As the actor explained in his conversation with The Times, he and his wife have worked hard at raising their children. We have ups and downs, of course. Luckily, though, the relationship we both have with our children is beautiful but it takes work, he said. On the professional front, Graham still has plenty of work ahead. He has several projects in the works for this year, including the Peaky Blinders film, set for release in late 2025 or early 2026. He will also be one of the leads in Good Boy, in which he plays a man who kidnaps a 19-year-old criminal to force him and his wife to become a good boy. Both films are expected to feature plenty of violence and crime, genres in which Graham feels at home. He has accepted this typecasting, which he explained in The Times interview: Im just not perceived as this charming man who comes in on a horse. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In recent weeks, some of Spains most cutting-edge research centers have received dozens of applications from scientists based in the U.S. who are seeking to move to Europe to escape Donald Trumps policies. This newspaper has collected several of their testimonies. Ray Brown [not his real name] is a 50-year-old cell biologist who has been looking for work in Europe since Trump won the November 5 election. Everyone around me is talking about leaving, explains this chief scientist who leads a nine-person team at a prestigious East Coast university. He spoke to EL PAIS on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals against himself and his family. My wife is of Chinese descent, he explains. At some point, the Trumpists will go after people of Chinese ethnicity. She was born in the United States and is an American citizen, but I dont think that protects us anymore, he explains. I dont see it as very likely that theyll deport me, but I do see it as likely that if they read my name, theyll cancel my own funding [he has two projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)] and that of my entire institution. Those are my fears. I guess what Im really scared of is fascism, he reflects. From NASA to the NIH and the most prestigious universities in the country, there is a fear of speaking out: people are afraid of losing their jobs or having the government take action against the institution to which they belong, as has already happened with Columbia University. The New York institution, whose campus was the site of protests highly critical of the Israeli invasion of Gaza, risked losing some 400 million in federal funding if it didnt comply with the Trump administrations demands, which it ended up doing despite having a total budget of around 15 billion with which it could have resisted. Other universities have seen some of their faculty members deported and sustained budget cuts worth tens of millions of dollars due to their transgender inclusion programs. Hundreds of people in Manhattan at a protest against the freeze of public funding for science research. Erik McGregor (LightRocket / Getty) Brown talks about the reasons that are driving him to seek work in Barcelona, Copenhagen or Oxford, even if it means earning a third of his current salary. Fascists hate educated people, and they try to destroy the education system in the countries that they control. This is what were seeing in Trumps attacks on universities and in all his policies related to the NIH. The NIH is the largest public research organization in the world. Each year, it dedicates approximately 40 billion to funding research groups across the country, and also abroad. It is one of the federal agencies hardest hit by the uncertainty and cuts imposed by Trump. Funding for indirect costs has dropped from 60% to 15%, explains Brown. Universities are already reporting that they are losing money on basic research because they cant afford the costs of staff and administration. I know of several institutions that wont be able to survive for long, he warns. The university where he works is one of many that have completely halted admissions of new students this year; an entire graduating class has been sidelined. This researcher believes that thousands of high-level scientists will lose their jobs, and many will have no place in the United States, especially those who are not white men. In five years, there will be no more basic research in the United States. There will be a huge wave of applications to Europe, he asserts. A second prestigious scientist who already has a foothold in Europe warns: Things here are much worse than you Europeans think. Those who will suffer the most are the youngest researchers, who will have no choice but to emigrate, he warns. Paradoxically, the spokespersons for the first scientific movement that took to the streets to protest against Trump are all young students who are not afraid to give out their names. Its a tragedy for the United States and a great opportunity for Europe, believes this second researcher, who has decades of experience at the top of his field. He doesnt want to give out his name for fear of the impact on his university, one of the most prestigious ones on the West Coast, and on his family. The parallels between the Trump administration and the rise of Nazism in Germany in the 20th century are astonishing, he says. My wife is very active in politics, and shes also Jewish. The fact that we already had a work visa and could move quickly to Europe was very important to me. In Germany, if you were Jewish and you thought too much about it, it was already too late, he adds about the Nazi era. The American computational biologist Adam Siepel, together with the rest of his research team. Constance Brukin (CSHL) Adam Siepel, a 52-year-old computational biologist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, is one of the few interviewees who agreed to give out his real identity. He hasnt yet decided whether hell move to Europe, but is exploring options in Barcelona. Were afraid of saying anything that could make us a target for retaliation, he acknowledges. But at the same time, its very important for the world to know whats happening. The scientist, who leads a nine-person team, says the cuts announced by Trump will have devastating consequences. When politicians say were in a race against China for scientific supremacy, I take them at their word, because I believe in the importance of scientific preeminence for a free and democratic society, he explains. Thats why I cant understand why theyre taking steps that will, in effect, dismantle the worlds greatest scientific infrastructure. And they may be surprised to see how quickly all of this is lost, because science is highly international and mobile. Many scientists already live far from home and have made personal sacrifices to pursue science. If the United States isnt willing to support them, theyll go elsewhere. Americas scientific leadership could evaporate surprisingly quickly, he warns. All this fear and unease is beginning to reach Europe. The Barcelona Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) has received a dozen applications from U.S.-based scientists in just a few weeks, some from high-level researchers. The Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in the same city has received around 10. The National Supercomputing Center has received at least five. These are primarily biomedical scientists in institutions based in Barcelona and Madrid, according to Somma, the alliance of the countrys most cutting-edge research centers. Were being contacted by researchers with funding from the NIH and the Department of Defense, whose funds are frozen, explains Madrid-based biologist Luis Serrano, director of the CRG. The majority of them are Europeans who have moved to the United States, although there are also a few Americans, including Brown. The last time something like this happened was after the fall of the Berlin Wall, but at that time most of the top scientists went to the United States, notes Serrano, who has been a prominent representative of the Spanish scientific community. This scientist believes that Spain should make a budgetary effort to attract this talent. With about 200 million, we can bring in about 30 top-level scientists. All we need is political will, he ventures. The biochemist Francesc Posas, director of the IRB, emphasizes: We are receiving many more applications than we would expect, from really top people, some of them exceptional in their fields. This situation is a direct consequence of Trumps policies, which are causing many laboratories in the country to implode, he says. Posas agrees that it is time to take advantage of the momentum with more funding and coordination: The most cutting-edge centers can attract these scientists with already established programs, but theyll need to be given additional resources. We need a national strategy. Spain is one of the 10 countries that have asked the European Union to take action in this area with a coordinated plan and more funding. The European Commission is already working on this project and wants to double the existing budget for recruiting top-level foreign scientists with an eye to the talent boom emigrating from the United States, as EL PAIS reported earlier. Its not just about more money; its also about facilitating visas, for example. The theoretical physicist Gilly Elor at the KEK particle accelerator in Japan. G. E. Spain is already closing deals with at least eight scientists who are either U.S. citizens or based in the United States to relocate their research. It is doing this thanks to the Atrae (Attract) program, which provides grants of around one million euros per candidate. The program has allowed the return of Spanish researchers, such as the astronomer Noemi Pinilla, and hosted American ones such as the hydrologist Audrey Sawyer. Last year, 30 million were allocated to this program, and in 2025 the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, headed by Diana Morant, plans to increase the budget. But the program doesnt always work. Theoretical physicist Gilly Elor, born 40 years ago in California, received good news in November: she had been awarded an Atrae grant. But four months later, the scientist realizes she will never be able to move to Spain. Elor explains via videoconference that she has been unable to establish a stable line of communication with the grant providers, who tell her there is a problem with her visa. The only option left for me is to hire a lawyer to take care of the paperwork, and I dont have the money for this, she confesses. Her case is particularly poignant, as Elor already lost a Ramon y Cajal contract to settle in Madrid, in this case because the Spanish authorities did not recognize her doctoral degree, issued by the prestigious University of California at Berkeley. Elors project is to use particle accelerators to demonstrate an explanation for a small imbalance between elementary particles of matter and antimatter that allowed the Universe to exist. It is a risky investigation that, if confirmed, would likely mean a Nobel Prize. The researcher hopes that by telling her story, the problem can be resolved before the September deadline for coming to Spain. And what does she think of Trumps policies? Given that its very possible Ill have to stay in the United States, I wont comment on that, she replies. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A scientist allegedly denied entry to the United States after border agents found critical messages about President Trump on his phone. A British punk band turned back at Los Angeles International Airport without a clear explanation. A Welsh backpacker detained at the Canadian border and, according to her testimony, mistreated for three weeks because her visa did not match the purpose of her trip. Cases like these have been coming to light in recent weeks. The Trump administrations aggressiveness toward its supposed European allies, its increasingly transparent intentions to annex Greenland, the incipient start of a global trade war, as well as the polarizing rhetoric on immigrants, foreigners, the LGBTQ+ community, and other minorities are already having an impact on the number of international tourists in the country. And the forecasts, conservative as they do not yet account for all factors, depict a bleak outlook with billions of dollars in lost revenue. Even before reports of tourist detentions and deportations from countries that previously had no trouble entering the United States, forecasts had already predicted a decline in international tourism. A study by Tourism Economics, a think tank affiliated with Oxford University, published in late February and focused on the impact of the trade war, estimated that foreign visits would decline by 5% year-over-year due to the Trump administrations polarizing policies and rhetoric. Earlier forecasts from late December, just a month before Donald Trumps inauguration, had projected a 9% increase. According to the study, the economic impact of this decline could reach at least $64 billion annually, as international travelers tend to spend significantly more than domestic tourists. This downturn is already visible. According to preliminary data from the National Travel and Tourism Office, international tourist arrivals dropped 2.4% in February compared to the same month the previous year. These figures exclude travelers from Canada and Mexico, the two largest sources of international visitors, followed by Western Europe. However, Canadian data paints an even grimmer picture: the number of Canadians returning from the U.S. by land fell by 23%, while air travel saw a 13% decline. Canadians have perhaps responded most negatively to Trump, particularly after his repeated remarks about making Canada the 51st state. This summer, that sentiment is translating into a 32% increase in Canadian bookings for vacation properties in Europe, according to Key Data, a short-term rental analytics firm. A similar trend is expected in reverse, with Europeans opting for Canada over the United States as their travel destination. European tourism to the U.S. generates an estimated $155 billion in annual revenue, according to European Union data. The first signs of decline appeared in February, with a 1% drop compared to the previous year. However, the decline is expected to be steeper in March, as multiple countries have updated travel advisories or issued warnings to their citizens about visiting the United States. For example, Norways Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautioned travelers: ESTA [Electronic System for Travel Authorization] or visa does not guarantee entry. The immigration authorities upon arrival make the final decision. Norwegian authorities cannot intervene in this decision. In addition, several European countries starting with Denmark last Thursday have advised transgender citizens to list their gender assigned at birth on travel documents, as the U.S. only recognizes those genders. Others have recommended that transgender travelers consult the U.S. embassy to clarify their status. According to several reports, European travel agencies are noticing declining interest in trips to the United States, and transatlantic flight searches have dropped. The political climate is the primary deterrent, though the strengthening U.S. dollar, which has made travel more expensive, is also a factor. Historical data underscores how trade and geopolitical tensions impact tourism demand. During the previous U.S.-China trade conflict under Trumps first term, the U.S. share of the Chinese tourism market fell significantly. Similarly, strained relations with Mexico in past years led to a 3% decline in visitors from the southern neighbor. In an already challenging post-pandemic global economy, the U.S. was struggling to attract foreign tourists. By 2024, international visitor numbers remained 9% below 2019 levels, with particularly low arrivals from China and Japan. If the tourism outlook seemed uncertain before, Trumps escalating rhetoric and policy decisions are making it even bleaker. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Brian Chambers Brian Chambers. Christopher Taylor Christopher Taylor. popular in a similar model Andy LaBarre Andy LaBarre. L-R: Journey, Kelly Jo Fournier, Jena Hess, Kelsey Kipp, Marlee Giese. Fournier is the Victim Services Coordinator and Hess, Kipp, and Giese are her team members David Gilbert, Calhoun County Prosecutor. Mt. Zion's new Legacy Senior Living development is being built on land that Mt. Zion Baptis Church has acquired in the 100 block of east Frank Street (just east of Burdick Street) in Kalamazoo's Northside Neighborhood. Al Jones Among those turning the first shovels of dirt at Mt. Zion Baptist Church's Legacy Senior Living project are Rev. Christopher Moore, First Lady Gwendolyn Moore, Pastor Addis Moore, and Edison Community Partners Senior Developer Jason Muniz. Al Jones Rev. Addis Moore, senior pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, stands with First Lady Gwendolyn Moore, Assistant Pastor Christopher Moore, and First United Baptist Church Pastor Lenzy Bell. Al Jones Sheldon Turner, center, prepares to lead Mt. Zion Batptist Church's Praise Team at the Wednesday, March 26, 2025 groundbreaking ceremony for the church's new Legacy Senior Living project. Al Jones First Lady Gwendolyn Moore joins Pastor Addis Moore as he comments on the development of Mt. Zion Baptist Church's Senior Legacy Senior Living project on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Al Jones Pastor Addis Moore stands near project developer Jason Muniz at the Wednesday, March 26, 2025 groundbreaking ceremony for Mt.Zion Baptist Church's Legacy Senior Living project in the 100 block of East Frank Street in the Northside Neighborhood. Al Jones Mt. Zion's new Legacy Senior Living development is being built on land that Mt. Zion Baptis Church has acquired in the 100 block of east Frank Street (just east of Burdick Street) in Kalamazoo's Northside Neighborhood. Al Jones Sheldon Turner, center, prepares to lead Mt. Zion Baptist Church's Praise Team at the Wednesday, March 26, 2025 groundbreaking ceremony for the church's new Legacy Senior Living project. Al Jones Mt. Zion's new Legacy Senior Living development is a $27 million project that wil provide 70 energy-efficient and affordable apartment units for people age 55 and older. Al Jones Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson praised Mt. Zion Baptist Church's efforts to bring more needed housing to Kalamazoo. He spoke on Wednessday, March 26, 2025 at the groundbreaking ceremony for the church's new Legacy Senior Living project. Al Jones Among those turning the first shovels of dirt at Mt. Zion Baptist Church's Legacy Senior Living project are Rev. Christopher Moore, First Lady Gwendolyn Moore, Pastor Addis Moore and Edison Community Partners Senior Development Jason Muniz. Al Jones A Way Home Housing Solutions: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's series on solutions to homelessness and ways to increase affordable housing. It is made possible by a coalition of funders including the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, the ENNA Foundation, Kalamazoo County Land Bank, and LISC. KALAMAZOO, MI Need, vision, effort, and prayer appears to be coming together to produce new housing for low- to moderate-income seniors in Kalamazoos Northside Neighborhood. After nearly seven years of planning, ground was broken on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 for the development of Legacy Senior Living, a 70-unit affordable apartment complex for people age 55 or older. The $27 million project will put back into use several vacant land parcels between the 100-block of East Frank Street and the 100-block of East North Street. And with this development, seniors will have a welcoming place that they can call home, said the Rev. Addis Moore. With a smile to replace the furrowed brow that came with months of wading through red tape, shepherding real estate concerns, waiting for bureaucratic decisions to be made, and jumping all the hurdles necessary to make it happen, the senior pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church was ready for a sunny day to celebrate the start of project. Al Jones We had to stick with it, he said before members of Mt. Zions musical Praise Team made Wednesdays event a much livelier occasion than most urban ground-breaking ceremonies. More than 200 people attended the event. There was so much stuff that we didnt know, Moore said, that we had to rely on others to share that with us. A lot of people are not privy to the information you need to know to do something like this. Speaking of the many years the church has amassed land in the neighborhood with an eye toward redevelopment, Moore said, This is like a 20-year vision coming to reality. The Legacy Senior Living project involves the construction of two, three-story buildings: -A 36-unit northern building at 128 E Frank St. It will have 34 one-bedroom units and 2, two-bedroom units. The building will have a community room, a beauty salon, and an outdoor gathering space. Financed with 9 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits, it will be built to Passive House sustainability standards for energy efficiency and lower energy costs. -A 34-unit southern building at 127 E North St. It will have 32 one-bedroom units and 2 two-bedroom units. The building will feature a library, a puzzle room, and a three-season porch. It will be financed with 4 percent Low Income Housing Tax Credits. Al Jones Mt. Zion's new Legacy Senior Living development is a $27 million project that wil provide 70 energy-efficient and affordable apartment units for people age 55 and older. An early estimate of rental rates of a one-bedroom unit was $243 to $975 per month (including utilities) depending on the income of the tenant. With government subsidies and tax credits, the complex is expected to accommodate income-qualified individuals who have as little as $15,000 in annual income. The project is expected to be completed in the next 17 to 18 months. There is a desperate need for housing, and decent affordable housing -- particularly in Kalamazoos older neighborhoods, said Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson. Anderson was among several local and state officials to attend Wednesdays groundbreaking. Others included Michigan Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) Michigan Rep. Julie Rogers (D-41st District), and a representative from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Al Jones Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson praised Mt. Zion Baptist Church's efforts to bring more needed housing to Kalamazoo. He spoke on Wednessday, March 26, 2025 at the groundbreaking ceremony for the church's new Legacy Senior Living project. There is such a great need for affordable housing that, Jason Muniz, senior project developer with Edison Community Partners, said, he feels compelled to be involved. Edison Community Partners is partnering with Mt. Zion, architectural/engineering firm Abonmarche Byce, residential and commercial developer AVB, and others to develop the project. Edison is a minority-owned real estate development firm focused on creating high-quality, affordable housing that strengthens communities and improves lives, according to information provided by the company. It is an affiliate of Portage-based Hollander Development Corp., which has created residential and mixed-used projects in many other places to serve low-income and workforce income households. That includes The Creamery, a 48-unit affordable housing and business development at Portage and Lake Streets in Kalamazoos Edison Neighborhood. Clarence Lloyd, vice president of Southwest Michigan First and executive director of the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce, described the new project as a significant milestone for the community and said he appreciates the expertise of Abonmarche Byce and AVB because they have been involved in other affordable housing projects. But he also noted that Mt. Zion Baptist Churchs leadership in this effort is truly exceptional, demonstrating their deep commitment to investing in people in a meaningful way. Muniz has said, This project is not only a commitment to affordable housing but also to environmental sustainability. By combining affordability, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, we believe that the Legacy Senior Living will set a new standard for senior living in Kalamazoo and beyond. Al Jones First Lady Gwendolyn Moore joins Pastor Addis Moore as he comments on the development of Mt. Zion Baptist Church's Senior Legacy Senior Living project on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. He and Moore thanked a long list of city, county and state officials, as well as housing, planning, architectural, and construction professionals for their involvement with the project. Mt. Zion and Edison Community Partners have been able to secure Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and federal America Rescue Plan Act funding. According to information provided by Edison Community Partners, the project was also made possible with funding from the Kalamazoo County Homes for All millage, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the City of Kalamazoo, and other partners. The City of Kalamazoo is also allowing the project to proceed off the general tax roles, with a PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) agreement. Al Jones Rev. Addis Moore, senior pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, stands with First Lady Gwendolyn Moore, Assistant Pastor Christopher Moore, and First United Baptist Church Pastor Lenzy Bell. Moore said property acquisitions and donations of property from church members over the years allowed it to accumulate the land that is being used for the project. It is between East Frank Street and East North Street, adjacent to North Burdick Street and the Ecumenical Senior Center. Mt. Zion Baptist Church is about two blocks north of the location, at 120 Roberson St. This is faith in action, Kalamazoo Vice Mayor Jeanne Hess said. This is a congregation that said yes to housing and its incredible. Look at the energy here. Look at the people here. Look at the joy here. This is amazing. Moore described the development as a situation where faith meets action. Where faith meets action, love fuels transformation, he said. As a community, were not just building homes, but were building a legacy of care and dignity. This development is dedicated to our beloved seniors in one of the most underserved neighborhoods in our community. Its a living example of what the gospel calls us to do to love our neighbor as ourselves. Once again, the Trump administration has invoked national security concerns to push through an immigration measure that critics say violates the right to privacy and freedom of expression. The proposal allows U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to access the social media accounts of asylum, permanent residency, and naturalization applicants. The information obtained would be used to determine their eligibility to remain in the United States. This is a major violation of freedom of expression, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and is therefore unconstitutional and illegal, reads one of the comments to the measure. The public has until May 5 to share their opinions on the initiative, which will help the executive branch decide whether it goes into effect. Many of the responses largely submitted anonymously argue the initiative violates the right to freedom of expression, some more strongly than others. A violation of freedom of expression and an attempt by a fascist authoritarian aspiring dictator to crush dissent, reads one comment. If the measure goes ahead, authorities will require immigrants applying for permanent residency to disclose their usernames on all social media platforms they use. While this requirement was already in place for visa applicants abroad, it had not previously applied to those already living in the United States. The proposal is part of the executive order Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, which Trump signed on January 20, the day he took office. USCIS justifies the order by stating that it requires the collection of all information necessary for a rigorous vetting and screening of all grounds of inadmissibility or bases for the denial of immigration-related benefits. The data obtained will be used to help validate an applicants identity and determine whether such a grant of a benefit poses a security or public safety threat to the United States. For Kathleen Joseph-Bush, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, the interaction between immigration and freedom of expression is very complex due to the discretion they have to deny applications or revoke immigration benefits. In her opinion, if the proposal goes into effect, it will affect new applications, as it will force lawyers to tell their clients to be careful about what they post online because it could end up being scrutinized by the United States government. Indeed, the main criticism of this requirement is that it forces immigration applicants to self-censor out of fear of potential retaliation. This rule would mean that any applicant for permanent residence or naturalization would not be able to freely express themselves on social media for fear of being deported for expressing an opinion the government doesnt like, reads one comment. There are already news reports about foreign citizens being turned away at the border for posting or writing on social media criticizing the current administration. The First Amendment protects the right to freedom of expression without fear of punishment or retaliation, and this would have a chilling effect on immigrants ability to exercise that right. Human rights groups have condemned the executive order behind the proposal, arguing that it violates fundamental constitutional rights by allowing the expulsion of foreigners who express hostile attitudes toward the U.S. government, institutions, or culture. The administration is currently seeking to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student and legal permanent resident, for participating in pro-Palestinian protests last year despite the fact that he has not been charged with any crime. It has also sought to deport Badar Khan Suri, an Indian scholar at Georgetown University, over allegations that he has ties to Hamas and has shared its propaganda online. In another case, the French government recently stated that a French scientist was barred from entering the U.S. because border agents found messages on his phone criticizing Trumps policies on academic research. The Department of Homeland Security has denied this claim. For some, the collection of private data and information invites comparisons between the United States and authoritarian regimes. It reflects the same mass surveillance tactics employed in authoritarian regimes like China and Russia. It is deeply troubling that a country that champions democracy and human rights is now adopting the same repressive strategies it condemns abroad, one comment reads. The proposal, however, is not without support. Advocates defend it on national security grounds. An excellent way to identify anti-American immigrants before granting them U.S. citizenship, says Jesse Tucker, a self-identified former Marine. Im all for it. Lets protect America at all costs! reads another comment. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition US President Donald Trump escalated his global trade war overnight, announcing plans to impose swingeing 25% tariffs on all vehicle imports and parts only days before levies on other goods take effect. The news hit shares in automakers around the world. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said his government would put "all options on the table" in response to the tariffs. The country is the world's second largest exporter of cars. Mexico tops the list, with South Korea, Canada and Germany also major players. European markets were bracing for heavy falls as investors reacted to the latest threats. In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deal was bad for businesses, worse for consumers equally in the US and the European Union, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the move a direct attack on his nation. Trump later threatened further tariffs if the EU teamed up with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA. In a social media post Trump said the duo faced 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! - apparently confusing the EU with a sovereign nation. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Thousands of jobs were put at risk on Thursday, after British Steel announced plans to shut two blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe plant, just days after rejecting a 500m government lifeline. The company, which is owned by Chinas Jingye, wants to close two blast furnaces and steelmaking operations at the site, as well as reducing steel rolling mill capacity. Between 2,000 and 2,700 jobs would be affected, out of a total of 3,500 British Steel said that despite significant investment, the blast furnaces and steelmaking operations were "no longer financial sustainable, due to highly challenging market conditions, the imposition of tariffs and higher environmental costs relating to the production of high-carbon steel". Nearly two years of talks with the UK government about a capital investment in new electric arc furnaces had failed to secure agreement, it added. A proposed 500m government package was rejected by British Steel only this week. As a result, British Steel will now start consulting with employees, with some closures potentially happening as early as June. Zengwei An, chief executive, said: "We understand this is extremely difficult day. "But we believe this is necessary decision, given the hugely challenging circumstances the business faces." Unite, the union, called the announcement a "disgrace" and accused British Steel of holding the government "to ransom". General secretary Sharon Graham said: "In discussions with Unite, the government has clearly moved and has made an offer to invest heavily in British Steel. The offer comes with long-term job guarantees - anything less would be complete misuse of taxpayers money. "British Steel must now withdraw its job threats and work with the government and Unite on a sustainable way forward." Capricorn Energy said on Thursday that 2024 had been a "pivotal" year for the oil and gas producer, with crucial negotiations with the Egyptian authorities on track to conclude in the coming months. The London-listed, Egyptian-focused firm said that along with operating partner Cheiron Oil and Gas, it had made "good" progress towards consolidating its eight concession agreements in the country into a single, integrated agreement. It said the process was expected to conclude in the current year, ahead of final approval by the Egyptian authorities. A new agreement would support increase production and strengthen returns, it noted. The update came as Capricorn posted full-year production of 23,763 barrels of equivalent per day, down on last years 30,044 boepd but at the upper end of internal guidance. Revenues from production were $147m, down on the previous years $200m, compounded by an easing in the average price per barrel, to $79.3 from $81.2. Debt stood at $100m as at 31 December 2024, and cash at $132m. Profits from discounted operations were $23m, while losses from continuing operations were $12m. Randy Neely, chief executive, said: "2024 was a pivotal year for Capricorn, during which we continued to improve the operational performance of the Egyptian business and continued our culture of financial discipline, which helped the company achieve the upper end of production guidance. "Growth and diversification of operations and cash flows will be a key focus for 2025. Our goal is to ultimately deliver consistent shareholder returns, and we are evaluating M&A opportunities in the UK North Sea and MENA region, through a strict set of financial and strategic criteria, to facilitate this." James Hosie, analyst at Shore Capital, said: "[Capricorns] results statement is essentially a progress report while the business sits at a critical point in managements business plan to unlock value. "In this context, the most noteworthy point is that discussion with the Egyptian authorities to consolidate and extend eight of its concession agreements under improved terms remain on track to complete during the 2025 full-year. "Once confirmed, Capricorn should be able to outline a plan for reserves and production growth." As at 0830 GMT, shares in Capricorn were trading 5% lower at 244.0p. TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan draws up plan to evacuate 120,000 Okinawa islanders near Taiwan TOKYO - Japan on Thursday unveiled a plan to evacuate about 120,000 people from southern islets near Taiwan, regarded by China as its territory, in case of an emergency. Ships and planes would be able to transport around 110,000 residents and 10,000 visitors from the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture to eight southwestern and western prefectures within six days under the plan. ---------- Fuji media mogul Hieda to quit as adviser amid TV host scandal TOKYO - Longtime Fuji Media Holdings Inc. executive Hisashi Hieda will step down from his role as managing adviser, the company said Thursday, with its broadcasting unit under fire for its handling of a sexual misconduct scandal involving former TV host Masahiro Nakai. Hieda also left his role as executive managing adviser to the scandal-hit Fuji Television Network Inc. as of Thursday. The network will halve its board members to 10 to "accelerate its decision-making process" and increase the number of women on it to 30 percent. ---------- Japan PM eyes Philippines, Vietnam visits during Golden Week holiday TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering visiting the Philippines and Vietnam during Japan's Golden Week holiday from late April, government sources said Thursday, as Tokyo seeks closer ties with the Southeast Asian nations amid China's assertiveness in the region. Ishiba is expected to confirm the importance of ensuring a rules-based maritime order, with Beijing's growing presence in the East and South China seas in mind, the sources said. ---------- Japan demands exemption from U.S. auto tariffs TOKYO - The Japanese government asked the United States on Thursday for Japan to be exempt from auto tariffs, calling the latest move by its closest ally "extremely regrettable," a top government spokesman said. "We strongly urged (the U.S. government) to exclude Japan from the measure," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said, adding he was instructed by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to have related ministers cooperate in responding to the issue. ---------- Nippon Steel pushes U.S. Steel acquisition deadline to end of June TOKYO - Nippon Steel Corp. said Thursday it now aims to complete its planned acquisition of United States Steel Corp. by the end of June, pushing back its March target as it struggles to secure approval from the U.S. government. The decision comes as the Japanese company challenges former U.S. President Joe Biden's move to block the deal through a lawsuit. The acquisition "is still being pursued in collaboration with U.S. Steel," Nippon Steel said in a statement. ---------- Motor racing: Red Bull promotes Japan's Tsunoda to top F1 team TOKYO - Red Bull on Thursday announced Japan's Yuki Tsunoda will drive for its main Formula One team after dropping New Zealander Liam Lawson to its secondary Racing Bulls outfit. The 24-year-old Tsunoda will team with four-time defending world champion Max Verstappen starting from the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka International Racing Course in Mie Prefecture on April 6. ---------- China firmly opposes protectionism, vows to safeguard free trade BOAO, China - China's executive vice premier said Thursday his nation, the world's second-largest economy, resolutely opposes protectionism and is committed to safeguarding free trade as its trade war with the United States intensifies. Ding Xuexiang, ranked No. 6 in the ruling Communist Party Politburo, also pledged China will further promote opening up and called on foreign companies to invest in the Asian country in his keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia. ---------- Ex-ruling party lawmaker given 2.5-year sentence for fraud TOKYO - A former ruling party lawmaker received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, suspended for five years, for defrauding the government of about 3.5 million yen ($23,000) by claiming salary expenses for a secretary who did no work. The Tokyo District Court said Megumi Hirose, a 58-year-old former member of the House of Councillors, was "selfish by unfairly trying to obtain public funds," with the presiding judge noting her thinking was "very shallow" given that she holds a lawyer's license. Video: Japan MSDF frigate makes 1st port call in Philippine naval base Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India (Deloitte India) recently announced a strategic alliance with Zoho to promote digital transformation of mid-market and enterprise businesses across India. Through this partnership, the two firms will work towards overcoming challenges being faced by legacy systems and slow digital adoption cycles by providing customized, high-impact cloud solutions. Harnessing the industry expertise of Deloitte India and Zoho's collection of more than 55 integrated applications, the alliance will concentrate on simplifying business processes in major industries like healthcare, NBFCs, and eCommerce. The project aims to empower businesses with scalable, future-proof, and agile solutions to increase efficiency and fuel long-term development. digital environment, they need solutions that are scalable and agile. This partnership with Zoho is an attempt at co-creating industry-specific solutions to assist enterprises in digitalizing processes", stated Vinay Prabhakar, Deloitte South Asia Sales and Alliance Leader. With companies embracing an increasingly, they need solutions that are scalable and agile. This partnership with Zoho is an attempt at co-creating industry-specific solutions to assist enterprises in digitalizing processes", stated Vinay Prabhakar, Deloitte South Asia Sales and Alliance Leader. Bishan Singh, Zoho Head of Channel Ecosystem, underlined the requirement for adaptable, adjustable solutions by saying, "With low-code, no-code, and pro-code capabilities, our cloud portfolio coupled with Deloitte India's knowledge allows for quick deployment of industry solutions". The alliance will also involve joint go-to-market efforts and industry-specific solution creation to ensure that companies can easily switch to digital-first business models. India is emerging as an important player, especially in response to finding alternative manufacturing locations from China. Having a large labor pool, growing infrastructure and government programs such as Make in India and Production-Linked Incentives (PLI), India is becoming an important destination for the supply chains of the world. The recent trade tensions between the U.S. and China have made multinational firms diversify their production centers, resulting in increased investments in Indian electronics, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy sectors. Though India has a promising future, it continues to lag behind China in scale, efficiency, and logistics, which remains a work in progress. U.S. Tariffs Reshape Global Trade Dynamics The impact of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports has a spillover effect that goes beyond the two economic powerhouses. As U.S. policymakers aim to diversify out of China, businesses are in search of new manufacturing hubs, including India, Vietnam, and Mexico. Trade is rarely a zero-sum situation, though. Rather than promoting self-reliance, protectionist measures tend to result in convoluted supply chain realignments, whereby products move through substitute channels. India's expanding industrial base has much to gain from these changes, but infrastructure bottlenecks and regulatory barriers are still issues. The larger effects of these shifts in trade find their way to industries like renewable energy, tech, and consumer products. America depends so much on importing clean energy technology, and higher tariffs on solar panels and electric car batteries will mean higher costs. Although India is catching up on the manufacturing of green technology, it is far from achieving what China is capable of. As policymakers move through these dilemmas, balancing protectionism in trade and economic competitiveness in the long term is crucial. India's Opportunity in Electronics Manufacturing The U.S. move to charge 10% duties on Chinese electronics is a golden opportunity for India to establish itself as a world leader in electronics and IT hardware manufacturing. Industry players like Apple, Motorola, and Samsung have already existing production plants in India and are set to increase exports through leading players like Tata Electronics, Foxconn, and Dixon Technologies. To benefit from this shift, India is pursuing aggressively policy reforms and trade agreements with the U.S. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's 2025 Budget axed import duty on essential components utilized in mobile phones, enabling local production to be competitive. Experts are confident that if it takes the right actions improvement in infrastructure, ease of regulatory clearances, and a stable policy regime India can emerge as a robust substitute for China. We are optimistic that a well-structured Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between the two will materialise. If done right, this could propel Indias electronics exports to the US from $10 billion to $80 billion by 2030, an 800% surge, says Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA. Strategic Trade Policies and Global Engagements India has also proceeded proactively on lowering general import tariffs, pointing towards a paradigm shift away from protectionism toward an open economy. The duties on a host of products have been lowered by the government, including high-end motorcycles, satisfying concerns of the U.S. policymakers. It makes India's bilateral trade links stronger and promotes its global supply chain partner charm. India is also increasing its footprint in world trade with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). India signed 13 FTAs in the last five years and is presently negotiating with the UK, Canada, the EU, and New Zealand. India and the EU plan to wrap up their FTA by 2025, which will enhance trade by $15 billion. India's Steel Industry: Divided Responses to U.S. Tariffs India's steel sector has a twofold impact from U.S. tariffs on foreign steel. While small players see lower-cost steel as a chance, large steel manufacturer worry that India could become a dumping ground for surplus steel from China and South Korea. Another problem is environmental sustainability, as India's steel sector remains coal-based, which increases greenhouse gas emissions. With Europe's future carbon tax on high-emission imports, India stands to lose global competitiveness unless it ramps up its adoption of green technology. As the government promotes green steel production, economic growth and environmental sustainability are equally important with India aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070. U.S. Trade Policy and India's Response On April 2, 2025, the U.S. will impose reciprocal tariffs on China and India, citing unfair trade practices. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, in a Congressional address, justified these tariffs as a measure to generate trillions of dollars and create millions of jobs. He criticized Indias high tariffs on American goods and vowed that the U.S. would impose equivalent tariffs in response. Trump jokingly delayed the rollout to avoid an April Fools declaration but reaffirmed his commitment to reshaping global trade in Americas favor. With the deadline approaching, India is under increased pressure to act on U.S. requests while protecting its economic interests. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is still in talks, but India is resistant to offering zero tariffs, especially in the auto sector. Local automakers are afraid of a surge of foreign competition if there is a zero-duty import policy, which would decimate local manufacturers. The U.S. is not offering much reciprocity. Limited Impact of U.S. Tariffs on India's Trade In spite of these tensions, a recent study by SBI Research shows that U.S. retaliatory tariffs on India will have little effect. Owing to India's diversified export base and value-added trade, the study estimates that only 3-3.5% of exports will be affected a blow India intends to offset through manufacturing growth. Interestingly, the U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel may even help India, as India is already facing a trade deficit of $13 million in aluminum and $406 million in steel against the U.S. Looking Ahead India's trade policy is rooted in resilience and overseas expansion. Although there are challenges inefficiencies in logistics, infrastructure shortages, and policy uncertainty they are being actively addressed by the nation through investments and trade policy reforms. The 'Viksit Bharat' vision and 'India First' policy reflect India's resolve to become a credible global trade leader. With ongoing FTA talks, U.S.-India trade talks, and incentive for manufacturing, India is set to gain from shifting trade flows. By striking an optimal balance of economic growth, sustainability, and global collaborations, India is laying the groundwork for industrial supremacy and economic ascension in the long run. US President Donald Trump's move to impose a 25% tariff on all auto imports has set the global automobile industry in turmoil, with Indian companies also getting affected. Although direct exports of vehicles by India to the US are scarce, the indirect effect through international supply chains is immense, resulting in a drubbing of auto stocks in the first few hours of trading. Tata Motors stock declined more than 5%, Eicher Motors lost close to 2%, Hyundai by 1.7%, Samvardhana Motherson plunged 6.4%, Sona BLW slipped 4.4%, and Balkrishna Industries lost 3.4%. The large-cap Nifty Auto index shed 1.09%, having traded at 21,505 during morning trading. India shipped auto parts valued at $6.79 billion to the US during FY24, whereas US imports totaled $1.4 billion, which was levied a 15% duty. Even though the nation has negligible direct car exports to the US, the high tariffs are likely to disturb supply chains. Tata Motors, which indirectly does not sell cars to the US, would likely go through its British unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which accounts for 22% of sales in the US. The rise in import duties on UK-origin vehicles will fall on JLR's bottomline, and investors are concerned it could lead to price increases and loss of market share. Auto component makers are also under pressure as international automakers seek to transfer cost rises to suppliers. Sona BLW Precision Forgings, with 66% of its top-line coming from the US and Europe, can face margin stress. To that end, the company is pushing for growth in China, Japan, and South Korea, looking to these countries to generate more than 50% of its top-line over the next five years. While that, however, has been a big worry for investors in India, Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd (SAMIL), one of the major suppliers to Tesla and Ford, is somewhat protected from the tariff effect by its US and European manufacturing facilities. This strategic footprint enables SAMIL to absorb cost pressures better than some of its competitors. Outside India, the tariff announcement shook global equity markets. The shares of major Japanese automakers Toyota, Nissan, and Honda declined by 3% to 3.7%. South Korea's Hyundai dipped 3.4%, and the Nikkei 225 index lost 1.1% due to sagging investor sentiment. Major automaker stocks in the US declined during after-hours trading, and US equity index futures indicated a weaker market opening. The S&P 500 benchmark index fell by 1.1% prior to Trump's announcement, recording more than a 4% decline for March, its worst monthly performance in almost a year. Trump's action has heightened uncertainty in an already troubled global auto sector, which is facing volatile demand and supply chain disruptions. The Center for Automotive Research says the tariffs would increase vehicle prices for consumers and risk job losses, as the sector relies heavily on imported parts. Car prices are expected to increase by thousands of dollars, forcing automakers to rethink production plans and sourcing decisions. India could be spared from the suggested US reciprocal tariffs and would not be bracketed with China, Mexico, and Canada, government sources said. Trade talks between the two countries continue to be on a positive note, with no indication of a stalemate before the April 2 deadline for implementing the tariffs. Authorities are said to be considering a 'sector-wise, tailored' plan that might involve a phased roll-out of new trade restrictions. In this scenario, high-demand items with large volumes of trade would likely experience only a modest tariff boost, lessening the blow to Indian exports. Concurrently, India is bargained for reduced tariffs on some of the most important sectors that send large quantities to the US. Negotiators are in the process of completing the outlines of a fresh trade agreement in the next three days, sources confirmed. While the talks have been seamless, US officials are reported to be seeking further concessions from India. The US has been contemplating its tariff policies in light of changing global trade conditions, and India's potential exclusion from the same treatment as China, Mexico, and Canada reflects Washington's acknowledgment of India's unique trade relationship. respite to Indian exporters who worry about sharp tariff increases. The Indian government has been in intense negotiations to ward off the effects, with it reportedly willing to reduce tariffs on more than half of US imports worth $23 billion. This is intended to protect Indian enterprises from retaliatory tariffs, which could have a drastic impact on exports. A possible waiver would givewho worry about sharp tariff increases. The Indian government has been in intense negotiations to ward off the effects, with it reportedly willing to reduce tariffs on more than half of US imports worth $23 billion. This is intended to protect Indian enterprises from retaliatory tariffs, which could have a drastic impact on exports. A government study found that the new US tariffs would affect 87% of Indian exports to the US, worth about $66 billion. To balance this, India is mulling cutting tariffs on 55% of US imports that are taxed between 5% and 30%. Some tariffs might be drastically cut, while others may be eliminated. But all these proposals are in the negotiation phase. The negotiations have gained momentum with a US team, headed by Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, visiting India at the moment. The talks that have commenced on Tuesday will work on clinching the agreement prior to the imposition of US tariffs next week. With the approaching deadline, the two sides persist in negotiating vital conditions to conclude a mutually desirable pact that secures trade interests alongside closer bilateral economic relations. Mayor Eric Adams hosts a town hall for seniors at the Cassidy Coles Neighborhood Older Adult Center in New Brighton on Wednesday, Mar. 26, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com/Erik Bascome) Advance/SILive.com | Erik Bascome STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Dozens of Staten Island seniors had an opportunity to voice their concerns to the citys top elected official on Wednesday, with housing, affordability and transportation among their most pressing issues. Mayor Eric Adams heard their concerns during a town hall focused exclusively on issues facing the boroughs seniors, held at the Cassidy Coles Neighborhood Older Adult Center in New Brighton. Anthony Basile, of Nursing Administration, poses with Laurie Cowan, of Labor and Delivery, and Kelly Reinhold, of the Maternal Health Division, as Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton, honors nurses for National Certified Nurses Day on March 19, 2025. (Courtesy of Richmond University Medical Center. Courtesy of Richmond University Medical Center STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Richmond University Medical Center recently gave special recognition to its certified nurses in celebration of National Certified Nurses Day. Every year on March 19, the West Brighton hospital joins with health-care providers and institutions across the country to honor and acknowledge nurses who earn and maintain the highest national board credentials in their specialty, leading to better patient outcomes, according to a hospital announcement. National Certified Nurses Day provided us with an opportunity to celebrate the excellence, expertise and dedication of our certified nurses, said RUMCs Chief Nurse Officer Christine Mahoney. Their commitment to advancing their knowledge and skills elevates patient care, inspires their colleagues and strengthens our entire profession. Some of the nurses honored by RUMC this year were from the hospitals Labor and Delivery Department, Critical Care Unit, Medical Intensive Care Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Those honored were: Diane Donaghy, Laurie Cowan, Mary Ann Plumb and Rachel Saccenti, of the Labor and Delivery Department Ebssy Geroge, Edwin Malacca and Renee Pekosz, of the Critical Care Unit Rose Broillet and Kristen Lopez, of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Lisa Yeno, of the Medical Intensive Care Unit Kelly Reinhold, of the Maternal Child Health Division Nurse certification, or credentialing, is a formal process that utilizes an establishes a series of guidelines for health-care professionals. They must undergo the most stringent scrutiny regarding their ability to practice medicine in order to be certified March 19 is the birthday of Dr. Margretta Gretta Madden Styles, one of the most recognized leaders in the field of nursing certification. According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center, she recognized the importance of credentialing long before broad awareness of its value. Styles authored the first comprehensive study of nurse credentialing in the 1970s. She then pioneered the development and implementation of standards and credentials for nurses. In the 1980s, she spearheaded the definitive work of the International Council of Nurses on nursing regulation and was also a driving force behind the creation of the American Nurses Credentialing Center. TOKYO - The Japanese government asked the United States on Thursday for Japan to be exempt from auto tariffs, calling the latest move by its closest ally "extremely regrettable," a top government spokesman said. "We strongly urged (the U.S. government) to exclude Japan from the measure," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said, adding he was instructed by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to have related ministers cooperate in responding to the issue. Industry minister Yoji Muto separately told reporters the government had again urged Washington to exclude Japan from the additional 25 percent tariff on all automobiles made outside the United States, following a similar request when he visited the country earlier this month. Hayashi said U.S. moves to restrict trade could have a "large impact on bilateral economic ties, the global economy and the multilateral trading system." U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday an additional 25 percent tariff on auto imports without exceptions. It is feared the hike, which is expected to be implemented on April 3, will disrupt global supply chains and deal a blow to Japanese automakers given their penetration into the U.S. market. "We must consider steps to respond appropriately. We have all possible options on the table," Ishiba told a committee session in the House of Councillors. Given the likely negative economic impact, Japan has asked to be exempted from the auto tariffs. But its efforts to win preferential treatment apparently fell flat. Shipments of U.S.-bound cars and auto parts made up a big portion of Japan's total exports by value to the world's largest economy in 2024. Speaking at a press briefing, Hayashi underlined the "big contributions" that Japanese companies, including automakers, have made to the U.S. economy. Japanese automakers have made direct investments into the United States worth around $61.6 billion and created around 2.3 million jobs, he said. "It's extremely regrettable" that the United States decided to hike auto tariffs with no exceptions, he said. "We will carefully examine the impact on Japan and will continue to strongly call for an exemption." At the headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic party, policy chief Itsunori Onodera met with U.S. Charge d'Affaires Joseph Young. Onodera told Young that Japan needs to negotiate with the United States as the planned tariff hike will have a big negative impact on the Japanese economy. He asked the U.S. envoy to convey that message to the U.S. administration, according to Onodera. Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi told his U.S. counterpart Christopher Landau during phone talks that the measure "is extremely regrettable" and Tokyo wants to continue talks over the issue, a Japanese government source said. Related coverage: Trump's 25% auto tariff to take effect April 3 with no exemptions U.S. enforces 25% tariffs on all steel, aluminum imports U.S. makes no promises on tariff exemptions for Japan in trade talks This file photo shows a Delta airplane docked at Newark Airport in New Jersey (Advance/SILive.com) Shira Stoll STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Travelers have been urged to reconsider their trips to a country in the Caribbean. The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for Trinidad and Tobago due to serious risks of crime and heightened risks of terrorism and kidnapping. In December, the local government declared a nationwide state of emergency due to ongoing criminal activity that may threaten public safety. Under the state of emergency, the government has implemented the following measures. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has the authority to: Arrest people on suspicion of involvement in illegal activities. Search and enter public and private properties as needed. Bail is suspended for those suspected of committing a crime. Members of the Defense Force are following similar regulations as the local police. There are currently no curfews or restrictions on public gatherings. The advisory notes that gang activity and violent crime, including murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion and kidnapping are common in the country. Americans and other foreign travelers have been recent victims in the spree of kidnapping, the advisory notes. Those who still elected to travel to Trinidad and Tobago are advised to do the following. Governor Kathy Hochul said cuts by the federal Department of Health and Human Services will slash more than $300 million in funding for the state Department of Health, Office of Addiction Supports and Services, and Office of Mental Health. (Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul) Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York Governor Kathy Hochul was told on Tuesday that the federal Department of Health and Human Services will slash more than $300 million in funding for the state Department of Health, Office of Addiction Supports and Services, and Office of Mental Health. She said this will have a devastating impact on many New Yorkers (This) include(s) funds that county health departments across New York are planning to use to fight disease and keep people safe. At a time when New York is facing an ongoing opioid epidemic, multiple confirmed cases of measles and an ongoing mental health crisis, these cuts will be devastating, she said. The cuts to New York are part of $12 billion in canceled federal grants allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic, to states across the country by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to published reports, these grants are used at the state level to not only track infectious diseases, like measles and bird flu, but to prevent and control them from turning into a pandemic. The grants are also utilized to fund addiction treatment and monitor mental health services. Make no mistake: there is no state in this country that has the financial resources to backfill the massive federal funding cuts proposed by DOGE and Congressional Republicans. They are trying to rip apart the social safety net that lifts families out of poverty and gives everyone a shot at a middle-class life. These cuts arent just numbers on a page theyre going to hurt real people in every corner of New York," added Hochul. According to a report by Reuters, the Trump Administration also slashed more than $11 billion in funding awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and about $1 billion by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The report says many other states received sweeping cuts, include Washington, which lost more than $160 million in funding to its health department, Native American tribes and other groups. Senselessly ripping away this funding Congress provided will undermine our states ability to protect families from infectious diseases like measles and bird flu and to help people get the mental health care and substance use treatment they need, said U.S. Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, to Reuters. We will fight tooth and nail Hochul said she plans to fight the cuts in order to continue to protect the health of New Yorkers. For every attempt they make to withhold this funding, we will fight them tooth and nail. Ill do everything in my power to protect the health and well-being of New Yorkers. President Donald Trumps cost cutting initiatives since he took office have had a sweeping impact on the nations public health systems. Thousands of federal health workers have been let go, and millions in funding to the National Institutes of Health have been eliminated. House Republicans are also pushing for $880 billion in federal cuts over the next decade, which many New Yorkers fear could impact Medicaid. Follow Tracey Porpora on Facebook and Bluesky Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had an ominous take on the health of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an interview with broadcasters in Europe on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said that Putin will die soon and that it would be dangerous for the United States to ease the pressure on the Russian leader, Newsweek reported. President Donald Trump has been trying to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Putin invaded Ukraine three years ago. Zelenskyy said that the U.S. should keep Putin in political and economic isolation and that right now was one of the most dangerous moments. Speaking of Putin, Zelenskyy said that the Russian leader will die soon, after which everything will be over. He said Putin wants to remain in power until his death and that the Russian leader has ambitions beyond Ukraine. Zelenskyy gave no further details about Putins health. Newsweek said that while Putin has faced questions about his health, concerns which the Kremlin has always dismissed, Zelenskyy may have been more broadly referring to how no leader can go on indefinitely. Zelenskyy was asked how confident he was in the United State as an ally. The Ukraine president was famously booted from the White House last month after a heated confrontation with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The blowup led to a brief pause in U.S. military and intelligence aid to Ukraine. Zelenskyy on Wednesday said that the was grateful for U.S. military assistance, including Patriot missile systems. He said that Kyiv believes the Americans would be reliable partners and praised the unblocking of aid, which Zelenskyy said showed Trump understood the threats Ukraine was facing. 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! TOKYO - Japan on Thursday unveiled a plan to evacuate about 120,000 people from southern islets near Taiwan, regarded by China as its territory, in case of an emergency. Ships and planes would be able to transport around 110,000 residents and 10,000 visitors from the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture to eight southwestern and western prefectures within six days under the plan. With tensions between China and Taiwan escalating, the Japanese government said it plans to conduct field drills for evacuations from the southern prefecture of Okinawa in fiscal 2026 from April next year. The evacuees are expected to first transfer by private ferries or airplanes to certain airports and a port on Japan's southwestern main island of Kyushu, northeast of Okinawa Prefecture, before heading to other evacuation destinations. The government says the plan is not aimed at any particular scenario, but all the country's islets subject to evacuation are near Taiwan, with Yonaguni Island located only about 100 kilometers from the self-ruled democratic territory. Taiwan is viewed as a possible military flashpoint that could draw the United States into conflict with China, posing serious security challenges for Japan, a key U.S. ally in Asia. On Thursday, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the plan is designed to deepen discussions on the evacuation of residents "under the assumption of a situation where armed attacks are predicted." The effectiveness of efforts to prepare for such a large-scale evacuation has been "improved," as the plan specifies how to transport evacuees, secure accommodation and deliver meals, Hayashi, the top government spokesman, said at a press conference. In the National Security Strategy long-term policy guidelines updated in 2022, the government pledged to formulate a plan to achieve "prompt evacuation of residents, including those in the southwest region well in advance of an armed attack." Close to Taiwan in the East China Sea, the Tokyo-administered Senkaku Islands are claimed by Beijing, but they are uninhabited. China and Taiwan have been separately governed since they split as a result of a civil war in 1949. Related coverage: Japan eyes deploying long-range missiles on Kyushu island China warns Japan not to interfere in Taiwan affairs As the fallout from President Donald Trumps tariff plans comes into relief, a harsh truth is emerging for the automotive industry: Among the many losers, Elon Musks Tesla stands out as a clear winner. The electric vehicle maker has large factories in California and Texas that churn out all the cars it sells in the US, insulating it to a greater degree from Trumps new levies on auto imports and key components. Major rivals from South Koreas Hyundai to Germanys Volkswagen and Americas own General Motors meanwhile will soon face sharply higher costs. Musks prominent role in the Trumps administration has sparked questions over a possible conflict of interest. Credit: AP There are very few winners, Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, said in a telephone interview. Consumers will be losers because they will have reduced choice and higher prices. Ford could also face a less-severe impact than some rivals, with about 80 per cent of the cars it sells in the US being built domestically. I often wonder who would play me in a movie (ideally Poorna Jagannathan or Sindhu Vee). During casual hangs with my friends, I observe our funny yet insightful banter, listening to the conversational tos and fros as we discuss current affairs, our personal lives and trending memes at a Gilmore Girls pace, and how it reveals our similarities and differences. This is why I love buddy comedies. The two leads have a familiarity that comes with tenured friendships, and the context often provides a great backdrop for understanding if foundational relationships can evolve in the present. Romy and Micheles High School Reunion follows Michele, played by Lisa Kudrow (left), and Romy, played by Mira Sorvino. Credit: Touchstone Pictures My all-time favourite has to be the 1997 cult classic, Romy and Micheles High School Reunion, starring Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow. Its all about embracing who youve become after high school. The 2007 film, Superbad, was a seminal buddy comedy in my early 20s but hasnt aged so well given its misogynistic and homophobic overtones. Buddy comedies have often been about men exploring their vulnerability and camaraderie as an antidote to machismo, whether its a pair of detectives solving a crime (22 Jump Street, Bad Boys, Men in Black, Rush Hour) or two besties on a mission (Wedding Crashers, Harold & Kumar, Dumb and Dumber). In the 2000s and 2010s, these films often led to franchise deals for their frequently thrown-together pairings (the Will Ferrell-Owen Wilson-Ben Stiller trinity), meaning if youd seen one, youd seen em all. WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will start imposing next week an additional 25 percent tariff on all automobiles made outside his country, not exempting Japan or any other trading partner from the measure that could disrupt supply chains and dent economic growth globally. The White House said the higher tariff, targeting all types of imported passenger vehicles and light trucks, will take effect on April 3. The same rate of import tax will be applied to certain auto components, including engines, transmissions and powertrain parts. "We're going to charge countries for doing business in our country and taking our jobs, taking our wealth, taking a lot of things," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "They've taken so much out of our country, friend and foe alike. And frankly, friend has been oftentimes much worse than foe." Trump said he will maintain the tariff, up from the current 2.5 percent for passenger vehicles, for the length of his term in an attempt to revitalize domestic manufacturing, attract more investment into the United States and add what he claims will be more than $100 billion of annual tax revenue. "I think our automobile business will flourish like it's never flourished before," he said. A White House official said the tariff increase means the new tax will be 27.5 percent on passenger vehicles and 50 percent on light trucks. As for key auto components, the proclamation signed by Trump granted up to a one-month reprieve until May 3. Trump's latest trade action could significantly affect Japanese, German, South Korean and other foreign carmakers, as well as their American rivals, which also produce a significant percentage of their vehicles outside the United States and procure parts from around the world. Last year, Japan shipped more than 6 trillion yen ($40 billion) worth of vehicles to the United States, accounting for 28.3 percent, or the largest portion, of its total exports to the world's largest economy, according to Japanese trade data. Of the roughly 16 million new vehicles sold in the United States in 2024, about 50 percent were imports, the White House official said, adding when it comes to the remaining 8 million units, more than half were produced with foreign parts. The official said it means only about 25 percent of vehicles and components can be categorized as made in the United States, complaining that the country, once a manufacturing power, has become a place where cars are merely assembled. Mexico, where many automakers produce cars to take advantage of cheaper labor, was the largest exporter of vehicles to the United States in 2024. It shipped about 2.96 million units, followed by South Korea with 1.54 million units, Japan with 1.38 million units and Canada with 1.07 million units, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The official suggested that the new tariff on engines and other key components would be as impactful as that on cars, as foreign carmakers bring those high-value parts from their own countries rather than making them in the United States. Due to the complex supply chains in the auto industry, involving numerous suppliers, and the requirement for manufacturers to make huge investments in technology and plants before they roll out new models, it is not a quick or easy process to relocate car production to new lines in the United States, as desired by Trump. Additionally, many mainstream economists have warned that higher tariffs will likely result in increased costs not only for manufacturers but also for consumers. The legal basis for the additional auto tariff is a probe conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 during Trump's first term, according to the White House. Trump used the law to examine auto imports in 2019 and concluded that the quantity of foreign-made vehicles being brought into the country undermines U.S. national security. However, he stopped short of imposing any tariffs at the time, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which posed serious supply chain difficulties across the world. Trump's auto tariff announcement came before he plans to unleash broader reciprocal tariffs, targeting goods from countries around the world with matching duties, on April 2. He labels that date as "liberation day," repeatedly claiming that the United States has been "ripped off" by its allies and adversaries for many years. Since returning to the White House for a nonconsecutive second presidency about two months ago, Trump has announced various types of tariffs. They include 20 percent additional duties on goods from China and 25 percent levies on all steel and aluminum imports. The Trump administration's 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, announced despite the North American free trade pact, briefly took effect in early March, but are now paused until April 2. Related coverage: U.S. enforces 25% tariffs on all steel, aluminum imports Japan says no shift in U.S. alliance despite Trump budget cut plans Japan, Brazil leaders to boost strategic ties under new 5-year plan Former Australian Survivor winner David Genat, nicknamed The Golden God, has just bagged himself a lot more gold. The ex-model who lives in Perth has won the second season of US series Deal or No Deal Island, taking home $US5.8 million ($A9.2 million). Its one of the biggest cash prizes in TV history second only to the winner of Amazon Primes Beast Games, who received a whopping $US10 million ($A15.9 million) last month. David Genat and Joe Manganiello in the season finale of Deal or No Deal Island. Credit: Monty Brinton/NBC I want to be clear, if you take this offer, this would be the most money anyones ever made on network television, said host Joe Manganiello, as Genat deliberated between his final two cases containing $US75 and $US12,232,001. You would truly be The Golden God. But if you turn this down, and you have $75 in your case, David, you would be the biggest loser in TV history. The deal was offered by Chrissy Teigen, who was unveiled as the mysterious banker in the final episode two decades after appearing as a briefcase model on the first season of the original show. Zali Burrows, the Sydney lawyer acting for Bruce Lehrmann in his defamation appeal and criminal case, has avoided having her own defamation case against a fellow lawyer thrown out by a NSW court. In a case over an emoji that appears to be an Australian first, Burrows launched defamation proceedings in the NSW District Court in 2020 against high-profile criminal lawyer Adam Houda over two posts on Twitter, now known as X. Adam Houda, Zali Burrows and the zipper-mouth face emoji at the centre of Burrows defamation suit. Credit: James Brickwood, Kate Geraghty, Monique Westerman The first tweet linked to a 2019 article in The Sydney Morning Herald without providing commentary. When another Twitter user noted the date on the article and asked what had happened to Burrows since that report, Houda replied in May 2020 with a zipper-mouth face emoji. 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 Labor is offering very modest tax cuts, the Liberals are offering temporary fuel excise cuts (Duttons $6b plan to slash fuel excise, March 27). Both major parties are simply spending to win votes, with no real policy or future fixes. People expect government help in many areas like education, health, housing and welfare. What this country needs is real tax reform. Major corporations and large mining companies make enormous profits and pay very little tax. Tax evasion is rife in the small business world with the old less for cash lure from trades and small retail. Our major parties are dull and lazy and have no meaningful policy fixes for our future. We deserve better. Mark Nugent, Lugarno Peter Dutton has come up with a winner with the fuel excise cut an immediate benefit for all those struggling with the cost of living. What is needed now is a rethink of the nuclear power pledge. There is no need for nuclear plants to be taxpayer-funded and owned. There are expert builders and operators across the world who could give Australia nuclear power, for a cleaner and cheaper energy future. Just invite them in based on a tender model. The Coalition needs to look at this urgently as they are very exposed to a Labor scare campaign based on costs under the Coalitions government-developed and owned model. Ian Morison, Forrest (ACT) Credit: Joe Benke Duttons proposal to cut the cost of fuel excise will just be another step to encourage more dangerous and generally unnecessarily oversized monster car-trucks on our already congested roads. It seems rather warped at a time when we should be aiming to reduce emissions. Martin Frohlich, Adamstown Heights Theres one way to get cheaper petrol without waiting for Dutton to lower the fuel excise. In Katoomba, all you have to do is head west on the Great Western Highway and by the time you reach Bathurst petrol is 20 to 30 a litre cheaper. In the other direction heading into Sydney, the train beats the car for price every time. Nick Franklin, Katoomba Any fuel policy that gives the biggest benefit to those who use the most fuel per kilometre travelled, namely owners of dual cab utes and American pick-up trucks, deserves contempt. A lump sum subsidy would give everyone the same level of financial relief and they could spend it as they saw fit. However, in the case of petrol society has been trying for decades, and legislating, to reduce vehicle fuel use per kilometre, not encourage it by lowering prices. Peter Campbell, Corlette How can people be so childlike in their excitement over fuel discounts and taxes, rather than overall government plans? The fuel excise pays for roads, among other important things. As for tax cuts, what about putting that money towards including dental care in Medicare? A bag of sweets lasts a few moments, leaving you with a stomach ache. Remember that when voting, regardless of who offers you the biggest bag. Rosslyn Jeffery, Castle Hill Advertisement Its clear that Dutton has an integrated set of policies: the cost of petrol will fall, so those people no longer permitted to work from home will be very happy. Peter Hill, East Ballina At last, a tax cut that means something. A cut to fuel excise isnt just about what the individual pays at the pump. It should mean lower transport costs, providing an indirect benefit of lower prices. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill Policy deficit Peter Dutton, lacking originality, seems to be borrowing from the Trump-Musk playbook throw out a headline-grabbing number, in this case 40,000 public service jobs, and hope it lands (Dutton targets public servant jobs, March 27). Thats roughly half the Canberra workforce. Has he done the work to find where those so-called inefficiencies are? Or was 40,000 just plucked out of the air, a round number that sounded tough? Instead of offering a detailed plan, he goes for shock value. The governments increase in staff number was made to reduce spending on expensive consultants a sensible move. Duttons approach unsurprisingly looks more like performance politics than policy. Marina Cardillo, Beecroft Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor. Credit: Oscar Colman Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has really outdone himself. First, he states the Coalition will repeal the governments proposed tax cuts, so does he really care about fixing the cost of living crisis? Second, he claims that attrition will play a very significant role in the loss of 40,000 Canberra-based public service jobs. Is he serious? Its half the Canberra public service workforce. This is the man Dutton is proposing as his treasurer. Given the lack of substance to anything Dutton and Taylor say, I suggest you follow the well-known Coalition mantra: If you dont know, vote no. Tim Overland, Castle Hill Their photos face each other on either side of a page of todays Herald same posture, same blue suit, white shirt and conservative tie, almost identical spectacles and most worrying of all, both with their hands out and palms upward (Albanese and Dutton bidding for your vote, and hang the price, March 27). Is this the agreed new presentation for prime ministerial candidates? Tweedledee and Tweedledum? I guess it makes a change from the well-worn hard hats and fluoro vests that weve become so used to. Nedra Orme, Neutral Bay Advertisement People before power Its abundantly clear that Donald Trump and his team are morally bankrupt dunces (Stupidity undermines our security, March 27). Those who voted for Trump should hang their heads in shame. The question now is whether Aussie voters will be more discerning. Morality and integrity are under attack worldwide as never before. The challenge is to look beyond the pre-election sweeteners of the major parties and focus on what kind of world we want for our children and grandchildren. Ill be voting for the party that values people more than power and self-interest. Graham Lum, North Rocks Credit: Cathy Wilcox The debacle of the security failure in Washington was astounding. Trumps response was far worse (Trump dismisses group chat glitch, March 27). He played it down, saying merely that the bombing was successful. Any other president would have closed the press conference and taken drastic action against those responsible. Heads would have rolled. It shows how little he cares about important matters. Douglas Irvin, Artarmon To unsubscribe from this war plan email list press unsubscribe, or press ignore to continue receiving our daily top-secret classified war plan updates ( Full text of US military group chat scandal revealed, March 27). Patrick McGrath, Potts Point It is heartbreaking to read about the latest wrecking ball Trump has wielded against global health. With no regard for the lessons of the worlds connectedness evident during COVID, his action to cut back on vaccine funding for poor countries will also have repercussions in America. The concurrent proposed $12 billion cuts to state health services, which include infection tracking, make the outlook very grim in the event of another pandemic. Louise Dolan, Birchgrove Advertisement Lets fix the NDIS Unrealistic promises were made in relation to the NDIS, and now any withdrawal of its benefits is political poison (Senators teary speech for son on NDIS, March 27). Putting delivery in the hands of private profit-seekers is certainly part of the problem. There was never the money to pay for all that could be done for disabled people in an era when billions of dollars of tobacco excise were lost as smokers gave up. Who will be the first to admit that new guidelines for what can realistically be offered need to be drawn up? Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay Old-school teaching Congratulations to those comprehensive public high schools who have significantly improved their standing over the past decade (Revealed: most improved schools, 26 March). In all cases, the common denominator for this improvement has been the adoption of explicit teaching practices. This is not revolutionary, simply a return to the tried and true methods where the teacher directs the narrative, rather than the student. Those experts who presided over the student-centred approach will hopefully now disappear and let the practising teachers get on with the job of being instructors, rather than learning companions. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne Old-fashioned teaching methods have helped some schools achieve better results. Credit: iStock Gillard made a difference In accusing Julia Gillard of being more about office than ideas, correspondent Colin Hesse makes the common mistake of ignoring or even erasing female achievements (Letters, March 27). As prime minister of a fractious hung parliament, Gillard had a highly productive term in which 570 bills were passed by the Senate. Her major policy initiatives included the much-maligned Clean Energy Bill, the Mineral Resources Rent Tax, funding for schools in response to the Gonski Review, and the life-changing NDIS. I think its appropriate to give credit where it is due and to also give her a big pat on the back for not popping up, like the demon in a pantomime, to comment, criticise or excoriate those whove followed her as prime minister not even the treacherous Kevin Rudd. Merona Martin, Meroo Meadow Advertisement Colin Hesse suggests Julia Gillards reluctance to speak out as an ex-prime minister may be due to a paucity of policy ideas compared with Hawke and Keating. When assessing her legacy as PM, establishing the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse rates as a significant social and legal achievement. The commission has been an important vehicle for truth-telling for survivors, has led to law reform, delivered a body of research, and forced accountability on institutions with deep pockets which had hitherto blocked it. Under Gillards watch, the Gonski funding reforms to education, the NDIS and initial rollout of the NBN were introduced. All this while combating the most vile misogyny from the likes of Alan Jones and Tony Abbott. Kate Lumley, Hurlstone Park Enjoy responsibly The Greens senators tipping the scales of parliamentary behaviour by smuggling a dead salmon concealed under newspaper copies of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age gives new meaning to the expression todays news is tomorrows fish (and chips) wrapper (Angry senator pulls extinctions salmon stunt, March 27). Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook Correspondent Coral Button can maintain her weight loss and improved health by substituting Tasmanian farmed salmon for Australian barramundi and a couple of fish-oil pills (Letters, March 27). Its a far better option than supporting those foreign-owned companies that are wrecking the environment, murdering Maugean skates and paying little or no tax. Jeffrey Mellefont, Coogee Coral Button can have her salmon and eat it, too. She just needs to make sure its not from Tasmania. Trevor Sheridan, Charmhaven Senator Sarah Hanson-Young hands the fish to Peter Whish-Wilson during question time at Parliament House. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Advertisement A mother accused of murdering her seven-month-old boy has chosen not to enter a plea at her court arraignment, as the boys father pleaded not guilty. Rhuan Immanuel Bosch was found unresponsive by emergency services at the couples home at Yugar, north of Brisbane, in November 2022. Reinhardt (Ryan) Bosch and his partner Noemi Kondacs will both stand trial for murder over their sons death. Credit: Facebook The boys parents, Reinhardt Albert Bosch and Noemi Kondacs, were later charged over the incident, and Kondacs has consistently refused legal representation throughout court proceedings. The pair appeared in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Thursday for their arraignment ahead of their trial later this year. Premier David Crisafulli will not be drawn on whether plans for a world-class National Aquatic Centre at Spring Hill will require the demolition of Brisbanes heritage-listed Centenary Pool. Asked on Thursday about the prospect of the venue being knocked down, Crisafulli would only say the 2032 Olympic Games plan would mean the pool was given more than a lick and a polish. The Centenary Pool will have new life breathed into it, and not a moment too soon, he said. Paul Davies 2008 painting of Spring Hills Centenary Pool, which opened three years after the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. Credit: City of Brisbane Collection Were talking about the best swimming and aquatics venue in the world. Think about that: Queensland is going to have the greatest aquatics venue on the planet. A man has told US investigators he felt responsible for the shootings in Wieambilla, Australia, that claimed six lives including two police officers, the FBI says. Brothers Nathaniel, 46, and Gareth Train, 47, used high-powered rifles during an ambush to kill Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, at the remote Queensland property in December 2022. Donald Day junior, of Arizona, is accused of repeatedly sending messages about a Christian end-of-days ideology to the Wieambilla killers. Credit: YouTube Arizona man Donald Day junior, 60, was charged a year later in the US with making threats to public figures and FBI agents, as well as with illegal firearms possession. Prosecutors on Wednesday submitted an FBI report to a pre-trial hearing in the US Federal District Court of Arizona. This story is part of the March 29 edition of Good Weekend. Model and beauty influencer Onella Muralidharan, 26, met her fiance, Ryan Smith, 26, on Tinder. From the start, theyve shared the same life goals, though shed like more cuddles and hed like a little more enthusiasm for his dad jokes. Ryan Smith and Onella Muralidharan. In Ryan, Ive found someone who doesnt care about my weight or skin, says Muralidharan. Credit: Elke Meitzel ONELLA: I matched with Ryan on Tinder on Christmas Day, 2021. I was isolating in my bedroom because Id been exposed to COVID-19. Ryan had a really bad profile: blurry photos and some pictures of his cats. I swiped anyway. Early on, I went to his house. It was my birthday and he made me a fruit platter with mangoes and served it with moscato and sparkling water. Hed also dipped strawberries in vegan chocolate. We were co-parenting a puppy three months later and moved in together in 2022. I was 23. Just before I met Ryan, I won a modelling competition and left my retail job to pursue modelling and content creation on social media. Im short, curvy and have a very apparent skin condition, vitiligo, none of which fits the supermodel category. I wanted to represent people who dont conform to beauty norms. A man has been charged with murder after a womans body was discovered with stab wounds in the backyard of her Werribee home. Emergency services were called to the Retford Close address just after 9am on Thursday by a man known to her. Neighbours said they heard a womans piercing screams and saw a man in blood-soaked clothing before her body was found. Officers arrested a 41-year-old man, believed to be the 42-year-old womans former partner, at the scene. The Victorian education department announced late last year that the entire year 9 cohort of University High School was to be moved into a new campus in the Melbourne CBD. This safe and fit for purpose environment would provide an outstanding, standalone city-based educational experience, one whose classrooms were filled with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows with city views. From a parents perspective, it sounded magnificent. This campus is actually the 6th and 7th floor of an office building in Lonsdale Street, and has no open-air spaces, no canteen, no windows that open. Its just office space divided into fluorescent-lit classrooms, some with no external windows. The library is a single bookshelf and there is nowhere to sit. There are no Bunsen burners or other built-in equipment in the science rooms. Theres no PA system, school bell, or lockers large enough for school bags. The recreation spaces (indoor, of course) dont allow for physical recreation too crowded. The nearest safe outdoor space is three blocks away. Its absurd. University High Schools Year 9 campus is on busy Lonsdale Street. Credit: Luis Ascui The department is continuing to explore longer-term options for additional secondary school facilities, an admission that the current arrangement is lacking. But it has refused to answer detailed questions about how this was considered a feasible solution for 300 teenagers. How did it get to this? The short version is that University High became too crowded, being the only state secondary school in a massive catchment that includes the CBD, North Melbourne, Parkville, Docklands, West Melbourne and much of Carlton. Of course they ran out of space. But the real issue is the degradation of the entire public school system and lack of planning. A man has faced court over allegations he poured flammable liquid over another man before setting him alight, breaking down when he heard the victim may not survive. Adrian Paul Muir was arrested by police after they were called to a house on Belgravia Street in the early hours of Thursday morning. Police said Muir, 46, and the 42-year-old victim are known to each other but were embroiled in an altercation at about 12.15am. They allege that Muir then doused the victim in a flammable liquid. Neighbours told 9 News Perth that a third man was seen running toward the victim with a hose to help put out the flames. 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. 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. This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows a feeding trough at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon. (Xinhua/Kepseu) by Arison Tamfu, Wang Ze YAOUNDE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- For many, it was their last sight of Africa. Pushed through the "Gate of No Return," thousands of Africans were shipped from the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon, to a life of slavery in Europe and the Americas. Though the former slave trade site, built by Europeans, now offers a picturesque view, with fishing boats drifting on the sea beside a mangrove-lined beach, Bimbia harbors a brutal past as one of the busiest hubs for slave traders from the 17th to 19th centuries. Enslaved Africans captured inland were held in dungeons for weeks or months until the arrival of slave ships. Mbimbi Edimo, a guide at the site for over 10 years, said the conditions in the dungeons were grim. "About 100 to 200 chained slaves were crammed into dark, stuffy spaces," said the 38-year-old. "The dungeons were filthy. Many died." Above the bodies in chains, the captors prayed in a chapel. "The slave masters would pray to God in the church upstairs and then descend to the dungeons to torture and kill slaves and rape women. What a contrast," Edimo said. Once covered with feces, vomit, urine and blood, the stone floor is now silent, and the site has become a sacred place of remembrance. It still bears traces of the slave trade, such as the chains and dungeons where enslaved people were kept. According to a report by French media outlet France 24, more than 8,000 African Americans have identified their origins as Cameroonian, with ancestors who likely departed from the Bimbia slave port. Among them is renowned music producer Quincy Jones. African Americans regularly visit the site to connect with their ancestors who were sold into slavery. As the world marks the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on Tuesday, the people of Bimbia continue to grapple with slavery's inhumanity and are determined to preserve the site. Enanga Njuku, an 81-year-old lifelong resident of Bimbia, lives about a kilometer from the slave trade site. "The Bimbia slave trade heritage is part of history, a tradition. It is both historical and spiritual. It means a lot to us," she said. In her youth, she acted in plays about the plight of enslaved people when tourists visited the site. "Each time I played my role, it was very emotional because it made us remember the suffering of our ancestors," she added. For Edimo Marie Ekema, the centuries-old Bimbia slave trade site is a deeply symbolic monument of "our collective historical experience." "It serves as a reminder of a painful yet decisive period in our history. It tells of the wickedness of man toward man," said the 38-year-old, who was buying fish from fishermen near the site. Despite its historical significance, the site remains largely undeveloped. The road leading to it is bumpy, and the interior is unkempt. While some advocate for its development to attract tourists, many locals fear that any major project could compromise its authenticity, said Victor Kingue Musuka, a respected traditional leader of Bonangombe, one of the three villages that make up Bimbia. In February, the site became a point of contention between a local company and the community. The company claimed it had received government approval to restructure and develop the site, including building a monument to commemorate this dark chapter of human history. However, indigenous residents protested, vowing to resist any attempt to alter the site. "The place is natural. Nothing has been touched there. The artifacts remain. Any development should take place outside the site," said Musuka, 53. "That site alone is like a mother to us, and you cannot take a mother from her children. Trying to develop or alter the site is like leading a group of people toward extinction," added 46-year-old Oscar Menken, who has lived in the village for 16 years. In 2017, the Cameroonian government declared Bimbia a National Cultural Heritage site and has since been working toward securing its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "We have been informed time and again that if we change the nature of the site, it will never be certified by UNESCO. That is why it has remained as it was," said Nseke Dibotti Luma, mayor of Limbe III Municipality, where Bimbia is located. For now, any development plans have been put on hold, and the dream of transforming Bimbia into a flourishing ecotourism and World Heritage Site remains uncertain. Often described as a "forgotten historical site of the slave trade," hidden deep in the rainforest, many hope Bimbia will not be lost to history. This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows the "Gate of No Return" at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon. (Xinhua/Kepseu) This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows the "Gate of No Return" at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon. (Xinhua/Kepseu) This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows the remains of the building that served as a passageway and prison for slaves before their boarding, at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon. (Xinhua/Kepseu) This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows the remains of a palm oil factory where slaves were subjected to forced labor, at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon. (Xinhua/Kepseu) This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows the remains of the building that served as a passageway and prison for slaves before their boarding, at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon. (Xinhua/Kepseu) This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows the remains of a palm oil factory where slaves were subjected to forced labor, at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon. (Xinhua/Kepseu) This photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows a plaque indicating the Slavery Weighing and Inspection Station at the site of the Port of Slaves in Bimbia, a seaside resort town in Limbe, Cameroon. (Xinhua/Kepseu) Federal politicians face increasingly menacing security risks including threats to kill and threats of sexual violence, and the number of reports is set to break records this year. Federal police say they are alarmed by the surge and are urging parliamentarians to protect their safety during the upcoming federal election campaign. A May 3 poll is expected to be called on Friday. AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said he was troubled by the rise of threats against politicians. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said there have already been 712 reports of threats against high office holders, federal parliamentarians, dignitaries and electorate offices this financial year. At this rate, the number of threats will surpass those received the previous year, he said. London: The release of what were supposed to be private messages between top US officials has provided an unprecedented glimpse into the internal workings of the Trump administrations approach to military action in Yemen and the deep disdain some officials have for European allies. The highly sensitive messages, part of an expose in The Atlantic, underscore a growing sense of frustration among the US leadership about Europes role in global security efforts, and the consequences for transatlantic relations could be profound. The text exchanges, primarily between Vice President J.D. Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, an ex-Fox News host, reveal a blunt and unvarnished view of Europe as a freeloader. At the heart of the exchange was a decision on whether to proceed with airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen, with the US weighing the potential impact on Saudi oil facilities. London: European leaders are pushing for an escalation of Western sanctions on Russia, arguing now is the time to apply more pressure not ease it to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table for peace talks with Ukraine. Speaking in Paris at the so-called Coalition of the Willing summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Putin of playing games and playing for time after the Russian president demanded the lifting of sanctions before agreeing to a ceasefire in the Black Sea. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky speak to the media in Paris, France. Credit: Getty Images Now is not the time for pulling back or weakening sanctions now is the time to increase sanctions to get them to the table, Starmer said, repeating his position for a firm response from the international community to Moscows ongoing aggression in Ukraine. It means increasing the economic pressure on Russia, accelerating new tougher sanctions, bearing down on Russias energy revenues, and working together to make this pressure count. Boston: A Turkish doctoral student who once co-authored an opinion piece about Palestinians in Gaza has been taken into custody and her visa terminated in scenes captured on video that one supporter said amounted to a political kidnapping. Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, was walking on Tuesday evening to meet her friends for iftar a meal that breaks that fast at sunset during Ramadan when she was surprised by agents from the Department of Homeland Security. They arrested her on the footpath near her home in Somerville, a university town north of Boston. In this image taken from security footage, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, is detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on a street in Sommerville, Massachusetts. Credit: AP Supporters say Ozturks detention is the first known immigration arrest of a Boston-area student engaged in Palestinian activism to be carried out by President Donald Trumps administration. It has detained or sought to detain several foreign-born students who are legally in the United States. The Trump administration argues that certain protests are antisemitic and can undermine US foreign policy. Ozturk was one of four students who co-authored an op-ed piece in The Tufts Daily a year ago, criticising the university for its response to resolutions passed by its community union body, which demanded Tufts acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. The Hague:--- In a spirit of mutual respect and strategic dialogue, the Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, paid a courtesy visit to the Dutch Minister of Defense, the Honorable Ruben Brekelmans, at the Ministry of Defense in The Hague. The high-level follow up meeting focused on deepening collaboration between the countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, particularly in the areas of crisis preparedness, defense training, and coast guard operations. The Sint Maarten delegation included the Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, the Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten drs. Gracita Arrindell, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Stuart Johnson and Carol Voges director of the cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary. As a gesture of goodwill and cultural exchange, Prime Minister Mercelina presented Minister Brekelmans with a meaningful gifta book that highlights the rich history and resilience of the people of Sint Maarten. Our meeting today reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the Kingdoms preparedness and response mechanisms across all countries, stated Prime Minister Mercelina. Minister Brekelmans openness to engage directly with St.Maarten is a welcome signal that dialogue and joint planning are the way forward for our Kingdom. One of the key agenda points was the proposal for a Kingdom Crisis Plan. Prime Minister Mercelina reaffirmed his support for this initiative, referencing Minister Brekelmans recent visit to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. I fully endorse the idea of a unified Kingdom Crisis Plan, said Mercelina. The realities of our regionfrom climate vulnerability to geopolitical risksdemand a coordinated and inclusive approach. I look forward to hearing more about the status of this process and Sint Maartens active role within it. The meeting also touched on the possibility of military training opportunities being introduced for the people of Sint Maarten, an opportunity already available in Aruba and Curacao. We must ensure that young people in Sint Maarten have equal access to the same defense education opportunities as their peers in other parts of the Kingdom, the Prime Minister emphasized. Local training would not only empower our youth but also strengthen local capacity. A third focal point was the strengthening of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, particularly in enhancing recruitment and retention of personnel from Sint Maarten. I encourage the Ministry of Defense to explore more active recruitment campaigns on Sint Maarten and to offer greater long-term career perspectives for our coast guard officers, Mercelina stated. It is crucial that those who dedicate themselves to safeguarding our maritime borders feel supported and see a future within the service. The visit marks a pivotal step in fostering greater equity, visibility, and inclusion of Sint Maarten within Kingdom-level security and defense matters. PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten- The Committee of Justice of Parliament will meet on March 27, 2025. The Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 13.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The agenda point is: Roundtable panel discussion on the rise in crime and the increase in violence in schools The Committee of Justice aims to address the rise in crime in our community and the concerning issues related to the increase in violence in our schools and will therefore hear from various stakeholders during this Committee meeting. Should you have a question you would like to ask the panelists, send your question via the QR code below: Members of the public are also 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.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament. PHILIPSBURG:--- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT), the Honorable Mrs. Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has formally submitted a request to the Parliament of St. Maarten for the Council of Ministers to present the Governing Program 20242028. The request, addressed to the President of Parliament, the Honorable Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams, marks the first time that a sitting Council of Ministers has taken such an initiative. It underscores the administrations commitment to transparency, interbranch cooperation, and accountable leadership. The initiative is intended to ensure that Parliamentand by extension, the people of St. Maartenare fully informed of the government's strategic priorities and direction for the current governing term. The Council of Ministers considers it essential to formally share the strategic vision and priorities set forth with the people of St. Maarten through their elected representatives, the letter stated. This engagement would provide an opportunity for open and constructive dialogue on the path ahead. Anchored by the theme Its Time for the People, the Governing Program 20242028 outlines the Cabinets overarching policy agenda and national development roadmap. It identifies key areas for reform and investment, and reflects the administrations intent to deliver practical, people-centered solutions while reinforcing institutional strength and long-term sustainability. Deputy Prime Minister Heyliger-Marten emphasized that this effort is not only a demonstration of good governance but also a deliberate act of leadership that places the citizens of St. Maarten at the core of the government's mission. This initiative sets the tone for mutual respect, alignment, and accountability in the execution of government policy, she stated. The people of St. Maarten have a right to understand the direction their country is heading, and this is an important step in ensuring transparency and shared responsibility across the branches of governmentputting Soualiga first. The Council of Ministers awaits confirmation from Parliament on a date for the presentation. PHILIPSBURG:----The suspect arrested in connection with the tragic shooting of Oualichi Movement for Change (OMC) leader Olivier Arrindell and his wife, Sabine, has recently petitioned for release before his trial. However, his request was denied, and he remains in custody in one of the French territories. This decision underscores the serious nature of the charges and the complexity of the case, which has gripped the attention of both local and international communities. The shooting, which occurred on July 17, 2024, in the Cupe Coy area, left Sabine dead and Olivier severely injured. The incident has been marked by allegations of political motivations and tensions surrounding the upcoming elections. Olivier, who managed to drive his wife to safety before her tragic death, had previously expressed concerns about threats he received before the attack. The suspect, a French citizen, was apprehended on July 22, 2024, five days after the incident occurred on July 17, 2024. The arrest was confirmed by the Prosecutor's Office of Sint Maarten, which stated that it marked a significant step forward in the ongoing investigation. However, due to the sensitive nature of the case, no further details about the suspect or the investigation have been publicly disclosed. French law, however, poses complications for the legal process, as it explicitly prohibits the extradition of French nationals. Under Article 696-4 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure, French citizens cannot be extradited to another country, regardless of the crime committed. This legal framework ensures that the suspect will be tried under French jurisdiction if the case proceeds. Notably, despite the gravity of the charges, French law does not allow for the extradition of its nationals, even when accused of serious crimes committed abroad. The suspect's legal team had hoped for release ahead of the trial, but their petition was rejected by the courts, leaving him in French custody. While details about the investigation and charges remain limited, authorities continue to work on gathering the evidence needed to move forward with the case. For now, the public must wait for more information as the legal process unfolds, but one thing is clear: justice will take its course, albeit slowly, under the complexities of French legal protections. Source Late Night. SHANNAN, March 26 (Xinhua) -- 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, huddled beneath a moldy blanket in cold winter nights, 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 night just to earn a handful of tsampa," she said. In days devoid of warmth, the death of her parents, who passed away due to illnesses as they couldn't afford medical treatment, is 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. 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) Yudron talks with her grandson at home 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 serves tea to her in Samyai Town of Shannan, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 12, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Granddaughter-in-law of Yudron 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) 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) US approves $1.96 bn drone sale to Qatar Washington, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 The United States on Wednesday approved a $1.96 billion sale of eight MQ-9B drones and related equipment to Qatar, one of Washington's closest allies in the Middle East. "This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress," the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement. The sale "will improve Qatar's capability to meet current and future threats by providing timely intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, target acquisition, counter-land, and counter-surface sea capabilities for its security and defense," DSCA said. "This capability is a deterrent to regional threats and will primarily be used to strengthen its homeland defense," it added. The State Department approved the possible sale and the DSCA on Wednesday provided the required notification to the US Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transaction. Qatar -- a small, gas-rich peninsula which is home to three million people -- has played a key role as a mediator in efforts to bring an end to the devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with a shock attack by the Palestinian militant group in October 2023. Taiwan sentences four soldiers for spying for China Taipei, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Four Taiwanese soldiers, including three from a unit in charge of security for the president's office, have been sentenced to prison for photographing and leaking confidential information to China, a court said. The number of people prosecuted for spying for Beijing has risen sharply in recent years, with retired and serving members of Taiwan's military the main targets of Chinese infiltration efforts, official figures show. It comes after President Lai Ching-te announced this month plans to reinstate military judges to hear Chinese espionage cases and other offences involving Taiwanese service members. Three members of a military unit in charge of security for the Presidential Office, and a soldier in the defence ministry's information and telecommunications command were convicted for violating national security law, the Taipei district court said on Wednesday. "Their acts betrayed the country and endangered national security," the court said in a statement. The four received jail terms ranging from five years and 10 months to seven years for passing "internal military information that should be kept confidential to Chinese intelligence agents for several months", the court said. The crimes took place between 2022 and 2024, the court said, adding that the four had received payments ranging from around NT$260,000 to NT$660,000 ($7,850-$20,000), it said, without specifying what kind of information was leaked. The defendants had worked for "extremely sensitive and important units but violated their duties to accept bribes, and stole secrets by photographing," the statement said. Prosecutors said the soldiers had used their mobile phones to photograph military information. Three of the soldiers were discharged from the military before an investigation was launched in August last year following a tip-off to the defence ministry, and the fourth was suspended. Taiwan's intelligence agency previously reported that 64 people were prosecuted for Chinese espionage in 2024, compared with 48 in 2023, and 10 in 2022. Beijing claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been spying on each other for decades. But analysts have warned that espionage is a bigger problem for Taiwan, which faces the existential threat of a Chinese invasion. Yemen's Huthis say two killed in US strikes Sanaa, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Yemen's Huthi rebels said on Thursday that two people were killed in overnight air strikes near Sanaa that they blamed on the United States. The Huthis' Al-Masirah TV channel reported nearly 20 strikes on Sanaa governorate, both north and south of the capital. "The American aggression killed two and injured two," the Huthi-run health ministry's spokesman Anis al-Asbahi said on social media platform X. Al-Masirah also reported strikes early Thursday in Saada, the Iran-backed rebels' northern stronghold which Huthi media had said was hit 17 times the day before. The United States launched air strikes against the Huthis on March 15, vowing to use overwhelming force until they stopped firing on vessels in the key shipping routes of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Huthis have since reported frequent US air strikes on areas under their control. While the United States does not always report these raids, a US defence official told AFP on Sunday that American forces were "conducting strikes across multiple locations of Iran-backed Huthi locations every day and night in Yemen". In response, the Huthis have claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on a US aircraft carrier off Yemen's coast, as well as projectiles fired at Israel. The Huthis began targeting ships after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. They paused their campaign when a ceasefire took effect in Gaza in January. Myanmar junta celebrates itself with military pageant Naypyidaw, Myanmar, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Myanmar's junta will muster its embattled troops for a show of strength on Armed Forces Day on Thursday after a year of seismic defeats and forcibly conscripting civilians to bolster its ranks. Thousands of soldiers will march before junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw, where a banner over the approach to the parade ground reads: "Only when the military is strong will the country be strong." Special forces guarded the main entrance to the remote, purpose-built capital, where the annual parade has become progressively smaller in the four years of civil war since the military deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government. The junta has lost the key northern town of Lashio -- including a regional military command -- and swaths of the western Rakhine state since the last Armed Forces Day. It has also sought to conscript more than 50,000 people. The civil war pits the junta's forces against both anti-coup guerillas and long-established ethnic minority armed groups. More than 3.5 million people are displaced, half the population live in poverty and one million civilians face World Food Programme aid cuts next month following US President Donald Trump's slashing of Washington's humanitarian budget. At the same time, trade sanctions have isolated Myanmar, making it increasingly dependent on China and Russia for economic and military support. "The military has never been defeated this severely," said Jack Myint, a non-resident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. However, observers agree its grip on the centre is secure for now. "The reality is they still have a superior supply of arms," said Myint, and they "don't have to defeat everyone to maintain control". War monitors say the past year has seen a spike in air strikes by the junta's Russian-made jets. Eleven people, including a doctor, were killed when a clinic in western Myanmar was bombed on Saturday, locals said, one week after a bombardment in the heartlands killed 12 people, according to a local official. - Election promised - The past year has shown how strong a hand Beijing holds in Myanmar, with a willingness to play off the military and its opponents to pursue economic opportunities and stability on its borders, according to analyst Myint. After public concern spiked in China over scam centres in Myanmar, thousands of workers were repatriated at Beijing's demand. "Beijing sees all these smaller players in the sandbox like insolent children not getting along," Myint said. "They whip out the carrot one time, they whip out the stick the next, and hold it together in a manner that best serves their interests." Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin is to attend the parade, Myanmar state media said, along with the Belarusian defence minister. The bespectacled Min Aung Hlaing is expected to preside over Thursday's ceremony in his medal-festooned dress uniform and deliver a speech to the country of more than 50 million. He has promised elections later this year or early 2026 but, with much of the country beyond the government's control, analysts say it would not be a genuinely democratic vote. However, cliques in the junta are pushing for polls to weaken Min Aung Hlaing's position amid discord over his handling of the conflict, according to one US-based Myanmar analyst speaking on condition of anonymity. Min Aung Hlaing serves as both acting president and commander-in-chief but he would have to relinquish one of those roles to hold an election. "Min Aung Hlaing does not want to hold the election," the analyst said. "But generals close to him have warned that the situation is getting worse." Hamas says spokesman killed in Israeli strike on Gaza Gaza City, Palestinian Territories, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Hamas said an Israeli air strike killed one of its official spokesmen in Gaza on Thursday, the latest high-ranking operative targeted since Israel resumed its bombardment. The group said in a statement it mourned the loss of Abdul Latif al-Qanou who was killed in what it called a "direct" strike on a tent he was in, in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza. A fragile ceasefire that brought weeks of relative calm to Gaza ended on March 18 with Israel resuming its bombing campaign across the territory. According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, at least 855 people have been killed since. Qanou is the latest Hamas official to be killed in recent Israeli strikes. Israel's military said last week it had killed the head of Hamas's internal security agency, Rashid Jahjouh, in an air strike. Days earlier, Hamas had named the head of its government in the Gaza Strip, Essam al-Dalis, and interior ministry head Mahmud Abu Watfa, among a list of officials it said were killed in strikes. The Israeli military confirmed it had killed Dalis, a member of Hamas's political bureau who became the head of its administration in Gaza in June 2021. Hamas has also confirmed the deaths of Salah al-Bardawil and Yasser Harb, both members of its political bureau. "The occupation's targeting of the movement's leaders and spokespersons will not break our will," Hamas said Thursday. UK to ban ninja swords amid knife crime 'crisis' London, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Possessing a ninja sword is to be banned in the UK and carry a penalty of up to six months in jail, the British government said on Thursday, in a bid to curb what it has called a "national" knife crime "crisis". The Home Office said most ninja swords had a blade of between 14 and 24 inches (36 and 61 centimetres), with one straight cutting edge and a tanto style -- or sharply-angled -- tip. From August 1, anyone caught in possession of a ninja sword in private could face six months in prison. That is set to rise to two years under forthcoming legislation. There is already a penalty of up to four years in prison for carrying any weapon in public. The ninja sword ban is the final part of the so-called Ronan's law, a raft of anti-knife crime measures introduced in parliament last month as part of the government's crime and policing bill. The measures include making retailers report bulk or suspicious sales to police and a rise in jail terms to two years for selling weapons to children. The law is named after teenager Ronan Kanda, who was murdered with a ninja sword in 2022 by two other teenagers in a case of mistaken identity. - 'Destroying young lives' - "Knife crime is destroying young lives as too many teenagers are being drawn into violence and it is far too easy for them to get hold of dangerous weapons," Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said. "Ronan Kanda was just 16 when he was ruthlessly killed by two boys only a year older than him. "Today we are introducing the final part of Ronan's law in his memory -- banning the ninja swords that his killers should never have been able to use," she added. The ninja sword move follows a ban on "zombie" type knives and machetes introduced in September 2024. Under that measure, knives with a blade more than eight inches long and those with a serrated cutting edge, which are often used by gangs, were banned. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called knife crime a "national crisis". Ahead of the ninja sword ban there will be a month-long surrender scheme in July, the Home Office said. Knife crime in England and Wales has been steadily rising since 2011, according to official government data. Excluding the northern city of Manchester, in the year ending June 2024, there were 50,973 offences involving a sharp instrument compared to 36,000 in the year ending March 2011 -- a 41-percent increase. Figures for national deaths from stabbings are hard to find. But 10 teenagers died in stabbings in London last year and 18 in 2023, the Metropolitan Police told AFP. Croatia will not take part in Ukraine force: president Zagreb, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Croatian President Zoran Milanovic on Thursday vowed that his country's soldiers would not participate in any deployment of European forces in Ukraine aimed at helping end the over three-year-war. His comments came as France was hosting a summit of European leaders and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to boost Ukrainian security ahead of a potential ceasefire with Russia. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic attended the meeting, which is seeking to set out what security guarantees Europe can offer, including the possible deployment of military forces by a so-called "coalition of the willing". "A Croatian soldier will not go to Ukraine under any arrangement, that is completely out of the question," Milanovic, who won a second term by a landslide in January, said on Facebook. "The Croatian Army will not go on a mission, and one of the reasons is that this mission will never happen, with or without Croatia, because the elementary conditions for this mission have not been met -- a peace agreement and the consent of the other party, which is unfortunately Russia," he added. Milanovic has been a frequent critic of the military aid and Croatia's plans to help train Ukrainian troops. As a NATO and EU member, Croatia has donated hundreds of millions of euros in aid to help Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, including military helicopters. Despite having limited powers, the president serves as the supreme commander of Croatia's armed forces and has a say in its foreign policy. Milanovic's political opponents have frequently accused him of holding "pro-Russian" views and undermining Croatia's credibility in NATO and the EU. But Milanovic, the most popular politician in the country of 3.8 million people according to surveys, repeatedly argued that his main task was protecting Croatia's interests. Yemen Huthis say launched missiles at Israel, US warship Sanaa, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 The Iran-backed Huthis said Thursday they targeted an Israeli airport and army site as well as a US warship, soon after Israel reported intercepting missiles launched from Yemen. The Huthis "targeted Ben Gurion airport... with a ballistic missile... and a military target" south of Tel Aviv, their military spokesman Yahya Saree said. Earlier Thursday, the Israeli military said it intercepted two missiles launched from Yemen "prior to crossing into Israeli territory" after it activated air raid sirens across multiple areas, including Jerusalem. Saree said the rebels also "targeted hostile warships in the Red Sea, including the American aircraft carrier (USS Harry S) Truman," which he said was "in retaliation to the ongoing US aggression against our country". The United States launched what its Central Command called a "large scale operation" involving air strikes against the Huthis on March 15. Washington vowed to use overwhelming force until they stopped firing on vessels in the key shipping routes of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the rebels threatened to resume attacks over the Gaza war. The Huthis have since reported near-daily US air strikes on areas under their control. - Rebels say 2 killed - Earlier Thursday, the rebels said two people had been killed in overnight air strikes near the rebel-controlled capital Sanaa that they blamed on the United States. The Huthis' Al-Masirah TV channel reported nearly 20 strikes on Sanaa governorate, both north and south of the capital. "The American aggression killed two and injured two," the Huthi-run health ministry's spokesman Anis al-Asbahi said on social media platform X. Al-Masirah also reported strikes early Thursday in Saada, the Iran-backed rebels' northern stronghold which Huthi media had said was hit 17 times the day before. While the United States does not always report these raids, a United States defence official told AFP on Sunday that American forces were "conducting strikes across multiple locations of Iran-backed Huthi locations every day and night in Yemen". The latest strikes claimed by the Huthis come with Washington embroiled in scandal linked to the March 15 strikes. The Atlantic Magazine published the transcript of messages accidentally shared with its editor in a chat group of senior US officials on Signal, a commercially available messaging app. The magazine on Thursday published details of the March 15 attack plans, which it initially withheld, after the White House insisted no classified details were involved. In response to the US strikes, the Huthis have claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on the Truman carrier group off Yemen's coast, as well as projectiles fired at Israel. The Huthis began targeting shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the start of the Gaza war, claiming solidarity with the Palestinian people, but paused their campaign when a ceasefire in Gaza took effect in January. Earlier this month, they threatened to renew the attacks in the vital maritime trade route over Israel's aid blockade on the Palestinian territory, triggering the first US strikes on Yemen since President Donald Trump took office in January. DRC seeking 'safe exit' for southern African troops Pretoria, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 The Democratic Republic of Congo is working towards a "safe, coordinated" exit of troops deployed by a southern African regional bloc to its volatile east, the foreign minister said Thursday. The 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) this month pulled the plug on the mission after a string of losses and announced a phased withdrawal from the area where the M23 armed group has made major advances. Details of the drawdown have not been made public. "The decision of SADC was totally a legitimate one and we fully respect it," said DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, adding that her government was aware of the "extremely difficult conditions". "We are working towards paving the way for a safe, coordinated exit," Kayikwamba told reporters during a visit to South Africa. South Africa contributed the bulk of the troops to the SADC mission, which also included deployments from Malawi and Tanzania. Defence officials have refused to say how many South African soldiers are in the country but the number has been estimated at more than 1,000. Fourteen South African soldiers were killed in the volatile area in January in the country's biggest loss since the SADC force deployed in December 2023. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said the withdrawal did not amount to giving up on the DRC -- also a SADC member -- as it faces the Rwanda-backed M23. "We have not abandoned the DRC either as South Africa or as SADC," Lamola told reporters. The DRC defence minister was also on a visit to South Africa, seeking to deepen military ties. The conflict in the mineral-rich eastern DRC threatens to draw in neighbouring countries, and southern and eastern African regional blocs have made numerous diplomatic efforts to find a solution. On Monday, the M23 group walked back on a pledge to withdraw from the town of Walikale, the group's furthest advance westward in the DRC since it emerged in 2012. The town is located at the junction of two roads leading to Goma and Bukavu, which the group seized this year after a lightning offensive. DHAKA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- China has emerged as a global leader in renewable energy and worked with Bangladesh for its development and transformation, a Bangladeshi business leader told Xinhua in a recent interview. "The sustainable development is very important to sustainability and all other sectors," Mostafa Al Mahmud, chairman of Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA), said. He said Bangladesh has been focusing on the renewable energy sector. While the country has not yet achieved significant production levels from renewable sources, the government is now making efforts to advance in this area. "Our government has established new objectives, aiming to achieve 40 percent of electricity from renewables by 2041 and 100 percent by 2050. This means we have a plan to achieve a net zero target within 2050," he said. As part of its efforts, he said the government has recently unveiled a tax exemption package for renewable energy projects. "The incentive is aimed at supporting long-term growth and development of renewable energy projects," he said, hoping that this will help them achieve more collaboration with Chinese companies in the near future. With the continued implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh and the government's push for energy structure transformation, in recent years, Chinese companies have invested in and constructed several renewable energy projects in Bangladesh, including the Mymensingh photovoltaic power station and the Cox's Bazar wind farm. Regarding this, Mostafa said, "China has been helping the development of Bangladesh's renewable energy sector in terms of investment and financing, construction, and providing equipment." Most of Bangladeshi businesses in the association are working with Chinese renewable energy equipment, like solar module and every single item of wind farm, he said. "Bangladesh can immensely benefit by learning from remarkable Chinese scientific innovations and developments in renewables," he said, adding China has the experience, capacity and practical knowledge that Bangladesh can utilize to develop this sector. Mostafa said that China's renewable energy investments in Bangladesh are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs, promoting social and economic development. He stressed Bangladesh and China have maintained a strong cooperative relationship for a long time, and this relationship has been further deepened in the field of renewable energy, bringing win-win results for both countries. "I would like to invite Chinese investors to invest in Bangladesh to support the Bangladeshi economy," he said. Lithuania says eyeing 'all scenarios' on missing US soldiers Vilnius, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Lithuania's defence minister said on Thursday that "all scenarios" were being considered regarding the whereabouts of four United States soldiers who went missing during military drills in the Baltic country. Dovile Sakaliene said she could not confirm whether the soldiers, who had been in Lithuania for two months, were inside the vehicle found submerged in a body of water on Wednesday. Lithuanian authorities received a report on Tuesday about the soldiers' disappearance during a military drill on a training ground in the eastern city of Pabrade, which is near the border with Belarus. "All scenarios are still being considered... We can't confirm whether the soldiers are inside the vehicle," Sakaliene told reporters at the scene. "The Americans informed us that they also continued searching throughout the night in the surrounding area, as any scenario is still possible until we see the vehicle." Local and foreign troops, along with helicopters from the air force and the state border guard service, have been deployed to search for the soldiers. Poland's Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Thursday the NATO member was sending "dozens of soldiers with heavy equipment and divers" to help the search. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 US troops stationed on a rotational basis. The US Army said on Wednesday that the M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle operated by the soldiers was "discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area". US Army Europe and Africa's public affairs office added that the soldiers "were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident". Sakaliene said the vehicle weighs several dozen tonnes and is about five metres (16 feet) deep in mud, adding that the location was "a swamp connected to a lake". "In 24 hours, a new road has actually been built so heavy equipment can arrive. The water level has also been lowered enough to begin excavation work," she added. She said the situation was made more difficult by a gas pipeline running through the area, where hundreds of people have been working as part of the search and rescue operation. "It's very hard to say exactly how long this will take," she said. Croatia will not take part in Ukraine force: president Zagreb, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Croatian President Zoran Milanovic on Thursday vowed that his country's soldiers would not participate in any deployment of European forces in Ukraine aimed at helping end the over three-year-war. His comments came as France hosted a summit of European leaders and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to boost Ukrainian security ahead of a potential ceasefire with Russia. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic attended the meeting, which sought to set out what security guarantees Europe can offer, including the possible deployment of military forces by a so-called "coalition of the willing". "A Croatian soldier will not go to Ukraine under any arrangement, that is completely out of the question," Milanovic, who won a second term by a landslide in January, said on Facebook. "The Croatian Army will not go on a mission, and one of the reasons is that this mission will never happen, with or without Croatia, because the elementary conditions for this mission have not been met -- a peace agreement and the consent of the other party, which is unfortunately Russia," he added. Milanovic has been a frequent critic of the military aid and Croatia's plans to help train Ukrainian troops. As a NATO and EU member, Croatia has donated hundreds of millions of euros in aid to help Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion, including military helicopters. Despite having limited powers, the president serves as the supreme commander of Croatia's armed forces and has a say in its foreign policy. Plenkovic told Croatian reporters in Paris that a lot of the summit participants "want to continue helping Ukraine, as Croatia will do, without having the ambition to send their army to Ukrainian territory". He pledged the continuation of Croatia's "strong support to Ukraine". Milanovic's political opponents have frequently accused him of holding "pro-Russian" views and undermining Croatia's credibility in NATO and the EU. But Milanovic, the most popular politician in the country of 3.8 million people according to surveys, repeatedly argued that his main task was protecting Croatia's interests. Myanmar junta chief to make rare trip abroad to Bangkok Naypyidaw, Myanmar, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Myanmar's junta chief will attend a regional summit in Bangkok next week, a spokesman said Thursday, a rare foreign trip outside close allies Russia and China, as he struggles to tame a spiralling civil war. Min Aung Hlaing will travel to the Thai capital for a gathering of leaders of South Asian countries plus Myanmar and Thailand, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told reporters, saying the visit offered "potential for peace". Since seizing power in a February 2021 coup, he has mostly only travelled to his government's main arms supplier Russia, and its main economic partner and political backer China. The surprise announcement came after Min Aung Hlaing insisted that a planned election will go ahead despite the conflict, in a speech to thousands of soldiers and dignitaries at the annual Armed Forces Day parade. "He will attend. We are also trying to meet with leaders of BIMSTEC members countries separately," junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told journalists in the capital Naypyidaw. "We expect to get potential development for Myanmar, potential for peace, potential for our economic development through this meeting." He also said that Aung San Suu Kyi, whose civilian government was ousted in the 2021 coup, was in "good health". She is serving a long prison sentence on various criminal charges her supporters say were cooked up to keep her out of politics. Leaders from the seven BIMSTEC countries -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand -- are to meet for talks in Bangkok on Friday next week. The event will mark a diplomatic breakthrough for the junta, which has seen its leaders and ministers shunned from meetings of the main Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc in the wake of the coup. ASEAN has led diplomatic efforts to end the Myanmar crisis, so far to no avail. - December poll plan - In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing condemned the array of armed groups fighting his rule as "terrorist insurgents" driven by "warlordism", after a year of seismic battlefield defeats. Russian-made jets roared overhead and troops paraded though high-security Naypyidaw for the event, which has become progressively smaller in the four years of civil war since the military deposed Suu Kyi's civilian government. Min Aung Hlaing said the authorities were sticking to a plan announced earlier this month that a long-promised election would go ahead -- despite much of the country being outside junta control. The authorities are "making provisions to hold the general election this coming December", he said. The junta has lost the key northern town of Lashio -- including a regional military command -- and swathes of the western Rakhine state since the last Armed Forces Day. It has also sought to conscript more than 50,000 people. The civil war pits the junta's forces against both anti-coup guerillas and long-established ethnic minority armed groups. - Increasing air strikes - More than 3.5 million people are displaced by the conflict, half the population live in poverty and one million civilians face World Food Programme aid cuts next month following US President Donald Trump's slashing of Washington's humanitarian budget. At the same time, trade sanctions have isolated Myanmar, making it increasingly dependent on China and Russia for economic and military support. "The military has never been defeated this severely," said Jack Myint, a non-resident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. However, observers agree its grip on the centre is secure for now. "The reality is they still have a superior supply of arms," said Myint, and they "don't have to defeat everyone to maintain control". - Beijing's influence - The past year has shown how strong a hand Beijing holds in Myanmar, with a willingness to play off the military and its opponents to pursue economic opportunities and stability on its borders, according to analyst Myint. After public concern spiked in China over scam centres in Myanmar, thousands of workers were repatriated at Beijing's demand. Western governments have said no election held under Myanmar's current military government can be free or fair. But cliques in the junta are pushing for polls to weaken Min Aung Hlaing's position amid discord over his handling of the conflict, according to one US-based Myanmar analyst speaking on condition of anonymity. Min Aung Hlaing serves as both acting president and commander-in-chief but he would have to relinquish one of those roles to hold an election. "Min Aung Hlaing does not want to hold the election," the analyst said. "But generals close to him have warned that the situation is getting worse." Infantry centre stage at Myanmar military parade Naypyidaw, Myanmar, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Beneath three towering golden statues of ancient Burmese warrior kings, the cries of nearly 8,000 soldiers chanting loyalty oaths echoed across the parade ground. Myanmar's military celebrated itself on Armed Forces Day Thursday, gathering phalanxes of troops, some carrying flags, others assault rifles, many of them women, for a night-time parade and show of strength. As they marched through the streets of Naypyidaw -- a sprawling, purpose-built city with highways up to 20 lanes wide, incongruously lined with paddy fields farmers till with ox-drawn ploughs -- loyal citizens draped them in necklaces of flowers. But the armoured vehicles and artillery pieces of previous displays were absent, with the only cavalry unit a troop of horsemen who escorted junta chief Min Aung Hlaing's limousine to the podium. Myanmar was in "not a normal situation", said 1988 student protest leader Ko Ko Gyi, who spent 17 years in prison and is now leader of the opposition People's Party, which has said it will take part in elections the junta has promised for later this year. "This is a long journey," he told AFP. "From the military perspective, political perspective, economic perspective and social perspective, multi-perspective, we need to draw the blueprint for our future," he said, adding it could take 20 or 30 years to achieve. The military has been fighting a civil war on multiple fronts since it seized power four years ago. It is opposed by both ethnic armed organisations, many of which have been fighting for decades, and anti-coup guerrillas known as People's Defence Forces (PDFs). Among the flags lining the approach to the parade ground was the yellow sun on a red background of the northeastern military command in Lashio -- captured by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, an ethnic Chinese rebel group, last August in the military's biggest defeat for decades. The Arakan Army has reportedly seized as many as 15 of the 17 districts in the western state of Rakhine. Ahead of the event, a soldier with a metal detector scanned the flowerbeds by the rostrum for devices, and Buddhist sutras to ward off evil played over the speakers. - 'Spirit of martyrdom' - Myanmar's military has not acknowledged its casualty figures for more than two years. But as he addressed his gathered forces, Min Aung Hlaing lauded those who have fallen on the field of battle. "The sacrifice of one's life and body for the nation," he said, embodied "the spirit of martyrdom, a virtue held only by those of extraordinary courage and profound dedication." Since the last Armed Forces Day the military has implemented conscription to bolster its ranks, in what Min Aung Hlaing described as a move to "enable eligible citizens to fulfil their national defence duties". Eleven batches of "about 5,000" each had been recruited, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told a scrum of reporters, and a 12th was in process. None were taking part in the parade, he added, and the military has never stated exactly what has happened to them. Their training had given them "a sense of uniformity in identity, views, beliefs and values", Min Aung Hlaing proclaimed, calling them "dutiful and conscientious citizens". But the threat of being sent to the front lines weighs heavy on young men and their families in Myanmar. "I am worried about conscription but I have no choice if it is my turn," said a waiter in his 20s at a restaurant in Naypyidaw. The owner forbids his staff from leaving at night for fear they will be press-ganged into service. And a driver from Yangon was more forthright, declaring: "If I am summoned I will run away." 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 Sweeney confirms the engagement while hosting Saturday Night Live, where she addresses the crazy rumours about her having an affair with Powell. Thats obviously not true, she bantered. Me and my fiance produced the movie together and he was there the entire shoot. I want everyone to know that hes the man of my dreams and were still together and stronger than ever. Islands come in all shapes and sizes in the Med, serving up almost endless variety for travellers in search of the perfect sun-filled holiday. Mangias sophisticated resorts focus on two of the best sublime Sicily and sparkling Sardinia both less than three hours flight from London Gatwick. Tanzania has long been the jewel in Africas crown, and the best place for both first-time and more seasoned safari goers. As far as conservation goes, its leading by example: the country has 22 national parks, consistently expanding its protected areas and setting an example for other nations. My own trip there took me to two of those: the landmark Serengeti and the quieter Tarangire, a hidden gem thats at its most enchanting off-season. The park is criss-crossed by the eponymous river a chasm of sorts and home to the Big Five, as well as hundreds of species of birds and smaller mammals, usually deemed unworthy of our nature documentaries but just as captivating to witness. ISTANBUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and three others injured when a fire broke out at a ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkiye on Thursday, local authorities said. The tragedy occurred in the Uludag ski resort in Bursa province, Bursa Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said in a live broadcast on NTV. Preliminary reports indicated that four people were inside the hotel during the fire. One of them was killed, and three others, reportedly a ski instructor, his wife and their son, were affected by the thick smoke and later taken to hospital in an unconscious state, said the mayor. The hotel had been closed and previously evacuated due to the expiration of its accommodation certificate, which had not been renewed. The fire has been brought under control, and an investigation has been launched, according to NTV. This incident followed a major hotel fire in January at Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province, which killed 78 people and injured over 50. Since then, authorities have intensified inspections of hotels nationwide. I was excited for what Twana was going to do with his life, because he was such a motivated and energetic young person, I felt protective over him as his older brother, and I wanted him to have the best life possible, he told the inquiry. As a result, the reputation of honest business-owners is being seriously tarnished, causing huge frustration for legitimate barbers across the capital. High-profile court cases and headlines about criminals in barbers have left many in London frustrated and concerned that their trade is being given a bad name by some who are trying it on. Salih Kara, who has been a barber in Shoreditch for 15 years, is fed up with the bad apples within the barbering world. These kinds of people put a bad name on barbering money laundering, doing bad things, selling drugs. Sir Keir will say: Unlike President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, Putin has shown hes not a serious player in these peace talks. Playing games with the agreed naval ceasefire in the Black Sea despite good faith participation from all sides all while continuing to inflict devastating attacks on the Ukrainian people. His promises are hollow. On Thursday, Mr Zelensky also warned that Russia was preparing new offensives against the Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, while dragging out the talks and trying to get the US stuck in endless, pointless discussions about fake conditions just to buy time and then try to grab more land. Ms Powell replied: I know of his long history with the Hillsborough disaster. In fact, I understand (Mr Twigg) was there himself on that day, and like him and all of those families who are affected, they want to see justice, and they want to see the Hillsborough law coming into effect. But what I wanted to ask him to clarify for the purpose of the record, is it not the case that many Unionist elected representatives, some of them in this chamber, encouraged their voters and their supporters to vote for Brexit in June 2016, did they not? His comments were echoed by Mr Zelensky, who said: I think that Keir almost said all the outcomes which are very important for us, no lifting any kind of sanctions until Russia will stop this war. And I think more pressure on it, more packages of sanctions. VIENTIANE, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The eighth Lao-Thai Joint Committee Meeting on the Police Cooperation kicked off in Lao capital Vientiane, focusing on enhancing police collaboration, particularly in preventing and combating transnational crimes. The meeting on Thursday provided a platform for delegations from Laos and Thailand to discuss, exchange opinions, and share lessons learned in preventing and combating crime, according to the Lao Security News report on Thursday. The discussions focused on addressing transnational crimes, including drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking, illegal wildlife trade, and cybercrime. Both delegations agreed to strengthen cooperation through existing mechanisms like the Border Liaison Offices and diplomatic missions to ensure timely and coordinated crime prevention efforts. The meeting also highlighted the importance of this partnership in fostering strong relations and achieving greater success in combating crime. Additionally, both sides signed the minutes of the eighth Joint Committee on Police Cooperation, solidifying their commitment to strengthened collaboration in safeguarding regional security. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the opening ceremony of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said on Thursday that China is willing to work with other countries to explore new models of mutually beneficial and win-win sci-tech cooperation to drive the development of new quality productive forces amid the deepening new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation. Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference in Beijing. China has been implementing an innovation-driven development strategy in depth, achieving fruitful results in the integration of sci-tech and industrial innovation while continuously strengthening the momentum of new industrialization and steadily developing new quality productive forces, Zhang noted. He expressed China's willingness to work with other countries to explore new models of mutually beneficial and win-win global sci-tech cooperation. The vice premier also called for joint efforts to leverage sci-tech innovation to lead the development of new quality productive forces, address global challenges such as climate change, and promote mutual benefit and win-win cooperation among nations. The 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference is themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation." Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits an exhibition before attending the opening ceremony of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) A drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducting a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) CHANGSHA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The "Land Aircraft Carrier," a flying car developed by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG, completed a public trial flight Thursday in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. The air module of the flying car performed a trans-lake flight. Flying to a height of 40 meters, it landed at the original location safely after circling over Liuye Lake, a scenic spot in Changde. "This flying car can be used for both sightseeing and rescue purposes," said Zhao Deli, founder of XPENG's flying car affiliate Huitian. This flying car consists of a ground module and an air module. The ground module is an electric vehicle while the air module is known as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL). Last year, a test flight was carried out in Lujiazui, Shanghai. The product has received nearly 5,000 orders. The ground module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT is pictured at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) The air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducts a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Visitors watch the air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) An aerial drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows XPENG's flying car AEROHT at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) The air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducts a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A visitor takes photos of the ground module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducting a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) An aerial drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows XPENG's flying car AEROHT at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducting a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A damaged police vehicle is seen at the blast site in southwest Pakistan's Quetta on March 27, 2025. At least two people were killed and 21 others, including several policemen, were injured in a bomb attack on a police vehicle in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Thursday, the police and health officials said. The incident happened in the provincial capital of Quetta, and several of the wounded people are in critical condition, Waseem Baig, media coordinator of the provincial health ministry, told Xinhua. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, March 27 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and 21 others, including several policemen, were injured in a bomb attack on a police vehicle in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Thursday, the police and health officials said. The incident happened in the provincial capital of Quetta, and several of the wounded people are in critical condition, Waseem Baig, media coordinator of the provincial health ministry, told Xinhua. The explosion occurred when an improvised explosive device exploded near the vehicle of the police personnel conducting routine patrols in a busy market area, the police said. Following the blast, the police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in the surrounding area to arrest the culprits. No group has claimed the attack yet. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the terrorist attack, expressing his deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives. People transfer an injured man to a hospital in southwest Pakistan's Quetta on March 27, 2025. At least two people were killed and 21 others, including several policemen, were injured in a bomb attack on a police vehicle in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Thursday, the police and health officials said. The incident happened in the provincial capital of Quetta, and several of the wounded people are in critical condition, Waseem Baig, media coordinator of the provincial health ministry, told Xinhua. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Acting President Ilie Bolojan was received on Thursday by French President Emmanuel Macron at he Elysee Palace, where the meeting of heads of state and government of the "Coalition of the willing" on security in Ukraine is taking place. The meeting is seeking to set out what security guarantees Europe can offer Ukraine once a cease-fire deal is agreed, dpa, EFE and Reuters report. Convened by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, the meeting will be attended by leaders from 27 European countries, including British and German Prime Ministers, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and representatives from Canada and Australia.Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also be present. Speaking on Thursday in Paris at the end of the "Coalition of the Willing" summit on Ukraine security, acting President Ilie Bolojan declared that Romania will participate in the working group tasked with monitoring the freshly brokered 30-day Ukraine ceasefire agreement. "The participating countries agreed to continue supporting Ukraine and strengthening the Eastern flank. As concerns the monitoring of the agreed 30-day ceasefire, a working group will be set up, which will cooperate on monitoring observance of the agreement. In this regard, because the agreement refers to the Black Sea, an area of strategic importance for Romania, because we have major investments there, because a considerable part of our exports are sent out by sea, because the Port of Constanta is the most important port on the Black Sea, Romania will participate in this working group both with its infrastructure and through collaboration with Turkey and Bulgaria on the mine clearance part. We will collaborate so that this agreement is respected, because a safe Black Sea, which guarantees secure navigation for all ships, is a good thing for trade and for development in this area," said Bolojan. The government has allocated "a lot of money" in recent years so that many research institutes have top infrastructures, Education and Research Minister Daniel David said on Thursday, urging Romanian researchers to carry out projects to attract EU funding following competitions, in which they should be leaders. "I have a message for very competitive researchers, for the institutes we have. (...) I have seen that in recent years the Government has invested a lot of money in Research-Development-Innovation infrastructure so that in many units, institutes, universities we have top infrastructures. My message is this: use the top infrastructures to attract money, at least our money that exists at European level from research projects in which I expect us to be partners, but where we have top infrastructures, in which we have invested a lot of money, we should start to be leaders at project level. (...) The government has done what it was supposed to do in recent years, certainly with the help of the Cohesion Funds, with the help of the PNRR [the National recovery and Resilience Plan], but it is time to make this leap if we have these exceptional facilities. Let us start attracting money from the European level, too, through a competition organized by the Commission," the Education minister told a press conference. He specified that following a decision he made on Wednesday, research projects that were on the waiting lists will be funded, adding that this "is a good message for researchers,". Eastern flank voices need to be heard and their opinion must be taken into account when talking about Ukraine, Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu said on Thursday in a press statement delivered together with his Polish counterpart Radoslaw Sikorski, who is on a visit to Bucharest. In these troubled times, our collaboration with Romania is becoming increasingly important, Sikorski said, adding that a plan was agreed for intergovernmental consultations in the second half of this year. The Romanian top diplomat affirmed "the staunch support" for advancing the European path of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.Poland and Romania are close allies and partners. We have a similar way of looking at the main challenges, as well as a similar assessment of the situation on the eastern borders of the European Union and NATO. We consider setting a date for intergovernmental consultations in the second half of this year, in Poland, after the end of the Polish presidency [of the EU Council], the Polish chief diplomat said, according to the official translation.He welcomed Romania's full entry to the Schengen, describing it as a "success" of the entire European Union, and also referenced Poland's support during this process. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), said on Wednesday that the proposal to ban TikTok in the presidential election campaign is "nonsense" and that the Romanian state is now able to face a challenge similar to the November 2024 elections related to social networking sites. Ciolacu was asked, on private broadcaster Antena 3, whether he agrees with the proposal of the Save Romania Union (USR) leader and the party's presidential candidate, Elena Lasconi, that TikTok be banned in the election campaign as there would be no guarantees that the irregularities that occurred in the November 2024 elections could take place again in May. "Nonsense [banning TikTok in the campaign - editor's note]. You have to adapt first of all politically to them and the Romanian state should truly do its duty. (...) Things have settled down in the meantime. All candidates were somehow excluded from a certain algorithm, except for one, Calin Georgescu. Apart from him, all the candidates, in November, had that X crossed and you could not influence more. One candidate didn't. That moment has passed. In the meantime, the state institutions have created their software and have the capacity to manage things," the prime minister said. He mentioned that he is firmly convinced that at this moment the Romanian state is ready to face a challenge similar to that of the presidential elections of November 2024 related to social networks. "You should not right an injustice by doing another injustice. These are basic things. You can't ban TikTok because someone found the context, with help, to use that tool. You have to find ways so that that tool can remain in a democratic area and in which another state does not have the ability to intervene. I repeat, I think that moment is over," said Marcel Ciolacu. The USR leader Elena Lasconi said on Sunday in Slatina that a decision could be made to close the Tik-Tok network before the presidential elections, "as long as there is a risk of state and non-state influence". "If they are not able to assure us of that, I think it would be very good to close it at least before the presidential elections by a week or two and then remove the ban. Why am I saying this? Because incompetence brought us to the point where the Constitutional Court had to make this decision to annul the elections, to recount and to remove a candidate from the race. It is not normal for that to happen. (...) I am in favor of freedom of expression and democracy, but as long as there is a risk of state and non-state influence, as we have been told, I believe that we could make such a decision," Elena Lasconi told a press conference. The ruling coalition's presidential candidate Crin Antonescu declared on Thursday in Calarasi that there is a "gap" in the official communication with the U.S. and the functional circuits of this relationship must be promptly restored. Speaking at a press conference, Antonescu said that one of the first measures he will take if elected president will be to restore "the functional circuits" in the relationship with the U.S., stressing the urgency of this move, "because not by our fault, but due to an unfortunate conjuncture and especially because of the changes in the United States, of the let's say revolutionary character of the changes in the U.S. administration, we currently experience an insufficient communication, an insufficiently functional communication," said the presidential hopeful backed by PSD, PNL, UDMR and the minority group. Asked about the relationship with Russia, Antonescu voiced his hope that relations with this country will someday normalize. Updating trade cooperation agreements and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Romanian and Albanian Ministers of Agriculture were the highlights on the agenda of a bilateral meeting on agriculture this Thursday between Undersecretary of State with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) Mihael Leonov and a delegation from Albania led by Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Megi Fino. Albanian ambassador in Bucharest Enkeleda Merkuri also attended. The meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on agriculture tackled topics of shared interest such as expanding collaboration, the legal framework of the partnership and the technical assistance offered by Romania in the context of Albania's EU accession negotiations, a top priority for this state at this time, the Agriculture Ministry said in a release. In his turn, Undersecretary of State Mihael Leonov emphasized Romania's constant support for Albania's European path, expressing his and the MADR's openness to developing programs for the exchange of best practices and field visits, as well as providing technical expertise at institutional level for Albania's specific needs, such as the harmonization and adjustment of national legislation to European law. BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The National Natural Science Foundation of China released the country's top 10 scientific advances of 2024 during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) Annual Conference in Beijing on Thursday. The advances were mainly achieved in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy, information science, chemistry, materials science, energy, earth and environmental science, and life and medical science. The list includes the Chang'e-6 mission's returned samples, which revealed volcanic activity on the far side of the moon dating back 2.8 billion years, the realization of intelligent reasoning and training using large-scale photonic computing chips, and the discovery of key evidence that supermassive black holes affect the formation and evolution of their host galaxies. The annual selection of China's top 10 scientific advances began in 2005, said Dou Xiankang, director of the foundation. This year's top 10 advancements were chosen from over 700 groundbreaking basic research achievements. The 2025 ZGC Forum runs from March 27 to 31, focusing on cutting-edge fields from large AI models to quantum technology. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu met on Thursday at the Victoria Palace of Government with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, with the sides underscoring during talks the two states' strong cooperation within the EU and their joint interests, particularly as far as the security of NATO's eastern flank is concerned. "Talks with Polish FM Sikorski emphasized strong cooperation within the EU & shared interests, especially on NATO's eastern flank security. We strengthen our partnership & support the goal of the Polish EU presidency of a stronger EU," Marcel Ciolacu wrote in a post on the government's X page. Interim President Ilie Bolojan sent a message on Thursday to the Annual General Meeting of the members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania (AmCham) in which he pointed out that Romania has accumulated significant deficits and that they need to be corrected in the coming years by reducing budget expenditures, collecting revenues to the state budget, combating tax evasion and accessing European funds to ensure investments and development. "In terms of internal economic stability, it is a period in which we have accumulated significant deficits as a country and we need to correct them in the coming years by reducing budget expenditures, by collecting revenues to the state budget, by combating tax evasion, by accessing European funds to ensure investments and development. A government does not change a country, but it creates conditions for the companies in that country, for the people in that country to change things. And I hope that we will do everything possible to create a good context, so that you, the investors, have the best possible conditions for investments and good business in Romania in the coming years," Bolojan said, according to the Presidential Administration."Membership in NATO and the Strategic Partnership with the United States of America meant safety, they meant security, and membership in the European Union meant access to European markets, technology transfer and access to European funds that have changed the face of our country in many places. These directions are convergent and we will continue to support them", declared Bolojan. ST. LOUIS When the Old Courthouse reopens on May 3, its exhibition galleries will have a new emphasis. Officials on a media tour in March said one of the historic buildings four first-floor galleries will now focus on how the infamous Dred Scott case was a product of its time and how it still resonates today. The other galleries will be about slavery and the post-slavery lives of Blacks in St. Louis, the architectural features of the building itself and the role of courts in society. See You in Court, the exhibit devoted to the role of courts, includes one of the two courtrooms in the building that are often used by schools to hold mock trials, said Pam Sanfilippo, program manager of museum services and interpretation at Gateway Arch National Park. The courthouse is part of Gateway Arch National Park. The building has been closed since the COVID pandemic began in 2020. Renovations began the next year. Along with the new exhibit galleries, the renovations include new ceilings and floors, an elevator the buildings first a fire suppression system and a new heating and cooling system. The additions are designed to blend in with the historic structure, said superintendent Jeremy Sweat. One of the simplest changes that is making an enormous difference is the removal of the heavy, thick drapes that used to cover the windows. Natural light now flows into the building, and views have been opened to the Gateway Arch, Kiener Plaza and the bustling city. For a building that is such an integral part of the city and it history, it is now physically and visually connected to the city, said Ryan McClure, executive director of Gateway Arch Park Foundation. The foundation donated $6 million to the renovation. The $3 million for the new exhibits came exclusively from it, McClure said. The courthouse has been an unmistakable part of the downtown St. Louis landscape since construction began on it in 1839. It underwent a series of major renovations and expansions until 1862, and was renovated again in 1972. While it was a courthouse, the building saw many important cases, though none so big as the Dred Scott trial of 1847. Scott, a slave, filed suit for his and his wife, Harriets, freedom, arguing they were entitled to it because they had lived in the free state of Minnesota. The suit was heard in the courthouse, and the judge ruled against them. However, because of procedural issues, the judge allowed them to file suit again. That case was heard in the same courtroom, and this time they won. Their case was appealed up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against them, arguing that slaves were not given the protections of the U.S. Constitution. That decision is widely considered one of the worst in the history of the Supreme Court. Part of Chief Justice Roger B. Taneys infamous decision is quoted in the exhibit: (Blacks) had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold, and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever a profit could be made by it. The building was last used as a courthouse in 1930, and was then used as an art school and a workshop to refurbish toys for needy children. It became part of what is now Gateway Arch National Park in 1940, when the Arch was still in its earliest planning stages, and opened with museum exhibits in 1943. The $27.5 million renovation is the final phase of the $380 million CityArchRiver Project, which also renovated the Gateway Arch grounds, improved the riverfront and modernized Kiener Plaza. The project is the largest in the history of the National Park Service. This article originally published in print on March 27, 2025. Sarah Kendziors latest book departs from the dark, piercing political writing that built her a massive social media following and attracted readers who look to her for prognostic insights. Instead, she and her family take off from their home in University City on a series of epic road trips looking for beauty amid the bleakness of a country facing existential threats. The Last American Road Trip is part memoir, part travelogue and part parenting philosophy. Its an attempt to answer a question her fans most frequently ask: How do you raise children when the political and social climate in America is increasingly dystopian and moving toward authoritarianism (the reasons for which are laid out in her previous books)? I wanted to write about what we are fighting for, Kendzior says. The New York Times bestselling author (They Knew, 2022 and Hiding in Plain Sight, 2020) chronicles in poignant and poetic prose parts of the country that will feel familiar to many Missourians. Her family drives across historic Route 66, stopping at tacky roadside attractions, detouring for historic and bizarre town markers and soaking in the natural beauty they encounter. Their adventures in Missouris caves, Indianas dunes, Californias deserts may provoke readers to plan their own road trips. Kenzdiors book tour launches in St. Louis with an event on April 1 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre hosted by Left Bank Books. A scholar of authoritarian regimes, she sagely predicted the rise of Trump, the lack of accountability for his crimes and ways in which he would quickly consolidate power and oppress dissent. Given the Trump administrations swift attacks on due process, the courts, immigrants and minorities, voting rights and even the historical record, Kendzior could easily make this tour a victory lap of I told you sos. But Kendzior doesnt take any joy in being right about these worst-case scenarios. She loves America deeply and honestly and mourns the catastrophic damage to its people, ideals and land. She doesnt spare political elites of either party. Traveling with her across the country means taking a road trip punctuated with historical context that helps the reader understand what these places used to be and why theyve become what they are. When Kendzior sensed her fears about the country coming true, she felt compelled to show her children, now 14 and 17, the irreplaceable parts of America before they are gone for good either through environmental degradation, political malfeasance or corporate greed. I hope this book makes people want to preserve what we have left in this country, she says. Shes a native of Connecticut but a fierce defender of the people of Missouri and other flyover states those used and discarded by the powerful in both political parties. She knows that she and her family white, middle-class and blond blend easily in the reddest parts of the country. It allows her a freedom to move in ways those in more vulnerable communities cannot. It also gives her the opportunity to hear the frustration, disillusionment and anger from people who vote differently than her. The book avoids veering into a screed against one party or person. It holds a mirror up to lies and corruption across the political spectrum and throughout Americas brutal history. This is the cruelest time Ive ever seen in my life, she says. Political leaders outright discourage their followers from having empathy. Throughout her familys travels, she seeks to do the opposite shes teaching her children to develop greater empathy and understanding of others. She admits that she didnt have it in her to write another Sarah Kendzior book while she was grieving hew own personal losses and the demise of American democracy. She wanted to write something that allowed her to process what she was feeling and document what she was seeing, while also giving an opportunity to escape the daily political outrages. The book explores how she reconciles competing emotions loving ones country while acknowledging its flaws, fostering hope for your childrens future while seeing the imminent dangers ahead. Ultimately, she answers the questions of how to raise children despite knowing what she knows with honesty, a sense of adventure and hope. Her intimate conversations, profound reflections and amusing anecdotes show readers how to parent through political turmoil. Moreover, she gives them a road map. If you go What: Sarah Kendzior, journalist and author of "The Last American Road Trip" Where: Hi-Pointe Theatre, 1005 McCausland Avenue When: 7 p.m. April 1 How much: Free, registration required EAST ST. LOUIS A 17-year-old boy from Fairview Heights was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a man here, Illinois State Police said. Police said the victim, Cicero C. Maple, 41, of East St. Louis, was shot multiple times while standing at a bus stop late Sunday night. The incident took place in the 2500 block of Bond Avenue. Authorities previously had said the victim's last known address was in Cahokia Heights. The teen, whose name was not released, was being held Wednesday at the St. Clair County Juvenile Detention Center. ST. LOUIS The mother of a 15-year-old killed in a school shooting has dismissed her case against St. Louis Public Schools after agreeing to an undisclosed settlement. Alexzandria Bell was shot and killed by a former student at Central Visual Performing Arts High School on Oct. 24, 2022. Her mother, Keisha Acres, asked a judge Tuesday to approve the districts pre-lawsuit settlement offer, according to St. Louis County Circuit Court filings. The school district denies liability in Alexzandrias death but made the settlement offer before Acres filed a wrongful death lawsuit. One-third of the proposed settlement amount, which is redacted in court records, will go to Acres lawyers with the Fierberg National Law Group in Michigan and Cofman Townsley in Clayton. The remainder of the funds are allocated to Acres, who had full custody of her daughter. Alexzandrias father, Anthony Greer, applied to terminate his parental rights less than one month before the shooting, court records show. Orlando Harris, 19, shot seven people at the school and killed two including health teacher Jean Kuczka before being gunned down by police. Court records show Kuczkas family members have not taken legal action against SLPS. Last October, police released a final report about the shooting. The 432-page document compiled dozens of interviews with officers, teachers, students and families about that morning at Central High, which shares a campus with Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience near Tower Grove Park. Two months before the shooting, Harris told a Washington University psychiatrist that he had thought about shooting people at Central, where he graduated in 2021. (Harris) told her that the thought lasted one evening and then went away, police wrote in interview notes. No planning. Didnt want to do it and hadnt thought about doing it since that evening. But investigators also found a 60-day countdown to the shooting in a pink spiral notebook used by Harris. A southwest Missouri man is facing several charges after officials say he illegally killed a black bear late last year. In January, a Missouri Department of Conservation officer received a text message containing a photo of a man, later identified as Jimmy Lee, posing with a large, dead black bear, according to a probable cause statement. According to the statement, Lee admitted that he had been trespassing and deer hunting on Dec. 1, 2024, with another person in Jasper County in southwest Missouri. Lee watched a bear walk toward him through the scope of a .30-06 deer rifle, and he shot it in the head, killing it. Lee, a convicted felon, didn't notify the conservation department because he "wasn't supposed to be around guns," the statement reads. He left the bear, later returning at night to snap a photo of himself with the dead bear and sharing it with at least three people. Lee, of Reeds, Missouri, faces a felony charge of unlawful possession of a firearm and three misdemeanors. One of the misdemeanors charges Lee of killing the bear in violation of conservation department rules. Another accuses him of knowingly possessing an eight-point deer head and a nine-point deer head in a manner not permitted by conservation department rules. The third misdemeanor charges Lee with hunting on private land without the owner's permission. Black bear hunting season in Missouri is generally in October. ST. LOUIS A man who forced his way into a home here and attacked a man and woman was stabbed and killed with his own knife, police said. The man and woman were also injured, police said. Police said the intruder, 53, was found dead in a back yard of a home in the 5100 block of Maple Avenue in the city's Academy neighborhood. About 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, he had forced his way into the home and attacked a man and woman with a knife, police said. The man being attacked was able to gain control of the knife, police said. He then stabbed the intruder. The injured man and woman were stable and being treated at a hospital, police said. Authorities have not released the name of the dead man. A St. Louis man was sentenced Wednesday in federal district court in Benton, Illinois, to 145 months in prison for his role as the ringleader of a massive scheme to buy cars with fraudulent checks, quickly resell the cars and steal the identities of the victims. Valentino Colic, 34, pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of interstate transportation of property taken by fraud and six counts of aggravated identity theft. A government sentencing memorandum claims Colic was the ringleader of a scheme that involved more than 100 victims across eight states. The indictment also named co-conspirators Alen Saric, 36, Almir Palic, 25, and Emad Hasanbegovic, 34, all of St. Louis. Colic and his co-conspirators used fraudulent cashiers checks to buy vehicles from private owners. The checks were printed on security enhanced check paper with the names and logos of real banks but with nonexistent or incorrect account and routing numbers, the sentencing memo reads. Victims attempted to cash 55 fraudulent checks from November 2018 to August 2023 for a total of $1.7 million. This represents the absolute lower bound of the conspiracys intended loss, the government sentencing memorandum reads. The men used false names, usually that of prior victims, to buy vehicles via Craigslist or Facebook. They would ask the sellers for photos of their drivers licenses as part of the paperwork to complete the sale, leaving the buyer portion blank. That allowed them to pose as an agent of the original seller when they quickly resold the vehicle, usually on Facebook, before the check bounced. The men even set up a fake call number for Commerce Bank complete with menu options, directing victims to call this number. A female co-conspirator handled calls. A car dealership called EliteMotors.Stl played a critical role in the conspiracy, the sentencing memorandum reads. Colic and his spouse opened the dealership and put it in her name, and the dealership was often used to pursue the fraud scheme. The dealership shut down and was liquidated before charges were brought. One victim who provided a copy of his drivers license had been accused of stealing vehicles multiple times and was even briefly charged with odometer fraud after his identity was used to further the scheme. Saric pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of interstate transportation of property taken by fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He is to be sentenced in May. Palic was sentenced to 51 months, and Hasanbegovic is facing one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of identity theft. Criminals are skilled at creating fake checks to look real and defraud victims, so its critical for the public to authenticate checks from people not personally known to them by confirming with the issuing bank or waiting until checks are accepted into their bank account before transferring property or otherwise sending funds, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said in a statement. * Amid the tranquility of the coastal town of Boao, the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference opened with a timely theme: "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future." * The conference was more than just an event for Asia. * It served as a reminder that, amid global turbulence, platforms for dialogue and trust-building still exist and still matter. BOAO, Hainan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- As crises flare across global hotspots -- from geopolitical conflicts to rising protectionism -- a strikingly different scene unfolded in the coastal town of Boao in southern Chinese province of Hainan. Amid the tranquility of the small town, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference opened with a timely theme: "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future," offering a rare space for cooperation and dialogue in an increasingly fractured world. "Our world is experiencing far greater instability and uncertainty," Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said at the conference's opening ceremony on Thursday morning. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for strengthening mutual trust, enhancing win-win cooperation, promoting economic globalization and safeguarding the free trade system. This photo shows the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) Since Tuesday, when the BFA annual conference began its panels and sub-forums, the world has witnessed a series of escalating crises. U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on all vehicles and auto parts imported into the United States, a move seen as expanding trade protectionism. In the Middle East, Yemen's Houthi group launched fresh attacks on a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Red Sea and "military targets" in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, in East Asia, deadly wildfires engulfed parts of the Republic of Korea (ROK), claiming lives and causing damage. Against this backdrop, Boao became more than just a venue for speeches; it became a space for confronting common challenges. Participants delved into issues that transcend borders, from building an open global economy and accelerating modernization in the Global South to addressing the climate crisis, demographic shifts, and the implications of artificial intelligence (AI). ASIAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION Addressing the opening ceremony, Ding said that significant progress has been made in building an Asian community with a shared future over the past decade. He added that regional economic integration has been strengthened, and Asia's share in the global economy is steadily rising. Highlighting the profound global transformations and the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, BFA Chairman and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the "Asian miracle" as, to a large extent, a product of globalization, free trade, and open regionalism. Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) and former UN secretary-general, speaks at the opening ceremony of the BFA Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Asian economic integration, many speakers noted, is gaining momentum, with regional frameworks like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) serving as a cornerstone for deepening economic ties. The RCEP has emerged as an important anchor for global free trade, said Kuang Xianming, deputy head of the China Institute for Reform and Development, adding that the world's largest free trade agreement keeps opening up regional markets and advancing regional liberalization. The RCEP includes 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its five free trade agreement partners, namely China, Japan, the ROK, Australia, and New Zealand. Signs of growing cooperation were also seen in a recent high-level economic dialogue between China and Japan, which reached 20 consensus points on collaboration in areas such as green development, environmental protection, and elderly care services, among others. Meanwhile, a BFA report identified China and ASEAN as the most appealing economies in Asia. It noted that the inward and outward foreign direct investment dependence of Asian economies on the region itself reached 49.15 percent in 2023, underscoring the region's growing economic interdependence. ANSWERS FOR AN UNCERTAIN WORLD For many participants, the BFA annual conference was more than just an event for Asia. It served as a reminder that, amid global turbulence, platforms for dialogue and trust-building still exist and still matter. The Global South, whose economies contribute 80 percent to world economic growth, took center stage at the meeting. South-South cooperation today is greener, smarter, and more inclusive, said Xiaojun Grace Wang, Trust Fund Director of UN Office for South-South Cooperation, calling on the Global South nations to seize this era's opportunities by enhancing collaboration on digital and data-driven solutions for sustainable development. Climate change and the governance of emerging technologies also dominated conversations. Helena Mcleod, deputy director general and head of the Green Growth Planning & Implementation Division at the Global Green Growth Institute, speaks at a panel discussion themed on "Addressing Climate Change: Issues and Solutions" during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Helena McLeod, deputy director general and head of the Green Growth Planning & Implementation Division at the Global Green Growth Institute, underscored the vital role of legislation in accelerating the global green transition. "The legislative approaches have to be addressed, and that includes the carbon pricing and pollution control policies." On AI, experts have warned of the risks of unregulated development. "If countries fail to anticipate and manage the risks of AI, they may find themselves inadequately prepared when challenges arise," said Zeng Yi, a researcher with the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. China's reform and opening up continue to draw global attention. Since launching the drive in 1978, the country has transformed from an impoverished nation into a market-oriented economic powerhouse, driving high-quality development and creating opportunities shared with the rest of the world. Its GDP grew by 5 percent year on year in 2024, ranking among the world's fastest-growing major economies while continuing to contribute about 30 percent to global economic growth. A panel discussion themed on "AI: How to Strike a Balance between Application and Governance" is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) China's resolve to deepen reform and opening up, Ban noted, has bolstered confidence in inclusive globalization and an open world economy, injected fresh impetus into a strong and balanced global recovery, and created new opportunities for international cooperation. "Opening up is a distinct hallmark of Chinese modernization," Ding said, adding that the country will steadily expand institutional opening up, further improve market access for foreign investors, and expand trials to open sectors such as telecommunications, medical services, and education. "We warmly welcome businesses from all countries to invest and operate in China, participate in the process of Chinese modernization, and share in China's development opportunities," he added. (Reporting by Han Song, Cheng Lu, Zhao Jiasong, Luo Qi, Zheng Jingxia, Zhong Qun, Zhou Huimin, Chen Ziwei, Li Yue, Yan Yujing and Zhao Yeping; video reporters: Liu Yutian, Yang Zhigang, Xu Yang, Zhou Yang, Zhao Yuhe, Guo Liangchuan, Li Duojiang; video editors: Yu Jiaming, Zhu Cong, Roger Lott ) JEFFERSON CITY Accusations that a sexual predator is working in the Missouri Capitol Building with protection from powerful people abruptly ended state Senate debate Wednesday on a bill adding physician assistants and emergency medical personnel to medical providers covered by a peer review process. The Senate had just defeated an amendment to the bill offered by state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance, to make some records from peer review proceedings available for lawsuits alleging deliberate acts against patients. The amendment was needed, he said, to open up records of sexual assaults and other criminal acts. Defeat of the amendment offended Democratic state Sen. Tracy McCreery of Olivette, and she was discussing the defeat with state Sen. Stephen Webber of Columbia when he dropped the accusation. There are sexual predators who work in this building, Webber said. There are powerful people who know who those people are and are protecting them. That is happening right now. Webber said he could not reveal the identity of the person he was accusing nor could he reveal any details of where in the Capitol the person worked or the position of the person who told him of the problem. He had promised the victims confidentiality, he said. McCreery said she, too, was aware of the problem, and understood the desire of the victim to remain anonymous. I am respectful of that as well, McCreery said. But Im also very careful with my group of people. Interviewed after the Senate adjourned, Webber said he could not give any more details. When lawmakers are in session, there are executive branch officials and staff, legislators and staff, lobbyists, contract cleaning crews and representatives of the media working in the Capitol Building. If the victims wanted me to say something, I would, Webber said. If they wanted me to name names, I would. The victims dont want me to, so Im not going to. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Rusty Black, a Republican from Chillicothe, would create new training requirements for ambulance district board members in addition to making emergency medical personnel subject to the peer review process. Schroer said the peer review process, which is completely confidential under state law, is being used to hide sexual mistreatment of patients and the response of employers. They are using this old, archaic statute that was meant for good, and finding that if they put anything into the system they can conceal it, Schroer said after the Senate adjourned for the day. Schroer said he was not aware of the accusations discussed by McCreery and Webber. In her discussion with Webber, McCreery noted that victims of sexual assault had been visiting with lawmakers during the day to advocate for stronger laws. The review process is being used to conceal too much, she said. When this process, this formal peer review process, has been worked and twisted enough that its now being used to hide allegations of sexual assault and sexual abuse, that is wrong, she said. Why are we willing to protect abusers? Webber said he had no answer to that question. That is when he began discussing the problem in the Missouri Capitol. I will say theres certainly people, powerful people in this building, Webber said, who, beyond any doubt, Im not alleging, I know for a fact, of powerful people in this building who are currently protecting sexual predators. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501(c)(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X. JEFFERSON CITY The leader of the Missouri House says he is ready to vote for a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban abortion but allow some exceptions for survivors of rape and incest. House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lees Summit, told reporters Thursday that a proposal sponsored by GOP Rep. Melanie Stinnett of Springfield could be debated on the House floor within the next two weeks. Stinnetts proposal seeks to reinstate the prohibition with an exception for victims of rape or incest who seek an abortion in the first 12 weeks of gestation but who first report the assault to police. The measure also bans medical treatments for transgender youth and would allow abortions during an ectopic pregnancy. Patterson, a physician, said the measure is likely to be altered as it moves through the process, but not in a way that would draw much support from abortion rights advocates. I do expect changes, Patterson said. I expect there will still be more refining of the legislation with a goal of getting something out that our members can vote on. His comments come as Planned Parenthood has begun performing abortions again after Missouri voters overturned a ban on the procedure in November. The speakers position on the measure is a flip-flop from last year, when, during his reelection bid, Patterson said lawmakers should respect the will of the people and not attempt to overturn the November vote. Later, when his speakership was being challenged by the right flank of the party, Patterson said, Theres no amendment thats passed that cant be changed or improved upon. Missouris now-repealed abortion ban went into effect in June 2022, minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In November, however, 51.6% of Missouri voters overturned the ban by codifying in the state constitution the right to reproductive health care, including abortion up until the point of fetal viability. The issue remains entangled in a legal fight after Planned Parenthood sued the state in a bid to remove some of the regulations imposed on abortion providers by the state. Even with Pattersons support, some hardline abortion opponents in both chambers say House Joint Resolution 54 will not produce a strong enough law because it includes exceptions. In the Senate for example, Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, is pushing a competing amendment without the exceptions for rape or incest. Moons proposal defines person in the state constitution as every human being with a unique DNA code regardless of age, including every in utero human child at every stage of biological development from the moment of conception until birth. In the House, Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, sponsored legislation that would criminalize doctors who dont provide life-saving care to infants born during an unsuccessful abortion. Known as the born alive abortion survivors protection act, the measure won approval on a party line vote Thursday and now heads to the Senate for further debate. House Bill 195 also could allow legal action against anyone who assists another person in obtaining a self-managed abortion. Opponents said Missouri already has laws on the books that outlaw murder. JEFFERSON CITY Missouris takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department began Wednesday as Gov. Mike Kehoe signed off on a wide-ranging crime plan in the capital city. The Republican governors signature will usher in a new era of state control for the city police department over a decade after Missouri voters chose to place the city police under local control. The transition to state control opposed by local leaders such as Mayor Tishaura O. Jones goes into immediate effect. The law, House Bill 495, requires the Republican governor to appoint a transition director to oversee the state takeovers implementation. That period will need to end by July 1, 2026, the law says. Kehoe, who made the takeover a priority, didnt name a transition director Wednesday. He said the legislation wont guarantee lower crime in the city of St. Louis. You cant legislate lower crime, Kehoe told reporters. But what you can do is give law enforcement the tools that it takes. He noted a requirement in the bill forcing the city to boost spending on the police department. We believe that a citizens board not a political board makes a big difference, Kehoe said. The legislation says the new Board of Police Commissioners will take over the department during the implementation period. At that point, the law requires the departments assets and debts to be transferred to the new board. The legislation calls for a six-member board. The mayor, who had been in charge of appointing the police chief, will hold one seat while five gubernatorial appointees will make up the rest of the board. The five gubernatorial appointees will require Senate confirmation. One of the gubernatorial appointees will be a nonvoting member of the board and could reside in St. Louis County if he or she owns and pays taxes on land in the city. The other four gubernatorial appointees will have had to reside in the city for at least two years. Kehoe has 90 days to appoint the four citizen commissioners. The legislation requires the state to assume all contractual obligations and other lawful obligations of the municipal police department. Prior to local control, the Missouri attorney generals office represented the police department in legal matters. Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, said Wednesday the city police department would be the attorney generals newest client. Im excited to welcome the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as our new clients ... to offer civil defense for the police officers, Bailey said. You can count on us for consistent, quality, competent representation. Kehoe is scheduled to appear in St. Louis at 10 a.m. Thursday for a ceremonial bill signing at the Hampton Avenue headquarters of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, which supported the legislation. Missourians voted for local control of the city police department in 2012. The department had been under state control dating to the Civil War, when pro-Confederate state officials wanted to contain the pro-Union city police department. Kehoe on Wednesday was joined by representatives of the SLPOA as well as the Ethical Society of Police, a group representing Black city officers, which also supported the plan. Jones in a statement Wednesday called the bill a sham and said Kehoes signature represents nothing but disrespect for every Missouri voter who supported local control. Jones, who faces reelection next month after winning the mayors office in 2021, is the citys first Black woman mayor. During debate, state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D-St. Louis, called the takeover a slap in the face to the city. Individuals want to take over our police department because we have an African American female mayor who currently serves the city of St. Louis, she said. The measure won bipartisan support in the Legislature, though no Black Democrats voted for the bill. Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, previously said the legislation removes political control of the St. Louis Police Department from the mayor and returns it to a citizen board. The men and women in uniform deserve the ability to do their jobs without interference from radical politicians who are soft on crime, he said. Additional measures While the state takeover has garnered the most attention, the 68-page measure signed into law Wednesday was the product of intense negotiations, including with Democrats who ultimately voted against it. The crime bill grew to include Democratic priorities, including establishment of a task force on missing and murdered African American women, limits on how much jails and prisons may charge for phone calls, and a provision allowing for more exonerees to gain restitution from the state. The legislation also seeks to limit shackling of pregnant women in local custody, requires law enforcement training for the St. Louis sheriff, and repeals the Missouri Incarceration Reimbursement Act. The omnibus measure also creates the crime of stunt driving in connection with street takeovers and makes first-degree child endangerment a class B felony if fentanyl is involved. The package also boosts the penalty for first-degree child sex trafficking, allowing for life sentences with the possibility of parole after 30 years instead of after 25 years in current law. In addition, first-degree child sex trafficking would apply when the victim is younger than 14. Currently in Missouri, someone commits first-degree sexual trafficking of a minor if they cause a child younger than 12 to engage in a commercial sex act. Second-degree child sex trafficking will carry a 20-year minimum prison sentence, up from the current minimum of 10 years. JEFFERSON CITY The Republican-controlled Missouri House on Thursday signed off on a school safety package that Democrats argued did not proactively address school shootings. Contingent on state funding, the legislation requires school districts to place bleeding control kits in high-traffic areas, and to install anti-intruder locks for interior rooms, as well as bullet-resistant film on exterior windows. The measure won final approval on Thursday on a 112-20 vote, moving to the Senate for consideration. Eighteen lawmakers voted present. Our students and our teachers deserve to be able to go to school in a safe environment, Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph, during debate Monday on the bill. But an effort by Democrats to address safety by targeting gun sales to teenagers was unsuccessful. Republicans declined Monday to recognize Rep. David Tyson Smith, D-Columbia, who planned to offer an amendment further limiting sales of firearms to teens. It looks like Im not gonna be called on because were afraid to have the conversation, Tyson Smith said. Were afraid to vote on it. He mentioned the 2021 school shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts in St. Louis, in which 19-year-old Orlando Harris took an AR-15 rifle into the school and killed a student, Alexzandria Bell, and teacher, Jean Kuczka. Seven others were injured before Harris was fatally shot by police. His amendment would have banned the sale and purchase of automatic and semi-automatic firearms for teenagers, except for peace officers and members of the U.S. armed forces in their official duties. Lets stop the teenagers from purchasing the weapons, Tyson Smith said. Current Missouri law prohibits merchants from knowingly or recklessly selling firearms to individuals under 18 without parent or guardian consent. In Missouri you can walk in and buy an AR-15 if youre 18 or 19, Tyson Smith said. During debate, Rep. Emily Weber, D-Kansas City, said she supported the underlying school safety bill but said she wished legislators would work on some preventative steps where we dont have to come to this, where we dont have multiple school shootings. I feel that this bill is a reactive stance to what is going on in our society, she said. Following adjournment Thursday, House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lees Summit, defended the legislation. Theres a lot of things that are proactive about it, Patterson said, referencing the new locking mechanism and training requirements. On Smiths amendment, Patterson said, Everybody has amendments; not everybody can have their amendments offered. I dont think were afraid to debate out there, he added. The legislation also requires cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intruder training for school employees. Districts will also need to have comprehensive emergency operations plans and cardiac emergency response plans. In addition to the school safety measures, legislators also attached a provision that will require districts to bar use of cellphones during instructional time starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The House on Thursday also voted for a new Second Amendment Preservation Act, which seeks to bar local and state law enforcement from enforcing federal firearms laws. A federal appeals court in August 2024 blocked a similar law originally signed in 2021. The legislation is House Bill 416. ST. LOUIS A longtime employee in Comptroller Darlene Greens office has a consulting business that works for a company owned by a businessman with a major city contract at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The employee, Leonard Bell Jr., runs the citys internal audit division and is listed in state business filings as the registered agent for a company co-owned by Darryl Jones, who for over 25 years has been part of the joint venture that runs many of the restaurants at the city-owned airport. State records show Bells company has worked for another one of Jones companies as far back as 2011. Bells work for Jones companies could be perceived as a conflict, given the comptroller offices role approving and auditing all city contracts, a former city official said. Jones, whose businesses are also donors to a political action committee supporting Comptroller Greens reelection, is a partner in D&D Concessions with Donald Suggs, the publisher of the St. Louis American. D&D holds a 25% stake in a joint venture with national airport vendor HMSHost, which has for decades held an airport contract that now operates about 20 restaurant spaces in Lamberts terminals. Bell signed off on a positive audit of the HMSHost contract in 2021 despite his past work for a Jones company and a few months before incorporating another company where Jones is a partner. At least two companies where Jones is an owner list Bell in state paperwork, according to a review of state business records. One of them, Innovative Concept Academy, listed Bells firm, Bell & Associates Consulting, as the contact for the company. It dissolved in 2012. Another, DJMH Holdings LLC, was incorporated in 2022 and lists Bell as registered agent. Bell, in an interview, denied that his work for Jones companies posed a conflict because the company he has worked for recently, DJMH, does not have a city contract itself. A spokesman for Green said the comptroller only became aware of Bells work for Jones companies after the Post-Dispatch asked Bell about it Monday. As far as the comptroller knows, whatever he does secondary to his job in the comptrollers office has nothing to do with our office, comptroller spokesman Tyler Poslosky said Monday. We have no say in what he does for secondary employment. The citys secondary employment disclosure form, which all city employees with other jobs must fill out, must be signed by a city employees boss. It has employees attest that I am further aware that all secondary employment must be approved by my Appointing Authority. Bells most recent secondary employment form, which Greens office shared with the newspaper, was signed in October by Judy Armstrong, a manager in the comptrollers office. The form said Bell & Associates Consulting does tax and consulting work on evenings and weekends. Green pledges closer scrutiny In a statement Wednesday, Green said Bell was a longtime employee who has been pre-approved for secondary employment. Green, who is in a tight race for reelection against former state representative and alderwoman Donna Baringer, said she had no knowledge of Bells client list and added that airport contracts are awarded through a competitive, public bidding process. Regarding any possible conflicts of interests, Im looking into it with closer scrutiny and taking any further action as required because it absolutely will not be tolerated, Green said. Former Personnel Director Rick Frank, who led the department for 18 years until 2021, said city departments would occasionally consult his office about employee side jobs and whether they posed a conflict. Even a perceived conflict of interest could be problematic, he said. Working for a company owned by a businessman whose other company has a stake in a city contract might give me pause, Frank said. Because the comptrollers office has sway over the airports contracts and operations, the arrangement is messy, Frank said. You wouldnt want to profit directly or indirectly from your city employment, Frank said. The comptroller sits on the airport commission, and she both votes on airport contracts at the citys Board of Estimate and Apportionment and serves as one of the city signatories to those contracts. Her offices internal audit division also is supposed to audit city contracts, including those at the airport. Greens office releases audits of various city departments and contracts weekly, sometimes flagging minor compliance issues. In November 2021, it was HMSHosts turn for an audit. Bell, whose position at the time was audit manager, signed off on the report. It was glowing. The concessionaire has earned the confidence of the city of St. Louis, and has demonstrated a high level of service in the food and beverage operations at the airport, the audit noted. It found no issues. No direct connection Bell, in an interview, said he was not aware that Jones was part of the joint venture that held the airport concession contract. And he disputed he had a conflict by working for a company owned by a businessman with a major interest in a city contract. Bell said he mostly does tax preparation work for DJMH Holdings, adding that he has no ownership interest in the company and that it does not hold any contracts with the city. DJMH, which lists Jones and Mark Heller as partners, has a contract for concessions at the Enterprise Center, Bell said, which is owned by the city but operated by an ownership group tied to the St. Louis Blues. Im doing work for DJMH, Bell said. Now, if hes one of the owners, hes one of the owners, but I do work for DJMH, sir. I dont do work personally for Mr. Jones. Asked whether he does consulting or tax work for any of Jones other companies, Bell said Im not aware of his any other companies. The only company that Im aware of at this point is DJMH. But Bell also worked for another Jones company, Innovative Concept Academy. Bells company, Bell & Associates Consulting, is listed on Innovative Concept Academys 2011 incorporation paperwork. When the company dissolved in 2013, Bell is listed as the contact. If I did, once again, it was only dealing with the structure of the business, he said when asked about his work for Innovative Concept Academy. I never went beyond into their operation. Asked how he knew Jones and began working for some of his companies, Bell said it was a referral thats, thats as far as I can tell you. There is no direct connection, Bell said, between the airport contractors HMSHost and Jones D&D Concessions and his consulting company, Bell & Associates Consulting. I dont engage with anyone that has a direct city contract and wants me to provide services on it, Bell said. I dont engage with those. Jones could not be reached for comment. Jones companies have donated recently to a PAC supporting Greens reelection. DJMH, the one that Bell is the registered agent for, donated $1,000 to Greens political action committee in February. Another one of his companies, Tri-Tec Inc., gave $2,000 to Greens PAC the same day. HMS Host and D&D Concessions won a multi-year extension of their contract at the airport in 2022, when airport and city leaders endorsed a seven-year extension of the contract without considering other bids, even though there was at least one other contractor interested. At the time, airport leadership said other contractors werent interested because the contract would have been shorter than the typical 15-year concession contract to accommodate a planned rebuild and combination of Lamberts terminals. That rebuild is slated to be complete around 2032. Jones has long been adjacent to politics. He is a former Missouri Gaming Commission member and served as a campaign treasurer to former Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr., the mayor who appointed Green to her position in 1995. Jones was also part of the group that won the concession contract for the downtown convention center in 1994, while Bosley was mayor. JEFFERSON CITY The Missouri Senate voted Thursday to bar foreign entities from spending money on Missouri ballot measures. Its already illegal for foreign entities to invest in Missouri electoral campaigns, but a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1995 allowed contributions for ballot measures. Ten states already bar foreign contributions to ballot measures, including Democratic-leaning states like California and Washington. The policy comes as the Sixteen Thirty Fund backed by Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss invested millions of dollars into ballot measures last year. The fund contributed $4.6 million to the campaign to pass Amendment 3 which enshrined abortion rights in the Missouri Constitution. It also spent millions on a successful measure to raise the minimum wage. Sen. Ben Brown, R-Washington, said foreign involvement was a threat to the fairness of Missouris elections. His proposal adds a level of protection, he said. Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of the Virginia-based Americans for Public Trust, agreed the policy was necessary to protect the integrity of Missouri elections. This legislation is crucial to enact, especially in Missouri, Sutherland told a Senate committee last month. Foreign-owned corporations in Missouri like Bayer arent targeted under the bill. They would still be able to donate in Missouri elections because they transact business in the state. Under Browns legislation, it would be up to the Missouri attorney general to investigate claims of wrongdoing. Earlier versions of the bill left investigation up to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Brown said the change was necessary because the attorney generals office has the power to target foreign actors. Bailey recently won a $24 billion judgment against China over the countrys role in the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation doesnt go as far as whats been done in more progressive states, which may shield it from legal troubles. The Minnesota Legislature passed a law barring companies where a foreign national owns more than a 1% share from donating to Minnesota elections. The law was blocked last month by a federal judge in St. Paul. Because Defendants have not identified evidence that minority foreign shareholders exercise influence or control over corporations political expenditures, the challenged provisions ... sweep too broadly as a matter of law, U.S. District Judge Eric Tostrud wrote. Browns proposal won bipartisan support in the Senate, passing 28-2. It now heads to the Missouri House. The legislation is Senate Bill 152. JERUSALEM European far-right leaders were in Jerusalem on Thursday for a conference organized by the Israeli government aimed at combating antisemitism, which was shunned by mainstream Jewish leaders because of the divisive guest list. The event illustrates a growing alliance between Israel a country founded on the ashes of the Holocaust and a European far-right that some critics say has not shed its links to antisemitism and Naziism during World War II. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads an ultranationalist government, has cultivated close ties in recent years with far-right populist leaders in countries like Hungary, Brazil and Argentina. Many of these leaders, including Netanyahu, have been greatly influenced by the policies and demeanor of U.S. President Donald Trump. In a speech to the conference, Netanyahu commended Trump for his decisive actions against antisemitism and blamed U.S. campus protests against Israels war in Gaza on a systemic alliance between ultra-progressive left and radical Islam. Antisemitism is a disease carried by barbarians in all civilized societies, said Netanyahu. Thursdays conference illuminated the increasingly strained relationship between Israel and its traditional allies in the West, which have grown uneasy with Israeli politics and the direction of the countrys devastating war in Gaza. Israel broke the ceasefire with Hamas and resumed the war earlier this month, and Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza. Jewish communities around the world have reported increases in antisemitic violence since the start of the war. Also attending the event was Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, even after a Bosnian court requested an international arrest warrant for him for his separatist policies. During the conference, Dodik spoke out defiantly against the warrant. The Muslims from Sarajevo they want to punish me because I came here to Israel supporting Israel, Dodik told The Associated Press through a translator. They are misusing the judiciary and the prosecutor office because they are in charge for that. Most speakers at the conference railed against antisemitism on the political left and in Muslim societies, with only brief mention of antisemitism on the right. Panels of speakers were set to focus on How Progressivism Fell Captive to Antisemitism and How Radical Islam Fuels Antisemitism in the West. Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right French National Rally party, gave a keynote address in which he blamed rising antisemitism in Europe on migration and Islamism. Islamism is the totalitarianism of the 21st century. It threatens to destroy everything that is not like it, he said. David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel during Trumps first term, also attended. Asked by the moderator about Trumps plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza, Friedman said: I love it! I love it. And I think its doable. Other far-right Europeans are attending from the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Hungary. The European far-rights anti-immigrant platform has focused heavily on immigration from Muslim countries, finding common ground in what Israel describes as a shared battle against Islamic extremism. Critics say this alliance often veers into Islamophobia. Many mainstream Jewish leaders dropped out of the event after initially agreeing to attend, including Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, a leading U.S. nonprofit that battles antisemitism. French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, German antisemitism czar Felix Klein and German politician Volker Beck also canceled their participation, while Israels president, Isaac Herzog, also pulled out of the conference in favor of hosting a separate meeting of Jewish leaders who had originally come to the country for the conference, his office said. AP correspondent Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, contributed reporting. WASHINGTON The Trump administration struggled Wednesday to stem the fallout from revelations that top national security officials discussed sensitive attack plans over a messaging app and mistakenly added a journalist to the chain. The White House claimed the information shared through the publicly available Signal app with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, was not classified, an assertion that Democrats said strains credulity considering that it detailed plans for an upcoming attack on Yemen's Houthis. President Donald Trump during an Oval Office appearance to announce new tariffs on imported vehicles seemed frustrated as reporters repeatedly questioned him about the matter. I think its all a witch hunt, Trump said. The Houthis have been wreaking havoc on vital Red Sea shipping lanes since November 2023 as the Israel-Hamas war raged. The decision on determining whether the information is classified ultimately lies with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who in the chain listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack "THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP," he wrote. Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the position that the Trump administration is staking out can be described with one word: "Baloney." "When you describe time, place, type of armaments used: Do they think the American public is stupid?" Warner said in an exchange with reporters. Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he and Sen. Jack Reed, the committee's top Democrat, will send a letter to the Trump administration requesting an expedited inspector general investigation into the use of Signal. They also called for a classified briefing with a top administration official "who actually has the facts and can speak on behalf of the administration." "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. White House denials White House officials continue to insist no classified material was discussed in the March 13 to March 15 Signal chain. Trump said he stands by his national security team and assailed the reporter's credibility. Hegseth, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and other administration officials on Wednesday uniformly insisted that no "war plans" were texted on Signal, a claim that current and former U.S. officials called "semantics." War plans carry a specific meaning. They often refer to the numbered and highly classified planning documents sometimes thousands of pages long that would inform U.S. decisions in case of a major conflict, such as if the United States is called to defend Taiwan. But the information Hegseth posted specific attack details selecting human and weapons storage targets was a subset of those plans and was likely informed by the same classified intelligence. Hegseth said on social media the message chain included, "No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information." He did not directly address Democrats' concerns about the timing and weaponry details in the chain. Several Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday called for Hegseth to step down. "This is classified information. It's a weapon system, as well as a sequence of strikes, as well as details of the operations," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois who is on the committee. "He needs to resign immediately." Trump bristled at the suggestion that Hegseth should step down. Hes doing a great job," Trump said. "He had nothing to do with it. Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, in an exchange with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during the panel's hearing on global threats Wednesday, noted that her office's criteria on classified information make clear that it includes "information providing indication or advanced warning that the U.S. or its allies are preparing an attack." Gabbard said the conversation included candid and sensitive information about military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. But as she told senators during testimony Tuesday, she said the texts did not contain classified information. It was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added, Gabbard said. The Trump administration stance on the Signal chain is also a notable departure for a U.S. government that routinely classifies a vast amount of far more mundane material, including millions of documents pertaining to military and intelligence operations and activities. The text chain The Atlantic released the entire Signal chat Wednesday, showing that Hegseth provided the exact timings of warplane launches and when bombs would drop before the men and women flying those attacks were airborne. The Pentagon and White House 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, White House press secretary Karoline 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 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. Details from the transcript included: 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. A strike package includes the personnel and weapons used in an attack, including Navy F-18 fighter aircraft. MQ-9s are armed drones. Tomahawks are ship-launched cruise missiles. The chat was also notable for who it excluded: the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Adm. Christopher Grady serves in that position in an acting capacity because Trump fired former chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr. in February. The Pentagon said it would not comment on the issue, and it was not immediately clear why Grady, currently serving as the presidents top military adviser, would not be included in a discussion on military strikes. Missouri has a proud history of being home to some of Americas greatest artists. Whether musicians like Chuck Berry, Sheryl Crow, Sara Evans and Nelly or authors like T.S. Elliot, Tennessee Williams, Jonathan Franzen and Gillian Flynn, Missourians have made their mark across the arts. But what if the First Amendment creative freedoms that made their storytelling possible could be used against them as evidence in courtrooms? What if Gone Girl, Flynns famed novel turned blockbuster movie, was presented as autobiographical? While this may sound like the plot of a dystopian movie, this scenario is playing out in courtrooms across America. The good news is that bipartisan legislation in the Missouri House and Senate called the Restoring Artistic Protection Act renews personal liberties by establishing common sense standards that protect artists and keep our communities safe. In recent years, technology has rapidly changed the way we consume creative works, whether film, music or novels. The same goes for how artists create and share their works. With powerful new technologies at our fingertips, few barriers still exist for making, distributing, and accessing art. Still, these low barriers for creating and sharing art online also come with new risks. Specifically, some police and prosecutors see artwork as fertile ground for collecting what they perceive as evidence. Instead of considering works through an artistic lens, prosecutors are increasingly presenting creative expression as literal confession in criminal courts. Consider if Chuck Berry was charged with reckless driving and prosecutors used his 1955 hit Maybellene, where Berry sang about his Cadillac increasing speed to 110 miles per hour, as indicative of his propensity to speed. While prohibitions against bad character evidence thankfully exist in U.S. law imagine if every violent movie youve ever watched was cherry-picked as character evidence to a jury prosecutors have still pressed forward in alarming ways. In a recent high-profile case in Georgia, a Grammy-winning hip-hop artist had clearly figurative lyrics presented as confession, when the lyric ready for war like Im Russia was claimed to be an overt act in furtherance of conspiracy and admitted into evidence. While that specific trial ended in time-served plea deals and not-guilty verdicts for the defendants, the publicity has accelerated this practice nationally. In fact, there have been three convictions overturned in the past 12 months for improper admission or use of creative expression in the conservative courts of Georgia, Texas and Tennessee. While many of these cases involve hip-hop music, theres real concern across musical genres and art forms that this practice could spread. In response, the Restoring Artistic Protection Act was proposed to cover all artists by creating a single, common sense test for allowing creative expression as evidence. Instead of the current subjective standard, this legislation proposes a sensible checklist like whether the work is figurative or literal and if there is a specific fact pattern that matches the allegation. Most importantly, this law does not propose a complete ban on using art as evidence, since we support prosecutors holding people accountable in exceptionally rare instances where someone is dangerous enough to legitimately admit to crimes in creative works. Increasingly, arts organizations are banding together around this cause. Recently, a group called Free Our Art was launched to fight this trend, and the organization I lead, Music Artists Coalition, is proud to count itself as an allied organization. Others supporting this effort include music organizations like the Recording Academy and Recording Industry Association of America, actors and authors groups like SAG-AFTRA and PEN America, and talent agencies like IAG and Wasserman. While Missouris creative economy supports $11.5 billion in annual GDP and 94,000 jobs, its not simply professionals in the arts who should care about this legislation. It reinforces core American liberties. Thats why across America, similar legislation is gaining bipartisan support, from red states like Georgia to blue states like Maryland. In Missouri, were grateful to elected officials from both parties stepping forward to lead, including St. Louis-area representatives like Republican Rep. Ben Keathley and Democrat Sen. Brian Williams, who are co-sponsors of the legislation in their respective chambers. (The measures are House Bill 1092 and Senate Bill 661.) At a time of division, its good to know we can still work together around American values like freedom of expression. When Missouri passes the Restoring Artistic Protection Act, well show America that the First Amendment truly matters in the Show Me State. The Second Karabakh War will, of course, go down in history as a glorious chapter in our history, President Ilham Aliyev said during his meeting with residents who have moved into new apartments in the village of Sarijali, Aghdam. As you know, during the war, active military operations were not conducted in the Aghdam direction because the enemy had built strong fortifications and mined everything here. Therefore, we began to move forward in the Aghdam direction only after Hadrut, Jabrayil, Fuzuli and Shusha had been liberated and the enemy's forces were actually surrounded. Azerbaijan showed humanity again and gave the enemy a chance to vacate these lands of his own free will, noted the head of state. Hermann Simon, a renowned German economist known as the father of the "Hidden Champions" theory, delivers a speech in Bozhou, east China's Anhui Province, March 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Jinzheng) HEFEI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Rising tariffs from the United States are making it more challenging for German companies to export there, increasing the need for strengthening trade ties between Europe and China, according to Hermann Simon, a renowned German economist known as the father of the "Hidden Champions" theory. "With tariffs coming from America, it's more difficult to export into America and we now have to intensify our trading relations between Europe and China," Simon told Xinhua in a recent interview. "If we lose market share in America, we have to find it somewhere else," Simon said, adding that most German companies are quite successful in China and are satisfied with the results they have achieved in the country. From March 23 to 25, Simon led a delegation of over 20 representatives from German enterprises and consulting institutions on a visit to the cities of Hefei and Bozhou in east China's Anhui Province. During the trip, the delegation toured new energy vehicle (NEV) plants, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb market, and an auto parts industrial park, seeking new opportunities for Sino-German collaboration. "In respect of the tariffs in the United States, the Chinese market will be more important in the future because we need free trade in the world," said Hannes Schleeh, president of the International Hidden Champions Association, while adding that the Chinese market is an open market for German "hidden champions" -- which means they will invest and do more business in China in the future. Experts have said that amid growing global uncertainties, China's ever-opening market and thriving emerging industries are attracting more German companies to double down on investment in China. Notably, an overwhelming 92 percent of member companies of the German Chamber of Commerce in China planned to continue their operations in the country, underscoring the enduring importance of this market to German businesses, the chamber said in a survey report in December 2024. Helmut Heuser, general manager of Wurth Electronic (Shenyang) Co., Ltd, outlined his company's plan for the coming years. "We are investing more in China in production localization and project management, and I think there will be a lot of investment in the next 10 years here to stay close to our customers," he said. "When we work closely with Chinese enterprises, it's actually a win-win situation," said Heuser, who has lived in China for more than 30 years. Unlike Heuser, Klaus Benecke is new in China, but he was fascinated by the country's AI and software development technologies. "We developed a data model, and I hope that we can now speed it up with Chinese developers," said Benecke, general manager of Benecke System, citing China's AI advancement such as DeepSeek. Germany has made record investments in China over the past two years, particularly in establishing R&D centers. Simon observed that China has the best competence in many fields. Michael Bose, head of the international department of Automotive Cluster Berlin-Brandenburg, highlighted China's remarkable progress in the automotive sector. "Having closely followed the evolution of China's automotive industry, particularly in NEV development, for over a decade, I can attest that Chinese electric vehicles now demonstrate world-class technological levels. They meet German quality standards while pioneering cutting-edge intelligent connected vehicle technologies, presenting valuable learning opportunities for German automakers," Bose said. Chinese manufacturers uniquely combine decades of automotive engineering expertise with groundbreaking software innovation, creating fertile ground for Sino-German collaboration, Bose added. China will encourage foreign investors to increase their reinvestment in the country, and will ensure equal treatment for foreign-funded enterprises, according to this year's government work report. A total of 59,080 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China in 2024, an increase of 9.9 percent year on year. Over the past five years, the return rate on foreign direct investment in China has remained at approximately 9 percent -- ranking among the highest in the world. "No matter how the external environment changes, China has always fulfilled its commitment to high-level opening up," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning earlier this month. "China welcomes foreign companies to invest and deepen their presence in China -- to share its dividends and achieve common development." Regarding "Trump officials texted war plans to a group chat in a secure app that included a journalist" (March 25): When you hire amateurs, this is what you get: Pete Hegseth, Mike Waltz, Tulsi Gabbard and other high-profile Trump administration officials discussed sensitive U.S. military war plans in a group chat on an unclassified commercial open-source messaging app that was accidentally opened to a journalist. They were discussing a secret Houthi bombing campaign, including specific targeting and timing information which would take place within hours. Our secretary of defense and others didnt realize they were texting with a well-known and respected journalist. It was arrogance and negligence on steroids. Someone should be fired, but they wont be. President Donald Trump demonstrates every day that, as he stated in his first term, he has the right to do whatever I want ... such as appointing senior officials with little to no experience to sensitive government positions no matter how dangerous to national security and U.S. military personnel they may be. The Chinese are listening. The Iranians, the Russians and the North Koreans are all listening. Secretary Hegseths response was to deny the breach of national security information: Nobody was texting war plans. He is obviously lying. The dangers were real. So what does Hegseth do? He reflexively attacks the journalist, falsely calling him a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist instead of addressing his own incompetence. James Etling St. Louis Air Force secretary nominee Troy Meink testifies March 27, 2025, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON Troy Meink, President Donald Trumps pick to lead the Air Force, told senators Thursday that he will focus on technical innovation and workforce retention if confirmed as the next secretary for the service. Meink, an Air Force veteran who runs the Pentagons National Reconnaissance Office, said competitors such as China are in some cases evolving faster than the U.S. and will eventually result in us losing our technological advantage. We need to innovate faster, he told the Senate Armed Service Committee during his confirmation hearing. Meink said space capabilities would be a top priority under his leadership, calling it one of the areas that the U.S. is most challenged by other countries. A highly skilled workforce will be key to fielding the most complicated systems, he said. The Space Force is in the process of growing, he said. I will support that activity to make sure we have the right numbers and the right skillset. Meink said he will also examine the Air Forces struggle to retain pilots. The Air Force last year said the service was short by 1,848 pilots, including 1,142 fighter pilots. The shortage means pilots graduating from training courses with the T-38 Talon supersonic jet might be required to fly non-fighter or bomber aircraft, the service said. Meink said the Air Force has had difficulty keeping enough pilots since he was a navigator in the service decades ago. Raising pay will only go so far, he cautioned. We need to make sure, not just with pilots but across our highly skilled areas within our workforce, that they have the opportunity to do what theyve been trained, what they love to do, Meink said. I think that could be a bigger impact on maintaining some of these highly technical skillsets, like pilots and others letting them do what they were trained to do. Meink entered the Air Force in 1988 through the ROTC program at South Dakota State University. He began his career as a navigator and instructor for the KC-125 refueling tanker and flew more than 100 missions in the Gulf War. He later worked as the lead engineer for the design and evaluation of ballistic missile test vehicles for the Missile Defense Agency, according to the Air Force. He served as the undersecretary of the Air Force for Space from 2013 to 2014. In 2020, Meink was appointed by Trump as the principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, the federal governments spy satellite agency. Meinks tenure at the agency came under scrutiny last month after Reuters reported allegations that he steered a multibillion-dollar satellite contract to Elon Musks SpaceX company by changing the contract requirements in a way that made SpaceX best suited to fulfill it. Trump nominated Meink for Air Force secretary at the recommendation of Musk, according to Reuters. Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have expressed alarm over a potential quid pro quo between Meink and Musk, a billionaire businessman who has taken a prominent role in the Trump administration. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., makes remarks on Thursday, March 27, 2025, during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee to consider Troy Meink to be the next secretary of the Air Force. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) These reports raise concerns about your ability, if confirmed as secretary, to treat contractors fairly and prioritize the Air Forces mission over Elon Musks business interests, the senators wrote in a letter to Meink last month. Those worries did not come up at his confirmation hearing Thursday. Meink received a positive reception from the Senate committee, with Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., praising Meinks experience. We have a lot of work to do to ensure that the Air and Space forces own the skies and stars, Wicker said after meeting with Meink last month. [Meink] understands that air and space power are essential to Americas military rebuild under President Trump. A U.S. Soldier assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division climbs onto a M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle to provide maintenance on the vehicle in support of the southern border mission, Feb. 24, 2025, Fort Carson, Colorado. (Joshua Zayas-Sabogal/U.S. Army) (Tribune News Service) The U.S. military is deploying troops and armored vehicles to West Texas, including inside Big Bend National Park, as part of President Donald Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration. About 200 troops from the Armys 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo. a trained combat unit are already on the ground in and around Big Bend. That number is expected to grow to some 500 in coming weeks, Army officials say. At a news conference this month in Alpine, Army and border officials said troops will not arrest people suspected of entering the country illegally, according to Marfa Public Radio. Instead, soldiers will assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection with surveillance and intelligence gathering, the Department of Defense announced this week. Troops will patrol both on foot and in armored vehicles, known as Strykers. The 19-ton vehicles are well-suited for navigating rugged terrain. Army officials did not disclose how many Strykers are being deployed. The vehicles could be outfitted with weapons, if needed. If the mission dictates for security purposes that we put our weapons systems on those Strykers, then they will be put on the Strykers, Major Jared Stefani, who is leading the Big Bend area Army battalion, told reporters. This is the second wave of troops being sent to beef up border security since Trump took office in January. About 1,500 Marines and Army soldiers arrived shortly after inauguration, joining 2,500 Army forces already there. Encompassing the rugged Chisos Mountains and Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend is one of the nations largest and most remote national parks. The park spans more than 800,000 acres, making it larger than the state of Rhode Island. It also sees few border crossings compared to other parts of Texas. In February of this year, Customs and Border Protection reported 165 migrant encounters in Big Bend, compared to 1,600 in Laredo and 2,600 around El Paso the same month. Overall, apprehensions in February dropped to the lowest levels in decades. Critics of the deployment called the plan a waste of taxpayer dollars and a political stunt. Demonstrations over the past several weeks at our parks have shown that hate has no place in our parks, Sherman Neal II, deputy director of the Sierra Clubs Military Outdoors campaign, said in a written statement. Gateway communities to our national parks understand their economic viability isnt tied to the chilling effects of militarization, but nested in becoming more inclusive communities for all of us. A federal law forbids the use of armed forces for law enforcement purposes on U.S. soil unless authorized by Congress or the Constitution. The Insurrection Act is the only exception. The 200-year-old law grants the president power to deploy the military domestically to suppress insurrections or quell civil unrest. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not ruled out using the Insurrection Act to control the border. The goal is to control every inch of the Southern border, Hegseth said in a February visit to the border in El Paso and neighboring New Mexico. Everything is on the table when it comes to securing the border and dealing with cartels. The Big Bend region has not seen a large-scale military presence in decades, and news outlets in West Texas said some residents were wary of the development. In 1997, a high school sophomore, Esequiel Hernandez Jr., was shot and killed by a U.S. Marine during a covert drug operation near the border town of Redford while herding his familys goats. Border Patrol Big Bend Sector Chief Lloyd Easterling said at the news conference that agents will not be covert. Nobodys going to be hidden, he said. We want people to see where they are, because its a method of deterrence. Thats a big piece of it. 2025 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Hank Simons/Stars and Stripes) Somewhere in South Korea, April 1959: Judy Haag, one of some 50 Red Cross women operating the organizations Clubmobiles across South Korea, hands out donuts to a servicemember. Haag, who hails from Greendale, Wis. and admitted that before joining the Red Cross she never travelled farther than Minnesota, now travels to some five different military outfits a day, be it in truck, or by helicopter. Dubbed Doughnut Dollies during the Korean War, the Red Cross Clubmobiles and the women who operate them date back to World War II when teams of three female Red Cross workers travelled to troops stationed in Great Britain and Europe in busses equipped with a stove for coffee and a built-in donut maker, carrying magazines, candy, playing records, and a friendly chat to U.S. troops. From Stars and Stripes decades worth of articles on the women who signed up for hard work in less than ideal conditions, its clear that they, not the donuts, were the real morale boosters. Read the original 1959 article on Judy and her Red Cross pals here. The JS Akishio, a decommissioned Japanese submarine, is the centerpiece of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force museum in Kure, Japan. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) Learn about the history and mission of Japans contemporary navy as you explore three levels of exhibits and walk through a decommissioned submarine at a free museum near Hiroshima. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Museum opened on April 5, 2007, and is the only museum in Japan where you can board a real submarine. The JDS Akishio, commissioned in 1986, was in service until March 3, 2004. The museum is in Kure city, by toll road a little over an hour by car from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Tolls are $18 or so, round. Admission to the museum is free. The museum doesnt have any dedicated parking spots; however, there are several paid parking lots nearby. Free parking for motorcycles is available across the road from the museum. The museum is English friendly and entirely self-paced, but it does have a set, one-way route for visitors to follow. Naval weaponry on display at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force museum in Kure, Japan. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) The first level exhibits explore the history of Maritime Self-Defense Force in the city of Kure. The second level focuses on its minesweeping mission during Japans postwar era. The third level explores the history and technology of Japans submarines. The highlight of the museum is stepping into a decommissioned submarine sited prominently in front of the museum. There are some interactive opportunities, such as looking through the periscope, while exploring the subs interior. The 250-foot-long diesel-electric Akishio has been on display since 2007. It carried a crew of 75 and six torpedo tubes. On the surface, the sub was powered by its diesel engines; submerged, it moved via electric motor. At the end of the tour route a gift shop sells a variety of Maritime Self-Defense Force collectible items and souvenirs. If you like collecting military memorabilia, this is the place for you. Next to the gift shop is a cafe, I highly recommend ordering the submarine curry, which costs about $6.70. The rice is shaped into a submarine in a curry sauce with two meat patties topped with decorative rising sun flag. The curry rice at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Museum in Kure, Japan, arrives in appropriately sculpted fashion. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes) On the QT Directions: An hours drive from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni via expressway. 5-32 Takaramachi, Kure, Hiroshima, Japan 737-0029. Times: Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Monday; closed Tuesday Costs: Free Food: Cafeteria with food and drink options Information: Online: jmsdf-kure-museum.go.jp Jinpo Marine Theme Park's centerpiece is the former ROKS Wi Pong, or Wibongham, a tank-landing ship built in the United States in 1944 for use during World War II. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes) The Jinpo Maritime Theme Park, about 70 miles south of Camp Humphreys, is a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts, military buffs and families alike. Located along the citys coastline, the park offers a blend of historical exhibits, military vehicles and scenic waterfront views. Opened in 2008, the park was established to commemorate the Jinpodaecheop naval victory of 1380, a pivotal moment in Korean history when Gen. Choi Mu-seon successfully defended the peninsula against Japanese invaders. Jinpo Maritime Theme Park offers a blend of historical exhibits, military vehicles and scenic waterfront views. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes) The park features an extensive collection of decommissioned military vehicles, including planes, helicopters, tanks and ships. Informative plaques in Korean and English accompany each exhibit, detailing the vehicles history and significance. The parks centerpiece is the former ROKS Wi Pong, or Wibongham, a tank-landing ship built in the United States in 1944 for use during World War II. It saw action in the Okinawa campaign and was transferred to the South Korean navy in 1959, later serving during the Vietnam War. Visitors can explore its interior, which houses an exhibition hall displaying historical artifacts, weapons from the Jinpodaecheop War and exhibits on naval operations. Jinpo Maritime Theme Park in Gunsan, South Korea, features an extensive collection of decommissioned military vehicles, including planes, helicopters, tanks and ships. (Eric Mendiola/Stars and Stripes) Set against an ocean backdrop, the park provides a relaxing and educational experience. Alongside the military exhibits are monuments, statues and a well-equipped playground, making it an attraction for visitors of all ages. Benches are scattered throughout the park, offering spots to rest and take in the coastal scenery. For a more immersive experience, the park offers a 4D theater and guided tours of the Wibongham. The waterfront location adds to the parks charm, with small boats docked nearby enhancing the picturesque atmosphere. On the QT Directions: About 70 miles south of Camp Humphreys. 32 Naehang 2-gil, Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk State, South Korea. Times: Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., March to October; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., November to February. Costs: Park entry is free. Wibongham admission is 1,000 won (less than 70 cents) for adults; 700 won for students; and 300 won for children Food: There are several restaurants in the surrounding area. Information: Phone: 63-445-4472 A U.S. joint terminal attack controller looks through binoculars in Mogadishu, Somalia, April 22, 2022. Farther north in Somalia this week, U.S. forces launched airstrikes that killed Islamic State group militants, U.S. Africa Command said. (Alysia Blake/U.S. Air Force) STUTTGART, Germany A series of airstrikes this week killed multiple Islamic militants in Somalia, U.S. Africa Command said Wednesday. The strikes, which were in coordination with the Somali government, hit ISIS-Somalia operatives, AFRICOM said. The Tuesday attacks occurred in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, an area in northern Somalia where the militant group has been building up its presence. ISIS-Somalia has proved both its will and capability to attack U.S. and partner forces, AFRICOM said in a statement. This groups malicious efforts threaten U.S. security interests. Over the years, AFRICOM airstrikes against ISIS militants in Somalia have been relatively rare compared with those against the al-Shabab group, the largest terrorist organization in the country. However, there are indications that ISIS in Somalia is expanding. It was formed in 2015 by a group of defectors from the al-Qaida-aligned al-Shabab. By 2019, there were an estimated 300 ISIS militants there. Now, some analysts estimate the ISIS ranks in Somalia at 1,000 members. Last month, AFRICOM launched strikes against ISIS, including one on Feb. 1 that killed 14 militants. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at AFRICOM headquarters during a February visit, said the airstrikes were an example of commanders now having more decision-making authority on such matters. Thats a reflection of pushing authority down (and) untying the hands of warfighters, Hegseth said. (Such decisions) should be made at the four-star level or at the Secretary of Defense level more quickly based on the ability to degrade the enemy. BOAO, China, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Renowned U.S. economist Jeffrey Sachs on Wednesday lauded China's development trajectory, saying the country is on the right track to improve the well-being of its people and benefit the world at large. Sachs, who first visited China in 1981, highlighted China's remarkable economic achievements. "I've been coming to China many times a year in most years since then," he told reporters at this year's Boao Forum for Asia, which is being held in Hainan, China. "I've watched with my own eyes China's remarkable economic advance: from economic planning to technological innovation, and dedication to education and infrastructure." The professor at Columbia University praised China's role as a peaceful global actor. China's commitment to peaceful coexistence and multilateralism contributes to global peace, Sachs said. Impressed by China's poverty alleviation efforts, Sachs said he witnessed this transformation firsthand during a visit a few years ago to China's northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which was previously one of China's poorest regions. "There was electricity, a television and the essentials in every home I visited -- extreme poverty was ending," he recalled. He attributed China's success in poverty reduction to a combination of factors including universal education, infrastructure development and rural healthcare. China's path has offered a roadmap for poverty alleviation globally, he added. Sachs spoke highly of China's leading role in green industries. "Today, China is the world's leader in zero-carbon energy. It's the largest producer of solar panels, electric vehicles and other green products." He also emphasized the potential benefit of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, calling it the world's leading initiative for sustainable development. "China is using its innovation capacity to share cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure with the world," Sachs said. (Tribune News Service) Emphasizing the global reach of the U.S. Navy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stark warning Thursday to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, cautioning against any military aggression toward Guyana. Speaking alongside Guyanese President Irfaan Ali at a press conference in the capital of Georgetown, Rubio made it clear that Washington stands firmly behind its regional ally. It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they attacked Guyana or ExxonMobil, Rubio stated. We have a large Navy, and it can reach almost anywhere in the world. And we have ongoing commitments to Guyana. Rubios visit to Georgetown on Thursday was part of a broader Caribbean tour aimed at strengthening U.S. ties in the region. He reaffirmed Washingtons support for Guyanas sovereignty over the Essequibo region, a Florida-sized resource-rich territory that has been under Guyanese control since 1899 but is claimed by Venezuela. The border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela dates back more than 180 years but has sharply escalated in recent months. In December 2023, Maduro held a referendum seeking public approval to use military force to seize the Essequibo. His government claimed a 98% approval rate, despite widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Since then, Maduro has repeatedly vowed on state television that Venezuela will not abandon its claim. His regime has since declared Essequibo as Venezuelas newest state despite international objections, increased his countrys military presence near the border and announced plans to hold elections in the Essequibo region to install a governor. Tensions reached a boiling point four weeks ago when a Venezuelan warship entered disputed waters, threatening ExxonMobils offshore operations in Guyanas exclusive economic zone. The incursion triggered an immediate response from Washington. Venezuelan naval vessels threatening ExxonMobils floating production, storage, and offloading unit is unacceptable and a clear violation of Guyanas internationally recognized maritime territory, the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs posted on X. Further provocation will result in consequences for the Maduro regime. The United States reaffirms its support for Guyanas territorial integrity. Rubio reinforced the message in Georgetown, dismissing Venezuelas claims as illegitimate territorial ambitions of a drug-trafficking regime. He warned that aggressive actions would carry serious repercussions. I want to be frank, he said. There will be consequences. 2025 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. An MQ-9B drone is displayed at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz., in 2019. The U.S. gave Qatar the green light to buy eight of the drones and related equipment as part of a deal worth nearly $2 billion, the State Department said March 26, 2025. (Colton Brownlee/U.S. Marine Corps) The State Department has approved the potential sale of MQ-9B drones to Qatar, advancing a deal with a key Middle East ally amid ongoing fighting between U.S. forces and Houthi militants in the region. Qatar, home to the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East, has requested to buy eight unmanned aircraft in addition to hundreds of bombs, missiles and related equipment for a total of $1.96 billion, the department said in a statement Wednesday. The principal contractors are General Atomics Aeronautical, Lockheed Martin, RTX and Boeing. Qatari officials first made the request to purchase the advanced drones in 2020 but have faced delays despite providing support for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and serving as a conduit for talks with Iran and Hamas. The U.S. had long been wary of upsetting the balance of power in the region. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both of which are U.S. military partners, have often had a contentious relationship over the past decade with Qatar. The MQ-9B, known as the SkyGuardian, is a long-range surveillance drone that can stay in the air for more than 40 hours, according to General Atomics Aeronautical. The approval of the arms sale by the administration of President Donald Trump comes this week as U.S. forces continue their operation against the Houthis in Yemen. U.S. Central Command launched a large-scale offensive against the Iran-backed group March 15 in response to threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Al Udeid Air Base, located just south of the capital city of Doha, serves as the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command and Air Forces Central Command. The deal will help to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East, the State Department said. Lieutenant General Tony D. Bauernfeind, right, Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, addresses senators on March 26, 2025, during a meeting of the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON Only a handful of courses at the militarys service academies have been eliminated to comply with President Donald Trumps directive to scrub diversity programming from their campuses, the academies superintendents said Wednesday. Two classes were cut at the Military Academy, two classes were canceled at the Naval Academy, and the Air Force Academy has marked three courses for potential suspension under guidelines issued by the Trump administration to end diversity, equity and inclusion content. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, acting on Trumps orders, in January mandated the prohibition of all instruction on DEI, gender ideology and critical race theory, an academic framework that teaches racism is systemic. The two courses eliminated at the Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., were a history course called Race, Ethnicity and Nation and an English course titled Power and Difference, Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, the superintendent, told a subpanel of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday. A review of the academys curriculum is still ongoing, he said, but only two classes in a review of more than 600 courses were deemed out of compliance. They were electives with fairly small enrollment, with 25 cadets enrolled in the history class and a dozen cadets enrolled in the English course, Gilland said. The Senate Armed Services Committee meets on March 26, 2025, in Washington to hear testimony from the superintendents of the military service academies. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) At the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., two courses related to gender were eliminated. One was a Gender Matters leadership course and the other was an English course, Gender Sexuality Studies, said Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, the superintendent. The academy also found 18 other classes that will need to be slightly modified to comply with executive orders, she said. A total of 870 courses were reviewed. Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, superintendent of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co., said an initial review of 735 courses has identified 55 courses for further analysis. He estimates 40% of them will require no change, 53% will require minor changes and three could be suspended. I have not made that decision yet, he said. Bauernfeind said the Air Force Academy no longer teaches critical race theory, in accordance with a defense policy bill passed in December that banned such instruction at the military academies. Were delving in hard on teaching our future leaders how to think and not what to think, he said. Hegseths order to purge DEI from curriculums also requires the service academies to teach that America and its founding documents remain the most powerful force for good in human history. His directive also bars the use of sex-based, race-based or ethnicity-based goals for academic admissions. The Supreme Court in 2023 ended race-conscious college admissions but exempted military academies from the decision. The academies became a frequent target of criticism by conservatives during President Joe Bidens administration, with critics arguing the academies were becoming overly consumed with pushing a woke agenda focused on liberal ideology. Trump has moved quickly to implement his vision for the academies. Last month, he fired members of boards that provide oversight at the Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Coast Guard Academy, saying, Our Service Academies have been infiltrated by Woke Leftist Ideologues over the last four years. Trumps offensive against DEI programs in the government also led West Point last month to shut down cadet clubs primarily centered on ethnic and gender affiliation, including the National Society of Black Engineers Club and Society of Women Engineers Club. Air Force Gen. Randall Reed, head of U.S. Transportation Command, testifies during a hearing of a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, March 25, 2025. (House Armed Services Committee) Fewer service members have filed inconvenience complaints in recent weeks over late pickups and deliveries of household goods under a new relocation system being phased in by the Defense Department, the head of U.S. Transportation Command said Tuesday. Hundreds of military households complained of botched pickups and deliveries late last year and in January under the Global Household Goods Contract, or GHC, which launched a year ago but ramped up in earnest in recent months. Under GHC, the command is transferring oversight of the 300,000 to 400,000 annual moves for the military and Coast Guard to HomeSafe Alliance, a joint venture between Tier One Relocation and KBR, formerly Kellogg Brown & Root. HomeSafe oversees all contracting for packing, trucking, shipping and storage of goods in GHC moves. As we continue to look at the performance and as [HomeSafe] continue to respond to the shortfalls that we had seen before, we have actually seen, within the last few weeks, the number of those claims declining, and theyve resolved those claims to 100%, Gen. Randall Reed told members of a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. And so, while there is still work to go, we are actually getting the improvements that were seeking, he said. Service members complaints prompted several U.S. senators to launch inquiries earlier this month into the transition to GHC. The Transportation Command had intended to transition all domestic military moves away from its legacy system to GHC by this summers peak moving season. Earlier this month, however, the command began using a conditions-based approach to adjust the ratio of moves being allocated to the legacy system and to GHC to take some of the pressure off HomeSafe as it attempts to reach greater capacity through industry contracts. Reed said that GHC system puts in place levers that we can use to actually address performance shortfalls that do not exist in the legacy system. And so, while there are performance issues, and while things in spots arent as solid as we would like them, at least now we can see them, and at least now we can hold the conversation, at least now we can document it, and at least now we have incentives to get the performance that were seeking, he said. The moving industry in large part has declined to sign on to GHC because, among other issues, the new systems payment rates are on average 30% lower than what the government pays in the legacy system. If they were three, four or five [percent less], we can absorb that kind of loss, Brian Hunley, director of long-distance operations for Lambert Moving Systems, said by phone Wednesday. The company has branches in Alabama, Georgia and Florida and has done military moves for decades. But theyre talking about putting it at a price point where I cannot afford to do it, he said. In the legacy system, movers can bid on rates during peak and off-peak seasons based on supply and demand, he said. Hunley said he was alarmed by Reeds statements during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing March 5 in which the general indicated the command would adjust the payment rate in the legacy rate to be more in line with GHC rates. Reed told the senators that the rate can only be adjusted once a year in May, which we will do. With that adjustment, there will be less of an incentive to stay outside than to join the GHC, Reed said. Hunley described such a rate adjustment as a train running for a brick wall. Instead of working to fix the new system that is clearly not functioning properly, [Reed] wants to lower the rates to the point where quality movers cannot serve the military under either system, he said. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., left, and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., have asked the Defense Departments inspector general to assess whether national security officials transferred classified information when they discussed plans for airstrikes in Yemen in the presence of a journalist. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON Top senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday asked the Defense Department to investigate the Signal group chat in which Trump national security officials discussed plans for airstrikes in Yemen in the presence of a journalist. The request is bipartisan, with Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican chairman of the committee, and Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the panel, asking the departments inspector general to assess whether anyone in the chat transferred classified information. The formal request for a probe comes four days after the top editor of The Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed he was mistakenly included in the conversation. The scandal has caused a furor on Capitol Hill, with Democrats increasingly calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths resignation. Hours before the bombing, Hegseth posted when American fighter pilots would attack Houthi targets in Yemen, sharing information on the types of aircraft that would be used and the approximate times of launches and strikes. The chat on the commercial messaging app also included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and other top officials. Waltz, a former Green Beret, accidentally invited Goldberg to the discussion. President Donald Trumps administration has tried to downplay the security breach and continues to insist no classified information was shared in the Signal chat. Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated Thursday that the Justice Department will not look into the matter. It was sensitive information, not classified, and inadvertently released, Bondi said. What we should be talking about is it was a very successful mission. But the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee said an inquiry was necessary. If true, this reporting raises questions as to the use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information, as well as the sharing of such information with those who do not have proper clearance and need to know, Wicker and Reed wrote in a letter to Steven Stebbins, the acting inspector general at the Pentagon. The senators said they wanted a full accounting of what was communicated in the chat and whether anyone had transferred classified information, including operational details, from classified systems to unclassified systems and if so, how. Hegseth has denied he shared war plans, describing his disclosure of weapons and timing as a team update to provide updates in real time, general updates in real time. The House Armed Services Committee has not called for an investigation into the incident but Democrats on the committee are pressing Republicans to hold a hearing with Hegseth. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the panel, on Wednesday demanded Hegseth resign, saying his actions displayed a level of incompetence that should not be tolerated at the Defense Department. Anybody working at the Defense Department who shared this type of information should be fired and certainly the secretary of defense should be held to that same standard, he said. Reed has not called for Hegseths resignation but said the Signal chat represented one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen. An undated photo of Army 1st Lt. William Hott. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) An American soldier killed during the Korean War has become the 100th service member identified from remains turned over by North Korea seven years ago, the Defense Department announced Wednesday. Army 1st Lt. William Hott, a native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, served in the 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement. Hott was killed in action on Dec. 1, 1950, at the East Chosin Reservoir, about 150 miles north of the border dividing the Korean Peninsula and 70 miles south of North Koreas border with China, the statement said. Fierce fighting erupted at the Chosin Reservoir known in South Korea as the Changjin Reservoir between November and December 1950, five months after North Korean troops invaded the South and sparked the three-year war. Approximately 30,000 U.N. Command forces in the area faced 120,000 Chinese troops deployed to halt the U.S.-led advance. Outnumbered and surrounded, allied forces retreated south through mountainous terrain under relentless attacks from Chinese reinforcements. Maj. Gen. Oliver Smith, commander of the 1st Marine Division, voiced concerns about the difficult conditions in a letter to the Marine Corps commandant on Nov. 15, 1950. I believe a winter campaign in the mountains of North Korea is too much to ask of the American soldier or Marine, and I doubt the feasibility of supplying troops in this area during the winter or providing for the evacuation of sick and wounded, Smith wrote, according to the Marine Corps website. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks about a recently identified Korean War soldier at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 25, 2025. (Madelyn Keech/U.S. Air Force) The battle left approximately 7,000 U.S., South Korean and British troops dead. An estimated 50,000 Chinese soldiers were also killed, according to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Hotts remains were among those returned to the U.S. on July 27, 2018, when relations between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had improved. During their summit in Singapore that year, the two leaders agreed to commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified, according to a joint statement issued June 12, 2018. Thank you to Chairman [Kim] for keeping your word and starting the process of sending home the remains of our great and beloved missing fallen, Trump wrote on Twitter on Aug. 2, 2018. North Korea handed over 55 boxes containing 501 bones as part of that pledge. Forensic analysts at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency later estimated the remains belonged to at least 250 individuals, according to the Defense Department. Each identification is progress toward our goal of leaving no warriors behind, DPAA director of scientific analysis John Byrd said in Wednesdays statement. More than 7,400 U.S. service members who fought in the Korean War remain unaccounted for, according to the DPAA. Of those, the remains of about 5,300 are believed to be in North Korea. JUBA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest in the national capital of Juba on Wednesday night as the United Nations mission in the country called for restraint. "Following reports tonight of the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) calls on all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement," Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the UN secretary-general to South Sudan and head of UNMISS, said in a statement. Haysom said the unilateral amendments by the parties to that agreement jeopardize the hard-won gains of the past seven years and risk returning the country to a state of war. "This will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region," he warned in the statement issued Wednesday night. Haysom called on the parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage in constructive dialogue that puts the best interests of their people at the forefront of this pivotal moment for the country. "Tonight, the country's leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward toward peace, recovery, and democracy in the spirit of the consensus that was reached in 2018 when they signed and committed to implementing a Revitalized Peace Agreement," he said. Reath Muoch Tang, acting chairperson of the National Committee on Foreign Relations for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), condemned the arrest as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement that formed the unity government. Tang said the defense minister and chief of national security were in the convoy that delivered an arrest warrant to Machar, along with more than 20 heavily armed vehicles that forcibly entered his residence. "His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges. Attempts are currently being made to relocate him," Tang said in a statement on Wednesday night. He said the arrest was a "blatant" violation of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement, as no legal procedures, such as lifting his immunity, were followed. Earlier on Wednesday, UNMISS, in a separate statement, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urgent dialogue between the country's leaders to de-escalate tensions and restore calm. In the previous 24 hours, clashes have reportedly taken place between the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) near Juba, according to the UN. "We encourage the president and first vice president to lead efforts to prevent further military confrontation and restore calm by meeting to resolve differences and making a joint public statement reassuring all South Sudanese of their shared commitment to peace," Haysom said. The UN mission said the situation in Upper Nile State also remains volatile, with reports of further mobilization of armed forces and aerial bombardment of civilian areas, allegedly using devices containing a highly flammable liquid that acts as an accelerant on explosion, causing significant casualties and horrific injuries. UNMISS added that intensive diplomatic efforts are underway to broker a peaceful solution. South Sudan, which became independent in 2011, signed a peace deal in 2018 that ended a civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Machar. Nearly 400,000 people died in the civil war. Relations between Kiir and Machar, who have dominated South Sudan's politics for decades, remain strained. The clashes and latest political tensions between the two leaders have unsettled many citizens and the international community. An undated photo Annette Amerman (left) and John Jack Elliott (right) at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. (Courtesy of Annette Amerman) John McClelland Jack Elliott, a historian and Marine aviation veteran who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, had a dry wit that kept people laughing, said Annette Amerman, his closest friend of 29 years. He would say stuff and you would think Did he really just say that, Amerman said. He would get this little glint in his eye, and you would see the mischievous kid was still in there. Elliott, from Springfield Va., died of a short illness at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia on March 22. He died in the company of Amerman and other close friends sharing their favorite stories and memories with him. He was 101. He has no surviving family members. It was the way he wanted to go. He had a happy life, Amerman said. He is now happily reunited with his wife, parents, brothers and all the other friends that have already predeceased him. An undated photo of John Jack Elliott at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. (National Museum of the Marine Corps via Facebook) Amerman, who says she is like a daughter he never had, met Elliott in 1995 when she was an intern for the Marine Corps History Division at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Va. Working as a historian of Marine aviation, Elliott would enlighten Amerman on Marine Corps history, making her want to pick his brain even more. This was the start of a lifelong friendship, and they became inseparable. Though the age difference was 51 years, their love for history united them, and they spent almost three decades together full of learning, love and laughter. I told Jack one time that I asked God to send me a guy that I can care for and love, and who will care for and love me back, Amerman said. And I looked at him and said, I got you Jack. He just roared with laughter, and I said, Apparently you have to be more specific with God. Elliott authored Marine Aviation at Quantico 1918-1941, a detailed publication about Marine aviation history. He wrote it, according to Amerman, because he was worried future generations would forget about his era. He trusted Amerman to keep his part of history alive, and thats exactly what she plans to do as a historian at Naval History Heritage Command at the Washington Navy Yard. I wouldnt be half the historian that I am if it werent for him, Amerman said. John Jack Elliott is promoted to captain on Dec. 30, 1956. (Courtesy of Annette Amerman) An undated photo of John Jack Elliott as a gunnery sergeant after he returned from World War II. (Courtesy of Annette Amerman) Elliotts Marine Corps story began in 1942 when he enlisted as an aviation ordnanceman and was stationed at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. During WWII, he served with Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 341, mostly in the Philippines. After the war ended in 1945, he reenlisted and spent eight more years as an enlisted Marine. After serving in Korea where he managed ammo dumps, Elliott was commissioned in 1953 as a second lieutenant at Quantico, Va., becoming a proud Mustang a commissioned officer who began their career as an enlisted service member. Once commissioned, he married the love of his life, Helen Giles, on Sept. 26. They had no children together. He then deployed to Chu Lai, Vietnam, in 1965 with Marine Aircraft Group 12 as an ordnance officer handling outdoor storage and munitions. During his military career, he was stationed at Miami, Quantico, California and Japan. On June 30, 1966, he retired as a major after serving 24 years in the Corps. He was proud of being a Marine, and he was honored to have served, Amerman said. On Sept. 26, 1953, John Jack Elliott and Helen Giles were married. In the wedding party are Helens parents, Edward and Elizabeth (left) and Johns parents, Annie and Robert Elliott (right). (Courtesy of Annette Amerman) An undated photo of John Jack Elliott (left) and his wife Helen Giles (right) after being engaged. This was his favorite photo of the two of them, and he carried it in his wallet every day. (Courtesy of Annette Amerman) Elliott dedicated his life to service, research and writing. Shortly after retirement, he spent 18 years as a volunteer with the National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board of the Smithsonian, and after that, time at the Naval History Heritage Command as a naval aviation historian. In 1985, the Marine Corps Air Ground Museum in Quantico opened, and he volunteered his time there, too. In 2006, the air ground museum was reconstructed into what is now the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Elliott, who saw the place built from the ground up, was one of the first to volunteer as a docent and considered it his second home. He often referred to himself as one of the oldest living artifacts at the museum and volunteered there until he was 100. Amerman said he spent tens of thousands of hours volunteering as a docent, helping shape exhibits with extensive research and knowledge, and he found joy in sharing his era of Marine Corps history to visitors from around the world. If it werent for Elliotts time and investment, Amerman said, the museum wouldnt be half the place it is today. An undated photo of John Jack Elliott at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. (National Museum of the Marine Corps via Facebook) With the passing of Major John Jack Elliott, we bid farewell to a devoted Marine and a living connection to our history, said a spokesperson of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Jack dedicated his life to service, first in uniform and later as a passionate steward of Marine Corps history. ... Even at 100 years old, Jack continued to share stories with visitors and bring history to life with a depth and authenticity that only a Marine of his era could provide. He will be missed, but his legacy will live forever. Elliott was born on April 9, 1923, in Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Canada, to Annie and Robert who was a World War I veteran. He had brothers named Bill and Doug who both served in the U.S. Air Force. His family moved from Canada to Santa Barbara, Calif., during his childhood, and he grew up watching the aircraft fly in and out of what was then known as Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara sparking a lasting interest and passion. An undated photo of John Jack Elliott as a grade schooler in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Courtesy of Annette Amerman) A private memorial service will be held May 2 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., and will immediately be followed by the burial at National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico. Visitation will be May 1 at the Mountcastle Turch Funeral Home & Crematory in Dale City from 6-8 p.m. It will be open to all who want to pay their respects. I want people to come and visit and tell funny Jack stories, Amerman said. He would be sitting upstairs looking at us and saying, Oh, you people are so silly. . Amerman asks that if anyone wants to donate in Elliotts name and memory, that they donate to their local SPCA or to the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Elliotts military achievements and awards include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat V; Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars; American Campaign Medal; Asian-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze stars; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars; Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars; United Nations Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; Korean War Service Medal; Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star; Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars; Philippine Presidential Unit Citation; Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation; Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation; and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one bronze star. 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 yesterday. Following a search carried out on the vehicle, around 165,000 in cash was seized. 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. 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/. Thomas Peixoto (28) of Impasse Des Platanes, France, pleaded guilty A French tourist has been told to return to the country next month to hear from a man and a woman he left in hospital with serious injuries following a head-on crash in county Monaghan last year. Thomas Peixoto (28) of Impasse Des Platanes, France, pleaded guilty to two counts of careless driving causing serious bodily harm at a sitting of Monaghan District Court following an incident at Carragartha, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan on April 20, 2024. Peixoto, the court was told, had been visiting the area while on holidays and was at the wheel of a 241-registered rental car when he crossed into the path of his two victims on the outskirts of the county Monaghan town. Sgt Lisa McEntee, for the State, said gardai arrived at the scene at around 7:30pm where they found ambulance and fire service personnel tending to the driver and passenger of the car Peixoto had collided with. Thomas Peixoto (28) left a man and a woman in a serious condition in hospital following a head on collision in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan in April last year. She said the accused had been travelling from the Cullaville area to Castleblayney and was attempting to cross a major road when his car collided head on with the occupants of a 151-registered vehicle. Sgt McEntee said the pair sustained serious injuries in the crash and were rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for treatment. Both drivers, Judge Patricia Cronin was told, passed breathalyser tests with Peixoto subsequently being arrested and brought to a local garda station where he was fingerprinted and photographed. The accused was later charged with dangerous driving, a count which was consequently withdrawn by the State and replaced by two careless driving charges which Peixoto pleaded guilty to. Thomas Peixoto was ordered to return to court next month where, it is expected, victim impact statements will be furnished to the court. He was in a rental car over on holidays and turned across the main road and collided head-on with the other car, added Sgt McEntee. Judge Cronin said the courts sentencing was one which could not be decided upon in the absence of possible victim impact statements being offered up. There are two people named and injured parties, I have to give them the opportunity, she said. I dont have an option in relation to it. Judge Cronin said given Peixotos cooperation with the case, the court would not expect him to travel back to Ireland in the very short term to dispose of the matter. With that in mind, she remanded Peixoto on bail to reappear at a sitting of Monaghan District Court on April 28. Kirsty Leigh McMaster (32) appeared at Belfast Crown Court today where she was sentenced for committing an act outraging public decency at St Mary's Chapel on May 18, 2024 A woman who was caught engaging in a sex act in the side room of a Belfast city centre chapel has been handed a four-month jail term. Kirsty Leigh McMaster (32), whose address was given as no fixed abode, appeared at Belfast Crown Court today where she was sentenced for committing an act outraging public decency at St Mary's Chapel on May 18, 2024. Judge Philip Gilpin told McMaster that her actions caused upset to parishioners who witnessed the incident. At around 3.15pm, McMaster and her co-accused - Sean Paul Russell (37) from Market Street in Downpatrick - were in a side room of the chapel. Others in the church saw McMaster performing oral sex on Russell and police were alerted. When they arrived, the pair were arrested. Due to McMaster's physical state, police brought her to hospital and a toxicology report revealed ketamine was in her system. St Mary's Chapel When she was fit for interview, McMaster admitted engaging in sexual activity with Russell, but said it had taken place outside the chapel. She told a probation officer that she had no memory of her offending behaviour due to her intoxication. McMaster did, however, tell the probation officer that she remembered meeting Russell in the city centre and that her next memory was waking up in hospital. Defence barrister Paul Burns said that, at the time of the offence, McMaster was "at a low ebb and was homeless on the streets. Submissions made on behalf of McMaster also highlighted her being the victim of an abusive relationship in the past, her addiction to drink and drugs and the steps she is now taking to tackle these issues. Judge Gilpin revealed that while on remand, McMaster was attacked by a fellow inmate and had boiling water poured over her. He detailed several aggravating factors including the fact it took place "inside a place of worship" and the "considerable upset" the incident caused to parishioners. Judge Gilpin told McMaster: "Through your probation officer, you apologised for your behaviour, you recognised the impact that your behaviour had on the public and you recognised the lack of respect you had shown for the place where you offended." He imposed the four-month sentence and said the time McMaster has already served on remand would be taken into account. Russell pleaded guilty to the same charge last week. He will be sentenced on May 16. This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the former U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Afghan interim government's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, has said that several issues, including reopening the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and handing over the control of the Afghan Embassy in Washington, had been discussed here with a U.S. delegation. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan interim government's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, has said that several issues, including reopening the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and handing over the control of the Afghan Embassy in Washington, had been discussed here with a U.S. delegation. "Negotiations for handing over the Afghan Embassy in the United States are ongoing," Mujahid said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV channel. "We also want the U.S. Embassy to resume its activities." The delegation returned to the United States with a number of issues, and "we will wait to see what steps Washington will take," Mujahid added. Mujahid said that the interim government has ended a war with the United States and is committed to establishing positive relations with the country. Since the interim government assumed power in August 2021, a U.S. delegation visited Kabul last week for the first time. The delegation discussed bilateral relations and prisoner exchange with the government's Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. His lawyers claim the legislation does not have the necessary extra-territorial powers Prominent loyalist David Dee Stitt is set to argue he has been wrongly prosecuted for allegedly inciting religious hatred through a social media posting because he was on holiday in Spain. As a judge listed the 54-year-old community workers trial for hearing in May, a defence based on him being out of Northern Ireland at the time was confirmed. His lawyers claim the legislation does not have the necessary extra-territorial powers. Stitt, of Lord Wardens Court in Bangor, Co Down, denies publishing threatening, abusive or insulting material with intent to stir up hatred amid racial tensions last summer. The charge against him has been brought under Article 10 of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987. Previous courts heard a posting shared on his Facebook page on July 31 stated enough is enough get up and stand up in response to the killing of three young girls in Southport, England. Listing parts of Belfast, Newtownabbey and north Down where protests were to be held three days later, it stated: The aim is to bring the country to a standstill. Advice was given for women and children to be at the front of demonstrations at all locations. The message also referred to having one chance to stop the spread of evil Islam. Detectives investigating the published material arrested Stitt at Belfast City Airport on August 22. He had just arrived back from a six-week stay in Alicante, where the material was allegedly posted. Police and prosecutors have described the publication as a call to arms, claiming the intention was to incite fear or hatred of a group of people defined by religious belief. During interviews Stitt told police it was made on a private Facebook account he thought could only be seen by around 700 friends. He insisted it was a re-share of a message sent to him about staging peaceful protests, and based on content written by someone else. Stitts lawyers have now prepared written arguments as part of attempts to secure his acquittal. They argue that a Northern Ireland Order has no jurisdictional capacity to penalise suspected conduct abroad. At the time the offence was alleged to have been committed, the Defendant was in Spain and any re-sharing on Facebook occurred in Spain, defence papers contend. Northern Ireland legislation cannot extend in any way to another country or territory outside of this jurisdiction to create or alter the law elsewhere. Further grounds of challenge involve claims the posting was not threatening, abusive or insulting, and that Stitt is protected by the right to freedom of expression. He did not attend Belfast Magistrates Court on Wednesday as a new date for the trial was set. District Judge Steven Keown agreed to deal with the contest at a one-day hearing in May. Victor Hamiltons body was found in his driveway at Orkney Drive on July 26, 2022 A man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Victor Hamilton, who was found dead in a pool of blood outside his Ballymena home. Mamadu Saido Djalo (32), of Derryveen Crescent in Dungannon, was due to go on trial along with two others accused of murdering the 63-year-old. Mr Hamiltons body was found in his driveway at Orkney Drive on July 26, 2022. On Thursday, Djalos senior counsel Brenda Campbell KC made an application for her client to be rearraigned at Belfast Crown Court. When the murder charge was put to the defendant, Djalo replied: Not guilty to murder. Guilty to manslaughter. Crown counsel Michael Chambers KC told Mr Justice OHara the guilty plea to manslaughter was "acceptable to the prosecution''. The legal representative said the seven other charges Djalo faced of attempting to pervert the course of justice would be "left on the books with the usual order''. Mr O'Hara granted bail of 750 with the defendant to be freed to an address approved by police. Djalo was also excluded from entering Ballymena as designated by the 30mph speed limit sign. Earlier in the proceedings, co-accused Mario Menezes (35), of Portmore Street in Portadown, and Michael Hanrahan (43), of Thomas Street in Craigavon, were arraigned on a new charge and pleaded guilty to withholding information. The charge reads: Between July 26, 2022, and August 1, 2022, Casemiro Sano Lopez Vaz, having committed a relevant offence, namely murder, knowing or believing that that offence or some other relevant offence had been committed and you had information which was likely to secure or to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of some person for that offence without reasonable excuse failed to give that information within a reasonable time to a constable. Prosecution counsel Gavin Duffy KC said the plea to the withholding information charge was "acceptable to the Crown'' and the murder charge they had faced will now be left on the books in the usual terms. Mr Justice O'Hara said: "If I understand correctly, the individual who the Crown believes is the direct killer in this case, Mr Vaz, escaped to Portugal after the killing of Mr Hamilton, is that correct?'' Mr Duffy replied: "He did and has not yet been made amenable to the court.'' The senior judge inquired: "Is that partly because Portugal does not extradite their own citizens?'' Mr Duffy replied: "Not for offences of murder as the matter currently stands. Of course, it is a matter for the legislature in Portugal and that might change in the future. If it does, all efforts will certainly continue to have him returned.'' The judge said: "The two defendants who have just pleaded guilty to withholding information were the back seat passengers in the car which drove up from Portadown to Ballymena on the night Mr Hamilton was killed and then drove back to Portadown.'' But the prosecutor told the court: "There is acceptance in an agreed basis of plea that the two defendants did not get out of the car after the vehicle arrived at the relevant location. Defence counsel Frank O'Donoghue KC said Hanrahan has served two years and nine months on remand and was a suitable candidate for bail. Greg Berry KC for Menezes said his client can't be imprisoned for more than three years for the offence he has pleaded guilty to. "We would have an application for him to be released on bail today (Thursday), he added. "Any further detention would be arbitrary. To put it bluntly, he has served his time. He shouldn't be detained any longer.'' Mr Duffy said the applications for bail were not resisted by the prosecution, but certain conditions would have to be met to make sure the proposed bail addresses were appropriate and approved by police. Mr Justice O'Hara said he was satisfied "in principle that these two defendants should be released on bail and that could be perfected later today (Thursday) on agreed terms''. Mr O'Donoghue said he would prefer for Hanrahan to remain in custody and when he is sentenced he can appear via video-link from the prison "so that he could be released from the prison rather than the court and that allow him to gather up his belongings and allow his orderly return to the community.'' All three defendants are due to be sentenced on April 2. Reece Dunnett appeared at the citys Magistrates Court accused of involvement in disorder which erupted after an anti-immigration protest last summer The Sham Supermarket on Donegall Road in Belfast which was burned during disorder in the area following an anti-immigration protest (PA) A man from Scotland allegedly took part in rioting and an arson attack on a Syrian-run supermarket in Belfast, a court heard today. Reece Dunnett appeared at the citys Magistrates Court accused of involvement in disorder which erupted after an anti-immigration protest last summer. The 24-year-old, of Vorlich Way in Dunfermline, is charged with riotous assembly, criminal damage to a fence, and the theft of a wooden plank belonging to a construction company. He also faces two further counts of aiding and abetting an arson attack on a Vauxhall Astra car and arson by destroying retail items belonging to Sham Supermarket. The shop, located on Donegall Road in south Belfast, was severely damaged after being set on fire during the unrest on August 3. Appearing remotely from his home via video-link, Dunnett confirmed that he understood the five charges put to him. The court heard he had voluntarily attended a PSNI station to be interviewed about the alleged offences. Police were keen to speak to him, he came back (to Belfast) and was then released on bail, a defence lawyer said. Deputy District Judge Liam McStay was told that a senior prosecutor will assess the case before any final decision is taken on the charges. Adjourning proceedings for six weeks, he excused Dunnett from attending the next hearing. Imposing sentence today, Mr Justice Paul Burns noted to say the facts of this matter are disturbing is something of an understatement. Three men have been jailed for the cruel, cynical and depraved rape and sexual assault of a woman they encountered in a Dublin nightclub almost six years ago. Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34) were convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court last month, after pleading not guilty to offences which took place on August 31, 2019. Imposing sentence today, Mr Justice Paul Burns noted to say the facts of this matter are disturbing is something of an understatement. He said the victim was in a vulnerable state, and the three man acting together took advantage of her vulnerability in a cruel, cynical, and depraved manner, devoid of any semblance of human decency. Fabio Vicente The judge said they were mature men, who subjected the victim to an abhorrent series of sexual attacks, which went far beyond humiliation, were dehumanising as well as a total denial of her inherent dignity as a human being. He said the offending must be seen in its true context of concerted and simultaneous sexual abuse by three men of a vulnerable woman. The judge said it was truly shocking that such vile abuse could happen to a woman on a night out in Dublin in 2019. Hickey, of Ballyogan Square, Carrickmines, Dublin 18, was convicted of raping the woman in his then address in Dundrum, and of orally raping and sexually assaulting her in a car. The personal trainer and father of two was handed a sentence of 16 years, with the final year suspended on strict conditions. Vicente, of Little Newtown, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, was found guilty of raping the woman in the car and raping her in Hickey's then-home. The part-time stripper and personal trainer was also received a sentence of 16 years, with the final year suspended. Zolfaghari (34), of Marley Court, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, was convicted of the oral rape of the woman in the house. The jury found him not guilty of sexually assaulting the woman in the car. Anthony Hickey and Fabio Vicente on a holiday together The father of one and restaurant director was given a sentence of 14 years, with the final year suspended. The court has previously heard the three men do not accept the jury's verdicts. Hickey has 10 previous convictions, including one for assault causing harm. Vicente has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence, while Zolfaghari has no previous convictions. During a previous sentence hearing, the woman said in her victim impact statement that the three men were complete strangers who took advantage of me and used me and my body as if I was an object that they were entitled to. She noted that every victim thinks it is their fault at some point, but she said that the fault rested solely with the men who waited and preyed and took advantage. You not only raped me, I found out during the trial you violated me in another way. You videoed raping me." You sent around these videos and laughed about me saying no. You laughed because you didn't care and you have shown no remorse from the second you entered into these courts. Matin Zolfaghari In his remarks, Mr Justice Burns said the victim was not at fault for what happened, and the blame rested solely with the men. The woman had been socialising and went to the nightclub with a friend. She gave evidence during the trial that her memory was hazy after her friend left, but recalled dancing and remembered being offered a white powder, but couldn't say if she took any. She recalled being in the back of a vehicle, which she believed to be a taxi, with up to four men, where she was raped. The woman also remembered lying in a bed and kicking out while a male was on top of her. Forensic analysis showed the woman was highly intoxicated. CCTV footage was used to identify the men and a Volkswagen Touareg SUV belonging to Vicente. When the men were interviewed, they described engaging in consensual sexual activity with the woman. An analysis of Hickey's phone identified WhatsApp messages in which he asked Zolfaghari to send him a video. After Zolfaghari sent two clips which he had recorded on the night of August 31, Hickey replied: Listen to you laughing after she says no. While nothing is visible in either video, the woman is heard saying 'no' several times in a 30-second clip recorded in the car. A second video was recorded in the house. A later analysis of the men's phones uncovered communication between them, which included a version of the events that night. This version of events was re-circulated before their garda interviews in September 2020. Mr Justice Burns said in his sentencing remarks that rather than feeling any sense of remorse, two of the men found callous amusement in these videos. The judge noted that Zolfaghari was convicted of only one offence, but this had to be seen in overall context of the night, and that Zolfaghari had recorded the videos. He said it was difficult to see his behaviour as significantly less culpable than the other men. Mr Justice Burns directed the three men to place themselves under the supervision of The Probation Services for three years post-release and backdated their sentences to the date they went into custody. The judge extended his best wishes to the victim, and said the court hoped that she would make a further recovery, with the support of her family and appropriate services. He also commended the gardai for their excellent and painstaking investigation. After the court rose, a large number of supporters of the men entered the back of the courtroom, some shouting I love you, with others giving the thumbs up to the men. When directed to leave by gardai, a female voice said we are all very upset right now, give us a minute, while another female voice called out they were over-sentenced, they are all innocent. The abandoned two bedroom residence at Ferriskill, Coolarty, Co Longford had been the subject of a High Court ruling last July The two bedroom cottage in Ferriskill, Coolarty, Granard, Co Longford which was seized last year by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) ahead of its sale at auction. A fire-damaged cottage belonging to the estranged wife of a Longford gang boss which was seized by Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) chiefs last year has changed hands for more than double its estimated minimum market value. The abandoned two bedroom residence at Ferriskill, Coolarty, Co Longford had been the subject of a High Court ruling last July. Lena Stokes had claimed the 45,000 used to buy the house came from money left to her by her father. That came after her husband Sonny Stokes was identified by Bureau officials in court as a leading member of the Stokes Organised Crime Group. The inside of the property had been extensively damaged by fire in a suspected arson attack. Judge Alex Owens, however, said the money used for the 2019 purchase was organised by her husband and there was no evidence to back up her claim. The property, which is located 4km from Granard, has since been the significantly damaged by a suspected arson attack, leading to part of its roof being impacted and large parts of its interior effectively gutted. In his ruling, Judge Owens described as extraordinary, Ms Stokes insistence that she was unaware of the criminal activity involving members of her family. The gang were described as being involved in serious criminality including theft, deception and the sale of stolen vehicles, machinery and parts. They bought written-off cars in the UK and cloned those vehicles identities onto stolen cars of the same make. Interested parties were informed by auctioneers of how the property was in need of "complete renovation". Counsel for CAB said Lena Stokes was directly involved in money laundering by making financial transactions and allowing assets to be registered in her name. The family pooled their financial resources and there was a pattern of no legitimate income or employment. Ms Stokes counsel said that the cottage was her home and that she intended to move back into it when the threat of feud violence had died down. In approving the CAB application, the property was declared as being the proceeds of crime along with just under 10,000 in a credit union account. Lena Stokes An application for free legal aid was also denied, where it was heard Ms Stokes lived in a caravan in Chipton in the UK while getting by on 534 a month in social welfare. Dublin based firm BRG Gibson Auctioneers, held an online auction today (Thursday) where the north Longford based cottage, together with five other seized properties went under the hammer. Photographs showing the derelict residence had been posted online ahead of its auction. Many of those illustrated the damaged remains of a holding which was described as being an ideal renovation project for prospective investors. Property experts for BRG Gibson Auctions outlined how the cottage was in need of complete renovation or alternatively, had the potential for the construction of a replacement household subject to planning. Sonny Stokes speaks to the Sunday World back in 2016 Alongside its two bedrooms, kitchen and living area and bathroom, the property was described as also possessing a modest outbuilding, features which led to an Advised Minimum Value (AMV) of 25,000 being assigned. When bidding opened at midday, that estimated value was soon eclipsed as four prospective buyers lodged offers, bringing the price to 40,000 barely an hour later. Two of those pulled out of the race soon afterwards, leaving a pair of buyers to battle it out to secure the propertys keys with the house eventually changing hands for 56,000. The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, mainly by transporting drugs hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland. Gardai and their global counterparts during operation last year Photo: PA Irish and Spanish police have now arrested 12 suspects in a major investigation into The Family Organised Crime Group sparked by the Ghost encrypted phone hack. The criminals are suspected of involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, mainly by transporting drugs hidden in vehicles from Spain to Ireland. Nicola speaks to Niall Donald about developments in the case. MORE EPISODES Maura Heffernan passed away after suffering a brain haemorrhage while on the trip of a lifetime. A woman who died suddenly in Canada is to be repatriated to Ireland for a funeral in Cork within the next ten days. Irish charity the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, have been in contact with the family who are hoping to bring her home within the next week to 10 days. Maura Heffernan died on Sunday night after suffering a brain bleed while on holidays in Alberta, Canada. The 65-year-old was on a surprise trip of a lifetime to visit her daughter Karen and her three grandchildren Aaron, Darren, and Susan whom she had not seen since before the Covid-19 pandemic. Maura, who travelled to Canada with her daughter Helen and son-in-law Stephen, suffered a brain haemorrhage on March 20th, just six days into her trip. They rushed to her side when they heard noises coming from the bathroom, believing she was having a stroke as she couldnt speak. The holiday of a lifetime turned into a holiday from hell," Stephen Curtain told the Limerick Leader. At eight in the morning we were awoken to hear Maura. Two hours later, the family were told she had suffered a brain bleed. Her family were unaware of any underlying conditions and she had been cleared to travel by her doctor as she had surgery on her back last year. Her family set up a fundraiser earlier this week with a target of 50,000 - it has now surpassed 40,000 thanks to 958 generous donations from the public. 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, the GoFundMe reads. Every little bit counts - whether its a donation or just sharing this page. Mum is stuck in a nightmare, and we need to do everything we can to get her home. Thank you to everyone who has helped us get this far, you truly are incredible people. Please continue to share everywhere you can. In a later update, her daughter Lynda shared her thanks for comfort brought by the outpouring of kindness. Thank you to everyone who has helped us get this far, you truly are incredible people. Please continue to share everywhere you can. Maura is survived by her mother Mary, husband Gerard, daughters Helen, Karen, and Lynda, sons Dominic and Colin and her many grandchildren. Her funeral details have yet to be confirmed. The DPP had been considering whether charges should be brought against McGregor for his role in allegedly inciting hatred during the Dublin riots Conor McGregor declared they will have to kill me to stop me in a new rant as he boasts that the Director of Public Prosecutions has told him he will not face prosecution. The message he shared does not state the nature of the charges being considered. However, the DPP had been considering whether charges should be brought against McGregor for his role in allegedly inciting hatred during the Dublin riots. Now, though, the Dubliner ranted that the Constitution will be fixed as he shared a message stating that there is to be no prosecution in this case. Following the controversial fighters announcement that he is going to run for the Presidential Elections, he took to his social media channels saying they will have to kill me to stop me. McGregor posted the message on Instagram The foundation of bunreacht na hEireann was done on the blood of Harry Boland, Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins!, he exclaimed in a bizarre online declaration. Without the murder of these 3 men in betrayal, we would not be in this situation, with the power fully removed from the people. McGregor claimed the government was born on the betrayal of its great citizens. The constitution will be fixed! he fumed. Power torn from the grasp of the political elite! The truth shall prevail. IRELAND WILL BE FREE. The Sunday Independent revealed this weekend that that specialist officers attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) investigated and recently sent the completed garda file to the DPP outlining its case against the controversial fighter over his statements made on his social media accounts in November 2023. The night before the riots, at 11.04pm, McGregor tweeted to more than 10 million followers: Ireland, we are at war. These comments were in response to Ukrainians being allowed to vote in the local elections. The next day, on November 23, a young schoolgirl was seriously injured after being stabbed along with a number of others outside a school in Dublins north inner city at around 1pm. McGregors tweets around this time had also been passed to the DPP for its consideration. It was not the first time McGregor had engaged in the debate surrounding immigration into Ireland. Prior to the Dublin riots, he launched a tirade against the Government in the wake of the conviction of Josef Puska for the murder of Ashling Murphy in which he also threatened a war. Puska, originally from Slovakia, was sentenced to life in prison about a week before the riots erupted. As the riots broke out in Dublin city on November 23 that year, McGregor wrote: I dont care about President Higgins statement. Or Varadkars statement. Or Mary Lous. Or Justice [Minister] McEntees. Or Garda Commissioners. Announce our plan of action!! What are we waiting for? Your statements of nothing are absolutely worthless to the solving of this issue. Take Action!! Fix this situation IMMEDIATELY! Later McGregor posted a photo of the fires on OConnell Street and wrote: What would Daniel OConnell say, I wonder? What would our Irish leaders past say on the situation we face today? God bless Ireland. The Dublin riots were spurred by misinformation online surrounding the background of a perpetrator of a stabbing outside the primary school on the northside of Dublin city. Gardai at Store Street station made dozens of arrests amid the violent scenes and in the days afterwards, after a night of violence and lootings. Officers attached to the NBCI simultaneously launched a separate but adjacent probe into far-right agitators who spurred on those involved in the rioting online. Following the violence in the capital, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said social media was actively monitored during the riots. He told the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee that very serious disinformation was put online over a seven to eight-hour period. Since the riots, gardai have arrested more than 50 people for public-order offences, with over 20 charges for criminal damage and a similar number for burglary. In total, 66 premises were subject to criminal damage, 13 gardai were injured and 28 vehicles were the subject of arson or criminal damage. The 26-year-old from Belfast appeared in court this morning Murder suspect Jonny Smyth has agreed to extradition and should be returned to Spain from Portugal in around a fortnight, officials said today. The 26-year-old from Belfast appeared in court this morning in the northern Portuguese city of Guimaraes following his arrest on Tuesday at an Airbnb a half-drive north in Braga. The extradition hearing took place behind-closed doors as is normal at such proceedings in both Portugal and Spain, where Smyth was put on a wanted list in January after disappearing following the discovery of missing dad-of-two John Georges body in an orchard in Rojales near the Costa Blanca resort of Torrevieja. Well-placed sources close to the case said after it finished: Smyth did not oppose his extradition so it should be very quick, around two weeks. The judge he went before ordered his remand in preventive detention in the meantime. John George Portuguese police confirmed Smyths arrest yesterday, clarifying he had been the only person who had been held and would be facing extradition proceedings after a solicitor for Belfast man John Georges family initially pointed to two arrests being made. Police insiders later revealed he had been held on an international arrest warrant issued by a Spanish court at an unnamed Airbnb in Braga, a city in the far north of Portugal which is considered its religious centre and is just a 50-minute drive from the Spanish border. They said the holiday property booking had been made in Smyths girlfriends name and confirmed she was with him when he was arrested but was not taken into custody. Her whereabouts today was unknown. It is because she made the reservation that he is thought to have managed to stay in the Airbnb where he was captured for around a month without detection. He is said to have tried to fool Spanish cops into thinking he was in the Middle East with photos he posted online, although it is not yet clear where he stayed before arriving in Braga. John George, left, with Jonny Smyth Once Smyth is returned to Spain he will be summoned before the investigating judge probing John Georges murder so his continued preventive detention in Spain ahead of a probable trial can be ratified. Any formal charges would be laid later on once the judge finishes his criminal probe. Suspects can be held in preventive custody in Spain without trial for up to four years, although the normal time limit is two and extensions are a rarity. It is not unheard of for murder suspects to be released on bail beforehand with strict conditions. Gym owner Smyth was made a wanted man on January 21, with court officials on the Costa Blanca confirming the same day national and international arrest warrants had been issued for the man suspected of murdering John George. Mr George, 37, vanished on December 14 last year and relatives reported him missing when he failed to catch a scheduled flight home four days later after what was meant to be a short holiday. 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. Belfast man John Hardy aka John George 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 body was discovered on January 7, hidden under overgrown lemon trees around five miles from the town of Rojales. 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 then hunting as the alleged perpetrator. Johns dad had named and pictured Smyth on his social media, claiming he was the main suspect before Spanish authorities confirmed they had issued arrest warrants in January. He had previously been described as being among the last people to see John George alive. A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Alicante, which has been very tight-lipped about its investigation and is refusing requests for interviews, said today: In the framework of Operation Resistente, carried out by the Territorial Judicial Police Team of Pilar de la Horadada for a crime of intentional homicide of an Irish citizen in the municipality of Rojales, we have received information through SIRENE of the arrest on March 25th. The arrest was made by the Portuguese police in compliance with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Court of Instruction Number Two in Torrevieja. Bernadette Cash has been "sofa surfing" with her young children since 2018, unable to secure emergency accommodation despite repeated attempts to contact housing officials A former Bray resident who has been homeless for the past seven years, and has just left a relatives home where she shared a sofa with her three children, has said she has found it impossible to contact Wicklow County Council for assistance in finding emergency accommodation. A mother to two boys and a girl, aged two, four and six, Bernadette Cash had been living at the Silverbridge halting site in Bray until her son Bernard John Cash was killed in a tragic accident in 2018. The young family has been sofa surfing across Wicklow, Wexford and Dublin ever since, staying in the homes of family members, friends and strangers, where they have slept heads to tails every night. Despite being on the Wicklow social housing list for more than eight years, and making repeated representations to local politicians and Wicklow County Councils homeless and housing departments for emergency accommodation, she says her calls have gone unanswered. Her situation reached crisis point last week when when it became clear she had to leave her relatives house in Wexford. She frantically tried to contact Wicklow County Council for help over several days, but did not get an answer, leaving her to question why it is so hard to get in touch with the council, and why her case isnt seen as a priority. Ive been trying to get Wicklow County Council on the phone today since 10.30 am this morning and there is still no answer, as per usual, Bernadette said on Friday. Its very frustrating, when youre in a situation like Im in, and no one is there to pick up the phone in the homeless or housing departments. I have three young children and not once in those seven years since I left the halting site have Wicklow County Council ever provided me with a hotel room, B&B, apartment or house. Bernadette Cash pictured in Enniscorthy on Sunday. Photo: Jim Campbell Since the passing of my son, there has been negativity in the family and we have been forgotten about I have been sleeping in my relatives house for the past three weeks, but they have their own family here and there isnt a lot of room. We couldnt really impose further on them. I dont know where Im going to go next. I dont have any other family or friends I can reach out to, and Im terrified. Im not looking for a house or an apartment, and I understand there is a housing crisis. There has to be some emergency accommodation out there, but I cant even get over the first hurdle and speak to WCC. I will go anywhere, and I just want somewhere stable that we can have a fresh start, so I dont have to keep pulling my kids in and out of different schools. Were sleeping heads to tails on peoples sofas She added: Weve been sleeping on sofas for the past seven years, staying with family, friends, strangers anyone that will take us in. Ive stayed in Shankill for a couple of nights. In Ballyboden in Dublin. All over. Were sleeping heads to tails on peoples sofas, and weve never had a routine. I dont drink, I dont smoke and I dont do drugs. I just want somewhere that is safe where I can take a breath and give the kids a bit of normality. Ive reached out to anyone and everyone at this stage, but surely this should fall on Wicklow County Council. Because, if my familys situation isnt seen as a priority, either for emergency accommodation or social housing, I dont know what is. Asked why the team responsible for helping people with housing emergencies was so difficult to contact for Bernadette, Wicklow County Council replied: Wicklow County Council is prohibited under GDPR rules from discussing individual cases. Staff members are dealing with a high number of queries and are prioritising calls and cases. CANBERRA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will call the federal election on Friday morning for May 3, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Thursday. The prime minister will visit Governor-General Sam Mostyn in the Australian capital Canberra, where he will advise that he is dissolving parliament and calling the federal election for May 3, said the report, adding that it is to trigger "a five-week campaign to convince voters whether Labor under Anthony Albanese or the Coalition under Peter Dutton is most fit to lead the country." According to the report, the cost of living is likely to dominate the campaign and both parties will have to campaign fiercely to guarantee enough seats to be able to govern, and 76 seats are needed for an outright majority. With just three seats to lose to force Labor into minority government, and 19 for the Coalition to pick up to be able to govern in its own right, pollsters have favored a hung parliament as the most likely outcome based on current opinion. The report noted that successive polls have also identified a larger-than-usual bloc of uncommitted voters, and the most hotly contested seats are around Melbourne and Sydney's outer suburbs, with polls suggesting those are among the likeliest to change hands and determine the election outcome. 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. 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? I'll take the best of what is good and strong and true and do my best to be a wonderful father Former RTE 2fm presenter Eoghan McDermott has introduced his new baby son to the world, as he paid tribute to the midwives of Holles St Hospital. The new dad posted a picture of himself with partner Alessandra Heredia and the just-arrived baby boy they have named Kevin Mateo McDermott to mark the occasion. Welcome to the world, precious boy, he declared. You are so very loved. Named after my Papa (and his new Grandpa) - the wisest, kindest man of all. Mam said the other day oh it's Kev and Kev Og... so perhaps 'Kev Og' will stick. He added his thanks to earth angels in Holles St and especially the @domino_midwives ... you are ferocious and wonderful people. I'll take the best of what is good and strong and true and do my best to be a wonderful father, he vowed. 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 And of course, thank you beyond what words will ever capture @alessandraheredia for a life-defining gift. You are magic in a bottle and Baby Kev will be all the richer in all the ways with you as his mother, that I know. Here's to the next...and greatest, adventure. Failte, Kevin Mateo. Fellow celebrities and stars commented on the post to wish the couple well with Joanne McNally exclaiming: Ah Eoghan !!!!! Massive congratulations to you both Xoxox. Baz Ashmawy offered: Congratulations man while Laura Whitmore sent: So much love to you all. Last December McDermott made his first public appearance since leaving the station three years ago alongside Alessandra as they stepped out for Julian Benson's Winter Wonderland Gala Ball in Dublin The pair had announced their pregnancy news previous month with a sweet photo of the broadcaster placing a kiss on his girlfriends belly. The gala was McDermotts first public appearance in Dublin since his sudden departure from the popular 2FM breakfast show that he co-presented with Doireann Garrihy back in February 2021. No reason was given for his departure but in March 2022, he broke his silence in a statement to say false allegations had been made about him referring to comments posted anonymously on Twitter and Reddit. Despite not being investigated or verified, these allegations were spread widely, the effects of which I am still processing, McDermott said. Mr McDermott accompanied the Twitter post with a letter issued by Mary Cowhey Solicitors, representing his accuser, to his own solicitor Paul Tweed. The letter said that during the course of some internet postings and a number of tweets made through an anonymous Twitter account in March 2021, their client made false allegations against the presenter. Those remarks arose out of a relationship they had in or around October 2010, it read. Our client accepts there were a number of serious falsehoods contained in her publications, which may have caused distress to your client and those closest to him. Our client sincerely regrets publishing the inaccuracies contained in those publications and acknowledges that they have had a harmful effect on your client and those close to him. These inaccuracies were the product of the elapse of time since 2010 and the published tweets. They also stemmed out of an unreasonable reliance placed on false information from third parties. It went on to state that their client accepted she was at the age of consent at the time that she and Mr McDermott met or engaged in a physical relationship, contrary to the original claim. She acknowledges the severity of this false claim and retracts it unequivocally. Our client also accepts, without reservation, that she falsely claimed that your client had fled the country on account of these claims, it added. A Mangakino farmer convicted of animal cruelty and failing to properly feed hundreds of sheep and cattle says he should not be jailed. Warren George Michael Koberstein, a 75-year-old farmer of 40 years, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison in August. He was also ordered by Judge Tony Snell not to own farm animals or be in charge of anyone who looks after farm animals again. Koberstein on Tuesday appealed his prison sentence in the Court of Appeal in Wellington before Justices Rebecca Ellis, Rachel Dunningham and Layne Harvey. Kobersteins lawyer, Philip Morgan KC, appealed on the grounds the prison sentence was in his view excessive given he was also banned from farming. He asked a home detention sentence be imposed instead. Warren Koberstein has appealed a jail sentence for ill-treating his animals. Photo / Andrew Warner Koberstein is on bail pending the outcome of the appeal. A jury found Koberstein guilty of 11 charges in March last year. The charges were laid by the Ministry of Primary Industries following a complaint and subsequent search of his farm in July 2019. He was found to have wilfully ill-treated 33 sheep that had to be destroyed, and failed to ensure proper and sufficient food for 834 pregnant sheep, 86 cattle and 32 heifers. Other charges related to sheep stuck on their backs with their eyes pecked out by hawks, one with a neck too deformed to eat properly, and another with an injured foot seen walking on its knuckle. Judge Snell said at sentencing the offending was serious as it involved hundreds of animals in very poor to extensively poor body condition, suffering over a lengthy time. Despite numerous warnings and previous convictions for similar offending, Koberstein buried his head in the sand. Judge Snell said Koberstein was unrepentant. Judge Snell gave a prison starting point of three years and two months, which he discounted by four months to account for the impact of disqualifying Koberstein from farming. That gave a reduced starting point of two years and 10 months in prison. He discounted it a further six months (or 17%), including 5% each for Kobersteins age and good character and 7% for procedural delays in the case, mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Why Koberstein is appealing At appeal, Morgan said Judge Snell should have reduced the sentence by 12 months, not four months, for the lifetime farming ban. Morgan said disqualifying Koberstein from farming effectively meant his lifes work was lost. With the stroke of a pen, it is all gone. He also argued Judge Snells prison starting point was too high, given Kobersteins age and the fact he did not mean to starve the animals. This is not a case of someone setting out to deliberately cause animals suffering. Morgan said Koberstein had a financial interest in ensuring his stock was well fed, but he got it badly wrong. He has spent his life farming this piece of land for 40 years. He is proud of his efforts to breed sheep and cattle. Crown argues judge got it right Crown prosecutor Anna McConachy said Judge Snells sentence was appropriate and should be upheld. She said the 17% discount was generous, given the circumstances. She highlighted Kobersteins lengthy history of Ministry of Primary Industries interventions before the 2019 offending. She said this history showed Koberstein was farming animals with poor body conditions in 2013, 2016 and 2018. In 2016, a farming consultant officially warned him but Kobersteins response was the consultant was an idiot. Given his eight previous animal-related convictions and ministry interventions, as well as a previous assault conviction, McConachy said a 5% good-character discount was generous. She said at the age of 75, Koberstein was coming to the end of his farming career and therefore a farming disqualification had less impact than it would for a younger farmer. The impact of a tax burden of $33,000 to $45,000 that Koberstein now had since not being able to earn an income from farming was simply a consequence of his offending, according to McConachy. She noted the farm had stock worth about $1 million and he still owned the farm, which was valued at about $5 million. The justices reserved their decisions. Friends and parents of a Te Puke school family have banded together to run a movie night fundraiser for one of their own facing adversity. Te Puke woman Sarena Crane is facing terminal bowel cancer, and hopes a treatment available in Mexico will help to give her more time with her family. Friends and parents of Fairhaven School, Kate Perrett and Laura Cowles, and teachers Alicia Best and Sandy Hollinshead, have organised a movie night at the school field to raise funds for Cranes treatment. The 46-year-olds treatment, plus additional costs to keep her family going, are estimated to cost $150,000, hence why her community has rallied around her. My daughter [Eden Best] is good friends with her [Sarenas] daughter Esmae and a group of us have got together to plan this massive fundraiser, said Alicia Best. Gates open 6pm next Saturday, April 5, at Fairhaven School field, with the movie Space Jam to start 7pm. Entry is a koha/donation. Over half the staff from Fairhaven School are volunteering on the night, Best said. We are hoping to get as many people as possible to raise as much as possible to get Sarenas treatment covered. Best hoped at least 2500 people will attend the fundraiser, which will have a sausage sizzle, Raglan Kettle Korn stall, bake sale, glow stick stall, food trucks, and silent auction. Best said businesses from around Tauranga have joined in to offer their support by offering vouchers to be won. Real estate agent Arun Mehan is sponsoring the night along with The Broadcast Co., New World Te Puke, AIM Hire Tauranga and many other generous local businesses. MC Atutahi Henare will be on the mic. The shirts that eight-year-old Eden Best has designed to sell to support the Crane family. Photo / Supplied In addition to the movie night, Bests daughter, Eden Best, aged 8, is selling T-shirts she designed herself to raise more funds for the Cranes. She has sold 50 so far and has raised more than $350 for the family. She will take pre-orders for T-shirts at the April 5 movie night to continue raising money. For more information, visit the event's Facebook page here. The Weekend Sun has one VIP pass for a family of five which includes event entry, beanbags, blankets, drinks and popcorn to attend the movie night at Fairhaven School field on April 5 to give away to one lucky reader who can tell us the date of the movie night? To enter, click here. Entries must be in by Tuesday, April 2. Theyre not the typically big, gnarly, calloused hands of a man of the land. No. Theyre small. Not farmers hands, but are farmers hands because they belong to Peter Hodge who runs 215 acres of sheep and cattle, appropriately on Hereford Rd in Oropi, looking out to the Ohauiti foothills. Small hands but very good for calving cows. And small but hard. I can use a shovel and things without getting blisters. Theyre also the hands of a creative theyre very good for composing and making music, and painting landscapes. And while other farmers would build themselves sheds to potter and tinker with engines and machinery and other farm stuff, four sheds were evolving on Peters property, four genteel, flash ones. I am a bit different, always have been, said Hodge. Panoramic rolling hill views are his inspiration and his normal. Farmer and artist Peter Hodge on his Oropi farm. Photo / David Hall The Green Room is for his wifes business interests, one as a guest suite, the third a music suite where the farmer composes, plays and records his own music; the fourth an art studio. And thats where Hodge will hold his first exhibition, 36 paintings are for sale in the Small Hall as its known, on the family farm at 299 Hereford Rd, well-known this weekend. Viewing is 2pm tomorrow, Saturday, March 29, followed by an auction at 4.30pm. Farming is art Its important to have original art on your walls whether a childs first efforts or that of a well-known artist, said the novice exhibitor. It brightens homes, reminds of places and moments, and brings meaning to our lives. But art and farming arent they a little incongruous? Hodge snorts at the suggestion. Farming is art, as opposed to an occupation. We spend our lives shaping our surroundings to what we want them to be. Theres passion with whatever were doing. Fills us with a sense of purpose and joy. And what gives this farmer lashings of purpose and joy is gazing from those salvaged church hall windows in his studio to the rolling Ohauiti Range seeing it in all its moods and then committing that moment to canvas immediately. No spending days referencing a photograph. Used to be called Mt Misery because it was hard to farm and on a miserable day it was no fun being up there. But not on a sunny autumnal day like today, and not in any of his paintings of the range. Chocolate cake When someone remarked on our stunning view, I told them it was our normal, We gazed on it every day. But then worried he wasnt appreciating what others were seeing, Hodge took the brushes and started painting, to get a deeper understanding of his surrounds. But the same hills, the same range, the same subject in every painting isnt that like a baker who only makes chocolate cake? He responds to the simile with another. But all the chocolate cakes are quite different. The same form but different times of day and year, different light and shadow, different mood. All very different. And at the same time experimenting with styles minimalism, impressionism, pointillism and triangles, his take on cubism. The enjoyment is being in the zone. The creative force, or the spirit of creating, is being totally absorbed in what you are doing at that moment, when nothing else matters. The Ohauiti Hill range in one of its moods and captured by farmer artist Peter Hodge. Photo / David Hall Whatever inspired Does the farmer want to be recognised as an artist or vice versa? I want to be recognised as someone who cares about, and for, the land, whether it be through farming or art or both, or talking to people, or visitors. When the farmer lays down his paintbrushes he might pick up his guitar, play the drumkit or the keyboards, or dabble with composing. Old cars and engines were never my thing; I was always art and music, and my farmer parents always allowed that to happen, never criticised. Of course, they always wanted little Hodge to take over the farm one day. Oh yeah, you didnt not get that. They just allowed me to do whatever inspired me. As for the auction, the bidding will start at the cost of materials and those attending will determine the true value. I just want to see them on someones wall and not in my studio. Paintings can be viewed on YouTube - search Peter Hodge Art Auction 29 3 25. Or contact him via email: peter@bravo-bravo.com or phone 0223574234. A Tauranga councillor has questioned how the council is presenting its water services options in a public document. Glen Crowther took issue with wording in a consultation document approved in a Tauranga City Council meeting on Monday. He claimed it suggested some options did not meet Government requirements, as opposed to not aligning with what Cabinet ministers want from Tauranga. Councils have until September 3 to submit a plan for managing drinking, storm and wastewater services in the future under the Governments Local Water Done Well programme. Councils could keep delivering water services in-house or set up water organisations alone or with other councils. Tauranga proposed a multi-council model potentially shared with the neighbouring Western Bay of Plenty District. A separate council-controlled organisation would be created to jointly manage water services. It agreed to consult the community on this and two alternatives: keep services in-house or create its own CCO to manage water delivery services in Tauranga. Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale. Photo / David Hall Mayor Mahe Drysdale said advice from consultants MartinJenkins and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) recommended working with other councils to deliver water services. This is Government policy, and its been spelled out very clearly that they want us to join with other councils. The consultation document said the proposed joint option aligned with the Government direction of Local Waters Done Well, the single-council CCO partially aligned and the in-house model did not align. Crowther said those statements were incorrect because the council was meeting the statutory requirements for all three models. All of them, I believe align. If were saying were not aligning, we have to be 100% confident of that, and I think were 100% wrong." Matua-Otumoetai Ward councillor Glen Crowther. Photo / David Hall He said it would be better to say the in-house model would fully comply with the DIAs Local Water Done Well model. However, at a political level, it will not align well with what the Cabinet ministers are wanting in the relationship with Tauranga City. Drysdale said that if the council did not opt for a multi-council CCO, it would not align with the direction of the Government. I can 100% say that that is correct because Ive had multiple conversations, including one minister that will not meet me until we align with their direction. Crowther said he understood the council would not align because a Minister, Ministers or the Government feel it wouldnt align with what they want from a Regional Deal. But Local Government Minister Simon Watts had said publicly he was happy for councils to choose, Crowther said. The Western Bay sub region hopes to secure a regional deal. Photo / Mead Norton In February, Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty submitted a Regional Deal proposal. The deals, between the Government and local authorities, create long-term agreements for funding and resources. Drysdale said he was comfortable with the consultation wording because the Governments direction was very much we want you to work together. Councillor Steve Morris said Crowther raised a significant issue where the Government might be making public statements of one nature and ministers privately said something different. As we conduct transparent business here, I think the expectation of the community is that Government conducts transparent business as well. Local Democracy Reporting asked Drysdale which minister refused to meet with him, but he would not say. Drysdale said the council was in regular contact with Government ministers to ensure its direction aligned with Government policy. Its not appropriate to elaborate on those contacts at this time. The Governments direction was for councils to work together to achieve benefits of scale, benefiting communities, he said. If we are going to work together on a Regional Deal it seems logical, we should also work together on water. Local Government Minister Simon Watts. Photo / Alex Burton Watts said City and Regional Deals were partnerships built on trust and collaboration to increase economic growth, productivity, and jobs. Councils had flexibility on structuring water services, provided they meet Local Water Done Well statutory requirements. Proposals for regional deals will be assessed on how well they align with government priorities, including Local Water Done Well. A spokesperson for the minister said he had engaged in informal discussions with Drysdale on a range of matters including Local Waters Done Well and the regional deals model. These have not been substantive discussions. Last week, the Western Bay of Plenty District Councils consultation was criticised by one of its councillors as tokenistic. Tauranga City Councils Local Water Done Well consultation runs from March 28 to April 28. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly said Glen Crowther claimed the council was "lying" in the document. This quote was misheard; he said "align". The story and headlines have been changed to reflect this. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air. A proposed 5G tower metres from a retired couples house has angered Waimapu St residents in Greerton. They say they received little communication about its installation. The street first received official notice from Connexa, the company responsible for building the tower, on March 12, with the letter dated March 4, resident Mike said. Only eight people received one [a letter]. Connexa told Sun Media it wrote to 25 households and that cell towers had to meet strict safety standards. The proposed tower will be close to the living room of one house, Coxon said. Were talking eight metres from the berm to the lounge, he said. Resident Clare Hayes said there are also health and safety concerns with the installation of the tower, being so close to residents houses. Signs along Waimapu St, protesting the proposed cell site. What is the impact of these towers being so close to peoples homes? Hayes and the residents are not opposed to 5G and tower installation but just want the tower to go somewhere else. They dont want the tower relocated to another unsuspecting street but somewhere like the nearby Greerton industrial area along SH29 and Oropi Rd. The tower would be on a blind corner if it were to be installed at its current location and would be at the end of a span of road containing multiple driveways, she said. Member of Parliament for Tauranga Sam Uffindell said he had received correspondence from concerned residents about the towers placement in Greerton. I can understand their concerns very few people want a large tower outside their home. Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. Photo / Alex Cairns The cell site on Waimapu St will replace a streetlight in the road reserve designated for infrastructure such as power, water, sewerage, fibre cables, and cell sites, Connexas planning and engagement lead, Fiona Matthews, said in an email. It [the location] meets the planning rules, and it is within the search ring to provide the necessary capacity and coverage for the community. Alternative sites were considered but found unsuitable. Matthews said the intersection of Fraser St, Chadwick St, and Oropi Road, along with Pemberton Park, was investigated as alternative locations. The location at Waimapu St was able to meet all of the criteria. She said the company wrote to properties within a 50m radius of the cell site. Connexa wrote to 25 property addresses. We have received inquiries from four properties. Thousands of cell sites are in road reserves outside residential properties throughout the country, alongside power lines, streetlights, bus shelters and other critical infrastructure, according to Matthews. The cell site equipment cant be hidden like power or fibre optic cables, so Connexa attempts to minimise visual impacts when possible, Matthews said. Cell towers in New Zealand follow strict safety standards set by the Ministry of Health, typically operating well below the exposure limit, according to Matthews. She said the radio waves used for mobile services are based on technology that has been used for over 100 years. Low emissions involve Wi-Fi, AM and FM radio, television broadcasting, cordless phones, radio-controlled toys and baby monitors. Residents want the tower relocated to a nearby industrial area, citing health and safety concerns. The Resource Management Act covers the National Environmental Standards for Telecommunications Facilities, which allows the use of the road reserve for mobile network infrastructure. Each district council plan sets the rules governing the height and position of mobile infrastructure, Matthews said. The Tauranga District Plan permits poles up to 26m in height for cell sites. Matthew said that the pole and cabinets are positioned 1500mm from the kerb side and that the council must assess the site location for road safety. Council provided no special conditions to Connexa within the relevant statutory timeframe. Tauranga City Council regulatory and compliance general manager Sarah Omundsen said in an email that Connexa is solely responsible for where the towers are to be sited. Telcos decide on the most appropriate sites for infrastructure to be placed. The national standards allow equipment such as cabinets and antennas to be located at the roadside, although they limit the number and size permitted, Omundsen said. Resource consent for a tower may be required, for example, where the proposed infrastructure does not meet national standards, she said. However, in those instances, the council has limited ability to decline or require changes to the proposal. The residents of Waimapu St have launched a petition to gain more support. Sidney Public Library Media Release Sidney, NE What draws people to the library? Everything! From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are essential to thriving communities. National Library Week, April 612, 2025, is a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination, and support lifelong learning. At the Sidney Public Library, we invite the community to join the celebration! Whether you're a longtime patron or havent visited in a while, now is the perfect time to explore all the library has to offer. Our librar... Lincoln, Nebraska The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging dairy producers to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program that helps offset milk and feed price differences. This years DMC signup began Jan. 29 and the deadline to enroll is March 31, 2025. We encourage all dairy producers in Nebraska to consider signing up for this important safety net program in advance of the deadline, said USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Deputy State Executive Director Tim Divis. At $0.15 per hundredweight for $9.50 coverage, risk protection through Dairy Margin... Cheyenne County is often celebrated for its agriculture, history, and natural beauty. However, the true wealth of this county does not lie in its land or resources, but in the people who call it home. Specifically, those individuals who carry with them an unshakable positive attitudethe unsung heroes who fuel progress, uplift their neighbors, and ensure the continued success of their community. In an era where small towns often face economic challenges, shifting populations, and external pressures, maintaining a positive mindset is more than just a personal traitit is a crucial factor in the... KABUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan interim government has inked 10 contracts worth over 289 million U.S. dollars for the generation and transmission of electricity, the office of the acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs said in a statement on Thursday. The contracts were signed between the Afghan power company known as Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat and domestic and foreign private companies at a ceremony in Kabul, the statement asserted. The contracts stipulate that seven electricity generation projects will be implemented in the provinces of Balkh, Herat, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar and Jawzjan, while power transmission projects will be developed in the southern provinces of Kandahar, Zabul and Helmand, it said. With the implementation of these projects, a combined capacity of 228.45 megawatts will be produced, the statement concluded. Afghanistan reportedly produces about 300 megawatts of power from domestic sources and imports 620 megawatts annually from neighboring Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran. Jason Petik, CEO of Sidney Regional Medical Center, was awarded the 2024 AHA Grassroots Champion Award at the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) Advocacy Day for his incredible service and efforts. The American Hospital Association (AHA) Grassroots Champion Award was created to recognize hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on both the national and state level on how major issues affect hospitals' vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital, and who are tireless advocates for hospitals and... A recent online furor over an abandoned dog begs the question, is Interstate traffic causing Sidney to become a dumping ground for unwanted pets? SIDNEY - What began as a call for community help on social media quickly turned into a area-wide "manhunt" for an abandoned tan-colored dog seen roaming around Interstate 80. Presumably dumped in the area of the Quality Inn, the dog remained at large for over six days. Adopted by social media users as a new local celebrity, the dog had citizens and out-of-towners alike growing concerned for his well-being. With noticeable signs of hunger and a skittish untrusting nature, the abandoned pooch traveled far and wide looking for his lost owner, leaving those looking to capture him at their wits' en... As the Legislature enters the next stage of full-day debate, this newsletter aims to explore the role of filibustering and how it shapes the policy-making process. A filibuster is a tactic used by legislators to delay or block a vote on a bill or nomination by extending debate. In Nebraska, filibustering often takes the form of prolonged speeches or procedural maneuvers designed to prevent a bill from being voted on successfully before the end of a legislative session or to force the introduction of amendments to modify or derail a bill. Filibustering has evolved over time. In the early years... Compartir Despite continuing and conflicting recommendations, there is no rule about how much water is best for us. Northern Europeans are surprised when they visit restaurants in the USA at the near insistence of staff on serving ice-cold water the moment they sit down at the table. Even a polite No thank you does not frighten off the determined waiter. Do these people drink ice-cold water at home? Do they keep stocks of mineral water, still and gassy, in their fridges? Do they realise that the practice is not necessarily beneficial and that the stomach reacts differently to cold water as opposed to warm water. Some people get a headache from drinking water that is too cold, although at the time they may not associate cause and effect. Wine of the week Palacio de Canedo Blanco 2022 This young white is made from Godello grapes harvested manually and matured on its lees. One of the best examples of a wine of this type to appear recently. About 13 euros If we drink water for hydration, the temperature will not affect how it does its job. Doctors may tell us that cold water is best when drunk on a hot day after exercise, although drinking warm water can be more refreshing as a first drink of the day. Chinese medicine recommends warm water with food, as cold water and above all iced will congeal fats and make the digestive system sluggish. Cold water can also stuff up our sinuses and make the mucus thicker and more difficult to clear. We have all at one time or another found ourselves with a towel draped over our heads inhaling from a bowl of hot water. Overall, the chips fall on the side of warm water every time there is a choice, as it favours the metabolism. SUR in English Marbella Thursday, 27 March 2025 | Updated 31/03/2025 08:12h. Compartir The diversity of foreign residents is notable in Marbella how does this affect life in the town? Over recent years, Marbella has become a cosmopolitan town where 153 different nationalities live together, making it an attractive multicultural destination for both tourists and residents. Many foreigners seek a warmer climate and better quality of life, choosing Marbella as their home, either as a second or permanent residence. In this regard, the British and Germans have shown the greatest loyalty to our municipality. This diversity not only increases the population but also enriches the town culturally. Thats why it has become a priority for the town hall as it considers the positive impact this community can have on local life. Why is it important for international residents in Marbella to register on the padron? Getting on the town hall register (padron) is essential, as international residents make up around a third of Marbellas population. The Foreign Residents Department has launched various campaigns to inform this community about the benefits of registering. The higher the number of registered residents, the bigger the allocation of resources from central and regional administrations. This directly affects the number of health centres, doctors and improvements in security and infrastructure. By registering, each foreign resident not only contributes to Marbellas development but also gains priority access to municipal activities and discounts on certain services. What measures is the town hall taking to facilitate this process? The town hall has set up offices in different areas and maintains ongoing contact with foreign resident groups and associations. Informative talks are organised on key topics such as Brexit and immigration laws, featuring experts who can answer the difficult questions. Meetings have also been held with representatives from other municipalities to share ideas and projects that benefit the growing international community choosing Marbella as their home. What message would you give to those citizens who have not yet registered? I would say its an important step both for them and for Marbella. The benefits are numerous, and positive results are already visible, as the international community now makes up nearly 30 per cent of registered residents. Marbella has been recognised as the best European destination to visit in 2024, further highlighting its appeal and the importance of more foreign residents making their presence here official. Every new registration not only helps improve services but also enriches the town culturally. Where can foreign residents find this office, and how can they get in touch? Through a dedicated website and offices located at the Palacio de Ferias y Congresos, as well as in the districts of Las Chapas and Nueva Andalucia. Assistance is also available by phone and email. In addition, there is ongoing contact with local associations to ensure all foreign residents stay informed and can access the support they need. More young people are choosing Marbella as a place to live and work remotely. Does Marbella have the facilities to meet their needs? The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted that Marbella is not only attractive for tourism and investment but also as a home for remote workers. It has become a hotspot for digital nomads thanks to its excellent climate and available technological infrastructure. International companies are adopting flexible work models that allow employees to live in places like Marbella, where the environment supports both productivity and well-being. As a result, coworking spaces have emerged and many hotels have adapted their facilities to accommodate remote workers, creating an ideal setting for this group. Have foreign residents shown any reluctance to register on the padron? In the past, there were some doubts about registering, mainly due to tax concerns. However, for years, the local council has been running information campaigns to clarify that registering does not affect the tax status residents hold in their home country. As a result, and given the significant benefits registration brings both to them and to the area, foreign residents generally no longer have these concerns. Can foreign residents vote in local elections? What are the requirements? Foreign residents from EU countries who are registered on the municipal padron have the right to vote in local elections, as do non-EU residents from countries with reciprocal agreements. To do so, they simply need to apply for the document that authorises them to vote. How does the Foreign Residents Department support the social and cultural integration of new international residents? Are there events to help them get to know the area better? The department encourages community engagement among international residents, celebrates national days and other important events, and promotes multiculturalism and coexistence. It organises guided tours where participants can learn about local history, customs and traditions. We also publish a monthly newsletter and share news and events of interest on social media. In short, we are here to support the international community with whatever they may need. More information: Phone: +34 952 768 766 Mail: extranjeros@marbella.es Web: extranjeros.marbella.es DEAR ABBY: I met an acquaintance a few months ago during a brief work situation. We struck up a friendship (or so I thought) and have had lunch or dinner together a few times. Shes recently divorced, and she has a fancy house, lots of expensive clothes, purses and a mega-expensive vehicle, all of which her ex paid for. I have now gotten the distinct impression that she judges me for my modest home, etc., which I paid for myself, while putting my son through exemplary schools all on my modest income. I dont think Im wrong about this. Its a combination of little things, like not posting our outings on social media as she does with other friends, for example, as well as coming around only when it suits her. At this point, I almost dont even want a relationship with her because she appears to be superficial. If and when she comes around, how should I politely decline? Or would it be wrong to state what I feel is going on? -- INCOMPATIBLE IN TEXAS DEAR INCOMPATIBLE: I can think of no polite way to tell people their values are misplaced and superficial. The woman is not likely to change them at this late date. A polite way to decline would be to tell her you are not available. If she presses you further, tell her you dont think the two of you are compatible. P.S. Before you brush her off, examine your motivation for wanting to do this. Could it be that because she has so many more material things than you, you feel self-conscious about it? Just asking ... ** ** ** Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.** ** ** To order How to Write Letters for All Occasions, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.) COPYRIGHT 2025 ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION 1130 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500 Cortland, N.Y. A Syracuse lawyer who was attacked in a Cortland courthouse is suing the man accused of hitting her. The mans attorney responded to the lawsuit by saying her injuries were a result of her provoking the man. Mark J. Skodzinsky pushed, punched and threatened Syracuse lawyer Gina M. Glover in the hallway of the Cortland courthouse Dec. 5 following a verbal altercation, Cortland police said in a criminal complaint. Skodinsky is charged with third-degree assault. Skodzinsky is a Cortland County landlord and property manager. Glover, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, was representing tenants sued by Skodzinsky for not paying rent. They were both in Cortland City Court for the rent cases filed this fall by Ithacor Properties, one of Skodzinskys companies. As Glover was leaving the courtroom to call another client, she noticed Skodzinsky staring at her while she was on the phone, according to her affidavit. She recognized him as the property manager from one of the cases settled that morning. Skodzinsky approached her and said, you have a check for me, according to the affidavit. She looked up the case after speaking briefly with him about the case, according to the affidavit. She told him her boss had the paperwork ready to cut the check on his desk, according to the affidavit. She told police that Skodzinsky continued to argue with her. During the argument, she told him you are being ignorant, according to the affidavit. Skodzinsky then punched her in the chest, knocking her to the ground, according to the affidavit. He then continued to punch her in the chest and face, she said. Police in a nearby room intervened and pulled Skodzinsky off of Glover, according to court documents. She suffered pain in her chest and head, her glasses were broken and her coat was damaged, she told police. She filed the lawsuit seeking damages for the alleged assault and emotional distress from Skodzinsky in February. On Friday, Skodzinskys attorney, John Alden Stevens, filed a response to the lawsuit saying that Glover was in whole or in part culpable for her injuries. The attorney said that Glovers provocation of Skodzinsky was a cause of her injuries, according to court documents. The answer to the lawsuit does not outline what actions Glover took to provoke the alleged assault. Stevens did not respond to requests for comment. Glovers attorney, Timothy DeMore, said claiming plaintiffs are responsible for their own injuries is not uncommon in civil cases stemming from car crashes or medical malpractice allegations. He said that in an assault case like this, the boilerplate defense is appalling. It is shocking that the attorney would try to blame Glover for the horrendous violent attack, DeMore said. There is no court date scheduled for the civil case. It will likely be on hold until the criminal matter is resolved, DeMore said. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Pizza at the 1872 Cafe, Rochester, N.Y., Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. The Cafe Celebrates its location as where Susan B. Anthony voted in 1872. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com New Yorkers take their pizza seriously, and now one city in the state has been crowned the Pizza Capital of America. Rochester has been named the No. 1 pizza city in America, according to a new list by Clever Real Estate. The study analyzed data from the U.S. Census, American Community Survey, Yelp, and more than 1,000 pizza restaurant websites. Researchers also surveyed 2,000 American adults about their pizza preferences. Rankings were determined using a weighted system, with pizza reputation (43%) carrying the most weight. Pizza passion (27%) was assessed through Google search trends, while pizza availability (20%) factored in restaurant counts and Yelp ratings. Pizza affordability (10%) considered the cost of cheese and pepperoni pizzas relative to median household income. The Western New York city secured its spot as the Pizza Capital of America as a result of one of the highest Pizza Passion scores (98 out of 100), a high number of pizza restaurants per capita (25 per 100,000 residents), and high average Yelp ratings for pizzerias (4.11 out of 5). Clever notes that Rochester is an ideal place to try Western NY style pizza, which they describe as a subtly sweeter sauce and a thicker, chewier crust in comparison to the thin, crispy New York City slice. The site also credits cup-and-char pepperoni to Rochester though that might raise eyebrows in Buffalo, where the curled, crispy topping is a signature style. Buffalo wasnt far behind. The Queen City landed at No. 4 in a tie with Detroit, up from No. 9 in 2023s best pizza city ranking. Buffalo scored a perfect 100 in Pizza Passion and boasts 30 pizza restaurants per 100,000 residentsabout 2.5 times the national average. To round out the top 10 list, New York City placed number 8 and Albany in the Capital Region, came in at number 9. Though Albany may not top your list of Upstate New York pizza towns, Clever credits its pie scene to New York City influences and Central New Yorks Utica-style pizza. The list highlights the oldest pizza shop in Upstate NY, OScugnizzo Pizzeria, which has served its signature upside-down-style pizza, where the sauce goes on top of the cheese, since 1914. Just missing the top 10, Syracuse landed at No. 11. The list claims Syracuse has 26.8 pizzerias per 100,000 residents, 2.2x the national average. New York dominated the list overall with five cities in the top 20. More than three-quarters of Americans ranked the Empire State as one of Americas five best pizza states. Poughkeepsie also made the cheesy cut, coming in at No. 33. See the full ranking at Clevers website. More in Upstate NY pizza Yes, Chef! Toss & Fire designed a pizza after The Bear iconic sandwich for the NYS Fair Best pizza in Central NY? Barstools Dave Portnoy reveals his Syracuse, Utica rankings Upstate NY pizza shop is one of the best in the world, according to Italy KABUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- As the final days of Ramadan approach, Afghans are grappling with severe economic challenges, casting a shadow over their Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Qasim Khiber, a teacher, visited a local market in Kabul to buy dried fruits for Eid. "This year, the price of dried fruits has increased compared to last year, and economic difficulties have left us with no way out," Khiber told Xinhua while browsing various dried fruits and sweets. Khiber, 37, is the sole breadwinner for his family of 12. "In previous years, we prepared a lot for Eid al-Fitr, but this year we are struggling financially." Due to economic constraints, he will not be able to serve traditional almonds and pistachios to his guests' tables for Eid al-Fitr this year. Eid al-Fitr is traditionally marked by Afghan families preparing an assortment of fruits and sweets to welcome guests, a long-standing cultural practice. However, economic hardships have reached unprecedented levels this year due to dwindling humanitarian aid and ongoing sanctions from the United States. Ramish, a 20-year-old street vendor in Kabul, sells dried fruits and sweets. "The price of everything has increased compared to previous years, and the economy is in ruins. Some people can afford it, but many cannot," he said. "In the past, we sold 70 to 80 kg of sweets daily, but now, people's income is unstable, we only sell 30 to 50 kg," Ramish said. Meanwhile, Mohammad Kabir, a municipal worker in Kabul, was seen shopping downtown in his orange uniform. "I have bought raisins and sweets with the little money I have, but I can't afford anything else," he said with a tone of hopelessness. Beyond dried fruits, new clothes are also a big part of Eid celebrations in Afghanistan. "When I go home, my children ask me for new clothes, and I tell them to wait," Kabir shared. The middle-aged man explained that house rent plus Eid shopping has created significant financial strain for him and his family. Following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in August 2021, the U.S. government froze nearly 9.5 billion U.S. dollars in national foreign exchange assets held in the United States by the Afghan central bank, which pushed the financial and bank payment system in Afghanistan almost to the brink of collapse. Cornell student Momodou Taal has filed a lawsuit to try to stop his deportation by the Trump administration after he participated in pro-Palestinian protests last year on campus. Ming DeMers/The Cornell Daily Sun Syracuse, N.Y. A federal judge denied a Cornell University students initial effort to override executive orders that the student said are being used to deport him for attending pro-Palestinian protests. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Coombe on Thursday denied a request for a temporary restraining order against the presidents orders, which purport to crack down on antisemitism. Coombe, of the Northern District of New York, said graduate student Momodou Taals lawyers had not clearly established she had jurisdiction in the case. Ethan Kanter, a top government lawyer, said in court Tuesday that the executive orders signed by Trump were unquestionably lawful and outlined the administrations policy emphases and priorities. Kanter also said any challenge by Taal to the revocation of his visa should be handled through the immigration system as removal proceedings begin. One of Taals lawyers, Eric Lee, said that the lawsuit was a test case on the First Amendment protections of the hundreds of thousands of people like Taal who attend American colleges and universities on student visas. Coombes ruling could be appealed to the the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which is based in New York City. The next stop after that would be the U.S. Supreme Court. Taal is one of several students at American colleges and universities who participated in pro-Palestinian protests who the Trump administration is now attempting to remove from the country. Trump said on the campaign trail that he would do just that. Federal authorities earlier this month detained Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident and a graduate student at Columbia University. Another permanent resident attending Columbia is in hiding as she seeks to fight her deportation. And on Wednesday plainclothes law enforcement officers arrested a student at Tufts University near Boston. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that visas had been revoked from at least 300 people, according to The Associated Press. More than 100 people packed into the James M. Hanley Federal Building on Tuesday afternoon for a hearing in the Taal case. Coombe asked numerous questions of Taals lawyers and the Washington-based lawyers arguing on behalf of the government. Cornell temporarily suspended Taal, a citizen of The Gambia and the United Kingdom, after he participated in pro-Palestinian protests at the universitys campus in Ithaca. He is now studying remotely and his full access to campus was to be restored when the current semester ends, his lawyers said in court papers. A government official said in court papers that law enforcement has been proactively reviewing information online to identify people, such as Taal, who were subject to the orders. Free speech experts say participating in pro-Palestinian protests is protected speech under the First Amendment, and everyone in the country enjoys those protections. Sarah McLaughlin, a senior scholar at the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said the government cannot jail a person or deport them for not liking what they say. There are very narrow exceptions to speech protected by the First Amendment, she said. If the Trump administration says theyre going after people who engaged in criminal activity, thats a wholly separate conversation, she told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. But they have made explicitly clear a number of times that they are targeting what they deem either pro-Hamas or ... anti-American expression. McLaughlin cautioned that what the Trump administration deems acceptable speech could change in the future. For example, she said, it could go begin to target people who deride the presidents proposal to annex Canada to make it the 51st state. This is a really wide door that I think we will regret opening, she said. Taals lawyers originally filed the lawsuit on March 15 to try to block the executive orders. They later filed an emergency motion on March 20 after plainclothes law enforcement officers were spotted near Taals home in Ithaca. Government lawyers sent an email at about 1 a.m. on March 21 to say Taals visa had been revoked and asked when he could turn himself in to federal authorities. Government officials later said in court papers that Taals visa had been revoked on March 14 the day before the lawsuit was filed under a section of federal law that allows discretion for a visa to be revoked. Immigration officials have said they have thus far been unable to locate Taal to make a civil arrest. Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7. One of the first actions Donald Trump took after being inaugurated as president on Jan. 20 was to issue pardons for 1,500-plus people who were charged with or convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. On Tuesday, in an interview on the Newsmax cable network, Trump there was a lot of talk that a compensation fund could be set up to benefit those people, who he called patriots. After discussing the pardons Trump issued to those convicted or charged in connection to the Jan. 6 event, Newsmaxs Greg Kelly asked Trump, Is there any talk of because they lost opportunity, they lost income any kind of compensation fund or anything like that? Well, theres talk about that. We have a lot of people talking about it, Trump answered, in a clip on Mediaite. 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. They were patriots as far as I was concerned. I talk about them a lot. They were treated very unfairly. More than 1,200 people were convicted of crimes for their actions Jan. 6 at the Capitol, including approximately 250 convicted of assault charges, according to the Associated Press, before Trumps blanket pardon was issued. Some members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups were convicted of seditious conspiracy. At least 11 Central New York residents had their sentences pardoned or commuted by Trump. Trump called those he pardoned incredible people. They were treated so unfairly, so horribly. Some of them didnt even go in the building. ... But I took care of them. I said I was going to, and I did. An Upstate New York lawmaker is proposing legislation that would end Tesla's in-person sales operations in New York. Demonstrators are arrested by NYPD officers during a protest against Elon Musk and Tesla outside a Tesla showroom, Saturday, March 1, 2025 in New York. (Adam Gray | AP Photo) Adam Gray | AP Photo Albany, N.Y. A New York state senator from the Albany area has introduced legislation that would ultimately end Teslas in-person sales operations in New York. State Sen. Pat Fahy, a Democrat, introduced the bill. The proposal would pull existing permits for Teslas five in-person sales locations in New York, according to Politico. The bill would also allow other electric vehicle makers to compete for those permits for the first time. A separate effort among New York lawmakers is pushing for the state pension fund to sell its Tesla shares. No matter what we do, weve got to take this from Elon Musk, Fahy said, according to Politico. Hes part of an effort to go backwards. Tesla doesnt operate through a traditional dealer network based on franchise agreements like other car makers. It instead sells directly to its customers. In New York and multiple other states, auto franchise laws limit that approach, according to Politico. Tesla runs five locations to sell directly to consumers in New York under a 2014 deal. The agreement shut out other electric vehicle makers like Rivian and Lucid that also sell direct, Politico said. New Yorks auto dealer interests have pushed to ban Teslas sales model completely. Fahys proposal would cap the number of direct sales locations at five, but prohibit Tesla from operating after July 2026, Politico said. Other makers would be able to pursue the direct sales permits instead. Musk, the worlds richest man, is Teslas CEO. Hes also a major supporter of President Donald Trump and is heavily involved in the administrations aggressive efforts to slash the size of the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency. Some of his moves to rapidly cut jobs have proven controversial and unpopular. Thats started to have an effect on Tesla. A series of protests at dealerships are planned across Upstate New York in the coming days, according to Spectrum News. Some Tesla vehicles and facilities have also been subject to threats and vandalism. Earlier in March, nine people were arrested during a raucous demonstration outside a Tesla location in New York City, according to Reuters. Hundreds of people were involved in the protest. Tesla shares have fallen 36% since Inauguration Day, according to CNBC. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Voelker's Bowling Center, a bowling alley that set up shop in Buffalo in 1892, was demolished this week. These photos shared on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, show crews tearing down the historic building to make way for apartments. Photo courtesy of Scott Balzer | @scott_balzer on Instagram Photo courtesy of Scott Balzer | @scott_balzer on Instagram Buffalo, N.Y. A historic Buffalo building that served as a beloved bowling alley for generations has been razed. Voelkers Lanes, a building that stood at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Amherst Street for 133 years, was demolished this week. The vacant, crumbling structure was torn down to make way for a new apartment building and commercial space, WIVB reported. I really hope they save both of those beautiful neon signs, wrote photographer Scott Balzer, who captured shared photos of the old structures final moments. Voelker's Bowling Center, a bowling alley that set up shop in Buffalo in 1892, was demolished this week. These photos shared on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, show crews tearing down the historic building to make way for apartments. Photo courtesy of Scott Balzer | @scott_balzer on Instagram Photo courtesy of Scott Balzer | @scott_balzer on Instagram The Voelker family had the building built to serve as a hotel in 1892, according to Buffalo Business First. It transformed into a tavern before becoming a bowling alley in 1941. After over a century of serving Buffalo, Voelkers Bowling Center also known as Voelkers Lanes or Voelkers Bowling Alley closed in May 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. The family that ran the Western New York center for generations then pushed to demolish the crumbling building. The building is in terrible shape, Krista Voelker told Buffalo Business First shortly before her business closed. Were not opening it next season and that means it will be sitting empty and just inviting rats and squatters. We dont want that. Nobody wants that. Voelker's Bowling Center, a bowling alley that set up shop in Buffalo in 1892, was demolished this week. These photos shared on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, show crews tearing down the historic building to make way for apartments. Photo courtesy of Scott Balzer | @scott_balzer on Instagram Photo courtesy of Scott Balzer | @scott_balzer on Instagram Despite pushback from community members hoping to save the historic building, a Buffalo Housing Court judge ordered the bowling alley to be knocked down in early 2023, WBFO reported. On Monday, March 25, over two years later, demolition finally began. Bowling wont completely disappear from the site. A developer is planning to build a five-story apartment building at the Amherst Street site that long housed Voeklers, Buffalo Business First reported. Along with including more than 200 apartment units, the building is slated to feature a bar and a bowling alley on its first floor. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., President Donald Trump's nominee to be the United Nations Ambassador, testifies during a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing for her pending confirmation on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) AP President Donald Trump is pulling U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik from her bid for a cabinet position amid concerns about a race to fill her seat in Upstate New York. Stefanik, one of the highest ranking Republicans in the House and a close Trump ally, was nominated for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Multiple sources told CBS that the GOP was concerned about its narrow majority in the House, sparking discussions about having Stefanik withdraw from consideration. As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress, Trump confirmed on Truth Social Thursday. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. With a very tight Majority, I dont want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elises seat. Stefanik did not immediately comment. According to the Associated Press, Stefaniks nomination advanced outside of committee in January, but she had not yet been confirmed. She was expected to resign from representing New Yorks 21st Congressional District after confirmation. Trump said on Truth Social that he still hopes to have Stefanik join his administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC. Thank you Elise! Trump wrote. Stefanik, one of the first people to be named for Trumps Cabinet, was first elected to Congress in 2014 and rose in the GOP ranks with her support of Trump, even being rumored as his potential vice presidential candidate last year. The Harvard University alumna also made headlines when she grilled college presidents over antisemitism on campuses and was named one of Time magazines 100 most influential people in April. If Stefanik departed her House post, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul would call a special election to fill the vacancy. Currently Republicans hold 218 seats in the House and Democrats hold 213. According to the Times Union, several Republicans had sought to run for Stefaniks seat, including State Sen. Dan Stec, NYS Assemblyman Chris Tague and former congressional candidate Liz Joy. Fox News reported there were concerns over a lack of GOP cohesion over choosing a candidate to run in Stefaniks place, while Democrats had already backed Blake Gendebien, a St. Lawrence County dairy farmer and political newcomer. Donald Trump won the Elise Stefanik district by 21 points in November 2024. He withdrew her nomination to be U.N. Ambassador because the extremists are afraid they will lose the special election to replace her, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Thursday. The Republican agenda is extremely unpopular, they are crashing the economy in real time and House Republicans are running scared. What happened to their so-called mandate? Axios reports Stefaniks pulled nomination leaves her stranded in the House with no leadership position after serving as No. 4 and a reduced committee workload that was planned around forthcoming administration role." NY GOP Chair Ed Cox said keeping Stefanik in the House of Representatives is a victory for the American people. With Elise continuing her leadership in Congress, we know she will be at the forefront of shaping a stronger, safer and more prosperous future for our country, Cox said in a statement. We are glad that President Trump has announced that she will join his administration at a later date, and look forward to her future service driving a bold, America First agenda. Donald Trump won the Elise Stefanik district by 21 points in November 2024. He withdrew her nomination to be U.N. Ambassador because the extremists are afraid they will lose the special election to replace her. The Republican agenda is extremely unpopular, they are crashing the economy in real time and House Republicans are running scared. What happened to their so-called mandate? Two Upstate New York cops broke rules when they assisted Border Patrol agents with a recent traffic stop, according to officials. WHAM reports Rochester Mayor Malik Evans and Rochester Police Chief David Smith held a press conference Wednesday to address the controversy. Two Rochester police officers disobeyed general orders and violated the terms of the citys sanctuary status when they responded to a Border Patrol request for backup after agents stopped a van Monday night, according to Smith and Evans. The officers on the scene verbally directed the occupants to get out of the vehicle, and this is against our policy, Evans said. What is also very concerning is that RPD officers went out of view of the supervisor who was on scene to initiate contact with occupants of the vehicle while border patrol stands by, when in reality, they (Border Patrol) should be initiating contact and we should be there ensuring their safety, Smith added. According to WROC, at least one person was detained by the police officers, whose names have not been released. Body-worn cameras are under review and an internal investigation is underway. Smith said the RPD officers involved will remain off the road until training is complete. According to WHAM, Rochester first adopted a resolution as a sanctuary city in 1986 and reaffirmed it in 2017. Sanctuary city rules and the Rochester Police Departments General Order 502 both prohibit enforcement of federal immigration law by city police officers. Its unclear why the van was stopped in the first place. Eight people were reportedly estimated to be inside the vehicle. WROC reports the Rochester Police union, Locust Club, defended the officers in question. RPD did not initiate this traffic stop, and had no information about the occupants whatsoever. The agents asked the officers to assist in having the occupants exit the vehicle, which ultimately the occupants did without resistance. The officers placed the occupants in handcuffs for officer safety without incident and left them with the HSI agents on scene, the union said. The officers on scene asked no questions of the occupants about their immigration status or relevant documents. No force was used. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. JUBA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest in the national capital of Juba on Wednesday night, as the United Nations mission in the country called for restraint amid rising tensions across the country. "Following reports tonight of the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, the UN Mission in South Sudan calls on all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement," Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the UN secretary-general to South Sudan and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, said in a statement issued on Wednesday night. Entells BHPian Join Date: Aug 2024 Location: Lucknow Posts: 27 Thanked: 54 Times Re: South India accounts for nearly 50% of MG Indias EV sales I don't know about other South Indian states but IMO kerela has always stood for sustainable development and ideas. They are way ahead then other states when it comes to sustainability or renewable energy. I am from Lucknow, UP. During Covid, I had an urge to install Solar. Did my research and installed a 5 kw system in 2020. I was the first to install solar in my entire family and the area I live. Solar has now became a necessity in last 2 years because of extra govt subsidy. Before 2 years, you might have seen very few houses with panels. Now, Once the plant got operational, I thought of other renewable energy sources. My next urge was to Install a domestic bio gas plant for my kitchen waste. In 2022 while I was searching for a bio gas plant, I couldn't find a single company from entire north india who were dealing with such plants. While searching I got to know that most of the companies are from Kerala. Took a trip to Kerala to actually see a working plant. During my visit, I visited atleast 10 houses who had bio gas plants installed in their premises. It's not only about kerela's independent houses but the visionary of individuals also plays an important role in this. I can still visualise those big independent houses. On a big piece of land, houses were built in the centre. Front area was for parking and back area was for plantation. Most of the Kitchen were on the back portion and the Bio gas plant were installed near the kitchen. Entire kitchen waste used to go in the plant and the gas was utilised in the stoves. This plant was followed by an incinerator unit. The entire dry waste including papers, dust, dry leafs etc used to get incinerated weekly and the collected ash to be mixed with the soil. As the houses are in the centre, the side gallery had underground water tanks which were actually for rain water harvesting. Pipes from the roof used to go in a settling chamber and then to the tanks. A well were optional. Each house had solar panels on them and 1 house had a small wind turbine too. On enquiring about the need for installing all these things, one of the house owner told me. "I believe in renewable energy conservation. I don't want to throw a single waste paper out of my house." They have opted for EV's because they are already using other renewable energy sources. And as these sources are inter-connected ,they know that their break even point will come soon. BOAO, Hainan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The act of killing in war should always be a human decision, not one made by artificial intelligence (AI), said a high-ranking official of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday, who sees AI as both a concern and an opportunity for humanitarian aid in war zones. AI is one of the keywords of this year's Boao Forum for Asia in south China's Hainan Province. As entrepreneurs and policymakers are discussing how to use AI to boost the productivity and well-being of mankind, Balthasar Staehelin, head of the ICRC's Regional Delegation for East Asia voiced concern about AI's application in weapon systems. Staehelin, also personal envoy of the ICRC president to China, told Xinhua in an interview on the sidelines of the Boao Forum that there is a high risk of AI being used in weapon systems, which are becoming more and more autonomous. "Our concern is that the act of killing should always be a human decision. I don't think we should designate that act to software that is then cut loose. That would be a very dangerous world and it poses all sorts of ethical problems," said Staehelin, who called for robust discussion about the issue. Staehelin also warned of the risks posed by AI-generated disinformation and misinformation, which can endanger vulnerable populations. He noted, for instance, that harmful information about communicable diseases can be more dangerous than the epidemic itself. However, Staehelin noted, it is like two sides of the same coin and AI as a tool has greatly helped the ICRC's humanitarian actions in Africa and other parts of the world. According to him, ICRC uses AI to match people looking for displaced family members, as the names may be spelled slightly different in Arabic. "You often have very incomplete thousands of data sets and AI can also help you to sort out and calculate probabilities and help us to match that faster," said Staehelin. AI has also been used in mine clearance. Low-flying drones equipped with AI technology can help detect mines, which is far more efficient than previous methods. In combination with AI and satellites, humanitarian workers can calculate faster and more efficiently the possible needs of population movements, to look for the best safe access or to map water points. "But we also have a downside," said Staehelin. "In a war, certain data of people could suddenly be misused to target or kill them. We have to be absolutely sure that this data has never been used against them. If we allow this to happen, we would destroy the trust of the people." Staehelin said China is a leading nation in technology on AI, and he believed that there are a lot of opportunities for partnership and cooperation between the ICRC and China. Noting that this year the ICRC regional delegation will celebrate 20 years of establishment in Beijing, Staehelin said the cooperation between ICRC and China is multifold, expressing appreciations to China's contributions to galvanizing political commitment to international humanitarian law and the country's efforts in offering mediation to bring conflicts to an end in the Middle East and other parts of the world. jkpz BHPian Join Date: Feb 2025 Location: Kannur Posts: 51 Thanked: 201 Times Re: Honda NX500 launched at 5.9 lakhs Quote: Cyborg Originally Posted by Jkpz - really feel for you, sorry to hear such a painful experience after spending so much money. Please see if you can reach some higher ups in Honda who can help you. The service centre seems useless in this regard. All the best, pray your motorcycle gets sorted soonest. Do keep us updated. Cheers Quote: AtheK Originally Posted by People pay top money for Honda for peace of mind, this experience is nothing short of disaster. Feel for you @jkpz buddy, hope this gets resolve sooner. That said NX500 seems to be a bike from Honda stable which has had issues from the factory itself, few other members have also stated the same. Maybe Honda needs to fix it at assembly line and then do a recall and fix customers bike. My thought of buying NX500 later in the year is completely gone, hopefully BMW price the GS450 sensibly, I would rather put my money with them now. The F450GS looks like a great option, only reason I didn't want to buy it was because at the time I was researching bikes, it seemed like a long wait for the release so didn't consider it. And then Honda released a new 500. Thank you for the kind words folks. Yeah I'm sitting here devastated since the purchase. An update: Got a call from service center manager. They mentioned that an entire team of Honda technicians are at my location to inspect and figure out the issue. Also mentioned there are engineers from Thailand factory (not sure if I understood this part right, if they are engineers from the actual factory or just a team who handles it here) who will be at the site working on the bike. A complete disassembly and then reassembly will be done to check each parts from the frame to everything else. They will replace the parts which are found faulty. Also assured me that I'll get the bike exactly in new condition (because I complained about handlebar vibrations after the last service) and there won't be any other issue. Still a bit worried that I'll be getting a re-assembled bike and it may have some part re-assembled incorrectly or not tightened properly. Depends on the engineers and I can't really say anything about that I guess. What if they make it better, no one knows. Although from all the recent experiences I had with Honda mechanics (blaming exhaust, brake reservoir, engine bulge being to the right is the cause of right lean), the latter is not going to happen imo. They mentioned they will take 3 days to arrive and discuss what to do, then after that god knows how many more days it will take to complete everything. Another 5 days without the bike means that the bike will have officially completed one month of being in the service center :046: The svc manager is communicating whatever I say and the higher ups say correctly back and forth. Even invited me to a short meeting last time I was at the SVC with the higher up. I think he is Just annoying that it takes a lot of time. They refuse to give me direct contact to the higher ups in any way.Yes, the reason I went for Honda, even though they are overpriced in India, was for the peace of mind. Also I was always a Honda fan coming from my first CBR150R, such a nice bike which had absolutely zero issues. Sad that I sold it. Going back to Honda.The F450GS looks like a great option, only reason I didn't want to buy it was because at the time I was researching bikes, it seemed like a long wait for the release so didn't consider it. And then Honda released a new 500.Thank you for the kind words folks. Yeah I'm sitting here devastated since the purchase.An update:Got a call from service center manager. They mentioned that an entire team of Honda technicians are at my location to inspect and figure out the issue. Also mentioned there are engineers from Thailand factory (not sure if I understood this part right, if they are engineers from the actual factory or just a team who handles it here) who will be at the site working on the bike. A complete disassembly and then reassembly will be done to check each parts from the frame to everything else. They will replace the parts which are found faulty. Also assured me that I'll get the bike exactly in new condition (because I complained about handlebar vibrations after the last service) and there won't be any other issue.Still a bit worried that I'll be getting a re-assembled bike and it may have some part re-assembled incorrectly or not tightened properly. Depends on the engineers and I can't really say anything about that I guess. What if they make it better, no one knows. Although from all the recent experiences I had with Honda mechanics (blaming exhaust, brake reservoir, engine bulge being to the right is the cause of right lean), the latter is not going to happen imo.They mentioned they will take 3 days to arrive and discuss what to do, then after that god knows how many more days it will take to complete everything. Another 5 days without the bike means that the bike will have officially completed one month of being in the service center :046: Stryker BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 580 Thanked: 3,564 Times Kabini | The tigers are back! Being the beginning of summer and a long time without much rain, the park is quite dry. This is generally a good season for sightings as the tigers almost always tend to visit water bodies in the mornings and evenings, but photographically speaking it isn't a very good time. As you can see from the images below, the colour palette is almost exclusively shades of brown! Hardly any green, which makes for very undramatic photos. But hey these are tigers, you don't see them everyday (unless you are a safari driver), so I'll happily click any that I see. As usual, I was there between Friday and Sunday for a total of four safaris. Started from Bengaluru around 0745, stopped at Srisailam Restaurant near the Kengeri Metro Station for a sinfully yummy Ghee Masala Dosa breakfast and reached JLR at around 1130. The Mysore Expressway is great to drive as usual, although there is no speed rush with the limit set at a lousy 100 Kmph. They should at least consider raising this to 120 Kmph. The road from Mysore to JLR is good, no bad patches except the occasional pot hole. The BMW 330 Li is an absolute dream to drive. The first thing I look at in the reception is the meticulously maintained sightings board. It is showing "Tiger, Leopard" in every safari for the last one week! I'm so excited that I forget to click a photo of that! I check in, have the usual good lunch and am ready for the first outing by 2:45 pm. The first safari Sighting boards are all very well and good, but the trepidation of whether I will see anything is always there at the beginning of each visit and each safari. We head straight to one of the numerous water tanks, where a tiger was seen in the morning. A couple of other vans are already here, with tourists excitedly pointing in one direction. But we can't see anything! The driver of another van points out a spot and says "Watch!" and within a minute, we see some movement. A lone paw waving in the air! Whoever spotted this deserves an award. I would have missed it completely. Yet another van comes from the opposite direction and stops a distance away. Tourists in that van are pointing in the opposite direction! Whoa, another tiger?? We move ahead a hundred meters or so to see what the hungama is all about and here is the second one hidden behind some undergrowth. Since this one is more visible than the other, we decide to stay here and see if it gets up to go to the water, which is between both tigers. This tiger wants to go down to the cool tank, but is a little wary of doing so. A long wait of nearly 30 minutes ensues, both I and the driver are very clear that we are not moving from this spot. Some of the other tourists in our van want to see if the first tiger is showing any signs of movement, but we will get to know of that by simply looking at people on other vans! Our spot is very good and I don't want to move from here. Patience is very critical in these situations, they don't move to our clock. The casual tourist does not realise this, expects action every minute and is very disappointed when nothing much happens for long stretches of time. After about half an hour, the tiger finally decides to get up and move. See what I mean by the perfect spot? Head on, right between the trees! He keeps walking towards us and I keep clicking. He is now in a much more open area, giving me the opportunity to capture some good images. Ah, if only the forest were green, this would have made for a superb portrait. He is now quite close and doesn't seem to be ready to get to the water yet. He is also limping, seems to be injured in his right front leg. Probably a fight with another tiger over some girl, what else? He sits down and relaxes in that famous tiger pose. You only see tigers sitting like this, leopards never (or at least very rarely) sit on the ground. I zoom in close to get a portrait of this magnificent animal. Meanhwhile, we hear some excitement from the people keeping a watch on the first tiger. I turn 180 degrees and see just the back of the tiger over the mud bank. So he is moving too! Several vans have already left the area after their sighting of the second tiger that has come out in the open, so there are only about three vans still in place. We move ahead to our previous position to see the first tiger. Unfortunately he is sitting turned away from us. The drivers say that the first and second tigers are son and father respectively, a very rare phenomenon of tigers being together. They are almost exclusively solitary animals. This collaboration has started recently and they have been seen together several times. The son is also almost fully grown, over three years old, so it is not really a sub-adult. We return back to our position near the father, waiting for him to get to the water. After several minutes, he gets up and starts to move. Again, this would have been a brilliant photo if the forest were green! The setting sun lights up the animal perfectly, emphasizing the orange colour. He finally reaches the water and sits down with a sigh of relief! In between he has come so close to our van that I'm not able to take any photos from my camera. I take a video from my phone, which in itself is an excellent camera. I'll post the videos later. He gulps several gallons of this murky water. I can never understand how their digestive systems can process water that is so muddy and laden with algae. But then, they don't know about RO filters! A close up image of an imposing specimen. After another 15-20 minutes of cooling off in the water, he gets up and moves away in the direction of his son. You can almost hear the water dripping off him right? He goes up the bank and the sunlight is amazing on the trees, but down where he is, there isn't much light. I'm waiting for him to get up to the rim, but for some reason, he delays going there, simply standing and looking off in that direction. We are not sure what catches his attention, there is nothing there except a couple of vans. By the time he get where I want him, the sun has dropped behind the tree line and the exquisite light is gone. That light is present only for about a minute or so. Anyway, he quickly walks over the rim and is gone in flash. It is time for us to return too. Thus ends the first outing. My last Kabini photolog was in May 2024, you can read/see it here (Kabini | After a long gap) . While I did manage to spot a lone tiger during a boat safari of all things, it was far away and was more record shots than anything else. After this I visited my favourite park twice without seeing any big cat at all, once in September and once in December. I had even written a lament earlier asking " Where have all the tigers gone? (Kabini - Where have all the tigers gone?) ". Of course, in between, I visited Corbett and Tadoba with some amazing sightings, as a result of which my appetite for tigers was somewhat whetted. But still, there is nothing like seeing a tiger in Kabini! Or three tigers and a leopard, as it turned out. Kabini making a statement "Here I am! How dare you ignore me?" Apologies, dear park.Being the beginning of summer and a long time without much rain, the park is quite dry. This is generally a good season for sightings as the tigers almost always tend to visit water bodies in the mornings and evenings, but photographically speaking it isn't a very good time. As you can see from the images below, the colour palette is almost exclusively shades of brown! Hardly any green, which makes for very undramatic photos. But hey these are tigers, you don't see them everyday (unless you are a safari driver), so I'll happily click any that I see.As usual, I was there between Friday and Sunday for a total of four safaris. Started from Bengaluru around 0745, stopped at Srisailam Restaurant near the Kengeri Metro Station for a sinfully yummy Ghee Masala Dosa breakfast and reached JLR at around 1130. The Mysore Expressway is great to drive as usual, although there is no speed rush with the limit set at a lousy 100 Kmph. They should at least consider raising this to 120 Kmph. The road from Mysore to JLR is good, no bad patches except the occasional pot hole. The BMW 330 Li is an absolute dream to drive. The first thing I look at in the reception is the meticulously maintained sightings board. It is showing "Tiger, Leopard" in every safari for the last one week! I'm so excited that I forget to click a photo of that! I check in, have the usual good lunch and am ready for the first outing by 2:45 pm.Sighting boards are all very well and good, but the trepidation of whether I will see anything is always there at the beginning of each visit and each safari. We head straight to one of the numerous water tanks, where a tiger was seen in the morning. A couple of other vans are already here, with tourists excitedly pointing in one direction. But we can't see anything! The driver of another van points out a spot and says "Watch!" and within a minute, we see some movement.A lone paw waving in the air! Whoever spotted this deserves an award. I would have missed it completely.Yet another van comes from the opposite direction and stops a distance away. Tourists in that van are pointing in the opposite direction! Whoa, another tiger?? We move ahead a hundred meters or so to see what the hungama is all about and here is the second one hidden behind some undergrowth.Since this one is more visible than the other, we decide to stay here and see if it gets up to go to the water, which is between both tigers. This tiger wants to go down to the cool tank, but is a little wary of doing so.A long wait of nearly 30 minutes ensues, both I and the driver are very clear that we are not moving from this spot. Some of the other tourists in our van want to see if the first tiger is showing any signs of movement, but we will get to know of that by simply looking at people on other vans! Our spot is very good and I don't want to move from here. Patience is very critical in these situations, they don't move to our clock. The casual tourist does not realise this, expects action every minute and is very disappointed when nothing much happens for long stretches of time. After about half an hour, the tiger finally decides to get up and move. See what I mean by the perfect spot? Head on, right between the trees!He keeps walking towards us and I keep clicking.He is now in a much more open area, giving me the opportunity to capture some good images. Ah, if only the forest were green, this would have made for a superb portrait.He is now quite close and doesn't seem to be ready to get to the water yet. He is also limping, seems to be injured in his right front leg. Probably a fight with another tiger over some girl, what else?He sits down and relaxes in that famous tiger pose. You only see tigers sitting like this, leopards never (or at least very rarely) sit on the ground.I zoom in close to get a portrait of this magnificent animal.Meanhwhile, we hear some excitement from the people keeping a watch on the first tiger. I turn 180 degrees and see just the back of the tiger over the mud bank. So he is moving too!Several vans have already left the area after their sighting of the second tiger that has come out in the open, so there are only about three vans still in place. We move ahead to our previous position to see the first tiger. Unfortunately he is sitting turned away from us.The drivers say that the first and second tigers are son and father respectively, a very rare phenomenon of tigers being together. They are almost exclusively solitary animals. This collaboration has started recently and they have been seen together several times. The son is also almost fully grown, over three years old, so it is not really a sub-adult.We return back to our position near the father, waiting for him to get to the water. After several minutes, he gets up and starts to move. Again, this would have been a brilliant photo if the forest were green! The setting sun lights up the animal perfectly, emphasizing the orange colour.He finally reaches the water and sits down with a sigh of relief! In between he has come so close to our van that I'm not able to take any photos from my camera. I take a video from my phone, which in itself is an excellent camera. I'll post the videos later.He gulps several gallons of this murky water. I can never understand how their digestive systems can process water that is so muddy and laden with algae. But then, they don't know about RO filters!A close up image of an imposing specimen.After another 15-20 minutes of cooling off in the water, he gets up and moves away in the direction of his son. You can almost hear the water dripping off him right?He goes up the bank and the sunlight is amazing on the trees, but down where he is, there isn't much light. I'm waiting for him to get up to the rim, but for some reason, he delays going there, simply standing and looking off in that direction. We are not sure what catches his attention, there is nothing there except a couple of vans.By the time he get where I want him, the sun has dropped behind the tree line and the exquisite light is gone. That light is present only for about a minute or so. Anyway, he quickly walks over the rim and is gone in flash.It is time for us to return too. Thus ends the first outing. Last edited by Stryker : 26th March 2025 at 19:37 . Bottom line: To commemorate World Backup Day on March 31 just one day before April Fool's Day Western Digital commissioned a survey of 6,118 people across 10 countries, conducted a month ago, to better understand their backup practices. The findings revealed that 87 percent of respondents do back up their data, either manually or automatically. Their main motivations include fear of losing important files (83 percent), the need to free up device space (67 percent), and protection against cyber threats (42 percent). Despite these efforts, data loss remains widespread: 63 percent of respondents reported losing data due to device failures, accidental deletions, or cyberattacks. Personal data has become ever more valuable in today's digital world. From health records and financial documents to cherished memories captured in photos and videos, the importance of safeguarding this information cannot be overstated. The survey underscores just how many consumers have come to recognize this reality. The consequences of failing to back up data can be catastrophic, as several high-profile incidents demonstrate. During the production of Toy Story 2, for example, a server command accidentally deleted large portions of the film's animation files. Although the team had backups, they were partially corrupted, leaving the project's future uncertain. In the end, the movie was successfully restored but not without serious challenges. A more recent example occurred in 2021, when OVHcloud, one of Europe's largest cloud service providers, suffered a massive fire at its data center in Strasbourg, France. The blaze destroyed one data center entirely and damaged another, taking thousands of websites and services offline including government portals, banks, and gaming platforms. While some clients had opted for additional backup services, others lost critical data permanently because they relied solely on local data center storage without offsite backups. In another high-profile case, the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in 2021 brought critical U.S. fuel infrastructure to a standstill. The attack forced the company to shut down operations along its 5,500-mile pipeline, leading to widespread fuel shortages across the East Coast. While Colonial Pipeline ultimately paid a ransom of $4.4 million, the company was able to resume operations within days thanks in part to its data backups, which allowed them to begin restoring critical systems independently of the attackers' decryption tools. In light of these examples, adopting a dependable backup practice is crucial. The 3-2-1 backup strategy, which involves storing three copies of data on two different media types with one copy offsite, is widely recommended. However, with free cloud storage limits being quickly exhausted, many consumers are turning to a hybrid approach that combines cloud and local external storage. This shift is driven by the need for cost efficiency and reliability, as 60 percent of respondents have run out of free cloud storage space in the past six months, leading 56 percent to upgrade to paid plans. The big picture: Following its acquisition by Broadcom, VMware has become a focal point of controversy in the tech industry. Now, the virtualization company is hitting back by taking Siemens to court over an alleged massive software license infringement. Broadcom has filed a lawsuit against the US arm of Siemens AG, accusing the German conglomerate of using "thousands" of VMware products without proper licenses. According to the lawsuit, the two companies had an agreement for a specific number of licenses, but Siemens allegedly overstepped those terms while still demanding full VMware support for its virtualization-based operations. Siemens AG and its affiliates "downloaded, copied, distributed, and activated a large number of VMware software in excess of the number of licenses they had purchased," Broadcom claimed. VMware and Siemens originally signed a software license and service agreement in 2012, long before Broadcom acquired the virtualization company. The lawsuit further states that Siemens submitted a list of the VMware products it was using and requested an extension of support for one additional year under the 2012 agreement. However, the list allegedly included multiple products for which Siemens had not acquired proper licenses. As a result, VMware initially attempted to reject the support renewal request. Siemens AG later confirmed the accuracy of its list and even threatened to sue VMware over the unanswered support request. In response, Broadcom granted a limited support extension but also filed a lawsuit against Siemens, alleging a large-scale software license infringement. VMware is now seeking a jury trial, demanding compensation for damages and even a share of the profits Siemens allegedly gained from using its copyrighted software. According to the lawsuit, Siemens never provided a credible explanation for the discrepancies in its list of VMware-licensed products. While the German company insisted the list was accurate, VMware claimed the number of licenses and actual usage did not match. Broadcom also criticized Siemens for refusing to run an external script on its systems an audit that would have allowed VMware to verify the extent of its software usage. VMware became an integral part of Broadcom's corporate structure in 2023. Under CEO Tan Hock Eng, the company has prioritized high-value clients to maximize revenue, a strategy that appears to be paying off based on its latest quarterly results. Prices are soaring and revenue is climbing, but many VMware customers are growing increasingly frustrated. There is a new report that brings up a controversial deal that SpaceX reportedly has, and the Elon Musk-owned space company is claimed to have a "secret backdoor" for Chinese investors. The lates claims say that the company has been allowing Chinese investments to fund its operations by allowing these investors to buy stakes from the company. Alongside this, it was also claimed that SpaceX has been routing the funds and stakes they receive from these alleged Chinese investors to offshore accounts like the Cayman Islands. SpaceX China Investments: Reports Claims There Is a 'Secret Backdoor' A report from ProPublica has shared massive claims regarding the "secret backdoor." According to the report, Elon Musk's SpaceX has been accepting Chinese investments over the years. It has been claimed that SpaceX has business with the East Asian superpower, but it will only accept investments or payments if they route the funds through the Cayman Islands or other similar methods. This latest report brings a new controversy involving the business magnate, particularly as Musk has been linked to or has ties with China over the past years. Moreover, the report also added that around four years ago, SpaceX pulled out from a potential $50 million deal with a Chinese firm that planned to buy its money's worth of the space company's stocks. SpaceX reportedly backed out because it wanted to avoid problems with US regulators. That being said, there is no public record of SpaceX's deals with Chinese investors or firms. Elon Musk and His Controversial Issues Elon Musk is one of the most influential business magnates of this generation, and the billionaire has been embroiled in many controversies over the course of his career. One of the latest ones centers on his work over at the Department of Government Efficiency, as it was revealed that staff working alongside him are earning as much as six digits despite being declared that they are not getting paid. However, the tech mogul has also been considered as "problematic" by many because of his actions, including his previous antisemitism fiasco over at X which led to massive losses in advertisement partnerships and user base. Controversy also arose when Mark did "Nazi"-like salute during Donald Trump's celebratory rally. In the past, Musk has also faced significant criticism for his many claims on Tesla's autonomous driving features, his purchase of Twitter, and his current issues with OpenAI and Sam Altman, to name a few. Following a four-month-long stalemate, Apple has settled the iPhone 16 ban in Indonesia. Starting April 11, Indonesian consumers can now buy the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max, and the recently released iPhone 16e. This resolution follows Apple's agreement to an adjusted investment commitment of $300 million, a far cry from the originally quoted $1 billion. Why Was the iPhone 16 Series Banned in Indonesia? Indonesia has stringent local content regulations under its Domestic Component Level (TKDN) certification. According to GSM Arena, foreign businesses must have a minimum of 40% local content to sell and operate in the country. This can be done through local production, software development, or setting up R&D centers. When the Cupertino-based giant fell short of such requirements, the sale and application of the iPhone 16 series were banned in Indonesia. Apple's efforts fueled months of back-and-forth negotiations as they gradually deepened their investment pledge to fit in with the provisions of Indonesia. Apple's Renewed Investment Promise Earlier, reports indicated Apple was willing to spend $100 million to settle the issue. However, it's not enough to convince the government to stop the iPhone ban. Another report said that the investment would hit $1 billion, but it did not materialize. Reuters, however, confirmed that the agreed amount is now $300 million. It is not known if Apple managed to get a better bargain or if this is an interim amount that could go up later. To address Indonesia's needs, Apple intends to have a factory that produces its highly sought-after AirTag trackers as well as an independent factory specifically for accessories. The Tim Cook-led company will also invest in indigenous academies where future talent can be trained and establish additional research and development (R&D) centers in the country. Indonesian iPhone Fans Could Soon Buy the Latest Series With the ban lifted, Indonesian Apple fans can now finally get their hands on the latest iPhone models. The launch of the iPhone 16 series introduces Apple's latest technology, such as better camera systems, quicker processors, and longer battery life, to the market in Indonesia. Moreover, the release of the iPhone 16e, a more affordable model for emerging markets, ensures that Apple appeals to a wider base of consumers in Indonesia. Utah Governor Spencer Cox, who signed the law protecting minors using social media in 2023, gave a green light to the App Store Accountability Act law. In doing so, the state becomes the first US state to require age verification on app store users. The law mandates that residents should be 18 years old and above to open a new app store account, with minors required to associate their accounts with a parent or guardian for authorization to download apps. Shielding Minors with Parental Supervision The new law intends to shield children and adolescents from seeing objectionable material online. As per the Republican state senator Todd Weiler, who introduced the bill, the act empowers parents by allowing them to exercise control over what their children can download onto their devices. The act enables parents to monitor and approve app use, making the digital space safer for children. Read more: Google Play Store Rolls Out New Protection Plans to Stop Fraudulent Financial Apps Tech Giants Support App Store Accountability Act Law Social media giants Meta, Snap, and X have been backing the bill, with their praise for Utah's move to protect children online. Together, the firms issued the following statement: Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. We... Snap Inc. (@Snap) March 5, 2025 Google is Not Happy About the Utah Bill Nonetheless, Google, the owner of the Play Store, vehemently objected to the bill and requested the governor to veto the legislation. According to PC Gamer, Google's main issue is privacy and the complexities of handling sensitive user data. The company has not yet issued a statement after the signing of the bill. Legal Challenges Would Get in the Utah Bill's Way Much to its goals, the App Store Accountability Act is bringing about reservations from privacy groups and digital rights groups. According to Engadget, critics contend that the legislation could be dangerous to user privacy, most importantly, regarding how sensitive age verification information will be gathered, stored, and secured. Other similar laws in other states have been sued by privacy groups, raising questions on the legality and enforceability of such legislation. The law will become active on May 7, although legal experts project court challenges that will delay its enforcement. Digital privacy groups have already complained about the probable misuse of personal information and have signaled potential litigation. Considering the past legal fight over age verification legislation, Utah may have lengthy court battles ahead before the law is fully enforced. MOSCOW, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Moscow is "categorically against" the possible deployment of Western peacekeepers in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday. Such a scenario could lead to a direct clash between Russia and NATO, Zakharova said, adding that London and Paris are hatching plans for "a military intervention in Ukraine" under the guise of a peacekeeping operation. France is holding a summit of a "coalition of the willing" in Paris on Thursday to discuss future support for Ukraine, one week after Britain gathered military chiefs from some 30 countries to discuss the coalition. 'Unprecedented' mass bleaching drains life from Australian reef Sydney, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 An "unprecedented" mass bleaching event has been recorded off Australia's western coast, scientists said Wednesday, turning huge chunks of a celebrated reef system a sickly dull white. A months-long marine heatwave had "cooked" the sprawling Ningaloo Reef, ocean scientist Kate Quigley said, part of a UNESCO World Heritage-listed marine park renowned for vibrant corals and migrating whale sharks. Although environment officials were still verifying the scale of damage, data collected by Quigley and a team of scientists found it was on track to be the reef's worst mass bleaching event in years. "Warm oceans have just cooked the corals this year," Quigley told AFP. "It wouldn't be amiss to throw in the word 'unprecedented'. "It has gone deep, it's not just the top of the reef that is bleaching. Many different species of coral are bleaching." The episode is part of an ongoing, fourth global coral bleaching event that began in 2023. "From 1 January 2023 to 20 March 2025, bleaching-level heat stress has impacted 83.6 percent of the world's reef areas", Derek Manzello of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) told AFP, with 81 countries or territories impacted. "The bleaching in Western Australia is particularly concerning, based on the initial information we've received from colleagues documenting the impacts, coupled with the severity of the ongoing heat stress." - Not a death sentence, yet - Branching through shallow waters along Australia's western coast, the 300-kilometre (185-mile) Ningaloo Reef is one of the largest "fringing reefs" in the world. The unfolding mass bleaching looked to be the worst since 2011, Quigley said. Ocean waters lapping Western Australia have been as much as three degrees warmer than average over recent summer months, the government weather bureau said. Rising temperatures shot past the "bleaching threshold" sometime in mid-January, according to monitoring by NOAA in the United States. Bleaching occurs when warm waters trigger a biological response, forcing coral to expel the colourful algae embedded in their tissues. "Bleaching is a sickness, but it does not mean outright death," said Quigley, a research scientist with environment-focused charity Minderoo Foundation. "But if it is bad enough, the corals will die." - 'Just shocking' - Government data showed smaller patches of coral bleaching had also been spotted at the northern tip of the more famous Great Barrier Reef on Australia's east coast. Quigley said the Ningaloo Reef and the Great Barrier Reef were shaped by different weather patterns -- and it was rare to see bleaching on both at the same time. "What we're seeing is the level of ocean warming is so great, it's overriding the local conditions in some places. "It's just shocking. When we take a national snapshot, it's extremely concerning." The Great Barrier Reef, a popular tourist attraction, has suffered five mass bleachings over the past eight years. Quigley said the extent of damage on the Great Barrier Reef was not currently widespread enough to be considered "mass bleaching". Global average temperatures were the hottest on record in 2024, with prolonged heatwaves in many of the planet's oceans causing alarm. A prolonged global episode of heat-related bleaching impacted almost 80 percent of the world's coral reefs between 2023 and 2024, a leading US science agency found in October. Warming seas, overfishing and pollution are threatening coral reef systems the world over, warned a major UN report in December. The average sea surface temperature around Australia was the "highest on record" in 2024, an Australian National University study reported last week. Australia sits on bulging deposits of coal, gas, metals and minerals, with mining and fossil fuels stoking decades of near-unbroken economic growth. But it is increasingly suffering from more intense heatwaves, bushfires and drought, which scientists have linked to climate change. 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. NEW DELHI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to chief advisor to Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus, extending his wishes on the occasion of the country's Independence Day, officials said Thursday. Modi reiterated India's commitment to advancing a partnership between the two countries. "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," Modi said. Bolivia declares state of emergency to combat floods La Paz, March 26 (AFP) Mar 26, 2025 Bolivia's government decreed a state of emergency Wednesday to deal with floods caused by torrential rains blamed for 51 deaths since November. President Luis Arce said about 380,000 families have been affected by the calamity in all nine of Bolivia's departments. The state of emergency will allow the government to mobilize more emergency personnel for rescue operations, and to speed up the purchase of equipment. Bolivia's rainy season runs from November to April, and last year claimed 55 lives. The Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, an NGO that advises on policy, said in a report last year that "climate change is intensifying Bolivia's water vulnerabilities... increasing the frequency and severity of droughts and floods." The country is also battling a crippling fuel shortage and has been in a deep economic rut since 2023. Giant mine machine swallowing up Senegal's fertile coast Lompoul, Senegal, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Like something from the science fiction film "Dune", the "world's biggest mining dredger" has been swallowing acre after acre of the fertile coastal strip where most of Senegal's vegetables are grown. The jagged 23-kilometre-long (14-mile) scar the gigantic rig has left mining for zircon -- which is used in ceramics and the building industry -- is so big it is visible from space. Amid a deafening din, the massive machine sucks up thousands of tonnes of mineral sands an hour, moving forward on an artificial lake created with water pumped from deep underground. It is now tearing through the dunes of Lompoul -- one of the smallest and most beautiful deserts in the world -- a tourist hotspot by the endless beaches of Senegal's Atlantic coast. Thousands of farmers and their families have been displaced over the past decade to make way for the colossal floating factory run by the French mining group Eramet. It denies any wrongdoing, insists its operations are exemplary and even plans to step up the pace of mining. But locals accuse it of destroying this rich but delicate ecosystem on the western edge of Africa's semi-arid Sahel region. The project has brought "despair and disillusion", said Gora Gaye, the mayor of Diokoul Diawrigne district which takes in Lompoul. For years critics of the mine said villagers' protests at losing the land were ignored, with complaints about "derisory" compensation smothered by the authorities. - New president speaks out - That has now changed, with tourist operators uniting with farmers and local leaders to demand a pause in the mining. Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has also spoken out on extractive mining practices, saying some "local populations do not benefit". He has doubled down, demanding more transparency and oversight of "social and environmental impacts". His government was elected last year promising a radical break with the past and to reclaim Senegal's sovereignty, particularly from the influence of former colonial power France. Eramet -- which is 27 percent owned by France -- began mining in 2014 under the previous government after being awarded the concession 10 years earlier. The Senegalese state holds 10 percent of its local subsidiary, EGC, which mines the zircon and titanium-related minerals such as rutile and ilmenite. AFP was granted rare access to its operations and to the dredger and the plants where the mineral sands are separated before being exported via the company's private rail link through the port of the capital Dakar, 150 miles to the south. EGC insisted it was a "responsible company", that respects its agreement with the Senegal government and that has compensated locals "five times more" for the loss of their land than national guidelines, paying out 12,190 to 15,240 euros ($16,575) per hectare. - Fertile oases 'destroyed' - But what are they left with afterwards, asked hotelier Sheikh Yves Jacquemain, who runs a desert eco-lodge of traditional tents in Lompoul, where until recently the only sounds were from seabirds and passing camels. "The mine is moving forward: the fate of people once the mine has passed is no longer their problem," he told AFP, the roar of the gigantic dredger 150 metres (165 yards) away almost drowning him out as it ate through the landscape. Of Lompoul's seven tourist camps, six have accepted EGC's money and have moved. Jacquemain is holding out for "just" compensation for him and his 40 employees. Local communities also accuse the mine of destroying and "degrading the soil and the dunes" and threatening their water and food security. Farmers say the compensation for the land is based on guidelines dating from the 1970s and does not make up for the irredeemable loss of revenue from their once-fertile fields. The hollows between the dunes were oases, a rare ecosystem "which produced until recently 80 percent of the fresh vegetables eaten in Senegal", according to mayor Gaye. - 'We want our land back' - Gaye said locals were initially optimistic about the mining. But all they have gotten were "broken promises, intimidation, the destruction of our ecosystem and the catastrophic moving of villages. Economic development has gone backwards," he added. EGC argues that it has rehoused farmers and their families in four large new villages with modern infrastructure. "A total of 586 houses and community infrastructures (a health centre, school and mosques...) have been built" serving 3,142 people. But gathered in the square of one of the new settlements at Foth, Omar Keita and around two dozen other heads of families were quick to show their anger. "We want our land back and our village rebuilt so we can go back to how we were living before," Keita, 32, told AFP. "I appeal to the president and even to France," he declared. He said he was not given a new home and showed AFP where his wife and three children have lived for the past six years -- a single room "loaned by my big brother", a mattress lying on the floor. But EGC's managing director Frederic Zanklan insisted that "every family was rehoused in relation to how they were when the count was made", adding that it was "nothing to do" with them if families had since grown. But Keita said that before he was displaced "I had my fields and my house... We earned our living decently but they reduced that to naught and I have to start again from zero..." "Here I have to work in other people's fields," he said. Ibrahima Ba, 60, was equally livid. "We have gone backwards in every way," he told AFP. While still a farmer, today's harvests are nothing like what they were "in my village, the soil was very fertile, we had fresh water and we had no problems". He called on President Faye and his prime minister to help them "because a foreign country is destroying the life of Senegalese citizens". But EGC's Zanklan said the mining group had respected the law to the letter and argued that "the project is benefiting the country... generating 149 million euros for Senegal in 2023". He said they had paid "25 million euros in taxes and dividends" on their 215-million-euros turnover. "Nearly 2,000 people work in the mine and the separation factories, 97 percent of them Senegalese," with nearly half of them locals, Zanklan added. He said the company made the fourth-biggest contribution among mining groups to Senegal's state budget, according to data from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. EGC is the "first mining company to return reclaimed land to Senegal" and replant it with trees, its managing director added. But locals complain that the land is not "returned" to them but to the Senegalese state, which has traditionally allowed farmers to till state land. "They promised to give the land back to us so we could continue to use it, but they have not kept the promise," farmer Ba said. - Calls for moratorium - Close to where AFP saw the restored land, farmer Serigne Mar Sow pointed to the murky puddles in a barren field which he said showed the "immeasurable damage" done by the mining. The water pumped up from 450 metres underground for the lake for the dredger rig remains close to the surface. EGC insists that this benefits vegetable growers. But Sow sees it differently. "The vegetables and bananas we used to grow here are dead because of the water that floods our fields from the dredger 2.5 kilometres from here." "The land is no longer fertile," he said. Surrounded by dead manioc and banana plants, he claimed that the water was polluted with "chemicals". "There are 15 to 20 fields around here which have been abandoned because of that water coming up -- a drastic fall in the land we can get a harvest from." But EGC insists that "no chemicals are used", and that the extraction is "purely mechanical". Gaye, the mayor of Diokoul Diawrigne, has demanded that Senegal "stop the mining for the moment so serious studies can be carried out on the damage being done -- and so we can make a proper comparison of what all this is bringing to the state and to communities". "We cannot close our eyes" to what people are going through, he argued, "whatever Senegal gets from this business". Zanklan countered that there is "no need for a moratorium... If there are worries, the authorities can come and inspect when they like". In fact, EGC hopes to increase the dredger's capacity by more than a fifth to 8,500 tonnes an hour from 2026, he said. Pausing mining "would mean putting 2,000 people out of work and end the economic benefits for the state of Senegal -- it would be irresponsible when the country really needs to develop", he argued. In the meantime, the dredger continues to swallow up the dunes of Lompoul, Africa's smallest and one of its most scenic deserts. lp/mrb/els/fg/yad 'It was beautiful': Mount Kenya's glaciers melting away Meru, Kenya, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Charles Kibaki Muchiri traced the water trickling across the surface of the Lewis Glacier with his fingers, illustrating how quickly climate change is melting the huge ice blocks off of Africa's second-highest mountain. For nearly 25 years, the affable 50-year-old guide has been taking hikers to the peaks of Mount Kenya, nearly 5,000 metres (16,400 feet) above sea level, and observing their transformation from a landscape of snow and ice, to brown rock. "It was very beautiful," he told AFP mournfully on a recent ascent. He recalled the ice caves and thick layer of snow that lasted several months on the peaks of this ancient volcano. The Lewis Glacier once covered one of Mount Kenya's slopes. The imposing mass of ice visible in archive photos has now been reduced to just two blocks -- the biggest only a few dozen metres wide. Muchiri said he fears the glacier will be entirely gone in a few years, transforming the landscape and discouraging visitors. His observations are backed up by numerous studies, while scientists have found ice loss from the world's glaciers has accelerated over the past decade as the planet warms. Mount Kenya is one of the only mountains on the African continent with glaciers, and scientists fear that as soon as 2030, it could become one of the first to turn entirely ice-free in modern times. The Lewis Glacier lost 90 percent of its volume between 1934 and 2010, according to a 2011 study led by Rainer Prinz of Austria's University of Innsbruck. A satellite study last year, published in the journal Environmental Research: Climate, found that the surface area of the ice on Mount Kenya was just 4.2 percent of the size compared with the first reliable observations in 1900. That is in keeping with other African mountains, including the highest, Mount Kilimanjaro, which has just 8.6 percent of its ice surface left, according to the study. - 'Just melt away' - Although less well-known than Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Elephants can sometimes be seen in the dense forest at its base, while the trees give way to verdant hills on the ascent. After long hours of hiking, the brown rocks of the summit appear. Prinz said the ice shrinkage is down to temperature changes at the surface of the Indian Ocean that transport moisture throughout east Africa, "and, hence, affected by our warming planet". The mountains no longer receive sufficient snow and are deprived of the white blanket that protects the glaciers from the effects of solar radiation, he said. "If they don't have that, they will just melt away," he said. Porter and guide Godfrey Mwangi, 28, said he has already seen many glaciers disappear. He pointed to a whitewashed cliff overlooking Shiptons Camp at an altitude of 4,200 metres, once covered in a sheet of ice. The mountain is still home to atypical flora and unique landscapes, Muchiri added, but the loss of glacier ice has put a stop to certain types of technical climbing. - 'Ice cubes' - Rivers are also drying up, with consequences for the flora, fauna and residents of villages at the foot of the revered mountain. The glaciers were never large enough to constitute significant water reservoirs, according to scientists, but had considerable tourist and scientific importance. There are other ice blocks left on the mountain, but Prinz said they are now "more or less a pile of ice cubes". The Lewis Glacier did once have an effect on local water supplies, added Alexandros Makarigakis, a UNESCO hydrologist, but it has become so small that its contribution to the local environment has evaporated. Makarigakis welcomes projects led by young Kenyans to plant trees around the base of the mountain in the hope of slowing the loss of snow. But he said it will only delay the inevitable. "Pretty soon we will have a generation that will never associate Africa with glaciers," he said. jcp/jf/er/sbk EU emission target delay sparks worries of climate retreat Brussels, Belgium, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 A delay in setting new emission reduction targets has raised concerns that the EU has put its ambitious climate agenda on the back burner, bowing to political headwinds. A proposal to cut Europe's planet warming emissions by 90 percent by 2040 will not be on the table as environment ministers from the bloc's 27 countries meet in Brussels on Thursday. The European Commission had indicated it wanted to make the plan official in the first quarter of the year but it has so far failed to do so -- to the worry of green groups and lawmakers. "Climate was central five years ago. Right now, it's clearly not," lamented an EU official. The 90 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 is considered a stepping stone towards the EU's broader goal to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The latter is at the heart of the European Green Deal, a landmark package of measures that defined commission chief Ursula von der Leyen's first term in office but has since come increasingly under fire. Right and hard-right gains across Europe and the return of Donald Trump to the White House have focused Brussels' attention on defence and competitiveness -- which critics of climate action say is hindered by green rules. "The failure to publish" the new targets "sends a clear and troubling message about the EU's commitment to the green transition," said Dario Tamburrano, an EU lawmaker with the Left group. The commission said the 2040 targets would be finalised as soon as possible, adding the "EU's actions and intentions" were "clear" with a "framework to become a decarbonised economy by 2050" already in place. "We will continue to be a leading voice for international climate action," it said. Yet, it has already fallen behind in its international commitments. It missed a February UN deadline to submit new carbon emissions targets for 2035 under the Paris Agreement. Most nations also failed to get their plans together in time. - 'Under attack' - Environmentalists see the EU's dithering as particularly worrying at a time where many look to it for leadership after President Donald Trump ordered the United States to withdraw from the Paris accord. "It raises unnecessary concerns internationally on the EU's commitments to climate cooperation," said Linda Kalcher, director of Strategic Perspectives, a think tank. Other big emitters could now "use the EU as an excuse to also be late" and there was a risk some would go ahead and publish lower goals than they would have, had the EU already set the bar high, she added. Disagreements among member countries and the commission are said to be behind the slow pace of progress. "There is a lack of political will," said Caroline Francois-Marsal of the Climate Action Network, an advocacy group. Italy's Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said this month the commission should consider lowering the target to 80 or 85 percent, arguing these were also in line with the net-zero 2050 ambition. A higher goal risked forcing countries to take "overly aggressive measures" with uncertain outcomes, tying them to "technologies that are not yet mature". The Czech Republic, home to a power-hungry heavy industry, considers the 90 percent goal impossible to achieve. Observers say Poland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, would like the debate to play out after its own presidential elections in May, and France has said Brussels should refrain from setting targets without detailing how to meet them. "We want a target that is constructed in the most credible way possible," said French Ecological Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher. "Climate policies are under attack from all sides," concluded Michael Bloss, a German EU lawmaker with the Greens. adc-ub-jhm-bl/ec/phz Hundreds of fungi species threatened with extinction: IUCN Paris, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Deforestation, farming and climate-fuelled fires are driving increasing threats to fungi, the lifeblood of most plants on Earth, the International Union for Conservation of Nature warned on Thursday. At least 411 fungi face extinction out of the 1,300 varieties whose conservation status is well understood, according to the latest update of the IUCN's authoritative "Red List of Threatened Species". "Fungi are the unsung heroes of life on Earth, forming the very foundation of healthy ecosystems -- yet they have long been overlooked," said IUCN director general Grethel Aguilar. "Now it's time to turn this knowledge into action and safeguard the extraordinary fungal kingdom, whose vast underground networks sustain nature and life as we know it." This assessment, by the global authority on the status of the natural world, concerns only a fraction of the approximately 150,000 fungal species recorded to date, out of an estimated 2.5 million on Earth. But it illustrates the strains that human activity places on this distinct individual kingdom, which is neither plant nor animal. "While fungi mainly live hidden underground and inside wood, their loss impacts the life above ground that depends on them," said Professor Anders Dahlberg, who coordinated this latest assessment. "It's like the microbiome in our stomachs that are key for our well-being," the Swedish mycologist told AFP, describing a "very, very old symbiosis, more than 400 million years old" which underpin all ecosystems. "As we lose fungi, we impoverish the ecosystem services and resilience they provide, from drought and pathogen resistance in crops and trees to storing carbon in the soil." Many fungi "are edible, used in food and drink production including fermentation" and form the basis of medicines, IUCN said. No porcini mushrooms, chanterelles or other fungi savoured at the dinner table are among the most threatened species. Dahlberg said most were very specific varieties and not dominant in any one particular fungal community, although some had been fairly common and widespread. - 'Serious threats' - Close to 300 of the threatened fungi have been pushed to the limit by the "rapid growth of agricultural and urban areas", said the IUCN, a respected international collective of scientific organisations. "Nitrogen and ammonia run-off from fertilisers and engine pollution also threaten 91 species," it added. This in particular poses "serious threats" to popular species in Europe like the fibrous waxcap -- Hygrocybe intermedia -- an uncommon yellow-orange mushroom found in meadows from Scandinavia to southern Italy. Deforestation, for timber or to make way for crops, is the primary existential threat to at least 198 fungi species. "Clear-cutting of old-growth forests is especially damaging, destroying fungi that do not have time to re-establish with rotation forestry," said the IUCN. Iconic species like giant knight -- Tricholoma colossus -- have been classified as vulnerable due to the loss of 30 percent of old-growth pine forests across Finland, Sweden and Russia since the mid 1970s. Global warming is also a factor, with more than 50 fungi species at risk of extinction due to changes in fire patterns in the United States "which have drastically changed forests", it said. IUCN said that fir trees had come to dominate the high Sierra Nevada mountain woods, reducing habitat for the endangered Gastroboletus citrinobrunneus. The latest Red List includes nearly 170,000 threatened species, of which more than 47,000 are threatened with extinction. Airlines cast doubt on EU sustainable fuels targets Brussels, Belgium, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Major European airlines on Thursday urged the European Union to reconsider green targets for the sector unless production of renewable fuels picks up and costs can be brought down. Under ambitious plans to tackle climate change, the EU will require airlines to gradually increase the amount of so-called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) they use to power planes. But airlines complain SAF is not widely available and too expensive, hampering competitiveness. "We don't have enough SAF, and the SAF that we have is very expensive," Luis Gallego, CEO of the IAG airline group bringing together Iberia, British Airways and other carriers, told a press conference. Gallego was speaking on behalf of Airlines for Europe (A4E), an industry group representing 17 airlines including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, at an event it held in Brussels. EU rules require carriers to include two percent of SAF in their fuel mix starting this year, rising to six percent in 2030 and then soaring to 70 percent from 2050. But a study published by A4E estimates SAF production would be 30 percent below levels necessary to achieve the goal in 2030, according to Gallego. "It is now clear that SAF supply will not be sufficient to meet the six percent target by 2030," said Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. "Unless action is taken now, the only realistic solution is to move the 2030" target, added Gallego. Contributing to almost three percent of carbon dioxide emissions globally, the aviation sector is among the toughest to decarbonise. SAF -- a biofuel that produces lower carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel, made from plant and animal materials like cooking oil and fat -- is seen as a crucial ingredient to hitting emissions targets. It is expected to provide 65 percent of aviation's "net zero" mitigation by 2050. tq/ub/ec/sbk IAG - INTERNATIONAL CONSOLIDATED AIRLINES GROUP Lufthansa RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC Air France-KLM Ugandan environmentalists demand banks halt new funding for oil project Kampala, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 The East African Crude Oil Pipeline project (EACOP) announced it had secured the first part of financing to move crude from Uganda to a Tanzanian port, prompting environmentalists on Thursday to call on banks to withdraw their support. French giant TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) are pushing ahead with a 1,443-kilometre (900-mile) heated pipeline from the oilfields in the Lake Albert region of northwest Uganda to Tanzania's Indian Ocean port of Tanga. On Wednesday, EACOP announced "it has closed the first tranche of external financing for the project provided by a syndicate of financial institutions including regional banks". The funders include African Export Import Bank (Afrixem Bank), the Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd, two Ugandan banks and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector. Environmental groups told AFP on Thursday they are calling on the banks to withdraw their support for the project, claiming it threatens fragile ecosystems and local communities. "We demand that the banks financing the project reconsider their position," said Samuel Okulony, executive director of the Ugandan-based Environment Governance Institute. "It is disappointing, especially looking at banks which have been operating in Uganda... when we are facing climate change impact already," he said. The project has been hailed by President Yoweri Museveni as an economic boon for the landlocked country where many live in poverty. But activists have contested the project, pointing to forced evictions of communities, as well as cases of gender-based violence and exploitation carried out in the areas of its development, in addition to the environmental impact. Ugandan lawyer Kato Tumusiime, who represents youth contesting the project, told AFP that protests would continue until the banks pull out. "We know we many not stop the financing 100 percent but we have seen the impact of our actions against the negative effects of EACOP," he said, pointing to delays in the project's development. str-jcp/jf/giv/bc TotalEnergies Why has Mexico's water debt opened new battle line with US? Mexico City, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 Mexico's water debt to the United States under a decades-old supply treaty has opened a new battlefront between the two countries, in addition to US President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs. Mexico's shortfalls, which it blames on an extraordinary drought, led the United States to refuse its neighbor's request for special delivery of water to the border city of Tijuana last week. - What's the deal? - Under a pact dating back to 1944, the neighboring countries share water from two major rivers flowing from the southwestern United States to Mexico. The agreement obliges the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water a year from the Colorado River. In return Mexico must supply an average of 432 million cubic meters annually over a five-year cycle from the Rio Grande, which forms part of the border between the two countries. The current cycle expires in October and Mexico owes the United States more than 1.55 billion cubic meters, according to the two countries' boundary and water commission. The situation is "critical," warned Gonzalo Hatch Kuri, a geographer and researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. "Only massive storms during the upcoming rainy season of August and September could, miraculously, make it possible to meet the deadline," he told AFP. - What does US say? - Washington said on March 20 that it was the first time it had rejected a request by Mexico for special delivery of water. It said the Mexican delivery shortfalls were "decimating American agriculture -- particularly farmers in the Rio Grande valley." US farmers and lawmakers complain that their southern neighbor has waited until the end of each cycle and has been coming up short in the latest period. The Colorado River has seen its water levels shrink due to drought and heavy agricultural consumption in the southwestern United States, with around half of its water going to raise beef and dairy cattle. Farmers in southern Texas have voiced fear for the future of cotton, citrus and other farming products. The row has added to the tensions sparked by Trump's threat to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico, despite a North American free trade deal that also includes Canada. - Why is Mexico falling short? - The Mexican government says that the Rio Grande basin has suffered from two decades of drought that reached extreme levels in 2023. Excessive water concessions for agricultural and industrial use on the Mexican side have caused water to be "overexploited," according to authorities in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas. In November, the two countries signed an agreement aimed at preventing water shortages in parched southern US states with more reliable Mexican deliveries of river water. The accord -- the result of more than 18 months of negotiations -- provides Mexico with "tools and flexibility" to provide water earlier in a five-year cycle to reduce or prevent shortfalls, the boundary and water commission said. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said last week that the US complaints were "being dealt with" through the boundary and water commission. "There's been less water. That's part of the problem," she told reporters. Mexico's attempts to comply with the treaty have resulted in civil unrest in the past. In 2020, farmers in the northern state of Chihuahua seized a dam to prevent the government from supplying water from a reservoir to the United States, leading to clashes between protesters and the National Guard that left one person dead. Arctic sea ice hits lowest peak in satellite record, says US agency Washington, March 27 (AFP) Mar 27, 2025 This year's Arctic sea ice peak is the lowest in the 47-year satellite record, according to data released by the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) on Thursday, as the planet continues to swelter under the mounting effects of human-driven climate change. Arctic sea ice forms and expands during the dark, frigid northern winter, reaching its seasonal high point in March. But in recent years, less new ice has formed, and the accumulation of multi-year ice has steadily declined. The maximum sea ice level for 2025 was likely reached on March 22, measuring 14.33 million square kilometers (5.53 million square miles) -- below the previous low of 14.41 million square kilometers set in 2017. "This new record low is yet another indicator of how Arctic sea ice has fundamentally changed from earlier decades," said NSIDC senior research scientist Walt Meier in a statement. "But even more importantly than the record low is that this year adds yet another data point to the continuing long-term loss of Arctic sea ice in all seasons." The Arctic record follows a near-record-low summer minimum in the Antarctic, where seasons are reversed. The 2025 Antarctic sea ice minimum, reached on March 1, was just 1.98 million square kilometers, tying for the second-lowest annual minimum in the satellite record, alongside 2022 and 2024. Combined Arctic and Antarctic sea ice cover -- frozen ocean water that floats on the surface -- plunged to a record low in mid-February, more than a million square miles below the pre-2010 average. That is an area larger than the entire country of Algeria. "We're going to come into this next summer season with less ice to begin with," said Linette Boisvert, an ice scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "It doesn't bode well for the future." - A vicious cycle - US scientists primarily monitor sea ice using satellites from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), which detect Earth's microwave radiation. Because open water and sea ice emit microwave energy differently, the contrast allows sea ice to stand out clearly in satellite imagery -- even through cloud cover, which obscures traditional optical sensors. DMSP data is supplemented with historical records, including early observations from the Nimbus-7 satellite, which operated from 1978 to 1985. While floating sea ice does not directly raise sea levels, its disappearance sets off a cascade of climate consequences, altering weather patterns, disrupting ocean currents, and threatening ecosystems and human communities. As reflective ice gives way to the darker ocean, more solar energy is absorbed rather than reflected back into space, accelerating both ice melt and global warming. Shrinking Arctic ice is also reshaping geopolitics, opening new shipping lanes and drawing geopolitical interest. Since taking office this year, US President Donald Trump has said his country must control Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory rich in mineral resources. The loss of polar ice spells disaster for numerous species, robbing polar bears, seals, and penguins of crucial habitat used for shelter, hunting, and breeding. Last year was the hottest on record, and the trend continues: 2025 began with the warmest January ever recorded, followed by the third-warmest February. NOAA predicts that La Nina weather conditions, which tend to cool global temperatures, are likely to give way to neutral conditions that would persist over the Northern Hemisphere summer. Polar regions are especially vulnerable to global warming, heating several times faster than the global average. Since mid-2023, only July 2024 fell below 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, raising concerns that the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting long-term warming to 1.5C may be slipping out of reach. 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 From beef tallow to banana skins, TikTok's viral beauty hacks continue to captivate and confound. Recently, influencer Ashton Hall's morning routine video sparked a frenzy, not for its grueling 4 am journaling and plunge pool, but for a more unusual ritual: rubbing banana peel on his face. Hall's video prompted a wave of speculation about the potential benefits of banana peels, with some even touting them as a natural Botox alternative. While some viewers eagerly embraced the trend, others cautioned against the potential risks of applying fruit peels directly to the skin. So, we hear from dermatologists what a banana skin facial actually does to your skin. What is the banana peel TikTok trend? Much like whats depicted in Halls viral TikTok, the banana peel facial involves rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your face, for supposed brightening, rightening and wrinkle reduction. TikTok users are dubbing it natures Botox. To do a banana peel facial, simply take a fresh peel, cut it into smaller pieces, and gently rub the inside of the peel across your face in circular motions, explains skin and aesthetics expert, Nina Prisk, whose clinics are based in London and Cornwall. After a few minutes, leave it on for about 1015 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Prisk says that people are following this trend because its said that banana peel can help to brighten and hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation and combat acne due to its natural antioxidant properties. That said, while banana peels do contain some beneficial nutrients, I always advise people to take trends like these with a grain of salt, as its important to consider how your skin might react to unfamiliar ingredients. What are the benefits of banana on skin? While these potassium-filled fruits are great for our bodies, does this translate to our skin? Banana peels contain various nutrients, including antioxidants like lutein, vitamins A, B, C, and E, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium, explains dermatology doctor, Dr Nora, from Rejuvenation Clinic. These nutrient components can offer a range of skin benefits. Antioxidants help combat free radicals, potentially reducing oxidative stress that contributes to skin ageing, says Dr Nora. open image in gallery The natural oils and potassium in banana peels may help hydrate the skin, leading to a smoother appearance. The compounds in banana peels might also soothe skin irritation and reduce inflammation, which could be beneficial for conditions like acne. But the experts remain sceptical at these supposed results. I would warn that the benefits of this are extremely limited, says Prisk. In fact I would suggest that although bananas do contain lutein, which is an antioxidant which can help to brighten the skin, the skin wont absorb this properly by simply rubbing a banana on the skin. It may, in fact, result in skin irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin. Is it safe to rub banana peels on your face? While it may seem harmless and a great way of reducing waste, there are risks to rubbing banana peels directly onto your face. For most people, rubbing banana peel on the face is unlikely to cause harm and may even feel soothing, explains consultant dermatologist, Dr Angela Tewari, at The Lister Hospital. However, as with any topical ingredient, there is a risk of irritation or allergic reaction especially for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin. The peel can also collect pesticides or bacteria, so it should ideally be washed before use, she says. Tewari notes that although it may feel good, its important to remember that there is no strong clinical evidence supporting banana peel as an effective skincare treatment. Are bananas an alternative to Botox? While TikTok has hailed this hack as natures alternative to Botox, doctors say to take this trend with a pinch of salt. Its unlikely, laughs Dr Nora, Botox is injected into the muscle directly to stop contraction, therefore minimising dynamic movement of the particular muscle, what we then see as it kicks in is softened static lines over time and reduced movement nothing in bananas can replicate this exactly. Aesthetics expert Dr Ed Robinson agrees, noting, There is no scientific evidence to support this trend at all. As a doctor, I would never advise people to put food waste on their face. Banana peels may actually add benefits that Botox injections do not, such as brightening and creating a tightening sheen. Botox has no effect on your skin quality, says Robinson, [People] claim that a banana peel improves skin quality so they are completely separate things. At the end of the day, ageing is natural, so if you want something thats going to improve or reverse the ageing process, you are by definition doing something unnatural. KABUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The supreme leader of the Afghan interim government Hibatullah Akhundzada has called for establishing positive engagement based on mutual interests with the international community. "We seek to have good and beneficial relations with other countries based on Islamic principles," Akhundzada said in his message to congratulate the coming Eid al-Fitr. Akhundaza also urged all sides to respect Afghanistan, refrain from interference, and avoid obstructing the country's stability and progress, according to a message posted on the X account of the administration's chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Thursday. 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 Nigella Lawson has admitted that shes baffled by her sex symbol status. The TV cook, 65, who has routinely topped sexiest celebrity chef rankings throughout her career, said she has a lazy beauty regime and is shocked people recognise her in public. Lawson claimed she frequently has unbrushed hair, is covered in burn marks from her oven, and only manages to keep up a glamorous persona thanks to the magic of television. Speaking on the Salon Confidential podcast to celebrity stylist Andreas Wild, Lawson said: I don't get the whole sexy thing. Often I am not wearing makeup at all. If I've done my own hair, I don't brush it, I mess it up. Instead of brushing it, I tip my head upside down. I do try to do it sometimes, but I'm incredibly lazy. If people recognise me, Im astonished. Lawson admitted she feels offended to be recognised in public and recalled a recent encounter on the London Underground where fans were uncertain if it was her. 'I was on the Tube the other day and someone said, Is it you?, she said. I said, 'God, I am looking such a fright. I'm almost offended to be recognised. open image in gallery Nigella Lawson has said she doesnt understand her sex symbol status ( James Veysey/Shutterstock ) Lawsons first cookbook, How to Eat, was released when she was 38, but the celebrity chef didnt make her TV debut for a further two years. Back in 2018, the cook revealed she didnt want to appear on screen as a young woman because I didnt want that thing where attention is paid to ones physical being. Echoing her most recent interview, she added: TV is glamourising. I always think I must be a bit of a messy disappointment when people meet me in real life. The same year, the food writer denied intentionally using innuendos in her work and accused audiences of projecting on to her. Quoting Lawson, Australian TV host Hamish MacDonald read: My empty vessels are ready to be loaded, I adore the way it comes bulging up over the rim. open image in gallery The TV chef said she rarely brushes her hair or wears makeup and is lazy with her appearance ( BBC Studios / Jay Brooks ) Noticeably irritated, the chef, who is estimated to have sold more than three million cookery books worldwide, insisted MacDonalds suggestion that she deliberately uses innuendo was wrong. Appearing lost for words, she replied: Yes but why, tell me this its an empty vessel When I say it Macdonald interjected and again appeared to imply the use of language was intentional. You have this way of saying things, he insisted. Hitting back, Lawson replied: I have this way of people projecting things on me. Im so not. I dont get it. I need you to explain to me. 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 Sydney Sweeney has reportedly called off her wedding to Jonathan Davino after major problems plagued their relationship. Fans first suspected something was amiss with the Euphoria star, 27, and her partner, 41, after she appeared to delete a photo of them kissing on New Years Eve from Instagram earlier this week. Sweeney and Davino first started dating in 2018, became engaged in 2022, and had planned to get married this May. However, they have now postponed the ceremony, sources have said. Speaking to MailOnline, the insider claimed: 'Sydney and Jonathan have been having major issues but are not fully split. Things are not great right now, but they arent throwing in the towel yet. They are working on their relationship but have called off the wedding for now. 'They were supposed to get married this spring, the source claimed. The wedding is not happening, and they arent having further discussions about it. Sydney wanted to cancel everything and couldnt handle the stress...A lot of their issues stem from Sydney being extremely busy with work commitments, they said. open image in gallery Sydney Sweeney has reportedly called off her wedding to Jonathan Davino ( Getty Images for InStyle ) Things are also always tense between them when she is promoting a movie because she has to give her full attention to the project, and people always speculate about their relationship and Sydney being close to her costars. Its a tough dynamic for Jonathan. The Independent has contacted Sweeneys representatives for comment. Davino, who was last spotted at his fiancees house in Los Angeles on March 13 by TMZ photographer, helped produce the 2023 romantic comedy Anyone But You, starring Sweeney and Glen Powell. During the press tour, dating rumours about the actors ran riot, which Powell later admitted he and Sweeney leaned into to make the movie a success. Speaking about the rumours in her Saturday Night Live monologue in 2024, Sweeney said the claims about her and Powell were obviously not true. Me and my fiance produced the movie together and he was there the entire shoot, she explained. open image in gallery Sweeney has previously denied dating rumours about her and her Anything But You co-star Glen Powell ( Getty Images ) And I just want to let everyone know that hes the man of my dreams and were still together and stronger than ever. Back in February, TMZ first 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. For the most part, the couple of seven years have 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. open image in gallery Sweeney admitted it isnt normal in Hollywood to have a steady relationship ( REUTERS ) 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. 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 As the Spring season is in full swing, so is the return of Trader Joes iconic mini canvas tote bags. Trader Joes shared a statement last month to confirm that its mini totes, which first made headlines last year, are making a comeback. We have plans to release mini canvas totes in April in Trader Joes stores across the country. The exact date they will be available in each neighborhood Trader Joes will vary, a representative for Trader Joes told The Independent. Now, shoppers have revealed that the bags have officially hit shelves at Trader Joes. The items are being restocked in four Spring colors, including pastel shades of blue, pink, purple, and green. According to multiple TikTok videos posted today, some Trader Joes stores are only allowing each customer to buy four of the mini canvas totes, which cost $2.99 each. The mini totes first went viral early last year when the bags were sold in blue, red, green, and yellow in stores. It became something of a status symbol on TikTok, with influencers sharing how they customized the mini bags with paint, buttons, and embroidery. Customers also documented the hours they spent in line, which often went out the shops door, to get their hands on a bag. The mini tote bags are being sold for $2.99 each ( Trader Joe's ) The small bags were later resold on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace for three times the price. For example, third-party sellers were offering $20 for one mini tote and $999 for a set of four. Our Mini Canvas Tote Bags certainly sold more quickly than we anticipated, Trader Joes spokesperson Nakia Rohde told the Associated Press in March 2024. Before we had the opportunity to promote them in any way, customers across the country found them at their neighborhood Trader Joes. In September, the mini canvas tote made its second return to stores, with customers again swarming the Trader Joes aisles. Once the bags were eventually sold out, some buyers listed theirs for up to $500 on resale sites. Trader Joes also had massive success with its mini insulated tote bags, which went viral in June 2024. At the time, the bags the right fit for either storing lunch or keeping drinks cold were sold in magenta and teal for $3.99 each. There was only a limited amount of totes available at most stores. Last month, the insulated bags made a comeback, and were sold in two different colors: pink and lavender. While some customers said they could only buy two bags each at their local Trader Joes, not every store in the U.S. had this rule. Our mission is to bring customers the best quality products at the best prices. To do this, we have to manage our store space well. Some Trader Joes products are everyday products, and others are only available for a limited time, a representative for Trader Joes said in a statement last month. The Trader Joes Insulated Mini Totes are a limited-time product. Each store determines its merchandising plan, and availability will differ from store to store. Not surprisingly, some of the isolated tote bags are being resold online for a much higher price. One eBay listing is offering a pink and a lavender tote for a total of $24.99 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 Las Vegas woman is in custody and accused of stabbing a three-year-old girl she was babysitting to death. Just weeks earlier, the suspect, 41, was put on a mental health hold, according to a report. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said they received the call from the victims father just after 3:30 a.m. on March 26. The panicked father told the dispatcher that the babysitter had just stabbed his child. The victim was found suffering from multiple stab wounds at the Villa Del Sol Apartments, minutes from the strip. The attack occurred when the victims father was at work, officials said. The suspect has been named as Marketta Phillips. She is being held on open murder charges, records show. A week before the incident, police responded to the same residence where the toddler was killed and put Phillips on a 72-hour mental health crisis hold known as a Legal 2000, sources told FOX5. Phillips was previously arrested in October of 2021 and charged with engaging in lewd conduct in a public place, court records show, according to a local NBC affiliate. She was ultimately issued a warning and the case was dismissed. open image in gallery Police are investigating the relationship between Phillips and the victim's father, who were suspected to have been living in the same residence ( FOX5 ) After stabbing the young girl on Wednesday, the dad told police that the suspect fled the scene on foot. Police scoured the area and found Phillips, who was then taken into custody. She was being held at the Clark County Detention Center and scheduled to make her first court appearance Thursday morning. The father's relationship with the babysitter was not immediately clear, though police said it seems like she may have lived with the family. This is an isolated incident, Homicide Lieutenant Robert Price told reporters. Its just a very tragic and unfortunate incident. The little girls death has rocked the local community, and a woman alleging to be the victims aunt told FOX5 that the family is doing horribly. Our heart goes out to the family, I just cant imagine what theyre going through right now. I really cant, neighbor Jennifer Elola added. It has rocked us here as a family because we do have grandchildren, we have granddaughters. First responders transported the girl to the Sunrise Hospital in the community of Winchester, where she was ultimately pronounced dead. The victims identity is set to be released by the Clark County Coroner's Office. 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 woman celebrating her bachelorette in Texas was viciously attacked by a complete stranger as she left a Dallas club on Saturday. Canada Rinaldi, 27, and her friends were exiting a club in the Deep Ellum area of East Dallas when a stranger approached and violently assaulted her until she was no longer conscious, according to WFAA-TV. An unknown man hit Rinaldi, causing her to fall to the pavement. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large. One of the womans bridesmaids, Kelly Peralta, tried to intervene but was punched by the attacker. Dashcam video of the incident was recorded by a nearby ride-share driver. Rinaldi was transported to a hospital in the city for treatment. There, officials said shed suffered a concussion, a broken nose, three broken teeth, and needed eight stitches on her face. The woman told the outlet she couldnt believe the attack had happened. Her friends launched a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for her $10,000 in medical expenses. The page has raised just over $10,000 out of a $15,000 goal. The friends increased the goal due to mounting medical costs. I feel like a lot of my experiences were taken away from me, Rinaldi told the outlet. She was four weeks away from celebrating her wedding. A day before the incident, she told her friends she was having the best trip of her life, the fundraising site states. That happiness was ripped away from her in an instant, turning it into the most terrifying and traumatizing night shes ever experienced. Rinaldi hopes the suspect is caught but admits shes no longer excited to plan her wedding. Im getting there. Its hard, but Ill be ok, she said. Anyone with information about the assault is being asked to contact the Dallas Police Department. 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 Bryan Kohberger bought a black balaclava 11 months before he allegedly slaughtered four University of Idaho students in their home, prosecutors claim in the latest release of bombshell court documents. Prosecutors say records show that Kohberger bought the face covering on January 10, 2022 at a Dicks Sporting Goods in Pittsburgh and that its remarkably similar to the mask one of the surviving roommates told police that she saw a man wearing inside the off-campus Moscow house on the night of the murders, according to the documents viewed by The Independent. The witnesss drawing of the mask is included in one of the documents previously filed by Kohbergers attorney, Elisa Massoth. Details of the purchase are just the latest to be released as the Latah County Prosecutors Office and Kohbergers attorneys filed more documents in Ada County District Court this week related to evidence in the quadruple murder case. open image in gallery Kohberger is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the November 13, 2022, stabbing deaths of four students Kohberger, a former PhD student, faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the November 13, 2022, stabbing deaths of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. He could face the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors previously released documents indicating that Kohberger bought a Ka-Bar knife and sheath from Amazon in March 2022, eight months before the killings. Key evidence in the case is the DNA recovered on the button of the knife sheath that was found near one of the victims, which ultimately led authorities to Kohberger weeks after the murders. open image in gallery The witness drawing of the mask she allegedly saw a man wearing on the night of the murders is remarkably similar to the balaclava purchased by Kohberger 11 months earlier, prosecutors say ( State of Idaho ) Last week, documents were released including a chilling selfie of Kohberger that was taken about six hours after the murders. Kohberger, wearing a white dress shirt buttoned up to the collar and what appear to be earbuds, is in a bathroom and is giving the camera a closed-mouth smile and a thumbs up, according to the photo, which was included in the documents open image in gallery Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21, were killed November 13, 2022 ( Instagram ) Prosecutors hope his bushy eyebrows, which are prominent in the photo, will help lead to a conviction. In the court filing, they asked to show that one of the two surviving roommates in the house during the murders saw a man with what she described as bushy eyebrows wearing a ski mask. open image in gallery Kohberger poses for a selfie that prosecutors say was taken just six hours after the quadruple Idaho murders ( Latah County Prosecutors Office ) Thousands of pages of court documents have been filed in the complicated case as attorneys on both sides attempt to set the ground rules for what will and wont be presented to jurors. The killings shook the small farming community of about 25,000 people, which hadnt had a homicide in about five years. The trial was moved from rural northern Idaho to Boise after the defense expressed concerns that Kohberger couldnt get a fair trial in the county where the killings occurred. Kohbergers trial is scheduled to begin on July 30 with jury selection and opening statements are slated for August 11. The trial is expected to last more than three months. 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 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. 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. open image in gallery This March 13, 2025 image shows the home of Kimberly Sullivan in Waterbury, Conn. (Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP) ( CTInsider ) 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. 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. 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. open image in gallery Heather Tessman the half-sister of the Waterbury, Conn., man who was kept in a locked room for 20 years, poses for a photo Thursday, March 20, 2025, at her Vernon, Conn. home. (Jim Michuad/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP) ( CTInsider ) 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. 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. 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 attack on a Somali Muslim woman by four suspects in Ohio should be investigated by police as a possible hate crime, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Video footage of the assault showed the Muslim woman outside an apartment building arguing with the group, who appeared to be white, on March 20 in Columbus while waiting for her childrens school bus. The individuals then attacked her by punching and shoving her to the ground, the group said. While on the ground, one of the attackers repeatedly kicked her. As she moved to get up and walked toward the building, another assailant exited the structure and struck her across the face. The victim, who was not identified, believes she was targeted because of her ethnicity and religion, the organization said. She obtained treatment at a nearby hospital and was later released. Earlier this month, the group, which is the countrys largest Muslim civil liberties organization, reported that it had fielded 8,658 complaints regarding anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents last year, representing a 7.4 percent increase year on year. It was also the highest number since CAIR began collecting data in 1996. The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on Columbus police to investigate an assault on a Muslim woman as a potential hate crime ( CAIR ) Khalid Turaani, executive director of the groups Ohio, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton chapters, said the attack was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of discrimination and hostility that marginalized communities face daily. It is imperative that authorities act swiftly to ensure justice for the victim and her family and to demonstrate that Columbus will not tolerate such alleged acts of violence and intimidation, he said. The organization is demanding that police obtain video footage from nearby apartment buildings to identify and confirm the alleged assailants actions, arrest and charge all individuals allegedly responsible for the attack under applicable assault and hate crime statutes. Additionally, the organization wants officials to conduct an internal review of the officers who responded to the scene to assess their handling of the case and determine whether any misconduct occurred. The Independent has contacted the Columbus Police Department for additional information about the alleged crimes. Hostilities against the Muslim community have continued to rise, particularly as individuals continue to speak out against genocide and apartheid. This year, immigration authorities have begun cracking down on protestors across US universities. Weeks ago, immigration officials arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist. The federal government is now seeking his deportation. Last week, immigration officials detained Badar Khan Suri, a professor at Georgetown University. Both Khalil and Suri are accused of spreading Hamas propaganda. On Tuesday, immigration authorities arrested Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturk, a PhD student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. 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 Two handwritten, heart-shaped notes were hidden inside the argyle socks Luigi Mangione wore to court last month, violating the special treatment he had been afforded for his fashion needs, New York City prosecutors said Wednesday in a new court filing. Mangione, 26, who is accused of gunning down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December, was allowed to wear street clothes instead of his bright orange jail uniform during his court appearance on February 21. A bag of clothes that was provided to the court officer by Mangiones defense team included a new pair of argyle socks wrapped around cardboard, according to the filing. Secreted in the cardboard were two personal heart-shaped notes, one addressed to an unknown person named 'Joan' and the other to Luigi stating in part 'know there are thousands of people wishing you luck, Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann wrote in the filing. open image in gallery Mangione, 26, is accused of gunning down United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December Mangione wore the socks, but later took them off because he felt that they did not look good, Seidemann said in the filing. Instead, the suspected killer appeared in court in loafers without socks, his feet shackled at the ankles. It's not clear who wrote the note or slipped it into the socks. Fortunately, the items smuggled were handwritten notes and not contraband capable of harming the transporting officers, prosecutors noted. This comes as Mangiones team has requested a laptop for their client to review legal material in his cell while he awaits trial for the fatal shooting of Thompson on a Manhattan street. "Without the laptop, which allows Mr. Mangione to review discovery outside the presence of counsel, there are not enough visiting hours that would allow the defense to view all discovery with the defendant (including thousands of hours of video) and also meet the Court's current motion schedule," the defense said. open image in gallery Mangione appeared in court in loafers without socks, his feet shackled at the ankles ( AP ) Prosecutors responded to the request, which they opposed, with Seidemann writing that Mangione does not need his own specially formulated laptop in jail because he fails to show a necessity to receive one and that he has ample access to desktop computers to do research and review legal documents. Seidemann also noted that special treatment to the defendants benefit was violated when (prosecutors) made accommodations for the defendant's fashion needs during the last court appearance. "Ironically, the defense repeats at every opportunity that defendant is being treated differently than other defendants similarly situated. Yet, that's precisely what the defense seeks special treatment for defendant, without circumstances that warrant it," Seidemann said. There are very few inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn who are given laptops, ABC News reported. Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson, 50, on December 4, 2024, outside a Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealthcare was about to hold an investor conference. He has pleaded not guilty to state charges. open image in gallery Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson, 50, on December 4, 2024 ( Getty ) He also faces federal charges in Thompsons killing and state-level gun possession and other charges in Pennsylvania. He hasn't entered any pleas in those cases. Mangiones writings and words on bullets recovered from the scene reflected animus toward health insurers and corporate America, authorities have said. The case has made him something of a cult celebrity to people frustrated with corporate health insurers. Others, including elected officials, decry what they see as glorifying violence and vigilantism. Mangione is due back in court on April 18. 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 Lawyers for Luigi Mangione characterized the murder suspect as a sympathetic man in court filings this week, saying the 26-year-old was concerned that the public would harass the McDonalds employee who turned him in when he was arrested in December. In a Wednesday letter to New York Judge Gregory Carro, lawyers for Mangione, the 26-year-old accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, said he should be permitted access to a laptop in prison to review tens of thousands of pages of evidence while he awaits trial. Mr. Mangione has been nothing but cooperative, peaceful and has shown concern for others, Karen Agnifilo, one of Mangiones lawyers, said in the filing. The argument pushed back on New York prosecutors claim that Mangiones conduct had incited a harassment campaign against those who have cooperated with the investigation and could be potential witnesses, including the Pennsylvania McDonalds employee. New York prosecutors asked a judge to deny Mangiones request for a laptop. open image in gallery Luigi Mangiones lawyers characterized their client as sympathetic and harmless while arguing in favor of allowing him access to a private laptop in jail ( via REUTERS ) But Mangiones lawyers assert the opposite is true and say among the first words out of his mouth after being arrested on December 9 were an apology and concern for the very McDonalds employee. I apologize for the inconvenience of the day, Mangione reportedly said. He then said, They arent going to put the cashier from McDonalds information out there, are they? It wouldnt be good for her. A lot of people will be upset I was arrested. Mangiones lawyers say his statements after being arrested show he is not seeking to terrorize, wish harm or commit violence against anyone further driving their point that Mangione should be awarded access to a laptop containing evidence for him to review. They also criticized prosecutors in Manhattan for not turning over evidence quickly enough before court hearings. open image in gallery Mangione shortly after being discovered by police at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was arrested after a manhunt to find the suspect accused of gunning down a healthcare CEO in midtown Manhattan ( via REUTERS ) The Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Mangione is being held, generally does not allow detainees access to laptops. They have communal computers for detainees to share, but Mangiones team believes the discovery in the case is so extensive it would render one of the computers unusable to others. Carro has yet to rule on the matter. Prosecutors in Manhattan appear to be growing frustrated with Mangiones defense team and the public perception of the case, claiming Mangione is receiving special treatment due to the heightened publicity of the case. Mangiones case has received international attention, and he has garnered massive public sympathy. An online legal defense fund for him has raised more than $700,000. People often send Mangione gifts and letters expressing their admiration. His face has been plastered on signs, murals and more around the country. In their letter to the judge, prosecutors said that Mangione was allowed to wear personal clothing to court rather than the jail-issue clothing that most incarcerated defendants wear. Additionally, they raised complaints that two heart-shaped notes expressing support for Mangione were found tucked away in the socks he was provided to wear to court. Mangiones lawyers responded by blaming their limited access to Mangione before or after court proceedings, saying they were unable to catch the heart-shaped notes in the socks. They accused prosecutors of trying to distract the judge from the matter at hand. ISLAMABAD, March 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed in a terrorist attack in Gwadar district of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Wednesday night, the police said. According to the local police, the incident occurred when armed assailants opened fire on civilians in the Kalmat area of Gwadar, leaving five people dead and another injured. Police, security personnel, and rescue teams rushed to the site, shifting the bodies and the injured to a nearby hospital, where the injured victim succumbed to his wounds during treatment, the police added. The initial police investigation revealed that the deceased were laborers traveling from Gwadar to the southern port city of Karachi to spend the upcoming Eid festival with their families when they were attacked. Meanwhile, security forces launched a search operation to track down the assailants who managed to flee the scene. No group has claimed the attack yet. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the incident and ordered an investigation to identify those responsible and ensure their punishment. "The cowardly actions of these miscreants against innocent people clearly reflect their brutality," said the prime minister, adding that Pakistan will never allow anti-national elements to succeed in their malicious intentions. 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 group of teenage siblings face charges after cops say they tried to kill their mother for turning off the wi-fi over the weekend. Officers in Harris County, Texas, responded to a disturbance report a home near the West Houston Airport Sunday evening only to find a woman had been assaulted by her three children, aged 14, 15 and 16 years old, police said. The mother of the children was chased around the house and into the street with knives by her children and struck with a brick an assault that was instigated after she turned off the wi-fi, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. open image in gallery Three teens are facing charges for allegedly trying to kill their mother after she turned off the wi-fi ( PA Archive ) The three teens, who were not named by police were arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and booked in the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center. It is unclear if the teenagers are still in custody or if they have entered pleas. According to Gonzalez, the teenagers allegedly coordinated a plan to try and kill the mother after the wi-fi was turned off. All three allegedly grabbed kitchen knives and chased their mother intending to stab her. During the chase, the grandmother of the teenagers was knocked over while trying to protect the mother, authorities noted. Gonzalez said neither the mother or grandmother sustained serious injuries. Neighbors told KPRC 2 Click2Houston they heard yelling coming from the home at the time of the incident but that they hear loud noises and see deputies at the house on a regular basis. I dont even let my kids come outside because of them, one unnamed neighbor told the local news outlet. The Harris County Sheriffs Office told KPRC that this is the third time this year that they have been called to the home. 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 West Virginia woman is facing murder charges nearly two years after she allegedly killed her 81-year-old mother by injecting her with insulin. Kelly Moore, now 61, had been living with her mother Ethel Moore in Grafton in May 2023 after she had been elected to care for her because she was not married and there wasnt anybody else to do it, according to the Grafton Police Department. Just before midnight on May 25, 2023, police responded to a report of cardiac arrest at the home and found Ethel Moore dead at the scene. Moore told police that her mothers blood sugar had spiked to 250 so she gave her 20 units of her own insulin. She added that her mother, who recently had a full hip replacement, had not been feeling well for a couple of days. As she described her mothers health ailments to police, officers noticed she seemed very annoyed, according to court documents obtained by Law&Crime. Moore explained that her mother had heart problems, arthritis, dementia and all kinds of s*** wrong with her and told police thats why Im here with her, police said. It was later claimed that on the day of her death, Ethel Moore had called her other daughter who lived in Florida and claimed Kelly Moore wasnt doing nothing for her, according to the affidavit. So the sister called from Florida freaking out about her not helping. open image in gallery Moore had been living with her mother in order to take care of her ( West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation ) Moore reportedly checked her mothers blood sugar twice and found that it was high both times, which led to her injecting her mother with 20 units of insulin in the shoulder. Although Moore, who weighs about 275 pounds, is diabetic and says she is prescribed insulin, her mother, who was just 130 pounds, is not, police said. The insulin Moore injected had not been prescribed to her mother. An autopsy determined Ethel Moore died of insulin shock and the manner of death was homicide, police said. Kelly Moores sister said she was never told that her mother was injected with insulin, leading her to believe she died of complications of the hip surgery, according to court documents. open image in gallery Ethel Moore died of insulin shock and the manner of death was homicide, police said ( Bartlett Funeral Home and Crematory ) Moore is charged with murder and is currently in custody at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail. According to Ethel Moores obituary, she liked taking trips to Walmart and McDonalds where she always found someone to talk to. She also enjoyed relaxing while reading a good book, loved spending time with her family and cherished the time she spent with each of them. 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 Garmin will start charging a monthly subscription for features in its app. The move marks a dramatic departure for a company that has until now resisted the subscription trend that has overtaken much of the technology and fitness industry. And it marks a major change for users, who will now have to pay $6.99, or the same in pounds, for access to all of their devices features. The new premium plan is called Connect+, and Garmin says that it will offer even more personalised insights to its customers, with new features to help users elevate their health and fitness knowledge. Some of the new tools are based around AI, and others include training tools and new badges within the app. All of the features currently offered on the Garmin Connect platform will remain free, the company promised. Users will also be able to trial the new tools for 30 days for free, before being asked to pay for them. Customers worldwide love using Garmin Connect to track, analyse and share their health and fitness activities, Susan Lyman, Garmins vice president of consumer sales and marketing, said. We are excited to provide even more personalised data and enriched features with the addition of Garmin Connect+. You can now learn even more about yourself, take on new challenges, train confidently and stay even more connected. The new tools include AI features that have been branded as Active Intelligence and offer personalised insights based on health data that has been collected by the device. It will initially be launched in beta, and Garmin said it had been engineered to help keep users data secure. It will also include new performance dashboards for seeing changes over time, more detailed live tracking for followers, more detailed training guidance and new social features. Garmin joins other platforms such as fitness tracker Whoop and active social network Strava in offering extra features for a monthly subscription. Until now, Garmin had resisted doing so, a stance that had been applauded by users who pay something of a premium for the companys devices. Both Whoop and Strava have also explicitly embraced AI tools for exercise, too. JAKARTA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The local anti-narcotics agency in Bali, Indonesia, announced on Thursday the arrest of a British national and an Argentinian national, naming them as suspects in an illicit drug case. Authorities apprehended the British citizen, identified by his initials EJS, following the arrest of Argentinian national EG (initials) at Bali's airport on Tuesday. The 45-year-old Argentinian woman was caught smuggling 323.76 grams of cocaine. Bali's Anti-Narcotics Agency Chief Rudy Ahmad Sudrajat told local media that the suspect had flown from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Bali before being arrested for drug smuggling. "Customs officers intercepted the suspect after she exhibited suspicious behavior shortly after arrival," Sudrajat explained. Subsequent investigations led to EJS's arrest in Badung resort area, where he is suspected of being the intended recipient of the cocaine. Sudrajat said that EG was promised 3,000 U.S. dollars for smuggling the cocaine from Mexico to Bali. Authorities believe the two were part of an international drug network operating between Mexico and Bali, with plans to distribute the cocaine across the island. "Hopefully, this case breakthrough will help us dismantle the cocaine network in Bali and disrupt their operations here," he said. War criminal Ben Roberts-Smith has lodged a bid to reopen the appeal in his failed defamation case, claiming he was not afforded a fair process. The move comes days after leaked audio emerged of The Age journalist Nick McKenzie telling a witness he had been privy to some of the war veterans legal strategy. War criminal Ben Roberts-Smith in 2022. Credit: Kate Geraghty In an interlocutory application filed to the Federal Court on Thursday, Roberts-Smiths lawyers said the matter must be retried in the interests of justice, with the nature of the information improperly obtained and its concealment until after the conclusion of the trial and appeal. All I have ever asked for was a fair process where the truth and justice can prevail, Roberts-Smith said in a statement. The Queensland Music Awards has been condemned by the states peak Jewish group and stripped of council funding and support after a jazz musician won her category for a composition called River to Sea. While receiving her award on Tuesday night, Brisbane-based jazz pianist and composer Kellee Green accused the Australian government of helping Israel kill innocent Palestinian men, women and children. Kellee Green won the 2025 QMA jazz award for her pro-Palestine song River to Sea. Credit: Queensland Music Awards, Facebook The title of her seven-minute song appears to reference the slogan From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Jewish groups regard the from the river to the sea slogan as a coded call for the elimination of Israel, while others have insisted it is simply a call for freedom and equal rights for Palestinians. This story contains spoilers for season 3 of The White Lotus. Duke University is getting a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons from The White Lotus. The HBO shows third season, set in a luxury hotel in Thailand, features a wealthy family, two of whom are Duke alumni. But the father, played by actor Jason Isaacs, can hardly enjoy the lush surroundings since hes been implicated in a money-laundering scheme and is being investigated by the FBI, jeopardising his familys high-rolling lifestyle. The fictional Ratliffs boast two Duke alumni: Tim (Jason Isaacs, left) and son Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger, centre). In episode 5, Isaacs character Timothy Ratliff considers ending it all. He sits down at a table, writes a note to his family and holds a gun to his temple. Hes wearing a gray T-shirt emblazoned with the iconic royal-blue Duke lettering and logo. A man killed when he was hit by a NSW Police car while riding a hire e-bike in inner-city Sydney had $10,000 and a significant amount of illicit drugs on him at the time, police say, but the incident was not captured on bodyworn camera, and it is unclear why the rider was being pulled over. A critical incident investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the mans death and the actions of the officer involved, an acting sergeant attached to the South Sydney Police Area Command. An e-bike rider has been killed in a collision with a police car in inner-city Sydney. Credit: Nine News The states policing watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, will oversee the critical incident investigation, being led by officers from the Sutherland Shire Police Area Command, as well as an independent review of the incident by the NSW Polices Professional Standards Command. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said the officer involved was alone in the patrol car when he tried to pull over the rider, aged 48, on Allen Street in Waterloo at around 3am on Friday. The police car involved appeared to have mounted the kerb and flattened a parking sign before crossing over a footpath. Catering impresario Bruce Keebaugh had instructed Melbourne to arrive by 6pm. And Melbourne was there on time. In fact, Melbourne was early. Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh at the 35th anniversary bash for The Big Group. Credit: Reggie Karon By the time CBD arrived at the heritage-listed Commons Collective, just off St Kilda Road, slightly after 6pm, there were dozens of Melebrities already in position. They were there to celebrate the 35th anniversary of The Big Group, the hospitality empire Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh founded when they were both 21 and which now caters practically every major corporate event and billionaire bar mitzvah in this city. Ann Peacock, Victoria Racing Club board member, was our first encounter, and typically, she had news. A spot fire had broken out minutes earlier in the conservatory, the function space at the front of the hospitality complex. The damage was minor possibly caused by a wayward candle and the potentially disastrous incident added a theatrical flourish to kick off the night. The conservatory was repurposed as a bookshop to sell the groups luxe arthouse-style tome celebrating 35 years, By Invitation Only (RRP $150). Cats in the City of Melbourne would be required to be confined to their property at all times and prohibited from certain areas under proposed rules to be considered by the council. The council wants residents to keep their wandering cats under control as it aims to reduce the number of wildlife killed and pets lost or hurt on roads. A stray cat ready for desexing at the Lost Dogs Home in North Melbourne. Credit: Chris Hopkins A review of cat management prepared by council officers and to go before councillors next week also recommends that new municipal orders are made to require mandatory desexing of cats. Our parks, gardens and waterways are home to a wide range of wildlife species that are at risk from predation of roaming cats, the review states. Cats prey on small animals, including native species, and are estimated to kill millions of mammals, birds and reptiles annually. Golden years I wonder what the great Labor luminaries Ben Chifley, John Curtin, Gough Whitlam, and even Bob Hawke would make of the $150 energy subsidy being paid to both my nearby neighbour (an age pension recipient), and a senior politician earning just short of $600,000 a year who had just paid $4 million for a clifftop residence? John Capel, Black Rock Irresponsible decisions The economy is important for us, but the environment determines our childrens and grandchildrens futures. Any politician who cannot, or will not, understand the peril of climate change is not looking after their own family, so it is unrealistic to expect them to consider ours. Margaret Lothian, Middle Park Tax cut inequity Many are doing it tough at the present time, but many are also largely unaffected by the so-called cost-of-living crisis dining out, taking holidays, buying investment properties etc. The tax cuts should have been larger but restricted to those on lower and middle incomes. Lindsay Zoch, Mildura Not just skate at stake Senator Hanson-Young could soon have more rotten, stinking salmon to wave around. (Rotten, stinking salmon makes waves in Senate, 27/3). Since its establishment 45 years ago, salmon farming in Australia has always been at the higher critical temperature tolerance for the species during El Nino summers. Now, with global warming energising the East Australia Current, its driving further south than previously, forming a pool of warm water in the Tasman Sea off the Tasmanian coast. With no abatement of atmospheric heating in sight, this ever-warming oceanic hot spot is only going to increase the mortality rate in the salmon pens. It would appear Australians are going to lose more than the Maugean skate. John Mosig, Kew No need for nuclear Governments dont supply energy these days; thats done by the big energy companies. Their current actions clearly display the way they intend to supply electricity into the future. This is by a mix of various renewables supplemented by limited gas-fired generation and power storage, ie batteries and new storage technologies as they become available. The use of nuclear power generation appears not to be any part of their plan. So why do we bother talking about the federal oppositions consideration of nuclear? John Groom, Bentleigh Electrification answer A domestic gas reservation policy made great sense a long time ago when it was exclusively a WA government initiative. Other Australian governments were too lily-livered, so they didnt follow suit. Now unfortunately, when inflated gas prices have become essentially intractable due to global and local constraints, diverting gas supply is a high cost-of-living plan little more than fiddling at the edges. Electrification for most makes a lot more sense. Jim Allen, Panorama, SA Right place, wrong time Your correspondent in regard to the Suburban Rail Loop ( And Another Thing 26/3), sums it up well with the SRL as a must-have, the Allan government is positioning itself for electoral oblivion. It is not the concept or the need for the SRL that is wrong, it is the timing. There is so much that this state needs to address urgently, health (hospitals completed but apparently no money for staffing 26/3), roads, education and the list goes on. Pause it now to ensure our states immediate needs are addressed and ensure the SRL and Allans government has a future. Bill Pimm, Mentone Construction inquiry The state oppositions call for a royal commission into the construction industry and for the return of the Australian Building Construction Commission fails to recognise that the Dyson Heydon royal commission into trade unions and the ABCC failed to identify, let alone do anything, to stop the criminality, thuggery, intimidation and brutality that has existed in the construction industry for decades. What is needed is a powerful crime commission, backed by specialist federal and state police task forces who would enforce and prosecute to drive the criminal elements out. Bruce Hartnett, Alphington Heritage status confusion The proposed Victorian government planning zone changes are causing considerable confusion among residents as to future status of heritage homes, despite the government claims that heritage will not be affected. The wording of the new law has removed the words heritage and neighbourhood character that are in the current zone description, hence the confusion as to how local government overlays for significant homes and heritage precincts will now be treated under this law. The new law promotes densification. Does this mean replacement of the old heritage building with a new shiny tower block offering up-to-the- minute parliamentary facilities and numerous levels of affordable and luxury apartments? Oops affordable ones arent needed, as instead a 3 per cent levy can contribute to a building fund held somewhere in Treasury. What should homeowners expect? Sally Wilkinson, Camberwell Join club Trump Trump declares that Jeffery Goldberg is a sleazebag and horrible while Mike Waltz calls Goldberg a loser and bottom scum. This, of course, begs the question as to why Waltz invited Goldberg to join the highly confidential group-chat in the first place. Was he suggesting these qualities were prerequisites to become a member of their very exclusive club? Liz Jovanovic, Moonee Ponds American despair People say there are, and have been, many fine and noble Americans. The problem is that they are now in a minority. When American voters re-elected Trump in 2024 they knew he was a liar, a cheat, a bully, a cowardly draft-dodger, and a treacherous back-stabber who betrayed the Kurds in 2019. Worst of all, they elected him in the full knowledge he did not believe in democracy he refused to accept the vote in 2020 and instigated a mob to use violence to try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. Trump is not a random calamity like a drought or a cyclone. He is the choice of American voters, and they must accept responsibility for the damage he is now wreaking. To tell the truth, I now despise and distrust the USA. Im sure Im not alone. Michael Challinger, Nunawading DEI questions Now that Australia has sent its down payment to the US for the AUKUS submarines, its time to follow up with a questionnaire to Mr Trump. What DEI measures will he ensure are met, and what climate and environmental justices will be observed over the projects life, in keeping with our countrys values? Failure to provide satisfactory answers will result in a demand for the return of funds. Jenny Herbert, Metung Adolescence veracity Statistically, it may be more common for those adolescents who commit crimes to be from broken or abusive homes (Boyhood shouldnt be a darkened room, 26/3) but I think the writer is going too far to say that giving the character Jamie from Adolescence a loving family is a flaw of this wonderful UK television series. I cant be alone in knowing of a charming, sporty 13-year-old boy who was cultivated by a group of disengaged misfits at school. He has a wonderfully loving home, but adolescents need to belong: mates are everything. He is angry, sad and scared about what is happening to him. And his parents are also. Not angry at him, but for him. Their only hope is that their love will overcome the negative influences he is exposed to. Yvonne Davidson, Williamstown Disable your device Cherie Gilmours article (Were becoming dumb and dumber 27/3) really struck a chord. Technology appears to be the culprit. We have so many devices now that are designed to make life easier for us but, in fact, prevent us from using our brain. It began with calculators that made mental arithmetic obsolete, continued on with social media limiting our written arguments to 140 characters, and is now dominated by AI, which promises to do everything for us including job applications and passing exams. But how to stop or reverse this decline is beyond me. Watching people on the street or on the tram staring into their phones makes us look like a bunch of zombies. For the sake of our children, can we please turn off our electronic devices and begin to think and talk independently again? Tony Priestley, Fitzroy AND ANOTHER THING Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding Wrong signal The question to ask Americans is whether are they better off now than they were two months ago. Alan Contini, Princes Hill Imagine the absolute fury that MAGA would be venting if the Biden administration were behind the Signal fiasco. Graham Fetherstonhaugh, Carlton North Would anyone have noticed if Mickey Mouse had been included in the Signal war chat? Bernd Rieve, Brighton If the Trump administration works like this, Australia should wonder about Pine Gap, our intelligence gathering and who we share with. We are at risk too. Margaret Forster, Aberfeldie The US can no longer be trusted with international security. It must now be booted from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, re-naming it the Four Eyes. Ray Pilbeam, Camberwell Fuel excise From memory, Scott Morrisons cuts to fuel excise were largely a windfall for petrol companies. What will change this time round? Chris Murphy, Hurstbridge Duttons scheme to reduce fuel excise shows his contempt of efforts to lessen pollution. He seems to pluck his ideas from thin air. Doris LeRoy, Altona Giving well off people like me cheaper petrol is an indiscriminate waste of money. This money should be spent on more needy people or causes. Ralph Frank, Malvern East Furthermore Australia Post is losing money. May I suggest, as a start, it brings back that its loyal employee, Frank? Friends of mine use unfranked stamps. Susan Munday, Bentleigh East 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 death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. #wildfires Victoria Police says a turning point has been reached in the two-year-old tobacco war as authorities have made a series of arrests and developed informers inside the syndicate of kingpin Kaz Hamad. The claim comes after the Lunar taskforce arrested 12 suspected members of Hamads syndicate last week and another seven suspected associates this week. All of them have been charged with offences relating to a string of extortions over tobacco shops and an allegedly unpaid debt dating back to last year. Pleasingly, were now starting to see members of the public, as well as members of the Hamad syndicate, start to co-operate with the police, Detective Inspector Graham Banks said at a press conference on Thursday. While that co-operation is not yet at the level we would like to see, it is no doubt a significant turning point in this significant investigation into what is a very serious and organised crime group. A tradie will have to live with the burden of his friends death for the rest of his life after the man lost consciousness during a drug-fuelled play fight. Victorian Supreme Court Justice James Elliott acknowledged Quinn McPhersons grief as he sentenced the 21-year-old to a three-year community corrections order. Quinn McPherson will walk free after pleading guilty to reckless conduct endangering life. Credit: AAPIMAGE The South Australian carpenter was originally charged with manslaughter over his friend Alex Robinsons death, but he ultimately pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of reckless conduct endangering life. McPherson, Robinson and two other men had spent hours drinking vodka and beer and using cocaine before they returned to their Melbourne holiday rental in the early hours of May 13, 2023. Political leaders used to offer brave words about budget reform to convince Australians they could find a way out of endless deficits. Not too long ago, when the country was emerging from the global financial crisis, Labor assured voters it would make the hard decisions needed to rebuild the nations finances and even set out the framework to do so. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: The answer, it said, was to draft a set of fiscal rules to make sure spending did not run ahead of tax revenue. The treasurer at the time, Wayne Swan, wrote the rules into the budget papers. The prime minister, Kevin Rudd, cited them as proof of his conservative economic credentials. Those rules are now about as fashionable as skinny jeans. In a world of looser fashion, the budgets are looser as well. But the rules are worth revisiting now that this weeks budget has confirmed the sorry state of the budget with deficits for years to come and $1.2 trillion in debt only a few years away. The first Labor rule was to cap the real growth in spending to 2 per cent each year once the economy was growing above trend. The second was to make sure all new spending was funded by savings. The third was to make sure taxation stayed under the average of the previous government mostly interpreted as 23.9 per cent of GDP. A media organisation accused of being a fake newspaper that favourably covered teal independent MPs and candidates has been cleared by the election watchdog of breaking rules on political advertising. Coalition frontbencher Jane Hume wrote to the Australian Electoral Commission earlier this month alleging Gazette News had been designed to spruik progressive independent MPs and candidates in their inner-city battles with the Liberal Party. Opposition frontbencher Jane Hume asked the Australian Electoral Commission to probe whether Gazette News should be classifying its ads as electoral material. The online local paper which runs five outlets in Victoria and NSW launched last year and uses paid online marketing, classed as issues or politics advertising by Facebook, to elevate stories that criticise major parties or highlight independents. Hume asked the AEC to probe whether Gazette News should be classifying its ads as electoral material designed to win votes. Humes move was driven partly due to Gazette Newss three funders also being major donors to either Climate 200 or affiliated candidates, having donated more than $1.7 million between them. According to a LinkedIn post by Gazette News founder Anna Saulwick, the organisations three major backers are Matt Doran, Mark Rawson and venture capitalist James Taylor. A former NSW state MP facing a string of charges over the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old boy has found employment serving drinks in the recently converted Hay St precinct within Paddys Markets. Just a day after a Sydney court heard former Pittwater MP Rory Amon had allegedly exchanged explicit messages with a 13-year-old, The Sydney Morning Herald identified the 35-year-old on Thursday afternoon, first working in the bottle shop Cans and Crates, then Traders Bar. Rory Amon working in a Paddys Market stall, Traders Bar, on Thursday. Credit: Edwina Pickles Amon, once considered a rising star within the NSW Liberal Party, faces charges for sexual assault relating to two alleged incidents in 2017, when he was a Northern Beaches councillor. He resigned from parliament in August last year after the charges were laid. Cans and Crates brands itself as a bar you wont soon forget, while Traders Bar says the venue will take you back in history to a time less hectic, where Sydneysiders enjoyed a joke or two while celebrating the company of family and friends in a warm and welcoming local establishment. Liberal elders Tony Abbott and Jeff Kennett mounted failed attempts to save former opposition leader John Pesutto from possible bankruptcy to spare the party a state byelection and further embarrassment during the federal election. But a NSW developer said he had given Liberal MP Moira Deeming a blank cheque to pursue costs from Pesutto and everyone who supports him. John Pesutto leaves the Liberal party room on December 27 last year after losing the leadership. Credit: Eddie Jim Pesutto was ordered to pay Deeming $300,000 in damages, as well as her legal bill, when the Federal Court in December found he repeatedly defamed her by falsely implying she associated with neo-Nazis. Both parties were represented by high-profile barristers for the weeks-long trial, with Sue Chrysanthou, SC, representing Deeming and Dr Matthew Collins, KC, for Pesutto. The court has been hearing debate on what that figure should be, with Deemings team seeking almost $2.4 million. That, on top of his own costs and the damages bill, would push Pesutto perilously close to bankruptcy despite financial support from all living former Liberal premiers, including Kennett, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine. Flemington has been ranked as one of the most liveable suburbs in Melbourne, yet its property prices are hundreds of thousands of dollars lower than those of its counterparts. Experts say a combination of smaller housing and historical price differences compared with Melbournes east have contributed to its relative affordability. Flemington is more affordable for home buyers than some of Melbournes other highly liveable suburbs. Credit: Joe Armao Flemington was ranked third in a list of Melbournes 10 most liveable suburbs in the PwC CityPulse 2025 report, which assesses suburbs based on access to services, schools, community, healthcare and other key indicators. The median house price in Flemington is $1.06 million based on Domain data, making it the cheapest suburb in the rankings. Its median unit price, at $401,500, is also the lowest in the rankings. To listen to the full episode, click the player below or read on for an edited extract of the conversation. Talking to Samantha Selinger-Morris on The Morning Edition podcast , our international and political editor says its not China that is becoming more like the West, but America becoming more like China at a remarkable rate. The 45th and 47th President of the United States does what he wants whenever the thought strikes him, they say, and they may be right but Peter Hartcher cant help but notice each brush stroke paints a picture increasingly resembling Xi Jinpings China . Selinger-Morris: Youve spoken to an expert who, the words he used was that theres haunting parallels between the values shared by Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Now, weve heard a lot over the last few years, and in particular, over the last month about Trump cosying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, of course, but not perhaps as much about Xi. So what are these parallels? Hartcher: The most strikingly obvious is that both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have the autocratic personality. Thats, I think, pretty self-evident. But also Geremie Barme, the Australian sinologist whose wisdom I draw on in this column, points out the similarity between Donald Trumps chant of Fight, Fight, Fight and Xi Jinpings Struggle, Struggle, Struggle. Its interesting to note that Xi Jinping offers the Chinese people happiness through struggle. What I thought was interesting was to see whether there would be any way that we could measure the movement of the US becoming more like China. America, led by Donald Trump (pictured here with Xi Jinping in 2019), is becoming more like China at a rapid rate. Credit: AP I remembered that in 2013, early in Xi Jinpings term, he issued a secret directive which later became public it was just called Document No. 9, rather inoffensively, but its become known as the seven taboos or the seven unmentionables. And Chinese officials, academics, teachers were told you are not to even discuss these concepts. Details of a planned US airstrike in Yemen mistakenly shared with a journalist on the messaging app Signal were almost certainly classified information, military experts say, despite the White House declaring otherwise. The Atlantic magazine published the messages this week after the magazines editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to a group chat involving a host of Trump administration officials in the days before the planned strike on March 15. Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 15. Credit: AP The revelation that highly sensitive attack plans had been shared on a commercial messaging app, possibly on personal mobile phones, has triggered outrage in Washington and calls from Democrats for members of President Donald Trumps national security team be fired over the leaks. Vice President JD Vance, CIA director John Ratcliffe and national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard were also part of the Signal chat that included Goldberg. BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- China has maintained a national tuberculosis (TB) cure rate exceeding 90 percent since 2012, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration announced on Thursday. Since 2012, China has seen a continuous decline in TB, a major infectious disease and global public health challenge, with both the incidence and mortality rates dropping by approximately 30 percent, the administration told a press conference. During the same period, the country's annual reduction rate of TB cases is twice the global average, while the mortality rate remains at a relatively low level, according to the administration. Liu Qing, a senior official with the administration, noted that in recent years, China has implemented various measures and made remarkable progress in TB prevention and control. "Moving forward, the administration will improve inter-agency coordination, enhance proactive screening, and reduce the financial burden on patients through strengthened policy support," Liu added. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Beijing on Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is willing to work with France to follow the guidance of the consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance dialogue across all domains and levels, transcend differences and deepen cooperation. He said that in the current international situation, China and France should assume the responsibility of major countries, enhance strategic coordination, and support each other's significant multilateral propositions and initiatives. Noting that China regards France as a priority partner in achieving high-quality development, Wang said China is willing to deepen cooperation with France in traditional sectors, encourage mutual investment, and expand cooperation in emerging fields to inject new momentum into bilateral cooperation. He also called on the two sides to deepen mutual understanding and friendship to solidify the public support foundation. Barrot spoke highly of the pragmatic cooperation achievements between France and China. He said the current international situation is marked by increasing uncertainty and a rise in protectionism, rendering the importance of France-China relations even more prominent. France regards China as an important partner, firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and is committed to developing a future-oriented and long-term stable relationship with China. France supports free trade, opposes decoupling, and is against trade wars, he added. The two sides also exchanged views on China-EU relations. Noting that the cooperation between China and the EU outweighs competition, and consensus surpasses differences, Wang said there are ample conditions to further enhance the relationship between the two sides. Barrot said that France supports dialogue between the EU and China to solve their trade differences. After the talks, China and France issued a joint statement on climate change. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot jointly meet the press in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2025. Wang held talks with Barrot in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) Insensitive, inhuman SC stays Allahabad HCs controversial observations on rape NEW DELHI : THE Supreme Court on Wednesday took a strong exception to the Allahabad High Courts recent views that mere grabbing of a womans breasts and pulling drawstrings of her pyjama wasnt rape, and stayed the observations, outlining total insensitivity and inhuman approach. Calling it a very serious matter, a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih said, In normal circumstances, we are slow in granting stay at this stage. But since the observations in paragraphs 21, 24 and 26 are totally unknown to canons of law and depict total insensitive and inhuman approach, we are inclined to stay the said observations. The top court had taken a suo motu cognisance of the matter after the contentious observations of the High Court were brought to the notice of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna by We the Women of India collective. The staying of the High Courts controversial observations made in a March 17 verdict would mean that they cannot be used in any judicial proceedings for seeking relief by the present set of accused or others. The High Courts verdict had come on a plea by two persons challenging a trial courts order summoning them for the alleged offence of attempt to rape a minor. The verdict had held that the attempt to rape offence was not made out against the accused. The High Court had held they were liable to be summoned for the lesser offence of assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe her. Referring to the High Courts observations, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, This is one judgement I take a very serious exception. Attorney General R Venkataramani also appeared in the matter. It is a very serious matter, Justice Gavai said, exhibiting total insensitiveness on the part of the judge. The bench added, We are sorry to use such harsh words against the judge. Mehta said the Chief Justice of the High Court was the master of the roster there and it was advisable that some steps were taken. We have perused the order (of the high court). We are at pains to say that some of the observations made in the impugned order and particularly in paragraphs 21, 24 and 26 depicts a total lack of sensitivity on the part of the author of the judgement, the bench said. The apex court said it was not as if that the verdict was dictated at the spur of the moment in the court itself. The High Court had reserved its verdict in the matter in November last year and after almost four months, the judgement was pronounced, it added. The bench said it was clear that the judge had authored the verdict after application of mind. The top court issued notices to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh Government and the parties before the High Court in the matter seeking their responses in the suo motu proceeding. 20 agricultural extension officers attend training on Sesame, Ramtil seed Staff Reporter : A two-day training on Sesame and Ramtil seed was organised at Attari, Zone-IX, Jabalpur under the National Oilseeds and Oil Palm Mission on Wednesday. The prorgamme was organised under the direction of Dr Pramod Mishra, Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University (JNAU) and guidance of Dr A K Vishwakarma, Project coordinator, All India Coordinated Research Project (Sesame and Ramtil Seeds). Twenty agricultural extension officers from 7 blocks of Jabalpur district participated in the training. Dr SRK Singh (Director, Attari Zone-IX, Jabalpur) was the chief guest during inaugural session of the training program. Dr Ashutosh Srivastava (Principal, Agricultural College, Jabalpur), Project Coordinator Dr Vishwakarma and Principal Scientist Dr Rajni Bisen and Senior Scientist Dr Namrata Jain were present as special guests. Project Coordinator Dr Vishwakarma told about the importance of soil health management for sustainable agriculture and oilseed production. Dr Namrata Jain, Agricultural Scientist and Nodal Officer, National Oilseeds and Oil Palm Mission, expressed her views on the advanced production techniques of sesame and Ramtil seed. Principal Scientist Dr Rajni Bisen shared about the improved varieties of sesame and Ramtil seed and Senior Technical Assistant, VK Katara gave information about agricultural extension. The officers were taken on a tour of Til and Ramtil field. Dr JS Mishra, Director, Weed Research Directorate Jabalpur and Dr Singh, Director, Attari Zone IX, Jabalpur, were present at the closing ceremony during second day. Principal scientist Dr RP Dubey explained the principles of weed management in sesame and Ramtil seed. Scientist Dr Haris MN and Scientist Dr KN Gupta also shared their opinions. Assistant Professor in Soil Science Dr R K Sahu conducted a tour of the biofertilizer unit. During final phase, the agricultural extension officers were honored with certificates. The program was conducted by SRF Ramkumar Patel and the vote of thanks was given by Field Assistant, Devyaratna Uike. Ahead of PM Modis visit, SPG to reach city today Staff Reporter : A team from the Special Protection Group (SPG) is set to arrive in the city on Thursday to oversee security preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit scheduled on March 30. Sources indicate that the SPG team will reach the city early in the morning and hold an initial briefing with city police officials. Following this, the SPG team, in coordination with the City Police, will conduct a thorough inspection of the route of PMs movement to identify potential security vulnerabilities. Later, a detailed meeting will be held with senior police officials and city administrators to finalize security arrangements. The SPG will assess the planned route and determine the necessary deployment of security personnel along the roads and at the event venue. As seen in previous visits, several roads are expected to be closed during PM Modis tour. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will tour the Solar Industries facility and lay the foundation stone for the Madhav Netralay Premium Centre near Vasudeo Nagar Metro Station on Hingna Road. He will share the stage with Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghachalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), at the function. Upon arrival at Sonegaon Air Force Station, the PM will proceed directly to Reshimbagh to visit Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir, where he will interact with senior RSS office-bearers. Following this, he will visit Deekshabhoomi to pay homage to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, whose ashes are enshrined inside the dome. The final event on PM Modis itinerary will be a visit to Madhav Netra Pedhi. Heightened intelligence surveillance in riot-affected areas The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been tasked with gathering intelligence, particularly from riot-affected areas, ahead of the Prime Ministers visit. A special IB team has been assigned to monitor potential security threats. However, no concrete intelligence inputs have been reported, so far. SPG officials are also expected to hold discussions with IB personnel before finalising the security arrangements and route for PM Modi in Nagpur, according to reliable sources. AIIMS researcher leads groundbreaking study on Sepsis diagnosis at autopsy Aswini Chandran, a Ph.D. Research Scholar, along with other delegates at the 77th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Scientific Conference. Staff Reporter : Aswini Chandran, a Ph.D. Research Scholar, under the mentorship of Dr Arneet Arora from the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology made a remarkable mark on the global scientific community by presenting her research at the prestigious 77th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Scientific Conference. The conference was held from February 17 to 22, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Chandran delivered an oral presentation titled Procalcitonin as a Marker of Sepsis at Autopsy: A Reflective, Novel, Evidence-Based, Effective Point-of-Care Tool. Her research addresses a significant gap in the accurate identification of sepsis-related deaths during medico-legal autopsies. Procalcitonin (PCT), a well-established biomarker for sepsis in clinical practice, has shown promising potential in post-mortem diagnostics through this study. The research highlights the need for standardised methods to diagnose sepsis-related mortality, aiming to enhance the accuracy of forensic investigations. By integrating microbiological and biochemical analyses, the study also contributes to the broader domains of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, public health policymaking, and monitoring hospital-acquired infections. Professor (Dr) Ajai Singh acknowledged the significance of this achievement and said, It is a matter of immense pride that AIIMS Bhopal is pioneering such crucial research in forensic medicine. Aswini Chandrans presentation at the AAFS Scientific Conference is a testament to the institutes commitment to excellence in medical research. This study not only advances forensic investigations but also has far-reaching implications for public health management and antimicrobial resistance surveillance. We stand committed to supporting groundbreaking research that benefits society at large. This pioneering research is exclusively conducted at AIIMS Bhopal, further underscoring the institutes leadership in cutting-edge medical advancements. The dedication and guidance of Dr. Arneet Arora, along with the unwavering support from the AIIMS Bhopal leadership, have been instrumental in the success of this endeavour. Breach of privilege notice against Kunal Kamra in Mah legislative council MUMBAI : A BREACH of privilege notice was moved against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in the Maharashtra legislative council on Wednesday over his parody song targeting deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. BJP legislator Pravin Darekar moved the notice against the comedian as well as Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare. Kunal Kamra performed a song containing personal and insulting references to deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said Darekar, leader of the legislative council, presenting the motion. Andhare supported the performance and used objectionable language, which amounts to contempt of the House, he further said. Both Kamra and Andhare disrespected the dignity of legislative institutions through their remarks, Darekar claimed. The notice will have to be approved by Council chairman Ram Shinde before it is presented to the privilege committee. If the committee approves it, the motion will be discussed in the House. In the State Assembly, Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Bornare submitted a breach of privilege notice against Andhare for allegedly mocking Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Minister of State for Finance Ashish Jaiswal supported Bornare. Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) said members of the privilege committee should be named at the earliest. Presiding officer Sanjay Kelkar said speaker Rahul Narwekar will take a decision on the notice. Kamra, known for his no-holds-barred stand-up comedy at the expense of politicians and celebrities, incurred the wrath of Shindes supporters last week with a song targeting the Shiv Sena president. On Sunday night, Sena activists vandalised the Habitat Comedy Club in suburban Khar where his show had taken place, and the hotel where the club is located. A defiant Kamra stood his ground and refused to apologise. I will not apologise or hide under the bed waiting for the controversy to die down, he said in a late Monday night statement. Based on a complaint filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar police have registered an FIR against the 36-year-old comedian for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Shinde. Kamra, who is in Puducherry according to his Instagram bio, has been asked to appear within a week, police sources had said on Tuesday. Dr Mahant demanded CBI probes into several cases... ...indicating degree of trust in agency: Vijay Sharma State Home Minister Vijay Sharma addressing the media persons Staff Reporter RAIPUR, State Home Minister Vijay Sharma addressed the media regarding a recent Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid, stating that while he was aware of the raid, he lacked specific details about the case under investigation. Sharma clarified that the Chhattisgarh Government had previously handed over numerous cases to the CBI, and the exact nature of the current raid would be determined later. Regarding allegations of central agency misuse, Sharma pointed out that Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant had demanded CBI probes into several cases, indicating a degree of trust in the agency. He also noted that some Congress members were implicated in irregularities, but Congress MLAs, including the Leader of Opposition, had sought CBI investigations and threatened to approach the President and Prime Minister if their demands were not met. He stated that to ensure these cases are brought to a logical conclusion; they have been handed over to the Central Agency. Concerning Union Home Minister Amit Shahs potential visit, Sharma confirmed that a visit was proposed but not yet finalized. He indicated that the schedule would be confirmed within the next few days and that they had extended an invitation to the Union Home Minister to attend the Bastar Pandum festival. CBI action is part of normal progression of investigation: Arun Sao Staff Reporter Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao commented on the recent CBI raids, stating that they are part of an ongoing investigation into numerous scams that occurred during the Congress partys tenure in Chhattisgarh. Sao stated that the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are conducting thorough investigations into these alleged scams. The recent raids, which targeted 50 locations including the residences of IPS officers, other officials, and politicians, are a continuation of this gradual and sequenced investigative process. CBIs action is part of the normal progression of the investigation, Sao stated, refuting claims of political motivation. He stated that it is unfair to politicize the raids, as the CBI has not targeted any specific individual. However, he acknowledged that the Congress party often attributes political motives to such actions. Sao asked, When these scams unfolded, who was the Chief Minister of the State? He urged former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to cooperate with the CBI, now that the investigation has reached his residence, and assured him that there is no need for fear. There is no such political situation in the nation that any such action happen based on political reasons. These are autonomous agencies, they never act on political reason, Sao asserted. He reiterated that the investigation has been ongoing for months, and the recent raids are a natural progression of the process. Kiran Singh Deo criticise Congress planned effigy burning: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President Kiran Singh Deo has criticized the Congress partys planned effigy burning protest against the CBI raids on the premises of Congress MLAs, IAS/IPS officers, and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, labeling it an indication of the Congress partys anti-constitutional political character. Deo stated that by protesting against the investigation processes of constitutional institutions, the Congress party is demonstrating political depravity. He questioned why Baghel and other Congress leaders are so upset about the investigation and raids if they have done nothing wrong. Deo said if Baghel and Congress leaders have not done anything wrong, then why are they so upset with the investigation and raids? He stated out that the Congress party had previously engaged in indecent behavior and even attacked ED officers during investigations. Deo said that the Congress partys actions, including attacks on investigation agencies and now the planned effigy burning, suggest that they are attempting to cover up wrongdoing during their rule. He accused the Congress party of resorting to pressure tactics and undemocratic behavior. He further highlighted that during Bhupesh Baghels tenure as Chief Minister, Congress MLAs and ministers themselves raised concerns about the functioning of officers and exposed corrupt activities. However, Baghel allegedly encouraged these officers and later defended them when investigations began and they were jailed. Deo questioned the Congress partys trust in the Constitution and the law of the country. He suggested that their attempts to create pressure through attacks and protests indicate something is fishy. Deo advised Baghel and Congress leaders to cease their unconstitutional, undemocratic, and violent behavior and instead allow the central investigation agencies to conduct their work peacefully and cooperate fully. RAIPUR, ED attaches properties worth Rs 92.07 cr belonging to Saurabh, Ashok Sharma By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla : BHOPAL, The Indore and Bhopal unit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally attached assets of Saurabh Sharma and Ashok Sharma, the then Deputy Director, Urban Administration Development Department, as part of its money-laundering probe into a case related to transport. Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Bhopal, has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs 92.07 crore on Tuesday according to the agencys statement while Indore Sub-Zonal Office has attached property of Ashok Sharma, the then Deputy Director, Urban Administration Development Department, Indore and Ujjain, amounting to Rs 95 lakh (approx.). 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 01.04.1998 to 17.01.2010. ED investigation revealed that Ashok Sharma has laundered the Proceeds of Crime (POC) through acquisition of various movable and immovable assets in his name and in the name of his family members. Further investigation is under progress, as per the statement. The action has been taken in connection with the amassment of disproportionate assets to the known sources of Saurabh Sharma income. These associates include Sharad Jaiswal, Chetan Singh Gaur, Aviral Building Constructions Private Limited, M/s Aviral Enterprises Private Limited, M/s U R Infrastructures Private Limited etc. In this case, Income Tax Department had seized cash and gold from Innova vehicle belonging to Chetan Singh Gaur. ED investigation has revealed that said cash and gold seized from Innova belonged to Saurabh Sharma only. ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Lokayukta Police Establishment, Bhopal under sections 13(2) r/w 13(1)(b) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Saurabh Sharma. ED investigation revealed 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 unidentified persons by laundering of ill-gotten money obtained and derived by him by commission of criminal activity relating to scheduled offences. Earlier, Saurabh Sharma, Chetan Singh Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal were arrested and they are presently in judicial custody. (lodged in jail). Also, earlier, search and seizure actions were also conducted, which led to freezing of bank accounts with bank balances of Rs 8.29 crore and seizure of cash to the tune of Rs 14.20 lakh and silver of worth of Rs 9.17 lakh. Till now, total attachment/seizure in the matter by ED is of Rs 100.36 crore. Further probe is underway. Flash strike by city bus staffers gives jolt to commuters Staff Reporter : Strike may continue as NMC failed to release revised wages to all staffers on Wednesday Commuters of Aapli bus were at the receving end on Wednesday as nearly 800 contractual workers of five city bus operator companies resorted to strike miffed at non-implementation of revised wage accord as notified by Maharashtra Government in October 2024 GR. By the evening, things normalised post-crediting of revised wages in the account of drivers and conductors, sans maintainance staffers and controllers. Contd from page 1 As about 150 workers are left out of the revised pay, it likely that the strike may continue on Thursday. The strike was an outcome of inability of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to enforce the revised wage accord that led to city buses remaining stationed at respective depots. For the regular commuters, it was shock as there was no advance intimation about non-plying of the city buses. With summer at its peak, the commuters were left high and dry due to non-availability of the city buses, most of which are now air-conditioned. Taking advantage of the situation, the auto-rickshaw drivers jacked-up the fares hitting the common man harder. In fact, trouble has been mounting for last two months, when the three unions, one aligned to BMS, other to Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and other one to CITU had given notices to NMC administration about their intention to strike work. The problem is that though an accord on wage revision was notified by State Government on October last, NMC administration miserably failed to implement the same in its letter and spirit. The five operator companies continue to stall the implementation of wages that hiked the minimum wages payable to drivers and conducts working with five operator companies. Though officials from Transport Department of NMC promised to compensate the operator companies for any additional outgo owing to additional financial burden, the employees did not get revised wages. Rakesh Bhosekar, President, Transport and General Kamgar Union, Nagpur city unit, and affiliated to Vanchit Bahujan Agahadi, speaking to The Hitavada, said that they had served strike notice for February 15, 2025, on February 1 itself. Thereafter, another notice was issued to the administrator on March 12 stating that if the revised wages as agreed upon were not issued then the workers would resort to strike work on March 18. Following the notice, Additional Labour Commissioner called a meeting of NMC officials, representatives of five operators companies and also the three workers unions. Despite 10 to 12 round of talks, the operator companies were not agreeing to revise the salaries as per October 2024 GR of Urban Development Department (UDD). Left with no choice the leaders of three workers union on Tuesday night itself held a meeting and informed NMC administration that they would strike work on Wednesday. Since morning no bus moved out of depots leaving thousands of commuters in the lurch. The introduction of e-buses has helped NMC to regain customers to pre-Covid-19 levels and hence non-availability of public transport has put people to great trouble. Also the last mile and first mile connectivity with Nagpur Metro also suffered due to workers strike on Wednesday. Bhosekar said, the operators companies are solely responsible for today's mess and inspite of NMC officials promising to reimburse any additional expenditure, they did not relent till last moment and did not any steps to avert the strike. NMC weakness to enforce GR exposed The mess that was witnessed on Wednesday in city again underscored the vulnerability of NMC administration to enforce its writ and also showcases the brazenness of the operator companies to defy the Government's order. With budget session of State Legislature on in Mumbai, the NMC administration was in fix over the flash strike and was searching for answers in case the issue comes up for discussion. Hectic parleys went on throughout the day to convince the operator companies to adhere to State Government GR that notified hike in wages for contractual staff. Finally at end of the day the statement ended as the five operator companies credited the salaries as per notified GR. Rakesh Bhosekar said the amount was received by the employees and the companies did deduct amount of many of them for being absent and on other grounds. NMC officials also said the issue is now settled as city bus service would resume operations from Thursday morning. During the month of October 2024, the workers of Aapli Bus resorted to one of the long strike that crippled city bus operations. The city buses remain off road for more than week as NMC scrambled to find the answers. The workers were seeking hike in wages which they claimed has remained static since last 15-years. Finally, UDD issued a notification on October 14, 2024, notifying increase in wages for workers of buses operated by civic body. Since then the workers were seeking the hike but for last five months nor the NMC nor the five operator companies took any steps to implement the GR resulting in flash strike on Wednesday. Strike likely to continue today City bus operations, on Thursday, may also get hit as workers engaged in maintenance and those employed as Controllers are unhappy at being denied wage rise. VBA-backed Union office-bearers said that the five operators companies have not yet released enhanced payment to 150 odd workers engaged in maintenance of buses. Along with them about 50 Controllers also are in agitated mood as they to have not been given payment at par with conductors and drivers. On Wednesday, the five companies released enhanced salaries to 500 to 600 conductors and drivers. As to technical staff and Controllers, the companies are seeking extra five to six days to meet the obligation. However, the left out staff are not in a mood to budge. They said, they would not attend the work and continue to be on strike. This has put a question mark on normalisation of city bus operations on Thursday also. Rakesh Bhosekar of VBA said, they are supporting the stance of technical and Controller staff. The companies in past also stalled making enhanced payment and sought five to six days and it took nearly five months to get things materialise. Nearly 300 to 350 buses (diesel, CNG and e-buses) operate daily on various routes across city. JAKARTA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A boat carrying eight people capsized in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province early Thursday, resulting in three fatalities and two others remaining missing, according to a rescue official. The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. Jakarta time when the group was fishing off Biboki Anleu sub-district in North Central Timor regency, said Muhdar, head of the operational unit at the provincial search and rescue office. "Suddenly, the weather turned extreme with strong winds and high waves. Their boat was struck by the large waves and sank," Muhdar told Xinhua. "Three people survived by swimming ashore. One body was recovered in the morning, and two more were found at midday," he added. Rescuers believe the lack of safety equipment resulted in the fatalities. "There were no life jackets on board, which might have prevented them from being saved. The survivors likely knew how to swim, while the victims may not have," Muhdar explained. Search operations for the missing persons are ongoing, involving personnel from the local search and rescue office, military, police, disaster management agency, and other responders. "Extreme weather conditions, which may continue to produce dangerous waves, are still hampering our search and rescue efforts," Muhdar noted. He added that the recovered victims have been transported to a local health clinic and their families have been notified. Hearing in defamation case against Chouhan, Sharma, Singh deferred By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla ; After getting exemption from personal presence in Apex Court last year, all eyes were on March 26 hearing in defamation case filed by Congress Rajya Sabha member and senior Advocate Vivek Krishna Tankha against BJP leaders Shivraj Singh Chouhan, VD Sharma and Bhupendra Singh. Now the hearing will be held on April 24. Tankha had filed the defamation case over the alleged statements of Chouhan and other BJP leaders over the OBC reservations issue in the year 2021 and sought Rs 10 crore in damages in the MPMLA Court. The Congress leader alleged that the trio had tainted his reputation by making statements against him in the media. The Supreme Court on November 11, 2024, gave relief to Union Minister and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP State President and MP VD Sharma, and former minister Bhupendra Singh in a defamation case by exempting them from appearing before the lower court during the hearing. Tankhas contention says Shivraj Singh Chouhan had made derogatory statements against him during the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat elections. The Union Minister moved the Supreme Court demanding the cancellation of the case, days after the Madhya Pradesh High Court had rejected his demand. The matter emerged after the Supreme Court had junked 27 per cent OBC reservation in the Panchayat elections in Madhya Pradesh in 2021. Tankha had moved the court on behalf of the petitioners regarding rotation and delimitation in the Panchayat and civic elections. It is alleged that the BJP leaders had made statements against him, calling him anti-OBC. In this month on March 19, the Supreme Court extended its earlier order exempting Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from personal appearance before a trial court in connection with a criminal defamation case lodged against him by Congress MP Vivek Tankha. Mahadev app scam CBI searches at 60 locations By Mukesh S Singh RAIPUR/BHILAI/NEW DELHI Ex-Cgarh CM Baghels residences in Raipur and Bhilai searched Bhilai MLA Devendra Yadav, top IPS officers, and former senior bureaucrats among those covered in the operations Digital, documentary evidences seized during raids; major political-bureaucratic-criminal nexus under the scanner In one of the most sweeping crackdowns in Rs 6,000 crore Mahadev Online Betting App scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday launched coordinated search operations at 60 locations across Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bhopal at the premises of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, a sitting MLA, senior IPS officers, former bureaucrats, jailed aides, and private sector operatives allegedly linked to the illicit betting syndicate. CBIs expansive and high-profile operation involved a detailed investigation that included key public figures and influential officers, highlighting the extensive political-bureaucratic-criminal nexus at the heart of the illicit network. CBI search teams were accompanied by armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers requisitioned from central paramilitary units deployed across Chhattisgarh. The searches were conducted after CBI formally took over the case from the State Economic Offences Investigation and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SEOIACB), which, despite obtaining Section 17(A) clearances under Prevention of Corruption Act for over 20 serving and former officials, failed to act against the accused, allowing time for cover-ups and potential tampering of evidence. The central agency was brought into the investigation due to lack of action from SEOIACB, despite clearances granted in March 2024 by General Administration Department (GAD) of Chhattisgarh Government, held by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai himself. The unexplained delay despite necessary clearances gave the accused nearly a year to tamper with evidence and sanitise assets, said a whistleblower, holding a senior position in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chhattisgarh. The whistleblower played a key role in flagging internal findings that exposed serious flaws in the probe. These disclosures were instrumental in prompting Chhattisgarh Government to transfer the case to CBI. Enforcement Directorate (ED), in an official communique issued on November 3, 2023, alleged that regular payments were made in the past and around Rs 508 crore was paid by Mahadev App promoters to Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, as protection money. EDs startling allegations were based on their questioning of Asim Das, forensic examination of the phone recovered from him, and examination of an e-mail sent by Shubam Soni (one of the high-ranking accused of Mahadev network). Sources confirmed that the ongoing searches led by 2009-batch IPS officer Abhinav Khare are one of the most far-reaching probes in recent time. CBI teams led by him executed synchronised raids in multiple districts of Chhattisgarh, rattling the power corridors in the State. Prior to the searches, a discreet probe into the betting scam was being led by CBI ASP Ajit Singh, assisted by two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP)-rank officers. It uncovered a significant amount of financial and digital evidence, including transaction records and call data. The operation was based out of a local Raipur police mess, with full logistical backing from Chhattisgarh Police. The scale of the operation highlights the importance of coordination across multiple jurisdictions, CBI sources told The Hitavada. CBI conducted operations in multiple districts including Raipur, Bhilai, Rajnandgaon, Raigarh, and Ambikapur, with a staggering 55 locations raided within Chhattisgarh; and five more locations in Bhopal, Kolkata, and Delhi. Searched were conducted at the residences of former CM Bhupesh Baghel in Raipur and Bhilai, Bhilai MLA Devendra Yadav, and several high-ranking IPS officers. Searches in Bhilai were conducted at the residences of Crime Branch Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Purn Bahadur Karki, formerly responsible for Crime Branch duties; and ASI Shamit Mishra of Sector-8 Police Station. Baghel questions timing of searches RAIPUR, Mar 26 (PTI) FORMER Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday questioned the timing of CBI searches and said the searches at his residence were carried out ahead of his scheduled visit to New Delhi for a Congress meeting. Reacting to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) action, Baghels 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. Raids to expose conspiracy to trap youths in betting: CM Sai BENGALURU, Mar 26 (PTI) CHHATTISGARH Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday said, the CBI raids in his State were against the conspiracy to lure youth into betting through a mobile application. Sai was reacting to the searches conducted by the central agency at places linked to former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, about a dozen officers and his close aides. As far as I know the raid pertains to the Mahadev Betting App scheme. The whole world knows that some people played with the future of our youth through Mahadev App, Sai, who was here for an investors' meet, told reporters. He alleged that people were made addicted to betting. Some of the accused are outside India too. When people complained about it, the State Government handed over the case to the CBI, which has carried out raids today. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said that the Congress should not link the CBIs searches on the premises of its leader Bhupesh Baghel and others to politics and cooperate in the investigation. Sao said, during the previous Baghel-led Government in the State, several major scams happened which are being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. Mahrang push IT WAS only natural that widespread protests would explode in Pakistan following the arrest of Ms. Mahrang Baloch, the undisputed leader of the Baloch struggle for independence. The Pakistani authorities arrested Ms. Mahrang Baloch a couple of days ago charging her with involvement in terrorist activities when what she had actually done was to lead a sit-in protest against illegal arrests of countless Baloch people over years. The modus operandi of the arrests is strange -- the Pakistani authorities pick up Baloch people and then many of those persons just disappear. The Baloch freedom fighters have been asking for their whereabouts and the authorities have nothing to say in response. Ms. Mahrang Baloch, known for her fire-brand leadership, has been at the forefront of the freedom struggle for years and has inspired lakhs of Baloch people to join the struggle. So signal has been her contribution that her name is believed to have been recommended for Nobel Peace Prize. The arrest of Ms. Mahrang Baloch, therefore, has evoked an angry response from the Baloch people who have exploded into widespread protests in the Karachi region of Pakistan (where the population is dominated by Sindhi majority with fair sprinkling of the people of Baloch origin). The protesters have been insisting upon an immediate release of Ms. Mahrang Baloch and also the whereabouts of thousands of people who have just disappeared from the scene in the past few years. The protesters want to know about their kin that vanished into thin air -- whether they are alive or not. The strong and widespread apprehension is that the Pakistani authorities have just eliminated them -- and destroyed their bodies. The Baloch freedom fighters see this as a gross and deliberate violation of human rights by the Pakistani authorities whose attempts to crush the struggle have met with big failure so far. With the arrest of Ms. Mahrang Baloch, enough indications have surfaced to suggest that the Baloch freedom movement would get intensified all the more. The last few months have seen an altogether different dynamics among various groups of Baloch freedom fighters. Various such groups have now formed a joint front and have initiated action against Pakistani State in whatever manner possible. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is considered the strongest among all these groups -- particularly with the presence within its ranks what is described as Majid Brigade, which is intensely hostile towards the Pakistan State. In the past few weeks, following the hijack of the Zafar Express and then a brutal attack on an Army convoy, thousands of Pakistani Army soldiers and officers are rumoured to have resigned from the Army fearing a terrible armed action by the BLA and its allied groups. Those who understand the Baloch dynamics and Pakistani vulnerability feel strongly that the Pakistani State is fighting a losing battle and the freedom of Balochistan from Pakistani occupation is only a matter of time. Ms. Mahrang Baloch is a woman with a small frame, so to say. But the fire in her leadership is remarkable. Her personality has the capacity to influence others and inspire them to start working for Baloch freedom. Many international watchers of the Pakistan scene have begun asserting that Ms. Mahrang Baloch is one person whom the Pakistani authorities are afraid of. All signs emanating from Pakistan point to this reality. An interesting angle to the situation is that of late the Baloch demand is gaining currency that India help the Baloch freedom fighters. It is obvious that no country can actually do anything in such situations. But it is a fact that the Baloch struggle is gaining an increasing acceptance in the world. New parasitic species discovered in Bay of Bengal KOLKATA : A NOVEL species of parasitic isopod, active in the buccal cavity (mouth space) of marine fishes, has been identified in the Bay of Bengal by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). It has been designated Lobothorax Bharat, a ZSI statement said Tuesday. This discovery, a result of collaborative research between the Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, ZSI, Gopalpur-on-Sea, and Berhampur University, contributes significantly to the existing knowledge of marine biodiversity and fish parasitology, the statement said. The research team from ZSI comprised Sandeep Kumar Mohapatra, Sanmitra Roy, Jaya Kishore Seth, Basudev Tripathy and Anil Mohapatra while the research was conducted under the joint leadership of Jaya Kishore Seth, Anil Mohapatra and Basudev Tripathy. The newly identified species Lobothorax Bharat belongs to the genus Lobothorax, a group of isopods known to parasitise (infested by an orgasm or part as a parasite) in the buccal cavity (the space within the mouth) of marine fish. These parasites survive by feeding on the blood and mucus of their hosts, often leading to anaemia in affected fish populations. This discovery is significant because it not only adds to the known diversity of Lobothorax isopods but also highlights the complex ecological relationships within the Bay of Bengal, ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee said. Lobothorax Bharat, found on the Odisha coast of India, is distinguished from its closest relative, Lobothorax typus Bleeker, 1857, another fish parasite attached with buccal cavity of the host fish, by several key morphological features. Furthermore, genetic analysis revealed a divergence. Prior to this discovery, the genus Lobothorax comprised only three known species. The addition of L Bharat brings the total number to four, underscoring the ongoing need for comprehensive marine biodiversity research, the statement said. The research which began in 2023 emphasises the importance of continued exploration and study of marine ecosystems to uncover and understand the intricate lives of marine organisms. Of peoples feedback in Clean Bhopal Vijay Phanshikar : EVEN as the Directorate f Urban Administration and Development expects the people of Bhopal to offer their feed back on Swachh Sarvekshan 2024 on designated digital platforms, there is also a need for the administration to put in motion a proactive drive to know the reality about how clean the city of Bhopal actually is and what more needs to be done to improve the overall standards of cleanliness. The loosefooter finds it necessary to make this observation because he -- and every Bhopalite -- realises that the Capital City of Madhya Pradesh needs a stronger push for its Swacch Bhopal Abhiyan. No matter the political tall talk about swachhta in the lake city, the reality is that the people still finds mountains of garbage waiting to be cleared for days on end. And beyond those mounts of garbage, there also is a general absence of effort on the part of the administration to keep the city clean. If this glaring failure is not noticed by the civic administration, then asking for peoples feedback on digital apps has only a little value. There is reason to suspect that the people in the civic administration appear to be interested more in digital response to the Swachh Sarvekshan than actual work to keep the city clean all the time and in all corners. It is, of course, all right that the common people send in their feedback on different digital platforms -- which the administration can use in preparing the report of the survey. That digital initiative may give Bhopal a few brownie points, all right. But will that actually ensure proper cleaning up of the city and its proper upkeep in that regard? To this question, an easy answer may not be forthcoming easily. In fact, the overall urban design of Bhopal is quite good and conducive to the idea of a clean, modern metropolis. Any first-time visitor to the city often feels impressed with Bhopals overall persona and its fine mix of modernity and history. Despite this, the trouble is that the overall impression of Bhopal is not of a clean, well-kept city -- much against the purpose of the Swachh Bhopal initiative. Those who roam the city streets on a daily basis realise that Bhopal needs a conscious and concerted work to keep its roads and public places really clean. It much be conceded that massive efforts are needed on a daily basis to keep a city of the shape and size of Bhopal in clean condition all the time. That such a project will require huge manpower, is only a part of the truth. The other and more important part relates to vision. In other words, the citys cleanliness will depend on how its leadership looks at the task. On this point, the citys leadership -- political and bureaucratic -- needs to sit down together and evolve not just a vision but also a sustainable plan of action for a long term and short term implementation. n Tanmay Nagar joins Sony SABs Pushpa Impossible; set to play a grey character creating chaos in Pushpa and Rashis life Sony SAB's Pushpa Impossible continues to captivate audiences with the inspiring journey of Pushpa (Karuna Pandey), a resilient and fearless woman who faces life's challenges with unwavering determination. Now, as the storyline takes an intriguing turn, actor Tanmay Nagar will be joining the cast as Arjun Singh Shekhawat. Arjun, the heir to the prestigious Shekhawat Masale empire, hails from a royal lineage and carries a complex, multifaceted personality. Arjun Singh Shekhawat exudes charm and confidence, but beneath his charismatic persona lies an unpredictable intensity. His polished exterior hides a complex personality shaped by his upbringing in an abusive, violent, and deeply orthodox family. Tanmay Nagar, who brings Arjun Singh Shekhawat to life, shared his excitement about joining the show, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of Pushpa Impossible and to portray the role of Arjun Singh Shekhawat. This character is unlike any I have played beforelayered, intense, and deeply complex. Arjun comes from a world that is bound by rigid traditions and a difficult past, making him a fascinating personality to explore as an actor. Arjun is not just a typical hero or villain; he is a man with flaws, conflicts, and emotions that will resonate with the audience. Theres a lot in storedrama, romance, and unexpected twists that will keep everyone hooked." Tune in to watch Pushpa Impossible on Sony SAB, every Monday to Friday at 9:30 PM Rajura tiger poaching case SIT to seek help of Interpol, ED Staff Reporter : Over 60 tigers killed in various reserves across country in 3 years; The SIT unearthed transactions of more than Rs 7 crore from different bank accounts The extensive investigation by the joint Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Rajura tiger poaching case led them to bust a major tiger poaching and smuggling syndicate spread across the countrys tiger reserves. Also, it found that the syndicate was connected with international illegal wildlife trade in South East Asian countries. The joint SIT filed the charge-sheet regarding the inter-State tiger poaching case in Rajura forest range of Central Chanda Forest Division before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Rajura, on Tuesday. Baheliya group of Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, which is infamous for wildlife poaching, specially of tigers, is behind this poaching racket in the country. The reach of Baheliyas is everywhere in the country. During the festival of Holi, every member of this tribe gathers and distributes area of poaching. As per our investigation, we found that more than 60 tigers in various tiger reserves were killed for their body parts since 2022, a source aware about the investigation told The Hitavada. The Baheliya group, arrested from Rajura by the Maharashtra Forest Department, was in Rajura forest area since June last year. During the intervening six months, it was involved in number of tiger poaching incidents. As per our estimation, we can say that this tribe has already poached many tigers from Jim Corbett National Park to Kanha Tiger Reserve, and its presence is everywhere in the country, said the source. The joint SIT recovered body parts in huge quantity from the possession of the group which was supposed to head towards East and South-East Asian countries via Mizoram and Manipur. According to the source, the quantum of bank transaction tracked from different accounts was more than Rs 7 crore during these three years. Though it is difficult to calculate the cost of a tiger in the international market, we can estimate it around Rs 10 lakh per tigers body part, said the investigator. It is for the first time in Maharashtra when the Department found huge amount of bank transactions during a poaching investigation. Also, in a first, the Department exposed a massive syndicate of poachers having links with international wildlife smugglers, said the investigator. The joint SIT established the link between the Baheliya poachers with the traders at international border with Myanmar. The team had a tough time in getting support for the investigation from locals in Mizoram. Whereas, due to the Military Junta ruling in Myanmar, the wildlife trade is not a priority for the country. Therefore, the joint SIT is taking help of Interpol to apprehend wildlife traders in East and South-East Asia. The team is also taking help of Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe financial transactions and trade between traders in India and other countries, added the investigator. Due to pan India criminal links, a thorough and joint investigation of the case has been conducted in the last two months by specially formed investigation teams (SITs) at local, state and national level. Apart from the territorial Forest Department, several wings of Maharashtra Forest Department officials from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve and Special Tiger Protection Force, Social Forestry Department and Melghat Cyber Cell have been closely involved in the investigation. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, New Delhi, National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi, also were involved in the investigation, and provided required support at various levels. Madhya Pradesh Tiger Task Force, Chandrapur Police Department and Meghalaya Forest Department had also co-operated in the investigation process. Of 29 people named as prime accused, 13 have been arrested. They are, currently, in magisterial custody. This photo shows the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) BOAO, Hainan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 opened on Thursday in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony. Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals. Running from March 25 to 28, this year's conference is themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future." Addressing the opening ceremony, Ding said that significant progress has been made in building an Asian community with a shared future over the past decade. China and ASEAN have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has come into effect, the vice premier said. He added that regional economic integration has been strengthened, and Asia's share in the global economy is steadily rising. Ding also noted the rising instability and uncertainties confronting the world, calling for joint efforts to address global challenges, build the Asian community and create a better future for Asia and beyond. This photo shows the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) and former UN secretary-general, speaks at the opening ceremony of the BFA Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, chief executive officer of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, speaks at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus speaks at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone speaks at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a wildfire in Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) SEOUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. Since last Friday, medium and large wildfires have raged on in 10 regions, mostly in Gyeongsang province, affecting at least 36,009 hectares of woodland, the central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters said. It marked the country's worst-ever wildfire damage, topping the previous high of 23,794 hectares ravaged in 2000. Of the wounded, eight people suffered serious injuries. Most of the victims were those aged 60 or higher, according to the headquarters. The number of affected buildings and structures, such as houses, factories and cultural assets, climbed to 325, while more than 37,000 people were displaced. Firefighters struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes, fueled by strong and dry winds. The country's forest service raised the wildfire crisis alert to the highest level, while thousands of firefighters, as well as helicopters and fire trucks, were mobilized to combat the wildfires. This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a residential house destroyed by fire in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a residential house destroyed by fire in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows an ancient temple destroyed by fire in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows an ancient temple destroyed by fire in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows an ancient temple destroyed by fire in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows an ancient temple destroyed by fire in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a residential house destroyed by fire in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a wildfire in Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a wildfire in Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows an ancient temple destroyed by fire in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a residential house destroyed by fire in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows a residential house destroyed by fire in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The death toll rose to 26, with 30 others injured, as South Korea's worst-ever wildfires continued to rage in southeastern areas, government compilation showed Thursday. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin) BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense on Thursday refuted a statement by the G7, emphasizing China's policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons and its defensive nuclear strategy. Spokesperson Wu Qian made the remarks at a press conference while responding to a query regarding the content of a joint statement of the recent G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The statement, which is strongly condemned and resolutely opposed by China, ignores facts and is a vicious smear on China and a brutal interference in China's internal affairs, according to Wu. "China has been maintaining its nuclear arsenal at the minimum level required for national security. The G7 should reflect on its own actions and has no qualification to criticize China," he said. Regarding the East and South China Seas, China is engaging in peaceful dialogue and consultation with relevant countries to resolve disputes, and remains steadfast in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, the spokesperson stated. As for Taiwan, it is an inalienable part of China, and the Taiwan question brooks no foreign interference, he said, adding that any attempt to split the island from its motherland will inevitably end in complete failure. "We urge the G7 to abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, and stop lecturing and pointing fingers at others. Such an approach will not work on the Chinese military," Wu said. BOAO, Hainan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 opened on Thursday in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony. Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals. Running from March 25 to 28, this year's conference is themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future." BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), scheduled for April 13 to 18 in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, will showcase the latest humanoid robots from leading domestic and international companies, the event's organizers announced on Thursday. The expo, a key platform for global trade and consumption trends, has drawn the participation of over 4,100 brands from 71 countries and regions, Vice Commerce Minister Sheng Qiuping told a press conference. Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Hainan provincial government, this year's expo will highlight emerging consumption trends, including artificial intelligence (AI) and low-altitude aviation, debuting innovations from global companies, Sheng said. The event will introduce a dedicated consumption tech zone to display cutting-edge technologies and products, with humanoid robots being a bright spot at the expo. Major tech innovators such as Huawei, Tesla, Unitree and Rokid will present their latest AI-integrated consumer products, ranging from humanoid robots to AR glasses. The CICPE is China's only national-level exhibition featuring consumer products and is the largest consumer expo in the Asia-Pacific region. Yes Significant efforts are being made No Much more needs to be done Some progress But there are still critical gaps Vote View Results Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivers a keynote speech while attending the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BOAO, Hainan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 opened on Thursday in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony, calling for strengthening mutual trust, enhancing win-win cooperation, promoting economic globalization and safeguarding the free trade system. Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals. Running from March 25 to 28, this year's conference is themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future." Addressing the opening ceremony, Ding said that significant progress has been made in building an Asian community with a shared future over the past decade. "China and ASEAN have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has entered into effect," the vice premier said. He added that regional economic integration has been strengthened, and Asia's share in the global economy is steadily rising. "Our world is experiencing far greater instability and uncertainty," Ding noted, calling for joint efforts to address global challenges, build a shared Asian home and usher in a brighter future for Asia and beyond. It is necessary to strengthen solidarity and cooperation through greater mutual trust, Ding said. Efforts should be made to champion the Asian values built around peace, cooperation, inclusiveness and integration, and respect each other's core interests and major concerns, he added. Ding stressed the importance of promoting economic globalization through openness and integration, urging efforts to jointly safeguard the free trade system, uphold open regionalism, and firmly oppose trade and investment protectionism. To promote prosperity and development through mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, it is imperative to deliver on the Global Development Initiative and actively improve people's livelihood, Ding noted. He underscored the need of safeguarding tranquility and stability through peaceful coexistence. The vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security in Asia should be upheld, while efforts should be made to ensure that Asia continues to be a land of peace and stability, Ding said. On the Chinese economy, Ding said economic performance in the country has been running steadily with a stronger outlook. The country will do its best to fulfill this year's goals and tasks for economic and social development, he said. "China is confident of realizing these goals and will contribute to development in Asia and the world." China's innovation-driven growth has gathered stronger momentum, presenting opportunities not only for the country itself but also for Asia and the world, Ding said. Describing opening up as a distinct hallmark of Chinese modernization, the vice premier pledged that China will open wider to the world no matter how the external environment changes. "We warmly welcome businesses from all countries to invest and operate in China, join in the process of Chinese modernization, and share in China's development opportunities," he said. Thursday's opening ceremony was attended by more than 1,500 representatives from over 60 countries and regions, including officials, business leaders and scholars. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivers a keynote speech while attending the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, poses for a group photo with representatives attending the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 before the ceremony in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2025. Ding attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech on Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) DHAKA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh celebrated the country's 55th Independence Day on Wednesday with President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus paying tribute to martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka. The day's celebrations began with a 31-gun salute at dawn by a smartly turned-out contingent drawn from the Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force while the bugles played the last post. Wearing the red and green of the Bangladeshi flag, people of all ages and all walks of life also thronged the national memorial to pay respect to war heroes. Also, major roads and intersections in Dhaka and other cities were decorated with national flags and banners. The president and the chief adviser delivered special messages to the nation to mark the occasion. On March 26 every year, Bangladesh commemorates the country's declaration of independence in 1971. BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense on Thursday refuted a statement by the G7, emphasizing China's policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons and its defensive nuclear strategy. Spokesperson Wu Qian made the remarks at a press conference while responding to a query regarding the content of a joint statement of the recent G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The statement, which is strongly condemned and resolutely opposed by China, ignores facts and is a vicious smear on China and a brutal interference in China's internal affairs, according to Wu. A day after chief minister Mamata Banerjee urged British Airways to resume direct flights between London and Kolkata, senior officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the West Bengal government convened a high-level meeting to explore new international connectivity options from Kolkata. The meeting, held at Nabanna, was attended by P R Beuria, director of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, along with Nandini Chakraborty, principal secretary (home), representatives from the airlines association, and members of the tour and travel association. The discussions primarily focused on reviving the long-discontinued London-Kolkata route, which could significantly enhance business and tourism prospects in the state. During an interactive session titled Opportunities in West Bengal in London on Tuesday, Banerjee made a direct appeal to British Airways, highlighting the growing demand for international flights from Kolkata. Advertisement My humble request to my friends from UK airlinescan you give us one direct flight? British Airways used to operate London-Kolkata flights, but before we came to power in 2011, the service was withdrawn. I do not know the reason. But now, every flight is almost fully booked. We are also offering fuel concessions. Whoever approaches us first will get an advantage in fuel tax, she said. British Airways had ceased its Kolkata operations in March 2009 after nearly 80 years of service, citing commercial reasons. Air India, which introduced a direct London-Kolkata flight in 2005, also discontinued the service in 2008 due to low passenger occupancy. Advertisement The Bengal government sees direct international connectivity as crucial, given its ambitions to attract global investors. Banerjee emphasised that the state is witnessing industrial expansion, boasting six economic corridors, multiple industrial parks, and a thriving MSME sector. She also highlighted that West Bengal has reduced unemployment by 46 per cent and has 94 major development projects in progress. The chief ministers push for the London-Kolkata flight aligns with her broader vision to position Bengal as a key investment destination. With business delegations from the UK and other global markets expressing interest in the state, seamless air connectivity is expected to play a pivotal role in facilitating trade and economic collaboration. In what comes as good news for the traders near Kalighat, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation handed over keys to the shop owners of refugee hawkers corner today. The development brought a major relief to the traders of the hawkers body, who had been waiting to return to their allocated spaces for four years. With the mega skywalk project leading to the temple at Kalighat kicking off in 2021 along with the construction of the refugee hawkers corner, the traders had to leave their spaces near the temple and were rehabilitated at temporary units at Jatin Das Park, near Hazra Crossing. According to the traders, initially they were informed that they would be able to return to the allocated spaces near the temple in about 18 months. However, as the skywalk project took time for completion, their return was delayed by several months, finally ending in four years. Advertisement Local MLA and member-mayor-in-council, Debasish Kumar handed over the keys of the newly-constructed commercial units at a programme this morning. The newly-constructed market is an air-conditioned space with a multi-storey building. A total of 195 traders and hawkers are said to have received the keys of their allocated spaces in the market. Advertisement Meanwhile, the KMC is also planning to hand over certificates to hawkers of Hatibagan Market. Following a recent meeting at the KMC headquarters earlier this week, the civic body decided to hand over certificates to around 14,000 hawkers of Hatibagan Market, New Market and so on. Another lot of around 40,000 hawkers would also be distributed in the next phase. Apart from this, the civic body is also considering carrying out an eviction drive to free encroached spaces at New Market after Eid. Union home minister and minister of cooperation Amit Shah on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha exuded confidence that the BJP will win Assembly elections in West Bengal which are scheduled to be held next year adding that the Centres Ayushman Bharat Yojana will also be implemented in the state. Shah was replying to debate in the Lok Sabha on the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025 . Advertisement The Bill, which aims to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat as a University, was passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha after the Union home ministers reply. Advertisement Earlier, replying to debate in the House on the Bill, Shah mentioned about the Centres Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The Union home minister said the result of the work of Modi government is that today lotus has bloomed in Delhi and Ayushman Bharat Yojana has come here too. Today every poor person of the country does not have to worry about spending up to Rs 5 lakh for treatment, he said. Now only West Bengal is left, after the elections, lotus will bloom here too and Ayushman Bharat will come here too, Shah said. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, poor people no longer have to worry about medical expenses up to Rs 5 lakh. Now, the people of Delhi also wont have to worry now that we are in power. Only West Bengal remains The lotus will bloom there as well, the Union home minister said. Speaking about the Bill, the Union home minister said, The Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill honours Tribhuvan Das Patel, an important person in Indias cooperative dairy movement, Amul. He was encouraged by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who saw how farmers were being taken advantage of by middlemen. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel asked Tribhuvan to start a cooperative. In the 1940s, this gave farmers control over milk production, pricing, and distribution. This helped start Indias dairy revolution, empowering rural communities and creating opportunities for Indians, Shah said. During the discussion of the bill, Shah affirmed that after the Bill is passed, it will strengthen the rural economy, self-employment and small entrepreneurship will develop, social inclusion will also increase and there will be opportunities to set new standards in innovation and research. The Union home minister emphasised that Indias cooperation sector connects every family in the country, noting that theres some unit in every village contributing to the countrys development through cooperation Cooperation is a sector that connects every family in the country. There is some unit in every village which is engaged in agriculture, rural development and self-employment through cooperation and is contributing to the progress of the country, Shah said. He further said theres only one way to connect a person with entrepreneurship with capital is through the cooperative sector. The only way to connect a person with entrepreneurship without capital is the cooperative sector, through which crores of people are coming together with a capital of Rs 100 each and are starting their own ventures, living equally, getting jobs and contributing to the development of the country through self-employment, the Union home minister said. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, the Union home minister moved the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand as a University to be known as the Tribhuvan Sahkari University. Along with establishing the Institute of Rural Management Anand as a University, the Bill also aims to declare the same as an institution of national importance and to impart technical and management education and training in the co-operative sector. The ministry of home affairs has invited stakeholders to attend the second round of tripartite talks involving the central government, representatives from Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars regions, and the West Bengal government. The meeting will be held on 2 April at 11 a.m. in North Block, New Delhi, and will be chaired by the minister of state (home affairs). Advertisement Darjeeling MP Raju Bista confirmed the details after receiving official communication and informed his associates today. Advertisement Mr Bista stated that the central government is committed to resolving the long-standing demands of the region through peaceful dialogue, considering the concerns of all stakeholders. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, many historic issues have been resolved amicably. I am confident this meeting will bring positive outcomes for our region, he said. The National Jute Board (NJB) has organised a seven-day jute fair at City Centre in Siliguri, inaugurated today by Dr Nupur Das, registrar (additional charge) of the University of North Bengal, along with other officials and educationists. The fair will run until 3 April and has been held annually since 2019. The NJB, operating under the ministry of textiles supports jute growers, workers, producers, and exporters, promoting the versatile uses of this eco-friendly fibre. In a press note, NJB highlighted jutes role as a sustainable, biodegradable material that helps maintain ecological balance. Beyond traditional textiles, jute is now used for innovative products that appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Rizwanuz Zaman, an NJB official, stated that the board conducts various promotional programmes in India and abroad to boost the jute industry. Advertisement India is the worlds largest producer of raw jute and jute goods. The sector has shown significant growth, with exports of jute diversified products (JDPs) reaching Rs 1,374 crore in 2023-24a 43 per cent increase compared to 2019-20. Key exported items include jute bags, floor coverings, decorative fabrics, and gift articles. Total jute goods exports stood at $339 million (Rs 2,803 crore) in 2023-24, marking a 16 per cent rise over four years. Advertisement The Siliguri fair features over 20 stalls from north Bengal and neighbouring states, showcasing products like jute handicrafts, footwear, home textiles, and shopping bags. NJB is providing free stalls to micro-entrepreneurs, SHGs, NGOs, and MSMEs to encourage small-scale jute businesses. Bulls dominated the stock market erasing early weakness over US automotive tariffs. Nifty 50 index ended near 23,600 on across-the-board buying, barring auto and pharma names. At close, Sensex was up 317.93 points or 0.41% at 77,606.43, and the Nifty was up 105.10 points or 0.45% at 23,591.95. Advertisement BSE Midcap index was up 0.5% and Smallcap index rose nearly 1%. The overall market capitalisation of firms listed on the BSE rose to nearly 415 lakh crore from about 412 lakh crore in the previous session. Advertisement Among the sectors, Nifty Auto index dropped 1.04% on concerns over Trump tariffs. Pharma (down 0.40%) and Healthcare (down 0.22%) also declined. Nifty Bank outperformed Nifty 50 with the Nifty PSU Bank was up 2.50% emerging as the top gainer among sectoral indices with a gain of 0.72%. Nifty Financial Services rose 0.73%. Some of the key performers in the banking index were Bank of Baroda emerging as the top gainer surging over 3%, shares of Union Bank rising nearly 3% to trade at Rs 123 apiece. Punjab National Bank and Canara Bank shares also recorded strong gains, rising nearly 2% each to trade at Rs 95 apiece and Rs 89 apiece respectively while the Bank of India shares were meanwhile trading over 1% higher at Rs 107 apiece. Auto and pharma were the only two sectoral indices that ended the session in the red. The development came amid trade tensions that escalated further following the Donald Trump administrations imposition of 25% tariffs on automobile imports. Tata Motors shares slumped 7% to Rs 661 as investors weighed the impact of Trumps proposed tariff. As pharma shares were under selling pressure, J B Chemicals was the top loser on the index, falling nearly 7%. On BSE, around 460 stocks touched a 52-week low. Some of them were Sona BLW, Happiest Minds, Metro Brands, Mahindra Life, Bajaj Electricals, Gensol Engineering, Vakrangee, TCI Express, Shiva Cement, Rolex Rings, Expleo Solution, Brainbees Solutions, Suyog Tele, Galaxy Surfactants, among others. GAIL Indias stock climbed 3.43% to Rs 180.25, drawing strong investor interest amid an unexpected surge in trading volumes. Smoke trails left by air defense interceptors are seen in the sky in central Israeli city of Modiin, on March 27, 2025. The Israeli military said Thursday that its air defense systems intercepted two missiles launched by militants in Yemen. Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions in Jerusalem. Police said air raid sirens were activated in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Jerusalem area and several settlements in the occupied West Bank. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) JERUSALEM/SANAA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said Thursday that its air defense systems intercepted two missiles launched by militants in Yemen. Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions in Jerusalem. Police said air raid sirens were activated in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Jerusalem area and several settlements in the occupied West Bank. "The two missiles were intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory," the military said in a statement, adding that the sirens were activated "in accordance with protocol." Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV that the group launched two fresh ballistic missile attacks, aiming at Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel, and a military target south of Tel Aviv, respectively. He said the group launched another attack targeting "U.S. warships in the Red Sea, including USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, using several ballistic and cruise missiles and drones." He said the group will "continue to prevent Israeli navigation in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea" until Israel stops its "aggression" against Gazans and lifts its siege on the Palestinian enclave. According to al-Masirah TV, the U.S. military launched a series of airstrikes earlier in the day in and around Sanaa, killing two people and wounding two others. So far, the U.S. side has not commented on this incident. The Houthis, which control much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, have been fighting against the internationally-recognized government since 2014. Tensions between the Houthis and the U.S. military have escalated since Washington launched fresh airstrikes on Yemen on March 15. The strikes followed Houthi threats to resume attacks on Israeli targets unless humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that U.S. airstrikes against the Houthis will continue for a long time. Smoke trails left by air defense interceptors are seen in the sky in central Israeli city of Modiin, on March 27, 2025. The Israeli military said Thursday that its air defense systems intercepted two missiles launched by militants in Yemen. Eyewitnesses reported hearing explosions in Jerusalem. Police said air raid sirens were activated in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, as well as in the Jerusalem area and several settlements in the occupied West Bank. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) For the first time, the Delhi Legislative Assembly will host a cultural evening on March 30 to celebrate the auspicious Hindu New Year, which commences with Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta stated that is the first time a cultural event for the Hindu New Year is being organised not only in the Delhi assembly but in any state assembly across the country. Advertisement This celebration marks the beginning of Vikram Samvat 2082, the traditional Hindu lunar calendar year. Advertisement Gupta emphasised, The Hindu New Year is not merely a change of date but a symbol of renewed energy and vitality. As farmers welcome new harvests into their homes, this festival holds profound economic and social significance, honouring the agricultural community, which has always been the backbone of our nation. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will be the chief guest at the event, which will be held under the chairmanship of the Speaker. Art & Culture Minister Kapil Mishra will attend as a distinguished guest. Ministers and legislators of the Delhi government will also be present on the occasion. The event aims to showcase Indias rich cultural heritage while reinforcing the timeless values embedded in its traditions. Speaking about the event, Kapil Mishra said, For the first time, the Delhi Government is celebrating the Hindu New Year on such a grand scale. The celebrations will commence on March 30 with a big event on the lawns of the Delhi Assembly, where the entire building will be illuminated with lamps, much like Diwali. He said that since the occasion coincides with the first day of Navratri, a falahar (fruit-based meal) has been arranged for attendees observing fast. Additionally, for the first time, the Delhi government will organise falahar programmes at multiple locations during Navratri. These will be held on Saptami (seventh day), Ashtami (eighth day), and Navami (ninth day), featuring Kanya Pujan ceremonies, where underprivileged girls will be served food, and special prayers will be offered to the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The Delhi government is also preparing to celebrate Ram Navami, Hanuman Janmotsav, and Ambedkar Jayanti on a large scale. Mishra added, This initiative is a crucial step towards preserving and promoting Indian culture and traditions. Our government will continue to organise such cultural awakening programmes in the future as well. A DCP-rank officer saved the life of a man who fell unconscious after his bike met with an accident on the Delhi Cantonment flyover by administering timely cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to him. In a video that went viral on social media, DCP (Traffic) Shashank Jaiswal spotted a biker lying unconscious following an accident near Prem Baradi Bridge while heading home. Advertisement Acting swiftly, Jaiswal administered CPR and saved the young mans life before he was rushed to a hospital for proper treatment. Advertisement The official was returning home when he saw people surrounding an unconscious person. After receiving CPR, the man regained consciousness within a minute and was then sent to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. In a scathing attack on Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva stated the Dalits and the poor were betrayed by the AAP citing improper utilisation of the funds allocated in the budgets during their tenure. Addressing a press conference, Sachdeva pointed out that in 2020, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government introduced Jai Bhim Chief Minister Talent Development Scheme. One scheme was for Dalits (Scheduled Castes) while another was for minorities, backward classes, and the poor. Advertisement However, he said, the then AAP government spent a mere Rs 1.5 crore of the allotted Rs 40 crore fund in the financial year 2020-21. Similarly, in FY 2021-22, only Rs 2.90 crore was spent against Rs 50 crore allocated for them, he added. Advertisement On similar lines, in 2022-23, Rs 70 crore was allocated, but not a single rupee was spent and in 2023-24, the budget allocation was reduced to Rs 20 crore, but only Rs 1 lakh was spent, the BJP leader claimed. He said the Kejriwal government also deceived the minorities, the poor, and backward classes with the Jai Bhim Chief Minister Talent Development Scheme in 2020-21. Nothing was spent against the Rs 60 crore allocation. Similarly, in 2021-22, Rs 70 crore was allocated while a mere Rs 4.2 crore was spent. The story was the same in 2022-23 and 2023-24 as not a single penny was spent by the AAP government from the allocated amount of Rs 90 crore and RS 30 crore, respectively. So, the conclusion is that from 2020-21 to 2023-24, the Kejriwal government made a budgetary allocation of Rs 250 crore for the minorities, backwards, and the poor but spent only Rs 4.2 crore, he said. The BJP president said they have urged Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to present a list of all such deceptive announcements by the Kejriwal government in the assembly. The Bangalore Sessions Court will pronounce its verdict on actress Ranya Raos bail plea in the gold smuggling case on Thursday. Ranya Rao, the prime accused in the case, who is the stepdaughter of senior police officer Ramchandra Rao, was arrested on March 3 for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kilograms of gold, valued at over Rs 12.56 crore and her bail plea is set to be decided by the Sessions Court today. Advertisement The prosecution has argued in court that the actress has admitted to using hawala channels to buy the bullion. Advertisement The authorities have issued a notice under Section 108 to initiate a judicial enquiry against Ranya Rao as this will reveal other financial irregularities. Tarun Raj, who is a close associate of the actress, is the second accused in the case and is also awaiting the courts decision on his bail application, which is expected to be pronounced on the same day. Meanwhile, Sahil Jain, a gold merchant was arrested on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in disposing of the smuggled gold linked to Ranya Rao. Arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), he has been sent to police custody for four days to help with questioning and further investigation. This is the third arrest in the case. Earlier, Counsel Madhu Rao appearing for the DRI at the Special Economic Offences Court, stated, Tarun and Ranya have travelled together to Dubai about 26 times. They would leave in the morning and return by evening. Tarun travelled from Dubai to Hyderabad. The ticket for this journey was booked by Ranya Rao. Additionally, Tarun gave gold to Ranya in Dubai Senior police officer Ramchandra Rao, has also been questioned in the gold smuggling case. On March 15, the Karnataka government placed DGP K. Ramachandra Rao, on compulsory leave with immediate effect and until further notice in connection with the gold smuggling case. The actress who was arrested on charges of gold smuggling misused her stepfather Raos name to escape security checks by availing the protocol reserved for officials of the highest rank. After years of delays, controversy, and a tragic on-set incident, Rust is officially on its way to the big screen. The long-awaited Western that Rust is, starring Alec Baldwin as an aging outlaw, just dropped its first trailerand its packed with tension, grit, and a haunting sense of redemption. Set in 1880s Kansas, Rust follows Harland Rust (Baldwin), a fugitive gunslinger who comes out of hiding to rescue his teenage nephew, Lucas Hollister (Patrick Scott McDermott). Lucas has been sentenced to hang for an accidental killing, but Rust isnt about to let that happen. Advertisement Their escape isnt easy, thoughhot on their trail is the ruthless bounty hunter Fenton Preacher Lang, played by Vikings star Travis Fimmel. Advertisement Catch the Rust trailer here: The newly released trailer opens with a chilling voiceover: The only order that exists in this world is the order we impose. If a man loses sight of that, hes got nothin. With sweeping shots of the rugged Old West, gunfights, and a relentless chase, the film promises to be an intense ride. But for many, Rust is more than just another Westernits a movie that will always bring memories of a real-life tragedy. Back in October 2021, Rust became the center of global headlines for all the wrong reasons. A rehearsal on set turned deadly when a gun Baldwin was handling discharged a live round, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. The incident sparked widespread debate over safety protocols in Hollywood, leading to legal battles that stretched for years. Baldwin initially had charges with involuntary manslaughter, though the case against him eventually dropped. However, the films armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was guilty and is currently serving time in prison. After over a year of delays, Rust resumed filming in April 2023but not in its original New Mexico location. Instead, production shifted to Montana, with a renewed focus on completing the project while honoring Hutchins legacy. The movie had a quiet premiere at the Camerimage Film Festival in Poland last year, but now its gearing up for a proper release. Mark your calendars: Rust is hitting select theaters across the U.S. on May 2. And if you prefer to watch from home, itll also be available on Video on Demand through Ascending Media Group. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that the Union government has withdrawn the disturbed area tag from Dibrugarh, effectively lifting the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the district. With this, AFSPA remains in force in only three districtsTinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo. Advertisement Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma stated, The whole of Assam was once under AFSPA, but over time, the Centre has withdrawn the act in a phased manner. We have requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to lift AFSPA entirely from the state, and the removal from Dibrugarh is a step in that direction. We expect further revocations in the next review meeting. Advertisement AFSPA, enacted in 1958, grants the armed forces sweeping powers to conduct operations, make arrests without warrants, and use force against suspected insurgents in areas classified as disturbed. The Act was imposed across Assam in 1990 due to heightened insurgent activity. However, in recent years, improved law and order conditions, peace deals with militant groups, and declining insurgency-related violence have led to its gradual rollback. The first major revocation of AFSPA in Assam took place in April 2022, when it was removed from 23 districts and partially withdrawn from one district. Subsequent reviews have further reduced its footprint, with Dibrugarh now being the latest to exit the list. Fuelling speculation of the alliance talks between the BJP and the AIADMK gathering momentum ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, the saffron partys state president K Annamalai landed in the national capital on Thursday, a day after the Dravidian majors general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. With a section of BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu, including former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajuan, batting for the AIADMKs return to the NDA fold, Annamalai too has, of late, softened his stance on the Dravidian party. It is in this context, his visit to Delhi, where he is expected to have a meeting with Shah, has kindled interest in political circles. Advertisement Though EPS maintains that revival of alliance was not on the table and only issues concerning the state were discussed with Shah, he continues to reiterate that the DMK is the AIADMKs enemy and those aligned with unseating it from power are welcome. Unlike in the past, in a nuanced approach, he did not rule out the possibility of a re-entry into the NDA, saying only at the time of elections an alliance could be formed. Despite walking out of the NDA prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he refrained from criticising the Union government or the BJPs national leadership while treating Annamalai as his bete noire. For, both hailing from the dominant OBC Goundar community in Western Tamil Nadu Kongu Belt are vying for leadership in that region, which has been a pocket borough of the AIADMK, say analysts. Advertisement Annamalai, in his attempt to cobble up a BJP-led front and position the saffron party as an alternative to the DMK, could succeed in bringing minor players like the PMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress of former Union Minister GK Vasan for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. For the assembly election, even these allies are pressing for getting the AIADMK on board to put up a strong fight against the ruling DMK. For, the BJP drew a blank in 2024, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the state many times for election campaign. Now, the national leadership of the party appears to have a rethink in its strategy for Tamil Nadu. Accusing Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of Mafia Raj, BJP held a demonstration at Chaura Maidan, near the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday. On a call given by the BJP State President Rajeev Bindal, party workers converged to protest alleging lawlessness in the state. Advertisement Bindal said the incidence of firing was unknown to the state earlier. The peaceful state has turned into a land of mafias, he alleged, adding that development in the state has come to a standstill. Advertisement Former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said that the current government is trapped in the web of corruption and mafia rule. It is patronizing the mafia and corruption, and the state is witnessing lawlessness and corruption everywhere. Accusing the government of having institutionalized corruption and mafia rule, he said even the Chief Ministers Office is involved in corruption, and the government is not taking action against the corrupt officials. Thakur said the mining mafia is operating openly, and the government is not taking action against them and also the officials who are taking action against them are being harassed. The government is trying to silence the opposition, but it will not succeed, he warned. The people of the state have risen against the government, and they will not let the governments corruption go unchecked, he asserted. Thakur also alleged that the government is involved in various scams, including the scrap mafia, transfer mafia, and outsourcing mafia. It is not taking action against these mafias but is patronizing them. The governments corruption and mafia rule have created a sense of fear among the people, and they are feeling insecure, he claimed and cautioned that the Opposition will continue to fight for the rights of the people and will demand accountability from the government. The BJP leaders demanded a CBI probe into the death of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer Vimal Negi. Thakur accused the Congress government of trying to evade CBI probe and blaming the BJP of politicizing the isuue instead. When the family members of the deceased Chief Engineer wants CBI probe, what is preventing the government of handing over the case to CBI, he questioned. The BJP on Thursday demanded strict action against Samajwadi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman for calling 16th-century Rajput king Rana Sanga a traitor, leading to widespread protests. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha during the Zero Hour, BJP MP CP Joshi said, If somebody in the name of appeasement, with a narrow mindset, says such things about great warriors, then it is certainly condemnable and strict action should be taken against such people. Advertisement Joshi urged that strict action should be taken against those who insult brave men in this manner. Advertisement Meanwhile, as members of the Karni Sena attacked the residence of SP MP, Ramji Lal Suman in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, over his statement regarding Rana Sanga and demanded an apology, the SP leader on Thursday said he would not retract his remarks. Talking to a news agency outside Parliament, Suman said, We had informed the Chairman about the situation and requested security for our family. The way our house was attacked with a bulldozer yesterday, breaking windows, chairs, and cars, was pre-planned. Since March 22, people had been announcing they would come to our house, and there was negligence on the part of the administration, which allowed them to bring the bulldozer. Suman also addressed SP chief Akhilesh Yadavs comments, where he claimed that the attack occurred because the MP is a Dalit. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, criticised Sumans understanding of history. Suman responded, I believe what Akhilesh Yadav has said is correct, and I stand by my statement. I have no less knowledge of history than Chief Minister Adityanath. There is no question of apologising for my statement that Babar was invited by Rana Sanga. BJP MP Jagadambika Pal has strongly condemned a statement made by SP MP Ramji Lal Suman, saying it hurt the sentiments of millions of people. Pal emphasised that public representatives should not make disparaging remarks about respected individuals, and criticised Sumans party for not taking action against him. The sentiments of crores of people were hurt by his statement. No public representative has the right to make a statement about a person who is very respected and his party did not even issue a show cause notice against him and did not take any action against him. These people speak against Sanatan Dharma every day, say disrespectful things against great men, said Pal. In recent weeks, debates surrounding medieval history have intensified in India, particularly regarding Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, his reign, and his grave. Amid the controversy over Aurangzeb, Rajput ruler Rana Sangas role has been discussed, with Suman calling him a traitor in a speech in Parliament. During his address in the Rajya Sabha on March 21, Suman remarked, BJP leaders often claim Muslims have the DNA of Babur, but Indian Muslims do not consider Babur their ideal. In fact, it was Rana Sanga who invited Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. If you claim Muslims are descendants of Babur, you are also descendants of Rana Sanga a traitor. We criticise Babur, but not Rana Sanga. After CBIs 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? Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. KAMPALA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military has intensified screening and surveillance along its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following last week's clashes that left 242 Congolese militiamen dead. Chris Magezi, acting spokesperson for the Uganda Peoples' Defense Forces (UPDF), told Xinhua by phone on Thursday that the army, police, internal security agencies, and local councils are on high alert to prevent armed groups, including the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), from infiltrating Uganda and launching retaliatory attacks. Last week, the Ugandan military announced it had killed 242 armed Lendu militants under the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo (CODECO), who are reportedly allied with the ADF. "The UPDF and all sister security agencies are working together. We are constantly vigilant. We trust our systems to receive those who seek safety and security, treat them humanely, and provide support while identifying any wrong elements," said Magezi. "We are closely monitoring for any wrong elements attempting to enter Uganda. They will be apprehended and prosecuted according to the law," he said. Uganda deployed troops several weeks ago to eastern DRC's northern Ituri Province to curb attacks by Lendu militants under CODECO and other armed groups. The mission also aims to prevent ADF infiltration. The ADF, a Ugandan rebel group affiliated with the Islamic State in Central Africa, has long operated in the eastern DRC. The UN Refugee Agency reported this week that more than 30,000 Congolese have fled to Uganda since January. Security agencies warn that some militants may disguise themselves as refugees to enter Uganda. President of Chile Gabriel Boric Font will pay a state visit to India from 1-5 April at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, Members of Parliament, senior officials, business associations, media and prominent Chileans involved in the India-Chile cultural connect. Advertisement This will be President Borics first visit to India in his capacity as President. He will visit Agra, Mumbai, and Bengaluru before returning to Chile on 5 April. Advertisement During the visit, President Boric will hold talks with Prime Minister Modi on 1 April, covering the entire gamut of India-Chile relations. The PM will host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. During his visit, President Boric will hold discussions with President Draupadi Murmu, who will host a banquet in his honour. Indias relations with Chile have traditionally been warm and friendly. Chile is an important partner for India in the Latin American region. Chile was the only country in the LAC region to send a Special Envoy to Indias Independence Day celebrations in 1947. The two countries have commonality of views on several international issues, including UNSC reforms, climate change, renewable energy and terrorism. Chile is also an important trading partner for India in the LAC region, the Ministry of External Affairs said. In Mumbai and Bengaluru, President Boric will meet the political leadership, business and industry representatives, start-ups, innovators and tech leaders. The forthcoming state visit of President Boric will provide an opportunity for the leaders to undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, as well as to discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest, the MEA added. In a crackdown on drug trafficking along the India-Myanmar border, security forces arrested three Assam residents with heroin worth Rs 1.13 crore in Mizorams Champhai district. Acting on a tip-off, the Assam Rifles personnel established a mobile check post at a border crossing point in Zokhawthar village on March 24. Advertisement A vehicle bearing an Assam registration number was intercepted, leading to a thorough search. Inside the vehicle, security forces recovered 12 packets of heroin, weighing 151.7 grams, concealed inside a pillow cover. Advertisement The three individuals apprehended in connection with the smuggling attempt were immediately detained. Along with the seized narcotics, the vehicle used for transportation was also confiscated. The Assam Rifles handed over the accused and the seized contraband to the state excise and narcotics department in Champhai for further investigation and legal proceedings. This bust is part of an ongoing effort to curb the trafficking of illegal drugs along the India-Myanmar border, a route frequently exploited by smugglers. Mizoram has become a key transit point in the international drug trade, largely due to its proximity to Myanmars infamous Golden Triangleone of the worlds largest producers of heroin and methamphetamine. Earlier, on March 14, the Mizoram police made one of the largest heroin seizures in the state this year, confiscating 4.722 kilograms of the narcotic from Zokhawthar village. Initially, six individuals, including a minor, were arrested. However, further investigation led to the arrest of two more persons, including a prominent businessman and franchisee of a multinational retail company in Aizawl on March 15. Mizoram shares a porous 510-kilometer border with Myanmar, making it vulnerable to cross-border smuggling. The recent surge in drug-related arrests has prompted calls for stricter border surveillance and enhanced cooperation between Indian security forces and their Myanmar counterparts. A day after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to follow the rules, a delegation of INDIA bloc leaders met him on Thursday and submitted a memorandum on what they alleged was disregard of Parliamentary procedures by the Union government. The delegation included Congress Deputy Leader of the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Samajwadi Partys Dharmendra Yadav, DMKs A Raja, TMCs Kalyan Banerjee, and NCPs Supriya Sule. Advertisement Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gogoi said, We gave a letter to the Speaker that has the signatures of the people of INDIA Alliance, including RSP and Shiv Sena (UBT) We wrote in the letter how the ruling party is violating the traditions, rules, and culture of the House Advertisement Yesterday, the Speaker said that the LoP should follow Rule 349, but he did not clarify which incident he was referring to In the evening, this incident was politicised outside the House Yesterday, when LoP stood up to speak, the House was immediately adjourned, he added Yesterday, the Speaker asked LoP Gandhi to follow the rules of procedure that members are expected to observe to uphold the dignity of the House. The Speaker, on Wednesday, expressed displeasure over the conduct of LoP Gandhi during a parliamentary session. His remarks came after the Rae Bareli MP was seen approaching his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, and affectionately pinching her cheek while the session was in progress. The incident, captured on video, has since circulated widely on social media, drawing public attention and sparking discussion about appropriate conduct within the Lok Sabha. Several instances have come to my notice where the conduct of members does not conform to the high standards, the Speaker said. In this House, father and daughter, mother and daughter, husband and wife have been members. In this context, I expect the leader of the Opposition to conduct himself in accordance with Rule 349 that deals with rules to be observed by members in the House, the Speaker said. Especially, it is expected of the leader of the Opposition to conduct himself as per the rules, Birla noted. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi Thursday, on being asked if he will speak in Parliament today, said, Wont be allowed to speak I dont know what they are scared of. Yesterday, Mr Gandhi alleged that Parliament is being run in a completely undemocratic manner. There is a rule that the leader of the Opposition is allowed to speak in the House, but whenever I want to speak, I am not allowed to speak. In a democracy, there is a place for the government and the Opposition, but there is no place for the Opposition in this House, he lamented. Gandhi said that the Speaker made remarks about him and then adjourned the House without giving him an opportunity to speak. The Speaker just ran away when he attempted to speak, he regretted. Today, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said, Rahul Gandhi should not be questioned in such a manner. He has addressed everything. No one knows why the Speaker made such a remark about him. This is not understandable, and it is very wrong. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday reiterated Indias commitment to nurturing its deep-rooted friendship with Russia while his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin is set to visit. Addressing the Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda conference in Moscow via video conferencing, Mr Jaishankar said India is looking forward to exploring new frontiers for cooperation with Russia. India and Russia have set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030. Investments by the two sides in each others economy continue to grow, he said. Advertisement The Indian minister noted that energy, defence and civil nuclear cooperation have traditionally dominated the economic engagement between the two countries. Trade, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and digital economy are emerging as new areas of bilateral cooperation, he said. Advertisement Mr Jaishankar said that through every shift in realignment, the two countries have demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt and find new opportunities for mutual benefit and to contribute to regional and global stability and prosperity. The relationship between the two nations continues to expand and deepen in the backdrop of a dynamic world order, he added. The Russian foreign minister, in his remarks, said India is currently making arrangements for the visit of the Russian President. He said President Putin will be visiting India following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared, Mr Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian News Agency Tass. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday presented a cheque of Rs one crore, under the personal accident insurance scheme, to the family of martyr Sub Inspector Ramcharan Gautam. According to state government officials, this amount was provided to the family under the personal accident insurance benefit available to police personnel under the State Bank of Indias (SBI) Police Salary Package Scheme. Advertisement The Chief Minister also instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) Kailash Makwana to recruit a qualified family member of Martyr Gautam into government service. Advertisement The CM, while presenting the check to Martyr Gautams widowed wife Mrs Pushpa, said that the state government has accorded the martyr status to the late Gautam and sanctioned a financial assistance of Rs one crore for his dependents. Dr Yadav assured that the state government would provide full support to the family of late Ramcharan Gautam. SI Ramcharan Gautam of the Special Armed Force (SAF) of Madhya Pradesh Police, was killed and some other cops were injured in an attack by tribals, who were accused of abducting and killing a man, when a team of police and district administration officials had gone to a village to rescue the abducted man in the Mauganj district of Madhya Pradesh late evening on 15 March. A group of tribals belonging to the Kol community had allegedly abducted and killed a man, identified as Sunny Dwivedi, in the Gadra village under the jurisdiction of Shahpur police station on 15 March. The tribals suspected that Sunny Dwivedi had deliberately run over a tribal, Ashok Kumar, but made it appear as an accident, some months ago. When a police team went to Gadra village on getting information about the incident, the Kol tribes attacked the cops, resulting in the death of SI Ramcharan Gautam of the Special Armed Force (SAF) of MP Police. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India, his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. It is symbolic that Prime Minister Modi made his first bilateral foreign visit after his re-election last year to Russia. Now it is our turn. Russian President Putin accepted the invitation of the head of the Indian government. The visit of the head of the Russian state to the Republic of India is being prepared, he said, addressing the Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda conference in Moscow via video conferencing. Advertisement He also expressed gratitude to PM Modi for consistently taking a balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis and advocating its resolution through dialogue and the elimination of the root causes of this conflict. Advertisement Addressing the conference, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated Indias commitment to nurturing its deep-rooted friendship with Russia. Mr Jaishankar said India is looking forward to exploring new frontiers for cooperation with Russia. India and Russia have set an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030. Investments by the two sides in each others economy continue to grow, he said. The Indian minister noted that energy, defence and civil nuclear cooperation have traditionally dominated the economic engagement between the two countries. Trade, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and digital economy are emerging as new areas of bilateral cooperation, he said. Mr Jaishankar said that through every shift in realignment, the two countries have demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt and find new opportunities for mutual benefit and to contribute to regional and global stability and prosperity. The relationship between the two nations continues to expand and deepen in the backdrop of a dynamic world order, he added. The ongoing row over the controversial remarks on Maharana Sanga by Samajwadi Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman turned ugly with a Rajput outfit, Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena Mewar, offering a cash reward of Rs 5.51 lakh to any one who chops off and brings the tongue of the MP. This reward was announced by the organisations president Arjun Singh Chundawat on Thursday. The outfit has reiterated its demand for a public apology by MP Suman for his utterance. If the MP failed to tender an apology, the Karni Sena said it would protest the visits of the Samajwadi Party national leaders to Udaipur. Advertisement The SP MPs remark calling the epic king of Mewar astraitor has sparked instant outrage in Rajasthan and other states. Protest marches and demonstrations have been held at different places in the state in the past two-three days. On Thursday too, protests were held in Chomu town near here by Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Advertisement Meanwhile, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was in Udaipur on Wednesday, to condole the death of Scion of erstwhile Mewar royal family Arvind Singh Mewar, said, No one should play politics on the historic heroes who had sacrificed themselves for the nation. In a setback to the Congress, on Thursday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected grand-old party lawmaker Jairam Rameshs notice of privilege against Home Minister Amit Shah. Congress Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh has moved a Privilege notice against Union Home Minister Shah for casting aspersions on Sonia Gandhi, Member of Rajya Sabha and Chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party. Advertisement Chairman Dhankhar said that when Mr Shah made the comment that had been objected to, some MPs took exception, and the Home Minister said that he would authenticate his statement. Advertisement Mr Dhankhar said Mr Rameshs notice of privilege has found wide traction in the media. If a communication is sent to the Chair, as has been indicated in the bulletin and a long-standing practice, it should not get published, he said. The Chairman also informed the House that he has taken note of the authentication. He read out the authentication submitted by Mr Shah, which quoted an instance from 1948. Opposition Members objected to the statement, saying that this is 2025. Chairman Dhankhar accepted the authentication submitted by HM Shah, and rejected Mr Rameshs notice of privilege. Ramesh Wednesday submitted a notice under Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States to Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar. 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 Dhankhar. Quoting the Union Home Minister Shahs speech during his reply to the debate on Disaster Management Bill 2024 on March 25, the Congress leader claimed that he had said, The PM relief fund was made during the Congress regime, and during this Governments tenure, the PM Cares fund was started. During the Congress regime, only one family had control, and the Congress president was a member of this. The Congress President is a part of the Government fund, what reply will they give to the people of this country? Doesnt anyone read or see this? Asserting that India is not a Dharamshala, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday that those who pose a threat to national security will not be allowed to enter the country. Replying to a debate on The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, he said whether it is Rohingya or Bangladeshis, if they come to India to create unrest, strict action will be taken against them. In this context, the home minister said that the country is not a Dharamshala (public resthouse) where anyone can stay as they wish. If you are here to help the country prosper, you are welcome, but security threats will not be tolerated, he said. Advertisement Until now, black lists by agencies were not legally enforced, but now the blacklist will be statutory. If a foreigner wants to enter, it must be through a notified route; otherwise, it will be considered illegal, Shah said. Advertisement Those who pose a threat to national security will not be allowed to enter the nation. The nation is not a Dharamshala'( public resthouse) If someone comes to the nation to give its contribution to the development of the nation, they are always welcome, the Union Home Minister said. The Bill was later passed by the House. Earlier, replying to the debate in the House on the Bill, Shah also attacked the West Bengal government over the issue of infiltration. When Bangladeshis or Rohingya infiltrate, who gives them Aadhaar cards? Most of the Bangladeshis, who have been caught with Aadhaar cards and voter ID cards of 24 Parganas, he asked. The Union Home Minister said once the BJP government is formed in West Bengal in 2026, the infiltration will come to an end. This wont last long Bengal will bloom in 2026 and infiltration will stop completely, he added. The Union home minister said, In the last ten years, India has become the fifth-largest economy. The country has emerged as a bright spot among the worlds largest economies. The nation has become a hub of manufacturing and it is natural for people from all over the world to come to India The number of people taking refuge in India for personal gain and making the country unsafe has also increased Be it Rohingya or Bangladeshis, if they come to India to create unrest, strict action will be taken against them, he said. Immigration is not a separate issue. Many issues of the country are linked to it From the point of view of national security, it is very important to know who enters the nations border We will also keep a close watch on those who endanger the security of the country, he added. The Union Home Minister also slammed the West Bengal government over the delay in India-Bangladesh border fencing. He said Indias border with Bangladesh is 2,216 KM long, out of which fencing work has been completed on 1,653 KM. Out of the remaining 563 km, fencing is not possible on 112 km due to geographical conditions. Fencing of the remaining 450 km is pending, because the West Bengal government is not providing land. Seven meetings have already been held on this, the Union home minister said. Earlier, replying to the debate on the Bill, Shah said immigration is not an isolated issue. For the security of India, we must know who is entering our country, for how long, and for what reasons. These concepts are not new; such rights have been mentioned in various laws, and we have now integrated them, he said. With the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, we will establish a detailed and structured system to track every foreigner entering the country. This will help us develop the nation and monitor those coming for business. It will also allow us to keep a sharp eye on individuals who may pose a threat to our security, he said. Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Act, he said people from six oppressed communities from neighbouring countries are taking refuge in the country through the law. We are a geo-cultural, not a geo-political country. We have a long history of welcoming and protecting immigrants. Due to past invasions, many Persian refugees who migrated to India are now safe. India has been a sanctuary for the worlds smallest minorities, offering them a place to live with dignity. For instance, Jews from Israel sought refuge here and found safety. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even now, we have continued to provide refuge to communities from neighboring countries. With the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), six persecuted communities are now living safely in India, he said. Our immigration scale and size are vast. However, individuals coming here not for shelter but with selfish motives have also increased. People who come here to contribute to Indias economy and growth are always welcomed, Shah said. But whether it is the Rohingyas or Bangladeshis, if you are here to disrupt peace, strict action will be taken. That is why we need both flexibility and firmness in this Bill, the Union Home Minister said. Demanding the recall of the Wakf Amendment Bill, terming it an attempt to curtail religious freedom and political deception of Muslims, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution with the BJP staging a walkout. Conscious of the ruling DMKs captive minority vote bank, Chief Minister MK Stalin moved the resolution that called for complete withdrawal of the Bill. With the lone exception of BJP, which has four members in the House, all the parties, including the principal opposition AIADMK supported the resolution. Advertisement The Bill deeply deceives Muslims and intends to dismantle the Wakf Board itself. It is like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) brought to deceive Muslims and Sri Lankan Tamils and Hindi imposition, which deceives non-Hindi speaking states. The National Education Policy deceives the most vulnerable communities, he said listing the reasons for opposing the Wakf Bill. Advertisement While diminishing the authority and autonomy of the national and state Wakf Boards, the Bill provides untrammeled authority to the Union government. Wakf land declared as government property will cease to belong to the Wakf Board. The provision that says that only those who have been practicing Islam for five years or more can create a Wakf Board that might invalidate those created by non-Muslims. Further, the Union government is attempting to create separate Wakf Boards for the two Muslim sects. Mandating two non-Muslims to be on the Board is an interference in Muslim religious administration, Stalin said, blaming the Modi regime. On further problematic features of the Bill, he said the provision for revoking Section 40 of the Waqf Act would not only deprive the Boards power to identify property but transfer it to the Union government which is a violation of freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 26 of the Constitution. Application of the Limitation Act to Wakf properties, removal of Wakf user to do away with the tradition of recognising Wakf properties and stripping public trusts and charities of being Wakf were cited as infringement. These concerns raised by the DMK and other parties in the Joint-Parliamentary Committee have been rejected, Stalin pointed out adding that the Bill could be tabled anytime as the Union Cabinet had approved the decisions of the JPC. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday in Beijing. In the current international situation, China and France -- as independent, mature and responsible major countries -- should strengthen communication and coordination to inject more stability and certainty into the common development of the two countries and the world, Li said. He said China is willing to work with France to follow the strategic guidance of their two heads of state, maintain close high-level exchanges, expand mutually-beneficial cooperation, and strengthen multilateral coordination on issues including climate change response to bring more benefits to the two peoples and the world. Li noted that as staunch defenders of free trade and multilateralism, China and France, with closely intertwined economic interests, should work together to resist protectionism and unilateralism, continue strengthening cooperation with an open attitude, and give full play to their complementary advantages to add impetus to the economic development of the two countries continuously. China has always regarded France as an important cooperation partner and stands ready to work with the country. While strengthening long-standing cooperation on aviation, aerospace and nuclear energy, they should continuously tap into cooperation potential in emerging and future industries such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and biotechnology to foster and strengthen new economic drivers, Li said. China hopes that France will create a fair, equitable and predictable development environment for Chinese enterprises investing in the country, he added. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the EU. China is ready to use this as an opportunity to deepen bilateral relations, and address concerns through dialogue and consultation on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits, Li said, expressing the hope that France will play a positive role in this regard. Barrot said that in the face of increasing uncertainties in today's world, France and China -- as permanent members of the UN Security Council -- should shoulder their important, joint responsibility of safeguarding multilateralism. France attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to work with China to actively implement the important consensus reached by their two heads of state, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, science and technology, and to tackle climate change and other global challenges, Barrot said. France always adheres to strategic independence, and opposes trade protectionism and trade wars. France supports the EU and China strengthening dialogue and cooperation in the economic and trade fields, addressing the concerns of both sides in a proper manner, and exploring more positive agendas, he said. A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and three policemen were injured on Thursday during a fresh exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces in the Kathua district of Jammu, where a massive anti-terrorist operation has been underway for the past five days, officials said. Dheeraj Katoch, who is posted as DSP (Border) in the Special Operations Group (SOG), and the cops were injured during the gunfight at Ghati Juthana in Kathua. They were immediately shifted to the hospital, where their condition was stable. Advertisement Reports said that an exchange of fire took place after some terrorists were spotted in the area. The area has been cordoned by security forces. Advertisement The gunfight erupted when the security forces spotted the terrorists in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh. Reinforcements of the Army, J&K Police, and CRPF have been rushed and further details are awaited. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu and Inspector General (IG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) visited the encounter site to assess the ongoing anti-terrorist operation. Drones and sniffer dogs have been deployed to track down the terrorists in the forest area. The terrorists are believed to be of the same group that escaped after an encounter in the Hiranagar sector of the district last Sunday evening. The border district of Kathua has lately become a terrorist hotspot, emerging as a major infiltrating route for Pakistan-based terrorists. From here, the terrorists move to higher reaches of Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts and further move to Kashmir. The security forces have been combing the Hiranagar area for the past five days, and the terrorists are believed to have slipped towards the Kathua town. Inputs then suggested that there are at least two groups of 5 to 6 terrorists who managed to infiltrate on 22 March. A village woman collecting firewood on 23 March reported seeing around five heavily armed terrorists who had sought refuge in the expansive nursery area in Saniyal village, approximately five kilometres from the International Border with Pakistan. During the search operation on Tuesday, security forces recovered grenades, M-4 ammunition, and eatables. The tracksuits found among the cache in the Saniyal forests were identical to those worn by the four Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists killed in the Assar forests and Doda in June and August last year. At least two Pakistani terrorists were killed in a gunfight with security forces in J&Ks Kathua district on Thursday when a fresh encounter broke out in the area. Five security forces personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), Dheeraj Katoch, were injured in the encounter. Condition of two of the injured security forces personnel was stated to be serious. Advertisement A massive anti-terrorist operation was underway for the last five days, officials said. Advertisement Katoch, who is posted as DSP (Border) in the Special Operations Group (SOG), and others were injured during the gunfight at Ghati Juthana in Kathua. They were immediately shifted to the hospital for treatment. Reports said that an exchange of fire broke out after some terrorists were spotted in the area. The area has been cordoned by security forces. The gunfight erupted when the security forces spotted the terrorists in Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh. Reinforcements of the Army, J&K Police and CRPF have been rushed and further details are awaited. Senior Army officers, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu and Inspector General (IG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) visited the encounter site to assess the ongoing anti-terrorist operation. Drones and sniffer dogs have been deployed to track down the terrorists in the forest area. The terrorists are believed to be of the same group that escaped after an encounter in the Hiranagar sector of the district last Sunday evening. The border district of Kathua has lately become a terrorist hotspot, emerging as a major infiltrating route for Pakistan-based terrorists. From here, terrorists move to higher reaches of the Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts and further move to Kashmir. The security forces were combing the Hiranagar area for the past five days and the terrorists are believed to have slipped towards the Kathua town. Inputs then suggested that there are at least two groups of 5 to 6 terrorists who managed to infiltrate on 22 March. A village woman collecting firewood on 23 March reported seeing around five heavily-armed terrorists who had sought refuge in the expansive nursery area in Saniyal village, approximately five kilometres from the International Border with Pakistan. During a search operation on Tuesday, security forces recovered grenades, M-4 ammunition and eatables. The tracksuits found among the cache in the Saniyal forests were identical to those worn by the four Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists killed in the Assar forests and Doda in June and August last year. The recently published draft NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations, 2025, has attracted great attention across stakeholdersand rightly so. After all, teacher education has remained one of the core focus areas for educationists and administrators for several decades, as it forms the bedrock of any strong education system. These draft regulations by the premier body of teacher education are critical for the transition towards the NEP 2020-defined education paradigm. However, amidst this, a peculiar criticism has emerged from a section of academicians which needs necessitates a closer look. Operationalizing this drastic national education policy is a herculean task in a country as vast and diverse as India. Bringing such a promising policy framework to life, as envisaged under NEP 2020to which I have also contributed since its inceptionrequires both the introduction of novel, future-ready elements and the rational elimination of legacy structures that may no longer serve their intended purpose. Advertisement As part of its consultative approach, the NCTE recently invited public suggestions on its new Draft Regulations 2025. Among other proposals, it suggested phasing out courses that have struggled to remain relevant as part of a broader effort to revamp the teacher education landscape. This is necessary, for any new education paradigm must be supported by talent prepared through aligned and contemporary training pathways. A central reform in this regard is the replacement of all existing teacher education programmes with a unified four-year BA/BSc/BCom-Ed programme. Advertisement One suggestion has been to phase out the B.El.Ed. programme and replace it with the new Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) to ensure standardization and avoid student inconvenience. The B.El.Ed. programme, launched by faculty from the Department of Education at Delhi University, was a well-intentioned initiative when it was launched. However, it could not take off well due to many structural issues within the education system. Certain groups and individuals who were part of the B.El.Ed. programme understandably wish to see it continue because they were instrumental in its design. However, this also raises a fundamental question: Who should be at the center of education discoursethe student, the curriculum, or the curriculum designers? Sadly, our education system is more concerned about who designs the curriculum instead of those for whom it is designed. This is an undesirable situation for any education system, and it also raises the question about our commitment to larger goals. If one examines the arguments of those who wish to continue this programme, they seem more concerned with preserving the course as a concept than addressing the evolving needs of students and teachers. What is needed now is a broader, future-oriented debate about the kind of content and training we must provide our teachers to prepare them to holistically educate future generations. Instead, we seem caught in a backward-looking defence of legacy programmes. To be fair, this is a common human tendency. We often develop an emotional attachment to what we have helped create, sometimes at the expense of adapting to new realities. But calling a 30-year-old course innovation may risk overlooking how much the worldand the educational ecosystemhas changed. Innovation must evolve and scale, not become a sentimental defence of the status quo. ITEP, on the other hand, has been developed to address long-standing issues in the teacher education space in India. It aims to bring coherence, correct irregularities, and ensure better alignment with system-wide reforms. While B.El.Ed. was designed with good intentions, it struggled to expand beyond limited geography and failed to attract broader institutional adoption. Crucially, its scope remains limited to upper primary training, whereas diploma courses serve the primary level and B.Ed. programmes cover post-primary to senior secondary levels. I was the part of some the committees of ITEP and focus Group on Teacher Education (by NCERT), I have closely observed that the quality of education lies with quality of training which teacher get. We need to welcome all the good changes in the field of teacher education without any biases. Moreover, being a four-year standalone programme, B.El.Ed. has consistently struggled to align with contemporary postgraduate structures. For instance, it neither fits neatly into the UGC credit system nor ensures smooth transitions for students seeking higher studiesespecially under the NEPs proposed academic bank of credits and 4-year schemes. Of course, the larger question about standardization and university autonomy is important and must be collectively thought about. There is no doubt we should keep a tab on the NCTE and their suggestions, whether they align with a larger educational reform agenda or not. As academicians, it is our responsibility to suggest the inclusion of innovation and flexibility. Still, the continuation of an old programme, which has very little chance of reform, will not serve any purpose. Nonetheless, ITEP addresses many of these structural limitations by offering a four-year degree that combines disciplinary study with education training. Students graduate with a dual advantage: a general degree and a specialization in preparatory, foundational, or secondary-level education. This flexibility is essential for creating a professional teaching workforce equipped for the future. Those who wish to continue the programme, their views can be understood as artists who are very much affectionate to their own art that he forgot the evolution and needs of society and refuse to acknowledge others art. We should sympathize and appreciates the existing and old products, but our students and society should not deprived of the new and holistic curriculum. At the same time, it is the responsibility of policymakers and administrators to balance competing views while keeping student outcomes at the center of reform. All of us carry a degree of nostalgia for certain institutions, individuals, or programmes. But that sentiment cannot come at the cost of the promise that the future holds. The B.El.Ed. programme could be unique or innovative when it has beenintroduced but has lost all its uniqueness and innovative approach as time passes. Now, our academic system needs new programs that address not only current structural issues but also the needs of the students as they create friction in students academic journeys and no longer support the seamless progression envisioned under NEP 2020. The same nostalgia can also be seen with some of NCTEs suggestions, where it has proposed a part-time BEd and MEd programme. With all good intentions, these suggestions can not be called futuristic as they try to overlook the future challenges of Teacher education and how it will evolve with technological challenges. In this context, ITEP is among the best, most future-ready options we can offer to aspiring teachers. It aligns with global trends, simplifies academic progression, and builds a coherent foundation for professional excellence in teaching. Constructive suggestions to strengthen ITEP are welcome, but resisting reform merely to preserve legacy programmes is a disservice to students and the larger education system we strive to strengthen. (The writer is the Director of the Center of Policy Research and Governance, and he was part of the ITEP committee) 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. Advertisement They agreed to continue coordinating to ease the regional escalation and prevent further regional tensions, the statement said. Advertisement 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 Israels 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 Egypts opposition to any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land. Sanchez backed an Arab-led plan to rebuild Gaza and aligned Spains position with Egypt in rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians or any move to undermine their cause, the statement said. 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 Peoples Party (CHP), led the voting in the first two rounds but failed to secure the required majority. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 Istanbuls Silivri district. Imamoglu, from the CHP, won a second term as Istanbul Mayor in March 2024, defeating the AKP candidate, Murat Kurum. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that any attempt to sabotage Turkeys economy and public peace would be held accountable in courts of law. 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 Turkey, he said. Erdogan addressed corruption allegations within Istanbuls municipalities of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), and said, It seems that Istanbuls metropolitan and some district municipalities are writing the book on corruption, theft, and bribery. Once the major scandals come to light, they wont even be able to face their people, let alone the public, he said. Istanbul Mayor Imamoglus detention has sparked mass protests, while the foreign exchange market has experienced significant fluctuations following the developments. Following US President Donald Trumps 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. Advertisement The speed of this appointment, coming right after former Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasools 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. Advertisement This nomination has been notably quick compared to Trumps 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 Africas 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 dont think his appointment will improve the relations between the two countries. We are dealing with a well-known conservative and media critic here. I dont 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 Swanas 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. SYDNEY, March 27 (Xinhua) -- An Australian medical institute warns in its latest study that international funding cuts for HIV programs could cause 10.75 million new infections and 2.93 million preventable deaths between 2025 and 2030. Published in The Lancet HIV on Wednesday, the study, conducted by Melbourne-based Burnet Institute, models the impact of a projected 24 percent reduction in global HIV funding by 2026, following announced aid cuts of 8 percent to 70 percent by key donors, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, who collectively fund over 90 percent of global HIV assistance. The United States, the largest contributor to global HIV funding, halted all assistance on Jan. 20. The loss of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), combined with other funding cuts, now threatens to reverse progress toward ending HIV/AIDS as a global health crisis by 2030, according to new modeling from Burnet Institute. The Burnet Institute study highlights the disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and vulnerable communities. The study's co-author Rowan Martin Huges, Burnet Institute's senior research fellow, said countries heavily reliant on international aid, such as Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, would suffer the most. With nearly half of global HIV funding coming from international aid, 54 percent of which is from PEPFAR. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, millions of lives remain at risk. 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. Asian markets on Thursday got battered by the latest tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Auto companies pulled the Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty down on market open, before recovering some lost ground. In morning trade, Nikkei (Japan) was 1 per cent down, KOSPI (South Korea) slipped at least 0.7 per cent, and Hang Seng (Hong Kong) dropped by 0.3 per cent. Trumps announcement to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all imported cars and parts led to auto indices across the world slumping, including the US. Major American car manufacturers Ford and GM saw their stock slump as the US markets closed on Wednesday, almost around the same time early Asian markets opened to red. Around 50 per cent of the cars imported to the United States in 2024 were imported, according to industry experts. Japanese automaker Toyota shares fell almost 3.5 per cent during the day, while Mazda and Subaru plunged beyond 6 per cent. In Seoul, Hyundai Motor Co shed more than 4 per cent while Kia slipped by 3.9%. Chinese EV makers also saw their shares battered. However, the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong recovered after the initial slump. Back in India, Tata Motors shares went on a free fall at the opening bell, shedding around 6 per cent of its share price. Tata exports Jaguar Land Rover vehicles to the US. Opening in red, the 30-share benchmark Sensex quickly recovered after Hero Motor Co, L&T, Shriram Finance, Tata Consumer Products, Wipro, Trent and others posted steady gains. The Sensex climbed more than 200 points to 77,491.33 while the Nifty gained at least 48 points to 23,535.50 in early trade despite a dismal opening. Apart from Tata Motors, other stocks that lagged were Sun Pharma, Asian Paints, Mahindra & Mahindra, IndusInd Bank and Hindustan Unilever. The positive sentiment was further bolstered by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) buying into the stock markets. On Wednesday, FIIs bought equities worth 2,240.55 crore. "The market has turned cautious as the reciprocal tariff day approaches," said V.K. Vijayakumar of Geojit Financial Services, stating that current institutional market activity suggests that foreign investors are not as concerned about tariffs as domestic players. The rupee, however, opened to a 24-paise fall, depreciating to 85.93 versus the US dollar in early Thursday trade, despite gaining some support at lower levels by foreign fund inflows. Brent crude trading 0.12 per cent up did not help matters either. Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi underscored the importance of leadership, adaptability and technological integration of the armed forces to counter the evolving nature of warfare today. Addressing the student officers from the Indian armed forces undergoing the 80th Staff Course and the permanent staff at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Army chief highlighted the strategic challenges faced by India and spoke about the need for jointness and synergy among the armed forces. He urged officers to be proactive in their approach to emerging security threats and said it is important that they embrace innovation in military planning and operations. ALSO READ: In a major leap for missile tech, Indian Navy's VLSRSAM proves unmatched agility, accuracy Gen Dwivedi commended DSSC for the role it plays in grooming future military leaders and emphasised the importance of professional military education in enhancing the operational preparedness and decision-making capabilities of the forces. During his visit, he interacted with faculty members and discussed key aspects of military strategy, operational art and leadership development with them. Gen Dwivedi was briefed by Commandant DSSC Lt Gen Virendra Vats, on the adaptation of the staff course curriculum to align to the challenges of future wars, with special reference to the activities of the first Deep Purple Division, wherein 40 tri-services officers have undergone their training. Historically, Beijing always maintained a muted stance on nuclear vectors, even though its first nuclear test was conducted way back in 1964. Mao himself was assertive about nuclear weapons, calling it paper tiger, though immediately after the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the country started its nuclear weapons and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) programme. During a discussion with E.F. Hill an Australian communist leader and founder of the Communist Party of Australia in 1968, Mao stated Our country, in a sense is still a non-nuclear power, with this little nuclear weaponry, we cannot be counted as a nuclear country. If we are to fight a war, we must use conventional weapons. Though Chinas official stance remains as No First Use, the present thought process among Chinese strategists have evolved and internal debates are raging in China about the maintenance of unconditional 'No First Use policy'. Today, Chinese strategists as per the renewed thinking, seek to maintain a portion of Chinese strategic assets in Launch on Warning posture (LOW). Under a LOW posture, the Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) would launch nuclear weapons in retaliation for an incoming strike that has been detected by intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems but not yet detonated on Chinese territory. It is important to notice the 2023 US Department of Defences Annual Report to Congress where a caution is alarmed on Chinas NFU. The PRCs current approach to nuclear force includes a declaratory No First Use (NFU) policy, stating it will never use nuclear weapons first at any time under any circumstances. This includes unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against any non-nuclear weapon state or in nuclear-weapon-free zones. Despite this policy, Chinas nuclear strategy probably includes consideration of a nuclear strike in response to a non-nuclear attack threatening the viability of Chinas nuclear forces or C2, or that approximates the strategic effects of a nuclear strike. Beijing probably would also consider nuclear use to restore deterrence if a conventional military defeat in Taiwan gravely threatened CCP regime's survival. The PLARF is an important pillar of PRCs nuclear deterrence plan, which ensures Chinese Autonomy and deters any third-party intervention in a regional conflict. PRCs 2019 defence White Paper declares that the PLARF is working towards enhancing its credible and reliable capabilities of nuclear deterrence and counter attack, strengthening intermediate and long-range precision strike force, and enhancing strategic counterbalance capability, so as to build a strong and modernised force The PLARF has grown in strength even as PLA downsised as part of the military reforms of 2015. Chinas missile classification is based on the Dong Feng/DF and Hong Niao/HN series. Dong Feng, meaning East Wind which are the Ballistic Missile Series, while the cruise missiles are of Hong Niao (Red Bird) or Chang Jian/CJ (Long Sword) series. An informed estimate of Chinas ballistic missiles stands at 2,200, including 90 ICBMs and it also holds approximately 320 nuclear warheads as of 2021. The PLARF holds more than half of it, while the rest are stockpiled or earmarked for submarine-based vectors. Even though the Chinese nuclear warhead count seems relatively low, its arsenal is being upgraded continuously. China intends to hold 700 deliverable nuclear warheads by 2027 and 1,000 warheads by 2030, indicating that China is moving beyond its Minimum Deterrent levels. It seems, PRC is progressing as planned, as per the latest inputs from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which estimates 346 nuclear warheads for land-based systems, the sea and air systems hold 72 and 20 respectively, 62 produced or under production warheads, total amounting to 500. On the account of latest missile count, an independent study estimates that China holds at least 1950 missiles, including 300 ICBMs, hypersonic glide vehicles and anti-ship ballistic missiles. Over the last seven decades, PLARF has been grown in strength with a primary focus on Taiwan and South China Sea, with capabilities to contest India, Japan and the US. The long-term state goal as declared by President Xi during the address to 19th National Congress intends at achieving its cherished Middle Kingdom stature in contemporary times. Under that umbrella China intends to settle its boundary claims, however absurd it may be, in its own terms by all possible means and the PLARF plays a major role in the gambit by providing strategic deterrence. The PLARF posturing varies with the country against which it is manifesting. In the Taiwan scenario, PLARF nuclear capable vectors act as deterrence to any Western influence, primarily the US. On the Russian front, the historical rivalry between the communist states of the past, doesn't exist anymore. On India-China relationship, the boundary disputes and the growing stature of India in the geopolitical spectrum have resulted in China perceiving India as a regional contestant. Under this scope, a deliberate analysis of PLARF posturing, strategy and vector capabilities is a prudent way-forward for Indian strategists. Such an analysis would assist in identifying the silos which need immediate attention. The strategic forces of China may manifest in the Indian context on a Misinterpreted LOW or an opponent operational victory marker or de-stabilisation in Tibet/ Xinjiang. Any erroneous interpretation of ISR reports on LOW posture, may result in the activation of Chinese strategic forces which is a likely scenario and Indian planners need to plan for such contingencies. As for the conventional conflict, an operational victory marker may be perceived as a threat to the CCP regime which may result in manifestation of PLARF. Also, any destabilisation activity in TAR/XAR during an ensuing conventional conflict is a viable trigger for the employment of PLARF. Even though the strategic equipment engagement strategy, is not oriented and aligned to the base location and operational orientation, these factors do give out certain predictable posturing and manifestation outcomes. Any Chinese Base that houses Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) and ICBMs can cover the entire Indian subcontinent. However, Base 64 located at Lanzhou, Gansu province and its units have a high probability of manifesting in the Indian context. Further analysis of the equipment profile of PLARF on the basis range and quantum, indicates towards DF 26 held with the 64 series Brigades are the most likely vectors that may have been earmarked by the PLARF for the Indian contingency. With this as a marker, the Indian strategic planners may envision capability building and strategy review. Capability building needs focus under two silos, defence and diplomacy. The defense silo needs early operationalisation of Ballistic Missile Early Warning and Anti-Ballistic Missiles systems. Also, to guard against precision strikes by cruise missiles and aerial vectors investment into Missile Silo systems along with mobile systems seems mandatory. Lastly, full-fledged operationalisation of the Nuclear Triad and strengthening its capabilities continuously. The diplomatic silo must address and explore new fronts to strengthen the WMCC (Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs) and use it to de-escalate a conflict from growing, with a longterm goal of resolving the border issue with China amicably as per established systems and procedures. Any such resolution of long-pending issue in the Indian context will make the path much easier to reach our goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the centenary year of our independence. About the author Lieutenant Colonel Srikumar Bharathi P is a serving officer in the Indian Army and has authored a book on China, titled 'Know the Dragon - Ready Reckoner on China'. He has keen academic interest in History, Strategy, Polity and Geo-Politics The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. The Indian military never ceases to surprise and to truly inspire. With Atmanirbharta and innovation being the abiding themes of the times, such surprises are happily becoming more frequent in the Indian Army. While on one hand, India is contracting to buy 31 MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems or drones at a stupendous $3.5 billion from the United States, an infantryman from the 22 Sikh Regiment has done much more than his bit by designing a drone that can fight and fire, mount surveillance and monitor, and deliver payloads. In other words, a drone as versatile as can be! What Hawaldar Varinder Singh has done is to make a 35 kg Octacopter drone, equip it with real-time video capability that is displayed on a remote screen and shareable with command centres, and then fit it with both automatic and remote remote-firing capability in an amazing showcasing of that wonderful Indian spirit of jugaad or making do with whatever is available to churn out the optimum solution. The weapons that have been tried, tested and fired from the jugaad drone include AK-47 assault rifles, multi-grenade launchers, high explosive grenades, and even the Light Machine Gun in an under-slung fitment. With an operational range of 8-10 km in plains and high-altitude areas, the Octacopter is proving to be a versatile platform as it can be used for transporting weapons, ammunition, medicines, or mission-critical supplies to forward and difficult locations. In order to enhance its effectiveness, the Octacopter now comes equipped with GPS, night-enabled zooming cameras for surveillance, and autonomous flight capabilities via mission-planning software. It is also compatible with both Defence Series Maps and open-source mapping systems, further enhancing its deployment flexibility. What Hawaldar Singh began with a little tinkering around with a humble hexacopter prototype in 2023 has become a versatile mission-ready military drone now, with its operational credibility already being proved during Operation Teesta after the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in Sikkim in October 2023 and in war games like Bharat Shakti. Hawaldar Singh has been awarded Vishisht Seva Medal by President Droupadi Murmu for the development of the drone. The award is presented to Indian armed forces personnel to acknowledge their distinguished service of a high order. Earlier this year, Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was stabbed at his Mumbai residence with a 2.5-inch knife lodged in his back. The actor was rushed to the hospital and discharged within the week, nonetheless, a terrifying incident for the family. Now, Sara Ali Khan, Saifs first-born, is opening up about the matter. ALSO READ | Saif Ali Khan stabbed: What happened during theft attempt at his Bandra home In a conversation with NDTV, the actress discussed that the family felt grateful as the incident could have resulted to be more fatal. It makes you realise what truly matters. The entire family only felt gratitude because it could have gone so wrong. I am so grateful that everything is fine. It was a reminder almost of the life we have. We all talk about practising mental health. Being grateful for your life is so important. And moments like that make you realise it," Sara said. When asked if the incident strengthened their father-daughter bond, the 29-year-old said, It is not about being closer. He is my father, we are as close as we can be. It did not make me realise that he is my father, it made me realise that life can change overnight. So, every day deserves mindful celebration. It made me realise just being grateful." ALSO READ | Saif Ali Khan attacked: Son Jeh was crying, tried to nab.., actor recounts what happened on Jan 16 to Mumbai police "It takes COVID to realise the importance of being at home with your family or it takes somebody being almost attacked for you to be like, 'Okay, life matters'. Life does matter. The small joys do matter. Celebrate every day that you are alive. That is what life is about," she added. On the work front, Sara was last seen in Akshay Kumar-starrer Sky Force. She will next be featured in Anurag Basu directorial Metro... In Dino. What was supposed to be a joyous day for Vikram fans has now taken a turn. S. U. Arun Kumar directorial Veera Dheera Sooran landed in hot water on the day of its big release (March 27). Reports indicate that television network B4U filed a petition with the Delhi High Court to stall the release of the film until the legal dispute between them and the films production company is resolved. ALSO READ | Vikram's intriguing 'Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2' teaser features SJ Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu According to News18, B4U claims that Riya Shibu of HR Pictures was in talks with the platform for giving them the OTT streaming rights but the release of the film proceeded before the deal could be finalised. Subsequently, the release was halted, resulting in the cancellation of the early morning shows across India, also affecting overseas screening. The HC has ordered the makers to pay Rs 7 crore within 48 hours. Now, the publication has reported that the film will face a four week delay. Additionally, B4U also claimed that a legal notice was issued to the production prior to the release, while the promotion of the film was underway. The court will hear the case on Thursday. Veera Dheera Sooran, officially titled Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2, is Vikrams 62nd film. The film chronicles an action-packed night in Madurai where Kaali, a store owner, gets involved in the dangerous criminal world. Alongside Vikram, the film also stars S. J. Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Dushara Vijayan and Siddique. A prequel to the film, Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 1, will go into production soon. Veera Dheera Sooran marks Surajs Tamil debut while the actor also has the much-anticipated release of Prithviraj Sukumarans L2: Empuraan today. Research suggests that large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT can address a critical gap in teaching ethics to medical students. A paper published in the journal British Medica Education argues that since there is a lack of educational resources in medical ethics education, including AI ethics in medical curricula can be a second-best tool. The researchers from the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Hiroshima University in Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan emphasise the critical importance of instilling virtue in medical ethics education. Addressing the limitations of current LLM models which use large amounts of text data and algorithms to learn patterns, the study suggests the use of carefully constructed prompts to focus on virtue cultivation. If not on their own, LLMs can be used in a hybrid earning model as educational resources on ethics are inadequate. While admitting that LLMs are not a replacement for teachers, the study uses references from some recent studies that suggest that ChatGPT can exhibit a nuanced understanding of empathy, potentially exceeding human capabilities in recognising emotional subtleties within scenarios. This indicates that LLMs could offer more empathetic insights in educational settings where students engage with morally complex scenarios. It also notes the shifting in attitudes of students who do not enter the medical education system (as elsewhere) to uncritically adopt what their teachers tell them but seek to have a reformist ethos. Thus, virtue ethics are inherently dynamic and adapt over time through critique, dialogue, and attention to changing societal norms. The authors make it clear that LLMs may be suitable for the classroom, but they are still not to be deployed in actual medical settings. The critical thinking required for a decision in the clinic demands diverse moral perspectives, and LLMs need more training in this regard. Training data for this purpose could come from the education settings, which the essay sees as deficient. Tsutomu Sawai, one of the authors, said that while LLMs were ready, it was still too early to use them as the definitive sources for ethics education. The recent measles outbreak has raised significant concerns globally, as this highly contagious and potentially life-threatening disease continues to spread rapidly. Despite the availability of vaccines, measles cases have surged, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates, highlighting the dangers of complacency and misinformation. The outbreak poses a threat to vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, immunocompromised people and the elderly. Measles in America: Theres just too many unvaccinated in the Great Plains, esp in rural areas. Other than West Texas the state of Idaho probably has the lowest vaccination rates. Keeping measles out of Idaho will be key to preserving our national elimination status, saving lives pic.twitter.com/ooF1eN7Q3U Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) March 27, 2025 Over 500 people have fallen across the country this year including Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Why is measles making a comeback? The recent spread of measles in the US is partly attributed to international travel, with individuals returning from countries such as those in Europe and Israel carrying the virus. Additionally, lower vaccination rates in certain US communities have increased vulnerability among some groups. Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb says it's "very important" for a new CDC director to be quickly confirmed, as the Trump administration has not yet floated a next nominee. "We may have more measles cases this year than we've had in 25 years. And so, having leadership pic.twitter.com/sVcvcw9sj9 Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) March 23, 2025 According to the WHO, nearly 40 million children worldwide missed a measles vaccine dose in 2023. The CDC also reported that in the US, childhood vaccination rates dropped by 93 per cent during the 2021-2022 school year. What is measles? Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by a virus, which can result in severe complications and even death. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Though it's most common among children, measles can affect anyone. What are the symptoms? High fever Cough Runny nose Rashes Watery eyes Small white spots inside the cheeks Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. The MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine is incredibly effective with two doses offering about 97 per cent protection. Before the introduction of the vaccine in 1963, an estimated 2.6 million deaths occurred every year due to the disease. What complications can it lead to? Blindness Encephalitis Diarrhoea and related dehydration Ear infections Severe breathing issues including pneumonia How can you prevent the disease? Besides getting vaccinated, other prevention tips include: 1. Maintaining hygiene: Washing hands properly 2. Keep a safe distance from anyone showing symptoms 3. Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and toys Activist Sharjeel Imam moved the Delhi High Court on Thursday challenging a trial courts order to frame charges against him for allegedly inciting the riots during protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019. The High Court has issued notice to Delhi police over Imams plea and sought its response. A Delhi court recently held Imam was the mastermind behind the riots in December 2019 and directed cops to frame charges against him under various charges including criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity among groups. Hearing Imam's plea, Delhi High Court Justice Sanjeev Narula refused to stay trial court proceedings and framing of charges against Imam. The bench issued a notice to Delhi police and sought its response by the next hearing. The High Court will next hear the matter on April 24. The trial court, on March 7, held Imam was the kingpin behind the conspiracy to incite the riots. The court observed Imams venomous and incendiary speeches incited the violence in December 2019 and he was the kingpin who mobilized people to take to the streets, Bar and Bench reported. "Evidently, the assembling of a huge mob and the mass-scale rioting committed by it was not a random or spontaneous happening and could not have been committed except in pursuance of a larger conspiracy entered into between the self-proclaimed leaders and initiators of the mob activity, whereas, other members of the mob/unlawful assembly kept joining in, the trial court observed. The court held Imams speeches were venomous and pitted one religion against another. Besides Imam, the trial court also ordered the framing of charges against Ashu Khan, Chandan Kumar and Aasif Iqbal Tanha for the violence. The court held police witnesses and mobile phone records established the accused were part of the mob, a charge they denied. China urges U.S. not to project its hegemonic logic onto China Xinhua) 08:12, March 27, 2025 BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior official with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has highlighted the significance of hydrogen energy in cutting carbon emissions and hailed China's progress in the field. "Green hydrogen stands at the heart of sustainable development," James George, deputy resident representative of UNDP China, said Wednesday when addressing the opening ceremony of the China International Hydrogen Congress 2025. "A strong hydrogen economy has the potential to revolutionize energy systems, significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerate the green transition," he added. Citing China's hydrogen energy development plan for 2021-2035, George said it had been key in adopting hydrogen and fuel cell technology, demonstrating the government's commitment to low-carbon development and clean energy. By 2025, annual hydrogen production from renewable energy is expected to reach 100,000 metric tonnes to 200,000 metric tonnes, and by 2030, China is seeking a reasonable and orderly industrial layout and wide use of hydrogen production from renewable energy to offer solid support for the carbon peaking goal, according to the plan. "We are seeing positive signs that need to be continued and scaled," George noted, citing the rapid expansion in installed renewable hydrogen production capacity in the north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as an example. Co-organized by the China Hydrogen Alliance and the China Electricity Council, the China International Hydrogen Congress 2025 as well as an accompanying large-scale industrial exhibition, has showcased the latest developments in hydrogen energy technologies and applications. While acknowledging the remarkable progress made in the field globally, he also noted that there is still much work to do. Despite dozens of governments having adopted hydrogen strategies, green hydrogen still accounts for a tiny portion of global hydrogen production -- a challenge that also signals untapped potential and an immense opportunity, according to him. Since 2003, UNDP China has collaborated with the Chinese government and the China Hydrogen Alliance to advance fuel cell vehicle demonstrations, vocational training, and technological innovation, George said. A competition to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in hydrogen energy was launched Wednesday, an initiative George said would strengthen industry-academia-research collaboration and empower small and medium-sized enterprises to lead in green technology innovation. "Together, let's build a hydrogen ecosystem and accelerating momentum for a just, inclusive, and sustainable energy transition in China," he said. Weeks after West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu was allegedly attacked and his vehicle damaged, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed that no seminars or meetings involving political leaders or other prominent figures would be allowed at Jadavpur University. The court instructed that only academicians should be invited to such events. Jadavpur University descended into chaos on March 1 when Basu had gone to the campus to attend the annual general meeting of the West Bengal College and University Professors' Association (WBCUPA). Several left-wing student organisations staged protests, demanding student union elections. The protests quickly escalated, with allegations that the education ministers car was vandalised. Other than him, interim vice-chancellor Bhaskar Gupta and professor Om Prakash Misra were also allegedly attacked. Students claimed that one of their peers was injured after being hit by the ministers vehicle. Following this incident, campus law and order deteriorated. In response, a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Calcutta High Court, requesting state police security at every entrance of the university. While hearing the matter, the division bench of the chief justice ordered the deployment of special forces at JU. Questioning why the university administration was not willing to take the help of the police, the bench further said that the interim VC must have the will to bring things under control on the campus. Meanwhile, the same division bench also heard on Thursday a PIL related to pending student union elections across colleges and universities. Student organisations affiliated with opposition parties have repeatedly voiced their demands for student union elections. The petitioner argued that while other elections in the state continue without disruption, student body elections have remained suspended since 2013. Yet, funds for festivals and other campus events continue to be sanctioned regularly. The plea urged that elections be held in accordance with the Lyngdoh Commissions guidelines. During the hearing, Chief Justice Sivagnanam reminded that, as per state regulations, student elections should be conducted every two years. The court then asked the state government to clarify when the polls could be held. The states legal representative, however, cited the absence of permanent Vice-Chancellors in several universities as a major hurdle in organising the elections. The High Court division bench directed the higher education department to submit an affidavit on the matter and scheduled the next hearing for three weeks later. Days after cash found at Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma's residence led to an in-house inquiry by the Supreme Court, the bar associations of Allahabad, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and Lucknow on Thursday urged the Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, to withdraw transfer of Justice Varma as well as all administrative work, in addition to the judicial work which has already been withdrawn from him. The bar associations from Allahabad, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat and Lucknow signed the joint statement and sent it to CJI Khanna for his perusal. "We place on record the appreciation of steps taken by the Chief Justice of India to embrace transparency and to make public the report of the Chief Justice of High Court of Delhi and other materials on the website of the Supreme Court of India," it said. #WATCH | Delhi | Presidents of High Court Bar Associations depart from Supreme Court after their meeting with CJI Sanjiv Khanna over Justice Yashwant Varma issue pic.twitter.com/hcXHzlIqyp ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025 The statement also questioned why evidence in the case wasn't preserved. It said, "To set the criminal law in motion as is applicable to any government servant. According to the report of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Delhi, somebody removed the articles from the premises on March 15 and had the criminal law been sent on motion, the evidence would not have been destroyed. In these kinds of crimes, there would be involvement of others and non-registration of would adversely affect their prosecution. #WATCH | Delhi | After meeting with CJI over Justice Yashwant Varma case, Anil Tiwari, President of Allahabad High Court Bar Association says, "The Presidents of six bar associations met the Chief Justice of India and we kept forth our points in front of CJI and four other senior pic.twitter.com/7KVjot26FF ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025 The bar associations also requested the CJI to lay down accountability standards for judges of higher judiciary and reassess the current in-house procedure approved by the Supreme Court in 1999 and 'Restatement of values of Judicial Life' as approved in 1997 followed by the Bangalore Principles of 2002. The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, 2002 presents a framework to regulate judicial conduct. It requires a judge to ensure that his or her conduct both in and out of court, maintains and enhances the confidence of the public, the legal profession, and litigants in the impartiality and independence of the judiciary. More importantly, the charter requires a judge to be aware of and understand the diversity in society and treat all equally. In the statement, the bar associations also said that the presidents of the bar associations will meet at Allahabad in the event of non-withdrawal of the transfer order of Justice Yashwant Varma to show solidarity with the High Court Bar Association of Allahabad. Last week, the chief justice of India constituted a three-member Committee consisting of Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana; Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh; and Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka for conducting an inquiry into the allegations. The incident leading to the discovery of cash happened on the day of Holi. Reports suggest that Justice Varma was not at home when a fire broke out at his official residence and family members alerted the fire brigade. It is learnt that while dousing the fire, the first responders stumbled across a huge amount of unaccounted cash inside a room. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna assured the bar associations that their demand for the withdrawal of the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, would be considered. The assurance came after the presidents of six bar associations met the CJI on Thursday. Allahabad High Court Chief Anil Tiwari told reporters after the meeting, "The CJI assured us to consider our demand over Justice Yashwant Varma's transfer." Tiwari also added that CJI told them that even after the transfer to Allahabad High Court, judicial work would remain withdrawn from Justice Varma. A Dalit student is protesting at the Banaras Hindu University for being denied admission into the PhD program despite securing the second position in the entrance exam in the general category. Shivam Sonkar sat on a dharna outside the Vice Chancellors residence when all his efforts to get admission failed, with students and also politicians throwing in their weight behind him. This student sitting on a dharna outside Banaras Hindu University belongs to the Dalit community. He says that there are 3 vacant seats for PhD in the university but he is not being given admission. He is being told that it is a general seat, how can it be given to a Dalit.... pic.twitter.com/Ivi1j83IiM The Dalit Voice (@ambedkariteIND) March 24, 2025 Sonkar had given the exam for PhD admission in Malviya Centre for Peace Research. Despite getting the second rank, he did not get admission. There are a total of seven seats in the department, but only four students have been admitted. He has now asked what his fault is is it only that he is a Dalit. Ajay Rai, president of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, who also reached the campus to support Sonkar said that though the university was established as a temple of education, it had now turned into a centre of discrimination and injustice. That this should happen in the constituency of the Prime Minister was shameful. The universitys explanation is that any change in the status of the seats, that is whether they are to fall in the reserved or the unreserved category, can only be made before the counselling session. Since there were no suitable applications for the reserved seats they have remained vacant. Since Sonkar had cleared the exam in the general category it was not possible to admit him to the general category seat. Ashutosh Sinha, an MLC of the Samajwadi Party, has written to the PM alleging that Sonkars situation is an alarming example of creating obstacles in the path of higher education for students from the Scheduled Castes. Chandrashekhar Aazad, chief of the Bhim Army and MP from Nagina has written to the states chief minister to pleas Sonkars case saying that the entire episode has raised serious questions about the transparency of the admission procedures adopted by the university. Meanwhile the students union has threatened to launch an agitation if Sonkars situation is not resolved. The students have already burned an effigy of the VC and shouted slogans against him. Sonkar, meanwhile, is sitting on a dharna with pictures of BHU founder Madan Mohan Malviya, Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Lord Ram. A Bengaluru court on Thursday rejected the bail petition of actress Ranya Rao in connection with a gold smuggling case. The 64th CCH Sessions Court had reserved its order on Tuesday following a detailed hearing of arguments from both the defence and the prosecution. Ranya Rao gold smuggling case | 64th CCH Sessions Court in Bengaluru rejects the bail application of actor Ranya Rao who is accused of smuggling gold ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025 During the hearing, the prosecution told the court that Ranya had admitted to using hawala channels to facilitate gold purchases, a claim that strengthens the case against her. Ranya was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport upon her arrival from Dubai after gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from her. Subsequently, searches were conducted in her residence, allegedly leading to recovery of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore. Police have also arrested hotelier Tarun Raju in connection with the case. Meanwhile, following a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the Central Bueau of Investigation has filed an FIR in the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, along with several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS). Ranya is the step-daughter of DGP-rank officer K Ramachandra Rao. Following the controversy, Rao was sent on compulsory leave by the Karnataka government and was questioned in connection with the case. DRI makes third arrested The DRI on Wednesday arrested a gold dealer who has been accused of assisting and abetting Tanya in disposing of smuggled gold and sharing the sale proceeds. Sahil Jain, a native of Ballari, was arrested after he was questioned by the agency in connection with the case. The court has sent him to DRI custody till March 29. Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has returned the contentious Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2025, seeking clarification. The bill that proposes to create multiple corporations was passed in both Houses of the Karnataka legislature in the recently concluded Budget session, amid stiff opposition from the BJP. Several civic groups have also opposed the bill. The governor returned the file (bill) with a direction to resubmit after addressing the concerns raised in the two memorandumseach by Bengaluru Town Hall (a civic group) and the Karnataka BJPsubmitted to him. He asked the government to address the concerns raised in both the civic and political representations stating it involved legal and public interest issues. Gehlot, in a detailed reply, mentioned that the state government had submitted the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2025 with the intention to provide for the core principles, institutions, and processes for effective urban governance in the Greater Bengaluru Area. The bill aims to establish a Greater Bengaluru Authority by setting up seven city corporations to integrate and streamline the political accountability of all public authorities. He acknowledged that a civic association called Bengaluru Town Hall had submitted a detailed representation opposing the bill and stated their concerns were not addressed by the chief minister despite giving a memorandum for the same. Gehlot also stated that the civic group had urged him to consider their objections in light of several ill-advised infrastructure projects such as the proposed tunnel road, sky deck, and other expressway projects. The governor pointed out that the leaders of the opposition in both state Assembly and Council, along with the State BJP president had met him on March 19, 2025, and submitted a memorandum opposing the bill. Citing the BJP memorandum, Gehlot said the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill violated the 74th Constitutional amendment, and that it would disempower the State Election Commission, usurp the role of the Metropolitan Planning Committee, and violate the principles of law. It, besides raising governance and financial issues like burdening governance and financial mismanagement, would also weaken citizen participation and pose a threat to Bengalurus culture and demography, according to the governor. The governor also drew attention to the argument that decentralisation was a failed model as the bill proposes to divide the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into seven municipal corporations, similar to the Delhi Metropolitan City model, which has failed. Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister H.K. Patil said, The governor had, time and again, returned several bills. The government will resubmit the bill for the governors assent after giving clarifications sought by him. The Congress government has enacted 83 laws in the last 22 months. The government has passed 28 bills in the just concluded Budget session, and the governor has given assent to five bills, and sought clarification on seven bills, including the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2025. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday lashed out at the West Bengal government for allegedly not cooperating with the fencing work along the Bangladesh border. He alleged that the Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingyas were entering India through West Bengal, but the fencing of around 450 km border was pending as the state government did not give land. "Whether Bangladeshi infiltrators or Rohingyas, earlier they used to enter India through Assam when Congress was in power. Now they enter India through West Bengal where Trinamool Congress is in power, he said. #WATCH | Delhi | Replying in the Lok Sabha on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "...The fencing work of 450 km is pending because the West Bengal government is not giving land for it... Whenever the process of fencing is done, the pic.twitter.com/nevoFtNa0Z ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025 Shah was speaking in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill which the lower house later passed. The home minister went on to allege that those illegally entering India get Aadhaar cards from West Bengals 24 Paragans district and expressed confidence that the BJP would come to power in the state in 2026 and put and end to this situation. All the Bangladeshis who have been caught have Aadhaar cards from 24 Parganas district. You (TMC) issue Aadhaar cards and they come to Delhi with voter cards. In 2026, the BJP government will be formed in West Bengal and we will put an end to this," said Shah. The home minister alleged that the party workers of the ruling party indulge in hooliganism and religious sloganeering whenever the process of fencing begins. Indias border with Bangladesh is 2,216 km, out of which 1,653 km has been fenced. Of the remaining 563 km, there cannot be fencing on 112 km due to difficult terrain such as rivers, drains and hills. Fencing on 450 km is pending as the Bengal government does not give land. Seven meetings on this have already been held," said the home minister. #WATCH | Delhi | Replying in the Lok Sabha on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Whether Bangladeshi infiltrators or Rohingyas, earlier they used to enter India through Assam when Congress was in power. Now they enter India through pic.twitter.com/pGAfxod7Et ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025 Asserting that India is not a Dharamshala, Shah said those who posed a threat to the national security would not be allowed to enter the country. If someone comes to the nation to give its contribute to the development of the nation, they are always welcome," Shah said. Five security personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, have been injured in an ongoing encounter between the forces and the militants in the Juthani area of Kathua district. Among the injured, one personnel underwent surgery at Kathua GMC, while two others have been shifted to Jammu GMC. The remaining two have sustained minor injuries. Some reports said three militants have also been killed in the encounter. The situation remains tense as a large-scale cordon and search operation is underway across the region. The encounter began after security forces received intelligence about four to five militants hiding in the Juthani area. The militants, believed to be a freshly infiltrated group, had taken a woman and her husband hostage in a nearby forest on Sunday, where they had gone to collect firewood. Fortunately, the couple managed to escape unharmed before security forces launched the operation. As the operation continues, security has been tightened at Kathua railway station and other key locations in the district. For the past five days, suspicious terrorist movements have been reported in various areas of Kathua, raising fears of militant attacks. Security forces have been combing a huge area which comprises thick forests and ravines. Senior police, CRPF and Army officers are monitoring the situation while locals in the area have prepared meals for the security forces involved in the operation. The gunfight centred near Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh. Earlier, the militants had abandoned some ammunition, bulletproof jackets and some food items, which were recovered by the security forces. In the last three years, border areas of Jammu like Rajouri and Poonch bordering Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Kathua which lies near the international border, have seen increased militant infiltration and attacks on security forces and civilians. Militants, after infiltrating, target security forces and then hiding in the forests, making operations against them difficult. As per Maharashtra State Health Laboratory, water from 79 locations in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Khadakwasla is unfit for drinking. Following a recent outbreak of the Guillian Barre Syndrome (GBS), the lab tested samples from the region and came to the conclusion that water quality was unsafe for drinking. Vinod Phale, deputy director of the state Health Laboratory reportedly said that the samples were taken from GBS-affected areas and it was found that "many samples tested positive for E coli and coliform bacteria," thereby rendering the water unsafe for drinking purposes. In the month of February, Pune Municipal Corporation and surrounding districts reported a large number of GBS cases leading to hospitalization and ventilator support, including at least five deaths, which prompted the authorities to take action and test the water quality in the region. Among the casualties was a 60-year-old resident of Nanded district, that is about 500 km from Pune, who had reportedly been diagnosed with hypertension and diarrhoea. The hospital listed the cause of death as respiratory failure with autonomic dysfunction and quadriplegia, complications arising from GBS, along with hypertension. GBS, is a rare, autoimmune, neurological disorder where the immune system attacks nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and paralysis. It begins with tingling or numbness in the feet and hands, followed by muscle weakness and difficulty moving joints. Over a period of three to four weeks, symptoms worsen, typically starting in the arms and legs and eventually leading to complete paralysis if not treated in time. The condition is rare, with an estimated incidence of 1/2 per 100,000 population. As per sources, the Health department collected 312 water samples from affected areas for chemical and biological analysis of which 79 samples were found to be contaminated, which means 25% of the samples were found to be unfit for consumption. The sources from where the samples were collected and which have been deemed unfit for consumption include well water from various locations in Khadakwasla, untreated water from Khadakwasla dam, borewell water from Dhayari, Talwade, Tathawade, tap water in Kalewadi, Wakad, Moshi, Thergaon. Water samples from these areas were tested between January 21 and March 13, as per Laboratory officials. PCMC (Pune Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) officials though, refuted the test results saying that in the water tests which the PCMC conducts daily, not a single sample has been found to be unfit for drinking purposes. The Corporation officials reportedly attributed the results of tests carried out by the State Health Lab to "water collected from stored sources in households which may not reflect the actual water quality." However, doctor and activist Padma Shri Himmatrao Bawaskar told THE WEEK, "water quality has always been an issue for residents of PCMC area and its adjoining areas. People know that they won't be getting drinkable quality tap water in their homes and that is why we are all so used to boiling water before consuming it. The authorities have turned a blind eye to this issue and that is why every year cases of GBS are reported from this region. Yet, the authorities continue to turn a blind eye and play the blame game." GBS, as per scientists, is most likely caused by a pathogenic bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni. It is known to be the biggest driver of GBS worldwide and is often found in undercooked poultry, meat or eggs, unwashed vegetables and faeces. The Telangana Assembly adopted a resolution against the delimitation exercise to determine Parliament seats on Thursday, urging the Centre to conduct the exercise transparently and not to make population the sole yardstick for the exercise. Telangana becomes the first state to pass such a resolution as discussed during the oppositions Joint Action Committee meeting for fair delimitation at Chennai recently. Telangana Government Resolution states, "...The number of seats in the State Assembly should be immediately increased from 119 to 153 pursuant to the A.P Reorganization Act, 2014 and as per latest census. This House urges the Union Government to introduce necessary pic.twitter.com/H76HGPbm0t ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025 In the resolution moved by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in the Telangana Assembly, the state urged the Centre must not penalise states that effectively implemented population control measures. In the resolution, it said, This house expresses its deep concern on the manner in which the impending delimitation exercise is being planned, without any transparent consultations with the stakeholders. The house urges that any delimitation exercise should be carried out transparently and after extensive consultations with all state governments, all political parties and all stakeholders. The government said population should not be the sole yardstick for the delimitation exercise as it would adversely affect the representation of southern states in the assembly. The states which have effectively implemented the population control programme pushed by the Centre, and consequently whose population share has come down, should not be penalized and hence, the population should not be the sole yardstick for delimitation, it said. Moving the resolution, Reddy said the representation of southern states in Lok Sabha seats may fall from 24 per cent to 19 per cent if delimitation is carried out on a population basis. The resolution urged the Centre to duly augment the SC, ST seats as per the latest population and provide reservation for women. The house resolves that in order to strengthen the representative democracy, the number of seats in the state assembly should be immediately increased from 119 to 153 pursuant to the A.P. Reorganization Act, 2014 and as per the latest census. This House urges the Union Government to introduce necessary Constitutional amendments for this purpose, the state demanded. Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar announced that the resolution was adopted. Recently, chief ministers of southern states and opposition-governed states met in Chennai and demanded fair delimitation. The Joint Action Committee for fair delimitation, organised by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, urged the Centre to freeze the delimitation exercise for 25 years. The leaders also agreed to pass resolutions in their respective states against the delimitation exercise. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin slammed his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath on Thursday for criticising the states protest against the National Education Policy and Lok Sabha delimitation. Stalin termed the protest a battle for dignity and justice. Tamil Nadus fair and firm voice on #TwoLanguagePolicy and #FairDelimitation is echoing nationwideand the BJP is clearly rattled. Just watch their leaders interviews. And now Honble Yogi Adityanath wants to lecture us on hate? Spare us. This isnt ironyits political black https://t.co/NzWD7ja4M8 M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 27, 2025 Reacting to Adityanaths recent comments about NEP and delimitation during a recent interview with ANI, Stalin said the Bharatiya Janata Party is clearly rattled by their protests. Stalin said Adityanaths lecture was political black comedy at its darkest. In a post on social media platform X, Stalin said, Tamil Nadus fair and firm voice on #TwoLanguagePolicy and #FairDelimitation is echoing nationwideand the BJP is clearly rattled. Just watch their leaders interviews. And now Honble Yogi Adityanath wants to lecture us on hate? Spare us. #WATCH | On the three-language issue, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says "...'Hindi se nafrat kyu? Bhasha todti nahi hai, jodne ka kaam karti hai'...The country should not be divided in the name of the language or region. We are grateful to PM Modi, who organised the pic.twitter.com/gBVsVgoTeJ ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2025 This isnt ironyits political black comedy at its darkest, added Stalin. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader said they are not opposed to any language, but they oppose only imposition and chauvinism. This isnt riot-for-votes politics. This is a battle for dignity and justice, Stalin said, targeting Adityanath. In the interview, Adityanath charged the Tamil Nadu chief minister with creating divisions based on region and language to secure his vote bank. This is merely narrow politics. When these people feel their vote bank is at risk, they try to create divisions based on region and language. The people of this country should always be alert to such divisive politics and stand firm for the unity of the country," Adityanath told ANI. Adityanath added when Tamil, Telugu and various other languages could be taught in Uttar Pradesh, why cant Hindi be taught in Tamil Nadu? On the Lok Sabha delimitation row and Joint Action Committee meeting, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, The home minister (Amit Shah) has stated this very clearly on this matter. This is Stalin's political agenda under the guise of the meeting. I believe that after the Home Minister's statement, no questions should arise on this issue," he told ANI. BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting of International Military Cooperation Organs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States for 2025 was held from Wednesday to Thursday in China's eastern port city of Qingdao, a Chinese defense spokesperson said Thursday. The meeting was hosted by China's Ministry of National Defense and attended by over 30 representatives from defense ministries of the SCO member states and the SCO Secretariat, ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told a press conference. Wu said the participants had in-depth exchanges on deepening defense and security cooperation within the SCO framework and expressed willingness to maintain close communication to prepare for the upcoming SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting to be held in China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Tamil Nadu on April 6 -- the Ram Navami Day -- to inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge off the Rameswaram coast. The sea bridge in Pamban is Indias first vertical lift sea bridge. PM Modi to open Indias first vertical lift Pamban railway bridge at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, on April 6th. pic.twitter.com/JkC9tJwpcE Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) March 27, 2025 Built at a cost of 531 crore, the new sea bridge will replace the 110-year-old iconic Cantilever bridge built during the British era. The rail traffic in this region, connecting the mainland with the island will resume after Modi inaugurates the bridge on April 6. The bridge designed with European and Indian codes was proof-checked by IIT Madras and is considered to be an engineering marvel connecting Rameswaram Island to the mainland. With a groundbreaking infrastructure, the new bridge promises enhanced speed, safety and seamless innovation with cutting-edge technology. The old Pamban rail bridge which came up in 1914 was decommissioned in December 2022 due to corrosion. It connected the mainland to Rameswaram for 105 years. The single-track bridge had a manual Scherzer lift span and was limited to low-speed trains, with an air clearance of 19 metres. The new bridge is a fully automated vertical lift span and offers a safer 22-metre clearance, supports double tracks and electrification, and is designed for high-speed trains. The bridge which was slated to be inaugurated in November was put on hold for safety checks. And now, Modis visit to inaugurate the bridge on Ram Navami day assumes political significance as the BJP in Tamil Nadu has been planning strategies to face the upcoming election in 2026. The BJP had always felt that Rameswaram, being a temple town, would help the party tap the religious sentiments in the state. #WATCH | Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu: The new Pamban Railway Bridge, connecting Rameswaram Island with the mainland, has been completed. Indias first vertical lift sea bridge is expected to be operational by April, restoring rail connectivity and improving transportation in the pic.twitter.com/eCZs4GxXVA ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2025 Incidentally, Tamil Nadus opposition leader Edappadi K Palanisami had called on Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on March 25 to discuss AIADMK and the BJP renewing its 2021 alliance equations. Sources say that Palanisami and AIADMK senior leaders will call on Modi when he is Rameswaram. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to make history on Thursday as she participates in a discussion at Kellogg College, Oxford University. She will join a distinguished list of speakers, including King Charles III, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ban Ki-moon, who have addressed audiences at the prestigious institution. The discussion will focus on Social Development Girl, Child, and Women Empowerment. However, there is speculation that CM Banerjee may also face questions regarding the RG Kar rape and murder case during the event. #WATCH | Speaking at the High Commission of India in London, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "Our relations are very deep because, before independence, Kolkata was the capital of India... Now, Kolkata is the cultural capital of India, an investment hub, a centre for women's pic.twitter.com/gWZaDIkHCB ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025 Unfazed by the possibility, Banerjee has expressed confidence in handling any queries. When asked by local Bangla media travelling with her about how she plans to address RG Kar-related questions, she responded boldly, If they bowl, Ill start batting and hit a six. She further stated while taking a stroll along the Thames River in London, Do they think I havent come prepared? I have documents too. I know how to respond. This assertive and unfiltered stance is what audiences can expect when she takes the stage at Kellogg College. Excitement is already high for her conversation with College President Professor Jonathan Michie and Bynum Tudor Fellow Lord Karan Bilimoria. Registrations for the event had to be closed a day early after the venue reached full capacity. During her stay in London, CM Banerjee has engaged in several key meetings. On Monday, she attended a meeting at the Indian High Commission, followed by an interactive discussion on Tuesday with UK business leaders, where she encouraged investment in West Bengal. On Wednesday, official talks were held between British government representatives and the West Bengal administration, including Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Principal Secretary of the Industries, Commerce, and Enterprises Department, Vandana Yadav. The British side proposed collaborations in sectors such as medical equipment manufacturing and metal engineering. However, the highlight of her visit remains her scheduled address at Kellogg College, Oxford University. She is expected to fly back to Kolkata on Friday. The overnight Israeli airstrikes on Thursday targeting Hezbollah operatives in south Lebanon killed a senior commander of the armed group. Ahmed Adnan Bajija, a battalion commander in Hezbollah's elite Radwan force was killed in the strikes, said Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The IDF will continue to operate in order to remove any threat posed to the State of Israel, it said. Ahmad Adnan Bajjiga, a battalion commander in Hezbollah's Radwan Force, was eliminated in southern Lebanon. Throughout the war and in recent months, Ahmed advanced and directed numerous terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. The IDF will continue to operate pic.twitter.com/gYx83RVW9c Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 27, 2025 IDF carried drone strikes in the Tyre District on Thursday night. Blasts were also reported in Syria's Latakia port area as well. BEIRUT: The IAF eliminated Ahmad Adnan Bajjiga, a Hezbollah Radwan Force battalion commander in southern Lebanon. He orchestrated multiple attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops in recent months, posing an ongoing threat. pic.twitter.com/RNwZKUeuor KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) March 27, 2025 According to IDF, Bajija was involved in directing numerous attacks on Israel and IDF troops. The footage of the strike in the village of Derdghaiya, adjacent to Maaroub, was also published by IDF. Reportedly, the strike took place hours after both Hezbollah and Lebanese government representatives rejected the idea of normalisation with Israel. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem condemned Israel's ongoing military presence in southern Lebanon. Both countries agreed to a ceasefire deal in November with Israel agreeing to withdraw its troop's presence in southern Lebanon. Amid the recent strikes, Qassem ruled out any normalisation ties with Israel. Meanwhile, Lebanese officials are in close contact with the US and French officials to prevent further escalation in the region. The Israel-Hezbollah conflict began after Hamass October 7 conflict triggering the Gaza war. Israels retaliatory strike since November ceasefire deal came after rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon. Since December, it is the second time rockets have been fired from Lebanon into Israel. The recent attacks have sparked concerns over the ceasefire deal between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Ukraine's allies from across Europe gathered in Paris on Thursday for discussions on strengthening Kyiv's security and its military. The 'coalition of the willing' summit in Paris comes as US-led negotiations are going on to end the three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war. Leaders from nearly 30 countries, as well as NATO and European officials, are attending the summit. Ukraine and Russia agreeing to a Black Sea ceasefire after the US delegates' discussions with the representatives of both countries in Saudi Arabia is seen as the first step towards peace. I want to highlight Frances efforts in helping us defend against Russian strikes. In particular, your "Mirages"combat aircraft made in Francehave performed very well. I am particularly grateful for themthey have already become a part of our air shield and are helping us pic.twitter.com/ccHbSvWTKM Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 26, 2025 Amid the US-led negotiations, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Russia shall have no right of say regarding the support we are providing and will provide Ukraine, nor shall they set the conditions." He accused Russia of coming up with an increasingly long list of demands. "Russia cannot have a say in the support we give to Ukraine, nor can it dictate conditions of a lasting peace. Because Ukraine's sovereignty and the security of all Europeans is at stake." Emmanuel Macron, President of France pic.twitter.com/n7v6WdMNFC Lena Berger (@lena4berger) March 26, 2025 As far as the security guarantee offered to Ukraine, Macron said that the European forces could be stationed in "important town, strategic bases" to "mark the clear support from several European governments and allies. He made it clear that the forces will have to "respond" to any attack from Russia. Macron also rejected any suggestion of lifting sanctions, saying it was too early to make such a decision. Ultimately, sanctions depend solely on Russias choice of aggression, and therefore, their lifting depends solely on Russias choice to comply with international law, he said. Reportedly, ahead of the summit, Macron spoke to US President Donald Trump. With the US strengthening its mediation efforts, France and Britain have been pushing a separate initiative to support and stand by Ukraine. A new package of defence aid for Ukraine worth 2 billion euros was announced by Macron as well. US President Donald Trump has imposed 25 per cent tariff on automobile imports in a bid to bolster domestic manufacturing and generate $100 billion annually. "This will continue to spur growth," Trump said. "This is permanent." The tariffs are expected to bring down the budget deficit besides supporting domestic manufacturers. The auto tariffs of 25% will be permanent for rest of my term." - Trump They might not even be permanent through this weekend. Let alone to January 2029. pic.twitter.com/mcaq45BOtM Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) March 26, 2025 The tariff, will take effect from April 2, is expected to impact car makers exporting vehicles to the US as the sales could dwindle amid rising prices. The US imported around 80 lakh cars and light trucks worth $244 billion in 2024, with top exporting nations being Mexico, South Korea, Japan, Canada and Germany. The import of auto parts were valued at $197 million and the key exporters in this category were Mexico, Canada and China. The tariffs on auto parts are expected to happen in May. While domestic manufacturers stand to benefit from the tariffs, the middle class consumers in the US are likely to bear the brunt if the foreign car makers pass the duty burden to the customers by increasing prices of imported vehicles by $4,000 to $12,500. However, Trump claims that the tariff move would push foreign car makers to manufacture locally and thereby creating jobs. "If you build your car in the United States there is no tariff," Trump said. Calling the tariffs a "direct attack" on his country Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney said he will protect Canadian car manufacturers. "This will hurt us, but through this period by being together we will emerge stronger," he said. The UK is hoping to negotiate a trade deal with the US before the tariffs come into effect. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU will try to negotiate with the US while "safeguarding its economic interests." Japanese premier Shigeru Ishiba said he will put "all options on the table" following Trump's announcement. His statement comes amid shares of Toyota, Nissan and Honda slumped in early trade in Tokyo. In remote Tibet, people climb mountains or rooftops to tune into Tibetan-language broadcasts from Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America (VOA) their only sources of accurate information about Tibet, the Tibetan people, and events both inside and outside the country. This daily ritual sustains the hope of many living under authoritarian regimes, desperate for uncensored news and information in their native tongueslanguages like Tibetan, which are increasingly at risk of Sinicization and extinction. However, the recent gutting of RFA and VOA operations could end this decades-long tradition for countries without a free press, effectively granting the Chinese Communist Party a carte blanche in controlling the flow of information both in and out. According to the Freedom House report, even North Korea is more accessible to foreign journalists than Tibet, particularly the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region. On March 15, federal grants supporting RFA were abruptly terminated, and Voice of America employees were placed on administrative leave after an executive order to gut the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees the two media outlets. This forced RFA to furlough over two-thirds of its Washington, D.C. staff and hundreds more freelancers and contributors. For the six million Tibetans living under Chinese rule, the potential loss of RFA and VOAs Tibetan language services is particularly devastating. Beijings systematic efforts to eliminate Tibetan language, culture, and religion have made these broadcasts the sole source of news in Tibetan, connecting an isolated population to the outside world and the exile diaspora. Since 1996, Radio Free Asia has reported news from one of the worlds most restricted media environments, providing Tibetans with coverage of issues censored by Beijing, such as self-immolations, forced relocation, monastery destruction, and language suppression. For nearly three decades, RFA has been a trusted source of vital inside information about Tibet. In February 2024, RFAs Tibetan service broke the news of Chinas plans to build a hydropower dam in Dege, Kham, threatening to submerge monasteries and villages. This highlights RFAs unique network of sources in a region Beijing has sought to isolate. The threat of silencing RFA and VOA, including their Tibetan-language services, will undermine the long-term sustenance of the non-violent Tibetan struggle for freedom and dignity. Under President Xi Jinping, China has escalated efforts to Sinicize Tibet through cultural assimilation and surveillance. This includes the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism with "Chinese characteristics. Tuning into these broadcasts carries significant risks, including imprisonment for accessing these services. Yet, listeners persist, understanding the vital role these broadcasts play in their lives. At the very least, hearing even a few words of the Dalai Lamas teachings provides a flicker of hope, even in their darkest hours of despair. The US Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 (TPSA) also addresses countering Chinas disinformation campaign related to Tibet. It emphasises the importance of promoting independent Tibetan-language media as an alternative to Chinese-controlled narratives, ensuring accurate reporting about Tibet and the actions of the Chinese government. At a time when Tibetans are facing a Chinese propaganda blitzkrieg aimed at distorting Tibets language, history, culture, and religionparticularly concerning the issue of the Dalai Lamas reincarnationany downscaling or, worse, closure of critical independent Tibetan news outlets like VOA and RFA would send a profoundly discouraging message to the Tibetan people, especially those living on the occupied side of the Himalayas. Dhundup Gyalpo is the secretary of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. President Bill Clintons visit to India from March 20 to 25, 2000, was a remarkable journey that set the stage for the US-India partnership that has developed so fruitfully over the ensuing 25 years. The trip was particularly noteworthy coming less than two years after bilateral relations hit their nadir in May 1998 when India and then Pakistan tested nuclear weapons. From sanctions to natural allies The US (and Western) response to the nuclear tests was sanctions, followed by more sanctions. But President Clinton realised that the sanctions approach was unrealistic and unproductive. He told Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott a month after the tests that he wanted India to be front and centre for the rest of his presidency. Talbott and his Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh began an intense and ultimately productive dialogue that led to the visit. Pakistan played a role too. When the Pakistani military crossed the Line of Control at Kargil in the winter of 1999, Pakistans Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sought Clintons intervention. To Sharifs dismay, Clinton instead pushed Sharif to pull back his troops to the Pakistani side, demonstrating to often-skeptical Indian leaders that US involvement in the subcontinent could be fair-minded and even redound to Delhis benefit. The visit When Clinton came to Delhi22 years after the last such visit by US President Jimmy Carterhe made a point of expressing respect for India and its place in the world. He was the first American leader to treat India as a partner in world affairs rather than as a problem case to be dealt with by the big powers. He was not playing the China card or trying to resolve Kashmir. He was treating India as a serious player whose opinions mattered on the global stage. And thanks especially to Clintons help on Kargil, he was knocking on an open door in Delhi. Clintons superb communications skills were put to good use on the trip, especially in his address to a joint session of Parliament in which he demonstrated the respect India expected for its history and democracy without shying away from discussing our differences over nuclear proliferation. In the speech, he expressed gratitude for the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi without which the civil rights revolution in the US could not have succeeded peacefully. He praised Indias democracy and commiserated over the terrorism it faced, saying borders cannot be redrawn in blood, a reference to the killing of 36 Sikhs in Kashmir two days before his speech. He said that only India could decide its course on the continued development of nuclear weapons but called for continued discussion and warned of the dangers the US had experienced in the Cold War. He asked, above all, for dialogue and partnership between our countries. External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said the parliamentary speech received a response from my hard-headed political compatriots that I have never seen accorded a visiting head of state. Journalists compared his welcome to that given to a rock star. The Indian government published the speech and Clintons other remarks in a commemorative booklet. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called Clintons visit a transformation in our relations and described the two countries as natural allies. In a prescient Vision Statement, the two leaders talked about the promise of globalisation as well as the threat of terrorism. They proclaimed their nations partners in peace, committed to strengthening the international security system, including the United Nations. They committed to regular meetings at the head of government level, and Vajpayee travelled to Washington in September that year. The White House wanted trade and investment to be a high point of the trip. Commerce Secretary William Daley was on the delegation and oversaw the establishment of a dialogue on trade and commerce and a working group on multilateral trade issues. A Science and Technology Forum was created. Unlike previous POTUS visitors, Clinton chose to visit India outside the Delhi/Agra axis. He, his daughter and his mother-in-law travelled to Jaipur, including visits to a village and to a tiger reserve. There was business to be done in Agra (environmental cooperation) and in Hyderabad (highlighting USAID cooperation in combating TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS, and acknowledging Indias accomplishments in information technology). He concluded his visit in Mumbai where he met a panel of Indias youth, visited the stock exchange, and attended a reception with business leaders. Finally, while the five days versus five hours contrast between the trips to India and Pakistan was predicated more on security concerns than any intent to denigrate Pakistan, the Clinton visit in 2000 was the beginning of the end of US efforts to try to balance its relations with India and Pakistan. The aftermath Clinton never did lift the nuclear sanctions. That was left to his successor George W. Bush who also took the huge step of acknowledging Indias nuclear program and restarting civil nuclear cooperation after India took steps to separate its civil and nuclear program. With that India-specific agreement, the hyphen in India-Pakistan was cancelled forever. Its hard to conceive of this 2005 agreement without the good will and confidence on both sides engendered by the Clinton-Vajpayee relationship five years earlier. The dialogue at the United Nations continued to grow and ten years later, Barack Obama took it to the next level, describing India as a natural addition to the permanent membership of the Security Council, a commitment that has been reiterated by all three of his successors. Now, Presidential and Prime Ministerial visits have become routine. PM Narendra Modi was one of President Trumps first visitors this year and Trump has committed to go to Delhi later in 2025. US and Indian scientists have collaborated for 25 years to end infectious diseases like TB and HIV/AIDS, even as President Trumps suspension of USAID and CDC projects in January 2025 has created uncertainty over medical cooperation. Nobody in 2000 would have envisioned the Quad, a cooperative agreement focused increasingly on security, and links India with the US, Japan, and Australia. The natural allies Vajpayee talked about have hewed closer to defence ties than he was probably contemplating. Joint military exercises are routine and defence cooperation and co-production are prospering. Lockheed and Boeing are more likely to sign big defence deals with Delhi than the state-owned Russian companies on which the Indian military used to depend. From F-14 engines to F-35 jets, India is being offered ever-more sophisticated technology in US efforts to wean it away from traditional dependence on Russia. US policymakers are too often preoccupied with crises in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Korean Peninsula. So, US-India relations are not always, as Clinton hoped, at the forefront of US diplomacy. But when Washington and Delhi look at what our two countries have accomplished together over 25 years, they have every reason to be proud of where we are today. The author is Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident), Chair on India and Emerging Asia Economics at the Centre for Strategic & International Studies, Washington, D.C. Amid rumours about Vladimir Putin's ill-health, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian leader will die soon. "Putin will die soon and that's a fact," the Ukrainian leader said, "The war will come to an end". He added that Putin is trying to destabilise European Union internally, referring to Hungary's pro-Russian stance. Putin will die soon and then it will all be over. Thats a fact Zelensky If I was placing a bet on who is going to live longer, my money would be 20 to one on Putin- Alex Jones pic.twitter.com/AQI7AzNcgL Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) March 27, 2025 Zelenskyy's remarks come after Russia launched 117 strikes on Ukraine on Tuesday night. However, he seemed confident that America will... lead Putin to accept an unconditional ceasefire. There have been continued speculations over Putin's deteriorating health with the Russian leader spotted with puffy face and making jerky movements with his limbs. Some videos also showed Putin coughing continuously. In another video from 2022, he was seen drooping in his seat while gripping a table in a meeting with a Russian leader. Kremlin has, however, repeatedly dismissed claims about Putin's ill-health, including reports about his battling Parkinson's disease and cancer. French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with Zelenskyy on Wednesday, slammed Putin for changing his stance on ceasefire after negotiations. "Russia cannot dictate conditions of lasting peace for Ukraine," he said, announcing an additional $2 billion military assistance for Kyiv. Macron's promise to supply weapons to Ukraine comes weeks after Trump halted financial and military support to the war-torn country. The newly appointed Russian Ambassador to the US, Aleksandr Darchiev, said the tied between the two countries have gained some traction but pointed out that more effort are required to come out of the "toxic legacy" of the Joe Biden administration. With the US growing closer to Russia, Zelenskyy might not have much to hope for without Trump's help. However, it is highly unlikey that Putin's demise would help end the war in Ukraine. Turkey has upped its diplomatic game to improve ties with the United States under the new administration of President Donald Trump, marking a definite shift towards warmer ties following years of strained relations under president Biden. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was in the US earlier this week, and the tone and tenor of his visit reflects Ankaras strategic intent to capitalise on Trumps leadership style and policy priorities. The meeting between Fidan and Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the mutual desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the defence sector, and to pave the way for future high-level engagements. Turkey clearly sees an opportunity to realign its partnership with the US, leveraging Trumps transactional approach and his more favourable stance towards decisive, and often authoritarian leadership, to address long-standing issues and enhance collaboration on regional and global challenges. Over the past few years, Turkey and the US, despite being NATO allies, have drifted apart. Biden was guarded in his approach towards Ankara and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, primarily because of the Turkish leaders political philosophy and dictatorial policies. He always kept Erdogan at a distance, most notably delaying their first phone call for three months after taking over as president and then calling up to announce American recognition of the Armenian genocide, a big taboo in Turkey. The Biden administration was also obviously unhappy about Turkeys acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defence system in 2019, which triggered American sanctions. It also led to Turkeys exclusion from the F-35 fighter jet programme, severely straining defence ties and marking a collapse of the strategic partnership that once defined their alliance. More tensions arose over differing policies on Syria, the war in Gaza and Turkeys problematic approach towards democracy and human rights. Trumps return to the White House has shifted the dynamic, offering Turkey a chance to reset ties. Trump has a history of engaging directly with the Turkish leader. During his first term, the two met nine times, and Erdogan had Trumps personal phone number, a privilege that underscored their personal rapport. This chemistry, coupled with Trumps preference for personal diplomacy over institutional frameworks, aligns closely with Erdogans own approach to foreign policy. A recent phone call between the two, described as transformational by Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, has further fuelled optimism in Ankara about the potential for a renewed partnership. At the heart of Turkeys agenda is the restoration of defence cooperation, a cornerstone of its alliance with the US. Fidans discussions with Rubio focused heavily on removing obstacles in this area, with both sides expressing a clear political will to resolve disputes. The S-400 issue, however, remains a sticking point. Turkey argues that its removal from the F-35 programme, where it was both a manufacturer and buyer, was unjust and has demanded either reinstatement or compensation for its $1.4 billion investment. Under Biden, talks to resolve the deadlockcentred on Turkeys pledge to keep the system non-operationaldid not go forward. Now, with Trumps administration showing a more lenient attitude towards Russia, Turkey hopes for a breakthrough. A Turkish official suggested that if US sanctions on Russia were lifted, maintaining related sanctions on third countries like Turkey would become untenable, leading to a resolution. Beyond the S-400 dispute, Turkey is keen to advance other defence projects. The exclusion from the F-35 programme prompted Ankara to order 40 Lockheed Martin Block-70 F-16 jets, a deal which was inked, but has been stalled for months. Progress on this acquisition and broader defence industry collaboration, was a key topic during Fidans visit. A Turkish foreign ministry source told American media that technical talks would follow to address these issues, reflecting a pragmatic approach to rebuilding trust and capability-sharing between the two allies. Improving US-Turkey ties also has significant regional implications. Trumps shift away from Bidens policy of isolating Moscow and unwavering support for Kyiv has opened new avenues for dialogue. Turkey, which has maintained a delicate balance between Russia and the west, sees itself as a potential partner in mediation and also in reshaping European security. Turkey thinks that Trumps rocky relations with Europe, coupled with his contempt for NATO, could elevate Turkeys role as a security provider in the continent. This is particularly relevant as Europe grapples with uncertainties over American commitment, potentially increasing the value of Turkeys military strength and thriving defence sector. On regional issues, Fidan and Rubio emphasised the importance of stability in Syria and the Balkans, along with efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war and secure a ceasefire in Gaza. Turkey has positioned itself as a mediator, offering to contribute to American initiatives while advocating for its own priorities, such as Syrias territorial integrity and the lifting of sanctions to support reconstruction efforts. The fight against key antagonists such as the PKK/YPG and the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO), remains a key focus, with Turkey seeking greater US cooperation. The death of Fetullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based Turkish cleric who was accused of masterminding the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan, has also gone a long way in improving bilateral ties. Erdogan himself has expressed confidence in the upward trajectory of ties with the US, stating earlier this week that bilateral relations could gain significant momentum despite challenges from lobbies seeking to undermine cooperation. This optimism was echoed by Turkish Ambassador to the US, Sedat Onal, who, speaking at an Atlantic Council event on March 21, said the potential for greater convergence and complementarity in addressing conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza. Onal pointed to the existing strategic mechanism framework as a foundation for deeper engagement, with plans for new high-level visits. Trumps public praise for Erdogan on March 25, calling him a good leader amid Turkeys domestic unrest following the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, further bolsters Ankaras hopes. While this endorsement has drawn criticism given Turkeys political crackdown, it signals to investors and policymakers that Trump is unlikely to exert significant pressure on Erdogan. The Turkish lira, which stabilised after an initial plunge, reflects market confidence in this pragmatic alignment. For Erdogan, Trumps leadership offers more than just policy alignmentit resonates with his world view as well. Both leaders share a populist streak, a belief in their dealmaking prowess, and a preference for bilateralism over multilateralism. Trumps opposition to liberal interventionism contrasts with the Democrats focus on democracy and human rights, which Erdogan perceives as a threat to his governance. This ideological convergence, combined with Trumps willingness to overlook such concerns in favour of practical outcomes, suits Erdogans vision of a relationship unencumbered by ideological friction. Turkey is seizing the opportunity presented by Trumps presidency to mend and enhance its ties with the United States. Through Fidans visit and ongoing diplomatic efforts, Ankara is addressing defence disputes, aligning on regional priorities, and leveraging personal ties between its leader and Trump. Turkey aims to position itself as an indispensable ally, capitalising on Trumps pragmatic foreign policy to secure its strategic and economic interests. ISTANBUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A fire at a closed ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkiye earlier Thursday killed four people, including a champion skier and his instructor father, two months after a major ski resort fire killed 78 in the country. According to a statement by the Bursa Governor's Office, the incident, which occurred in the Uludag ski resort in Bursa province around 5:30 a.m. local time (0230 GMT), killed Yahya Usta, President of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Instructors Association, his 24-year-old son Berkin Usta, a national skier and World Alpine Champion, and two staff members of the hotel. The office said 12 staff members were inside the hotel when the fire broke out, two of whom were killed, and one was in critical condition. The Turkish Ski Federation issued a condolence message and stated that Yahya Usta's wife was injured. Multiple media reports said that the fire, which started in the cafe-restaurant section of the hotel, quickly spread to all floors and engulfed the entire building. Earlier in the day, Bursa Mayor Mustafa Bozbey said in a live broadcast on NTV that preliminary reports indicated four people were inside the hotel during the fire. One of them was killed, and three others, reportedly a ski instructor, his wife and their son, were affected by the thick smoke and later taken to the hospital in an unconscious state, said Bozbey. The hotel had been closed and previously evacuated due to the expiration of its accommodation certificate, which had not been renewed. The fire has been brought under control, and an investigation has been launched, according to NTV. This incident followed a major hotel fire in January at Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province, which killed 78 people and injured over 50. Since then, authorities have intensified inspections of hotels nationwide. Long-threatened tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump have plunged the country into a global trade war all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty. Trump is no stranger to tariffs. He launched a trade war during his first term, taking particular aim at China by putting taxes on most of its goods. Beijing responded with its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products ranging from fruit to automotive imports. Trump also used the threat of more tariffs to force Canada and Mexico to renegotiate a North American trade pact, called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in 2020. When President Joe Biden took office, he preserved most of the tariffs Trump previously enacted against China, in addition to imposing some new restrictions but his administration claimed to take a more targeted approach. Fast-forward to today and economists stress there could be greater consequences on businesses and economies worldwide under Trumps more sweeping tariffs this time around and that higher prices will likely leave consumers footing the bill. Theres also been a sense of whiplash from Trumps back-and-forth tariff threats and responding retaliation, including some recently-postponed taxes on goods from Americas largest trading partners. Heres a timeline of how we got here: January 20 Trump is sworn into office. In his inaugural address, he again promises to tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens. And he reiterates plans to create an agency called the External Revenue Service, which has yet to be established. On his first day in office, Trump also says he expects to put 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting on Feb. 1, while declining to immediately flesh out plans for taxing Chinese imports. January 26 Trump threatens 25% tariffs on all Colombia imports and other retaliatory measures after President Gustavo Petros rejects two U.S. military aircraft carrying migrants to the country, accusing Trump of not treating immigrants with dignity during deportation. In response, Petro also announces a retaliatory 25% increase in Colombian tariffs on U.S. goods. But Colombia later reversed its decision and accepted the flights carrying migrants. The two countries soon signaled a halt in the trade dispute. February 1 Trump signs an executive order to impose tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada starting Feb. 4. Trump invoked this power by declaring a national emergency ostensibly over undocumented immigration and drug trafficking. The levies on Canada and Mexico threaten to blow up Trumps own USMCA trade deal, which allowed many products to cross North American borders duty free. The action prompts swift outrage from all three countries, with promises of retaliatory measures. February 3 Trump agrees to a 30-day pause on his tariff threats against Mexico and Canada, with both trading partners taking steps to appease Trumps concerns about border security and drug trafficking. February 4 Trumps new 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports to the U.S. still go into effect. China retaliates the same day by announcing a flurry of countermeasures, including sweeping new duties on a variety of American goods and an anti-monopoly investigation into Google. Chinas 15% tariffs on coal and liquefied natural gas products, and a 10% levy on crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars imported from the U.S., take effect Feb. 10. February 10 Trump announces plans to hike steel and aluminum tariffs. He removes the exemptions from his 2018 tariffs on steel, meaning that all steel imports will be taxed at a minimum of 25%, and also raises his 2018 aluminum tariffs to 25% from 10% set to go into effect March 12. February 13 Trump announces a plan for reciprocal tariffs promising to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports for purposes of fairness. Economists warn that the reciprocal tariffs, set to overturn decades of trade policy, could create chaos for global businesses. Beyond China, Canada and Mexico, he indicates that additional countries, such as India, wont be spared from higher tariffs. And in the following weeks, Trump suggests that European countries could face a 25% levy as part of these efforts. February 25 Trump signed an executive order instructing the Commerce Department to consider whether a tariff on imported copper is needed to protect national security. He cites the materials use in U.S. defense, infrastructure and emerging technologies. March 1 Trump signs an additional executive order instructing the Commerce Department to consider whether tariffs on lumber and timber are also needed to protect national security, arguing that the construction industry and military depend on a strong supply of wooden products in the U.S. March 4 Trumps 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico go into effect, though he limits the levy to 10% on Canadian energy. He also doubles the tariff on all Chinese imports to 20%. All three countries promise retaliatory measures. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over the course of 21 days. And Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her country would respond with its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods without specifying the targeted products immediately, signaling hopes to de-escalate. China, meanwhile, imposes tariffs of up to 15% on a wide array of key U.S. farm exports. It also expands the number of U.S. companies subject to export controls and other restrictions by about two dozen. March 5 Trump grants a one-month exemption on his new tariffs impacting goods from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers. The pause arrives after the president spoke with leaders of the Big 3 automakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. March 6 In a wider extension, Trump postpones 25% tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada for a month. But he still plans to impose reciprocal tariffs starting on April 2. Trump credited Sheinbaum with making progress on border security and drug smuggling as a reason for again pausing tariffs. His actions also thaw relations with Canada somewhat, although outrage and uncertainty over the trade war remains. Still, after its initial retaliatory tariffs of $30 billion Canadian (US$21 billion) on U.S. goods, the government said it had suspended its second wave of retaliatory tariffs worth $125 billion Canadian (US$87 billion). March 10 China retaliates against Trumps tariffs by imposing additional 15% taxes on key American farm products, including chicken, pork, soybeans and beef. The escalating trade tensions push stocks lower on Monday as investors worry about the pain Trumps trade wars risk inflicting on the American economy. The Chinese tariffs were a response to Trumps decision to double the levy on Chinese imports to 20% on March 4. Chinas Commerce Ministry had earlier said that goods already in transit would be exempt from the retaliatory tariffs until April 12. March 12 Trump increases tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25%, removing exemptions from his 2018 tariffs on the metals in addition to increasing the tariffs on aluminum from 10%. The European Union takes retaliatory trade action promising new duties on U.S. industrial and farm products. The measures will cover goods from the United States worth some 26 billion euros ($28 billion), and not just steel and aluminum products, but also textiles, home appliances and agricultural goods. Motorcycles, bourbon, peanut butter and jeans will be hit, as they were during Trumps first term. The 27-member bloc later says it will delay this retaliatory action until mid-April. March 13 Trump threatens a 200% tariff on European wine, Champagne and spirits if the European Union goes forward with a planned 50% tariff on American whiskey. The European import tax, which was unveiled in response to steel and aluminum tariffs by the U.S. administration, is expected to go into effect April 1, just ahead of separate reciprocal tariffs that Trump plans to place on the EU. March 24 Trump says he will place a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, in addition to imposing new tariffs on the South American country itself, starting April 2. The tariffs would most likely add to the taxes facing China, which in 2023 bought 68% of the oil exported by Venezuela, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But a number of countries also receive oil from Venezuela including the United States itself. March 26 Trump says he is placing 25% tariffs on auto imports, a move that the White House claims would foster domestic manufacturing. But it could also put a financial squeeze on automakers that depend on global supply chains. (AP) The revelation that President Donald Trumps most senior national security officials posted the specifics of a military attack to a chat group that included a journalist hours before the attack took place in Yemen has raised many questions. Among them are whether federal laws were violated, whether classified information was exposed on the commercial messaging app, and whether anyone will face consequences for the leaks. Heres what we know so far, and what we dont know. ___ KNOWN: Signal is a publicly available app that provides encrypted communications, but it can be hacked. It is not approved for carrying classified information. On March 14, one day before the strikes, the Defense Department cautioned personnel about the vulnerability of Signal, specifically that Russia was attempting to hack the app, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak to the press and spoke on the condition of anonymity. One known vulnerability is that a malicious actor, if they have access to a persons phone, can link their own device to the users Signal and essentially monitor messages remotely in real time. NOT KNOWN: How frequently the administration and the Defense Department use Signal for sensitive government communications, and whether those on the chat were using unauthorized personal devices to transmit or receive those messages. The department put out an instruction in 2023 restricting what information could be posted on unauthorized and unclassified systems. At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard would not say whether she was accessing the information on her personal phone or government-issued phone, citing an ongoing investigation by the National Security Council. ___ KNOWN: The government has a requirement under the Presidential Records Act to archive all of those planning discussions. NOT KNOWN: Whether anyone in the group archived the messages as required by law to a government server. The images of the text chain posted by The Atlantic show that the messages were set to disappear in one week. ___ KNOWN: The chat group included 18 members, including Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. The group, called Houthi PC Small Group, likely for Houthi principals committee was comprised of Trumps senior-most advisers on national security, including Gabbard, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The National Security Council said the text chain appears to be authentic. NOT KNOWN: How Goldberg got added. Waltz said he built the message chain and didnt know how Goldberg ended up on the chat. He called it a mistake and said he took full responsibility. ___ KNOWN: Just hours before the attack on the Houthis in Yemen began, Hegseth shared details on the timing, targets, weapons and sequence of strikes that would take place. NOT KNOWN: Whether the information was classified. Gabbard, Ratcliffe and the White House have all said it was not classified, and Hegseth said the same in a post on X. Democrats said that strains credulity considering it contained detailed plans for an upcoming attack on Yemens Houthis. Gabbard said the decision on whether the Signal chain should be classified lay with Hegseth. ___ KNOWN: Hegseth has adamantly denied that war plans were texted on Signal, something that current and former U.S. officials called semantics. War plans carry a specific meaning. They often refer to the numbered and highly classified planning documents sometimes thousands of pages long that would inform U.S. decisions in case of a major conflict, such as if the United States is called to defend Taiwan. But the information Hegseth did post specific attack details selecting human and weapons storage targets was a subset of those plans and was likely informed by the same classified intelligence. Posting those details to an unclassified app risked tipping off adversaries of the pending attack and could have put U.S. service members at risk, multiple U.S. officials said. Sharing that information on a commercial app like Signal in advance of a strike would be a violation of everything that were about, said former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who served under President Barack Obama. NOT KNOWN: If anyone outside the messaging group got access to the Signal texts. ___ KNOWN: Hegseth is cracking down on unauthorized leaks of information inside the Defense Department, and his chief of staff issued a memo on March 21 saying the Pentagon would use polygraph tests to determine the sources of recent leaks, and prosecute those found to have disclosed unauthorized information. NOT KNOWN: Whether Hegseth will take responsibility for the unauthorized release of national defense information to a journalist regarding the attack plans on the Houthis. Trump on Wednesday bristled at a suggestion that Hegseth should step down: Hes doing a great job. He had nothing to do with it. ___ KNOWN: The revelation of the group chat has troubled some military families, who are required to protect information about the whereabouts and assignments of spouses and loved ones. It also has exasperated some veterans. NOT KNOWN: How the sharing of the attack plans on Signal may have affected the U.S. service members carrying out the airstrikes in the Middle East. The Williamsburg kehilla is eagerly awaiting the opening of a magnificent new shul on Throop Avenue, a project spearheaded by noted philanthropist Reb Yoeli Landau. With Pesach fast approaching, efforts are in full swing to ensure every detail is completed on timeincluding the construction of the mikvah. R Yoeli has gone to extraordinary lengths to guarantee the mikvah is filled with kosher water in time for Pesach by bringing in fresh snow trucked in from Vermont! The snow, was brought in via a refrigerated truck to ensure it remained pristine and untouched, in accordance with halachic requirements. Your browser does not support the video tag. This method, while uncommon, is not unprecedentednearly two decades ago, YWN reported on a similar operation that was carried out in Eretz Yisroel to prepare a mikvah for Gush Katif refugees who had settled in the Western Negev. At the time, with rain scarce, Merkaz Artzi Lemaan Taharas Hamishpochoh BeYisroel coordinated a massive effort to transport 30 cubic meters of snow from Neveh Ativ in the Golan Heights. The snow was carefully packed into sealed sacks, trucked across the country, and lifted by crane onto the rooftop of the mikvah, where it melted directly into the bor otzar. Now, Williamsburgs Yidden are witnessing a similar mesirus nefesh to ensure that this mikvah is ready for Pesach. With just a few short weeks to go, workers are pushing full force to complete this stunning makom tefillah. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) (By Alexandra Segal) Theres something about watching history in the making. Seeing a moment in time, knowing you were there as it occurred, and that it would be remembered as monumental for all time. I think its safe to say that I, along with close to 6,500 other women felt like we were part of a historic moment, between this Sunday and Monday nights. In an opulent theater built for royals the Kings Theatre in the heart of Brooklyn, girls and women of all ages and backgrounds flooded from near and far (many flying in from Chicago, Switzerland, Toronto, Florida, Texas and other places) to hear the soulful sounds of one Shaindy Plotzker, a 28-year-old powerhouse who commands the stage and captivates every audience, event single time. The anticipation was palpable and emotions were high as we all gathered excitedly for the night we wait for all year, the annual largest female Jewish concert produced by Eli Gerstner of EG Productions, an evening to benefit Efrat, the unparalleled Shaindy Plotzker Live. Looking around while walking into the auditorium, I expected to run into a neighbor, a friend, an influencer here and there. These were women I knew and also thousands I didnt yet looking around, we all felt the bond of shared anticipation and excitement, the knowing of the magic we were about to experience together. Its really just that. Shaindys annual concert isnt just a concert. Its an interactive experience , one where everyone comes alive, one you can only truly understand if youre there. The diverse crowd spoke so much about how Shaindy connects with all ages, all backgrounds, how she keeps her heart open for all. There were young girls and their moms, gaggles of teens, grandmothers and young women of all religious affiliations who became strung together by their love for music, womanhood and connection. As I sat down in my seat, I was immediately blown away by the massive production. Eli Gerstner is known worldwide for his masterful creativity, absolute brilliance, and musical excellence. And the moment the lights dimmed and the first beat dropped, it all came alive. The stage was a masterpiece, a towering spectacle of LED screens flashing vibrant visuals that pulsed in sync with the music. Dazzling beams of light shot through the air, painting the crowd in a kaleidoscope of colors. The sheer scale of the production was mind-blowingevery detail meticulously crafted to pull us deeper into the music. This is so much of what EG Productions is about, and we got to see it once again. It wasnt just a show; it was a world built for us to fall into an experience, hand crafted by the production master, Eli Gerstner. That string tightened when the all-female 30 piece orchestra proudly took their places on the stage. As observant Jewish women, were so used to seeing men in public-facing arenas. Having a unique moment where these talented women emerged, ready to showcase their unbelievable talents felt so empowering before they even played a note. Shaindys orchestra is made up of the top talent in New York City, with many of her musicians playing on Broadway the night after playing with Shaindy. That musical excellence was felt and heard, with every note played to absolute perfection. And then, the moment we all had been waiting for. The one-minute countdown appeared on screen. When it got to 1098 the entire room chanted together in unison, with excitement ringing in our hearts as they pounded with anticipation. The amazing Rebitzin Yaffa Palti took to the stage to get things started. You all might look different on the outside, she shared, but your souls are already best friendsevery neshama has the most beautiful voice especially when you sing together. And let me tell you, we were ready to do just that. At long last, Shaindy took the stage in a breathtaking magical entrance on top of the staircase, belting out the high notes, revving up the energy and the night began. Daring to begin the concert with her own twist on the hit Tamid Ohev Oti, Shaindy got the crowd roaring. Its very rare that at the very first song, the entire audience is jumping already, but its not rare when it comes to a Shaindy Plotzker concert. Led into a Fire/Aish mashup, Shaindy then turned the crowd from jumping and dancing to complete sobs with her performance of her original song Our Story dedicated to the hostages still in captivity and those recovering accompanied by 138 young girls, who were part of Shaindys girls choir, walking down the aisles holding candles. These girls have had the honor to join Shaindy on stage in song multiple times throughout the show, and watching them shine was something special. Im not sure how it was possible to keep a dry eye at this moment. Hearing Shaindy sing the song she wrote after October 7th along with young girls who represent what it means to have a Jewish future when you know how many Jewish futures were stripped away was painstakingly beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time I still get chills rewatching the videos I took. As the song says, Its the story that weve always told.Whats in our veins is flowing goldWeve made it through the ages Knowing that amidst the struggle and anguish, our strength is always at the core, just made the tears flow with more fervor. All of these young girls represent that Jewish hope. They are the reason that we as women keep fighting. Afterward, while we all scrounged up some tissues, she went into a medley dedicated to Israel which included Machshavot Tovot, Vhaikar, Mi Shemaaim, Ivdu es Hashem, BSimcha, Hakodosh Baruch Hu and Anachnu Maaminim. So basically, we went from tears to tearing it up in serious Jewish pride. We all know what an Am Yisrael Chai dance energy can do for the soul. And the energy was HIGH. You could practically feel every soul being lit on fire as it was reignited through the music. One thing about Shaindy is that she loves to surprise her audience over and and over, and you can bet that she did. For the first surprise of the evening a duet with her dear friend, Chayala Neuhaus. Shaindy brought out Chayala who both sang and played piano to accompany Shaindy for her newest song You Dont Give Up On Me, written by Chayala and it was everything. From the chemistry they share to the messaging and the mashup of their voices, it was the perfect harmony we didnt know we needed. Shaindy reminded each and every person in the audience that no matter how far you go, there is always a path back home, and that Hashem is there to accept you with open arms. I can only imagine how many people in the audience needed to hear that, and how many people she inspired through that moment. What a zchus. Another Shaindy Plotzker signature move is the Oldies Medley, a highlight and a tradition she has embraced at every show, one we all look forward to. Seamlessly weaving together beloved old songs, she transported the audience back in time, filling the venue with a warm, familiar energy. As we all sang along on top of our lungs, it was clear that this moment was more than just musicit was a heartfelt connection between Shaindy and her fans, celebrating the melodies that shaped them. The brilliant medley created by Eli Gerstner went through songs we all grew up on Vahavta, Asher Boro, Hinei Mah Tov, Mareh Kohen, Shechiyanu, Hentlach, Zoche and Ein a real trip through Shaindys Time Machine that had every single person bouncing and jumping with the largest smiles. What happened next though, may have been the most memorable part of the show. First, we heard about the incredible organization that Shaindy partnered with for the concert, Efrat, an organization that saves lives by helping women who struggle financially or emotionally, or in other ways, and who feel alone when bringing their children into the world. With support from Efrat, everything changes. As we learned that night, the organization is responsible for helping more than 89,000 women grow their families thus far. The amount of lives this results in bringing into this world is also in the thousands and as we know, each one is invaluable. Many of us had never heard of the organization until Shaindy introduced us to their beautiful world, and it was a world we were blown away by. The organization stands for hope, how giving tangible support and also a light to look toward can change everything. Hearing Shaindy speak about her connection to the organization and how much she believes in supporting our sisters all made sense, because its really what she stands for. Thousands in the crowd were moved to join the mission and support EFRAT, an organization, as Shaindy says that will truly bring mashiach. But that next moment was one that I dont think any of us will ever forget. A video came onto the screen where Shaindy introduced us all to the story of Yael. Yael was a 6 year old girl, who, out of nowhere, was diagnosed with an extreme strain of the flu and given hours to live. Shaindy was contacted by Chai Lifeline of Florida and went to visit Yael, sing to her and give her strength. When Shaindy got to the hospital, as she sang Yaels favorite song, Never Alone, she made a promise to an unconscious Yael, telling her that if she were to get through this, Shaindy would come to her house and surprise her and sing the song together with her again. Against all odds, after many long months, Yael woke up and made it home. We all watched with tears streaming down our faces as the video shifted to Shaindy standing in front of Yaels home, and then fulfilling her promise by surprising Yael, and singing that very same song with her. Yael ran into Shaindys arms, and her smile couldnt have been bigger. Shaindy ended the video by reminding us all that Hashem can do anything, because this girl was a miracle. She then dedicated the next song, Never Alone, to Yael. There wasnt a dry eye as Shaindy emerged singing Never Alone (which to be honest is another one that can easily bring you to tears!). Another beautiful production move was the new arrangement, just Shaindy and a majestic harp. The gentle sounds along with the audience singing every word it was magical. And then at the end of the song, the audience was stunned as Shaindy called Yael out to join her on stage the very same girl fighting for her life in the video. There was 7 year old Yael, looking as vibrant and gorgeous as ever. As she sang the chorus of the song with Shaindy, every heart was infused with hope. It was a living miracle, right in front of us. Powerful doesnt even begin to describe it. To me, this moment showed what hope can do for someone how having something to look forward to, to live for, to fight for, can get you out of depths that no one else thinks is possible. Hashem can do anything and we saw that living miracle glide across the stage a vision in white sing her heart out healthy and strong. After that, Shaindy knew wed need to take that emotional rollercoaster to something a little lighter so she had a little game ready to go. Another Shaindy classic move at her concerts are these LED bracelets. Theyve been used by mainstream celebrities alike and I believe that Shaindy was the first to bring them to Jewish world of music! The bracelet lights up in different colors along with the beat of the song. The bracelets light up in unison, so when you look out at the crowd, and everyone is lifting their wrists, it looks like the stars in the night sky if you were out in the woods and could see them all sparkle. She led us all in the most magical experience that you had to have seen to understand her concert tradition, Lights up, lights down!. While this exercise of watching the crowd light up in unison was one of the coolest things wed ever seen, Shaindy, of course, had a meaningful message behind it. Each one of you is a light, and I know that sometimes you wonder how much your light matters. But tonight, I want you to see how much it truly does. She also empowered us to understand that each person has the power to light up a sister in need, to help EFRAT help them. It was a most meaningful and profound thing to see, understand, and internalize. To take it up a notch, when it came to the next song, Lo Lo Lo, Shaindy had the coolest interactive game for the crowd follow the arrows and move the light on your arm to the beat of the music right, left, up and down. It was both super fun and so cool to watch Im sure all the more so from the stage. The song itself is such a bop its one you cant help but dance to and was the perfect one to have a little extra fun with. After this, it was a slow medley in which she and all of us could pay tribute to the absolutely devastating loss of the Bibas family. She mashed up the most beautiful songs of faith the classic Ani Maamin, Holding On and Zochreinu. And then a most powerful moment, as she brought out her long time voice student, a red headed Esther, to sing Hamalach Hagoel for the Neshamos of these two babies. What a moment. All these songs spoke to us in the auricle so deeply, as they all share the theme of gripping to Hashem in the darkness. When everything feels lost, when nothing can be seen clearly, to continue to hold on and knowing that He knows that there is a plan, even if we cant even begin to see what it could be. It was the infusion of emunah weve all needed. To end off the medley, she brought out her entire choir to sing Unity, a classic song from MBD that reminds us that we truly all are one. And we all felt that. To continue to bring us back to life after that, Shaindy brought out another surprise guest of the night Sorah Shaffren a.k.a. Mordechai Shapiros sister to sing a medley of some of his most famous songs. They basically had a massive dance party on stage and we did right along with them belting out Schar Mizvah, BYachad, Ha Kol Mi Shemayim, Ein Od Milvado, Abba and more. Lets just say it was absolutely epic, and one of our favorite energetic moments! We then had the honor and privilege to hear from the Executive Director of EFRAT, Nir Salomon. After hearing throughout the night how passionate Shaindy is about the organization, to hear from the man in charge was very special. Its safe to say that each woman in the crowd feels a personal connection to Efrat after the concerts, and we cant wait to be a part of their powerful work. Shaindy came back onto the stage to remind us once more of the powerful work that Efrat does and led us straight into her own rendition of Ani Maamin by Tai, a song that took the world by storm. I will keep holding tight the crowd sang along, and the mashiach energy was felt throughout the room. If you were there on Monday night, you got one more big surprise after that Shaindys close friend Shimi Adar who came out and did the Someday Medley with Shaindy. If you know Shimi and Shaindy, you know the two go way back and are like sisters. The two have such a magical bond and undeniable energetic chemistry. It was so special to see them together again on stage. Of course, it wouldnt be a Shaindy Plotzker concert without a rendition of Ah Yay, and she left that for her grand finale. The crowd was on fire. Ah Yay, this is the time of our lives is how the world famous song goes. And honestly, it truly was the time of our lives a time we would never forget, when we got to join hands and hearts with each other, a time when we were uplifted, inspired, motivated, and reconnected, a time when we got to be a part of history in the making. And as we walked out of the magnetic theatre, our hearts were lighter than before, filled with joy, inspiration, chizuk, and so much Jewish pride. While the show was undeniably entertaining in every way, so much fun and so emotional for many reasons detailed above it was also personal to each individual in the audience. A friend of mine related to me how she is so thrilled to have Shaindy as a beautiful Jewish female role model to show her daughters she is a symbol of what is possible for Jewish women everywhere with a passion, to do what you love in a modest way, making a Kiddush hashem with what youve been given. I know that thousands of mothers feel the same. As a boy-mom myself, it was an unbelievable experience of connection to other women. Being a woman is so unique and special and sometimes, no one can understand what youre going through like another woman. Even though we were all so different on the surface, as both Shaindy and Yaffa said and we were there were young, old, Chassidish, Litvish, more Modern and more Traditional we were all there united in song, letting our souls do the talking. When you strip back the layers, and let the music transcend, its really hard not to feel united. If youre a woman in this world, you know that even though we try to appear like we have it together on the outside, so many are struggling in some way. There are many struggles unique to the female experience and no matter what place youre in, Shaindys music has helped thousands through. She stands there small but mighty, strong, proud and confident, and oh-so-human and she reminds us all that whatever place you are in, you are not alone. And that night, we felt it. Throughout the evening, she imparted to us how valuable each light is, each soul. That if you look different on the outside, are struggling on the inside, or dont know where to stand, you are still enough as you are. You are in exactly the place you need to be in. You matter and you have something unique to give to this world. Shaindy uses her G-d given talent to be mekadesh shem shamayim and to bring us all closer to our Father in Heaven. And whats the most amazing part of it all is how clear it is that its so not about her. She doesnt care for attention and is uncomfortable with idolization. For Shaindy, its about the impact she can make, how each audience member feels. And its her humility and focus on the right things that makes her someone we are all proud to admire. Shaindy lights up every young girl with hope and reignites that spark as that same girl grows into a woman. You cant be what you cant see, a powerful woman once told me. For all 6,500 of us, we can see a little piece of ourselves in Shaindy, and that little piece is strengthened after this experience of a lifetime. Were already counting down the days to the next inspirational and uplifting experience, Shaindy Plotzker Live. 2026. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones this week and called for their increased production, state media said Thursday. Kim has been emphasizing the development of drones, and the tests were the latest display of his countrys growing military capabilities. Photos released by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency showed Kim observing what appeared to be a large reconnaissance drone roughly resembling Boeings E-7 Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft. Other images showed exploding drones crashing into military vehicles used as targets. The agency said the test demonstrated the reconnaissance drones ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Koreas intelligence-gathering operations and ability to neutralize enemy threats. The report said the new exploding drones are designed for various attack missions and feature unspecified artificial intelligence capabilities. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones performance and approved plans to expand production, emphasizing that drones and AI should be top priorities in efforts to advance his armed forces and adapt them to modern warfare, KCNA said. The agency said the tests took place as Kim visited a drone technology complex and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. South Koreas Defense Ministry didnt immediately comment on the North Korean report. Kim previously inspected other demonstrations of drones that explode on impact in November and August last year. North Korea also last year accused South Korea of sending its own drones to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the Norths capital of Pyongyang, and threatened to respond with force if such flights occur again. South Koreas military refused to confirm whether or not the Norths claims were true. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated recently as Kim continues to expand his military capabilities, which now includes various nuclear-capable weapons targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Kim is also aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, sending troops and military equipment to support Russias efforts. This has raised concerns that he may receive Russian technology transfers in return, further strengthening the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a report Thursday that it believes North Korea sent around 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February and has continued supplying ammunition, short-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers, and multiple rocket launchers. The Joint Chiefs assessed that, of the approximately 11,000 North Korean troops sent to fight in the war against Ukraine, around 4,000 have been killed or injured. (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. 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 wouldnt 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. 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 isnt 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. 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. Ukraines 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 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, Zelenskyy said at Wednesdays 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 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) President Donald Trump appeared to pin responsibility for the growing Signal chat scandal on National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, marking a shift in his response to the controversy that has rattled his administration. When asked who was to blame while signing an executive order on Wednesday evening, Trump responded bluntly: It was Mike, I guess. I dont know, I always thought it was Mike, he told reporters, before downplaying the entire affair as a media-driven witch hunt. The presidents latest remarks stand in contrast to his previous explanation. Just a day earlier, in a phone interview with NBC, Trump suggested that an unidentified staffernot Waltzwas at fault, saying, It was one of Michaels people on the phone. A staffer had his number in there. Your browser does not support the video tag. When pressed on whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should be concerned about his role in the scandal, Trump swiftly came to his defense. Hegseth, he was doing a great job How do you bring Hegseth into it? He had nothing to do with this, he insisted. Trump also floated a new theory, suggesting that the encrypted messaging app Signal could be defective in light of the controversy. The White House has been scrambling to contain the fallout since The Atlantics Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg broke the story on Monday. Goldberg revealed that he had been mistakenly added to a Signal chat where senior Trump administration officials were discussing a planned strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Initially skeptical of the chats authenticity, Goldberg said he verified the messages after the military actions discussed in the group began unfolding in real time. I had very strong doubts, Goldberg said, adding that while U.S. officials commonly use Signal for logistical coordination, he had never seen a breach quite like this where an encrypted chat was used to discuss imminent war plans. The Trump administration has spent days trying to downplay the significance of the report, even declaring a public relations victory when The Atlantic published a follow-up, describing the leaked discussions as attack plans rather than war plans. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the controversy entirely, calling it another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Leavitt also confirmed to reporters that billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk is now involved in leading an investigation into the Signal chat leak. However, questions remain about what consequencesif anythose responsible will face. Trump has already indicated that Waltz, despite being singled out, will not be fired over the incident. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Hamas responded Thursday to escalating public protests in Gaza by insisting that the demonstrations are directed against Israel and the ongoing war, rather than the terrorist groups rule over the territory. The response came amid rare, large-scale protests this week, with thousands of Gazans taking to the streets, openly chanting for an end to Hamass nearly two-decade control. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim downplayed reports that the protests were aimed at the group, telling Qatari news channel Al-Araby that demonstrators were primarily expressing frustration over war and destruction. He claimed that outside forces were attempting to manipulate the unrest to serve Israels interests. People are calling to stop the aggression, but the enemy and other parties with political agendas are diverting the spontaneous protests to serve the occupations agenda, Naim said, referring to Israel. He also insisted that Hamas allows political dissent, stating, We protect both opinions and opposing views. However, multiple media reports, images, and videos from Gaza contradict Hamass claims, showing protestors directly condemning the group. Demonstrators have openly called for Hamass removal, blaming its leadership for the wars devastation. On Wednesday, thousands of people rallied throughout Gaza, with many chanting Hamas out and demanding the release of hostages in an effort to expedite an end to the war. Protesters carried banners reading, Hamas does not represent us, as demonstrations spread to major cities, including Gaza City and Beit Lahiya. In Beit Lahiya, around 3,000 people gathered, calling for Hamass downfall, one witness reported. In Gaza Citys Shejaiyeh neighborhood, dozens of men were heard chanting, Out, out, out! Hamas, get out! Some demonstrators spoke to media outlets, openly blaming Hamas for their suffering. Residents have no water or electricity. Hamas is destroying Gaza and making us into stones. They must be removed from power, one protester, identified as Sami Ubayed, told Israels Ynet news outlet. While Hamas has violently suppressed previous protests, there was no immediate crackdown this timeleading some analysts to speculate that the groups power may be waning. However, Hamas security forces have reportedly kept a low profile since the resumption of Israeli strikes earlier this month, following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The IDF on Thursday morning confirmed the overnight airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed a senior Radwan Force commander. The elimination was carried out by a drone that targeted the commanders vehicle as he was driving. An Air Force aircraft, directed by Division 91, attacked overnight in the Derdghaiya area in southern Lebanon and killed the terrorist Ahmed Adnan Bajija, a battalion commander in Hezbollahs Radwan Force, the IDF spokesperson stated. During the war, he advanced and carried out numerous terror attacks against the citizens of the State of Israel and IDF forces. In recent months [during the ceasefire], he has continued to advance terror attacks against the Israeli home front, posing a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens. Your browser does not support the video tag. On Thursday morning, the IDF eliminated three Hezbollah terrorists who were transporting weapons in southern Lebanon. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) BOAO, Hainan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday delivered a keynote speech at the opening plenary of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Please see the attachment for the translation of the full text of the speech. Full text: Keynote speech by Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang at opening plenary of Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 Aliza Silverbergs dream is to open up her own pediatric dental practice and provide children with a positive, relaxing experience at the dentist. Aliza chose Touro to help make her dream a reality. I chose to attend Touros Lander College for Women (LCW) for my undergraduate schooling because it was an exciting opportunity to live in New York City and it allowed me to meet some incredible people, both socially and among the faculty. Additionally, I was confident Touro would offer me the academic opportunities to excel in my coursework and continue on to dental school, Aliza said. Indeed, LCW was instrumental in ensuring Aliza was ready for the next step. One way in which Touro helped prepare me for professional school is with their one-week pre-dental experience program. I attended during the summer that I was scheduled to take the dental admission test (DAT) and apply to dental school. We spent one week living as TCDM students. We sat in on lectures about all the various specialties that dentistry has to offer. We even got to work in the simulation lab and get a hands-on feel for what the career entails. This program invigorated my desire to pursue a career in dentistry, she said. Aliza also credits her biology advisor at Lander College for Women, Dr. John Loike, for helping her every step of the way. All throughout my undergraduate schooling, he pushed me to reach my academic potential and always gave me good insight and advice on how to best prepare myself as a respectable applicant for dental schools. He set up mock interviews and was constantly checking in on me. I am extremely grateful for the advice and assistance he gave me and would not be here today otherwise, Aliza explained. With its stellar reputation, Aliza knew she wanted to stay within Touro and attend Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM). The number one thing I was told by current students about Touro Dental is that there is an inviting atmosphere from the staff and camaraderie amongst fellow students. Every member of the community truly wants what is best for each student, she said. She was especially impressed with the brand-new state-of-the-art facilities and the beautiful campus. Now a TCDM student herself, Aliza has found the community to be as warm and welcoming as she had heard. Friendships and connections are made every single day, and the faculty are always greeting students with warm smiles. Entering the student lounge on the fourth floor, you see people studying together and preparing for the day ahead. Working in the simulation lab is a vibrant experience, as we are learning and seeking advice and constructive criticism from faculty. I look forward to going to school because there is nothing as rewarding as seeing real progress in my skills as a budding dentist, she said. Aliza cant wait to start her career and open her own practice one day. I chose dentistry because it is an exciting and constantly-evolving career that enables me to be creative while also pursuing my medical interests. I want to interact with my future patients and connect with them while they spend time in my chair. Learn more at touro.edu/poweryourpath 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. We knew the public finances were in a bad way. Just how bad was laid bare yesterday in official forecasts that accompanied Rachel Reevess dismal Spring Statement. Unless Britain starts working smarter and more productively, a near-50billion black hole will open up in the countrys accounts by the end of the decade, blowing the Chancellors non-negotiable fiscal rules out of the water. Thats according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the independent watchdog that checks Reevess tax-and-spend plans to see if her sums add up. The huge shortfall equivalent to adding 9p to the basic 20p rate of income tax is based on the not unrealistic assumption that Britains lousy productivity record persists for the rest of the decade. Fortunately for Reeves, the OBR thinks productivity, as measured by output per hour worked, will miraculously rebound despite consistently over-estimating it in recent years. The OBRs heroic assumption matters because it allowed the Chancellor not only to meet her ironclad target of balancing the books by 2028-29 with a paltry 10billion to spare, but also to avoid more punishing tax raises at least for now. Upbeat: OBRs forecasts have allowed the Chancellor (pictured) to meet her ironclad target of balancing the books by 2028-29 with a paltry 10bn to spare Strong productivity growth how much more efficiently we as a country use our assets, including labour and technology, to produce more goods and services is vital because it is needed to raise tax revenues sustainably. These in turn pay for public services like schools, hospitals and the military, where there are demands for higher spending. Small wonder then that the OBR says the outlook for productivity is one of the most important and uncertain forecast judgements. In its latest update, the watchdog admits previous productivity predictions have been missed by a country mile. But it sticks with its own rosy view that things will get better, even after halving its forecast for economic growth this year to just 1 per cent. Successive past forecasts have proven to be too optimistic as productivity growth has continued to disappoint, the OBR lamented yesterday. Weaker-than-forecast economic growth meant both the level and growth rate of measured productivity have been lower than we expected, it added. As a result, measured output per hour fell by 0.4 per cent in 2023 and by 1pc in 2024, the OBR revealed. If these woeful productivity trends continue, the 10billion of headroom built into its forecasts will be wiped out and the public accounts will plunge 48billion in the red by 2029-30, the OBR projected. Experts have long warned that the OBR is hiding a huge black hole in the public accounts. Its renewed forecast that productivity will grow at an annual rate of 1 per cent in each of the next five years boosted in part by the Governments ambitious housebuilding plans is so cheery it is, in the words of Berenberg economist Andrew Wishart, starting to look insane. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey doesnt go quite so far but he also has his doubts. The story of growth is, Im afraid, quite clear, he said this week. It has slowed markedly in the last 15 years or so, and this has affected the advance of living standards. An ageing population and the rise of women in employment coming to a natural end meant growth would not arise from more people working, he added. Bailey had previously noted that the UK population and workforce had grown faster than previously thought, but economic growth had stalled. We can only conclude mathematically that productivity has got much worse, he said last month. Its actually negative. The Bank sees potential output per head rising by just 0.7 per cent in 2027, whereas the OBR thinks it will revert to growing by 1.25 per cent over the medium term. French budget nightmare Rachel Reeves may have tried to put a gloss on her Spring Statement. But the French are taking a more realistic approach, with the government admitting its Budget for 2026 will be a nightmare due to the need to cut the deficit and increase military spending. The prime minister today insists that the 2026 budget, which is going to be a nightmare given the extent of our financial difficulties, be worked upon and consulted upon by the full social and parliamentary spectrum, many of whom often feel they are not listened to, said government spokesman Sophie Primas. It is going to be a very difficult budget, she added. Prime minister Francois Bayrou who took over from Michel Barnier in December wants to cut the budget deficit from 5.4 per cent this year to 3 per cent in 2029. Such is the political turmoil in France, he is President Emmanuel Macrons fourth prime minister since early last year and has already been forced to survive one no-confidence vote to push through the delayed 2025 budget. Finance Minister Eric Lombard said this month that work was underway to boost defence spending in a way that neither added to Frances debt burden nor undermined its welfare system, which is cherished by many despite being costly. Experts say it is only a matter of time before the watchdog finally smells the coffee and cuts its own productivity estimates. But it is unlikely to do so in one fell swoop for fear of scaring financial markets, they add. The fiscal position remains vulnerable, says Michael Saunders, senior economic adviser at the Oxford Economics think-tank. The OBR has taken a relatively optimistic view on the extent to which planning reform will lift potential output in the next few years, despite widespread shortages of construction workers, he added. It remains likely that the OBR will have to downgrade their potential growth projections at some stage. And the Chancellor has again left little headroom against the fiscal rules, leaving (them) vulnerable to even modest revisions to the economic outlook. Sanjay Raja, chief UK economist at investment bank Deutsche Bank, added: These buffers remain wafer thin. The OBR regularly accuses Chancellors of using smoke-and-mirror tactics to hide the truth of the public finances. But it has conjured up its own fiscal illusion as it gazes into the crystal ball of productivity growth. It is surely only a matter of time before the spell is broken and reality bites. 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. Britain will spend nearly 600billion on interest payments over the next five years as the cost of government profligacy mounts, official forecasts showed. As Rachel Reeves unveiled her Spring Statement yesterday, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) revealed that servicing the ballooning national debt will cost taxpayers around 30billion more than previously forecast by 2030. And the budget watchdogs figures showed that the national debt will rise by nearly 600billion to well over 3 trillion by the end of the decade as the country continues to live beyond its means. Britain spends more in interest payments than on defence, the Home Office and justice combined, having failed to balance the books since 2001. Debt has steadily risen from around 300billion then to 2.8 trillion today, with the sharpest increases coming in the financial crisis and Covid-19 pandemic. The Debt Management Office yesterday said it will issue another 299.2billion of gilts in 2025-26 the second highest figure on record after the 485billion sold at the height of the Covid crisis. Debt burden: The Chancellor blamed the recent rise in the interest bill on global economic uncertainty as the cost of borrowing has risen for governments around the world The Chancellor rushed to blame the most recent rise in the interest bill on global economic uncertainty as the cost of borrowing has risen for governments around the world. But economists said Reeves shares responsibility after her tax-hiking Autumn Budget strangled growth. Markets were febrile on fears that Reeves near-10billion fiscal buffer will once again be eroded, forcing her to hike taxes, cut spending or borrow more at the Autumn Budget. Sterling weakened after her statement, falling below $1.29, while gilt yields rose before falling back. Sanjay Raja, chief UK economist at Deutsche Bank, said: To be clear, these buffers remain wafer thin. Investec chief economist Philip Shaw added: If things go badly with the economy and the public finances, then the Chancellor will be back to square one, perhaps with a need to tighten spending again or perhaps tax increases or even a combination of both. Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: Further tax hikes and borrowing are coming. Reeves is under pressure to increase defence budgets and spend more on health to serve an aging population. But she has been blamed for stifling growth with policies announced in her October Budget, such as the controversial National Insurance hike for businesses. Reeves told Parliament yesterday the global economy has become more uncertain, bringing insecurity at home as trading patterns become more unstable and borrowing costs rise for many major economies. Alan Vallance, chief executive of accounting industry group ICAEW, said: The Chancellor is right that the world has changed and that we as a country have to adapt. But much of the sluggish growth since October has been self-inflicted after the Budget damaged the conditions for growth, which means continued low productivity levels and stagnant living standards. Debt interest spending this year has hit 105.2billion. It will rise to 111.2billion in 2025-26 and total 596.3billion over the five years to 2029-30. This is 29.3billion more than the OBR forecast in October. Spending on debt interest is around twice as high as the ten years leading up to Covid when it averaged 2 per cent of GDP. Public sector net debt will hit 3.39 trillion by the end of the decade, up from 2.81 trillion today an increase nearly 578billion, the OBR forecast showed. Donald Trump's latest move in an emerging trade war has hammered shares in global carmakers as the US President launched a crackdown on auto imports into the country. Trump announced a fresh slate of tariffs on foreign-made cars late on Wednesday, with an eye-watering 25 per cent levy on all motors made outside the US set to come in from next week. The tariffs are designed to revive the US auto industry while creating jobs in the country, which imported roughly eight million motors in 2024 at a trade value of $240billion or around half of all sales. However, analysts warn the tariffs will also harm the country's biggest automakers, which import large volumes of parts from overseas. Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Volkswagen, BMW and Stellantis were all among the European shares trading sharply lower on Wednesday morning. Aston Martin Lagonda shares followed suit at the open, dipping 1.5 and 5 per cent, respectively. Shares in European carmakers fell sharply on Thursday in response to Trump's tariffs Analysts at Wedbush Securities wrote in a note: 'These initial tariffs (if they hold in their current form) would be a hurricane-like headwind to foreign (and many US) automakers and ultimately push the average price of cars up $5k to $10k depending on the make/model/price point. 'We continue to believe this is some form of negotiation and these tariffs could change by the week although this initial 25 per cent tariff on autos from outside the US is almost an untenable head scratching number for the US consumer.' How exposed are UK carmakers? Total US auto product imports hit $474billion in 2024, accounting for the cost of parts and other services, according to S&P Global Mobility. Major allies are also major suppliers, with Mexico, South Korea and Japan exporting 2.5million, 1.4million and 1.3million motors to the US each last year, respectively. Canada and Germany are the next biggest suppliers, with 1.1million and 430,000 exports to the country each. Britain is in sixth place after shipping nearly 90,000 motors to the US in 2024. Responding to the impact of the tariffs, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told Sky News on Thursday that Britain does not want to do anything that could escalate a trade war with the US. She said: 'We are not at the moment in a position where we want to do anything to escalate these trade wars. 'Trade wars are no good for anyone.' Which global automakers are most exposed to the tariffs? Research from GlobalData reveals the automakers set to be worst hit by Trump's latest tariffs. Below is the percentage of cars sold by brands in the US that are imported: Britain's aviation watchdog will review 'resilience' rules after Heathrow was closed for a day last week due to a fire at a nearby electricity substation. Heathrow was shut in the early hours of Friday after the fire at the Hayes substation in west London hit electricity supplies. Global travel chaos ensued and industry statistics seen by the PA news agency suggest 234,000 passengers booked to fly to or from Heathrow on 21 March had their flight cancelled, diverted or delayed. In total, more than 270,000 air passenger journeys were disrupted by Heathrow airports closure last week. As part of a review of the airport before the next price control period, the Civil Aviation Authority said it would 'carefully consider the rules on resilience'. The CAA also said it planned to set incentives for Heathrow to invest in its operations and provide high-quality service. Review: Britain's aviation watchdog has revealed it will review the rules on 'resilience' after Heathrow was closed for a day The CAA's review and guidance examines several aspects of how Heathrow functions and develops: from investments, to airline charges, to environmental impact, and preparedness to handle a crisis. The watchdog said on Thursday that its latest regulatory review would look into operations at the airport from 2027 to 2031. As part of its analysis, the CAA will also review the regulatory model that applies to Heathrow as its expansion plans, notably a potential third runway, develop. The CAA said it would scrutinise the 'efficient delivery of the substantial costs involved in expansion and how to best protect the interests of consumers'. Separate to the review announced on Thursday, the CAA said it remained in close contact with Heathrow. It claimed it would support the National System Operators review and would take into account its outcomes, alongside the results of the airports own probe, in 'considering whether it should take further steps under Heathrows licence.' In the aftermath of the airports closure, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband ordered the National Energy System Operator to investigate what happened and provide its initial findings within six weeks. This week, the chief executive of National Grid claimed Heathrow had 'enough power' from other substations following Friday's fire that caused the airport to shut down. John Pettigrew, the boss of National Grid, told the Financial Times, that the fire that knocked out the substation was a 'unique event', but that two other substations remained operational and capable of powering Heathrow. Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye told the BBC that while the airport would look at what it could do better, he was 'proud' of the response to the 'major incident'. On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Heathrow Reimagined campaign, said: 'Whilst the CAAs announcement of a regulatory review for Heathrow expansion is a step forward, it doesnt go far enough. 'Heathrow is the most expensive airport in the world and continues to fail passengers and airlines. 'We are concerned that the priority of the CAA has been to launch the business as usual review of passenger charges for the next five year period. 'The current flawed regime will lead to higher passenger charges which is why we urge the CAA to go even further and commit to an urgent and fundamental review of regulation at Heathrow.' Foreign predators are swooping on British companies at a rate not seen for three years. In a report that will fuel concerns over low valuations in the UK, the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) said the value of bids from overseas for British firms has reached 22billion so far in 2025. That is up 48 per cent on the same period of 2024 and the highest level of first quarter merger and acquisition (M&A) activity for three years. The report came as property company Warehouse REIT said it was minded to back a 489million offer from US private equity giant Blackstone. Lucille Jones, senior manager at LSEG, said: UK inbound M&A increased almost 50 per cent as quality assets at attractive valuations continued to appeal, particularly to US buyers. Property is the most targeted sector so far this year, according to the report, which also highlighted the 1.6billion bid for GP surgery owner Assura by US private equity group KKR. Going cheap: The London Stock Exchange Group said the value of bids from overseas for British firms has reached 22bn so far in 2025 A flurry of takeover activity in recent years has fuelled fears that firms on the stock market are undervalued compared with overseas rivals making them vulnerable to predators. British car parts maker Dowlais agreed to a 1.2billion takeover by its US rival American Axle & Manufacturing in January. Broker Hargreaves Lansdown left the London stock market at the end of last week following its acquisition by a consortium led by CVC. Other companies to agree to takeovers by overseas buyers recently include packaging group DS Smith, cyber security firm Darktrace and Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services. And while a host of companies have left the stock market due to takeovers, a dearth of new arrivals through so-called initial public offerings (IPOs) has seen the number of listed firms diminish. Warehouse REIT looks set to become the latest to join the exodus after Blackstone this week proposed making a bid worth 115p a share. Bosses at the property group yesterday said they would be minded to recommend such an offer to shareholders should it materialise. Warehouse REIT owns 69 estates worth 810million across the country, from Milton Keynes to Glasgow. CAIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip in the resort city of Hurghada, an official source at the Red Sea Governorate told Xinhua. BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Thursday reaffirmed the Chinese military's resolve and capability to thwart any separatist attempt for "Taiwan independence." Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to recent separatist statements by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te. Wu noted that the recent drill of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in areas around Taiwan was a legitimate and necessary measure, serving as both punishment and deterrence against "Taiwan independence" separatists and a stern warning to external interfering forces. The PLA's naval and air forces carried out combat-readiness patrols and joint exercises to test and enhance their operational capabilities, Wu said. In response to Lai's separatist rhetoric -- claiming that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are "not subordinate to each other" and referring to the mainland as a "foreign hostile force" -- Wu cited a Chinese saying: "When the heavens are about to destroy someone, they first make them delusional." The PLA remains ready and able to fight and win at all times, and will take resolute measures to thwart any separatist attempts, the spokesperson said. "Taiwan is a part of China. It has never been a nation; neither in the past, nor in the present, nor will it ever be in the future," he added. TOKYO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 Kyushu China-Japan Friendship Exchange Conference and China-Japan Sister Cities Exchange Event was held in Fukuoka on Thursday. The conference brought together officials from six Chinese provinces and regions, as well as representatives from 11 Chinese cities. On the Japanese side, representatives from eight prefectures and 23 cities participated in the event. During the conference, the attendees exchanged views on strengthening friendship, deepening people-to-people exchanges, enhancing local cooperation, and promoting stable and healthy development of the China-Japan strategic relationship of mutual benefit. The discussions resulted in a broad consensus on further consolidating friendly ties and advancing practical collaboration. WARSAW, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A search has been under way for four U.S. soldiers who went missing during a military exercise in Lithuania, according to a NATO spokesperson on Wednesday evening. "We regret any confusion about remarks" concerning the four soldiers, the spokesperson said on social media platform X, noting that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was referring to emerging news reports and the fate of the missing "is still unknown." Earlier in the day, Rutte told reporters in Warsaw that "We do not yet know the details, but it is terrible news," and he appeared to confirm that the soldiers had died. The Lithuanian Armed Forces reported that the soldiers, along with a tracked vehicle, went missing on Tuesday afternoon during a training exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training area in Pabrade, eastern Lithuania. According to a statement released by the U.S. Army on Wednesday, the tracked vehicle the soldiers had been operating was found submerged in a swamp. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene visited the training site late on Wednesday, and said that no bodies had been found. An investigation has been launched into the soldiers' disappearance. Tonight Northeast KC endures more fatal gunfire as KC counts it's second homicide of the week so far. Here is the first report shared with media . . . Homicide 3700 blk of St. John This evening, just before 7:30 PM, patrol officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of St. John on a reported shooting. Upon arrival they were directed to the parking lot of a convenience store at the corner of St. John and Monroe. Officers located an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. They immediately began performing life saving measures and summoned emergency medical personnel to the scene. EMS pronounced the victim deceased on scene. This is being investigated as a homicide. Preliminary investigation revealed an interaction between individuals in the parking lot of the store just before the victim was shot. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and canvassing the area for witnesses. Crime scene personnel are processing the scene for any 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 . . . One man dead after Wednesday night homicide in KC's Historic Northeast The Kansas City Police Department says one man has died following a homicide tonight, Wednesday, March 26. Gunfire Near Convenience Store Leads to Death, Wednesday Evening - Northeast News Admin BREAKING - Just before 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 26, Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) officers responded to a reported shooting call at the 3700 block of St. John Ave., within the Historic Northeast. Once on the scene, officers located an adult male in a convenience store parking lot near St. Developing . . . This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the rescue site for a sunken tourist submarine in Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. At least six people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip in the resort city of Hurghada, an official source at the Red Sea Governorate told Xinhua. Five of the injured are in critical condition, while 29 other passengers were rescued and returned to their hotels, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Photo by Ali Awad/Xinhua) CAIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip in the resort city of Hurghada, an official source at the Red Sea Governorate told Xinhua. Five of the injured are in critical condition, while 29 other passengers were rescued and returned to their hotels, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He added that the cause of the incident is still under investigation, and the victims' nationalities have not yet been identified. According to some local media outlets, including the widely read Al-Masry Al-Youm website, the tourist submarine, named Sindbad, was carrying 44 passengers on an underwater trip to explore coral reefs. Meanwhile, RIA Novosti quoted a statement from the Russian Consulate General in Hurghada revealing that all the tourists on board were Russians. "There were 45 tourists on board, including minors, as well as crew members. All of them were Russian citizens, tourists of the company Biblio Globus," the consulate's statement read, according to RIA Novosti. This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the rescue site for a sunken tourist submarine in Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. At least six people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip in the resort city of Hurghada, an official source at the Red Sea Governorate told Xinhua. Five of the injured are in critical condition, while 29 other passengers were rescued and returned to their hotels, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Photo by Ali Awad/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the rescue site for a sunken tourist submarine in Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. At least six people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip in the resort city of Hurghada, an official source at the Red Sea Governorate told Xinhua. Five of the injured are in critical condition, while 29 other passengers were rescued and returned to their hotels, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Photo by Ali Awad/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the rescue site for a sunken tourist submarine in Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. At least six people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip in the resort city of Hurghada, an official source at the Red Sea Governorate told Xinhua. Five of the injured are in critical condition, while 29 other passengers were rescued and returned to their hotels, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Photo by Ali Awad/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the rescue site for a sunken tourist submarine in Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. At least six people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip in the resort city of Hurghada, an official source at the Red Sea Governorate told Xinhua. Five of the injured are in critical condition, while 29 other passengers were rescued and returned to their hotels, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Photo by Ali Awad/Xinhua) This photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the rescue site for a sunken tourist submarine in Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. At least six people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip in the resort city of Hurghada, an official source at the Red Sea Governorate told Xinhua. Five of the injured are in critical condition, while 29 other passengers were rescued and returned to their hotels, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Photo by Ali Awad/Xinhua) Alaskas Changing Wildfire Environment report updated The University of Alaska Fairbanks has released an updated report highlighting recent wildfire trends in Alaska, their impacts to humans and wildlife, and how science can improve wildfire management decisions. Photo by Heather McFarland Alison York and Emily Sousa read Alaskas Changing Wildfire Environment 2.0 at a wildfire-related meeting at the University of Alaska Fairbanks on March 25, 2025. Alaskas Changing Wildfire Environment 2.0 provides people with timely, reliable and understandable information in a visually appealing and concise format. It updates key long-term wildfire trends and highlights the changes and impacts that have emerged or accelerated over the past five years. The Alaska Fire Science Consortium at the UAF International Arctic Research Center led production of the report, which is highly anticipated by the Alaska wildfire management community. I absolutely appreciate your group updating this document. I think it is very well done. We use/share/reference this document a lot! said Jennifer Hrobak in an email to AFSC. Hrobak is a fire management and program analyst and fire planner at the U.S. Bureau of Land Managements Alaska Fire Service. It's a great resource to be able to hand off to new employees, visiting staff, VIPs, etc. This is the second edition of Alaskas Changing Wildfire Environment, which was first published in 2020. The inaugural report proved to be a popular resource for wildfire managers, educators, scientists, media, policymakers and others interested in learning and communicating about wildfire in Alaska. Its funny, I was just thinking this year, I wonder if theres going to be a round two that updates the numbers, said Norm McDonald, deputy director of fire protection for the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection. Its such an awesome resource. We refer to it often when presenting our story, and the people I share it with always find it incredibly valuable. In the five years since release of the first report, wildfire activity in Alaska has continued to change and become less predictable as rapidly increasing temperatures and longer growing seasons alter the state's environment. In 2022, over a million acres burned in southwestern Alaska, a region where wildfires have historically been rare. In 2023, managers of the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge introduced an experimental fire management plan to protect carbon stored in ice-rich permafrost. In 2024, fires in the Fairbanks North Star Borough resulted in evacuations and burned more acres than any year since 2004. This spring, low snow in southern Alaska prompted state fire managers to require burn permits starting on March 17 rather than the usual April 1 in some areas. This years low snowfall in southern Alaska contributes to a long-term trend toward earlier snow-off in spring which was recently linked to larger wildfire seasons and lengthening wildfire seasons. "The AFSC continues to provide quality information based on scientific research that is extremely valuable to fire and land managers, said Mike Trimmer, the states fire management officer for the Valdez and Copper River region. "I use the brochures and presentations at public events including community planning, fire prevention and preparedness, management option changes and fuels management meetings." The report and its graphics are available for download. Alaskas Changing Wildfire Environment 2.0 is a part of a larger series called Alaskas Changing Environment. 213-25 By Nicole Lyons, March 27, 2025 Students and employees from the University of Central Missouri and other Global Volunteers representatives pose for a photo during the UCM Global Vision groups visit to Puerto Rico in mid-March. While most students were relaxing and enjoying some time off from classes, nine students and two employees from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) spent their spring break in service of others. The group spent a week in Aguada, Puerto Rico, as part of UCMs Global Vision scholarship program in partnership with Global Volunteers. The program offers any UCM student the opportunity to travel domestically or internationally while giving back to the community they visit. Selected students receive a scholarship that covers airfare, meals, room and board during their service learning trip. Global Vision expands the possibilities for those who wouldnt typically consider studying abroad. UCM is the only university offering this scholarship to student travelers. Annual trips take place during spring, winter, and summer breaks. Students on the 2025 spring break trip were Ariella Allen, Yatish Appanapalli, Jada Boddy, Chloe Majumder, Abiodun Adebola Omoike, Jasmine Outlaw, Caroline Sliger, Olivia Smith and Deaihra Washington. They were accompanied by Katie Jacobs, Ph.D., professor of Psychological Science, and Ed Wirthwein, director of Community Standards and Support. During their week-long visit, the UCM group provided more than 250 hours of service at Programa de Apoyo y Enlace Comunitario Inc. (PAEC), Asociacion Pro-Bienestar Barrio Marias de Aguada Inc. and Accion Social de PR Inc. The teams helped pack boxes of food to be distributed to families in need, visited with senior citizens in the community and helped remodel a building for one of the organizations. They also had the opportunity to learn about Puerto Rican history and tour the community. It was a great trip, Wirthwein said. Our students represented UCM so well in Puerto Rico. I am so proud of them and the work they did. Our students were amazing in Puerto Rico and they have made an impact. Many students said their time in Puerto Rico left a lasting impression and encouraged others to apply for the Global Vision scholarship. Caroline Sliger, a senior Industrial Engineering Technology major from Kirkwood, spent most of her service time filling hundreds of boxes at the food bank. She also visited Accion de Social, a community center for senior citizens. There, a group of women taught her how to play dominoes, and she managed to accumulate the most points possible in her very first game. I will never forget how excited they were to have someone to talk to and play with, Sliger recalled. Sliger said her time in Puerto Rico helped her understand more about the world, and she left with new perspectives on food insecurity and loneliness. What I witnessed in Puerto Rico was amazing, and it opened my eyes to a lot of situations, Sliger said. Being able to volunteer and witness another culture is something that everyone should do at least once in their life. Deaihra Washington, a senior from Kansas City majoring in Health Studies, and Jada Boddy, an Accounting senior from Woodland Park, Colorado, helped organize supplies and paint doors at PAEC, an organization that supports local youth. They also spent time at Accion de Social. One of my main highlights from the trip was seeing the smiles on the director and her staff's faces when they saw how hard we had worked for their facilities, Washington said. My favorite part of the trip was exploring Aguadilla, Aguada and Rincon with our team lead, Yani. Boddy applied for the Global Vision scholarship to learn more about other cultures. After a week volunteering in Puerto Rico, she said the experience changed her life and she plans to participate in more service opportunities. My favorite part was feeling that I truly impacted the lives of those at the community center, Boddy said. The workers and participants were extremely grateful, so it felt as if we really contributed. I also loved genuinely making connections with the community and learning about the history of Puerto Rico. For more information about Global Vision at UCM, visit ucmo.edu/globalvision. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Elevates the City of Baltimore By UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, for the Baltimore Business Journal. As one of Baltimores most powerful anchor institutions, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) plays a vital role in elevating our city. We are committed to creating lasting change by improving health, creating wealth, and advancing justice through community-focused programs and partnerships that create positive momentum for our neighbors and city. UMB is not only a leader in education and research, but also a major regional employer. The University employs over 8,000 faculty, staff, and students, with more than 6,600 students across our six professional schools and interdisciplinary School of Graduate Studies. These individuals form a thriving academic and professional community that significantly influences Baltimore. Whether teaching, conducting research, providing services, or engaging in community outreach, UMB is essential to the citys vitality. Our School of Social Work students contribute over 500,000 service hours annually. The School of Dentistry is the largest Maryland provider of oral health services to children with Medicaid and the largest provider of oral health care to people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured. [1] Each year, faculty, staff, and students from the School of Medicine log hundreds of hours of community outreach in hospitals, clinics, homeless shelters, and schools. The School of Pharmacy has received $10 million in federal funding to collaborate with other UMB schools and external organizations to improve health equity in Baltimore and beyond. The Francis King Carey School of Law provides 75,000 hours of free legal services by students annually through 18 legal clinics. These efforts are just a few examples of UMBs commitment to the citys residents. UMB President Bruce Jarrell shows Maryland Gov. Wes Moore the progress on construction of the 4MLK building in October 2023. The building opened in January 2025 and offers space for researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs working in the sciences and technology industry. In recent years, UMB has revitalized West Baltimore through physical improvements and strengthened community ties. A notable example is our support in transforming Lexington Market, an iconic space with cultural and historical significance, into a vibrant, modern community hub, including helping to support small business owners who want to be part of the market. Neighbors, faculty, staff, and students frequent the new market, enjoying its revitalized food offerings and events. The University of Maryland BioParks 4MLK building is another exciting development. This 250,000-square-foot research facility, located at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Baltimore Street, will provide wet lab space for biotech and life sciences research. The facility will drive innovation and job creation in the region, expanding West Baltimores position as a hub for scientific discovery and entrepreneurship. UMB also is working to redevelop Lexington Street with housing and business opportunities, in addition to currently constructing the significant $120 million, six-story School of Social Work. This state-of-the-art facility is projected to be the first certified operational net-zero emissions building in the University System of Maryland and downtown Baltimore, setting a standard for sustainability. [2] Incorporating green building practices and energy-efficient technologies, it will support the social work profession while reflecting UMBs commitment to environmental stewardship. While new infrastructure is an important part of UMBs support of greater Baltimore, our commitment extends far beyond physical spaces. UMB is deeply involved in addressing social and economic disparities through educational and workforce development programs. The Office of Community and Civic Engagement offers a range of initiatives designed to support West Baltimore residents, including health and wellness programs, educational workshops, youth engagement activities, and community resource navigation. Since its inception in 2016, the Community Engagement Center (CEC) has facilitated over 88,000 visits to these programs, providing a safe and supportive space for the community. Among the offerings are free legal consultations through the School of Laws JustAdvice Project and health services provided by the School of Nursing. The CEC aims to provide a safe environment that supports our neighbors and strengthens Baltimore. Our Live Near Your Work Program encourages UMB employees to settle here by offering homeownership grants to help purchase homes in 11 West Baltimore neighborhoods. This initiative fosters greater community engagement, boosts the local economy, and stabilizes the city. Since 2018, the program has contributed $1.2 million to assist 77 new homeowners in purchasing homes in West Baltimore. UMBs commitment to the city extends to offering health care services, educational opportunities, and workforce development programs that equip individuals with the skills they need to thrive. UMB is making a tangible impact on the lives of Baltimore residents. UMBs work reflects its broader mission to improve the human condition and serve the public good. As we continue to grow, UMB remains committed to its role as an anchor institution in Baltimore. Through each project, partnership, and program, we are strengthening our ties to the community and working toward a more equitable, prosperous, and vibrant future, elevating our city for all Baltimoreans. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is Marylands only public health, law, and human services university. Six professional schools and the interdisciplinary School of Graduate Studies confer the majority of health care, human services, and law professional degrees in Maryland each year. To learn more about UMB, visit umaryland.edu. Sources [1] According to School of Dentistry insurance billing data and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, respectively. [2] According to the U.S. Green Building Council. BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Four people, including a Hezbollah military commander, were killed on Thursday in two separate Israeli drone strikes targeting vehicles in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese sources. One strike hit a vehicle in Yahmar al-Shaqif in the Nabatieh district, killing three people, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said in a statement. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said the Israeli artillery shelled the Dabsh area in Yahmar al-Shaqif, with six shells landing in the targeted area. A Lebanese security source told Xinhua that the strike was made by an Israeli drone, as it launched multiple missiles at a civilian vehicle on the eastern outskirts of Yahmar al-Shaqif. The Lebanese Red Cross transported the bodies to a hospital in Nabatieh, the source said. For the other strike, the NNA said an Israeli drone launched a guided missile at a vehicle in Maaroub in the Tyre district, killing one person and injuring another. The security source told Xinhua the drone "fired an air-to-ground missile at a civilian vehicle" in Maaroub, setting the vehicle on fire. The source identified the dead as Hassan Naamah Sabra, a Hezbollah military commander from the town of Al-Qantara in southern Lebanon, adding that his body was transported by civil defense teams to a hospital in Tyre. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said in a statement that the Israeli Air Force "struck and eliminated" Ahmad Adnan Bajjiga, a battalion commander in Hezbollah's Radwan Force, in an overnight attack on the southern Lebanese town of Derdghaiya. The military accused Bajjiga of advancing and directing "numerous" attacks against Israeli civilians and troops, including during the past months, adding that it will "continue to operate" to "remove any threat" posed to Israel. So far, there has been no reports or confirmation from the Lebanese side concerning the Israeli claim. Since Nov. 27, 2024, a U.S. and French-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place, ending over a year of hostilities triggered by the war in the Gaza Strip. Despite the agreement, which requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory, Israeli forces have maintained positions at five key locations along the border beyond the Feb. 18 deadline. The Israeli military continues to launch intermittent strikes in Lebanon, under repeated claims that such attacks aim to eliminate "threats posed by Hezbollah." Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Karnataka CET 2025 Admit Card: When and How to Check The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) is set to release online Admit Card, also known as Hall Ticket, of the candidates who have registered for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET 2025) on its official website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in Thursday March 27, 2025 11:21 AM , ummid.com News Network Karnataka CET 2025 Admit Card: The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) is set to release online Admit Card, also known as Hall Ticket, of the candidates who have registered for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET 2025) on its official website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. KCET 2025 date According to the KCET Notification released earlier on the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) website, the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET 2025) will be held as per the following schedule: Wednesday April 16, 2025: Physics paper will be held in the morning shift 10:30 am to 11:50 am and Chemistry paper will be held in the afternoon shift 02:30 pm to 03:50 pm on April 16, 2025. Physics paper will be held in the morning shift 10:30 am to 11:50 am and Chemistry paper will be held in the afternoon shift 02:30 pm to 03:50 pm on April 16, 2025. Thursday April 17, 2025: Mathematics paper will be held in the morning shift 10:30 am to 11:50 am and Biology paper will be held in the afternoon shift 02:30 pm to 03:50 pm on April 17, 2025. All papers will be of 60 marks each. Mathematics paper will be held in the morning shift 10:30 am to 11:50 am and Biology paper will be held in the afternoon shift 02:30 pm to 03:50 pm on April 17, 2025. All papers will be of 60 marks each. Tuesday April 15, 2025: The Kannada language test for Horanadu and Gadinadu students will be held from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. The paper will be of 50 marks. Candidates should note that the Kannada language test was supposed to be held on April 18, 2025. It has however been rescheduled due to Good Friday. KCET Admit Card 2025 According to the KCET 2025 (also known as UGCET) notification, the online registration was started on January 23, 2025. The last date of application was February 18, 2025. The KCET 2025 Schedule further said that KCET Admit Card (Hall ticket or Admission Tickets) will be available for download on the KEA KCET website kea.kar.nic.in from March 25, 2025. But, as per the latest Karnataka UGCET 2025 notification, the KEA said, "the link to download admission ticket for CET 2025 will be enabled in due course". Steps to download UGCET 2025 Admit Card Go to the official website: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in Click on the link marked as "UGCET 2025 Hall Ticket" Enter User ID and Password Click on the given link to download the hall ticket Take a printout Karnataka UGCET 2025 Syllabus The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has announced additional syllabus for UGCET 2025, also known as KCET 2025, to be held in the month of April. The Karnataka Examination Authority had released the notification for KCET 2025 on January 23, 2025, simultaneously starting online registration of the candidates. Along with the UGCET 2025 Notification, the KEA had also published Information Bulletin consisting of details about the important entrance exam conducted for admission in undergraduate courses. The UGCET Information Bulletin also contained the CET 2025 syllabus. However, in a notification dated January 29, 2025, the KEA announced additional syllabus for the UGCET 2025. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Satire, Kunal Kamra and Indian Right Wing The reaction to Kunal Kamras satire and the broader trend of suppressing dissenting humour reflects a larger struggle over the right to question and criticize those in power Thursday March 27, 2025 11:52 AM , T Navin The recent controversy surrounding Kunal Kamras YouTube video and the subsequent vandalism of Mumbai Habitats Comedy Club by members of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena has reignited debates on freedom of expression in India. The parody of a song from Dil To Pagal Hai allegedly referring to Eknath Shinde as gaddar (traitor) for his split from Shiv Sena angered Shiv Sainiks, leading to the backlash. Shiv Sena leader Naresh Mhaske released a video threatening Kamra, stating that his party workers would pursue him across the country and force him to flee India. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Kamra to apologize, to which Kamra firmly responded: I will not apologize. Political Satire in India Satire plays a vital role in a democracy, not only exposing political hypocrisy, corruption, and societal contradictions but also serving as an educational tool through humour and irony. India has a rich tradition of political satire, from R.K. Laxmans iconic Common Man cartoons and Jaspal Bhattis witty parodies to contemporary stand-up comedians like Kunal Kamra, Varun Grover, Ravindra Choudhary aka Bhagat Ram, Rajiv Nigam, and Shyam Rangeela. In cinema, films such as Kundan Shahs Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and Anusha Rizvis Peepli Live have effectively used satire to critique systemic failures. The tradition of Hasya Kavi Sammelans has also played a significant role in challenging authority through poetic humour. Satire allows people to question those in power in an engaging and accessible manner, reaching a wide audience without the weight of serious political discourse. In a way, it serves as a political education tool, prompting people to reflect on what is right and wrong. Satire in BJP Propaganda Machine The BJP has effectively used satire to belittle opposition leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, and Arvind Kejriwal - branding Rahul Gandhi as Pappu, Manmohan Singh as Maun Mohan Singh, and Kejriwal as a Nautanki Baaz. A well-oiled propaganda machine has reinforced these narratives. This is considered normal. However, when humour is turned against the ruling party, it often faces severe backlash. In recent years, satire aimed at the BJP and Prime Minister Modi has been met with legal action, censorship, and intimidation, evident in Rahul Gandhis defamation case, the suspension of the satirical platform Vikatan.com , the vandalism of Kunal Kamras comedy club, and Modis own use of humour to undermine opposition voices. Opposition and dissenting voices are frequently branded as anti-national or anti-Hindu, reinforcing a narrative that discredits criticism. Double Standard A government that thrives on social polarization dividing citizens into majority vs. minority, Mandir vs. Masjid, pro-BJP vs. anti-BJP, pro-Hindu vs. anti-Hindu, pro-Modi vs. anti-Modi, and even pro-India vs. anti-India inevitably creates two categories of Indians: those aligned with the government, who enjoy unchecked freedom of expression, and those who oppose it, whose voices are systematically suppressed. This double standard is evident in how terms like Gaddar (traitor), openly used by BJP leaders like Anurag Thakur, face no repercussions, while similar expressions by critics of the government, such as Kunal Kamras satirical takes, lead to legal and social intimidation. Similar instances include the use of Tukde Tukde Gang to label dissenting voices, Urban Naxal to silence intellectuals and activists, and Anti-national to delegitimize those questioning government policiesterms that are wielded freely by those in power but become grounds for retaliation when used against them. Humour has not always been seen as offensive by political leaders. There have been instances where Nehru playfully asked cartoonist R.K. Laxman why he hadnt drawn a cartoon of him, Vajpayee countered criticism with poetic wit, and Lalu Yadav embraced satire with self-deprecating humour. However, political psychologists such as Karen Stenner and George Lakoff suggest that authoritarian-leaning leaders resist satire because it simplifies complex issues, undermines their carefully crafted image, and poses a threat to their authority. Humour disrupts political branding and mobilizes dissent, making it a tool that such leaders seek to control. Poet Rahat Indoris famous lines - Sabhi ka khoon hai shaamil yahaan ki mitti mein, kisi ke baap ka Hindustan thodi hai - which translates to This countrys soil is part of everyone; it is not yours alone - highlight the dangers of exclusionary nationalism. His statement critiques the mindset that certain groups claim sole ownership of the nation while disregarding others. In the current political landscape, this resonates deeply as we see two distinct classes of Indians: those who can freely express themselves, even to the extent of spreading misinformation, and those who face severe consequences for using humour to expose political and social realities. The reaction to Kamras satire and the broader trend of suppressing dissenting humour reflects a larger struggle over the right to question and criticize those in power. While satire has always been a tool for holding the powerful accountable, its reception now depends entirely on who wields it. If humour continues to be selectively tolerated, allowing one side to ridicule freely while the other faces persecution, the fundamental democratic values of free speech and critical engagement stand at risk. [The writer, T Navin, is an Independent Writer.] 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 Tesla, Lucid race begins in Saudi Arabia April 10 Elon Musk owned EV car major Tesla is all set for a mega launch on April 10, 2025 in Saudi Arabia, the market heavily dominated by Lucid Motors. Thursday March 27, 2025 3:02 PM , Zohair M Safwan Faizee Riyadh: Elon Musk owned EV car major Tesla is all set for a mega launch on April 10, 2025 in Saudi Arabia where the market is heavily dominated by Lucid Motors. In a statement, Tesla said it is launching all its EV models in the Kingdom on April 10 with stores and outlets in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam operating from the next day. "Experience the future of autonomous driving with Cybercab, and meet Optimus, our humanoid robot, as we showcase what's next in AI and robotics," it added. On April 11, it will open up pop-up stores in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, Tesla said in a later statement, adding it would announce further details of its plans for Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, with investment planned for 2025 and beyond, Reuters reported. Tesla to see direct challenge from Lucid Analysts are of the view that Elon Musk is moving to Saudi Arabia amidst the backlash and boycott calls in the United States and plummeting sales in Europe. However, road ahead for Tesla in Saudi Arabia will not be a cakewalk as the Saudi auto market is dominated by Lucid EVs. Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, controls 64.3% of Lucid Motors. Tesla is already on sale in other Arab states including UAE and Qatar. However, Tesla launch in the Kingdom the largest auto market in the Gulf, was delayed due to rift between Musk and the Kingdom. A month after the feud with Musk went public, the PIF announced a $1 billion-plus investment in Lucid, becoming the majority investor in one of the EV startups looking to challenge Tesla, Reuters reported. The tension however eased after Trump won the 2020 U.S. elections and Elon Musk became key aide and advisor of the White House. And, the Tesla launch in Saudi Arabia is finally coming in April 2025. Besides Lucid EVs, Tesla is Saudi Arabia will also face challenge from Chinese giant BYD 1211.HK even as the EV adoption is slow in the Kingdom. [Zohair M Safwan Faizee in a writer at ummid.com.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. BRUSSELS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Audiences in Belgium have warmly welcomed the premiere of "Ne Zha 2," a Chinese animated blockbuster now on a week-long tour across nine Belgian cities, including Brussels and Antwerp. The film, released in Belgium on Wednesday, was crafted over five years by a team of 4,000 animators. It reimagines the ancient tale of Ne Zha, a rebellious boy-god from Chinese folklore, infusing it with contemporary themes of identity, resilience and social justice. At Brussels' Kinepolis cinema, long lines formed well before the screening. Some attendees wore traditional Hanfu robes, drawing admiration from the crowd, while a young boy mimicked Ne Zha's signature hand gestures, enchanted by the hero's magic. Dazzling animation and meticulous detail -- Ne Zha's colourful ribbons twisting through the air, the grandeur of the palace -- left the audience spellbound. A dynamic soundtrack, precisely timed to each moment of action, amplified every battle cry and clash of weapons, heightening the sense of immersion. With its blend of mythology, tradition, and modern storytelling, "Ne Zha 2" struck a chord with a diverse crowd. As the credits rolled, conversations filled the theatre, carrying the film's emotional impact beyond the screen. "Even without understanding every detail, you can relate to Ne Zha and his fight against fate," said one Belgian viewer. Another audience member, Jan Reyniers, was particularly impressed, saying, "The film was visually spectacular and technically outstanding... it's easily the best animated film of its kind I've ever seen." TEHRAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has called for greater vigilance against seditious bids by the "enemies" of Iran and Iraq, the official IRNA news agency reported on Thursday. He made the remarks in a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart, Hayan Abdel-Ghani, on Wednesday, pointing to the "friendly and brotherly" relations between Iran and Iraq, and stressing that the two countries should be vigilant against bids by their "enemies to incite sedition." Paknejad added that Iran's oil sales proceeded within the framework of the "accepted criteria in interactions pertaining to oil trade." The phone call occurred a few days after the Iranian side rejected as untrue reports that the Iranian oil tankers seized by the U.S. forces in the Gulf used forged Iraqi documents. In February, the Iraqi side said it was not involved in purchasing, receiving, or re-exporting Iranian crude oil to help Iran "evade sanctions". The United States has intensified unilateral sanctions on Iran's oil exports, as U.S. President Donald Trump took an executive action in early February to step up pressure on Iran, which was aimed at bringing the country's oil exports to zero and preventing it from what he claimed obtaining a nuclear weapon. The University of Wyoming will host the 2025 Native American Scholarship and Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. This event will honor Native American students at UW and recognize the donors supporting their educational journeys. The University of Wyoming is deeply honored to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our Native American students, UW President Ed Seidel says. Their dedication to academic excellence and commitment to their communities embody the very best of our universitys values. We are proud to stand alongside them and the generous donors who are helping to shape a brighter future for Native leaders and our state. The ceremony will recognize the resilience, dedication and excellence of Native American scholars, particularly those from Wyoming and the Wind River Reservation. These students are making significant contributions through their academic pursuits, study-abroad experiences and community service. Their efforts are strengthening Native leadership and economic development. Every scholarship awarded is an opportunity for our youth to reach their goals, says James Trosper, special adviser to the UW president. This event gives us the opportunity to celebrate their dedication and exceptional work ethic. We could not be more pleased and prouder with how our youth continue to grow in their higher education pursuits. The awards ceremony underscores UWs ongoing commitment to supporting and engaging with Native students and communities. It follows the success of the 2024 Native American Scholarship Ceremony and the Native American Education, Research and Cultural Center open house during UWs Homecoming. These events showcase the universitys dedication to supporting Native leaders and strengthening community connections. This event represents more than scholarship awards -- its a celebration of the inspiring achievements of our Native students and the generous support of our donors, says Lucus Hansen, UW Foundation director of development. Together, UW is fostering opportunities that build a stronger future for Native communities and the state of Wyoming. The evening will include a formal dinner, guest speakers and award presentations, offering an opportunity for students, faculty, community members and supporters to gather in celebration. For more information, email Trosper at jtrosper@uwyo.edu or Hansen at lhanse13@uwyo.edu. To RSVP, visit https://gopokes.formstack.com/forms/native_american_banquet. BAGHDAD, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr announced Thursday that he would not participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections due to the "persistent corruption" within the political process. "As long as corruption endures, I will not participate in any flawed electoral process" that prioritizes sectarian and partisan interests but disregards people's suffering and regional disasters, al-Sadr was quoted in a statement by his office on Facebook. The cleric also called on his supporters to neither vote nor run in the parliamentary elections. Al-Sadr's Sadrist movement emerged as the biggest winner of the 2021 Iraqi parliamentary elections with 73 seats but failed to form a government. In June 2022, al-Sadr ordered his followers to withdraw from the parliament amid the prolonged political deadlock, insisting on the parliament's dissolution and snap elections. Iraq's parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held in October or November this year, according to local media. Vientiane Motor Market Sole Co launches BAW brand in Laos The Vientiane Motor Market Sole Co Ltd (VMM) marked a significant milestone with the launch of BAW vehicles in Laos on March 26 at the Vientiane Eco Motor Expo 2025. The vehicles were launched at a grand ceremony attended by guests and representatives of BAW Weiqiao Smart Auto International Co Ltd. The Expo is being held at the Lao-ITECC from March 22 to 30. The President of the Vientiane Motor Market Sole Co Ltd, Mr Daovong Keomanivong, expressed his deep appreciation for the partnership with BAW and outlined VMMs vision for the Lao market. Mr Daovong highlighted VMMs exclusive role as the sole official distributor of BAW vehicles in Laos. He praised BAWs reputation as a leading private automaker, built on innovation, quality and excellence, and reaffirmed VMMs commitment to providing affordable yet reliable vehicles and offering Lao consumers greater choice at competitive prices. BAW (Beijing Automobile Works), under the Weiqiao Smart Auto International Co Ltd, is part of the Weiqiao Pioneering Group, a powerhouse in Chinas manufacturing industry. The company, founded in 1951, has expanded its sales channels across 63 countries, aligning with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. It ranks fourth in China's manufacturing industry and first among Shandongs enterprises, and has more than 100,000 employees and total assets of 255 billion yuan. In 2023, its sales revenues reached 530 billion yuan, with 12 production bases across China and abroad. VMM has developed a comprehensive business plan to establish the BAW brand in Laos. Key initiatives include the upcoming launch of a 3S showroom in Vientiane, providing sales, service and spare parts under one roof. The new facility will ensure Lao customers receive top-tier support alongside their vehicle purchases. As part of the launch at the expo, customers will have the opportunity to test-drive BAW vehicles, experiencing first-hand their superior performance, durability and affordability. Mr Daovong expressed confidence that with BAWs strong support and VMMs dedicated efforts, Lao consumers will embrace the brand and build a long-term relationship of trust and success. He extended his gratitude to BAW Weiqiao Smart Auto International Co Ltd for its trust and collaboration, and thanked Lao customers for their support, while encouraging them to explore the quality and value that BAW vehicles bring to the market. This event is not just a business milestone, he said. It is the beginning of a shared journey with our customers. We are committed to earning their trust and confidence, ensuring BAW becomes a household name in Laos. With this launch, VMM and BAW plan to redefine the Lao automotive industry, offering world-class vehicles tailored to the needs of local consumers. BAW Laos offers four types of 100 percent electric cars, including the Brumby mini electric car with a standard price of US$11,000, while the event reservation price will be US$9,500. The T30 electric cab has a standard price of US$20,900, and the event reservation price is US$18,5500. The T30 electric container has a standard price of US$22,900, and the event reservation price is US$19,55500. The MPV EM7 electric van has a standard price of US$35,000, and the event reservation price will be US$30,000. VMM has an exclusive offer for customers who book vehicles at the event they will be able to enjoy a free four-day, three-night factory visit to China. For more details, follow the Facebook page for BAW Laos. By Advertorial Desk (Latest Update March 27 , 202 5 ) CAIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Egypt received on Thursday positive signals from the Israeli side on Cairo's recent proposal to release five Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity every week and implement a 40-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, two informed security sources told Xinhua. Egypt submitted the new proposal earlier this week to Hamas and Israel aimed at restoring the Gaza ceasefire. Hamas immediately agreed, while Israel initially delayed its response. "When Egypt received the go-ahead signal from Israel, it sent one delegation to Qatar and another one to Israel to set a roadmap for the implementation of its proposal, which aims to release five Israeli hostages each week along with a 40-day ceasefire," the sources added on condition of anonymity. The Egyptian delegations would discuss, in the presence of Qatari mediators, the mechanism for implementing the Egyptian proposal with the Israeli and Palestinian sides, said the sources. Under the proposal, following the release of the first group of Israeli hostages, Israel will open the Rafah crossing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and mobile housing units, as well as to evacuate the wounded. One source indicated that a ceasefire could be announced as early as Sunday but did not confirm whether it would be implemented that day. A phased ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas began on Jan. 19, following 15 months of intense Israeli military action in Gaza. The first phase of the agreement includes the release of 33 hostages from Gaza and approximately 2,000 Palestinians from Israeli jails. The second phase is expected to involve the release of remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and the release of additional Palestinian detainees. However, Israel refused to move to the second phase and resumed air and ground assaults on Gaza on March 18, effectively ending the ceasefire that started in January. Hamas kidnapped 251 hostages during its attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. According to Israeli tallies, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 35 of them presumed dead. New cat shelter to be built for airport cats. Around 80 stray cats living among the hangars and runways of Rome's Fiumicino airport are to be transferred to a new shelter in the nearby Parco Leonardo area. The move comes after a solution was reached between the airport and animal rights associations, with the collaboration of the local council and health authorities. The plan involves catching the stray cats, prioritising the animals that are pregnant and sick. The cats will be sterilised and microchipped before being taken to the new cat shelter which is still being built. In the meantime, Rome airport management company Aeroporti di Roma (AdR) has given volunteers from animal rights associations special access to airside areas to feed the cats. In a statement on Facebook, AdR said it rejected "any accusation of mistreatment towards the felines", stressing that it was working for "the protection of the animals' well-being and the simultaneous essential safeguarding of airport security, the primary aim of the company". The daily management of the new cat shelter will be entrusted to the national animal protection group ENPA which stated: "The 80 cats of Fiumicino will finally have a safe place to live, with veterinary care and a suitable environment". The issue of stray cats at Fiumicino is long-standing and has created problems for both the animals and airport authorities, with the situation worsening in recent months. Several cats have been killed by service vehicles and some of the stray felines have recently been spotted in the terminals among passengers. A few weeks ago a black and white cat crawled into the engine compartment of a Ryanair plane headed to Malta, blocking the flight for almost two days. JUBA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese First Vice President Riek Machar was placed under house arrest in the national capital of Juba on Wednesday night as the United Nations mission in the country called for restraint amid rising tensions across the country. "Following reports tonight of the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) calls on all parties to exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement," Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the UN secretary-general to South Sudan and head of the UNMISS, said in a statement issued on Wednesday night. Haysom said the unilateral amendments by the parties to that agreement, which jeopardize the hard-won gains of the past seven years, risk returning the country to a state of war. Reath Muoch Tang, acting chairperson of the National Committee on Foreign Relations for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), condemned the arrest, which he said is a violation of the 2018 peace agreement that formed the unity government. Tang said the defense minister and chief of national security were in the convoy that delivered an arrest warrant to Machar, along with more than 20 heavily armed vehicles that forcibly entered his residence. "His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges. Attempts are currently being made to relocate him," Tang said in a statement, terming the arrest a violation of the constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement, as no legal procedures, such as lifting his immunity, were followed. The UNMISS said intensive diplomatic efforts are underway to broker a peaceful solution. 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. Easter Raffle Tickets are now available for an Easter Raffle in aid of Stradbally Tidy Towns Committee. The prizes on offer include an Easter Hamper and a bottle of Bailey Irish Cream. Tickets are 2 each or three for 5, available from Whelan's Lounge Bar, Stradbally. The Raffle is kindly sponsored by John & Caroline Whelan, Whelan's Bar. Please support this 'egg-cellent' cause! Parish Draw The draw cards for the Non-Stop Draw in Stradbally Parish were distributed during the week. The draw begins on April 22, and is being run to provide vital funds for the upkeep of parish property. All previous promoters are invited to take a card and fill it either at work or among friends. New promoters are always welcome. The draw costs 20 for 12 weeks. Draw cards can be picked up at the Sacristy after mass in any of the three churches. Our Rural Future The Minister for Rural Community Development & the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, has launched an online survey giving the public an opportunity to have their say on the next phase of Ireland's rural development policy. The survey is the first step in an extensive public and stakeholders consultation process which will continue throughout 2025. The survey is open to everyone and asks participants about the opportunities and challenges facing rural Ireland, as well as what actions they think the Government should consider to secure a more resilient future for rural communities. The survey closes on Wednesday, April 2. All responses are anonymous. GAA 50-50 Draw The 50-50 draw is run every second week to support ongoing costs within the local GAA club. The draw is live on the Stradbally GAA Facebook page every second Sunday night. Tickets are available locally at the Stradbally Market on Saturdays and also at Whelan's and The Cove Bars, and can be purchased by Revolute to 087 6291930. Congratulations to John Whelan, of Whelan's Pub, winner of 210 in last Sunday night's latest draw. Bake Sale St James National School Stradbally will hold a Bake Sale in the school hall on Friday, March 28, in aid of Daffodil Day Cancer Appeal, from 1pm to 2pm. Stradbally Market There is no debate, it is a March of many weathers, as the saying goes. It was back inside the cosy Cove Bar for the market on Saturday. The lettuce, spring onions and tomatoes are making an appearance at the market as are sweetcorn, leeks and broccoli. We are all spoilt for choice. If you fancy a stew there was carrots, parsnip, red onion and celery. Should you follow with a fresh fruit salad, there was a choice of oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, bananas. Also baskets full of Margaret's award-winning brown bread, scones, tarts and Eabha's fancy buns, Brigid's selection of jams, marmalade and relish. These ladies leave no stone unturned to please their customers. You can also buy local prints and cards that are of a very high quality. You can pre order any product for sale by calling Margaret on 087 6337215 just drop by and pick up. Vivienne Clarke The chief executive of employers group Ibec, Danny McCoy, has said that the EU should retaliate with its own tariffs on the US and has warned that in the short term the impact on US consumers and the world was potentially damaging. I don't think we have any choice as Europeans. The vulnerabilities of Europe have been exposed now on the defence. We've got Russia invading into our area. "This is perilous for the people of the European Union, and particularly those on the Eastern flank of the EU. We all have to actually, as Europeans now, stand by Europe on this one, unfortunately. "We wouldn't like to be in this situation, but it is a situation where we've got to choose a side. Speaking on RTE radios Today with Claire Byrne show, Mr McCoy questioned would the US President be consistent or was the threat of tariffs a bluff. Does he really mean it? If he really means it, then he doesn't understand the dynamics of what he's dealing with because the complexity in supply chain for car manufacturing or pharma is a lot more complicated than everything back to America and in the short-term tariffs are going to make the consumers worse off and the voters worse off. So the timing won't suit here in terms of those long-term plays. "Yes, you will see the car manufacturers or the Taiwanese semiconductors more production would be promised to be done in the United States, but in the short term, the costs are going to be very high to US consumers and ultimately to the world. "But as I keep saying, Donald Trump has unleashed something on the United States that he believes he can control and I don't believe he can. Mr McCoy pointed out that while the United States was the most powerful nation on earth, economically it was one fifth of the earth which meant that four fifths of the earth had choices to make. In the past they had trusted the United States, but in recent months the United States was looking like a very risky partner and that's going to have long-term consequences of United States in terms of goodwill, in terms of people buying their bonds because United States has huge debts, they need to service those debts and a lot of that is coming from foreign capital including European capital and so there's going to be a premium for risk for the United States going to make it more expensive for him to do the things that he wants to do in terms, of defence spending, health spending, education. So he's really putting the United States at risk, primarily, and then by a knock-on consequence the rest of the world. The prospect of tariffs was very serious, if he stays the course, but he could change his mind the following day, he added. It's this uncertainty where a lot of corporations now really have to make a decision about, will they go back to the United States or not? Because their shareholders aren't just U.S. citizens. "Their shareholders are Europeans, they're Asians and so on. And so these corporations have to make a big decision. Can they trust the administration in the United States to actually stay the course? And can their assets actually be protected if they bring them back to the United States? If I was a chief executive of one of those corporations right now and my shareholders and my board, you're looking at the United States saying 'is that a predictable place to go back to' because it's not owned by United States citizens. These are global companies. Mr McCoy said that Donald Trump may have started this dance and might think he was in control of it, but he had set off something that even he cant control. Goodwill is going down the drain here towards the United States. And just like we had with China in terms of decoupling, we find it very hard to decouple now in this globalised world from any jurisdiction, but you start to de-risk. "And I think that we won't be decoupling from the United States, but a lot of people around the world will start to de-risk, and that's to the detriment of the United States. High Court Reporter A Cork woman whose father died in Mercy University Hospital Cork during the Covid 19 pandemic has told a High Court judge she believed the 71-year old who had heart problems was treated appallingly. We will have to live with this for the rest of our lives . We 100 per cent believe Daddy was treated appallingly , Shirley Barry told Mr Justice Tony OConnor in the High Court. She was speaking as the family of father of ten Michael McGowan, Dublin Hill, Cork city settled a legal action over his death due to heart failure in January 2021. Ms Barry from Ballycotton, Cork had on behalf of the extended family sued the hospital. The settlement against the Mercy University Hospital is without an admission of liability and the court heard a full and robust defence had been filed in the case. In its defence Mercy University Hospital maintained it would be unfair and unjust to impose liability upon the hospital in circumstances where in good faith, and acting pursuant to a public duty to maintain and protect public health and welfare in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were administrating the public health system in unprecedented circumstances. It was also contended the pandemic led to an unprecedented interruption to normal healthcare activities and outpatient services such as echocardiograms were severely impacted and were mainly carried out on inpatients. However the court heard that the McGowan side contended that the hospital continued to perform echocardiograms on an outpatient basis through the Covid emergency and that a Freedom of Information request by the familys solicitors Cantillons confirmed that 747 echocardiograms were performed on an outpatient basis at the hospital between March 2020 and January 13, 2021. Ms Barry in court said the family had fought a legal battle for the last four years on the instructions of their late mother who, before she died asked us to get justice for Daddy. She said they had now come to the end of the legal road and they wanted others to learn from the case. The familys counsel Elaine Morgan SC instructed by Cantillons Solicitors told the court that the death of Mr McGowan who had gone to the hospital A&E with blood loss unrelated to his heart difficulties seven days earlier and was admitted was wholly unexpected and devastating blow for his family. Counsel said it was compounded by the fact that it happened during the Covid pandemic when the family had little access to their father. At issue in the case was the allegation over the ongoing care of Mr McGowan who had been diagnosed in 2013 with aortic stenosis which is a problem with a valve in the heart. Counsel said such a diagnosis required rigorous follow up care including echocardiograms , which test the heart. Counsel said while Mr McGowan had the echocardiograms upto 2019, there was a perfect storm as regards care at Mercy University Hospital and an alleged failure to follow up with the pensioner on a routine basis. She said he had his last echocardiogram in 2019 and tight surveillance with Mr McGowan to be seen every six months was recommended. Unfortunately, that did not happen. He had no echocardiogram again before his death, Counsel said. She said twenty months after his 2019 echocardiogram, Mr McGowan was admitted to the Mercy Hospital on January 14, 2021 in relation to blood loss on an unrelated condition. It was their case she said this should have been a red flag for somebody with the valve problem. Mr McGowan died seven days later of cardiac arrest. Counsel said the valve problem is progressive but can be rectified with surgery and an expert on their side would say a close eye should have been kept on the pensioner from 2019. Counsel told the court the contention by the hospital in relation to the covid pandemic " does not in our view stack up." She said the Covid line was the cause of some upset for the family. Mr Justice O'Connor noted the settlement. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD, has announced the opening of year three of the Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS) to new entrants. The five-year, 100 million SIS provides financial support to farmers for taking extra steps to improve the welfare of their flock. Commenting on the opening of the scheme, Minister Heydon said: I am delighted to announce that applications for entry to year three of the Sheep Improvement Scheme are now open to qualifying new entrants. "This is the third year of the SIS, which builds on the progress made by the Sheep Welfare Scheme in the previous CAP. "This scheme, which facilitates an annual opening for new entrants, demonstrates the continuing commitment of this Government to the sheep sector for the coming years. The Sheep Improvement Scheme is funded under Irelands CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027. The Scheme has a budget allocation of 20 million per year over the course of the CSP. Farmers get 12 per breeding ewe per annum for completing flock welfare measures. Applications must be made on agfood.ie. The application opening date was March 25, and the closing date is 11.59pm on April 29. Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme Meanwhile, Minister Heydon also announced the opening of a new National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme (NDBWS), which will support farmers rearing progeny from the dairy herd. Minister Heydon said this would further encourage greater integration of the dairy and beef sectors". The scheme will target farmers rearing dairy beef progeny from the dairy herd, whether they are dairy farmers rearing their own calves or non-dairy farmers rearing dairy beef calves. The scheme to be implemented in 2025 has a budget of 4 million. Participants in the NDBWS will be required to weigh eligible calves and submit weight data to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation. To qualify for payment, liveweight data must be submitted for a minimum of five calves in a herd and for a maximum of 50. All calves must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of weighing. Weight data should be submitted within seven days of weighing and, certainly, before 5.30pm on November 1, 2025. Farmers will only be paid on the number of calves in respect of which they submit liveweight data. Applications for the 2025 NDBWS must be lodged online through agfood.ie before midnight on Thursday, May 15. Late applications will be accepted, subject to payment deductions, until midnight on Monday, June 9. The first meeting of the Leaders Forum on Nature Restoration took place on Tuesday, March 25, bringing together senior decision-makers from national representative organisations, business, academia and government to shape the vision for the national Nature Restoration Plan. Over 80 representatives attended the event, reflecting a wide range of interests, from marine environments to farming and pollinator populations. Following the enactment of the Nature Restoration Law across the EU in July 2024, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was appointed to co-ordinate the development of the Plan, and engage with a wide range of stakeholders. An Independent Advisory Group, chaired by Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, was appointed at the end of 2024 to engage all parties and advise the Minister on the content of the Plan. Addressing the Leaders Forum, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan T.D said: We are facing urgent challenges, from biodiversity loss to climate change, and nature restoration has never been more critical. "This event is the first step in an extensive consultation process to co-create a National Nature Restoration Plan that is ambitious, achievable and inclusive, delivering benefits for nature, our communities and our quality of life. "To succeed, we need an all of society, response including environmental, scientific, academic, farming, forestry, fisheries stakeholders across both public and private sectors. "I look forward to actively participating in these important conversations, hearing the valuable insights and ideas that emerge. This high-level, cross-sectoral dialogue was the first in a series of meetings designed to drive a coordinated, strategic approach to nature restoration and ensure long-term environmental and economic resilience. The Forum convened key stakeholders to discuss the overarching trajectory of the national restoration plan, develop a vision, and address the challenges of restoring ecosystems at scale. The discussions underscored the urgent need for integrated policies, investment in nature-based solutions, and the alignment of restoration efforts with broader climate and biodiversity goals. Dr Ni Shuilleabhain said: "This first meeting of the Leaders' Forum will provide a strong vision for Ireland's Nature Restoration Plan, as outlined by key stakeholders from across the country. In coming up with this plan, it is vital that agricultural, environmental, scientific and industry viewpoints are incorporated so that we have a coherent, ambitious and implementable plan that delivers benefits for biodiversity, society and the economy. In addition to the Leaders Forum, a Community Conversation Programme will take place later in the year. This initiative will be a locally led, participatory engagement process designed to inform and hear the views of local groups and individuals across the country. The programme will provide communities with an opportunity to contribute directly to the national restoration agenda, ensuring that local knowledge, priorities, and concerns shape the policies and actions that will restore and protect nature. The Leaders Forum on Nature Restoration will convene again in late summer, with future discussions focusing on key thematic areas such as financing restoration, integrating nature into economic planning, and leveraging technological innovations for ecosystem recovery. Niall O Donnchu, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service said: If this Plan is to be successful, then it needs to be undertaken in partnership. It must reflect different perspectives and experiences, many of which were heard today. I would like to thank all of those who attended this first event for their rich engagement and discussions, all of which will inform the Independent Advisory Committee. Transition Year students at Abbey Community College, Waterford, this week broke the national record for the most star weavers at one workshop, with 140 students attending. Star weaving has become a popular activity across the world and indeed in Ireland recently, as a result of the One Million Stars to End Violence project. The project is part of the global One Billion Stars initiative started in 2012 in Australia by artist Maryann Talia Pau in response to the rape and murder of an Irish woman living in Melbourne. Siobhan McQuillan, One Million Stars Project Lead, Ciara Gaffney, Abbey Community College, and Vicky Wall, Waterford Volunteer Centre. The initiative now spans 26 counties in Ireland and Northern Ireland, with nearly 500,000 stars woven, using art as a form of activism. These eight-point stars each carry messages of hope, solidarity, and a commitment to ending domestic and gender-based violence. Approximately 215 stars were weaved by the students, who were hard at work all morning on the project. Waterford and Kilkenny Volunteer Centres worked with the students, and a number of members from Waterford Ukrainian Star Weavers attended to help students get up to speed with the intricate skill. Abbey Community Colleges Ciara Gaffney said that the activity opened students up to an important discussion. In Social Studies at Abbey Community College, we strive to promote respect for everyone in the community. Abbey Community College break the national record for most people star weaving at once, as part of the One Million Stars Campaign. What were doing here today is trying to highlight the fact that domestic violence is a huge issue in this country and were trying to ask questions such as why it is such a big problem, and how we can try tackle it. By creating the stars the students are trying to end domestic violence and raise awareness. It is so important for people their age to be aware of it, because it is such an issue in society. Theyve enjoyed the activity so much that they want to continue doing it, and continue to promote it outside and inside of school. One Million Stars Ireland Project Lead, Siobhan McQuillan, added: These are young activists, they are using art as a form of activism to create a social change and we want to empower them to have their voices heard. Some of them are stringing stars together, and theyre going to make a new installation in the school." Abbey Community College TY students at the recent star weaving workshop A number of students shared their experience with the Waterford News & Star saying that it was a thoroughly enjoyable exercise, as well as being for a good cause. I think it was really good because it all had a meaning behind it and it was really fun making them. At the start it was tricky, it was taking between 10 and 15 minutes per star, but once you get used to it you pick up the pace. Wed sit there all day making them if we could! One Million Stars Workshop at Abbey Community College. Minister for Education, Helen McEntee recently spoke on the impact that such projects have across the country, saying that they provide a space for both creativity and activism. "I would like to commend everyone involved with this project that is so moving and impactful. In the wake of tragic events inflicted on Irish women, it can often be difficult for people to know how to react and how to express solidarity, how to make their voice heard when calling for an end to violence, to know how to feel less helpless but your beautiful worthwhile initiative is one way. "Your workshops help provide a sense of community, provide a safe space for participants to exercise creativity at the same time as holding discussions around ending domestic abuse and other forms of violence. A 19-year old woman whose hearing loss was not diagnosed until she was 10 years old has settled a High Court action against the HSE for 900,000. Caitlin Murray, who suffers from disabilities, including global developmental delay and poor eyesight, it was claimed before the High Court, was left unsupported and struggling to hear for most of her junior school years. To hear, she needed the person to face her and speak loudly. Her Counsel Aidan Doyle SC with Doireann OMahony BL told the court that the childs hearing loss was missed repeatedly for eight years until she was 10 years of age. Counsel said Caitlins parents became suspicious she had hearing problems when she was two years of age. He said over a number of years the child was brought on six or seven occasions to audiological services attached to University Hospital Waterford but her hearing loss was not diagnosed until 2015. Counsel said when Caitlin was diagnosed and got hearing aids when she was 10 years old there was a remarkable transformation in her. Caitlin Murray, Dungarvan, had, through her father Aidan Murray, sued the HSE, the operator of the Waterford Community Audiology Centre at The Hearing Centre at University Hospital Waterford over the delay in diagnosing her hearing loss. In the proceedings it was claimed there were missed opportunities to identify the childs hearing loss at assessment in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011. It was further claimed there was a failure to identify hearing loss and refer her onwards arising from legitimate concerns about hearing loss. It was also contended that false reassurances had been given to the parents about the little girls hearing loss and there had been a significant delay in the diagnosis and management of the childs hearing loss, which was only identified when she was 10 years of age. A breach of duty was admitted in the case but causation remained an issue. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said it was a very unfortunate case where something that should have been recognised earlier was not for eight years. He said the settlement was fair and reasonable. 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. UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned with the escalating situation in South Sudan, warning that the country is on the brink of civil war, his spokesman said on Thursday. The statement came following reports of the house arrest of South Sudanese First Vice President Riek Machar in the capital of Juba on Wednesday night. The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) calls on all parties in the country to "exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement (RPA)," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, at a daily briefing. The peacekeeping mission is joining other regional and international peace partners in expressing alarm at the detention under house arrest of Machar, Dujarric said. Dujarric said the United Nations warns that the confinement "takes the country yet one step closer to the edge of a collapse into civil war and the dismantling of the 2018 peace agreement." UNMISS head and special representative of the secretary-general, Nicholas Haysom, issued a statement late Wednesday after reports of the detention. "This will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region," he said. "Tonight, the country's leaders stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy." UNMISS urged President Salva Kiir and the first vice president to resolve grievances, end the military confrontation, uphold the RPA and take the country forward together towards a peaceful and democratic future. There were reported clashes between government troops of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition near Rejaf, just south of the capital Juba, and in Wunaliet, to the west. Dujarric said it should be clear to all that the people of South Sudan can ill afford to endure the consequences of the civil war. "It's vital that the leaders of the country put the interest of the people first and foremost," he stressed. This April, remarkable virtuoso guitarist, Plinio Fernandes, will be performing at the Medieval Museum in Waterford City. Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Fernandes fuses the tradition of classical guitar with Brazilian folk music. An artist whose performances are full of heart and wide-ranging expression, his versatility is evident from his sensitive delivery of works by Bach to his exuberant playing of the vibrant music of Brazil. Since 2021, at the age of 27, Fernandes has been an exclusive Decca Gold recording artist. He released his debut album, 'Saudade', in 2022, which hit number one on the Billboard Traditional Classical Albums Chart. His second album in the recording partnership, 'Bacheando', explored Bachs influence on Brazilian music and was released in September, 2023. The 2023/2024 season saw Plinio embark on a five-date duo recital tour of the UK with cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. The tour included a sold out performance at Londons Wigmore Hall. In addition to regular collaborations with Sheku, Plinio frequently performs with pianist Lang Lang, including at his 2022 Royal Albert Hall concert which features on Disney Plus. Having performed in sold out concert halls around the world, including renowned venues such as Radio City Music Hall in New York, Plinio has also given solo recitals and masterclasses in various locations, including Hong Kong, Portugal (for the MIMO festival in Porto) and throughout South America. August 2024, saw Fernandes make his BBC Proms debut and last year also saw him appear for the first time at the prestigious Lucerne Festival. Plinio was named on Forbes Brazils Under 30 list, was selected as a Rising Star by Classic FM, and recently received the Revelacao Award at the 30th Annual Premio da Musica Brasileira. A passionate advocate for music education, Plinio was invited to join London Music Masters as an ambassador and is involved with performing, teaching and guiding young musicians in schools. Plinio will be performing with Waterford Music at the Medieval Museum on April 11. Tickets for his forthcoming Waterford performance are available at musicnetwork.ie Naming the worlds best-known piece of classical music is something of a fools errand, but its a safe bet Antonio Vivaldis The Four Seasons would be close to the top of most lists. So reimagining this best-loved of works in this case as a piece for choir would potentially be intimidating; however, British composer and singer Joanna Forbes LEstrange was undaunted by the task. The result, A Season To Sing, will receive its Australian premiere next month, performed by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs 140-voice Symphony Chorus. Composer Joanna Forbes LEstrange. Credit: Forbes LEstrange, who has a long history as a composer and contemporary crossover performer, was invited by the Salisbury-based Royal School of Church Music to write a 40-minute choral work. The only stipulation was that it should have some religious element; otherwise, she would have free rein. 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 Advertisement Review Eating outSouth Perth Noodle-cooking wizardry on show at this suburban gem Boasting a new look and new dishes, this casual noodle houses future as one of Perths best southeast Asian eateries is assured. Max Veenhuyzen March 28, 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 1 / 7 The core menu at Two Hands Noodle Shop features several types of noodles. Matt ODonohue 2 / 7 The signature noodles come in two styles: thin and straight or crinkly and slightly flatter. Matt ODonohue 3 / 7 But its not all noodles. Matt ODonohue 4 / 7 One constant are the bao buns: steamed pillowy airbags filled with lush minced pork, chicken and char siew. Matt ODonohue 5 / 7 The fried roll of minced pork known as lobak. Matt ODonohue 6 / 7 Orders are made and paid for at the counter. Matt ODonohue 7 / 7 New black and white floor tiling adds a smart touch to the interior. Matt ODonohue Previous Slide Next Slide 14.5 / 20 How we score Asian$$$$ Among Christians, Sundays are regarded as the Sabbath: the day of rest. Sunday lunches and dinners at Two Hands Noodle Shop, however, dont strike me as being especially restful. Between the post-church crowd that flock here (thatd be the pods of friends and multigenerational families all rocking their Sunday best); late-rising locals in freshly laundered athleisure and streetwear; plus all the dedicated eaters that have set course for Como after getting a tip-off for great Malaysian-Chinese cooking, Sundays are a bad day to be one of the 50 or so seats at this squat eatery beneath a block of units. The hungry and the impatient not-so-subtly eyeball tables of chatters. Eaters at communal tables do their best to avoid rubbing elbows with one another. Staff in black uniform tees dart from kitchen to table and back again. Advertisement Noodle wizardry on show. Matt ODonohue Not that Two Hands is the only suburban Asian restaurant that gets slammed on the Lords Day. The church-to-brunch double-header is a common Sunday ritual across Bullcreek, Winthrop, Rossmoyne and other south-of-the-river postcodes with strong southeast Asian communities. Joseph Lau owner of Two Hands along with wife Georgia Ding knows this all too well. Prior to opening Two Hands in 2019, he ran Malaysian restaurants on and around the Leach Highway catchment including Willettons Sarawak Hawkers Cuisine, plus the original Kitchen Inn in Thornlie. Like his current business, all these places were based on a similar premise: cook great versions of the Chinese-influenced food synonymous with eastern Malaysia. From street level, Two Hands dress sense is best described as practical. There are outdoor tables and a PVC door curtain, perhaps with the tail end of the line poking through. Advertisement Inside, things feel a little more upbeat and livelier, thanks largely to the smart black and white floor tiling that got laid over Christmas. Orders are made and paid for at the counter, typically manned by manager (and Laus son-in-law), Kevin Er. A warning: said counter is clustered with takeaway snacks, cakes and condiments gunning for your impulse buying dollars. Think blistered curry puffs, gummy kueh (bite-sized snacks), coconut-filled pancakes and other foodstuffs capable of both curing and conjuring homesickness among Malays and Singaporeans. Two Hands is looking and cooking to the future. Matt ODonohue While this selection changes regularly, the bao are a constant: steamed pillowy airbags filled with lush minced pork, chicken and char siew. Considering Two Hands proximity to the Manning Road freeway south on-ramp, dropping in and buying some buns and some juicy fried chicken wings, and the fried roll of minced pork known as lobak for a down-south road trip would not be a mistake. Trying to slurp the restaurants namesake in-car, however, would be. And not to mention dangerous. Advertisement The noodles at Two Hands are best eaten there and then once served. Certainly the soup-less dry noodles that require mixing by end-users, anyway. Left untouched, these un-lubed noodles have a habit of clumping together. Even taking too long to nail that Instagram shot can be enough time for lunch to seize. The expert move is to churn your noodles while eating and continually drag those eggy strands through the sauces and toppings pooled in your bowl. So about those signature noodles. Or more specifically, eastern Malaysian-style minced pork noodles. The good stuff comes in two styles: thin and straight (kolo mee or kampua) or crinkly and slightly flatter (mee pok or kolo mee pok). Related Article A specialist Hokkaido ramen restaurant is opening in Leederville Hitting one of the Hokkien-style kolo mees? The kitchen will cook your noods al dente and slip white vinegar and garlic oil into your bowl along with the standard-issue pork lard, soya sauce and minced piggy bits. The kampua and mee pok, meanwhile, are more Fujian in style: the noodles are softer, silkier and seasoned with only the latter. Advertisement The core menu features other fine examples of noodle wizardry. The chew and thickness of the pan mian calls to mind great tagliatelle. Slippery egg noodles doused in an inky black soya sauce equals a rousing version of Kuala Lumpur-style Hokkien mee. All the aforementioned noodles are, I should add, produced in-situ, hence the shops name. Lau uses both of his hands to make them. Diners use both of ours to applaud his commitment to craft. A stranger to Two Hands I am not. While its kolo mee pok enriched with a fried egg (my go-to order) has brightened many a lunch hour, revisiting the new-look restaurant with my WAToday and Good Food hats on feels like an apt opportunity to explore the specials menu. Im glad I did. If the lush, warming buzz of a creamy Nyonya-style barramundi curry with and a zippy rendition of Singaporean bak chor mee starting springy pork meatballs are anything to go by, outside-of-my-comfort-zone is a dining precinct I need to spend more time in. Best of all, this low-key glow-up and the steady injection of new dishes to the menu suggests that Two Hands is looking and cooking to the future. And if that future involves more suburban addresses serving true-to-type renditions of regional south-east Asian dishes, Im all for it. Flavour and bang-for-buck in spirited, casual environs? Friends, can I get an Amen? The low-down Vibe: A (handmade, casual) noodle joint that any suburb would love to call its own. Go-to dish: Kolo mee pok (thin, straight noodles with a fried egg). Drinks: Sweet Malaysian-style milk coffees, teas and soft drinks. Cost: About $40 for two, excluding drinks. 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. Update: Richmond premiership player Noah Balta has settled a civil case with assault victim Thomas Washbrook a day after a NSW court was shown CCTV footage of his sickening attack. Washbrook, 27, was hospitalised with a head injury after being knocked to the ground and repeatedly punched by Balta outside Mulwala Water Ski Club on the NSW-Victorian border just after midnight on December 30. The victims lawyer, John Suta, confirmed to this masthead that a financial settlement was reached on Friday, but said details were confidential. Yarrawonga man Washbrook took time off work from his Wangaratta council job after the unprovoked attack. The Melbourne International Comedy Festivals opening night has abruptly ended mid-show after a patron died during the show. Health worker Andrea Bortoli said she was sitting in the upper levels front row at the Opening Night Comedy Allstars Supershow on Wednesday night when she noticed movement behind her. Ambulances are seen outside the Palais Theatre in St Kilda. Credit: Cassidy Knowlton There was obviously something going on at the back, and we were kind of trying to figure out what was going on. And then people started leaving. And then it became quite obvious that someone was getting CPR, she said. Bortoli said people around her were crying as they left the theatre. What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox. Singapore: We will never know if Xi Jinping has, on quiet occasion, shared in Donald Trumps delight for the humble hamburger. No world leader is as smitten with the Big Mac as Trump, and it would be wildly off-brand for the Chinese president to publicly indulge in something so quintessentially all-American. Fast food workers at Chinese burger chain Tastien prepare orders at a store in Beijing. Credit: Sanghee Liu But if Xi was looking for an acceptable compromise hed probably make a beeline for Chinas Tastien fast food chain, which proclaims itself the creator of the Chinese burger. London: King Charles was hospitalised in London after experiencing side effects from ongoing cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace has announced. In a statement issued on Friday morning, it was confirmed the 76-year-old monarch had cancelled public events because of a short period of observation at the London Clinic, the same hospital where he had treatment for an enlarged prostate in January last year. King Charles was hospitalised in London after experiencing side effects from ongoing cancer treatment. Credit: Getty Images The King had planned to travel to Birmingham for a busy schedule of engagements on Friday, which included a tour of the citys Royal Ballet. His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrows diary program will also be rescheduled, the statement said. CAIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Six Russians were killed and 39 foreigners were rescued on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank in Egypt's Red Sea during a trip to the resort city of Hurghada, according to a statement by the Red Sea Governorate on its official Facebook page. The submarine carried 45 foreigners from India, Russia, Norway, and Sweden and five Egyptian crew, the statement said. Emergency responders dispatched 21 ambulances to the scene, transporting 23 injured passengers to five hospitals. The wounded sustained fractures and bruises, with four placed in intensive care due to critical conditions. Meanwhile, those in stable condition have been discharged and returned to their hotels. Authorities confirmed that no passengers were missing, the statement said. Red Sea Governorate officials said the license of the submarine, Sinbad, "was valid and the crew leader obtained the required scientific certificate." The vessel sank at its marina, located in front of a well-known hotel, according to the statement. Investigations are currently underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. Earlier on Thursday, RIA Novosti quoted a statement from the Russian Consulate General in Hurghada revealing that all the tourists on board were Russians. "There were 45 tourists on board, including minors, as well as crew members. All of them were Russian citizens, tourists of the company Biblio Globus," the consulate's statement read, according to RIA Novosti. Passengers prepare to depart for their hometown by boat ahead of Eid al-Fitr at a port in Palembang, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, March 26, 2025. (Photo by M. Fadjrie/Xinhua) A passenger prepares to depart for his hometown by boat ahead of Eid al-Fitr at a port in Palembang, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, March 26, 2025. (Photo by M. Fadjrie/Xinhua) TOKYO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Thursday expressed deep regret over the U.S. decision to impose a 25-percent additional tariff on automobiles, instructing related officials to persistently negotiate for Japan's exemption. Ishiba held a 50-minute discussion at the Prime Minister's Office with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, and other key officials, according to local media Nikkei. Following the meeting, Iwaya told reporters that Japan will assess the impact on Japan's industrial sector and appeal through various channels for tariff exemption. At a press conference on Thursday, Hayashi also condemned the move as "extremely regrettable," warning that it could significantly impact Japan-U.S. economic relations, the global economy, and the multilateral trade system. The Prime Minister's directive outlined three key measures, including urging the United States to exclude Japan from the tariff measures, assessing the impact on domestic industries and employment while ensuring financial support measures, and coordinating a government-wide response in collaboration with relevant ministers, Nikkei reported. International student aims to transform lives through tech March 27, 2025 OGDEN, Utah Luka Shvelidze came to Utah for college, but he came to the United States for the adventure of learning and finding ways to improve peoples lives. Raised in the nation of Georgia, Shvelidze came to the U.S. nearly three years ago as a high school exchange student one of a select few chosen to participate in the Future Leaders Exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State. I first learned about that program in fifth grade. Everyone wanted to be part of it, he said, noting the acceptance rate of 2.6%. After finishing high school in Missouri, Shvelidze was looking for an affordable college that offered lots of opportunities, which led him to Weber State University in Utah. It was a simple Google search, he said. I switched to Images on the search, and I loved the beauty of campus. Weber States mountainous backdrop reminded him of Georgia, while its computer science school stood out as one of the top programs in his search. Hes now majoring in computer science with a minor in management information systems. It felt like home within the first semester, said Shvelidze, who took advantage of the Louis F. Moench Scholarship for international students, covering $32,000 over four years. Now in his second year at Weber State and his third in America, Shvelidze lives in WSU housing and has made great friends, including other international students. Shvelidze speaks English, Georgian and Russian. The 19-year-old said hes always looking for ways to help people on campus, whether its teaching them to play a song on the piano or showing them how to code. He wants to take that spirit of helpfulness into his career, too. Shvelidze said computer science touches on every aspect of life, from travel to video editing to songwriting. Technology can improve everyones life and thats something I want to do, he said. I want to use computer science in every field Im interested in. His interests are eclectic, but Shvelidze is zeroing in on avionics, tapping into a love for aviation that started when he took his first flight at 12: When we took off, it was a feeling that shows you theres something greater, seeing the planet you live on. With avionics and computer science, he envisions improving air travel for everyone: pilots, flight attendants and passengers: I want to make peoples lives better. To that end, Shvelidze is already serving in several ways at WSU: as a Presidential Leadership Fellow, a resident assistant, and helping establish the European Student Club, which will launch in fall 2025. He hopes his success here will pave the way for his two younger siblings: I want them to see how far you can go. Theres something very powerful about being international. Shvelidze said he made it this far in his college journey by believing in himself and finding others to look up to. Im always looking for examples in life, people I can learn from, he said. Theres all these opportunities you can grab. Theres always something you can learn and be brilliant at it. SEOUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) guided the defence science research work of the country's Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex and the detective electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday, state media reported on Thursday. Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, learned about various kinds of reconnaissance and suicide attack drones, which are newly developed and being produced by an institute and enterprises under the Unmanned Aeronautical Technology Complex, and oversaw their performance test, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The test proved the innovative performance of a new-type strategic reconnaissance drone and demonstrated the capabilities of suicide drones to be used for various tactical attack missions, the KCNA said. "The field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritized and developed in modernizing the armed forces," Kim was quoted by the KCNA as saying. The DPRK leader stressed the importance of correctly shaping the state long-term plan for promoting the rapid development of the work to use intelligent drones, in keeping with the trend of modern warfare in which the competition for using intelligent drones as a major military means is being accelerated and the range of their use is steadily expanding in military activities, according to the KCNA report. In addition, Kim also learned about the performance of reconnaissance and intelligence gathering means and electronic jamming and attack systems newly developed by the detective electronic warfare research group and its long-term plan, the KCNA reported. The DPRK leader said the special means developed with up-to-date technology would play a big role in monitoring the potential threats and collecting vital intelligence, and expressed his great satisfaction over the new electronic jamming and attack weapon systems that began to be produced, it added. SHREVEPORT, La. A motion seeking a death warrant for a Shreveport man on death row has been filed in Caddo District Court. District Attorney James Stewart filed the motion Monday asking for an execution date for murderer Darrell Dewayne Draughn. The motion asks for the date to be set within 60 to 90 days once its signed by a judge. The motion had not been signed as of Wednesday. Draughn was convicted of April 2000 first-degree murder of his neighbor, Lauretta White. A Caddo Parish jury convicted him in 2003 and sentenced him to death. Draughns conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2007. The U.S. Supreme Court also denied his appeals. Theres not been any litigation of additional post-conviction claims over the past 17 years. Gov. Jeff Landry announced on Feb. 10 a protocol has been established for execution by nitrogen hypoxia. The Caddo D.A.s office said there is no reason to delay Draughns sentence, according to court records. On March 18, Jessie Hoffman of St. Tammany Parish was the first Louisiana inmate to be put to death by nitrogen gas. Prior to that, the last execution was by lethal injection in 2010. Draughn is one of 13 inmates from Caddo Parish on death row. Thats the most of any parish in the state. White, 64, was killed in her home in the 200 block of East Boulevard Street. Her adult son found her body lying in a pool of blood. She had been stabbed or cut 61 times. Her empty purse was nearby. Money, credit cards and checks were missing. Partial shoe prints were found in her blood throughout the house. The investigation stalled as detectives awaited the results of DNA samples taken from Whites family members and neighbors. Draughn was questioned but told investigators during several interviews he had never been in her house. Investigators received an anonymous tip six months later saying Draughn was involved in Whites murder. Blood droplets in Whites home matched his DNA. The coroner testified at his trial that White had been killed six to 12 hours before her body was found. Some of her wounds were defensive. Her injuries would have inflicted a great deal of pain and suffering, the coroner said. The jury convicted Draughn based on evidence she was killed during a robbery or attempted robbery at her house. But that wasnt the only murder Draughn was involved with. During the penalty phase of his trial, the state presented evidence Draughn killed Justin Bradley, 18, in August 2000 five months after Whites murder. He shot Bradley in the wrist and back of the head with a shotgun. In 1999, a little over five months before Whites murder, Draughn hit a man in the head with a caulking gun. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit COLOMBO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The "Me and China" themed lecture was held on Wednesday at the China Cultural Center in Sri Lanka, highlighting the growing cultural and personal connections between the two countries. The event featured two key lectures. Ajith Dharmawardena, president of Sri Lanka-China Buddhist Friendship Association, shared his personal journey in a talk titled "Me and China: At Beijing Language Institute", reflecting on his experiences learning Chinese and life in Nanjing. Aruna de Silva, also from the association, delivered a lecture titled "The Impact of China on One's Life", emphasizing China's influence on Sri Lanka through shared values and development cooperation. Wu Hongyuan, director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Kelaniya, stressed the need to train cultural ambassadors and build bridges through arts and education. Organized by the China Cultural Center, "Me and China" serves as a platform for Sri Lankan scholars and citizens to share personal stories and perspectives on China, promoting stronger bilateral ties through cultural dialogue. Air Force Town Hall April 1, Tuesday at 6:00 P.M. Details emerge about the Sentinel Program Town Hall, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, at Kimball Jr/Sr High School, hosted by the U.S. Air Force. According to Glenn Robertson, Chief of Media Relations for the 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs, Maj. Gen Colin Connor, Director of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Modernization, Site Activation Task Force, will attend the town hall. The Commander of the 90th Missile Wing, Col. Johnny Galbert, will also attend. Three other officials include Mr. Steve Kravitsky, Director of Sentinel SATAF Detachment 10, Col. James Rodriguez, Acquisitions Program Manager, Nuclear Warfare Center, and Lt. Col. The focus of the meeting is to provide updates to the Sentinel program. Robertson said there will "likely be some repeated information, just because of the nature of these types of events, but this isn't a "repeat" per se." After the welcome message, the meeting will address why to modernize, the status of Sentinel, on-base construction, and the claims process. The meeting will have an area with a map set up for landowners. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m., with 30 minutes for the presenters and another 30 minutes of Q&A from the audience. Eva Osborne Jamie xx will return to Forbidden Fruit for the 2025 festival for his only Irish show of the year, while festival favourite Peggy Gou will step up to the main stage. The festival, which will run on Saturday, May 31st, and Sunday, June 1st at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, has released the day-by-day lineup as well as naming 20 new artists as performers. Newly-announced artists include Kilimanjaro, Sam Austin, Juicy Romance, Clara La San, In Parallel, Khakikid, LB aka Labat, and Dublins own Jazzy, who made history as the highest-charting and most-streamed Irish female artist of all time on Spotify globally. Caribou is set to bring his innovative blend of Detroit techno and disco, with live musicians and stunning visuals. Meanwhile, Mall Grab will bring his high-energy sound for his only Irish festival appearance this year, while fellow Aussies Glass Beams will return for their second-ever Irish show, delivering cosmic psych-jazz vibes. New York-based FCUKERS will make their Irish debut, joined by German duo BUNT, who will bring their folk-house fusion to the stage for the first time. Irish chart-topping nimino, known for his lush electronic soundscapes, and UK underground sensation Effy, whose bass-heavy club sets will get the crowd going. Day and weekend tickets for the festival will go on sale from Tuesday, April 1st, with pre-sale tickets available from Monday, March 31st. Forbidden Fruit has also named the rising talent set to take over the RTE 2fm Rising Stage. From breakthrough artists to future festival headliners, this year's lineup includes Bold Love, Celaviedmai, Fortune Igiebor, Essiray, Sweetlemondae, Cliffords, Negro Impacto, Pastiche, F3miii, Annie Dog, and special guest MOIO. By Rebecca Black, PA, in Lebanon 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 7th, 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 14th, 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 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 12th, 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 17th 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. New data has revealed that the number of burglaries in the Mayo Gardai Division has decreased by 19% in the past 12 months. A total of 137 burglaries occurred in the division over the past year, down by 19 from 2023. It is the highest decrease among all 28 garda divisions in Ireland. Leading home security expert, PhoneWatch, says this is an extremely positive outcome, but homeowners still need to be vigilant and take more proactive steps to continue to improve their home security measures. According to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), burglary numbers have risen sharply across both urban and rural areas. Nationwide burglaries increased by 10% in the same period with 9,981 taking place. The data outlines that 21 of the 28 Gardai divisions have experienced an increase in burglaries within this period. The combined Roscommon and Longford Gardai Division saw the highest rate of increase in the country at 56% (277 burglaries), Tipperary increased by 50% (371 burglaries), Westmeath by 35% (272 burglaries), Wicklow increased by 33% (301 burglaries) and Limerick by 27% (571 burglaries). Eoin Dunne, Managing Director of PhoneWatch, commented: "This 10% increase in burglary rates means that 878 more homes compared to the previous 12 months had to endure a burglary and the traumatic aftermath that comes with it. Even one burglary is one too many. "In a recent survey conducted with Bounce Insights, its no surprise that 50% of homeowners outlined that theyre more concerned about a break-in in their home now compared to a year ago," he added. "Regardless of whether burglary rates increase or decrease in your Gardai division, our message to Irish homeowners never changes. Its imperative you take control of your home security, as burglars are opportunists and identify a weakness in security very quickly and capitalise on this. Homeowners need to act on their security concerns and implement simple but effective home security recommendations, to help deter burglars from their homes," he concluded. Representatives of Afri, Action From Ireland travelled to Templemary National School in Killala to meet with students who are raising money for the charity. Templemary NS has been supporting Afri's St Brigid's Peace Cross campaign where schools make St Brigid's Crosses. Afri supplies cardboard backs for the crosses, explaining the story of St Brigid and elastic bands with which to hold the cross. The schoolchildren sell them and send the money off to Afri. The initiative has been ongoing for a long number of years. Templemary National School's involvement is one of the longest in the country and Afri presented the school with a painting by American First Nation's Artist, Gary White Deer, a member of the Choctaw Nation and former leader of the annual Afri Famine Walk in Louisburgh/Delphi. The Choctaws raised money for Irish Famine Relief in the 1800s. Afri was founded on September 1975 when Sean McFarren SDB called a meeting of a group of friends and initiated the organisation under the name Aid from the Republic of Ireland. Today, Afris goal is the promotion of global justice and peace and the reduction of poverty; this includes, but is not limited to, the progressive reduction of global militarisation, and responding to the threat of climate change, corporate control of resources and water, and interference with food sovereignty. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Sinn Fein has labelled a report into disorder in the Dail on Tuesday as deeply flawed. The report, written by the clerk of the Dail, Peter Finnegan, analysed whether the decisions made by Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy adhered to Dail rules. He concluded that her actions on the order of business, questions on policy or legislation, and a motion to amendment standing orders adhered to Dail rules. The clerks report was issued as an attachment to Ms Murphys statement categorically rejecting allegations of partiality and collusion. Verona Murphy was at the centre of controversy in the Dail (Brian Lawless/PA) The statement was issued after opposition parties drafted a motion of no confidence in Ms Murphy. In Mr Finnegans report, he said that after Ms Murphy put the order of business to the Dail on Tuesday, calls of Votail to trigger a division were not audible on the chambers legal record. It is a longstanding parliamentary requirement that members dissenting from the Chairs declaration must say the word Votail to trigger a division, the report said. The official report of the debates and the clerks sheet (which is the basis for the Journal of Proceedings, the legal record of the Dail) both confirm that the word Votail was not audible in the chamber when you put the question on the order of business. The declaration of the result by you was therefore fully in accordance with standing orders. On the decision on questions on policy or legislation, Mr Finnegan said the significant level of disorder in the Dail led to Ms Murphy using her discretion to move to the next item, which is allowed under Standing Order 36. Sinn Fein have said that this unilateral waving of promised legislation was something we have never seen in the Dail. On the main point of contention in the Dail on Tuesday, the motion to amend Dail standing orders, the clerk said that party leader Mary Lou McDonald was asked to move Sinn Feins amendment. There was considerable disorder at the Dail through disputed procedure (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms McDonald said on Tuesday that she did not hear Ms Murphy say that. As the order of business, as agreed, provided that the motion be taken without debate, you were obliged to immediately proceed to put the question on the motion itself. The motion was put to the House, members said Votail, the clerk rang the bells, and the division was taken in accordance with standing orders, the clerks report said. After the tellers for the no side, Sinn Feins Padraig Mac Lochlainn and Labours Duncan Smith, refused to sign the tellers sheet in protest, Ms Murphy declared the government amendment passed. He said that this was provided for under Standing Order 91. The decision under this standing order, which is aimed at preventing the obstruction of divisions due to gross disorder and refusal by duly nominated tellers to fulfil their obligations under standing orders, is entirely at the Ceann Comhairles discretion. Therefore, your decision yesterday to declare the motion agreed was fully compliant with standing orders and the powers conferred upon you as Ceann Comhairle. Responding to the report, a spokesman for Sinn Fein said it was deeply flawed. The party also said it does not tally with events in the Dail chamber yesterday, which can be viewed and heard on the Oireachtas website. The Ceann Comhairle was determined to force through a highly contentious and damaging government proposition, regardless of what was happening on the floor of the Dail. As a result, there was no vote on the order of business even though a vote was clearly called. There was a unilateral waving of promised legislation something we have never seen in the Dail. The Opposition did not move their amendment. In her haste to force through the government proposal, the Ceann Comhairle appears to have inadvertently moved the Opposition amendment and not the motion put forward by the government. It was this amendment that was passed. All of this can be clearly seen on the Oireachtas website. Eva Osborne The Trinity BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) student group at Trinity College Dublin said "direct action" returned to the campus in the form of a blockade of the Book of Kells Experience. The group said the blockade, which took place on Thursday morning, was a response to the college's "continued ties with Apartheid Israel". In a statement, a Trinity College spokesperson said the blockade did not disrupt normal proceedings as it only lasted five or so minutes. Protestors stayed outside around the area for about an hour. Trinity BDS said the college "has continued to act carelessly, forging new ties with Israel". "Earlier this year, we discovered that Trinity had bought materials from a new Israeli supplier (Alomone Labs) amounting to 1836 through a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request, despite them previously stating that they only had one Israeli supplier remaining (Enspire Science Ltd) till March 2025 for contractual reasons. "In response to this act of carelessness, we escalated by doing a banner drop, placing a banner saying TCD still funds genocide in front of the Campanile and another banner outside of Regent House saying We are still watching. "In response to the continued carelessness of the college, and in response to Trinitys continued complicity in genocide and apartheid, we have initiated this blockade to put increased pressure on the college to keep to their commitments." A Trinity College Dublin spokesperson said: "A demonstration took place this morning outside the Old Library. It has since dispersed. "A Taskforce on Academic and Institutional Links and related matters was established by the University Board last year as part of an agreement that ended an encampment on campus. "This Taskforce includes TCDSU and other student representatives. An update on the work of the Taskforce was on yesterday's Board agenda and a report from the Taskforce will be provided to Board by the summer." High Court Reporter The bitter High Court civil trial involving three shareholders of tech conference giant Web Summit has been finally settled after talks between the parties came to a resolution on a Wednesday afternoon. At 11am on Thursday morning Joe Jeffers SC, for minority shareholder in Web Summit David Kelly, told the court that all matters had been resolved to a satisfactory conclusion between majority shareholder Paddy Cosgrave, Mr Kelly and former director Daire Hickey and that matters were to be listed for mention before the court on April 29th. On the seventh day of the civil trial hearing of five separate actions, Mr Justice Michael Twomey said he was really, genuinely pleased for all parties in the case who saved court time and possible reputational and personal cost in cases that had been listed to last up to nine weeks. Mr Justice Twomey then wished all parties the best for the future and adjourned the matter until next month. On Wednesday, the court was due to hear evidence from Web Summit minority shareholder Mr Hickey but proceedings were put back as lawyers and parties held talks in corridors all morning outside Court 29 in the Four Courts. At around 12.30pm on Wednesday, barrister Michael Cush SC, also for Mr Kelly, told Mr Justice 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 him to step outside the court and five minutes later counsel for all three were seated before Mr Justice Twomey. 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 11am tomorrow morning. Majority shareholder Mr 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. Yesterday 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 the parties. 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 warned 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. 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. Speaking afterwards Mr Cosgrave said it was a great day for Web Summit and that the company was delighted to remove these two individuals [Mr Hickey and Mr Kelly] as minority shareholders. Our agreement vindicates everything Web Summit has done to protect its interests and stand up for its principles. Its heartening that Daire Hickey and David Kelly have recognised publicly what we have known for years: that them leaving the company as shareholders is in Web Summits best interests. Its gratifying that every single one of the claims made against me or the company has been withdrawn and crucially, David and Daire have finally publicly accepted that I and I alone founded Web Summit in 2009, contrary to their claims over many years. Thankfully, though, we have an amazing team at Web Summit and can once again focus wholly on growing our position and reputation as the worlds premier tech conference. I would like to thank our legal team, led by Bernard Dunleavey SC, Derek Shortall SC, [solicitor] Elizabeth Burke, who is amazing, and our general counsel Adam Connon, who is also amazing, my colleagues and friends as well and most of all, my amazing wife, Faye, my two boys and my wonderful family for always supporting me and doing the right thing. Thank you very much. A statement from Mr Hickey said: "Daire is very pleased with the outcome today. He would like to thank his family, friends and colleagues as well as his excellent legal team, Dentons, and his barristers for their support throughout. He is now looking forward to getting back to work and his family life. A statement from Mr Kelly, who was not in the court this morning, said: David is very pleased that an agreement has been reached between the parties. He is grateful to Dillon Eustace, his entire legal team and his family and friends for their support throughout the process and the many years leading to this. Web Summit has been valued at between 280 million and 360 million. Details of the settlement were not made public in court on Thursday. COLOMBO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan navy said it seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen on Thursday morning for poaching in the waters off Delft Island in Sri Lanka's Northern Province. The navy said in a statement that the fishermen and the boat were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbor and handed over to local fisheries officials for onward legal proceedings. The navy conducts operations against foreign vessels engaged in poaching, citing the impact of such activities on the livelihoods of local fishermen. With these latest arrests, the navy has seized a total of 21 Indian fishing boats and detained 159 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters in 2025. YANGON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's State Administration Council pardoned seven foreign prisoners on the country's 80th anniversary of Armed Forces Day on Thursday. According to the council's order, the pardoned prisoners included four Thai nationals from Kawthoung prison and three Philippine nationals from Hpa-an prison. The prisoners were pardoned in consideration of friendly relations among the countries and on humanitarian grounds, the council said. The prisoners were pardoned and expelled under the condition that they will serve the remainder of their reduced sentences if they commit crimes again, it added. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mostly sunny and a bit warmer, but with still comfortable humidity levels. . Tonight Mostly clear and milder overnight. PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a range of initiatives to support Ukraine at a summit in Paris on Thursday, amid growing uncertainty over continued U.S. assistance. At a press conference following the summit of the "coalition of the willing," Macron announced a joint Franco-British plan to send a team to Ukraine to help shape the future structure of the Ukrainian army. Macron said that he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would "jointly lead" the coordination efforts of Ukraine's international coalition of allies. He also raised the idea of deploying "reassurance forces" from a few willing European Union member states to strategic locations in Ukraine should a peace agreement be reached with Russia, saying the potential deployment would serve as a deterrent and form part of long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. However, "There is no consensus on this point," Macron acknowledged. He underscored the importance of continued American support for any potential European deployment but said Europe must prepare for a scenario in which the United States is no longer involved. On Wednesday, Macron announced France will provide an additional 2 billion euros (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) in aid for Ukraine. BRATISLAVA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Richard Rasi, vice chairman of the Hlas party, was elected chairman of the Slovak National Council on Wednesday. Rasi secured all 79 votes from the members of parliament present, surpassing the 76-vote threshold required in the 150-member legislature. The position had remained vacant since April 2024, when then-chair Peter Pellegrini won the presidential election. Prime Minister Robert Fico described Rasi's election as the culmination of a difficult process to stabilize the governing coalition. The vote had been delayed for months due to disagreements within the three-party coalition over a unified candidate. During the interim, vice-chair Peter Ziga managed the affairs of the Parliament. Rasi previously served as minister of investments, regional development and informatization in Fico's government. Wits researchers find a way to shield quantum information from noise Breakthrough could lead to more stable quantum computers and networks, making future technology faster, more secure, and widely accessible. Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa (Wits University) in collaboration with Huzhou University in China have discovered a way to protect quantum information from environmental disruptions, offering hope for more reliable future technologies. In a study published in Nature Communications, scientists have shown how certain quantum states can maintain their critical information even when disturbed by environmental noise. "What we've found is that topology is a powerful resource for information encoding in the presence of noise," says Professor Andrew Forbes from the Wits School of Physics. Quantum entanglement is the invisible connection between particles that allows them to communicate instantly, no matter how far apart they are. This principle is the subject of popular science and the cornerstone of modern quantum technologies. However, it has famously been rejected by Einstein as spooky action at a distance. Unfortunately, quantum entangled states are notoriously fragile, decaying when they experience a perturbation, such as background and stray light, noisy detectors, lost photons and other sources of white noise, common effects in real-world quantum systems that can break the connection between the particles, rendering their entangled link useless. To overcome this, many strategies have been put forward to try and preserve the entanglement, but so far with very limited success. The Wits team have shown that this approach can be manipulated, allowing the entanglement to remain fragile and instead preserve the quantum information. We are carefully engineering the quantum wave function a mathematical description that captures all possible states of a quantum system to preserve quantum information that remains stable even when the underlying quantum connections start to break down, says Forbes. The researchers discovered that by engineering quantum states with specific topological properties, they could preserve quantum information even when the entanglement between particles begins to break down. What weve found is that topology is a powerful resource for information encoding in the presence of noise. It has a large encoding alphabet that is complete immune to the noise so long as just some entanglement persists. Prof. Robert de Mello Koch explains that this manipulation of the quantum waveform topology can be seen as a form of digitisation of quantum information made possible by the discrete nature of the topological observables, which only take on integer values, such as 2, 1, 1 and 2. Discrete signals are always more robust against the effects of noise. This follows because for discrete signals the noise must be able to flip the signal between two discrete states before any effect is registered. The team believe that just as digital technology has enabled successful classical computation and communication, so too will digital quantum signals allow successful quantum computation and communication under realistic conditions without the need for compensating strategies. "This breakthrough could be used to overcome noise in quantum computers as well as global quantum networks, for the next generation of quantum technologies. It can be especially valuable in creating advanced medical imaging technologies and more powerful artificial intelligence systems harnessing entanglement, says Forbes. ISTANBUL, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said here Thursday that 51 people out of the 106 suspects involved in two ongoing investigations into the Istanbul municipality on charges of graft and terror ties have been arrested. Of the rest 55 suspects, 41 have been placed under judicial control, and 14 remain at large, Tunc said in a meeting with representatives of foreign media outlets. "We emphasize that the investigation is being carried out by independent judicial authorities," Tunc said, adding that "claims, defenses, and evidence will be evaluated during the investigation phase, and once the confidentiality of the investigation is lifted, the material facts will be revealed." Also on Thursday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on the social media platform X that Turkish security forces have so far arrested 1,879 individuals related to ongoing protests against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. A total of 150 police officers have been injured during protests, Yerlikaya said. Imamoglu, together with dozens of senior municipal officials, was detained on March 19 as part of the investigations initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Imamoglu was then formally arrested and suspended from office on Sunday. Since then, he, who denies the accusations, has been held at Marmara Prison in Istanbul's Silivri district. Tens of thousands of Turks have taken to the streets after the detention of Imamoglu, who, from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), is considered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main rival in the next presidential elections. On Wednesday, the Istanbul City Council elected Nuri Aslan from the CHP as acting mayor. THE HAGUE, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Four of the five people injured in a stabbing incident in central Amsterdam on Thursday afternoon are foreign nationals, Dutch police said. The victims include a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man, both American; a 26-year-old man from Poland; a 73-year-old woman from Belgium; and a 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam, according to a police statement. The attack occurred near Sint Nicolaasstraat in the city center. Authorities arrested a male suspect shortly after the incident with the assistance of bystanders. The suspect, who sustained a leg injury, was taken to the hospital. "The motive behind the attack is currently unclear and under investigation. Police are considering the possibility that the suspect may have randomly targeted victims, but the exact motive remains unknown," the statement read. Authorities have urged anyone with footage of the incident to share it with investigators. The blessing boxes are free-standing pantries containing non-perishable food goods that any person in need can access anonymously. PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a range of initiatives to support Ukraine at a summit in Paris on Thursday, amid growing uncertainty over continued U.S. assistance. At a press conference following the summit of the "coalition of the willing," Macron announced a joint Franco-British plan to send a team to Ukraine to help shape the future structure of the Ukrainian army. Macron said that he and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would "jointly lead" the coordination efforts of Ukraine's international coalition of allies. He also raised the idea of deploying "reassurance forces" from a few willing European Union member states to strategic locations in Ukraine should a peace agreement be reached with Russia. However, "There is no consensus on this point," Macron acknowledged. He underscored the importance of continued American support for any potential European deployment but said Europe must prepare for a scenario in which the United States is no longer involved. Following the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that British Defence Secretary John Healey will chair the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on April 11, where efforts will focus on coordinating additional military aid to support Ukraine's defense. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Moscow is "categorically against" the possible deployment of Western peacekeepers in Ukraine. Such a scenario could lead to a direct clash between Russia and NATO, Zakharova said, adding that London and Paris are hatching plans for "a military intervention in Ukraine" under the guise of a peacekeeping operation. Trump to impose 25% tariff on all automobiles brought into the U.S. Rumeysa Ozturk, a graduate student at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was taken into custody by federal agents near her home Tuesday, March 25, 2025, according to her lawyer. Canadas social democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) is campaigning for the April 28th federal election on a program of massive rearmament. It is following a war-path already well trodden by social democratic parties in Europe, serving as a key advocate for imperialist war and the corralling of workers behind Ottawas predatory global interests. In a series of statements, the NDP has trumpeted a Made in Canada plan to pour tens of billions of dollars into new war spending. Attempting to exploit the belligerent threats of the fascist US President Donald Trump to annex Canada as the 51st state, leading NDP figures have pitched their made in Canada rearmament plan as a way to resist American domination of Canada and pursue a more independent foreign policy. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and then Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. From 2019, the minority Liberal government was dependent on the votes of the NDP to retain power, [Photo: YouTube] The NDP frames its rearmament campaign as a Fight for Canada. In reality, the NDP is fighting alongside the entire political establishment to pour tens of billions of additional dollars into the Canadian imperialist war machine, and to ensure that the working class pays the price for it. This marks a continuation of the partys record over recent years, which has included propping up Justin Trudeaus pro-war Liberal government since 2019. During this period, and especially following the conclusion of a confidence-and-supply agreement with the Liberals in 2022, the NDP supported massive increases in military spending, Canadas prominent role in the US/NATO-instigated war with Russia, and the governments full-throated endorsement of Israels genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. In a March 16 statement, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh announced the NDPs commitment to spend 2 percent of Canadas GDP on defence. Singh declared, Too often we have left our Armed Forces without the equipment they need, without the supports they deserve. Its time to change thatto recruit, protect and respect Canadian Armed Forces members. Singh is pushing the lie that billions in new war spending could benefit the working class. Diverting production to Canadian defence contractors will create good unionized jobs for workers, he claimed, while adding his intention to increase pay for soldiers. The NDP is trading in a political fraud. Canadas Parliamentary Budget Office calculates that an additional $20 billion in military spending per year is required to meet the 2 percent threshold. The MacDonald-Laurier Institute, a leading pro-imperialist think tank noted, Ottawa can only reach the 2 percent target by shedding some of its programs, including its new housing, daycare, dental benefits, national school food, and pharmacare programs. Other analysts have pointed out that when the growth in population and GDP over the coming years is taken into account, military spending increases would have to be even higher. One calculation suggested that by 2033, when Singh has pledged to meet the 2 percent target, Canada would have to spend over $80 billion on defence, effectively double the $41 billion spent last year. The final moves of the NDPs confidence and supply Liberal partners indicate that together with rearmament, a regime of intensified class warfare and attacks on workers will form the agenda of any new federal government. The week before the election call, Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney announced, to the cheers of Bay Street, the repeal of the promised hike in the capital gains tax, heralding the transfer of billions in socially created wealth to the rich. Carney also declared his intent to balance the budget on operational spendingsocial programs for the working classwhile running a deficit to build oil pipelines and purchase new weapons systems. The NDPs main concern is that budget cuts could harm the militarys fighting capacity. Singh declared, Canadians believe in protecting our military service members, caring for our Veterans and creating more good Canadian jobs while we do it. But Prime Minister Mark Carney is straying from those values by putting budget cuts first. His plan to balance the budget within three years will strain CAF operations and CAF members. Canadian-made European fighter jets in preference to American ones Faced with Trumps threat to annex the country, all of the established political parties have indicated their support for reviewing a $19 billion deal with US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin to buy 88 F-35 fighter jets. Outgoing Liberal Defence Minister Bill Blair stated that Canada will hold discussions with alternative aircraft producers, among them Swedens Saab, which builds the Gripen fighter jet. The NDP has assumed a leading role in urging Canadian imperialist policymakers to purchase European fighter jets in preference to US made ones. In 2022, as a condition of its confidence and supply agreement with the Trudeau Liberals, the NDP voted for the Liberal budget which committed the funds for the F-35 jet, while complaining impotently about their expense. Now, together with pseudo-left groups such as the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, the NDP is demanding a halt to Canadian participation in the F-35 program. They are not doing this because the F-35s primary purpose is to murder workers in other countries and destroy the fruits of their labour, but because the planes mission control software is controlled by the United States, which has emerged as a grave threat to the independent interests of Canadian imperialism. Nothing in the NDPs opposition to the F-35 purchase gives expression to the objective interests of the working class in opposing imperialism and imperialist war. Rather, the NDPs calculations are based upon the same considerations as the Liberals and Conservativeshow best to advance the national security interests of Canadian imperialism. As Singh put it, Its a matter of national security that our defence technology not be controlled by the United States. Thats why well cancel the F-35 contract, and build the fighter jets Canada needs in Canada, using Canadian workers. As Saab said it would do in its runner-up bid in Canadas fighter contract competition. If Canada buys its F-35s from the United States, continued the NDP leader that government will retain complete control of the software and hardware upgrades required for continued operations of the planesa strategic vulnerability that could even ground the jets. The NDP has long been a strident proponent of Canadian imperialist violence around the world, supporting every war Ottawa has joined since the NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia in 1999. But it is now intensifying its commitment to uphold national security and ensure Canadian imperialism has a war machine over which it has independent control under conditions of an accelerating breakdown of world capitalism. The collapse of American democracy and the elevation to power of a rapacious, fascistic oligarchy has dramatically accelerated the drive to war, as the oligarchy asserts its desire for world conquest and plunder at the expense of its former allies. Trumps demands to seize Greenland, Gaza and the Panama Canal, and Ukraines minerals and nuclear power plants have driven the other imperialist power to assert their own belligerent interests, in a race for geostrategic trade routes, pools of labour, and resources. The old social democratic parties and their sponsors in the trade union bureaucracies are among the most enthusiastic war mongers in Britain, France, Germany, Australia and elsewhere. All of them have daubed themselves in war paintto advance the interests of the ruling class in each countryagainst the working class. Last September, Unifor, the countrys largest industrial union, released a lengthy document proposing a national aerospace strategy for Canadian imperialism based around securing long-term contracts for and building an industry around Canadas aircraft and defence equipment manufacturers. Together with the Canadian Labour Congress, Unifor sits on the governments Canada-US advisory council alongside business representatives plotting how Canadian imperialism should respond to Trumps trade war and threats to take over the country. That is, they fully support the ruling elites drive to make workers on both sides of the border to bear the burden of trade war and imperialist militarism. The NDPs historical relationship with the trade union bureaucracy means that it plays a critical role for the ruling class in the containment of working class resistance to war and austerity which is already emerging. Just as Joe Biden referred to the AFL-CIO bureaucracy as my domestic NATO, the Canadian ruling class counts on the services of the Canadian Labour Congress, its member unions, and Unifor to prevent the class struggle from leaping across the borders artificially separating Canadian, American and Mexican workers. The NDPs Defence Critic, Lindsay Mathyssen, exemplifies the partys corporatist role. Mathyssen represents London-Fanshawe, where more than 12,000 workers are employed in the armaments industry, in more than 45 enterprises. These include the General Dynamics plant that has supplied Ukraine with 50 Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV) and is now retrofitting 25 more. In a March 16 statement she demanded immediate steps to ensure the brave women and men in uniform have the equipment necessary to uphold our sovereignty Unifor Local 27, Unit 66 home page. This local represents the workers who manufacture Light Armoured Vehicles at General Dynamics Land Systems in London Ontario, in NDP Defence Critic Lindsay Mathyssens riding. [Photo: Unifor Local 27] Mathyssen declared, For decades, successive Liberal and Conservative governments have prioritized the needs of the American Military-Industrial complex over Canadians. Our broken military procurement system has used convoluted and flawed requirements that have failed Canadian workers and has seen billions in investment sent to the United States. Mathyssen conveniently omitted the NDPs official confidence and supply agreement with the minority Justin Trudeau-led Liberal government from March 2022 to September 2024. Throughout, the NDP served as a key pillar of Canadas ever-deeper integration into Washingtons drive for global hegemony, including through NORAD expansion, Ottawas leading role in NATOs war with Russia, and its rapidly expanding participation in the US military-strategic offensive against China. If the NDP is now balking going further down this path, it is only because the Canadian ruling class is reconsidering its options under conditions where Trump is refusing to accord it the status of duly recognized junior partner in a US-led Fortress North America, and is threatening to strike a ceasefire deal with Russia over the heads and at the expense of its NATO allies. With Trump championing America First at Canadian capitalisms expense, up to and including its annexation, the social democrats are now trying to elaborate an alternative path whereby Canadian imperialism can secure its global interests. The NDP has joined Carney and Conservative leader Poilievre in attacking Trump for abandoning Ukraine. It is supporting Ottawas efforts to strengthen ties with Germany, Britain, France and the other European imperialist powers, which are implementing a massive crash rearmament program so that they can conduct military operations in pursuit of their predatory global interests independently of, and if necessary against, the US. NDP advocates for the Canadian Military-Industrial complex Mathyssens opposition to the American Military-Industrial complex is thus not against war or imperialism, but only to American domination of war production and the potential threat it represents to Canadian imperialist interests. The NDP MP speaks, quite literally, for the Canadian Military-Industrial complex and its interests. An NDP government, pledged Mathyssen in her March 16 statement, will immediately replace these projects (the F-35 fighter and the Boeing PA Poseidon aircraft) by engaging with competing bidders and ensuring they can deliver the Saab Gripen fighter jet and a Made-in-Canada Multi-Mission Aircraft, as well as demanding maintenance on these aircraft are (sic) done at home with good, unionized jobs We will ensure that all eligible bids with at least 50% of value created in Canada will be given preference. As the economic and social crises from the eruption of global trade war and world war escalate, the NDPs warmongering demands and cynical nationalist appeals will find little purchase with the working class. Its assertion that war spending will benefit workers flies in the face of all of its historical and recent experience. Though the economic shock from the trade war has only begun to make itself felt, the working class is already experiencing severe economic strain. Income inequality rose last year to its highest ever level on record, according to Statistics Canada, and millions of people across the country already rely on food banks to make ends meet. A Globe and Mail article on Sunday, March 23 exposed the fact that young people simply cannot afford to participate in the ruling classs reactionary Buy Canadian campaign, which the NDP is promoting just as vociferously as its made in Canada rearmament plan. Declared one student, Im at the point right now where if the difference between something being made in the US and being made in Canada is a dollar, Im going to go with the thing thats the cheapest. Canada is dependent upon US agriculture for much of its fresh fruit and vegetables, especially during the winter. The only way forward for workers in the struggle against Trumps annexation threats and the intensification of Canadian and American imperialist militarism is through the building of an international anti-war movement based on a socialist program. The social power of the working class must be mobilized to put an end to imperialist world war and the capitalist profit system that is its root cause. A precondition for developing this movement is a relentless struggle to free workers politically from the debilitating influence of the NDP and their trade union sponsors, who specialize in selling Canadian nationalism and a pro-war agenda to the working class in alliance with their big business Liberal allies. The visit by a high-level US delegation to Greenland underscores the seriousness with which American imperialism is pursuing the seizure of the Arctic island and the sharpening tensions this is fuelling between Washington and its former European allies. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Second Lady Usha Vance, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were due to arrive Thursday for their uninvited visit. After the embarrassing leaked Signal discussion on a military assault on Yemen, Waltzs attendance was withdrawn. Officials from Greenland, a self-governing territory, and the Danish government have refused to meet with the Americans. In unusually strong language, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told 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. She added, It is clear that when you make a visit in this way, and the Greenlandic politicians clearly say that they do not want the visit, you cannot interpret it as respectful. The White House responded by announcing later Tuesday that Vice President J.D. Vance would join the party visiting Greenland, which would focus on a stop at the US Pituffik military base on the islands northwest coast. The US correspondent for Denmarks public broadcaster DR described the move as a diplomatic declaration of war. Former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio in New York, September 11, 2024. [AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura] In January, US President Donald Trump threatened to use economic force against a nominal ally to secure control over Greenland from Denmark. Coinciding with his stated intention to seize the Panama Canal and make Canada the 51st state, Trumps expansionist plans point to a new stage in the breakdown of inter-state relations under conditions of a rapidly intensifying redivision of the world among the imperialist powers. Many of the conflicts that plunged the globe into two world wars in the 20th century are resurfacing with a vengeance. Greenland is a case in point. Washingtons interest in seizing Greenland is not new. It has enjoyed a military presence on the island for over eight decades. US military and geostrategic planners view Greenland, which lies approximately halfway between Washington and Moscow, as critical for waging war against Washingtons geostrategic rivals, including Russia and China. The American oligarchy and its political mouthpieces consider the island a stepping stone to US imperialisms dominance of the western hemisphere, a substantial source of natural resources and a gateway to new Arctic trade routes opening due to climate change. The European powers are no less determined to maintain their dominance over the island to secure their access to the Arctic. A US senate hearing in February on securing control over Greenland saw Republican and Democratic senators discuss with senior foreign policy experts how best to impose US dominance over the island and the Arctic more broadly. As Senator Ted Cruz put it in his introductory remarks, Greenland sits directly on the shortest flight path for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) traveling from Russia and the Middle East to the US., making its positioning crucial to our security. We have maintained a military presence in Greenland since World War II, particularly at Pituffik Space Base, which serves as the northernmost US military installation and provides critical missile warning and space surveillance. Danish colonisation and US imperialist occupation during World War II Greenland was settled by Norse Vikings possibly as early as the 9th century and certainly by the late 10th century. Its modern position as a colony within the Danish Kingdom began in 1721, when Norwegian missionaries arrived on the island to convert the Inuit population, most of whom had been living there since about the 12th century after migrating from modern-day Canada. Greenlandic exports, entirely under the control of the Danish Crown, were initially chiefly blubber, which was in high demand for lighting prior to the development of gas lamps and later modern electricity. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, improvements in fishing technique produced a significant growth in exports and the industry continues to dominate Greenlands exports to this day. In the mid-19th century, Denmark began to exploit Greenlands vast mineral resources, opening a mine at Ivittuut on the west coast of the island in 1854 to extract a large cryolite deposit. The mineral was traditionally used to wash and dye clothing, but in the late 19th century it was discovered to have properties vital for the smelting of aluminium. A recent documentary by Danish public broadcaster DR, Greenlands White Gold, estimated that the mine, which was fully controlled by Oresund Chemical industries and operated by Danish workers shipped into the site, produced some 400 billion kroner (53 billion) of revenue for the Danish state until it was closed in 1987. This revenue included a steady trade with the US until World War II of about 10,000 tons of cryolite per year. The cryolite mine in Ivittuut in 1940. [Photo: Yoka donation / Wikimedia] The documentary provoked an outraged response from Denmarks right-wing parties, who denounced the filmmakers for making one-sided claims and distorting information. Underscoring the ongoing determination within Danish ruling circles to maintain a strong influence in Greenland, DR was forced to remove the documentary from its website and fire its chief editor for documentaries. With Nazi Germanys occupation of Denmark on 9 April 1940, Washington and London moved decisively to prevent the Hitler regime from gaining a foothold in the North Atlantic. British troops occupied the Faroe Islands and Allied forces took over Iceland for the duration of the war, while the Roosevelt administration reached an agreement with Denmarks foreign representative in Washington, Henrik Kauffmann, to serve as Greenlands protector during the conflict. On 9 April, 1941, the agreement was signed and troops were dispatched to Greenland to stop an attack by a non-American power. President Roosevelt declared in a subsequent announcement that Greenland was to be part of US continental defence, placing it within the area of Washingtons Monroe Doctrine that excluded the European powers from the Americas. Prior to the official deployment of troops, American military resources had already been dispatched to secure the Ivittuut cryolite mine in early 1940. Imports of the mineral to the US, which played a key role in the production of fighter aircraft, rose to 40,000 tons in 1940 and peaked at 90,000 tons in 1942. Members of the Edelweiss II weather station in north-eastern Greenland taken prisoner by American soldiers, October 4 1944. [Photo: Coast guard combat photographer / Wikimedia] At a time when Greenlands population barely surpassed 20,000 people, the US deployed some 6,000 troops to the island. In addition to defending it against a potential German occupation, which would have established a base for the Nazis to attack North America, the Greenland operation was essential in easing the passage of bomber aircraft and other supplies to Europe, since they could stop for refuelling at runways built by the US. Due to weather patterns, control over Greenland allowed the US to provide advanced forecasts for military operations in Europe. The Danish government under Nazi occupation denounced Kauffmann as a traitor for agreeing to US military bases in Greenland, but the government that took office in Copenhagen after the liberation of Denmark in May 1945 voted to formalise the arrangement. One year later, Washington offered Denmark $100 million (a sum equivalent to $1.5 billion in todays money) to buy Greenland outright, which Copenhagen rejected. Subsequent years saw negotiations on Greenlands future constitutional status, with the result that it became a county of Denmark in 1953. Concurrent processes saw Iceland declare independence in 1944 and the Faroe Islands secure home rule in 1948. The Cold War and Danification The official end of colonialisation by no means meant an end to Denmarks exploitation of Greenland and mistreatment of its inhabitants. It was largely a cosmetic change dictated by the broader decolonialisation process following World War II. As the Cold War began, the Danish government concluded a new agreement with US imperialism in 1951 that extended wide-ranging rights for American military operations on the island. The creation of the Thule Air Base, which would play a central role in ballistic missile defence capabilities throughout the Cold War, was established under the deal. The bases construction followed the forcible eviction of the local Inuit population. 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron F-89s, Thule Air Base, Greenland, 1955. [Photo: United States Air Force] Denmark served as a close ally of American imperialism throughout the Cold War. A founding member of NATO, Denmark permitted the storage of nuclear weapons at the Thule base for years, a fact that only became public in the mid-1990s. When the US ambassador to Denmark asked then Prime Minister H.C. Hansen in 1957 whether he wished to be informed of American deployments of nuclear weapons to Greenland, Hansen responded in a note released in 1995 that his government did not see any problem in this matter of storing supplies of munitions of a special kind. Denmarks Social Democrat government had just publicly adopted an anti-nuclear weapons policy forbidding the deployment of nuclear weaponry in Denmark or on any of its territories. Just over a decade later, a major diplomatic crisis ensued when a B52 bomber carrying four hydrogen bombs crashed near the Thule Air Base in 1968, contaminating sea ice with radioactive material. At the insistence of the Danish government, a clean-up operation was launched. During the postwar period, Danish governments invested in significant urbanisation projects in Greenland. However, social conditions for the population were poor, especially among residents of numerous Inuit communities who were forced to move into larger towns and abandon their traditional lifestyles. Although life expectancy increased dramatically as health and social services became available, and chronic diseases like tuberculosis were overcome, this was combined with policies of open discrimination, and efforts to assimilate or eliminate Greenlandic culture that were referred to subsequently as danification. Greenlandic workers were paid different wage rates from the Danish workers they worked alongside, and children were systematically removed from families and sent to Denmark for education, where they often lived with foster families. One especially gruesome episode was revealed in a recent DR investigation on the practice of fitting intra-uterine devices to girls as young as 13 to lower birth rates on the island. Between 1966 and 1970, some 4,500 of these devices were fitted, mostly without the knowledge of those impacted. The figure amounted to about 35 percent of the Greenlandic women of child-bearing age at the time. Although the practice officially ended in 1975, reports indicate that it may have continued after this date. A lawsuit has been filed by 143 women, some of whom were as young as 12 when they were subjected to the process, for compensation from the Danish government. The lawsuit came after an initial effort by 67 women to demand compensation from the state was rebuffed. Another major crime was the infamous Little Danes social experiment, in which 22 children were separated from their families and sent to foster families in Denmark for over a year. Upon their return to Greenland, they were placed in an orphanage and given virtually no contact with their families. They were prohibited from speaking Greenlandic, forced to speak Danish, and only allowed to socialise with the children of prominent Danish families living in Nuuk, Greenlands capital. It took the Danish state until 2020 to apologise for its part in the project, which was conceived of as creating a Greenlandic elite and eradicating Inuit culture. Greenlandic independence and mounting inter-imperialist tensions Opposition to Danish rule grew in Greenland throughout the 1970s, driven by the social upheavals of the post-war decades, and brutal treatment of the population by the Danish state. A significant accelerant came in 1973, when Greenland joined the European Economic Community along with Denmark, even though a big majority of voters on the island had rejected EEC membership in the previous years referendum. As Greenland was treated like every other county in Denmark, the vote was not counted separately from the national tally, which produced a majority in favour of membership. Copenhagen and Greenlandic politicians reached an agreement to establish home rule over domestic affairs in Nuuk from 1979. A further referendum on EU membership resulted in Greenland withdrawing from the bloc in 1985 and assuming the status of an associated overseas country or territory (OCT). Greenlandic and Dansih flags in Smandshjemmet, Aasiaat, Qaasuitsup, Greenland [Photo by Einar / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Home rule was expanded further in 2009 with a self-government agreement. It not only granted Greenlands government control over the islands mineral resources, and the right to be consulted on foreign affairs and Arctic defence, but also included the terms by which the island could eventually secure independence from Denmark. Although support for eventual independence is overwhelming in the population, about 90 percent of which is of Inuit origin, a date for a referendum has never been set over the past 16 years. Denmarks longstanding colonial relationship with Greenland, which continued well after the formal end of colonialism in 1953, has left the island heavily dependent on a block grant of approximately 5 billion kroner (700 million) from Denmark to fund its public services. Trump and his advisers have sought to capitalise on this, presenting American involvement as creating the perfect opportunity for Greenlanders to sell their natural resources to American corporations and investors to generate an alternative source of income to support the islands 57,000 residents. Trump and other senior officials in his administration have made no secret about the fact that they are trying to exploit resentment among Greenlanders towards Denmark due to its colonial past, repeatedly stating that Greenland is not happy with the Danish government. But no doubt fuelled by their opposition to another colonial-style relationship with an imperialist power, polls indicate that only 6 percent of the population support Greenland joining the United States. After Trump initially expressed his interest in buying Greenland in 2019, Washington opened a consulate in Nuuk in June 2020, 67 years after its first consulate was closed in 1953. The step was supported by an investment of $12 million in Greenland, a substantial sum given its small population. According to the website of USAID, which operated out of the consulate office, its focus over the past four-and-a-half years was on energizing Greenlands entrepreneurial ecosystems; advancing Greenlands market diversification efforts; unlocking Greenlands green growth potential. USAID Administrator Power meets with Prime Minister of Greenland, June 15, 2022. [Photo by USAID / CC BY-NC 2.0 Trumps renewed interest in Greenland is one among a growing number of disputes deepening divisions between Washington and its erstwhile European allies. When Trump declared at a January press conference that he could not rule out the use of military force to seize Greenland or the Panama Canal, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced the use of violence to redraw national borders as a violation of international law. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot subsequently raised the prospect of sending French troops to Greenland to defend EU territory. In March 2024, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Nuuk to open an EU office in Greenland. Having recently adopted its first Arctic strategy, the EU hopes through its representation on the island to gain access to much needed natural resources and strengthen its position in the redivision of the world as it rearms to the teeth to compete with Washington. The European imperialists underlined their predatory intentions earlier this month with a new rearmament programme to enable them to take military action around the world independently of the United States. Under these conditions, there is no prospect for Greenlands population to determine its future and redress the abuses of the colonial period within the framework of world capitalism. A deal with the rapacious representatives of American imperialism to facilitate independence from the former colonial power Denmark will turn the island over to Washingtons mad plans for world war, which will include the ruthless exploitation of natural resources and aggressive targeting of rivals in the Arctic. The EU and Denmark have made just as clear their determination to participate fully in the redivision of the world, including the Arctic region, that is well underway. Ending Greenlands subordination to the interests of the major and lesser imperialist powers is a task entirely bound up with the development of an international anti-war movement led by the working class. Rejecting the deployment of gigantic sums of money to rearm and wage war, workers across Europe and the United States must wage a joint struggle for the socialist transformation of society. Only on this basis can the Arctic region and its peoples overcome the consequences of imperialist domination and prevent the looming catastrophe produced by capitalist-induced climate change that is destroying the regions environment. Partition wall of the Action Committee list for the BVG staff council elections at the Mullerstrae depot Colleagues, Our wage struggle has reached a critical point. The Berlin Transport Company (BVG) management, Economics Senator Franziska Giffey (Social Democratic Party, SPD) at the head of the company supervisory board, and the Berlin Senate, led by the Christian Democratic Union and SPD, which will form the next federal government, want to make an example of us. They desperately want to prevent us from organizing an all-out strike to enforce our legitimate demands. An all out strike would disrupt the current coalition negotiations between the CDU and SPD to form a new government under conditions where both parties have already announced they are planning massive social attacks to finance a program of military rearmament costing billion of euros for war credits already approved. The aim is to prevent us from conducting a successful industrial dispute and prioritizing our legitimate demands over the profit interests of shareholders and the governments war policy. In view of the fact that there is a simultaneous wage dispute for the 2.4 million public sector workers and a stream of layoffs in the auto and supplier industry, our wage dispute has a signal effect. The government fears that it will be the prelude to broader resistance. That is why they want to force us to accept arbitration and give up most of our demands. It is important to understand the political dimension of our current struggle. It will then become clear why it is necessary to break with the stalling tactics of the Verdi union and commence an unlimited general strike immediately after a successful strike ballot. We, the Transport Workers Action Committee, have begun to organize independently and will no longer allow ourselves to be patronized by Verdi officials. We have commenced building our own strike committee made up of fellow colleagues who are genuinely prepared to fight and enforce an all-out strike. Attend our online meeting at 7 p.m. on March 27, where we will discuss further concrete steps! Verdi is playing its well-known trick of combining limited warning strikes with combative speeches while at the same time holding talks and making agreements with company representatives and politicians regarding arbitration negotiations. At the end of last week, Manuel von Stubenrauch, Verdi spokesperson in the contract commission, criticized our action committee and claimed that our warning about arbitration negotiations was unfounded. He said that it was not the negotiating partners who brought arbitration into play, but rather the media. Just one day later, it became clear how right we were. Now Stubenrauch emphasizes that the arbitration process is secondary. The decisive thing is the ballot for an all-out strike. But then, in the next sentence, he says: Every vote for an unlimited strike... and every day of powerful strike action improves your position at the negotiating table in an arbitration. Who is Stubenrauch trying to fool? Either the vote is a democratic expression of the will of the majority in favour of an unlimited strike, in which case this decision of the membership must be taken into account and steps taken to organize a full strike. Or the ballot vote is only intended to increase pressure in the negotiations for a settlement. Then it is a reduced to a manoeuvre to prevent a full strike and enforce a bad deal. We demand that Stubenrauch and the contract commission take a clear stand and declare that the strike ballot is not a negotiating manoeuvre, but the immediate prelude to an unlimited strike. At the same time, we call on all our colleagues to use the strike ballot to cast a powerful vote in favour of an all-out strike and to enforce this decision, even in the face of resistance from the Verdi bureaucrats, who will try everything to prevent such a strike. Otherwise, we face the same scenario that took place at the Post Office two years ago. There, Verdi also called a strike ballot in which 86 percent voted in favour of an unlimited strike. But Verdi refused to organize this strike and instead let a barely modified offer from the employers be voted on again until the result suited them. The refusal of the Verdi leadership to organize a proper strike is directly related to their support for the government and its war program. In an interview on the governments special fund on the union homepage, Verdi chairman Frank Werneke plays down and justifies the war credits with the words: The US promise of protection for Europe has become shaky. In this context, discussions about higher defence spending in Germany and Europe are understandable. Europe must be able to defend itself, and the Bundeswehr must be operational. At the last Verdi national congress in September 2023, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) gave the opening speech and justified arms deliveries to Ukraine and a 100 billion euro special fund for the Bundeswehr. Werneke was not satisfied with this. He doubted whether the money was enough and made clear even then that he advocated even higher military spending. To break the control of Verdi and organize an unlimited strike, it is necessary to systematically build the Transport Workers Action Committee. This is now of the greatest importance. In the works council (PR) election campaign last November, we wrote: We are running in these PR elections to build new structures of struggle that will enable us workers to intervene directly in workplace disputes. Our goal is to develop the great strength and power we have as workers. We seek to strengthen our self-confidence - it is we who keep the city and the country moving. We are not supplicants and beggars, we have rights! And we know that a joint struggle of all transport workers would paralyze the capital city in no time and win considerable public support. The formation of the transport workers working group is the first important step in taking the preparation of an unlimited strike to enforce our demands into our own hands. Since the beginning of our wage struggle in January, much has changed. The government, which determines the behaviour of the BVG board, is openly pursuing a policy of war, both at home and abroad. Its turning point also applies to us. We are no longer willing to accept Verdis stalling tactics of partial strikes and behind our back negotiations. We counter military rearmament and the enrichment of the already rich with the longstanding socialist principle of the labour movement: our needs as workers and the needs of the entire population stand above the profit interests of investors, speculators and warmongers. Stop the arbitration! Force Verdi to organize an all-out unlimited strike! Attend the next online meeting of the Transport Workers Action Committee! Write a Whatsapp message to +01748402566 to get in touch and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok. Come to this site at 7 p.m. on March 27 and take part in our online meeting. The rank-and-file committees at Macquarie and Western Sydney universities are holding an online forum Thursday April 10 from 12 p.m. AEST, entitled, Oppose Trumps global research cuts and demands. We urge educators to register now and attend. Under a framework provided by the Albanese Labor government, fast-food giant McDonalds is planning to award employees with microcredentials based on skills supposedly learnt on the job. These certificates can be potentially used to count to a degree at the public University of South Australia or the private Torrens University. McDonalds in East Bentleigh, Victoria [Photo by s2art via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 McDonalds Australia director of learning and development Mandy Sharp boasted about the scheme to the Murdoch medias Australian newspaper. The corporation, she said, was providing the possibility for our employees to gain certified recognition of the skills they learn while working at Maccas, and being able to use these to save time and money when it comes to study. McDonalds also boasts of being one of Australias largest employers of young people, with 115,000 staff working across more than 1,030 restaurants. Many of these workers are super-exploited teenagers, some still at school, working for sub-poverty junior wages. To be run by Capability Co., a private education company, the trial program, called Archways of Opportunity, is another step in Labors drive for the integration of universities with big business. It also illustrates the narrow vocational focus of the Albanese government-endorsed microcredential program, which is designed to meet the profit requirements of employers like McDonalds, not the needs and future prospects of young workers. Very little is known about the scheme. According to the Australian article, the company claims that each microcredential certificate will reduce the cost of a university degree by $3,500. These credits can be used in business, management, accounting and data, cybersecurity and information technology degrees. Capability Co. chief executive Kate Britt said: By recognising the capabilities developed through real work and experience, we are creating new pathways for lifelong learning and career progression. In reality, by recruiting employees on the basis of such promises, the scheme will help maintain poor wages and conditions for MacDonalds and other retail workers, while also undermining genuine tertiary education. In 2015, McDonalds set up the Archways to Opportunity program in the US, whose name differs only slightly from the Australian program. According to its website, Archways to Opportunity mainly offers employees scholarships. The University of South Australia, which is currently merging with the University of Adelaide to create one of the countrys largest universities, already allows students to use microcredentials from Capability Co. to count toward their degrees. The McDonalds trial program takes this process one step further. Staff will be awarded microcredentials, and therefore university credits for performing duties for the company. This is part of a wider agenda. Torrens University, a private hospitality training house, has three pillars in which it integrates its courses with big business. One is that companies can co-design education programs with the university that will have their branding on them, such as the Flight Centre Travel Academys Diploma of Travel and Tourism, developed in 2017. Another is that employers can enlist Torrens University students to solve their business challenges and in the process earn university qualifications. Thirdly, companies can use their internal education programs to provide employees with alternative pathways into Torrens University bachelors and masters degrees. Like the Liberal-National government before it, the Labor government is pushing microcredentials as part of an escalating drive to restructure universities to more directly meet the demands of big business and the military. Labor is spending $18.6 million on a Microcredentials Pilot to assist the development of microcredentials in fields of national priority, to meet industry skills needs, according to a government website. These courses are available for students to browse on the MicroCred Seeker website, run by the University Admissions Centre. The site currently lists 600 courses from over 60 organisations, including 34 private and public universities, 16 private colleges, 12 government and private institutions and TAFE (Technical and Further Education) providers in South Australia and Queensland. The website encourages students to enroll in microcredential courses, stating: Microcredentials are one of the fastest-growing post-secondary course types in the market, and are driven by industry needs. This includes five microcredentials from the University of South Australia specifically designed for Defence and related industries costing over $3,000 each, and a four-week Introduction to Naval Shipbuilding course by TAFE SA (South Australia) that has been licenced from the Department of Defence. This is directly in line with Labors Universities Accord, which has been falsely promoted by the campus trade unions as a basis to improve education funding. Labor is tying funding to universities signing mission-based compacts with a new Australian Tertiary Education Commission, above all to deliver Australias future skills needs. This includes through microcredentials, work integrated learning and degree apprenticeships, including apprenticeships in projects linked to the AUKUS military pact directed against China. As the WSWS warned last year when the Universities Accords final report was released: In reality, the reports core axis is a further restructuring of universities to satisfy the employment and research demands of the corporate elite and preparations for war. In part, that means funnelling more students, including from working-class suburbs, into courses to meet the skill shortages designated in employer-government national priorities, not least the preparations to join a US-led war against China. In February this year, Job Skills Australia (JSA) released a report calling for a tertiary harmonisation roadmap to create a more joined-up tertiary system enabling them [Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training providers] to work together more effectively for the benefit of students and industry. The report identified defence as one of the national priorities. In announcing the publication of the JSA report, federal Education Minister Jason Clare said: We are not going to fix the skills shortages we have, and will have, unless we better integrate higher education and vocational education and training. Speaking on behalf of big business, Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox, welcomed the Accord report, saying his employers organisation had long advocated for the need for a coherent, connected and industry-relevant tertiary education system. Likewise, Business Council chief executive Bran Black said: Short, stackable courses will be increasingly essential in a rapidly changing economy, particularly with the opportunities afforded by AI [artificial intelligence]. Labor is deliberately squeezing funding to universities to force them to restructure along such pro-market and militarist lines. As a result of Labors reactionary cuts to Chinese and other international student enrolments by up to 50,000 a year, on top of decades of under-funding, university managements are already eliminating more than 2,000 jobs. Now at least seven universities have had American funding for research projects paused or cancelled as part of US President Donald Trumps fascistic and militarist Make America Great Again agenda, and the Labor government is advising university researchers to comply with the Trump administrations demands. The campus trade union officials have opposed any industrial action against this assault because they support the Labor government and agree with its pro-business and militarist program. As the Committee for Public Education, the educators rank-and-file network, said in its 2025 opening statement: Opposition exists throughout the universities to the job destruction, course closures, pro-corporate restructuring and suppression of dissent. But the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) leaders have for years opposed any unified fight by university staff and students Just quitting the unions in disgust, as many have done, is not an answer. Staff and students must take matters into their own hands. For that, new democratic forms of organisation, independent rank-and-file committees (RFCs), must be built. To discuss these issues and how to form RFCs, please contact the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), the rank-and-file educators network. Contact the CFPE: Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation Twitter: CFPE_Australia Facebook: facebook.com/groups/opposeaeusellout The rank-and-file committees at Macquarie and Western Sydney universities are holding an online forum Thursday April 10 from 12 p.m. AEST, entitled, Oppose Trumps global research cuts and demands. We urge educators to register now and attend. Postal workers: Speak out against the NALC contract by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous. A US Postal Service employee works outside a post office in Wheeling, Illinois. [AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh] The World Socialist Web Site spoke recently with a United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier about the effects of the consolidation of a former facility into a new Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC). The consolidation of offices into larger S&DCs has accelerated under the Delivering for America (DFA) initiative, now in its fourth year, which is aimed at consolidating operations into large Amazon-style automated facilities, wiping out tens of thousands of jobs. The attack on the post office is set to massively ramp up under Trump and Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Trump White House intends to privatize the USPS entirely, as part of its broader drive to destroy federal agencies not directly related to war and repression. The response of the union bureaucracy to DFA and to Trump has been open collaboration. The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) responded to a historic rejection of a poverty contract by having virtually the same deal imposed by arbitration. The bureaucrats, who have also backed DFA from the beginning, are responding to DOGE and Trump by offering to help find places to cut costs. The worker told the WSWS: This contract is no different than the same one over 70 percent of us voted no to. ... Its an insult, and no way that was arbitrated. It was agreed upon before they even sat down to discuss. Everyones livid. We waited two years for scraps. Saving the USPS means a rebellion from below against both Trump and his enablers in the bureaucracy and the Democratic Party. The USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee is fighting to build such a movement. The Committee declared in a recent statement: Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. ... This requires new organizations, rank-and-file committees, to mobilize ourselves independently of Trumps collaborators in the Democrats and the union tops. We must safeguard our own initiative and begin organizing now rather than waiting for permission from the top which will never come. Chaos in USPS facilities According to the Save the Post Office website, as of last year, more than 3,300 postal delivery routes from 200 spoke offices had been consolidated into 60 S&DCs, a process which appears to be accelerating. Spoke offices are spaces for employees to work without regularly travelling to the headquarters. Depending on the companys needs, these can be shared coworking spaces or dedicated private offices. In September of last year, the USPS inspector general issued a report which found that DFA has led to a dramatic decline in the quality of operations. The purpose of the program is not to make USPS efficient but to create chaos in order to justify privatizing it. The letter carrier, whose name has been withheld to protect his or her identity, explained some of this. WSWS: What kinds of changes were introduced with Deliver for America? LC: Now a new machine has been added, the SDUS, which increases the speed but has lowered the efficiency. Packages not only are more likely to end up in the wrong gurney, but they also sort big [within weight and dimension limits of the machine] and small packages together. Carriers must dig through big packages to find the small ones, which is tedious and obnoxious and also a time-wasting practice, and also it is more likely to result in fragile packages being smashed or damaged by much bigger ones. Those with unreadable barcodes get pushed to the end of the machine to be sorted by hand, which means they get delayed. All the while, big and heavy packages beyond the size restrictions of the machine still must be hand-sorted by clerks in the end anyway. ... Their workload decreased in this way, BUT [they have left us] with less clerks to do the work. Clerks were short staffed and overworked because they still have several other jobs that they are responsible for performing, not just sorting packages. This was bad for carriers, clerks and customers. The OIG (Office of Inspector General) audits showed that management is a big problem in S&DCs [Sorting and Development Centers] because they operate so differently than other types of facilities. They suggested there be specialized training meant specifically for S&DC operations. But our management team has no idea whats going on, which leaves the employees to manage themselves. And pretty much every day the rules would change. One day we would be instructed to do something one way, the next day that would change, then change back, then change to a different way, and back and forth for months. WSWS: What have been some of the impacts of job cuts on deliveries? LC: Every morning, there was a clerk who pushed a cart around full of keys, gas cards assigned to individual [delivery] vehicles, certified documents and parcels, express mail and parcels, and anything that required postage due. The clerk would hand each carrier their routes accountable items; the carrier would sign their name stating they received the items; and at the end of the day, when returning the keys, gas cards, receipts, collected postage, a clerk would put it in its appropriate spot, and they would sign that it was returned. With the S&DC, this position was completely removed. A clerk is still responsible in the morning, but in the evening, it is expected that a manager will collect your accountables and clear you. They do not, and even if they do, they dont have any idea what is supposed to be assigned to which route so they cant even truly clear you. This results in missing keys, missing gas cards, items being placed in the wrong spot, keys being taken home or left overnight in vehicles or in individual routes cases. How can they be called accountable items if no one is being held accountable for them? This has turned into carriers putting their accountables away themselves, which in the past was considered bad. You would get reprimanded for it. This is also considered crossing crafts, so its also a violation of the contract. This is just an example, but there are many smaller tasks that previously were performed by clerks throughout the day that are now expected of carriers. Collectively they add up, resulting in a heavier work load for both city and rural carriers. WSWS: What was the consolidation to the new S&DC like? LC: The entire construction process was a mess, more than nine months of constant construction workers roaming the building. For periods of time, we were without bathrooms, without water fountains, without a break room, parts of the parking lot were inaccessible at times, dust and materials were falling on employees. All of this time spent to renovate from top to bottom, and yet so many poor decisions! Before construction, we had locked and secured doors to access the work floor. Those doors were removed and replaced by swinging doors. The doors are supposed to be chained when the last carrier leaves in the morning and unchained in the evening when the first carrier returns. This is not the case, leaving the work room floor open to anyone who decides to walk right inside. Multiple times during the construction process, people did just that, because the main parking lot for customers was blocked off for some time, and customers didnt know where to park and which door to enter through. Several times employees were left to guide a customer back out and to the correct side of the building. This is problematic because anyone at any time could have entered with intent to harmand they still could. A managers desk is directly in front of one of the doors, but they are often roaming the floor and away from the desk, putting the employees at risk at any moment to the wrong person with bad intentions. The expansion of the parking lot to accommodate more carriers has presented new problems. Most offices have enough space that there is some sheltered loading area, whether it is a building overhang, a dock for carriers to back up to where they can load or unload, and so on. When the number of carriers doubles, triples, or even more, this is no longer functional. Many carriers now load in the parking lot, in open elements. When there is ice and snow, carriers must now spend a large portion of their time clearing their vehicles, which wasnt something that needed to be done prior. This also means that when its raining, we are standing outside in the open rain trying to shove packages and mail into our trucks as fast as possible to protect them and keep them from getting soaked. We start our routes with all of our mail, packages, and clothes dripping wet before weve even made our first delivery. I dont care about working in the snow, ice, rain, thats a part of the job. But its such a shame for everything to get destroyed by torrential rains because we couldnt have a space to keep it dry while trying to sort everything into our trucks. When we carry mail while walking, we can keep it dry in our bags. But yet we dont have that option while pushing full trays into the trucks. All the while, carriers are being told that they have time limits to be out of the building and to finish loading within a certain time limit. This is correct to an extent, but there is a formula and time limit per letter and parcel, and its not one size fits all. Every route has a different volume and a different amount of delivery points, and every day is different. An office recently won a grievance against this. Yet in many offices nation wide, its a daily occurrence for carriers to hear office times need improvement regardless of that days volume. Staffing was not addressed prior to changes. Every town involved had their own employees, vehicles, systems, routes. Now all the towns that came into the SDC have to learn to adjust, not only to all of the changes and a new environment, but the time changes that have been implemented and all of the work inside of the office apart from delivering the route. This also impacts drive time. Although the amount of coverage for delivery is the same, half the office now must drive much farther to and from the office, while the main hub office now has double the amount of mail and packages that it had previously to sort and deliver every day. A common recurring issue among every S&DC audit is not enough staffing, and yet the plans continue without addressing this issue. WSWS: How would you respond to claims by USPS that the S&DCs have increased delivery speed? LC: The operations may have increased speed but lowered efficiency with more mistakes. And the failure to address staffing issues prior to the changes resulted in not enough carriers for the routes, meaning some routes are brought back unfinished almost every day. When we dont have time to deliver full routes, we are instructed by management to deliver only packages, since they have barcodes and can be tracked. This means that USPS knowingly delays mail on a regular basis. Delaying first class mail is a fireable offense, and yet its a regular occurrence in my office. It sounds like it is in other S&DCs as well. You can find videos, reports, etc. of even state governors speaking to the public addressing the changes and complaining about the delays and trying to figure out why and how to fix it. WSWS: How has management reacted? LC: Of course there is a contract and rules we are meant to follow. But many offices will overlook more minor and inoffensive rules, such as an incomplete uniform (such as a Non-Postal hat, or non-postal clothing during the cold seasons when carriers are bundling up to keep warm, and so on) Following the conversion, management roams around and nitpicks every minor detail. They tell you that you need to be in uniform and so forth. I would argue its bordering on harassment and doesnt affect an employees ability to do their job correctly and efficiently. They also frequently comment on uniforms and shoes to the CCAs [City Carrier Assistants, a lower-tier, non-career track position], PTFs [Part-Time Flexible], and newer regulars who are still waiting on yearly uniform allowances, and cant afford to purchase the uniforms out of their own pockets. And they shouldnt have to, anyway. Its other small things. In the past, carriers frequently decorated their cases with family photos, small trinkets, calendars, cards from customers. Now they are cracking down on this. I heard a carrier get into an argument with management about setting up photos of his family, reminders of why he spends so much time in a job that treats him so poorly. Theyve told him hes not even allowed to look at or see pictures of his family while hes working. WSWS: What are your thoughts on DFA in general? LC: The 10-year plan for delivering for America was actually a ploy all along to shift to a parcel delivery-focused service, reduce employees, increase profit and restrict access to rural customers. One major concern with privatization primarily is that 51 million rural Americans will face restricted, if not total loss of, access to delivery. All of these changes were made without informing ANY of the local customers that they would be made in our area, which has resulted in a lot of local backlash and public hatred of the postal service. The only way to fix it is to fight back against privatization and to let the rank and file of the USPS make the decisions that they see are best for the communities, without the interference or involvement of the government. But we wont have that opportunity to change things if we are obliterated. WASHINGTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia's new Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev arrived in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. Darchiev will informally present his credentials to the Trump administration on Thursday, according to the U.S. State Department. U.S. Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Louis L. Bono will attend the informal credential presentation in Washington, D.C. at 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time (1815 GMT) Thursday, according to schedule posted on the U.S. State Department website. Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Darchiev as the new ambassador to the United States on March 6. The position had been vacant since last October, when the previous envoy, Anatoly Antonov, left his post. Left Party leader Gregor Gysi during his speech in the Bundestag [Photo by DBT / Tobias Koch] A week ago, the outgoing Bundestag (parliament) approved the largest rearmament programme since Hitlers Nazi regime. The parliament that had been voted out on February 23 met again in blatant disregard for the election result and passed a constitutional amendment enabling the incoming government to procure loans of up to one trillion euros for the expansion of a war-ready infrastructure, rearmament and war. On Tuesday, the new Bundestag met for the first time. As its oldest member, the founder and long-time leader of the Left Party, Gregor Gysi, gave the opening speech. The Left Party had made surprising gains in the February election because it had spoken out critically about rearmament, the social crisis and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Among young voters and in some cities, such as Berlin, it even become the strongest party. But anyone who had expected Gysi to criticise the new governments war programme, call for resistance to it or at least announce systematic parliamentary opposition to it was in for a surprise. Not only does the best-known leader of the Left Party agree with all the premises and goals of the pro-war policy, he also emphatically called on the Bundestag to close ranks against any opposition to it. During his speech, he repeatedly received applause from representatives of all factionsincluding members of the fascist AfD. Gysis speech was characterised throughout by the concern that the population would, as he literally said, lose confidence in established politicsthat is, lose confidence in the parties that are driving Germany back into war and are responsible for social cuts and growing poverty. Even if this has always been their role, it is rare for a Left Party politician to state so clearly that the party sees its role not as opposition to the ruling class, but as a safety valve that keeps the pressure in the boiler under control so that it does not endanger those in power. Gysi began his speech by declaring his agreement with NATOs goals in Ukraine. We all hopefully agree that Russia is waging a war against Ukraine that is contrary to international law, he said. We must condemn this. We need a new security structure, a new peace order for Europe. According to Gysi, those who advocated massive rearmament and those who see it differently all wanted the same thing: namely, peace. Therefore, the proponents of rearmament should not be called warmongers, because they want to secure peace in their way. Conversely, the proponents of rearmament should not call the minority in the Bundestag, which advocated de-escalation, more diplomacy and mutual disarmament, Putins servants. Because they too are concerned with nothing more than peace. So, it is not a matter of stopping the gigantic rearmament programme that threatens Europe with nuclear destruction, but about legitimising this through meaningless talk. So, there are different views on how to achieve peace. We simply have to learn to respect that these differences exist, said Gysi. So, if the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens believe that peace can only be achieved through military victory over Russia, we must simply learn to respect this suicidal madness! In the Middle East, too, Gysi backs the policy of the establishment parties, which support the genocide against the Palestinians and persecute and suppress any opposition to it. Jews had a right to a Jewish state, he stressed. Israel must be and become sovereign, independent and secure. Not a word of criticism of the extreme right-wing Israeli government and the systematic murder and expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians by the Israeli army and fascist settlers! As if it concerned a dispute between two property owners and not a genocide, Gysi added, We must also think of the Palestinians. They also have a right to a home. ... We must therefore intensify our international efforts to promote the two-state solution. Gysi is particularly concerned that anger and outrage over the governments war and austerity policies will intensify. That is why the call for closing ranks and reconciliation among all parties runs like a red thread through his speech. He did not once mention by name the AfD, which represents almost a quarter of the 630 members of the new Bundestag. It began with the bizarre suggestion that the left should support renaming streets after Otto von Bismarck (the author of the anti-Socialist Laws) and conservatives the renaming of streets after Clara Zetkin or Karl Marx. In a long passage of his speech, Gysi proposed the creation of several non-partisan committees for the Bundestag to discuss certain issues openly, honestly and without the public, and then, if they come up with any conclusions, present the results to the public. In other words, social cuts and other controversial issuesGysi mentions the future of pensions, tax policy, health insurance and the reduction of bureaucracyshould first be worked out behind the scenes by representatives of all parties instead of being openly debated and then presented to the public as a fait accompli. Gysi called on Federal President Steinmeier, who was sitting in the gallery, to set up a committee to address the issue of safeguarding democracy, freedom and the rule of law. This body should include members of various parliaments, representatives of trade unions, employers associations, churches and religious communities, the judiciary, the media, culture and science. We must succeed, said Gysi, despite the enormous pressure mentioned, in the interests of the citizens of our country, to secure the foundations of our constitution for all time. Gysis proposals sometimes slid into the banal and absurd, for example when he cited five different sales taxes for Christmas trees as an example of the tax confusion to be overcome. But his efforts to keep controversy out of the public eye so as not to encourage social opposition were unmistakable. Towards the end of his speech, Gysi addressed remarks about President Donald Trump, who was terminating his economic and military alliance obligations and was no longer willing to be responsible for Germanys security. He drew the same conclusion from this as the CDU, SPD and Greens do to justify their massive rearmament programme: Europe must become a world power in its own right under German leadership. If the European Union really worked, said Gysi, it could become a kind of fourth world power alongside the US, China and Russia. But I have my doubts that all member states will go along with this. Nevertheless, we must work on it, perhaps some states must move forward. Those, like the WSWS and its predecessor publications, who have followed Gysis political career for decades are not surprised by his speech. The son of high-ranking Stalinist party functionaries, Gysi took over the chairmanship of East Germanys state party in late 1989 to support the dissolution of the German Democratic Republic. He and the parties he has led have always acted as staunch defenders of capitalism. Now called Die Linke/Left Party, there is nothing left about its politics. In state governments, the Left Party has cut public sector jobs and social spending just as radically as all the other parties. Gysis actions also make it clear that the Left Partys vote supporting the war loans in the Bundesrat (upper house of parliament), which caused considerable unrest within the party, was no mistake. The struggle against rearmament, war, social cuts and fascism requires the development of an independent movement of the international working class, fighting for the socialisation of big business and the banks and the construction of a socialist society. The Left Party is trying to systematically prevent this. Thousands of people gather in Somerville, Massachusetts on March 26, 2025, to demand the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, who was arrested by federal agents Tuesday night. [AP Photo/Michael Casey] Wednesday night in Somerville, Massachusetts, several thousand people, including students, faculty and community members, rallied in defense of Tufts University Ph.D student Rumeysa Ozturk. The 30-year-old Fulbright scholar and graduate of Columbia University was kidnapped by six unidentified US immigration agents and disappeared into an unmarked SUV, shortly after 5:15 p.m. Tuesday evening. Surveillance footage of the kidnapping showed the agents, all wearing masks to shield their faces below the eyes, ambushing Ozturk as she was walking on the sidewalk after she left her house to attend Iftar, the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims during Ramadan. Without identifying the agency they were with or what crimes Ozturk was alleged to have committed, the masked thugs grabbed her arms, twisted her wrists and grabbed the phone that was in her hand. Ozturk cried out, You are hurting me! as the agents continued to surround and eventually handcuff her. A visibly distraught Ozturk is heard repeatedly telling the police, Ok, Im a student. As the agents handcuff her, one of them replied, I understand its scary. We are the police. A resident filming the abduction yelled back in reply: Well, you dont look like it! Why are you hiding your faces? Why are you hiding your faces? The agents did not reply or remove their masks. Instead, they continued to surround Ozturk. As the masked thugs disappeared with Ozturk into the unmarked SUV, the bystander again asked: Can we see some faces here? How do I know you are the police? Looks like bull**** to me. The kidnapping of the unarmed student and the fascistic character of her detainment have provoked outrage in the United States and internationally, especially in Turkey where all of Ozturks family lives. Immediately following the kidnapping of Ozturk, Mahsa Khanbabai, her lawyer, filed a habeas petition in a Massachusetts federal court to get the student out of detention. Khanbabai noted that no charges have been filed against her client and that Ozturks F-1 student visa is still valid. On Tuesday night, US District Court Judge Indira Talwani ordered the government to keep Ozturk within the state of Massachusetts and not remove her without giving the court prior notice. She also ordered the government to provide her an answer by Friday as to why Ozturk was detained in the first place. Nearly 24 hours after Ozturk was disappeared by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), her lawyer Khanbabai still did not know where she was. The ICE locator did not show her location through Wednesday morning. In a statement to the Boston Globe Wednesday afternoon, Khanbabai confirmed that Ozturk had been flown out of Massachusetts to a for-profit immigration detention facility in Louisiana operated by the GEO Group in apparent violation of Judge Talwanis order. Khanbabai told the Globe: I dont understand why it took the government nearly 24 hours to let me know her whereabouts. ... Why she was transferred to Louisiana despite the courts order is beyond me. Rumeysa should immediately be brought back to Massachusetts, released, and allowed to return to complete her Ph.D. program. Ozturk has not been accused of a crime, and it does not appear she has previously been arrested in the United States. She has been targeted solely for her opposition to the genocide in Gaza. At Wednesdays protest, Alex, a resident of Somerville, told the World Socialist Web Site: They want to get us scared. ... And its obviously having the opposite effect. Its not antisemitic to be protesting genocide, obviously. But this is the scare tactic theyre using. Notably, her arrest comes just days after she was identified by the shadowy Canary Mission, an Israeli-based operation that almost exclusively harasses and doxxes students and faculty who oppose the brutal oppression of the Palestinian people. The organization has never disclosed its financial backers, but Reuters and Jewish Forward, citing a 2016 tax filing, noted the organization received $100,000 from the Helen Diller Family Foundation, which Reuters describes as a prominent Jewish American philanthropic organization. Reuters reported that the Diller Foundation gave $100,000 to the Central Fund of Israel earmarked Canary Mission for Megamot Shalom. The outlet noted that Megamot Shalom was founded in 2016 to preserve and ensure the national strength and image of the State of Israel, according to documents from Israels corporations registry. The Times of Israel and other outlets have reported that under the guise of defending Israel and exposing antisemitism, the far-right Canary Mission website began publishing dossiers in 2015 which have been used by the Israeli government to question or ban people attempting to enter the country. The dossier of Ozturk recently posted on the site claims she engaged in anti-Israel activism, an activity protected by the First Amendment regardless of immigration status. To support the claim of anti-Israel activism, the website hyperlinked an op-ed that Ozturk had co-authored with three other students last year for the school newspaper which called on Tufts University President Sunil Kumar to uphold resolutions passed by the Tufts Community Union Senate. The resolutions passed by the student body called on Kumar to recognize the genocide in Gaza, divest from Israeli companies and stop selling products from Sabra because its co-owners, the Strauss Group, have provided material support for Israels Golani Brigade. Any claim that the op-ed is antisemitic is pure fiction. The words Zionist, Jew or Jewish do not even appear, while Israel is only mentioned four times. So far, ICE and Department of Homeland Security officials have refused to detail any alleged crimes or specific activity Ozturk engaged in to warrant an immediate visa suspension and deportation. In a statement posted on X Wednesday afternoon, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary of DHS, wrote: Rumeysa Ozturk is a Turkish national & Tufts University graduate student, granted the privilege to be in this country on a visa. DHS + 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 is one of several students who have been targeted by the Trump administration for deportation for exercising their First Amendment rights. On March 8, Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University and legal resident, was kidnapped by plainclothes ICE agents in New York City and flown to a Louisiana immigration detention facility, where he remains imprisoned, away from his eight-and-a-half-month pregnant wife. Khalil has not been accused of a crime. Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University student and legal resident of the United States, sued the Trump administration on Monday over its efforts to deport her to South Korea, a country she has not visited since she emigrated to America when she was seven years old. Chung was not a prominent anti-genocide protester during last years campus encampments, but she was arrested on a misdemeanor charge by police earlier this month for participating in a non-violent pro-Palestinian protest at the main library at Barnard College. The Trump administration is also currently trying to deport Cornell University graduate student Momodou Taal. Like the others, Taal is being targeted for protected political speech, namely his opposition to genocide, and for suing the Trump administration over two executive orders Trump signed earlier this year that have been used to justify the kidnapping of anyone deemed anti-Israel. On Thursday March 27, the World Socialist Web Site will be hosting an online meeting featuring Taal, his attorney Eric Lee, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North and Socialist Equality Party (US) National Secretary Joseph Kishore. Readers and defenders of democratic rights are encouraged to attend. The USPS Workers Rank-and-File Committee is holding an online public meeting this Sunday at 3pm US Eastern Time, Stop Trumps moves to privatize USPS! Oppose the illegitimate NALC contract! To register for the event, click here. Postal workers and their supporters rally against job cuts and privatization of the US Postal Service at a rally in New York City, March 20, 2025 An arbitrator this week imposed a contract on over 200,000 letter carriers that is virtually identical to the one we rejected by 70 percent earlier this year. The new deal was reached through binding arbitration, denying us even the right to vote. This anti-democratic process has handed the Trump administration and its corporate allies a major weapon to accelerate the destruction of the US Postal Service. This is part of a far-reaching offensive of the Trump administration against the working class. With the support and complicity of the union bureaucracy, Trump is gutting federal jobs and preparing mass privatization. Just days before the contract was imposed, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy signed a deal with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to help slash USPS spendingsetting the stage for layoffs, closures and the final dismantling of the public mail system. The union apparatus is playing a central role in facilitating this attack. NALC President Brian Renfroe has openly supported the corporate Delivering for America plan, refused to organize any fight, and now hails the imposed contracts pathetic wage increases as a win. Meanwhile, the government workers unions are doing nothing in the face of mass layoffs, while the apparatus at the UAW and other unions is collaborating with Trump and openly supporting his fascistic policy of economic nationalism. This meeting will lay out a strategy to fight back. It will discuss the formation of a network of rank-and-file committeesindependent of the union bureaucracy and capitalist political partiesto prepare action from below. USPS workers must link up with other sections of the federal workforce, with auto workers, logistics workers, and other sections of the working class, and with postal workers internationally facing the same threat of privatization. Register for the event by clicking here. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Donald Trumps choice to be Director of the National Institutes of Health, right, speaks with Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, center, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, left, before appearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for his confirmation hearing, at Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. [AP Photo/Ben Curtis] In a development that will be recorded as a dark turning point in the destruction of public health in the United States, the Senate has now confirmed two of the most reactionary and anti-scientific figures to helm the core institutions of the American biomedical establishment. In a party-line vote Tuesday, Jay Bhattacharya was confirmed as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Both Bhattacharya and Makary are aligned not merely with the Trump administrations agenda, but with a sweeping assault on public health infrastructure, biomedical research, and scientific truth. Their nominations are not isolated appointments but components of a broader political project: the reconstitution of federally funded scientific research under the heel of the far right, led by a government that is openly contemptuous of life-saving knowledge and hostile to any measure that might impede the flow of corporate profits. The rise of anti-science reactionaries Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford economist and co-author of the notorious Great Barrington Declaration, made his name during the COVID-19 pandemic as a leading advocate of the fascistic policy of herd immunitya pseudoscientific euphemism for mass infection, death and disability. The Great Barrington Declaration was drafted at the headquarters of the libertarian American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), itself a product of the reactionary rights war against any role of the state in regulating industry or protecting the public good. Bhattacharya and his collaborators claimed that young, low-risk people should return to work and school, while the elderly and vulnerable would be protectedthough no feasible method of protecting the vulnerable in a society with widespread mass infection was ever offered. This strategy, advanced with full knowledge of its lethal implications, amounted to a policy of social murder. It was quickly adopted by the Trump administration as the ideological scaffolding for its criminal dismantling of public health protections in 2020, and ultimately morphed into the Biden administrations forever COVID policy still in place today. The bipartisan support for normalizing mass infection and debilitation with COVID-19 was on full display during Bhattacharyas Senate confirmation hearing two weeks ago, when not a single Democrat challenged his record on the pandemic as he was openly praised for his strategy of mass infection and death by right-wing Republicans. This reaffirmed the basic reality that the Democrats are not only acquiescing to Trumps fascistic program, but fully enabling it, including his attacks on science and public health. Now, Bhattacharya will oversee the largest public funder of medical research in the world. He has pledged to end what he calls the monopoly of scientists at elite institutions and to decentralize the grant-making processrhetoric that conceals a scorched-earth policy to defund areas of science deemed incompatible with right-wing ideology. This includes research on infectious diseases, climate-linked illness, racial and gender disparities, and sexual health servicesall of which have already seen grant terminations, hiring freezes, and retaliatory firings under the direction of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Martin Makary testifies before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on Capitol Hill Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana] Martin Makary, meanwhile, has gained notoriety for his anti-vaccine grandstanding and COVID minimization, falsely claiming in 2021 that the pandemic is over and that 90 percent of the population was immune to the virus at that point, an absurd lie. His nomination to lead the FDAan agency responsible for ensuring the safety of vaccines, medications and foodmarks a deliberate move to undermine trust in these institutions and facilitate a deregulated pharmaceutical and food industry. A coordinated attack on scientific infrastructure The Bhattacharya-Makary appointments must be viewed within the broader framework of Project 2025, the sweeping right-wing initiative to gut the federal bureaucracy and consolidate executive power, which is being carried out under the auspices of fascist billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Already, the Trump administration has fired thousands of scientists across the NIH, FDA and CDC, including experts in virology, vaccine development and epidemiology. In the name of reproducibility, Bhattacharya has endorsed a new regime in which grants for exploratory or high-risk research will be curbed in favor of replication studies. But behind this language is a purge of ideologically disfavored science. This includes work on Long COVIDan illness Bhattacharya has consistently downplayed despite admitting it affects millionsand on infectious disease writ large, which the administration has now declared a low priority. As Bhattacharya testified during his confirmation hearing, he will carry out President Trump and Secretary Kennedys agenda of Making America Healthy Againcode for turning the NIH into an arm of corporate medicine and reactionary politics. The long-term consequences of these appointments and their policies are incalculable. As the Science journal reported Tuesday, 29 COVID-era grantsincluding those researching antiviral drugs, pancoronavirus and other next-generation vaccines, and Long COVIDwere suddenly terminated by the NIH on Monday, with more expected in the days ahead. CDC funds for state and local pandemic preparedness have been slashed by $11.4 billion. This, in a time when new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are still emerging, and when H5N1 bird flu threatens to spark a new pandemic. Justifying the sudden cutoff of research funds related to COVID-19, the HHS bluntly told Science, 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. In Orwellian fashion, while cutting funds to research treatments for Long COVIDnow one of the most prevalent chronic disease globally, with over 20 million patients in the US alonethe statement added, HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trumps mandate to address our chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again. Bhattacharya and Makary now preside over institutions that are being dismantled in real time. Labs are closing. PhD students are being turned away. Scientists are fleeing to Europe and Asia. And millions of Americansparticularly the elderly, disabled and immunocompromisedare left to navigate a world where the government has declared the pandemic over while quietly cutting the lifelines that might protect them in the next crisis. As the scientific community reels, what is being put in place is a regime of faith-based medicine, conspiracy-driven policy, and corporate subservience. The consequences will be measured not only in lives lost but in generations of delayed discovery, unmet need, and suffering. The Biden administrations normalization of mass death and abandonment of the fight against COVID-19 paved the way for the fascistic agenda now taking shape. What is unfolding is not a debate over science but a conflict between two social systems: one based on the advancement of human knowledge and well-being, and the otherthe capitalist systembased on profit, exploitation and increasingly barbaric reaction. The working class must draw the necessary conclusions. Defending science requires breaking from both capitalist parties and building an independent political movement, rooted in socialist principles, that fights for a public health system based not on profit, but on social needs. The appointments of Bhattacharya and Makary mark the next stage in the ruling elites war on science. It must be met by the resistance of the working classorganized, informed and uncompromising in its defense of scientific truth. Samsung India has intensified its campaign of harassment against workers at its household-appliance manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu, after the Stalinist-led Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) abruptly shut down a militant month-long strike by 500 permanent workers. The CITU ordered the workers to cease their strike on March 7 without allowing them any vote on its decision to end the strike, and without the company immediately reinstating 23 workers it has arbitrarily and vindictively suspended. The suspensions were the key issue in the strike. Emboldened by this betrayal, the South Korean-based transnational company is refusing to pay most of the permanent workers their annual bonus for 2024, and is systematically transferring known militants to more arduous jobs within the plant. Samsung workers' protest site erected during their 5-week strike last fall. Due to an anti-worker court order, the Samsung workers were barred from picketing and had to set up a "strike" tent almost a mile from the plant. On October 8, 2024, police attacked the workers and tore down the tent. The trade union affiliate of the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist), the CITU short-circuited the strike, as support for it was growing among workers in the industrial belt on the outskirts of Chennai where the Samsung India plant is located. The Stalinists feared the strike could become a trigger for a broader working-class mobilization that could rapidly escape their control. They also, no doubt, came under intense political pressure to suppress the strike from their close political allies in Tamil Nadus DMK-led state government. The DMK has backed Samsung management to the hilt throughout the now almost year-long struggle of the permanent workers to win recognition of their Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) and secure a collective agreement that addresses their manifold grievances. The DMK has repeatedly unleashed police violence against the Samsung workers, and for months the state Labour Department refused to recognize the SIWU, although union recognition is a statutory right under Indias constitution. Shortly after forming the SIWU on their own initiative in July 2024, the workers turned to the CITU and affiliated their union with it, in the mistaken belief that it would strengthen their struggle against the dictatorial Samsung management. Instead, the CITU has systematically isolated the Samsung workers struggle and, as is its standard practice, refused to challenge managements creation of a divisive hierarchy among the workers, by appealing for support from contract and trainee workers and fighting for their right to secure, well-paying jobs. As a result, throughout the four-week strike, the company was able to continue production using the non-permanent workers, and to hire additional temporary workers with the implicit threat that the strikers would be permanently replaced. The strike began on February 5, when workers ceased work to protest the suspension of three SIWU office-bearers, themselves rank-and-file workers, who had demanded a meeting with one of the companys South Korean managers to protest managements relentless harassment of the workforce, especially union supporters. Later the company suspended a further twenty workers in an attempt to break the strike. After this fresh provocation, and under pressure from the strikers, the CITU announced that some two weeks hence on March 13 it would hold a one-day sympathy strike of workers at other plants in the Kanchipuram District. Workers at dozens of plants subsequently announced their intention to participate. Howeverand this should come as no surprise given the Stalinists decades-long record of suppressing the class struggle and tying the working class to the DMK and other right-wing bourgeois partiesthe CITU and CPM ensured the strike was shut down well before March 13. In announcing the return to work, CITU District Secretary Muthukumar, who is acting as the main spokesperson for the SIWU, claimed that a great victory had been won since Samsung had rescinded its canceling of the strikers company IDs and dropped its demand they each provide an apology letter. The Stalinists claims of a victory have proven to be hollow, just like the claims that Muthukumar made when the CITU arbitrarily shut down the strike mounted by the Samsung workers last fall. The 23 suspended workers are now being subject to additional company reprisals under a management Disciplinary Action Proceeding, and all the former strikers are being harassed. Having again sabotaged the Samsung workers struggle, the Stalinist Muthukumar complained in a March 21 Facebook post that management continues to display open hostility towards the workers despite the CITU bending over backwards to maintain smooth and peaceful relations. In the same post, he elaborated on a series of hostile management moves. In addition to withholding the annual bonus, management is constantly pressuring the workers to join the management created Workers Committee in lieu of the SIWU. Workers who participated in the strike are frequently being transferred to jobs that are more onerous or for which they have not received proper training. Some female workers have been reassigned to different departments, where they are forced to handle heavy materials. The workers are also being compelled to pass through training sessions, at which company managers harass and seek to intimidate them. The CITUs betrayal of the Samsung workers is in keeping with the Stalinist CPMs role as an integral part of the capitalist political establishment that postures as left, even Communist so as to better confuse and demobilize the working class. The CPM is a close ally of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) party and maintains a politically incestuous relationship with it. The DMK provides massive financial support to the CPM. In so far as it and its Stalinist sister party, the Communist Party of India (CPI), continue to have a presence in Indias national parliament, it is largely due to the readiness of the DMK to ally electorally with them. The DMK financed the CPMs campaign in the 2019 national elections to the tune of Rs. 100 million ($1.5 million). The CPM has long promoted the DMK as a secular and a progressive party despite the DMKs fiercely pro-business policies in Tamil Nadu. Both the CPM and the DMK are strong supporters of the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). It is led by the Congress Party, which till recently was the Indian bourgeoisies preferred party of national government. It is only within this context that the repeated betrayals by the CITU of not only Samsung workers, but also workers in the Kanchipuram industrial belt can be understood. After announcing the withdrawal of the latest strike, Muthukumar lectured the workers to tolerate management abuse. If management mistreats you, dont react; do your job and work hard. Dont worry about the training or how management speaks to you. Just ignore it. Muthukumar further hectored the workers to cede all independent initiative and blindly follow the orders of the CITU apparatus. Dont think for yourselves, he ordered. Let us know if there are issues, and we will handle them. But dont go beyond the boundaries we set. Such rhetoric highlights the CITUs bureaucratic and pro-corporatist orientation of working amicably with management and stands as testimony to the Stalinist bureaucrats hostility towards and fear of the workers they purport to lead. Taking advantage of the Stalinists isolation and smothering of the Samsung workers struggle and buoyed by the support they have received from the DMK-led state authorities, the company has doubled down on its intransigent stance. It is point-blank refusing to negotiate with the SIWU over the workers grievances. These include poverty wages, long working hours, wretched working conditions and a harsh and arbitrary discipline regime, where workers are routinely disciplined for protesting abuses and unsafe conditions. The provocative suspension of the three SIWU office-holders came just nine days after the Labour Department was compelled to officially register the SIWU. The anti-worker politics of the CPM are also glaringly visible in the neighboring state of Kerala, where the Stalinists lead the state government. Over 26,000 rural public health workers, popularly known as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers have been on strike for over a month demanding a livable wage of Rs. 21,000 per month ($243) and pension benefits. However, the Stalinist government led by pro-business oriented Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan is hostile to the strike, telling the workers the state has no money to fund even such basic demands. The experience of Samsung workers mirrors the experiences of workers globally who are facing ever more brutal working conditions and trade unions that act as agents of the management. The Samsung workers have shown incredible resolve and made great sacrifices in opposing Samsungs autocratic management, but their struggle has been sabotaged. That is why the Samsung workers should decisively break with the CITU and take control of their struggle by establishing an independent rank-and-file committee. Such a committee should unite permanent, contract, temporary workers and other Samsung workers in India and globally. They should also establish solid links with their brother and sister workers in the vast Kanchipuram industrial belt, across India, and beyond. Only such a movement, rooted in class struggle and socialist internationalism, can successfully counter the brutal exploitation by transnational corporations like Samsung. Around 1,000 disabled people and their supporters marched in central London Wednesday against the 5 billion in welfare cuts announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Spring Statement. The demonstration was called by Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) as part of a national day of action, with a hashtag #WelfareNotWarfare. Some of the thousands of disabled people who protested outside Downing Street against the welfare cuts announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' statement, March 26, 2025 Protesters assembled outside the Downing Street residences of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Reeves, before marching to a lobby of Parliament at Old Palace Yard to lobby MPs as Reeves delivered her statement. Referencing hundreds of thousands of people who have died due to over a decade of austerity cutsincluding 600 people who have committed suicide after having disability benefits withdrawnprotesters chanted, No More Deaths from Benefit Cuts! Lauren connected spending billions on weapons funded with cuts to welfare. Her homemade placard read, You are killing my mum to bomb someones son. Another disabled person said, I cannot go on record. I will be hunted down by the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions]. Im protesting today because I believe people are more important than death machines. I want to see a society where no one picks on one another, where there are no scapegoats with people of different colour and different abilities. The withdrawal of benefits by Labour will put pressure on people who are very sick, there will be excess deaths as a result. There may well be more crime committed when people cannot feed and clothe their children. This is not a socialist government, it is no different to the Tories. Starmer is an odious toad with no spine, no moral compass. He sees himself as a world dictator. I compare him to Stalin. If you cannot kill by benefit cuts, then drop bombs on them. That is Starmers message to the world. Starmer is not really in charge of anything, his buttons are being pushed by the very rich people in this country guided by the people who own the mediathe Daily Telegraph and Daily Express, the extreme wealthy billionaires. That is where Starmer wants to be, to be like them. There could be a solution if enough people become conscious of what is happening in this country. Its a failing democracy. It is this chaos or some sort of alternative. Speaking at the event were former Labour left leader Jeremy Corbyn, who after expulsion from the party sits as an Independent MP, and his former shadow chancellor John McDonnell. McDonnell lost the Labour whip last year for voting against the withdrawal of winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners. Corbyn and McDonnell offered no means for anyone to fight, bleating moral appeals for Starmer and Reeves to reconsider the cuts. McDonnell said, Disabled people are facing the biggest cuts to their benefits in a decade, causing immense harm This is not what Labour governments do. His solution, as he advocated last week, is that the Starmer government consider what can only be described as a pain monitoring exercise as the welfare cuts are imposed, to establish what threshold of suffering is needed before an alternative route is taken to supporting disabled people? Corbyn said of welfare cuts, Instead of all this stuff lets raise the Income Tax threshold to take the poorest people out of Income Tax altogether, bring in a wealth tax for those with assets of over 10 million pounds, and with that we start, start, to redistribute wealth and power in our society. Around 60 people protested in Leeds outside the bus station. Protesters gather outside Leeds bus station to oppose welfare cuts Daniel, a disabled welfare worker, spoke about government plans to restrict access to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Ive got both personal and professional experience with PIP. I think helping people with them professionally has shown me how much support is potentially needed to fill in some of these assessments. They are made to be quite difficult, made to trip people up. I think its shocking. He saw the welfare cuts as a really easy way for government to create some stir, to create some momentum in whatever direction theyre going. [Deputy Prime Minister] Angela Rayner recently said that working class people dont want handouts. Its not a handout. Its enabling people to access life in the same way that other people do. And I cant see how that is a bad thing, both for the agency of the person themselves, but also for the civil service, the National Health Service, which is suffering. I work in the third sector. A lot of our job now is relating to doing what the NHS would have done. James said, Ive come here as a member of the public. My daughters are both autistic, aged 15 and 18. Ive seen how much disabled people need support, especially through school, and the funding needs to radically go up, to make school a decent place to learn for everyone, especially for disabled kids. I wasnt a fan of [Tony Blairs] New Labour at all, but they did help disabled people compared to this lot trying to balance the books off of some of the most vulnerable people in society. PIP is the gateway to other benefits like carers allowance, and youre going to get families who are going to be destitute. Then theyre just going to hit the next set of services thats going to get overwhelmed, like social housing. If we dont sort society out, well be slipping towards fascism. If we keep letting them say these things, that the problems in society are due to individual characteristics of people in poverty, the implication is that people in poverty are whats wrong with society. Its a short step for them to question what to do with them. Asked his thoughts on former Labour leader Corbyn, who refused to wage any struggle against the Labour right before being booted out of the party by Starmer, James said, It was always a moonshot, wasnt it, the whole Corbyn project? They were beaten down and eventually collapsed. Another protester, Daniel, said, I get angry talking about what the Labour governments doing at the minute by taking benefits off people who cant work. For example, you might be blind, so therefore you cannot do any manual work because youre blind. There are people without any legs, people in wheelchairs. By implying its a moral decision thats good for the country, its quite disgusting. When youre framing it as a moral choice, what youre really saying is: you people go away and die. We need to prepare for war again. The Labour government are not left-wing at all. About as left-wing as Nigel Farage. Theyre the continuation of neo-liberal politics. Weve just had a pandemic, which is ongoing and has a major impact on people. The longer it goes on, the more research to do, the more we find out how COVID affects people. Theyre closing that down. Like, No, its finished, lets close that down. But when they are using the word moral, its actually a political choice. Nothing to do with morals. Its you imposing your political perspective upon society and then saying theres no other way. Its neo-liberalism, which is a continuation of capitalism on steroids. Look at whats going on with Gaza. Our government, the people in power say thats not a genocide. I can go on my phone and see people being bombed every day, kids being bombed and murdered and starved to death. The British resumed flying over Gaza to give intelligence to Israel to bomb, and apparently, thats not a genocide. [Health Minister] Wes Streeting was on TV saying were over diagnosing mental illness. ADHDis that over diagnosing people, or is it just made up? They are really saying, Youre not fitting into the capitalist system. You cant sit down. You cant be a productive money maker. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, left, joined at right by Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., questions Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe about texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat that included the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, at a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) [AP Photo] The Democratic Party, which has been complicit and largely silent over the fascist rampage by President Donald Trump against democratic rights, social programs and federal workers, has suddenly found its voice this week. Senators and representatives howled and shook their fists, not over the savagery of the Trump administration, but because Trumps top national security aides were insufficiently careful in the preparation of the bombing of Yemenan act of mass murder that the Democrats enthusiastically support. The leak of a Signal chat thread discussing the US bombing of Houthi-controlled targets in Yemenforces opposed to Saudi Arabia and Israelhas become the central topic of debate in official Washington. Media pundits have spoken of little else. Hours of televised hearings before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday and the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday featured Democrats grilling top Trump administration officials over the security breach, which was triggered by the accidental inclusion of Atlantic Editor Jeffrey Goldberg on the thread. Goldberg detailed his participation in the thread in a major article published by the magazine Monday. After top officials denied his claims that classified military operations were discussed, he released the full transcript of the chat Tuesday night. The document confirmed his account and revealedunsurprisinglythat Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and others had shamelessly lied about the incident. As the WSWS noted yesterday: 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. The two days of congressional intelligence committee hearings are long-scheduled events, held every year, in which the top military-intelligence officials give their assessments of the main global threats to the interests of the American ruling elite. As usual, these consist of an open session in the morning, held before television cameras with much political posturing, and a closed session in the afternoon for franker discussion of the crimes being committed by US imperialism around the world. During both the Senate and House hearings, Democrats generally endorsed the list of threatsChina, Russia, Iran and North Korea, in that order. Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate panel, pointed out that Biden administration officials had presented the same list a year ago. He criticized Trump for reversing US policy on Ukraine and Russiathe primary area of divergence between the two capitalist partiesbefore shifting focus to the security breach on the eve of the Yemen bombing. This set the tone for other Democratic senators, who demanded the resignation of Hegseth and Walz and called for an independent investigation into how Goldberg was included on the callnow under review by the Trump White House. Several senators contrasted the sloppiness of the Signal chat with the supposed professionalism of communications protocols at the Pentagon, the CIA and the broader intelligence community. Not a single Democrat questioned the legality or morality of the military operation, in which dozens of innocent Yemeni civilians were massacred and several Houthi leaders targeted for assassinationboth crimes under international law. At the House hearing the following day, after Goldberg had released the full transcript of the Yemen discussion, the Democrats outrage went up a notch. Ranking Democrat Jim Himesa former Goldman Sachs banker and leader of the right-wing New Democrat factionopened by branding Trumps policy as: We are now on Team Kremlin. Himes pointed to chief Mideast negotiator Steve Witkoffs participation in the Signal chat while visiting Moscow and demanded to know what kind of phone he had used. Himes referenced the 140 stars at CIA headquartersmarking agents killed in the line of dutyand claimed that many of them died because of poor judgment by reporters or leaders. The most flag-waving statement came from Colorado Democrat Jason Crow, one of the growing number of CIA Democrats recruited directly into Congress from the military-intelligence apparatus. Crow, a former special forces commander in Afghanistan, exemplifies the integration of the Democratic Party with the national security state. Crow concluded a long interrogation of the panel of Trump aides as follows: I was deployed three times in combat in service to this nation. I learned in my time in service that responsibility is core to leadership. ... It is completely outrageous to me, completely outrageous that administration officials come before us today with impunity, no acceptance of responsibility. ... It is outrageous, and it is a leadership failure, and that is why Secretary Hegseth who undoubtedly transmitted classified 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. What does this moving forward consist of? The main criticism of Trump by the congressional Democrats is that he is weakening the global position of American imperialism by abandoning its main allies and client states, particularly Ukraine and NATO, as well as antagonizing these allies through provocations like the proposed acquisition of Greenland and annexation of Canada. On US policy in the Middle East, the Democrats are fully aligned, having poured tens of billions into supporting Israels genocide in Gazanow expanding into the West Bank, Lebanon and even Yemen. It was the Biden administration that launched the crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, a campaign Trump has now fused with his anti-immigrant offensive to create a repressive atmosphere more sweeping than the McCarthyite witch hunts of the 1950s. In a significant exchange during the House Intelligence Committee hearing, fascistic Republican Representative Claudia Tenney of New York asked FBI Director Kash Patel whether the agency was monitoring and compiling lists of individuals involved in so-called pro-Hamas protests on college campuses. Patel confirmed that the FBI was doing so. Not a single Democrat raised the issue or voiced any objection. When the Trump administration kidnaps college students for their opposition to the Gaza genocide, planning to deport them for exercising their right of free speech, the Democratic Party is silent. When Trump unleashes his billionaire co-president for domestic policy Elon Musk on federal workers, firing tens of thousands, smearing them as unqualified, lazy bureaucrats, the Democrats wring their hands. They hold rallies with union officials who are equally committed to doing nothing, at which both pledge to support lawsuits that will ultimately be heard by a Supreme Court packed with a far-right super-majority. When Trump and his fascist allies move to destroy vital social programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and food stampson which hundreds of millions of people dependthe Democrats say they are powerless to stop it. Then, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer delivers the critical vote to keep the Trump-Musk government funded for another six months. But when given the opportunity to attack Trump from the right, the Democrats jump at the chance. They deplore the incompetence of those Trump has appointed to fill the top positions in the US national-security apparatus and demand that the full power of the US machinery of war, spying and provocation be unleashed. This is a demonstration of the class character of the Democratic Party. It is one of the two parties of the American financial oligarchy, unalterably committed to the defense of the ruling class at home and abroad. The defense of the jobs, living standards and democratic rights of working people, in America and worldwide, depends on the political mobilization of the opposite social force, the international working class, on the basis of a revolutionary socialist program. The Summit of ResistanceWe Demand Change, on Saturday March 29, seeks to conceal the refusal of all its main participants to build a real political opposition to Sir Keir Starmers Labour government. Its invocation of resistance refers only to the organisation of various protests under the leadership of the Corbynite left, sections of the trade union bureaucracy and their pseudo-left apologists, aimed at putting pressure on the government to ameliorate its most right-wing policies. Poster advertising "Summit of Resistance-We Demand Change" event [Photo: We Demand Change] The summit was specifically called to conceal the fact that months of discussions on the formation of a new party with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at its head have so far come to nothing. Corbyn has rejected all entreaties for him to head such a party, declaring that his focus will be building local grassroots forums while his group of five Independent MPs continues to congratulate the government when it makes positive changes to peoples lives but call it out where it falls short. The Socialist Workers Party, its offshoot Counterfire, the Socialist Party and the Revolutionary Communist Party have all made their calls for a new left party as a polite request to Corbyn, even when forced to make the occasional criticism of his record in office in refusing to challenge the Blairite right. Had he agreed to such a move, both his and their central orientation would have been the same. Any such broad left party, with or without Corbyn, would act as a ginger group on the Labour Party, forming ad hoc campaigns and alliances with trade union bureaucrats, Labours dwindling band of left MPs and local councillors to register token opposition to the savage cuts being imposed by Starmeror to mount pacifist protests over Labours support for the Gaza genocide. It would be a matter of contention whether similar feeble protests would be made against Starmers warmongering against Russia centred on Ukraine, given that most of the Labour left and the most prominent left trade union leaders are fully behind Starmers anti-Russian measures and are critical only of his refusal to declare open political hostilities with the Trump administration. Corbyn refuses appeals to lead a new party The origins of the Summit of Resistance can be traced back to Corbyns expulsion from the ranks of the Labour Party in Parliament and deselection as Labours candidate in Islington North in the months preceding last Julys snap general election. Many workers and young people assumed this would be a watershed moment, after the political rout of the Corbynites within the Labour Party, when moves would begin to form a new party. This expectation was reinforced by the launch of Collective, led by some of Corbyns closest advisorsincluding former general secretary of Unite Len McCluskey, his partner Karie Murphy (Corbyns former chief of staff) and Sheila Fitzpatrick (Director of Corbyns Peace and Justice Project)which declared its goal was to form such a party. Instead, Corbyn declared that he would run as an Independent in his Islington North constituency, with Collective backing him and a dozen other independent candidates standing in opposition to the Gaza genocideincluding Andrew Feinstein against Starmer. Aside from these candidates and where they stood their own, Britains pseudo-left tendencies joined the Corbynites in calling for a Labour vote. Jeremy Corbyn and other general election independent candidates are paraded on the stage during a rally against the Gazan genocide. From left: Michael Lavalette; Leanne Mohamed; Corbyn; Andrew Feinstein, and Iqbal Mohamed, July 6, 2024 The election of Corbyn and four other protest candidates against Labour and the average 13 percent of the vote for all the Gaza protest candidates was the next watershed moment. With Corbyns parliamentary bloc of five, and amid the broad anti-Labour sentiment especially among Muslims and young people, the media published leaked reports of various invitation-only gatherings of Collective and other groupings, declaring that Corbyn would form a parliamentary party around the five Independents, and that a broader party organisation would be set up as early as January 2025. Corbyn responded with repeated denials, declaring after his election win, Once our grassroots model [in Islington North] has been replicated elsewhere, this can be the genesis of a new movement capable of challenging the stale two-party system to create a new, centralised party, based around the personality of one person, is to put the cart before the horse. His attendance at a Collective meeting in September last year was downplayed by a source close to Corbyn who insisted his attendance was not an official endorsement. Corbyn then told BBCs Newsnight on December 17, regarding his parliamentary Independents Alliance, We do not intend to become a party. Fitzpatrick was obliged to tell attendees at an online meeting, No doubt Jeremy will be involved, but he will not lead a new party. The shared reformist politics of Corbyn and his revolutionary backers For months now, every one of the pseudo-left groups has been elbowing for position in a possible new Corbynite party. The Socialist Party was directly involved in discussions, as was the Revolutionary Communist Party. For the SWP, which was denied participation, leading theoretician Alex Callinicos wrote, The conditions are developing for the formation of a powerful radical left alternative to Labour, citing the remarkable successes of Corbyn and the pro-Palestine Independents: to make sure this happens, revolutionary socialists are needed to help initiate and build this alternative. For Counterfire, Chris Nineham wrote that a new broad party of the left goes way beyond people who currently see themselves as revolutionaries and would help popularise basic socialist arguments, organise the left and return more left-wing MPs to parliament, people who could use their voices to build opposition to austerity and war. Chris Nineham speaking at the rally in Trafalgar Square, March 30, 2024 With Corbyn refusing all entreaties, the Summit of Resistance has stepped back from calls to form a new party. Instead the appeal for attendance only calls on all trade unionists, campaigners and activists to construct a network of activists across campaigns and unions to turn the tide on despair in line with Corbyns preferred model. This amorphous call ensures that not only Corbyn but bureaucrats such as Sarah Woolley, General Secretary BFAWU, Daniel Kebede, General Secretary National Education Union, Sarah Kilpatrick, President NEU, Dr. Maria Chondrogianni, University and College Union President-elect, and others are happy to register their meaningless support. The relationship between Corbyn and the pseudo-left tendencies is an alliance of convenience. Corbyn benefits from their promotion of him as the leading light of left-wing politics in Britain. Even after his refusal during five years (2015-20) as Labour Party leader to mount any political challenge to the Blairiteswhether on opposing war, nuclear weapons and NATO membership, the implementation of Tory austerity or the filthy antisemitism witch-hunt against his supportersthey still act as servile courtiers. In return, the pseudo-left tendencies can cite Corbyn and the dwindling handful of lefts gathered around him as proof of a continued fight for the soul of the Labour Party, and claim that the supposed popularity of his meagre reformist palliatives shows where even the most advanced workers presently stand politicallyand that they must therefore form the reformist axis of any new party. Nothingnot support for genocide, nor military rearmament at the cost of the most devastating offensive against the welfare state ever undertakenwill move them to mobilise a political movement independently of and directed against the Labour government. Theirs is the policy of acquiescence, not resistance, and their real hope is that no movement develops in the working class that challenges their routine protests. Only a socialist and internationalist programme offers a way forward for the working class The Socialist Equality Party stood against Starmer in Holborn and St Pancras in the general election, to spearhead a campaign directed against the entire Labour Party. We argued that what the working class needs is precisely the revolutionary party the pseudo-left oppose. In a polemic explaining the difference between our approach and the Corbynites and their political apologists, we wrote: The failure of Corbynism to provide a viable opposition to the rightward evolution of the Labour Party is not the result merely of poor leadership. The development of transnational production and the global integration of finance and manufacturing has dramatically undermined the viability of the old trade unions and Stalinist and social democratic parties that were embedded in the nation state system, to which they all responded by junking their former reformist programmes. The Labour left shares the right-wings nationalist and pro-capitalist programme, differing only in their advocacy of a few of the reforms the Blairites have abandoned. Today, only a socialist and internationalist programme offers a way forward for the working class. Every fundamental problem confronting workers is rooted in the deepening crisis of world capitalism. Above all, the danger of a new world war arises out of capitalisms fundamental contradictionsbetween the development of an interconnected global system of production and the division of the world into antagonistic nation states based on upholding private ownership of the means of production. Our manifesto explains that the international working class is the only social force that can stop the global eruption of war. The same contradictions driving imperialism to wars of global conquest provide the objective basis for social revolution by unifying the workers who produce all of societys wealth in a global system of production. This pits them against the common enemy of giant transnational corporations and banks that dictate the policy of every national government. The SEP is fighting in these elections for the formation of a mass movement against genocide and war based in the working class, one that is international, anti-capitalist and socialist. Our aim is to link this fight to the growing struggles against inequality, poverty and the attacks on wages, jobs, healthcare, education and all the social rights of the working class. We intend to build a new socialist leadership, completely independent of and hostile to all political parties and organisations of the capitalist class, the Labour Party above all. This is the programme which should be taken up by all those workers and young people who detest Starmer and the Labour Party and want to wage a real fight against them for socialism. Mehring Verlag, the publishing house of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) in Germany, will be presenting its most important book titles at the Leipzig Book Fair. The highlight will be the book launch of the German edition of Sounding the Alarm: Socialism Against War (Ein Warnruf: Sozialismus gegen Krieg) by David North. It will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 14:30 to 15:00 in the Non-Fiction Forum in Hall 5. North has been active as a revolutionary journalist, historian and political leader in the international Trotskyist movement for more than half a century. He is chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in the US. The German edition of David North's ' Sounding the Alarm: Socialism Against War.' North is the author of many important Marxist writings and books, including The Heritage We Defend: A Contribution to the History of the Fourth International; The Crisis of American Democracy; In Defense of Leon Trotsky; The Russian Revolution and the Unfinished Twentieth Century; The Frankfurt School, Postmodernism and the Politics of the Pseudo-Left and A Quarter Century of War: The US Drive for Global Hegemony 19902016; The Logic of Zionism: From Nationalist Myth to the Gaza Genocide and Leon Trotsky and the Struggle for Socialism in the Twenty-First Century. Against the backdrop of fascist Donald Trump's return to the White House and the biggest German rearmament since the end of the Second World War, David North's new book takes on an almost prophetic character. North's collected May Day speeches from the last 10 years show that the ruling class is reacting to the extreme concentration of wealth and the deep crisis of capitalism, as in the 1930s, by turning to authoritarian forms of rule, fascism and war. And they develop the necessary socialist perspective to fight against it. The German edition of North's latest book has already been published by Mehring Verlag and can be ordered here as a paperback and e-book. We invite all our readers to attend the book launch in Leipzig and are republishing the foreword to the German edition by Johannes Stern, the editor of the German-language edition of the World Socialist Web Site. *** Foreword The publication of this volume of speeches by David North could hardly be more urgent. Even the bourgeois media and think tanks now discuss the development towards a third world war and the danger of nuclear annihilation. With the genocide in Gaza and the constant escalation of the NATO war in Ukraine against the nuclear-armed power Russia, the imperialist powers are crossing all red lines. In pursuit of their geostrategic and economic goals, they are willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives and even risk the destruction of the entire planet. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) foresaw this development. When the ICFI and the World Socialist Web Site called for their first International Online May Day rally in 2014100 years after the start of World War IDavid North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party in the United States, warned: Those who believe that war with China and Russia is an impossibilitythat the major imperialist powers would not risk war with nuclear powersare deluding themselves. The history of the twentieth century, with its two devastating world wars and its innumerable and very bloody localized conflicts, has provided sufficient evidence of the risks the imperialist ruling classes are prepared to take. Indeed, they are prepared to risk the fate of all of humanity and the planet itself. One hundred years after the outbreak of World War I and 75 years after the start of World War II, the struggle against the danger of a third imperialist cataclysm confronts the international working class. Norths collected speeches on May Day are not analyses and warnings from a passive observer. They are the concentrated expression of the active struggle of the world Trotskyist movement against imperialism and war in the last decade. They are based on the approach that already distinguished the great socialist revolutionaries and opponents of war of the past centuryRosa Luxemburg, Karl Liebknecht and, above all, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and Leon Trotsky. They all understood that the same fundamental contradictions of the capitalist system that lead to warthe contradiction between the world economy and the nation-state system and the contradiction between the social character of production and its subordination to private propertyalso create the objective basis for the social revolution. This Marxist understanding stands out throughout Norths remarks in this volume: the struggle against militarism and war requires a struggle against its root, capitalism. The development of world war and the associated relapse into barbarism can only be stopped if the working class unites internationally and overthrows the capitalist profit system in a socialist revolution. For this, it needs a revolutionary leadership based on the lessons of history and fighting for socialist consciousness. Norths speeches are proof that this leadership exists. And they show the strength of the Marxist method, which analyses events in their broader historical and political context, examines the underlying driving forces and class interests, and on this basis develops a perspective for the struggles of the working class. Contrary to the official narrative of Russian President Vladimir Putins alleged unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Norths speeches provide a clear assessment of the historical, economic, social and political origins of the war. As early as 2014, when Washington and Berlin organized a far-right coup in Ukraine to install a pro-Western regime in Kiev, North declared: The plotters in Washington and Berlin understood that this coup would lead to a confrontation with Russia. Indeed, far from seeking to avoid a confrontation, both Germany and the United States believe that a clash with Russia is required for the realization of their far-reaching geopolitical interests. And specifically on the role of Germany, he said, [T]he confrontation with Russia is welcomed as a pretext for the repudiation of the constraints on militarism imposed in the wake of the unspeakable crimes committed during the years of Hitlers Third Reich, adding, Definite economic and geopolitical interests are at stake. As in the 20th century, Germany is once again gazing longingly upon the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Central Asia and the vast land mass of Russia. Israels genocide in Gaza is likewise not merely a reaction to the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. It is part of the imperialist war offensive, which aims not only to subjugate the entire Middle East, but to redivide the world. In his May Day 2024 speech, North said: The genocidal violence unleashed by the Israeli state against the Palestinians has aroused the anger of workers and youth all over the world. But it must be recognized that the genocide in Gaza and the war against Russia are interconnected fronts in the global war unleashed by imperialism. The same interests that dictate the policies of Genocide Joe Biden in the Middle East determine the actions of his administration in Central Europe, as well as in Asia. Another example of the power of Marxist analysis is the ICFIs response to the coronavirus pandemic. In his May Day 2020 speech, North described the pandemic as a trigger event that revealed and enormously accelerated the economic, social and political crisis of the capitalist system. He emphasized that the fight against the pandemic is not only a medical question, butjust like the fight against social inequality, war, fascism and dictatorshipa class and a revolutionary question. In 2024, North also stated: The indifference to mass death and debilitation since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic in January 2020 is an unanswerable refutation of appeals to the conscience of the capitalist class. It subordinated all concerns for human life to the relentless drive for corporate profits and the accumulation of private wealth. It accepted 27 million excess deaths as a necessary consequence of the operation of the capitalist process of production. Norths speeches show that the ruling class is reacting to the extreme concentration of wealth and the deep crisis of capitalism as in the 1930s with a turn to authoritarian forms of rule and fascism. The programme of mass infection, inequality and war is incompatible with democratic rights. Trumps coup attempt on January 6, 2021, his ongoing efforts to build a fascist movement in the US, and the cowardly role of the Democrats who accompany and facilitate this development are only the sharpest expressions of this. In Germany and Europe, too, the ruling class is courting the extreme right and adopting its programme. The book is also a polemic against all pseudo-left forces who claim that pressure can be exerted on the imperialist warmongers, and against all those who argue that the capitalist regimes in Russia or China are potential midwives of a new multipolar world that will replace the US-dominated unipolar world order and create a more just and peaceful future. North says: This new version of a peaceful ultra-imperialism is no more theoretically coherent and politically viable than it was a century ago, when it was first proposed by the German reformist Karl Kautsky and comprehensively refuted by Lenin. The peaceful division of global resources among the capitalist and imperialist states is impossible, North continues, which is why the utopian striving for a peaceful multipolar world leads, in its own twisted logic, to World War III and the destruction of the planet. The only politically viable, let alone revolutionary, answer to the impending catastrophe is the revolutionary mobilization of the international working class on the basis of socialist policies. If you want to stop the return of world war and fascism after the catastrophes of the 20th century, you must read this book. The principles and perspectives of the Trotskyist movement, which North so impressively defends and develops in his speeches, form the basis for building a new revolutionary leadership capable of defeating imperialism and overthrowing capitalism once and for all. Mehring Verlag and the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei will do everything in their power to distribute the German-language edition of this book as widely as possible. Johannes Stern Editor of the German-language edition of the World Socialist Web Site Berlin, 24 October 2024 The entrance to a subway stop in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) The Trump administration is threatening to slash vital federal funding for New Yorks Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in direct retaliation for the transit agencys refusal to sufficiently line up with Trumps lawn and order campaign. Using the fraudulent pretext of out-of-control crime, Trumps dictatorial attempt to blackmail and discipline the MTA threatens to accelerate the agencys financial crisis, which will be passed on via attacks on transit workers and riders. Last week Trumps Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, sent a letter to the MTA chair Janno Lieber threatening to cut federal funding if the MTA did not satisfy the administrations demand for information about crime and steps to curtail it on New York Citys subway and bus system. The federal agency has given the MTA until March 31 to respond. In the letter, Duffy wrote, I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter to avoid further consequences, up to and including redirecting or withholding funding. Duffy did not specify how much federal money would be withdrawn if his request is not met. Nor did he attempt to explain how unilaterally overriding congressionally authorized funding was legal. The MTA has been looking for up to $14 billion from the federal government over the next five years to help finance its $68 billion capital maintenance and improvement plan. In addition, the New York state legislature has not come up with a plan for $35 billion that the agency needs for this to complete this capital plan. The state budget is supposed to be in place by April 1. The current five-year capital plan is one of many that has been ongoing for decades to help maintain and update an aged $1.5 trillion mass transit system, by far the largest in the United States. MTA Chief of Policy and External Relations John McCarthy, in a statement responding to Duffys letter on Tuesday, said, We are happy to discuss with Secretary Duffy our efforts, alongside NYPD to reduce crime and fare evasion. The good news is numbers are moving in the right direction. Crime is down 40% compared to the same period in 2020 right before the pandemic, and so far in 2025 there are fewer daily major crimes in transit than any non-pandemic year ever. Moreover, in the second half of last year subway fare evasion was down 25% since increasing dramatically since COVID. The supposed surge in subway crime is largely a media fiction promoted by both political parties in the aftermath of the onset of the pandemic, which has killed nearly 47,000 in New York City and at least 168 transit workers. Total numbers of crimes in major categories of murders, assaults, robberies and burglaries are at historic lows. However, political and media coverage has moved in the other direction, exploiting every incident of violence on the subway system while virtually ignoring road deaths and injuries. Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul last year ordered 1,000 National Guard members into the subway. Right now, there are about 1,250 members of the Guard, MTA police and state police who patrol the transit system. In addition, there are several hundred New York City police officers assigned to the subway system. Hochul, along with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Transport Workers Union, which supported the law-and-order hysteria, paved the way for Trumps phony invocation of subway crime to attack public funding for transit. To the extent that assaults and other forms of violence remain real problems, law enforcement cannot fundamentally provide an answer. In fact, about two thirds of the people evicted from the subway system are suffering from mental problems and homelessness and in desperate need of housing and other social services. Any real solution must address the root cause of capitalist exploitation and oppression. Instead, the mass deployment of police in the subway system serves to condition the population for martial law and to crack down on opposition from workers and riders. While claiming to fight crime, Hochul is now proposing that the state legislature criminalize wearing masks. In addition to the fact that the pandemic is not over, it is an attack on pro-Palestinian demonstrators who wear masks fearing victimization for expressing their views, as well as an attack on public health, given that N95 masks are a crucial tool to lower transmission of Covid. The Trump White House is cynically using the issue of congestion pricing, under which the transit authority would receive funds through a charge of $9 a day for vehicles who enter Manhattan south of 60th street, to posture as a populist opponent of New York officials. Trumps claim that he opposes these tolls because they are regressive is the height of hypocrisy, as he pursues to cut funding for the very transportation options that most of the working class in New York City depends on. Meanwhile, the administration is triggering a trade war which will lead to huge price hikes on consumers. Duffy has unilaterally rescinded federal approval of the congestion pricing program, and the Federal Highway Administration Executive Director Gloria Shepherd has notified the MTA in a letter last month that it must cease the collection of tolls by March 21. MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber has stated that unless ordered to do so by a court, the agency will continue to collect tolls. In response to this declaration, the Secretary on Thursday afternoon posted on X a notice for a 30-day reprieve with the following threat: The federal government and @POTUS [President of the United States] are putting New York on notice. Your refusal to end cordon pricing and your open disrespect toward the federal government is unacceptable. We will provide New York with a 30-day extension as discussions continue. We know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check. Continued noncompliance will not be taken lightly. Before this latest statement on X by Duffy, Lieber, when asked about this possibility of a money cutoff, replied, Were playing by the rules, and were expecting them to play by the rules too. However, the Trump administration has not been playing by the rules. Earlier this month, it canceled $400 million federal grants and contracts to Columbia university to strong arm the university into even more repression against students opposed to the Gaza genocide. It then used ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to abduct Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who was a leader of the pro-Palestinian protests, who was sent to jail in Louisiana without any charges against him. Trumps threats on the New York transit system are part of the wider attack on federal agencies, enforced by Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. In violation of the US Constitution, he has been cutting thousands of jobs and needed services for working people, such as public education, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. On top of that, Trump has been demanding more tax cuts for the billionaires and wealthiest Americans. In order to represent their interests, to engage in an enormous transfer of wealth from the working population to the oligarchy, Trump and those in his fascist circle has proceeded to overthrow democratic forms of rule and create a tyrannical police state. The attack on the MTA is part of this. New York City and its surrounding area depend heavily on its mass transit system. Its collapse would do immeasurable damage to not only the city, its surrounding area, but also the entire nation. Mass transit can only be defended by uniting transit workers and riders in rank-and file committees against this reactionary capitalist system, independent of the unions, as well as both Democratic and Republican parties of who work for the oligarchic elite. NEW YORK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires sweeping through the U.S. states of North and South Carolina have forced evacuations and prompted a state of emergency as of Wednesday. In North Carolina's Polk County, the hardest-hit area, about 250 households have been evacuated, and at least 20 homes and outbuildings destroyed, according to Kellie Cannon, public information officer of the county. The fires, fueled by dry conditions, strong winds, and downed trees from Hurricane Helene, continue to spread. The hurricane, which struck North Carolina in late September 2024, left a trail of destruction and claimed hundreds of lives. Many people in the region still haven't recovered from the hurricanes, said Bo Dorsett, spokesman for the North Carolina Forest Service. Evacuations remain ongoing, as dry weather on Wednesday sparked more fires in western North Carolina. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein urged residents to stay alert, saying, "Please continue to pay attention to emergency alerts and evacuation orders if you need to leave your homes." The wildfire has led the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to issue an Unhealthy Air Quality Warning, cautioning that smog and particulate matter pose serious health risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. In response to the escalating danger, the North Carolina Division of Forestry has implemented a statewide ban on open burning and revoked all burning permits. Meteorologists have a pessimistic forecast for the wildfire. Ashley Lehmberg, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Greer, South Carolina, said there will be rain over the weekend, but not enough to put out the fires. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey takes questions from reporters, Jan. 31, 2024, in Boston. [AP Photo/Steven Senne] Recent actions by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Massachusetts, coupled with policy changes spearheaded by Democratic Governor Maura Healey, underscore the deepening collaboration of Democratic Party leaders with the Trump administrations fascistic immigration agenda. While claiming opposition to Trumps policies, Democrats have aligned themselves with measures that scapegoat migrants and undermine the democratic rights of the working class. Between March 18 and March 23, ICE conducted a major enforcement operation across Massachusetts, arresting 370 individuals. The agency claimed to target dangerous alien offenders, including alleged members of transnational gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. In fact, the operation swept up individuals with minor offenses or tenuous connections to criminal activity, further criminalizing undocumented immigrants. Local radio station WBUR reported that civil rights activists dispute how ICE characterized its operation and quoted Neenah Estrella-Lune of East Boston, who said it was likely that many of the people apprehended have only minor criminal records. The overwhelming majority of the people are not criminals in that way, she said. Theyre people who, at worst, they overstay their visa andOh, God forbid, theyre painting peoples homes. The Boston Globe reported March 24 that several workers were arrested by immigration authorities the previous week on their way to a construction site and a Puerto Rico citizen in Fall River said her car was blocked until she showed them three forms of identification. The Globe added: And in Chelsea, a Salvadoran father of two with a work permit, no known criminal record, and a pending asylum case was taken into custody last Tuesday on his way to work. The man, who has been in the country for more than five years, is being held at a detention center in Plymouth. Tom Homan, the anti-immigrant border czar appointed by Trump, in a self-congratulatory post on X boasted of traveling to Boston to oversee the sweep, claiming it was in response to reports of illegal alien child rapists walking the streets. This inflammatory rhetoric, utilizing the vilest tropes to demonize immigrants, served as the pretext for an operation that targeted not only those with criminal convictions, but also 165 individuals for whom ICE provided no information whatsoever. The arbitrary nature of these arrests is representative of a dragnet taking place across the country to ensnare individuals with no significant criminal history. Federal officials praised the operation as a whole-of-government approach to public safety. In fact, the actions are part of a fascistic assault against immigrants aimed at sowing fear within immigrant communities. The raids occurred amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration to dismantle sanctuary policies in cities like Boston, although sanctuary status provides no guarantees to immigrants. Governor Healey has implemented sweeping changes to Massachusetts right-to-shelter law, effectively excluding thousands of migrants from accessing emergency housing. Her reforms include residency requirements, mandatory verification of legal status and criminal background checks for shelter applicants. These measures disproportionately impact newly arrived migrants and undocumented families, many of whom fled violence and poverty in their home countries. Healeys rhetoric frames these restrictions as necessary for fiscal sustainability and public safety. However, her policies echo Trumps anti-immigrant narrative by scapegoating migrants for strained state resources, while ignoring systemic issues like the lack of affordable housing and economic inequality. Attacks on immigrants are inseparable from broader assaults on the working class. By scapegoating migrants for social crises like homelessness and crime, Democrats deflect attention from systemic failures rooted in the capitalist system. Healeys refusal to address Massachusetts housing crisisdespite the states wealth concentration at the topreveals the priorities of the Democratic Party as fundamentally aligned with those of the Republicans. The four richest individuals in Massachusettsincluding the CEO of Fidelity Investments and two Fidelity Investment heirs, along with Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriotshave combined wealth of more than $66 billion, according to the 2024 Forbes Rich List. The response to the ICE raids from Governor Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, both Democrats, has been to further normalize the federal governments draconian immigration enforcement. While Wu issued a mild statement calling on ICE to release more information and vaguely alluded to concerns about unlawful detention, her words ring hollow in the face of the terror inflicted on immigrant communities. Healey praised the states collaboration with ICE, stating: Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state, and Massachusetts law enforcement regularly partners with federal agencies and federal law enforcement to keep people safe. She touted the Massachusetts State Polices cooperation with the Trump administration in arresting gang members in Lawrence just two weeks prior. This embrace of collaboration with federal immigration authorities exposes any claim by the Democratic Party to be defenders of immigrants rights. Healeys pronouncements and the lack of any concrete action to resist ICEs rampage demonstrate that relying on the Democratic Party to combat Trumps agenda is a dangerous illusion. The Democrats actions and rhetoric demonstrate an underlying agreement with Trumps assault on democratic rights, necessitating an independent struggle against both Trump and the Democratic Party. The claim by ICE officials that the operation targeted transnational organized crime, gangs, and egregious illegal alien offenders is the standard justification for such sweeps. Homans prior threats to unleash hell on the state and statements that Healey and Wu should be ashamed of themselves were aimed at exerting pressure to dismantle any local protections for immigrants. However, such pressure was little needed. The collaboration between Democratic leaders like Healey and federal agencies such as ICE highlights the bipartisan nature of the assault on immigrants rights. Across the country, Democratic governors have supported stricter enforcement against so-called criminal aliens and collaboration with ICE, while adopting policies that exclude undocumented immigrants from essential services. This bipartisan assault must be opposed through unified action by workersimmigrant and native-born aliketo defend democratic rights and demand social equality. Over the past fortnight, the protest organisation Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) issued several statements asking New Zealands far-right foreign minister Winston Peters to urge the fascistic Trump administration to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The statements lay bare the utterly futile and bankrupt political perspective that has dominated the protest movement over the past year-and-a-half. The aim of the PSNA, like similar middle-class protest outfits internationally, is to ensure that opposition to the genocide remains confined to making appeals to parliament, and does not develop into a movement against the capitalist system, which is the root cause of this atrocity. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) Chair John Minto [Photo: Facebook/John Minto] On March 12, ahead of Peters departure for Washington, the PSNAs chair John Minto released a statement titled Peters needs to tell Trump to stop the Israeli bullies. Declaring that New Zealand upholds a rules-based international system, Minto said: We want Mr Peters to remind the US administration that the rules apply to Gaza as well. Mr Peters should be suggesting to the US that it should stand up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On March 17, the PSNA again called for Peters to speak up for Palestine in his meeting the following day with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In an open letter to Peters, the PSNA declared that New Zealand has an internationally respected voice which can make a strong contribution to peace by opposing Israels blockade of Gaza and the US Presidents plan for ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian territory. The groups statements, if they are taken seriously, can only serve to foster dangerous illusions in the very imperialist powers responsible for the genocide. The destruction of Gaza and the mass murder of its people is not the result of President Donald Trump or his predecessor Joe Biden failing to stand up to the bully Netanyahu. This completely misrepresents the real relationship between US imperialism and Israel, a garrison state which pursues its expansionist aims in the Middle East in a close alliance with the US. The US ruling elite has not been dragged unwillingly into supporting Israel; it is an active partner in the Gaza genocide. The US provides unlimited bombs and other weapons and gives political support to every action of the Netanyahu regime, while suppressing pro-Palestine voices within the US. Portraying the Trump administration as a potential force for good, Minto said on March 12, The US helped broker a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas less than two months ago. In fact, the supposed January ceasefire, which the PSNA celebrated as a triumph for the Palestinian people, was only a tactical pause to give the Zionist regime and its imperialist backers time to prepare their next steps. Israel is now accelerating its genocidal bombing in close coordination with the US. The Trump administration is helping prepare the forced deportation of millions of people from the Gaza Strip. To call on Trump to oppose these historic crimes, for which he bears direct responsibility, is as ludicrous as appealing to Netanyahu himself. It is comparable to asking Adolf Hitler, during the Nazi Holocaust, to stand up for the rights of the Jewish people and to respect international laws. The notion that New Zealands National Party-led coalition government can be persuaded to take a principled stand against the genocide is no less delusional. The government has ignored hundreds of protests, involving tens of thousands of people across the country, demanding an end to the slaughter. Peters, who leads the right-wing nationalist NZ First Party, has a long record of supporting Zionism and demonising Muslims and immigrants from Asia and the Middle East. He has slandered anti-genocide protesters, including the PSNA, as antisemitic and racist, in an effort to delegitimise and criminalise them. Peters said his visit to Washington had been very successful and described the US as an indispensable partner for New Zealand. According to a US State Department statement, Peters and Rubio discussed avenues for strengthening defence cooperation through burden sharing, allowing our militaries to work more closely together, and ensuring security and economic strength in the Pacific region. The PSNA falsely presents the Gaza genocide as an isolated issue. In fact, it is part of a developing world war, in which the imperialist powers, led by the US, are seeking to gain control over all the worlds resources and wealth. New Zealand, a minor imperialist ally of the US, is closely integrated into US-led wars and war planning, above all in the military build-up against China. The government is also actively supporting the US-NATO war against Russia over Ukraine: NZ troops in the UK are assisting in the training of Ukrainian conscripts. New Zealand military personnel have also been deployed to the Middle East to assist the US and Israel in the bombing of Yemen, which Trump has threatened to completely annihilate. After the horrific Israeli bombing unleashed on Gaza over the past week, which killed hundreds of people, Peters issued a meaningless call for both sides to reinstate the ceasefire and implement the hostage exchange deal. He made no specific criticism of the Netanyahu regime. On March 20, the PSNA denounced the foreign ministers statement as an insult to the victims of Israels massacres. It organised a protest three days later outside a state of the nation speech delivered by Peters, who ranted against the pro-Palestine activists, calling them left-wing fascists and communists. The group is now calling on its supporters to write to MPs from National, ACT and NZ First, the three parties in the governing coalition, asking them to individually speak out to condemn Israel for ditching the Gaza ceasefire agreement it signed in January. According to Minto, If the Foreign Minister cant [criticise Israel], then there must be at least some MPs in the government coalition who have the conscience necessary to raise their voices. He did not explain why, after years of supporting Israels atrocities, any members of the government will find their consciences now. For more than a year the PSNA has been issuing similar appeals, while carrying out various protest stuntsincluding a misguided hunger strike by one of its members, and attempts to track down individual Israeli soldiers in New Zealand. At the same time, the group has promoted illusions in the opposition Labour Party and its allies, the Greens and Te Pati Maori, who have been invited to speak at PSNA rallies. Labours foreign affairs spokesperson David Parker issued a hypocritical statement on March 21, calling on the government to stand up for what is right and to support South Africas legal case in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide. Labour is supporting legislation proposed by the Green Party that would enable sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of Palestinian land. The Labour Party-led government, which included the Greens, was in power until November 2023 and took no such action against Israel. Labours Prime Minister Chris Hipkins denounced protests against the genocidal onslaught against Gaza, which he justified as self-defence. Labour fully supports New Zealands alliance with US imperialism, including the war against Russia and the militarisation of the Indo-Pacific against China. Fundamental political lessons must be drawn from the failure of the mass protests internationally to end the Gaza genocide. The problem is not a lack of opposition. Billions of people are outraged by Israels actions, but the protest movement has been led into a dead-end by its middle-class, pro-capitalist leadership. The fight against genocide, fascism and war requires a new perspective based on political reality, not the moralising and wishful thinking promoted by the PSNA and similar groups in New Zealandsuch as the pro-Labour Party Daily Blog, Peace Action and the pseudo-left International Socialist Organisationand internationally. The positions of all of these tendencies, including the PSNA leadership, are not the result of confusion or mistakes. The more governments have doubled down in their support for Israel, the more stridently have the official protest movements internationally insisted that nothing can be done but make futile appeals to them. That is because these organisations speak for an affluent layer of the upper middle class, which advances its own privileges within the framework of capitalism. Politically, the function of these tendencies is to chain workers and young people to the very political forces responsible for the war crimes in Gaza and the broader eruption of imperialist militarism, of which they are a part, including Labour and the union bureaucracy. Instead of making endless appeals to the conscience of imperialist warmongers, workers and young people who oppose war must take up a political struggle against the capitalist system and all its parties, including Labour and its pseudo-left backers. The plans of US imperialism and its allies to expand the Gaza genocide, and to plunge the entire planet into war, can only be stopped by mobilising an even more powerful force: the international working class. Mass actions must be prepared, including political strikes, linking the struggle against imperialist war with the fight against the austerity measures that are being imposed to pay for it. Action must be taken to block the production and supply of weapons and other military equipment for Israel, the US and all their allies, including the New Zealand military. The chief obstacle to such actions is the trade union bureaucracy, which acts as a police force on behalf of the capitalist state. In New Zealand, as in Australia and the US, the maritime unions have ensured the uninterrupted servicing of vessels belonging to the Israeli shipping company ZIM, which has pledged to support the destruction of Gaza. The fight against war is therefore inseparable from the struggle to build new organisations that workers actually control: rank-and-file committees, independent of the union bureaucracy. Most importantly, the anti-war movement must become consciously socialist. The wealth and resources produced by the working class, which is being hoarded by billionaires and squandered on militarism, must be expropriated from the capitalist class and redirected to meet urgent social needs, including the rebuilding of public healthcare and education, and to eliminate poverty and inequality. This is the program fought for by the Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand, and the International Committee of the Fourth International. Nikos Papadopoulos, a member of parliament for the Greek far-right party Niki (Victory), entered the National Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum in Athens on March 10 and tore down four artworks, denouncing them as blasphemous. The works were by contemporary Greek artist Christoforos Katsadiotis. The incident took place one week after Papadopoulos wrote a letter to the Museum demanding the works be removed, stating that Katsadiotis works distort and desecrate the most sacred symbols of our Orthodox Christian tradition. Papadopoulos was accompanied by another man, later revealed to be Dionysis Makris, a far-right journalist who presents For Whom The Bell Tollsa programme broadcast through his uTube channel Pillar of Orthodoxy. While Makris reportedly fled before being accosted by police, Papadopoulos was held by police at the museum for around five hours. He was released after prosecutors ruled that his act was a misdemeanour. According to Greek law, parliamentarians can only be immediately arrested for felonies. For misdemeanours, only parliament can rule whether their immunity from prosecution is lifted. Screenshot of Nikos Papadopoulos's X page [Photo: X] Speaking to reporters outside the museum after his release, Papadopoulos claimed he never intended to vandalise the works. Footage captured by the museums security cameras shows both Papadopoulos and Makris approaching the works and then violently dashing them to the floor while two staff members attempt to stop them. Art, religious imagery and social satire The works form part of the Allure of the Bizarre exhibition which began in January and is set to run until the end of September. The point of departure of the exhibition is Los Caprichos, a series of 80 etchings by late 18th/early 19th century Spanish artist Franscisco Goya. Katsadiotis was one of 10 contemporary Greek artists whose works were chosen to be exhibited alongside Goyas works. The Los Caprichos (The Caprices) engravings were developed by Goya in 1797-98 and were directly influenced by the conceptions of the Enlightenment that embodied the revolutionary upheavals in neighbouring France at the time. They satirise the ignorance and superstition rife in feudal Spain under the yoke of the monarchy and the censorship of the Inquisition. The most iconic engraving of the series is The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, with Goyas original caption for the print reading: Imagination abandoned by reason produces impossible monsters; united with her, she is the mother of the arts and source of their wonders. Capricho No. 43, El sueno de la razon produce monstruos. (The dream of reason produces monsters.) (Detail). A print from the first edition, held at the Prado Museum. The work is an etching with aquatint and other intaglio [Photo: Francisco Goya - http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/01593307546704995222257/ima0084.htm] Discussing the works in an interview published on March 16 in Documentos Sunday edition, Katsadiotis said: I decided to explore these themes because when one goes into a church the first thing they encounter is the faces of the saints on the paintings and icons. I feel that these are figures whose ultimate aim is to transfix and inspire fear. To make you feel so small and defenceless so that if you are to have any worth or status you have to be on their side. Otherwise the threat is great and leads directly to eternal hell, given that they already deem all of us guilty and sinners. The faces in these pictures therefore see enemies before them and divide life in hell and heaven. In any case most of these figures are distinguished warriors--look at the clothes they wear and their swords. I wonder how a warrior who sees only enemies and kills can convey the word of God, the word of love, of peace and mutual respect. These are the questions that I want to express. I accept and respect anybodys religion. My works are not icons of worship, but visual works of art. I neither put them in a church nor did I force someone to come and see them. And mainly their aim is not to insult. For me they are poetic works that express human suffering. The four vandalised works of Katsadiotis use Eastern Orthodox iconography as a means of challenging the reactionary role of the church in society. The Saint Christopher etching appears to be a self-portrait by the artistalso named Christopherdrawing on the provincial 17th and 18th century tradition of depicting the saint with a dogs head. The other works comprise embossed metal sheets featuring depictions of the Virgin Mary and child, Saint Michael vanquishing Satan, and Saint George slaying the dragon. The shining gold and silver has been cut to reveal grotesque, cartoonish faces painted colourfully beneath; presumably a commentary on the dissonance between the churchs portrayal of itself and the reality of its social function. Icon 1 takes the traditional portrayal of Saint George slaying the dragon, but reverses roles so that the saint becomes a devil, the horse becomes a dragon, and the saints spear strikes downwards towards a misshapen human face. Icon 16 shows a crazed Archangel Michael casting a comically pathetic Satan out of heaven. Finally, Icon 17 presents a smirking Virgin Mary holding a perplexed and wizened baby Jesus. Censorship campaign emboldened by the ND government Papadopoulos vandalism has made him a cause celebre in the mainstream media, with pundits falling over themselves to condemn the museum for exhibiting such works while providing him with a platform to spew his obscurantist diatribes. His party also fully backed Papadopoulos. After initially distancing himself from the vandalism, Niki leader Dimitris Natsios took to X a few hours after the event to post: So that there are no misunderstandings, Niki MP, Nikos Papadopoulos will not be expelled. He acted with holy indignation when he took down the unholy, grotesque and blasphemous drawings that insult the sacred person of the Virgin Mary and our saints. Papadopoulos received a slap on the wrist from his fellow lawmakers after prosecutors referred the incident to parliament. No procedures were initiated to lift his immunity from prosecution. Nikitas Kaklamanis, speaker of Parliament and member of the ruling conservative New Democracy party (ND), merely ordered Papadopoulos MP salary to be cut by half for a month. Papadopoulos received the tacit endorsement of Greeces Orthodox Church. Remaining silent on the events at the museum, the Holy Synod released a statement one day later saying: The Permanent Holy Synod has expressed its sorrow for the content of certain works within the exhibition in question and has decided to take the matter up with the Greek government. Initially intending to incorporate the vandalism into the exhibition, the museum cordoned off the area with the artworks on the floor kept in situ. An accompanying sign under the title The Symptom read: The curator of the exhibition and director of the National Gallery [art historian Syrago Tsiara] has decided in agreement with the artist to visibly maintain the trails of violence and vandalism as a symptom. New building of the Athens National Gallery, May 2021 [Photo by Osenji - Own work / CC BY-SA 4.0 Not a single member of the governmentCulture Minister Lina Mendoni includedcame out to publicly support the museums stand. Four days later the artworks were withdrawn, with the museum citing security concerns amid protests outside by far-right religious figures. Mendoni issued a pro forma condemnation of the vandalism only nine days after the event and only after a question was put to her by Greek daily I Efimerida Ton Syntakton (The Newspaper of the Editors). She justified the governments lack of adequate security measures following the attack, saying we cant exhibit works of art under guard. This episode has emboldened the Niki Party and religious zealots. Following the attack on the museum there were violent clashes by far-right protesters in Thessaloniki and Larissa outside the venues where standup comedian Christoforos Zaralikos was performing. His tour had been promoted with a poster in which he appeared wearing a thorny crown and red robe like Jesus. The protests were preceded by a post on X by Papadopoulos where he called for protests against the comedian, stating that Zaralikos act contains content that insults the Orthodox Faith and our Virgin Mary, adding, I am fully aware of the indignation of many of my fellow citizens. Niki has continued its offensive by filing a lawsuit against the Athens museum over a video projection by artist Eva Stefani which the party described as obscene. The threat posed by Niki and the Greek right ND has a long history of cultivating far-right forces. Following its return to power in 2019after the betrayal of the working class carried out by Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left)ND largely adopted the programme of the fascists. In its latest Cabinet reshuffle, Makis Voridisa notorious far-right figurewas named new migration minister to lead the ND governments anti-refugee policies. Within the context of the upsurge of the class struggle in Greece, Nikis agitation is a useful tool for the ND government, which is reeling following the mass protests over the Tempi train crash and the subsequent cover-up, which it oversaw. The imposition of censorship by far-right forces in the arts is a global phenomenon. Last September, the Toronto Film Festival withdrew the film Russians At War following pressure from the Canadian government and threats from Ukrainian fascists, with the Zurich Film Festival following suit shortly afterwards. In Australia, an artist and a museum curator recently had their appointments to the Venice Biennale rescinded following bogus politically-motivated claims in the right-wing media that the two were supporters of terrorism. Nikis embrace by broad sections of the ruling elite alongside the whipping-up of the most backward layers of the population must serve as a warning: the party was founded in 2019 by Natsios, a theologian, and entered parliament in 2023 in the last general election. Natsios has close links to figures within the semi-autonomous monastic community of Mount Athos in Northern Greece such as the anti-vaxxer monk Efthimios. He has been linked with the semi-official religious organisations Zoi (Life) founded in 1907 and Sotir (Saviour), a splinter from Zoi founded in 1960. Virulently anti-communist, both organisations were nurtured by the Greek ruling class throughout the 20th century as a bulwark against the rising movement of the working class. The height of their influence was during the 1967-74 military dictatorship, with which they maintained close relations. Satirical artworks like Katsadiotis have a long history: chaotic composition, grotesque forms and bizarre elements illustrate the unreason of a troubled society. During the Bourbon Restoration (18141830), French artist Eugene Delacroix--creator of Liberty Leading the People (1830) and The Massacre of Chios (1824)took Goyas Los Caprichos series as a base for his own caricature studies of the clergy. Two centuries later, an artist using those same works and themes as a point of departure for his own social critique is still considered a threat by the most reactionary elements of capitalist society. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived last night in Paris before todays summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron on European military intervention in Ukraine against Russia. The conference, coming after the European Union (EU) adopted an 800 billion rearmament plan, marks a further drastic escalation of the war on Russia in Ukraine. As explosive conflicts arise with their nominal US ally, the European powers are responding to the Trump administrations opening of negotiations with Russia has been to become the most aggressive advocates of war. This exposes the EUs cynical presentation of its policy as a defense of freedom and democracy against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends the summit with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace [Photo by Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Macron and the EU are acting with flagrant contempt for the working class. There is no support in the European population for total war with Russia, and a Eurasia Group poll last year found that 89 percent of Western Europeans opposed war with Russia. When Macron in 2023 tried to finance a 100 billion increase in Frances military budget via a corresponding cut to pensions opposed by 91 percent of the population, this provoked mass strikes. Yet Macron, in line with the other major European powers, is doubling down on unpopular policies of war and austerity. After talks with Zelensky at the Elysee presidential palace, Macron pledged 2 billion in new military aid to Ukraine. France, Macron said, would deliver Milan anti-tank missiles, air defense weapons like MICA missiles for use on the Mirage fighters we have delivered, or also Mistral surface-to-air weapons. He promised old fighting vehicles, like VAB armored vehicles, AMX-10 RC tanks, and also a lot of ammunition, some of which are guided or drones. Macron presented himself as preparing the deployment of French peacekeepers to Ukraine amid an upcoming peace deal. He said he would demand that Russia provide Ukraine with a a lasting cease-fire. He pledged that France would ensure that Ukraine retains a credible army format that allows to dissuade any new aggression by Russia. Finally, he said that the meeting would discuss the sending to Ukraine of European peacekeeping forces in the context of a peace accord. Only such policies, Macron claimed, can defend against the threat of Russian military intervention from Ukraine into Europe itself. We are and will remain at the side of Ukraine, he said. We are in a changed epoch, and Russias aggressiveness is not only a threat to the global order and the stability of the world. It also very directly impacts our security in Europe. This is a pack of lies, first and foremost as it covers up the danger of catastrophic military escalation. The simple fact that Trump has opened talks with Russian officials does not mean peace will be reached. Indeed, news broke yesterday that Washington, having briefly suspended its military aid to Ukraine, had resumed flights of military equipment to Reszow, Polanda key transshipment point for arms for Ukrainefrom US bases in the Persian Gulf. Moreover, amid a historic breakdown in European imperialisms relations with Washington and Trumps mounting tariff war against Europe, even a return by Trump to a policy of all-out war with Russia would not resolve bitter and deepening trans-Atlantic conflicts. The European powers are pushing ahead with plans to send troops to Ukrainethough Russian officials have warned that these troops would become the target of Russian military action. Macrons pretextthat Russia is threatening to conquer all of Europeis a fraud. For three years, the Russian army has struggled to seize a strip of eastern Ukraine, home to a largely Russian-speaking population. It has no realistic hope of mounting a military conquest of all of Europe, a continent of over 500 million people whose economy is far larger than that of Russias 140 million citizens. Indeed, Macrons proposals to send peacekeepers to Ukraine makes clear the calculations underlying the Kremlins bankrupt and reactionary decision to invade Ukraine. Moscow demands that Ukraine not become a part of NATO or receive NATO military aid because it fears the arrival of large NATO armies directly on its borders. The Kremlins February 2022 invasion, followed by its attempt to negotiate a peace with Ukraine in April 2022 Turkey, aimed to convince its Western partners in the NATO imperialist governments to take its concerns seriously. The Kremlins maneuvers failed, however, as the Biden administration and the major European powers sought to justify war and continued austerity measures against the working class by presenting Russian President Vladimir Putin as hell-bent on world conquest. Even as Washington now holds talks with Moscow, Zelensky and his European backers are doubling down on European rearmament and military escalation against Russia. Zelensky, a dictator who has suspended elections and rules through martial law, told Le Figaro that Ukraine and Europe must wage a war for freedom and democracy and based on hatred of Russian people. He said, I want our children and grandchildren to live in a free world, a free world in Ukraine, not outside its borders, not in Europe The second motivation is the hatred of the Russians, who have killed so many Ukrainian citizens. Zelensky hailed Macrons utterly reckless plans for direct deployment of European ground troops to Ukraine against Russia. At the Paris summit, he told Le Figaro, We must define our needs, know who is ready to send troops, which ones, how many, and to go where? How many countries are really ready to do this? It is a difficult and important subject. Zelensky called for a vast commitment of industrial and financial resources to build weapons for total war on Russia: Indeed, we have less artillery and shells than Russia. The Kremlin has kamikaze drones provided by Iran, artillery and missiles produced by North Korea. He called to finance the war by illegally grabbing 300 billion in frozen Russian oil revenues held in European banks: We would like the frozen Russian assets to be used to equip our army. A reinforced and solid Ukrainian army is our greatest guarantee of security. We need troops deployments. And we need air defenses. The Americans have them. We raised this with Donald Trump. But if the Americans do not provide this system, we must see with the Europeans what similar equipment they could deliver so we can totally close our skies. Plans for a further, catastrophic military escalation are far advanced. Even as political and military tensions surge with the US, the major European powers are setting a course towards war with Russia. They have rallied to the positions of Polish President Andrzej Duda, a key negotiating partner of Macron in preparing todays Paris summit. Last year, Duda called for Russia to be broken up into a mosaic of ethnic mini-stateswhose vast resources in oil, gas and strategic minerals could then be easily controlled and plundered by the NATO powers. He said: Russia is often called the prison of nations, and for a good reason. It is home to over 200 ethnic groups, most of whom became residents of Russia as a result of the methods used in Ukraine today. Russia remains the largest colonial empire in the world today, which unlike the European powers has never undergone the process of decolonization, and has never been able to deal with the demons of its past. There is no more space for colonialism in the modern world. The alarm must be sounded. The pursuit of European military intervention in Ukraine as planned and advocated by Macron poses an imminent threat of military escalation, including direct strikes by Russia and France on each others soil. Workers must reject plans for war with Russia, the austerity measures used to finance them and build a movement tying opposition to social austerity to socialist opposition to the wars of the European imperialist powers. Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, testifies at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025 [AP Photo/Ben Curtis] The Trump administrations dismantling of Medicare is not a distant threatit is a reality that is unfolding with alarming speed alongside the erosion of Social Security and the privatization of the United States Postal Service. While often framed as a partisan issue, the truth is that Medicares privatization is a bipartisan effort spanning decades, pushed by both Democratic and Republican administrations. The difference now is the speed and aggressiveness with which the Trump administration is executing this agenda. From shifting funds into private hands to restructuring payment models that place financial risk on corporate entities, the administration is ensuring that Medicarea program paid into by workers throughout their working livesbecomes a profit-making machine for the financial elite. The consequences will be devastating for the working class, leaving millions of elderly Americans with inadequate medical care, higher out-of-pocket costs, and outright denial of service. Simply put, it is a matter of life and death. Medicare was created in 1965 as part of Lyndon B. Johnsons Great Society initiatives, offering guaranteed healthcare to Americans over the age of 65. It was a significant achievement of the working class, wrested from a reluctant ruling elite through decades of struggle. Funded by payroll taxes, Medicare was intended as a social contract: workers would contribute during their employment years, ensuring they had healthcare security in old age. But this commitment was never accepted by the American ruling class and its political representatives. Almost immediately, steps were taken to begin dismantling the program, slowly shifting its financial structure and control into private hands. The privatization of Medicare has been a bipartisan assault, carried out in stages, with the Reagan administration introducing prospective payment systems that encouraged hospital competition and opened the door to for-profit healthcare. The Clinton administration then created Medicare+Choice, which would later become Medicare Advantage (MA), allowing private insurers to profit from the program. The George W. Bush administration expanded Medicare Advantage, diverting billions to private insurers. A systematic shift emerged from Fee-for-Service (where providers are paid per service they provide) to Value-Based Care (where payments to providers are based on patient outcomes rather than the number of services provided), moving from ensuring that patients receive care to keeping costs low to maximize profits. The Obama administrations Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded privatization through the growth of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) and value-based payments, embedding private companies deeper into the Medicare system and giving health care providers incentives to reduce overall spending. During his first term, Trump took these efforts to a new level, rapidly dismantling traditional Medicare under the guise of reform and efficiency. Among the most significant measures, Trump aggressively introduced and expanded Direct Contracting models, allowing private insurers and investor-backed healthcare groups to take on financial risk for Medicare patients, building on Obamas ACO models but with greater private sector involvement. In 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Primary Care First (PCF) model, which was marketed as a way to improve patient health by rewarding good care and penalizing poor performance. In reality, it primarily benefited corporate interests. To avoid financial penalties, providers were incentivized to cut costs wherever possible. This often meant seeing more patients in less time, reducing the quality of care, limiting expensive treatments and referrals, even when medically necessary, and pushing patients into telehealth or digital consultations, which are cheaper but may not provide the same level of care as in-person visits. PCF normalized the idea that Medicare payments should be profit-driven rather than need-based. This approach paved the way for more aggressive privatization efforts, such as Direct Contracting Entities (DCEs) and more developed ACO models, which allowed private investors and insurance companies to directly manage Medicare funds. Additionally, the first Trump administration pushed for Price Transparency and Site-Neutral Paymentsrules ostensibly to reduce hospital costs and promote efficiency, but, in reality, reinforcing the broader shift toward risk-based payment structures at the expense of quality service. In risk-based models, private companies and healthcare providers agree to cover a group of patients for a set amount of money. If the care costs more than expected, the company loses money, so companies have an incentive to cut costs, often by denying treatments or limiting care. Trumps budgets have repeatedly proposed slashing billions from traditional Medicare while increasing funding for privatized alternatives, gutting public Medicare and accelerating its demise. The administration has also aggressively pushed Medicare Advantage, diverting resources away from the public system and forcing more seniors into private plans where insurers have financial incentives to deny care and ration services. More recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted the same corporate interests, using the language of healthcare freedom to further dismantle public healthcare in favor of privatized alternatives. The appointment of Dr. Mehmet Oz to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in Trumps second term marks a significant escalation in the drive toward privatization, setting out to complete the decades-long process of dismantlement. Dr. Oz, a television personality with extensive financial ties to UnitedHealth Groupserving as a medical adviser and board member for UnitedHealthcares Medical Advisory Boardwas involved with Optum, another UnitedHealth subsidiary. A federal judge recently found Optum to be in violation of laws and its fiduciary duty because it used financial considerations to deny coverage. Oz is now being positioned to restructure Medicare into a profit-driven system. Oz has already floated proposals to transform Medicare entirely into a system in which private entities dictate coverage and spending, ensuring that corporations, not doctors, determine who receives what type of care and who is left to suffer without it. Trump and Oz have used the pretext of fighting fraud as an excuse to cut Medicare coverage. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Oz characterized the Medicare Advantage systemwhich he had consistently advocatedas upside down. He alleged that Medicare Advantage was more expensive than traditional Medicare, pointing to upcoding, a well-known practice that allows insurers to categorize patients as sicker in order to get higher payments. I pledge if confirmed, I will go after it, Oz stated. While widespread fraud within Medicare Advantage has allowed private insurers to overbill the government by inflating patient risk scores, administration after administration has ignored, if not facilitated, these abuses. Now Trump is turning his focus to gutting public Medicare, pushing seniors into privatized plans. The consequences for the most vulnerable sections of the working class will be catastrophic. Higher out-of-pocket costs will become the norm as private insurers shift the burden onto seniors through increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles. Denial of care will be widespread, as risk-based models incentivize limiting services, leading to life-threatening delays and outright rejections of treatment. As funding is siphoned into privatized models, traditional Medicare will collapse, forcing seniors into corporate-controlled plans where profit is prioritized over patient health. Millions of elderly Americans who have paid into Medicare their entire working lives will be left without reliable healthcare, facing in their final years financial ruin or medical bankruptcyor death. The Democratic Party, despite its hollow rhetoric, has played a central role in dismantling the program. In recent years, the Biden administration continued Trumps first-term policies, refusing to eliminate Medicare Advantages over-payments to insurers and allowing the continued expansion of privatized Medicare models. The ruling classRepublican and Democrat alikehas demonstrated that it will not defend Medicare because its destruction represents billions in profits for Wall Street, the insurance companies, and hospital conglomerates. Medicare will not be defended by politicians in Washington. It will only be protected through mass action by the working class. The struggle against its privatization must be tied to a broader fight against capitalism, for socialism, universal healthcare and the elimination of the for-profit healthcare industry. The Punta Rocca glacier near Canazei, in the Italian Alps in northern Italy, where a huge chunk broke loose in July 2022. [AP Photo/Luca Bruno] A newly published scientific study, (Community estimate of global glacier mass changes from 2000 to 2023, Nature, 19 February 2025), finds that the worlds mountain glaciers are melting at a faster rate than ever recorded and that rate is accelerating. This will have many dire consequences both for humans and the environment as a whole. Glaciers are large masses of ice, formed in colder regions, usually in mountains, where the accumulating winter snow does not completely melt away during summer. Over many years, snow builds up, gradually compacting and consolidating into ice. Eventually, the weight of the ice becomes such that it begins to flow downhill at a slow pace. The dynamic balance between snow accumulation during winter and melting during summer determines whether a glacier expands or contracts. Due to global warming, glaciers around the world have been contracting at an increasing rate. The new data shows that the rate of melting is now (2012-2023) more than a third (36 percent plus or minus 10 percent) greater than that during the preceding period, 2000-2011. Since the beginning of the century, mountain glaciers have lost more than 6,500 billion metric tons of ice, 5 percent of the total. There are currently a total of more than 200,000 mountain glaciers of varying sizes throughout the world. They hold enough frozen water to raise sea levels world-wide by 32cm (13 inches), if totally melted. This would inundate many low-lying coastal areas, especially due to storm surge. That is not even counting the massive ice sheets covering Antarctica and Greenland, which currently hold 99 percent of fresh water ice on earth. Total melting of the Antarctic ice sheet alone would raise sea levels by another 60 meters (200 feet) and Greenland would add an additional 7.4 meters (24 feet). Combined, this would cause an incalculable catastrophe. In addition, glacial runoff provides fresh water for millions of people around the world. The loss of this resource, if all the glaciers were to disappear, would cause massive economic and social disruptions and population migrations. Yet, this is the inevitable outcome if global warming is not halted and reversed. The current study in Nature is the most comprehensive yet on this topic. It combines data from more than 230 regional estimates gathered by 35 internationally based research teams. Until the advent of the industrial revolution, when the burning of fossil fuels began to increase massively, releasing greenhouse gases, fluctuations in glacial ice masses were subject to natural climate variation. In general, the loss of glacial ice due to warm weather melting was balanced by cold season snowfall and changes were relatively gradual. The rate of melting now being observed exceeds anything previously recorded since the end of the last ice age, roughly 11,500 years ago. Human civilization has developed and is adapted to this post-ice-age environment. Since 2000, the annual rate of glacial melting has risen dramatically, from less than 100 gigatons to more than 500 gigatons. To arrive at these numbers, the researchers used a variety of methods, from direct measurements on the ground to data from satellite imagery, the combination of which raises the level of confidence in the reliability of the result. It was also found that glacial ice is far more vulnerable to climate change than the massive ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, due to the latters larger mass and depth which result in a lower surface to volume ratio (i.e., less ice directly exposed to warm air). This disparity is also reflected in the contrast between the total volumes of glacial ice loss from larger glaciers and the proportional losses relative to the sizes of individual glaciers between regions. The greatest total volumes of glacial ice loss contributing to the global total were recorded in Alaska (22 percent), the Canadian Arctic (20 percent), peripheral glaciers in Greenland (13 percent) and the southern Andes (10 percent). However, the greatest relative losses (i.e., reductions in glacial size) occurred in regions with smaller glaciers, including Central Europe (-39 percent), the Caucasus (-35 percent), New Zealand (-29 percent), North Asia (-23 percent), and Western Canada and USA (-23 percent). A separate report prepared by the United Nations agency UNESCO assesses the impact of melting glaciers on the worlds population. It finds that the retreating glaciers threaten the food and water supplies of 2 billion people. The combination of the loss of glacial meltwater and diminished snowfall in mountainous regions due to global warming will adversely affect irrigated agriculture. Many of these areas are already experiencing food insecurity. Regions significantly affected include East Africa, which has lost 80 percent of its glaciers in some places, and the Andes, where between a third and a half of glaciers have melted away since 1998. The rapidly melting glaciers and diminishing and irregular rains are not only impacting poorer regions of the world. For example, the Colorado River basin has been in drought since 2000. Reduced rain and snowfall combined with higher temperatures have significantly lowered river levels, creating conditions in which various users of water resources, including urban areas, farmers and Native American nations are locked in seemingly irreconcilable conflict over the division of water allocations. Another factor in the acceleration of glacial melting is the loss of the albedo effect. White snow and ice reflect more sunlight and therefore absorb less heat than dark soil and rock. Therefore, as glaciers melt and retreat spatially, more of the darker underlying surface is exposed, creating a positive feedback (i.e., self-reinforcing) loop of more heat retained in the earth and even faster melting. Historically, mountain glaciers and winter snowpack melt relatively more slowly, releasing water over an extended period as compared to runoff from rain, thereby creating a more steady, predictable supply of water for agriculture and human consumption than often more variable rainfall. However, global warming is upsetting that balance. Warmer global temperatures mean that there is less snowfall, and it melts more quickly. At the same time, growing seasons are lengthened but without a commensurate increase in the quantity and continuity of available water. The study published in Nature projects that, at the current rate, half of the worlds glacial mass will be lost by the end of the century. Every year that greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced means that the rate of glacial melting will continue to accelerate. Since 1900, sea level worldwide has risen 20cm (8 inches) due to melting from all sources plus expansion of the volume of ocean water due to warming. Approximately half of that increase has occurred during the last 35 years. The scientific and technical means exist to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of global warming and climate change. So do the necessary resources. However, under capitalism, these are employed for war and to increase the wealth of the corporate and financial oligarchy, a tiny fraction of the population. Unless the working class seizes political power and implements a rational, scientifically based program to reverse the current trend of climate deterioration, the future of human civilization is bleak. On March 19, during his second trip to Israel since he took office, Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman met with and exchanged gifts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is presently overseeing the genocide of the Palestinian people. Fetterman gifted Netanyahu a framed Philadelphia newspaper article from 1986 which reported on the construction of a memorial for Netanyahus late-brother, Jonathan Netanyahu, who was killed in action during an Israel Defense Forces raid in Uganda in 1976. More revealing, however, was Netanyahus gift to Fetterman: a silver-plated beeper. Benjamin Netanyahu shakes John Fetterman's hand after gifting him a silver-plated beeper, March 19, 2025. [Photo: GPO] The silver-plated beeper is a reference to a terror attack launched by Israel against Lebanese civilians and Hezbollah supporters last September. During the attack, thousands of pagers and mobile devices rigged with explosives were set off, indiscriminately killing dozens and injuring thousands in the process. The shameless depravity of the gift-exchange bears resemblance to events at the Buchenwald concentration camp during World War II. Nazi SS officers at the camp would occasionally exchange gifts that were made from Jewish prisoners at the camp, including shrunken heads, preserved organs, tanned pieces of human skin with tattooing, and a lampshade made from human skin that sat on camp commandant Karl-Otto Kochs desk. Fetterman gleefully accepted the gift, thanking Netanyahu and shaking his hand in the process. When that story broke, said Fetterman to Netanyahu in reference to the Lebanese terror attack, I was like, Oh I love it. I love it. Fettermans support for Israels wholesale slaughter of Palestinians has been met with rapture by the Israeli ruling class. During a visit to Israel last June, Netanyahu said that Israel has had no better friend than Sen. John Fetterman. Indeed, few political figures have more deeply, and enthusiastically, embraced the genocide in Gaza than the Pennsylvania senator. Fetterman has supported deploying US troops to the region in accordance with Trumps plan to annex Gaza. During a peaceful protest against the genocide in November 2023, Fetterman taunted and laughed at protesters while waving an Israeli flag as participants were arrested. Fettermans fulsome support for genocide completely demolishes the progressive facade constructed by him and his pseudo-left backers during the 2022 senate campaign. Throughout his campaign, the pseudo-left, led by Jacobin, an organ of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), heavily promoted Fetterman and his alleged progressive bona fides. In an article titled John Fetterman Is the Kind of Political Communicator the Left Needs, Jacobin writer and DSA member Ben Burgis touted Fettermans senate campaign as having the highly effective Bernie Sanders formula down pat: take progressive positions on social issues while making denouncements of the 1 percent central to his message. Burgis predicted that if Fetterman was elected it would be an exciting development for the Left. After the 2022 midterm elections and Fettermans victory, Jacobin published an article titled Centrists Were Wrong: Left-Wing Candidates Won, in which it touted Fetterman as having campaigned on a broadly progressive platform. In another article, titled The 2022 Midterms Were One of the Best Elections the Left Has Had in Memory, Jacobins Branko Marcetic defended the senators reactionary positions by advancing a variation of the tired lesser-evil proposition, arguing that Fetterman appears to stand to the left of every other Democratic Senate candidate this cycle. Halfway into his first-term, Fetterman has shed all of his phony progressive stances while taking up the sword of US imperialism under the Biden and now Trump administration. Since his election, Fetterman has voted in favor of every US military package and war budget put before him, including the massive $95 billion military bill last year that allocated $60.8 billion for Ukraine, $8 billion for Taiwan and $26.4 billion for Israel and the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Gaza. While voting for imperialist war and genocide abroad, Fetterman has backed both Biden and now Trumps crackdown on democratic rights in the United States. Following Trumps re-election, Fetterman has completely embraced the most reactionary immigration policies, including co-sponsoring the fascistic Laken Riley Act. Fetterman campaigned for the legislation on Fox News: Id like to remind everybody that we have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of migrants here illegally that have [been] convicted of crimes. Hey, I dont know why, who wants to defend, to allow them to remain in our nation. Prior to Trumps inauguration, Fetterman made the pilgrimage to Trumps Mar-a-lago to pledge his cooperation with the fascist. He also backed Trumps cabinet picks and voted, along with every other Democrat, to approve former Florida Senator and arch-reactionary Marco Rubio for secretary of state. Fetterman hailed Rubio, who is currently spearheading the campaign to deport students and legal residents such as Mahmoud Khalil for opposing the genocide, as a solid choice for secretary of state. The World Socialist Web Site noted at the time: Fetterman is a pacesetter for the entire Democratic Party, which is racing to the far right to seek an accommodation with Trump, in order to advance their shared agenda, which, as Fetterman laid out, is centered on continuing the genocide in Gaza and preparing for war on China. The case of Fetterman is not an outlier, but rather expresses the essence of the service that the DSA and Jacobin perform for the ruling class. They provide a phony left cover for the Democratic Party while attempting to corral workers and youth into the dead-end of the Democratic Party and electoral politics. The opposition to Trumps dictatorship will not to be found in the Democratic Party or its pseudo-left organizations like the DSA, but through the development of an independent movement in the working class organized in opposition to all forces and tendencies that advocate reforming the Democratic Party or the capitalist system. In yet another major escalation of his trade war, US President Trump issued an executive order yesterday imposing a 25 percent tariff on imports of all cars designated to have been foreign made. An imports processing facility at the Port of Long Beach in California [AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes] The tariff will go into effect on April 2, the same day that Trump announces his so-called reciprocal tariff agenda, which is expected to unveil tariff hits against a broad range of countries, not just specific commodities. Next Wednesday would be the beginning of Liberation Day in America, Trump told a press conference in the Oval Office as he announced the auto tariff and signed the executive order to impose it. If you build your car in the United States there will be no tariff. There has been considerable confusion in recent days about whether cars assembled in Mexico and Canada could be exempted under the free trade agreement with the US. But Trump appeared to rule this out in his press conference remarks. What were going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars not made in the US. He said that for the most part this will lead to cars being made in one location. The new order will hit a range of countries, apart from Canada and Mexico, in particular Japan and South Korea. According to industry estimates, a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada would add about $6,000 in costs. The industry service organisation Cox Automotive has said the tariffs will soon lead to a major slowdown in the industry, contrary to Trumps claims that they will bring a new golden age for the American auto industry. Bottom line: lower production, tighter supply and higher prices are round the corner, Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke told the Wall Street Journal. Trumps stated objective to have auto production carried out in one location runs completely counter to the complex network of production which has developed over the past four decades. This means it is impossible to determine whether a car has been made in America or overseas. An article in the New York Times gave some examples of this absurdity. It cited the example of a Chevrolet SUV which is assembled in Mexico using engines and transmissions made in the US. Presumably that would be a foreign-made car. The Nissan Altima sedan is put together in Tennessee and Mississippi, and presumably qualifies as American-made. But its two-litre engine comes from Japan and the transmission from Canada. The Toyota RAV4 is imported from Canada, but 70 percent of its components by value are made in the US. And so the list goes on. Some 90 years ago, as war clouds were gathering amid escalating trade wars, Leon Trotsky pointed out that, while tariffs and nationalist policies were totally irrational from an economic standpoint, they had a relentless logic insofar as the preparation for war was concerned. They sought to concentrate the national forces of production for a wartime economy. Today this logic is at work again. Apart from a complete disruption to auto production in the complex US-Canada-Mexico network, the tariffs are going to hit Japan, which is one of the worlds largest auto exporters. Toyota, which is deeply involved in North American production, is in the firing line here as well, along with Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Subaru. According to a Times report, Toyota made 1 million of the 2.3 million cars it sold in the American market last year outside the US. Its executives, along with those of Nissan and Honda, have warned that earnings will take a major hit. South Korean car firms, already experiencing a slowdown, will also be significantly impacted. The major Japanese export is cars and, according to calculations by the financial firm Nomura, the impact will be so large that it will affect GDP numbers, bringing a reduction in growth of around 0.2 percent. Given that Japanese growth is only expected to be around 0.5 percent this year, that would represent a 40 percent cut. Car exports from Europe, in particular from Germany, will take a major blow with the European Union about to be a key target in Trumps all embracing reciprocal tariff war, set to be announced next Wednesday. At his auto press conference, Trump also warned that tariffs on lumber were also being prepared, and that reciprocal tariffs would cover all countries and not just the so-called dirty 15 of major exporters to the US touted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. One of the main targets is the European Union, which Trump has said was set up to screw the US. On Tuesday, the EUs top trade negotiator, Maros Sefcovic, spent a day in Washington trying to secure a last-minute reprieve, meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council. He came up empty. According to a report in the Financial Times, EU officials said the US side was unrelenting in its determination to apply tariffs and relentless in raising complaints about EU trade policies in the meetings. They would not have been able to offer anything concrete in any case, because the final and deciding word comes from Trump. The FT report said the EU trade commissioner had indicated he thought the tariffs would be in the realm of 20 percent and would be devastating for the bloc. Sefcovic even tried to play the anti-China card, recognising that Beijing is the central target of the Trump regime. He sought to convince US officials they had a mutual interest in reindustrialising to defend markets against Chinese imports. But this too was to no avail. The EU has prepared a series of counter-measures in response to what is announced on April 2. This will be on top of the 26 billion worth of measures, directed against US exports as a result of the 25 percent impost on steel and aluminium, that will go into effect on April 12. EU officials have said that the US is not going to change policy and that the justification for the tariffs is not clear. It has yet to be established what legal tool Washington will use to impose them. But that will not present a barrier to the Trump administration for which the byword is lawlessness. No Other Land The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in Hollywood has steadfastly refused to release a statement in defense of Hamdan Ballal, co-director of No Other Land, who was brutally assaulted by Israeli settlers and soldiers in the occupied West Bank Monday night. Precisely three weeks earlier, Ballal had stood on the platform at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles and received, along with Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the prize for Best Documentary Feature Film. In an interview with the Guardian Wednesday, Ballal described his ordeal. Around 6 p.m., a gang of fascist settlers, armed with clubs, knives and, in one case, an M16 rifle, descended on the village of Susya, in the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron. Masked settlers with sticks started attacking Palestinian residents, including a group of Jewish activists, smashing their car windows and slashing tyres, according to Josh Kimelman, an activist with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV). Video provided by the group showed a masked settler shoving and swinging his fists at two activists in a dusty field at night. One of the settlers, accompanied by two Israeli soldiers, approached Ballals house. The latter started shooting in the air to prevent anyone coming to his aid. 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. Injured, handcuffed and blindfolded, Ballal and two other Palestinians were moved by the soldiers to a military vehicle and then to a police station in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba, where they spent the night on the floor and were forced to sleep under a freezing air conditioner. Ballal was beaten while in detention by soldiers. It was a revenge for our movie, he said. I heard the voices of the soldiers, they were laughing about me I heard [the word] Oscar. Hamdan Ballal, co-winners of the award for best documentary feature film for No Other Land, after the Oscars on March 2, 2025. [AP Photo/John Locher] The Los Angeles Times reported that 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 personwhose face is covered by a maskjoined 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. Ballal was released Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement full of lies, claiming that terrorists had been throwing rocks at Israeli citizens and their vehicles. The vicious, premeditated attack on Ballal was condemned by various filmmakers and filmmaking bodies around the world. The International Documentary Association, prior to Ballals release, reported that No Other Land co-director Hamdan Ballal was violently attacked and detained in the West Bank. We demand Ballals immediate release and that his family and community be informed about his condition, location, and the justification for his detention. Similarly, the European Film Academy, in a statement, called on the Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal. According to eye witnesses, Hamdan Ballal was beaten up by violent Israeli settlers who surrounded his house in the West Bank. The European organization encouraged all film and culture institutions around the world to demand Ballals release. The International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR) expressed its deep concern for, and condemnation of the hostile treatment of Palestinian filmmakers Hamdan Ballal (No Other Land), attacked by Israeli settlers and arrested by the Israeli army on March 24, later released; and Abdallah Motan, arrested on January 13 and currently detained in military detention without charges or trial. The ICFR urgently calls on the international community to guarantee the protection of filmmakers (as well as any other filmmaker, journalist or civilian trying to document and shine light on the brutalities against Palestinians) and hold the perpetrators to account. Julie Trebault, Executive Director of the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), commented: This latest attack on a Palestinian artist reflects a broader system that enables violence without accountability. Settlers act with impunity, while Israeli soldiers abet such acts through silence or participation. This blatant effort to silence Palestinian voices, especially those who speak truth through art, cannot go unchecked. We are relieved to see Hamdan Ballal released from custody, but urgently call on the Israeli authorities to guarantee his protection and hold the perpetrators to account. Actor Mark Ruffalo posted the following on social media: Every filmmaker and academy member should be acting together in protest. No matter where you stand on this issue this is an attack on our beloved art form of filmmaking. Hamden Ballal is a political prisoner and this is an international incident and violation of human rights. Many of us are not surprised by this behavior from the lawless settlers and the IDF at this point. Killing journalists and abducting film makers is not an accident but a design for the eradication of a people and their culture. Free Ballal! However, the Academy, which hosted its 97th awards ceremony March 2, has been entirely silent on the assault on Ballal. Basel Adra, left, and Yuval Abraham accept the award for best documentary feature film for No Other Land during the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Chris Pizzello] On social media, No Other Land co-director Abraham observed that 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 Academy membersespecially in the documentary branchpushed 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. The cynicism of this comment hardly needs responding to. Abraham went on, 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 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. 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. In reality, the Academy and Hollywood officialdom in general allowed the balloting for No Other Land and the eventual awarding of the best documentary award to the film to proceed with the greatest reluctance. If there had been any even semi-plausible means of preventing the prize going to the pro-Palestinian work, Academy officials would have pursued it. No Other Land, which reveals graphically the savagery of Zionist ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, has been denied widespread viewing in the US for political reasons. It was the first film to win the Academys documentary feature award without an American distributor attached to it. The filmmakers have been obliged to self-distribute, organizing showings at independent theaters throughout the country, with some success. The pretentiously named Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as we have previously noted, has a thoroughly unprincipled history. It was set up in the 1920s by studio boss Louis B. Mayer to subvert the unionization of film workers. The establishment of a corporatist entity, with different branches, wouldMayer and the others hopedinduce writers and others to feel they were part of the industry and not make any unreasonable demands. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, during the Red Scare and the purges of Communist Party and other left-wing actors, writers and directors, the Academy played a rotten role. As late as 1957, on the eve of the collapse of the blacklist, the AMPAS passed a by-law decreeing that no one who had invoked his or her Fifth Amendment rights (against self-incrimination) in front of the witch-hunting House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) could receive an Academy Award. It had also stripped award eligibility from anyone who had been a member of the Communist Party. In 1999, the Academy despicably went out of its way to bestow an honorary award on arch-informer, director Elia Kazan. The Academys reticence on the Ballal attack reveals its indifference to democratic rights and its tacit support for the genocide-ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank. It is a tool of the studios, and behind them, the US political establishment, above all, the Democratic Party. In passing, the Ballal incident exposes the fraud of the Academys most recent obsession, identity politics and inclusion. In 2020, in the name of various grand principles, the Academy announced its equity and inclusion initiative, known as Academy Aperture 2025. The organization established various reactionary racial, sexual orientation and gender standards (quotas) that a movie had to meet to qualify for the Best Picture award. As part of its inclusion standards, the Academy now requires that at least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors submitted for Oscar consideration is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group in a specific country or territory of production, which may include, among others, Middle Eastern / North African. Confronted with a genuinely oppressed and excluded inhabitant of the Middle East, who, as Abraham pointed out, needed them the most, Academy officials fall silent. There is absolutely no surprise here. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature. Europe Rail workers in Belgium strike against government pension reforms A week-long strike by Belgian rail workers in defence of their federal government pensions began Sunday evening, affecting services throughout the country. The METISP-Protect public transport union members are opposing planned pension reforms, which curtail many existing pension benefits and increase the retirement age. Pension payments are also to be based on career average salary rather than the last four years income. Last month, train drivers, shunters and other rail workers in Belgium held a nine-day nationwide strike to protest government cuts to the rail system and the raising of their retirement age. Municipal workers in Greece strike for intern permanent positions Municipal workers across Greece began a 24-hour strike March 21. They held a protest rally and march in Athens, with demonstrations at the Ministry of Cohesion and Family and the Ministry of the Interior. The Greek Municipal Workers Union and the Civil Servants Confederation members say that employees on internships via the European Student Placement Agency can end up working for many years without being given a permanent contract and the accompanying job security and labour rights. Italian Ikea workers strike over working conditions Thousands of Ikea workers throughout Italy held a 24-hour strike March 15, in support of their demands for improved pay and conditions. Ikea employs 7,500 workers across the country in 40 stores, two distribution centres and its headquarters. The Italian Federation of Commerce, Hotel and Service Workers and other union members say new appointees should receive the same wage as existing workers. They also want the choice not to work on public holidays, for sick pay in line with the national norm and for part-time workers to be offered full-time contracts. Mine workers and residents from Chiatura, Georgia, protest closure of local manganese mines Hundreds of manganese miners and residents from Chiatura, Georgia rallied outside government buildings in the capital, Tbilisi March 24, to protest local mine closures, which have devastated the local economy. Around 3,500 workers were laid off temporarily in November by owners Georgian Manganese, and were offered partial wages for four months. Operations were shut down completely March 7. The mine workers and local people demand that the government nationalise the mining industry, taking control away from Georgian Manganese throughout the region. They also want lost wages to be paid, insurance and income support for the miners and compensation to residents for environment damage. Academic disputes in England and Wales over job cuts and pay awards Academic staff at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in England walked out for the day on Wednesday over plans to cut the academic workforce by a sixth. The University and College Union (UCU) members voted by an 82 percent majority to strike in response to UEAs plans to cut nearly 200 jobs to make savings of around 11 million. Around 50 jobs in the medicine and health faculty, 25 in the science faculty, 22 in the arts and humanities faculty and 90 from the professional services department are slated to go. UEA cut around 400 jobs in 2023 to make 40 million in savings. UCU members at Cardiff University in Wales have also voted by an 83 percent majority to strike in response to the Universitys plans to cut 400 jobs because of financial pressures. Academic staff at Sheffield Hallam University, England, went on strike Monday and Tuesday, holding picket lines each day. The UCU members are protesting the universitys refusal to implement the 2024/25 pay award in full. Hallam management refused to implement the 2.7 percent pay rise awarded from the employers body the Universities and Colleges Employers Association from August 1, 2024. Following the strike vote, Hallam management began paying the agreed award from this month but not backdating it. This has left the average lecturer at Hallam with a loss of around 800. Infectious disease control workers at London hospital hold further stoppage over working conditions The 40 members of the Rapid Response Team at Guys and St Thomas hospital in London walked out on March 17 until Friday. The Unite union members are responsible for preventing the spread of infectious diseases. They are demanding improved working conditions, including provision of welfare facilities such as showers, changing areas and dedicated toilets. They previously took five days of strikes over the same issue at the end of February. Middle East Ongoing cost-of-living protests at beginning of Iranian new year Protests continue across Iran as it enters the Persian new year, Nowruz. Tuesday saw farmers hold a protest in Isfahan in front of the provincial water department. They were demanding access to irrigation water from the Zayandeh Rud River. This followed an early morning protest by farmers with their tractors on Sunday, demanding irrigation water be released by March 25. Tuesday saw protests by workers in Khatunabad over unpaid wages and deteriorating working conditions that are impacting their standard of living. Many Iranians used the celebration of Nowruz to demonstrate at cemeteries in cities across Iran against the killing of family members in previous protests. Workers in cities including Boukan, Ezeh, Kermanshah, Islamshahr and Tehran took part. There is no let up to strikes and protests taking place across Iran, as economic and social conditions continue to deteriorate. Iran is the target of US government sanctions designed to undermine the regime and war plans. Africa National park workers in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, walk out to demand permanent jobs Workers at Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency walked out in wildcat action March 22 to demand permanent jobs. Their temporary contracts expire at the end of the month. The government organisation is responsible for the upkeep of wilderness areas and public nature reserves in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, popular with tourists. The Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism pleaded poverty and condemned the stoppage by the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union members, notifying the police. Nigerian refinery workers in Kaduna State protest over lack of rights Workers employed by Daewoo Construction Limited at the Kaduna Refinery in Kaduna State, Nigeria, held a protest on March 23. They are demanding the right to organise and have contracts honoured with proper employment benefits. The trigger for the protest was the unjustified sacking of 30 employees. Unlike the Daewoo workers in Bonny and Port Harcourt, who have collective bargaining agreements, those in Kaduna lack agreed conditions of service. Most of the workers there do not even have employment letters and are treated as casuals. Teachers in Abuja, Nigeria, strike to demand pay increases in line with minimum wage Primary school teachers in the Nigerian capital, Abuja walked out on indefinite strike to demand implementation of the minimum wage negotiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress. The minimum wage is N70,000. The Nigerian Union of Teachers issued a statement saying, The payment of February Salary by the Councils without recourse to the Union and the New Minimum Wage is disturbing, disheartening, and lacking in sympathy. Teachers at school in Monrovia, Liberia begin indefinite go-slow Teachers at the Monrovia Demonstration School in Liberia began an indefinite go-slow on March 21. They are demanding promotions, salary increases and the transitioning of volunteer teachers to full-time employment. President of the Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers Association complained that nothing had been achieved despite their continued negotiations with the government, forcing them into taking action. Teachers are demanding their monthly salaries reflect their experience and academic qualifications. NUUK, Greenland, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Four of Greenland's five main political parties are expected to sign a coalition agreement on Friday, paving the way for the formation of a new government following recent elections. According to Greenlandic broadcaster KNR, the agreement will be signed Friday morning at the Katuaq Cultural Center in Greenland's capital Nuuk. The new coalition is set to include Demokraatit, Siumut, Inuit Ataqatigiit (IA), and Atassut, collectively holding 23 out of 31 seats in the Inatsisartut, Greenland's parliament. The only party not joining the coalition is Naleraq, which withdrew from the negotiations earlier this week. Demokraatit, led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, emerged as the largest party in the election with 29.9 percent of the vote and has since taken the lead in coalition talks. Nielsen has emphasized the need for a broad-based government, citing growing geopolitical pressure, particularly from the United States, where President Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced interest in gaining control over Greenland. The White House announced Tuesday that Vice President Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, will visit Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland 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. As the Trump administration doubles down on its plans to ethnically cleanse and annex the Gaza Strip, the US has launched a new military offensive targeting Yemen and ultimately Iran as part of a systematic escalation of the US-Israeli war to reshape the Middle East under US domination. The World Socialist Web Site will host an online public meeting this Thursday featuring Cornell PhD student Momodou Taal, his attorney Eric Lee, WSWS International Editorial Board chairman David North, and Socialist Equality Party (US) national secretary Joseph Kishore. This critical discussion will focus on the fight to defend democratic rights in the face of the Trump administrations rapid moves to establish a presidential dictatorship. The case of Momodou Taal has emerged as a watershed in the escalating attacks on democratic rights. Taal, a British-Gambian graduate student at Cornell University, is the lead plaintiff in the first major legal challenge to Trumps executive orders targeting political opposition. Just days after filing the lawsuit, Taal was targeted for retaliatory deportation due to his opposition to the genocide in Gaza. Federal agents attempted to detain him, and the government has now formally demanded that he surrender to ICE custody. The government openly admits that Taal was identified as part of its implementation of Trumps Executive Order 14188, which directs federal agencies to use immigration powers to target critics of Israel under the guise of combating antisemitism. If successful, the deportation of Taal would set a chilling precedent: that the president of the United States can imprison and expel individuals in retaliation for filing a lawsuit and engaging in protected political speech. His case is a test of whether democratic rights still exist in the US. Taals persecution is part of a broader campaign. The Trump administration has invoked the reactionary Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to carry out mass deportations, arrested Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, and openly defied court rulings. The aim is to crush dissent, criminalize opposition to US and Israeli war crimes, and intimidate a population that is increasingly hostile to the oligarchys agenda of war, repression, and austerity. We urge all WSWS readersstudents, workers, and youthto attend this urgent online meeting. The defense of democratic rights cannot be left to the courts or the Democratic Party, which has paved the way for Trumps repressive policies. The working class must be mobilized as an independent political force to stop the drive toward dictatorship and the criminalization of opposition. Oppose Trumps dictatorship! Stop the assault on free speech on campuses! Oppose the victimization of immigrants and refugees! Description PSEGLI consumer advocate will be waiting for your visit at 68 Ohio Avenue, Medford, NY in the St. Sylvester Parish Center. Come meet with the advocate to go over your bill, advise on how to save and may be eligible for free items. It only takes a few minutes to see what they can do for you. You have nothing to loss and may be gain some few dollars back in your pocket. Joe Tsai at the TAAF Heritage Month Summit on May 3, 2024, in New York City. - Photo: JP Yim (Getty Images) The race to build out data centers for artificial intelligence is worrying one billionaire. Alibaba (BABA) chairman Joe Tsai said that AI data center construction may overtake demand for the technology and that the rush to set up server projects is being made without fully considering customers, according to Bloomberg. I start to see the beginning of some kind of bubble, Tsai said during the HSBC (HSBC) Global Investment Summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday. I start to get worried when people are building data centers on spec. There are a number of people coming up, funds coming out, to raise billions or millions of capital. Tsai reportedly added that some data center projects have started raising funding without customer contracts and that hes still astounded by the type of numbers thats being thrown around in the United States about investing into AI. People are talking, literally talking, about $500 billion, several hundred billion dollars, Tsai said. I dont think thats entirely necessary. I think, in a way, people are investing ahead of the demand that theyre seeing today, but they are projecting much bigger demand. Tsais warning about AI spending comes amid plans by major tech companies to spend tens of billions of dollars each on AI development and infrastructure this year. Altogether, Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Amazon (AMZN) could spend a combined $320 billion on AI. In January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company is building a data center with a capacity of more than two gigawatts a site that could cover a large part of Manhattan. Additionally, President Donald Trump announced a half-a-trillion-dollar joint venture for AI infrastructure in January, alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, SoftBank (SFTBY) CEO Masayoshi Son, and Oracle (ORCL) chief technology officer Larry Ellison. The Stargate Project intends to invest $500 billion over the next four years building new AI infrastructure for OpenAI in the United States, the AI startup said in a statement. Stargate is starting with an initial $100 billion investment and counts OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi-based AI investor MGX as initial equity funders. Meanwhile, TD Cowen analysts said in a note in February that Microsoft had canceled data center leases worth a couple of hundred megawatts potentially signaling an oversupply of AI infrastructure. In some cases, Microsoft said facility/power delays were a reason for termination, analysts said in the note, adding that Meta had previously used a similar justification to cancel data center leases. French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has supplied the 500th electric locomotive to Indian Railways. The 500th Prima T8 WAG12B locomotive, entirely manufactured in India, was dispatched from Alstoms manufacturing facility in Madhepura, Bihar. Alstom is providing 800 high-powered, double-section Prima T8 locomotives with a 12,000hp capacity for freight services, under a 3.5bn ($3.7bn) contract. These locomotives can pull approximately 6,000t rakes at speeds up to 120km/h. Featuring Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT) based propulsion technology, the e-locomotives offer significant energy savings through regenerative braking. Alstom has also established two "ultramodern" maintenance depots in Saharanpur and Nagpur, equipped with predictive technologies for enhanced availability and reduced maintenance costs of these freight locomotives. Alstom India managing director Olivier Loison said: Our WAG 12B electric locomotives powered by cutting-edge technology are fully manufactured in India and provide enhanced speed, efficiency, and reliability of freight haulage across the country. The delivery of our 500th e-loco underscores our commitment to modernise India's railway infrastructure, especially for freight, thereby driving economic growth. The WAG-12B locomotives are produced at the integrated greenfield manufacturing site in Madhepura, Bihar, a joint venture between Alstom and Indian Railways. This initiative is said to represent the largest Foreign Direct Investment in the Indian rail sector. The facility has a production capacity of 120 locomotives per year, with Alstom achieving nearly 90% localisation. This project is an example of the 'Make in India' initiative, with more than 85% of components sourced locally, according to Alstom. It places India among a select group of countries that can produce high-horsepower locomotives in-house and enhances technological expertise within the nation, the company added. The e-locomotives have already transported key commodities such as coal, cement, food grains, fertilisers, petrochemical products, minerals, and postal parcels over 120 million kilometres across India. Recently, Alstom signed a two-year contract with Swedish state-owned rail operator SJ for the maintenance of night trains. The agreement covers the maintenance of 75 carriages and 12 RC6 locomotives servicing routes between Stockholm, Umea, Lulea, and Narvik. "Alstom supplies 500th electric locomotive to Indian Railways" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Amaran Biotech Honored at Taiwan Biopharma Excellence Awards 2025 TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amaran Biotech, a next-generation Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), was honored with the "Best CDMO in Automated Aseptic Filling" award at the Taiwan Biopharma Excellence Awards 2025, held yesterday (March 26) at the Hilton Taipei Sinban. Organized by the renowned international consulting firm IMAPAC, the award recognizes Amaran Biotechs outstanding contribution to advancing automated aseptic filling solutions in the biopharmaceutical sector. The Taiwan Biopharma Excellence Awards celebrate organizations, technologies, and experts that drive innovation and excellence in biomanufacturing and researchdelivering faster, cost-effective, and higher-quality solutions to accelerate the advancement of the biopharmaceutical industry. The award ceremony was held alongside IMAPACs 12th Biologics World Taiwan 2025 and 4th Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine Asia 2025, gathering nearly 300 leading professionals from Taiwan's top biopharmaceutical, vaccine manufacturing, and biologics companies. Amaran Biotech successfully introduced Taiwan's first fully automated aseptic filling line in 2022. Utilizing the Cytiva (Vanrx) SA25 robotic aseptic filling system, the company has significantly reduced the risk of human intervention in the filling process, enhancing drug safety. This state-of-the-art technology provides high-quality, low-waste filling solutions for high-value biologics, including protein therapeutics, antibody drugs, and nanoparticle-based drug. This system supports various container types, including vials, pre-filled syringes, and cartridges, with an impressive filling accuracy of 99.99%. During her acceptance speech, Dr. Tessie Che, Chairperson and General Manager of Amaran Biotech, stated, We are deeply honored to receive this prestigious recognition from IMAPAC. This award belongs to our entire team! When we made the decision to build our automated aseptic filling line in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challengesinternational engineers were unable to travel to Taiwan for on-site installation. Nevertheless, through close remote collaboration with the equipment manufacturer, our team successfully completed the installation. We overcame every obstacle, ensuring our facility met stringent regulatory standards set by the FDA, EMA, ICH, PIC/S, and ISPE. Moving forward, Amaran Biotech is committed to leveraging high-tech innovation, including AI integration, to deliver comprehensive, customized CDMO services and become a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing. By Lucy Raitano LONDON (Reuters) - European companies that are spending big on generative artificial intelligence need to start showing returns on their massive outlays by next year, or risk investors losing patience after they paid sky-high prices to join the market boom. AI-exposed stocks have been caught in a down-draught with broader equity markets in recent weeks as recession fears rise, adding to pressure on the sector since January, when the launch of low-cost Chinese AI model DeepSeek spurred a tech selloff. While many investors are bullish about Gen-AI's potential to boost productivity and profits, some are becoming more choosy, with a preference emerging for shares of companies adopting AI technology - like information group RELX and software firm SAP - over those supplying chips and other hardware to the industry. But they also say adopters need to start showing returns on the cash they've poured into the tech, or investors might cool on them too. PENDULUM SHIFTS TO THE ADOPTERS Chipmaker Nvidia has become almost synonymous with the AI boom. Even though its shares were hit hard by the rollout of DeepSeek's AI model, which requires fewer of the company's pricier chips, its stock is up 29% year on year. In Europe, there are fewer AI-exposed stocks to choose from than on Wall Street, but the trend is clear. Among hardware makers, chip equipment makers ASM International and BE Semiconductor are down a respective 25% and 20% since the January 24 DeepSeek-inspired selloff and amid U.S. recession fears. France's Schneider Electric, which provides electrical equipment to data centres, is down 14%. Among AI adopters, meanwhile, data group LSEG is down 5.5%, while RELX is just 1.6% lower. German business software group SAP is down 2.9% and on Monday overtook Novo Nordisk to become Europe's most valuable company. "Everyone was very narrowly invested in the AI enablers," said Gerry Fowler, head of European equity strategy at UBS. "With DeepSeek, because it cheapens AI so much, it means to some extent the markets are now looking at who are the outright beneficiaries of AI." PATIENCE HAS ITS LIMITS An internal survey published in January of over 100 Fidelity analysts found that almost 72% of them expected AI to have no impact on the profitability of the companies they cover in 2025. A lot more of the Fidelity analysts surveyed saw a positive impact over five years. Yet several European portfolio managers told Reuters their timeframe is shorter than that. "The market will lose patience with unfettered investment in AI unless it starts to see some return on investment out of the end of it," said Steve Wreford, lead portfolio manager on the global thematic equity team at Lazard Asset Management. Mar. 27The New Mexico Gay Men's Chorus (NMGMC) presents its spring concert, "The Unbreakable Harvey Milk," at The Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe on Saturday, March 29, and at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque on Sunday, March 30. The program consists of two pieces by Tony-nominated composer Andrew Lippa. "I Am Harvey Milk" tells the story of the first openly gay politician in San Francisco from his boyhood through his assassination, and its companion piece, "Unbreakable," celebrates 12 decades of LGBTQ+ history. Complementing the chorus are multimedia projections and choreographed dancers, who will create an immersive theatrical experience. "It is more engaging visually and thematically than a traditional choral concert," said Aaron Howe, NMGMC's artistic director. "Although I do think we sound quite beautiful, that's only one part of what we do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The history of gay men's choruses is inextricably linked to the gay liberation movement of the 1970s, and to the life and death of Harvey Milk, in particular. The first gay men's chorus was founded in San Francisco in 1978, the same year Milk was assassinated, and its first public performance was at a vigil for Milk on the steps of San Francisco's City Hall. That performance is what launched the nationwide gay choral movement. "He laid the groundwork for these organizations to start, and then just as they were about to get going, he was assassinated," Howe said. "In a way, it was a shock that probably could have stopped the movement, but instead it galvanized people and made people want to fight back and be even more brave." The New Mexico Gay Men's Chorus, founded in 1981, is one of the earliest and longest running LGBTQ+ choruses in the nation. Starting with just 16 members, the chorus now has approximately 80 members who regularly sing with the group, and they span several generations. The chorus today also includes members who are not gay men, including several women, but they retain the name in honor of their history. Brian Lanter is the last of the founding members of NMGMC still performing with the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It has been supportive in the way a family is," Lanter said. "For instance, when my mother died, the chorus came and sang at her memorial. During the AIDS epidemic, when a few chorus members died and many people were dying in the community, the chorus sang at any number of vigils and memorials and remembrance days." "It's about being part of a group that's bigger than yourself, that's doing good in the world, changing the world through music," Lanter said. "What keeps people coming back is just the sheer joy of singing with other people. But we're doing it with people who have similar values and similar goals, so that gives a sense of belonging." He said he hopes the current show will help younger generations come to know and appreciate the history he lived through. "But the most important lesson is not the details of the particular people who tried to oppress us and who rose to help," he said. "The message is that we persisted and kept going in the face of adversity. When you know that what you're doing is just and right and joyful, then it is possible to oppose oppression and oppose it with a vision of the world that is kinder and more just." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the Santa Fe and Albuquerque concerts, NMGMC will take the production on a college tour in the first week of April, performing on the campuses of Western New Mexico University in Silver City, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, Eastern New Mexico University in Portales and New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. "One of the big reasons we decided to take this music on the college tour is because we know there are LGBT youth in those rural markets. We want to let them know they're not alone, and it's okay to be your authentic self," said Jerry Matthews, the NMGMC board chair and a member of the chorus. "We're partnering with a bunch of different organizations to have a resource table to let these kids know there's help there if you need it," he said. "The state did a study a couple years ago that showed that LGBTQ youth are really suffering from isolation, depression and substance abuse. So, we just want to be there to show them that there's positive examples of living authentic lives out there, and there's also a support system if they know how to find it. And we want to help them know how to find it." Matthews said he's seen a dramatic positive shift in public acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in his lifetime, despite more worrisome trends in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm old enough that I went through the AIDS epidemic. I did lose a few friends to that. And I was actually in California before the whole Prop 8 (2008 gay marriage ban) thing happened. I actually got married before then, as a way of showing support to the movement," he said. When the Supreme Court affirmed same-sex marriage as a constitutional right in 2015, Matthews said, "We felt like we could finally exhale and drop our guard a little bit. But now we've had to go back on guard. But the main thing I keep telling myself is, I'm not going back. I am not hiding. I mean, I've got the biggest gay flag hanging in front of my house right now. I'm not gonna hide." Howe said it is more necessary than ever to educate people about LGBTQ+ history in the face of current political efforts to erase that history. "Now that Trump has been elected again, this time it seems like there is a much bigger push to try to erase LGBTQ people. And I really think that is exactly their goal. Taking us out of government documents and having to remove any mention of 'gay' or 'transgender,' is pretty significant," he said. "And this feeling of trying to be erased or put back in the closet feels pretty strong to me and to a lot of my friends. So, what this means is that we need to be bolder than ever. We need to go out there on this tour and say, 'You will not make us disappear. You will not make it so that people are afraid again.'" By Hyunjoo Jin and Kantaro Komiya SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) -For Japan and South Korea, tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump represent a blow to domestic car industries that are both economic pillars and sources of national pride. Shares in companies such as Japan's Toyota and Honda and South Korea's Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp fell, wiping off some $16.5 billion in value, after Trump on Wednesday unveiled a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks to take effect on April 3. On the streets of Tokyo and Seoul, and in "motor city" Gwangju, people were concerned the levies would have a far-reaching impact, speaking to the singular role the car industry has played in the post-war economic rise of the two U.S. allies. While car production helped transform Germany, Italy and France after World War Two, its influence in Asia has been even more profound. Automakers form the nucleus of vast networks of group companies that impact almost every facet of working life in the two countries. In Japan, where the industry accounts for roughly 3% of gross domestic product, it is the automakers - particularly Toyota - that set the precedent for national wage increases through annual talks between unions and management. The auto supply chain totalled around 60,000 companies as of May last year, according to research firm Teikoku Databank. The industry is broadly responsible for the employment of more than 5 million people, or 8% of the entire workforce, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. South Korea's car industry is its biggest employer, and cars and automotive parts account for 14% of exports. About half go to the United States. "The auto industry is the first thing that comes to mind for most people when you mention manufacturing," said Hiroshi Kojima, a 56-year-old businessman at a materials company who spoke to Reuters in central Tokyo. "I am worried this could have a big impact on the economy and hit production of Japan's manufacturers." UNCERTAINTY IN MOTOR CITY In Gwangju, South Korea, home to the factories that export Kia's Sportage, Soul and Seltos crossovers to the United States, "we are concerned about production volume and jobs," said a worker at a Kia supplier, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He told Reuters his factory planned to keep staffing Saturday shifts in April, but that demand looked uncertain. U.S. automaker General Motors has factories in South Korea that export more than 80% of vehicles produced, including Chevrolet Trax and Trailblazer crossovers to the United States. They are likely to be hit harder than plants of South Korean rivals, which produce more cars for the domestic market. A celebration of regional and local independent filmmakers returns to Greenville's West End with the 10-year anniversary of the 2025 Reedy Reels Film Festival. The South Carolina Children's Theatre will host the three-day festival March 28-30 that showcases independently produced films and features artist workshops, an opening night VIP party, and genre-based awards for 30-plus motion pictures. The theatre is located at 153 Augusta St. These creators pour their heart, soul, and finances into bringing their artistic visions to life," said Matt Foster, co-founder of Reedy Reels. "Our festival engages the community and creates exposure for local and student filmmakers, providing them with a platform they would not otherwise have. Filmmakers host a Q&A session at the Reedy Reels Greenville Film Festival in 2022 This year's festival will include films from Richard Rossi and Frank Sanza. Rossi's movie titled "Lucy & the Lake Monster" was co-written alongside retired Greenville teacher Kelly Tabor. Sanza is best known for his film, The Short Game, produced by his Delaware-based Slingshot17 Productions. Advertisement Advertisement Reedy Reels Film Festival will also feature South Carolina-based filmmakers Destiny Macon, Yasmin J. Lee, Clemson professor David Donar, Joy Stamp, and Nathan Maze, among others. "For 10 years, you, the incredible Greenville community, have embraced the magic of independent cinema, turning Reedy Reels into a vibrant platform for storytelling and artistic expression," Foster added. A crowd of attendees enjoy a motion picture shown at the 2024 Reedy Film Festival in Greenville, SC. More: Anderson D5 to honor renaming of Fine Arts Center for 'Black Panther' star, what to know What will happen at the 2025 Reedy Reel Film Festival? The festival opens on March 28 with a VIP red carpet reception. Those attending can meet filmmakers, industry professionals, and other cinematography enthusiasts before the first screenings. Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the weekend, attendees can spend full days at screenings featuring various categories, including drama, comedy, horror, animation, documentary, and student-made films. In addition, the Reedy Reels will give aspiring filmmakers and other festival-goers the opportunity to interact with industry professionals during workshops. The festival concludes with 13 awards presented across multiple categories. Among the awards are Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best College Student Film, a Peoples Choice Award, and The Reedy Reels Film of Distinction Award. The 2025 Reedy Reels Film Festival will host more than 30 films, workshops and an award ceremony near downtown Greenville from March 28 to 30. How to get tickets for the Reedy Reels Film Festival Tickets can be purchased for individual screening sessions, entire weekend access, and category-based film viewing. The cost ranges from $10-$120. All tickets can be confirmed and purchased on Eventbrite.com. Advertisement Advertisement Food Bracket: Elite Eight: Who makes the Upstate's best pizza? Vote in our March Madness-style bracket For information, visit: ReedyReels.com or their profile on FilmFreeway. A.J. Jackson covers business, the food & dining scene and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Reedy Reels Film Festival celebrates 10th anniversary, SC filmmakers PORTSMOUTH For the first time ever, Rara music is coming to the Seacoast. In fact, when more than a dozen Haitian-American musicians arrive at 3S ArtSpace on Friday, April 4, it may be the first time this festival music of Haiti has come north of Massachusetts. Kandjanwou Rara, a band playing music the Smithsonian Institution describes as both fun and profound, will perform at an event starting 7 p.m., at 3S ArtSpace in Portsmouth to benefit a school in northern Haiti. Alico Dessalines, leader of the band Kandjanwou Rara, will bring Rara, the uniquely Haitian festival music, to 3S ArtSpace in Portsmouth on Friday, April 4, 2025 in a fundraiser for a school in Milot, Haiti. Rara's been in Haiti since before all other types of music came out. Its the roots," Alico Dessalines, band leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a set of Rara, Matt Jenson of the well-known Combo Sabrosa Latin band, will be back as DJ Cklockwize, spinning a set of salsa and reggae dance tunes. Jenson, a New Hampshire native who teaches at Berklee School of Music, knows the soul sounds of Jamaica inside and out and has his fingertips on the hottest in Latin dance tunes. Jenson has performed at fundraisers for the Eben Ezer School in Milot, Haiti, since the first one in 2010. Profits from the party will pay to bring electricity into classrooms at the Eben Ezer School in Milot. The dance raises from $10,000 to $20,000 a year for a school that educates about 500 students with an annual budget of about $40,000 a year. The band Kandjanwou traces its origins to an apartment in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston where Haitian-American friends gathered on weekends for music and camaraderie, according to Dessalines. The group encouraged Dessalines to form a Rara band and he was convinced after he met King Bobo of Cambridge, who was among the first to introduce Rara to the United States. The band name "Kandjanwou," which translates to "get together, unity, or party captured perfectly the spirit of the band, reflecting a belief in communal joy, sharing, and cultural celebration, Dessalines said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officially formed in 2022, Kandjanwou Rara set a mission to perform and spread cultural awareness, paying homage to ancestors and connections to Taino, Aztec Arawak and indigenous influences. Rara is at once a season, a festival, a genre of music, a religious ritual, a form of dance, and sometimes a technique of political protest," according to the Smithsonian Institution. Matt Jenson of Combo Sabrosa, in his role as DJ Cklockwize, will spin a set of salsa and reggae tunes for an all-out dance party at Rara, the uniquely Haitian festival music, at 3S ArtSpace in Portsmouth on Friday, April 4, 2025 in a fundraiser for a school in Milot, Haiti. Rara societies form musical parading bands that attract fans as they go. Musicians play drums, sing, and sound bamboo horns and tin trumpets, creating a distinctive sound of the Rara, according to the Dessalines..The Rara festival harkens back to slavery times in Haiti and, before that, to Western and Central Africa. Its songs and melodies have been passed down for generations, according to the Smithsonian. For Haitians in the diaspora, playing or dancing in a Rara delivers the special ambiance of Haiti. It is a taste of home, the institution said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. They are available at checkout.square.site or by going to the website lifeandhopehaiti.org. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Haitian-American musicians coming to the Seacoast For restaurateurs like Ford Fry, Nashville is very much an "It city." The Atlanta-based chef has opened multiple restaurants in the city, including The Optimist and Star Rover. Now, he's bringing the forthcoming new casual Mexican concept, Little Rey. Little Rey will open this spring at 2019 West End Avenue after a series of events to introduce the concept to the Nashville community, including a March 29 party with free food and drinks in the restaurant's parking lot (more details below). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The restaurant's menu is in part built around pollo al carbon, or coal-roasted chicken. "It's based around northern Mexico chicken al carbon restaurants," he said. "We're selling chicken cooked over live coals, breakfast tacos, adding wood-cooked meat over salads and queso." The northern Mexico-Texas concept is a hit in Atlanta, where it has grown to two locations. The restaurant sells weekend breakfast tacos, a variety of traditional tacos and queso drenched fries. It's also beloved by local families for its take-home meals of whole roasted chickens, tortillas and salsa. Fry thinks the restaurant's location near Vanderbilt University will boost its popularity, and his broker has told him as much. But he's not taking anything for granted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When we opened Little Rey in Atlanta, there were lines around the block," he said. "But when we go out of town, people don't know us like they do in Atlanta, so we do what we can to get the word out." Live-fire cooking, which will take place at the March 29 event, is a good way to send up a literal smoke signal, he said. This is, after all, the first expansion into Tennessee for the small fast-casual chain, which also has a store in Texas and another in North Carolina. But it's not likely to be the last restaurant in the Nashville community for Fry, a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Outstanding Restaurateur who also now has around a dozen unique concepts under his belt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think we definitely want to come to cities that feel like 'our people' and I want any reason to come to Nashville," Fry said. "I've even thought about moving there." Fry was headed to Nashville as he spoke, where he was looking to potentially to open a steakhouse at a spot in the under-renovation Arcade. More: Nashville's historic Arcade mall to debut new look, shops in 2025: What we know "Nashville is just the place everyone wants to move to for some reason," he said. That includes tourists and, increasingly, restaurant owners. And that's created tough competition. But one that seems by and large a friendly one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: 'How much I believe in Nashville: Why Music City draws in businesses like Craig's, Hermes Rather than being suspicious of outsiders, locals seem to welcome transplants such as chef Mason Hereford, who recently opened his first Turkey and the Wolf outside of New Orleans in an East Nashville neighborhood. "More than anything, were super excited to be joining the Nashville community," Hereford told The Tennessean weeks before the restaurant opened. "Food and beverage people from around the city have been over the top welcoming, and were loving making new friends and having a new city to call home." That welcoming attitude has also made for a rich city with ever-more diverse restaurants. Fry's Mexican restaurant is part of a wave to hit the city in recent months, and there are more on the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Upscale Mexican food, restaurants take off in Nashville thanks to bold chefs Little Rey is on the casual end of that Mexican restaurant boom, and Fry thinks that's a good thing. "I think people in Nashville like food that tastes good don't care about pretentious stuff, and they'll line out the door if it's good," he said. There's no set opening date for Little Rey yet, but you can try some of the food on March 29 with a parking lot party featuring free food including quesadillas, elotes, a salsa bar, margaritas and limeade. The Little Rey Park-in Lot Party will take over 2019 West End Avenue from 2-9 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mackensy Lunsford is the senior dining reporter for The Tennessean. You can reach her at mlunsford@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville food: Chef Ford Fry to open Mexican restaurant Little Rey The Deal, the sprawling Gaumont show charting the 2015 behind-the-scene nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, won Series Manias first annual Buyers Choice Award in part due to the timeliness of its geopolitical themes. Yet, Jean-Stephane Bron, the critically-acclaimed Swiss screenwriter and filmmaker of Cleveland Against Wall Street, started developing the six-part series more than six years ago. Bron, who also produced the series with Anatomy of a Fall banner Les Films Pelleas and Gaumont and co-created it with French director Alice Winocour (French Couture, Proxima), told Variety ahead of Series Mania that he first pitched it in 2018 as part of a contest launched by Swiss broadcaster RTS (which he won). More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The script, penned by Bron, Winocour, Eugene Riousse, Julien Lacombe, Stephane Mitchell and Valentine Monteil, was finalized in the last two years, after Bron consulted a diplomat who took part in liberating the journalist who was taken hostage during the negotiations. The filmmaker says he also read the memoirs of figures like Wendy Sherman, the former U.S. deputy secretary of State who played a key role in the nuclear pact. The idea for The Deal stemmed from an article in a Swiss newspaper about a head of protocol and the title was: The one who is never in the photo, said Bron. He said that gave him the idea to tell the story from the point of view of the one who is never seen, who would be our main character and who would help us to be at the heart of negotiations. As such, The Deal revolves around a Swiss diplomat, Alexandra Weiss (played by Verlee Baetens), who leads rocky negotiations between Iran and the U.S. that are threatened by multiple hidden agendas. In the real world, those weeks of negotiations in Lausanne led to the enactment of a nuclear agreement with Iran (known as as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) in Vienna in 2015. But three years later, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from it. And yet, as recently as this week, reports broke of Trumps outreach to Irans Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to discuss a possible new nuclear deal. Marking Brons second incursion into TV after his 2018 mini-series Ondes de choc, The Deal took a huge amount of documentation time, as well as an understanding of the political issues, of what a negotiation is, and of who the main players were, where the conflicts lay, said the writer-filmmaker who produced through his banner Bande a Part Films and Paris-based Les Films Pelleas, the company behind Oscar-winning Anatomy of a Fall, alongside Bidibul Productions and Versus Production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Les Films Pelleas Philippe Martin, who started working with Bron in 2006 on the movie Mon frare se marie, says The Deal proved challenging to finance because of its ambitious scale and high budget of 12 million ($13.1 million). While the initial funding came from the Swiss Television (RTS), Martin said it wasnt sufficient to cover such a substantial budget which is considered huge for France or Switzerland. With no streamer interested in co-producing the ambitious series, Martin and his team had to engage in extensive co-financing efforts and navigate co-production agreements across multiple countries, bringing in partners from France, Luxembourg as well as Belgium, on top of Switzerland. A crucial turning point in the financing process was the involvement of Gaumont, the venerable French film and television studio behind Lupin, which joined as a co-producer and also took international distribution rights on The Deal. Martin noted Gaumonts involvement at this later stage was unusual, as they typically focus on producing their own series rather than co-producing and selling projects they didnt initiate. But after reading the scripts, the French banner invested 1 million ($1.1 million) in the project. Bron also went to great lengths to depict the backdrop of the negotiations as accurately as possible. We ended up using six different hotels in Switzerland and Luxembourg to represent one, he recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was very complicated to have a hotel available during the 72 days of shooting, said Bron. We really wanted to film in Geneva but we couldnt have the hotel in Geneva for as many days as we wanted. But Bron said it so happens that one of the six hotels where The Deal filmed was where some of the negotiations took place. So obviously I pounced on the hotel concierge to get as much information as possible about how the actual negotiation locations to find out how the spaces were divided and how the security was, among other things, to inform our set design, he says. While the series is inspired by real negotiations, the personal lives and internal conflicts of the main characters were fictionalized, and as such, names were changed, Bron says. The central character of the series, Alexandra, is mostly a fictional creation even though shes inspired by the real-life negotiator. Similarly, the backstories and personal struggles of characters like the Iranian foreign minister and the U.S. Secretary of State were invented. Beatens stars opposite a high profile cast, comprising Juliet Stevenson as the U.S. Secretary of State, Arash Marandi, who plays the Iranian foreign minister, alongside Sam Crane, Anthony Azizi and Alexander Behrang Keshtkar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We changed names so as not to be ambiguous on this question of fiction. The thing is that every time we came across something that could be very anecdotal or, on the contrary, very important, we tried to bring it back into the fiction and explore it, to push it to the maximum for purely dramaturgical purposes, he says, adding that the most important aspect for him was to be faithful to the descriptions of the political dynamics at play during the negotiations. We knew from talking to a diplomat in Switzerland and reading the documentation that these negotiations were incredibly difficult, sometimes violent, exhausting, that the Iranians were taking one step back and one step forward, that they were very difficult; and thats what we show in The Deal.' Bron says he also condensed a real event revolving around the journalist who was taken hostage in Iran into the timeframe of The Deal, even if it actually occurred at a later time, between two rounds of negotiations. One of the most compelling aspects of The Deal is the psychological depth of the main characters who all face some kind of moral dilemma or loyalty conflict throughout the series. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What was particularly interesting about this negotiation is that there is the main conflict, which is Iran-United States, but also within each delegation, there was also a lot of tensions, he says. Looking at the Iranian camp, for instance, there was an opposition between reformers and conservatives that reflected the debate within Iranian society as to whether they should even go to these negotiations, whether it was right to do so, whether they could put ourselves under the tutelage of the U.S. and Europe. And on American side, he says, there were those in favor of a negotiation in the Democratic camp, wanted by Obama, and there was also reluctance because at the time there was a war in Syria, and Syria is an ally of Iran, and some Democrats were saying: Do we really want to negotiate with people who are allies of a bloodthirsty dictator?' For a series about diplomacy, The Deal also shows a large amount of trash talks between the protagonists, which Bron says is 100% authentic. This kind of diplomacy is not a classic political job, because at a certain point, classic political work is exposed to the public and is done in full view of a parliament, the media, etc. Whereas during such a negotiation, many diplomats have told us that once the doors are closed, words are not always very diplomatic, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bron argues the violence in language was also tied to a sense of emergency because U.S. President Barak Obama was eager to reach an agreement with Iran at all costs during his term in office to end with a diplomatic victory. He also believed, Bron said, that such an agreement would bring Iran closer to the Western world and keep it at a distance to Russia and China. Ultimately, Bron feels the series conveys geopolitical themes in a way thats not black-and-white but rather shows that negotiation like this one is actually in a somewhat gray area. Its a bit of a special place where, in fact, everyone takes a step towards the other, tries to understand the other, how far they can go politically. Bron and Winocour, as well as the series cast, Stevenson, Fenella Woolgar and Marandi, composer Amine Bouhafa and Julien Guilhem-Lacombe are attending the world premiere of The Deal at Series Mania on March 26. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland has unveiled the poster for its 78th edition this summer, created by Turner Prize-winning German artist Wolfgang Tillmans after last years poster from Annie Leibovitz. The poster for Locarno 2025 depicts the festivals trademark leopard on a tree branch amid an acid trance of yellow and purple abstraction, according to the fest. Guided by a profound sense of curiosity, Tillmans seeks to expand the poetic possibilities of the medium of photography while addressing the fundamental question of what it means to create pictures in an increasingly image-saturated world. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tillmans produced the poster using an experimental Xerox technique, which gives images a blurry texture and allows the artist to approach composition through the lens of early digital abstraction, Locarno said. Combined with its psychedelic color palette, the poster is both a throwback to 80s and 90s iterations of the Locarno poster, which were often impressionistic and themselves bordering on abstraction, as well as a bold reimagining of the visual landscape in which the cinema worlds most famous leopard finds itself. Tillmans brief was quite specific: the poster had to feature a leopard and the color yellow. On the glass window of my old color laser photocopier, I brought together a photograph of a leopard lying on a tree, which I had taken in Kenya seven years ago, with two fake leopard fur mittens, which I had sewn myself as a 16-year-old teenager, Tillmans explained. Maja Hoffmann, president of the Locarno Film Fest, called this years poster a tribute to imagination that captures the bold, emotive, and dynamic spirit of cinema, adding: Like cinema itself, [Tillmans] work explores the layers of perception with a sensitivity that challenges conventions. The Locarno Film Festival is a celebration of the power of storytelling, creativity, and diversity, and continues to explore the beauty of images on every level. Added Giona A. Nazzaro, Locarnos artistic director: Wolfgang Tillmans sensual artwork reminds us of all the unexplored potentialities of the film medium and cinema while imagining a new landscape where creativity unfolds in new forms, shapes and colors. In this fluid and unexplored landscape, where everything is still possible, new combinations of dreamlike colors and shapes dance together weaving a tapestry of hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He concluded: Wolfgang Tillmans artwork offers us the image of a world in which we can all live and work together. Locarno 78 is set to run Aug. 6-16. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. After a yearlong search, the Sundance Film Festival announced Thursday that its new home will be Boulder, Colorado, keeping Sundance in the mountains but moving it out of Park City, the Utah ski town that had for decades provided the premier independent film gathering its picturesque snowy backdrop. Organizers said that after 40 years in the mountains, the festival had outgrown Park City, and lacked the necessary theaters or affordable housing to continue hosting what has become one of North Americas most sprawling movie events. Sundance had narrowed down the options to Salt Lake City (with a smaller presence in Park City), Cincinnati and Boulder. Boulder emerged as their choice due to its close proximity to nature, its small-town charm and an engaged community that, organizer said, provides Sundance the ideal setting for its future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boulder is a tech town, its a college town, its an arts town, and its a mountain town, Amanda Kelso, acting chief executive of the Sundance Institute, said in an interview Thursday from Boulder. At 100,000 people, a larger town than Park City, it gives us the space to expand. Kelso, Sundance Institute board chair Ebs Burnough and Eugene Hernandez, director of the festival and head of programming, spoke shortly before announcing the festivals move. Local officials, who helped lure Sundance with $34 million in tax credits over 10 years, applauded the decision. Here in our state we celebrate the arts and film industry as a key economic driver, job creator and important contributor to our thriving culture, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said in a statement. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said Thursday that Sundance will come to regret leaving Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As Ive said from the beginning, we wanted Sundance to stay, Cox said in a statement. We made that clear to their leadership and put together a highly competitive package. Ultimately, this decision is theirs to make, but I believe its a mistake and that, one day, theyll realize they left behind not just a place, but their heritage. A change endorsed by Sundance founder Robert Redford A shift from Park City to Boulder means Sundance stays in the mountains but trades a luxury ski resort enclave for a growing, outdoorsy small city. The mile-high Colorado city set in the foothills of the Rockies also maintains a sense of surrounding nature something organizers stressed as a major factor in their decision. Boulders four-block pedestrian mall on Pearl Street, with nearby theaters, could provide a similar sense of central hub like Park Citys Main Street. The Macky Auditorium, on the University of Colorado campus, is expected to be a central stage for Sundance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sundance Institute was founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, who sought a location far from Hollywood to foster independent voices in film. In 1984, the institute took over the Sundance Film Festival, but the nonprofits mission of helping young filmmakers grow through labs and workshops Redfords real passion continued year-round away from the festival. The 88-year-old Redford, who attended the University of Colorado in Boulder in his youth, gave the move his blessing. Words cannot express the sincere gratitude I have for Park City, the state of Utah, and all those in the Utah community that have helped to build the organization, Redford said in a statement. What weve created is remarkably special and defining. As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival. How Sundance chose its new home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The festival made ethos and equity values one of its criteria, prompting many to wonder how much local politics would influence the choice by Sundance, which emphasizes inclusivity. Later Thursday, Cox said he was allowing a first-in-the-nation policy banning certain flag displays at schools and government buildings, including the LGBTQ pride flag, to become law without his signature. The bill's Republican sponsor, state Sen. Trevor Lee, said in response to the Sundance news that it promoted filth and would not be missed. Organizers said Boulders welcoming environment aligns with the ethos" of Sundance. This process started 18 months ago and weve been in Utah for 40 years. So politics really didnt guide the process, Burnough said Thursday. It was really and truly about evolution. Thats where it landed. We didnt constantly spend time examining what bill was going forward or may or may not be signed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With its current contract expiration date looming, the hunt for a new host city began in earnest in April 2024. The initial group of six contenders also included Atlanta, Louisville, Kentucky, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. What Sundance has meant for Park City, and the film world Before packing up, Sundance will have one last edition in Park City in January 2026. The Sundance Film Festival will be the Sundance Film Festival wherever we go. Whats consistent is our mission, said Hernandez. This is a festival of global discovery. Whats exciting about Boulder is this is a place we can build. Over the years, Sundance in Park City swelled into a premier marketplace for American film, drawing studio executives and parka-wearing celebrities into the Wasatch mountains every January. It helped launch countless filmmakers over the years, from Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies and Videotape) to Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station). Sundance scored its first best picture winner with CODA in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sundance meant big business for Utah and Park City. In 2024, the festival had some 72,840 in-person attendees, 24,200 of whom were coming from out of state. According to the festivals economic impact report, out-of-state visitors spent an estimated $106.4 million in Utah during the festival. Its total economic impact was estimated to be $132 million, with 1,730 jobs for Utah residents. But the festival had also sparred with local ski resorts Park Citys other major money maker as festivalgoers filled the hotels and left the slopes virtually empty for two weeks during peak ski season. The festival was a boon to some local businesses, but a hindrance to others. For visitors flying into the 10-day festival, ballooning rental costs increasingly factored into attending. Debbie Gold, a festivalgoer from Florida who got bit by the Sundance bug 20 years ago, said shes not yet sure whether she will continue attending at the new location. Its the end of an era, for me anyway, in Park City, said Gold, whose experiences at Sundance inspired her to get involved with her local Miami Film Festival and some independent film productions. I dont think itll be quite the same in a new place. But between Boulder and Cincinnati, Boulder at least sounds a little enticing because its a cute mountain town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sundance's relocation puts two of the top U.S. film festivals in Colorado. The Telluride Film Festival, held further west in the state, runs in late August. ___ Associated Press writer Hannah Schoenbaum and Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report. Agua Bendita, the Colombian swimwear and ready-to-wear brand, has teamed with Hawaiian Tropic, the sun care brand, to launch a limited-edition collection for spring. The capsule will be available in Colombia and Mexico starting Wednesday. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The capsule is inspired by the spirit of vacations and the DNA of Hawaiian Tropic, highlighting vibrant colors and the beauty of nature, including the hibiscus flower. The prints feature vintage-inspired maps, bold colors, and exclusive hand-illustrated prints by Agua Benditas design team. An ad image of a Agua Bendita x Hawaiian Tropic bikini. Among the styles are a bikini, one-piece, pareo, towel, beauty bag, tote bag, and a bucket hat. To complete the experience, the collection is paired with four essential Hawaiian Tropic products. Prices of the capsule range from $70 to $200. The capsule will be available at eight selected Agua Bendita stores in Colombia, Liverpool stores in Mexico, the Agua Bendita store in Cancun, and online in both Mexico and Colombia. Agua Bendita has teamed up with Hawaiian Tropic. Here, an ad image. Mariana Hinestroza and Catalina Alvarez are the cofounders of Agua Bendita, which is known for its handcrafted details and ancestral techniques used by Colombian local artisan women. Each print is hand-illustrated and placed on silhouettes by their in-house artists. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Walking into Good Samaritan Community Haitian Cuisine restaurant is a lot like walking into a good friends house. The greetings are big smiles and a big welcome. Owner Harry Augustin is upfront that he wants to feed everyone who walks in to the recently opened restaurant at 3030 Milledgeville Road, next door to the church where he serves as the pastor, Saints Sanctuary First Haitian Church of Augusta. Its part of this ministry and a way of providing healthy, comforting food for the growing Haitian community in Augusta, said his daughter, Neph Atalie, who manages the restaurant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atalie explained that her fathers ministry involves all aspects of the Haitian community, including food. People come in and are so glad to have familiar food, she said. Ive had people crying when they tasted the food, they had missed after leaving Haiti. "The sense of community is restored." Many had been driving to Florida or Atlanta for authentic Haitian food. And with the ongoing unrest in Haiti, the restaurant has become a haven that brings the community together, Atalie said. It's Haitian home-cooking-comfort-food, but there's a big difference, she said. Her father is "adamant about it being healthy." That means finding creative ways to avoid frying foods and adding more vegetables. It's part of the ministry, she said. The slogan for the restaurant is eat well, live well, be well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And no one is complaining, Atalie said. For example, a Haitian staple is griot, which is fried pork. Augustin has developed a baked pork that tastes like the griot to which his customers are accustomed to in Haiti. He uses combinations of vegetables to make healthier versions of staple dishes like relish that goes with many typical foods, she said. "He'd also working on a pseudo chicken dish that tastes like fried chicken." Another example are the pates, or fried patties similar to empanadas or turnovers. Augustin servers his pates with a side of vegetable to add a healthier component to the meal, she said. Mar 20, 2025; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Red beans and rice at Good Samaritan Community Haitian Cuisine, located on Milledgeville Road. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale - Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY NETWORK Augustin provided several samples from the menu. Red beans and rice, stewed chicken, griot, pates with codfish or chicken, black mushroom rice, salad, and plantains. Relish is a staple dish in Haiti, he said. He served one made from mixed vegetables, eggplant, chipotle, and cabbage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Haitian favorite is the legume. It's a hearty, traditional stew often made with a protein and a mix of vegetables like eggplant, chipotle, and cabbage. Atalie said it can take hours to slow cook the legume. The legume this day was served with codfish and chicken cooked in a sauce. The addition of the relish took the dish over the top. Good Samaritan Community Haitian Cuisine is open Monday through Saturday at 7 a.m. It closes at 7 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, and at 9 p.m. other days. The restaurant is closed on Sunday. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta Eats: Haitian restaurant offers healthy versions of traditional food MARCO GARCIA / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER Virginia Hinshaw (left ), fitness trainer Brian Copeland, and Lynne Rackmil pose inside Copelands BFit gym in Kakaako in Honolulu in February. MARCO GARCIA / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER Virginia Hinshaw (left ), fitness trainer Brian Copeland, and Lynne Rackmil pose inside Copelands BFit gym in Kakaako in Honolulu in February. At BFit Training Studio in Honolulu, Brian Copeland greets his clients with a warm smile and a steady presence. The 55-year-old personal trainer moves with the energy of someone who has spent a lifetime in fitness, but his focus isnt on weightlifting records or sculpted physiques. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, hes dedicated to helping Hawaiis older adults stay active, independent and confident in their bodies. I think a lot of seniors dont have a lot of hope because they dont realize that they can still do it at this age, he said. I can change the way they think about aging, and I really get excited because I know that I can make a difference in their lives. For Copeland, fitness isnt just about staying in shapeits about longevity and quality of life. Most of his clients are over 60, with some in their 80s, and about 70 % of them are women. They come to him three times a week for one-on-one sessions lasting about an hour, working through exercises using machine weights, balance balls and resistance bands. As a certified stretch therapist, he also incorporates flexibility training, helping them maintain mobility and reduce pain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, I do a posture assessment, then I challenge their core to see how strong it is, he explains. Once I correct their posture and get their core strong, thats when I introduce resistance training, like the free weights. And once I teach them properly how to feel the muscle contract, its basically a game changer ; my clients get so excited and say, Oh my God, I can feel my muscleIve never felt it like this before ! Copelands path to personal training wasnt something he planned from the start, but looking back, it makes sense. 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 ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Raised in Colorado, he moved to San Diego as a young adult, where he became a trainer at 24 Hour Fitness. After three years there, he moved to Hawaii in 2000, continuing his work at 24 Hour Fitness for another three years before deciding to branch out on his own. In 2003, he started his own personal training business, and by 2008, he opened BFit Training Studio. Now, over two decades into training, Copeland has found his passion in working with older adults. He connects with them on a personal level, often seeing them not just as clients, but as extended family. I have parents that are around the same age, and I like seeing my parents healthy as well, he said. So I almost adopt my clients as my parents when Im training them. I really care about them and I want to see them do well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That care extends beyond the workouts. Hes seen firsthand how regular training impacts not just strength, but mindset. Many of his clients arrive feeling sluggish or unmotivated, but by the time they finish their session, their energy has shifted. They show up early, he said. A lot of them come in saying, I almost canceled today, I didnt feel like coming in. But then as soon as the workout is over, they say, I feel so awesome, Im so glad I came. Copelands approach is about more than just fitnessits about equipping his older clients with the resilience to handle the challenges of aging. He reminds his clients that strength training isnt just for looking good ; its a necessity for maintaining independence. Lynne Rackmil, 68, has been working with Copeland for the past five monthsher second time training with him. Years ago, she sought his guidance with the goal of looking good, but now her focus has shifted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im getting older and want to care for my body and live a healthier lifestyle, she said. Rackmil said she has noticed her body feeling more tired and certain areas aching more as she has gotten older, which led her to decide that staying active is the best approach. Copeland agrees. If they fall, theyll be able to get up, he said. Thats the leading cause of deathelderly falling and not being able to get up. But if theyre strong, theyll have the ability to keep moving, to take that morning walk without tiring themselves out for the whole day. Rackmil admitted that finding the motivation to start or maintain a workout routine can be challenging, but having a personal trainer like Copeland helps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a way, it forces me to do these things, Rackmil said. Copeland is in the process of launching group training sessions, giving older clients an opportunity to work out together, build friendships and encourage one another. He believes that social connection is just as important as physical health, especially as people get older. In the end, Copeland says, his job is about more than exerciseits about giving his clients something to look forward to. It mentally strengthens themit keeps them young at heart and mind, he said. Its all about blood flow. If youre getting that blood flow to the muscle, youre also getting it to the brain. And with every session, Copeland isnt just guiding his clients through a workouthes reminding them that its never too late to take charge of their health. If some of you are observing Ramadan this year, you might be wondering if you need to ask your employer for this Monday off. With the expected sighting of the waxing crescent moon by the end of March, nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide and the less than 1% of Rhode Islanders who are Muslim, according to the Pew Research Center, will celebrate Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. One celebration happens at the end of Ramadan: Eid al-Fitr. But what exactly happens on Eid, what date does it land on and are there any requirements that you or your loved ones need to follow? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what you need to know about the holiday many people call "Blessed Eid." A shot of a grandmother and her grandson embracing whilst sitting on the sofa, both smiling broadly. They are gathered together with family for Eid celebrations at home in Middlesbrough, North East England. They are dressed in traditional outfits for the occasion. When is Eid al-Fitr 2025? Eid al-Fitr 2025 is expected to be celebrated on Sunday, March 30, or Monday, March 31, with the sighting of the waxing crescent moon, according to Islamic Relief. 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. 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 will celebrate this 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, 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. How is Eid al-Fitr celebrated? 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. 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. Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: When is Eid al-Fitr in 2025? What to know about Muslim holiday The boards at both Bank of America and Citi have recommended that shareholders vote against the proposals, saying that a report on such issues is unnecessary because animal welfare is included in each company's existing environmental and social risk policy framework. The proposals come about six months after a group of 105 climate change and animal welfare organizations sent an open letter to the heads of sustainable finance at Bank of America, Citi and JPMorgan Chase. The letter called on each bank to stop making loans and providing underwriting services to companies operating or involved with large factory farms. Neither bank includes "animal welfare" in any of its reports, policies or governance documents, according to Harrington. He's asking both banks to publish reports that disclose whether and how the boards of directors manage animal welfare risks when making financing decisions. Harrington is arguing that the mismanagement of animal welfare issues including animal testing, factory farming and potential liabilities related to food safety, such as diseases passed from animals to humans present "material financial, operational and reputational risks" for companies that get loans from Bank of America and Citi, as well as for the banks themselves. A similar proposal last year, also filed by Harrington, appeared on Citi's 2024 proxy statement. It received support from roughly 7.7% of Citi shareholders, according to Harrington Investments' website. Animal welfare oversight is the subject of shareholder proposals filed with at least two of the nation's largest banks, Bank of America and Citigroup . The motions were filed by John Harrington, president and CEO of Harrington Investments, an investment firm based in Napa, California. What follows is a guide to hot topics at the big banks' upcoming annual meetings. Nonetheless, many big banks will again face off this spring against outside groups that are hoping to shape their policies on politically charged issues. At the 10 largest U.S. banks by asset size, the topics that will be the subject of shareholder votes include animal welfare, debanking and Indigenous people's rights. The number of shareholder proposals that made it onto the annual ballots of large, publicly traded banks is down this year following new Securities and Exchange Commission guidance that made it easier for companies to exclude proposals from their proxies. It's again that time of year when banks face shareholder votes on a variety of controversial topics they'd prefer not to wade into. Story Continues Anti-affirmative action Credit: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg Goldman Sachs shareholders will vote on a proposal that takes aim at the company's efforts to support employees who are members of racial minority groups. The National Center for Public Policy Research, the conservative group that is backing the measure, argues that Goldman could be vulnerable to a large payout in a potential lawsuit filed by white employees who allege discrimination. It points to recent Supreme Court decisions that reined in affirmative action. Last year, when the group filed a similar measure at Citi, it attracted miniscule support. But the political environment is different this year. In the face of the Trump administration's hostility to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, numerous banks have been eliminating, or watering down, DEI pledges . At Goldman Sachs, one example of what the conservative group describes as "arguably unethical and illegal racial discrimination" is the bank's establishment of so-called "inclusion networks" for employees. Goldman says on its website that it supports various such networks, including an Asian Network, a Black Network and a Hispanic/Latinx Network. The website also notes that the networks are open to all professionals at Goldman Sachs. The shareholder group is calling for an "independent racial discrimination audit" that would analyze the bank's "legal and reputational risks stemming from its race-based initiatives." Goldman is urging shareholders to vote against the proposal. "We are committed to operating diversity programs and initiatives and maintaining related policies that comply with the law," the bank wrote in its response. "We are aware that the law in this area is evolving and we have already evaluated our diversity programs, initiatives and policies and made changes where appropriate in order to satisfy applicable legal requirements." Indigenous people's rights Credit: Adobe Stock Citigroup and Wells Fargo are once again facing shareholder resolutions related to Indigenous people's rights and how well each bank respects those rights when making lending decisions. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in New Jersey and three other religiously affiliated investors are asking Citi to provide a report outlining the effectiveness of the bank's policies, practices and performance indicators in respecting human rights standards for Indigenous people in existing and proposed general corporate and project financing. The American Baptist Home Mission Societies in Pennsylvania and two unnamed co-filers have filed a similar resolution at Wells. Both banks had sought to have the proposals omitted from their 2025 proxy statements. But the Securities and Exchange Commission rejected their requests. The shareholder groups have been pressuring both banks for years to disclose more details about their adherence to Indigenous people's rights when making loans. Last year, similar proposals failed to receive majority support at either bank. About 26% of Citi shareholders and 23.9% of Wells shareholders voted "yes" last year, down slightly from previous years. The boards of both banks are recommending that shareholders vote against the 2025 proposals. In Citi's case, the bank is arguing that it already produced a report about its policies and practices related to Indigenous people's rights, which covered its due diligence procedures and explained how it identifies potential risks for Indigenous people in its financed projects. Wells, which met with the shareholder groups following last year's vote, said it has taken certain steps to better identity and manage issues relating to Indigenous people's rights. Those moves include establishing risk management policies and procedures and enhancing due diligence. The bank said it believes it is "addressing the risks to Indigenous communities described in the proposal through our board oversight, our existing policies and procedures to evaluate and mitigate potential risks, and our ongoing commitment to Indigenous communities." A similar proposal is expected to be included in JPMorgan Chase's 2025 proxy statement, which has not yet been filed. Prevention of workplace harassment Credit: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg For the third year in a row, Wells Fargo shareholders will vote on a proposal that would require the bank to produce a report about how well it prevents workplace harassment and discrimination, in order to show whether Wells is improving its workforce management. The resolution was once again filed by Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller and trustee of the state's Common Retirement Fund, which owns five million shares of common stock in the bank. Last year, 28.2% of shareholders voted in favor of the proposal. That was down from 2023, when it got support from a slim majority of Wells' shareholders 52.3%. DiNapoli wants the report to include information such as the total dollar amount of workplace disputes settled by the company involving workplace abuse, harassment and discrimination within the previous three years, and the total number of pending harassment or discrimination complaints the bank is trying to resolve internally or through arbitration or litigation. The call for such a report follows scrutiny over certain reported hiring practices at Wells, including lawsuits alleging the bank misled investors about its diversity hiring efforts. Wells, in its response to the comptroller's proposal, said the board has already taken action to address the concerns. It noted the year-overyear decrease in shareholder support and recommended voting against the resolution. "We view the subsequent 2024 voting outcome, where the proposal did not pass and support declined from 52.3% in 2023 to 28.2% in 2024, as a reflection of our efforts to address this topic appropriately and in a manner consistent with shareholder feedback," the company said. Debanking Credit: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg U.S. Bancorp is advising its shareholders to vote against a measure seeking to force the Minneapolis bank to reckon with the issue of potential discrimination against customers based on their political views. The proposal is backed by American Conservative Values ETF, which describes itself as the first exchange traded fund for ideologically conservative investors. The measure calls for U.S. Bancorp to issue a report on how it oversees risks related to discrimination against customers based on not only their political views, but also their race, religion, sex and national origin. "U.S. Bancorp needs to increase transparency around these practices and provide assurances to customers that it does not discriminate based on a customer's political or religious views," the conservative group wrote. In response, U.S. Bank's parent company wrote that its policies prohibit discrimination in lending based on race, sex, national origin and political affiliation. "Our approach to managing and overseeing customer relationships balances the company's overall business strategy with its risk tolerance for a broad range of risks, including operational, compliance and credit risks," the bank stated. "However, it is not our policy or practice to deny services based on political or religious beliefs." Mar. 27The new Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market features a Russian flavor of color and art as it approaches opening day. Traveling artist Anya Pautova, a native of St. Petersburg, Russia, who is now based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, turned a 7-by-9-foot window of the Farmers Market that faces First Avenue Southeast into a mosaic last week. Her artwork is the finishing touch on the new Farmers Market at the corner of First Avenue and Second Street that's scheduled to open in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brandon Price, of Building Construction Associates, said the $3.25 million project is complete. "We're just doing some pressure-washing and cleaning of some things that got dirty when we installed the stage," Price said. "They can use the market whenever they're ready." Market Manager Remy Neal on Tuesday said they are planning a soft opening on April 12 and, with the first month considered "off-peak" growing season, it will be open on Wednesdays and Saturdays until the May 10 grand opening. That's when the real growing season kicks in, so the market's schedule expands to Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the market is open, its times are from 8 a.m. until noon during the off-peak and growing season. A graduate of St. Petersburg Stieglitz Academy of Art and Industrial Design, Pautova met Christopher Johnson in Russia on the ski slopes. She followed him in 2020 to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they got married. She said one of her goals is to see America, and she's doing this by applying for art projects throughout the country. Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority and Decatur-Morgan County Tourism were co-sponsors of the $9,149 mosaic project, said DDRA Executive Director Kelly Thomas. Thomas said Tourism gave $2,500 from grant funds and DDRA provided the remaining funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alabama Center for the Arts' Urban Arts Foundation selected Pautova in November out of nearly 15 artists who answered the call for the project through a website that posts open calls on juried art projects through the country. She went through several rounds of interviews before the committee finally selected her. "We had a lot more artists to apply than we expected because not a lot of people do large mosaic pieces anymore," Thomas said. Pautova said she hoped to get started earlier but a winter storm delayed the delivery of the glass tile from Wisconsin to her art studio in Smyrna, Tennessee. She then used Oracle to create the artist's rendering, upon which she laid the small pieces of colored tile upside down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said it took three and a half days to lay down about 12,000 pieces of glass on the project, which has the name of the market and depictions of locally grown produce. This is the only art that's attached to the new Farmers Market. Thomas said installation of the projected mapping art, which projects art onto the underside of the Gordon Drive overpass, will start soon. State Sen. Arthur Orr, D-Decatur, and state Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle, got a $30,000 grant for the projected art. DDRA is supplying the remaining $5,000. On the overall Farmers Market project, Orr secured $1.3 million in state funding. Decatur added $1 million, the Products Mart Board put in $600,000 and Morgan County added $500,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas said they also got $160,000 in sponsorships of things like the green space, lights and stage. She got a $25,000 grant from Main Street Alabama for a 60-foot concrete sitting wall. bayne.hughes@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2432 Mar. 26GRAND FORKS A Grand Forks folk artist, Pieper Bloomquist, will have her work featured in a new exhibition, "Nordic Echoes: Tradition in Contemporary Art," which opens April 5 at the Scandinavia House in New York City. The show features 55 works by 24 contemporary artists whose practices are informed by Nordic traditional skills, according to an announcement by the American-Scandinavian Foundation, which is headquartered at the Scandinavia House on Park Avenue in Manhattan. "(It) showcases the malleability and persistence of these traditions in the U.S.," and includes painting and textile traditions as well as works in wood and metal. The foundation organized the exhibition and invited artists to submit their artwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning this fall, the exhibition will travel to numerous locations throughout the Upper Midwest, including Fargo; Brookings, South Dakota; and Minneapolis. The show "highlights how variations on traditional themes and innovations have led to the emergence of living, evolving forms," the foundation's announcement said. "No longer static objects rooted in an imagined past, these works explore themes of identity and belonging as well as how traditions have been shaped by their U.S.-based environments." Bloomquist has painted in the Swedish and Austrian styles of folk art for more than 30 years; her teaching has helped perpetuate that tradition across North Dakota and Minnesota. This is the first time her artwork is being shown at the Scandinavia House, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her painted tapestry tells the story of the early days of the COVID pandemic, capturing images meaningful to Bloomquist when she began painting it in the spring of 2020. The artwork, titled "Silver Linings," represents a collection of stories, she said, with various images depicting "people mainly artists that were involved with the North Dakota Council on the Arts, many of them that were doing things in their communities to sustain our culture during isolation." Among the three horizontal rows of images are scenes such as the Waddington Brothers musical group performing for people attending, and listening to the radio in their cars, the first Easter church service after COVID struck. The art also depicts people kneeling by windows of an eldercare facility, using cell phones and Zoom to communicate with their loved ones. The latter is based on personal experience, connecting with her mother-in-law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeing people kneeling by the windows, "all I could think of was how much love there was at those windows, just people wanting to be together, but they couldn't," Bloomquist said. "The window is a great pathway, you can still see through it, but yet it's still a barrier. "I called that painting 'Silver Livings,' because all of these things were wonderful silver linings to that isolation, which was a horrible time for people." Many of the artists whose work is displayed in the Nordic Echoes exhibition including Bloomquist are past recipients of the American-Scandinavian Foundation's Folk Arts and Cultural Tradition fellowships, which have been awarded since 2018. The traditional and folk art fellowships were available to residents of the Upper Midwest in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the purpose of traveling to a Nordic country to continue learning a traditional art, then bring the artform back to the U.S. and "really advance our careers," Bloomquist said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think I was their first grant recipient" in 2018, said Bloomquist, who received a second fellowship from the American-Scandinavian Foundation in 2023. She spent a month in Sweden learning the techniques involved in a traditional style of art called "bonadsmalning," which translates to "tapestry painting." Nordic Echoes is the first major traveling exhibition of contemporary Nordic folk arts and cultural traditions from the Upper Midwest. After the exhibition closes in New York, it will travel to: the South Dakota Art Museum on the SDSU campus in Brookings, Oct. 4-Jan. 15, 2026; the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Feb. 14-June 7, 2026; Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa, Aug. 15-Dec. 31, 2026; Plains Art Museum in Fargo, Jan. 23-April 4, 2027; Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin, May 8-Aug. 29, 2027; and De Vos Art Museum in Marquette, Michigan, in the fall of 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On view through Aug. 2 in New York, the exhibition will be accompanied by a wide range of programming, including artists' talks and panels, workshops, films, music, guided gallery tours and family activities. Bloomquist has been invited to lead painting workshops at the Scandinavia House later this spring; exact dates are yet to be determined, she said. Some of these traditional folk art techniques, such as seen in tapestry paintings, have been lost even in the countries where they originated, because emigrants "could not take it with them on the boat, so it got lost," Bloomquist said. Efforts have been underway to revitalize and perpetuate these techniques in Scandinavia too. At the Bonadsmuseum Unnaryd in Sweden, which operates a folk school, "I learned to do the egg tempera (painting)," she said. Because of its dedication to preserving folk art techniques, the museum was recently added to UNESCO's list of cultural heritage sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bloomquist was commissioned to create a piece of art for the museum, "and I have a permanent display there," she said. "That's the biggest feather in my cap." Bloomquist is honored that her art is part of the Nordic Echoes exhibition, she said. "I feel so grateful that it's not just me being recognized for this artwork, that is secondary. (In) my life's work for the last 30 years ... the whole goal I have had (since) I first learned that this artwork existed in Sweden, was to preserve it in Sweden. And I felt it was very important for descendants here in the United States to know what belongs to them and know this part of their heritage ... "It's narrative storytelling and that's what captured my heart, and it's a great tool to use to tell our modern stories," she said. "The old painters told their stories, things that were important to them the Bible and church were important to them and that's what they used it for. "I tell stories that are important to us and important to me. ... I feel grateful that that is being showcased and honored and validated," Bloomquist said. "I'm grateful that it's the artwork itself, and this tradition, that is getting the acknowledgement. That Nordic traditions in this exhibit are getting the attention that they deserve." A group of artists turned a hidden shopping center nook into a clandestine home: "At that time, I had a copy of Dwell and I was like, How do we make this something livable and desirable?" Colin Bliss and Greta Scheing sit on a secondhand couch the group of eight artists snuck into their secret apartment in the Providence Place mall. I first heard the story as a student at Brown University in 2023. It was passed down like an urban legend: Two decades earlier, eight Rhode Island artists set up camp in an off-map crawl space in the Providence Place mall. The group somehow outfitted the undeveloped corner of the colossal (and in-use) structure with the trappings of a home, from a dining table and secondhand couch to a TV set. Sneaking in through pitch-black service shafts, they made the forgotten concrete back room into a covert apartment, going as far as installing a door and running electricity, until they were busted in 2007. Scant news coverage and a few blurry photos were the only proof I could find that the unbelievable story was true. Two of the occupants, Adriana Valdez Young and Michael Townsendthen married, recent college gradssay that at first, they were simply curious if they could spend an entire day in the hidden section of the busy shopping mall. It spiraled into their group of eight hanging out in the unit on and off over the next four years, filming their escapades and planning art projects. ("When youre really weird, you dont think anything you do is weird," says Valdez Young. "What else are we gonna do?") Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of that footage made its way into a new documentary about the saga, in theaters (including a screen at Providence Place) as of March 21, after debuting in 2024 at SXSW. Secret Mall Apartment, directed by Jeremy Workman and executive produced by Jesse Eisenberg (who recently did a Tonight Show bit about the film with Jimmy Fallon), splices together the groups point-and-shoot clips with present-day interviews, telling the story of their hush-hush living space and unpacking the wider history of the divisive Providence development. The Providence Place mall was conceived as a major driver of economic development for the city. Photo by Jeremy Workman The early 2000s "secret mall apartment" was born at a time of strife in Providences real estate market. After more than 150 years of industry driving the local economy, the mid-20th century saw production dwindle, and the city became home to a large community of artists. Then, near the turn of the century, the citys economy shifted again. The abandoned textile mills where these artists lived and worked were demolished, pushing them out. Simultaneously, Providence Place was being built, promising to bring the city into a new era of economic prosperity. Today, the remaining mills are still under threat and Providence Place has an uncertain future, effectively declaring the state-level equivalent of bankruptcy. Ironically, some are now calling for the redevelopment of the massive mall into housing. I spoke with Valdez Young and Townsend about making a home in the mall, the state of Providence real estate, and (surprisingly) how Dwell influenced their secret apartment. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. What was the genesis of living at the mall? Michael Townsend: I had a habit of jogging past the malls construction site. I identified a space that didnt fit into my calculus of usefulness. It didnt seem like stores or parking. When Adriana and I went to look, we shimmed in, and miraculously, [the empty nook] was there. Adriana Valdez Young: The project was about knowing the enemy, but also knowing what the future looked like. If the mall was the ideal version of Providence or the modern American city, then we had this curiosity to better understand how this behemoth worked. And if there was room for us in its future. Providence Place was pitched to residents as integral to the citys revitalization. What was the developments ideal vision of Providence? MT: The [malls] advertising campaign had two words: "Defining You." It was everywhere. We embraced it as a challenge and a threat simultaneously. How far will we let this building define us? Adriana Valdez Youngs spin on the "Defining You" ad campaign sits nears her key to the secret mall apartment (with the flames decal) and books she says she read while working on the unit. Photo by Adriana Valdez Young AVY: This campaign was, oddly, for nothing, right? It was about defining the future of retail and of the city. The massive square footage of this shopping center far exceeded all the total retail in downtown Providence. Theres no need to revitalize your little local economy. Dont worry. Were just taking care of it in one strike. The mall had a Tiffanys. There was a Brooks Brothers. How many people are wearing Brooks Brothers in downtown Providence? Nobody, right? It was an image of a lifestyle that didnt reflect local culture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we were developing the apartment and hanging out at the mall as good shopper citizens, I remember [thinking about] the phrase "critique through hyperconformity." What if we did follow the rules and let them all define us? What would that look like? At some point, I recreated the "Defining You" ads. I bought everything from the mall, staged it, and returned it. It was like $1,000 to get everything you want from one picture. The math does not work when you try to achieve that kind of perfectionmaybe for the one percent. Were you viewing this as an art project or a political response to the housing situation in Providence at the time? MT: This question gets asked a lot. In my memory of the arrest, one of the clear thoughts I had was, Oh no, now I have to curate the story. Until that point, and I know this may sound ridiculous, but it was just our life. That was just how we lived our life. There were eight artists involved in this project, but we made the decision that Adriana and I would be a good face. The idea of a couple whos trying to make it. AVY: The shared American narrative. The group snuck a dining table and other furniture into their hidden living space.T Photo by Michael Townsend See the full story on Dwell.com: They Lived in a "Secret Mall Apartment" for Years. Now, Theyre Telling the Story Related stories: MILAN Luxury kitchens firm Arclinea, which was founded in 1925 in Codogno, Italy, has turned the focus to supporting young culinary talent. As a part of its centennial this year, 100 images by French photographer Amelie Ambroise lensed for the occasion will be available for purchase at artsy.net. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company told WWD on Thursday that the proceeds net of the platforms commission and an additional fixed contribution from Arclinea will be entirely donated to the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, in support of emerging stars on the culinary scene. During Milan Design Week, which will kick off April 7, Arclinea will unveil the photography book lensed by Ambroise with the photos. Named 100 Years, 100 Ingredients the book features 100 carefully selected still-life images of ingredients that embody Italys gastronomic heritage. The coffee table book was brought to life with art direction by Switzerland-based Studio Juma. Studio Jumas other clients include design firms Rimadesio, Amini, Azucena, B&B Italia and Maxalto. The exhibition, which will take place at the firms showroom on Via Durini, will also include an exclusive iteration of the Convivium kitchen island, which is free of appliances and embraces a more convivial, open space rationale. Arclineas Convivium kitchen. Gianni Fortuna, chief executive officer of Arclinea, said the fundraising initiative marks an important first step in the firms efforts to support education on a wider scale. It means investing in knowledge, culture and the transmission of expertise, which are all essential values for us. Education and culture are a shared heritage for us, which is why we also collaborate on research projects with IUAV University of Venice, which has recently opened its design campus in Vicenza, our hometown, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arclinea was started in Caldogno, Italy, by Fortunas grandfather Silvio Fortuna Sr. In 1986, Arclinea began collaborating with designer and architect Antonio Citterio, who continues to envisage their architectures for living to this day. For the third generation, this year marks an emotional milestone. It is a deeply personal journey. It is a moment of reflection on the path taken on the values that have guided us, and on the people who have contributed to shaping Arclinea over time. There is a sense of responsibility in carrying forward a story that began generations ago, with my grandfather, built on passion, dedication and a deep connection to our origins, Fortuna said. In terms of retail, Arclinea, which is owned by Flos B&B Italia Group, has recently opened stores in Los Angeles, Miami, Washington and Boston, together with B&B Italia. Gianni Fortuna Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The U.S. State Department has Jamaica under a Level 3 tourism warning, "reconsider travel," its second strictest rating. But the Caribbean island nation remains an extremely popular destination for holidayers from everywhere. Jamaica saw a record two million international arrivals in 2024. And it's home to five ports that major cruise lines like Carnival (CCL) and Royal Caribbean (RCL) use: Montego Bay, Falmouth, Ochos Rios, Port Antonio and Kingston. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The advisory that the State Department updated for Jamaica in August 2024 says "violent crime occurs throughout Jamaica" but "tourist areas generally see lower rates ... than other parts of the country." Jamaica is both a popular cruise-ship stop and regular vacation destination for travelers in search of beaches and island culture.Image source: Pixabay Secretary Rubio: U.S. will revisit Jamaica advisory Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently on a two-day tour of the Caribbean, kicked off a March 27 stop in Kingston by offering to revisit the current advisory for Jamaica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department's four-tier advisory system starts at Level 1 for countries considered safe and reserves the strictest level for war zones and authoritarian governments. "We pledged we're going to go back and reevaluate the travel advisories as they currently stand to ensure that they do reflect the reality of the new numbers and what the numbers show," Rubio said. Related: U.S Embassy sends out travel advisory for another vacation destination He added that the country has "made very impressive progress in your general numbers overall when it comes to the murder rate and so forth." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current advisory for Jamaica reflects a rising homicide rate of 40.1 for every 100,000 people and difficulties that foreigners have had in getting the police to respond to crimes. "U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents," the advisory currently reads. "When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a final verdict and sentence." Related: Marco Rubios net worth: From Florida legislator to secretary of state Jamaica officials: Level 3 warning hurts tourism In the meeting with Rubio, Jamaican officials said the U.S.'s Level 3 warning was detrimental to their tourism industry and the perception of Jamaica as a country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current advisory also says visitors "should not expect the same level of health care available in Jamaica as is available in the United States." Local officials say these statements are alarmist and will push many away from traveling to the country. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness welcomed what he called Rubio's commitment to "work collaboratively to ensure that travel advisories reflect the current realities and promote travel to Jamaica." More on travel: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the visit, Rubio also faced criticism about the Trump administration's threat to stop visas for Jamaican officials who spearheaded a program to bring Cuban medical professionals to the country. Rubio has defended the statements by claiming the workers are victims of human trafficking, while Holness says the program provides economic opportunities for both Jamaica and Cuba. As part of his Caribbean tour, Rubio is also slated to visit Guyana and Suriname on March 27. While these countries are significantly less popular than Jamaica, they also see a number of cruise visitors every year. Suriname's capital, Paramaribo, is a designated Unesco World Heritage Site but is currently a stop only on smaller cruises run by luxury lines. Related: Veteran fund manager issues dire S&P 500 warning for 2025 Valeria Bismar/Pachamama Two small bowls of canchatoasted Peruvian cornand fried plantain chips are the first things to arrive at my table. Theyre accompanied by bright and tart aji amarillo chili and huacatay (Andean black mint) sauces, essential fixtures of any Peruvian meal. Musica criolla (Latin American folk music) pulses from the speakers, while around me families share heaping platters of ceviche mixto (made with a mix of seafood), arroz con mariscos (seafood rice) and lomo saltado (stir-fried beef with onions, tomatoes, and fries). As I get my starterchoritos a la chalaca, which are steamed mussels topped with a zesty onion, tomato, and lime relisha young woman sets up in a corner, takes out a microphone, and begins singing in Spanish. The waiters join in, and soon, the whole restaurant is clapping along. Just like Peruvian cuisine itselfdiverse, layered, and rich in influences ranging from Andean to Chinese to Italian, evenMilans Peruvian food scene runs the gamut from rustic to refined. I feel I could be at a low-key eatery in Lima. Except that Im some 6,600 miles around the world at El Chorrillano, a no-frills Peruvian restaurant in Milan, Italy, during Sunday lunch. Known for its traditional menu and always-fresh seafood, the place is an institution for the local Peruvian community, who come here over the weekend for a taste of home. It is one of the many, many Peruvian establishments that dot the city. Peruvians are the fifth largest foreign community in Milanmaking them the largest immigrant population from South Americaand one of its most active. They bring their heritage to the northern Italian metropolis through festivals, cultural gatherings, and, increasingly, food. A quick search on Google Maps confirms this culinary footprint: From the multicultural neighborhood of Nolo (where El Chorrillano is) in the northeast to the lively canalside district of Navigli in the south, Peruvian restaurants, bars, and cafes are woven into the citys fabric. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising, given the hundreds of years of dialogue between the two countries: Italian immigration to Peru dates back to the colonial era in the 1500s, and Peruvians, in turn, began arriving in Milan in the 1980s in a wave of emigration spurred on by political and economic instability at home. El Chorillano Valeria Bismar/El Chorrillano El Chorillano Valeria Bismar/El Chorrillano Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are a tight-knit community deeply connected through food, says Rita Guillen Huamani, co-founder of the Comunita Italo Peruana (CIP), an organization that promotes integration between Italians and Peruvians. But we also take pride in sharing [our food] with others, which is why our restaurants are everywhere in Milan rather than clustered in one isolated enclave. We want Peruvian cuisine to be part of the Milanese experience. Just like Peruvian cuisine itselfdiverse, layered, and rich in influences ranging from Andean to Chinese to Italian, evenMilans Peruvian food scene runs the gamut from rustic to refined. Many spots feel like Peruvian versions of a neighborhood osteria, with family-style tables, unfussy service, and simple decor that sometimes verges on the kitschy. El Chorrillano, for instance, leans into a nautical theme, with anchors, sea-inspired murals, and a plaster shark jetting from a wall. D Karbon Y Limon, which has two locations in southern Milan, serves classics like pollo a la brasa (rotisserie chicken) and causa rellena (a layered potato terrine) amid simple wooden tables and colorful Peruvian paintings of Lake Titicaca and Andean scenery. In the hipster Lambrate area, El Hornero, famous for its parrilladas (barbecue meats like skewered beef and pork ribs), immerses diners in a gaucho-inspired setting with wooden barrels and cowhides. Its at these places that the homesickPeruvians, but also Ecuadorians, Salvadorans, and Honduransgo to seek the familiar. Valeria Bismar But in the last few yearsparticularly post-pandemicPeruvian cuisine in Milan has also evolved beyond these humble roots, finding a place in the citys more elevated dining scene. In contemporary, polished settings inventive chefs have set out to play with flavors and ingredients, showcasing Peruvian food as an example of culinary fusion. Casa Lemon, in the elegant Indipendenza area, is one such place. An intimate 40-seat bistro that looks like a friends cool dining roomthink handpicked antique market finds, black-and-white family photos, and retro lightingit was opened in 2021 by Miguel Angel Castillo Pinto, a Lima-born chef who lived in Spain, Argentina, Canada, and the UK before settling in Milan just before the pandemic. His menu is the culmination of all his past experiences and culinary contaminations, with a constant nod to the pillars of Peruvian food: lime, onions, aji amarillo, and leche de tigre (a citrus-based marinade that forms the base of ceviche), which feature in many of his dishes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think of it as a nomadic kitchen with a Peruvian heart, says Castillo Pinto. Different influences, flavors, and ideas coming togetherafter all, thats the origin story of so many Peruvian staples, too. Chef Miguel Valeria Bismar/Casa Lemon Tartare de salmon al tonkatsu. Valeria Bismar Italyor, as Castillo Pinto specifies, the Milanese palateis also a big source of inspiration. In his causa, the lime- and aji amarillo-marinated potato layers are bound together with vitello tonnato, a typical Italian sauce made by combining tuna and anchovies with mayonnaise and garlic. His ceviche swaps raw onions for caramelized ones; while empanadas ooze with stringy mozzarella. Slow-cooked octopus comes topped with an herbaceous chimichurri (a sauce usually reserved for grilled meats) and mashed sweet potatoes, then finished with crispy cavolo nero (black kale), a favorite winter green in the boot-shaped country. Making food means constantly evolving, experimenting, says Castillo Pinto. Italian influences have long shaped Peruvian cooking, dating back to the early 20th century when many Italian immigrants settled in Lima. Being in Milan now, I want to add my own take to that exchange. That cross-cultural interplay also defines Fininfondo, a gourmet Italian-Peruvian restaurant in Navigli where brothers Charo Artisan and John Henry Espinoza Bernardo revisit dishes from the two countries in original ways. Here, parmesan risotto trades rice for white and red quinoa, served alongside tuna in a lomo saltado sauce; while amberjack ceviche is paired with crispy, golden fried artichokes from Italy. Its a two-way culinary migration that not only works, but shows how cuisines deeply rooted in tradition can thrive on changeand collaboration. Pachamama Valeria Bismar/Pachamama Lima Bar Valeria Bismar/Lima Bar Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you look at contemporary Peruvian restaurants in Milannot old-school spots where you go to eat sopa de mote and arroz chaufa when youre craving your mums cooking, but places that are more forward-lookingI think its natural for Italy to find its way onto the menu, says Gustavo Morales, chef and owner of Llama Maki, a sleek, always-packed nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) restaurant near Navigli. I know I seek it out, even if I am focusing on Nikkei food. I always ask myself whats something new I can do here? How can I surprise my customers? Folding Italian elements into my dishes is the simplest, yet most exciting, answer. His arroz con pato (herb-perfumed rice with duck) gets a decadent twist thanks to a generous dusting of 36-month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano, which creates a beautifully rich dish packed with umami. Lomo saltado is served with silky risotto, fusing Perus vibrant flavors with Italys indulgent textures in a way that makes you want to ask for seconds. Morales, who moved to Milan with his parents at 11 and trained in several Italian kitchens before reconnecting with his Peruvian heritage, describes his work as a culinary dialogue. He applies that same expression to the relationship he has with others who work within the Peruvian restaurant community. Its good to support each other, and we do, he says. Chefs from my generation, were not just Peruvians cooking for Peruvians. Were building new cultural identities. Pachamama Valeria Bismar Theyre doing so not just through food, but also through the drinks that accompany it. At modern eateries like Llama Maki, Casa Lemon, or Pachamamaa Novo-Andina restaurant that serves traditional recipes next to combos like Milanese ossobuco a la nortena or linguine en salsa anticucheraPeru also joins the table via beers, wines, and spirits from the South American nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of Italians are surprised to discover theres more to Peru than just pisco, says Morales. Encouraging guests to sip on a glass of Matacuy, an Andean digestif rooted in tradition, is another way to spark curiosity and start a conversation, he says. That curiosity extends beyond restaurants. Lima Bar, in the Buenos Aires shopping district, does Peruvian breakfast of pan con chicharron (a fried pork sandwich) and jugo surtido (a smoothie-like juice of mixed fruits), drawing both nostalgic Peruvians and adventurous Italians open to set aside their cornetto and caffe for once. Tiny Fidels Bakery in Nolo sells empanaditas, alfajores, and cocadas, quintessential Peruvian confectioneries for which the South-American community and plenty of Milanese regularly queue. In a small kitchen behind the counter, siblings Katherine, Oscar and Josselyn Santos Alva make everything from scratch, following traditional hand-written recipes their late fathera former Lima bakerpassed on to them, with Italian ingredients like coffee and techniques sometimes added to the mix. The sweets are so popular that the siblings are now hunting for a bigger space in a more central part of the city. Fidel's Bakery Valeria Bismar Fidel's Bakery Valeria Bismar For Guillen Huamani of CIP, these culinary ventures are more than about food. Peruvian outlets deepen Milans cultural framework, she says. They take many of us back to Lima, Cusco, Arequipa; and [they take] Italians on a journey. These restaurants also prove that belonging can be, at once, rooted and expansive. Originally Appeared on Conde Nast Traveler MILAN Simon Whitehouse has left his role as chief executive officer of Modes, the Italian retailer which at the peak of its success logged yearly sales of 150 million euros, WWD has learned. The executive had joined the company as CEO in March 2024. More from WWD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Confirming the development, Modes president Aldo Carpinteri told WWD in a phone interview on Thursday that Whitehouse is to remain onboard in an advisor capacity as the company undergoes the so-called compositions with creditors procedures. The company filed for the procedure with a Milan Court in May last year and has continued to operate its business since, trimming costs and tweaking its business model to align with the business plan it submitted. A new hearing is expected in early April, followed by a vote of confidence by creditors as per Italian law. Carpinteri said that the company, which had explored a sale of a minority stake a few years back tasking Jefferies to find investors, would now again be open to investments. He acknowledged that Modes is now a different company, retooled as a pure, traditional retailer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president attributed Modes decreasing business leading to the judicial procedure to several factors adding to the widespread slowdown in luxury and fashion consumption experienced in 2024. Among the reasons he mentioned were Modes reliance on digital sales coming from its linkup with Farfetch, scuppered when the e-commerce giants business rapidly plunged; its dependence on the B2B channel, known as grey market, increasingly nixed by fashion houses, as well as strong investments made for the Balenciaga brand. Modes was the sole international retailer to operate Balenciaga monobrands as part of a deal with parent company Kering, Carpinteri explained. In the aftermath of the French brands 2022 crisis over advertising images that critics claimed condoned the exploitation of children, that business, too, collapsed. The company is currently focused solely on retail, Carpinteri said. Modes now operates four stores in Milans Piazza Risorgimento and Via Fiori Chiari, the latter under the Minimodes banner dedicated to childrenswear, in Saint Moritz, Switerland and Portofino, Italy. He forecast sales to hit 8 million euros in 2025 and plans to more than double that figure, to 20 million euros, in five years, as per the new business plan. MiniModes store in Milan At the peak of its business, Modes operated 19 stores globally including units in Paris, Forte dei Marmi and Cagliari, Italy and Gstaad, Switzerland. Fifteen of them have been closed over the past 10 months Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are here, bruised but in rebuilding mode, Carpinteri said. Its time for us to go back to the old retail model, revamped for today. A place where people walk in and experience something unique, see your research, feel your point of view, he said. The current selection across its four boutiques is mainly comprised of niche and up-and-coming fashion brands. A strong season at its Saint Moritz boutique is giving Carpinteri confidence that the formula may win in-store customers back. Thats proof that people want something different. If Modes did that well in Saint Moritz, selling niche brands, it means that even the wealthy are tired of sameness They want to walk into a multi-brand boutique and discover something fresh. Thats what were building, slowly, but with excitement, he said. As part of the new business plan, he lined up the opening of two new units in Rome and Venice. The Minimodes boutique in Milans Brera district is also to be repurposed as a hybrid store selling adult fashion, in addition to kidswear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Modes e-commerce site is currently undergoing a restock to align with the new product mix. Modes was established in 1971 by Carpinteri as a multibrand boutique in Trapani, on Italys Sicily Island. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The interior of Harlows Do-Nut & Bakery on Military Highway in Pineville has pretty much remained the same since Roy Burr Sr., purchased it from Frank Dyson in 1985. And thats how customers prefer it. They walk in, and it looks and smells just like it always did. And thats what they want, said owner Jan Burr, widow of Roy Burr Sr., who died in 2015. People who grow up and go to college and start a career somewhere else, when they come back to town, they come to Harlows and they dont want anything changed. They want everything to be the same. On Thursday, the Burr family is celebrating 40 years of owning Harlows. They plan to have an all-day come and go with complimentary cake and coffee for customers. Pineville Mayor Joe Bishop and members of the city council will be there in the morning to help them celebrate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They still make donuts with the same recipe Dyson used when he opened Harlows in 1973, said Burrs daughter DeAnne Lachney who helps run the family-owned business. Still, some people think theyve changed the recipe through the years. The basic donut is the same, and I guess we need to emphasis that, because sometimes people are determined that theyve changed, Burr said. And were like, No, they havent. They cost a lot more, Lachney said. But they have not changed, Burr added. Through the years, theyve added items to the menu that include kolaches, different kinds of biscuits and biscuits and gravy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we purchased it, there were no savory items at all, Burr said. My husband put in the sausage biscuits. It was the first thing that we had that was savory instead of sweet. Weve added a lot on our bakery side, too, Lachney said. Weve added a lot of cakes and pastries. Burr likes to emphasis that all their products are made in-house. DeAnne Lachney and her mother Jan Burr plan to have an all-day come and go with complimentary cake and coffee for customers Thursday on the 40th anniversary of the Burr Family's ownership of Harlow's Do-Nut and Bakery. Our cakes are baked fresh daily. Our donuts, of course, are fresh every morning. Everything is done on a daily basis, she said. Whats leftover is donated to the Main Street Baptist Church & Mission for their homeless program, Lachney said. In 40 years, Harlows has had a loyal customer base that has made Harlows a part of their morning routine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have our regulars that come every day, Lachney said. If they miss a couple of days ... ... then we check on them, continued Burr. Whereve you been? Whats wrong? This past weekend, they lost one. Miss Pat died, said Burr of Pat Barone. She came in pretty much every day and got her chocolate filled donut, warmed just a little. Since they are located right between Louisiana Christian University and Pineville High School, Harlows gets a lot of students who drop by, especially on the first and last days of school. Its a first day and last day of school tradition, Lachney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first day of school is big, Burr added. Its usually standing room only in here on the first day of school, Lachney said. And they all want their picture made at Harlows, Burr said. Which is one reason we put the murals on the side, Lachney said. They have somewhere to take their pictures. Sometimes little birthday parties are held at Harlows, she said. And every once in a while, some classes from LCU will meet there and have coffee and donuts while having class, Burr said. First United Methodist Church also has a youth group and a mens prayer group meet there as well. Growing up around the Louisiana Christian College campus, Pineville resident John Marcase says, Harlows was and still is an institution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Pineville High School, we used to sneak off during the morning for a Harlows run, he said. Now, as a parent, my boys look forward to going there just as much as I did at their age, just not skipping school to do so. What is even better than the donuts or cinnamon twists is the Burr family. They have become a special part of our lives. The Burrs have seen many of their customers grow from children to adults with children of their own. Those who were youngsters when we bought the place in 1985 are now adults and theyre bringing in their grandchildren, Burr said. They were 10, 12 years old when we bought the place and now, theyre bringing in their grandchildren and teaching them about Harlows. Since they took over Harlows, Burr said the community has been very loyal throughout the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been through four major construction efforts, Burr said. That included in 1985 when they bought Harlows and the Gillis Long Bridge, known as the Jackson Street Bridge, was being built. They were cut off from Alexandria through Main Street. But their loyal Alexandria customers found a way to get there, she added. The pandemic was awful for them but they found a ways to make it through that time, Burr said. "It was because of our community, she said. And its been a real pleasure for us to serve our community, and our community has served us well. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Pineville bakery celebrates 40 years of serving Central Louisiana Since moving to Louisville in 2005, Robin Cole of Robins Nest Interiors has been incorporating timeless and stylish designs throughout homes in Louisville and beyond. Here, she discusses how she transformed a cold Goshen ranch house from a stark, cold space into a warm and inviting, livable abode. Flooring first The neutral flooring keeps a consistent look throughout the space inside this renovated four-bed ranch home in Goshen, Kentucky. Cole's primary challenge with this 4,050-square-foot home was its marble flooring throughout the entire first floor. While its an elegant, aesthetically appealing choice, marble can be slippery, prone to cracks, and give off a sterile and unwelcoming feel. The marble just made everything so cold, Cole said, adding that the decision to replace it was pricey, but worth it. We ended up laying down French white oak, and left it natural, so that immediately warmed up everything. The foyer ceiling is painted Benjamin Moore Yorktowne Green inside this four-bed ranch home in Goshen, Kentucky. She adds that consistent flooring throughout a space also helps to tie everything together. Different kinds of flooring can create multiple issues, including lack of cohesion, awkward transitions from room to room, a disruption of flow, maintenance challenges, and height differences between various materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your flooring is a good way to keep it all moving and feeling very consistent, Cole said. Whenever possible, its nice to do that. We kind of did the same thing with the colors on our walls we kept those within that same family. New hues The kitchen features quartzite countertops inside this four-bed ranch home in Goshen, Kentucky. Cole says that two Sherwin Williams gray hues Amazing Gray and Intellectual Gray are used throughout the dining room, kitchen, breakfast area, and study. Like the unchanging flooring throughout, this color consistency helps each redesigned room seamlessly flow into the next. The one room with a major pop of color is the study-turned-office, which boasts a bold, bluish-green built-in. We decided to take the study to the left of the foyer (and turn it into) an office, Cole said, adding that in lieu of installing doors to make it more private, they opted to leave it open and create a big, eye-catching built-in instead. A circular mirror adorns the bar area inside this chic four-bed ranch home in Goshen, Kentucky. Working with the homeowner to design the piece, Cole made sure to include customized spaces to accommodate both office equipment and art. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She had a piece of artwork that she wanted to incorporate in that, Cole recalled, so we basically designed it around those parameters, then painted it that strong, blue-green color so that was what catches your eye rather than the monitors sitting on the shelf. In addition to creating a space for the artwork, Cole carefully styled the shelves with complementary accessories and framed photos, then added a chic writing desk to the space. The custom built-in is painted Benjamin Moore Yorktowne Green inside this four-bed ranch home in Goshen, Kentucky. It still very much feels like a study, Cole said, but with that built-in, we got her all the functionality that she needed to work from home. The Benjamin Moore Yorktowne Green of the built-in was also used on the foyer ceiling, helping unify the two spaces. Feeling blue Also supporting cohesion throughout the first floor are the drapery panels used in nearly every room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fabric has metallic threads in it, so its a little pop of fun, Cole exclaimed. She adds that the owners love blue, so she incorporated various shades of the soothing color throughout the home. In the dining room, blue-hued decorative vases sit below a multicolored abstract art piece. Various shades of blue are used throughout the space inside this renovated four-bed ranch home in Goshen, Kentucky. Its a long and narrow space, Cole said, so I got (that) vibrant piece of artwork and put it at the end of the room, right above the wainscoting. That catches your eye and draws it back there. Cole also added a long table that seats eight on a typical day but boasts enough room for 12. Windows line the wall on one side of the table while medallion wall decor adds visual interest to the other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We packed a lot in that area, Cole said. Im a sucker for a good-looking dining room. A breakfast area near the back door provides space for informal dining. At the small round table with seating for four, the homeowners can enjoy their morning meals with a view of their beautiful backyard. Medallion wall decor adds visual interest above the wainscoting in the dining room inside this four-bed ranch home in Goshen, Kentucky. The house sits on a really pretty property, Cole said, and I always try to not compete with the outdoors, but complement it. I use a lot of texture (and) natural (elements), like that basket on the table. Youll hear this a lot: bring the outdoors in. The breakfast area flows into the kitchen, where Cole swapped the previous island top with quartzite to match the rest of the counters. She also replaced the clear glass in the cabinet doors with smoked glass so the homeowner can store items without worrying how theyre presented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (They) didnt want to have to worry about displaying stuff, Cole said. It turned out beautifully and it helped function for them. Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com. nuts & bolts Home: This is a four-bed, four-bath, 4,050-square-foot ranch home in the Poplar Woods Estates subdivision in Goshen. It was built in 2018. Distinctive elements: Built-in in study; decorative wainscoting in dining room; quartzite countertop on island; natural French oak flooring throughout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Applause! Applause! Interior design, furniture, rugs, artwork, and accessories by Robins Nest Interiors; photography by Abby Tappendorf. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Renovated ranch home in Goshen features chic decor with pops of blue NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A 27-year-old woman was arrested after a man was stabbed at an apartment complex in South Nashville early Thursday morning. The stabbing happened at a complex in the 5300 block of Nolensville Pike in the Tusculum neighborhood around 2 a.m. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts (Photo: WKRN) The victim was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with serious injuries. The stabbing stemmed from a domestic altercation inside an apartment, according to Metro police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Aleesa Bradford stabbed a man while multiple people were drinking at the apartment. She reportedly stabbed the victim as he tried to push her chair so he could get by her. Bradford was found with a yellow pocketknife in her possession but denied stabbing anyone. She was booked into the Metro jail and charged with felony aggravated assault. Her bond was set at $35,000. No additional information was immediately released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages was named the winner of the Coca-Cola Market Street Challenge for the third time, marking its second consecutive win. Texas-Based Coca-Cola Bottler Named National Leader in Competition Among U.S. Bottlers DALLAS, March 27, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (AC-CCSWB), the Coca-Cola bottler for Texas and parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas, has been named the winner of the Coca-Cola Market Street Challenge for the third time, marking its second consecutive win. The Market Street Challenge honors the bottler demonstrating the highest level of executional excellence across the U.S. Coca-Cola system. Competing against the top bottlers in the U.S., AC-CCSWB was selected by its peers based on rigorous performance criteria, including topline growth, capability building and a steadfast investment in its people and culture. "Securing, for the third time the prestigious award of Coca-Cola North America Market Street Challenge, reaffirms our vision to be leaders in the markets we operate in, driven by our dedicated team members and our will to make a difference," said Arturo Gutierrez Hernandez, CEO of Arca Continental. "Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages consistent performance over time exemplifies the power of a strategic blend of strong culture and shared principles." This achievement is a result of Arca Continentals commitment to create and share value. Since its inception in 2017, AC-CCSWB has merged the best practices of the U.S. and Latin America, creating a unique bottler proposition and a stronger future for both the company and the communities it serves. The Market Street Challenge win highlights the strength of its culture and collaboration, setting the stage for continued success in the years to come. Jean Claude Tissot, president of AC-CCSWB, expressed his pride in the company's achievement. "This award is a testament to the dedication of our Frontline Heroes, whose unwavering commitment and hard work drive the very heart of our companys success. Their efforts embody the commitment to create and share value that defines Arca Continental legacy, and the results we achieve across our territory." As the winner of the U.S. Market Street Challenge, AC-CCSWB will represent North America in the Candler Cup, Coca-Colas international bottler competition. This year, CCSWB has also been recognized with the AC Cup from Arca Continental and Monsters Bottler of the Year for 2024. These prestigious awards reaffirm Arca Continentals commitment to excellence and its position as a leader in the Coca-Cola system. About Arca Continental Arca Continental produces, distributes, and markets beverages under The Coca-Cola Company brand, as well as snacks under the Bokados brand in Mexico, Inalecsa in Ecuador, and Wise in the United States. With an outstanding history spanning more than 99 years, Arca Continental is the second-largest Coca-Cola bottler in Latin America, and one of the largest in the world. Through its Coca-Cola franchise, the company serves more than 128 million people in the Northern and Western regions in Mexico, as well as in Ecuador, Peru, in the Northern region of Argentina, and in the Southwestern United States. Arca Continental is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker "AC". At least one person was killed and 34 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional officials reported on March 26. Russia launched 86 drones overnight, including Shahed-type attack drones and one Iskander-M ballistic missile, according to Ukraine's military. Air defenses intercepted 42 drones, while another 26 disappeared from the radar before reaching their targets, likely serving as decoys to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, aviation, and mobile fire groups repelled the assault. Kharkiv Oblast saw one of the heaviest attacks, with 23 people injured. Strikes on residential areas and civilian infrastructure caused four fires, including one that engulfed an industrial facility covering 2,500 square meters, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks injured five people and damaged 12 homes, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Russian troops also attacked an elderly woman with a drone, fatally wounding her with a dropped explosive. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a Russian drone attack injured three people a 48-year-old man and two women, aged 75 and 78 while damaging enterprises, schools, cultural institutions, and over a dozen high-rise buildings, Governor Serhii Lysak said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces wounded three civilians in attacks on Pokrovsk, Zelenyi Hai, and Ivanopillia, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. Read also: We asked Ukrainian soldiers if theyd fight Russia with their bare hands rather than accept a bad ceasefire Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. How the mighty have fallen. If youre trying to become more outdoorsy this spring you might want to avoid visiting a national park. Maybe not all of them, but at least the parks that are considered the deadliest thanks to a new study. Research by the National Park Service examined each US national parks average yearly deaths from 2007-2024 and some of the numbers the data uncovered are shockingly high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Common causes of these park fatalities include falling, drowning, and motor vehicle crashes, according to Michael McCarty, chief safety officer at fall protection company, EDGE Fall Protection, LLC. McCarty explained that half of these deaths are unintentional mainly caused by people being careless. He also noted that many of these casualties were people 50 and over. Data showed that the West Coast parks saw the most deaths with Lake Mead National Recreation Area topping the list. Lake Mead National Recreation Area sees the most deaths every year. AP Located in both Nevada and Arizona this park averages over 20 deaths annually with the most common cause being drowning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coming in at No. 2 is Grand Canyon National Park. This park, also located in Arizona, sees about 12 deaths every year. The cause of them? Falling. The national park with the third most annual deaths is Yosemite National Park in California with over 11 annual casualties. This park is one of Californias most popular ones as a result, its had more than three million visitors within the past five years. Falling was also the main cause of death here. Yosemite National Park sees on average, 11 deaths per year. AFP via Getty Images National parks in New York and New Jersey ranked fairly low on the list not even making the top 10, averaging only four deaths a year. It seems our idea of a day at the park is strolling through Central Park. The deadliest national parks in America: 1. Lake Mead National Recreation Area (20.88 yearly deaths) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. Grand Canyon National Park (12.7) 3. Yosemite National Park (11.11) 4. Blue Ridge Parkway (10.7) 5. Natchez Trace Parkway (10.11) 6. Golden Gate National Recreation Area (9.52) 7. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (8.82) 8. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (8.17) 9. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (5.41) 10. Yellowstone National Park (4.94) The research also looked at the states with the lowest number of recorded annual deaths from 2007-2024. Some of these include Glacier National Park in Montana, Arkansas Buffalo National River, Zion National Park in Utah, Marylands Suitland Parkway, and Olympic National Park in Washington which have all experienced a little over three deaths each year. In a coordinated operation targeting organized drug crime, police forces across Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain launched raids on residential and commercial properties early Thursday morning. A total of 32 properties have been searched and 11 arrest warrants have been executed, the office for the prosecution of organized crime in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and local police in Bonn said in a statement. Additionally, one person has been temporarily detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation primarily targeted the area around Cologne and Bonn in western Germany, the statement said. Investigations are ongoing. The raids are part of a preliminary inquiry into suspected drug trafficking involving "significant quantities," it said. The goal of the operation is to secure evidence and assets related to the alleged criminal activities, the statement added. In a coordinated operation targeting organized drug crime, police forces across Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain launched raids on residential and commercial properties early on Thursday. A total of 32 properties have been searched and 11 arrest warrants have been executed, the office for the prosecution of organized crime in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and local police in Bonn said in a statement. Additionally, one person has been temporarily detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation primarily targeted the area around Cologne and Bonn in western Germany, the statement said. Investigations are ongoing. The raids are part of a preliminary inquiry into suspected drug trafficking involving "significant quantities," it said. The goal of the operation is to secure evidence and assets related to the alleged criminal activities, the statement added. The police and public prosecutor's office are due to announce more details about the crackdown at a press conference in Bonn on Friday. North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister Herbert Reul called the Europe-wide operation a successful move in the fight against organized crime. "No hiding place is safe, no border protects against prosecution," he said. However, he warned that the case also shows that one year after the partial legalisation of cannabis in Germany, the illegal trade in the drug continues to rise. Police arrested 11 people across Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain on Thursday in a major operation targeting organized drug crime, with raids on residential and commercial properties. A total of 32 properties have been searched, mostly in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the office for the prosecution of organized crime in NRW and local police in Bonn said in a statement. Investigators executed 11 arrest warrants, with two additional suspects temporarily detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the raids, shots were fired at Dutch police in Maastricht, slightly injuring an officer. The suspected shooter has been detained, according organized crime authorities in NRW. The investigation centres on a suspected drug trafficking ring involving "significant quantities" of illicit goods. Authorities seized evidence, including communication devices, police said. The operation primarily targeted the area around Cologne and Bonn in Germany. Seven additional raids occurred abroad. Officials plan to provide further details in a press conference in Bonn on Friday. The goal of the operation is to secure evidence and assets related to the alleged criminal activities, the police statement added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister Herbert Reul praised the Europe-wide operation as a successful move against organized crime. "No hiding place is safe, no border protects against prosecution," he said. However, he warned that the case also shows that one year after the partial legalisation of cannabis in Germany, the illegal trade in the drug continues to rise. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) Eleven people were arrested by a gun violence task force for illegal straw purchase and firearms trafficking, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced. Stanford A. Russell Jr., 33 (Office of the Attorney General) Stanford A. Russell Jr., 33, was arrested at his home in Pittsburgh after running from a vehicle stop. Sunday noted that police found a revolver, firearm accessories and drugs during the arrest. Russell was placed in prison without bail as hes on parole for prior felony convictions. Ten others were recently charged with various offenses, including felony violations of the Uniform Firearms Act and conspiracy. The investigation is ongoing into connections between the individuals. Russell, however, is believed to have operated separately, Sunday wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Russell, the following are also charged: Daniel Crow, of Pittsburgh Taylor Murphy, Pittsburgh Juliona Upsher, Trafford Vance Arrington, Pittsburgh Aiyanna Crosby, Pittsburgh Danielle Pinkston, Pittsburgh Tejuan Davis, McKeesport Daemon Davis, McKeesport Jaidon Berry, Verona Sarah Woodruff, Verona Straw purchases and other illegal transfers of firearms are direct safety threats to our communities, and this task force is devoted to tracking offenders and the firearms which so often end up at violent crime scenes, Sunday said. I commend the agencies involved in this case who worked together to stop an illegal flow of firearms. 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. The investigations were led by the Office of Attorney Generals Allegheny County Gun Violence Task Force. Assisting were the FBI (Pittsburgh Field Division), Pennsylvania State Parole, Allegheny County Police Department, Swissvale Police Department, and Pittsburgh Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Allegheny County District Attorneys Office will prosecute these individuals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 U.S. Army has formally given the designation ME-11B to its forthcoming High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) intelligence-gathering aircraft. The modified Bombardier Global 6500 business jets will have extensive sensors suites that include the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System-2B (ASARS-2B) and could have the ability to launch drones. Last August, the Army awarded the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) a contract valued at just under $1 billion to modify Global 6500s into the HADES configuration, as well as provide other support and services. Work under that contract was suspended until January of this year due to an ultimately unsuccessful protest by L3Harris, which had competed for the HADES deal as part of a team with Leidos and MAG Aerospace. Bombardier separately delivered the first Global 6500 for conversion in November 2024. The first Global 6500 delivered to the Army for the HADES program. Bombardier The military mission design series designation of ME-11B was assigned to the Armys future aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, which will be based on the Bombardier Global 6500 platform, a spokesperson for the Armys Program Executive Office for Aviation (PEO Aviation) confirmed to TWZ earlier this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The designation here reflects that there is another militarized Global 6500 already in service with the U.S. armed forces, the U.S. Air Forces E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft. Its also worth noting here that the aircraft in the Air Forces initial fleet of E-11As were based on older Bombardier BD-700 and Global 6000 business jets. The BACN jets provide highly specialized communications capabilities that allow for the rapid transfer of data between various aerial platforms, as well as forces on land and at sea, which you can read more about here. A US Air Force Global 6500-based E-11A BACN aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia in 2022. USAF The Army has also been making use of a small fleet of contractor-owned and operated business jets, including types based on the Global 6500, to help lay the ground for its future ME-11Bs. The M in the ME-11B designation stands for multi-mission. This is something that has been applied in the past to other crewed aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms with multiple sensor systems. This includes the Armys MC-12S Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) and the U.S. Air Forces MC-12W Liberty, both of which are based on the Beechcraft King Air series of twin-engine turboprops. The first MC-55A Peregrine for the @AusAirForce arrives at L3 Harris Greenville for test flight 2 in its completed, fully modified state. pic.twitter.com/wkRSrhBTFs _ (@SR_Planespotter) January 22, 2025 The Army says the ME-11Bs will feature signals intelligence, synthetic aperture radar/moving target indicator [SAR/MTI], and additional built-in capabilities. The main sensor system the aircraft will carry that we know about so far is the ASARS-2B radar, which was originally developed as an upgrade for the ASARS-2A used on the Air Forces famed U-2 spy planes. The Royal Air Forces (RAF) now-retired Sentinel R1s, which were based on the Bombardier Global Express, also carried a radar based on the ASARS-2A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ASARS-2B radar will allow the HADES aircraft to collect SAR imagery, which are highly-detailed ground maps, and offers ground moving target indicator (GMTI) functionality to spot and track vehicles on the ground. ASARS-2B can be employed in either mode regardless of cloud cover, smoke, dust, or other obscurants down below, as well as at night. The GMTI data can be used for general intelligence purposes, as well as for mapping patterns of life and targeting. It can be overlaid on the SAR images to help further refine intelligence collection areas. The M part of the ME-11B might also point to additional capabilities or the potential to add them down the line. For instance, Australia, which designates military aircraft in a style similar to the United States, is in the process of acquiring a fleet of MC-55A Peregrine aircraft based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet that will be capable of performing ISR and electronic warfare missions. When it comes to the HADES jets, the use of the multi-mission designator could be, in part, a nod to Army interest in being able to employ so-called launched effects from the aircraft. The Army uses the term launched effects as a catch-all for uncrewed aerial systems that can be deployed from aircraft (fixed wing and rotary; crewed and uncrewed) in flight, as well as ground or maritime platforms. The Army has a vision for a family of launched effects drones able to conduct ISR and electronic warfare missions, act as decoys, or even be employed as loitering munitions. The ME-11Bs are also expected to be able to carry additional stores, including ones that could expand the jets defensive capabilities, on underwing pylons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were looking at that with great interest as well, right?, Andrew Evans, the ISR Task Force director within the Armys Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G-2), told Breaking Defense about possible underwing stores last year. Protecting something like this becomes very important. A rendering of a future ME-11B showing stores on underwing pylons. US Army Launched effects drones would also allow ME-11Bs to reach deeper into more heavily defended areas without putting the aircraft and its crew at greater risk. There have been persistent concerns about the survivability of the HADES aircraft, especially in any future high-end conflict like on the Pacific against China. U.S. officials only expect the air defense threat ecosystem to keep growing in scale and scope. This includes the prospect of anti-air missiles with ranges up to 1,000 miles, which would be well beyond the line-of-sight reach of the ME-11Bs sensors. In general, the ME-11Bs will be able to fly higher, faster, and farther, and do so while carrying a bigger sensor payload, than the turboprop designs that currently make up the Armys crewed ISR fleets. Those capabilities will also allow the HADES jets to get to and from operating more rapidly and remain on station longer. There also continues to be questions about the overall capacity of the future ME-11B fleet, which the Army has said could consist of between 10 and 16 aircraft in total. The service currently has historically operated dozens of smaller turboprop crewed ISR aircraft globally, but has already been in the process of divesting many of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HADES is just the first part of a planned Multi-Domain Sensing System (MDSS) system of systems. The Armys current vision for the MDSS notably includes a High-Altitude Platform-Deep Sensing (HAP/DS) component. The service says HAP/DS will comprise the high-altitude layer and will be a Multi-Domain Operations-capable low-signature, high-altitude platform(s) (i.e., stratospheric balloons/solar fixed wing aircraft) operating in the stratosphere that will enable penetration into highly defended threat operational areas. TWZ has previously reported on the Armys ongoing push to field high-altitude balloons for ISR and other missions, including launching swarms of drones, as well as the services experimentation with high-altitude, extreme-endurance drones. The U.S. military, as a whole, is also increasingly looking to space-based capabilities to provide ISR coverage that has traditionally come from aerial assets in the past. A graphic the Army previously released showing a notional operational view for how its planned MDSS system of systems might be employed in conjunction with other assets. U.S. Army As it stands now, the Army is hoping the first example of what is now dubbed the ME-11B, with its suite of intelligence-gathering and potentially other capabilities, will be ready for service by 2027. Contact the author: joe@twz.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Birmingham Police Department announced the arrest of a juvenile who was allegedly in possession of a Glock switch. Officers say the 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody in the 4700 block of 9th Terrace North while they were investigating a suspicious vehicle. The suspect was reportedly in possession of a Glock handgun and a machine gun conversion device referred to as a Glock Switch. The suspect is in custody at the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center. 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. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Update 3/26 6:02 p.m.: NEPHI, Utah (ABC4) I-15 in Nephi has reopened after a standoff with an uncooperative driver who was accused of fleeing from a traffic stop and crashing. John Gleason with the with the Utah Department of Transportation said he believes the suspect was taken into custody by law enforcement. Lt. Cam Roden with the Utah Highway Patrol confirmed the suspect is in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gleason said the left lane of northbound I-15 will remain closed at mile marker 221 for the investigation. ABC4.com is working to learn more about the situation. Original story ALERT: I-15 shut down after driver crashes in Nephi, is uncooperative with UHP NEPHI, Utah (ABC4) I-15 is closed in both directions in Nephi after a driver reportedly crashed after fleeing from an attempted traffic stop. Lt. Cam Roden with the Utah Highway Patrol told ABC4.com that a trooper attempted a traffic stop near mile marker 217, but the vehicle fled. The driver later crashed at mile marker 222 and was said to be uncooperative. Officials were last said to be working to convince the driver to get out of the vehicle, according to UHP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both directions of traffic are closed, and traffic is being diverted. Southbound traffic is being diverted at mile marker 222, and northbound traffic is being diverted off at 207, Roden said. According to the Utah Department of Transportation Traffic website, the incident began at around 4:25 p.m. on Wednesday. In an online alert, UDOT described the situation as a police incident. There is no further information at this time. Matthew Drachman and Kayla Baggerly 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. Company Logo The government plans to build eight solar power plants and wind farms by 2027, with a total investment of AZN4.8 billion ($2.8 billion) from local and foreign sources. These projects, with a combined capacity of 2GW, will produce 5.3 billion kWh of electricity annually, saving 1.2 billion cubic meters (m3) of gas and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5 million tonnes. Among other recent developments, UAE's state-owned energy company Masdar and Socar Green, which is a subsidiary of Azerbaijan's state owned oil company, Socar, secured funding of AZN272 million ($160 million) for two solar plants, in November 2024. Dublin, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Azerbaijan Construction Market Size, Trends, and Forecasts by Sector - Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Institutional and Residential Market Analysis to 2029 (H1 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Construction industry in Azerbaijan to expand by 4.8% in real terms in 2025, supported by investments in oil and gas, renewable energy, and transport infrastructure projects, coupled with rising foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. According to the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), the country attracted AZN7.7 billion ($4.5 billion) in FDI during the first nine months of 2024, marking a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 2.3%. Of the total, 79.3% went to the oil and gas sector. Improving tourism activities in the country will also boost investments in the industry this year. According to the CBA, Azerbaijan's tourism services turnover rose by 42.7% YoY in the first nine months of 2024, reaching AZN4.8 billion ($2.8 billion). Moreover, the number of foreign visitors to Azerbaijan rose by 29.1% YoY over the same period. In December 2024, the parliament of Azerbaijan approved the state Budget for 2025, with a total expenditure of AZN41.4 billion ($24.3 billion). Under the state budget, AZN8.5 billion ($5 billion) was allocated for economic activity expenses, and AZN4 billion ($2.4 billion) for the construction and rehabilitation of the liberated territories. The education and healthcare sector will receive AZN4.9 billion ($2.9 billion) and AZN1.99 billion ($1.2 billion) respectively in the 2025 Budget. The government has also allocated AZN366.2 million ($215.4 million) to housing and communal services, including capital repair of residential buildings and other services under the state budget. Over the remainder of the forecast period, the construction industry is expected to register an annual average growth rate of 3.3% between 2026-29, supported by investments in transport and renewable energy infrastructure projects, coupled with the government's plan to increase the share of renewable energy in the total installed electricity-generation capacity to at least 35.5% by 2030; the government also plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and 40% by 2050, compared to the 1990 level. Left to right: Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman; Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey applaud during a press conference at the Alabama State Capitol on Feb. 12, 2025 promoting a law enforcement package in the Legislature. Ivey mentioned the package as a top priority in her February State of the State address. What's left of her priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session?(Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Legislature is just over halfway through the 2024 Legislative Session with Tuesday marking the 17th day of session. Gov. Kay Ivey laid out her priorities for the session in her State of the State address in February. Some have already been signed into law, like the What is a Woman Act and the Glock switch ban. But what is still moving through the legislative process? To the governor SB 97, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, also known as the What is a Woman Act, was one of the first pieces of legislation to make it to Iveys desk this session. Critics say the law is discriminatory and that passage was rushed. It received final passage on the fifth legislative day, which is the minimum number of days it takes to pass a bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law defines sex as the state of being male or female as observed or clinically verified at birth and provides further definitions for male, female, man, woman, boy, girl, mother and father. It also prohibits males, as defined by the law, from being in female spaces, as defined by the law, and vice versa. Ivey signed a ban on Glock switches, which turn semi-automatic firearms into automatic firearms, on March 19. SB 116, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, makes it a Class C felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine, for a person to own or sell the combination of parts that create a Glock switch. The bill was the first firearm restriction legislation to pass the Legislature since 2010. Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, carried the legislation in the House and had done so for the past two sessions. The Legislature also passed a bill altering the Veterans Affairs Board to give Ivey control over its commissioner and policies. SB 67, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, the board will retain its current size of 17 members, but the governor will appoint the commissioner. The bill also removes the boards ability to enact policies and rules on veterans issues, reducing them to an advisory role in the governors office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ivey appointed Jeffrey Newton, a retired brigadier general, as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs last week. We will use this new structure to focus on what matters most serving those who sacrificed so much for our freedoms our veterans and their families, Ivey said in a statement after signing the bill. Ivey supported paid parental leave for educators in her February speech. Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, tried to pass the legislation last year, but it did not get a House vote. This year, Figures and Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, teamed up to pass SB 199 on March 20. The law allows women who give birth, have a stillbirth, or a miscarriage after 12 weeks to receive eight weeks of paid leave. It also allows a father to take two weeks of paid leave under those circumstances. If a couple adopts a child under 3 years old, either parent may have eight weeks of leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It awaits a signature from Ivey, which she said last week in a social media post she would sign it. Thank you to Rep. Ginny Shaver and Sen. Vivian Figures for carrying this important legislation. I look forward to receiving the bill and getting my signature on it, she wrote. To the floor On the education front, Ivey called for a ban on cell phones in classrooms. HB 166, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, and SB 92, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, bans cell phone use in public schools from bell-to-bell with few exceptions. According to the legislation, cell phones could be used in emergency situations, by students with Individualized Education Plans and Section 504 plans, and when necessary for instructional purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both bills are waiting on floor votes in their respective chambers of origin. SB 55, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliot, R-Josephine, attempts to invalidate out-of-state drivers licenses issued without legal presence verification. It passed the Senate in February and the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee in early March. It awaits a vote on the House floor. HB 297, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Silverhill, would impose a 4% fee on international transfers, often used by immigrants to support family overseas. It is similar to SB 77, sponsored by April Weaver, R-Alabaster, but the House version does not impose as much of a fee that Weavers bill proposed. It passed a House committee last week and awaits a vote from the full House. HB 7, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, would give sheriffs deputies and police officers authority to arrest and detain people without citizenship and to transfer them to the custody of federal law enforcement. It passed a House committee in February and awaits a floor vote in the House. It is not on the agenda for April 1, when the Legislature returns from a weeklong break. Committee conversations A bill that would allow felons convicted under the Habitual Offender Act before 2000 to have their sentences reviewed passed the Alabama Senate last week and moves to the House Judiciary Committee. As of Wednesday afternoon, that committee has not posted its agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 156, sponsored by Barfoot, also known as the Second Chance Act, got support from Ivey. The criminal justice reform measure is designed to ensure state prison space is used for the most serious offenders. SB 63, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, would require fingerprinting and DNA collection from non-citizens in custody. The bill passed the Senate in February and is awaiting a vote in the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee. SB 53, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, establishes a process to determine immigration status detained by law enforcement and creates a new crime of harboring or concealing a person without legal immigration status. The bill received a lot of criticism for containing language that mirrored the Fugitive Slave Act. That language has been removed from the bill. It passed the Senate in February and is awaiting approval from the House Judiciary Committee. HB 3, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, enhances penalties for people without legal status when they are charged with a felony where the victim is a minor. It passed the House last week and awaits approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which does not have its agenda published yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Studies have repeatedly found that immigrants without legal status commit significantly less crime than the U.S. population as a whole. HB 302, sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, requires companies that hire people without legal status to register their employees with the Department of Workforce. The sponsor said the bill aims to cut down on human trafficking. It passed the House last week and awaits consideration from the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, which does not have its agenda published yet. Ivey also called for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public schools, including colleges and universities, despite a federal court ruling on a similar Louisiana law deeming the display unconstitutional. SB 166, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, received opposition and support in a March committee meeting. Opposition primarily came from religious leaders from across the state, while support stemmed from Western civilizations foundation. The legislation has yet to be moved out of the Senate Education Policy Committee, and it is not on the committees agenda for next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On public educator benefits, a bill giving public educators workmens compensation was stalled last week in the House Ways and Means Education Committee. SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, was carried over without a vote due to Republican committee members concerns about how the legislation mirrors the benefit given to state employees. HB 202, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, raises the bar for prosecuting law enforcement by creating a round of hearings on a law enforcement officers immunity prior to trials or hearings. The bill passed the House along party lines in early March and awaits approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee. A bipartisan supported public safety bill, HB 287, sponsored by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, requires law enforcement agencies to report their staff numbers annually. It passed the House in February and awaits a vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee. The House Judiciary Committee last week approved a constitutional amendment expanding Aniahs Law, which was approved by voters in 2022. The expansion would make more charges subject to bond denial, including having a firearm or firing a gun into places with people, or soliciting, attempting or engaging in a conspiracy to commit murder. SB 118, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, awaits a vote from the full House. Money, money, money The General Fund and Education Trust Fund (ETF) budgets are not usually considered until the back half of the session. This year is no different. Ivey submitted her recommendations for the ETF and General Fund, which total at $9.2 billion and $3.4 billion, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter supports an overhaul on the funding formula for the ETF. Legislators approved a hybrid model in February. Its time to get something different, Ledbetter said on Feb. 4. Theyre looking at a weighted funding which, you know, the areas which are more poverty stricken, it certainly would help them, as well as ESL students. I certainly believe its positive. Lawmakers previously outlined three options: maintaining the existing system, which allocates money based on daily attendance; overhauling it entirely, or adopting a hybrid with additional funding for specific student populations, such as special education and English language learners. Members decided to go with the hybrid approach, which would maintain the current foundation program while introducing additional funding based on student needs. As of Wednesday, no bills had been filed to make the change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House passed five tax cuts that mostly affect the ETF. The cuts take $205 million from the ETF, which is less than the $230 million hole left by the overtime tax exemption that is set to expire this summer. Ledbetter said he likes the overtime tax exemption, but the five bill package would impact more Alabamians. I think those are the largest tax cuts thats ever been passed in this state, and it affects everybody, not just a small segment of the population, Ledbetter said last week. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, filed a bill that would extend the overtime tax exemption and commission a study on its economic impact. There is not a fiscal note attached to HB 467. Lawmakers said in February they are prioritizing essential services as federal COVID funds disappear. COVID funding and historically high income and sales tax revenues left state coffers flush over the last several years, allowing legislators to pass supplemental funding bills near the start of the legislative sessions. Alabama Medicaid requested $1.2 billion in state funding at its budget hearing in February. While that is a $229 million increase from last year, Medicaid gets $8.9 billion from the federal government. The General Fund will start in the House this year and the ETF will start in the Senate. Ledbetter said last week that he expects to see the budgets in committee next week. Well probably see them the first week of April, but a lot of works already been done behind the scenes going into that, Ledbetter said last week. Committees have met, theyve met with agencies, and so I think were in a place where we start moving those through. Gov. Ivey said in a statement Thursday morning that she looks forward to getting the rest of the public safety package and the cell phone ban to her desk. The governor is confident her other legislative priorities will make their way to her desk, including the remainder of the Safe Alabama public safety package, the bill to get cell phones out of the classroom during instructional time, among other items, the statement read. We are pressing full speed ahead! SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This story was updated at 9 a.m. Thursday to add a statement from Gov. Ivey. The United States has seen more measles cases than all of 2024 just three months into the year, with more than a dozen states reporting cases of the highly contagious disease. Though no cases have been reported in Wisconsin, health officials are keeping a close eye on cases across the nation, Wisconsin Department of Health Service Immunization Program Coordinator Dr. Stephanie Schauer told the Journal Sentinel in an email. "Because measles is highly contagious, a person traveling to areas where there are infections could easily bring it to Wisconsin," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that the disease could linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves, Schauer noted that it's possible to catch measles "nearly anywhere," like grocery stores, movie theaters or on planes and buses. She said the best protection is the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine emphasizing that the vaccine is safe and used globally, with over 575 million doses administered worldwide. Wisconsin last reported a measles case in April 2024, when a Dane County adult was infected and believed to have contracted the disease after traveling to another state. Here's what to know: Are there any measles cases in Wisconsin? No, there have been no measles cases reported in Wisconsin in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Two states have reported recent measles outbreaks. Is Wisconsin at risk? How many measles cases have been reported in the U.S.? There have been 378 measles cases in the U.S. reported as of March 20, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. The agency notes only confirmed cases are included in data, though it is "aware of probable measles cases" reported by other jurisdictions. Which states are reporting measles cases? The following 18 states have reported measles cases: Alaska California Florida Georgia Kansas Kentucky Maryland Michigan New Jersey New Mexico New York Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Vermont Washington Have recent outbreaks increased measles vaccination rates in Wisconsin? Among kindergarteners, Wisconsin has some of the lowest vaccination rates for the MMR vaccine in the country, according to most recent CDC data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schauer said DHS has noted "a bit of an increase" in MMR doses administered to adults, adding that the amount given to pediatric patients remains fairly steady. "We are working with providers, such as our Vaccines For Children network, to encourage them to have more MMR on hand and not miss opportunities to vaccinate children," Schauer said. The CDC recommends two doses of the MMR vaccine for all children and at least one dose for adults who are not considered immune. Two doses are 97% effective in preventing measles. Conversely, about 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles end up contracting it, according to the CDC. Additionally, one in five unvaccinated people who get the disease end up needing hospitalization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Frequent travelers, college students, and healthcare professionals should definitely make sure they are up to date on the vaccine," Schauer said. Where can I get a measles vaccine in Wisconsin? The MMR vaccine is available at area doctor's offices or clinics, local health departments, and some local pharmacies. Locate vaccine providers near you using vaccines.gov. If you do not have health insurance, or your insurance may not cover vaccines, the states Vaccines for Children and Vaccines for Adults provides free vaccines. What are the signs and symptoms of measles? If you believe you have been exposed to measles, the CDC urges you to immediately contact your healthcare provider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first signs of an infection typically pop up seven to 14 days after exposure, the CDC says. Initial symptoms may include: High fever, which could surpass 104 degrees Cough Runny nose Conjunctivitis According to the CDC, white spots, called Koplik spots, may appear in an infected persons mouth two to three days after symptoms begin. Following this, the measles rash begins. It typically appears three to five days after symptom onset and starts out as flat, red spots that appear at the hairline. The rash then spreads downwards, the CDC says. It may also: Be accompanied by a high fever Develop small raised bumps on top of red spots Bunch up and join together as it spreads across the body Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Common complications from measles include ear infections and diarrhea, though it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening issues, even death, according to the CDC. Serious complications include: Pneumonia Encephalitis, swelling of the brain Hospitalization Pregnancy complications Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles, according to the CDC. Those infected with the disease should isolate for four days after the development of the rash and vitamin A may be administered repeatedly in severe cases, the agency says. Janet Loehrke contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Have any measles cases been reported in Wisconsin? BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Two suspects were arrested for their reported to connection to a shooting in early March that left a man dead. According to Birmingham Police, Phong Nguyen was found shot at a home on the 900 block of Dugan Avenue around 2:35 a.m. Sunday, March 3. Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the home Nguyen was found at was being used as a short-term rental and believe there was a party being held at the home prior to the shooting. Alabama Cold Case Advocacy group spotlights 22-year-old case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Birmingham police announced that they obtained capital murder warrants for Cameron Scales, 19, of Bessemer, and Daveon Dortch, 20, of Birmingham. Scales was already in custody for separate and unrelated 2024 murders. Dortch was arrested in Atlanta. He will be taken to Birmingham and held in custody of 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. CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) Two employees at a Conway day care are facing charges after one of them allegedly hit a boy and caused him to fall, and the other failed to report the incident to authorities. Conway police charged Kabria Hasty, 26, and Tanyell Wellington, 38, both of Conway, after the alleged incident on Monday at Your Neighborhood Childcare on Creel Street. According to arrest warrants, the boy suffered head and facial injuries after Hasty hit the boy and caused him to fall from an elevated location. Wellington witnessed the incident and did not report it to authorities as required by law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hasty was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Wednesday and charged with unlawful conduct toward a child. She posted a $10,000 bond and was released on Thursday, according to jail records. Wellington was arrested on Thursday and charged with failing to report child abuse and neglect, jail records show. She posted a $2,000 bond and was released. * * * 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two children and an adult were injured in an apartment fire in Frayser on Thursday morning, according to the Memphis Fire Department. The fire broke out at the Corning Village Apartments at 1420 Briercrest Lane at around 7 a.m. MFD confirmed that one adult and two children were taken to an area hospital in non-critical condition. I mean, when I woke up, my baby say, Somebodys house is on fire. So, I woke up like, oh, my God, its on fire, said neighbor Kim T. At first it was just smoke and then I saw flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next-door neighbors say they only received water damage to their apartment, but theyre thankful there was no loss of life. It makes me sad when you got kids. I love kids so I just pray for them babies. I pray that theyre okay. So, I dont I wouldnt wish that on nobody, said Kim. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but 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 WREG.com. (NewsNation) A new dinosaur has been discovered in Mongolia, one that sported two large claws measuring about a foot long on its front feet. The dinosaur has been named Duonychus tsogtbaatari, which translates to Tsogtbaatars two-claw, honoring paleontologist Khishigjav Tsogtbaatar. It was discovered by Yoshitsugu Kobayashi and his colleagues, and the fossil is between 96 and 90 million years old. The Duonychus fossil was initially located in 2012, and an international team of researchers released a paper on the fossil in Science this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House withdrawing Stefanik nomination to serve as US ambassador to UN The dinosaur lived in Mongolias Gobi Desert during the Upper Cretaceous period. The fossil is incomplete, preserving the forelimbs and hips, part of the shoulder girdle and vertebrae from the back, hip and tail base. The fossilized remains add more diversity to a group of dinosaurs that is already strange. Therizinosaurs are mostly found in Asia, largely from the Cretaceous period and were bipedal, with long necks, short tails, deep, wide hips and clawed, feathered forelimbs. Therizinosaurs are part theropods, the group that contains all predatory dinosaurs, and part of the subgroup maniraptorans, which includes birds, velociraptors and oviraptors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How will Trumps auto tariffs affect car prices? Duonychus was a midsize species, likely weighing about 575 pounds and measuring 10 feet. Unlike the more famous therapods like Tyrannosaurus rex, therizinosaurs were likely herbivorous and had leaf-shaped teeth for consuming vegetation. Duonychus would probably have used its two claws to shear leaves from trees for eating and possibly for grappling or self-defense. Its the number of claws that interests scientists. While dinosaurs originally had five fingers, most evolved to three fingers. Having two digits is rare, putting Duonychus in a select group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High heat in Texas prisons unconstitutional: judge The fossil is also rare in that one of the claws had the keratin covering preserved. From that, scientists determined the live animals claw would have been 40% longer and more curved than the bony core. Because Duonychus was discovered in an area with three other therizinosaur species, scientists believe they must have eaten different foods or used various methods to reach vegetation to avoid competition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds and Jared Moskowitz of Florida have a plan to reform federal emergency management and improve the efficiency of federal emergency response efforts. They would remove the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a unit of the Department of Homeland Security, and make it an independent agency with Cabinet rank reporting directly to the president. Their legislation, announced this week, comes as the entire future and role of FEMA is uncertain with just two months to go until the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump has said that responding to emergencies should be much more of a state rather than federal responsibility. Id like to see the states take care of disasters, he said in January. Let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen. FEMA earned the ire of conservatives last year after reports that workers in Florida were directed to bypass homes with Trump signs during the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. The worker accused of delivering that order was fired. Several national news organizations, including CNN, Politicos E&E News, and the Washington Post, reported this week that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton and others met to discuss dismantling the agency. CNN cited multiple sources familiar with the meeting and the Post cited four people familiar with the talks. The Post said the aim was all but eliminating the embattled agencys role in disaster recovery by Oct. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An analysis by the Atlantic Council political, economic and secuirty think tank said Trump abolishing FEMA would be a cruel irony because it would likely hurt the worst in states that supported Trump, especially Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and the Carolinas. Donalds and Moskowitz are advocating a different approach. They are proposing the FEMA Independence Act that would take FEMA out of the Department of Homeland Security and make it a freestanding agency. Another provision would require that the agency leader, who would be subject to Senate confirmation, have a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security across the public and private sectors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person who fits that description: Moskowitz. In the public sector, Moskowitz was director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management during most of Gov. Ron DeSantis first term, and was widely seen as effective in the role. He was at the forefront of the states response to the COVID pandemic, and even changed his social media handle to Jared MASKowitz at the height of the crisis. In the private sector, Moskowitz was general counsel for AshBritt Inc., a national disaster response company based in Deerfield Beach. In December, his name was floated as a possible Trump pick as FEMA director, but Moskowitz ruled that out and said hed seek a third term in the House in 2026 representing parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moskowitz is serving his second term in Congress, and introduced the FEMA Independence Act in 2023, but it was unsuccessful. As the first Emergency Management Director ever elected to Congress, Ive seen firsthand the challenges preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disaster events. As these emergencies continue to grow larger and more widespread, the American people deserve a federal response that is efficient and fast. To achieve that, FEMA should be reformed, Moskowitz said in a statement. FEMA currently sits under the bureaucracy of the Department of Homeland Security. He said homeland security has become too big and too slow to oversee what needs to be a quick and flexible emergency response. Moskowitz said focusing the agency on responding before, during and after disasters would improve efficiency and save lives. Donalds, serving his third term in the House, has announced hes running the 2026 Republican nomination for governor, with Trumps support, and he kicks off his candidacy with a rally on Friday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEMA has become overly-bureaucratic, overly-politicized, overly-inefficient, and substantial change is needed to best serve the American people, Donalds said in a statement. When disaster strikes, quick and effective action must be the standard not the exception. It is imperative that FEMA is removed from the bureaucratic labyrinth of DHS and instead is designated to report directly to the president. The measure would be taking FEMA back to its roots. When it was started in 1979 it was an independent agency. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security was stitched together among a variety of federal agencies. Currently it encompasses 20 agencies, dealing with law enforcement, disasters, border protection and civil defense. _____ LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Two people were hospitalized after what police described as a high-speed crash in the east Las Vegas valley. It happened Thursday near Flamingo and Sandhill roads shortly after 9 p.m. A dark colored SUV was seen weaving through lanes at a high rate of speed before the driver allegedly struck two vehicles, according to Las Vegas Metro police. The driver was also accused of leaving the scene of the crash but was later found by officers nearby with a damaged vehicle and detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The intersection of Viking and Sandhill roads was closed to traffic following the crash Thursday night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A 17-year-old has been arrested in connection with a shooting that left two juveniles injured in Ascension Parish on Thursday, March 27. The Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office said that detectives arrested Jeaon Pindexter of Gonzales. He was booked into the Ascension Parish Jail and charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder, illegal weapon use of weapons, aggravated criminal damage to property and illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile. Deputies responded to a shooting at a house on Prairie South Drive in Gonzales around 7 a.m. Investigators determined that two juvenile males were in a vehicle exiting their driveway when another individual approached and opened fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both victims had injuries that were not life-threatening. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Detectives confirmed that everyone involved knew each other. The investigation remains ongoing. Police: Man injured in Baton Rouge shooting, home damaged 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. Tyler Le/BI A bubble is forming amid the scramble to build data centers to power the AI boom, Alibaba's chairman said. "I start to get worried when people are building data centers on spec," he said. AI "hyperscalers" have been racing to build data centers as they predict demand for AI tools to soar. The artificial intelligence build-out is starting to raise questions even from those competing in the space. Alibaba Chairman Joe Tsai cautioned that so-called hyperscalers companies with big AI ambitions like Meta Platforms and Microsoft are rushing to construct data centers that might not be justified by future demand. "I start to see the beginning of some kind of bubble," he said Tuesday at the HSBC Global Investment Summit, Bloomberg reported. In the US, dominant tech firms such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta have spent billions on the infrastructure underpinning emerging AI tech. The four companies are expected to spend $320 billion in capital expenditures this year to broaden their AI capabilities. The rush to build new data centers is also happening internationally, with investment funds and AI rivals pouring capital into the needed real estate and hardware. Alibaba, a popular Chinese e-commerce site that has jumped into AI development, will invest over $52 billion over the next three years, Bloomberg reported. But the data center buildout is becoming indiscriminate, Tsai said, with companies seemingly developing the sites with hopes of future success. Some projects are occurring without "uptake" agreements. "I start to get worried when people are building data centers on spec." The numbers, at least those pushed by US firms, are also astounding to Tsai, who questioned the need for such spending. "People are talking, literally talking about $500 billion, several 100 billion dollars. I don't think that's entirely necessary," he said. "I think in a way, people are investing ahead of the demand that they're seeing today, but they are projecting much bigger demand." US investors may be starting to share Tsai's cynicism. While massive spending by US Big Tech firms has been a point of strength in previous years, the need for such enormous capex has come under fire as cheaper AI models have emerged from China. Waning enthusiasm for AI has helped trigger a sell-off in stocks such as Nvidia. Read the original article on Business Insider Conde Nast Traveler has assembled what it considers to be the "best weekend getaways in the U.S." and a pair of picturesque escapes in Wisconsin. The piece was constructed by taking five major U.S. cities and picking out four weekend treks from that city. With Chicago listed as one of the hubs, a pair of eastern Wisconsin locales are in the mix. The first is Lakeshore State Park, right in Milwaukee. It's home to 22 acres of scenic trails and vistas on Lake Michigan. Plus, you're in Milwaukee, so you can grab an absurdly large Bloody Mary while you're at it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Whether you're itching to go on a scenic walk through the Oak Leaf state trail, or you're more of an angler chasing the thrill of the catch, consider this not-too-far escape from the city," Conde Nast Traveler writes. Its second pick for a weekend getaway is a familiar one: Door County. Door CountyPhoto by Aaron Clinard/Unsplash Wisconsin's thumb offers cherries, grassy roofs, and beaches. "Come to Door County to amble around its galleries, or hike around the 14 miles of trails quilting its eastern tip in Whitefish Dunes," suggests Conde Nast Traveler. While Milwaukee and Door County are a bit of a jog from Minnesota compared to Chicago, they're still a nice reprieve from daily routines, no matter how long you're planning to stay. Related: How long does it take to travel the US by train from Minnesota? BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Two people who were accused of kidnapping and robbing a 70-year-old woman in Delano were sentenced Wednesday after pleading no contest to a burglary charge. Claudia Castellanos Toqueca and Christian Rojas Chauta were each sentenced to two years in prison, according to court records. Their sentences will soon be complete due to the amount of time theyve spent in custody plus credits for good behavior. On May 9, the victim told police Chauta and Castellanos barged into her home, forced her into a car and made her withdraw $25,000 at a nearby bank. They later abandoned her in an unknown location, police reports say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chauta and Castellanos were arrested days later in Modesto. A plea agreement was reached in January. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. Heartbreaking details are emerging in the violent wrong-way crash in Pomona that left two adult sisters and an infant child dead, along with a motorist suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to a CHP spokesperson, the March 22 collision was first reported around 11 p.m. on the westbound 60 Freeway near Reservoir Street. The wrong-way driver was going east in the westbound lanes, the spokesperson said, when he struck the victims Honda Civic, along with another vehicle. Rachel Moreno, Jazmin Ramos and her 1-year-old son Ezra seen in an undated photo. (Viewer Image) A brutal crash involving a wrong-way driver killed two people in Pomona late Saturday, March 23, 2025. (KNN) A brutal crash involving a wrong-way driver killed two people in Pomona late Saturday, March 23, 2025. (KNN) A brutal crash involving a wrong-way driver killed two people in Pomona late Saturday, March 23, 2025. (KNN) Jazmin Guadalupe Ramos, 29, and her sister, Rachel Moreno, 39, were declared dead at the scene. Jazmins son, 1-year-old Ezra, was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries three days later, on March 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caltrans contractor, father of 2, killed in construction zone The 24-year-old wrong-way driver, identified as Rick Rodriguez, is suspected of driving while under the influence. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he died the following day. Video from the scene obtained by KTLA shows multiple mangled vehicles, including one that came to rest on top of the freeways center median. Devastated family members in Huntington Park, who requested their privacy, are struggling with the loss of the two sisters and beloved Ezra. Rachel, the older sister, was also a mother and leaves behind children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two GoFundMe campaigns, which can be found here and here, have been organized, as well as a car wash, to help raise money for funeral expenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. EDITORS NOTE: The names of the minors have since been removed from this article due to their age as the two have been found. Read the update here. WASHINGTON CITY, Utah (ABC4) Two teenagers have been identified as persons of interest in the homicide of a California woman who was found dead in a Utah vacation rental over the weekend. Authorities have not yet apprehended the persons of interest. At a Wednesday press conference, police stressed that the two teenagers are not being classified as suspects at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are not classifying these two individuals as suspects at this time, they are persons of interest that we want to speak with, police said. We know that they were at the residence before the incident, and did take possession of the vehicle that was from the home. Police said the juveniles were present at some time during the night before the incident took place, and were the last people to see the victim alive. Were trying to piece that together, as well, as to why they were all here together, what exactly was going on, and so thats another reason we want to meet with these two and find out whats going on, police said. PREVIOUSLY: 2 persons of interest identified after California woman found dead in Utah vacation rental Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said they believe something went wrong between 10 p.m. on Saturday and around midnight on Sunday. There were no signs of forced entry at the home, and there are no signs of a fourth individual, police said. Roughly a two-hour period that we have unaccounted for that we want to speak with these two individuals about, police said. Officials said the murder weapon is believed to have been recovered at the scene, and the victim identified only as a 47-year-old California woman had over a dozen stab wounds. The picture on the posters of both persons of interest was taken over the weekend, before the incident, police said. The juveniles were reportedly last seen in Bellflower, California, and may still be in that area, according to police. They are still at large, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims rental vehicle was located in that area of California, and police said the two teenagers were present in that vehicle at the time it was discarded there in Bellflower. The vehicle is in police custody, and evidence is being collected from it after a warrant was issued. Police said the vehicle was discarded in California on Sunday morning, but it is unknown where the juveniles may have been heading next. Authorities said the teenagers have connections to the greater Sacramento, California, area, and they are still believed to be in California. They are known to take medication, which we are unsure if they have their medication with them or not, police said. We want to check their welfare, make sure that theyre safe, make sure that we can talk with them, find out what happened at the scene of our incident here on Sunday. Police said they believe there is no further threat or danger to the public, but encouraged the public to be vigilant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on their whereabouts has been asked to call dispatch at 435-634-5730 and reference incident number 25Z002501. Alternatively, those with information can email Sgt. Carter at JCarter@washingtoncity.org or email Detective Lloyd at TLloyd@washingtoncity.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 ABC4 Utah. Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, right, introduces former President Donald Trump at a roundtable discussion in Auburn Hills, Mich., on October 18, 2024. Trump has endorsed Donalds for Florida Governor. Credit - Win McNameeGetty Images Republican Rep. Byron Donalds had just strode into a waterfront yacht club in Naples, Florida, last month when his phone wouldnt stop vibrating. As the host of a fundraiser for Rep. Andy Barr, he tried to ignore the relentless stream of calls and texts as he mingled with donors and noshed on hors doeuvres. But then he heard a special ring reserved for one person: Donald Trump. When Donalds slinked into a backroom to answer, the President told him the news. Trump had just endorsed him to be Floridas next governor. This was a game-changer for Donalds. There was only one complication. He hadnt announced he was running yet. His political team moved quickly, filling out paperwork and booking him on Fox News a few nights later to formally declare his candidacy. It's the biggest endorsement in politics, he tells TIME, knowing he had to capitalize on the momentum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also had to keep up with Trump. The President is only a few months into his second term but is not wasting any time shaping the future composition of the Republican Party. Sources familiar with Trumps thinking say hes strategically intervening in 2026 primaries early, with an eye toward bolstering young upstarts who will keep the GOP molded in his image when he exits the scene. Donalds, 46, isnt alone. Last month, Trump also endorsed the biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, 39, to become Ohios next governor, making him the odds-on favorite to replace Gov. Mike DeWine. At the same time, some of Trumps closest allies are laying the groundwork for other MAGA up-and-comers. Vice President J.D. Vance has encouraged the 44-year-old software executive Nate Morris to run for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky, sources familiar with the matter tell TIME. Since then, Morris has gotten a boost from Trumps eldest son, Don, Jr., who hosted him on his podcast earlier this month. While Trump Jr. refrains from endorsing candidates before his father, his embrace has often been a prelude to GOP hopefuls securing Trumps backing. In past cycles, he was highly influential in encouraging Trump to support young MAGA insurgents such as Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, and Vance. For Trump and his inner circle, its a matter of establishing the kind of permanent imprint on his party that has eluded his predecessors. President Trump is going to do what Obama and Bush failed to do, and that is cementing a lasting legacy through building up the next generation of leaders who share his vision for our country, says Alex Bruesewitz, the CEO of X Strategies and a Trump adviser and family friend. Of course, Trump has long intervened in primaries. By building a social and political movement that gave him coercive power over the GOP, hes been able to punish heretics and elevate loyalists committed to advancing his agenda and interests. The strategy hasnt always worked. A handful of his picks lost critical races across the country in the 2022 midterms. But Trumps grip over the Republican base is as strong as it's ever been. The upshot is that hes now cultivating the class of Republicans he hopes will sustain MAGA as a political force in the post-Trump era. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donalds has been on Trumps radar for years. After winning a U.S. House seat in 2020, he was among the lawmakers who voted against certifying Joe Bidens election win in January 2021. Donalds then became one of Trumps most vociferous defenders in Congress and endorsed him for President in April 2023, shortly after his first indictment. Over time, the two became close. On the campaign trail, Trump often invited Donalds to travel with him on his private plane, dubbed Trump Force One. They strategized over how to win young Black voters, a group Donalds targeted as a Trump campaign surrogate. (Trump doubled the share of votes he won with Black men under 45 compared to 2020.) In November, after the election, Donalds visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago to tell him he planned to run for governor and asked for his endorsement. Trump made no promises. Obviously, he was busy with transition and inauguration, Donalds tells me. But then, something made Trump speed up his decision: Ron DeSantis. The President still begrudges his former protege for challenging him in the 2024 election. When he learned that the governors wife, Casey DeSantis, was preparing to run as his replacement, Trump chose a moment of maximal humiliation to undercut the duo, according to multiple Trump aides. He was planning on supporting Donalds anyway, but posted his endorsement of Donalds on Truth Social when DeSantis and his wife were flying to Washington D.C. for a Republican Governors Association meeting, where they would see Trump in a few hours. Trump has moved just as swiftly with other MAGA darlings like Ramaswamy, who often defended and praised Trump during a longshot presidential bid that raised his national profile. Last month, Trump endorsed Ramaswamy on the same night he launched his campaign for Ohio governor. It echoed an evening in January 2024 when Ramaswamy ended his presidential bid and endorsed Trump. It was around that time that they formed a bond. Together, Trump and Ramaswamy brainstormed future options for the millennial firebrand. We had a lot of different possibilities that were floated, Ramaswamy tells TIME. Initially, he was going to co-chair the Department of Government Efficiency with billionaire Elon Musk. But Ramaswamy left after Trump decided to fold the cost-cutting commission into the executive branch, replacing the United States Digital Service; he would have been legally prohibited from running for office while serving in the federal government. Early polls had Ramaswamy leading any of his potential competitors by far, with 61% of Republican respondents ranking him as their first choice, according to a Bowling Green State University survey. Trumps stamp of approval further solidifies his glidepath toward clinching the GOP nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Trump and Musk taking a chainsaw to the U.S. government, Ramaswamy argues that governors will be emboldened in the years to come. It is the idea of devolving federal power to the states, he says. The center of gravity of changing the country starts now in Washington, D.C., but if you skate to where the puck is going to be in a couple of years, it's going to be the states that, from education to health care, are going to have to set policy and lead. Trumps allies are still setting their sights on Congress. Vance and Trump Jr. have spearheaded efforts to identify and promote young Trump-aligned national populists. Thus far, for 2026, they are mainly focused on Morris, a Louisville businessman and prolific Republican donor. When he was 23, Morris raised $50,000 for George W. Bushs reelection campaign. Hes a friend and supporter of Sen. Rand Paul, a libertarian who has clashed with Trump on his tariffs. But he also counts Vance as a confidant and was a major donor to Trumps 2024 campaign. Sources tell TIME hes preparing to run for outgoing Senator Mitch McConnells seat, as Vance has urged him to do. Morris has made other powerful allies. He caught Trump Jr.s attention after recently castigating McConnell, a former Senate Minority Leader and Trump World villain, for voting against the nominations of Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard. Shortly thereafter, Trump Jr. amplified Morris on social media and hosted him on his popular right-wing podcast. Morris moves come as Trump is looking for a candidate to replace McConnell. Trump has told his inner circle that he doesnt want to support former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who has already entered the race. Trump endorsed Cameron for governor in 2024, but Gov. Andy Beshear defeated him handily. He lost by five points in a state Trump carried by 30, one of the Presidents aides tells TIME. He knows hes not the guy. For Trump, thats the other part of the equationfinding candidates he thinks can win. Part of his path back to power, after all, was engineering the ousting of GOP critics on Capitol Hill like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and supplanting them with disciples. You have to understand where the President's mind is and what hes trying to accomplish, Donalds says. And you support that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps lieutenants are also committed to the project. Donalds campaign includes several close Trump aides: pollster Tony Fabrizio, communications consultant Danielle Alvarez, and political operative Ryan Smith. On Friday, Donalds plans to officially launch his campaign in Bonita Springs, a seaside community in Trumps home state, where he has taken a particular interest in leaving an enduring influence. Hes very deliberate here about lasting legacy, a source close to Trump says. He uses the word young a lot when talking about the moves hes making. Contact us at letters@time.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The race for a new juvenile court judge for the 21st Judicial District Court heads to a runoff, according to complete but unofficial results on the Louisiana Secretary of States website. Candidates headed to runoff: Jenny Richardson Fore (Republican): 13,328 votes Jessica Ledet (Republican): 8,727 votes The race heads to a runoff on May 3 after voters in Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa parishes went to the polls on Saturday, March 29. The runoff will determine the new judge for Division I, a juvenile court within the district court system currently held by Judge Mary C. Devereux. District Judge Race on March 29: Three Republican candidates qualified in January to run for the open position in the March election: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Davis-Lee (Republican) Graduated from Loyola Law School. Member of Childrens Justice Task Force. She said her passion is juvenile justice, believing that it starts with the children to break generational cycles of crime and poverty. Read more on Davis-Lees campaign website. Jenny Richardson Fore (Republican) Graduated from LSU in 2010 and graduated from Southern University Law Center in 2013. Has represented children in juvenile court for the last decade. She said she understands what it takes to fight the rise in youth crime from a legal standpoint. Read more on Richardson Fores Facebook page for her campaign. Jessica C. Ledet (Republican) Endorsed by Gov. Jeff Landry. Earned a law degree from Southern University Law School. She said she would like to add programs to help youth, their parents, schools and the community. Read more on Ledets Facebook page for her campaign. See March 29 election results >> 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. SACRAMENTO, California Mounting concerns about genetic data privacy in the wake of 23andMes dramatic collapse are stress-testing Californias uniquely tough privacy laws, demonstrating the real-world challenges of actually implementing the protections outlined on paper. California has some of the strongest privacy laws in the country and the only dedicated privacy agency but 23andMe has revealed the limits of legislation when the worst happens, with even the state attorney general admitting he struggled to delete his own data from the company. This is the nightmare scenario, California state Democratic Sen. Tom Umberg, author of Californias Genetic Privacy Rights Act, told POLITICOs California Decoded newsletter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Umbergs 2021 law is coming in clutch right now for Californians scrambling to scrub their saliva from 23andMes database after the South San Francisco-based company filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, leaving the fate of more than 15 million users data up for grabs. Unlike in states with weaker laws, the company is legally required in California to safeguard genetic privacy and delete peoples information upon request as it navigates bankruptcy filings. Those obligations live on at least on paper after 23andMe sells, Umberg said. But enforcing the law is a whole different beast, and its spawning hard-to-answer questions about how California ensures genetic data stays secure when disaster strikes. Heres what were wondering as the 23andMe fallout continues: Does requesting that 23andMe delete your data actually delete your data? Its not as automatic as you might think, even under Californias robust privacy regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to 23andMes privacy policy, customers need to provide additional verification in a follow-up email after pressing the delete button to wipe their data. Even then, the company retains some basic information, including email addresses. The office of Democratic state Sen. Josh Becker, who authored Californias 2023 Delete Act bolstering data protections, pointed out that someone has to physically destroy the customer saliva samples stored by 23andMe. If 23andMe is completely dissolved and there are no more employees because of this bankruptcy request procedure, then theres nobody to press the delete button, Becker spokesperson Charlie Lawlor told POLITICO. Thats assuming the company can handle the swarm of customers accessing the site while it navigates bankruptcy. 23andMe users have already reported issues accessing the platform to delete their data. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who had urgently warned customers to delete their data before the bankruptcy filing, told ABC News this week that the website was down when he first attempted to shutter his account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can try to access the protections that the law gives us, but it might or might not work, Tracy Rosenberg, advocacy director for the nonprofit Oakland Privacy, told POLITICO. What happens to your genetic data when 23andMe finds a buyer? The short answer: Whatever that buyer wants to do with it. There are a lot of buyers for tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of DNA profiles, and [for] most of them, the reasons are probably malignant or pretty close to that, Rosenberg said. 23andMe is searching for a buyer that shares in its commitment to customer data privacy, the company said Sunday in an open letter to customers. But whoever buys the genetic data could rework 23andMes privacy policies before trying to sell the information off to data brokers and the lot, making it difficult for customers to track down and delete their information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve got a zombie business that has incredibly important information, Umberg said. If 23andMe becomes something else, how does a consumer know what that something else is? Becker authored the Delete Act to solve this problem by creating a one-stop shop to wipe your info from all data brokers, but the feature likely wont be available until January 2026. And even then, the Delete Act wont cover genetic data unless the Legislature approves the follow-up bill, SB 361, that Becker is pushing this year. How will state officials respond? Neither Umberg nor Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, who co-sponsored the Delete Act, said theyre mulling new legislation as a result of 23andMes bankruptcy. Instead, both lawmakers said its up to Bontas office to enforce the laws they wrote. They suggested his office should involve itself in the companys bankruptcy proceedings to ensure 23andMes successor follows the rules, with Umberg telling POLITICO he planned to spell that out in a letter to the attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a company is violating the law by making it difficult for you to get your data deleted, Wiener told POLITICO, they can be sued. The state Department of Justice declined to say whether it planned to intervene in the companys bankruptcy proceedings, though spokesperson Elissa Perez told POLITICO in a text message that the department expect[s] all companies operating in California to follow the law and is paying close attention to this issue. But California has no shortage of willing enforcers: Bonta already demonstrated his willingness to go after privacy violators after announcing an investigative sweep of the location data industry earlier this month, and Californias Privacy Protection Agency said theyre ready to step in if the company slips up. If businesses dont hold their end of the bargain by honoring Californians rights, well take appropriate action, Michael Macko, the CPPAs head of enforcement, told POLITICO in a statement. Chase DiFeliciantonio contributed to this report. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs California Decoded newsletter. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Twenty-seven defendants were prosecuted in connection with an extensive drug and money laundering conspiracy that operated in the mid-state from 2018 through 2021, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. Federal law enforcement agents identified U.S. Mail parcels containing substantial quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. The drugs were connected to a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy operated within the state prison system by Humberto Pelon Morales. Over the course of the investigation, authorities determined Morales allegedly operated across numerous Middle Tennessee counties as well as other states and Mexico. The U.S. Attorneys Office alleged that at Morales discretion, co-conspirators routinely sent wire transfers consisting of drug proceeds totaling, at a minimum, hundreds of thousands of dollars to Mexico to pay for controlled substances and to promote the continued operation of the conspiracy. Co-conspirators also deposited drug proceeds into bank accounts and conducted wire transfers related to the conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee For years, our office has worked diligently to break up this deadly criminal organization and hold its members accountable, acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire said. These dangerous criminals who plagued our community are behind bars, some for decades. Thanks to the dedication of our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners, their day is over, and justice has been served. Morales was called a ranking Surenos gang member and was serving a decades-long sentence within the Tennessee Department of Correction in connection with a Williamson County home invasion. Morales and other co-conspirators reportedly used encryption communication services, and cell phones that had been smuggled into Tennessee prisons, and coordinated the delivery of drugs across state and national borders. The full list of those arrested, along with their sentences, is below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humberto Morales, a/k/a Pelon age 33 life imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release Armando Lopez, age 48, 324 months imprisonment and 7 years of supervised release Jennifer Montejo, age 37, 300 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Avigael Cruz, age 33, 264 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Jose Alvarado, age 48, 240 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Kevin Oliva-Hernandez, age 35, 216 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Jesse Sanchez, age 35, 216 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Jacob Lee, age 29, 216 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Billy Cruz, age 30, 204 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Phillip Christopher Smith, age 45, 204 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Mario Garcia Flores, age 37, 180 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Terrance Marquette Bobo, age 32, 180 months imprisonment in two cases and 5 years of supervised release Austin Dodd, age 29, 180 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Justin Blake Lee, age 30, 168 months imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release Jairo Rostran, age 32, 156 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Grecia Rocio Barrios, age 37, 156 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Ricardo Davalos Martinez, age 32, 144 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Kevin Tidwell, age 31, 120 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Kim Lamont Birdsong, age 53, 100 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release Tiffany Messick, age 30, 84 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Jasmine Taylor, age 30, 78 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release David Ku, age 49, 66 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release Oscar Avelar Anguiano, age 37, 66 months imprisonment and 1 year of supervised release Luis Ramirez Escudero, age 32, 60 months imprisonment and 1 year of supervised release Melinda Tidwell, age 35, 50 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release Stacy Owens, age 35, 12 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release, followed by an additional 11-month sentence in a related matter. Korrine Parker, age 47, time served and 5 years of supervised release. As of publication, Vasquez and Ramirez remain fugitives from justice. Additionally, another six individuals associated with Morales were charged and convicted in separate cases. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The collaboration between HSI and IRS-CI exemplifies the relentless pursuit of justice, even when crimes are committed behind prison walls, Homeland Security Investigations Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud said. Together with our partners, HSI will continue to disrupt criminal networks, ensuring that we hold these violent gangs accountable, regardless of where they operate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorneys Office said six of those defendants would face deportation proceedings at the end of their sentences. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BlackRock has announced its widely anticipated entry into Europes cryptocurrency exchange-traded product (ETP) market with a physically backed Bitcoin strategy. The iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) debuts with total expense ratio (TER) of 0.15%, but this will rise to 0.25% at year-end when the temporary fee waiver ends. Domiciled in Switzerland and backed by Bitcoin held in cold storage through Coinbase, IB1T trades on Deutsche Boerse, Euronext Paris and Euronext Amsterdam. The ticker mirrors that of the firms US-listed Bitcoin ETFthe iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT)which at $50.7 billion in assets under management (AUM) is around three times the size of the second-largest US spot Bitcoin ETF. The U.S. regulators decision to approve Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 helped power the cryptocurrency to new highs. It received a fresh boost in November when President Donald Trump, who is thought to have a favourable stance on digital assets, was elected. Bitcoin broke through the $100,000 mark for the first time in December but has been under pressure in recent weeks, currently trading around $87,000. BlackRock Undeterred by Bitcoin Pullback The worlds largest asset manager said the decision to expand its crypto ETP offering to Europe was grounded in data. A recent survey conducted in partnership with Focal Data found that 75% of professional investors would be interested in a Bitcoin ETP within the next two years. Jane Sloan, EMEA head of global product solutions at BlackRock, said, With 25 million cryptocurrency investors across Europe, we believe ETPs have an important role to play to build a bridge between crypto and traditional finance through their efficiency and convenience. Alongside ease of access, the iShares Bitcoin ETP is built to provide institutional-grade security for Bitcoin holdings for investors in Europe. Europe's Small but Growing Crypto Market With a TER of 0.25%, BlackRock comes in at the market rate for physical Bitcoin ETPs in Europe, with CoinShares, WisdomTree and Invesco all recently dropping their fees to that level as part of a fee war in the space. Europes crypto ETP market remains substantially smaller than in the U.S., with the largest product housing just $1.3 billion in AUM. Earlier this month, white-labeler HANetf unveiled Europes first leveraged Bitcoin and Ethereum ETCs. This article was originally published at etf.com sister publication ETF Stream. Permalink | Copyright 2025 etf.com. All rights reserved Update: Kansas City police said Thursday morning that David Nelson has been located and is safe. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A 27-year-old man has been reported missing in Kansas City. According to the Kansas City Police Department, David Nelson was last seen in the area of 3201 Southwest Trafficway around 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 26. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Nelsons mother told police that she spoke to him briefly on the phone around 8:40 p.m. and he said he was on a bus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nelson is described as a Black man with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt, khaki pants and black shoes. He has been diagnosed with autism, police said. Anyone who has seen Nelson is asked to call 911, and anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the KCPD Missing Person Section at 816-234-5043. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The United States founders set out to create a country where citizens would be free to practice whatever religion they chose. Does all that freedom fuel religious switching? Yes, but not as much as in several other countries. According to Pew Research Center, 28% of Americans have changed religions since childhood. That puts the U.S. near the middle of the pack in Pews new analysis of how common it is to switch religions in 36 countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Korea came in at No. 1 on Pews list. Half of adults there have left their childhood faith, Pew found. Spain (40%), Canada (38%), the United Kingdom (36%) and Japan (34%) are among the other countries with higher switching rates than the U.S. In general, religious switching is more common in East Asia, Western Europe and the Americas than in the rest of the world. In several African countries, as well as in Israel (1%), India (2%) and Turkey (4%), fewer than 10% of adults have switched religions since childhood, Pew reported. Members of the choir at Central Moravian Church sing at a "Lovefeast" service in Bethlehem, Pa., Dec. 1, 2024. | Luis Andres Henao What is religious switching? For the purposes of its analysis, Pew defined religious switching as a change between the religious group in which a person says they were raised (during their childhood) and their religious identity now (in adulthood). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Importantly, the change had to be from one large religious category to another from Christian to Muslim or from Jewish to Buddhist, for example rather than from a Catholic church to a Presbyterian one or from a Reform synagogue to an Orthodox synagogue for it to count. Pew chose the term switching over other options like converting because researchers included people who now identify as religiously unaffiliated. And in fact, the majority of the movement highlighted in Pews study involved leaving organized religion behind. Most of the switching is disaffiliation people leaving the religion of their childhood and no longer identifying with any religion," researchers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, in the U.S., around two-thirds of the 28% of adults who belong to a different religious category now than they did as a child moved away from a religion into the disaffiliated category. Christianity losing religious switchers In the U.S. and many of the other countries included in the report, Christianity is experiencing the largest net losses. In other words, many more people are leaving Christianity as adults than joining it. In Germany, for example, this ratio among Christians is 19.7 to 1.0, meaning there are nearly 20 Germans who say they were raised as Christians in childhood but dont consider themselves Christian today for every one German who has become a Christian after being raised in another world religion or in no religion, researchers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.S., the ratio is 6 to 1. Buddhism also stood out in the report for its losses. In a few countries, like Japan, Buddhism is losing at 10 times more adult adherents than it gains. Other takeaways on religious switching Pews new study is based on survey responses from nearly 80,000 people. Here are a few other takeaways from the report: ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) Three people were arrested Wednesday and are accused of trafficking drugs into Holman Correctional Facility. Alabama attorney general warns 23andMe customers to delete accounts According to the Alabama Department of Corrections, Adam Louis Malone, Audrey Teresa Kelley and Frederick Jermaine Cobb were all arrested. An ADOC news release said a K-9 unit noticed a suspicious vehicle, which led to a search. ADOC Narcotics and Law Enforcement Services Divisions agents found a variety of drugs and other contraband in the vehicle with the help of the K-9 unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ADOC officials said they found about 1,008 grams of marijuana, about 88 grams of methamphetamine, about 20 grams of oxycodone, about 20 grams of sprayed paper, about 4 grams of fentanyl, eight cell phones and 12 vape pens. Malone, Kelley and Cobb are accused of trafficking marijuana, trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking fentantyl, prohibited activities, attempt to commit a controlled substance crime distribution, and possession of a controlled substance oxycodone. They are all in the Escambia County Jail. Sink or save? Group starts petition to fight against SS United States from becoming artificial reef Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to ADOC, the investigation remains ongoing and more charges could be 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 WKRG News 5. Three suspects wanted for organized retail theft out of Camarillo were taken into custody after a dangerous high-speed chase in Ventura County on Wednesday. Its unclear when exactly the suspects were spotted at the Camarillo Outlets, located at 740 Ventura Boulevard, but deputies with the Ventura County Sheriffs Department were chasing the dark-colored Mercedes sedan shortly before 4:30 p.m. on the southbound 101 Freeway. After traveling onto northbound lanes of the 23 Freeway and later eastbound on the 118 Freeway, the driver, wearing what appeared to be a pink-colored shirt, was clocked at speeds of more than 115 miles per hour. Authorities were in pursuit of a speeding vehicle in Simi Valley on March 26, 2025. (KTLA) Two suspects involved in a high-speed pursuit in Simi Valley are seen jumping a fence into a backyard after abandoning their vehicle with authorities chasing on March 26, 2025. One of a handful of suspects involved in a high-speed pursuit in Simi Valley is seen opening a shed in the backyard of a home after abandoning their vehicle with authorities chasing on March 26, 2025. Two of three suspects surrender to deputies in Simi Valley after a high-speed pursuit on March 26, 2025. (KTLA) Authorities were in pursuit of a speeding vehicle in Simi Valley on March 26, 2025. (KTLA) The driver also appeared to clip at least one, possibly two vehicles, likely causing a front wheel to come off the vehicle, forcing the driver to pull off the freeway where the three suspects attempted to flee on foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caltrans contractor, father of 2, killed in construction zone Aerial footage from Sky5 captured the suspects jumping a fence and hiding in a shed in the backyard of a residence in the 2500 block of Woodhaven Court in Simi Valley. As VCSO deputies searched the abandoned vehicle off the 118 Freeway, officers with Moorpark and Simi Valley police departments responded to the cul-de-sac where the home and shed were located. Eventually, three law enforcement officers, guns drawn and a shield forward, approached the backyard, opened the gate and then backed away, allowing the three suspects to exit the shed and surrender without further incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. AUSTIN (KXAN) Francisco Villalobos, 29, and Priscilla Davila, 25, boyfriend and girlfriend, were two of the 11 people seriously injured when a tractor trailer slammed into nearly stopped traffic on I-35 in north Austin on March 13. This happened the night before Priscillas 25th birthday, the couples attorney, Aaron von Flatern, with FVF Law said. So she actually spent her 25th birthday in the ICU in a medical coma. They were driving a Toyota sedan, which is pretty much unrecognizable at this point, according to von Flatern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said crews had to cut Villalobos from the vehicle. Theyre both recovering. In these cases, in the beginning, theres a lot of attention. People are coming to the house with food, going to the grocery store, von Flatern said. But eventually, they have to go back to their own lives, their own jobs, so eventually, for people who are critically injured like this, they feel their world getting smaller. Theres a very long road they have to face. Priscilla Davila and Francisco Villalobos ANOTHER LAWSUIT: Man injured in deadly I-35 crash files $100 million civil lawsuit against driver, Amazon, ZBN Transport Von Flatern added he believes Villabos and Davila are amazing clients and people and said its been really touching to see them take care of each other. Quick facts about the crash Below is a summary of the deadly March 13 crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five killed, including a child and an infant At least 11 injured Driver of tractor-trailer hauling Amazon load arrested on intoxication manslaughter, assault charges Driver: Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, worked for third-party carrier ZBN Transport LLC Crash happened on I-35 southbound near Parmer and Howard in a construction zone where traffic merged from three lanes to one Liability? Officials examine the aftermath of a fatal crash on I-35 southbound near Parmer Lane on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Photo courtesy Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman) The bulk of the Villalobos and Davila lawsuit targets Amazon. Araya was working for a third-party carrier hauling an Amazon load at the time of the crash. Amazon has reiterated to KXAN multiple times that Araya was not an Amazon employee. Amazon and companies like Amazon are attempting to run these massive logistics operations using an army of third-party contractors that are minimally insured, minimally supervised, minimally vetted, von Flatern said. The lawsuit maintains Amazon is at least partially responsible for the crash, because Arayas operation of the subject tractor-trailer was tracking and controlled by Amazon through the technology independent carriers use to deliver for Amazon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wiping out generations: Attorney for people killed in crash going after trucking companies, construction A spokesperson for Amazon said the company cannot comment further on this case beyond its original statement of this is a horrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with all those involved. Were cooperating with all investigations. However, the company did direct us to a portion of its website that lists out what Amazon requires of third-party carriers that haul Amazon loads. Some of those are listed below: Minimum behavior analysis and safety improvement scores A Department of Transportation (DOT) number that has been active for at least 180 days Various insurance coverages Federal safety ratings of satisfactory, none or not rated Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The website also said, Amazon uses a variety of tools, including our internal compliance teams and a third-party compliance monitoring service, to validate and continually monitor carrier compliance. In addition to Amazon, the lawsuit goes after ZBN Transport, Araya himself and Pulice Construction, which the lawsuit states controlled the temporary work zone where the crash happened. Typically, these third-party carriers are carrying $1 million or less in insurance, which we all know is not enough to cover a case like this, von Flatern said. ZBN has previously told KXAN that Araya passed a background check. The company has continually responded no comment to our follow-up questions. Mugshot of Solomun Weldekeal-Araya, 37 (APD photo) The suit notes Arayas arrest affidavit, which indicates police believe he was on drugs some kind of depressants at the time of the crash and had previous hours of service violations, which means he drove more than his allotted hours on multiple occasions. The suit also notes a speeding ticket Araya got in Wilmer, Texas, for driving 63 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My investigation is just beginning, and I cannot assume that the police or NTSB have been thorough or accurate in theirs, Bristol Myers, Arayas attorney, told KXAN last week. Regarding Pulice Construction, the suit alleges the construction operation provided inadequate distance and/or warnings to allow drivers to react. KXAN has reached out to Pulice and will update this story when we receive a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. UNION COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Detectives with the Union County Sheriffs Office Special Victims Unit have identified and arrested four individuals accused of attempting to sexually exploit minors online. These arrests stem from an ongoing operation targeting individuals using chat rooms and social media platforms to solicit and victimize children. Detectives began identifying digital spaces frequently used by child predators in February by using online profiles that clearly indicated they were minors under the age of 16. Multiple adult offenders solicited explicit images and attempted to arrange in-person meetings for sexual acts. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here In three of these cases, the offenders traveled to a prearranged meeting location in Monroe, where they were immediately apprehended by a team of UCSO detectives, deputies from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Unit, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation special agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one of the cases, involving Brian Ganiel, 41, the offender failed to appear at the designated location. However, UCSO personnel tracked him down and arrested him near his residence in Four Oaks, NC. One of the suspects, David Curlee, 64, of Charlotte, was already a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest, having a prior conviction for similar crimes. Additionally, during forensic examinations of electronic devices seized during these arrests, investigators discovered child sexual abuse material on seized devices belonging to Curlee and another suspect, Richard Tecuapa, 21, of Monroe. As a result, both individuals are facing multiple felony counts of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor in addition to their solicitation offenses. Additional charges may be forthcoming based on the results of forensic examinations of electronic devices seized during these arrests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The individuals facing charges are: David Curlee Felony Solicitation of a Child by Computer Ten counts of Felony Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Registered sex offender at time of arrest for previous child sex offenses Remains in custody under a secured bond of $1,000,000 Richard Tecuapa Felony Solicitation of a Child by Computer Ten counts of Felony Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Remains in custody under a secured bond of $1,000,000 Brian Ganiel Felony Solicitation of a Child by Computer Remains in custody under a secured bond of $500,000 Jon Turner (41, Waxhaw, NC) Felony Solicitation of a Child by Computer Remains in custody under a secured bond of $500,000 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community members with any information related to these cases are urged to contact the UCSO immediately. Reports can be made by calling 911 or submitting an anonymous tip through Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600. Additionally, tips can be submitted via the UCSOs smartphone app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. NATO has clarified a statement that Secretary-General Mark Rutte made about the four U.S soldiers from a Georgia military base who disappeared while training in Lithuania. While he was giving a lecture on Wednesday, Rutte said that he had received word that the soldiers were dead. The U.S. Army, however, said the soldiers fate hasnt been confirmed yet. The search is ongoing, NATO said in an updated 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. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The U.S. Army confirmed that the soldiers, based in Fort Stewart, Georgia, were conducting an exercise at a training field near Pabrade, Lithuania, a town located about six miles from the border with Belarus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Army said their Hercules armored vehicle had been found submerged in a body of water. Recovery efforts are ongoing. Fort Stewart has not released the soldiers names. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. The water level at the incident site in Pabrade has been pumped down enough to begin excavation work. Vehicle is barely detectable, its position remains unclear. Possible depth is around 5 meters. All the latest information is being promptly provided to the soldiers' families. pic.twitter.com/p8QWNbwQAv Lithuanian MOD (@Lithuanian_MoD) March 27, 2025 TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CBS News dropped a sneak preview of their upcoming 48 Hours story titled Dead Girls Dont Talk about Hollywood producer David Brian Pearces 2021 drugging of Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola. In the sneak peek of the special that airs Saturday, March 29 on CBS a timeline of events is laid out from Giles and Cabrales-Arzolas night out to ending up at an emergency room after visiting Pearces Beverly Hills home and overdosing on fentanyl. The Hollywood producer reportedly told a friend dead girls dont talk. The special focuses on the investigation of correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti who has been working on this case for more than three years. He speaks exclusively with one survivor, only known as Jackie, about Pearces actions. She is now bravely sharing her story for the first time and insists she is not a suvivor. Im a fighter. Thats what I am, she said of her experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 48 Hours will also feature interviews from Lieutenant Calvin You and Detective Jonathan Vander Lee who worked on the case. This trial will not change what happened, Fernanda Cabrales-Arzola, Hildas sister, said. It will not bring my sister back or Christy. The harrowing clip also chronicles Giles husband Jan Cilliers tracking his wifes location the night she died. At one point he shared an unrecognized address that turned out to be Pearces home and got dark responses. Theres somebody that lives at this location that is a very unsavory person, Cilliers said. He passed himself off as a big shot Hollywood producer but he was a con man with an alleged history of sexual assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pearce was found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder in early February for Giles and Cabrales-Arzolas death. The producer was also found guilty of three counts of forcible rape, two counts of sexual penetration by use of force and one count each of rape of an unconscious person and sodomy by use of force. All of the charges were for crimes against seven different women that took place between 2007 and 2020. Giles was found dead outside Southern California Hospital in Culver City. She died from a drug overdose after a mixture of cocaine, fentanyl, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and ketamine were all found in her system. According to the police report, Giles was dropped at the hospital by masked men in a car that had no license plate. Cabrales-Arzola died of multiple organ failure after cocaine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) and other undetermined drugs were found in her system. She was left at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Hospital. She was on life support for 11 days before her parents made the decision to remove her from care. Today, a serial rapist was held accountable for the deaths of Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, both of whom tragically died as a result of fentanyl poisoning, and the victimization of seven other women across Los Angeles, District Attorney Nathan Hochman said following the February conviction. I thank the trial team, Deputy District Attorneys Catherine Mariano and Seth Carmack, for their tireless pursuit of justice and determination to give a voice to the women who bravely came forward to report the crimes committed against them. The office will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who illegally supply fentanyl and destroy lives, especially those who commit sexual assaults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the 48 Hours sneak preview above. The post 48 Hours Shares First Look of Special on Hollywood Producer Who Murdered 2 Women With Fentanyl | Video appeared first on TheWrap. Five people were injured, including two Americans, in a "serious" stabbing attack that occurred in broad daylight in Amsterdam's city center on Thursday, police said. The suspected assailant is in custody and a motive remains under investigation into what authorities are considering might have been a random attack, police said. The incident was reported shortly before 3:30 p.m. Thursday, with emergency services receiving multiple reports of a stabbing, police said. PHOTO: Police officers stand in the area where five people were wounded during a stabbing attack near the central Dam Square in Amsterdam on March 27, 2025. (Simon Lenskens/ANP via AFP via Getty Images) The victims were located at various locations near Amsterdam's central Dam Square, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Police are considering the possibility that the suspect may have randomly targeted victims, but the exact motive remains unknown," Amsterdam police said in a statement. MORE: 14-year-old killed, 4 injured in knife attack in Austria The victims include two Americans -- a 67-year-old woman and a 69-year-old man -- police said. A 19-year-old woman from Amsterdam, a 26-year-old man from Poland and a 73-year-old woman from Belgium were also injured in the stabbing, police said. Police did not release any details on their conditions. PHOTO: Medical staff assist one of the five people that were wounded during a stabbing attack in Amsterdam on March 27, 2025. (ANP/Inter Visual Studio via AFP via Getty Images) Officers apprehended the suspect near Dam Square with the help of bystanders shortly after the incident, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was transported to a hospital with a leg injury and officers are investigating his identity, police said. The police investigation is in full swing and is currently the highest priority," Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said in a statement. "We hope to gain clarity soon about the background of this horrific stabbing incident. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and loved ones. 5 injured, including 2 Americans, in 'serious' stabbing attack in Amsterdam: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Rupert Soames, chairman of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), says bosses are becoming irritated with the Government - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg Labours tax rises and workers rights bill have left the UKs bosses pretty p----d off, the head of Britains biggest business group has said. Rupert Soames, the chairman of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said bosses were becoming irritated with the Government, adding that dealing with the consequences of Angela Rayners workers rights bill would be very difficult. He added: People bought into the idea that Labour would be the most pro-business Government ever and clearly they arent. Mr Soames made the comments in response to a question to how businesses felt about the Governments policies during the Business Leader Summit in Westminster. He praised the Government for some brave stuff including slashing regulation and overhauling Britains burdensome planning rules, but added: Government should be a really small influence on what you do. It comes after the Chancellor announced a 25bn National Insurance raid on employers, which means the rate paid on workers wages will increase to 15pc from next week and the wage threshold at which it kicks in will be lowered. Ms Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, is also pushing ahead with plans to overhaul UK employment law, including by making flexible working the default for all employees. Also speaking at the summit, Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said: The Employment Rights Bill is a proper horror show. Mr Griffith said the reforms being introduced by Labour will be very difficult for business. Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, has called Angela Rayners workers rights bill a proper horror show - Lucy North/PA During Labours election campaign last year, Ms Reeves pledged she would be the most pro-growth, pro-business Treasury in our history. It should not be the job of government alone to deliver that investment. It will require a new partnership with business, she said in July. I want to break the minister-knows-best model of government, with business sat round the table helping to write our plans for the economy. In opposition we have opened our doors to business and in government we will do that, too. More broadly, Labour has said its number one mission is kickstarting Britains economy by being both pro-business and pro-worker. Prior to the election, Labour also vowed to hold back from increasing taxes on working people. However, businesses have warned Ms Reevess National Insurance grab will be devastating for lower-paid staff as it will make it more expensive to hire these workers. UKHospitality, the trade body for pubs, restaurants and hotels, called the raid one of the most regressive tax changes ever. British bosses have warned Ms Rayners Employment Rights Bill could be deeply damaging for business by subjecting them to more burdensome red tape. They have also said employers also risk being swamped in tribunal claims owing to changes that would let workers take their employers to a tribunal from their first day in the job. Video above: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) speaks during Wednesdays hearing. (The Hill) 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 Donald 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. On several occasions, GOP members referenced a bombshell essay published by former NPR editor Uri Berliner last year outlining what he described as 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Queen City News. *Attached video: Previous coverage about a shooting that killed a 14-year-old boy CLEVELAND (WJW) The Cuyahoga County sheriff is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the person who killed a 14-year-old in Cleveland. According to the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office, Rayshawn Watkins was shot and killed on March 19 while taking the garbage out in the hallway of an apartment building on the 1800 block of East 13th Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Car crashes off cliff near Cleveland Zoo According to officials on the scene of the shooting, the 14-year-old boy was found around 2 p.m. with an apparent gunshot wound. He was then taken to MetroHealth Medical Center and later pronounced dead, police said. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner later identified the 14-year-old victim as Rayshawn Watkins. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime, a poster from the Cuyahoga County Crime Stoppers said. Popular Cleveland bar and restaurant permanently closed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrests have yet been made in Watkins murder. Anyone who has information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 216-252-7463 or www.25crime.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. VALRICO, Fla. (WFLA) Six people who federal officials said were in the country illegally were arrested during an early morning raid in a Valrico neighborhood. Residents woke up around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning to find special agents of the FBI and ICE lining Dixie Maid Lane and large explosions going off at a home on the street. Tampa man arrested in Operation Take Back America initiative Its a little scary for anyone when you see all of that presence of law enforcement come for one house, C.J. Calderwood, who lives in the area, told News Channel 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another neighbor, Travis Hughes, got out of bed after his dogs started barking, only to peer outside and see a tactical vehicle that looked like it could take an IED in the middle of Afghanistan if it needed to. While the purpose of the raid was initially unclear, an ICE spokesman confirmed Wednesday that it was a part of enhanced immigration enforcement operations. The six people who were taken into custody are all Honduran nationals, according to ICE. Two of them were also ICE fugitives with final orders of removal, officials said. As part of its routine operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests aliens who commit crimes and other individuals who have violated our nations immigration laws, a statement from ICE read. All aliens in violation of U.S. immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States, regardless of nationality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other agencies involved in the execution of the March 25 federal search warrant included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; and Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Thursday marks six months since Helene moved through Georgia and into North Carolina and left behind flooded homes and businesses. In September, Channel 2s Bryan Mims went to the Asheville, N.C. area, which was among the hardest hit communities. Now, hes back in the same areas to see the progress they have made in recovery efforts. On Thursday, he was in Marshall, N.C. where the towns spirits were starting to rise. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Mad Co. Brewery was forced by floodwaters to shut down after Helene moved through. The Main Street brewery is considered a staple in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mims was there as the business and townspeople celebrated the brewerys grand reopening. He also spoke with business owners who are happy to be back serving their community. Alex and Adam Webber own On Your Bike, a coffee shop and bike repair shop, that had to close. The water came up to the ceiling, all the windows broke out, the back wall broke out, everything was wiped out, Alex Webber said. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adam Webber said the open sign in front of their shop is a sign that the town is coming back to normal. You know, you cut a tree down and you think its dead, and then you start to see a green shoot pop up from the stump. Thats what our open sign is. It means were coming back, he described. Alex Webber said getting the store back open took days of dirt and sweat. We were here every day, every weekend, every evening. We were just here the whole time, and we did a lot of work ourselves, she said. Town hall and many businesses are still closed, but On Your Bike and Mad Co. Brewery reopening is bringing life back to the community. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] 6 suspects, including 4 juveniles, arrested for Bay Area armed carjackings (KRON) Two men and four juveniles allegedly connected to a Bay Area crime spree involving armed carjackings, burglaries and sideshows were taken into custody, the San Jose Police Department announced Thursday. The police investigation began after a Nov. 19, 2024, carjacking outside of a residence in San Jose. A resident awoke early that morning to find three suspects breaking into his vehicle, SJPD said. When the victim confronted the group, one of the suspects pointed a gun at him. The trio fled the area in the victims vehicle. (San Jose Police Department) The same suspects were found to be involved in a crime spree spanning over a few months, police said. Authorities accused the group of multiple armed carjackings, armed robberies, vehicle thefts, vehicle burglaries, and sideshow activity. Arrest warrants were obtained for six suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darren Nguyen, 19, of Oakland, was arrested in Morgan Hill on Dec. 5, 2024. Two months later, police arrested Alexander Carrillo, 19, of Tracy, in San Jose on Feb. 5. VIDEO: Thieves chain door to vehicle to break into San Jose liquor store One juvenile suspect was arrested on Feb. 25 in Hayward, and two others were arrested on March 18 in Hayward and Oakland. The fourth juvenile was found to already be in custody at Alameda County Juvenile Hall for an unrelated crime and was arrested, police said. Three of the arrested juveniles are 17 years old, and one is 16 years old, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One firearm was recovered during search warrants that were executed in the case, according to SJPD. Vehicles that the group allegedly stole were recovered in San Francisco, Oakland and Hayward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 pollster YouGov has found that Americans view the Signal leak as at least as problematic as Hillary Clintons use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state in the Obama administration. In September 2022, 62 percent of Americans said the use of the private server was either very serious or somewhat serious. That included 40 percent of Democrats and 88 percent of Republicans. The American public has adopted an equally dip view of the leak, which included several top Trump officials and detailed timeline of the attacks shared by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth slammed Clinton on Fox News in late 2016, saying, 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. In a YouGov poll conducted on Tuesday, 53 percent of all respondents said its a very serious problem that The Atlantic editor in chief was included in the conversation regarding the sensitive war plans, while 21 percent said its a somewhat serious problem, for a total 74 percent viewing it as an issue. Meanwhile, a majority of Republicans have said that its a problem that journalist Jeffery Goldberg was included in a Signal group chat alongside numerous senior administration officials as they discussed airstrikes in Yemen, the survey shows. Among Republicans, 60 percent said it was either a very serious or somewhat serious problem, according to the poll of nearly 6,000 U.S. adults. The same was true for 89 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Independents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forty-eight percent of American adults said they believe that the Trump administration officials violated the law by sharing the war plans on the app. However, only 21 percent of Republicans agreed with that sentiment, compared to 76 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of independents. Goldberg reported in The Atlantic on Monday that he was added to the group chat by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz ahead of the March 15 strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The magazine subsequently published screenshots of the messages showing Hegseth sharing a thorough timeline of the planned attacks. Americans view the Signal leak in at least as bad a light as Hillary Clintons use of a private email server during her time as Secretary of State (AP) On Wednesday, President Donald Trump claimed that the incident was really not a big deal. That came after he backed up Waltz on Tuesday following reports that some officials were discussing the removal of the national security adviser. The texts revealed by The Atlantic on Wednesday show Hegseth sharing the timing of the attacks just minutes before they occurred, including an outline of what weapons would be used and what targets would be attacked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waltz has taken responsibility for including Goldberg in the chat, but the administration hasnt explained how the mistake occurred. Appearing on Fox News, Waltz said the incident was embarrassing, and added that Goldbergs number was filed under another name in his phone. Trump has suggested that a lower-level staffer could be behind the mistake, but Waltz contradicted that claim during his interview on Tuesday. Administration officials have said on numerous occasions that the information included in the chat was not classified. However, some Republican members of Congress and current and former defense officials have told media outlets such as Politico and HuffPost that the information was, or should have been, classified. On Thursday, Trump yet again criticised U.S. District Judge James Boasberg after he was put in charge of overseeing the case of the Signal group chat. The judge was also handed the case regarding the administrations use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants whom the administration claims are connected to the Tren de Aragua gang. Mike Waltz has taken responsibility for adding the editor of The Atlantic to a Signal group chat (Fox News) How disgraceful is it that Judge James Boasberg has just been given a fourth 'Trump Case, something which is, statistically, IMPOSSIBLE, the president wrote on Truth Social after 1 a.m. on Thursday. There is no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP REPUBLICAN, to win before him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That post came after he addressed reporters from the Oval Office, arguing that the concerns over the sharing of military plans on a messaging app are a witch hunt. Its a phrase Trump has frequently used to describe the legal cases against him. Trump claimed to be unconcerned about the leak as there was no harm done, because the attack was unbelievably successful. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Some travelers might face some traffic issues this weekend if they happen to be in the Madisonville area. Officials say the contractor working on the I-69 Rehab Project in Madisonville plans to block the on-ramp from KY 70/254, also known as Center Street/ Brown Road, to northbound Interstate 69 at Exit 114 on Saturday. KYTC continuing to install traffic signals on Carter Road Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) says the closure is expected to begin around 4 a.m. on March 29 and should be completed by that night. There are no other changes to the existing traffic control patterns planned at this time. Lane restrictions from KY 281/Island Ford Road to the KY 2657 and on the Exit 117 overpass to U.S. 41 will stay in place. Officials explain the work is part of the ongoing $10 million interstate rehabilitation project along a 4.34-mile section of I-69 in Madisonville. The work zone stretches from KY 70 at the 114.24 mile point to the KY 2657/Fowler Road overpass at the 118.15 mp. (Courtesy: KYTC) 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). Some 69% of Ukrainians trust President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology published on March 27. The results counter claims by tech billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, who wrote on X on March 6 that Zelensky would "lose by a landslide" if Ukraine held an election. The survey found that only 28% of respondents do not trust Zelensky, resulting in a trust-distrust balance of +41%. Conducted from March 12 to 22, the poll interviewed 1,326 adults in government-controlled territories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll indicates that trust in Zelensky remains relatively stable, with no significant change from a previous survey conducted from Feb. 14 to March 4. A prior poll published on March 7 showed that Zelensky's approval rating had risen to 68% following his tense Feb. 28 meeting with Trump at the White House, which ended in a public dispute over security guarantees and the cancellation of a minerals agreement. Trump has also labeled Zelensky a "dictator without elections," blaming him for prolonging the war. However, Ukraine's constitution prohibits elections under martial law, which has been in effect since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Legal experts say Zelensky's term extension is permitted under Ukrainian law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A February survey before the clash with Trump put Zelensky's trust level at 57%, with a trust-distrust balance of +20%. Read also: We asked Ukrainian soldiers if theyd fight Russia with their bare hands rather than accept a bad ceasefire Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. HONOLULU (KHON2) At around 12:24 a.m. on Wednesday, HFD received a 911 call reporting a blaze in Kaimuki. Man in critical condition following apparent stabbing Upon arrival, the first unit found heavy smoke pouring from the second floor of a small two-story residential building. Firefighters immediately began working to contain the flames and protect nearby structures. Neighbors of the unit on 17th Avenue said the first indication of a fire was the smell of burning plastic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But then I could hear like wood burning, like crackling, said Karista Deliguin, who lives next door. I thought it was my neighbors in back, but when I opened my window, the lights were off. So I came outside and I saw a bunch of smoke coming out from right next door so I immediately called the fire department. During a search of the building, a 79-year-old man was found unresponsive on the second floor. HFD quickly extricated him and transferred him to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at 12:44 a.m. for treatment. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The man was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead. EMS also transported another bystander for treatment, though their injuries were not life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors say the smoke kept them from doing more to help. We broke down the door and then the smoke just came and we had to evacuate, said a neighbor who only wanted to go by her first name, Alika. The fire was under control by 12:50 a.m. and fully extinguished by 1:10 a.m. The American Red Cross has been contacted to assist eight residentsincluding six adults and two infantswho were displaced by the fire. No injuries were reported among HFD personnel, and all units have been accounted for. An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the damage. Further updates will be provided once the investigation is complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news This incident is also under investigation by the Honolulu Police Department, though there are no signs of foul play at this time. The cause of the fire remains undetermined. Neighbors are mourning the loss of someone they say was friendly, happy and always willing to lend a helping hand. He took care of the area, He was always saying hi to people, said Alika. Nice guy. Hes the one who approach me and Jessie, welcome here,' said resident manager, Jessie Mindo. Everybody, they like him. While the exact cause of the fire is still being investigated, this latest fatal fire involving individuals 65 years and older, highlight a troubling statistic: kupuna are more than two and a half times as likely to die in a fire than younger people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not just house fires, its the Lahaina fire, its the LA fires, its every single natural disaster, said Craig Gima, spokesperson for AARP Hawaii. According to the AARP, factors like limited mobility, slower reaction times and medical conditions can make it harder for older adults to escape in time. They urge kupuna and caregivers to have an escape plan. You have to build a team, you have to maybe involve the neighbors. You have to ask for help, said Gima. There are two resolutions in the legislature that call for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to collaborate with other agencies to develop outreach programs to inform kupuna about emergency preparedness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think there needs to be a larger push to make sure kupuna can better survive disasters, said Gima on Senate Concurrent Resolution 22 and House Concurrent Resolution 37. Back on 17th Avenue, the community is remembering a man they say made their neighborhood a little brighter. He was a very welcoming, happy guy. He was very sweet. From the times Ive come across from him. Very sweet guy, very unfortunate, said Deliguin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD aims to double its sales outside China to more than 800,000 cars in 2025 and will look to overcome tariffs by assembling cars locally, its chairman told analysts on an earnings call on Tuesday. BYD, which sold 417,204 units overseas in 2024, expects to see "a substantial rise" in its market share in Britain, which is "very open" to competitive Chinese products, according to a transcript of the call by Wang Chuanfu that was reviewed by Reuters. The company also sees "great opportunities" to grow rapidly in Latin American and Southeast Asian countries, where the governments and people are friendly towards Chinese brands, he said. With governments abroad weighing or levying tariffs against Chinese-made cars, BYD plans to keep its cost advantage by purchasing key components from China and assembling the vehicles in local markets, Wang added, without specifying the countries he was referring to. A BYD representative confirmed the target of doubling overseas sales to 800,000 units this year, but did not respond to a request for comment on the rest of Wang's remarks. BYD is leading an overseas push by Chinese automakers, opening showrooms in markets from Australia to Germany as it seeks a respite from a brutal price war at home. Wang said last year that BYD expects exports to help shore up profitability. During the Tuesday meeting he told analysts he expected to see the majority of BYD's profits coming from overseas markets "at a certain stage". He didn't specify the timing for that to be achieved. The company will continue building factories overseas without partners as it has abundant funding, Wang added. BYD is currently building a factory in Brazil, its biggest market outside China, although the development was hit last year by allegations of labour abuses. The carmaker is also building factories in Thailand, Hungary and Turkey. In addition, Wang said that BYD had no plans to sell into Canada and the United States in the short term due to geopolitical developments. The Trump administration has maintained duties of 100% on Chinese-made EVs, as has Canada. Wang told the analysts he was confident BYD's profitability per vehicle would exceed Toyota's when it reached the scale of the Japanese manufacturer, saying BYD's cost control was better. Toyota , the world's top automaker by sales, sold 10.8 million vehicles in 2024, while BYD sold 4.27 million. BYD, which is targeting sales of 5.5 million units this year, has roiled the Chinese auto market by rolling out more affordable models, including its entry-level Seagull electric hatchback that sells for less than $10,000. It also offers smart driving features at no extra charge on most of its lineup. LONDON, Ky. (WATE) An 81-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in Laurel County, Kentucky after deputies found methamphetamine during a road safety checkpoint. A traffic safety checkpoint was established on KY-552 approximately seven miles south of London. Around 1:30 p.m., a Laurel County Sheriffs Office K9 detected the presence of drugs while inspecting a pickup truck. Teens arrested after tractor-trailers struck by objects dropped from Knoxville overpass Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies located a bag of methamphetamine under the cars hood and arrested the driver, identified as 81-year-old William Clontz. Investigators determined he was wanted on an outstanding warrant and was operating the vehicle without a valid license. See more top stories on WATE.com Clontz was charged with trafficking a controlled substance and multiple traffic violations. Deputies also seized a large quantity of cash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An Abilene man accused of raping his adult daughter with mental disabilities has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Hosea Jones received his 18-year prison sentence Wednesday after pleading guilty to Sexual Assault in connection to the allegations Tuesday. Court documents state the investigation into Jones began in March 2022 after police received a report that Jones was sexually assaulting his adult daughter, who had long-term mental disabilities and was incapacitated after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers and other witnesses report that [Jones daughter] clearly speaks and acts with the maturity level of a prepubescent female, according to the documents. When interviewed, the documents state Jones daughter described multiple instances of sexual assault and in a recorded interview, Jones admitted to his behavior and that he knew it was wrong, saying he did it while he was using cocaine. Jones was initially arrested for this crime in May 2022 and remained in jail until his guilty plea this 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. The Academy has drawn backlash after issuing a statement to members seemingly addressing criticism for not speaking out in support of Palestinian director Hamdan Ballal one of the filmmakers behind the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land who earlier this week was attacked by Israeli settlers and then detained by the Israeli army, according to the Associated Press. The statement, which was sent Wednesday night and signed by Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang, did not mention No Other Land or Ballal by name. The Academy condemns harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints, reads the statement in part. We are living in a time of profound change, marked by conflict and uncertainty across the globe, in the U.S. and within our own industry. Understandably, we are often asked to speak on behalf of the Academy in response to social, political and economic events. In these instances, it is important to note that the Academy represents close to 11,000 global members with many unique viewpoints. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ballal was released by Israeli authorities on Tuesday after his co-director Yuval 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. No Other Land, which won the best documentary Oscar earlier this month and was 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. On Wednesday, Abraham criticized the Academy for not speaking out about the attack against Ballal. 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 on X. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Academys statement sparked social media backlash from the film community and some within the awards body, including documentary branch member AJ Schnack. In a Facebook post, Schnack called it bad in ways that boggles the mind. I had chalked up the Academys failure to speak out in support of a recent Oscar winner being beaten and abducted, I assumed events had happened too fast for you to take action, Schnack wrote in a response addressed to Kramer and Yang. I am shocked and angry that you are now letting us, your members, know that you view the abduction and beating of a recent honoree as something that members will have many unique viewpoints of. With respect, its a truly heinous suggestion. Member Kathleen McInnis agreed with Schnack, saying: I am deeply disappointed in the leadership choices, actually the lack of leadership regarding their choices, from an institution I have been so proud to be a part of Journalists, filmmakers, those who shine bright lights on the darkest corners of humanity need protection and support, not watered down words. Too little, too late, Academy. No Other Land co-director Abraham also responded to the Academys statement on X, highlighting that they explained their silence on Hamdans assault with the need to respect unique viewpoints.' He also compared the remarks to a prior Academy statement expressing their rightfully strong position when its the Iranian government oppressing filmmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Academy declined Varietys request for comment. Elsewhere in the film community, Ballal received a statement of support from the International Documentary Association and a petition calling for his release garnered thousands of signatures. A coalition of U.S. film critics groups comprising members of the National Society of Film Critics, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the Boston Society of Film Critics also condemned the violence against him in a statement on Thursday, writing: As critics representing four of the numerous organizations that honored No Other Land as the best documentary of 2024, we are infuriated that a filmmakers brave and principled advocacy has made him even more of a target in a community where Palestinians already exist under continual threat of displacement and violence. The statement continues: One of the most powerful aspects of No Other Land and the reason so many have tried, in vain, to limit its reach and silence its message is that it is itself a rare feat of collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists and artists, united by their belief in dignity and equality for all. By the very nature of its form and creation, the film represents, and dares to imagine, a more peaceful future. We applaud Mr. Ballal and his colleagues for the courage and artistry with which they have advanced that vision and affirm that it will never be forgotten. Read the Academys full statement below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Academy members, At the heart of the Academys mission is a commitment to honoring excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences and connecting the world through the power of cinema. We do this through our work on the Oscars, our exhibitions and programs, our preservation and education efforts, and so much more. We believe deeply in the ability of film to illuminate, to provoke thought, and to bridge divides by offering a window into diverse human experiences. We fundamentally believe that film has the power to enlighten global audiences and highlight different perspectives and we encourage our members to use their art to do so. The Academy condemns harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints. We are living in a time of profound change, marked by conflict and uncertainty across the globe, in the U.S., and within our own industry. Understandably, we are often asked to speak on behalf of the Academy in response to social, political, and economic events. In these instances, it is important to note that the Academy represents close to 11,000 global members with many unique viewpoints. We are, however, united in a shared belief in the importance of storytelling, in the value of empathy, and in the role of film as a catalyst. As an organization, our focus continues to be the celebration of creative voices that make up the global film community and supporting your freedom to create, to challenge, and to imagine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We remain steadfast in this work, and we are grateful to walk alongside each of you in it. Bill Kramer and Janet Yang Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The remains found in Gilmer County, Georgia, in August 1986 have been identified as those of homicide victim David Clary, thanks to advanced DNA technology. The identification was made possible through a collaboration between the GBI, FBI, and Othram, Inc., a leader in forensic-grade genome sequencing. The Clary family was notified of the identification in February 2025. ALSO READ: Police work to match human remains found in Anson County to missing Pennsylvania woman Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunters discovered the remains on August 9, 1986, in a wooded area south of Ellijay. The Gilmer County Sheriffs Office requested assistance from the GBI, whose medical examiner conducted an autopsy and ruled the death a homicide. Despite numerous leads, the identity of the remains remained unknown until February 2024, when the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland and the GBI Cold Case Unit partnered with the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and Othram, Inc. to utilize advanced DNA testing. The genealogical search, conducted by the investigative team including GBI intelligence analysts and FBI agents from Atlanta and Portland, led to the identification of David Clary. David Clary was originally from the Charlotte area and was known to travel frequently to Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. His last known location was in Gwinnett County. The investigation into Clarys death is ongoing, and authorities are seeking information from the public. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI or the Gilmer County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the identification of David Clary brings some closure to a decades-old mystery, the investigation into his homicide continues as authorities seek further information to solve the case. VIDEO: Police work to match human remains found in Anson County to missing Pennsylvania woman Editors Note: The video above first aired on March 18. MONAHANS, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Last week, a Monahans Police Department officer was arrested after a lengthy investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted a child. Now a multi-page affidavit has revealed new details about the case. 38-year-old Benjamin McGilvray has been charged with three counts of Sexual Assault, one count of Online Solicitation of a Minor, and one count of Child Grooming. The charges stem from an investigation that began in early January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court records, on January 15, investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety were contacted by investigators with the Monahans Police Department about an internal investigation into one of its own officers, identified as McGilvray. MPD asked DPS investigators to assist with a search warrant of McGilvrays phone and once the warrant was granted, it was turned over to Homeland Security for a forensic investigation. Through that search, investigators learned that in December of 2021, McGilvray allegedly met his 13-year-old victim on an app called Grindr. Between 2021 and late 2024, McGilvray reportedly contacted the victim using other apps as well and those encounters escalated when things got physical, the victim said. Investigators said McGilvray and the young teen began sending sexually explicit messages and also met on at least three occasions where they had sex. The child told investigators that when they were 14, and on Spring Break, they met with McGilvray and had sex inside the animal shelter where McGilvray was employed at the time. Other encounters reportedly took place in McGilvrays vehicle at various locations around town. Data showed that in April of 2024, McGilvray contacted his victim using Whatsapp. During that text exchange, McGilvray told his victim, I am a police officer now and then proceeded to exchange sexually explicit videos after the teen asked to see one of McGilvray and his wife. McGilvray and the teen then discussed meeting up for another sexual encounter and McGilvray said he was hesitant to meet at a motel or a park because cops watch those areas. Ultimately, the teen and McGilvray met at a park, the affidavit stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When questioned by investigators, McGilvray reportedly stated that he didnt know how young the child was when they first met back in 2021. In mid-March, McGilvray was arrested and placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Attorney General Russell Coleman announced more than $19.8 million was awarded to 75 Kentucky organizations to combat the opioid and drug epidemic throughout the state, and some of those grants will go to western Kentucky. AG Coleman announced the awards at Goodwills West Louisville Opportunity Center alongside Executive Director of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission Chris Evans and Goodwill Industries of Kentucky President and CEO Amy Luttrell. On Tuesday, the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission approved the grant applications in two categories: Treatment/Recovery and Prevention. Throughout this process, weve seen the inspirational work of dedicated Kentuckians in every corner of our Commonwealth. They all share one goal: to save lives, said Opioid Abatement Commission Director Evans. Im grateful to the Commission members and staff for the countless hours spent reviewing applications so we could invest in the programs that will change the trajectory of our Commonwealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following organizations in the Eyewitness News coverage area received grant funding from the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, along with the counties they serve: Governor Beshear vetoes tolls on new I-69 bridge Treatment grants Cumberland Trace Legal Services $93,750 Combine holistic legal services with supportive services to promote recovery, stability and independence. Includes Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster counties. Family Scholar House $287,149 Support Recovery, Employment, Advocacy and Limitless (REAL) Opportunities, a five-step approach to wrap-around services during and post-treatment to progress individuals from crisis to stability. All counties Hope Center $267,501 Support licensed residential treatment for adult men who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. All counties Horsesensing $116,154 Provide residential treatment and therapeutic job training and placement for people living with opioid use disorder and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders through training to be a professional in the horse industry. All counties Kentucky Health Departments Association $557,171 Provide a statewide harm reduction steering committee through harm reduction coordinators within local health departments (LHDs) along with technical assistance by the Kentucky River District Health Department (KRDHD). All counties Ramey-Estep Homes $224,000 Reduce barriers to accessing, maintaining and completing recovery treatment through housing, transportation services, skill building, job training and onsite medical care. All counties Second Hope Ministries $28,500 Assist currently or formerly incarcerated individuals whose lives and families have been broken by OUD/SUD in finding recovery and purpose as they work to repair their relationships Includes Hopkins County Shepherds House -$345,708 Provide critically needed crisis access housing for persons with opioid use disorder while utilizing evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care in a therapeutic community. All counties Breaking Fentanyls Grip: An inside look from the DEA Prevention grants Hope Center $287,260 Provide OUD prevention, as well as access to OUD treatment and recovery resources to homeless or precariously housed adults with or at-risk of Opioid Use Disorder. All counties Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education $488,676 Provide trauma-informed recovery support services tailored to adult learners impacted by opioid use disorder (OUD) and co-occurring mental health challenges. All counties Kentucky Youth Advocates $126,543 Use data to inform action at the local level through community discussions and individualized support to prevent future generations from experiencing the devastation of the opioid epidemic. All counties Lincoln Heritage Council $31,361 Equip youth with the knowledge, skills and support systems they need to make informed, healthy choices and prevent drug abuse. Includes Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster counties Owensboro/Daviess County Family YMCA -$208,508 Develop and implement evidence-based opioid prevention strategies tailored to the diverse needs of communities across Kentucky. Includes Daviess, Henderson, Hopkins, and Union counties South Central Kentucky Kids on the Block $27,636 Focus on breaking the cycle of abuse by presenting substance use prevention and child abuse prevention programs. Includes Daviess, Hopkins, and Ohio counties The Beacon of West Kentucky $91,015 Support efforts of community collaborators in identifying adults needing treatment and provide the opportunity to support youths social emotional needs while parents are incarcerated, in treatment, and recovery Webster County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say according to state law, the Commission is responsible for distributing the Commonwealths share of the more than $900 million from settlements with the corporations behind the opioid crisis. The other half of the recovered funds are distributed among the states cities and counties according to a predetermined formula. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). A World War II airman who was taken captive by Japanese forces and died in a prison fire after his plane was shot down has been accounted for, military officials said Wednesday. U.S. Army Air Forces Cpl. Glenn H. Hodak, 23, was a member of the 93rd Bombardment Squadron in the 19th Bombardment group in March 1945, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said in a news release. Hodak, of Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, was a gunner aboard a B-29 "Superfortress" aircraft. These planes had multiple machine guns, held over 20,000 pounds of bombs and were especially suited to fly to Japan from bases in China during World War II, according to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Hodak's plane was shot down while on a mission to Tokyo. He was initially reported as missing in action, the DPAA said, but investigators learned he had been captured after the plane was taken down. He was taken to the Tokyo Military Prison. U.S. Army Air Forces Cpl. Glenn H. Hodak. / Credit: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency In late May 1945, U.S. aircraft heavily bombed Tokyo, causing huge fires and burning hundreds of structures, according to Military.com. One of the destroyed buildings was the Tokyo Military Prison. Hodak was among the service members being held there at the time. None of the people imprisoned at the facility survived the blaze, Military.com reported. They were buried in a mass grave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Graves Registration Service disinterred 65 sets of remains from the prison in early 1946, after World War II ended. The service was able to identify 25 sets of remains. One was a Japanese person, the DPAA said. The 39 unidentified sets of remains were interred as Unknowns at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines. In 2022, the sets of remains were disinterred again and sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. In 2024, the DPAA launched the Tokyo Prison Fire Project. In a social media post, the agency said the project "faces considerable forensic challenges due to the burned and fragmentary condition of the remains and extreme commingling." An archival photo of U.S. Army Air Forces Cpl. Glenn H. Hodak's B-29 To identify Hodak's remains, DPAA scientists used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence, the agency said. DNA sequencing has also been used to identify service members who died at the prison, the DPAA said on social media. "The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has had recent success accounting for Americans from the Tokyo Prison Fire. We have accounted for two service members thus far for this project," the agency told CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hodak's surviving family members have been informed that his remains have been accounted for, the DPAA said. He will be buried in Spring Creek, Pennsylvania, in May. Hegseth reacts to Atlantic releasing his Signal texts to Trump team detailing Yemen bombing Hegseth doubles down on Signal chat texts not being "war plans" Former National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster reacts to Trump administration leak A close-up of police lights. An Alabama House committee last week approved a bill that would create a database of people who law enforcement identifies as being part of a gang. (Getty) An Alabama House committee last week approved legislation to create a database that contains information on people suspected of belonging to a criminal enterprise or gang. The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved HB 403, sponsored by Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, at a March 19 meeting. It requires the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to create and manage a database of people that law enforcement identify as part of a criminal enterprise or gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill includes rolling out the database after five years of no activity so there is no collection of information that is dated and no longer timely and relevant, Bedsole said during the committee meeting. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation authorizes ALEA to create and maintain the criminal enterprise database based on information by criminal justice agencies. The database would include information about people that law enforcement agencies believe are engaged in criminal conduct. People can be designated as part of a criminal enterprise or gang if they meet at least three criteria listed in statute. Some of the conditions include getting identified by an informant or family member, or if suspects admit to be part of a gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other criteria include adopting the style of dress of a criminal enterprise. Law enforcement can also label someone as a member of a gang by adopting the use of a hand sign identified as used by a criminal enterprise, or if a person has a tattoo identified as used by a criminal enterprise. Chris Melde, professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University. said the criteria makes it possible for someone who is not part of a gang to be identified as such. You can get a tattoo in the heat of the moment, and they are everlasting unless you go in for a tattoo removal, he said. There are some types of signs and signals that are characteristic of gangs, but they also make their way into popular media. The association becomes especially problematic when law enforcement rely on one indicator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You want to be able to do what is called triangulation of information, Melde said. Multiple sources of information are all identifying the person as a person who is gang involved. He also said one aspect of the list is collection but there are other considerations. You have to have a mechanism in place that either automatically purges that information, or people on the list if there is no more intelligence coming in that they are continuing in gang activity, or people have to go in and manually purge those lists if they become stale, Melde said. It has a list of parameters and safeguards, if you will, that are placed in there, Bedsole said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The database would not be public, and ALEA may only grant criminal justice agencies access to the information contained in the database. People will be granted access only as part of a court order; for discovery in lawsuit, or if a subpoena is issued. The Alabama Legislature in 2023 approved a bill that created harsher penalties for people who commit specific crimes as part of a network, such as a criminal enterprise or member of a gang. SB 143, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road,made Class C felonies committed by gang members a Class B felony, raising the maximum punishment from 10 years in prison to 20 years in prison. Class B felonies are enhanced to Class A felonies, punishable by up to 99 years in prison. People convicted of a Class A felony and who are part of a criminal enterprise, face a minimum of 25 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lists have consistently been challenged in court because membership in a criminal enterprise, such as a gang, is fluid. There are some core members, but others on the periphery may remove themselves or join over time. Melde said databases need to be purged to keep lists current. There have been cases in other states where people just linger on the list and might get caught up in the system where they have had no gang involvement for quite a while, Melde said. Civil rights groups expressed reservations with the legislation, concerned that people who are not involved in a gang may be given harsher penalties because they are suspected to be associated with gang activity. As the Legislature now considers the companion bills HB403 and SB241, which would authorize ALEA to develop a database that would track and share these identifiers with agencies throughout the state, Id like to see them include information relating to the statutes enforcement, such as how many times has it been utilized? said Jerome Dees, policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center. What was the disposition of the case? And what are the demographics of the folks being tracked and prosecuted by this statute? Of course, public safety and privacy of sensitive information is incredibly important. But we also want to make sure that enforcement is fair and just. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A man who was initially arrested just over a week ago for possessing child porn is behind bars again and faces 15 new charges. Bay County Sheriffs deputies arrested 43-year-old Eric Prevost on March 17th for having an online account that displayed videos of young children in sexual situations. Prevost was arrested and charged on two counts of child porn, however he did bond out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, authorities obtained a warrant to search his phone after his initial arrest. Investigators said they found 10 videos of child porn and five videos of animal porn on the device. In addition to the two initial charges, Prevost is now facing 10 additional counts of child porn and five counts of unlawful sexual activities involving animals. Prevost is held in the Bay County jail on a $15,000 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. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The Alabama State Fair is returning to Birmingham this week. The Fair will run from March 28- April 6 at the Birmingham Race Course, featuring shows, carnival rides, a petting zoo and more. Birmingham Public Library hosting open mic night April 4 Featured shows include the Stone Age Dinosaur Show, the Dominguez Thrill Show, Lady Houdini, Benjamin Jackson Hypnotist and Be A Star Video Karaoke. The show schedule can be found here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tickets and ride wristbands for the Alabama State Fair are available now on the fairs 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 CBS 42. Kimberly Boswell, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, chairs the Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee on March 26, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector) State officials Wednesday agreed to recommend expanded services, new prevention programs and stronger partnerships between state agencies to improve mental health care and crisis intervention for Alabama veterans. The recommendations, presented Wednesday during an Alabama Veterans Mental Health Steering Committee meeting in Montgomery, focused on four primary goals: suicide prevention; enhancing crisis care and care transitions; increasing access to treatment, and addressing risk factors that contribute to mental health issues among veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Were] really trying to figure out, based on all the data and documents weve produced, where the gaps in services, and how can we best build those gaps, said Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell, who chairs the committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Alabamas veterans experienced suicide at a rate of 35.4 per 100,000 in 2021, exceeding both the national veteran average and the states general population rate. A significant number of Alabamians, including veterans, suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI), a condition linked to increased mental health challenges. Research indicates veterans in Alabama face higher rates of mental illness and substance abuse compared to their non-veteran counterparts. The committee recommended establishing an Alabama Veterans Resources Center (AVRC), a partnership between the state and Alabama Power designed to serve as a centralized hub for veterans services. SB 70, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, which provides for its creation, was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were very, very excited about that Veterans Resource Center and looking forward to getting it up and running, Boswell said. The committee also recommended expanding programs for traumatic brain injuries, citing a $2.5 million allocation in the states Education Trust Fund budget. The funding would allow veterans with TBIs to receive care beyond the current two-year post-injury eligibility limit. The combination of traumatic brain injury and substance use disorder put veterans at the greatest risk of suicide, and addressing TBI is a really important goal of the group, Boswell said. Another recommendation is to implement the Storing Ammunition and Firearms to Enhance Resilience (SAFER) Together Program, an initiative promoting secure firearm and ammunition storage to reduce suicide risk. SB 40, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, which would allow people experiencing suicidal thoughts to surrender a firearm to a licensed gun dealer, passed the Senate in February and is in position to be voted on in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee also called for a formal partnership between the Alabama Department of Mental Health and the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs to improve coordination of behavioral health services as well as organizing a summit on veterans mental health to focus on improving awareness and education among service providers. Were really excited about the partnership with ADVA and really working together to figure out how to truly address the behavioral health needs of veterans, Boswell said. Theyre kind of the expert on the veterans and were kind of the expert on behavioral health, and we really feel very strongly about that partnership. The committee will finalize a final draft Friday to present to the Legislature and Gov. Kay Ivey. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Richard Arlin Walker Special to ICT Marvin Roberts, an Athabascan man who spent nearly 18 years in prison for a murder he didnt commit, reached an $11.5 million settlement with the City of Fairbanks, Alaska, and four former police officers. The settlement, announced on March 25, is believed to be the largest settlement ever paid by the City of Fairbanks. Roberts was one of four Indigenous young men arrested in 1997 for the beating death of John Hartman, a Fairbanks teenager. Advocates for the four men, who came to be known as the Fairbanks Four, saw their arrests as a racially biased rush to judgment (the officers that investigated Hartmans death and made the arrests are white). The men George Frese, Kevin Pease, Eugene Vent, and Roberts were convicted despite testimony from alibi witnesses and the absence of DNA and other physical evidence connecting the young men to the crime. The case attracted the attention of journalist Brian ODonoghue, a University of Alaska professor in Fairbanks, and Bill Oberly of the Alaska Innocence Project. ODonoghues journalism students uncovered evidence of jury misconduct. The Alaska Innocence Project discovered evidence that police had buried including a confession from a former Fairbanks resident serving a life sentence in California for a drug-related triple murder in 2002. An independent investigation by Alaska State Troopers determined the investigation by Fairbanks Police was poorly done and lacked any incriminating evidence. The state vacated the convictions in 2015 and the men were freed. They later filed civil rights lawsuits against the four police officers Jim Geier, Dave Kendrick, Chris Nolan and Aaron Ring and the City of Fairbanks. Frese, Pease and Vent shared agreed to a settlement of $5 million they agreed to in 2024. Roberts declined the settlement, and his civil rights lawsuit was scheduled to go to trial in December 2025. "The upcoming trial, the massive and irrefutable police misconduct, and the fact the four police officers finally admitted fault during their recent depositions were all factors that led to this settlement, attorney Mike Kramer of Kramer and Cosgrove said in a statement released by his office. Marvin Roberts proved himself to be incredibly resilient and strong in his 28-year quest for justice and when it became clear to the City that he wasn't going to back down, they did what they should have done long ago and finally made up for some of the harms they inflicted. The City refused to publicly apologize, but the $11.5 million they agreed to pay reflects that they finally recognized they made terrible mistakes that sent an innocent man to prison. Roberts said in a statement released by Kramer and Cosgrove that no amount of money will be enough to justify what he endured as an innocent man. 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, he said. I thank God for helping me through that ordeal. Roberts thanked his family, ODonoghue, the Alaska Innocence Project, and all other family, friends and Fairbanks Four supporters who believed in me. Still no apology The state Attorney Generals office, which prosecuted the Fairbanks Four, recognized in 2015 that if the men were retried it is not clear they would be convicted and agreed to vacate their convictions and release them from prison. The City of Fairbanks has paid a total of $16.5 million to settle the Fairbanks Fours civil rights lawsuits. And yet, there have been no admissions and no apologies from state and local officials. Officers Geier, Kendrick, Nolan and Ring stayed on at the department and retired at different times over the last 25 years, police department spokesman Teal Soden told ICT. Their departure from the department was not related to the John Hartman case at all. When the state attorney generals office vacated the convictions and freed the men in 2015, it pointed out that it was not an exoneration. When the City of Fairbanks settled in 2024 with Frese, Pease and Vent, it pointed out that the settlement was not an admission of liability or fault. And now, in Roberts settlement, the City of Fairbanks refused to publicly apologize, Kramer said. But, he said, The $11.5 million they agreed to pay reflects that they finally recognized they made terrible mistakes that sent an innocent man to prison. ICT reached out to Fairbanks Mayor David Pruhs and his chief of staff, Michael Sanders, on March 26 but received no reply by deadline. ICT also left a message for Brian Ridley, chief of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, which lobbied for a review of the Fairbanks Fours case and the mens eventual freedom, but also received no reply by deadline. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. ICT, formerly Indian Country Today, is a nonprofit news organization that covers the Indigenous world with a daily digital platform and news broadcast with international viewership. Mar. 27JUNEAU The Alaska House Finance Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a $79 million unallocated cut to this year's draft operating budget. If approved by the Legislature, Gov. Mike Dunleavy would be directed to choose where the reductions are made. The $79 million figure equates to spending added by the Dunleavy administration to the baseline budget in recent months, legislators said. However, an attorney for the Legislature warned the move could be unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers this year are facing a roughly $680 million deficit over two fiscal years based on status quo spending. The Legislature is considering a roughly $200 million draw from savings to balance the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30. As a result, legislators are grappling with difficult budget decisions this year. The annual Permanent Fund dividend is competing with widespread demands for a substantial increase in school funding. A $79 million cut would equate to a roughly 2.5% reduction to agency spending, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Finance Division. Several other smaller budget reductions were approved Wednesday by the House Finance Committee. The Senate has introduced revenue measures, including oil tax hikes, that are intended to reduce the deficit. However, those measures face long odds of being approved by the narrowly divided House, legislators say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anchorage independent Rep. Calvin Schrage, a leading member of the Democrat-dominated House majority, proposed the $79 million cut. He said that "we have to make severe reductions to our budget." He originally proposed an $85 million reduction, with targeted cuts to departments, but that idea was tossed in favor of the highly unusual unallocated cut. Fairbanks Republican Rep. Frank Tomaszewski was highly critical of the process used. "I've never seen anything like this," he said. Later, he said, "This is really strange, to say the least." The amendment states that "it is the intent of the Legislature that the unallocated reduction be implemented in a manner that results in a minimum number of state employee layoffs and that it is geared towards finding internal agency and department efficiencies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fairbanks Republican Rep. Will Stapp noted that Dunleavy could choose to reduce state spending from anywhere, including from any school funding boost lawmakers approve this year. Additionally, Marie Marx, one of the Legislature's attorneys, said that without clear guidance, the Legislature could effectively be ceding its appropriation authority to the executive branch. "That's probably unconstitutional," she said. The amendment prompted more than an hour of debate. Some committee members sought a larger unallocated budget cut, but those proposals were rejected. Several conservative Republicans said they supported budget cuts, but that the Legislature should direct where they are made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I kind of feel like this amendment is us being lazy," said Eagle River GOP Rep. Jamie Allard. In response, Schrage said legislators don't have time before the regular legislative session ends in May to make targeted budget cuts. "This says, 'Governor, get it done, I trust you to find those areas where we can cut government, make government more efficient, make government smaller than the revenues that we have as a state,'" he said. Despite the constitutional concerns, the House Finance Committee unanimously approved the $79 million cut to the draft budget. During breaks from proceedings, some committee members jokingly referred to the cut as the "DOGE" amendment, referring to billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House Finance Committee spent eight hours on Wednesday debating budget amendments late into the evening. Ninety-six amendments were prepared to the operating budget, but not all were introduced. The Finance Committee has not finalized some of its thorniest fiscal decisions: the school funding increase it will support or the size of the PFD. Earlier in the month, the House advanced a $1,000 permanent increase to the Base Student Allocation, the state's per-student funding formula. The underlying education measure would cost the state roughly $275 million per year. But lawmakers have broadly said that would be unaffordable with a substantial deficit, meaning the education boost could be reduced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate has signaled support for a $175 million school funding increase, matching the same figure appropriated by the Legislature last year on a one-time basis. Senate leadership has also indicated approval for a $1,400 PFD, following the "75-25 dividend formula. Leading members of the Democrat-dominated House majority have suggested a $1,000 dividend would be more affordable, which would free up around $230 million. However, the House Finance Committee's draft budget still contains a full statutory Permanent Fund dividend of roughly $3,900 per eligible Alaskan. A full dividend would cost the state treasury $2.5 billion and lead to a deficit of $1.7 billion. Budget amendment discussions were set to continue Thursday in the House Finance Committee. The operating budget then goes to a vote by the full House before advancing to the Senate. Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, speaks Friday, April 26, 2024, on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Alaska foster youth are admitted to acute psychiatric facilities an average of 90 times per year, according to the state. Lawmakers want to make sure they dont have unnecessarily long stays. The Alaska House of Representatives passed House Bill 36 unanimously on Wednesday. The bill would require foster youth hospitalized in psychiatric facilities to have a court hearing within seven days, a reduction from the current requirement of 30 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the state is the legal guardian for foster youth, requiring the time for a court hearing to be within a week aims to prevent youth from unnecessarily long stays in psychiatric facilities after reports of foster youth having to stay for weeks and even years. This is closing such a dark chapter, said Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, who sponsored the bill, in an interview after the vote. And theres just so many kids that we dont even know about that were held there for too long, with no one coming to get them. Gray said the Legislature is required to take action after an Alaska Supreme Court ruling last year, that we must do this, that not having any guidance in our statutes for what should happen to foster kids admitted to acute psychiatric facilities was enabling these tragic stories to happen, Gray said. Where foster kids, through no fault of their own, were ending up in facilities for long periods of time with no intervention. So it was incumbent upon the Legislature to act. The House voted 39 to 0 passing the bill, with Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, absent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue was the focus of a 2024 Alaska Supreme Court ruling in the case of Kwinhagak v. State. The case related to a 14-year-old girl in foster care, who was first hospitalized in Sitka and then placed in a private Anchorage youth psychiatric hospital, North Star Behavioral Health. She went 46 days before the court held a hearing on her hospitalization. Her Tribe, the Native Village of Kwinhagak filed a lawsuit against the state, and the Alaska Supreme Court agreed that the 46 days was far too long to satisfy due process, according to the ruling. The bill would require interested parties to be notified within 24 hours of a child being admitted to acute psychiatric facilities. The state Office of Childrens Services must notify the court, the childs parents, and any other parties involved in their foster care case, or child-in-need-of-aid case. Under the bill, the court would require a court-appointed attorney for the child, and a hearing before a judge within a week with two-way video for the child to access the hearing. At the hearing, the judge would review the need for hospitalization and consider options for placement in a less restrictive environment. It would also require a follow-up every 30 days after the initial hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is huge for us, as a state. Amanda Metivier, co-founder, Facing Foster Care in Alaska Time in acute psychiatric care is for emergencies, for someone in a mental health crisis to stabilize, and should be very short, Gray added. If a child needs ongoing psychiatric care, in-patient for months, then they need to be in a residential psychiatric facility, Gray said. This is a very, very rare occurrence in which a child would be in this type of facility for longer than a month. But if it happens, then yes, at the 30-day mark, it has to be reevaluated. The conditions and practices of the Alaska foster care system, including psychiatric hospitalization, have been the focus of high-profile investigative journalism, a class action lawsuit, federal investigation of North Star Behavioral Health System, and a civil rights investigation by the Department of Justice, in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is huge for us, as a state, said Amanda Metivier in an interview after the vote. She is the co-founder of the advocacy nonprofit Facing Foster Care in Alaska, a social worker, foster parent, and former foster youth herself. She said former foster youth, some with their own experiences of being hospitalized for long stays, were watching Wednesday and cheered the House vote. So a win for them, too, she said. To be able to give back to those youth that come next, who dont have to have those same experiences of being in an acute psych hospital. Metivier said the state has a history of overreliance on hospitals and out-of-state facilities for care of foster youth, and work has been done to improve community-based, behavioral health care. But there is also a significant lack of foster home options. Today there are youth who are sleeping in hotels for lack of foster homes, with security guards, or who are sleeping in offices for lack of foster homes, she said. And so if a young person lands in an acute psych hospital, I think for the caseworker, theres probably this initial sense of relief, right, in that theyre safe right now, but are easily forgotten. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metivier said that OCS caseworkers, courts, tribes, family attorneys, parents and guardians can all be involved already in a foster case, and acting in the interest of the child, and so the seven-day timeline should be appropriate. It shouldnt be burdensome for the state, because it offers an opportunity to create this sense of urgency for everyone to start thinking about what happens next, she said. It can reduce days of hospitalization, which has the effect of compounding trauma, to be in a facility, you know, for a young person, where they dont need to be. And its more cost effective for the state too, she said. She said the states estimate of foster youth being hospitalized 90 times each year is high, and a reason to have protocols in place to assess youth for ongoing care, or a supportive foster placement. Metivier emphasized that reducing time in psychiatric hospitals can also limit further psychological harms. Theyre witnessing physical and chemical restraints, or maybe experiencing those themselves, or put in isolation, she said. So there is a lot they see and experience around them that can be to the detriment of their own mental health too, definitely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill now moves to the Alaska Senate. While the court system notified the Legislature that more frequent hearings would not incur any additional costs, OCS submitted a fiscal note estimating that the cost for the department would be $18,700 annually. Gray, who is also a parent and adopted a former foster youth, became emotional talking about the legacy of children left in psychiatric facilities with no intervention. They were the states responsibility. They were the Legislatures responsibility, he said. So the fact that we didnt act on this sooner kills me inside, and theres no way we can ever make it up to those kids who suffered profound harm. Its our fault. Im grateful that nothing like that will happen again, if this bill makes it through both bodies and gets signed by the governor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The snow-covered statue of WIlliam Henry Seward stands Monday, March 17, 2025, in front of the Alaska Capitol. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Members of the Alaska Legislature said this week that theyre likely to use the states Constitutional Budget Reserve to fix a roughly $173 million budget deficit for the 12 months that end June 30. Lawmakers are confronting another, larger deficit as they craft the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, but it remains possible that some tax increases on oil, business income and online sales could offset the need to spend from savings for that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the current fiscal year, things are more certain. Passing new taxes and implementing them would take time, and the states budget needs to be balanced by June 30. While members of the Senates bipartisan coalition majority previously rejected the idea of spending from savings, they admitted this week that there is no other option. Times change, things change, and sometimes you have to eat crow up here, said Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, during a news conference with reporters. Spending from the states $2.8 billion Constitutional Budget Reserve will require the approval of three-quarters of the state Senate, plus three-quarters of the state House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reaching those thresholds will require the support of the Republican minority caucuses in both the Senate and the House. It isnt clear what political horse-trading if any will be required to get the needed Republican support. About half of the deficit in this years budget is attributable to lower-than-expected oil revenue. The other half is due to budget changes proposed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy, whom the Republican minority caucuses generally support. Among the budget additions: $10 million for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, millions for wildfire firefighting, and $2.7 million to cover missed payments by the state to employees retirement accounts. As of Wednesday afternoon, members of the House Finance Committee were debating the use of the budget reserve for the upcoming fiscal year as well as the current one, but those debates had yet to reach a resolution. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A flier posted on a bulletin board at the University of Alaska Anchorage on April 20, 2024, gives information about tests for sexually transmitted infections. In the past two years, more Alaskans have been afflicted by medical problems caused by infections of the joints, heart and other body parts not usually affected by the pathogen that causes gonorrhea. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Alaska has long had the distinction of having the nations highest or nearly highest rates of gonorrhea. Now there is another troublesome trend among those who contract the sexually transmitted infection. Cases of a rare but severe complication of gonorrhea have spiked in Alaska for reasons that are not yet fully understood, according to state health officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alaska Department of Health received 27 reports of patients with what is known as disseminated gonococcal infection last year, said a bulletin released by the departments epidemiology section. Those are infections in which the pathogen that causes gonorrhea passes beyond normally infected sites the genital, rectal or mouth areas into the bloodstream and other parts of the body. Disseminated gonococcal infection, or DGI, can harm joints, tendons or body organs. The most serious potential effects, according to the bulletin, include endocarditis, a life-threatening infection of the hearts inner linings and valves, and meningitis, a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The 27 cases of DGC reported last year represented 1.3% of the 2,079 reported cases of gonorrhea in Alaska in 2024, the bulletin said. That percentage is more than triple the rate in 2023, when eight DGI cases were reported among the 2,289 reported gonorrhea cases, and it is 10 times the rate in 2022, when only three DGI cases were reported out of the 2,304 reported gonorrhea cases that year, resulting in a rate of 0.13%, the bulletin said. Additionally, Alaskas rate of DGI is far higher than the most recently reported national rates, the bulletin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Alaskas rates of gonorrhea are high, that does not account for the increasing rates of the serious infections that go beyond the parts of the body usually infected by the disease, said Julia Rogers, an epidemiologist who co-authored the new bulletin. The number of gonorrhea cases in Alaska actually decreased in recent years, dropping from 2,304 cases in 2022 to 2,079 last year, Rogers pointed out. Rather, what might be happening is that a particular type of gonorrhea that makes patients more prone to these severe complications is spreading in Alaska, she said. Though the exact reason for this increase in disseminated cases is unclear at this time, several factors are likely contributing to the increase, including that certain characteristics of the new gonorrhea sequence types circulating in Alaskas population are more likely to result in disseminated infection and more likely to be asymptomatic upon initial infection (meaning they arent detected and treated in a timely manner, allowing for severe manifestations like DGI in patients), she said by email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sequences in epidemiology terms refer to genetic patterns, and different strains of pathogens have their own genetic sequences. State health officials have been working since last fall to boost monitoring and have looked for a possible link between these cases, but they have not identified one yet, the bulletin said. Of the 35 DGI patients identified in 2023 and 2024, most were in Anchorage, according to the epidemiology bulletin. The most common medical complication was septic arthritis, an infection of joint fluids and joint tissues, the bulletin said. Thirty-one patients were hospitalized, and most of those had to have invasive treatments, including two valve replacements, the bulletin said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (Getty Images) Health care in Alaska is expensive. Some say the most expensive in the country. And its only getting harder for families and businesses to keep up. Now, two bills in the Alaska Legislature, Senate Bills 121 and 122, could make things even worse. They would raise health care costs for nearly everyone with private insurance, without improving access or quality of care. At Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska, were very concerned about what these bills would mean for Alaskans. One network = higher costs for everyone Some people think these bills would only affect certain types of insurance, like individual plans or small businesses. But thats not true. At Premera, we use one provider network for all of our Alaska customers, whether they buy insurance on their own, get it through a small business, or work for a large, self-funded employer. That means if these bills force us to pay higher prices to providers, everyones costs go up; not just the people directly covered by the law. SB 121: a step backward SB 121 would bring back a version of Alaskas old 80th percentile rule. That rule said insurers had to pay high out-of-network bills, no matter how inflated they were. It led to huge increases in health care costs, and it was finally repealed last year. After the rule was repealed, access to care didnt get worse. In fact, our network of doctors and providers grew. That shows we dont need extreme payment rules to keep providers in the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, SB 121 proposes a similar rule: insurers must pay providers either the 75th percentile of billed charges or 450% of what Medicare pays, whichever is higher. That would raise costs across the board. We estimate that for a family of four in the individual market, this could mean $5,000 more per year in premiums starting in 2026. And because we use one network, those increases would hit all of our customers. SB 122: mandating higher costs SB 122 would force insurers to include almost every provider in the state in their network, even if those providers charge high prices or dont meet our quality standards. It would also limit our flexibility in how we build networks in different regions of Alaska. The end result? Less control over costs, higher prices, and no improvement in the quality of care. Who pays the price? Together, SB 121 and 122 would raise costs for almost everyone in Alaskas private insurance market, including large employers, union trusts, and small businesses. They wouldnt improve access to care or help people get healthier. They would just shift more financial burden onto families and businesses who are already struggling. And in a state where the working-age population is shrinking, asking employers to pay even more for health insurance just isnt realistic. Theres a better way forward If lawmakers want to improve access to care, there are smarter ways to do it: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raise Medicaid payments so providers can keep serving low-income patients Push for higher Medicare rates that reflect Alaskas true cost of care Support innovations that improve care while keeping costs under control Businesses across Alaska face significant challenges in offering good benefits and supporting their employees. Lets keep working together to make health care more affordable for Alaska. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mar. 26The Albert Lea school board on Wednesday unanimously selected two candidates to move forward for second-round interviews in the search for the district's next superintendent. The candidates are the following: Mandy Fletcher, superintendent of Blue Earth Area School District Dr. Steven Heil, superintendent of St. James Public Schools Board Chairman Dave Klatt described Fletcher and Heil as "two really great candidates," and said he looked forward to bringing additional questions to the two applicants on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three candidates interviewed in front of the board for the position. Dr. Michael Neubeck, superintendent of Byron Public Schools, also interviewed but was not selected to advance to the next stage. After the interviews were completed, Klatt presented the board with three options for moving forward: first, call all three semifinalists back for a second interview; second, call two back for second-round interviews; or third, if the board already felt strongly about one candidate, to move forward with offering a contract to that individual. He said a drawback to the last option would be the community wouldn't be as involved as various stakeholders are slated to provide feedback after the finalist interviews. The board briefly discussed that Heil is interviewing at the Kasson-Mantorville school district on Monday earlier in the day. He is also a semifinalist with Byron Public Schools, where interviews are taking place this week. Board member Gary Schindler, in motioning to bring back Fletcher and Heil for second interviews, said when he looked at the data from where the board thought the candidates met and exceeded expectations, there was essentially a tie between the two candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have two strong candidates," he said. Board member Neal Skaar said he would have a hard time choosing between the two at this point and he thought it would good to have one more round to have both convince him that they are the better candidate. "I'm pretty sure we would be happy with either one of them," Skaar said. Board member Kim Nelson concurred and said she could see potential with either of the candidates in the position. Fletcher said she grew up in Elmore and graduated from Blue Earth Area School District. Though she initially got her degree in marketing and business, she fell in love with assisting in the development of young adults as a coach when she was in college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She eventually went back to school and got her master's degree in teaching and later her superintendent license after being encouraged to do so by a part-time retired superintendent. She said she taught several years before getting her principal's license and then her superintendent's license. She said she was drawn to the Albert Lea position because of the district's commitment to being a rural school and said the district has always intrigued her. Fletcher said building relationships has always been important to her and noted that developing relationships must be done first so people can trust you and believe in your vision. She said being seen and approachable is key to developing relationships and talked about the need to have frequent, regular and ongoing opportunities to meet with people. Regarding financial challenges and planning for long-term sustainability, Fletcher said at both of the districts she has been a superintendent, there was financial instability when she came in. They successfully made it through those challenges at both and are on the path to what she described as healing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fletcher said communication is key to transparency and talked about various methods of communicating with the staff, parents and the community. When given the opportunity to ask questions of the board, Fletcher asked what would be the main focus for her in helping the district if she was selected for the position. Board members shared concerns of declining enrollment, budget cuts, improving the culture in the district and improving transparency and communication. She said when she learned some of the challenges facing the Albert Lea district, particularly the financial challenges, she asked herself if this is something she wanted to tackle again, but noted that looking back on where things have come at her current district, she has seen how the district has grown and healed from that time of challenge there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heil, who was born and raised in Rochester, said he went to Winona State and got his elementary and middle school teaching degrees and taught and coached for a time in Arizona where he lived with his wife. He has his master's degree in educational leadership, as well as his doctorate. He noted successes in taking schools from declining enrollment and budget problems to increasing enrollment, increased opportunities and higher ACT scores. He said he is big in strategic planning and noted that part of his doctorate was in organizational development. In building relationships with students, staff, parents and others in the community, he said it is important to be present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You can't build a relationship from afar," he said, noting you have to show you care. Students pick up on that the most, he said, whether it's giving high-fives to preschoolers and kindergarteners on their way in to school, shaking hands with graduates or letting students know when you see them shoot a basketball or make a pin. Students also know when you're in the classroom. Heil said he is known for talking with his staff at the schools, too, and he said the greatest place to get to know parents is at the activities. He has always lived in the communities where he has been an administrator. Regarding transparency, he said one thing both the board and superintendent will always agree on is that they don't like surprises. He said board members can call him at any time. He also talked about sending out weekly communications to the school board and regular updates to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked how to deal with financial challenges and plan for long-term sustainability, Heil talked about the importance of saving when times are good and building savings accounts for things like summer unemployment, paid family medical leave and others. He also talked about looking at the district's strategic plan to identify priorities. Regarding building a strong team and identifying and cultivate leadership potential, he said he has always used core competencies for administrators, asking them to evaluate themselves on what they'd like to work on one area they're good at, one that's in the middle and another goal that's a stretch. He also said it is important to offer opportunities for staff members to excel. Heil asked a similar question as Fletcher in what the board would like to see from him if hired. He also asked what is one things the board wants the Albert Lea district to be known for over the next five years. Nelson said she wanted the district to be a place where students are given opportunities with the strengths they have to move forward with a pathway. Klatt said he wanted the district to be known as a place to belong, and Board member Angie Hoffman said she wanted it to be known as a great place to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoffman said Fletcher was an excellent communicator who gave precise, yet thorough, answers to the board's questions, and Nelson said Fletcher seemed comfortable in her responses, had good examples and was easily able to identify things when asked. Schindler said he thought Fletcher's answers to the questions involving collaboration, transparency and financial crises were more comprehensive than the other candidates' responses. Klatt said he thought Fletcher was well-versed in working with the community and described her as approachable. Skaar said he saw Heil as articulate and well-versed and that he also seemed personable and approachable. He thought it was evident Heil loves being out in the community and with teachers and students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Board member Mary Jo Dorman said she was impressed with Heil's answers regarding superintendent leadership and acknowledged his experience at several different locations. She said she could envision how some of his examples could relate in Albert Lea. Schindler said what stood out to him about Heil was his sincerity and even a display of emotion during one of the questions, which he said showed vulnerability and honesty. He also said he thought Heil was down-to-earth. "I think that style would be a good fit," Schindler said. Klatt said he thought Heil was hardworking, honest and a strong leader who was present in his work. The district's search is underway after the board parted ways with former Albert Lea Superintendent Ron Wagner in December. Former Austin Superintendent David Krenz has been serving the district in the interim. Interviews with the two finalists will begin at 5 p.m. Monday. All interviews will be held in Room 109 at Brookside Education Center and are open to the public. (Bloomberg) -- Algeria jailed a French-Algerian novelist for five years on charges of undermining national unity, in a case thats inflamed the North African countrys already tense ties with former colonial ruler France. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court in Dar Beida, near the capital Algiers, also found Boualem Sansal, 75, guilty of insulting institutions and attempting to sabotage the economy. He was fined 500,000 dinars ($3,735), the state-run APS news agency reported on Thursday. Algerian security services arrested Sansal, who holds dual nationality, in November after he told French media that much of the western flank of Algeria was truncated from Morocco during the French colonial period. The comments incensed authorities in Algiers, whose relations with France have plunged to a new low since Paris in July recognized Moroccos sovereignty over Western Sahara. Morocco and Algeria, who vie for influence in northwestern Africa, have been embroiled in a decades-long feud over the disputed territory. French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Algerian authorities to release Sansal, telling reporters on March 20 the accusations were not serious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. TUNIS/PARIS (Reuters) -An Algerian court sentenced French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal to five years in jail on Thursday for undermining national unity, prompting a call for his freedom from French President Emmanuel Macron. Sansal, 80, has been detained in Algeria since November, spending time in hospital for ill health, and French authorities as well as fellow writers have called for his release. Sansal has long been a critic of Algerian authorities, but he has regularly visited the country, and his books have been sold there without restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court sentenced Sansal to five years in prison and a fine of about $3,700, private broadcaster Ennahar TV reported. A diplomatic source confirmed the sentence. The court charged him with "undermining national unity and publishing publications that threaten national security and stability." Sansal, who was in court, denied the charges and said he did not intend to offend Algeria or state institutions. "I hope there can be humanitarian decisions by the highest Algerian authorities to give him back his freedom and allow him to be treated for the disease he is fighting," Macron told a press conference on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French media have reported he has cancer. Ties between Paris and Algiers have deteriorated in recent months since France recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Algiers's refusal to take back those deported by French authorities and now Sansal's detention have exacerbated that. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had criticized Sansal, who was living in France, calling him an "imposter." (Reporting by Tarek Amara; Additional reporting by John Irish, Dominique Vidalon and Sudip Kar-GuptaEditing by Dominique Vidalon, William Maclean) This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com A 54-year-old man from Texas has been charged federally with abusive sexual contact for his alleged, repeated touching of a 22-year-old female victim seated next to him on a flight to Seattle. Cherian Abraham, of Allen, Texas, was on an American Airlines flight from Chicago to Seattle on March 18, 2025. According to the criminal complaint, Abraham touched the victims breast multiple times, initially under the guise of reaching for his bag. The victim confronted him after repeated incidents and reported the alleged touching to a flight attendant, who moved her to another seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Abraham was brought in for questioning and denied the allegations. Following a deeper investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), he was arrested on March 23, 2025. The defendant faced similar accusations 3 times The U.S. Attorneys Office says this is the third time Abraham has been accused of similar misconduct on flights, with prior allegations reported in 2023 and 2024. According to a release: On April 24, 2024, a victim reported to the airlines online customer service portal that Abraham had repeatedly touched her and attempted to put his hand between her thighs. The victim yelled at Abraham but was not able to get the attention of a flight attendant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On October 9, 2023, Minneapolis Airport Police interviewed Abraham after a victim reported that he had touched her leg with an open hand three times. The victim told him to stop and contacted the flight crew who put her in a different seat. When interviewed Abraham denied touching the victim. The victim did not want to pursue charges. Abraham had an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Monday, March 24. He faces up to two years in prison if convicted and is currently out on bond. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The former Sioux Falls massage therapist, who is accused of touching several of his clients inappropriately, wants the charges against him dropped. Kurt Smits attorney was back in court today to plead his clients case, but so were two of his alleged victims who got to testify and didnt hold back. Sioux Falls School District in budget trim mode The woman, who we called Kylie in our KELOLAND News Investigation back in January, told the court today that Kurt Smit touched her inappropriately multiples times during a massage last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Don Jorgensen: A lot of what was said in there with your testimony sounded very familiar to me, what you told us during our interview, would you agree with that? Kylie: Yes, yep, Don Jorgensen: You think youve been very consistent the whole time. Kylie: definitely. In court papers, Kylie says Kurt Smit used his bare hand to grab her breasts and started groping her. Since Kylies story aired, three more people have come forward accusing Smit of similar actions while they were being massaged by him. This woman, who we will call Debbie, says Smit cupped her breasts underneath and on the sides when he massaged her last April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says she didnt tell him to stop, because she didnt know what to say. Don Jorgensen: But you did tell him to stop at one point. Debbie: I did, Don Jorgensen: When? Debbie: When he was working his hands up my thighs, my inner thigh toward my private area. Don Jorgensen: You said he got too close. Debbie: He got too close. Don Jorgensen: And that made you uncomfortable? Debbie: Very uncomfortable. Neither woman reported the incident right away. Smits attorney, Clint Sargent under cross examination referred to a police report where Kylie admitted to having anxiety, depression, and that she tends to overthink things. Sargent asked if that played a role in this incident, Kylie said absolutely not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That infuriated Kylie Just the way it seem that it was my fault for not saying something was maddening in itself, Kylie said. Debbie didnt report her incident until months later, when KELOLAND Investigates first talked with Kylie back in January. I saw the other story and I dont want this to happen anybody else, I wanted to make it known that this is not okay and if there are other people that have experienced this they need to say something, Debbie said. Following the hearing, KELOLAND Investigates asked Smits attorney for an interview, but he declined. Since the charge is not a felony, Smit does not have to appear at hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution has two more witnesses to testify, but that wont happen for a few weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the specter of annexing Canada since his inauguration to a second term as president. The presidents rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state may seem to project confidence, a 21st-century vision of manifest destiny, a belief in the United States right and obligation to expand. Trump is not the first American leader to dream of northern expansion. To me, a historian of early U.S.-Canadian relations, these designs suggest not power, but weakness and simmering divisions inside the United States. Early Americans lust for Canada Even before independence, social conflict helped turn American eyes northward. Throughout the 18th century, Englands Colonial population in North America doubled every 25 years. Successive generations of Colonists along the Eastern Seaboard had to compete with each other, and with Indigenous people, for resources, arable land and trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These unhappy, land-hungry Colonists clamored for expansion, instigating a series of wars against both the French and Spanish empires for control of the northeastern half of the continent, culminating in the French and Indian War, from 1754 to 1763. While these Colonists were animated by their thirst for expansion, they had little else unifying them. Many Americans today are familiar with the Join, or Die cartoon Ben Franklin printed, featuring a segmented snake with each section representing one of the Colonies. However, few realize that it was not crafted during the Revolution to unite Colonists against Britain, but in 1754, to rally divided British Colonists in their war against France. This famous image urging the American Colonies to unite was in support of a war against France, not Britain. Benjamin Franklin via Wikimedia Commons Britain finished conquering Canada in 1763, but the empire never fully supported Colonial expansion northward. In the 1750s and 1760s, British troops forcibly removed French colonists from Acadia in Nova Scotia and recruited thousands of Colonists from neighboring New England to move north. These settlers had long imagined the region rich in fishing and timber to be a land of opportunity. But disillusioned by the financial cost of sustaining their settlements, many of these Colonists returned to New England by the early 1770s. Attempts to settle other lands ceded by France were no more successful. Fearful that Colonists might provoke a costly war with Indigenous people, Parliament issued the Proclamation of 1763, which attempted to protect native land by discouraging Colonial expansion westward. Many Colonists turned against Britain in response, especially those like George Washington, who had speculated in the land west of the Appalachian Mountains. The failed invasion of Canada In the earliest months of the Revolution, the Continental Congress authorized an American invasion of British-occupied Quebec. In a letter addressed to Friends and Brethren of Canada, Washington himself implored Canadians to join invading troops. The Cause of America, and of Liberty, is the Cause of every virtuous American Citizen, he wrote. Come then, ye generous Citizens, range yourselves under the Standard of general Liberty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at home, Colonists were far from united in their rebellion. Historians estimate that around 20% of the white Colonial population, more than 500,000 people, remained loyal to Britain, and an even larger number hoped to remain neutral. The difficult realities of conquest also turned many soldiers against the invasion of Canada. In late October 1775, nearly a quarter of the underfed and overworked troops under the command of soon-to-be turncoat Benedict Arnold abandoned their arduous journey through interior Maine toward Canada. The soldiers who carried on prayed these deserters might die by the way, or meet with some disaster, Equal to the Cowardly dastardly and unfriendly Spirit they discoverd in returning Back without orders. The more resilient troops who reached Quebec were emphatically defeated by British forces in December, making Washington skeptical of any future efforts to attack Canada. 19th-century divisions Following American independence, tens of thousands of loyal Colonists sailed north to Canada, determined to build British colonies that would become what one of these refugees called the envy of the American States. Their presence on the contested northern border was an unsettling reminder to the new American nation about the power Britain still exerted on the continent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conflict with Britain over land and trade in the early 1800s reopened old divisions among Americans. Virginia Congressman John Randolph expressed his frustrations with renewed calls for a northern invasion. We have but one word, like the whip-poor-will, but one eternal monstrous tone, an exasperated Randolph noted, Canada! Canada! Canada! The debate over Canada was one of many issues dividing the nation, and as President James Madison would later explain, he hoped that war would help unify a polarized nation. His gamble paid off, but only after opponents from New England flirted with the idea of secession to negotiate their own end to conflict. When the popular editor and columnist John OSullivan called for the annexation of Texas and war with Mexico in 1845, he also suggested the annexation of Canada would naturally follow. The anti-expansionist response united pacifists, abolitionists and a variety of religious and literary figures, helping deepen the divides that would lead to the Civil War. Annexation talk in the 20th century Trumps posturing has served to unite Canadians and revive Canadian nationalism. In the U.S., most people seem to understand the practical hurdles of adding a new state or dismiss the idea altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One example of annexation talk from the 20th century, however, might serve as a warning to Trump, showing how aggressive rhetoric toward Canada has led to political defeat. In 1911, a bill creating free trade with Canada passed Congress with the support of President William Taft, despite objections from protectionists in both parties. In an attempt to have the agreement defeated in the Canadian Parliament, U.S. opponents from both sides of the aisle attempted to stir popular sentiment against the U.S. in Canada. Champ Clark, the Democratic speaker of the House and a front-runner for the presidential nomination in 1912, seized on the moment. I hope to see the day when the American flag will float over every square foot of the British North American possessions, clear to the North Pole, Champ proclaimed on the House floor. William Stiles Bennet, a Republican, proposed a resolution that would authorize the president to begin negotiations for annexation. Their approach to defeating the trade agreement worked, at least in Canada. In the general election of September 1911, worried Canadian voters ousted the Liberal Party, which had supported free trade, and the new Conservative majority rejected the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back home, however, the plan backfired. Woodrow Wilson, not Clark, secured the Democratic nomination in 1912 and would go on to defeat both the incumbent Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt. The bluster led not to success and victory, but loss and defeat. 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: G. Patrick O'Brien, University of Tampa Read more: G. Patrick O'Brien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani are emerging as the top two candidates in this summers Democratic mayoral primary and its Cuomos race to lose, according to three polls released this week. The latest poll, dropped late Wednesday and conducted by Emerson College, PIX11 and The Hill, found 38% of registered Democrats in New York City would vote in the June 24 primary for Cuomo, who has cast himself as a political moderate since launching his mayoral bid on March 1. The runner-up in the polls to Cuomo who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual misconduct accusations he denies is Mamdani, a democratic socialist, who clinched 10% in the Emerson/PIX11/The Hill survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coming in third was the incumbent, Mayor Adams, with 8%. Adams reelection bid has been upended by his federal corruption indictment, surrounding scandals and historically low approval ratings. As a growing number of prominent 2021 campaign supporters have defected to rally behind Cuomo, Adams isnt ruling out running as an independent in Novembers general mayoral election in addition to the Democratic primary. Cuomo has emerged as the top candidate in the race, with no clear alternative emerging among Democratic voters, said Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Pollings executive director. The Emerson/PIX11/The Hill poll came after Data for Progress, a left-leaning think tank, earlier in the day dropped another survey showing a similar trend, with Cuomo in the lead at 39% support and Mamdani in the No. 2 slot at 15%. The other candidates in the race, including Adams, didnt rise above single digits in the Data for Progress analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That, in turn, came after Honan Strategy Group released another mayoral race poll Tuesday that found Cuomo topping the field with 41% support, and Mamdani again the runner-up at 18%. All three polls reported that more than 15% of the New Yorkers quizzed consider themselves undecided, indicating much could still change as the primary looms less than three months away. While the Emerson survey found Adams in the No. 3 slot, the Honan Strategy and Data for Progress polls projected Comptroller Brad Lander as the third place candidate, locking in 8% in both. The projections of Cuomo and Mamdani as front-runners come even as theyre positioning themselves on the diametrically opposite ends of the Democratic Party spectrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A socialist, Mamdani has said he would as mayor freeze rents on all stabilized tenants in the city, make bus service free and drastically increase funding for universal childcare. Cuomo, a moderate, has centered his campaign around a pledge to bring the city back from the brink of what he has portrayed as a public safety crisis, pledging to hire more cops and focus on quality-of-life issues. Notably, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, whose late entry into the mayoral race this month garnered much buzz from the political class, isnt registering much support in the latest polls. In the Emerson and Honan Strategy surveys, Speaker Adams netted just 4% support, while Data for Progress gave her 5%. NEW YORK Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani are emerging as the top two candidates in this summers Democratic mayoral primary and its Cuomos race to lose, according to three polls released this week. The latest poll, dropped late Wednesday and conducted by Emerson College, PIX11 and The Hill, found 38% of registered Democrats in New York City would vote in the June 24 primary for Cuomo, who has cast himself as a political moderate since launching his mayoral bid on March 1. The runner-up in the polls to Cuomo who resigned as governor in 2021 amid sexual misconduct accusations he denies is Mamdani, a democratic socialist, who clinched 10% in the Emerson/PIX11/The Hill survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coming in third was the incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, with 8%. Adams reelection bid has been upended by his federal corruption indictment, surrounding scandals and historically low approval ratings. As a growing number of prominent 2021 campaign supporters have defected to rally behind Cuomo, Adams isnt ruling out running as an independent in Novembers general mayoral election in addition to the Democratic primary. Cuomo has emerged as the top candidate in the race, with no clear alternative emerging among Democratic voters, said Spencer Kimball, Emerson College Pollings executive director. The Emerson/PIX11/The Hill poll came after Data for Progress, a left-leaning think tank, earlier in the day dropped another survey showing a similar trend, with Cuomo in the lead at 39% support and Mamdani in the No. 2 slot at 15%. The other candidates in the race, including Adams, didnt rise above single digits in the Data for Progress analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That, in turn, came after Honan Strategy Group released another mayoral race poll Tuesday that found Cuomo topping the field with 41% support, and Mamdani again the runner-up at 18%. All three polls reported that more than 15% of the New Yorkers quizzed consider themselves undecided, indicating much could still change as the primary looms less than three months away. While the Emerson survey found Adams in the No. 3 slot, the Honan Strategy and Data for Progress polls projected Comptroller Brad Lander as the third place candidate, locking in 8% in both. The projections of Cuomo and Mamdani as front-runners come even as theyre positioning themselves on the diametrically opposite ends of the Democratic Party spectrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A socialist, Mamdani has said he would as mayor freeze rents on all stabilized tenants in the city, make bus service free and drastically increase funding for universal childcare. Cuomo, a moderate, has centered his campaign around a pledge to bring the city back from the brink of what he has portrayed as a public safety crisis, pledging to hire more cops and focus on quality-of-life issues. Notably, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, whose late entry into the mayoral race this month garnered much buzz from the political class, isnt registering much support in the latest polls. In the Emerson and Honan Strategy surveys, Speaker Adams netted just 4% support, while Data for Progress gave her 5%. _____ A woman has accused Andrew Tate of sexual assault amid claims he choked her against her will until she fell unconscious during sex. The alleged victim, Bri Stern, has reportedly filed a sexual assault report against Tate in connection to an incident she says occurred during an intimate encounter with the popular social media influencer earlier this month. According to Stern, on March 11, she and Tate were having sexual intercourse in a room at the Beverly Hills Hotel when he began to forcibly choke her. Despite Stern allegedly telling him to stop, Tate continued to choke her, causing her to lose consciousness during act. Influencer Andrew Tate attends UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The alleged victim says it was only after Tate fell asleep that she was able to take photos of the injuries she claims to have sustained during the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also claims she didnt immediately file a police report against Tate out of fear for her safety, waiting until Andrew and is younger brother, Tristan, left the country to attend a court hearing in Romania. Stern says she later visited an emergency room in New York City and was allegedly diagnosed as post-concussive in the days after the act. TMZ also received alleged texts Stern claims were sent by Tate in which he admits to abusing her. Andrew Tate (left) and his brother Tristan Tate walk inside the Court of Appeal on October 15, 2024 in Bucharest, Romania. Social Media Influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are appearing in court to appeal a decision to proceed with their trial on charges of rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women. The Tate brothers were arrested on December 29, 2022, alongside Georgiana Naghel and Luana Radu as part of an investigation into human trafficking and rape. The 38-year-olds lawyers have released a statement refuting the latest accusations against their client, who made headlines in 2022 following his and Tristan Tates arrest on sex trafficking charges in Romania. Andrew Tate vehemently rejects this outrageous allegation and will relentlessly pursue legal action against anyone involved in spreading this blatant falsehood, Tates legal team told TMZ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once again, we witness the media recklessly publishing a one-sided narrative, disregarding the most fundamental facts. The photos? Not taken in the Beverly Hills Hotel bathroom. They werent even snapped at night. No bruising. No evidence whatsoever. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate talk to the media outside their residence on March 23, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan had flown to the United States last month from Romania, where they have been charged with rape, having sex with a minor, human trafficking and money laundering, charges which they deny. Their bail conditions stipulated that they had to return to Romania by March 23. The lawyers also painted Stern as a willing participant turned disgruntled lover who chose to spend multiple nights with Andrew and then grew angry with him when he did not fly her to New York City on a private jet. According to Tates legal counsel, Andrew and Tristan have been treatedly unfairly in the press and deemed guilty until proven innocent by their detractors. The Tates have become the quintessential villains in media fabrication, and while this may create convenient clickbait, it wont withstand scrutiny in reality or in a courtroom, they added. Andrew Tate (L) and Tristan Tate leave the Bucharest Court of Appeal after the hearing on their appeal to the decision of arrest for 30 days, on January 10, 2023 in Bucharest, Romania. British-US former professional kickboxer and controversial influencer Andrew Tate and brother Tristan Tate attend the hearing on their appeal against pre-trial detention for alleged human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal organisation. The Tates rose to fame around 2021, as the elder brother, Andrew, became a popular figure on social media, known for his controversial takes on women, masculinity, the LGBTQ+ community, and other topics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite being banned from various platforms, the siblings have continued to run their online social network The War Room, which some have likened to a multi-level marketing scam. The brothers have denied all allegations against them and continue to maintain their innocence. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate talk to the media outside their residence on March 23, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan had flown to the United States last month from Romania, where they have been charged with rape, having sex with a minor, human trafficking and money laundering, charges which they deny. Their bail conditions stipulated that they had to return to Romania by March 23. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate is adamant that he did not attack his ex-girlfriend, model Bri Stern, during an sexual encounter earlier this month. Lawyers for the 38-year-old former kickboxer-turned-right-wing influencer told TMZ early Thursday that Tate vehemently rejects this outrageous allegation and will relentlessly pursue legal action against anyone involved in spreading this blatant falsehood. On Wednesday, sources with direct knowledge told the outlet Stern filed a sexual assault report in California, claiming Tate violently choked her at the Beverly Hills Hotel on March 11. She says she begged him repeatedly to stop, but he refused her pleas until he finished having sex with her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outlet also published photos of Sterns bruised face, which she claims occurred as a result of the alleged assault. However, Tates legal team says the photos were neither taken on the night in question nor in the bathroom of their hotel room, as Stern previously said they were. Once again, we witness the media recklessly publishing a one-sided narrative, disregarding the most fundamental facts, his lawyers argued. The photos? ... They werent even snapped at night. No bruising. No evidence whatsoever. Tates team also denied text messages sent between him and Stern, in which he allegedly spoke of beating and abusing her. Among screenshots of those supposed texts, Tate appears to write, Whats (sic) the point in having you if i dont beat you and impregnate you ... I really love hitting you its (sic) very good for me. According to Tates attorneys, there is no verification, no metadata to prove the authenticity of those texts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an era where AI can generate entire conversations in seconds, its impressive how quickly unverified screenshots become evidence when they suit the narrative, they said. The Tates have become the quintessential villains in media fabrication, and while this may create convenient clickbait, it wont withstand scrutiny in reality or in a courtroom. Tate and his younger brother, Tristan, are currently facing charges of human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women in Romania. Andrew Tate has also been charged with rape. Weeks after being allowed to return to the United States, the brothers flew back to Romania last weekend to check with local authorities in compliance with requirements in the case. Stern says she only felt safe enough going to police after Tate had left the country. _____ Andrew Tate's legal woes just took another hit, this time from someone close to him. His girlfriend, Bri Stern, has filed a police report accusing the controversial influencer of sexually assaulting her during sex. This shocking claim surfaces as Tate remains entangled in a high-profile criminal case in Romania. Just last year, Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, suffered a legal defeat in their attempt to recover over $12 million in assets, luxury cars, watches, and more seized by authorities amid allegations of organized crime. Andrew Tate's Girlfriend Bri Stern Files Disturbing Police Report Backgrid/MEGA Bri Stern and Andrew Tate first crossed paths last June when she traveled to Romania for a modeling job. Despite his well-documented legal troubles, the two started dating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stern alleges that on March 11, Tate began choking her during sex at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and when she pleaded for him to stop, he only became more aggressive. Sources say that the more she struggled, the more violent he became until she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. The alleged assault ended only when Tate finished and fell asleep. Stern then went to the bathroom, where she documented her injuries. She later traveled to New York City for work and, a few days after the incident, sought medical attention at an emergency room. TMZ obtained photos revealing bruising on Stern's face, offering visual proof of the alleged assault, and also confirmed through medical records that she was diagnosed with "post-concussive" symptoms. Sources further indicate that Stern did not feel secure enough to contact authorities until Tate had left the country, after which she filed an official police report. The Former Boxer's Ex-Girlfriend Claims He Tried To 'Pimp Her Out' Andrew Tate has been accused by his girlfriend, Bri Stern, of nearly choking her unconscious during a violent sexual assault at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Throw away the key for this guy already. pic.twitter.com/eqXv5R4aZ1 Art Candee (@ArtCandee) March 27, 2025 That departure, it turns out, was Tate and his brother Tristan returning to Romania last weekend for a scheduled court appearance in their ongoing organized crime case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apart from pictures of her bruises, text messages between Tate and Stern were reportedly obtained, in which he appears to discuss beating her. Additionally, the outlet secured a photo of Tate posing with Kanye West in Los Angeles on March 10, just hours before the alleged assault took place. Sources claim that throughout their relationship, which began last June, Tate was frequently verbally abusive and threatening. However, this was reportedly the first time he became physically violent. The sources also allege Tate had been pressuring Stern to create an OnlyFans account, essentially hinting that he wanted to "pimp her out" on the platform. Since the alleged assault, Stern has cut all ties with Tate, blocking him on social media and all messaging platforms. The Social Media Personality Slams 'Outrageous' Allegations Backgrid/MEGA Tate is firing back at accusations made by his ex-girlfriend, Stern, who claims he violently choked her during sex at the Beverly Hills Hotel earlier this month. The controversial star denies the allegations and threatens legal action against those spreading what he calls a "blatant falsehood." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tate's legal team is dismissing the claims outright, insisting that the accusations lack evidence. "Once again, we witness the media recklessly publishing a one-sided narrative, disregarding the most fundamental facts," his team stated. They also refute the authenticity of the photos showing Stern's alleged injuries, asserting, "The photos? Not taken in the Beverly Hills Hotel bathroom. They weren't even snapped at night. No bruising. No evidence whatsoever." Tate's lawyers further claim Stern's accusations stem from resentment "when he did not fly her to New York City on a private jet." Andrew Tate's Team Dismisses Alleged Texts Instagram | Andrew Tate As for the alleged text messages, where Tate appears to discuss "beating" Stern, his team argues they are completely unverified and could have easily been faked. Tate's lawyers insist there is "no verification, no metadata, nothing" backing up the authenticity of the texts. They argued: "In an era where AI can generate entire conversations in seconds, it's impressive how quickly unverified screenshots become 'evidence' when they suit the narrative." Beyond disputing the texts, Tate's team maintains that his version of events does not align with the "desired narrative," implying that the media is prioritizing sensationalism over truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Closing out their statement, the 38-year-old's attorneys claim he and his brother have been unfairly villainized in the press, stating, "The Tates have become the quintessential villains in media fabrication, and while this may create convenient clickbait, it won't withstand scrutiny in reality -- or in a courtroom." The Tate Bother's Legal Woes Deepen As Asset Battle Ends In Defeat MEGA Before this recent allegation, the former kickboxer and his brother, Tristan, suffered a courtroom loss in 2024 over their seized assets. The Blast reported that last January, the brothers suffered a significant blow when their attempt to reclaim more than $12 million in assets, confiscated by Romanian authorities, ended in failure. Initially, a judge rejected their appeal in December 2023, but the Bucharest Court of Appeal later overturned that decision, granting them a glimmer of hope. However, when the moment arrived to determine which assets, if any, would be returned, the brothers ultimately walked away empty-handed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The confiscated assets included 84,000 (approximately $105,000) in company investments and 21 Bitcoin valued at around 440,000, 15 luxury vehicles, 14 designer watches, and 10 properties scattered throughout Bucharest. Andrew Tate, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, now faces yet another serious allegation that could further complicate his legal battles. Update READ THE STATEMENT - Click to read full document 2:38 PM PT -- Bri Stern has just shared her full statement on Instagram ... laying it all out there and saying in part, "Those facts speak for themselves." Continue reading original story below. Andrew Tate choked his girlfriend Bri Stern with one hand and used his other mitt to beat the crap out of her face ... according to a new lawsuit. Bri is suing Andrew for sexual assault and battery and gender violence ... and in her lawsuit, she goes into more detail on the alleged choking incident she filed a police report over. TMZ.com In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Bri says they were having consensual sex in his room at the Beverly Hills Hotel when things suddenly changed and he started being verbally degrading and violent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bri claims Andrew routinely degraded her during sex -- but on this night things were "much worse, more aggressive and more violent." She claims he started choking her and would not stop despite her crying and begging for him to stop, with her cries and screams only causing Tate to hurt her more. Andrew Tate's Alleged Abusive Text Messages - Click image to open gallery Andrew's ex says he continued choking her harder and harder, making her nearly lose consciousness ... claiming he used one hand to choke her and used the other to beat her repeatedly on the side of her face and the top of her head. She also claims Andrew threatened her during the alleged assault, telling her if she ever crossed him he was going to kill her. She says she sobbed and pleaded and protected herself as best she could until Andrew climaxed and the attack subsided. Getty Bri says she wanted to leave after the attack but was too scared ... and the following morning she pretended like nothing happened so she could finally escape Andrew's hotel room, ultimately seeing a physician before reporting the attack to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says Andrew manipulated and groomed her from the moment they met in Romania last summer, when he booked her for a modeling gig ... filling her head with lies and love-bombing her. TMZ Bri says Tate first came off as charming but then showed his true colors when he started degrading and threatening her ... she says he would call her his "property," an "idiot," a "w****" and "just a hole." She also claims he would threaten her while assaulting her, telling her ... "If you ever f*** with me, I will f****** kill you. I mean it. I will kill you." TMZ.com Bri even says Andrew threatened to sex traffic her, keep her in Romania and rape her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As you know ... Andrew and his brother Tristan were arrested back in 2022 for allegedly creating a criminal organization in Romania, and Andrew's been charged with rape in that country. They're also both facing sexual assault lawsuits in the U.S. and the UK. They have not been convicted of any crimes. TMZ Bri hired Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing over 100 alleged Diddy sexual assault victims, to represent her in this lawsuit, filed in California. Shutterstock Premier Andrew's attorney, Joseph McBride, tells TMZ ..."Tony Buzbee is a lowlife bottom feeder. Jay-Z is suing him for extortion. We look forward to doing the same." One of Andrew Tate's girlfriends says he nearly choked her unconscious during a violent sexual encounter 2 weeks ago, prompting her to report the alleged incident to police ... TMZ has learned. Bri Stern filed a sexual assault report and she claims Andrew attacked her on March 11 while they were staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel according to sources with direct knowledge. TMZ.com She's told police Tate began choking her while they were having sex, but it got too rough, and although she begged him to stop, he kept going. Bri says the more she struggled, the more violent he got and she felt everything getting fuzzy, like she was fading into unconsciousness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bri says the violence only stopped when Tate was done having sex, and once he fell asleep she went to the bathroom to document her injuries. TMZ has obtained pics showing bruising on her face. Bri says she went to an emergency room in NYC -- where she'd flown for work -- a couple days later, and documents show she was diagnosed as "post-concussive." TMZ Andrew and his brother Tristan returned to Romania last weekend for a court date in their organized crime case -- and we're told it wasn't until Andrew left the country that Bri felt safe enough to go to police and file a report. Andrew Tate's Alleged Abusive Text Messages - Click image to open gallery TMZ also obtained screenshots of alleged text messages between Andrew and Bri ... and he talks about beating her. We also obtained a photo of Andrew with Kanye West ... and we're told they posed for the photo together in L.A. on March 10 ... only hours before the alleged choking incident between Andrew and Stern. TMZ.com Andrew took the photo with Kanye the same night Kim Kardashian yanked North West out of Kanye's recording studio after Ye invited the Tate brothers to join them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our sources say Bri and Andrew met last June when she went to Romania for a modeling gig and they started dating. We're told Andrew was verbally abusive and threatening during the relationship, but the alleged choking incident was the first time he got physically violent. TMZ.com We're told Andrew had signaled to Brianna that he wanted to, essentially, pimp her out on OnlyFans ... and since the alleged incident she's blocked him on all social media and messaging platforms. As you know ... Andrew and Tristan were arrested back in 2022 for allegedly creating a criminal organization in Romania, and Andrew's been charged with rape in that country. They're also both facing sexual assault lawsuits in the U.S. and the UK. They have not been convicted of any crimes. Getty We reached out to the Beverly Hills Police Department ... they declined to comment. Angela Rayners own staff have voted to strike over demands they work in the office three days a week as the Housing Secretary prepares to hand more power to unions. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union said civil servants working in Ms Rayners Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are planning industrial action over proposals to close certain offices and rigid office attendance policies. PCS members also complain that Ms Rayners department is restricting which jobs can be done from which offices and have raised concerns over promotion opportunities being restricted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as Ms Rayner, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, attempts to push sweeping reforms to workers rights through the House of Lords. Fran Heathcote, the general secretary of the PCS, said: As the main face of the Employment Rights Bill, the Deputy Prime Minister must match her words with action and listen to her own workers. Ms Rayners package of reforms, which is making its way through Parliament, will boost the power of unions by giving them twice as long to strike after an initial ballot and allowing industrial action to go ahead with a simple majority. However, critics of the Bill have argued that granting unions and workers more power, such as offering staff full employment rights from day one in a job, risks crippling the British economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid growing calls from businesses for the reforms to be diluted, union sources have warned that any attempt to water down the Bill would be tantamount to betrayal. The strike action in Ms Rayners department emerged during a tense and divided debate over the Employment Bill in the House of Lords, in which Lord Hunt of Wirral argued that the package of reforms was not only anti-business but also anti-worker. If it passes in anything like its current form it could be more appropriate to call it an unemployment bill, he said. Ms Heathcote, of the PCS union, said the proposed office closures not only threaten the livelihoods of our members but also remove the presence of the government department responsible for local communities from some of the most deprived areas in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: Members are deeply concerned about how these closures may affect their ability to rebuild local government, promote regional development and deliver on Labours mission to build 1.5m new homes. They stand ready to strike to defend their offices, their communities and their employment rights. A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: We will continue to engage with unions and staff about a number of proposals including plans to expand five offices outside of London and close six offices over the next two years, as leases come to an end. The department will continue to have offices in every English region as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and all staff affected will be able to continue in their roles in one of these locations. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. China has stepped in to fund Cambodian aid projects, following the U.S.s decision to terminate similar programs under USAID. The move by Chinas aid agency effectively replaces the axed U.S. initiatives. What Happened: The U.S. canceled two aid projects in Cambodia at the end of February. These projects, one focusing on child literacy and the other on nutrition and development for children under five, were part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to dismantle USAID. The U.S. programs, which cost $40 million, may now be absorbed entirely by the State Department. A week after the U.S.s withdrawal, Chinas aid agency revealed funding for programs with almost identical goals, reported Fortune. Although the Chinese announcement did not disclose a specific funding amount, the initiatives align with the development goals of the terminated U.S. projects. Despite changes in the U.S. approach to foreign assistance, the State Department expressed hope for a productive maturation of its relationship with Cambodia. However, Chinas decision to fund Cambodian projects comes amid concerns that it may expand its influence over developing nations. See Also: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share. Why It Matters: A recent trend shows China stepping in to fund projects in areas where USAID has curtailed contracts. Chinas announcement of funding for a Cambodian de-mining initiative and an early childhood development project in Rwanda are recent examples. Chinese officials have also reportedly proposed filling funding gaps in Nepal, which lies between India and China. These moves by China come in the wake of a controversial decision by the Trump administration to dismantle USAID, a move that has been criticized by figures such as Bill Gates. Giving his views on the USAID shutdown, Tai Wei Lim, a professor at Japans Soka University, there may be opportunities for other aid givers like China to exert soft power influence through dispensing aid. Meanwhile, Jeremy Chan, a senior analyst at Eurasia Group, told Business Insider, The chaotic end of USAID will undoubtedly rebound to Chinas benefit, even if it is unlikely to change Beijings international development strategy in the short term. However, as per a commentary on Brookings by Yun Sun, a non-resident fellow at John L. Thornton China Center, Chinas foreign aid has consistently been much smaller than that of the U.S. She also stated that due to its sluggish economy and uncertainty about the Trump administration, China is not prioritizing foreign aid for now. The withdrawal of U.S. foreign assistance will leave China with bigger weight in a smaller space, but it doesn't mean China can step in to fill the void, opined Sun. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Three Western New York communities have been awarded millions of dollars through New York State, Governor Kathy Hochuls office said. The Village of Cattaraugus has been awarded $10 million, while the Villages of Westfield and Angola have each been awarded $4.5 million. The awards come through the states Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Cattaraugus plans to use the funds in order to improve its red brick Main Street into a community gathering space. Westfield hopes to use the funds in order to revitalize its village, and Angola will use the funds to improve the downtown, using opening of the new Angola Theater as the anchor. The theater, which opened in 1924, closed in 2020 and plans to re-open this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This funding will enable us to revitalize our infrastructure, support local businesses, and enhance the overall quality of life for our residents and visitors, Cattaraugus Mayor Anthony Nagel said. The NY Forward grant reflects New York States steadfast commitment to supporting small communities like ours, fostering growth, and driving meaningful progress, Angola Mayor Thomas Whelan added. We are honored to be a recipient of this initiative and eager to put these funds to work for the betterment of our village. The three villages will now begin work with local planning committees to determine the development process. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see 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 News 4 Buffalo. Stock photo from Getty Images. The Ohio Board of Pharmacy on Tuesday suspended the license of a beauty spa after determining that it was giving patients dangerous drugs that lacked the proper approvals. In this case, the spa was injecting patients with counterfeit Botox that the operator said shed gotten from a California dentist she wouldnt identify. The board said the business also was distributing other drugs suspected to be counterfeit, including some obtained in cash purchases off of Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is at least the third time this year that the board has seized the license of a company operating beauty spas on charges of using fake drugs on their patients. In January, it suspended the licenses of two companies operating clinics in Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton and Cincinnati on charges that they were fobbing off unapproved weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1s on their patients. The instances raised concerns that many so-called wellness clinics were putting profits over patient safety. The board on Tuesday summarily suspended the license of Rejuv and Renew Wellness Spa to distribute dangerous drugs. The business operates locations in Mainville and Franklin, both in Warren County between Cincinnati and Dayton. The order suspending the license says that Board of Pharmacy inspectors visited the spas Mainville location on March 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They found Botox, an injection used to reduce wrinkles and facial lines; Liporase, an enzyme used to undo some skin procedures, and Xeomin, a drug similar to Botox. The Botox vial lacked a National Drug Code and a manufacturers hologram, while the Liporase vials had characters of an unknown language on the label, the inspection report said. Three days later, on March 17, drug distributor AbbVie confirmed that the Botox inspectors found was counterfeit, the inspection report said. Inspectors said they also confirmed that the Liporase found at the spa had not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A call to the spa wasnt returned on Wednesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Patty Cantrell, a registered nurse who co-owns the spa, said shed gotten the drug from a dentist in the Bay Area of California, the report said. RN Cantrell was not willing to share the name of the dentist or the specific location from which she ordered/he shipped from, the report said. She said she knew him from high school and considered him a friend. Cantrell later told inspectors that she had been getting Botox through Allergan, an AbbVie company. But then late last year, she started getting it from the California dentist for about half the price, the report said. Cantrell also said that she had purchased the Liporase off of Facebook for cash, and that she didnt have documentation for the purchases. Then she seemed to allow that only some of the drugs her business was giving patients would pass muster with the pharmacy board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She asked that if the Xeomin was found to be real, could she get the money back, the report said. She stated the product taken was worth $1,000.00 and she did not want to lose the money. She was able to produce invoices for the Xeomin. The report alleged numerous other violations. They included distributing dangerous drugs at the Franklin spa even though it wasnt registered with the Board of Pharmacy, improper storage and record keeping, and having expired and adulterated drugs. In ordering the spa to surrender its license, the pharmacy board cited dozens of potential violations of the law and board rules, each of which carry possible fines and criminal penalties. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU (Reuters) -Moldova broadened an investigation into the financing of a banned pro-Russian political grouping in the country, two days after the detention of the leader of a pro-Moscow ethnic minority. The detention at Chisinau airport of Eugenia Gutul, the leader of the autonomous region of Gagauzia, has further strained the former Soviet republic's difficult relations with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gutul is soon to be sentenced in connection with a criminal case into corruption in the financing of a pro-Russian electoral bloc run by a fugitive business magnate from exile in Moscow. Russia has denounced the detention of Gutul. She has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to help secure her release. Gagauzia, a region of 140,000 people in Moldova's south, 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. The speaker of Moldova's parliament, Igor Grosu, rejected Russian comments, saying that Moldova's legal authorities were simply doing their job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All processes, including judicial processes, are an internal matter of the Republic of Moldova," Grosu said. "This country (Russia) should not poke its nose into our affairs." A Chisinau court postponed until Friday a decision on a prosecution request to extend her 72-hour detention. Prosecutors on Thursday said they were looking into the possibility that Gutul was trying to evade prosecution. Another pro-Russian politician, Alexei Lungu, was stopped at Chisinau's airport on Thursday and told he could not leave the country in connection with investigations. Two other pro-Russian lawmakers, also charged with corruption, have disappeared in the past week and police for a time considered whether at least one might have been hiding in the Russian embassy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All those under suspicion or facing charges are associates of fugitive pro-Russian business magnate Ilan Shor, sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the 2014-2015 disappearance of $1 billion from the Moldovan banking system. Moldovan authorities allege he has funnelled funds illegally into Moldova to disrupt elections and try to secure the election of pro-Moscow lawmakers in a parliamentary poll later this year. Sandu is spearheading a drive to secure European Union membership for Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, and has never recognised Gutul's 2023 election as bashkan. The president has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is on Moldova's eastern border, and has accused the Kremlin of trying to unseat her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia raised Gutul's detention during a closed-door United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday. "The whole region is not stable and we just thought it our responsibility to raise the awareness of the members of the council to this absolutely intolerable situation," Russia's deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told reporters. Moldova's U.N. Ambassador Gheorghe Leuca told reporters that Gutul's detention had nothing to do with her political role, accusing her of being involved in a criminal organization. (Reporting by Alexander Tanas in Chisinau; Writing by Ron Popeski; Editing by Rod Nickel, Daniel Wallis and Lincoln Feast) Hair tied up, dressed in flip flops and a loose-fitting shirt, Adam Shafran carefully examined the branches of a 20-foot tall tree growing close to the side of his Seminole County home. Thats probably my best tree, Shafran said, before regretfully announcing he couldnt see any fruit on its trunk. Many other trees on his farm did. He scowled as he picked off the remains of one gnawed by an animal, then nearly shouted with triumph as he grabbed an untouched purple lump that resembled a small plum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jabuticaba, he identified, peeling back the skin to reveal an almost white-like flesh and a single seed at its center. Shafran is one of Floridas main growers of the rare fruit, a native of Brazil that is most often compared to a grape. His business, Flying Fox Fruits, supplies growers and hobbyists with seeds, cuttings, young trees and once, he said leaves from one of his trees. Shafran began growing the trees 20 years ago, moved his farm to its current location in 2014, and has spent little time looking back. I was thinking of permanently being here, planting in the ground, he said. My business is based off of trees that take 20 years to fruit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shafran found out two weeks ago his dreams could be shattered, when the Central Florida Expressway Authority shifted the proposed routes of its planned 417 Connector project that would link the major highway with the Orlando Sanford International Airport. Prior to this month, CFX was studying multiple routes, all but one of which steered far away from Shafrans farm. The two finalists would both cut into his property. The first, that has long been part of the equation, would slice through the northern end of his property, which includes his driveway and potentially his house. Most of his trees would be safe, he believes, though he wasnt sure what damage shadows or drainage systems would do. The second, new route would be the more devastating. It would cut through his property, razing his greenhouses and all his trees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when I really I lost sleep, he said. Youve got me in a state of limbo here, where I was trying to take action for my business, to do certain things. For instance, planting trees in the ground. The highway spur has been in the works since around the time Shafran moved to the property. Its intended to alleviate traffic on Lake Mary Boulevard and Ronald Reagan Boulevard, both of which converge into a pair of intersections sharing the same 417 on- and off-ramps. The connection to the airport is a bonus. By 2036, its expected to serve one million more passengers annually, while the neighborhoods around it are expected to have 10,000 more homes. That intersection, that exit on east on Sanford Avenue, will back up quarter half a mile, Seminole County Commissioner Bob Dallari explained. Thats unacceptable, so we either have to do something or wait till it gets even worse than try to do something even more well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dallari said the numbers for the roads construction have finally started making sense. When he was asked why an entirely new road was needed instead of reconfiguring the problematic intersections, he said since the project was still in the study phase, other options were also being examined. He and expressway authority leaders urged community members like Shafran to attend feedback sessions, including an upcoming meeting on April 2. We want to save as much of our environment as we can, he said. So do you move it to the left, to the right, east, west? Do you double decker road? Do you do an intersection? Even if you widen the road or improve the intersection, someones going to be unhappy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shafran said hes working with an eminent domain attorney and plans to attend that meeting. Hes hoping the road can be shifted to lessen the impact on his property, and said he understood the need for the area to progress. His other concern is trying to prepare for a move. Hes looking at nearby property that he can acquire. However, because of jabuticabas rarity in Florida and because several of his varieties are his own creation, hes worried the state wont fairly compensate him. They say, bring in an expert. And Im like, I am the expert, he recalled, seriously. You could come in here and offer me to buy my position right now, and Id say, No. It would take a ton of money to get me to say, Leave your job. Let me take everything you have and move. The April 2 meeting will be held at the Galileo School Skyway Campus. 3755 Skyway Drive, Sanford. Its scheduled to last from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Adam Shafran, of Flying Fox Fruits, examines a jabuticaba fruit his farm produced in March 2025. Adam Shafran, of Flying Fox Fruits, looks at his greenhouses. A proposed highway spur would cut through his property, putting his business of 20 years at risk. A basket of purple jabuticaba fruits. Adam Shafran, of Flying Fox Fruits, examines a jabuticaba plant in his greenhouse. A proposed highway spur would cut through his property, putting his business at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jabuticaba fruits grow on the trunk of a tree. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins snapped on Wednesday over CNN host Kaitlan Collins repeated questions about Trump officials use of the third-party messaging app Signal to discuss national security matters. Well, Mr. Secretary, respectfully, my question was about , the CNN host told the VA secretary. No, answer my question, Kaitlan. Answer my question, Kaitlan, Doug Collins pressed as he raised his voice amid crosstalk while trying to pivot to the network being found liable for defaming a U.S. Navy veteran in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later continued, What you want to do is talk about a subject that Ive already answered. The VA secretary lost his cool with the CNN host who, moments earlier, asked how hed feel if a U.S. Navy fighter pilot was in the air while officials discussed an upcoming attack in an unclassified group chat. Doug Collins told the host he wasnt involved in the chat and further deflected by discussing his role as head of the Department of Veterans Affairs. His remarks come as the Trump administration continues to face questions over the breach of a group chat in which officials discussed U.S. strikes in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National security experts told NPR that heads are exploding over the breach, noting that officials in the chat didnt raise any alarm about sharing war plans over Signal, citing reporting by The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Later in the interview, the CNN host asked the VA secretary about the Signal scandal again, which led Doug Collins to stress that he already answered her. He then flipped to talk about a defamation lawsuit that CNN ultimately settled after a jury awarded $5 million in compensatory damages to U.S. Navy veteran and contractor Zachary Young over claims tied to a 2021 segment on the U.S. militarys withdrawal from Afghanistan. The journalist proceeded to the plug, Respectfully, sir, Im asking the questions here and I have no involvement in what youre referencing there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted that she was trying to ask whether its commonplace for Trump Cabinet members to use Signal before turning her attention toward the VA. H/T Mediaite Related... WASHINGTON (AP) Major anti-abortion groups gathered in the nation's capital on Thursday to begin a lobbying effort with Congress and President Donald Trump's administration aimed at eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood, with some calling on Elon Musk to make the organization one of his cost-cutting targets. The anti-abortion groups are taking aim at abortion providers under an initiative called Defund Planned Parenthood, which targets federal Medicaid funding for the reproductive health care provider. More than 150 of the groups signed a letter Wednesday urging Congress to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood and other health care centers that provide abortions through the budget reconciliation process. Today is a historic moment where the pro-life movement stands united behind one message: Defund Planned Parenthood, said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, as she kicked off the rally in view of the U.S. Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She called on Trump and other Republicans to defund your political enemies, adding that the abortion lobby has long targeted Republicans. The federal Hyde Amendment already restricts government funding for most abortions, and less than 5% of the services Planned Parenthood provides are abortions, according to the organizations 2023 annual report. Vicki Ringer, Planned Parenthoods South Carolina director of public affairs, said claims that Planned Parenthood uses Medicaid funding for abortion is an attempt to mislead the public and emphasized Planned Parenthoods role in providing broader reproductive health care. We should be expanding health care to low-income people rather than trying to kick off these people who rely on us for health care, Ringer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Planned Parenthood provides a wide range of services besides abortion. Its most recent annual report shows that contraceptive services and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections make up the vast majority of its medical care. It also performs more cancer screening and prevention procedures than abortions, according to the report. The national group said eliminating its federal funding could put those services out of reach for millions of people and would hit low-income communities with little access to health care hardest. Rachel Rebouche, dean of Temple University's Beasley School of Law, said the Defund Planned Parenthood movement has been building for 10 years but has gained momentum as the anti-abortion movement has been emboldened by Trumps presidential victory and by Republicans winning control of Congress in November. Were seeing more enthusiasm in states like South Carolina and others to close down Planned Parenthood under the banner of stopping abortions, which their laws already do," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tina Whittington, executive vice president at Students for Life, said she was confident that Trump would consider cutting Planned Parenthoods Medicaid funding and that Musks Department of Government Efficiency could be just the tool for doing it. Im more confident because were in an era where DOGEs actions are targeting waste, fraud and abuse, she said. And this is a great way to do that. The Supreme Court announced it will hear a case involving South Carolina's attempt to strip Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. Experts say the lawsuit could prompt similar efforts in conservative states across the country to chip away at the organization's funding. During a 2015 push to strip Planned Parenthood funding, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that doing so would cost the government $130 million over 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, lawmakers in at least three states Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina have introduced bills this year aiming to create tax breaks for anti-abortion centers. The strategies come during a time when abortion rights advocates are warning that Trump and his Cabinet hold significant power to restrict access to medication abortion nationwide. Rather than immediately heeding calls from anti-abortion allies to restrict Medicaid funding for clinics that provide abortions, Trump has made quieter moves after waffling on the issue on the campaign trail. He reinstated a policy that requires foreign nongovernmental agencies to certify that they dont provide or promote abortion if they receive U.S. aid for family planning. He also pardoned several anti-abortion activists who had been convicted of blockading abortion clinics and used wording related to fetal personhood in an executive order rolling back protections for transgender people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican president has appointed abortion opponents to some key Cabinet positions that could affect the availability of medication abortion and contraception, Medicaid coverage for family planning services, collection of abortion-related data and abortion access for troops and veterans. In a pre-recorded message to the thousands who attended the March for Life in January, Trump said he proudly stood for families and for life. Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said during Thursday's rally that he truly believes President Trump is the most pro-life president in history. Absolutely zero taxpayer dollars should be going to abortion, he said. And I know President Trump agrees. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of SBA Pro-Life America, said Republican control of the White House and Congress represents a unique opportunity to push for legislation targeting Planned Parenthood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I believe this is the moment they will be defunded, and this is the blow that will bring them down, she said. Advocates on either side of the abortion debate are waiting to see if Trump's Department of Justice will revive the Comstock Act, a 19th-century obscenity law, to restrict the mailing of medication abortion or other materials used for abortions. Attorney General Pam Bondi has a history of defending abortion restrictions, and her confirmation was celebrated by abortion opponents. At the Thursday rally, some passers-by shouted support for Planned Parenthood, saying the organization saves lives. Haven Wright, an 83-year-old retired entrepreneur visiting Washington to see the National Museum of African American History and Culture, happened upon the rally and noted that Planned Parenthood also provided health care for underserved communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are the main doctors for many, many poor women, she said. They are their main resource for all kinds of reproductive health care. Wright said she had two abortions while in her 20s, once while she had an IUD and another time after she was raped. She said she was grateful she had the agency to get the care I needed. Women," she said, deserve a choice. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of abortion at https://apnews.com/hub/abortion. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. As billionaire Elon Musk has ramped up his spending on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race ahead of Tuesday's election, one of his opponents took to the skies over the Milwaukee area Thursday with a message for him. "Go Home Elon. Vote Susan," reads the banner flying behind a small plane, referencing liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford. More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She will go head-to-head with Musk's preferred candidate, conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, in an election that a watchdog group has estimated could top a record $100 million in spending. An airplane flys with a message saying Go home Elon, vote Crawford over Milwaukee on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Crawford's spokesman said the plane was not her campaign's and he did not know whose it was. Republican Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Andrew Iverson said in a statement, "Democrats have their heads in clouds focused on a man not even on the ballot. For those on the ground in Wisconsin, we know this race is about stopping the Dangerous Democrat agenda and electing Trump endorsed Brad Schimel." President Donald Trump endorsed Schimel last week, and days later former President Barack Obama endorsed Crawford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk and his groups have spent about $20 million on the campaign. On Wednesday night, he announced on his social media platform X a $1 million giveaway to a Green Bay voter who signed his super PAC's "Petition In Opposition To Activist Judges." An airplane flys with a message saying Go home Elon, vote Crawford over Milwaukee on Thursday, March 27, 2025. The single-engine plane flew out of Toledo Executive Airport in Ohio, landing at Brookfield's Capitol Airport Wednesday evening, according to Flight Aware. About 10 a.m. Thursday the plane took to the skies again and primarily flew over Milwaukee's downtown and parts of the city's lakefront, a map of its flight path shows. The plane is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, and the owner is listed as Glass City Aviation Services LLC, a company registered in Delaware but reported as a tenant at the Toledo airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to reach Glass City were not immediately successful. Wisconsin campaign finance reports show no payments from a Wisconsin campaign committee to Glass City over the past two years. Daniel Bice of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story. Vanessa Swales can be reached at vswales@gannett.com. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Anti-Musk plane flies over Milwaukee before Wisconsin court election FAIRMONT The mood at the Fairmont Human Rights Commission is somber these days. The commission spent the bulk of its March meeting Wednesday discussing bills from the state legislature that target trans and queer individuals by prohibiting municipalities by passing ordinances that protect LGBTQ identity. Im really disheartened that the legislature is focused on peoples body parts and who you love and not on the citizens of West Virginia, Vice Chair Donna Blood said. The important things, for instance, the muddy water in southern West Virginia. They just loosened the regulations for water purity. Whats that about? Thats not helping anyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Schneider, executive director of Fairness West Virginia, delivered a report to the commission about the legislatures activities. Schneider said Senate Bill 154 would require teachers to out transgender students to their parents, even if it means outing the child to hostile parents who might harm their child. Schneider also characterized the bill as a dont-say-gay bill as well. It would prohibit LGBTQ curriculum in schools, and would get teachers in trouble merely for bringing up in class anything related to LGBTQ identity. Schneider said Senate Bill 299 as well, which bans gender affirming care. Schneider said both bills have moved out of the senate into the House of Delegates, where they await to be taken up by a committee. Schneider expects that to happen. Fairmont City Councilmember Rebecca Moran asked if Senate Bill 579, which prohibits municipalities from passing ordinances that go beyond the scope of state code and targets gender identity protections, would affect the Human Rights Commission. She wanted to know if the bill would impact ordinances that were approved by voters and werent simply passed by council. Schneider said most likely the Human Rights Commission would continue to exist, but would overrule the 2018 ordinance passed by voters which firmly established the commission and added gender identity to the list of protected classes. Blood said she doesnt know if they will continue being a commission only because it has no teeth. The commission has no enforcement power, and serves as an education organization and provides advice to city council. The city itself does not enforce any anti-discrimination statutes on private entities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HRC Chair Cyndy Straight agreed the current legislative environment creates a lot of uncertainty for the future of their work. She said Republicans in the state legislature are following President Donald Trumps lead, who has made the eradication of DEI programs a centerpiece of his agenda. However, even if the local control bill passes, the commissions mission may not change. Fundamentally it doesnt really change our purpose, James Spadafore said. We may not be able to explicitly say part of anti-discrimination is the LGBTQ community, but we are promoting non-discrimination and equality of opportunity for everyone. Unless we are specifically forbidden to do so, I dont think it changes our mission at all. Moran called SB 579 legislative overreach. She said residents made their desires clear when they voted for the commission in 2018, the language protecting gender identity was part of the ordinance when the public voted on it. Public hearings were overwhelmingly in favor of the commission and the updates made to the ordinance in 2022. She pointed out a lot of fear mongering previously used to sway people against the commission hasnt come to pass. Moran is a big supporter of local government, its the arm of government thats most responsive to citizens since its at an accessible level where people live their daily lives. We live in a democratic society, Moran said. This is what our country was founded on, and if were going to fight for that, we have to be OK with the outcome of an election, even if thats not what we individually may have wanted. You cant circumvent that by going to the next higher level up and try to change things from up there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group is busy planning its Pride event for 2025. She said Fairmont has been supportive of the event. Moran said Fairmont has spoken, and all are welcome here. She expects the community and most residents who live here will continue to act in such a way. But the threat of those bills passing remains high. You know that saying, mountaineers are always free? Straight said. Yeah? Not so much, huh? An Associated Press study shows a new American airstrike campaign against Yemens Houthi rebels appears more intense and more extensive. The Associated Press (AP) has reported that France is considering deploying European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine at a distance from the front line, with one option being deployment along the Dnipro River. Source: AP, citing an unnamed French official, as reported by European Pravda Details: AP noted that European military commanders and planners are considering a range of options, which are being prepared for presentation to state leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the options France is advocating for involves coalition members deploying significant forces in Ukraine's centre, along the Dnipro River, away from the front line, according to the French official who spoke on condition of anonymity regarding the closed-door discussions. Other options under consideration include deploying a support force further from the front lines, either in Ukraine's west or in a neighbouring country, the official said. UK officials stated that the force could consist of between 10,000 and 30,000 troops a significant commitment for countries that have scaled back their armed forces since the Cold War but are now rearming. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that the proposed European force would not be deployed on the front lines in Ukraine "nor be engaged on the first day opposite Russian forces". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will serve as "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," Macron stressed. Background: On Thursday 27 March, a meeting of state leaders began in Paris to discuss support for Ukraine in deterring Russian aggression and achieving a just and lasting peace. The coalition of the willing, led by France and the UK, has been working for several weeks on a plan to send thousands of troops to Ukraine to help guarantee a future ceasefire. Sources in European diplomatic circles told Reuters that there is growing scepticism in Europe about the feasibility of the plan due to logistical challenges, troop shortages, resistance from Russia and the lack of US security guarantees. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A veteran AP photographer and top White House correspondent testified Thursday that the news organization has struggled to compete in its coverage of the Trump presidency since White Houses decision to limit its access to presidential events, the Oval Office and Air Force One. Evan Vucci, the chief photographer for the AP in Washington, testified during a hearing in his companys legal challenge to the White House ban that since the organization has had its access severely curtailed, its really struggling to keep up with its competitors, particularly during major news events that have happened during the opening weeks of President Donald Trumps second term. Its hurting us big time, Vucci said at one point in response to questions from the news organizations attorney, Charles Tobin. Were basically dead in the water on major news stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APs chief White House correspondent, Zeke Miller, testified Thursday on the impact the limitations have had on the outlets work, telling the court the outlet was forced to report in a delayed fashion and that its coverage did not have the same level of completeness. The AP, one of the worlds biggest news outlets and wire service thats used by local publications around the world, was singled out by the White House over its refusal to substitute Gulf of America for Gulf of Mexico. The issue was underscored, Vucci said, during the contentious Oval Office meeting last month between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The administrations decision to ban Washington-based AP photographers and reporters from the Oval Office meant the organization had to rely on one of its foreign-based photographers to capture visuals of the event. But that person, Vucci said, lacked the experience and skill he has that allow him to transmit photos back to his editors for wider distribution within seconds. The foreign-based photographer was able to attend the event as part of the group of reporters covering Zelensky, not Trump specifically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just absolutely got slammed in the play, Vucci said. We got destroyed. Vucci said during his testimony that the APs photographs reach some 4 billion people globally and stressed that the organizations absence from certain White House events in recent weeks is meaningful to the public. Associated Press photographers are the gold standard, he said. Of course it matters to the public. Its awful. Pressed by Tobin on what he knows about how the White House is now choosing which photographers can now attend certain White House events, Vucci said he was clueless. Theres no rhyme or reason, he said. I dont think anyone knows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under cross-examination by Justice Department attorney Brian Hudak, Vucci struggled to answer specific questions about how the AP was harmed financially by the White House, saying he wasnt the best person to speak to those details. And later, when US District Judge Trevor McFadden asked if, as an artful photographer, Vucci has changed how he snaps pictures of the president since the ban has been in effect, he pushed back strongly on the idea. My approach doesnt change, he said. Im a professional. Vucci took the famous photograph of Trump raising his fist moments after surviving an assassination attempt during a campaign rally last summer. Asked about the image on Thursday by Tobin and Trumps own embrace of it, Vucci described it as an iconic photograph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursdays hearing is the APs latest shot at convincing McFadden to order the administration to restore the outlets full access to White House events. The Trump appointee had declined in late February to issue a temporary restraining order that would have done just that. Now, Tobin is pressing the judge to issue a preliminary injunction in his clients favor. AP has now spent 44 days in the penalty box, he told the judge just after the proceedings got underway. Softer questions for Trump? Miller testified that he has observed softening of the questions asked by other outlets during presidential events since the restrictions were imposed. Miller he said had noticed, in reading transcripts and other coverage of the outlets that are participating in such pool events, that there had generally been a softening of tone and tenor in the questions being asked of the president by other journalists in the pool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And since AP reporters must rely on reporting from other journalists for pool events the outlet is locked out of, Miller said it was possible that such a softening was impacting his companys ability to adequately cover the news. We dont know what were missing out on, he said. McFadden, who was appointed by Trump, returned to the softening claim at the end of Millers testimony, asking if there were specific outlets or examples he could point to. Miler did not identify any particular outlet, but said he had noticed that outlets in the pool were asking fewer questions about the news of the day meaning the big stories about the administration at a given time and that some questions tended to be not on topic or irrelevant. He also recalled noticing in coverage of SpaceXs recent return of some astronauts that journalists were referring to the Gulf of Mexico as just the gulf. Miller said it seemed they were trying to skirt around the issue. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com CAIRO (AP) You wouldnt think that someone who goes around banging a drum in the streets before dawn and waking up the whole neighborhood would be so beloved. But many children and families love the musaharati, or dawn caller, a traditional fixture of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month when the faithful fast from dawn to sunset. Its his job to wake people up in time to have a meal before the daily fast begins. Across the Muslim world, the sound of a musaharatis drum outside is as much a symbol of Ramadan as the crescent moon and the lanterns that people set up in their houses. He evokes the homey, communal feeling that the holy month brings for many, the feeling that everyone is facing the hunger of the days fast together and enjoying the night's meals together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Often the job of musaharati is passed from father to son. So everybody in the neighborhood knows him, and he knows them. Wake up, Mayar! Wake up, Menna! Essam Sayed shouted on a recent night, calling out the names of individual children as he passed outside their houses and slapped the small, brass drum that he inherited from his father. He rode his donkey, Saad, through Arab Ghoneim, an impoverished neighborhood south of the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The slap of his leather strap on the drum echoed around the tiny alleyways, strung up with colored tinsel and lights. Neighborhood kids gathered around him, petting and climbing on Saad. In the Lebanese city of Sidon, Mahmoud Fanas put on a green skullcap and a green shawl over his clean white robe, an outfit that originally belonged to his father, who was also a musaharati. Then he set out on his pre-dawn circuit through the stone houses in the alleys of the old city, beating a drum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ya nayim, wahhid il-dayim, he called out in Arabic: Sleepyhead, worship the Eternal One! But who needs a musaharati when you can just set the alarm on your phone to wake up for the suhour, as the pre-dawn meal is known? Life is changing rapidly. Technology is destroying our history and causing us to lose our identity, said Fanas, who owns a toy store. He wanted to preserve the tradition of his father, and God willing, my children will preserve it too. The most beautiful thing is when I see the children happy to see me, he said. The job is disappearing from many places around the Muslim world. But in many older neighborhoods trhy to preserve it. In Cairo, Sayed thought at one point about giving up, but people in the neighborhood pleaded with him to continue as a musaharati. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In India, Umar Irshad makes his way through the dimly lit alleys in the labyrinthine heart of Old Delhi, once the seat of the Muslim Mughal emperors. The 59-year-old, one of the last remaining dawn callers in the city, calls out for the devout to wake up, rings doorbells on houses and bangs on the closed shutters of shops. He too inherited the job from his father. The tradition is fast disappearing from Delhi and hardline Hindu nationalism in India adds extra pressure. But Irshad, a government employee, says he plans to keep it alive as long as he lives. I do it to please my God, Irshad said. ___ Ammar reported from Sidon, Lebanon, and Swarup from Delhi. AP correspondent Lee Keath in Cairo contributed to this report WASHINGTON (AP) The Associated Press is returning to a federal courtroom on Thursday to ask a judge to restore its full access to presidential events, 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 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 hasn't. It seems pretty clearly viewpoint discrimination, McFadden told the government's attorney at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AP has sued 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 ordered it renamed the Gulf of America. 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 for the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. Its really about whether the government can control what you say. The White House said it has the right to decide who gets to question the president, and has taken steps to take over a duty that has been handled by journalists for decades. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AP has still covered the president, and has been permitted in White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitts press briefings, but the ban has cost the organization time in reporting and impeded its efforts to get still images. Even if McFadden rules in favor of the news organization, its unclear how the White House will respond to the judges order. The White House Correspondents' Association has asked its members to show solidarity with the AP on Thursday, perhaps by showing up at the courtroom or wearing a pin that signifies the importance of the First Amendment. The case is one of several aggressive moves the second Trump administration has taken against the press since his return to office, including FCC investigations against ABC, CBS and NBC News, dismantling the government-run Voice of America and threatening funding for public broadcasters PBS and NPR. A Trump executive order to change the name of the United States largest mountain back to Mount McKinley from Denali is being recognized by the AP. Trump has the authority to do so because the mountain is completely within the country he oversees, AP has said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writing in the Journal, Pace said the AP didnt ask for the fight and made efforts to resolve the issue before going to court, but needed to stand on principle. If we dont step up to defend Americans right to speak freely," she wrote, "who will? ___ David Bauder covers media for The Associated Press. Utah just passed a law that would make app stores verify user ages instead of individual apps. Apple and Google would have to get parental consent before minors can download certain apps in the state. Meta, Snap, and X praised the bill. Google and Apple have said it raises privacy concerns. Utah just became the first state to pass a law that makes app stores rather than individual apps responsible for verifying user ages. Google and Apple, the tech giants behind the two main app stores, have opposed the bill. But Meta, Snap, and X have praised the law, which Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The App Store Accountability Act, also known as S.B. 142, is set to take effect on May 7 but is expected to face legal challenges. It requires Apple and Google to confirm the age of anyone who creates an account in Utah. If that person is under 18, the account must be linked to a parent or verified with extra documentation. Parents must also approve in-app purchases. The law represents a major shift in how states regulate child safety online. Instead of directly targeting social media companies, lawmakers in Utah have focused on the gatekeepers: app stores. Supporters say the law gives parents more centralized control over what their kids can download, a change that major social media companies have been pushing for. Meta, Snap, and X three companies under growing pressure to protect teens online welcomed the law in a joint statement on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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," they said. "This approach spares users from repeatedly submitting personal information to countless individual apps and online services." The verification bill is the latest in a long-running turf war between Meta and Apple over data practices, platform control, and even smart glasses. Meta has pushed for app stores to take the lead on age restrictions, while Apple says it raises privacy concerns. Apple wrote in a paper last month that it doesn't want to collect sensitive user data for privacy reasons and that "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." Google also opposed the bill, warning in a March 12 blog post that it could create unintended risks. "These proposals introduce new risks to the privacy of minors without actually addressing the harms that are inspiring lawmakers to act," wrote Kareem Ghanem, the company's director of public policy. Digital rights groups have raised concerns about how the data used for age verification will be stored and protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Utah bill could open the door for similar efforts across the country. Lawmakers in a dozen other states, including California and South Carolina, are weighing similar proposals. Apple and Google did not immediately respond to a Business Insider request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider An appeal has been issued by Jordan PD to find a 37-year-old woman missing since December. Danielle Wrobleski last contacted family from a business on the 1100 block of Clarence Street in St. Paul three months ago. The police department and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issued an "endangered missing person" alert on Thursday. Submitted Wrobleski is white, 5'6" tall, weighing 180 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information should call Jordan Police Department at 952-492-2009, or Scott County Dispatch at 952-445-1411 Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. The United States Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit upheld U.S. District Judge John McConnells ruling Wednesday, keeping a block on the Trump administrations plans to freeze federal loans and grants through an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo. Chief Judge David Barron, an appointee of former President Obama, and Circuit Judges Lara Montecalvo and Julie Rikelman, both appointees of former President Biden, presided over the case brought on by Democratic attorneys general from 22 states, the District of Columbia and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D). Even if we were to set aside the harms to the Plaintiff-States residents, the District Court still found a number of harms that the Plaintiff-States themselves would irreparably suffer. These harms included the obligation of new debt; the inability to pay existing debt; impediments to planning, hiring, and operations; and disruptions to research projects by state universities, Barron wrote, according to court filings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the Defendants do not contend that these harms are not substantial or irreparable, except by asserting that [the Plaintiff-States] will receive any funds that agencies are legally obligated to disburse.' The Trump administration rescinded the OMB memo days after it was issued to end any confusion on federal policy created by the court ruling and the dishonest media coverage, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. However, the attorneys general had already filed the lawsuit against the measure, arguing a pause in funding would harshly impact the states ability to serve people locally. The White House is now dubbing the appeals court ruling blocking the OMB memo as an effort to combat the presidents legislative agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The First Circuits decision to bless these lawfare tacticsand to block the Presidents efforts to root out fraud, waste, and abuseare an affront to the American people, Harrison Fields, principal deputy press secretary told The Hill. The Trump Administration will continue its efforts to challenge the district courts decision, and looks forward to ultimate victory for the American people on this issue. Judge McConnell, also an appointee of former President Obama, previously said the Trump administrations move was an attempt to put itself above Congress. The Executives categorical freeze of appropriated and obligated funds fundamentally undermines the distinct constitutional roles of each branch of our government, McConnell wrote earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan issued a similar ruling to indefinitely block Trumps proposed federal funding freeze in late February. In the simplest terms, the freeze was ill-conceived from the beginning, AliKhan wrote. Defendants either wanted to pause up to $3 trillion in federal spending practically overnight, or they expected each federal agency to review every single one of its grants, loans, and funds for compliance in less than twenty-four hours. The breadth of that command is almost unfathomable. Updated at 3:43 pm 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. WASHINGTON (AP) An appeals court in California has refused to halt a judges order requiring the Trump administration to rehire thousands of federal workers who were let go in mass firings. A split 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel turned back an emergency motion late Wednesday to pause the order from U.S. District Judge William Alsup in a case brought by labor unions and nonprofits as Republican President Donald Trump moves to dramatically downsize the federal workforce. Alsup is one of two judges who found legal problems with the way the firings of probationary workers were carried out. Two of the three judges on the panel ruled against the request for an emergency stay. The dissenting judge said the government had a strong argument against reinstating the workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government has appealed Alsup's order to the Supreme Court, arguing that judges cannot micromanage federal worker policies or force the rehiring of more than 16,000 workers. A response is due by April 3. Alsup ordered six departments to immediately offer job reinstatement to employees terminated on in mid-February: the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, the Interior and Treasury. The judge, who was nominated by Democratic President Bill Clinton, said the firings were an attempt by the administration to sidestep laws and regulations governing a reduction in workforce by going after probationary workers, who have fewer protections. Alsup said he was appalled that employees were told they were being fired for poor performance despite receiving glowing evaluations just months earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Probationary workers have been targeted for layoffs across the federal government because they are usually new to the job and lack full civil service protection. Lawsuits over the firings are among the many faced by the administration. More than three dozen rulings have at least temporarily slowed Trump's second-term agenda. Within hours of Alsup's ruling, a judge in Baltimore found separate legal problems with the handling of the firings. In a lawsuit brought by nearly two dozen states affected by the layoffs, U.S. District Judge James Bredar said the administration did not follow laws set out for large-scale layoffs. That case involved a wider range of agencies, and the plaintiffs estimate about 24,000 probationary workers are affected. The administration contends that states have no right to try to influence the federal governments relationship with its own workers. Justice Department lawyers argued that the firings were for performance issues and are not the large-scale layoffs subject to specific regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt cast it as an attempt to encroach on the presidents power to hire and fire employees. There are an estimated 200,000 probationary workers across federal agencies. They include entry-level employees but also workers who recently received a promotion. Leavitt is one of three Trump administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First and Fifth Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. ___ Har reported from San Francisco. By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday refused to pause a judge's ruling requiring the administration of President Donald Trump to reinstate more than 17,000 workers at six agencies who lost their jobs as part of Trump's purge of the federal workforce. A 2-1 panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the Trump administration had failed to establish a federal judge erred by finding that agencies likely could not fire workers at the direction of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the human resources department for the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration in court filings on March 17 said that the agencies were working to reinstate the fired employees, while temporarily placing them on paid leave. Wednesday's decision will be in place pending the outcome of the administration's appeal. The administration has also asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause the judge's ruling. The decision applies to the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and the Treasury Department. Probationary employees typically have less than one year, and sometimes less than two years, of service in their current roles, though some are longtime federal employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mass firings of probationary workers was the first step in broader efforts by Trump and top adviser Elon Musk to drastically shrink the federal workforce and slash government spending. Most agencies have said that they fired a few hundred probationary workers, but others terminated far more. The Treasury Department fired more than 7,600 people, the Department of Agriculture about 5,700, and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Interior Department about 1,700 each, according to court filings. On March 13, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco said that OPM, which is closely tied to the White House, improperly ordered the six agencies to fire the workers even though it has no power to do so. On the same day, a judge in Baltimore, Maryland separately ordered that 25,000 probationary workers at 18 agencies be reinstated, but on different legal grounds. That case involves all of the agencies subject to Alsup's order except for the Department of Defense, which said it had fired about 360 probationary employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has appealed that decision. A Richmond, Virginia-based appeals court recently refused to pause the ruling pending the outcome of the case. The judges' rulings did not bar agencies from firing probationary workers at all, but took issue with the manner in which the terminations were conducted. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Cynthia Osterman) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) From Zimbabwe to Albuquerque. A mother and her five children moved to New Mexico, and as you can imagine, there was culture shock, a language barrier, and a lot of changes to adapt to. Thats why starting next year, Albuquerque Public Schools will open International High School to help refugee and immigrant families. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says shes happy the way she came here in USA with her kids, said Chantal Kwizera, translating for her mother, Christine Kwizera. Christine Kwizera is from Burundi. She spent 20 years at a refugee camp in Zimbabwe which is a typical wait to get accepted to resettle in the U.S. In 2023, her dream of bringing her five kids to America finally came true. Because she lived in a camp in Zimbabwe for too long, and it was not easy for her, sometimes, like we dont have food to eat, said Chantal Kwizera. Chantal Kwizera is a 17-year-old Highland High School student and is enjoying new experiences, like her first school assembly. I just loved the way they beat the drums. Its new for me. I never seen something like that, said Kwizera. The move did come with plenty of challenges, from new foods to how she dressed. Theyre like, what are you wearing, like the why? Like, you should just wear pants, like others, like Americans do, but you know, they dont understand you. They dont know the history, said Kwizera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything is different, like school, life. I was born in a village, so its different, said Kwizera. Another student expressed the difficulties, I have my hijab on and they talk about me because Im different. APS Refugee & Newcomer Support Program Manager Antonio Baca said many of the students have a lot of catching up to do while trying to learn English. And so we see a lot of families coming up from Mexico, Central and South America, but also refugee families coming from the Middle East, Central Africa, Central and East Africa, and Central Asia, said Baca. He continued, Due to being forcibly displaced and due to war and violence in their home countries, they may have missed years of school, or maybe theyve even never been to school before. Refugee case manager Mohammad Ismail steps in to help families, along with a team of specialists and teachers helping in the classroom. The education system is totally different, and what the families are going through is hard and challenging, said Ismail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With hundreds of refugee and immigrant students scattered at different schools throughout the city, APS noticed that students and families were struggling. To help, the school board voted in December as part of a right-sizing plan to turn Coronado Elementary School downtown into an International High School, where support will be located in one place and students will be surrounded by others who speak their language. Students are going to be seen as strengths and assets and be celebrated for all the differences that they bring. And having students with 20 different languages coming together and learning English and learning core academics prepare them for their future, said Principal Justin Trager, APS International High School. If students want to go to college, we will get them the language, be able to read, write, and speak, as well as the academics, to meet their dreams and why they came here, said Trager. Ismail, an Afghan immigrant who has been in their shoes, said the school will help in many ways. Celebrate their culture, celebrate their language, religious events, cultural events, celebrate their heritage, and that those nuances will also boost the confidence in our students, and our students will look to one another. They will learn from one another, and they will support one another in the classroom or at the school, said Ismail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APS has started enrolling freshmen, which means Chantals sister will attend. In two years, they have learned English, and Chantal pointed out she is an A student. We didnt speak English. But now we speak a little bit of English. and that bring joy, all of that stuffBrings joy to her, said Chantel, speaking of her mother. The school will also include a welcome center with multilingual staff to help parents. APS is expecting 80 to 100 students to enroll in the first freshman class. To register, click this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The Arc of Acadiana is expanding its presence in South Bossier and continuing its mission to serve individuals with disabilities. The organization privatized the Northwest Support and Services Center 12 years ago and invests nearly $8 million into a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide 24/7 nursing care for medically fragile adults. The project, which spans nearly six acres, is located off Barksdale Boulevard, neighboring a nursing facility and Bodacious Barbecue. It will feature three residential homes, a warehouse, and an office complex, enhancing services and resources for those in need. The Arc of Acadiana extends its gratitude to the community for its ongoing support, with special recognition to Bossier Mayor Tommy Chandler, the Metropolitan Zoning Commission, and city council members for making this expansion possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With construction underway, the organization looks forward to further growth in South Bossier. The facility is set for completion by January 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / March 25, 2025 / Following World Water Day on March 22, CNH brands - Case IH and New Holland - continue to lead the way in breaking new ground in precision agriculture. As part of the Drops of the Future initiative, CNH has teamed up with Italy-based agri tech company, xFarm, to develop a pilot project in Uzbekistan to show how precision technology and data from their machines can help farmers increase productivity and save water. The Drops of the Future initiative is tackling water scarcity in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan by empowering young professionals through innovation and collaboration. It has been set up by The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which focuses on addressing a wide range of security-related concerns that include economic, environmental and human aspects. It is the first time OSCE has worked with private companies on the topic of water, agri-food production and energy to increase environmental efforts around water use, while improving production efficiency. It started in September 2024 with the Tashkent Youth Workshop in Uzbekistan, which featured experts, policymakers, and industry leaders - including CNH. This ongoing project is delivering real impact. To find out more about the Drops of the Future Initiative and the xFarm pilot project in Uzbekistan, visit: bit.ly/BreakingNewGround_en View original content here. Tashkent workshop participants learning about the capabilities of the Case IH Magnum View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: CNH Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: CNH View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire A Vail man who sent more than 34 pounds of drugs through U.S. Mail, including crystal methamphetamine, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the crime. Southern Arizona man Jeremiah Warren, 42, received the sentence after pleading guilty to sending drugs more than 1,500 miles across the country to a man in Alabama. Warren pled guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of meth, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was sentenced to 180 months in prison, officials said on March 24. Warren pled guilty to supplying Isaiah Oneal Rice of Athens with controlled substances for several years through the U.S. Mail. Those drugs included crystal meth. From February to May 2022, Warren mailed over 34 pounds of packages containing controlled substances into the Northern District of Alabama, officials said. Rice, the Alabama man who pled guilty to receiving the drugs, was sentenced to 176 months in prison nearly 15 years in January 2024. Rice pled guilty to charges that included drug distribution and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the cases. Both cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations Alabama Safe Streets Task Force. The group received assistance from the Limestone County Sheriffs Office and the Athens Police Department. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona man gets 15 years for mailing more than 34 pounds of drugs 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? I should have grasped the depth and inspirational mission of Raul Grijalva sooner. That feeling of regret came crashing down on March 26 as I watched the funeral Mass of the Southern Arizona congressman. He died on March 13 at 77. Ive known about his legislative work and his personal struggles or flaws, as political rivals would call them. But itll be Grijalvas essence, the cultural heritage that he personified and the causes he relentlessly pursued that will be hard to replace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whoever takes over his seat in Congress later this year will have a huge void to fill, not in the halls of Capitol Hill but in the hearts and minds of the people of this border region and beyond. We mourn the loss of a voice of conscience, said Deb Haaland, secretary of the Interior under former President Joe Biden. Grijalva fought for tribes, immigrants, the poor Haaland paid tribute to Grijalva as powerful advocate for tribal communities and a fighter for environmental justice. That was especially touching because the plight of Indigenous communities is often forgotten, at best, with few willing to spend political capital to stand with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arizona has 22 federally recognized tribes, but it was clear that Grijalvas sympathy for Native Americans had no boundaries. The son of Mexican immigrants first got into politics with the Raza Unida Party, part of the Chicano movement that sought political representation by staging boycotts, protests and walkouts. Some at the time called them violent, though Chicanos rejected that characterization. Grijalva later toned down his most radical instincts, but the movements political culture stayed with him and apparently guided him throughout his long career advocating for immigrants rights, environmental protections, public education and expanded health care. Grijalva, a Democrat, served 13 years on the Tucson Unified School District school board in the 1970s and 80s. He later served as a Pima County supervisor for 14 years, where he was instrumental in launching the countys Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan. This 'everyman' was unapologetically liberal He began serving on Congress in 2003 and quickly aligned himself with the left wing of the Democratic Party, a stance he carried until his passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grijalva was an unapologetic liberal who was never afraid to make good trouble and necessary trouble, as the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis used to say. He wasnt afraid to call for an economic boycott against Arizona after the state implemented the anti-immigrant Senate Bill 1070 or to get arrested while protesting outside Trump Tower in New York in 2017. His challenges included notorious alcohol use and an ethics complaint by a former female staffer over creating a hostile workplace, which ended with a $48,000-plus settlement. None of that should minimize his lifelong work, which should be judged in its totality. Grijalva was an everyman in service, as my colleague E.J. Montini put it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he leaves a legacy of a mentor and tireless champion for the unseen and overlooked, as U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told those gathered at his funeral in Tucson. Southern Arizona lost a tireless advocate Anyone charismatic enough to gain public support can go to Congress. But not everyone has the heart and affinity to put people first over their own financial and political ambitions. Too many go to Washington to forge their own fortunes, quickly forgetting who sent them there and why. The list is growing of those who are considering a bid to replace Grijalva. Gov. Katie Hobbs has set a special primary election for July 15 and the general election for Sept. 23 to fill the vacancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Grijalva is brave and blunt about it: Biden has to go The 7th Congressional District covers parts of Tucson and southwestern Arizona and cuts a bit into the West Valley. Former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez has launched his candidacy. Others are expected to compete for the seat. The hardest part about Grijalvas death isnt filling his seat. Whoever wins surely will put up a fight in Washington to represent the predominantly Latino district. What Southern Arizona lost with Grijalva is a sliver of the Chicano movement that grew out of the desperate need for representation and a fight for a sense of belonging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont have to like the tactics of the movement that jump-started Grijalvas trajectory to appreciate the struggles and cultural contributions of Mexican Americans. Grijalva leaves a void that I doubt anyone can fill. Elvia Diaz is editorial page editor for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, (formerly Twitter), @elviadiaz1. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Raul Grijalva fought for the underdog. We need more like him | Opinion Good morning! Its Daniel de Vise with your Daily Money, more tariffs edition. Car prices saw a dramatic upswing in the aftermath of the pandemic, Bailey Schulz reports. Now, experts are warning consumers to prepare for additional price hikes spurred by a new tariff on auto imports. Starting April 2, President Donald Trump is set to impose a 25% tariff on imported passenger vehicles, light trucks and some auto parts. Here's what it means for car prices. Tariffs and TikTok Meanwhile, President Trump said he would consider lowering tariff rates on China to get Beijing behind a sale of the U.S. operations of TikTok and avert a ban on the popular app. A TikTok ban in the U.S. is set to go into effect April 5 if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, does not cede control to an American company. Here's how the deal might work. Will the IRS notice tax errors in 2025? In other news: Some taxpayers say they are not particularly worried about making mistakes on their taxes this year, given the widely publicized cuts at the IRS and the broader impression of a federal workforce in disarray. In an ordinary year, few taxpayers would contemplate reckless disregard for the data on a tax return. Make mistakes, and you risk an audit. This year, however, a new president has brought tumult to the taxing agency. More stories you shouldn't miss About The Daily Money Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you. Daniel de Vise covers personal finance for USA Today. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Car prices rise again LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has rejected a proposal that would reform the states rules over voter initiatives. The League of Women Voters of Arkansas (LWVAR) previously proposed a ballot title that would have simplified the signature collection process for ballot initiates and introduced new rules for referendums in emergency clauses. On Tuesday, Griffin, in a 15-page response, rejected the proposal, claiming the proposed name and ballot title are too vague. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGE planning to terminate more than $165M in grants to Arkansas services These ambiguities prevent me from either ensuring that your ballot title is not misleading or substituting a more appropriate ballot title, Griffin said in the response. The League of Women Voters of Arkansas responded to Griffins rejection, expressing disappointment. While this outcome is not what we hoped for, it only strengthens our resolve to protect the rights of Arkansans, Bonnie Miller, President of LWVAR, said in a statement. We will carefully review the Attorney Generals feedback, make the necessary adjustments to the ballot title, and resubmit it promptly. 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. (General Dynamics) The federal workplace safety regulator has fined $156,700 to a General Dynamics facility in Hampton following an explosion there last year that killed one employee and injured two others. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration website, the three employees were inserting smoke composition material into aluminum pyrotechnic vessels when an explosion occurred just after 8 a.m. on July 3, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement General Dynamics operates a military munitions factory in 880,000 square feet of space just outside of Camden, where it manufactures weapons such as the Hydra-70 rocket and the Hellfire and Javelin missiles. OSHA opened an investigation the same day, and issued 12 citations against the company for violations of federal worker safety regulations earlier this year. Eight of those 12 resulted in a $16,131 fine each, near the maximum. The other four resulted in $6,913 fines, each. General Dynamics is contesting OSHAs findings, according to the website. A spokesperson for General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems did not return a phone call requesting comment. An individual at the Little Rock OSHA office said the agency did not discuss open or closed cases, and that any additional information would require a FOIA request. The notes included with one of the citations indicated that OSHA believed General Dynamics had not been updating operating procedures to reflect current operating practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The notes also said that in a section about Automated Smoke Tube Loading the employer did not list isopropyl alcohol in this section. However, employees used isopropyl alcohol for cleaning purposes. Another citations notes said that General Dynamics did not account for how smoke power would react to heat, static electricity, impact, or other outside forces in its hazard analysis, nor did it have written procedures for managing changes in the smoke powders formulation. According to a safety worksheet published by New Jerseys Department of Health, isopropyl alcohol forms explosive mixtures with aluminum when heated and is also not compatible with oxidizing agents such as perchlorate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Armenia has launched negotiations with Turkmenistan over natural gas supplies, Artashes Tumanian, adviser to the Armenian prime minister, has said. Source: The Moscow Times Details: Tumanian stated that an agreement is planned with the state-run Turkmengaz company, and the gas would be delivered to Armenia via Iran under a SWOP arrangement. Iran has already agreed to facilitate the transit. He clarified that the deal would involve the supply of between 600 million and 1 billion cubic metres of gas, although the price has not yet been finalised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tumanian also added that Armenia is discussing the possibility of further transiting Turkmen gas through its territory to Georgia and that Tbilisi has already agreed to the proposal. He stated that this would enable gas supplies to Black Sea countries. Currently, Russias Gazprom is the sole supplier of gas for domestic consumption in Armenia. Gas is supplied via Georgia at a rate of US$165 per 1,000 cubic metres, a price fixed until 2030. Armenia also cooperates with Iran under the "gas-for-electricity" programme, through which it imports over 2.6 billion cubic metres of gas annually. Background: Russias Gazprom ended 2024 with a net loss of RUB 1.07 trillion (approx. US$12.89 billion). Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The federal government and the U.S. Army have greenlighted an immigration facility that would be established and built at Fort Bliss, the U.S. secretary for the Army said during a visit to the installation on Wednesday, March 26. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said an immigration facility at Fort Bliss has been greenlighted and the process of getting it built would begin any day. New York Times: Fort Bliss to serve as deportation hub Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driscoll spent the past two days talking to soldiers, leaders and visiting units at Fort Bliss and seeing first-hand the border operations with which the Army is involved. It was part of a trip he took on the one-month anniversary of him becoming Army secretary. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll On Feb. 21, the New York Times reported that Fort Bliss would be the site of a major deportation hub that could house up to 10,000 migrants. Strykers deploy to border, may be seen in El Paso, Big Bend Driscoll was asked if that was coming to fruition when he said that an immigration facility at Fort Bliss was moving forward. Driscoll did not give any specifics on what the immigration facility would entail but said it would help to support local and federal partners who are involved with border operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driscoll said that Fort Bliss location near the U.S.-Mexico border made it a natural fit to be a key player in border operations and President Trumps focus on stemming the tide of illegal immigration into the country. Border Democrat pans use of military bases for deportations The immigration facility would be used to support efforts already being done along the border, Driscoll said. He said in the past, Border Patrol would get overwhelmed dealing with the sheer number of people. Someone in line, being processed, would call or text their friends and tell them, Now is a good time to cross, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It became a vicious cycle, he said. What we are hoping to do is have enough facility and enough manpower, so they dont at any point ever feel overwhelmed and incentivize more illegal crossings, Driscoll said. He had no timeframe on when this immigration facility would be up and running. As for efforts to downsize the federal government by the Trump administration, Driscoll said that some other Army installations may see an impact on its civilian workforce, but it was highly unlikely that Fort Bliss would feel anything negative. I doubt it would impact a place like Fort Bliss much (and its civilian workforce). From a soldier perspective, I havent seen anything that would make me believe there will be downsizing here, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driscoll called Fort Bliss a gem and one of the most important installations in the Army. I visited this place very briefly when I was a soldier. I had a friend who was stationed here. I had no idea how big it is here. They say, You can fire a pistol to a missile here. What? Now that I see it, I totally get it, Driscoll said. Driscoll also said that the way Fort Bliss has integrated itself into the El Paso community could also set an example for the rest of the Army. Our soldiers have told us how kind and loving the community has been to them, Driscoll 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. U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (left) and Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth (right) (Hegseth photo credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images. Tillis photo via Senate.gov) Earlier this year, I penned an essay for NC Newsline entitled Trump cabinet nominee Pete Hegseth is completely unfit to lead. I wish I had been wrong. But given the stunning and maddening revelations about the now infamous Signal chat in which Secretary Hegseth discussed operational attack plans on the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, the accuracy of the piece has been confirmed faster than even I had imagined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main point of the essay was that Hegseth was arguably the least qualified cabinet secretary nominee in U.S. history, and that if he was confirmed it could have real and dangerous consequences for our troops in the field and for our countrys national security. At the time, I was pleading with North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis and his colleagues to take their job of voting on Hegseths nomination seriously and to recognize that such a character should never be allowed anywhere near a position of authority in the Pentagon. I have to confess though that I didnt think that Hegseth would prove me right so quickly and in such an egregious way. The remarkable revelation that Secretary Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently invited journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg from The Atlantic, to a text chain that also included Director of National Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard and Vice President JD Vance sounds like the beginning of a bad Saturday Night Live skit. It would be hilarious if the potential consequences hadnt been so dangerous. Tragically, however, this disaster took place in real life, and because of the gross incompetence and complete lack of judgment by the Trump administrations entire national security team, the troops carrying out this mission could have been killed. The fact that the Bad News Bears of national security officials were openly discussing specific target locations, time and date of the strike, and the specific ammunitions that would be used is beyond unforgiveable. This would be like if in World War II General Eisenhower was openly discussing the exact war plans for the D-Day invasion so the Germans could find out and prepare their defenses. At a bare minimum, Pete Hegseth and Mike Waltz should be fired. Everyone that was on that chat should be held accountable because discussions like that must be held in whats known as a sensitive compartmented information facility, and they all know that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it is even remotely possible to accidentally invite a journalist into a conversation about detailed attack plans, such a conversation should never take place on an app of that kind. Its common sense that even a fifth grader could understand. Unfortunately, Hegseth and crew are either too lazy or just dont care and think that they are all above the law. It is probably a combination of both. Any military veteran can tell you that if we were ever caught being this incompetent in handling sensitive operational plans that could compromise our fellow soldiers in the field then we would almost certainly be kicked out of the military with a dishonorable discharge and face possible imprisonment at Fort Leavenworth. Pete Hegseth likes to brag about how he removed DEI from the military and that soldiers will be judged only on their performance and nothing else. Well, now is the time for him to put up or shut up because he fouled up in a monumental way and made it crystal clear that he is completely unfit to lead our brave men and women in uniform. They deserve so much better than him and his lack of leadership. And speaking of foul-ups, we must not forget Senator Tillis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tillis had the chance to show some real courage and backbone by doing the right thing and being the deciding vote to sink Hegseths nomination. Sadly, and predictably, he chose the cowards way out because he thought it would help him in the Republican primary for next years Senate election. And maybe he is right that it will help him in the primary, but it is absolutely going to hurt him in the general election. If the Democrats are smart, then they will repeatedly remind voters that Hegseths dangerously incompetent performance was only made possible by Tilliss cowardice. And theyll also remind all voters of the sleazy predicate to Tilliss flipflop on the confirmation vote the one in which he asked Hegseths ex-sister-in-law to put her name and reputation on the line with testimony on Hegseths years of extreme alcohol abuse. Tillis assured Danielle Hegseth that if she came forward that it would be enough to sway his vote and the votes of other senators and sink the nomination. And then after she put her own personal safety at risk by coming forward, he stabbed her in the back for the purpose of his own political expedience. These are the actions of a weak man who, just like Pete Hegseth, is completely unfit to lead. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) As tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada make their impact, local craft stores are eyeing the results. Thats because yarn is brought in from all over the world. Robin Ferguson owns the Knittin Coop in Salem and says shes avoiding sellers whose products might be affected. Prices have not gone up as of yet, but the one line that Im not purchasing right now is a favorite and I cant order it right now out of fear Im going to get hit, said Ferguson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She doesnt want to pass any added costs down to her customers. Fellow yarn shop owner Ellie Boylan realized too late that one product was impacted. While the artist who makes the bag, she makes all the artwork in England, the bags were produced in China and that was nowhere apparent to me, said Boylan, who owns House Mountain Yarn Company in Lexington. What are tariffs and how do they work? The pre-tariff price is $19 for this bag, she said, holding it up in a Zoom call Wednesday. This one came in after the tariff, and because I adjusted the price for what I had to pay, $35. Boylan says the added price came with the shipping invoice, and when she contacted the vendor and courier, she was told it was a result of tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She took to Facebook to inform her customers. A couple people responded with Why dont you just buy American-made products and I do, she said. Boylan pulled out another bag and held it up to the camera. Heres one thats locally made, pretty similar, very cute, she said. Its $33. So, its the price of the tariff bag. When you make things locally and handmade and its a more manual process, you pay more, and people want the lower prices, so I found them. While the point of the tariffs is to buy American, some American companies havent answered the call yet. Even when local stores like Boylans and Fergusons buy from U.S. brands, the sourcing or manufacturing may be done abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China hits US with retaliatory tariffs The needles are manufactured in China but come out of Michigan, said Ferguson, showing a set of knitting needles she ordered from an American business. When she buys local, there may still be impacts. The indie dyers that I have here local, I can get yarn from them but the base that they use is coming from overseas, she said. Both Ferguson and Boylan say their stores are gathering places, where people learn techniques, meet other crafters, and of course, buy supplies. I love that people are crafting, said Boylan. I want to make it accessible no matter what your income level is and thats my priority, but with tariffs the way they have been Im really worried that thats in jeopardy. 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 WFXRtv. Six months after Hurricane Helene left widespread destruction across the Southeast, "Good Morning America" returned to one of the hardest-hit communities, Asheville, North Carolina. Robin Roberts, Ginger Zee and Sam Champion reported live from Asheville on Thursday, focusing on how the community is rebuilding and where the greatest needs remain for additional support. Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region on Sept. 26 as a massive Category 4 hurricane. In the Asheville area, the storm caused historic flooding that devastated roads, bridges and structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helene also caused extensive damage to Ashevilles water treatment infrastructure, according to the National Hurricane Center. Clean water was not restored to the city until Nov. 18, 53 days after Helene hit. While in Asheville, "GMA" announced $3 million in donations to the community from corporate sponsors including Lowe's, Food Lion, Samsung, BetterHelp, Bojangles, Red Ventures, Armstrong Flooring, 84 Lumber, Family Dollar, Honeywell, Starbucks and Hanes. PHOTO: 'Good Morning America' broadcast live from Asheville, North Carolina, on March 27, 2025, six months after Hurricane Helene devastated the community. (ABC News) In addition, "GMA" put a spotlight on local organizations that are stepping up to help those in need and how individual people across the country can also contribute. For example, one featured organization, Love Asheville From Afar, is helping support local businesses by curating their online stores so people can "shop local" from afar. How to help after Hurricane Helene These organizations are directly serving communities in and around Asheville that were impacted by Hurricane Helene: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below, read about each organization and find links for more information. BeLoved Asheville is a local community-based nonprofit organization focused on "providing assistance to the underprivileged and underserved people of Asheville," according to its website. The organization provides food, housing, and medical and mental health care, as well involvement with the arts and support groups. Click here to learn more. The River Arts District Foundation provides support for the River Arts District, an artistic hub comprising more than 250 artists and 26 buildings in Asheville. Located along the French Broad River, the area experienced historic flooding during Helene. In addition to helping the arts district rebuild, the River Arts District Foundation provides scholarship opportunities and technical assistance programs for artists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click here to learn more. How country singer Eric Church is helping his home state, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene Rebuilding Hollers is a community-based nonprofit organization "committed to restoring the homes, businesses, farms, and lives of their neighbors in Yancey and Mitchell Counties," after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, according to its website. The organization was founded by a local resident after Helene caused hundreds of landslides in the area and led to the destruction of thousands of local homes and buildings. Click here to learn more. Local heroes, volunteers help mobilize relief efforts in communities after Hurricane Helene Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Global Empowerment Mission is a nonprofit organization that has responded to over 370 disaster relief missions in 69 countries and all 50 states since its founding in 2010, according to its website. Following Hurricane Helene, GEM deployed to Asheville, where it has been providing food, water, hygiene supplies, cleaning materials, tarps, pet supplies and more. Click here to learn more. Asheville Rising: How to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com (Reuters) - Dell Technologies headcount fell by 10% in fiscal 2025, and it reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and inclusion, the AI server maker said on Tuesday. The company in its annual report said it had about 108,000 employees as of January 31, down from about 120,000 a year earlier, as it continued to take measures to reduce costs, including limiting external hiring and employee reorganizations. The company also retained the language on diversity and inclusion. "We are committed to equal employment opportunity and continuing to implement inclusive policies that enable Dell Technologies to achieve these goals." President Donald Trump has called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives discriminatory and suggested the Department of Justice could investigate if such efforts violate the law. Companies including Meta and Alphabet have dropped DEI initiatives. Dell reported a decline of about 5% in its workforce in fiscal year 2024. In February, the company forecast a decline in its adjusted gross margin rate for fiscal year 2026, hit by higher costs to build AI servers in a fiercely competitive market. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore) (WJET/WFXP) Ashtabula County health officials are inviting anyone not up to date on their shots to do so with a pair of vaccine clinics amid an outbreak of measles in the area. The Ashtabula County Department of Health is hosting those vaccine clinics March 27 at the Conneaut Human Resource Center on April 7 at the Monroe Township Fire Department offering the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), DTap, polio and flu shots and more for anyone who attends. Measles case confirmed in Ashtabula County, OH Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone in need of their shots can drop by the Human Resource Center located at 327 Mill St. in Conneaut or the fire department located at 4095 Center Road in Conneaut, OH from 3:30 to 5:30 with some vaccines being offered free of charge. Anyone planning on attending is asked to bring their insurance cards and shot records if available. All minors must also be accompanied by an adult. The first measles case in Ashtabula was reported on March 21 involving an unvaccinated adult with the Ohio Department of Health declaring an outbreak of the disease on March 26 with 10 reported cases. Measles outbreak confirmed in Ashtabula County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of those 10 cases, nine are linked to the first case and none of the infected individuals were vaccinated but have since completed their isolation periods to help limit any potential spread of the disease according to the DOH. According to the CDC, two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Voters in Assumption Parish approved a proposed renewal of a drainage and flood protection fee during the March 29 election. About the proposition: The Bayou Pierre Part North Gravity Drainage District Proposition asked residents to vote yes or no on whether to renew an annual $50 fee on each lot within the district for a period of 10 years, beginning in 2025 and ending in 2034. The fee collection is expected to raise approximately $700 per year to fund the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction and maintenance of levees Levee drainage Flood protection Hurricane flood protection See March 29 election results >> 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. The YMCA is hours away from the end of its 33-year run in the Athenaeum Building, but the historic downtown gym isn't going anywhere for long. The Athenaeum Foundation announced Thursday that it will take over the three-story fitness center at 401 E. Michigan St. which the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis has occupied since 1992 with plans to reopen the space May 1 as the Athenaeum Turner Gymnasium. The news comes two months after the YMCA announced it would close the Athenaeum branch March 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the Athenaeum's website, the new gym will "feature a full assortment of cardio, strength, and weight training equipment." The website does not specify what equipment the new gym will retain or add from the YMCA or whether any YMCA employees would join its staff. Memberships for adults at Turner Gymnasium will cost $45 per month, then an additional $30 for adults in the same household. Senior (65+) memberships will cost $40. Members can also purchase access to the Block 20 parking garage at 423 E. Michigan St. for an extra $20 per month. You can sign up for a membership on the Athenaeum's website or at https://bit.ly/3QMZRzU. The name Turner Gymnasium pays homage to the Athenaeum's early days as a German social club and turnverein, or gymnastics club. "Turner" is the German word for gymnast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement YMCA members of the YMCA at the Athenaeum are well-acquainted with the black and white photos adorning the fitness center's walls, depicting scenes of young men and women in the early 1900s performing gymnastic exercises inside the historic building. The YMCA's last day in the Athenaeum is Friday. A spokesperson for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis in January said the organization hopes to transfer as many staff members as possible to nearby locations. The YMCA has encouraged Athenaeum gymgoers to visit the Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay (430 S. Alabama St.), the lone remaining YMCA branch downtown. Tonight, the Athenaeum branch will hold an evening of reflection from 5-8 p.m. for members to share memories and say good-bye to the gym though, for some, that good-bye may be more of a "see you soon." (This story was updated to add a photo gallery) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact IndyStar reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com. You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: YMCA is out, but Athenaeum Foundation will operate gym in same space A family found the remains of their missing brother inside a treehouse on their fathers property after he died in a scuba diving accident earlier this month. Henry Frantz Jr. died while scuba diving in Maui, Hawaii on March 10, WSB-TV reports. When his family went to settle his affairs at his Decatur, Georgia home on March 16, they found skeletal remains inside a treehouse on his property, local police told The Independent in a statement. The family believed the bones belonged to their 28-year-old brother Hank Frantz, who they say went missing four years ago, WSB-TV reports. The remains are indeed Hanks, the DeKalb County Medical Examiners Office confirmed to The Independent on Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the family stating that Hank went missing four years ago, Lt. John Bender with the Decatur Police Department told The Independent the office never received a missing persons report. Henry Frantz Jr. died while scuba diving in Maui, which led to his family making the discovery (Getty Images) Hanks remains are anywhere from months to years old, Beoncia Loveless, director of operations for the medical examiners office, told The Independent. Any further determinations about time or cause of death will be difficult, given the office only has skeletal remains to work with. With skeletal remains, determining cause and manner of death is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, because unless there is some obvious trauma to the skeleton, then we can't be definitive about other potential causes of death, Loveless said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is even more complicated because Hank didnt live at his fathers house. Frantz Jr had an active lifestyle and was seldom visited by his surviving family as they lived in different states, his daughter told the Daily Mail. If someone is decomposing, but not yet a skeleton, then we might look for mail in the mailbox, or when was the last time the neighbor saw the person you know, or something like that, to try to narrow down that time frame, Loveless said. But the longer someone has been deceased, the harder that is.And with this individual, since he was not a full time resident at the house, things like the mail and that kind of thing are not going to help us, she added. However, investigators did find hair on the remains, which they have sent off for testing, according to Loveless. No foul play is expected in either case, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henry was a prolific bagpiper and a founding member of the Atlanta Pipe Band, his close friend Leonard Wood told WSB-TV. Henry just saw them, heard them, liked them, Wood said. He will be sadly missed by the piping community in Atlanta and other places, he added. The Atlanta Piping Band also mourned Henry in a post on Facebook. Henrys passion for music extended beyond the pipe bandhe was a fixture at the Atlanta Celtic Christmas, a talented uilleann piper, and even composed The Emory & Old St. Andrews March, played annually at Emorys commencement, the organization wrote. His dedication, kindness, and high standards inspired generations of pipers. Beyond music, Henrys curiosity led him to travel the world, explore fossils, and pursue scuba diving. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten. The Independent has contacted the Decatur Police Department, the Maui Police Department and Wood for comment. Atlanta police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating after police shot a man at an auto shop in Southwest Atlanta. Police say they got that call around 7:14 p.m. Tuesday witnesses said police were dealing with a disgruntled man who brought a gun to the Nationwide Discount Auto shop. Timothy Weachock told Channel 2s Michael Doudna that he saw it all happen. He had just pulled off the highway to check out his car when he said police started shouting commands at a man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was just standing over there, and I heard the cops yelling get down or drop the weapon or do something and then I heard the shots rain out, Weachock said. You know when people say a firecracker? No, it was a gunshot. There was no mistaking it. TRENDING STORIES: Police say the only person hit was a man allegedly holding a gun and that he was transported to a local hospital, alert and breathing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was shocking to me. I was just getting off of work and going to the store, and I saw all this happening, neighbor Will Bolton said. While police say the investigation is in its preliminary stages, multiple witnesses told Doudna off-camera that a man potentially intoxicated was seen walking in and out of the auto shop before the shooting. Police said the man did have a gun and Channel 2 Action News cameras saw the GBI collecting multiple guns from the scene. Man, weve got to put those guns down, Bolton said. While many onlookers are concerned about what led to the shooting, most are glad it didnt get any more out of hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to comprehend it all. Im just glad it wasnt me involved, Weachock said. Police said the man is currently at the hospital and that the investigation continues. So far, there is no word on any charges. Today The Atlantic launches The Best American Poetry of the 21st Century (So Far), a new editorial project that brings together the 25 most consequential poetry collections of the past 25 years, and follows the March 2024 publication of The Great American Novels, The Atlantics list of the most consequential novels of the past 100 years. Also announced today, Atlantic Editions, imprint of The Atlantic and Zando, will publish The Singing Word: 168 Years of Atlantic Poetry, a significant collection of poems originally published in The Atlantic since its founding, in 1857. The Singing Word will be published this September, and is available for preorder now. In an introduction to The Best American Poetry of the 21st Century (So Far), the projects editors write that a quarter of the way into this new century of cataclysmic change, we thought it was an apt time to consider how poets fit into the broader conversationto document an emerging canon of the most significant verse of the century so far. We were looking for poetry that had struck its readers, for whatever reasons, as unforgettable, enduring, and influential. The list was compiled by Daniel Halpern, National Poetry Series editor and poet, and Walt Hunter, contributing editor at The Atlantic, with input from more than 450 individualspoets, fiction writers, publishers, editors, and informed readers from a variety of fieldswhich resulted in more than 400 recommended works that were distilled down to a final list of 25. The poets on the list include Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners (Louise Gluck, Robert Hass, Natasha Trethewey) and poets who have just published their second or third collection (Solmaz Sharif, Layli Long Soldier, Richard Siken). From the introduction: For all the variety that emerged in this process, the collectionshave a striking amount in common. These poems share a sense of urgency that reflects the overwhelmingly stressful events swirling around themmatters of war, race, gender, politics, health, immigration, climate change, rule, and misrule. Edited by Walt Hunter, The Singing Word: 168 Years of Atlantic Poetry will bring together nearly 100 poems that were originally published in The Atlantic, dating from its founding in 1857 to 2024. The Atlantic has published original poetry throughout its history, with a poem occasionally even appearing as the lead story in the magazine, as with Julia Ward Howes Battle Hymn of the Republic in February 1862. In the books introduction, Hunter writes: Atlantic poems have represented the countrys wildly divergent visions of a good lifeand railed against thwarted hopes for it. This is not to say that Atlantic poetry has focused narrowly on the country, but that it has deepened our understanding of what the country is. These poems rebut the parochialism and tribalism that dog our present, even as they appeal to universal experiences and values, rendered in startling detail through the stories of particular lives. He continues: What emerged as I read was an optimism and realisma sense that, however bad things are, the idea of America is worth fighting for, and worth questioning and scrutinizing in new ways. The poems here are not ancillary ornaments, but rather essential vehicles for that search. Their energy and their explosive charge come from their devotion to the truth: the hope for American improvement is indelibly wedded to the critique, sometimes blistering, sometimes mournful, of the status quo. The Best American Poetry of the 21st Century (So Far) and The Singing Word, along with the past titles published as part of the Atlantic Editions imprint, are part of The Atlantics robust and expanded Books section, devoted to essays, criticism, reporting, original fiction, poetry, and book recommendations, as well as The Atlantics weekly Books Briefing newsletter. Related Events: New Orleans Book Festival: This evening (March 27), The Atlantic is collaborating with the New Orleans Book Festival, at Tulane University, for the festivals opening-night lineup. The session will feature The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, and Atlantic staff writers including Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Applebaum and award-winning, best-selling authors McKay Coppins, Elaina Plott Calabro, and Adam Serwer. On Friday, March 28, The Atlantic will also present a discussion exploring the American idea through the lens of literature, led by Atlantic senior editor Vann R. Newkirk II and featuring author Sarah M. Broom and poet Tracy K. Smith. Press Contact: Paul Jackson | The Atlantic press@theatlantic.com Article originally published at The Atlantic CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Starting March 27 at 7 a.m., Atrium and Novant Health will lift their temporary visitor restrictions for children under age 13 after two months of being in place for hospitals in North Carolina. We have observed a steady decline in the volume and severity of respiratory illnesses over the past several weeks. Together with other North Carolina health systems, we are making the decision to lift our temporary visitor restrictions, said Dr. David Priest, senior vice president and chief safety and quality officer, of Novant Health. We thank everyone for their cooperation and support to keep our patients safe during peak respiratory virus season. We look forward to welcoming back visitors of all ages to our hospitals. Masks are optional and will continue to be available for visitors; however, for Atrium visitors, masks are required for all individuals in high-risk patient areas when indicated by signage and for symptomatic patients if outside their patient room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While respiratory viral season started late this year and we saw high rates of flu and RSV cases, we have seen a sustained and progressive decrease in the respiratory viral infection in our communities and hospitals over the past several weeks, said Dr. Katie Passaretti, chief infection prevention officer for Advocate Health, of which Atrium Health. While this years season is coming to a close, we must remain vigilant and responsive to any potential changes. Our focus remains on providing safe and effective care to all patients, and this decision is a testament to our collective efforts in combating infectious diseases. Both organizations continue to recommend that all visitors take measures to limit the spread of respiratory viruses: Stay home if youre sick. Health officials strongly encourage people to stay home when sick, maintain good respiratory etiquette such as handwashing and covering the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing. Get vaccinated. Most importantly, get vaccinated against flu, RSV (for eligible children and senior citizens) and COVID-19. 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 Queen City News. By Humeyra Pamuk and Kemol King GEORGETOWN, Guyana (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State warned Venezuela on Thursday that it would be "a very bad day" for the South American country if it were to attack its neighbor Guyana or U.S.-based energy giant ExxonMobil, in comments that threatened unspecified action in such a case. Caracas condemned Rubio's remarks, made during a visit to Guyana's capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guyana and Venezuela are locked in a long-running dispute about which country has rights over the 160,000-square-km (62,000-square-mile) Esequibo area, which is the subject of an ongoing case at the International Court of Justice. Washington has offered military support to Guyana, a tiny South American country, amid the dispute and increasing U.S. sanctions on Venezuela. "It would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil or anything," Rubio said. "It would be a very bad day, a very bad week for them, and it would not end well for them. I'm not going to get into details of what we'll do. We're not big on those kinds of threats." Tensions rose early this month when Guyana said a Venezuela coast guard patrol entered its waters and approached an output vessel in an offshore oil block operated by Exxon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Venezuela has said the vessel did not enter Guyanese waters as the maritime zone delimitation is still pending as part of the dispute. "Venezuela will not surrender in the face of intimidation, nor will it cede before the extortion of those who think incendiary speeches will twist history," Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a post on Telegram. Venezuela would not permit "foreign interests to rewrite the reality of our Esequibo," he added. The U.S. Navy cruiser Normandy and the Guyana Defence Force patrol vessel Shahoud were conducting exercises in international waters and the Guyana Exclusive Economic Zone, the U.S. embassy in Guyana said in a social media post early on Thursday. A consortium by Exxon, Hess and China's CNOOC controls all oil and gas output in Guyana, which this year is producing some 650,000 barrels per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The northwest portion of the block, close to Venezuela, has remained in force majeure as the Exxon group has been unable to complete exploration there. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Kemol King in Georgetown; additional reporting by Deisy Buitrago in Caracas and Daphne Psaledakis in WashingtonWriting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Marianna Parraga;Editing by Leslie Adler) Newly sworn-in Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau addresses representatives in the House chamber in Augusta on Dec. 4, 2024. (Photo by Jim Neuger/Maine Morning Star) An attempt to censure Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford) failed despite frustration from the minority party about the enforcement of House rules. Rep. Shelley Rudnicki (R-Fairfield) introduced the order, arguing that the Democrat had violated two House rules: one that states business cannot be conducted after 9 p.m. and another that requires the agreement of two-thirds of members present to dispense House rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The censure an official statement of condemnation by the Legislature failed 24-119, after House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) and other Republicans said they understand the frustration felt by some members of their party, but that it didnt rise to the level of revoking Fecteaus ability to vote or speak on the floor. Rudnicki claims Feacteau violated these rules on March 20 when both chambers held lengthy sessions to pass the two-year budget. She also claimed the choice to work late into the night put members at risk of harm given that many had to drive home after the days work. That evening, Fecteau determined that the rule that business cannot be conducted after 9 p.m. had been suspended by implication of a majority of representatives returning to work after that time. A majority of the House also voted that evening to sustain that determination. Republicans pointed back to the rules, which state a two-thirds majority of members present is needed to dispense a rule. The censure of a member of this body should not be taken lightly, said Assistant Majority Leader Lori Gramlich of Old Orchard Beach, whose comment was met with scoffs from across the aisle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gramlich argued that the censure order failed to recognize decades of precedent with work extending past 9 p.m. under an implication and not by a vote. She specifically mentioned the 125th Legislature, during which the House worked past 9 p.m. without taking a vote to do so at least five times under Republican Speaker Bob Nutting. A few Republicans questioned why the 9 p.m. rule is in place if it isnt going to be followed, including some freshman representatives who said it has been confusing trying to understand which rules are actually adhered to. Some felt that if the rule is on the books, its the speakers job to follow it or it should be updated. Despite not supporting Rudnickis order, Faulkingham said Democrats have made a mockery of the censure process. He pointed out that there have only been four censures in the Maine Legislature since 1820 and three of them including the ongoing censure of Rep. Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) have come in the past year and a half under Democratic majorities. The first censure was an independent from Auburn in 2001. Frankly, we need to focus on our work and not focus on censures, which I think has been a huge distraction of this body for the last three months, said Rep. Ken Fredette (R-Newport), expressing concern also voiced by Faulkingham that the body should be using its time more productively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the vote, Rep. Will Tuell (R-East Machias) suggested that other representatives reject the censure of Fecteau, rescind the censure of Libby and revisit the rule governing the process. He proposed requiring a two-thirds vote, rather than just a majority, to censure a lawmaker. Libby was censured in late February for posting on her legislative Facebook page photographs and personal details about a transgender high school athlete. Last April, Rudnicki and Rep. Michael Lemelin (R-Chelsea) were censured for comments they made that implied that the Legislatures enactment of an abortion bill caused the mass shooting in Lewiston by invoking Gods wrath. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says the Winneshiek County sheriff violated Iowa law by discouraging law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a lawsuit Thursday against Winneshiek County and its sheriff, Dan Marx, for allegedly violating Iowa law by discouraging law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials. The lawsuit, filed in Polk County District Court, claims that Iowa law requires stripping Winneshiek County of state funding until the sheriff follows the procedure to reinstate the funds by disavowing his previous public statements on immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit acknowledges that Sheriff Marx has complied with every Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer request made of his office since Nov. 26, 2018. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In a Feb. 4, 2025, Facebook post, Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx, a Republican, stated that if his office received detainer requests to hold suspected illegal immigrants, and those requests were not vetted and approved by the courts, they would be rejected by his office. In his post, Marx distinguished between detainer requests of that kind and what he called valid judicial warrants and court orders. He wrote that the only reason detainers are issued is because the federal agency does not have enough information or has not taken the time to obtain a valid judicial warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bird claims that assertion by Marx is false. Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican like Bird, had sent the attorney generals office an official complaint seeking an investigation into the Facebook post. In a report summarizing her investigation, Bird alleged Marxs post violated Iowa Code Chapter 27A, which prohibits state law enforcement from discouraging public cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Bird says Marxs Facebook post discourages such cooperation by making false claims and by threatening to interfere with enforcing Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers. According to Bird, Marx has said that his office has complied with all 21 of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers that it has received. But on Wednesday, she said her office would take action against Marx unless he posted a statement specifically stating that his previous claims were wrong and that he disavowed them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bird provided Marx with specific language to include in the public statement, which she said had to conform substantially to the language she dictated. The statement was written in the first-person to appear over Marxs signature. Although Marxs office recently deleted the January Facebook post, Marx did not publish the statement prescribed by Bird. In a press release issued Thursday, Birds office said the attorney general gave the sheriff an opportunity to fix the violation by 5 p.m. on Wednesday by issuing the statement she provided. He refused, even though he knows that the violation may result in a loss of state funding for his entire county, the press release stated. Sheriff Marx was given the chance to retract his statement, follow the law, and honor ICE detainers, but he refused even at a cost to his home county, Bird stated in the press release. He left us with no choice but to take the case to court to enforce our laws and ensure cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit concedes that rather than defying ICE, Marx has enforced federal and state law whenever asked and has complied with every single ICE detainer request made. Despite this, the lawsuit alleges, Marx intentionally posted false information through his Facebook post. That false information had the effect of discouraging violation enforcement in violation of the law, the lawsuit claims, adding that there has been no public walk back, revocation, or other corrective action taken. The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring Winneshiek County to be ineligible to receive any state funds. The lawsuit also seeks all other relief necessary or appropriate to remedy the effects of the sheriffs actions. Marx has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. He could not be reached for comment Thursday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Mar. 27On the second and final day of former Decatur police officer Mac Bailey Marquette's stand-your-ground immunity hearing, attorneys debated police policies and repossession law as his defense seeks to have their client's murder charges dismissed. Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson and Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery represented the state, while Nick and Catrela Perkins, the brother and widow of Steve Perkins, sat behind them. Steve Perkins, 35, was shot and killed by Marquette in the early morning hours of Sept. 29, 2023, after a tow truck driver attempted to repossess his truck from his driveway and a confrontation ensued, after which Marquette and other officers intervened. A central issue in the hearing was whether Marquette, 25, had a right to be on Perkins' property and thus to trigger his defense under Alabama's stand-your-ground law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marquette and his attorneys, Liz Young and Brett Bloomston of Birmingham, were back in the courtroom on Wednesday with Lance LoRusso, a Georgia-based attorney who joined Marquette's team earlier this month. According to his website, LoRusso specializes in defending police from charges arising from on-duty shootings. LoRusso told Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott on Wednesday that Marquette had a legal right to be at Steve Perkins' home at about 1:50 a.m. on the day of the shooting. "Officer Mac Bailey Marquette chose to honor his oath and protect his community," LoRusso said. "He gave verbal commands he was not required to give. He lawfully used deadly force to protect Caleb Combs, himself and his fellow law enforcement officers." Combs, the tow truck driver who attempted to repossess Perkins' truck, and two of the police officers who were with Marquette during the second repossession attempt, testified Tuesday that Perkins had pulled a gun on Combs during both of his attempts to repossess Perkins' truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaRusso began explaining Marquette's background and his appointment as a police officer in November 2020, but Anderson and Vickery objected, arguing that the information was not introduced into evidence. Elliott agreed. "Let's stick to the law and the rules and procedure and focus on making your argument based on evidence that was presented in this case," Elliott said. Body camera footage from former officers Christopher Mukadam and Joey Williams was shown in court Tuesday, capturing the moment Marquette rounded a corner to confront Perkins, who had allegedly walked out of his house and aimed a firearm equipped with a tactical light at Combs. Within seconds, Perkins appeared to point the gun at Marquette, who shouted, "Police, get on the ground," and then immediately began firing about 18 rounds, killing Perkins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LoRusso showed Elliott still images from both body camera videos on Wednesday and said Perkins came within 30 feet of Combs when he confronted him outside. LoRusso disputed Vickery's interpretation of the law, arguing that the legal implications of the repossession were different than the prosecution claimed. "The notion that after the first repossession that any effort to repossess the car after that was unlawful, which would have an effect on the stand-your-ground law, is just incorrect," LoRusso said. "There's nothing to support that." Vickery argued that under state law a creditor may not repossess a vehicle if it requires a breach of the peace without a court order, and that police may not assist in a repossession without that order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Once that first repossession attempt is made and then foiled by breaching the peace, that self-help repossession no longer comes into play," Vickery said. "It does mean any subsequent self-help repossession ... is unlawful. The plan was to let Mr. Combs finish this repossession. ... If they were there to prevent a breach of the peace, you can't do that (without a court order). You just can't." Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Special Agent Jamie King testified on Tuesday, describing slow-motion bodycam footage showing Perkins initially pointing his flashlight-equipped gun at Combs, then at Marquette, before raising it away from Marquette just as Marquette fired what appeared to be 18 shots. Anderson asked King on Tuesday if he believed Decatur police followed proper procedure on the night Perkins was shot. "Did the way they set up keep the peace?" Anderson asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King stated that police did not maintain the peace and that the situation could have been handled differently, describing their approach as "unusual." On Tuesday, a 19-minute audio recording of an interview between King, another investigator and Marquette, conducted shortly after the shooting, was played in court. In the interview, Marquette said "that was the most scared I've ever been." Elliott on Wednesday said he wanted to review policies of the Decatur Police Department before he made a ruling. "We've heard lots of discussion about DPD policy, but that policy has never been introduced," Elliott said. "If either side objects to that, I'm not opposed to being introduced that policy before I reach a decision in this case. You keep saying they were operating within department policy, but I want to see what that policy is." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson said that while a policy exists now, there was no written repossession policy for the Decatur Police Department prior to the Perkins shooting. At the conclusion of arguments Wednesday, Elliott said he owed it to the state and the defense to thoroughly review the law and evidence in the case and dismissed court for the day. wesley.tomlinson@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442. Northwest Indiana immigration attorneys raised concerns with an immigration bill that received final approval by the legislature this week as unconstitutional and an unfunded mandate on local governments. House Bill 1393, authored by State Rep. Garrett Bascom, R-Lawrenceburg, was amended in a Senate committee to require jail and detention facility employees to tell county sheriffs when they have probable cause to believe an arrestee, who is facing misdemeanor or felony charges, is not in the county legally. The sheriff would then be required to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the bill. Initially, the bill required police officers who arrest someone for a misdemeanor or felony and have probable cause to notify the sheriff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, sponsored the bill in the Senate, which approved the bill Monday in a 37-10 vote, with two Republicans Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, and Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen joining all Democrats present to vote against the bill. I am firmly of the camp and firmly believe that when somebody is arrested, theyve been put in a car and theyre taken to a detention facility, I think we should determine who those people are. If you are not here legally, I think somebody needs to know that, Freeman said. Freeman said he amended the bill in committee to shift the notification from police officers to jail and detention center employees. I amended the bill because I did not want to put law enforcement in the position of even being able to pull somebody over or to detain somebody just because somebody may not be here legally, Freeman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On second reading by the Senate, Freeman amended the bill to remove the provision that would offer law enforcement officers and agencies immunity from civil lawsuits sparked by ICE notices. I made the bill a lot better, Freeman said. Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, said when the bill reached the Senate, he had a number of concerns about how that was going to be applied. Pol said the amendments improved the bill, but he still opposed it. I still have a lot of questions about whether or not this is going to be fruitful at all, whether or not this is going to achieve the intent that its meant to do so without the collateral damage that could also happen here, Pol said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pol shared a story of his grandfather, who was born in the U.S. to Puerto Rican parents. His grandfather, who had an accent, was once in a car accident, at which point he realized that his insurance had expired and he didnt have his drivers license with him. The police officers couldnt identify him. He was only speaking in Spanish, Pol said. At that point, I couldve had to have dealt with an ICE referral for somebody who had been a United States citizen since the day he was born. Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said he is a proud U.S. citizen who emigrated to the country. Legislation like House Bill 1393 addresses an issue that is good for campaigning, that is good for politics, but its not good policy. Qaddoura said police officers dont have the authority to enforce federal immigration laws, reading a statement from Indianapolis Chief of Police to that effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My concern is that the national partisan politicized debate about immigration is going to politicize our law enforcement work at the local level, Qaddoura said. The impact of these types of legislation could have unintended consequences. Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, said the bill will target those in minority communities. Its going to be somebody that looks Spanish, speaks Spanish, has broken English, doesnt look like the majority of the people, which is going to lead to lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit, Taylor said. Were doing this to make ourselves feel good, and it aint going to do nothing but lead to a whole bunch of people in the Black and brown community to be scrutinized once again. Alfredo Estrada, a Northwest Indiana immigration and municipal attorney, said when he read the latest version of the bill, he saw the impacts to municipalities. After contacting ICE, local sheriffs will get an ICE detainer request, Estrada said, which means a local jail will hold the person until ICE can respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local governments will have to pay for clothing, housing, feeding, potential medical care and other costs for a number of days before an ICE agent can respond, Estrada said. This is an unfunded mandate, Estrada said. Im concerned about that. Im concerned about budgets. Sophia Arshad, a Merrillville immigration attorney, said she was not surprised that the bill passed the legislature because of its Republican supermajority, but she was disappointed that it passed. The bill will open the way to racial profiling, she said. In Northwest Indiana, Arshad said her clients have called her to express their fear about the implementation of House Bill 1393, which will result in them no longer going to work or engaging in their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is fear of the unknown, Arshad said. Its sending the message of, if you look like an immigrant, if you sound like an immigrant, then I have the ability to say that you dont have constitutional protection or procedural due process for me to start asking you about your immigration status. Immigrants dont carry their immigration file around with them because it involves a lot of important paperwork, Arshad said. Permanent residents are supposed to carry their permanent resident cards with them, she said, but many times permanent residents dont carry that card because they are scared of losing it. But even if immigrants carried their immigration case files with them, Arshad said local law enforcement arent trained on reading through immigration paperwork to understand someones status. If Gov. Mike Braun signs the bill into law, Arshad said lawsuits will be filed to stop its enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think its going to pass constitutional muster, Arshad said. Local law enforcement has no authority to determine if someone is in or out of status or if theres any reason to question someone about that. akukulka@post-trib.com Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, testifies in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. (Nathaniel Bailey for the Daily Montanan) Montana Senate President Matt Regier hired legal counsel in accordance with state statutes and procurement rules, and in close and ongoing consultation with legislative services staff, contrary to allegations of waste and abuse, according to a memo published by the Legislative Audit Division and released Wednesday. The audit division examined six allegations leveled against Regier and for all six found that the allegation of fraud, waste and abuse to be not substantiated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regier had previously called the allegations a witch hunt, and said every action he took was 100% legal and business as normal. On Wednesday, Regier told the Daily Montanan the audit report found exactly what he expected nothing. He spoke to reporters at a press conference later that afternoon. Im glad to see the Legislative Audit Report fully bring to light all the false allegations that have been thrown, Regier said. I sleep well at night. Everything, everything was up and up, he added. This was the second time the legislative auditor investigated a sitting senator. A January audit memo found former Senate President Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, committed waste and abuse while procuring a $170,100 contract for a close friend and business associate, while skirting standard procurement rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Shelley Vance, R-Belgrade, brought forth the allegations against Regier during a March 6 floor session just before transmittal break. She originally requested the Senate convene an ethics committee to investigate her claims, but a substitute motion was made to send it to the audit division, following the same pathway as Ellsworths allegations. Vance, an ally of Ellsworth, cited an article by the Montana Free Press published earlier this month, which laid out a series of actions current Senate President Regier, R-Kalispell, took during the 2023 session and interim period when he hired a lawyer using taxpayer funds appropriately, according to the memo released Wednesday. Friday, the Montana Republican Party released a statement condemning the article and calling for retraction. During his press conference, Regier called MTFPs story full of unsourced, untrue, legal conclusions, inaccuracies, contradictional claims and baseless innuendo, and said he had made his own request for corrections and retractions. MTFP Editor-in-Chief John Adams said the Free Press stands by its reporting, did not allege misconduct by anyone, and the auditors findings confirm the accuracy of our original reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our March 5 report raised timely and legitimate questions about public spending, contracting procedures, and legislative accountability, Adams said in a written statement. Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, testifies in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. (Nathaniel Bailey for the Daily Montanan) The audit memo investigated the six allegations Vance brought forth predicated on the Free Press article, including whether the president tried to evade the law in hiring an attorney; engaged in waste, fraud and abuse in hiring a lawyer; unlawfully used state resources related to a private matter; and failed to disclose a conflict of interest, among other allegations the report could not substantiate. The auditors memo, authored by Legislative Auditor legal counsel Ken Varns, said the audit division examined the article, and conducted interviews with Regier, Deputy Director of Legislative Services Division Legal Services Jaret Coles, and Angie Carter, financial manager for LSD. The report also examined legal contracts and invoices submitted by Abby Moscatel of Blacktail Law Group, the attorney Regier hired. The audit investigation found Regier properly hired legal staff, that contracts were executed using authorized funding, and that contracts had proper signatories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation further found that the allegation of waste, fraud and abuse, when Regier hired Moscatel for tasks routinely done by legislative staff, were unsubstantiated. President Regier consulted with and obtained approval from Legislative Services when engaging outside counsel, the memo states. Legislative leadership has authority to obtain outside counsel for legal services, which can include tasks typically performed by nonpartisan legislative staff, the memo continues. Because existing legal authority allows for these activities and due to President Regiers ongoing reliance on Legislative Services guidance relating to these contracts, we find the allegations of fraud, waste and abuse set forth in the second allegation to be not substantiated. The allegation that Regier hired Moscatel for work related to two constitutional initiatives in 2024 using state funds was also unfounded, according to the memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its call for retractions to the MTFP article, the state GOP stated that the party had paid for legal services related to those lawsuits. The investigation further found that Regier did not engage in any attempts to artificially deflate expenses to evade spending limits an allegation that was leveled against Ellsworth and identified as problematic by the Legislative Audit Division. The memo states that the cumulative value of work done by Moscatel was $22,980, which even were it not broken down between multiple, specific contracts, would not require the contracts to undergo a competitive bidding process according to state procurement laws. It further stated that all legal and financial staff made appropriate decisions or recommendations throughout the contracting process. Another question about Regiers failure to disclose a conflict of interest in a Senate Bill 352, brought to offer immunity to legislative staff, had no clear linkage to the work Moscatel was hired to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is difficult to discern a conflict of interest in this scenario, the memo states. Senate President Matt Regier, R-Kalisppell, speaks to reporters in the Montana State Capitol on March 26, 2025. (Micah Drew/Daily Montanan) On Wednesday afternoon, Vance said she had not yet read the memo, but when told all six allegations were considered not substantiated, she declined to comment. Ellsworth, who has been on the opposite side of an intra-party division as Regier that has roiled the Senate this session, said he had read parts of the memo and that they are totally inaccurate. He said he would still like to see the matter referred to the Ethics Committee. I trusted that the Auditor would do his job. I verified that the Auditor has not done his job, Ellsworth said, also taking issue with the fact that the auditor released findings on Ellsworth after just one week, while Regiers investigation took three. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislative Audit Division said it is not typical practice to publish findings on unsubstantiated reports to its fraud hotline, but the public nature of the current investigation stemming from a vote on the Senate floor led to a public document. Accordingly, although we will not be making any further public comments on this matter or releasing our investigative documents, we believe the enclosed memo is a public document and can be disclosed by Senate leadership, said Legislative Auditor Angus Maciver said. At the press conference, Regier called for apologies from the Free Press and Sen. Vance, not for himself, but for victims of their actions, including legislative staff and Moscatel, a private citizen. He also said he remains committed to making legislative and budget appropriations processes as transparent as possible, even in the face of misinformation. I remain committed to rooting out corruption and unethical behavior at the Legislature and also in this state government, and Im going to continue to do that no matter what the retaliation or false allegations are to anyone that tries to shoot me next time, Regier said. audit memo Regier LANSING Audits released Thursday point to significant security failures at three Michigan prisons. Corrections officers apparently falsified cell search records and frequently took less than a minute to search cells when they did so, Auditor General Doug Ringler said in the reports. Also, many vehicles and people were not searched upon entering Ionia Correctional Facility, Baraga Correctional Facility in the Upper Peninsula, and Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia, Ringler said. Ringler also called for an evaluation of the department's metal detector policy after auditors at Ionia were able to carry metal items through all four walk-through metal detectors there, including a 6-inch needle nose tweezer and a 7-inch pair of scissors. Metal detector lapses were also found at the Handlon prison, according to that audit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lax security measures "could jeopardize the safety and security of staff, prisoners, and members of the public," the audits said. In responses included with the audit, the Michigan Department of Corrections agreed with the auditor general's recommendations, though it said clerical errors were mostly to blame for apparent falsifying of records by corrections officers. But Kyle Kaminski, the MDOC's legislative liaison, told lawmakers Thursday that any falsifying of records is "unacceptable," and the department is investigating the incidents Ringler flagged for possible discipline, as well as improving its quality assurance measures. "We agree that these findings are problematic," Kaminski said at a meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections and Judiciary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The audit comes amid chronic understaffing at Michigan prisons that the union says is endangering safety and as Director Heidi Washington seeks legislative approval of the department's proposed $2.2 billion budget for 2026. Byron Osborn, president of the Michigan Corrections Organization union, said the audits should not come as a surprise because "corners are being cut" throughout the prison system. "We simply do not have enough officers to run these prisons safely or effectively and the MDOC has gotten away with it for so long that it is now the accepted norm for them," Osborn said. "Exhausted officers that are working on shifts in these prisons with far less officers than are required to be there are, of course, going to make occasional clerical errors on searches," he said. "Theyre also not likely to spend as much time on searches because theyre picking up the extra workload of the partners theyre supposed to have with them that are not there to help." Ionia Correctional Facility The auditor found that at the prison that houses hundreds of Michigan's highest security-level inmates, corrections officers "likely falsified cell search logbooks 38% of the time," and did not complete more than 20% of the required daily cell searches the auditor general reviewed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The audit randomly selected 60 required cell searches from 2023 and found that officers logged 47 of the searches as completed. Yet in 18, or 38% of those cases, video showed no officer entered the cell during the relevant time. Also, "31% of the cell searches we observed on surveillance video footage were completed in less than one minute, bringing into question the thoroughness of the searches," the report said. The average search time was two minutes and 10 seconds, the audit found. In its response, the department mostly blamed clerical errors or training issues for the apparent falsification of records and said searches conducted in less than one minute likely involved vacant cells or ones with very little property in them. A review of surveillance video also found that nearly 30% of the time, prisoners were not subjected to metal detectors, as required when entering certain areas of the prison, or were not searched when flagged by the detector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department blamed training issues. The audit also found that 64% of the time, items in the auditor's sample were not fully searched when entering the facility through the sallyport an entrance used to deliver supplies to the prison and that 55% of the vehicles and 24% of individuals passing through the sallyport were not fully searched. The auditor found that in one instance, a forklift with a pallet of boxes entered the gate, but none of the boxes were opened and searched. Corrections Department officials have mostly blamed visitors, prison mail, and items containing contraband being thrown over the fence for the prison system's significant problems with narcotics and other banned items. The auditor's findings point to other potentially significant factors, including corrections staff, though the Ionia audit did find that 98% of required daily employee searches selected for review were documented as completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: 4 Michigan corrections officers charged in severe 2024 beating of inmate In its response, the Corrections Department again blamed training issues for problems with searches at the sallyport, though it said searches of sealed items carried in state vehicles are "very time-consuming" and block the sallyport for extended periods. Baraga Correctional Facility The auditor found that cell search logbooks appeared to be falsified about a quarter of the time and nearly half the cell searches that were conducted took less than one minute. The prison did not always complete required interviews or document all necessary approvals for prisoners placed in solitary confinement, the audit found. Also, when a committee extended a prisoner's time in solitary, it did not document a reason in 15% of the instances reviewed, the audit found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Facility-owned vehicles were allowed to pass in and out of the prison sallyport without a gate manifest listing the items carried in 28% of instances reviewed, the audit found. Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility The audit found that corrections officers likely falsified cell searches about 4% of the time and more than one-third of the cell searches surveyed took less than one minute. The prison did not complete 15% of required daily tool inspections and 23% of required monthly tool inspections reviewed. (This story will update.) Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Audits point to significant security lapses at 3 Michigan prisons Australia's federal parliamentary elections will be held on May 3, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Friday. "My fellow Australians, this morning I visited the Governor-General [Sam Mostyn], and Her Excellency has accepted my advice that an election be held on Saturday, third of May, 2025," Albanese said in a press conference in Canberra. "Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia. In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we will face, but we can determine how we respond." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australians will vote for the House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 Senate seats. According to Australian media, the opposition coalition led by Peter Dutton of the Liberal Party is ahead in the polls. Albanese has been prime minister since 2022, when he replaced Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party-led coalition. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trumps announcement of new 25% tariffs on foreign car imports is escalating trade tensions with some of the U.S.s biggest trading partners, including Canada and the European Union. The move has sent shockwaves through global markets and sparked backlash from both domestic lawmakers and international leaders. The tariffs, set to take effect next week, have triggered a flurry of criticism. Democrats have expressed concerns about the economic impact, particularly the potential rise in car prices for American consumers. Buying a car could become 25% more expensive people are already struggling to put food on the table, said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), criticizing the tariffs during a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The backlash is not limited to U.S. lawmakers. Global leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, have condemned the new trade barriers. This is a direct attack, Carney said, signaling that Canada, which is a major supplier of auto parts to the U.S., is preparing a response. The European Union, a key partner in U.S. auto imports, is also vowing to take action. Europe alone makes up nearly a quarter of U.S. car imports, with Germany being a major contributor. Olof Gill, spokesperson for the European Commission, emphasized Europes readiness to defend its economic interests. We are prepared to safeguard our economic interests, Gill stated, as the EU weighs its response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a direct challenge, President Trump threatened further tariffs if Canada and the EU unite against the U.S. He warned in an online post that if the two nations take action to harm the U.S. economy, 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 White House has defended the tariffs, calling them a necessary step to protect American jobs and manufacturing. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, Were ending the unfair trade practices that have been hollowing out our middle class for decades. The tariffs have found support from one of the largest auto unions in the U.S. The United Auto Workers (UAW), led by President Shawn Fain, has praised the move, with Fain calling it a step to rectify what he described as a free trade disaster. Republicans, such as Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.), also back the tariffs, seeing them as an opportunity to bring more auto manufacturing jobs to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an opportunity to bring industry back to the U.S., Moore said. Well see those manufacturers move here, bypassing the tariffs, putting American people to work in high-paying jobs. The White House estimates that the auto tariffs could generate up to $100 billion annually for the U.S. economy. As the trade war intensifies, the effects of these new tariffs are likely to be felt not only in car prices but across the global economy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Originally appeared on E! Online A young child proved to his babysitter that sometimes monsters are indeed hiding under the bed. While watching children at a Grand Bend, Kansas, home March 24, a babysitter made a chilling discovery when she found a manlater identified by the sheriffs office as Martin Villalobos Jr., 27hiding under a childs bed. According to a statement shared by Barton County Sheriffs Office on Facebook March 26, the young woman found Villalobos after one of the children in her care complained of monsters and she attempted to show the child there was nothing under the bed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the young woman stood corrected. She came face-to-face with a male suspect who was hiding there, the statement continued of the babysitter, who was not identified by name. An altercation ensued with the babysitter and one child was knocked over in the struggle. The suspect then fled the scene before deputies arrived. However, the sheriffs office says the babysitter was able to identify the perpetrator as Villalobos, who, per the Barton County Sheriffs statement, had once lived at the residence, before a protection order from abuse required he stay away from the property. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities arrived at the home around 10:30 p.m. local time in response to a reported disturbance call, according to the sheriff's office statement. While they looked for Villalobos in the area after reporting to the Grand Bend home, they could not initially find him. He was seen by law enforcement the following morning and, though he attempted to flee on foot, per police, he was captured after a short foot pursuit. Barton County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Villalobos was arrested and booked at Barton County jail, where he was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, child endangerment, felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer and violation of a protection from abuse order, per the sheriff's statement. He is being held on a $500,000 bond. According to a warrant from the Barton County District Court, Villalobos was arrested earlier this month on March 14 for violation of protection order. His bond was set at $2,500. E! News has reached out to the Barton County Sheriffs Office for comment and attempted to locate legal representation for Villalobos. For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App GREAT BEND, Kan. (KSNW) A 27-year-old man has been arrested after a Kansas babysitter found him hiding under a childs bed, police said. At around 10:30 p.m. Monday, the Barton County Sheriffs Office says a babysitter at a home near Great Bend was putting the children to bed when one of them told her that a monster was under their bed. More US and World News 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, authorities said. There was an alleged altercation, and the babysitter and a child were knocked over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man fled the home before deputies arrived, the sheriffs office said. The man was ultimately 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 said deputies continued searching for the man into the morning. He was found near the home again, and after a short foot pursuit, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Formal charges are still pending; Nexstars KSN does not identify suspects until they have been formally charged in court. No additional details were immediately available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A man in Kansas has been arrested after being found hiding underneath a childs bed by their babysitter. According to a statement from the Barton County Sheriffs Office Wednesday, the incident occurred on March 24, just outside the city of Great Bend at around 10:30 at night. The babysitter told police that they were putting the children to bed when one of them complained about a monster hiding underneath theirs. In an attempt to comfort the child and show them that there was nothing underneath their bed, the babysitter instead came face-to-face with a male suspect who was hiding there. On March 24, 2025 at about 10:30 PM Sheriffs deputies were dispatched to the 2000 block of Patton Road, just outside... Posted by Barton County Sheriff's Office - Kansas on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Following an altercation that saw the babysitter and one child getting knocked over, the suspect was able to flee the scene before authorities arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next morning on March 25, the suspect was spotted by deputies in the area and despite trying to flee again, was swiftly captured and taken into custody. He has since been identified as 27-year-old Marin Villalobos Junior, who according to police, used to live at the residence the babysitter was working at and had an abuse order issued against him to stay away from the property. Villalobos was transported to Barton County Jail where he was booked on several charges including aggravated kidnapping, child endangerment, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery, and violation of a protection from abuse order. According to authorities, hes being held on a $500,000 bond. Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) is one of the largest regulated utilities in the United States. At the moment, it's offering a lofty 4.8% dividend yield at a time when the average utility's yield is just 2.8%. And yet it is still a hard stock to love because the company's performance around dividends has disappointed on occasion. News last month of an 88% spike in demand for energy from data centers could help get this high-yield stock back on its dividend feet. Here's why. What happened to Dominion Energy's dividend? Dominion Energy has radically changed its business over the past few decades. Management's long-term goal has been to reduce risk. Early on, that included selling off investments in the oil production space in favor of more reliable cash-generating assets. The list was eventually whittled down to include electric utilities, natural gas utilities, and energy pipelines. But things changed in a big way in 2020. Image source: Getty Images. That was the year in which Dominion sold its energy pipeline business to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. In some ways, the 2020 transaction made sense, since pipelines were deeply out of favor at the time, and they were creating unneeded headaches for the rest of the utility's business. The only problem is that the sale required a dividend cut since it meant jettisoning income-producing assets. Management promised that it would quickly get back to dividend growth, which it did ... for one year. After that one dividend hike, management told investors it was performing a strategic review of the business. The review took about a year to complete, with little information provided to investors along the way, other than a key goal was to maintain the dividend at its then-current level. At the end of the review, management agreed to sell its natural gas utilities to Enbridge and completed the sale in September 2023. D data by YCharts To management's credit, the dividend was maintained after the transaction. But the now pure-play regulated electric utility was clear that the dividend would remain static until it had shored up its balance sheet, and the dividend payout ratio had been reduced to a more sustainable level. This is where things still stand today. Where to from here for Dominion Energy? Dominion's balance sheet is pretty solid, noting that it carries an investment-grade rating. There's still some work to be done to shore up that rating, but it is highly likely that the company achieves this goal. The dividend payout ratio, however, is still a bit on the high side. In 2024, the payout ratio using adjusted earnings was a lofty 96%. To be fair, that was a transition year, given the asset sales. If management hits its earnings targets in 2025, the payout ratio will drop to a touch below 80% at the midpoint of guidance. That's a much more comfortable figure, but the company is probably looking for a payout ratio below 70% before a dividend increase is in the cards. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A Bakersfield College student was arrested on suspicion of assault and trespassing Thursday morning, according to the Bakersfield Police Department. Officers were dispatched to an unknown situation at the Bakersfield College Campus around 8:45 a.m. Harsh observation from the lips of DUI suspect in wreck that killed Bakersfield couple Police said an unruly student was asked to leave campus and assaulted staff. The student was identified as Stephen Uribe, 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional details are not immediately known. 17 News has contacted the police department for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. A man was violently assaulted when he walked in on three burglars ransacking his bakery in Studio City. Surveillance video captured the moment the hooded thieves broke into Sweet Lily Bakery on Cahuenga Boulevard early Wednesday at around 4:17 a.m. The bakery owner, Thibaut Leymarie, was inside the shop alone when the suspects, dressed in all-black, entered the business. One of the suspects was holding a metal pole. Surveillance video shows the bakery owner being violently assaulted by three burglars who broke into Sweet Lily Bakery in Studio City on March 26, 2025. (Sweet Lily Bakery) Surveillance video captured the moment the victim noticed the burglars entering the kitchen at Sweet Lily Bakery in Studio City on March 26, 2025. (Sweet Lily Bakery) Surveillance video shows the bakery owner being violently assaulted by three burglars who broke into Sweet Lily Bakery in Studio City on March 26, 2025. (Sweet Lily Bakery) The suspects getaway car was only described as a dark-colored Mercedes-Benz sedan. (Sweet Lily Bakery) The entrance to Sweet Lily Bakery on Cahuenga Boulevard in Studio City. (KTLA) The entrance to Sweet Lily Bakery on Cahuenga Boulevard in Studio City. (KTLA) Surveillance video shows the bakery owner being violently assaulted by three burglars who broke into Sweet Lily Bakery in Studio City on March 26, 2025. (Sweet Lily Bakery) When Leymaire suddenly spotted them in the kitchen, he began screaming, Get out of here! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three men tackled Leymarie and chased him through the store before violently pushing him out the front door. One of the burglars began beating him with the metal pole. The suspects, who escaped with a stolen computer, fled the scene in a getaway car a dark-colored Mercedes-Benz sedan. Leymarie suffered minor injuries to his eye, arm and back area. He immediately called the police but the suspects were gone by the time they arrived. I dont know why [they came here] because there is nothing to steal, he said. Leymarie said he was glad no one else was hurt during the ordeal. However, he is now left with a damaged front door that will be expensive to fix. Some of his employees are also worried the burglars could return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No suspect description was provided yet as the assault remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Anyone with information can call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Supporters of LGBTQ+ rights gather in the Capitol of the 2025 Fairness Rally, March 11, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) FRANKFORT Gov. Andy Beshear is letting a bill that would take 67 transgender inmates off hormone therapy and block public funds for inmates elective medical treatments become law without his signature. Advocates have called Senate Bill 2 anti-trans legislation and criticized its high priority for the General Assembly this session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill says public dollars cannot be used to fund a cosmetic service or elective procedure for Kentucky inmates. It also says if a health care provider documents that ending a treatment would harm an inmate, use of the drug or hormone may be systematically reduced and eliminated. In a brief statement, Beshears office said he does not believe that the state should pay for gender reassignment surgeries for convicted felons, as this would mean those in prison would receive better access to medical care than a law-abiding citizen. However, courts have ruled that federal law may require some nonsurgical care. Some who argued against the bill cited the protections against cruel and unusual punishments guaranteed by the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the potential cost of lawsuits based on constitutional claims. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BAKER, La. (Louisiana First) Baton Rouge Councilman Anthony Kenney hosted a special stop at Baker High School on Tuesday as part of his District 2 listening tour. The event focused on engaging with students, not only to discuss issues affecting the youth but also to hear their concerns and needs. I promise yall, if yall start having these better conversations with yalls classmates about not going crashing out, doing these crazy stuff, its going to be a lot more that well be celebrating and not crying about, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students listened attentively, absorbing the conversation about whats happening in District 2, particularly regarding the recent youth crime. I would hate for your story to end because of foolishness, and that young man in Scotlandville story ended because of foolishness, said Kenney. Just imagine yalls mom gotta bury one of yall; its tough. During the session, students shared concerns about issues like infrastructure, youth resources, safety, and more. They spoke about the changes they would like to see in their community. We dont have a lot of sidewalks, you see kids walking on road, riding their bikes on road, said Kennedi Alexander, a senior at Baker High. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other concerns voiced by the students included the need for better roads, community centers, more restaurants, and initiatives to tackle gun violence. Many also expressed a desire for programs that could make a real difference for local youth. Mental health is a big thing here, and I just feel like programs like that would be a good like outbreak for kids to become you know, their better selves, said Alexander. Jarrius Collins, another student at the event, emphasized the need for improvement in North Baton Rouge, including the addition of grocery stores and better infrastructure. Baker and other cities need help with certain environments, like getting grocery stores on the streets and fixing roads, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both students highlighted that they felt seen and valued, with Kenney emphasizing the importance of their voices. They want to raise their families here. You know, they want to live here. They dont want to leave the very place that poured into them. But we have to give them an opportunity to be a part of the solution and be at the table as we make the decisions for Baton Rouge, said Kenney. Kenney called on other city officials to actively listen to the youth, stressing that youth listening sessions are crucial for creating a better Baton Rouge. Need to make sure we do a better job and empowering our students to go out, be great and tell the story what theyre going on in their own respected schools, communities, added Kenney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenney visited Scotlandville High School last week and emphasized that this is not a one-time event. He plans to continue visiting schools and ensuring that the voices of the youth are heard. Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Baton Rouge Fire Department employee is wanted after being accused of crashing a city-parish vehicle while under the influence. Bart Perkins, 56, of Pride, faces charges of careless operation of a vehicle and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. According to the Central Police Department, on Dec. 5, 2024, officers responded to a crash in the 9500 block of Hooper Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An arrest warrant states Perkins was driving a Ford F-150, which is owned by East Baton Rouge, when he reportedly crashed into the witness vehicle. The witness told authorities that he looked in his rearview mirror and it appeared Perkins head was down. Upon the officers arrival, emergency responders found Perkins unconscious and administered Narcan, a medication used to treat narcotic overdose. Perkins immediately was brought back to consciousness. Perkins was an apparatus technician for the Baton Rouge Fire Department since 2008. He has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Police have arrested two suspects in connection to the shooting on Monroe Avenue that left a man dead and a woman injured. According to the Baton Rouge Police Department, detectives arrested two 15-year-old boys for their involvement in the shooting death of Jalen Lee, 22, in the 4300 block of Monroe Avenue on March 23. The two teens were booked into the Baton Rouge Juvenile Detention Center on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police noted that one of the teens had a previous arrest for an armed robbery. 2 juveniles sent to hospital after shooting in Gonzales, Ascension Parish sheriff says Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Six students were arrested following a large fight at Istrouma High School on Thursday, March 27, according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. Two boys were taken to juvenile hall after attacking an officer, while four girls were released to their parents. Police said the call came in around 10:40 a.m., and emergency medical services confirmed that one person was transported to the hospital in stable condition. BRPD Lt. LJean McKneely said that no officers were injured, but a student who attempted to break up the fight was hurt. The altercation initially started between female students. Authorities are reviewing security and body camera footage, and some parents could be arrested. The East Baton Rouge Parish School System is aware of an altercation involving students and parents at Istrouma High today. The school was placed on lockdown and the situation was promptly addressed by school officials and law enforcement. Istrouma is cooperating fully with authorities and we will be taking appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the law and the Students Rights and Responsibilities handbook. The safety of our students, staff and families remains our top priority. We appreciate the support of our families as we work to maintain a safe and respectful learning environment. East Baton Rouge Parish School System This is a developing story. More details will be shared as they become available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students, driver injured after school bus crash in Livingston Parish 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) Social media has made it easier than ever to reach out to your favorite brands for help but the local Better Business Bureau is warning that impostors are using the convenience of social media to trick consumers. Expert tips for Hawaii residents looking at dream vacation The non-profit says that fake customer service accounts are popping up across platforms, targeting people who just want a refund, a delivery update, or tech support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cameron Nakashima from the BBB explains how these scams play out: It starts with a fake reply. A user posts about a delivery issue or billing concern with the legitimate business on social media tagging the business in the post. A scammer account often nearly identical to the real company offering to help if you can verify your information. They might also provide a link or message you directly. But the request to verify information is a trap. People who reported to BBB about this scam tell us they were asked for all kinds of personal information including account login, phone numbers, emails addresses, and even financial details. Once the scammer has the details they need, they take off and it becomes clear that you have given your sensitive information to a scammer. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Nakashima says there are steps you can take to avoid situations like this: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Go direct. Always go to a companys official website or verified account to get customer support. But be mindful that verified accounts are paid, so even if the account is verified, its smart to do a little extra digging to be safe. To be safe, you can use BBB.org to find the real site and contact information for the business in question. If an account on social media asks you to verify your personal information, financial information, or click a link, be extremely cautious. These are all red flags that youre likely looking at a scam. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check the BBB Scam Tracker to find out if anything similar to your situation has been reported about recently and to report on it yourself to help others know what to watch out for 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 KHON2. EXCLUSIVE: The BBC and Dartmouth Films are marking five years since the death of George Floyd with a feature doc that will be given a theatrical release. BACKLASH: The Murder of George Floyd [working title] will feature interviews with members of Floyds family, Chief Medaria Arradondo, the Minneapolis Police Chief who took the bold step of testifying against one of his own officers, and then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnsons closest advisor on race Samuel Kasumu. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The doc comes five years after Floyd was murdered by a white police officer, which was the catalyst for the Black Lives Matter protests of summer 2020. At a time when diversity initiatives in the U.S. are being scrapped by President Trumps decree, and Elon Musk is retweeting Ben Shapiros call for the police officer who murdered Floyd to be pardoned, the film explores how Floyds death became one of the most significant moments in modern history, a true reckoning. The doc will be given a limited theatrical run by Dartmouth Films in around 10 UK cinemas before launching on the BBC in late May. It is one of several BBC features to go theatrical including, most recently, From Roger Moore, With Love. Director Kwabena Oppong said: The shockwaves of George Floyds murder in May 2020 became a catalyst for change worldwideor so it seemed. Over the past five years, weve seen progress and growth, but also a growing backlash. Behind everything we consume on TV, in the news, and on social media, theres a deeper story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Hird, Distributor, Dartmouth Films, added: The murder of George Floyd created waves throughout the world, we saw first hand how it encouraged the Black Lives Matter movement here in London. Backlash: The Murder of George Floyd will be released around the 5 year anniversary of George Floyd, a reminder of how far weve come and how far weve got to go for sustainable change to be achieved worldwide BACKLASH comes from prolific UK doc maker Rogan Productions and Dartmouth Films. It is directed by Oppong and was commissioned by Clare Sillery. Executive producers are James Rogan, Teresa Watkins and Soleta Rogan. The BBC commissioning editors are Carl Callam and Emma Loach. The producer is Satema Tarawally. Editors are Gregg Morgan, Alasdair Bayne and Brett Irwin, and music is by Swindle. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A beachfront city in Los Angeles County voted to adopt an anti-camping policy for all public areas Tuesday night. Hermosa Beach Mayor Dean Francois cited last years Supreme Court decision on regulating public homeless encampments as a key to the citys ability to enforce its new prohibition by providing officials with more tools and flexibility. The resulting final ordinance not only prohibits camping in all public places but also has more enforcement options to ensure Hermosa Beach remains a safe and sanitary environment for all, Francois said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camping was previously only prohibited on the beach, Strand and parks, according to the citys news release announcing the new policy. Fate of one of Californias largest murals uncertain The new ordinance will work in tandem with the citys already existing care first program aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness to seek shelter, rather than sleeping on the beach, sidewalks and other public places, the city stated. Any citations will also be subject to dismissal by the city manager upon completion of a diversion program and there will be a maximum number of citations that can be issued in a seven-day period, the news release stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Emirates NBD has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BlackRock to launch a private markets access platform. This initiative aims to offer the bank's wealth clients access to alternative investments, mainly in private markets. The collaboration is expected to democratise the alternative assets domain, which is projected to grow to $30tn by the end of the decade. The partners will initially roll out an array of evergreen offerings, focusing on income and growth strategies tailored for the UAE wealth sector. BlackRock will implement its open architecture approach to enhance Emirates NBD Asset Management's private markets offering. This include additional services such as marketing, education, training, and technology. BlackRock International head Rachel Lord said: We are delighted to partner with Emirates NBD as they build out their private markets platform. Spurred by investor sentiment and facilitated by product innovation, technology, and regulatory advancements, wealth allocations to private markets are predicted to increase materially over the next five years. The long-term objective of the Emirates NBD Asset Management platform is to make alternative assets more accessible to clients across the Middle East. The offerings will leverage BlackRocks Alternative Investments platform that has over $450bn in assets under management (AUM) and is supported by more than 1,000 workers across more than 50 countries. Emirates NBD retail banking and wealth management group head Rachel Lord said: Innovation is a cornerstone at Emirates NBD, and we are pleased to partner with BlackRock to offer access to best-in-class, products in alternative markets through a dedicated platform while supporting the growing needs of investors in the region. Recently, CB WEALTH partnered with BlackRock, aiming to offer Thai investors global investment opportunities. "Emirates NBD, BlackRock join forces on private markets access" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. A former New Bedford man has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to rape and assault to a child charges. Marvin Pineda, 47, was illegally in the United States from Honduras, has pleaded guilty to charges of Aggravated Rape of a Child, Indecently touching a Child, and Witness Intimidation. According to documents, Pineda, an acquaintance of the 9-year-old victims family from Honduras, was at their New Bedford home on October 10, 2020, for a family birthday party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the night came to an end, the victim, her sister, and the Pinedas two minor children went upstairs in the home to go to sleep. The victim was sharing a bed with her 7-year-old sister, while the defendants two children shared the other bed. According to the victims adult sister, Pineda had been hugging the victim, and when confronted about it, remarked that he was just saying hello and had not seen her in some time. The victims family offered Pineda the couch to sleep on, rather than walking home. In the morning, Pineda was not to be found and had taken his two children home early in the morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that morning, the victim reported that Pineda had entered their room during the night and raped her. The victim was taken to the hospital for a rape kit to be performed, where traces of Pinedas sperm was found. The victims 7-year-old sister, who was sleeping beside her, was a witness of the incident and made observations of Pinedas genitals. It was led to believe that Pineda fled Massachusetts as of October 11, 2020. Later, on October 18, 2020, Pineda contacted the victims mother and urged her not to pursue charges and offered her compensation. The victims mother reported that conversation to the police, and Pineda was located in Texas in November 2020, where he was apprehended and brought back to Massachusetts to answer for these charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pineda has similar charges involving a separate victim that are pending in North Carolina. The defendant took advantage of his access to the child in her bed, sleeping next to her sister. The conduct of the defendant is reprehensible. On top of that he immediately fled to Texas and tried to intimidate the victims mother. The defendant has similar charges pending in North Carolina. This state prison sentence is well deserved, especially without the victim having to testify, District Attorney Quinn stated. Pineda will serve twelve to fifteen years in state prison, followed by ten years of supervised probation. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) There is desperation in St. Pete among storm victims who feel forgotten a full six months after Hurricane Helene destroyed their homes and upended their lives. Some survivors said they still cant rebuild because there is so much red tape in the way. We are struggling: Red Cross responds to Carolina wildfires, Helene recovery continues Half a year later, many people arent back into their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some are paying rent for an apartment and a mortgage on an uninhabitable home. Others are living in RVs in their front lawns. Carolyn Mourey in St. Petersburg is living in her garage, still waiting on a permit from the city. Its like were being held hostage, she said. I always thought I owned my house, and apparently I dont. The government owns my house, and they tell me what I can do to it and when I can do it, Mourey continued. We pay property tax, we pay insurance, we should be able to make ourselves whole and not have to wait for a bureaucracy to give us a piece of paper to do it. News Channel 8 Reporter Nicole Rogers asked, If you could ask the mayor anything, what would you ask him? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why is it taking so long to get these permits to us? she responded. So we asked St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch just that. Its been six months since Hurricane Helene hit, Rogers said. We still have a lot of people still not back into their homes waiting on permits and they want to know whats going on. Well, were doing everything that we can with permits, Welch responded. Were doing very well compared to other municipalities. Weve added personnel, I think two from the state and six other private contractors, he continued. We are doing as much as we can do (to) get those permits going through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were well over 7,000 now and we certainly empathize with folks who are still in the process, Welch said. And with just over two months until the next hurricane season begins, some St. Pete residents like Mourey worry, will St Pete be ready? Were better prepared than weve ever been, Welch said. Weve learned from every storm, and weve learned from last year, and we will keep getting better prepared for every storm, more resilient, stronger after every storm. Welch said that resilience can come with costly decisions. I wont be able to cut the millage for the first time as a mayor, he said. Ive cut it every year, wont be able to do it now, but weve got investments we have to make right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youd like to send Nicole a tip, you can fill out the form below. Submit a form. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Bella Bautista Bella Bautista, a 22-year-old who reigned as Miss Buckhead 2025, would have made history competing as the first openly trans contestant in the Miss Georgia USA competition, but she recently made the difficult decision to relinquish her crown and withdraw from the pageant, saying the organization doesnt align with her values. Bautista, a college student studying economics and history, announced in an Instagram post on March 18 that it was with a heavy heart that she was officially relinquishing her title. When I joined this pageant, I did so with the hope of breaking barriers, inspiring others, and showing that representation matters, Bautista wrote. However, after deep reflection, I have come to the decision that the organizations affiliations and actions no longer align with my personal values and my mission for inclusivity and a world free of discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pageant world hasnt always been a bastion of inclusivity and diversity. In 2012, the Miss USA organization (which Miss Georgia USA is affiliated with) changed its rules to allow trans women to compete. In 2021, Miss Nevada, Kataluna Enriquez, became the first openly transgender contestant to compete in the Miss USA pageant, and other trans women have been successful in their state-level pageants. Teen Vogue has reached out to Miss USA for comment but has not yet heard back. When two transgender contestants Miss Portugal and Miss Netherlands competed in Miss Universe in 2023, Bautista was inspired. Just seeing them up there and Miss Portugal actually placing [in the] top 20 made me realize that, as a transgender woman, being on that stage could someday be my reality. She immediately applied for the pageant and received the acceptance call on her birthday. Bautista was looking forward to competing in the Miss Georgia USA pageant, where she would have been the first openly trans contestant to do so. Bautista spoke with Teen Vogue about why she made the decision to relinquish her title, the unique struggles facing the trans community right now, and whats bringing her hope. The following conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Teen Vogue: How did you make the difficult decision to renounce your title? Bella Bautista: The organization's affiliations and actions no longer align with Miss Universe's and my mission for inclusivity in a world free [from] discrimination. I hope to show transgender women all across the world to always stand up for themselves and to hold on to their values and to speak up when something isn't right. TV: The Miss Georgia USA pageant is produced by Greenwood Productions, which is headed by Miss Tennessee USA 1989, Kim Greenwood. Kim Greenwoods husband is country musician Lee Greenwood; the Greenwoods are supporters of President Trump and attended his inauguration, where Lee Greenwood performed. Did that have to do with your decision? BB: Yes. After I signed up, I started seeing posts on her page where she was posting a lot of things supporting Trump and pictures with Trump, and that started to raise a red flag in my mind. That started to make me really nervous because, as the first transgender person [to be in the contest], especially in Georgia, a very conservative state, I didn't know how I was going to be. Going into this space, unfortunately I knew that I was going to be labeled as the trans contestant. I wanted, more than anything, to be judged fairly. If I do score highly, I would like to walk away with the title. I had concerns regarding the judging and overall scoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Editor's Note: Teen Vogue has reached out to Greenwood Productions and Kim Greenwood for comment, but has not yet heard back.] TV: What did winning Miss Buckhead 2025 mean to you? BB: It felt [like the] right step. I believe that luck comes when opportunity and preparation presents itself. Behind the scenes, I've been working tirelessly to be able to prepare for the Miss Georgia USA pageant. To be able to have that title and to be the representation for my community meant the most for me. I was so happy that so many people within my community reached out and gave me their support, not only in Buckhead, but also at my hometown, which is Cartersville, Georgia. It felt good to know that I inspired people out there to go for their dreams and to not stop themselves simply because of their gender identity, sexuality, or race. TV: Does it feel particularly heavy to resign your position at this time when trans people are so under attack? BB: To have to make that announcement was probably one of the most difficult things that I've had to do in my entire life. But I also feel at peace because I know that I was that first to be accepted into Miss Georgia USA. I hope that it will light the path to the next change [for someone to] be able to achieve her dream. I want everyone to know that transgender people, we are not trying to destroy the world or retract womens rights or invade anyone's space. We are not trying to make anyone uncomfortable. I'm doing the best that I can to represent the community. [Im] trying to present myself as an intelligent woman, trying to represent our challenges and adversities as an intelligent woman, especially during this time. During that, I've also had the opportunity to testify in front of the Georgia Senate, the Georgia House of Representatives, to be able to not only talk to my community, but also to lawmakers about our perspective. TV: Whats bringing you hope right now? BB: The thing that's making me hopeful is that my pageant journey is not over. In fact, I feel as if I'm just getting started. What makes me hopeful is that one day I will live in a nation where my trans identity isn't categorized by either party, isn't being used as a political prop at either party. I want people to know that no matter what happens, I'm going to continue fighting. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Bentonville man facing multiple rape and sexual assault charges is now accused of attempting to have an alleged victim deported, according to court documents. David Brian Robinson, 21 (Courtesy: Benton County Detention Center) David Brian Robinson, 21, is charged with four counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault in two separate cases. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Robinson is held in the Benton County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A court filing says that on March 16 and 17, Robinson used the jails phone three times, calling to report one of the alleged victims to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The alleged victim is the complaining witness for one of the rape charges and the two sexual assault charges, according to the filing. Fayetteville police directed to limit misdemeanor arrests due to jail overcrowding The prosecuting attorney in the case argued that Robinson [used] the Benton County Detention Centers communication system to hinder, obstruct, or intimidate a victim. On March 27, Judge Brad Karren granted the prosecutors motion to reduce Robinsons jail communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the same day, Karren granted Robinsons lawyers motion to dismiss as counsel. The undersigned counsel represents to the Court that the attorney-client relationship has irrevocably broken down, Robinsons lawyer wrote in the motion. Defendant has committed acts that create a conflict for the attorney. Karren wrote that Robinson will either need a private attorney or a public defender by the next court date in the case, and a public defender has been appointed for the time being. Robinsons charges are connected incidents involving three alleged victims, according to court records. It should also be noted that records of other law enforcement agencies reflect that David Robinson has been a suspect in at least six other rape investigations over the past three years, a detective wrote in a probable cause affidavit in 2023. All of these investigations involve victims who are between 14 and 17 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinson is scheduled to have an attorney hearing in the Benton County cases on May 13. He also faces rape and aggravated assault charges in Washington County from alleged incidents that occurred when he was 17. A hearing in that case is set for April 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 KNWA FOX24. NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) Law enforcement officers with the New Bern Police Department are investigating a shooting that occurred Wednesday night. Officers received a ShotSpotter alert that sent them to the area of Elm Street and 2nd Avenue. They found multiple shell casings in the road and at two separate homes. The homes had also been hit by gunfire. CarolinaEast Medical Center reported that a gun shot victim had arrived to the emergency room shortly after police arrived to the area. The victim, 19 year old Sonarrious Morris, was transported to Greenville and is in critical condition. The police are actively investigating. 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. NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT) The New Bern Police Department is still investigating a shooting that happened Wednesday night. A Spot-Shotter near Elm Street and 2nd Avenue notified the officers who say they responded within thirty seconds of receiving the alert, finding shell casings in the road upon arrival. New Bern Police later received a call from Carolina-East Medical Center saying they sent a gunshot victims to the emergency room. Were processing all the evidence and interviewing witnesses, New Bern Police Captain David Daniels said. We are trying to follow any lead that we can to bring this case to resolution. Officers are asking for your help. If you have any information, please contact New Bern Police Department. 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. WASHINGTON Sen. Bernie Sanders stood up from his chair and tried to end an interview with ABC News when he was asked Sunday whether he would like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to join him in the U.S. Senate. "Right now, we have, as I said, just a whole lot of people in the Congress. OK, Jonathan, thanks," Sanders, I-Vt., told ABC News' Jonathan Karl, as he got out of his seat, in response to a question about Ocasio-Cortez potentially running for the Senate. "You want to do nonsense, do nonsense," Sanders added. "I don't want to talk about inside the Beltway stuff." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: AOC and Bernie Sanders draw thousands of people at 'Fighting Oligarchy' rally in Denver Ocasio-Cortez's future has been the subject of intense speculation as she and Sanders, two political rock stars among progressives, have been drawing massive crowds as they hold a series of rallies in swing districts. More than 30,000 people attended a "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Denver on Saturday held by the 83-year-old Sanders and 35-year-old Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) share a moment onstage during a rally on March 21, 2025 at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado. Their tour comes as Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has faced a backlash from the left after Schumer and nine other Senate Democrats supported a Republican-crafted spending bill to avert a government shutdown earlier this month. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez were among those who criticized the decision. More: Democrats pile on criticism of Chuck Schumer, with some calling for him to step aside Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schumer is up for reelection in 2028, and Ocasio-Cortez has long been considered a possible contender for the Senate even in a possible primary challenge if Schumer decides to run again. Yet Ocasio-Cortez's name is also mentioned as a possible Democratic contender for president in 2028. She could take the mantle as the progressive candidate from Sanders, who has said he won't run for president after doing so twice before. Ocasio-Cortez has not discussed her political plans publicly. After getting up from his chair, Sanders returned to the interview seat and took one final question. He was asked by Karl whether he will run for president again. "Right now, I'm Vermont's senator. That's what I do. And I'm very happy to do it," Sanders said. "I am 83 years of age, and I'm tired." Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bernie Sanders balks at 'nonsense' question about AOC joining Senate Lawmakers return to the Kentucky Capitol Thursday and Friday to wrap up the 2025 regular session. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) FRANKFORT Health advocates are urging the Kentucky General Assembly to reconsider Republican changes to the Medicaid program passed in the final hours before lawmakers broke for the 10-day veto period. Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday vetoed the changes contained in House Bill 695 saying they would put up barriers to and delay health care for Kentuckians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers return to Frankfort Thursday and Friday to wrap up the 2025 legislative session. Republicans can easily override the Democratic governors vetoes thanks to holding supermajorities in both chambers. HB 695 would do several things that health advocates say are concerning. One is a mandated work requirement for able-bodied Kentuckians between the ages of 18 and 60 who dont have dependents and are both physically and mentally able to work. Advocates said the requirement would create red tape and increase administrative costs at the expense of paying for actual health care. Another: the bill would reinstate prior authorization requirements for Medicaid behavioral health benefits, which include treatment for substance use disorder. It also would keep the executive branch from making changes to Medicaid without the General Assemblys approval, unless required by federal law. Dustin Pugel Freezing that until the legislature can give approval for anything along those lines there are a lot of unforeseen outcomes of that, said Dustin Pugel, the policy director at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, in an interview with the Lantern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other parts of the bill setting up an advisory board to oversee Medicaid spending and learn more about it, are generally supported. Given the growth of Medicaid spending, Andrew McNeill, the president and senior policy fellow at the Kentucky Forum for Rights, Economics & Education (KYFREE), told the Lantern in an interview that hes not surprised that the legislature is asserting itself in this way to become far more active and involved with the Medicaid program, and I think that their primary initiative in that vein is this new Medicaid oversight committee. Medicaid is a state-federal program that covers almost 1.5 million Kentuckians. Less health care to fewer people Emily Beauregard At a Wednesday press conference, Emily Beauregard, the executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health, said the bill, in its current form, puts our safety net and workforce at risk by adding costly administrative red tape to the program that would end up providing less health care to fewer people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a coalition led by consumer voices, we are acutely aware that most Kentuckians are simply a lost job, new baby, accident or illness away from qualifying for Medicaid and other safety net programs that exist to catch us when we fall and sustain us while we get back on our feet, she said. The work requirement Section 4 of the bill says the cabinet, to the extent permitted under federal law, shall implement a mandatory community engagement waiver program for able bodied adults without dependents who have been enrolled in the states medical assistance program for more than twelve (12) months. On the night this language was added, Senate budget committee Chair Chris McDaniel said the intent is that if you are an ablebodied adult, that you have to demonstrate some kind of a work effort, be that school, be that child care, be that community involvement job, whatever the case is, right, the intent is that you have to execute some type of task like that. Thats a very small population. According to data from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, the work requirement would apply to only 2%-4% of Kentuckians on Medicaid. Most Kentucky adults on Medicaid work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Gov. Matt Bevin made an unsuccessful attempt to add a work requirement to Medicaid, which was reversed when Beshear took office. Before that, though, President Donald Trump in his first term had approved a waiver application to add the requirements, but a federal judge in Washington twice blocked it, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. On the face of it, the expectation for Kentuckians to work and contribute to their families and their communities sounds like common sense. Its certainly a goal we all share, Beauregard said. But in reality, a work reporting requirement is the opposite of common sense. The paperwork and administrative red tape will actually make it harder for people to get and stay healthy enough to work. Terminating someones health care for not reporting will only make them sicker and less able to work. Thats not common sense. Senate President Robert Stivers speaks with reporters over coffee at Goodwood in downtown Frankfort. March 26, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) During a coffee conversation with reporters Wednesday morning, Senate President Robert Stivers said I dont think anybody wants to see a deserving person lose their benefits. Were trying to get to the point to make sure that there is not that overutilization by people who are work-able, and make sure that those people who are needy and dont have the ability to work or obtain insurance because of their status or their employment status, they cant because of physical or mental issues, that they do have health care coverage, Stivers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, he said, when your budgets in the Medicaid realm are so fast and growing, youve got to control that expenditure. Plus, there are many things offered in the Medicaid list of services that private insurance doesnt cover, Stivers said. And so, for working people, middle class, middle income people, they cant get the coverage that a person on Medicaid gets, which I think is wrong. You should have equal, comparable, but not better than. Beauregard questioned the assertion that Medicaid benefits are better than those provided by private insurance. Heres the thing: people with commercial health insurance or with any other type of health care, Medicare, Medicaid we should all expect to have the type of care that we need when we need it, she said. We should have access to those services when we need them. And to suggest that Medicaid is a better benefit than commercial insurance, to me, says we need to expect more from commercial insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: I dont think that anybody with Medicaid coverage is getting services that arent medically necessary, and we hear oftentimes that people do struggle with access to care for other reasons. I would reject any notion that Medicaid benefits are too generous. Unintended consequences Sheila Schuster Sheilia Schuster, who leads the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition and has long been a mental health advocate in Frankfort, takes issue with the term able bodied in the work requirement. To look at some of our folks with substance use disorder or mental illness, they look able bodied, but they are not, she said. They are not mentally fit to be able to go to work. KFF released a poll in early March that showed a majority of Americans 62% support the idea of work requirements. That same poll showed the same percentage of people have the misconception that people on Medicaid arent already working. KFF (formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation) is a nonpartisan nonprofit that focuses on health care policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McNeil said incentivizing more people into the workforce through a Medicaid work requirement would be a positive for the state. With the public support for it and for the potential benefits by that, I mean upside benefits of more people getting into the workforce, still knowing that they can keep this coverage it is a policy model that is worth pursuing and trying to make as strong and as compassionate as possible, McNeill said. Michael Stanley, the CEO of Grace Health, a community health center in Eastern Kentucky, said more than 40% of the patients his center sees are covered by Medicaid. Kentucky under former Gov. Steve Beshear expanded Medicaid eligibility to include more low-income adults. The Medicaid expansion was made possible in 2010 when Congress enacted the Affordable Care Act, informally dubbed Obamacare. The Republican Congress now is considering cuts to Medicaid to reduce federal spending, including potentially reducing federal funds to cover the Medicaid expansion population. With expanded Medicaid, our quality clinical performance measures showed that the communities we serve are healthier, Stanley said. The loss of expanded Medicaid and a work requirement could reduce our Medicaid-covered patients by 10 to 15% with a loss of $2 million to $3 million in Grace Health revenue. A loss of this magnitude would threaten our behavioral health, school based health, substance use disorder and dental services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim Cesario, the substance use disorder director for Cumberland River Behavioral Health in Corbin, said hes worried about unintended consequences from the work requirement. In the substance use field, we encounter a lot of people that have never had regular work and have not developed the skills to maintain a full time job, or what we would call a regular job, he said. The reporting requirements, I believe, will cause a hardship, especially when you consider that the 5th Congressional District is not a bustling manufacturing area. The ability for people to find steady full time traditional work is not always available. Cesario also said reinstating the prior authorization requirement would be cumbersome for the providers. Often, we have people who are ready to engage in services today, Cesario said. If we have to go through the pre-authorization process to allow people to access services in three weeks, that interest and that desire to receive help may be gone. The critical waiver component The bill directs the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to submit a waiver application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requesting approval to establish the mandatory community engagement waiver program for the able-bodied adults previously described. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill directs the cabinet to send a copy of that application to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board, the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue and the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services. The cabinet would also need to update these boards and committees on the applications progress. Under the bill as written, the cabinet would put out a proposal. There would be a state comment period. They would need to address those comments, and then they would need to submit it to the federal government, Pugel explained. There would be a federal comment period. Once thats over, the federal government would need to negotiate with the state for the details of the plan. Usually, theres some back and forth. After this process, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would either approve or deny the application. The waivers critical, in my understanding, said McNeill, who served as the deputy state budget and policy director in the Bevin administration. Certainly in the Bevin administrations waiver, there was a significant amount of detail of what the implementation of the program would look like. Its also worth noting, he said, that the legislature has directed a Democratic gubernatorial administration to lay out these details in an application to a Republican federal government. Its a question of who writes the waiver for the states and who is in charge of CMS in Washington at the time? And those things dont line up perfectly, McNeill explained. But to direct a Democratic administration here in the state to submit this waiver, knowing that it would look much different under a potential future Republican governor? Its just going to be something interesting to watch play out, because the details of the waiver matter a lot. Beauregard, with Kentucky Voices for Health, acknowledged there is some flexibility with how the state would write the waiver, but it could be inconsistent in the future. Andrew McNeill The Cabinet for Health and Family Services does have some discretion in how it would create that process the paperwork, in particular, how often people would have to report and I think all of that is potentially a very good thing, she said. But that same discretion means that this administration could do it one way, the next administration could do it a very different way. She also expressed concern to the Lantern over Kentucky potentially spending more on red tape than the coverage itself. McNeill agreed simpler is better when it comes to the reporting process. Oftentimes, the theory of policy design doesnt match with human behavior, he said. Ive learned through the years that the best approach to achieving a policy goal, like a work requirement, is to practice humility and keep it simple, both from a policy standpoint and from an implementation standpoint. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday did not rule out allowing Russian banks to rejoin the SWIFT international payment messaging system as negotiations continue on an end to the war in Ukraine. But the White House would need backing from Europe to restart it. There would be a long discussion about many things in terms of the proper way to bring Russia back into the international system, Bessent told Fox News news anchor Martha MacCallum. But I think this is premature to discuss the terms of a deal before we have a deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration helped lead the push to remove some of Russias largest banks from SWIFT, an international system that allows financial institutions from all over the world to communicate transaction information, shortly after the country invaded Ukraine in early 2022. Russia has pushed for one of its top banks, Rosselkhozbank, to be reconnected to the system in exchange for the implementation of a cease-fire in the Black Sea. "I think everything is on the table, Bessent told MacCallum. And as you mentioned, part of the national security effort that Treasury does is through the financial operations, is through our sanctions, is through sanctioning individuals, banks or countries. But the European Union, which to this point has largely been frozen out of peace talks and which has central banks that are among the institutions that oversee the SWIFT system, would effectively need to approve of letting Russian banks back in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the bar is high. Anitta Hipper, European Commission spokesperson for foreign affairs, told POLITICO 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. Bessent also told MacCallum he hopes the White House and Kyiv will be able to sign the two sides long-awaited minerals agreement next week. Ukrainian negotiators are currently reviewing the completed document, he said. Im sure that we will move along and get this signed quickly, he said. Giovanna Faggionato contributed to this report. By Ana Mano and Chris Prentice SAO PAULO (Reuters) -U.S. grains merchant Archer-Daniels-Midland is making a fresh wave of job cuts this week at its largest unit, the grain trading and oilseed processing division, according to three sources briefed on the matter. Chicago-based ADM said in February it would cut up to 700 jobs and reduce costs by $500 million to $750 million over the next three to five years, after posting its lowest fourth-quarter adjusted profit in six years. The job cuts would represent about 1.7% of the company's global workforce. ADM said in a statement it was critical to ensure its cost structure allows the firm to remain globally competitive. "The actions the company is taking are part of the targeted workforce reduction and cost saving actions we announced earlier this year," it said. The statement did not mention any specific locations, divisions or targets. Reuters could not confirm the number of job cuts this week. The new wave of cuts began at ADM's Swiss office, which is its European headquarters, one source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The cuts would be disruptive to ADM's agricultural services and oilseeds business, said another source, as employees, including experienced traders, worried over who might be targeted next. That unit, ADM's largest, houses the company's global crop trading, transportation and storage, and oilseed processing operations. The division appeared to be the focus for this round of cuts, rather than ADM's nutrition unit, one of the sources added. Each region where ADM operates was given specific cost-cutting targets by Chief Financial Officer Monish Patolawala, according to one of the sources. ADM tapped Patolawala for the job last July as it dealt with multiple U.S. investigations, including a criminal one, related to accounting irregularities. (Reporting by Ana Mano in Sao Paulo and Chris Prentice in New York; Additional reporting by Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Emily Schmall and Rod Nickel) A practiced swindler from Beverly Hills was hit with a twenty-five-year federal sentence Wednesday in connection with a $18 million scheme that bilked investors who ponied up cash for a sham weed farm, prosecutors say. Mark Roy Anderson, 70, a career conman who was on federal parole for another scheme when he started stealing again, used other peoples' money to live a lush life with $650,000 spent on "luxury and vintage vehicles," over $400,000 in cash withdrawals, more than $142,000 in retail purchases, and other personal expenses, including a sprawling million-dollar-plus home and citrus grove in Ojai, according to a criminal complaint. Anderson's latest skim started in Beverly Hills immediately after his May 2019 release from a federal prison in Texas where he had served more than 11 years for an oil investment scheme, according to court records. He was still on federal parole when he began to steal again, prosecutors say. Related: Woman Suspected of Murdering Cal Fire Captain Captured in Mexico After Month-Long Manhunt On Wednesday, United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha called his crimes "breathtaking," saying: Many [of his victims] have lost their life savings reflecting decades of hard work. Judge Aenlle-Rocha also described Anderson as an accomplished and incorrigible con man and added that the public must be protected from him for as long as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson pleaded guilty in April 2024 to two counts of wire fraud. He has been in federal custody since May 2023. The defendant stole more than $18 million from dozens of investors by promising quick returns on their investments into hemp farms and other exotic investments. said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. Todays 25-year sentence takes him off the street so that he cannot harm other victims. Never Miss a Beat! Subscribe to Los Angeles Magazines The Daily Brief for daily updates delivered straight to your inbox. Join below or by clicking here. A Beverly Hills man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for scamming over $18 million from victims through cannabis-related cons. Mark Roy Anderson, 69, was sentenced Wednesday for stealing around $18.4 million from investors through fake claims that his companies were involved in hemp farms, cannabis-infused retail products and a sham bottling business, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Instead of investing the funds as promised, Anderson used the money on personal expenses such as real estate in Ojai and purchasing 15 vehicles, including a Ferrari, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the schemes, Anderson had multiple prior fraud convictions. One scheme was committed while he was in home confinement after being released from federal prison. The second scheme was committed while he was on supervised release for a fraud conviction. In the first scheme from June 2020 to April 2021, officials said Anderson tricked investors into providing funding for his company, called Harvest Farm Group. The company allegedly processed hemp that was grown on a farm into medical-grade cannabidiol (CBD) isolate a chemical found in marijuana to be sold for a substantial profit. Anderson falsely told victims he owned and operated the Kern County farm and that he had already completed profitable harvests. He claimed he was using his own machinery to convert the hemp into CBD isolate and Delta 8, a psychoactive substance that, like CBD isolate, could be used in consumer products ranging from olive oil to body cream, the DAs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To prevent investors from asking for collections or reporting him to law enforcement, Anderson falsely told them that product sales from the farm-grown hemp were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He then falsely promised to pay the victims back and that some of the money stemmed from sales recently made to Canadian companies. In the second scheme from April 2021 to May 2023, Anderson lied to investors that his company Bio Pharma manufactured and sold products infused with CBD including CBD-infused avocado oil, olive oil, pain cream, gummies, tequila, and chili oil. His other company, Verta Bottling, allegedly manufactured and sold beverages and a variety of food products. Anderson told victims his companies owned millions of dollars worth of assets including hemp biomass, CBD isolate, CBD oil, manufacturing equipment and an assignable lease for a warehouse to manufacture and sell products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told investors that his bottling companies had a $10 million purchase order from suppliers and drafted fake legal and business documents to support those claims, the DAs office said. Fake samples of the alleged products he was selling were also given to investors. In total, both schemes netted Anderson around $18,376,150 from 45 victims, according to court documents. He pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in April 2024. The magnitude of the fraud is breathtaking, said Judge Aenlle-Rocha at Wednesdays hearing. The [victims statements reflect] the depth of the harm. Many have lost their life savings reflecting decades of hard work. Aenlle-Rocha described Anderson as an accomplished and incorrigible con man and stated that the public must be protected from him for as long as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendant stole more than $18 million from dozens of investors by promising quick returns on their investments into hemp farms and other exotic investments, said Joseph McNally, acting U.S. Attorney. Todays sentence takes him off the street so that he cannot harm other victims. Anderson has agreed to forfeit his ill-gotten gains from these schemes which include the Ojai real estate, Ferrari and other items, prosecutors said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The Beverly Police Department has announced the arrest of a wanted New Jersey man for attempted murder. Andrew Arias-Peguero, 54, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, was arrested on Tuesday, March 25, after the Beverly Police Department was alerted by Fort Lee police around 6 P.M. that he was in the area of North Beverly. Arias-Peguero had a felony warrant for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing and threatening to kill someone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after, Beverly Police located Arias-Peguero and his vehicle in the area. Im proud of our officers quick and effective response when we were asked for help by a fellow law enforcement agency, said Beverly Police Chief John G. LeLacheur. Acting on information from Fort Lee Police, we were able to take a dangerous individual off of our streets. Arias-Peguero was taken into custody on four warrants out of Lynn District Court and charged with: Fugitive From Justice. He was arraigned in Salem District Court. 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 HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Four of the six Bhutanese men who were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Dauphin County have been deported, according to the Chairman of the Bhutanese Community in Harrisburg. The Chairman of the Bhutanese Community said he was told that the deported men were in India and that they would be departing for Bhutan. This comes days after the six detainees were moved from the Pike County Prison to New Jersey and told they would be put on a flight in 72 hours. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter Initially, the men werent told where they were going. Dauphin County Officials tell abc27 that the men are in the U.S. legally after fleeing their country as refugees. ICE issued a statement saying claims that the men are lawful permanent residents of the U.S. are not true. Governor Josh Shapiro spoke about the situation on Tuesday, saying, I want to make sure that anyone whos been rounded up by the federal government is given their full due process. Shapiro added that there are 100,000 Bhutanese people in the United States, and 70,000 of them are in Pennsylvania. 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 ABC27. Charlene McGowan, general counsel for the Georgia Secretary of State, and State Election Director Blake Evans urged Senate Ethics Committee members Wednesday to not ditch the current voter registration sharing database. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder Sweeping changes to election rules intended to increase paper ballot options, expand the powers of the State Election Board and remove the state from a voter registration sharing database are up for debate as the 2025 legislative session nears a close. The Senate Ethics Committee held a two-hour hearing on the latest version of House Bill 397, which could mandate big changes to Georgia election procedures if signed into law. No vote was taken on the bill sponsored by Covington Republican Rep. Tim Fleming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican-backed election bill would prohibit Georgia from sharing voter information with third-party groups like the Electronic Registration Information Center, known as ERIC. The partnership allows Georgia to share updated voter rolls with 24 other states. Under HB 397, the Georgia elections board would evaluate the procedures and policies for withdrawing from ERIC. and provide recommendations to the Senate Ethics Committee and the House Governmental Affairs Committee by the end of this year. It would also give the Secretary of State the authority to make agreements with other states to share voter roll data. Secretary of State election officials asked legislators Wednesday to reconsider banning the state from participating in a multistate database they say helps efficiently maintain accurate voter rolls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charlene McGowan, general counsel for the Georgia Secretary of State, said the proposals in HB 397 could undermine the states ability to conduct meaningful and secure data matching with other states, whether it be through a state-to-state agreement or a multi-state compact. This bill does severely restrict the secretarys ability to share information, such as drivers license numbers, Social Security numbers with other states, she said. The problem with that is that states rely on that type of information in order to conduct accurate matching. The bills Republican sponsors were also urged by the statewide association of county election officials to make changes to the bill that would require hand counting of ballots as voting precincts are closing down for the day. Fulton County is home to more than 750,000 registered voters, according to the secretary of state offices website. State law requires that local election superintendents report to the secretary of state and post publicly the total number of ballots cast both on Election Day and during early voting, including absentee ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Anglin, the election director in Greene County, expressed concerns about the chain of custody and hand count of paper ballots at the precinct level, emphasizing the need for secure handling and timely reporting. Bill offers more power to State Election Board The election overhaul legislation proposes giving the State Election Board more independence from the secretary of states office by moving its administration under the state accounting office. The controversial state GOP-controlled board that is now dominated by three supporters of President Donald Trump could also be the body to hear appeals to a controversial mass voter challenge after complaints are settled by county election boards. This will allow for faster adjudication. If you start with them and then you disagree with the decision, then youll go to the superior court, Fleming said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgia Republican Party District Chairman Brad Carver said its important that the State Election Board has enough backing from the state to be fully staffed to afford more investigators and other support positions that can trim case backlogs and handle new roles. He mentioned the significant expenses associated with voter challenges going to superior courts instead of election officials. If you have an appellate authority in the State Election Board, you will have more consistent application to make sure that the laws are followed across the state by all 159 counties, Carver said. Another provision expands board duties to allow custody of all state investigative reports and communications between the secretary of state and election superintendents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fleming said the bill seeks to restore more autonomy to the state board that enforces election rule compliance. The State Election Board handles elections investigations and complaints, and having access to this information is necessary for them to do their job and for adjudication purposes, Fleming said. This continues to return autonomy to the State Election Board. State election officials could also spell out their rulemaking powers with proposed year-round authority to adopt election rules so long as they dont take effect within 60 days of an election. Paper ballot bill clears committee The Senate Ethics Committee passed a bill Wednesday that would allow Georgia voters to cast a hand-marked paper ballot at polling places during early voting and on Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate Ethics Committee voted Wednesday in favor of Senate Bill 214, a proposal to give voters the ability to cast their votes in polling places using pen or pencils, which can now be used to complete absentee ballots. Sylvania Republican Sen. Max Burns said the legislation gives voters during early voting and election days the option of paper ballots or the electronic touchscreen system thats been used for statewide elections since 2020. At the end of the day (SB) 214 is designed to provide us a path forward beyond the current environment and move to hand-marked paper ballot systems tabulated with an optical scan and then supported by a print on demand ballot system, Burns said. Burns said he expects modifications to the bill as he tries to usher it through the legislative process. Republican Sen. Max Burns and Sen. Marty Harbin, a Tyrone Republican, cast votes at a March 26 committee meeting in favor of Burns paper ballots bill. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder If Burns can get his bill signed into law, it will mark a big win for a movement that has long contended that hand-marked paper ballots are more transparent and safer than electronic machines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states electronic Dominion Voting Systems machines were rolled out statewide in 2019, but by that time the state was already involved in a legal battle with Coalition for Good Governance and other plaintiffs who argue that hand-marking ballots is the safest way to vote. The debate over electronic voting machines versus paper ballots later became the focus of conspiracy theorists who blamed Dominions system for Republican President Donald Trumps loss to Joe Biden in 2020. Over the last couple of years, a prominent pro-paper ballot movement has been led by VoterGa, a largely pro-Trump faction that has urged people to request that state officials get rid of the electronic voting system. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has defended the security of the voting machine system. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) An Indiana bill is looking to change voter identification in Indiana. Senate Bill 10 says proof of identification may not include a document issued by an educational institution. This means Indiana college students would not be able to use their student IDs as voter identification. The bill was passed in the Senate in February. It is now heading to the Indiana House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). A state trooper talks to those who showed up Wednesday to weigh in on a controversial total abortion ban. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder This story was updated at 4:10 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2025. A House panel heard hours of testimony Wednesday on a bill that would expand Georgias law to completely ban and criminalize abortion, while even some anti-abortion groups oppose the measure. No vote was taken on House Bill 441, and no vote is planned, but the surprise late-session hearing drew hundreds of people to the state Capitol Wednesday who either pushed for the long-shot bill or urged lawmakers to steer clear of a bill that they warned would undermine a popular proposal to protect access to in-vitro fertilization. Supporters of HB 441 demonstrate Wednesday at the Capitol. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Sign-toting supporters of the bill sang hymns and prayed aloud as opponents passed out stickers that said support and compassion not punishment and held their own counter-protest signs in a cramped committee room before the over-capacity crowd was ushered out into the hallway to wait their turn to have their say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public airing of the controversial bill Wednesday was tense and came the day before the Senate is expected to finalize a bipartisan measure designed to protect access to IVF. That bill, House Bill 428, passed unanimously in the House and was supported by the sponsors of the proposed total ban on abortion. 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. That must be changed, said the bills sponsor, Rep. Emory Dunahoo, a Gillsville Republican. Georgias current law bans most abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected, which is at about six weeks and before many women know they are pregnant. The law, which took effect in 2022 after Roe v. Wade was struck down, allows for a few limited exceptions, including some in the cases of rape and incest that would be wiped away by Dunahoos bill. Under his bill, abortions after fertilization would be deemed a homicide. A pregnant woman could be charged with a crime, unless she can prove she was forced into having the abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even prominent anti-abortion advocates in Georgia argue the bill goes too far. The Georgia Life Alliance submitted a letter to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee opposing the bill and objecting to the hearing even being held. Regardless of ones beliefs on access to abortion, women and girls should not be further traumatized from their abortion by the fear of criminal prosecution, wrote Claire Bartlett, the groups executive director, and Bryan Tyson, the groups board chairman. A former anti-abortion lobbyist in Georgia also testified against the bill Wednesday. This is just really bad legislation, whether a woman has been sexually assaulted or is pregnant and facing a crisis, said Elizabeth Edmonds. This is not compassion. This is not how Jesus would love us. Rep. Shea Roberts, an Atlanta Democrat, hugs Dr. Karenne Fru, who is the founder and owner of a fertility clinic in Sandy Springs, after Fru gave impassioned remarks Wednesday. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder Several metro Atlanta doctors urged lawmakers to oppose the bill, saying it would end IVF treatment in Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During IVF, doctors typically harvest and fertilize multiple eggs in the hope that at least one results in a successful pregnancy. Unused embryos, which are only days old and barely visible to the naked eye, are sometimes allowed to thaw out and be destroyed. Dr. Karenne Fru, who is the founder and owner of a fertility clinic in Sandy Springs, said she tells all her patients that they may start out with 20 eggs but wind up with two embryos. Am I guilty of murder? That makes me a serial killer. What? My whole life is doing Gods work, Fru said in impassioned comments. He said, Go forth and procreate. Im doing that. Please. Just let me continue to do that. I cannot go to jail because I want to help people become parents, and this bill criminalizes what I do. Rep. Charlice Byrd, a Woodstock Republican who is a co-sponsor of the bill, questioned another one of the doctors how the measure would affect IVF access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Kathryn C. Calhoun said granting embryos full legal personhood from the time of fertilization and making abortion a homicide would deter doctors from offering seemingly legal procedures. Calhoun explained that it can take many embryos to be successful and that sometimes those embryos stop growing in the lab because they are not healthy enough to survive. If our embryologists or our doctors or any of the providers in our clinic could be held criminally liable for the fact that an embryo didnt make it in a dish by no fault of their own, but just by biology or Gods will or whatever you all want to believe about that, we wouldnt be able to practice, Calhoun said. The threat and the danger would be too real to ourselves and our own families to practice that in the state of Georgia. The bill is part of a national effort backed by End Abortion Now, which is one of the male-run groups pushing for stringent anti-abortion restrictions and penalties. And many of the proponents who spoke in favor of the bill Wednesday were from outside of Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But not all the supporters were out-of-towners. Nikki Crannell said she and her husband, who live in Gainesville, reached out to the group. The couple said they recognize it could take years of advocacy to get such a bill passed in Georgia. Crannell said she has concerns about IVF. Those babies are babies made in the image of God too and are just sitting in the freezer, who also need a right to life, Crannell said. Rep. Yasmin Neal (center), a Jonesboro Democrat, questions a supporter of HB 441 as Rep. Darshun Kendrick, a Lithonia Democrat, holds up signs. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder With the session set to end April 4, Wednesdays hearing will likely be the most action the bill gets this year, though it will still technically be in play when lawmakers return next January. More moderate Republicans like Rep. Sharon Cooper say they have no interest in going further than Georgias current law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooper, who chairs the House Public and Community Health Committee, also said she agrees with concerns that Dunahoos bill would threaten IVF access. I believe that we have gone as far as we should go on that issue, the Marietta Republican told a reporter Wednesday, referring to abortion. And that bill also interferes with, or would interfere with, people who are trying to get pregnant using in vitro, and I am certainly against that. And its a hearing only, but I certainly hope that thats all it is, a hearing. The Senate is set to vote on a bill that would protect access to IVF treatment but would not regulate it. That bill is a priority of House Speaker Jon Burns, a Newington Republican who reiterated his support for the proposal Wednesday when asked through his spokesperson about the hearing on the strict abortion bill. While the Houses bill codifying protections for IVF is still moving through the legislative process, it will without a doubt strengthen the ability of countless Georgia families to bring life into the world, Burns said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But reproductive rights advocates like Allison Coffman, who is the executive director of the Amplify Georgia Collaborative, argued that it is harmful to even hold a hearing on what she described as one of the most extreme forms of an abortion ban. We are letting it see the light of day, Coffman said. We are saying that this is something that this committee, that this Legislature thinks is important enough to put to public discussion. Georgia Recorder reporter Ross Williams contributed to this report. Clarification: This story was updated to clarify the IVF process. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sen. Blake Tillery. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder A bill aimed at removing gender-affirming care for transgender state workers covered by the state health insurance plan moved forward in the Georgia House Health Committee after committee Chair Lee Hawkins, a Gainesville Republican, broke a tie vote. The bills author, Vidalia Republican Sen. Blake Tillery, said treatments like hormone therapy or mastectomies will still be available, but not for gender-affirming purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 39 relates to the state health benefit plan, and it states that the state health benefit plan will not pay for gender-reassignment surgeries or gender care when its related to a sex that is not someones sex at birth, that is it, he said. Rep. Kim Schofield Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Democratic state Rep. Kim Schofield of Atlanta questioned the intent behind banning treatments specifically for transgender people. Im concerned about this bill and the public health research on this bill, she said. Where is that? Or is this really just a personal ideology? I dont know that its a personal ideology, Tillery answered. If it passes the General Assembly, then it would be the ideology of the General Assembly, and if the votes are against it, then its not in the ideology of the General Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schofield wasnt convinced. I mean, wheres the research? Wheres the public health research that this is a problem or we should be taking this issue up? she said. This is a decision between someones personal life, their doctors and their family. It shouldnt be the General Assembly. Well, maam, I beg to differ, Tillery said.Youre gonna be asked to vote on a budget that we send back over to you thats gonna have over roughly $1 billion in the state health benefit plan. If you think that the state should pay for transgender surgeries I do, Schofield said. then you should vote against my bill, Tillery continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I will, Schofield said. Public comment on the bill was largely in opposition. Attorney Amanda Kay Seals represented transgender state workers in a 2023 lawsuit after they were excluded from the health plan. In that case, the state paid out a $365,000 settlement and removed transgender exclusions. Seals said passing SB 39 into law will lead to more taxpayer dollars going to settlements. Georgia has settled these cases for millions of dollars, not out of the charity to the plaintiffs, she said. Its because these exclusions are legally indefensible, and you will be sued again. The state will be sued again if this bill passes, and again, the exclusions will be legally indefensible. You will spend more money litigating over these exclusions than you would offering this care to state employees and their dependents. Attorney Amanda Kay Seals, who represented transgender state workers in a previous suit against the state, said banning gender-affirming care again would invite new lawsuits. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Dr. Jason Schneider, a physician who treats transgender patients, characterized the bill as government overreach that could harm his patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government should not be able to overrule a persons decision to seek health care for themselves and their families, whether they are transgender or not, he said. And this would allow, this bill allows politicians to interfere with private decisions between me and my patients, my adult patients. Its important to know that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and every other leading U.S. Medical Professional Association recognizes and supports this care. Khara Hayden, a transgender state employee who would be affected by the bill, characterized it as heartless. I require hormones. I dont produce hormones anymore, so this is essentially taking life necessary care away from me, she said. It boggles my mind as a Georgian. Ive been in the state since the first grade. Ive grown up here. Where is the care for community? Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. This is specifically targeting a group, a very small group of people for no apparent reason other than trying to save money. The bill could come up for a full House vote any time between now and the end of the legislative session on April 4. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) Convicted sex traffickers in Illinois may soon face an additional penalty, thanks to a bill sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader. Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) has introduced a bill that would amend the Sex Offender Registration Act to include human traffickers. Offenders who are convicted of the following offenses would need to register: violations or attempted violations of involuntary servitude or trafficking minors or adults for commercial sexual activity. State Police Director testifies before Senate on human trafficking bill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Curran said this would help law enforcement investigate crimes and communities help learn who is in the community. Allowing these predators to walk free without registering once their sentence is served, does not provide appropriate justice for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and fails to inform a community of their presence, Curran said. This legislation ensures that the punishment fits the crime, and will help keep families aware of their surroundings and help law enforcement better investigate future crimes. The Illinois Sex Offender Registry requires offenders to register annually in person for a decade. Any changes to an registration must also be made within three days with the law enforcement agency in their jurisdiction. New Illinois law addresses law enforcement misconduct while investigating prostitution Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone who is convicted of involuntary servitude or trafficking in persons is profiting from forcing victims into the sex trade, DuPage County States Attorney Bob Berlin said, whose office worked with Senator Curran on the legislation. They are dangerous not only to their victims but to society as a whole and forcing these predators to register as sex offenders will help law enforcement keep track of their whereabouts, inform the community of their presence and make it more difficult for them to traffic new victims. Illinois State Police officials said human trafficking is one of the most under-reported and under-identified crimes. State Police also say victims rarely reach out for help. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Criminal Law 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. CLEVELAND (WJW) A new bill introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives, House Bill 82, would require drivers who commit a traffic violation in a work zone to also complete a drivers safety course. The sponsors of the bill are state Reps. Gary Click (R-Sandusky) and Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe). Person struck by multiple vehicles on I-271: Coroner Click and Johnson introduced a similar bill during the last General Assembly, which included tons of fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time, theyre trying to reach peoples hearts instead of their wallets to try and protect the men and women improving highways and roads on behalf of the state. These are real people that wear the vests and the hard hats out there on these highways and doing the real work, and hopefully it will make people think about, Heres what happened, heres what couldve happened and heres what I dont want to have happen. I dont want to have this on my conscience, Click said. Johnson added, Weve got to change hearts and minds and attitudes on our highways. Failure to complete the training course within 30 days of a citation would result in a $400 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair told FOX 8 News that they want to inspire people to slow down and not drive distracted. They said there are countless stories of construction workers who were injured or killed while on the job. TRAFFIC ALERT: Car fire causes major delay on I-480 Theyre naming HB 82 after Trenton Gallaway. Last October, Gallaway, 20, was hit and killed while doing maintenance work in Richland County. When you get to hear those real-life stories stories of those moms and those dads, of Mr. and Mrs. Galloway, who lost a 20-year-old son. I mean this guy was young and full of life, Click said of the impactful stories that can be told related to this bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click and Johnson both called the legislation common sense and non-partisan. They believe all lawmakers should support it, and are willing to work with their peers to come up with the best version possible while its discussed in committee hearings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Ariane Luthi and Oliver Hirt ZURICH (Reuters) -Two years since it acquired Credit Suisse to create a Swiss banking giant, UBS is trying to head off tougher regulations by offering to limit the future size of its investment bank and hold more capital, people familiar with discussions said. The 2023 collapse of Credit Suisse was a watershed for Switzerland, leaving it with just one global lender and prompting regulators to demand it hold more capital to make the industry safer. UBS executives say that will hurt Swiss financial competitiveness, while the head of the main Swiss banking lobby warned this month that excessive demands could spur the lender to move its headquarters abroad. "I never expected the greatest obstacle to delivering a successful outcome would come from the same authorities who asked us to take on the Credit Suisse challenge," UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti said in a memo to staff he published on March 19, reflecting on the regulatory challenges. Shares in UBS rose by 1% in early morning trade, outperforming the European banking index . UBS makes most of its profits managing money for the wealthy, but if it is saddled with excessive capital demands, it could depress the bank's shares and make it a takeover target, according to two people familiar with the lender's concerns. Its wealth management business in particular could be attractive to rivals such as Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and HSBC, one of the people said. Behind the scenes, UBS is offering regulators some reassurances so it can avoid having to stump up what it estimates could total over $40 billion in additional capital compared to where it stood before buying Credit Suisse. That is the amount it would need should the bank be required to back its participation in foreign entities with 100% equity instead of 60% at present, as financial regulator FINMA wants, according to a UBS presentation to lawmakers seen by Reuters. One potential concession UBS has floated to politicians is capping the investment bank at around 30% of its total business, according to two people familiar with the matter. The division, which trades stocks and bonds and advises companies on deals, is considered riskier than some other businesses because of its direct exposure to market swings. Excluding non-core and legacy assets, the investment bank accounted for about 21% of UBS's risk-weighted assets at end-2024, allowing some room for growth. The division accounted for nearly two-thirds of such assets in 2008, when UBS needed a government bailout, an experience that weighs on Swiss public debate about regulation. Another new national park has been established in Chile thanks to the ongoing efforts of U.S. conservationist and philanthropist Kristine Tompkins and her organization, Tompkins Conservation, NPR reported. Tompkins first came to Chile in 1993 with her husband, the late Douglas Tompkins, co-founder of The North Face and Esprit clothing companies. In the intervening years, the couple established 15 other national parks in Chile and Argentina, including two marine parks. Combined, these sites offer the highest level of environmental protection available to 14.8 million acres of land and 30 million acres of ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newest site sits at Cape Froward, the southernmost point of South America. It comprises 315,000 acres of freezing forest, with a view of the glaciers atop the Darwin mountain range. "We started off by acquiring land as and when it came onto the market," said Marcela Quiroz, director of strategic partnerships for Tompkins Conservation subsidiary Rewilding Chile, per NPR. "The first major purchase we made was nearly 94,000 hectares in 2021 which we bought from a local family. We want to keep working to complete this puzzle." The organization purchased this parcel of land and one other, then worked with the Chilean government to establish the new national park. The government accepted the parcel and added on federal land at each end to create a long corridor of uninterrupted nature. Conservation work like this is vital to the future of the planet. As more and more natural areas are cleared for farming, ranching, and industry, the forests that the world relies on for clean air and the removal of carbon air pollution are dwindling. With the old trees and diverse plants go a huge assortment of wildlife, from tiny bugs to the beautiful birds and larger animals any of which could go extinct forever if enough habitat is lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It feels like a tremendous responsibility," said Carolina Morgado, executive director of Rewilding Chile, per NPR. "This goes way beyond creating national parks. It's about installing a vision about how we, as citizens, can get involved in protecting the land and its biodiversity. "And that, to me at least, is important." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. If youre reading this article, theres a good chance you found it through social media. Perhaps it was via a friends share or a suggestion from the algorithm, but either way, social media has undeniably transformed how we consume news, engage in debates and participate in our democracy. The media landscape has changed quite a bit since 1787, when the Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution and enshrined the First Amendment as a safeguard against tyranny. They understood that without a free press and the ability to challenge authority, democracy would collapse. More than two centuries later, our information ecosystem has transformed in ways they never could have imagined. Instead of town squares and printing presses, we now have social media platforms owned by a handful of billionaires. Instead of trained journalists vetting stories before publication, we have algorithms prioritizing engagement over truth. When billionaires control public discourse, the First Amendments core function to empower the people is distorted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, more than 54 percent of Americans get their news from social media. That means the companies that own these platforms hold immense power over public perception. This level of influence would be concerning under any circumstances, but it becomes outright dangerous when the owners of these platforms also have particular political and economic interests at stake. Billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are not neutral arbiters of truth; they are business magnates with financial and political incentives. Their content moderation decisions are not impartial they shape public opinion in ways that serve their own interests. And combined, Musk and Zuckerberg control over 77 percent of the social media market. This concentration of power tilts public discourse away from truth and accountability, eroding trust in democracy itself. The gendered impact of misinformation Misinformation does not impact all demographics equally women and underestimated groups are disproportionally adversely impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When fact-checking mechanisms collapse, misinformation reinforces gender inequities: discouraging women from politics, distorting public health information, and limiting economic opportunities. The erosion of fact-checking Initially, social media companies responded to criticism by partnering with fact-checking organizations. Facebook worked with PolitiFact and Snopes, X introduced misinformation labels, and YouTube demonetized false claims. But in 2025, these protections were systematically dismantled: X eliminated fact-checking labels and trust teams. Elon Musk also dismantled most of Twitters moderation after buying the company, leading to a 69 percent increase in new accounts following misogynistic content and a surge in hate speech. Meta deprioritized fact-checking partnerships and replaced them with a crowdsourced Community Notes system. YouTube relaxed policies on election misinformation. Google, Amazon, and Meta have all scaled back their DEI programs, reducing internal accountability on gendered disinformation and algorithmic bias. Why? Because fact-checking reduces engagement, and in a business model where engagement drives revenue, theres no financial incentive to curb viral falsehoods. The result? A media landscape where lies travel faster than truth with consequences that ripple across society. Democratic and societal implications Unchecked misinformation doesnt just muddy the waters it actively erodes democracy. When billionaires control the spread of information, democracy suffers in three key ways: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unchecked power of social media billionaires is not just a technology issue its a democracy issue. But this crisis is not inevitable there are solutions. What can be done? To combat this growing threat, we need systemic changes that require coordinated efforts: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But change will only happen if we demand it. We are at a crossroads. If a handful of billionaires control the flow of information unchecked, democracy, truth, and public trust will erode. The abandonment of fact-checking and the prioritization of engagement over accuracy fuel disinformation, deepen gender disparities, and silence marginalized voices. The First Amendment was meant to empower the people, not protect profits at the expense of truth. A truly democratic digital space requires diverse leadership, accountability, and equity not a media landscape shaped by the whims of a few. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democracy is not just about casting a vote its about ensuring the information shaping those votes is accurate and fair. Truth is the bedrock of a free society, and without it, democracy cannot survive. Katica Roy is a gender economist and the CEO and co-founder of Pipeline, a SaaS platform that leverages AI to drive economic gains through closing the gender equity gap. The post How Billionaires and Algorithms Are Undermining Truth and Trust appeared first on Katie Couric Media. Rep. Beth Bernstein, D-Columbia, pictured in the South Carolina House chamber on Dec. 4, 2024 (Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA Churches, synagogues and other religious institutions in South Carolina could apply for up to $25,000 in state aid for security improvements under a bipartisan proposal. The legislation, dubbed the Pray Safe Act, is meant to help worshippers of all religions feel safe practicing their faith amid a rise in violence toward religious institutions and groups, Rep. Beth Bernstein, the bills lead sponsor, told reporters Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freedom to worship cannot be enjoyed unless you have freedom from fear, said Bernstein, a Columbia Democrat and the states only Jewish legislator. Any tax-exempt organization at particular risk of being subject to a religiously motivated crime would be able to apply for a grant of up to $25,000 to hire security guards, train existing security, make buildings more secure, or install cameras and lighting systems, according to the bill introduced earlier this month. With a proposed pot of $750,000 to pull from, that would allow at least 30 religious groups to receive funding. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division would award the grants based on a religious groups risk of being targeted, which include whether crimes have been committed there in the past and its existing level of security. Violence at places of worship is an issue close to home for South Carolina, where an avowed white supremacist killed nine members of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston during a 2015 Bible study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of attacks on religious institutions and the people who worship there has only grown in the decade since, Bernstein said. In recent years, we have seen hundreds of houses of worship facing violent attacks, from shootings to bomb threats to potential fires, Bernstein said. Individual people of faith have also been targeted at alarming rates. Instances of vandalism, arson, shootings and bomb threats at churches across the country doubled last year, according to numbers tracked by the Family Research Council. In 2023, the most recent data available, the evangelical nonprofit reported 436 acts of hostility against churches nationwide, compared with about 195 the year before. The same year, the Anti-Defamation League reported nearly 9,000 antisemitic incidents, which include assaults, vandalism and harassment. That was more than double the 3,600 reported in 2022, according to the anti-hate organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Charleston and Columbia Jewish federations have seen an uptick in synagogues applying to the joint Secure Community Network, a national nonprofit that provides security training and facility assessments and helps them connect with local law enforcement officers, said Tair Giudice, CEO of the Charleston Jewish Federation. But because of funding restrictions, less than half of all applications to the nonprofit are accepted, Giudice said. Synagogues that cant afford security improvements on their own are left with few other options, she said. South Carolina is a state that has always valued faith and worship, and for our faith communities to thrive, it is critical people feel safe, Giudice said. The bill has yet to have a hearing, and the House did not include the $750,000 in its budget plan for the coming fiscal year. Bernstein hopes the grant program gets added before the budget is finalized. The Senate will debate its plan later this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills co-sponsors suggest its chances are good. Republicans who have signed on include House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister of Greenville and House Judiciary Chairman Weston Newton of Bluffton. Private security in schools A separate bill that advanced this week to the Senate floor would require private security officers working in K-12 schools to go through stricter training. Lawmakers have long wanted every school in the state to hire a school resource officer, who is a law enforcement officer dedicated to patrolling a school. Last year, legislators designated $2 million to help schools that couldnt afford to hire officers. With shortages of officers across the state, though, some districts have still struggled to fill positions. For instance, 37 of Greenville Countys 91 schools have no dedicated security officer, said Sen. Jason Elliott, a co-sponsor on the bill. So, the district turned to private security officers to fill in the gaps, the Greenville Republican said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal is to supplement and not supplant school resource officers, Elliott said. Schools would be encouraged to continue searching for full-time resource officers, he said. The bill would require officers working in certain schools to go through extra training with SLED to enhance accountability and compliance. Any officers working in a school would also have to be at least 21 years old and get re-certified every two years. Only schools with a full-time security division and a written agreement with local law enforcement would be able to hire private security officers under the bill. Kids safety and protection is the number one key, said Sen. Ross Turner, a Greenville Republican and the bills chief sponsor. Before anybody can learn, youve got to feel safe. The Senate Education Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to advance the proposal. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird released a report Wednesday on a county sheriffs claim that he would not be taking certain steps to detain people for suspected violations of immigration laws. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said Wednesday that a county sheriff broke the law by saying he would not honor requests to detain people for suspected violations of immigration laws if those requests werent approved by the courts. In a Feb. 4, 2025, Facebook post, Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx, a Republican, stated that if his office received detainer requests to hold suspected illegal immigrants, and those requests were not vetted and approved by the courts, they would be rejected by his office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his post, Marx distinguished between detainer requests of that kind and what he called valid judicial warrants and court orders. He wrote that the only reason detainers are issued is because the federal agency does not have enough information or has not taken the time to obtain a valid judicial warrant. In her report, Bird claims that assertion by Marx is false. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Marx also wrote that detainers which had not been vetted by the courts were violations of our 4th Amendment protection against warrantless search, seizure and arrest, and our 6th Amendment right to due process another claim that Bird says is false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican like Bird, had sent the attorney generals office an official complaint seeking an investigation into the Facebook post. In the report summarizing her investigation, Bird alleges Marxs post violated Iowa Code Chapter 27A, which prohibits state law enforcement from discouraging public cooperation with federal immigration authorities. On Wednesday, Bird said Marxs Facebook post discourages such cooperation by making false claims and by threatening to interfere with enforcing Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers. According to the report, Marx stated on Feb. 14, 2025, that his office had complied with all 21 of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers that it had received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bird said Wednesday her office will close its investigation once the sheriff has issued a statement clarifying his Facebook post, and she gave him until 5 p.m. on Wednesday to do so. Birds report and a related press release were issued at 4:44 p.m. Wednesday, 16 minutes before the deadline. Its not clear when Marx was informed of the deadline. Failure to comply with the directive, Bird said, would result in enforcement action against the sheriff. Iowa law makes clear that there are no sanctuary counties, Bird said in a press release. Any reports of sanctuary counties or sheriffs will be investigated. Our investigation into Winneshiek County found that the sheriff is violating the law, and we are giving the sheriff a chance to fix the problem. Failure to do so means that his county may lose all state funding. In an unusual move, Bird provided Marx with specific language to include in the public statement that is to go out over his signature, adding that his statement must conform substantially to the language she dictated: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People of Winneshiek County, The Winneshiek County Sheriffs Office fully complies with all state and federal law. We cooperate with ICE, FBI, and others under both state and federal law. Iowa law requires full and complete cooperation with federal immigration authorities. We follow that law. We will always comply with ICE detainers and, at least since November 26, 2018, we have done so. This post serves as formal revocation of my earlier February 4, 2025 post. Since we adopted our official policy that we will comply with ICE detainers, we have complied with all 21 ICE detainers that ICE has made with our office. We will continue to comply with every ICE detainer request made in Winneshiek County. On Feb. 4, I posted a message on Facebook that implied we would not fully comply with state and federal law. I have deleted that message, which I disavow. It was wrong. It made many incorrect statements regarding my offices policies on ICE detainers. This message explaining that the Winneshiek County Sheriffs Office has always complied with every single ICE detainer made and will continue to comply, as required by both state and federal law, replaces that message. My office has a long-time stance on recognizing and complying with ICE detainers. We will continue to do so. Respectfully, Sheriff Dan Marx. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. A newly identified parasitic wasp that buzzed and flew among dinosaurs 99 million years ago evolved a bizarre mechanism to snare other creatures and force them to unwittingly shelter its young, according to new research. Paleontologists studied 16 specimens of the tiny wasp preserved in amber dating back to the Cretaceous period that was previously unearthed in Myanmar. The previously unknown species, now named Sirenobethylus charybdis, had a Venus flytrap-like structure on its abdomen that could have allowed it to trap other insects, the researchers reported Thursday in the journal BMC Biology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I looked at the first specimen, I noticed this expansion at the tip of the abdomen, and I thought this must be an air bubble. Its quite often you see air bubbles around specimens in amber, said study coauthor Lars Vilhelmsen, a wasp expert and curator at the Natural History Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. But then I looked at a few more specimens and then went back to the first one. This was actually part of the animal. Vilhelmsen and his colleagues from Capital Normal University in Beijing determined the structure was movable because it was preserved in different positions on different specimens. Sometimes the lower flap, as we call it, is open, and sometimes its closed, Vilhelmsen said. It was clearly a movable structure and something that was used to grasp something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The closest comparison found in nature today is the Venus flytrap, a carnivorous plant with hinged leaves that snap shut when prey flies inside, according to the new study. Theres no way you can know how an insect that died 100 million years ago was living. So you look for analogs in modern insect fauna. Do we have anything among wasps or other groups that looks like this? he said. And theres no real analog within insects. We had to go all the way out of the animal kingdom into the plant kingdom to find something that remotely resembled this. A closer view of Sirenobethylus charybdis shows the Venus flytrap-like structure on the wasp's abdomen. - Qiong Wu However, the researchers reasoned that the wasp likely did not intend to kill with the bizarre grasping structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, they theorized that the wasp injected eggs into the trapped body before releasing it, using the creature as an unwitting host for its eggs. Its larvae then started their lives as parasites in or on the hosts body and likely ended up eating the host entirely, Vilhelmsen said. The host was likely a flying insect of a similar size to the wasp, he added. Similar, although not identical behavior has been observed among living parasitoid wasp species. For example, a group of wasps known as cuckoo wasps lay their eggs in the nest of another wasp species, and the larvae feast on their new hosts young once they hatch. Amber fossils offer a tantalizing, three-dimensional look at the distant past. Besides plants and flowers, a dinosaur tail, a crab, a hell ant, a spider mom and her young, and a firefly have been found entombed in globs of tree resin. A fossil enthusiast purchased the amber containing Sirenobethylus charybdis, which came from Myanmars Kachin region near the border with China, several years ago and donated it to Capital Normal Universitys Key Laboratory of Insect Evolution and Environmental Changes in 2016, the authors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amber fossils have been some of paleontologys most exciting finds in recent years, but ethical concerns about the provenance of amber from the region have emerged, with some paleontologists calling for a moratorium on research on amber sourced from Myanmar following a 2021 military coup. A reconstruction of Sirenobethylus charybdis illustrates the wasp's bizarre grasping structure. - Xiaoran Zuo Cretaceous weirdo The Cretaceous weirdo Sirenobethylus charybdis adds to a growing list of insects from that time that had adaptations that are outside of the bounds of the critters that are alive today, said Phil Barden, an associate professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology who has worked with amber fossils. This is significant because there are around a million known insect species even with all of that living diversity, there are still lots of unexpected surprises in the fossil record that are beyond imagination, Barden, who was not involved in the study, said via email. However, he said, while plausible, the flytrap hypothesis is a bit speculative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There appears to be clear evidence that the abdominal components would have had range of motion. There are also a number of setae, or hairs, that look to be in the right position to detect hosts and potentially immobilize them, Barden said. He said it is possible the biological structures might have had another purpose such as detecting prey in soil or perhaps even for transporting baby wasps. Today, thousands of parasitoid wasp species are capable of immobilizing hosts without abdominal clasping. Why were these wasps unable to simply rely on their stings or incorporate their mouthparts into host capture as living species do? Barden asked. Vilhelmsen said a key factor in his colleagues interpretation of the fossil was the location of the wasps egg-laying organ right next to the trap-like structure. However, all the Sirenobethylus charybdis specimens examined so far are female wasps, and so the researchers werent able to rule out that the structure could have played a role during mating, according to the study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is something unique, something I never expected to see, and something I couldnt even imagine would be found, Vilhelmsen said. Its a 10 out of 10. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A black bear tagged by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to track the species' population. (Courtesy CT DEEP) Theyve been accused of raiding crops, ransacking trash cans and boldly breaking into homes to steal food out of the refrigerator. In at least two cases last year, black bears were even reported to have attacked people in Connecticut. Alarmed by the steady stream of headlines documenting their run-ins with humans, some lawmakers say its past time for the state to open a hunting season on bears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The debate over bear hunting has persisted for years between Connecticut farmers, wildlife advocates, hunters and, increasingly, suburban homeowners. On one side, supporters argue that a hunt will cull bears that roam closest to populated areas, while opponents reject that notion and say the animals should be left alone. Ive encountered bears in the woods many other states. When they see you, they smell you, they run away, said Chas Catania, a hunter from Sherman, said during a public hearing before the Environment Committee on Monday. Connecticut bears are habituated to people. They are not afraid of us. Connecticut is home to between 1,000 and 1,200 black bears, according to estimates from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Though the population is mostly concentrated in the Litchfield Hills, sightings have been recorded in nearly every city and town across the state. The idea of a limited hunt has gained the backing of a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers as well as Gov. Ned Lamont, though vocal opposition from conservation groups has so far kept the hunters at bay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre framing it as a public safety issue, but the science is very clear on that in states that do allow hunting, its done for recreational purposes, not to manage human-bear conflicts, said Annie Hornish, an animal rights activist and co-founder of CT Coalition to Protect Bears, after Mondays hearing. The reason they cant come out and say it is because the public doesnt want it, she added. They dont like trophy hunting of bears. This years legislation, Senate Bill 1523, would require DEEP to establish a bear hunting season, which officials say would likely take place in the fall. The bill would also give the agency the authority to prescribe the methods of hunting, the cost of fees and limits on the number of animals that could be killed. The public hearing on the bill Monday drew testimony from hundreds of advocates and opponents of a hunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jason Hawley, a wildlife biologist working on DEEPs bear program, told lawmakers that data from Massachusetts which manages an annual culling of a few hundred bears offers clear evidence for the effectiveness of a hunt. Over the last few years, Connecticut has averaged more than three times as many home entries by bears than its northern neighbor despite having many fewer bears, according to DEEP. Last year tied a record with 67 home entries, along with dozens of additional reports of unsuccessful attempts. Honestly, its getting dangerous, Hawley said. Someones going to get killed or severely hurt. Were on that track if we stay where we are right now. In an effort to address the growing number of conflicts with bears, lawmakers in 2023 approved legislation clarifying when people may kill a bear in self-defense and authorizing DEEP to issue permits to farmers to kill nuisance animals that have damaged crops, livestock or bee hives. The law also prohibited the intentional feeding of bears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 15 bears were killed under those provisions last year, and DEEP officials say they anticipate demand to grow as more people become aware of the program. A black bear photographed in a yard in Connecticut. As their population of bears has grown, so has the frequency of their run-ins with people. (Courtesy of CT DEEP) State Sen. Henri Martin, R-Bristol, criticized opponents of the bill for what he said was an anthropomorphization of wild bears. Were not talking about Winnie-the-Pooh, or Yogi Bear, or Smokey the Bear, Martin said. Were talking about black bears that are becoming more and more dangerous as they get used to humans. Opponents, meanwhile, say that those pushing for the hunt are reacting to the publics fear of bears rather than scientific data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the public hearing on Monday, they criticized a study from New Jersey showing that conflicts with humans rose sharply after the state ended its hunt in 2021, arguing that neighboring New York saw similar trends despite making no changes to its hunt. The last complete census of the states bear population was conducted by the University of Connecticut in 2014, and officials have since updated their estimates each year based on their understanding the populations growth rate. Hawley, the DEEP biologist, said that conducting another study would likely cost around $500,000 and take three years to complete. Until that happens, I dont think that we have enough information to move forward with any sort of bear hunt, said Tanya Bourgoin, the wildlife committee chair with Sierra Club Connecticut. During this weeks hearings, several lawmakers also sought advice about non-lethal methods of managing the bear population, including educating people about how to avoid bears, fining them if they ignore the warnings and, some suggested, using birth control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can that be tried? Has it been tried? asked state Rep. Mike Demicco, D-Farmington. (Hawley responded that despite attempts in other states, the sizes and breeding habits of Connecticuts black bears make birth control an ineffective option). Advocates have also pushed for DEEP to step up its ongoing public relations campaign about steps people can take to avoid attracting bears, such as taking down bird feeders or moving garbage cans inside. The last serious push to allow bear hunting, in 2023, failed to coalesce support among members of the legislatures Environment Committee and resulted in the passage of the more limited measure focused on nuisance bears and feeding. The co-chair of the committee this year, state Sen. Rick Lopes, D-New Britain, said this week he is attempting to gauge if members will support a lottery-based hunt before a vote on the bill is held, possibly as soon as Friday. Earlier this month, another measure, House Bill 7051, was advanced by the Committee on Public Safety and Security to require the state to develop a bear management strategy, though it does not address hunting specifically. That bill is currently awaiting a fiscal analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connecticut is in the minority of states without a managed bear hunt. Hunting is currently allowed everywhere else in New England, with the exception of Rhode Island. While black bears are native to Connecticut, their numbers dwindled for more than a century due to the extensive clear-cutting of forests for farmland and other human endeavors. Beginning in the 1980s, scientists began recording a comeback that has since spread to every corner of the state, even in dense cities such as New Haven and Hartford. That recovery is now at risk of backsliding as a result of the publics souring sentiment towards bears, according to Hawley, who explained that he has gotten a sense of that shift in the thousands of calls he fields each year from people reporting bear sightings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have residents that would call me and say I saw a bear, Im excited,' Hawley said. Now they call me and theyre like, Im sick of it, get this bear out of my yard. Its kind of sad to see that happening. This article first appeared on CT Mirror and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. By Guy Faulconbridge, Gleb Bryanski MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian prosecutors asked a judge on Thursday to put billionaire Vadim Moshkovich, founder of the country's top agriculture company Rusagro, in pre-trial detention on suspicion of large-scale fraud. What is known about the case and the billionaire? DETAINED Moshkovich, 57, Russia's 55th richest businessman, according to Forbes, and ex-CEO of Rusagro Maxim Basov were detained and police raided several Rusagro offices. Izvestia newspaper reported that the company's current CEO Timur Lipatov was also being questioned by the police. Rusagro's shares fell by about 18% on the news. Russia's Vedomosti newspaper and RBC said the criminal case against Moshkovich was related to a conflict with the founders of Solnechny Produkti, a major supplier of vegetable oils and fats. Russian court documents showed that Moshkovich was charged with large-scale fraud, for which there is a 10-year maximum prison sentence. Prosecutors asked in court documents for him to be kept in detention awaiting trial. Moshkovich pleaded not guilty, Interfax reported. According to RBC and Kommersant, the founders of Solnechny Produkti had a long legal battle but that the situation suddenly changed a month ago. It was unclear why. WHAT IS RUSAGRO? The company is Russia's leading producer of sugar, meat, oil and fat products, and is ranked among the country's top five landowners. It controls 6,850 square kilometres of land - more than four times the area of Greater London. Rusagro has a head office in the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine and is subject to frequent attacks. The company issued a statement confirming several of its offices had been searched but saying the operation was not related to its "current activities". "We understand that this situation may raise questions among our clients, partners and employees, so we hasten to assure you: the company fully complies with the law and is ready to provide all necessary assistance to authorised bodies," it said. It said all company activities were continuing as normal, and all obligations were being met. "We are confident in the transparency of our work and expect the procedures to be completed as soon as possible." Rusagro changed its domicile from Cyprus to Russia this year, following a Russian court decision in a case brought by the Agriculture Ministry against Rusagro's Cyprus-based parent company. The court annulled the Cypriot company's ownership rights after its shareholders refused to convert their shares into those of the Russian entity to have them effectively frozen under a law, passed after the start of the war in Ukraine. (COLORADO) Black Hills Energy is reminding its customers that help is there if they need assistance in paying their energy bill. The Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is available to help qualifying households meet their home energy needs through utility bill payment assistance. The program also helps families make their homes more energy efficient and provides emergency funds to prevent service disconnection. To apply to LEAP, a copy of a customers current Black Hills Energy bill is needed. Customers can obtain it by: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logging into the Black Hills Energy customer portal and printing or downloading Or by contacting Black Hills Energy Customer Service at (888) 890-5554 LEAP also offers separate funding for crisis assistance. Black Hills Energy also offers extended payment terms to help customers get back on track and budget billing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. bluefield An ordinance authorizing the sale of Bluefields wastewater collection and treatment system to West Virginia American Water company had its first reading Tuesday before the Bluefield Board of Directors. Mayor Ron Martin said during Tuesdays board meeting that West Virginia American Water had approached the city about purchasing its wastewater collection and treatment system. The board unanimously approved this first reading. West Virginia American Water approached the city of Bluefield and the Sanitary Board and made a proposal to talk about potentially selling it, and weve been in discussions for the last year and a half to get us to this point, City Manager Cecil Marson said after the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marson said the city had a long way to go before any sale could be finalized. Before the board of directors can vote about accepting the proposal, there must be a public hearing, a second reading for the ordinance and approval from the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. Were still a long way before its finally sold, he said. It will probably be anywhere from eight to 12 months if we go that far, but theres still a long ways to go. A public hearing about the West Virginia American Water sale is scheduled for Monday, April 7 at the Bluefield Arts Center in downtown Bluefield. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. Thats a good forum for all the folks to come and we encourage everyone to ask questions so they can fully understand why were going down this path and what weve got set up to work on, Marson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the proposal, the citys current sewer rates will stay in place until Jan. 1, 2029. Well, I think its the stable fees because the rates wont change for the next five years, Marson said about the citys reasons for considering the water companys proposal. But really what the boards weighing is to keep up with our infrastructure. An example I would give you is the Midway Project that the Sanitary Boards done a phenomenal job with. That projects taken us eight years to get to the starting point right now. We have to bond, go through grants to get funding and right now with what West Virginia American Waters proposing weve got five major projects that are on our radar for them to get done in the next five years. The Bluefield Sanitary Board has done phenomenal work, but the city still has big infrastructure challenges which need to be addressed, Marson said. That actually factored into it, but I would say the sanitary board is a great organization thats done a really good job and I think its strengthened our position really to have this discussion and do what we can for whats best for the citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bluefield Sanitary Board is a joint board with representatives from both Bluefield, Va., and Bluefield, W.Va., as well as an organization called the Bluefield Sanitary Board, Inc. that also involves representatives from Tazewell County, Va., Marson said. There have been discussions with these representatives as well as the water company. Weve had numerous meetings, Marson said. The shareholders are the city of Bluefield; but yes, weve had numerous discussions to get to this point. It has to go through PSC first, Marson said. Once thats been done, there will be a huge announcement that its been sold. Under the proposal, West Virginia American Water would finish the following capital projects which the Bluefield Board of Directors passed on July 9, 2024 at a project cost of $35 million with completion occurring no later than five years from the date of closing: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Midway Sewer Replacement Project Nichols Road/Thompson Pump Station Project Wintercreek Sewer Replacement Project conducted in tandem with the Town of Bluefield stormwater replacement project Union Street Replacement Project conducted in tandem with the City of Bluefield stormwater replacement project Completion of College Avenue Phase III Sewer Replacement Project connecting Phase I and Phase II capital line projects. The city would receive a payment through the agreement. And yes, if the deal does go through, it will be close to $19 million to $20 million for the city, Marson said. Another part of the proposal calls for the water company to establish a regional wastewater operations center within Bluefield, W.Va. city limits in a newly constructed or remodeled building with a new facade and at a location agreed upon by both parties. This new or remodeled building would need to be big enough for allow for 25 water company employees. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com Bluefield State University hosts signing for first JumpStart Nursing Program BLUEFIELD, WV (WVNS) Bluefield State University celebrated a milestone Wednesday afternoon of March 26, 2025, with their inaugural JumpStart Nursing Program Signing Ceremony. The Jumpstart Program provides high school students the opportunity to receive guaranteed early acceptance into their nursing program. Eleven students attended the ceremony to officially sign on to be a part of the program. These students performed higher on their entrance exams and had a higher GPA, allowing them the opportunity to be a part of the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students came from all over West Virginia and Virginia, including one from as far as Colorado. Does West Virginias food dye ban endanger pepperoni rolls? 59News got the chance to meet up with one of the students and the nursing director. Both said they were happy to be a part of the first signing ceremony. Ive been used to eating healthy, working out, taking care of people, I love that stuff. I love learning about the body, I love all that stuff. Student Drake Atliff from Princeton Senior High School Ive been doing this for over 20 years and I cannot remember a year that we have had graduation and all of my students did not have a job before graduation. We have a 100% job placement every year. AD Nursing Director Sandra Wynn with Bluefield State University Wynn said this annual signing ceremony will serve as a celebration of the students and to help grow the next generation of healthcare workers across the region. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) HARRISBURG Describing the current moment as a time of real peril for families across the state and nation, former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey detailed the issues he believes should be at the forefront of the political conversation. Weve got to make sure that we saddle up here and get into this fight, Casey said Wednesday morning during a 45-plus minute address in Harrisburg. Theres no more important work that we could be engaging in on domestic policy than this: Stopping cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secondly, making sure that we dont make the same mistakes that have been made, not just year after year, but decade after decade after decade, on tax policy where the tax code gets rigged over and over and over again, against the interests of the most vulnerable and against the interests of the middle class, Casey added. The former three-term Senator, who was the longest-serving Democrat in the chamber in the commonwealths history before his loss last November, was the keynote speaker at the Pennsylvania Policy Centers Federal Fightback Summit. During his address, Casey laid out the ramifications that could occur if efforts by the Trump administration are successful in cutting those programs. When talking about healthcare, Casey discussed the potential impact a proposed House bill with spending cuts to Medicaid would have. He cited statistics that 39% of all children and 59% of children with disabilities are covered by Medicaid, along with 34% of all births in Pennsylvania. Casey also warned Medicaid cuts would impact nursing home residents and lead to losses of rural healthcare services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the topic of tax policy, he accused Republicans who support extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), also known as the Trump tax cuts, of worshiping at the altar of tax cuts for rich people and big companies. And I do think that the more people hear about this, and the more that were able to make the case, on these, on both the devastating cuts in the tax bill thats driving those cuts, Casey said. I think a lot of voters, and I think even people that voted for President Trump and Republicans up and down the ballot, will begin to scratch your head and say, I didnt really vote for this. Bob Casey speaks in Harrisburg on March 26, 2025. (Photo by John Cole/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) He said he believes a good place to start fighting back against these proposals is to discuss the impact they could have on rural communities. Following Caseys defeat in November to now-U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) and President Donald Trumps victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Republicans hold a trifecta of having a majority in both chambers of Congress and holding the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to finding themselves in the minority, a recent NBC News poll showed only 27% of registered voters said they had a positive view of the Democratic Party. Casey said if Democrats effectively fight on tax policy and proposed cuts to healthcare, those numbers would change. And I think we just have to as a party, both citizens like me and elected officials like those who are there, have to make this argument over and over again, put that in front of people month after month after month, Casey said. And sometimes, to the exclusion of other issues, other issues that are in the news or relevant or urgent that day. You cant lose your focus on these basic core issues, because a lot of what 2024 was about was the economy, right, Casey added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey described the current moment as one for the middle class. And if youre a political party thats not talking about those issues like costs and the overall economic fortunes of folks who are in the middle, youre probably not going to be successful, he said. So I just think we have to get back to those kinds of basic principles and talk about the unfairness to the middle class of this tax bill and the devastation it would bring about for the most vulnerable. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Casey also said hes been amazed by the amount of coverage at the local level in Scranton, where he lives, that has been given to proposed cuts to food banks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its becoming a major, major issue, Casey said. Despite the current negative numbers for the Democratic Party, Casey expressed optimism it can be successful in pushing back against the Trump administration. And I think that theres a lot of noise back and forth, but I think as you get closer and people start hearing the impact of these cuts and realizing the impact on their families, I think its going to change the dynamic, he said. Marc Stier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Policy Center, opened up for Casey. Stier lauded him as the champion for the state who fought to pass the Affordable Care Act, noting how he and many others in the room are missing him terribly in Washington D.C. Casey on Fetterman criticism U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), now the states senior senator, has faced criticism from members of his own party for backing several Trump cabinet selections and other comments over the past few months. Cumberland County Chair Matt Roan has even called for Fettermans immediate resignation from the Senate, as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey called Fetterman a very good senator in response to a question about the recent pushback hes facing. I think on these issues especially, hell do the right thing when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable and protecting the middle class, Casey said. I think John will be fighting the fight on our side, on this. Whats next for Casey? Casey, who was in elected office for 28 consecutive years, said that actions from the Trump administration in recent weeks pushes him in the direction of wanting to speak out. The argument is going to be won or lost based upon what families tell their legislators about the impact of these cuts and the unfairness of rigging the tax code again, Casey said. He believes the families that shared their stories in 2017 ahead of the vote on the Affordable Care Act, like the Little Lobbyists, played a larger role than the legislators did in preventing it from being overturned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of late hes been talking to a lot of people about whats next for him. Ive been home a lot, but I havent settled on my next chapter yet, Casey said. Still kind of working through that. He said that he has a couple of discussions going but didnt say which they were yet. But, Ill tell you about it when I make a decision, he added. In December, he said that he wasnt ruling out a future run for office: I never say never. But on Wednesday, Casey told reporters that he was blessed to have a long tenure in public service, while adding right now, its time for something different. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) BOCES students held mock job interviews with dozens of local companies, to get ready for the real thing. Wednesday was BOCES annual Job Readiness Fair. Students bring their resumes and talk with local job seekers about what it takes to get into their line of work. Some of the local businesses included Visions, the Rumble Ponies, Weis, Raymond, and others. Its a chance for the students to get real interview experience and hear constructive criticism from the interviewers themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student Unique Wood says the job fair helped her become more confident in her interviewing skills, like eye contact and holding a conversation. Even with this not being an actual, real job setting, it still has the same effects of it I guess Id say. You still want to again, have that confidence, you still want to talk to them the same way, treat them the same way. Treat them as if you were going in there like youre getting a job. Like youre going there to win a job, said Wood. Wood says she interviewed with Visions and Weis markets and both went well. The employers setup displays, sharing information about their careers and the education and training you need to get there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. The bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa have still not been claimed, a month after the couple was found dead at their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As of Thursday, two individuals identified as Hackman, G. and Hackman, B. are still noted on the New Mexico medical investigators list of unclaimed decedents. The list is updated each Monday and Friday. The New York Daily News reached out to the medical investigators office to inquire whether either decedent has been claimed since the latest update on March 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hackman and Arakawa, as well as one of their three dogs, were found dead in their home on Feb. 26. Officials later said the two-time Oscar winner likely died on Feb. 18 from severe heart disease coupled with advanced Alzheimers. He was 95. Arakawa, a 65-year-old classical pianist, is believed to have died roughly a week earlier because of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but sometimes fatal disease transmitted from rodents to humans. Earlier this month, documents obtained by TMZ showed that Hackman left the entirety of his $80 million fortune to Arakawa, designating her as his sole beneficiary in 1995. They married four years before. None of Hackmans three children Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58 were named in his will. He shared his family with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hackman had occasionally spoken about the sometimes difficult relationships he had with his kids, admitting that his commitment to his career meant he wasnt always around during their formative years. You become very selfish as an actor, he told The New York Times in 1989. Even though I had a family, I took jobs that would separate us for three or four months at a time. While Hackman and his children had reportedly grown closer in recent years, its unclear where they stood before his death. His devastated daughters and granddaughter said in a statement they would miss him sorely. Leslie also said she was very saddened by the death of Arakawa, who she praised for taking very good care of her father. She said the two shared a wonderful marriage. In bodycam footage from outside the actors home, Elizabeth requested that an officer cremate the couples deceased dog, Zinna, and bury the remains with Arakawa. The Orange County Sheriffs Office has released body-worn camera footage from the deputy-involved shooting that happened on Feb. 21 on Merganser Drive. The sheriffs office said the video will look different from others they have released in the past because the home interior is blurred. Deputies responded to an incident that happened around 5 p.m. on Feb. 21 at 6803 Merganser Drive in Orange County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies said they responded to a call from a man who expressed he wanted to kill himself. Upon arrival, deputies said they were let into the home by the mans mother. Once inside, deputies said the man came out of his bedroom holding a knife. Deputies said they instructed him multiple times to drop the weapon, but he refused. OCSO said as the situation escalated, deputies stepped back while continuing to urge him to drop the knife. However, the man advanced toward the deputies while still holding the knife, prompting them to exit the residence, officers said. Deputies said he continued to approach with the weapon, and deputies discharged their service weapons, hitting the man several times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies said they rendered aid, and he was transported to the hospital. The Sheriffs Office said the man is currently undergoing surgery. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting and will turn over its findings to the State Attorneys Office for review. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Crypto prime broker FalconX has seen the departure of several senior staff recently, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. Among those resigning was Tommy Doyle, FalconX's European head, according to the sources. The global chief compliance officer, general counsel, and head of credit at FalconX have also resigned, the sources said, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter is private. Two traders also exited the business, the people added. Two of the people said the total number of departures was a combination of resignations and firings, and numbered between 10 and 15 people. "Our headcount approximately doubled last year and we continue to grow. We do not comment on personnel matters," a FalconX spokesperson said in an emailed comments. Doyle declined to comment. Prime brokers are essential to financial markets. They provide trading, financing and custody services to large institutions. Before this wave of exits, Brian Strugats, head of trading at FalconX, had recently left the business, as reported by CoinDesk. He had worked for the firm for more than three years and was based in New York. FalconX describes itself as the largest, most reliable digital assets prime brokerage for the world's leading institutions. The company employed 243 people as of February 2023 according to PitchBook data. The crypto firm was founded in 2018 and was valued at $8 billion at the time of a mid-2022 funding round. A book was returned to a Cincinnati library nearly 100 years after it was due. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Wild West by Bertrand W. Sinclair was returned to the Price Hill library after 98 years, according to Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library on social media. TRENDING STORIES: The book was checked out in 1926 and returned in late 2024. The library said the book was in good condition and would be added to its collection. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Border Patrol agents intercept immigrants near Eagle Pass, Texas, in August 2019. Photo by Jaime Rodriguez | U.S. Customs and Border Protection A political climate dominated by concern over border security has put Gov. Katie Hobbs and Arizona Republicans on the same side, with both pushing to increase funding for law enforcement agencies that tackle border related offenses as progressive organizations and Democratic lawmakers are fiercely opposing the move. In her executive budget proposal, Hobbs earmarked $23.2 million for the Local Border Support grant program, a 36% boost over last years $17 million allocation. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are advancing their own measure to increase the fund to $50 million. What are critics saying? The GOP bid to nearly triple the funds size has drawn criticism from immigrant rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, who fear it could bankroll President Donald Trumps mass deportation campaign in Arizona. Opponents say the allocations underlying language is too broad and leaves the door open for Arizona law enforcement officials to carry out the federal governments anti-immigrant agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal that sets aside the $50 million is House Bill 2606, which directs the Arizona Department of Public Safety to divvy up the money for police departments and sheriffs offices to fund officer positions that deter and apprehend people suspected of drug trafficking, human smuggling, illegal immigration and other border related crimes. Some of the funds are also intended to help cities and towns pay for prosecuting and detaining people under those same charges. Jodi Liggett, a lobbyist for progressive group Living United for Change in Arizona, urged lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Committee who were considering the bill on Tuesday not to make it easier for the current federal administration to recruit local law enforcement agencies. (The bill) will use state resources to perpetuate the deeply flawed immigration enforcement system of the U.S., one that has been rife with human atrocities and blatant legal violations, she said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liggett pointed out that the White House has already made headlines for violating the civil rights protections of people detained by immigration officials and has mobilized even century old laws to speed up deportations. Earlier this month, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to bypass due process protections built into the immigration system and deport 238 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, without any due process. Attorneys for some of those deported say their clients had no ties to the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, but were instead deported simply because they had tattoos. Liggett called on lawmakers to use the money to instead bolster initiatives that benefit Arizonans. Our state has a moral duty to prioritize taxpayer funds to make much needed investments towards schools, health care and affordable housing, not appropriating dollars and pushing policies that target people based on race and status, she said. Proponents: the fund has never been a problem before Supporters, however, argue that the bill is only eliciting criticism because of the current political moment, not because it carries with it any inherent threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jen Marson, speaking on behalf of the Arizona Sheriffs Association, which is in favor of the allocation increase, said during a March 17 Senate Military Affairs and Border Security Committee meeting that the same language has been used since at least 2019. She noted that the money doesnt go toward enforcing immigration laws, but has historically helped pay for local task forces that address drug interdiction, bomb squads, canine units and inmate housing costs associated with people convicted of violating state laws around drug smuggling or human trafficking. And the unusually high allocation is simply the Sheriffs Association trying to get their foot in the door for budget negotiations, not a bid to adopt federal responsibilities. Voters, Marson added, overwhelmingly sided with increasing border security in November and the Sheriffs Association hopes that mandate can lead to more funding. Roughly 63% of Arizonans last year agreed to punish migrants who cross the southern border anywhere but at an official port of entry with a misdemeanor via Proposition 314, called the Secure the Border Act. While that portion of the initiative is frozen until the U.S. Supreme Court rules that states have the right to enforce federal immigration laws, other provisions creating new penalties for undocumented people who submit false documentation to apply for jobs or public benefits and mandating severe punishments for people found guilty of the sale of lethal fentanyl are in effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs felt that, because of the clear will of voters in November regarding that proposition, that this was the time to ask for additional funding, and we had the will of the voters on our side, Marson said. Republican lawmakers have also defended the increased appropriation as intended to provide the funding that was missing from Prop. 314. When the initiative was first being considered by lawmakers, multiple law enforcement officials warned they would need more resources to enforce its mandates, especially if the provision making it a state crime to cross Arizonas southern border anywhere but at an official port of entry is ever made effective in the future by the countrys highest court rolling back its decision to reserve the power to implement immigration laws for the federal government. Doing so could prove pivotal in whether the law remains on the books. Voters in 2004 amended the Arizona Constitution to require ballot measures that will increase state spending to include a source of funding other than the states general fund. Using any part of the $50 million to pay for actions taken under Prop. 314 could set the initiative up for a constitutional challenge. Republicans appear to realize the potential pitfall. In the bills latest committee hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, who was previously vocal about the allocation helping to cover the costs of Prop. 314, dropped that argument, saying it has nothing to do with the ballot measure and only seeks to beef up the fund that has existed for nearly a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee with only Republican support, and is next slated to go before the entire Senate. Top Dems: Its not a priority at the bargaining table The majority of Democratic lawmakers have opposed the funding allocation, while still defending Hobbs smaller increase. Just one Democrat, Rep. Kevin Volk, who represents a swing district in Tucson, crossed the aisle to join Republicans in voting for the $50 million increase, saying his constituents are concerned about border security. Progressive organizations have been sharply critical of the freshman lawmaker, and said they worried his support could prove decisive during budget talks. We know that Democrats dont have power at this moment to get progressive policies to the governors desk but where it does count in this moment is the state budget, Gina Mendez, LUCHAs organizing director, told the Mirror during a March 3 protest of anti-immigrant bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Democrats are outnumbered by Republicans in both legislative chambers, and have little say in what bills advance, they do have more influence during budget negotiations because Hobbs has said bipartisanship is a key factor in deciding what she approves. And Democratic leadership is opposed to the $50 million budget increase. House Minority Leader Nancy Gutierrez, D-Tucson, highlighted the potential constitutional conflicts on March 5, when the bill was approved by the full House of Representatives. I dont feel that money needs to go to support a proposition that is unconstitutional, Gutierrez said. We really need that money in our public schools, and for housing and for making things affordable for our communities. To spend $50 million for law enforcement on an unconstitutional proposition is wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tucson Democrat said she agreed with critics that the money could be used to facilitate mass deportations in Arizona, and said even if the language is tightened or the amount is reduced, she doesnt consider it a priority. I want to fully fund K-12 schools, our higher education, Gutierrez, a former teacher, said.This would be at the very bottom of our list. Similarly, Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson, who leads the Democrats in the Senate, said her party is uninterested in seeing the $50 million included in the final state budget agreement. None of us are advocating in the budget talks for money that would be used for this purpose. We are firmly not interested in advocating for that kind of budgetary amount, she said, during a rally for immigrant rights on March 17 that, along with other border security bills, featured criticism of the allocation as yet another way to fund deportations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it does end up in the budget, she added, Democrats intend to fight for narrower language. Sundareshan acknowledged that Hobbs, too, has signaled an interest in ramping up funding for the law enforcement grant program, but said that the governor has been careful to keep the money in the realm of drug interdiction. Gov. Hobbs has been very intentional about directing that money towards other border safety measures like fentanyl and the SAFE program, which are intentionally not to support the kind of enforcement of these kinds of federal immigration laws, she said, referring to Hobbs Stopping Arizonas Fentanyl Epidemic taskforce. Hobb has focused her border security efforts on boosting local drug interdiction instead of wading into the criminalization of unlawful immigration. She has been vocally opposed to Trumps mass deportation plans, and vetoed anti-immigrant proposals sent to her desk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she has also shifted to the right on immigration policy as governor, moving away from early pro-immigrant initiatives like a scholarship fund for Dreamers and supporting hostile federal legislation like the Laken Riley Act, which authorizes the indefinite detention of undocumented people accused of low level crimes, like shoplifting, in a bid to portray herself as tough on the border ahead of the 2026 election. Her stance on the $50 million allocation is unclear; despite multiple requests for comment, her spokesman, Christian Slater, was silent on the bills fate or the criticism against it, saying only that the final amount will be negotiated in the budget. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SARAJEVO (Reuters) - A court in Bosnia has issued an international arrest warrant for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik who is accused of attacking the constitutional order and has gone abroad in defiance, the court said on Thursday. Dodik, the president of Bosnia's Serb Republic region, has triggered the gravest crisis since a 1990s war after being sentenced for a year in jail and banned from politics for six years over ignoring rulings by an international peace envoy. Dodik, the pro-Russian long-time advocate of secession from Bosnia, had initiated legislation barring the state judiciary and police from operating in the Serb region, but Bosnia's constitutional court temporarily suspended that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defying an internal arrest warrant, he crossed into neighbouring Serbia earlier this week then travelled to Israel for an antisemitism conference in Jerusalem on Thursday. Bosnia's state court said an international warrant was also issued for Nenad Stevandic, speaker of the Serb Republic parliament who had travelled to Serbia though is now back in Bosnia. The warrants are with the international police Interpol, the court said in a statement. Dodik says the accusations against him are meaningless as they are politically motivated. (Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) A Bosnian court said Thursday it was seeking an international arrest warrant for Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, who is facing legal action for his separatist policies. The Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina said in a statement that it issued the demand on Wednesday and that the decision is now in the hands of Interpol. Pro-Russia Dodik, who leads the Serb-run half of Bosnia, has repeatedly called for the separation of the territory from the rest of Bosnia, fueling fears of instability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has faced U.S. and British sanctions for his separatism, but he has had the support of Moscow. Defying Bosnia's court, Dodik has refused to appear for questioning on suspicion that he violated the country's constitution. He traveled this week to neighboring Serbia, where he attended an gathering with populist President Aleksandar Vucic, before proceeding to Israel. Vucic has said Serbia would not arrest Dodik and has criticized legal proceedings against him. Nothing unusual, the abuse of justice continues," Dodik told a Bosnian Serb television in Jerusalem on Thursday when asked about the international arrest warrant. Bosnia is a failed state." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bosnia court statement also said it is seeking the arrest of Bosnian Serb parliamentary speaker Nenad Stevandic, who also briefly visited Serbia. Serbias Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on Thursday that both Dodik and Stevandic hold Serbian citizenship. Belgrade has filed a protest note to Interpol over Bosnia's request, Dacic said in a statement. There have been fears of clashes between the police loyal to Dodik and the Bosnian police forces, stoking tensions that have pushed Bosnia to the biggest crisis since more than 100,000 people were killed in an ethnic war from 1992 to 1995. The conflict in Bosnia ended in a U.S.-brokered peace deal that created two administrations bound by central institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bosnia's Serbs took up arms after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s to create a state with the aim of joining neighboring Serbia. Bosnia has been seeking European Union membership, but progress has been slow because of constant ethnic and political disputes. (Bloomberg) -- Bosnia-Herzegovinas top court issued an international arrest notice for the countrys Serb leader, escalating a conflict with a controversial figure who has threatened to secede from the Balkan nation. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milorad Dodik, the leader of Republika Srpska, Bosnias ethnic-Serb dominated entity, took steps this month to sever ties with the central government in Sarajevo. Authorities earlier issued a warrant for him for refusing to comply with a summons for questioning. The Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina said it issued the request for an arrest, which falls within the jurisdiction of Interpol, it said in a statement on its website. The Serb leader, who has maintained close contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, could potentially face travel restrictions. It wasnt immediately clear whether Interpol has issued a Red Notice, which is a request to member states of the global information-sharing organization for police to make an arrest. Interpol declined to comment. The court action compounds tensions in Bosnia, which is divided between Republika Srpska and a federation of Muslims and Croats as part of a 1995 peace treaty that ended a violent ethnic war. The former Yugoslav nation, which aspires to join the European Union, is held together by a tenuous central administration created by the US-led Dayton accord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Serb leader was on a trip to Israel, where he attended a conference on antisemitism. In a post on social media platform X, Dodik denounced the decision by Muslims in Sarajevo whom he accused of exploiting the central institutions of court and prosecutors office. If something is being abused in this way, then it shouldnt even exist, Dodik said in the post. Republika Srpska will continue its fight and its not easy, because the mechanisms of the alleged justice system are being abused. The Bosnian court also issued a warrant for the speaker of the Bosnian Serb parliament, Nenad Stevandic. Bosnia was added to the agenda of a European Union summit in Brussels last week as alarm among leaders mounted that a potential collapse of the war-scarred nation could unleash turmoil in southeastern Europe. It would affect Bosnias neighbors, including Croatia an EU member and Serbia. Both have vowed to protect their respective ethnic groups in Bosnia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ambiguity in Donald Trumps administration has stoked fears that the US presidents penchant for reversing long-held foreign-policy positions may also imperil the USs role in safeguarding Bosnias integrity, according to Western diplomats familiar with the region. They declined to be identified as the issue isnt public. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this month condemned Dodiks actions as a threat to stability. Days later, Donald Trump Jr. met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, a Dodik benefactor, in Belgrade. The visit by the presidents eldest son was seen as a sign of support to Vucic, who has faced months of massive protests demanding his ouster. Dodik dismissed Rubios words as a residue of former President Joe Bidens administration, which supported Bosnias integrity. In addition to Putin and Vucic, Dodik, 66, has also won the support of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Dodik, who has dominated Republika Srpska for decades, has long advocated for secession of his entity. In the process, hes weakened ties with Sarajevo and entered an open conflict with the top diplomat charged with overseeing the Dayton accord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month Dodik severed almost all ties with the central government and moved to set up a separate judiciary and border police. The Serb leader has drafted a blueprint for a new constitution for a sovereign state, which was overwhelmingly approved by parliament in Banja Luka, the entitys capital. --With assistance from Hugo Miller. (Updates with Interpol declining to comment in fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. PROVO, Utah (ABC4) The boundary maps for three new school districts in Utah County were approved by the Utah County Commission. The new boundary maps dissect the Alpine School District three ways a move that was approved by Utah County voters during the 2024 November election. The three new districts are tentatively named Lake Mountain (West), Central, and Timpanogos (South). County Commission officials said the boundaries were drawn out by a redistricting committee after considering complex and important factors such as populations, census blocks, city boundaries, and neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These considerations help ensure that the districts are organized to provide equal representation for all communities, The County Commission said in a statement. Additionally, the school board member district boundaries will be redrawn after each census with the next redrawing after the 2023 census and every 10 years thereafter. Not just a book: Woman goes viral in search for missing custom Book of Mormon The new districts will not automatically mean children in the area will have to change schools. The new district boards, which will be sworn in and begin serving in December 2025, will be responsible for studying and making changes to school boundaries. The County Commission explained that the law provides flexibility for families who live on district border lines or have unique situations. This would allow children to attend the school that best fits their needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therefore, while there may be some adjustments in the future, the current school your children attend may not be impacted by the district division, the Commission said. Next, voters will elect 21 school board seats within their respective school board member districts. In the year after the board members are sworn in, the three new districts will focus on hiring staff, creating policies, and preparing to educate students. The newly formed school districts will completely replace the Alpine School District at the start of the 2027-2028 school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. PARIS, Ky. (FOX 56) A Bourbon County man has been arrested, accused of rape and sexual abuse of a minor. The Paris Police Department arrested 51-year-old John Pruitt Tuesday after receiving a complaint on Sunday about allegations of sexual crimes involving a minor. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents said the victim told police that the abuse started when she was 8 and continued until she was 14. The document details an interview between the victim and the Child Advocacy Center. During the interview, she claimed that Pruitt took her to his home in Paris from his work, and at one point he allegedly told her not to tell anyone because they would be in trouble. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Pruitt is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, unlawful transaction with a minor under 16, and first-degree sexual abuse. 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. GameStop has updated its investment policy to allow the company to hold certain cryptocurrency assets, including Bitcoin and U.S. dollardenominated stable coins a move that signals potential future BTC allocations. The language appears in a new section of its fiscal year 2024 earnings release filed on Tuesday. While no purchases have been disclosed, the change means GameStop could join other public companies like MicroStrategy and Tesla that have added Bitcoin to their corporate treasuries. If the Company acquires Bitcoin or U.S. dollar denominated stable coins, the Company will be exposed to certain risks associated with Bitcoin or stable coins, respectively, the filing notes. $4.78 billion in cash and now, maybe crypto GameStop ended the fiscal year with a $4.78 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities up significantly from $938.9 million a year ago. The company raised over $3.45 billion through its at-the-market (ATM) equity offering program, giving it a massive war chest. That capital could now be allocated toward digital assets. While GameStop didnt provide commentary on the move and skipped an earnings call entirely the new language has wide implications. The filing reads, The Company's investment policy permits investments in certain cryptocurrency assets, including Bitcoin and U.S. dollardenominated stable coins. Earnings snapshot GameStop reported net income of $131.3 million for fiscal 2024, up from $6.7 million the previous year, even as net sales declined from $5.27 billion to $3.82 billion. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.13 billion for fiscal year 2024, compared to $1.32 billion for fiscal year 2023, the company noted. The company also completed the wind-down of operations in Germany and finalized the divestiture of its business in Italy during the period. On January 8, 2023on what has been called Brazil's own January 6chaos, vandalism, and authoritarian overreach were prominently on display in Brasilia following the defeat of President Jair Bolsonaro. But few could have expected that two years later, someone would be sentenced to 14 years in prison for writing "Perdeu, mane" ("You lost, dude") on a statuein lipstick. Debora Albuquerqueinfamous now as "Debora do Perdeu, Mane"was convicted of armed criminal association, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, attempted coup, and defacing protected property. Yet she was not armed, didn't lead anyone, and never breached a government building. Her entire contribution to Brazil's so-called coup attempt amounted to scrawling a message in red lipstick on the statue of The Justice outside the Supreme Federal Court. Vandalizing public monuments may not be an ideal mode of protest. But graffitior pichacaohas long been a form of political expression. Until recently, nobody thought it the act of a dangerous insurrectionist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, the same statue was previously defaced during a pro-choice protest, and those responsible faced no serious legal consequences. (As a vocal pro-choice advocate, I found the symbolism of the statue having a miscarriage striking. Still, I don't necessarily support that kind of protest.) But what's far worse than the act itself is the selective application of the law, punishing dissent based on political ideology rather than principle. If Albuquerque had stolen billions in a corruption scandal, she'd probably qualify for the Brazilian presidency. Instead, she's confined with limited visitation for a nonviolent, symbolic act of protest. This isn't about defending Bolsonaro or pretending the January 8 riots weren't reckless and counterproductive. It's about a fundamental principle: The government shouldn't wield its power to crush individuals simply because their politics are inconvenient. Using red lipstick to write on a statue does not make someone a militia leader. Albuquerque is not George Washington leading a revolution. She's a 40-year-old mother of two with no criminal record. Yet she's being treated as if she led an armed insurgency against the Brazilian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her real crime was not what she didit was who she opposed. The judge behind this political theater is Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the architect behind Brazil's sprawling "Fake News Operation." Originally created to investigate online disinformation, the operation has morphed into a blunt instrument for silencing dissent, jailing political opponents, and censoring journalists and tech platforms. Moraes presents himself as a defender of democracy. However, his methodssecret arrests, media blackouts, and now, a 14-year sentence for a single act of nonviolent protestare indistinguishable from an authoritarian regime. It's easy to roll your eyes at Albuquerque's lipstick protest. It's much harder to justify locking her away for over a decade because of it. Authoritarianism rarely announces itself with tanks in the streets. More often, it creeps in wearing judicial robes, promising to protect democracy while quietly criminalizing dissent. Freedom of speech and freedom of association mean nothing if they only apply to those who align with the ones in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque's message was unserious, but so what? Democracies aren't supposed to punish bad taste with a decade of incarceration. "You lost, dude" is hardly a political manifesto, but it was enough to get her treated like a national security threat. That should worry all of us. The post Brazil Sentenced a Woman to 14 Years for Lipstick Graffiti appeared first on Reason.com. March 27 (UPI) -- Brazil's Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling, decided there is sufficient evidence to proceed with former President Jair Bolsonaro's trial for allegedly trying to overthrow the result of the 2022 presidential election. In a unanimous vote, the five justices on the bench ruled Wednesday that the right-wing populist leader should face criminal prosecution, along with seven "co-conspirators," all former government officials, over the alleged insurrection attempt in January 2023 after he was narrowly unseated by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The court was shown footage of Bolsonaro's supporters storming federal buildings in Brasilia, including the Supreme Court building and presidential palace, and assaulting police officers, in scenes Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is leading the case, described as an "extraordinarily violent attempted coup d'etat." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was a veritable pitched battle. Untamed violence -- utter insolence. These images leave no doubt as to the materiality and the gravity of the crimes committed," Moraes added. The prosecution case is that in the months following a run-off vote that Bolsonaro narrowly lost to Lula, the defendants cooked up plans to overthrow the result, culminating with the Jan. 8 riots a week into Lula's presidency and that they incited the mayhem allegedly to warrant an intervention by the armed forces that would restore Bolsonaro to power. The trial was likely to start before year's end, although no date has been set, with Bolsonaro, 70, facing being sentenced to more than 40 years in prison if convicted. Bolsonaro, who denies ever attempting to overthrow Lula, claimed on social media that he was innocent and alleged the judicial system was being weaponized to subvert democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, he said the case was politically motivated and that his trial was being rushed to prevent him from running in the next general election in October 2026. Bolsonaro claimed that the country had descended into crisis but that when he was president, he lowered prices, created jobs and made Brazil "a magnet for global investment." "Now, as the economy collapses, businesses shutter, and families struggle to afford basic necessities, 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 said. "This is the same authoritarian playbook we've seen in Venezuela, where courts were weaponized to decide elections before a single vote was cast. 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." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro said everyone knew he would win were he allowed to run. Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco filed the criminal complaint in the court last month accusing the co-conspirators and 26 others of "acts against the Three Branches of Government and the Democratic Rule of Law." The indictment alleges that they engaged in a coordinated attempt to subvert the 2022 election as far back as 2021, ranging from systematically spreading false claims about electronic voting machines and using security forces to block voting for the then-opposition to pressuring military officials to back the use of force to prevent the election winner from taking office, in the event Bolsonaro lost. A Brazilian national living in Worcester was arrested Wednesday for his alleged role in a large-scale human smuggling ring to illegally move migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border and into several U.S. cities including Boston, the U.S. Attorney said. Flavio Alexandra Alves, a/k/a Ronaldo, 41, of Brazil, who is in the U.S. illegally and was previously convicted of human smuggling in California, is charged with conspiracy to bring aliens to and transport aliens within the United States in violation of law, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. Alves, who appeared in federal court in Worcester, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for March 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal authorities on Wednesday also detained four people in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia associated with the human smuggling ring on administrative immigration violations, Foley said. Alves arrest was made during an international law enforcement operation targeting a transnational criminal organization allegedly responsible for the illicit smuggling of hundreds of people from Brazil to the United States, Foley said. As part of the ring, Alves was allegedly responsible for buying airline tickets for foreign nationals including families and groups to fly them to various places within the United States, prosecutors allege. Foley on Wednesday released a photograph showing Alves with another person on a Walmart surveillance video executing a money transfer to a Brazilian national who was later found illegally entering the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the charging documents, Alves was previously convicted of human smuggling offenses in the Central District of California in 2004 and subsequently deported to Brazil in February 2005. Prosecutors allege that sometime after his removal, Alves illegally re-entered the U.S. and has been residing in this country without immigration status. In April 2022, an investigation began into a human smuggling organization operating in the United States, Brazil and Mexico, that smuggles Brazilian nationals through Mexico, across the U.S.-Mexico border and into the U.S. for financial gain and laundering the proceeds. Investigators identified Alves as an alleged domestic-based smuggler for the organization. He joined the organization in mid-2021. Prosecutors allege that Alves coordinated with co-conspirators in Brazil and Mexico to facilitate the transportation of Brazilian nationals into the United States; to launder funds to Mexico to support the organization; and to collect smuggling fees paid by or on behalf of the Brazilian nationals being smuggled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his alleged role in the human smuggling ring, Alves allegedly purchased airline tickets for Brazilian nationals to travel from border cities to other locations across the United States shortly after they were encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and released from detention, prosecutors said. Between May 2021 and August 2022, Alves purchased more than 100 individual airline tickets from Tucson or Phoenix shortly after U.S. Customs and Border Protection encounters, to destination cities in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, including Boston, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia, prosecutors allege. Prosecutors allege that Alves sent money to aliens and smugglers located in Mexico to pay for expenses associated with transit into the United States. Bank and financial records obtained during the investigation revealed that Alves allegedly sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in money transfers to facilitate the travel of aliens who were later encountered by immigration authorities illegally crossing into the United States, prosecutors said. He then paid smugglers in Mexico for their role in the organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alves allegedly used different methods to conceal the nature and frequency of the transfers, including using in-person money transfer services at various locations throughout Massachusetts, providing different variations of his name and home address, and having other close associates conduct the transactions for him, prosecutors said. Alves also allegedly collected payments from the Brazilian nationals as the fee for being smuggled into the U.S. taking a percentage of the fee as his cut before transferring the remainder of the money to other members of the human smuggling organization based in Mexico. If convicted on the charge of conspiracy to bring aliens to, or transport an alien within, the United States in violation of law, Alves faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Alves is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW SAO PAULO (AP) Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro scored a legal win on Thursday after the country's prosecutor-general tossed a federal police investigation that accused him of falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination status. The decision of Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet came one day after a panel of Supreme Court justices ruled that Bolsonaro and seven of his allies will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup after the far-right leader lost the 2022 election. Gonet argued in his decision sent to the Supreme Court, which will have the final word on the case, that he did not find enough evidence against Bolsonaro in the federal police accusation he received one year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal police accused Bolsonaro and his aides of tampering with the health ministrys database shortly before he traveled to the United States in December 2022, two months after he lost his reelection bid to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and shortly before the leftist leader took office for the third time in his career. Bolsonaro needed a certificate of vaccination to enter the U.S., where he remained for the final days of his term and the first months of Lulas term. The former president has repeatedly said he has never taken a COVID-19 vaccine. Brazil's federal police alleged that Bolsonaro and 16 others had inserted false information into a public health database to make it appear as though the then-president, his 12-year-old daughter and several others in his circle had received the COVID-19 vaccine. The investigation said the false vaccination data had been inserted in the public system by a city hall staffer of the city of Duque de Caxias, outside Rio de Janeiro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro has always denied any wrongdoing in the case. Federal police said in its accusation that Bolsonaros aide-de-camp, Mauro Cid, told investigators in a plea bargain testimony that the former president had asked him to insert the false data into the system for both himself and his daughter. Cid also said he delivered the vaccination certificates to Bolsonaro personally. Gonet argued that other sources and documents did not validate that accusation. During the pandemic, Bolsonaro was among the few world leaders who railed against the vaccine, openly flouting health restrictions and urging other Brazilians to follow suit. ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america THREE RIVERS, Mich. (WOOD) A breach that happened late last year compromised Three Rivers Hospital data, and affected residents are being offered two years of free credit monitoring and identity protection services. On Dec. 4, 2024, CPS Solutions, LLC, a company that supports pharmacy operations of health care clients, was notified that one of its employees business email accounts was accessed by an unknown third party. The email account was secured the same day and an investigation was launched. CPS Solutions said the investigation found that data from the account was accessed and removed between Dec. 2 and 4. On Jan. 24, CPS Solutions completed the review and identified all customers and individuals potentially impacted. Three Rivers Hopsital was notified on Feb. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Personal information that may have been accessed includes: full name, date of birth, health insurance information (such as member/group ID number or Medicaid/Medicare number), and/or medical information (such as medical record number, clinical information, provider information, diagnosis or treatment information, or prescription information such as medication name). Social Security Numbers, drivers license numbers, credit and debit card information, bank account information, test results, images, hospital medical records and account passwords were NOT involved for these residents, a press release said. While CPS Solutions says it is not aware of any misuse of individuals information, the company is offering affected residents two years of free credit monitoring and identity protection services. Learn more here. A review of statements sent from healthcare providers and insurance companies is also encouraged. Any questionable charges should be promptly reported to the provider or company with which the account is maintained, the release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with questions is asked to call 877.332.4437 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday appealed a federal district court judges ruling that blocks enforcement of the Trump administrations ban on transgender military service. The appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit comes one day after U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes denied the administrations emergency request to dissolve a preliminary injunction she issued on March 18 in Talbott v. Trump, a lawsuit brought by 32 trans plaintiffs challenging the ban. In her Wednesday opinion, Reyes wrote that the federal government cannot evade discriminating against transgender people simply by labeling the policy as addressing gender dysphoria. She also denied the governments request to stay the injunction pending appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reyes order blocking the ban is scheduled to take effect at 7 p.m. Eastern on Friday. The ruling halts the implementation of the policy laid out in President Donald Trumps Executive Order 14183 and the accompanying Hegseth Policy, which attorneys for transgender service members suing the government say would result in involuntary separation of active-duty transgender military members and deny entry to transgender recruits. The government respectfully requests a stay pending appeal and an immediate administrative stay by March 28 at 7:00 P.M., when the district court stay expires, DOJ lawyers wrote to the D.C. Circuit Court. Absent this relief, the military will be forced to continue implementing a policy that the Department has determined is not compatible with military readiness and lethality. The DOJ claimed Reyes substituted [her] judgment for that of the military." Reyes had ruled that the government failed to show how transgender people serving in the military are detrimental to the armed forces. She highlighted that the governments studies, which the Pentagon relied on to generate the policy, indicate that trans troops can serve and deploy more than their cisgender counterparts diagnosed with depression. Reyes also noted that the Department of Defense spends exponentially more money on erectile dysfunction medication annually than it does for gender-affirming care. She ruled that the only reason for the ban is that government leaders dont like transgender people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the decision, the plaintiffs legal teams issued statements condemning the administrations attempt to reinstate the ban. These efforts to stall the preliminary injunction from going into effect to protect our transgender troops burden military families with a crushing amount of pressure as they navigate a limbo with outcomes that will cause devastating harms to the military careers of these incredible soldiers, said Jennifer Levi, GLAD Laws senior director of transgender and queer rights. This motion was nothing more than a last-ditch tactic to sow confusion and cause delay. There is no way to defend a policy that seeks to recklessly discard thousands of highly trained, skilled, and decorated transgender servicemembers, many of whom have deployed to critical locations across the globe, Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said. The government has conceded it has no evidence to support its position and no reason to discharge individuals who are serving capably and honorably. Reyes had previously ruled that the policy is likely unconstitutional and wrote in her March 18 opinion that it fails intermediate scrutiny and is motivated by animus. The D.C. Circuit will now consider the DOJs appeal. A federal judge in Washington, D.C. , on Wednesday rejected the Trump administrations attempt to lift a court order blocking its transgender military ban, reinstating a preliminary injunction that protects active-duty and prospective service members from discharge. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes denied the Department of Justices emergency motion to dissolve the injunction she issued last week in Talbott v. United States, which halted enforcement of Executive Order 14183 and related Pentagon guidance targeting service members with a diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria. Reyes had paused the implementation of her preliminary injunction , which was scheduled to take effect Friday at 10:01 a.m. The judge said she would allow the administration time to appeal. The DOJ responded with a filing last Friday claiming the Pentagon had issued new guidance limiting the policy to service members with a current medical condition, and not all transgender people. But Reyes was unconvinced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She reaffirmed her finding that the Department of Defenses justification for the ban was based on pretext and anti-trans animus. Attorneys for the plaintiffsrepresented by GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rightssaid in court that the governments filing was a last-minute shenanigan meant to delay compliance and mislead appellate courts. The administration had argued that newly issued Military Department Identification Guidance narrowed the ban to apply only to service members with a current medical condition and not all transgender people. But Reyes rejected that claim as unpersuasive, writing in a blistering 16-page ruling that the governments arguments did not sway the Court before; regurgitating them with the MDI Guidance is equally unpersuasive. Gender dysphoria is not like other medical conditions, something Defendants well know, Reyes wrote. It affects only one group of people: all persons with gender dysphoria are transgender and only transgender persons experience gender dysphoria. Reyes sharply criticized the governments attempt to reframe the policy as a neutral medical regulation, writing, This litigation is not about a medical condition. A medical condition has not given its country decades of military service People have. Transgender people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also dismantled the Defense Departments proposed implementation plan, noting that it would require all 1.3 million active-duty troops to self-report annually whether they have ever had, currently have, or exhibit symptoms of gender dysphoriathen be flagged as non-deployable and recommended for discharge. The judge compared the plan to rummaging through private medical records and called it the process the MDI Guidance requires. The governments tactics are very questionable, Shannon Minter, legal director of LGBTQ+ rights group NCLR, told The Advocate. They seem designed to muddy the waters." These efforts to stall the preliminary injunction from going into effect to protect our transgender troops burden military families with a crushing amount of pressure as they navigate a limbo with outcomes that will cause devastating harms to the military careers of these incredible soldiers, GLAD Law senior director of transgender and queer rights Jennifer Levi said in a press release. It is unthinkable that we would treat this way the brave individuals who sacrifice so much for our country. In her ruling, Reyes agreed. She found the policy to be discriminatory in both effect and intent, writing that the new guidance failed to provide any legitimate rationale and instead underscored the animus driving the ban. She added that the plan treats gender dysphoria more harshly than other conditions and likely violates Plaintiffs Fifth Amendment rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Reyes denied the governments request to dissolve or stay the injunction, she granted a short administrative stay until Friday at 7 p.m. EDT to allow the DOJ time to appeal to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. This is all to the good, Reyes wrote of the expected appeal. But lets recall that our servicemembers make the debate and appeals possible The Court, again, thanks them. All. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Panama City Beach Police Department has made multiple arrests in connection with a double homicide that occurred on Tuesday at Sunnyside Apartments. Through witness statements, surveillance footage, and investigative efforts, 26-year-old Milan Prince Michele McKelvey of Panama City Beach was identified as the primary suspect. It was also confirmed that McKelvey had a prior history of domestic violence involving one of the victims. Stepfather of Panama City Beach homicide suspect arrested in Walton County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PCBPD said on March 12 that they arrested McKelvey for domestic violence by strangulation and tampering with a victim. On March 13, he was issued a no-contact order and released on bond. According to officials, at 6:33 p.m., deputies with the Walton County Sheriffs Office located McKelveys vehicle being driven by his stepfather, 46-year-old Marwan Gordon of Panama City. Gordon was driving to the home of McKelveys mother, 62-year-old Tangela McKelvey. Gordon has been arrested and charged with accessory to capital murder. Further investigation showed Milan McKelvey and Tangela McKelvey were driving north on Highway 331 in a black Cadillac. Both were then apprehended in Montgomery County, Alabama, by the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panama City Beach shooting: Two women dead, suspect arrested McKelvey has been charged with two open counts of murder, and Tangela has been charged as an accessory to capital murder. PCBPD said this remains an active and ongoing investigation involving several law enforcement agencies. Anyone with additional details is urged to contact the Panama City Beach Police Department. News13 will provide more updates as they 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 mypanhandle.com. KANSAS CITY, Mo. On Wednesday, Kansas Citys city manager, Brian Platt, spoke publicly for the first time since being suspended. This really did come out of nowhereits a tough moment, he told FOX4 in an exclusive interview. I dont love the politics; I just want to be out there filling potholes, picking up trash and building new buildingsthats my lane. KC councilmember publicly urges removal of City Manager Brian Platt Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Platts future with the city hangs in the balance after he was suspended on March 6. This happened one day after the city lost a whistleblower lawsuit filed by its former communications director who accused Platt of saying it was okay to lie to the public. FOX4s interview with Platt lasted nearly half an hour, which you can watch in full at the bottom of this page or by clicking this link. Much of the conversation focused on the progress he feels hes made over the past five years. Platt shared new details about the challenges hes faced, including a once-strong relationship with the mayor that now seems a little rocky. Im really proud of the work weve done here in Kansas City, Platt said. Its been a great four years for this city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I turned down a city manager job in Austin because I believe in this place, because I love what weve done here, we have such great momentum. But now, that momentum has come to a full stop and could soon come to an end. I never asked anybody to lie FOX4 asked him if he felt blindsided by the mayor, to which he responded a little bit. Platt said this all came out of nowhere. He expressed his confusion that the mayor tied the suspension to a lawsuit filed by former communications director Chris Hernandez. This was surprising to Platt because he said the council knew about the lawsuit before they renewed his contract last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the lawsuit, Hernandez alleged that Platt had a history of misconduct, including telling him to lie to the media in 2022a claim Platt later called a joke. Mayor Lucas told FOX4 he respects how Platt feels about the situation. A jury sided with Hernandez, ultimately, awarding him nearly $1 million in damages. Platt denies the claims made in the lawsuit. No, [I] never asked anybody to lie, he said. Im not sure I can comment too much further on litigation, but absolutely not. Kansas City Manager Brian Platt suspended after whistleblower lawsuit Platt also made claims against a city council member. In an email sent to FOX4 by his attorney, Councilwoman Melissa Robinson said she believed the hiring of a white man for the role of city manager was unconscionable before Platt even started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats tough to read and tough to hear, he said. These people didnt know me; I didnt even have a chance to introduce myself or prove myself. Robinson told FOX4 its important to read the full letter, where she stated that even if Platt were a Black man, he should not have the jobbelieving the other three Black candidates were more qualified. Robinson denied Platts claims. I come with passion on behalf of my community and those who elected me to serve in the 3rd district, Robinson said. She said she has a responsibility to protect the interest of her constituents. She said prior to FOX4 reaching out to she had never heard of these concerns from Platt or anyone in City Hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinson told FOX4 that if it smells like racism, looks like racism, then it is racism. She feels that the 3rd district has been purposely neglected by some city staff, pointing to a recent example where $2.7 million dollars was left out of the final budgetto which she had to stand up and ask for it to be added back, even though it had already been approved prior to completing the full budget. FOX4 also obtained correspondence from Platt to the mayor and city staff, detailing multiple instances of harassment by former councilman Brandon Ellington. In another email, Platt alleges Robinson berated his staff and created a culture of fear. He claims nothing was done about it. FOX4 asked if there was any action taken after these emails were sent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nono there wasnt, Platt said. But look, I love this job. The job is not the politics for me. The job is the work; its planting trees, building new buildings, development, affordable housing. Platt responds to claims of racism In our interview, Platt also responded to claims that he promoted racism. He said the city has the most diverse leadership team its ever hadincluding more Black women in leadership than ever before. Its not race-motivated; its simply who they are, he said. When it comes to his accomplishments, Platt said one of his proudest accomplishments is economic development. I remember when I got here during my interviews, looking out the windows of City Hall, thinking how much potential is here, he said. To be in a place now where we have billions of dollars in new development breaking groundweve got so much attention on this city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the City Council is expected to make a final decision on Platts tenure in Kansas City. Platt said he feels that if he is not retained, it could mean trouble for the city. I worry that the drama and the noise is a distraction right now, he said. No matter how things go, the city needs to make decisions and move onI do worry what happens if this team weve assembled is dismantled. FOX4 has reported extensively about the development that Platt has helped bring to Kansas City. New $2.5 billion KCMO development to break ground soon FOX4 asked him if he wants to stay city manager. Id love to, Platt said. I made that clear to the mayor and council and others. Its a job of a lifetime for me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch Platts full interview in the video player: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Yannis Souliotis and Renee Maltezou ATHENS (Reuters) - When Greek police raided the apartment of a 49-year-old planning officer suspected of bribery on the tourist island of Rhodes last week, they found thousands of euros stashed in her pots and pans and even the cooker hood. Dozens have been charged in the affair, the second case in recent months where officials are accused of taking bribes for building permits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite growth of over 2% that is the envy of wealthier euro zone countries, the scandals show that the corruption that helped plunge Greece into a debt crisis 15 years ago is still shackling its economy and undermining trust in institutions. Public sector corruption, including pork-barrel politics and bribery, costs Greece up to 14 billion euros ($15 billion) a year, said Harry Papapanagos, professor of economics and vice president of Transparency International Greece. "Corruption is costly in terms of growth, productivity, social prosperity," he said. "For Greece, such cases indicate that the cost is growing." The cases are not all local. Mass protests last month on the anniversary of a deadly 2023 train crash attacked years of failure to address known problems. EU prosecutors have charged 14 Greek officials with subsidy fraud over a contract for railway safety systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poor governance in turn undermines willingness to pay tax, harming state finances. Greece's shadow economy is among the highest in Europe at about 20% of GDP. Transparency International ranked Greece as second worst in the euro zone for perceived corruption in 2024, and in a Eurobarometer survey last July, nearly a third of respondents said they knew someone who had been bribed. In December, more than 100 people in northern Greece were charged in bribery cases, many of them town planners. If there is hope for anti-graft campaigners, it lies in police data showing that complaints of corruption doubled last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 49-year-old, who denies wrongdoing, was charged with participation in a criminal group receiving bribes of up to 100,000 euros for illegal building permits, court documents showed. In May 2024, a letter to police had accused Rhodes planning officials of enjoying luxury cars and foreign travel beyond their means, adding: "Their greed has no limit." ($1 = 0.9271 euros) (Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Kevin Liffey) By Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka TOKYO (Reuters) -Hillhouse Investment has hired co-heads for its Japan real estate investment business, a person familiar with the matter said, as it bulks up its operations there. Hillhouse has hired Jeremy Bleackley and Wataru Goto as co-heads of Japan for Rava Partners, the person said. The two join from Blackstone where they were managing directors of the Real Estate Group. The source declined to be named as the information is not public. Hillhouse is expanding in Japan, which has become a focus for investors as a drive to improve corporate governance encourages asset sales and take-private transactions. The asset manager is looking to invest $1 billion to $2 billion annually in Japan and roughly double its headcount in there, Reuters reported earlier this month. Hillhouse was founded by China-born dealmaker Zhang Lei in 2005. It is known for its hedge fund and private equity investments and has also moved into real estate and private credit. Hires in Japan by Hillhouse include former Bain Capital partner Tomohiro Kikuta to lead the Japan operations and Wern-Yuen Tan, a former executive at PepsiCo. Hillhouse's investments in Japan include real estate developer Samty Holdings, which was valued at over $3 billion on an enterprise basis, and restaurant software business Dinii. Rava Partners was established in 2020 and has invested more than $3 billion in 18 real estate companies in Asia, a source said. (Reporting by Sam Nussey and Miho UranakaEditing by Christopher Cushing and Frances Kerry) Gwinnett County Police have arrested a man they say is responsible for at least 20 business burglaries across Gwinnett County since February. King Jones, 48, was taken into custody on March 11 at a hotel off Pleasant Hill Road, according to Gwinnett County Police. Jones, who was recently released from prison after a burglary conviction, is accused of targeting small businesses by smashing front doors with either a rock or brick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its definitely a win when hes been arrested, said Cpl. Juan Madiedo with Gwinnett County Police. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] One of the businesses affected was Three Leches Cafe, a six-month-old cafe on Buford Highway near Doraville. Owner Kathleen Laureano said the break-in dealt a significant financial blow. Total, its around $9,500 to $10,000 that we had to invest after his break-in, Laureano said. It really hurt me a lot. Surveillance video captured a man throwing a brick through the cafes window to steal the cash register on March 1. At Talay Thai Cuisine, another targeted establishment near Suwanee, police say Jones threw a rock through the window and took the register within seconds this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones is accused of committing burglaries in Duluth, Suwanee, and in unincorporated Gwinnett County. He had the three police agencies on his tail until his arrest. Investigators used surveillance videos, Flock cameras, and door-to-door canvassing to find him. TRENDING STORIES: Its vital that departments are able to communicate with each other, share information, share BOLOs, Cpl. Madiedo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones was out on parole after a 2019 conviction for burglary in Gwinnett County, according to records with Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. Following the burglary, Laureano expressed relief that there has been an arrest. She also upgraded security measures, relocated cash, and remains determined to succeed. It absolutely changes the procedures that we take and especially when it comes to money thats in our cash register, she said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) Bridgeport High and Middle Schools are welcoming 45 different school bands on Wednesday and Thursday for the Region 10 Band Festival. The festival is a conjoined effort between the WVSSAC and the West Virginia Band Masters Association where high and middle school bands from all across the state participate in a band assessment to help band directors understand their performers playing level. Fairmont Flyers Disc Golf Club donates $14,000 to Soup Opera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bridgeport High Schools band director, Garrett Friend, spoke to 12 News about the importance of holding this festival for the schools within the region. It gives every band a real-time assessment of where their band stands at this point in the school year, Friend said. As were getting towards the end of the school year, were wanting to refine our bands and get them exactly where we want them to be to close out the year for a successful season. Bands are judged on their intonation, articulations, and musical performances by three experienced band directors acting as judges. Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, and Taylor County school bands are all participating in the Region 10 Band Festival, which is the only event of its kind in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. Fox News political commentator Brit Hume scolded President Trumps administration for making a mess in response to the revelation of a Signal group chat in which top national security officials were discussing the plan to attack Houthi rebels in Yemen. Hume said there are a couple of iron rules when responding to a scandal. One: get the facts out as fast as possible and dont be afraid to take responsibility. Two: Once rule one is taken care of, dont feed the story, Hume wrote Wednesday in a post on the social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his view, the administration is not following the second rule. With regard to the Signal message case, the administration is making a mess of rule two by getting bogged down in a dispute over whether the details of Yemen bombing raids were a war plan and whether those details were, or should have been, classified. All that has done is prolong the story, Hume said. The same goes for attacking the reporter who, through no fault or action of his own, received the Signal conversation. All attacking him did was give him a reason to release further details from the Signal chat, which appeared to contradict the administrations claim that no war plans were discussed, he continued. That gave the story at least another day of life. The White House has argued repeatedly that classified information was not shared in the Signal group chat a thread that included CIA Director John Ratcliffe and national security adviser Mike Waltz spurring The Atlantic to publish additional messages Wednesday, revealing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared specific information about the timing and weapons used in the attack on the Houthis earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Trump told reporters in the White House that he will ask Hegseth to review whether the flight times of U.S. planes and drones during the attack on the Houthi rebels should be classified. Sure, Ill ask him. Sure, I would, Trump said. You can view that two ways, frankly theres a lot of ways to answer that question, but Id certainly ask him to take a look. The commander in chief said Waltz, who inadvertently added The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat, claimed responsibility for the incident. It was Mike, I guess. I dont know. I was told it was Mike, Trump said. Mike he took responsibility for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Goldbergs initial bombshell report Monday, Hegseth claimed nobody was texting war plans in the Signal chat. That afternoon, Hume pushed back on the Defense secretarys claim, writing on X, Oh for Gods sake, the administration has already confirmed the authenticity of the message. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. British Steel said Thursday that it is planning to close its two blast furnaces and steelmaking operations in the northern England town of Scunthorpe, after its Chinese owner Jingye failed to agree a rescue package with the UK government. Unions called on the government to help secure the future of the company, which Jingye said is suffering daily losses of around 700,000 (840,000) despite the Chinese firm investing more than 1.2 billion to maintain operations since its takeover of British Steel in 2020. The company, Britain's second-biggest steelmaker, blamed "highly challenging market conditions, the imposition of tariffs, and higher environmental costs relating to the production of high-carbon steel." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British Steel said it is consulting with unions over the decision to close the blast furnaces and steelmaking operations and reduce rolling mill capacity, potentially as early as June. Between 2,000 to 2,700 jobs are potentially at risk. Related The company had sought support from the government for a major capital investment in two new electric arc furnaces, which would emit far less carbon into the atmosphere. However, after months of negotiations, no agreement was reached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unions published a report last month outlining how to decarbonize steelmaking at British Steel. The plan would involve continuing to operate Scunthorpe's two existing blast furnaces while two new electric ones are constructed on site. The plan would require an additional 200 million pounds of government support to mitigate carbon costs in the interim period. "This is a dark day for our steel industry and for our country," said Roy Rickhuss, the general secretary of the Community union. "The closures at Scunthorpe would represent a hammer blow to communities which were built on steel, and where the industry still supports thousands of jobs directly and thousands more through extensive supply chains." Rickhuss urged Jingye and the government to return to the negotiating table and said the Chinese company "has not ruled out" retaining the blast furnaces during a transition if they can win government backing. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the government will "continue working tirelessly" to reach an agreement with Jingye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've been clear there's a bright future for steelmaking in the UK," he said. At its height in the postwar period, British steelmaking was a global leader, employing more than 300,000 people before cheaper offerings from China and other countries hit production. The industry now employs about 40,000 people directly, accounting for just 0.1% of the British economy. LONDON (AP) British Steel said Thursday that it is planning to close its two blast furnaces and steelmaking operations in the northern England town of Scunthorpe, after its Chinese owner Jingye failed to agree a rescue package with the U.K. government. Unions called on the government to help secure the future of the company, which Jingye said is suffering daily losses of around 700,000 pounds ($900,000) despite the Chinese firm investing more than 1.2 billion to maintain operations since its takeover of British Steel in 2020. The company, Britain's second-biggest steelmaker, blamed highly challenging market conditions, the imposition of tariffs, and higher environmental costs relating to the production of high-carbon steel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British Steel said it is consulting with unions over the the decision to close the blast furnaces and steelmaking operations and reduce rolling mill capacity, potentially as early as June. Between 2,000 to 2,700 jobs are potentially at risk. The company had sought support from the government for a major capital investment in two new electric arc furnaces, which would emit far less carbon into the atmosphere, but no agreement was reached after months of negotiations. Unions published a report last month setting out how to decarbonize steelmaking at British Steel, which would involve the continued operation of Scunthorpes two existing blast furnaces while two new electric ones constructed on site. The plan would require an additional 200 million pounds of government support to mitigate carbon costs in the interim period. This is a dark day for our steel industry and for our country," said Roy Rickhuss, the general secretary of the Community union. The closures at Scunthorpe would represent a hammer blow to communities which were built on steel, and where the industry still supports thousands of jobs directly and thousands more through extensive supply chains." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rickhuss urged Jingye and the government to get back to the negotiating table and said the Chinese company have not ruled out" retaining the blast furnaces during a transition if they can win government backing. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the government will continue working tirelessly to reach an agreement with Jingye. Weve been clear theres a bright future for steelmaking in the U.K," he said. At its height in the postwar period, British steelmaking was a global leader, employing more than 300,000 people, before cheaper offerings from China and other countries hit production. It now employs about 40,000 directly, with the industry accounting for just 0.1% of the British economy. A British tourist has died in the Bahamas after colliding with a rock while riding a jet ski just off a popular beach on a private island. The 73-year-old tourist had stopped off at the private island Half Moon Cay during a Holland America Line cruise around the Caribbean when the incident occurred on 22 March. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said that shortly after 1pm, police on the neighbouring island of Eleuthera were alerted of the incident by the island manager and proceeded over to Half Moon Cay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, police found out the woman was riding a jet ski when she allegedly lost control and collided with a rock. The police labelled the incident as an accident. Medical personnel provided assistance to the tourist but to no avail, and was pronounced deceased by a local doctor. The police force said an investigation is underway. Cruise company Holland America confirmed that the tourist was a passenger on its cruise ship Nieuw Amsterdam, which is currently on a 14-day itinerary around the Caribbean after it departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on 16 March. The cruise stopped at destinations such as Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands before reaching Half Moon Cay, CruiseMapper, a cruise tracking site, shows. The tourist who died was a 73-year-old passenger on Holland Americas Nieuw Amsterdam cruise (stock) (Getty Images) A day after the fatal incident, the Nieuw Amsterdam returned to Fort Lauderdale, part of the scheduled itinerary, before heading back to Half Moon Cay on 24 March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After visiting Jamaica, the ship is due to anchor down at Grand Cayman Island and Cozumel, Mexico before returning to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, 30 March. The Independent has reached out to Holland America Line for comment. Holland America Line regrets to confirm that a passenger onboard Nieuw Amsterdam passed away following a tragic incident on a personal watercraft, the cruise line said in a statement to The Independent. The guest, a 73-year-old woman, died on 22 March while the ship was calling at Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas. We are in contact with the guests family and doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The accident is currently being investigated by the Bahamian authorities. Out of respect for the family and guest, we do not have further information to share. Deaths caused by jet ski crashes have often made headlines. In August 2024, a mother died after the jet ski she was riding with her partner collided with one being driven by their teenage twin daughters. The 47-year-old died from a head injury a few hours after the crash in Arcachon Bay, off Frances Atlantic coast. A week later, two more deaths hit the headlines when a father and son were killed after their jet ski rammed into a seawall in the Florida Keys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 47-year-old father had been driving the watercraft at full speed in a residential canal when he hit the seawall. Two teenage girls also lost their lives in Illinois in June 2024 when their jet ski collided with a passing boat on Lake Marie. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast Paul Atkins, President Donald Trumps Solana and Cardano, that it alleged were unregistered securities. The SEC also targeted celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Lindsay Lohan for promoting tokens, among other individuals. The crypto industry fought back and argued that decades-old securities law did not apply to new technology. Executives like Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, argued that the government should draft legislation to account for blockchains, rather than crack down on the crypto sector. Atkins was previously SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008 under President George W. Bush. Most recently, he served as CEO of his financial services consultancy Patomak Global Partners. He's been supportive of the crypto industrys calls for regulation. The collapse of FTX was this international debacle because I think the U.S. didnt make our rules accommodating to this new technology, he said in a 2023 interview. As part of his ethics agreement, Atkins also agreed to step down from a position on Chamber of Digital Commerces Token Alliance, a policy group that advocates for crypto companies. Correction, March 26, 2025: Atkins was a commissioner at, not chair of, the SEC from 2002 to 2008. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com BROWNWOOD, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Travel Texas has designated the City of Brownwood a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community. Texas Governor Greg Abbott congratulated the city on this accomplishment, which acknowledges Brownwoods commitment to further developing tourism as an economic growth strategy, boosting local job creation, and drawing more visitors to its community. Abilene designated as 2nd Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community Governor Abbott, Travel Texas Director Tim Fennell, Senator Phil King, Representative David Spiller, Mayor Stephen E. Haynes, and City of Brownwood Economic Development and Tourism Division Director Ray Tipton spoke about the significance of this achievement for Brownwood in a press release: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travelers to and within Texas generates more than $193 billion in annual economic impact and support 1.3 million jobs across the state. Every region of this great state offers endless opportunities to experience the natural beauty, rich history, and true Texas hospitality that draws visitors to our communities. I congratulate the City of Brownwood and Visit Brownwood on earning this designation. All Texas communities are encouraged to apply to become a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community to further grow local tourism and jobs across our great state, said Governor Abbott. In Brownwood, visitors find a destination where Texas flavors, outdoor adventure, and small-town appeal come together, said Travel Texas Director Fennell. Whether dining in a restored train car, paddling along the Pecan Bayou, or catching a show in a beautifully preserved 1920s theatre, Brownwood offers an eclectic mix of experiences. This designation as a Tourism Friendly Texas Community recognizes the citys dedication to making every visit feel like home. Tourism brings $555 million to Abilene Brownwood is a welcoming city that offers plenty of outdoor activities and a flourishing downtown district, providing the perfect mix of historical sites and modern attractions. I am excited to see how the Tourism Friendly Texas designation will bring more engagement to this wonderful part of Senate District 10, said Senator Phil King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brownwood is a welcoming city that offers plenty of outdoor activities and a flourishing downtown district, providing the perfect mix of historical sites and modern attractions. I am excited to see how the Tourism Friendly Texas designation will bring more engagement to this wonderful part of Senate District 10, said Senator Phil King. This certification reflects the dedication of our staff, businesses, and community partners in making Brownwood a welcoming home for visitors. Tourism plays a vital role in our community, supporting local businesses and enhancing both the visitor and resident experience, said City of Brownwood Economic Development and Tourism Division Director Ray Tipton. Brownwood is more than just a place to visit; its a community that welcomes you with open arms, said Mayor Stephen E. Haynes. From our rich history to our genuine hospitality, we invite travelers to explore all the elements that make Brownwood feel like home. Whether youre enjoying the waters of Lake Brownwood, discovering our charming downtown, or participating in our local events, youll find that you are never just a visitor in Brownwood. Texas Governor Greg Abbott endorses Stan Lambert for re-election to House District 71 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tourism Friendly Texas Community program is open to local governments or non-profit organizations that serve as the lead entity for tourism promotion and development efforts. Benefits of the designation for tourism entities seeking certification on behalf of their community include the opportunity to strengthen or establish relationships important for tourism development, educate local leaders on the importance of tourism to the state, identify and prioritize locally driven strategies, and learn more about opportunities provided by Travel Texas and other state government programs available to support both communities and the travel and tourism industry. For more information on the Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community program, visit: gov.texas.gov/tourism-friendly-texas The mission of Travel Texas in the Governors Office of Economic Development & Tourism is to enhance and extend local economic development efforts by marketing Texas as a premier travel destination in out-of-state and international markets, generating non-Texan travel to Texas, and creating revenue and jobs for local communities and the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BULL RUN, W.Va. (WBOY) Blue Hole, a popular swimming and recreation spot in Preston County, has been cut off from its usual emergency response team by a bridge closure, and volunteer firefighters are asking for help from the public to make sure the area stays safe. The Masontown Volunteer Fire Department normally completes several water rescues in the Bull Run area every year as a result of the swimming hole, which has claimed numerous lives in recent years, including WVU students and out-of-state tourists. With the recent closure of the Bull Run Bridge/Jenkinsburg Bridge to all traffic, including emergency vehicles, the drive time from Masontown to the bridge has increased from about 15 minutes to an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the closure, the Bruceton Brandonville Volunteer Fire Department, which is about a 30-minute drive from the bridge, is taking over response to that area. However, the department said on Wednesday that it is not prepared with the right equipment to complete the expected water rescues. Marijuana seized from vape shop accused of selling products to high schoolers According to a Facebook post, Chief John Vincent has been in communication with the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department and businesses in the community to acquire the specialized equipment for rope and water rescues, but the department needs additional help from the community to ensure that it can keep the people who visit Blue Hole safe. If you use this area or care about someone who does, we hope you will consider donating to help us purchase the needed equipment before we need it and dont have it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department estimates that an additional $5,000, after some help from other departments and local businesses, is needed to purchase equipment. Anyone who wants to make a donation can do so on the Bruceton Brandonville VFDs Square account. The account will allow donors to give in $20 increments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. The latest court document dump in the Idaho college slayings suggests defendant Bryan Kohberger bought a black balaclava a winter face covering 11 months before he allegedly murdered four students as they slept. A surviving witness told police she saw a stranger in the house wearing a mask. #Crime #IdahoKillings #Bryan Kohberger Buffalo National River rangers termination rescinded after cuts MARSHALL, Ark. Stacy Ramsey, a Buffalo National River ranger who had been terminated as a result of federal worker cuts made by the Trump administration, announced in a Facebook post that her termination has been rescinded. Ramsey shared in February that she had been terminated in the Trump Administrations efforts to shrink the federal workforce. I lost my dream job, Buffalo National River positions part of presidential budget cuts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday night, Ramsey shared the news that she will soon be back to work after a court ruling overturned the termination. She shared a special thank you to those who shared words of encouragement and support, along with a message of the importance in nurturing public lands. Trump administration begins sweeping layoffs with probationary workers, warns of larger cuts to come Please keep advocating for our public lands and for those who serve and protect them, Ramsey said. Our public lands should be protected and cherished so that our children and our childrens children can always seek the solace, inspiration, and adventure found in these beautiful places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Traffic on Interstate 95 (Photo via the Florida Department of Transportation) Floridas no-fault automobile insurance laws would be junked and replaced with a fault-based system under a bill overwhelmingly approved by a House panel Thursday morning. Insurance industry and medical lobbyists oppose the bill, HB 1181 arguing the change in law would increase automobile insurance costs for so-called street legal drivers, or those who carry the minimum coverage required by law. The increases could cause some to drop coverage, meaning more uninsured drivers and more strain on Floridas health care delivery system. Danny Alvarez via Florida House But bill sponsor Rep. Daniel Alvarez says the existing system, which bans injured parties from bringing lawsuits against at-fault parties to recover noneconomic damages (although there are exceptions if a person suffers a permanent loss of an important bodily function; a permanent injury; a permanent scar or disfigurement; or death) is not fair to Florida residents who are injured in car accidents that are not their fault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida drivers are required to carry $10,000 in PIP coverage plus $10,000 in property damage liability insurance. Those are minimum requirements and drivers can purchase additional coverage. According to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, just under 6% of drivers on Florida roads were uninsured as of February. HB 1181 would drop the PIP mandate and increase the minimum bodily injury liability coverage limits from $10,000 per person and $20,000 per incident to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per incident. This is an insurance that affects every single person. And if something goes up, it will be temporary in my minds eye, Alvarez said. The doctors are not the enemy. The medical providers are not the enemy. Their concerns are real. There will be a learning curve and some growing pains. But you cant ask me to forgo your growing pains to continue to allow Floridians to be subject to the pain. I wont do it and Im asking you not to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Joshua R. Lipton personal injury attorney at Fran Haasch Law Group (Photo via Fran Haasch Law Group) Tampa Bay attorney Joshua Lipton argued that PIP discriminates against motorcycle drivers, who are precluded from purchasing PIP policies because no-fault statutes apply to motor vehicles with four wheels or more. Not a single motorcyclist in here can purchase a PIP policy on his motorcycle, he said, referring to the many motorcyclists who trekked to Tallahassee to attend the committee meeting. The situation is exacerbated if a motorcyclist gets involved in a wreck with street legal drivers. Theres nothing there for their lost wages, theres nothing there for their pain and suffering, there s nothing there for their medical expenses. They are thrown onto the public dole because they are hoping for emergency Medicaid. They are hoping for a charitable write-off of a hospital. None of those things are working for bikers, Lipton said. What about the rates? A Forbes analysis of automobile insurance rates shows that Florida is the most expensive state for car insurance in the nation. But insurance lobbyists testified that rates are going down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Farm lobbyist Mark Delegal said PIP has been a recurring debate in the Florida Legislature. For years, around this building there was a fix PIP or flush it. And there were efforts to flush it. But guess what, members? Under your leadership you have finally fixed PIP, he said, referring to sweeping changes made by the Legislature in 2022 to how lawsuits are filed and litigated and the elimination of one-way attorney fees. Delegal said that State Farm has in the last six months lowered its automobile insurance rates by 8%. Thats a fact. Thats a fact, he said. Been there done that The Legislature agreed in 2021 to repeal the no-fault system and the minimum mandated coverages and return to a fault-based system, but Gov. DeSantis vetoed the bill (SB 54). In his veto letter, DeSantis that although the PIP system has flaws, repeal could have unintended consequences for the market and the consumer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2021 bill would have required insurers to offer medical payments coverage, known as MedPay, at limits of $5,000 and $10,000, but the 2025 legislation does not, so its not clear how by how much auto rates could increase. Nevertheless, DeSantis earlier this month indicated he doesnt support repeal, in part because it is supported by the Florida Justice Association, which represents trial attorneys. If they have a reform where we can show that its going to lower rates, its fine. But lets just be clear. I mean, you know, we know thats something that people from the legal and the trial bar have wanted to do, DeSantis told reporters on the opening day of the 2025 session. And so, why would they want to do that? Obviously, they see that theres opportunities for them to make money off of it. He added, I dont want to do anything thats going to raise the rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Erin Grall, sponsor of SB 1256, (the Senate companion bill) isnt dissuaded by the governors comments. I think there are different things that have happened since the last time he vetoed it. Grall told the Florida Phoenix. A responsibility-based system to me is just consistent with many of the principles that he stands for. And so, Im hopeful that we can figure out how to have an open conversation about it this session. HB 1181 heads to the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee next and then onto the House Judiciary Committee. Its Senate counterpart, SB 1256, has been referred to three Senate committees but heard by none. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Bulgaria proposed establishing a multinational centre on its territory to ensure the safety of shipping in the western Black Sea at the 27 March summit of the coalition of the willing in Paris, the Bulgarian government press service has reported. Source: European Pravda Details: Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stated that the coordination centre would provide continuous surveillance and early warning of potential threats and hostile activities in the western Black Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The goal is to establish guidelines for shipping and to carry out monitoring both from the air and from the sea of critical infrastructure and all potential hostile actions in the Black Sea." Details: As an example of successful cooperation of this kind, Zhelyazkov cited the joint demining efforts in the Black Sea undertaken by Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye, which began in summer 2024. Background: Following negotiations in Saudi Arabia on 23-25 March, the United States, Russia and Ukraine agreed on ensuring the safety of shipping, excluding the use of force, and preventing the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea. However, Russia subsequently put forward a list of demands, including the easing of several sanctions on the agricultural sector. The US stated it would review the demands, while European countries rejected the idea of easing sanctions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Before Milwaukee police shot and killed a man, prosecutors say he and three others robbed a warehouse and one of them fired gunshots at the business owner who attempted to intervene. A criminal complaint was filed against Orlando Lagar, 34, who was with the man a police officer shot and killed, Anthony Virginia, 44, on March 8. The Milwaukee Police Department had already disclosed the shooting of the man followed their officers responding to a report of an entry into a business on the 5100 block of North 32nd Street, however the complaint provides new details on what happened. Lagar is charged with burglary, a felony, for his role in the events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lagar, Virginia, a woman and another man were involved in the burglary of a warehouse before the shooting occurred, according to the criminal complaint. During it, prosecutors say the owner of the warehouse came across the group while they were inside of it and, after his brother arrived, the two intervened as two of them attempted to leave. At this time, a man fired a gun at them before they ran away, according to the criminal complaint. The caller initially said the man in green, identified as Lagar, shot at him but the owner later told police in an interview it was the man in black, identified later as Virginia, who shot at him. In a subsequent interview with police, prosecutors say Lagar admitted to his role in the burglary and said Valentine shot at the warehouse owner. The man also said he saw Virginia lower his gun toward an officer and fire it once, before police shot Virginia, according to the criminal complaint. Milwaukee police have not said Virginia fired at the officer and bodycam footage, released on Monday, did not appear to indicate a gunshot was fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The released bodycam footage included three clips, which showed the two men fleeing and being found by police; the moments Virginia was shot; and the aftermath of the shooting. The video of the shooting is from a far distance and details are difficult to make out of what transpired before the officer shot the man. The officer shouts commands for about 10 seconds before shooting and killing Virginia. The officer who fired is a 41-year-old man and 10-year veteran of the department. He was placed on administrative duty, according to policy. The Milwaukee Area Investigative Team is investigating the shooting, with the Wauwatosa Police Department leading the investigation. That group is known as MAIT and is a collection of seven Milwaukee-area police agencies that step in as the outside investigators for critical incidents to satisfy state law. MAIT will send the results of its investigation to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, who would make any charging decision in the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lagar, the man charged with burglary, has a March 31 indigency hearing for his next court appearance. That hearing will determine whether the man can afford legal representation. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Burglary charge filed in incident that led to Milwaukee police shooting By Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's government has told a court in Mumbai that agreeing to Volkswagen's demand to quash a $1.4 billion tax bill would have "catastrophic consequences" and encourage companies to withhold information and delay inquiries, court documents show. India's highest-ever demand for back taxes related to import duties came after scrutiny of 12 years of Volkswagen shipments and has rekindled foreign investors' fears over lengthy investigations. The automaker has described the case as a "matter of life and death" for its India business, and is fighting the tax authority in the high court in Mumbai. Volkswagen unit, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, faces allegations that it misclassified component imports of some Audi, VW and Skoda cars to evade higher tariffs. Its key argument to quash the tax demand is the "inaction and tardiness" of tax officials in delaying shipment reviews. The Indian tax authority told the high court in a 78-page rebuttal that Volkswagen caused the delays by withholding crucial information and data about its imports. Accepting the carmaker's reasoning would allow importers to suppress vital information and then claim that the time-limit for the tax authority to conduct a probe had passed, the authority said in its March 10 filing, which was not public and is being reported for the first time. This would have "catastrophic consequences", they said in the filing. The case will be heard on Monday. Volkswagen and the Indian government did not respond to requests for comment. Volkswagen is a tiny player in India's car market, which is third-biggest in the world, and its Audi brand lags luxury peers such as Mercedes and BMW. If found guilty it could face a tax bill of $2.8 billion, including penalty and delayed interest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been courting foreign investors with promises of simpler regulations and lower bureaucratic hurdles, but lengthy tax investigations that can trigger lawsuits stretching over years remain a sore point. Had New Delhi wrapped up its reviews earlier, Volkswagen has said, it could have challenged the findings or re-evaluated its import strategy. The tax notice sent in September 2024 puts "at peril the very foundation of faith and trust" foreign investors desire, it said. In the latest government filing, the tax authority argues Volkswagen was submitting "information and documents critically required for" completing shipment reviews "only in tranches". HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) Hampton police are asking for the communitys assistance in identifying a burglary suspect. Mr. Wright (Courtesy: Hampton Police Division) A man, identified as Mr. Wright, is wanted in connection with two commercial burglaries that occurred on Saturday, March 22, at North Mallory Street. He is wanted on two counts of commercial burglary, conspiracy to commit a felony and wearing a mask in public. Police describe him as standing at approximately 5-feet, 7-inches and weighing roughly 157 pounds. He also has black hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information on Wrights whereabouts, please contact the Hampton Police Division at 7577276111 or Crime Line at 1888-LOCK-U-UP. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Justin Barbera, a Burlington County contractor, is one of five Republicans hoping to win their party's nomination for governor June 10. (Illustration by Alex Cochran for New Jersey Monitor) The most recent addition to the Republican race to replace Gov. Phil Murphy next year says he is a staunch conservative driven to run because of his disgust over the decision-making of state lawmakers now in power. Justin Barbera, 44, a contractor from Burlington County, joins four other Republicans hoping to land their partys nomination in the June 10 primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason I decided to run is just being so frustrated with how it was operating and how were being so heavily taxed, and yet we get nothing for it, he said. Hes on the further-right side of the party, as a Trump loyalist who cites his Christian faith and military upbringing as guiding principles. He attended military school and is the son of military careerists. As a father of three young children, he says education is one of his top priorities. He accused schools of pushing agendas and fostering students reliance on artificial intelligence and digital tools rather than focusing on fundamentals and encouraging students to develop independent thinking. The children are learning how to operate all these AI devices, and theyre not being taught how to come up with the answer on their own without using the computer, Barbera said. The way were teaching the children is a lazier way to do it, a way weve never done it in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents also should have the first say on any issues that arise with their children at school, he added. Theres no way that we should be promoting these very left views of what they want to be with their gender, he said. That should never come up in the school. He also lists as campaign priorities protecting gun rights and strengthening government accountability, especially when it comes to corruption and misappropriation of public money. He has long supported Trump, praising him as a patriot. He predicts a Republican will win the governors race in November. If you look historically, youll see that New Jersey has went left and right consistently, he said. So I do have a lot of faith in the red wave, and New Jersey, I believe, will be turning red this November cycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This race is Barberas second run for public office. He ran last year, under a third party called Join the Revolution, for a U.S. House seat in the 3rd Congressional District, coming in last in the six-person race with less than 1% of the vote. The winner, Rep. Herb Conaway Jr., won with 53%. The other GOP gubernatorial candidates expected to be on the primary ballot are state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac, and former radio show host Bill Spadea. Murphy, a two-term Democrat, is limited from seeking a third term in November. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A local school district is making changes after videos of a bus driver screaming at elementary school students got a lot of attention on social media. The incident at the center of the widely-shared videos happened Wednesday afternoon on a bus full of Washington Park Elementary School students between the 3rd and 6th grades. In the video, driver John King repeatedly shouts at the kids to shut up. Bunch a morons, dude. Like, Im driving a giant bus and yinz wont shut up, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other parts of the video, hes heard threatening to write students up, daring the district to confront him, pondering quitting and saying he hopes they handcuff parents for truancy if the kids cant get to school. Some on social media are calling for King to be fired. One person wrote, this bus driver has no business being around children with that temper, while another said, at the end of the day, no one should be speaking to anyones child like that. Channel 11 spoke to King about what led up to the outburst, and he said the students were out of control. A little girl got off the bus crying, and I went about a block from there and within that block I had about the back third of the bus standing up, walking around doing whatever they wanted, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King claims the kids actions have become a safety issue. Its been a build-up to this. A lot happens on these buses, and none of it really gets addressed in any kind of meaningful way to the point where its an absolute safety hazard, he told us. The Washington School District says its investigating the incident alongside the bus company, GG&C. King expects to be back on the job Thursday. But the district says there will be changes. The superintendent says another adult will be on the bus Thursday morning and afternoon. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW A butler stole more than 200,000 worth of jewellery and other valuables from a Wiltshire mansion owned by the boss of Clarence Court Eggs. Andrew Stothard, 42, was hired as a live-in houseman and valet at the 11 million Soley House near Hungerford in August last year. Less than three weeks after taking up the position, Stothard ransacked the family home for jewellery, expensive clothes and his employers credit card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stothard absconded in his employers company Mercedes and travelled to Hull, where he is from, and London, where he used the credit card to repeatedly withdraw thousands of pounds in various currencies and purchase expensive gold and silver coins, before laundering them at different stores. He repeatedly converted thousands of dollars and euros into pounds and pawned the stolen items of jewellery at various pawnbrokers. Land registry records obtained by The Telegraph show Soley House, which has nine bedrooms and two staff flats, was purchased for 11,159,250 in March 2019 by Adrian Gott, the chief executive of prestige egg supplier Clarence Court. Mr Gott declined to comment when contacted by this newspaper. Andrew Stothard admitted theft, fraud by false representation and money laundering - Wiltshire Police Swindon Crown Court heard how his employer called the police when they became worried about Stothards welfare after he failed to return to the address or answer his phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After four days on the run, Stothard handed himself into a police station and was arrested. During police interviews he lied to detectives, claiming he had taken the items to be valued to create an inventory and denied all the offences. When he was released on bail, Stothard pawned other stolen items of jewellery and deposited the funds into his own bank account. Over the next two months, Stothard concocted a web of lies telling the family and investigating officers that he had no knowledge of the offences. He then changed his story, admitting taking the items and concocting an elaborate story about owing money from a gambling debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stothard was charged with the offences and many of the items were recovered from pawnbrokers in London and Hull. He pleaded guilty to theft, fraud by false representation and money laundering and was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment on Monday. Soley House has nine bedrooms and two staff flats. It was bought for just over 11m in 2019 by Adrian Gott Det Con Lawrence Gurney, the investigating officer from Wiltshire Police CID, said: The victims were local business owners they were targeted by Stothard for their wealth and generosity. They provided him with steadfast employment, accommodation, and other benefits. They placed a significant amount of trust in him, and he abused this trust in a dishonest and calculated manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He took advantage of his position to gain access to private areas of the house without the victims knowledge or consent and proceeded to go on the run with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of items, many of which held significant sentimental value. Whilst doing this, he sought to maintain contact with the victims in a manipulative attempt to appeal to their decent nature and assure them that nothing was wrong. The array of fabricated stories he produced allowed him more time to spend money on company credit cards, conceal the stolen items and also sell them on. This in turn had wider ramifications for other businesses, nationwide, who are now suffering a loss because of Stothards actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hopefully, this result will provide some satisfaction and sense of justice for all those impacted by Stothards crimes. Wiltshire Police will continue in our efforts to recover the remaining items and have already sought to restrain Stothards assets for the purpose of compensation. 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. CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office invites the community to a Walk With a Purpose dedicated to survivors of violent crimes and their families. The walk is in observance of National Crime Victims Rights Week, which runs from April 6 to April 12, 2025. Walk With Purpose reflects CPSOs continued commitment to standing in solidarity with crime victims, fostering a stronger community, and advocating for the rights and voices of survivors, a press release stated. Source: Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office The walk will be held on Monday, April 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in downtown Shreveport. It will start on Texas Street and Marshall Street in front of the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those interested in participating should register in advance by contacting Malaysia Simon at 318-681-0870. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. So how do we feel about this one, Minnesota? A California-based food company is putting Twin Cities dive bars in the freezer aisle. Juicy Lucy, Inc. has announced it's making a frozen Juicy Lucy the Minnesota-born, cheese-filled burger staple of Twin Cities dive bars that will be hitting the freezer aisle at Target. The frozen version comes from a company co-owned by chef and TV personality Aldo Lanzillotta. They're calling the burgers a tribute to the Minnesota original, which will come in a classic version as well as Spicy Jalapeno. Juicy Lucy, Inc.'s frozen juicy lucyCourtesy of Juicy Lucy, Inc. Lanzillotta says he's been serving Juicy Lucys at his Barney's Beanery restaurant in Hollywood for years and now hopes to bring an homage to the original to a wider audience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is our way to honor this best-of burger, and we believe the more people who can enjoy a Juicy Lucy, the better, so we are making it more available to more people, says Lanzillotta, who was a co-host of Compete to Eat and a guest chef on Bravo's short-lived Best New Restaurant. The announcement goes on to recognize the contested origins of the burger at Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club before adding that "imitation is the purest form of flattery." Though, the announcement doesn't finish its paraphrasing of the Oscar Wilde-attributed quote, which concludes "that mediocrity can pay to greatness." The burgers will be available for around $14.99 per six-pack at select Target locations. Related: The best taco Tuesday deals at restaurants around the Twin Cities (FOX40.COM) California Highway Patrol Solano Area will be hosting a driving under the influence and a sobriety check within Solano County on Friday. Video above: States with the most strict DUI laws According to CHP Solano Area, the DUI check will start around 7 p.m. and will end on Saturday at 1 a.m. As of Wednesday, the location has not been released. Authorities said in a press release that they are going to release the location two hours before the start of the operation under a California Supreme Court ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CHP Solano Area stated that the goal of this operation is to ensure the safe passage of each motorist by targeting roads where there is a high chance of intoxicated and unlicensed drivers. Man arrested in Sacramento County released on recognizance after 24-hour hold A sobriety and drivers license checkpoint is a proven effective tool for achieving this goal and is designed to augment existing patrol operations, said CHP Solano Area. The funding for this program was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety 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 FOX40 News. At a time of attacks on transgender people and immigrants, San Mateo County in Northern California is standing up for them. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Tuesday OKd a resolution confirming the countys commitment to fight bullying of young people, Local News Matters reports. The county is located just south of San Francisco. [Donald] Trumps bullying tactics have swept across our schools, causing immigrant children to fear being deported and LGBTQ+ children to fear having their long-fought for rights to be trampled upon, Board President David Canepa, the resolutions sponsor, said in a statement released Monday night, according to the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution directs each county department and employee to engage in efforts that prevent bullying, provide education and intervene if bullying occurs, the site notes. The board also voted Tuesday to recognize March 31, next Monday, as Transgender Day of Visibility. It raised the trans Pride flag Wednesday on the county flagpole in anticipation of the day. For everyone that is a part of this community, we see you, we are here with you, and we are committed to celebrating your beauty, your love, our pride, and your joy, Supervisor Noelia Corzo, the new liaison to the countys LGBTQIA+ Commission, said at the ceremony, according to local paper The Daily Journal. San Mateo County does lead the way, but that doesnt mean that we dont have more work to do, Corzo added. I want to thank the commission for their ongoing work in pushing us to be more welcoming, be more affirming, provide a safer community for every LGBTQIA+ community member in our county. People attending the ceremony waved their own small trans Pride flags. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ishani Dugar, lead trainer and peer group coordinator at the San Mateo County Pride Center, spoke at the event on the importance of visibility. Wear flags or raise them if you have them, share your pronouns with folks, correct assumptions about identity that people will hold, push back on folks who assume that others in their space will be comfortable with transphobic language or with assuming that trans people are not present, Dugar said. The Pride Center will hold an online Trans 101 Workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. On Friday, it will host a mixer for families of trans kids from 6 to 7:30 p.m. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Family and friends are mourning the passing of Maureen P. Neal, the wife of U.S. Representative Richard E. Neal. She was 74 years old. Mrs. Neal passed away on March 19 at Baystate Medical Center, with her family by her side. She leaves her husband, and four children, Rory, Brendan, Maura Fitzpatrick, and Sean, as well as ten grandchildren, two sisters, and two brothers. She was born and raised in Holyoke, graduating from Holyoke High School and the University of Massachusetts. She first worked in the Hampden County District Attorneys office and then became a teacher at St. Josephs Grammar School and Our Lady of Hope Grammar School. Later in her professional career, she worked for the State Auditors office and the Springfield Parks Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels located on 7 Chapin Terrace in Springfield. Drivers in the area of the funeral home may experience traffic delays between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the following streets: Jefferson Street Calhoun Street Chestnut Street Chapin Terrace Marvin Street Pratt Street The funeral is scheduled for Friday with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield and burial immediately following at Saint Michaels Cemetery on 1601 State Street in Springfield. Traffic may be disrupted in and around Sacred Heart Church on Chestnut Street, Stafford Street, Congress Street and Everett Street. Memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104, or to the Sisters of Saint Joseph, 577 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Mrs. Neals full obituary and to leave her family condolence messages can be found on the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels website. 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 bill moving through the Florida State legislature would allow cameras to be installed in classrooms for special needs students. If passed, House Bill 257 would authorize video and audio monitoring in all self-contained classrooms that include children with disabilities - with parental permission. Action News Jax Shanila Kabir spoke to advocates who are 100% on board with HB 257. They said this change will make a huge difference in identifying and preventing child abuse in schools. Different situations are uncovered and a lot of the time its because the incident happens on the bus, playground and even hallways where there are cameras. Yet, when the door closes in classrooms, there are no cameras, said President Stacey Hoaglund with the Autism Society of Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although school is where children are expected to be safe, surrounded by teachers and administrators certified in student safety, Hoaglund said schools can also be a place where vulnerable children are abused. These individuals that are doing this to children, they know there is a camera on buses but imagine being in a classroom where the door is closed. Maybe there are two adults in the room but nobody else except them will know what a child had to endure, said Hoaglund. Read: St. Marys police investigating local daycare over child abuse allegations, unexplained injuries According to the Child Abuse Training and Technical Assistance Center, children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are at a higher risk for sexual abuse - up to ten times the regular rate. Some perpetrators are teachers or mentors who are in a place of power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had one as recent as yesterday on a school bus where the teachers aide took the child with disabilities by the shoulders and was shaking them. The bills sponsor, Representative Chase Tramont, and several other lawmakers have already thrown their support behind this bill. Read: Jacksonville substitute teacher at Tiger Academy YMCA arrested, charged with child abuse House bill 257 pertains only to special needs classrooms. If passed, the bill states parents of children with disabilities can request monitoring their kids classrooms and all footage would stay available up to three months later to be used as evidence in case harassment/sexual abuse allegations are made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Stacey Hoaglund said she and the Autism Society are working hard with legislators to make sure this motion passes in 2025. Read: Florida bill would remove child labor regulations, hour restrictions for working teenagers [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) West Michigan car dealers are trying to navigate a Trump administration plan to impose a 25% tariff on imported automobiles. The government of Canada is also trying to appeal to Americans directly to reverse course on tariffs by advertising on digital billboards. A billboard along US-131 paid for by Canada tells readers, Tariffs are a tax. (March 26, 2025) INFINITI of Grand Rapids is seeing more customers interested in buying a vehicle who want to purchase before any potential tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Certainly it is a topic of conversation now. Weve seen a bit of a bump in business due to the possible tariffs. Im also wondering, if the tariffs are enacted, will we see a bump in used car business, said Craig Ressell, the executive manager. Trump places 25% tariff on imported autos, expecting to raise $100 billion in tax revenues Some of the vehicles on the lot are assembled in a variety of countries, including the United States, Mexico and Japan, but stickers on the windshield show parts from countries around the world. In todays global economy, manufacturing components come from all over the globe, even if the final point of assembly is in the U.S, Ressell said. A car at INFINITI of Grand Rapids. (March 27, 2025) A sticker on the windshield of a car at INFINITI of Grand Rapids. (March 27, 2025) If you are taking a drive on US-131, you may see digital billboards that say they were paid for by the government of Canada. One says, Tariffs are a tax on your grocery bill. Another says, Tariffs are a tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to News 8 Friday, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said Michigan is among several states where the Canadian government has bought billboards as part of what it calls an educational campaign to inform Americans of the economic impacts of tariffs, with the goal of increas(ing) the understanding of the American public and to counter misinformation. The campaign is a strategic investment in Canadas long-term economic interests, and its trade relationship with the United States, the statement continued. Tariffs are a tax on hard-working Americans in their daily lives. They lead to increased costs on everyday essentials, including fuel and groceries. In addition to Michigan, the billboards are in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, in and around Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin, the spokesman said. West Michigan greenhouses navigate tariff uncertainty Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robin Spring, an associate professor of advertising and public relations at Grand Valley State University, says while the design could use more contrasting colors, the message is clear regarding the opposition to tariffs and generating buzz. I have not heard of this before, but I do think its a novel idea and novel ideas often work in advertising, Spring said. I think thats the idea to get noticed with their message, and I dont know how theyre going to decide if theyre successful or not. I think you know these billboards are only one piece of their messaging strategy. Back at the dealership, the hope is that an agreement will be reached and the government will not start collecting tariffs on auto imports in April, as the administration has stated. Its been an interesting road over the last couple months, Ressell said. Tariffs on, tariffs off. So it would be nice just to have some certainty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney officially broke things off with the United States Thursday, marking a seismic shift in relations between the longtime allies. The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over, Carney said during a press conference, following a meeting in Ottawa with his ministers to discuss trade options in response to Donald Trumps permanent 25 percent tariffs on all imported vehicles and auto parts. What exactly the United States does next is unclear, but what is clear, what is clear is that we as Canadians have agency. We have power. We are masters in our own home, Carney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can control our destiny. We can give ourselves much more than any foreign government, including the United States, can ever take away. We can deal with this crisis best by building our own strength right here at home. Carney warned that Canada, which is currently one of the top importers of U.S. goods, would need to reshape its economy to wean itself off its southern neighbor. We will need to dramatically reduce our reliance on the United States. We will need to pivot our trade relationships elsewhere. And we will need to do things previously thought impossible at speeds we havent seen in generations, Carney said. Carney: "The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over." pic.twitter.com/LKYkpO8JD0 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 27, 2025 On Wednesday, Carney called the latest round of tariffs a very direct attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country, he said at the time. Back stateside, the Big Three automakers took an immediate hit Thursday as the market digested Trumps tariff announcement, with new tariffs on vehicles expected to go into effect on April 3 and on vehicle parts one month later. The White House has pretended that the steep tariffs on Canada are a bargaining chip to help curb illegal drug traffickinga threat so minor that it warranted no mention in the Trump administrations first Annual Threat Assessmentbut Trump openly admitted that he hoped to use tariffs to bully Canada into becoming a U.S. state. His bullying has since escalated into an all-out trade war, which could potentially devastate states along Americas northern border. Canada is trying to persuade Americans to speak out against President Trumps trade war by launching an ad campaign in 12 red-leaning states, pushing anti-tariff messages and reminding them that nobody will win with the approach coming from the White House. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said last week that the Canadian government started a campaign, rolling out digital ads and placing billboards along key highways in states such as Florida, Nevada, Georgia, New Hampshire, Michigan, Ohio and others, warning them that Trumps tariffs on Canada will end up hurting Americans. Were doing that because we think that we need to send a message to the American people, for them to understand whats at stake, because this is really going to hurt their livelihoods and have an impact on their wallets, Joly said during a Friday appearance on CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And my message to hardworking Americans is, please talk to your senators, talk to your House representatives, to your mayors, to your governors, the foreign affairs minister said. Send a message that you dont want these tariffs, because nobody will win and in this approach coming out from the White House. The goal of the ad campaign is to increase the understanding of the American public and to counter misinformation, according to Global Affairs Canadas spokesperson. The campaign is a strategic investment in Canadas long-term economic interests, and its trade relationship with the United States, a spokesperson told The Hill in an emailed statement. Tariffs are a tax on hard-working Americans in their daily lives. They lead to increased costs on everyday essentials, including fuel and groceries. Joly shared a version of one of the billboards on the social platform X. The billboard said in white font that Tariffs are a tax on hardworking Americans over a black background. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One billboard, shared by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in Kennedy Township, Pa., says that Tariffs are a tax at the gas pump. Another one was placed along an expressway in Cincinnati that states, Tariffs are a tax on your grocery bill Paid for by the Government of Canada, Fox 19 reported on Tuesday. Canadas government also posted a television ad on X, calling on Canadians to #ChooseCanada. Canada, its time for more us. Because were more than just a place on a map. Were an attitude one with more empathy than ego, the narrator says in the 30-second ad. The more we choose to stand up as our most flag-flying, maple-leaf-buying, local adventuring selves, the more we are the True North, unbreakable, strong and free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney contended this week that Trumps fresh set of tariffs is going to hamper American workers and consumers. His trade war is hurting American consumers and workers, and it will hurt more, Carney said. I see that American consumer confidence is at a multiyear low. Trump has imposed a 25 percent tariff on a substantial amount of goods coming from Canada, but most are delayed until April 2. The Canadian government has fired back, targeting U.S. companies, including electric vehicle giant Tesla, barring the automotive company from future electric vehicle rebate programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated at 3:40 p.m. on March 27 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VICTORIA, British Columbia The Canadian military hopes to start working with industry this summer on the acquisition of a new helicopter fleet that will deal with existing rotary aircraft gaps in firepower and mobility. The Next Tactical Aviation Capability Set or nTACS project will provide a joint capability to be fielded by the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Army, and Canadian special forces. In addition, Canada is also planning an upgrade of its existing fleet of Chinook heavy lift helicopters, according to a Feb. 25, 2025, briefing on Canadas vertical lift capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document noted that Canada will spend $12.9 billion (CA $18.4 billion) on new tactical helicopters. The briefing was prepared by RCAF Brig. Gen. Brendan Cook, director general of air and space force development, and provided to Defense News by the Department of National Defence. The briefing pointed out that the nTACS project is in the options analysis phase but that discussions with industry are expected to begin sometime this summer. Department of National Defence spokesman Kened Sadiku told Defense News that the exact timing for soliciting industry bids was still up in the air. But the briefing noted that initial operating capability for nTACS would be expected in 2033. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new fleet would replace the existing CH-146 Griffon helicopter fleet. But it would provide even more by revitalizing Canadian tactical aviation capabilities to address capability gaps in Firepower, C4ISR, Mobility, and Support to Special Operations Forces, according to Cooks briefing package, compiled for use in industry presentations. The project would provide a return to a balanced fleet concept, the briefing added. Sadiku did not provide further details on the breakdown of the estimated cost or where the nTACS helicopters will be based in Canada. Such details will be covered in the options analysis which is expected to be completed in the next several months. This will consider the possible market options for nTACS, their platform capabilities, and this will then inform basing decisions, Sadiku noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Canadian Armed Forces currently operates 82 CH-146 Griffon helicopters. That helicopter is a variant of the Bell 412EP. Canada also operates 14 CH-147F Chinook medium to heavy lift helicopters. Cooks briefing deck noted that a mid-life block upgrade project is planned for that helicopter. Initial operating capability would be in 2032 with full operating capability in 2033. No cost estimates or further details were provided for that upgrade. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Air Force is in the midst of receiving modernized CH-146s to extend the fleets service life. In May 2022 the Canadian government awarded Bell Textron Canada Limited of Mirabel, Quebec, a contract worth $560 million (CAN $800 million) for the work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is replacing a number of the aircrafts avionics systems, including communications radios and cryptographic equipment, cockpit voice and flight recorders, navigation systems, automatic flight control systems, and control display units, according to the Canadian military. Engines will also be upgraded and sensor systems will be integrated. The upgrade will allow the fleet to continue flying until at least 2031. Full operational capability for the modernized helicopter fleet is set for 2027. Bell Textron Canada Limited announced last June that it had completed first successful flight of one of the modernized CH-146 Griffon helicopters. The first upgraded Griffon completed is expected to be delivered to the Canadian government in 2026 pending military certification, according to the government. Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Canada updated its travel advisory. (NewsNation) Canada has updated its travel advisory for citizens traveling to the United States amid concerns surrounding some of President Donald Trumps policies. 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 comes as part of the Protecting the American People Against Invasion order Trump signed, which requires all visitors staying for 30 days or longer to register with the U.S. government, the outlet explains. 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. The data also showed that 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 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 PIX11. A federal judge overseeing plea deal negotiations between the Justice Department and Boeing (BA) has scrapped an order giving the parties more time to reach an agreement and instead ordered the giant jet maker to face a jury trial. The surprise development upends a long-running legal saga that Boeing hoped to end as it tries to show progress on several fronts more than one year after a door plug blew off a Boeing-made Alaska Airlines (ALK) 737 Max 9 jet. The order from US District Judge Reed O'Connor came one day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Boeing wanted President Trump's Justice Department officials to let it out of a guilty criminal plea agreement the jet maker reached with the Biden administration. In that 2024 agreement, Boeing admitted that its workers conspired to defraud aviation regulators before two fatal 737 Max 8 crashes killed 346 people in the past decade. O'Connor rejected the deal late last year in part because of its terms governing the selection and conditions for a corporate monitor tasked with protecting against future fraud. Boeing and the DOJ had been negotiating changes to that deal before an April 11 deadline set by the judge. But on Tuesday, O'Connor ripped up that deadline in favor of a trial later this year in Fort Worth, Texas. "The Court hereby VACATES its April 11, 2025, deadline in its previous order and instead sets this case for trial on Monday, June 23, 2025," he wrote. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor of Fort Worth, Texas in 2018. Photo: U.S. Courts/Handout via REUTERS via REUTERS / Reuters Boeing said, "[As] stated in the parties recent filings, Boeing and the Department of Justice continue to be engaged in good faith discussions regarding an appropriate resolution of this matter." Paul Cassell, an attorney for some of the plaintiffs families, said, We are pleased with todays order. The families have waited more than four years for justice in this case. In light of todays order, the families wont have to wait any longer than June 23." Admitting guilt was meant to insulate Boeing from facing a criminal trial on the government's allegation that the jet maker misled Federal Aviation Administration officials before the 737 Max 8 crashes at the end of the last decade. Those allegations initially produced a deferred prosecution agreement reached in 2021, but last year the DOJ notified Boeing that it had breached the agreement after a door plug blew off a Boeing-made 737 Max 9 flown by Alaska Airlines. Avoiding a criminal conviction would be a major victory for the company. Such convictions can foreclose or suspend a company's right to contract with the federal government and frustrate its ability to secure loans, according to Eddie Jauregui, a white-collar defense attorney with Holland & Knight and former federal prosecutor. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Capitol police arrested a man after a chase ended when a vehicle crashed into a light pole. Bailey Martin, press secretary for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), said officers attempted to stop a vehicle near State Street and Mitchell Avenue around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26. Mississippi funeral director arrested after 3 bodies found in storage unit Martin said the driver, 31-year-old Jarvis Crump, did not stop and led officers on a chase. The chase ended when Crumps vehicle hit a light pole in the area of Bailey Avenue and Monument Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Martin, Crump tried to run away, but he was arrested. No injuries were reported. Crump has been charged with felony fleeing and convicted felon in possession of a firearm. 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. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Capitol police are seeking information from the public regarding the mass shooting in downtown Jackson that occurred hours after the Hals St. Paddys Parade. The shooting occurred around 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 22 after police said two groups got into a fight. One person was killed and seven others were injured. Jackson leaders address violence on day of 2025 Hals St. Paddys Parade Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deceased victim was identified as Cortez George, 21, of Jackson, by the interim Hinds County coroner. George was shot multiple times. Baily Martin, press secretary for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), said officers canvassed the area of Pearl and Lamar Streets for evidence. No arrests have been made. Martin said anyone with information, specifically photos or videos, is asked to 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. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) In the afternoon of March 27, a two-vehicle collision sent multiple children to the hospital. According to the San Angelo Police Department, the collision happened on West 33rd Street and Lake Drive between a white Honda Civic and black Ford Maverick. The white Honda Civic was parked at a garage sale on the side of the road on Lake Drive. The driver was leaving and getting onto 33rd Street when the black Ford Maverick was headed north on Lake Drive. The white Honda Civic failed to yield to the right of way and was struck by the black Ford Maverick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The white Honda Civic had four occupants which three of them being kids in the back seat. Two of the kids were sent to the hospital for their injuries. It was reported that a 1-year-old child in the back seat was temporarily knocked unconscious due to the collision and 5-year-old sustained injuries that law enforcement said seemed to be non-life threatening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NILES, Ohio (WKBN)- Firefighters and police were called after a car drove into a laundromat Thursday morning. Read next: Video shows moment bicyclist steals lawnmower from mans garage Crews were called to the Coin Laundromat in Niles around 9 a.m. Police said that the crash was the result of a medical condition. The driver was not hurt. Police are not sure if the driver will end up being charged. Brian Oehlbeck contributed to this report. WKBN Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) A man in Akron entered guilty pleas Thursday on multiple charges, including stealing a car with a 2-year-old inside it. JaDen White, 22, pleaded guilty on three separate cases, according to prosecutors. Frito-Lay chips sold in 13 states, including Ohio, recalled FOX 8 followed the story on August 15, 2024, when a vehicle was stolen from the Circle K gas station on East Market Street. The car had been left running attended with a sleeping toddler inside it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White was charged with ramming police vehicles with the stolen car in a getaway attempt. He eventually dropped off the baby. JaDen Whites actions were extremely reckless, endangering an innocent child and causing significant fear within his community, said Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich. According to prosecutors, White was involved in several more incidents a few days before the baby inside the vehicle was stolen. Manhunt suspended for James Douglas Meadows, suspect in Lorain County police officer assault who is still at-large White pleaded guilty to the following charges: One count of Aggravated Robbery with a three-year Firearm Specification a 1 st Degree Felony; One count of Abduction with a one-year Firearm Specification a 3 rd Degree Felony; One count of Discharge of a Firearm with a three-year Firearm Specification 3 rd Degree Felony; and One count of Failure to Comply a 3rd Degree Felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White is scheduled for sentencing on May 6, 2025, at 1 p.m. by Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kelly L. McLaughlin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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. (Photo by 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. This story was originally published by South Dakota Searchlight, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. South Dakota Searchlight maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Seth Tupper for questions: info@southdakotasearchlight.com. (Bloomberg) -- Mark Carney said new US tariffs on cars and light trucks are a direct attack on workers in Canadas auto sector, as he faces what will be his first major trade war decision since becoming prime minister. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney changed his election campaign schedule to fly back to Ottawa for discussions with members of his cabinet about how the government should respond. US President Donald Trumps executive action will place 25% import tariffs on autos starting next week, escalating a trade war that has engulfed the USs largest trading partners. The tariffs are a clear violation of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement that Trump signed during his first term, Carney told reporters during an campaign stop on Wednesday in southern Ontario, the heart of Canadas auto sector. We will defend our workers. Well defend our companies. Well defend our country, and well defend it together, said Carney. Its the first time Trump has laid out such specific plans for new tariffs against Canadian industry in an executive action since Carney was sworn in as prime minister on March 14. Auto tariffs would represent a hammer blow to Canadas manufacturing business. The country shipped nearly C$50 billion ($35 billion) of vehicles into the US market last year, making autos one of its most important exports. General Motors Co., Chrysler parent Stellantis NV, Toyota Motor Corp. and others all have assembly plants in Ontario. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. One option is to put further counter-tariffs on US-manufactured products, Carney said. Under Trudeau, Canadas approach was to announce retaliatory tariffs almost immediately after Trump signed executive orders for them. Thats what happened in the first week of March, after Trump put a first round of tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, and again when the US administration came out with steel and aluminum tariffs. Retaliation risk As a result, Canada has implemented 25% import taxes on about C$60 billion worth of US goods so far, and has threatened tariffs on another C$95 billion, if necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet retaliation also risks further escalations from Trump. In a late night Truth Social post, Trump warned Canada and the European Union of large scale Tariffs, far larger than currently planned, if the two work together against the US. Trumps executive order says importers of automobiles under USMCA will have the opportunity to certify their US content, and a system will be implemented to ensure the 25% tariff only applies to the value of their non-US content. USMCA-compliant car parts will remain tariff-free until the US commerce secretary, in consultation with US Customs and Border Protection, establishes a process to apply tariffs to their non-US content, the order states. The order creates significant turmoil in a tightly-integrated sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have never heard something less clear or based in fact in my life, Flavio Volpe, head of an industry group representing Canadian auto parts manufacturers, said in a social media post. China could only dream of damaging the American auto industry so quickly and so decisively as what Trump is threatening to do here again. Auto parts manufacturers with large Canadian operations, such as Magna International Inc. and Linamar Corp., have seen their shares fall sharply over the past year, partly because of concerns about Trump and future of North American trade. Most of the cars and trucks produced in Canada are exported to the US. And a huge number of vehicles go the other way, too: US factories have by far the biggest market share of vehicles sold in Canada. Overall, the US has a small automotive trade surplus with its northern neighbor. Canada imported C$82 billion worth of cars, trucks and auto parts last year from the US and exported almost C$79 billion, according to data from Statistics Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadas vehicle exports to the US have declined over a long period of time, to 1.1 million units last year, down from about 2 million a decade earlier. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said it was virtually guaranteed that Canada would retaliate. He urged Carney to target American cars. I can assure you one thing. Were going to make sure that we inflict as much pain as possible to the American people without inflicting pain on the Canadian population, the premier said. John DAgnolo, a union representative for Ford Motor Co.s engine plant in Windsor, Ontario, said the initial announcement from Trump left him hopeful that his factory might be spared the worst. The Windsor plant ships its output to US plants, so its a vital cog in Fords assembly operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its still bad, to be sure. But for us if were not being tariffed for engines that enter the States, to then get assembled there we might be OK, he said. But I just dont know. These announcements are incredibly vague and confusing. Canada is in the middle of a national election campaign that will conclude on April 28. Polls show a close race between Carneys Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. --With assistance from Laura Dhillon Kane and Aradhana Aravindan. (Updates with Trump threats of further tariffs if Canada, EU work together on retaliation, starting in ninth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Kroger is denying Albertsons claims that it didnt do enough to ensure regulatory approval of the companies planned supermarket merger. In court papers filed Tuesday in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Kroger said Albertsons disregarded the companies merger agreement and worked secretly with a partner, C&S Wholesalers, to try to force Kroger to divest more stores to C&S. Kroger also claimed that Albertsons was secretly planning to sue Kroger if the deal didnt go through long before the merger actually fell apart in December. Kroger said in Tuesday's court filing that it should not be forced to pay Albertsons a $600 million termination fee as well as billions of dollars in legal fees. In a statement Tuesday, Albertsons said it was Kroger that failed to honor the merger agreement. Krogers self-interested conduct doomed the merger, and we are now focused on returning value to Albertsons shareholders to compensate for those losses, Albertsons said. Kroger and Albertsons first proposed the merger in 2022. They argued that combining would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart and Costco. But the Federal Trade Commission and two states Washington and Colorado sued to block the merger last year, saying it would raise prices and lower workers wages by eliminating competition. It also said Kroger and Albertsons' plan to divest 579 stores C&S Wholesalers was inadequate to ensure competition, since C&S was ill-equipped to take on so many stores. In December, judges in Washington and Oregon halted the merger in two rulings issued within hours of each other. Kroger said even after lower courts ruled, it believed the merger still had a chance of going through. Kroger said it told Albertsons it was planning to re-engage with the FTC after President Donald Trump's election because it thought the FTC under Trump would be less hostile to mergers. But instead, Albertsons filed a lawsuit against Kroger the day after the lower court rulings. Albertsons said Kroger refused to divest more stores, even as it became clear that regulators weren't satisfied with its plans. Albertsons said Kroger also should have sought other buyers beyond C&S to satisfy regulators' concerns. NEWTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Catawba County man was sentenced to up to nine years in prison Wednesday after being convicted of injuring a local police chief. According to the District Attorneys Office for Catawba County, 52-year-old Richard David Miller Jr., of Claremont, was sentenced to serve seven to nine years in prison after his admission of habitual felon status during Catawba County Superior Court. Infant, two others hurt after driver crashes during chase in Catawba County: NCSHP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendant, who entered a guilty plea on the day the trial was scheduled to begin, will be in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections. Millers sentence length was enhanced by prior felony convictions for breaking and entering in Catawba County (August 2019) and Iredell County (January 2009 and September 2003). The offense took place in September 2023 at a Catawba gas station. Court documents show Catawba Police Chief Brian Bixby knew that Miller had an outstanding charge and made contact with the defendant. During the interaction, Miller reportedly provided a false name, and Bixby attempted to arrest him. Documents indicate Miller shoved Bixby and fled the scene across an intersection on foot. As he ran away, Miller dropped a box cutter. During the pursuit, Bixby suffered a fall that caused severe injuries to his left arm that required surgery to repair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miller eventually was apprehended by deputies and arrested. The incident was captured by Bixbys body camera. I am happy to have closure in this case after both the District Attorneys Office and the defense counsel reached a fair resolution. I pray for peace, rehabilitation and treatment for Mr. Miller, and I hope for Mr. Miller to have a better future, Bixby said in court. Additionally, I would like to thank the Catawba County Sheriffs Office for all their hard work investigating this case and Assistant District Attorney Howard Wellons, and staff, for all their hard work in this case that assisted in reaching this final resolution. Lastly, I am happy to see our justice system worked in delivering justice for a difficult case. Joshua Rector was the lead investigator for the Catawba County Sheriffs Office. Assistant District Attorney Howard Wellons prosecuted the matter for the state with aid from Legal Assistant Meredith Scott. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Drivers who are caught speeding in school zones will have to start paying a fine. But state lawmakers debate possibly banning them all together. Speed cameras became active outside outside Riverwoods International Charter and North Springs High Schools. But so far, police have only given out warnings to drivers. Starting Thursday, its a $75 fine for the first offense and $125 after that. Some drivers and lawmakers dont like it. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] During drop-off and pick-up times, drivers have to slow down to 25 mph on Dalrymple Road. For the rest of the day when school is in, the speed limit is 35 mph. The speed cameras will catch anyone going 11 mph or more over the speed limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One driver that Channel 2s Steve Gehlbach spoke with said his son and wife both got tickets in nearby Roswell. But he questions the need and the timing of the cameras across the North Fulton area. If it was all about the safety, the machines would have worked properly when theyre supposed to work, Jim Levy said. The City of Sandy Springs said the cameras are needed to slow down traffic and make it safer for both students and parents walking and driving. Officials said its not about creating extra revenue. All of the money collected from these will go directly back into public safety and law enforcement initiatives, police said. TRENDING STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some state lawmakers want to do away with all school zone cameras across the state. A bill could still come to a vote before the final day of the Georgia legislation on April 4. Another driver told Gehlbach that the cameras may slow some down, but sees only one real deterrent. Because if you really had safety in mind, youd just put copsput a police presence. If I see a cop, Im going to slow down, Blas Tortorelli said. Any violation caught on the speed cameras are reviewed by a police officer. Unlike other cities, Sandy Springs will ticket the entire day when the flashing school zone signs are on. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has notified the California Department of Public Health it is suspending grants it had provided to support the state's infectious-disease response during the COVID-19 pandemic. The directive was sent to all 50 states and will cancel roughly $12 billion in funding. California officials said they couldn't immediately say how the cuts would affect state services. "We are working to evaluate the impact of these actions," Erica Pan, the state department's director and state public health officer, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funding was awarded during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to aid the state with its respiratory virus monitoring, testing and response, immunizations and vaccines for children, and to help address health disparities, Pan said. The cuts were reported earlier by NBC News, which quoted a statement from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon saying that the "COVID-19 pandemic is over, and H.H.S. will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a nonexistent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago. It is unclear how much funding the state had been awarded and how much is now being pulled, but a 2023 news release shows that the CDC awarded the state a $37-million grant to help strengthen the state's health infrastructure, workforce and data systems. According to the release, the grant award's start date was Dec. 1, 2022, and was set to last through Nov. 30, 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It couldn't immediately be determined how much of the award has already been spent, but much of it was designated to support county health departments, including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Riverside County Department of Public Health, Long Beach Health Department, Orange County Health Department and San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. In addition, two other large awards were provided by the CDC to California in the immediate wake of the COVID pandemic: a $555-million grant during 2020 and $1.7 billion as part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. The state Department of Public Health didn't immediately respond for a request for comment on what programs could be affected by the CDC's cancellation of funding, nor how the state's infectious-disease monitoring, testing, response and immunization programs could be affected. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health received notices from the federal government that COVID-associated funding was going to be rescinded, a spokeswoman for the department said. It also received an informal notice from the state that COVID-related grants for vaccination services probably would be terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In total, these actions to rescind ... COVID-associated funding will impact more than $45 million in core L.A. County Public Health funding," the spokeswoman said. "Much of this funding supports disease surveillance, public health lab services, outbreak investigations, infection control activities at healthcare facilities, and data transparency. We are working to determine the impacts of the announcement of the loss of this funding." According to 2025-26 state budget figures, Gov. Gavin Newsom allocated $5.1 billion to the state's health department; about $2.3 billion of that comes from federal funding. Although Congress initially authorized the money for state health programs as part of its COVID relief bills, it has since been allowed to be targeted to other programs, such as testing and surveillance for other respiratory viruses. California has been ground zero for the H5N1 bird flu since last March. Thirty-eight people in the state have been infected with the virus, most of them dairy workers who were exposed working with infected cows or milk. However, two of the people were children; the cause of their infection has not been determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The virus has also infected 756 dairy herds; more than 75% of the state's total dairy herds. In addition, there have been eight measles cases since the beginning of the year, in addition to thousands of seasonal flu, COVID-19, norovirus and RSV cases. Pan said the state will continue to advance public health and work to protect people. "All Californians deserve to live in healthy and thriving communities, which is the role of public health," she wrote in her statement, saying her department is "committed to seeking the resources required to support the critical, lifesaving infrastructure needed to keep people healthy and protect them against infectious disease, vaccine-preventable diseases and health emergencies." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The Chabad Lubavitchs award-winning Chabad Model Matzah Bakery returns for the 42nd year to celebrate Jewish tradition. The Chabad Model Matzah Bakery has become popular in the Rochester Jewish community. It is known to attract thousands of visitors and teach the ins and outs of matzah. Matzah is the special unleavened bread that Jewish people eat on Passover to commemorate their hasty departure from Egypt when there was no time to bake regular leavened bread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants bake their own bread and take part in the educational experience in preparation for this years Passover holiday, April 12 to April 20. The Bakery is open to the public from Tuesday, March 25, through Sunday, March 30 at the Jewish Community Center, located at 1200 Edgewood Avenue. Group Demonstrations will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Additional information on the Chabad Model Matzah Bakery and upcoming Passover events 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 RochesterFirst. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) Its less than a week until Champaigns April election, and some in the city are weighing in on a major downtown funding decision. On April 1st, voters in Champaign will decide the funding fate of Strides Homeless Shelter. Its the second time in a six-month span the proposal has appeared on ballots. If passed, it will raise property taxes and fund the shelter. SEE ALSO: Champaign Township revisiting $4 million ballot question to benefit homeless shelter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strides said the ballot question from November is basically the same this time around. The major difference revolves around the increased need for a low-barrier shelter. Its been unsuccessful, but youre going to make it successful we need to see results first, said Philip Fiscella, a property owner in downtown Champaign near the shelter. The Strides question on Champaigns April ballot poses increased funding for the downtown shelter. If passed, it would raise property taxes by 0.17%, which means a house valued at $100,000 would see about a $60 increase for the year. Providing housing or providing food with no rules, no structure, no plan thats not helpful to the situation, says Fiscella. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claudia Lennhoff is the director of the Champaign County Health Care Consumers. She said the proposal offers financial relief for Strides to continue daily operations serving the homeless of Champaign. Champaign homeless shelters mission is protecting more unhoused people Not funding the shelter is not a solution. And it doesnt mean that people who are homeless go away, says Lennhoff. Lennhoff said that in addition to a humanitarian perspective on the issue, there is an economic perspective. Getting rid of the shelter will not save money. Itll just create more problems, and those problems are going to come with a financial cost, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fiscella said his issues are rooted in excessive litter and illicit activities coming from the people at Strides. If were going to have people actually want to be downtown, if were going to have successful businesses downtown, this type of behavior is not compatible with that, he said. For him, Strides hasnt earned the vote of confidence for increased funding. I think everybody in the community would be willing to spend more money on taking care of people, Fiscella said. We live in a very generous community, and I would have no problem supporting something that genuinely helped people. But I think were dealing with something that isnt doing a lot of good and is causing a lot of collateral damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 100% of precincts reporting in Urbana mayoral primary election But Lennhoff said those issues are the exact reason to fund Strides. Part of the challenge that Strides has that their leadership has right now is that they are underfunded, Lennhoff said. So, they cant provide more staff to provide more of that kind of supervision, provide more programming. WCIA reach out to Strides Shelter for comment. They said in part: This is a community problem, and for community problems, we need community solutions. The referendum is a great solution and hands-off way for Champaign residents to have a stake in the difficult work Strides staff sign up to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois Association of Realtors has come out against the proposal. In a statement to WCIA, a spokesperson said in part: As the voice for homeowners, we remind the elected officials of the City of Champaign Township to listen to the majority of residents who already voted no on increasing property taxes back in November. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Charges have been dismissed in a local gun case. Read next: Plea deal reached in fatal Youngstown shooting According to court records, the case against Alonzo Jackson, 31, was dismissed Thursday. Police arrested Jackson in November after a woman reported he threatened and strangled her. Police reported finding a gun during the investigation. Jacksons mother, Ronalda Tucker, 50, was also charged after police said she tried to interfere in the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tucker pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct earlier this month. She was ordered to pay a fine and court costs. Joe Gorman contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Charleston City Council passed the first reading of a controversial rezoning request in the Radcliffeborough neighborhood Monday night, which may bring a parking garage into the area. In a roll-call vote after public comments and a lengthy staff discussion, a majority of the council approved the ordinance during the city council meeting. 15 Radcliffe Street now stands a step closer to being rezoned from diverse residential to mixed-use or general business. That 2000 square foot area of land is part of our city centers, which would be mixed-use in that location. Which would mean all uses from offices, residential, parking, to retail stores that kind of thing, Christopher Morgan, planning manager for the City of Charleston, said. So, thats why we from a staff standpoint are recommending for the rezoning, and thats why the planning commission recommended it as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Radcliffeborough Neighborhood Association told News 2 they are not in support of this. I want everybody to realize Radcliffeboroughs neighborhood association is not going away. We really would like to see a better use of this site, we are very supportive of some sort of housing, but also looking at it as housing that doesnt need a certain amount of parking, said Elizabeth Soule Brainard, president of the association. Multiple residents and neighbors of the area spoke during public comments at Tuesday nights meeting. Among the concerns included potential impacts to the character of the area, traffic, and the community. I dont agree with the parking mantra that we need more parking. King Street is chock-a-block with customers, Jim Doyle, vice president of the association, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The peninsula provides the tax base which gives them the money to provide for their communities, and by not being forward-thinking. They are in the process of destroying this lovely area, which people come to because its so different from the United States, Elaine Doyle, a neighbor said. The residents told News 2 that they commended the three councilmembers, who represent the peninsula districts, for voting against the request. Though the sentiments did not sway some of the councilmembers, as a majority voted in favor of approving the first reading. Those representatives cited the need to continue economic development on King Street, giving more options for churchgoers to park, and the citys comprehensive plan. Weve built parking garages next to hotels to accommodate businesses primarily. Weve built garages in communities to accommodate business, the community, the College of Charleston, and the religious community, Perry Waring, councilmember for district seven, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ordinance is expected to go to second-reading at the next city council 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 WCBD News 2. McDermott has been selected by Shell Global Solutions International for an enterprise framework agreement (EFA) covering engineering and procurement services. The agreement spans three years, with options for two one-year extensions. This EFA includes McDermott's offerings across its Low Carbon Solutions, Offshore Middle East, and Subsea and Floating Facilities divisions. The agreement will see McDermott utilise its global engineering centres and expertise to assist Shell in developing and executing feasibility and front-end engineering solutions. McDermott executive vice-president and COO Maurizio Coratella said: "Our global execution model makes us the ideal partner to support Shell in the execution of their upcoming project portfolio. "By combining our low-carbon engineering, procurement, construction and installation [EPCI] delivery, strategic partnerships, technology innovation, fabrication and offshore installation capacity, we have the agility to progress our joint journey to net zero while maintaining the highest standards of safety." McDermott's long-standing relationship with Shell includes managing a portfolio of deep-water projects in the US Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Western Australia and Malaysia. Recently, McDermott completed the Kikeh subsea gas lift project in East Malaysia, awarded by PTTEP Sabah Oil in early 2024. Completed ahead of schedule, the project involved replacing an existing gas lift riser and installing new components. Additionally, McDermott was awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract by Repsol Exploracion Mexico for the Polok and Chinwol field development in the Gulf of Mexico. The project, part of the Mexico Block 29 in the Salina Basin, involves comprehensive FEED services for the EPCI of subsea, umbilicals, risers and flowlines. "McDermott secures three-year EFA with Shell" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. LOS ANGELES (AP) Fans of Studio Ghibli, the famed Japanese animation studio behind Spirited Away and other beloved movies, were delighted this week when a new version of ChatGPT let them transform popular internet memes or personal photos into the distinct style of Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki. But the trend also highlighted ethical concerns about artificial intelligence tools trained on copyrighted creative works and what that means for the future livelihoods of human artists. Miyazaki, 84, known for his hand-drawn approach and whimsical storytelling, has expressed skepticism about AI's role in animation. Janu Lingeswaran wasn't thinking much about that when he uploaded a photo of his 3-year-old ragdoll cat, Mali, into ChatGPT's new image generator tool on Wednesday. He then asked ChatGPT to convert it to the Ghibli style, instantly making an anime image that looked like Mali but also one of the painstakingly drawn feline characters that populate Miyazaki movies such as My Neighbor Totoro or Kiki's Delivery Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really fell in love with the result, said Lingeswaran, an entrepreneur who lives near Aachen, Germany. We're thinking of printing it out and hanging it on the wall. Similar results gave the Ghibli style to iconic images, such as the casual look of Turkish pistol shooter Yusuf Dikec in a T-shirt and one hand in his pocket on his way to winning a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. Or the famed Disaster Girl meme of a 4-year-old turning to the camera with a slight smile as a house fire rages in the background. ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which is fighting copyright lawsuits over its flagship chatbot, has largely encouraged the Ghiblification experiments and its CEO Sam Altman changed his profile on social media platform X into a Ghibli-style portrait. In a technical paper posted Tuesday, the company had said the new tool would be taking a conservative approach in the way it mimics the aesthetics of individual artists. We added a refusal which triggers when a user attempts to generate an image in the style of a living artist, it said. But the company added in a statement that it permits broader studio styles which people have used to generate and share some truly delightful and inspired original fan creations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Studio Ghibli in Japan declined to comment Friday. As users posted their Ghibli-style images on social media, Miyazakis previous comments on AI animation also began to resurface. When Miyazaki was shown an AI demo in 2016, he said he was utterly disgusted by the display, according to documentary footage of the interaction. The person demonstrating the animation, which showed a writhing body dragging itself by its head, explained that AI could present us grotesque movements that we humans cant imagine. It could be used for zombie movements, the person said. That prompted Miyazaki to tell a story. Every morning, not in recent days, I see my friend who has a disability, Miyazaki said. Its so hard for him just to do a high five; his arm with stiff muscle cant reach out to my hand. Now, thinking of him, I cant watch this stuff and find it interesting. Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself, he added. Josh Weigensberg, a partner at the law firm Pryor Cashman, said that one question the Ghibli-style AI art raises is whether the AI model was trained on Miyazaki or Studio Ghiblis work. That in turn raises the question of, Well, do they have a license or permission to do that training or not? he said. OpenAI didnt respond to a question Thursday about whether it had a license. Weigensberg added that if a work was licensed for training, it might make sense for a company to permit this type of use. But if this type of use is happening without consent and compensation, he said, it could be problematic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weigensberg said that there is a general principle at the 30,000-foot view that style is not copyrightable. But sometimes, he said, what people are actually thinking of when they say style could be "more specific, discernible, discrete elements of a work of art, he said. A Howls Moving Castle' or Spirited Away, you could freeze a frame in any of those films and point to specific things, and then look at the output of generative AI and see identical elements or substantially similar elements in that output, he said. Just stopping at, Oh, well, style isnt protectable under copyright law. That's not necessarily the end of the inquiry. Artist Karla Ortiz, who grew up watching Miyazakis movies and is suing other AI image generators for copyright infringement in a case thats still pending, called it another clear example of how companies like OpenAI just do not care about the work of artists and the livelihoods of artists. Thats using Ghiblis branding, their name, their work, their reputation, to promote (OpenAI) products, Ortiz said. Its an insult. Its exploitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ortiz was further enraged when President Donald Trumps administration jumped into the meme trend Thursday, using the White Houses official X account to post a Ghibli-style image of a weeping woman from the Dominican Republic recently arrested by U.S. immigration agents. The White House and OpenAI didnt immediately respond to requests for comment on how the image was made. To see something so brilliant, as wonderful as Miyazakis work be butchered to generate something so foul, Ortiz wrote on social media, adding that she hoped Studio Ghibli sues the hell out of OpenAI for this. - O'Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island. AP writer Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo contributed to this report. - The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement that allows OpenAI access to part of APs text archives. (WSYR-TV) The Cheesecake Factory came by our studio to share their new Spring menu items. Recently, the menu added over 20 new menu items, including five vegetarian options like the Thai Stir Fried Noodles. The Syracuse General Manager, Shawn Reed and Executive Kitchen Manager, Matt Foster showed us how to prepare the new Asian Cucumber Salad. The ingredients for the cucumber salad includes cucumbers, soy sauce, chili oil and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To find the closest Cheesecake Factory near you, please head over to The Cheesecake Factory 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 WSYR. Microplasticstiny plastic bits that can take hundreds of years to break downare everywhere, from tap water to tea bags, leaving traces in our blood and lungs. Now you can add your favorite chewing gum to the list, thanks to the alarming findings of a new study. Chewing gum, whether natural or synthetic, contains plant-based or synthetic plastic polymers to enhance texture and flavor retention, making it a source of microplastics, explained the pilot study, which was presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego. And those microplastics can be ingested through salivawith 94% released within the first eight minutes of chewing, they found. Our goal is not to alarm anybody, Sanjay Mohanty, the projects principal investigator and an engineering professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), said in a news release. Scientists dont 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 thats what we wanted to examine here. How dangerous are microplastics? Recent studies into microplastics suggest they are making their way into our bloodstreams. And while the science is still evolving, Heather Leslie, an independent scientist who pioneered microplastics and human health research in Europe, previously told Fortune, The evidence for inflammatory effects and metabolic changes in tissues where microplastics accumulate is building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent report published in Nature Medicine showed that microplastics have been found present in multiple human organs, including the blood, lungs, placenta, and feces, as well as in breast milk, testes, and semen. That ingredients of the plastics found present have already been linked to heart attack and strokes, inflammatory bowel disease, infertility, cancers, and neurodevelopmental disorders. What did the study show about chewing gum? The study, which was small, looked at the release of microplastics during consumption by having a human subject chew 10 different types of both natural and synthetic (the latter being what most mainstream brands are) for two to 20 minutes each. (Researchers would not reveal the specific types of gum in order to not unfairly cause them bad publicity, but told Fortune, "We used top 10 brands one can find in a supermarket.") 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. Interestingly, the researchers noted, synthetic gums released a similar amount of microplastics as natural, plant-based gums. Four main plastic polymers were detected in the saliva, with polyolefins being the most common. These findings suggest that chewing gum may lead to the direct ingestion of microplastics, potentially posing health risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saliva was then collected and analyzed for microplastics, and the results revealed that each gram of gum can release up to 637 microplastic particles, with almost all released within eight minutes. For that reason, Lowe suggests that if people want to reduce their potential exposure to microplastics from gum, they should chew one piece longer instead of popping in a new one. Because the study was limited to identifying microplastics 20 micrometers wide or larger because of the instruments and techniques used, its likely, Mohanty says, that smaller plastic particles were not detected in saliva. Next, he and lead author Lisa Lowe plan to assess the potential release of smaller, or nano-size, plastics from chewing gum, which can get into the bloodstream. The plastic released into saliva," Mohanty concludes, "is a small fraction of the plastic thats in the gum." More on environmental contaminants: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Chewing gum can secrete tiny plastic particles into saliva and bloodstreams, scientists in the US and China say, pointing to the latest source of microplastics in the human body. In a paper presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) spring meeting on March 25, a team of engineers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) explained that they found "hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece" of gum in saliva after chewing. "Our initial hypothesis was that the synthetic gums would have a lot more microplastics because the base is a type of plastic," said Lisa Lowe of UCLA, who said that when chewed, "both synthetic and natural gums had similar amounts of microplastics released." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while scientists dont know if microplastics are unsafe, according to Sanjay Mohanty, also of UCLA, what they do know is that people "are exposed to plastics in everyday life." But treatments for disease or illness sometimes cannot be avoided, such as being attached to a drip or medical infusion while in hospital. The problem is it is not just just medication that gets infused, according to researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai, who found "bits of plastic - from 1 to 62 micrometers long are present in the filtered solutions used for medical intravenous (IV) infusions." In some cases the researchers, who were funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and published in the ACS partner journal Environment & Health, found particles of polypropylene, the material used in the bags. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Each bag of infusion fluid could deliver about 7,500 microplastics directly into the bloodstream," they said, a number that can soar to about 25,000 particles when dehydration is being treated or even 52,500 if a patient has had abdominal surgery. Cutting boards, bottles, straws, packaging and even tea bags have been found to be sources of microplastics - particles of which have been seen in human blood, brains, genitalia and placentae. Chicago Public Schools is close to a deal with the Chicago Teacher Union on an agreement, CEO Pedro Martinez told top staff in an email Thursday morning. Please have an update ready for the full Board to be sent today once we can confirm that we have a tentative agreement with the details that were agreed upon last night, Martinez wrote. With various false starts, both sides have been working to bring negotiations to a close for almost a year. Any potential deal could still fall through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once a comprehensive package is finalized, CTU will present the proposal to its larger bargaining team for recommendation for a vote in the House of Delegates sometime in the near future, a district spokesperson said in a statement. While CPS and CTU leadership bargained late into the night, a tentative agreement has not been reached and discussions are ongoing, the statement said. Pressure to settle a deal was heightened because of a budget gap caused by the looming costs of both the new teachers contract and an $175 million pension reimbursement to the city for non-teaching staff. CPS officials estimated most recently that the costs of the contract would come out to about $124 million, but that number hasnt been confirmed. School board President Sean Harden, who was appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson, delayed a vote on a budget amendment last Thursday that would have opened the door for a borrowing scenario to cover both costs proposed by Johnsons top aides. Martinez wrote in his email Thursday that he expected Harden to call a special board meeting Monday to push for borrowing, stating it is needed to support negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his email, Martinez pushed back on that notion, saying we need to be clear to our staff and families what the facts are. A budget amendment would need 14 votes from the partially elected, partially appointed school board to pass. There werent enough votes to pass the budget amendment when it was postponed, and several board members told the Tribune Thursday morning their vote hadnt changed. We only have a limited amount of dollars, said Angel Gutierrez, a board member from District 8. Theres no borrowing scenario that you would even consider given what the market is right now. CTU has had a rocky time getting the deal across the finish line despite shelling out enormous resources as the largest funder of Johnsons 2023 mayoral campaign. Critics have said the drawn-out process was a driving force for the mayors plunge in popularity, given his ongoing loyalty to the progressive labor juggernaut where he once worked as an organizer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside a building in the Loop Thursday, CTU members argued Martinez was obstructing progress on the final package, but said they were pushing forward with negotiations. Sylvelia Pittman, a middle school math teacher at Nash Elementary in Austin, said CPS needed to approve a contract that would give teachers the opportunity to service the whole child their social, emotional needs and traumas. Were asking that Pedro get out of the way, she said. Give us the contract that our students, our families, our communities and our city needs and deserves. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A 10-year-old is in the hospital after being struck by a car in Lancaster County on Thursday morning. According to the East Cocalico Township Police Department, officers responded to the 700 block of South 4th Street in Denver Borough for a pedestrian struck. Police found a 10-year-old victim lying in the roadway when they arrived at the scene. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania Responding officers provided emergency care until an ambulance and medic arrived, police said. The driver reportedly stopped after striking the child and called 911. Police said the driver cooperated with the investigation. The child was transported to a local hospital. Their condition is unknown at this time, but police said they will provide an update when more information is available. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Ridiculously, Donald Trump has once again set his sights on Greenland, expressing intentions to bring the autonomous Danish territory under U.S. control. During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in early January, Trump shockingly refused to rule out the use of military force to seize Greenland, declaring U.S. control of the island vital to national security. Obviously, this aggressive posture has reignited tensions with Denmark and alarmed Greenlandic leaders, who view such ambitions as a direct threat to their sovereignty. I spoke to former U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford this week about the insidious comments JD Vance made about Denmark not being a good ally. Nothing could be further from the truth. Compounding all of this, Second Lady Usha Vance, accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, planned a visit to Greenland, ostensibly to participate in cultural events such as a dogsled race. However, the visit was met with strong opposition from Greenlandic officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Mute B. Egede labeled the visit a " demonstration of power " and criticized it as interference in Greenland's political affairs. In response to the backlash, Usha Vance canceled her participation in the public events, and then, inexplicably, JD Vance announced he would join her on a scaled-back visit limited to the U.S. military base in Pituffik. Vance's involvement has only served to exacerbate diplomatic tensions. We all know Vance for his inflammatory and wildly psychotic rhetoric, and Greenland is likely to get a front-row seat to witness Vances insults and his history of making offensive remarks. Who can forget his criticism of " childless cat ladies "? Therefore, childless cat ladies in Greenland, beware: JD Vance is coming for you, so good luck with that. Most of us here in the U.S. hope that Vance stays in Greenland, but I guess thats something you wouldnt wish on your worst enemy. His big mouth is not only disrespectful to us, but as youve been learning, Greenland, offensive to you too. So for my friends in Greenland, heres a taste of what to expect Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, Vance suggested that adults without children should pay higher taxes and have fewer voting rights, arguing that falling U.S. birth rates constituted a "civilizational crisis." He advocated for policies that would incentivize parenthood, implying that childless individuals contribute less to society. During the 2024 election campaign, Vance admitted to fabricating stories to gain media attention. He defended spreading false, racist claims about Haitian immigrants, stating that it was acceptable to "create stories" to highlight issues he believed were important. Additionally, Vance's shifting, back-and-forth political allegiances have raised big, bushy eyebrows. Once a vocal critic of Trump, Vance compared him to Hitler . And a word of caution to Greenlands prime minister if you diss Vance, hes likely to compare you to Hitler too. Then as we all know, Vance later aligned himself closely with Trump, ultimately becoming his running mate in 2024. In other words, Vance bootlicked his way to the top, and now that hes there, hes spreading his mean-spirited statements and nastiness globally so that the whole world can be offended by JD Vance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, Vance lambasted European policies on hate speech and disinformation, arguing they threatened free speech. Many were left wondering, who died and left JD Vance in charge of free speech? The world also took umbrage at Vance after his brutish meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last month. Vances reprehensible and dismissive comments about Ukraine's requests for aid further highlighted his glaring lack of diplomatic tact. Vance also wondered why Zelneskyy never thanked Americans this coming from a guy who has probably not said thank you in years. We learned this week from the leaked Signal group chat that exposed Vance's deep disdain for European allies, referring to them as " pathetic freeloaders ." Given this context, sending Vance to Greenland is like sending a dog into a cat colony of course Im going to use that metaphor. His penchant for incendiary remarks and disregard for diplomatic norms make him ill-suited to navigate the delicate situation surrounding Greenland. Instead of trying to woo the country, sending Vance only creates more animosity toward the U.S. Greenlanders, particularly those fitting Vance's "cat lady" stereotype, along with the rest of the country, have every reason to be wary and pissed about his impending visit. As Greenlanders unite to defend their autonomy, forcing Vance on them will only solidify and strengthen their resolve to remain independent. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) On a fittingly overcast Thursday afternoon, the Childrens Home Association of Illinois received a StormReady certification by the National Weather Service. John Lundy, safety coordinator for the Childrens Home, has put in lots of work and credits his staff for their support to create a place that can weather any storm. We want to make it a safe environment for our clients, for our students, for our staff, any visitors that come in during the event of severe weather that they would have a safe place to go, he said. That has been looked over by the National Weather Service, by the meteorologists there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get this honor, Childrens Home had to get working weather radios and a point of warning that is able to go through their phones. Ed Shimon, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service, handed Lundy a plaque of recognition, and then posed for a photo with Lundy, who held a sign that said We are StormReady. Lundys two daughters then walked up to the front of the Childrens Home conference room and presented their dad with a sign that said Congrats Agent Lundy, Johns nickname. The poster was decorated with pictures of Lundy and his daughters glued to the poster. I hope this is a catalyst for other organizations thinking about StormReady, Shimon said. Its worth the effort and the community benefits, not only the organization, but the community as a whole benefit from the actions that you take to protect yourself and become StormReady. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if the safety department of the Childrens Home had a slogan, Lundy said, Stay vigilant, stay aware and always be prepared. In a Facebook post, Childrens Home Association of Illinois said, We are thrilled to be the 4th organization in the city of Peoria and Peoria County taking action to keep our employees, clients, and visitors safe, especially during Severe Weather Preparedness Month. Weather Forecast: Warming things up with storm chances How your organization can become StormReady On the National Weather Services website, it describes the weather preparedness program by saying, The StormReady program helps arm Americas communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and propertybefore, during and after the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To become StormReady, you have to apply. The guidelines to be certified on the NWS website are as follows: Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center. Have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts and to alert the public. Create a system that monitors weather conditions locally. Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars. Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises. To find how to apply to be StormReady, 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 CIProud.com. Mixer brand Three Cents is expanding its presence in Asia with a distribution deal covering Hong Kong and Singapore. The company has hired Proof & Company, the Singapore-based distributor, to market its sodas and tonics to on-trade customers in the two territories. George Bagos, the general manager of Three Cents and a co-founder of the brand, said Hong Kong and Singapore have a thriving cocktail culture. Proof & Company will initially sell five products, including a pink grapefruit soda and a new fig leaf soda. Adrian Chung, the general manager of the distributors business in Hong Kong, said: The demand for high-quality mixers has never been greater, and Three Cents will bring an exciting new dimension to the premium cocktail experience in our markets. Coca-Cola HBC acquired the parent company Three Cents in 2022 in a deal worth 45m (then $45.9m). Three Cents was founded in 2014 by Bagos, Dimitris Dafopoulos, George Tsirikos and Vassilis Kalantzis, a group of bartenders and food and beverage professionals. Coca-Cola HBC classifies Three Cents under its adult sparkling business. In the bottlers 2024 annual report, the company said sales volumes from that part of its portfolio rose at a high single-digit rate last year on an organic basis. It said a factor in the divisions growth was the launch of Three Cents into more markets. "Mixer brand Three Cents to enter Hong Kong, Singapore" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. (Bloomberg) -- Top trade officials from South Korea and Japan are set to meet with their Chinese counterpart in Seoul this weekend to discuss economic cooperation as they seek ways to respond to increasing trade pressure from the US, according to a media report. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Koreas Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun will host the meeting with Japans Yoji Muto and Chinas Wang Wentao on Sunday, the first such gathering among the three nations in five years, Yonhap News said. South Koreas Industry Ministry declined to confirm the report. The meeting comes just days after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to implement a 25% tariff on auto imports. The auto tariffs will come into effect at 12:01 a.m. Washington time on April 3, initially targeting fully assembled vehicles. The president is expected to make an even broader announcement of so-called reciprocal tariffs around the same time. Listen to the Bloomberg Daybreak Europe podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen The three Asian nations are among those Trump has cited as trade abusers. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Thursday he wont rule out taking countermeasures against the Trump administrations auto tariffs after Japans repeated in-person pleas for an exemption went unheeded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this weekends meeting, the three trade chiefs are likely to discuss a free trade agreement after the nations leaders last May pledged to accelerate talks on the trade deal. Since then, two of the three leaders who attended the summit have been replaced, and all three nations are trying to stave off the impact of the Trump administrations tariff campaign. Tokyo is expected to maintain its support for a free, open trade environment and confirm its strong economic ties with its neighbors. Japan is expected to host the next leaders summit among the three nations, following a recent gathering of their top diplomats in Tokyo. Beijing has also been trying to stabilize ties with its major trading partners amid rising tensions over Washingtons trade policies. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The News Security experts and analysts are increasingly concerned that the US government is becoming more vulnerable to espionage and security breaches as a result of President Donald Trumps war on the bureaucracy and foreign policy approach. Heightened collaboration between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea poses a growing threat to US interests, a new intelligence report warned. The stunning leak of American military plans in a Signal group chat could exacerbate the problem: A Republican congressman said he had no doubt Russia and China were monitoring at least some of the devices belonging to top Trump officials in the chat, while a Democratic senator said the erosion of trust among US intelligence officials could embolden China to recruit those who have been pushed out. SIGNALS US adversaries could exploit mass government layoffs Sources: The New York Times, Euro News, AP News, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiencys efforts to lay off thousands of federal workers offer US adversaries the chance to recruit disgruntled employees as informants: Americas enemies pray for this level of chaos, confusion and opportunity, journalist Noah Shachtman wrote. Hostile recruitment is not new, a former counterintelligence official said, but DOGE is taking it to a whole new level. Reuters reported that a secretive network of Chinese firms has tried to lure recently laid-off US government employees, while China and Russia are using LinkedIn and other job sites to hunt for the Social Service guy whos really upset about what DOGE is doing, a former FBI officer said. DOGE is a counterintelligence disaster in the making, one analyst said. Russia remains a threat to US interests Sources: CNN, Foreign Affairs Moscow remains an enduring potential threat to US power, the latest US government threat assessment found stressing that the war in Ukraine has offered Russia a wealth of lessons regarding combat against Western weapons and intelligence. Donald Trumps rapprochement with Moscow has made it more difficult to shape a comprehensive Western response to Russias systematic and increasingly lethal hybrid warfare strategy, two analysts argued. The detente has seemingly deterred US officials from investigating Russian threats, FBI agents said, while the Kremlin is hoping to reestablish its Washington diplomatic presence in order to rebuild its fractured spy networks. Western intelligence-sharing could suffer Sources: The Economist, Foreign Policy, Financial Times The US-Russia rapprochement is a grave concern for Washingtons allies, Foreign Policy wrote, with many worried that Trump, who has a history of sharing sensitive and classified information, is about to spend time with [...] Kremlin officials, with no other allies in the room. And the presidents politicization of the intelligence community is likely to cause turmoil and paralysis among American spies that spill over onto allies, The Economist argued. Meanwhile,the fallout from the Signal leak could create dangerous blind spots in detecting threats, a former congressional intelligence advisor said. The Five Eyes intelligence sharing network may be particularly vulnerable, one former British intelligence official noted, as it has, in practice, just one unwritten rule that America makes the rules. (Bloomberg) -- A senior Chinese leader called for increased global cooperation and opposition to protectionist measures, in a thinly veiled critique aimed at the US for destabilizing trade and geopolitical relations. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should jointly safeguard the free trade system, uphold open regionalism, and firmly oppose trade and investment protectionism, Ding Xuexiang, the ruling Communist Partys sixth-ranking official, said during his keynote speech at the annual Boao Forum on Thursday, attended by Asian leaders, global diplomats and business executives. The four-day Boao gathering in the southern province of Hainan comes as Beijing intensifies a charm offensive to lure overseas investment. China has bolstered efforts to portray itself as a reliable partner as US President Donald Trump rattles markets with unpredictable tariffs and unnerves US allies with geopolitical maneuvers. Ding also sought to reassure global investors by highlighting the strength of Chinas economy and its commitment to innovation. He pointed to recent advancements in artificial intelligence, robots and new-energy vehicles as new growth drivers and vowed to broaden market access for foreign investors. No matter how the external environment changes, China will open wider to the world, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dings speech follows a week of Chinese efforts to woo international business leaders and foreign officials. Top executives including Apple Inc.s Tim Cook, Qualcomm Inc.s Cristiano Amon, Pfizer Inc.s Albert Bourla and Saudi Aramcos Amin Nasser attended the two-day China Development Forum in Beijing, where officials touted the economys potential for business. Facing external headwinds, Chinese policymakers made boosting domestic demand the top economic priority this year. Lifting consumption will also increase its appeal to foreign investors after inbound investment fell to its lowest in over three decades last year. Xuan Changneng, deputy governor of the Chinese central bank, repeated a pledge to cut interest rates and the reserve requirement ratio at a proper time at a panel in the afternoon. Global monetary policy is facing unprecedented uncertainty now due to geopolitics and anti-globalization trends, he said, vowing to push borrowing costs lower in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shift in the geopolitical landscape and Trumps policy whiplash was a hot topic for delegates at this weeks forum, sometimes called Chinas Davos. The tone of most panels swung between confusion over Trumps intentions to optimism that like-minded countries, led by China, would find a way to push forward to keep goods flowing across borders. Stephen Roach, former Morgan Stanley Asia chairman, warned participants against complacency on the prospects of global trade. The United States is still by far the largest economy in the world and its pulling out of globalization, he said. How can we even talk about a new globalization without the worlds largest economy? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an earlier address at the China Development Forum, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said China is prepared for shocks that exceed expectations, urging countries to open up markets in the face of growing economic fragmentation. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to meet a group of US business executives in Beijing on Friday. The worlds second-largest economy is bracing for potentially more tariffs as a US report on its compliance with an earlier trade deal comes due on April 1 and Trump plans to impose reciprocal levies globally the next day. Any new US levies on China will likely be met with retaliation and strain ties that had stabilized under the Biden administration. Trump said he would consider lowering tariff rates imposed on China to secure Beijings support for a sale of the US operations of ByteDance Ltd.s social video platform TikTok to an American company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with more comments.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Over its 75-year history, the Peoples Republic of China has suffered numerous traumas, but perhaps none with longer-lasting consequences than land reforma violent campaign of torture, murder, and mob rule that the Communist Party enacted in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The programs stated intent was to redistribute property to landless farmers, but in reality it was used to bring huge swaths of Chinese society to heel through the brutal persecution of landowners. This history is the governing partys ultimate taboo, its unspoken original sin. Over the decades, independent historians and ordinary people in China have at times managed to publicly criticize some of the partys actionseven major upheavals such as the Cultural Revolutionwithout facing reprisal. But land reform is so fundamental to how the current government took power that no citizen may portray it as anything other than a benevolent campaign that brought fairness and prosperity to Chinas long-suffering farmers. This context is what makes Fang Fangs novel Soft Burial, recently translated into English by Michael Berry, so electrifying. Starting around the turn of the 21st century, independent historians began to explore land reform, drawing on oral histories to challenge the partys narrative. But their works were either quickly banned or circulated only underground. Soft Burial, first published in China in 2016, was different. Fang is one of her countrys best-known novelists, and a longtime member of its literary establishment. After Soft Burial was published, it won a sought-after literary prize and was widely discussed in mainstream Chinese media, until backlash prompted censors to ban it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although many people have written China off as a completely closed, authoritarian country, it has a broad movement of independent writers, thinkers, and filmmakerssome on the fringes of society but some, like Fang, firmly part of the establishment. Her novel is one of the first works to gain a mainstream readership in China that uncovers the buried reality of land reform, the reasons the party pushed it so brutally, and the inherited pain it has visited upon Chinese people. The widespread, if short-lived, conversation surrounding the book shows that even a powerful authoritarian state cant fully erase history. [Read: Chinese leaders are scared of their countrys history] Abroad, Fang is best known as the author of Wuhan Diary, an account of the citys 2020 COVID lockdown, which initially controlled the viruss spread but set the stage for years of arbitrary, harsh, and increasingly ineffective shutdowns across China. Berry had begun translating Soft Burial shortly after it was published in China but shifted to Wuhan Diary in 2020 because of its topicality. Now Soft Burial has been published alongside Berrys translation of The Running Flame, one of Fangs other novels, which tells the story of a woman on death row for killing her abusive husband. Soft Burials title comes from the practice of interring someone without a coffin, which in traditional China would happen to the very poor, or after a war or disasterthe sort of catastrophe that befell rural China when land reform became a tool for social revolution and authoritarian control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The novel begins in the present, centering on the story of an old widow in the Chinese city of Wuhan. As a very young woman, in 1952, she had been pulled unconscious out of a river, after nearly drowning. When she awoke, she had no memory. She evidenced some educationshe could recognize storylines from a classic novel and some mythologybut China had been taken over by a Communist Party that was intent on violent struggle against elites. And so a kindly doctor advised her to hold on to her amnesia: Illiteracy and ignorance, he told her, were the best forms of protection. After several years, the doctor was widowed, and he married the rescued woman. They had a son, who found success in Chinas southern boomtowns, eventually returned to Wuhan, and bought an opulent villa for his family. But when he moves his mother in, the wealth and prosperity trigger something in the old womanit all reminds her of something dangerous, something she cant quite put her finger on. Exhausted and bewildered, she falls into a coma, and while unconscious, she travels through the 18 levels of hell, a concept found in many Chinese religious traditionseach revealing more of her past. We learn that the old woman was from a landowning family, and lost her first husbands family, as well as her own parents and brother, to mass suicide and murder. The novels other storyline revolves around her son, who discovers diaries revealing that his father, the doctor, was also born into a landowning family but had hidden his background. When the son travels to Sichuan province with an academic friend who intends to create an inventory of old villas, he discovers the house where his mother had lived with her first husband and in-laws, and begins to piece together his familys repressed history. Long before the Communists took power, reformers of all stripes had advocated land redistribution. In the mid-20th century, about 80 percent of Chinese lived in the countryside, and many lacked property. But in numerous cases, landholders were not exactly fat cats. Independent research has shown that in the eastern part of Sichuan province, where parts of Soft Burial take place, landholders owned on average just 2.4 acres, and many worked the fields alongside hired hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the late 1940s, as the Communists gained the upper hand in Chinas civil war, they began to aggressively pursue their goal of radically restructuring Chinese political, economic, and cultural life. The biggest obstacle standing in the partys way was the landed gentry, or shi. This mostly educated group had been the backbone of traditional China. They built schools and roads, managed temples, and raised militias to provide local security. Because the imperial bureaucracy wasnt large and did not penetrate to small towns or villages, much of local life was run by this gentry. So if the party was going to succeed, this class had to be destroyed and replaced with a new bureaucratic caste of Communist officials. After taking power in October 1949, the party stoked the flames of anger and hatred against landowners, resulting in the first mass campaign of violence in the Peoples Republic. Historians estimate that at least 2 million people were killed, including entire families. Survivors were beaten, tortured, and sexually assaulted, and the former gentry and their descendants became a class of formal outcasts for the next 30 yearsdenied jobs, promotions, and higher education. Over the following decades, rural China plunged into ever-greater crises. In the mid-50s, the party expropriated the land it had given to the farmers, eventually leading to the Great Famine, which killed as many as 45 million people. Even today, farmers have land-use rights but do not own their land, which deprives them of capital and subjects them to party directives on how to use it. During the partys push to urbanize China in the 2000s, many farmers had to surrender even these meager rights in exchange for an apartment and a welfare check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Michael Albertus: How authoritarians turn rural areas into their strongholds] As Fang unravels her characters stories, she also reveals the complexity of examining the past. In their own ways, both mother and son are reluctant excavators of these buried memories. The woman has almost completely repressed them, revisiting them only at the very end of her life. For the son, digging into his familys history is a risky enterprise; he has made good in modern China and doesnt want to rock the boat. When his friend encourages him to explore further, he hesitates. The safest choice, he thinks, is to forget the past and move on with life. As a work of literature, the novel has its flaws. The stories are almost too perfectly synchronized, with every loose end tied up. Not only does the young man coincidentally travel to the same part of the country where his mother was born, but he finds the very villa where she once lived with her in-laws, and the secret tunnel she used to escape. At one point, part of this story is told to a character in the novel who exclaims, It sounds like a television drama! Still, it is a riveting read, and an illuminating one; it shows how Chinas independent thinkers often feed on one anothers work. Soft Burial echoes the work of Tan Song, a scholar who spent years researching land reform in Sichuan province. Other writers and artists have also begun to mine this era for clues to Chinas current authoritarian malaise. At last years Berlin Film Festival, the independent filmmaker Wang Xiaoshuai screened a movie on land reform that drew a direct line from those events to the impoverishment of rural life today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not surprisingly, the subject remains taboo. In 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued a list of 10 historically nihilist rumors that must be bannedone of them, of course, was land reform. The governments goal is to keep its people in a state of amnesia over the countrys history, but novels such as Soft Burial show that in China, the past will always get dug up. Article originally published at The Atlantic Mar. 27A rare Chinese temple from the Gold Rush era will continue to be on display in Lewiston, but it's going to have a new home. Artifacts from the Beuk Aie Temple are moving from the Lewis-Clark State College Center for Arts and History to the Nez Perce County Historical Society and Museum, which has plans for a new building to house the collection. Representatives from LCSC and the historical society met Wednesday afternoon to sign an agreement and formalize the transfer of a shrine built in 1890 by Chinese immigrants who came to this region to search for gold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dan Miller, president of the Nez Perce County Historical Society, said a new building is slated for the museum campus to house the collection, and it should be completed in two years or so. While the project is underway, an exhibit will be available for public viewing in the main museum. "This is a big moment for us," Miller said, unrolling a blueprint of future plans for the Beuk Aie Temple. "This is our dream." The temple was originally on the former C Street until 1959, when the building was razed. Fortunately, several Lewiston residents preserved its contents, including a wooden altar carved with dragons, phoenixes, pomegranates and Chinese characters, and an ornate lantern that is fueled with peanut oil. The exhibit also includes cooking utensils, mining tools and items used in daily life during the time period when Chinese immigrants were here carving out a living here during the gold rush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Mossler, of Clarkston, helped move the artifacts from their original home to a garage more than five decades ago, before the collection became public. He and other family members preserved a piece of history that will help future generations learn about Idaho's early Chinese residents. "I think we have the only authentic altar cloth in all of North America," Mossler told the Lewiston Tribune at the brief ceremony. "I have photos of my father and brother and me moving the items before the building was torn down." LCSC officials said the agreement between the college and the museum was made in close consultation with the Beuk Aie Temple Advisory Committee and at the request of the historical society. "It has been LC State's honor and privilege to serve as the custodial home and caretaker of this important part of our community's history and Chinese American heritage for over three decades," LCSC President Cynthia Pemberton said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM "This is important history that must be preserved for future generations, and we are grateful to the Nez Perce County Historical Society for its keen interest and expertise in doing just that. Transferring the temple to the historical society will preserve its quality care and allow increased public access to this important historical collection." When gold was discovered near Pierce in the 1860s, thousands of miners, including those of Chinese descent, rushed to this region. Most of the Chinese men who came to the area were from the Toishan district of China's Guangdong Province. They brought with them their religion, a form of Taosim that combined elements of Confucianism and Buddhism with traditional folk practices and mythology. In 1890, a temple was built to serve as their house of worship. The temple remained for 69 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1991, LCSC acquired the historic First Security Bank on Main Street, and it became home to the Center for Arts and History. Shortly afterward, the Beuk Aie Temple Society contributed the century-old artifacts to the college. After extensive cleaning and restoration, the collection was dedicated in 1994. The three-room exhibit on the second floor remained open until a fire forced its closure in 2009. The display was reopened in 2013. Several years ago, the college and historical society entered into a joint cooperative agreement to support the preservation of the temple. This agreement covered display, accessibility, preservation, maintenance, storage, and established an advisory committee. According to a news release, the advisory committee conducted a thorough assessment of the exhibit last year and identified the need for additional renovation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Currently the Nez Perce County Historical Society has a certified curator, has doubled the size of its campus, and is prepared to manage all aspects of the Chinese community's history," members wrote in a letter of request to LCSC. The museum, located at the corner of Third and Capital streets, has always featured exhibits that pertain to the area's 1860s Chinese influence and ongoing Chinese American heritage, officials said. The Beuk Aie Temple artifacts are expected to greatly expand and complement existing displays. The historical society and museum representatives estimate the Beuk Aie Temple altar will be ready for display by June 1. The rest of the Beuk Aie Temple exhibit will be displayed in a separate building after it is constructed on the museum campus. Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com. CHIPPEWA FALLS With a new simulator, officers from across Chippewa County can train on a variety of scenarios that play out on a screen in front of them. In some cases, a person is experiencing a medical crisis. In another, a person becomes combative and argumentative. In others, the on-screen individual pulls out a weapon, forcing the officer to choose how to respond. Retired officer Bruce VanValkenburg, who is a reserve Chippewa County deputy, ran the computer and walked officers and students through the training scenarios Wednesday at the Chippewa County Courthouse. In one case, the officer convinced the hostile person to set down a gun and surrender. If things hadnt gone well, he might have picked the gun back up, VanValkenburg said. The best tool you have to work with is your mouth and your brain, and the ability to keep things calm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rose Baier, Chippewa County Criminal Justice Services director, said she saw the MILO (Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives) Range Advanced Training Simulator for two consecutive years at a conference and was impressed. She decided the county needed one. Its a mobile device, meant to go anywhere, Baier said. There are more than a thousand different scenarios in here. We are trying to have them train in crisis intervention skills. Lake Hallie Police Chief Edward Orgon said at least one officer from each agency in the county has trained on it, and more will get the chance in coming weeks. He was impressed with what he saw. Its a great tool for the officers in the county, Orgon said. Its needed for training purposes. Its very beneficial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chippewa Falls High School has a class titled Introduction to Criminal Justice, and more than a dozen students attended the training session. Students can earn credits toward a CVTC criminal justice program. I think its honestly very useful, instead of having to spend money on ammunition and equipment, said Chi-Hi Junior River Way. And you can have more people training at a time. The Chippewa County Criminal Justice Services Department received a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for $24,096 to purchase the equipment. We are excited to have another tool to assist officers in making critical decisions in the field related to crisis response events, Chippewa Falls Police Chief Ryan Douglas said in a press release. The ability to have a portable judgment and de-escalation simulator available to all law enforcement jurisdictions will have a positive impact county-wide. Representatives from each law enforcement jurisdiction within Chippewa County, including the Sheriffs Office, Bloomer, Stanley, Lake Hallie, Chippewa Falls, Cadott, and Cornell, are all receiving training on the simulator. The simulator has been incorporated into regular field training practice along with being highlighted at community events. This is an adapted excerpt from the March 26 episode of All In with Chris Hayes. While there is a lot of focus on the major scandals involving Donald Trumps administration, its important we dont lose sight of whats happening inside this country, where we are witnessing the federal government snatch people right off the streets for their political speech. The latest, most chilling example of that happened Tuesday outside of Boston, when Rumeysa Ozturk, a Ph.D. student and Fulbright scholar at Tufts University, was taken off a residential street in Somerville, Massachusetts. At 5:15 p.m., Ozturk, who came to the United States from Turkey on a student visa, had just left her apartment when, as video obtained by NBC News shows, she was approached by a man in a dark hoodie and hat who grabbed her hands. In that video, you can see and hear how upset and scared she is. Eventually, an ICE agent finally pulls out a badge and appears to identify himself as law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozturk is quickly surrounded by half a dozen cops, all in street clothes with their faces covered by masks. They take her cellphone and physically remove her backpack. She is then handcuffed as a bystander films and asks how anyone is supposed to know these people are law enforcement officials. The ICE agents then lead the terrified woman to their unmarked vehicles and drive off. Now, if all that were not chilling enough, an attorney for Ozturk released a statement earlier Wednesday saying in part: 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. Tuesday night, a district court judge ordered Ozturk not be moved out of Massachusetts without first providing advance notice. But late the next afternoon, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainee locator, Ozturk is currently being held in a south Louisiana ICE processing center, nearly 2,000 miles from where she was snatched off the street. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas. But she is still not charged with any crime. The activities she is accused of appear to be that she co-wrote an editorial in the Tufts University newspaper that was published a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The piece reads, in part, We affirm the equal dignity and humanity of all people, specifically referencing Palestinians. It then goes on to quote the author James Baldwin and challenges the universitys president to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and embrace efforts by students to evaluate diverse and sometimes contradictory ideas and opinions. In response to Ozturks detention, more than 1,000 people showed up in Somerville on Wednesday night to protest and call for her return. Ozturk is not charged with a crime because, as far as we know, she did not commit one. She is here legally on a visa. And while the government does have the discretion to terminate a visa, is this how America does that now by snatching terrified students off the street and taking them thousands of miles across the country without anyone knowing? That is as flatly authoritarian as anything we have ever seen in the United States. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com MARSHALL, Texas (KETK) A new city manager was announced on Monday evening for the City of Marshall. City council members named Melissa Byrne Vossmer as their new city manager who has served as interim city manager since October 2024. She has also held various roles as assistant city manager and interim city manager in multiple Texas districts. Marshall family uninjured after fire burns home Melissa Vossmer, courtesy of the City of Marshall I am excited to officially step into this role, Vossmer said. Working with Marshalls dedicated staff and residents, Ive discovered we have much to be grateful for here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vossmer holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Mary of the Plains College and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Kansas. She was also previously the president of the Texas City Management Association. Committed to maintaining an open-door policy, Vossmer encourages Marshall residents to discuss any city matters with her directly. We will keep working side by side, building on our progress, and finding new ways to strengthen and invest in Marshalls future, Vossmer said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. Subscribe here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Overcast | Pocket Casts The Atlantic published more details from a Signal chat between President Donald Trumps top advisers that included sensitive details about a military strike in Yemen. The group chat, created by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, included several high-level administration members, including Vice President J. D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and an account called TG, the initials of the director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard. In screenshots published by The Atlantic, the defense secretary messaged information about strike targets and times of attack. Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed the veracity of the chat. The report of the security breakdown launched hundreds of memes, and group chats across the country were jokingly renamed Houthi PC Small Group. Amid the snickering in Washington, D.C., were also denialsfrom Gabbard, Hegseth, Ratcliffe, and President Trumpboth to reporters and in congressional hearings, that the information in the chat was classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We talk with Shane Harris, a national-security reporter for The Atlantic, about how he would characterize the messages and what kind of reverberations to expect from this breach. The following is a transcript of the episode: Claudine Ebeid: This is Radio Atlantic. Im Claudine Ebeid, in for Hanna Rosin. On Monday, The Atlantic reported that our editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to a Signal group chat. It was a thread with senior Trump administration officials that included sensitive military information about an attack on Houthi targets in Yemen. On the day of the attack, March 15, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared operational details two hours before the strikes. And Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed the veracity of the chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Jeff and Atlantic staff writer Shane Harris were on the show. Since then, administration officials have roundly denied there was any classified information in the thread, including in testimony before Congress. Mark Warner: Director Gabbard, you are the security executive and set access guidelines for classified information. Did you contact the defense secretary or others after this specific military planning was put out and say: Heywe should be doing this in a SCIF? Tulsi Gabbard: There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal chat. Warner: So then if there [is] no classified material, share it with the committee. Ebeid: With me now is Shane Harris, who covers national security. Hi, Shane. Shane Harris: Hi. Ebeid: So Shane, we just heard Democratic Senator Mark Warner questioning Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. She and other administration officials have reiterated that there was no classified information in the Signal chat. What was your reaction to the administrations response after the original story was published? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris: My reaction was Well, if what were looking at in these texts isnt classified information, then maybe I dont know what classified information is. (Laughs.) Ive been doing this a while, and lookI mean, I dont understand their argument here. This information is presumptively classified, and I dont think you have to take my word for it. You can actually go look at DOD regulations and intelligence regulations that are available online, and there are helpful tables where in one column it will, you know, list the descriptions of kinds of information and then tell you their relevant classification status, where they should be set. And there are all kinds of different categories that are implicated in this text chainin particular, when were talking about things like these strike plans that you just heard Senator Warner ask Director Gabbard about that Secretary Hegseth had shared. You know, if you look just at the governments own guidelines, the kinds of information that are in here are presumptively classified. So I dont know where the basis for this claimI could take a stab at why I think politically theyre making itbut as a legal or a sort of security matter, I dont know what the foundation for that claim is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ebeid: Since that response, The Atlantic published the text of the Signal chat, including information that was previously left out of Mondays story. So what can you tell me about making that decision? Harris: Well, there were two things that were driving that for us. One was that, you know, to our surprise, officialsincluding, you know, the DNI, the CIA director, the White House spokesperson, and ultimately the president himselfweighed in on this on Tuesday, saying that the information in the thread was unclassified. Which was, you know, kind of just say, Okay, well, then is it not considered sensitive? I mean, can this be shared? And the other thing was that administration officials, including the president, were attacking our journalism. And they were implying or claiming that we were deceiving the public, that if the public saw them, they would see that actually, you know, Jeff and the editors of The Atlantic were lying to them about what they really said. And so I think that we felt an obligation in that way to show people, Lookthis is what is in these messages. You can decide for yourself if were being honest with you. And by the way, this is everything that the president says is unclassified and his top advisers say is unclassified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ebeid: And, you know, the idea of what counts as classified information and what doesnt, who determines whats classified, and when its classifiedthese are not new questions in your line of work. But for people without your background, can you tell us a little bit more about how we should think about these arguments around what it means for something to be classified? Harris: So think of it this way: Information is classified. By information, Im talking aboutit could be anything, and the government classifies a lot of things. Its classified according to the damage that would be done if the information were publicly released. So you have different levels of classification. You have Secret. Above that, you have Top Secret. Above that, you have something called Top Secret / SCI. And then even within that level, you have different, what are called, compartments of information. That is essentially information that can only be known by those with a need-to-know who are read into a particular compartment, so the really kind of super-secret stuff, you can think of it. And those labels are put on pieces of information to let people in the government who are handling this information know how to handle it, how much to restrict it, whos allowed to see it. Its essentially like a coding system that, again, is based on the damage that would be done if it were known outside of these closed circles of people who need to know it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So who decides what information is classified? Senior-level government officials often have that authority. Secretaries of defense, of state have whats called original classification authority. Pete Hegseth can mark something classified if he wants to. He can also begin the process to declassify something if he wants to do that. And this really is, I mean, usually something that is done on an agency-by-agency or department-by-department basis. So the Defense Department kind of categorizes all of its classified information. And the CIA does the same for its classified information. And it really, its justI mean, when we talk about something being classified, usually what it really means at base is: Its sensitive. Its information that the agency doesnt want a lot of people to know about or doesnt want people outside the kind of cleared circle to know about. Thats probably the best way to think about it. Ebeid: And you saw the texts. Based on what you know, is there a category that you would have put those texts? A level of classification? Harris: I wouldve presumed they were top secret, which is not to say that thats the most most secret, but I wouldve presumed that they were at least top secret, because youre talking about information about a military attack thats about to happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, Hegseth is sharing things like the time that F-18s are going to launch, when they will be releasing their weapons, what the follow-on attacks will be, by what kind of aircraft, by what kind of weapons. This is sensitive information because if this fell into the hands of an adversary, the adversary is going to know how to try to avoid the attack or potentially launch a counterattack, which then, that could also jeopardize the lives of U.S. forces, who are already, you know, flying into harms way because the Houthis have antiaircraft capabilities. They can try to shoot these planes down, and we know that. So why would you want information like this to be in an unsecured channel, where it could fall into the hands of somebody who could, you know, give it to your adversary? And obviously, that didnt happen here, but this case kind of exemplifies why they shouldnt be using Signal to begin with. If theyd been having these conversations on a secure government system, it would be impossible to have added Jeffrey Goldberg to that chat. So this is why Signal is not well suited for sharing this kind of information. Talking about things in a more broad sense or unclassified or not highly sensitive information? Sure. And lots of officials do that. And there are instances in which that is fine and condoned, but I have yet to find anybody who can tell me that this kind of information is fine to share in Signal. I justI think its not. And if these officials have made a determination that it is, I think they owe the public an explanation for that. Instead, what theyve done is insist its unclassified, which implies its not terribly sensitive, and theyve attacked us for reporting about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ebeid: So this isnt the first time weve had a scandal around sensitive information. Weve, of course, you know, had the Hillary Clinton email saga. Theres that Donald Trump was indicted over classified documents in Florida before the case was dropped after his election. Could you put this breach in the context of those past episodes? Harris: Yeah. I think if you take the Hillary Clinton email server kind of at one end of severity, which is to say kind of a lower endits not insignificant; I want to emphasize thatand then you put the Donald Trump taking classified documents to Mar-a-Lago, for which hes indicted, at the high end of severity, because here were talking about boxes of paper classified documents in an unsecured place, lots of people milling about, I think that this Signal chat falls somewhere in the middle of that. And maybe closer to the Hillary Clinton email side. And the reason I say that is because, look: If Jeff had not been in the room, its possible that these wouldve been the only people who knew about it. So thats to some degree, as in to say, these officialswho are all clear to have this information, by the waytheres no question that theyre allowed to see what was in the room. Its a question of the way it was transmitted, and the risk that goes with that. There is the obvious risk that, you know, someone could be in the room that wasnt supposed to be there. But theres another risk that we havent talked about, which is that the devices themselves, the phones on which Signal is running for these 17 or so officials, could those phones have been compromised by a foreign government or by a criminal government? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ebeid: Right. Could they be hacked? Harris: Could they be hacked? Exactly. And if they were hacked, that means somebody could theoretically be reading the messages as if they were standing there holding the phone themselves. And this is not theoretical. The government, just in recent days, has put out guidance to people who are using Signal, including officials who are using it, warning them about the vulnerabilities that Signal has to foreign-intelligence services. And there are questions about, was Signal running on these officials government phones, which we would hope have a pretty high degree of security, or their personal phones, which are under their personal recognizance that might not be as secure as a government phone? So that, I think, tilts it a little more towards the severe side, but I think its in the middle of those two scandals. Ebeid: What consequences do you expect for the officials who are on the group chat? Actually, maybe I should ask, given your years of experience, how would you typically expect an administration to respond to this kind of situation? Harris: The typical response to this would beI think itd be twofold. One, I think the officials would be humiliated. Theyd be highly embarrassed, and if they were thinking about their reputations would probably try to come out and maybe try and do something to soften the blow, but essentially take responsibility for it. I would expect in any other administration, the national security adviser probably wouldve offered the president his resignation, and the president might have taken it. The other thing that would happen here is that there would be an investigation, and probably the FBI would do that investigation. The reason for that is: Although this is a very novel example of a classified leakputting aside that the government says its not classifiedits still a leak. Its still a leak, and when there is sensitive information that falls into the hands of people who arent supposed to have it, the FBI usually investigates that, particularly ifyou know, its publicly known in this case. But the agencies in question whose information was implicated, what they would normally do is refer that to the FBI and say: Wed like you to investigate this and find out how it happened. And then, of course, part of that investigation would be to determine whether or not there are criminal charges that should be filed. I dont think thats likely to happen in this case. I dont think itd be likely to happen, by the way, in another administration. The lawthis is a strange case. I dont imagine anyone would be prosecuted, but theyre certainly not gonna be prosecuted in the Trump administration. Ebeid: There is a lawsuit now filed against administration officials for, you know, violating federal recordkeeping laws. Do you think something could come of that? Harris: Now, thats possible. I mean, theres a question of standing. You know, does the plaintiff have standing to bring it? But its a really good point. Its worth just dwelling on a second. There are two records laws that are implicated here: the Federal Records Act and the Presidential Records Act. And in a nutshell, what they require is that if people are going to use a text-messaging serviceor any electronic service, for that matterthats not an official one, thats not, like, a .gov service, theyve gotta make a backup of those communications if they are pertaining to official matters. CIA Director John Ratcliffe actually was testifying earlier this week and mentioned this very fact as a way of defending the CIAs use of Signalor what he characterized as the CIAs use of Signalwhich he portrayed as widespread. Im not really sure thats true, but he accurately said that you have to keep a record of these messages if youre sending them. So there might be some legs to a lawsuit that alleges these officials were violating those records laws. [Music] Ebeid: More with Shane Harris after the break. [Break] Ebeid: You know, Shane, I think Ive received more text messagesand I should say, messages in Signalabout this story than anything in a very long time. Harris: Do people want to make a Houthi PC small group chat room too? Ebeid: Oh man, let me tell you, all my groups have been renamed this week. But I cant imagine what kind of responses youre getting. What are you hearing from people in the intelligence community? Harris: I think peoplewhat Im hearing is a mix of people being appalled, outraged, a lot of, If I had done this, Id be fired. If I had done this, I would be investigated and indicted. Theres a real sense of anger, I think, at what people see as the hypocrisy of these officials and sort of having a fine for me and not for thee attitude when it comes to what is ultimately just a really reckless use of technology. I really dont think theres any way around that. And I think a real sense, too, among people, including people who dont work in the government, who Ive talked toa real feeling that nothing will happen as a result of this and that no one will be held accountable and that thats a real shame. Ebeid: And you know, obviously, like, were focusing on this one text conversation that happened to include Jeffrey Goldberg. I mean, would it be reasonable for us to assume that this is not the first and only conversation thats happening like this in Signal or other group-chat environments? Harris: I think thats reasonable, and I presume its not the only one. And the reason I do is because in this whole conversation that were watching them have, not one person says: Heyshould we be doing this on Signal? Why did you add him to this group? Wait, why are we doing this on a text thread? Everyone behaves as if this is perfectly normal. And to my knowledge, at least in previous administrations, it is not normal. That suggests, to me, that these people have either done this before or know people have done it before. Ebeid: We have been very, you know, in the last couple of days around this story and even in this conversation, were very focused on what this means internally in the United States for us. A couple of weeks ago, you were on the show, talking with our host, Hanna Rosin, about this administrations about-face from European allies and what kind of effect that has on the intelligence community and sharing of information between the U.S. and countries that weve traditionally thought of as allies. What kind of fallout could we see with intelligence sharing with other countries after something like this? Harris: I think this is likely to confirm for our allies that they were right to be skeptical about this administrations ability to properly handle sensitive information, and that they will start pulling back accordingly. I think they already have been. And lookin the two days since this story has broken, Ive had a chance to talk to officials in some allied countries. Theyre appalled. They cant believe this is happening, and they are very candid in saying, you know, This is essentially why we have to rethink whether we can trust this administration. And you know, whats also so striking to me in some of these conversations is: As aghast as they are, theyre not actually surprised. Its not that they cant believe that anyone would do this. Its more that they think that if anyone were going to do it, it would be people in this administration. Because theres a track record. There has been since the inauguration, and theres a track record in Trumps first term. So you know, people are alsoyou know, like all of us, theyre kind of laughing. I mean, its justtheres a deep comic thread to this story. (Laughs.) No doubt. Ebeid: So many memes. Harris: So many memes. The memes have been amazing. Its been one of the best parts. But theyre also taking it really seriously because now they have an actual example, proof that there is information being bandied about in this way. And, you know, I was talking to someone just recently, you know, who said, So are we to assume that youre gonna take the intelligence that we give you from our country, and youre also gonna be sharing it with people over Signal? Because thats not okay. Ebeid: Right. Okay. So thats the situation with historic allies. What about Americas adversaries? What kind of conversations do you think are happening right now in North Korea and China? Harris: I think, you know, again, aside from the comedy of it, look: We have these individualsparticularly, the very senior members of the administration, the DNI, the CIA director, the secretary of defense, and to include their senior aidesalready are presumably at the top of the target list for foreign intelligence services to try and get information on them, compromise their electronic devices. What Im afraid this episode will show to those foreign spy agencies is that work of spying on our officials might be easier than they had thought it would be. And I dont think we should presume for a minute that all of the phones that were used in this Signal chain are a hundred percent secure. Im not saying I know them not to be, but I would not presume that they are. I think that there is kind of a pattern of sloppy behavior by senior members of the administration with how they take briefings, with people they have around them, and whether those people have been appropriately cleared, the kinds of communication systems that theyre using. I dont think we should view this Signal group as a one-off. I think that this is illustrative of a pattern of behavior and practice that we have seen since President Trump took office, in January. You know, and weve talked before and Ive written before about, you know, the counterintelligence and security risks that happen or get created when people from the DOGE service start barging into agencies and mucking about in computer systems that they dont really understand, and the way that they can expose information or make it more vulnerable. So I think about that and other threads that Im kind of pulling on and say: The way to think about the Houthi PC small group Signal scandal is as part of a whole pattern of behavior, not as something that happened in isolation. Ebeid: Shane, thanks so much for joining me today. Harris: Thank you for having me, Claudine. [Music] Ebeid: This episode of Radio Atlantic was produced by Jinae West and edited by Kevin Townsend. It was engineered by Rob Smierciak. Andrea Valdez is our managing editor. If you like what you hear on Radio Atlantic, remember: You can support our work and the work of all Atlantic journalists when you subscribe to The Atlantic at TheAtlantic.com/podsub. Thats TheAtlantic.com/podsub. Hanna Rosin is the host of Radio Atlantic. Im Claudine Ebeid, executive producer of Atlantic audio. Thank you for listening. Article originally published at The Atlantic CLEARFIELD, Pa. (WTAJ) A Clearfield man will spend more than six years in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking operation, authorities announced March 27. Toby Coker, 50, was sentenced to 80 months in prison, followed by six years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti. Prosecutors said Coker was involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy from July 2019 to June 2020 in western Pennsylvania. Investigators intercepted him on a federal wiretap obtaining methamphetamine, which he later distributed. In February 2020, he was found to have distributed an undisclosed amount of the drug. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police, contributed to the case. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Cokers sentencing is part of a broader federal effort to target high-level drug traffickers and dismantle criminal networks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (WAVY) Lost in a contentious Monday Senate hearing over the leaking of battle plans was an issue of concern to miliary members and bases in Hampton Roads climate change. Warner demands answers after Middle East attack plan leaks to journalist before it happened The hearing was the platform for the Annual Threat Assessment, the list of major threats to national security compiled by the intelligence community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Intelligence Committee for 13 years, wanted to know why climate change was omitted from this years assessment for the first time in 12 years. Every single one of these [previous 11 assessments] has mentioned global climate change as a significant national security threat except this one, King said as he questioned Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, in charge of the assessment. Has something happened has global climate change been solved? This assessment has been focused directly on the threats that we deem most critical to the United States and our national security, Gabbard said in response. Obviously, were aware of occurrences within the environment and how they may impact operations. The Pentagon has studied the effects of climate change on military bases and operations for years. In 2021, the Department of Defense reported that a tide gauge at Naval Station Norfolk showed a rise in sea level there of 18 inches in 100 years, with a forecast of as much as three more feet by 2050. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, said President Trump knows that climate change is a threat. It was in this document every year that Trump was president the first time, he said in a Wednesday morning conference call with reporters. Warner said climate change and sea level rise have already forced some costly, but necessary changes here in Hampton Roads. We spent millions of dollars a year raising the piers in Norfolk so the fleet can still appropriately dock there, Warner said. If anybody thinks sea level rise has gotten better, or were not seeing extreme weather events, then theyre either oblivious or ignorant. King asked whether Gabbard directed her staff to keep climate change off the list of threats. Gabbard said she didnt recall giving that instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. A 26-year-old woman from rural Carlyle died in a single-vehicle crash early Wednesday, the Clinton County sheriff said. Hazel S. Huels was found dead in a Toyota SUV that crashed off U.S. 50 near Jolliff Bridge Road in Shattuc, Sheriff Dan Travous said in a news release. A 911 caller stated at 12:43 a.m. that he heard what he thought may have been a crash, according to the news release. First responders found Heuls inside the Toyota in a field, Travous said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huels apparently was driving east on U.S. 50 and left the roadway to the south, just west of Jolliff Bridge Road. The vehicle continued east in the ditch until striking a culvert, causing the vehicle to roll an unknown number of times, according to the news release. Huels apparently was the only occupant of the SUV. Travous said deputies do not know what caused the Toyota to leave the roadway. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is searching for a robber who targeted a bank in South End. Police said the robber flashed a gun inside the Fifth Third Bank on South Boulevard near New Bern Street on Wednesday. ALSO READ: Deputies search for suspects in high-speed chase possibly linked to Salisbury robbery They said the suspect got away with cash, but its unclear how much. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. VIDEO: Deputies search for suspects in high-speed chase possibly linked to Salisbury robbery DENVER (KDVR) U.S. Representative for Colorado Jason Crow said repeatedly Wednesday that U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth needs to resign, a sentiment that both Rep. Diana DeGette and Sen. Michael Bennet expressed. Crow, a former Army Ranger and combat veteran, made those statements after The Atlantic published an article describing how the publications editor-in-chief was included in a text thread of top U.S. officials planning to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen, which would be classified information. What is Signal and why are politicians using it? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chat was made in a messaging app called Signal instead of using government-secured communications channels or government-secured facilities. On X, Crow said, Donald Trump should fire Pete Hegseth. If the President wont do it, he should resign, before stating that he believes the group chat could have killed American servicemembers. Ive long said that Pete Hegseth is not qualified to be Defense Secretary, Crow said in a press release Wednesday. After just weeks in office, hes shown the American people that hes not up to the job. Secretary Hegseth sent top-secret and classified war plans via an unsecured text chain. This carelessness with classified information endangered the lives of American pilots and servicemembers serving overseas. The Defense Secretarys actions were reckless and he should resign. DeGette spoke to Nexstar reporters in the U.S. Capitol, calling specifically for the resignation of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, as well as Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were talking about U.S. military operations: The most sensitive things that people in the administration can be talking about, and they had a Signal group where they had a phone number they didnt even know who it was and they didnt even bother to ask, where they were putting out very sensitive information, DeGette said. GOP representatives urge Polis to push for cop-killer parole application rejection Bennet echoed her frustrations, discussing how members of the Signal chat addressed the matter with members of Congress on Tuesday. He grilled CIA Director John Ratcliffe during a hearing on Tuesday, calling the Signal chat incompetence and disrespect for our intelligence agencies. In an open Intelligence Committee hearing yesterday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that Trump administration officials did not discuss any classified information or information on weapons packages, targets, or timing in their Signal group chat coordinating U.S. strikes on Yemen. As the chats transcript makes clear, this is plainly false, meaning that Gabbard lied to Congress and committed perjury, Bennet wrote on X. She must resign immediately. 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. MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) A lawyer who repeatedly swore at District 51 staff during a meeting on May 18, 2022, can be publicly censured, the Colorado Supreme Court decided Monday. Attorney Igor Raykin broke Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct which advises a lawyers respect for the rights of a third person and his conduct had no substantial purpose other than to delay, embarrass or burden the schools staff, the court said. Raykin directed several of these inappropriate comments at special education consultant Jan Blair and outside counsel Tammy Eret in front of his client a student and the childs parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raykin repeatedly told Blair to shut up during a heated argument. He also said to Blair and Eret, You people cant even send the right f***ing document, after he apparently received the wrong document through email. When Eret told him he shouldnt be cursing at the meeting, Raykin replied, I sure as f*** am. She then muted the lawyer after he began swearing again. Raykin unmuted himself and said, Every time I unmute myself; Im going to say f*** again. Thats how I am going to start every sentence. His conduct was later reported to the Office of Attorney Regulation. On Aug. 24, 2022, Raykin submitted his response where he did not apologize for his actions but said I like to call things what they are. He also said his conditions were to blame which include attention deficit disorder, intermittent explosive and oppositional defiant disorder. He believes the disorders are useful as it helps him represent his clients better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they want to bully my clients by smiling in their faces while preparing to screw them over, then Im going to bully them back, Raykin said in his initial response. Raykin later apologized for his response letter. In the supplemental response to OARC, he said his words were hurtful and it was unproductive, dumb and selfish. Raykin also wrote a letter of apology on Feb. 29, 2024, to Blair, Eret and other D51 staff present at the May 2022 meeting. He admitted to bullying others and he was an immature person who couldnt control himself, a hypocrite, a person who was setting a terrible example for the kid he was representing. He also acknowledged his anger issues and hes working on it through cognitive behavioral therapy. During a two-day disciplinary hearing with OARC, Raykin said he had anger issues since he was younger. He also said he previously had other outbursts but none like the one at the D51 meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing board concluded that Raykin did violate Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. The board decided on a public censure and not suspension. Raykin also must get an independent medical examination by a qualified examiner at his own expense. Raykin filed a notice of appeal following the outcome. After reviewing the hearing boards conclusion, the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed the sanctions imposed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PARIS (AP) France and Britain will continue to forge ahead with plans to deploy troops in Ukraine to defend an eventual peace deal with Russia but only some other nations want to take part, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday after a summit of countries that have been mulling the proposal. The French leader said several nations other than France and Britain want to be part of the armed force but added, It is not unanimous. Paris and London say such a force would aim to secure any peace deal by dissuading Russia from attacking Ukraine again. We do not need unanimity to achieve it, Macron said. French and British military officials will work with Ukraine to determine where the contingents should be deployed and how many troops they'd need to be a credible deterrent, the French leader added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be a reassurance force with several European nations that will deploy," he insisted. The summit of leaders of nearly 30 countries plus NATO and European Union chiefs came at a crucial juncture in the more than three-year war, with intensifying diplomatic efforts to broker ceasefires, driven by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. But fighting rages on. Before the leaders met in the luxury of the French presidential palace, Russian drone attacks overnight wounded more than 20 people and heavy shelling Thursday afternoon killed one person and knocked out electricity in parts of Kherson, Ukrainian officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron and other summit participants accused Russia of only pretending to want a negotiated settlement. They are playing games and theyre playing for time," said U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. "We cant let them drag this out while they continue prosecuting their illegal invasion. U.S.-brokered agreements this week to safeguard shipping in the Black Sea and last week to halt long-range strikes on energy infrastructure were greeted as first steps toward peace. But Ukraine and Russia have disagreed over the details and accused each other of deal violations, foreshadowing a long and contentious process ahead. Europe asks: Will US help? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One reason why some European countries are balking at a potential deployment in Ukraine is because it's unclear whether Trump would support such a contingent with air power and other military assistance. "This will require the engagement and support of the United States, Starmer said. Thats a discussion weve had with the president on many occasions. Macron suggested they may have to do without U.S. backing. You have to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst, he said. My hope is that the Americans will be on our side and that the Americans will support, even play an active role." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But we have to be prepared for a situation where perhaps they wont join in, he added. Building a force big enough to act as a credible deterrent U.K. officials have talked about possibly 10,000 to 30,000 troops would be a considerable effort for nations that shrank their militaries after the Cold War but are now rearming. Starmers office said military planners from Europe and beyond have been drilling down into details, examining the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics. Greece publicly rejected sending troops. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said those discussions were somewhat divisive and distracted from the goal of ending the war as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also reiterated that Rome wont contribute troops to a possible military force to be deployed to Ukraine. She also underlined the importance of working with the U.S. on ending the conflict and called for the participation of an American delegation in the next coordination meeting. In the face of enduring pressure from Trump on Europe to increase military spending and rely less on U.S. forces, the proposed contingent is seen as a test of the continent's willingness to defend itself and its interests. While the U.S. has spearheaded ceasefire talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Europe, represented by Macron and Starmer, must also be at the negotiating table. We do not consider any alternative," he said. This is our firm stance. Europe is vast, and it must have clear representation in these negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agreement on sanctions Summit participants were more in agreement that sanctions squeezing Russia's economy must be continued, and even toughened, to force Moscow to negotiate in good faith. Lifting sanctions on Russia right now would be a disaster for diplomacy, Zelenskyy said. Sanctions are one of the few real tools the world has to pressure Russia into serious talks." Russia has demanded that sanctions be lifted to meet its terms for the Black Sea ceasefire. The White House said it would help restore Russias access to the world market for fertilizer and farm exports, but it didnt validate Moscows conditions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Russias demands would be evaluated and presented to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy said: Theyre dragging out the talks and trying to get the U.S. stuck in endless, pointless discussions about fake conditions just to buy time and then try to grab more land. More aid and more attacks As ceasefire efforts gather steam, Ukraine's allies in Europe are working to strengthen Kyiv's hand militarily. Their aim is to enable it to keep fighting until any broad peace takes hold and also to turn the Ukrainian army into the first line of defense against any future Russian aggression. Macron announced a new package of defense aid for Ukraine that he said was worth 2 billion euros ($2.15 billion) and will include light tanks, air defense and anti-tank missiles and other weaponry and support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian drone attacks overnight wounded at least 18 people in the Kharkiv region and three people in Dnipro, officials said. Shelling in a front-line community in the Zaporizhzhia region knocked out electricity and phone coverage, regional head Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram. Separately, the Ukrainian Army General Staff said that its attack at Engels military airfield in Russia on March 20 had destroyed 96 air-to-air cruise missiles and significant reserves of aviation fuel. Satellite imagery taken the next day by Maxar Technologies appeared to show damage to ammunition and weapons storage at Engels, the main base for Russias nuclear-capable strategic bombers. ___ Melley reported from London. Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, and Pan Pylas in London contributed to this report. Ocean Power (OPTT) has been awarded a contract for a PowerBuoy for an immediate delivery in the USA. This contract enables the future integration of surface and subsea sensors, and the buoy will be deployed on the East Coast. Due to the confidential nature of the contract, further details are not being disclosed. Light Up your Portfolio with Spark: Easily identify stocks' risks and opportunities. Discover stocks' market position with detailed competitor analyses. Published first on TheFly the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on OPTT: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue MOFFAT COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) A Craig man is facing over 50 counts of unlawful sexual behavior after a series of incidents involving allegedly taking photos of women in the restroom. On March 20, Dustin Hyatt, 47, was taken into custody after an investigation by the All Crimes Enforcement Team (ACET). Hyatt is charged with 26 counts of invasion of privacy for sexual gratification and 25 counts of criminal attempt (invasion of privacy for sexual gratification). All charges are misdemeanors. ACET Task Force officers learned that Hyatt allegedly had several photographs of women in a restroom at Jimmy Johns restaurant in Steamboat Springs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an interview with officers, Hyatt allegedly admitted having discreetly placed his phone beneath the bathroom sink in 10 different locations in mid-2024. Investigators reportedly found 51 images involving 33 separate victims. However, due to the cameras position, the victims faces were mostly unidentifiable. All individuals appeared to be adults. Hyatts bond was set at $1,500. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) Colorado politicians are cracking down on rent algorithms that they say are driving up housing prices. HB25-1004 passed through the Colorado House on Wednesday with a 43-22 vote. Lawmakers say it would restrict the sale or distribution of an algorithmic device with the intent that it be used by two or more landlords in the same or related market when setting a rent price. Colorado attorney general says one of states largest landlords uses deceptive advertising Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado House Democrats cited a December 2024 report from former President Bidens White House that said coordinated rents from algorithmic pricing increased Denver rent prices by about $136 per month. In Colorado, it showed that rents are $1,600 higher a year because landlords are colluding, using this price-fixing software, said bill sponsor Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. Working people, people who cannot afford to own homes are spending an extra $136 a month in rent because landlords are using this technology. Opposers argue this bill may be anti-landlord and could cause them to leave the state. Rent is supposed to be a function of the marketplace and so a renter can go to a place and get one set of rents and then in theory, go to another place and get an entirely different rent structure. The argument is that instead of having that open marketplace, its somehow coordinated, said MSU-Denver Affordable Housing Institute director and finance lecturer Andy Proctor, who provided insight on rent algorithms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 reached out to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce in reaction to this bill passing in the House on Wednesday: The Denver Metro Chamber strongly supports the bills intent to prevent anti-competitive practices in the housing market and ensure fair pricing. However, the bills broad language raised concerns around unintended consequences, potentially setting precedents that could make it harder for businesses to operate in Colorado. Sponsors collaborated with stakeholders to address numerous concerns regarding the introduced bill, and we greatly appreciate their partnership in this effort. While we look forward to further clarification on the use of publicly available data, significant progress has been made in mitigating unintended consequences Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce VP of Government Affairs Carly West. This Denver metro city saw the biggest drop in rent prices over a year: Zumper FOX31 also reached out to the Colorado Apartment Association: We appreciate the bill sponsors listening to rental housing providers across Colorado about how these products are used and can save renters money. The amended bill helps avoid unintended consequences by allowing property owners to continue sharing publicly available information, making the rental housing market more efficient. Ultimately, thats a win-win for both rental housing providers who have units empty for fewer days and renters who benefit from a more accurate valuation of their monthly rent. The Colorado Apartment Association The bill will now go to the Senate. If it passes there, it will then go to the Governors desk and could be signed into law. We are going to do everything in our power to help the people who are living paycheck to paycheck, which is 60% of the people in this country and almost all of them are renters, said Mabrey. Trust-busting and having a strong anti-trust enforcement is a bipartisan tradition in this country that dates back more than 100 years. What this bill does is it clarifies that if you are colluding with a competitor to set your prices using an algorithm, that is against the law. 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. AI startup founder Chungin "Roy" Lee was suspended from Columbia University on Wednesday. Columbia said he was suspended for posting content from a disciplinary hearing, not for creating an AI tool. "I got kicked out!" Lee told BI after the decision. He said he planned to move to San Francisco. Columbia University suspended a student who created an AI tool that helps job candidates cheat on technical interviews, according to disciplinary documents obtained by Business Insider. However, it doesn't appear his suspension was because of the tool itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university's stated reason for suspending Chungin "Roy" Lee, the creator of the AI tool, was that he shared a recording of a disciplinary hearing and posted a photo featuring Columbia staff on social media. Columbia's student conduct office on Wednesday informed Lee in a letter that he faced a yearlong suspension over "publishing unauthorized documents" from a disciplinary hearing regarding his AI tool, called Interview Coder. The documents, some of which Lee posted on social media, said Lee had signed a form agreeing not to disclose his disciplinary record or record or post the hearing online. "Update: I got kicked out!" Lee told BI after receiving the news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Columbia University declined to comment. Lee recently launched Interview Coder, an "invisible" AI tool for job candidates to cheat on technical questions during coding interviews. Lee's startup sells access to the tool for $60 a month, and he told BI in an interview on Wednesday before learning of his suspension that he was on track to make about $2 million a year in revenue. Lee posted a YouTube of himself using the tool during an Amazon interview in December. Later, he was reported to Columbia and pulled into the disciplinary-conduct process, the university said in documents. Lee said he and his business partner read the academic handbook before creating and marketing the tool and verified that it couldn't be by students to cheat on in-class assignments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Technical interviews are completely outside of what the university chooses to do, so it was really surprising that they decided to take any stance at all about this," Lee told BI. Lee said he attended a first hearing on February 17 "without any animosity" and thought the situation would "blow over." However, he said he was asked during the meeting about "an extremely hypothetical" situation about how the AI tool could be used in class. Before receiving the results of the first hearing, he submitted paperwork to take a leave of absence. He told BI he didn't see "a universe where I finished school" anyway. After the first disciplinary hearing, Lee was placed on probation after Columbia found him responsible for the facilitation of academic dishonesty based on a claim that the tool could be used to cheat on school exams where LeetCode is meant to be used, Columbia said in the documents viewed by BI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A week and a half later, and I'm completely kicked out from school," Lee said in the LinkedIn post. "LOL!" Lee said on LinkedIn that while it's "an amazing story in hindsight," he was "tweaking bad throughout" the process. Still, he said in the social media post, he's glad he took the risk. Before getting the official ruling, Lee told BI that if he were suspended, he planned to go "straight to San Francisco" which he said was his plan all along. Read the original article on Business Insider COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) Months after being shot multiple times during a robbery, a Columbus man has died. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan confirmed to WRBL Braxton Hicks, 27, has died after being shot multiple times during a robbery in May of 2024. Hicks was transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional for treatment of his wounds. He was transferred to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta soon after. Hicks was placed on a ventalator in the ICU where he later succumbed to his wounds, eight months after the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Columbus Police Department says the robbery and subsequent shooting of Hicks took place in the 2700 block of 10th Ave. on May 17 of 2024. Columbus Police say they still do not have a suspect in custody at this time. The investigation is still ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. UPDATE: 11:49 a.m. (WRBL) Columbus Police say they have found Charles Cumberbatch in good health. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department is trying to locate a critical man who went missing early Thursday morning. Police say Charles Cumberbatch, 75, was last seen in the area of Lawyers Lane at about 4:30 a.m. Cumberbatch is 5-foot-9-inches and was last seen wearing a black fleece jacket, gray undershirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information about this Cumberbatch or his whereabouts, is asked to contact 911, the CPD Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3449, or the lead investigator, Sgt. Joseph Jackson 706-225-4399. 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. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department is seeking information from the public about a minor who was reported missing on Tuesday, Mar. 25. According to CPD, Lamar Rogers, 12, was last seen on Mar. 25 in the 3800 block of Baker Plaza Drive. Rogers stands at 5-foot-8-inches, weighs about 115 pounds, and is described as having black hair and brown eyes. Police say he was last seen wearing black jeans with holes and a black hoodie with white writing. CPD is asking anyone with information regarding Rogers whereabouts to contact either 911, the CPD Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3449, or Sgt. Natalie Smith at 706-225-4375. 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. UNIVERSITY DISTRICT, Ohio (WCMH) The corner of North High Street and Lane Avenue could look different under a new 16-story student housing proposal. On Feb. 28, Georgia-based Landmark Properties submitted a plan for the property at 2160 N. High St. for review by the University Impact District Review Board. According to plans submitted to the city, the 16-story high-rise would create 72 parking spots for an undisclosed number of housing units, including some designated for affordable housing options. Historic central Ohio church listed for $2.4 million Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last July, the city updated zoning laws affecting the site, allowing Lane Avenue, High Street and Broad Street buildings to be taller than was previously permitted. These zoning updates the first in 70 years cleared the way for Landmarks high-rise plan. The site falls under the new Urban Core zoning, which allows 12-story buildings with up to four additional stories if it provides sufficient affordable housing options. Landmark Properties did not specify how many affordable housing units it would provide, but the four-story addition variance requires 20%-30% of units to be low-income qualified housing. Renderings by BBCO / Courtesy of Columbus Renderings by BBCO / Courtesy of Columbus Renderings by BBCO / Courtesy of Columbus Located across the street from several dormitories for Ohio State University, the site would be centrally located for students. Currently, the spot hosts a CVS Pharmacy, which developers said would be torn down. Conceptual plans show the CVS would be rebuilt into the buildings first floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plans and renderings, done by BBCO, show various amenities around the residential units. Floor 13 appears to have a large open-air balcony in the buildings center for residential use. Renderings also label the window-heavy development The Standard. The building is not scheduled for review at this months University Impact District Review Board meeting, which will take place on Thursday. However, it will likely go before the board in the coming months for approval. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. By Marianna Parraga (Reuters) -Loading of Venezuela's heavy crude at its main oil ports slowed this week after the U.S. imposed a tariff on trade with countries buying the South American nation's oil and producer Chevron began reducing its tanker fleet there, according to shipping data and a document seen on Tuesday. On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration published an executive order declaring that any country buying oil or gas from Venezuela will pay a 25% tariff on trades with the U.S. starting in early April. Washington also extended until May 27 a deadline for Chevron to wind down operations in Venezuela. This includes exports of Venezuelan crude to the U.S. The two moves temporarily focused Trump's pressure on buyers of Venezuelan crude other than the U.S., such as China. Planned enforcement methods remain unclear. As of Tuesday, Venezuela's main oil port, Jose, operated by state-owned PDVSA, had an empty berth, while three supertankers were loading, according to vessel monitoring services TankerTrackers.com and LSEG and a company document. No tankers were loading for exports at Bajo Grande, which handles shipments of the heaviest crude grades, the data showed. About two dozen vessels, mostly supertankers, were waiting to load around Jose while two remained in Venezuelan waters after completing their loads, TankerTrackers.com said, adding that two ships left the country empty since mid-February. Venezuela exported some 910,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude and fuel last month, with Chevron already seeing a decline with 252,000 bpd exported, below the 294,000 bpd of January. The growing bottleneck of tankers might lead to loading and shipping delays in coming days as many customers remain puzzled by the U.S. tariff implementation, especially in China, the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil. Trade of Venezuelan oil to China stalled on Tuesday due to Trump's tariff order as traders and refiners in that country waited to see how the order would be implemented and whether Beijing would direct them to stop buying. Venezuela sent some 503,000 bpd to China in February or 55% of total exports. While the U.S. gave Chevron seven more weeks to wind down operations in Venezuela, the upcoming termination of its license, which last year allowed it to export some 210,000 bpd to the U.S., has in recent days reduced the number of vessels chartered by the company waiting to load in Venezuelan waters, the data showed. A total of seven cargoes of Venezuelan oil chartered by Chevron have departed from the country so far this month, compared with 15 in February, the shipping data showed. princeton Creating an application process and a task force to make sure that opioid settlement money is spent effectively to combat local drug addiction and the problems it fuels is the aim of a resolution passed Tuesday by the Mercer County Commission. Mercer County currently has almost $2.6 million from the settlements the manufacturers of opioid pain medications paid out after their products led to widespread drug abuse and overdose deaths across West Virginia. This sum does not include $300,000 being used to turn the former professional building next door to the Mercer County Courthouse into a new headquarters for the sheriffs department and $130,000 to the Mercer County Health Department to help recruit more physicians. The current plan is to leave $1.5 million in the countys opioid settlement fund so it can earn interest and keep providing money for projects addressing addiction, said Commissioner Greg Puckett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state of West Virginia has endured significant harm due to the avarice and wrongdoing of the pharmaceutical industry, resulting in one of the highest overdose death rates in the country, Puckett said as he read the resolution Investment of Opioid Settlement Funds into the official record. Placing too much of the burden on law enforcement and the criminal legal system to solve the opioid epidemic has not had a demonstrable impact on the problem. The opportunity to invest over $1 billion from opioid settlements presents a unique opportunity to chart a new course for West Virginia, focusing on evidence-based strategies that prioritize saving lives, healing communities and addressing racial disparities, Puckett read from the resolution. Under the resolution, the plan is to create a five-member committee called the Mercer County, WV Opioid Settlement Task Force to review, oversee and recommend the allocation and dispensing of opioid settlement funds. The task force will include people such as health care professionals, addiction specialists, and community leaders, law enforcement, social service agencies and individuals with direct lived experience or experience and understanding of the opioid crisis, according to the resolution. The task forces decisions will be evidence-based research for reducing overdose fatalities, infectious disease and other outcomes of the opioid crisis. Eighty percent of the funds should be spent on non-punitive measures, according to the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new task force will also engage in a transparent and inclusive process to solicit proposals from community organizations, nonprofits and other entities to receive money for programs and projects aimed at preventing opioid abuse, provide treatment and recovery support, support efforts to reduce harm and address the social issues determining addiction, according to the resolution. The task force will report regularly to the county commission. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com In Altadena and the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of L.A., reconstruction has begun despite the fact that the soil on affected properties has not been tested for toxic substances. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's controversial decision to forgo soil testing in communities burned in the Eaton and Palisades wildfires sparked pushback Wednesday as California lawmakers questioned whether the practice will prevent residents from knowing if there are toxic substances on the land before rebuilding begins. Federally hired cleanup crews have been removing ash and debris, in addition to a 6-inch layer of topsoil, from buildings burned by the wildfires. But, asked last month by The Times, FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed they wont test the soil at these properties after they finish their cleanup, breaking with a long-standing practice that was intended to ensure that homes and schools dont still contain excessive levels of harmful chemicals after environmental disasters such as a wildfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Led by U.S. Rep Laura Friedman (D-Glendale), a contingent of eight federal lawmakers from California objected to FEMAs decision to forgo soil testing in a letter to Cameron Hamilton, the agency's acting administrator. The lawmakers pressed Hamilton to explain the change in strategy. One key question was how FEMA could ensure that removing 6 inches of soil would be sufficient to rid properties of toxic substances. The residents of greater Los Angeles should be informed of any potential toxins in the soil as they navigate the complicated recovery process," the letter reads. "Wildfire survivors deserve to return to safe, toxin-free properties." The Eaton and Palisades wildfires among the most destructive in California history damaged or destroyed more than 13,500 properties across Los Angeles County. The resulting public health risks are too great to skimp on environmental testing, Friedman said. FEMAs refusal to test for toxins in the soil after wildfire cleanup in Los Angeles County is unacceptable, Friedman said in a statement. Families deserve to know their homes are safe and free of dangerous chemicals. This is a break from decades of FEMA precedent and it risks exposing entire communities to long-term health threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter comes as rebuilding efforts are swiftly moving forward. So far, federal cleanup crews have cleared ash and rubble from more than 860 properties, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. About 200 rebuilding permits have been filed with local agencies and a few have already been approved, although it unclear how many at this point. Los Angeles city and county officials say they wont require soil testing before issuing most rebuilding permits. Without soil testing, many residents worry that new buildings could be built on contaminated land, increasing the likelihood that residents and workers may be exposed to toxic chemicals by inhaling airborne dust. Environmental and health officials have warned that wildfire ash from burned buildings can contain hazardous substances including cancer-causing arsenic and brain-damaging lead. Experts warn that the pace of rebuilding shouldn't outpace necessary safety precautions. The nation is captivated by how and when L.A. will rebound, said Mohamed Sharif, co-chair of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects' wildfire disaster response task force. "We know fire is not the only source of catastrophe and disaster in California. We have a multiplex of things, whether it's seismic events or landslides or rain events. But fire has really illuminated just how fragile we are as a society. Soil testing in the aftermath of previous wildfires found that a significant portion of properties still had excessive levels of heavy metals even after cleanup crews removed a 3-to-6-inch layer of topsoil. In those cases such as the 2018 Camp fire in Northern California and the Woolsey fire near Malibu in the same year for properties where contaminants exceeded California's standards, cleanup crews returned to remove another layer of soil, and additional soil testing was conducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now FEMA officials insist that excavating 6 inches of soil from properties is enough to remove fire-related contamination. Anything deeper, they argue, is likely to be preexisting contamination, which is beyond the agency's purview. FEMA encouraged state and local officials to pay for soil testing, if they believe its necessary. So far, no state or local plans for soil testing have been unveiled. "You're going to have to show me definitive testing that shows that material below 6 inches is attributed to the fire or debris caused by the fire," FEMA Region 9 administrator Robert Fenton told The Times in a recent interview. "I have not found that yet." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But FEMAs decision to skip soil sampling has left many homeowners unsure about what's next. Abigail Greydanus, her husband and their 1-year-old son evacuated their Altadena home shortly after the Eaton fire broke out. When a neighbor returned to check on their home, the property was unrecognizable. It was a pile of smoldering ashes," Greydanus said. "You could still see the shell of the oven, the weight rack my husband had in the garage. But everything else was just melted or destroyed." The couple signed up for the Army Corps debris removal program. But even after crews cleared rubble and debris from their property, they are wary to rebuild without confirming whether lingering pollutants may still be in the soil. "No one wants to go back to a home if its going to be unsafe, if their children will be [exposed to] lead from playing in the backyard," Greydanus said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In lieu of government-led soil testing, homeowners and school districts may have to pay for soil sampling if they want answers. Some research institutions are stepping into the breach, including USC, which is providing free lead testing, and a coalition of researchers from UCLA, Loyola Marymount and Purdue universities, who are offering a full panel of soil tests for those in affected areas. Meanwhile, some school officials in these areas are already hiring companies and paying out of pocket to test for toxic chemicals. Three Los Angeles Unified School District schools were damaged or destroyed in the Palisades fire: Marquez Charter Elementary, Palisades Charter Elementary and Palisades Charter High School. The Army Corps of Engineers oversaw the cleanup of these campuses earlier this month. An LAUSD spokesperson said the school district will conduct a full environmental assessment throughout the entire campus including soil sampling of existing landscaping as well as areas to be uncovered that will be a part of the buildout of the interim campus. They hired environmental consultants to assess the soil at the elementary schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because Palisades Charter High School is an independent charter school, LAUSD referred requests for comment to its administration; a representative for the high school did not respond to a request for comment. Pasadena Unified School District also saw extensive fire damage at several of its campuses, including public and charter schools: Franklin Elementary, Eliot Arts Magnet Middle School, Odyssey Charter School, Pasadena Rosebud Academy, Oak Knoll Montessori School and Aveson School of Leaders. School district officials would not confirm whether the district would perform soil testing on its properties. Pasadena Unified is actively working across all levels of government to further examine whether there are any remaining risks, a spokesperson said. "Discussions are ongoing. Our commitment is to keep our school community safe and informed throughout this entire process. Under state law, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control is required to oversee soil sampling at newly constructed schools or campus expansions to ensure they comply with the state standards. But when asked about how it would approach rebuilding schools in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, the state agency was noncommittal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sampling plans are required by law in limited circumstances, like when new property is purchased to build a school with state funds," a DTSC representative told The Times. "For schools in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities, DTSC will provide technical assistance to school districts by request, which includes helping them prepare sampling plans and reviewing results of the samples that they collect. The agency would not say whether testing would be required before schools began to rebuild. Meanwhile, even if government regulators don't get involved, property owners may find it difficult to hire contractors to rebuild. Any professional geotechnical engineer will not go to test for the foundation strength unless they know that site is free of toxins, said Sharif, of the American Institute of Architects. Rebuilding is complex, he noted, involving many economic, environmental and safety considerations. Its unwise to leave the decision to thousands of individual property owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After all, contamination on one property can affect neighboring homes. I shudder to think what owners of the lots next door to a hypothetical owner arent doing," Sharif said. "This is to say that while the majority of the damage is on private land, its insane to entrust private citizens with public health." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CENTERBURG, Ohio (WCMH) What started as a small act of kindness has turned into something much bigger at Centerburg High School. It started when Karressa Knight noticed her daughters lunch money balance running low. After asking her daughter about it, she learned something that warmed her heart and inspired her to want to make a change. Knight learned her daughter had been using her lunch money to feed her friends in need at school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles outbreak reported in Ohio after several more cases confirmed I was so proud of her for, like, making sure that things just happened, she said. Knight reached out to the district and found out that the total student lunch debt at the high school was just under $900. Knight knew she wanted to do something to help so during the schools spring break, she started a crowdfunding effort and set the goal at $900. Within 45 minutes of posting it, that goal was met; it is now nearing $2,000. It is something Knight didnt expect to happen, but shes been blown away with the support. I couldnt even believe it happened, but, I mean, the Centerburg community is very different, she said. Like, its a small town, its a farming community, and theyre definitely very much so ready to take care of their community at all times, just proves to you that a community can do a lot. It takes a village to raise children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not just DEI: Seven things to know about Ohios sweeping higher ed bill Knight says she hopes that this will help provide some relief to families. It takes a village to raise children and, you know, as Ive been a single mom before, so Ive been through the, our accounts are negative, your child cant get lunch, and the schools do what they can but its not like they can just give the money to the kids and let them go eat lunch, she said. Thats not how it works. People can donate to the effort through Monday. After that, shell collect the money and bring it to the school district. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DAMASCUS, Va. (WJHL) Before Hurricane Helene, the Town of Damascus, Virginia implemented a strategic plan for Laurel Creek Park, planting native plants to beautify an area that sees a lot of foot traffic from farmers markets and tourism. The floods washed all of the hard work and money away. This weeks Community Heroes are helping the town recover. The Abingdon Rotary Club lives the phrase Service Above Self, spending a beautiful day in Laurel Creek Park to help the town. So we wanted to fill the gaps where government or private organizations werent stepping in, and so our Rotary district provided some funding to help localities that were impacted by Hurricane Helene recover, said rotarian Olivia Bailey. So we reached out to the town and saw what needs werent being met. And they gave us a couple of projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey said the park is an important part of the community, and its recovery is crucial. Its an economic driver for the Town of Damascus, she explained. It serves with their farmers market. It provides access to the Creeper Trail and the waterways. So we want to make sure that economic vibrancy is still maintained here in the Town of Damascus. And so basically what were doing here today is doing some landscaping, also assisting with some of the parking lots, the restrooms, anything that might need to be cleaned up or renovated. The town lost a lot of revenue after the hurricane, and Bailey says the group wants to give the town every opportunity to get back on track. We want to make sure that were providing that opportunity for them so theyre ready to get started in May with the farmers market. Agriculture is our number one economic industry in Virginia and here in Washington County. We want to make sure were supporting those farmers. And we just wanted to fill that gap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey says a lot of rotarians live in the community, and it was a perfect place to dig in. We are fundraising and providing money, but we also wanted to be here, be a part of this community and give back, she said. There have been a lot of people in and out of the Town of Damascus over the past six months. A lot of those are residents themselves. People are tired and so we wanted to provide fresh hands and, you know, fresh workers to come in here and help. Fresh hands to help Damascus grow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WEBSTER CITY, Iowa The Webster City community is planning a benefit to help a city lineman who was seriously injured after he came in contact with a live wire. Since the accident, the community has shown an outpouring of support for the lineman, identified as Bryan Dayton. According to a flier posted to social media, Dayton suffered severe burns and was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics for treatment. A GoFundMe has also been created to benefit Dayton and his family with a goal of raising $50,000. As of Wednesday evening, over $29,000 had been raised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grieving families thanked for advocacy on hands-free driving law; bill sent to governors desk Friends of the Dayton Family are organizing a benefit for the Dayton Family on Facebook. The benefit is set to take place July 26th, so Dayton has time to recover and attend. The benefit will feature a fun run and a live auction. Erica Schmauss, a friend of the Dayton family and organizer of the benefit, said that items for the auction have already been donated. Weve had a crazy amount of things donated already. A couple of Harleys are in the works being donated and auctioned off. Just the support has been amazing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To learn more about the benefit or to donate to the Dayton family visit the events Facebook page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. A troubling report has found that most lakes, rivers, and coastal waters in the European Union are polluted by chemicals, putting water security and animal habitats at risk. What's happening? According to Reuters, the European Commission announced in February that significant work is needed to improve water quality across the EU. The report found that only 39.5% of EU surface water bodies had a good ecological status as of 2021. Only 26.8% had achieved a good chemical status, with widespread mercury contamination and other harmful pollutants affecting water quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While aquatic plants in lakes had shown a slight improvement, that did little to impact the EU's overall water quality. Groundwater bodies were in much better shape, with 86% achieving a good chemical status. However, data revealed that most EU countries had nitrates from agricultural practices in their groundwater supplies. The European Environment Agency said that water consumption and pollution from nutrients and pesticides in agriculture are putting the most strain on Europe's surface and groundwaters. Other significant pressures on the EU's water resources include rapid population growth, habitat degradation, unsustainable land use, increased demand for water, and the warming climate. "The situation for water in the EU is in bad shape," EU environment commissioner Jessika Roswall told Reuters in an interview. "We have taken water for granted for so long. And I think it's time now that we have this mindset change." Why is the EU's poor water quality concerning? Rising global temperatures caused mainly by burning dirty fuels have led to increasing water scarcity and more frequent droughts across Europe. The EEA reported that water stress impacted 34% of the continent during at least one season in 2022 and expects water scarcity to increase by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With water supplies already under immense pressure from the shifting climate, it's concerning that many waterways have also been contaminated with agricultural and industrial chemicals. These pollutants pose a threat to drinking water for humans and animals that live in or near the toxic waterways. However, with farmers fighting back against policies limiting pesticide use in agriculture last year, the European Commission said it "could be politically difficult to adopt" regulations on other harmful chemicals, including nitrates from fertilizers that leach into waterways, per Reuters. Per the report, Europe is not on track to meet its goal to improve the health of waterways by 2027, so urgent action is needed to address pollution and water shortages. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What's being done to improve the water? The Commission highlighted several key strategies to safeguard water supplies, including improving water management, enforcing pollution limits especially from the agriculture sector and ensuring wastewater discharge is disposed of properly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also suggested increasing the price of water in hopes consumers will be more mindful of their usage to help conserve the precious resource. In Utah, officials have turned water conservation into a fun game for residents, offering prizes to those who save the most water. France recently banned the use of forever chemicals in ski waxes, clothing textiles, and cosmetics, which will go into effect next year and prevent them from polluting waterways. Pressuring policymakers to take action and conserving water at home will help keep waterways healthy for people and the planet. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. State Superintendent Ryan Walters, center, speaks at the head of the table where the Oklahoma State Board of Education meets on Feb. 27 in Oklahoma City. The board abruptly canceled its March meeting Thursday. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahomas top school board abruptly canceled its monthly meeting Thursday over concerns of a violation of the states public meeting law. An agenda for the meeting was posted online 19 minutes late Wednesday, though it was physically posted on time at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, where the meeting would have taken place at 1 p.m. Thursday, state Superintendent Ryan Walters confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma Open Meeting Act requires public meeting agendas to be posted online and at the meeting location at least 24 hours in advance. Some members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education expressed reservation due to a potential Open Meetings Act violation, though their attorney advised the meeting could continue, Walters said in a statement through a spokesperson. State Superintendent Ryan Walters attends a Feb. 27 meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) Out of an abundance of caution the board meeting for March will be scheduled for April 24th, 2025, which is the next scheduled board meeting date, Walters said. Walters statement appears to point blame at another state agency. He said the agenda was sent to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for posting ahead of the deadline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is dishonest and misleading to characterize this as an OMES error, agency spokesperson Christa Helfrey said. The OMES employee responsible for posting agendas for the state Board of Education is embedded within the state Department of Education and is managed by OSDE daily, Helfrey said. Education Department staff emailed this employee only six minutes before the final deadline for the agenda to be posted, Helfrey said. The employee posted the agenda 20 minutes later. Its important to note, OSDE is responsible for the development of its meetings and agendas and allowing enough reasonable time to post those agendas so that the public may receive notice and attend the open meeting, Helfrey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canceling a public meeting over concerns of an untimely posted agenda is in compliance with state law, the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office said through its spokesperson, Phil Bacharach. The state superintendent serves as chairperson of the state Board of Education and decides which matters the board will discuss during meetings. His control of meeting agendas caused friction with recent appointees to the board and prompted legislation that could affect all school boards in Oklahoma. The state House passed a bill on Wednesday allowing two members of the state board, and on any district school board with five or more members, to place an item on a meeting agenda by submitting a written request. The state boards March meeting agenda included potential votes on waiving regulations to allow six districts to have under the minimum number of 165 school days next school year. Another two districts requested permission to employ substitute teachers for an extra number of school days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among other administrative matters, the board would have considered whether to suspend multiple teacher certifications, the agenda shows. Oklahoma State Board of Education member Chris Vandenhende proposed during a Feb. 27 meeting that the board schedule a vote on suspending all activity related to immigration. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) But, the agenda doesnt include any items new board members requested. Chris Vandenhende, who took office in February, said at the boards Feb. 27 meeting he wanted to schedule a vote to suspend all activity related to immigration. Vandenhende made the request in response to Walters and the boards proposal of a rule that would require schools to report students immigration status. Gov. Kevin Stitt vocally opposed the suggested rule, calling for Walters to be held accountable, and replaced three board members with Vandenhende, Ryan Deatherage and Mike Tinney. The Oklahoman reported Vandenhende, Deatherage and Tinney had requested numerous other items for the board to discuss on Thursday, which Walters didnt include in the meeting agenda. Deatherage didnt immediately return a request for comment from Oklahoma Voice, and attempts to reach Vandenhende and Tinney were unsuccessful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newspaper reported board members emailed Walters to ask for another review of the academic standards for social studies that they approved on Feb. 27. Without publicly posting or acknowledging any changes, Walters administration added language to the new social studies standards that suggest there were discrepancies in the 2020 presidential election. The new standards are now in the hands of the state Legislature for review. Oklahoma State Board of Education member Ryan Deatherage raises his hand during a meeting Feb. 27 at the Oklahoma State Department of Education in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) So far, the three new board members have shown a willingness to question and contend with the state superintendent that no other members have displayed in public since Walters took office in January 2023. Deatherage cast the boards first no vote in over two years against an item Walters proposed. He did so when voting against the social studies standards, saying he hadnt had enough time to review them fully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor said he didnt give the new appointees specific marching orders as they joined the board, which he shook up over complaints of poor academic results and too much political drama. Theres no instructions on what were going to do, Stitt said during a media briefing Wednesday. But its like, hey, let Washington, D.C., play politics. Lets just focus on making Oklahoma the best state for education. So thats really my only direction to these folks. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Portugal is preparing to launch its national deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use beverage containers by 2026. The scheme will be administrated by the non-profit company SDR Portugal, with Sensoneo, a waste management technology business, providing the necessary IT solutions. Sensoneos technological platform will manage key aspects of the DRS, including its reverse logistics process. The platform will focus on overseeing the movement of containers, as well as warehouse and transport operations. Additionally, various mobile applications will be introduced to improve communication and coordination among all involved stakeholders. Portugals plan includes establishing a network of collection points, with estimates ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 locations. One of the distinctive aspects of Portugals DRS is its integration of the hotel, restaurant, and catering sectors (HoReCa). While Malta launched its own DRS in late 2022, Sensoneo believes that Portugals scheme will act as a model for larger neighbouring countries. Sensoneo aims to build on its experience from Malta's DRS, ensuring that these HoReCa venues contribute to the schemes success. This integration will help achieve higher collection rates across a variety of industries. In January this year, the UK government announced plans to introduce legislation for a DRS for bottles and cans across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The implementation of the scheme is scheduled for October 2027. Once implemented, consumers will be financially encouraged to return their empty containers to collection points. "Portugal to launch deposit return scheme by 2026" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Attorney General William Tong Thursday says he will fight the more than $150 million in unlawfully canceled public health funding to Connecticut. This is a reckless escalation of Donald Trumps lawless war on American families and workers. We are coordinating with states across the country and will respond in court, Tong said in a statement. Trump administration revokes state and local health funding Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement comes after Trumps administration- specifically the Department of Health and Human Services- this week canceled roughly $12 billion of public health funding across the country. The Department of Health and Human Services has said the grants were primarily used for COVID-19 response- including testing, vaccination and hiring community health workers, according to The Hill. 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. HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trumps mandate to address our chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again, HHS said in a statement. Trump administration says it will pull back billions in COVID funding from local health departments Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local and state officials have said the canceled grants were used by state and local health departments for more- like tracking infectious diseases, health disparities, vaccinations, and mental health services. Tong claims if Trump is successful in rescinding this funding, he will be responsible for countless Connecticut workers losing their jobs and thousands of local families suffering. The impact of these cuts will be immediate and far reaching, he said. He questioned where the money is going instead, pointing to a tanking stock market, increases in basic family costs, and people across the country losing their jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is robbing our nation of more than $12 billion to fight infectious disease, combat the opioid and addiction crisis, and support mental health when weve got measles and bird flu spreading, families wrecked by opioids and an unchecked surge of deadly fentanyl, and children in mental health crises lined up in emergency departments because we dont have the services we need to support them, Tong said. Tongs office said he has also sued and secured a preliminary injunction blocking Trumps efforts to defund the National Institutes of Health. Others weigh in Governor Ned Lamont said: These abrupt and unexpected cuts to our health system are going to have a devastating impact on our ability to fight disease, protect the health of newborns, provide mental health and addiction treatment services, and keep people safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should be making it easier and cheaper for people to access critical health care, including mental health services. I am urging the Trump administration to recognize that these cuts go beyond what is reasonable and reverse this rash and impulsive decision. I will do everything I can to support the health and safety of the residents of Connecticut. Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D., said: This is a dark day for public health. These grants fund many of our core public health functions. While we are still assessing the impact to our agency, we know that these cuts will severely hamper our ability to respond to any future infectious disease outbreaks, childhood immunization programs that we fund must now end, and critical work we have done to strengthen and increase our capacity to protect the public health of Connecticuts residents must stop. COVID-19 may have been the catalyst for these grants but, as Congress intended, these funds were being used to modernize our systems, strengthen our workforce, educate the public, protect our children all to prevent or mitigate the damage to human lives caused by future disease outbreaks. I hope that the administration will reconsider its decision once they realize the full scope of the critical work funded by these grants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Nancy Navarretta said: Let there be no doubt that this unanticipated and sudden cessation of these block grants will be immediately and consequentially disruptive to the behavioral health system in Connecticut. These resources were deployed by DMHAS in a contemplative and rigorous fashion to assist providers in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and its latent impacts based on a timeline that was clearly established and articulated by Congress and the United States Treasury. Now, our clients and providers are put at risk due to an unwarranted and uninformed decision. The services at risk include housing and employment supports, regional suicide advisory boards, harm reduction, perinatal screening, early-stage treatments, and increased access to medication assisted treatment. These are lifesaving and life-changing services for our states residents who are asking for help at a vulnerable time in their life all of which was exacerbated by the pandemic. In the hours and days ahead, there will be uncertainty in the system, and we will be working closely with our providers and clients to ensure they know we continue to seek solutions to continue these programs for as long as possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WTNH) State and local leaders across Connecticut are honoring Vietnam veterans on Thursday. Its a nationwide effort by the Department of Defense to commemorate the end of the war and thank those who served. This Sunday is officially Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day in the state of Connecticut. At the Veterans Affairs Campus, they are going to be recognizing that a little early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Haven PAL hockey program celebrates the end of another successful season Theres also going to be a ceremony in West Haven, and the day takes on extra meaning this year. Although U.S. troops officially left Vietnam in 1973, there were still advisors and other personnel in Vietnam until the last of those helicopters left the embassy in Saigon in 1975. So, viewed that way, we are coming up on the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The men and women in uniform were not exactly welcomed home at the end of that unpopular conflict. In more recent decades, officials have been trying to make up for that by honoring those who served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will see a lot of that on Thursday as the Lieutenant Governor, the Veterans Affairs Commissioner, the head of the National Guard, and the State Comptroller will all be here in Rocky Hill. The event in West Haven starts at 9 a.m. on Thursday, and the event at the VA campus is scheduled to start at 10 a.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 WTNH.com. The venerable logical principle known as Occams razor, attributed to the 14th century English philosopher and theologian William of Ockham, asserts that when confronted with multiple possible explanations for a causal phenomenon, the simplest explanation is absent persuasive evidence to the contrary usually correct. Although hardly foolproof or comprehensive, Occams razor has the benefit of simply making a lot of sense. The problem is that Occams razor, as a general signpost to help make sense of the many things happening all around us, falls out of favor in an era when institutional trust is in free-fall. And so it is today: From organized religion to the military to the media to Wall Street to public health authorities to Congress and the Supreme Court, public polling across recent decades typically shows a very negative trendline when it comes to Americans trust in virtually all of our major institutions. To be sure, much of this collapse in public trust has been self-inflicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, which first came to light more than two decades ago, undermined public trust in institutional religion in general. Many legacy media brands have largely abandoned objectivity or political neutrality, acting instead as culture-warring crusaders. Wall Street did itself no favors with the 2008 global financial crisis as well as the subsequent Troubled Asset Relief Program bailout. Public health officials utterly botched aspects of their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, from lockdown rules to the virus origins. Congress often seems incapable of doing anything other than hurl petty invectives across the aisle. And the Supreme Court is led by a chief justice who ironically exalts his tribunals institutional integrity so much that he ends up delegitimizing it . We live in a decidedly populist age, and much of our underlying angst is justified indeed, it is sometimes righteous. Public authorities have routinely dropped the ball and made egregiously bad decisions. Media bias is very real and so is congressional incompetence. Oftentimes, the American ruling class as the late, great intellectual Angelo Codevilla famously described it in a 2010 essay really does prioritize its own parochial interests over the supreme imperative of the common good. But there is a profound danger, always bubbling just below the surface, of anti-institutional sentiment going too far. Institutional dysfunction trains us to find or dream up arcane and irrational explanations for what we see in the world. At some point, Occams razor gets turned on its head: The simplest or most logical explanation cannot possibly be true because thats what the powers that be want you to believe! Alternative explanations, often wildly elaborate and bearing little to no basis in factual reality, are proposed sometimes in a circuitous manner, done in the ostensible name of just asking questions. We saw this familiar script play out in the major domestic story of the past week: the Signalgate group chat texting scandal that has taken the nation by storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the editor of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, reported that he had inexplicably been added to a high-level group chat earlier this month on the encrypted commercial messaging app Signal. The chat, comprising top-ranking Trump administration officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and national security advisor Michael Waltz, debated and discussed plans for U.S. strikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen (which have since come to fruition). They all seemed oblivious to Goldbergs presence. There are numerous glaring questions that must be asked from this most embarrassing error, perhaps chief among them: How in the world did Jeffrey Goldberg, who did more than any other journalist in America to sell Barack Obamas Iran nuclear deal one decade ago, get added to this chat? Waltz organized the Signal chat, and many have been calling for his head all week. Waltz, a four-time Bronze Star recipient who became the first Army Special Forces soldier ever elected to Congress, tends like President Trump himself to be more aggressive when it comes to confronting the terrorist Iranian regime and its sprawling web of regional proxies. Accordingly, there are actors on the left and the Tucker Carlson-aligned right who want to sideline Waltz. Some of these propagandists have thus speculated that perhaps Waltz intentionally leaked to Goldberg or perhaps that Waltz served as a Goldberg source inside the Trump administration. But these ideologically driven explanations for "Signalgate" are implausible. The simplest explanation, per Occams razor, is that someone in Waltz's office messed up badly by adding the wrong person styled JG into a group chat. To borrow another logical principle, Hanlons razor: Dont ascribe to malice that which can be otherwise explained by rank incompetence. And so it is here as well. In this instance, the offender should be fired posthaste and the administration should vow to do better like not letting life-or-death military intel fall into unknown hands. And that ought to be the end of the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the leading institutions in American public life do deserve our skepticism. Quite a few even deserve our outright scorn. But we cannot let that sad state of affairs melt our minds, either. Go outside, touch some grass, and remember that oftentimes the exciting alternative explanation should be rejected for the simpler and more straightforward one. Josh Hammers latest book is Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West. This article was produced in collaboration with Creators Syndicate. @josh_hammer If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Supporters of LGBTQ+ rights draped banners in the Kentucky Capitol on the day Republicans finalized enactment a new law protecting conversion therapy and barring Medicaid from paying for transgender care. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) FRANKFORT Kentuckys Republican-controlled legislature voted largely along party lines to override Gov. Andy Beshears veto of a bill to cancel his restrictions on conversion therapy and prohibit Medicaid from covering transgender-affirming medical care. That means House Bill 495 will become law. It has an emergency clause, meaning that will happen immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement after both chambers overrode the veto, Chris Hartman, the executive director of the Fairness Campaign, called it a a sad day in Kentucky. HB 495 opens the door to conversion torture and denies Medicaid coverage for transgender healthcare, Hartman said. Conversion therapy is a discredited practice that attempts to alter gender expression and sexual attraction that diverges from heterosexual normativity with the specific aim to promote heterosexuality as a preferable outcome, according to the The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In 2024, Beshear signed an executive order aimed at ending the practice on Kentucky minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science and causes significant long term damage to our kids, including increased rates of suicide, anxiety and depression, he wrote in his veto message on HB 495. As leaders and policy makers, we should be in the business of protecting our citizens and kids from harm, not subjecting them to discredited methods that jeopardize their health, well being and safety. Beshears veto message did not mention the bills ban on Medicaid covering gender-affirming medical care. House debate Early Wednesday afternoon, the House voted to override the veto 78-20 along party lines. Democrats reiterated many of their previous objections, saying the bill was an overreach and oppression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am here to stand in the gap between our trans friends, neighbors and constituents and the oppression that this body is inflicting on them, said Rep. Lisa Willner, D-Louisville. This is going to be one of those times when we look back in history and say, was I on the right side of history? Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, appeared to invoke a Lady Gaga song when she said, youre born this way to LGBTQ+ Kentuckians while asking her colleagues to let Beshears veto stand. Marzian said she hopes lawmakers dont go after another minority population next year to make us feel good about ourselves. I hope its not the disabled or mentally ill that we decide are less than us, she said. Rep. Joshua Watkins, D-Louisville, said hes heard from constituents who are scared and terrified of the legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, said that no matter where anyone stands on conversion therapy, Beshear overreached his powers by issuing an executive order on the matter. Senate debate A few hours later, the Senate voted 31-6 to override the veto. Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, sided with Republicans in voting to go against Beshear. Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, said it is absolutely appalling that we can sit here over and over and over again and legislate against a small, small group of people in this country that, by the way, do exist and do have every right to exist. We know that kids who were forced to go through conversion therapy are twice as likely to attempt suicide, Berg said. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why in the heck do we do this over and over and over again? Get over your hate, Berg said. Let people live their lives the way they choose to. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Christoval barbecue restaurant and concert hotspot Coopers Barb-B-Q is warning its patrons of scammers after facing a wave of social media impersonator accounts as the start of the businesss 2025 Concert Series nears. According to Coopers Bar-B-Que, the restaurant banned 15 different scam accounts (and counting) throughout Wednesday, March 26. It stated that the accounts are almost exact copies of our page. The business said it would never ask patrons to click on a hyperlink to enter contests or claim giveaways. It advised those who may have provided personal details or credit and debit card information to contact your bank immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The onslaught of scammers comes as Coopers Bar-B-Que is slated to begin its 2025 Concert Series on Friday, March 28. Running alongside the months-long event is the restaurants #Tix4Trash program, which allows people to claim free general admission tickets to concerts at the restaurant in exchange for filling a 50-gallon trash bag with public roadside garbage and providing evidence of the deed. RELATED: Coopers Bar-B-Que offers free concert tickets through Tix 4 Trash program Coopers Barb-B-Que stated that the scammers typically become more prevalent whenever the business holds a contest. This happens every time we do a big contest; even though we do our best to protect our guests, its practically impossible to catch em all, Coopers Bar-B-Que said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The business encouraged patrons to spread the word of its scam warning. The 2025 Concert Series lineup as of the time of publication is as follows, as per Coopers Bar-B-Que: March 28 Randy Rogers ft. Presley Haile April 11 The Bellamy Brothers April 12 Ty Myers April 25 Pecos & The Rooftops April 26 Ted Nugent May 5 Kolby Cooper May 9 Casey Donahew May 16 Pat Green May 30 Stony LaRue June 13 Aaron Watson June 21 Giovannie & The Hired Guns June 27 Mike Ryan Sept. 27 Mark Chesnutt For more information about Coopers Bar-B-Que, including the 2025 Concert Series and the #Tix4Trash program, visit originalcoopersbbq.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 ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Update: 3:30 p.m. SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) The Sangamon County Coroner has released more information regarding a fatal traffic crash that happened early Monday morning. Coroner Jim Allmon said 19-year-old Desmond Walls of Springfield was pronounced dead on March 25 at 5 p.m. An autopsy was done on March 27, and preliminary findings indicate he died from multiple blunt force injuries he received in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Springfield Police investigate store burglary, call for tips through Crime Stoppers The death is under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Illinois State Police. SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) One person has died and another was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a car crash in Springfield. The Sangamon County Sheriffs Office contacted the Illinois State Police to investigate a single car crash that occurred on March 24. It happened near North Second Street at Calhoun Avenue around 5:17 a.m. Springfield murder conspiracy charges dropped for NY couple State Police said after investigating, they learned a 2016 White Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling north on North Second Street and approaching Calhoun Street. The Jeep hit an unoccupied, parked 2012 Black Toyota Camry. Then, the Jeep hit two power poles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jeep was occupied by two 19-year-old males from Springfield. Both were brought to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. One was later pronounced dead at the hospital. The Illinois State Police were unable to provide any more information about the other male involved in the crash. They added that the crash investigation is still active and that no further information is available 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 WCIA.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The Mahoning County Coroners Office has released the identities of the victims of two shootings in Youngstown over the weekend. Read next: Local man caught cutting catalytic converter: Police Keondre Lewis, 19, was killed in a shooting on Rhoda Avenue at 2:44 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release from the Coroners Office. Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy who is charged in connection to the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Weaver, 39, died Sunday following a shooting Friday on E. Lucius Avenue, according to the Coroners Office. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WKBN Breaking News Weaver was found by police answering a gunshot call about 5 a.m. Friday in the grass in the 500 block of East Lucius Ave. He had several gunshot wounds. The shooting is still under investigation, and no arrests have been made yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PwC has postponed disbursing payments to former partners who recently retired in Hong Kong and mainland China, reported Financial Times. The delay comes as the accounting major manages the financial repercussions from its audits of the collapsed Chinese property developer Evergrande. According to four sources privy to the development, multiple equity partners who retired in recent months have yet to receive any of their contributed capital. Historically, PwC has repaid about half of the sum within months of a partner's retirement, with the remainder following later. This delay marks a deviation from the usual repayment schedule and is expected to aid in preserving cash. There is no indication that PwC has breached its obligations to former partners under the shareholder agreement governing the firm. The delays coincide with PwC's efforts to address the financial consequences of its audits of Evergrande, which received a clean bill of health from PwC for more than a decade. Since Evergrande's collapse, PwC has been fined 441m yuan ($62m) and suspended from business for six months by mainland Chinese authorities, who accused the firm of "concealing or even condoning" fraud in its audits. PwC stepped down as Evergrandes auditor in 2023. While the ban has been lifted, PwC has suffered revenue losses as Chinese clients migrated to competing audit firms. PwC also faces a potential lawsuit from Evergrandes liquidators, which could incur significant costs, though the exact amount remains unspecified. A recently retired PwC partner stated that the firm needs to have ample liquidity amid the current turmoil. The payout delays affect a broad group of partners, not just those involved in Evergrandes audits, the sources said. PwC declined to comment on the matter. In March 2024, Beijing alleged that Evergrande and its founder, Hui Ka Yan, overstated revenues by nearly $80bn in 2019 and 2020. In recent months, at least 66 PwC China partners have left, marking the largest exodus in five years. Upon leaving, PwC buys back their shares at face value, with all funds to be repaid within 12 months, except for up to HK$200,000 ($25,640), which can be withheld for up to 18 months post-termination. The outstanding capital can amount to roughly 40% of a partners final-year earningsa significant figure, though not usually central to their retirement plans. For senior partners, repayments may run into millions of Hong Kong dollars. PwC has faced challenges in retaining major clients in China. In addition to the ban, Chinese regulations bar state-owned and mainland-listed companies from appointing auditors penalised within the past three accounting years. The body of a man found near a local ballpark in Montgomery County this week has been identified. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The man was identified Thursday morning as 43-year-old Shannon D. Johnson, according to the Montgomery County Coroners Office. As News Center 7 previously reported, Johnsons body was found in a wooded area near Montevideo Drive and Onaota Avenue Sunday morning. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 911 caller told dispatchers he was driving down the road when he was stopped by an upset woman. She flagged me down and said her parents are being held hostage, the 911 caller said. The woman reportedly told the 911 caller that her parents were being held hostage in the woods. That led deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) to come out and search the area just off Wagner Ford Road near Interstate 75. Crews went into the area and looked and did discover a badly decomposed body that was inside the wood line, Jeremy Roy, MCSO Chief of Staff, previously told News Center 7. Investigators said the woman, who may be battling a couple of issues, was likely just walking through the area and spotted the body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This body was in there awhile, Roy said. The coroner himself said probably a couple seasons, so been in there for quite a while. Roy told News Center 7 that they did not see any obvious signs of foul play. Investigators want to make sure the case gets the attention and manpower it needs so they will treat it as a homicide case until that is ruled out. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] LANSING. Mich. (WLNS) We have seen dry and sunny conditions across Mid-Michigan for the first half of our Thursday. Aside from a slight chance of an isolated sprinkle this afternoon, we should stay dry throughout the rest of the day, with increasing cloud cover. Our next best chance for rain will arrive on Friday, continuing as we move throughout the weekend. The chance for a few scattered sprinkles will move into Mid-Michigan Friday morning, with a warm front setting up to our south. As our front lifts through the region, it will bring the chance for an isolated rumble of thunder Friday afternoon. Dry air will move in late Friday evening and into our Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scattered showers return Saturday afternoon/evening, with more widespread and soaking rainfall and scattered thunderstorms expected to move in for Sunday. Cooler temperatures will return as we move into early next week, with a few flurries possible early Monday morning. But most, if not all, of that activity, should move out in time for our Monday morning commute. In total, we could pick up anywhere from 1-2 inches of precipitation over the next 5 days. But, there will be some dry time across the area Friday evening and for the first half of our Saturday for anyone who wishes to get outside and enjoy the warmer temperatures in our forecast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there are a few questions in the forecast about where exactly our warm front will set up across Mid-Michigan Friday and over the weekend. As of now, most of our computer models have the warm front tracking north of Mid-Michigan, with highs in the mid-60s across our area. But we have cooler air just to our north. So, if our front were to drift a bit further south, those cooler temperatures could drift into northern portions of our viewing area. Our StormTracker 6 Team will continue to monitor this portion of the forecast and provide updates on-air and online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A new documentary series set to start airing in just under two weeks will show viewers the inner workings of the Grand Rapids Police Department. The documentarys trailer touts it as an effort to increase transparency and trust and give the public unprecedented access. Its called All Access PD: Grand Rapids. New documentary series goes inside GRPD with total transparency Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his first three years as the head of the department, Chief Eric Winstrom says the department looks a lot different than it did when he arrived. When I moved here two years ago from Chicago, trust was at an all-time low. I knew that I had to break down the walls, Winstrom said in the trailer. He began his tenure at a time when civil unrest and police distrust had reached their breaking point. It wasnt a matter of building trust. I am going to act like this is ground floor, Winstrom said in an interview with News 8 Wednesday. Story from 2022: New GRPD chief on transparency, community trust Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His efforts to do so are soon going to be on display in the documentary, which in its trailer promises the most access a documentary team has had to a police department. The production team followed officers for 100 days to get a glimpse of the day-to-day operations. Winstrom said GRPD did not pay for the documentary or receive money for it. He said nothing was left out. This show is not about making the police department look good, he told News 8. Knowing the cases that they follow, I think there is enough gray in there that you are going to be able to see that humans are not perfect, including police. Since his tenure began, Winstrom said he has been focused on recruiting and improving trust and culture in the department and the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How am I going to build trust? I am going to do the right thing tomorrow and the next day and the next day, and I am going to keep doing it for as long as I am here, he said. But for some, the trust has not improved. Cle Jackson, the president of the Greater Grand Rapids Branch of the NAACP, told News 8 that while trust has not gotten worse, it has not necessarily gotten better. That trust level from our vantage point is kind of the same, he said. I dont speak for the entire Black community no one should. I am going to speak from a NAACP perspective in terms of some of the complaints we have received on a daily basis. Their trust is not at an all-time high. Its just not. Marian Barrera-Young, executive director of the Baxter Neighborhood Association, told News 8 that the documentary will help promote conversation between the department and the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope people start talking, asking questions, start wanting meetings where we can pull the police back out and talk about the documentary, Barrera-Young said. Its a conversation piece and I think thats good. It gets them more involved. Winstrom said he hopes the documentary will serve as a stepping stone to increasing trust in the community. I hope that as an entire city we have been moving in the right direction for the past three-plus years, and I think we are heading in the right direction. I think there is a real opportunity that this documentary helps us get there, he said. Episodes will air weekly on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ID and stream the next day on Max. The first episode will be released on April 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The Bakersfield City Council approved two improvement grants Wednesday, even as some members questioned how the program is administered. There was only one regular action item on the council's agenda, but council members pulled seven items off the consent calendar, leading to lengthy debates. Items pulled from the consent agenda included applications for homeless housing grants, water and sewer rate increases and economic opportunity area grants. The council approved two EOA grants Wednesday, one to the Arts Council of Kern for $116,500 and another to Moo Creamery for $83,513. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grants are meant to help businesses open or expand in areas where city officials would like to see more development. The grant to the Arts Council of Kern will pay for the installation of a fire sprinkler system, fire alarm, water connection fees and permits and other related work. Meanwhile, Moo Creamery was awarded a grant to cover the costs associated with the purchase of equipment, materials and furnishings. Moo Creamery's grant was initially on the consent agenda but was pulled by Ward 2 Councilman Andrae Gonzales, who wanted to highlight the project. "Downtown Bakersfield continues to get better and better and better because of private investment from local business owners and property owners," Gonzales said. "I'm super excited that the city will be able to support this project in a very modest way with a grant agreement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the cancellation of a third EOA grant raised questions for some council members. Ward 5 Councilman Larry Koman asked city staff to explain a cancellation of an EOA grant to the Bakersfield Sound Co., which was previously located at the 18th Street location where the Arts Council of Kern is currently housed. Last February, the council approved $49,000 for the Bakersfield Sound Co., but the company has since relocated to Rosedale Highway, outside the area eligible for EOA grants. According to the city, the terms of the grant require a business to remain in its location with the EOA for at least a year, and Bakersfield Sound Co. received $40,000 in rental reimbursement for December 2023 through September 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Koman asked if there was a way for the city to recoup the money allocated to Bakersfield Sound. City Attorney Virginia Gennaro said that would require legal action for breach of contract. "I think we should make an effort to collect the money that we have paid out. I think that we owe that to the other businesses," Koman said. "It seems awfully shortsighted that you come into a business and take a spot and you can't do this through a 12-month period of time." Gonzales defended the program, saying the EOAs target parts of the city with high costs many small businesses can't afford and the grants are needed to incentivize development. Most of the grantees, Gonzales said, have fulfilled the terms of their contracts. "I would argue that most of our applicants, when they get reimbursed, they actually fulfill their contract agreement," Gonzales said. "They actually did what they said they were gonna do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ward 6 Councilman Zack Bashirtash said he supports helping small businesses but wanted to be a good steward of public money. "I get that, I support that 100%, but this is $40,000 of taxpayer money that is gone," Bashirtash said. "It's not an allowance. It's not your piggy bank or mine. It's the taxpayer money." Ward 1 Councilman Eric Arias asked Gennaro if the city had a legal obligation to try to recoup the grant funds. "I'd like to look at it and I'd like to reflect a little bit more," Gennaro said. "I think, frankly, that's why you have these discussions in the closed session with regard to potential initiation of litigation and not necessarily on the dais for the first time. So I appreciate the question. It's a valid one, and I need to get you an answer, all of you an answer. If we're gonna do that, I'd like to do it in the closed session." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Koman also asked staff to explain the city's application with Community Action Partnership of Kern for $35 million to redevelop the former Ramkabir Motel at 901 Union Ave., which the city hopes to develop into supportive housing. The council also approved an application with CAPK to the state's Homekey+ housing program for $35 million. If awarded, the city plans to use the money to renovate the Ramkabir to create 30 housing units with a community kitchen, multipurpose room, two office spaces, guard office, storage, conference room and laundry facilities. The application included money for both renovation of the motel and support services, said Jennifer Byers, the city's economic and community development director. If the city is not awarded a Homekey+ grant, staff will look for other funding opportunities such as the anticipated Encampment Resolution Fund. According to city documents, all potentially eligible grant programs include points for projects that have completed the predevelopment plan. The City Council also approved $500,000 of state homelessness funding to CAPK for a predevelopment plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other business, at the council's 3:30 p.m. meeting, members gave city departments the authorization to automate their citation process using the same system already used by the Bakersfield Police Department for parking tickets. The authorization will allow multiple city departments to contract with Irvine-based Data Ticket to issue administrative and parking citations for minor violations of the municipal code and other regulations. Cost proposals for the program will be presented at a future meeting. Also, $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act money was approved for a financial assistance program for homelessness prevention and diversion services to the Open Door Network. The program includes services such as assistance in rental fees, security deposits, short and long-term rental assistance and flexible dollars for crisis intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city also plans to use $4.5 million from a settlement with the Buena Vista Water and Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District last year for road improvement projects north of Panama Lane and west of Allen Road in Ward 5. All of the above actions were approved 5-0, with councilmembers Ken Weir and Manpreet Kaur absent. TOPEKA (KSNT) On Friday, March 28, at 11 a.m., a group of Kansas Satanists will be holding a black mass at the Kansas State Capitol. It will also be met with a counter-protest by a Christian and Catholic advocacy group. Our Kansas Capitol Bureau spoke with Tradition Family and Property of America (TFP) member Tim Huelskamp about the counter protest. We want to have a response, Tim Huelskamp said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre hosting the counter-protest on the south steps of the capitol. The black mass will be on the east side. TFP is hoping for hundreds if not thousands across the state to come out and support. Christians have a right and a responsibility to stand up for our faith, Huelskamp said. We have the opportunity to talk about Jesus and pray with him. As I mentioned, we will have a prayer rally not only on the south capitol steps, but this will be happening all across the state. Catholics and Christian groups across the state are responding to the satanic ritual. On Wednesday, March 26, the Archbishop of Kansas City reconsecrated Kansas to Jesus in a special ceremony of their own. Wabaunsee County Sheriffs Office offers $10K reward to find horse killer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday, March 27, the night before the Black Mass, Christians plan to pray and worship on the south steps of the Capitol at 6 p.m. Satanists said theyre still planning to make their way in the statehouse and recite prayers on the 28th. While both sides say theyre planning to protest peacefully, Huelskamp told 27 News his group is worried their own personal safety at the protest. Weve called upon the Capitol Police, the KBI and the [Kansas] Highway Patrol to be in full alert of violence that may be perpetrated by this satanic group, Huelskamp said. Right now, the KBI and the Kansas Highway Patrol are expected to be on high alert. 27 News is told there could be a large police presence just in case anything gets out of hand later this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. US President Donald Trump has announced a fresh string of tariffs abroad, this time targeting the global automotive sector. From April 2, vehicles and car parts coming into the US will face a 25 per cent tariff, a move Trump said would spur investment into the homegrown automotive industry. Leading automotive manufacturers will be left reeling from the last-minute tariffs, as the US is by far the leading destination for car exports in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will also affect US buyers, as nearly half of all cars sold in the States in 2024 were imported from abroad. Crucially, Trumps tariffs dont just hit at foreign-made passenger cars; but also their key parts, like engines and electrical components, and light trucks. This means that American car brands will also face shocks to their supply chain; particularly those who manufacture abroad, like Ford. The US imported around eight million cars alone last year, with trade valued at around $240 billion (186 billion). Meanwhile total imports of automotive vehicles, engines and parts reached over $474 billion (365 trillion) in value over 2024, according to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (USBEA). Which countries will suffer? The top light-vehicle exporters to the United States are Mexico, Japan, and South Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, the US imported $214 billion in passenger vehicles from Mexico alone, according to the USBEA, and $192 billion in vehicle parts. The next highest import destination is Japan, which exported $39.9 billion in passenger vehicles and $14.5 billion in parts last year. The US imported $49.4 billion of passenger vehicles and parts from South Korea in 2024, followed by $46.8 billion from Canada, and $35.5 billion from Germany. In 2024, 2.8 million light vehicles were shipped from Mexico alone to the US. Nearly half of these car exports were American brands manufactured in Mexico, according to the Council on Foreign Relations; with Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler all produced in Mexico to export to the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexico has already been in the firing line of Trumps tariffs, with a 25 per cent tariff on all good exports which was soon rescinded, and likely more to come. Meanwhile the UK also stands to lose out from the substantial tariff on vehicle imports. The UKs number-one goods export to the US is cars, worth 8.3 billion in the year up to November 2024. The US is also the top foreign buyer of British-made cars, from Aston Martin to MINI. In 2024, the US imported $9.7 billion in passenger vehicles and $1.5 billion in vehicle parts from the UK. Though smaller than other countries, this is a sizeable amount of UK-US trade. Which brands will be hit hardest? British company Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is one of the brands that will be worst affected by the tariffs, as its iconic Defender and Range Rover lines are highly popular in the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US is JLRs top sales destination worldwide, even higher than the UK. And unlike other brands with a big US footprint, 100 per cent of JLR cars sold in the US are imported from factories abroad; meaning that the entirety of the brands sales will be affected by the tariffs. Volvo, Mazda, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and more are all companies that rely on imports for over 50 per cent of their sales in the US, research from Global Data shows. Meanwhile, US-manufactured cars like Tesla will suffer less from tariffs, and therefore could get a competitive advantage in the vehicle market. However, US brands including Ford and even Elon Musks Tesla import vehicle parts from China and worldwide, so will face increased costs to their supply chain. China was one of the top exporters of vehicle parts to the US in 2024, at $14.7 billion behind only Mexico and Canada, according to USBEA figures. Mar. 26MORGANTOWN Monongalia County Commissioner Sean Sikora said the county's fiscal year 2025-'26 budget passed Wednesday was among the most challenging he's experienced in the position. Sikora, who spearheads the budgeting process alongside County Administrator Rennetta McClure, noted the upcoming spending plan totals $43, 675, 929. That's down slightly from the $44, 244, 654 budget passed by the commission this time last year and down 7.1 % from where that budget sits currently, at $47, 060, 403. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, the commission intends to keep levy rates unchanged, making this the eighth consecutive budgeting cycle in which rates were either lowered or held in place. The projected budget is predicated on rates of 22 cents per $100 of assessed value for Class II (owner occupied) property and 44 cents for all other properties in a municipality (Class III) or the county (Class IV). Much of the county's anticipated reduction in revenues is tied specifically to a state-directed change in the valuation process for Class III properties with oil and gas considerations. The end result of that change, Sikora explained, is roughly a $2.5 million, or 10.99 %, decrease in property taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second consecutive budgeting cycle in which the Class III valuations have fluctuated wildly. Last year, the county anticipated an overall 14 % jump in property taxes based on a nearly 30 % increase in Class III alone. This year, Class III valuations are down 18 %. Commissioner Tom Bloom said Monongalia County is fortunate in that it has a more diversified economy than much of the state. "I don't want to say it's a red flag down the road for the state of West Virginia and Mon County, but it's a yellow flag that we need to be very careful about moving forward. We are very fortunate that we are able to cover it, but down the road, we need to be careful, " Bloom said. "We do not know what the state's going to do." Commission President Jeff Arnett noted the spending plan also factored in an increase of $1.5 million in health insurance premiums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't know exactly what that's going to be yet, " he said. "It could be higher. It could be lower, but that's conservatively what we're anticipating in an increase." Despite the increased strain, all three commissioners said they're pleased with the budget the county has put together. Arnett noted 51 of the 60 agencies that requested financial support will receive some amount of grant funding, totaling $1 million. That number does not include $500, 000 for the Monongalia County Health Department. The amount of funding going to the county's constitutional offices is up more than $750, 000, or 4.11 % over the current budget and, when taken on average, eligible county employees will see wages increase by 3.9 %. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county no longer grants across-the-board raises, opting instead to make raises part of the budgeting requests put forward by constitutional office holders. Sikora admits there is a large fluctuation in raise percentages from 2.8 % up into the teens as the county tries to target areas of need identified by office holders in order to keep county wages competitive. The commission is anticipating about $11.5 million in carryover, which includes a contingency fund of $3.2 million. "It's pretty impressive to have a revenue drop of about 7 % and still put forward a budget that increases spending where we need to and still has a very, very robust contingency account, " Sikora said. The 2025-'26 fiscal year begins July 1. A federal judge in Bridgeport has ordered the New York couple charged in the racially motivated attack of a Black Mystic hotel clerk to pay her $8,960,000 in damages, the result of a civil case against the pair. Judge Kari A. Dooley, in a Wednesday decision, said that the injuries suffered by 59-year-old Crystal Caldwell-Boyd of Groton in a June 26, 2020, attack at the Quality Inn in Mystic at the hands of Philip Sarner and Emily Orbay were severe. Ultimately, the unprovoked nature of the assault, coupled with the racial animus that accompanied it, has inflicted psychological scars of a magnitude that compels substantial compensation for past and future emotional distress," Dooley wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarner and Orbay were charged with beating Caldwell in a hotel hallway pushing her to the ground, punching and kicking her during a confrontation that stemmed from a complaint about lack of hot water in the New York couple's hotel room. Some of the attack was captured on video. Sarner, who police said used racial slurs during the attack, is charged with second-degree assault, third-degree assault and intimidation due to bigotry or bias. Sarner and Orbay would later file a federal lawsuit against Caldwell-Boyd and her son, Jamel Caldwell, claiming the racial aspect of the arrest and publicity that followed was a hoax. That case was eventually dismissed. Wednesday's award was part of a countersuit filed by Caldwell-Boyd and her son in response to the lawsuit against them. Caldwell-Boyd was represented by attorneys John Strafaci and Joseph Strafaci at an evidentiary hearing held on Feb. 5. Attorney Josephine Miller had also represented Caldwell-Boyd in the federal case. "It's certainly a major vindication for Crystal," John Strafaci said on Wednesday. "It really acknowledge the injuries and suffering she had endured by Sarner and Orbay." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strafaci said the state statute regarding hate crimes tripled the judge's $2.98 million award because the attack on Caldwell-Boyd was found to be racially motivated. Dooley said in her ruling that there was "uncontroverted evidence that Sarner and Orbay, leading up to the assault, and while brutalizing Caldwell-Boyd, uttered multiple racial slurs. This further, and irrefutably, establishes the race-based motivation required under the statute." The Strafacis had argued for damages for that included lost wages and medical bills along with emotional distress, pain, suffering and permanent injuries. Dooley said in her ruling that Caldwell-Boyd's testimony at the evidentiary hearing, corroborated by medical evidence, "portrays a harrowing assault aftermath marked by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and pervasive anxiety." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Caldwell-Boyd lives with the impact of the assault every single day," Dooley wrote.. John Strafaci said there is still an appeal of the award available to the defendants in the case and admitted it would be "challenging to collect the funds awarded. Sarner's criminal case is still pending in Connecticut while he remains in prison in New York on unrelated charges. Sarner earlier this year filed a lawsuit against his former lawyer, Norm Pattis, seeking $500,000 for what he claims was a breach of contract, legal malpractice and other allegations. Sarner claims he paid an $8,500 retainer and was represented by Pattis during the pre-trial phase of his criminal case. Orbay has since accepted a plea agreement in her criminal case and accepted into a diversionary program that could leave her with a clean record. g.smith@theday.com WASHINGTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) After an extensive manhunt, Chipley couple Michael and Toni Harper were arrested in Boulder City, Nevada, on Tuesday afternoon. According to a news release, just before 6 p.m., law enforcement officials with the Nevada State Police located the Harpers traveling in a semi truck and initiated a traffic stop. Chipley couple faces new charges in child sex abuse case Michael Harper, who was operating the vehicle, fled from the officers, officials wrote. As a result, spike strips were deployed, and the semi continued traveling on flat tires until it wrecked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with the original charges, Michael Harper is now facing additional charges in Nevada for the following: Kidnapping 1st offense Assault on a protected person with a deadly weapon Driver disobeys peace officer, resulting in death or bodily harm Reckless driving disregards to an unattended person or property False statement to or obstruct of a public officer Michael Harper is currently being treated at the Nevada Hospital. Once released, he will be held in the Clark County Detention Center without bond and await extradition back to Washington County. Chipley couple arrested for sexual misconduct involving minors Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toni Harper was taken into custody on the original warrant from Washington County and is also currently being held in the Clark County Detention Center without bond and awaiting extradition back to Washington County Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Working with children who may have been neglected or mistreated requires a big heart, and Lee Ann Millender has had that heart from the very beginning of her career. Supporting foster kids: Big Country CASA volunteers offer hope & guidance After graduating from college, she went right into work with Child Protective Services. God put me where he needed me, Millender said. I graduated from college on a Friday and started to work for CPS on a Monday. So I cant say anything about that other than bringing my faith that God put you where he needs you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Millender has worked to keep children safe for 35 years, first with CPS and for the past five years at Big Country Casa, as a court-appointed special advocate for children. Millender said the smallest actions have the biggest impact. Theres not any more meaningful work than what we do to make sure that these kids grow up to be successful adults who are contributing to society in positive ways, Millender said. We may think that its just a little simple thing of showing up at school, being there in court, or even visiting in the foster home. It matters to these children. It validates that they mean something and that someone is watching out for them. How Big Country CASA helps foster kids navigate the court system Dana Ward, who works alongside Millender, said that Millenders caring spirit creates a positive and uplifting atmosphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every employee that she that works underneath her really knows that she cares about them all the way to their heart, not just as an employee or as a subordinate, but as a human being thats doing this work because they care about it, Ward said. Shes not just a person who says we need to take care of kids. We need to take care of families. But she is a person who lives it out every day. Ward shared that one of Millenders greatest qualities, perfectly suited for their work, is her keen eye and compassionate heart for others. I love that Lee Ann gets to look at our families and look at our kiddos in a very unique way. She really genuinely wants whatevers healthy for our family and healthy for our community, not what looks exactly like someone elses family, Ward said. She sees the diamond in the rough. She sees the potential behind people and families and kiddos. Its important to have someone who not only is for the people, but of the people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HOW TO WATCH: KTABs Change a Childs Story special & forum featuring volunteers According to Ward, Millenders position isnt just a job for her its something that comes from the heart. She genuinely wants to see growth in whatever way, shape or form that looks like for families. I think thats important because our community isnt made of cookie-cutter people, Ward said. Milender became the executive director for Big Country CASA in 2020. Throughout March, four women will be recognized on BigCountryHomepage for their remarkable efforts in the community. The winner of this years Remarkable Women contest will be announced on April 1, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Its a complicated time for Nvidia (NVDA) as the company moves on from the recent GTC (GPU Technology Conference) week. Shares surged yesterday as a rally swept over the market, but the momentum seems to have subsided since then. The past six months have been highly volatile, even as the artificial intelligence (AI) market has remained strong. When Chinese startup DeepSeek released an AI model that ran on less advanced chips, it triggered a selloff, and Nvidia is still struggling to recover. Get expert insights and actionable trade alerts from veteran investing experts and hedge fund managers. Join TheStreet Pro today and get the first month FREE As NVDA stock has trended downward, speculation has risen as to whether or not Nvidias time as the markets undisputed AI leader is over. Its volatile performance is in stark contrast to the seemingly unshakable growth investors remember from 2023 and much of 2004. One quantum computing leader recently weighed in on that topic, offering an expected perspective on the future of both Nvidia and the broader tech market. A quantum computing industry leader is optimistic about Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang.Shutterstock Rival CEO believes Nvidia will be saved but not by AI Last week, Nvidia unveiled multiple new AI chip innovations, including the Blackwell Ultra and the newest version of the Rubin GPU (graphics processing unit) family. While they caught the attention of many tech enthusiasts, one CEO believes that another area of technology offers Nvidia its best chance at growth: quantum computing. As TheStreet reports, quantum computing is a highly advanced form of computing in which tasks are performed at a much faster rate. A standard computer typically works one step at a time, while a quantum system can perform multiple tasks at once. Related: 5 quantum computing stocks investors are targeting in 2025 One quantum expert recently weighed in on Huang and Nvidia. Peter Chapman is the chairman and former CEO of IonQ (IONQ) , a company currently making waves in the quantum space. He recently joined Huang on stage at Nvidia Quantum Day 2025 to discuss the future of the industry and then gave an interview in which he revealed something surprising. Making it clear that he doesnt believe it makes sense to bet against Nvidia, Chapman stated, I wouldn't be shorting Jensen's stock because of quantum. This comes just a few months after Huang predicted that quantum computing likely wouldnt have useful applications for 15-20 years, sending the sector into a free fall. At Quantum Day 2025, Huang walked back these statements, admitting that he had been wrong and expressing surprise at the power that his words had on quantum computing stocks. After the event, Chapman described it as an attempt for Huang to backtrack his comments, adding that he hoped the industry would regard it as such. As if managing the identity politics fever-dreams and social justice posturing of their students was not discombobulating enough, universities now have to contend with reality as well. Earlier this week, the University of Sussex was fined 585,000 by the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), for failing to uphold freedom of speech in regards to transgender policy. The universitys plans to challenge the ruling reveal not how they have been captured by an ideology that is finally unravelling under scrutiny, but how they have been captured by the students themselves. As well as physical encampments and occupations by self-obsessed radicals, the students have imposed their mental and emotional fantasies on these institutions. Desperately short of funds and facing ever more cuts, universities are beholden to those who can afford to pay to attend and, once you discount the thousands of Chinese students gladly paying double, the most reliable revenue stream comes from young Britons raised on the mothers milk of 21st century progressive orthodoxy. The bind for universities is that their relationship with students is more transactional than ever. Whereas once they were places young people would go to learn and get drunk and, of course, become politically active if they wished, they have become part of the service industry. For a significant section of the student body, they provide a three-year hermetically sealed ideological theme park. This is particularly acute in the US, given the astronomical cost of sending Americans to college, but it is also increasingly the case here. Students are the customers of the university, and if the customer is always right, then students who scream and scream and scream until theyre sick will get their way. That is, until some proverbial adults in the room stand up to them. Protestors calling for the sacking of Kathleen Stock at the University of Sussex in 2021 - David McHugh The former Sussex philosopher Kathleen Stock has been at the heart of this mess since she resigned in 2021 following a campaign to have her removed by students who objected to her gender critical views. The OfS said the universitys policy statement on trans and non-binary equality, in particular its requirement to positively represent trans people, could lead to staff and students preventing themselves from voicing opposing views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The response of Sussex to the crisis hints at the conflicts faced by universities who accept agendas set by students and buttressed by radical faculties. The university said the judgment represented an unreasonably absolutist definition of free speech. For a college that has attempted to impose a blanket mental conformity on an issue as complex and debatable as trans rights to then accuse its detractors of absolutism is absurd and comic. The opposite is the truth. Free speech remains conditional (such as prohibitions against incitement to violence) whereas it is the ideological strictures of Sussex and others that are absolutist. It is, naturally, the absolutism of the students themselves. Sussexs policies on trans rights were, it admits, based on a template (likely to have come directly from or been influenced by the campaigning charity Stonewall). This suggests an assumption that there is no need for openness on this issue since everyone happily agrees there is only one way of looking at it. That assumption means a mob in this context a well-educated, middle-class, progressive mob have their truth enshrined in university policy without anyone really wondering whether they create a whole new set of problems. It is worth reminding ourselves that the right to hold gender-critical views is enshrined in law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have already seen where this absolutism leads with pro-Palestinian activists on campus, whose protests have struck fear into Jewish students. In December, the National Union of Students reported a 117 per cent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in UK universities in 2024. Its progressive extremists who most often incite violence death threats and rape threats used to shut down and scare away. These are the kinds of people who would have been tempted to man the guillotine in 1792, cart off Kulaks in 1933 and put a dunces hat on their teacher in Beijing, 1976. Weve long passed the head-in-hands moment over the cohort of ultra-privileged students at our most prestigious universities calling for the Intifada or global resistance (resistance to what exactly early bedtime?). Its not a thought I imagined I would ever have had back when I was a student, but I feel sorry for conservatives on campus today. It must be rough being called a Nazi or fascist just for the crime of believing in a market economy. Freedom of speech is the first among equals when it comes to the rights that underpin a civil society. The collective hounding of people who politely disagree with you, not so much. Sussex says the OfS ruling would leave institutions powerless to prevent abusive, bullying and harassing speech, ignoring the fact that it has been their students doing the harassing. It is not much of a stretch to interpret all this gymnastics as expressions of desperate doublethink. The bullies are the real victims. Free speech is oppression. Absolutism is true freedom. You can see why higher education institutions are terrified by the precedent set by the fine imposed on Sussex. They must keep their customers happy and their most vocal customers are habitually drawn to the very attitudes the OfS wants to proscribe: censorship, ideological conformity and the persecution of heretics. Simply put, they dont believe in freedom of speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stock was this week surprised and delighted to be labelled a Left-wing feminist as opposed to a gender critical philosopher or simply a transphobe. Small mercies. 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. For some volunteer fire departments, it can be tough to keep up financially with the latest fire fighting technology. But thanks to the communitys support and the dedication of the volunteers with the North East Fire Department, Crescent Hose Company now has a state-of-the-art ladder truck ready to respond to calls. It comes down to we do the cherry fest every year, and every sausage sub, every basket of fries or chicken tenders or whatever it is that you buy helps the fire department. It took 25 years worth of that for us to be able to help get this truck on the ground, said Mike Kelley, Crescent Hose Company rescue chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelley said the new truck arrived at the station about three weeks ago. Remains Cambridge Springs World War II vet coming home After an in-depth training program, this truck and volunteer firefighters are ready for their next call. The ladder stretches 107 feet into the sky at a 35-degree angle, and its going to help the firefighters fight larger fires with a growing industry in the North East area. The ladder truck can pump 2,000 gallons of water per minute, but it can also help firefighters access some hard-to-reach places. The height of the ladder is the biggest thing. We have a lot of industry in North East and the industry is growing, so we have larger buildings; we have more buildings than we used to have, said Kelley. We needed a bigger truck with a bigger pump on it to handle if we have to knock down a fire in one of these larger, industrial locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downtown Erie, Presque Isle water taxi service set to return in near future Kelley said the ladder will also come in handy if they have to evacuate people from high-up windows. According to one lieutenant, getting the truck set up is a quick and easy process. Its a lot quicker setup time, it maneuvers a lot easier, a lot faster with everything. Its just a beast, said Donovan Skelly, Crescent Hose Company lieutenant. Skelly said the truck is a huge improvement compared to their last ladder truck. The ladder truck has already responded to one call so far, and the rescue chief said its ready to serve the North East 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 WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. A family is mourning the loss of a 12-year-old Ohio boy as police investigate why someone he knew would force him to engage in cruel acts of corporal punishment that would ultimately cost him his life. Jadako Taylor was in the care of 23-year-old Anthony McCants between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 22. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, McCants forced the tween to take two 45-minute ice baths with rounds of push-ups and other physical activity in between. As the Akron Beacon Journal reported, the activity was used as a form of corporal punishment. But when Taylor began to vomit and seize, McCants called 911 and told dispatchers his little brother busted his head. He went on to tell the operator that he was performing chest compressions on the 12-year-old who was breathing but unresponsive and who threw up out of nowhere. The dispatcher told McCants to keep Taylor on his side until paramedics could reach them. Although EMS tried to revive Taylor when they arrived at the home, they were unable to save him. He was taken to Akron Childrens Hospital where he was pronounced dead. According to KGNS TV, Taylors body temperature was 74 degrees at the time of his death, more than 20 degrees lower than normal than the normal childs body temperature of 98.6 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its still unclear how McCants and Taylor knew each other, but KGNS TV, reports that McCants is known to the family. According to Akron Municipal Court documents, McCants was arrested on March 22 and charged with endangering a child, which is a third-degree felony. His bond was set for $500,000, but his trial date has not yet been set. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A Connecticut man has been indicted on fraud and tax charges after allegedly defrauding his former employer, Mars, Inc., out of millions of dollars. A federal grand jury in New Haven returned a nine-count indictment on Tuesday charging Paul R. Steed, 58, of Stamford, with seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of tax evasion for allegedly failing to report and pay taxes on his stolen income, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Steed was arrested on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport, federal officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment alleges that, between 2011 and 2023, Steed was employed by Mars Wrigley, a subsidiary of Mars. Inc., and was working remotely from his home in Stamford. Steed served as Global Price Risk Manager for Mars Wrigleys Global Cocoa Enterprise and was responsible for managing its participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Sugar-Containing Products Re-Export Program, according to court records. In approximately 2016, Steed created a company, MCNA LLC, to mimic an actual Mars entity, Mars Chocolate North America, court records allege. He then diverted millions of dollars in Mars assets to a bank account he set up in MCNAs name by directing sugar refineries purchasing Marss re-export credits, obtained through the USDA program, to pay MCNA LLC as if it were a legitimate Mars entity. The indictment also alleges that Mars had an ownership interest in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., a financial services company that operated financial exchanges and clearing houses and received quarterly dividends in connection with that ownership, according to court records. In 2017, Steed directed Computershare Limited, a company that ICE utilized for stock-related services, to pay MCNA LLC for Marss dividends from its ownership shares in ICE. As a result, more than $700,000 in dividend payments were diverted to the MCNA LLC account. The indictment also alleges that after Steed used a fraudulent letter purportedly from the Mars treasurer to authorize him to trade ICE shares in 2023, he directed Computershare to sell all of Mars ICE shares. Computershare issued a check in the amount of more than $11.3 million, which Steed deposited into the MCNA LLC account, federal officials allege. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indictment also alleges that, from 2013 through 2020, Steed used a company he created called Ibera LLC to invoice Mars for services Mars did not receive. Mars paid Ibera LLC approximately $580,000 through this scheme, according to federal officials. In total, Steed is alleged to have stolen more than $28 million from Mars, federal officials said. More than $18 million was seized on Wednesday for forfeiture, and the government is seeking to forfeit a Greenwich home that Steed is alleged to have purchased with nearly $2.3 million in stolen funds. It is alleged that another $2 million was sent by Steed to Argentina, where he is a dual citizen, has family ties, and owns a ranch. A Bethel man faces manslaughter and reckless driving charges for allegedly going nearly double the speed limit during a crash in Willington last spring when a passenger in his vehicle a Central Connecticut State University student was ejected from the car and killed. Louis Marcantonio, 22, was taken into custody Wednesday just before 8 p.m. at his residence, according to Connecticut State Police. Troopers had a warrant out for his arrest in connection with a fatal crash on April 27, 2024, on Route 32 that killed 19-year-old Maria Cardoso Da Mata. Marcantonio faces four counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and a single count each of reckless driving, failure to maintain the proper lane and first-degree manslaughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the arrest warrant affidavit, emergency crews responded to the report of a single-car crash at 10:12 p.m. on Route 32, which also goes by River Road. State police said Marcantonio was driving a Subaru Legacy South on Route 32 when he failed to negotiate a right curve in the road in the area of Adamec Road, striking a residential mailbox and leading to the vehicle rolling over multiple times, the warrant affidavit said. During the rollover sequence, Cardoso Da Mata, who was sitting in the rear middle seat, was ejected through the rear window, according to the warrant affidavit. State police investigators found that Cardoso Da Mata was not wearing a seatbelt, the warrant affidavit said. She was found lying on the ground in the area of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. A fire that started in the engine area of the vehicle was put out before it could engulf the vehicle in flames, according to the warrant affidavit. Marcantonio and three other passengers were taken to area hospitals for minor injuries, the warrant affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the scene, a trooper alleged that he smelled a faint odor of alcohol coming from Marcantonio, though friends who were in the vehicle later told authorities he was the designated driver because he was not drinking, according to the warrant affidavit. Blood samples taken from the hospital confirmed he did not have any drugs or alcohol in his system, the warrant affidavit said. An analysis of the crash found that Marcantonio was allegedly going somewhere between 85-86 mph when he lost control of the vehicle, the warrant affidavit said. The area where the crash occurred was a 45 mph zone. Marcantonio is free on a $35,000 bond and is expected to appear in Rockville Superior Court on April 8. According to an obituary, Cardoso Da Mata was born in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil and graduated from Bethel High School in 2022. She was a sophomore at CCSU where she was pursuing a degree in business and marketing, the obituary said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maria was full of life and a joy to be around, the obituary said. She made friends with everyone. Maria was always smiling and made it her goal to make others smile. Maria loved to travel. She loved entertaining others and cooking for them, Friendsgiving was a big event for her. She also loved all animals. Marias greatest passion in life was having her friends and family around her, she loved them all. CHICAGO Spring break for Chicago Public Schools clears the way for district leaders and negotiators from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) to work around the clock to figure out a new contract and manage the fallout of a pension payment the city didnt plan for. Even as they bargain with CPS behind closed doors, the CTU lobbed a personal attack on CEO Pedro Martinez on Wednesday. The union claims Martinez, whos been battling Mayor Johnson and the CPS board, walked out of a meeting with the mayor, CTU president Stacy Davis Gates and School Board president Sean Harden last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines He stormed out and said the mayor is not my boss. Well, he got a judge to say the Board of Education is not his boss, theyre the ones who sign his contract, but I guess theyre not his boss. So were trying to figure out, who is his boss? music teacher Kathryn Zamarron. CPS is disappointed in the manner in which CTU continues to make false claims against the District and the issues remaining on the table, a spokesperson for CPS said in a statement. Despite the public feud, CPS and CTU both say theyre close to an agreement on a new contract, although theyre tightlipped about how to pay for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Complicating negotiations is a $175 million pension payment for non-teaching staff. The city pushed for the district to cover it, warning it would blast a hole in its 2024 budget. But this week, an about-face. A source familiar with the matter says an accounting fix could reconcile the difference, though that might not be the most transparent maneuver. Fifteen of the citys 50 members of City Council are demanding a say, penning a letter to Mayor Johnson asking that they weigh in. Alderman Bill Conway is among them. If the mayor is going to allocate $175 million in taxpayer funds, he needs to come to City Council to do that, Conway said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland But in a Sunday appearance on WGN-TV Political Report, Alderman Jason Ervin hinted the Council doesnt need to act. This is an accounting issue right now as it relates to 2024, Ervin said. A spokesman for the mayors office said if the city doesnt receive the payment it will result in a loss of revenue, but the city will be able to manage the impact. Noticeably absent from Wednesdays CTUs demonstration was union boss Stacy Davis Gates who reportedly remained at the bargaining table, given that a deal may be within reach. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ray Dalio is joining an Indonesian sovereign wealth fund as an advisor. Eoin Noonan/Web Summit via Getty Images Ray Dalio is joining Indonesia's Danantara sovereign wealth fund as a special advisor. Danantara aims to manage over $900 billion, focusing on national industrialization. Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, is known for his insights on the US and Chinese economies. Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio is joining Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, as a special advisor. The fund announced on Monday that Dalio is part of a "dream team" of advisors that includes economist Jeffrey Sachs and former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Last month, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto launched Danantara to manage national investments and consolidate several state-owned companies. The fund is focused on "high-impact projects that will create significant added value for our nation, will create real benefits, create quality jobs, and bring long-term prosperity to the people of Indonesia," Prabowo said. He said Danantara would start with a $20 billion initial investment budget and eventually manage assets worth more than $900 billion. The fund plans to invest in national industrialization and projects focusing on processing natural resources. A sovereign wealth fund is a government-owned investment fund made of money generated by the government. They typically invest in a variety of assets like stocks, bonds, startups, and real estate. Singaporean state-owned investment fund Temasek has a net portfolio value of $290 billion, while Norway's Government Pension Fund Global, the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, is valued at approximately $1.79 trillion. Dalio founded Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund, in 1975. He has written several books on financial and economic history and has spoken frequently about the soaring debt problems in the US and China. He is worth $16.2 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His representative did not respond to a request for comment. Indonesian sovereign wealth fund under scrutiny Dalio joins Danantara at a time when the sovereign wealth fund is under scrutiny about transparency and governance. This month, Prabowo's administration started transferring ownership of 40 state-owned companies to Danatara. The sovereign wealth fund reports directly to the Indonesian president. Investor concerns over Prabowo's grip on power have contributed to a slump in Indonesia's stock market the largest by market cap in Southeast Asia. Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index is one of the world's worst performers this year. It's down 12% in 2025 as foreign investors flee, pulling over $2 billion from the market, according to Bloomberg estimates. Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo holds a commanding lead in the Democratic primary race for New York City mayor while Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani has surged into second place, according to a new poll released Wednesday. Cuomo is supported by 38% of Democratic primary voters followed by Mamdani with 10%, Mayor Eric Adams with 8%, city Comptroller Brad Lander and state Sen. Jessica Ramos with 6% apiece, former Comptroller Scott Stringer with 5% and 4% each for Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, the Emerson College/Pix11/The Hill survey found. Nearly one in five Democrats 18% are undecided or support someone else. Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a commanding lead to be the primary candidate for the Democratic Party in the race for New York City Mayor, according to a new poll released Wednesday. William Farrington Another 2% of Dems favored financier Whitney Tilson followed by former Assemblyman Michael Blake with 1%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomos support increased from 33% to 38%, up five points since the Emerson pollster last surveyed the race in early February, before he entered the race on March 1. Mamdanis backing shot up from barely registering at 1% in February to 10% in the latest poll surpassing all the other candidates except Cuomo. Its the third poll this week showing Mamdani surging into second place, but still way behind Cuomo. A separate survey released by the liberal think tank Data for Progress earlier Wednesday had Cuomo in the lead with 39% support followed by Mamdani with 15% and everyone else in single digits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic primary will be held June 24, preceded by a week of early voting. Its Cuomos race to lose, said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. 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 Kimball. Rep. Zohran Mamdani has risen to second place, receiving 10% of support from Democratic primary voters. Getty Images The survey also found that Cuomo is in a strong position to win a ranked choice voting primary. He is the second choice of 10% of voters. His strength is among minority and older voters, the pollster said The survey shows Cuomo pulling nearly half of both black (47%) and Hispanc voters (45%), the poll found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuomos support generally increases as voters age increases, going from 21% among voters under 30 to 44% of voters over 70, Kimball said. Mayor Eric Adams currently sits in third place, receiving only 8% of support. Robert Miller Ramos and Mamdani split the youth voters under age 30 at 16% each. In a hypothetical general election with Eric Adams running as an independent candidate, 43% would vote for Cuomo, 13% for Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, 11% Mayor Adams, and 4% independent Jim Walden. Eric Adams support dipped from 10% in February to 8% in the Democratic primary from last months survey, and Stringers support fell from 8% to 5% in Emersons new poll. Adrienne Adams recently entered the race, and its the first time the Emerson Poll tested her support in a mayoral primary. She registered support from 4% of Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the issues, 63% of voters want the next mayor to stand up to President Trump, while 28% would rather see the City Hall work, with 9% unsure. A third of voters say the next mayors top priority should be public safety and crime, while 23% think it should be housing, 10% addressing the migrant crisis, 7% healthcare, 6% homelessness, 5% jobs and 4% education. Nearly half of voters 46% said New York should remain a sanctuary city, while 34% want the local government to repeal its sanctuary laws. Nineteen percent are unsure. The cost of housing is the biggest economic challenge for 35% of city voters, followed by 29% who cited the cost of groceries, and then 5% of respondents who cited taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly half of voters 48% think the subway system is becoming less safe, while 20% think it is becoming more safe, and one-third said its about the same as before. Voters are split on whether congestion pricing should continue to enter Manhattan: 44% think it should not continue, 42% think it should continue and 14% are unsure. White voters are most supportive of congestion pricing continuing, at 51%, while Black and Asian voters oppose it most strongly at 53% and 52% respectively, Kimball said. The Emerson College Polling survey queried 653 registered Democrats from March 21-24, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, via text on smartphone and automated calls on landlines. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) NPR and PBS are the next targets for federal budget cuts. The Federal Communications Commission launched a probe into the public broadcasters. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is calling for the dismantling and defunding of the entities. Victor Hogstrom, president and CEO of PBS Kansas, did not mince words when he said eliminating federal funds would challenge his station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its horrible for America, said Hogstrom, who has served as President and CEO of PBS Kansas for eight years. Ive worked in commercial and public broadcasting, and I decided I like public broadcasting because it is all about service. To Hogstrom, cutting funding to PBS Kansas is cutting lifelong learning. Missing 3-month-old baby found safe at KC hospital Its horrible for the children who watch the wonderful childrens programming, educational programming, said Hogstrom. When you think about PBS Kansas, you think about the arts, culture, music, drama, dance, education, information, all of these wonderful things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal funding makes up 24% of his budget. Other public television stations right now raise about 20 to 25% because they get a lot of state support, said Hogstrom. He says cutting funding will be challenging because the station already has to raise money for 74% of its budget. And that is not a small task, said Hogstrom. Hogstrom plans to keep costs down and protect things like equipment. I mean, when you look at PBS Kansas, all of our local programs and our documentaries, they are just positive for the people and the state, said Hogstrom. Hogstrom says whats next will require hard work, determination, and appealing to the public for greater support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KSN reached out to Kansas Public Radio and did not hear back. 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. Cyprus said Wednesday it plans to subsidise the construction of private desalination plants at hotels to ensure the tourism-reliant island nation has enough fresh water to see it through busy summer seasons. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maria Panayiotou, the countrys agriculture and environment minister, said the government will provide 3 million of funding over the next two years to help hotels build their own desalination plants. Related 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. Cyprus will spend a further 8 million on fixing pipe infrastructure to reduce water leaks and losses which are estimated as high as 40 per cent, according to Panayiotou. Cyprus already has four permanent desalination plants The government measures build on Cypruss growing reliance on desalinated water. Four additional mobile desalination plants are scheduled to become operational in October, producing 30,000 cubic metres of drinkable water daily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cyprus already has four permanent desalination plants in operation, each producing 235,000 cubic metres 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. Related Cyprus continues to rely on an extensive dam network with a total capacity of 330 million cubic metres. 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 per cent of capacity, compared with 47.2 per cent in 2024, official figures show. Tourism accounts for 13.5 per cent of Cyprus gross domestic product. Tourist arrivals last year exceeded 4 million, setting a new record. (EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) School District 49s Board of Education conducted its monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 26, and while on the agenda, it did not reach a consensus on a vote for a resolution involving only acknowledging two sexes. The resolution, Protecting Safety and Privacy for Boys and Girls in All School Settings, says it prioritizes student safety as embodied in the purposes and language of Title IX and also complies with President Donald Trumps executive order, declaring that it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. During the meeting, President Lori Thompson noted the board had received several emails, both for and against the resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I value privacy, and I want to see every one of our students heard and kept safe, Thompson said. Kids, no matter what their opinion is, I want them to be heard and to be safe. The resolution looks to update any procedures, guidelines or agreements to be consistent with the knowledge of two sexes: male and female. It also seeks to ensure restrooms and locker rooms are separate for both sexes and to make sure males are not competing as females in sporting events. According to Treasurer Mike Heil, the resolution goes against state law. Heil also commented that he suspects no transgender children are in a locker room and zero transgender children are involved in sports. When asked by a student representative, Thompson said the resolution was pre-emptive because they didnt know what would happen with federal funding and the district has not received any direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were kind of left in the wind right now, Thompson said. Its really difficult to know the way forward because there will be a clear conflict between federal executive orders, state laws, what could come down with strings for funding, and thats part of the joy of what the school board gets to navigate the purpose is to be pre-emptive because we dont have a lot of leeway when it comes to our financial situation at District 49 and we want to respect families of different beliefs systems. Most importantly, we want to respect the privacy of our students and how they feel about it as well. According to Thompson, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHASA) has not taken a position, and she has been in discussions to start a petition for the organization to take a stand on the matter. The board decided to have an executive session next week before the next board meeting on April 10. The board plans to vote on the resolution next month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) The Westmoreland County District Attorneys Office said a 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged with allegedly kidnapping a minor. Angel Lopez, of Philadelphia, has been charged after he allegedly paid for an Uber to bring her to his home where he later sexually assaulted her, according to the DAs release. On March 14, officers with the Greensburg Police were notified that a 13-year-old girl was missing. A statewide effort ensued to find and bring the minor home. An investigation found that Lopez had started talking to the child through TikTok just four days before she went missing. Lopez is accused of paying for an Uber to pick up the child and bring her to Philadelphia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 11 arrested for illegal firearm trafficking in Pennsylvania sting operation: AG Sunday Lopez told the girl to leave a note telling her family she was running away and not to look for her, according to the release. Once she arrived he allegedly made her turn off her phone, offered her drugs and sexually assaulted her. The victim was made to shower to wash off his DNA before she was able to escape his apartment, according to the district attorney. She was found by Philadelphia Police and was transported to a nearby station. Police were able to track the girl through GPS coordinates and confirmed that she was taken from Greensburg to Philadelphia and was dropped off near Lopezs apartment. Investigators added that they were able to retrieve data from the victims devices which included an exorbitant number of messages exchanged between the victim and the defendant, including graphic videos. On Thursday, March 27 officers executed a search warrant on Lopezs apartment and he was arrested by the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Child Predator Unit under the direction of Attorney General Dave Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no bounds to the extent predators will go to access kids, so collaboration between law enforcement is crucial, Sunday said. Our Child Predator Unit is trained and experienced to combat this heinous conduct, and we commend our partners who worked diligently to file charges and bring the child home. First and foremost, I am so thankful this young girl is home safe, however let this be a lesson to each and every child and parent out there: if this can happen in Greensburg, this can happen anywhere, Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said. The case against Lopez remains active and ongoing. As parents, we need to be vigilant and monitor who our children are talking to and what apps are downloaded on their devices. I applaud the local and state agencies involved who acted swiftly to bring this victim safely home and are pursuing justice to hold Mr. Lopez accountable, DA Ziccarelli added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez is currently facing charges of kidnapping a minor, trafficking, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16, unlawful contact of a minor, interference with child custody, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault of a child, sexual abuse of a child, corruption of minors, and criminal use of a communication facility. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Lopez is in the Westmoreland County Prison with bail denied for the safety of the community as he is a flight risk, according to court documents. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 10. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Child predators no longer need to be nearby to pose a threat. With just a phone or a laptop, they can target children from anywhere. In a world where child predators can hide behind screens and fake identities, Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters is making one thing clear: State lines wont stop justice. DA Joe Peters latest child predator case involves an Ohio man, extradited to Pennsylvania for allegedly grooming a child online in Wyoming County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do go the distance and we will use every strategy and tatic that we can and to send the message to people that not only dont mess with our children in this county physically or being here geographically but even if youre in another state as is the case with the individual that we just arrested, DA Peters said. With a background in federal law enforcement, Peters has brought homeland security right into his rural office, literally. I have a homeland security agent in my office assigned here in this little county so that I can take advantage of every asset available, personnel, equipment, intelligence, other resources of the federal government, at no cost to the citizens of our county and bring those assets here to prevent problems before they start, DA Peters explained. Dead Media Room to open on Saturday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As predators use the internet to hide behind fake profiles, Peters says even social media companies can become part of the problem. Sometimes social media companies can actually be an obstacle rather than a partner, you know theyre in business to make money, privacy on the internet is one of the ways they make money, but when theyre using them to commit crimes, particularly against children, if we have to get search warrants, if we have to get court orders, if we have to bring a lawsuit against the social media company to get the information that we need to protect our childre,n we will do that, DA Peters continued. Peters says no matter how far his office reaches, parents are still the first line of defense Being a parent is not about being their friend, theyll have lots of friends, theyll only get two, and oftentimes in todays world, one parent, be their parent. Look at their phones, use those parental protection devices on their phones, DA Peters added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DA Peters also wants to remind parents that law enforcement is their friend, and if you suspect your child is being groomed online, contact 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 PAhomepage.com. A 16-year-old aspiring drill rapper shot stepping off a Queens MTA bus was killed over a dispute with a rival teen, police sources said Thursday as the victims father took to social media to vent his rage. It is not over, Miguel Jazmin said in a Facebook Live video he posted Thursday morning about his son Sincere Jazmins slaying in South Jamaica. Whoever is involved, believe me that I will find you. You better hope cops get to you before I do. Video recovered by cops shows the gunman was riding the same bus as Sincere and shot the teen as they disembarked about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday, police sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it was first believed the shooter was a classmate of Sincere at John Bowne High School in Kew Gardens Hills, cops are now working on the theory the two didnt attend the same school, a police source said. A motive for the slaying was not immediately clear. Detectives are probing the possibility Sincere was killed over his drill raps, a controversial genre where performers mock rivals in diss tracks and often threaten violence in the lyrics. He might of been doing drill music but he was a good boy, the victims father said on Facebook. He was a good boy. My heart just hurts, Jazmin told the Daily News in an exclusive interview. He was a very happy boy. He liked to joke around. He liked to listen to music. He loved his sisters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The father saw his son leave their Bushwick home less that four hours before the slaying. He said he was going to school to go pick up some documents, Jazmin said. I gave him a hug. I gave him a kiss. I told him I loved him. Im sleeping in his bed right now, he added. Ive been crying all morning. The victim and his killer stepped off a Q83 bus near Liberty Ave. and 172nd St. moments before the shooting. Video recovered by police shows the killer suddenly pulls out a gun and shoots Sincere in the chest in front of Detective Keith L. Williams Park. One shell casing was recovered at the scene, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cops on Thursday released surveillance footage of the suspect and asked the publics help identifying him. He was last seen running east on Liberty Ave. wearing a green hoodie, gray sweatpants, multi-colored sneakers and a black-and-gray backpack. Sincere staggered about a half block to a neighborhood bodega, where he collapsed in the doorway. Medics rushed the boy to Jamaica Hospital but he could not be saved. Im grieving my son, the teens mother told the Daily News from her South Jamaica home. He was a beautiful soul. Hes with God. A surveillance video from inside the bodega seen by The News shows Sincere sitting on the steps with his backpack still slung over his shoulders after being shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen sits in silence for a few seconds before lying down on the floor. He tries to move but struggles to sit up as a man delivering beer to the bodega renders aid and calls 911. Thats my first nephew, said aunt Vanessa Fortunato, 36. I just want everybody to know he was very quiet, very laid back. Even down to his least breath he was very quiet. He didnt even want to say he was shot. He just wanted to do music and go to school, added the aunt, who said after going to his school Wednesday Sincere planned to go to a music studio near where he got off the bus. Fortunato explained that some studios were seen as friendly and others as unfriendly based on who recorded there but her nephew was headed to a safe studio that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was told that everyone was to meet up at a certain studio, said Fortunato, who believes his death involved the drill rap scene. I feel like that was a way to set him up. They knew he loved going to the studio. Fortunato has since seen multiple videos about her nephews murder on social media, referring to him as Sdot Blokka, the name Sincere recorded under. The videos range from wishes of a speedy recovery to ones in which other teens laughed about his murder and another which claimed a different drill rapper was headed into the studio to record a diss track targeting Sincere after his death. Im very hurt but at the same time you know what they say: What goes around comes around, she said. Theyre all laughing now but they will be crying later. He didnt deserve to die, she added. It seems like youre all killing people over dumb petty stuff. Youre all killing your brothers off of dumb petty drama. Youre really taking lives like youre God out here and only God can judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was just so shocked. Im still shocked, said Fortunato. They said he was in surgery. They said he was going to pull through. This is the second time in four months Fortunato has lost a loved one to gun violence. She witnessed her boyfriend Milton Headley being shot to death on Nov. 24 in Far Rockaway. I had to watch him pass away in front of my eyes, said Fortunato. I dont feel safe. I dont feel comfortable. I dont want to be in Queens. I dont even want to be in New York for that matter. Everybody is just beefing with one another. Fortunato wished her nephew had asked for help after he was shot but acknowledged he was likely in shock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im just upset that my nephew didnt say nothing. That he didnt say Hey I was hit. I was shot. He tried to be so strong, said Fortunato. The way he was fighting, the way he woke up and was collapsing and got up again, my nephew was really fighting for his life. A man working at an auto body shop watched as Sincere was shot. They jumped off the bus and one of them pulled out a gun and shot him, said shop owner Budzy Singh. They looked like school children. The one who got shot ran around the back of the bus and the other one, the shooter, ran the other way up the block, said Singh. I have kids of my own. Its so sad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harry Patel, a worker at the bodega where the teen collapsed, said Sincere tried to keep going but couldnt. He was holding his chest, said Harry Patel, who was working behind the counter. He had a lot of pain and then he couldnt speak. Patel, not seeing any blood, tried to stand the teen up but the victim fell back to the floor. I said, What happened? but he couldnt speak, said Patel, 47. He was unconscious, like he was sleeping. He was so young, Patel added. How could he have an enemy? Friends and classmates at John Bowne High School were saddened and shocked by the teens murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was going to link up with a girl, said one friend, a 16-year-old junior who did not give his name. I was with him before it happened. It has everybody destroyed, the friend added. Because nobody expected that. Everybody expected that theyre gonna go home like the usual. With Rocco Parascandola, Kerry Burke and Julian Roberts-Grmela GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Thursday on the Daily 8, were looking at a string of break-ins in Allendale Township, the best moments in Detroit Tigers history, what to do in West Michigan this weekend and more. You can watch the full Daily 8 for March 27, 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 Friday 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. Within hours of the Spring Statement yesterday, the Government has been left scrambling to negotiate with the US as President Trump introduced a whopping 25% tariff on all car imports - including from Britain. The news comes during a busy time for the White House, which is already dealing with the fall out from those leaked Signal messages. So, as the shock of his second election victory subsides and the world settles in for another tumultuous four years, how do we live with President Trump? Cleo Watson and Tim Stanley are joined by Emily Jashinsky, D.C. correspondent for UnHerd magazine, to unpack the latest news from across the pond. Plus, Kamal is at a major leadership event in Cornwall, speaking to the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, about Trumps latest tariffs as shes warned of a possible trade war and the impact of Net Zero. Watch episodes of the Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to The Daily T newsletter for updates Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Nivedita Balu TORONTO (Reuters) -When Royal Bank of Canada convenes its first investor day in seven years on Thursday, shareholders will focus on growth, as trade tensions worsen with its key U.S. market. The United States accounts for 26% of RBC's revenue, and CEO Dave McKay has often called it the bank's second home market. "Where does Royal Bank grow?" asked Kevin Burkett, portfolio manager at Victoria, BC-based Burkett Asset Management. "If the tariff rhetoric coming from the U.S. is making that more complicated, how will they deliver for investors in terms of that growth?" RBC, the largest lender in Canada and among the top 10 in North America, has focused on its southern neighbor in recent years, beefing up its U.S. capital market and wealth management businesses. It also injected more than $3 billion to save its U.S. subsidiary City National, a California-based lender that caters to Hollywood clientele. McKay has also sought to make RBC "simpler, faster and more innovative" by adding scale, reducing complexity and investing in talent, according to memos to employees seen by Reuters. The messages come after McKay carried out RBC's landmark $10 billion purchase of HSBC's Canadian operations, shook up senior leadership and divided the company's personal and commercial banking segments in Canada. The HSBC acquisition expanded RBC's size and market share, giving it a more than C$80 billion advantage in market capitalization over Canada's next biggest lender, TD Bank. "How do they level up?" Veritas Investment Research analyst Shalabh Garg asked, noting that RBC has managed to avoid "major landmines" that has plagued other Canadian banks including slower earnings growth and regulatory woes. "On a global basis, I think they can do lots more." RBC has $2.1 trillion in assets, putting it into a category of major North American lenders alongside JPMorgan Chase, which has more than $4 trillion, Garg said. RBC trades 12.02 times its forward earnings, beating TD's 10.82 times, Bank of Montreal's 11.48 times, Bank of Nova Scotia's 9.46 times and CIBC's 10.01 times, according to LSEG data. Since RBC's last investor day in June 2018, the stock has gained 66%. Shares of the other top five Canadian banks have had mixed performances in that time, ranging from a loss of 8% to a gain of 43%. All five banks have invested in the United States. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned the lack of U.S. banks in Canada, gutted a consumer banking watchdog and changed some immigration policies for Canadians. DALEVILLE, Ala (WDHN) A former Daleville daycare worker accused of abusing children in the classroom has been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation ahead of her eventual trial. The mental evaluation will determine if Kailey Gilley is mentally fit and competent to stand trial and assist in her defense. She is facing 6 counts of aggravated child abuse and 4 counts of child abuse-torture. According to Gilleys attorney Tiffany White, while in custody, Gilley was evaluated by Spectra Care and was diagnosed with certain mental conditions that attorneys say were likely present in Gilley when the alleged crimes occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daleville Police say Gilley was accused of abusing children at Happy Hearts Christian Academy Daycare. She was arrested in early September and released on bond but were later rearrested on additional charges. Gilley was arrested alongside her former coworker, Magan Koker. Chief John Crawford tells WDHN that camera footage from inside the suspects classroom showed the women allegedly hitting children. Gilley and Kokers separate grand jury indictments claim the abuse occurred on several different occasions and involved children younger than six. If Gilley is found to lack the mental capacity to assist in her own defense during a trial, a state psychologist will recommend forms a treatment and determine if Gilley could attain mental competency during this treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A mental evaluation has not been ordered for Koker, and she has a tentative trial date set for early May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. A firefighter is hospitalized after being injured while battling the Black Cove wildfire in western North Carolina. On Wednesday, a red flag warning is in effect due to high winds in the area. Wildfires are also spreading quickly in upstate South Carolina, where evacuations are underway in Greenville County. Emergency shelter established in Rutherford County as fire prompts evacuation Channel 9 Meteorologist Danielle Miller says fires in the Table Rock Complex are being fueled by high winds, dry conditions and debris left over from Hurricane Helene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest report from officials say the fire has burned more than 2,000 acres and is 0% contained. In North Carolina, fires in Polk and Swain counties are also growing, prompting more evacuations. Firefighters from Concord and Denver have been dispatched to assist in controlling the blazes. >> In the video at the top of this page, Miller explains how these conditions will continue to be a problem for the Carolinas. PAST VIDEO: Firefighters battle large outdoor fire in Burke County KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM The first six residents of the Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei listened Wednesday as dignitaries gave speeches to mark the homes dedication. 1 /4 KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM The first six residents of the Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei listened Wednesday as dignitaries gave speeches to mark the homes dedication. KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Daniel Akaka Jr. and the rest of the Akaka family bestowed a traditional Hawaiian blessing at the Wednesday opening of the Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 /4 KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Daniel Akaka Jr. and the rest of the Akaka family bestowed a traditional Hawaiian blessing at the Wednesday opening of the Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei. KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Attendees of Wednesdays opening ceremony toured the state veterans home, which sits on a 7-acre property. 3 /4 KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Attendees of Wednesdays opening ceremony toured the state veterans home, which sits on a 7-acre property. KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Attendees of Wednesdays opening ceremony toured the state veterans home, which sits on a 7-acre property. Above, one of the 120 beds at the facility. Various types of care are available for veterans, ranging from Alzheimers /dementia and hospice care to long-term respite and 24-hour skilled nursing care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4 /4 KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Attendees of Wednesdays opening ceremony toured the state veterans home, which sits on a 7-acre property. Above, one of the 120 beds at the facility. Various types of care are available for veterans, ranging from Alzheimers /dementia and hospice care to long-term respite and 24-hour skilled nursing care. KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM The first six residents of the Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei listened Wednesday as dignitaries gave speeches to mark the homes dedication. KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Daniel Akaka Jr. and the rest of the Akaka family bestowed a traditional Hawaiian blessing at the Wednesday opening of the Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei. KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Attendees of Wednesdays opening ceremony toured the state veterans home, which sits on a 7-acre property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KEVIN KNODELL / KNODELL @STARADVERTISER.COM Attendees of Wednesdays opening ceremony toured the state veterans home, which sits on a 7-acre property. Above, one of the 120 beds at the facility. Various types of care are available for veterans, ranging from Alzheimers /dementia and hospice care to long-term respite and 24-hour skilled nursing care. The long-planned Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home finally opened its doors Wednesday in Kapolei as the family of its namesake, the late U.S. senator from Hawaii, bestowed the facility with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. The facility was developed and will be overseen by the state Office of Veterans Serv ices. After two decades of state lawmakers trying to gather land and funds and plan the 120-bed facility, the state broke ground on the facility in 2021 on a 7-acre property. Ron Han Jr., a retired Air Force colonel who served as OVS director, oversaw the project. Both colleagues in government and friends and family called it his baby. But he wouldnt see it to completionHan died in August 2023 at the age of 62. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the second state veterans home to open in the islands. The first was the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo in 2007, but the state has plans for another on Maui and hopes to expand further to care for aging isle veterans. Current OVS Director John Almodin told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that (Han ) was the director essentially the whole time overseeing this project until his passing This being the second (veterans home ) really kind of launches the ability to provide veteran care across the state (especially ) once the Maui home is established as well. As dignitaries gave speeches at the opening, both the Akaka and Han families had prominent front-row seats to mark the occasion. Gov. Josh Green said it will really, I hope, be an enduring testament to these two gentlemen that always inspired us, who taught us, who led us, who educated us, but basically championed us as leaders from Hawaii. 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. Hans son, Ronald Han III, said dad would share updates for each milestone, like when the site was chosen or when they broke ground. Now standing here and actually seeing this home, I am truly in awe. This home is a beautiful tribute to our veterans and to think this is just the beginning, he said. With continued effort and dedication to this vision, we can ensure a bright future for our veterans, offering them the support and care they deserve on every island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility opens with six residents, with more expected to be admitted subsequently. Hawaii is home to an estimated 100, 000 veterans on Oahu and 30, 000 veterans on the neighbor islands. Residents of the islands have served in American conflicts dating as far back as the War of 1812, with Prince Humehume of Kauai volunteering to fight for the American side of that conflict as he traveled the world before returning to the islands. Many from the islands have been awarded for valor on battlefields around the globe. These homes are vital to our veterans, said Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, who leads the Hawaii Department of Defensewhich includes the OVS. At this home here veterans, their spouses and Gold Star parents can all receive assistance, physical occupational therapy or speech therapy and different types of care, ranging from Alzheimers dementia, hospice, long-term respite and 24-hour skilled nursing care. Akaka, who died in 2018, served during World War II as an Army engineer and upon returning to Hawaii used his GI bill benefits to go to college and pursue a career in education before getting into politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He never forgot the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, because he was there, and he was one of them, said his grandson David Mattson. He remembered seeing the beginning and the end of the war in the Pacific, first with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and then later watching the departure of the Enola Gay from Tinian. All those decades later, while serving in Congress, he made it his priority to provide for our military and for their families, their ohana. Last year the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also opened a clinic in Kapolei named for Akaka, which the late senator spent many of the last years of his life fighting for as part of an effort to provide support to veterans on the leeward side of Oahu and save them long trips to VA facilities at Army Tripler Medical Center. All of Hawaiis veterans are served by the VAs Pacific Island Health Care System, which also serves veterans in American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. The system, which has always had limited facilities and personnel, had been working to hire more people and build more facilities in recent years with a focus on reaching veterans in rural areas. VAPIHCS already has experienced a small number of layoffs as a result of wide personnel and budget cuts being undertaken by the Trump administration. VA workers have told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser they are concerned about what much larger cutswhich the Trump administration says will take effect this summer with the layoff of 80, 000 workers across the agencymight look like in the islands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA played a role in getting the new veterans home established. The OVS, which besides the home helps veterans with paperwork to help them access VA benefits and services theyre entitled to, could play a bigger role in helping isle veterans depending on the scale of VA cuts and which jobs get cut in Hawaii. There are more veterans than we can serve, we have to be honest with ourselves, Green said. But we have to start in a place like this, where people can get the care that they might need when theyre elderly. We know, the challenges are many for our veterans in servicethe injuries that occur in the aftermath, the wounds that PTSD can bring, the era of traumatic brain injuries that have occurred in wars like Afghanistan and Iraqall of which mean that we have a sacred obligation, and I mean sacred, to our nations heroes, because they are asked to give so much. 6 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . Denmarks prime minister has praised Greenlanders for standing firm in the face of President Donald Trumps efforts to seize the Arctic island, warning that his interest in Greenland is far from over. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued the message Wednesday on social media, just days before U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other officials are scheduled to visit an American military base in Greenlands remote north. The attention is overwhelming and the pressure is great, Frederiksen said. But it is in times like these that you show what you are made of. You have not been cowed. You have stood up for who you are and you have shown what you stand for. That has my deepest respect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, is home to roughly 56,000 people who are Danish citizens. Trumps repeated and at times aggressive remarks about acquiring the island, by force if necessary , have raised alarm in Copenhagen, a longstanding U.S. ally. Frederiksen warned that Trumps aims had not changed and he remained undeterred. That much was clear from what he has said publicly several times, most recently again today, she said, referring to a radio interview Wednesday in which Trump declared the U.S. will have Greenland. She added that Washington would continue to act based on their own desires, regardless of Denmarks objections. They [the U.S.] know that Greenland is not for sale, the Danish leader said. They know that Greenland does not want to be part of the United States. This has been communicated to them unequivocally both directly and in public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The upcoming visit by Vance to Pituffik Space Base replaces an original plan that included a stop in the capital Nuuk and attendance at a dog-sled race by Second Lady Usha Vance. That trip was scrapped after backlash from Danish and Greenlandic officials , who criticized the timing, coming just after Greenlands elections and amid coalition talks. Greenlanders had also planned protests in response to the American delegation , adding to a series of recent demonstrations against Trumps takeover bid. Frederiksen described the canceled visit as unacceptable pressure. But the prime minister also conceded that the American vice president, who last month blasted Denmark for not doing its job on Arctic security, had a point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Vice President Vance, for example, says that neither the United States nor Denmark has done enough for security around Greenland, that is not wrong, she said. That is why we have changed our defense policy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen praised Greenlanders and said they have not been cowed ahead of a Friday visit by Vice President Vance and other Trump administration officials to Greenland. Greenland is an autonomous territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The attention is overwhelming and the pressure is great. But it is in times like these that you show what you are made of, Frederiksen said in Danish in a post online, according to Google Translate. You have not been cowed. You have stood up for who you are and you have shown what you stand for. That has my deepest respect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance, second lady Usha Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, will visit Greenland on Friday. It was originally scheduled to just be the second lady and deemed a chance for her to explore Greenlands history and culture, but the Vances are now scheduled to visit a U.S. military facility on the island. The visit is a controversial one after President Trump has insisted for months that he wants the U.S. to acquire Greenland. Both Greenland and Denmark officials have sharply criticized Trump for his push and said the sale is not going to happen. Frederiksen noted there has been a lot of back and forth about the administrations plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trumps interest in Greenland is not going away, she wrote, later adding, They know very well that Greenland is not for sale. They know very well that Greenland does not want to be part of the United States. There is no doubt that this is a difficult situation we are in. A situation that will wave back and forth perhaps over a long period of time, Frederiksen 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. A Danish television reporter said American officials knocked on doors in Greenlands capital, Nuuk, seeking local hosts for second lady Usha Vances planned visit, but they largely got a cold shoulder. Jesper Steinmetz, a correspondent for Denmarks TV 2, said that the Greenlandic capital was recently traversed by representatives of the U.S. government, who were offering a stop-by from Vance, according to a report Wednesday. Steinmetz said the offer received no acceptance, resulting in the shifting of plans for the Greenland visit, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When reached for comment, a senior White House official denied the reporting. This is categorically false. The Second Lady is proud to visit the Pituffik Space Base with her husband to learn more about arctic security and the great work of the Space Base, the official told The Hill in an email. Usha Vance will now be joined by her husband, and the second couple will visit a military installation, rather than previous plans to attend a dogsledding race and meet with Nuuk locals. Officials in Greenland and Denmark have denounced the pressure campaign as the Trump administration insists it wants to take control of the Arctic territory, with President Trump calling it a strategic imperative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until recently, we could safely rely on the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we liked to work closely, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Bourup Egede told the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday. But that time is over, we have to admit that, because the new American leadership is completely and utterly indifferent to what we have stood together on so far, because now it is only a matter of them taking over our country over our heads, the prime minister added. The Hill was directed to the White House by the State Department for comment. Updated at 5:37 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. Stephanie Gonzalez says she and her family have endured "heartbreak" since the deportation of her parents, 55-year-old Gladys and 59-year-old Nelson Gonzalez. "They really did not deserve to be treated as criminals," Stephanie Gonzalez, 27, told ABC News on Wednesday, describing how she and her sisters, 23-year-old Gabriella and 33-year-old Jessica, have been "devastated" as their parents, who possess no criminal records and have lived in the United States for 35 years, have been transported like "animals" and placed in "inhumane" conditions. PHOTO: Gladys, 55, and Nelson, 59, Gonzalez are seen in this undated photo. (Stephanie Gonzalez) Stephanie Gonzalez said her parents were arrested and detained on Feb. 21 after a routine supervision appointment. That day, Gladys Gonzalez was initially granted a one-year extension to stay in America, prompting her daughter to think that "everything's gonna be fine, like it always is." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few hours later, however, Nelson Gonzalez called to inform the family he was being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and that Gladys' extension was revoked and she was being detained as well. "They separated them in separate rooms. They were in rooms alone for hours with no food," Stephanie Gonzalez said. "They had handcuffed them from their hands or from their wrists and from their ankles." She added that it is jarring for her parents to be "treated like criminals," especially since they had "never, ever been in trouble with the law." ICE confirmed to ABC News that Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez do not have criminal records and have been deported to Colombia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It noted that its "routine operations" involve arresting people who commit crimes as well as "other individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws." MORE: 'Nazis got better treatment,' judge says of Trump administration's Alien Enemies Act deportations Stephanie Gonzalez said her parents were transported to detention facilities in different states without knowing where they were going and that she and her sisters had no way of tracking them, calling it "a mess." "It baffles my mind how they're treating people this way," she said, adding that it's "so cruel" that they were "literally moving them around like animals." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Tufts PhD student on visa arrested by immigration authorities, school says Stephanie Gonzalez also said her parents had no way of finding each other while in custody -- they just happened to be on the same plane back to Colombia. "When they got on the plane, everyone started clapping because they knew that they had been reunited after so long," she said, smiling at this "really sweet moment" among the deportees. She added that she feels relieved they are now together in Colombia. PHOTO: Left to right: Stephanie Gonzalez, 27, Gabriella Gonzalez, 23, Gladys Gonzalez, Jessica Marshall, 33, Nelson Gonzalez (Stephanie Gonzalez) Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez came to America in 1989, seeking asylum from violence in Colombia, their daughter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They then faced multiple instances of "fraudulent" lawyers, she said, including one who wasn't even an attorney and others who ended up disbarred, consequently preventing the proper citizenship paperwork from being filed. Stephanie Gonzalez described this as "so discouraging when you're trying so hard ... to do the right thing." An ICE spokesperson said in a statement that Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez "illegally entered the United States" in 1989. After they appeared before an immigration judge who found "no legal basis" for them to remain in the U.S., ICE said the couple was granted a "voluntary departure" with a final removal in 2000. MORE: Appeals court rejects Trump bid to overturn Alien Enemies Act deportation block Stephanie Gonzalez confirmed that her parents were faced with a voluntary deportation day in 2000, but she added that they subsequently spent over 20 years filing appeals. Though her parents' cases were closed in 2021, Stephanie Gonzalez said they were instructed simply to continue showing up to their supervision appointments and check in with the appropriate authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During these supervision visits, Nelson and Gladys Gonzalez consistently got approved to stay in the U.S., though the time frame almost always varied, she continued. "Sometimes, they would get three months. One time, they got one month. One time, I think they got almost three years where they didn't have to appear before immigration," Stephanie Gonzalez recounted. "I think it just shows how broken the immigration system is because there was no set rule," she said, adding that her family always hoped for a "really nice officer." PHOTO: Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez celebrating Stephanie's graduation. (Stephanie Gonzalez) Prior to the supervision visit in February that resulted in her parents' deportation, Stephanie Gonzalez said she and her sisters "weren't necessarily nervous" because they had been accustomed to "getting good news that they could stay in the country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When I realized that they had gotten arrested and I wasn't going to even be able to say goodbye, it was awful," she said. "The fact that I couldn't even hug them and just feel their bodies -- like it was really hard on me and my sisters." Stephanie Gonzalez said her parents offered to self-deport and pay for their own flights to preserve their "dignity" but the government refused. She said not only do Stephanie and her sisters now have to grieve their parents' absence but they are also left to settle their parents' affairs and belongings, causing the situation to feel "like somebody died." PHOTO: Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez with their seven-month old grandson. (Stephanie Gonzalez) Stephanie Gonzalez said it has been difficult given how close-knit her family is, especially as she and her sister Gabriella lived with their parents in an apartment in Orange County, California. She also expressed sadness that her parents cannot spend time with Jessica's 7-month-old son, their first grandchild. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her mother was the baby's primary caretaker, and Gabriella had to quit her job to watch after him once their mother was no longer able to, Stephanie Gonzalez added. MORE: El Salvador prison holding alleged Venezuelan gang members has been criticized for alleged abuses Nelson Gonzalez was a certified phlebotomist who drew blood and conducted life insurance exams, his daughter said. He was also a part-time Uber driver, even working overnight to make extra money, with Stephanie Gonzalez emphasizing what immigrants like her parents "contribute to society." She expressed a desire for the public to change the narrative around immigrants, emphasizing that her parents are "hardworking people. They've paid taxes. They've raised us three to follow the law. They love America." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephanie Gonzalez and her sisters started a GoFundMe page, which has raised over $75,000. She noted that she feels "devastated" to hear "so many parents being taken from their kids, families being separated and broken apart." "That is something that should break people's hearts," she said. Daughter of couple deported with no criminal record says they were transported 'like animals' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Three Paxtonia Fire Company firefighters are accused of altering records so they could be paid when they werent actually working, police say. Fire company records were allegedly altered multiple times by Nicholas Kimmel, 31, Ryan Murphy, 32, and Kody Rodkey, 25, all from Harrisburg, Lower Paxton Township, police said in court documents. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now Severe Weather Alerts Court documents show Kimmel is the Captain and President and has been with the company since 2013. Murphy is the Assistant Fire Chief, and has been a member from 2010 to 2015 and then from 2020 to this year. Rodkey is a volunteer firefighter and has been a member since 2023. They are accused of altering the stipend staffing calendar, which they were responsible for accurately filling out as part of the Stipend Staffing Program. Photos of Kimmel (left), Rodkey (middle), and Murphy (right), from police Between Nov. 1, 2024, to Jan. 2, 2025, they allegedly altered records, causing them to be paid while they were not working, on station or responding to calls, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy is accused of altering records for 23 different days on the calendar, while Kimmel and Rodkey each allegedly altered records 10 different times. The fire company lost a total of $3,130 from the theft, court docs state. The trio faces a felony charge of unlawful use of a computer, along with misdemeanor charges of theft and tampering with public records. Both Murphy and Kimmel had their unsecured bail set at $10,000 each, while Rodkeys was set at $1,000 by Magisterial District Judge Wendy Grella. Their preliminary hearings are scheduled for April 7. Last month, a member of a Dauphin County fire company, Paxtang Fire Company #1, Kyle Walcott, was charged in an investigation after he was accused of altering training certificates. 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 ABC27. ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Sandwiches sold at Jersey Mikes today did more than satisfy hunger; they helped feed hundreds of homebound seniors across the Permian Basin. On Wednesday, both Jersey Mikes locations in Odessa and Midland donated 100% of the days sales to Meals on Wheels. The effort is part of the national sub shops annual Day of Giving, held on the last Wednesday of March each year. Today we opened at 10 a.m., were here until 9 oclock, ready to serve the community every step of the way, said Blake James, district manager for Jersey Mikes. All of todays sales from both stores go directly toward Meals on Wheels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the month of March, customers have been encouraged to donate at the register, but on the Day of Giving, its not just about loose changeevery sandwich, chip, and cookie sold contributes to the cause. For Craig Stoker, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels Odessa, this event isnt just another fundraiser; its one that brings real impact and real awareness. The Jersey Mikes fundraiser is one of our favorites, Stoker said. Its very important to bring awareness to the issue of senior hunger and what we do every day. Its a great shot in the arm for us this time of year. Meals on Wheels Odessa provides daily meals and wellness checks to homebound seniors, many of whom have no family or friends regularly checking on them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Volunteers knock on their door, make sure theyre upright and healthy, Stoker explained. Its that daily wellness check that is so important about what we do. The meal is kind of a perkthe funds we get today help make all of that possible. For MOWO, each meal costs about $8 per day, and with the rising cost of living and a growing senior population, the need is greater than ever. Weve always been plagued with cost-of-living issues here in the Permian Basin, Stoker added. Our seniors are on fixed incomesthe cost of living squeezes them. Theyre on fixed incomes. They cant go get a second job. They cant work in the oil field. But with these meals, were helping them stay in their homes and out of the healthcare system. The Midland Jersey Mikes location was also packed, with customers lining up to support the cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are jam-packed, and itll be like this most of the day, said Tracy Renton, Director of Development for Senior Life Midland. Midland always comes out to help and support a great cause. Meals on Wheels Midland serves about 500 meals daily, and each one costs $9 to prepare and deliver. Renton said without community support and partnerships like Jersey Mikes, they simply wouldnt be able to meet the need. This is a way for our community to directly support seniors who are often alone and homebound, she said. If not for us, many wouldnt get a meal, or see another person all day. Renton also noted that while 100% of sales go to the charity, customers could also make a $5 donation at the register and receive a coupon for a free sub on their next visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Wednesdays event is the big push, Jersey Mikes will continue accepting donations through the end of March. It feels good to be able to contribute, James said. We know its going to be busy. But thats what its all about. And as the population of West Texas continues to age, the need for support like this isnt going away anytime soon. This is a great investment, Stoker said. Buying a sandwich today helps a senior stay in their home tomorrow. If youre inspired to help beyond March, Stoker said they always need volunteers. To support Meals on Wheels in Odessa, visit https://www.mealsonwheelsodessa.org. For Midland, visit this website: https://seniorlifemidland.org. 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 Yourbasin. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ripple Labs agreed to settle a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil lawsuit over the alleged sale of unregistered securities and pay just $50 million of a previously imposed $125 million fine, the cryptocurrency company's chief legal officer said on Tuesday. The accord would end one of the SEC's highest-profile cryptocurrency cases, as the regulator eases oversight of the industry. Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty said in a post on X that the SEC would keep $50 million of the $125 million fine imposed in August by U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan and now in escrow earning interest. Alderoty said a settlement requires approval by the SEC and the judge. Ripple said there is no admission of wrongdoing. The SEC declined to comment. Ripple said last week that the SEC had ended its appeal of Torres' July 2023 decision that the XRP token sold by Ripple on public exchanges did not meet the legal definition of a security. Ripple appealed another part of Torres' decision, which said that $728 million of XRP sales to institutional investors should have complied with securities laws. Alderoty said Ripple will end that appeal. XRP is the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market value, trailing bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether, the market service CoinMarketCap said on Tuesday. Since U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House, the SEC ended civil lawsuits against crypto exchanges Coinbase and Kraken. The regulator also said it may resolve a civil fraud case against Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun, an adviser to a Trump-backed crypto project. Trump nominated Paul Atkins, a Washington lawyer considered supportive of the crypto industry, to chair the SEC. Atklns' U.S. Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for Thursday. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Mark Porter) DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A Dayton man has been indicted for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend earlier this month at an apartment complex. Terrell Johnson, 45, faces seven counts related to the death of Marquia Hunter on Sunday, March 16: Two counts of Murder Two counts of Felonious Assault One count of tampering with evidence One count of violating a protection order while committing a felony One count of violating a protection order Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck, Jr. announced the grand jury indictments on Thursday, March 27. A 911 caller reported hearing gunshots and said they saw a person on the ground near the road. When police arrived, they discovered Hunters body in the driveway of the City View Terrace apartment complex. Police said they used witness statements, cell phone analysis and surveillance video to allegedly identify Johnson, 45, as the shooter. Police said Hunter had an active protection order against Johnson, who had a prior conviction for violating a protection order. Johnson is currently in Montgomery County Jail on a $2 million bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His arraignment will be on Tuesday, April 2, at 8:30 am. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A D.C. man was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday on charges stemming from the November tourist stabbing, according to the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia (USADC). The USADC said Maurice Felder, 53, was indicted in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of: assault with the intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and possession of a prohibited weapon. Two Choppa City street crew members sentenced for armored truck robberies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, the victim and his friends were walking around 1 a.m. near the intersection of 7th Street NW and T Street NW as he was visiting from Pennsylvania. Court documents say Felder allegedly began to follow the group and began arguing with them, with the victim eventually standing between Felder and his friends. The victim told Felder to leave, to which he responded by asking, Do you want to die? before allegedly pulling out a knife and stabbing him in the chest, two centimeters from his heart. Court documents say the victim was transported to the hospital, and Felder was arrested one block away with a knife found in his pocket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Felder has since remained in custody and is set to be arraigned on March 28, 2025. The incident remains under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A son and his father were killed in a rollover crash on Interstate 24 near the Rutherford County line early Thursday morning. The crash happened in the eastbound lanes near mile marker 62 around 1:15 a.m. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts (Courtesy: Tennessee Department of Transportation) According to Metro police, two Illinois men in a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado identified as 45-year-old Bradley Parrott and his 72-year-old father, William Parrott died at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bradley and William Parrott were in the area to watch a family member participating in a softball tournament at MTSU, according to the Washington Community High Schools softball coach. Investigators believe traffic was slowing down on I-24 due to an approaching construction zone. Multiple vehicles were merging over to the far left lane of travel when Daniel Caravaca-Bonilla, 25, drove a 2021 Ram 2500 into the rear of the Silverado at a high rate of speed. Daniel Caravaca-Bonilla (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) The Silverado crashed into an Infiniti QX50, which struck a Ford Fusion, which then collided with a Chevrolet Malibu, according to Metro police. No one in those vehicles was seriously injured. Metro police reported there was no indication of Caravaca-Bonilla braking prior to the collision. During the investigation, open alcohol containers were located in Caravaca-Bonillas Ram truck, and he exhibited indicators of impairment but refused testing. A search warrant was obtained for his blood but results are pending. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Caravaca-Bonilla was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, seven counts of aggravated assault, DUI, handgun possession while under the influence and an implied consent violation. He is being held on a $580,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The interstate was closed from the Old Hickory Boulevard exit to the Waldron Road exit. The roadway fully reopened to traffic just before 7 a.m. Washington Community High School sent a message to the community that the softball team is no longer participating in the tournament and is heading home. They are expected to update the community when more information becomes available. No additional information was immediately released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The United States Air Force is currently deploying a number of B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers to the tiny Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. A show of force in the volatile Middle East, "this unusual movement of stealth bombers may indicate preparations for potential strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen or serve as a deterrent message to Iran," reports ArmyRecognition.com. In full transparency, no top secret war plans have been sent to any of the editorial team at SURFER via encrypted group chats. Additionally, we are not currently in communication with any of the leadership at the U.S. Defense Department or Homeland Security ... but I'm sure they have our numbers if they want to loop us in. Point being, Diego Garcia is holding some A-plus surf, and in 1982, about the same time President Ronald Regan was setting his sights on Iran, SURFER received an unlikely dispatch from the middle of the Indian Ocean. At only 11 square miles, Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, but besides secret U.S. and British military personnel, nobody's allowed on the island. Which is a bummer because there's a reef break there that looks a whole like like Cloudbreak in Fiji. SURFER, August, 1982. "In 1975 a young sailor from Palos Verdes named Tom Cress became the first person to surf Diego Garcia," wrote Mike Perry in the August 1982 issue of SURFER. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Carrying his trusty 8'6" pintail he was fortunately equipped for the down-the-line tube. Diego Garcias has little else in the way of surf. Coral reef points and angled staghorn coral shelfs offered waves that wound for 100 to 150 yards. Never under four feet and very often too big, the waves were deadly perfect," wrote Perry. Related: The Chagos Islands: A New Maldives? "The main hazards were no other surfers, shallow coral, fire coral, stonefish, and a variety of hungry, nosey sharks. This guy had more shark encounters than you could point a bangstick at," described Perry. "I joined the Navy as a screwed up kid and got out with a trade. I also got to surf Diego Garcia and I'm hoping this piece might help some other poor grunt headed that way," conceded Cress at the end of the piece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funny side note, there's a special thanks to Daryl Diamond at the end of the magazine piece for connecting Perry and Cress. Diamond was a pit boss for Clark Foam and a key player in the Dana Point Mafia scene. Today, his son, Eric, is the pit boss for the Dana Point Surf Club, has run the Cosmic Creek Festival for over 20 years, and is a true ambassador of stoke. He's also one of the little babies in the opening scene of the Jimi Hendrix movie "Rainbow Bridge," which is rad. As for Diego Garcia, you'll have to enlist and or get an invite from a top secret group text to get on the island. But should you find your way to that tiny speck of sand and stealth bombers in the Indian Ocean, pack a pin-tail. It's holding. The death toll from the wildfires sweeping through south-eastern South Korea has risen to at least 27, with 32 more people injured, news agency Yonhap reported on Thursday. The fires, which have been raging in the south-east of the country since Friday, have already burnt down some 36,000 hectares of forest, making them the largest in South Korea's history, Yonhap reported. Although light rainfall was forecast for the south-east of the country on Thursday, it is unlikely to be enough to make a significant difference to the firefighting efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 37,000 residents have so far had to be evacuated from their homes and taken to emergency shelters. Some of the affected areas are also suffering from water shortages and power outages. The fires, which began in Sancheong County, about 250 kilometres south-east of Seoul, have caused significant destruction, including to several historical sites. Goun Temple in Uiseong, built in 681, was destroyed, Yonhap reported, adding that national treasures stored in the ancient temple had been relocated before its destruction. The historic Hahoe village, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage site in 2010, is also threatened by the flames. Residents have been ordered to evacuate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fires have been fuelled by dry winds and a prolonged drought, according to officials. Wildfires are not uncommon in South Korea during dry spells. In recent years, both average temperatures and extreme weather events have increased in the country, significantly increasing the risk and severity of fires. Experts view the increase in wildfires as a sign of the ongoing effects of climate change. Mar. 27Maine law enforcement officials and victim rights advocates say they want a modern, electronic system for notifying victims when a defendant is getting released from jail, but they disagreed this week on whether a proposed bill is the right approach. "There is no question that our archaic system of phone calls, or letters, is insufficient," Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton told a legislative committee Wednesday. "The question is, when will Maine catch up with the rest of the country?" The debate played out during a public hearing on a legislative proposal to enable county sheriffs, who run the jails, to offer victims electronic notifications of releases. Penobscot and Somerset counties are already testing these program, and Aroostook County and Two Bridges Regional Jail are preparing to join. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under state law, all jails must directly notify victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking when a pretrial defendant has been bailed out, and send a notice via first class mail when a convicted person's release date is scheduled. Bill sponsor Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, said LD 981, would allow sheriffs' offices to choose whether to implement an electronic system in addition to, or in lieu of, a written notification or phone call. "One of the scariest things for a victim of crime, whether it is an assault, burglary or something else, is not knowing when the perpetrator is incarcerated and when they might be returned to the community," said Carney. But victim rights advocates, who generally support the idea, are still concerned about the national platform sheriffs want to use, which other states have stopped working with as new providers hit the market. At least one state has complained of privacy concerns and reports of outages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They're also worried that without guaranteed funding and support from all counties, the system will fall apart once its up and running. (It's a competitive year for the state budget and federal funding for victim advocacy continues to drop.) PRIVACY CONCERNS Penobscot County is testing out a system now through VINE, short for for Victim Information and Notification Everyday, Morton told lawmakers. And it's not just serving victims; Morton said family members of those who are incarcerated can sign up out of concern for defendants' well-being. "It is so much more than I thought. It wasn't just about victims and witnesses of domestic violence," said Morton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Equifax, which runs VINE, said it covered the initial start-up costs of the pilot programs in Maine. Julie Hart, Northeast government relations director for Equifax, told lawmakers Wednesday that VINE is the nation's largest victim notification provider, serving 47 states. She said users can sign up for notifications by phone, text or email regarding a specific case at VINElink.com. There's a 24/7 support line for user issues, she said, and anyone can use the website to search for updates on a case without creating an account. But the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence one of the state's largest advocacy organizations for victim rights still has questions about whether the VINE system can meet the state's legal standards for ensuring victim notification. The coalition said it enthusiastically supports the idea, but not the legislation. Receiving a "passive" app-based alert or a text is not the same as reaching a victim over the phone or speaking with them face to face, said policy director Andrea Mancuso, who urged lawmakers not to abandon traditional phone and mail methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They can't be confident that the victims actually received a notification," Mancuso told lawmakers. She shared concerns about the counties' ability to maintain the electronic notification system. The bill includes a one-time $575,000 price tag, which Morton said would be enough to cover the cost of launching VINE in each county. But Mancuso and others are concerned that counties won't be able to pay for the service after the initial setup, saying jails already lack the staff and funding to meet current legal requirements for victim notification. "There's no agreement about how we're going to sustain this long term," Mancuso said. "We have questions about what that means for crime victims, if they sign up for electronic notification ... and then a year, months down the road, the county is no longer sustaining that electronic notification. What happens then?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ANYONE CAN SIGN UP She and the Maine Department of Corrections urged lawmakers to look at the handful of states that have cut ties with VINE over those issues. Although no state was mentioned by name, the Oregon Department of Corrections in 2023 told state lawmakers there that VINE's system costs were increasing faster than what the state could pay, all while the state struggled with increasing technological glitches and "hundreds of notifications" getting lost. The Oregon department said VINE's parent company Appriss, which Equifax acquired in 2021, was sharing user data in 2019 with other Appriss platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Equifax spokesperson said in an email Thursday that they "never have, and never will use or disclose victim data for any purpose other than victim notifications." They do offer other services for law enforcement and state agencies that may use "public incarceration data," but the spokesperson said they only use that data if approved by the state. Despite VINE's reassurances, the Department of Corrections' Government Affairs Director Sam Prawer asked lawmakers to consider adding data protections to the proposed law. He asked lawmakers for more time and discussion on the bill. A work session has yet to be scheduled. VINE doesn't ask for registrants to submit their names, Hart told lawmakers, another feature that some have taken issue with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislative coordinator Peter Lehman, from the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, suggested a defendant's "enemies" could sign up for release notifications. Lehman questioned the fairness of allowing unrelated people to receive notifications, especially if the defendant was being held before trial. "Does the pilot program have waivers?" Lehman asked. "We're also, remember, talking about notification of people who often are pretrial. They're not even convicted of anything. We're talking about jails. We're talking about people who we don't know what's going to happen. To have sort of a universal notification system about them seems inappropriate." Hart did not address Lehman's concerns at the hearing. Copy the Story Link The Capitol in Salt Lake City is pictured on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) From reining in deepfakes to regulating chatbots used for therapy or legal advice, Utah lawmakers passed a handful of laws this year that deal with artificial intelligence. In 2024, the Legislature took its first step in regulating artificial intelligence, passing a law that created a new state office to both regulate the emerging technology, while fostering innovation. The Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy is intended to be a regulatory sandbox, inviting the private sector to work with the states Department of Consumer Protection to identify ways in which AI can be used for good, and bad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the year since the office was created, the intersection of AI and mental health has emerged as an area that shows promise, but also requires extra regulation, according to lawmakers. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Amid a shortage of mental health professionals, having an AI-powered therapist in your pocket is exciting, said Rep. Jefferson Moss, the Utah House majority leader but it also raises concerns over the collection of sensitive data, advertising and deceptive practices. That prompted Moss, R-Saratoga Springs, to sponsor HB452, which passed unanimously this session and was signed by Gov. Spencer Cox on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the session, Moss highlighted two areas where AI is being used in mental health care. The first is clinician-focused, where therapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals use AI to summarize and analyze meetings with clients, create treatment plans and update health records. The other is consumer-focused, where people can use AI for mental health interventions or practicing skills learned in therapy like Moss said, a therapist in your pocket. HB452 targets the latter, creating consumer protections around the sharing of data. Now, if an AI therapy chatbot collects personal information, it cant sell that data or use it for anything other than the mental health services it offers. The law also prohibits businesses that run a mental health chatbot from advertising products or services to clients in discussions with the AI, unless the chatbot clearly and conspicuously identifies the advertisement as an advertisement, according to the bill text. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, the business cannot use information disclosed by a client to customize advertisements within the chatbot service. AI chatbots will now be required to remind clients that they arent actually talking with a real person and if it fails to disclose itself as AI, or violates other provisions of the law, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection can fine the operator $2,500 for each offense. The operator could also be liable for other penalties, depending on how severe the violation is. While HB452 is arguably the largest and most impactful AI-related bill to pass this session, lawmakers passed a handful of other laws targeting the new technology. SB180, Law Enforcement Usage of Artificial Intelligence Sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Pitcher, D-Millcreek, SB180 is in response to the growing use of AI in writing police reports. Pitcher, a former prosecutor, said she knows of several agencies in the state that use Axons Draft One, which can create a report based on video or audio from an officers body-worn camera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These technologies would still be permitted under the law, but law enforcement will be required to disclose the use of AI in the report. The author of the police report would also be required to sign a certificate stating that they reviewed the AI-generated report for accuracy. The law directs all Utah law enforcement agencies to create an AI policy that outlines which technologies the agency uses, and when and where the technology is permitted. SB180 passed unanimously and was signed by the governor on Tuesday. It will take effect on May 7. SB226, Artificial Intelligence Consumer Protection Amendments Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, SB226 narrows AI legislation passed last year that, in hindsight, he said was too broad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, instead of requiring up-front disclosure for all AI-powered chatbots, SB226 narrows the requirement for high risk interactions that includes chatbots that offer financial and legal advice, or medical or mental health care. A chatbot is still required to disclose whether its AI-powered if the user asks, according to the bill. But for those high risk services, an AI-powered chatbot will need to disclose itself when the user starts interacting with it. For those types of things, the consumer should know up front that they are dealing with AI, Cullimore said during the session. Companies that violate the disclosure rules could be subjected to a $2,500 fine for each violation. The bill, which is awaiting the governors signature, passed unanimously in both the House and Senate. If signed, it will take effect on May 7. SB271, Unauthorized Artificial Intelligence Impersonation Amendments Sponsored by Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, SB271 is modeled after a Tennessee law called the Elvis Act that protects artists and musicians from having their work copied and commercialized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under current Utah code, advertisements that use a persons identity to falsely convey an endorsement are illegal. But the law doesnt yet expand to deepfakes, which are images, audio or videos edited or generated by AI that depict a person, real or fake. Deepfakes are becoming more and more realistic, sometimes used to create pornographic material, re-create music or movie scenes, fabricate political endorsements, and make up videos or scenarios involving celebrities. McKells law would target anyone who uses a persons name or image without their consent to endorse a product, fundraise or solicit donations through AI, digital manipulation, animation and any other technological means. The law would allow victims to file a lawsuit to reclaim money made using their image or identity. The law is awaiting the governors signature if signed, it will take effect on May 7. SB332, Artificial Intelligence Revisions Also sponsored by Cullimore, SB332 is a simple bill that extends the lifespan of the Artificial Intelligence Policy Act. Now, the states Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy will remain in place until July 2027. It was signed by the governor on Tuesday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Emily Anne Gullickson, Virginia's superintendent of public instruction, listening to Board of Education President Grace Creasey at a March 26, 2025 work session. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Beginning in April, the Virginia Department of Education plans to resume rolling out the long-awaited instructional guides that will prepare teachers to instruct students in the states updated history and social studies standards, the agency revealed Wednesday. Educators have been waiting for some of the guides for nearly three months, a pause that prompted concerns about whether one of President Donald Trumps executive orders focused on teaching history influenced any changes in Virginias teaching materials. Release Schedule: History and social science instructional guides and professional learning plan Week of April 7, 2025 Grade 7-Civics and Economics* Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grade 12-Virginia and United States Government* Week of April 14, 2025 Grade 5-United States History to 1865* Grade 6 United States History: 1865 to the Present* Week of April 21, 2025 Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 8 World Geography Week of April 28, 2025 Grade 3 Grade 9-World History and Geography to 1500 Week of May 5, 2025 Grade 2 Grade 10-World History and Geography: 1500 to the Present Week of May 12, 2025 Grade 4-Virginia Studies Grade 11-Virginia and United States History *Updated with resource links Source: Virginia Department of Education However, at Wednesdays Board of Education meeting, Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson ensured board members and the public that the agency made no recent language changes to the history standards or the instructional guides. She said staff only added web links to primary and secondary sources to the instructional guides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gullickson, former deputy secretary of education, sat with the board for the first time at Wednesdays work session, which had directed her to prioritize the instructional guidelines after she replaced Lisa Coons, who resigned nearly two weeks ago. We wanted to make sure that there was alignment with the clarity that really matches up well with Virginias guiding principles, which is nonpartisan, factual resources and the true telling of history, which is what this (department) has really prided itself on, Gullickson said. Education department staff members provided an overview of the gradual release of the instructional guidelines at the meeting and how the agency plans to help teachers get ready, noting that they had paused dissemination of the guides in December. Public concerns about the guidelines and the standards grew after some education leaders noticed a change between the board-approved 2023 history and social science standards and the online versions, where Indigenous Peoples Day was missing from the Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 versions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency has since fixed the issue and the observance is present in all the standards. Schools are slated to start teaching students using the updated standards in the 2026-2027 school year. Sources added to instructional guides The history instructional guides released between November 15, 2024, and December 5, 2024 now include additional resource links. These resources will help teachers access primary and secondary sources that confirm the facts of the teaching materials. Web links to primary and secondary sources, including the Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta, were present in a history instructional guide released in November and a draft guide for civics and economics that the Mercury reviewed. The agency said in its overview to the board on Wednesday that the instructional guides are living, breathing documents that will continue to grow and undergo technical edits as well as expand the number of high-quality instructional materials as it works with its partners including museums and other cultural institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency also said it will provide in-person and virtual regional professional learning sessions from May through the fall to ensure that teachers and educational staff will learn about the instructional guides purpose, intention, structure, content and context for implementation. Educators and advocates say standards implementation should be pushed back Some education leaders called for a one-year delay to start teaching the updated standards, because they were concerned that the release of the instructional guides would be too late. Danyael Graham, president of the Virginia Social Studies Leaders Consortium, signed a joint letter requesting a delay along with more than a dozen educational organizations, including the Virginia Association of Colleges and Virginia Association for Teaching, Learning and Leading. Graham said some schools will be closing for the summer by the time the rollout begins. She said the current school year should have been when teachers could have tried out both the standards and the instructional guides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the instructional guides expected to roll out gradually starting in April and, the window for teachers to review the instructional materials before the next school year is tighter, she said. Our teachers are off contract over the summer. They shouldnt be spending their summer trying to grapple with these 50 to 75-page guides, Graham said, adding that the gradual rollout will greatly impact smaller school districts without dedicated social studies offices. It does not provide ample time to provide some sort of high-quality professional development, Graham said. This doesnt feel very responsive to the needs of our educators, and the fact that theyre not even hearing the requests of 13 organizations is a bit concerning. Chris Jones, executive director for the Virginia Association for Teaching, Learning and Leading, asked what is the harm in delaying the rollout, considering some school divisions, teachers and schools are already preparing for the upcoming school year by collecting resource materials and coordinating professional development in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just think when we consider that the department has had two years to put the guides together, and then, essentially, for some of our school divisions, they will only have two months with the guides in hand, I just think its even further evidence that were simply not ready for an effective implementation of the standards, Jones said. Despite the request, the education department intends to proceed with its plan to launch the standards next school year. If we were producing standards right now and had not solidified those standards, that would be a completely different conversation for in terms of implementation timeline, (but) we are not moving the goal post, said Board President Grace Creasey, an appointee of Gov. Glenn Youngkin. This is just to support the instruction of the standards that we already have in place, so I dont see that the board is going to do anything to change the timeline of implementation for the history standards. An example of Virginias History and Social Science Instructional Guide for Civics and Economics. (Courtesy of the Virginia Department of Education) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Dell Technologies has reduced its global workforce by 10% over the past 12 months. In its annual report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed Tuesday, the Round Rock-based tech company said it employed 108,000 people worldwide as of Jan. 31, down 12,000 compared with last year when the company reported a global workforce of 120,000. The company's workforce reductions are due to "ongoing business modernization initiatives" and cost management, according to the filing. The company's overall workforce has shrunk by 25,000 employees since 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report did not detail how the company's Round Rock- and Texas-based workforce has been affected by the reductions. Despite the significant changes to its workforce, Dell reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and inclusion in its filing, saying, We are committed to equal employment opportunity and continuing to implement inclusive policies that enable Dell to achieve these goals." Dell's statement comes as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives face scrutiny both nationally and locally. President Donald Trump has said DEI initiatives and programs are discriminatory and should be investigated by the Justice Department. Outside of business and hiring initiatives, several states including Texas have banned DEI at public universities, shuttering offices and laying off staff at schools including the University of Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tech companies like Facebook and Instagram's parent company Meta and Google's parent company Alphabet have since dropped DEI initiatives, though some companies, like Apple and Microsoft, have doubled down on their commitments. Reorganization, layoffs and return-to-office policies at Dell Dell laid off an undisclosed number of employees in August. In a memo sent to employees, the company outlined a plan to redistribute its sales staff and emphasize artificial intelligence innovations. As a result, the company downsized its sales staff and some managerial positions. "We are getting leaner. We're streamlining layers of management and reprioritizing where we invest," senior executives Bill Scannell and John Byrne wrote in the internal email back in August, as reported by Business Insider. More recently, CEO Michael Dell sent a memo in February that the company would be ending remote and hybrid work, expecting all employees who live within roughly an hour of its offices to be at their desks five days a week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Dell Technologies ending remote, hybrid work; employees return to office five days a week An internal FAQ reportedly said remote workers will not be eligible for promotion through the company's annual pay planning process without approval from three of the company's most senior leaders, but that employees who live far from a Dell office would be allowed to continue remote work. The mandate began March 3. "We are building a new Dell Technologies for a new future," Dell told staff in a memo obtained by Business Insider. "The pace of innovation has never been faster, and for us to lead, the speed of our business must continue to accelerate. What we're finding is that for all the technology in the world, nothing is faster than the speed of human interaction. A thirty second conversation can replace an email back-and-forth that goes on for hours or even days." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Dell Technologies' global workforce reduced by 10% in fiscal year 2025 The goal is to initiate a multi-phase drill program following results and analysis of the next geophysical program, focusing on high-priority areas. Multiple trench and surface assays from 510% copper, with a peak of up to 10.3% Cu grade. CEO, Zachary Dolesky, states "The copper market is signaling a clear trend: demand for this essential metal is increasing, fueled by electrification and innovation. Super Copper is well-positioned to seize this opportunity. Our Cordillera Cobre Project in Chileone of the world's top copper regionsis delivering results, with recent sampling confirming widespread high-grade mineralization. With our recently oversubscribed financing complete, we're committed to building our business with fundamentals at the forefront." VANCOUVER, BC, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - SUPER COPPER CORP. (CSE: CUPR) (OTCQB: CUPPF) (FSE: N60) ("Super Copper" or the "Company"), a mining exploration company, is pleased to provide a corporate update following the recent increase in copper's spot price to over $5.20 per pound. This significant price milestone underscores copper's critical role in the clean-energy transition, modern infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing globally. Flagship Project in Chile is Advancing: Super Copper Aims to Secure Drilling Permits, Execute its Second Round of Geophysics, and Commence Drilling. Story continues Strategic Location & Infrastructure Situated in Chile's Atacama Province, the Cordillera Cobre Project benefits from proximity to established mining infrastructure, experienced local workforce, and strong community support. Super Copper's expansion strategy includes evaluating additional prospective zones within the region to broaden the Company's exploration footprint. A Key Differentiator: Super Copper's Material Science Division Biopolymer Innovation: Super Copper's R&D team, in partnership with MetaFLO, is advancing proprietary biopolymer solutions designed to enhance copper processing while reducing environmental impact. High-Growth Comparable Landscape: The rising valuations of comparable mining-technology firms reflect growing investor recognition of the financial benefits that come from process-innovation in mining. "We believe our integrated approachcombining traditional mineral exploration with material science developmentsets us apart. While we move forward on the ground in Chile, our biopolymer initiative is progressing with follow up announcements to be provided." added Dolesky. "We believe this strategy is key to delivering near- and long-term value for shareholders." Corporate Outlook: What's Ahead for Super Copper Capital Structure Alignment: Management and strategic partners hold a material stake in Super Copper, ensuring alignment with shareholder interests. Partnerships & Team Expansion: The Company is in active discussions to bring on new strategic investors and technical experts, with announcements to be expected upon new additions. Milestone Achievement: Over the next 612 months our key objectives include finalizing drilling permits, completing additional geophysics, commencing drill planning, and to continue advancing the biopolymer initiative towards commercial readiness. Super Copper is advancing in a booming and dynamic copper market. The Company's recent high-grade copper sample results at its Cordillera Cobre Project in Chile, along with the momentum of its material science division demonstrate a clear growth trajectory. The Company looks forward to sharing further milestones and updates as exploration and innovation efforts progress. Additionally, the Company announces that it has engaged the US-based corporate communications firm RB Milestone Group LLC ("RBMG") to provide investor relations services including corporate communications advisory services, non-deal roadshow advisory services, market intelligence advisory services, and business referrals to the management of the Company. The Company's agreement with RBMG is for an initial term of six months, commencing on March 17, 2025, and will renew each month thereafter until terminated. Either party can terminate the agreement at any time following the initial six-month term by providing the other party with 30-days' written notice. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company has agreed to pay RBMG US$59,500 as consideration for its services in the initial six-month term. Additionally, if the agreement continues beyond the initial six-month term, the Company has agreed to pay RBMG a monthly fee of US$4,500. RBMG is arm's length to the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, RBMG and its principals do not have any present equity interest in the Company's securities, directly or indirectly, or any right to acquire any equity interest. RBMG's business is located at 700 Canal Street, First Floor, Stamford, Connecticut 06902, and RBMG can be contacted at: info@rbmilestone.com or 203-487-2990. The Company also announces that it has engaged Danayi Capital Corp. ("Danayi"), a Vancouver-based marketing firm, to provide investor relations and digital marketing services to the Company, including disseminating news and information on the Company to the public through multiple digital media channels. The Company entered into a digital marketing agreement with Danayi for an initial term of one month, commencing on March 26, 2025, whereby the Company will pay Danayi US$25,000 for its services. Danayi is arm's length to the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, Danayi and its principals do not have any present equity interest in the Company's securities, directly or indirectly, or any right to acquire any equity interest. Danayi's business is located at 550 - 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2V6, and Danayi can be contacted at: www.danayi.co. About Super Copper Corp. Super Copper is a mining exploration company with a Material Science and Technology Division focused on developing innovative chemical solutions to improve metal recovery processes and reduce chemical waste in the mining industry. The Company is also advancing its flagship copper project in Atacama, Chilea region with world-class infrastructure and the presence of global majors. | www.supercopper.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Super Copper Corp. ("Super Copper" or the "Company"). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the potential significance of the sampling results at the Cordillera Cobre Property; the presence of a high-grade copper system; plans for geophysical surveys, additional sampling, and drilling; the potential for identifying feeder structures and expanding known mineralized zones; the overall exploration strategy and future activities at the project; the services to be provided to the Company by RBMG; and the services to be provided to the Company by Danayi. Forward-looking statements reflect management's beliefs, expectations, and estimates as of the date of this news release. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including, but not limited to: exploration results not meeting expectations; geological interpretations proving incorrect; difficulties in obtaining permits or financing for further exploration; changes in commodity prices and market conditions; and general economic and regulatory factors affecting the mining industry. The words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "plan," "may," "will," "should," "potential," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although Super Copper believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Investors should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described in the Company's public filings before making investment decisions. Super Copper Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Super Copper Corp.) SOURCE Super Copper Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2025/27/c6631.html (WHTM) Democrat James Malone defeated Republican Josh Parsons in a major upset in yesterdays special election in Lancaster County, flipping a seat President Trump easily won. It is even receiving national attention. I wasnt shocked, said Malone. Malone may not have been shocked, but the political world was rocked by his win, as it made international headlines and generated tons of social media buzz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honestly, we were just willing to listen to folks, so that is what happened, said Malone. Many see the rejection of a Republican in a ruby-red county as a referendum on President Trumps tumultuous tenure in D.C. I think the chaos at the federal level has definitely helped in our campaign, Malone said. Jay Costa, the leader of Senate Democrats, was happy to add Malone, but he says the win is bigger than their caucus. Folks are angry, folks are motivated, said Costa. This is sending signals around the country that whats happening in Washington, D.C. is not acceptable Republican Senator Gene Yaw says the loss is less about Trump in D.C. and more about the GOP in Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know. I cant say that, said Yaw. We werent paying attention to that race, even in the party, I dont think it was a conversation piece, and we have a tendency at times to sleep. Lancaster County Republicans were also divided, many displeased with their candidate. There were a lot of Republicans that dont feel that Josh Parsons represents them well, and we were able to capitalize on that, said Malone. Senate Republicans lead drops from 28-22 to 27-23. Pro tempore Kim Ward (R) blamed volatile and unpredictable special elections, saying Republicans remain a strong barrier against far-left legislation being passed and signed into law by the Democrat-controlled House and Governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malone calls a disservice the narrative that Lancaster can only vote red. People care about our values and our interaction with each other way more than who theyre registered to be, said Malone. When will Mayor Malone leave East Petersburg and head to Harrisburg? We expect him to be sworn in sometime in early May. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Two fired commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are now suing the regulator and its chair, alleging that their removal is unlawful. On March 18, Democratic Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter were notified by the White House that they would be fired effective immediately, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal district court in Washington, D.C. In an email, President Donald Trump told the commissioners that their service was inconsistent with my Administrations priorities, the lawsuit said. The commissioners argue that their firing violates a 1935 Supreme Court ruling that found that the president can only fire an FTC commissioner when there is due cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bedoya, an appointee of President Joe Biden, has a term that expires in September 2026. Slaughter was sworn in as commissioner during Trumps first presidency and was confirmed for a second term in 2024. In short, it is bedrock, binding precedent that a President cannot remove an FTC Commissioner without cause. And yet that is precisely what has happened here, the lawsuit reads. Bedoya and Slaughter argue their terminations should be declared illegal and ineffective. Theyre also seeking an injunction against FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, Commissioner Melissa Holyoak, and Executive Director David Robbins that would force them to treat Bedoya and Slaughter as active FTC commissioners. In a statement Thursday, Ferguson said he has no doubt that Trumps orders will be confirmed by the courts. In an earlier statement, Holyoak agreed with Ferguson that the president has the constitutional authority to remove commissioners. The White House has pledged to defend the firings in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The time was right to let these people go, and the president absolutely has the authority to do it, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a recent media briefing. With Bedoya and Slaughter out of their jobs, at least for now, that leaves the FTC with just two sitting members out of five total. Mark Meador, nominated by Trump for the third Republican seat at the FTC, needs to be confirmed by the Senate. No more than three commissioners can be members of the same political party. Theyre not the first Democratic officials to sue the Trump administration. Similar lawsuits have been filed by fired Democratic appointees at other federal agencies, including the Merit Systems Protection Board and National Labor Relations Board. The Trump administration is appealing a lower courts ruling that reinstated those officials to their seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slaughter and Bedoya have warned that if the president can fire whoever he pleases, that could affect the stability of financial markets. Slaughter told CNBC earlier this month that if she can be fired, then theres no reason Trump couldnt fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who the president has criticized. If your retirement is invested in stocks and mutual funds, if you want to buy or sell a house, if you have a checking account, you benefit from stable leadership in these institutions, Bedoya said Thursday. If the President can fire us for no reason, at any time, thats the opposite of stability. Bedoya, who supported former FTC Chair Lina Khans strict antitrust stance on Big Tech companies, has linked his firing to his criticism of, and the FTCs lawsuits against, Jeff Bezos Amazon (AMZN) and Mark Zuckerbergs Meta (META). Im not alleging that this was why I was fired, but I think its an interesting coincidence, he said at a hearing before Colorados Judiciary Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Zuckerbergs and Bezos companies have attempted to better their relationships with the Trump administration through donations and other acts. Amazon has inked deals to stream Trumps The Apprentice, acquired the rights to a documentary about and executive produced by Melania Trump, and donated $1 million to Trumps inaugural fund. Meta has announced content moderation policies catering to conservatives, hired a Trump ally to its board of directors, and also donated to the inaugural fund. Ece Yildirim contribute to this report For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. From left to right; Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie, and State Reps. Stephen Wooden (D-Grand Rapids), Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) host a press roundtable to discuss what they say is House Republicans weaponization of the House Election Integrity Committee. March 25, 2025. Michigan House photo. After Detroit-area pastor Lorenzo Sewell, an advocate of President Donald Trump, testified this week in the newly renamed Michigan House Election Integrity Committee, Republican and Democratic members of the committee are at odds on their respective visions of fair elections. While Republicans regarded the testimony of Sewell and Detroit-area activist Ramon Jackson, who alleged without proof mass fraud in recent presidential elections, as an important look at Michigans election systems, Democrats decried the day as nothing more than a circus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sewell, the pastor of 180 Church in Detroit, who delivered the benediction at Trumps second inaugural in January and gained national attention for his impassioned speech, was a key surrogate in 2024 for Trumps campaign to win over voters in Detroit, a historically Democratic voting block. And though support for Trump increased in Detroit in 2024 compared to his 2016 run, Sewell told lawmakers the people of Detroit are being misrepresented in elections due to cheating and he and Jackson are looking to change that. Just like Detroit has moved the world through music with Motown, just like Detroit has moved the world through the automotive industry, so it is Detroit is about to move the world with fair elections, because if we dont have fair elections, we do not have a democracy. We dont have fair elections, were like China. We have literally become what we hate if we dont have fair elections, Sewell said. Ramon Jackson and Lorenzo Sewell testify to the Michigan House Election Integrity Committee. March 25, 2025. Screenshot. Sewell introduced Jackson as the political minister of 180 Church, which hosted Trump for a campaign visit in June. Jackson told lawmakers on the committee that he had evidence of individuals who say they didnt vote or have since left the city but their vote was counted in Detroit. And the search for poison in Michigans Qualified Voter file isnt over, Jackson said, and members of the church will continue to seek out examples of fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the hearing, Rep. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) asked Jackson for details on the allegations he was making. You had mentioned that you knew that a lot of these alleged illegal votes were going to Democratic candidates saying they voted straight ticket Democratic Party, Koleszar said. Sir, voting is secret ballot, so how could you possibly know that? I know that based on who won. A cheated vote wont go to a loser, replied Jackson. Committee Chair Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin) thanked the pair for testifying and for investigating the issue of reported fraud in Detroit. These reports and claims are very concerning, especially since we are repeatedly told that our elections are completely safe and secure, Smit said in a statement after the committee hearing. If these claims are accurate, and the scale and scope are this bad, then Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel clearly arent doing their jobs, and theyre failing the people of Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its Republican leadership that is failing the people of Michigan, Koleszar said in his own statement after the committee. Koleszar and other Democrats have condemned actions taken by the Houses election committee, which has been given an integrity focus, by new GOP leadership who have repeated Trumps disproven claims that he was cheated out of victory in the 2020 election. In the last few weeks, the House Elections Integrity Committee has devolved into a three-ring circus, Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie said following Tuesdays hearing. Today, Chair Smit decided to ignore verified information from the qualified voter file and over 250 bipartisan audits to once again relitigate the 2020 presidential election. Her continued attempts to defile Michigan voters demonstrates a stunning and profound lack of seriousness. Currently, House Republicans are pursuing an amendment to the state constitution that would require proof of citizenship to vote in Michigan, which several Democrats have criticized as being akin to a poll tax while potentially keeping women whove changed their last name after getting married from being able to vote. It is disheartening to see the Republican leaders of the Election Integrity Committee continue to platform election deniers and prioritize their own political agenda over working on legislation that could make a real positive impact on Michiganders lives, Koleszar said in the statement. They are wasting taxpayer dollars by creating a circus of election disinformation, rather than governing responsibly. Its time to stop rehashing the past and stop misusing government time. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LAMAR, Mo. Medicaid recipients in southwest Missouri have a new option when it comes to dental services. Access Family Care recently opened its first dental clinic in Lamar, specifically for those on Missouri Medicaid also known as MO HealthNet. The dental clinic is meant to serve Medicaid recipients in Barton County and the surrounding rural areas. Its the only dental facility in Barton County that only accepts Missouri Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the latest census data, nearly a quarter of all Barton County residents receive the needs-based health care coverage which is among the highest in the state of Missouri. We found out people who were traveling to Bolivar, some people are going to Kansas City, some people are even going to northwest Arkansas to get dental care from Barton County, some from Dade County, too, which is east of here. So, we knew there was a need and weve just been trying to work on how we can serve that, because a lot of our patients really have struggles with transportation, said Access Family Care Public Relations Director, Steve Douglas. To get those providers in our county and to have a segment of our population have access to that, that otherwise struggles to get access. Fantastic, said Barton County Health Department Administrator, Joel Dermott. Access Family Care Dental Clinic in Lamar provides general dentistry services, with a full-time Doctor of Dental Medicine and two hygienists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. TAIPEI, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference began on March 24 in Delhi, India and will run through March 28. Taiwan's delegation, organized by the Foundation for International Cooperation in Higher Education of Taiwan (FICHET), is led by FICHET Chairperson and Distinguished Prof. Cheng-Chih Wu, and includes 44 representatives from 15 Taiwan universities. The delegation seeks to highlight Taiwan's strengths as a technology hub and to attract more international talent to study in Taiwan. Representative H.E. Baushuan Ger of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, along with Assistant Representative Jen Chun Tsai, Director of the Education Division Peters Li Ying Chen, and Manager Teresa Weng of the Taipei Trade Center Liaison Office in New Delhi, extend their greetings to the representatives and assist in expanding opportunities for academic and research cooperation. On the Conference's opening day, APAIE President Prof. Venky Shankararaman and Executive Director Ms. Louise Kinnaird visited the Taiwan's delegation, meeting Chairperson Wu and joining the Taiwan delegation for a group photo. On the Conference's opening day, APAIE President Prof. Venky Shankararaman and Executive Director Ms. Louise Kinnaird visited the Taiwan's delegation, meeting Chairperson Wu and joining the Taiwan delegation for a group photo. Chairperson Wu highlighted FICHET's role as a key platform for Taiwan's international higher education collaboration. Given India's deep engineering and technology talent, Taiwan prioritizes creating synergies between India's talent pools and Taiwan's strength in semiconductors, ICT, and biotechnology, focusing on industry-academia partnerships and academic exchanges. To further deepen higher education cooperation between Taiwan and India, nearly 70 university leaders from Taiwan and India will attend the "2025 Taiwan-India Higher Education Leaders Forum" on March 26 at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi. In 2010, FICHET and Association of Indian Universities (AIU) signed the first MOU to enhance academic exchange and partnership, and agreement now entering its third renewal period. The forum will focus on semiconductor technology and SDGs cooperation, with Representative Ger from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India attending to witness the continued strengthening of Taiwan-India educational collaboration. According to Taiwan's Ministry of Education, over 100,000 students from the Asia-Pacific region studied in Taiwan in 2024, accounting for 87% of all international students, with over 2,500 coming from India each year. Through its recruitment and retention programs for international students, Taiwan promotes educational exchanges and talent mobility across the Asia-Pacific, aiming to strengthen multilateral collaborations, attract more international students, and address the talent needs of Taiwan's industries. DENVER (KDVR) The Denver Police Department is investigating a motorcycle crash, the department announced in a post on X Wednesday afternoon. Police said the crash occurred in the 5200 block of East Evans Avenue. Long-lost sisters to meet at DIA after discovering each other 70 years later The crash was between a motorcycle and another vehicle. The motorcyclist was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators are in the area, and delays are expected. Denver police advise alternate routes to be used. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Paris' public prosecutor has requested that disgraced French actor Gerard Depardieu be found guilty and given a 18-month suspended prison sentence. Youre going to declare Gerard Depardieu guilty of these sexual assaults, the prosecutor told the court. Today was the last day of the four-day trial over accusations by two women of sexual assault on a film set. The plaintiffs' lawyers used the terms "sexual predator and misogynist when describing Depardieu during their final plea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actor, 76, is accused of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during filming of the movie Les volets verts in 2021. The set dressers lawyer, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, called Depardieu a sexual predator who committed misconduct for decades towards little people in the cinema world. Maybe you think hes a great actor and you love his films," she said. "Depardieu is also a sexual predator. His status as a world-renowned actor made him both an artistic and an economic power in the film industry, in contrast with the plaintiffs who risked being blacklisted if they speak up, Durrieu Diebolt said, denouncing what she called a system of impunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement M. Depardieu, when hes touching womens bodies, hes exercising his power over them, she said. Gerard Depardieu arrives at his trial for the alleged sexual assaults of two women on a film set in 2021 - Thursday 27 March 2025 in Paris - AP Photo The lawyer for the other plaintiff, Claude Vincent, started her plea with a minutes-long list of obscene words and other vulgar expressions rarely heard in a courtroom, saying: Thats how Gerard Depardieu behaves on a film set, that the atmosphere hes imposing around him. No, you cant separate the man from the artist, she said. "He is Gerard Depardieu, a misogynist amid misogynists. The plaintiff, a film assistant, said Depardieu groped her buttocks and her breasts during three separate incidents on the film set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depardieu has rejected the accusations since the beginning of the trial on Monday, saying hes not like that. On Tuesday, Depardieu did acknowledge 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 behaviour was sexual. The actor is being tried by a panel of three judges, not a jury, which is normal for such cases. The judges dont issue their verdict straight away but generally deliberate for weeks or months. If he is convicted, he faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of 75,000. UPDATE (3/27) The Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office announced Thursday morning that the suspect has been identified by his family. The investigation remains ongoing by the SCSO. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Spartanburg County deputies said they are searching for a suspect who, allegedly, attempted to rob a convenience store on Saturday. According to the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office, an anonymous caller reported to 911 that he suspected a man was planning to rob the 7/11 convenience store, at Reidville and Oak Grove Roads, on Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A deputy arrived on the scene and located the suspect, who revealed a large gun from under his jacket. Deputies said it appeared to be a shotgun. The suspect never pointed the gun at the deputy but did threaten them to not come any closer while holding the firearm at quarter arms. The suspect then fled behind the store, deputies said. The sheriffs office is asking if anyone has any information to contact Sergeant Jon Guest at (864) 503-4595 or by emailing him at jguest@spartanburgcounty.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 WSPA 7NEWS. KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) Deputies are asking anyone who may have used ATMs at two southeastern Wisconsin Kwik Trips to come forward after a suspect tied to card skimming was recently taken into custody. According to the Kenosha County Sheriffs Office, on March 18, authorities took a person suspected of card skimming into custody. The person allegedly had what deputies believe to be cloned credit/debit card data from multiple victims. Deputies are asking anyone who used ATMs between March 13 and 16 at the Mt. Pleasant Kwik Trip on Washington Avenue and the Pleasant Prairie Kwik Trip on 39th Avenue to contact detectives at (262) 605-5102. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neenah police officer fired after search warrants lead to child pornography charges Callers will be asked to provide the last four digits of the card that was believed to have been used at either location. Specific details about each location are listed below: Mt. Pleasant Kwik Trip #580 ATM 6801 Washington Avenue Pleasant Prairie Kwik Trip #974 ATM 8012 39th Avenue Tips about precautions residents can take to protect themselves from credit card skimmers and fraud were posted in the Kenosha County Sheriffs Offices release. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A woman was taken to the hospital Wednesday after a pickup truck crossed the center line and crashed into her car, deputies in Ottawa County say. It happened around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday on Fillmore Street near Clay Court in Georgetown Township, according to the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office. Deputies say a Muskegon man, 22, was heading east in a Chevy Silverado when he crossed the center line and hit a Honda Civic head-on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Honda, a 22-year-old Sparta woman, was injured, according to the sheriffs office. She was taken to the hospital to be treated. Investigators believe alcohol and/or drugs played a role in the crash, according to the sheriffs office. Fillmore Street was closed for hours after the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The population of people held in the privately-run immigration detention center in Tacoma has continued to grow since President Donald Trump began his second term in January, and an activist group and lawyers say it is nearing capacity. The Northwest ICE Processing Center, which holds people who are suspected of being in the country illegally or awaiting deportation, has bed space for 1,575 people. Elizabeth Benki, a directing attorney for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Projects detention work, estimated Wednesday that 1,400 to 1,500 people are detained at the facility. La Resistencia, a group that advocates for closing the NWIPC and ending deportations, said Wednesday that there are more than 1,500 people held there. According to ICE statistics, the facilitys average daily population hasnt been over 1,181 since before the COVID-19 pandemic. That number is the guaranteed minimum detainees ICE is required to pay its contractor, the GEO Group, for overseeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a sharp increase after Jan. 20, Benki said. What were seeing, I think, is a combination of two things. I think theres more people being detained, and theres also fewer people getting released, particularly on bond. Before Jan. 20, Benki said the facilitys population had hovered between 700 and 800 for a couple years. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had 46,269 people in detention across the country as of March 9, according to Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). Thats the most people it has had detained since October 2019. ICE detentions also recently surpassed the number of people detained by Customs and Border Patrol for the first time in four years, according to TRAC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One significant effect the NWIPCs rising population has had on people who are detained, Benki said, is that court hearings are becoming backed up. If someone is filling out an application for asylum for example, Benki said, individual calendar hearings for it are being set for September or October. Thats a really long time to wait for your final hearing, Benki said. And when the population was lower around 700 to 800, the wait was several months shorter. The estimates provided by Benki and La Resistencia dont line up with ICEs statistics on the facilitys average daily population. According to ICE, the NWIPC had an average daily population of 834 people as of March 3, up from 709 on Jan. 6. The average daily population is calculated based on the average population during all days in the fiscal year to that point. According to TRAC, that means that if detainees are held at a location for a limited time, the average daily population might be much lower than the real number of individuals detained at that center on any given day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for ICE did not reply to a request for comment. Rufina Reyes, an organizer with La Resistencia, said the group tracks the number of people held at the facility by keeping in contact with detainees daily and by monitoring contracted ICE flights into and out of Boeing Field in King County. Reyes said detainees have told La Resistencia that all of the living units are full. Right now we know the capacity in there is really bad, Reyes said. Detainees worry about the facilitys ability to provide them medical attention, Reyes said. That issue was mentioned last week in a lawsuit brought by a longtime Washington resident who has been detained at the NWIPC since early February. Ramon Rodriguez Vasquez, whose class-action challenges the Tacoma Immigration Courts alleged refusal to consider releasing people from the facility on bond, said the facility failed to get him his daily medication for high blood pressure for more than a week. He said as a result he suffered from headaches, stomach pain and inflamed feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about staffing at the facility, Benki said her sense is that the company that runs the NWIPC, the GEO Group, didnt immediately have the number of staff it needed to have a sharp increase in the detained population. A spokesperson for the GEO Group declined to comment and directed The News Tribune to send inquiries to ICE. The GEO Group is based in Florida and operates correctional facilities around the world. Last year it reported more than $1.6 billion in revenue for its secure services operations in the United States, according to the Security and Exchange Commission. In a Feb. 27 earnings call with investors, executive chairman of GEO George Zoley said he believed the company was in a position to scale up its secure residential care housing for ICE from 15,000 beds to between 31,000 and 32,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe our company faces an unprecedented opportunity at this time to play a role in supporting President Trumps new administrations policy, Zoley said. The NWIPC has long faced criticism from activists and human-rights groups over its conditions for detainees, which facility administrator Bruce Scott has disputed. In an opinion piece published last year, he said the facility was safe, secure and humane. Detainees have staged hunger strikes to protest conditions and what they describe as lack of due process. On March 2, a group of 51 people detained at the NWIPC refused to eat for the day, according to La Resistencia, demanding an improvement in the facilitys meals and that their cases be properly processed. Protests are planned to take place outside the NWIPC this week. The Washington State Labor Council, which represents over 600 local unions in the state, said union members and labor leaders would rally at the facility Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to protest the detentions of union members Alfredo Lelo Juarez and Lewelyn Dixon. On Saturday, La Resistencia plans to rally with organizers and community members outside the NWIPC from 1-3 p.m. In a news release, the group said it would be demanding the immediate release of all migrants detained at the detention center. A lawyer for a detained Ph.D. student at Tufts University has filed an emergency motion requesting the government produce her. Rumeysa Ozturk, 30, is a Turkish national who was detained Tuesday by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Video circulating online shows six masked people taking away Ozturks phone as she yells and is handcuffed. The federal judge presiding over her case ordered lawyers representing the government to respond to Ozturks counsels motion Thursday morning, The Associated Press reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District Judge Indira Talwani initially issued an order giving the government until Friday to explain why the student was detained. Ozturk was arrested outside an apartment building in Somerville, Mass. The university said it had no knowledge the detention would happen, noting it took place off campus. Talwani ordered the government not to remove the student outside the District of Massachusetts without a 48-hour notice, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Ozturk was being held in a Basile, La., detention center, the AP reported. A senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed the termination of Ozturks student visa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At first, it was unclear if Ozturk had participated in pro-Palestinian protests, which has been a marker for other students who have been detained by the Trump administration. The DHS then confirmed to the AP that investigations found Ozturk had engaged in activities in support of Hamas. A visa is a privilege, not a right, a DHS spokesperson said. Glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be terminated. This is common sense security. Ozturks attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, said no charges have been filed against the Tufts student. Her detainment follows that of Mahmoud Khalil, a lead negotiator for the pro-Palestinian encampments on Columbia University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Gresham police said they arrested a man who is now accused of homicide after a man was found dead early Thursday morning. Thomas Ferrer (courtesy Gresham Police Department). Following reports of a stabbing, police responded to the area of Northeast 201st Avenue and Northeast Glisan Street shortly after midnight. When they arrived, officers found 53-year-old Thomas Tommy Ferrer dead at the scene and detained a possible suspect, the Gresham Police Department said in a press release. An investigation by the East County Major Crimes Team determined 38-year-old William Huffman had fatally stabbed Ferrer and attempted to assault another person who was present during the attack, Gresham police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Old Town locals furious group is blocking roads Huffman is accused of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Gresham 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 KOIN.com. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A Diabetes Alert Wake Up Call Clinic was hosted at Rochester City Hall, Wednesday. According to the Anthony L. Jordan Corporation, nearly 82% of adults diagnosed with the disease in the Greater Rochester area live in the inner city. (WROC/Melanie Sosa) (WROC/Melanie Sosa) The clinics goal, according to officials, was to approach the severity of the condition, advocate for diabetes prevention, and provide direct support to those living with diabetes in the Rochester area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diabetes is not a death sentence and it is preventable, Dr. Linda Clark, CEO and President of Jordan Health, said. You cant hear something once and understand. You have to talk about it over and over. Then, given people solid tools to deal with it, you dont want to just say, Heres this depressing news. You want to say, this is what you can do to prevent this in your life, this is what you can do to manage it if you have it. This is the information you can share with your children, your abuela, whoever, to make sure that were all informed. Pollen levels rising despite cold weather Attendees received personalized consultations from care providers, exercises, food demonstrations, and tastings. The event also featured discussions and booths of information from physicians about additional resources to improve diabetes care management. The event was a partnership between the medical provider, Rochester City Hall, Rochester City Council, and City Councilman Michael Peterson. 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 RochesterFirst. Online meal kit company HelloFresh has revealed that it is set to eliminate nearly 300 positions at a facility in Texas, reported GroceryDive. The layoff plans were made public because the company was required to file a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) in the state. WARN notices are required in some states when a company plans mass layoffs. They are intended to give workers and the local community advanced notice. Were behind in our actions, and thats not fair to the individuals who work here or the company. When we know, we should move, and there hasnt been enough movement, Dorsey said in the email. We need to move to help us meet and stay ahead of the transformational moment our industry is in. Dorsey revealed the exact numbers being cut for each of the three reasons. Strategy cuts totaled 391 people, performance cuts totaled 460 people, and hierarchy cuts totaled 80 managers. Dorsey also announced Block was closing many of its 748 open roles at the company. eliminating those who have a below or trending toward a below performance rating eliminating employees that are part of teams that are off strategy Block made the announcement internally in an email Dorsey sent to Block staff. That email was later leaked to TechCrunch . In the email, Dorsey was very specific about why Block was cutting the chosen workers, citing three reasons: Twitter founder Jack Dorseys latest company, Block, has announced that it will cut 931 jobs. Block owns the popular fintech app and platforms Cash App and Square. The 931 laid-off workers represent about 8% of Blocks workforce. A number of big-name tech companies have announced or are said to be planning layoffs this month, in continuation of a trend we saw in February . March 2025s most prominent tech layoffs include those from Jack Dorseys fintech company Block, online meal kit company HelloFresh, server maker Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), social media giant TikTok, and retailer Wayfairs technology division. Heres what you need to know. Story continues According to HelloFreshs WARN notice, 273 workers at its Grand Prairie, Texas, distribution center will lose their jobs on May 13. In an email to GroceryDive, HelloFresh confirmed the layoffs, which are being made because the company is consolidating its operations in the state to its Irving, Texas, location. As the meal kit market normalizes, we are now focused on diversifying our product offerings and driving profitable growth by optimizing our operational footprint, a company spokesperson said in the email. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to consolidate our operations in Texas. Hewlett Packard Enterprise cuts 2,500 jobs In what is the largest known tech mass layoff in March, server maker Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) announced during its recent earnings report that it would cut 2,500 jobs. As noted by CNBC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise said it is seeking to achieve $350 million in gross savings by fiscal 2027. Part of those savings will come from the 2,500 job cuts, which are expected over the next 18 months. That equates to about 5% of Hewlett Packard Enterprises workforce. Despite its name, its important to note that Hewlett Packard Enterprise is a separate, distinct company from consumer computer maker Hewlett Packard (HP). HPE separated from HP nearly a decade ago. However, its worth pointing out that HPEs March job cuts follow HPs job cuts last month. In February, consumer computer maker Hewlett-Packard announced it would be cutting 2,000 workers. TikTok could cut 300 jobs in Ireland Social media giant TikTok is another tech company that might see job cuts. However, these cuts are limited to its operations in Ireland. As reported by Irelands public broadcaster, Raidio Teilifis Eireann (RTE), the countrys minister for enterprise, tourism and employment said it was his understanding that TikTok will cut around 300 jobs at its Dublin headquarters. The job cuts will reportedly happen in April. TikTok is said to employ almost 3,000 individuals at its Dublin headquarters, meaning the job cuts will impact about 10% of its workforce there. Weve reached out to TikTok for comment. Wayfair Inc. to cut around 340 technology team members Home goods e-commerce giant Wayfair revealed in a Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 7 that it is initiating a workforce reduction. According to the filing, Wayfair will let go approximately 340 members of the companys Technology team. These changes reflect efforts to reshape, streamline and refocus the Companys Technology organization after completing significant modernization and replatforming milestones, Wayfair wrote in its 8-K. Wayfair says that it employs more than 12,000 people across North America and Europe. Tech layoffs reach nearly 25,000 in 2025 so far With the layoffs above, as well as others through the month of March, total layoffs for the tech industry since the year began currently stand at 24,313, according to data compiled by tech layoffs tracking site Layoffs.fyi. The site says that so far in 2025, 90 companies have announced tech-related layoffs. To put the nearly 25,000 figure into more perspective, in all of 2024, Layoffs.fyi says there were just over 152,000 tech layoffs. And in all of 2023, there were over 264,000. This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com Subscribe to get the Fast Company newsletter: http://fastcompany.com/newsletters Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing explosive allegations in a newly filed sexual assault lawsuit amid his ongoing legal troubles. A photographer alleged that the rapper forced him to perform oral sex while they worked on a commercial and threatened to destroy his career if he didn't comply. Sean "Diddy" Combs, who appeared in court earlier this month looking bloated, was also hit with two other allegations of sexual abuse ahead of his trial in May. Diddy Slammed With New Sexual Assault Allegations MEGA According to TMZ, a new legal document filed by a photographer details harrowing claims of sexual assault, including accusations of forced oral sex, coupled with alleged threats of jeopardizing the accuser's career. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the lawsuit, the photographer claims Diddy invited him to join him in a trailer, painting a picture of a possible career advancement opportunity. However, when they were alone, he quickly realized the meeting wasn't anything like that as Diddy started making sexual advances and unzipping his pants. The accuser claims Diddy told him, "If you suck right I'll make your career take off," adding that the Bad Boy Records founder warned that if he didn't give him satisfactory oral sex his career would go up in smoke. The photographer, who says he's a straight male, explains that he complied with the rapper's directive and performed oral sex on him under coercive threat. Diddy Allegedly Told His Accuser To Hold His S-men In His Mouth 'Like A Squirrel' MEGA The anonymous accuser went on to narrate in the court documents that when Diddy climaxed, he was told to hold Diddy's s-men in his mouth "like a squirrel." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he didn't do as the "Bad Boy For Life" rapper said, he was met with the threat of physical violence. He claims Diddy then kicked him out of the trailer, and he had to go back to work, "grappling not only with the trauma of the situation but with the knowledge that he had Combs' semen on and inside of his body." The photographer says he never heard from Diddy after the alleged incident and has suffered immeasurable emotional and mental pain and trauma since then. He's suing the rapper for sexual battery and wants him to pay for damages. The Rapper's Lawyers Maintain His Innocence In New Statement MEGA In response to the allegations, Diddy's lawyers have maintained his innocence on all charges and accusations, especially the allegations brought against him by anonymous accusers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No matter how many lawsuits are filedespecially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claimsit won't change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyoneman or woman, adult or minor," Diddy's lawyers told TMZ. They added, "We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court." Diddy Has Been In Jail Since September MEGA The "Finna Get Loose" rapper is currently locked behind bars at the notorious Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center after his September 16 arrest and has been denied bail several times. He has been charged with alleged sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, his trial which was supposed to begin on May 5 was pushed back by a week following his hearing in New York. Manhattan Federal Judge Arun Subramanian said that his trial would start on May 12, where opening statements would be heard, but jury selection would begin on the original May 5 day. Diddy faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to life behind bars if convicted on the top charge. Judge Dismisses 5 Charges Against Diddy MEGA Meanwhile, Diddy seemingly scored a legal win in a $30 million lawsuit brought against him. The rapper was sued by a former associate, Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, who claimed that he was groomed, abused, and exploited by the embattled rapper during the time that they worked together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the charges that Lil Rod brought against Diddy have now been dismissed by Judge J. Paul Oetken of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in a 31-page ruling. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the judge struck out the racketeering accusation along with the breach of contract claim, which referenced Lil Rod's claims that he was stiffed on $50,000 in payment, publishing shares, and royalties for his work on Diddy's "The Love Album: Off the Grid." Three other claims related to infliction of emotional distress were also dismissed alongside another cause of action in the suit related to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The order also reprimanded Jones' attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, and described his conduct regarding the motion as "unsettling." Diddy has found himself at the center of yet another lawsuit. According to multiple outlets, a John Doe filed a complaint at the New York County Supreme Court alleging that Sean Combs sexually assaulted him on the set of a commercial in 2022 or 2023. The Southern California-based man explains that they were filming a high-profile commercial, where he was contracted to work as a photographer/production assistant. The unnamed man then allegedly began speaking with the Bad Boy Records founder, which led the superstar to invite John Doe back to his trailer. Things immediately escalate from there, as Doe recalls Combs demanding oral sex from him, saying, If you suck right, Ill make your career take off an incident that the man calls blatant sexual quid-pro-quo. Does suit details how the alleged predatory behavior was hidden behind what appeared to be an opportunity to change his life, and he couldnt refuse a moment of that magnitude. Host Sean Diddy Combs makes an appearance during The Real White Party at the Combs East Hampton estate on September 2, 2007 in East Hampton, New York. Combs framed this meeting as an opportunity for [Doe] to advance his career. [Doe], although hesitant, could not turn down what appeared to be a career-defining moment few ever receive, the legal suit reads, per USA TODAY. The implication was clear, also, that if [Doe] did not perform oral sex on Combs to his satisfaction, his career would be over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, according to TMZ, the straight male claims he complied with Combs orders and gave him oral sex under a coercive threat. He claims that Diddy eventually climaxed, to which the entertainer allegedly told him to carry his semen in his mouth like a squirrel. After the man refused that demand, Diddy threatened him with physical violence and kicked him out of his trailer. John Doe went back to work on the commercial, grappling not only with the trauma of the situation, but with the knowledge that he had Combs semen on and inside of his body. Diddy performs onstage during the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. John Does career didnt take off from the incident. In fact, the man claims he never heard from Diddy again after the alleged assault. Does suit states that he suffered from emotional and mental turmoil, anguish, and trauma. Doe is looking to be compensated for an undisclosed amount of cash for damages. Diddys legal team responded to the claims with a blanket statement to both outlets, saying, No matter how many lawsuits are filedespecially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claimsit wont change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyoneman or woman, adult or minor. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court. Meanwhile, Diddy is currently behind bars, where he will stay until his trial on May 5, 2025. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Photo illustration by Getty Images. It looks like the only way Congress can pay for tax cuts for billionaires is to cut spending on Medicaid and Medicare. Why? Its like the bank robber Willie Sutton said when someone asked him why he robbed banks, Thats where the money is. Just in case thats the plan, let me tell you a story. Sometime in 1990 a young man sat on a couch in my house and asked for help. He had a brain tumor. He was there because an older friend of his brought him and insisted that I was somebody who could help him. I wasnt so sure. I was in my first term as a state representative and was just feeling my way around. I didnt yet understand the power that having a title gave to a person. Louie, the older man, did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He knew not only that that title gave me the power to help, it also gave me the responsibility to help. The young man worked at a local lumber mill pulling chainremoving and sorting boards coming off a chain conveyor at a very rapid rate. Sometimes, because of the tumor, he would black out, and the boards would come whizzing past him. His workmates covered for him during these spells and took on his share of the work until he snapped out of it and resumed working. He had no medical insurance. He couldnt afford it, and even if he could have afforded it, it wouldnt have paid for the operation to remove the tumor because it was a pre-existing condition that no insurance company would then cover. At that time the only way a person who needed expensive medical care, but couldnt pay for it, was to get on a program called Social Security Disability Insurance. It usually took three years and required hiring a lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was in a hard place. The only good news was that the tumor wasnt cancerous and would be easy to remove. But it was still growing, and his blackouts would get worse. I decided to call a person I knew slightly who worked for Montanas Sen. Max Baucus and ask for her advice. Holly Luck answered and I explained the situation. She asked to talk with the young man, so I handed him the phone, but he didnt take it. He couldnt take it. He had blacked out. When he came to, I gave him Hollys number to call. He did, and the Senators office quickly got him on Social Security Disability Insurance, he had the surgery and was able to go back to work as a productive part of the American workforce. Thats the way it was before the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Expansion. There were a lot of stories like that. Keeping people healthy keeps them working and contributing to a healthy economy. If we want that for America, the choice between subsidizing billionaires and keeping American workers working should be pretty clear. Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. A Fleming Island restaurant owner is trying to accommodate his customers while also complying with state regulations. The health department flat told us that unless its a service animal... a registered, trained, service animal, theyre not allowed in our restaurant, said Billy Ham, the owner of Whiteys Fish Camp. Ham says a recent visit from a health inspector ended with a verbal warning because of a customer dining with a dog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida law only allows service animals in restaurants. The only way around the law is if a city council or county board adopts a dog-friendly restaurant ordinance. Such ordinances give local businesses the option to apply for a pet-friendly restaurant permit. Even with that option, a restaurant must still comply with state laws to ensure proper sanitation. Read: Food trucks could be banned from gas stations under new Jacksonville proposal Surrounding communities like Jacksonville Beach and Atlantic Beach have already taken up similar ordinances. Thats not the case in Clay County, so restaurants like Whiteys must continue to follow state statute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont want to turn the sales away. The restaurant business is hard. We want to be able to accommodate the people. Law is the law. And for some counties, they have ordinances where they allow pet friendly (restaurants). But Clay County, I do not think does, Ham shared. Action News Jax is waiting to hear back from Clay County leaders on if they are considering making that change. Read: Florida bill would remove child labor regulations, hour restrictions for working teenagers [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. President Donald Trump announced steep tariffs on all automobiles manufactured outside the United States on Wednesday, in a move that Canadian leaders called a "direct attack." While Prime Minister Mark Carney has yet to announce any retaliatory measures, the newly sworn-in Canadian leader promised to hold firm in the face of Trump's desire for a trade war. "This is a very direct attack," Carney said, per the Associated Press. "We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump told reporters that the duties will "spur growth" in domestic manufacturing. However, the sudden announcement of a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and key automobile parts is likely to throw a wrench in the production of domestic vehicles, as the manufacturing process of American cars is deeply intertwined with factories in Mexico and Canada. As U.S. car companies navigate a new normal and the costs of imported parts and vehicles continue to rise, American consumers will likely see an increase in the sticker price of new cars. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the tariffs "will do nothing more than increase costs for hard-working American families" in a post to X. "U.S. markets are already on the decline as the president causes more chaos and uncertainty," he wrote. "Hes putting American jobs at risk." Trump has been dancing around imposing tariffs on Mexico and Canada since he took office in January. His push to punish the United States' biggest trading partners has thrown projections of the performance of the U.S. economy into chaos, as economists predict pain in the short term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it would be extremely difficult to find, if not impossible, frankly, to find a car that is entirely made in Canada or entirely made in the U.S. or entirely made in Mexico, for that matter," economist Tu Nguyen told the CBC earlier this year, in response to Trump's threats. The response to Trump's tariffs was not entirely negative. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain praised the president for ending "the free trade disaster that has devastated working-class communities for decades." "Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with todays actions, he shared in a statement. As the first signs of Spring appear, we know its time to get outdoors and enjoy our beautiful British countryside. People love taking advantage of the warmer weather to walk in our stunning landscapes, picnic among the daffodils in the park, or take a dip in the local river. But these simple pleasures have been ruined by the scandal of our polluted waterways. Our rivers, lakes and seas are awash with raw sewage. Years of Tory inaction has left our sewage system crumbling with leaking pipes, sewage spills and families left worried about letting their kids play in potentially contaminated water. The figures released by the Environment Agency yesterday showing staggeringly high sewage spills are a disgrace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are the result of years of underinvestment and toothless regulation. No wonder customers are furious about rising water bills given these circumstances. The Conservatives let water companies divert bill-payers hard-earned cash into the pockets of their bosses instead of using it to upgrade the sewage and water system. A lack of timely maintenance meant more pipes crumbled into ruin, and now the public have been left to pay the price of Tory failure. The public are furious. So am I. Thats why Im leaving no stone unturned to clean up our failing water industry once and for all. Weve put failing water companies under tough special measures through our landmark Water Act which became law last month. It creates tough new powers to ban unfair bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against lawbreakers inside the water companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In future, money for investment is ringfenced so it can only be spent on upgrading our crumbling infrastructure, not on unjustified bonuses or shareholder payouts as happened under the Conservatives. And thats just for starters. The Government has secured over 100 billion of private-sector funding that will be invested into the water sector over the next five years. Thats the biggest investment into our water sector in history, and the second biggest investment in any part of the economy over the lifetime of this parliament. This investment will upgrade and build water infrastructure in every region of the country - sewage pipes, water treatment works, clean drinking water supplies, and new reservoirs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will clean up our waterways dramatically cutting sewage spills by 2030 and ensure a reliable water supply in the years ahead. It will create tens of thousands of jobs around the country, help us build 1.5 million homes, support 150 major infrastructure projects and power new industries such as data centres. This is the regional economic growth the country voted for last year. I want the public to benefit from this investment as soon as possible. The Water Minister Emma Hardy and I have toured the country to see where and how this investment will be spent, visiting Windermere, the River Wye, and sites across Hampshire, Yorkshire, Suffolk, Northumbria and Somerset. I want to thank the Telegraph for its clean water campaign. My promise to your readers is this: I will not stop fighting until we have transformed the water sector so we once again have clean rivers, lakes and seas that our children and their children can enjoy for decades to come. Steve Reed MP is Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Rutherford County Board of Education will start meetings with prayer instead of moments of silence, the majority recently decided. Board member Caleb Tidwell called for the 5-2 vote March 20 to allow for a short prayer and "ask for some divine guidance at the beginning," which was practiced at meetings in prior decades by elected school officials. Caleb Tidwell Board member Stan Vaught opposed Tidwell's motion, which was proposed near the end of the meeting and excluded from the agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vaught said he was concerned the district could face expensive First Amendment challenges for bringing back prayer at board meetings, "if it went all the way to the Supreme Court. "Youre asking for trouble," he told Tidwell and the others in the majority. "Youre asking for the taxpayers of this county to bail us out." Stan Vaught TN ACLU attorney: Lawsuit coming soon for Rutherford Schools 'appetite for banning books' Board attorney estimates over $1M in potential lawsuit costs Prior to the March 20 vote, Board attorney Jeff Reed estimated that school officials could spend more than $1 million in legal costs to defend a lawsuit all the way through to the nation's top court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court in Engel v. Vital ruled that public school prayers provided to all students in a classroom or campus violated the establishment clauses of the First Amendment, according to a webpage from the national Free Speech Center based at Middle Tennessee State University. Reed previously told The Daily News Journal that school board meetings are expected to follow the same public school requirements by offering no official prayers, based on a ruling from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, which has jurisdiction over parts of Tennessee, including Rutherford County. "Given recent Supreme Court rulings, the courts could view the case different than previously," Reed said. Courts have permitted legislative bodies such as the state legislature and Rutherford County Commission to open meetings with prayer, Reed said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meeting prayer in 2018: Buddhist monk served as Rutherford County Commission's guest chaplain How the votes went on meeting prayer Rutherford County school board member Caleb Tidwell, left, called for 5-2 to have prayer replace moments of silence at meetings while fellow board member Stan Vaught, right, opposed and expressed concerns about infringing on people's liberty and possible lawsuit costs. Tidwell's motion for prayer had support from Butch Vaughn, Katie Darby, Tammy Sharp and vice chairwoman Frances Rosales. Chairwoman Claire Maxwell joined Vaught in opposing. Vaughn, who seconded the motion to approve, suggested there are "lots of kids who want to pray with us." He also asked why the school board had to give up prayer at meetings in the first place. "Im ready to fight," he said. "The structure of our country is based on that. Id just like to get it back myself." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'I will do my very best': New Rutherford school board chairwoman Claire Maxwell faces challenges Vaught: 'Youre infringing on other peoples liberty' As part of his argument, Vaught said he'd rather observe moments of silence so each board member, district employee, person in the sometimes 150-plus strong audience and everyone watching the video-recorded meetings can send up his or her own prayer. "Youre infringing on other peoples liberty by doing this," Vaught told the majority. "I dont know if youre thinking about that or not, but we have to protect everybodys liberty: right, wrong, black, white, pink, purple, polka dot, Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu." Vaught also pointed out how the district has 52 different languages spoken by students and employees at Smyrna High School, alone. He noted that Rutherford County Schools is home to several different religions observed among its 52,000 students and 7,000 employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the board's vote, Darby convinced a majority to amend the motion to include a statement making it clear that elected school officials are "not asking anyone to pray with us" and that audience members can step out of the meeting room if they "dont want to join in prayer." School board politics: Rutherford school board Zone 2 race gets divisive with RINO insult to GOP officials Vaught offers to pray with board members prior to meetings After the meeting, Vaught told The Daily News Journal he'd received praise for his stance on the prayer issue from Nashville's Rae Levine. "As a Jew in TN and especially, a retired MNPS (Metro Nashville Public Schools) teacher, reading Stan's words, renews my faith and hope for Tennessee," Levine said in a letter to the editor in The Tennessean. "Our Constitution, the supreme law of the land, is being trampled upon by Trump and his legion, by Governor Lee, and TN GOP legislators, by school board members all over our state, as separation of church and state has become a 'woke' thing, which is unfathomable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to the meeting and subsequent prayer vote, Vaught, who attends First Baptist Church on East Main Street in downtown Murfreesboro, offered to meet in prayer with elected school officials. "We can pray right there, right then, before the meeting starts," he said. 'We are banished': Rutherford schools book banning upsets free speech advocates Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Tennessee school board to reinstate meeting prayers after split vote BARDSTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56) New DNA evidence could be introduced in the Crystal Rogers case. A March 26 court order states that two hairs recovered from the Bardstown mothers vehicle will be tested for the first time. Kentucky State Police investigators reportedly determined the samples are not similar in characteristics to Rogers hair. RELATED: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents noted that the hair was recovered through tape lifting, a method of collecting trace evidence, and was never initially tested because the process could destroy the samples. Three hairs were reportedly recovered, and only one, which was discovered in a different location, was initially tested by the FBI in 2016. Any extracted DNA was reportedly saved for independent testing. Weve since learned that the tested sample was collected from the trunk of a white Buick belonging to Anna Whitesides, Houcks grandmother, which appeared consistent with Rogers hair. Prosecutors have not released the results from the 2016 test. The order comes as part of an agreement between the Commonwealth and Brooks Houcks defense. Houck was arrested in connection with the disappearance and death of the Bardstown Mother in September 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The evidence will be tested by Bode Technologies to obtain a DNA profile from the samples found in Rogers vehicle, per the court, and the Commonwealth will pay for the tests to be completed. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: The following day, FOX 56 received a motion to include the testing in the case against Steven Lawson. Special Prosecutor asked a judge to order a buccal swab be completed for comparison with the hair samples found in Rogers vehicle. Houck and Joseph have already agreed to DNA testing, per court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rogers was last seen with Houck, her boyfriend at the time, on the Fourth of July weekend in 2015. Her car was abandoned, with her belongings inside, on the side of Bluegrass Parkway. Rogers has been presumed dead, although her body was never found. After more than eight years of searching and investigating, a breakthrough came in September 2023. Joseph Lawson was arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence related to her disappearance. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Twenty days later, Houck was arrested and charged with complicity to murder and evidence tampering, his bond set at $10 million. Shortly thereafter, Steve Lawson, who had spoken with Houck the night after Rogers went missing, was indicted on similar charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, weve learned that Houck allegedly asked the Lawsons to move Rogers car the night she disappeared. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin will campaign in Floridas 6th Congressional District this weekend ahead of next weeks special House election. Martin will hit the campaign trail with Democratic candidate Josh Weil in St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. Martin will also take part in a roundtable with Latino leaders in Orlando, which is located outside of the district and leans more Democratic. The Hill was the first outlet to report on Martins visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats will face an uphill climb in Tuesdays special election race in the 6th Congressional District. President Trump and his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, both won the district by more than 30 points last November. However, Democrats say Martins visit is part of a long-term strategy to bolster the partys standing across the country. Florida will mark the 13th state Martin has visited since being elected DNC chair in February. Im going to Floridas 6th Congressional District this weekend as part of my Organizing Everywhere Tour because the stakes are too high for Democrats to not compete all across the map, Martin said in a statement. Democrats have to walk and chew gum at the same time that means looking at the elections in front of us while also building long-term political power. We cant show up every four years and expect voters to hand us their votes. The DNC is making clear that there are no off years and were going to fight like hell for every vote everywhere, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once considered a quintessential battleground state, Florida has become the center of the Republican universe over the past decade. Trump won the state by 13 points in November and flipped traditional Democratic strongholds, including Miami-Dade and Osceola counties. Martins campaign stop comes amid growing interest in the race to fill Waltzs former House seat. Weil has raised nearly $10 million, while his Republican opponent, state Sen. Randy Fine, has raked in just under $1 million. Last week, the DNC announced it was making investments in the special elections for the 6th and 1st congressional districts. Elon Musks America PAC is also getting in on the action, spending roughly $10,200 for Fine in texting services. The super PAC is also spending the same amount for Republican candidate Jimmy Patronis in the 1st District. Fine and Patronis have received endorsements from Trump, as well as Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Randy has been working very hard on the campaign trail. Last week I joined him for a tele-town hall with thousands of voters in CD 6 where he shared his plans to work with President Trump to secure the border, support our military and fight for our great ally, Israel. Randy will win and every Republican needs to rally behind him because we cant have another radical socialist Democrat in Congress who will try to derail the presidents agenda, Scott said in a statement. Despite the growing national interest in the race, Republicans and Democrats say Fine is the heavy favorite to win. However, Republicans and Democrats also note the race could likely be closer than usual. Its a candidate-specific issue. I think the district is so overwhelmingly Republican that its almost impossible for someone with an R by their name to lose that district, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has a contentious history with Fine, told reporters this week. So I would anticipate a Republican candidate is still going to be successful. Do I think they will get even close to the margins that I received or the president received? No. A narrower margin in the district would give Democrats more fodder going into next years midterm elections, particularly after a string of victories and overperformances in special elections this year. Democrats saw one of their biggest upsets yet in the second Trump era Tuesday, when a Democratic candidate in Pennsylvania won an open state Senate seat in a major upset in a district that comfortably voted for Trump in November. 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. Xiaomis SU7 lineup - Image: Xiaomi Chinas Xiaomi raised $5.5 billion in an upsized stock sale as the company moves to expand its burgeoning electric vehicle business, following BYDs (BYDDF) lead. The Beijing-based company sold 800 million shares for HK$53 ($6.82) apiece, increasing the scale of its offer. It had originally planned to sell 750 million shares for between HK$52.80 and HK$54.60. The funds will be directed toward accelerating its research and technology development. Xiaomi is one of the latest EV entrants to Chinas industry, better known for its smartphones and consumer tech than high-tech cars. But that didnt stop it from launching the SU7 last year, an electric car that starts at around $30,000 and was designed to rival Teslas (TSLA) Model 3. Xiaomi has pledged to invest $10 billion to produce cars over a decade. CEO Lu Weibing has said the company aims to begin overseas shipping in 2027. Last week, Xiaomi reported an almost 50% increase in fourth-quarter revenue and raised its target for EV sales to 350,000 units from 300,000. The EV business recorded 32.1 billion yuan ($4.4 billion) in revenue from the EV sector on more than 136,000 deliveries of the SU7. BYD, Chinas biggest automaker and chief rival to Tesla, raised $5.6 billion just a few weeks ago through the biggest share sale Hong Kong has seen in years, Bloomberg News reported. The Shenzhen-based firm sold 129.8 million shares for HK$335.20, up from initial plans to sell 118 million shares. BYD on Monday reported full-year revenue of 777 billion yuan ($107 billion), a 29% increase from 2023, and profit of 40.3 billion yuan, a 34% increase. The automaker beat Tesla to the $100 billion revenue milestone, with its Austin, Texas-based rival breaching $97.7 billion in 2024. The growth of both Xiaomi and BYD comes as Tesla continues to lose market share in the worlds largest auto industry to Chinas domestic firms, which bolstered by generous state subsidies have been ramping up their work in recent years. That expansion has spread to foreign markets as well. Chinese brands accounted for 4.2% of all new car registrations in Europe last month, while Chinese-owned brands made up 6.9% of registrations, Jato Dynamics data showed Monday. Teslas share of the market fell to 9.6%, the lowest it has been during the month of February over the past five years, the firm said. Tesla is experiencing a period of immense change, Felipe Munoz, a global analyst at Jato Dynamics, said in a statement. In addition to Elon Musks increasingly active role in politics and the increased competition it is facing within the EV market, the brand is phasing out the existing version the Model Y its best-selling vehicle in anticipation of the introduction of a new refreshed version, he added. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A doctor is questioning the cause of death for ex-Yankees player Brett Gardner's son. Dr. Kevin Gannon treated Miller Gardner, 14, when he was discovered unresponsive at the Costa Rica resort where the family was staying, according to The New York Post. From what we encountered there, we could not verify a cause of death, Gannon said to The Post. To us it was very confusing." We responded to a minor without vitals, he added. We tested him for cardiac arrest and performed CPR for more than 30 minutes. There was not really much we could significantly do. New York Yankee Brett Gardner, his wife Jessica and son. JP Yim/Getty Images The doctor revealed that the entire family had become ill the night before after eating, with all vomiting, but he told The Post that he did not think "either food poisoning or an allergic reaction" caused the youth's death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Some people are saying it was anaphylactic shock from food he ate. But I will say it is very, very rare for a patient to eat food and go that long without a reaction, Gannon said to The Post. Usually its right away. He added, "Allergic reactions to normal gastrointestinal medications are very rare. Most of the acute GI conditions can be treated with over the counter medication. And most do not have severe side effects or else they would not be over the counter. Meanwhile, Costa Rican National Police told ABC News that they have ruled out asphyxiation as Miller Gardner's cause of death. That clarification came after police initially said they believed the teen died of asphyxiation due to "food intoxication," ABC News reported. The teenager died in his sleep on March 21 during the family vacation, the network reported. According to ABC, officials are investigating whether Miller Gardner might have had an allergic reaction to medicine he was given after the family fell sick, but it will take time to get the results. A medical team performed CPR on the 14-year-old son of ex-Yankees star Brett Gardner for 30 minutes in a Costa Rican hotel room but could not save him, the units director told the New York Post on Wednesday. Dr. Kevin Gannon, who operates a nearby urgent care in the Manuel Antonio area, said Miller Gardner was unresponsive when emergency personnel arrived. We tested him for cardiac arrest and performed CPR for more than 30 minutes, Gannon told the newspaper. There was not really much we could significantly do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with People, Gannon, who did not directly treat the boy, said Miller was clinically dead when we arrived. Indications of vomiting were present but Gannon said they could not confirm it was from Miller, CNN reported. The entire family reportedly got sick the previous night after eating at a nearby restaurant, likely from food poisoning, according to reports. Miller died on March 21, peacefully in his sleep, Gardner and his wife Jessica wrote in a social media post. But there has been confusion surrounding his death. Authorities initially surmised that the boy died of asphyxiation due to intoxication related to food poisoning but later ruled out asphyxiation because there was no obstruction to the airways, the Judicial Investigation Polices Marisel Rodriguez told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no preliminary indication that recreational drugs or alcohol played a role either, another official told the Daily Mail. Toxicology reports to ascertain the cause of death could take months, Rodriguez added. The 41-year-old Gardner, who played 14 seasons as an outfielder for the Yankees, wrote of Miller that his family cannot yet comprehend our life without his infectious smile. Miller Gardner (left) was given CPR for 30 minutes after he was found unresponsive on a family vacation with his father, ex-Yankee Brett Gardner. X/Getty Related... The Trump administration has terminated more than 5,300 grants and contracts managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development worth more than $27 billion, according to a document obtained by POLITICO. The document, sent to Congress on Monday, also shows that nearly 900 programs worth about $8.3 billion have been retained. The information was current as of March 21, a USAID official told Congress, according to a separate document seen by POLITICO. USAID retains 869 staffers, who work with the State Department to continue the agencys lifesaving and strategic aid programming, according to that document. USAID had more than 10,000 employees as of Jan. 20, before Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency began dismantling the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some notable cuts include: $880 million for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which helps developing countries procure vaccines, covering the period from Sept. 30, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2030 $262 million for UNAIDS, the United Nations HIV program, for the period from Sept. 19, 2022, to Sept. 24, 2026 $57 million in tuberculosis research granted to Johns Hopkins University for the period from Aug. 1, 2022, to Sept 31, 2027 $6.5 million to improve management of tuberculosis resistant to treatment in countries supported by USAID, for the period from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2029 The Trump administration will continue several programs that provide food assistance in countries such as Zimbabwe and Tanzania and fight malnutrition among children in Yemen. Many HIV programs will also continue, including a $458 million effort between 2015 and 2026 to procure and supply rapid HIV test kits and another to reduce HIV infections in Malawi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consistent with Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio's statements, USAID's continuing programs advance the core national interests of the United States, the State Department said in an emailed statement. For example, USAID continues to support the U.S. coordinated, interagency response to the Ebola outbreak in Uganda; to provide lifesaving HIV care and treatment services; to provide emergency assistance in conflict zones; and to support key American strategic partners, a spokesperson wrote in the email. The State Department also sent Congress a list of the awards managed by the State Department that have been retained and terminated, which POLITICO also obtained. Why it matters: The U.S. is the worlds largest global health and humanitarian donor. And global health and humanitarian experts have warned that the cuts, meant to realign foreign assistance with the administrations America First policy, will lead to more people getting sick around the world and likely more deaths from treatable diseases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressional Republicans have largely remained unimpressed by those concerns, noting the need for the U.S. to cut its trillion-dollar debt. Whats next: The administrations authority to end these programs is expected to be challenged by congressional Democrats as Congress is typically the one deciding how to spend U.S. funds. Amy Mackinnon contributed to this report. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Universities in both Oregon and California will no longer receive federal waivers which allowed them to provide services to immigrants lacking permanent legal status, the US Department of Education announced. The waivers stemming from the federal TRIO programs geared towards improving youth educational and vocational success allowed students who were immigrants lacking permanent legal status to receive additional academic and career services. Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers and close agencies in a major restructuring Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a release sent on Thursday, the department argued that, instead of using the waivers exclusively for for low-income students, first-generation college students, and those with disabilities, the colleges and universities were using them to provide entitlements to illegal immigrants. American taxpayer dollars will no longer be used to subsidize illegal immigrants through Department of Education programs, said Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron. The TRIO Program was designed to provide support and guidance to disadvantaged Americans as they navigate the road to and through postsecondary education. The Department will not allow the true purpose of the program to be corrupted to advance an American-last agenda. Oregon Food Bank and other nutrition services left in limbo after federal cuts Californias use of the P3 waiver began in Nov. 2022 and was set to expire in Sept. 2026. Oregons use began in Oct. 2023 and was set to expire in Sept. 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission offered the following statement on this development: On March 27, the HECC received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education regarding the Oregon Performance Partnership Pilot (P3) agreement, and we have shared its contents with the Oregon institutions and the Oregon TRIO Association. The Oregon TRIO Association is working with Oregon colleges and universities to ensure they understand their obligations related to the administration of TRIO at their institutions. The HECC is actively assessing the potential impact of recent federal directives on Oregonians served by the postsecondary education and training system. As we work with the Governor, institutions, and partners to make these assessments, we remain committed to our mission to advance equitable access and success in postsecondary education and training for Oregonians. You can find more information on the HECC and federal changes on our website here. When reached for comment, Portland State University said that although they have an active TRIO program, they were not using the waiver. As a result, PSU students will not be affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Oregon State University spokesperson Rob Odom, OSU has neither received a notice nor served undocumented students through this program. KOIN 6 has also reached out to the University of Oregon. This story will be updated when we 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 KOIN.com. PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) One local pooch is touching the hearts of people across Central Illinois after making a quick recovery. On March 1, Bridgerton arrived at the TAPS No-Kill Animal Shelter in Pekin. According to a Facebook post, the dog was dropped off by someone who had to be kicked off the property for inappropriate behavior. When the dog arrived, she couldnt walk, and she was terrified. Emily Barnes, the dog coordinator for the shelter, shared Bridgertons story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of our newer employees was out walking a dog and a truck had pulled up. A gentleman opened the door and claimed that he had found her, but he couldnt tell us where. He couldnt give us a street name. He was very dismissive of any questions we asked, but we took her nonetheless. Barnes added. She had a broken leg when she came to us. It was completely shattered. After being with the shelter for two weeks, Bridgerton needed to have her leg amputated. She was a fighter, though. The dog bounced back quickly. When she got back from the surgery, she was wagging her tail, Barnes said. She continued, Shes just such a happy, sweet girl that even if we took all of her legs, I think shed still be wagging her tail and smiling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bridgerton is expected to go to her forever home next week. In the meantime, the shelter is preparing her for a smooth transition. She hasnt been going on many walks. She didnt love walks anyway to begin with when she first got here. So thats kind of something that were working on because she does need to build confidence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NOAA, the agency that tracks extreme weather, has lost more than 1,000 employees since Donald Trump took office. Current and former employees worried about less accurate forecasts and aviation issues. Agency changes, like stricter rules around travel, are making it harder for those left to do their jobs, some employees said. As California recovers from devastating wildfires and hurricane season fast approaches, President Donald Trump and the White House DOGE team are slashing the workforce at the federal agency responsible for monitoring extreme weather. Business Insider spoke to more than a dozen current and former employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who said that staff and policy changes were making their day-to-day jobs more challenging. They worried about how the upheaval would affect Americans' safety especially as hurricane and tornado seasons rapidly approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Hazelton, a former NOAA hurricane modeler who was fired in February alongside other probationary employees, was blunt: If forecasts and hurricane warnings go downhill, he told BI, "we could see loss of life as a result." The agency's reach extends across the country and the globe. Besides its work on extreme climate conditions, NOAA provides the data that powers the weather app on your phone, alerts pilots to turbulence, and helps farmers know when to plant to keep American agriculture rolling. "It really, truly affects every single American every day," a former probationary employee said. (Some employees we spoke to asked to remain anonymous.) Before Trump took office in January, NOAA employed around 12,430 people, according to a congressional report. More than 1,000 employees have departed through layoffs or buyouts, said JoAnn Becker, the president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, a union representing NOAA employees. More than 600 were terminated in February and about 500 took the administration's buyout offer, according to previous reporting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between the uncertain future for probationary employees, voluntary early retirements and buyouts, and Trump's ongoing government-wide reduction-in-force effort, the agency may shrink further. "We would like to just go on and do our jobs and save people's lives," an employee at the National Weather Service, a department within NOAA, said. Outside of staffing cuts, some employees said stricter rules around travel and expense budgets have made it difficult to do the jobs that are vital to protecting people from natural disasters. Expiration dates for contracts marked as "urgent" are also coming up soon, according to internal documents viewed by BI. An "extensive process was conducted to ensure that mission-critical functions to fulfill NOAA's statutory responsibilities weren't compromised," a Trump administration spokesperson told BI in a statement. The spokesperson declined to provide additional details about the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Susan Buchanan, a NOAA spokeswoman, said that the agency remains dedicated to its mission. A spokesperson for the Department of Commerce, which oversees NOAA, did not respond to a request for comment from BI. For those who remain, the show must go on, even as resources and staff dwindle. "We are catching a lot of balls, with very little people," a NOAA employee said. "Eventually one of them is probably going to fall." Aviation at risk Several people who spoke to BI expressed unease over how the staffing cuts and operational changes at NOAA could affect the aviation industry. Though flying remains the safest mode of transportation, a National Weather Service employee who's worked at the agency for more than a decade said that if the turmoil at the agency continues long term, "I don't know if I'd trust getting on a plane." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NOAA assists with running aviation-specific weather models for pilots, helping them track things like turbulence. Its data "ripples right through the whole system," Brad Colman, the former president of the American Meteorological Society, said. "If systems are degraded, a turbulence forecast may go down in quality, and uncertainty is increased," Colman said. "There's more exposure, more risk." A spokesperson for the Airline Dispatchers Federation told BI in an email that NOAA provides dispatchers with "essential tools," including turbulence, wind, and weather forecasts. "Virtually all" of the weather data for domestic flights comes from NOAA, and its data is "fundamental" to daily operations, the spokesperson said. The organization hasn't yet noticed operational impacts but warned that "even subtle degradations could affect our operations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Federal Aviation Administration did not respond to a request for comment. Meteorologists who work for airlines receive foundational data from NOAA to develop their forecasts, the spokesperson added, noting that smaller airlines will likely face more challenges if NOAA's data degrades potentially creating a disparity in safety across the industry. Or as Tom Di Liberto, a former public affairs official and climate scientist who was fired in February, put it: "There's a reason why a lot of weather forecast offices are close by or at a major airport." Less reliable forecasts Staffers affected by the terminations weren't just at NOAA's headquarters in Maryland; they were stationed in regional offices across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One office in Alaska stopped launching daily weather balloons to collect data for forecasts, Larry Hubble, an upper air program manager in the state, said. On March 20, the National Weather Service temporarily suspended weather balloon launches at offices in Nebraska and South Dakota, while seven other sites are scaling back to one launch a day instead of two because of staffing shortages. Other instruments, like radars on commercial aircraft and satellites, also collect data. The NWS employee of more than a decade said that balloons are one of the most accurate methods of weather measurement, and if they're scaled back, "they're going to start seeing the degradation of the models and the forecast is going to lose its accuracy." "If you degrade our capabilities, our warnings get weaker and people and property get compromised," a NOAA employee told BI. "Damages are going to increase, people are not going to get out of harm's way, and they're going to die." The Government and Accountability Office said in a March report that staffing shortages and aircraft maintenance problems in recent years had already hampered hurricane hunters' ability to perform their jobs well before DOGE ever came knocking on doors. The private sector depends on NOAA The changes at NOAA will likely ripple across the private sector, affecting a range of industries, some employees told BI. The reinsurance industry, for example, uses NOAA data to help confirm damages from natural disasters and dole out funds. Construction workers rely on NOAA data to figure out where to build new projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The economic implications are vast NOAA's products impact more than one-third of the country's GDP, according to the agency's website. "If you take out NOAA, the private sector cannot do what NOAA does," Di Liberto said. The agency operates thousands of weather balloons, hundreds of buoys, 10 airplanes, and 18 satellites and makes that information accessible to the entire public not just those who can pay for it. The spokesperson from the Airline Dispatchers Federation said that private weather companies provide helpful supplemental services, but they ultimately rely on NOAA's raw data. "There is simply no replacement for NOAA's comprehensive data collection infrastructure," the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional reporting by Juliana Kaplan. Have a tip? Contact these reporters via email or Signal at atecotzky@businessinsider.com or alicetecotzky.05; cboudreau@businessinsider.com or cboudreau.37; neinbinder@insider.com or neinbinder.70. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old DOGE member, has been linked to a cybercrime group through his former company, DiamondCDN. Coristine has been listed as an adviser in multiple U.S. government agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. A member of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) appears to have provided tech support to a cybercrime group known as EGodly. Edward Coristine, also known by his nickname "Big Balls," has been linked to the cybercrime group through a company he ran called DiamondCDN. According to corporate and digital records reviewed by Reuters and Telegram messages seen by Fortune, EGodly was one of the company's users. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group publicly thanked Coristine's company for its assistance in a post on its Telegram channel on Feb. 15, 2023. "We extend our gratitude to our valued partners DiamondCDN for generously providing us with their amazing DDoS protection and caching systems, which allow us to securely host and safeguard our website," the message read. An FBI agent who had contact with EGodly told Reuters the group had been investigated due to a connection with swatting, a practice of making false emergency calls in an attempt to send SWAT teams to targeted addresses. He called EGodly "not a pleasant group," referring to the members as "bad folks." In other messages shared on the Telegram channel and reviewed by Fortune, the group can also be seen selling people's private PII (Personally Identifiable Information), boasting about hacking government emails and cyberstalking an FBI agent. In one post, the group advertised "Brazil government emails" for sale, telling members they could use the addresses to get information on users by sending data requests to the support of platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one video posted by the account, a car drove past what appeared to be the FBI agent's house while someone screamed out the window: "EGodly says you're a bitch!" An analysis of digital records conducted by Reuters found that between October 2022 and June 2023, the EGodly website, dataleak.fun, was linked to IP addresses associated with DiamondCDN and other businesses owned by Coristine. During this period, some visitors to the site encountered a DiamondCDN "Security check," the outlet reported. Representatives for the State Department and DiamondCDN did not immediately return requests for comment from Fortune. The department and Coristine did not reply to Reuters comment requests either. Coristine has appeared in multiple government agencies Coristine's role within the government is not entirely clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 19-year-old was most recently a freshman mechanical engineering and physics major at Bostons Northeastern University until joining Elon Musks cost-cutting team at DOGE. He also worked briefly at Musks brain implant company Neuralink. According to Reuters, he's listed as a "senior adviser" at the State Department as well as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. He's also been linked to the Department of Homeland Security by a Washington Post report. Wired has also reported that Coristine is listed as one of several experts at the Office of Personnel Management, the governments HR department. Although Coristine's link to EGodly may have been brief, Nitin Natarajanformerly the deputy director of CISA under President Joe Bidenexpressed concern about the teenager now being part of a team with extensive access to government systems. "This stuff was not in the distant past," Natarajan told Reuters. "The recency of the activity and the types of groups he was associated would definitely be concerning." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's also not the first time Coristine has made headlines for his past associations. Last month, Bloomberg reported that he was previously fired from an internship at Path Network for reportedly leaking information to competitors. Coristine later denied doing anything "contractually wrong while working at Path Network via a post on Discord, per Bloomberg. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The Department of Justice is reviewing the convictions in the landmark ComEd Four bribery case involving former House Speaker Michael Madigan on counts involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which the Trump administration says has been stretched beyond its intended reach. The revelation, which further threatens to unwind what had been a slam-dunk victory for the U.S. attorneys office, came during a status hearing in the ComEd case on Thursday, where prosecutors asked to proceed to sentencing on the counts that U.S. District Judge Manish Shah left standing in a recent post-trial ruling. Defense attorneys strongly objected, saying they received a letter recently from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondis office saying the case was under review by the Department of Justice, which would make a decision whether the false statements counts charged under the FCPA should be dropped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense also said the Supreme Courts ruling last week in the case of former Chicago Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson gives them further ammunition to argue that the false statements counts should not stand. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker, however, said they have no timetable on when the attorney general might weigh in and have received no guidance on what the decision might be. We will follow whatever guidance we get, she said. Streicker also said there was no basis to delay sentencing any further in this case, including over the issue of Thompsons case, which she said involves a different statute and has no bearing on the ComEd verdict. The defendants have had more than a full opportunity over the past two years to make post-trial motions. It is now time for sentencing, Streicker said. There is no basis to just delay sentencing based upon a hope that something might turn the defendants way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shah agreed, saying he was satisfied that a proceeding to sentencing would finally bring the prosecution to a close and leave it in the hands of appellate courts. He said he wanted to sentence the four defendants separately sometime in July and asked the parties to consult their schedules and get back to him. Before the hearing adjourned, however, attorney Patrick Cotter, who represents longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain, appeared to grow agitated, telling the judge that the defendants could find themselves sentenced on charges just before the Department of Justice rules should never have been brought in the first place. It seems to me, to be quite frank, reckless to proceed with sentencing, Cotter said. It does affect the position of the defendants. I would ask you to consider waiting until we get a response. But Shah denied the request without further argument. I dont agree it is reckless, he said, adding that if something changes, he was sure youll tell me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have your lines of communication with the Department of Justice and Im not doing anything to interfere with that, Shah said. My view is that its more important to proceed to conclusion than wait on uncertain and amorphous deliberations happening in Washington. The ComEd Four defendants McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore; internal ComEd lobbyist John Hooker; and consultant Jay Doherty were convicted in May 2023 in an alleged scheme by the utility to funnel payments to Madigan-favored contractors in exchange for the longtime Democratic speakers influence over legislation in Springfield. Earlier this month, Shah granted a new trial on some counts, saying the Supreme Courts ruling last year on a key bribery statute means the jury was not instructed properly. In making his ruling, however, Shah left intact the convictions on a number of other counts, including the lead count of conspiracy and charges alleging the defendants cooked ComEds books to hide the scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding to the complexity was that four of the five counts that were left standing involve violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Last month, President Donald Trump ordered a review of how the Justice Department enforces that law, which he said has been stretched beyond proper bounds and abused in a manner that harms the interests of the United States. In the ComEd Four case, the four defendants were convicted for falsifying books and records, not any bribery of foreign officials that the law originally sought to punish, the defense pointed out in asking Shah last month to stay the proceedings. Madigan, meanwhile, once the most powerful politician in the state, was found guilty Feb. 12 of bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges alleging he used his public office to increase his power, line his own pockets and enrich a small circle of his most loyal associates. But neither prosecutors nor Madigan could declare total victory in that case either. Jurors final verdict was overall mixed, deadlocking on several counts including the marquee racketeering conspiracy charge and acquitting Madigan on numerous others. Jurors also deadlocked on all six counts related to McClain, who was charged in both the Madigan and ComEd Four indictments. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com A bankruptcy filing by personalized genomics firm 23andMe (ME) calls into question what happens to its most valuable asset: genetic data from 15 million customers. "I think the law on that is pretty unclear at this point," said Jonathan Lipson, a bankruptcy law professor at Temple University's Beasley School of Law. The murky legal ground sets up an uncertain future for 23andMe and its customers, especially those who want their DNA and other information obliterated from the records of a biotech company that once dazzled Silicon Valley. The company built a following by asking customers to mail in their biological information through "cheek swabs." In exchange for a fee, customers received gene-based health indicators, ancestral histories, and subscription services that provided them with control over their data. But under bankruptcy protection, a "stay" halts enforcement of all contractual obligations against the company. And its assets potentially including customer biometric data become the property of a bankruptcy estate that is legally protected from creditors. Lipson expects 23andMe's managers to argue that certain customer data is not theirs to delete because the data belongs to the estate. Attendees purchase DNA kits at the 23andMe booth at the RootsTech annual genealogical event in Salt Lake City in 2019. (Reuters/George Frey/File Photo) Reuters / Reuters The managers, he said, are legally obligated to maximize the value of the remaining assets, which would involve retaining the data. "While I don't know exactly what the legal characterization of this data is," Lipson said, "Im sure theyre thinking about it." 23andMe sent an email to customers assuring them that their data would remain protected during the bankruptcy. "The Chapter 11 filing does not change how we store, manage, or protect customer data," the email said. Any buyer of the company, it added, would be required to comply with applicable law with respect to the treatment of customer data. 23andMe's instructions for account deletion can be found here. Roughly 20 states, including California, Colorado, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Utah, and Connecticut, have adopted protections applying to biometric data, and most give consumers a right to delete their information. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has warned 23andMe's California customers that they are legally entitled to scrub their genetic data from the company's systems, including their DNA, identity, and biological samples the saliva test samples submitted to the company. "Due to the trove of sensitive consumer data 23andMe has amassed ... Californians who want to invoke these rights can do so by going to 23andMe's website," the attorney general's office said in a statement that outlines the steps consumers can take. Donald Trump appeared unaware on Wednesday that four U.S. soldiers had gone missing during a NATO training exercise in Lithuania. When asked by a reporter if he had been briefed on the situation that began to unfurl hours before, the president replied, No, I havent. He then moved on to take another question. Watch the exchange here: this is an absolutely shocking statement from POTUS. Four US troops died in Lithuania, news of it was reported hours ago, and Trump is completely clueless pic.twitter.com/auvOq2TgXg Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 26, 2025 The missing soldiers are all from the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, which is deployed to reinforce NATO amid rising tensions with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They disappeared during a tactical training exercise in Pabrade, roughly six miles from the border with Belarus, an ally of Russia, according to a statement from the U.S. Army. The soldiers armored Hercules vehicle was found submerged in a body of water within the training area, the Army confirmed. The search [for the soldiers] is ongoing, a NATO spokesperson wrote in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, to clarify NATO Secretary-General Mark Ruttes earlier apparent suggestion that the soldiers had died. We regret any confusion about remarks @SecGenNATO delivered on this today, the spokesperson added. He was referring to emerging news reports & was not confirming the fate of the missing, which is still unknown. Related... Dr. Dre on March 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. - Credit: Christopher Polk/Variety/Getty Images Dr. Dres first attempt to gut the $10 million civil harassment lawsuit filed against him by his former psychiatrist didnt get much California love in a courtroom Thursday. At a morning hearing, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark H. Epstein said he didnt agree with the billionaire music mogul that the 11 allegedly harassing text messages Dre sent to his former doctor in 2023 should be stricken from the lawsuit because they were made in furtherance of either Dres constitutional right to free speech or his protected right to pursue litigation. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It looks like a bunch of angry [messages] and I dont see how they further the process of a medical board complaint, Judge Mark H. Epstein said. Hes just hurling insults. Dre, born Andre Young, had argued in his underlying motion to strike that he already intended to pursue his legal options, meaning a medical board complaint or a civil lawsuit, when he sent Sophy the first of the text messages. According to Young, Sophy acted as family therapist and mediator during Youngs 2021 divorce from his now ex-wife Nicole. Young claims he confronted Sophy with the texts because he discovered malpractice. For his part, Sophy has denied any malpractice and says he considered the texts to be threats of physical violence. He said the messages left him terrified, causing him to constantly fear for his life and wear a bulletproof cap and vest in public. I discovered that Sophy had attempted to poison my relationship with my son, including by urging him to disclose my financial records to the media as part of his attempts to pressure me into settling my divorce on unfair terms, Young claimed in a January declaration explaining himself to the court. I used strong language, at times rough, because I was deeply upset about his unethical conduct and was serious about my warnings to him that I would pursue my legal remedies. In his first four texts sent Feb. 16, 2023, Young called Sophy a bitch and a piece of shit and said Sophy was going to have to pay for his alleged interaction with Youngs son. In four more texts sent Feb. 17, 2023, Young said Sophy fucked up and fucked with the wrong one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During oral arguments Thursday, Judge Epstein said the first eight texts all appeared to lack any functional relationship to a legal proceeding. He said a text message sent on March 5, 2023, might qualify as protected, but only a portion. In that text, Young wrote, Youre going to have to give me a written apology. If not, Im moving forward. Im not playing, trust me. Youngs lawyer, Jackson Trugman, argued that his client was trying to hold the doctor accountable for alleged misconduct and seeking an explanation and an apology. He said all of those things were the objectives of his planned legal actions. Trugman said the first texts were sent late at night during a period of frustration and then clarified the next morning when Young went into more detail. Where does he seek an explanation, other than in text message nine? Judge Epstein asked. I dont see anything that would suggest that all of this is in furtherance of getting information to go to the medical board or to file litigation Was he mad? Sure he was mad. Did he use terms I wouldnt necessarily use? Well, I dont know, maybe I would use them. But its the lack of a linkage. The judge said the texts also didnt appear to qualify for the special protection given to public statements made in furtherance of public discourse. For the plaintiff to say something to the defendant like, Youre a piece of shit, Im not sure thats furthers the public discourse, Judge Epstein said Thursday. That, I think, is private communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 10th text sent April 25, 2023, Young again called Sophy a piece of shit and said he wasnt going anywhere until Sophy explained himself. In a final text sent Aug. 4, 2023, Young wrote, Dont worry, I havent forgot about you. Sophys lawyer, Christopher Frost, said Thursday he agreed with the judges tentative order. Just because [Young] happens to also file a medical board complaint doesnt mean he gets to abuse my client, Frost said. All hes doing is hurling abusive insults. Judge Epstein declined to issue a final ruling Thursday, saying he was taking the matter under submission. If he adopts his tentative, all but a portion of the ninth text will stay in the lawsuit as the complaint clears its first hurdle and continues toward a trial. In one telling exchange with Youngs lawyer, Judge Epstein asked why Youngs side decided to challenge the lawsuit on the grounds that it was attempting to chill Youngs right to protected activity. The judge hinted Young might have more success challenging the complaint on the basis it didnt make a strong enough case that the texts rose to the level of civil harassment. A demurrer might very well have been more successful, the judge said. Theres a lot of insults you can hurl without violating the law. Whether its part of free speech is a different issue, but you know, people can say all kinds of mean things to other people, and its not a tort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The motion at the center of Thursdays hearing did not address another portion of Sophys lawsuit that claimed a group of individuals claiming to be FBI agents showed up at his gated community and asked to see him the day after Young sent his first four text messages. The lawsuit alleged the individuals were sent by Young to intimidate Sophy. Young denies any connection. Sophy sought a parallel restraining order against Young that was denied by a different judge in November. Young, meanwhile, filed a confidential complaint against Sophy with the medical board. That complaint seeks revocation of Dr. Sophys license to provide mental health counseling to needy patients. In gross violation of all applicable standards of care, Dr. Sophy inserted himself into a contentious divorce while he simultaneously treated not only Mr. and Mrs. Young, but their children, Youngs other lawyer, Howard King, said in the statement. He was terminated when it was revealed that he was encouraging one of their children to take sides against Mr. Young, even encouraging his son to go to the press with false allegations in order to force a financial settlement that he recommended. King added, Dr. Sophy has consistently rebuffed Medical Board attempts to investigate these claims, but has now filed this desperate suit while the noose of the Medical Board is tightening. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The drag queen who Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called a child predator and a monster during a congressional hearing on Wednesday accused the firebrand congresswoman of fascism over her quest to defund NPR and PBS. Lil Miss Hot Mess, the stage name of performer Harris Kornstein, told the Daily Beast in a statement that Greenes political bullying amounted to censorship. Greene attacked PBS CEO Paula Kerger on Wednesday over a digital segment featuring Lil Miss Hot Mess reading her book The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, though Kerger said the segment did not air on PBS. While she claims to promote liberty, in reality, she just wants to tell us all what to think and do, the performer said in a statement. Thats not freedom, thats fascism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenes attempts to defund PBS and NPR are the worst form of censorship, reflecting both her own ignorance and the Republican partys authoritarian impulses, she said. The reality is that communities all over the country including in her own district deserve access to educational public media that reflects the diversity and creativity that makes our world beautiful. Greene blasted the segment during Wednesdays House DOGE subcommittee hearing, which largely focused on federal funding for NPR and PBS. She also claimed that parents were repulsed by drag content airing on public airwaves. As a mother, if I had walked in my living room or one of my childrens bedrooms and seen this child predator and this monster targeting my children, I would become unglued, she said. When approached by the Daily Beast Wednesday, Greene used the opportunity to lash out at her Democratic rival, Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont learn lessons from drag queens, because they are mentally-ill men pretending to be women while sexually targeting children, but we all know Jasmine Crockett takes her make up lessons from drag queens, Greene said. Jasmine thinks a flawless face will get you far in this world, but thats so shallow. Shes depended on private school, designer handbags, and DEI her entire life to become successful. Kerger told the committees Republicans that the program never aired on PBS. The clip was produced for PBS New York City affiliate WNETs Lets Learn series, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. In the video, which has since been made private, the creators disclosed it was not funded or distributed by PBS. The drag queen was actually not on any of our kids shows, Kerger said. In her statement, Lil Miss Hot Mess said Greenes distracting transphobia and homophobia harms real LGBTQ children and adults, and teaches nothing but hate. Frankly, Id be horrified to watch her kids show. Americans can decide for themselves who the real monster is, she said. Ultimately, Greene should learn a lesson from drag performers: rather than spreading disinformation and hate, leading with kindness, love, and joy (plus a flawless face) will get you everywhere you need to go in life. AUSTIN (KXAN) Cuts could soon be on the way to a Central Texas school district that went into this year with a balanced budget. Last year Round Rock Independent School District set a balanced budget heading into the new school year. However, preliminary projections show it could be facing a $16 million deficit for the 2025-26 school year. Until we get a bill that passes, that guarantees us more money, we have to be prepared for worst case scenario, said RRISD Trustee, Amber Landrum, during a March 13 meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas school districts are still waiting to see what will happen in the legislature as lawmakers have proposed some bills that would increase the basic allotment. RRISD Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said districts across the state, including his own, need more funding, and an increase to the basic allotment would help. Until that money comes though, districts are having to cut back on spending. We tried to reduce our expenditures, but at the same time we had to increase compensation, Azaiez said. Speaker Dustin Burrows assures school choice legislation will pass Texas House He says any savings they have made goes to keeping teachers in the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azaiez said the district has identified about $2 million in budget cuts, and it is still looking to find more. I know we are for sure reducing central office admin positions and Central Office school support positions, and the rest of these we are evaluating, said Dennis Covington, RRISDs Chief Financial Officer. Azaiez said hes hoping to see some funding from the State Capitol, but the district cant wait to make a budget for the upcoming year. We are very optimistic that we can really address it and it is our hope to take a balanced budget to our board, Azaiez said. RRISD will have a board meeting Thursday where they will discuss the budget. The district has to adopt a budget by the end of June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the March 13 discussion on the district website 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 KXAN Austin. (Bloomberg) -- Chinas No. 1 smartphone maker Vivo wants to increase sales from overseas markets like Southeast Asia to as much as 70% of revenue in two years, accelerating its global push as the worlds biggest handset market saturates. Most Read from Bloomberg The closely held company already gets more than half of its sales from outside China, Chief Operating Officer Hu Baishan said in an interview on the sidelines of the Boao Asia forum in the tropical Chinese island of Hainan. That will grow to 60% next year and about 70% in 2027, Hu said. For us, the future definitely lies in overseas markets, Hu told Bloomberg Television. At Boao, Vivo showcased its newest flagship smartphone, the Vivo X200 Ultra, which will start selling next month. It announced a virtual-reality headset, whose prototype will be ready for testing in August, and a robotics research lab to expand in the field of artificial intelligence. The company grew its shipments in China by more than 10% in 2024, beating Apple Inc. and homegrown rivals Huawei Technologies Co. and Xiaomi Corp. to the top spot, according to research firm IDC. The brands are locked in red-hot competition as replacement demand drives sales in the oversupplied market. Addressing Chinas weak consumer confidence, Hu said people are holding onto gadgets longer before swapping for a new one. The government issued vouchers and subsidies to spur demand, but their impact was short-lived, Hu said. Subsidies merely unlocked replacement demand earlier than usual, Hu said. It will not turn the market. In India, Vivos biggest overseas market, the company will focus on selling more high-end gadgets priced at above $600, Hu said. In markets including the Philippines and Indonesia its still trying to expand volumes, he said. Vivo has gained share in Southeast Asia, holding the No. 1 position in Indonesia and second place in Malaysia, according to consultancy Canalys. Hu said he doesnt set specific growth targets for each individual market because those are hard to gauge. Growth is the priority for our overseas team, he said. If theres no growth, there will be problems. Vivo isnt ready for developed markets including the US and Western Europe, where high-end gadgets and sales through telecom operators dominate. Hu said the company may consider entering those markets in three to five years though, leveraging newer gadgets like VR goggles. Nearly 500,000 voters have cast ballots ahead of Tuesday's pivotal spring election when partisan control of the state's highest court is on the ballot. The overall number of absentee ballots returned by mail or cast in person is up 53% compared to the number votes cast during the same time period during the 2023 spring election when the same stakes were on the ballot. The number of voters utilizing the state's in-person early voting option has increased by a whopping 99%. More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That increase over the 2023 voting numbers reflects, in part, surges of early voting in more conservative counties where such practices were questioned by false claims of fraud pushed by President Donald Trump. But now, Republicans have gotten behind the practice and pushed the idea to voters. As of Thursday, 242,426 people have voted early by casting in-person absentee ballots. That's up from 121,645 that had voted the same way by the Thursday before the 2023 spring election, according to data provided by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. In 2023, 310,030 had voted by this time in the election cycle through a mix of returning mail-in absentee ballots and voting absentee in person. As of Thursday, 475,207 absentee ballots have been cast so far. Total voter turnout in the 2023 election came to just over 1.8 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The surge in early voting has materialized as spending in the state Supreme Court race for control of the court between Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, a conservative, and Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford, a liberal, has eclipsed national records for statewide races. In 2023, the race also broke records in spending for state races. The 2025 election features a second statewide race, which may explain the additional interest at least in part. State Superintendent Jill Underly, a Democrat, faces Brittany Kinser, an education consultant backed by conservatives, in a race to lead the state Department of Public Instruction. More: Everything you need to know about the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction superintendent race The counties with the highest number of in-person early voters are Milwaukee, Waukesha, Dane, Washington and Brown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conservative-leaning Washington County has experienced a massive 172% increase in early voting over 2023 data during the same time period, while GOP stronghold of Waukesha County also has seen a large increase of 98% over the 2023 voting pattern. George Govas, left, of Milwaukee drops in his ballot during early in-person voting at the Frank P. Zeidler Municipal Building, 841 N. Broadway St. in Milwaukee on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. In the Democratic voting centers of Dane and Milwaukee, in-person early voting has increased by 83% and 85%, respectively. In-person early voting in Brown County increased by 102%. The data provides a snapshot of voter engagement in this battleground state since Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in November for the presidency a bruising battle that blanketed airwaves and brought both candidates and their surrogates to Wisconsin weekly. Now, the race for control of the court is emerging as another battle over Trump as billionaire Trump ally Elon Musk pours money into Schimel's campaign with ads suggesting Schimel will be a loyal justice to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early voting runs through Sunday, though many municipalities end in-person early voting Friday. The last day for most voters to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Thursday. This story has been updated to include corrected voting data for 2023. Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Supreme Court early voting count nears 500,000 University of Melbourne hydrology professor Dongryeol Ryu and his collaborator Ki-Weon Seo were on a train to visit Ryu's family when they found something startling. Stopped at a station for technical issues, Seo had pulled out his computer to pass the time with some work when a result popped up in their data that Ryu could hardly believe: It suggested a remarkable amount of Earth's water stored on land had been depleted. At first we thought, Thats an error in the model, Ryu said. After a year of checking, they determined it wasn't. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their paper, published Thursday in the journal Science, finds that global warming has notably reduced the amount of water thats being stored around the world in soil, lakes, rivers, snow and other places, with potentially irreversible impacts on agriculture and sea level rise. The researchers say the significant shift of water from land to the ocean is particularly worrisome for farming, and hope their work will strengthen efforts to reduce water overuse. Earth's soil moisture dropped by over 2,000 gigatons in roughly the last 20 years, the study says. For context, that's more than twice Greenland's ice loss from 2002 to 2006, the researchers noted. Meanwhile, the frequency of once-in-a-decade agricultural and ecological droughts has increased, global sea levels have risen and the Earth's pole has shifted. Ryu and his colleagues used three different data sources to verify that Earth storing less water on land than it once did. He also said their results reveal a deeper truth about the land, one farmers have to contend with frequently: When a big, dramatic rainfall event comes after a drought, sometimes leading to huge floods, that doesn't mean the water stored underground has recovered. It seems that lands lost their elasticity to recover the previous level, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether that elasticity ever returns will depend on whether humans take action on climate change and significantly change water use, the researchers say. The increasing heat stress on plants means they need more water. Agriculture, particularly irrigated agriculture, continues to draw up more water than it can afford. And humans are continuing to emit greenhouse gases without a strong effort to reverse course. "There are long-term climate changes that have happened in the past and presumably could occur in the future that could reverse the trend described, but probably not in our lifetimes, said Katharine Jacobs, a University of Arizona professor of environmental science who wasn't involved in the study. Because greenhouse gases will continue to cause global warming well into the future, the rate of evaporation and transpiration is not likely to reduce any time soon. The study also confirms an explanation for a slight wobble in the rotation of the Earth its being driven by the changing moisture levels of the planet. When I read this thing, I was very excited, said Luis Samaniego, a professor of hydrology and data science at the University of Potsdam who wrote an overview commentary discussing the findings in Science. It's a fascinating puzzle of all disciplines that came at the right moment to verify something that was not possible before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Samaniego stressed that the finding isn't only fascinating; it's a wake-up call. Imagine the planet's wobble like an electrocardiogram for the Earth, he said. Seeing this result is like detecting an arrhythmia. Choosing not to listen to the doctor that's what we are playing around with at the moment, he said. ___ Follow Melina Walling on X @MelinaWalling and Bluesky @melinawalling.bsky.social. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Some East Baton Rouge Parish residents voted on two key propositions in the March 29 election: the Home Rule Charter for the City of St. George and the Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District. See March 29 election results here. Proposition breakdown, results Failed: City of St. George Home Rule Charter The City of St. George was officially incorporated in April 2024 after the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld its incorporation. Residents voted on whether to adopt its Home Rule Charter into the Louisiana Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this had been approved, the charter would grant the City of St. George the authority to: Enact ordinances for public welfare, safety, and governance. Establish its own form of government and structure. Allow council members to pass ordinances by majority vote, investigate city officials, and manage city matters. Grant the mayor authority to veto ordinances but not to vote in council meetings. Designate the mayor as the communicator between the council and the city manager. Appoint a city manager who serves as the chief administrative officer, responsible for hiring, firing, budget preparation, enforcing ordinances, and coordinating with public safety agencies. Allow residents of St. George to propose new laws, repeal existing ones, and remove elected officials through recall elections or legal action. Read the full Home Rule Charter Amendment here. Passed: Wedgewood Crime Prevention District The Wedgewood Crime Prevention and Improvement District proposition will continue an annual fee on improved residential and commercial properties for 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fee will fund: Enhanced law enforcement presence and patrols. Beautification projects. General improvements to the district. Fee details: Residential parcels: $95-$150 per year. Commercial parcels: $250-$400 per year. Estimated revenue for the first year: $60,825. Read the full Wedgewood proposition text here. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) David Nelson owns Rocky Top Vapor in Johnson City and other cities. He testified against a bill in front of the Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee that he said would drive him and other vape store owners out of business. The bill is sponsored by Greene County Rep. David Hawk. It would require the state Department of Revenue to create a directory of all vapes that are authorized by the FDA to be sold. Only vapes on that list would be available for retail sale in Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is, is that theres only 34 products that are currently authorized by the FDA to be on the market, Nelson said. All of those are tied to big tobacco. So, everything that we sell in our specialty vape shops, us and 700 other vape shops in Tennessee would be out of business. Hawk says the bill will get rid of harmful vape products and help keep the products out of underage hands. It would also place a fee on vape purchases. Ive been approached by our law enforcement, by our juvenile courts across the state of Tennessee, Hawk said. Weve got a huge issue of these products being in our high schools, our even our middle schools, and its just a detriment to our kids at this time. Nelson says according to the FDA, manufacturers can sell non-FDA-approved products as long as they submit a pre-market tobacco application (PMTA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre allowed to stay on the market as long as a PMTA application has been provided to the FDA, Nelson said. So, it can be on the market and not be approved while theyre looking at the PMTA application. Nelson says there are examples of these types of bills not working. Theyve actually passed bills similar to this in California, New York, Massachusetts, Nelson explained. We know the results of those things. It increases the rate of smoking, as many people just go right back to smoking cigarettes. It also causes a big black market. So thats what you have to look forward to if this bill passes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill did pass in the subcommittee and will head to the full Finance, Ways, and Means Committee next week. The full bill text 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. TYLER, Texas (KETK)- East Texas representatives give an update on bills filed by lawmakers for the 89th legislative session. East Texas representatives like State Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant) hopes to get his own bills passed with one of his top priorities being House Bill 17. This bill restricts the purchase of land in Texas from hostile countries such as China, Russia and North Korea. East Texas state representative proposes bill to protect children from explicit content in public libraries Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That bill is in the homeland security and public safety committee, here in a week or two, were going to have a day of hearings where we hear our bills that have to do with foreign adversaries, Hefner said. Another big topic in the Texas House is water, both Hefner and State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) are working to keep East Texas water in the Piney woods. Were a growing state, but that doesnt mean they get to come take our private property so that they can keep their swimming pools full, Hefner said. East Texas Rep. Moran appointed to House Committee on Ethics VanDeaver also has filed House Bill 18 to make sure rural Texans receive adequate medical care. The bill would provide a safety net for rural hospitals, especially hospitals that are at risk of closing to try to keep them open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives explain that one of the most talked about issues is House Bill 3 also known as the school choice bill but as a former superintendent VanDeaver says he isnt on board with with the bill. Im just convinced its not good for my district, and its not good for the children of Texas, so my position hasnt changed on it. I plan to vote against it, Vandeaver said. No matter which side they are on when it comes to each bill, Hefner and Vandeaver say East Texas lawmakers are sticking together and making sure they do what is best for the people of East Texas. Texas Senate majority unveils bill requiring voters to prove their citizenship Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement East Texans are united, and were digging in for the fight to protect our resources and the private property rights of our citizens, Hefner said. The regular session ends on June 2 with only Governor Gregg Abbott having the power to add special 30-day sessions limited to designated topics afterwards. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Its not news that Illinois economy is in the doldrums. So it was encouraging to see Gov. JB Pritzker, with a clear eye to improving the states economic climate, take the rare step of vetoing legislation backed by organized labor that had passed with overwhelming support from his fellow Democrats. The measure in question would have imposed new requirements on large-scale warehouse owners and operators meant to ensure employees are treated fairly and humanely, particularly when it comes to production quotas. Whats wrong with that, right? As is the case with most legislation, though, the devil is in the details and this bill is no exception. In his veto message, Pritzker said the measure was overly vague on which workers would be protected and also wasnt sufficiently clear on how civil penalties for infractions would be assessed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed during the lame-duck session in early January, leading Pritzker to chide lawmakers for moving hastily on important legislation without adequately engaging the governors office on the practical ramifications. Over the past several years, anyone driving around Illinois particularly the northern part of the state will have noticed vast warehouse facilities sprouting throughout the area. The sprawling former Allstate campus in Northbrook is a case in point, sold several years ago to a warehouse developer who is converting the acreage to a logistics hub. Jobs in that industry grew rapidly in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic as shopping over the internet mushroomed. That job growth has slowed in recent months, but construction is expected to continue. In its most recent economic forecast for the state performed by the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting & Accountability, published last month, Moodys predicted that transportation/warehousing would remain a pillar of strength. Steady demand for logistics services and the areas presence in e-commerce ensure bright prospects for transportation/warehousing for years to come, Moodys wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a state with an unemployment rate nearly a percentage point higher than the national average and employment growth negligible in most sectors other than government jobs, imposing burdensome and just as importantly, confusing and overly vague new rules on one of the few obvious areas of private-sector growth is foolish despite the good intentions behind the bill. Pritzker, who isnt known for rejecting measures that are a high priority for unions, was right to insist on ensuring any new rules regarding the operations of this specific industry be fair, well understood and straightforward regarding compliance. The governor appears to recognize that Illinois has a problem right now in terms of private-sector job creation. With this veto and with his budget proposing to close an estimated $1.7 billion fiscal 2026 shortfall without raising taxes, a governor with whom business groups have had their differences since he first took office in 2019 finally is heeding their calls to make Illinois more competitive. And, yes, there is competition for warehouse jobs even if they arent as coveted as those in many other industries. Indiana like Illinois situated in the middle of the country with a strong transportation network is a perfectly good place for the likes of Amazon and UPS to build new warehouses. The governor clearly understands that reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Manufacturers Association applauded the veto. But Pritzker paid a price with a major union he previously would have considered an ally. In a statement headlined, Billionaire Gov. Vetoes Warehouse Worker Protections, the Teamsters Union was harsh. Pritzker has abandoned the very people who give their all every day, working under inhumane production quotas that are not only unacceptable but also dangerous, Teamsters Joint Council 25 President Thomas W. Stiede said in the statement. Stiede referenced his own experience as a former warehouse worker and added (just in case the billionaire governor headline hadnt properly registered), Its unfortunate that our Governor doesnt have those same experiences or sympathies. Pritzker has made clear his door is open to negotiate a better-constructed bill to ensure working conditions in Illinois warehouses are humane. And in his veto message, he pledged that the Illinois Department of Labor would strengthen its field enforcement team to ensure warehouses arent abusing workers, for example, by depriving them of adequate time for meals and rest, among other concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois Chamber President Lou Sandoval tells us business groups are open to negotiating an acceptable compromise. Instead of castigating Pritzker, a union ally many times in the past, the Teamsters ought to do the same. In the meantime, its gratifying to see the governor beginning the process of restoring balance to the states refereeing of employer-union disputes. Unions for too long have assumed their Democratic Party allies in Springfield will take their side even in cases where business interests articulate reasonable concerns about proposals for greater regulation. Its going to take many more to improve Illinois reputation as a place to invest and do business. We hope Pritzkers fellow Democrats in Springfield are getting the message and feeling the same urgency. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The country should thank The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeff Goldberg, for showing that the entire top echelon of the Trump administration was reckless and careless in discussing secret classified military matters on the non-secure commercial messaging app Signal. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz made the blunder of including Goldberg in a group chat about the Pentagons attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen this month along with Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and others, 18 in all. Everyone of them except Goldberg broke the rules by discussing secrets on Signal. The U.S. government has, at great expense, created what are called sensitive compartmented information facilities, (SCIFs) for that purpose. The SCIFs, not Signal, or Instagram, should be used for war planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Good thing that the phone number that Waltz added belonged to Goldberg, who has not published the classified military details that Hegseth broadcast to the group two hours before the strikes or the name of the covert CIA operative who Ratcliffe identified. What if Waltz has inadvertently added someone who would turn the valuable info over to the Russians or the Chinese or the Iranians? And to think how upset Trump and Republicans were for Hillary Clinton for her using a personal e-mail server. What devices were all of these officials using? Their personal cell phones? Government-issued phones? Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, a participant in the chat, was in Moscow meeting with Vladimir Putin as the digital conversation was unfolding. Was he carrying the phone on which he was logged into Signal? The Signal app also features messages that can be permanently deleted, with no record kept anywhere. In addition to violating national security law, its use to organize military and foreign policy is almost certainly illegal under records and oversight provisions. If an operation goes sideways, what record will exist of the high-level planning for Congress and internal watchdogs to probe? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that none of the official participants in the chat raised concerns or even expressed surprise that this was being organized here is a good indicator that its not uncommon. While the FBI is opening a probe into vandalism of Telsas, This is domestic terrorism, said FBI Director Kash Patel, is the FBI going to investigate this huge leak of military secrets? Dont bet on it. Rather than admit the huge error, the whole Trump cabinet caught with their fingers on their phones, is circling the wagons, with Hegseth out-and-out lying about the incident, saying nobody was texting war plans after screenshots were already published by The Atlantic. What other high-level government business is being conducted in a way that could leave no trace? Signal is reportedly already a frequent choice for officials at all levels of seniority in the second Trump term. Usually, governments that dont produce or destroy records of what theyre doing and why are not considered to be operating on the up-and-up. They should do well to remember that their authority flows up, granted from the public on whose behalf theyre working, not down from some higher power. ___ BOSTON (SHNS) The state education board advanced regulations Tuesday to further restrict controversial timeout and seclusion policies in schools, the next step in a years-long effort to reduce the use of the practices. Theres been growing national attention on so-called timeout rooms in recent years, as families of students with disabilities have raised alarms about inappropriate use of the secluded rooms to punish their children and keep them out of class for long periods. Emily LaMarca, the mother of a son with Down syndrome, told the Board of Education in January that her sons teachers began putting him in a timeout room when he was 10 years old, resulting in trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was constantly afraid, afraid to go to school, afraid that his teachers would come to our house and harm him. He talked about angry eyes at school and the sounds that his friends made when they were taken to what he called the naughty room in therapy. Cole acted out his trauma by locking himself in the therapy dogs crate, because, in his words, he was a bad boy, LaMarca said. Acting Commissioner of Education Russell Johnston has made these rooms a focus of his one year helming the education department in an interim capacity after Commissioner Jeff Riley stepped down last March. He was a special education teacher and administrator before joining DESE, and among other roles he had at the department, served as an ombudsman during efforts to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Act. Johnston is set to leave the department this week for a superintendent job in Pennsylvania, and the vote that board members took Tuesday to promulgate the timeout regulations for public comment was the among the last they took in Johnstons tenure. The board will vote on whether to adopt the new rules in June. The commissioner said during a board meeting in January that when he visits a school, his first stop is always asking administrators to see their timeout room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I walk into the rooms myself, he said, I close the door. I look to see what its like for a student in one of those rooms. One of the points he made during Tuesdays meeting which is reflected in the new regulations is that the department needs to make a stronger distinction between timeout and seclusion. The new regulations clarify that timeouts are voluntary, where students can opt to go to a private room outside of their classroom as a behavioral regulation tool. Seclusion, meanwhile, refers to the involuntary confinement of a student alone in a room from which they cannot physically leave. This improved language really helps clarify that difference between timeout, which is a strategy to be used when students need to self-regulate, and then a very limited, prescribed circumstance that could lead to an emergency use of seclusion. But we need to call it that. We need to say that it is seclusion. Its not timeout, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The regulations aim to codify what the department has issued in guidance since 2021, and impose new updates to those rules that include stricter restrictions. The updates would mandate that timeout spaces have to be unlocked and an appropriate size for the student. Theres adequate lighting, ventilation, temperature, and free of objects that may be harmful to the student, said Iraida Alvarez, acting executive director of special education at DESE. If seclusion is used in an emergency situation, the updated rules would add conditions that must be met. The school would need documentation from a mental health professional that such intervention would not be ill-advised for the student, as well as parental consent. After using seclusion, the school would also be required to notify the childs parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools that use this intervention would have to require weekly and monthly reviews of data about when seclusion is used, document it, and report it to DESE. The eventual goal is to eliminate the use of the practice, Johnston said. Board member Michael Moriarty raised concerns about possibly taking away a necessary tool for special educators to control their classrooms. He said that, while acknowledging that abuses do exist he worried the stricter regulations on emergency seclusion was further constricting behavioral management and could be seen as a little tone deaf to special educators who say they have limited tools. In all of those different schools, with all the different contexts and scenarios, how do you anticipate for an emergency that prior documentation? And not fall out of compliance and find yourself sued, with your license at risk, with the schools reputation harmed in the media, with all the bad things, when all you were trying to do was maintain an effective learning environment and safe classrooms? Moriarty said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board member added that he did not have his mind made up either way, and would lean on public comment to decide how hed vote on the regulations in June. Johnston replied to his concerns that seclusion is not a behavior management strategy, and thats what we really have to make clear with these regulations. We cant say that putting a student in a room and closing the door and observing them from outside is behavior management, and that any conflating of those notions is exactly why we need this, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Passenger train cars roll by in Missoula. (Keila Szpaller / Daily Montanan) Hailing from St. Regis, George Bailey has an idea of the benefits a passenger railroad stop near one of the gems of the state could bring. St. Regis, of course, is a common stop for drivers on I-90. Hucks Grill, within the St. Regis Travel Center, already has (arguably) the best milkshakes in the state. But what if rail was bringing passengers too? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our little town relies on tourism, Bailey said while testifying in House Transportation in support of a bill that would boost the effort to bring localized passenger rail through Montana. And I can envision people using the train to get to our beautiful area. Brought by Rep. Denise Baum, D-Billings, House Bill 848 would create a Big Sky Rail Account within the state special revenue fund. It would appropriate $2 million annually to the new rail account and would come from a tax on certain railroad cars. I hope that committee members, both in transportation and appropriations, really look at and appreciate the huge economic opportunity for the state to continue to move this forward, Baum said in an interview with the Daily Montanan. Just in connectivity with rural and urban jobs, health care, and again, it benefits freight and rail. They can coexist. Rail advocates have long pushed for more options in Montana for more railroad options in Montana, led by the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. The organizations stated goal is to expand passenger rail in the state, which used to be commonplace. A sign explaining some of the railroad history is pictured at Thompson Park, near Butte. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montanan) The organization is a transportation authority with membership from 20 counties, as well as cities and transit services across the state. A $500,000 grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2023 helped the agency move through Phase 1 of the project, which involved creating a service development plan and cost estimates, according to the Billings Gazette. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second phase, which the appropriated money in HB 848 would go toward, would include more planning, as well as support for grants to move the project further along. Phase Two of the project would confirm the stops, Baum added. While the Rail Authority is being led by Montana, the organizations chairman and Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier said it includes eight states. Those eight states are part of the 2,300 miles of passenger rail the agency is seeking to use. During the Biden Administration, the project received an important federal green light as two routes through Montana were selected as preferred routes in the Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study. One of the routes would start in Chicago and run through Billings, Helena and Missoula before getting into Washington and going to either Seattle or Portland. In an interview, Strohmaier said its still up for discussion which of those two major West Coast cities it would connect. The second route would run from El Paso, Texas, to Billings. Between the two routes, Baum said, passenger rail could run through Montana towns including Glendive, Miles City, Billings, Livingston, Bozeman, Helena, Missoula, and possibly either Paradise or Thompson Falls. Critical infrastructure for our nation Passenger rail went by the wayside following a boom in the 19th and early 20th century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The service remains limited in Montana along the Hi-Line in the northern part of the state. The Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle. A longer Amtrak North Coast Limited/Hiawatha line used to connect Chicago to Seattle, passing through the southern part of the state. An old railway tunnel is pictured at Thompson Park, near Butte. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montanan) Its popular Whitefish is the most visited stop on the Empire Builder between Seattle and Minneapolis. The station had 38,674 visitors in 2022. However, the project will not be cheap, nor will it be coming soon. Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, said he was not trying to throw cold water on the project, but pressed Strohmaier for answers on cost and timeline during the hearing. He also expressed concern the rail could be outdated by the time it was built. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strohmaier said if everything comes together without major issues, increased passenger rail service could come to Montana in 8 to 10 years. The total cost was more difficult to estimate, he added. Infrastructure wise, in this country, it would not be inconceivable that this would be upwards of $2 billion for a 2,300-mile long route, Strohmaier said. Paying for the project will likely require significant federal money, and with Elon Musks quasi-government agency, the Department of Government Efficiency, attempting to find waste, cost was a real worry for Stafman. Strohmaier seemed confident infrastructure investments would be protected. Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who is now the Secretary of the Interior, has been a strong supporter of increased rail service, Strohmaier said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We feel this is straight up critical infrastructure for our nation. There is no secret that rail infrastructure, particularly passenger rail infrastructure, in the United States has lagged behind other places around the globe, Strohmaier said. So I think that this administration that we have has certainly expressed thus far, support for investing in that critical infrastructure, and weve had some strong support in the past from our congressional delegation. Large infrastructure projects are inherently expensive. For example, an 8.5-mile extension of light rail opened north of Seattle last year, costing over $3 billion and taking 15 years to build after voters approved the project in 2008. Strohmaier said the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority could seek a voter-approved tax to fund rail, which is how some metropolitan areas pay for their transportation infrastructure, but that avenue is not likely to occur in Montana. Strohmaier said it would be difficult to ask Montana voters to help subsidize a project that involves multiple states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Importantly, rail projects over 750 miles fall into federal jurisdiction for operation and capital cost, Strohmaier said. Weve not exercised that option to put the question to voters, and have opted for what other ways can we fund our operations and administration of the rail authority, Strohmaier said in an interview with the Daily Montanan. Which is separate than operating a train or the infrastructure necessary for that. When were talking a long distance route and talking about trying to bankroll the operation and capital infrastructure, that ought not to fall on the backs of Montanans. A railway trestle, since converted into a walking bridge, is pictured at Thompson Park near Butte. (Jordan Hansen / Daily Montanan) It brings people together Proponents of the bill came from all corners of the state and much of their testimony focused on how rail could benefit elderly Montanans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Margaret MacDonald, a former Montana senator and representative, who is now with Big Sky 55+, testified in support of the bill. I live in Billings, and my husband and I, and I certainly hope well be able, at some point in the future, be able to take that train to Missoula, particularly as we get older and may not be the best drivers in the world, MacDonald said. It brings people together. It brings families together. It unites rural areas with urban centers. Whitehall Mayor Mary Hensleigh also pointed to the benefits rail would have for aging populations. Whitehall has a population of 1,000 people, approximately, and a large percentage of those are boomers who have a real hard time admitting that they are now senior citizens, but they are, as I am, Hensleigh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitehall helps operate one of the few bus services in the state, called Whitehall Public Transportation, which is run through the nonprofit Liberty Place, Inc. The bus service already runs to Bozeman or Belgrade and could allow people to catch the train there, Hensleigh said. Other proponents pointed to economic and tourism benefits. They included the Montana Economic Developers Association, the Missoula Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO all spoke in favor of the bill. Former Missoula City council member and current Mountain Line CEO Jordan Hess said it could reduce costs associated with transportation. Transportation is the second-largest household cost, right behind housing, Hess said. We all know the terrible strains were in in terms of the cost of housing in the state of Montana. By offering transportation options, we can reduce the second-largest household cost, and make it more affordable for families and seniors to live in Montana and stay in Montana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other proponents pointed to the bipartisan nature of rail, including former Glendive City Council member Jason Stuart. He is the vice-chair of Rail Authority and serves as the executive director of the Dawson County Economic Development Council. Glendive and Dawson County are no quote, unquote, liberal bastion, Stuart said. It is a deeply conservative community with deeply conservative elected officials. And in the four years since our county commission voted unanimously to make Dawson County one of the founding members of the BSPRA, I have heard no complaints or regrets about that from the people I represent. Action was not immediately taken on the bill. Amtrak-Daily-Long-Distance-Service-Study--Final-Report-2025 In 1831, Abraham Lincoln arrived at the New Salem grist mill along the Sangamon River aboard a flatboat that was sinking. Lincoln had been hired by a man named Denton Offutt to deliver the boat cargo to New Orleans. As the story goes, Offutt was so impressed by Lincolns quick thinking to rescue the boat and save the cargo that he offered him a job at a shop he planned to open in New Salem. Lincoln returned from the cargo trip and decided to stay in New Salem, about 20 miles northwest of Springfield. By the time Lincoln left the town in 1837, he was a state legislator and his political career was taking off. While New Salem was essentially abandoned in the years after Lincoln departed for Springfield and then Washington, D.C., it was reconstructed during the 1930s as an historic site that last year attracted almost 400,000 visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But time has taken a toll on the states effort to memorialize Lincoln in the town where he developed his political chops. Lincolns New Salem State Historic Site has fallen into disrepair as the tab for deferred maintenance on properties managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has grown to an estimated $1 billion statewide, according to IDNR spokesperson Jayette Bolinski. In recent years, the roofs of two structures have caved in. The grist mill, where townspeople would grind wheat into flour, is closed, with boards across the entryway. There are holes in the wooden entrance ramp, and the mills drive shaft, which powered the structure, has been inoperable since a 2016 flood. Gina Gillmore-Wolter, president of the New Salem Lincoln League, said its unsafe for schoolchildren to walk along the road, or over the closed pedestrian bridge, to reach the mill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When responsibility for the site, along with all other state historic sites, was shifted to IDNR from The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency in 2017, New Salem stopped getting $200,000 annually from the state capital fund. At the same time IDNR was suffering form almost two decades of disinvestment, Bolinski said. However, efforts are underway to restore New Salem. IDNR announced this week that the site will receive about $8 million in funding for improvements from the Rebuild Illinois capital plan for improvements. The site has received a total of about $3 million in capital funding since Gov. JB Pritzker took office in 2019. In addition, Republican state Sen. Steve McClure, who represents the area, is leading a bipartisan legislative effort to rehabilitate the site in coordination with the New Salem Lincoln League. Legislation made up of three separate bills would create a New Salem Preservation Commission under IDNR to assess the site and provide a budget to fix the structures. The measure would also create a procurement exception because of the difficulty to find tradespeople with construction skills similar to those used in the 1830s that are needed to properly rebuild the structures, according to Republican Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, the legislations House sponsor. IDNR estimates it will cost $19 million to rehabilitate the site, far higher than the $5 million specified in the legislation. An amendment will be added to update this cost, according to McClure, along with other amendments to require IDNR to conduct an immediate assessment of the site and report back to the General Assembly within 30 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department does not support the creation of a preservation commission as laid out in the legislation, saying in a statement that doing so would create an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and red tape. However, it has offered to enter into a Friends arrangement with the Lincoln League, which would help meet our shared goals without creating undue additional bureaucracy, the statement said. McClure said he thinks the IDNR is concerned if the New Salem site is fully funded, IDNR would have to provide similar help to every other site it oversees. Well, in my view New Salem is the most important state historic site, McClure said. This site, where (Lincolns) whole political career began, has sort of been just falling into the abyss, and weve got to protect it. McClure said the grist mill where Lincoln first arrived is the projects top priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shape its in is pretty urgent, McClure said during a recent tour of the site, pointing to a splintered piece of loose wood. I mean look at this. Thats a safety hazard. If thats what were doing to maybe one of the most important structures in the village, why even have the site open? he asked. The mill is largely inaccessible. The pedestrian bridge that connects the structure, located down the hill from the town and over a highway, is closed. New stairs were added about a year ago, but they stop halfway down the hill. Gillmore-Wolter said the area isnt safe for school field trips. Youre going to have to make some kind of parking thats got a guardrail thats safe for kids on school trips to access this because they tore out the stairs that came to this and you can see the new stairs, but they blocked them off, Gillmore-Wolter said. Theyre like the stairs that go nowhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roofs on two structures, the Trent Barn which was owned by the ferry operator Alexander Trent, and the carding mill, where townspeople would card, or comb, wool from their sheep, have also collapsed. The carding mill is the only animal-powered carding mill in the United States, according to Gillmore-Wolter. When she visited the site as a kid in the 1970s and 80s, there were oxen powering the mill. In Lincolns time, people in the town would shear their sheep, wash the fleece and card the wool using the mill. Then it would be straightened and spun into thread and yarn. This is the beginning of the industrial revolution when we started taking that process out of the home where people would sit for a week to card the same amount of wool that you could take there and have it done in a few hours, Gillmore-Wolter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roofs were damaged from exposure to moisture, which led to deterioration and rot. Now that the roofs are gone, that will speed the same process for the rest of the structure, Rosenthal said. When you lose the roof and then the other logs stay wet all the time, theyre going to deteriorate, Rosenthal said. This is going to continue on this building and youre going to see this continue to all the structures here unless theyre properly repaired and taken care of. Right now theyre not. The site has seven employees, and Rosenthal said a bigger staff is needed to help manage and maintain the park, which also includes a campground and trails. Gillmore-Wolter said she remembers when the site was bustling with period reenactments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You would come through here and there would be people dipping candles. There would be people making soap. There would be people cooking over the open fires. The blacksmith would be hammering in the blacksmith shop, Gillmore-Wolter said. McClure said the sites introductory video has not been working for the past few months, despite investments in new equipment by the New Salem Lincoln League. Thats pathetic, McClure said of the video not working. This is where President Abraham Lincoln, one of the most famous people to ever live, started his career in politics, and you cant even watch the introductory video. The Lincoln League and The Abraham Lincoln Association led an effort in 2019 to request state funding for repairs, but they didnt file any legislation, and the COVID-19 pandemic ended the effort, according to Gillmore-Wolter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McClure expects continued bipartisan support for his legislation, which has backing from at least two Chicago Democrats, Sen. Bill Cunningham and Sen. Robert Peters. In addition to its historical importance, the site provides a boost to the small town of Petersburg just to the north, said David Blanchette, a local journalist who has been involved in area museums including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. Blanchette said the site is very peaceful. There are tree-lined pathways that you can walk down, Blanchette said. Theres a lot of economic impact too when tourists come to the community and spend money at restaurants and gas stations and convenience stores and overnight lodging and that translates into jobs and revenue for the community. New Salem attracted 359,950 visitors to the community in 2024 and 374,418 visitors in 2023 according to Bolinski. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For others who grew up in the area, it provides a direct connection to the past. Gillmore-Wolter learned that her great-great-great-great-uncle, Alexander Ferguson, was Lincolns shoe cobbler in the town. Theyre not just names on a page anymore, they become real people with a story, so thats the motivating factor for me, she said. Comments regarding proposed punitive U.S. port fees on Chinese-operated and -manufactured cargo ships continue to roll into the Office of the United States Trade Representative, which is holding hearings on the matter this week in Washington. The fees, which can run as high as $1.5 million per ship per call, are designed to help underwrite a revival of the U.S. shipbuilding industry and fight Chinas unfair trade practices. China in 2024 for the first time assumed the top position among shipbuilding nations, claiming more than a combined half of the global operating fleet and orderbook for new vessels. While there is general agreement that the U.S. military and merchant fleets would benefit from revitalized domestic shipyards, businesses say the fees incurred by the preponderance of Chinese-built ships in the fleets of the largest container carriers, and proposed escalating requirements that American exports be hauled on U.S.-built and -flagged vessels, would mean serious financial and logistical hardships on U.S. industry and its customers. In public comments, American Container Line said if the port fees were implemented, it would be forced to terminate its U.S. service, close its American offices, lay off its American staff and redeploy its ships to non-U.S. trades, because the proposed action would render us totally uncompetitive versus the other carriers in the U.S. trades. Moreover, the company said U.S. manufacturers would lose their only U.S.-headquartered North Atlantic carrier and their primary North Atlantic carrier of oversized and project cargo to Europe. U.S. export container rates to Europe for a carrier with a Chinese-built fleet now averaging $500 per 40-ft. container today would climb to around $2,500 overnight a 500% increase simply to cover the new service fee. U.S. import rates from Europe now averaging around $2,500/40 ft. container would jump to around $4,500, an 80% increase simply to cover the new service fee. The company said the increases would be impossible to absorb. The smaller carriers, it noted, bear a greater cost per cargo unit than the mega-carriers with larger ships. American manufacturers would have less choice of carriers and face significantly higher transportation costs. Europe supplies more industrial products to the USA than consumer products. The significantly increased costs of delivering those components would push up the price of U.S. manufactured products domestically as well as internationally. The Caribbean Shipping Association in its comments urged grandfathering of vessels already operating in the Caribbean. It noted that vessels operating directly between Caribbean nations and the U.S. tend to be small, and the proposed million-dollar fees are the same regardless of vessel sizes. DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) Deputies in Dorchester County arrested an elementary school teacher on Wednesday, according to the sheriffs office. Ruth Jones Stephens was arrested after deputies investigated allegations of simple assault involving a student, the Dorchester County Sheriffs Office said. Stephens teaches at Clay Hill Elementary School. Law enforcement did not release additional details surrounding the allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Ruth Jones Stephens was arrested in connection with the simple assault of a student at Clay Hill Elementary School, said Stephen Wright, spokesperson for the sheriffs office. Stephens was subsequently released from the L.C. Knight Detention Center after a bond hearing. The Dorchester County Sheriffs Office continues to actively investigate this incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Text emojis apparently arent just for teenagers anymore, with news outlets reporting how top American officials used them in high-level, Signal message chats last week that included details about U.S. airstrikes. "Everyone is using emojis in some fashion," Jason Brown, who owns a media relations firm in Royal Oak, told the Free Press, adding, as evidence, his "14-year-old daughter" and his "70-plus year-old father-in-law." Now, the entire nation, it seems, is talking about emojis, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, the emojis revealed in a national security thread which included a flame, fist and bicep have been referenced by journalists, lawmakers, comedians and colleagues engaging in watercooler conversation. And aside from the national security debate that has been unfolding on Capitol Hill about whether sensitive, classified information was improperly released, folks like Brown said it seems odd that influential leaders are using them in something as serious as an airstrike. The emojis have become part of the public conversation after top Trump administration officials including the vice president, and secretaries of defense and state held discussions in a nongovernment messaging app, which inadvertently included a journalist. Monday, that journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, published an account of the chat, and by Wednesday, the editor released a detailed transcript emojis included of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One emoji message attributed to Michael Waltz, the 51-year-old national security advisor, and a former Army Special Forces officer was of a fist, an American flag, and a flame. Another, attributed to Steve Witkoff the 68-year-old Special Envoy to the Middle East and Russia and a real estate investor was of two sets of praying hands, followed by a pumped bicep, and then two American flags. How emojis became ubiquitous In many ways, email, texting and the pandemic have made emojis ubiquitous. In 2017, before the pandemic, a Free Press report noted that Americans were increasingly using punctuation marks, symbols, and animated pictures, known as GIFs, to communicate. The headline asked: "Does anyone use a phone to actually talk in words anymore?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Does anyone use a phone to actually talk -- in words -- anymore? The report traced the origins of the emoji to the 1980s, when it was just a crude emoticon. One professor, who had studied social media, pointed out in the report that using pictures to communicate was hardly new technology and dated back tens of thousands of years to early cave paintings. In more recent years, email, then smartphones, made it easy to send emojis, and during the pandemic, in-person conversations were limited, and everything, including communication, seemed to become so much more casual, boosting their use even more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And this week, while lawmakers grilled officials on what they considered to be a serious national security breach that some argued could have put Americans in harms way, the emojis gave some Americans an opportunity to laugh. On "The Daily Show," Ronny Chieng joked: "Is anyone else kind of upset that were conducting war by emoji now?" He also took aim at officials in the chat, suggesting that emojis just didnt seem to jibe with the gravity of killing people. Democrats, employing political theater, also took shots on the House floor at the Republican administration, mocking the emojis as Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida held up a sign made up of the emojis Waltz sent. "From now on, when we agree, Ill just hold this up job well done!" Moskowitz said. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland got in on the bit, and so did Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a Republican, who asked Moskowitz, referring to Witkoff's emojis, whether the sign should have used a "flexed arm instead of a fist." Emojis with 'hidden meanings' But even as news of the Signal chat emojis and jokes seemed to dominate headlines and airways, there was another story that made references to emojis that had nothing to do with the high-level security conversation, which showed the ubiquity of those digital icons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also was a reminder that even though grown men are using them, emojis are still popular among teens, who the USA TODAY report on the hit Netflix miniseries, "Adolescence," explained are using them to talk in code. In the four-episode crime drama about a 13-year-old boy who is arrested in connection with the killing of a classmate, the report said, a character revealed the "hidden meanings" of certain emojis a kidney bean, a stick of dynamite, a red pill and various-colored hearts. And for those who dont recognize specific emojis, there's even a website, emojipedia.org, with indexes of them, a senior emoji lexicographer someone who compiles emoji dictionaries and an emoji generator, which can create emojis for you. Brown the public relations executive who sent a sideways smiley face in a text to the Free Press in response to an interview request explained that emojis can add some levity to a tense conversation, and perhaps, add a little fun to a dull conversation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, he pointed out, the multitude of emoji meanings can get confusing. Now, theres not just a smiley face or a frowny face there are all sorts of nuanced faces to choose from. Whats more, you can even select the face's skin tone, adding to the complexity of the conversation. And, Brown said, a fire emoji might not be as simple as it seems. The fire sign often is interpreted as a sign of approval or that something is hot or sexy because in the vernacular of todays youth, "fire" means something amazing or exciting. But it also could mean something is literally on fire. And that, Brown noted, might not be the best emoji to use in reference to a lethal airstrike. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Emojis are everywhere, even in an airstrike Signal chat Dozens of people spoke out in Buckley on Tuesday night against two bills in the state Legislature that would close the Rainier School, a facility that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. About 40 or 50 people went to the Save Rainier School town hall at the Buckley Fire station, 611 South Division St. The Washington Federation of State Employees sponsored the event. Many of the people who attended work for the Rainier School or have a family member who resides there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It affects the residents there, thats all theyve known, said Danielle Modrow, an employee at the Rainier School. They dont know anything else, and its very sad the Senate is trying to do this theyre taking their home away. The two Democratic-backed bills one in the state Senate and one in the state House would shut down the Rainier School. The House bill, if passed, also would close the Yakima Valley School in Eastern Washington, but would maintain respite and crisis beds in the area. The bills both say the Rainier School would shut down on June 30, 2027 and would not be able to accept new residents in the meantime. Both bills have been deemed Necessary to Implement the Budget, meaning they are not subject to the usual cutoff dates to pass out of committee. On March 24, both bills were implemented into the House and Senate budgets. The legislature must negotiate and adopt a budget before the session ends on April 27. Dozens of residents spoke out against the proposed closure of the Rainier School at the Buckley Fire Station on March 25, 2025. Isabela Lund/ilund@thenewstribune.com Were a community within a community The Rainier School has served people with disabilities in Buckley since October 1939. It includes housing, medical care, occupational and speech therapies, employment, nutrition services, recreation facilities and more. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services the agency that runs the Rainier School previously told The News Tribune that there are 81 residents and 460 full-time employees, with the state paying $52 million to run the facility each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the people who attended the town hall were concerned about what would happen to residents if the facility shut down. Brittany Barber, a lead investigator at the Rainier School, said many clients would have to go to the states two residential habilitation centers that would remain open Fircrest School in Shoreline and Lakeland Village in Medical Lake, a town in Spokane County. I spoke to a gentleman earlier whose currently back at Rainier School. His parents live in Vancouver, Barber said. If Rainier School closes and he moves to another RHC, theyre having to drive from Vancouver to Spokane to be able to visit him, or all the way up to Fircrest, and there are no other settings close to their home that he can go to. DSHS previously told The News Tribune that if the Rainier School shuts down, employees would work with each person to find the best choice for them. Options include the Fircrest School and Lakeland Village or a community-based setting, such as an adult family home, a companion home, a group home or supported living. Many attendees at the town hall said the Rainier School has resources for residents that many community-based organizations do not and that they are worried some residents will end up in jails, hospitals or on the streets. Cathy Frie, an attendee who worked at the Rainier School for 42 years before retiring, said she has seen many residents go to community-based settings and then have to go to the Rainier School for help they werent receiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive seen so many clients come over here over-medicated or on the wrong medication because the community doctors are not specialized in the interactions of different drugs, Frie said. Marie Buss, another attendee, pointed out that a closure would affect potential future residents. Busss niece is 11 years old and has intellectual and behavioral disabilities, as well as a condition that means she will someday have to use a wheelchair. Ive always kind of had that thought that, if it came to the point where it was too difficult to care for her, she needed specialized assistance, there was always Rainier School that she could go to, Buss said. That was an option for her and with that option going away, the fear comes out of, Whats going to happen with my niece and where will she go? Courtney Brunell, the city administrator of Buckley, attended the meeting and told the crowd that the Rainier School is the largest employer in the town of 5,114. She said the city is measuring the economic impacts that could happen if the school closed. Employees also repeatedly said they were scared of losing their jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both bills order DSHS to offer employees opportunities to work in state-operated living alternatives and other state facilities and programs. Attendees also noted that, with community-based programs, it could be hard to determine if they are safe or if residents will be well-cared for. Were a community within a community, Frie said. The clients still at the Rainier School? If they see me, they will come up to me and visit with me. You dont find communities like that very often. They are not going to fill our jails and hospitals Stacy Dym, spokesperson for The Arc, a disability rights organization in Washington state, told The News Tribune in an interview that residential habilitation centers like the Rainier School are based on an extremely old model of care and that smaller, community-based options provide better care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dym pointed out that Washington is the only state on the West Coast that has residential habilitation centers, and 18 states across the country including Oregon and California have closed such centers completely. We have a long history in Washington state of successfully transitioning people in their community, Dym said. My sister lived in a state institution, and we went through the same kind of fears and trepidation and [it still worked] because Washington state has a good planning process. She also mentioned that Washington state closed the Frances Haddon Morgan Center in December 2011 with successful results. A report from DSHS in May 2013 said the 52 people who had been living at Frances Haddon Morgan Center found new homes at other residential habilitation centers or in community-based residences. It also said those 52 people were remain[ing] stable in their new homes. The Senate and House bills say DSHS has until June 30, 2027 to come up with a plan for each resident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are not going to be turned out in a day, they are not going to fill our jails and hospitals, Dym said. Theres not a good reason to fear that these individuals that have been left uncared for or that we dont have sufficient time to plan for these needs. Dym said that residents dont have to go to community-based facilities if they dont think it would be a good fit there are still lots of capacity at one of the states other residential habilitation centers. She also said the Rainier School should shut down because it has a long history of abuse. The News Tribune reported in 2018 that a former supervisor was sentenced for sex crimes against residents. In 2020, a residents family sued the state, alleging the Rainier School staffs neglect following her bunion surgery led to her death in 2017. The News Tribune asked Dym if she thought moving residents to community-based facilities was the safer choice. She said abuse is always a possibility, but residents can experience better care in smaller settings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abuse is something that we cannot guarantee wont happen anywhere ever, but it is something we can plan for, Dym said. Large congregate care is more susceptible to a level of abuse because people are not treated individually. When youre all at the cafeteria at the same time, youre all going to the meeting together at the same time, your activities are based on what the larger group wants and not what you want or need, there is always that danger. Dym said community-based settings give residents more freedom and personalized care. In a community-based setting, they are quite happy they get to do things like pick the color of their room, or have a pet for the first time, or see their family more frequently, Dym said. Were really excited because we believe that it is the right thing to do to move to Washington state into the future of care. The owner of a flooring company in Bartow County is being accused of trafficking hundreds of people from China to work at his manufacturing plant. Federal agents raided the plant on Wednesday after allegations that he had trafficked those workers for cheap labor. Channel 2s Tom Jones tracked down several Chinese nationals who work at Wellmade Industries who say they were treated fairly and paid what they were supposed to be paid. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] One worker said he and the dozens of other workers who live with him werent mistreated like others alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner pay, them man who says he was brought here from China a month ago to work for Wellmade told Jones. They pay you well? They treat you well? Jones asked. No problems, he responded. But other Chinese nationals had problems getting paid and with working conditions at Wellmade. Agents arrested owner Zhu Chen and Jiayi Chen. Both are accused of bringing hundreds of Chinese nationals to this country to work at Wellmade and then paid them poorly or not at all. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A worker says agents came to his home that is paid for by Wellmade Wednesday. All of us take (sic) to the church nearby until questioned by the police. He says he told police what he told Jones. Normally, I just work here. Yes. And nothing bad, he said. The HOA president in this community says too many people living in one home is a problem. Sheena Thompson says people were alarmed when they saw so many police in their community. They were just concerned about how many police vehicles were in this neighborhood at multiple houses, Thompson said. People in this community say a van picks the workers up in the morning and brings them home at night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worker says they arent going into Wellmade right now, and are waiting to hear whats going to happen next. Both Zhu Chen and Jiayi Chen remain in the Bartow County Jail. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) In an ongoing effort to clean up abandoned homeless encampments, crews with the City of San Diego are set to remove five tons of debris near the Torrey Pines Gliderport starting Thursday. This abatement operation, which is expected to last throughout the next week, presents unique challenges due to the difficult-to-reach terrain in the cliffside area. On part of this, city crews will be working in collaboration with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department to use a helicopter for the removal of trash and debris. When is the the best time to list homes for sale in San Diego? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This aerial support is part of SDFDs annual flight training program, which is required by the department. The helicopter will be used to lift bags of debris and transport them to nearby dumpsters. The abandoned encampment area, which is located just north of the Torrey Pines Gliderport, had been visited multiple times by city code officers to ensure that no one is currently living in the area. In accordance with standard protocol, the city posted 24-hour notices for the scheduled abatement. Additionally, the San Diego Police Departments Neighborhood Policing Division visited the site to offer support services. However, no individuals were found at the site during these visits, according to city officials. While the cleanup operation continues, there will be no disruption to operations at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. However, a portion of the northern parking lot near Blacks Beach Trail has been closed since last week to accommodate the ongoing work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. (EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) According to the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, the county and State of Colorado are already in compliance with an executive order by President Donald J. Trump outlining new federal directives concerning mail-in voting. On Tuesday, March 25, President Trump signed Executive Order 14148, Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, which is aimed at strengthening voter identification, securing voter registration lists, and establishing stricter mail ballot receipt deadlines, according to the El Paso County Clerk. In a press release sent on Wednesday, the El Paso County Clerk affirmed that many of the priorities outlined in the executive order are already well-established practices in Colorado and have long been part of El Paso Countys election operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We welcome conversations on election integrity, and we want voters to know that El Paso County and the State of Colorado already meet or exceed many of the standards emphasized in the Executive Order, said Schleiker. Our election system is secure, transparent, and nationally recognized for its accuracy and accessibility. Key Comparisons Executive Order vs. Colorado Law Ballot Deadline Compliance : The executive order requires all ballots be received by Election Day. Colorado law already enforces this, as ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Night to be counted. Postmarks do not count. Paper Ballots & Audits : The El Paso County Clerk said Colorado uses 100% paper ballots and conducts risk-limiting audits after every election. El Paso County enhances transparency with the Ballot Audit Tool, allowing voters to view digital images of their own ballots. Voter Roll Maintenance : Colorado regularly updates voter records using death data, address changes, and DMV records all practices that align with federal list maintenance requirements. Non-Citizen Voting Protections : Only U.S. citizens are eligible to register and vote in Colorado. Applicants must attest to their citizenship under penalty of perjury. El Paso County follows all state and federal verification procedures to ensure voter eligibility. In-Person Voting Access: While the executive order encourages limited mail voting, Colorado law provides both mail ballots and secure in-person voting options. El Paso County operates multiple Voter Service and Polling Centers with ADA-compliant equipment. The executive order also proposes future changes, including requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. The El Paso County Clerk said such requirements would necessitate federal rulemaking and may face legal challenges, but assured voters that the county would continue to monitor developments and coordinate with the Colorado Secretary of States Office on any required changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As always, our focus remains on ensuring fair, secure, and accessible elections for every eligible voter in El Paso County, said Clerk Schleiker. While I and my staff understand the executive orders intent to reinforce integrity in elections, El Paso County already leads that state in many of the policy areas outlined, balancing security, transparency, and voter access. El Paso County will continue to implement Colorado law with the utmost integrity, and we remain committed to protecting the publics trust in our electoral 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 FOX21 News Colorado. Estonia's parliament on March 26 voted to amend the constitution to deprive non-EU citizens mainly targeting Russins and Belarusians voting rights in local elections, Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) reported. The Baltic state's population is around 1.3 million including some 322,700 ethnic Russians, of which around 90,000 have Russian citizenship, according to data from 2022. Rising tensions between the Baltic states and Russia and its ally Belarus since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine prompted Estonia in 2022 to prohibit Russian citizens from obtaining visas and residence permits for working, doing business, and studying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The decisions in our local life won't be made by the citizens of the aggressor states, but we'll decide by ourselves," Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said after the March 26 vote. According to the amendments, only Estonian and EU citizens will have the right to vote in local elections. Those with undefined citizenship and stateless persons will be able to vote for the last time during the next elections, which will be held on Oct. 19. A majority 93 of 101 of politicians voted in favour of the amendments. The bill now passes to Estonian President Alar Karis to sign into law. Lauri Laats, chairman of the Centrist Party faction who voted against the amendment, described the decision as "wrong." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is not a democratic decision. We have already said that we will not support this decision," he added. But Toomas Uibo, chairman of the liberal political party Estonia 200, denied the bill was discriminatory "because people have freedom of choice they can become Estonian citizens." Estonia has significantly increased its defense budget, allocating 3.2% of GDP to defense in 2024, more than double its spending since the all-out war in Ukraine began nearly three years ago. Estonia has also pledged to raise defense spending from 3.7% of GDP to 5% during 2025 following the alarming Russian threat and U.S. President Donald Trump's call to increase defense spending. 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 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Estonia has moved to bar non-EU citizens from voting in local elections, in a move that targets the country's Russian and Belarusian population. The Estonian parliament voted in favour of a corresponding constitutional amendment on Wednesday, which was proposed in view of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. The regulation must now be formally approved by President Alar Karis. According to data from the Interior Ministry, almost 80,000 Russian and around 2,700 Belarusian citizens have residency permits in Estonia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Kristen Michal described the decision as a "joint victory" and a "very fundamental decision." "In our local life, decisions are not made by the citizens of aggressor states, but in our own country we are the decision-makers, he wrote on X. Estonia shares a border with Russia and the Russian-speaking minority in the Baltic state make up around a quarter of its 1.2 million inhabitants. The next local elections in Estonia are scheduled to take place on October 19. Rep. Arthur Corvese, left, a North Providence Democrat, and Rep. Paul Santucci, right, a Smithfield Republican, each sought opinions from the Rhode Island Ethics Commission regarding potential conflicts of interest. (Courtesy Rhode Island General Assembly and Paul Santucci for State Representative) The state ethics panel has given the OK for one state representative to vote on the fiscal 2026 budget, but put the kibosh on another lawmakers ability to advocate for his landlords development plans. The pair of advisory opinions issued by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission on Tuesday address inquiries regarding potential personal or professional conflicts by state legislators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Arthur Corvese, a North Providence Democrat, sought the commissions opinion regarding his son-in-laws job with Meta. Gov. Dan McKee as part of his fiscal 2026 budget has proposed taxing global companies on the income they derive from digital advertisements in Rhode Island, which directly relates to Corveses son-in-laws job as Meta policy director. Corvese already pledged in his written submission to recuse himself from any committee hearings at which his son-in-law, or one of his supervisees, testifies. But Corvese was unsure whether he could vote on the fiscal 2026 budget as a whole, should the final version include the proposed 10% digital advertising tax. The commissions opinion gives Corvese permission to vote on the budget as a whole though not individual line items pertaining to the tax noting that Meta and his son-in-lawrs financial standing is unchanged by the states tax proposal. However, the commission did not give a similar rubber stamp to another state representatives inquiry regarding his business landlords development plans. In a separate advisory opinion, the commission concluded that Rep. Paul Santucci, a Smithfield Republican, could not comment on or vote on any legislation related to his company landlords plans to develop a 300-acre industrial park in his district because the pair are business associates. No legislation regarding the planned development has been introduced, so the question for now remains hypothetical. Should a bill be submitted, Santucci should recuse himself from the vote or seek further input from the commission. Neither Corvese nor Santucci immediately returned inquiries for comment on Thursday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ADDIS ABABA, EthiopiaA political crisis in Ethiopias war-battered Tigray escalated dramatically in March, bringing armed men out onto the streets and raising fears of a fresh conflict in the still-fragile region. At its heart is a power struggle between Debretsion Gebremichael, chairman of the dominant Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, or TPLF, party, and Getachew Reda, Tigrays interim regional president and Debretsions deputy in the TPLF. But in the background lurks a potentially more explosive dynamic: the escalating rivalry between Ethiopias federal government and Eritrea, which united in the war against Tigray in 2020-2022 but fell out over the peace deal that ended it. More than two years later, tensions between the two are spiking over Ethiopias quest to end its status as the worlds most-populous landlocked country. Last year Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed explored gaining sea access through the breakaway Somali republic of Somaliland, but backtracked after a fierce backlash from Mogadishu. Now he appears to have settled on reclaiming Eritreas port at Assab, part of the Red Sea coastline Ethiopia lost when Eritrea seceded in 1993a loss Abiy has termed a historical mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tigray is sandwiched between the rival powers. Its vice president, Gen Tsadkan Gebretensae, has warned that war seems inevitable and that Tigray risks becoming a battlefield for Asmara and Addis Ababa. Former envoys to the Horn of Africa for the U.S. and the European Union describe the tensions in Tigray as dry tinder waiting for a match that could ignite an interstate war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Meanwhile, Debretsions rivals allege his TPLF faction has made contact with Eritrean intelligenceallegations it strongly denies. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. Debretsion and Getachew, Tigrays two key political players, have long had an uneasy relationship. The roots of the current crisis in Tigray, however, date back to the peace deal with Addis Ababa that Getachew signed on behalf of the TPLF in November 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa. In doing so, Debretsion argues, he unilaterally caved in to the federal governments conditions. The other side pushed, Debretsion said in an interview in February. We expected this. But there should have been a collective decision before Getachew agreed to the final deal, he added. For their part, Getachews allies say Tigray had little leverage during the negotiations, which took place against the backdrop of fierce fighting and huge battlefield reversals. Maybe the war should have ended sooner, said one. Debretsion insists hes now committed to the peace deal, despite seeing it as flawed, but he adds that there are also differences among the TPLF leadership regarding its execution. Tigrays political crisis has badly destabilized the region, even as tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia linger. Nearly two and a half years after the Pretoria agreement silenced the guns, most of its key parts have not been implemented. Eritrean troops and forces from the Amhara region still occupy some 40 percent of Tigrays districts. This has blocked the return of almost 1 million displaced people, who languish in squalid camps. Ethiopias military was supposed to take control of Tigrays international borders, but the federal governments presence amounts to little more than a few policemen outside the regions three airports. Efforts to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable have made little headway. Fresh regional elections are yet to be held. And Tigray is still not represented in Ethiopias federal parliament. It limps on in a state of limbo, unable to access donor funds crucial for its reconstruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation has badly destabilized the region. Debretsions TPLF faction, which controls the party apparatus, blames it on the incompetence of Getachews interim administration. Competition is also heating up to control Tigrays lucrative gold deposits and state companies. In August, the TPLF held a congress that expelled Getachew and several members of his Cabinet from the party. Debretsion says they must step down from their positions in the regional government. Getachews allies maintain the congress was illegal. Things reached a boiling point in early March when Getachew tried to fire three top TPLF generals, who he accused of plotting a coup. Debretsions TPLF faction then took over several districts across Tigray, including the major city of Adigrat. They also seized the mayors office and radio station in Mekelle, Tigrays capital. These military movements sparked panic among residents, who rushed to withdraw cash from banks. Air tickets to Addis Ababa sold out. Everyone is concerned about war, said Tesfasellassie Medhin, the Catholic bishop of Adigrat. The people do not want more destruction. The showdown had been brewing for weeks, but its climax came quickly. Apart from a few isolated clashes, it was largely bloodless. Getachew appealed to the federal government to intervene, which could have sparked an armed confrontation and risked sucking in Eritrea, whose leaderlong-ruling President Isaias Afwerkifeels he has unfinished business in Tigray. But Abiy declined to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getachew is now on his way out, and Debretsions faction wants to replace him with Tadesse Werede, the head of Tigrays regional armed forces and another regional vice president. On Wednesday, however, Abiy appeared to block his nomination, announcing he would instead consider public proposals for Tigrays new leader. The TPLF blasted his statement as unacceptable, accusing Abiys government of engaging in provocative, hostile and destabilizing activities that threaten the survival of the deeply wounded people of Tigray and attempting to unilaterally determine the regions leadership. Meanwhile, tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia linger. Abiy has staked his legacy on regaining sea access. Ethiopias landlocked status currently eats up $1.6 billion a year in port fees to Djibouti, which handles 90 percent of Ethiopias trade. Gaining access to the sea would not only save scarce foreign currency but could boost economic growth by 25 percent to 30 percent, according to Abiy. The Ethiopian prime minister is unlikely to drop the issue, although he insists he is committed to resolving it peacefully. Ethiopia has no intention to invade Eritrea to gain Red Sea access, Abiy told parliament last week. Our desire is to talk about it under the principle of give and take, in a mutually beneficial manner, and according to commercial law. But the warning signs are there. In February, Eritrea ordered a nationwide military mobilization. Its reclusive regime has ruled out giving up Assab port under any circumstances, with its information minister last week describing Ethiopias maritime ambitions as misguided and outdated. According to Western diplomats who spoke off the record, Eritrea is also trying to destabilize Abiys government by assisting rebels in Ethiopias Amhara region, where an insurgency is escalating. On March 21, Ethiopias military claimed it had killed 300 fighters in two days of fighting. The day before, it claimed that a top Tigrayan general had encouraged and coordinated attacks by Amhara rebels, which the TPLF denies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, if Debretsions TPLF faction does take control of Tigrays regional government, it may feel emboldened to prepare a military strike to reclaim control of western Tigray. This fertile area was seized by Amhara forces during the Tigray war. Its status was supposed to be resolved constitutionally, according to the Pretoria peace agreement. The failure to do so is the main reason for Tigrays ongoing displacement crisis. An offensive could reignite an internationalized conflict involving Eritrean forces. Ethiopia has also been moving tanks, troops and military equipment to its border with Eritrea in the arid Afar region. And its state media is making loud claims over Assab. The deployments are small in scale and might be a show of force, calculated to put pressure on Eritrea, as Abiy can ill afford to stretch his forces any thinner. In addition to Amhara, the federal government is battling an entrenched insurgency in Oromia, Ethiopias biggest region. That makes the timing bad for a conflict with Eritrea. Yet diplomats fear the consequences of any miscalculation on either side, similar to the skirmishes that inadvertently escalated the border war between Eritrea and Ethiopia in 1998-2000. An interstate war would be devastating for the Horn of Africa, a region already struggling with internal conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, said Ahmed Soliman at Chatham House. Abiy has at least opened the door for some kind of accommodation, said Soliman. There is a possibility to de-escalate. Hopefully, for Tigrays and the broader regions sake, Abiy will seize it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fred Harter is a freelance journalist based in Addis Ababa whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The Times of London, The Independent, VOA and the New Humanitarian. He has covered Ethiopia since March 2021 and traveled extensively in every region affected by the 2020-2022 conflict. The post Ethiopia, Eritrea and Tigray Are Back on a War Footing appeared first on World Politics Review. In response to US President Donald Trump's car tariff announcement on Wednesday, the European Parliament is talking about retaliating with tariffs against US tech companies such as Google, Amazon and Netflix. "Tariffs on digital services, where the US has a major market interest in the EU, should be put on the table," said Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament's Trade Committee, in a statement released on Thursday. "If the US illegally attacks our core economic interests, the EU should consider targeted countermeasures - even if they affect the economic interests of the US." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lange, a Social Democrat, referred to the huge number of users of US services in the European Union. "American digital companies have more customers in Europe than the US has inhabitants," he wrote. "We need to bring these facts to the table in the hope that we will ultimately reach a negotiation result. It should be clear that the benefits of negotiations far outweigh the alleged benefits of tariffs." A threat of EU tariffs on digital services is also seen as potentially helpful in Brussels because it would also affect social media platform X, owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump announced new 25% tariffs on car imports on Wednesday. The German car industry in particular is likely to suffer from the new tariffs, which are due to take effect in early April, according to the White House. On March 23, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) wrote a letter to Atkins, questioning him about his ties to FTX and any knowledge of Trumps crypto ventures. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was convicted of seven counts of fraud, including fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering, in November 2023. SBF was sentenced to nearly 25 years in prison. As per a Wall Street Journal report, Patomak advised FTX in January 2022 before the crypto exchange filed for bankruptcy in November 2022. Atkins said he will resign as CEO of Patomak and divest any interests causing potent conflicts of interest if he is confirmed as the SEC chairman. Atkins, nominated by President Donald Trump to chair the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), disclosed combined employment assets worth at least $327 million that he owns with his wife. As per the disclosure before a scheduled confirmation hearing with the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, Atkins and his wife own at least $327 million through their stakes in Patomak Global Partners and Tamko Building Products. Atkins is the founder and CEO of the consulting firm Patomak Global Partners, in which he holds a stake worth at least $25 million. Besides Bank of America and Barclays, Patomak once counted the now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX among its clients. The prospective SEC chairman holds an investment of $1 million to $5 million in a fund managed by Off the Chain Capital, a crypto investment firm. Atkins also co-chaired the Token Alliance, a crypto-advocacy organization affiliated to the Chamber of Digital Commerce, before resigning from the position in December 2024. Atkins is the director at Tamko Building Products, a manufacturer of residential roofing shingles founded by the grandfather of Atkins wife. Atkins will appear before the Senate Banking Committee for a nomination hearing on March 27. The European Union, together with its member states Sweden and Germany, will allocate 44 million to support Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Ukraine. Source: EU Delegation to Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda. Details: The EU will launch a grant competition in May 2025 worth 14m to support CSOs. Of this amount, 5m will be directed towards developing gender leadership and conflict resolution strategies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Sweden and Germany will provide an additional 17m in support. The EU is also accelerating the rollout of a 13m support package aimed at financing direct grants for civil society projects. These include initiatives in the areas of gender equality, accountability for war crimes, access to information, strengthening democratic processes, social cohesion and sustainable development. This aid package is part of a long-term EU strategy aimed at bolstering civil society in Ukraine, increasing resilience to Russian aggression and ensuring that humanitarian and integration efforts reach those most in need. It was also recently reported that the European Union is preparing a 10 million support package for independent media in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This news emerged after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the termination of 83% of programmes under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which also supported projects in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (NewsNation) European institutions are beginning to target scientific asylum seekers from the U.S., advertising jobs for those who fear funding cuts and ideological restrictions from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has frozen large swaths of federal funding and ordered a halt to things that dont comply with his political positions, including programs involving diversity, equity and inclusion, research that focuses on the transgender community and climate change initiatives. Universities and researchers are among those affected as federal funding is limited or withdrawn. Trump has also used federal research funds to target universities that he believes did not act harshly enough when responding to pro-Palestine protests on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientists rank grocery items to help identify processed foods Significant government layoffs at agencies including NASA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have also put scientists who relied on the stability of federal jobs on the hunt for new work. Experts have warned that the reduced funding and limitations could create a brain drain and cause the U.S. to lose a generation of scientists and the work they would otherwise produce. Vrije Universiteit Brussel, based in Belgium, is one university that has started to actively recruit American researchers, portraying itself as a safe haven. So is the Pasteur Institute in Paris, which is recruiting Americans in fields like infectious disease research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amtrak passenger may have exposed travelers to measles: Officials The Netherlands announced on Thursday that it was launching a fund to attract researchers, which would be open to those of all nationalities. Aix-Marseille University in France set up a program that will fund more than two dozen U.S. researchers for three years. The school said it has already had about 100 applicants, including scientists from Yale, Stanford and NASA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The News French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced plans for a reassurance force that would be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, although European leaders remained divided over its terms. Speaking in Paris at the coalition of the willing summit, Macron acknowledged that the decision was not unanimous, but was nonetheless achievable although exact details of the possible troop deployment remain lacking. Russia has repeatedly said that it will not accept a ceasefire that includes the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine, and has pushed for sanctions relief before more peace negotiations can continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Paris summit comes after top US officials inadvertently leaked a Signal chat that included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth describing the continents reliance on America for defense as pathetic, prompting significant backlash. SIGNALS Leaders divided on reassurance troops in Ukraine Sources: Financial Times, Reuters, BBC At the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to create a reassurance force, indicating France and the UKs seriousness over Ukrainian security guarantees regardless of US support. But not all EU leaders agree: Italys Giorgia Meloni among Trumps closest European allies said such a force was premature, while the Italian foreign minister reiterated that any troop deployment must be under the umbrella of the United Nations unlikely given Russia would need to consent, and has steadfastly opposed such a mission. The scope of the reassurance force has already been scaled back: Sources told the BBC that a smaller tripwire force might be deployed to deter Russia without triggering further escalation. Strained ties with Washington put Europe in tight spot over sanctions negotiations Sources: Politico, Sky News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European leaders came to Paris feeling a mix of hurt and anger toward Washington as a result of Signal-gate, Politico wrote. Many still want to work with the US on Ukraine, even as Washington appeared to be giving away leverage over Russia, including lifting some sanctions concessions that are not in Washingtons power to give, EU diplomats told Politico. However, if the EU rejects Moscows demands, there is a growing concern that both Trump and Putin would seize the opportunity to blame the EU for Trumps failed peace efforts, a security expert said. Europe summit overshadowed by US security leak Sources: The Atlantic, CBS, The Times The Signal leak has reignited lingering European concerns over the Trump administrations security approach. US-UK intelligence systems, in particular, are so intertwined as to be practically one and the same, The Atlantic wrote earlier this month, with much of their physical and digital infrastructure essentially conjoined. Since the leak, one prominent UK politician suggested the US was playing Russian roulette with Western security, especially after Washington briefly withheld intelligence sharing with Ukraine earlier this month. There are further concerns that the Trump administration will politiciz[e] the intelligence community at the very highest level, which US allies have long feared, The Atlantic wrote: Indeed, Washington recently suggested Canada could be kicked out of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance over trade tensions. Ukraines European allies say now is not the time for lifting sanctions on Russia, in a clear message to the Trump administration as Moscow pushes Washington for concessions ahead of signing a US brokered deal on ending the fighting in the Black Sea. The leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Germany all affirmed at a summit on Thursday that Europe will not lift sanctions on Russia a strong and seemingly coordinated nod to the Trump administration, which has said it is still evaluating the Kremlins demands. They spoke after a meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing in Paris which discussed how to bolster support for Kyiv and what role they might play if a peace deal is struck with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administrations willingness to embrace Moscow as he seeks a quick end to the war against Ukraine, which has included vocal support for key Russian demands even before talks had even begun, has alarmed European allies. While divisions remain among European leaders about how to respond, they spoke in unison on Russias demand to ease sanctions. (There is) complete clarity that now is not the time for lifting of sanctions, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. Quite the contrary what we discussed is how we can increase sanctions to support the US initiative, to bring Russia to the table through further pressure from this group of countries, the British Prime Minister said, still striking a conciliatory tone toward the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer said the meeting involved more than 30 countries, including Ukraines European allies and NATO officials. He described the meeting as very constructive. Echoing Starmer, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said stopping sanctions would be a serious mistake. It makes no sense to end the sanctions until peace has actually been achieved, and unfortunately we are still a long way from that, as you can see. This week the US announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to end fighting in the Black Sea. But Moscow soon followed up the statement by saying it would only implement the deal once some of the sanctions imposed on Russian banks and exports over its invasion of Ukraine are lifted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the United States is going to evaluate Russias conditions to agreeing to a Black Sea partial ceasefire. When the US negotiators return from Saudi Arabia, Rubio said, they will be sitting down, going through the proposals, getting their impressions of the conversations, so we can more fully understand what the Russian position is, or what their ask is in exchange. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speak during a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of Thursday's summit. - Ludovic Marin/Pool/Reuters There was absolute clarity that Russia is trying to delay, is playing games. And we have to be absolutely clear about that, Starmer added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also called for more pressure and more packages of sanctions on Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All 31 votes today supported that there will be no lifting of any sanctions against Russia until this war ends in a just peace, Zelensky said in a press conference from Paris. Zelensky also called for unity amid Russian President Vladimir Putins desire to divide Europe and America. We want America to be stronger. I agree with Emmanuel (Macron) that we all need it. Its not even a matter of desire, but we need America to be stronger in relation to Russia, the Ukrainian president said. Putin wants to negotiate over territory from a stronger position. Hes thinking only about war, Zelensky said earlier in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre dragging-out the talks and trying to get the US stuck in endless, pointless discussions about fake conditions just to buy time and then try to grab more land, Zelensky added, highlighting that Ukrainian intelligence indicates Russian forces are getting ready for new offensives against the Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine. Reassurance forces France also shed more light on a proposal to send forces drawn from European armies to Ukraine in the event that a ceasefire is reached. France and the United Kingdom previously floated the idea of sending peacekeepers to Ukraine and said they would be willing to put boots on the ground. But their latest discussions have honed in on an alternate term: reassurance forces. These would be forces from a number of states present in strategic locations pre-identified with the Ukrainians which would provide long-term support, reassurance for the armies and act as a deterrent to potential Russian aggression, Macron said Thursday, adding that the forces would never serve as a substitution for the Ukrainian army. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding support for the reassurance forces, Macron said: It was not unanimous today, as we all know, and we dont need unanimity. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said allies discussed the possibility of the United Nations playing a part in enforcing a ceasefire, but underlined that Italian forces would not participate in a possible military force deployed in Ukraine. During the meeting, the leaders also discussed the importance of effective implementation and monitoring of the ceasefire, on which a possible role for the United Nations is emerging, in line with the position of the Italian government, Italys readout of the summit said. Meloni, one of Trumps closest allies in Europe, also expressed hopes that the United States would participate in the next meeting of the coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States is not currently a member of the Coalition of the Willing with Macron acknowledging that although he hopes the US would support a European deployment to Ukraine, Europe needs to prepare for a situation where they (the US) will not commit to Ukraines security. Russia has repeatedly said it would consider any foreign military presence in Ukraine unacceptable. The French president also announced plans for a French-British team to be sent to Ukraine to help Kyiv prepare the format of tomorrows Ukrainian army. CNNs Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- A coalition of European leaders ruled out the possibility of easing sanctions on Russia, one of President Vladimir Putins demands to agree to a partial ceasefire with Ukraine. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now is not the time for lifting of sanctions, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters in Paris Thursday, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Quite the contrary, what we discussed is how we can increase sanctions to support the US initiative to bring Russia to the table through further pressure. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who also attended the meeting of about 30 leaders hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, said that the leaders are already working on the next sanctions package. Europes determination to maintain sanctions on Russia risks becoming a major point of tension with the US as President Donald Trump pushes for a quick end to the conflict in Ukraine. The European Union has made it clear that its too soon to discuss easing sanctions, which would require the unanimous approval of its 27 member states. Kremlin officials this week demanded that some Russian banks be given access to the SWIFT payments system again as a condition for a ceasefire in the Black Sea and a person with knowledge of their thinking has said they will want more concrete benefits as negotiations proceed. The SWIFT system is headquartered in Belgium and falls under EU jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has promised that hell achieve a quick end to the war in Ukraine as a sign of his prowess as a deal maker and Putin appears to be using that public position against him, Bloomberg reported earlier. US officials held parallel talks with Russia and with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia this week. Moscow seems intent on prolonging discussions and keeping the scope of talks narrow to pressure Washington into giving ground, US and European officials said. They are playing games and theyre playing for time. It is a classic from the Putin play book, Starmer said. We should be setting a framework and a deadline of delivering real progress, and then we should hold them to that deadline. The British prime minister later explained that he didnt want to set a date for when Russia had to agree to a ceasefire, but added it should happen in days and weeks, not months and months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swarms of Russian drones attacked Ukraines major cities overnight as Zelenskiy prepared to join European leaders for the meeting. Zelenskiy criticized Russia for breaking energy ceasefire terms after Ukraine was hit by further strikes Thursday damaging a facility. Russian artillery today hit energy facility in Kherson. A civilian city, not a battlefield and people lost energy supply, he said at a press conference after the meeting. Following Thursdays summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that leaders had agreed to accelerate the disbursement of the EUs portion 18 billion of a Group of Seven loan package for Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the key discussion points in Paris, strengthening Ukraines army to make it the main line of protection, is another issue that puts Europe in direct opposition to Moscows demands. Russia is also seeking to reduce Ukraines military capabilities, annex territories that Moscow has occupied and illegally claimed as Russian and halt weapons deliveries to Kyiv. France and the UK are leading an effort to pool a reassurance force of European soldiers. Macron said these troops could be stationed in strategic locations across Ukraine to dissuade Russia from attacking again after a peace deal is reached, adding it could respond to any aggression. While saying the coalition was very far from concrete decisions on how peacekeeping would look, Macron noted the possibility of a UN mission composed of soldiers from countries other than EU and NATO members. The French leader has said that ministers of foreign affairs would be tasked with making a proposal three weeks from now on how a ceasefire could be monitored. Starmer and Macron have also mandated chiefs of defense to start working with Ukraine on how the Ukrainian army would look after the war ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Certain countries, including Poland and Greece, have already said they wouldnt be contributing troops to a European force in Ukraine. Starmer has in recent weeks backed down from his previous priority of securing troops on the ground to focus on air and sea support. Its not for Russia to decide what will happen on the Ukrainian territory, Macron repeated. Among the questions being discussed by officials are whether a European force would have to be approved by Russia and whether one should be deployed after a peace deal is reached or before that, in order to enable it, as previously reported by Bloomberg. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who also attended the summit in Paris, has proposed extending NATO security guarantees to Ukraine without membership in the military alliance. Her office said in a statement that Macron asked for a technical study into the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Nayla Razzouk, Michael Nienaber, Brendan Scott, Alex Wickham and Kati Pohjanpalo. (Updates with details and comments from leaders throughout) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Good news for residents of Rutherfordton and surrounding areas: the wildfire that sparked concern on Wednesday has now been fully contained. Firefighters have successfully brought the blaze under control, and the evacuation order has been lifted, allowing residents to safely return to their homes. The fire, which affected about five acres of land, was fueled by strong winds on Wednesday afternoon. Emergency crews acted quickly, deploying bulldozers to create a perimeter and prevent the fire from spreading further. MORE: Wildfires are spreading as the threat for more continues Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hard work of fire and forestry personnel paid off, as the fire is now officially 100% contained. Even though the danger has passed, fire units will remain on scene overnight to monitor the situation and ensure that the area stays safe. Local authorities are urging people to stay cautious, as conditions can change rapidly in such situations. The emergency shelter set up at First Presbyterian Church in Rutherfordton has been closed, now that the immediate threat has been neutralized. For those who want to stay informed of future emergencies, Rutherford County encourages residents to sign up for emergency text alerts by texting ALERTRC to 888777. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This wildfire is just one of several that have been burning across the region. On the same day, Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency for much of western North Carolina, as multiple wildfires have ignited in nearby counties. In Polk County alone, three wildfires are still burning, along with another in Upstate South Carolina, leaving authorities on high alert. As the situation continues to develop, local officials remind everyone to stay updated and follow evacuation instructions if necessary. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Severe Weather Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 White House has faced pushback for its insistence on trying to shift blame away from the administration after Yemen attack plans were shared with a journalist in a Signal group chat. The withering criticism even came from their own side of the political spectrum as right-wing commentators urged the administration to admit the mistake and move on instead of trying to litigate the issue. Trying to wordsmith the hell outta this signal debacle is making it worse, rightwing pundit Tomi Lahren wrote on X on Wednesday. It was bad. And Im honestly getting sick of the whatabout isms from my own side. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Admit the F up and move on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House appears to still be coming to terms with the national security breach and how to deal with it. The administration has been defending the members of the group chat, which included, among others, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and, inadvertently, the editor in chief of The Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg. Allies of the president have called for Waltz, who added Goldberg to the chat, to be fired. The administration is also denying that any classified information was shared in the chat, even as Hegseth posted detailed information regarding the attack plans against the Houthis in Yemen. Tomi Lahren attends FOX Nation's 2024 Patriot Awards at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2024 in Greenvale, New York. She called for the Trump administration to admit the mistake of inadvertently having shared sensitive military information with a journalist (Getty Images) Far-right Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene simply refused to answer a question about the leak when asked by Sky News on Wednesday. Greene asked Sky Newss Martha Kelner what country she was from, and when she learned she was from the U.K., Greene launched into a rant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont give a crap about your opinion and your reporting, she said. Why dont you go back to your country, where you have a major migrant problem? You should care about your own borders. Do you care about people from your country? What about all the women that are raped by migrants? Do you care? Okay, youre done, said Greene. I dont care about your fake news, the congresswoman added when asked about the lives of U.S. servicemembers possibly being put at risk. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took on a softer approach on Thursday, telling reporters, Well, we have never denied that this was a mistake, and the national security adviser took responsibility for that, and we have said we are making changes. We are looking into the matter to ensure it can never happen again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes as a YouGov poll conducted on Tuesday found that 53 percent of all respondents said its a very serious problem that The Atlantic editor in chief was included in the conversation regarding the sensitive attack plans, while 21 percent said its a somewhat serious problem, for a total 74 percent viewing it as an issue. Meanwhile, a majority of Republicans have said that its a problem that Goldberg was included in the Signal group chat alongside numerous senior administration officials as they discussed the airstrikes, the survey shows. Among Republicans, 60 percent said it was either a very serious or somewhat serious problem, according to the poll of nearly 6,000 U.S. adults. The same was true for 89 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Independents. A former law school student will spend years behind bars after pleading guilty to possession of child porn. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Thursday, Gregory Gallagher, 37, of Marietta was sentenced to six and half years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. This is after the former Mercer Law School student pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child porn in April 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents revealed that an investigation began after the Georgia Bureau of Investigations got five cyber tip reports between May and August 2021 from a cloud infrastructure company of suspected child sexual exploitation associated with a cell phone number attached to Gallagher. Authorities executed a search warrant for Gallaghers phone in January 2022. At the time, he was a student at Mercer Law School. Agents said they found subfolders belonging to Gallagher that contained 38 videos and 1,970 images of child porn. According to authorities, another folder uploaded to the cloud from the 37-year-olds cell phone had two videos and 3,389 photos. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This led officials to search Gallaghers homes in Macon and Marietta in March 2022. Agents said they found Gallaghers cell phone had 97 videos and 5,749 images of children being sexually assaulted and abused, including very young children and toddlers. Children who experience the horror of being sexually abused are continually traumatized each and every time the image or video of the heinous act is viewed. These images are permanent and cause harm well beyond the moment they were originally captured, said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] As part of Gallaghers sentence, A judge ordered him to pay $169,649.12 in restitution to the victims. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. This conviction is a victory for justice and a warning to those who prey on childrenwe will find you and you will face the full force of the law, said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta. Despite President Donald Trump's rash of tariffs spooking the markets, consumer and investor activity seems to be trending in the right direction. With companies like Klarna, Google and Bakkt dominating the headlines, here's what investors should know. Data published in March by Capital One, Discover and Synchrony found that 30-day-delinquencies in credit card payments have dropped month-over-month from 4.39% in January to 4.33% in February fueling analyst predictions that the trend will continue when compared with year-ago figures. Bank stocks have performed less admirably following Trump's tariff policies, however, unnerving executives worried about the transitive cost burden placed on consumers that could fuel inflation. "The uncertainty surrounding these tariffs and potential retaliations remains the biggest economic risk moving forward," Larry Adam, Raymond James' chief investment officer, told American Banker. The KBW Bank Index, which according to Nasdaq tracks the performance of 24 top institutions, was pegged at $140.59 on Feb. 6, prior to President Trump's announcements regarding tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, Canada and the European Union. The index has trended downward following the policy announcements and was marked at $123.35 on March 21, according to MarketWatch . Some bankers are more optimistic than others. In speaking at the RBC Capital Markets Financial Institutions Conference this month, Brian Willman, head of corporate banking at the $157 billion-asset Regions Financial in Birmingham, Alabama, said some of the bank's commercial clients have expanded product lines to weather rising import costs. Read more: Trump's tariffs roil bank stocks, but lenders stay calm Investors are keeping a close eye on Swedish payments firm Klarna and its much-anticipated initial public offering, which is expected to hit the market in the next few weeks. Since its underground listing with the Securities and Exchange Commission last November, Klarna has jumped into a market rife with economic uncertainties stemming from budding trade wars and inflationary pressures. That hasn't stopped the company from entering a collaboration this month with the Walmart-backed consumer finance app OnePay, which would situate Klarna as the sole provider of buy now/pay later loans for Walmart customers. Klarna reported a net profit of $21 million in 2024. Other noteworthy market moves include how subprime credit card debt fits in the Capital One-Discover merger equation, Citi's $14 billion question of what to do with greenhouse gas-focused funding, Google's cybersecurity play and more. ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (WJW) A former Rocky River police officer has been indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on charges that he used police databases to conduct searches that had no legitimate law enforcement purpose. Between 2013 and 2023, Michael Bernhardt served as a school resource officer at Rocky River High School, where he was accused two years ago of having inappropriate relationships with female students. According to the indictment, Bernhardt is accused of using his access to two law enforcement databases to electronically spy on a wide range of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students at the high school, they were his two ex-wives and their families, including one of the new husbands. In his own family, his children, his parents. In addition, Rocky River police officers and also teachers at the school, mostly female teachers, as well as the school principal and assistant principal, said Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Mary Grace Tokmenko, who serves in the economic crimes and public corruption unit. New measles cases in Ashtabula, Knox counties The 54-year-old Bernhardt is now facing 11 counts of the unauthorized use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, one count of the unauthorized use of the Law Enforcement Automated Database System (LEADS) and one count of possessing criminal tools. Prosecutors said the databases contain personal and confidential information, and that is why there are very strict rules on when police can use them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anything from your social security number, your address, different cars that are registered to you. It also has your picture because every time you get your drivers license picture, it also feeds into those databases, said Tokmenko. Investigators said while he was working at Rocky River High School, Bernhardt pursued obsessive and inappropriate relationships with students, and many of his computer searches between 2013 and 2023 involved young girls. During that time period, he did have access to their information, he could have figured out where they live, what their birthdays were, said Tokmenko. In 2023, Bernhardt was the focus of a separate investigation into his conduct with students, but an independent prosecutor found there was insufficient evidence to file charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, when Bernhardt left the police force in April,2024, he remained under a cloud of suspicion that ultimately led to this weeks indictment. This happened as a result of an investigation conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation after the Rocky River Police Department asked them to investigate reports of inappropriate relationships that Mike Bernhardt was alleged to have had with high school students in his role as a school resource officer, Rocky River Police Chief George Lichman said. Local nurse indicted after patient went missing and later died: I-Team BCI agents are now asking anyone who may have additional information about Bernhardt or his conduct with students to contact state investigators at 855-BCI-OHIO or 855-224-6446. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its an absolute concern for all parents of students who were going through the school during this time period and they should talk to their kids and ask them if there were any issues there, said Tokmenko. If convicted, Bernhardt could face up to one year in prison on each count. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID-KPEJ) One of the biggest players in the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin is independently owned DiamondBack Energy. After nearly two decades in business, the company has come a long way since 2007. ABC Big 2s Chris Talley spoke exclusively with Kaes Vant Hof, President and Chief Financial Officer, about the 2025 changes to the company. Diamondback started off with nothing we started with 2000 barrels a-day of production and 35 thousand acres and here we are today with almost 5000 barrels a day and almost a million acres, said Vant Hof. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DiamondBack is building on their more recent mergers and acquisitions of smaller companies like Endeavor Energy Resources in 2024. Founded in 1979 by the late Midland Billionaire, Autry Stephens, Diamondback purchased the company for $26 Billion dollars. Vant Hof told us that successfully merging with another company is all about learning from operations on both ends. I think in these large deals in places like the Permian, the best outcome comes out of hard work and the teams working together, so thats the big theme this year is integration and execution on a much bigger business, explained Vant Hof. In February 2025, DiamondBack announced that it was purchasing Double Eagle IV Midco, LLC (Double Eagle) in exchange for 6.9 million shares of Diamondback stock and $3 billion of cash. Vant Hof explains why this most recent purchase was one of the last attractive assets in West Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bought the last really good undeveloped units in the northern midland basin that really solidified our positions. The current CEO, Travis D. Stice commented on the Double Eagle purchase saying With 407 locations adjacent to our core position, this largely undeveloped asset adds high-quality inventory that immediately competes for capital. Additionally, we see value uplift to our existing inventory as acreage overlap allows for meaningful lateral length extensions and infrastructure synergies. We look forward to seamlessly implementing our industry leading cost and operational structure on this differentiated asset, said Stice. This would bring in approximately 40 thousand more net acres of undeveloped land, spread out across 7 counties of the Permian Basin including: Midland, Ector, Glasscock, Howard, Andrews, Martin, and Upton counties. Vant Hof also announced to stockholders at the beginning of 2025 he would transition to the role of CEO in May and current CEO Travis D. Stice would step down and remain in the company as Executive Chairman for a year before being on the board of directors full-time. 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 Yourbasin. By Maya Gebeily, Timour Azhari and Feras Dalatey DAMASCUS (Reuters) -Close to midnight on March 6, as a wave of sectarian killings began in western Syria, masked men stormed the homes of Alawite families in the capital Damascus and detained more than two dozen unarmed men, witnesses said. Those taken from the neighbourhood of al-Qadam included a retired teacher, an engineering student and a mechanic, all of them Alawite - the minority sect of toppled leader Bashar al-Assad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group of Alawites loyal to Assad had launched a fledgling insurgency hours earlier in coastal areas, some 200 miles (320 km) to the northwest. That unleashed a spree of revenge killings there that left hundreds of Alawites dead. Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa told Reuters he dispatched his forces the next day to halt the violence on the coast but that some fighters who flooded the region to crush the uprising did so without defence ministry authorisation. Amid fears of wider sectarian conflict across Syria, Sharaa's government took pains to emphasize in the wake of the violence that the killings were geographically limited. It named a fact-finding committee to investigate "the events on the coast". According to accounts from 13 witnesses in Damascus, however, the sectarian violence spread to the southern edges of Syria's capital, a few kilometres from the presidential palace. The details of the alleged raids, kidnappings and killings have not been previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Any Alawite home, they knocked the door down and took the men from inside," said one resident, whose relative, 48-year-old telecoms engineer Ihsan Zeidan, was taken by masked men in the early hours of March 7. "They took him purely because he's Alawite." All the witnesses who spoke to Reuters requested anonymity out of fear of reprisals. The neighbourhood of al-Qadam is well-known to be home to many Alawite families. In total, the witnesses said, at least 25 men were taken. At least 12 of them were later confirmed dead, according to relatives and neighbours, who said they either saw photographs of the bodies or found them dead nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rest of the men have not been heard from. Four of the witnesses said some of the armed men who came to al-Qadam identified themselves as members of General Security Service (GSS), a new Syrian agency comprising former rebels. A spokesperson for the interior ministry, under which the GSS operates, told Reuters the force "did not target Alawites directly. The security forces are confiscating weapons from all sects." The spokesperson did not respond to further questions, including why unarmed men were allegedly taken in these operations. Yasser Farhan, spokesman for the committee investigating the sectarian violence, said its work has been geographically limited to the coast, so it had not investigated cases in al-Qadam. "But there may be deliberations within the committee at a later time to expand our work," he told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alawites comprise around 10% of Syria's population, concentrated in the coastal heartlands of Latakia and Tartus. Thousands of Alawite families have also lived in Damascus for decades, and in provincial cities such as Homs and Hama. CYCLE OF IMPUNITY Human Rights Watch researcher Hiba Zayadin called for a thorough investigation of the alleged raids, in response to Reuters' reporting. "Families deserve answers, and the authorities must ensure that those responsible are held accountable, no matter their affiliation," she said. "Until that happens, the cycle of violence and impunity will continue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four of the men confirmed dead in Damascus were from the same extended family, according to a relative who escaped the raid by hiding on an upper floor with the family's young children. They were Mohsen Mahmoud Badran, 77, Fadi Mohsen Badran, 41, Ayham Hussein Badran, a 40-year-old born with two fingers on his right hand, a birth defect that disqualified him from army service, and their brother-in-law Firas Mohammad Maarouf, 45. Relatives visited the Mujtahid Hospital in central Damascus in search of their bodies but staff denied them access to the morgue and referred them to the GSS branch in al-Qadam, the witness said. An official there showed them photographs on a phone of all four men, dead. No cause of death was given and none could be ascertained from the images, the relative said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official told the family to collect the bodies from the Mujtahid hospital but staff there denied they had them. "We haven't been able to find them, and we're too scared to ask anyone," the relative told Reuters. Mohammad Halbouni, Mujtahid Hospital's director, told Reuters that any bodies from al-Qadam were taken directly to the forensic medicine department next door. Staff there said they had no information to share. The interior ministry spokesperson did not respond to questions about whether the forces at al-Qadam station were linked to the deaths. Sharaa has announced the dissolution of all rebel groups and their planned integration into Syria's restructured defence ministry. But full command-and-control over the various, sometimes rival, factions remains elusive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four other men seized the same night were found in an orchard near al-Qadam, with gunshot wounds indicating they were killed "execution-style," according to a second resident, who told Reuters the family swiftly buried the bodies. Reuters was unable to confirm independently the details of her account. Another set of four men were confirmed dead by their relatives, who received photographs of the bodies on messaging platform WhatsApp on Thursday, nearly three weeks after they were taken. The pictures, reviewed by Reuters, depicted four men on the ground with blood and bruises on their faces. One of them was identified by the relative as Samer Asaad, a 45-year-old with a mental handicap who was taken on the night of March 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of those seized remain missing. They include university student Ali Rustom, 25, and his father Tamim Rustom, a 65-year-old retired maths teacher, two relatives told Reuters. "We have no proof, no bodies, no information," one said. 'ALL I WANT IS TO LEAVE' A relative of Rabih Aqel, a mechanic, said his family had inquired at the local police station and other security agencies but were told they had no information on Aqel's whereabouts. She drew parallels with forced disappearances under Assad, when thousands vanished into a labyrinthine prison system. In many cases, families would learn years later their relatives had died in detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and the other witnesses said they have not been approached by the fact-finding committee. Farhan, the committee spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday its members had interviewed witnesses in several coastal districts and had two more cities there to visit. All the witnesses said they felt under pressure to leave al-Qadam specifically because they were Alawite. Some already had. One young resident said armed men had come to his home several times in the weeks after Assad's ouster, demanding proof the family owned the house and had not been affiliated to the ousted Assad family. He and his family have since fled, asking Sunni Muslim neighbours to look after their home. Others said they had stopped going to work or were only moving around in the daytime to avoid possible arrest. Another woman in her sixties said she was looking to sell her house in al-Qadam because of the risks her husband or sons would be taken. "After what happened, all I want is to leave the area." (Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Timour Azhari and Feras Dalatey; Editing by Daniel Flynn) By Marisa Taylor, Jeffrey Dastin WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration has directed two intelligence agencies to train their satellite surveillance capabilities on the U.S.-Mexico border region as part of a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration and drug cartels. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which are part of the Department of Defense, oversee spy satellites and analyze imagery for the Pentagon and other intelligence organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their engagement, coupled with troop deployments, shows increasing militarization of the southern border, where President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency. Reuters could not determine whether the effort, which has not been previously reported, would gather imagery of U.S. territory. Asked by Reuters about their roles in border surveillance, the NGA said it had created a task force to coordinate its "support to the U.S. border mission," while the NRO said it was partnering with the intelligence community and Pentagon "to secure U.S. borders." Their participation is in response to sweeping executive actions by Trump aimed at stopping unauthorized border trafficking and crossings, as well as deporting those in the United States illegally estimated to be up to 14 million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House and Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment. Trump made immigration enforcement a central part of his campaign that catapulted him to the presidency on Jan. 20. While the government has deployed artificial intelligence and drone surveillance at the border for years, the latest initiative seeks to expand the use of military capabilities generally built for conflict overseas. The government could use AI to identify objects or persons of interest by sifting through satellite images and other data feeds, much like the Defense Department can do on the battlefield, said two sources familiar with the initiative. Though Reuters could not determine the exact scope of this effort, the new focus on the border could force the administration to grapple with safeguards against collecting intelligence on Americans, three experts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While laws generally restrict U.S. spy agencies from surveilling citizens and other legal residents, they allow immigration authorities to conduct physical searches "within a reasonable distance from any external boundary of the United States." Regulations have defined this as 100 air miles from the border an area including cities such as San Diego and El Paso. "If they follow the law, these agencies should only collect on the other side of the border in foreign territory," said Paul Rosenzweig, a lawyer who specializes in national security and privacy law. "But how they implement that, and if they do, are legitimate oversight questions." A spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the government's lead unit for integrating spy efforts, told Reuters that all intelligence activities are "legal and authorized" and conducted "in a manner that protects the civil liberties and privacy of U.S. persons." The NGA and NRO declined to detail what they are collecting and whether such surveillance could include U.S. territory, citing the need to protect operational details. The NGA works on a wide array of efforts including mapping features of the Earth and informing commanders of the exact location of U.S. forces and adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters could not ascertain whether any other U.S. intelligence agencies would be involved in the effort. The Central Intelligence Agency has no role in domestic immigration enforcement. "Once foreign criminals are inside the United States, they are not within the purview of the CIA," a third source said. 'DIGITAL WALL' The Trump administration has elevated border security in its ranking of national intelligence priorities, allowing the government to direct more resources to it, one of the sources said. In a separate annual threat assessment released Tuesday, the U.S. intelligence community ranked transnational criminals such as drug-trafficking organizations among top national security threats listed above those posed by North Korea, Iran and other foreign adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the National Security Council, an interagency group that advises the president on a range of defense and foreign policy matters, has received daily briefings on immigration detentions numbers, including the arrest of unaccompanied children, according to internal government documents reviewed by Reuters. Multiple defense contractors - new and legacy ones alike - are in talks with various government agencies to aid the border-security work, building on existing deals they have, said the two sources aware of the initiative. The contractors' work would require navigating legal boundaries, including creating security policies to prevent unlawful checks on Americans, the sources said. Industry software also could connect sensor towers to satellite and drone video feeds showing at-risk areas, and then AI could flag leads to authorities, these sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A digital wall to augment the borders physical one would be the goal, said one of the sources. For instance, data analytics provider Palantir powers the so-called Maven Smart System for the Pentagon, via contracts it won last year valued at about $580 million. Maven pulls together data and uses AI to speed up target identification for intelligence analysts. Palantir has long worked with the Department of Homeland Security as well. Anduril, a defense tech startup, designs sensor towers and related software. Last fall, the company announced it had deployed 300 autonomous versions of these towers for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, detecting and tracking objects of interest through radar and other technology. In recent months, Palantir, Anduril, Elon Musk's SpaceX and other newer contractors have discussed a consortium to jointly bid for U.S. defense deals and outcompete the Beltway's legacy players, according to a source familiar with the matter. Palantir and Anduril spokespeople declined to comment. SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting By Marisa Taylor and Jeffrey Dastin; Editing by Kenneth Li and Michael Learmonth) By Michael Erman, Maggie Fick and Lisa Baertlein NEW YORK/LONDON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Some drugmakers are taking the unusual step of sending more medicines by air to the U.S., two executives and two logistics firms said amid fears President Donald Trump's April 2 tariffs announcement could include products made in Europe. Two European-headquartered drugmakers told Reuters this week they are sending as much of their medicines across the Atlantic as possible over the past several weeks and heard other pharmaceuticals companies were doing the same. One of the executives said his company was "scenario planning" for possible tariffs and shipping more medicines by air using global cargo and transport firms including the United Parcel Service Inc and Germany's DHL. He declined to give more specific details. A source at a third international drugmaker said they were quickly moving in available stock from overseas in an effort to get ahead of tariffs, but didn't specify the shipping method. DHL said it had seen a rise in pharmaceutical exports by air from Europe, but did not give a reason for the increase. UPS declined to comment. FedEx did not directly address the issue. Pharmaceutical products have long been spared from trade wars due to the potential harms. But Trump's move to increase tariffs on goods from China, including finished drugs and raw ingredients, as well as an early round of tariffs between the U.S. and EU on goods like steel and bourbon, has raised expectations that medicines will join the list. The U.S. depends on medicines partly produced in Europe that bring in hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue. Concerns about potential pharma tariffs began before Trump took office in January after he threatened universal import tariffs during his campaign. He has since repeatedly threatened a 25% tariff on pharmaceutical imports and on goods from the EU. Kuehne and Nagel said it has seen "a couple" of larger pharma shipments to the U.S. - including by air - but it was too early to say whether it was related to tariffs. Sending goods by plane is quicker than by sea, but significantly pricier. Companies typically use air freight for rare-disease medicines and vaccines which have shorter shelf lives. The recent volume being transported in planes was above average, the sources said. The second executive at a drugmaker said his company was "stockpiling" in the United States, the pharma industry's biggest market worth about $630 billion, a step aimed at easing the immediate blow of tariffs if they are implemented. Bali has introduced a series of new guidelines for tourists in a bid to clamp down on inappropriate behaviour. Authorities say the strict measures aim to safeguard the Indonesian islands cultural integrity and sacred sites. The rules cover clothing and behaviour when visiting temples and religious complexes, including prohibiting menstruating women from entering. The mayor has warned that some transgressions could be met with legal consequences under Indonesian law. New guidelines to regulate foreign tourists while in Bali The new regulations were issued by Bali governor I Wayan Koster on 24 March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, Koster said. The guidelines focus on ensuring respectful behaviour when visiting sacred sites and enforcing the payment of Balis tourist levy. They also oblige tourists to use licensed guides and accommodation, follow traffic laws and exchange currency at authorised outlets. I am implementing this circular as an immediate measure to regulate foreign tourists while they are in Bali, Koster added. New rules ban inappropriate photos and single-use plastics The new rules require tourists to wear modest and respectful clothing and to behave respectfully whether at religious sites, restaurants, shopping areas, or public roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors are banned from swearing, 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. Other outlawed activities include entering sacred temple areas without permission, littering, and working without permits. Related Single-use plastics, including plastic bags, styrofoam, plastic straws, and plastic-packaged drinks, are also banned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the new guidelines, 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. In addition, foreign visitors are not permitted to enter sacred temple areas unless they are worshippers wearing traditional Balinese attire. The directive adds that menstruating women are also prohibited from entering these areas. Tourists are also not allowed to climb sacred trees or monuments or take inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites. Tourists who fail to pay visitor levy face legal consequences Last February, Bali introduced a one-time entry fee of 150,000 Indonesian rupiah (9) for international visitors to fund conservation efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the new guidelines, 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. Recently, Balinese officials floated a daily tourist tax similar to the $100 (95) Sustainable Development Fee that Bhutan charges most international visitors. We expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them The directive comes just a few days before Nyepi - a sacred holiday known as the day of silence - on 29 March. The festival sees the island come to a standstill for 24 hours, requiring everyone, including tourists, to stay indoors. We have prepared a special team to conduct an operation. Foreign tourists who are naughty will be immediately dealt with firmly, Koster was quoted as saying by local newspaper The Bali Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the islands civil service police unit will be monitoring tourist behaviour and ensuring compliance with the new regulations. Bali is a beautiful, sacred island, and we expect our guests to show the same respect that we extend to them, Koster said. HONOLULU(KHON2) The Maui doctor accused of trying to murder his wife on a Pali hiking trail has been charged with attempted murder in the second degree according to Honolulu Police Department. 79-year-old man dies in Kaimuki fire; residents displaced HPD said 46-year-old Gerhardt Konig attacked his wife along the Pali Puka trail, hit her in the head several times with a rock and tried to push her off the trail Monday morning, which was her birthday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources said the wife told police Konig tried to inject her with syringes filled with an unknown substance. 10 things the uber wealthy do and dont do Konig then took off, launching a manhunt, that shut down the popular Pali lookout, for hours. He was finally captured after a foot chase around 6:30 p.m. along Nuuanu Pali Drive. Attorney and legal expert Alexander Silvert said attempted murder in the second degree is the most serious crime prosecutors could charge Konig with in this case. He couldnt be charged with first degree, cause first degree has a list of the type of victim that has to be and so if youre not that type of victim, then second degree is the highest, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Silvert, if convicted, Konig would face life in prison with the possibility of parole. What does the prosecution need to prove in this case? KHON asked. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Theyre going to have to prove that this wasnt an accident, that he intended to cause the death of his wife, and it can be either intentionally or through recklessness, Silvert replied. Often times, the defense will claim they didnt do it. Silvert said thats not likely to happen here. Yeah, that would seem to be a difficult defense in this case, given that there are witnesses, and given that his wife has survived, has already made a statement of what occurred, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Silvert said forensic evidence will be crucial in this case. Without it, the defense will likely push for a lesser charge. Its going to be very important to prove that this was not a mistake, it was not an accident. She didnt slip and fall and hit her head on a rock. KHON also asked whether Konig being a doctor had any bearing on the case. Silvert said if the prosecution can prove that Konig tried to inject his wife with syringes it would prove premeditation and his medical background could come in to play. And he said there is one other way Konigs defense could try to for a lesser charge. He would have to be under extreme mental or emotional distress in order to convince a jury to drop the charge down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Konig is being held on $5 million bail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Akash Sriram, Arsheeya Bajwa (Reuters) -As the global auto world reeled from the potential fallout of U.S. President Donald Trump's new auto tariffs, one name stood out as less affected than others - electric-vehicle maker Tesla. Shares of the Texas-based company were the rare automaker to trade in the green in U.S. action on Thursday, as analysts said the EV maker's supply chain and financial performance may not be as affected by the wide-ranging levies that will impact global shipments of both cars and car parts to the United States. This is mainly due to the company's largely domestic production and supply chain. Still, that relief in the United States, where Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become one of Trump's primary advisers, may not improve the brand's reputation worldwide. The billionaire CEO, who heads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has been tasked with swiftly cutting federal spending. Tesla shares have plunged more than 40% since peaking in mid-December as a protest movement against the EV company has erupted in the U.S. and around the world as DOGE has drawn heavy criticism for going after federal workers. Tesla's models are relatively old and competition has been increasing. The stock closed 0.4% higher on Thursday, as shares of General Motors lost 7.4%, Ford Motor closed down nearly 4% and Stellantis shares lost 1.3% in U.S. trading. Automakers' shares generally fell on expectations that the 25% tariffs will disrupt the global automotive industry, raise the cost of vehicles in the United States and pinch earnings. While Tesla does import some parts from around the world, it is less dependent on foreign components than other automakers selling in the United States. All of Tesla's U.S.-sold vehicles are made in the United States, whereas Toyota imports 55% of vehicles sold in the United States, and GM imports 48% of vehicles for its U.S. sales, according to research from Bernstein. Many of the imports are from Canada and Mexico. A Bernstein analysis published on Thursday estimated that 61% of Tesla's U.S.-sold vehicle content comes from the United States, with 22% coming from Mexico, 7% from Canada and 3% from China. It described Tesla as the industry outlier on tariff impacts. "With near-total U.S. sourcing, the company not only avoids pain but stands to gain margin as competitors raise prices," Bernstein analysts wrote. Trump said the duties announced on Wednesday could be net neutral or even good for Tesla, adding that Musk did not advise him regarding auto tariffs. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) The latest Tennessee Department of Health data show drug overdoses claimed 270 lives in northeast Tennessee in 2023, a 2.3% increase from the year before, despite the first statewide decrease in years. https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/northeast-tn-overdose-deaths-up-tennessees-down/ The increase of six from 264 in 2022 was due to Sullivan County, where the overdose death toll rose by 16, and Greene County, which rose by 9. Deaths decreased in Carter, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties. East Tennessee State University Addiction Science Center co-director Angela Hagaman told News Channel 11 that could be for a multitude of reasons Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything from changes in supply and now were seeing a good bit of Xylazine showing up and were not testing for that, Hagaman said. Maybe in some ways our testing capabilities havent maybe caught up to new trends in the drug supply. The new figures show East Tennessee has a 40% higher overdose death rate than either Middle or West Tennessee. Hagaman said that despite the uptick in the 2023 data, the area is trending in the right direction. 10 to 15% decrease across the nation, Hagaman said. So they are dramatically going down and the spike in overdoses were related to fentanyl. First it was prescription opioids, then it was heroin, and then it was fentanyl. So these are all opioid derivatives that are driving the numbers up. So keep doing what were doing, continue to pay attention to the supply side and the demand side and be on the lookout for new problems, new supply, new drugs. Again, sort of paying attention to keeping our society healthy so that access to the new thing isnt the easiest thing to do. Craig Forrester is the program director at Recovery Resources. He said it would take the entire health care community coming together to fix the drug problem in our region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How can we work together to best serve the people so that the numbers will decrease? Forrester said. And my hope is and my belief is this time next year, when they release the 2024 numbers, I believe you will see a decrease in especially the fatal overdoses in our region. Hagaman said that based on hospital and Intercontinental Marketing Statistics data, she believes the number of deaths related to fentanyl use was down in 2024 and they will drop even more in 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Current and former government officials are alarmed by the use of a commercial encryption platform by senior members of President Donald Trumps administration to discuss sensitive and potentially classified national security matters. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and other participants in a Signal groupamong them Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratclifffeerred in treating the platform as a secure venue to discuss internal policy deliberations, never mind possibly secretive military planning, these officials say. Opinions vary on whether the Signal chat, initiated by Waltz to discuss preparations for a since concluded U.S. military strike on Yemen, exposed classified information by inadvertently including a journalist. I dont personally use Signal. Blue bubbles on iMessage is just about as secure as Signal, which is to say not perfectly secure, a Republican government official who has focused on national security issues told The Dispatch this week after the journalist mistakenly included in the Signal group chat, The Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg, reported details of the conversation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Republican, requesting anonymity to speak candidly, is a Trump administration supporter who emphasized Signal is commonly used by many government officials in both political parties, including by Democrats while serving in former President Joe Bidens administration. But the advice this official gives to others regarding commercial messaging applications and platforms is: Dont write things down that could embarrass you or disclose sensitive matters. The White House is denying that classified information was discussed during the Signal chat in question. Yet in a statement provided to The Atlantic in response to additional reporting from Goldberg that could contradict that claim, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conceded information in the Signal exchange was delicate and unfit for public view. 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, Leavitt said. 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 particulars of what government information is, or is not, classifiedand which methods of communicating are permitted to discuss classified informationcan be complex. Different government agencies may issue competing guidance. Additionally, presidents generally have the authority to classify or declassify government information as they see fit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conversation that took place over several days leading up to the March 15 strike on Yemen ordered by Trump to incapacitate Houthi terrorists who have been attacking Israel and disrupting Middle East shipping lanes. The senior Trump administration officials who took part in the exchange include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Steve Witcoff, Trumps Middle East envoy and chief Russia-Ukraine negotiator. John Bolton, former ambassador who served as White House national security adviser during Trumps first term, is baffled that officials so high up the chain of command did not object to using Signal and did not (apparently) think to use a secure government platform. Bolton, fired by Trump in 2019 after the two clashed over administration policy, said doing so is no different than then-Secreatary of State Hillary Clinton using a private email server for government communications during the Obama administration. Every one of those participants should have known they shouldnt be on Signal. And yet for the entire life of that group chat, nobody raised it, which in turn causes people to ask the question: Is this the first time they did it, or did they do it otherwise? Bolton said. The idea that youd set up anything on a commercial channel, whether its encrypted or not, is a nonstarter, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Capitol Hill, Democrats have been highly critical, with Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona calling on Hegseth to resign. Conversely, most Republicans are defending the administration, saying the uproar over the Signal chat is overblown. That is despite The Atlantics follow-up story that included specific information on battle plans and timing for the Yemen strike Goldberg viewed in the group chat. The Atlantic had originally withheld those details to protect U.S. national security and, presuming they were classified, to avoid breaking federal law that prohibits the disclosure of such information. But the Trump administrations own executive branch agencies have warned of the dangers of using Signal to communicate sensitive information. The National Security Agency warned employees against using Signal back in February, CBS News reported Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Pentagon warned employees on March 18 to avoid using Signal. Per a memorandum first reported by National Public Radio, the platform was vulnerable to Russian hackers and unsuitable for use, whether for classified or non-classified information. Some top administration officials who joined the Signal group chat argued Wednesday that reporters and media outlets who oppose Trump were intentionally mischaracterizing both the danger of using Signal, and the information discussed, in an effort to undermine the president politically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very clear Goldberg oversold what he had, Vance insisted in a post on X, Elon Musks social media platform. This only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an attack plan (as he now calls it), Hegseth said also on X. Not even close. Waltz said much the same on the social media platform. No locations; no sources & methods; NO WAR PLANS. (Trump is expressing support for all officials involved and, at least publicly, downplaying the episode as inconsequential.) Many attorneys who specialize in national security law disagree with the administrationand did so even prior to Wednesdays reporting of the more sensitive military planning details for the Yemen strike. Thats because the officials on the group chat were debating the wisdom of Trumps decision to authorize the attack; expressing contempt for U.S. allies and how eliminating the Houthi terrorists might impact American foreign policy down the line. Information like this can be considered classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the description of the information and what it revealed, it would be difficult to believe this information would not be considered classified, said Mark Zaid, an expert on national security law who periodically represents government whistleblowers in cases having to do with classified material. While the participants are now denying the classified nature of the information, to me this appears to be an after-the-fact reaction designed to cover up their obvious mistakes. Zaid said theres also the matter of the Federal Records Act and Presidential Records Act, both of which require administration employees to preserve official communications. Signal has a feature that allows users to designate text conversations for automatic deletion after a specified period of time. According to The Atlantic, the messages appeared set to disappear after anywhere from one to four weeks. But like others The Dispatch interviewed, it was the decision to use Signal in the first place that seems the most concerning, running afoul of typical best practices to maintain operational security, or OPSEC. It is unbelievably poor OPSEC, Zaid said. 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. India has produced over 1.1 billion tons of coal in the current fiscal year, according to The Tribune. To experts, this isn't an achievement it's a threat to India's future. What happened? This milestone comes 11 days before the fiscal year ends, beating last year's production of just over 1 billion tons. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) celebrated by writing, "A Proud Moment for India! Crossing the monumental milestone of 1 Billion tonnes of coal production is a remarkable achievement, highlighting our commitment to energy security, economic growth and self-reliance. This feat also reflects the dedication and hardwork of all those associated with the sector." A Proud Moment for India! Crossing the monumental milestone of 1 Billion tonnes of coal production is a remarkable achievement, highlighting our commitment to energy security, economic growth and self-reliance. This feat also reflects the dedication and hardwork of all those https://t.co/K8sHQssLHq Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 21, 2025 Coal remains the backbone of India's energy system, powering about 55% of its energy needs and generating roughly 74% of its electricity, per The Tribune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The publication further reported that G Kishan Reddy, union minister of coal and mines, said India ensured sustainable and responsible mining alongside the massive production. "This achievement will fuel our increasing power demands, drive economic growth, and ensure a brighter future for every Indian," Reddy said. Why is record coal production concerning? While this marks an economic milestone for the world's fifth-largest economy, increasing coal use poses challenges for an overheating planet. Coal burning releases heat-trapping pollution that warms the atmosphere, leading to more extreme weather and threatening homes, health, and livelihoods. The push for more coal comes as many countries try to move toward cleaner options like solar and wind power. India's growing energy demands present a tricky balancing act between short-term energy security and long-term environmental health. Clean-energy advocates were quick to reply to the prime minister's post on X, with Dr. Farrukh Shamim (@mmalikx7) writing, "Coal is bad for environment.. we all need to switch to renewable energy sources This is not something to celebrate." What's being done about coal dependence? India has set ambitious renewable energy targets alongside its coal expansion. Reuters detailed that the country plans to install 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, which would help reduce its reliance on coal over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Indian states are building large solar parks and wind farms. Homes and businesses can help by installing rooftop solar panels, which would reduce electricity bills while supporting cleaner energy. Installing energy-efficient appliances and LED lights can cut electricity use at home. Even small steps like turning off unnecessary lights and unplugging devices when not in use reduces demand on the coal-powered electric grid. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods unexpectedly rose in February as businesses rushed to avoid potential price increases from tariffs, likely boosting capital expenditure in the first quarter. But the report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday did not change economists' expectations that economic growth was slowing considerably in the first quarter as businesses and households grapple with a fluid import duty environment. President Donald Trump has announced a blizzard of tariff actions since taking office in January. Economists have warned that the manner in which the tariffs are being handled was not supportive of economic activity. "There is tremendous uncertainty coming from Washington, but companies are not just holding their breath waiting for the other tariff shoe to drop, they are actively ordering up more equipment to beat the price increases once the trade war sanctions jack up the cost of the goods and materials they need to even higher levels," said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS. Orders for durable goods, items ranging from toasters to aircraft meant to last three years or more, increased 0.9% after advancing by an upwardly revised 3.3% in January, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast durable goods orders would fall 1.0%. Primary metals orders rose 1.2%, while those for fabricated metal products rebounded 0.9%. Electrical equipment, appliances and components orders jumped 2.0%. Economists attributed the rise in orders for these goods to front-loading ahead of tariffs, adding that trade policy uncertainty and higher borrowing costs remained constraints for manufacturing, which accounts for 10.3% of the economy. Trump has imposed a new 20% duty on all imports from China and 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico that are not compliant with a North American trade agreement. The U.S. president has fully restored 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada, Mexico, EU and other countries, and next week is set to announce higher U.S. "reciprocal tariffs" to match the duty rates of trading partners and offset non-tariff barriers. Trump also has said that he will soon impose sectoral tariffs on imported autos, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. "The demand data show conditions are not fueling a broad and sustained recovery in capex spending," said Shannon Grein, an economist at Wells Fargo. "Small business intentions around capital spending remain historically low as many businesses, like the Fed, are sitting and waiting for clarity." Indiana ranks among the nation's worst states for laser pointer strikes against aircraft, according to a new report from the Federal Aviation Administration. The same commercially available laser pointers used as toys or tools can temporarily blind pilots when beamed up at the sky, endangering airline passengers and bystanders on the ground alike, the FAA has long warned. Shining a laser at an aircraft is also a federal crime, carrying up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on top of state and local penalties. The FAA, too, can levy fines of more than $30,000 for repeat violators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, pilots reported more than 12,800 laser strikes to the FAA - a slight decrease from the previous year, but still unacceptable, according to the FAA. Indiana had the eighth-highest number of reported laser strikes among all states. Of the 512 strikes reported in state's skies, nearly three quarters came from Indianapolis, according to FAA data. FAA: You could go to jail if you aim a laser pointer at a plane Top states for laser strikes in 2024 California : 1,489 Texas : 1,463 Florida : 810 Tennessee : 649 Illinois : 622 Arizona : 550 New York : 531 Indiana : 512 Georgia : 416 Virginia: 415 How to report laser strikes Anybody who sees someone aim a laser at an aircraft should contact both the FAA and local law enforcement, the agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, 2025 has been a dramatic year for aviation. In January, 67 people died when a Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger plane over Washington, D.C. Two days later, a small medical transport plane crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood, killing seven. On Feb. 17, more than 20 people were injured when a Delta flight from Minneapolis landed upside down at Toronto's airport. Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: More than 500 aircraft were struck with lasers in Indiana last year Claim: Televangelist Kenneth Copeland collapsed in a courtroom after a judge sentenced him, and/or he received a sentence of life imprisonment. Rating: Rating: False Context: In early 2025, AI-generated YouTube videos claimed to report two events: that Copeland collapsed in a courtroom "after hearing his sentence" and that he received a sentence of life imprisonment. Both were fictional. In February and March 2025, YouTube users published videos about U.S. televangelist Kenneth Copeland that claimed he had collapsed in a courtroom "after hearing his sentence" and that he had received a sentence of life imprisonment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, these rumors were untrue. The videos featured artificial intelligence-generated editing, voice narration and scripting common tools for fictional content creators seeking YouTube advertising revenue. Furthermore, considering Copeland's status as a prominent, long-time TV evangelist, news media sources would have presumably reported on the alleged scenarios if they had actually happened. However, searches of various sources including Bing News, DuckDuckGo, Google News, and Yahoo located no evidence of the 88-year-old televangelist "collapsing" in front of a judge or receiving a life sentence in prison. Kenneth Copeland Ministries has not yet responded to a request for comment on the false rumors. Copeland has been the target of controversy before. In 2011, a group of U.S. senators released findings of an investigation into the financial practices of Kenneth Copeland Ministries (as well as other televangelists), as reported by outlets including CBS News and NBC News. No persons or ministries received any penalties as a result of the investigation. Rumor about Copeland collapsing in court Between Feb. 23 and March 15, numerous YouTube videos displayed the false title, "Kenneth Copeland COLLAPSES In Court After Hearing His SENTENCE." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, on March 2, the YouTube channel The Goateus published a video that has received more than 190,000 views as of this writing. The clip features a doctored thumbnail image of CNN host Anderson Cooper supposedly reporting on Copeland, "Breaking News: Copeland Goes Crazy!" The fake picture depicts Copeland wearing an orange jumpsuit while presumably lying in a courtroom. (CNN did not report any such news.) The clip's description read: Kenneth Copeland, a beloved TV personality and outspoken voice, found himself in the middle of a shocking and unforgettable moment. Today, the courtroom, usually filled with the hum of legal jargon and calm deliberation, suddenly grew tense as the judge prepared to deliver the sentence. As Copeland stood there, his face a mix of anticipation and dread, no one could have predicted what was about to unfold. The words that followed seemed to freeze the air, heavy with the gravity of what was being said. In an instant, his expression changed from shock to something far more alarming. The video's narration falsely claimed a judge had sentenced Copeland to "20 years in federal prison." Claim about Copeland receiving life sentence On March 24, the YouTube channel niwra published a video (archived) titled "Kenneth Copeland Sentenced To Life Imprisonment, Goodbye Forever." Within three days, the video had received around 250,000 views. Similar to the videos about Copeland supposedly collapsing in court, the niwra clip featured AI-generated editing, voice narration and scripting, as well as a doctored thumbnail image designed to appear as if Fox News reported on Copeland receiving a life sentence. (The Fox News website featured no such stories about Copeland.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AI-generated narration began as follows: Kenneth Copeland, one of America's wealthiest and most controversial televangelists, was sentenced to life imprisonment today after a stunning trial that exposed decades of financial fraud and tax evasion. The 87-year-old founder of Kenneth Copeland Ministries showed no emotion as Judge Martin Reynolds delivered the maximum sentence, effectively ending the preachers empire that once spanned continents and reached millions of followers worldwide. A reverse-image search of the image of the man supposedly portraying "Judge Martin Reynolds" in the video located a genuine picture hosted by Getty Images. However, that photo did not show a judge but rather a former British official, Martin Reynolds. He served as principal private secretary under former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The generative AI tool that helped create the misleading video possibly automatically selected the picture from Getty Images' library of licensable images due to the judge's name in the fake story ("Judge Martin Reynolds"). For further reading, a previous fact check examined the claim that Copeland once said a "civil war" would unfold if U.S. President Donald Trump lost the 2016 election. Sources: Chamberlain, Dale. "Kenneth Copeland, 88, Predicts the Date of His Own Death, and It Isn't Anytime Soon." ChurchLeaders, 19 Dec. 2024, https://churchleaders.com/news/502651-kenneth-copeland-88-predicts-the-date-of-his-own-death-and-it-isnt-anytime-soon.html. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Google Lens - Search What You See." Google Lens, https://lens.google/. Grassley, Charles. "Letter to Kenneth and Gloria Copeland." NPR.Org, 5 Nov. 2007, https://media.npr.org/documents/2007/nov/grassley/copeland.pdf. Homepage | Kenneth Copeland Ministries. https://www.kcm.org/. "Investigation Of 2 North Texas Ministries Released." CBS News, CBS Texas, 6 Jan. 2011, https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/investigation-of-two-north-texas-ministries-released/. "Martin Reynolds." Gov.uk, https://www.gov.uk/government/people/martin-reynolds. "Martin Reynolds, Principal Private Secretary to British Prime..." Getty Images, 1 Dec. 2020, https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/martin-reynolds-principal-private-secretary-to-british-news-photo/1229889160. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simmons, Lynda F. "Senate Finance Committee, Minority Staff Review of EAGLE MOUNTAIN INTERNATIONAL CHURCH d/b/a KENNETH COPELAND MINISTRIES." CBS News, https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/i/cbslocal/wp-content/uploads/sites/15909545/2011/01/emic-copeland-01-5-11.pdf. Zoll, Rachel. "Televangelists Escape Penalty in Senate Inquiry." NBC News, 7 Jan. 2011, https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40960871. Claim: A photo authentically shows a mugshot of a man crying following an arrest for vandalizing a Tesla dealership. Rating: Rating: Miscaptioned A rumor that users shared online in March 2025 claimed a photo showed a mugshot of a man arrested for vandalizing a Tesla dealership. The mugshot displayed a label for the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department in Wisconsin. For example, beginning on or around March 19, several users shared the mugshot on Facebook, iFunny, Instagram, Threads and X. Some posts featured the image caption, "One of them arrested for vandalizing a Tesla dealership. Is anyone surprised?" Another X user also posted (archived) the photo with the caption, "Legit, this is one of the Tesla vandals arrested and having his mugshots taken. This is beautiful!" However, the arrest of the man depicted in the mugshot had nothing to do with vandalizing a Tesla dealership, nor did his arrest occur in 2025. That man's arrest, occurring on May 28, 2016, in Sheboygan, included charges of first degree sexual assault and carrying a concealed weapon, according to the Sheboygan Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheboygan County Sheriff Matthew Spence said by email: "The photo is a Sheboygan County booking photo, but there is no connection to the allegations that the photo and arrest are connected to Tesla vandalism." Tesla has not responded to a request for comment. The name of a Facebook user who possibly originated the misleading rumor appeared in an X post screenshot (archived). A search of that Facebook user's profile located no such post, indicating they likely deleted it. The photo users shared displayed a watermark for Facebook user @jonke_memes, who posted a different meme with the mugshot picture on March 19. That meme did not mention Tesla. Several aforementioned social media users, including @jonke_memes, have not respond to requests for comment. Tesla protests, vandalism, violence and fluctuating stock prices The misleadingly captioned mugshot photo circulated widely in the early months of 2025, a time featuring no shortage of news about the electric vehicle maker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following U.S. President Donald Trump's reelection victory, he announced the appointment of Tesla CEO Elon Musk to "lead" the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, tasked to find and "reduce waste, fraud and abuse." Months later, officials with Trump's White House claimed Musk served as Trump's adviser and not an administrator for DOGE. After Inauguration Day, anti-Trump activists organized numerous repeated demonstrations near Tesla dealerships and other company-related properties to protest the actions of the administration and Musk. At a March 22 protest near a Tesla dealership in Palm Beach County, Florida, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for allegedly driving a car at a slow rate of speed into the path of demonstrators. The driver did not strike anyone with his vehicle, and police charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, per ABC News, citing police. Separate from the organized demonstrations, news media outlets also reported several alleged incidents of vandalism and violence against Tesla. On March 18, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement about the attacks, calling them "domestic terrorism." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the protests, violence and actions announced by Trump's administration and DOGE, Tesla's stock experienced losses that wiped out strong post-election gains. The company's stock has since regained some ground. For further reading, previous reporting examined a rumor that police and SWAT teams were guarding Tesla car dealerships in the U.S. amid the protests targeting Musk. Sources: "Attorney General Bondi Statement on Violent Attacks Against Tesla Property." United States Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, 18 Mar. 2025, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-bondi-statement-violent-attacks-against-tesla-property. Bedayn, Jesse. "Man Drives Car into Protesters Outside a Tesla Dealership, Nobody Hurt, Sheriff Says." The Associated Press, 23 Mar. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/musk-doge-tesla-trump-protest-car-9c93cf15d863359730298f2729319810. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christensen, Laerke. "What to Know about Rumors Police in US Are Guarding Tesla Dealerships amid Attacks." Snopes, 21 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//news/2025/03/21/police-tesla-attacks/. Colombo, Madison. "Disabled Tesla Owner Targeted in Vandalism, Says Anti-Musk Protesters Are Just 'Hurting Families.'" Fox News, 26 Mar. 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/media/disabled-tesla-owner-targeted-vandalism-says-anti-musk-protesters-just-hurting-families. Cooper, Jonathan J., and Gene Johnson. "Violent Attacks on Tesla Dealerships Spike as Musk Takes Prominent Role in Trump White House." The Associated Press, 19 Mar. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/tesla-vandalism-musk-trump-domestic-extremism-7576c03393a733eaf34b793e86ad1a6f. @DOGE. "DOGE Is Looking for Help from the General Public!" X, 16 Feb. 2025, https://x.com/doge/status/1891288881674240070. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferre, Ines, and Laura Bratton. "Tesla Stock Tumbles over 15%, Wiping out Post-Election Gains as Demand Worries Continue to Weigh." Yahoo Finance, 10 Mar. 2025, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-stock-tumbles-over-15-wiping-out-post-election-gains-as-demand-worries-continue-to-weigh-161337256.html. Flosi, Nic. "Cook County Woman Allegedly Vandalized Tesla Service Center in Suburb." FOX 32 Chicago, 17 Mar. 2025, https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/buffalo-grove-woman-arrested-tesla-service-center-vandalized. Forrester, Megan. "Florida Man Arrested after Driving Car into Protesters at Tesla Dealership: Police." ABC News, 24 Mar. 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/US/florida-man-arrested-after-driving-car-protesters-tesla/story?id=120094773. Gutierrez, Lisa. "Teen Charged with Sexual Assault Mocked for Weepy Mugshot." The Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2016, https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article81616787.html. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isidore, Chris. "Tesla's Stock Is Making a Comeback. But It's about to Face a Massive Challenge | CNN Business." CNN, 26 Mar. 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/26/business/tesla-shares-rebound/index.html. Ngowi, Rodrique, and Jonathan J. Cooper. "Anti-DOGE Protests at Tesla Stores Target Elon Musk's Bottom Line." The Associated Press, 2 Mar. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-tesla-protests-doge-3b3eba9313074ccf8e959a92486d900f. "Party Leads to Alleged Sexual Assault." Sheboygan Press, 1 June 2016, https://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/2016/06/01/party-leads-alleged-sexual-assault/85238638/. Ratcliff, Jude. "Police Arrest Texarkana Man for Tesla Vandalism Spree." CBS19.tv, 26 Mar. 2025, https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/local/texarkana-man-vandalizing-tesla-vehicles/501-6e160667-0a07-4df8-abdf-2f00961bee71. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement @realDonaldTrump. "I Am Pleased to Announce That the Great Elon Musk, Working in Conjunction With..." Truth Social, 12 Nov. 2024, https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113472884874740859. Walrath-Holdridge, Mary. "Molotov Cocktails, Gun Used to Destroy Tesla Cars at Las Vegas Facility, Police Say." USA Today, 18 Mar. 2025, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/18/tesla-attack-las-vegas/82521717007/. Whitehurst, Lindsay. "White House Says Elon Musk Is Not in Charge at DOGE, but Is Advising the President." The Associated Press, 18 Feb. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-white-house-layoffs-0fcdbb692717c63203ef971cb9807b35. Claim: In response to a question about whether he was considering compensation for Jan. 6, 2021, rioters, U.S. President Donald Trump said, "There's a lot of talk about that [] a lot of people in government really liked that group of people. They were patriots as far as I was concerned. I talk about them a lot. They were treated very unfairly." Rating: Rating: Correct Attribution In March 2025, a claim that U.S. President Donald Trump was considering compensation for the Jan. 6, 2021, rioters was shared widely online. Trump's purported comments supporting this compensation emerged months after he pardoned all Jan. 6 rioters who were convicted of a criminal offense for their actions that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to one X post: Trump says he's considering compensation for Jan. 6 rioters he pardoned: "They were patriots as far as I was concerned. I talk about them a lot. They were treated very unfairly." Compensation for people who beat cops. This is insane. Trump says hes considering compensation for Jan. 6 rioters he pardoned: They were patriots as far as I was concerned. I talk about them a lot. They were treated very unfairly. Compensation for people who beat cops. This is insane. pic.twitter.com/qvJavwLwFf Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 26, 2025 The above quote is authentic. Trump said many people in the government, including himself, were considering some form of compensation for the Jan. 6 rioters who had been treated "unfairly." He did not, however, commit to a timeline or specify what that compensation would look like. As such, we rate this claim as a correct attribution. Trump was responding to a question during an interview with Newsmax host Greg Kelly on March 25, 2025. The full transcript of the conversation is below: KELLY: Is there any talk of because they [the Jan. 6 rioters] lost opportunity, they lost income any kind of compensation fund [for them]? TRUMP: Well, there's talk about that. We have a lot of people talking about that. A lot of people in government talk about it because a lot of people in government really liked that group of people. They were patriots as far as I was concerned. I talk about them a lot. They were treated very unfairly. A full clip of the exchange is on Newsmax's official X account. The conversation takes place at the 2:40 mark: President Trump addresses the latest on the case of Ashli Babbitt, the Trump supporter who was shot and killed at the Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, rips the police shooting, the overall treatment of now-pardoned defendants, and the actions of the former House J6 select committee. pic.twitter.com/kPXPyGVuJT NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) March 26, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same interview, Trump also said he was a "big fan" of Ashli Babbitt, a woman who was fatally shot by a police officer as she attempted to climb through a window inside the U.S. Capitol. Trump said: "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." He added that he was going to look into Babbitt's case as well as the status of the officer who shot her. Trump also maintained that the protesters had assembled "peacefully and patriotically" that day. In January 2025, Trump issued pardons to almost 1,600 people prosecuted for the attempted insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. These included hundreds of rioters who had been convicted of attacking police, destroying property and carrying firearms, as well as members of the Proud Boys white nationalist group who were convicted of seditious conspiracy. Sources: Dreisbach, Tom. "Criminal Records of Jan. 6 Rioters Pardoned by Trump Include Rape, Domestic Violence." NPR, 30 Jan. 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/01/30/nx-s1-5276336/donald-trump-jan-6-rape-assault-pardons-rioters. Accessed 27 March 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green, Erica L. "Trump Administration Considers Money for Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioters." The New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/us/politics/trumo-jan6-rioters-compensation.html. Accessed 27 March 2025. Starcevic, Seb. "Trump Floats Possibility of Compensation for Jan. 6 Rioters." Politico, 25 Mar. 2025, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/25/trump-floats-possibility-of-compensation-for-jan-6-rioters-00250063. Accessed 27 March 2025. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Theres a push in Northern Virginia to increase how much money recently fired federal workers get paid while on unemployment. It comes at the same time as we could see a hike in unemployment benefits for all Virginians. The Fairfax County supervisors who sent a letter to Gov. Glenn Youngkin and democratic leaders said Virginias unemployment payouts are behind D.C. and Marylands, and with many federal workers now applying for those benefits, they say now is the time to take action. The repercussions of these job losses are far-reaching, said Fairfax County Board Chair Jeff McKay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats bringing fired federal workers to Trump speech McKay and his colleague James Walkinshaw led several of their board colleagues in proposing, and sending, a letter. In it, they describe the help the workers are getting through unemployment claims as meager. What Virginia offers today doesnt allow families to pay their mortgage, doesnt allow families to pay their groceries, doesnt help those small businesses who rely on those federal employees and contractors as customers to stay open, Walkinshaw said. In Virginia, unemployment benefits are capped at $378/week. In Maryland, its $430/week. In D.C., its $444/week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walkinshaw said what makes federal workers claims unique is that they are reimbursed by the federal government, making now a good time to increase the amount. Cherry blossoms near peak bloom at the Tidal Basin It costs the Commonwealth of Virginia nothing to increase the maximum unemployment benefits for these federal employees, he said. The letter outlined potential improvements. Improvements could include dedicating a portion of the Commonwealths surplus to provide an additional $600 per month to those affected by these federal cuts, mirroring the supplemental benefits extended during the COVID-19 pandemic, it reads. This benefit should extend to all Virginia residents impacted by federal cuts, including part-time, self-employed, and gig workers, and those whose place of employment is outside of Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Virginia General Assembly recently approved a measure that would have increased everyones unemployment benefits by $100/week. The governor sent the bill back, amending it to a proposed $52/week increase. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Children of Southeast Asian veterans and others who endured hardship as a result of the Vietnam War and broader conflict in Laos and Cambodia are asking Minnesota lawmakers to do more to recognize their families sacrifices. For years, Cambodians, Vietnamese and Lao people in Minnesota have said theyve struggled to get specific recognition in state cultural program funding. Bana Soumetho, who was born in a refugee camp in Thailand to a family that fled Laos during the Vietnam War and Secret War in their home country, is working with a group of veteran and refugee descendants to change that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These communities have contributed tremendously to this state, yet we are perplexed as to why their stories would be largely unrecognized and absent from official recognition, she said during a Wednesday Capitol news conference announcing their new push. We are the last generation with direct ties to these heroes who are aging members of our community. Now is the time. Secret War During the 1960s and 1970s, many ethnic groups across Southeast Asia found themselves drawn into a U.S. war against Communist forces within and beyond the borders of Vietnam. Many faced persecution by their governments as a result, with many hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes and eventually ending up in the U.S. A large number of refugees ended up in Minnesota. There are now more than 90,000 Hmong people in Minnesota after the first refugee arrivals in 1975. Many Hmong people fought for the U.S. during the Secret War, a CIA-led campaign against Laotian communists and the North Vietnamese in Laos that sought to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a supply line for the north into South Vietnam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, they arent the only group affected by the conflict with a large presence in the state. Around 33,000 Vietnamese, 16,000 Lao and 12,000 Cambodians also live in Minnesota many from refugee families fleeing the consequences of war in Southeast Asia. Soumetho said the state should do more to honor people who fought with the U.S. and had their lives uprooted as the U.S. withdrew from the region. The new push comes as the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon approaches and time runs out to honor aging veterans and others, backers say. Fallout from war The fall of South Vietnams capital city on April 30, 1975, marked the end of the Vietnam War, but the regional fallout lasted for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phouthaivanh Wilkerson, who arrived from Laos in the fall of 1979, shared a story of hearing gunfire as she and her family fled communist soldiers when she was a child and later boarding tiny boats with other refugees. Her family decided to leave the country after her father, a police official, was imprisoned and executed. This brief version of my story is very tiny compared to our story, she said. The struggles that I faced as a 5-year-old seeking safety came as a result of the actions of our elder veterans that they took in support of the United States during the Vietnam War the struggle for recognition is still ongoing and is just remains as real as ever. A bill the group hopes will gain traction in the Legislature seeks to honor Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese Minnesotans contributions to state and national history by specifically requiring state grant money for programing commemorating the 50th anniversary to include them. Half a million dollars from the states Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund would go to the Minnesota Humanities Center to support programming to document, preserve and promote the three groups cultural contributions. The centers board would work with the states Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans to ensure equity and community-informed decision making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House versions chief author is Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia, who spoke in its favor at the news conference ahead of a hearing before the House Legacy Finance Committee on Wednesday. Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, is the main author in the Senate. The bill met some resistance from Hmong lawmakers on the committee, which held it over for possible inclusion in a future larger bill. Rep. Samantha Vang, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and Rep. Ethan Cha, DFL-Woodbury, said the state already appropriates money to Southeast Asian groups for a similar purpose and questioned why backers such as the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans hadnt reached out about the bill before Wednesdays hearing. I think this false narrative of us versus them or resistance is not true at all, Vang said in an interview after the hearing. We actually gave everybody funding. Funding issues In committee, Nash noted the Lao community was given around $40,000 in funding of several hundred thousand dollars appropriated in the last budget, and the Cambodian and Vietnamese received none. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Vang said the Legislature doesnt have the final say on grant money and that smaller organizations may have a harder time applying for state dollars. Vang told Nash shed be happy to work with him and other groups on the bill, and suggested specifically listing all four ethnic groups, possibly in separate bills. It is absolutely important that we continue to honor them, Vang said. In the past, Cambodians, Lao and Vietnamese have had disagreements with the states Hmong community over how and who should be recognized in state grants. Last year, emotions ran high at a House committee hearing for a bill to appropriate some money to Southeast Asians and another sum specifically to Hmong Americans, according to House Public Information Services. At that hearing, the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, a state agency, questioned the decision not to specifically mention other groups involved in Vietnam. Related Articles MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Walmart's Mexico unit said on Thursday it would invest more than $6 billion in the country this year, around triple its planned spending from the year before. The funds will go toward opening new stores and to continue construction on two distribution centers, according to the firm. Mexico City-listed shares climbed more than 2% on the announcement. Speaking virtually from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's daily press conference, Walmex Chief Executive Officer Ignacio Caride said the investment would create 5,500 direct jobs. Walmex, which operates Walmart and Sam's Club stores in Mexico as well as low-cost supermarket chain Bodega Aurrera, is one of the nation's largest private employers. The group had earmarked just around $2 billion in spending for 2024. Walmex executives will host an investor's day later on Thursday in which they will give more detail on planned spending. (Reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Additional reporting by Kylie Madry; Editing by Stefanie Eschenbacher and Sarah Morland) An Orange County family is mourning the loss of a beloved mother and grandmother who deputies said was the victim of domestic violence. According to Orange County deputies, Takeshia Renee Eads was shot and killed in West Orange County on Tuesday. The Orange County Sheriffs office arrested Eads husband 41-year-old Lamar Bryant on first degree murder charges for her death. On Wednesday, Eads family told Channel 9 she leaves behind 4 children and 5 grandchildren, plus a church community where she was very active. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was God first, her kids, and her family. She would give the shirt off her back to anybody, said Eads eldest daughter, Cordeja Paige. As the family grieves, Paige is sharing a warning to victims of domestic violence, asking them to leave when they can. Its not going to get better. So, it doesnt matter how much you love the person or how much you feel like the person is going to change, its not going to happen. And if you do have kids, think about your kids first, said Paige. Paige is hoping her mothers story can help other victims of domestic violence. According to national statistics, 1 in 3 women and 1 and 4 men experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizations like Harbor House of Central Florida exist to help victims make a safety plan. CEO of Harbor House of Central Florida, Michelle Sperzel said every year her organization helps about 5,000 Orange County residents who are experiencing abuse. According to Sperzel, people who contact Harbor House are 99 percent more likely to survive their domestic violence relationship. If someone is fearful of their life, and they know that something has changed, or they are saying to themselves, if I dont leave now, he is going to kill me or she is going to kill me. That is exactly why our emergency shelter is there, said Sperzel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organizations emergency shelter houses about a thousand individuals annually. You can contact Harbor House 24/7 through their hotline at (407)-886-2856. Help is also available any time of day via the national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-safe. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. DENVER (AP) A 69-year-old man slowly suffocated to death in a rural Colorado jail after his ribs were broken in an altercation with a deputy and he languished in a cell for a week without medical care, according to a lawsuit announced Thursday. Michael Burch's 2023 death was ruled a homicide. Prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges against the deputy who used a Taser on Burch and wrestled with him in a Huerfano County jail cell. In making the decision, District Attorney Henry Solano cited self-defense laws. An autopsy found six of Burchs right ribs had broken and his right lung collapsed. He wasnt taken to a hospital but instead was transferred to another cell where he was found dead seven days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The simple act of breathing became so painful as Mr. Burchs shattered ribs continued to pierce and tear through his organs that his body stopped using his right lung, which shrank to half the normal size, lawyers for Burch's estate said in the federal lawsuit. Defendants in the case include the Huerfano County commissioners, sheriffs office, individual sheriffs officials, paramedics and the hospital they worked for, as well as nurses and the nonprofit company contracted to provide health care to inmates. The lawsuit accuses them of causing Burchs fatal injuries and not doing anything to treat them, violating his constitutional rights. A lawyer representing the county and sheriff's office, Eric Ziporin, declined to comment. Representatives of the hospital and the health care company declined comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the family's lawyers, Qusair Mohamedbhai, said Burch's relationship with his children had been strained by his mental health problems, but they had hoped he would have a relationship with his grandchildren. Now they have nightmares about how painful their father's final days must have been. This is Gulag-type behavior that simply should not exist anywhere, he said. Burch was tackled after he refused to drop a pencil he had been given. A deputy warned him Drop it or well drop you, according to body camera footage. Once the Taser was used, Burch rushed toward the deputy and the video, which becomes obscured, shows him going to the ground near a steel bench with his arms held by the deputy. The lawsuit says Burch was tackled into the bench, which broke his ribs. Burch, a former California prison guard, was arrested on March 25, 2023, after a series of erratic acts, including driving to the home of two strangers and swinging a rubber mallet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the lawsuit, his mental health was not evaluated when he arrived at the jail, although video shows sheriff's official signaling he was mentally unstable by stirring her finger next to her head after he was hit with the Taser and tackled on March 28, 2023. The inmate screamed and moaned as the deputy used a knee to keep Burch on the ground when he was accused of resisting. Later he appeared calmer as paramedics evaluated him. He said his ribs had been crushed and he wanted to go to the hospital, but family members allege in their lawsuit that the paramedics did not evaluate his chest. Body camera footage shows one paramedic briefly lifting up Burch's shirt, but the lawsuit said no one listened to his lungs with a stethoscope or took vital signs. After Burch told a sheriff's captain that he barely survived the night on April 1, 2023, he was seen over video by a contracted nurse in Mississippi, who did not ask to see Burch's chest, the lawsuit said. Instead, it described the interaction as focused on Burchs mental health. Three days later, he was found dead on the concrete floor of his cell. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The road for justice continues for the family of slain U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique Kiki Camarena forty years later. The family is suing the Guadalajara Cartel members responsible for his murder after President Donald Trump designated cartels as terrorist organizations. This is happening at the same time Rafael Caro Gallardo, one of the cartels leaders, is facing federal murder charges. My brother was out here, trying to do good and get rid of these marijuana fields, but it continued and it continued and these cartels still to this day continue, said Myrna Camarena. Is there ever going to be an end? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retail theft bust at Las Americas outlet mall leads to 80 arrests Camarena, Kikis sister, said that the lawsuits goal is justice for her brother. In 1985, her brother was kidnapped, brutally interrogated and murdered by the Guadajalara Cartel. Camarena was also working for the DEA when her brother was kidnapped. She said it was a Sunday when her boss knocked on her door and broke the news that her brother was missing. He says, Your brother has been taken. He didnt use the word kidnapped. He used the word taken. I said, What do you mean? Hes a policeman. He cant be taken. He can defend himself,' Camarena recalled. Hes been kidnapped, he says. And I dont remember that I fainted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A month later, she got the news that Kikis body was found. He was found next to the pilot who flew him over a marijuana field operated by the Guadalajara Cartel to collect evidence. For Camarena, the discovery of her brothers body was the start of a road to get justice for her brother. Why him? What did he do other than his job? said Camarena. Three cartel leaders were held responsible for Kikis death, Miguel Angel Felix-Gallardo, Ernesto Fonseca-Carillo and Caro Quintero. The family filed a lawsuit against all three and the Sinaloa Cartel last week, seeking compensation for substantial physical, emotional and psychological damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as Caro Quintero is facing federal charges for Kikis murder. Reports say he could face the death penalty. We have waited 40 years for this. 40 years and hes finally here, said Camarena. Its something she says her mother wouldve loved to have seen. New bill to limit federal district judges When my mother was on her death bed she said, I wish I could be here when hes arrested and brought to the us. But she didnt make it, she said through tears, so that makes it even harder. She said that when Quintero was expelled to the U.S., she prayed and told her mom that she had gotten her wish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kikis death has not been in vain. Since his passing, his life has been honored every year in October at schools around the country with Red Ribbon Week, where students pledge to be drug-free. There is also a school named after him in Chula Vista. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. The 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned against "the fires of antisemitism" in Western Europe at a conference on Thursday overshadowed by a boycott by several Jewish speakers over the presence of a number of right-wing and far-right European politicians. The conference in Jerusalem, organized by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, was billed as a "shared dialogue on addressing contemporary antisemitism". But it was shunned by several speakers, including the head of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, and French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy who announced they would not attend because of the presence of speakers, who included Jordan Bardella, from France's National Rally party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several attended a separate event on antisemitism hosted by Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, on Wednesday. Netanyahu said antisemitism was growing in European capitals, the Western press and social media and in elite U.S. universities. "It must be resolutely fought by civilized societies to protect their futures." Several speakers drew a connection between what Netanyahu called "the systematic alliance between the ultra-progressive left and radical Islam" and several speakers praised and thanked U.S. President Donald Trump. Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli welcomed members of the European parliament, including Bardella, who described his party as "the best shield for our Jewish compatriots". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party, formerly known as the National Front, has long made efforts to shed the racist and antisemitic image associated with its founder, the late Jean-Marie Le Pen, who once described the Nazi Holocaust as a "detail of history". In a keynote speech, Bardella said the fight against anti-Jewish hate was a "head-on, moral and political fight". "We must tirelessly recall that anti-zionism is very often an alibi for antisemitism which is the ideology of those who cannot endure the existence of a Jewish nation," he said. Chikli said far-right and right-wing politicians from the European parliament, including Bardella, had faced "lies spread against them by those who slander the State of Israel worldwide." (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Ros Russell) TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A crash between a vehicle and a bicycle kills one, and closes down a busy road near I-4, The Tampa Police Department announced. Police responded to 50th Street around 7 a.m. in regards to a crash involving a vehicle and bicycle. The person on the bicycle was pronounced dead at the scene, TPD said. The woman driving the car remained at the scene during the investigation. TPD said the southbound lanes of 50th Street from Melbourne Boulevard to I-4 are currently closed during the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) The FBI announced Thursday that a top MS-13 gang leader was arrested in Northern Virginia. During a press conference, officials confirmed that FBI agents took the gang leader into custody in the Dale City area in Woodbridge on Thursday morning. According to the Associated Press, 24-year-old Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos was detained on an administrative immigration warrant and has been charged with illegal gun possession. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said that the man was from El Salvador and was one of the top three leaders of the MS-13 gang operating in the East Coast region. She stated that he is behind several violent crimes and was recruited into the gang at a young age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada changes rules for residents traveling to United States They [MS-13 gang] are one of the most dangerous gangs in our country, and we are going to fight until they are completely dismantled in Virginia, said Bondi, He was one of the top members, top three in the entire country, head of the east coast one, she continued. Anything you can associate with MS-13, he was the leader over it. According to court doucments, illegal guns, ammunition and suppressors were recovered at the Dale City home. Interim U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert said an operation was launched on March 3 combining federal, state and local resources to identify and arrest the most violent gang offenders in the Eastern District of Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that in less than a month, the task force identified 575 targets and arrested 342 people. We dont plan on stopping until all of these violent gang members are off of the streets, said Siebert during the press conference. Kash Patel, the Director of the FBI, said the arrest was a team effort between state and local partners and agents. This is a massive victory for a safer America, wrote Patel in a post on X. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EDITORS NOTE: An earlier version of this story misstated the day the arrest took place. We regret the error. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) The San Francisco office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted the local field office of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in the arrest of an alleged MS-13 gang member Wednesday morning. According to the FBI, Salvadoran national Santos Rodriguez-Aleman was arrested in San Francisco. Business owner has work van ransacked in driveway of Antioch home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez-Aleman, who the FBI said was a member of the notorious gang, has a criminal history that includes convictions in El Salvador for trafficking drugs and firearms, and homicide. The bureau did not immediately provide any additional details regarding the arrest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. After launching investigations into the diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices of Comcast and Verizon, the Federal Communications Commission is setting its sights on Disney next. FCC chairman Brendan Carr told Punchbowl News hes putting the finishing touches on a letter to the ABC parent company. He declined to reveal which specific DEI initiatives he was concerned with, but said the letter would outline similar concerns raised with Comcast and Verizon and whether theyre engaged in any of this sort of DEI discrimination that could run afoul of our EEO rules or potentially our public interest standard. Were going to get to the bottom of everything that is ongoing here and stay tuned on that one, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives for the FCC and Disney did not immediately return TheWraps request for comment. Carrs latest shot at Disney comes after he penned a letter to CEO Bob Iger earlier this year, warning that he would be monitoring the companys carriage negotiations with local broadcast TV stations. At the time, he accused ABC of attempting to extract onerous financial and operational concessions from local broadcast TV stations under the threat of terminating long-held affiliations, which could result in blackouts and other harms to local consumers of broadcast news and content. The FCC also reinstated a news distortion complaint against ABC affiliate WPVI-TV over the networks fact-checking of Donald Trump during a presidential debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the interview with Punchbowl, Carr also reiterated his previous threat to block M&A for any company that embraces DEI policies. Any company that wants to get a transaction approved by the FCC, we have to make a finding that approving the transaction will serve the public interest. I have a hard time seeing a path forward for a company thats promoting these invidious forms of DEI discrimination for the FCC to get a yes, he said. And so what Ive suggested to regulated companies not just ones that are looking to do deals before the FCC but all businesses regulated by the FCC is I suggest that they get busy ending their promotion of DEI. If any particular business is not sure whether that applies to them, they should let me or my office know. Like Verizon, like Comcast, well send them a letter and let them know exactly what we have in mind, he added. Disney previously said it would end its Reimagine Tomorrow initiative, which is aimed at promoting stories from underrepresented groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the companys shareholders voted to reject a proposal that wouldve ended Disneys involvement in the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index, a survey that measures corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality, at its annual meeting. Disneys board recommended against the proposal and its shareholders overwhelmingly agreed, with only 1% voting in favor, according to a preliminary tally. Shares of Disney have fallen 16.7% in the past year and 9% year to date, but are up 4.8% in the past six months. The post FCC to Investigate Disney Over DEI Practices appeared first on TheWrap. Spotsylvania County officials spent years preparing for data center development before approving millions of square feet of the facilities that serve as the heart of the internet. But county leaders continue a struggle to develop data center project standards and requirements without losing the lucrative industrys interest in Spotsylvania. After a public hearing and lengthy discussion Tuesday night, the Board of Supervisors deadlocked on requiring special-use permits for data centers in the countys Industrial, Office, Commercial, Resort Commercial and Village districts, meaning the measure failed. The board eventually voted to have staff develop a definition for data centers, which will allow the county to establish standards for future development of such facilities. County staff have already developed preliminary guidelines on a definition of data centers and ensuing standards and regulations, which include such things as buffers from residential areas and building height limits. But more details are needed before the county establishes data center specific standards, something the supervisors and staff discussed during Tuesdays meeting. It was determined that county staff will bolster the definition and standards, which will be sent back to the Planning Commission before the supervisors again address the issue. While the county has planned for data centers for years and continues to develop its approach to managing the growing industry, numerous projects are approved and more are in the pipeline. So far, the county has approved Amazon-related data centers that cover 10 million square feet and more than 1,000 acres. Other potential data center projects could be developed on another 353 acres in the county. There are other pending projects that could result in data center buildings totaling more than 16 million square feet on more than 1,200 acres. Also, there are another 3,452 acres of by-right data center potential on industrial zoned land. On Tuesday the board was working an issue it addressed in January before passing it to the Planning Commission. The planning commission recently recommended approval of a zoning change requiring special-use permits in the commercial, office and village districts but not industrial districts. Much of the boards Tuesday discussion focused on establishing a definition and standards for data centers. Supervisor Jacob Lane (Livingston District) made a motion to approve the special-use requirement in commercial, office, village and industrial districts. The measure failed in a 3-3 vote. Supervisors Gerald Childress, Drew Mullins and Kevin Marshall voted against the motion, while Chris Yakabouski, Jacob Lane and Lori Hayes voted for approval. Supervisor Deborah Frazier was absent. The supervisors eventually voted 6-0 to have staff develop specific definitions of data centers, and include with that standards and regulations. Once staff has developed the guidelines, the Planning Commission will consider them for a recommendation. Then the matter will return to the supervisors. While the county lacks a definition of data centers as well as specific development standards, such facilities fall under the Office district designation, which has regulations. The data center projects the county has approved underwent an extensive rezoning process, which includes public hearings. But currently the county has scant requirements specifically regarding data center developments. One data center regulation, under the office district guidelines, requires a 35-foot buffer between developments and residential properties. The only current by-right regulation specifically for data centers is a parking space limit for employees. Before the supervisors discussed and voted on the issue there was a public hearing, during which 19 people spoke. Residents overwhelmingly supported the ordinance requiring the special-use permits for data center development. Three people spoke against the ordinance. County resident David Goosman supported the code amendment, saying as of now data centers can be built by-right in the county, opening up too many areas to such development. As you know data centers can be built by-right in multiple zoning districts, he said. That means a large data center could move in next to a residential neighborhood with little to no community involvement. Thats really not how good government should work, and its really not how you want to maintain trust with the people you serve and represent. Goosman said a special-use permit requirement would give the county the authority to manage where data centers are built. He also pointed out that the county uses special-use permits for many other businesses. The residents who spoke against the special-use permits said such an ordinance is too much regulation of a private industry and something that could scare off potential data center developers. Two of the speakers were residents not involved with the industry. But one speaker, local attorney Charlie Payne, has been a high-profile figure representing data center developers in the Fredericksburg-area. Payne has represented Amazon in its Spotsylvania data center developments. He pointed out that data center developers had to undergo a rigorous rezoning process to gain approval in Spotsylvania. Payne added that data centers need to be built in certain areas, which limits where those developments can happen. The attorney also highlighted data center revenue, which is immense and something that has enticed Spotsylvania and many other Virginia localities to embrace the industry. Spotsylvania Planning Commission member Scott Phelps (Lee Hill) was another speaker during the public hearing, and he contradicted those who claim special-use requirements would push data center developers to other localities. Phelps listed several Northern Virginia counties (Prince William, Loudoun, Fairfax) that have instituted SUPs or similar ordinances, and that hasnt scared them away. After the public hearing, the supervisors dug into a lengthy discussion on data center development and how to handle future growth. Hayes (Lee Hill) said instituting a special-use requirement isnt a strike against data centers, but instead a way to approach such development wisely. She noted that Loudoun County has eliminated the by-right option for data centers, something she supports. This is not about being short-sighted, Hayes said. This is about being very aware of what the future looks like for us. Supervisor Mullins (Courtland) said SUPs have their advantage, such as providing information and allowing public input, but he thinks that approach is a guessing game. Mullins said the county should focus first on developing guidelines, saying standards and requirements should be established for applicants so they know what theyre walking into when they come to our county. Supervisor Childress (Chancellor) said he understands and agrees with the impetus on establishing standards and regulations. Yet he has an issue with the county inviting data center development and now moving to change the rules with the special-use permits. Chairman Yakabouski (Battlefield) pointed out that while concerns have been raised about adding regulations for data center developments other companies have gone through the countys strict rezoning process to gain approval of such developments. Yakabouski thinks the countys by-right use is something that we really need to take a look at because we dont really know what its going to look like with data center development. While the chairman said he supports the SUPs, he added that any data center regulations should be approached responsibly because we want them here. The chairman also warned that the county should avoid getting wide-eyed about the data center tax revenue to the point of ignoring proper standards, specifically any impacts to residents. Lane said data centers are here and added that he has supported and approved such developments. He also supports special-use permit requirements, and added that he doubts SUPs will dissuade data center developers from coming to the county. As an example, he cited a small, locally run private school that worked its way through an SUP, so he cant imagine major corporations would struggle to handle such regulations. Each project, he said, should be considered in a way that protects county residents. SACRAMENTO, California An ambitious California Democrat wants the world's fifth-largest economy to create its own National Institutes of Health and vaccine program, saying the state can't rely on the Trump administration to support research and science. A bill introduced in the California Senate on Thursday, shared first with POLITICO, would create a new state agency to fund the scientific research being slashed by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency as well as bolster the vaccine access being questioned by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. California is a global leader on science in our own right, and we must step in to protect our scientific institutions from the new Administrations anti-science, Make America Sick Again onslaught, the bills author, San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener, said in a statement announcing his proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For California to thrive, we must defend science, Wiener said. The move comes as California and other states gird for potentially massive cuts to health care and scientific research coming from Washington, and as a growing measles outbreak throws the administrations position on vaccines into question. President Donald Trump hasalready tried to slash $4 billion in NIH research grants, an effort which is currently tied up in court. Meanwhile, Kennedy has been raising concerns among other public health officials by promoting supplements like cod liver oil along with offering tepid directives for people to get vaccinated in response to the deadly measles outbreak that began in Texas. Wieners bill is also reminiscent of how California behaved during the first Trump administration, when Gov. Gavin Newsom moved to independently review Covid-19 vaccines amid public distrust of White House policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. tear apart federal science leadership, California must step up for science, said Wiener, whos widely believed to have his eyes on Nancy Pelosis House seat. California must lead. With Wieners bill, California could step in to fill both of those gaps. His proposal would create a new state agency the California Institute for Scientific Research that would provide grants and loans in several areas being targeted for cuts by Trump and Musk, including research in biomedicine, climate change, weather and drug safety. It also directs Californias existing prescription drug manufacturing and procurement program, called CalRX, to start working on vaccine access. Californias local public health departments already order thousands of doses of different vaccines every year through a central state procurement system called myCAvax, and it funds millions of dollars of research through the states public colleges and universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as Wieners office points out, much of the research being done at California institutions is federally funded, and if that money goes away, his bill would provide a way to backfill it. The proposal envisions grants targeted primarily to the research being cut at the federal level and disbursed to California-based companies, schools and nonprofits or out-of-state researchers collaborating with California scientists. And if federal support for vaccine production also wanes, the bill would direct CalRX to contract with manufacturers to purchase or produce its own label of vaccines, the way its currently doing to support naloxone access in combating opioid overdoses. During the last Trump administration, Newsom formed his own scientific advisory committee with the Democratic governors of other Western states including Colorado, Oregon, Nevada and Washington state to review the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines. They also agreed to review the science behind vaccine recommendations and stay-at-home orders themselves instead of relying on Trump. The bill is likely to face pushback from the states Republican minority, but the real uphill battle will come when theres a price tag attached to the proposal: The state is already grappling with proposed budget cuts in certain areas, as well as a shortfall for the state Medicaid program. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Federal agents stopped by an elementary school in D.C. and tried to detain a contractor, DC Public Schools (DCPS) said Wednesday. In a statement, DCPS said that personnel with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tried to detain a healthcare contractor that DC Health had assigned to HD Cooke Elementary School. Fairfax County calls for increase to unemployment benefits for fired federal workers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DCPS said that the HSI personnel were inside of the campuss parking lot. School administration, following protocol and guidance issued by the DC Office of the Attorney General, requested to see identification and a warrant, DCPS said in its statement. DCPS said that after the agents left, it contacted DC Health to follow up. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, HSI agents were present at the school unrelated to any kind of enforcement action. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. The Federal Bureau of Investigation released new video of agents raiding eight locations in Bartow County Wednesday. Agents suspect a business owner there brought hundreds of people to the U.S. from other countries and forced them to work at his factory in Cartersville with low pay and harsh conditions. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Deputies booked Zhu Chen into the Bartow County Jail Wednesday morning as the FBI, Homeland Security, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Bartow County Sheriffs Office searched his manufacturing business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Secretary of States website, Chen owns Wellmade. Its a flooring manufacturing company founded in 2019, according to licensing records. The conditions were terrible. The way they treated their employees was terrible, former employee Lacortney Ware said. Ware is a local who worked there until 2022. They had us cutting the flooring with our hands. So, we would leave with cuts on our hands. They didnt give us the proper gloves, Ware said. She was able to leave and transition to the nursing industry. Channel 2 Action News compared her descriptions to the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations records. Inspectors cited at least nine violations at Wellmade since 2022 like amputation and entrapment hazards, flying chips and sparks, and potential hearing loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To read the reports in detail, click here. Dave McCleary works for a metro Atlanta nonprofit that fights human trafficking named Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery. He said federal agents will try to connect workers from other countries to housing and legal aid. They try to get them help initially because they have been trafficked from other countries, and, most cases, theyre not criminals, McCleary said. They just were brought here for an unfair wage and a lot of cases not paid. The Department of Homeland Security did not elaborate on whether the workers will face deportation. Chen was still in jail Wednesday night. Channel 2 Action News reached out to attorneys connected to his company on the Georgia Secretary of State website to try to hear his side. We are waiting for a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Locals who used to work at Wellmade want to hear it. Everybody affected should take action, Ware said. Federal agents said once they finish gathering evidence, they will give it to the U.S. Attorneys Office, and staff there will decide whether to prosecute Chen. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) New federal court documents paint a clearer picture of how Abdul Mohammed, 32, allegedly convinced a Rapid City woman to give him more than $100,000 in money and gold. The federal case began with a series of threatening phone calls in September of 2023. The indictment says Mohammed and a woman posed as several different people including local law enforcement. In one of the calls, they allegedly demanded the victim send $10,000 to someone named Billy Parker at an address in New Jersey. The victim was afraid shed be arrested, so she withdrew money from her bank account and sent it. Prison task force plans to take public testimony Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That same day she got another call, from someone claiming to be with the Federal Trade Commission who said it was not enough money; and that she needed to convert $100,000 into gold at Dakota Gold & Precious Metals or she would be arrested. She was told to drop it in the backseat of an SUV. But it didnt end there. The victim received another call telling her to get $95,000 in gold coins at Riddles Jewelry. However this time Pennington County law enforcement was aware of the situation, intercepted the transaction, and arrested Mohammed. Mohammed was arrested on state charges in 2023 for the same incident. The most recent charges are federal charges. KELOLAND News spoke with the Pennington County Sheriffs Office following the 2023 arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is a pretty significant amount. Ive been in this business for a long time with law enforcement. And when I was doing property crime several years ago a large amount would be like, 15 to 20 or $30,000 range. So this is pretty significant. $100,000 is a lot, Sgt. Jason Mitzel, Criminal Investigations Division at Pennington County Sheriffs Office, said in 2023. After Mohammeds arrest, law enforcement learned that the other person involved was sending messages through WhatsApp about how to scam the victim. The other person charged was arrested in Massachusetts. Her case is also making its way through federal court. Both defendants are not residents of South Dakota. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A federal judge has again blocked Iowas ban on certain books from public school classrooms and libraries. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher ruled Tuesday that the ban on books depicting sex acts was likely unconstitutional and issued a preliminary injunction preventing its enforcement while the lawsuit against it continues, the Associated Press reports. The book ban is part of a broader dont say gay law passed by Iowas legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in May 2023. Two suits have been filed to challenge the law. Publishers and authors, including John Green and Jodi Picoult, and the Iowa State Education Association sued over the book ban, saying it went far beyond obscenity to prohibit any book with any description of a sex act for any age, according to the AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa Safe Schools, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ and allied youth, along with parents and children, challenged the entire law the book ban, restrictions on instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-6, and a provision forcing the outing of students who wish to change their names or pronouns. They are represented by Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Unions Iowa affiliate, and the law firm of Jenner & Block. In December 2023, Locher issued injunctions in both suits, blocking all provisions except the forced outing one. Last August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit overturned his rulings, lifted the injunctions, and sent the case back to Locher for application of what the appellate court considers the correct standards for reviewing the statute. In his Tuesday ruling, he said the book ban violates the U.S. Constitution under both legal standards the Court believes are applicable, the AP reports. He is expected to rule in the Iowa Safe Schools suit soon. Both are likely to be appealed again. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird vowed to keep on defending the law. This common sense law makes certain that the books kids have access to in school classrooms and libraries are age-appropriate, said a statement from Bird. Im going to keep on fighting to uphold our law that protects schoolchildren and parental rights." An Austin federal judge ruled Wednesday evening that sweltering heat in Texas prison cells is likely violating inmates constitutional rights, but he declined to order the state's prison system to install temporary air conditioning ahead of a trial. Months after state officials acknowledged that extreme temperatures contributed to at least three inmates' deaths, the judge's decision foreshadows a major ruling against the nation's second-largest prison system. The court will likely require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to fully air-condition its more than 100 facilities after a trial, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman warns in a 91-page ruling. Texas Department of Criminal Justice Director Bryan Collier is implored to "take to the necessary steps to be prepared for this result," Pitman wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This case concerns the plainly unconstitutional treatment of some of the most vulnerable, marginalized members of our society," Pitman wrote in the order, which said scorching-hot cells likely violated inmates' Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment. Pitman found that Texas prisoners "experience irreparable harm" while climate control remains out of reach. However, he wrote, ordering the system to install temporary air conditioning would delay a permanent solution, as temporary and permanent air conditioning are different technologies. "The Court acknowledges that Plaintiffs experience irreparable harm while Collier works to provide permanent air conditioning," the ruling reads. But "ordering Collier to expend limited resources on temporary relief does not serve the public interest nor the ultimate interests of either party." Inmate Bernie Tiede, well known as the subject of the 2011 Richard Linklater movie "Bernie," filed the lawsuit against Collier and the TDCJ in August 2023 after suffering an acute medical crisis in a cell where staff members had recorded a temperature of 112 degrees just days earlier. In April 2024, advocacy groups joined the lawsuit to expand it to all Texas prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs are asking the court to require the state to maintain cell temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees, a similar range as Texas jails and federal prisons are required to maintain. The complaint argues that Collier and the TDCJ have turned a blind eye to the dangers of heat in one of the hottest regions of the country, leaving prisoners to be cooked to death in cells without temperature controls. In a July hearing, former inmates testified about being in survivor mode and watching eggs cook in cells where temperatures routinely exceed 90 degrees, sometimes skyrocketing into the 100s. Nearly 70% of cells in the state prison system lack air conditioning, according to the court filing. Collier also acknowledged in the hearing that heat was a factor in three inmates deaths from multiple causes in 2023 and admitted that prison guards, staff members and inmates continue to fall ill from heat exposure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Witnesses testify in first day of Texas prison heat lawsuit: 'I was in survivor mode' Prison inmate Bernie Tiede filed the lawsuit over hot conditions in Texas prisons in August 2023 after suffering an acute medical crisis in a cell where staff members had recorded a temperature of 112 degrees just days earlier. The state disputes both allegations, with Collier saying he shares the goal of installing air conditioning and that he "used his credibility with the Legislature" to obtain $85 million in additional maintenance funding in 2023. The TDCJ has put that funding toward installing more air conditioning units. Collier has said the department's goal is to have all prisons climate-controlled. Collier in July pinned the blame for continued overheating in facilities on Texas lawmakers, saying the Legislature hasnt given him nearly enough money to cool prisons. On the state's current trajectory, it would take at least 25 years to ensure all cells are climate-controlled, which is "insufficient under the Eight Amendment," Pitman found in Wednesday's ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit comes after years of legal actions against the state over inmates' heat-related injuries and deaths, and many changes to the system have come about as a direct result of litigation and advocacy from prison groups. One is the implementation of heat scores, which use an algorithm to determine whether an inmate is entitled to a climate-controlled cell for medical vulnerabilities. Austin-based civil rights attorney Jeff Edwards, part of a team of lawyers representing the inmates, began fighting the TDCJ's lack of air conditioning after 10 inmates died of heat strokes over the 2011 summer. He told the American-Statesman that the Wednesday ruling should push state officials, like Gov. Greg Abbott and Collier, to take action. But he doesn't have much hope. "There's a dangerous condition that the Texas prison system and Director Collier know about, that Gov. Abbott knows about, and that they do not care about," Edwards said in a phone interview with the Statesman on Wednesday night. "They know they're killing people, and, where I come from, that's unconscionable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to a Statesman inquiry about the court's findings, TDCJ spokeswoman Amanda Hernandez said the agency is "fully committed to the safety of the inmate population and our staff." "That commitment is reflected in TDCJs ongoing efforts to install air conditioning, identify inmates who are heat sensitive, and implement heat mitigation protocols," Hernandez wrote in an email Thursday afternoon to the Statesman. She also said the agency "appreciates and respects" Pitman's decision to deny a preliminary injunction. Pitman's order suggests he expects Collier to seek funding for additional air-conditioning units during this year's legislative session. It also mentions proposals from two Democratic lawmakers, House Bill 2997 and HB 1315, which would require air conditioning at all state prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Considering these bills and Colliers representations that he moves in good faith towards permanent air conditioning, it remains at the forefront of the Courts mind that Plaintiffs, Collier, and members of the legislature are striving for the same end," the ruling said. Hernandez said TDCJ "very much appreciates the past and planned support of the Legislature in making funding available to continue TDCJs ongoing installation of air conditioning in more units and housing areas." A trial will be scheduled in the future. "The state has a choice to make: Either they do what they need to do in order to protect people and not violate constitutional right of the inmates, or lose, and be ordered to do so," Edwards said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're done asking the state to do the right thing," he said. "It's time now for the federal courts to tell the state they need to do the right thing." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Federal judge: Extreme heat in TX prisons is likely unconstitutional Housing Texas prison inmates in sweltering facilities that lack air conditioning is plainly unconstitutional, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said Wednesday in a groundbreaking, 91-page ruling. The judge declined to order the Texas Department of Justice to immediately install temporary or permanent air conditioning, instead forcing the plaintiffs to move towards a trial. Pitman wrote that the case will likely move to a bench trial and that the plaintiffs and defense must submit a proposed timeline for legal proceedings by April 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Marci Marie Simmons, who was previously incarcerated and is among the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, called the decision a win and said she hopes the ruling pushes state lawmakers to fund prison air conditioning. At least five bills, including House Bill 2997 and House Bill 1315, have been filed this session that would require state prisons to be equipped with air conditioning, but none of the bills have received a hearing yet. This is a federal judge saying Texas is unconstitutionally housing people in these dangerous and deadly temperatures, Simmons said. I cried. I cried for my people on the inside. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said the agency "appreciates and respects" the federal court's decision to not require immediate installation of air conditioning. "TDCJ is fully committed to the safety of the inmate population and our staff, and that commitment is reflected in TDCJs ongoing efforts to install air conditioning, identify inmates who are heat sensitive, and implement heat mitigation protocols," the statement read. "TDCJ also very much appreciates the past and planned support of the Legislature in making funding available to continue TDCJs ongoing installation of air conditioning in more units and housing areas throughout the TDCJ system." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The background: About 85,000 Texas prison inmates reside in facilities that do not have air conditioning in most living areas. During the summer, high temperatures can create dangerous conditions that have been exacerbated in recent years by climate change. At least 23 individuals died from heat-related causes in TDCJ prisons between 1998 and 2012, according to court documents. According to a 2022 study, 14 prison deaths per year are associated with the heat. And a Texas Tribune analysis found that at least 41 people died in uncooled prisons during a record-breaking heat wave last year. Autopsy reports for several prisoners who died in uncooled cells mention heat as a possible cause of death, KUT reported. But a criminal justice agency spokesperson told the news organization that underlying medical conditions, not heat, caused those deaths. During an August 2024 court hearing, prison officials admitted that extreme heat contributed to those inmates deaths but said heat was not the only culprit. The state agency has previously been sued over the extreme heat in uncooled cells. In 2018, the agency reached a settlement with inmates in a class action lawsuit and agreed to install air conditioning in one notoriously hot prison called the Wallace Pack Unit, a geriatric prison. Sick or elderly prisoners were also moved into cool housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already, Texas law requires county jails to be kept between 65 and 85 degrees. Other facilities, such as animal shelters, also have heat rules. State lawmakers did not put any money directly towards air conditioning prisons last year, when they had a $32.7 billion budget surplus. The Texas House had budgeted $545 million for prison air conditioning but the more conservative Senate offered nothing. The state did allocate $85 million to the TDCJ, and the agency is using that money to pay for air conditioning units. That money will help about 10,000 inmates move into air conditioned facilities. So far, only $13 million of that has been expensed or obligated, TDCJ spokesperson Amanda Hernandez told the Texas Tribune in February. Why advocate groups sued: In April, four nonprofit organizations joined a lawsuit originally filed last August by Bernie Tiede, an inmate who was housed in a Huntsville cell where temperatures exceeded 110 degrees. The new filing expanded the plaintiffs to include every inmate incarcerated in uncooled Texas prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers and advocates said they hoped to prove the lack of air conditioning created conditions that amount to unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment. What we are doing is overheating the body for long periods of time which is detrimental to the body. were literally cooking them, said Amite Dominick, founder of Texas Prison Community Advocates, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuits. People dont live when you cook them. Dominick and others also argue that the measures the state has taken to respond to the heat, such as giving inmates access to cold towels and respite areas, are insufficient. What the state says: The agency estimates that installing permanent air conditioning in every unit would cost more than $1.1 billion and would come with an annual operating cost of close to $20 million, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a hearing last year TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier said he wants to install air conditioning in every prison but that he simply doesnt have the funds to do so. Prison leaders also pointed to their heat protocols, such as allowing inmates access to cool respite areas, making electrolytes, water and ice readily available, and training correctional staff on the signs and treatment for heat-related illness. Heat mitigation policies are inadequate, Pitman said, evidenced by the fact that dozens of inmates have died or fallen ill because of extreme heat even with those measures in place. Inmates are also screened for medical conditions that would make them more sensitive to the heat. Those with heat sensitivity get priority placement for air-conditioned housing, a TDCJ spokesperson said. As of Aug. 7, more than 12,000 inmates had a heat sensitivity score, thespokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pitman said such measures are arbitrary, citing examples of individuals who would not qualify for a heat score despite their medical condition, including a 90-year-old with hypertension and someone who has a seizure disorder. Only about 10% of Texas prison inmates have a heat score, even though all of the roughly 134,500 people incarcerated in them face a substantial risk of serious harm from the extreme heat in unair-conditioned facilities, Pitman wrote. Broader impact: Lawsuits about heat in state prisons have also been filed in other southern states including Louisiana and Georgia. If Texas is ultimately required to air condition its prisons, the state agency will face a large cost that lawmakers have previously not approved. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. This week, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought against the U.S. government and an internet watchdog organization. NewsGuard was founded by Gordon Crovitz, a former editor of The Wall Street Journal, and Steven Brill, an attorney who started Court TV; they serve as co-CEOs. The company employs journalists to assess and rate the reliability of news outlets on a scale of 0100. The ratingswhat it calls "nutrition reports"are offered to advertisers and news aggregators but can also be displayed in search results for users who download NewsGuard's software. Consortium News is an online news outlet founded in 1995 to counteract what its founder deemed the mainstream media's "pattern of groupthink on issue after issue" and "the silliness and propaganda that had come to pervade American journalism." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, NewsGuard assessed Consortium News' reliability and found it lacking: It rated the outlet 47.5/100 and said it "covers international politics from a left-wing, anti-U.S. perspective [and] has published false claims about the Ukraine-Russia war and other international conflicts." "Proceed with caution," NewsGuard advised readers. "This website fails to adhere to several basic journalistic standards." Anyone with a NewsGuard web browser extension would see a red flag attached to Consortium News links. In posts on the site, Consortium News Editor in Chief Joe Lauria strenuously denied the accusations at length. "If CN were really an 'anti-U.S.' website it would be happy to let things in the U.S. run its course towards steep decline," he wrote in December 2022. "It would welcome rather than criticize foreign and domestic policy decisions by U.S. leaders that are harming the nation." The following year, the Consortium for Independent Journalism (CIJ)the nonprofit that publishes Consortium Newssued NewsGuard for defamation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "NewsGuard has identified no 'false content' but disputes the opinion of five CN commentaries on matters concerning Ukraine and Syria and because of such dispute, NewsGuard has labelled all 20,000-plus CN articles and videos, while reviewing only five of them, as purveying 'false content' and failing to meet minimum journalistic standards," the lawsuit claimed. "By placing the red flag warningappended to works that NewsGuard has not read, NewsGuard has acted to defame, libel and slander CN's entire production and its writers, recklessly and without regard to the truth." In fairness, the articles NewsGuard did object to were doozies: "NewsGuard says Consortium News is publishing 'false content' because it has reported on a 2014 U.S.-backed coup in Kiev and on the pervasive influence of neo-Nazism in Ukraine," Lauria complained. "It objected to the word 'infested' to describe neo-Nazi presence in the Ukrainian government." Still, no matter how "objective" NewsGuard claims to be, it's ultimately giving its opinion of a site's reliability based upon its outputa clear act of First Amendmentprotected speech. Other self-styled watchdogs seem to hold mixed views of Consortium News. Media Bias/Fact Check rates the site as having a "left bias" but notes it is "mostly factual" with "medium credibility." Ad Fontes Media, on the other hand, rates its bias "strong left" and finds it "unreliable" and "problematic." (As of this writing, Ad Fontes Media's most recently ranked Consortium News article is titled "Yes, Ukraine Started the War," which it ranked unreliable and biased toward the right.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CIJ later amended its lawsuit, adding the U.S. government as a defendant and claiming a violation of its First Amendment rights. From NewsGuard, it sought $13.6 million in punitive damages, plus unspecified compensatory damages. "In September 2021, the Department of Defense awarded NewsGuard a contract for its 'Misinformation Fingerprints' program in the amount of $749,387," per the amended complaint. As a result, "NewsGuard is paid to identify media organizations that provide information or reportage concerning Ukraine and Russia that is contrary to the viewpoints of the U.S., its intelligence agencies and U.S. allies." In a reply brief, NewsGuard contended it "did not rate Consortium News pursuant to its government contract." In a March 2023 email to independent journalist Matt Taibbi, NewsGuard co-CEO Crovitz said, "Our work for the Pentagon's Cyber Command is focused on the identification and analysis of information operations targeting the U.S. and its allies conducted by hostile governments." Incidentally, as Reason's Robby Soave wrote in 2023, the U.S. government contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Global Disinformation Index, a British organization that uses opaque methodology to list the news outlets most susceptible to disinformation in an attempt to dissuade advertisers; Reason was included on its list of the 10 "riskiest," along with right-wing outlets like The Federalist and The Daily Wire. (NewsGuard has given Reason a perfect score "for the highest adherence to journalistic practice.") Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the Southern District of New York dismissed CIJ's lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. "To be sure, this litigation raises several hot-button issues regarding the metes and bounds of the First Amendment, state action, and defamation," Failla wrote. "But however provocative they may appear at first glance, these issues fall comfortably within settled law." Regarding the First Amendment claim, Failla wrote that CIJ's complaint "lacks sufficient allegations that the Government controlled NewsGuard's decision-making process and internal operations" and therefore "fails as a matter of law." Besides, she added, even if NewsGuard were a state actor and had acted as such, "Plaintiff has not sufficiently alleged a First Amendment violation." As to the defamation claim, Failla wote, "the Court finds that the challenged statements are non-actionable expressions of opinion, which Plaintiff does not plausibly allege to be false. Moreover, even if the statements were otherwise actionable, Plaintiff does not sufficiently allege that NewsGuard made these statements with actual malice, as required for public figures like NewsGuard." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're grateful to the judge for finding what we always knew, which is that NewsGuard has a First Amendment right to provide ratings of websites and that as a private-sector journalistic company we have no state power or authority," Crovitz tells Reason in an emailed statement. NewsGuard has come under fire for its work in recent years, though most prominently from the right. In June 2024, Rep. James Comer (RKy.), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, "launched an investigation into the impact of NewsGuard on protected First Amendment speech and its potential to serve as a non-transparent agent of censorship campaigns." In November 2024, just days before President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would elevate Brendan Carr to head the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Carr sent a letter to the CEOs of four major tech companies "to obtain information about your work with one specific organizationthe Orwellian named NewsGuard." Carr later said NewsGuard "operates for the purpose of censoring viewpoints that fall outside an approved narrative." ("Contrary to claims made in the hearings, we oppose any government involvement in rating news sources, and we also oppose government censorship," Crovitz said in his email to Taibbi.) At the time, Reason's Jacob Sullum called Carr's campaign against NewsGuard "legally dubious and empirically shaky." It's ironic, then, that in dismissing the lawsuit, Failla provided relief both to NewsGuard and to the government whose representatives have made NewsGuard a target of their own. The post Federal Judge Tosses Defamation Lawsuit Against NewsGuard appeared first on Reason.com. DENVER (KDVR) A multi-agency federal task force arrested a violent Wyoming fugitive in rural Morgan County on Wednesday afternoon. The suspect was identified as Tyger Rodriguez, 25, who was wanted by the Goshen County Sheriffs Office in Wyoming on two counts of aggravated assault and battery that were leveled after incidents in mid-February, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. According to the Morgan County Sheriffs Office, one of the aggravated assault cases involved a deadly weapon. Man accused of shooting 1, barricading in apartment and firing at officer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrest warrants for Rodriquez were issued on Feb. 19 and 20, and the U.S. Marshals Services Wyoming Fugitive Task Force was asked to assist on February 27. The Morgan County Sheriffs Office said that it was notified nearly a month ago by the U.S. Marshals Service that Rodriguez may be hiding in Morgan County. After investigating, that information was confirmed in part by the U.S. Marshals Services Colorado Violent Offender Task Force. Task force investigators tracked Rodriguez to a rural property about four miles west of Fort Morgan, according to the U.S. Marshals. On Wednesday, a joint law enforcement arrest operation between the U.S. Marshals COVOTF, the Northeast Regional SWAT Team and the Colorado State Patrol SOAR team contained Rodriguez within the large rural property and eventually took him into custody safely at about 2:30 p.m. The Morgan County Sheriffs Office said the arrest was made in the 17000 block of Morgan County Road 15. We are incredibly grateful to all of our law enforcement partners whose dedication and cooperation made this arrest possible, said Morgan County Sheriff Dave Martin in a release. We also extend our sincere thanks to the local businesses and citizens who offered their assistance throughout the investigation and todays operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agencies involved in the arrest included the NE Regional SWAT Team (which is made up of officers from Sterling Police, Brush Police, Fort Morgan Police, Logan County Sheriffs Office, and Morgan County Sheriffs Office), the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force from Colorado and Wyoming, Colorado State Patrol SWAT Team, Boulder County Sheriffs Office, Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Colorado Department of Corrections and Colorado Bureau of 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 FOX31 Denver. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The bet to restore a casino license in Pope County is underway in federal court. The bench trial started Tuesday in Little Rock and will continue through Thursday or Friday. Guessing how this will end has been like watching a roulette wheel spin for years. It has been spinning since 2018 when Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 100 opened the door to four casinos in the state. Cherokee Nation denied temporary restraining order against Pope County casino license removal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three have been operating for years, but the only player able to build in Pope County got their license revoked during the 2024 election cycle by amendment 104. Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB) sued Arkansas over Amendment 104 claiming it undermines foundational legal rights and interferes with several binding contractual obligations. Voters passing it took away the Arkansas Racing Commissions authority to issue a casino license in Pope County under Amendment 100. It also made county approval a final requirement for any future state constitutional amendment to add casinos statewide. On Tuesday, CNB CEO Chuck Garrett testified against its license revocation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said they worked to get local support from Pope Countys judge and quorum court. He argued they signed a multi-million-dollar economic agreement and purchased land. Other Pope County casino applicants from the original five slowed CNBs efforts by getting separate approval, and on Wednesday witnesses called to testify showed that happened with Amendment 104. Cherokee Nation files suit against Arkansas after Issue 2 passage revokes Pope County casino license Hans Stiritz began an effort to stop the casino under a group called Fair Play for Arkansas in 2020. It failed. In 2022 Fair Play tried again, but this time it got millions in funding from Choctaw Nation, a rival casino applicant for Pope County which lost the license battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It failed again to get signatures in 2022 but returned in 2024 and rebranded as Local Voters in Charge. Stiritz and Bill James, the treasurer of the group, testified the change was made to get more people caring about their cause, not just Pope Countys. The change was also with the recommendation of a consultant Choctaw donations funded. One of the attorneys representing Choctaw and assisting Local Voters in Charge testified Wednesday along with the Arkansas Racing Commission Chairman Alex Lieblong. CNB attorneys argued there should have been a way for Pope County voters to decide on the future of the casino license already awarded to CNB with the passage of Amendment 104. The only provision for that to occur is in the case of a future Arkansas constitutional amendment. Voters in Pope County effectively voted against a local casino during Amendment 100 but for it in Amendment 104. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Issue 2 passing gets mixed reaction from Pope County community David Couch, who worked with CNB to counter the license-revoking amendments, also testified. Attorneys for the state did not cross-examine every witness. They asked Couch if there was any language in Amendment 100 that would make the license permanent. He answered that he thought so. What the judge thinks will be key to how this case is decided. Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. said at the end of proceedings Wednesday that he likes to rule from the bench but feels this case is too complex for him to do that. He stated he would like some post-trial briefings from the defense and plaintiffs, but there would be a short deadline so that he could issue an opinion in weeks as opposed to months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four witnesses, including Pope County Judge Ben Cross, should testify Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. with closing arguments in the afternoon or Friday 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 KARK. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The U.S. Justice Department announced the arrest Thursday of a top leader of the violent MS-13 street gang. Attorney General Pam Bondi said authorities took the 24-year-old man from El Salvador into custody in Virginia as part of a new task forces operation. Hes very dangerous, Bondi said. He should not have been in this country. For certain reasons, were not identifying him by name. He was one of the top members, top three in the entire country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department did not release the mans information or the charges against him, but FBI Director Kash Patel said his arrest is part of the Trump administrations broader crack down on transnational gang members. If you are here illegally, you will not be here any longer, Patel said. OFFICER DOWN: McBee cop who survived 62 shots fired at him says town threw him out like garbage MS-13 is based in El Salvador, where the Trump administration said it recently deported hundreds of Venezuelans from a different gang. While their fate is tied up in the courts, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited them in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 said. Republicans and Democrats in Congress applauded the specific efforts to arrest the alleged MS-13 gang leader. Im cheering them on, said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas.). If the facts are the facts, deport them, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). However, Thompson said the Trump administration has to grant due process for anyone the U.S. arrests. We need to continue to catch bad people, present them to a court of law, Thompson said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) A Decatur organization thats been working with children for almost four years is closing its doors. The founder said its a safe haven for kids who may otherwise get into trouble. But after helping others for so long now hes asking for help himself. PREVIOUSLY: Decatur community discusses youth violence in wake of murder arrest Shemuel Sanders said theyre losing the building they operate in. He said they have kept up with the rent but the owners of the building got it taken from them. Now the Shemilah Outreach Center has until April 15 to move out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, it hurts me because of these youth, Sanders said. Thats not the only reason Sanders is sad to see his organization forced to close. He turned a tragedy into hope. I do this because of what happened to my daughter, Sanders said. My daughter was shot and killed in 2020. I went right into effect, to try to turn this these youth around. Vigil held in honor of Shemilah Sanders And Shemilahs Outreach has been helping kids in the community since 2021. They give kids food help them with homework and have games to keep them entertained. Its changing our lives very around. Because back in middle school, I was bad. And now Ive just been caught up like I changed my life around very good, Yahtavia Harris, a student who has been involved with the group since the beginning, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now the organization is in jeopardy. Sanders said they do not own the building, and the State of Nevada is taking it away from the owners. Were strong; Neoga students back in school after tornado We going to lose it. And its not its not about me. Its about these youth that come on a daily basis, Sanders said. Sanders said hes put around $15,000 into the building over the years. The church that shares the space with them also put in around $75,000. Now he has to move all the outreach centers stuff out of the building in just a few weeks. Right now, we are in need. We need a building. We dont have nowhere to go. It was all of a sudden, we got to April 15 to find out where we going to go, Sanders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decatur mom attempts to drown baby in bathtub: Police Hes hoping they can find a temporary place. If not hes not sure what they can do. Its still sad a little bit, but hopefully we find a new building to get back, Harris said. Sanders is asking for help either buying a new building or temporary storage. For example, he has multiple buses and vans to transport kids to and from the center and no place to park them. When WCIA asked Sanders why the State of Nevada is taking the building away from the owners, he said he could not share that information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF)- A burn ban is still in effect for the entire Palmetto State as firefighters continue to battle brush fires. South Carolina issued two separate burn bans in March, something the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) said is rare. The second one went into effect March 21st until further notice, and they say its imperative that people comply with the ban. Even something very small, like an ember can travel so far and spread very, very quickly in these conditions. So were urging people to really stick with this statewide burning ban and abide by it and respect it as well, Madeline Stewart, a Public Information Officer at the SCFC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conditions across South Carolina are ripe for wildfires. Large brush fires popping up in Myrtle Beach and Table Rock. And several smaller fires in our local area. Seniors rise to huge challenge at one ACPSD high school Were looking at very low relative humidity, so dry conditions. Were also looking at high, gusty winds. But in addition, were also looking at dry fuels. We mean vegetative material. So, thats trees, limbs, branches, leaves, pine straw, any kind of vegetative material that a fire will consume, that is fuel, explained Stewart. The massive amount of storm debris left by hurricane Helene is not only fuel but creates a barrier making it hard to contain wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hurricane debris is an obstacle that we may have to overcome. But were fortunate that our partners have helped us with our recovery and our cleanup to the extent that they have. So we do have some relief there. But certainly in the wooded areas, it could pose a problem and create a much larger brushfire, said Sergeant Daniel Smith with North Augusta Public Safety. Smith wants you to know that there are consequences if you burn illegally. Hometown History: The Boyhood Homes of a President and Supreme Court Justice You can be cited and even jailed for violating a burn ban. And if the fire were to get out of control as quickly as it absolutely can right now, and you damage other peoples property, harm someone else, or forbid someone else loses their life, you also have to deal with the penalties that are the result of that, including civil penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The burning ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state. It does not apply to fires used to cook food or fires used in appropriate enclosures, like portable outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, or permanent fire pits constructed of stone, masonry, metal or other noncombustible material. Go to the South Carolina Forestry Commissions website for more in depth information on the states burn ban laws. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At least one person was killed and four others were injured in a fire at a shuttered ski resort hotel in northwestern Turkey on Thursday morning, authorities said. There were no guests in the Kervansaray Hotel, though staff were present, in the ski resort of Uludag in Turkeys Bursa province at the time of Thursdays fire, which authorities said started in the dining area before 5:30 a.m. local time. MORE: 12 people found dead inside restaurant at popular ski resort Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hotel was closed in January following a deadly blaze at the Grand Kartal Hotel in nearby Bolu province. Videos from the scene showed the Kervansaray Hotel engulfed in flames and smoke. Authorities said the fire has since been brought under control. MORE: At least 2 dead in Austria avalanche, rescue operation underway "We wish God's mercy upon our deceased citizen, patience for his relatives, and our get well wishes to our citizens affected by the fire," the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality said on X Thursday morning. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Fire at ski resort hotel in Turkey kills 1, injures 4 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Law Enforcement Certification Board held a special meeting in Albuquerque on Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source New Mexico) The fired CEO of the New Mexico office tasked with investigating police misconduct told Source NM this week he wont challenge his termination. The Law Enforcement Certification Board fired Joshua Calder on March 20, less than a year into his tenure as its first CEO and less than one month after New Mexico Department of Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie urged the board to do so following Calders accusation of DPS interference in police misconduct investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with Source NM on Wednesday, Calder said while he believes an appeals process exists for his termination, Im not planning on moving forward with an appeal. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Board Member Joseph Walsh, in moving to terminate Calder following a closed-door meeting, alleged that he had failed to keep the board apprised of lobbying and other legislative efforts affecting board operations. Walsh has not responded to an email seeking clarification about those lobbying and legislative efforts. Calder told Source he and LECB Operations Officer Laura Escarcida met with Walsh in person to discuss Senate Bill 50, which would have made a series of reforms to New Mexico police training and clarified the relationship between the board and DPS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB50 would have explicitly given the CEO and their staff the ability to function with complete independence of the department of public safety, with their own budget and budget authority. Calder said he learned about SB50 from co-drafter Rachel Feldman, the appointed citizen-at-large of the Law Enforcement Standards and Training Council and the chair of SOS Santa Fes Civil Rights & Law Enforcement Reform Committee. I dont know of, other than that, any other legislative items that would have affected the Law Enforcement Certification Board, Calder said. SB50 sponsor Sen. Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque) previously said the relationship between the cabinet-level state agency and the independent police misconduct board has been the subject of confusion due to the departments failure to complete tasks necessary for an administratively attached agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calder told Source NM that DPS never took the steps for the LECB to have its own budget, email system and hiring practices. This was all supposed to be taken care of before I took the CEO position. That was supposed to be handled by DPS, that did not occur, he said. Lawmakers tabled the legislation on Feb. 28, after opposition from Bowie, the New Mexico State Police and the New Mexico Police Chiefs Association. The same day, the Police Chiefs Association issued a no-confidence vote against Calder and accused him of weaponizing state law against Bowie, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Calder said he doesnt know how LECB moves forward without a CEO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenges that this person is going to face are going to be difficult, he said. Unless they have somebody in mind already thats going to do what DPS is recommending or wants to do, then it would still be under the control of DPS, as it had been in the past, prior to the legislation that separated it. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BUTLER COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) A firefighter ended up in the hospital after battling a house fire in a rural part of southern Butler County Tuesday night. The fire happened around 7:30 p.m. near Cole Creek Road and 220th. The home is in the Cowley County Fire District, but Butler County firefighters also responded. Crews battle a house fire in rural Butler County on March 25, 2025. (Courtesy Butler County Fire District) Crews battle a house fire in rural Butler County on March 25, 2025. (Courtesy Butler County Fire District) Crews battle a house fire in rural Butler County on March 25, 2025. (Courtesy Butler County Fire District) Crews battle a house fire in rural Butler County on March 25, 2025. (Courtesy Butler County Fire District) Crews clean their gear after battling a house fire in rural Butler County on March 25, 2025. (Courtesy Butler County Fire District) The Cowley County fire chief said a homeowner was burning pastureland when the fire reached the corner of his house, spread up a wall, and entered the attic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said one of his firefighters was taken to the hospital for observation and was still there Wednesday afternoon. Monster under bed in Kansas town turned out to be real The home has extensive damage. The fire chief says it will have to be rebuilt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. POLK COUNTY, N.C. (STORYFUL) More than 200 homes were evacuated in Polk County, North Carolina, by Wednesday, March 26, as several wildfires burned. Footage from the Gastonia Fire Department shows crews collecting and dropping water on Wednesday, March 26. As wildfires, burn bans continue in western North Carolina, here are ways to fireproof your home According to the latest updates from county officials, the Black Cove Fire had burned 3,052 acres by Wednesday evening, and was 17 percent contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Deep Woods Fire was at 11 percent containment, having burned 3,231 acres; and the Fish Hook Fire was 86 percent contained after burning 199 acres. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Severe Weather Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Several firefighters worked to extinguish a brush fire in Gaithersburg on Wednesday afternoon. Details are limited; however, David Pazos with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) said that just before 4 p.m., firefighters responded to the intersection of Brink and Wightman roads for a small brush fire in the woods. However, the fire spread quickly in the dense trees, extending about 200 feet from the roadway. (Courtesy: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service via X/@DavidPazos15) (Courtesy: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service via X/@DavidPazos15) Worker stuck in basin at WSSC Potomac Water Filtration Plant Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pazos added that about 45 firefighters responded to extinguish the blaze. Fire officials said traffic may see delays in the area due to the firefighters presence and equipment. As of Wednesday evening, the fire had been extinguished. Pazos said that no homes were damaged and nobody was injured. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) The South Carolina Forestry Commission said that the Persimmon Ridge Fire has grown significantly on Wednesday. It is now around 1,500 acres. Smoke has continued to rise as strong winds and dry conditions have intensified the fight for those battling the fire in Northern Greenville County. When you watch it on TV is one thing, but when you are right here and it is in your back yard it changes everything, Radiant Church Pastor, Ricky Motes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A staging area was set up at Faith Independent Baptist Church, off Geer Highway, for fire crews to refuel. They also had a briefing about their strategy for the day. The South Carolina Forestry Commission said burnout operations are underway as crews try to fight fire with fire. When you think about fire, it needs fuel, it needs oxygen, and it needs a heat source, Holly Welch, PIO for the South Carolina Forestry Commission said. If we can eliminate the fuel in front of the fire, when that wildfire comes down it just essentially has nothing to burn. Motes joined fire crews and prayed over their fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement God we thank you for everyone of them, Motes said. We pray for their safety and for your blessing upon them now. Motes, who is retired from law enforcement, also had some words of encouragement. Your labor is not in vain, Motes told firefighters. I want to encourage you today on behalf of our community and say man we love you guys. We are here for you. We want to help you in any way we can. Just know there are people praying for you. The SC Forestry Commission said that crews from all over the country are here in our area helping out and will continue their fight to keep you safe. Obviously the safety of our fire fighters and public is first but then second is that structure protection and so they are focused on really trying to protect those homes, Welch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Thursday, the Persimmon Ridge Fire is 0% contained. Firefighters said that while they cannot control the winds, they have been able to keep all structures and homes safe from the fire, and no injuries have been reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The first of two sisters convicted in a shooting incident from a year ago learned her fate Thursday morning in court. Read next: Plea deal reached in fatal Youngstown shooting Prosecutors say Lisa Springs was driving the car when her sister suddenly opened fire on the occupants of another car outside of a west side Youngstown apartment complex in March of last year, then quickly drove off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Springs begged for a light sentence so she could care for her two young children, her attorney told Judge Anthony DApolito his client didnt even know her sister had a gun until the shooting started. Her sister did not tell her this was going to happen. She didnt know this was going to happen. They were not out looking for these other girls, it just it happened in the blink of an eye for her, and she was not helping or planning to help her sister in this way, Atty. Michael Kivlighan said. The judge told Springs he couldnt allow the indictment to go without punishment, sentencing her to two years behind bars. Her sister, Andrea, is to be sentenced Friday morning. 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. A Black first-class passenger aboard Delta Air Lines says she was thrown off a plane on the orders of a white flight attendant who objected to the way the woman looked at her. One eyewitness said Teresa Hudson Jordan, a Platinum SkyMiles member who was traveling with her young daughter, had been spoken to as if she were a dog or a slave, according to a federal discrimination lawsuit reviewed by The Independent. This case epitomizes the revolting reality that, even in the year 2025, Black Americans continue to endure the indignity of Flying While Black, an experience steeped in humiliation and echoing the dehumanizing degradations of the Jim Crow South, Jordans complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It says the episode hearkened back to a dark and painful era where the simple act of a Black person looking a white person in the eye could provoke violent repercussions. Jordan was singled out, verbally assaulted, and subjected to public disgrace in what the complaint describes as a grotesque display of racial hostility. The 53-year-old and her daughter have since been in therapy to manage the trauma resulting from this incident, according to the complaint, which was filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court. Teresa Hudson Jordan, who is Black, is suing Delta over her treatment by a white flight attendant (AFP via Getty Images) Its absolutely outrageous what happened to her, attorney Jon Norinsberg, who is representing Jordan, told The Independent. She has multiple eyewitnesses who saw what happened, perfect strangers, who wrote to Delta about it. Those fellow passengers later recalled the flight attendant was laughing and joking with a coworker after Jordan was removed, Norinsberg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The racial aspect of Jordans case is an important component underlying the whole lawsuit, according to Norinsberg. We all know the expression Driving While Black, he said. This is the equivalent of that, in the context of air travel. Jordan, a financial director, is not litigious by nature, and was not overly eager to file a lawsuit, according to Norinsberg. At the same time, he said that she wanted to make sure people understand that to do something like this to somebody will have consequences. In an email on Thursday, a Delta spokesperson said, While we have no specific comment on this pending litigation, Delta has zero tolerance for discrimination of any form. Teresa Hudson Jordan and her daughter were seated in first-class when they were forced to disembark, according to a complaint filed in federal court on Wednesday (AFP via Getty Images) On March 27, 2024, Jordan, a Manhattan resident, and her teenage daughter were aboard Delta flight 5792, from Lexington, Kentucky back to New York City, the complaint states. It says Jordan was accompanying her child to an important doctors appointment at Mount Sinai Hospital, and that the two were seated in the fourth row of the airplane. They had been in Lexington visiting family, Norinsberg told The Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the doors closed and the flight began to taxi to the runway, Ms. Jordan leaned forward to say something to her daughter, Jordans complaint explains. At that moment, an unidentified flight attendant happened to be walking by, and Jordan looked up at her and made eye contact, but did not say a word, the complaint continues. Without any provocation whatsoever, Flight Attendant Doe, a Caucasian woman, began screaming at Ms. Jordan, yelling: Dont look at me like that! Dont eye me up and down. If you cant comply with my commands, then Ill turn this plane around and we can go back to the gate!! the complaint goes on. Ms. Jordan responded by saying, I comply. Despite this, Flight Attendant Doe continued her unprovoked verbal attack on Ms. Jordan, stating, You can catch another flight. Do you understand?!! Jordan did not immediately respond, according to the complaint. Thats when the flight attendant allegedly shouted, That was not a rhetorical question!! Jordan again stated, I comply, adding, Ive already said that and everyone has heard me, the complaint states. The unidentified flight attendant falsely told the pilot that Teresa Hudson Jordan was being disruptive, after which he taxied back to the gate, according to the New York resident's lawsuit (AFP via Getty Images) Thank you!! the flight attendant replied in a sarcastic tone before returning to the back of the cabin, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan remained seated throughout the entire interaction and never once raised her voice, the complaint contends. It says she was stunned by the flight attendants aggressive, threatening and bullying tone, which felt both violent and demeaning, and that numerous other passengers watched, in astonishment, as the flight attendant hurled abuse at Jordan. One of them later wrote to Delta, saying, Ive never seen/heard a flight attendant act so aggressively towards a passenger. It was disturbing and unwarranted, the complaint states. Another wrote that the flight attendant had treated Ms. Jordan as if she were a dog or a slave. Notwithstanding the outrageous conduct of Flight Attendant Doe, Ms. Jordan never spoke back, as she knew that her daughter had a critical medical appointment in New York that she needed to make, and she did not want to take any chance of missing that appointment, according to the complaint. This, said Norinsberg, made it all the more necessary to stay disciplined in her response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Jordans complaint alleges, the flight attendant was not yet finished with her. Following the one-sided exchange, the complaint says she willfully and maliciously lied to other Delta employees on the plane, including the Captain, telling them that Ms. Jordan was an unruly, disruptive passenger who had refused to comply with her demands. The pilot then stopped the plane and headed back to the terminal to have Jordan removed from the flight, the complaint states. Teresa Hudson Jordan was taking her daughter to an important appointment at Mount Sinai Hospital when the degrading incident occurred, her lawsuit states (Getty Images) A gate agent brusquely ordered Jordan off the aircraft, and she and her daughter calmly obeyed, gathering their carry-on bags from the overhead compartment, according to the complaint. It says their removal from the flight jeopardized their ability to get Jordans daughter to her doctors appointment the next morning, but does not specify whether or not they made it there successfully. Ms. Jordan and her daughter experienced extreme humiliation, embarrassment and shame when being thrown off the plane, as all passengers stared at Ms. Jordan and her daughter as they were being removed, the complaint says, noting that four other passengers in the first class cabin came to Jordans defense. They objected vehemently to the flight attendants behavior, the complaint contends, insisted that neither Jordan nor her daughter had done anything wrong, and later submitted written statements to Deltas CEO and COO, detailing the egregious and highly improper conduct the pair had been subjected to. Yet, Delta never contacted Jordan about what happened, according to the complaint, which claims the carrier has wholly failed in making things right. Delta has made headlines in years past after incidents involving Black passengers being kicked off planes under questionable circumstances. Last year, three Black men sued Delta after they were forced to deplane in response to a white flight attendants complaint about an unidentified passengers body odor. In 2022, a Black passenger aboard a Delta flight was reportedly forced to move to a seat in the rear of the plane to accommodate two white passengers who complained about not being seated next to each other. A few years earlier, a Delta flight attendant had a Black passenger removed from a flight because she didnt like the womans tone of voice. (Delta has also been praised for, in one instance, upgrading a Black passenger who had been harassed by a white passenger.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan, for her part, is still suffering the consequences of what happened on flight 5792, according to her lawsuit. As a result of this incident, both Ms. Jordan and her daughter have suffered severe emotional distress, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, characterized by nightmares, severe anxiety, and a persistent state of hyper-vigilance, the complaint states, noting that Jordan has since avoided air travel whenever possible. She is asking the court for compensatory damages and punitive damages, along with damages for emotional distress, in an amount to be determined at trial, as well as an injunction requiring Delta to implement anti-discrimination training for its flight attendants and staff. More than a year ago, dozens of BlackSeries camping trailers began to appear on a vacant lot that partly serves as an overflow for a car dealership in the City of Industry. There, the black and white trailers with price tags up to $50,000 sat collecting dust until, eventually, about a dozen homeless people took shelter in the empty trailers, according to Los Angeles County officials. Now the makeshift homeless encampment on Azusa and Gale avenues is becoming a headache for neighboring businesses as well as the lot owner who has tried for more than a year to get the owner of the trailers to either pay for use of the lot or remove the trailers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heaps of trash and occasional fires have been reported on the lot. Efren Rodriguez, who works for an adjacent Nissan dealership, told NBC 4 News that someone from the encampment tried to attack him recently. The other day I came at 5 o'clock to get a car and one person, they start to argue with me and I dont say nothing. And they pick up a rock, and they throw it at me, he said. Every single trailer right there, theres people inside. Even kids and babies. The property owner, Legacy Point, said in a statement that the campers were not authorized to be stored on the vacant lot and that the owner spent more than a year trying to get the owner of BlackSeries Campers Inc., which the company identified as Hongwei Qiu, to either pay for the storage or remove them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Mr. Qiu acknowledged our ownership and expressed a willingness to pay the appropriate license fee, BlackSeries has not made a single payment for its use of our property, Legacy Point wrote in the statement. Read more: How a law to ban homeless encampments threw a California city into chaos The company said it filed a lawsuit in September, asking for damages and the removal of the campers. That ruling came down in January, when a Los Angeles County Superior Court awarded Legacy Point $95,610 and ordered the removal, according to city and company officials. Qiu and a representative for BlackSeries could not immediately be reached for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, whose district includes the City of Industry, said shes asked the Sheriffs Departments homeless service team and the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse to conduct outreach at the site. Joshua Nelson, city manager with the City of Industry, said the town was helping coordinate cleanup efforts with the owners of the property and the Sheriffs Department. Although efforts to clear the encampment are underway, the case exemplifies a challenge cities, counties and homeless service providers face when clearing encampments from private land. Last year, Los Angeles Countys Homeless Initiative spent half a year tracking down owners of several lots in Palmdale, where more than 100 people had been living in makeshift shelters, some as tall as two stories high. The county required owners to give officials the right of entry onto their properties before they could organize a cleanup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the City of Industry, the property owner of the vacant lot began a process to clear it in September 2023 when it learned about the campers. From October 2023 to September 2024, Legacy Point said in its statement, it made multiple attempts to resolve the matter amicably. These efforts included proposing a legitimate license agreement for the temporary storage of BlackSeries campers, sending formal cease-and-desist notices and issuing towing notices, the statement read. BlackSeries repeatedly ignored or rebutted these efforts, even disabling its vehicles by removing tires and wheels to prevent towing, all while continuing to illegally occupy our property. In September, Legacy Point said it filed its lawsuit against the company and owner. It now is having the Sheriffs Department carry out the courts order to remove the campers and people from its lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we would have greatly preferred a more expeditious resolution, we recognize that the deliberate pace of our legal system, though at times frustrating, is a fundamental aspect of ensuring due process of law, the company statement read. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Shelby County has its first confirmed case of measles, the second case in the state this year, the Tennessee Department of Health said Thursday. The Shelby County Health Department has activated its emergency plans and will contact any persons who may have been exposed to the measles virus, state health officials said. At this time, the risk to the general public is considered to be low, state officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shelby County Health Department Director Dr. Michelle Taylor recommends checking with your healthcare provider to determine your MMR vaccination status. Adults who were not vaccinated as children should get at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. Those at high risk because they work in education or health care should get two doses, 28 days apart. So really what we are talking about are those people who cant vaccinate yet because they are small babies and they havent gotten to twelve months yet or immunocompromised people or people who never had a MMR Vaccine, said Taylor. Dr. Taylor said that while she understands hesitancy with any vaccine, this is the most effective treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now we are at a point have chosen not to vaccinate and we are starting to see diseases that our grandparents and our great-grandparents experienced because there was not a vaccine available when they were children and that is very alarming, said Taylor. Health officials say measles is a highly infectious respiratory virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, talks, or sneezes. Measles is known for causing a red, spotty rash that starts on the face and spreads downward on the body. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, and fatigue, often followed by rash, red eyes, and congestion. It is not clear how the Memphian was exposed, but Shelby County doctors are carefully checking where this latest patient has been to identify others who may have been exposed. The states first case was confirmed Friday in Middle Tennessee. 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. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) Boardman residents and store patrons have lately taken to social media to express their frustration about teenagers acting unruly in and around local businesses. Police and township trustees have also made note of the issue and expressed some concerns if the behavior persists. Read next: Video shows moment bicyclist steals lawnmower from mans garage Reports filed with the Boardman Police Department have detailed thefts from the Target in the plaza at The Shops at Boardman Park and damage to some cars parked in the area. Police have also responded to various other reported disturbances and even assaults there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First News reached out to Handel Investments LLC, the group that manages the Shops at Boardman Park, and the person we spoke to did not want to comment on the matter. Police speculated the reason teenagers are coming to the area could be the proximity to favored eating establishments and the wide selection of merchandise Target offers. Videos on TikTok also show teenagers have recently taken to Target stores to record videos of themselves dancing along to trending music, or, in some cases, simply yelling. First News has reached out to Target media relations to ask what, if anything, will be done both to protect the teens and to avoid shopper disruptions but has not received a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bottom line is this: if you want to go shopping, whether its at Target, the mall or anywhere else, you need to feel safe when you go there, and our police department is going to make sure that people feel safe, said Boardman Township Trustee Larry Moliterno. Whatever the reason, or mix of reasons, it isnt just the local area that has seen a rise in unruly juveniles. Read next: Cleveland Guardians games to air locally on cable television WKBNs sister station PIX11 in Brooklyn, New York, reported that a Target store in their coverage area recently began enforcing age restrictions for those under the age of 18, stating an adult is required to be with them at all times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Post also picked up the story, reporting on recent fights and other rowdy behavior. Security guards posted at the front doors will ask for the identification of anyone who doesnt look of age, The Post reports. Police reports have also been filed at the Southern Park Mall involving unruly teens, and the mall has taken action to try and curb incidents. The mall has recently implemented a Youth Escort Policy that is in effect on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. until close. The policy states that during that time, mall visitors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian 21 years or older. Read next: Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers in a major restructuring plan Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The policy is in effect for the entire mall except stores with exterior entrances. The policy includes the walkways and any corridor leading to the mall. In addition, unsupervised shoppers under the age of 16 will not be permitted to congregate in the mall parking lot, the policy reads, in part. The policy states mall security will be on the lookout and unescorted teens will be asked to leave. If they refuse to leave or are found in violation of any other posted rules they could be prosecuted for trespassing. To read the full Youth Escort Policy, click here. First News reached out to the mall manager for comment and did not receive a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some on social media are saying teens are acting unruly in some stores and parking lots because they are bored. Are you the owner or operator of a business that welcomes and hosts activities for teens year-round? Complete the following form with all the details, and we will compile a list of hangout spots where teens are welcome. Abigail Cloutier and Jerica Rogers 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. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Warren City Council Wednesday evening, passed an ordinance for a first reading of a Howland-Warren Annexation. For 18 months, Howland and Warren have been working on a way to provide the water needed to Extra Space Storage. Extra Space Storage is on Route 422 in Howland Township. Its a two-year-old, three-story building, the newest addition to the green doored storage units that have been on the land since the 1960s. But now, Extra Space Storage needs more water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a fire suppression system that needed to be installed, said James Pantalone. Howland Administrator James Pantalone said the fire suppression system required ExtraSpace to get water from Warren. That triggered an ordinance from the city of Warren about annexation, said Pantalone. The annexation agreed to was a Type 2 annexation where Warren would profit from the sale of water and the income tax from the people working there. Warren would also provide safety services. Howland would keep the property tax. Type 2 annexations benefit townships like Howland. Its not a total loss for the township and thats why I say it was something that was brought up many years ago as a so-called happy medium for full annexation, Pantalone said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Property taxes remain with the township even though its annexed into the city, said Warren Engineering Director Paul Makosky. The annexation was discussed briefly by Warren City Council when it was on the agenda for passage. The ordinance only passed a first reading. Under state law, it must first be approved by the zoning appeals board and a public hearing must be held. In a statement, Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa said, We are excited to welcome this new business into the city and invest in our community. Warren City Council was also told that the transfer fee of the Geauga Trumbull Solid Waste Management District will increase in 2027 from $5.50 a ton to $7.50 a ton, which means garbage rates in Warren will likely increase as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council also unanimously passed a resolution opposing a proposal to decrease the amount of tax revenue that cities will receive from the sale of recreational marijuana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRAINGER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) The first vote has been cast to decline parole for a man who was convicted in 2009 of attacking his family in Grainger County, however, the case is still slated to be reviewed by the Tennessee Board of Parole in the coming weeks. At a hearing Thursday, Board of Parole member Zane Duncan voted to decline parole for William Crawford Jr. because of the seriousness of his offense and high risk. Crews responding to 106-acre brush fire near Rocky Top Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Crawfords ex-wife Emmley Cole spoke with 6 News, explaining that Crawford is serving a 46-year sentence at the Trousdale Turner Correctional Center for shooting, stabbing and biting her, their two children and her parents in 2008. Duncan voted for Crawfords case to be reviewed again in two years and recommended that Crawford maintain positive behavior in corrections custody to improve his chances of parole at the next hearing. Although the first vote has been cast, parole has not been denied for Crawford yet. Now, the case will be independently reviewed by the seven-member Board of Parole, who will vote to either adopt, reject, or modify Duncans recommendation. A spokesperson for the board explained to 6 News that in this case, there will need to be four concurring votes for a final decision to be reached, and Duncans vote from Thursday is one of those votes. A final decision by the board is expected within a couple of weeks, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driver charged after fatal crash on Boright Drive, Knoxville police say Currently, the Tennessee Department of Corrections records on Crawford that are available through the Felony Offender Information state that he is serving an 18-year sentence for attempted first-degree murder consecutive to a five-year sentence for aggravated assault. If he does not get parole, his sentence would end in December 2046. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. In the chaos surrounding the leak of US war plans to a journalist one urgent question has been left ignored: can our own intelligence be trusted in the hands of the Americans? The use of an instant messaging app, available to anyone with a smartphone, to discuss top secret information has weakened our intelligence communitys previously iron-clad faith in our partners in the US. The locus of these concerns are Five Eyes the intelligence sharing community made-up of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand which has long-served as the jewel in the crown of the defence guarding the free world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the second world war, that network has collaborated on shared Western interests. During the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 the CIA and MI6 worked together to evacuate dissidents from China. Following the Gulf War in 1991, an Australian spy bugged the Kuwaiti government offices on behalf of MI6. Yet since the saga following the leak, trust in the networks largest member is in doubt. One source close to Five Eyes described the leak to me as incompetence leavened with malignity. They felt that not only were some in the US cabinet unfit for office but that such cock-ups came from evil intent as opposed to just incompetence alone. Others in the intelligence services will no doubt start questioning whether they are prepared to risk their lives for a power which sees Europe itself as pathetic. Field Marshal Slim, the most respected British general by the Americans during the second world war, allowed his subordinates to make mistakes. But there are mistakes which create risk and others which are downright reckless. This one by top US officials verges on the latter. To tell your enemy what youre going to do or more accurately, what youre not planning to before an action is suicide, made worse by the subsequent denial from those involved. But I remain confident in the competence of spies and top military brass at the Pentagon and in Langley. I believe they will prevent further harm being done by these clowns in the White House and get the Five Eyes heart beating in one rhythm again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who knows, they might even educate these new boys in the realities of war while theyre at it. 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Flight attendants made their voices heard outside of the Dayton International Airport Wednesday, demanding higher pay and benefits. Attendants with PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, say that they have been negotiating for a better deal for multiple years, but are now saying enough is enough. Flight attendants are living in their cars, theyre living in crash pads, said Rebecca Black, AFA negotiating committee member. They cant afford rent and apartments, theyre having to live with their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers of the demonstration told 2 NEWS they just want want their counterparts are getting. Our company is refusing to pay us for the work that were doing. Our counterparts at American Airlines make 45% more than we do for doing the same job, said Black. PSA Airlines provided a statement to 2 NEWS, saying in part, Reaching an agreement for our flight attendants remains our priority. We continue to meet regularly with the AFA and have made progress toward reaching an agreement that our flight attendants deserve. But such statements arent enough for those a part of the demonstration. Their words have to match their actions, said Dante Harris, AFA CWA International secretary treasurer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris says negotiations have gone on too long and many are restless for a solution. We love to take care of people. We love to keep people safe. And so why not take care of the flight attendants, take care of the people who are bringing the customers back each and every day? said Harris. Were going to stand here every day until we win. And we will not stop until we win. We will fight until we win. Organizers say theyre prepared to go the distance and to hold more demonstrations like these if they are not given a new contract for flight attendants at the Dayton International Airport. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. With only two aircraft mechanic shops in Western New York in Batavia and Jamestown the wait for small aircraft repairs can stretch up to eight months. The operators of Falcon Aviation School created a start-up called Falcon Aircraft Maintenance in order to fill that gap. The school already operates out of Hangar 12 on the Niagara Falls International Airport grounds and performs some maintenance, having secured another 5,000-square-foot hanger for working on up to three planes at once. We always struggled to find maintenance, said Vincenzo Ciffa, one of Falcons four partners and the director of maintenance. We brought some in-house maintenance in and saw a need from customers, either from this area or transients passing through whose planes break down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flight school has operated coming up on four summers, with 15 instructors teaching everyone from high school students who want to be airline pilots to senior citizens who want to get back into flying. Their five current aircraft are single-engine planes that can fit two to six people. If you see a small airplane around Niagara Falls, its a good chance it was us, Ciffa said. They also use a flight simulator and partner with SUNY Niagara for its aviation programs. Project information submitted to the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency stated its location in the Town of Niagara would strategically position itself to offer both on-field aircraft maintenance and ferry-in maintenance services for aircraft requiring specialized care. They have already received NFTA approval to operate at the airport. The IDA awarded a $25,000 Microenterprise grant to the business, part of the $300,000 the agency was awarded from the State Office of Community Development. The application states the grant would be used for purchasing equipment and operating supplies, with one apprentice mechanic to be hired with the mechanic they already have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the only outside funding Falcon Aircraft Maintenance received for this. Most commonly the aircraft will receive a 100-hour inspection, which happens after every 100 hours of flight, that takes one to two business days. Longer repairs that require new parts depend on their availability. Small airplanes are more than work for me, Ciffa said. Its a passion for us. We love flying. TALLAHASSEE When the National Rifle Association in 2018 challenged a Florida bill prohibiting people under 21 from buying guns, then-state Attorney General Pam Bondi was called upon to defend the new law. Her successor, Ashley Moody, later handled the majority of the legal defense, despite her personal opposition to the gun restriction. But new Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said he would take a different path if the law came before the U.S. Supreme Court. He said he wouldnt defend it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uthmeiers break from his two predecessors has raised some questions about his duties. Floridas Senate president said earlier this month he was trying to understand the ramifications of Uthmeiers decision. At least one critic has said it would be hypocritical if Gov. Ron DeSantis didnt punish Uthmeier for not defending state law when he punished two state attorneys for what DeSantis saw as a failure to act. Uthmeier is far from the first attorney general nationally to opt against defending a state law. Heres what to know about what Florida requires of its attorney general, where the gun law itself stands and how it compares to the state attorneys removed from office. What are Floridas requirements? The job of attorney general isnt the same across all 50 states. Each state has its own constitution, statute and court precedent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, statutes say that the attorney general shall appear in and attend to, in behalf of the state, all suits or prosecutions, but they do not say the attorney general must defend all state laws. Neal Devins, a professor of law at William & Mary, co-authored a Yale Law Journal report in 2015 about how different states have handled the duty to defend the law. Devins said he didnt believe that Floridas statute requires Uthemier to defend the law. In fact, Floridas court nearly a century ago issued a ruling saying that if the attorney general thinks a statute is unconstitutional, it is their duty to challenge it to settle the question of whether its valid or not, according to a 2018 study from the National Association of Attorneys General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uthmeiers office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on his justification for not defending the law. On social media, he said he believed the law was unconstitutional. Men and women old enough to fight and die for our country should be able to purchase firearms to defend themselves and their families, Uthmeier said on X. The Florida attorney generals own website, though, says that the attorney general defends the constitutionality of statutes duly enacted by the Legislature. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell said Uthmeiers job is to defend Florida law, and said if he didnt defend the current gun restriction, it would be an abdication of his duties. Whats happened across the country? There are multiple examples in U.S. history of both Democrats and Republicans choosing not to defend state laws. The issue became especially widespread when multiple state attorneys general declined to defend their states bans on same-sex marriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder backed that decision, saying that when a law touches on a core constitutional issue, an attorney general should apply scrutiny when deciding whether or not to defend it. When Floridas own ban on same-sex marriage was in the courts, Bondi defended it and rebuffed criticism by saying that it was her obligation as attorney general. Devins noted that most attorneys general are elected and may have higher political aspirations. He said that when they have opted against defending a law, it could be a political choice along with something they genuinely believe in. Where you see one or the other refuse to defend are going to be on issues that have high political salience, Devins said. Those are the issues where you play to your base, and your base judges you. What is the law Uthmeier wont defend? In 2018, Florida changed the law to ban people younger than 21 from buying firearms after a 19-year-old killed 17 students and teachers using a legally purchased AR-15-style weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal appeals court recently upheld that law. Its unclear if Floridas case will move up to the U.S. Supreme Court. It could also become irrelevant if the Florida Legislature decides to undo the law by again lowering the rifle-buying age to 18. Federal law already bans the purchase of handguns for people younger than 21. The Florida House on Wednesday voted for the third year in a row to reverse the age restriction. But Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, has been unwilling to say whether or not he would support the change. When recently asked about his stance, Albritton became teary-eyed as he recounted touring the building in Parkland where the massacre happened. Both he and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, voted for the law creating the gun restriction in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saikrishna Prakash, a professor of law at the University of Virginia and co-author of the 2015 Yale Law Journal report, noted that the lawmakers who pass a law often arent the same lawmakers dealing with the legal challenges of it. Sometimes the legislature doesnt care that the statute isnt being defended because it doesnt like the statute, either, Prakash said. Prakash said he doesnt think theres any clear-set avenue someone could use to compel an attorney general to act differently, besides the threat of possible impeachment, which is difficult to achieve. Albritton last week, when asked about Uthmeiers promise to not defend the gun law, said he was working with staff and legal counsel to understand what the ramifications of that would be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive got a respect for every branch of government and have not made any decisions about that at this point, he said. What about the removed prosecutors? Driskell, the Democratic leader, said DeSantis likely wont try to remove or punish Uthmeier for his statement but said its hypocrisy and a disservice to the people of Florida when DeSantis has removed two Democratic state attorneys from office for what he said was an abdication of duty. DeSantis office did not answer when asked if he thought Uthmeier was acting appropriately by declining to defend Florida law. It instead pointed to the governors comments at a news event where he spoke about his support for loosening some Florida gun laws. When DeSantis suspended Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren in 2022, he in part cited statements Warren signed pledging not to prosecute violations of abortion or transgender health laws. Warrens defense said those statements were protected First Amendment speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a federal trial, there was debate over whether Warrens statements actually constituted a blanket policy not to prosecute. A federal judge deemed that they were not blanket policies and that DeSantis had punished Warren for speech. An appeals court sent the case back down, asking a federal judge to reconsider whether DeSantis would have suspended Warren based on his performance and policies around prosecuting low-level misdemeanors. The courts never ruled on that, though, because Warrens lawsuit became moot when he lost reelection. As Florida officials enable Trumps mass deportation policies, lawmakers in the state are looking to children to take on some of the jobs that have typically been done by immigrants. Making its way through the state Senate is a new law, Senate Bill 918, that aims to loosen child labor laws and allow teenagers to work overnight shifts. As CNN reported: The states legislature on Tuesday advanced a bill that would loosen child labor laws, allowing children as young as 14 years old to work overnight shifts. If the new law is passed, teenagers would be able to work overnight jobs on school days. They are currently prevented from working earlier than 6:30 am or later than 11 pm per state law. S.B. 918 also includes a number of changes including eliminating working time restrictions on teenagers aged 14 and 15 if they are home-schooled and ending guaranteed meal breaks for 16 and 17 year olds, CNN reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis backs the law and has defended the idea of teenagers and college students working these jobs. DeSantis also explicitly linked the effort to the loss of immigrant labor. Speaking about the consequences of state verification laws at an event with border czar Tom Homan, the governor said, Yes, we had people that left because of those rules, but youve also been able to hire other people. And whats wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time now? In recent years, several states many of them led by Republican governors have rolled back child labor laws. This map from the Economic Policy Institute illustrates the spike in states rolling back these laws from 2021 to 2024. Back in 2023, for example, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill that made it easier for companies to hire children without getting consent from their parents. One month earlier, The New York Times published a bombshell report about the exploitation of immigrant children in factories operated by some of the most well-known companies in the U.S. That story should have spurred a nationwide push to strengthen child labor laws. Instead, states like Florida are going in the opposite direction, weakening such laws in part to deal with the fallout from the conservative movements demonization of immigrants. Theyre essentially using child labor to paper over the gaps left by their draconian immigration policies. Project 2025, the far-right playbook for Trumps second term, specifically calls for rolling back hazard regulations around child labor. The text claims, Some young adults show an interest in inherently dangerous jobs and argues that with parental consent and proper training, certain young adults should be allowed to learn and work in more dangerous occupations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as child labor laws are being rolled back, the Trump administration is working to gut social services, including funds that help provide school lunches to children and programs, like the supplemental nutrition assistance program, that help feed poor families. And if those cuts stay in place, they may leave American families with few alternatives to sending their children to work to keep food on the table. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The Florida House has voted to repeal a ban on gun purchased by people under 21 years of age. (Getty file photo) For the third year in a row, the Florida House has passed a bill (HB 759) that would lower the age for individuals in Florida to purchase shotguns and rifles from 21 to 18. The final tally was 78-34. The Florida Legislature and then Gov. Rick Scott raised the age for purchasing rifles, shotguns, and other long guns in 2018 as part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public High School Safety Act, just weeks after the school shootings in Parkland that killed 17 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar legislation has passed in the Florida House in the past two legislative sessions, but has been blocked in the Senate. And that could be the case this year as well. There are two proposals filed in that chamber that match the Houses bill, but neither has been heard in any committee yet. Senate President Ben Albritton has been noncommittal about whether he supports the measure in his chamber. He told reporters last week the proposal was not easy. Im an NRA lifetime member, he said. Nearly every day I carry at least one weapon. I have a concealed carry permit. The Legislature passed concealed carry, permitless concealed carry, constitutional carry. That shows this Legislature takes the Second Amendment seriously. Many supporters of the bill said that 18-year-olds are already allowed to do plenty of activities for which a level of responsibility is required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can get at 18-years-old a commercial drivers license that will allow you to hurdle down the roads of Florida with an 80,000 pound total load on an 18-wheeler, all when youre 18, said Central Florida Republican Richard Gentry. You can serve on a jury in Florida. Thats a level of responsibility, and you can be prosecuted as an adult on the other side of that jury. Southwest Florida Republican Vanessa Oliver said that it didnt make any sense that the law bans 18 to 21-year-olds from purchasing rifles while at the same time they are allowed to receive them as gifts. This loophole sends a confusing message that young adults are responsible enough to own a firearm, but only if someone else buys it for them, she said. If these individuals are trusted to own, possess, and use a rifle responsibly, they should be entrusted to work through the legal process themselves. 11th Circuit ruling Broward County Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman offered an amendment that would have essentially killed the bill, as it called for banning the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person younger than 21. For those concerned that the existing law violates the Second Amendment, she cited the recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denying a legal challenge to the law by the NRA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This minimum age of 21 is constitutional, she declared, adding that Democrats dont want to take away anyones guns. I want common-sense gun laws. The amendment was rejected by the GOP-controlled House. Broward County Democratic Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, who was mayor of Parkland at the time of the 2018 shooting, begged her colleagues not to approve the measure. This hurts every time, and I know that its going to continue to keep going on, until this eventually passes, because you can do this, she said. However, The facts are not with you on this. This is a good law that has stood the test of time. And the only reason to get rid of it is this emotional allegiance to this idea that you have to have a gun as the most awesome right you have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luis Valdes, the state director for Gun Owners of America, praised the vote in a statement, noted how former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo killed the legislation the past two years, and say now all eyes are on Senate President Albritton. Ben Albritton faces a choice, he said. Champion the will of the people and restore Second Amendment rights. Or follow in Passidomos footsteps and betray gun owners across Florida. Meanwhile, gun safety advocates denounced the House vote. This is a betrayal of the families and survivors who have fought tirelessly in honor of those who died, said GIFFORDS executive director Emma Brown. The Florida Senate must once again reject this dangerous rollback as they have done repeatedly in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the recent judicial decision affirming the Florida law, Second Amendment supporters embraced comments by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in the immediate aftermath of the 11th Circuits ruling. Notwithstanding CA11s opinion today, I believe restricting the right of law-abiding adults to purchase firearms is unconstitutional, Uthmeier said on X, adding that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas recently reached the same conclusion. This story was updated with comments from Luis Valdes and Emma Brown. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Related video: Gov. DeSantis holds a press conferences in Tallahassee TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) The Florida House of Representatives is proposing the largest cut to sales tax in state history, from 6% to 5.25%. House Speaker Daniel Perez announced the proposal during a speech about the state budget to the House Chamber on Wednesday. The budget, formally called the General Appropriations Act, will be published on Friday, Perez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members, the proposed House GAA will be historic, Perez said. Our budget will not only be lower than the Governors proposed budget, it will also be lower than the budget passed by the Legislature last term. The proposed budget from Gov. DeSantis comes in at $115.6 billion and an FAQ published by his office says this would be a $3 billion reduction from the 2024-25 budget. Perez said the state has a spending problem and that the permanent .75% cut will save Floridians almost $5 billion per year. The current 6% sales tax has been in place since 1988, and if this cut is approved, Perez said it will make Florida the only state to have permanently reduced its sales tax. 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 WFLA. The Florida House of Representatives voted to repeal a gun control measure passed after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. "Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer" (HB 759) would lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 for buying a firearm, specifically "a long gun, such as a shotgun or rifle." "To me, this bill is about the right to defend yourself, the right to keep and bear arms, the right to a well-armed militia. It's not about the tragedy," said Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, the bill's sponsor. Rep. Michelle Salzman, sponsor for Brain Bus appropriation, speaks at the annual purple lighting ceremony of Floridas Historic Capitol as it shined purple for Alzheimers awareness Monday, March 10, 2025. But while the bill passed the House, a similar bill in the Senate, "Firearm Purchase or Transfer" (SB 920), has not yet been heard in committee. When asked if the House bill was dead in the Senate, House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, said there's still time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think that's premature," Perez said. Gov. Ron DeSantis has been candid about supporting the repeal of age requirements, red-flag laws and for allowing open carry: Those are things that a lot of us have been talking about for a long time, DeSantis said on the opening day of the 2025 legislative session. Federal appeals court upheld under-21 ban on long guns In early March, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the 21-year-old age limit in response to a lawsuit challenging the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, saying it "does not violate the Second and Fourteenth Amendments because it is consistent with our historical tradition of firearm regulation." "From the Founding to the late-nineteenth century, our law limited the purchase of firearms by minors in different ways. The Florida law also limits the purchase of firearms by minors. And it does so for the same reason: to stop immature and impulsive individuals, like (the Parkland shooter), from harming themselves and others with deadly weapons. Those similarities are sufficient to confirm the constitutionality of the Florida law," the opinion says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During debate, Democrats urged House members to consider the court's opinion and to remember the families affected by the Parking shooting. "This law was signed in the blood of the victim's families," said Rep. Robin Bartleman, D-Weston, a Broward County School Board member at the time of the Parkland shooting. "Please do not undo the good we have done, and do not slap those families and the community in the face by repealing this law." Florida attorney general said he won't defend gun ban But Florida's new Attorney General James Uthmeier said in a social media post that he would not defend the law if the NRA, one of the plaintiffs in the suit that was appealed, decided to take it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Pat Gibson holds a picture of Meadow Pollack and Valerie Davis holds a picture of Joaquin Oliver, students who died at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, during a National School Walkout to honor the 17 students and staff members killed at the school in Parkland, Florida, U.S., March 14, 2018. And House Republicans argued the passage of this bill aligns with other responsibilities given to teens when they turn 18, like voting and joining the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also said the repeal would close a "loophole" that lets someone under 21 have a firearm if their parent buys it for them. "Some time ago, this body, meaning to do well, took a wrong turn," said Rep. Dean Black, R-Jacksonville, a co-sponsor of the bill. Seventeen students and staff at Douglas High School were killed by a 19-year-old who legally bought an AR-15-style rifle and gunned down the victims at his former high school on Valentine's Day of 2018. Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida House rolls back age for buying long guns from 21 to 18 In late March 2025, claims (archived) circulated online that the state of Florida was debating lifting some child labor laws to fill jobs formerly held by immigrants. (X user @crampell) The claims originally dated (archived) from around Feb. 19, when Republican state Sen. Jay Collins submitted Senate Bill 918: Employment of Minors. Claims about the bill recirculated on X (archived), Facebook (archived), Threads (archived), Reddit (archived) and Bluesky (archived) around March 25, when the bill advanced from the Florida Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, while it is true that the bill proposed removing certain protections in Florida's child labor law, neither the bill itself nor Sen. Collins referenced immigrants as the express purpose for doing so. We reached out to Collins for his comments on whether the bill seeks to place teenagers in roles previously held by immigrants and await his reply. Rather, it was Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis who brought migrants into the discussion around child labor laws in the state. During a roundtable discussion hosted by the New College of Florida on March 20, DeSantis said: They said when we did E-Verify we've got big resorts, we've got all this they said oh, you know, "You're not going to be able to hire people" or whatever. And, one, that hasn't been the case in Florida. Yes, we had people that left because of those rules but you've also been able to hire other people. And what's wrong with expecting, like, our young people to be working part time now? I mean, that's how it used to be when I was growing up. 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. DeSantis did not reference Senate Bill 918 during the discussion. Senate Bill 918 sought to amend Florida Statute 450.081 that governs work hours for 15- to 17-year-olds in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill sought to remove both specific regulations on child labor such as working hours but also an existing waiver system where the Department of Business and Professional Regulation could waive "the restrictions imposed by the Child Labor Law on the employment of a child" when "such waiver is in the best interest of a child." Should Senate Bill 918's amendments pass, 16- and 17-year-olds in Florida would be allowed to work before 6:30 a.m., after 11 p.m., more than eight hours per day when school is scheduled the next day and more than 30 hours per week. The bill also proposed to remove a requirement for breaks for 16- and 17-year-olds, who are currently entitled to a 30-minute meal break when working more than four hours continuously. At the time of this writing, Senate Bill 918 had advanced through the Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee but still had other committee votes and a full Senate vote to pass before it could be signed into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill itself did not mention immigrants or that its purpose would be to get children or teens to fill roles left by immigrants who left the U.S. after the Trump administration's crackdowns. However, major news outlets reported the bill's passage through the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee alongside DeSantis' statements about expecting teenagers and college students to work. The alleged connection was also brought up by Democratic state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith in the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee discussion of the bill on March 25. Smith quoted DeSantis saying that teenagers and college students "should be able to do this stuff," referring to resort hospitality work, and said (at 1:09:04): So, I just read a quote to you from Gov. Ron DeSantis last week saying the quiet part out loud. The quiet part being that we're somehow going to solve the current labor shortage that we have in Florida, that was worsened with anti-immigrant rhetoric, with child labor. Smith was among four senators in the committee who voted against the bill. Collins, who submitted the bill, did not comment on this criticism while addressing the committee about the bill. Sources: artcandee.bsky.social. "Florida State's Legislature 'Is Set to Debate a Bill That Would Loosen Child Labor Laws, Allowing Children as Young as 14 Years Old to Work Overnight Shifts.'" Bluesky, 25 Mar. 2025, https://bsky.app/profile/artcandee.bsky.social/post/3ll7y7l4mlk2z. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chapter 450 - 2024 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/Chapter450/All#:~:text=ch.%202024%2D25.-,450.095%E2%80%83Waivers.,-%E2%80%94In%20extenuating. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025. Chapter 450 Section 081 - 2012 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/0450.081. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025. @citizensforethics. "Florida Is Considering Weakening Child Labor Laws to Help Fill Vacancies Created by Deportation of Undocumented Immigrants." Threads, 25 Mar. 2025, https://www.threads.net/@citizensforethics/post/DHo9bnaKFXG. Committee on Commerce and Tourism. https://www.flsenate.gov/media/videoplayer?EventID=1_ky7xx6qg-202503250830&Redirect=true. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement @crampell. "Florida Debates Lifting Some Child Labor Laws to Fill Jobs Vacated by Undocumented Immigrants." X, 25 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/crampell/status/1904634714897400043. @CuringAmerica. "Breaking: Florida to Remove Child Labor Laws, in Order to Make up for Deported and Disappeared Minorities." X, 27 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/CuringAmerica/status/1905230764876140783. "Florida Legislation Would Relax Restrictions on the Working Hours of Teenagers." AP News, 26 Mar. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/child-labor-florida-aba51db9ee25b751fb103e4ce5f3a6a6. Jones, Chelsea. DeSantis Backs Bill Loosening Child Labor Laws amid Immigration Crackdown - CBS Miami. 26 Mar. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/desantis-backs-bill-loosening-child-labor-laws-amid-immigration-crackdown/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New College of Florida. "SOCRATIC STAGE: What's Next for U.S. Immigration Policy? [Ft. Governor DeSantis, T. Homan & C. Wolf]." YouTube, 20 Mar. 2025, https://www.youtube.com/live/KxLw_Amuc20?t=4317s. Senate Bill 918 (2025) - The Florida Senate. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/918/?Tab=BillHistory. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025. @SheCarriesOn. "Another Year, Another Bill That Aims to (Further) Weaken Child Labor Law in Florida. ." X, 20 Feb. 2025, https://x.com/SheCarriesOn/status/1892387672984883277. The Florida Senate. "COMMITTEE VOTE RECORD." The Florida Senate, 25 Mar. 2025, https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/918/Vote/2025-03-25%200830AM~S00918%20Vote%20Record.PDF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/mockingbird-. "Florida Debates Lifting Some Child Labor Laws to Fill Jobs Vacated by Undocumented Immigrants." Reddit, 25 Mar. 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/nottheonion/comments/1jjjcty/florida_debates_lifting_some_child_labor_laws_to/. United Humanists. "Florida Has Been Working for Years to Crack down on Employers That Hire Undocumented Immigrants. ." Facebook, 26 Mar. 2025, https://www.facebook.com/unitedhumanists/posts/pfbid02Z2ymafwYEQuuwTLPgsxBaFACdthhRtn5pPaMbjdY1mSNoBJfJtqZ5W8qXuptCdPal. Valinsky, Jordan. "Florida Debates Lifting Some Child Labor Laws to Fill Jobs Vacated by Undocumented Immigrants | CNN Business." CNN, 25 Mar. 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/25/business/florida-child-labor-laws/index.html. Something strange is going on in the current session of the Florida Legislature. State lawmakers are actually considering consumer-friendly legislation that would allow policyholders to legally challenge insurers' claims denials to address Florida's ongoing property insurance crisis. The 180-degree turnaround is welcomed, even if it is belated. House Bill 1551, proposed by state Rep. Hillary Cassell, R-Dania Beach, would restore the ability to sue insurance companies that don't want to pay outstanding claims. The legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis removed that bit of leverage from policyholders in 2022 during a barrage of bills lawmakers said was needed to protect the insurance industry's ability to operate in Florida. Lawsuits, the mantra surrounding the policy, was the primary reason insurers were fleeing the state. That so-called tort reform obviously helped insurers that have long lambasted lawsuits as the cause of their difficulties operating in the Sunshine State. However, while litigation against insurers dropped, a new report found that insurers doing business in Florida paid millions to shareholders and billions to affiliates while reporting big losses. The disclosure prompted an outcry from frustrated policyholders and forced lawmakers to re-consider the consumer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation currently making its way through the Florida House would make insurers pay for plaintiffs' attorneys fees in some cases. It advanced on a bipartisan 15-1 vote out of the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee, much to the chagrin of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The bill still faces heavy headwinds. The insurance industry is pushing back, claiming that a renewal of lawsuits would only result in increased rates, higher premiums and a renewed reluctance of insurers to provide property insurance coverage in Florida. More: Report on Florida insurers' big payments to 'affiliates' fuels push to change lawsuit rules Yet, state lawmakers should take the industry protests with an ample grain of salt. The payouts outlined in the above-mentioned 2022 report happened while insurers were canceling policies, raising rates and claiming insolvency. Worse, state regulators knew about it but didn't complete the report or share its contents with the public. No wonder a bill that brings a small change to the process is finding bipartisan support. State lawmakers are beginning to thaw to efforts to improve consumer protections when it comes to property insurance claims. The patience of policyholders has apparently run out. By 2022, Floridians were experiencing the apex of a crisis. A changing climate and an increase in damaging storms had prompted insurers to cut bait and leave Florida or stay and either raise premiums or reduce coverage. To hold down costs, the governor and state lawmakers pushed changes that restricted litigation while providing funding to help insurers meet rising reinsurance costs. These measures passed with promises that rates would fall within two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time went by. The rates didn't drop. Months after the law that curbed lawsuits went into effect, the Post Editorial Board asked the Insurance Information Institute, an association of the nation's top insurers when policyholders might see some relief. The answer? Years. Litigation, Institute officials told the Post then, remained a big problem, despite two special sessions of the Florida Legislature and a regular session in which the insurance industry pretty much got everything it said it needed to reduce the impact of lawsuits, which supposedly would lead to lower rates. Today, there are signs of improvement. Litigation is much less a problem for the industry as more insurance companies have opened for business in the state, and increases in insurance rates have been modest or largely flat and definitely nowhere near the annual rate increase requests the state had seen a few years ago. More: Insurance still tops concerns for Floridians despite legislative changes, survey shows Still, policyholders aren't satisfied. Rates haven't dropped as much as promised and the legislative committee hearings have started to see more property owners complaining about the industry's slow response to claims and the ongoing reluctance to pay for damages, even if litigation has dropped. Cassell's bill, along with another bill that would require insurers' decisions to deny claims to be reviewed, approved and signed off on by qualified human professionals and not AI, amount to a breath of fresh air in a state capitol that has longed prioritized the industry over its consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Cassell's efforts to bring balance to the insurance crisis only resulted in a committee conversation. The fact that her bill is moving through one legislative chamber is progress, but lawmakers in both chambers need to step up and pass this legislation. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida may allow lawsuits to move insurance claims | Editorial ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) A Riverview, Florida, man was arrested Thursday morning after he was allegedly driving while under the influence, causing him to crash into a concrete median, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The FHP crash report said officers were called to the single-vehicle crash at the Mobile Highway and Green Street intersection just before 4 a.m. Louisiana woman killed, 3 others injured in Baldwin County crash: ALEA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they arrived, they discovered a white Toyota Tacoma had crashed into the concrete and steel center lane median divider. Once the truck crashed into the median, the driver and passengers left the scene, according to the report. Officials said they were told by witnesses that three men were in the vehicle and that after the crash, they backed up and left, heading west on Mobile Highway. The report said officers found the truck in a U-Haul parking lot where the driver was asleep behind the wheel. The driver, now identified as 45-year-old Bradley Roland Berendsen, was first taken to a Perdido Key free-standing emergency room for minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man shot multiple times Monday afternoon: Mobile police Once he was released from there, Berendsen was arrested. He is charged with DUI/property damage, hit and run, open container and failure to maintain lane. The passengers will not be charged. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Good morning! Lawmakers in Florida are currently considering a bill that would significantly roll back child labor protections, in an effort to make it easier for employers to hire for roles previously filled by undocumented immigrants. Senate Bill 918 would allow companies to hire teenagers to work longer hours. It passed through a state senate committee earlier this week, and if voted into law, children as young as 14 would be permitted to work overnight shifts, even on school days. Certain work restrictions would be removed for minors over 16 years old, including prohibitions from working for more than eight hours per day, and more than 30 hours per week. And companies will no longer be required to provide minors over 16 with a designated 30-minute meal break. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal also removes employment restrictions for homeschooled children, those who attend virtual school, or those who are underage but have graduated high school or received an equivalent degree. A lot of agriculture and tourism jobs in Florida are held by individuals who have either special visas or are being employed unlawfully, and they're losing their jobs due to stricter enforcement of existing immigration law, says Stefanie Camfield, an attorney as well as associate general counsel and director of HR services at Engage PEO, a Fort Lauderdale-based company that offers third-party human resource services. Employers are going to struggle to figure out how to fill those spots. The bill has yet to be voted on by the Florida legislature, but if it passes, it will almost certainly be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has already made his support clear. 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, DeSantis said last week at a panel discussion first reported by the Tampa Bay Times. This isnt the only bill introduced this year in Florida focused on employing minors. A separate and even more controversial proposal would allow companies to pay workers less than minimum wage if they opted in, and would include minors if their parents signed off. But Camfield says that while this bill is likely to pass, it will almost certainly be challenged and is unlikely to go into effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several states have done away with work restrictions for teenagers over the past few years. Since 2023, three states have rolled back laws requiring minors to get youth work permits, including Iowa, Arkansas, and Alabama, according to research from the Economic Policy Institute. In 2024, Kentucky lawmakers voted on a bill to increase the total number of hours 16 and 17-year-olds can work per day and per week. And at the start of this year, Indiana passed a law that allows minors over 16 to work as many hours as they want and even removed the parental permission that was previously required for them to do so. Brit Morse brit.morse@fortune.com This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The richest man in the world is paying attention to special elections in Florida and is financially supporting Republican candidates for two of Floridas congressional district seats. Elon Musk, special government employee, billionaire and fixture in the Trump administration, has a super PAC (political action committee). His committee, named the America PAC, raised over $260 million for President Donald Trumps 2024 campaign. And now its bringing some of its political prowess to Florida to support Republican candidates in next weeks special elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what Elon Musks America PAC is, when it was founded, how much it raised for Donald Trumps successful campaign for the presidency and a brief introduction to the special congressional elections in Florida on April 1. What is Elon Musks America PAC? America PAC is a political action committee, founded by Elon Musk in May 2024. Musk endorsed Trump for president around a month later, in July. According to its website, America PAC was Created to support these key values: Secure borders, safe cities, free speech, sensible spending, fair justice system and self-protection. The paperwork for America PAC was filed by Chris Gober, the super PACs treasurer, who also is a Republican campaign finance lawyer, according to Factcheck.org and The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Times, citing unnamed sources, said the group is being led in part by Joe Lonsdale, a venture capitalist, who has helped with fundraising and has donated himself. Generra Peck and Phil Cox, Republican operatives who previously worked on campaigns for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, are reportedly helping to run the super PAC. How much the America PAC spent on Trumps campaign for president According to Open Secrets donation and fundraising data for Donald Trumps successful 2024 campaign for the presidency, America PAC was the third largest donor to the campaign. Open Secrets data shows that the Musk-founded pro-Trump PAC raised around $263.5 million and spent around $261.3 million on the campaign. What is Elon Musks net worth? More than $260 million in political campaign funding might seem like a ton of money, to us regular people. But its just a drop in the bucket for the worlds richest man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USA TODAY reported in February that Musk vastly outranks all other superbillionaires after the Wall Street Journal posted a list of the most ultrarich people on earth at this time. The list valued his net worth at $419.4 billion. The new superbillionaire report, first published by the Wall Street Journal via researcher Altrata, showed Musk vastly outpacing the likes of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, USA TODAY reported. Musk, who has ownership stakes in Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, has also served key roles with PayPal, Neuralink, and more. 'Superbillionaire' Musk: Elon vastly outranks all other 'superbillionaires' in new report on richest people Special elections in Florida: America PAC is behind these candidates According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission this week, NBC and The New York Times, Musk is bringing his super PAC prowess to local elections in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you didnt know, there are two upcoming special elections for which early voting is currently taking place for Floridas 1st and 6th Congressional Districts. Election day for these special elections is next week, on April 1, 2025. The America PAC is supporting the republican candidates for each race. America PAC, which has not filed a financial disclosure form yet this year but was almost entirely funded by Musk last year, is spending $20,000 on texting services to boost Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in the 1st Congressional District and state Sen. Randy Fine in the 6th District, NBC reported, after the New York Times broke the news of the Federal Election Commission filing. Although $20,000 pales in comparison to the amount of funding the PAC collected and paid back out to Trumps campaign for president, its a sign that Musk is likely paying attention to the special elections in Florida. When are special elections in Florida? Heres whos running Floridas special elections for its 1st and 6th Congressional District seats were left open after the Republicans re-elected to those seats were tapped to join the Trump administration. Both elections will be held on April 1, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floridas 6th Congressional District seat was left open by Mike Waltz, who held the seat from 2019 through 2024. He was re-elected for his seat in November 2024, but left it vacant when Trump selected him to be the 29th National Security Adviser in January. Before Waltz, now-second-term Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held this seat. The race for the 6th District is between seasoned Florida politician Randy Fine, who Musks PAC is backing in the race. Fine who served four terms in the Florida House of Representatives before being elected to the states Senate nabbed the Republican nomination for his special primary election after gaining Trumps support. Trump encouraged him to run in the Congressional District race, although he lives in Brevard County (which is not included in Floridas 6th Congressional District). Fines opponent, Democratic candidate Josh Weil, is what some voters would consider a regular person. Weil is not a career politician and calls himself a proud progressive who champions the the thousands of Floridians who believe in the power of regular people over partisan political games. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 1st District, the seat was left open by former Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, who resigned when he was tapped to join the Trump administration as the U.S. Attorney General. Gaetz later withdrew himself from consideration for attorney general and Trump selected Pam Bondi for the position. Chief Financial Officer for the state of Florida Jimmy Patronis is the Republican candidate for this race, now backed by Musks America PAC. The Democratic candidate running against him is Gay Valimont, who announced earlier this month that her campaign has secured $6.7 million in funding. Valimont ran against Gaetz for the same seat in November. Contributing: Jim Little, Pensacola News-Journal; Collin Bestor, Northwest Florida Daily News; Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida special elections: Candidates Elon Musk's PAC is backing Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and his top aides used an encryption app that auto-deletes messages to communicate about the illegal immigration crisis, according to CBS News Colorado. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Australia's conservative opposition leader Peter Dutton is a former police detective who gained a reputation during his years in government for his tough stance on border security and as a vocal critic of China. During his party's three years out of power, Dutton has evolved into a less confrontational and more responsive political leader, said Monash University political expert Zareh Ghazarian. He presented himself as a tough leader. But the more hes spent time in opposition, the more he has built his leadership repertoire, Ghazarian said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dutton has signaled that his international priorities would differ from those of recent prime ministers if his party wins elections. Australian prime ministers are expected to make their first overseas trips to Asia, usually heading to Indonesia to underscore the importance of that bilateral relationship with a near neighbor. Dutton said this month he planned to go first to the United States to meet President Donald Trump and secure preferential trade terms. I do believe that if there's a change of government, I will be able to work with the Trump administration Mark 2 to get better outcomes for Australians, Dutton told the Lowy Institute international policy think tank in Sydney. Conflict with China Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dutton received a rebuke from Beijing in 2019 when he attacked the Chinese Communist Party in a speech with accusations of directing cyberattacks, stealing intellectual property and suppressing free speech. We categorically reject Mr. Duttons irrational accusations against China, which are shocking and baseless, the Chinese Embassy in Australia said in a statement. China-Australia relations have improved since current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government was elected in 2022. China has lifted a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that cost Australian exporters 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year in the final years of the previous conservative government. Beijing also lifted a ban on minister-to-minister contacts. We will cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in the national interest," Albanese often says of his administration's relationship with Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Dutton says he would improve Australias relations with Beijing even further with a tough and uncompromising approach. I dont believe that Pesident Xi (Jinping) with the strength of his leadership respects a weak and incompetent Australian prime minister, Dutton said. Dutton has accused Albanese of self-censorship in dealing with China. He described Albanese's reaction to three Chinese warhsips virtually circumnavitaging Australia in February in a show of China's military reach as the "weakest, most limp-wristed response you could see from a leader. Australia complained the Chinese gave insufficient notice of live-fire exercises off the Australian coast that forced commercial airline flights between Sydney and New Zealand to divert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing responded that Australia had made "unreasonable accusations and said the naval exercise had complied with international law. Record in government The 54-year-old belongs to the most conservative faction of his conservative Liberal Party. Since he was first elected to the Federal Parliament in 2001, he has held several ministerial roles including the key security portfolios of defense and home affairs, in which he established a public image as an uncompromising and confrontational politician. As minister for immigration and border protection from 2014, Dutton oversaw Operation Sovereign Borders, a military-run blockade of Australias northern ocean approaches that largely ended the trafficking of asylum seekers by people smugglers in dilapidated fishing boats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australia has been accused of shirking its obligation to resettle such refugees by sending boat arrivals to Australian-funded immigration camps on the poor island nations of Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Dutton has said is political outlook is shaped by almost a decade working in the Queensland state police force, which he joined at 19. He worked in the drug and sexual crime squads. I think its a bit of a police trait and its dealing with a problem thats before you and then moving on to the next one and trying to deal with it efficiently, Dutton told a TV profile in 2023. Hilary Perkins was the Food and Drug Administrations top attorney for less than 36 hours before she resigned. Perkins joined the Department of Justice in 2019 as a career lawyer, where she defended the positions of both administrations she served in the basic tenet of the job. When Johns Hopkins surgeon and researcher Marty Makary was nominated to lead FDA, he picked Perkins to be chief counsel. But within hours of her promotion being made public, she suddenly found herself the target of online attacks instigated by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) over her role defending the Biden administrations policies on the availability of the abortion drug mifepristone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marty Makary is trying to sneak a Biden abortion lawyer into a top leadership position at FDA. I cant imagine anyone who would be more at odds with President Trumps agenda, Hawley wrote on the social platform X. Hawley also pointed to legal briefs Perkins wrote where she defended the administrations COVID-19 vaccine mandates. I cant understand why Marty Makary would want someone who used the government to IMPOSE vaccines on millions of Americans and served as a Biden abortion lawyer to be his chief counsel. It calls into question his judgment, Hawley wrote. Perkins told The Hill she reached out to Hawley and his team multiple times for a meeting prior to Makarys confirmation vote, but was either turned down or did not hear back. Ultimately, she said she resigned because she didnt want to be an obstacle to Makary getting confirmed, as Hawley was threatening to vote against his nomination in committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A representative for Hawley did not return a request for comment. A representative from the Senate Health Committee did not respond to a request for comment. Republicans hold a one vote majority in the committee, so Hawleys vote was considered crucial for Makary to advance if all Democrats voted against him. At the hearing, Hawley said he had decided to vote for Makary because Perkins resigned. Makary advanced through committee with two Democrats voting in favor and was confirmed Tuesday when he picked up votes from a trio of Democrats. Perkins said she was surprised at Hawleys attacks, especially since she had already been vetted by the Trump administration before she was offered the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not a Senate confirmed nominee. Im just a staffing decision, you know, Im just a lower level staffing decision by the White House, Perkins said. Perkins said she is a conservative Christian who is personally opposed to abortion, but she had an obligation under the oath she took to defend the priorities of her bosses at the administration. She noted some of the administrations health officials, notably Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., previously expressed abortion-rights views and were still nearly always unanimously confirmed by Republicans. Perkins said she didnt set the Biden administrations policies or advocate for them. Even though she joined the Justice Department during the first Trump administration and voted for Trump in the 2020 election, she said she did not consider quitting when Joe Biden won. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an attorney, Im . not opining on whether abortion, for example, is right or wrong. Thats not my job. My job as an attorney is to simply argue the governments legal positions, she said. DOJs policy is that attorneys must sign briefs regardless of their personal views. You cant opt out of cases that you personally disagree with. In the mifepristone case, the Biden administration was defending the current access to the drug after being sued by anti-abortion groups and physicians. The administration argued the plaintiffs had no legal standing to sue, and the Supreme Court ultimately agreed and dismissed the case in June. The plaintiffs were represented by Hawleys wife, Erin, an attorney for the conservative Christian group Alliance Defending Freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perkins said she considered herself nonpartisan, so even though she may have personally objected to the Biden administrations position, her job was to defend it. Indeed, a memo issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi on the day she took office said the job of a DOJ attorney is to zealously defend the interests of the United States. The memo stated DOJ attorneys do not have the latitude to substitute personal political views or judgments for those that prevailed in the election. Bondi went further and suggested that any attorney who declines to sign a brief or appear in court or otherwise delays or impedes the Departments mission will be disciplined, if not fired. Since the start of the administration, many DOJ lawyers have been purged or reassigned, while others have resigned as the White House exerts greater control over the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perkins said she worked on five abortion pill-related cases across both the Trump and Biden administrations. In all but one of them, she defended the FDA against abortion-rights groups that wanted to ease restrictions on mifepristone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nicolas Sarkozy should be jailed for seven years for being the instigator of a corrupt deal with the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, prosecutors said on Thursday. The three financial prosecutors also requested that the former French president pay a 300,000 (250,000) fine and be banned for five years from holding elected office for his role in the alleged embezzlement scandal. A very dark picture of a part of our republic has been painted, said prosecutor Sebastien de la Touanne as he entered the final stretch of the closing arguments at the 12-week trial in Paris, due to end on April 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Sarkozy, 70, who was president from 2007-2012, is accused of taking money from Gaddafi, who died in 2011, to fund his election campaign in return for giving the Libyan leader diplomatic support. He denies the charges. He was already convicted and jailed for one year in a separate influence-peddling case, a sentence he is currently serving with an electronic tag rather than in prison. The prosecutors also called for a six-year prison sentence for Claude Gueant, Sarkozys former right-hand man, and a 100,000 fine, and a 150,000 fine for Brice Hortefeux, his former interior minister. Sarkozy said he will continue to fight tooth and nail for the truth - YOAN VALAT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The charges of corruption, concealing misappropriated public funds, illegal campaign financing and criminal conspiracy carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and 375,000 in fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the prosecution depicted Mr Sarkozy as the veritable decision-maker and sponsor of an inconceivable, unheard-of and indecent agreement with Gaddafi. Frantic quest for funding Mr de la Touanne accused Sarkozy of a frantic quest for funding to satisfy a consuming political ambition and said that only a prison sentence and a fixed fine would be capable of protecting society. Prosecutors argued that in exchange for suitcases of cash, Sarkozy rehabilitated Gaddafis international image by inviting him to a lavish state visit in Paris, looked into clearing the name of the Lockerbie bombing mastermind, Libyan Abdullah Senussi, and offered Gaddafi the means to spy on opponents. A pact of corruption was indeed concluded, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In particular, they contended that a diary found in a suitcase belonging to Shukri Ghanem, Gaddafis former prime minister and petrol minister, mentioning several million dollars in cash sent to Sarkozy was a smoking gun. All-consuming ambition Behind the image of the public figure, the judicial investigations reveal the silhouette of a man driven by all-consuming personal ambition, ready to sacrifice essential values such as probity, honesty and uprightness on the altar of power, said Quentin Dandoy, one of the three prosecutors, on Tuesday evening. Mr Sarkozy criticised the recommended sentence on social media as outrageous. Maintaining that the fundamental principles of criminal law had been flouted for 13 years, he said he felt that the falsity and violence of the accusations and the outrageousness of the sentence demanded were only intended to mask the weakness of the alleged charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will therefore continue to fight tooth and nail for the truth, and to believe in the wisdom of the court, he went on. His defence will plead on April 10, the expected last day of the trial, which continues. 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. An ex-Department of Defense employee has been sentenced for illegally removing documents from a secure facility. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, in March 2020, Margaret Anne Ashby, 26, of Henderson, Nev. was hired by a Department of Defense component agency as a civilian employee. The agency is located in the Southern District of Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that Ashby had a Top Secret security clearance as part of her job. TRENDING STORIES: Court documents revealed that from February 2022 to May 2022, Ashby, without authorization, knowingly removed documents and materials containing classified information described in the plea agreement as concerning the national defense or foreign relations of the United States. She did so with the intent to retain them at unauthorized locations, including her residence in the Southern District of Georgia and in digital files saved via a personal computing device located in the Southern District of Georgia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashby pleaded guilty to unauthorized removal/retention of classified documents. On Thursday, a judge sentenced the 26-year-old to three years in prison with three years of supervised release and a $15,000 fine. This sentence should serve as a reminder to all personnel who handle sensitive government documents that their proper handling is of paramount importance, said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. Margaret Ashby is being held accountable for violating the laws that govern those entrusted to work with these materials. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is concerned about the Trump administrations recent cuts to research grants through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Im worried on a lot of fronts, Sebelius said during The Hills Health Next Summit. The kinds of cuts that were just announced are devastating and will set science back and set research back. The Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency have eliminated whole agencies and made sweeping cuts to others over the past two months, including to NIH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, the Trump administration announced it would cancel all NIH grants on equity issues, which include work studying HIV and black maternal health. The administration also recently issued a 15 percent cap on indirect costs of NIH grants. Indirect funding in NIH grants is used to cover overhead and administrative costs at universities and other research institutions. A federal judge recently ordered the NIH to stop its plans to cut its grant funding amount to universities, hospitals and other institutions following a number of lawsuits from state Democratic attorneys general and the Association of American Medical Colleges. Still, many in the scientific community are concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Academics, health care workers and scientists have all opposed the cuts, arguing that they will harm Americans in many ways including by pausing lifesaving and life-sustaining research on diseases like cancer. Sebelius said that in her home state of Kansas, both Kansas State University and the University of Kansas have started losing millions of dollars on the health side and in research. That has a decades-long impact, she said. Sebelius said the cuts also threaten to erase the U.S.s standing as the leader and gold standard of research. She noted that China is eager to take the U.S.s place as the worlds leader of scientific research if given the opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will gladly step into any vacuum we create, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The White House doubled down Wednesday on its insistence that its top national security officials did nothing wrong when they discussed a pending military strike in Yemen over a commercial messaging app known as Signal. Former military and intelligence officials, though, say there's little doubt such exchanges never should have happened that way and warned that U.S. troops could have been put at risk. Here's what to know about White House claims on the Signal flap: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 'Nonsense': Atlantic editor-in-chief blasts Trump administration 'smokescreens' on Signal chat Experts say the timing of pending military strikes is closely held sensitive information President Donald Trump and his top aides aren't denying that they started a chat group in Signal to talk about a pending military attack on Yemen. PHOTO: Signal app on a smartphone is seen on a mobile device screen, Mar. 25, 2025, in Chicago. (Kiichiro Sato/AP) Instead, they are insisting the information wasn't classified because the data didn't include the location of the strikes or specific sources and methods. They also say they are looking into how the journalist -- The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg -- was inadvertently added to the chain. "No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS," national security adviser Mike Waltz wrote on X on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a similar statement, noting that no location data or sources or methods were compromised. In interviews, several former defense and intelligence officials insisted that an exact location of a strike isn't needed for the information to be damaging to national security. According to The Atlantic, Hegseth gave a detailed account of which weapon systems would be used at specific times, including F-18 fighter jets and Tomahawk missiles. The White House confirmed that the texts appear to be authentic. "THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP," Hegseth wrote at one point, noting the military time of 1415 (2:15 p.m.) for the planned strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts said those details are so sensitive that if leaked, they could put troops carrying out the strike in danger because it gives the adversary time to prepare to fight back. "It was 100 percent classified," said Darrell Blocker, a former CIA field operative and ABC News contributor, said of the reported text exchange, based on his three decades with a security clearance. MORE: Trump and The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg have gone back and forth for years Blocker added that Trump's national security team "failed the soldiers, diplomats and intelligence officers by not adhering to their own rules and orders." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABC News contributor Mick Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official and CIA officer, added that the location of a strike isn't the most sensitive detail for an enemy to have. "If leaked to the enemy, they know where they are," said Mulroy. "[Adversaries] just need to know when and what platform to be looking for." Former officials also questioned whether intelligence sources were compromised when Waltz reported in the chat that the enemy's "top missile guy" had walked into a building that collapsed after the attack. Charles Kupperman, a former deputy national security adviser during Trump's first term, said this detail most likely suggests the use of an overhead surveillance drone or signals intelligence like device-tracking technology. But it could also reveal the presence of assets on the ground in Sanaa tracking the movements of senior Houthi officials, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For us to know where this gentleman was at that exact moment means you've got real-time intelligence," Kupperman said. 'Attack plans' can be just as sensitive as 'war plans,' experts say Trump's top aides also seized on The Atlantic describing the online chat group as discussing "war plans," though in subsequent reporting it used the term "attack plans." "The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT "war plans," wrote White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on X on Wednesday. "This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin." In general, experts say "war plans" might refer to broad plans for conflict for another country, such as invading Iraq or responding to aggression from China. Attack plans might refer to a more specific, targeted military operation like the strikes in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump admin's shifting explanations for how a journalist was added to Signal chat Both are highly sensitive and shouldn't be discussed on commercial apps not cleared for classified information, they say. "One could actually make the argument that attack plans are more sensitive because they are more detailed and specific on time, place and manner," Mulroy said. Signal isn't supposed to be used to send sensitive, non-public data In a press conference Wednesday, Leavitt also insisted that it was OK for government officials to use Signal. "This is an approved app. It's an encrypted app," she said. Signal is indeed considered a highly secure, encrypted app that can be used by government personnel. But, according to a recent policy posted by the Pentagon, it does not appear to be authorized to transmit sensitive information, like the timing of a military strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Defense Department did not respond to questions about current policy and whether exceptions were made that would have allowed Hegseth to use the app for sensitive information. According to the October 2023 Defense Department memo, Signal and other messaging apps are regarded as unclassified and personnel are told not to use them for transmitting anything regarded as "non-public." Gen. Timothy Haugh, head of the National Security Agency, told lawmakers on Wednesday that U.S. personnel have been advised on the risks involved in using Signal. "What we've done is we put out an advisory on how to use the Signal app and other encrypted applications because we do encourage our employees and their families to use encrypted apps," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if the advisory was because there are risks to that app, Haugh responded: "There are." Brian O'Neill, a former CIA executive and intelligence veteran, said Signal wouldn't be the approved venue to discuss a target walking into his girlfriend's building that later collapsed. MORE: Messages with Yemen war plans inadvertently shared with reporter: A timeline of the Signal mishap If it's not a revelation of sources and methods, it comes "really close," he said. "It's nothing that would be news to adversaries," O'Neill continued. "But regardless, this is not the channel to convey that sort of info." Former intel officials not buying White House dismissals of Signal chat risks originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former senior national security officials and Democratic lawmakers rejected on Wednesday the Trump administrations continued assertion that detailed U.S. airstrike plans inadvertently shared with a journalist were not classified. They cited The Atlantic's publication of a full transcript of the Signal text exchange where the administration's top national security officials discussed planned U.S. airstrikes in Yemen. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the magazine, shared the precise timing of planned fighter jet and drone launches, when bombs would hit their targets and disclosed a U.S. attempt to kill a "target terrorist." Hegseth, though, did not include specific targeting locations for the strikes in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But four former national security and intelligence officials who handled legal matters told NBC News that information about an upcoming military attack on an adversary including types of weapons and the timing of airstrikes is considered classified. I dont think there is any question that we are dealing with classified information, Leon Panetta, a former CIA director and defense secretary, told MSNBC on Tuesday. Plans for possible military operations are kept strictly secret because the Defense Department recognizes that if that information were to leak to an adversary, that it would not only cost lives but would damage our national security, Panetta said. The three other officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing fears of retaliation, said it would be difficult to imagine a scenario in which details of a planned military operation would not be considered classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharing sensitive information in advance of an operation could put pilots flying fighter jets or the crews of warships launching missiles at risk or even imperil the mission itself, former officials said. According to a Pentagon manual on classification, significant military plans or intelligence matters are defined as secret and their disclosure could cause serious damage to operations, assets or individuals. In a 2014 guide, the national intelligence directors office said that information providing indication or advance warning that the U.S. or its allies are preparing an attack should be treated as top secret. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe appear during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on Tuesday. Detailed timeline of attacks The publication of the full group chat confirmed Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldbergs initial account that Hegseth posted details about the imminent military operation on the commercial, open-source Signal app, unaware that Goldberg had been inadvertently invited into the text chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package), one of the texts says, referring to U.S. F-18 fighter jets launching to apparently conduct the first set of attacks. 1345: Trigger Based F-18 1st Strike Window Starts. Hegseth also posted the planned sequencing of the aerial attack, describing the timing of a second takeoff by F-18 warplanes and noting that by 2:15 p.m., drones would reach their targets. He wrote, (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP). There was also a discussion in the chat about a strike on a Houthi leader that appeared to be based on detailed intelligence regarding his whereabouts. Hegseth posted on the chat, "(Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME)" National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who set up the Signal text chat and mistakenly invited Goldberg, wrote that a strike hit a top missile guy who was identified as he was walking into his girlfriends building, according to the transcript. A U.S. strike caused the building to collapse, the text says. An error that caused no harm For a second day, Trump administration officials continued to downplay the incident, portraying it as a mistake that caused no harm and claiming no classified information had been disclosed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by NBC News Peter Alexander at a news conference how the administration would characterize the group chat, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: I would characterize this thread as a policy discussion, a sensitive policy discussion ... amongst high-level Cabinet officials and senior staff. Asked whether anyone would lose his or her job over, Leavitt said President Donald Trump continues to have confidence in his national security team. To support their argument that the chat included no classified information, Trump administration officials said the text chain included no details about intelligence sources or methods, the specific locations of military targets or the names of military units involved in the attack. There were no sources, methods, locations or war plans that were shared, Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, testified to the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. Democratic push back But Democratic lawmakers, including those who have served in the military, argued those assertions made little sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a combat veteran, argued that the release of the timing of the strikes and the aircraft used if it had been obtained by the Houthis or their longtime backer, Iran would have endangered U.S forces and limited the effectiveness of the operation. Crow noted that the Houthis have advanced air-defense systems and that they have used to shoot down multiple U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones, one of the weapons employed in the strikes in Yemen. He said it was outrageous that the administration was not accepting responsibility for its actions. It is a leadership failure, and thats why Secretary Hegseth, who undoubtedly transmitted classified sensitive operational information via this chain, must resign immediately, Crow said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com One of the key questions surrounding the state's next spending plan is when and how to fund a voter-approved ballot measure that directs the government to allocate $350 million toward specified public safety needs. Proposition 130 created the Peace Officer Training and Support Fund to increase annual pay for law enforcement officers; provide one-time hiring, recruitment, and retention bonuses for law enforcement officers; hire additional officers to address specific geographic locations or types of crime; provide ongoing training to new and veteran officers in areas, such as the use of force, restraints, and physical fitness; and establish a one-time death benefit of $1 million for each law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Voters approved the measure by more than five percentage points last November. But with a $1.2 billion general fund shortfall, state officials are struggling with how much of the voter-mandated initiative the state can afford. Gov. Jared Polis made it clear in his State of the State address in January that he wants some progress in the upcoming budget in funding the measure. In particularly, the governor noted Proposition 130's provision to give widows of fallen officers $1 million. One of the governors guests at the State of the State was Annalise Dunn, the widow of Golden officer Evan Dunn, who was struck and killed while responding to a highway crash on Nov. 6 last year. Authorities said a man drove into the crash scene, slamming into a parked truck and pushing it into another car, pinning both Dunn and another officer. We now have the opportunity to implement this as quickly as possible to ensure no family of a law enforcement officer lost in the line of duty needs to worry about their needs being met, Polis said. And we can work together to ensure that the family of Golden Officer Evan Dunn, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on Nov. 6, receives this support that was passed the day before his death. One solution lawmakers are considering is to use a portion of the general funds to cover the first year's funding, set at $35 million. But that won't happen until the 2026-27 budget, according to a bill draft reviewed by the Joint Budget Committee Monday. How it would be funded after that depends on the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association or PERA. The state pension plan receives an annual payment of $225 million, established through legislation in 2018. According to the bill draft, the payment would be reduced to $190 million per year to cover the $35 million after the first year. However, this reduction would not impact PERA, as it would continue to earn investment income and interest of at least that amount every year, beginning a year from now. That's because the bill directs the state treasurer to issue a one-time payment of $500 million to PERA on July 1, 2026 from the general fund reserve. JBC Chair Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village, told reporters recently that it was his intention to use the reserve to cover the first year's cost. While Monday night's discussion was primarily focused on financing, some members including Bridges and Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver expressed discomfort about the policy itself. They did not elaborate on those concerns. Featured Local Savings Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, initially hesitated, stating it would be better to wait a year for the interest to accrue before the first distribution. "This is a brilliant way to get a stable return over a certain number of years," Bridges said, giving PERA the opportunity to earn more or possibly less money. It's up to the retirement fund to make $35 million every year, and Bridges said PERA committed to taking a lower payment every year under the proposal. Lively said the question is what happens after the first decade since Proposition 130 would be paid for after 10 years. PERA's $225 million would return to its original level, and the pension plan would continue to earn interest on the $500 million investment. "Can't we leave that to the smart people who will follow us in 10 years?" Bridges said. So, what does that do to the general fund reserve? The bill prohibits future legislature from lowering the general fund reserve below $1 billion should that happen, the PERA distribution would be reduced. Director Mark Ferrandino of the Office of State Planning and Budgeting also weighed in, stating that the administration is comfortable with the mechanism outlined in the bill. "I felt strongly a billion dollars is the right number," he told the JBC. Both Sirota and JBC Vice-Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, supported the idea of a sunset or repeal, although Sirota also stated that, since the ballot measure was silent on the lifetime of the death benefit, she favored keeping it in place. The JBC did not reach a decision on Monday regarding whether to sponsor the bill, as it needed more time to review the proposal. Proposition 130 did not specify a timeline for initiating the program. That means the budget panel doesn't have to run the bill alongside the budget bill that is expected to be introduced next week. Not doing the spending until 2026-27 may not be a significant issue, Ferrandino said. But there's one family who is due to receive those survivor benefits, and he wondered whether that should be held up. Bridges said the proposal will leave PERA in a better financial situation and cover what the voters asked for, albeit starting a year from now. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Watkins asks for more financial information from Democratic opponent David Walters on Aug. 29, 1990. (Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society) OKLAHOMA CITY Former U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins died Wednesday in Stillwater. He was 86. Watkins represented the states Third Congressional District, known as Little Dixie, for 20 years as both a Democrat and as a Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also served in the Oklahoma Senate and made two unsuccessful gubernatorial attempts as a Democrat and independent. Watkins, who was born in Arkansas, grew up in poverty, said his son, Wade Watkins. He lived in a chicken house a portion of the time he attended Oklahoma State University, where he met his wife of 61 years, Lou, in the campus library over Christmas break. The former congressman overcame a stutter by giving speeches in empty barns, Wade Watkins said. He became state president of the FFA and president of the OSU student body, Wade Watkins said. He earned a bachelors degree in 1960 and a masters in 1961 from OSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OSU Interim President Jim Hess said the university lost a leader and a friend. He left an indelible mark on this university, his alma mater, through his generosity and vision for economic prosperity for Oklahoma businesses and students, Hess said. Watkins wasnt the slickest politician, but his peers knew that if he said something, it was from the heart, Wade Watkins said. My dad always did what was in the best interest of his constituents, Wade Watkins said. He had a great memory and could remember constituents from years ago, Wade Watkins said. He was one of the most heartfelt, amazing men I knew, Wade Watkins said. I feel very fortunate to have had him as a dad and the lessons that I was able to witness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said Watkins had a heart for students and spent his life making Oklahoma better. Oklahoma is better thanks to his contributions, Hilbert said. The CareerTech in Wetumka, a center for international trade development at OSU and a reservoir south of McLoud all bear his name. Watkins is survived by his wife Lou, two children and four grandchildren. Visitation is set for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Strode Funeral Home, 610 S. Duncan Street, in Stillwater. Funeral services are set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Wes Watkins Center for International Trade Development on the OSU campus. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A former Avon police trainee and Rochester resident pleaded guilty to child pornography and cyberstalking charges on Wednesday. Casey Medina, 33, was found in possession of 360 images of child pornography, including at least one image involving a prepubescent child subjected to violence, after a search warrant was executed on his cellphone. Mother of 3-month-old mauled to death pleads guilty to manslaughter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation conducted by the Onondaga County Sheriffs Office, Medina was also found to have shared and posted edited sexually explicit images to public websites and social media platforms between May and August 2024. Images showed the victims face superimposed onto sexually explicit images falsely showing her engaged in sexual activity. Over 26 days in May 2024 and times during June and July 2024, Medina sent and recruited others to send the victim threatening and harassing text messages threatening to kill, kidnap, and sexually abuse her. Messages sent to the victim also included edited sexually explicit images of her. Medina is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 4, 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 RochesterFirst. Former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss has had all claims against her dismissed by the landlord of her Atlanta restaurant that alleged she owed unpaid rent. According to court documents filed last week, Montego Pacific, Inc. told the court it was no longer pursuing claims against Burrus. The basis for [Montegos] claims against [Burruss] was that she executed a personal guaranty of a commercial lease in favor of [Montego], a lawyer for Montego said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the original lawsuit, Montego Pacific Inc. said Burruss and the restaurant owed $154,139.17 in back rent. Montego Pacific Inc. said the restaurant also owed another $56,495.75 for repairs to the Premises and the 10% overhead fee, exclusive of interest. TRENDING STORIES: According to InTouch Magazine, the lawsuit will continue against Burrus Tucker Restaurant Group, run by Burruss and her husband, Todd Tucker, and Blaze Steakhouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burruss talked about the lawsuit earlier this week, saying that her name was added for publicity and the claims against her would be dropped shortly. It was just a disagreement between us and the landlord, Burruss said. But to let you know, they had to drop my name off soI think they just put my name on there anyway so that they could get publicity for the lawsuit. The rest is being worked out because it really was a disagreement about some repairs that they made and then who would be responsible for it, Burruss said. So, we were just going back and forth about that, basically, and thats why it turned out into what it turned into. But it looks like were gonna come to some agreement so itll be fine. Burruss, who was one of the longest-tenured cast members on RHOA, opened the restaurant in southwest Atlanta in 2020 with her husband. Burruss and her husband also have a comfort food restaurant called Old Lady Gang that opened in Castleberry Hill in 2017. A former U.S. Postal Service employee pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court in Boston to embezzling over $18,000. Christine Hedges, 47, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs scheduled sentencing for June 18. Hedges was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. Hedges began working for the postal service around 2020, most recently as a Lead Sales & Service Associate in Brockton, Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From approximately October 2021 to August 2023, Hedges engaged in a scheme to steal USPS funds for her personal use, prosecutors said. As part of this scheme, Hedges generated, for her own use, no-fee money orders without a customer physically present at her customer window and which a customer did not request. Hedges also stole cash from her USPS workstation and often tried to conceal her theft by replacing the cash with these fraudulent money orders, prosecutors said. Hedges generated approximately 64 fraudulent no-fee money orders, prosecutors said. Of those no-fee money orders, 11 were made out to her boyfriend or a family member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From on or about Aug. 1, 2023 to on or about Aug. 14, 2023, video surveillance from above Hedges workstation showed Hedges on at least one occasion removing cash from her assigned drawer and putting it in her pocket, prosecutors said. In all, Hedges stole approximately $18,939 in postal funds. For the charge of theft of government money, Hedges faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Former Kyiv City Council deputy Denys Komarnytskyi, who is implicated in a case of land appropriation in Kyiv, escaped abroad with the help of police officers and former unofficial employees of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU). The suspect was escorted to the border in a vehicle marked with a "200" sign, typically used for transporting fallen Ukrainian soldiers. Source: investigation by Ukrainska Pravda Details: Ukrainska Pravda law enforcement sources said that four individuals with SSU identification, two employees of the Department of Strategic Investigations of Zakarpattia Oblast and a local deputy were involved in Komarnytskyis escape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Security Service stated that the individuals who possessed the relevant identification were no longer affiliated with the SSU at the time of the illegal actions. The law enforcement sources told Ukrainska Pravda that these individuals had been stripped of their status as unofficial SSU employees a week before Komarnytskyi's escape. Two officers of the National Police's Department of Strategic Investigations involved in smuggling the suspect across the border have been dismissed and served with a notice of suspicion. One of the key aspects of this "special operation" was that Komarnytskyi was transported to the border "under cover" of a camouflaged vehicle displaying a "200" sign, typically used for transporting fallen Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainska Pravda cites excerpts from the interrogation protocol of Komarnytskyis associate, Yurii Dovhalenko, who, according to law enforcement sources, admitted during questioning at the SSU a few days ago that he organised Komarnytskyis covert departure from Kyiv to the Ukrainian border, evading an extensive police search for the suspect in a large-scale land fraud scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Moreover, when we picked up Komarnytskyi and began moving towards the town of Khust [Zakarpattia Oblast], he informed us that a camouflaged vehicle with a '200' sign on the windscreen was also travelling ahead of us towards Khust and had already set off earlier. Throughout our journey, the main task of the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 was to report the presence of checkpoints along the route and, if there were any, to determine whether they were conducting inspections to check for Komarnytskyi in the vehicles, as he was wanted by National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a fact that had been repeatedly reported in the media. Moving in this formation and direction, the Toyota Land Cruiser 200 drove about 30 kilometres ahead of us, gathering intelligence on the situation. Ahead of it, the aforementioned camouflaged vehicle served as additional security, scouting for the presence of checkpoints or law enforcement officers along the route." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A photo from 2024 shows former Democratic state Sen. Mark Mullet, when he was running for governor. He's now running to be mayor of Issaquah after retiring from the Legislature. (Photo courtesy of Mark Mullet gubernatorial campaign) Contributions started rolling in within days of Mark Mullet launching his campaign for Issaquah mayor last December. By the end of the month, his haul was nearly $5,000. But Mullet may have to surrender that cash to the city because he violated an Issaquah law that says candidates can only fundraise in the same calendar year as the election for the office they seek. He jumped the gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mullet, the ex-state senator who ran unsuccessfully for governor last year, needed to wait until Jan. 1 since the mayors race is on the November ballot. As a penalty, he may be ordered to hand over the entirety of those December contributions $4,478.34 to the city treasury. A hearing on the matter is set for 9 a.m. April 11 in Issaquah Municipal Court. Theres no dispute of the facts. Were going to do whatever the judge tells us, said Mullet, who served on the Issaquah City Council from 2010 to 2013. We werent hiding anything. We were not aware of any city in the state having a rule like this. Mullet and City Councilwoman Lindsey Walsh are the only announced mayoral candidates thus far. Walsh is the council president and has served on the nonpartisan body since 2019. Walsh, a Democrat, supported Bob Ferguson in the gubernatorial race but Ferguson has endorsed Mullet in the mayoral race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Issaquah City Council passed the ordinance in May 2009 and it took effect on June 1 of that year. In addition to restricting when contributions can be collected, it imposed a $500 cap on donations. That same year, Mullet won his seat on the city council. He said he recalled the discussion on the city law focused on the contribution limit, not the timing for collections. On Wednesday, Walsh said she knew the rule and had to explain to supporters in December why she was not soliciting contributions until the new year. I think its important that if somebody is going to lead the city, they respect and follow the laws, she said. That is the way I am running my campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waylon Menzia, a community activist, filed a complaint with the city on Feb. 4, listing the dates and amounts of 12 contributions made to Mullet in December. Menzia noted the timing violated provisions of Chapter 1.30 of Issaquah Municipal Code. A police report says an officer reviewed campaign finance filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission and tallied $4,478 in contributions between Dec. 12 and 31. On Feb. 13, Lynn Moberly, the citys prosecuting attorney, filed a complaint in Issaquah Municipal Court accusing Mullet of the civil violation of Collecting Election Contributions Before Election Cycle. I was aware of the timeline in the code, Menzia said this week. Even though the monetary amount is not very much, it should be a reminder that you need to follow the rules and regulations of the place you hope to represent. DENVER (KDVR) A Fort Collins High School teacher was arrested after a police investigation uncovered an alleged sexual assault of a minor in 2022. The Fort Collins Police Services announced that David Miles, 49, was arrested on Thursday and booked into the Larimer County Jail on felony charges of sexual assault, sexual exploitation of a child, access with intent sexually exploitative material and sexual exploitation of a child, permitting child engagement in explicit sexual conduct. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, they received the report on Feb. 18 of sexual assault of a minor that occurred in 2022. Now an adult, the victim reported the incident in February. Over a month later, Miles is facing charges. After an investigation, police said they found that Miles started a conversation with the female victim, a juvenile at the time, through a smartphone app. The investigation found that Miles allegedly sent explicit pictures of himself, and they both exchanged explicit images. Police said Miles met the victim at her residence and had sexual contact with her. After the assault, police said the victim later recognized him as a teacher at Fort Collins High School. Following the report three years later, police obtained a search warrant for Miles cell phone and found evidence of the sexual assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on this case or similar incidents involving Miles is asked to contact Detective Matt Dean at (970) 221-6580. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MADISON, Miss. (WJTV) Madison police arrested three men and one woman after jewelry and cash were stolen from a home. Police responded to the Fairfield Subdivision around 5:00 p.m. on March 17. Through an investigation, police were able to identify several suspect vehicles that were involved in the crime. Woman arrested for embezzling from Rankin County small business The following day, investigators were notified that one of the vehicles was in the area of Ellijay, Georgia. The vehicle was located, and four suspects were detained. Police said investigators completed search warrants, and evidence of the crime was located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the four suspects waived extradition, they were transported back to Mississippi. They are being held at the Madison County Detention Center. Brayan Fernando Cruz Montanez (Courtesy: Madison PD) Jhojan Nicolas Rodriguez (Courtesy: Madison PD) Fabio Alexander Chisco Aidana (Courtesy: Madison PD) Tifanny Londono (Courtesy: Madison PD) The suspects were identified as Brayan Fernando Cruz Montanez, of Colombia; Jhojan Nicolas Rodriguez, of Colombia; Fabio Alexander Chisco Aidana, of Colombia; and Tifanny Londono, of Flushing, New York. All four suspects are being charged with burglary of a dwelling and conspiracy to commit a crime. They will be housed at the Madison County Detention Center as they await their initial appearance in the City of Madison Municipal Court. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Five candidates are vying to replace incumbent Councilman Ashby Foote for the Ward 1 seat on the Jackson City Council. Four of the Ward 1 candidates Jasmine Barnes, Rhoda Barnes, Jessica Carter and Stephen Thompson will face off in the Democratic primary on April 1. The winner of the Democratic primary election will face Foote and Independent candidate Grace Greene in the general election on June 3. The Clarion Ledger contacted all five of the Ward 1 candidates to answer questions regarding who they are, why they decided to run for office and what their positions are on issues that face Jackson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below is a look at their answers, which have been edited for length, style and clarity. Here's what you need to know about the race. Where is Jackson's Ward 1? Ward 1 is located in Northeast Jackson, starting as far south as LeFleur's Bluff with County Line Road and the Ross Barnett Reservoir serving as the northern boundary. Ward 1 includes neighborhoods such as Eastover, The Country Club of Jackson, Colonial Heights and Sheffield. Meet the independent city council candidates Ward 1 Councilman Ashby Foote listens during a meeting of the Jackson City Council in Jackson, Miss., on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Ashby Foote Since December 2014, Foote, 73, has served as Ward 1's councilman. He is married to his wife Suzie, and together they have four children and six grandchildren. Foote received a Bachelor's of Science in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He currently serves as the lone Republican on the council but decided to run as an Independent this year to encourage more voters to cast their ballot in the mayoral Democratic primary, which could potentially decide who Jackson's next mayor is. Why are you running?: I want to change the trajectory of Jackson in a positive way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are issues youd address in your ward if elected?: Blight, public safety, out-migration of citizens needs to be turned around, abandoned property, re-investment in Jackson from the private sector. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jacksons future? How would you solve that?: My campaign is focused on fighting blight because it involves many of the difficult issues that are frustrating Jacksons citizens and government. Blight undermines the confidence of citizens. It makes the jobs of law enforcement and the fire department even harder. It can be a haven for squatters, gangs, drug dealers and prostitution. Blight degrades the value of nearby neighborhoods and communities. It turns off potential investors and their investments. Blight is depressing for those who have to live near it or drive by it every day. Jackson has great potential but we must get blight under control to unleash the potential of the dreams and aspirations of its citizens. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: I do engage with the Mayor. I dont always agree on specific issues but I am anxious for Jackson to change its trajectory that has seen its population continue to drop during the 10 years I have been on the council. Blight and abandoned property has been my primary issue for the past year, and I think it is an issue that we can make a lot of progress on during the next several years. There were a number of blight bills proposed in the state legislative session this year and the state Speaker of the House set up a Select Committee on Revitalizing the Capital City, which is very encouraging that state leadership is engaged and wants to see Jackson succeed. The key factor at this point is trust between the officials that govern the city and the state. It is really that simple. Trust is the coin of the realm! Grace Greene is running as an Independent candidate for the Ward 1 seat on the Jackson City Council. Grace Greene Greene, 43, is an entrepreneur and is running for office for the first time. She is married to her husband Mason for 14 years. Together, they have four children, three daughters and one son. She is a Magna cum laude graduate of Mississippi College, with a Bachelor's of social work and a Spanish major. She also received a master's degree in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why are you running?: I am running because I love Jackson and want our city to thrive. Im running because the actions of the city council affect the daily lives of Jacksonians. I had two young children in diapers and no trash pickup for weeks because of the actions of the city council, reinforcing how vital their work is to all our lives. We often hear that Jackson is moving in the wrong direction. At the same time, I am around many talented people who love Jackson, and I really believe this city can thrive if we find ways to work together. Im running because I believe our city government should work for everyone we should all have reliable city services like trash pickup, water, sewer, and road maintenance. I believe citizens deserve transparency in government with elected officials who follow and uphold the law. I believe everyone should feel safe. As citizens of Jackson and Ward 1, we love our city and know that we can do better. We can attract businesses and homeowners and improve public works. We can rewrite the narrative about Jackson and ensure that it is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. What are issues youd address in your ward if elected?: Responsiveness and transparency to constituents: Ward 1 residents desire frequent and open lines of communication with their Council member. They deserve an elected official who responds to needs promptly and proactively and who is their advocate in city hall. I will keep residents of Ward 1 up to date on what is going on in city hall and make sure issues that are brought to my attention are dealt with in a timely manner. Promoting economic development: I will make sure business and construction permits are processed quickly so businesses do not face delays in opening or expanding. I will look at coordinating business improvement districts and obtaining grants to benefit the community Crime and safety: Everyone has the right to live a life free from violence. We must bring together law enforcement, community leaders, and citizens to implement violence prevention and reduction strategies to keep everyone safe. Infrastructure issues: Ward 1 has been affected by neglect of infrastructure, especially creek maintenance, which has led to much larger problems that should have been prevented. I will advocate for regular infrastructure maintenance, which will save property owners and the city money and avoid infrastructure failures like we have experienced. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jacksons future? How would you solve that?: If people do not feel safe in the city, then none of the other priorities matter. The city council should ensure that we have a well-trained and well-compensated police force that works in conjunction with other area law enforcement agencies. Our police should be held to the highest ethical standards while also encouraging community policing to prevent crime, not just respond to it. We should also seek a holistic approach to solving community problems like crime and homelessness including working with nonprofits, HOAs, neighborhood associations, and law enforcement agencies to implement best practices in crime and violence prevention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: The mayor and city council should be able to work together in a respectful manner, as they are all elected to serve their constituents and foster a thriving community. They should be able to have open dialogue and work towards collaborative solutions to proactively address opportunities and issues. I wont let petty grievances get in the way of working to improve Jackson and making decisions that are best for my constituents, no matter who is the next mayor. Meet the Democrats running for city council Jasmine Barnes is running as a Democratic candidate for the Ward 1 seat on the Jackson City Council. Jasmine Barnes Barnes, 32, currently works as a deputy director for the Mississippi Department of Transportation's internal audit division, according to her Linkedin. She received a Bachelors in Accountancy from the University of Mississippi and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at Millsaps College. She is married to her husband Dwight and together they have two children, Kingston and Atlas, and a French bulldog named Mulsanne. Barnes has never served as an elected official. Why are you running?: Im running because I love this city and the people of Jackson. This community has so much untapped potential, and Im committed to helping unlock it. Ive spent my life here, and the resilience of the people is unmatched. Jackson is facing significant challenges, but with my experience and strategic mindset, I know I can make a difference. My goal is to serve as a voice for the residents, ensuring their needs are met while holding the city accountable. I plan to work collaboratively with my fellow council members to ensure that our financial resources are managed effectively, and that Jackson operates at the standard it deserves. Through a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and community-focused policies, I will work to help guide Jackson toward a brighter, more prosperous future. At the core of my approach is fiscal responsibility, the foundation for addressing critical areas like infrastructure, public safety, economic development, and recreation. These issues are interconnected, and without a strong financial structure, Jackson cant reach its full potential. Infrastructure is essential for growth its the backbone that enables development to flourish. Public safety is paramount; we need effective policing, animal control, and traffic management to ensure residents feel secure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are issues youd address in your ward if elected?: The biggest issue Id focus on in Ward 1 is the citys financial structure, which affects all aspects of life. First, Id work with city administration and my council colleagues to ensure Jacksons financial compliance by the next budget cycle. This will address immediate funding issues that stem from past financial mismanagement. Once we stabilize the financial framework, we can start allocating funding to priority projects. Infrastructure urgently needs attention. Many neighborhoods have deteriorating streets, unsafe intersections, and outdated utilities. I work with the city to ensure funding through local, state, and federal sources and prioritize safety-related projects in the short and long term. Public safety is also a critical concern. We need increased police presence and resources for JPD. We must allocate funds for additional patrols, traffic control, officer retention, and technological upgrades. A safe community starts with addressing these concerns. Animal control is a priority. I will work with the city to develop a short-term plan to manage animals until we establish a fully functioning shelter, which weve lacked since 2021. We will assess funding needs, set a realistic timeline, and explore temporary solutions like clinics to address the population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jacksons future? How would you solve that?: The most important issue for Jacksons future is the citys financial structure. Without addressing the financial foundation, we cannot effectively solve other critical issues like infrastructure, public safety, economic development or recreation. My approach is rooted in fiscal responsibility, which will ensure that we prioritize funding where its most needed, and that every dollar spent is accounted for properly. I will work closely with my colleagues on the city council to identify vulnerabilities, review budgets for inefficiencies, and ensure that Jackson is on track for long-term financial stability. As a CPA and auditor, I bring a strong background in identifying risks and opportunities for cost savings while maximizing resources. Once we have the financial structure in place, we can invest in infrastructure repairs, boost public safety efforts, and foster economic growth. In addition, Id advocate for city leadership to engage with the state and federal government to secure funds, and push for legislative measures that directly benefit Jackson. With transparency and collaboration, we can build a future where residents feel confident in the city's leadership. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: I believe in constructive collaboration and open dialogue, and I would approach working with the mayor from a strategic standpoint, similar to my auditing framework. First, I would set a meeting with the mayor to express my perspectives as an auditor, highlighting key concerns and the areas where the city is vulnerable. I would then request a meeting with all department heads to gain insight into their operations and challenges, ensuring that I fully understand their perspectives. City council work sessions and committee meetings provide valuable opportunities for collaboration, and I would take full advantage of these sessions to engage with the mayor and my fellow council members. I believe in ensuring that no issue is presented in a council meeting that hasnt been thoroughly discussed or addressed behind the scenes, especially when it comes to tough decisions. The council meetings should serve as a formal record where residents can see their leaders are knowledgeable, prepared, and working cohesively to address issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id ensure I approach every issue from an informed standpoint and work with the administration to resolve any concerns that impact our residents. Communication is key, and Id ensure that I represent my wards interests while also supporting the citys overall goals. Rhoda Barnes is running as a Democratic candidate for the Ward 1 seat on the Jackson City Council. Rhoda Barnes Barnes, 74, is a retired educator, who has worked for both Jackson Public Schools and the Madison County Public School District. She also worked as an assistant professor at Mississippi Valley State University, Tennessee State University, University of Tennessee-Knoxville and was a graduate assistant at the University of California Santa Barbara where received a Ph.D. in educational psychology and child development. She received her Bachelor's degree in Special education from Jackson State University, as well as additional degrees in the field of education from Mississippi State University and Delta State University. Barnes has two daughter and two grandsons. She has never held a public office. Why are you running?: Im running to make Ward 1 stronger, safer, and more connected. Together, we can create real change. Lets build a better future for our families, our businesses, and our neighborhoods. As councilwoman I will work in collaboration with other members to: 1. Create an accessible and functional system that allows citizens to communicate their concerns. 2. Advocate for more transparency and accessibility to citizens. 3. Work diligently to take actions for a better Jackson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are issues youd address in your ward if elected?: I believe in empowering our community. There are skilled workers right here in Jackson who are ready and willing to be part of the solution. I would push for job training programs and local hiring initiatives, so that the people who live here are the ones helping rebuild our city. Most importantly, we need to keep the community informed every step of the way. People deserve to know where we stand, what is being done, and what the plan is moving forward. By being transparent and working together, we can rebuild not just our infrastructure, but trust in the process. This will not be solved overnight, but with focus, persistence, and cooperation, we can lay the groundwork for a stronger Jackson for ourselves and for future generations. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jacksons future? How would you solve that?: I believe the most important issue facing Jacksons future is infrastructure particularly our water system and roads. These are not just inconveniences; they are fundamental to the health, safety, and growth of our community. To solve this, we need a two-fold approach: securing funding and ensuring accountability. First, I would work to build partnerships with state and federal agencies to access the resources we need to make lasting improvements. But securing funds is only part of the solution we must make sure those funds are used effectively. That means setting clear priorities, being transparent with the public, and holding contractors accountable for quality work that stands the test of time. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: Engaging with the city and the mayor in a constructive manner starts with respect, communication, and a shared focus on whats best for Jackson. As a council member, I would approach every conversation with the mindset that we are partners in progress even when we dont see eye to eye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, I believe in building relationships. Taking the time to meet regularly, understand each others perspectives, and find common ground is key. I would make it a priority to keep those lines of communication open, not just during meetings but in everyday conversations. Second, I would focus on solutions, not blame. It is easy to point fingers when things go wrong, but progress comes from working together to fix the problems. My approach would be to bring ideas to the table, listen to other perspectives, and find practical paths forward. I also believe in accountability for myself, for the council, and for city leadership. Constructive engagement means asking tough questions when necessary, pushing for transparency, and ensuring decisions are made in the best interest of the people we serve. Jessica Carter is running as a Democratic candidate for the Ward 1 seat on the Jackson City Council. Jessica Carter Carter, 37, is running for office for the first time. Carter received a Bachelor's of science in Industrial and labor relations from Cornell University, as well as a law degree and Doctor of civil law from Louisiana State University. Her immediate family consists of her daughter, sister, mother and niece. Why are you running?: I chose to run for City Council in Ward 1 because I take civic engagement and electoral organizing very seriously. I have successfully worked with elected officials that have held local, state and federal positions and embodied working for and with the people they represent. The various campaign management and political education trainings and fellowships Ive participated in, and facilitated, taught me how the process should work, where it can fall apart, and how it can be revived with the right people working together. Through all the work Ive done, I see myself as part of the plan that could get things on the right track. No issue is solved overnight, but as the days, months and years of hard work pass things can steadily change, and I want to be an integral part of that change with the residents of Ward 1. What are issues youd address in your ward if elected?: First, communication is lacking where most residents dont know who to call in situations of need and improvement for their community. On my campaign, my phone number is and always will be accessible. As the Ward 1 city council member, I will be a representative, and I want residents to hold me accountable to needs, questions and concerns. As a career organizer, former business owner, and law school graduate, I understand how to communicate effectively to get things done. For example, I was the MS Organizing Director for a presidential campaign in 2020, where I had to constantly communicate with the national office, statewide volunteers and on the ground staff. This meant phone, email, social media, and whatever worked best to get the message across in a timely manner. Public works and water are very important for all of the citizens of Jackson. For example in Ward 1, we experience flooding and drainage issues, to the extent that many of my neighbors keep sandbags at their front doors to keep water from coming into their homes. Issues like this will be tantamount to what I will tackle, and my approach would be to explore further with Ward 1 residents to determine how we should resolve the issues that affect them. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jacksons future? How would you solve that?: Communication and dependability. Currently, residents talk about not knowing whats going on with the city, except for daily news coverage, and many have questions that have not been answered. Jackson needs new energy and new ideas. Im capable and energized to collaborate to move Ward 1, and Jackson as a whole to take action together. Taking action means sharing updates with the community. I envision utilizing technology to make sure that residents receive regular updates on whats happening in Ward 1. This would include community meetings, events, and updates related to construction, etc. This is something happening already in various municipalities nationwide, and theres no time like the present to introduce new ways like this to keep residents up to date on whats happening around them. Staying in the know does not stop there, this will be one element of a community approach that also involves regular Ward 1 public meetings where residents wont just listen, but engage with me around updates, questions, and concerns. As the Ward 1 representative, I wont disappear after the election. I will be accessible and there will be plenty of opportunities to talk to and engage as we continue to build a lasting relationship. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: I would engage with the city and mayor on a relational level. Each of us has a job to do, but in the end, were all people and have lives. It is important to know everyone that holds a position, not by their title, but by their name. I see this component as check-ins with the mayor, fellow city council members, and city employees on a regular basis where we arent beholden to an agenda or decision that needs to be made immediately. Simultaneously, we will be in a position to hold each other accountable and work together to achieve the goal of making sure the city is benefiting from our working together. Stephen Thompson is running as a Democratic candidate for the Ward 1 seat on the Jackson City Council. Stephen Thompson Thompson, 63, earned a Bachelor's of science in Accounting from Jackson State University. He currently works as a project manager. He has three daughters and has never served as an elected official. Why are you running?: I believe that I am well qualified to fill this position at this time. I have always considered myself a servant, from the time I volunteered to join the Marine Corps in college. I want to serve my community in this capacity. In addition, I have assisted many communities with their infrastructure projects, and I want to bring my experience to my hometown. This is the place I was born and raised in, and I am tired of seeing progress all around and not in my city. What are issues youd address in your ward if elected?: First, lets start with the roads. Many are in horrific condition. There are many programs to assist the city with street paving, lets tap into those funds to take care of our roads. Second, I will address vacant properties. They bring down the value of our homes and neighborhoods. I have assisted communities with grants on fighting blight. Third, I will address crime. We should support our police department with the personnel and equipment they need to do their job. It is an extremely difficult job which we ask them to perform, and I will support them any way I can. What issue do you think is most important/needs to be solved for Jacksons future? How would you solve that?: The first thing that comes to mind is crime. We have to stop violent crime in our community. That starts by giving our young people hope in the future they can believe in and raise a family in. And we also must address our failing infrastructure. Our roads need desperate repairs and many traffic signals dont work. Adequate infrastructure is what attracts businesses and homeowners to a community. How would you engage with the city/mayor in a constructive manner as a council member?: I understand that the mayor is the executive branch and runs the day-to-day. However, the council is the legislative branch and has some oversight. We create the budget and set priorities for the city. We have to approve contracts, so I would ensure that all procurement laws are observed. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Meet 6 candidates running in the Ward 1 Jackson City Council election JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) Four Mississippi children were found safe after a fatal shooting on the Coast. Jackson County deputies said Devin McDaniel, 20, of St. Martin, was shot and killed during a domestic fight at a home on Santa Fe Avenue on Wednesday, March 26. His mother, Rosland McDaniel, had been shot and was airlifted to a New Orleans hospital with life threatening injuries. Mississippi funeral director arrested after 3 bodies found in storage unit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said the suspect, Karis Hamilton, 24, had fled the scene before deputies arrived. He allegedly took his four children under the age of seven. They were found safe on Thursday, March 27 with a relative in Gautier. Karis Hamilton (Courtesy: Jackson County Sheriffs Dept.) Deputies arrested Hamilton Thursday morning in the Santa Fe neighborhood. He was charged with murder and domestic violence/aggravated assault. Hamilton is being held at the Jackson County Jail. 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. A federal judge on Tuesday stood by his previous decision that a collection of civic and voting rights groups lacked the ability to challenge the timing of Colorado Springs' municipal elections. Last summer, U.S. District Court Judge S. Kato Crews did not address whether the city's practice of holding local elections in odd-numbered years amounted to a discriminatory practice under the Voting Rights Act. Instead, he leaned on a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to find the plaintiff groups had not suffered an injury simply because they spent money on local voter education initiatives. "The City has held its municipal elections in April as early as 1873. The Plaintiff organizations were founded multiple decades (and sometimes over 100 years) later," Crews wrote, "meaning the City conducted April elections for numerous years before these organizations existed, and it has continued to hold April elections well after." In reaching his conclusion, Crews, an appointee of Joe Biden, accused the plaintiffs of attempting a "fabrication" of their standing to sue, and of making "reckless and untrue" arguments. Quickly, the plaintiffs asked Crews to reconsider both his conclusion and his rhetoric. "Plaintiffs take their ethical obligations seriously and did not intend to mislead the Court," their lawyers wrote. Around the beginning of 2022, Harvard's Election Law Clinic contacted multiple groups about suing the city Citizens Project, Colorado Latinos Vote, the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region and the Black/Latino Leadership Coalition. They alleged their voter education and get-out-the-vote activities required "additional effort" and diversion of resources in April of odd-numbered years that could be avoided if the city aligned its own election with the state's November election. The plaintiffs cited statistics showing Black and Hispanic participation in the city's April elections was roughly half that of White voters, but the gap substantially narrowed during November elections. The lawsuit sought to require Colorado Springs to move its elections to November because of the allegedly discriminatory effect of April elections on voters of color. Featured Local Savings "Plaintiffs do not contend that minority voters face scheduling hurdles in spring elections that white voters do not confront," the city's lawyers responded. "Plaintiffs instead contend that there is only one right election date specifically, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November and every other day is wrong." Crews, in his original order, largely relied on a less-than-one-month-old Supreme Court decision, Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. In that case, a group of medical associations opposed to abortion challenged the government's longstanding approval of the medication abortion drug mifepristone, even though they did not prescribe or dispense the drug themselves. An organization "cannot spend its way into standing simply by expending money to gather information and advocate against the defendants action. An organization cannot manufacture its own standing in that way," wrote Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. The plaintiffs, in asking Crews to reconsider, argued they never had the opportunity to specifically address the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine decision. Further, they contended they must divert money from other initiatives in order to engage voters about the city's springtime election which was not the same as the medical associations' spending to oppose mifepristone. Colorado Springs reiterated the plaintiffs' position was neither legally nor logically sound. "Plaintiffs want all governments (federal, state, and local) to conduct their affairs (i.e., elections) at (concurrent) times when it is most convenient and inexpensive for Plaintiffs to engage the public," responded attorneys for the city. "If standing arose from that desire, anyone could spend $2 on speech and sue because $1 would suffice if government only conducted its affairs in some other way." Addressing the request for reconsideration, Crews defended his original ruling by noting he has an obligation to address whether plaintiffs have standing to sue. Moreover, the recent Supreme Court decision "did not alter or reverse" the other precedent he relied upon, he wrote in the March 25 order. Crews did, however, soften his prior accusations against the plaintiffs' lawyers. He thanked them for clarifying the arguments he deemed "reckless and untrue," now saying he "understands Plaintiffs take their ethical obligations seriously and the air is now cleared on that issue." Crews also noted his characterization of the plaintiffs having "manufactured" their standing "attributes no bad faith on Plaintiffs part." The case is Citizens Project et al. v. City of Colorado Springs et al. There have been plenty of fires blazing in the background as Signalgate dominates the airwaves this week. Here are four stories you may have missed amid the fallout of that war plans group chat: 1. The Trump administration continues to disappear pro-Palestinian college students with no other justification. On Tuesday, Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, a Fulbright scholar from Turkey, was abducted in broad daylight by masked ICE agents and later transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana. Ozturk had previously co-authored an op-ed for her student newspaper criticizing the universitys response to Israels genocide in Gaza. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later refused to explain why she was arrested or had her visa revoked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2. The Department of Health and Human Services plans to fire 10,000 employees in a wave of massive DOGE-induced cuts. According to The Wall Street Journal, the cuts will include: 3,500 full-time employees from the Food and Drug Administrationor about 19% of the agencys workforce. 2,400 employees from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionor about 18% of its workforce. 1,200 employees from the National Institutes of Healthor about 6% of its workforce. 300 employees from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Servicesor about 4% of its workforce. We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said. 3. Trump withdrew Representative Elise Stefaniks nomination for U.N. ambassador to help the Republicans maintain their tiny House majority. Stefanikone of MAGAs favorite congressional attack dogsis likely to return to defend her New York district seat, which Democrats view as vulnerable. 4. Hamdan Ballal, the Palestinian Oscar-winning director of No Other Land, was blindfolded and brutally beaten by Israel Defense Force soldiers after they detained him for allegedly hurling rocks as Israeli settlers attempted to kill him on Monday night. Ballal recounted that he heard the IDF guards mention the word Oscar while beating him. I realized they were attacking me specifically, he said after being released to a hospital in the West Bank. When they say Oscar, you understand. When they say your name, you understand. Officials issued a warning Wednesday after a fox that attacked a person and two dogs recently tested positive for rabies. Dedham Animal Control says the attacks happened in the area of Sandy Valley Road on Sunday and Monday. The rabid animal has since been found and captured. Both the person and dogs who were attacked have all undergone the necessary rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rabies is a serious disease that can be prevented with prompt administration of rabies antibody and vaccine after an exposure. Any person who was exposed to the foxs saliva through a bite, scratch, or fresh wound or through contact with fox saliva to their eyes, nose, or mouth, has had a high-risk exposure to the animal If you or someone you know had contact with the fox, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-983-6800. Owners of pets who have had contact with the fox should contact their veterinarian. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin said the group chat that Trump officials inadvertently added a reporter to ahead of a recent bombing campaign in Yemen was possibly FAR MORE sensitive than Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims. The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported Monday that national security adviser Michael Waltz added him to a group chat earlier this month on the messaging app Signal, in which members discussed classified war plans, which Hegseth has denied. There is a debate about whether the operational details Hegseth shared in the Signal Group Chat were classified or not, Griffin wrote Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, adding that she has since surveyed a range of current and former US defense officials about this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griffin said these unnamed officials agreed war plans is not the right term but what was shared may have been FAR MORE sensitive given the operational details and time stamps ahead of the operation, which could have placed US military pilots in harms way. This information was clearly classified, one former senior defense official told her. Hegseth claimed Monday that Nobody was texting war plans on Signal, only for Goldberg who had initially withheld sharing some of the messages over concerns that their content was too sensitive to publish damning exchanges Wednesday suggesting otherwise. What Hegseth shared two hours ahead of the strikes were time sensitive attack orders or operational plans with actual timing of the strikes and mention of F18s, MQ9 Reapers and Tomahawks, Griffin wrote later that evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One former senior defense official told Griffin that if such attack orders fell into the wrong hands, they would allow the enemy to move the target and increase lethal actions against US forces and put American servicemembers directly and immediately at risk. Hegseth claimed Monday that "Nobody was texting war plans." Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press This information is typically sent through classified channels to the commanders in the field as secret, no forn message, Griffin wrote Wednesday. In other words the information is classified and should not be shared through insecure channels. A burgeoning group of Republicans have since come to agree with that position, joining aghast Democrats in reacting to the blunder. Hegseths claim that he never discussed war plans, meanwhile, is pure semantics, one former senior defense official told Griffin. If you are revealing who is going to be attacked (Houthis - the name of the text chain), it still gives the enemy warning, they told the veteran reporter. When you release the time of the attack - all of that is always classified. Related... While the MAGA-boosting opinion hosts at Fox News have been fervently running defense for the Trump administration amid the Signal chat leaks scandal, several other reporters and analysts at the right-wing network have provided scathing coverage of the startling security breach. One notable standout has been Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin, who destroyed the narrative being pushed by the White Houses national security team that nothing classified was shared in the group chat and war plans werent sent out beforehand. The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg essentially called the administrations bluff on Wednesday when he published the texts sent by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the group chat that gave minute-by-minute details of an airstrike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The messages, sent 31 minutes before the planes launched and two hours before they first hit their targets, gave a detailed timeline of the strikes and the types of weapons that would be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth and the White House, however, doubled down on their initial claims that no classified information was shared in the chat group which national security adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added Goldberg to and insisted that the whole thing was nothing more than a misinformation campaign by The Atlantic while attacking Goldberg and his wife. Many of the presidents most loyal supporters also followed suit and quickly downplayed the explosive revelation, insisting that Goldberg had overpromised that Hegseth shared classified materials while echoing the administrations semantic argument that attack plans are different than war plans. Griffin, however, explained on Wednesday that defense experts she spoke to said that the details Hegseth shared in the unsecured chat which included a random journalist were far more sensitive than typical war plans, basically eviscerating the administrations dismissal of leaked chat. I surveyed a range of current and former US defense officials who agreed war plans is not the right term but what was shared may have been FAR MORE sensitive given the operational details and time stamps ahead of the operation, which could have placed US military pilots in harms way, she tweeted. Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin pushed back on the Trump administration's spin in the Signal chat leak, noting that the details shared were "far more sensitive" than typical "war plans." (Fox News) What Hegseth shared two hours ahead of the strikes were time sensitive attack orders or operational plans with actual timing of the strikes and mention of F18s, MQ9 Reapers and Tomahawks, Griffin added. This information is typically sent through classified channels to the commanders in the field as secret, no forn message. In other words the information is classified and should not be shared through insecure channels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A former senior defense official also told Griffin that attack orders could put the military immediately at risk if leaked as it allows the enemy to move the target and increase lethal actions against U.S. forces. This kind of real time operational information is more sensitive than war plans, which makes this lapse more egregious, according to two former senior U.S. defense officials, she continued. This information was clearly classified, according to former senior defense official #1. Noting that the defense secretary can always retroactively declassify information, Griffin pointed out that Hegseth sharing the airstrike details in real time makes it unlikely to have been declassified when Goldberg saw them in the group chat. According to a second former senior U.S. defense official, when Hegseth says he didnt release war plans that is pure semantics. These were attack plans, she concluded. If you are revealing who is going to be attacked (Houthis the name of the text chain), it still gives the enemy warning. When you release the time of the attack all of that is always classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griffin also appeared on Fox News Special Report on Wednesday evening to share some of that reporting while highlighting the fallout over the Signalgate scandal on Capitol Hill, which has even seen some Republicans push back on the White Houses defiant stance. Additionally, she noted that the DoDs own manual states that the material Hegseth shared in the chat should have been classified. It isnt just Griffin, who represents Fox News hard news division, who has been highly critical of the Trump administration amid the brewing controversy within the Murdoch media empire. During the White House press briefing on Wednesday, correspondent Jacqui Heinrich whom Trump recently lambasted for her tough interview of a GOP senator grilled press secretary Karoline Leavitt over how the administration can justify its defense of Hegseths messages. So, why arent launch times on a mission strike classified? Heinrich wondered, prompting Leavitt to brush off the question and defer to the Pentagon. With regard to the Signal message case, the administration is making a messby getting bogged down in a dispute over whether the details of Yemen bombing raids were a war plan and whether those details were, or should have been, classified, Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume declared on Wednesday. All that has done is prolong the story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: The same goes for attacking the reporter who, through no fault or action of his own, received the Signal conversation. All attacking him did was give him a reason to release further details from the Signal chat, which appeared to contradict the administrations claim that no war plans were discussed. In a column for the New York Post, which is owned by Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch, Fox News legal analyst Andrew McCarthy called the Signal chat scandal an unconscionable security breach and the administration if providing incredibly foolish excused over it. McCarthy, meanwhile, was one of Trumps favorite legal experts during his New York hush money trial. On top of that, the editorial boards of Murdochs two top U.S. newspapers the Post and The Wall Street Journal published scathing op-eds on Wednesday describing Signalgate as security malpractice and warned that Team Trump will pay a price for whistling past the Signal group-chat fiasco. Even some of the networks MAGA firebrands are growing exasperated with the White Houses spin. Trying to wordsmith the hell outta this signal debacle is making it worse. It was bad, Fox News pundit Tomi Lahren posted on Wednesday. And Im honestly getting sick of the whataboutisms from my own side. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Admit the F up and move on. Michelle Ross-Stanton-wife of deceased Fox News video journalist Pierre Zakrzewski-has filed a lawsuit against the network. Zakrzewski was killed while on assignment in Ukraine in March 2022 in the same attack that claimed the life of Ukrainian journalist Oleksandra "Sasha" Kuvshynova and left FNC senior correspondent Benjamin Hall with near-fatal injuries. According to The Washington Post, Ross-Stantons lawsuit seeks approximately $11.6 million in compensation from Fox News. The suit, which was filed in the U.K., alleges that the network did not properly protect her husband and his team, who were on assignment in the Kyiv suburb of Horenka when their vehicle was hit with shelling from Russian forces. Ross-Stanton also claims that Fox News provided the three journalists with an unarmored vehicle while in Kyiv despite knowing they would be reporting from dangerous positions. According to her suit, they were not equipped with geo-tracking tools that would have made it easier to locate and rescue her husband, potentially saving his life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We remain devastated by the death of Pierre Zakrzewski, Fox News said in a statement provided to TVNewser. His extraordinary dedication to telling the stories of the war in Ukraine placed a critical spotlight on the atrocities there, and we are forever grateful for his commitment to journalism and his ultimate sacrifice. We did everything humanly possible in the aftermath of this unprecedented tragedy amid the chaos of a war zone, the statement continued. We disagree with Michelle's allegations and plan to file our response in May. Fox News is also facing a separate lawsuit from the Kuvshynova family that accuses the network of wrongful death, fraud, and defamation. Filed in March 2024, the suit also challenges the official narrative of the moment Kuvshynova was killed. In a statement provided to TVNewser last year, Fox News said: "While we understand the grief and continue to mourn the loss of both Pierre Zakrzewski and Sasha Kuvshynova, we will respectfully defend against the inaccurate claims within this lawsuit. The safety of our journalists has always been our number one priority, and we are immensely grateful to the Fox News reporters who have covered the war in Ukraine and we remain committed to reporting from the region, the statement added. France has reacted with outrage to the sentencing of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal, 80, who was given five years in prison by an Algerian court. Numerous politicians denounced the ruling on Thursday, with former prime minister Gabriel Attal calling it arbitrary and a "parody of justice." French President Emmanuel Macron called on Algerian officials to make a humanitarian decision allowing Sansal's release so he can receive medical treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know that I can count on both the common sense and the humanity of the Algerian authorities to make such a decision," he said. The French Foreign Ministry has urged a "quick, humane, and dignified solution" to the situation. Sansal, winner of the 2011 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, was arrested upon arriving in Algiers in mid-November. He was later convicted of undermining national unity and security. The charges stem from an interview in which he stated that Moroccos borders had been altered in Algerias favour during the French colonial era. His remarks touched on a sensitive issue, as Algeria and Morocco remain locked in a long-standing dispute over territorial claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German branch of the global writers' association PEN condemned the verdict and demanded Sansals release, noting that he has long faced harassment and threats for his outspoken criticism of the Algerian government and political Islam. His lawyer has appealed to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for a pardon. The case adds to the growing list of disputes between Algeria and France. Last year French President Emmanuel Macron snubbed Algeria when he recognized Morocco's decades-old claim to Western Sahara. Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975. After Spain withdrew, Morocco took control of large parts of the sparsely populated but resource-rich desert area. The Polisario Front is seeking an independent state in Western Sahara and is supported by Algeria. London - Dozens of European leaders, propelled by anxiety over an America led by President Trump that they fear can no longer be counted on as the invaluable ally it's been for three generations, assembled Thursday in Paris to deliberate over ramped-up military support for Ukraine, and security for the continent more broadly in the face of Russian aggression. The summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron was the third major European conference dedicated to the topic of security just this month, following an urgent forum in London and a second just days later in Brussels. The gatherings have been aimed at creating and showcasing a so-called "coalition of the willing," as dubbed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to back Ukraine. Ahead of Thursday's talks, Macron spoke side-by-side with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace, and he declared now the time for a "decisive phase to put an end to the war of aggression" that Russia launched against Ukraine more than three years ago. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, center, and France's President Emmanuel Macron speak during a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit for the Taking the lead on new pledges of support for Kyiv, Macron promised a military aid package worth more than $2 billion, on top of at least $4 billion worth of military support France has already delivered to Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new tranche of hardware from France will reportedly include air defense systems, missiles for French-made Mirage fighter jets, anti-tank missiles and other equipment. The talks on Thursday were expected to focus on securing more of that kind of military support. The leaders were also expected to focus on how to monitor the Black Sea ceasefire agreement announced Tuesday by the White House, which the Trump administration said both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to. The details of the agreement remain vague, however, and Russia issued further terms it said would have to be met before it puts the deal into effect. The possibility of European soldiers deploying inside Ukraine, for what Macron has called a "reassurance force," if a broader ceasefire is reached was also on the agenda in Paris. Such a force would theoretically serve as a security guarantee for Ukraine against Russian violations of a truce, but Moscow has repeatedly said it will not agree to any European forces deploying in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron acknowledged that even among the 31 delegations meeting in Paris on Thursday there was not unanimous backing for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, but he reiterated that France and Britain, at least, remained committed to the prospect. Macron said before the gathering that Moscow must agree to a full 30-day ceasefire something President Trump had sought and that Kyiv backed "without preconditions." Russia has never clearly agreed, even in principle, to a full ceasefire on land, air and sea, unless its steep demands for Ukraine to essentially be disarmed and to give up occupied territory are met terms that Kyiv and its European partners flatly reject. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a visit to Jamaica on Wednesday, said Washington was evaluating demands made by Moscow for certain financial sanctions to be lifted before it will implement its side of the Black Sea ceasefire agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU leadership in Brussels pushed back against that demand. The bloc's governing body, the European Commission, said it would not consider lifting its sanctions on Russia until Putin pulls all of his troops from Ukraine. The EU said that withdrawal had to be "unconditional." Speaking after the meeting in Paris on Thursday, Zelenskyy thanked Starmer and Macron and said "everybody" at the summit understood that Russia does not want "any kind of peace," and that they need to keep pressure on Moscow. "No lifting of any kind of sanctions until Russia will stop this war," he said. "And I think more pressure on it, more packages of sanctions, this is important." In the front row, from left, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen pose for a photo during a summit of the Starmer said he believed, despite Mr. Trump's previous remarks that he trusts Putin to stick to any commitments he makes, that Russia is "playing games." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron did extend an olive branch to Washington, saying Thursday that he still considered the U.S. a "reliable ally," but adding that Europe would "hope for the best, and prepare for the worst." Macron spoke with President Trump on Wednesday night, he was expected to check back in with the U.S. leader again on Thursday. Senior officials in France have told CBS News correspondent Elaine Cobbe that is not unusual they say the two leaders speak every couple of days, enjoying an easy and open dialogue to keep each other up to date. In an interview broadcast around Europe on Wednesday evening, the Ukrainian leader said he hoped "America is going to stand strong, and be strong and not bend to the conditions of the Russians." "We stand on our land, we're defending it now, and our resilience we have shown our resilience to everyone, and now it's very important that our partners would be resilient and strong, at least at the minimum, as we are," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked if he believed the Trump administration would "stay strong" against RussiaZelenskyy replied: "I hope so, I hope so. God bless, they will." During the interview, which had the Eiffel Tower illuminated in his nation's blue and yellow as a backdrop, Zelenskyy praised Europe, saying the continent "has discipline, and Europe has no chaos." It appeared to be a loosely veiled suggestion that the U.S., conversely, does not have those things under President Trump. Hegseth doubles down on Signal chat texts not being "war plans" Former National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster reacts to Trump administration leak Trump asks Stefanik to withdraw from United Nations ambassador nomination BEIJING (AP) French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot began a two-day visit to China on Thursday and held talks with his Chinese counterpart on Ukraine and longstanding trade disputes between China and Europe. There was no word of any immediate progress, but both sides sounded positive on the state of relations. Barrot met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who said in a news conference afterward that both countries should choose multilateralism over unilateralism ... and pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes instead of decoupling and isolation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That echoed language frequently used by China in criticizing U.S. foreign policy and the Western-led political order. Barrot later met with Premier Li Qiang, who said: "As we all know, the world is currently not peaceful, and instability and uncertainty are increasing. As two independent and responsible major countries, China and France should strengthen cooperation. Through our cooperation, we should inject more certainty into bilateral relations and the world, Li said. Barrot responded that the world was indeed going through troubled times where a number of major principles, particularly those of multilateralism, are being shaken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this context, a new Europe is rapidly emerging, its only compass being strategic autonomy. This new Europe is investing massively in its defense, in energy, the minister said before reporters were escorted from the room. On Friday, Barrot will travel to Shanghai for meetings with local officials and business leaders. France has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's invasion, while Beijing has backed Russia diplomatically and provided an economic lifeline by buying Russian natural resources. Barrot's visit is an opportunity to gauge China's attitude on Ukraine ahead of a major French-hosted meeting on a possible peacekeeping force for the country. The talks come as fissures are showing between the U.S. and Europe over support for Ukraine, with Washington increasingly seen as backing Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French President Francois Macron said Wednesday that a proposed European armed force could be deployed in Ukraine in under an eventual peace deal, and could respond to a Russian attack if Moscow launched one. Europe has long complained of unfair Chinese trade practices that it says force European companies to take on Chinese partners, share business practices and result in a major Chinese trade surpluses. The sides also issued a joint statement reaffirming cooperation on climate change marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, saying the agreement and its long-term goals even more requires all parties to inject political impetus into the international cooperation on jointly fighting climate change (and) protecting biodiversity and ecosystems." China is both the largest producer and consumer of fossil fuels, mainly coal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has started the one-year process to once again pull out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement and, formalizing another withdrawal from both climate and foreign aid programs, the Trump administration has told world financial institutions that the U.S is pulling out of the international climate Loss and Damage Fund. In its first 50 days, the Trump administration has eliminated or cut funding for environmental justice domestically, foreign aid, climate change and diversity, equity and inclusion. House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) said hes pushing GOP leadership to hold off on bringing up Senate-passed legislation that D.C. officials warn is necessary to prevent significant cuts to its local budget. Weve urged the leadership to delay it until we get the budget resolution fixed, and then we should put requirements on that for the District of Columbia, Harris told The Hill on Thursday. His comments come as House and Senate Republicans are working to hash out a deal on a budget blueprint that would help pave the way for the party to advance President Trumps tax agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should get the budget resolution agreed to before we take up an issue like whether or not, D.C. should be able to spend that billion dollars on whatever crazy stuff they want to spend it on, Harris said. Harris said that conservatives need a little while to come up with a list of what requirements we should put on D.C., but he hit the District for spending dollars in ways that in the past we thought were pretty foolish. Asked whether leadership has told him theyll wait to bring up the bill, Harris responded, I dont know, as you know we can usually hold up whatever we need to hold up. D.C. officials have been sounding the alarm over legislation passed by Congress earlier this month that officials say could force about $1 billion in cuts to the Districts budget from its locally generated revenues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress earlier this month passed a stopgap funding bill that set government funding at mostly 2024 levels through September. However, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and other officials pointed out the legislation left out language thats been in previous stopgap legislation to allow D.C. to operate at its current fiscal 2025 budget. As a result, D.C. officials have said the District would be forced to spend at its fiscal 2024 levels like federal agencies would under the stopgap after running at its updated budget levels for roughly half a year. They said the move will force it to cut roughly $1 billion in spending though some Republicans have argued the cuts would be lower. After passing government funding legislation earlier this month, the Senate approved a last-minute fix to prevent cuts to the Districts budget. That bill is now in the Houses hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said at a press conference on Thursday that the House needs to take up the legislation before we go on the next district work period, which means it should occur either next week or the week after next. Senate Republicans have clearly and unequivocally expressed support for the spending legislation. Senate Democrats, House Democrats, apparently Donald Trump himself, has expressed support for the need to correct this egregious error that was in the House Republican, highly partisan spending bill, and so it needs to happen. While Jeffries said had not spoken to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) specifically about this, he added, If theres further delay, I will raise it with him directly. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 releases full text of group chat on Yemen airstrike plans, White House responds Xinhua) 08:15, March 27, 2025 Photo taken with a cellphone on March 19, 2025, shows smoke and fire rising from a neighborhood following an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen. (Str/Xinhua) "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. 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)"... This photo taken by a mobile phone shows smoke rising after an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 15, 2025. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) "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. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on March 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) "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 messaes 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) A court in Algeria on Thursday sentenced an award-winning French-Algerian writer to five years in prison over remarks that questioned the borders dividing Algeria from regional rival Morocco, which prosecutors claimed threatened national security. The case against 76-year-old Boualem Sansal has become a flashpoint in growing tensions between the Algerian and French governments. French President Emmanuel Macron later Thursday called for his release. I sincerely hope that, after this judgement, the highest Algerian authorities will take clear, humane and humanitarian decisions to restore his freedom, and allow him to become a free man once again and to take care of himself, as he is also fighting illness," Macron said after a summit on Ukraine in Paris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I know I can count on the good sense and humanity of the Algerian authorities to take such a decision, he said after a summit on Ukraine in Paris, he said. Under Algerian law, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune could pardon Sansal. Sansal had been found guilty under anti-terrorism laws that human rights advocates in Algeria claim have long been used to quash anti-government voices. Charges included undermining national unity, insulting public institutions, actions likely to harm the national economy, and disseminating videos that threaten national stability. Sansals five-year sentence is half of what prosecutors requested and less than the recommended for those charged under Article 87 of Algerias penal code, the controversial anti-terrorism statute implemented after mass protests convulsed the country last decade. He also was fined 500,000 Algerian dinar ($3,734). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sansal's case dates back to last October, when Sansal gave an interview to the right-wing French media outlet, Frontieres. In the interview, he questioned Algerias current borders, arguing that France had redrawn them during the colonial period to include lands that once belonged to Morocco. He was arrested the following month and later lambasted by the president in a speech to Algeria's parliament. Sansal on Thursday denied the remarks violated laws or were meant to harm Algeria as prosecutors claim, according to Hociane Amine, a lawyer who was in the courtroom, which was surrounded by heavy police presence. Amine said that Sansal showed little emotion upon hearing the verdict. Though his sentence was set at five years without parole, lawyers believe theres a chance he may serve less time. Obviously, he has a possibility to appeal. And now that hes been sentenced, the president is within his rights to grant him a pardon because its a political card in the current crisis with France, Amine said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sansals case has provoked outrage from the European Parliament, civil liberties groups and politicians across the political spectrum in France, particularly on the right. Both far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Macron called for his release, as has the literary association PEN International and French-Algerian novelist Kamel Daoud. They have decried both the charges and Algerias refusal to grant a visa to Sansals French lawyer. The writer rejected court-appointed lawyers and chose to defend himself. Diagnosed with cancer, Sansal has awaited a verdict in a hospital prison ward. Commentators in France have for months described the charges as a political lever Algiers is deploying against Paris. Relations between the two countries sharply deteriorated last summer when France shifted its position to support Moroccos autonomy plan for Western Sahara a disputed territory claimed by the pro-independence Polisario Front, which receives support from Algiers and is based in refugee camps in southeastern Algeria. The rift has grown since. A planned visit by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to Paris never occurred. Algeria has rejected Frances attempts to return Algerians slated for deportation and imposed new restrictions on French companies operating in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to souring relations with France, Sansals arrest also comes in a context of heightened censorship in Algeria. Since pro-democracy protestors forced the military to oust longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019, authorities have clamped down on dissent. Hundreds including journalists, activists, poets and lawyers have been detained or imprisoned in the years since for speech-related offenses, according to Amnesty International and Algerias National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees. Before his October arrest, Sansals work faced bans from Algerian authorities but he regularly travelled between Paris and Algiers without issue. His books written in French are little read in Algeria. However he has amassed a large following in France for books and essays, in which he regularly critiques Algerias post-revolution leaders and the role of Islam in society. Under the imprint of the prestigious French publishing house Gallimard, he has published ten novels, including 2084: The End of the World which won the Frances Grand Prix du Roman in 2015. The Sundance Film Festival will move to Boulder in 2027, the Sundance Institute announced Thursday. The internationally-recognized film festival has been in Park City, Utah, for more than 40 years, but organizers have been looking for alternative options to host the festival for another decade and had narrowed it down to staying in Utah or moving to Boulder or Cincinnati. "During the process, it became clear that Boulder is the ideal location in which to build our Festival's future, marking a key strategic step in its natural evolution, said Ebs Burnough, Sundance Institute Board Chair, in a press release. The institute said it selected Boulder because of its art community, open-minded culture accepting of filmmakers and access to the Rocky Mountains as well as its ability to help the festival grow. The film festival is set be centered around downtown Boulder, utilizing its theaters, venues and Pearl Street Mall, according to the institute, as well as the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Sundance added that it plans to work with the city to "enhance infrastructure and accommodation options" to make the festival more affordable and sustainable. While Colorado is celebrating, Utah's governor said Sundance will regret the decision. "Ultimately, this decision is theirs to make, but I believe its a mistake and that, one day, theyll realize they left behind not just a place, but their heritage," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. For Sundance leaders, the festival can exist "no matter where it is," said Eugene Hernandez, the festival's director and head of public programming. "We started as a mechanism for the discovery of voices, talent, stories. That is what the festival is," Hernandez said. "And as we evolve, that will not change." The Sundance Film Festival will still be hosted in Park City in 2026, before moving to Colorado in 2027. Sundance secures package of incentives, as states hopes for $2 billion in economic impact Sundance is expected to be a huge boon to Colorados economy typically held in January and heavily tied with the ski industry as the festival contributed more than $130 million in economic impact and created more than 1,700 jobs in 2024, according to the organization. "Now, with the addition of the iconic Sundance Film Festival, we can expect even more jobs, a huge benefit for our small businesses including stores and restaurants," Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. Later at a press conference outside Boulder Theater, Polis said Colorado is expected to generate $2 billion over the 10 years as host, supporting both the tourism and creative industries. "We know it's about more than money," he added. "A powerful film that inspires somebody is priceless." State officials have said winning Sundance would be a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for Colorado. The announcement puts Colorado squarely on the international film map, said Colorado Film Commissioner Donald Zuckerman. Two of the five biggest film festivals are in North America: Toronto and Sundance. Europe has Venice, Berlin and Cannes. Still, it's very expensive for young filmmakers to afford going going to the festival, explained Zuckerman. We're hoping to alleviate that issue and we make everybody happy for probably the next 40 years," he said. To win the festival, the Colorado Economic Development Commission approved a $1.5 million incentive to attract the festival in June. When Colorado initially placed Boulders bid, state officials said they hoped their proposal would help keep the festival in the Mountain West region for the next 10 years as well as attract thousands of out-of-state tourists to visit the city during winter. Featured Local Savings State agencies also pitched in to boost the EDC's $1.5 million package: The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade offered to contribute $325,000; Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media put in $250,000 over five years; the Colorado Tourism Office with $50,000; and. the Colorado Creative Industries with $25,000. The Colorado lawmakers are also pushing a bill to offer the Sundance Institute up to $34 million in refundable state income tax credits. The state has gotten criticism for the amount of incentives the festival would get if it chose Boulder. And Colorado is facing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall. Those who backed the tax credit and incentives argue that the investment will generate more money for not just Boulder, but the region, as well. An independent analysis showed that the 2024 Sundance festival generated $132 million in annual economic activity. Thats more than worth the investment, Zuckerman said. The state will be collecting a lot more money in sales taxes than that, and all the hotels will be full, he said. Remember, the billion-dollar shortfall is in the general fund. As long as there's a TABOR refund, this doesn't come out of the general fund. There's also hope Sundance's move to Colorado will spur more moviemakers to film in Colorado and push lawmakers to create more competitive incentive packages. "Sundance Film Festival is going to be an anchor tenant of an increasingly successful film ecosystem in our state," Polis said on Thursday when asked about the impact of the festival would have on attracting more films. In May, Polis signed legislation sponsored by state Rep. Leslie Herod guaranteeing $5 million in annual incentives to encourage the making of more films in Colorado through at least 2029. To Colorado film advocates thats a start, but Zuckerman said also pointed to what neighboring states spend on annual film incentives: Arizona $125 million; New Mexico $110 million; Utah $12 million. The recent apocalyptic thriller Elevation, starring "Captain America actor Anthony Mackie, was primarily shot in Boulder and Golden, and it provided work for about 75 local background actors. We never could have done it here without the incentives, Director George Nolfi told The Denver Gazette. Local film festival leaders welcome the news Leaders from some of Colorados established film festivals welcomed the news as further enhancing Colorados reputation as a film state. Kevin Smith, CEO of Denver Film and its 46-year Denver Film Festival, said Sundance will elevate all the state's other film festivals. I really hope that it extends to continue to build the film industry here," Smith said. "It's going to bring a lot of continued momentum. I'm really just excited to have the selection made, and now we can get to work. But Smith said the addition of another premiere festival to the Colorado film calendar will bring some challenges. Anytime you have a significant change in the marketplace, there could be ripple effects," he said. Whether that's funding opportunities or the spotlight or attendance, those are all certainly considerations. But I really look at it more as being complementary to us because, at the end of the day, Sundance is the first big festival of the year." Sundance has the opportunity to set to tone for what films are leading the conversation due to it being in January, Smith said. The Denver Film Festival in November can be a "culmination of that." "At the end of each year, were able to take all the best things from all the festivals across the world and bring them here to Denver," Smith said. "In that way I think were highly complementary festivals." Meanwhile, the homegrown Boulder International Film Festival just completed a record-breaking 21st iteration two weeks ago. We take great pride in the fact that Boulder is already home to an outstanding film festival, said Kathy Beeck, co-founder and director of BIFF, which helped pave the way for Sundance to come to the city. We look forward to working with the Sundance team to help bring the festival to Boulder. Randi Kleiner, CEO of SeriesFest, an annual film festival for television programming that returns to Denver April 29-May 4, said Sundances move will bring automatic impact throughout the state. Obviously, Sundance is a world renowned brand, and I think bringing that level of awareness to Colorado is really an exciting opportunity for SeriesFest and all of the other arts nonprofits here, she said. I absolutely see the potential for an incredible partnership with Sundance and have already started to plant the seeds of those kinds of conversations. TUPELO A man wanted for kidnapping his grandkids in Shannon and heading to Kentucky two years ago has finally been returned to Lee County to face felony charges. Douglas Mills, 54, of Barbourville, Kentucky, was tripped up in mid-February when he was pulled over for a traffic stop by a Kentucky state trooper. A check revealed Mills was a fugitive from Lee County, wanted on a capias arrest warrant from June 2024. He was arrested and booked into the Knox County, Kentucky, Detention Center just before 3 p.m. on Feb. 20. At first he refused to be extradited (back to Mississippi), said Lee County Sheriffs Office Chief Investigator Scotty Reedy. But late last week, he signed the waiver of extradition. It took us a little while because of the weekend, but we sent officers up there to get him and bring him back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mills was booked into the Lee County Adult Jail around 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 25. The kidnapping took place on March 7, 2023, when Mills arrived at his biological daughters house in Shannon around 9 a.m. Police say he forced his way into the house and, while brandishing a gun, took his three grandchildren ages 2, 6 and 8. Mills and his two female accomplices Vanessa Hensley Cox, 47, of Flat Lick, Kentucky, and Shelia Michelle Hood, 52, of Gray, Kentucky got in the car and began the seven-and-a-half-hour trek back to eastern Kentucky. A person close to the investigation described the women as Mills ex-wife and his new girlfriend. The suspects were about an hour away from their destination when a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer, alerted to the kidnapping and given a description of the car, pulled them over around 4:40 p.m. the same day. They were stopped on I-75 in Tennessee about 15 miles south of the Kentucky state line, and more than 400 miles from Shannon While the children were quickly returned to their mother, it took more than a week to get Mills and his cohorts back to Lee County. Mills was initially held on a $1 million bond. The bond for the women was set at $250,000. All three eventually bonded out and returned to Kentucky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Lee County grand jury in June 2023 indicted all three suspects on three counts of kidnapping apiece. Hood secured a local attorney, returned to Tupelo for her arraignment in July 2023 and was allowed to remain free on the same $50,000 bond. Mills and Cox did not respond to the request to return to be arraigned. In June 2024, Lee County Circuit Court issued a capias warrant for their arrest. The court order says they are to be held without bond until they can be arraigned. At press time, a date for Mills hearing had not been set. Meanwhile, Cox remains a fugitive. Were still looking for her, Reedy said. Shes still somewhere in Kentucky. President Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire to acquire Greenland as U.S. territory, pushing for it as a national security issue. Vice President Vance is expected to visit the island Friday despite calls from Greenlanders to cancel the trip. Former U.S. ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford joins Ana Cabrera to discuss the Trump administrations approach to Greenland and how it may be hurting an otherwise healthy relationship. FREDERICK, Md. (DC News Now) This week, there have been concerns in Frederick that the popular annual community health fair may be no more. Every fall, thousands depend on the Frederick Community Health Fair for free screenings, exams, consultations, vaccinations and referrals. An announcement on the fairs webpage on Wednesday stated that it would not be held this year due to ongoing political and financial challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elizabeth Chung is executive director of the Asian American Center of Frederick, the lead volunteer organization behind staging the annual fair at Frederick High School. Its not easy to predict what October will be because of the funding shortage, said Chung, because of the fallout from the funding. Kermit the Frog to give University of Maryland commencement speech Sierra Dischel works with the center and helps Chung organize the event. A thousand people show up [to the annual fair] and get the services that they need. They collaborate, volunteer and feel like they are giving back, said Dischel. So its a really important event that we host every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the health fair funding came from the U.S. Public Health Service, whose budget is under review. In navigating this uncertainty, we have to reflect on what we can do, said Chung. The Asian American Center of Frederick is taking the lead in the effort to restore funding cuts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. (WKRG) The City Docks in Bayou La Batre are one step closer to getting a major facelift. I think that would be great because its kind of a disaster right now, visitor Peggy Nunn said. Sink or save? Group starts petition to fight against SS United States from becoming artificial reef As part of a beautification plan, the City Docks will get a completely paved parking lot with built-up loading docks and boat slips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phase one of the plan began in 2022. Tuesday, the first part of phase three was completed after a federal treasury review was finalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to public documents, the project is estimated to cost about $20 million. Bayou La Batre Mayor Henry Barnes hopes that by sprucing the place up, more people will be inclined to visit Alabamas seafood capital. Theres going to be a section on this project where bay boats can come in and unload their shrimp and sell them straight to the public, Barnes said. Barnes said the Lawrenceburg Casino boat that is currently docked there will have to be removed to make room. FIRST LOOK inside the building bringing commercial flights to Gulf Shores International Airport It will be great for people to get to know more about it and get to see a lovely part; its not lovely right now, but it will be when they fix it, Nunn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mobile County will begin the bidding process for a contractor next week. Construction is expected to begin later this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Funding cuts to Charlotte nonprofit threaten legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy is out nearly a million dollars in funding due to new cuts made by the Trump administration. The Center told Queen City News on Tuesday that they have lost $900,000 after the Department of Health and Human services (HHS) severed contracts with Acacia, a national nonprofit that helps coordinate legal aid for unaccompanied migrant children. The Center used those dollars to represent 300 minors in court every year. Whats going to happen is that they will still be required to then show up in court and they would be there alone, said Ruth Santana, who heads the Centers Immigrant Justice Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santana said their data shows immigration judges are 100 times less likely to grant relief to unaccompanied children when they dont have legal counsel. Defendants dont have access to public defenders for civil immigration cases. There is none, it is the responsibility of the respondent or rather the person who has to appear before immigration court to then get an attorney to represent them, she said. Federal law requires children who arrive in the country alone be guaranteed special protections, but an HHS spokesperson told the Associated Press that the department continues to meet all requirements. On the same day HHS severed the contract, President Trump reiterated that border security and enforcing immigration law remain a priority for his administration. Thats what our country needs because we were, unfortunately [the Biden Administration] allowed millions of people to come into our country, totally unvetted, totally unchecked, he told reporters on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy lost funding earlier this week but does not plan to drop any active clients and will work on those cases until they are resolved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Dozens of people gathered inside Al-Rahman Mosque in Rochester Wednesday for the funeral service of Ali Saleh, the 30-year-old husband and father who was shot and killed Sunday while working behind the counter of his corner store on Clifford Ave. Ali Saleh, 30, was fatally shot while working at a corner store in Rochester Sunday night. Salehs family, friends, and customers are remembering him as a consistently kind person who always helped anyone in need. The funeral was held Wednesday for Ali Saleh at Al-Rahman Mosque in Rochester. (photo courtesy: Hesham Shaibi) Police say 42-year-old Tony Brown walked into the store Sunday evening and shot Saleh 4 times, perhaps in retaliation for a fight inside the store a few days prior a fight Salehs friends say Saleh had nothing to do with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder in the second degree and is now being held in jail without bail. Saleh leaves behind a wife and a 3-year-old girl. He had recently returned to Rochester after spending almost a year in Yemen with family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) - Nearly a third of species of fungi assessed by an international conservation group are at risk of extinction from threats like deforestation and agricultural expansion, the latest 'Red List' of threatened species showed on Thursday. Fungi - which comprise a scientific "kingdom" second only in size to the animal kingdom - play a critical role in a range of functions from decomposition, to mammalian digestion to forest regeneration. For human beings, they also play an important role in making several powerful medicines, including antibiotics, as well as bread and beer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, the role of these yeasts, molds and mushrooms that underpin life on Earth has been "overlooked and under-appreciated", said the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is trying to correct that. In its latest 'Red List' which categorises species according to the risks they face, the group said that nearly a third, or 411 of the 1,300 species of fungi it assessed, are at risk of extinction. "Fungi are crucial to all life. Without fungi, an ecosystem can collapse quickly," said Caroline Pollock, Senior Programme Coordinator in IUCN's Red List Unit. Fungi are best known as mushrooms but these are just the fruiting bodies of an organism whose bulk is found underground in a large network of root-like "mycelia" structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only a fraction of some 2.5 million fungi species thought to exist have been formally identified, meaning that assessing the threats they face has been slow compared to flora and fauna. One of the major challenges they face is that their habitats have been replaced by the expansion of urban areas and agriculture, whose nitrogen and ammonia run-off can also harm them, the IUCN said. At least 198 species listed face extinction because of deforestation, it said. Even in places where rotational forestry is practised, the destruction of old-growth forests sometimes does not allow their fungal colonies to become re-established, it said. (Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by William Maclean) The many scents of masala radiate from the revamped storefront at 2715 6th Ave., where Grann, one of Tacomas most anticipated new restaurants, has begun serving its intriguing medley of Southern, Creole and Indian cooking. After a few friends-and-family nights earlier this year, chefs Reginald Jacob Howell and Denzel Johnson soft-opened their first standalone spot in March. They anticipate hosting a casual grand opening party April 4, followed by a quick break, but reservations are now available for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. The first edition of the menu kicks off with chaats and thangs, referencing a variety of savory Indian snacks. Chicken skins are fried Southern-style with cornmeal, seasoned with chaat masala (a tangy, funky spice blend) and accompanied by wasakaka sauce, an herbaceous, citrusy, Caribbean mojo. Yams and potatoes, to scoop through spiced yogurt, get the barbecue treatment, while puri the delicate semolina rice shell can be popped with a classic-leaning masala tea, chickpea and potato filling or, in a Southern hat-tip, pimento cheese. Chef Reginald Jacob Howell brings his pasta-making background to Granns butter chicken. Its a simple dish, but you can play with it and have fun. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com The curried Caesar with paneer and cornbread crumbles has stood out to customers in the first few weeks, said the chefs, as have the vegan coconut masala collards. That cruciferous green is cooked for several hours with Indian spices and spiked with coconut milk toward the end, explained Howell as he plated dishes for some early diners on a recent Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also among the sides: vegan black-eyed peas, baked in a smoked tomato gravy that also stars in the signature butter chicken pasta. Its a simple dish, said Howell of the original Indian iteration, whose (contested) origins date to the first half of the 20th century. But you can play with it and have fun. FRESH ENERGY ON 6TH AVE Grann marks Howells return to Tacoma, his hometown, after several years cooking at several restaurants in Seattle. He led the kitchen at en Rama in downtown Tacoma, where he specialized in pasta-making and began experimenting with unexpected flavor combinations, encouraged in part by trips to visit his wifes family in India. The St. Louis-style, masala-spiced tandoori ribs are smoked then grilled to order. Howell finishes the plate with achar cucumbers and house coco bread. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com Cocktails also dive into spice world, and their names honor prominent Black figures, as in The Beyhive, a zippy number with bourbon, lemon and curry. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com Johnson, an old friend and King County native with Southern roots, leads the smoked-meat charge. He had to get pretty creative within the confines of a modest kitchen, but the tandoori ribs develop nice flavor on the grill, enhanced by the more-masala mop sauce. Smoked beef also stars in the biryani, and a lamb-beef patty the meat ground in-house sits on a homemade coconut bun with mint chutney aioli, tamarind BBQ and American cheese. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The combo intends to provide what Johnson calls palate shocks, like youre at the club dancing, but to your own rhythm. Cocktails, whose names honor prominent Black figures, also reach deep into spice world. The Beyhive blends curry with lemon and bourbon, the Love Jones tequila and cardamom-laced mango lassi, and the In Grann Fashion garam masala and overproof dark rum. The Table occupied this space for almost a decade, closing just a few months after chef-owner Derek Bray was named a semifinalist in the prestigious James Beard Awards. (Much of the staff moved to Corbeau in the Proctor District.) Howell and Johnson purchased the business and most of the equipment from Bray, including the signature, 18-seat, high-top communal table that has anchored the room since 2014. The kale Caesar is no ordinary kale salad. Massaged to order with a custom curried dressing, its finished with toasted cornbread crumbles. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com Its like your grandmas table, said Johnson. Its just kind of essential to what were doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They painted the walls rich hues of emerald green and rusty orange and wrapped the ceilings sound panels with similar shades of velvet fabric, as well as a custom Indian-inspired print with the numbers 253 also used for staff aprons. The industrial-vibe ladder and other light fixtures have been updated and adorned with creamy-white mala, the flower garlands that often decorate Indian weddings. The restaurants name, pronounced as in granma, hearkens to that sense of family and belonging, and the chefs often emerge from behind the open kitchen. Near the host stand, a collage of picture frames shows Howell and Johnson with their families. In the center is a worn piece of paper with the Recipe for Grann: a bowl-full of family, care, community, creativity, hospitality, soul, and this is Tacoma after all grit: A pinch of the unexpected, a nod to tradition, a bite that lingers best enjoyed at a full table, with hands reaching, stories flowing, and the promise that every guest leaves with more than just a meal. GRANN 2715 6th Ave., Tacoma, instagram.com/grannrestaurant Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday-Thursday 4-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 4-11 p.m. Details: new Indian, Creole & barbecue fusion restaurant; reservations recommended through Tock Grand opening planned for April 4, follow Instagram for updates The Paris prosecutors office has requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence with a three-year probationary period and a 20,000 ($21,500) fine for actor Gerard Depardieu following his sexual assault trial this week related to events on a 2021 film shoot. He also asked that Depardieu undergo psychological treatment and be placed on Frances sex offenders list. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The requested sentence concluded a tumultuous four-day hearing in Paris, which marked Depardieus first time in court against a backdrop of at least 20 public allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior against him. This weeks trial was related to accusations of sexual assault against the actor by a set dresser and a third assistant director, alleged to have taken place during the shoot of Jean Beckers The Green Shutters in 2021. Depardieu could stand trial a second time in the coming months in relation to rape allegations by actress Charlotte Arnould, dating back to 2018, following a request by the Paris Prosecutors Office over the summer which is making it ways through the judicial system. The actor has denied the accusations. In this weeks court hearing, the set dresser, referred to simply as Amelie, recounted how the actor had seized her with his legs and started kneading her up to the breasts, and growled: Come touch my big parasol, Im going to shove it up your pussy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third assistant director, appearing under the pseudonym of Sarah, detailed how Depardieu had touched her buttocks and breasts on two occasions when she was accompanying him on set. Depardieu repeatedly refuted both accounts, saying at one point that at the age of 76 he was not into groping and that his actions had been misinterpreted and never been intentionally sexual. A number of women, who were not pressing charges, also gave evidence, including an actress who alleged Depardieu had shoved his hands into her knickers during a photocall on the set of Netflix show Marseille. Actress Fanny Ardant, who co-starred opposite Depardieu in films such as The Women Next Door (1981) and Hello Goodbye (2008), also took to the stand to speak in the stars defense, acknowledging he was flawed but also noting his genius as an actor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Explaining his sentence request, prosecutor Laurent Guy pointed to the fact that the plaintiffs had stood by their original statements when questioned in court, while Depardieu had changed his version of events. We also have three eyewitnesses to the gestures made against Amelie at the crucial moment. This undeniably constitutes sexual assault, he said. Under French law, a judge will now deliberate on the sentence request. Going into the trial, Depardieu faced a sentence of up to five years in jail and a 75,000 ($81,000) fine. The hearing comes hot on the heels of a number of high-profile sexual abuse trials in France in recent months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These include the Gisele Pelicot mass rape case; Adele Haenels successful pursuit in the courts of director Christophe Ruggia for sexual assault on a minor, and the ongoing trial of Joel Le Scouamec, a former surgeon accused of raping and sexually abusing almost 300 underage patients. Carine Durrieu-Deibolt, the lawyer for Amelie, referred to these cases in her final arguments on Thursday. What is in common between all these affairs, is silence. For decades, with regards to Gerard Depardieu, everyone knew, she said, referring to wider accusations that the actors inappropriate behavior towards subordinates on set was well-known throughout the film industry. She suggested that women who had been victims of the actor had kept quiet for fear of losing their jobs and being shut out of work in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are reprisals if you become the pain in the neck, they dont recruit you anymore, she said. While he is an artistic force in cinema, with economic clout. Durrieu-Deibolt suggested there was a certain collective responsibility within the cinema world for what had happened. Amelie wasnt aware of the facts of the case brought against Gerard Depardieu by Charlotte Arnould. Nobody told her about it on the shoot, no-one protected her, or distanced her from Gerard Depardieu, she said. There was a collective responsibility because women were left at the disposition of Gerard Depardieu. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A Columbus clothing manufacturer at the center of a memorial donation drive for the Gaudreau family is offering customers an update, and it may not be one they want to hear. Tom Summers, the owner of Columbus Apparel Company, suggested customers seeking a refund reach out to their credit card companies or financial institutions as he no longer has access to his company or its website. On Wednesday, Summers said he had been evicted from his shop and no longer has access to his equipment, preventing him from fulfilling outstanding orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, after Blue Jacket Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey, Summers started selling memorial clothing, with the proceeds going to the Gaudreau family. However, Summers said he was unprepared for the overwhelming number of orders, which eventually bankrupted the company, as announced in December. As recently as this month, Summers was committed to fulfilling the outstanding orders; however, he said on Wednesday that due to the eviction, he would no longer be able to. Watch a previous report on the shirts delay in the video player above. Summers also said that Shopify which he was using to track orders and refunds canceled his access, no longer allowing him to offer those refunds. What began as a small fundraiser with the CBJ Artillery to support the Gaudreau Family grew to become much bigger than we ever could have anticipated, Summers said in a statement less than two weeks ago. We had no idea when we made the commitment to contribute, the volume of orders that would come in and all of the challenges that would come with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the Gaudreau family received 100% of the proceeds. A total of $124,346 was raised, Summers said. He added that any refunds would not affect the donation to the family. Summers said any customers who wish to reach out to the company can do so through its Facebook page or email. The Gaudreau brothers were biking along the side of the road near Salem, New Jersey, on Aug. 29, 2024, when they were hit and killed by Sean Higgins. Higgins is charged with the brothers deaths; most recently, Higgins attorneys moved for dismissal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORTHWEST FLORIDA (WKRG) She is running, again, in the most conservative congressional district in Florida. But Democrat Gay Valimont said she is in the race for one and only one reason. Alabama attorney general warns 23andMe customers to delete accounts I believe I can win, she said. We would have never started this if we didnt think we can win! Valimont faces Republican Jimmy Patronis in the April 1 Special Congressional Election. Last November, Matt Gaetz won a fifth term in office but resigned several weeks later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valimont knows she faces an uphill battle after losing by a two-to-one margin to Gaetz. Patronis, Floridas Chief Financial Officer, beat nine opponents in Januarys primary, nearly doubling the other candidates combined vote total. Patronis said he knows the main reason that happened is that he was selected to run for the seat and endorsed by President Donald Trump. President Trump called me and asked me to do the job, Patronis recalled. He said, I want you to do it. What are you going to do? Tell this guy no? Valimont said that attitude is a problem. Jimmy has said over and over again, I want to work for Donald Trump, Valimont said. Hes never said I want to work for the people of Northwest Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patronis, however, said that he would stand up to Trump if necessary. If President Trump was going to make the argument that we needed to have massive base closures here in Northwest Florida, no, I couldnt be with him, Patronis said. Patronis is running to represent Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and part of Walton County. He lives, however, in Bay County, in Panama City, 15 miles outside District 1 in Congressional District 2. He said his residency wont be an issue for voters. I have lived in Congressional District 1 for 28 years of my life, and Ive lived in District 2 for 16 years of my life, Patronis said. I lived in the central time zone my entire life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valimont said voters in District 1 should vote for someone who lives in their district. While its not illegal, it is unethical, Valimont said. I dont know how you can represent people when you dont know who they are, when youre not in the district. Patronis and Valimont both said they will work to protect District 1s military bases, improve services for veterans and lower homeowners insurance costs. But they have completely different views on most domestic issues and President Trumps first two months in office. So far so good, Patronis said. I think theres been a lot brought to light that needed to be brought to light. Whether youre a fan of Elon Musk or not, he has questioned different agencies and how they utilize money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valimont said Trumps second term has been a disaster. This is not the way to manage the government, she said. You dont burn it to the ground. The Russia-Ukraine War is another point of contention. Valimont said she is disgusted by Trump cozying up to Russia and souring on Americas NATO membership. They have been invaded by Russia in a land grab, she said. If your neighbor comes and tries to steal your land, you want your friend to help you, right? Patronis said Ukraine cannot be a top priority. God bless them, what theyre going through, and Im glad its not here, he said. But when you look at whats going on in North Carolina, Georgia and Florida in hurricane recovery, and were dumping billions into Ukraine, and were not taking care of our own people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Election Day almost here, both candidates said their ultimate goal is to serve the people of Northwest Florida. Sink or save? Group starts petition to fight against SS United States from becoming artificial reef I care about this district and the people in it, Valimont said. Im not going to Washington, D.C., to make friends, Patronis said. All the friends I need live right here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. For the third consecutive day, hundreds of Gaza residents took to the streets to protest against Hamas rule and the ongoing war with Israel, witnesses told dpa. The demonstrators called for Hamas to leave the territory, with protests taking place in several locations across the coastal territory on Thursday, according to local residents and Palestinian media reports. Posts shared on social media appeared to show protesters holding signs reading "Hamas Out" and "Hamas Are Terrorists." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas warned residents against supporting Israeli interests. Removing the group from power has been a key goal of Israel's military campaign. Protests against Hamas have been rare in Gaza, where the militant group is known for cracking down harshly on internal opponents. The day Gaza-watchers never thought would come could ever come appears to have finally arrived. This week, for the first time since Hamass attack on Israel two Octobers ago, Gazans took to the streets to demand the terror organisation end its bloody reign over their blighted strip. Hamas out! they chanted bravely. It was a remarkable display at once shocking and yet not entirely surprising. Shocking because Hamas which was voted into power back in 2006 maintains a violent, deadly, ruthless hold on Gazas civilians that has always felt inviolable. But the protests, brewing for the moment in cities such as Khan Yunis and Beit Lahia, make sense. Gaza is once again engulfed in flames as the Hamas ceasefire with Israel fell apart earlier this month. The terror group refuses to release the remaining Israeli hostages and disarm and Israel is mounting a retaliatory offensive now destroying much of what little is left of the Strip, while threatening to annex the rest. At the start of the month, Israel cut off the supply of goods to Gaza in tandem with the renewed fighting; the ceasefire provided time for Gaza to restock, but experts suggest those supplies could be depleted within weeks. Credit: Telegram/Hamza20300 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result: thousands of Palestinians displaced yet again while new ceasefire talks splutter in Cairo. And so, with little in terms of relief in sight, Gazans have taken to the streets to demand change. Protests for regime change are nothing new for places like Turkey and the Balkans. But theyve been both rare and deadly in Gaza having appeared (much like now) mostly following a military conflict with Israel. And yet here we are, with three days now of anti-Hamas gatherings that reportedly expanded on Wednesday to include chants against Al-Jazeera for allegedly refusing to broadcast protests from the day before. Hundreds have joined the demonstrations, which appear loosely yet clearly organised via social networks like Telegram. Major pro-Palestinian social media influencers are promoting the gatherings with little apparent concern for their safety. The Gaza protests are a watershed moment for the Hamas war with Israel. Bloodthirsty, with negligible concern for the people it rules, Hamas has managed to lord over millions with a military force probably numbering in only the tens of thousands. With so few controlling so many, the notion of a popular uprising and regime change a Gazan Arab Spring has long been posited. Last week Israeli defence minister Israel Katz practically demanded a Gazan revolt; the alternative, he explained, is complete destruction and ruin. Palestinians gather to demand an end to the war - HAITHAM IMAD/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock As always, such talk was almost immediately poo-pooed. The well-regarded pollster Dahlia Scheindlin wrote in Haaretz last week that the idea that Gazans could have ousted Hamas over the years is one of the most fraudulent themes in a war flooded with lies, and one that must be laid to waste. Mostly, Scheindlin wrote, popular uprisings such as those were seeing now in Turkey, Belgrade and yes, Gaza, may generate headlines, but rarely result in those regimes actually changing (including in Israel itself, where hundreds of thousands have marched almost weekly against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for one transgression or another). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Israelis insist that of all the people in the world who have failed to dislodge a disastrous, corrupt, authoritarian or oppressive leader, Sheindlin noted with quizzical irony, one heroic people alone could have done it: Palestinians in Gaza. She apparently believed they never will. Sheindlin may ultimately be proven correct. On Thursday, the protests appeared to stumble as Hamas in its first official comment on the gatherings branded them as directed against Israel, rather than Hamas leadership. Other Gaza-watchers have accused the Palestinian Authority of fomenting the demonstrations as part of its effort to take over the Strip if and when the war ever ends. Others still have suggested, via social media, that the protests are entirely fabricated a Hamas ploy to hint at reform while its fists remain resolutely iron-clad. The lack of any concerted crackdown is certainly curious. Whatever lies behind what is happening in Gaza, however, the protests must be embraced with a pause in the cynicism that has defined the war so far. Gazan civilians are doing what few would have ever believed. For today, at least, the protesters need and deserve the worlds support. David Christopher Kaufman is a New York Post columnist 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. In early March, Hazlehurst police requested members of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation help determine what happened to cause the death of a 19-year-old at a gas station. The GBI said Hazlehurst police had responded to a Circle K after reports of a shooting on March 10. The agency said it was also called in to investigate at that time. When law enforcement got to the scene, they found 19-year-old Gary Ryals with a gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GBI said Ryals was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead. Now, 21-year-old Ronald Dykes is in custody and faces a voluntary manslaughter charge for Ryals death. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Hazlehurst Police Department at 912-375-6688 or the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Douglasville at 912-389-4103. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The bodies of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa remain unclaimed over a month after they were found at their Santa Fe home. The deceased couple's shocking death raised many questions as investigators tried to unravel the mystery behind it. Following investigations, officials said they died naturally, with Arakawa dying from hantavirus while her husband died from heart disease and Alzheimer's a week after. Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa's Bodies Yet To Be Claimed News Licensing / MEGA Reports have revealed that Hackman and Arakawa's family is yet to claim their bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to TMZ, the Office of the Medical in New Mexico confirmed that Hackman and Arakawa's names appeared on the list of unclaimed decedents. The list is reportedly updated online every Monday, and the late couple's names appeared on March 24 and remain there today. Officials told the outlet that it is not usual for bodies to remain unclaimed for a month after death. Although it is not clear why Hackman and Arakawa's bodies are unclaimed, there is a possibility their family is making or finalizing plans for their burial. Hackman's Tough Relationship With His Kids CAMERA PRESS / TSUNI/STILLS/GAMM/ MEGA Reports of Hackman and Arakawa's unclaimed bodies bring the focus back to the late actor's relationship with his children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before marrying Arakawa in 1991, Hackman was married to Faye Maltese and had three children with her: Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 63, and Leslie, 58. The "Class Action" star has previously spoken about his difficult relationship with his kids, admitting that he wasn't around much in their younger years, though he got closer to them in his later years. Hackman spent much time away from home trying to make it in Hollywood, but becoming famous meant he had to leave his kids behind. He told The New York Times, "You spend so many years wanting desperately to be recognized as having the talent and then when you're starting to be offered these parts, it's very tough to turn anything down." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hackman continued, "Even though I had a family, I took jobs that would separate us for three or four months at a time. The temptations in that, the money and recognition, it was too much for the poor boy in me. I wasn't able to handle that." Gene Hackman Admits He 'Couldn't Always Be Home' With His Family CAMERA PRESS/Chris Ashford Despite occasionally accompanying their dad to award shows and movie premieres, Christopher, Elizabeth, and Leslie didn't enjoy being in the spotlight. Hackman told the Irish Independent, "It's tough being the son or daughter of a celebrity. I couldn't always be home with them when they were growing up and then, living in California, they've had my success always hanging over their heads." Although Hackman's ex-wife, Maltese, held up the home front, it was difficult for him to adjust to his family's dynamic after returning home from his projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told Larry King, "I didn't handle it very well, really. I took care of my family. You know, my family's never wanted for anything." Hackman continued, "But because I was so enamored of the Hollywood of old, you know, the glamour of that, although I never involved myself in that, I was really...taken with that, and the fact that I was part of that." He added, "And that I was I could be anything and anyone I wanted to be. It was a long time before I settled down before I got to the point where I could discern what was really right for me." Hackman's Children Not Named In His Will Luis Guerra/The Grosby Group/ MEGA Hackman's relationship with his kids was again questioned after reports revealed they were not named in his $80 million will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deceased actor's entire estate was willed to his late wife, Arakawa, but since she is also dead, legal experts say there is a way for his children to potentially inherit his fortune, though he didn't name them in his will. According to legal experts, the fact that Arakawa died before Hackman meant his kids could inherit his wealth. California attorney Tre Lovell told the BBC that Hackman's estate could default to his children under succession laws as long as he didn't list any other beneficiary. Lovell explained, "The estate will actually be probated in accordance with intestate succession laws and the children would be lawfully next in line to inherit." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Hackman's children would also need to prove that his will is invalid because Arakawa died before him. Leslie Breaks Silence After Gene Hackman's Death Snorlax / MEGA After news of Hackman and Arakawa's tragic passing made headlines, his daughter, Leslie, spoke about their relationship. She told the Daily Mail that her dad was in "very good physical condition" despite his age and hadn't had any major surgeries in the months leading to his death. Leslie added, "He liked to do Pilates and yoga, and he was continuing to do that several times a week. So he was in good health." The 58-year-old dished on her relationship with her dad, noting that they were close but she hadn't heard from or seen him for a "few months." She said, "We were close. I hadn't talked to them for a couple of months, but everything was normal and everything was good." GENEVA, Ala (WDHN) After three and a half years, Geneva city employees have enhanced their city services, moving into a new $3 million city hall after being in the old city hall for over 50 years. Were still going through boxes and things but government is working so much better it has worked for us and the facility is such an addition to downtown its a footprint downtown, said Geneva Mayor David Hayes. Mayor Hayes says the new city hall was a need more than a want he says they outgrew the old city hall dating back to at least 20 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New scam hits Henry County We were so cramped all on top of each other, records were everywhere and it cut back on time we need to process with business licenses and court system, said Hayes. The new city hall is more spacious and modern with a court room to hold cases that are taking place now from the covid jam, a mezzanine floor to protect records from damage which happened in the old building due to flooding, more office space and a muilti use conference room that has sparked a lot of engagement from communnity groups within the last few weeks. We are glad we can host things and get people to Geneva and downtown so they can see what we got here, said Hayes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The old building will become the Geneva police department. They are currently working with them to get them about 100 thousand dollars to go toward renovations. They needed a locker room for years, showers, and they will have private spaces now when interviewing. Young boy accidently shot in Dothan Other growth taking place in downtown is phase 2 of the city park. City government just accepted a 1.5 Million dollar bid from an adalusia contractor to expand the park to have two playgrounds, a gazebo, five pavillions dual restrooms and an amphitheater. Its going to be a great addition to downtown, businesses will see the change, last year we recorded about 4 thousand people even out of state coming to Geneva, said Hayes. 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 WDHN - wdhn.com. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) Residents in Georgetown Countys District 7 will have an opportunity to meet with their representative Thursday evening. County Councilmember Louis Morant, who was elected to Georgetown County Council in 2022, will hold a community chat with constituents at the Choppee Regional Recreation Center from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The district primarily serves about 9,057 residents and includes the Plantersville and Yuahannah areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers for the community chat say there will be special presentations from the planning department and assessors office during the event. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. The Georgia House passed a bill intended to protect residents from AI-aided political deception. Image created by Midjourney AI A bill aimed at reducing misleading AI-generated political ads passed the state House with a bipartisan 152-12 vote Thursday. Under Senate Bill 9, originally authored by Roswell Republican Sen. John Albers, it would be a crime for political campaigns to knowingly publish certain audio or AI-made materials within 90 days of an election. Rep. Brad Thomas. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder To be caught under the law, the material would have to be posted with the intention of significantly influencing a candidates chance of being elected, creating confusion about the election or otherwise influencing the result. Including a disclaimer on the advertisement would protect a candidate who posted an ad that would otherwise violate the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A first offense would be a misdemeanor, and a second offense would be a felony, carrying a potential sentence of two to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000. The legislation originally created punishments for creating obscene images of children using AI but was amended in a House committee to deal with fraudulent election materials. Language aimed at obscene AI materials still survives in House Bill 171, which passed the House and is awaiting a Senate vote. Holly Springs Republican Rep. Brad Thomas, the House sponsor of the bill, argued that the bill is narrowly tailored to catch purposely deceptive speech and contains a carveout for constitutionally protected speech including satire, parody, works of art and journalism. I want to make it clear, First Amendment-protected speech, such as satire and parody, as listed on line 56 aka memes are explicitly written as not applying to this bill, Thomas said. Rep. Long Tran. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Dunwoody Democratic Rep. Long Tran said bad actors are already using cutting-edge tech to deceptively influence elections, referencing a bit of infamous audio from last years election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just a year ago, we saw in New Hampshire, during the New Hampshire presidential primary, a voice robocall went out to Democratic voters that imitated President Joe Bidens voice and told Democratic voters not to call out and vote, he said. And that is the danger that AI poses today. A similar bill passed the House last year but fell short in the Senate over free speech concerns. Thomas said he worked since the 2024 legislative session to shore up any of those concerns, but not every legislator felt assured. This isnt freedom, its Soviet-style control, said Woodstock Republican Rep. Charlice Byrd. SB 9 could jail you for so-called deception, exposing corruption on felony charges up to five years. We already have deception laws for lies that harm. This is silencing dissent, plain and simple. If it passes, Georgia becomes like California, dissenters in handcuffs. Rep. Charlice Byrd. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder The 12 lawmakers opposed to the bill included members of both parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lilburn Democratic Rep. Jasmine Clark, who voted against the bill, said she thinks it should go further than the 90-day window before an election. My concern would be if a campaign that is very well-funded has 300 days or whatever 365 minus 90 is, I dont feel like doing math they have that many days to make deceptive materials about you, and then theres just a 90-day moratorium, she said. How do you undo that damage? Because it was amended, the bill will need to return to the Senate for a final vote before it can land on Gov. Brian Kemps desk. The deadline for that to happen is April 4, the last day of the 2025 legislative session. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ATLANTA (AP) Georgias Brian Kemp could tie New Yorks Kathy Hochul for the highest-paid state governor under a proposal made Thursday. State senators agreed to amend House Bill 86 to give big pay raises to most of Georgias statewide elected officials, who are all Republicans. The bill would also raise pay for judges on the state Supreme Court and other statewide courts. The measure would raise Kemps pay from the $182,000 he made in the budget year that ended June 30 to $250,000. According to figures compiled by New York state government, that would tie Hochul, a Democrat for the most any governor is paid. Maine Gov. Janet Mills makes the least, at $70,000 a year, according to the figures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House must agree to the bill in the closing days of Georgia's 2025 legislative session before it would go to Kemp for his signature or veto, and changes could still be made. Rep. Rob Leverett, an Elberton Republican who sponsors the underlying measure, said he was caught completely flat-footed by the amendment and was still trying to decide whether he supported it. Kemp had no advance notice of the proposal, said spokesperson Garrison Douglas, who otherwise declined to comment. State Sen. John Albers, a Roswell Republican, said statewide official salaries need updating, noting that Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is now in line to earn a higher salary than Kemp. I believe its time that we stood up and said its the right thing to do because its woefully out of date, said Albers, who made the surprise proposal as Georgia's yearly legislative session nears its end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other statewide officials including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger would see their pay increase to $200,000 a year. So would Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, Insurance Commissioner John King, incoming Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes and state schools Superintendent Richard Woods. Currently, those officials earn a range of salaries between the $99,000 that Jones made last year and the $146,000 that Carr earned last year. Also included in the bill is House Speaker Jon Burns, who would see his pay rise from $106,000 to $200,000. The raises would begin July 1, although some senators suggested any change would be more appropriate when officials are sworn in for new terms after upcoming 2026 elections. Jones said if the measure became law, he would donate his raise back to the state treasury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those things need to be vetted better than that, Jones said immediately after the measure passed. Raffensperger declined to comment while a spokesperson for Carr did not immediately respond to text messages seeking comment. French actor Gerard Depardieu is facing an 18-month suspended prison sentence for the alleged sexual assaults of two women he worked with on the filming of The Green Shutters in 2021. After a four-day-trial during which Depardieu refuted all accusations, French prosecutors requested a suspended prison sentence along with a fine of 20,000 euros, as well as an obligation to undergo psychological treatment and registration in the sex offenders file. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depardieu, long considered a leading figure of Frances cinematic history who has starred in over 150 films, including classics such as Jean-Paul Rappeneaus Cyrano de Bergerac, has been accused by a set decorator and an assistant director on The Green Shutters. Ahead of the trial, the prosecutors office had told Variety that Depardieu was accused of offenses punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros. 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, meanwhile, said I may have grazed it with my back in the corridor, but I didnt touch (her buttocks), Depardieu was quoted saying in Le Monde. The set decorator 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. But Depardieu had different version of their encounter. He said he only grabbed her hips so as to not slip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Fanny Ardant, the well-known French actor of Francois Ozons Eight Women, took the stand during the trial to defend the actor who is her longtime friend. I have never witnessed a gesture that I found shocking, Ardant said in court on Wednesday, 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. As part of a separate case, the famous French actor has been, since Dec. 16, 2020, indicted over allegations of rape and sexual assault filed by actress Charlotte Arnould in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last August, the Paris public prosecutors office requested in a final indictment that Depardieu be referred to the departmental criminal court to stand trial for rape by digital penetration and sexual assault that allegedly occurred on Aug. 7 and 13 of 2018. The examining magistrate now has to decide what direction to give to the proceedings. Depardieu, who has triggered a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement in France, was also accused by 13 women of sexually inappropriate behavior in a report published by French investigative news website Mediapart in April 2023. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. BERLIN (AP) The German and Austrian interior ministers broke off a planned trip to Syria on Thursday because of a possible threat to their delegation, German authorities said. Germany's Nancy Faeser had planned to visit Damascus with her Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner, and a German military plane was supposed to fly Faeser's delegation into Syria from Jordan on Thursday morning. But her ministry said that the two ministers decided to break off the trip before the flight could depart from Amman because of concrete warnings by German security authorities of a terrorist threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It added in an emailed statement that a threat to the delegation itself couldn't be ruled out, and that it wouldn't have been responsible to travel in view of that. The trip hadn't been announced ahead of time. The two ministers had planned to speak with the interior and foreign ministers in the interim Syrian government and with representatives of U.N. agencies. Germany in particular has been a major destination for Syrian refugees over the past decade. The German Interior Ministry said Thursday's planned talks were supposed to center on security issues and on perspectives for the return of Syrian refugees in case of stabilization and peaceful development in Syria. It noted that Germany and Austria are working on being able to deport Syrians who have committed serious crimes, or are deemed a security threat, as soon as possible to their homeland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus and reopened the German Embassy, 13 years after it was shut in the early days of Syria's civil war. Baerbock, who met interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and others, said Europe needs eyes and ears on the ground as it follows the Syrian political transition. It was her second visit since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December. Germany's acting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and her Austrian counterpart, Gerhard Karner, have called off a planned trip to Syria following security warnings of a potential terrorist attack. The trip was set for Thursday, with an air force plane scheduled to fly Faeser and her delegation from Jordan to Damascus. The cancellation came after German authorities issued specific warnings about a possible terrorist threat, a spokesman for the German Interior Ministry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministers were due to meet with two members of Syria's transitional government and representatives from United Nations aid organizations. The talks, which were to focus on security issues and the prospects for Syrian refugees' return, were to be held under high security and had not been publicly announced. "The possible threat to the delegation and security personnel was not justifiable," the spokesman said, adding that Faeser had made the decision to cancel together with Karner. Authorities could not rule out that the threat was specifically targeting the German and Austrian delegation, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Germany and Austria are working hard to ensure that serious offenders and persons posing a danger who are Syrian nationals can be returned to Syria as quickly as possible," the spokesman said, adding that these matters were to be discussed with the transitional government in Damascus at the earliest opportunity. "However, this incident also shows that the security situation in Syria remains fragil," he added. Due to the unstable situation, Germany's Office for Migration and Refugees has suspended decisions on asylum applications from Syrian nationals. Germany's acting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and her Austrian counterpart, Gerhard Karner, have called off a planned trip to Syria following security warnings of a potential terrorist attack. The trip was set for Thursday, with an air force plane scheduled to fly Faeser and her delegation from Jordan to Damascus. "Due to a very urgent threat of terrorism, we weighed up carefully what it means for the safety of those accompanying us and have come to the conclusion that it would be better to cancel the trip," Faeser said in Amman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cancellation came after German authorities issued specific warnings, a spokesman for the German Interior Ministry said. "This incident also shows that the security situation in Syria remains fragile," the spokesman said. Instead of heading to Syria, Faeser's delegation then set off from Amman to visit a refugee camp for Syrians who had fled the years of fighting in the country. The two ministers had been due to meet two members of Syria's transitional government and representatives from United Nations aid organizations. The talks, which were to focus on security issues and the prospects for Syrian refugees' return, were to be held under high security and had not been publicly announced. "Germany and Austria are working hard to ensure that serious offenders and persons posing a danger who are Syrian nationals can be returned to Syria as quickly as possible," the ministry spokesman said, adding that these matters were to be discussed with the transitional government in Damascus at the earliest opportunity. Germany's acting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and her Austrian counterpart, Gerhard Karner, called off a planned trip to Syria on Thursday following warnings about a potential terrorist attack. "Due to a very urgent threat of terrorism, we weighed up carefully what it means for the safety of those accompanying us and have come to the conclusion that it would be better to cancel the trip," said Faeser in Amman, where she and Karner were staying. After a first tip-off late on Wednesday evening, the two ministers and their security advisers conferred until the early morning, a spokesman for the German Interior Ministry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This incident also shows that the security situation in Syria remains fragile," the spokesperson said. The trip will be rescheduled, although a new date has not yet been set. Instead of heading to Syria, Faeser's delegation then set off from Amman to visit the Zaatari refugee camp for Syrians who had fled the years of fighting in the country. The two ministers had been due to meet two members of Syria's transitional government and representatives from United Nations aid organizations. The talks, which were to focus on security issues and the prospects for Syrian refugees' return, were to be held under high security and had not been publicly announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Germany and Austria are working hard to ensure that serious offenders and persons posing a danger who are Syrian nationals can be returned to Syria as quickly as possible," the ministry spokesman said. The German government has been under pressure to return Syrians who had fled the regime of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. For more than two months, the ministry has been working on a regulation that would allow refugees from Syria to travel back to their home country for a short time without risking their residence status in Germany. The idea is that the Syrians should have the opportunity to find out whether they consider it safe to return home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faeser said that it was important to provide basic services such as housing, electricity, drinking water and schooling. As long as this was not provided, many refugees who actually wanted to return would hesitate, she said. According to an employee of the UN refugee agency UNHCR, who met Faeser at the Zaatari camp some 20 kilometres from the Syrian border, around 5,700 refugees had voluntarily returned to Syria from the camp since the fall of al-Assad in early December. Acting German Minister of the Interior and Home Affairs Nancy Faeser buys dolls made by camp residents during a visit to the Jordanian refugee camp Saatari. Around 75,000 refugees live in the camp on the Syrian border, which is run by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa German car manufacturers on Thursday warned of dire consequences as a result of the US import tariffs on foreign-made vehicles announced by President Donald Trump. The tariffs apply to all cars not made in the US, meaning even US manufacturers with models made overseas would be hurt under the scheme. Trump had said a 25% tariff would go into effect on April 2, although he also said that the charges would be collected from April 3. The White House statement gave the date as "on or after 12:01 am eastern daylight time on April 3." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) said that the tariffs would be a considerable burden for both companies and global supply chains. VDA president Hildegard Muller said they would have negative consequences for consumers, including in North America. "The consequences will hit growth and prosperity on all sides," Muller said. She called for immediate negotiations between the United States and the European Union on a bilateral agreement, which could also cover other areas. "It would also be good to have talks on legal regulations, standards and certifications - this would bring benefits on both sides of the Atlantic and increase efficiency," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the VDA, 86% of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the automotive sector in Germany expect the tariffs to affect them. The tariffs are likely to hit the domestic car industry hard, as the US is the most important sales market for German manufacturers, according to the latest official figures. Some 13.1% of German car exports end up there, followed by the United Kingdom and France. Almost one in three Porsches and one in six BMWs were sold in North America in 2024. The news from Washington also appeared to hit German shares, with the DAX index of leading German companies, and the MDax of medium-sized companies both losing over 1% in the first few minutes of trading. A German man was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty on the first day of his murder trial on the resort island of Mallorca. He killed another German citizen with a knife after an argument on the island's well-known Ballermann party mile in October 2023. The 28-year-old was ordered to pay half a million euros in compensation to the family: 200,000 ($216,000) each to the two children and 100,000 to the wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution had asked for the maximum 25-year sentence and compensation totalling 320,000. The amounts were agreed by the prosecution and defence shortly before the start of the trial, a judicial spokeswoman told dpa. The sum will be raised by the sale of the man's condominium on the Spanish island. The indictment did not list a motive for the crime. Local media reported that the victim may have owed his killer money. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) A German nurse abducted while working in Somalia seven years ago has pleaded with the German government to secure her release as security in the country continues to be fluid after an attempted assassination on the president by al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants. In a video shared on social media, a visibly distressed Sonja Nientiet says her health has deteriorated and that what has kept her going is the hope that shell see her loved ones. Nientiet was taken from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) compound in Somalias capital, Mogadishu through a back door on May 3, 2018. Authorities in Somalia later said it was an inside job by a disgruntled former employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICRC spokesperson Christian Cardon said the video provided hope for her release. The ICRC will continue to work tirelessly, with all its influence, for this outcome, he said in statement, adding that the ICRC was deeply concerned for Nientiets health and the priority was to have her quickly released unharmed. In order not to undermine these, we cannot provide further information about the abduction, nor comment about its circumstances, Cardon said. Nientiet, who speaks calmly in English with a German accent in the video, has visibly aged from photos of her younger self. She wipes her tears while talking about her rescue being a matter of life and death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not much has been reported about Nientiet since her abduction and this is only the second video she has been seen in after a first one in 2018. German Foreign Ministry said that the government does not comment on hostage cases involving German citizens abroad as a matter of principle. The security situation in Somalia remains fluid with recent attacks by al-Shabab the latest being last week's attack targeting a presidential convoy. The Somali government has intensified its military campaign against al-Shabab in recent months, with troops making territorial gains in Middle Shabelle and other regions. Germanys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who is stepping down, has announced at a press conference in Berlin that Germany will soon deliver new batches of weapons to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against renewed Russian attacks. Source: Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "We know that real peace does not come through capitulation. Those who pressure Ukraine to surrender are not negotiating peace but paving the way for another escalation. A ceasefire on Putins terms would not be the end of the war it would be the prelude to the next offensive Our response to Putins war is peace through strength. Peace through European unity and determination." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Baerbock said Germany would provide Ukraine with additional air defence systems, drones and radar equipment in the coming months. She also emphasised that without peace, European sanctions on Russia will not be lifted. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is also stepping down, has likewise stated that lifting sanctions against Russia before peace is achieved would be a major mistake. Background: Earlier, Baerbock welcomed the decision by the Bundestags budget committee to allocate an additional 3 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2025. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Protestors packed the Tennessee House Education Committee Wednesday to oppose a bill that would deny immigrant children lacking legal status the right to a public school education. (Photo: John Partipilo) A bill giving public school districts the right to refuse enrollment to children without legal immigration status advanced in the Tennessee House Wednesday as a packed audience disrupted debate by standing and singing spiritual music in protest. The panel of lawmakers swiftly cast their votes 11-7 in favor of the measure and exited the room as people rose to sing Jesus Loves the Little Children, ending a contentious hour-and-a-half hearing. Three Republicans joined the committees four Democrats in casting a no vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill (HB793/SB836) by Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson and House Majority Leader William Lamberth of Portland both Republicans would give public school districts the option of verifying student immigration status and charging tuition of students who cannot prove they are legal residents. Alternatively, school districts could refuse to enroll children without proof of legal residency. The bill has drawn large protests for weeks as it has wound through the legislative process. It was significantly amended Wednesday, stripping an initial requirement that all Tennessee public schools must verify the immigration status of every student and, instead, making checks optional for public school districts. The amended version of the bill would also exempt students refused admission by their local public school as a result of their immigration status from the states truancy laws. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, sponsor of a bill to deny immigrant children lacking legal status the right to a public education in Tennessee (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Both of the bills sponsors have said they hope the measure could serve as a test case for the Supreme Court to revisit its 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision that established that all children in the United States have the right to a public education regardless of their immigration status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What were allowing (schools) to do is what Plyler prohibited them from doing, Lamberth said Wednesday. Citing increasing numbers of English language learners in Tennessee schools, Lamberth said the measure is necessary due to years of federal inaction in controlling the nations borders, leaving states to bear the burden of educating children whose parents skipped the line. The families that we are talking about, the parents we are talking about have absolutely gone around that process, he said. The bill drew fierce pushback from Democrats on the House Education panel. I think we all heard it here today, what this bill is really about, said Rep. Sam McKenzie, a Knoxville Democrat, who called the legislation a bully bill to try to undo the law of the land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have for over 40 years abided by this decision because its the right thing, he said. We should not put our children the least of us, those that cannot do for themselves in the middle of an adult battle. A fiscal analysis of the bill noted it could jeopardize over $1 billion in federal education funding to the state. The bill will next be heard April 1 in the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. A separate bill that would have similarly required children without legal immigration status to pay public school tuition, and financial institutions to check immigration status of customers seeking to wire funds overseas, failed Wednesday in a House Banking and Consumer Affairs committee. Mar. 26The Ohio Senate put finishing touches on a controversial campus reform bill Wednesday that would ban diversity, equity or inclusion initiatives and faculty strikes on public college campuses. The 20-to-11 vote, marked by strong Republican support and unanimous Democratic dissent, sends Senate Bill 1 to the desk of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a conservative who has indicated to reporters that he'll likely sign the bill into law, though he wants to review it first. DeWine has 10 business days to make his decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If enacted, S.B. 1 would: Ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on public college and university campuses and force current DEI initiatives to close, despite offering no definition of what actually constitutes a "DEI" initiative; Allow the state to withhold funds for non-compliance with the bill; Require universities to "Affirm and declare that the state institution will not encourage, discourage, require or forbid students, faculty, or administrators to endorse, assent to, or publicly express a given ideology, political stance, or view of a social policy, nor will the institution require students to do any of those things to obtain an undergraduate or post-graduate degree"; Require students to take a state-designed American civics or history class before being awarded a bachelor's degree; Automatically eliminate any university degree program that awards fewer than five degrees per year on a three-year rolling average; Prohibit full-time university faculty from striking; Require state training for university trustees and reduce trustee terms from nine years to six. Democrats, who have long known S.B. 1 would eventually be confirmed by the legislature, spent much of Wednesday urging DeWine to veto the bill. At a press conference organized by the Democrat-only Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, Columbus-area high school student Michele Huang said the idea of DEI has been "misconstrued beyond comprehension." "What DEI is actually doing, as a student and as a student of color, is facilitating the conversations that need to be had in our public school system," she said. She said her high school's DEI efforts have helped students learn from diverse viewpoints and perspectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under S.B. 1, schools would be blocked from establishing any new DEI scholarships and be required to close down their DEI offices and discontinue mandatory DEI training or orientations. "They're helping us have conversations that we need to be having because we can't have them otherwise," Huang said. "In current society, our political issues have become much more social and much more vitriolic, and it's hard to have these conversations in normal spaces." Dayton Unit NAACP President Derrick Foward, who also spoke at the Democratic press conference, told this outlet that he expects the dismantling of DEI initiatives in Ohio to take away opportunities for Black youth and push diverse Ohioans to seek higher education in other states. Republicans, on the other hand, continued to frame S.B. 1 as a much-needed shift for higher ed. Clark County Sen. Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield, called it a "quantum leap" forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Parents and students will now have a more comfortable feeling that their public institution of higher learning will foster an environment of open and free expression for everyone," Koehler said. He rebuffed a Democratic argument that S.B. 1 promotes the opposite of diversity, equity and inclusion and noted that he merely believes in a different path to achieve those standards on public college campuses. Sen. Michelle Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester, spoke on the Senate floor specifically to address Ohioans who are concerned that ending DEI will turn back the clock on racial progress. "It's not about exclusion. It's about inclusion that transcends labels, because DEI has become a system that sorts us. It sorts us by race, by gender and by identity, creating a culture where we are defined by our categories instead of our characters," Reynolds said. "That's not real inclusion. That's division with good intentions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below. Loading... GOP fundraiser Eric Levine called for President Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff to be fired over the diplomats recent comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing the presidents close friend was duped by the Palestinian militant group Hamas during hostage negotiations. Levine, who previously raised money for Sen. Tim Scotts (R-S.C.) short-lived 2024 presidential campaign, wrote in a Wednesday email reviewed by The Hill that Witkoff is an embarrassment to country and the President he serves. He should do the honorable thing and resign. Failing that, he should be summarily fired, Levine said in the email to his network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Levine, who is a board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), was speaking in his personal capacity. Witkoff, a wealthy real estate investor who has emerged as a force in the presidents foreign policy apparatus, has received criticism from foreign policy experts and some Ukrainian members of parliament over his characterization of Putin during his appearance on former Fox News host Tucker Carlsons podcast. Trumps envoy said he liked Putin and did not see the Russian leader as a bad guy. He also suggested on the podcast that Russia had the right to the four regions in Ukraine Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson that the Kremlins military partially occupies and claimed to annex during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, because they were majority Russian-speaking. They are Russian-speaking, and there have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule, Witkoff told Carlson during the podcast episode that aired Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other comments Witkoff has gotten backlash for include him saying that he does not believe Hamas is ideologically intractable and that the Palestinian militant group needs to demilitarize and then maybe they could stay there a little bit be involved politically. Anyone this naive and who is willing to rely on the word of a nihilistic Nazi death cult which has been clear about its contempt for Western Civilization, and its intentions to exterminate the Jews, destroy Israel, and which launched the October 7 attack, is simply not qualified to represent the United States in such critical state craft, Levine wrote in the email. He clearly does not understand who he is dealing with or how to effectively negotiate with them. Levine went after Witkoff for agreeing to sit down with Carlson, calling the former Fox News hosts podcast a malign and malevolent platform for revisionist history. For guests with whom he disagrees or from whom he senses weakness, he [Carlson] browbeats and attempts to humiliate them until they either agree with him or are derisively prevented from finishing their point, Levine said, adding that perhaps we should just be grateful that he did not also congratulate Kim Jong Un on his last electoral landslide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice President Vance defended Witkoff, who has become a key negotiator in forging a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, praising him as a great guy doing an incredible job. The people sniping at him are mad that he is succeeding where they failed for 40 years, Vance wrote in a Monday post on the social platform X. Turns out a lot of diplomacy boils down to a simple skill: dont be an idiot. Levine, a New York-based donor who cohosted a fundraiser for Scott in December 2023, wrote in the lengthy email that regardless of whether the public thinks U.S.-led peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are the right policy it is not necessary to rewrite history and make statements about Putin that the American people know are patently false. Defending the indefensible or pretending the indefensible has not happened, is no way to win over the American people nor does it make peace between the two warring nations any more likely, Levine said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Levine said Secretary of State Marco Rubio should assume Witkoffs role and lead both the negotiations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. These efforts should be led by Marco Rubio. He has proven he has the judgment, perspective and knowledge, to take the lead in any negotiations involving Ukraine and/or Gaza, Levine said. He will serve his country with honor and distinction. Most importantly, he can succeed where Witkoff cannot. Witkoff must go, and Rubio must take his place. RJCs spokesperson Sam Markstein told The Hill that Levine is speaking in his individual capacity and that the RJC has full confidence in Mr. Witkoff. Levines email was first reported by Jewish Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A worker helps a customer at a Chipotle restaurant. Lawmakers in Nebraska and Missouri are considering changes to voter-approved laws requiring paid sick leave. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Missouri lawmakers are on the verge of gutting a voter-approved law requiring most employers to provide workers with paid sick leave. On Wednesday, a state Senate committee approved a bill overturning the sick leave requirement. Already approved by the House, the bill has only Senate approval left before being sent to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, who has voiced support for the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, Missouris Proposition A passed with 58% of the vote. The law increased the minimum wage from $12.30 to $15 per hour and required employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Business groups filed a court challenge in December, asking the Missouri Supreme Court to overturn the ballot measures outcome. That lawsuit argues the election results should be overturned because of several alleged constitutional violations, including of the state constitutions single-subject requirement and a lack of a clear title. Legislative sponsor state Rep. Sherri Gallick said the ballot initiative dealt a blow to Missouri businesses, particularly small businesses and would increase the cost of goods and services. Gallick, a former executive in the food industry, has also said employees would abuse the sick leave provision, the Missouri Independent reported. On Wednesday, backers of last falls ballot measure said it was modeled on paid sick leave policies in more than a dozen other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents made their argument, we made our argument, and the voters spoke, said Richard von Glahn, policy director for Missouri Jobs with Justice, the organization that helped lead the November campaign. A similar debate is making its way through Nebraskas unicameral legislature this session. Nebraska voters approved a ballot measure in November that mandates businesses with at least 20 employees provide employees up to seven days of paid sick leave, with smaller businesses require to provide five days a year. Lawmakers have proposed several bills in Lincoln seeking to roll back some of those requirements. One bill would exempt owner-operators and independent contractors from the sick time rules. An amendment debated this week would exclude seasonal agricultural workers, workers under the age of 16 and employers with fewer than 10 employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican lawmakers argued that voters did not appreciate the negative consequences of the sick leave mandate, particularly for smaller employers. While I trust the will of the voters, I do believe that they did not understand the cost of this, and specifically the cost of this to a small employer, state Sen. Tony Sorrentino, a Republican, said, according to a report from Nebraska Public Media. But Nebraska Democrats say the moves undermine the will of the voters and could endanger public health by forcing sick people to go into work. Why does the Legislature keep trying to change what the people voted for? Democratic state Sen. George Dungan asked Wednesday. Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at khardy@stateline.org. DENVER (KDVR) Four Republican representatives, led by Rep. Gabe Evans, have sent a letter asking Gov. Jared Polis to join them in asking the Colorado Department of Corrections to reject an early parole application. They also asked that Polis work with legislators to amend a law providing juvenile and young adult offenders a path to parole by not allowing anyone who has killed a peace officer or who is a foreign national to join the program. Previous coverage: Family of Denver officer killed off-duty worries killer may be released decades early Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case under discussion is that of Raul Gomez-Garcia, who shot and killed Denver Police Detective Donnie Young while he was working off-duty in 2005. Gomez-Garcia was 19 years old when he shot and killed Young and injured another officer. Earlier this month, Youngs family received a letter stating Gomez-Garcia could qualify for a program called Juveniles and Young Adults Convicted as Adults Program, which could lead to him gaining parole. Gomez-Garcia was convicted of murder and attempted murder and was sentenced to 80 years in prison. The law requires that convicts attend a 3-year program and serve at least 20 years of their sentence to qualify for the early parole program. This is a travesty to victims. It is a slap in the face to victims. It is a slap in the face to society. To our justice system. To our law enforcement. I dont understand how this made it through to be signed into law, Young told FOX31s Vicente Arenas earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This meaning HB21-1209, Parole Eligibility for Youthful Offenders, which was created the program and was signed into law on July 6, 2021, by Polis. The Colorado Governors Office told FOX31 that even if someone completes the three-year program and meets the criteria to apply for early release, that does not mean they will be granted parole. Gomez-Garcia is currently eligible for parole in 2053 and has a mandatory release date in 2081, according to the governors office. Man accused of shooting 1, barricading in apartment and firing at officer While there is no question that Mr. Gomez-Garcia committed a heinous crime, the Governor has no role in determining whether someone does or does not apply for a particular program, as outlined in statute and the Department of Corrections Administrative Regulation, the governors office told FOX31. Its unfortunate that these members of Congress took the time to grandstand without taking the time to understand this program. Governor Polis will work with anyone to improve public safety and keep dangerous criminals, including individuals who kill police officers, off the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reps. Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank and Jeff Hurd, who all represent Colorado in U.S. Congress, are asking that Polis work with lawmakers to prevent cop killers and illegal immigrants from being eligible for this program. Gomez-Garcia is Mexican and fled to the country after the shooting. He was arrested in Mexico and extradited back to the U.S. Given the horrific and undeniably evil nature of this crime that resulted in the execution of a Colorado Peace Officer, devoted husband, and loving father we ask that you join us in urging Executive Director Moses Stancil to reject Gomez-Garcias JYACAP application. Colorado elected officials, law enforcement groups, and the victims family have been united in opposing the killers application to this program including former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrisey who was elected as a Democrat and whose office convicted Gomez Garcia, the representatives wrote to Polis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. March 26 (UPI) -- Republican Roger Wicker, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday his panel is seeking an expedited inspector general investigation into the leak of a sensitive Signal group chat about airstrikes in Yemen. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe defended their participation in the chat during the hearing before the House Intelligence Committee alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, National Security Agency Director Gen. Timothy Haugh and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse that originally focused on the global security threats. The hearing began shortly after The Atlantic released the entire text conversation that it first reported Monday. Excerpts were posted behind the committee members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday afternoon, President Donald Trump told reporters his national security adviser Mike Waltz had taken responsibility for creating a Signal group that inadvertently included a journalist and denied any blame on the part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though he texted a timeline of the planned attack before it was underway. On Tuesday, the spy chiefs testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where some members urged Hegseth to resign or be fired. Wicker, of Mississippi, is not on that committee but heads another agency with oversight of the Pentagon. Wicker, speaking to reporters at the Capitol, said he and ranking member Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, would be sending a letter asking the administration to expedite an investigation by the Defense Department's Office of Inspector General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The chair and the ranking member are working together on a bipartisan basis, as we've always tried to do," Wicker said. The findings would be sent to his committee. Wicker said that he and Reed want a classified briefing to the Armed Services Committee "relatively soon" with a senior administration official. The chairman said another letter to the administration would seek "to get ground truth." They want to learn whether the published transcript is accurate. Wicker said it "appears to me to be of such a sensitive nature that, based on my knowledge, I would have wanted it classified." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those on the text exchange said it wasn't classified and most Republicans in Congress agree. Wicker declined to say whether there would be a full investigation of the use of Signal. The Pentagon's IG office is being overseen on an acting basis by Steven Stebbins, formerly the principal deputy inspector general. Soon after Trump became president, Trump fired the inspector general at the Defense Department, Robert Storch, in a purge of internal watchdogs at agencies across the government. They act independently. National Security Council, White House counsel's office and Elon Musk will lead the investigation into the leak, press secretary Karonline Leavitt said Wednesday during a briefing. Elon Musk, who runs Tesla, SpaceX, X and heads the Department of Government Efficiency, "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," Laeavitt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wicker said it was "a shame that this security question is distracting the public from - and all of us from - a big success internationally" though "the strike on the Houthis was a hugely successful mission, of which I greatly approved." Whicker said he didn't think Hegseth should resign or be fired. "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," Wicker said. "If, early on in this administration, there were mistakes, I would hope they can be rectified. ... If mistakes were made, I think we're all human, and they should be acknowledged." Trump administration reacts Trump defended Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "How do you bring Hegseth into it? He had nothing to do with it," Trump said in response to a question from a reporter in the Oval Office. "It's all a witch hunt," Trump added. As he prepared to leave Hawaii on Wednesday, Hegseth said that "there's no units, no locations, no routes, no flight paths, no sources, no methods, no classified information." However, according to the messages, there was the precise method of attack, including the specific weapons platforms to be used. He said the texts were a "team update" to provide "general updates in real-time." Classified matters usually take place in a secure room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense secretary also posted on X: This only proves one thing: [The Atlantic editor-in-chief] Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an 'attack plan' (as he now calls it). Not even close," Hegseth posted. "We will continue to do our job, while the media does what it does best: peddle hoaxes." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was on the chat, said: "Obviously someone made a mistake. Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist. Nothing against journalists, but you ain't supposed to be on that thing. Rubio, a former top lawmaker on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said at a news conference in Jamaica: "I think there'll be reforms and changes made so this never - it's not going to happen again. It can't. I've been assured by the Pentagon and everyone involved that none of the information ... none of the information on there at any point threatened the operation or lives of our servicemen." Haugh, the National Security Agency director, testified to the House committee an advisory on how to use the Signal app was given to NSA employees because there are risks associated with using it. Congressional response Several Democratic members in Congress said Hegseth should be terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House's top Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries, said in a letter to Trump that Hegseth should be "fired immediately" as his "continued presence in the top position of leadership at the Pentagon threatens the nation's security and puts our brave men and women in uniform throughout the world in danger." Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Tuesday "members of the Trump administration lied. People need to resign or be fired." Also, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, who served in the Navy, was an astronaut a member of the Intelligence Committee, said Hegseth should also be terminated. "This is the most irresponsible thing I've seen from any defense official, let alone the Secretary of Defense," Kelly posted on X. Incompetence at the highest level. There is nothing more sensitive than a combat mission that is about to start. The element of surprise is everything." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House members also grilled the spy bosses Wednesday. "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," Democratic Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes said. "I think that it's by the awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now." Gabbard said the conversation was "sensitive" but denied that classified information was shared in the chat. "There were no sources, methods, locations or war plans that were shared," she told lawmakers, adding "war plans" were not discussed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Wednesday called on Hegseth and other top Trump officials to "own" their mistakes. WASHINGTON In April 2023, dozens of Republicans in Congress threw their support behind a conservative U.S. district judge who issued a sweeping injunction aimed at overturning the FDAs approval of the abortion pill, mifepristone. A year earlier, six Republican-led states celebrated a national injunction against President Joe Bidens student debt relief plan. This is a big win for our office and for Americans across the country, said then-Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who is now a U.S. senator. And we will keep up the fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now that some of President Donald Trumps policy plans are being stymied by similar court orders, GOP lawmakers are crying foul vowing to take extreme actions against judges who issue injunctions to rein in the presidents everywhere-all-at-once lawlessness. Some are threatening to impeach so-called activist judges, who are really just judges who dont rule in Trumps favor, and haul them before Congress for questioning. Others, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), are floating the idea of eliminating or defunding entire federal courts that dare rule against the Trump administration. It would be un-American and unconstitutional, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said of GOP calls for impeaching judges. Im absolutely astonished theyre even talking about it because it indicates such contempt for democracy. Republicans have set their sights on three judges in particular: U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell, who issued an injunction earlier this month blocking Trumps sweeping federal funding freeze; U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, who blocked billionaire Elon Musk from taking further steps to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development; and U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has spent weeks falsely accusing Boasberg of being a Democratic activist. In reality, Boasberg was first appointed to the bench by then-President George W. Bush, confirmed 96-0 by the Senate to his current judgeship and has ruled in Trumps favor lots of times in the past. The presidents attacks on Boasberg escalated last week to the point of him demanding the judges removal from the bench: This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!! Trump wrote on social media. His demand drew an extraordinary rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who said in a statement that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The Constitution sets a very high bar for removing federal judges. They have to be impeached by the House for criminal misconduct, and then two-thirds of the Senate must vote for a conviction. In the event Republicans actually began this process for Boasberg, which is extremely unlikely as there are no grounds for doing so, the GOP only controls 53 seats in the upper chamber, making any action on this front entirely performative. But even the threat of impeaching a judge can have negative consequences, as Republicans look to intimidate the federal judiciary into giving them a blank check to operate without impunity. Both the GOP-controlled House and Senate are firmly under Trumps thumb, leaving the courts as the presidents only real obstacle to pushing through extreme and often illegal plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans have scheduled two hearings next week to take a closer look at judges use of nationwide injunctions to stop Trump something theyve celebrated when judges have issued them to block policies by Biden and former President Barack Obama. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), for one, hailed a federal judges injunction in 2015 that blocked the Obama administrations executive actions on immigration. Todays ruling reinforces what I and many others have been saying for a long time: that President Obama acted outside the law when he went around Congress to unilaterally change our nations immigration laws, Cornyn said at the time. Todays victory is an important one, but the fight to reverse the Presidents unconstitutional overreach is not over. The President must respect the rule of law and fully obey the courts ruling. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, similarly applauded an appeals court decision to uphold the 2015 injunction on Obamas immigration plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to the Fifth Circuit, the injunction on the Presidents unlawful maneuvering to implement his own policies, without regard for Congress, the law, or American workers remains in place, Grassley said at the time. The Obama administration does not have unfettered authority to execute whatever it wants, he continued. The President simply cant singly rewrite the countrys immigration laws. This is a win for the checks and balances established by the Constitution. Lots of Senate conservatives were thrilled with this news. The Fifth Circuit has issued a strong and well-reasoned opinion upholding an injunction that temporarily blocks President Obamas lawless executive amnesty program, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said at the time. Our immigration system does need reform. But the reform must be debated and passed by Congress, not unilaterally imposed on the American people by the executive branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contrast those sentiments with what Grassley said Wednesday, talking about his plans to hold Judiciary Committee hearings to crack down on judges use of injunctions to block Trump. District judges abuse of nationwide injunctions has hobbled the executive branch and raised serious questions regarding the lower courts appropriate jurisdictional realm, Grassley told Fox News. Since the courts and the executive branch are on an unsustainable collision course, Congress must step in and provide clarity, he said. Our hearings will explore legislative solutions to bring the balance of power back in check. And Lee, a staunch Trump supporter, introduced a bill on Wednesday that would create a three-judge panel to review any injunctions against the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill comes in the wake of several decisions by district court judges usurping the role of the Chief Executive from President Donald Trump and attempting to thwart the will of the American people who elected him, Lee said in a statement. This legislation will create a judicial panel to expedite Supreme Court review of these blanket injunctions, preventing unelected radicals in robes from sabotaging the separation of powers. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) plans to hold hearings to go after judges who he claims "abuse" the use of injunctions against Trump -- something he was happy that judges used to stop Obama's and Biden's plans. Bloomberg via Getty Images Meanwhile, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced a bill this week aiming to restrict federal judges authority to issue nationwide injunctions, which he said would address the problem better than removing individual judges. I think its abusive. This has been a bipartisan concern, Hawley told reporters on Capitol Hill. I think we ought to make it clear, if youre a district court, you can bind the parties who are in front of you, or the parties who are in your district, and you cannot bind people outside your purview. Ironically, Hawleys wife, Erin Morrow Hawley, was the attorney leading the 2023 lawsuit in which U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued an injunction temporarily halting the FDAs approval of the abortion pill. The Republican senator also voted to confirm Kacsmaryk to his current court seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) admitted that both parties have celebrated nationwide injunctions when their party is not in control of the White House. He noted that Trump has seen more injunctions than either of his two Democratic predecessors a detail that almost certainly stems from the reality that Trump runs afoul of the law more often. I think Trump got hit with 87 in his first term and 30 so far, Kennedy said. But it is an equal opportunity abuse. Democrats pointed to Trumps efforts to demolish federal agencies and freeze congressionally approved spending as some examples of how hes pushed the limits of his authority far further than his predecessors. They also noted that hes tried to do things like eliminate birthright citizenship, despite it being clearly established by the Constitution. Theyre trying to stop these judges from even temporarily holding Trump up, said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. They want him to just be able to move ahead with all his executive orders without objection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the heart of all of this is that Trump is mad because he keeps losing in court. One of the legal groups thats been leading the way in challenging Trump in the courts and winning is Democracy Forward, a progressive legal organization that last month secured a nationwide preliminary injunction that halted Trumps efforts to arbitrarily terminate federal grants relating to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Federal judges have served as the source of protection for the American people in countless cases since Trump took office, said Skye Perryman, the organizations president and CEO. Theyve been issuing orders of various types to ensure that those whose rights are affected and seek their day in court have protection against harmful and unlawful overreach by the government, she said. We invite the president and his allies to course correct and govern in the best interest of the American people and in accordance with the law. Perryman added, Should they continue to shirk their duty to do so, youll see us ensure the American people have their rights protected in court. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) The General Assembly is set to reconvene for the final days of the regular legislative session. In the final moments of the veto period, Gov. Andy Beshear took action on 15 bills on March 26 by signing three, vetoing nine, and returning three without signature. RELATED: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud to support two bills that will help our students get the very best education, said Gov. Beshear. And I am excited to see Kentuckys film industry grow and bring new jobs and opportunities to families across the commonwealth. Beshear said his vetoes would protect public education and Kentuckians access to health care. Heres a look at the three bills signed into law on Wednesday: House Bill 208 requires school districts to implement a policy limiting cellphone use in schools during instructional time. House Bill 298 helps low-performing schools seek assistance to improve student outcomes. Senate Bill 1 creates the Kentucky Film Office, promoting the growth of the Kentucky film industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These three bills will also go into effect without the governors signature. Heres which and why they werent signed: Beshear called House Bill 775 a bait-and-switch bill, where, at the beginning of the session, lawmakers told committee members that the guardrails for income tax reductions would stay in place, and many pushed for and voted for a tax reduction (House Bill 1) based on that information. Beshear stated that later in the session, lawmakers passed this bill and reportedly violated their statements and testimony. Senate Bill 2, Beshear said, he does not believe that the state should pay for gender reassignment surgeries for convicted felons, as this would mean those in prison would receive better access to medical care than a law-abiding citizen. However, courts have ruled that federal law may require some nonsurgical care. House Bill 520 aims to protect certain law enforcement documents from being distributed through open records requests. Gov. Beshear said he supports transparency but understands the need to protect ongoing criminal investigations. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Beshear said he vetoed the following bills in an effort to protect public education and protect tax dollars: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 240 would require kindergarten students to be given a universal screening to determine their readiness to move on to primary school. Beshear said that this wouldnt solve the issue of children not being prepared for kindergarten or first grade and instead urged for universal pre-K. House Bill 346 would reportedly allow at least one entity to sidestep the majority of the emission fees it owes to the commonwealth. House Bill 552 reportedly violates the Kentucky Constitution by creating a legislative board to carry out an executive function by advancing bilateral trade and investment between Kentucky and Ireland. House Bill 695, Beshear said, would create barriers and delays for more than 1,600,000 Kentucky adults and children who access health care through Medicaid and the Kentucky Childrens Health Insurance Program, or KCHIP. House Joint Resolution 46 received line-item vetoes to correct the names of roads. Senate Bill 19 would violate when kindergarteners cannot stay silent in their seats and reportedly would not allow students whose religious practices include standing prayer to do so. Senate Bill 25 received line-item vetoes because Beshear noted the bill contradicts what lawmakers said last year when they moved to make the Office of the Ombudsman independent. Senate Bill 183 prevents the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority from having discretion over monitoring companies. Senate Bill 207 could create unequal educational standards between local school districts. Beginning Thursday, the General Assembly could override any of the governors 25 vetoed bills by reaching a majority vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Governor Spencer Cox has signed a controversial bill that will make substantial changes to how Utahns vote in future elections. Among the 100 bills signed by Cox Wednesday afternoon was H.B. 300 or Amendments to Election Law which passed the legislature in controversy due to the changes it makes to mail-in voting in the Beehive State. Among its provisions is a requirement for voters to begin opting in to receive a mail-in ballot every 8 years. The bill also includes several new reforms, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Requiring voters to place the last 4 digits of their drivers license, state ID, or social security number on their ballot return envelopes Mandates that clerks will begin phasing out signature verification by 2029 Those who cannot provide these identifications to vote in person, with exceptions Ballots must arrive at the clerks office no later than 8 p.m. Election Day to be counted Requiring voters to opt-in for mail-in ballots when they register to vote in order to receive one Voters will stop receiving a mail-in ballot by default in 2029 Ordering the Lt. Governor to seek an agreement with the federal court system to notify the state of individuals who are disqualified from jury duty due to criminal convictions or non-citizen status Orders the Lt. Governor to identify anomalies in the voter rolls and investigate the validity of a voter record when a ballot is returned as undeliverable, and Creates an exception to the rule that ballots must be mailed in Utah, if the jurisdiction mailing the ballots is assigned to a postal service area outside of Utah. PREVIOUS: Legislature passes controversial reforms to Utahs mail-in voting system The bill was universally opposed by Utahs county clerks, sharing concerns how the new law will disrupt the voting process and the logistics of enforcement of the new law. [Requiring ID] does add that level of security (to elections) but with that comes a huge time and resource component, Lannie Chapman, Salt Lake County clerk, wrote. In order to accomplish this successfully, were going to have to increase the amount of people that work with us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah County Clerk Aaron Davidson, in an interview with ABC4.com, shared concerns about the waste the bill will cause. As many clerks have envelopes on hand and will have to reprint new return envelopes to abide by the new laws id verification. PREVIOUS: Utahs county clerks oppose bill that seeks to make several changes to elections In an interview on Inside Utah Politics, Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson reassured voters that the state has a few years to figure out how the new bill will be implemented and encouraged voters to be proactive with their vote. We do have some time to figure this out if we didnt get it right this year, Henderson told ABC4.com. We as Utahns believe in personal responsibility, voters should be no different. They have control of their ballot, and they need to make sure that they are responsible for knowing what the laws are, for turning their ballot in on time, to double check to make sure their vote was counted appropriately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill will take effect May 7, 2025, and will complete the transition to the new system fully by 2029. At the time of writing this, the governor has signed 476 bills, vetoed 2, and has 104 bills left to act on before tomorrow at midnight. Any bills that the governor does not sign, or veto will automatically become 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 ABC4 Utah. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) On Tuesday, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed 200 bills into law, including one that officially outlaws the use of virtual reality (VR) to engage in unlawful sexual activity with a minor. H.B. 358 titled Criminal Sexual Conduct Amendments makes it illegal for an adult to engage in sexual activity in a VR space while knowing the user on the other end is underage. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Verona Mauga, and Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said he believes this bill is the first of its kind in the nation. Gill said his office worked closely with Mauga. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THE LATEST Cox signs 100 bills into Utah law ahead of looming deadline This passage of this bill, for the first time I think in the country now creates a criminal charge when you have adults who are targeting children in virtual reality spaces where theyre engaging in sexual contact and sexual conduct in very graphic detail, Gill told ABC4.com. The language of the bill defines several terms related to virtual reality, and makes it a criminal offense to commit unlawful sexual activity with a child (14 years old or younger) and to commit unlawful sexual activity with a minor (between 14 and 18 years of age). In most cases, using VR to engage in sexual activity with a child will be a third-degree felony, but it would be a class A misdemeanor if the person involved is less than 10 years older than the child. Using VR to engage in sexual activity with a minor is a class A misdemeanor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had a law for the sharing of pornography, but not engaging in pornographic acts which is the virtual space, Gill said. So, thats why it makes logical sense to create this statute and to fill that gap in this evolving cyberspace and virtual reality. The law is scheduled to go into effect on May 7, 2025. Background According to Gill, H.B. 358 was introduced after a Utah attorney was contacted to conduct a search warrant. A parent discovered her 11-year-old child had fallen asleep with a VR headset on, and when the childs mother removed the headset, she saw a graphic, sexual chat with an adult. As we executed the search warrant, trying to figure out what charge we could charge with, we realized that there wasnt any statutory fix there that we had no charges, Gill said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gill said the bill is consistent with the public policy that we have. He discussed actions like enticing minors via social media or sharing pornography with children which are able to be criminally charged. When you have individuals who are in this community, who engage in this kind of deviance, theyre purposely choosing and seeking out children, and then creating those avatars to engage in sexual interaction, Gill said. Gill said the bill doesnt affect consenting adults in a VR space. However, it does make it an offense to solicit sexually explicit conduct actual or simulated from a person in custody (including prisoners, those under correctional supervision, or those under arrest). This section of the bill applies to people knowingly asking for sexually explicit content from people in custody, and violations would be classified as a class A misdemeanor. Technology is here to stay, Gill said. So, we have to try to stay one step ahead of those who would want to abuse that technology to also be in a predatory way to our children as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) Some of the best state leaders in education are coming together for the 2025 North Carolina Association of School Administrators conference. Thursday, hundreds of administrators got the chance to join in on sessions and hear from educators on the state of schools. Governor Stein also spoke at the conference. In front of a large crowd, he highlighted his proposed budget when it comes to education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He called on the importance of recruiting and retaining teachers. He also highlighted teacher pay raises, a proposed $300 stipend to help teachers offset costs in the classroom and the importance of cell phone-free classrooms. In addition, he also discussed his proposed $4 billion public school bond to fix aging schools. I recognize that a number of the issues Ive talked about involve money but heres the thing we can afford these things if we prioritize these things. We dont have to squander money the way we are with private school vouchers, said Stein. State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mo Green, also spoke at the conference Thursday. He told the crowd he is in the process of doing a listening and learning tour to hear from teachers and students across the state about their biggest needs for North Carolina private schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) Mount Holyoke College has announced that Governor Maura Healey will deliver the Commencement address to undergraduate, graduate, and certificate recipients of the Class of 2025 on May 25th. More than 500 bachelors and masters degree graduates will be awarded during the ceremony, including honoring two alums, Bess Weatherman, Class of 1982, and Tara Roberts, Class of 1991. Healey is the seventy-third governor of Massachusetts and was the first woman and first openly gay candidate elected governor of Massachusetts. She also intends to run for reelection next year. 22News InFocus: Interview with Governor Maura Healey Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healey has served as attorney general since 2014 and is working on a variety of issues that include expanding affordable housing, promoting green jobs, and improving public transportation. Mount Holyoke Colleges Commencement ceremony is being held on Sunday, May 25th, at 10:30 a.m. outside on Pageant Green. Mount Holyoke President Danielle Holley will preside over the ceremony. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The Department of Energy plans to replace dirty fuel plants in Puerto Rico with solar power and battery storage. In a move toward more sustainable energy, the DOE announced projects to boost solar power production in the territory. The Loan Programs Office granted one loan and conditionally granted two more to organizations contracted to supply power and energy storage to municipalities in Puerto Rico. These loans, which total over $1.2 billion, would fund the building of solar farms and battery energy storage systems across the U.S. territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These plans would "more than double the LPO's support for utility-scale solar generation and battery energy storage in Puerto Rico" if finalized, according to Elecktrek. That said, only one loan a $584.5 million loan guarantee to Convergent Energy supporting the areas of Coamo, Caguas, Penuelas, and Ponce has been issued, while the others remain in a conditional status, with no funds yet dispersed. Because Puerto Rico relies on imported fuel, its infrastructure is underfunded, and it is in the path of frequent tropical storms, the cost of energy for citizens is double the U.S. average. This investment could be a massive stride for renewable energy and also lower the cost of living for Puerto Ricans. Conditions on islands often prove to be ideal for renewable energy sources, and these communities just need funding and infrastructure to take advantage of the natural energy around them. For example, in 2023, an island called El Hierro in Spain's Canary archipelago made history by relying solely on wind and solar power for a month straight. Alongside the benefits of reducing carbon pollution that comes from dirty fuels, a switch to renewable energy is also great for people's wallets. The costs of renewable energy have steeply declined recently, and more renewable sources result in lower energy costs for individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "LPO provides low-cost financing and a rigorous due diligence process, making it a valuable resource for Puerto Rico as it works to rebuild an affordable, reliable, and clean energy system," Electrek stated. The Department of Energy has said that Puerto Rico could "feasibly transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050, but significant system upgrades and investments guided by meaningful community participation are needed to get there." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Belarus is making moves to get into the crypto mining game and it's banking on its extra electricity to make it happen. President Alexander Lukashenko recently told the country's new Energy Minister Alexei Kushnarenko to look into using surplus energy to power crypto mining operations, reported CryptoNinjas. "If it is profitable for us, let's do it. We have excess electricity. Let them make this cryptocurrency and so on," Lukashenko said, according to state news agency BelTA. With some of the lowest electricity prices in Europe, Belarus sees an opportunity to position itself as a major player in the crypto-mining space. The government has already been in talks with investors, and officials like former Deputy Energy Minister Denis Moroz have confirmed that discussions with mining companies are already happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lukashenko is also prioritizing infrastructure improvements, looking to upgrade the country's 5,700-kilometer power grid (roughly 3,542 miles) to meet growing energy demands. While Belarus sees crypto mining as an economic win, the industry's environmental impact is a growing concern. Crypto mining is notorious for its energy consumption, with the bitcoin network alone using more electricity annually than some entire countries. While an increasing percentage of that comes from renewable sources like hydroelectricity or from excess energy generation, the energy needs are undeniably high. The International Monetary Fund estimates that crypto mining could account for 0.7% of global carbon pollution by 2027. If Belarus relies on dirty energy sources like gas, oil, or coal for this expansion and scales up to do it rather than using truly surplus energy, it could significantly increase its carbon footprint. Other countries have leaned into greener crypto mining methods: Bhutan, for example, taps into hydropower, and El Salvador uses geothermal energy, according to CoinDesk. But Belarus hasn't clarified whether its surplus electricity comes from renewable sources or dirty fuels. Given that much of its power grid is linked to natural gas, according to the International Energy Agency, this could pose a major problem for sustainability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lukashenko has pointed to the U.S. as an example, noting its increasing acceptance of crypto and the potential for national reserves of digital currency. "You see the path the world is going. And especially the largest economy in the world. They announced that they will keep cryptocurrency in reserve," he said, per CryptoNinjas. But Belarus faces unique challenges. Investors worry about political instability and the potential for international sanctions, which could make the country a risky bet for long-term crypto operations. The legal framework around mining is also unclear without solid regulations, uncertainty could drive away companies looking for stable business ventures. Belarus' plan to turn excess electricity into a profitable crypto-mining industry is bold, but there are big questions to answer. Will the government prioritize renewable energy, or will this lead to even more pollution? And with ongoing geopolitical risks, will international investors see Belarus as a safe place to mine? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, Lukashenko seems determined to push forward, but the success of this initiative will depend on more than just cheap power it'll require balancing economic ambitions with climate responsibility. Do you think America could ever go zero-waste? Never Not anytime soon Maybe in some states Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Just like their closest neighbors to the south, Canada is proposing a gradual phasing out of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. Often referred to as "forever chemicals," PFAS have been used in products such as cookware, personal care products, and even food packaging. The EPA has linked PFAS exposure to possible health problems like cancer and increased cholesterol levels, though more studies are needed to determine the exact connection. In a press release, the Canadian government laid out a plan it says will protect "the health of Canadians, as well as safeguarding the environment." As part of that plan, the government will propose the addition of PFAS to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As reported by the United Nations Environment Programme, PFAS can last up to several thousand years. This can lead to an increase of waste that is unable to break down inside our landfills. According to the proposal, the government would enact "Phase 1" starting in 2025, which would address PFAS in firefighting foams. Concerns over the presence of PFAS in fire countermeasures have pressured communities like New Jersey to seek alternative solutions. In "Phase 2," products with PFAS that are "not needed for the protection of human health, safety, or the environment" will also be phased out. This includes cosmetics, food packaging materials, and textiles. Steven Guilbeault, minister of environment and climate change, noted the importance of moving to ban PFAS. "Today, the government is taking a significant step forward to better protect workers, firefighters, and all Canadians from 'forever chemicals,'" Guilbeault said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Science shows that the ongoing use of PFAS can harm both the environment and human health. With this announcement, we are leading the way with our partners including Indigenous peoples and industry experts to protect not only the health of our ecosystems and Canadians but also the resilience of our economy." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) It appears more likely drivers going between Indiana and Kentucky on the new I-69 bridge will not have to worry about a toll. Governor Beshear appears to have vetoed portions of a bill that wouldve made it more likely that tolls would have to be paid on the new road. This bill is House Bill 546, and the legislation had required the I-69 Ohio River Crossing project to be partly funded by tolls on Kentuckians. Governor Beshear signs 20 new bills into law in Kentucky Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Beshear explains The Brent Spence Bridge project has no tolls and neither should the I-69 Ohio River Crossing. He says this bill and the tolls it seeks to impose will slow down progress on this critical project for Kentucky. Despite Gov. Beshears veto, however, the Kentucky General Assembly can still override his veto. More details can be seen in the player above, and Gov. Beshears rationale behind his veto can be viewed below. I-69-BRIDGE-TOLLS-VETODownload 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). RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) On Thursday, March 26, 2025, Governor Stein submitted an Action Plan for a $1.4 billion federal disaster recovery grant to address the revitalization needs in western North Carolina. The plan was submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for approval, which makes North Carolina the fastest state to submit a plan following a major hurricane in the past decade. To rebuild damaged communities, we must rebuild peoples homes and our critical infrastructure, Governor Josh Stein said. I am grateful to the many North Carolinians who provided input on this plan over the past 30 days, and I urge the federal government to review and approve it swiftly so we can jumpstart permanent home rebuilding as quickly as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Steins third executive order, a new division at the Commerce Department was created to administer the HUD CDBG-DR program for western North Carolina. This Division of Community Revitalization is being led by Deputy Secretary Stephanie McGarrah, who headed the development of the Action Plan proposal as well as an engagement program to receive feedback by holding in-person public meetings in six western N.C. locations. The CDBG-Dr grants focus more on long-term rebuilding in the three core areas of recovery, which are housing, infrastructure, and economic revitalization. The Helene Action Plan will propose to have most funds go to housing recovery for low- and moderate-income residents, with leftover funds going to rebuild small business and commercial districts. We are moving with urgency so that western North Carolina receives the relief it needs, North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said. I am grateful to the public for their comments and to everyone who has worked to get this plan submitted, and I eagerly await its approval by HUD. Click here to read the Action Plan. 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. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham on Wednesday signed onto legislation that would clear the way for state and federal correctional institutions to use cellphone jamming systems a power long sought-after power by many in Columbia. What the inmates can do with these phones is they can continue their criminal ways from behind bars. Its very dangerous, state Department of Corrections chief Byran Stirling said Wednesday. They can put hits out on people, they can continue scams. Stirling and Gov. Henry McMaster for years have pleaded with regulators for access to cellphone jamming technology, but the Federal Communications Commission has stood in the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on Wednesday introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025, which if approved would prevent the FCC from interfering with efforts to block signals coming into prisons. Graham and Stirling met on Tuesday to talk about the issue. Cellphones in prisons are widely used by inmates to communicate with drug cartels, human traffickers and gun runners. Byran and his team have made it real to me that cellphones in prisons aid and abet lawbreaking, he said. A January 2024 report by nonprofit The Urban Institute culled data from 20 state departments of correction including South Carolinas to find that in 2020, states averaged 1,292 contraband cellphone recoveries. And more than 60% of departments interviewed ranked illicit cellphone use as their top three biggest security concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the Justice Department said South Carolina prison inmates led a crime ring responsible for obtaining $5 million in fraudulent COVID-19 benefits. Prosecutors said the inmates used a tactic known as Johning, which involved using contraband cellphones to persuade people to send them nude or compromising photos. After obtaining the photos, they were able to contact victims posing as law enforcement and extort money, Social Security numbers and drivers licenses from them. State lawmakers have taken steps to curb the problem, but Stirling and others say its not enough. Last year, for example, the General Assembly unanimously approved a measure that bars inmates from illegally possession telecommunication devices including mobile phones, laptops, PDAs and two-way pagers. First-time violators could get up to an additional year in prison, with second or subsequent violations adding up to five years. The penalty jumps to 10 years if a device is found to have been used to commit a felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State prison officials also have the ability to identify phones inside prison walls and get them deactivated within two days. Thats probably a 70% solution when we know jamming is 100%, and thats where we want to go, Stirling said. We can shut these phones off and turn them into bricks. State Attorney General Alan Wilson on Wednesday joined 30 of his colleagues calling on Congressional leaders to authorize prison jamming technology. The problem of contraband cell phones in prisons remains severe and continues to escalate. Despite intensive security measures and the dedicated efforts of our corrections officers, inmates continue to obtain and use cell phones to direct criminal enterprises from within prison walls as a matter of course, they wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Grandview Medical Center will host a blood drive with the American Red Cross on Thursday. According to the hospital, the drive will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the hospitals auditorium. Donors will receive an American Red Cross t-shirt, free A1C testing and a $10 Amazon gift card. Longtime CBS Sports broadcaster Gary Danielson to retire this year Walk-ins are accepted, but donors are encouraged to schedule appointments for the blood drive. Appointments can be made here with the keyword GRANDVIEW. Donors should bring a photo ID or an American Red Cross donor card with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Free parking will be available in the hospital parking deck, and donors can bring their parking ticket with them for validation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department has been awarded a grant that will be used to construct new trails leading to Pulpit Rock. According to the City, the grant comes from a multi-agency partnership that includes Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Lottery, and the Federal Recreational Trails Program. The funding will support vital improvements within Austin Bluffs Open Space, such as trailhead improvements, trail connectivity, and enhanced wayfinding for visitors. Austin Bluffs Open Space is a cherished landmark in our community, offering breathtaking vistas and unique geological features, said David Deitemeyer, Trails, Open Space and Parks senior program administrator. We greatly appreciate the support from Colorado Parks and Wildlife in making this project a reality, as this investment will enhance access to the popular hiking destination and help preserve the natural beauty of our open spaces for future generations to enjoy. Courtesy: City of Colorado Springs Courtesy: City of Colorado Springs One of the projects the grant will fund is nearly two and a half miles of multi-use, multi-directional single track trails, including half a mile of Enlightenment Hiking-Only Trail a dedicated trail leading to the summit that will incorporate stone steps designed to promote sustainability, reduce maintenance costs, and improve the overall experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This brings the City closer to completing the 2018 Austin Bluffs Open Space Master Plan. The project will also go towards restoring about 4,100 feet of rogue and illegal trails, fund trailhead enhancements in two main parking lots, such as the installation of curb and gutter to better organize and accommodate users, and add informative trailhead kiosks at both parking areas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Mar. 26A grass fire swept through dozens of acres west of Fairchild Air Force Base on Wednesday. The fire started just after 3 p.m. and grew to 80-90 acres near West Thorpe Road and Stroup Road, according to fire personnel. Forward progress of the fire stopped as of 5:30 p.m. No structures were threatened, Spokane County Fire District 3 spokesperson Terri Bunce said. District 3 had two engines, two attack trucks, one pumper tender and two command vehicles at the scene. The Washington Department of Natural Resources, assisting in battling the fire, had three engines, one hand crew and a dozer there. Spokane County District 10 also assisted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bunce said crews had a problem driving their trucks because the fields were too soft, meaning firefighters had to hike to dig their lines to stop forward progress of the fire. The cause of the fire wasn't immediately clear. Spokane broke its record for the hottest March day Wednesday at 75 degrees. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Greenland's Democrats will announce a four-party coalition government on Friday, local media said on Thursday, following an election overshadowed by U.S. President Donald Trump's interest in taking control of the island. The expected announcement of a broad coalition would come on the day that U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to visit the Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. Vance, in a revised travel plan that initially upset both Greenland and Denmark, is expected to visit the U.S. military base at Pituffik in the north on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original plan included a visit by Vance's wife, Usha, and national security adviser Mike Waltz, to a popular dog-sled race, with no invitation from Greenland's authorities. Greenlandic broadcaster KNR said, without identifying its sources, the coalition announcement would take place around 1100 local time (1300 GMT) on Friday. The coming announcement was confirmed to Reuters by one anonymous source familiar with the talks. The source said the new government would be led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the pro-business party the Democrats, which emerged as the biggest party as it tripled its representation to 10 seats in a March 11 general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nielsen had urged the parties to set aside disagreements and swiftly form a broad coalition government to show unity in the face of Trump's campaign to annex the territory. The expected coalition, which spans much of the political spectrum, represents 23 of the 31 parliamentary seats. The Naleraq party, a staunch pro-independence party that doubled its seats to eight in the election, will not be part of the coalition, according to KNR, newspaper Sermitsiaq and the source familiar with the talks. Sermitsiaq reported that Nielsen confirmed the coalition agreement. His party did not respond to requests for comments via phone and email. Since taking office in January, Trump has vowed to make Greenland part of the United States, saying it is vital to U.S. security interests, an idea rejected by most Greenlanders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mute Egede, Greenland's acting Prime Minister, has repeatedly emphasized that the island is not for sale and its people will determine their future. (Reporting by Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, editing by Anna Ringstrom and Ros Russell) The vibes just got a little bit frostier, ahead of second lady Usha Vances upcoming trip to Greenland. (And thats saying something for a country whose warmest region averages temperatures of around -4C in March.) A Greenlandic tourism business announced on Wednesday it has canceled a planned meet-and-greet on her schedule over herand the broader Trump administrationsunderlying agenda and declared, Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. Usha became the face of President Donald Trumps latest attempts to win favor with Greenlanders when the White House announced Sunday that she would lead a March 27 delegation to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenlands national dogsled race. Her trip quickly devolved into a political hot potato, however, as Trump continued his controversial push to takeover the autonomous island territory. (We need Greenland for international safety and security, Trump said in a Wednesday interview with podcaster Vince Coglianese, reported Politico.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Facebook post in Greenlandic, Tupilak Travel wrote that it was contacted by the U.S. Consulate about Vance coming to their souvenir store in Nuuk on Friday. But after initially agreeing to her dropping in, and maybe picking up some postcards or yarn, the company said it had after careful consideration decided not to proceed with the visit. They added that they do not want to be part of the press show that will certainly follow. The post came as the White House announced Tuesday that Ushas trip would be scaled back to a single day, and a visit to the U.S. Pituffik Space Base. Initially featuring Usha and her children as part of a delegation with national security adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President J.D. Vance also announced Tuesday that he would be in attendance. Looking forward to visiting Greenland on Friday! pic.twitter.com/p3HslD3hhP JD Vance (@JDVance) March 25, 2025 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 posted to X. In light of the bombshell reporting of Trump administration officialsV.P. Vance and Waltz includedparticipating in the discussion of highly classified American military strikes on an unsecured group chat, the trip could be the perfect opportunity for Vance and Walz to leave their cellphones on airplane mode, unplug, and discuss which one of them is the real f---ing idiot. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) A Greenville man was sentenced to 11 years in prison Thursday, for his role in an armed robbery. Ernest Russell Early Jr., 37 years old, pled guilty on August 21, 2024 to possessing fake oxycodone pills and robbing the Falkland Mini Mart with a gun. Early entered the mart located in Falkland on August 19, 2023 and reportedly brandished gun at the clerk, demanding that the register be opened. Early left the store with $1,500 cash and left in a black Nissan with New Jersey license plates. The Pitt County Sheriffs Office found Earlys car and pursued him. Early crashed the car and fled on foot, evading deputies. Deputies were able to collect fingerprints and determined that the car Early fled in had been stolen. Early was found on December 8, 2023 after a deputy spotted him in a Greenville parking lot. When Early was arrested, police found 103 counterfeit oxycodone pills and a gun in his pockets. The pills tested positive for fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early was also convicted in Wake County Superior Court in 2013, for common law robbery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa After years of asking for a change to the states no texting and driving law, law enforcement and grieving families got the news they have been waiting for on Wednesday. The Iowa House passed the hands-free driving bill in a show of bipartisan support, with 84 votes for it, 11 against. The bill expands on the current language in Iowa code, where texting and driving is prohibited, but near impossible to enforce as it is legal to use your phone for navigation on Iowa roadways. The bill prohibits the use of a cell phone in any capacity, unless it is being used in a hands-free mode. For around three years, different police entities and families who have lost loved ones due to distracted driving showed up to subcommittee and committee meetings, sharing their stories and urging lawmakers to approve the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pharmacist-Lawmaker pushes for PBM reform bill amid rising pharmacy closures Thanks to everyone whos worked on this bill over the years, especially thanks to the families. Telling your story is very difficult, but it has made a difference. I do believe this legislation will save lives, said State Representative Ann Meyer, (R) District 8 from Fort Dodge. I just want to thank the families who came to the subcommittees and committees on this. Their advocacy for years now is what brought us to this moment, said State Representative Sean Bagniewski, (D) District 35 from Des Moines. Starting on July 1, 2025 Iowa police officers will start issuing warnings for phone usage while driving. Then on January 1, 2026, officers will start handing out $100 citations for violating the law. This is an increase from current Iowa code where the fine is only $45. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After passing through the Iowa Senate just over a week ago, the bill is now headed off to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds desk to sign into law. Iowa 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. princeton Students eagerly accepted shovels and broke ground Wednesday on a new elementary school which will stand next door to a Christian middle school and high school that opened its doors last year. In the fall of 2024, Johnson Chapel Baptist Church started the Summit Christian Academy, a new middle school and high school along Halls Ridge Road which replaced the former Mercer Christian Academy. A crowd gathered Wednesday morning for the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of the academys new elementary school. Kathy Hawks, the academys administrator and principal, welcomed guests to Summit Elementary Schools groundbreaking. Future students joined the Mercer County Commission and other dignitaries in breaking ground for their future classrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are so grateful for your presence and support, Hawks said. This project is an investment in our community, and we believe it will bring numerous benefits to the families of southern West Virginia. This building represents more than breaks and mortar. It signifies the opportunity to educate children in a Christ-honoring environment where academic excellence is paramount. It denotes a choice; a choice parents have as they consider educational opportunities for their children. It symbolizes hope, hope for future generations of students. Summit Christian Academy enrollment numbers have been increasing, Hawks said. At the end of Aprll, at open house we had 79 students enrolled for this current year, she said. However, by the time school started in August 2024, we had 119. The numbers continued to increase to our present 142 students with 94 additional students who have submitted applications to start Summit fall 2025. With enrollment still open, it is expected that applications will continue to be accepted, putting projected admission well above 200. Hawks said the elementary school project became a reality with help from the Hope Scholarship and the efforts of Johnston Chapel Baptist Churchs members and leadership, its board of directors, area businesses and individuals in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a testament to the power of prayer, hard work and a dedicated team, Hawks said. But mostly, it is witness to a loving God who can do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we ask and think. And it is to Him we dedicate this school. Creating the new elementary school has been a challenge, but now the plan is coming to fruition, said Bill W. Harvey, chairman of the academys board of directors. Were just humbled and overwhelmed to have the Lord bless this, Harvey said. It has been stressful, short timeline to get it done but we think we have seen literally miracles to affirm what were doing here to create an institution to impart knowledge to young minds. And I can assure you that is through an unwavering commitment to education excellence in all subjects math, language, the arts, world history, American history, civics. State Treasurer Larry Pack said he was serving in the Legislature when the Hope Scholarship was created in 2021, adding that he was glad to see the school and churchs commitment to investing in the future of children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tuition of the Hope Scholarship, it really helps a lot. It helps pays the operating expenses, but it doesnt help pay for the building, so thank you so much to everybody at the church and the school thats allowed that and has been able to do that, Pack said. The fact West Virginia has the Hope Scholarship gives the states parents more options for their children, he said. So many people in West Virginia do not have the financial resources to even consider an option for some other different path, an educational path, for their children and this is what its all about, Pack said. So now were able to return some of your money back to you and youre able to make the decision that you think is best for your children. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com An alliance to raise funds for the Indiana Theatre will be forming soon, members of the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board decided at their meeting Wednesday morning at the Terre Haute Convention Center. Jerry Arnold, founder of the Crosley Radio Players, a performance group that recreates old programs from the golden age of radio, said he has approached Wabash Valley Community Foundation CEO Beth Tevlin about starting a fund for the theater. Arnold, whose troupe performs at sundry locations in Terre Haute and beyond, said when they performed at the Indiana Theatre, they did so before the largest audience they have ever entertained, and the players would like to return to the venue in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CIB has spent months pondering the fate of the theater since a study conducted by the architectural firm Studio Axis last July found that fully renovating the theater would cost around $28 million. Not having that kind of money lying around, the CIB is considering investing roughly $4 million on a bare-bones refurbishment. One undesirable alternative would be give up on the venue and tearing the building down. Tevlin said she told Arnold that he would need the CIBs endorsement to create such a fund. In the past, the foundation has raised money for similar ventures, such as the Garfield Purple Eagle Plaza and Griffin Bike Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the meeting, Board President and Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer said he spoke with Tevlin in the afternoon. We established that a fund will be set up and will be listed as Friends of the Indiana Theatre, he said. Thats really as far as weve gotten today. Arnold was invited to share a bit of the Crosley Radio Players history. Charmed by what he heard, Board member Brian Kooistra suggested they could appear at the Convention Center before the Indiana Theatre reopens. Casino meeting, other updates The board also briefly followed up on the question of whether event bookings at the Terre Haute Casino Resort were conflicting with efforts of the CIB-owned Terre Haute Convention Center Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun, a member of the CIB, reported there had been a productive meeting with casino officials that could lead to a better path on communication regarding events. Joint promotions were also discussed, the mayor said. Also, Terre Haute Convention Center Executive Director Tennille Wanner gave the board her monthly update. February was a soft month for the convention center, with 10 events generating revenue of $52,551. The Larry Bird Museum hosted 473 visitors. As the majority of patrons have been walk-ups recently, the online reservation system will be taken down in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also Wednesday, the CIB elected Jon Marvel as Vice President and Brian Kooistra as secretary to join the president, Switzer, and Sakbun, who is treasurer. Since Switzer and Sakbun will not be able to attend the scheduled April CIB meeting, it was canceled. The next meeting will be May 28. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) March is Womens History Month and Hartford HealthCare is honoring and celebrating Hartford Hospitals first female neurosurgeon. Hyun Joo Park, neurosurgeon at Hartford Hospitals Ayer Neuroscience Institute, 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. NEW HARTFORD, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) New Hartford Police have arrested a juvenile on Thursday after he made a threat on a school dance in the district. New Hartford Police became aware of the threat posted on Snapchat on Wednesday, March 26. The threat was made by a 17-year-old juvenile, and was targeting a dinner dance at Perry Junior High School. The juvenile was arrested on Thursday, March 27. He was arraigned in Oneida County Family Court and is being held by New Hartford Police due to several factors. An order of protection was issued on behalf of the school. The juvenile was charged with Making a Terroristic Threat, a Class D Felony. We commend the New Hartford student and family who reported the threat to the district. All members of the New Hartford Community are encouraged to remain vigilant, the district said in a statement. If you hear or see something, say something. We appreciate the swift action of the [New Hartford Police Department] and their work to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Hartford Central School District has said the dinner dance will be held on its regular date Saturday, April 5. However, the district said that there will be a police presence during the event. If anyone has any questions or concerns regarding the event, they are asked to contact Perry Junior High School Principal Michael Sinacore or Dean of Students Brian Rio. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) On March 26, 46-year-old Gerhardt Konig was charged with attempted murder after allegedly attacking his wife on the Pali Puka hiking trail on March 24. Man in critical condition following apparent stabbing Konig is accused of beating his wife, striking her on the head and attempting to push her off the trail. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The 36-year-old victim was critically injured and transported to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Konig fled the scene but was arrested later that evening following a foot pursuit near Nuuanu Pali Drive. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news His bail is set at $5,000,000. 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 KHON2. JAMM AQUINO / APRIL 17 Attorney General Anne Lopez, shown speaking about the Maui Wildfire Report findings, is joining 20 other attorneys general in challenging the Trump administrations efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. JAMM AQUINO / APRIL 17 Attorney General Anne Lopez, shown speaking about the Maui Wildfire Report findings, is joining 20 other attorneys general in challenging the Trump administrations efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. State Attorney General Anne Lopez is leading a multi state legal battle to block the Trump administration in its attempt to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, joining 20 other attorneys general in seeking a preliminary injunction to halt widespread layoffs and service disruptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal action comes in response to a March 20 executive order directing the closure of the department, followed by a March 21 announcement from President Donald Trump mandating an immediate 50 % reduction in the departments workforce and the transfer of student loan management and special education services to outside agencies. The coalition argues that these actions are illegal and would severely disrupt education nationwide. In Hawaii, the impact could be devastating ; the move threatens 178, 000 K-12 public school students and thousands of college students who depend on federal loans and grants for postsecondary education. The Department of Education is essential, and it cannot be eliminated or incapacitated by the Trump administration without violating federal law, Lopez said in a statement. The 50 % cut to the departments workforce and transfer of department functions to other agencies causes grave harm to our state and our students. We are asking the court to step in to halt the departments destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi also expressed deep concerns about the decision, warning of disruptions to critical student services. 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 move to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education threatens critical programs that directly support our students, including those with disabilities, English learners, students experiencing unstable housing, and those in our highest-need schools, Hayashi said. In addition to funding, we rely on the departments guidance to ensure compliance, plan for the school year, and sustain essential services across the state. Even with assurances that core programs will continue, a shift of this magnitude risks serious disruptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dismantling could eliminate funding for crucial programs that support students at all levels, according to U.S. Rep. Ed Case (D, Hawaii ). One of the hardest-hit areas would be Title I schools, which serve over 104, 000 low-income students in Hawaii. The state stands to lose $72 million in funding that ensures schools have the resources they need, potentially leading to larger class sizes, fewer teachers and cuts to vital programs. Students with disabilities could also face severe consequences, as Hawaii risks losing $55 million in funding for specialized services like speech therapy, reading assistance and individualized education programs. Higher education funding would also be in jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shutdown of the DOE could lead to the loss of $5 billion in federal student loans, which currently assist 123, 000 Hawaii residents pursuing college or vocational training. Additionally, $81 million in Pell Grantswhich help more than 16, 000 students afford higher educationcould be eliminated, making college inaccessible for thousands of families. University of Hawaii President Wendy Hensel expressed support for the legal challenge, stating that it would defend the future of public education and the communities we serve. Closing the U.S. Department of Education is a potentially catastrophic blow to students, especially those who rely on federal aid and support services to access higher education, Hensel said. At the University of Hawai i, this decision threatens over 100 critical programs and hundreds of jobs across our campuses. Hawaiis career and technical education programs, which provide pathways to stable jobs in traditional trades and STEM fields, could also see a $13 million funding cut, jeopardizing workforce development initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although dismantling the Department of Education requires an act of Congress, the Trump administration has already taken steps to weaken it. Last month, it cut $600 million in grants for teacher training programs, a critical funding source for rural school districts facing teacher shortages. Without these grants, many schools could struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators. The administration has also terminated nearly $900 million in contracts overseen by DOEs Institute of Education Sciences, which conducts research on student achievement and teaching practices, threatening the availability of data used by schools, colleges and education departments to guide instruction and policymaking. The lawsuit, led by Lopez, argues that the executive branch lacks the authority to dismantle a congressionally authorized agency without legislative approval. The coalition asserts that Trumps move violates both the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaiis legal team includes Solicitor General Kaliko onalani Fernandes, Deputy Solicitors General Ewan Rayner and Caitlyn Carpenter, and Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day. The lawsuit and motion for an injunction also are supported by the attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. 24 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . HONOLULU (AP) Hawaii's Kilauea volcano shot lava as high as 1,000 feet (300 meters) into the air during its most recent eruptive episode, geologists said Thursday. The tall fountain of molten rock drew people to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to check out the spectacle, including some on horseback. The lava has remained inside the volcano's summit caldera and within the park, and no residential areas have been threatened, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kilauea's latest eruption began Dec. 23, pausing and resuming over a dozen times since. The most recent eruptive episode was from midday Tuesday until Wednesday evening, the USGS said. Kilauea, located on the southeastern part of the Big Island, is one of the world's most active volcanoes and the busiest in Hawaii. Visitors come from around the world to marvel at its explosive displays. The largest of the state's six active volcanoes is Mauna Loa, which is also on the Big Island and erupted in 2022. Hazel Picking, who has died aged 100, was a visual signaller in the WRNS during the Second World War. As a Girl Guide, Hazel Roberts (as she was born) had been good at Morse and semaphore, and, coming from a naval family, it was clear during the war that as soon as she became old enough she would join the Womens Royal Naval Service. She spent a few months at Kensington Secretarial School, but in 1943, aged 18, she volunteered, and was trained at the signals training centre, HMS Cabbala, outside Wigan. Her job was to relay Morse-code signals by light through an Aldis lamp. Her first trained job was in Rosyth dockyard before she was sent to the shore establishment HMS Rosemarkie on the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands. At a party in the Wrennery on Christmas Night 1943 she met 26-year-old Royal Marines Captain Bernie Stormy Webb. She had first seen him through the lens of her signals telescope and thought him the best-looking of a bad-looking bunch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Webb was posted to Fort Gilkicker in Gosport, Hazel Roberts wangled an appointment to HMS Hornet, the nearby base for fast motorboats. Webb, she recalled, would send out scouts from his unit to find out which pub had beer, and there they would meet. If across the harbour, they would often rush to catch the last ferry back, sometimes having to jump on as it was leaving. They married at the end of 1944, when Webb was about to embark for the war in the Pacific. On the night before D-Day, when Hazel had finished her watch by sending messages in readiness for the fleets departure, she saw the Solent so full of craft that you could have walked all the way to the Isle of Wight without getting wet. But when she returned the next morning, there was not a boat to be seen just clear blue water. On VE-Day she was at the end of the pier at Ryde signal station, unable to join the celebrations, and spent her night on watch sending chatty messages to the few remaining ships in the Solent. She was demobbed at the end of 1945, and Webb returned home in early 1946. Hazel Mary Roberts was born on January 17 1925 in Poole. She was brought up along the coast in Southampton and educated at the Parents National Educational Union school there, and later at Christs Hospital, Hertford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her father, Edward Roberts, fought in the battleship Vanguard at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, and an ancestor, 18-year-old midshipman John Aikenhead, was killed in the ship of the line, Royal Sovereign, at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Hazels first marriage lasted 10 years, after which she supported herself as a medical secretary, working for Linwood Strong opticians, then for the Blood Transfusion Service in Sutton, and at an X-ray unit in nearby Worcester Park as the medical directors secretary. In 1967 she went to Epsom College as school secretary. On Burns Night 1972 she met Thomas Picking on a blind date: during their marriage they travelled extensively in Europe, South Africa and North America, and they later became volunteers and team leaders at Painshill Park in Surrey, where they undertook a wide range of jobs. Hazel Picking became a donation governor at Christs Hospital and presented two pupils to the school. Her husband died in 2009, and she is survived by a son from her first marriage. Hazel Picking, born January 17 1925, died February 14 2025 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. DES MOINES, Iowa A woman was taken into police custody Thursday morning after crashing a stolen car into another vehicle in Des Moines. The crash happened around 7:15 a.m. at E. Sheridan and Saylor Road. Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesperson for the Des Moines Police Department, said patrol officers were chasing a stolen red Ford Focus when it hit another vehicle head-on. One of the vehicles ended up in the front yard of a home. The drivers of each vehicle suffered minor injuries in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police took the driver of the stolen vehicle into custody. They have not released her name or any charges she may face. The investigation into the crash continues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Innovative Livestock Solutions chief financial officer Jon Skelton, seated center, spoke during a Kansas Department of Health and Environment forum in favor of the company's proposed 88,000-head concentrated beef feeding facility that would be built south of Larned in Pawnee County. Project critics are concerned it would increase groundwater pollution with animal waste and add to persistent odor and dust challenges. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) LARNED John Blackwell left his farmhouse on a dusty, rural road in an area of Pawnee County with more cattle than people to speak his mind at the public hearing hosted by state regulators evaluating a controversial water permit application for a proposed 88,000-head feed yard. Blackwell, joined by 225 people at Larned Community Center, offered a rebuttal to a battery of complaints shared during the Kansas Department of Health and Environment hearing about ghastly stench, clouds of dust, endless truck traffic and groundwater pollution often attributed to concentrated animal operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He recommended approval of the business expansion plan submitted by Innovative Livestock Services, one of the states leading cattle feeding and farming enterprises. The plan was developed by an environmental services arm of the Kansas Livestock Association. Skeptics of the ILS project given the estimated 60 or 70 new jobs it would create ought to consider the package in context of Larneds future as a viable place to live, he said. We need people. People bring business to this town, and Larned is dying, Blackwell said. I think its a good deal. Weve got to do this if we want our community to survive and grow. If you take away the feedlots in this town and the state hospital, Larned would be a ghost town. Kansas feedlots with at least 1,000 head held 2.3 million cattle on feed in January, which suggested expanding capacity by 88,000 would be noteworthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Felix Revello, an outspoken Larned critic of the project, told KDHE it was fantasy to believe ILS would keep animal sewage contained in artificial ponds and applied without incident on hundreds of acres of fields surrounding a feedlot generating millions of gallons of waste daily. He said it was a certainty the manure and urine cocktail from a new ILS complex south of Larned would contribute to pollution of the aquifer, just as two smaller ILS feed yards closer to Larned had done. KDHEs attempts to stop pollution from existing feedlots over the past quarter century have failed, he said. Were in the same sensitive groundwater, highly porous soils and shallow aquifer. Now, theres going to be a platform for an even larger and more dangerous feedlot. He said the 6,000 residents of Pawnee County shouldnt resign themselves to more air and water pollution. Rural Kansans rights to healthy lives and enjoyment of their homes are being sacrificed to produce enormous wealth for distant owners. These poisonous industrialized operations would not be profitable without destroying the environment of rural Kansas. Our urban counterparts would not tolerate or even expect such environmental justice, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conflict between Blackwell and Revello illustrated the challenge of balancing history with the future of CAFOs in Kansas. The community meeting Tuesday night in Larned marked the conclusion of the public comment period in a process that began with the November 2024 submission of an application from ILS Feeders. KDHE said the water pollution permit for a 640-acre ILS feedlot approximately 10 miles from Larned received preliminary approval. KDHE staff will compile a summary of questions, complaints and suggestions regarding the project before submitting a final permit to KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek. It could take more than a month for KDHE to render a decision. Larned-area residents register at the Kansas Department of Health and Environments forum to gather public comment on a proposed 88,000-head concentrated beef feeding facility. The applicant, Innovative Livestock Solutions, operates two feedlots near Larned that critics of the proposed project blame for high nitrate concentrations in well water. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) Sign of the times Jon Skelton, the chief financial officer of ILS headquartered in Great Bend, addressed the community center crowd before KDHE opened up the meeting for a question-and-answer session and the formal public comment segment. He counted himself among 116 shareholders of the company, which include 78 Kansans and 40 residents of the Pawnee, Barton and Stafford tri-county region. He said 48 co-owners were employees of ILS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skelton sought to dispel public apprehension that was evident as regulatory examination of the feed-yard project unfolded. He suggested ILS was inaccurately derided as an economic bully. One thing I keep hearing in the comments is Big Ag,' he said. I know everything is a matter of perspective, but we dont see ourselves as Big Ag. When I think Big Ag, I think Cargill. I think Tyson. I think of global, publicly traded, billions and billions of dollars. Thats not us. Skelton addressed anxiety the 88,000-head beef operation would place a greater burden on an aquifer system in crisis. In Pawnee County, he said, the transition from irrigation to stock usage of water required a 12.5% reduction in a users allocation. In terms of waste management, Skelton said, ISL collaborated with engineers to meet KDHEs construction and operating requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that were here tonight, ending the public comment period, means that we have met the requirements that they set for us, he said. Richard Josefiak, a Rozel area farmer with land near ILS facilities, said he was compelled by the wave of negative reaction to the project to endorse both ILS and Skelton. ILS is a tremendous steward of the ground, Josefiak said. I feel very, very confident that if this new feed yard goes in that all the safeguards will be put into use. I realize Im maybe at the minority tonight, but I am a farmer. I am a rancher. I would hate to think that if I wanted to do something that a lot of townspeople would be against it. Larned resident Merrill Cauble, pointing at the map, said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment should reject an application from Innovative Livestock Solutions to build a feedlot south of town. He doesnt believe touted job benefits outweigh air and water pollution likely to result from the 88,000-head facility. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) Nitrate concentration A few blocks from the community center, at the intersection of Broadway and Sixth streets, a temporary middle-of-the-street sign announced the KDHE hearing on the water permit sought by ILS. It was bracketed on four corners by the Masonic Temple building, ACE Hardware, Heart of Kansas Family Health Care and the Farmers Bank and Trust and summarized without words a sentiment about the feed yard project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sign included a coiled piece of dung adorned with a stylized Ghostbusters red slash. It represented the view of Merrill Cauble, who grew up on a farm about one mile from the proposed feed yard and had worked as his father did in the cattle industry. In an interview and during the meeting, Cauble said he wanted KDHE to reject the ILS permit application. He sounded an alarm about high concentrations of nitrate measured as nitrogen in groundwater samples from two ILS feedlots near Larned. The region is known for its fine sandy loam soil. Theres a high potential for cattle waste stored in runoff lagoons and disposed of on nearby crop fields to leach into the aquifer. He said KDHE testing of well water for nitrates showed one ILS feedlot ranged from a low of 14 parts per million to a high of 51 ppm, while the other feedlot ranged from 33 ppm to 51 ppm. East of those feedlots on the downslope the readings were above 20 ppm, but upslope to the west the readings were 0.06 ppm to 12.8 ppm. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the maximum contaminant level for nitrate in drinking water was 10 ppm. High levels in drinking water could prove dangerous, especially to infants, because it might interfere with the bloods ability to carry oxygen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nitrate levels at the two existing yards are out of control. South of Larned is already a dumping ground for the animal waste from the other two yards, Cauble said. Its unbelievable the nitrate levels thats underneath. The biggest problem is the sandy soils from Larned south. Everything goes right through. Its not built for feedlots. He said the pair of existing ILS feed yards produced an estimated 3.8 million pounds of manure and urine daily. The proposed facility could generate an additional 5.7 million pounds of animal waste per day, he said. Cauble said the groundwater management plan submitted by ILS wasnt worth the paper its written on. Problems at the current ILS facilities should be addressed before the state government gave the company opportunities to repeat environmental mistakes at a new ILS facility, he said. Does this concern the Kansas Department of Health and Environment? Cauble asked. Opponents of Innovative Livestock Solutions proposal for an 88,000-head feedlot south of Larned spread the word with a sign posted in middle of a downtown street about a public hearing hosted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The state agency is considering a water pollution prevention permit application filed by ILS. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) KDHE is concerned Erich Glave, an engineer with KDHE who answered questions from attendees at the forum, said high nitrate readings in water were a concern to the state agency. He said research was being conducted to better determine whether the source of nitrate was commercial fertilizers or animal material from feedlots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KDHE is concerned about rising nitrates in groundwater, Glave said. This new yard will be more protective under our new design standards. One participant in the forum asked KDHE why ILS chose Larned rather than Overland Park, Manhattan or some other urban center. Western Kansas is home to many feedlots, said Glave, who pointed to the regions lower humidity and summer breezes as attraction points. The availability of grain. The availability of space. Those are all issues that go into how you would decide to site a feedlot. In response to a question, KDHE said the draft water permit for the ILS complex didnt include additional groundwater monitoring. However, KDHE has had conversations with ISL about putting a testing requirement for groundwater, including upgradient and downgradient wells, in the final water permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement C.T. Taylor, who lives on nine acres south of Larned, said there was a feedlot north of his property and the new ILS facility would be to the south. That would put his property in a big clamp, he said. He expressed concern about the future health of his 9-year-old son, but Taylor also said water contamination had become personally challenging since he received a heart transplant Dec. 5, 2024. Currently, I cannot shower in my own house because of the water problem, he said. I cannot drink my water. I cannot wash dishes without bringing bottled water home. The owner of land two miles from the proposed confined feeding operation echoing Taylors angst asked whether KDHE could guarantee his groundwater would be drinkable in 15 years. Id like to be up here to give you a few guarantees, said Casey Guccione, chief of KDHEs livestock waste management division. But, frankly, thats not necessarily what were here to do. (The name of a participant in the Larned forum, Felix Revello, was spelled incorrectly in an earlier version of this story.) Mar. 27A half-acre fire in the bosque raged through the Poco Loco River Trail in June, leaving rows of burned trees and foliage in its wake. Though the forest was once filled with 500 dark, dead trees north of the Rio Bravo riverside picnic area in Southwest Albuquerque, three student biologists have worked to restore the cottonwoods, helping them to one day burst back to life with vibrant shades of green. The three student biologists, Maura Hearn, Lauren Urenda and Elena Rosales, are working to heal the Poco Loco burn scar and return it to the diverse, blooming space it once was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trio, who are contracted with the city of Albuquerque Open Space Division, make their way through the bosque, clearing dead trees and planting more with every visit they make. "This is a riparian forest, so it's not built for a fire," Rosales said. "We're living in a changed world, and we've made changes to the functioning of the ecosystem, so with things like the changing climate, fire is more prevalent in the bosque." Monday morning, the three technicians spent their day removing invasive species like kochia, taking inventory of what flora are still present in the burn scar and identifying what species continue to inhabit the area. "The general goal is to try and mitigate invasive species that tend to re-sprout and replace them with native seed and regenerate the community as best we can," Hearn said. "We want to be able to restore this so all the layers of the ecosystem are there. ... Eventually, we hope that the animals that have been trying to use it are able to find what they need here." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recovering and conserving the bosque requires constant maintenance and observation. Every day, the trio is doing something new with the bosque. One day, they might be planting willow and cottonwood trees, and the next, they're doing soil samples to see what can grow. When the three aren't removing dead tree stumps and observing Cooper's hawks swoop into the tree lines, the group is working with the Ancestral Lands Youth Conservation Corps in the hopes of training and uplifting younger communities to continue restoration work in New Mexico. Hope isn't lost for the bosque, the student biologists said. Since their time surveying and restoring, the biologists have noticed plants sporting shades of green again, animals slowly returning to the area and even new plants finding homes within the Poco Loco trail, including the yerba mansa, a perennial herb that is not often found in New Mexico something the biologists believe is a sign of restoration. "There's a lot we can also do to help that and to uplift our ecosystems that support us and preserve this beautiful world for us," Urenda said. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Health advocates hope to send a message to lawmakers about a bill making major changes to Kentuckys Medicaid program. It is a way to cut costs because fewer people will be enrolled in Medicaid, Kentucky Voices of Health Executive Director Emily Beauregard said during a Wednesday morning media conference on House Bill 695. Here are all the bills Gov. Andy Beshear signed, vetoed, and returned without his signature on Tuesday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a proposal supporters say will bring more transparency and accountability to Kentuckys Medicaid system, but health advocates who were part of Wednesdays conference warned the bill could create a barrier for the 1.4 million Kentuckians that rely on the safety net program One of the many kinds of funding options or options for cuts on the table is work reporting requirements. But I think that in and of itself tells you that a work requirement is a cut, Beauregard said. She argued that at face value adding work reporting requirements sounds like common sense but believes the added paperwork just adds confusion to the process. While the bill doesnt necessarily mandate this, it does direct the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to request approval from the federal government to initiate these requirements. The last time Kentucky went down this road was in 2018 when work requirements mandated by then-Governor Matt Bevin were blocked by a federal judge. Our experience in the Bevin administration was incredibly complicated, and reporting requirements very difficult to meet, often resulting in people losing coverage. But not because they werent working. It was because they could not comply with the paperwork requirements, Advocacy Action Network executive director Dr. Sheila Schuster said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schuster, a clinical psychologist, shared shes also concerned that the bills return to requiring prior authorization for behavioral health services, which was suspended during the pandemic, could delay or reduce care. Under the bill all of this would be overseen by a newly created Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board, which Republican Senator Chris McDaniel said he expects to operate much like when Kentucky had to start reigning in its underfunded pension system. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: It will start out as adversarial, just like public pension oversight Board did. And you know what happened over the past seven or eight years as weve had public pension oversight board, we went from being adversaries with the pension systems to collaborating, McDaniel said on the Senate floor as the bill was being debated on March 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Andy Beshear vetoed House Bill 695 on Wednesday afternoon. Thursday and Friday are the final two days of the session, when lawmakers may also consider overriding any vetoes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. A woman in North Carolina says one late payment caused her familys home to be sold right out from underneath her and allowed someone else to flip it for a considerable profit. Now shes trying to warn others so that no one else has to experience the same tragic loss. Taylor Sanders said she knew she was behind on a payment of her Homeowners Association (HOA) dues for her home in the Charlotte area. But while she thought the outstanding balance was somewhere around $400, the HOAs records showed a different amount. They said it hadnt been paid for a year, Sanders told WSOC TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders said she never got any of the communication the HOA says it sent her regarding her unpaid dues until she got a shocking letter in April 2021. Thats when she was notified by the HOA that she owed $1,200 and they were going to foreclose on her home. The reality of losing her familys home was hard enough for Sanders, but what happened next was even more painful. According to WSOC, Sanders home was sold for $49,000 and then sold by the buyer less than six months later for more than $850,000. Some property owners pay Homeowners Association Fees (HOA) to cover the costs associated with maintaining common areas, including snow removal, landscaping and swimming pool maintenance. Now Sanders hopes that by sharing her story, she can help make sure other families dont have to experience what she and her children went through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh my God. Its devastating for my children. I dont wish this on anyone, she said. This is just the beginning. I want to make sure I educate other people. I want to make sure they know about it. I want them to know their rights. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. With over 1,600 new people calling Texas home every day, dealing with growth is a constant issue, Comptroller Glenn Hegar told Johnson County Republican Women on Tuesday. People frequently ask me, Why are people moving to Texas? Hegar said. I tell people the reason they move here is pretty much the same reason my family did in the 1840s for an economic opportunity for themselves and future generations. A sixth-generation Texan, Hegar was first elected in November 2014. He is in his last term, as he will soon serve as the next chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Texas chief financial officer, Hegar is the states treasurer, check writer, tax collector, procurement officer and revenue estimator. He spoke during the JCRWs monthly meeting at Meals on Wheels North Central Texas before heading back to Austin for the Legislature session. So the state economy continues to grow [as the population grows], Hegar said. The state legislature has a lot of issues that theyre trying to tackle as a result of that, whether thats road infrastructure, water infrastructure, broadband infrastructure, electrical infrastructure ... all these things are important. The states main concerns have not changed much since Hegars ancestors came to Texas. The top issues are and have always been transportation, education and property taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While eliminating property taxes sounds like a good idea, the math doesnt add up in favor of it, Hegar said. If we could eliminate it, I think that would be the best thing to do, because in one part, do you really own your property if you gotta pay taxes on it every year? he said. The math doesnt work out. So thats why the Legislature, several times, took big bites of the apple. And in fact, you can see, for the most part, homeowner wide property taxes arent going up. JCRW member Brenda Gammon asked Hegar about unclaimed property in Texas. Theres a whole lot of different things about unclaimed property, Hegar said. Last year, I think we returned $360 million back to people in Texas. I think in this administration, weve returned almost $4 billion back to people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unclaimed property can be found at claimittexas.gov. I would highly encourage you if you look and you dont see you have unclaimed property, nor do you see the window for someone else, put a calendar entry because its easy for next year because the company adds throughout the year, he said. And Ive had people say, You know, I literally came and searched a year ago and I didnt have anything, and I just looked and I did. Why wasnt it there? Because its constantly being turned in. I always tell people to put it on a calendar. Thursday marked six months since Hurricane Helene slammed the Carolinas. The storm left so much flooding and did so much damage that parts of western North Carolina wont ever be the same. But across the region, residents are working hard to bounce back and local heroes are out in the community lifting each other up. Channel 9s Erika Jackson spoke with volunteers at BeLoved Asheville Thursday who spent the morning packing food and supply bags for community members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: Popular Morganton attraction washed out by Helene partially reopens One of the co-founders told Channel 9 the group fed 15,000 people per day in the weeks after Helene. Now, the group provides temporary homes for people who are still without shelter. Amy Cantrell said Ashevilles economy is still unstable, so people rely on their support. Weve really been about creating innovating solutions for some of the toughest challenges of our time. Were proud to stand here on the national stage and show what ordinary people can do in communities across the country, Cantrell said. The group is run by donations and volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Biltmore, Bill Quade told Channel 9 hes worked tirelessly to restore the grounds after Hurricane Helene. Whenever I stepped outside, it just looked like pickup sticks over all of the roads, over much of the property, said Quade, director of horticulture at the Biltmore. Despite the work Quade and his team did to get the Biltmore back open in November, visitor numbers were down consistently. Clearly, its frustrating. Asheville is a tourist economy and the Biltmore opening was going to allow the economy and western N.C. to open back as well, Quade said. Helene put a pause on tourism during whats normally the busy fall season. But businesses hope the blooming spring will also bring a resurgence of visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Explore Asheville said 70 percent of hospitality-dependent businesses are back open. The groups vice president of marketing, Dodie Stephens, told Channel 9 thats important, since 1 out of every $5 spent in Asheville comes from tourism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking ahead towards the spring and the fact that we are moving forward with these milestones and these openings, and these big events on the calendar, were seeing lots of signs of hope and resilience, Stephens said. She added that visitors from the Charlotte area are crucial for Ashevilles recovery. Its extremely essential for us to be communicating and sharing with them all there is to do and all of the progress thats been made to open its doors, Stephens said. And at the Biltmore, Quade said, We want guests to come in and enjoy that springtime to see the beautiful blooms from dogwoods, red buds, cherries, you name it. Quade said bulbs planted at the Biltmore after Helene are starting to bloom and he hopes tourism in western N.C. does the same. Its that rebirth the rebirth of not only the estate, but rebirth of the region. Weve made it through the worst part of this and the best is yet to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 9 also spoke with people at Highland Brewing in Asheville Thursday, a business that has been at the forefront of the recovery process. The owners of Highland Brewing do much more than brew beer. In the weeks after Helene, the team stored supplies for North Carolina State Highway Patrol, helped a non-profit provide clean water, and housed pet food for the Humane Society. All of this was going on as Highland was dealing with its own operation issues. ALSO READ: Asheville artists find new home after Helene Other businesses like Highland Brewing are working to bring visitors back. This week, Erika Jackson visited Resurrection Studios Collective in downtown Asheville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Co-owner Heidi Adams turned her familys former music studio into an artist workspace and gallery, so displaced artists have a place to work. I know the artists were really excited, and it felt really magical to bring the community back together, Adams said. WATCH BELOW: NC Governor signs Hurricane Helene relief bill into law Yancey Countys Egypt & Ramseytown Fire Department was devastated by flooding when Helene struck six months ago, highlighting the urgent need for recovery funding. The floodwaters rose rapidly, reaching five feet every 20 minutes, forcing two men to cut through the roof of the fire station to escape. The damage left everything inside a total loss, according to Brandon Price, the countys director of emergency management. Helene 6 months later: Asheville businesses work to bring back visitors Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need funding. We really need funding, said Brandon Price, emphasizing the critical need for financial support to aid recovery efforts. Chris Sigmon, the county planner, noted, Theres, literally, millions of dollars of roads and bridges that are still out, underscoring the infrastructure challenges facing the county. Price explained that many residents are still without power and cannot access their homes due to the destruction of roads and bridges. This lack of infrastructure also prevents emergency services from reaching those in need, leaving many vulnerable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sigmon highlighted the bureaucratic challenges residents face, particularly for those who are not computer-literate or lack access to technology, making it difficult to navigate the recovery process. We got people dont even have cellphones, and then the elderly trying to walk this path of the bureaucracy is just, its absurd, Sigmon said. The situation along Highway 19 West and in the Pensacola community illustrates the broader issue: without roads or bridges, displaced residents cannot return to rebuild their homes, and those who still have homes are often isolated. Without increased state and federal funding, Yancey Countys recovery will remain stalled, prolonging the return to normalcy for its residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sigmon said the heavy burden is being placed on people and the community. It was hard six months ago to set an expectation of where we should be in six months, he said. Im proud of the work that has been done. Im shocked by how much of it we had to bear and how much the individuals had to bear on their own shoulders. VIDEO: Helene 6 months later: Recovery efforts across western NC Lawyers for the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City gave him clothes for a hearing last month that included a hidden heart-shaped note touting his public support, prosecutors said Tuesday. The note was found in a pair of argyle socks given to Luigi Mangione for his appearance in a Manhattan courtroom on Feb. 21 on state murder and terrorism charges, according to a letter from the Manhattan district attorneys office. Know there are thousands of people wishing you luck, the note said, according to the letter, which was addressed to the judge overseeing the case. Heart shaped notes found in socks given to Luigi Mangione. A second heart-shaped note was addressed to an unknown person named Joan, the filing says. The spokesperson for the defense is named Joan, but its unclear whether the note was intended for her. She couldnt be reached for comment Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a filing Wednesday, Mangione's attorneys released photos of both notes and said they were inadvertently included with the clothing. One wasnt meant for Mangione, according to the filing, while the other includes a second line not mentioned in the prosecution's letter: "We are all rooting for you! Keep your head held high." Mangione, 26, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder in furtherance of terrorism and other crimes. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has called the killing "a frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation. Mangiones writings and social media posts indicate that he suffered a life-altering injury to his back before Dec. 4, when Thompson was shot and killed outside a midtown Manhattan hotel, authorities have said. Mangione wasnt insured by UnitedHealthcare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Mangione was arrested five days later in Pennsylvania, he was found with a handwritten document that referred to the health care industry that said: these parasites had it coming, law enforcement sources have told NBC News. The killing prompted discussions about the U.S. health care industry and drew dozens of supporters to the Feb. 21 hearing. Luigi Mangione appears at a hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court on Feb. 21, 2025 in New York. In Tuesdays letter, senior trial counsel Joel Seidmann wrote that incarcerated defendants typically wear jail-issued clothing but that special accommodations were made to suit Mangiones fashion needs. That benefit was "violated" when an investigator responsible for searching the bag of clothes discovered the notes, the filing says. In the defense filing, Mangione's lawyers said that wearing normal clothing for a court hearing isnt a special accommodation and that many defendants are allowed to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It isnt clear whether the notes reached Mangione. According to the letter, he got the socks and tried them on before he removed them because they did not look good, according to the document. Seidmann also urged the judge to deny Mangiones request for a laptop computer, which he has sought to review evidence in the case. "The defendant has ample access to desktop computers," Seidmann wrote. In a separate filing earlier this month, prosecutors revealed the contents of the backpack Mangione was found with in Pennsylvania. Among the items were zip ties, duct tape, a black firearm, a Glock magazine, a silencer and more than a dozen 9 mm rounds, the filing states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mangione, who is being held in federal jail in Brooklyn, faces a possible prison sentence of life without the possibility of parole if he is convicted. He was also charged with the federal crimes of stalking, murder through use of a firearm and a firearms offense, which include the possibility of the death penalty. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) Some High Point community members are concerned after city leaders approved a development in the Southwest Mill District. For more than four decades, Johnny and Denise Horne have called their neighborhood off West Green Drive home. Johnny says some of the people moving into their neighborhood near the Southwest Mill District are high-income earners. He says a majority of people who are from the area arent Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were fixed income. Were on regular income. Thats what Im worried about. Not only me but the people who have lived around this area for all these years. I wanted the people here to be able to stay in this neighborhood, but theyre not going to be able to because were getting all this new development, Horne said. Its a development that would reshape the Southwest Mill District. It was approved by the High Point City Council on Monday. The plan would bring new homes, stores and restaurants and bring life to the old industrial area along West Green Drive. Horne is worried the project will cause his property value to go up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want improvement around here but we dont want to lose our homes because we cant pay our taxes, Horne said Horne is also worried about the environmental impact. While the development is far from breaking ground, he and his wife hope city leaders reconsider. Some people are going to have to get another job or some people are going to move out of the neighborhood because theyre not going to be able to afford those taxes, Horne said The next step is for city leaders to talk about zoning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hillary Clinton shredded Republicans on Wednesday for downplaying senior Trump officials use of third-party messaging app Signal to text about national security matters in a group chat that included a journalist. The hypocrisy is staggering, said Clinton the subject of intense GOP criticism over her use of a private email server while she was secretary of state in a statement shared with Glamour magazine. The ex-Democratic presidential candidate continued, But worse, the arrogance and incompetence puts the lives of our military men and women in danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her comments came as the Trump administration scrambles for answers to a scandal thats led to exploding heads in the security and intelligence community. On Wednesday, the White House picked apart the choice of words in the headline by The Atlantics editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to the Trump officials group chat earlier this month. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who shared U.S. plans to strike Yemen in the group chat dismissed the publication sharing so-called war plans on Wednesday. President Donald Trump, in comments to reporters, suggested that continued coverage of the scandal was part of a witch hunt. Clinton also took to social media on Wednesday to agree with controversial talk show host Piers Morgan after he ripped those downplaying the classified nature of the plans shared by Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this had happened on Bidens watch, Republicans would have rightly gone berserk, wrote Morgan on X, formerly Twitter. Clinton added, Never thought Id be retweeting Piers Morgan, but hes right! On Monday, Clinton briefly summed up her thoughts with a post linking to Goldbergs initial report on the chat: You have got to be kidding me. Critics have called out Trump administration officials for their hypocrisy in recent days, pointing to their past comments on Clintons use of a private email server for official government business. If it was anyone other than Hillary Clinton, they would be in jail right now, Hegseth once said in a 2016 segment during his time as a host on Fox News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps national security adviser Mike Waltz, who Goldberg said added him to the chat, in 2023 suggested that Clinton and then-President Joe Biden should be criminally charged for mishandling classified documents. When you have the Clinton emails ... on top of the fact that the sitting President of the United States admitted he had documents in his garage ... But they didnt prosecute, they didnt go after these folks, Waltz told CNN at the time. Related... Hillary Clinton found herself in surprising agreement with Piers Morgan on Wednesday amid intensifying Signal-gate discussions as she blasted the Trump administration for hypocrisy. In a tweet, Morgan, a conservative British TV news pundit who occasionally dips into American affairs, rebuked those too partisan to hold the Trump administration accountable for the controversial Signal airstrike leak and claimed the conversation was clearly classified, despite officials repeatedly denying so. Moreover, he suggested Republicans would have been even less forgiving if it had happened under the watch of a Democratic president. Never thought Id be retweeting Piers Morgan, but hes right! https://t.co/YhoGqVEIY4 Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 26, 2025 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, wrote Morgan. He added, If this had happened on Bidens watch, Republicans would have rightly gone berserk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton co-signed his take with a tweet of her own, writing, Never thought Id be retweeting Piers Morgan, but hes right! Piers Morgan. / Ben Whitley - PA Images / PA Images via Getty Images Morgan has taken multiple jabs at Clinton in the past. In 2023, the Piers Morgan Uncensored host labeled Clinton as a very unpopular candidate on Fox News and in a 2017 editorial in the Daily Mail, labeled her latest book, What Happened, as the most whiny, self-pitying, deluded load of literary claptrap written since Kim Kardashians I was empowering women defense for posting naked bird-flipping selfies. On Wednesday, following up Clintons response, Morgan cheekily responded: Do you know much about classified info breaches? Piers then screengrabbed the post on his Instagram account and captioned it: Finally, Hillary smashes a glass ceiling... On his Uncensored show, Morgan referenced Clinton in his monologue referring to the fact that bundling of sensitive information by top officials is sadly nothing new. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morgan demanded of the Signal saga: For the first time in his second presidency, its time for Trump to wield his formidable index finger and use the words that made him world-famousYoure fired. Clinton has taken an unofficial victory lap of sorts since The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he was included on a sensitive national security message exchange on Signal that discussed airstrikes in Yemen. The group reportedly also included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Middle East and Ukraine negotiator Steve Witkoff, and national security adviser Mike Waltz. Waltz was scapegoated as the f---ing idiot responsible for the flub, but Clinton roasted Hegseth and the lackeys for lacking competence. The hypocrisy is staggering, but worse, the arrogance and incompetence puts the lives of our military men and women in danger, Clinton, a former secretary of state, told Glamour on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth particularly was viewed as hypocritical after he previously, and methodically, used his perch as a Fox News host in 2016 to attack Clinton for reports that she was using a private email server for official business. At the time, Hegseth suggested that Clinton should have been fired on the spot for this type of conduct and criminally prosecuted, reported AP. Yet she was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing using the email server, and avoided any intelligence leaks on her watch. In her first message addressing Hegseths defense leak debacle, Clinton seemed to have the perfect tweet ready in the chamber, writing: You have got to be kidding me, she wrote alongside a side-eye emoji. One factor contributing to the complacency that Americans have long held about the strength of our democracy has been the conviction that, should it come under threat, institutions such as our universities would fight to safeguard our political norms. Columbia University, through a thoroughly pusillanimous capitulation to a multimillion-dollar threat from the Trump administration, has put that conviction in the grave. The details have been widely reported. On March 7, the Trump White House announced the "immediate cancellation" of some $400 million in government grants and contracts to Columbia, citing the university's "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." The Trump administration will undoubtedly be emboldened to engage in unlawful, vindictive defunding of other universities, and now it will be politically harder for the next university to fight back. David Cole, Georgetown Law School Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The General Services Administration and the departments of Education and Health and Human Services followed up on March 13 with a letter to Columbia's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, specifying the steps Columbia must take to open "formal negotiations" over the blocked funding and the broader "financial relationship" with the government. Those steps included suspending or expelling some participants in a pro-Palestinian takeover of a campus building last spring; abolishing the University Judicial Board, which imposed disciplinary judgments, and placing those decisions in the hands of the president; banning mask-wearing on campus except for religious or health reasons; heightening the law-enforcement authority of campus police; and placing the Middle East, South Asian and African Studies department under "academic receivership" for at least five years. It should go without saying that these steps amounted to an outrageous imposition by politicians on the internal workings of a private university. Nevertheless, Columbia (from which I hold a master's degree) bowed to these demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the very day it received the letter, it announced the suspension or expulsion of an undisclosed number of students who participated in the campus takeover; restructured the judicial board to place it under the president's authority; banned masks except for religious or health reasons; hired 36 more campus police and invested them with authority to make arrests on campus; placed its Middle East programs under the jurisdiction of a newly appointed administrator; and made other changes that in all but name met the demands of the White House. In an open letter to the Columbia community, Armstrong asserted that these actions were "guided by our values," including "putting academic freedom, free expression, open inquiry, and respect for all at the fore of every decision we make." Read more: Hiltzik: Calling the police on campus protests shows that college presidents haven't learned a thing since the 1960s Armstrong also said that the university had "shared our progress on several of our key priorities with the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the General Services Administration" the three agencies that had applied the direct pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia's capitulation sparked an uproar among advocates for higher education and academic freedom. David Cole of Georgetown University observed that the university had "sacrificed principle to the coercive power of the federal government's purse." I asked Columbia to respond to such criticisms, but didn't receive a reply. Sadly, Columbia isn't alone in capitulating to Trump. The University of California banned a practice of requiring applicants for its faculty to provide "diversity statements" attesting to how they have worked to enhance and support racial and other kinds of diversity in their fields. Numerous institutions have eliminated or scaled back their diversity, equality and inclusion policies, now that the Trump administration has taken direct aim at DEI programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In opposition to Trump's maelstrom of punitive, illegal and unconstitutional assaults on academic freedom, a few courageous voices have been heard. One belongs to William M. Treanor, dean of Georgetown Law School, who in mid-February received a letter from Edward Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., calling the school's teaching and promoting of DEI "unacceptable" and stating that no student "affiliated with a law school or university that continues to teach and utilize DEI will be considered" for employment in his office. Treanor crisply informed Martin that he was way out of line. The 1st Amendment, he told Martin by letter, "guarantees that the government cannot direct what Georgetown and its faculty teach and how to teach it." Read more: Hiltzik: Angry over antisemitism, billionaires are seeking to cancel free speech on campus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's a category error to see Trump's actions as truly about antisemitism. Although claims are widespread that universities have not acted aggressively enough against antisemitic expressions on their campuses, conservatives have used accusations of antisemitism as a tool to pursue the true goal of undermining higher education in the U.S., and free speech on campus, by taking aim at the most prominent and important universities in the land. Red state governors and legislators in places such as Wisconsin, Florida and Texas have been openly pursuing this project for years by leaning on their state universities to withdraw tenure protections from faculty members and restrict what they can talk about in class. As it happens, Trump may have held a grudge against Columbia for a quarter-century; the New York Times recently reminded its readers that the university rejected Trump's offer of a Manhattan parcel for a university expansion. Negotiations ended when Trump named a price of, curiously, $400 million, which was four to six times more than the university's appraisers thought it was worth. In trying to rationalize its capitulation to Trump, Columbia indicated that the loss of $400 million a year in federal funding would be devastating for its budget "an existential threat," in the words of Lee Bollinger, who retired as Columbia's president in 2023 after some two decades of service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Hiltzik: Elon Musk comes around to blaming the Jews Yet Columbia is among the few American institutions with the resources to fight back, with an endowment of about $15 billion. Although it's true that much of that money carries strings dictating how it must be spent, the university says that its income provides about $756 million a year for the university budget. That's not as much as Columbia collects in federal funding $1.3 billion last year, or 20% of all revenues but it certainly can help pay for a serious legal challenge to Trump. That's important because what's been overlooked in much of the commentary about Trump's $400-million blockade is that it's almost certainly illegal. After the Trump administration's announcement of the immediate cutoff of the funding, Michael C. Dorf of Cornell Law School asked on his blog: "Wait, can they actually do that? The answer is plainly no." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dorf and other legal experts described the process that has to take place to cut off funding under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which the government cited as its grounds for the Columbia cutoff. The Trump administration asserted that its action was taken because Columbia "fundamentally failed to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence and harassment in addition to other alleged violations of Title VI." As David Pozen of Columbia law and several colleagues observed, the Trump administration offered "no explanation of the alleged violations, ... and no account of how Columbia has been deliberately indifferent to ongoing antisemitic discrimination or harassment on its campus." One reason might be that "any such account would be implausible." During the anti-Israel demonstrations, Columbia brought the New York Police Department onto its campus to arrest students participating in the protests and established an antisemitism task force. Its president, Manouche Shafik, was forced to step down over assertions that she had gone too easy on the demonstrators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Hiltzik: Overt racism and antisemitism have become part of our political discourse. How did that happen? Even if the White House could make its case, it didn't bother to follow the legally mandated process for doing so. "Title VI requires 'an express finding on the record, after opportunity for hearing,' of any failure to comply with the statute, as well as 'a full written report' submitted to House and Senate committees at least 30 days before the cutoff takes effect," Pozen wrote. Instead, the White House announced an immediate funding cutoff and dictated prerequisites that had to be met before "negotiations" over the funding. "The statute does not allow this approach." Nor does the law allow blanket funding cutoffs. Instead, wrote Pozen, the cutoff must be limited in its effect to the particular program ... in which noncompliance has been so found. Pozen notes that "there has been no allegation much less a finding of noncompliance in the many parts of Columbia from which funding has been cut, including from urgent medical and scientific research." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All this suggests that if Columbia chose to fight back against the funding block in court, it would have a very good chance of winning. But the battle would be costly, and even a victory in this particular case might not be the last word. "Columbia leadership may be rightly worried that even if it obtains a restoration in its funding under existing grants, the Trump-led agencies will deny applications for future grants," Dorf noted. Universities that have taken the path of submission to Trump will find it very hard to regain their reputations for upholding academic freedom after he's gone. They've blotted their own copybooks by choosing to seek short-term relief at the expense of their long-term mission. Appeasement on this scale never works. Cole may have put the ramifications of Columbia's cravenness best: Thanks to the model it established, "the Trump administration will undoubtedly be emboldened to engage in unlawful, vindictive defunding of other universities, and now it will be politically harder for the next university to fight back." Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. It served an important need in Atlantas Black community that was once ignored - the Sadie G. Mays Health and Rehabilitation Center in northwest Atlanta celebrated its 78th anniversary Wednesday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Berndt Petersen reported how the founder pushed to provide long-term care to those in need. Along Anderson Avenue, theres a feeling of family. Bessie Davis says it comes from the heart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love people. I like to be around people, she said. Davis is a resident of the Sadie G. Mays Health and Rehabilitation Center. It was founded by Mays herself, wife of famed Atlanta educator Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, in 1947. TRENDING STORIES: In those days, too many of the ill and elderly in Atlantas Black community did not have a place to go that provided long-term care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She did this to make sure the African American community was very well taken care of in our community, said Malik Hakeem, executive director. The facility now has more than 200 beds and has cared for thousands upon thousands over its long history. Fulton County Commissioner Marvin Arrington says for its personal for him. The last time I was here I was with my father. He was receiving care at Sadie G. Mays, he said. This place is very important to me, Davis said. Its just things that make me feel good. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CATLIN, Ill. (WCIA) Congratulations are in order for a freshman at Salt Fork High School! Lily DeAth is a State FFA winner after she presented her Agri-Science Research Project at Mt. Zion High School over the weekend. She is among the youngest in Illinois FFA history earning such an honor. The DeAths run a cattle farm in Vermilion County, and Lily, along with her older brother Wyatt, wants to keep farming in the family. They are both involved in agriculture programs and FFA at Salt Fork High School in Catlin. For the past year, Lily has been studying and researching how cattle gain weight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to see which breed was the most efficient and best for your cattle operation, the freshman explained. Besides farming, agricultural awards run in the family too! Wyatt won at state in 2024. I won in the hay entrepreneurship, or forage production entrepreneurship and I made it to the national level, he explained. From tires to pet beds, how a sustainability lesson turned into a community project in Catlin The brother-sister duo are the first siblings in the chapters history to achieve such high honors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There it was kind of a wow factor to where sometimes you can just take it all in and actually realize its okay to take the thank yous and just realize how far youve come, Wyatt added. For Stacey Rickard, Salt Forks FFA advisor, its a proud teacher moment. Its an ag teachers dream, to watch their hard work pay off, she said. Rickard said this is only the beginning and knows more students are hungry for success, too. This freshman class in general across the board is probably some of the best Salt Fork has seen and thats because of the seniors and upperclassmen before that really paved the way, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Joseph High School senior wins statewide FFA award Besides paving the way for others, the DeAths are looking ahead in their own lives too. Lily is already working on her next science project all about integrated systems of nitrogen and phosphorus in soil. Meanwhile, Wyatt is excited to attend Lakeland College in the fall and keep the family farm running for many years. Thats my main goal in life, he said. As if the DeAths story isnt enough, Rickard has a unique connection to agriculture in her family as well. Vern Rohrscheib, her father, was the last person to win a state proficiency award before Wyatt broke the streak last year. Lily is the schools third state winner since 1934. 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. LYONS, N.Y. (WROC) Following a recent visit with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced her proposal of reforming the states discovery laws. These are the procedures the prosecution and defense are expected to follow during a criminal trial to exchange all evidence with each other in a timely manner. The current set of discovery laws were formulated in 2019 and took effect in 2020 under former Governor Andrew Cuomo. These laws require prosecutors to submit their evidence for the defenses review within 20 days if the defendant is in police custody, or 35 days if the defendant is not in police custody. If a piece of evidence is not submitted in time, the defense can call for dismissal of the case. Such a restricted time frame has proven to be problematic for district attorneys and prosecutors statewide, including for Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depending on the length of the investigation and the type of crime that was committed, this could include hundreds of hours of video and thousands upon thousands of pages of documents, Callanan said. So, its not as easy or quick as people may think. Callanan explained the current timeframe for submitting evidence is unrealistic in many scenarios, and that the principle of these discovery laws are lost due to this restriction. The point of discovery laws should be that every defendant gets all pieces of paper and evidence, and knows what they need, Callanan said. But it shouldnt be at the cost of victims and successful prosecutions. The new proposal made by Hochul would extend grace to prosecutors who may accidentally fail to submit evidence within this timeframe and lessen the possibility for case dismissal due to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Callanan emphasized the difference this could make inside the courtroom, adding many other district attorneys are in favor of the suggested reform. We just want to ensure that if something is missing, it doesnt result in the dismissal of our cases. Thats detrimental to our community, to the criminal justice system and to our victims. These reforms arent erasing discovery laws, theyre making it a fair place for everyone to operate while taking into account everyones interests, Callanan said. These reforms are only proposals as of right now, expected to be part of the Governors 2026 state budget. They would need to be approved by the state legislature in order to be enacted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. HAMPTON, Tenn. (WJHL) Holston Habitat for Humanity is still putting up walls around the region six months after Hurricane Helene destroyed hundreds of families homes. Laura Kelly, the executive director of Holston Habitat for Humanity, stated that the organization is constructing three homes in Hampton, several in Jonesborough and a couple in Erwin. Road to Recovery: News Channel 11 live coverage 6 months after Hurricane Helene Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybody just wants to go home, she said. Everybody wants to be in their home, their safe place, their sacred place where they build memories. And so were excited for any family to return home. And thats just been what weve seen and heard, that these families are just overjoyed to have that stability of being back in their house. The organization also provides equipment and services inside the home, including HVAC systems, rewiring, plumbing, insulation, and cabinet installationall of the things that would have to be mucked out of a completely flooded home, Kelly said. Homeowner Christine Largent said Habitat for Humanity assisted her family with tasks she and her husband could not complete, such as installing a new deck on their home. We have been so blessed with people like Habitat for Humanity, helping out, Paul and Courtney Daly, who stood with us and fixed our house nonstop, Largent said. I mean, people who just volunteer who came in from nowhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly said all projects are made possible by the generosity of local donors, grants and foundations, and volunteer work. Photo WJHL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday visited the high-security El Salvador prison where Venezuelans who the Trump administration alleges are gang members have been held since their removal from the United States. The tour included two crowded cell blocks, the armory and an isolation unit. Noems trip to the prison where inmates are packed into cells and never allowed outside comes as the Trump administration seeks to show it is deporting people it describes as the worst of the worst. The Trump administration is arguing in federal court that it was justified in sending the Venezuelans to El Salvador, while human rights activists say officials have sent them to a prison rife with human rights abuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the prison, Noem toured an area holding some of the Venezuelans accused of being gang members. In the sweltering building, the men in white T-shirts and shorts stared silently from their cell without making a sound. When Noem exited the building, the men could be heard shouting an indiscernible chant. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26. - Alex Brandon/Pool/Reuters In a cell block holding Salvadoran prisoners, about a dozen were lined up by guards near the front of their cell and told to remove their T-shirts and face masks. The men were heavily tattooed, some bearing the letters MS, for the Mara Salvatrucha gang, on their chests. After listening to Salvadoran officials, Noem turned her back to the cell and recorded a video message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If an immigrant commits a crime, this is one of the consequences you could face, Noem said. First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted. 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. In a post on X Wednesday, Homeland Security indicated it would continue working with El Salvador, saying that Noem was slated to discuss how the US can increase the number of deportation flights and removals of violent criminals from the US during her visit with President Nayib Bukele. Since taking office, Noem has frequently been front and center in efforts to highlight the immigration crackdown. She took part in immigration enforcement operations, rode horses with Border Patrol agents and was the face of a television campaign warning people in the country illegally to self-deport. Noems Wednesday visit is part of a three-day trip. Shell also travel to Colombia and Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Venezuelans were removed from the US this month after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and said the US was being invaded by the Tren de Aragua gang. The Alien Enemies Act gives the president wartime powers and allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge. In a setback for the administration, an appeals court Wednesday kept in place an order barring the administration from deporting more Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. A central outstanding question about the deportees status is when and how they could ever be released from the prison, called the Terrorism Confinement Center, as they are not serving sentences. They no longer appear in US Immigration and Customs Enforcements online detainee locator and have not appeared before a judge in El Salvador. Minister of Justice and Public Security Hector Villatoro accompanies Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025. - Alex Brandon/Pool/Reuters The Trump administration refers to them as the worst of the worst but hasnt identified who was deported or provided evidence that theyre gang members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Relatives of some of the deportees have categorically denied any gang affiliation. The Venezuelan government and a group called the Families of Immigrants Committee in Venezuela hired a lawyer to help free those held in El Salvador. A lawyer for the firm, which currently represents about 30 Venezuelans, said they arent gang members and have no criminal records. The US government has acknowledged that many do not have such records. Flights were in the air March 15 when a federal judge issued a verbal order temporarily barring the deportations and ordered planes to return to the US. The Trump administration has argued that the judges verbal directions did not count, that only his written order needed to be followed and that it couldnt apply to flights that had already left the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that about 261 people were deported on the flights, including 137 under the Alien Enemies Act. Bukele opened the prison in 2023 as he made the Central American countrys stark, harsh prisons a trademark of his fight against crime. The facility has eight sprawling pavilions and can hold up to 40,000 inmates. Each cell can fit 65 to 70 prisoners. Prisoners cant have visitors. There are no workshops or educational programs. El Salvador hasnt had diplomatic relations with Venezuela since 2019, so the Venezuelans imprisoned there do not have consular support from their government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video released by El Salvadors government after the deportees arrival showed men exiting airplanes onto an airport tarmac lined by officers in riot gear. The men, who had their hands and ankles shackled, struggled to walk as officers pushed their heads down. They were later shown at the prison kneeling on the ground as their heads were shaved before they changed into the prisons all-white uniform knee-length shorts, T-shirt, socks and rubber clogs and placed in cells. For three years, El Salvador has been operating under a state of emergency that suspends fundamental rights as Bukele wages an all-out assault on the countrys powerful street gangs. During that time, some 84,000 people have been arrested, accused of gang ties and jailed, often without due process. Bukele offered to hold US deportees in the prison when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the prison Wednesday, El Salvador Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro showed Noem a cell holding Salvadorans he said had been there since the prison opened. No one expects that these people can go back to society and behave, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com HONOLULU (AP) A Maui doctor was charged Wednesday with second-degree attempted murder after he allegedly tried to kill his wife by pushing her off a hiking trail and hitting her multiple times on the head with a rock, Honolulu police said. A text message was sent to Gerhardt Konig's cellphone seeking comment, but there was no immediate response. It was not clear whether he had an attorney, and phones rang unanswered at the Honolulu public defenders office. Police said a 36-year-old woman reported the incident Monday morning and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Two witnesses called 911 and helped the police with their investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Konig fled the scene, prompting an hourslong search and the closure of a state park, police said. Officers arrested him just after 6 p.m. following a brief foot chase and he remained in custody Wednesday. The couple were hiking on the Pali Puka trail, which traverses a ridge with dramatic ocean and mountain views. The trailhead is a short drive from downtown Honolulu. Konig is an anesthesiologist at Maui Health, which operates hospitals and clinics in Maui County and is an affiliate of Kaiser Permanente. Maui Health said in a statement to media organizations that he was suspended pending investigation. Maui Healths online directory previously listed Konig as a provider, according to the Internet Archives Wayback Machine, but his name was no longer in it Wednesday. Kaiser Permanente said in a statement that Konig is not an employee, but is employed by an independent entity contracted to provide medical services at Maui facilities, including Kaiser's Wailuku clinic. Kaiser said it has suspended his credentials and his ability to treat patients, pending investigation. A Michigan couples family says they have been detained in a prison in Mexico for nearly three weeks over a kidnapping and extortion attempt stemming from a contract dispute related to a timeshare. On March 4, Christy and Paul Akeo, of Spring Arbor, landed in Cancun for a long-planned vacation. Paul, 58, a Navy veteran submariner who now works as an engineer for the Michigan State Police, and Christy, 60, a retired small-business owner, spend much of their time caring for their grandchildren and were looking for a break from the Midwestern winter weather. Lindsey Lemke Hull said that shortly after they arrived in Mexico, she got a panicked call from her stepfather: The couple had been detained at immigration and told they were being arrested on fraud charges. Christy and Paul Akeo. Palace Elite Resorts, a Mexican hospitality company, told NBC News in a statement that it filed a complaint with the Mexican public prosecutor, which then led to the arrests of the Akeos. Paul and Christy Akeo had bought a timeshare membership with the company several years earlier, and the company alleges they defrauded it through $117,000 of chargebacks on their American Express card, in which American Express takes back funds from a vendor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple, through their lawyer and family, deny the fraud allegations. Hull said her parents traveled to Mexico unaware that there was a warrant for their arrest. I couldnt comprehend what was happening, Hull said. She said the experience, just a few weeks after she gave birth to her second daughter, is like a horror movie. Our parents were supposed to come home from vacation three weeks ago, she said. Instead, they were kidnapped and being held for ransom in a foreign country. Since their detainment, the Akeos are being held at Prison Cereso Cancun in Quintana Roo, Mexico, according to the family and their attorney. Hull and her brother have been able to speak to their parents only via short telephone calls. They said that their parents had not received appropriate food or medical care and that Christy Akeo has lost more than 20 pounds in prison. Both parents have medical conditions that require medications, the children and their attorney said, and without access to her medications, Christy is having serious allergic reactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mexican State Attorneys office did not respond to detailed questions about the conditions. The Mexican Consulate did not respond to questions. A local judge ordered them to remain in custody and ordered six more months for the parties to collect evidence before the next court date. The children say they fear for their parents lives as the days go by without action. The day after they were arrested, Lindsey and her brother Mike Lemke spoke with a consular official at the U.S. Consulate in Cancun. They said that was the first indication that things may not be above-board. The American consular official told Lemke that the office had heard from a contact in the States Attorney Office that a private company, The Palace Company, was looking to settle financially, the family said. The Palace Company is the Mexican resort corporation their parents bought a timeshare membership through several years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent days, the Akeos lawyers said, Palace offered a settlement if the couple paid $250,000, signed a non-disclosure agreement, helped take down a Facebook group related to Palace Resorts that Christy Akeo had participated in and publicly apologized. The family declined and called the settlement offer an extortion attempt, they said. Palace attorneys reiterated their settlement offer Wednesday afternoon, the family said via their lawyer. Palace said in a statement that it is operating within strict compliance with the law. It did not respond to additional questions about the settlement offer. The family said they reported the offer to the State Departments special envoy for hostage affairs but that they have not yet received a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department said that it was aware of the case and that it takes our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously but that it would not comment further because of privacy concerns. The Department of State continuously monitors the circumstances surrounding the detentions of U.S. citizens overseas, including those in Mexico, for indicators that the detentions may be wrongful. When making these assessments, the Department looks at the totality of the circumstances and makes determinations for each case individually, it said. Palace said in a statement that it warns that the conduct of the Akeos appears to be criminal and exercises its right to report it to the investigating authority. The company acknowledged its role in initiating negotiations while the couple are in prison. It said that the nature of the Mexican legal system is restorative justice to repair damage rather than to punish the offender and that it allows parties to negotiate resolutions outside court. Palace is fully open to opting for this alternative solution, stating that the Akeos legal team has sent us a request in this regard, it said in a statement. We are currently in discussions to reach an agreement through which the cessation of the illicit conduct and the compensation for damages can be guaranteed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, the Akeos bought a timeshare membership package from Palace Elite Resorts for $6,923 per month for 11 years, the familys lawyer said. The monthly fee was charged to an American Express card. NBC News has reviewed a copy of the timeshare agreement provided by the family, although it is unclear whether it is the final agreement. American Express did not provide any documentation about the bills or the information shared with NBC News, citing privacy concerns. Within months of the Akeos having purchased the membership package, Palace and Akeos were at odds. Christy wrote on Facebook that Palace accused her of wrongfully posting photos to profit off the resort and canceled stays racked up through a referral program. The complaint says Paul then successfully disputed nearly $117,000 in American Express charges tied to their membership. The familys lawyer said Palace failed to provide the goods and services. In 2022, American Express investigated the dispute and refunded them the full amount. It initiated chargebacks, in which it took back the money it had originally paid to the vendor, according to the initial complaint filed by the Mexican state attorneys office, as well as a statement The Palace Company provided to NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American Express did not respond to detailed questions about the case, only saying it was looking into the situation. John Manly, an attorney for the Akeos, called the fraud charges utterly false. The Akeos are being held because they successfully disputed Palaces charges and failure to deliver services with American Express, criticized the company online and alerted others who felt wronged by Palace, he said. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., said Monday that he was working to aid the couple in Mexico. I have spoken to their family and assured them that my team and I took immediate action and are doing everything we can to help. I have been in contact and will continue working with the White House, State Department, and law enforcement partners in Michigan to ensure this situation is resolved as urgently and safely as possible, he wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, theyre asking for the president to step in. The family requests the immediate assistance of President Donald J. Trump as they believe he is their only hope, Manly, the attorney, told NBC News. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Amy Forner, who identified herself as the creator and moderator of the Facebook group Palace Members- DISAPPOINTED & FRUSTRATED, said that Christy was at one point an administrator of the group but that she at no point controlled the group. She said she deleted the group after Hull, Christys daughter, asked her late last week in hope it would help expedite their release from prison. I am truly worried that this could turn to a wrongful death issue if they remain in jail, Forner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forner said in an interview that Facebook did not at any point reach out to her about the group or at any point suspend the group or flag it. Absolutely nothing. Which was a huge indicator for me that we werent doing anything wrong. Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Forner shared screenshots of text messages she received that she believes, but does not know for sure, were sent to her by people connected to Palace Resorts, which she perceived as menacing and intimidation for her role in the Facebook group. Forner said that she reported the communications to the FBI and to local law enforcement last fall and that the FBI provided instructions on how best to report her experiences to the FBI. The FBI declined to comment. The Palace Company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hull, the Akeos daughter, said she is haunted by the last texts she was able to exchange with her mother, in which she told her daughter: Im scared. Please Help us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said her family will not stop speaking out in hope it helps get her parents released from prison. I dont think they had any idea that my brother and I were going to be relentless about this, she said. Im assuming they thought we were going to be scared, and we are for our parents. Im not scared of them. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (Photo by Getty Images) A bill in the Washington Legislature to make hospital pricing more transparent for consumers is still in play, but its scope has narrowed during the legislative process. I dont think this bill really, frankly, does anything anymore, said Steve Fenberg, a patient rights advocate who supported the original bill. I think its a shame. Senate Bill 5493 intended to give the states Department of Health the ability to enforce a 2021 federal rule that required hospitals to provide transparent pricing. The idea was to provide patients with clearer information about how much they would pay for care and to spur competition that could help drive down costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were on an unsustainable trajectory for health care costs, we are not bending the curve, said Sen. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, the bills sponsor. We need to relieve burdens on patients and consumers from our broken system and do actual things that will drive costs down. Advocates have raised concerns over the lack of compliance with the federal rule, while hospitals say it takes time to adjust to new requirements. The understanding of what compliance and transparency mean has sort of evolved over time, since the 2021 federal rule, said Andrew Busz, a policy director with the Washington State Hospital Association. When the rule first took effect, hospitals were required to upload machine readable files, which are large, not considered accessible or understandable to most consumers, and mainly used by researchers, insurers, and data aggregators, Busz explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over time, the rule required hospitals to upload shoppable services a consumer-friendly list of around 300 medical services, such as imaging, surgeries, and maternity care. At the federal level, hospitals that do not comply with these requirements are first issued a warning notice. If the noncompliance continues, it can lead to a corrective action plan or civil monetary penalties. In Washington, 20 hospitals out of the 114 in the state have been issued warning notices and no further action has been needed, according to a list provided by the hospital association. Its fairly common for state or federal agencies, when something rolls out thats new, to give organizations kind of time to be compliant, these are new requirements, said Chelene Whiteaker, senior vice president for government affairs with the Washington State Hospital Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States like Colorado have been taking action in recent years to enforce the federal requirements and the Washington bill is in that mold. Riccelli suggested Washington has been lagging behind other states in moving ahead with the new transparency measures. We see red states, blue states, and purple states, moving forward with price transparency a little more aggressively, he said. When the bill was first introduced this year, it had three main components: requiring hospitals to comply with the federal regulations and to submit data to the states Department of Health; giving the state enforcement authority, and calling for the state to develop an interactive price comparison tool similar to one in Colorado. Hospitals that dont comply would have been subject to civil fines ranging up to $10,000 per violation. Proceeds from fines would have gone toward creating the tool for people to search and compare hospital prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The version of the bill the Senate passed unanimously on March 11 did not include the enforcement provisions. I made some changes that I would rather not have made, but we did just to kind of keep something moving on in this session. I contemplated not moving it forward, but I do see value, Riccelli said, adding that both Republicans and Democrats have struggled with getting behind transparency measures. Whiteaker said that the hospital association pushed for the changes so that the state bill complemented the federal regulations, rather than duplicating or distracting from them. The most recent version of the bill would require the states hospitals to comply with the federal rules and submit price data to the states Department of Health, which would track compliance. It sets a July 1, 2027 deadline for hospitals to publish the data and calls for annual updates after that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complexity of health insurance and factoring in copays, deductibles, and whether a hospital accepts someones insurance is often what makes health care difficult to navigate. The payment mechanisms and rate structures are actually determined by the carriers, not by the hospitals, Busz said, adding that the type of insurance someone has typically has more of an effect on what a patient pays than the rates a hospital charges. Also, while price estimate tools exist on hospital websites now, it can be difficult for someone to predict what services they may need. Theres no real perfect way to anticipate what the costs are going to be, Busz said. A congressional committee asked the University of Maryland, College Parks president for detailed information about Chinese students in a letter to the schools president last week, prompting students and faculty to petition Darryll J. Pines not to comply with the letter. Pines said Monday in a response to the petitions signatories that the schools administration would do our very best to be responsive to the 20-point request from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which is seeking a response by April 1. But Pines added that any response would be in compliance with the schools policies and procedures, as well as our commitment to first amendment rights and academic freedom. The Republican-led committees letter to Pines seeks numerous details about Chinese students, such as how their tuition is being funded and what programs they participate in, alleging concerns over national security. The schools Graduate Labor Union, which circulated the petition, said on social media that the letter was an escalation of existing xenophobic policies from the federal government during Donald Trumps presidency and a blatant attempt to attack higher education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the university did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday. The union and multiple student groups condemned Pines response later Monday in a joint Instagram post. The university presidents response offered no actionable guarantee to protect Chinese researchers on campus, said the groups, which included the universitys Asian American Student Union and Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines. They described the letter as a call from the Trump administration to profile and gather information on Chinese students. The congressional committee also sent letters seeking similar information to five other universities last week, claiming that American universities are increasingly used as conduits for foreign adversaries to illegally gain access to critical research and advanced technology. It cites a report released last fall by the select committee and an education committee, which jointly determined that hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. federal research funding over the last decade had helped China achieve technological breakthroughs, including military applications. The committees letter to Pines is signed by committees chair, Republican Michigan Rep. John Moolenaar. In addition to various statistics about the schools Chinese student body, Moolenaar also requested the university to list all university programs that include Chinese national participants and how they are funded, and provide a country-by-country breakdown of applicants, admittances, and enrollments at your university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days before the letters were sent, a group of House Republicans introduced a measure to bar Chinese nationals from studying at U.S. universities altogether, citing similar security concerns. Have a news tip? Contact Dan Belson at dbelson@baltsun.com, on X as @DanBelson_ or on Signal as @danbels.62. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) is proposed legislation, dubbed the Houthi PC Small Group Act that it would make it illegal for officials to use an outside messaging platform, such as the Signal app, to discuss classified information. Under Torress proposal, nicknamed after the group chat that high-level national security officials used on the Signal app to discuss a looming airstrike on Houthi rebels in Yemen, anyone who violates the law would face up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000, according to Torress office. The name is an acronym for Homeland Operations and Unilateral Tactics Halting Incursions: Preventing Coordinated Subversion, Military Aggression and Lawless Levies Granting Rogue Operatives Unchecked Power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is still being drafted, a Torres spokesperson told The Hill, but the legislation is meant to clarify existing law and increase the punishment for making sensitive information vulnerable virtually. Its unclear what levels of classification the measure would apply to if Congress were to pass the proposal. President Trump and members of his administration have defended the use of Signal this week after it was revealed that a journalist was accidentally included on the national security thread. Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported Monday that he was added to the Signal text chain where Vice President Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and others laid out detailed plans for the airstrike in Yemen hours before it took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated at 10:55 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. At 30 years on the job, Albany Area Chamber of Commerce President Janet Steele has defied statistics. But Steele, who has led the business advocacy group for nearly one-quarter of its existence, is finally set to depart after announcing plans to retire at the end of 2025. Ive had the best boards, the best chairmen of the board. I love what I do, Steele said by phone Monday, March 24. But I also feel its time for me to retire. Steele declined to reveal her age, but she would say that her oldest son had advised her that most people her age have transitioned out of work. While much of her travel has been for work, Steele said she wants to spend time visiting family in Colorado and friends she met at conferences or advocating for Albany businesses in the Oregon Legislature. Its a decision I needed to make, Steel said. Executive Every year, Steele gets a new boss. She gets her last one in July. The chambers nonprofit board elects someone to fill the role of chair, and Steele helps execute the boards vision as its top employee. Some in my board are, and will be, lifelong friends, Steele said. Albanys chamber is hiring a consultant to find a replacement. But Albany likely will never see another Janet Steele. Executives last 10 years in most industries, and nonprofits like chambers with inherently political roles frequently see even faster turnover. Nobody ever grows up thinking Ill be a chamber exec, Steele said. She certainly didn't. She had owned a floral and gift shop for almost 10 years in Nebraska, Steele said. She joined the local chamber of commerce in hopes of promoting her business. I understood the benefits of that membership, Steele said. Then she needed a change of work. She signed up for leadership and management classes through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, she said. She worked for five years at the Alliance Area Chamber in Ohio, learning how to outlay funding form membership fees and work as a political professional. Its not an easy transition to enter the chamber world, Steele said. But its been one of the best decisions Ive ever made. Popularity Albanys chamber reports a membership of nearly 500 businesses in 2025. That's a far cry from 1995, when the organization had to grow or risk going out of business. When I started, they couldnt pay their bills, Steele said. It was well-liked, just not well-funded. Steele said she led a membership drive. It meant doing the hard work of increasing the membership and getting them to understand the benefits, Steele said. Steele said her board was willing to follow her advice the Albany chamber remodeled its offices paying the loan off four years early, Steele said and started a launchpad for politicians called the Albany Good Government Council to train business advocates to run for local office. Today, Steele said, the chamber keeps a wait list for its intensive, nine-month course on issues and systems that affect local businesses, dubbed Leadership Albany. And the chamber's monthly forums are well-attended, with members gathering for luncheon-seminars covering such topics as building codes, insurance, financing and investment. Albany has a great reputation, Steele said. Across Oregon, the country, people in the business community recognize Albanys strong chamber. Steele said Albanys chamber reflects the citys business community tough and prosperous. Local businesses, including the chamber, have survived the burst of the dot-com bubble, exacerbated by the Sept. 11, 2001, extremist attacks on the United States; and the Great Recession, precipitated in 2008's collapse of the poorly regulated mortgage lending market; and two years of coronavirus pandemic-era crowd size limits and subsequent hiring crises. Overall, Albany is a very strong community, Steele said. Advocacy Oregons legislative record is dotted with Steeles efforts to keep it that way. Steeles testimony in 2019 called on legislators to streamline regulations that could impede ride-share companies, such as Lyft and Uber. In 2023, she asked the Joint Committee on Transportation to improve the flow of traffic including freight trucks on Interstate 5 where vehicles cross the Columbia River in Portland. On March 17, the Oregon House of Representatives heard testimony in a proposed law aimed at lifting wages and standards for people who work providing skilled care. Supporters say House Bill 3838 would improve living conditions for people who require professional care by improving the caregiver workforce. Steele, representing the Albany Chamber, asked legislators to vote no and told the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards the proposal is another overreach by government to control independent businesses. Submitting testimony in writing, Steele said, Oregon already has some of the strongest labor protections and laws in the country. We do not need another group telling businesses and their employees what they must do. By phone, Steele said rules and regulations originating in the state Legislature negatively impact businesses. I so wish that Oregon was recognized for being a pro-business state, Steele said. And its not. Business leaders appear to recognize that Steele, at least, worked hard to make sure that Albany is pro-businesses. The Western Association of Chamber Executives, a California-based mutual-benefit corporation for education and professional development of chamber professionals, recognized Steele in February with a service award for 35 years of work in the industry. Without business, there is no community, Steele said. And I firmly believe that. Related story: The Florida Capitol building on Aug. 12, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) A bill to loosen defamation lawsuit restrictions advanced in the Florida House Thursday, with support from Democrats who said theyd been targets of false information spread online. For three years, the Florida Legislature has considered GOP-backed bills making it easier to sue news organizations for defamation, but this proposal is drawing wider support from Democrats, with Tallahassee Democratic Rep. Allison Tant co-sponsoring the House measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate and House proposals (SB 752 and HB 667) would compel news outlets to take down content from their websites within days of notification that the published information is false or outdated. Failure to remove the content would open them to defamation suits. St. Petersburg Democratic Rep. Michele Rayner supports the bill, saying she didnt understand why the media would want to keep false information on the internet. Ive had people get on the internet and say atrocious things about me, things that are actually not true, and Ive had to sit here and say, Well, cant do anything about it,' Rayner said. And Im a state representative lawyer. I could file my own motion and do what I needed to do. The House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee advanced the bill unanimously, with four Democrats in support, despite warnings it amounts to censorship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was inspired by the case of a Miami man whod been accused of molesting a child only to see the charges dropped. A TV station refused his request to scrub the story from its website. Sometimes innocence doesnt erase the fact that an arrest and charge occurred, said Bobby Block, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation. They may be inconvenient facts, but they are true. If we were to buy into this bills logic, we would have to erase the OJ Simpson car chases and every report on Casey Anthony from history. Barry Richard, a prominent Tallahassee lawyer who represented that Miami man, said the change is necessary because of the permanence of the internet. Richard is married to Tant, the House co-sponsor. The proposal would allow suits for up to 20 years after the publication of an article. If you now have reason to know its not true, you cant keep it up. What is the public interest in keeping this story up for seven years and ruining a persons life? Barry asked the panel Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats support for the bill has been more limited in the Senate, where only Rosalind Osgood, of Broward County, has supported it in committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A band of more than 100 House Democrats are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to halt its plans to shutter offices that help ensure low income and minority communities are not disproportionately saddled with pollution. The EPA announced earlier this month it plans to slash a broad suite of rules and determinations that aim to cut pollution or mitigate climate change. That includes the environmental justice offices dedicated to fighting pollution in underserved and minority communities around the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This action would cause extraordinary and disproportionate harm and constitute a complete dereliction of the EPAs statutory responsibility to protect human health and the environment, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) wrote in a letter signed by 108 of her Democratic colleagues. This Administrations relentless attacks on environmental justice programs demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding and hostility toward their purpose and necessity. This is not about special treatment for any one group; it is about fairness and equitable protection fundamental American principles that have been ignored for too long in communities across the country that continue to bear the brunt of pollution and environmental harm. The EPA referred The Hill to its prior press release about ending the programs. President Trump was elected with a mandate from the American people. Part of this mandate includes the elimination of forced discrimination programs. Under the Trump Administration, EPA is affirming our commitment to serve every American with equal dignity and respect, Administrator Lee Zeldin said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee pointed to the prevalence of polluting industries in low income and minority communities, creating sacrifice zones. Low-income, rural, and communities of color have been systematically exposed to hazardous waste, industrial pollution, and toxic emissionsnot by accident, but through deliberate and discriminatory policies like redlining, segregation, and the creation of sacrifice zones concentrated near polluting industries, she wrote. Data consistently shows polluted areas are frequently centered in such communities. The American Lung Associations State of the Air report indicated people of color were 2.3 times as likely as white people to live in a county where the air quality standards failed all three metrics evaluated by the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The burden of living with unhealthy air is not shared equally. Although people of color make up 41.6% of the overall population of the U.S., they are 52% of the people living in a county with at least one failing grade. In the counties with the worst air quality that get failing grades for all three measures of air pollution, 63% of the nearly 44 million residents are people of color, compared to 37% who are white, the group wrote in its 2024 report. In addition to planning to cut its environmental justice offices, EPA said it is considering rolling back Biden-era regulations that speed coal plant closures, regulations on the neurotoxin mercury coming from power plants and general air pollution limits for deadly soot, among others. These actions represent a deliberate effort to dismantle environmental protections, embolden corporate polluters, and deepen environmental racism, Lee wrote. Rather than protecting public health, the EPA seems intent on shielding polluters, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to worsening pollution and environmental devastation. Updated at 4:39 p.m. EDT 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. Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla, R-Pella, was the floor manager for a bill passed by the Iowa House March 26, 2025 allowing public schools to employ a chaplain or allow them to volunteer in providing services for students. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) House lawmakers sent a bill to the Senate Tuesday that would allow public and charter schools to hire chaplains or allow them to volunteer to provide support, services, and programs for students. The House passed House File 884 on a vote of 57-39. The measure would allow public school districts, charter schools and innovation school zones to hire or engage a chaplain to provide services for students. The bill contains language stating that a school cannot require or coerce a student to utilize services or support from a chaplain and that chaplains cannot be used in lieu of a school counselor or guidance counselor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, multiple Democrats criticized the measure as an attempt to introduce religion into public schools. Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, said the bill represents a dangerous attempt to go around the separation of church and state. While supporters of the measure compared the measure with current chaplain positions allowed in the U.S. military and in hospitals, she said the considerations of religious services are very different when involving a child who has not necessarily requested to see a chaplain. We are talking about a bill that has no consideration for parental consent in having a child meet with a chaplain, Levin said. We are talking about a bill that has no consideration for accreditation of a chaplain, training of a chaplain. We are talking about a bill that makes no prohibition on evangelizing within a school building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While a schools board of directors can decide to set qualifications, credentialing or other requirements for chaplains they hire or allow to volunteer, school districts cannot require chaplains to have an certification, authorization or recognition from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) in order to be in a school, as is required for other school staff positions. Democrats said the measure could lead to adults who are not properly vetted or trained to engage with children from being in schools in an official capacity as a chaplain. But Rep. Brooke Boden, R-Indianola, said the BOEE is not in the business of credentialing chaplains, and that training and other requirements should be left to school districts discretion. If a school wants to make sure that a chaplain is appropriately credentialed, it is their responsibility to make sure theyre credentialed, Boden said. Thats local control. Thats what we gave them in the bill. Rep. Helena Hayes, R-New Sharon, cited research by Dr. Lisa Miller, author of the book The Spiritual Child, that found children and teenagers who have an active relationship with spirituality are less likely to abuse substances and face depression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chaplains trained to provide spiritual and emotional care theyre uniquely positioned to apply the findings that I just shared in schools and assist us in fostering healthier, more resilient students and reducing destructive behavior, Hayes said. Levin argued that the data Hayes presented is not necessarily linked with the legislation, as only one state, Texas, currently has a law allowing for public schools to employ chaplains. This isnt something that has been done in many places, Levin said. This is something that Iowa is considering, and we have to think about Iowans. And the spiritual needs of Iowas kids should be met outside the school by decisions made by their parents and families. The bills floor manager, Rep. Barb Kniff McCulla, R-Pella, said the legislation will help protect our youth and make them successful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every Iowa school in Iowa should have a chaplain, if thats what the school district decides on, Kniff McCulla said. And the usage of chaplains is well documented for impacting lives in a positive direction. The bill moves to the Senate for further consideration. Rep. Carter Nordman, R-Adel, spoke in support of enacting work requirements for Iowa's expanded Medicaid program during floor debate March 26, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa House sent the bill imposing work requirements on recipients of Iowas expanded Medicaid program back to the Senate Wednesday. Senate File 615 was approved by the House 61-35 with some changes. The bill, which passed in the Senate Tuesday, would require people receiving health insurance through Iowas expanded Medicaid program known as IHAWP, or the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, to work at least 80 hours each month to be eligible for coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IHAWP coverage is available to able-bodied Iowans from ages 19 to 64 who have household incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level roughly $20,030 in annual income for a single individual and $27,186 for a household of two. Rep. Carter Nordman, R-Adel, the bills floor manager, said Medicaid is intended to serve individuals with disabilities and with very low incomes. However, he said currently more able-bodied adults are accessing Medicaid benefits without the requirement of work through the IHAWP program. While Medicaid expansion has been a vital safety net, it is not meant to be a permanent solution, Nordman said. We want to help individuals transition off the reliance of government and into a position where they can thrive independently. Requiring work is a key part of that transition. According to analysis by the Legislative Services Agency, roughly 142,000 of the 181,000 Iowans currently enrolled in IHAWP would be subject to work requirements under the bill when accounting for medical exemptions and other caveats provided in the legislation, like exemptions for people with children under age 6 and in substance abuse treatment programs for up to six months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the people who would be required to work 80 hours a month and report this information to the state to continue receiving care LSA estimated that 32,000 Iowans would lose IHAWP coverage if the bill is implemented. This figure was calculated using data from Arkansas, a state that previously implemented Medicaid work or community engagement requirements. Rep. Austin Baeth, D-Des Moines, said the bill will deprive low-income people of health care and coverage using a false argument that there are a large number of people receiving Medicaid coverage who are choosing not to work. He cited a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation that found 92% of adults under age 65 who did not receive benefits through other programs like Social Security or Medicare were working full or part time, or were not working because of caregiving responsibilities, school or due to an illness or disability. Baeth said the bill sends a cynical message that people in poverty are lazy and will take away health care coverage from working Iowans who do not have the time or resources to meet the reporting requirements that would be implemented under the bill. Hardworking people are too busy working their jobs, trying to make rent, trying to put food on the table, not watching the news (to know) that they have to go to a particular website by a particular amount of time to press some particular button, Baeth said. Thats how people fall through the cracks. And when they fall through the cracks, in this particular case, it can be the matter of life or death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A major point of contention for Democrats on the bill was language that directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to discontinue IHAWP if the federal government does not approve work requirements for the program. The House amended the bill to clarify that this trigger language to seek federal approval for ending IHAWP would only apply if the implementation of work requirements has been federally approved and later revoked. If the federal government does not allow the state to end the Medicaid expansion program, the bill would direct Iowa HHS to pursue implementation of an alternative plan acceptable under federal Medicaid administration guidelines. Nordman said the language on discontinuing IHAWP without work requirements was to avoid making Medicaid policy changes in Iowa contingent on who is in the White House. The reason why this is in there is we are not going to play this back-and-forth game with the federal government that would disallow us to do it every four years, and then we do it another four years, and then four years later were not allowed to do it, Nordman said. Just to make it clear, if this is approved by the Trump administration, as I believe it will be, the only reason why Medicaid expansion in the state would go away is because of a Democrat president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, questioned how these changes would be implemented by HHS, pointing to the fact that the department has a pause on hiring for new positions. LSA, a nonpartisan agency, noted that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services had not responded to multiple requests for information on the fiscal impact of implementing work requirements, but estimated that the bill would result in $3.1 million in decreased Medicaid expenditures for fiscal year 2026 and $17.5 million in FY 2027. Iowa HHS has not responded to requests for comment on why information was not shared with LSA or lawmakers who said they had made requests. Brown-Powers said the department has also not shared figures on Medicaid waste, fraud or abuse occurring through IHAWP that would be addressed through work requirements. She said unless HHS data shows there is a substantial number of people misusing the expanded Medicaid system, the costs of implementing the bill will outweigh money saved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And guess what? We dont have a lot of money, Brown-Powers said. Were already dipping into the funds to pay the bills. So how are we going to pay for this? Where are the (full-time employees) going to come (from) to monitor this? How are we going to assure Iowans that theyre not going to lose their insurance? Nordman said that in Iowa it is estimated that more than 100,000 able-bodied people on Medicaid expansion are not working to their capacity or what they should be. The bill also directs Iowa HHS to seek federal approval to implement work requirements for public assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP recipients who are able-bodied adults with no dependents already are required to work, volunteer or participate in work programs for at least 80 hours a month to receive benefits. The House passed another bill Wednesday related to SNAP benefits that proposes a new $1 million appropriation to the food stamps program to the Double Up Food Bucks program, allowing recipients to double SNAP dollars for fresh produce purchases. However, the bill makes the additional funding contingent on the federal government approving restrictions on what foods are available for purchase through SNAP to only include healthful foods based on necessary nutrition for good health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House sent the legislation back to the Senate with some changes, including the language clarifying IHAWP federal approval contingencies as well as a new section requiring Iowa HHS to conduct a review on the Medicaid for employed people with disabilities program. The department would be directed to look at issues like eligibility criteria, asset limits and cost-sharing requirements in other states programs over the 2025 interim and deliver a report to lawmakers by December with recommendations on how to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities on this Medicaid program. The bill also includes a provision to raise the amount of available resources that a married couple receiving coverage through the Medicaid for employed people with disabilities program can have from $13,000 to $21,000. Individuals with disabilities on this program would still have the $13,000 asset limit if they are single. The amended bill must be approved by the Senate before it would go to Gov. Kim Reynolds for final approval. A spokesperson for the governor said Tuesday that the governor has directed HHS to submit a federal waiver for Medicaid work requirements independent of the legislation which will be done soon. The demonstration in London was like so many others in the past year and a half. A swell of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, tens of thousands of them, banged drums and chanted against Israel. Although this march in early October observed the one-year anniversary of the day Hamas militants broke a cease-fire by invading Israeli territory, the marchers paid no heed to the civilians who were murdered or kidnapped. The U.K. chapter of the worlds largest human-rights organization, Amnesty International, echoed the marchers point of view. The official Amnesty UK account on X promoted a video of an unnamed young female protester clad in a red shirt and a keffiyeh. She peered into the camera and said: Dont let anyone tell you this all started on the seventh of October, 2023. The video showed a demonstrators placard: Its been 76 years & 364 daysa reference to events that culminated in the founding of Israel in the late 1940s. The implication: Israel, a member state of the United Nations, has no right to exist. The clip, which Amnesty UK captioned It didnt start one year ago, drew 9.7 million views. Amnesty employees around the world shared it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The social-media promotion of this march marked an astonishing shift for one of the worlds most prominent human-rights organizations. Amnestys handbook declares that it is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it necessarily support the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. Amnestys goal was to serve as an advocate for victims and prisoners of conscience, and to stand apart from the polarized politics of the Cold War. The same ethos influenced the founders of Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders. As the latter group proclaims on its website: We are independent, impartial, and neutral. More recently, though, human-rights leaders have grown accustomed to looking at the complicated stew of politics and culture in Israel and Palestine and blaming Israel foremost. As the cultural and political left has come to dominate the human-rights community, young staffers with passionate ideological commitments have helped rewrite the agendas of the best-known organizations. Critical theories of social justice, built on binaries that categorize Palestinians as oppressed and Israel as the oppressor, now dominate many conversations about the Jewish state, which a constellation of groups casts as uniquely illegitimatea regressive, racist ethnic Western state in an Arab sea. [Dara Horn: Why the most educated people in America fall for anti-Semitic lies] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rasha Khoury, the president of the board of Doctors Without Borders USA and a surgeon who has worked courageously in war zones, might be seen as the embodiment of this new tendency in the human-rights establishment. She was born in the occupied Palestinian territories. A month after the Hamas attack and the beginning of the Israeli counterattack, she posted an essay on the organizations digital bulletin board, known as the Souk, the Arabic word for market. We must decolonize our minds, she wrote. The mainstream discourse around the unhinged bombardment and massacre of Palestinians in Gaza by Israeli forces for the last 33 days continues to affirm the colonizers world view, one rooted in white supremacist logic. Not long after October 7, Khoury was among the co-authors of Violence in Palestine Demands Immediate Resolution of Its Settler Colonial Root Causesan article in the journal BMJ Global Health that, subsequent commentators argued, ignored Hamass role in triggering the Israeli invasion and incorrectly blamed the Jewish state for a deadly missile strike. In a follow-up article, Khoury and her co-authors responded to the criticism with scorn. Demands for corrections, they declared, are almost always demands to acquiesce to Israeli state propaganda. In a similar spirit, Doctors Without Borders seemed to minimize the egregiousness of the Hamas attack from the start, describing it on X that very day as the escalation between Israel and Gaza. Other human-rights groups have more forthrightly condemned the Hamas offensive but primarily faulted the Jewish state for the underlying conflict. On the day of the attack, Amnestys secretary general, Agnes Callamard, posted on X that she was dismayed by the mounting Palestinian and Israeli civilian deaths. She also called for addressing the root causes of these escalating cycles of violence. Doing so, she went on, requires upholding international law and ending Israels 16-year-long illegal blockade on Gaza, and all other aspects of Israels system of apartheid imposed on all Palestinians. Human-rights groups fairly argue that disagreeing with Israels actions and policies is not anti-Semitic, but they have become more and more averse even to considering Israels side. Theres clearly a leftist perspective that would like to do away with Israel, the longtime Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth told me. Roth led the group for decades before stepping down in 2022 and maintained that his former employer did not share this perspective. Some other former employees of the group disagreed. The trend is to substitute ideology and personal belief for the principles of the human-rights movement, Danielle Haas, who left her job as a senior editor at Human Rights Watch, told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Amnesty International took the extraordinary step of suspending its Israel chapter, after that chapter criticized a report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. In an internal email to colleagues in Europe, Amnesty Israel deputy director Yariv Mohar suggested that the broader organization was playing into a zero-sum victimhood game, as if any attention or acknowledgment to the victimhood of one side comes at the expense of the other. Major human-rights groups shift toward overt opposition to Israel has had the unusual effect of sidelining many of Israels own activists, who historically are among the sharpest critics of the Israeli governments behavior in Gaza and the West Bank. These activistsalong with many Jewish counterparts around the worldobject to the reflexive condemnation of Israel and wrestle with questions they find vexing: How can the country protect itself from Hamas? What would a proportionate, defensible response to October 7 look like? Roy Yellin is a longtime left-wing human-rights activist in Israel who has worked closely with the big international groups in Europe and the United States over the years. Human-rights organizations earned their prestige because they described reality as it was, he said. But too often now Ive seen lots of colleagues in the international community who I thought of as partners who are in complete denial about what Hamas did in Israel. Within human-rights organizations, anger toward Israel has been simmering for decades, particularly as the countrys politics have shifted rightward and its settlements have expanded in the West Bank. On October 7, the divide within the human-rights movement over Israel began to seem unbridgeable, in particular to many Jewish employees. That morning, Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters viciously attacked Israel, slaughtering civilians before retreating back into Gaza, where they gathered their armaments and hid in tunnels, using the dense civilian population aboveground as human shields. Hospitals, schools, and universitiesall became hiding spots for Hamas militants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel responded with a relentless, at times brutal, invasion of Gaza, in which many thousands of Palestinian civilians, including children, were killed. This has given rise to a heated debate about whether such actions can be justified. Many critics have argued that Israel, as a democracy that professes to follow modern rules of war, has an obligation to minimize civilian casualties, and they point to abundant evidence that Israel chose to drop bombs on Hamas militants and headquarters even when aware that these sites were crowded with civilians. Even some Israelis have objected to the duration of the war and felt that it was too driven by feelings of rage and revenge. The international human-rights movement has gone further. Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, and Doctors Without Borders have all accused Israel of crimes against humanity and acts of genocide. Some human-rights leaders have openly questioned Israels right to exist as a Jewish state. Over the past six months, Ive reviewed internal emails and hundreds of social-media posts by leaders of prominent human-rights organizations. Ive also spoken with more than two dozen Jewish employees of these groups, nearly all of whom described a pervasive and growing estrangement from the organizations where they had worked, in some cases, for decades. None of these staffers would pass for an apologist for Israels right-wing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Their politics are left of center and many are deeply critical of Israels invasion and of actions that they categorize as war crimes. But, they said, talk of taking a nuanced view of the conflict drew contempt from colleagues and supervisors. These Jewish employees argued internally that Israel had waged a brutal war, but also that Israelis were badly scarred by the slaughter of October 7 and that Hamas had committed terrible war crimes and acts of terrorism. Yet to take these positions was to risk being labeled as a propagandist for a settler-colonialist regime. Many of these employees are particularly galled by the frequent claim that Israel is a white-supremacist state. More than half of Israeli Jews are descendants of those who lived in Arab countries, Iran, and Ethiopia; a great many others have ancestors who were driven from Europe by the Nazis. A former top executive with a well-known human-rights organization noted the frustration inherent in trying to draw evenhanded distinctions that were once elementary in the human-rights world. Hamas has an obligation under international law not to use human shields and to distinguish between military and civilian targets, this person, who asked not to be identified to avoid further alienating former colleagues, said. But if you bring this up internally, its framed as a distraction, an Israeli talking point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leaders of the worlds most prominent human-rights groups have displayed little appetite for acknowledging the uncertainty and moral murk of the Gaza war. On October 17, 2023, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israel had bombed the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital and killed close to 500 Palestinians. Amnesty and Doctors Without Borders immediately picked up on that claim: The leaders of the latter group posted about the Israeli massacre on their social-media feeds. And Human Rights Watchs director of Israel and Palestine issues, Omar Shakir, amplified a post blaming Israel for the attack. He added: Abject horror. THIS MUST END. Shakir backed off a few hours later, saying that his organization was investigating. And to its credit, Human Rights Watch did so judiciously. A month later, it reported that the explosion likely was caused by a misfired Palestinian missile, which hit a paved area next to a parking lot and not the hospital itself. It also faulted the Gaza Health Ministry for reporting a death toll that is significantly higher than other estimates, displays an unusually high killed-to-injured ratio, and appears out of proportion with the damage visible on site. (Unlike Amnesty and Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch has also released a report that researched and documented Hamass war crimes on October 7.) [Read: The case for Palestinian pragmatism] To this day, Doctors Without Borders has not removed its debunked claims of Israeli malfeasance from its social-media feed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doug Sandok worked with Doctors Without Borders in Rwanda, Chechnya, and Sri Lanka in the 1990s. He has charted the curdling of the groups rhetoric regarding Israel. I went to an organization-wide meeting in November 2023, and the discourse shocked me, all about anti-settler-colonialism and racism, he told me. A number of us asked, Is it really a foregone conclusion that Israel has committed genocide? It feels like one more institution captured by the ideological left. For Dan Balson, working for Amnesty International was a longtime dream. He and his parents got out of the Soviet Union in 1988, as part of a wave of Jewish emigres. Amnesty, he told me, played a key role in pressuring Moscow to release families like his. It was a household name in my world, Balson, who is 40, said. He became Amnestys advocacy director for Europe and Central Asia, covering territory that stretched from Russia to Afghanistan to Ukraine. He admired the courage and creativity that his colleagues showed in documenting human-rights abuses. One used a fragment of an exploded shell that killed civilians to track down and publicly identify the armaments manufacturer; another donned a niqab and traveled through a war zone, documenting the crimes of a government and its secret police. Slowly, however, Balson noticed a harshness creeping in whenever the subject of Israel arose. In particular, when he visited Amnestys global headquarters in London, he sensed an antipathy toward Israel and anyone who identified as a Zionist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the morning of October 7, Balson checked and rechecked his messages to see if Israeli friends had been harmed. Then he scrolled the Amnesty International website, which issued a statement that day deploring that civilians on both sides were paying the price of unprecedented escalation in hostilities between Israel and Gaza. That statement just once referred to Hamas, which controls the government of Gaza, preferring the term Palestinian armed groups. Balson turned to X and saw that his colleague Rasha Abdul-Rahim, then the director of technical services for Amnesty, had claimed that although she was distressed by reports of Palestinian fighters dancing on Israeli bodies, Palestinians had suffered worse for decades. She added:To be truly anti racist and decolonial is to recognise that resistance against oppression is sometimes ugly. That night Balson wrote his resignation letter. Amnesty Internationals time-honored approach, he wrote to his supervisors, was to decode the motivations, anxieties, and limitations of a nation and its leaders, even when those are disagreeable. None of that seemed to apply to Israel. Amnestys approach, he wrote, has shown such disdain for Israelis existential fears that it seems deliberately calculated to repel rather than attract and persuade. Even Amnestys sparing acknowledgment of Hamass role on October 7 had proved too pro-Israeli for some staffers, who insisted that Amnestys statement was too understanding of Israel. As debate grew within the organization, and some Jewish staffers argued for measured tones, other Amnesty employees complained that such arguments were triggering and accused Jewish colleagues of Islamophobia, multiple staffers told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I asked Amnesty International USAs director, Paul OBrien, about these tensions. He replied that most conversations within Amnesty USA were respectful but not pain-free. Might unbridled passions and angry social-media postings, I asked, interfere with Amnestys work? I have seen social-media publications that I wish we had not sent, he acknowledged. OBriens critics see his own conduct as at times emblematic of the movements growing opposition to Israels entire reason for being. In March 2022, he backhandedly endorsed the disestablishment of Israel in its current form. We are opposed to the ideaand this, I think, is an existential part of the debatethat Israel should be preserved as a state for the Jewish people, he said at a luncheon of the Womans National Democratic Club in Washington, D.C. He subsequently expressed regret for his remarks and said that Amnesty takes no position on the legitimacy or existence of any state, including Israel. (Israels 2 million Arab citizens vote and are represented in the countrys Parliament and on its supreme court.) But making stridently anti-Israel remarks, whether in person or online, is not a barrier to gaining a prominent role at Amnesty. In April 2022, a Palestinian gunman killed three Israeli civilians in Tel Aviv. Rasha Abdel Latif, a human-rights activist in D.C., reposted a social-media statement written in Arabic that stated: This land is our land The occupation has no choice but to leave. Four days later, Amnesty USA appointed Latif to its board. Two people told me that angry Jewish employees demanded a meeting with OBrien and management, during which OBrien conceded that, yes, Latifs social-media post could be read as anti-Jewish. But he said that she had learned her lesson and that the board would not censure her so as to avoid giving comfort to the organizations critics. Latifs critics accused Amnesty of treating her as a victim. The only reason she was not removed from the board is that the victims of her bias were Jewish, Balson told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writing inflammatory social-media posts has become common among Amnesty officials. On the first day of 2024, Abdul-Rahim, the former technical-services director, posted on X, Happy new year to everyone except the #israeli apartheid state. Even Amnesty USAs official website features dubious statements. In May, Amnesty put up a collage of footage from its Solidarity With Gaza conference, accompanied by music from the hip-hop artist Macklemore. Who gets the right to defend and who gets the right of resistance has always been about dollars and the color of your pigment, but white supremacy is finally on blast, Macklemore said in his rap about Israel. I asked OBrien about that post, which at a minimum seemed ignorant of Israels actual demographics. OBrien said he was unfamiliar with it (though it had been on Amnesty USAs site for half a year, even after employees had complained about it to senior managers). I sent him a link, and he replied the next day: Thanks for flagging that post. We have removed it as it did not follow our internal guidelines. This past fall, on the anniversary of the October 7 attack, an extraordinary anonymous statement purporting to represent more than 40 current and former Doctors Without Borders staffers appeared on the Souk. It angrily protested how the Geneva-based organization, which has 69,000 employees and an annual budget well over $1 billion, tended to characterize the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The statement accused Doctors Without Borders of remaining silent about Hamass ferocious barbarity and sexual violence and of ignoring Israelis taken hostage, some of whom died in captivity, including infants. This version of the organization, the statement declared, does not represent us. It barely represents itself. French physicians founded Doctors Without Borders in the aftermath of a civil war and famine in Nigeria. Its charter committed to providing medical care without regard to politics, race, or nationality. But five staffers, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of endangering their jobs, described an environment in which their colleagues refused to entertain any nuance about the Jewish state. In November, for example, Javid Abdelmoneim, the former president of Doctors Without Borders UK, endorsed a full boycott of Israel, writing on X: Invest no other time on Israel other than to cut it out of your life. Michael Goldfarb, a former longtime communications director for Doctors Without Borders, had worked in desolate and dangerous corners of the world. But his patience for his former employer eventually reached an end. He posted last year on the Souk, writing of his frustration with the blatantly hate filled and, yes, anti-Semitic responses within the organization to the anonymous Souk statement. Fear of retaliation, silencing, and ostracism grips many MSF colleagues, he wrote, using the French abbreviation for Doctors Without Borders, who nonetheless courageously endorsed the publication of the post. (Goldfarb declined my request for further comment.) As if to underline his statement about organizational intolerance, Doctors Without Borders employees let loose on the Souk, going after Goldfarb and all those who signed the statement. I leave you with your hatred, your racism and your victimization (Were used to it!), one rank-and-file staffer wrote. Another employee, Olivier Falhun, of the press office in Paris, responded to the dissenters, At the risk of offending your principles-based catechism, I cant resist sharing with you a self-evident solution Well have to give the land back. Its as simple as that. [Gershom Gorenberg: Netanyahu takes desperate measures] These and similar statements have remained on the organization-wide site for many months. (I sought to talk with senior leaders at Doctors Without Borders USA about this atmosphere and other questions regarding Israel. A press officer, Brienne Prusak, wrote back that we are respectfully going to decline.) The organizations one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict goes beyond incendiary sentiments on message boards and social media. The fact is that the hospitals they worked in were often home to Hamas gunmen and armaments. In November 2023, the Israeli army announced plans to root out Hamas operatives that it said were hiding in Al-Shifa Hospital, a major medical facility in Gaza City. A large contingent of Doctors Without Borders staff worked there, and its leaders took offense at the Israeli claim. The president of its Australian chapter, Katrina Penney, told a newspaper that she had seen no evidence that the hospital buildings or the compounds are being used by Hamas as a military base. I asked two Doctors Without Borders employees who had worked in East Jerusalem and Gaza about such claims. These staffers frowned. The presence of Hamas gunmen in that hospital and in others was an open secret. You knew Hamas was there; I went to meetings where this was made very clear, the staffer, who asked for anonymity out of a desire to continue to work in the human-rights field, told me. Doors were hidden. There were units you did not get into, that had armed guards at the door. Laws of war require soldiers to act with great care when fighting around hospitals, and none of this testimony would justify Israeli brutality. Likewise, however, humanitarian groups such as Doctors Without Borders claim to observe the principle of bearing witness to abusesan obligation that includes challenging armed groups such as Hamas that risk civilian lives by using hospitals as bases and hiding spots. Months after that Israeli operation at Al-Shifa, Hamass subterfuge was exposedas was the willful ignorance of Doctors Without Borders. A New York Times investigation strongly suggested that Hamas used Al-Shifa for cover and to store weapons. U.S. spy agencies went further, saying that Hamas used Al-Shifa as a command center and that it held hostages there. That would be a war crime. Last June, Doctors Without Borders accused Israel of killing one of its staff physiotherapists, Fadi Al-Wadiya, as he biked to work. Organization officials portrayed this as a war crime, an innocent family man slaughtered. An official statement said, There is no justification for this; it is unacceptable. Doctors Without Borders posted a photo of Al-Wadiyas fractured bicycle. Word circulated that he had been a fighter with Islamic Jihad, a radical group that allied with Hamas on October 7. The organization vigorously denied this. Then the Israeli army released photos of Al-Wadiya, who it said was a rocket specialist, wearing an Islamic Jihad uniform. Doctors Without Borders ultimately conceded that it was deeply concerned by these allegations and said it would never knowingly employ a fighter. A staffer involved in hiring for Doctors Without Borders spoke of great organizational pressure to expand hiring in Gaza. We were told not to check backgrounds, this employee told me, adding that one office in Gaza had two known Hamas militants. Our Arab staff was greatly concerned because to be in the same room with operatives put all at risk. This staffer paused. Look, Im truly not defending Israel; there is a lot in its actions to criticize, this person said, adding that Doctors Without Borders had been blindly pro-Palestinian to an extent that was destructive. And if you were Jewish and questioned it, you were just waved off. Amid the terrible losses and savage fighting that have marked the war in Gaza, human-rights groups have demonstrated far greater urgency in documenting and denouncing Israels conduct than that of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In December, Amnesty International released its much anticipated and publicized report accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Amnesty, however, has yet to complete a long-promised report examining the Hamas-driven murder and rape of Israeli civilians on October 7. OBrien said the staff is hard at work on this. The documentation has been extraordinarily difficult, he told me. Investigating sexual violence in an ethical and sensitive manner can take many months. Amnesty has moved with far more dispatch to stamp out dissent within its ranks. Amnestys Israeli chapter is known for feisty independence, taking on Netanyahus government and at times its own international parent group. The Israeli branch has maintained that, although it was not downplaying the many horrific atrocities made by Israel in Gaza, which, according to the information we have, seems, on the surface, to have crossed the threshold of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, it viewed Amnestys accusation of genocide as poorly reasoned. The genocide claim, the chapter argued, seemed designed to support a popular narrative among Amnesty Internationals target audience. The Israeli branch, frustrated with the broader organizations silence on such questions, also began what it called a pro-human campaign to condemn both what it saw as anti-Semitism in some worldwide protests and the Islamophobia inside Israel, and to point out that extremists on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict promote ideologies of annihilation. [Read: The lefts self-defeating Israel obsession] The campaign announcement angered top Amnesty officials in the United States and Europe. Last May, Erika Guevara-Rosas, the senior director of global research, advocacy, policy, and campaigns, ordered the Israeli chapter to end its campaign. Given the serious reputational and legitimacy risk, I am asking you to take this document down from all your platforms immediately, she wrote in an email that I obtained. The right-wing Israeli government and its supporters frequently clash with the countrys Amnesty chapter. For their part, Amnesty International leaders view the Israeli branch as rogue and disloyal, and in January, not long after the criticism of the genocide report, they suspended the chapter for two years. Amnesty emails suggest that this could turn into a full expulsion. Tiumalu Lauvale Peter Faafiu, the New Zealandborn chair of Amnestys international board, wrote to his team that it must decide whether Amnesty International Israel has a future within the Amnesty Movement. These emails revealed that Amnesty leaders planned in advance to deflect the Israeli chapters criticism of their genocide report by accusing it of endemic anti-Palestinian racism. A Faafiu email underlined the real grievance: The Israeli branch had tried to publicly discredit Amnestys human rights research and positions. After leaving Amnesty, Dan Balson has found himself adrift. He has begun, with reluctance and disappointment, to wonder about the assumptions of so many in the human-rights movement. Within Amnesty, the phrase Criticism of Israeli policy is not anti-Semitism has taken on a kind of mystical significance, he told me. It is repeated frequently and forcefully, in private and in public. Amnestys leadership appears to believe that, if said with the proper zeal and elocution, the phrase will magically ward off deeper scrutiny. Yellin, the left-wing Israeli activist who has collaborated with major international groups, is even more disillusioned. They think if they just scream genocide and apartheid, maybe we will go back to Europe. He exhaled. Some days I feel like Ive just been a useful idiot. Article originally published at The Atlantic Hundreds of advocacy organizations have called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to reject a budget blueprint from House Republicans. A letter sent to Thune, led by the liberal health care advocacy group Families USA, features more than 300 organizations, such as Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union. We write to share our deep concerns about the House-passed budget reconciliation resolutionspecifically the catastrophic health care cuts it would require and the resulting harm it would impose on families and communities across the country, according to the letter, sent Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The budget resolution from the House, passed last month, puts forth a $1.5 trillion minimum for spending cuts across committees, featuring a target of $2 trillion. It also places a $4.5 trillion cap on the deficit impact of any Republican plan to continue with President Trumps 2017 tax cuts and includes an extra $300 billion in spending for the border and defense. The resolution has also put the job on the House Energy and Commerce Committee of identifying a minimum of $880 billion in cuts to programs under its jurisdiction. In early March, the Congressional Budget Office issued a report finding the savings cannot be reached without affecting Medicaid and Medicare. At a time when families are already struggling to access affordable health care, moving forward with these cuts would be a betrayal of the very voters that sent leaders to Washington to lower costs, not to shred our nations social safety net, the letter reads. The groups pushed the upper chamber to not to take up the Houses budget bill and instead commit to protecting Medicaid and the other critical health care programs on which your constituents rely for their health and well-being. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to Thunes 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. Mar. 26Educational Results Partnership (ERP), a non-profit organization that applies data science to accelerate student success, has released the 2024 Honor Roll list of Texas top performing schools. This is the 10th year that ERP has completed the Honor Roll, which recognizes top public schools, school districts and charter schools that have outperformed their peers in closing achievement gaps, particularly among higher-poverty and historically disadvantaged student populations. This year, out of 762 schools and 63 school districts in Texas, including IDEA Yukon College Preparatory. This is approximately 12 percent of eligible schools and 9 percent of eligible school districts in the state. The full list of Honor Roll schools is now posted at edresults.org/honor-roll. "We are honored to be recognized once again by ERP for our continued excellence in student achievement," Jeff Cottrill, CEO & Superintendent of IDEA Public Schools, said in a news release. "The distinction exhibits our dedication to our mission of ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success in college and beyond." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The designation is based on STAAR testing results provided by the TEA over the last four years. Schools and districts comprehensively performed above the mean at least 80 percent of the time for all cohorts of students served and for all grade levels served. The star ranking was given to schools and districts with greater than, or equal to 33 percent of students designated as socioeconomically disadvantaged. "The Honor Roll recognizes high-performing schools where students are learning the fundamental skills employers demand," Dan Kinney, ERP's Board Chair, said in the release. "ERP is proud to recognize these schools, and we want to learn about their best practices for teaching the fundamental skills of reading, writing and math." The program is part of a national effort to engage business leaders in recognizing successful schools and educational systems and promoting best practices that improve student outcomes. Honor Roll schools are recognized for demonstrating consistently higher levels of student achievement, improvement in achievement over time, and a reduction in achievement gaps among student populations. Click here to learn more about the methodology behind the selection of the 2024 Honor Roll schools and districts. DODGE CITY, Kan. (KSNW) A tip about drug activity led to the discovery of a lot of illegal drugs and guns and four arrests in Dodge City. The tipster mentioned individuals were selling large quantities of THC vape cartridges. Police began an extensive investigation. They said it revealed that a boy was advertising and selling THC products and trying to sell firearms through social media. The Dodge City Police Departments Special Operations Division got a search warrant for a home in the 900 block of Otero in the south part of town and took action on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wichita truck driver hauling oil derrick dies in crash Items seized from a Dodge City home on March 25, 2025. (Courtesy Dodge City Police Department) Police say detectives found: Over 400 THC vape cartridges with a street value of approximately $14,000, Multiple ounces of THC concentrate, Raw marijuana, Over four pounds of marijuana edibles, A small amount of cocaine, Over $1,000 in cash, and 10 firearms, including an AK-47 pistol and an SKS rifle. Officers arrested two boys for multiple alleged crimes and took them to a juvenile detention facility. They also arrested two adults in the home on suspicion of aggravated child endangerment, endangerment of a child, and contributing to a childs misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DCPD says the investigation is not over, and there could be more arrests. 54 animals rescued from poor conditions in La Crosse Problem in high schools This operation also brings attention to the growing epidemic of THC vape use among high school students in Dodge City and across the nation, police said in a news release. In recent years, the use of THC vapes has become a significant problem within our schools, with many students turning to these easily concealable devices as a means to consume marijuana. Police say students who use THC vapes face serious health risks, including potential addiction, respiratory issues, and exposure to unregulated substances, as many of these cartridges are sold on the black market without proper testing or safety standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have not yet talked to your children about the THC vape dangers, police say it is time to do it. Also, be vigilant about any suspicious behavior. If you have a tip for Dodge City police, click here to submit it anonymously. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois Democrats are calling President Donald Trumps executive order to overhaul the U.S. election process an attack on Illinois electoral process. On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order which would 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. If states refuse to collaborate with federal law enforcement to prosecute election crimes, they could potentially lose out on federal grants, the order says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. 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, he added. When Illinoisans go to the polls, they must have confidence that their vote will be counted quickly and accurately. Instead of engaging Congress or working with the states, Donald Trump is attempting to hand down illegal orders to interfere with our electoral process and potentially disenfranchise millions of people, Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) said. This new effort comes after years of promoting bizarre, false election conspiracy theories, eroding trust in our democracy and its civic institutions. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting rights groups have expressed concerns that the requirement could disenfranchise people. An estimated 9% of U.S. citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, do not have proof of citizenship readily available, according to a 2023 report by the Brennan Center for Justice and other groups. There are also concerns that married women who have changed their names will encounter trouble when trying to register because their birth certificates list their maiden names. Such hiccups happened in recent town elections in New Hampshire, which has a new state law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Trumps order 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. It said the commission should condition the funding it distributes to states on those new guidelines. 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Democrats in Springfield and Washington are vowing to defend Illinois election laws against a sweeping executive order from Donald Trump aimed at limiting counting of mail-in votes, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and giving Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency access to voter data. The executive order, signed Tuesday by Trump, was entitled Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections and threatens the withholding of federal funding to states that do not comply. It also appears to seek the decertification of current voting equipment and the adoption of a new standard for which no equipment has been developed. The move by Trump was viewed by critics as an attempt to relitigate the allegations of widespread fraud and illegal voting by noncitizens that he raised in trying to overturn the results of his losing 2020 reelection effort. More than 60 court challenges to election results were dismissed and members of Trumps own administration declared the 2020 election the most secure in American history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats and voting rights groups contended Trumps order far exceeds the power of the executive branch to direct election law beyond congressional action and the broad leeway that the Constitution extends to states for conducting elections. The main thing to know about the Trump Executive Order on Elections is that it is a massive overreach and will certainly end up in court before much can be executed, Lawrence Norden, vice president of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, wrote on social media. Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, who has developed a national platform criticizing the Republican president, said Trumps order was another example of ignoring the rule of law and circumventing Congress. 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, he said in a statement from his office, adding that Trump was acting like an aspiring king hell-bent on disenfranchising millions of voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps order goes after one significant aspect of Illinois election law, a 2015 statute that requires the counting of mail-in ballots that are postmarked or voter-signed and certified by Election Day and arrive within the following 14 days. Illinois is among about 20 states that allow post-Election Day vote counting. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago in August upheld a lower federal court ruling that dismissed a case brought by Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost of Murphysboro and led by the conservative law group Judicial Watch that sought to prevent any votes from being counted after Election Day. Judicial Watch appealed the case, which was dismissed for lack of standing, to the U.S. Supreme Court. The appeal came less than a month after the conservative 5th District Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana sided with Republicans and said Mississippis law allowing post-Election Day vote counting violated federal law. Counting ballots after Election Day 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, Trump wrote in the executive order. He ignored the fact that voting must take place prior to the end of Election Day to be counted after that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump ordered the U.S. attorney generals office to take all necessary action against states that include absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day in the final tabulation of votes for the appointment of presidential electors and the election of U.S. senators and House members. He also said the federal Election Assistance Commission shall condition any available funding to a state on that states compliance with counting all votes on Election Day. In his order, Trump also contended that states do not adequately vet voters citizenship, and, in recent years, the Department of Justice has failed to prioritize and devote sufficient resources for enforcement of these provisions. As a result, Trump called for the use of a passport or Real ID among a limited number of documents which did not include birth certificates to prove citizenship for people registering to vote. He also ordered federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security to use its databases to help determine if noncitizens were listed on state voter rolls in coordination with the DOGE Administrator, using a subpoena when necessary. State Board of Elections officials said Illinois law requires prospective voters to attest that they are U.S. citizens under threat of criminal prosecution. But incidents of noncitizen voting in the country have proven to be rare and the Brennan Center, a liberal voting advocacy group, warned Trumps order would block tens of millions from voting because they lack the required documentation to register. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State election officials also said public voting records that would be subject to be shared with DOGE and other federal agencies, if the order was enforced, would be limited to giving a voters name and the street they live on, but no specific address or the voters age or date of birth. While the order threatens states with the loss of federal dollars for noncompliance, the State Board of Elections has received little federal funding for its operations. It is still utilizing money from a $14 million grant in 2018 to upgrade cyber defenses, and for the current year has budgeted for $200,000 from the federal government in a $49.3 million budget. Trumps move comes as the Republican National Committee has begun reaching out to state election officials across the nation seeking public records related to the keeping of voter lists. The State Board of Elections said it has received the RNCs request and is trying to understand how to fulfill it since elections in Illinois are decentralized and run by counties, which maintain their own voter lists. Other aspects of Trumps order would, according to the Brennan Center, appear to decertify all voting machines in the U.S. and require states to conform with new federal standards even though no such systems are on the market. Replacing all voting systems could cost billions of dollars, it warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Washington, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia of Chicago called Trumps order an unconstitutional assault on the right to vote and said the restrictions he was trying to impose would disenfranchise voters particularly in minority communities. He attempted to steal the 2020 election, incited an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and then issued blanket pardons for the Jan. 6 rioters, Garcia said in a statement. He has zero credibility to talk about election integrity. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD) The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that the federal government is taking back previously awarded funds to help fight infectious diseases. This means IDPH and other local health departments across the state are losing $125 million, which had been allocated for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Disease program, an Illinois State news release said. That money was originally allocated to Illinois as part of the CARES Act during the first Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This decision to terminate already awarded federal funding will cause immeasurable harm and disruption to the health and safety of the people of Illinois and generate larger expenses in the longer run, Gov. JB Pritzker said. The State of Illinois will do everything in our power to restore this vital federal funding and continue to invest in common sense public health solutions to keep our state safe and healthy. In addition to the money the federal government is rescinding, they are also blocking $324 million that was expected to come to the state to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in Illinois. The money would have been used to strengthen surveillance on COVID-19, measles and the bird flu. It would also be invested in labs that test samples of infectious diseases and building the public health workforce across the state. While IDPH has been preparing for anticipated federal budget cuts, the termination of this awarded funding will have a debilitating impact on our efforts to protect the health of Illinoisans, IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said. If allowed to stand, this funding cut will set back critical upgrades to our public health labs, technology used to track infectious diseases like H5N1 avian flu and measles, vaccination efforts, and our ongoing work to better prepare for the next public health emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These cuts are expected to affect the budget of health departments across the state, not just this year but through the next two fiscal years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. The Atlantic on Wednesday released the entire Signal chat among senior national security officials, 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. WGN's Dana Rebik reports on reactions from Illinois politicians. I dont claim to have perfect knowledge about why the electorate chose Donald Trump in the 2024 election, but Im pretty sure it wasnt because the masses got priced out of Shaker Heights. The first wave of liberal what-went-wrong books is crashing ashore, and its message, surprisingly enough, is largely about the evils of local zoning. I agree that affluent (and often liberal) communities often use rococo land restrictions to jack up land values and exclude the Wrong Element. Some reforms are in order. But the New YIMBY Order (YIMBY being an acronym for Yes In My Back Yard, in response to the more familiar NIMBY, or Not In My Back Yard) places the same naive faith in market solutions that led government policy astray starting in the late 1970s. And to whatever extent judicious easing of regulations is necessary, it will not set the proletariat free, because it sidesteps some important questions that deserve some attention. The books in question are Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progressand How to Bring It Back, by Marc J. Dunkelman, a former congressional staffer; Stuck: How the Privileged and the Propertied Broke the Engine of American Opportunity, by Yoni Appelbaum, an academic historian and deputy executive editor at The Atlantic; and Abundance, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, writers, respectively, at The New York Times and The Atlantic. Dunkelmans book, the best of the lot, argues persuasively that Jeffersonian local-control liberalism can get in the way of Hamiltonian big-central-government liberalismbut Dunkelman makes too much of that problem. Appelbaums book supplies rich narrative detail on the dishonorable history of zoning (it began with the ghettoizing of Jews), but hes weak on economic analysis. Klein and Thompson are better on economics but less persuasively tethered to the real world, replete with sentences such as Our era features too little utopian thinking that lend their book the antiseptic tone of a TED Talk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collectively, these books advocate what might be called supply-side liberalism. Like supply-side conservatives, supply-side liberals say the hell with demand, lets just create more stuff. Like supply-side conservatives, supply-side liberals say the government should get out of the way. But their preferred method to achieve this is not tax cuts but deregulation, typically at the local rather than federal level. Giving people a subsidy for a good whose supply is choked, write Klein and Thompson, is like building a ladder to try to reach an elevator that is racing ever upward. Well, sure. But ignoring demand is also a convenient way to dodge potentially divisive questions about distribution. The world we want requires more than redistribution, Klein and Thompson state grandly. We aspire to more than parceling out the present. That doesnt offer much sustenance to the rest of us drudges condemned to inhabit 2025. Rather than speculate about the future, lets consider the supply-side liberals revisionist history. To varying degrees, all three books portray Robert Moses, who bulldozed thriving neighborhoods throughout New York City to build his expressways and thruways and parkways, as a force for good. The only reason we dont recognize this, they argue, is that Robert Caro portrayed Moses as a destructive force in his 1974 biography, The Power Broker. Mosess most formidable opponent was Jane Jacobs, author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Moses wanted to build an elevated highway through SoHo and Little Italy that would bisect Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, where Jacobs lived. Jacobs stopped him. Bizarrely, Caro left Jacobs out of The Power Broker because the book was too long to include her. (The missing chapter probably resides in one of the 100 boxes of papers Caro recently donated to the New York Historical Society; some enterprising magazine editor should find it and persuade Caro to let him publish it. But I digress.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The delicate ecology of the neighborhoods Moses blasted through didnt interest Moses, but it did interest Jacobs. She wrote about how a mix of retail and residential structures enriched a neighborhood, and how pedestrian flow and smaller-scale construction kept neighborhoods safe by allowing eyes on the street. At the time, urban renewal policies favored building the exact opposite: tall Brutalist high-rises surrounded by inhospitable concrete plazas. In lower-income neighborhoods, housing projects of this type became the perfect breeding ground for violent crime. Appelbaum sees Jacobs as a villain. Her chief sin was that her neighborhood preservation scheme jacked up property values. Jacobs bought her West Village house in 1947 for $7,000, sold it in 1971 for $45,000, and today the city assesses it at $6.4 million. Well, yes, making a neighborhood flourish carries some risk that people will want to live in it. The solution is not to crap up that neighborhood but to help other neighborhoods flourish in similar fashion so that livable neighborhoods become the norm and remain affordable to all. Government regulation can help this process by reserving certain housing in livable neighborhoods for low-income families and/or providing subsidies that allow them to live there. At times Appelbaum is so eager to attack Jacobs that he misreads her willfully. The key link in a perpetual slum, Jacobs wrote in The Death and Life of Great American Cities, is that too many people move out of it too fastand in the meantime dream of getting out. To Appelbaum, that demonstrates that Jacobs wanted to displace her neighborhoods immigrant renters with a stable, gentrified population of homeowners. This is nonsense. As Appelbaum argues elsewhere in his book, the urban gentry are more mobile than lower-income residents and therefore less likely to create the stability that makes a neighborhood thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Appelbaum is so determined to defend high-density housing that he even celebrates the old tenements of New Yorks Lower East Side, which in 1910 housed 619 residents per acre, the greatest number of them Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Appelbaum notes cheerily that one old tenement was refashioned into a museum, a shrine to Americas first rung on the ladder of opportunity. Has Appelbaum been to the Tenement Museum? On display are cramped sweatshop apartments where families slept at night and sewed garments during the day because management was too cheap to give them a workplace. These places were breeding grounds for smallpox, typhus, and other diseases. Jacob Riis wrote a whole book about this. An epidemic, Riis explained in How the Other Half Lives (1890), which the well-to-do can afford to make light of as a thing to be got over or avoided by reasonable care is excessively fatal among the children of the poor, by reason of the practical impossibility of isolating the patient in a tenement. Appelbaum will have none of this. They were just apartment buildings, he writes. Today, the very same units reformers claimed would ruin the health and morals of their inhabitants rent for princely sums. Eventually Appelbaum acknowledges grudgingly that conditions in tenements were frequently horrifying, as documented by Riis and others. But it was also true that reformers hunted for the most appalling conditions they could document, to dramatize their cause. Oh, please. All three books cite Paul Sabins 2021 book Public Citizens to argue that Ralph Nader choked off housing supply by encouraging public-interest lawsuits against local governments to prevent developers from despoiling the environment. (I reviewed Sabins book, which I mostly admired, in The New York Times.) Dunkelman rather intemperately writes that Nader (along with Rachel Carson and a few others) exhibited a Nixonian cynicism about government. In fact, all Nader wanted was for the government to be accountable to local communities that had a legitimate interest in preserving clean water and protecting green spaces. Granted, the avenues Nader created were used later for less laudable endsends that Nader himself disparages. But I dont believe these excesses, which warrant correction, have much to do with what truly ails this country. And I dont think supply-side liberalism shows much promise as an appeal to a working class thats abandoning the Democratic Party in droves. Ill continue this discussion in a forthcoming follow-up. This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Updated at 5:37 p.m. ET on March 27, 2025 What were trying to do is identify the pockets of independence in the federal government and seize them, Russ Vought told The New York Times in 2023. As the Trump administrations first two months prove, he wasnt bluffing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back then, Vought was a leading figure in Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations effort to provide a blueprint for a Republican presidency. Now Vought is the head of the Office of Management and Budgetwhich hes described as a presidents air-traffic control systemand Donald Trump is following Project 2025s plans to quash any part of the executive branch that doesnt bend to his will. One key step in that plan is coaxing the Supreme Court to throw out a ruling that has shaped the government for 90 years. Last week, Trump announced that he was firing two Democratic federal trade commissioners, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya. The FTC, which enforces antitrust law, has five seats, and no more than three may belong to any party. It is whats known as an independent agency or independent regulatory agencya part of the executive branch whose members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate but, beyond that, are not directed by the White House. As I write in my forthcoming book about Project 2025, that concept is anathema to the right-wing thinkers in Trumpisms intellectual clique. They believe that a president should have full control over anyone in the executive branch. The notion of an independent agencywhether thats a flat-out independent agency such as the Federal Communications Commission or an agency that has parts of it that view itself as independent, like the Department of Justicewere planting a flag and saying we reject that notion completely, Vought told NPR in 2023. This is not the first time that Trump has moved to fire an official whose job is supposed to be secure, save in cases of misconduct. This includes Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger, whose case I described earlier this month; Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub, who is challenging her dismissal; and the National Labor Relations Board member Gwynne Wilcox, who was reinstated by a court this month. All of these dismissals appear to plainly violate statutes, but the FTC firings are an even more direct provocation. Thats because the Supreme Court precedent that protects officials at independent agencies specifically refers to a presidents attempt to fire an FTC commissioner in 1933. (Today, the two fired FTC commissioners sued Trump, arguing that the dismissals violated federal law. A spokesperson for the White House said in a statement that the Trump administration operated within its lawful authority in firing the commissioners.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franklin D. Roosevelts power struggle with the Supreme Court is well known, but he also feuded with other officials who opposed his major overhaul of the government. One was William Humphrey, whod been appointed to the FTC by Calvin Coolidge, a fierce small-government conservative. Roosevelt tried to pressure Humphrey to quit, but he refused, so Roosevelt attempted to fire himnot for any specific cause, but simply because they disagreed on policy. Humphrey once again refused to acquiesce and sued. He died the following year, but his estate continued to fight the case, taking it to the Supreme Court. For this reason, the case is known as Humphreys Executor v. United States. (Certain officials at Columbia University and the law firm of Paul Weiss could learn from this persistence in the face of adversity and even death.) The court ruled 90 against the president in 1935. The justices found that although the FTC was housed in the executive branch, it also served some independent legislative and judicial functions. Such a body cannot in any proper sense be characterized as an arm or an eye of the executive, they wrote, adding, It is quite evident that one who holds his office only during the pleasure of another cannot be depended upon to maintain an attitude of independence against the latters will. Roosevelt was furiousthis was one of the Supreme Court decisions that led him to attempt to pack the court two years laterbut Humphreys Executor became an important pillar of the federal government as we know it for decades. For most of that time, conservatives have viewed Roosevelts presidency as an example of the evils of a president with excessive power. The right is no longer so skeptical about presidential power. Some right-wing thinkers have espoused the unitary executive theory, which holds (to oversimplify) that the president should have control over all executive-branch actions. The George W. Bush administration brought this theory into the mainstream. Yet even though the Supreme Court has somewhat narrowed the reach of its 1935 ruling over time, Humphreys Executor remains an important limitation on the presidents powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, however, Trump alliesfrustrated by how the checks and balances of independent agencies (among other things) prevented him from enacting much of his agenda during his first presidencyare seeking greater control than any modern president has. For this reason, I argue in my book that Project 2025s approach is not conservative but self-consciously radical. In Project 2025s chapter on the FTC, Adam Candeub (now the general counsel of the FCC) writes, The Supreme Court ruling in Humphreys Executor upholding agency independence seems ripe for revisitingand perhaps sooner than later. In another chapter, the former Justice Department official Gene Hamilton argues, The next conservative Administration should formally take the position that Humphreys Executor violates the Constitutions separation of powers. This may be the purpose the most recent firings serve for the White House. As the Trump administration lines up test cases for the courts, it would only be fitting to try to get the Supreme Court to overrule Humphreys with a case from the FTC. But if the precedent is overturned, much of the executive branch would be transformed from watchdogs or independent actors into the presidents foot soldiers, raising the risk of tyrannyeither of the majority or of the president himself. Having established that independent agencies functioned as parts of the legislative and judicial branches, the unanimous majority in 1935 laid out the principle at work: The fundamental necessity of maintaining each of the three general departments of government entirely free from the control or coercive influence, direct or indirect, of either of the others, has often been stressed and is hardly open to serious question. The courts logic remains convincing, but its confident assertion that the need for balance is a given has not aged so well. Related: Here are three new stories from The Atlantic: Todays News President Donald Trump withdrew his nomination of Representative Elise Stefanik as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, citing the razor-thin margin that Republicans have in the House. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced that 10,000 full-time employees will be laid off across health agencies. President Trump told reporters that America will go as far as we have to go to gain control of Greenland, for national security and international security. Dispatches Time-Travel Thursdays: The prospect of a journey to China turned Susan Sontags gaze toward her own family, Sam Fentress writes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Explore all of our newsletters here. Evening Read You Can Do Leisure Better, Seriously By Arthur C. Brooks As a professor, my primary vocation is to teach young adults skills that will prepare them to excel in their careers. The implicit assumption society makes is that professional excellence requires formal training, whereas excellence in the rest of life does not. There is no Harvard School of Leisure, after all. Work demands discipline and training; nonwork is easy and enjoyable and comes naturally. Our higher-education system, including my university, operates on this assumption. But to me, its very questionable. Read the full article. More From The Atlantic Culture Break Illustration by Rose Wong Take a sip. Americans will never quit sodaPoppi and its health-conscious ilk are just new versions of the same old thing, Ellen Cushing writes. Watch (or skip). Jake and Logan Pauls new reality series (streaming on Max) looks like a showcase for dude-bro supremacy. But the girlfriends steal the limelight, John Hendrickson writes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Play our daily crossword. Stephanie Bai contributed to this newsletter. When you buy a book using a link in this newsletter, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic. Article originally published at The Atlantic CLIMAX Sheep run around and under solar panels on a massive 1,500-acre facility on a recent Friday afternoon. The flock has one purpose. They are four-legged lawnmowers. Its a program Dominion Energy started in 2023. A few weeks ago, the sheep moved in at Maplewood Solar, which is one of them largest facility Dominion has throughout the state. Up and down Climax Road, the panels stretch as far as the eye can see on both sides of the road. Construction started on the project in 2020, according to the facilitys webpage. The idea of solar was hotly contested when it first surfaced in Pittsylvania County and has only grown since. With farms popping up, supervisors eventually curtailed the percentage of area available in each district, essentially halting future development. In all, there are 336,432 solar panels that make up the expansive 120-megawatt solar complex in Climax. At peak output, it produces enough electricity to power 30,000 homes or businesses, according to Tim Eberly, a spokesperson for Dominion Energy. Known as solar grazing, the energy company with 70 solar farms across Virginia first got involved with it in 2023. It started at smaller sites, Eberly explained on a tour of the site and critters recently. No. 1 because we needed to learn how to scale up the operation, he said of launching it in other areas. We were slowly scaling up. There were 256 sheep grazing on March 14. Two had just been born the day before. In fact, 150 of the animals were pregnant. The sheep provide an alternative option to mechanical mowing, a process in itself difficult around the large panel structures. It also can be dangerous if a mower hurls a rock at one of the panels. The mowing isnt because of aesthetics. The main goal is to reduce the risk of fires. Each farm has its own emergency plan and that would include what to do in the event of a fire, Eberly explained when asked what would happen if a blaze were to break out. We also reach out to the local authorities, the fire department and share the emergency plan with them. Marcus Gray, of Grays Lambscaping, lives a few miles from the solar farm. Along with is wife, Jess, they have sheep at different solar sites throughout Virginia. They are on track to have about 400 in the Climax area project as things green up more in the spring. Gray explained that he doesnt want to overstock the flock because the idea is to maintain the vegetation. Its a dance all the time, he said. Its a balancing act for how many animals. After a solar site is established, about 80% of the work is vegetation maintenance. A lot of people that do this out west, California, Arizona, its fire mitigation entirely, he said of the animals. Sheep, known for not being picky eaters, are preferred over goats. Grazing goats could keep the grass cut, but they would also be jumping on the panels and trying to chew the wiring. Weve never lost a sheep to the equipment, Gray explained walking through the panels recently. On that tour, Gray said although the panels were safe, he advised that none of the equipment should be touched. The panels move and track with the sun, Eberly explained. Inverters around the site convert the power generated by solar to a version that can be pushed onto the electrical grid. When you walk out there, they are so quiet, he explained of the panels lined in multiple rows. They dont make any noise. Starting with just 25 sheep, Gray plans to have about 1,000 this year on Dominion sites. We are breeding for sheep that do better in this system, he said, explaining that the panels provide shelter for the creatures. They do really well, Gray continued. They thrive out here. The sheep stay on the site all year, even in the winter. Sometimes they may have to bring in hay to supplement the grass when the weather turns harsh. When walking up to the flock, Trip a trained border collie runs behind to keep them from shifting. Trip, 4 years old, is one of five trained dogs Gray has. They are docile, so they arent going to knock anybody down, Gray said of the sheep. Living on site are other dogs that protect the cuddly lawnmowers from predators like bears, coyotes, bobcats and some birds. Move to Pittsylvania Born just south of Richmond, Gray and his wife were living out of state when they had the opportunity to purchase the local farm in 2021. Our family has been farming in Virginia since before the revolution, he said. We like Virginia. Gray called the solar grazing program a boon for farming. The landowners get a rental for the ground since Dominion didnt buy the property. Theres that economic driver, he explained. Then we get to come in as a third party to farm on it, he continued. So we are stacking economic value for the community. In turn, that means Grays Lambscaping the deliberate play on words can sponsor his daughters softball team. If not for the solar avenue, he wouldnt be able to afford the land needed for sheep grazing. Solar grazing is just an immense opportunity for our farm and community, he said. There is a whole economy that comes with sheep raising at scale. On the move For this particular farm, given its sheer size and spanning both sides of the road, the sheep have to be corralled and loaded into a trailer to move from one space to another. There are 15 of those individual areas, called paddocks. Depending on the time of year and number of sheep, a flock could stay in one for up to two weeks or as little as a few days. For the most part, the group sticks together, Eberly said of the flock. The exception on the recent visit was the mother and her two new lambs. They were off from the group for what Gray called bonding. Since the animals are moving, it helps keep the parasite burden low. A veterinarian comes to visit four times a year and will respond immediately if theres a problem. The vet performs inspections and keeps the animals updated with vaccines. They are really healthy, they do really well, he said. Being low to the ground, the 150-pound animals can easily move under the solar panels. The sheep are of different ages, and they eat pretty much anything thats out there. This rolling land area is full of fescue and clover. Novelty Its not unusual for people to do a double take at the sheep, especially around the high-tech devices. We talk to a lot of people, Gray said. Especially when moving the sheep. Although its not possible to completely eliminate mechanical mowing, Eberly said the goal is to reach a 75-25 ratio where the sheep are doing three-quarters of the work. Eberly touted the program as agrivoltaics. Its a fancy word that means pairing solar energy with an agricultural use, he said. Theres another pilot program near Charlottesville using beehives. This kind of gives us a chance to get more out of the land, Eberly said. In another mix of old and new technology, Gray pulled out his cellphone and swiped on an app. That emitted a tone to a device around the neck of the resident dog, in this case, as a signal to leave the shepherding canine alone. Its really training to keep him on the farm, he said. A new lawsuit from Indiana's Attorney General alleges that GM deceived Hoosier consumers about OnStar data tracking. (Getty Images) Major car manufacturer General Motors has sold thousands of vehicles with OnStar technology to Hoosiers, pitching the add-on as a safety and convenience feature. But Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita claims that the two entities deceived Hoosiers by secretly collecting and selling Indiana drivers personal data to third parties, a practice he says led to higher insurance rates that benefitted the companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone deserves transparency and honesty from the companies they do business with, especially when it comes to having their data protected, Rokita said in a Thursday release. General Motors and OnStar turned a supposed safety feature into a way to make money, profiting off Indiana drivers without their knowledge. Were taking action to hold them accountable and protect our consumers from these deceptive practices. Hoosiers who believe that they have been impacted by these practices can reach the Office of Attorney General to file a complaint by visiting indianaconsumer.com or calling 1-800-382-5516. GM also has a website and phone number for users who would like access or delete their information, at gm.com/consumer-privacy or 1-866-MYPRIVACY (1-866-697-7482). OnStar LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors LLC, previously offered a Smart Driver system that the companies said would maximize vehicle performance and reduce wear and tear, according to an archived webpage cited in the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GM reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission earlier this year and halted the Smart Driver program in 2024, unenrolling customers and ending their third-party relationships, according to a January release. Respecting our customers privacy and earning their trust is deeply important to us. Although Smart Driver was created to promote safer driving behavior, we ended that program due to customer feedback, the statement read. The FTC consent order includes new measures that go above and beyond existing law, while capturing steps weve already taken to establish choices for customer data collection and communications about how the information is used. Under the agreement, the company will obtain affirmative consent from costumers to collect, use or disclose certain vehicle data for the next 20 years. Rokita filed a civil case with the Marion Superior Court on March 19. A docket from MyCase shows that while a subpoena and summons have been filed, the company hasnt yet responded to the claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tracking software documents the following, according to the complaint: geolocation, route history, driving schedule, fuel or charging levels, hard braking events, hard acceleration events, tailgating, time spent idle, speeds over 80 mph, average speed, late-night driving and driver attention. Rokita asserts that the above information is sold to data brokers, who then create risk profiles and driving scores to sell to insurers, which charge higher premiums or even cancel policies. Additionally, the complaint alleges that General Motors coerced Hoosiers into activating OnStar without informing customers of its data practices. Doing so could be a violation of the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. According to its website, GM operated 124 dealerships statewide as of Jan. 1, 2024 and sold more than 61,000 vehicles in Indiana in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offices release goes on to say that Rokita is seeking a permanent injunction and civil penalties alongside consumer restitution and other relief. Hoosiers were secretly misled and used, Rokita said. Their actions are unacceptable and were fighting back to ensure this type of behavior never happens again. ba198e75-e9b8-42c0-bce6-fb29fee31e20 SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) An Indiana County man was sentenced in federal court after being convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession of multiple drugs. Barry Baker, 46, was convicted for the distribution and possession of cocaine, fentanyl and crack, according to acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetii. From December 2021 through March 2023, Baker conspired with others to distribute and possess 500 grams of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of crack. He was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining drugs that he distributed to other members of the drug organization in Johnstown. Baker was sentenced to 70 months (5.8 years) in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, according to Rivetii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Baker. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Additional agencies participating in the investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and other local law enforcement agencies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Secretary Diego Morales, left, holds a coin with an unnamed woman from India. (Photo from SOS' official X account) Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, who went on an unannounced economic development trip in India and missed obligations back home, publicly shared a release about his time abroad on Thursday but only after he returned. A Thursday press release from the office emphasized, in bold, that the ten-day trip was privately funded and that no agency or taxpayer funds were used. The release didnt include dates, saying only that Morales had recently concluded the visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visiting India is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen Indianas economic ties with one of the worlds fastest-growing economies. By fostering deeper partnerships, we can unlock new avenues for trade, innovation, and collaborations, ensuring that both Indiana and India continue to thrive on the international stage. I look forward to seeing the long-term impact of our discussions on Indianas economic growth and international influence, Morales said in the release. Posts on his social media earlier in the month include visits to local ice cream shops and videos of him meeting county-level public officials, but not India. The Thursday press release he tweeted is his first mention of India since October. But Morales wasnt present for a March 18 meeting before lawmakers to justify his budget request for the 2025 cycle. State Affairs Indiana reported that his deputy told lawmakers Morales was on an economic development trip. However, the absence was subject to bipartisan criticism. At least one Indiana official demurred about the trip on Thursday when asked if it was appropriate. Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, right, with an unnamed Indian official. (Photo from the official SOS X account) To be fair, I have no idea what is taking place right now outside of this chamber, said House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers. Ive heard the rumor that he isnt in the country. Id need to know the specifics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, on the other hand, poked fun at the trip and Morales absence. Well, I was told he was somewhere and thought hed booked a flight back to Indiana and apparently didnt type all the way and he went to India, said the Fort Wayne Democrat. And while he acknowledged that the agency had duties with regards to corporations, he decisively said, No, when asked if the officeholder should take economic development trips. I hear a lot of this talking out of both sides: We want to cut budgets, but we also want to allow folks to take trips to India. Its pretty ridiculous, GiaQuinta continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tweets from others put Morales in India as early as March 20, when he apparently addressed an audience at the National Association of Software and Service Companies Global Conference in New Delhi about forging international alliances for tech leadership. According to Morales press release, he also promoted Indiana as an ideal base for North American industry before the India Electronics & Computer Software Export Promotion Council INDIASOFT 2025 Conference. Economic development doesnt typically fall under the purview of the Office of the Secretary of State, which oversees processes like business licensing and elections. Instead, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. usually coordinates international trips for state officials, including a 2017 India visit for former Gov. Eric Holcomb. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In Washington, there are public meetings, there are private meetings, and now theres the Signal chat known as the Houthi PC small group. That discussion, as the world now knows, included top Trump administration national security officials as well as Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, who was inadvertently added to the chat and later wrote about the administrations secret plans to strike targets in Yemen. The PC stands for principals committee, a longstanding institution in Washington. PC meetings usually include Cabinet members and top White House officials. They are among the most sensitive sessions held in Washington, typically in the Situation Room in the White House. They are not supposed to be held on chat apps, even encrypted ones such as Signal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ilan Goldenberg has served in an array of roles at the White House, the Pentagon and the State Department, and hes witnessed his fair share of high-level, top secret meetings, including PCs. In an interview with POLITICO Magazine, Goldenberg, who is now a top official with the progressive pro-Israel group J Street, said he was struck by many of the dynamics inside the Signal group chat, not just its mere existence. Among the notable moments: The way Vice President JD Vance seemed potentially at odds with President Donald Trump, and the ease with which officials offered up their points of contact. But in some ways, the discussion wasnt that different from a PC in a Situation Room, Goldenberg says. Still, theres one thing hes sure about: What they put on that Signal chat was classified. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. What was your immediate reaction when you saw the initial Atlantic story about the Signal group chat? My initial reaction was: This is completely insane. A, I can't believe they are doing all of this on Signal, and B, even more remarkable, I can't believe they added Jeffrey Goldberg. Both in terms of the level of sensitivity of information that was on that discussion, but also part of the reason that you don't do things like that on Signal is precisely because of user error. We've all added the wrong person to a chat at some point. But there are systems in place where I can never accidentally email this to Jeffrey Goldberg, because if I was on a classified system sending an email to this group of people, his email would never pop up because he would never have access. The whole thing was just jaw-dropping. How does the conversation in the Signal chat compare to the conversation in a traditional principals committee meeting? Do people talk the same way? I suppose their facial expressions can sub in for the emojis. Some of it is very reflective of exactly how people would talk in those meetings, like looking at different strategies, arguing it out. I was surprised with a couple of things. One, Pete Hegseth, in particular, had almost a frat-bro type of approach. These conversations, at least the ones I've been in, are usually much more nuanced and thoughtful than We must re-establish deterrence and Europeans are pathetic in all caps that does not ever happen in a principals meeting or similar discussion that I witnessed. I also thought Vance's comments were pretty interesting, to do it in that particular channel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But broadly, yes, these are the kinds of conversations people have the pros and cons, even when everybody agrees or everybody is relatively aligned, as they are in the Trump administration, or we were in the Biden or Obama administrations, on the big things. Once you start getting into the nitty gritty of policy, how exactly do we do this? Is this a good idea? Is this the right set of targets? Is this going to make sense? How is it going to be seen internationally? How are we going to discuss it publicly? That part seems very normal. The Atlantic also has published the full texts in the days since. In your estimation, is it fair to believe that the material in it is classified? Yes. That's my opinion. War plans is the wrong word. The right word is concept of operation. Two hours before an operation goes live, when you're really getting to the point of discussing details, all that stuff needs to remain in classified channels so you don't inadvertently tip off an adversary and put American troops in harm's way, or result in adversaries leaving or moving to a different location. My sense is that The Atlantic used the term war plans in a generic way, but the Trump administration is trying to weaponize it, saying what was discussed was not technically a war plan. You're saying it wasn't a war plan, it was a concept of operations? A war plan is basically an overall framework of a war with, like, China or Russia or Iran. It's very meta, right? Its the overall strategy the military plans for a conflict, the way plans for those conflicts then lead to what kind of weapons we are going to need in 20 years. How do we posture ourselves? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CONOPS is, frankly, much more sensitive and needs to be much more classified. Because what it's saying is we have this specific concept of operation in this particular thing, in this particular place, at this particular time. A war plan is the big meta thing from which you derive the CONOPS. Maybe they're saying it's technically not a war plan, and they're right, but actually it's much worse. What the White House is doing is trying to hide behind a technicality when the reality is the journalist was using the term in a layman's fashion. Either way, what they put on that Signal chat was classified. As someone who has witnessed these conversations, what jumped out at you that might not have been obvious to a layperson? One of the things that was quite interesting was JD Vance coming out and kind of raising a flag after it seemed like a decision had already been made by the president. You would think he would have raised his concern earlier in a meeting, and then lost the argument, since the president clearly made the decision to go in which case you don't do it again. But also, he's the vice president. If he really had these concerns, he should have a channel to the president, and he should be able to communicate that directly to the president. I'm surprised he would do that in that big of a group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then there was the constant going after Biden. I never saw us going after Trump. That's a very political thing, but it's not something that you bring into these levels of national security meetings. Speaking of Vance, what do you make of the back-and-forth debate over policy, especially with the vice president expressing skepticism or caution and Stephen Miller effectively shutting him down? In terms of substance, I thought it was a little amateurish, especially some of the Hegseth stuff. But in terms of different viewpoints being expressed among principals different people taking different positions that is very normal, and it's also good in a lot of these meetings. Eventually people kind of assume a type. I could see JD Vance being the keeper of the MAGA, kind of isolationist, foreign policy, and he probably sees his job in these meetings as consistently trying to hold the president to that position and keep the president there, despite all the other pressures. Sometimes he wins and sometimes he loses, but his voice is always to do that. Is the term principals committee flexible? There were several people in the Signal group who were not National Security Council principals and Im not just talking about Jeffrey Goldberg. Who is allowed to actually attend these meetings? Every administration issues its own national security memorandum where it describes early on its organizing principles and who's going to be in the principals committee and the processes that they're going to use to be making their agency decisions. On a meeting-by-meeting basis, it kind of flexes based on the issue. Does everybody need to be there? Sometimes it just needs to be a smaller group. Theres really one principal and in each agency theres three or four underlings; depending on the issue, theyll divide things up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What matters most is that the key agencies are represented such as the State Department, the Pentagon, CIA, DNI, usually almost always Treasury. Beyond that, you add depending on the particular issue at hand. Usually, White Houses put out super lame, meaningless talking points about these meetings, if they say anything at all. So theres a feeling of opacity when it comes to such critical decision-making. Isnt it nice for the public to get some real insight? Its interesting. The policy debate, yeah, that's interesting for the public to see. The operational details that endanger American lives is not. Theres certain things that need to stay secret for a reason. But theres also possible harm in the policy debate being public. Sometimes, you might be critical of an ally, right? These guys, everybody knows they're critical of allies. But you do want people to be able to have that conversation totally freely and not in a way that harms them politically or damages relationships with our allies. How secure are standard principals committee meetings, really? They are very, very secure. Top secret communications devices, and a lot of times people are all together in the Situation Room, where you cant take in your phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just the fact that [National Security Adviser Michael] Waltz called this Signal group the Houthi PC small group the name for the chat kind of blew my mind. It leads me to wonder how many more of these Signal chats are there, at the PC level, at the deputies level, below that. Is this proliferating around the government? The world moves so much faster now than before. Should there be some permission for these types of group chats so that high-level people can communicate and make decisions? This group of people, they all have people who are with them, 24/7, who can get them the secure comms where they are. They have built-in SCIFS in their homes. They have military aides. So these people no. And the things that they are deliberating on are the most important and the most sensitive and the ones that other [foreign] intelligence agencies are most interested in getting a hold of. Do you need more flexibility for people who don't have that same level of support on a regular basis? That's worth thinking about and looking into. The government is behind technologically as it is on a lot of things. How cumbersome is it for top government officials to stick to government-issued phones and computers? Do many of them wind up trying to do at least some work on their personal devices? It's cumbersome, but there's a reason for it. The reason is security. The government would be smart to figure out ways to be more flexible and think about how you deal with all this in the 21st century. But the irony is this group of people has everything they need , because they have all the support they need. There also are deputies committees meetings, known as DCs, and other meetings of lower-level officials, too. Are those different from the principals meetings? More or less formal or secure? They are ultimately very similar. The lower level down you go, the more detail you're talking about an issue. The whole way the interagency process works is the most important and most sensitive issues get pushed up to the very top. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a lot of times, principals will meet and theyll say, Deputies, go work on this, that, or the other thing. Or the deputies will meet and they'll say, Hey, a level below that, you guys go do more work. If we're going to sanction Iran, Why don't you guys figure out the precise recommendations on entities that you want to target, and then bring it up to deputies for approval. And deputies can decide we're good and nobody else needs to approve this or we need to send this up to principals. But the ultimate structure is very similar. Lets face it everyone in Washington uses encrypted apps to communicate. And when Im overseas, Im startled by how some governments seem to run on WhatsApp. What does that mean for record-keeping, especially when these messages disappear? In terms of internal U.S. government deliberations, there's no reason those need to happen on these chat apps. Almost no reason. There's a whole process associated with PCs and DCs and all these meetings have very specific record keeping associated with it. You have an agenda for these meetings, and you have ultimately some kind of document that basically categorizes conclusions. Its sent out to everybody and has tasking associated with it. All of that is done on purpose to create this track record so that the public can understand what's going on. By doing a PC on Signal, you're totally circumventing that whole process. Should someone in the Signal chat have spoken up to say its not the right forum to discuss this information? Why do you think no one did? I think nobody did because they've been doing it for three months. One interesting thing was the first text from Waltz is let's set this up and everybody tell me your point of contact. And everybody pops in with here's my POC. Like, very quickly. It seemed pretty clear to me this wasn't the first time they were doing this. And so maybe somebody raised a concern at some point. But it seems like they're all used to doing this. GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) This year, the Colorado State Patrol is celebrating 90 years of serving and protecting our state. To commemorate this milestone, each month, FOX31 is getting an exclusive look at the different aspects of state patrol and those wearing the badge. This month, were getting an inside look at the training academy and how its evolving. Every single trooper since 1935, the inception of the Cross State Patrol, has trained on this particular campus, Colorado State Patrols Training Academy Captain Rocco Domenico said. Colorado sending crew to assist with wildfires in North Carolina Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Down the hallways of the Colorado State Patrol Academy, graduating class pictures line the walls where aspiring troopers train. The uniform we wear is pretty much the same uniform, the color of it, the style was the same for the last 90 years because of that tradition, Domenico said. Tradition is a core part of the Colorado State Patrol, built on steadfast values behind the badge and title. When we start our training programs, thats what we instill in our troopers, Domenico said. The discipline, our core values of honor, duty and respect, that starts their training program. While CSPs values stay the same, the way troopers are trained to build upon that foundation evolves over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I tell our cadets, theres no growth without change, Domenico said. Thats what we do, grow as an agency. Things like our virtual reality systems. Were doing a lot more of scenario-based training. This is a big push with us here at the state patrol to make sure that were putting our cadets into environments to where they can make good, clear conscious decisions. Were always progressing towards that, he said. CSP Trooper Lucas Hebert, lead defensive tactics instructor, helped change the way troopers handcuff when state law changed to get rid of choke holds. We should always evolve, and we should always be looking at our program and making sure were doing whats best, not only for the officer, but also for the suspect, Hebert said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A gondola system in Denver? One man says its the key to economic revitalization When Domenico joined the state patrol 29 years ago, the academy lasted 22 weeks. He told FOX31 that CSP is now moving towards a 26-week program to fully encompass what troopers do and utilize to serve and protect in this day and age. We want to make sure that every trooper goes home at night because that is our job, but they go in a way that they protect the lives of the people of our communities, Domenico said. What the cadet can always rely upon is their training. They will always have that with them. It never leaves them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Ukrainian companies are racing to build fiber-optic drones for the country's military to use. Business Insider recently visited the production line of one such company in Kyiv. Take a look at how these drones are made and tested to get them ready for combat. KYIV, Ukraine Walking into the apartment-size production facility, an unassuming hallway offering no real indication of what lies ahead suddenly gives way to a full-blown drone-making operation. Stacks of hobby-style quadcopter drones sit alongside tables covered with tools, electronics, and random parts scattered about. A Ukrainian flag hangs on the wall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This makeshift but sophisticated "factory" is where the Ukrainian company 3DTech produces explosive-packed drones for the country's military to help them fend off the invading Russian forces. Ukraine's booming weapons industry is made up of countless operations just like this one. While some companies may work out of classic factories, many others work out of smaller, simpler workshops. Drone makers are building recon assets, bombers, regular quadcopters carrying bombs, fiber-optic drones, and even AI-enabled systems. Business Insider visited 3DTech's facility this month and spoke with members of the operation, including its CEO and its chief engineer. 3DTech makes first-person view drones. These have become ubiquitous on the battlefield; both Ukraine and Russia arm them with explosives and pilot them from a distance into enemy positions or armored vehicles. Amid strains on traditional stockpiles, these uncrewed assets have emerged as supercheap but effective precision weapons. A Ukrainian soldier preparing an FPV drone for flight. Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images FPV drones rely on a stable connection to their operators. The most common practice has been a radio frequency connection that allows pilots to guide the drones remotely toward targets many miles away. This method, however, is vulnerable to the extensive electronic signal-jamming tactics that Ukraine and Russia use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fiber-optic cables have emerged as an increasingly popular solution to this problem. Drones with this type of connection are more resistant to jamming and produce higher-quality video transmissions, which helps the pilots steer them toward their targets. Though the tether can be limiting, Kyiv and Moscow have been racing to build fiber-optic drones in recent months. Half of the 1,200 FPV drones that 3DTech expects to make in March are fiber-optic drones, while the other half rely on radio frequency connections. The company expects its output to increase when it soon signs a formal contract with Ukraine's Ministry of Defense. "The market of fiber-optic drones is very dynamic, and the demand will increase," Roman Aharkov, 3DTech's CEO, told BI through a translator. He believes fiber-optic drones will eventually make up a quarter of all drones in service. Building an exploding drone A stroll through the 3DTech facility showcases the full developmental cycle for drones like this. In one room, eight technicians sit at little stations, putting together carbon fiber frames. Some of them can make up to nine drones each day. The 3DTech staff works eight hours a day, seven days a week. A 3DTech employee builds the frame of an FPV drone. Jake Epstein/Business Insider FPV drone frames after they're assembled. Jake Epstein/Business Insider Dozens of drone frames of various sizes 7, 8, 10, and 13 inches are stacked on top of one another. At this stage in its development, the product isn't very heavy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Down the hall, in another room, an army of 3D printers is turning out spools for the fiber-optic cables. The company used to rely on China for this product, but Aharkov said the Chinese coils resulted in slower drone speeds and poor maneuverability. 3D printers making fiber-optic drone spools. Jake Epstein/Business Insider Fiber-optic FPV drones are tested with weights that mimic explosive payloads. Jake Epstein/Business Insider 3DTech builds its own fiber-optic spools, but it still relies on China for parts like carbon fiber frames, motors, and cameras. In this area of the workshop, the drones from the first assembly room are taken and given either a radio frequency or a fiber-optic connection. They are tested to ensure the quality of the video signal is solid and the motors are working properly. If everything looks good, the drones are given weight to test their connection with something mimicking a warhead. Exploding FPV drones in Ukraine are often armed with either a munition like an anti-tank rocket-propelled-grenade warhead or plastic explosives. A 3DTech employee tests an FPV drone in a small room. Jake Epstein/Business Insider A small FPV drone takes flight in one of the rooms. Jake Epstein/Business Insider Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, the drones are taken to a site outside Kyiv, where they are tested in realistic conditions. This helps the company ensure they are ready for the battlefield. Across the hall from where the spools are made and connection testing happens, 3DTech staff can be seen taking the spools and assembling the coils for the fiber-optic drones. The coils vary depending on the drone. Some of the fiber-optic drones can travel over 15 miles and carry several pounds of explosives which can devastate troop positions or armored vehicles. Fiber-optic spools and their 3D printed casing. Jake Epstein/Business Insider A Ukrainian flag hangs in one of the rooms. Jake Epstein/Business Insider At the end of the hall, the drone frames are packed in what look like pizza boxes. The batteries and fiber-optic spools are shipped separately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From here, the products are sent to Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines either through direct sales to military units or through charity foundations. The cost of a drone starts at just a few hundred US dollars but goes up depending on size and specifications. FPV drone orders are prepared before they're packaged into boxes. Jake Epstein/Business Insider 3DTech's chief engineer, Ilya Ronin, asked BI to be identified by his military call sign instead of his actual last name for security reasons. He said the biggest challenge for the operation was managing the talent. "Technology is not so hard to learn; to train a person to work with the technology is much harder. It's always the hardest," he said via a translator. "We have a huge problem in that the state partially fails to realize that everyone cannot be at the front," he said, explaining that "if everyone is with assault rifles, everyone will die." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that this is "where engineers are needed." 3DTech is one of dozens of Ukrainian companies making FPV drones. The production of these weapons has become a pillar of the country's booming defense industry; Kyiv recently announced plans to buy some 4.5 million FPV drones in 2025. Read the original article on Business Insider The clock is ticking for 1.6 million people in Washington State to maintain access to their health care providers as they negotiate with their insurance company. Providence Swedish and PacMed are in contract negotiations with Regence BlueShield for a contract that will expire on April 1, meaning providers in those 28 hospitals across the state will become out-of-network, costing patients up to 40% more in out-of-pocket costs. A legally required letter was sent from Regence to its members warning of the potential contract impasse. I was pretty shocked by that, said Andrea John-Smith, a client of Regence BlueShield who goes to a PacMed clinic. The scale is what really struck me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John-Smith understands its a required letter and a standard part of negotiations, but was still caught off guard by the wording of it, especially as the April 1 deadline is less than a week away. Ive experienced what its like to have to start up and build a relationship with someone that doesnt know you and what it takes, and the kind of trust that you need in order to have, you know, intimate conversations about your health. So it worries me, she said. For Olivia Vigrabs, the letter created a slight panic. Shes pregnant, due at the end of May, and because of her high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, she has doctor appointments scheduled throughout her term. I have tons of doctors appointments almost every week, so getting those all scheduled in the first place has been stressful. Now, if they did drop it, I would have to reschedule all that stuff, Vigrabs said. The idea of having to repeat all this stuff and go to a new provider is just awful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner says negotiations are common between health care providers and hospitals, and theyre often resolved before the contract expires. The vast majority of these times, these contract negotiations are resolved, said Aaron VanTuyl, a spokesperson with the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Whether common or required, the tone of the letter struck both Vigrabs and John-Smith. It seems like a kind of underhanded bit of negotiation, Vigrabs said. Just wanting us to put the pressure on. Regence BlueShield says Providence Swedish canceled the contract, requiring the negotiations to take place. When asked, Providence Swedish did not deny that assertion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We continue to negotiate with Regence and believe that we can forge equitable contracts to avoid any disruption to their members ability to receive care at Providence Swedish hospitals and clinics, a Providence spokesperson said in a statement. John-Smith says that when shes reviewed her statements, what is paid to providers seems actually really low. That, combined with how she says Regence has scaled back her coverage, makes her understand Providence Swedishs call to renegotiate. Im always experiencing my insurance provider as a No. No, you cant have what you need, John-Smith said. My providers are out there advocating and spending time theyre not compensated for, filling out appeals and things like that. So theres definitely a sense of loyalty I have to the folks whove actually tried to help me. A statement from Regence BlueShield says, Our premiums are based on what we expect care to cost. If providers demand more money, our members and customers will pay more, and as stewards of our members health care dollars, it is imperative we negotiate on their behalf. Statements from both Regence BlueShield and Providence Swedish say they are each working hard on an agreement before the April 1 deadline. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The interim St. Helens police chief has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the citys mayor, claiming she blocked his promotion as permanent chief after he accused her of colluding with the former police chief in mayoral election interference. The suit, filed Monday in Columbia County and first reported by the Oregonian/OregonLive, claims the retaliation against interim Chief Joseph Hogue comes after this accusation against Mayor Jennifer Massey, as well as an investigative report into accusations of misconduct by former Chief Brian Greenway. Oregon sees highest unemployment rate since 2021 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Hogue reported his superior, Greenway was placed on leave in Oct. 2024, he eventually retired in January 2025 and Hogue, a lieutenant at the time, was appointed acting chief. Hogue was recently named interim chief of the St. Helens Police Department as the city council continues to look for a new chief. Chief Hogue stepped up during a time of turmoil when the previous chief was under investigation, and he has been incredibly successful in the position. Unfortunately, hes been the target of a retaliation campaign for being the whistleblower, said Hogues attorney Rebecca Cambreleng. Court documents state there was a second part of the report detailing collusion allegations between Greenway and Massey, who was a mayoral candidate at the time. Because the mayor was not the subject of the investigation, that information was not released, Cambreleng said. Hwy 26s hazardous The Bump to see major repairs after multiple accidents Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were unfounded accusations, rumors Massey said when discussing the redacted section during a city council meeting on February 25. She added the segment, had nothing that was germane to the actual investigation. During the City Council meetings after the report was released, the documents claim citizens stood up to congratulate Chief Hogue and commend him on coming forward as a whistleblower. Afterwards, city councilors and administrators began the process to confirm Hogue as permanent chief, which the suit claims Massey continually stalled. Instead of allowing the council to confirm Hogue, the suit states Massey pushed for him to end his 26-year career with the police department and sign on for a six-month contract, which would serve as a period of evaluation for Hogue. The suit argues this would make it much easier to terminate Chief Hogue who is the longest-serving employee of the City. The suit further alleges that Massey sent several text messages to former and current officers under Hogues command, asking for their opinions of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Massey attempted to intimidate a city administrator into putting Hogue on paid administrative leave, her reasoning being Hogue was working to disparage her, the suit states. However, the city administrator refused to comply. Hogue is now seeking at least $500,000 in damages. When reached for comment on the suit, Mayor Massey said that, while they are not willing to comment on ongoing or potential litigation, there will be more information released at a later time. I do believe more of the actual facts will come to light in the near future, and I look forward to the opportunity to speak more freely when appropriate, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit also names the City of St. Helens in the complaint, and a spokesperson for the city told KOIN 6 News in a statement, The City received notice of the Complaint yesterday and is reviewing it. The City will work with legal counsel to review the Complaint and provide additional information to the public. KOIN 6 also reached out to retired Chief Greenway for comment. This story will be updated when we 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 KOIN.com. The Trump administrations crackdown on foreign students and faculty who have voiced support for the Palestinian cause has escalated, with universities across the country seeing students either arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or having their visas revoked. At least eight international students and professors, all of whom have had green cards or student visas, have been targeted by ICE, beginning at Columbia University and proceeding to schools including Georgetown University, Cornell University and the University of Alabama. That number, however, could be a tiny fraction of the actual count after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday the State Department has revoked the visas of at least 300 foreign students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government has pulled out a rarely used law that says the secretary of State can deport a noncitizen who threatens U.S. foreign policy, though only an immigration judge can take away a green card. The use of that obscure law is being challenged in court. Here are the highest-profile cases among the Trump administrations crackdown on college campuses: Mahmoud Khalil The first and so far most prominent target was Mahmoud Khalil, the lead negotiator of Columbias pro-Palestinian encampment who graduated in December. Khalil, a green card holder, was detained March 8 at an apartment building owned by Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government originally argued he threatened the foreign policy of the country, but later added that Khalil did not disclose he worked for certain organizations, such as the United Nationss Palestinian refugee agency, known as UNWRA, on his application to become a permanent resident. The additional charges the government filed last week are completely meritless. They show that the government has no case whatsoever on this bogus charge that his presence in the U.S. would have adverse foreign policy consequences, said Marc Van Der Hout, whose firm is representing Khalil. This case is purely about First Amendment protected activity and speech, and U.S. citizens and permanent residents alike are free to say what they wish about what is going on in the world. Khalil was transferred to Louisiana, making it difficult for his lawyers to contact him as they try to get him released, as his wife, a U.S. citizen, is set to give birth next month. A hearing in the case is set for Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has repeatedly cheered Khalils arrest as the first of many to come. If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here. We expect every one of Americas Colleges and Universities to comply, he said on social media. Alireza Doroudi University of Alabama doctoral student Alireza Doroudi, who has a student visa, was arrested March 25. The University of Alabama recently learned that a doctoral student has been detained off campus by federal immigration authorities. Federal privacy laws limit what can be shared about an individual student, the university said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not clear what the Iranian national is charged with or where he was taken. It is also unknown if he was part of the pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Our fears have come to pass. Donald Trump, Tom Homan and ICE have struck a cold, vicious dagger through the heart of UAs international community, the University of Alabama College Democrats said in a statement. Rumeysa Ozturk Tufts University Ph.D. candidate Rumeysa Ozturk, a green card holder, was also detained March 25 by ICE, with footage of her plainclothes arrest quickly going viral on social media. A judge ruled Ozturk, a Turkish national, is to stay in the country for now, and her lawyers say she was taken to Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozturk was a co-author in an article run by the school newspaper that said Tufts needed to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide. It is unclear what she is charged with; the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement to multiple outlets that Ozturk was engaged in activities in support of Hamas, but did not give details of those actions. Tufts said it had no prior knowledge the arrest was going to happen. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) was among those who spoke out on the case after footage of it was widely shared. The video showed half a dozen masked agents surround Ozturk on the street, take her phone away as she screamed, handcuff her and usher her into a van. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video is really chilling, and this should matter to every single American, Murphy said. Yunseo Chung Yunseo Chung, a green card holder and third-year student at Columbia University, preemptively got a judge to agree to temporarily stop deportation efforts by the Trump administration she found out authorities had a warrant for her arrest. Chung, who was originally from South Korea and has been in the U.S. since she was 7, sued after she found the administration was trying to revoke her status. She has been involved in pro-Palestinian protests but was not a leader in the efforts. She was arrested at protests before, but Columbia exonerated her during disciplinary proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yunseo Chung has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College. She is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws. Chung will have an opportunity to present her case before an immigration judge, a senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said. ICE agents apparently sought Chung at both her familys home and her dorm. Her attorneys say she is still in the country, though they have declined to specify where. ICEs shocking actions against Ms. Chung form part of a larger pattern of attempted U.S. government repression of constitutionally protected protest activity and other forms of speech. The governments repression has focused specifically on university students who speak out in solidarity with Palestinians and who are critical of the Israeli governments ongoing military campaign in Gaza or the pro-Israeli policies of the U.S. government and other U.S. institutions, her lawsuit filed March 24 reads. Rasha Alawieh Rasha Alawieh, an assistant professor from Brown Universitys medical school, was deported the weekend of March 15 even after orders were given by a judge to keep her in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alawieh was deported to Lebanon, with Customs and Border Patrol saying the agents who deported her were not aware of the court order at the time. At no time would CBP not take a court order seriously or fail to abide by a courts order, court filings from the federal government said. The deportation came when Alawieh, a kidney transplant specialist, was trying to return to the U.S. from a trip to the Middle East, where DHS says she went to the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, a brutal terrorist who led Hezbollah, responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade terror spree. Alawieh openly admitted to this to CBP officers, as well as her support of Nasrallah. Alawiehs original attorneys withdrew from the case, although they did not say why, and she has since had to acquire a new legal team. Badar Khan Suri Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and postdoctoral scholar at Georgetown University, was arrested by ICE in Arlington, Va., on March 17 and was told his visa was revoked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Suri was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media, but she offered no further details of his activity. A spokesperson for Georgetown said the school was not aware of any criminal activity by Suri and it has not been given a reason for the detention. His attorney is arguing Suri is a target due to the Palestinian heritage of his wife, who is a U.S. citizen, as well as his critical views of Israel. Ranjani Srinivasan Ranjani Srinivasan, a doctoral student in urban planning at Columbia and an Indian national, had her student visa revoked March 5. Srinivasan left the country before ICE could detain her in a move DHS has called self-deporting. The moment Mahmoud got arrested, it sent shockwaves across the Columbia community. Hes a green card holder, she told Al Jazeera. Thats when I realized I have no rights in this system at all. It was only a matter of time before they caught hold of me. DHS accused her of involvement in in activities supporting Hamas, a terrorist organization, with little details on specifics. 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, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. Momodou Taal Momodou Taal, a Ph.D. student from Cornell University, was asked to surrender to ICE and had his student visa taken away. Taal has been very active in the pro-Palestinian movement and was suspended from the university last year over his activities. The school ended up reinstating him. Taal gained notoriety on campus after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, when he posted on the social platform X colonised peoples have the right to resist by any means necessary and Glory to the resistance! He later told CNN that clearly categorically I abhor the killing of all civilians no matter where they are and who does it but felt it was racist, Islamophobic that before Im allowed to have a view on genocide, I have to condemn a terrorist organization. Taal filed a lawsuit against the government March 15, a day after his visa was revoked, challenging the executive orders the Trump administration is using to justify the crackdown on foreign students. And given how they went after Mahmoud, who has a similar fact pattern, I didnt want to be a sitting duck for eventually myself or other international students. So, I found the lawsuit as a form of protection seeking national injunction to challenge the constitutionality of these executive orders, Taal previously told The Hill. A judge ruled against Taal in that case Thursday, saying the court does not have jurisdiction and the student did not establish imminent or ongoing threat to their constitutional rights that could be appropriately remedied by the requested restraints. Any future harm alleged in their affidavits appears to be speculative and even moot because of the revocation of Taals visa. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Its a small world after all. As America embarks on its America First foreign policy, many non-Americans are feeling unwelcome. Dozens of countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens amid the crackdown on immigrants in the United States. Some, such as Canada, are advising against travel to the U.S. as President Trump tries to make the case for making their entire country the 51st state. This unwelcoming environment for foreigners can have a potentially huge impact on the economy, particularly through the tourism industry. Los Angeles, which relies heavily on tourist dollars, is especially vulnerable. The local economy is already in a precarious state due to recent fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, the most recent year for which numbers are available, foreign visitors spent about $34 billion in Los Angeles, supporting roughly half a million local jobs. Canadians alone annually spend more than $400 million in L.A. The absence of these visitors is symptomatic of a broader trend, as more and more foreign tourists avoid Hollywood Boulevard and Graumans Chinese Theatre. This decline can ripple throughout the entire domestic economy, especially now that L.A. faces a potential $1 billion budget deficit. The research firm Tourism Economics had initially forecast a 9% increase in tourist visitors to the United States this year. Now, they are predicting more than a 5% decline, which translates to an $18 billion drop in spending. So, whats the takeaway from all of this? Quite simply, yes, it is a small world after all. And in places like L.A., it may become an increasingly lonely one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. ANDREWS, S.C. (WCBD) An investigation is underway to determine what made some students report feeling ill while at a Georgetown County school this week. District officials said a student at Andrews High School reported feeling sick Wednesday and was taken by EMS to Tidelands Health. Kristi Kibler, the school districts executive director for communications, said other students also reported symptoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The schools nurse and School Resource Officer were immediately notified, and parents of each student who exhibited symptoms were contacted by the school nurse, encouraging them to have their child evaluated by a physician. Georgetown County School District prioritizes the health and safety of all students, said Kibler. The school districts safety department, the Andrews High School administration, and the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office are actively investigating the cause. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. DES MOINES, Iowa Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced on Thursday that her office is suing Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx for allegedly violating the state sanctuary county law. The lawsuit is in response to a formal complaint made by Governor Kim Reynolds over a post that Sheriff Marx made to Facebook that Bird alleges violates the states sanctuary county law. The law in question was signed by Reynolds in 2018 and prohibits a local entity from adopting or enforcing policies that discourages the enforcement of immigration laws, among other things. The suit alleges that Sheriff Marx violated that law with his post, which outlined his concerns with federal agencies like ICE and their use of detainers. The post claimed that if an agencys actions or paperwork regarding an immigration concern doesnt follow constitutional parameters, like a judicial warrant or court order, then he and his office would work to block the agencys actions. The post goes on to say that the detainers utilized in immigration cases violate 4th Amendment protections against warrantless search, seizure, and arrest, and violate the 6th Amendment right to due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Head-on crash caused by driver fleeing police, DMPD says An investigation conducted by Birds office found that the post violated the sanctuary law, and gave the sheriff until Wednesday at 5 p.m. to remove the original post and issue a clarifying post stating he and his office would comply with ICE detainers. The AG said if he didnt follow these steps, the county could be at risk of losing state funding. Sanctuary counties are illegal under Iowa law, Bird said in a statement. Sheriff Marx was given the chance to retract his statement, follow the law, and honor ICE detainers, but he refused even at a cost to his home county. He left us no choice but to take the case to court to enforce our laws and ensure cooperation with federal immigration authorities. On Thursday, Sheriff Marx released a statement on Facebook in response to the lawsuit explaining that the county decided to remove the original post, but would not replace it with the scripted statement provided by the AG as it was determined to not be acceptable to the county. Sheriff Marxs response outlines how Winneshiek County has been in compliance with Iowa Code Chapter 27A while protecting the constitutional rights of our citizens. The response also confirms the Sheriffs Office commitment to remain in compliance with State and Federal immigration laws while staying true to the Constitutional protections afforded the citizens of Winneshiek County. While we are disappointed and disagree with the Attorney Generals conclusion, we remain confident that this issue can be resolved. Thank you for your continued support. Winneshiek County Sheriffs Office The full lawsuit can be read below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 03.26-Iowa-v.-Marx-Complaint Iowa 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. A bill intended to combat distracted driving in Iowa is heading to Gov. Kim Reynolds to sign. Senate File 22 would ban the use of electronic devices in any way unless theyre in hands-free mode. The bill has been up for debate the last three sessions with support from people whose relatives died in collisions involving distracted drivers. The Iowa House passed Senate File 22 in an 84 to 11 vote March 26. Officers will start issuing warnings July 1. Drivers caught breaking the law will be fined $100 starting January 1, 2026. 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. Luxinnovation supported 891 companies in 2024, helping businesses innovate, adopt advanced digital technologies and enhance their sustainability through innovation. The national innovation agency's newly released Annual Report highlights these achievements and its efforts to strengthen the country's innovation ecosystem. 2024 was characterised by global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical turbulence and far-reaching technological advances, which all impact Luxembourg companies. "Innovation is more vital than ever, it is the key to staying competitive and solving global challenges," says Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SME, Energy and Tourism. "Luxinnovation plays a crucial role in guiding companies through change and encouraging innovation in strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, defence, health technology, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The significant number of companies supported highlights the agency's impact on innovation across all companies, including those that are not traditionally considered technology leaders. "The 891 companies supported in 2024 reflect our work to foster innovation in all sectors of activity. Next year, we will continue our outreach efforts, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises," adds Mario Grotz, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Luxinnovation, who took up his position as the agency's new CEO on 1 March 2025. Luxinnovation's main mission is to give companies the means to innovate today to be ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. "To better inform our ever-evolving support offering, we have structured our services into three main categories: assessing the development potential of companies, connecting them with relevant partners, and helping them secure suitable financing opportunities," says Mario Grotz. Assessing innovation potential, building relationships with partners During the year, 67 companies joined the "Fit 4 performance programmes mainly Fit 4 Sustainability and Fit 4 Digital to assess their development potential and receive tailor-made action plans. The Luxembourg Digital Innovation Hub (L-DIH) supported 32 manufacturing companies in assessing their digital and cyber maturity and identifying the actions needed for succeeding with their digital transformation. In 2024, Luxinnovation supported the creation of 48 new startups. This year, 20 startups participated in the 14th edition of its startup accelerator programme Fit 4 Start, and the Fit 4 Start #15 call attracted over 400 applications from around the world. The pilot edition of Luxembourg's new scaleup support programme, managed by Luxinnovation, was implemented to support high-potential businesses in refining their operations, expanding their market reach, and unlocking future growth opportunities. Luxinnovation helped businesses and research centres connect with relevant partners, both in Luxembourg and internationally. Its specialists in the fields of agrifood, automobility, cleantech, creative industries, defence innovation, healthtech, materials and manufacturing, and wood initiated over 520 contacts between companies looking for partners and other players in the ecosystem. Unlocking funding opportunities In 2024, Luxinnovation supported the submission of 124 national R&D and innovation project applications a significant increase of 68% compared to 2023. "This reflects a consistently growing interest in implementing innovative projects in companies," Mario Grotz points out. A total of 37 environmental protection project applications were successfully submitted with the agency's guidance somewhat less than in 2023, although still considerably more than in 2022. Luxinnovation also supported the submission of 137 European funding applications. Luxembourg entities obtained 47.40 million in Horizon Europe funding. As the national focal point for the European Defence Fund (EDF), Luxinnovation helped 10 R&D projects with Luxembourg participants obtain EDF funding in 2024. Addressing innovation ecosystem gaps Luxinnovation's second main mission consists in identifying innovation opportunities and fostering collaborative innovation projects that stimulate the development of a sustainable, competitive and digital economy. Understanding global trends and the evolution of Luxembourg's national ecosystems is essential, and during the year, the agency produced 17 market and ecosystem analyses and 4 market trend reports. To efficiently address ecosystem innovation gaps and find solutions to problems that no single player can solve alone, Luxinnovation set up an innovation ecosystem project management team to carry out this mission effectively. Its first task was coordinating Luxembourg's successful bid to host an AI Factory, providing startups, SMEs and researchers with artificial intelligence (AI) optimised high performance computing resources, training, funding support, and technical expertise. To intensify connections between investors and startups, Luxinnovation organised the second edition of the Luxembourg Venture Days together with the Luxembourg Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (LPEA). Over two days, 200 startups, 200 investors and almost 2,000 participants joined the event. As part of its work to attract new innovative companies that fit into Luxembourg's innovation ecosystem, the agency hosted 56 soft- landing visits and supported the incorporation of 17 international companies in Luxembourg. Luxinnovation pursued the work on the Klimapakt fir Betriber initiative, implemented jointly with Klima-Agence, to support companies in becoming more sustainable and energy efficient. Activities in 2024 focused on identifying tailored solutions to help companies in key sectors reduce energy consumption and costs. The agency also participated in two cross-border projects on sustainability funded by the EU's Interreg Greater Region 2021-2027 programme: Greater Green+, which promotes sustainable development and the circular economy, and W.A.V.E, which focuses on the use of wood as a sustainable construction material. Press release by the Ministry of the Economy / Luxinnovation YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) At least 12 Cameroonian soldiers were killed Monday night in an attack by Islamic militants on the border with Nigeria, according to a statement from the Cameroonian Ministry of Defense. The attack also left over a dozen soldiers wounded and occurred in the Lake Chad area near the town of Wulgo, the ministry said Thursday. While no group was initially blamed for the attack, officials later said it was suspected to have been carried out by extremists from the Boko Haram group or its breakaway faction that is loyal to the Islamic State group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pointing to Boko Haram militants, the ministry cited the advanced weaponry they increasingly have at their disposal and the apparent alliance with powerful transnational criminal entities as contributing factors to Mondays attack. Matan Daniel, a researcher at the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre, an Israel-based research group that tracks IS and al-Qaeda, sees the attack as part of a significant issue that has plagued the region: lack of communication between the four countries that surround Lake Chad. The Multinational Joint Task Force, or MNJTF, was established to counter militant organizations that have traditionally used cross-border raids to avoid pursuit by the military. Under the MNJTF, local armed forces could cross the border to pursue suspected militants and countries were supposed to share more intelligence. Recently, however, problems have started to arise. In November, Chad threatened to withdraw from the MNJTF after it suffered a catastrophic attack that killed 17 soldiers. Niger withdrew from the task force last year after a coup rocked the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is plausible that the recent cracks in the ranks of the MNJTF force and the withdrawal of countries from it contributed to the outcome of this attack. The cooperation of different forces within the MNJTF is critical for its activities. For example, the attack has reportedly lasted for several hours. A quick response from nearby forces, Cameroonian or Nigerian, would have probably resulted in fewer casualties or even different outcomes, Daniel told The Associated Press. Boko Haram, initially based in Nigeria, took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose its radical version of Islamic law. The conflict, now Africas longest struggle with militancy, has spilled into Nigerias neighbors, Chad, Niger and Cameroon. While in recent months the number of attacks has decreased, David Otto, training adviser at the International Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism, in Ivory Coast, cautions that technological advances have made those attacks formidable. Jihadist groups linked to Boko Haram still have the capability to launch surprise sophisticated attacks using modern technology like drones, signifying the asymmetric nature of the warfare and indicating that these groups adapt to their environment and continually evolve in their technical capabilities, Otto said when contacted via telephone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million have been displaced in northeastern Nigeria alone, according to the U.N. The 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in the village of Chibok in Borno state the epicenter of the conflict captured the attention of the world. Over a decade later, large swaths of the region are still plagued by regular violence. In January, at least 40 people in Nigeria were killed in an attack by Boko Haram. Isolated thunderstorms and spotty sprinkles will pop up across New Mexico Thursday. Drier and breezier weather returns starting Friday. Yet another warm day all across New Mexico Wednesday with high temperatures even warmer than what weve seen the last couple of days for some across the state. A few spotty showers popped up this afternoon, especially over the northern mountains, in eastern New Mexico and down over Otero County where there have even been a few thunderstorms. Another round of showers and thunderstorms return Thursday afternoon, especially east of I-25. A lot of the rain will evaporate before reaching the ground though, with the best chance for accumulating rain in southeast New Mexico. Temperatures will stay well above average again. Rain will end Thursday night. Drier air moves back into all of New Mexico Friday, but so does a breezy westerly wind. Wind gusts could be as high as 45 mph bringing back an elevated fire danger to areas along and east of I-25. A cold front sweeps across the state Friday evening bringing cooler weather for the weekend. High temperatures will only be back down closer to average again for this time of year. Winds will continue through the weekend, especially Saturday, when widespread wind gusts over 35 to 40 mph are likely. Lighter winds will develop Sunday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breezy afternoon winds with seasonable temperatures will continue early next week. Theres a lot more uncertainty starting next Wednesday with one forecast model bringing rain across New Mexico and the other keeping us dry and warm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Isolated thunderstorms and spotty sprinkles will pop up across New Mexico Thursday. Drier and breezier weather returns starting Friday. Yet another warm day all across New Mexico Wednesday with high temperatures even warmer than what weve seen the last couple of days for some across the state. A few spotty showers have popped up this afternoon, especially over the northern mountains, in west-central New Mexico and down over Otero County where there have even been a few thunderstorms. These showers will end after sunset tonight, but the clouds will stick around. Another round of showers and thunderstorms return Thursday afternoon, especially east of I-25. A lot of the rain will evaporate before reaching the ground though, with the best chance for accumulating rain in southeast New Mexico. Temperatures will stay well above average again. Rain will end Thursday night. Drier air moves back into all of New Mexico Friday, but so does a breezy westerly wind. Wind gusts could be as high as 45 mph bringing back an elevated fire danger to areas along and east of I-25. A cold front sweeps across the state Friday evening bringing cooler weather for the weekend. High temperatures will only be back down closer to average again for this time of year. Winds will continue through the weekend, especially Saturday, when widespread wind gusts over 35 to 40 mph are likely. Lighter winds will develop Sunday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breezy afternoon winds with seasonable temperatures will continue early next week. Theres a lot more uncertainty starting next Wednesday with one forecast model bringing rain across New Mexico and the other keeping us dry and warm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Israel has intercepted two missiles fired from Yemen before they could enter Israeli territory, the military said in a statement on Thursday. Missile alerts sounded in various parts of Israel, including in Tel Aviv. A spokesman for Yemen's Houthi rebels said the militia had targeted Israel's international airport near Tel Aviv as well as a military target while also attacking a US warship. There were initially no reports about possible hits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Iran-backed Houthis, the US military attacked the organization's positions in Yemen again on Wednesday. Houthi-affiliated media reported a total of 15 airstrikes on the capital Sana'a and its surroundings. The Houthis control large parts of Yemen. They began attacking Israel with missiles and drones in October 2023, after the outbreak of the Gaza war between Israel and the Palestinian extremist group Hamas. The Trump administration has recently intensified its military operations in Yemen, primarily targeting Houthi military sites, following repeated attacks by the rebels on international shipping routes in the Red Sea. The Israeli Parliament on Thursday approved a key law as part of the country's controversial judicial reorganization. Critics say it is intended to allow more political influence in the appointment of judges. Legal experts have repeatedly warned that the reorganization of the judiciary pushed forward by the right-wing religious government endangers Israeli democracy. The new law provides for a nine-member committee for the appointment of judges to be made up of one lawyer elected by the government and one lawyer elected by the opposition instead of two representatives of the bar association. In addition, veto rights for representatives of the executive in the selection of judges are planned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 67 of the 120 members of parliament, or Knesset, voted in favour of the proposal after hours of debate. The opposition boycotted the vote and announced that it would repeal the law should it form the next government. Lawsuits against the law have also been announced before the Supreme Court. The right-wing conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies have long accused the judicial system in Israel of being too powerful and interfering too much in the decisions of the executive. His government's plans to reorganize the judiciary have led to months of massive protests and warnings about the destruction of the democratic balance in the country. Tel Aviv The war is back in Gaza. Since abandoning a ceasefire on March 17, the Israel Defense Forces have pounded the Palestinian territory with waves of deadly strikes it says are targeting Hamas terrorists. Those strikes have brought the overall death toll in Gaza to well over 50,000 since the beginning of the war, according to the enclave's Hamas-run Health Ministry. CBS News spoke recently with an Israeli soldier who has questioned the military's tactics. Tommy not his real name, as he agreed to speak with CBS News on the condition of anonymity fought in Gaza for the IDF, and his account of the tactics used raises some serious questions. "We've burned down buildings for no reasons, which is violating the international law, of course," he told CBS News. "And we used human shields as protection." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tommy said his commander ordered his unit to use Gazan civilians to search buildings for explosives instead of dogs. "They were Palestinian," he said. "We sent them in first to see if the building was clear and check for booby trapsThey were trembling and shaking." "We talked to our commander, and we asked him to stop doing it," Tommy said, but they were ordered to continue. He told CBS News it was policy. The practice even has a name the "mosquito protocol" according to Breaking the Silence, an organization of Israeli veterans who say they're working to expose military abuses. The group told CBS News that several IDF whistleblowers had confirmed the protocol was widespread in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breaking the Silence has acted as a watchdog body over the Israeli military for more than 20 years. It said it had corroborated Tommy's account with other soldiers. In an email, the Israeli military told CBS News it prohibits the use of human shields but that it cannot investigate Tommy's claim without more detailed information. Israel has long accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields, and there is evidence of fighters embedding themselves and weapons in civilian areas, tunnelling underneath hospitals and firing rockets from such positions. The IDF would not confirm if it was investigating any other reported instances of its forces using the "mosquito protocol," but we discovered that Israeli forces are using the same Gaza playbook in the occupied West Bank, where a massive offensive has seen forces blow up homes and displace more than 40,000 people for over two months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the West Bank, CBS News met 14-year-old Omri Salem, a studious kid who dreams of being an engineer. His family has been in the area for generations. He told CBS News that, along with his nine-year old cousin, he was ordered by the IDF to search a four-story apartment building. He didn't want to do it. "I was so scared," he said. "Then they started beating us." Omri remains deeply emotionally scarred by the soldiers, whom he says forced him at gun point to be their human shield. In Gaza, Tommy was the one holding the gun, but he said he was also traumatized. "I'm morally wounded," said the soldier. "It's f****d up, you know, to use citizens as your human shield like a dog." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth doubles down on Signal chat texts not being "war plans" Trump's VA cuts could threaten mental health care for countless veterans. Waltz, Hegseth still facing major scrutiny for leaked Yemen group chat JERUSALEM (AP) European far-right leaders were in Jerusalem on Thursday for a conference organized by the Israeli government aimed at combating antisemitism, which was shunned by mainstream Jewish leaders because of the divisive guest list. The event illustrates a growing alliance between Israel a country founded on the ashes of the Holocaust and a European far-right that some critics say has not shed its links to antisemitism and Naziism during World War II. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads an ultranationalist government, has cultivated close ties in recent years with far-right populist leaders in countries like Hungary, Brazil and Argentina. Many of these leaders, including Netanyahu, have been greatly influenced by the policies and demeanor of U.S. President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a speech to the conference, Netanyahu commended Trump for his "decisive actions against antisemitism" and blamed U.S. campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza on a systemic alliance between ultra-progressive left and radical Islam. Antisemitism is a disease carried by barbarians in all civilized societies, said Netanyahu. Thursday's conference illuminated the increasingly strained relationship between Israel and its traditional allies in the West, which have grown uneasy with Israeli politics and the direction of the country's devastating war in Gaza. Israel broke the ceasefire with Hamas and resumed the war earlier this month, and Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza. Jewish communities around the world have reported increases in antisemitic violence since the start of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also attending the event was Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik, even after a Bosnian court requested an international arrest warrant for him for his separatist policies. During the conference, Dodik spoke out defiantly against the warrant. The Muslims from Sarajevo they want to punish me because I came here to Israel supporting Israel," Dodik told The Associated Press through a translator. "They are misusing the judiciary and the prosecutor office because they are in charge for that. Most speakers at the conference railed against antisemitism on the political left and in Muslim societies, with only brief mention of antisemitism on the right. Panels of speakers were set to focus on How Progressivism Fell Captive to Antisemitism and How Radical Islam Fuels Antisemitism in the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right French National Rally party, gave a keynote address in which he blamed rising antisemitism in Europe on migration and Islamism. Islamism is the totalitarianism of the 21st century. It threatens to destroy everything that is not like it, he said. David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel during Trumps first term, also attended. Asked by the moderator about Trumps plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza, Friedman said: I love it! I love it. And I think its doable. Other far-right Europeans are attending from the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Hungary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European far-rights anti-immigrant platform has focused heavily on immigration from Muslim countries, finding common ground in what Israel describes as a shared battle against Islamic extremism. Critics say this alliance often veers into Islamophobia. Many mainstream Jewish leaders dropped out of the event after initially agreeing to attend, including Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, a leading U.S. nonprofit that battles antisemitism. French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, German antisemitism czar Felix Klein and German politician Volker Beck also canceled their participation, while Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, also pulled out of the conference in favor of hosting a separate meeting of Jewish leaders who had originally come to the country for the conference, his office said. AP correspondent Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, contributed reporting. Carmakers in Italy expressed concern about U.S. President Donald Trumps new 25% tax on imported cars. The European cars that will potentially face steep tariffs from the US administration include Italy's luxury carmakers like Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini. VETERAN, N.Y. (WETM) An Ithaca woman was arrested on Tuesday after police claimed her involvement in a crash led to the death of a Millport man back in 2023. Juria S. Vanness, 41, of Ithaca, was arrested on Tuesday, March 25, following an indictment and a superior court warrant on the charges of: Vehicular manslaughter in the first degree: previous conviction within 10 years, a class C felony. Vehicular manslaughter in the first degree: license suspended or revoked, a class C felony. Aggravated unlicensed operation in the first degree, a class E felony. Driving while ability impaired by drugs: prior conviction within 10 years, a class E felony. Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a class A misdemeanor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 vehicle fatal crash in Chemung County; Route 13 reopened The charges stem from a fatal three-vehicle crash on October 26, 2023, where New York State Police said Vanness was driving north on route 13 in a white sedan behind 25-year-old Alexei G. Seymour in a pickup truck pulling a trailer. While traveling on a section of route 13 near Parrott Road in the town of Veteran, Vanness crossed over a double yellow line while trying to pass Seymour, state police said. Vanness tried to merge back into the north lane and hit the drivers side of the trailer on the back of Seymours truck, sending both Vanness and Seymour into the southbound lane and the path of a semi-truck, the release said. Motorcycle Dice Run to honor life of 25-year-old Alexei Seymour Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seymour was declared dead at the scene while Vanness was airlifted to the Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., with minor injuries. The indictment for Vanness was issued on February 27, 2025, while the warrant for her arrest was issued on March 14. Vanness was processed by the state police on Tuesday and was then taken to the Chemung County Jail. Vanness was later released on bail with non-monetary conditions, according to information from the New York State Court System. Vannesss next court appearance is scheduled for May 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On top of a pile of papers on Carol Homdens desk is a programme for Ballet Shoes, the National Theatres adaptation of the Noel Streatfeild novel. In the story, Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil are adopted by an absentminded paleontologist. While he travels the world in search of dinosaur bones, the girls live in a ramshackle house under the watchful eye of Nana. Its an old-fashioned, heart-warming, if slightly idealised, portrayal of adoption. One trustee from the adoption agency Coram, Britains oldest childrens charity, of which Homden is chief executive, describes it as a love letter to a chosen family. For her part, Homden hoped that when the show opened last year it might encourage more people to adopt at a time when we need more loving families to come forward for the growing numbers of children waiting. We meet in Homdens Bloomsbury office, just a stones throw from the original site of the Foundling Hospital, where Thomas Coram first established a home in 1739 for children who found themselves exposed and deserted. Two hundred and eighty six years on, Coram is still meeting that same need, but Britain is now, Homden says, not a country for children, lamenting the failure of politicians on both sides of the aisle to prioritise young people. Meanwhile, adoption which, she says, Britain has long had a huge heart and huge propensity for is proving a hard sell for modern prospective parents. Thomas Coram established a home in 1739 at the Foundling Hospital to help underprivileged children - Amanda Lewis/iStock Corams figures show the number of people seeking to adopt has fallen to its lowest rate for four years. Last year, just 2,200 people in England were approved for adoption compared to more than 2,900 in 2019. In the past decade, the numbers have fallen by 57 per cent. In December, there were 2,820 children waiting to be adopted in England half had been waiting to be matched for more than 18 months since entering care. Across Britain, many more (around 107,000) flow in and out of the care system without a realistic expectation of the permanent solution of adoption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Behind the drop in people seeking to adopt is what Homden, 64, describes as a texture of change. There is a delay in both single people and couples investigating adoption, as women and their partners or on their own [are] choosing to have children later, and sometimes not at all (in 2023, the fertility rate in Britain dropped to the lowest level on record). There are also, simply due to the pattern of birth rates, currently fewer people in the age bracket that might normally consider adoption. There is an argument for allowing older people with more time and resources to adopt. Life expectancy has extended and more people are forming relationships later in life, she says. You could in principle adopt when youre 60, though there would be a lot to consider. Coming forward to adopt when you have a long-term health condition or other caring responsibilities, for example elderly parents. These are all factors that have to be considered. Then there is the ongoing cost of living crisis, which means a generation of prospective parents are still living with their own parents. There are a lot of people in their 20s or even into their 30s still living in their family home because of the challenges of being able to afford housing, says Homden. But one of the biggest drivers, she says, is the increase in access to fertility treatments. The fact that IVF, surrogacy, egg and sperm donations and egg freezing are now more widely available and have better outcomes is clearly a good thing. But an unforeseen side effect is the impact on adoption. As IVF has become more successful, she says, it has become a contributory factor in the shortage of adopters that we currently find ourselves having. Last year just 2,200 people in England were approved for adoption compared to more than 2,900 in 2019 - Geoff Pugh Last year marked 45 years since the first baby was conceived using IVF. In Britain, the live birth rate for IVF has tripled for women under 38 since the early 1990s. Even so, fewer than half of cycles are successful. I wish we could somehow find a way of communicating more clearly that adoption is an alternative to what can be an extremely emotional journey in IVF, says Homden. Obviously its marvellous, the scientific advance, [and] that so many people are succeeding in having their family through IVF. But for some people, they embark upon multiple rounds and that is in itself a different form of loss and emotional trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sometimes feels [as if] the option of actually using that emotion in a different way, to give a home to a child that desperately needs one, comes quite late. She can understand why adoption might, for many, be something they consider only after first trying fertility treatment. I think its perfectly understandable that people are looking to form their families that is what is driving it. But while people strive to get pregnant, children in Britain are waiting for the love and security of a long-term family. There are, for example, quite a lot of children waiting in sibling pairs, she says. Adopting older children is clearly a different proposition to taking on a newborn. You can imagine how if you have undergone several rounds of IVF and hold an image of yourself nurturing a tiny baby, the idea of adopting two older siblings might at first feel many miles from the family you had imagined. The natural human desire is to be able to parent the child that becomes a member of your family for as long as possible and as early as possible, she says, though Coram finds older couples who meet later in life often make wonderful parents for older children and siblings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agencies like Coram take considerable care when working with adopters who are very recent from IVF treatment, says Homden. Its not usual that adoption would be considered [while] IVF is taking place. Its important, she says, to be in the right place emotionally when you embark on the adoption journey. Have you come to terms with those losses that might be very fresh, very raw? If youre on your own, that brings particular questions about [whether you] have the support network. If you are in a partnership, are both partners at the same point? This is a process that takes time. What often gets asked is why does it all take so long? I would say it doesnt. The time it takes to adopt roughly equates to the time it might take to start fertility, become pregnant and give birth. The actual journey time is about a year, so its about the same. It can take longer if people have a specific idea of the child they are hoping to adopt, she says. Occasionally, people will wait longer [to make a choice]. But that may be because they have a very particular thing in their mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is careful not to criticise, but suggests it is a mistake to come to adoption with a rigid idea of the child you are hoping to meet, or to approach a system saying, I only want this a child with these characteristics, or from this demographic. At Coram, they are increasingly seeing the importance of consideration of mental health conditions for adopters, she says. These days, prospective parents also have a greater awareness about genetics and what the consequences for a child might be of their genetic inheritance. For example, are conditions known? Are they not known? Genetics have long been a consideration for adopters, but there has been a scientific evolution, meaning there is a greater understanding of genetic conditions, so the focus among adopters has increased. Its harder, she says, to find adopted parents for children with special education needs. Part of what youre dealing with in the process of adoption is developmental uncertainty. You may know about a genetic disorder or a health condition. You may have a diagnosis of autism. But you probably wouldnt have a diagnosis of ADHD, and you may not fully know what the experiences of the child had been. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homden has been chief executive at Coram for 18 years having previously held senior positions at the Princes Trust (where she found the then Prince of Wales to be an inspiring boss) and the British Museum. She is also on the board for the National Autistic Society and Diabetes UK, both deeply personal positions her eldest son, Freddie, is autistic and learning disabled and was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Freddie is now 34 and lives in supported accommodation, but as a child he had periods of permanent school exclusion. There were years when he had had absolutely no support whatsoever, no education, she says. Prior to Coram, Homden held a senior position at the Princes Trust. Shes pictured here with the Queen at the 50th anniversary celebrations of childrens reading charity Coram Beanstalk - Justin Tallis/PA Images [Hed have] three hours a week with a tutor who couldnt even stay in the room with him. [He was] even excluded from the local authoritys own special educational needs and disability holiday scheme. There was a period when the only organisation that made him welcome was the scouts. So while Homden doesnt have personal experience of adoption, its clear her passion for making Britain a country that works for its most vulnerable children runs deep. I have a connection to complex needs, she says. I have lived the navigation of statutory services. That is what Coram does. Adoption is one facet of it. [There are also] legal rights and educational exclusion. How many CEOs of charities have the experience of permanent educational exclusion for their child, navigating seven professionals in multi-agency teams, having five changes of social worker in eight months notified by email bounce backs? [How many] have actually experienced, up front and personally, violence by child against parent? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homden and her husband, Steve, a digital author and artist, live in north London. They consider themselves to have been in the best possible position to get Freddie the support he needed, and it was still impossible at times. If it was that hard for me with all of those advantages, I am going to fight until I die for those who dont have [them]. It makes sense, then, that she feels people often have the wrong idea about adoption. They forget one key thing: Adoption is a service for children, she says, not for parents. Adoption isnt just a solution for people who want a family, its an essential service meant to give children whom the court has considered should be adopted for their wellbeing and safety the chance of a loving home. We have the highest care population and the lowest proportion leaving care to adoption than weve had in the last 40 years, she says. In England, there are around 83,000 children currently in care. That delay is hugely consequential for those children. [It] may compromise their wellbeing and their security. The delay in making a plan may well lead to the child losing their chance of adoption, because the vast majority of children who are adopted are aged under five. You age out of adoption because, understandably, potential adopters want to be in the life of their child at the earliest possible point and for the longest possible time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homden says there are children that we are not matching that we could match. She is calling on the Government to re-establish the National Adoption Register for England. The Tories closed the register in 2019. The plan was to replace it with regional adoption agencies, which were to speed up the process. In fact, the opposite happened. There was a slow down and that slow down is not to the benefit of children, she says. The register held the details of children and approved adopters. Without it, several hundred children would each year not be matched who could have been matched, says Homden. Labour has picked up the baton on children up to a point, says Homden. There are some important directions of travel, but theyre not enough. Do we really think that society is doing everything it needs to do in the face of the post-pandemic consequences? Of a generation unique in history for living its life digitally first? With the levels of disadvantage and disproportionality? We need to do better. Schools in particular have reached a hinge point post-pandemic, she says. We are probably on the cusp of the biggest redefinition of the purpose of school that we have seen in decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She worries about the rise in homeschooling and has called for there to be a register for children who are, as she puts it, home schooled in inverted commas. We have a duty to know where our children are and every child has a right to education. The bigger issue is to do with children who are missing. If there is just one child like Sara that having this homeschooling register prevents then we must do that, says Homden - Surrey Police Children like Sara Sharif, who was taken out of school under the ruse of being homeschooled, covering up the abuse she was suffering. An appalling case, she says. If there is just one child like Sara that having this register prevents then we must do that. Its easy to blame the pandemic, but in fact all the trends were well in train and visible before the pandemic, she says. Apart from the consequence of the choice to close schools. Was it the wrong one? I think we may well as a society come to think that it was, she says, adding: The consequences to children are going to last their whole lives, and weve never before taken that step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coram is advising the Covid inquiry on the impact of the pandemic on children and young people. For Homden, one of the most serious consequences of lockdown was the way it caused a breakdown in the relationship between families and schools. At a top level we have compromised the contract between parents and school and between children and school. And we have seen a considerable increase a doubling in school non attendance. In the last academic year, nearly a fifth of pupils in England were persistent absentees, according to government figures, compared to a little over 10 per cent pre-pandemic. Its clear she is terribly proud of the work Coram does, and of being the inheritor of a legacy with the Foundling Hospital. Among the best days at Coram are the regular parties they host where prospective parents come to visit children waiting to be adopted. On those occasions, you see them fall in love, she says. I wonder how often children are not matched with adopted parents. Sadly more often than one would wish. Its about 20 per cent. If she could get in a room with Sir Keir Starmer, what would she tell him? Just think more about the children. The future of our society depends upon the future of our children, and children cant wait. 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. 3/27 UPDATE: Jurors deliberated for an hour before finding Douglas guilty of first-degree murder. JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A 29-year-old Jackson County man accused of murdering an elderly man 7 years ago is finally standing trial. Back in October of 2022, a Jackson County grand jury indicted Juqon Douglas with first-degree murder. Marianna Police said Douglas shot and killed 92-year-old Chatman Davis while robbing Davis at his home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The robbery and shooting happened on August 19, 2018. Stepfather of Panama City Beach homicide suspect arrested in Walton County Police said Douglas tried to rob Davis at his home on Edenfield Street in Marianna. Davis, who was a Korean and Vietnam War veteran, apparently fought back. Investigators say thats when Douglas grabbed Daviss gun and fatally shot him. Douglas was 22 years old at the time. Authorities said he left town after that. More than 4 years later, they were able to track Douglas to Billings, Montana, where he was under investigation for a domestic disturbance. Douglas was extradited to Jackson County to face the murder charges and robbery with a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial began Wednesday and is expected to last at least through Thursday. News 13 will continue to follow this case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Wednesday that the escalating gang crisis in Haiti has reached a point that demands a rapid increase in the number of cops and equipment for the Haiti National Police to battle gangs that are on the verge of taking over the capital. Ultimately, the Haiti National Police has to take on the gangs, he said. The present holding situation that we have is not necessarily moving the situation forward as we would all like. Holness comments came amid new protests and growing anxiety in Haiti about a possible takeover of the capital by armed gangs amid conflicts within the countrys political transition government and its police hierarchy. He made the comment after a high-level meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Kingston on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of his first official visit to the English-speaking Caribbean, Rubio is seeking feedback from leaders of the 15-member regional bloc known as CARICOM on the volatile situation in Haiti, which Holness described as a threat to regional security. How much weight Holness and other Caribbean leaders views on Haiti carry with the Trump administration remains to be seen. But Rubio, recognizing that the current multinational security mission led by Kenya is not large enough to take on heavily armed gangs, is trying to drum up support in the region for funding that would allow the mission to expand. In a separate discussion about Haiti on Wednesday sponsored by the World Bank, former Jamaica Prime Minister Bruce Golding said said that Force Commander Godfrey Otunge recently also told him and two other former Caribbean prime ministers, trying to help mediate the crisis, that he needs an additional 1,500 officers to be effective against gangs. My own view is that is understated, Golding said about the number, which would put the force at 2,500 security strength. He acknowledged that funding remains a challenge to put in place an effective force, an overwhelming force to be able to push back against the gangs, to restore security so that other arrangements that are necessary for bringing Haiti back from the brink of a failed state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Golding also said a former member of the Haitis ruling nine-member Transitional Presidential Council, which the Caribbean Community had helped create last year, had complained that CARICOMs involvement bordered on interference. His revelations underscore the challenges that an association of Caribbean elder statesmen known as the Eminent Persons Group, formed to help Haiti, has been facing. On Wednesday morning four Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to Rubio urging him to prioritize the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti during his visit to the Caribbean, which also includes stops Thursday in Guyana and Suriname. With violent gangs causing unimaginable human suffering in Haiti, and spillover impacts for regional stability and on Haitian-American communities, the United States simply cannot afford to pass up the opportunity to advance region-wide support for a Haitian-led solution to the current crisis, the letter said. Its signed by Reps. Gregory Meeks of New York and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, and Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of Missouri and Cory Booker of New Jersey. Armed gangs continued to sow chaos in Haitis capital on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.More than 60,000 Haitians have been displaced in the past month. The four lawmakers specifically mentioned the recent cuts to U.S. funding, including the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. They called the aid cuts a gift to the violent gangs who have exploited the countrys political instability since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We urge you to use this trip to the Caribbean to outline how the United States, and the State Department you lead, will galvanize the international community to allocate the necessary resources to stop the gangs and their elite enablers, and to help alleviate the human suffering in Haiti, the lawmakers wrote. The United States cannot sit on the sidelines of a crisis of this magnitude in our own region. Failure to act risks furthering the humanitarian crisis to the point where gangs control the entire capital, and the United States, along with its partners in the region, are responding to a mass migration event. The U.S. has been the main benefactor of the Kenya-led security mission. The Biden administration provided more than $600 million. Though the State Department has provided more than $40 million in waivers amid ongoing U.S. foreign aid freezes, it is unclear whether the Trump administration will continue funding the lions share when the mission comes up for renewal in October. No Haiti policy The Trump administration doesnt have a clear foreign policy on Haiti, even as it ends immigration protections as of April 24 for more than 200,000 Haitians who were paroled into the U.S. under humanitarian benefits during the Biden administration. Last month, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres ruled out transitioning the struggling Kenyan mission into an official U.N. peacekeeping mission and instead called for beefing up the current mission and using some of the U.N.s budget to support salaries. The U.S. has yet to publicly weigh in on the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a preview of the visit, Maurcio Claver-Carone, the administrations envoy for Latin America and the Caribbean, told journalists on Tuesday that the administration is working on a new security strategy for Haiti but did not go into details. Armed gangs continued to sow chaos in Haitis capital on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.More than 60,000 Haitians have been displaced in the past month. Rubios trip, he said, was geared partly toward hearing the views of our neighbors and our allies in the Caribbean in order to see what they believe is possible and how they can chip in and how they could work with us. After his meeting with Holness, Rubio also met with prime ministers Stuart Young of Trinidad and Tobago, and Mia Mottley of Barbados. Mottley also represented the 15-member Caribbean Community known as CARICOM. His last meeting was with the head of Haitis Presidential Council Fritz Alphonse Jean and on Thursday he travels to Guyana and Suriname. Haiti, Rubio, acknowledged, has been a multi faceted challenge. This was underscored Wednesday when armed gangs were shooting near the U.S. embassy and Kenyan officials still had not retrieved the body of their dead officer, a day after armed gangs in the Artibonite region burned three armored vehicles in an ambush. Ongoing gang attacks Though Jamaica was among the first countries to volunteer security personnel for the mission in Haiti, it has yet to deploy its officers. Of the 1,000 foreign officers on the ground, only 31 are from the Caribbean region. Jamaica serves as the deputy force commander of the mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How best to address Haitis unraveling crisis remains a central question of the security response. Those opposed to international intervention have long argued that the money is better spent on the Haiti National Police while others point out that while the police needs to be built up, the current crisis demands foreign assistance. Haitis police are less than 10,000 for a country of 12 million and those involved in actual anti-gang operations are only a handful. At the same time, the force has been under-resourced and outgunned. Last year the academy, which itself has come under gang attack, only graduated 700 new police officers. The structure itself is not only too small to meet the needs, but dozens of police stations have also been destroyed by gangs and vetting individuals has become difficult in an environment where one in 10 Haitians is currently displaced. Fritz Alphonse, head of Haitis Transitional Presidential Council, meets with Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness during a meeting between Caribbean leaders and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kingston, Jamaica on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. On Wednesday, Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric told journalists at the U.N. in New York that humanitarian aid workers have warned that escalating attacks on populated areas have forced repeated and record-level displacements in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scale and pace of displacement is rapidly outpacing the capacity of humanitarian actors to respond, Dujarric said. Nearly 23,000 people were displaced in just a week in mid-March, thats what the International Organization for Migration is telling us, with families seeking shelter in already severely overcrowded sites, with minimal essential services such as water, sanitation, healthcare and protection were among those displaced. The U.N. Dujarric said, assesses the situation on a daily basis and takes decisions every day on how to respond to the crisis with its aid workers. Its really a flexible footprint, he said, and people are shifted to the best places where they can deliver aid and deliver aid safely. He also defended the efforts of the multinational support mission. The force is doing the best possible job they can given, Dujarric said, given the deficit in support they are getting from the international community. Whether its the Kenyans and other nationals whove sent people there, to put their lives at risk, he added, They need more equipment, and Haitian political leaders need to also recommit to a political track. U.S. Reps. John James (R-Shelby Township) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City). Andrew Roth photos. A bipartisan duo of Michigan members of Congress are working together on legislation to increase transparency in the prescription drug pricing system. U.S. Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) and John James (R-Shelby Township) are two of four sponsors on the bill. U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter, a Republican from Georgia, and Rob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, also signed on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation would require Pharmacy Benefit Managers and others who serve as intermediaries between insurers, drug manufacturers and pharmacies to disclose financial transactions related to prescription drug pricing, including rebates and discounts intended to be passed on to patients. With this bill, were bringing much-needed transparency to how drugs are priced in this country, which will ultimately push prices down and make things easier for consumers, McDonald Rivet said. Organizations that fail to report the required information could face fines of up to $100,000 per violation. The Department of Health and Human Services, which on Thursday announced it would be eliminating about 10,000 full-time jobs and closing half its regional offices, would be responsible for ensuring all reports are publicly available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The days of Big Pharma profiting from your pain are over, James said. Americans deserve quality and affordable health care of their choosing. The Prescription Drug Transparency and Affordability Act is a market-based approach that returns the power to you. Similar legislation introduced during a previous Congress would save consumers approximately $2.3 billion over 10 years, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. Last year, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 attorneys general in urging Congress to reform the current practices of pharmacy benefit managers. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Leika Kihara and Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Thursday Tokyo will put "all options on the table" in dealing with Washington's announcement to impose a 25% tariff on automobile imports. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting next week, widening the global trade war he kicked off upon regaining the White House this year. "Japan is a country that is making the largest amount of investment to the United States, so we wonder if it makes sense for (Washington) to apply uniform tariffs to all countries. That is a point we've been making and will continue to do so," Ishiba told parliament. "We need to consider what's best for Japan's national interest. We're putting all options on the table in considering the most effective response," Ishiba said, without elaborating on the possible steps Tokyo may take. Analysts say the move could deal a heavy blow on Japan's economy given its reliance on auto exports to the United States. Shares in Japanese auto makers fell sharply in early trade on Thursday. [.T] Automobiles made up 28.3% of Japan's total exports to the United States in 2024, the biggest ratio among all items, according to Ministry of Finance data. The auto industry makes up roughly 3% of Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) and has been the driver of recent wage hikes, as automakers distribute the huge profits they reaped overseas to their employees. Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute (NRI), expects an 25% increase in U.S. auto tariffs to push down Japan's GDP by around 0.2%. "The Trump tariff has the potential to immediately push Japan's economy into deterioration," he said. (Reporting by Leika Kihara and Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by Kim Coghill and Lincoln Feast.) STATEMENT OF SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN ON RELIEF OF BI PERSONNEL SUSPECTED OF INVOLVEMENT IN TRAFFICKING OF FILIPINOS The Bureau of Immigration's decision to relieve its personnel suspected of involvement in the departure of Filipino trafficking victims is commendable as this shows the government's resolve in addressing transnational crimes. The alarming rise in human trafficking cases among Filipinos seeking jobs abroad demands an urgent and united government response. The BI must strengthen its cooperation with international law enforcement agencies to dismantle criminal organizations operating scam hubs. At the same time, the government must crack down on corruption to stop these crimes at their source while launching a more aggressive information campaign to protect job seekers from illegal recruiters. Walang scam kung walang corrupt! Credit: Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images; Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images After a judge said last month that he was close to dismissing Jay-Zs extortion allegation against Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, the same judge signaled Wednesday he had changed his mind and was inclined to let the Roc Nation founder proceed with the legal claim. At a hearing in Santa Monica, California, the Los Angeles County judge said he reconsidered his position based on stunning new evidence collected by private investigators and submitted by Jay-Zs lawyers. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new evidence revolves around a conversation the investigators had with the Jane Doe who claimed in a revised lawsuit filed last December that Jay-Z raped her alongside Sean Diddy Combs at an awards show afterparty when she was 13 years old. In the conversation recorded on Feb. 21 on the Jane Does front porch in Alabama, the woman allegedly said, It was more Diddy, but Buzbee brought Jay-Z, into it. She appeared to tell the investigators that it was Buzbee who pushed her into publicly naming Jay-Z as one of her assailants. If the evidence can be considered and the court believes it can be considered for this motion it supports not only the defamation cause of action but also the extortion cause of action, Judge Mark Epstein wrote in his tentative ruling issued Wednesday. For if one accepts Does statements to the investigators at face value, then she at least inferentially did not authorize the settlement letter to be sent or even conclude that she was going to sue Carter at the time the [letter was] mailed. Without a present intent to bring a lawsuit, the litigation privilege will fail. Rolling Stone previously obtained a portion of the alleged doorstep discussion with the Jane Doe. In the snippet, one of the investigators specifically asked if Doe was saying that Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, was at the afterparty but didnt have anything to do with the any sexual acts towards you. Yeah, Doe replied. The other investigator then asked if it was Buzbee who suggested Jay-Z had a role in the alleged attack following the MTV Video Music Awards in 2000. He was the one that kind of pushed me towards going forward with him, with Jay-Z, the woman replied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buzbees lawyers fought the admissibility and relevance of the conversation at the hearing Wednesday, arguing the Jane Doe felt threatened and intimidated by the visit from the investigators, that the interview invaded her right to attorney-client privilege, that she didnt consent to any recording, and that Carters camp was cherry-picking certain statements out of context. The judge said Alabama allows conversations to be secretly recorded, even though California, where the extortion and defamation lawsuit was filed, does not. I dont love surreptitious recordings, but we dont export our laws to other jurisdictions, Judge Epstein said during the hearing. He then asked Carters lawyers point-blank who hired the investigators. Carters attorney Robert Schwartz said he wasnt exactly sure but after checking with his client, he confirmed someone working for Carter hired the pair without telling Carter. The judge said he was skeptical Carter didnt know but it was possible the staffer worked independently to give Carter plausible deniability. Either way, he said it wasnt a violation for Carter to approach the Jane Doe, though it would have been if his lawyers did so while knowing she was represented by Buzbee. In his new tentative order, Judge Epstein maintained his prior stance that much of Carters defamation claim against Buzbee showed enough merit to clear the first hurdle set up by Buzbees motion to strike. He then turned to the demand letter Buzbee sent to Carter last November seeking private mediation and a financial settlement ahead of an anticipated lawsuit. Carter says the letter amounted to extortion. Buzbees lawyers argue it was protected under the litigation privilege, meaning it was allowed as part of a good-faith effort to resolve a civil dispute. Judge Epstein reasoned that if Does statements, as supplied by Carters camp, are accurate, they raise a triable issue of fact, meaning a jury might find that she did not authorize the letter sent weeks before Doe met and spoke with Buzbee for the first time. And without a clients authority to send the demand letter, the court is far from confident that the [letter did] not start to look more like extortion than an attempt to settle a civil suit, the judge wrote in his tentative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his oral argument, Buzbees lawyer Samuel Moniz said he disagreed with the courts analysis. The litigation privilege is extremely broad, extremely powerful, and pretty much the only claim that it doesnt eliminate is one for malicious prosecution, Moniz, from the firm Sheppard Mullin, said. Theres direct evidence from multiple people who say [Jane Doe] authorized this. Theres direct evidence she was referred to this firm to pursue claims against Carter. Judge Epstein told Muniz, I take your point on this and will give it some additional thought. The judge declined to adopt his tentative at the end of the hour-long arguments and instead set a follow-up hearing for further argument on April 7. The court wants to emphasize that this is a difficult motion, and that the new evidence has thrown a monkey wrench into the courts reasoning, Judge Epstein wrote in his tentative. And further, it could well be that Buzbee prevails at trial, or even potentially on summary judgment, as new evidence comes to light and discovery gets underway. When Jay-Z first sued Buzbee anonymously in November, he claimed the high-powered Houston attorney was shamelessly trying to extort him while representing dozens of plaintiffs with claims against indicted music mogul Sean Combs. Three weeks later, Buzbee filed the amended complaint naming Carter as the male celebrity who allegedly raped Doe alongside Combs when she was a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter immediately and vehemently denied Does allegations and confirmed he was the John Doe who filed the extortion lawsuit. The Jane Doe went on to voluntarily dismiss her entire complaint against Carter and Combs with prejudice meaning it cant be filed again on Feb. 14 after admitting there were inconsistencies in her story. Since then, Carter has filed a separate defamation lawsuit against Doe in Alabama, claiming she and Buzbee engaged in an evil conspiracy to extort him with the completely fabricated and wildly horrific rape claim. In a sworn statement, Carter said that he considered Buzbees demand letter an existential threat. I felt that Mr. Buzbee was placing a gun to my head that I either bow to his demands or endure personal and financial ruin. His actions caused me mental anguish about the ticking time bomb and what it would do to me, my family, and my hard-earned reputation, he wrote. Combs, meanwhile, is currently charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison. His criminal trial is set to begin May 5 in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Combs has been sued by dozens of plaintiffs alleging sexual misconduct. The music mogul, 55, denies any wrongdoing. No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it wont change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex-trafficked anyone man or woman, adult or minor, his lawyers previously told Rolling Stone. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday denounced President Trumps recent executive order to make voting rules more strict, saying its an illegal power grab that will quickly be rejected by the courts. The executive order that was recently issued by President Trump is not worth the paper it has been written on, Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. It will be challenged in court, and it will be invalidated. Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order designed to overhaul how elections are conducted across the country. Central to the decree is a new proof-of-citizenship mandate, forcing states to require prospective voters to show passports, drivers licenses or other forms of government ID in order to register. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under current federal law, prospective voters must swear an oath that theyre citizens to gain registration, but not produce an ID. Violators can face charges of perjury. Trump and his GOP allies have cast the tougher rules as a common-sense change thats critical in weeding out voter fraud, which the president and many Republicans have claimed was the only reason for former President Bidens victory over Trump in 2020. They have produced no evidence to back that allegation, however, and the courts dismissed more than 60 lawsuits challenging Bidens win. Democrats have opposed the stricter voting rules, noting that cases of voter fraud are exceedingly rare in the U.S. With that in mind, they say Trumps executive order has a more sinister purpose: to discourage voting by low-income people who tend to vote Democratic and are least likely to have up-to-date government IDs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffries on Thursday said Republicans have zero credibility when it comes to safeguarding elections and protecting democracy. Quite aside from Trumps effort to overturn the 2020 election based on false claims of fraud, Jeffries also pointed to the GOPs recent effort to redraw the congressional map in North Carolina. The Tar Heel State is split roughly 50/50 between the parties, and it recently elected a Democratic governor and attorney general. But Republican gerrymandering heavily favors the GOP in the U.S. House, where the states delegation was evenly divided in the last Congress seven Republicans and seven Democrats but now leans heavily towards Republicans, 10 to four, under the new map. Republicans have actually concluded that voter suppression is an electoral strategy, Jeffries charged. These people in the House wouldnt even be in the majority right now if it werent for the egregious, mid-decade, highly partisan gerrymandering that took place in North Carolina. Think about that. They would not even be in the majority right now, but then theyre running around the country claiming to have a mandate. Give me a break. 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. EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Customers lined up at Jersey Mikes, enduring long wait times, to eat good sandwiches and to help a great cause. Easterseals of Central Illinois and Jersey Mikes are teaming up for the restaurants Day of Giving. On Wednesday, March 26, customers donated to Easterseals while placing their orders. Some customers waited for an hour just to donate. Eddie ODonnell was just one customer who donated to the fundraising campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really good that these dollars stay local, and youre able to help your own community, ODonnell said. Another customer, JoAnn Stambaugh said she makes an effort to come each year to support local charities. Many customers were happy to know that 100% of sales from the Day of Giving event will be donated back to Easterseals. Madalyn Schmitt, a marketing content associate with Easterseals of Central Illinois, said, I think its just a really great way for our community to come together again, to just raise awareness for all the great organizations in the Peoria area. Jersey Mikes restaurants from the Peoria area to Bloomington participated in the day of giving. Schmitt said these funds will help the non-profit continue to serve families in the area. Easterseals Central Illinois serves 5,000 families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmitt added that fundraisers like this also help support programs like the Easterseals Learning Academy. Last year, the store raised around $16,000. This year, employees at the store hope to top that amount and get to the $17,000 mark. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A box of confiscated vaping and tobacco products confiscated from middle-school students. (Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan). In 2020, federal officials and the state of New Jersey banned flavored vapes, a move meant to curb youth addiction to nicotine. But if you take a walk in one of our cities, step into a corner store, or glance at the discarded vape cartridges littering our streets, youd find it hard to believe those bans exist. The scent of cotton candy, blue raspberry, and fruit punch drifts across our streets, a telltale sign that these products are still everywhere, still easily accessible, and still hooking an entire generation on nicotine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even more alarming is that because these products are illegal, they exist almost entirely on the black market. That means there is no regulation, no oversight, and no quality control. We have no idea what toxic chemicals are inside these products. We have no way of knowing what our children are inhaling into their lungs. And yet, flavored vapes continue to flood our neighborhoods, especially in low-income and underserved communities, where oversight is weakest and enforcement is lax. Corporate retailers large chains that sell tobacco and vape products face regular inspections to ensure compliance with the law. But the same cant be said for the independent stores, often found in communities of color, where enforcement is sporadic at best. This isnt just negligence, its targeted neglect. We know where these products are being sold. We know who they are being marketed to. And yet, enforcement remains an afterthought. We cannot continue to allow the children of New Jersey to be the casualties of regulatory indifference. In January, Attorney General Matthew Platkin issued a letter to the 11,000 businesses licensed to sell tobacco and vaping products in the state, reminding them of the flavored vape ban and warning them to stop illegal sales immediately. That warning came four months after New Jersey fined 19 retailers $4,500 each for selling these illegal products. While this is a step in the right direction, it is not nearly enough. A slap-on-the-wrist fine will not deter businesses that are raking in cash from under-the-table vape sales. A strongly worded letter will not make black-market manufacturers stop targeting our kids. If we want real change, we need real action. Just across the river in New York, Attorney General Letitia James is taking an aggressive stand. She is suing 13 major manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, demanding hundreds of millions of dollars in financial penalties for violating local and state law. Her lawsuit seeks not only to punish these bad actors but to hold them accountable for the public health crisis they have created. She is demanding damages, the recovery of profits made from illegal sales, and the establishment of an abatement fund to address the epidemic of youth vaping in New York. That is what serious action looks like. That is what we need in New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Attorney Generals Office must go beyond letters and fines. They should be actively investigating and prosecuting the manufacturers and distributors responsible for flooding our streets with these dangerous products. They should be directing law enforcement to inspect vape shops in our cities, where children pass these stores every day on their way to school. This is a public health crisis. We know it. We see it. And yet, we are not treating it with the urgency it demands. Every flavored vape sold is another child at risk of addiction. Every store that continues to sell these products is making a mockery of the law. And every day that we fail to act, we put our youth at risk. We need stronger enforcement, greater accountability, and a commitment to protecting our children. It is time to stop looking the other way. It is time for our state to take action. The health of our youth depends on it. Ronald Slaughter is the pastor at Saint James A.M.E. Church in Newark and the vice chair of the New Jersey State Parole Board. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn made official Wednesday what he has been saying for weeks: He will seek a fifth six-year term in Washington in 2026, leaning into his support of President Donald Trump and relitigating his complaints about the policies of former President Joe Biden. "President Trump needs a partner who's battled-tested to restore law and order, cut taxes and spending, and take back our jobs and supply chain," Cornyn says in the video announcing his campaign, in which he also criticizes the spike in illegal immigration under Biden after Trump's first term ended. The announcement drew an almost immediate rebuke from Cornyn's potential chief rival in the Republican primary Attorney General Ken Paxon, who in a social post of his own suggested that the incumbent is cozying up to Trump more out of expedience than conviction. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn officially announced Wednesday that he will seek reelection. "Are you delusional?" Paxton posted as a direct reply to Cornyn on his personal page on X. "You've constantly turned your back on Texans and President Trump, including trying to stop his campaign in 2024 and saying his 'time has passed him by.' Texans won't believe your lies or forget how you've consistently worked to undermine the President." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A primary battle between Cornyn who by the time his current term ends will be tied for the second-longest time ofr a Texan to serve in the Senate and Paxton could set the stage for one of the most heated statewide GOP primaries since Republicans began their full dominance of Texas politics in 2002. More: Why Sen. John Cornyn is keeping his cool amid buzz of a primary challenge from Ken Paxton Texas Republicans have largely avoided bloody primary battles in statewide elections, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor. Paxton, a three-term attorney general, was forced into a runoff in 2022 against then-Land Commissioner George P. Bush, but the incumbent then trounced Bush 68% to 32%. A Cornyn-Paxton matchup would likely be more dramatic, Rottinghaus said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It will be very bitter, and very expensive," Rottinghaus said. "We're talking around $40 million to $50 million, maybe more, for a primary." And Trump will be a factor, regardless of whether he chooses to make an endorsement, Rottinghaus said. More: US Rep. Michael McCaul dismisses Trump's call to end CHIPS Act as 'off script' remark "If he says nothing, it sort of levels the playing field," he said. "But if he weighs in for one candidate or another, it could seal the deal." Cornyn began this year with a $4.1 million war chest, a healthy sum but one that would not go far in a grueling campaign in a state as large as Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paxton, in an interview with Punchbowl News published March 18, stopped short of saying he would challenge Cornyn but did make clear that he thinks the long-serving Republican is vulnerable within his own party. I think I can win if I have $20 million, Paxton, who would have to forgo a reelection campaign for a fourth term, told the online news outlet. Ive run these primaries in Texas before. I honestly dont see how (Cornyn) overcomes his numbers. Last month, a poll by the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs showed both Cornyn and Paxton have reason to be optimistic about the March 2026 primary, although the attorney general might be viewed as somewhat stronger. It was not a head-to-head matchup, but 62% of the Republican respondents said they would definitely vote, or at least consider voting, for Cornyn. But 68% said the same about Paxton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn and Paxton have had an antagonistic relationship for more than two years. A former state attorney general himself, Cornyn described Paxton as "a source of embarrassment" over being indicted on security fraud charges, which were later dropped as part of a deal that included paying restitution to business associates involved in the case. Paxton, meanwhile, has been unwavering in his support of Trump, appearing with him several times in Texas and speaking at the now-infamous rally near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump had sought to stop Congress from certifying his loss to Biden the previous November. As Trump was preparing his comeback bid ahead of the 2024 election, Cornyn told Texas reporters in a conference call that Republicans should look for a newer face to represent the party. Earlier, Trump had called Cornyn a "RINO," or Republican In Name Only, because the senator had helped negotiate a bipartisan firearms safety bill that gun rights organizations had hope to defeat. But Cornyn has never been part of the GOP camp of "never Trumpers." After Trump decisively won the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary early in the 2024 election cycle, Cornyn endorsed Trump's bid to return to the White House. Although Texas was considered safely in the Republican column last year, Cornyn in public appearances in the state made clear he was working to defeat the Democratic ticket led by then-Vice President Kamala Harris. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Why Republican John Cornyn says he wants a 5th term in US Senate Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Wednesday blamed an administration staffer for including a reporter in a group chat of Trump officials discussing war strategy. (Watch the video below.) Only one problem: National security adviser Mike Waltz already issued a mea culpa, saying an underling wasnt responsible for the security breach, as President Donald Trump had claimed. Waltz said it was his own fault. So this things over, it was a mistake, and you think everybodys been held accountable and owned it? Fox News host Jesse Watters asked Hawley in the most leading way possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Replied the senator: You know, listen, I thought that the national security adviser was clear about this yesterday, the president was clear about it. You know, some staffer who apparently set up the group chat I assume that person probably wont be in charge of meetings anymore. Waltz was on the same network the day before telling host Laura Ingraham: A staffer wasnt responsible. I take full responsibility. I built the group and my job is to make sure everythings coordinated. Hawley continued his apparent spin to Watters: At the end of the day, this strike was successful. There was no classified material out there, the strike was not compromised in any way. America is safer today because of the actions that President Trump took. The libs cant complain about that so here we are. I would say case closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mission perhaps could have been compromised by the Atlantic reporter mistakenly included on the Signal talk of an imminent bomb assault on Houthis in Yemen. But editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg released sensitive parts of the exchange well after the military action in response to the GOP downplaying of the incident. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had claimed no specific strategy was discussed, but the texts appeared to prove otherwise. Related... In the first week of his term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order barring transgender people from serving in the U.S. military. His order has undergone multiple legal challenges since. Most recently, on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes denied the Trump administrations motion to dissolve a legal order that would block the ban, per Fox News. The order was to go into effect on Friday. The Department of Justice has since filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reyes, who was appointed under former President Joe Biden in 2023, wrote in her decision that the service of women, gay, lesbian, people of color and transgender people strengthens the military and protects the nation. Trumps order only affected transgender service members. What justification did the judge use? Reyes framed her argument around the Constitutions prohibitions on sex discrimination. The case, Talbott v. Trump, was filed on behalf of six active military service members who are transgender and two who are currently seeking to enlist. More service members and potential service members have since joined the case. When you put on the uniform, differences fall away and what matters is your ability to do the job, said Nicolas Talbott, the service member for which the case is named. He serves as a second lieutenant in the Army. Every individual must meet the same objective and rigorous qualifications in order to serve. It has been my dream and my goal to serve my country for as long as I can remember. My being transgender has no bearing on my dedication to the mission, my commitment to my unit, or my ability to perform my duties in accordance with the high standards expected of me and every service member, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration categorized gender dysphoria, or a feeling of incongruence between gender and biology, as a medical condition that prevents transgender people from serving with the same capacity as other service members. The executive order says, It is the policy of the United States Government to establish high standards for troop readiness, lethality, cohesion, honesty, humility, uniformity, and integrity. This policy is inconsistent with the medical, surgical, and mental health constraints on individuals with gender dysphoria. This policy is also inconsistent with shifting pronoun usage or use of pronouns that inaccurately reflect an individuals sex. Reyes argued that gender dysphoria is not like other medical conditions and that treating it as one effectively enables discrimination. Statistics on transgender people in the armed services Openly transgender people could not serve in the U.S. military until then-President Barack Obama changed the policy beginning in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five years later, in 2020, about 8,000 openly transgender people served in the armed forces, less than 1% of current service members. A memo from Feb. 26, 2025, found that the Department of Defense spent $52 million between 2015 and 2024 to treat gender dysphoria for these active-duty service members, per Newsweek. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that transgender people are twice as likely as other Americans to serve in the military, at 20% compared to 10%. In 2025, Gallup established that 58% of Americans favor allowing transgender people to serve in the military. This number has declined from 2019, when 71% of Americans approved. Republican support fell from 43% to 23% and independent support fell from 78% to 62%, while Democratic support dropped slightly from 88% to 84%. Lawyers for Donald Trumps administration have resisted telling U.S. District Judge James Boasberg about deportation flights to El Salvador that he blocked, citing state secrets. Now, government lawyers defending the administration over so-called Signalgate will have to answer to the same judge in another case involving sensitive information. Boasberg, in a court battle with the administration over the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants, was assigned a new lawsuit Wednesday in Washington, D.C. regarding the leak of bomb plans in a group chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit alleges senior officials in the Trump administration violated federal record-keeping laws when they used a group chat on commercial messaging service Signal to discuss imminent military operations in Yemen, inadvertently adding a journalist to the discussion. Judge James Boasberg, who is clashing with Trump over the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants, has been assigned to a lawsuit over the Signal group chat. (AP) The suit lists Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the National Archives and Records Administration as defendants. It was filed by nonpartisan watchdog American Overwatch. This action arises from Defendants failure to meet their obligations under the Federal Records Act regarding messages from a group-chat discussion of planned and active military operations from March 11, 2025, through March 15, 2025, on the messaging application Signal, which can be set up to automatically delete messages, the suit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American Overwatch added in a statement that the lawsuit seeks to prevent further unlawful destruction of federal records and to compel the recovery of any records created through their unauthorized use of Signal. The lawsuit, which alleges senior officials in the Trump administration violated federal record-keeping laws, lists Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a defendant, among others (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The legal action comes two days after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, first published an article in which he revealed that he was made privy to classified information by being invited into the chat by accident. Earlier on Wednesday The Atlantic published the messages seen by Goldberg as part of the chat in full, after the Trump administration branded the story another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin. Boasberg confirmed to Politico through a spokesperson that the new lawsuit concerning the breach of national security had been assigned to him randomly through the courts typical process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently 20 judges serving on the federal district court bench in Washington. Elsewhere on Wednesday a federal appeals court rejected Trumps attempt to throw out a lower-court ruling issued by Boasberg that blocked the administration from deporting Venezuelan immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act (via REUTERS) Elsewhere on Wednesday a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. rejected Trumps attempt to throw out a lower-court ruling made by Boasberg that blocked the administration from deporting immigrants under the Alien Enemies Act. Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport the immigrants for only the fourth time in U.S. history. Flights carrying multiple people detained under the act were on their way to El Salvador on March 15 when Boasberg ordered the administration to turn the planes around, and passed an order temporarily halting further deportation flights. Three planes, however, landed and the immigrants were imprisoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administration lawyers later refused to answer a number of questions from Boasberg about the flights, citing state secrets. A subsequent filing from administration attorneys instructed Boasberg to be more respectful. He later responded in a ruling calling the attorneys intemperate and disrespectful, noting he had never before been subjected to such an attitude by government lawyers in his court. Mar. 26MITCHELL A 58-year-old Mitchell man was denied a second request for a bond modification this week after pleading guilty to several drug-related charges two weeks ago. John Bunker had previously asked for a personal recognizance (PR) bond, but his request was denied at that time as well. His bond remains set at $20,000 as he awaits his jury trial in June. Bunker faces numerous charges, including possession with intent to distribute more than one-half pound but less than one pound of marijuana, a Class 4 felony; possession of more than one-half pound but less than one pound of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of controlled substances (psilocybin mushrooms and THC concentrate), and keeping a place for the use or sale of controlled substances, all Class 5 felonies. He also faces a Class 2 misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Bunker's residence was searched as part of a parole check, where marijuana and paraphernalia were found in common areas of the home. The search was paused, and a warrant was obtained to search the entire property. When the warrant was executed, authorities found items containing methamphetamine residue in Bunker's room, along with 12 packages containing approximately 12 ounces of raw marijuana, a digital scale and bulk packaging materials, which led officers to believe Bunker was involved in marijuana distribution. The search also revealed THC edibles and a sandwich bag with psilocybin mushrooms. In an outbuilding, officers discovered additional methamphetamine and marijuana paraphernalia. Text messages between Bunker and a parolee indicated Bunker was selling marijuana to the parolee. A urine test confirmed Bunker tested positive for meth. His jury trial is set for June. A judge in Osceola County has denied Stephan Sterns efforts to keep the media and public out of the courtroom when he goes to trial. Sterns filed the motion in February, claiming the media attention would jeopardize his right to a fair trial. Circuit Judge Keith Carsten disagreed, saying the motion was too broad and the defense did not prove the media coverage was fundamentally hostile. The judge also said a courtroom closure is not necessary to guarantee a fair trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sterns is accused of killing his girlfriends daughter, 13-year-old Madeline Soto, in February 2024. He also faces more than 60 child sex abuse charges. Sterns sex crimes trial is set to begin in May. The murder trial is scheduled for September. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A federal judge on Wednesday refused the Trump administrations demand to step aside from overseeing Perkins Coies lawsuit challenging the presidents targeting of the major law firm. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said there is a clear absence of any legitimate basis for her recusal from the case, instead suggesting that the administration was placing the blame on her for its loss in her court instead of fallacies in its legal arguments. Though this adage is commonplace, and the tactic overused, it is called to mind by defendants pending motion to disqualify this Court: When you cant attack the message, attack the messenger, Howell, an appointee of former President Obama, wrote in a 21-page ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department (DOJ) asked Howell to recuse last week, suggesting she repeatedly demonstrated partiality against and animus toward Trump. The motion took aim at her temporary restraining order barring the government from enforcing parts of Trumps executive order against Perkins Coie and decisions made in other major cases she previously oversaw. Howell wrote in her decision Wednesday that she welcomed the Trump administrations opportunity to set the record straight, because facts matter. Every litigating party deserves a fair and impartial hearing to determine both what the material facts are and how the law best applies to those facts, the judge said. That fundamental promise, however, does not entitle any party not even those with the power and prestige of the President of the United States or a federal agency to demand adherence to their own version of the facts and preferred legal outcome. Howell was randomly assigned to oversee Perkins Coies lawsuit challenging Trumps executive order that restricted the security clearances and access to federal facilities of the firms employees. The president has long clashed with the firm over its work advising Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign and connections to the discredited Steele dossier containing unflattering allegations about Trump and his ties to Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Howell temporarily froze parts of the executive order after Perkins Coie claimed its past work for Democrats made it a subject of retaliation by the administration. At the law firms request, the temporary restraining order addressed only three of the orders six sections an effort to tackle the most immediate harm to the firm first. Lawyers for Perkins Coie had argued that the executive order was life-threatening to the law firm, while DOJ chief of staff Chad Mizelle, who argued for the government, called the firms representations what ifs, boogeymans and ghosts. Howell ripped the Justice Department in her ruling declining to recuse, suggesting its initial motion at times read more like a talking point from a member of Congress rather than a legal brief from the United States Department of Justice. The request for Howells removal marked the second time the DOJ has called for a judges recusal from a pending lawsuit against the administration. Last week, the administration called for the removal of the judge overseeing a high-profile deportation flight case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as Trump himself has stepped up his rhetoric against judges who rule against him. Republican members of Congress have simultaneously launched bids to impeach certain judges who have issued rulings adverse to the administration. Zach Schonfeld contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis County jury awarded a $48.1 million verdict in a malpractice case that left a child permanently brain-damaged after doctors insisted that the babys mother continue pushing for 12 hours during birth. The mother who gave birth on May 3, 2020, was also a cardiac nurse at Mercy. The case tried by Simon Law and Gunn Slater attorneys said that there were warning signs that the child was distressed. Before the baby boy was 24 hours old, he had seizures and spent 46 days in the NICU. The mother is now a full-time caretaker for her son and does not work for Mercy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the verdict, about $28.1 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages were awarded against Mercy Hospital, Mercy Clinic and Dr. Daniel McNeive. Bethany Pope, a spokesperson for Mercy Hospital, released the following statement after the verdict: First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers remain with the plaintiff and his family for his continued comfort and care. We thank the members of the jury and the court for their time and effort on this difficult case. Mercy and its physicians never want patients or their families to suffer and believe in the care that was provided in this case. Mercy disagrees with the outcome and is reviewing all options, including the possibility of appeal. Bethany Pope, Mercy Media Relations With the verdict delivered, Simon Law Firm celebrated the announcement in a social media post on Facebook. After working with this family for four years, Im happy justice was served in this case, said Simon Law Attorney Liz Lenivy. Were very pleased the jury took so much time and care in listening to the evidence and delivering a just result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial lasted for about three weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. A jury came back with a split verdict Wednesday night in an East Chicago rape trial acquitting a New Jersey man of rape, but convicting him of his lower charge, sexual battery. Pedro Castaneda Contreras, 49, of Brick, New Jersey, faces from probation up to 2.5 years in prison. Jurors deliberated for over seven hours. His sentencing is May 30. The victim told Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Phillips Tuesday that initially she wanted a physical relationship, but quickly changed her mind and felt scared or unable to get out of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once it actually happened, thats when I didnt want it anymore, she said. Castaneda denied the charges. His defense lawyer, Michael Lambert, told jurors he believed the accusations were false. The victim admitted she couldnt provide a specific month and year for when each incident happened. East Chicago Police estimated it was between April 2017 and May 2018. She testified that she told her brother in June 2021, who told her parents. They called the cops to file a police report. According to court filings, the victim said she was 16 when Castanedas texts became sexual. She told cops he forced her to perform a sex act in a bathroom, then months later tried to have sex with her, according to the affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In later incidents, he either performed a sex act on her or forced her to perform a sex act, charges state. The woman told him in 2021 that she had a boyfriend and tried to cut off contact. She took a screenshot of his Snapchat reply. It didnt matter if she had a boyfriend or if he was married, he wrote. You started it all, he responded in one part. mcolias@post-trib.com The Justice Department went to bat for President Trump in his hush money criminal case Wednesday, urging that his prosecution be moved out of New York state court so he can attempt to toss his guilty verdict on presidential immunity grounds. Trump cannot pardon himself from his 34-count felony conviction on falsifying business records charges, but the development marks the first time his administration has looked to officially back the president in his personal criminal defense. Trump has embarked on a months-long effort to try to move to federal court his criminal prosecution for illegally concealing a 2016 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, a process known as removal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the new filing, the Justice Department asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for permission to file an amicus brief backing Trumps argument that he should be able to move courts, because prosecutors during the trial brought up official acts protected by the Supreme Courts landmark immunity ruling. He has identified certain categories of the States trial evidence, including testimony about his conversations in the Oval Office with the Attorney General and the White House Communications Director, that facially involve official acts, the proposed Justice Department brief reads. Juan Merchan, the New York judge who oversaw the trial, rejected Trumps argument and went onto sentence the president to no punishment just before the inauguration. Trump is appealing in state court, but he meanwhile insists that he has the right to bring his immunity claims in a federal forum. The 2nd Circuit is slated to hear oral arguments in June after a federal district court rejected Trumps argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any briefs backing Trump at the 2nd Circuit were due before Novembers election, but then-President Bidens Justice Department did not get involved. The new administration is now asking for permission to file the past-due document. The current administration has now had an opportunity to evaluate the case, and the Acting Solicitor General has determined that the United States should participate as amicus in this appeal. Allowing the federal government to file an amicus brief is particularly appropriate, Justice Department attorney Maxwell Baldi wrote in the filing. Steven Wu, the appeals chief in the Manhattan district attorneys office, which is prosecuting the case, said the office takes no permission on the administrations request. But Wu noted the government had many prior opportunities to get involved and identifies no meaningful change in the federal governments institutional interests (id.) aside from the fact that defendant is now the head of the Executive Branch that is seeking to support his position in this private criminal matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking office, Trump has appointed his personal criminal defense attorneys to senior Justice Department roles. Todd Blanche, Trumps lead attorney in the hush money trial, is now deputy attorney general, and Emil Bove, another member of the trial team, is now the departments No. 3 official. Both attorneys formally withdrew from representing Trump in the case earlier this month, and neither were listed on the Justice Departments brief. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Justice Department is reportedly proposing the Drug Enforcement Administration merge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as part of a massive reorganization plan. In a memo sent from the office of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, obtained by Reuters, DOJ officials propose merging the two agencies as part of the Trump administrations greater effort to consolidate departments and agencies. The memo does not detail how the changes would be implemented but asks for feedback on the proposals by Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While both agencies are responsible for enforcing federal laws, they are responsible for different areas of law and have distinctly separate leadership roles. A memo from Justice Department officials wants to merge two federal law enforcement agencies, the DEA and ATF, into one unit (AFP via Getty Images) The DEA, established in 1973, combats illicit drug trafficking and distribution in the U.S. The agency coordinates and pursues drug investigations both domestically and internationally. There are about 10,000 DEA employees. The ATF, established in 1972, falls under the DOJ and is responsible for preventing and investigating federal firearm and explosive offenses, acts of arson and bombings, as well as federal offenses of alcohol and tobacco products. The agency, which has faced criticism of overregulation from conservatives, also regulates the sale, possession and transportation of firearms, ammunition and explosives. The ATF has about 5,000 employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the memo is just a proposal of merging the two agencies, it is unclear how simply that could occur. The merge may require congressional approval. The Independent has asked the Justice Department for comment. Conservatives have long criticized the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for being overly regulatory of guns (AFP via Getty Images) The memo from Blanches office also makes other suggestions to reduce the workforce or merge offices. It proposes transferring INTERPOL Washington to the U.S. Marshals Services, merging the DoJs grant offices, eliminating the Community Relations Service and reassigning some of the public corruption attorneys to various U.S. attorneys offices while maintaining a team of supervisory attorneys to remain, according to The Washington Post and Associated Press. The memos suggestions come weeks after the DOJ reassigned lawyers in the public integrity section. Sandra Hale Schulman Special to ICT A jury has awarded more than $800 million to the Seminole Tribe of Florida after finding that Wachovia Bank and its new owner Wells Fargo Bank charged more than $7 million in unauthorized fees and mishandled a trust fund set up for the tribes children. The civil jury in Broward County court found on Tuesday, March 25, that the bank and eight employees had violated their fiduciary responsibilities to the tribe and its children and failed to properly invest the funds deposited into the account. This verdict should be a wake-up call for all financial institutions that think they are above the law and can take advantage of their clients, said attorney William R. Scherer Jr., founder and managing partner of Conrad & Scherer, which represented the tribe along with Seminole general counsel Jim Shore. SUPPORT INDIGENOUS JOURNALISM. CONTRIBUTE TODAY. In this case, those hurt by these actions were innocent children, which is unforgivable, Scherer said. Justice has prevailed, and while we cannot reverse the damage caused, this resolution provides meaningful compensation and safeguards for these minors. Seminole tribal members from six reservations throughout Florida packed the courtroom to show their support throughout the six-week trial, which began with jury selection on Feb. 10. Closing arguments were held Monday, March 24, and the jury began deliberations Tuesday, March 25. The jury came back after only about six hours of deliberations, delivering the verdict to a largely empty courtroom. Since no one could predict how long deliberations would take, only the attorneys were in the courtroom when the verdict was read, along with the judge, jurors and court officials. Most of the tribal members watched it live on a Zoom link provided by the court as they jury awarded more than $825 million in damages and more than $7 million in compensation for fees collected. Judgments ranging from $50 to $500 were assessed against the individual employees. Wells Fargo had no comment after the verdict was announced, but has indicated it plans to appeal. Taking money from children The Florida tribe set up the Seminole Minors Per Capita Payment Trust in 2005 as it was preparing for its 2006 purchase of Hard Rock International, the music-themed chain of restaurants, hotels and casinos that has since expanded into a successful brand of casino resorts around the world. The expansion brought great prosperity for the tribe, which set up funds for the children, stipulating initially that they could not collect the money until they reached age 17, later changed to 24 and then 30, and after they had taken financial management courses and proven to be drug-free. The guitar-shaped hotel at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is shone here on this 2019 photo in Hollywood, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) The fund was entrusted to Wachovia Bank, now owned by Wells Fargo, and was their largest trust account at the time. The Seminole removed Wells Fargo from the trust in 2016 after tribal officials reviewed the low rate of return and questioned the $7.6 million in fees charged by the bank, according to the suit. The bank tried to broker a new deal instead of owning up to mismanagement, according to the lawsuit, and the tribe sued. As the sole trustee to the fund, Wells Fargo was accused of bilking 2,000 beneficiaries of an estimated $818 million in damages and lost income. The lawsuit accuses the bank and eight representatives of breaching their fiduciary duty, engaging in intentional misconduct and unlawfully collecting millions of dollars in unlawful fees for more than a decade. The bank had countered that the Seminole Tribe insisted on conservative investments and was to blame for the low returns. About half-way through the trial, a former relationship manager for Wells Fargo admitted under cross-examination by the tribes lawyers that the bank had engaged in illegal misconduct and misappropriated as much $2 million to $3 million per child. Justice has prevailed The trust account has now more than doubled since moving to another management firm. In 2016, the trust had about $1.4 billion in assets; it now has about $3 billion. It was a privilege to represent the Seminole Tribe of Florida and bring justice to the children of the Seminole Tribe," Scherer said in a statement. It was imperative that Wells Fargo be held accountable for engaging in intentional misconduct, breaching its fiduciary duty and unlawfully collecting millions of dollars in fees that resulted in a devastating monetary loss to the value of the Seminole Tribe of Floridas Minors Trust *Correction: The story has been changed to clarify that the judgment awarded to the Seminole Tribe of Florida was $800 million. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. ICT, formerly Indian Country Today, is a nonprofit news organization that covers the Indigenous world with a daily digital platform and news broadcast with international viewership. HONOLULU (KHON2) Those near Kilauea may notice denser plumes of smoke or VOG. 79-year-old man dies in Kaimuki fire; residents displaced Normally you get kind of a downwind plume. But today, what were seeing is more like an umbrella that goes out and spreads in all directions, stated Ken Hon, United States Geological Survey (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist in Charge. According to USGS, theres a lot of tephra or volcanic debris falling around the entire summit and surrounding communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peles hair forms when you have two blobs of lava. As they go up in the air, its kind of like taffy. They get pulled apart and between them stretches a little thin fiber of lava, which when it gets thin enough, it just freezes and it snaps off. So, it becomes these very fine hairs. Those are carried by the wind tens of miles downwind of the eruption, said Hon. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Spectators visiting the park said the National Park Service (NPS) closed a nearby viewing area due to volcanic debris. Even at the place where we were, which was pretty far away, the national parks security was warning people that they need to be very careful, said Councilmember Andria Tupola. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors said VOG cause major health problems, especially for those with asthma, cardiovascular disease, and pregnant women. Its the sulfur dioxide that is an irritant to the airwaves so patients get shortness of breath and wheezing, said Dr. Samuel Evans, Hawaii Pacific Healths Chief of Pulmonary Medicine. The particulate matter can irritate our eyes, our nasal passages, cause a sore throat, even in those of us without any underlying lung disease. Dr. Evans adds its best to stay inside and away when volcanic smog fills the air. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You We see an influx of E.R. visits, particularly in kids with asthma, stated Dr. Evans. Wear glasses to protect your eyes from the particulate matter. Some people go as far as wetting a towel and sticking it under their door so that VOG cant sneak into the house. 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. Mar. 27The Texas company that purchased the Kalispell Center Mall last year is in negotiation with three potential anchors to join the commercial space. Specific plans for the building, which is located on Main Street and runs adjacent to the Parkline Trail, could be released by late summer, Daniel Fuller of SHOP Development Company recently told the Inter Lake. For now, it remains a "fluid process" with confidentiality agreements precluding the release of further details, he said. "Our group remains very excited about the redevelopment opportunities for the mall property," Fuller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company says the mall, which it calls the Parkline District property, "presents an extraordinary opportunity to redevelop an irreplaceable infill property in a high growth market by repositioning the asset and increasing density under zoning by right." A central spot for shopping for the greater Flathead Valley community in the past, the mall featured outposts from well-known chains like Payless ShoeSource, Orange Julius and Herberger's, its 348,742 square feet of commercial space full of shoppers. Today, it's quieter, with large metal gates blocking the entrances of empty storefronts. After years of store turnover, the new owners say that the shopping mall located on about 22 acres is listed as an important property in city planning documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kalispell 2012 Core Area Plan outlines a vision to expand the mall into a "lifestyle center." It calls for new commercial development in the Core Area of the city, including the expansion of the Kalispell Center Mall to provide a more "attractive and diverse shopping experience." Little has been released as to a plan thus far, to some frustration from community members and shop owners. Kalispell Chamber of Commerce officials have indicated that the mall will be discussed at an upcoming Kalispell Growth Summit in May. STORE OWNERS in the mall also want to see success from the shopping center's new ownership. Camas Creek Cottage moved into the building six months ago after having operated on Main Street for years. Owner Micki Gette said the large parking lot and accessibility are benefits of the new location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want more business," she said. "Who doesn't?" The lack of business has been tumultuous for many stores, according to Jacqulyn Baerveldt, manager at The Sunflower Moose boutique. She reminisced on the mall years ago, when it was filled with stores, and families frequented its corridors. "[The new owners] said that they wanted to get shops in to get it up and running," she said. "But that was months ago." Built in 1986, the Kalispell Center Mall transformed an old railroad yard site into a shopping destination after a market study revealed a lack of shopping access in the Flathead Valley. When it opened the mall boasted 42 stores, including national department store chains Herberger's and JCPenney, which remains in the building today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herberger's finished a 40,000-square-foot expansion in 2017, but closed the following year after its parent company was sold for liquidation. A few local businesses remain, including the Isle of Misfits pop culture store, Elly Jaymes boutique and the Hungry Hun restaurant. Corporate stores like Bath & Body Works and Maurices occupy spots, along with optical chain LensCrafters. The Red Lion Hotel Kalispell, owned and operated by the Sonesta International Hotel Group, is located at the east end of the mall with a casino, hotel and event space. SHOP has properties across the United States, among them two properties in Whitefish. It owns the building on Second Street occupied by the restaurant Indah Sushi and the under-construction Larch House, a 39-room luxury hotel expected to open downtown in late summer. Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com. Kalispell Center Mall on Wednesday, March 26. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider KANSAS CITY, Mo. Kansas City will be looking for a new city manager. The city council voted unanimously Thursday to remove Brian Platt, who had been previously suspended. During a City Council meeting Thursday, members of the council voted 13-0. The acting city manager, Kimiko Gilmore, will remain in the role for the time being. The council has lost confidence, as well as the staff and community, said Ryana Parks-Shaw, mayor pro tem. [We] unanimously agreed that its time to move on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Platt speaks publicly for first time since suspension ahead of City Council vote Mayor Quinton Lucas said he agrees that they made the right decision. Im the mayor of this city. People elected me to make decisions for the people of Kansas City and for the best interest of the city long-term, Lucas said. I think today we did that. Platt said he wanted to stay on as city manager, but its out of his hands. He was suspended on March 6, one day after the city lost a lawsuit filed by its former communications director. Former Kansas City communications director Chris Hernandez sued the city, claiming Platt instructed him and other staff members to lie to the media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hernandez was awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars as other former city employees also detailed a hostile work environment while working for Platt. Hernandez believes the city made the right choice by removing Platt. I am relieved that the City Council did the right thing and hopeful that healing will come quickly for City Hall staffers, Hernandez said. Lucas hired Platt four years ago. Last year, when the city of Austin tried to get him to leave Kansas City, the City Council extended his contract. He said at that time, they knew about the lawsuit, so the suspension and threat of losing his job after losing the lawsuit surprised him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lucas said that although he knew about the lawsuit before Platt signed a new 3-year contract, he didnt know the full extent of the allegations until the trial. I believe that we have always been fair; we have always been objective, Lucas said Thursday. And it is my belief that any jury that would hear that discussion would agree with us as well. In an exclusive interview with FOX4, Platt said hes faced animosity from city staff since before he was hired, claiming many people wanted a Black woman as city manager, not a white man. This is not a new moment; theres been an animosity toward me since before I even started, during the hiring process, Platt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said over the past four years, hes improved the culture at City Hall and made major improvements to trash service, roads, and snow removal. He claims he never told his staff to lie to the media. I never asked anybody to lie, Platt said. Im not sure I can comment too much further on litigation, but absolutely not. Crispin Rea, city councilman for Kansas Citys 4th district, was one of 13 council members who approved the removal of Platt from the city managers role. I think the decision the council made was a first and important step into regaining trust and confidence at city hall, Rea said. When you have that process produce a result that, as we have learned, there was direction to staff to lie to the media and retaliation. And thats something you have to take very, very seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outcome of the lawsuit was a substantiation of some concerning behavior at city hall that I think goes against our ethics. Rea said he hopes the decision turns the page on this chapter at city hall. I wish it could have gone a little faster, but I am happy that we were able to bring some closure to folks, he said. This is a developing story that FOX4 will continue to update. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kari Lake, the failed Arizona politician and current special adviser to the president at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, has withdrawn the termination of a federal grant to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, one of the agencys media properties, to end a legal fight. Lake gave notice in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Wednesday that the grant termination was being withdrawn, and also sent a letter to RFE/RLs president, Stephen Capus, notifying the organization that the grant agreement was restored. But the letter added a caveat: The grant was restored without prejudice, meaning that Lake and the Trump administration can still terminate the grants at a later date if they so choose. X screenshot Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney JUST IN: Kari Lake has withdrawn the cancelation of Radio Free Europes grant, seeking to end a legal standoff. (with screenshots of legal filing) Lake officially serves as a special adviser to the president in charge of the agency while she awaits Senate confirmation to take over as director of Voice of America, also part of the USAGM. Earlier this month, President Trump signed an executive order gutting USAGM, resulting in all VOA employees being fired and other outlets, such as RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, operating with minimal resources while they challenged the order in court. Now it seems that at least RFE/RL has some temporary relief to be able to serve its mission of reporting in 27 languages to 23 countries around the world, many of which dont have a functioning free press. But the USAGMs other media outlets arent so fortunate, and for now are still at the mercy of a Trump appointee known for peddling election lies and even lying about the agency shes now trying to run. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) presented the 2025 Robinson Award for Diversity and Equity in Public Education to a Hopkins County principal. Officials say the Browning Springs Middle School principal Michael Griffin won an award at KBEs March 27 meeting. Each year, the KBE gives the Robinson Award to a Kentuckian or a Kentucky organization demonstrating extraordinary efforts and contributions in educational diversity and equity. The criteria for receiving this award includes, but is not limited to: Successful efforts in closing socioeconomic and/or racial achievement gaps Significantly improving student learning, student achievement or other measured outcomes among students of color or economically-disadvantaged students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AG Coleman announces $19.8M in grants to combat drugs My nine years at Browning Springs have been rewarding, and I am grateful for the exceptional support of my staff, said Griffin. Their dedication has been instrumental in achieving this recognition. I collaborate closely with my schools youth service center coordinator, our district director of community schools and the rest of my administrative team to identify and address any barriers our students and community may face. I am truly appreciative of the commitment shown by my staff to prioritize the diverse needs of our students. At Browning Springs, we treat everyone as family. The KDE says according to his nominators, Griffin has a mission to create an environment where all students and families feel supported. He collaborates with the youth service center coordinator to identify and address student needs, providing targeted interventions through the schools multi-tiered system of supports. By analyzing data on at-risk students, Griffin ensures that appropriate academic and behavioral interventions are in place to support success, according to Hopkins County Director of Community Schools Wendy Gamblin, who was one of two people nominating him for the award. Date with a Story: Henderson residents bridge a generational gap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say Griffins other nominator, Zachary Evans, Browning Springs Middle Schools family resources and youth services center coordinator, said the principal, is the true definition of a leader who lives out the values of equity and inclusion. KDE says Griffins leadership at Browning Springs Middle has resulted in remarkable growth, Gamblin wrote. Griffin spearheaded initiatives that elevated the schools overall performance rating from orange to yellow, eliminating its Targeted Support and Improvement designation for students with disabilities and black students. Across the academic areas, student performance has significantly improved. Gamblin said the school advanced two classifications in the Quality of School Climate and Safety survey. Officials say Griffin led school efforts to address disparities in school discipline, significantly reducing in-school and out-of-school suspensions. Griffin has implemented programs tailored to meet the needs of diverse learners and their families; introduced multicultural events, parent workshops and family engagement nights and removed communication barriers by having all school correspondence translated into the language spoken by students and their families, Gamblin said in her nomination. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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). KANSAS CITY, Mo. A special agent from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation shot a man while serving an arrest warrant Wednesday night at a supermarket in Kansas City, Kansas. According to a statement released by the KBI early Thursday, agents were serving the warrant just before 9 p.m. outside of the El Rio Bravo Supermarket on South 10th Street. 3 men hospitalized after triple shooting in KCK neighborhood Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency has not said what the man was wanted for and has not identified the man who they were there to arrest. The KBI stated that as agents were trying to arrest the man, he was shot by one of their special agents. The man was taken to a hospital with injuries and is expected to recover, the agency said. No KBI agents were hurt in the incident. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV The special agent who fired their weapon has been placed on paid administrative leave pending further investigation, the KBI said. The agency has requested the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department to investigate the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. One year after the opening of CPKC Stadium, the KC Current and its partners are taking the next step toward transforming the Riverfront area. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said its plans will fundamentally create a new district in the city. Brian Platt speaks publicly for first time since suspension Indeed, I think you could say almost about 100 years, where Kansas City wasnt invested in new development activity here, Lucas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project will create a new waterfront neighborhood, totaling $1 billion. President of Port KC Jon Stephens said Wednesdays groundbreaking includes a $200 million phase with more than 400 multi-family homes, 48,000 square feet of retail and two-plus acres of gathering space, including a new town square, riverfront promenade and street parking. Youre seeing the incredible next phase of development that will, over the next decade come online through multiple phases and connect the rest of our 55 acre riverfront, to the origin hotel, to the union apartments, to the other apartments and ultimately the streetcar, he said. There will be parking; it will be integrated into this walkable riverfront neighborhood in the months and years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephens said to expect to hear from partners from all over be a part of the development. One project partner thats already entertaining ideas is Leavenworth, Kansas native Melisa Etheridge. Were going to bring some midwestern Hollywood right here going to make it a studio city right here, Etheridge said. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Stephens said to expect to hear more announcements and openings within the next year. The area will also connect to the rest of downtown with the new streetcar extension. The Riverfront Streetcar Line Extension is expected to begin service next 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. KANSAS CITY, Mo. On Thursday, it was announced that the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will be laying off bus drivers and reducing bus routes. The KCATA Board of Commissioners met Wednesday, and the transit authority announced that the current level of proposed funding provided by the City Council (in Ordinance #250247) is not enough to maintain current levels of bus service. KCATA outlines proposed service cuts that would eliminate routes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means union drivers will be laid off. It also means weekend bus services will be limited to just seven routes, with reduced frequency. Nicholas Miller, President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1287, previously told FOX4 in 2024 that about 160 people could lose their jobs if the funding shortage isnt resolved. FOX4 reached out to KCATA to ask how many people will be laid off. We do not know what the final changes will be until City Council approves the contract next week, a spokesperson for KCATA told FOX4. One week ago, the Kansas City Council approved the $2.5 billion fiscal year 2025-26 city budget allocating $71 million for the KCATA, with an additional $6.8 million from a budget amendment to support the transit authority and prevent extensive route cuts. However, it appears that the additional funding was still not enough to prevent layoffs or cuts. A rushed deal, with devastating implications Sunrise Movement KC a national organization fighting for economic justice, among other issues released the following statement, which reads, in part: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are shocked at KCATAs proposal for drastic reductions in frequency and service. Mayor Lucas, Mayor Pro Tem Parks Shaw, and City Council members went on the record to the press and at City Hall claiming this ordinance fully funds our buses with no service reductions, even if just for six months. It now appears those claims were incorrect. As written, this ordinance will not only eliminate Zero Fare, but it will fail to do the very thing it set out to achieve: prevent service cuts. Council has repeatedly made demands around fiscal responsibility and measured solutions, yet they have put forward a rushed deal, with devastating implications for the Kansas Citians who depend on bus service. Bus riders know it best when we say frequency is freedomcuts to frequency are effectively a cut to our routes, leaving us stranded at bus stops with longer wait times, and increasing crowding on buses which may lead to drivers passing us at stops. Reduced frequency and weekend service actively cuts us off from accessing what we need by bus. Kansas City must choose to build a transit system that serves us all. That means fast, frequent, reliable and universally Zero Fare public transit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group is demanding that the City Council uphold Ordinance #250247 until the following demands are met: Immediately work with KCATA to provide sufficient funding for current levels of bus service, without any reductions of bus frequency or weekend service on ANY bus routes. Pass legislation to require KCMO to allocate 90% of the Public Mass Transit Fund to KCATA, ensuring taxpayer money designed for mass transit is truly used for preserving fast, frequent bus service powered by union jobs. Protect zero farea system that is proven to make our buses faster, more frequent, safer and more popular. The ordinances timeline and imposition of a $2 fare the highest in Kansas Citys history is rushed and setting KCATA up to fail, and it will cause significant harm to the bus system and its riders. Do not approve any plan that leads to losses in unionized jobs. Guarantee severance for IRIS workers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) A bill that would require creating financial literacy standards in Kentucky school districts, along with a course requirement for high school students, was signed into law on March 24. House Bill 342 amended a previous law enacted in July 2018, which required high school students to complete a financial literacy class while calling upon schools statewide to establish financial literacy standards. The amendment added the collaboration of the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission (KFEC) and also defined the types of topics that needed to be addressed in a financial literacy course. These learning areas include budgeting, investing, taxes, insurance and risk management, being able to produce a cursive signature, and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are all the bills Gov. Andy Beshear signed, vetoed, and returned without his signature on Tuesday The newly signed law requires Kentucky superintendents to consult with the Department of Education to make decisions about building the courses. The department will also develop financial literacy guidelines for local schools and districts. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: HB 342 gives schools the option to decide if financial literacy courses will fulfill math, social studies, or elective requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would affect students entering grade nine during or after the 2026-2027 school year. It would be required to be completed during the 11th or 12th grade, lawmakers said. Wednesday, March 26, is the last available day for Gov. Andy Beshear to either sign or veto bills brought to his desk following the Kentucky General Assemblys 2025 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 story has been updated with additional information from the sheriff's office.) Troopers with Kentucky State Police fatally shot a Warsaw man outside his home early Thursday morning following a nearly seven-hour standoff. Troopers were called to a mobile home park at around 10:18 p.m. Wednesday to help the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office subdue a man firing shots into the air outside his home, according to a state police news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff's office deputies had originally received a call about someone yelling, which was quickly updated to an armed subject outside and possible shots fired, Sheriff Bud Webster told The Enquirer. The man, 54-year-old James E. Walter, continued to fire his weapon inside his home and threatened to shoot police after troopers arrived, the news release said. Law enforcement evacuated residents of the Warsaw mobile home park, located on the 600 block of Second Street, as troopers utilized "negotiation techniques" to de-escalate the situation for several hours overnight. Around 4:45 a.m., Walter "opened the door to his residence and presented his firearm." Troopers with the state police's special response team shot Walter and he died, state police spokeswoman Sherry Bray told The Enquirer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other injuries were reported, according to the news release. Bray did not say how many times Walter was shot or the kind of gun he was using. Kentucky State Police, who frequently investigate shootings involving law enforcement among other departments, is investigating its own troopers in this shooting. Bray said the department is following its policy in doing so. Warsaw, Kentucky, is the seat of Gallatin County. Roughly 9,000 people live in the county, which sits along the Ohio River just south of Boone County. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky troopers fatally shoot Warsaw man after standoff Thursday WAYNE COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) A Wayne County woman has been accused of driving her car into a home Wednesday evening. At 9 p.m. on March 26, deputies said they were called to a home on East KY Highway 90 where a woman drove through a garage door of a home and left. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wayne County Sheriffs Office said the vehicle crashed into another vehicle parked in the garage and pushed it through a wall into a kids playroom. Side-by-side photo of Wayne County collision damage (Wayne County Sheriffs Office) Deputies said that there were two adults and three children inside of the home at the time of the crash. While en route to the scene, deputies saw the vehicle involved and arrested Emily Coomer, who was allegedly driving away from the crash in the vehicle. Read more of the latest Kentucky news She was charged with five counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief, and leaving the scene of an accident. She was booked into the Wayne County Detention Center and is being held on a $25,000 cash bond, according to court records. 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. A key Tennessee House committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow schools to block undocumented children from enrollment, one of the most controversial measures of the 2025 legislative session. For some Republicans, the legislation has emerged as an avatar of the frustration with what they call a broken immigration system across the country. The bills sponsors have admitted the state would likely be quickly sued over the legislation if it becomes law. The bill's sponsors hope to trigger a critical legal battle to potentially challenge a longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent that all children have a right to access public education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Education advocates and Democrats sharply criticized Republicans for targeting children in their effort to make a statement on immigration issues and elevate a legal case before the current conservative Supreme Court. A woman weeps after representatives voted on HB 739 in a committee hearing at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. We should not put our children the least of us, those who cannot do for themselves in the middle of an adult battle, said Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville. This is a bully bill doing just that. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, is sponsoring the legislation and argued schools should at least be able to gather data on the number of undocumented students in their student population. Under current federal law, schools cannot ask for citizenship documentation. "Each [school system] should be able to make the determination on their own as to whether or not they wish to check the immigration of the student who is trying to enroll in that school," Lamberth said. Emma Wilkins 10, kneels down in front of representatives and is asked to go back to her seat while she chants Stop attacking my friends as they vote on HB 739 in a committee at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The Education Committee chair called for an abrupt vote Wednesday night after a handful of audience members stood and began singing the song, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Two Democrats on the committee said they couldn't even hear the call for the vote, but their voting terminals lit up and they quickly cast the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill passed on an 11-7 vote, drawing Republican opposition from the committee chair, Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis. Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, and Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray, also voted against the legislation with the committee's three Democrats. Republican lawmakers quickly left the committee room after the vote while dozens of protestors stomped and clapped, shouting "Every student counts." In the amended version of HB 793, schools could choose to require all students to prove legal citizenship or immigration status, but schools do not have to require the documentation. Schools could also block students without legal status from enrolling or choose to charge those students tuition to enroll in the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amended bill appears to align with a Senate amendment that was supposed to be heard on Tuesday. The Senate bill was delayed and wont be heard until next week. Nashville resident Karla MacIntyre testified against the bill, telling lawmakers she grew up in Tennessee as an undocumented child after her mother, a domestic violence survivor, had the courage to immigrate to the U.S. to give her two daughters a chance at survival. MacIntyre, who later graduated high school and earned two higher education degrees, noted her mother would not have been able to afford tuition for her if this bill had passed during her childhood and her local school chose to charge students. MacIntyre praised the Tennessee educators who encouraged her to work hard and strive for success. These diplomas are a testament to the importance of education in shaping our future and helping the growth of our state, MacIntyre said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenny Mills McFerron from EdTrust Tennessee also testified against the bill, warning lawmakers of the downstream effects of denying children an education. What happens when thousands of children are locked out of classrooms? What would it look like if there were thousands of children in our communities who never learned how to read? McFerron asked. The crowd erupts into protest as representatives vote on HB 739 in a committee hearing at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville , Tenn., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Republicans who support the measure have repeatedly said local schools shouldnt have to bear the costs of educating children without legal immigration status, citing rising rates of English as a second language instruction in the state. "We have to get a handle on this moving forward, and I dont see another trigger here unless we challenge Plyler v. Doe in court," said Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, referencing the Supreme Court case the legislation seeks to challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, McFerron noted a large majority of English learners in schools are U.S. citizens, while Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, argued all undocumented immigrants pay into Tennessee's tax structure. The state heavily relies on sales taxes, paid anytime someone buys groceries of pays for gas, rather than an income tax. "We know that every undocumented immigrant in Tennessee pays all the same taxes and actually gets fewer benefits. They are paying their fair share," Johnson said. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN committee passes bill that could bar undocumented students The White House is continuing to downplay and deflect criticism over a Signal group chat among top Trump administration officials in which plans for an airstrike on Yemen were discussed just before being executed. Democratic lawmakers are demanding an investigation and accusing key Trump defense and national security officials of revealing classified information about the Yemen plans in the March 15 group chat over an encrypted but unsecured app. The chat also included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, who was inadvertently invited to the channel. The fallout continued to grow Wednesday as The Atlantic, which broke the story on Monday, published purported details discussed in the chat on the Yemen strike. In the new article, the magazine shared text messages sent to the group, including its editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth giving a "TEAM UPDATE" on pending times of the strike, "favorable" weather conditions in Yemen and that F-18 military jets and attack drones would carry out two strike packages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP," Hegseth texted at one point, noting the military time of 1415 (2:15 p.m.) for the planned strike. The magazine described Hegseth's text message as "war plans." PHOTO: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel, left, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, testifies at the House Intelligence Committee, March 26, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) The magazine reported that Hegseth's text message was sent to the group, unwittingly including Goldberg's cellphone number, "31 minutes before the first U.S. warplanes launched" against militant Houthi targets. "The idea that this information, if it was presented to our committee, would not be classified. Y'all know it was a lie. That's ridiculous," Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, said during a House Intelligence Committee hearing Wednesday as he grilled Trump officials who were on the Signal chat. "I've seen things much less sensitive be presented to us with high classification." PHOTO: *** BESTPIX *** Intelligence Chiefs Testify To House Select Committee On Intelligence (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) Here is what Trump administration officials have said about the contents of the group chat: Was classified information released in the group chat? The White House and the top administration officials who were on the group chat titled "Houthi PC small group" continued to say Wednesday that no classified information was shared in the group chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The conversation was candid and sensitive, but as the President and national security advisor stated, no classified information was shared. There were no sources, methods, locations, or war plans that were shared," Trump's Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said at Wednesday's House Intelligence Committee hearing. "This was a standard update to the national security cabinet that was provided alongside updates that were given to foreign partners in the region." PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., March 26, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) While testifying at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, Gabbard initially declined to answer questions about the group chat, even declining to confirm if she was part of it, saying, "I'm not going to get into specifics because this is currently under review by the National Security Council." But later in the hearing, Gabbard told the Senate committee members, "There was no classified material that was shared in the Signal chat." Seated next to Gabbard on Tuesday, CIA Director John Radcliffe immediately confirmed that he was part of the group chat when asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: 'Nonsense': Atlantic editor-in-chief blasts Trump administration 'smokescreens' on Signal chat "So, my communications, to be clear, in a Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information, to be clear," Radcliffe said. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., asked both Gabbard and Radcliffe to answer a series of questions about the contents of the group chat, including whether military units, weapons and timing were mentioned. Both Gabbard and Radcliffe answered that they could not recall if those subjects came up. When pressed by Kelly, Gabbard later said, "I believe there was a discussion around targets in general," and Radcliffe added, "I think that's consistent with my recollection." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Atlantic story on Yemen chat reportedly showed rare instance of Vance breaking with Trump In a social media post on X Wednesday, Hegseth slammed The Atlantic's reporting, saying, "The Atlantic released 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." In an interview Tuesday night on "The VINCE Show" -- a conservative talk radio program hosted by Vince Coglianese -- Trump highlighted the success of the Yemen attack and said, "No, and there weren't details, and there was nothing in there that was compromised, and it had no impact on the attack, which was very successful." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X Wednesday, noting that The Atlantic's headline on its follow-up article referred to "attack plans" instead of "war plans" the magazine initially reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT 'war plans,'" Leavitt wrote in her post. "This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well known for his sensationalist spin." Goldberg and The Atlantic reported that they "held back specific information related to weapons and to the timing of the attacks that we found in certain texts." But The Atlantic said it decided to release Hegseth's text messages stating the types of weapons used and the timing of the strike to counter claims from Trump officials that no classified information was released in what it described in the article as "a massive Trump-administration security breach." "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 magazine's follow-up article reads. Was it wrong to conduct such a chat on the Signal app? In his testimony Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Ratcliffe said Signal was appropriately used by the group involved in the chat, including Vice President JD Vance. PHOTO: US-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-TRUMP-AMBASSADORS (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) "So that were clear, one of the first things that happened when I was confirmed as CIA Director was Signal was loaded onto my computer at the CIA, as it is for most CIA officers," Ratcliffe said as he responded to questions from Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. "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. It is. That is a practice that preceded the current administration to the Biden administration." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ratcliffe added, It is an end-to-end encryption. It is permissible to use to communicate and coordinate for work purposes, providedprovided Senator that any decisions that are made are also recorded through formal channels. So those were procedures that were implemented. My staff implemented those processes, followed those processes, complied with those processes." On Wednesday, Ratcliffe told the House Intelligence Committee that there was no misuse of the Signal app. "I used an appropriate channel to communicate sensitive information. It was permissible to do so. I didn't transfer any classified information, Ratcliffe said. "And at the end of the day, what is most important is that the mission was a remarkable success." But several former defense and intelligence officials told ABC News that such exchanges should have never been made in such a group chat. They insisted that an exact location of a strike isn't needed for information to be damaging to national security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The details Hegseth shared in the chat were so sensitive that if leaked, they could have put troops carrying out the strike in danger because it gives the adversary time to prepare to fight back, the experts told ABC News. "It was 100 percent classified," Darrell Blocker, a former CIA field operative and ABC News contributor, said of the reported text exchange, based on his three decades with a security clearance. PHOTO: Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief, The Atlantic, speaks with ABC News, Mar. 26, 2025. (ABC News) Gabbard told the House Committee, "The Signal message app comes pre-installed on government devices. December of 2024, CISA [Certified Information Systems Auditor] stated, 'We strongly urge highly targeted individuals to immediately review and apply best practices provided in the guidance to protect mobile communications, including consistent use of end-to-end encrypted messaging apps.'" PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii, March 25, 2025. (Senior Airman Madelyn Keechvia Reuters) On Tuesday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he didn't know anything about Signal and wasn't involved in the group chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Atlantic story on Yemen chat reportedly showed rare instance of Vance breaking with Trump "I hear it's used by a lot of groups, I hear it's used by the media a lot," Trump said. "A lot of the military, I think, successfully. Sometimes people 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, which is always the best, frankly. The best is to be there." How was Goldberg invited to the chat? On Tuesday, Trump suggested that a staff member of national security adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently invited Goldberg to the group chat. "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 Goldberg's number were called through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call," Trump said in an interview with Newsmax. PHOTO: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (L) accompanied by CIA Director John Ratcliffe (R), speaks during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing, March 25, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) But during an interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham Tuesday night, Waltz contradicted Trump's statement, saying he was the one who accidentally invited Goldberg to the chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, look, a staffer wasn't responsible. And look, I take full responsibility. I built the group," Waltz said, adding that the incident was "embarrassing." On Wednesday, Gabbard told the House Intelligence Committee that it was "a mistake" to add Goldberg to the chat. During a news conference in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that he, too, was on the Signal chat and added, "Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist." Will there be an investigation? Elon Musk and his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are reviewing how Goldberg was added to a Signal chat, a senior White House official told ABC News. In his interview with Fox News Tuesday night, Waltz alluded to Musk's involvement, saying, "I just talked to Elon on the way here -- we have the best technical minds looking at how this happened." The White House official confirmed to ABC News that DOGE is involved and that the team is working with other teams to make communications "more secure and efficient." Leavitt said on FOX News that in addition to Musk and his team, the National Security Council "is all digging into this matter... to ensure this could never happen again." Asked by Sen. Warner during Tuesday's Senate Intelligence Committee hearing whether the FBI was investigating the matter, FBI Director Kash Patel, who was not part of the chat, said, "Senator, I was just briefed about it late last night and this morning. I don't have an update." What key Trump players in Signal chat flap are saying originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The Keystone Sanitary Landfill agreed to a $15,000-plus settlement with the state Department of Environmental Protection after it regularly stored too much leachate in its lagoons in 2023 and 2024. Landfill President Louis DeNaples signed a consent order and agreement with the DEP on March 5 that requires the landfill in Dunmore and Throop to pay a civil penalty of $15,487.50 for exceeding the 25% total leachate storage capacity at its lagoons. Leachate is the liquid that percolates through garbage piles. Landfill Business Manager Dan OBrien and attorney Jeffrey Belardi also signed on behalf of Keystone. The agreement requires Keystone to continue corrective actions to limit similar violations in the future, the DEP said. The settlement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, the DEP reviewed leachate storage amounts at the Louis and Dominick DeNaples-owned landfills east and west lagoons and the Former Dunmore Fuel Oil Tank, finding that KSL stored leachate in excess of 25% of its total leachate storage capacity on a regular basis, according to the agreement. Leachate storage totals exceeded the maximum limit every month from October 2023 to June, according to the DEP. As of Sept. 30, the landfill had reduced its leachate to below 25% capacity. The storage violated state code and the Solid Waste Management Act, according to the agreement. The DEP sent the landfill a notice of violation June 11 that documented the violation and asked it to submit a plan and schedule to correct and prevent the violation. Keystones response 10 days later listed measures it had already instituted to address the issue, including using temporary additional storage in aboveground tanks and hauling leachate off-site to permitted treatment facilities. The landfill also noted plans including installing a rain tarp to divert stormwater away from the leachate collection systems. As part of the settlement, Keystone cannot challenge or deny the departments findings on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a compliance history included in the landfills April operating permit renewal application, it was previously cited for the same violations, including on April 12, 2022, and Sept. 20, 2018. The new settlement comes a year after the landfill agreed to pay a $575,000 civil penalty in March 2024 that was the culmination of 14 odor-related violations since January 2023, close to 1,000 odor complaints in seven months and at least 70 instances of DEP staff detecting offsite landfill gas and leachate odors attributed to Keystone. The DEP touted the nearly $600,000 fine as the largest it had issued to Keystone. That settlement required 26 corrective actions to mitigate odors pertaining to leachate storage, leachate treatment and temporary and permanent covers for waste piles. New odor complaints Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, the DEP sent Keystone a letter notifying it of numerous complaints related to landfill-associated odors. In the Feb. 18 letter, the DEP said it had received more than 195 complaints since Jan. 14 from residents in Throop, Dunmore, Olyphant, Scranton and Jefferson Twp., with 97 odor complains Jan. 31 alone. Three DEP staff members were dispatched to investigate the complaints that day; all three detected offsite odors attributed to landfill operations, according to the letter. The DEP received an additional 12 odor complaints Feb. 3. A member of DEPs emergency response team conducted a complaint investigation that day and detected offsite odors attributable to landfill operations in community areas. While the emergency response member did not enter the landfill, the odors detected were similar to Keystones leachate and landfill gas odors, according to the letter. The letter gave the landfill 10 days to submit a plan and schedule addressing the control and minimization of its odors. The landfill responded Feb. 28, saying it was not the source of the 97 complaints Jan. 31. More so, of the 195 complaints, only a small number were verified by DEP staff, and four were incorrectly identified, business Manager Dan OBrien wrote in the response letter, pointing to a UGI gas leak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Keystones offsite odor patrols, especially when barometric pressure is relatively low, landfill personnel have noticed a significant increase in sewer gas odors, which are more prevalent during the winter when traps on storm inlets have no water in them to create a seal, OBrien said. There is no question that KSL is an easy target, he wrote. Anytime there is any kind of odor within a 3-mile radius it is automatically assumed that it must be caused by the landfill. He pointed to other potential sources of odor in the area, including numerous industrial facilities, an asphalt plant, solid waste transfer stations, public and privately owned wastewater treatment facilities, a mulch processing facility, a meat packing plant, the communitys sewage, stormwater and combined sewer overflow systems natural gas leaks, utility pipeline repair/replacement stormwater retention basins, the major highway system surrounding the landfill, and off-site abandoned mine operations. The situation is further exacerbated by Friends of Lackawanna encouraging anyone and everyone to call PADEP when there is an odor even when the complainant is not experiencing the odor, he wrote, including screenshots of Jan. 12 and 31 Facebook posts by the landfill opposition group that include the DEPs complaint line phone number for logging odors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pat Clark, a leader of Friends of Lackawanna, which formed in 2014 to oppose Keystone and its now-approved Phase III expansion, contended the landfill has had longstanding issues with leachate storage. He cited the 2024 consent order and the 14 odor violations contained in it, which the landfill agreed it would not challenge or deny the truth, accuracy or validity of the DEPs assertions. People take the time out of their day to call in the odors; the landfill thinks we make it up, yet the department continues to verify these are landfill odors, and the landfill says, Hey, its not us, Clark said. To continually treat the citizens of Northeast Pennsylvania with such disregard that youre telling us we dont understand that the smell is coming from the landfill continues to be disingenuous at best and insulting at worst. Keystone said it will review and evaluate its nuisance minimization and control plan, that it has completed tasks in its previous consent order to significantly reduce fugitive odors, that it is installing liners and shallow collectors, that it added a product to a concentrate tank to reduce hydrogen sulfide emissions a rotten egg smell and that it is working with a vendor to design and construct a vapor capture system for two new leachate holding tanks. Technology is so ingrained in our lives that most children today are digital natives. Indeed, they might speak digital before they even learn a language, and digital natives are often asked to educate older digital immigrants, such as their parents, about how to use technology. At the same time, a great many parents are concerned about the potential harms of exposing their kids to technology, screens, and the internet in particular. Studies have shown that digital technology has a range of effects on children. These can be very positive, such as children being able to grasp mathematical concepts or understand languages much earlier than their millennial counterparts. They can also be negative, such as increased levels of depression from excessive or compulsive social media use, cyberbullying, and being manipulated by strangers online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In order to understand the effects of technology on young people, our research has built a tool that measures childrens digital maturity. It marks an important step in deepening understanding of how technology affects childrens development on a psychological, academic and holistic level. Our Digital Maturity Index was developed alongside researchers from across the EU under the EU-funded Digymatex project. This metric assesses how developed or advanced a childs relationship to technology is, as well as what it means for their overall development. Dimensions of the Digital Maturity Index. Author's own The Digital Maturity Index is comprised of a set of dimensions or components that, when taken together, offer a holistic overview of how mature a childs relationship with technology and the internet is. The components are digital literacy, risk awareness, individual growth, respect towards others, digital citizenship, support seeking behaviour, autonomy within digital context, autonomy of choice, regulation of aggressive impulses, and regulation of negative emotions. Real-world applications The index is, in and of itself, a very helpful way for parents, educators and child psychologists to quantify the impacts of technology and internet exposure on a child. However, our objective was to build a tool that could help them to not only assess a childs digital maturity, but also to design targeted interventions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To do this, we first used the index to gather data from 1,440 respondents in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Greece. We then used machine learning to analyse the data and categorise children into types of digital maturity. We found that children consistently tend to be clustered into three groups: low, medium, and high digital maturity. Not surprisingly, being in the high digital maturity category was positively associated with high digital literacy, awareness of the risks of browsing the internet, use of technology for personal growth, and non-compulsive browsing behavior. This category was the least concerning for parents and educators, and it serves as a reference point, the best case scenario of childrens online behaviour. Children in the medium category exhibit low compulsive behaviour, but they do not acknowledge the use of technology for personal growth, and show medium to low digital literacy. The low category includes children with very high compulsive behaviour, very poor risk awareness, and poor regulation of negative emotions. Understanding the children that belong in the two lowest categories is vital for educators and psychologists, as they can develop targeted interventions aiming to improve those specific areas that the children seem to be lacking. Country-specific trends Interestingly, our data showed that digital maturity patterns varied widely across countries. We noted several interesting differences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children in the low digital maturity category in Germany and Greece shared broadly similar patterns. They scored below average in nearly all dimensions, including impulsive behaviour and emotional regulation, but German children in this group exhibited particularly low scores in Digital Literacy (such as understanding privacy settings) and Risk Awareness (such as identifying online dangers). Greek children, on the other hand, demonstrated slightly stronger Autonomy Within Digital Context, despite struggles with compulsive device use. Meanwhile, Austrian children with low digital maturity stood out for scoring above average in Digital Citizenship, a unique trait not observed in other countries low-maturity clusters. In addition, children with low digital maturity broadly showed low Autonomy within Digital Contexts in all other countries besides Denmark, where this group scored much higher in this category. Another interesting observation is that the high digital maturity group shows high Autonomy of Choice in all countries except Germany, where this dimension is slightly below average for children in the high-scoring category. A tool for parents, educators and researchers Beyond understanding the categories of children with regard to their digital maturity, we have developed a prediction tool that, using machine learning, allows users to assess a childs digital maturity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using our algorithm, users can answer a set of questions about a childs behaviour, and receive an estimate of their digital maturity level, as well as indications about areas for improvement. Our aim throughout this endeavour was to create a platform that can help researchers as well as parents, educators, and child psychologists to better understand the impact of technology on children. If used appropriately, it can help caregivers to make informed decisions that encourage children to develop and maintain healthy digital habits. Este articulo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos academicos. Lee mas: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Konstantina Valogianni receives funding from EU H2020 Program and IE Business School. Aqib Siddiqui received funding from EU H2020 Program and IE Business School. Theres a lot of discussion in various Western nations at the moment about the need to become independent of the US arms industry. This follows the Trump administrations vigorous assertion that Europe in particular needs to take on much more of the burden of its own defence. Lets be clear that is all that has been said or done. Ukraine, never a Nato member, has been pressured to toe the US line. But Americas huge and vital support for Ukraine was restored as soon as President Zelensky agreed to a ceasefire on US terms. As this is written, Ukraine fights on with American weapons streaming in and full US intelligence backing. As for Europes full Nato allies, they have no reason to doubt that the US would stand with them if Russia attacked. They just cant any longer expect to spend all their money on welfare and rely entirely on the American taxpayer for security. In what he thought was privacy, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denounced such freeloading as PATHETIC. In public he is more diplomatic, saying last month: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Continent deserves to be free from any aggression, but it ought be those in the neighbourhood investing the most in that defence. Thats common sense. You defend your neighbourhood, and the Americans will come alongside you in helping in that defence. Who could ask more than that of an ally? The worst that Europe is looking at is some redeployment of US strength elsewhere, which is entirely reasonable. But, baselessly, the suggestion is being made that not only would Trump renege on the US commitment under Nato Article 5 to defend its allies from attack, but that, for some reason, he might also withhold US technical support for US-made weapons. Pete Hegseth says allies cannot rely solely on the US taxpayer for their security - DOD/U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech/Reuters Foolish talk of a kill switch built into US-supplied F-35 fighters has been widespread. That is no more than a conspiracy theory, although its a fact that operating the F-35 does require US parts and other forms of American assistance. No one believes any more that he [Trump] will stand by Article 5 if Putin invades, says Thomas Enders, ex-head of Airbus, one of the largest European defence contractors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody needs to buy an F-35. It is absolutely imperative that we free ourselves of dependence on US systems as far and as quickly as possible. He would say that, wouldnt he? This ignores the fact that the F-35 is the only fifth-generation stealth fighter available today on the Western market and the only one likely to be available this decade and probably the next. Unless you want to buy an obsolete jet, you have to buy an F-35. But there are, of course, people who think we should buy more Eurofighter Typhoons or wait for their faraway successor, the planned British-Italian-Japanese Tempest. Away from jet fighters, it is suggested, the nations of the West should spurn combat-proven US systems such as the Patriot air defence missile. That is despite its effectiveness in Ukraine, where it has humiliated Putin by shooting down his Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic super weapons. European equivalents, according to Mr Enders, such as the Franco-Italian SAMP/T, would be just as good. Another much-cited example of European defence technology is the magnificently named Storm Shadow cruise missile, generally described as a Franco-British collaboration. It is in fact a French missile with a British warhead. But at least it isnt American or so people think. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The general idea, understandably extremely popular among Mr Enders and his colleagues given how lucrative it would be for them, is that Europe, the UK and Canada should spend their increased defence budgets on Typhoons, Tempests, Storm Shadows and the like and not on Trump-controlled weaponry. Thus, we would be independent of the US defence industry and interference from the White House. There is, however, an enormous problem with this idea. Its name is Itar, standing for the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. This is a set of US rules governing all the items on the United States Munitions List, a huge list of US-produced components, software and other technology, which are either for military use or dual-use. Almost every advanced weapon or military system produced anywhere in the Western world contains or uses items on the Munitions List, meaning that the producing nation, in order to obtain the necessary US technology, has agreed that the weapon or system is subject to Itar which means in turn that it cannot be built, sold or supplied to anyone, or probably even operated for any length of time, without US consent and support. Itar-free weapons do exist, but they are rare. The latest Block 6 version of the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (Asraam) uses a British-made seeker instead of the US one found in previous Asraams, and is advertised by its maker as Itar-free. Very few weapons are Itar-free, which means most weapons need US consent for their operation - Matt Cardy/Getty Images Whenever a weapons maker thinks it has produced an Itar-free system, it is keen to trumpet the fact as this is liable to boost export sales. And yet such claims are extremely uncommon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only other immediately relevant example is the so-called Black Shaheen version of the Storm Shadow supplied by France to Egypt in 2021 against US opposition. Normal Storm Shadows are known to be Itar weapons, but France claimed that the Black Shaheen had been rendered Itar-free. So almost every non-US weapon, aircraft or other system used by the armed forces of Europe, the UK and Canada contains Itar technology. The defence industries of the non-US Western nations are almost entirely dependent on Munitions List items to produce advanced weapons. As Prof Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute puts it: If the exam question is what would it take to become completely independent from the Americans?, then the answer is probably a decade of vast investment ... Its not something that can be achieved by just buying different jets. In Britain, we are planning to spend 2.5pc of GDP on defence in a couple of years and might get to 3pc at some time this decade. Realistically, even assuming todays Itar-underpinned defence world, a Cold War-style spending level of 4 or 5pc would be more appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we were to attempt to go Itar-free throughout, as Prof Bronk says, spending would have to be vast considerably above 5pc and the timescale would be very long. Replicating the entire US defence-industrial base would not be done cheaply or quickly. Quite likely, it could not be done meaningfully at all. And the fact is, its unnecessary. There is not the faintest hint, even from the Trump administration, that Nato allies could not expect US help if they were attacked only that they need to stop free-riding on the US taxpayer. As for the F-35, and indeed US-made weapons in general, theres something that the kill switch fantasists are forgetting. Some 15pc of any F-35 is made in the UK, including the rear fuselage, a good deal of the electronics and the ejection seat. In the F-35B jump jet version used by the US Marines and the Royal Navy, the vertical thrust machinery also comes from Blightys Rolls-Royce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its remotely possible that the US could have built a secret kill switch into British F-35s. Its just as possible that Britain has built a switch into Americas jets allowing for the pilot to be ejected by remote control, or to make the tailplanes fall off. Other nations build many parts of the F-35, and they could have built sabotage switches too. This is foolishness, but it illustrates the fact that in the real world, each nation including the US needs the others to build, maintain and operate its F-35s. And this is true across many different weapons, programmes and allied countries. Almost all weapons are Itar weapons, yes. But not many US weapons are entirely free of foreign technology either. Nobody should be listening to the current foolish scaremongering over US weaponry. Where they are the best value for money, as is the case with the F-35, we should keep buying them. 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. 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 Advertisement Advertisement 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: 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. 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.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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 Advertisement Advertisement 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 (?). 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.) 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.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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? CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) Prince Harry's surprising resignation from an African charity he co-founded in memory of his mother, Princess Diana, came this week amid allegations of bullying, harassment, sexism and racism made by the organization's chairperson against unnamed board members. Harry announced his resignation in a joint statement with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who he co-founded the Sentebale youth-focused charity with in 2006. The princes were patrons of Sentebale and weren't on the board of trustees. They said they were quitting in support of the trustees, who left after a dispute with chairperson Sophie Chandauka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sentebale works in the southern African nations of Lesotho and Botswana and was started to help young people affected by AIDS after Harry spent part of a gap year in 2004 working at an orphanage in Lesotho for children whose parents died of the disease. Sentebale means don't forget me in the Sesotho language, and Harry and Seeiso set it up in memory of their mothers. Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997. Seeiso's mother, the former queen of Lesotho, died in 2003. What Harry has said In their statement, Harry and Seeiso said they were in shock at the developments at the charity, where the trustees had asked Chandauka to step down. She refused and filed papers at a British court to prevent her from being removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The princes said the trustees were acting in the best interests of Sentebale and had now resigned, and the breakdown in relationships was devastating. Whats transpired is unthinkable," the princes said. Allegations of sexism and racism Chandauka, a Zimbabwean corporate lawyer, said in her own statement that she had dared to blow the whistle" about poor governance, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, sexism and racism at the charity, and said there had been a cover-up. Her allegations appeared to be directed at the trustees, but she didn't name anyone or give any details. The trustees who resigned included Mark Dyer, a longtime mentor of Harry's. One of the other trustees, Kelello Lerotholi, told British television channel Sky News that Chandauka's allegations were surprising and there was never even a hint of misconduct by trustees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chandauka said that she had reported some of the board members to the U.K.'s Charity Commission, where Sentebale is registered. A spokesperson at Sentebale didn't respond to a request for more information on who Chandauka's allegations were specifically directed at or what they involved. What does Sentebale do? Sentebale has a special place for Harry and continued some of the work Princess Diana did by supporting AIDS charities and trying to remove stigmas around the disease. Diana visited South Africa to promote AIDS awareness in March 1997, five months before she died. Sentebale was initially set up to help vulnerable children and young people affected by AIDS with health care services, education and vocational training. Lesotho, a poor mountainous kingdom surrounded by South Africa, is one of the worst-affected countries in the world by HIV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harry's charity had recently evolved to also address issues of youth health, wealth and climate resilience in southern Africa under Chandauka, and the future direction of the charity was a point of disagreement among its leadership, according to British media reports. Harry visited Sentebale in Lesotho as recently as October, when he spent an evening around a campfire speaking with young people and said the charity was building a force of young advocates. On the same trip, Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane said the country would always be Harry's second home. ___ More AP news on the Royals: https://apnews.com/hub/royalty MADISON - President Donald Trump signed an order Tuesday that seeks to overhaul how states carry out elections by requiring voters prove their citizenship on the federal voter registration form. But the order is all but certain to be challenged in court and won't affect Wisconsin's elections, election experts say. Here's what to know: What does Trump's election executive order do? In the executive order, Trump requires the federal Election Assistance Commission to mandate "documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship" on voter registration forms and bans clerks from counting absentee ballots received after Election Day, among other measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If state officials do not use the voter registration form called for under the order, they could lose federal funding. Non-U.S. citizens are already not allowed to vote in federal elections. But under the order, the national mail voter registration form will require applicants to provide either a U.S. passport, a REAL ID driver's license or a state-issued card compliant with REAL standards, or a "valid Federal or State government-issued photo identification." The order directs states and local election officials to record and verify the documents proving U.S. citizenship and threatens to withhold federal election-related funds from states that do not comply. Trump's executive order also targets mail-in voting The directive also takes aim at mail-in voting a practice Trump has long criticized by instructing his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to "take all necessary steps" to ensure states don't count absentee ballots that arrive after Election Day. Wisconsin does not count absentee ballots that arrive after 8 p.m. on Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also ordered Bondi to enter into "information-sharing agreements" with state election officials to target individuals who have committed election fraud, registered to vote despite being ineligible, provided false information on voter registration forms and intimidated or threatened election officials or voters. In addition, the order updates federal elections standards for voting systems by requiring that all ballots produce a voter-verifiable paper record to prevent fraud or mistakes. How will the order affect Wisconsin? It won't change how Wisconsin residents vote in the April 1 election and the order broadly likely won't affect the state anytime soon. Wisconsin is banned by a Waukesha County judge from using the federal voter registration form at issue because it does not comport with state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders of the state elections agency also said the state is unlikely to face repercussions because the state is exempt from using the form. "Anything that would possibly have an effect on Wisconsin elections doesn't apply to our April election, and people should rest secure that they're going to be able to vote in April," said Wisconsin Elections Commission chairwoman Ann Jacobs, a Democrat. "The Commission is obligated to follow what the Wisconsin courts have ordered us, and sometimes the federal courts, and so we'll do what they what they direct," said Don Millis, the Republican vice-chairman of the commission. "The courts have said that's not a form that we're allowed to use." Why will the order be challenged in court? Some national election experts predicted the order would be challenged in court immediately over its potential to disenfranchise people who cannot turn over citizenship documents readily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the order, U.S. passports and REAL IDs would be accepted as proof of citizenship but not birth certificates. Voting rights groups on Tuesday warned that voter identification requirements, long championed by Republicans, can make it harder for eligible seniors, minorities, low-income and students to vote. "This executive order, if it could survive the inevitable judicial challenge, would severely shift power over federal elections into the hands of the Presidency," UCLA law professor Rick Hasen wrote on his Election Law Blog. "This would prevent only a tiny amount of noncitizen voter registration but stop millions of eligible voters, who do not have easy access to documents such as passports from registering to vote." Why is Trump issuing the order? In a statement, Trump said the order is going to "fix our elections so that our elections are going to be honorable and honest and people leave and they know their vote is counted." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also said, "Ideally, we go to paper ballots, same-day voting," but did not set new requirements for either policy change he has championed since the 2020 election when he falsely claimed to have defeated former President Joe Biden. Trump has made false election distortions a cornerstone of his stump speeches since losing reelection in 2020 and the order seeks to address some of his complaints. Jacobs said she suspects the timing of the order is related to the April 1 spring election in Wisconsin when partisan control of the state Supreme Court is up for grabs. The court in 2020 ruled against Trump in a lawsuit he brought seeking to throw out thousands of ballots in an effort to overturn his election loss here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has endorsed conservative candidate Brad Schimel in the race, and days later former President Barack Obama backed liberal candidate Susan Crawford in the highly nationalized race. "It feels like this is sort of being rushed out in advance of our April election. And I'm assuming that there's a political reason for that," Jacobs said. But Millis dismissed the idea, saying, "It would seem highly unlikely that the timing of this has any relationship to Wisconsin's Supreme Court election next week." Joey Garrison of USA Today contributed to this report. Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump executive order on elections unlikely to affect Wisconsin As the sun began to set Tuesday over Somerville, Massachusetts, Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturk was on her way to meet friends at an Iftar dinner where they would break their Ramadan fast. But she would never make it to the gathering, according to her attorney. Instead, the 30-year-old was arrested and physically restrained by immigration officers near her apartment, close to Tufts Universitys Somerville campus where she was a PhD student, lawyer Mahsa Khanbabai told CNN. Six plainclothes officers surrounded Ozturk as she walked alone, neighborhood surveillance video appears to show. The officers did not show their badges until she was restrained, the video shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, she is being held at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Louisiana, according to the Department of Homeland Security. While no charges have been filed against Ozturk, her attorney told CNN, Ozturks visa status has been terminated, according to a statement released Thursday by Tufts President Sunil Kumar. A federal judge in Boston issued an order late Friday to stop Ozturk from being deported. Judge Denise Casper wrote in the order that Ozturk shall not be removed from the United States until further order from this court. Caspers order directs immigration authorities to stop deportation proceedings against Ozturk until she can determine whether the Boston court has jurisdiction to decide if Ozturk was lawfully detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozturk is one of several foreign nationals affiliated with prestigious American universities to be arrested for purported activities related to terrorist organizations amid the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. They include Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist taken into custody this month outside his Columbia University apartment. In her order, Casper cited Columbia graduate and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalils case specifically referencing a New York judges decision to not allow Khalil to be deported until a court settles whether it has jurisdiction over his case. Khalil and Ozturks cases share some striking similarities both were arrested near their homes without notice, both were transferred across state lines and jurisdictions and both have been transferred to Louisiana. Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Wednesday in a statement without specifying what those alleged activities were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined Ozturks alleged activities would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences and would compromise a compelling U.S. foreign policy interest, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, told CNN Thursday. She declined to provide further details about Ozturks alleged activities or how they could pose adverse consequences to US foreign policy. DHS cited the same provision in the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate who was arrested by immigration officers earlier this month. Asked about Ozturks case Thursday, Rubio suggested without evidence she was involved in disruptive student protests over Israels military operations in Gaza. If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason why youre coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, were not going to give you a visa, Rubio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, the Trump administration has revoked hundreds of visas, Rubio said. Might be more than 300 at this point. We do it every day, he added. Meanwhile, Ozturks lawyers praised the judges decision Friday. This is a first step in getting Rumeysa released and back home to Boston so she can continue her studies. But we never should have gotten here in the first place: Rumeysas experience is shocking, cruel, and unconstitutional, Khanbabai said in a statement. Who is Rumeysa Ozturk? Ozturk was enrolled in a PhD program at Tufts University on a valid F-1 visa, which allows international students to pursue full-time academic studies, Khanbabai said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A student of psychology, Ozturk has been studying in the US since 2018, her brother Asim said in a Thursday statement on behalf of the family. She went to America after winning a Fulbright scholarship, successfully completed her masters degree at Columbia University, and then started her doctorate at Tufts University in Boston, Asim Ozturk wrote in a statement in Turkish he posted to X. Ozturk was working on her dissertation when she was arrested and had about 10 months left to complete her doctorate, Asim said. In March 2024, Ozturk cowrote an op-ed in the schools newspaper in which she criticized Tufts response to a student government groups call for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel because of the conflict in Gaza, among other demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Credible accusations against Israel include accounts of deliberate starvation and indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinian civilians and plausible genocide, the op-ed says. Ozturks brother, Asim, said he believes she is being targeted for her beliefs. Rumeysa Ozturk, a graduate student at Tufts University in Massachusetts, was taken into custody Tuesday by federal agents near her home, her lawyer said. - Mahsa Khanbabai Apart from expressing her opinion within the framework of freedom of expression without engaging in any provocative or aggressive action regarding the Palestine issue, she has not taken any action, Asim added. It seems that she has been subjected to the activities of ICE, which has been on a witch hunt in the post-Trump period, against those who support Palestine. Tufts University officials had no prior knowledge of her arrest, Kumar has said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kumar shared the concerns of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in calling the video of Ozturks arrest disturbing, he said in an updated statement late Wednesday that included additional guidance and resources for international students. We recognize how frightening and distressing this situation is for (Ozturk), her loved ones, and the larger community here at Tufts, especially our international students, staff, and faculty who may be feeling vulnerable or unsettled by these events, Kumar added. Let me assure you that the university is doing everything in our power to support our community, as we continue to learn more information about this troubling event in real time, a Tufts official wrote to university alumni in an email obtained by CNN. Hundreds protested Ozturks detention Wednesday night at a park on the edge of the Tufts campus, CNN affiliate WBZ reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that someone can just be disappeared into the abyss for voicing an idea is absolutely horrifying, rally attendee Sam Wachman told WBZ. The university is in touch with local, state and federal elected officials and hope that Rumeysa is provided the opportunity to avail herself of her due process rights, he said. The Turkish government is monitoring the case and staying in touch with Ozturks family, it said. Initiatives have been made with the US Department of State, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Unit and other authorized units, the Turkish embassy said on X, on Wednesday. Every effort is being made to provide the necessary consular services and legal support to protect the rights of our citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A US State Department spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the case. Due to privacy and other considerations, and visa confidentiality, we generally will not comment on Department actions with respect to specific cases, a State Department spokesperson told CNN. Sudden arrest caught on camera Surveillance video released Wednesday and obtained from a neighbor by the advocacy group Muslim Justice League appears to show six plainclothes officers casually approaching Ozturk as she walks alone on a sidewalk. One officer wearing a hat and hoodie grabs her arms, causing Ozturk to shriek in fear as another pulls out a concealed badge on a lanyard and confiscates her cell phone. Shortly afterward, the officers all pull cloth coverings over their mouths and noses, some of them wearing sunglasses, as one of them restrains Ozturks hands behind her back. As the officers say, Were the police, a person not seen in the video can be heard responding, Yeah, you dont look like it. Why are you hiding your faces? One minute after the encounter began, Ozturk is walked into a waiting SUV and driven away. ICE has not responded to CNNs request for comment on Ozturks case. The use of facial coverings is similar to an account of the arrest of Georgetown University fellow Badar Khan Suri, whose attorney Nermeen Arastu told CNN the officers who detained Khan Suri were brandishing weapons. ICE agents came in the night, took him captive, taking him from his wife and children, and hauled him away to an unknown location before transferring him to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana, far from his family and attorneys, Arastu added on Suri. Detained in Louisiana After her arrest on Tuesday night, Ozturk was driven to multiple government offices in New England, a spokesperson for Ozturks legal team said. The next morning, Ozturk was flown to southern Louisiana where she is being detained. Throughout that period of time, Ozturk was not charged or given the opportunity to speak with a lawyer, according to the statement. Following her detainment, Khanbabai filed a petition in federal district court in Boston, challenging the legality of her detention and asking she not be moved out of Massachusetts. (Ozturk) shall not be moved outside the District of Massachusetts without first providing advance notice of the intended move, District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, wrote Tuesday in an order. The government must respond to the motion no later than Tuesday, District Judge Denise Casper said. However, Ozturk was already detained outside Massachusetts when federal officials got the courts order, government attorney Mark Sauter said in a court filing Thursday morning. She is scheduled to face an initial hearing in removal proceedings April 7 in Louisiana, according to an amended petition filed Friday. Her attorneys have asked a federal court in Massachusetts to assert jurisdiction over her case and release her on bail as the litigation moves forward. The petition also asks the court to restore her F-1 student visa. The state department revoked her visa on March 21 but she was not notified until she received a notice to appear from ICE after her arrest on March 25, the petition says. The court filing describes how Ozturk was taken to Louisiana by ICE agents after her arrest. Without access to her medications or legal counsel Ozturk was transferred to a staging facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, then moved again to another facility in southern Louisiana where shes currently being held. A Turkish consulate representative traveled to the ICE office in Burlington, Massachusetts, Wednesday to inquire about Ozturk but was denied information on her location, according to the filing. Ozturks attorneys, who were unable to reach her for nearly 24 hours after her arrest, contacted area hospitals fearing she couldve had a medical episode, the filing says. Rumeysas friends frantically tried to find out more information about what had happened to her, her counsel wrote in the filing. For more than 24 hours after her arrest, Rumeysas friends, family and legal counsel did not hear from her and could not speak to her. Ozturk had an asthma attack while in transit to Louisiana, according to the filing that says she told her attorney when they made contact a day after her arrest. Her lawyers also allege that ICE failed to notify them, the court and DOJ lawyers that she was being transferred to Louisiana prior to that transfer, even though the Massachusetts court had entered the order requiring notification. Ozturk is detained at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, according to ICEs online detainee locator system. Ozturk is now the third international student known to be transferred to Louisiana after being detained by federal officers. Khalil and Georgetown fellow Badar Khan Suri were both transferred to an ICE detention facility in Jena. Like all the other immigration cases related to international students and activists who have spoken up about the atrocities in Palestine, the government throws around wild accusations but provides no evidence, Khanbabai said. We hope Rumeysa will be released immediately. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Lauren del Valle, Amanda Musa, Braden Walker, Caroll Alvarado, Zenebou Sylla, Gul Tuysuz, Sana Noor Haq, Jennifer Hansler and Benjamin Gittleson contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Its been nearly five years since a woman was found shot after a crash on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, and Knoxville police are still searching for answers about what happened that day. On April 4, 2020, officers with the Knoxville Police Department responded to the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue after a vehicle crashed into a building. After they arrived, they found Markedra Houston, 32, was suffering from gunshot wounds to her legs. Sevier County woman still missing after 2010 house fire Markedra Houston (Knoxville Police Department) Houston was taken to UT Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, the shooting was believed to have happened because of a confrontation at a nearby home. A witness told officers the vehicle Houston was in had come from the south on Chestnut before crashing into the building. The witness also reportedly told officers they heard gunshots from the area the vehicle came from. Knoxville case sheds light on how family is found when someone dies alone The case is being investigated by Knoxville Police Departments Homicide Unit. Anyone with information that could help investigators is asked to contact the East Tennessee Crime Stoppers, where tips can be submitted anonymously by phone or online, or the Violent Crimes Unit at 865-215-7317. There are multiple ways you can provide anonymous information to Crime Stoppers. You can call 865-215-7165 or **TIPS, and go online at www.easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org, via the free mobile app, P3 Tips, or the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers Facebook page. Tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible to receive a cash reward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sparked anger Wednesday with a video that she recorded during her visit to a notorious high-security El Salvador prison to which President Donald Trumps administration has removed migrants to the United States that they allege are gang members. Noem stood in front of some of the facilitys detainees, who were behind bars and semi-dressed, and warned people thinking about entering the United States via unofficial channels: This is one of the consequences you could face. First of all, do not come to our country illegally, Noem said. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted. But know that this facility is one of the tools in our tool kit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On X, formerly Twitter, Noem said that we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you could end up in this El Salvadorian prison. I toured the CECOT, El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center. 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. pic.twitter.com/OItDqNsFxM Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) March 26, 2025 The video was condemned on social media as the sickest shit I have ever seen in my life, utterly reprehensible and fucking disgusting. Many commenters argued that everyone deserves due process ahead of being removed from America. This is the sickest shit i have ever seen in my life oh my god. pic.twitter.com/CxriT9ou7t Tim Miller (@Timodc) March 27, 2025 They still deserve HR, they should be afforded proper legal proceedings with attorneys and judges, especially considering it is 2025, not the dark ages. Regardless of the situation, they are still human and deserve the dignity of wearing clothing. It's unacceptable for them to be Shirin Bolourchi (@ShirinBolourchi) March 27, 2025 If you ever wondered what the gestapo would look like in 2025, wonder no longer https://t.co/Syw0sxb3HL Polling USA (@USA_Polling) March 27, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are human fucking beings behind you, not fucking props!!!!!! That looks like a concentration camp. This is utterly reprehensible. Shame on you. Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) March 27, 2025 What if you make a mistake? @jason (@Jason) March 27, 2025 The inhumane nature of this post is horrific. And it all stems from a mere belief some people have - that they are far better than the rest of humanity. That just because they are born in US, by a mere chance, they are better than the rest of the world. You probably believe that Oksana Luk (@oksanka_luky) March 27, 2025 This is fucking disgusting O (@TheeCoachO) March 27, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That prison looks like a Nazi concentration camp, with all the prisoners piled on top of each, heads shaved. And then there's you, in your tight t-shirt, perfectly coiffed hair and makeup. This is really gross. KO Murphy (@klcmurphy) March 26, 2025 Grotesque. Art Candee (@ArtCandee) March 27, 2025 Im a fan of Trump but this aint it. Due process must be followed citizen or not. Jimmy Fitcheal (@JFitcheal) March 27, 2025 This is disgusting propaganda! What do you think they do to those men to get them to stand up with no shirts and stare at the cameras like this?? Orwhat do they do to them if they refuse?? This is gross! There may be U.S. citizens, without charges against them, locked up in Deanna (@deanna504) March 27, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related... SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER CITY, La. (KTAL/KMSS)Kroger is offering a discount to residents and visitors in Northwest Louisiana. Kroger has announced that seniors aged 65 and older, as well as veterans, active military personnel, and their dependents, can receive an additional 10% discount on in-store purchases. Eligible customers should use their Kroger loyalty card or an alternative form of identification and present either a state ID, military ID, or proof of service to take advantage of this offer. Farm Shares: deliver fresh veggies, milk, eggs and more Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eligible shoppers must visit the following Shreveport and Bossier City locations to receive a physical coupon: 9155 Mansfield Rd. Shreveport, LA 71118 9484 Ellerbe Rd., Suite 100 Shreveport, LA 71106 6652 Youree Dr. Shreveport, LA 71105 1050 George Dement Blvd. Bossier City, LA 71115 Eligible customers can choose from over 17,000 Kroger branded items. This deal is valid only on Thursday, March 27. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) KRQE News 13 meteorologists are continuing to visit schools around the Metro area, teaching students about New Mexicos diverse climate and unique weather patterns. From KRQEs Weather Academy to Albuquerque Aviation Academy, this week, KRQE News 13s Chief Meteorologist Grant Tosterud and meteorologist Liz Felinger spoke with a group of curious students. These weather academies are an interactive way for young kids to learn about the weather from our talented team of meteorologists. The Weather Academy is full for this school year and is not accepting any requests for the 2024-2025 school year. However, KRQE is now accepting requests for the 2025-2026 school year. Teachers interested in bringing the KRQE Weather Academy to their students can fill out the form here. Also, at this time, the Weather Academy is only available for 2nd 6th graders in the Albuquerque-Metro area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sponsored content disclaimer: The information and advice displayed in this story are those of individual sponsors and guests and not Nexstar Media Group, inc. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A Long Island man has been indicted for allegedly choking his domestic partner to death in their Huntington Station home nearly three years ago, prosecutors announced Wednesday. Georgios Boultadakis, 25, is accused of killing his partner of two years, John Melnikoff, Jr., in the basement of their home in August 2022 and then faking performing CPR during a 911 call. Boultadakis, a former Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department employee, was indicted for second-degree murder in the tragic and brutal murder of a domestic partner, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case, which unfolded in the early hours of Aug. 8, 2022, was initially being investigated as an unattended death since early investigation showed no obvious sign of foul play and detectives found no evidence of a struggle. However, after an autopsy determined that Melnikoff had died from neck compression, the case became a homicide investigation, prosecutors said. According to investigators, Boultadakis called 911 to report that he had found his partner passed out at the foot of the basement stairs of their Huntington Station home and was not moving or breathing and heard instructions on how to perform CPR, a lifesaving procedure. During the call, Boultadakis actions and statements created reasonable belief in the operator that CPR was being performed, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When first responders arrived at the scene, Melnikoff was pronounced dead. Boultadakis was arrested on March 3, 2025. He was indicted at a Suffolk County Court hearing on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty. At the hearing, Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos Suffolk County described how Boultadakis held Melnikof in a four-minute chokehold after hitting him in the neck as he prayed for forgiveness, Newsday reported. Boultadakis defense attorney claims he acted in self-defense. [Melnikof] threatened to kill my client, threatened to kill his family, came at him with a knife, William Keahon said. The two of them went to the ground. My client was trying to prevent himself from being killed. Judge Timothy P. Mazzei ordered Boultadakis held without bail. Hes due back in court on April 15. A Long Island man has been indicted for murder after allegedly shooting a friend to death following an alcohol-fueled altercation earlier this month, prosecutors announced Thursday. Jeremias Anariba-Moran, 47, is accused of fatally shooting 40-year-old Gustavo Godinez-Carcamo late on the night of March 15, while the two men were sitting in the back seat of a vehicle parked in front of the victims Central Islip home. The two men who along with two others had been hanging out most of the day consuming alcohol got into a verbal altercation which quickly exploded into deadly violence, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just before midnight, the defendant allegedly pulled a 9mm pistol and shot Godinez-Carcamo three times, investigators said. The suspect then fled the scene on foot, reported News 12 Long Island. When Suffolk County Police arrived at the scene, officers attempted life-saving measures on Godinez-Carcamo before transporting him to South Shore University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Homicide detectives later identified and located Anariba-Moran, a Honduran national, after interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage. He was arrested at his Central Islip home in the early hours of March 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to prosecutors, he has since confessed to the murder and provided detectives with the murder weapon, which he had discarded in the trash. Anariba-Moran was arraigned on Thursday on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapob. He pleaded not guilty, court records show. If convicted, he faces 40 years to life in prison. Judge Karen M. Wilutis ordered him held without bail for the entirety of the case. Hes due back in court on April 25. Inside the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, Mayor Karen Bass was attending a reception with local and foreign dignitaries as her phone began to ping. The first urgent message came from her deputy chief of staff, Celine Cordero. It was 6:48 p.m. on Jan. 7 in the African nation and just before 11 a.m. on what would become a catastrophic day in Los Angeles. On phone with Chief Crowley now, Cordero wrote from L.A., referencing then-Fire Chief Kristin Crowley in a group chat that included Bass and two of her closest aides, Deputy Mayor of Communications Zach Seidl and Chief of Staff Carolyn Webb de Macias. 2 significant fires in city now. She will call you mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bass was more than 7,500 miles away from Los Angeles and had attended the inauguration of the Ghanaian president earlier that day as part of a Biden administration delegation. She was set to depart Accra, the Ghanaian capital, in hours, just after the embassy cocktail party ended . At home in Los Angeles, the winds were vicious. A fire had ignited high in the hills of Pacific Palisades, and smoke was massing over the bone-dry ridgeline. Within hours, flames would ravage the coastal community and surrounding areas, eventually killing 12 people and destroying thousands of homes. Cordero warned of potential evacuations, with 40-mph winds and 100 acres affected in the next 20 min. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in the diplomatic compound, Bass clad in a red dress and matching shoes leaned in and smiled as she conversed with former German President Christian Wulff, a moment captured in a photo posted on social media. Bass spent much of the party in a separate room making calls, her staff has said. Shortly before posing for a photo with a city staffer and a local DJ, Bass received another urgent text from Cordero. This time, Cordero included a wider group of senior mayoral aides. Read more: Bass aides were warned of growing fire danger before she flew to Ghana Palisades fire is now at 200 acres, she wrote, noting that an evacuation order would soon go out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bass' text messages from Jan. 7 and Jan. 8, during her last hours in Ghana and an anxious trip home, offer a vivid glimpse into how she led from afar during a defining chapter in Los Angeles history. Her handling of the fire and its aftermath will shape her prospects for reelection and her legacy. The leader of the nations second-largest city has fended off stinging critiques about her initial absence as well as her faltering leadership during the crisis. Bass removed Crowley as fire chief on Feb. 21, and her relations with some other leaders have been publicly strained. The Times obtained the messages through a public records request filed on Jan. 10. Nearly two months later, the mayors office said there were "no responsive records," later clarifying that Bass messages were set to auto-delete every 30 days. Read more: Why is Mayor Karen Bass deleting her text messages? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor's office ultimately said it was able to recover the deleted messages using "specialized technology" and on Friday provided about 125 messages, noting that an unspecified number of additional messages were redacted and/or withheld based on exemptions to the California Public Records Act. The messages to and from the mayor illustrate how Bass communicated with her staff and across levels of government, trying to marshal federal resources as the conflagration exploded into what became one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. They also show an Angeleno desperate to get home as the crisis on the ground worsened. The following chronology is based on the text messages, an itinerary obtained through a public records request and flight records from FlightAware and Flightradar24. It is only a partial account of the mayor's dealings, as it does not include her emails or phone calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., the Biden delegation including Bass and Ambyr Burrus, the Los Angeles Police Department officer traveling with her crowded into official vehicles and drove to Kotoka International Airport, where a military jet was waiting for them. Read more: The start of the Palisades and Eaton fires: 24 hours that changed Los Angeles Cordero was tasked with overseeing public safety in the absence of Deputy Mayor Brian Williams, who has been on leave since December as part of an investigation into whether he made a bomb threat against City Hall. Her next text came at 8:07 p.m., or just after noon Los Angeles time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crowley said homes will be lost soon, Cordero wrote, noting that Gov. Gavin Newsom would be at a command post in a few hours, while she would meet with Crowley at the citys Emergency Operations Center. Call me Zach immediately, Bass wrote 20 minutes later. In the mad rush to flee the flames, droves of residents had abandoned their cars in an immovable traffic jam on Palisades Drive . A radio reporter reached out to Bass, trying to get her to join him on the air, as her plane prepared to take off. For the next four hours, the Gulfstream jet cruised northwest above western Africa and the Atlantic Ocean toward the small archipelago of Cape Verde. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bass repeatedly reminded her staff that she could make calls from the military flight. I have phone access on the plane!!! If you see a strange number it's ME! 301 it will show as a military Base, Bass texted the group at 9:48 p.m. Ghana time. A few minutes later, Cordero addressed Bass in the group text, asking for permission to put together a meeting of the city's general managers. It would be great to pull together a GM call and have you join. Stress urgency, importance of all hands on deck?" Cordero said. An hour and a half later, Bass appeared to be on a call or Zoom with her staffers, writing, I am listening dont know why you cant tell me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hear me! she corrected herself. Oh no! Ok. No we cant hear you, Cordero responded. Back in L.A., Crowley, Newsom, City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and other local leaders braved the winds for a hastily assembled news conference at Will Rogers State Beach. With Bass out of the country, Harris-Dawson was serving as acting mayor. Read more: Who's in charge of Palisades fire recovery? The answer has gotten complicated The worst could be yet to come, officials warned. Bass and the rest of the Biden delegation remained on board as the plane stopped for roughly 40 minutes to refuel in Cape Verde, then took off for the eight-hour flight to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just after 1 a.m. Ghana time or 5 p.m. Los Angeles time Bass director of scheduling, Yvette Rojas, sent her a link to a Zoom titled GM meeting - Fires. Mayor, not sure if you were able to land, Rojas wrote. Sending this into the event you're still able to join. Bass called into the general managers' meeting from the plane, her office said. Five minutes later, Bass executive assistant, Pamela Brown, texted that she had managed to get live CNN working so the mayor could stream it. As the plane crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the inky darkness and dusk began to fall over Los Angeles, Bass phone continued to buzz. The fires are just awful. Please let me know whatever I can do to help, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff Bass former colleague in the House wrote just after 2:30 a.m. Ghana time. Thanks so much I'm actually in the air headed home from Ghana I think I mentioned I attended the Inauguration I am following it while I make my way home but I know disaster aid will be needed especially given the challenges with homeowner insurance in this specific neighborhood land in the am and I would like to be in touch by late afternoon after l've had a chance to see what is happening, Bass responded at 3 a.m. Ghana time. Schiffs fellow California senator, Alex Padilla, reached out to Bass a few minutes later. Karen, I [imagine] you're incredibly busy at the moment. Just want to check in. My staff is in touch with OES, CalFIRE, and other emergency personnel. Let us know how we can support, Padilla wrote. Thank you Alex I'm actually on a plane rushing back from Africa I should be in town by noon tomorrow. Thanks a million I will want to call you in a day or so I know we will need support. Thanks again, Bass responded at 3:49 a.m. Dan Koh, President Biden's deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, was the next federal leader to reach out offering support. He was one of several senior White House staffers who texted with Bass as she cruised toward the East Coast. Meanwhile, conditions were worsening in Los Angeles. All aircraft grounded due to wind and visibility Multiple civilian victims injured (# TBD), Cordero wrote at 5:27 a.m. Ghana time, or just before 9:30 p.m. in Los Angeles. Bass responded to Koh shortly after, writing: Thank you so much for asking I'm on the plane headed back to DC and LA ... and YES we will need help can we speak in a few hours when I have a better handle on things." Just before 10 p.m. L.A. time, or 6 a.m. Ghana time, L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger texted Bass: Trying to coordinate all resources for press conference in am. And I'm sorry you had to return home to this horrific situation, Barger wrote with a concerned-face emoji. Exactly thank you and what worse is I'm in the air headed back from Ghana won't be home until 11 am thanks for being on top of this, Bass responded. Fire is now in Altadena ... so requesting one press conference located downtown. Please have safe travels, Barger, who represents the area that would be devastated by the Eaton fire, said with a prayer-hands emoji. Bass thanked her and checked to make sure Barger was getting full cooperation from Bass folks. Absolutely.... City has been incredible, Barger responded. Within minutes, Cordero dropped a disastrous new update from the Los Angeles Fire Department into Bass group text. Winds had increased significantly, with gusts in the Palisades above 70 miles an hour. Fire department is essentially in life-saving mode, and structures are a secondary concern at this point. Four hours later about 5:20 a.m. Maryland time on Jan. 8 Bass landed at Joint Base Andrews in that state. She and Burrus, the police officer traveling with her, hopped in a car provided by the White House and made the 45-mile trek to Dulles International Airport. At Dulles, she boarded United Airlines Flight 667 a commercial flight, which meant she wouldnt be able to speak on the phone and would be limited to in-flight Wi-Fi. The plane left the gate at 8:42 a.m. EST and took off just before 9:15 a.m. Nearly an hour into the flight, Bass received a lengthy message from L.A. Department of Water and Power Chief Executive Janisse Quinones. Quinones apologized for missing Bass' call and told the mayor that the DWP hadn't proactively shut off water in nearby Brentwood, which would have potentially allowed for higher water pressure on the front lines of the fire, "because the fire jumped to the area as we were considering doing so and they needed water there." But, she said, the DWP was able to open refill stations for fire engines and had sent all its water trucks to the Palisades. Bass said that was great news. In quick succession, Bass phone pinged with messages from several senior Biden advisors. As with Quinones, she told each of them that she was on her way home and would be landing in just a few hours. Great, Annie Tomasini, Bidens deputy chief of staff, responded. We are leaving LA this morning but let's stay in touch the next couple hours if you need anything. You are in our thoughts, especially President Biden's. Thank you so much and PLEASE let the President know how much I appreciate him and his leadership, Bass told Tomasini. In Los Angeles, the sun was rising over neighborhoods brutalized by flames. Smoke lent artificial darkness and a filmy quality to the light in areas far from the conflagration. Read more: Sunset Boulevard in ruins: Fires massive scale comes into focus in Pacific Palisades At 9:30 a.m. L.A. time, with two more hours left in the flight, the mayor heard from her deputy chief of staff, Solomon Rivera. AEG called, considering cancelling Kings game tonite. Seems like we should encourage all large gatherings cancelled, Rivera wrote. Bass agreed. Just after 10 a.m. L.A. time, Bass texted L.A. Unified School District Supt. Alberto Carvalho, who was contending with major damage to his campuses. How are you doing? I'm still in the air land at lax shortly hopefully in the next 2 hours-so so sorry about Palisades HS can't believe it!!! Any other schools in danger? Are you closing any schools out of precaution? Unbelievable! Bass wrote. Ten minutes later, Carvalho responded: Hello mayor. We are ok. The sudden change overnight was difficult but we managed. A half-hour later, Bass' flight landed at Los Angeles International Airport, likely navigating through heavy plumes of smoke before arriving at the gate at 11:24 a.m. By that point, Bass had been traveling for nearly 24 hours. Read more: With her city in flames, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass' political future hangs in the balance Just after she emerged from the plane, she was cornered by a Sky News reporter, David Blevins, who happened to be on her flight. She stared ahead blankly for nearly a minute as Blevins peppered her with cutting questions about whether she needed to apologize to Angelenos for being in Africa. She did not respond. Times staff writer Laura Nelson contributed to this report. 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 White House withdrew Rep. Elise Stefaniks nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a stunning turnaround for President Donald Trumps Cabinet pick after her confirmation had been stalled over concerns about Republicans tight margins in the House. Trump confirmed the decision in a Truth Social post on Thursday, saying that it was essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies, including ones that oversee billions of dollars in funds for addiction services and community health centers across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's the Latest: Trump thanks Muslim supporters at White House iftar dinner Trump is thanking his supporters in the Muslim community as he hosts a gathering at the White House to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Trump said Thursday night that his administration is keeping our promises to the Muslim community and is engaged in relentless diplomacy to forge a lasting peace in the Middle East. At the iftar dinner, meant to mark breaking the daily fast, he gave a special shout-out to two Michigan mayors for their support during the 2024 campaign a tremendous endorsement, right at the right time, he said of one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says the Muslim community was there for him in November, so hell be there for them while president. Rights groups ask Election Assistance Commission not to implement Trump elections order The League of Women Voters, NAACP, Brennan Center for Justice, American Civil Liberties Union and Legal Defense Fund called the directives in the order unlawful and requested the commission take no action. The executive order signed Tuesday calls for broad election changes, such as proof of citizenship for voter registration and an Election Day return deadline for mailed ballots. The order also called for previous certifications of state systems to be rescinded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter says the president lacks authority to impose several elements of the order and to withhold money from states that dont adhere to the orders directives. The EAC is an independent commission created to help improve how elections are conducted and assist voters to participate in elections. Judge blocks part of Trump order aimed at curbing DEI efforts A federal judge has temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Labor from implementing a key part of Trumps executive order aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts among federal contractors and grant recipients. Judge Matthew Kennelly issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Labor Department from requiring federal contractors or grant recipients from certifying that they dont operate any DEI programs that violate the countrys anti-discrimination laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennellys declined to extend the temporary restraining order to other federal agencies. The order came in response to a lawsuit filed by Chicago Women in Trades, a non-profit with several contracts with the Department of Labor. Trump joins phone rally to support another Republican candidate in Florida special election In a telephone rally to support state Rep. Randy Fine for his congressional special election race, Trump credited Fine as being one of 14 Florida legislators who endorsed Trump early on in his recent presidential run. Thats why Randy will always have a very open door to the Oval Office, Trump said. He will be there whenever I need him, and he wants to be there whenever we need him. He wants to be there for you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fina faces Democrat Josh Weil, a public school teacher who has outspent and outraised by nearly 10 times the amount reported by Fine. Trump didnt note in his remarks any concerns for the race, but he called this an all-important special election. Fine said Trump has a razor-thin majority in the House and encouraged voters to turn out so he could carry out Trumps agenda in Congress. Trump executive order targets law firm that employs former Mueller aide The executive order targets another law firm whose lawyers have provided legal work that Trump disagrees with. The order against WilmerHale threatens to suspend active security clearances of attorneys and terminate any federal contracts the firm has. It singled out WilmerHale lawyers Aaron Zebley and James Quarles, who worked on special counsel Robert Muellers investigation looking into the 2016 Trump campaigns contacts with Russia. Mueller himself has also worked at the firm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Trump rescinded an executive order targeting the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton after it pledged to review its hiring practices and to provide tens of millions of dollars in free legal services to support certain White House initiatives. Trump stresses stakes of Wisconsin court battle Trump implored his supporters in Wisconsin to vote for conservative state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel in next weeks election. The president cast the race as a high-stakes battle in an electoral battleground state that will have an outsized impact on the future of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a very important race, Trump said in brief remarks by phone, in a call organized by Schimels campaign. I know you feel its local, but its not. Its really much more than local. The whole country is watching. Trump praised Schimel, a former judge and district attorney, as a tough prosecutor who will work toward the presidents goals, including cracking down on illegal immigration and rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. And he warned that a victory by Schimels rival, Judge Susan Crawford, would empower liberal activists to enact a radical left agenda. Tuesdays election to replace an outgoing liberal justice could tilt the ideological balance of Wisconsins powerful high court is expected to rule in coming years on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting rules. Trump aims to reshape Smithsonian museums and zoo by targeting funding for programs with improper ideology Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says theres been a concerted and widespread effort over the past decade to rewrite American history by replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth. He has signed an executive order putting Vice President Vance in charge of an effort to remove improper ideology from the Smithsonian Institution, including its museums, education and research centers and the National Zoo. The order specifically names the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture. Trump creates task force to help make the District of Columbia safe and beautiful Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump created the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force by executive order. It will be chaired by his homeland security adviser. According to the order, the task force will coordinate with local officials on such things as enforcing federal immigration law, including deporting people living illegally in the city, boost the law enforcement presence, and increase the speed and lower the cost of processing applications to carry concealed weapons. The order also calls for removing graffiti and taking other steps to beautify the city. Trump has talked often about his desire to make the city safer and prettier. Musk defends post on Sen. Mark Kelly Bret Baier asked Musk about one of his most controversial recent social media posts, where he described Sen. Mark Kelly as a traitor for his recent trip to Ukraine to show support for the country. Musk didnt back down from his attack on the Arizona Democrat. Somebody should care about the interests of the United States above the interests of another country, Musk said. And if they dont, theyre a traitor. Baier pointed out that Kelly is a veteran, former astronaut and current senator. That doesnt mean that its OK for him to put the interests of another country before America, Musk said. Trumps gets involved with get-out-the-vote efforts in Florida special congressional elections The two elections are taking place in conservative congressional districts in Florida, where Democrats have nonetheless far outraised and outspent the Trump-backed Republican candidates. Democrats from across the country have poured millions of dollars into the districts in the hopes of carving into the GOPs narrow majority in the U.S. House, while Republicans are working to head off the better-than-expected showing by Democrats. Trump won both districts by 30 points or more in November. On Thursday night, Trump joined a telephone rally with supporters of Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, whos running in the states 1st Congressional District. The whole countrys actually watching this one, Trump said, urging voters in northwest Florida to not sit out this all-important special election. Musk downplays impact on federal workers Ever since starting the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has talked boldly about the deep cuts that hes planning. But he took an opposite approach when talking about federal workers on Thursday night. Basically no one has gotten fired, he said. At least 24,000 probationary employees have lost their jobs already, according to court filings during lawsuits over the layoffs. Tens of thousands more are expected to be cut across the federal government. Musk sets ambitious goal for DOGE The billionaire entrepreneur has often talked about his work in existential terms, describing the country as careening toward bankruptcy unless he reduces spending. During the Fox News interview, he made another sweeping claim about the impact of his efforts. This is a revolution. It might be the biggest revolution in government since the original revolution. Musk claims Social Security beneficiaries will collect more benefits, not less, after DOGE work Fox News Channels Bret Baier asked Musk how he can reassure people that the cost-cutting hes doing wont affect the amount of their Social Security benefits. Without going into specifics, Musk said people will receive more money, not less money. Let the record show that I said this. He added, check back on this in the future. Musk says he wants to measure twice, if not thrice before cuts are made Elon Musk says that he and the Department of Government Efficiency team have made mistakes along the way and want to proceed carefully in their cost-cutting efforts. I do agree that we actually want to be careful in the cuts, that we want to measure twice, if not thrice, and cut once, he said. Which is not to say that we dont make mistakes. Musk said it would be like achieving a perfect 1.000 batting average in baseball. When we do make mistakes, we correct them quickly and we move on, Musk said. DOGE promises improvements The Fox News interview was a first public glimpse of members of Musks team, including Joe Gebbia, a co-founder of Airbnb. He said government systems are antiquated, particularly the retirement process, which relies on an old filing system located in a Pennsylvania mine. We really believe the government can have an Apple store-like experience, Gebbia said. Musk sets timeline in Fox News interview Elon Musk and members of his Department of Government Efficiency team sat down with Bret Baier of Fox News. Baier asked him about his status as a special government employee, which includes a time limit of 130 days. Musk said he believes he will have accomplished most of the work required to cut the federal deficit by $1 trillion in that timeframe. Federal judge thanks eight former inspectors general for filing lawsuit over their firing U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said she genuinely doesnt know how shell rule on their request for reinstatement. Regardless, she said the mass firing with little explanation was no way to treat government officials who had done their jobs well and made sacrifices to serve the public. Thank you for standing up and saying this is not acceptable, the judge said. The eight were among more than a dozen inspectors general who were dismissed in a Friday-night sweep on the fourth full day of Trumps second term. An attorney for the eight, former Solicitor General Seth Waxman, said their firings were unlawful because the Trump administration did not give Congress the legally required 30-day notice, nor did it provide substantive, case-specific rationale for terminating them. Government attorney Jeremy Newman said the firings were still lawful because the presidents authority to remove them isnt contingent on giving Congress notice. Federal judge says he will order preservation of Signal texts U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said during a hearing Thursday that hell issue a temporary restraining order barring Trump administration officials from destroying messages sent over the encrypted messaging app Signal. A nonprofit watchdog, American Oversight, made the request to preserve the texts in which senior national security officials discussed sensitive details of plans for a U.S. military strike against Yemens Houthis. The Atlantic published the entire Signal chat on Wednesday. Its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to the discussion that included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top officials. The APs court hearing has ended There was no immediate decision in the news agencys federal lawsuit against the Trump administration. Read more about APs lawsuit Radio Free Asia files lawsuit seeking to have its federal funds restored The news media outlet lost the funding earlier this month after Trump issued an executive order to gut the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which funded RFA. The news media outlet argued in the lawsuit that it is unlawful to deny it the congressionally appropriated money. It also said the withholding of the funds jeopardizes the safety of its journalists and undermines its congressionally-mandated mission. Soon after the auto import tariffs announcement, Canadian prime minister says he and Trump will talk Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Trump reached out Wednesday night to schedule a call. He said they would speak in the next day or two. Carney was sworn in as Canadas new prime minister on March 14. But he hasnt spoken with Trump since taking office. Its unusual for a U.S. president and Canadian prime minister to go so long without talking after a new leader takes office. Maine school officials say they wont ban trans athletes from girls sports The U.S. Health and Human Services Department said earlier this month that the Maine Department of Education, Maine Principals Association and a high school are each in violation of Title IX because of the participation of transgender athletes. The federal investigation came after a public spat between Trump and Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills about the subject. The department gave the institutions 10 days to comply with a voluntary agreement to settle the issue by banning the athletes. The principals association, which oversees high school sports in the state, and the district where the high school in question is located both said they will not comply with the agreement. Read more on the disagreement Leaders of key Senate panel issue bipartisan rebuke of effort to cut emergency spending The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee are criticizing the Trump administrations efforts to cut $3 billion in emergency spending from recent legislation funding the federal government. Congress approved about $12.4 billion in emergency funding as part of the bill. Trump said he did not concur with Congress that some of that was truly for emergency needs. Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican committee chair, and Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat, said the president must accept all or none of Congress emergency designations. Just as the President does not have a line-item veto, he does not have the ability to pick and choose which emergency spending to designate, the two senators wrote in a letter sent Thursday to Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. GOP worries about tight House margin extend to Florida Republicans concerns about new vulnerabilities extend to Florida, where Democrats have posted a huge fundraising advantage in two special elections set for Tuesday to fill congressional seats vacated by former GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz. Both were named by Trump to fill jobs in his administration, though Gaetz later withdrew from consideration to be Trumps attorney general. Those districts have long been Republican strongholds, and a win by either Democratic candidate would be a major surprise. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders are looking to at least narrow the margin from November, when Trump carried both districts in the presidential election by more than 30 points. Anticipating confirmation, Stefanik had launched a farewell tour of her district The withdrawal of Stefaniks nomination came after she had launched a recent farewell tour of her district, meeting with backers and thanking them for their support. On her Instagram page, Stefanik had also been conducting what appeared to be a retrospective of her time in Congress, with one post containing images from 2016 that showed her on a cable news show and posing with supporters atop a caption that began with Congressional throwback continued. Stefanik was the only member of Trumps cabinet who had not yet confirmed when he withdrew her nomination. EPA offers power plants and other industrial sites a way to avoid clean-air rules As part of a push to undo dozens of environmental regulations, the Trump administration set up an electronic mailbox and asked coal-fired power plants and other industrial polluters to send an email by Monday, seeking a presidential exemption to bypass Biden-era rules requiring them to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene. The Clean Air Act enables the president to temporarily exempt industrial sites in the interest of national security or if necessary technology isnt widely available. Environmentalists denounced the email address as a polluters portal that could allow hundreds of companies to evade laws meant to protect the environment and public health. The Environmental Protection Agencys offer was first reported by The New York Times. Debt and declining birthrate will slow US economic growth, CBO says The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Thursday that weak population gains and increased government spending will result in weaker overall economic growth over the next 30 years. The CBOs latest long-term budget and economic outlook report projects publicly held debt to reach 156% of gross domestic product in 2055. Thats down from last years outlook, which said publicly held debt would be equal to a record 166% of American economic activity by 2054. However, thats not necessarily a positive. The mix of slower population growth and unfettered spending will also result in weaker economic growth as the nation becomes more dependent on working immigrants. Without immigration, the U.S. population would begin to shrink in 2033, the CBO report states. Read more on the CBOs long-term outlook Trump withdraws Rep. Stefaniks UN Ambassador nomination to maintain tight House majority The White House has withdrawn Rep. Elise Stefaniks nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a stunning turnaround for Trumps Cabinet pick after her confirmation had been stalled over concerns about Republicans tight margins in the House. Trump confirmed the decision in a Truth Social post on Thursday, saying that it was essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning. I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress, he said. Trump had tapped Stefanik, a New York Republican, to represent the U.S. at the international body shortly after winning reelection in November. She was seen as among the least controversial Cabinet picks, and her nomination advanced out of committee in late January. It had seemed as if Stefaniks nomination would advance to the Senate floor in recent weeks, given two U.S. House special elections in Florida in districts that Trump easily won in 2024. Filling those vacant GOP seats would have allowed Stefanik to finally resign from the House and given Republicans, who currently hold 218 seats, a little more breathing room on passing legislation in a growingly divided Congress. Democrats hold 213 seats. Read more about Rep. Elise Stefaniks nomination Trump to join Florida special elections telephone town halls Two GOP congressional candidates running in Floridas special elections say that Trump will be joining telephone town halls later Thursday to help their campaigns as Democrats have outraised them by millions in these heavily Republican districts. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, whos running in the 1st District, and state Sen. Randy Fine, in the 6th District, both posted on X announcing their telephone town halls with Trump. They are looking to replace Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz, both tapped for roles in the Trump administration. Waltz is the national security adviser and Gaetz withdrew from consideration to be attorney general amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump endorsed both Patronis and Fine. They are heavily favored against Democrats Gay Valimont in the 1st District and Josh Weil in the 6th District. Some national Republicans have expressed concern about Fines fundraising and overall campaign. A lawsuit brought by former FTC commissioners has broad implications Two members of the Federal Trade Commission fired by Trump have sued the administration, arguing that their removal was illegal. The case has implications for other independent agencies such as the Federal Reserve. Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, Democratic members of the five-person FTC, said their March 18 firing would mean that officials at many other independent agencies could also be removed. Their lawsuit says that the firing violates a 90-year-old Supreme Court decision that found the president couldnt fire members of independent agencies, such as the FTC, without cause. We make rules that require tech companies to protect childrens privacy online. We promote competition in the pharmaceutical industry to drive prices down, Slaughter said in a news release. And we can do all of this because the FTC cant be bought with campaign contributions or bullied by politicians. Should the firing of the two FTC commissioners be upheld by the courts, it could pave the way for Trump or future presidents to fire members of the Feds governing board, analysts say, threatening its highly prized independence. Trumps economic officials, however, have said the White House has no intention to fire the chair, Jerome Powell. Last week, Trump criticized the Fed for not cutting its key interest rate. My jaw drops at this news: Experts say HHS overhaul undermines overdose progress Under the plan announced Thursday by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration would be absorbed into a new Administration for a Healthy America. Experts told The Associated Press that eliminating SAMHSA could stall progress on overdose deaths. The agency funds distribution of naloxone, oversees methadone clinics and supports prevention efforts in all 50 states. Theres a reason why we have reduced overdose in this country: Its because SAMHSA has been doing its job so well, said Dr. Ruth Potee, who oversees seven methadone clinics in Massachusetts. My jaw drops at this news. Brendan Saloner, an addiction researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said millions of Americans use services supported by SAMHSA, even if they have never heard the name of the agency. Tufts University doctoral student is latest Palestinian supporter swept up in US crackdown Government lawyers said in a court document Thursday that Rumeysa Ozturk of Turkey was moved to a Louisiana detention center before a judge ordered her kept in Massachusetts. A senior Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said her visa is revoked because she engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. Hundreds of supporters protested her detention Wednesday night. They say her only known activism was co-authoring an op-ed in the student newspaper calling on Tufts to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, disclose its investments and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. Ozturks lawyer said no charges have been filed against her. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani told the government to explain by Friday why shes detained. Read more about the Tufts University students detention Anti-abortion groups urge Congress to cut Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood in budget bill Over 150 anti-abortion groups signed onto a letter calling for Planned Parenthood and other centers that provide abortions as well as other health care to be the next target of cost saving measures by Elon Musk. In an era of reexamining federal funding, Congress should start by cutting funding for Big Abortion in the upcoming reconciliation bill, the letter said. Today is a historic moment where the pro-life movement stands united behind one message: Defund Planned Parenthood, said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, as they rallied on Capitol Hill. Our tax money has continued to pour into the abortion giant. Students from across the country held up a larger sign with the words DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD behind the speakers. The groups executive vice president, Tina Whittington, told The Associated Press that Planned Parenthood is a perfect target for the Department of Government Efficiencys work targeting waste, fraud and abuse. Trump has said abortion is an issue for the states to decide. Read more on the Capitol Hill anti-abortion demonstration Justice Department eyes combining the DEA and ATF Justice Department leaders are proposing eliminating some offices and dramatically restructuring the department, including combining the two agencies responsible for enforcing drug and gun laws, according to a memo reviewed by The Associated Press. The memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche seeks feedback on a reorganization plan that proposes combining the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives into a single component agency to achieve efficiencies in resources, case deconfliction, and regulatory efforts. The plan also calls for combining policy offices and eliminating Main Justice field offices around the country, such as Environment and Natural Resources Division offices in Denver, Seattle, San Francisco and Sacramento. House Democrats demand answers over Musks gutting of financial protection bureau The top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee is demanding information from the Trump administration about DOGEs dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which safeguards Americans from unfair actions by banks and other entities. Rep. Maxine Waters of California and other committee Democrats are using a unique legislative tool the resolution of inquiry to force the House to conduct oversight on Musk, whom she called an unelected billionaire who clearly does not have the interest of our nations consumers in mind. Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight committees are making similar moves. If House Republicans who control the panels fail to take up the requests, Democrats can launch a process forcing a vote by the full House. Nonprofits sue federal govt over axing of legal help for migrant children traveling alone The Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, Immigrant Defenders Law Center and Justice Action Center say 26,000 children could lose their lawyers and tens of thousands of others will not get legal help if the Trump administration succeeds in ending its contract that supports a national network of providers. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in California seeks to immediately restore access to the programs. Otherwise, it says children who crossed the border without a parent or guardian will be forced to navigate the complex legal system alone, denying them due process and leading to systemic chaos and delays. The contract with the Acacia Center for Justice supports legal representation to unaccompanied migrant children under 18 and conducts legal orientations often referred to as know your rights clinics to children in federal shelters. AP renews request for reinstatement to White House press pool A lawyer for The Associated Press is asking a federal judge to reinstate the agencys access to the White House press pool and some other events for its reporters and photographers. Charles Tobin says that AP has now spent 44 days in the penalty box. The news agency and the Trump administration are in court in a disagreement over the White Houses removal of AP reporters and photographers from the small group of journalists in the pool who follow the president. A lawyer for the government, Brian Hudak, said AP hadnt shown irreparable harm. There is no showing of exclusion, he said, adding that AP can still access events in the East Room and people leaving and coming outside the White House. In actuality, AP has been able to access East Room events only occasionally, at the discretion of the White House. AP photographer Evan Vucci testified that the agency was basically dead in the water on major news stories. Vucci took a famous and widely distributed photo of Trump immediately after an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last summer. Tobin held up a book published by Trump with the same photo on its cover. Elon Musk awards $1 million to a voter in Wisconsins Supreme Court race. Opposition calls it corrupt The billionaire announced the award ahead of Tuesdays conclusion of a fiercely contested state Supreme Court election that has broken spending records and become a referendum on Musk and the first months of President Donald Trumps administration. The payment to a Green Bay man is similar to a lottery Musks political action committee ran last year in presidential battleground states. The election to fill the seat of a retiring justice has become a proxy battle over the nations politics. The result could keep Wisconsins highest court under 4-3 liberal control or flip it to a conservative majority. The Democratic-supported candidates campaign blasted Musks payment as an illegal attempt to buy influence on a court that could end up deciding a pending Tesla lawsuit. AP and Trump administration back in court over access dispute The Associated Press and the Trump administration are in court for arguments over the White Houses banning of the news agency from its press pool earlier this year. The AP sued three administration officials including the presidents press secretary after its reporters were barred. The administration says its because AP is ignoring an executive order to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The AP has said its sticking with Gulf of Mexico while also acknowledging Trumps name change in its news stories, because it has a global audience and the body of water is not solely under the purview of the United States. The APs stylebook is influential and is followed by many news organizations and others. The court proceeding started at 9:40 a.m. No communications devices are allowed into federal court. Read more about the AP and the Trump administration in court French president pledges retaliation if tariffs are imposed Speaking after a summit about Ukraine in Paris, Emmanuel Macron said that while Trump is asking Europeans to make greater military efforts to ensure their own security, this is not the time to be imposing tariffs on us. Its not coherent, Macron said. Imposing tariffs means breaking value chains, creating inflation in the short term and destroying jobs. Its not good for the American economy, nor for the European, Canadian or Mexican economies. Macron insisted he would find it quite paradoxical if the U.S. imposes more taxes on their main allies. Europeans would retaliate to protect themselves, with the goal of trying to dismantle all these tariffs. Former top intelligence and military officials assess risks from Signal chat exposure The National Security Leaders for America says the full transcript of Signal chat conversations Trump officials had shows how dangerous it was for them to use the communications app to discuss an upcoming military operation. It is even more evident that this remarkable disregard for operational security presented significant risks to the mission and the lives of the men and women serving in the region, the groups statement says. The group released an assessment of how the mission could have been compromised, including allowing an enemy to target the USS Harry S. Truman during the aircraft launch as well as allowing air defenses to prepare for the incoming flights. California faces federal investigation over LGBTQ+ student privacy law The Trump administration says it believes California schools are violating federal student privacy laws by following a new state law that forbids districts from requiring staff to notify parents about changes to their childs gender identity. The U.S. Education Department on Thursday said its opening an investigation into Californias state education office for alleged violations of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act. It said FERPA supersedes state law and gives parents the right to access their childrens education information. Violating FERPA can lead to a termination of federal money, the department warned Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said. Senate Armed Services leaders request Defense inspector general to investigate Signal leak The top Republican and Democrat, in a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, are sending a letter to the inspector general at the Department of Defense to formally request an investigation into how top Trump national security officials used Signal to discuss military strikes. Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the committee, along with Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat, signed the letter that asks for an inquiry into the potential use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information, as well as the the sharing of such information with those who do not have proper clearance and need to know. Senators Wicker and Reed want Steven Stebbins, the acting inspector general at the Department of Defense, to: account for what was communicated and any actions to follow up on the communication assess the Pentagons policies for sharing sensitive and classified information, as well as its policies for classification and declassification identify any discrepancies in the classification policies between the White House, Pentagon, intelligence community and other agencies evaluate whether anyone transferred classified information on Signal make recommendations to address any problems identified. Mexico seeks preferential treatment for autos to protect jobs Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that Mexico does not want to be drawn into taking positions with each new U.S. tariff. She cited Trumps taxes on aluminum and steel as well as his new ones on imported automobiles and auto parts. There shouldnt be any tariffs, that is the essence of the commercial treaty the first Trump administration signed with Mexico and Canada, she said. Updating the Mexican people on his teams efforts in Washington, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said they had more than half a dozen meetings with top Trump officials, but once Trump was moving ahead, they shifted gears to seek preferential treatment. Now he said both sides are discussing how that could work: The basic idea is that automobiles exported from Mexico would not face the full 25% tariff, but rather would be taxed based on where their components came from. White House spotlights UAW cheering Trumps auto tariffs The Trump administration is eagerly noting that United Auto Workers union president Shawn Fain, who endorsed the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, is welcoming Trumps 25% auto tariff. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that Fain wasnt the greatest fan of Trump, but still has applauded the president for this move. Fain on Wednesday said of Trumps tariffs announcement, Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with todays actions. Attorney General seems disinclined to investigate top Trump administration officials over Signal chat exposure When asked at an unrelated news conference what the Justice Department plans to do about top national security officials using a messaging app to discuss details of a planned military attack, Pam Bondi declined to comment and deflected. She also insisted that none of the information shared on Signal was classified, even though officials have provided no evidence that thats the case. Espionage Act statutes require the safe handling of closely held national defense information even if its not marked classified. Bondi, who has pledged not to play politics with the department, quickly pivoted to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Joe Biden, who were investigated for allegations that they mishandled classified information but were not charged. Both Democrats were subject to extensive criminal investigations and the FBI and Justice Department have long track records of such inquiries. The US Health and Human Services agency says it will eliminate 10,000 jobs Thursdays announcement by the agency responsible for monitoring infectious diseases, inspecting foods and hospitals and overseeing health insurance programs for nearly half the country says its workforce will shrink from 82,000 to 62,000 positions. The cuts also include 10,000 early retirements and voluntary separations, encouraged through buyout offers: Vaccines group Gavi says US has not confirmed it will end funding The global vaccines group that helps immunize more than half the worlds children against infectious diseases could lose more than $1 billion in pledged U.S. funding, according to a USAID spreadsheet that leaked this week. But the Gavi alliance s chief executive said Thursday that the U.S government hasnt confirmed the proposed cuts. Dr. Sania Nishtar said Gavi is engaging with the White House and Congress, to secure the funding. The 281-page spreadsheet detailing plans to terminate 5,341 awards to dozens of groups was first reported on by The New York Times. Gavi says it has averted nearly 19 million deaths by helping to vaccinate more than 1 billion children in 78 poorer countries against diseases including measles, Ebola and malaria. Europe lashes out over Trump auto tariffs and the economic threat to both continents European automakers, already struggling with tepid economic growth at home and rising competition from China, on Thursday decried the U.S. import tax on cars as a heavy burden that will punish consumers and companies alike on both sides of the Atlantic. The new 25% import tax announced by Trump will hurt global automakers and US manufacturing at the same time, the European Automobile Manufacturers association said in a statement. The head of Germanys auto industry association, VDA, said the tariffs would weigh on car makers and every company in the deeply interwoven global supply chain with negative consequences above all for consumers, including in North America. The consequences will cost growth and prosperity on all sides, Hildegard Muller said in a statement. The stakes are enormous for BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Stellantis and their vast network of suppliers, as well as the entire European economy. Read more about the impacts of tariffs on Europe Defense secretary minimizes Signal chat exposure There are no signs that the Signal chat controversy will fade soon for Trump, who has said he stands by his national security team and has assailed the credibility of the reporter who broke the story. Pete Hegseth told reporters in Hawaii he had not texted war plans or attack plans in the Signal group, pointing out he had called his post a team update. My job, as it said atop of that (post), everybodys seen it now - TEAM UPDATE - is to provide updates in real time, general updates in real time, keep people informed, he said before boarding a plane for Guam without taking follow-up questions. Thats what I did. Thats my job. Trump furious that judge whose impeachment hes called for assigned Signal lawsuit The president showed his fury on social media early Thursday, declaring it disgraceful that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has been assigned another hot button case involving the Trump administration. Cases are randomly assigned to the 20 judges in the Washington court. Boasberg was assigned on Wednesday to preside over a lawsuit filed by the group American Oversight against several Trump administration officials and the National Archives and Records Administration. It alleges they violated federal recordkeeping laws when they used a Signal chat group to discuss military strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. Boasbergs assignment to the Signal lawsuit came just two days after the Trump administration, in the Venezuela deportation case, invoked the state secrets privilege to refuse to share details with the judge about the timing of deportation flights to El Salvador. There is no way for a Republican, especially a TRUMP REPUBLICAN, to win before him, Trump said. He added that Boasberg is Highly Conflicted. Trump and his allies have called for impeaching Boasberg. US cities located in states won by Trump would be most hurt by Canadian tariffs, an analysis finds The U.S. cities most vulnerable to a trade war with Canada turn out to largely be in the states that helped return Donald Trump to the White House a sign of the possible political risk hes taking with his tariff plans. A new analysis released Thursday by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce detailed the areas most dependent on exports to Canada, with San Antonio and Detroit topping the list of 41 U.S. metro areas. The findings show that the United States 25% tariffs on Canada and Canadas retaliations could inflict meaningful damage in key states for U.S. politics. The analysis was conducted before Trump announced Wednesday that he was placing additional 25% tariffs on imported autos and parts starting on April 3. Read more about how tariffs will impact cities in the U.S. Trump has begun another trade war. Heres a timeline of how we got here Long-threatened tariffs from Trump have plunged the country into a global trade war all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty. Trump is no stranger to tariffs. He launched a trade war during his first term, taking particular aim at China by putting taxes on most of its goods. Beijing responded with its own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products ranging from fruit to automotive imports. Trump also used the threat of more tariffs to force Canada and Mexico to renegotiate a North American trade pact, called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in 2020. Fast-forward to today and economists stress there could be greater consequences on businesses and economies worldwide under Trumps more sweeping tariffs this time around and that higher prices will likely leave consumers footing the bill. Theres also been a sense of whiplash from Trumps back-and-forth tariff threats and responding retaliation, including some recently-postponed taxes on goods from Americas largest trading partners. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A bill has been reintroduced in the State Senate for the 2025-2026 legislative session, which, if passed, would allow grocery stores to sell wine. Lawmakers in favor of the bill say this would allow for local wineries and distributors to expand and mass-produce their product statewide. In the justification, it details how this would allow for folks to get everything they need at the grocery store, without having to make an extra stop on the way home. However, for business owners like Nancy Andrews, who owns the Fort Hill Liquor Store on Mount Hope Ave. in College Town, theyre worried this could detract customers who go to their stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets face it, its going to be a lot more convenient to buy a jug of wine at a supermarket, rather than come here and get a nice bottle to pair with your dinner, Andrews said. Were going to lose that foot traffic, and well lose the ability to have the wide variety of specialty wines and liquors that were able to buy and sell to the public right now. The bill is currently co-sponsored by six Democratic state senators, including Senator Jeremy Cooney. Executive Director of the Metropolitan Package Store Association, Michael Correra, who also owns a liquor store himself, says businesses like his do well selling wine currently, and the demand for wine in supermarkets is not high enough to justify this bill being passed. This is the greatest state in the country for wines, Correra said. There are more wines available here than in any state. There are 700 wine importers here, and theres a reason for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another aspect liquor store owners like Andrews and Correra are worried about losing is the ability to provide the customer experience, assisting folks who come into their store with picking out the perfect wine for their needs. With wine making up 40% of Fort Hill Liquor Stores total sales, Andrews worries many stores are in a similar situation as her, in which wine sales are crucial to keeping the business afloat. She added that she doesnt want to see family-owned stores like hers be forced to close. Strangebird & Rochester-based beekeeper collaborate for award-winning brown ale The big stores took over everything, and now theyre going to take this business from us, Andrews said. My son is going to buy this business from me and continue it, but what will I have to leave him? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the bill does pass, New York would join 40 other states that currently allow for wine to be sold in Supermarkets. The full bill 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 RochesterFirst. GRAND BAY, Ala. (WKRG) Arabella Health and Wellness Center in Grand Bay is being sued after one of the male residents allegedly sexually assaulted a nonverbal patient. The suit claims the home is trying to cover it up. Alabama attorney general warns 23andMe customers to delete accounts According to the lawsuit, the victim has a condition called Phelan McDermid Syndrome, which requires around-the-clock care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the suit, back in December 2024, the victims family saw a male resident across the hall pleasuring himself. The staff noticed, and they immediately shut the door and apologized. A month later, the same resident then allegedly went into the victims room naked and began touching the victim. Due to the victims condition, she was unable to explain what happened to her. The suit said the staff was made aware of the incident but failed to alert the proper authorities. The suit claims the nursing home tried to downplay the situation by saying the man was trying to comfort the victim. The victims mother wanted a sexual assault exam for her daughter, but the nursing home didnt believe it was necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mother is seeking punitive damages alleging the home tried to cover up the incident. Louisiana woman killed, 3 others injured in Baldwin County crash: ALEA News 5 reached out to the nursing home, and they did not want to provide any comment. Below is the full copy of the lawsuit. Arabella-Health-complaintDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A new lawsuit accuses the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power of deliberately covering up the role that downed power lines played in fueling the devastation wrought by the Palisades fire. A group of Palisades fire victims allege that an energized LADWP electrical tower started a second ignition when it was knocked down at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, approximately 12 hours after the fire began. Fanned by fearsome Santa Ana winds, flames in the surrounding brush quickly consumed homes in the Summit neighborhood and spread rapidly throughout the Palisades and Malibu, the complaint alleges. Plaintiffs are seeking compensation for the damages they suffered as a result of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit accuses the utility of deliberately concealing the harm it caused by telling the Washington Post in January that the line in question had been de-energized for the last five years. Last week, the attorneys representing the utility admitted to the plaintiffs' lawyers that the statement was inaccurate. "That statement was a result of a misunderstanding. The line had been de-energized for several years before the fire," said LADWP in a March 20 letter. "It was energized at the time the fire ignited." Although the utility called the statement a misunderstanding, attorneys called it a "massive cover-up" intended "to conceal from the public that its electrical equipment was the source of several additional ignitions of the Palisades Fire." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the lawsuit, the LADWP issued a new statement clarifying that, although the line was energized on the day of the fire, it was de-energized around 2:15 p.m. hours before plaintiffs say it started a second ignition. The statement also points out that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which is investigating the Palisades fire, has not indicated that LADWP facilities were involved in the ignition of the Palisades fire. The ATF has yet to determine an official cause of the fire. Read more: What sparked the Palisades fire? A beloved hiking trail may hold the grim answers The Palisades fire started at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 7 along the Temescal Canyon Trail near Skull Rock in the Pacific Palisades, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. It went on to burn 23,707 acres, destroy 6,837 structures and claim 12 lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources familiar with ATF's investigation have said they believe the Palisades fire had human origins. Investigators are examining whether it could have reignited from the embers of a smaller blaze that occurred on Jan. 1 around the Skull Rock area. Although a Southern California Edison electrical tower is being probed as a possible cause of the Eaton fire in Altadena, the ATF has not said anything about electrical infrastructure being responsible for the devastation in the Palisades. Plaintiffs in the new lawsuit allege that downed power lines from a broken power pole were a second source of ignition above LADWP's Temescal water tank on the Temescal Canyon Trail at 10:30 p.m. The LADWP told attorneys that there were no faults abnormal conditions in an electrical system that disrupt the flow of current on the line around the time the fire ignited. However, photos included in the lawsuit show snapped wooden poles from the electrical tower and power lines scattered on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos also show flames spreading around the area of the broken poles shortly after plaintiffs allege the lines started a second ignition. In addition to the downed power lines, plaintiffs say that the lack of water in the LADWP's Sana Ynez Reservoir is responsible for damage caused by the fire. Read more: This reservoir was built to save Pacific Palisades. It was empty when the flames came "On the day the Palisades Fire started, LADWP's Sana Ynez Reservoir had been empty of its 117-million-gallon capacity for approximately 11 months, thereby leaving Pacific Palisades with only 3-million gallons of total water storage," states the complaint. "This meant that Pacific Palisades only had 2.5% of its total water storage capacity available to fight the Palisades Fire." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LADWP has already been hit with a deluge of lawsuits from homeowners seeking compensation for damage they allege was caused by the utility's mismanagement of water resources. Last month, the utility approved a three-year, $10-million contract with the L.A. firm Munger, Tolles & Olson to defend itself from Palisades fire litigation. 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. Editor's note: This story has been updated to provide the latest developments. Leaders from 31 countries gathered in Paris on March 27 to coordinate military aid for Ukraine and discuss steps toward a just and lasting peace, the Ukrainian presidential office reported. The summit, co-led by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, follows Starmer's March 2 proposal to form a "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Macron spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the meeting, the French presidency said. The summit's discussions will reportedly center on sustaining military aid, strengthening Ukraine's defense industry, and negotiating potential ceasefire mechanisms. The leaders will also discuss the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine with U.S. support as part of a future peace agreement. Starmer previously stressed that the coalition would need "strong U.S. backing" to succeed. The coalition aims to form a "reassurance force" as a key security guarantee for Ukraine. Members who are reluctant to send their own troops to Ukraine can instead deploy soldiers to neighboring countries or provide ships, aircraft, intelligence, tanks, or other support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An outline document for the summit seen by Reuters mentions a possible future reassurance force with U.S. support, but there are few signs that Washington is prepared to commit. Trump claimed on Feb. 24 that Russian President Vladimir Putin would allow European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a settlement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly rejected the idea. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused France and Britain of planning "military intervention in Ukraine" under the guise of a peacekeeping mission, as reported by state-owned publication TASS. Zelensky said he hoped the summit would clarify which countries might commit to such a force but acknowledged that discussions were still in their early stages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: As Macron talks about building up Europes defenses, Ukraine awaits actual results Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt gave a resounding endorsement of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid the Signal leak scandal Thursday, as condemnation for both his and national security adviser Mike Waltzs roles in the affair grows. Well, we have never denied that this was a mistake, Leavitt said outside the White House when asked whether the Trump administration will shift its messaging or hold anyone accountable. The national security adviser took responsibility for that. And we have said we are making changes. Leavitt went on to praise Hegseth, noting that he was voted in by the U.S. Senate and is putting our war fighters first, making the world a safer place for the American people and for all people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her comments come after President Donald Trump also tentatively placed blame on Waltz on Wednesday night. Mike Waltz, I guess he said, he claimed responsibility, Trump said in the Oval Office. It was Mike, I guess I dont know. I always thought it was Mike. Both Waltz and Hegseth have faced intense scrutiny on Capitol Hill after The Atlantic reported earlier this week that its top editor was inadvertently included in a private group chat with senior administration officials including Waltz, Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other members of the cabinet discussing the administrations plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemen. The administration has insisted that no classified information was disclosed and instead has focused its vitriol on Jeffrey Goldberg, the journalist included in the chat. Democrats on Capitol Hill have loudly called for Waltz or Hegseth or both to be removed from their roles, and even some Republicans have said the Trump administration has botched the handling of the fallout. The president also seemed puzzled Wednesday night why Hegseth would receive any scrutiny for the leak. Screenshots of the chat showed the defense secretary sending sensitive details about the operation, including launch times. POLITICO has previously reported Trumps frustration toward Waltz, not only for adding a journalist to the Signal group chat but for possibly having The Atlantics editor-in-chiefs number saved on his phone in the first place. Waltz has denied speaking to Goldberg. Mar. 27DIXON The Township Officials of Illinois' legislative chairman urged the Lee County Board at its meeting March 20 to oppose four bills that would dismantle many township governments across the state. Arnold Vegter, who also is the road commissioner for Union Grove Township in Whiteside County, told the board that the TOI has been working with the Illinois Association of County Board Members along with other local government organizations to oppose SB 2504, SB 2217, HB 3581 and HB 2515, which were introduced in early 2025. ExpandAutoplay Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Image 1 of 5 The South Dixon Township building as seen Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The state legislature has introduced four bills that would dismantle many townships across the state. (Alex T. Paschal) All four bills "are very vague," Vegter said. "The township situation is going to be, or is, if I'm not mistaken, already a headache. There's a lot of questions and a lot of controversy," Lee County Board member Mike Koppien said. SB 2217 dissolves all townships with a population of less than 5,000. It must either consolidate with an adjacent township or the county. Similarly, HB 2515 dissolves all townships with a population of less than 500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 3581 eliminates road districts less than 15 miles and SB 2504 gets rid of all township tax assessors in counties with a population of less than 50,000. In both cases, that duty would fall to the county. Lee County has a population of about 33,544, according to July 2024 U.S. census data. There are 22 townships in the county, which collectively totals about 967 miles of roadway jurisdiction. If these bills were to pass, all townships aside from Dixon Township would be eliminated. "Most counties have told us they don't want it," Vegter said. "There's no way a county could take over all of the township roads and do it as effectively as townships do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It could end up being a very costly venture," Koppien said. Lee County Highway Department engineer Dave Anderson estimated that it could cost the county $300,000 more a year in labor than what the townships spend. Vegter said that according to one of the bills, the county could only levy 25% of what the townships levy, meaning the county "would take all the township roads and you'd only get 25% of our money." Aside from the roads, the county also would have to pick up general assistance and take care of township cemeteries, Vegter said. However, not everyone was opposed to the idea of dismantling townships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Board member Chris Norberg referred to SB 2504, which would get rid of township tax assessors, and said, "I'm firmly a believer in that we need to get rid of multi-township assessment and township assessors at least here in Lee County [simply because] we don't have enough qualified people." After the April election, the county only will have one elected township assessor, Norberg said. "The assessment ... is already being done by the county." "We do know that is a problem," Vegter said. "That is a problem statewide." Still, "it's hard to get rid of one organization, one department," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These bills aren't specific enough to successfully do that, he added. The board didn't vote to take any action on opposing or supporting the bills, but other nearby counties have voiced their opposition. The Ogle County Board voted unanimously March 18 to oppose the bills after two board members argued that they would create more expenses rather than saving money. At Whiteside County's Coloma Township board meeting March 19, Supervisor Kristine Dobbs said there will be a resolution to oppose the consolidation of townships at the annual town hall meeting at 6:15 p.m. April 8. "Township government is the government closest to the people," Coloma Road Commissioner Ruthie Rogers said in an interview with Shaw Local. Rogers said her hope would be that if the bills were approved, Coloma would be absorbed by another township and remain a township. POCOLA, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) The suspect in a 2023 murder in Pocola was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Wednesday, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Matthew Rekart, 35 (Courtesy: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation) Matthew Rekart, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 45 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. OSBI said that under the terms of his sentence, the first 30 years will be served in custody, with the remaining 15 years suspended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say that on April 11, 2023, the Pocola Police Department asked OSBI to investigate a suspicious death. Ex-NFL player charged after 190 dogs seized from Oklahoma animal fighting venture OSBI agents learned on April 6, 2023, that Pocola police officers responded to a single-vehicle accident on East George Street between Carter and South Pocola Boulevard. Officers found Shayla Grant, 26, at the scene. Medical personnel provided life-saving measures; however, Grant was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined that Grants cause of death was from multiple blunt force trauma and skull fractures. Rekart was identified as a suspect as a result of the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rekart was arrested on April 19, 2023, and booked into the LeFlore County Jail on a first-degree murder charge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) An amendment authored by State Senator Greg Goode (R-Terre Haute) has been added to a bill that would allow Vigo County to transfer funding to the Vigo County School Corporation to help meet the districts needs. According to a press release, Amendment 33 to House Bill 1002 would create a local oversight board to ensure transparency and accountability in managing county resources for potential school improvements. The legislation comes after months of work with local leaders in Terre Haute to bring interested parties together to help make much-needed improvements in our school district, said Sen. Goode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greg Goode hosts free speech event with Rich Lowry The press release goes on to say the oversight board would be made up of members appointed by local government offices as well as the business community. These leaders understand what the Wabash Valley needs to be successful for decades to come, and I thank them for working with me on this legislation, Goode said. House Bill 1002 will now move to the Senate Committee on Appropriation for further consideration. Sen. Goode said this bill is similar to Senate Bill 382, which was authored by himself and Senator Darly Schmitt (R-Jasper) and passed the Senate earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 382 provides that, if a county transfers or gifts any unencumbered funds to a school corporation, the county executive may establish a local board to have oversight and manage the use of the funds. Provides that the expenses of the local board shall be paid by the county, according to the Indiana General Assembly. Terre Haute Symphonys long-time conductor honored by Senate Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hemp being grown indoors for flower to produce CBD oil. (Florida A&M University hemp pilot project report to Florida Senate Agriculture Committee) New regulations on hemp-derived THC products in Florida have passed unanimously in the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee, and now go to the full Senate for consideration. This is Polk County Republican Sen. Colleen Burtons third attempt in three years to tighten rules around what has become a billion-dollar industry since the plant was legalized for sale in Florida in 2019. State Sen. Colleen Burton via Florida Senate Her 2023 bill was ultimately watered down to essentially banning hemp-derived products from being sold to anyone under 21, and adopting rules ensuring they were not marketed to be attractive to children. The 2024 version, passed in the Senate but only narrowly in the House, imposed strict strict limits on THC levels in hemp products and a complete ban on the sale of delta-8 THC but it was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This yearss bill (SB 438) is similar to last years with more restrictions. It would forbid any amount of synthetic cannabinoids, including Delta-8. The amount of Delta-9 hemp-derived products couldnt be more than five milligrams per serving or 50 milligrams per container. It limits the amount of THC in hemp-infused drinks to just five milligrams per container. Such drinks could only be sold through a retailer with a liquor license a provision strongly supported by lobbyists representing the beer and wine industry. This bill to me takes an appropriate stance, if you will, on the regulation of products that are sold in Florida, Burton said. It still allows hemp-infused products to be sold, but it regulates them. The bill would ban any business from selling hemp products within 500 feet of a school or a daycare facility. If enacted, businesses would not be able to advertise the availability of such products in a manner visible to the public from any street, sidewalk, park, or other public place. Veto DeSantis was heavily pressured by the hemp industry last year to veto Burtons bill. In his statement announcing that veto, he complained the measure would impose debilitating regulatory burdens on small businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, multiple news stories reported that the hemp industry helped him financially work to defeat Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment that would have legalized recreational cannabis in the state for adults 21 and older. That perceived quid pro quo was noted at Thursdays committee hearing by Alex Petrick, owner of Florida Hemp Distribution. If the exact same bill passed this year again, and it makes it back to DeSantis desk, will he stand by his word and veto it again because it is a regulatory hurdle?' he asked. Or do we think hell pass it this time because Amendment 3 is not on the ballot. Jessica Spencer, who served as director of advocacy for the Vote No on 3 campaign last year, pointed to a proliferation of gas stations and smoke shops advertising THC and No medical marijuana card needed in their storefronts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This unregulated, non-FDA-approved intoxicating THC products that are synthesized from hemp and are easily accessed at our gas stations and convenience stores, are in fact endangering children and families, she said. Deja vu Manatee County Republican Jim Boyd acknowledged a sense of deja vu. Here we go again, but here we go again for the right reasons, he said. This was a good bill last year. I believe its a good bill this year. The measure passed out of the Senate Fiscal Committee unanimously no surprise, since every senator supported Burtons bill last year on the floor. The question now is when does the House start moving its version (HB 1597), sponsored by St. Lucie County Republican Dana Trabulsky. House Speaker Danny Perez certainly takes the issue seriously. He convened a special workgroup that spent three days researching the hemp industry in Florida during the first week of the legislative session earlier this month. Trabulskys bill was sent to four House committees, none of which have scheduled a hearing for it yet. There are still five weeks left in the 60-day session. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE POLK COUNTY, Texas (KETK)- A bill is being proposed in Texas that is meant to eliminate a legal loophole that is allowing sexual predators to avoid registering as sex offenders. The bill is in memory of an 11-year-old East Texas girl who was tragically murdered in 2024. Suspect admits to killing 2 men in missing persons case, Lufkin PD say Audrii Cunningham was the subject of a Feb. 15, 2024 Amber Alert after she never showed up to school at Creekside Elementary. Officials said they found Audriis body in the Trinity River on Feb. 20 near the Polk and San Jacinto county line under State Highway 59 south. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Cunninghams disappearance it was discovered that she was kidnapped and murdered by Don McDougal, who was a family friend and lived on the familys property. Following Cunninghams death, McDougal was charged with capital murder and will be spending the remainder of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. Texarkana man arrested for damaging Tesla with mini four-wheeler, police say In 2007, McDougal was charged with indecency of a child but was charged with a lesser offense that did not require him to register as a sex offender. The bill titled Audriis Law would force those found guilty of child grooming to register as sex offenders and make their crimes available to the public. The bill is being proposed by Texas House Representative Trent Ashby, who is a part of district nine. 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. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. The Missouri Legislature passed two dozen bills this week, adding to a long list of legislation that could be heading to the governors desk by the end of the legislative session. On the House side, lawmakers passed a total of 22 bills this week, with measures ranging from school safety and initiative petition reform to abortion and gun rights. All passed, some with total consent and others along party lines. The debate on the abortion bill was lengthy and heated as was the floor consideration for House Bill 1175, which establishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Republicans are owned by guns, Rep. Jeremy Dean, D-Springfield, said during debate on the House floor. The Second Amendment is constantly under attack, said Rep. Jim Murphy, R-St. Louis County. Guns dont kill people, he added. Criminals kill people. Murphy said that while its not a perfect bill, he expects the measure to be fixed in the Senate before coming back to the House. That bill passed along party lines. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Democrat Minority Leader Rep. Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City, pointed to some of the bills as Republicans undoing the will of the voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether its on abortion or paid sick leave and minimum wage, the first order of business this year has been to undo what Missourians went to the ballot box to vote for, Aune said. To see the majority party, the super majority party, just running roughshod over the voters of this state is disappointing, she said. And its certainly not what most folks expect from their elected officials. Meanwhile, Aunes GOP colleague, Speaker Jon Patterson, said he has been impressed by what the General Assembly has done so far this session. Im very pleased with the way things are going, Rep. Patterson, a Republican from the Kansas City area, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patterson said the efficient nature of this session is mainly because of Gov. Mike Kehoes leadership. The way that hes been leading from the top, going around and seeing all the members, Patterson said. The fact that we passed those two bills before spring break I think really was because of him and his will and his efforts. The Mike Kehoe that we voted for is the Mike Kehoe that were getting, he said. I think thats great. The Missouri Senate also passed legislation of their own. Two bills passed this week, one that would allow the Missouri Farm Bureau to sell health insurance to its members and another aimed at countering foreign influence in state and local elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. AUGUSTA, Kan. (KSNW) Len Hudson was born in Wellington, but moved to Augusta in 1958. Hes called it home ever since. After graduating from high school, Len went on to college at Butler and Wichita State. But as the Vietnam War escalated, his path changed. He joined the Army. I got this thing in the mail from the Army that said Hey, youve got a college degree. You can be an officer. So I went over and talked to a guy at the recruiting center, and he set me up, and I signed up. Its kind of funny because I signed up, I got home, and my draft notice was in the mailbox. After basic training, Officer Candidate School, and military intelligence instruction, Len was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. There, he trained artillerymen heading to Vietnam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tune into KSN News at 10 every Wednesday for our Veteran Salute You guys out there, in case you were an artilleryman from about 1970 to 1972 I probably signed your orders sending you to Vietnam, he said. So here I am if you want to throw stones at me. After three years of active duty, with a baby on the way, Len and his wife decided it was time to come home to Augusta. Had she not been born, we might have hung around a little longer. But as it turned out, we did the right thing, he said. Still, Len wasnt done serving. He jumped into the Army Reserve. I served five years with the 971st Medical Company, which was like a giant emergency room. It was kind of a shift from artillery and intelligence to that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few years later, Len was back in the Reserves this time commanding an ambulance company. But his talents extended beyond the military. At home, Len was publishing popular local newspapers like the Augusta Gazette and El Dorado Times. Thats my first love. Newspapers are my first love. News people are the coolest people around. In 1992, Len had one more military job this time with the National Guard as an artillery forward observer. Even while serving, Len stayed active in his hometown. I served on the city council in town, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce. I serve as an elder at my church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Len credits the military for shaping his work ethic and resilience. They taught you stuff you would never learn readily in the civilian world. They taught you that there are days when you are so tired and youve had no sleep, and youve been wet for a week, and everything hurts but you still got stuff to do, and you still do it. Even in retirement, Len hasnt slowed down. Hes now an author, signing copies of his book Ma Qui a fictional tale featuring real people, set during the Vietnam War. If you want to nominate a veteran for our Veteran Salute, send an email to connect3news@ksn.com or fill out our online contact form! 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. I know Ukraine. Ive been to Ukraine. Ukraine is not perfect neither is the United States. But in many ways, Ukraine is the United States I long for. Not because of its suffering. Not because of its war. But because of its clarity. Because of the unshakable belief that liberty is not a passive inheritance but something worth fighting for, sacrificing for, and, if necessary, dying for. In Ukraine, there is no confusion about what is at stake no illusions that democracy is self-sustaining, no comfort in the false security of past victories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people there understand that freedom without responsibility is not freedom at all. I wish I could say the same about my own country. Ukraine is a nation that knows what it stands for. When I walked the streets of Kyiv and spoke with Ukrainians who had lost family members, homes, and livelihoods, I didnt hear bitterness or self-pity. I heard resolve. I saw people who understood that history does not move on its own it is shaped by those willing to fight for it. Ukraines war is not just about territory. It is about the right to exist, to govern oneself, to choose ones future. The people do not take that for granted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contrast that with the United States, where democracy is too often treated as a birthright rather than a responsibility. Where the work of preserving freedom has been replaced by the assumption that it will always be there. Where politics is not about safeguarding the republic but about personal power, spectacle, and winning at all costs. The stakes are high, yet too many treat it as a game. There is a difference between liberty and freedom. Americans love to talk about freedom. We wear it like a badge, wave it on bumper stickers, invoke it when it suits our personal preferences. But freedom, untethered from responsibility, leads to chaos. Liberty, on the other hand, requires discipline. It demands a collective commitment to something greater than oneself. Ukraine understands the difference. The United States once did, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1941, when the U.S. entered World War II, Americans understood that freedom required action. Ordinary citizens rationed goods, industries retooled overnight, young men volunteered in droves not because they were forced, but because they believed in something bigger than themselves. In 1961, when John F. Kennedy told Americans to "ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country," people took it to heart. There was a time when civic duty was a shared responsibility, not an inconvenience. But today, too many Americans see liberty as an entitlement rather than an obligation. We demand rights but reject the responsibilities that come with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We celebrate our past fights for freedom while ignoring the slow erosion of the very institutions that made those fights possible. Americas comfort is our weakness. Read also: Editorial: What Steve Witkoff doesnt get about Ukraine (and Russia) Ukraine is not free because it declares itself free. Ukraine is free because its people fight for it. Every day. Every hour. Every moment. That kind of clarity does not exist in the United States anymore. Instead, we have settled into the belief that our democracy, our standing in the world, our very way of life is unshakable. But nothing about democracy is permanent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Roman Republic believed its institutions were indestructible until corruption and complacency eroded them. The Weimar Republic assumed democracy would protect itself until it collapsed into dictatorship. History does not give second chances to nations that fail to recognize when they are in decline. There are lessons the U.S. can relearn from Ukraine. Ukraine does not have the luxury of apathy. It does not have the privilege of debating whether its government is worth fighting for. It knows what happens when liberty is threatened, when people hesitate, when a country believes it is immune to collapse. The United States once knew this, too. So, what will it take for us to remember? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do we need war on our own soil? Do we need to lose our democracy entirely before we realize that it is not self-sustaining? Will we only recognize the value of what we have once it is gone? Or can we wake up now? Can we recognize that the fight for democracy is not just happening in Ukraine, but here inside our borders, inside our institutions, inside our hearts? If Ukraine is the United States I long for, then perhaps the better question is: Can America become the country it once was? The country that did not take democracy for granted. The country that understood that liberty is not something we receive it is something we must fight for every single day. The answer to that question will determine our future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To those who say, "If you like Ukraine so much, then why dont you move there?" Because I believe in the American ideal. Because this country despite all its flaws, its complacency, its political dysfunction still has the potential to be what it once was: a nation that understands liberty is earned, not given. But most of all, because America is my country my home. Patriotism is not blind allegiance. It is not a refusal to criticize or challenge. It is the willingness to demand that ones country live up to its highest ideals, even when it falls short. Especially when it falls short. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine reminds me of the America that fought for independence against a greater power. The America that sacrificed for the sake of liberty. The America that, in its best moments, has understood that freedom is not an individual privilege but a shared responsibility. I do not admire Ukraine because it is perfect. I admire it because it has clarity. Because it has purpose. Because it refuses to take liberty for granted. And I do not want to move to Ukraine because I want my own country to remember what that feels like. So no, I wont move to Ukraine, but I will stand up for Ukraine travel to Ukraine and support its fight against tyranny and for liberty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I will stay in America to fight, in whatever way I can, to make sure that America does not forget what makes it truly free. What makes it America the Beautiful. Read also: Letter to the editor: The Oval Office fiasco was a calculated setup to humiliate Ukraine and undermine democracy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. To the editor: "Dem Bums," my Dodgers, have broken my heart many a season ("Dodgers will visit President Trump and the White House to celebrate World Series title," March 25). But never like this. How could the team of Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax and Fernando Valenzuela visit this president, whose cruelty, racism and divisiveness is actively seeking to destroy all that the Dodgers have always embraced the beautiful diversity of America herself? A lifelong fan of over 70 years is ashamed of you. Jane Rosen, Los Angeles .. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To the editor: I just read that the Dodgers are going to visit President Trump in the White House to honor their World Series victory. Ive been a Dodger fanatic since I was a kid in 1963. This is the first time the Dodgers have outraged me enough to protest. Talk about not understanding their fan base! I never thought the Dodgers would support an authoritarian, divisive, wannabe dictator. What's next, a visit to see Russian President Vladimir Putin? Manager Dave Roberts calls it a great honor. This is not an honor for the Dodgers; its legitimizing someone who never should have regained power. Larry Wilson, Sierra Madre .. To the editor: The Los Angeles Dodgers need to take a stand and respectfully decline the administrations invitation for all the reasons we are all well aware of, including the Department of Defense's decision to remove and then republish an online article detailing Robinsons history of military service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement B.R. Ball, Sherman Oaks .. To the editor: I'm still waiting for the Dodgers to compensate the families evicted when their stadium was built. Warren Mullisen, Culver City This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Plaintiffs in Rhode Island Latino Arts vs. National Endowment for the Arts, attorneys from the from the American Civil Liberties Union and supporters are seen outside the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island in Providence on March 27, 2025. The ALCU is representing the performing arts group plaintiffs in hopes of defeating a National Endowment for the Arts funding policy that could affect funding for LGBTQ+ artists and performers. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Attorney Vera Eidelman rushed to the defense of her clients when she took the stand Thursday morning in a Providence federal courtroom, speaking swiftly as to why national arts funding remains imperiled under President Donald Trumps administration. Youre going very fast, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island Senior District Judge William E. Smith told Eidelman, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Maybe just slow down a little bit for the court reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court reporter smiled and nodded as Eidelman slowed and continued her defense of four performance arts organizations: Rhode Island Latino Arts, The Theater Offensive, National Queer Theater, and Theatre Communications Group. The court case, first filed March 6, is another shockwave running from President Donald Trumps Jan. 20 executive order aiming to root out federal support and funding that promotes gender ideology. But time is short: The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to stop adoption of the executive order at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) ahead of the agencys April 7 grant application deadline grants on which the organizations rely to put on their performances, many of which involve LGBTQ+ performers and storylines. This is clearly about funding private speech, Eidelman argued before the judge, underlining that the NEA decision would violate First and Fifth Amendment rights. One plaintiff, Rhode Island Latino Arts, has already started to self-censor a planned storytelling program, by considering removing LGBTQ+ elements to accommodate possible changes in federal policy, according to a court document by Marta V. Martinez, the organizations executive director. Arguing the case alongside Eidelman was Scarlet Kim, also a senior staff attorney at the ACLU, who detailed how the NEA would violate the Administrative Procedures Act as well as the basic statutory underpinnings of the NEA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A March 25 filing from the ACLU attorneys suggests the judge should not limit relief to the plaintiffs, as the NEA funding issue is nationwide. Smith said he plans to deliver his ruling on April 3, or the morning of April 4 at the latest. Rhode Island Latino Arts Teatro en El Verano adapted from Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing for its 2019 bilingual traveling production of Tanta Bulla, Y Pa Que? in 2019. The arts nonprofit is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Arts over a policy prohibiting grant applications for projects that promote gender ideology. (Courtesy Marta V. Martinez/Rhode Island Latino Arts) The roughly two-hour hearing Thursday invoked an artistry different from the sort practiced by the plaintiffs, with attorneys on both sides of the case engaged in a technical blow-for-blow that tried to determine what could be litigated. Thats because the Department of Justices arguments, relayed through its lone attorney Kevin M. Bolan, who has worked in the civil division of the district attorneys office since 2023, disputed that there was even anything to dispute. This whole case arises and centers on an agency action that no longer exists, Bolan said in court. Since the lawsuits March 6 filing, the NEA has removed the cornerstones of the plaintiffs complaints. First, on March 7, the agency removed a checkbox for grant applications which would have required grant applicants to affirm that their work does not promote gender ideology. Second, on March 17, NEA Senior Advisor Mary Anne Carter issued a memo to agency staff that proclaimed, Any prior statements the NEA has made concerning any provisions of the EO that apply to its grantmaking are null and void. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the notion that the NEA had undone or prevented any possible damage proved unpopular with Smith. Youve made that point there, Smith told Bolan. I think its inconsistent with the law. Bolan offered that litigation is preventing the NEA from figuring out how or if to implement the executive order. The court, he said, should allow the process to continue. Theyre uncertainties because your client has made them uncertainties, Smith said of the confusion surrounding the executive order on the agency side. Im the agencys lawyer, said Bolan at one point. Im not someone at the agency making decisions. Legal bait and switch? Hotly discussed was the idea of voluntary cessation, or when a defendant stops doing something usually the something that prompted litigation but without any promise the misbehavior will not resume in the future. The ACLU cited FBI vs. Fikre, a 2024 Supreme Court case in which the justices unanimously ruled that when a man sued the FBI for being on the no-fly list, being removed from the list did not render the litigation useless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion, A live case or controversy cannot be so easily disguised, and a federal courts constitutional authority cannot be so readily manipulated. In his opening remarks, Bolan argued that the recent recissions by the NEA did not live up to the cessation claims, because the orders had been rescinded. Well, youre going up against Justice Gorsuch on that, Smith said, cutting off Bolan. Tell me why Gorsuch got it wrong. Bolan replied that cessation involves manipulation to evade judgment. Well, that kind of looks exactly like whats going on here, no? Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voluntary cessation has come into play with a number of Trump-related lawsuits, as blue state attorneys have rallied to prevent substantial funding changes from taking place at the federal level. One of those cases is in this district, Kim said, referring to a national lawsuit filed in Rhode Island against the Office of Management and Budget and presided over by Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. Yes, were very familiar with it, Smith replied. Jess Ducey, who co-chairs plaintiff National Queer Theaters board of directors, is shown outside U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island in downtown Providence on March 27, 2025. They say NEA grants can exponentially broaden an artists audience. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Whats the harm? The ACLU attorneys relied on the cessation aspect to argue as if the original policy changes had never been rescinded. First, the NEA funds private speech, Eidelman argued, and its underlying statutes are designed with the intent to prevent the agency from becoming a propaganda machine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress took numerous steps to insulate the agency from political pressures, Kim said in her turn at the stand. The agency has now explicitly done what Congress forbade it from doing. The federal governments interpretation of the law was completely opposite, with Bolan arguing that works the agency funds are government speech. This is a very different form of subsidy. Its not something that is widely available, Bolan said, outlining NEA grants as competitive. Organizations could also apply during a grant cycle later in the year, Bolan thought. If they have to wait a few months, the show will go on, he said. There is no irreparable harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as the speech is being squelched, isnt that the harm? Smith asked. Eidelmans rebuttal: To borrow the opposing counsels phrase, the show actually wont go on. She noted arts organizations need reliably timed grant cycles to fund their production. Congress took numerous steps to insulate the agency from political pressures. The agency has now explicitly done what Congress forbade it from doing. Scarlet Kim, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Outside the courthouse, Kim was mostly optimistic about the case. I think the court seemed amenable to our arguments that the prohibition could simply spring back at any time and that our clients need relief, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demands of the litigation on an artists time were not lost on Jess Ducey, who co-chairs the National Queer Theaters board of directors. Yes, Ducey said, the grant process is already notoriously complex. Resisting the executive order and defending the integrity of our work, defending our identities has sapped even more time away from planning and casting shows, they said. But it feels good to be doing this in community and in solidarity with other organizations, Ducey said. To be doing this together with other groups, I think is important to show the government the NEA that were here. Were making art. We wont be silenced. The NEA grants are important, Ducey said, because they can exponentially broaden an artists audience. That endorsement is incredibly valuable for an artist, and when you look at any artists career, thats a huge jumping point, Ducey said. In the courtroom, Bolan argued that the artworks prestige comes from the government subsidy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ducey agreed that NEA grants do indeed confer legitimacy, and recognition of merit from a respected agency like the NEA means a lot to artists. But the merit still comes from the art itself, from what artists are already making and from audiences who go see live performances, Ducey said. With or without NEA funding, audiences are the most important part, Ducey said. So you, as an individual civilian, go to your theaterShow up to opening night, cheer for them, and show your communities and your government that arts important. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) After someone borrowed a book nearly 100 years ago from a library in southwest Ohio, it was just recently returned. Wild West by Bertrand W Sinclair was returned in late 2024 to Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Librarys Price Hill Branch Library. When the book was checked out in 1926 and remained unreturned after a few years, CHCPL made the decision to purchase a replacement copy of the missing book. Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library According to CHCPL, the book was found inside of a house. At the time of return to the library, it was determined by the organization to be in good condition, which is allowing it to have two copies of the book. 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 WDTN.com. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The conversation about no cap on Oklahomas School Choice Tax Credit could come at a cost after another state implemented a similar measure. Several bills related to the Parental Choice Tax Credit program we discussed this legislative session. However, lawmakers voiced concern that there are close to none that serve to provide accountability or oversight. The program was billed, in large part, as a way to help low-income families get their kids the best education possible, but new state data showed a major share of its funds went to the states wealthiest families that participated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data from the Oklahoma Tax Commission showed Oklahoma paid out $91.7 million to families taking part in the Parental Choice Tax Credit system. The cap is a tiered system; the credits are capped at $200 million for the current school year and will be $250 million for 2026. Governor Kevin Stitt has voiced his support to remove the cap altogether. Several lawmakers voiced concern about removing the cap as there have been examples of that causing concern. Arizona has a school-choice program where they removed the cap and it caused problems according to the latest data. A non-partisan think-tank group, the Grand Canyon Institute (GCI), conducted research regarding their program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report released by GCI over the summer last year looked at the net cost of Arizonas school choice program. The report aimed to find the costs or savings the state was taking on because of the program. Research director Dave Wells said the school choice program in Arizona contributed to the budget deficit, adding a whole new cost to the state. Governor Stitt calls to extend the cap on Parental Choice Tax Credit Were taking a whole bunch of children who were never going to be in a public district or charter school and now were subsidizing them, Wells explained. What these programs do is they primarily seem to elevate the needs of higher-income parents over the needs of lower-income parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representative Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa) is the author of a bill that is expected to be voted on come Friday that is one of the only ones that has some accountability on the tax credit program. Her bill HB 1396 would essentially not require parents to sign up for the program if they are enrolling in a private school. Before it came to the floor, it did have a restriction where schools couldnt raise their tuition just because of the program. That was taken out in committee. Just like in Arizona, if we take the cap off of how much were willing to spend each year, were going to put ourselves in a financial crisis. And so Im very concerned about that, said Rep. Provenzano. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money from the Oklahoma program was divided among families based on their income. A $27.1 million portion, about 30%, went to families making below $75,000 a year. According to census data, the average household income from last year totaled just over $63,000. A nearly equal amount, $26.3 million, went to families making between $75,000 and $150,000. Governor Stitt was asked about removing the cap and was presented the issues Arizona has seen, but he didnt answer the concerns. He did comment later during his Wednesday presser on a push towards slightly more privatized education programs. If we can do what I think were able to do on education with our free market approach, with our, you know, more charter schools, more Christian schools, more Catholic schools, more options for parents, said Gov. Stitt. 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. Press Release March 27, 2025 STATEMENT OF SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN ON THE RECOVERY OF P65 MILLION FROM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL VOUCHER AMID IRREGULARITIES The Department of Education should not stop until it has recovered every cent that went to ghost beneficiaries of the senior high school voucher program (SHS-VP). While the recovery of P65 million marks progress in the pursuit of accountability, large sums are yet to be regained. The Senate Committtee on Basic Education's inquiry last year revealed that from School Years 2020-2021 to 2022-2023, there were 11,282 SHS-VP beneficiaries with documentation issues and the expected refund is P310.4 million. Of this amount, P71.1 million was already refunded. Hindi tayo dapat tumigil hanggang sa mapanagot natin ang mga sangkot sa iregularidad na ito. Patuloy nating patatagin ang SHS-VP upang hindi na ito maabuso at magamit sa panlilinlang. Lindsay Light, Licensure Specialist for the Vermilion County Regional Office of Education #54, has been recognized by the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the National Education Association (NEA) for her exceptional dedication and significant contributions to the school districts within the region. She will be honored at the annual Friends and Advocates Banquet (FAB) on April 28. The FAB event, hosted by IEA Regions 8 & 9, celebrates individuals who have made a profound impact on education. Lights nomination, submitted by Daniel R. Hile, leader of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Danville High School (DHS), highlighted her crucial role in navigating the complex licensure process for skilled professionals seeking to become teachers in high-demand areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lindsay Light has been a beacon of hope over the past many years that we have worked with her to help quality women and men become licensed to teach at Career & Technical Education at DHS, Hile said in his nomination. In a time of critical teacher shortages, particularly in CTE, Lindsays expertise and dedication have been invaluable. The nomination emphasized the challenges faced by Danville schools in staffing growing CTE programs, including Family and Consumer Sciences, Business Education, Computer Education, Work Based Learning, and Industrial Technology. Mrs. Lights ability to guide industry professionals through alternative licensure routes has been instrumental in filling these vital positions. Testimonials from educators at Danville High School further underscored Lights impact. Lindsay is a rockstar and a blessing to Vermilion County, said Michael Ladd, DHS Industrial Technology Educator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She played a huge role in my career transition from the business setting to the world of teaching, Blake Wadsworth, DHS Business and Computer Educator said. DHS principal Jacob Bretz said, DHS, and particularly the CTE Department, is better for all of the support from Lindsay. Lindsay reflects exceptional dedication and excellence in her field, echoed Amanda Krabbe, DHS Family and Consumer Sciences. And Sue Heidle, DHS Family and Consumer Sciences, said Lindsay worked tirelessly on the meticulous details in order for this to happen. These testimonials highlight Lights friendly demeanor, thorough communication, and ability to simplify the complex licensure process. Her efforts have enabled numerous qualified individuals to transition into teaching careers, directly benefiting students and the community, a news release states. Without Ms. Lights staffing and licensure help, growth in CTE would not be possible, Hile concluded in his nomination. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Filmmaking and showrunning opportunities are set to rise to new levels in the Commonwealth following the signature of a bill on Wednesday establishing the Kentucky Film Office (KFO). Kentucky, like most other states, offers financial incentives to attract film and TV productions. In 2022, the industry generated $200 million in revenue for the state, on top of an estimated $128 million brought in locally from all the extra spending these productions bring, like dining or set construction. Industry leaders believe a state film office would help make those numbers bigger. Gov. Beshear vetoes 9 bills on education, healthcare, and more on Wednesday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 1 passed unanimously during its initial vote on March 4 and passed with a 77-8 vote 10 days later before being signed Wednesday. The KFO will increase the workforce in local and regional film production with training programs while also marketing the Bluegrass as a film location. The film office will serve as the hub for marketing, industry coordination, workforce development, and solidifying Kentuckys position as an attractive destination for feature film production, Sen. Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville) told lawmakers in February. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office will work in tandem with the Kentucky Film Leadership Council, also established in the bill, which will consist of seven members to help strategize industry-related decisions. This will reportedly be done in partnership with the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, and the Education and Labor Cabinet. The law officially establishing the Kentucky Film Office goes into effect July 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Elon Musks brood just keeps on growing. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has now fathered at least 14 children with four women. Three of his kids were just recently made known to the public in February. Musk, 53, has repeatedly expressed his belief that having more kids is important for the future of humanity and is on his own personal mission to help reach that goal. Doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis, the X owner posted in July 2022. A collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. birth rate has been steadily declining since 2007, despite a small uptick in 2024, which saw over 3.6 million babies born. While researchers are concerned about the long-term economic implications of the countrys birth rate, having more children isnt the only way to encourage a strong economy. But it is the basket Musk is choosing to place his eggs in. The White House advisor first became a father when he and his ex-wife Justine Musk welcomed a son named Nevada in May 2002. Tragically, the baby died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome at just 10 weeks old. Since then, Elon has become a father many times over, mostly through in vitro fertilization and surrogacy. He has nine living sons and four daughters who range in age from 6 months to 20 years old, though the birth date of one child is still unknown. This includes his infant son, Romulus, who Elon hasnt publicly confirmed amid a custody battle with the childs mother. However, a recent paternity test confirmed the boy is Elons. Heres what you should know about Elon Musks children. Twins Vivian and Griffin Ages: 20 Mom: Justine Musk Following the death of their firstborn, Elon and Justine underwent IVF treatments to grow their family and welcomed twins Vivian and Griffin in April 2004. Almost exactly 18 years later, in April 2022, Vivian came out as transgender and petitioned a court to change her legal name and gender. In addition to changing her first name to Vivian, she adopted her mothers maiden name, Wilson, as her new surname, explaining that she no longer wanted to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon said it was Vivians schooling that caused the rift in their relationship, citing his belief that elite schools and universities have embraced full-on Communism in an interview with Financial Times in October 2022. He later claimed he was tricked into allowing her to undergo gender-affirming care as a teenager and misgendered her to say that she is dead, killed by the woke mind virus. This past July, Elon misgendered Vivian once again in a post on X, claiming that she was born gay and slightly autistic. He also asserted that she was would pick out jackets for him and call them fabulous at the age of 4. This entire thing is completely made up and theres a reason for this, she said in response to the post. He doesnt know what I was like as a child because he quite simply wasnt there, and in the little time that he was I was relentlessly harassed for my femininity and queerness. Vivian recently told Teen Vogue that she hasnt spoken to her father since 2020 and that she doesnt know how many half-siblings she has. She also condemned the straight-armed gesture he gave at President Donald Trumps inaugural parade in January. Honey, were going to call a fig a fig, and were going to call a Nazi salute what it was. That sh was definitely a Nazi salute, she said. Vivian also stated that his further rightward political shift was not because of me. Now a college student, Vivian is currently studying abroad in Tokyo and regularly posts on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky. Her twin brother, Griffin, on the other hand, has kept a low profile but was seen in public with his dad as recently as May 2024. Triplets Kai, Saxon, and Damian Ages: 19 Mom: Justine Musk Elon and Justine used IVF to conceive three more children together. Their tripletsKai, Saxon, and Damianwere born in January 2006. While little is known about the three boys, Musks biographer Walter Isaacson referred to Damian as a classic music prodigy in his 2023 book Elon Musk, adding that the child also excels at math and physics. Elon Musk & his kids with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/1jH1DZXmXi DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) August 2, 2024 Both Damian and Kai were with Elon when he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi around 2015. The billionaire has also made multiple mentions of Saxon online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the birth of their triplets, Justine and Elons marriage broke down, and the couple divorced in 2008. X A-Xii, Exa, and Techno Ages: X A-Xii, 4; Exa, 3; and Techno, 2 Mom: Grimes In May 2018, Elon started dating musician Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher. They were in relationship for four years and had three kids together before calling it quits in March 2022. Getty Images The pair had their first child in May 2020. Elon originally announced that the boys name was X A-12, but this was later tweaked to X A-Xii to comply with California law. The name, which is pronounced X-Ash-A-Twelve, was partly inspired by the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft. It was later revealed that the couple used IVF to conceive the child, who Elon often refers to as X or Lil X. In an interview with The New York Times in June 2020, Elon gave some insight into his parenting style. Well, babies are just eating and pooping machines, you know? Right now theres not much I can do, he said. When the kid gets older, there will be more of a role for me. I think just doing what Ive done with my other kids. If I have a trip for Tesla to China, for example, Ill bring the kids with me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of all his children, Elon is most often seen with his son, X. According to Grimes, he views the boy as his protege. Since the entrepreneur started running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January, the 4-year-old has appeared with him at the White House on several occasions. He even attended a press conference in the Oval Office with his dad and the president in February. In a viral video from the event, X reportedly told Trump, Youre not the president and you need to go away. Elon and Grimes privately welcomed their second child, a daughter named Exa Dark Siderl (pictured above), via surrogate in December 2021. Grimes announced her birth in an interview with Vanity Fair in March 2022. Despite their breakup that same month, Elon and Grimes went on to have a third child, a son named Techno Mechanicus and nicknamed Tau, in June 2022. The news of his birth wasnt revealed until September 2023 when Isaacsons biography of Elon came out. Around this time, the co-parents filed dueling lawsuits against each other to establish their parental rights of their three children, leading to a year-long custody battle. While their dispute ended in November 2024, the case was sealed from the public, leaving the outcome unknown. Grimes hasnt been thrilled with the publicity X has been receiving of late and has begged Musk to keep their children out of the public eye. The state of my childrens lives being public is of grave concern to me and I think about how to solve this every day, she wrote on social media. I would hope there was some law that would allow a parent to veto small children from living public lives but I dont even trust the law to help me now if I tried to invoke it. Twins Strider and Azure Ages: 3 Mom: Shivon Zilis Lil loves of my life pic.twitter.com/DwwxTtPEyu Shivon Zilis (@shivon) February 16, 2025 While still in a relationship with Grimes, Elon quietly welcomed twins with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis using IVF. Their daughter Azure and son Strider were born in November 2021 just weeks before the birth of Elon and Grimes daughter, Exa. It wasnt until July 2022, however, that Azures and Striders existences was made public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the two have never been romantically involved, Isaacson referred to Zilis as Elons intellectual companion in his biography. They are professional colleagues, who met through Neuralink, which Elon owns. Arcadia and Seldon Ages: Arcadia, 1; Seldon, unknown Mom: Shivon Zilis Three years after the birth of their twins, Elon and Zilis had a third child together in February 2024. Musk confirmed that he had fathered another kid with Zilis that June but didnt elaborate. On the babys first birthday, Zilis revealed on social media the co-parents have a girl named Arcadia. The same day, Zilis made another big announcement: She and Elon had welcomed another son named Seldon Lycurgus. His exact birth date is unknown. Since October 2024, Zilis and the kids moved into one of the homes on the entrepreneurs $35 million family compound in Austin, Texas. Romulus Age: approximately 8 months Mom: Ashley St. Clair Seldon isnt the only recent addition to Elons offspring. In February, conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair said she gave birth to his baby the previous September. In a social media post, St. Clair stated she wanted to protect their childs privacy but was forced to come forward to get ahead of a tabloid story. The following day, she told the New York Post that their child was a boy and that it was Elons idea to keep the baby a secret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a week of silence from Elon, St. Clair filed a petition in New York State court to establish paternity and gain sole custody of their son, who is referred to as R.S.C. in the legal document. The filing includes a photo of Elon holding his alleged son. St. Clair later shared the boys name is Romulus. According to the petition, she and the DOGE head had a romantic relationship in 2024, during the course of which their son was conceived. Since Romulus was born, Elon has reportedly seen him only three times, with the most recent visit taking place this past November. The billionaire didnt publicly acknowledge the boy or respond to St. Clairs claims until late March. I dont know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed, he posted on X. Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year. At that point, however, Elon had already hired a lawyer to represent him in the now-sealed case and reportedly requested a gag order against St. Clair. Her legal team also claimed that he significantly reduced his financial support to her and the baby since the legal dispute began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, the paternity test results confirmed Elon is Romulus biological father. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, St. Clair said Elon didnt want his surname on the birth certificate for supposed security concerns. She also stated he offered her $15 million and a stipend of $100,000 per month in order to keep quiet about his paternity. You Might Also Like EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A UPS driver and a woman were arrested in connection to an alleged theft scam and other charges, according to the Horizon City Police Department on Wednesday, March 26. Jason Zubia, 44, and Monica Almanza, 46, were arrested on charges of theft of property, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana. Zubias bond was set at $100,000, and Almanzas bond was set at $35,000. According to Horizon Police, in February, the department received multiple calls from residents about receiving empty packages or packages that were not delivered at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives from Horizon Police reached out to the UPS Security Team to provide information that helped in the investigation. Zubia was identified as a local UPS driver and had an accomplice, Almanza, according to police. According to the department, detectives obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 3000 block of Gaston Drive in El Paso. During the search of the residence, detectives found and recovered stolen property that was still in their sealed boxes and with their addresses on them, according to Horizon Police. In addition, officers also found several open and discarded boxes, along with narcotics, according to Horizon Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives believe there may be more victims in Horizon City and surrounding areas who may not yet be aware they have been affected by the theft scheme. Those who believe they may have been affected by the crime can contact Sgt. L. Rodriguez at (915) 852-1047. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. New London The city police officer already facing felony charges in three domestic violence incidents was arrested again Wednesday for what police said is his continued interaction with an ex-girlfriend who he is barred from contacting. Julio Gil-Martinez, 29, appeared in Norwich Superior Court in a red prison-issued jumpsuit and handcuffs to answer to the latest felony charges two counts of violation of a protective order. The charges stem from a Waterford police investigation into allegations Gil-Martinez had contacted by phone and in-person his ex-girlfriend on March 14 and 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gil-Martinez has been held at the Corrigan Correctional Center on a $250,000 bond since his third arrest on March 17 by city police on charges of first-degree stalking and violation of a protective order. In that case, police said Gil-Martinez had been in repeated contact with his ex-girlfriend and at one point showed up at her job in New London. Norwich Superior Court Judge Patrick Caruso set a $100,000 bond in the new arrest, increasing the total bond amount to a combined $350,000. If Gil-Martinez posts bond, Caruso ordered that he be in 24-7 lockdown at his New London home and monitored by a GPS bracelet. A domestic violence lethality assessment completed by the court places Gil-Martinezs ex-girlfriend in the high danger category. Defense attorney Erica Rodriguez said Gil-Martinez suffers from mental health issues. She applied to the court for Gil-Martinezs acceptance into the Supervised Diversionary Program. Gil-Martinez will undergo a mental health examination and the court will decide whether he is suitable for the program that involves mental health counseling. If Gil-Martinez is accepted into the program and successfully completes it, the court could dismiss the charges against him. He is due to appear again on June 4 in Norwich Superior Court for an update. Caruso said in court Wednesday that there does appear to be a mental health component to the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hired by the New London Police Department in 2023, Gil-Martinez was first arrested on Nov. 16, 2024 for the alleged assault and strangulation of his girlfriend. Police said a fight apparently had started over Gil-Martinezs ex-girlfriend texting other men. The woman, police said, admitted she was married when the two started dating and had been seeing another man, but said she was was going to leave them both for (Gil-Martinez). During a fight with his ex-girlfriend on Nov. 14, 2024, police said Gil-Martinez grabbed the woman while she was trying to call 911 and pulled her into the basement of his apartment, where Gil-Martinez cut himself with a knife as part of a scheme to convince police she stabbed him during a domestic dispute. At one point in the basement, the ex-girlfriend said, Gil-Martinez told her they needed to make a video of her trying to stab him or we both die tonight, the arrest report states. Gil-Martinez has been on paid administrative leave and the subject of an internal investigation since his first arrest. He was charged with second-degree threatening, third-degree assault, first-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree strangulation and interfering with an officer in that case. Gil-Martinez was arrested again on Jan. 10 during another dispute with his ex-girlfriend at his New London home, where his ex-girlfriend admitted she was still staying despite the no contact order, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the latest case, police said Gil-Martinezs ex-girlfriend claims that she had seen Gil-Martinez on multiple occasions, including the evening of March 14, when she was at a residence in Waterford and spotted his SUV parked outside a neighboring home. The ex-girlfriend told police that she went outside to ask Gil-Martinez what he was doing there and he replied I just wanted to see how you were doing and I wanted to spend time with you, police reports show. The Victim told (Gil-Martinez) he was being weird, and he needed a psychologist. The victim stated (Gil-Martinez) then turned around and left, police reports show. The ex-girlfriend also told Waterford police Gil-Martinez had driven slowly past a Waterford home where she was staying multiple occasions, including on March 15. On behalf of my client, Julio Gil-Martinez, I am respectfully requesting the media outlets and the community keep an open mind, as everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Rodriguez said after court. Mr. Gil-Martinez deserves an opportunity to defend himself against the allegations asserted as said allegations are in dispute. I ask that judgment be reserved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gil-Martinez is a Waterford High School graduate who earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Central Connecticut State University, according to his resume. He worked short stints at both the East Haven and West Haven police departments before he was hired in New London. In 2024 he was suspended for one day after being found in violation of the city and police departments harassment policies for unwanted advances toward a female colleague, records show. He was also ordered to attend workplace harassment training. New London Police Chief Brian Wright, in a statement, said news of Gil-Martinez's arrest is a tragedy that impacts not only those directly involved but also our entire community." "Our internal investigations will be conducted thoroughly to ensure that we handle this situation appropriately and support those impacted," Wright said. "It is crucial to emphasize that the actions of one individual do not reflect the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by the many members of the New London Police Department. The men and women of our department are committed to serving our community with integrity and respect. We will continue to uphold these values and work tirelessly to maintain the trust bestowed upon us by the citizens we serve. g.smith@theday.com Editor's note: This report was updated to include a statement from New London Police Chief Brian Wright. NEW YORK (PIX11) A Long Island school district is promising to take tremendous steps forward following what the superintendent said was an uptick in antisemitic things going on in the community and schools. Three Village Central School District Superintendent Kevin Scanlon made the comments while addressing a Board of Education meeting Wednesday night. There were concerns in the community after word spread that students at the Paul J. Gelinas Junior High had allegedly used antisemitic language while watching a Holocaust movie during a social studies class. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Scanlon didnt discuss details, he told parents and residents at the meeting there were no acts of violence or threats, most of these incidents incurred speech and insensitive acts and remarks. It doesnt matter if it was one or was 41. One is enough. We cannot put up with these types of things going on in our community. Rabbi Aaron Benson, the president of the Suffolk Board of Rabbis, told PIX11 News that some parents felt their concerns were not taken seriously when they first alerted the principal of the school about the hateful comments. I would say that had someone used racial slurs, or suggested that some other group be lynched or attacked, none of the students, teachers would have found that funny or just an off-handed noisy comment. That would have led to a serious and appropriate response, Benson said. The superintendent stated in a letter to the community, It is evident that the numerous resources, programs and educational opportunities that the district currently provides are not enough. He also pledged, there will be curricula changes we will be providing on-going training to the administration, faculty and staff on how to address such incidents Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When PIX11 News asked about the students involved, a spokeswoman for the district said, The District doesnt comment on individual student discipline matters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) One of the best (or worst) parts of being a sibling is the moment they learn they are getting a little brother or sister. For a woman in Colorado, that surprise didnt arrive until seven decades after she was born. A gondola system in Denver? One man says its the key to economic revitalization After 71 years, Peggy will head to the Denver International Airport to meet her two little sisters, Heidi and Janet, who reached out to her after unearthing the discovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heidi reached out and spoke with FOX31 about the meetup in a phone and email interview. The story starts in 1953 in post-World War II Germany. The trio of the sisters mother, Maria, wanted to escape the country still dealing with the ramifications of the war. She sought new opportunities and moved to Canada when she was 20 years old. She arrived in Hamilton, Ontario, and cleaned and cooked for a resident family. She had a brief relationship with a fellow German immigrant who worked as a butcher. When Maria was pregnant, the man disappeared, leaving her with the soon-to-be-born child. Maria eventually gave birth to Dianna, now known as Peggy, and placed her up for adoption because she thought she wouldnt be able to care for the newborn and faced societal pressure. Several years later, Maria met another man who she married and had two children with: Heidi and Janet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heidi said that one day, her father revealed that their mother had placed her daughter up for adoption before marrying him. Heidi shared the information with Janet, and they asked their mother about it. The pain was still raw, her emotional wounds unhealed, and she offered little beyond confirming the truth, said Heidi. City Park Jazz 2025: Free Denver summer concert series lineup, dates announced Determined to learn the identity of her long-lost sister, Heidi tried to pry information from her mother, who only gave reluctant hints like a birth year and the name of the hospital she was born in. Heidi searched local church records and reached out to the Childrens Aid Society in Hamilton. She and her sister also learned that they could not access adoption records because Canadian law restricted access to only their mother and unknown sister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a formal request, Heidi received a redacted file without identifying information. Heidi also said that had she received the information, she likely wouldnt have gotten anywhere because she learned her sister had her name changed when she was adopted. Near 2020, Heidi submitted her DNA to Ancestry.com. Years would pass before her cousin in Texas reached out and said he was doing his own DNA test for Dancestors. Nearly a decade after her father revealed the secret, and her mother passing away in the time between, Heidi gave all the information she collected to her cousin. To divert her attention, Heidi went on a solo adventure in Costa Rica where she spent time climbing volcanoes. Upon her return to Canada, she saw the email that would finally confirm her decade of work the DNA test revealed the identity and contact information of her sister. She took the weekend to gather herself and called her sister on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hi, Peggy? This is Heidi, calling from Canada. Were you born in Hamilton, Ontario, and have you ever done a DNA test? Heidi asked. Peggy said yes to both. I think were sisters, Heidi said. Ridership more than doubles with lower prices, expanded service on train from Denver to Winter Park Heidi said that Peggys enthusiastic response melted the distance between them, and they talked like old friends catching up after years apart. In April, Heidi and Janet are flying from Toronto to DIA, where they will meet Peggy, who has been living her life as a Colorado resident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) An Ohio HIV advocate said Trump administration plans to dial back HIV funding, including possible changes to a grant providing medication to low-income people with the virus, could cause thousands of deaths. Gil Kudrin, a long-term HIV survivor, is speaking out following growing concern the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which delegates treatment grants for low-income patients, could be the next target of budget cuts. The program provides medication to more than 50% of those living with HIV in the U.S., about half a million people, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. There are thousands of people in this county, in this city who rely on Ryan White for their very survival, Kudrin said at the inaugural State of the LGBTQ+ Community meeting in Cleveland in late February. If there is a 90-day interruption for that medication funding, it is likely in the following year there will be 109,000 deaths attributed to that interruption of treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio group asks U.S. Supreme Court to allow student opt-outs for LGBTQ+ lessons Kudrins warning came after some Cleveland-area physicians told him they received memorandums detailing the end of the programs funding. Since then, the Trump administration has terminated other grants related to the HIV drug PrEP and announced a dueling plan to eliminate the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions division focused on HIV prevention. A previous version of this plan wouldve seen the CDCs HIV prevention work transition to be under the Ryan White program, should it remain. However, LGBTQ+ advocates warned the move would easily overburden the program given its designed to assist those living with HIV, not to promote prevention. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program does not fill all the HIV gaps, Harold Phillips, deputy director for programs at the National HIV/AIDS Advocacy Network, told NBC News. It only serves those with an HIV diagnosis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear whether folding the prevention division into the program is still an option the administration is considering, NBC News said. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment. The uncertainty surrounding the administrations HIV funding is why Kudrin is calling on Ohios LGBTQ+ community to revive Act Up, a protest movement that called for government action during the AIDS epidemic in the late 80s and early 90s. Kudrin, who has lived with HIV for around 40 years, said he has lost more than 100 friends to HIV and AIDS. Olentangy schools defends LGBTQ+ anti-bullying policies in federal court I need you now to fight as desperately for my life as I fought for other peoples lives because, if they take my meds away, I have 45 days left of Biktarvy, said Kudrin, referring to a common HIV drug that can cost more than $4,000 for a month-long supply. When you take my meds away, I will die. I will die within a year, at most, two. And I have a lot to live for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kurdins plea is especially poignant in a state like Ohio, which is home to six laws that have yielded at least 214 HIV-related criminal prosecutions from 2014 to 2020. While Statehouse proposals to repeal or alter those laws have been unsuccessful, Kurdin encouraged community members to continue advocating for the 27,000 Ohioans living with HIV. This is not a joke, this is a call to action, Kudrin said. If you do not act up now, you will never have another chance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mar. 27---- Peter J. Jacobson, 81, the longtime publisher of the , died Jan. 26, 2025, at Paynesville Health Care Center due to complications of Parkinson's disease. His visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 28, at the Paynesville Lutheran Church, 657 Maple Street. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at the same church. Born in Willmar on June 12, 1943, Jacobson grew up on a farm near Hawick, according to his Paynesville Press obituary. After graduating from Paynesville High School in 1961, he attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis, earning a bachelor's degree in physics in 1965. In 1968, he received a National Science Foundation grant to earn a master's in physics at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After marrying Lynne LeMasurier in 1965, he taught science at Breck School for three years and at Wayzata Junior High for three years. In 1973, Jacobson joined the Paynesville Press, succeeding Lynne's father, publisher Earle LeMasurier, and served as publisher for 33 years. He also served on the Minnesota Newspaper Association's board of directors for a decade and served as the association's president in 1991. Peter and Lynne Jacobson retired in 2006 and sold the newspaper to their son, Michael Jacobson. Active in the Paynesville community, Jacobson served many roles: as the Paynesville Chamber president, a Lions Club member for more than 50 years, and as a Jaycees president and regional director. An active member of the Koronis Lake Association, he served as the group's president for 20 years. At the Paynesville Lutheran Church, he was building chairman in 1985 and president of the congregation in 2000. He also sang tenor in the church choir and served as a lay minister. He is survived by his wife; his daughter, Laurie Rappa of Milwaukee; his son, Michael (and Geri) of Paynesville; grandchildren and other relatives. Longtime Fox News analyst Brit Hume said President Donald Trump and the rest of his administration are making a mess with their botched response to the scandal in which a journalist was accidentally given access to a group chat with highly sensitive military information. All that has done is prolong the story, he wrote on X. National security adviser Michael Waltz reportedly added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg by accident to a group chat discussion of plans for military action in Yemen and other extremely sensitive matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chat also included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, among others. Goldberg described the details in the group chat as war plans, but Hegseth and others have tried to argue semantics, saying those details dont count as war plans. Hume said theyre missing the point. He wrote that there are two iron rules for how to handle a scandal like this. First, get the facts out and take responsibility. And second, dont feed the story. The administration is making a mess of rule two by getting bogged down in a dispute over whether the details of Yemen bombing raids were a war plan and whether those details were, or should have been, classified, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth and others in the administration have also responded by attacking Goldberg. Hume said thats another mistake. Look, Im not a particular fan of Goldberg or of his magazine, Hume said in an interview Wednesday with Fox News host Bret Baier. But he didnt do anything wrong here. Hume said Goldberg was added to the chat passively and left out many of the details in his initial report. So, then they attacked him, and said that he wasnt telling the truth about it, which just gave him a reason to release the details as he did this morning, he said, referring to a more detailed report The Atlantic released on Wednesday in response to the Trump administrations attacks on Goldberg and the magazine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that, Hume said he didnt think anyone in the administration would lose their job over the scandal. The fact of the matter is, that although this looks pretty bad, and it should never have happened, and the information probably shouldve been classified, and all the rest of it, the fact is, it did not fall into hostile foreign hands, the mission went off successfully, so it did not turn out to be harmful in any meaningful way, he said. It just looks bad. See more of his discussion with Baier below: KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Louisburg woman is sharing her story of survival one year after she slipped off a trail in Arizona. She says her faith and community helped her through the tough time. Now, I would not wish this on anyone. If I had the chance to do it again, would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Thats not what youd expect to hear from someone who is still recovering from a hiking accident. Shelly Arnett was in Sedona, Arizona last March, she and her husband had added onto a yearly work trip to visit the Grand Canyon and hike in Northern Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had watched their church service on Sunday morning, then went for a hike. When they were heading back down from their hike, she slipped on the wet rocks and tumbled 20 feet before coming to a stop. Kansas City crews battle massive fire at maintenance building She was evacuated by helicopter to a hospital in Phoenix, nearly a two-hour drive away. Surgery was only able to correct some of her injuries, which included brain bleeding, four spinal fractures, eight or nine broken ribs, a punctured lung and more. The doctors would come in and would say, Wiggle your toes. And Im like, Why is he wanting me to wiggle my toes all the time? Not thinking hes checking to see if theres paralysis or not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she had a positive attitude even from the beginning. I just felt such a peace and I knew I was going to be okay. There was, there was complete trust in God and that I knew he was going to take care of me. Arnett says her community at Southwoods Christian Church provided more than they couldve asked for. Our church family just really stepped up and did even more than we could ever imagine, she said. Some offered financial help, others offered a place for Mark to stay while Shelly recovered in Phoenix. Once she was strong enough to return to her home in Louisburg, one church member offered an RV to bring them back to their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had somebody organize Shelly Sitters, she said. They had a group, and somebody would come down in the morning and another person would come down in the afternoon. That allowed Mark to go do his work. She wore a back and neck brace until the summer and is still going to physical therapy appointments regularly. Shes healthy enough to start volunteering again at Avenue of Life in Kansas City, Kansas, where she serves people experiencing homelessness. Last Saturday was my first time back down there, she said. And it was so good to be able to serve those people who dont get a hot meal, who need some clothes. Its what were called to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One man dead after Wednesday night homicide in KCMO So why would Shelly go through the past year again? She says, to be able to share her faith and her story with so many people again. You have to trust in Gods plan and Gods plan is not always our plan, she said. She said she volunteers, not really to pay it forward, but its just a part of who she is. Its just being a good person, but its also being a good Christian person, I think, too and showing Gods love. Showing Gods love to other people because thats what this world needs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Louisiana Democratic Party announced its new executive director after a five-month search to fill the leadership position. Dadrius Lanus, executive director of 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge and an East Baton Rouge school board member, was hired after Chair Randal Gaines recommended him during the search process. His hiring was approved wth no objections from the partys executive committee. Mr. Lanus has the skills and experience required to do the job and impressed us his vision for the LDP and his enthusiasm for the challenging work ahead, said Gaines. He is highly capable of bringing the bold, visionary change the LDP needs and building the coalition to execute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Louisiana Democratic Party said Lanus will be the chief strategist to help rebuild the partys infrastructure and revitalize democratic support across Louisiana. Louisiana climbs to 2nd place in the nation for election integrity Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Baton Rouge injury lawyers are hosting their annual summit to help nonprofit organizations across Louisiana. Dudley DeBosier is bringing the 16th annual Difference Maker Summit to the New Orleans Saints practice facility in Metairie. The summit is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in workshops covering important nonprofit management topics, network with other nonprofit professionals, and enjoy a full day of inspiration and actionable insights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonprofits are vital to Louisianas communities, and the Difference Maker Summit is our way of investing in these organizations, said Chad Dudley, managing partner at Dudley DeBosier. We hope to provide them with tools and connections that amplify their impact. Speakers at the free summit include: Senior Advisor of Point NorthEast Tracy Laskos Deputy Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue Jarrod Coniglio Lead auctioneer and founder at Black Tie Auctions Chuck Mutz President of Professional Women of St. Tammany and founder of Empower360 Leadership Solutions Kat Parker Founder of Connect Consulting and Authorized Partner with Wiley Education Nancy Ellis Founder of Westward Strategies Meagan West Though this is a free event, registration is required to attend. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Attorneys representing Angola inmates assigned to prison farm work are once again asking a federal judge to order heat protections before the upcoming summer. The plaintiffs initially requested an emergency order from the federal court in May 2024 to halt outdoor work on the Farm Line during extreme summer heat. Arguments were heard in June, and by early July, the court granted an order requiring the state to change the Farm Line program when temperatures reach or exceed 88 degrees Fahrenheit in the heat index. According to the plaintiffs, that order has now expired. With that injunction now expired, and another heat season fast approaching, Defendants deliberate indifference to the dangers of working the Farm Line in extreme heat threatens the lives and safety of Plaintiffs and all those similarly situated, attorneys for the plaintiffs stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argue that leaders of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections and Angola have shown deliberate indifference to the dangers of forcing inmates to work in extreme temperatures. An attorney for the plaintiffs said that while the state has expanded who qualifies to be considered sensitive groups who are to be brought inside on hot days, they raised the heat threshold to 91 degrees in the heat index. Nearly a full year after the courts ordered the State to change its practices to ensure the health and safety of incarcerated workers, the States response to the judges orders has decreased protections. The State of Louisiana continues to exploit people under its care without regard to their mental or physical health or safety, said Samantha Pourciau, senior staff attorney at the Promise of Justice Initiative. Lawsuit alleges Eighth Amendment violation A lawsuit filed in September 2023 claims the Farm Line violates inmates Eighth Amendment right to protection against cruel and unusual punishment. The plaintiffs describe the farm work as humiliating and degrading as well as arbitrary and traumatic, particularly during the intense heat of Louisianas summers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates said the trial start date was postponed indefinitely by a judge. This is something we will bring for as many summers as we need to. But, hopefully, we will get a final judgment in this case. Well get a trial on the calendar, and we can get to a final judgment, so we dont have to keep seeking this interim relief, Pourciau said. The lawsuit argues that the extreme heat in prisons can be considered cruel and unusual punishment. In a similar case, a federal judge in Texas recently ruled that extreme heat in its prisons is plainly unconstitutional but stopped short of ordering air conditioners to be installed. States response In response to the lawsuit, the state argues that attempts to halt Farm Line work are too far-reaching and exceed constitutional requirements. The state contends that the agricultural industrys standards do not align with what the plaintiffs are seeking and claims that some allegations made in the lawsuit are inaccurate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State policies purportedly designed to protect workers include: Reassessing temperatures every two hours. Issuing heat alerts when temperatures exceed 88 degrees. Providing breaks for rest and water every 30 minutes during a heat alert. According to the state, stopping Farm Line operations during high heat would have severe financial repercussions, as the farm harvests food for the inmates to eat. Attorneys for the plaintiffs, however, argue that these policies are inadequate and fail to address the severe health risks associated with extreme heat. They describe the work assignment, active since 1893, as modern-day slavery, pointing to the fact that some inmates are paid as little as two cents per hour for their labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs also argue that individuals convicted by non-unanimous juries should not be forced into Farm Line work, as it violates their 13th Amendment rights. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson previously ruled in June 2024 that while some claims remain viable, asking the court to determine the validity of those sentences while also arguing they were not duly convicted by a unanimous jury is a paradoxical conclusion. According to previous rulings, Judge Jackson acknowledged the states policies aimed at protecting inmates from heat-related health concerns but noted that those policies were often irrational and insufficient. A new motion filed this week seeks an order that would reinstate heat protections as the next hot season approaches. The Hill, Louisiana First Newss news partner, contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See where Louisiana ranks in US states with longest prison sentences 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. DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Shreveport Police Department is searching for a man wanted in connection to first degree rape of a minor. Polic say that 24-year-old Trevion Simmons is accused of sexually assaulting a kindergarten-age juvenile. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Simmons, charging him with First-Degree Rape. If convicted, this offense could carry the possibility of a death penalty sentence under Louisiana law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with additional information about Simmonss whereabouts is urged to contact Shreveport Police at (318) 673-7300 or Caddo Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Louisiana Department of Health is monitoring a rise in pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, cases in the state, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham announced Thursday. As of March 27, the state has reported 110 cases in 2025. Preliminary data shows that more than 12 times as many cases were reported in 2024. The state health department confirmed two babies have died from whooping cough in the last six months. Before this year, the last child whooping cough death in Louisiana was reported in 2018. What is whooping cough? Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause severe coughing fits, making it particularly dangerous for infants younger than one year old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bacteria that causes whooping cough can spread through the air when a person sneezes or coughs. Symptoms, per the CDC, can be similar to common cold symptoms. Early symptoms can include runny or stuffed nose, low-grade fever and mild, occasional cough. Babies, however, may struggle to breathe. In 2024, the U.S. saw a significant rise in whooping cough cases. According to a CDC report, over 35,000 total cases were reported. This is more than six times the number of cases reported during the same period in 2023. Department of Health and Human Services will lay off 10,000 workers in a major restructuring plan How to prevent whooping cough LDH said the best way to protect newborns from the illness is for pregnant women to get a vaccine during each pregnancy. People who may have close contact with babies are suggested to talk to their doctor about whether they should get the vaccine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who is up-to-date with their pertussis vaccine is well-protected against the virus, Abraham said. The CDC recommends: Babies receive the DTaP vaccine at two, four, and six months old, with booster shots at 15-18 months and 4-6 years old. Preteens aged 11-12 receive the Tdap booster. Pregnant women get the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy. 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. BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) A Louisiana woman was killed and three others were injured in a Baldwin County crash last week. 3 accused of trafficking drugs into Holman Correctional Facility: ADOC According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the crash occurred around 5:45 a.m. Thursday, March 20, three miles west of Loxley on Interstate 10 near the 40 mile marker. An ALEA news release said multiple vehicles were involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danielle R. Harry, 46, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was killed when the 2017 Honda Civic she was driving was hit by a 2015 Toyota Tacoma, which led to the Civic leaving the roadway and hitting a 2012 Chevrolet Impala. According to ALEA, Harry was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Alabama attorney general warns 23andMe customers to delete accounts A 26-year-old woman from Louisiana, a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old who were riding as passengers in the Honda were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. ALEAs Highway Patrol Division is still investigating. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)A female-centered art exhibit is coming to Northwestern Louisiana, showcasing the areas natural landscape and culture. According to the news release, the exhibit started this month in honor of Womens History Month and is curated from the Northwest Louisiana Archives and private collection holdings. Attendees can visit the exhibit on the third floor of the Noel Memorial Library, 1 University Place Shreveport, until May 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This exhibit came from the idea that we have a lot of art and art-related items, such as records from the Shreveport Art Club and the Hoover Water Color Society, as well as others, says Noel Memorial Library staff, Dr. Laura McLemore, What all of these pieces have in common is that they depict what they saw in their environment. The pieces are frequently about the natural world, but its also a representation of the culture and society of that time. Magale Fest: free book swap, music, art and more Elizabeth Friedenberg and Jasmine Morelock Field are two of the most prominent artists featured in this showcase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friedenberg portrayed how people interacted with their rural environments, while Morelock Fields featured pieces are abstract in nature. According to Noel Memorial Library, it is open Sunday from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 4:45 p.m. until 9 p.m. (Courtesy of LSU-Shreveport) (Courtesy of LSU-Shreveport) LSU-Shreveport notes, The majority of the featured art was created from the 1930s-1980s, but some of the artists date back to the 19th century. Most of the works are paintings, but other forms include woodblock prints, sketches, and prints of sculptures and murals. The scenes depicted include Plain Dealings famous dogwoods (Cora Lee Butler) and rural baptisms (Elizabeth Friedenberg), as well as more modern examples like the construction of the Quilt Kiosk sculpture (Barbara Abott) and the Once in a Millennium Moon mural (Meg Saligman) in downtown Shreveport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want people to be aware of our artists and how they interpreted our environment and culture, Dr. McLemore said. The exhibit has another function, mainly aimed at scholars at LSUS and the wider region who conduct research. We want faculty, staff, and students, as well as LSUS constituents, to appreciate the variety of materials that we have in the archives, and that the purpose is to use these materials for research, Dr. McLemore said. People think of us as primarily a photograph repository, and while we do have a lot of wonderful photographs, were a whole lot more than that. Were quite a rich research resource on a lot of different topics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he will move to force an overtime session of the Legislature if lawmakers fail to ban THC or tighten Texas bail laws two of his top priorities before the current session ends in early June. The power to order lawmakers back to Austin for a special session is reserved for Gov. Greg Abbott, who also gets to set the agenda for such overtime rounds. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel special sessions by killing must-pass legislation. Patrick did exactly that in 2017, thwarting passage of a sunset bill that would have extended the life of several state agencies, including the Texas Medical Board, after the House declined to take up measures curbing property tax rates and requiring transgender people to use public restrooms based on biological sex rather than their gender identities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview, Patrick affirmed that he would go a similar route this session if the House declines to get on board with his priority bill to clamp down on the states exploding hemp market by banning products that contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. There arent many things you go down that path for, but the life and health of people is one, Patrick told The Texas Tribune on Wednesday. I couldnt, in good conscience, leave here knowing if we don't do something about it in the next two years how many kids get sick? Patrick and Senate lawmakers are taking aim at the roughly 8,300 Texas retailers that sell a range of hemp products from gummies to beverages to flower buds under a 2019 state law that authorized the sale of consumable hemp. Patrick and Sen. Charles Perry, the Lubbock Republican who carried the 2019 law, say the hemp industry has exploited a loophole in a bill that was intended to boost agriculture by allowing non-consumable products with small amounts of delta-9 THC. While hemp products are not allowed to contain more than a 0.3% concentration of delta-9 THC anything higher is classified as marijuana Patrick and Perry contend that the industry has endangered public health by putting products on the shelf with dangerously high levels of THC well beyond the 0.3% threshold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perrys proposal this session, known as Senate Bill 3, would effectively shutter the hemp industry by making it illegal to possess or manufacture products containing THC outside the states limited medical marijuana program. Its already passed in the Senate, but awaits action in the lower chamber where industry leaders are hopeful House members will push for stricter oversight and licensing requirements in lieu of banning THC products altogether. Patrick said he would invoke the nuclear option of forcing a special session over anything less than an outright ban. You just cant regulate it. Youve gotta take it out, Patrick said. Youre never going to be able to regulate it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrick did not say which bills he might use to compel Abbott to call lawmakers back, but he has a number of hostage options. Among them is the two-year state budget, the only item the Legislature is constitutionally required to pass each session. Patrick raised the possibility of holding the budget hostage in 2017, though it was the sunset bill that ultimately led to a special session. A handful of key agencies are also up for sunset review this year, meaning they will cease to exist unless lawmakers pass legislation extending their life until the next periodic review. Those agencies include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Department of Information Resources and four regional water authorities, which distribute water and operate key infrastructure around the state. Patrick also said in the interview that hed force an overtime session if the Legislature failed to amend the states bail laws to keep certain criminal defendants in jail as they await the resolution of their cases. People are dying because of issues with bail, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans have tried for multiple sessions to stiffen state bail laws in the Texas Constitution, which guarantees defendants the right to pretrial release except in limited circumstances, like for capital murder charges. Proposals to give judges more discretion to deny bail have died numerous times in the House, failing to receive two-thirds support needed to change the state constitution. The Senate passed two measures last month that would amend the Texas Constitution to allow judges to deny bail to defendants accused of murder, aggravated kidnapping, robbery or assault with a weapon, and that would restrict judges from offering bail to undocumented immigrants charged with a felony. To pass the House, each measure will need support from at least 12 Democrats, assuming all 88 Republicans in the chamber are present and vote for the amendments. Those are issues that I think we have to stand up for, Patrick said. There are lots of policy issues that we can argue thats good or bad, but putting killers and rapists and child sex offenders behind bars shouldnt be that big an issue. House Democrats have introduced their own amendment to expand the cases in which judges could deny bail. The proposal takes a more narrowly tailored approach, applying to fewer cases than the Senate version with the intent of focusing on the most violent offenders, said Rep. Ann Johnson, the Houston Democrat who authored the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House criminal jurisprudence panel discussed the proposals last week but left them pending in committee for now. About 70% of Texas jail population is pretrial, meaning they are presumed innocent and have not yet been convicted of the crime for which they are locked up. That number has doubled over the last 25 years, pushing county jails past their capacity and leading some to move their pretrial detainees to private prisons in neighboring states. Critics of the Senates bail measures argue that increasing pretrial detention would strain crowded and understaffed jails, without improving public safety. Democrats have raised concerns with the bills, arguing that denying bail due to a defendants immigration status is likely unconstitutional. This is not the first time Patrick has raised the specter of forcing a special session over his priority bills. He appeared to leave the possibility open in the final days of the 2021 session, and threatened to do so again in 2023, saying, I cant call a special session, but I can create one by not passing a key bill that has to pass. In both cases, Abbott ordered special sessions without needing a prod from Patrick. We cant wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 1315 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. The Trump administration this week announced plans to clawback $11 billion in pandemic-era grants that could harm local Texas public health departments as they battle a historic measles outbreak. In Lubbock, where many of the 40 Texans infected with measles have been hospitalized, grant funding affected by the announcement has paid for an epidemiologist who has directly responded to the measles outbreak in West Texas that has killed a 6-year-old girl. In Dallas, the grant funding was helping to equip a biolaboratory that will support more testing for pathogens, including measles. Its kind of crazy to have this funding cut, said Lubbocks public health director Katherine Wells. I dont have a savings account in public health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration confirmed Tuesday that it was going to eliminate funding that had been created to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing instead on projects that address chronic diseases and the presidents Make America Healthy Again initiative. Much of that funding, however, has been used to pay for infrastructure to respond to infectious diseases other than COVID, including measles, local health officials have said. The Texas Department of State Health Services notified public health departments late Tuesday of the federal governments plans. State officials have not provided specifics on how much money is cut or how many health departments are impacted. DSHS was notified that the federal grant funding for Immunization/COVID, Epidemiology Laboratory Capacity (ELC/COVID), and Health Disparities/COVID, is terminated as of March 24, 2025, according to the the notice from the agencys associate commissioner Imelda Garcia. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS or System Agency) is issuing this notice to pause all activities immediately. Please do not accrue any additional costs as of the date of this notice. Wells said the funding cut will impact her offices work combating the spread of measles. Lubbock has been using three grants to help pay for extra temporary staff, a part-time nurse and a full-time epidemiologist to help with vaccinations, answering phones and working with testing of patients. Two of the citys three grants were not set to expire until 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten of the states 327 measles cases have been confirmed in Lubbock and 226 cases have been in Gaines County, about 90 minutes southwest of Lubbock. This measles outbreak has further exposed Texas threadbare public health system. The grants, she said, allowed her to hire eight people to help shoulder the workload the outbreak has brought. Since January, Lubbock hospitals have treated many of the more than 300 patients infected with measles, including a 6-year-old who died on Feb. 26. Were trying to figure it out, Wells said. But with state and federal funds cut, city and county health department that counted on those COVID-19 era grants for new programs and outreach will now have to go to local taxpayers to help shore up the abrupt shortfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dallas County has already broken ground on a $52 million biolab to help combat future health threats. Their health director, Dr. Philip Huang, said the grant money Dallas County had received was going to be used to help equip that new lab. It was a lot of equipment, Huang said. These machines can help with COVID but these machines also help with our preparedness and ability to test a lot of other pathogens ... including measles. Like Wells, he and other public health officials are now going to have to determine how to still move forward without this funding. The things that we're doing and using the funds for COVID have great implications for our future preparedness for everything else so were not in the same situation at the start of COVID, he said. We had seen how little investment there had been in public health, so its very short sighted to say, OK, well these were COVID funds its over. Its not. 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. NEW YORK (AP) A judge cleared the way Thursday for Luigi Mangione to get a laptop behind bars if his jailers agree so he can examine documents and other material in the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case. New York state Judge Gregory Carro wrote that he had no objection to Mangione's request for the device, which would be configured to allow him only to review case materials. But Carro noted that it's ultimately up to federal authorities who oversee the lockup where Mangione is awaiting trial in the December shooting death of Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old head of the biggest U.S. health insurer. Thompson was ambushed while walking to a Manhattan hotel where the company was holding an investor conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mangione, a prep school and Ivy League graduate whose family had reported him missing, has pleaded not guilty to New York charges that include murder as an act of terrorism. Also facing a federal murder charge, he is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal jail in Brooklyn. He hasn't entered a plea in the federal case. The Federal Bureau of Prisons said it would review the laptop request if formally submitted. If it is granted, the device would be kept in a visiting room for Mangione's use. Carro's order came after he met virtually with prosecutors and Mangione's lawyers Thursday morning. The Associated Press unsuccessfully requested that the discussion be moved to open court. Court spokesperson Al Baker said judges sometimes hold off-the-record virtual or in-person conferences with both sides' lawyers to discuss scheduling, evidence-gathering and other related matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mangione was not at Thursday's conference, Baker said. Mangione's lawyers asked Monday that he get a laptop to view a vast amount of documents, video and other items that prosecutors have gathered and turned over to the defense so far. Mangione's attorneys said the material is so voluminous that he can't reasonably view it on the lockup's shared computers for inmates, nor go over it all during visiting hours with his attorneys, so he needs a dedicated laptop to scrutinize the material and help prepare his defense. The Manhattan district attorney's office, which is prosecuting the rare murder-as-an-act-of-terrorism case, objected to the laptop request. Prosecutors argued, among other things, that Mangione's lawyers could show him the key case material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the back-and-forth over the laptop, prosecutors disclosed that someone slipped a handwritten, heart-shaped note of encouragement into socks that were intended for Mangione to wear to court last month. A court officer intercepted the message before the footgear got to Mangione. His lawyers said they were unaware of the note when they brought him the clothes. Its not clear who wrote the note or hid it in the socks. Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin | Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner Who gets to decide what is Christian? What does religious liberty look like today? With so much unsettling and destabilizing news coming from the new administration in Washington, DC, its hard to keep up with and keep track of everything. We believe, however, that a recent decision by the President is a dangerous threat to religious liberty, promotes Christian Nationalism, and all people who care about our democracy need to take note. We, the Lutheran (ELCA) bishops in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, are concerned about an executive order signed by President Trump on Feb. 6 that established a new Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. This task force has the duty to identify any unlawful anti-Christian policies, practices, or conduct by an agency. While some might think that all Christians would support an effort to root out anti-Christian bias, thats not the case. We believe this executive order is a threat to the religious pluralism enshrined in the Constitution and does not actually protect Christians. Instead, this order aligns the federal government with Christian Nationalism, a dangerous conflation of fundamentalist Christianity, conservative politics, and fierce patriotism that distorts what it means to be an American citizen and an engaged Christian in society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this executive order, the federal government has given itself the authority to define what might be considered anti-Christian, and therefore also the authority to define what is Christian a power which belongs to the Church alone, not the federal government. This executive order violates religious freedom, corrupts the separation of church and state, and creates a more hostile environment for Christians and all citizens who believe differently than the current administration and its religious advisors. We feel so strongly that this task force is a threat to our values and our freedom that we wrote a public statement and invited religious leaders and others to sign on (https://www.wichurches.org/articles/religious-liberty). We now have over 250 signers, and we invite all who care about religious freedom and the preservation of our democracy to join us. Christian Nationalism is a dangerous ideology that distorts the Gospel and turns Jesus and Christianity into a weapon for power and division instead of a movement towards love and justice. It demands that a particular brand of Christianity be privileged by the state and impose that singular belief system in order to be a good American. (For more information on Christian Nationalism, check out www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org.) In order to protect religious freedom, the federal government must not align with one religious ideology but rather honor the constitutional mandate to defend space for religious pluralism and ensure that each member of society is free to practice their religion, or no religion, while keeping the peace and working together for the common good. Please join us as we call upon the President of the United States and all elected officials to protect religious freedom in our country and uphold the constitution of the United States of America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faithfully, Bishop Paul Erickson, Greater Milwaukee Synod ELCA Bishop Anne Edison-Albright, East Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Bishop Felix Malpica, La Crosse Area Synod ELCA Bishop Martin Halom, Northwest Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Bishop Katherine Finegan, Northern Great Lakes Synod ELCA Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe, South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA LAUREL, Miss. (WHLT) The annual Magnolia Beef & Poultry Expo will take place in Laurel in 2025. According to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC), the expo will be held on Thursday, April 10 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Center at the Laurel Fairgrounds. What are the street closures for Eaglepalooza, HUBFEST? Beef and poultry producers from across the state will have the opportunity to attend educational seminars and browse the trade show. The trade show opens at 8:00 a.m. Following the welcome at 9:00 a.m., the Charles Waldrup Memorial Scholarship will be presented to a graduating high school senior or a current college student pursuing an education in the field of agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Michael Czarick, Senior Public Service Associate in the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia, will present two educational seminars Myth of Weed, Seed, and Chicken Litter at 9:45 a.m. and Summertime Ventilation in Poultry Houses at 11:15 a.m. This year, the Magnolia Beef and Poultry Expo Producer of the Year will be recognized. The Producer of the Year will be a producer actively involved in the beef and/or poultry industry in Covington, Jasper, Jones, Newton, Rankin, Scott, Simpson and Smith Counties. This free event is open to the public. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the day. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Supporters and some opponents of gun safety reforms rallied at the State House on January 3, 2024, less than three months after Maine's deadliest mass shooting. (Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Doctors, high school students, religious leaders, hunters, a law professor and dozens more showed up in Augusta Wednesday to give their input on a new slate of gun legislation before the Legislatures Judiciary Committee. Given the public interest in gun legislation, the committee broke the eight bills into two groups to help make the public hearing and testimony more efficient. The first group of bills dealt with the definition of machine guns, magazine capacity and serial numbers on firearms. The other proposals were about constitutional rights and concealed carry laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While gun rights advocates saw most of that first group of bills as infringements on Second Amendment rights, proponents characterized them as common sense protections against mass shootings and other such tragedies. Around this time last year, lawmakers were working through multiple gun safety reforms with the states deadliest mass shooting less than six months in the rearview. Though its been more than a year since the October 2023 tragedy in Lewiston, it still shaped Wednesdays conversation. I know that you know the capacity for destruction that high-capacity weapons have in our society, said Margaret Craven, who represented Lewiston in the Maine House of Representatives at the time of the shooting, testifying at the hearing Wednesday. Rather than focusing on the details of how those firearms work, Craven told the story of what happened in her hometown on the day 18 people were killed, explaining that she doesnt want this to be swept under the Second Amendment mat just because some time has passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Schemengees Bar & Grille, one of the scenes of the shooting, Robert Card II fired 36 rounds that killed 10 people and injured 10 others in just 78 seconds, Craven said. If anybody thinks that a machine gun is a weapon that any Tom, Dick or Harry should just have access to, they are highly mistaken, Craven said. They are a threat to our safety, our society, our children, our grandchildren, our neighbors. Last session, Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill that would change the definition of machine gun to limit their use and required that firearms used in a crime would have to be destroyed. That proposal from Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cumberland) would also have banned conversion devices, like bump stocks, that make semi-automatic weapons operate like machine guns. I know that you know the capacity for destruction that high-capacity weapons have in our society. Margaret Craven, who represented Lewiston in the Maine House of Representatives at the time of the mass shooting Carney went to work drafting a new bill that she said addresses Mills concern about overly sweeping language. LD 677 changes the definition of machine gun to account for new technology that can convert a semiautomatic firearm into a machine gun. It also prohibits the possession of a rapid-fire device, which the bill defines as something that increases the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LD 953 introduced by Sen. David Haggan (R-Penobscot) similarly seeks to amend the states definition of machine gun. Haggan said the language in his bill offers a more accurate definition by changing the use of projectile to shot. Rep. Matthew Beck (D-South Portland) introduced LD 1109, which would make it illegal to possess a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, defined as having more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The bill includes exceptions for active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces and law enforcement officers. Beck said he had conversations with people who participate in shooting competitions who fear they could be negatively affected by the legislation, and he would be open to amending the bill to exempt them if he could do so without undermining the intent of the bill. The intent is to get at what Beck described as a common denominator among some of the deadliest mass shootings: large-capacity magazines. Opponents to LD 1109 said the vast majority of guns have magazines larger than 10 rounds and questioned the logic behind the prohibition when someone could still have multiple small magazines. Rep. Sam Zager (D-Portland) introduced LD 1126, which would require serial numbers for so-called ghost guns that are assembled at home or those made with a 3D printer. It would also prohibit undetectable firearms, meaning those that cant be spotted with a metal detector as is true with many 3D printed guns, he noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zager clarified that Mainers would still be allowed to craft their own firearms at home if this were to pass, they would just need to go to a Federal Firearms License holder to obtain a serial number. He argued this wouldnt create a gun registry, which is a common concern for gun rights advocates, but could be useful to law enforcement in tracking down weapons used unlawfully. However, critics argued that people intending to use the firearms for crime would not follow the law to first have their gun serialized. In July, Portland Police reported increased gun violence and activity, including a two-week period where three ghost guns were recovered. Zagers bill comes on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a regulation from the Biden administration in a 7-2 opinion that found existing gun laws allow for certain regulation of ghost guns such as serial numbers and background checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justin Davis, state director for the National Rifle Association, said certain language in LD 1126 could be a backdoor to universal background checks, a concept that was voted down in a 2016 ballot referendum question. In general, people were either for or against all of the bills, except LD 953. Gun safety advocates, as well as the Maine Medical Association, the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and multiple retired healthcare professionals spoke in favor of the other three bills, seeing them as solutions to what they described as the public health crisis of gun violence. However, a number of gun owners and advocates including the Gun Owners of Maine pushed back on those reforms, arguing that regulations limit peoples ability to protect themselves without actually deterring bad actors. They claimed that guns are not to blame for violence, but rather underresourced mental health services. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (Photo by Getty Images) Late last year, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families said it had made a startling change to its training for mandatory reporters of child abuse. They said theyve changed their training to emphasize that reporters should stop confusing poverty with neglect. Substantively, this will change little, since professionals still will be afraid not to report anything and everything. But the statement is a tacit admission of what research has shown about laws put in place decades ago with no studies to see if they would work: Mandatory reporting backfires. It drives families away from seeking help, and overloads the system with false reports, making it harder to find the relatively few children in real danger. Many one-time proponents have had second thoughts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But instead of heeding the research and replacing mandatory reporting with permissive reporting, in which professionals are free to exercise their professional judgment, many Washington state lawmakers want to careen full-speed backward. They want to expand mandatory reporting even further, to one of the few fields where it doesnt apply now: the clergy, including anything heard in confession. Legislation to do this has passed the state Senate and emerged from committee in the House. But that, too, would backfire. The reason expanding mandatory reporting to clergy has support in some quarters is obvious: What comes to mind when you hear the words clergy and child abuse? Likely, the sprawling sexual abuse scandal and cover-up within the Catholic Church. But with expanded mandatory reporting, pedophile priests either will stop confessing or go to a church where their voices wont be recognized. It can also harm survivors, who sometimes first disclose their abuse in confession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Seal offers victims a safe, secure and watertight place where they can be listened to without cost, where they can remain anonymous, and can decide what theyre ready, and not ready, to share and all of this in complete confidence, said a spokesman for a group representing survivors of abuse in Australia, where thereve been similar campaigns to end the exemption for the confessional.The Confessional Seal as it presently stands literally saves lives and offers every abuse victim the chance to begin to heal. Now consider some hypotheticals about others who might be affected. A mother is terrified. Shes being beaten by her husband. But when she threatened to go to the police, he said: Go ahead, call the cops! Theyll just call DCYF, and theyll take away the kids. She turns to her priest/minister/rabbi/imam and says: Please help me to escape. Where can I turn to protect myself and my children? The clergyman replies: Im so sorry. Im now a mandated reporter, and you may have allowed your child to witness domestic violence if he saw or heard you being beaten. So I have to call DCYF. A single mother enters the confessional: Forgive me, father, for I have sinned, she says. She says shes guilt-ridden for having left her child home alone when she went to work and her regular child care arrangement fell through. She didnt know what else to do. Her boss said hed fire her if she didnt show up; then she wouldnt be able to afford the rent and the family would be evicted. After the priest prescribes the appropriate acts of contrition, the mother asks a question: Might the priest know someone in the congregation who could volunteer to provide child care if this ever happened again? As a matter of fact, I do, the priest replies. But its too late to do only that. You see, I am now a mandated reporter of child abuse. What you did can be considered lack of supervision. So I have to report you to DCYF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that the current Washington state bill doesnt require priests to say who confessed changes none of this. As it stands now, clergy are among the only helpers to whom impoverished families can turn with less fear that they will be turned in to DCYF. Once the word gets around that even the confessional isnt safe, you can bet that parents like those in the hypotheticals above wont come forward and ask for help. Children at risk from pedophile clergy wont get any safer, and children whose families crime is poverty will be cut off from a potential source of support. Of course, its not a crime for lawmakers to rush into endorsing bad policy that doesnt have a prayer of stopping actual child abuse because it sounds good in a press release. But it sure seems like a sin. KARAN, Mali (AP) A solar power plant in this rural corner of Mali has jolted a village to life and awakened dreams of steady power in other areas of this West African nation as it sees unprecedented growth in renewable energy. The border village of Karan and its 3,000 people used to go days without electricity. Now, enough power is available around the clock to run small video gaming centers and boost commercial activities. The electricity comes from a mini-grid of dozens of panels and storage batteries operated by WeLight, a Madagascan rural electrification startup, since 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the solar power came to the village, I ran my bakery with a generator, said Samba Diakite. Running the diesel-powered generator used to cost $100 a day. He said he now saves more than half of that amount and has a daily income of $124. But experts say the rest of Mali and much of West Africa has a long way to go before seeing similar progress. Many rural areas remain without electricity, affecting everything from students' evening homework to business investment. Only 53% of Malis population had access to electricity as of 2021, according to the latest data from the World Bank. In rural areas, access is as low as 25%, according to Abdoulaye Makan Sissoko, an official with Malis rural electrification agency. Studies have shown that achieving universal access to electricity in Mali would require an investment of around $1.3 billion to extend networks and create more mini-grids, Sissoko said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solar power is a recent development in the country. The government is encouraging the use of it by exempting equipment from customs duties and promising to subsidize the price of solar kits. Without such subsidies, solar energy in Mali is about twice the price of the traditional fossil fuel energy used in cities. For now, people pay a subscription ranging from $30 to $164 for a meter and pay about $0.50 per kilowatt. The rural electrification agency says 32 mini-solar plants like the one in Karan are in four regions in Mali's south and southwest of the country, providing power for more than 2 million people, and are run by WeLight and German-owned Africa GreenTec. We started with 48 connections and now we have more than 200. We had to expand our generation capacity and distribution network to meet demand, said Brice Bado, WeLights sales manager, speaking about Karan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mali's government has recognized the need for electricity. This year, it approved raising money from telephone, mobile money and alcohol sales and usage fees to boost electricity production. In March, telephone companies announced a 10% levy on telephone and internet credit top-ups and a 1% levy on mobile money cash withdrawals. But the country's political crisis has also affected the push to expand electricity access. After two coups, the relationship between the military-run government and some foreign partners deteriorated, leading to the withdrawal of key ones. Among them was France, which along with the European Union had a $39.5 million rural electrification project called PHARE in a startup phase. It is now cancelled. There were also rural electrification projects financed by the Islamic Development Bank to electrify 24 villages awarded to French company Sagecom, but the military government ordered the bank to revoke the contracts and reopen the bidding process, according to Sissoko with the rural electrification agency. Now the project is being cancelled, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the World Bank last year suspended $60 million in financing to support Malis state-owned energy company over a dispute with the military government about financing arrangements. Political instability is one reason why countries in the Sahel the arid strip south of the Sahara desert have not been able to achieve electrification goals, along with insecurity and poor governance, said Beverly Ochieng, a security analyst with the London-based Control Risks. Insecurity caused by extremist attacks is another challenge to expansion in Mali, especially in the north, limiting the areas where companies can safely set up solar mini-grids. Energy needs continue to grow at a rate of between 4 to 10%, depending on the countries, and this combination of factors makes the Sahel and Mali a difficult environment to support the development of sustainable projects," Ochieng said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, the solar plant has brought some relief to Karan, one of the villages selected based on data provided by Malis rural electrification agency. Issa Doumbia, wearing goggles as he welded a metal door, recalled how he used to spend $16 to $23 a day on diesel for a generator but now spends $8 thanks to solar power. Theres not much of a market to make big profits. So, I would like to see the price of electricity go down, he said. As night fell, trader Mah Konare spread lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers on a table along the main road. Her business has been extended with the help of the new streetlights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond myself, these streetlights bring security to the village," she said. I now feel safe when my father goes to the mosque at night. ___ For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. A man was arrested this week for allegedly eluding police in Massachusetts and leading authorities into Connecticut where he allegedly evaded state troopers at dangerous speeds until he caused a crash in Vernon that injured a woman and took off on foot. Edward Contreras Jr., 33, of Brighton, Massachusetts was apprehended Tuesday when he was located at a business in Vernon, according to Connecticut State Police. Troopers had two warrants out for his arrest stemming from an incident that unfolded on Nov. 27, 2024, after Massachusetts authorities contacted police in Connecticut at 8:40 a.m. and said they had tried to stop a Honda Odyssey with a Massachusetts license plate, according to the warrant affidavits. The reason for the initial stop attempt is not detailed in either of the warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massachusetts authorities told Connecticut State Police the Odyssey was last seen on Interstate 84 heading toward the state. Before spotting the vehicle, state police ran the registration provided by Massachusetts police and found that the Odyssey was registered to Contreras, according to the warrant affidavits. A trooper positioned in the area of Exit 70 in Tolland then spotted the vehicle behind a tractor-trailer. The trooper began following the driver of the Honda, which had tinted windows and a tinted windshield and alleged that the vehicle was being driven between 100 and 120 mph and using all three lanes and the median to pass other drivers, according to the warrant affidavits. A second trooper who was ahead of the Odyssey then positioned himself directly in front of the vehicle as both troopers tried to box the driver in. State police said the Honda driver was able to elude the box-in attempt and got off the highway allegedly going about 100 mph on the Exit 68 off-ramp, the warrant affidavits said. The driver then got back on the highway using the on-ramp at the same exit where another trooper had placed stop sticks. The Honda driver swerved to avoid the stopping device and continued on the interstate, according to the warrant affidavits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police stopped pursuing the vehicle out of safety concerns for other motorists. The Honda driver was allegedly seen continuing at high speeds and passing other drivers, state police wrote. The Odyssey was spotted again shortly before 9 a.m. by a trooper on Route 74 in Tolland, the warrant affidavits said. The driver passed the trooper and got back onto I-84, state police wrote. The Honda was seen minutes later in the area of Exit 68 once again allegedly passing other drivers at high speeds using all three lanes and the shoulders, the warrant affidavits said. Shortly after 9 a.m., state police saw the Honda driving in the center median on I-84 West before it was driven off the highway at the Exit 64 off-ramp, according to the warrant affidavits. The driver nearly lost control on the ramp, state police wrote. State police said the driver later allegedly blew through a red light at the intersection of Kelly Road and Route 83 before continuing north on Route 83, the warrant affidavits said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 9:05 a.m., troopers saw the Odyssey and a Subaru Outback in the area of the Tri City Plaza and the Exit 64 off-ramp where they were involved in a collision, according to the warrant affidavits. The Honda sustained damage to its front passenger side, and the Outback had an indent to its front driver-side bumper. Emergency crews found the driver of the Outback lying on the ground outside her vehicle. She told troopers she was stopped at the Exit 64 off-ramp when she got a green light to turn left onto Route 83. As she did, she told police, she could see a silver vehicle approaching that allegedly went through a red light and struck the front of the Outback, according to the warrant affidavits. The Outback driver said she had to climb under the airbag that went off to get out of the vehicle, where multiple people asked if she was OK, the warrant affidavits said. She also heard multiple people yelling that the driver of the Honda ran away from the scene. State police conducted a K-9 track and could not locate the driver. The Outback driver was taken to an area hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inside the Odyssey, state police reported finding a cell phone that was completely dead and a second phone that had a photo of a man holding a child on its lock screen, the warrant affidavits said. Troopers used Contreras Department of Motor Vehicle photo to compare it to the man in the lock screen, alleging that it appeared to be the same person, the warrant affidavits said. State police later sought a search and seizure warrant for the phone and allegedly found multiple things linking Contreras to the phone, including credit card information as well as his address in the most visited locations, state police wrote. Troopers were also able to get video surveillance from a nearby business which showed a man who resembled Contreras running from the scene with a black satchel over his shoulder and a bag of suspected paraphernalia in his right hand, according to the warrant affidavits. Shortly before 2 p.m., state police contacted someone known to Contreras who told troopers he had contacted her earlier to tell her that his Odyssey had been stolen, the warrant affidavits said. The woman was unable to provide a specific time when Contreras allegedly made the claim and could not give authorities a phone number for Contreras, saying she was only able to contact him when he had WiFi, according to the warrant affidavits. Troopers contacted authorities in Massachusetts who said they had not received a report of the Odyssey being stolen. Troopers also noted in the warrants that as of Jan. 8, no one had tried to claim ownership of the Odyssey that was towed after the crash. Contreras was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit, illegal window tints, second-degree reckless endangerment, evading the scene of a collision, violation of traffic control signals and interfering with an officer. He was held on bonds totaling $250,000 and was expected to appear Wednesday in Rockville Superior Court. CHERRY HILL, Va. (DC News Now) Prince William County police are looking for a man accused of taking photos or videos of a woman in the bathroom of the Walmart on Richmond Highway in Cherry Hill. Thats very traumatizing. I hope shes OK, said Keren Promedi. The incident happened just before 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 22. Prince William County Police Department (PWCPD) investigators said a 49-year-old woman saw a phone being held underneath the stall in the restroom by a man, who immediately left the store and got into a grey Nissan Rogue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man killed in hit-and-run on Richmond Highway in Woodbridge That is very, very crazy. Like I feel like its important that women stay in the womens bathroom and men in the mens restroom. I think they should press charges, Promedi said. Some Walmart customers said they are more concerned for kids than themselves. It makes me very alarmed, and we all have to as parents check to see whos around our kids and accompany them, said Amanda Pina. It makes us, as [women], feel very unsafe, especially if we have teenagers or daughters, added Michelle Rocha. Id just rather do my business at home, she continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the suspect is between 20 and 30 years old with a medium build and short black braided hair, last seen wearing a denim jacket with a red design, black and white sweatpants and Converse sneakers. PWCPD said this is the only incident authorities are aware of. A Walmart spokesperson said they are working closely with police as they investigate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) A mother of four was shot and killed by her husband during a domestic dispute at their Florida home, according to officials. Lamar Bryant, 41, was arrested by the Orange County Sheriffs Office after deputies said he shot 42-year-old Takeshia Renee Bryant. Molotov cocktail burns Florida teen from the belly down: report On Tuesday afternoon, deputies responded to the 5200 block of West Livingston Street in Orlando for a possible domestic shooting. Thats when they found the woman with a gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Takeshia was taken to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Lamar Bryant (Orange County Sheriffs Office) Family members told NBC affiliate WESH that Takeshia was known to be a loving mother, who held her family together. She had four children and four grandkids, with a fifth on the way. Our hearts go out to Takeshias family at this time of devastating loss, the sheriffs office said. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, help is available 24/7 through the Harbor House of Central Florida hotline, (407) 886-2856. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) A 53-year-old man is under investigation for attempted murder of a peace officer and first-degree assault after a shooting on Tuesday, according to the Denver Police Department. The agency said it had arrested Paul Cushinberry, 53, for allegedly shooting a man. The victim was found with an apparent gunshot wound at a residence in the 2300 block of Welton Street. Man faces attempted murder charge after allegedly firing shots during police chase Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area includes a park and is a couple blocks from Polaris Elementary School. The victim was transported to the hospital and is expected to survive their injuries. Police said that they believed the suspect and victim were known to each other and that they had engaged in a verbal altercation before the shooting. Police said that Cushinberry barricaded himself inside an apartment where the shooting occurred when they arrived on the scene. While barricaded, police say Cushinberry fired a shot through the wall at officers. He was arrested and is currently being held for investigation of attempted murder of a police officer and investigation of first-degree assault. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) An 18-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly tried to smuggle methamphetamine and fentanyl at the Paso Del Norte international crossing in El Paso, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP says officers working at the Paso Del Norte bridge seized 16.2 pounds of meth and 2.2 pounds of fentanyl on Wednesday, March 26. 14 bundles of meth and one package of fentanyl. Photo: U.S. CBP The seizure was made just before 1 a.m. Wednesday, when an 18-year-old man, identified as a U.S. citizen, arrived from Mexico in a vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers selected the vehicle for a secondary exam. A CBP drug-sniffing dog searched the car and alerted officers to the vehicle, CBP said. A scan of the vehicle also identified anomalies in the doors of the car. CBP officers then removed 14 bundles of meth and one package of fentanyl from the doors. The man was apprehended and transferred to special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI is now investigating the incident and the man is facing federal charges related to the importation of controlled substances, CBP said. History has shown that smuggling organizations will use almost anyone to move their contraband into the United States, acting CBP El Paso Port Director Arnie Gomez said. We need to remain vigilant at all times because we have seen everyone, from teens and senior citizens to families and single travelers, all involved in the drug trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. A man arrested for allegedly setting Tesla vehicles on fire in Las Vegas earlier this month is now facing federal charges in the alleged Molotov cocktail attack. The U.S. Justice Department said 36-year-old Paul Hyon Kim made an initial appearance Thursday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, where he is facing one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of arson. He remains in federal custody. Earlier this week, Kim was booked into the Clark County jail and initially charged with 15 counts by local authorities, including suspicion of arson, destroying personal property of another valuing $5,000 or more, possessing/disposing of a fire device and discharging a firearm into vehicle, according to jail records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi called the recent string of arsons and vandalism targeting Teslas a "wave of domestic terrorism," and said perpetrators will face severe consequences. We will continue to find, arrest, and prosecute these attackers until the lesson is learned," Bondi said in the statement. If convicted in federal court, Kim faces a maximum penalty of 10 years on the firearm charge and a maximum of 20 years on the arson charge, according to the Justice Department. The incident in Las Vegas took place on March 18 at approximately 2:45 a.m., when five Teslas were damaged in a fire started at a Tesla Collision Center, Las Vegas police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video footage shared with ABC News shows the suspect dressed in black setting fire to cars parked in the lot of the collision center. Along with the burning vehicles, officials said the word "RESIST" was spray-painted across the doors of the facility and three rounds of shots were fired at the additional Tesla vehicles. "This was a targeted attack against a Tesla facility," Dori Koren, assistant sheriff for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said during a press conference last week. PHOTO: Five Tesla cars were set on fire and shot at in an arson attack at a Tesla service center in Las Vegas, March 18, 2025. (Hal Sparks via Storyful) The suspect is believed to have used Molotov cocktails and a firearm to conduct his attack, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: FBI investigating after multiple incendiary devices found at Tesla dealership in Texas Previously, officials said police and the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force was investigating this incident, which they believed was an isolated attack. During a press conference on Thursday, officials said they only had a grainy photograph of the suspect's vehicle, a "nearly indescribable" photo of the suspect and several photos of headlights and taillights of the car at the beginning of their investigation. PHOTO: In a photo released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a damaged Tesla is shown. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) Investigators then used surveillance footage around Las Vegas and analytical data to determine the suspect's vehicle was a black Hyundai Elantra. License plate readers then led investigators to Kim, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Kim's arrest, he was placed "immediately on 24/7 surveillance by our specialized units to ensure public safety and preserve evidence," Koren said on Thursday. Once Kim was in custody, authorities said they then searched two vehicles linked to the suspect and his apartment. Officials said they found rifles, a shotgun, handgun and gun parts in Kim's residence. They also recovered ammunition, including the caliber used in the crime, police said. MORE: Tesla arson defendants to face 'full force of law,' AG Bondi says A black gun belt and backpack that had pink paint residue on it, face masks and "other articles of clothing that were consistent with the suspect's description" were also discovered, police said. PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the suspect is shown spraypainting outside a Tesla Center in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) A DNA buccal swab was taken from Kim, which matched the DNA found at the scene of the crime, according to officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said a preliminary assessment of the suspect's social media indicates "some very loose but self-proclaimed ties" relating to communist and pro-Palestinian groups, but authorities said they have still not determined a motive for the incident. Police do not believe anyone else was involved in the attack, but said they are trying to determine if Kim is part of any organized group attacking Teslas and Tesla locations nationwide. PHOTO: In a photo released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, a damaged Tesla is shown. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department) "There is nothing courageous or noble about fire-bombing private property and terrorizing your local community," Spencer Evans, special agent for the FBI's Las Vegas Division, said during the press conference. Recent attacks aimed at Tesla dealerships, vehicles and charging stations have been reported in Seattle; Kansas City, Missouri; and Charleston, South Carolina, as well as other cities across the United States since Tesla CEO Elon Musk began his role with the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. -ABC News' Alex Stone and Pierre Thomas contributed to this report. Man arrested in Las Vegas Tesla arson facing federal charges originally appeared on abcnews.go.com WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) A man from Honduras who was taken into custody last month following a pursuit in Williamson County is now facing multiple gun- and drug-related charges, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ said 21-year-old Carlos Alberto Diaz-Chavez has been charged with possession of a firearm as an alien, possession of a machine gun, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. We will not hesitate to keep our community safe from those who would illegally possess dangerous firearms, deal deadly narcotics, and who put our first responders at risk by their actions, said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Williamson County authorities arrest suspected carjackers following pursuit According to court documents, on Feb. 17, a deputy from the Williamson County Sheriffs Office saw a silver Toyota Camry fail to move into the next lane for a vehicle stopped on the side of Interstate 65 with its emergency lights on, violating Tennessee law. As a result, the deputy pulled over the Camry. However, when the deputy approached the Camry and knocked on the window to speak with the occupants, officials said the car drove off at a high rate of speed. Authorities deployed spike strips on I-65, but even after the Camrys tires were spiked, it continued to travel toward Spring Hill. Dash camera footage previously obtained by News 2 showed a front tire coming off the Camry, the car sliding across the asphalt since it was traveling on its rims, and sideswiping a Spring Hill Police Department patrol car before it eventually crashed into a guardrail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ said three people ran from the car, including Diaz-Chavez, who got out of the back seat carrying a backpack. After deputies caught Diaz-Chavez, they reportedly found a purple Palmetto State Armory, Model: PA-15, Caliber: Multi firearm, a bag containing about 15 grams of meth, 14 additional plastic bags with meth that weighed approximately 0.2 grams each and a black digital scale in his backpack. In addition, when law enforcement searched the Camry, officials said they discovered two more firearms: a Glock, Model: 17, Caliber: 919 mm, and a Ruger, Model: Single-Six, Caliber: 22. Authorities arrested Diaz-Chavez on state charges and transported him to the Williamson County Jail. Honduras man indicted after guns stolen from Dickson pawn shop The Metro Nashville Police Department previously told News 2 the Camry used in the pursuit was taken during a carjacking along Paragon Mills Road on Feb. 7, but apparently the license plate had been replaced with a temporary tag before the incident in Williamson County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After waiving his Miranda rights, Diaz-Chavez admitted to being in possession of the Palmetto State Armory, PA-15, the Glock, Model: 17, and the Ruger Single-Six, according to the DOJ. The 21-year-old claimed he used the guns for protection while selling narcotics in the Nashville area. In addition, Diaz-Chavez said he was aware the Palmetto State Armory PA-15 was a machine gun, which he reportedly bought to have more firepower to protect himself while dealing drugs. Diaz-Chavez admitted that he is from Honduras, he entered the United States illegally in 2019, and he has stayed in the Middle Tennessee and Northern Alabama area since his arrival, officials stated in a release on Thursday, March 27. If convicted, the DOJ said Diaz-Chavez faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the alien in possession of a firearm charge, 10 years for the possession of a machine gun charge, 20 years for the possession with intent to distribute meth charge, and a mandatory minimum of five years consecutive to all other punishment for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking charge. He also faces a fine of up to $1 million for the drug trafficking charge, as well as a $250,000 fine for each of the gun offenses. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the WCSO; and the MNPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A Ruscombmanor Township man has been charged with disorderly conduct and harassment after throwing a drink at a family in a Hamburg-area restaurant, Tilden Township police said Wednesday. Stuart Brooks, 62, is accused of harassing two women and their children at Wendys, 15 Daves Way, Tilden Township. Police responded to the restaurant Sunday at 1:38 p.m. after receiving a report of a disorderly male. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief William J. McElroy III gave this account of the incident: One of the victims, a 35-year-old woman, had approached the counter to receive a replacement food item when Brooks accused her of cutting in line. The woman returned to the dining area, and Brooks walked over and stared at the children and the other woman, 31. She politely asked him to stop and said he was scaring the children. Brooks then filled a large cup of soda and approached the two adult victims, then told them to shut up. He was again asked to leave, then threw the soda at one of the women, hitting her in the face and soaking her clothing. He then turned to the other adult victim, who was shielding the children, and threw the remaining soda at them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Wendys manager de-escalated the incident, and Brooks left. Later that afternoon, Tilden and state police went to Brooks home to interview him. He said he felt that the woman had cut in line and was talking about him and that he told her, If you dont apologize, youre going to wear this. He admitted to throwing the soda in her face when she did not apologize. He told the officer that he did what anyone else would have done. The charges against Brooks two counts of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, one count of misdemeanor harassment by communication and five counts of summary harassment were filed before Magisterial District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose, Hamburg. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The Georgia truck driver who fired shots at a passing semi could spend several years behind bars after taking a deal with Mahoning County Prosecutors. Read next: Plea deal reached in fatal Youngstown shooting Curtis Brooks appeared in court Thursday morning, pleading guilty to charges of felonious assault and tampering with evidence. In June, State Troopers stopped Brooks along the Ohio Turnpike in Austintown after another driver claimed the defendant shot at his rig along the highway. Troopers and prosecutors labeled it a case of road rage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was flashing his lights because Mr. Brooks was drifting into his lane, and I think it was really that Mr. Brooks took that as being aggressive, and through that he was going to be run off the road, and thats why he fired, said Atty. Katherine Jones, assistant Mahoning County Prosecutor. Although no one was hurt, authorities say Brooks had children and his girlfriend in the cab with him at the time. Lawyers are recommending he serve 3-to-4 years behind bars when hes sentenced next month. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) A local man is accused of nearly crashing into a group of people and damaging property while driving a stolen car. According to a press release from the Summit County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded on Wednesday evening to a report of an individual driving recklessly. Frito-Lay chips sold in 13 states, including Ohio, recalled Deputies located the car, which had been reported stolen out of Akron, in a parking lot on Manchester Road, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the deputy approached the vehicle, the suspect drove away, nearly hitting multiple pedestrians in the parking lot, as well as hitting a parked vehicle. Deputies tracked the suspect to Portage Lakes Drive, where officials say the stolen vehicle hit several items near the road. The car then started to smoke until it was engulfed in flames, deputies said. The suspect refused to exit the vehicle, according to deputies, but was apprehended by a Sheriffs K9, according to a press release. These Ohio Kohls are closing this weekend The suspect was treated for injuries. The suspect faces multiple charges, including leaving the scene of an accident and reckless operation. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Carlos Anderson-Honeycutt was found guilty of first-degree murder for the death of 24-year-old Brittnee Wicker during a bench trial. Wicker was found shot to death in a home in the 2300 block of S. Belmont on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. Anderson-Honeycutt was later arrested in Texas, extradited back to Kansas, and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. Anderson-Honeycutt will be sentenced on May 27. 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. OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WJTV) A man has been indicted in connection to a mass shooting that occurred at an Ocean Springs restaurant in 2023. The Sun Herald reported a Jackson County grand jury indicted FaDarius Williams, 24, on one count of murder, four counts of aggravated assault and one count each of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and receiving stolen property. Mississippi man indicted for mass shooting at house party Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting occurred at at The Scratch Kitchen in downtown Ocean Springs during a Cinco de Mayo party on May 5, 2023. Police said Chase Harmon, 19, was fatally shot, and six others were wounded. The restaurants owner said there were about 200 people at the restaurant when the shooter ran past employees who were doing security checks at the entrance to the patio. FaDarius Williams (Courtesy: Jackson County Jail) Williams was later arrested in Mobile, Alabama. He pled not guilty to the charges against him. A judge later ordered The Scratch Kitchen to close permanently, saying it presented a danger to the city. According to court testimony, city witnesses described talking to the owner, Brittany Alexander, on multiple occasions about controlling the size of her crowds. Testimony also indicated that guns were present and marijuana was being smoked at the restaurant the night of the shooting. 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. Mar. 27WILKES-BARRE A man accused of fleeing Butler Township police and initiating a dangerous pursuit that involved a carjacking, a home invasion and shots fired at a motorist was charged with a fatal shooting in Connecticut. Isaac D. Cintron, 32, addresses listed as Chicago, Ill., and New Haven, Conn., was charged by New Haven police this week with fatally shooting Heriberto Cotto, 43, on Dec. 24, 2024. The State of Connecticut Superior Court on March 12 issued an arrest warrant charging Cintron with murder, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a pistol or revolver, according to court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police in New Haven allege Cintron and Cotto were engaged in an argument prior to the shooting. Cotto died at New Haven Medical Center upon arrival, police in New Haven reported. Cintron has been jailed without bail at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility since his arrest near Barnsville, Schuylkill County, following a pursuit that began outside a Dunkin Donuts store on North Hunter Highway in Butler Township, Luzerne County, on Dec. 30. Court records say Butler Township police encountered a Ford Explorer reported stolen by the Fairlawn, New Jersey, police department parked outside the Dunkin Donuts. Cintron fled the scene and traveled east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 where he struck another vehicle, court records say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records allege Cintron abandoned the Ford, walked toward a stopped vehicle and fired two shots at the driver, who reversed his vehicle. After firing the shots, court records say, Cintron ran into the Sand Springs housing community, where he entered a residence on Refuge Circle by climbing through an open first-floor window. Once inside the house, Cintron allegedly threatened the homeowner with a firearm and demanded keys to their vehicle, but was not able to start. Cintron fled the house and allegedly carjacked a woman's Toyota Rav4 at gunpoint at Refuge Circle and Long Run Road, telling the woman to take her 3-year-old son with her. State police troopers spotted Cintron and initiated a second pursuit on Interstate 80 and onto Route 54 where he was apprehended near Barnsville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cintron is facing 39 criminal offenses in Luzerne County Court, including criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, reckless endangerment and theft. A search of the stolen Ford recovered numerous drug-related items, Cintron's Social Security card and a Chicago homeless card, a Connecticut identification card belonging to another person, numerous clothing items and a ski mask, according to the search warrant inventory receipt. The search warrant affidavit says Cintron was "homeless" in New Haven, Conn., but due to an undisclosed incident, he left New Haven with intentions to visit a girlfriend in Chicago and stole the Ford while traveling through New Jersey. Although Cintron is being held without bail on the charges in Luzerne County, his bail set in Connecticut for the fatal shooting is listed as $3 million, court records say. A barricade situation involving a man with a firearm inside a second-floor apartment in the Vermont-Slauson neighborhood of Los Angeles ended in gunfire Wednesday night. Officers responded to a report of a man pointing a rifle at passersby in the 6400 block of Figueroa Street around 8:45 p.m. The man refused to comply with commands to exit the apartment and instead barricaded himself on the second floor, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A SWAT team responded to the scene and at one point a robotic dog was sent into the building. A man is seen in a window during a standoff with officers in Los Angeles on March 26, 2025. (KTLA) SWAT officers responded and formed a plan to resolve the situation and subsequently requested the suspect to come out of the apartment at which time the suspect was seen with a firearm in a second-story window, and an Officer Involved Shooting occurred, the spokesperson said. Video showed the unidentified man, who was struck by the gunfire, exiting the apartment with his left hand wrapped in a towel or some other type of material. He was taken into custody and transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No officers or other community members were injured in the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Memphis man was sentenced to 15 years in prison in a five-year-old murder case. The Shelby County District Attorneys Office said Travis McCullen pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of second-degree murder in the 2020 beating death of Willie Dixon. Dixon was found in a pool of blood at an apartment in the Soulesville area. The medical examiners office said he died from blunt force trauma to his head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travis McCullen was charged with killing Dixon in 2020 but was on the run for three years before being captured in 2023. The DAs office said DNA evidence recovered from Dixons apartment and security footage placed McCullen at the scene on the day of the murder. Dixons daughter flew in from California to witness the proceedings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WARREN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) A man, who was indicted in connection to a 2023 homicide in Vicksburg, has been sentenced. The Vicksburg Post reported Perrion Johnson was sentenced to 40 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) on March 26, 2025. He accepted an open plea of second-degree murder. Mississippi funeral director arrested after 3 bodies found in storage unit The shooting happened on July 18, 2023, near the intersection of Cherry and Harrison Streets. Preston Wilson, Jr., 22, of Vicksburg, died during the shooting. Police said Johnson was captured in Austin, Texas, in November 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Wallace pled guilty to murder in February 2025 and received 30 years in prison. Zackery Bryant and Patrick Ross both pled guilty to accessory after the fact, and they both received 10-year suspended sentences. 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. ELIZABEH CITY, N.C. (WNCT) An inmate at the Pasquotank Correctional Institution (PCI) receives the death penalty for 2017 Pasquotank County prison murders. On Thursday, Mar. 27, 2025, a Pasquotank County jury recommended four sentences of death for Jonathan Michael Monk on October 12, 2017, for the murder of PCI employees Veronica Darden, Justin Smith, Geoffrey Howe, and Wendy Shannon during a failed escape attempt. North Carolina law states that a jury in a capital murder trial recommends either a sentence of death, or life without possibility of parole, but the Judge is required to accept the jurys recommendation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial was then taken over by Pitt County Superior Court Judge, Jeffery B. Foster, and the prosecution team consisted of Assistant District Attorneys Kim Pellini and Alexis Massengill, and Legal Assistant Hannah Gilroy. Judge Foster sentenced the defendant to four consecutive death sentences, with an additional five consecutive active sentences for Assault with a Deadly Weapon with the Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury to PCI employees Scott Stormer, Curtis Casper, Steve Sanders, Jerry Byrum, and Timothy Lewis. The defendant also received consecutive active sentences for Attempted 1st Degree Murder of PCI employee George Midgett, Felony Burning a Public Building, Felony Attempted Escape, and Felony Riot. The total active sentences to run at the expiration of the death sentences was 60-81 years. The sentences imposed by Judge Foster are a testament to the savagery of the assaults committed by the defendant and his companions on the victims. Veronica Darden, Justin Smith, Geoffrey Howe and Wendy Shannon were people just like us, they woke that day and left their families to go to work to make a living, never to return home again, District Attorney Jeff Cruden said. I am amazed at the resiliency of the victims families, and the survivors of that horrific day, to stay the course to ensure that justice is served, and those responsible are held accountable. I am also very proud of the members of my office. They worked tirelessly day and night to ensure that those that can no longer speak, have a voice and are remembered. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man has been sentenced after he was accused of biting a police officer in July 2024. Read next: U-turn on 224 ignites police chase: Report According to court staff, William Armstrong was sentenced to one year of probation. Armstrong had been accused of lunging at police, attempting to grab an officers duty belt and biting the left arm of a cop. On February 20, Armstrong pleaded guilty to charges of assault and obstruction of official business. All other charges were dropped in the plea deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erin Yudt 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. CLEVELAND (WJW) A man was sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting two women in Cleveland more than two decades ago. Kenneth Edmond, 63, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office announced in a press release on Wednesday. According to court records, a 72-year-old homeless woman was standing under the Detroit-Superior bridge on Sept. 15, 2000, when a man approached her, shoved her to the ground and sexually assaulted her before leaving the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A good Samaritan helped the woman and called police. The victim was taken to the hospital and officials collected a sexual assault kit, court records said. New measles cases in Ashtabula, Knox counties The second case happened a little more than a year later, when a 21-year-old woman was walking near East 14th Street and Carnegie Avenue on Oct. 30, 2001. According to court documents, a man grabbed her by the neck, forced her through a fence under the I-90 bridge and sexually assaulted her multiple times. He then took her money and left. Someone helped the victim and she was taken to the hospital, where a sexual assault kit was collected, court records said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives determined through DNA tests that the suspect in both cases was the same man, but he couldnt be identified at the time. Investigators indicted the DNA profile as John Doe #103. The case remained cold for years, but Cuyahoga County prosecutors and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigators looked over the DNA evidence in 2022. Required moment of silence proposed for Ohio schools The DNA was sent to Texas-based genetic testing company Gene by Gene. With help from the nonprofit Firebird Forensics Group, Inc., genealogists determined that John Doe #103s DNA was connected to Edmond. Investigators obtained Edmonds DNA and confirmed it was a match. He was arrested by Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputies on Dec. 6, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury found Edmond guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of kidnapping on March 14. Prosecutors were pushing for a 20-year prison sentence, but Edmond will instead serve 12 years behind bars. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) A man charged in connection with the shooting death of an Akron teen was sentenced Thursday. Julian Fort, 26, entered an Alford plea in the December 2022 shooting of Zion Neal at Derby Downs skate park. Frito-Lay chips sold in 13 states, including Ohio, recalled An Alford plea means that, despite the plea, Fort is not admitting to guilt. However, he was found guilty on the following charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One count of Voluntary Manslaughter with a three-year Firearm Specification a 1 st Degree Felony One count of Obstructing Justice a 3 rd Degree Felony One count of Tampering with Evidence a 3rd Degree Felony Fort was sentenced to 18 to 23.5 years in prison and designated as a violent offender. That means upon his release, he will have to register in the Violent Offender Database for 10 years. According to prosecutors, Zion Neal, Julian Fort and Nathan Hendrix-Vest planned to rob four men in the parking lot outside of Derby Downs and the Akron Skate Park. Police say one of the intended victims pulled out his own gun and shot Neal in self-defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manhunt suspended for James Douglas Meadows, suspect in Lorain County police officer assault who remains at-large Hendrix-Vest, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and obstructing justice in February 2024. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, 2025, at 11 a.m. by Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joy Malek Oldfield. He is expected to receive a 10-year prison term at that 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. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) A victim was critically injured after they were allegedly shot in the neck by their co-worker in West Valley City on Friday, according to officials. On March 21, West Valley City police responded to reports of yelling and gunshot sounds near 2800 S High Commons Way. When officers arrived, they found a large amount of blood leading up to a residence, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers approached the residence and spoke with a female and a male. The male later identified as suspect Alexander Ernesto Ventura Lopez, 29 allegedly had blood on his face and told officers he had been in a fight with two of his friends. Authorities were then notified that a victim with a gunshot wound to the neck had arrived at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Officials said the bullet had pierced the victims lung. West Valley officials told ABC4.com that the latest information indicates the victim is in critical but stable condition. Documents said the witness who drove the victim to the hospital told officers Lopez was responsible for the victims gunshot wound. READ NEXT: Woman goes viral in search for missing custom Book of Mormon Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witness told officers he had driven to the West Valley residence to pick up the victim. When the witness arrived, the victim quickly left the building and jumped on the hood of his vehicle while Lopez allegedly chased and shot toward the victim. The witness then drove away from the scene, bringing the wounded victim to the hospital for treatment. However, the suspect allegedly told police a different story, saying the witness and victim were trying to sell him a gun, and when he declined, they began arguing with him and assaulted him. Lopez said he then grabbed the witnesss firearm and shot toward the ground. The [suspect] stated he never fired the gun at the victim, and it was only fired at the ground, documents read. Documents said Lopez gave officers a fake name and date of birth in an attempt to conceal his identity, which they realized after performing a records check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez is facing four felony charges and two misdemeanors: Aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, two counts of felony discharge of a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, providing false contact information to an officer, and intoxication. Lopez was booked in the Salt Lake County Jail on Saturday 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 ABC4 Utah. DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines metro man already in legal trouble for allegedly breaking into an animal shelter to steal back his surrendered dog and shooting at police in Cedar Rapids has racked up more charges after attempting to escape from custody. Christopher Kern Christopher Kern, 49, was being transported back to the Linn County Correctional Center on Tuesday following a dental procedure in Cedar Rapids when the Linn County Sheriffs Office said he assaulted a deputy. Kern was in restraints at the time, and a deputy was escorting him out of the dentists office when the alleged assault took place. The deputy was knocked to the ground, and a struggle between Kern, two deputies, and a civilian bystander ensued. The deputies radioed for help in physically restraining Kern and more deputies, as well as police officers from Hiawatha and Cedar Rapids, arrived to assist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Embracing Fort Dodges roots at the Rivers Edge Discovery Center Kern was transported back to the jail and is now charged with assault on persons in certain occupations with injury, interference with official acts, and attempted escape in the incident. Kern has had a busy 2025. The Des Moines Police Department said in February, Kern broke into the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and stole his dog back. The dog had been surrendered to the ARL after police discovered the dog had been shot on January 31st. DMPDs investigators learned he was traveling to Cedar Rapids, and they notified area law enforcement agencies on February 19th. That same day, officers with the Cedar Rapids Police Department located Kern, and police said he fired on officers who attempted to arrest him. Officers fired back. After a lengthy negotiation, Kern was taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that incident, Kern was charged with three counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon with injury, three counts of assault on persons in certain occupations-displaying a firearm, three counts of interference with official acts with a dangerous weapon, assault going armed with intent, three counts of dominion and control of a firearm, and use of a dangerous weapon in commission of a crime. Online court records show a plea hearing in that case has been scheduled for April 4th. Iowa 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. PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) Police are investigating after a man was shot in Pawtucket Wednesday evening. Officers were called to the Walgreens parking lot off Broad Street for reports of a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said the 27-year-old victim, who had been shot twice, was brought to the hospital for treatment. His injuries do not appear to be life-threatening at this time. Detectives are still trying to figure out what led up to the shooting and where it happened. Police said the victim is not cooperating with investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Austin Webb at (401) 727-9100 ext. 761 or Detective James Doyal at (401) 727-9100 ext. 764. 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. TOL cites women's role in progress and fostering national unity Taguig City - Women have stood at the forefront during critical stages of the nation's history and will play a key role in fostering unity amid the issues dividing the country. This was the message of Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino before thousands of women who attended Taguig City's Women's Month celebration on Thursday. "Women have contributed to society and history, and they continue to be active participants in nation-building," Tolentino said. "As we face very difficult issues, I also believe that women will play a key role in fostering national unity and understanding," the senator added. "After all this, I believe that our country will come out stronger and more progressive because of the role of women. I ask for your help and prayers to heal political divisions until we become one united Philippines," he appealed. The senator was joined at the event by Mayor Lani Cayetano, who acknowledged Tolentino's contributions to Taguig, dating years back when he was still Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). "TOL has always been helping Taguig, regardless if it's election season or not, and we have always supported him," Cayetano shared with the Taguigenas. In response, Tolentino lauded the city's programs led by Cayetano to advance the rights and welfare of women. He concluded by stressing that the women of Taguig, just like those from Tagaytay and other parts of the country are bound by a common aspiration - to be accorded respect, recognition, and equal opportunities in a fair and just society. The era of deep economic, security and military ties between Canada and the United States is over, Mark Carney, the newly-appointed prime minister, said. He made the remarks ahead of Donald Trumps planned 25 per cent levy on vehicle imports to the United States coming into force next week which could devastate the Canadian auto industry that supports an estimated 500,000 jobs. After Mr Trumps announcement about the tariffs on Wednesday, Mr Carney paused his campaign for Canadas April 28 election to return to Ottawa for a meeting of cabinet members working on the trade war with the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He called Mr Trumps auto tariffs unjustified, and said they were in breach of existing trade deals between the countries. He also warned Canadians that Mr Trump had permanently altered relations with the US and that, regardless of any future trade deals, there would be no turning back. Canada to retaliate The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over, Mr Carney said. He said Canada would retaliate against the auto tariffs. Our response to these latest tariffs is to fight, is to protect, is to build, Mr Carney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will fight the US tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impacts here in Canada, he added. Mr Carney replaced Justin Trudeau as prime minister on March 14. Typically, a new Canadian leader makes a phone call with the US president a priority immediately after taking office but Mr Trump and Mr Carney have not spoken. He said on Thursday that the White House had reached out to schedule a call and that he expected to speak to Mr Trump in the next day or two. Mr Carney has also said that while he is willing to talk to Mr Trump, he will not participate in substantive trade negotiations with Washington until the president shows Canada respect, particularly by ending his repeated annexation threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For me, there are two conditions, not necessarily for a call, but a negotiation with the United States. First respect, respect for our sovereignty as a country... apparently its a lot for him, Mr Carney said. There has to be comprehensive discussion between the two of us, including with respect to our economy and our security, he added. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Investing.com -- Canada Prime Mark Carney on Thursday vowed to fight back against U.S. tariffs, saying it was clear that the United States is no longer a reliable trading partner. "Our response to these latest tariffs is to fight We will fight the US tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impact in the United States...." Carney said in an Ottawa address. The remarks come in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump announcing a 25% levy on auto imports into the US. The president said that the levy is "permanent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new auto tariffs, which are expected to come into effect on Apr. 2, makes it "clear that the US is no longer a reliable trade partner," Carney added. Carney, however, believes that with time with time, it will "become apparent that these actions will end up hurting American workers and American Consumers." Reiterating his stance that the Canada will refuse to back down, Carney vowed to "respond forcefully." "Nothing is off the table to defend our workers and our country," he added. Related articles NFI Announces Strong Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2024 Results Copa Holdings Announces Monthly Traffic Statistics for February 2025 Generation Bio earnings missed by $0.02, revenue topped estimates Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. MARRERO, La. (WGNO) A Marrero man has been arrested in connection with a child pornography distribution investigation on Tuesday, March 25. Harvey man arrested in connection with child pornography investigation The Office of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill reported that 27-year-old Eugene Archie IV was arrested after agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Eugene Archie IV (Courtesy: Office of Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill) Murrills office stated that the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crime Unit and the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office assisted with the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archie faces 19 counts of distribution of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13. 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. Mar. 26MITCHELL Water, water everywhere. City leaders talk about water rates daily. Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson sought to explain why the city's water rates continue to rise during his state of the city address Tuesday night at Mitchell Technical College's Muth Electric Technology Center Amphitheater. It was a question that Hanson said residents have asked him repeatedly throughout his term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Jan. 21 city council meeting, the council voted unanimously to raise rates from the current rate set in Oct. 2024 of $16.75 per 750 gallons to $18.62 per 750 gallons, effective on April 1, and there is another scheduled increase of $20.50 per 750 gallons, effective on Oct. 1. A graph during Hanson's presentation of Mitchell water consumption between 2014 and 2019 showed that the city exceeded daily capacity each year. The city's maximum daily capacity from B-Y Water is 2.6 million gallons per day. "We're millions of gallons over, often every single day," Hanson said. "So that's the reason behind why water rates are rising." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point, the city didn't raise water rates for 20 years, according to Hanson. The city has raised water rates multiple times over the past two years. The city passes the costs of water projects on to residents through resident's water bills. In other words, the increase of water improvement projects in Mitchell has resulted in higher water and sewer bills for Mitchell residents. The city of Mitchell has various State Revolving Fund loans for water projects, which require that the city prove that it has revenue to pay back the loan. This revenue comes from resident's water bills. The Randall Water Community District's $100 million plus Connecting Neighbors Regional Waterline Project Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement is to bring 72 miles of piped water from the Missouri River to Mitchell to expand the city's water capacity. The water starts at a pump house on the Missouri River, with pumps made by Mitchell-based company Dakota Pump . The estimated time of pipeline completion is 2027, according to Hanson. Hanson acknowledged City Administrator Stephanie Ellwein, City Attorney Justin Johnson, and Public Works Director Joe Schroeder for making the new agreement with Randall Water Community District that will save the city about $34,000 per month once the pipeline is completed and water reaches Mitchell. The agreement went from $283,000 per month to $249,000 per month. The new agreement will result in saving $12 million over 30 years. The $249,000 does not count as debt on the city's books. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Very large number, but how many of you guys need water to live? It's all of us, right?" Hanson said. Water from the pipeline will end up at the city's 2.5-million gallon ground storage tank south of town. Water from BY-Water and Randall will be mixed at the ground storage tank. "We would use that twice on a summer's day," Hanson said. Water through Mitchell goes through a series of pump stations. Other city projects included the West Harmon Drive water main loop for $422,000, the North Harmon Drive sanitary sewer for $3.7 million, and the 23rd and Ohlman Street lift station replacement for $1.65 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "(The West Harmon water main loop) actually eliminates a water main that goes under Lake Mitchell, so now we can shut that off, and we have really no way of repairing that water main if it ever broke," Hanson said. The city has a series of pumps that bring the water down to the city's $15.3 million North Wasterwater Treatment Facility to be treated properly to remove solid waste. After this, water is pumped two miles to the South Wastewater Treatment Facility. The city has a $17 million grant for the $39.1 million project, according to Hanson. Hanson called the infrastructure upgrades investments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We can essentially grow our town two times the population and still be able to handle all the water and sewer needs," Hanson said. The slideshow from the presentation can be viewed on the city's website and the video of the presentation can be seen on the Mitchell Republic's facebook page. BALTIMORE As claims of child sexual abuse filed against the state continue to mount, Charles County Del. C.T. Wilson is seeking to place a cap on the states liability in light of the associated financial burden on the state. The amended version of House Bill 1378, sponsored by Wilson, a Democratic lawmaker who championed the Child Victims Act in 2023, would put a lower cap $400,000 on the maximum potential payout per each claimant who files after Oct. 1. It would also mandate an alternative dispute resolution process to settle claims of child sexual abuse. Ive always said it was never about the money it was about the truth and justice, restoring the dignity of those whove had it stolen from them, said Wilson, who is also a survivor of child sexual abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Child Victims Act, which took effect in October 2023, removed the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse survivors to file civil lawsuits against their abusers. Since then, about 4,500 victims have filed claims, Wilson said, with more pending. Under the current law, Maryland could potentially be liable for billions of dollars in settlement payments to the survivors of child sexual abuse if each received the current maximum of $890,000 per occurrence of abuse. Lawmakers were warned of the fiscal implications of the Child Victims Act earlier in the legislative session, though. At a January fiscal briefing with House and Senate committees, Department of Legislative Services fiscal analyst David Romans told lawmakers that the settlement payments were a potentially enormous liability for the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The liability the state could face comes as the General Assembly nears the end of resolving Marylands $3 billion budget deficit, as well as uncertainty about federal funding under the Trump administration. What Im up here to do is to make sure we dont break the state, that these people get their opportunity, Wilson told reporters prior to Wednesdays bill hearing. And there will be a financial compensation, but its not going to be billions of dollars per individual my state cant afford that. The bill would also mandate an alternative dispute resolution process to settle claims of child sexual abuse, which Wilson said is needed for accountability and public safety. The thing about settlement, and we all see this in the news, is you never know what really happened, he said. I want to make sure that each dollar that is paid out is accounted for, that each of those individuals out there are held accountable, live or dead those names need to be made public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who were sexually abused as children and attorneys who represent them, however, feel the bill could re-victimize the survivors. Its an insult to say no matter how many times you were abused some of them were raped a dozen times and now youre telling them the most you can get is up to $400,000 and you dont have your right to have your day in court. Its just a betrayal to these victims who believed that they were finally going to be heard, that they would finally get some measure of justice, Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney, said in an interview prior to the hearing. What happened to Baltimore resident Antoine Harris epitomizes the reason were here today, Crump said as Harris walked up to him in the House office building. A staff member raped Harris mother while she was in a juvenile detention facility. She was 17; her abuser was 29, Harris said. He was in foster care from 7 months old to age 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could never be enough, Harris said of the settlement payments. But with that, you could add it over time, you dont have to necessarily limit the amount, you could stretch it weve waited so many years for justice, you dont have to settle it in one year. Lisae Jordan, an attorney and the executive director of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, spoke in favor of the bill with amendments. She told lawmakers to consider allowing survivors to choose a jury trial, and also said reducing recovery to $400,000 per claimant was troubling. We should help survivors, she said. If you can take these cases out of court and mandate that they go to [alternative dispute resolution], you can also delay your decision until the next time youre in session please take the time to do this right. ---------- BALTIMORE Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is set to appear as a featured guest at a political action committee event in early April thats raising eyebrows among some in Annapolis though a lawyer for the PAC says everything is above board. The event invitation, obtained by The Baltimore Sun, states, You are invited to join us for dinner with featured guest Governor Wes Moore and Unity First PAC is soliciting all funds for this event. Maryland law places certain limits on fundraising activities by the governor and other state officials during the General Assembly session, but the event is scheduled for April 2 five days before the conclusion of the session. Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready, a Republican who represents Carroll and Frederick counties, criticized the governors planned appearance at the event, but said he didnt know whether its technically legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not sure about the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law is, youre not using your position as a state official to raise funds during the legislative session, he said. David Mitrani of Sandler Reiff Lamb Rosenstein & Birkenstock, P.C., who serves as counsel to Unity First PAC, said in an emailed statement to The Baltimore Sun that it is legal for Moore to attend the event: Governor Moore is permitted to appear at a fundraising event for Unity First PAC, an independent expenditure committee registered with the Federal Election Commission, including during Marylands regular legislative session. The governors office did not respond to a request for comment. Jared DeMarinis, the states elections administrator, said he cant comment specifically on the Unity First PAC event because we dont have all the information as to the event and everything. But he did comment more generally on what the law states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Basically its a prohibition on covered officials they include the members of the General Assembly, the Comptroller, the Treasurer, the Attorney General, the lieutenant governor, and, of course, the governor that theyre prohibited, during session, from soliciting contributions for candidates for federal, state and local office, DeMarinis said. So that is the prohibition, and thats the law. And everything activities would be judged against that standard. Moore began fundraising for Unity First PAC when it launched last summer, with the help of Ned Miller, the governors campaign manager in 2022 who then worked as a senior adviser in Moores official office until last June. It ultimately raised $768,000 and spent nearly $500,000, mostly on media to boost Democrat Angela Alsobrooks in her race against former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican. Organized as an independent expenditure committee, it is permitted under federal law to spend money to benefit or oppose candidates, but its barred from coordinating with those candidates directly. Ready said the law is intended to prevent state officials from taking money from interests that are trying to influence your decision, during a legislative session. Ready also criticized the timing of the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Especially with the state facing the crisis were facing, partisan political fundraising for a D.C. super PAC, to me, is not a good move, he said. PACs lawyer claims no legal violation Mitrani, Unity First PACs lawyer, wrote that the PAC does not engage in activity that is covered under Marylands campaign finance law and is not a candidate committee (it is a political action committee), and is therefore not subject to the legislative session blackout periods. It is not currently (and will not before the date of the event) supporting any candidates for federal, state, or local office. Maryland campaign finance law states that during a legislative session, the governor, or a person acting on the governors behalf, may not, as to a candidate for federal, State, or local office, or a campaign finance entity of the candidate or any other campaign finance entity organized under this title and operated in coordination with a candidate: (1) receive a contribution; (2) conduct a fund-raising event; (3) solicit a contribution State regulations also prohibit the governor from engaging in fundraising activities for certain people, regulations that Mitrani said the governor and his campaign have complied with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [T]here is no fundraising activity whatsoever for his campaign committee, other candidates, slates, or the party, Mitrani said. Mitrani added that Unity First PAC is registered with the Federal Election Commission, not the Maryland State Board of Elections, and does not engage in activity regulated under Marylands campaign finance law Sophia Silbergeld, who serves as a top political fundraiser for Moore and is listed on the invitation as the R.S.V.P. contact, didnt respond when asked about the purpose of the event or how much it costs to attend. She also didnt respond about why the event couldnt be scheduled after the conclusion of the legislative session, to avoid raising questions about campaign finance law compliance. Is Moore technically raising money? The governor, state lawmakers and others are allowed to raise money during the legislative session if theyve officially filed to run for an office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is generally true of state lawmakers who are raising money for their own federal campaigns, in states where there is a session ban, said Jason Torchinsky, an attorney specializing in campaign finance at the law firm Holtzman Vogel, which has offices in Washington, D.C., and Virginia. However, Since Moore isnt a federal candidate, Im not sure this same exemption applies squarely, Torchinsky said in an email. But if you look at the invite, they are careful to say that Moore is a guest speaker and the PAC is raising the money. I think they are taking the position that by simply speaking at their event, hes not raising money. The invitation states, Unity First PAC is soliciting all funds for this event. It also states, Paid for by Unity First PAC and not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee. A summary guide of Maryland candidacy and campaign finance laws on the Maryland State Board of Elections website states, The use of a covered officials name on a fundraising invitation gives the impression that the official is actively engaging in the solicitation for the fundraising event. Therefore, the name of the official may not be placed on fundraising invitations during legislative session. Walking a fine line Asked for guidance about the legality of the PAC event, Matthew Foster, a professor at American Universitys school of public affairs, said, This is a truly in the weeds one. And definitely walks the fine line of legality and the spirit of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Len Lucchi, an attorney and registered lobbyist who represents various entities before the General Assembly, said prohibitions in state law shouldnt apply in this case. That doesnt seem enforceable to me, because its a state law trying to regulate federal election campaigns, Lucchi said. Federal law does Trump state law unless the two can be applied simultaneously without being in conflict, said Bradley Smith, a faculty member at Capital University Law School who previously was nominated to the Federal Election Commission by former President Bill Clinton. Smith said he doesnt see why state and federal law would conflict when it comes to fundraising events occurring during a General Assembly session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be legal under federal law, but if hes a state official, hes probably got a state issue that limits him, Smith said. Future campaigns Under Maryland law, the PAC would not be permitted to spend money on Moores reelection campaign next year. Moore had nearly $5 million in the bank for that effort as of earlier this year, after raising more than $4.1 million during the nine months after the legislative session in 2024. The governor also raised about $1.1 million for Vice President Kamala Harris, and President Joe Biden before he ended his campaign, including while he traveled across the country to fundraisers on their behalf. Aside from his campaigning for Harris and Biden, Moore has been a sought-after campaign surrogate for Democrats in other states, and he is likely to campaign with and fundraise for them during the high-stakes midterms in 2026. _____ Sam Janesch contributed to this report. _____ MARYSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) Marysville Exempted Village School District announced earlier this month that Dr. Zack Howard will take over as superintendent after the current superintendent, Dr. Diane Allen, shared in November that she would retire at the end of the school year. Howard currently serves as superintendent of Mount Gilead Schools, but he said he is ready for a new chapter, which will start in August. Measles outbreak reported in Ohio after several more cases confirmed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a homecoming for Howard; he graduated from Marysville Schools in 1995. For me, its an opportunity to come home; I grew up in the community, Howard said. Any time you get a chance to grow up and then finish your career in your hometown, I consider that a tremendous blessing. Marysville is in the middle of some financial problems, something Howard said he recognizes. Im going into it with the mindset of we need to solve this together and were going to do that, he said. The district has an emergency levy coming up on May 6 after other recent levies failed. If it fails again, district leaders said it will cut staff, school programs and some AP courses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the passage of this levy, we could offer more support and make sure were able to maintain those really solid programs, Howard said. Gaudreau memorial shirt orders to remain unfulfilled Marysville has lower-than-average costs per pupil which Howard said is good, but he is worried about the current student-to-teacher ratio, which he said would get worse if the levy doesnt pass. Howard said he wants to earn more community support, which he plans to do by moving to town and connecting with students, staff, parents and residents as soon as possible. Its, you know, the local taxpayers supporting in addition to state funding, and so what weve got to do is make sure that our community sees that were bringing great value for the education that were providing our students, Howard said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Marysville School Board has a special meeting on Tuesday to approve Howards superintendent contract. After the meeting, there will be a meet-and-greet with Howard. Community members wanting to interact with the new superintendent are encouraged to attend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. BOSTON (WWLP) The Caucus of Women Legislators, a bipartisan and bicameral caucus focused on advancing the rights and equality of women, is turning 50 in 2025. The Caucus was founded by 14 women lawmakers from the House of Representatives in 1975, and they pushed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and create a sense of community among women in the State House. Western Massachusetts lawmakers push for endometriosis task force Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, the group has spearheaded the passage of womens rights and protections bills in both chambers, spanning from divorce and domestic violence issues, to pay equity provisions, to creating a womens rights history trail. Its because of their resilience, of the women who came before, and what they have fought for, that we are able to lead today, said the caucuss House Chair, Representative Christine Barber. The lieutenant governor spoke at a Wednesday kickoff of anniversary celebrations on the importance of women-led spaces in government. When women are empowered, good things happen for their family, for their community, for their country, said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. Thats not just true here in the United States, thats global. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each legislative session, the caucus chooses five legislative priorities to focus their resources on and endorses 20 other bills. This session, the caucus is focused on livable wages for human service workers, increased access to disposable menstrual products, reducing rates and deaths from pancreatic cancer, advances in perinatal behavioral health care, and gender-neutral language in election laws. The Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators is 60 members strong in 2025, including seven from western Massachusetts. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. 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 doctor accused of trying to push his wife off a hiking trail and hitting her with a rock this week has been charged with second-degree attempted murder, Honolulu police said on Wednesday. Dr. Gerhardt Konig, a 46-year-old anesthesiologist, is being held on a $5 million bond in connection with the Monday incident, the Honolulu Police Department said. It is not immediately clear if he had entered a plea for the attempted murder in the second-degree charge or if he has retained a lawyer. In a Wednesday statement, police say Konig was hiking with his wife at the Pali Puka hiking trail in Honolulu when he "attempted to push her off the trail and then struck her multiple times to her head with a rock." Authorities responded to a report of a male beating a female on the trail and transported a 36-year-old woman in critical condition to a local hospital. Two witnesses also called 911 and assisted in this investigation, police added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said that Konig, who was identified as the victim's husband, fled the scene prior to the police's arrival. About eight hours after the 911 call, and "after a brief foot pursuit," Konig was arrested. Gerhardt Konig. As of Thursday morning, Konig still had his license to practice medicine in Hawaii. His original license dates to Sept. 27, 2022. According to his LinkedIn profile, Konig is currently a partner at an anesthesia medical group in Maui. Prior to that, he was a professor and clinical instructor at the University of Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh and his employer in Maui did not immediately respond to NBC's request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Konig's wife currently works as a project manager at TerraPower, a nuclear reactor design and development engineering company founded by Bill Gates, her LinkedIn account says. She attained her bachelors degree in nuclear engineering from Penn State and later her MBA from Pitt, her LinkedIn account shows. According to Konig's Facebook profile, the pair married in 2018 and got engaged within the year prior. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The one news story thats been all but inescapable this week is the Trumpworld embarrassment crudely recognized as Signalgatethe awkward, alarming saga of how the Atlantics editor in chief became an inadvertent witness to the governments military planning via a group chat on the privately owned, encrypted messaging app Signal. It was such an obvious fuck-up, an unmistakable national-security breach with such troubling implications, that the parties responsible had a difficult time owning up to things. Somehow, as my colleague Ben Mathis-Lilley noted, President Donald Trump briefly emerged as the Adult in the Room, giving the most honest plausible explanation for the fiascothat it was a contact mix-up on national security adviser Mike Waltzs partas the others stammered their way through accusations that Jeffrey Goldberg had wiggled his way in. (It was likely harder for them to keep up the charade after the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel reported Wednesday that private contact info for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Waltz is particularly easy to find online.) Of course, Trumps moment of relative integrity was never bound to last. On Wednesday evening, according to Forbes, he wafted away any individual blame by telling reporters: I dont know that Signal works. I think Signal could be defective, to be honest with you. It could be a defective platform, and were going to have to figure that out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets be very clear about a couple of things here. One, there was no reason for any of these people to be planning bombing campaigns over Signal. A 2023 Pentagon memo forbids staffers from using any unclassified communication network to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information, since theres already a specialized Defense intranet system for classified info. Other departments are similarly discouraged from using private chat networks for official business, though they are not banned from doing so if officials have been explicitly targeted by foreign adversaries or, as the CIAs John Ratcliffe recently told Congress, if staffers follow specific governance measures in turn. Two, even if there were no government guidance on Signal usage, it doesnt change the fact that the error that led to Signalgate is not Signals fault. To imply otherwise, as Trump did, is not just to deny realityit is to engage in a dangerous, long-running propaganda campaign that could undermine the very foundations of privacy in modern American society. Yes, Trump officials lie all the time, but theyre not the only ones casting unfounded aspersions upon Signals basic functionality. On Tuesday, a screenshot of an NPR scoop made its way around the social media mines, noting vaguely that a Pentagon-wide email went out last week about the vulnerability of using the messaging app Signal. A follow-up then delved into the specifics: that Russian hacking groups had been targeting certain Signal accounts with phishing attempts. But the initial message spread far more widely, getting pickup from Democratic Party operatives as a gotcha against Hegseththat he obviously should have known better than to use such a flawed platform. Signals leaders, recognizing that there are a lot of new eyes on Signal, and not all of them are familiar with secure messaging, were forced to clarify that the vulnerability in question had nothing to do with Signals core tech. Right now there are a lot of new eyes on Signal, and not all of them are familiar with secure messaging and its nuances. Which means theres misinfo flying around that might drive people away from Signal and private communications. One piece of misinfo we need to address is the Signal (@signalapp) March 25, 2025 Indeed, there seems to be a general misunderstanding around what Signal is and how it works. One write-up of this whole incident has referred to the service as a commercial messaging app, even though Signal is run by a nonprofit foundation that shares its name. So its worth clearing up some misconceptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Signal is a 10-year-old messaging app that emerged from software developed for the mobile-security company Whisper Systems in the early 2010s. These involved two separate appsone for end-to-end encrypted voice calling, the other for end-to-end encrypted text messagingthat were combined into one service called Signal and released in 2014, making history as the first free nonprofit all-in-one encrypted communications system. The platform gained further traction that year when WhatsApp, the messaging service that had just been bought by Facebook, incorporated Signals open-source protocol into its own encryption framework, which encouraged rival messengers from Microsoft and Google to offer encryption settings as well. Signal also earned admiration for working around an infamous subpoena from the Obama administration, which had demanded that Signals nonprofit turn over browsing information affiliated with two users phone numbers as part of a federal grand-jury investigation. The thing is, Signal could not have done that even if it wanted to, since it does not track and collect such information from its users. Instead, Signal requires only minimal information and doesnt keep much in its servers. Users (like myself) have special passkeys to verify their identity with the app, and all messages and media transmitted are stored on each individual users phonenot anywhere in Signals back-end chambers. Over the years, Signal has added even more features to beef up its privacy settings: allowing for messages to disappear from users phones after a set amount of time, incorporating an automatic face-blurring tool for potentially sensitive images, and using servers based outside the United States that can obscure users IP addresses. Unlike Telegram, which does not automatically encrypt messages in its larger-size chat rooms, Signal limits the size of its group chats and keeps encryption as the default. Does that mean Signal is perfect and foolproof? Not at all. The Signal Foundations small size and tightly controlled budget (mostly grants and donations) make it hard for the app to handle sign-up surges, like the influx of users in early 2021 who left WhatsApp after it expanded the types of user info that could be shared with other Facebook companies. (Signals servers have also been known to crash in other circumstances.) In 2022 the company Twiliowhich contracts with various tech companies to offer communications softwaresuffered a breach that exposed the phone numbers of nearly 2,000 Signal clients, highlighting the vulnerabilities inherent in requiring phone numbers for user verification. Still, on the whole its far more trusted by its users than just about any other encrypted chat app. And it has avoided the types of controversies that have plagued far more popular alternatives, like WhatsApp and Telegram, around the incitement of violence and crime. So the flailing fearmongering from Trump around Signals being defective is wrong, but its not hard to guess from whom he might have gotten that idea. Last year, a right-wing campaign accused NPR of acting as a Marxist propagandist network (a charge that led to a congressional hearing on the matter this week). The well-known fabulist Christopher Rufo pointed out that NPR CEO Katherine Maher also sits on the Signal Foundations board and implied baselessly that this may have compromised Signals integrity. (Mahers position with the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, has similarly inspired far-right trolls to smear the internet encyclopedia as biased.) Elon Musk, previously a longtime Signal fan, glommed onto Rufos posts to allude to known vulnerabilities with Signal, in a tweet that saw him get corrected by his own beloved Community Notes feature. Last month, Musk even went so far as to block Signal links on X. For now, Signals co-founder may feel comfortable quipping about this whole matter, but dont be surprised if the fallout from the whole affair leads to more conspiracizing around the appespecially now that Musk is so close to Trump. Apparently, Musk has already been assigned to investigate Signalgate with the assistance of his technical experts at DOGE. Dont expect the truth to come out. There are some things Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and his fellow officials might do differently if another water main broke and flooded a city neighborhood as badly as one did in February. But with the expectation that the necessary work to get people back in their homes will be done next week and the promise that officials will cover all uninsured damages, city leaders on Thursday celebrated ahead of the looming six-week mark since the Feb. 17 break in southwest Detroit. Duggan, who is now seeking the governors seat, said he didnt think it was the wisest political maneuver when shortly after the water main break the director of the city water department announced hopes to have everyone back in their homes within six weeks. But five and a half weeks later, Director Gary Brown has largely met that goal with the help of nearly a dozen community groups, Duggan said at a news conference at Rowan and Green streets near the site of the break. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been really an extraordinary experience, Duggan said of that joint effort. Where the southwest Detroit water main break stands As of Thursday, 15 families remained in city-covered hotel rooms, the mayor said. Thats down from a height of 206 households. The remaining homes without the basics like furnaces for residents to return are facing other issues like a need to address sewer lines and asbestos abatement, Duggan said. The city also already started issuing checks for damage and loss claims from residents, the mayor revealed. Residents are being asked to file claims by an April 3 deadline at detroitmi.gov/dwsd. There were 400 homes in the area and 378 claims have been field so far, Duggan said. Of those, 12 have gotten their checks. What Duggan would change about southwest Detroit water main break response If theres one thing Duggan would have done faster, he said it would be connecting with some 12 community organizations that made the turnaround time possible. Those include Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development, or LA SED, and the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now Duggan has their contact information, said Jessica Ramirez of community group Detroiters Helping Each Other. When you need it, you reach out and Ill use my big mouth and Ill round up all the other groups, she said. Shellisa Rigney, of Southwest Detroit, walks inside the Forgotten Harvest Community Choice Market trailer parked outside LA SED Senior and Youth Center in Southwest Detroit on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Ramirez called for a better emergency response plan involving the community groups and their trusted translators. Language barriers with the Spanish-speaking community was an issue, she said. Another challenge in the aftermath included the high anxiety in the immigrant community, Duggan said. Some groups got on TV to report issues with the city response that needed to be fixed, Duggan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were right. They werent doing it because they were trying to hurt, they were doing it because they were trying to help, he said. Another thing that might look different should this happen again: how quickly both the city and its partner in water administration, the Great Lakes Water Authority, respond. The authority was not contacted until several hours after the break, according to the timeline offered by officials previously. While Duggan said that when he first started his tenure, the water department didnt have 24-hour responses, he also noted the break was not originally believed to be in an authority-maintained line, but a city one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duggan, while still lauding the emergency response, said he believes that next time that much water is flowing in city streets, officials will know to get both the city and Great Lakes Water Authority out to the scene right away. Why Detroit and GLWA are paying for southwest Detroit losses Duggan also gave his reasoning for why the city was so quick, along with Great Lakes Water Authority, to offer to cover uninsured losses from the flooding. Simply put, there would have been class-action lawsuits, and the two entities would have spent years pointing fingers at each other at who was to blame, he said. It wouldnt have done these neighbors any good, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two lawyers and the city have noted how often governmental immunity protects municipalities and utility groups from liability in these instances. Brown and Duggan said the coverage was the right thing to do. They are also going further than the immediate repairs. On Thursday, Brown said one-year warranties will be offered for the work done and appliances placed. Scrap metal and recovery after southwest Detroit water main break At least one check was already in the mail for Deanna Dooley, a resident who spoke at the news conference alongside the mayor. Some work remained, like to address damage to her porch, but her furnace and water tank have been replaced and more work was taking place Thursday, she said. She also said, to laughs, that the incident helped clear out 20 years of stuff in her basement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do again have our lives back to almost normal, she said. Not quite back to normal was Tammy Brock, whose voice could be heard over the speakers at the news conference for a brief while. Brocks business, a food truck called Tammys Patties, was filled with ice and water during the flood. More: Mayor Mike Duggan drew Dan Gilbert, roaring audience for his final State of the City speech She was looking for scrap metal to sell to help tide her over on bills before she came across the news conference, she said. Shed hoped to speak with the mayor after speaking to him in recent weeks. She hasnt been able to work since the water main break and hasnt been able to find another job since then to pay her bills either, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She thinks the city response to the flood has been good, she said. Tammy Brock stands next to her food truck that was flooded past the wheel well as waters recede from her street in Southwest Detroit from a water main break the day before, on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Her furnace and water tank have been replaced. But theres still repairs needed in her home and officials offered her a settlement for her food truck that wouldnt nearly cover that loss, she said. Dominique Pantoja, a project manager for DWSD, was asking for photos of the damage and promising to look into the concerns before a Free Press reporter walked up. A spokesman confirmed the settlement matter was under review. He also confirmed that resident claims of lost wages would be reviewed for reimbursement. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What Mike Duggan would change in SW Detroit water main break response Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday named a new interim chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the city agency tasked with investigating police shootings and allegations of misconduct. LaKenya White, most recently COPAs director of investigations, will now lead the agency on an interim basis, the mayors office announced in a statement Thursday. Her experience speaks for itself in her ability to respond decisively under pressure, Johnson said in a statement. Whites institutional knowledge is critical to ensuring a smooth transition. With this appointment, we look forward to continuing COPAs important work to advance fair, timely and effective accountability within our police department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White replaces Andrea Kersten, COPAs former chief who resigned last month as the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability was set to hold a no-confidence vote that could have triggered her ouster. White has been a fixture of Chicagos police oversight apparatus for a quarter century. In 2000, she joined the Office of Professional Standards, one of COPAs predecessors, as an intake aide, according to the mayors office. Seven years later she worked as an investigator for the Independent Police Review Authority, where she was later promoted to shooting specialist. In 2017, White became a major case specialist at COPA and, later, a supervising investigator. COPA is a great agency and a national leader in the field of police oversight, White said in a statement. My goal is to build on the agencys successful work, further strengthening the positive strides we have made while fostering stronger connections between the community and the Chicago Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White holds a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Chicago State University and a masters in business administration from St. Xavier University with a focus on fraudulent investigations, the mayors office said. The CCPSA which has oversight over the heads of COPA, the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Police Board is still conducting a nationwide search for the next permanent COPA chief administrator, the mayors office said. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Thursday night, Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun and State Representative Tony Pfaff of Terre Haute will hold a joint town hall meeting. The town hall will be at 6:30 p.m. at Local Laborers 204, located at 401 Poplar Street in Terre Haute. According to a news release, it will be an open forum to discuss public policy and issues of concern to the community. The release said constituents will be able to hear about work being done for the community at the state house and mayors office. An opportunity for residents to share their thoughts, concerns and questions will also be available. 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 MyWabashValley.com. DAVIDSVILLE, Pa. State officials, McDonalds restaurant operators and others toured Hunsberger Farm in the Davidsville area Tuesday, promoting beef and celebrating Agriculture Month. The tour was sponsored by Hunsberger Farm, McDonalds and the Pennsylvania Beef Council. The mission was to educate the public about how beef farmers work to deliver products to consumers. Its closing the information gap from farm to fork, said Nichole Hockenberry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Beef Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its essential for food service owners and operators to understand the supply chain, Hockenberry said. People understand little about farming, said Mark Critz, executive director of the Rural Development Council. Its amazing how many people are not in touch with where their food comes from, he said. There are about 25,000 farms that are cattle-related out of 53,000 in the state, Critz said. We educate people on how the process works, he said. The Hunsberger family farms about 1,800 acres. The farm has about 50 mother cows and 200 head of cattle. The black angus cattle are pasture-raised without hormones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cargill buys the beef cattle, which is processed and then shipped to customers including McDonalds, said Stacylyn Himelright, head buyer for Cargill Taylor Beef. In 2023, the McDonalds system purchased more than 19 million pounds of beef, more than 2.4 million dozen eggs and more than 20 million pounds of pork from Pennsylvania. Joe Nyanko, owner/operator of 15 McDonalds restaurants in the region, joined the event. Its a uniquely American company with American values, he said. Nyanko was introduced to McDonalds by his father-in-law, who opened his first McDonalds in Ebensburg. They say he had ketchup in his veins, Nyanko said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several beef experts said they are taking a wait-and-see approach when asked about stated plans to unveil new tariffs April 2. Theres been a lot of speculation, said Scott Rhodes, of the Somerset County Beef Producers. His thoughts were focused elsewhere. Securing the beef supply, keeping farms in business and keeping prices reasonable, he said. Gov. Dan McKee speaks a hastily called 5 p.m. press conference at the Rhode Island State House on Thursday, March 27, 2025. Rhode Island Department of Transportation Peter Alviti Jr. is at center and Senior Deputy Chief of Staff Joseph Almond is far right. (Photo by Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current) Theres one less uncertainty surrounding the Washington Bridge demolition and rebuild, with the state securing the $221 million in federal funding, Gov. Dan McKee announced in a press conference Thursday. Much like the hastily put-together press event, for which reporters were notified 15 minutes prior, confirmation of the federal grant money came abruptly with the grant agreement signed digitally at 3:04 p.m. Thursday, according to a copy obtained by Rhode Island Current. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhode Island was awarded the pair of federal infrastructure grants under Biden-era spending authorized by Congress. But what seemed like a solid win suddenly stood on shaky ground after President Donald Trump took office, with federal funding across a slew of agencies and initiatives suddenly paused or frozen. A federal lawsuit filed in District Court in January by 23 Democratic attorneys general, including Rhode Islands Peter Neronha, highlighted uncertainty surrounding federal funding for the Washington Bridge as one of many irreparable harms the new administrations actions could cause to states. Traffic flows in both directions on Interstate 195 on the eastbound side of the Washington Bridge on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 5:53 p.m. Demolition work on the piers of the westbound side of the highway started Monday. (Rhode Island Department of Transportation Traffic Camera) Letters sent by Rhode Islands congressional delegation and state officials seeking confirmation of the bridge funding went unanswered. Until Thursday. Thats when the state signed the agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, committing the promised federal allotment to the project, McKee said. Already, the state has tapped $30 million of the funding as it advances the demolition work and prepares to issue a rebuild contract in June. The agreement authorizes up to $208.4 million in fiscal 2025, with the remaining $12.5 million to be available in fiscal 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is good news for everyone, including the contractors bidding on the project, knowing there will be no delays, McKee said. The timing is right. Rhode Islands congressional delegation touted the news as a success in a joint statement Thursday. This is a positive outcome and I hope the state will accelerate progress toward a new bridge that meets capacity and safety needs now and in the future, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said. Everyone recognizes the importance of this project to the community and the need for safe, modern, and resilient infrastructure. This federal money is vital to completing this massive project that is already underway. The final stage of demolition for the westbound highway began this month. Meanwhile the top two bidders competing to build the replacement bridge have until May 30 to submit pricing proposals to the state. A winner will be chosen in June, though the completion date and cost for the colossal infrastructure job has not been determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newly inked federal agreement for Washington Bridge funding does not cover federal funds appropriated for other state infrastructure repair, including $251 million to rehabilitate bridges along the Interstate 95 corridor. However, McKee said he was optimistic based on U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffys willingness to hand over the Washington Bridge money. He clearly understands the economy is attached to these infrastructure improvements, McKee said. McKee plans to speak with Duffy by phone early next week, he said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente spoke with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Wednesday in a call focused on strengthening bilateral relations, Mexico's foreign ministry said. The officials talked about security, migration and trade issues, the ministry added on X. During the call "Landau acknowledged the work carried out by Mexico in these areas," the ministry said, adding that both men agreed to exchange information regularly and to schedule a face-to-face meeting in the near future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials from the neighboring countries have been holding ad hoc talks to discuss bilateral relations and tariffs, as U.S. President Donald Trump widens a trade war that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said last week would sap economic growth in the U.S., Mexico and other global trading partners. On Wednesday, Trump announced 25% tariffs on all car imports into the United States and on April 2 plans to unveil reciprocal tariffs that he says are necessary to recalibrate years of trade imbalances. Mexico is one of the biggest exporters of vehicles to the U.S. Mexico's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard is currently in Washington and held talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Ebrard said on X that he will disclose information from that call on Thursday morning during President Claudia Sheinbaum's daily press conference. (Reporting by Natalia Siniawski and Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Kim Coghill and Kate Mayberry) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Amid the Trump Administrations crackdown on illegal immigration, on Friday, the federal government ended contracts with programs across the country that provide legal aid to unaccompanied migrant children. One of those terminated contracts was with the Unaccompanied Children Program at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was devastating to be honest with you, said Andres Santiago, Associate Managing Attorney at NMILC. The immigration system is a complicated system. We know this. And to expect a child to have to navigate that on their own is unconscionable. He also noted how the immigration court for the state is in El Paso. With NMILCs help, the unaccompanied minors can get help moving the hearings to virtual hearings. He said their clients range in age from high school to just a few years old. Theyre fleeing really horrible situations, and for a lot of these kids, their parents or legal guardians arent with them, he said. According to NMILC, more than 300 kids statewide face deportation. The impact is huge, Santiago said of the funding cut. The cut in funding directly impacts 212 of the law centers cases, with some kids having court dates as soon as Friday. NMILC is reviewing its cases and plans to continue representing its clients while they can. We have a legal obligation to these kids, we have a legal agreement with these kids to represent them as their attorneys, said Santiago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2008 created special protections for children who arrive in the U.S. without a parent or a legal guardian. The deputy press secretary at Health and Human Services told the Associated Press in an emailed statement that the department continues to meet the legal requirements established by the Act, as well as a legal settlement guiding how children in immigration custody are being treated. A copy of the termination letter obtained by The Associated Press said the contract was being terminated for the Governments convenience. Meanwhile, NMILC is scrambling to find funding. It is now heavily relying on donations and has launched a campaign to raise $1.5 million to make up for the loss of funding. Administration after administration have realized the special protections that are needed for unaccompanied children, said Santiago. I understand theres going to be critics on everything, but I think we can all agree that kids deserve a fair shot in the country regardless of whether theyre born in the country or not. According to the NMILC, the cuts to this funding leave more than 26,000 unaccompanied minors without access to legal counsel nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Facing potential economic fallout from planned U.S. tariffs, Mexican authorities are pushing the White House to exclude Mexican vehicles and car parts from President Trumps planned 25% levies on automobile imports. We dont want to lose a single job in our country, a somber President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters at her morning news briefing Thursday. There is room for talks, for collaboration, for negotiation. Mexico is seeking a continuation of the current North American free-trade regimen on auto imports, said Marcelo Ebrard, Mexicos minister of the economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we are moving to a system of such high tariffs, what we have to look for is preferential treatment for Mexico," said Ebrard, who appeared via video link from Washington, where he has been meeting with senior Trump administration officials. Ebrard said he had already met six times with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, underscoring the crucial importance of the tariff issue for Mexico. Read more: Trump places 25% tariff on imported autos, expecting to raise $100 billion in tax revenues Mexican authorities have also been seeking out U.S. car manufacturers heavily reliant on Mexican components and assembly who have also balked at the import taxes and called Trumps predictions of quickly renewed auto production in the United States unrealistic. Its not so easy to transfer a plant [from Mexico] to the United States, Sheinbaum noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexicos multibillion-dollar vehicle and auto parts manufacturing sectors overwhelmingly geared toward exports to the United States represent a crucial axis of the Mexican economy. The industry directly employs more than 1 million people, not including tens of thousands of collateral jobs in transport, logistics and other fields. The Mexican president, who has maintained what she calls a cool-headed approach in contentious, back-and-forth tariff discussions with the Trump administration, said Mexico would not formulate a full response which could include retaliatory tariffs against U.S. imports until at least Tuesday. The new tariffs will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern daylight time on April 3. Sheinbaums muted reaction contrasted with global condemnations of the new tariff mandates after Trump's signing of an executive order Wednesday imposing a 25% tariff on imports of automobiles and auto parts. "We will fight the U.S. tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impacts here in Canada," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters Thursday. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva charged that free trade is being harmed [and] multilaterism weakened, while Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he wants his nation to be exempt from the tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Stocking up for a cocktail crisis: How bars, distillers and tequila importers are bracing for a trade war But no country is more vulnerable on the tariff front than Mexico, which has largely pinned its economic strategy on cross-border business since the 1994 implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement the landmark pact known as NAFTA that opened up mostly duty-free commerce between Mexico, the United States and Canada. In a generation, Mexicos auto sector has been transformed from a largely domestic venture into a global force. Mexico is now the No. 1 exporter of automobiles and auto parts to the United States. General Motors and Ford are among the U.S. manufacturers in Mexico, along with giants such as Volkswagen, BMW and Nissan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expanding auto commerce has helped vault Mexico into becoming the United States principal trading partner, eclipsing both China and Canada. U.S.-Mexico bilateral trade approached $840 billion in 2024, according to the U.S. trade representative's office. Some experts have warned that Trumps far-reaching tariff proposals could send Mexicos economy already experiencing slow growth and lagging investor confidence into a recession. "Whatever blow we receive reverberates in the entire economy," Francisco Gonzalez, president of the National Industry of Auto Parts, told Mexico's El Heraldo Radio. During his first presidential term, Trump condemned NAFTA as the worst trade deal ever made, blaming the pact for encouraging U.S. firms to seek cheaper labor in Mexico, thus hollowing out the U.S. manufacturing base. Trump negotiated NAFTAs successor, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, which went into effect July 1, 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A key reform of USMCA was a requirement for bolstering North American content for vehicles receiving preferential tariff treatment. USMCA increased regional content mandates from 62.5% to 75% for cars and light trucks and to 70% for heavy trucks. The content rules reflect the complex nature of contemporary automotive manufacturing, heavily reliant on international supply chains and components shipped across borders. In his auto tariff order on Wednesday, Trump included specific carve-outs for importers in Mexico and Canada operating under USMCA. The 25% tariff would apply only to non-U.S.-produced content in automobiles imported under the North American free trade regimen, Trump said. Importers would be given the chance to certify U.S. content, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Trump said that auto parts imported under USMCA would remain tariff-free until U.S. authorities establish a process to apply duties only to content not originating in the United States. Mexican authorities called the proposed tariff hikes difficult, if not impossible, to implement. Mexican components often constitute 40% of U.S.-made vehicles, said Ebrard, who cited the example of an auto piston that might cross the border seven times. Do you charge a 25% tariff seven times? Ebrard asked. Thats not going to happen. On two previous occasions, Trump has paused planned tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian imports after speaking via telephone with Sheinbaum. He has also lavished plaudits on the Mexican president, calling her "tough" and a "marvelous woman." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also praised Mexico for helping to reduce U.S.-bound illegal immigration and drug smuggling the problems that he originally cited in vowing to impose duties on Mexican and Canadian imports. However, in implementing the auto tariffs, Trump has not cited immigration or drug trafficking. Instead, he argued Wednesday that he was acting "to protect America's automobile industry, which is vital to national security and has been undermined by excessive imports threatening America's domestic industrial base and supply chains." Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez Vidal contributed to this report. 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. New Mexico is poised to become the third state to institute a full-fledged ban on products that contain toxic forever chemicals, as two key bills head to the governors desk. The concurrent pieces of legislation, which have both passed through the state Legislature, would prohibit most items that contain these compounds, while also deeming specific types of discarded firefighting foam as hazardous waste. The chemicals in question, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are notorious for their propensity to linger in the human body and in the environment. Linked to various types of cancers and other serious illnesses, PFAS are found in numerous household products, as well as in certain kinds of firefighting foam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first bill, H.B. 212, would ban products that contain intentionally added PFAS and would authorize the states Environmental Improvement Board to adopt relevant rules. Starting on Jan. 1, 2027, manufacturers would not be able to sell or distribute cookware, food packaging, dental floss and juvenile products that have intentionally added PFAS. The same would apply to carpets, cleaning fluids, cosmetics, fabric treatments, menstrual products, textiles, ski wax and upholstered furniture on Jan. 1, 2028. With respect to pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural materials many of which contain PFAS the Environmental Improvement Board would consult with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture before setting rules on these subjects. There would be some exceptions to the prospective ban, such as those items that the board has determined to be essential for health, safety or the functioning of society and for which alternatives are not reasonably available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The accompanying piece of legislation, H.B. 140, focuses on a range of chemicals, including PFAS, and provides new clarity on the meaning of the term hazardous waste. The bill would redefine hazardous waste as any solid waste or combination of solid wastes that because of its amount, concentration or characteristics could cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness. Among the specific hazardous waste items mentioned is discarded aqueous film-forming foam containing intentionally added [PFAS]. If Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signs the two bills as anticipated, New Mexico would become the third state to implement a near-complete prohibition on PFAS-containing products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state would follow in the footsteps of Maine and Minnesota, which passed their respective laws in 2021 and 2023. Numerous other states have approved legislation forbidding PFAS in certain product categories, rather than instituting bans across the board. While the three-year price of preventing PFAS pollution via such a ban would climb to about $2.8 million, the cost of removing and destroying just one pound of PFAS from water could be up to $18 million, according to an analysis of the legislation from the New Mexico Environment Department. With approximately 1,100 public drinking water systems in New Mexico serving 94 percent of our residents, preventing contamination is the only affordable means of securing our drinking water supply, the analysis concluded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Michigan couples payment dispute with a timeshare company has landed them in a Mexican prison, accused of defrauding a hospitality company, according to Mexican prosecutors. The couples family says the allegations against them are false and are calling on the United States government to intervene. Paul Akeo, a 58-year-old Navy veteran, and his wife Christy, 60, traveled from their home in Spring Arbor on March 4 to the resort city of Cancun expecting a carefree vacation. They ended up getting stopped by authorities soon after their plane landed, according to their family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lindsey Hull told CNN her parents were taken into custody and told arrests warrants had been issued for them in Mexico after a criminal complaint was filed by The Palace Company alleging fraud. Were assuming it has something to do with the timeshare with Palace Resorts, she recalled her stepfather telling her in a call the day of the arrest. Prosecutors in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun is located, allege in a March 15 statement that the couple canceled 13 credit card payments to a hotel chain totaling more than $116,500 in 2022. Though prosecutors did not elaborate on possible evidence, they said the activity constitutes fraud. The case stems from a 2021 timeshare agreement between the Akeos and Palace Elite a subsidiary of The Palace Company, a hospitality business, Akeo family attorney John Manly told CNN. Through their attorneys, the Akeos claim that a few months into their timeshare contract, Palace failed to provide the services that were promised and the couple subsequently filed a complaint with their credit card company seeking a refund of nearly $117,000 in Palace payments. The couple argued that the resort company breached their contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Akeos are being held because they successfully disputed Palace [sic] charges and failure to deliver services with American Express, criticized the Company on Facebook and alerted others who felt wronged by Palace, Manly said in a statement. The attorney said the company was retaliating against the couple for challenging the charges. Mexican authorities posted images of Paul and Christy Akeo after their detention. - Fiscalia General del Estado de Quintana Roo A spokesperson for The Palace Company and attorneys for the Akeos both provided CNN with documentation showing an extended dispute about the couples use of membership benefits and what could be considered breaches of contract. The Palace spokesperson told CNN in statements that they filed a complaint with Mexican authorities in August 2023 after the Akeos fraudulently disputed legitimate credit card charges and publicly encouraged others to do the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Akeos began disputing their membership charges with their credit card companies, Palace said in a statement. These disputes despite relating to services they had actively used were granted, the company said in a statement. Palace claims the couple later took to Facebook and bragged about these chargebacks and encouraged others to follow suit. In September 2024, attorneys for Palace sent a cease-and-desist letter to Christy Akeo claiming that her Facebook posts were unlawful because she had instructed members on how to end their agreements using illegal and fraudulent means, according to a copy of the letter provided to CNN by the company. Separately, in announcing the fraud charges in March 2025, Mexican prosecutors pointed to social media posts, alleging Christy Akeo used them to inform how said fraud was committed against the hotel chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palace said it has also filed a related civil suit seeking financial damages. The company said all of its actions are in full accordance with Mexican law. The bottom line is this is a civil dispute which can be easily litigated, Manly told CNN in a Friday statement. Palace has no right to force a settlement by having the Akeos arrested and thrown into a dangerous Mexican prison. Hull maintains her family received no notice of criminal charges that she is aware of and said her mother did take to social media to share her negative experience with fellow Palace patrons. However, shes baffled at why social media activity may have contributed to the arrest. My mom was very clear about that in this Facebook group where people were seeking information on what to do when you get in these memberships, Hull said. If theres 8,000 people dealing with the same thing, and the same disappointments with Palace Resorts, and how they treat their members, maybe you should look in the mirror and make a change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Mexican judge ordered the couple detained pending the ongoing proceedings, according to local prosecutors. The Akeo family is now pleading for help from Washington to get the couple out of detention. Michigan Rep. Tom Barrett wrote on X that he has spoken to his constituents family and is working to ensure the situation is resolved as urgently and safely as possible. The US State Department told CNN its aware of reports of the detention of two U.S. citizens in Mexico but declined to offer specifics. Couple is in hell hole maximum-security prison, lawyer says Paul Akeo - Courtesy Lindsey Hull The couple is being held captive in a hell hole of a Mexican maximum-security prison, Manly said in a statement to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The urgency is beyond important because we have no idea what is happening to them at any time. Their lives are in danger. Their health is declining. We need to get these people home, says Hull, referring to her parents. We just dont have another option. Theyre not going to be sitting in prison indefinitely. Paul Akeo is a 21-year Navy veteran who currently works as an engineer with the Michigan State Police, according to Manly. His wife, Christy, is a grandmother and small business owner. Youve imprisoned a highly decorated U.S. Navy veteran, a first responder and a grandmother because they dared to call out your timeshare clients well-documented deceptive practices and abuse of its customers, Manly wrote in a March 21 letter to The Palace Companys lawyer. In the letter, Manly claimed the company is extorting the couple and their family and retaliating against them for challenging fraudulent and unlawful charges and then posting about their experience on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put plainly, in retaliation, your clients have captured, kidnapped, battered, assaulted, falsely imprisoned, threatened, intimidated, belittled, harassed, libeled and engaged in a course of such horrific and outrageous civil and criminal conduct against these two elderly Americans that is almost incomprehensible, Manly wrote. This company needs to be stopped Manly warned in the letter that the case could have negative consequences for tourism in the region. The couples arrest has left at least one other couple wary of travel to Mexico. Jenn Bartko, 52, said she and her husband dont plan to go to Mexico anytime soon out of fear that theyll be arrested after seeing what happened to the Akeos. Similar to the Akeos, her credit card company refunded her $8,355 from the Palace Elite Resorts just last week, Bartko told CNN. I just want more people to be aware of the scam, and this company needs to be stopped, Bartko said. Its just not fair for people who are going to have a good vacation and our vacation was completely ruined by this experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bartko said she and her husband put down a deposit for a Palace Elite membership while staying at the Moon Palace Cancun in mid-January, but soon learned that many of the promised membership deals didnt exist and found negative reviews online, she said. Though they were still within the five-day grace period, staff refused to give them a full refund and they waited until they were back home in San Diego to dispute the charges with their credit card company, Bartko said. Bartko said they looped PROFECO, Mexicos consumer protection agency, into their case. The Palace Company did not respond to CNNs request for comment on the more than 100 complaints against it made with the consumer protection agency. We will not be going to Mexico for a while which is sad because were right by the Mexican border. We love Mexico, Bartko said. Im not willing to try to find out because I dont want to get stuck in a Mexican prison. CNNs Majlie de Puy Kamp contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com If youre looking to raise awareness about a particular cause, awaken the masses to an outrageous injustice or sway public opinion in favor of a disenfranchised group, throwing a jar of urine through the window of a private home has to be the worst way to do it. But over the last 18 months, amid countless peaceful, constitutionally protected protests calling for an end to U.S. support for the war in Gaza, a rash of vandalism has grabbed headlines, sullying the integrity of a nonviolent movement. Destroying property in the name of Palestinians or anyone else is infuriating, embarrassing and cringe-inducing. Its counterproductive, and potentially disastrous for protest leaders who are left dealing with the fallout after bad actors slink away into the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then there are protests held directly outside the private homes of public officials obnoxious, potentially dangerous for all parties, and, again, counterproductive to the goal of persuading decision-makers and the general public. Organizers ought to draw clear lines and set expectations for effective protesting - making the most noise while causing the least harm. Some suggestions: No protests at private residences, unless youre cool with counter-protesters showing up on your own front lawn. No property destruction, unless youre cool with tanking the perception of your whole movement in eyes of the general public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Avoid violence at all costs, even if it means temporarily dispersing and reconvening to prevent tension with police or counter protesters from rising to physical harm. Don't tolerate antisemitism. Criticizing the Israeli government is not antisemitic. But there have been infrequent instances of blatant antisemitism at some demonstrations, undermining the whole concept of the movement. They wont always be followed. But drawing those lines means something. Because theres a lot to protest. Why they're marching The cease-fire is no more. The death toll in Gaza just surpassed 50,000. Thousands more Palestinians are yet again being displaced. Hamas still holds 59 hostages, a year and a half into the sprawling military campaign following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 in Israel. The blockade preventing food and medicine from entering Gaza has been back in place for the past three weeks. The Israeli military also targeted and killed two more Gaza journalists this week, claiming they were terrorists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no clear path to peace under current leadership, and the U.S. is still bankrolling the war and now, targeting activists who speak out against it. That likely means more marches and rallies ahead. Walkouts, sit-ins, teach-ins, vigils, petitions, boycotts, letter-writing campaigns all admirable forms of nonviolent anti-war protest. But then theres the vandalism which can do little more than discredit a movement and galvanize its opposition, while threatening and antagonizing the very people protesters need to sway. More from Khalil AlHajal: Hamtramck mayor gets Trump appointment he's been angling for. Good riddance. No honor in vandalism Two weeks ago, the home of University of Michigan Provost Laurie McCauley was vandalized. An object was thrown through a bedroom window and the words Free Palestine, Divest and No Honor in Genocide spray painted on the front of the residence, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before that, U-M Regent Jordan Acker, who is Jewish, was twice targeted. At his Southfield law office, vandals painted phrases that included "Free Palestine," "Divest now," "F*** You Acker" and "UM Kills onto the firms sign, in addition to red handprints on the doors. In December, The Ann Arbor News reported that two jars of urine were thrown through a window at Ackers home, and vandals painted the words Divest and Free Palestine" on his SUV. Last summer, demonstrators held a 6 a.m. protest at U-M Regent Sarah Hubbards home, leaving a body bag and stuffed animals covered with fake blood on her doorstep. On Oct. 7, 2024, the home of U-M President Santa Ono was defaced with messages in red paint that included Coward" and "Divest now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And on March 3 of this year, Ono told an Anti-Defamation League forum that the University of Michigan has responded to persistent calls for divestment from Israel by spending even more money on Israeli research institutions, the Detroit News reported. More from Freep Opinion: 1 thing is dominating Michigan politics, and it's not the damn roads Drawing lines Wayne State University Communications Professor Ron Stevenson, who studies and teaches a class on persuasive strategies and techniques in contemporary social movements, says theres general academic consensus that the most extreme forms of civil disobedience tend to be harmful to the causes theyre meant to support. People that are in opposition to social movements will gravitate to those examples of vandalism and violence, he said. And your entire movement is then perceived in that fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While social movements are not monolithic, and activists for the same cause often disagree on strategy, every movement has to identify the parameters of how they want their protests to work, Stevenson said. During the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 and 2021, which, much like last years Gaza protests, involved a nationwide variety of different groups willing to engage in different tactics, perceptions of the movement often focused on its ugliest moments, Stevenson said. While there was no significant looting or storefront destruction along protest paths in Detroit during more than 100 days of demonstrations, there was elsewhere, and local Black Lives Matter activists still had to deal with the resulting perceptions. Under pressure Now, universities are under pressure from the Trump administration to quell protests for Palestine, as Columbia University fights to regain access to $400 million in federal funding by implementing new rules around campus demonstrations. U-M is one of 60 schools around the country the Trump Administration warned this month to combat campus antisemitism or risk potential enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats no reason to back away from standing up for any cause. But for activists, it is a reason to be more careful, more strategic and more mindful of potential impacts on those sticking their necks out to have their say especially among immigrant activists. Things are different now than they were before, and protesters are in far more danger of being targeted and arrested by federal authorities than they were last year. Protests arent supposed to be convenient, or even orderly. But they arent supposed to be harmful to bystanders, or to the very goal of the action. There are ways to scream, shout and demand change without sacrificing your integrity, reputation or future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil AlHajal is deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: kalhajal@freepress.com. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan pro-Palestine protests must set ground rules | Opinion The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at March 26, 2025, results for each game: Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 26 drawing Midday: 8-6-3 Evening: 6-3-3 Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 26 drawing Midday: 5-8-2-3 Evening: 2-1-6-4 Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 26 drawing 08-12-15-39-44, Lucky Ball: 15 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Poker Lotto numbers from March 26 drawing 6C-9D-9H-6S-9S Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from March 26 drawing 04-18-28-33-35 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 10-20-24-27-28 Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily Keno numbers from March 26 drawing 01-06-08-13-15-16-20-23-27-32-37-39-43-44-48-50-63-67-71-75-77-79 Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here. 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Box 30023 Lansing, MI 48909 For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a drivers license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2. If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325 Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325 Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325 Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325 Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325 Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325 For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery's prize claim page. When are Michigan Lottery drawings held? Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m. Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for March 26, 2025 A Michigan resident who received a transplant in December died after having been infected with rabies from the new organ, the state health department said Wednesday. A public health investigation determined they contracted rabies through the transplanted organ, Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the state's Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement. A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the same donor also provided corneal grafts for three patients in different states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the concerning symptoms of the kidney recipient who died, CDC worked with Missouri health officials to intercept a fourth corneal graft before it could be implanted into a Missouri resident even before rabies was confirmed in the donor, the CDC said. All corneal tissue recipients have gotten post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) shots to prevent rabies and are currently healthy. The Michigan patient died in January, after receiving a kidney transplant at a hospital in Ohio, the CDC said. The donor did not show traditional rabies symptoms, according to the agency, so the infection was not detected until the recipient's illness was discovered. After that, "public health officials learned the organ donor was exposed to a wild animal in Idaho five weeks before death" likely a skunk, the CDC said. The agency said it has notified close contacts of both the donor and the kidney recipient and that "those with potential risk for getting rabies have been advised to start rabies PEP." A colorized transmission electron micrograph of rabies virus particles (blue). Sutfin said the Michigan and Ohio health departments worked closely together and with the CDC to investigate the death. The CDCs rabies laboratory confirmed the diagnosis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Michigan Health Department declined to provide additional information. The Ohio Health Department said the kidney transplant patient was hospitalized in Toledo, and that health care workers who may have been exposed have been offered rabies shots accordingly. Potential organ donors in the United States are screened for viruses, bacteria and other infections; however, rabies is not usually among those tests, in part because the test for it takes too long (organs are only viable for a limited window of time) and because the infection is so rare in people. The responsibility for those screenings falls on organ procurement organizations. The CDC has conducted four investigations since 1978 related to rabies transmission from organ and tissue donors to recipients. A patient who received a kidney transplant in 2013 died after contracting rabies through the organ. The donor was found to have died of rabies in Florida but, like the recent Michigan case, the cause of death was discovered only after an investigation into the recipients death. Three other patients also received organs from the donor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2004, three transplant recipients died of rabies after they received organs from an infected donor in Arkansas. Rabies can spread to humans if they come into contact with saliva or blood from infected animals, such as bats, raccoons, skunks or stray dogs. It is not always clear right away that a person has contracted rabies, as the initial symptoms are similar to those of the flu, including fever, headache and nausea. As the illness progresses, patients then experience difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation and hallucinations. If a person does not seek medical care quickly after having been scratched or bitten by a potentially infected animal, rabies is fatal. Before 1960, several hundred people died of it each year, but the annual number has shrunk to fewer than 10 in recent years, according to the CDC. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com COMPANY NEWS: Trustwave , a leading cybersecurity and managed security services provider, has released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the healthcare sector . The combination of highly sensitive patient data, legacy systems, increasing reliance on telehealth services, and more connected devices means healthcare is a prime target for threat actors. The report from the Trustwave SpiderLabs team takes a deep dive into the healthcare industry landscape as it undergoes a rapid digital transformation, bringing unprecedented advancements in patient care. With this report, the team has produced a comprehensive breakdown of attack stages, providing healthcare organisations with actionable intelligence to strengthen their defensive posture. Building upon a previous healthcare threat intelligence briefing, which dissected the attack flows specific to this vital sector, the 2025 report delves deeper into the emergent threats confronting healthcare organisations worldwide. Additionally, Trustwave SpiderLabs has produced two detailed analyses focusing on pressing areas of concern: the rapid rise of ransomware and an examination of common security gaps discovered through a healthcare red team. Kory Daniels, chief information security officer, Trustwave, said, Healthcare artificial intelligence and technology adoption presents a spectrum of risks that few other industries need to navigate. The risk is not just incredibly sensitive data privacy, but human life and quality of patient care. Its not hard to see how compromised medical equipment like a ventilator or pump could lead to a wrong dose or missed patient alert that results in death. Complex supply chains, lapses in patches and credential management all have consequences too serious for anyone in the healthcare industry to ignore". The report highlights detailed descriptions of the adversarial groups that favour healthcare targets, the gaps SpiderLabs researchers have found in healthcare cybersecurity, and how lapses in patching and strong credential management allow attackers access. The report also breaks down and explains the maze of compliance regulations these organisations must navigate daily and the risk posed by the long and involved supply chains required for these facilities to operate at peak efficiency. Addressing third-party threats within these supply chains is critical for maintaining cybersecurity resilience in healthcare. Trustwave SpiderLabs 2025 research series on the healthcare vertical includes: 2025 Trustwave Risk Radar Report: Healthcare Sector. Healthcare Sector Deep Dive: Unmasking Security Gaps. Healthcare Sector Deep Dive: Ransomware Trends and Impact. Key findings from Trustwave SpiderLabs healthcare research series include: 45% of attacks exploited public-facing applications. 56% of public-facing applications exploited were against Log4j. 21% of all ransomware attacks focused on public health and government healthcare targets. 51% of ransomware attacks against the healthcare industry target US-based healthcare companies. 9% of all attacks came from the threat group Ransomhub. Third-party threats within supply chains continue to pose significant risks to compliance efforts. To access this years research, please click here for the full healthcare series. About Trustwave Trustwave is a globally recognised cybersecurity leader that reduces cyber risk and fortifies organisations against disruptive and damaging cyber threats. Trustwaves comprehensive offensive and defensive cybersecurity portfolio detects what others cannot, responds with greater speed and effectiveness, optimises its clients cyber investment, and improves security resilience. Trusted by thousands of organisations worldwide, Trustwave leverages its world-class team of security consultants, threat hunters, and researchers, and its market-leading security operations platform to decrease the likelihood of attacks and minimise potential impact. Trustwave is an analyst-recognised leader in managed detection and response (MDR), managed security services (MSS), cyber advisory, penetration testing, database security, and email security. The elite Trustwave SpiderLabs team provides industry-defining threat research, intelligence, and threat hunting, all of which are infused into Trustwave services and products to fortify cyber resilience in the age of inevitable cyber-attacks. For more information about Trustwave, please visit: https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/. Ministers have been accused of prioritising the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over press freedom in a row over the ownership of The Telegraph. Baroness Stowell, a Conservative peer, took aim at the Government for failing to say when it would introduce new laws that are crucial to the onward sale of the newspaper. She said: We are left to assume that the Government are prioritising the sensibilities of a foreign government, who do not share our commitment to press freedom, over the news industry, the importance of press freedom and the survival of one of our national newspapers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RedBird IMI, the UAE-backed fund that owns The Telegraph, has been forced to sell the title after ministers intervened last year to ban foreign state ownership of newspapers. Baroness Stowell has suggested the sensibilities of a foreign government were being prioritised over the interests of the news industry - Jeff Gilbert However, secondary legislation creating limited exemptions to the ban is still yet to materialise and RedBird IMI has still not found a buyer. The secondary legislation is considered vital across the news industry to address concerns that the foreign ownership ban could have unintended consequences for publishers such as Rupert Murdochs News Corp and DMGT, the publisher of the Daily Mail. A consultation into proposals that would allow sovereign wealth funds and pension funds to hold small minority stakes in British newspapers and magazines closed in early July last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lady Stowell, who played a crucial role in blocking the UAE takeover, said the secondary laws were important to the whole news industry and to the sale of The Telegraph. US publisher Dovid Efune has struggled to raise financing to meet Redbird IMIs 550m asking price - Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan Responding to the criticism, Baroness Twycross, culture minister, said the new legislation raises complex issues and involves multiple interests across government. She added: We are committed to considering this carefully and ensuring we understand the implications of such changes, including on the industry. It is important that we get this right. Pressed on a timeline for the new laws, Lady Twycross said they would be tabled very shortly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph has been stuck in limbo for more than a year and uncertainty is growing over the newspapers future ownership. RedBird IMI, which does not control The Telegraph but owns the debt secured against it, last year ran an auction to sell the title, but a deal is yet to materialise. Dovid Efune, the US news publisher who emerged as the leading bidder, has struggled to raise financing to meet the 550m price tag demanded by the UAE fund. Ministers have previously refused to set a deadline for an onward sale, but insisted earlier this month that RedBird IMI had a clear intention to sell up as soon as possible. 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. Chair of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Maple Grove, spoke at a Capitol press conference on March 24, 2025. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer. A bipartisan group of Minnesota lawmakers from the House Ways and Means Committee and a fraud prevention committee asked their fellow legislators to refrain from earmarking funds directly to nonprofits without a competitive grant process this year. Legislators from both parties for years have been giving taxpayer funds directly to nonprofits to complete government work, such as preventing violence or providing food to needy families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State agencies typically award a grant to a nonprofit after performing background checks and analyzing numerous proposals, ultimately giving it to the applicant that best meets their criteria. But Minnesota lawmakers can also go around that competitive process and directly name a nonprofit, granting funds in a budget bill through what are known as legislatively named grants. Those grants have been fraught with problems over the years. The letter to budget-writing lawmakers requests they stop granting money to organizations through legislatively named grants as they draft budget bills for their respective committees in the weeks ahead. The Legislature must pass a two-year budget by June 30, though the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn May 19. When you appropriate funds to private entities, we urge you to strongly consider having agencies use a competitive process to select those entities, rather than directly naming them in law, lawmakers wrote. The Ways and Means Committee co-chairs arent signed onto the letter, but theyre expected to release their own letter in support, a House GOP spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislators are able to propose whatever bills they like, so theres little stopping them from continuing to name nonprofits in bills and granting them funds other than asking them nicely like in the Wednesday letter. In 2023, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor-led Legislature approved over $1.1 billion in legislatively named grants to nonprofits, with some receiving more money from lawmakers than they normally get in other grants and donations in an entire year. According to a 2023 audit, Minnesota struggles to oversee money it sends out the door. The Office of the Legislative Auditor found pervasive noncompliance with grant management policies, signaling issues with accountability and oversight of the $500 million the state sends out in a typical year. Both competitive and legislatively named grants are supposed to go through the same type of oversight by state agencies, but the Office of the Legislative Auditor has found that agencies have failed to provide the same oversight of legislatively named grants that they do for competitive grants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The OLA has recommended lawmakers stop using legislatively named grants since 2007, or the year the first iPhone was released. Proponents of legislatively named grants say the practice allows smaller, less-established nonprofits an opportunity to receive state funding, as they may be disregarded in a competitive process. A competitive process can also be unnecessary if, for example, a nonprofit is the only organization in an area of Minnesota that provides a particular service, proponents say. Direct appropriations may be the best fit for some circumstances, such as where there is only one private entity that can meet the identified need, the lawmakers wrote. But this should be the rare exception, rather than a general process. Additionally, the entity should be specified by name rather than using a session-law description for which only one entity could qualify. Last year, Democratic lawmakers passed a bill requiring companies like Uber and Lyft to contract with a nonprofit advocacy organization to provide driver services. The bill appeared tailored to describe the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association. The organization has been accused of fraud and deceptive trade practices by Uber and Lyft drivers. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) The superintendent has apologized, but State House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) insists that what happened Wednesday at First Colonial High School was racial. He called being denied entry into the school a slap in the face, while the citys school division characterized what happened as a miscommunication. Scott said he was denied entry into the school, where his law partner Jeffrey Breit said he had agreed about two weeks ago to speak to Legal Studies Academy students about what it takes to be a lawyer. Initially, Scotts schedule didnt permit him to speak, but then he discovered over the weekend the Wednesday opportunity was possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Breit then informed the student in charge of the speaking event that Scott would in fact be joining him after all to speak with First Colonial students. Breit says he talked with the teacher in charge of the event at 8 a.m. Wednesday to confirm. By 10 a.m. Wednesday, the teacher told Breit the event was moving to a larger space at First Colonial now that Scott would be participating. But 45 minutes later, the same teacher told Breit that Scott was not allowed to speak because he had not been properly vetted. According to Breit, he then contacted school attorney Kammy Lannetti, who confirmed that Scott would not be permitted to speak. Breit then relayed that message to Scott, who was only starting to drive to First Colonial, and Scott turned around. I was like, thats crazy, Scott said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its funny, Im the first Black speaker in a 405-year history of Virginia, Scott said. I think Ive been vetted. And the fact that they would not allow me to be there, I think, is a slap in the face, not only to me, but also to all Virginians. Thursday afternoon WAVY asked Scott whether the situation could have been just a miscommunication, or misunderstanding, or misinterpretation of school policy. Folks come in these schools all the time, sometimes at the last minute, Scott said. I know for a fact they would never do this to Governor [Glenn] Youngkin or [Attorney General] Jason Miyares. They did this to me just to send a message. In a statement from Virginia Beach City Public Schools, it said, without referring to Scott by name, that a miscommunication occurred this morning between our school officials about a potential guest speaker for the Legal Studies Academy at First Colonial High School. Virginia Beach City Public Schools values its relationships with all our school partners, including elected officials, and consistently welcomes them into our schools. We are actively working to resolve the concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a second statement from VBCPS issued Thursday, the division said its policy on guest speakers requires teachers to get approval from the principal regarding outside speakers. 10 On Your Side requested an interview from VBCPS, first with Superintendent Donald Robertson, and then with school attorney Lannetti, and we were told neither was available. Robertsons letter to Scott Wednesday mentions his sincere apology for the events that occurred, that he was honored that you would take time from your demanding schedule to come and spend time with our students, and offered Scott a future speaking opportunity. I love doing what I do, Scott said. I love talking to children about what I do. And so, of course, I would go back. I will never, ever hold it against the kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Virginia Beach NAACP said in a statement that it was outraged about the incident. Read the statement below: The Virginia Beach NAACP is outraged, about the recent incident involving Speaker Don Scott, the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and an esteemed attorney, who was denied the opportunity to speak with students at the Legal Studies Academy at First Colonial High School. This decision, based on claims of improper vetting and lack of parental notification, has been characterized by Virginia Beach Public Schools as a miscommunication. However, this raises serious questions about our commitment to inclusivity and representation in education. It is troubling that a leader of Delegate Scotts stature was not afforded the same welcome that other public officials, such as the Governor or Attorney General, would receive. His insights and experiences are invaluable to our students, particularly as they consider careers in law. This exclusion is not only a missed opportunity for the students but also a reflection of the systemic barriers that still exist within our educational framework. Eric Majette, President of the Virginia Beach NAACP, stated, We are disappointed to see such a lack of support for a leader who embodies the progress we strive for in our community. It is essential that our schools not only acknowledge but actively engage with representatives of diverse backgrounds. Our students deserve access to a wide range of perspectives, particularly from those who have broken barriers in our states history. Last week, the Virginia Beach NAACP met with Superintendent Dr. Donald E. Robertson Jr. to discuss ongoing racial issues that have been present in several Virginia Beach schools over time. This conversation highlighted the urgent need for a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students. In response to these ongoing issues, the Virginia Beach NAACP is organizing a community town hall to further address these matters. We will invite Superintendent Robertson and members of the school board to join us in this important discussion, as we believe collaboration is key to fostering an equitable educational landscape. We remain committed to advocating for all voices in our community and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn from leaders who reflect the diversity of our society. Virginia Beach NAACP Scott said he spoke at a Portsmouth school earlier this month and no advance vetting was required. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The body of a beloved gay yoga teacher in Arizona has been discovered almost a month after he went missing following a blind date. Marcus Freiberger, 45, was found dead in a rock quarry last week about 6 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix police announced Tuesday in a press release. His cause of death is still "pending," and the person he was meeting with has not yet been identified. Freiberger was last seen at a parking garage near Second Avenue and Van Buren Street on February 21, driving a white 2021 GMC Sierra pickup with Arizona license plate 3MA66L. His family said that he was planning to meet a blind date, but they later suspected something was wrong when he left his two-year-old dog, Thomas, alone in his apartment, which they said he would never do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freiberger was first reported missing on March 14, and was entered into the state and national database as a missing person. Police said that "no additional leads or evidence were discovered to determine if Freiberger left town or fell victim to any particular crime," and that after working with friends and family, they were still "unable to determine Freibergers whereabouts." Officers responded to a call at a rock quarry near 15th Avenue and Broadway Road on March 19, where they discovered a body, which was later identified as Freiberger using fingerprints. The case is currently "being handled as a death investigation and is pending results from the Office of the Medical Examiner." Freiberger's sister, Tina Hall, announced the news on Facebook, writing: "It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Marcus 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." Melrose Yoga, the studio were Freiberger taught, also mourned him on Facebook with a post reading " ; Atma ko Sadgati Prapt ho," which translates to "may the soul attain salvation." One of Freiberger's last posts on Instagram was in December, celebrating becoming a yoga therapist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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," he wrote. "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 violent ... just continues to bring me opportunities to be and do better. Im not perfect, Im a hell of a lot better than I was." Detectives are currently seeking the publics assistance for anyone who has knowledge regarding the circumstances of Freibergers disappearance and death. Witnesses are encouraged to call CrimeStop at (602)262-6151, or Silent Witness if they wish to remain anonymous at (480) WITNESS. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.) announced her office will assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Immigration and Customs Enforcements Section 287(g) program. Cartel sicarios crossed into US soil in murder-for-hire scheme, prosecutors say I am proud to stand alongside President Trump and take decisive action to protect our country and uphold the rule of law, said Fitch. This partnership will not only ensure that we protect our communities, but also strengthen our efforts to combat human trafficking, drug cartels, and violent crime. Together, we will make Mississippi- and our entire nation- safer than ever before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Fitch, the program allows state and local law enforcement entities to partner with ICE for delegated immigration enforcement. 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. GREENVILLE, Miss. (WJTV) Washington County deputies announced a man was arrested after three bodies were found in a storage unit. Delta News reported the incident occurred in the 2000 block of Reed Road near Beauchamp on Tuesday, March 25. Chief Deputy Billy Barber said the investigation led to the arrest of Al Creath, 31, of Greenville. He said Creath was the owner and funeral director of Creath Memorial in Greenville. Creath faces two counts of improper desecration of a corpse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Barber, deputies responded to the storage unit because there were reports of burglaries. He expects Creath to face additional charges. Mississippi teacher facing drugs, gun charge in DeSoto County Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons released a statement about the discovery of the remains. The discovery of human remains in a storage unit in our city is deeply disturbing and raises serious concerns that demand a thorough investigation. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who may be affected by this tragic situation. I have full confidence in the Washington County Sheriffs Department, other local and state law enforcement and investigative agencies, who are working diligently to determine the circumstances surrounding this case. We will ensure that all necessary resources are made available to support their efforts in uncovering the truth and bringing justice to those involved. Greenville is a community that values dignity, respect, and the rule of law. We will not tolerate any actions that violate those principles. I understand an arrest has been made but I also urge others with information to come forward and assist authorities in their investigation. As more details emerge, we will continue to keep the public informed. In the meantime, I ask for patience and cooperation as we allow investigators to do their work. My administration remains committed to transparency, public safety, and ensuring that justice is served. Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons 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. Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican, speaks during House debate on Feb. 11 (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications). Doctors and other health professionals could face the death penalty if they dont offer life-saving care to a baby born after an abortion is induced under legislation that cleared the Missouri House Thursday. Critics have raised concerns about how such a bill could affect families who choose to induce early labor following a fatal fetal diagnosis a procedure which falls under the definition of abortion in the medical field and the providers caring for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican state Rep. Brian Seitz of Branson, who co-sponsored the legislation, however, accused any lawmakers planning to vote against the measure of supporting infanticide, which is already illegal. Republicans have said the bill, which is the first anti-abortion proposal to clear a legislative chamber in Missouri this year, was made necessary after voters overturned the states abortion ban last year. This bill gives the infant a fighting chance, Seitz said Thursday morning. The bill passed 109 to 32, with four Democrats joining Republicans in a yes vote, and nine Democrats voting present. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dubbed the born alive abortion survivors act and sponsored by Seitz and state Rep. Holly Jones, a Republican from Eureka, the bill would require any health care providers present at the time of an unsuccessful abortion to exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care provider would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. Medical professionals say this is already the standard of care. The bill could also open the door for civil liabilities for those involved in self-induced abortions, raising questions about potential implications on medication abortions. The type of abortions targeted by the House bill are rare, in part because abortions after fetal viability remain illegal in Missouri even after voters enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution last fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. LaDonna Appelbaum, a Democrat from St. Louis, called the bill a waste of taxpayers money. Murder is already against the law, so what are we doing here? she asked on the House floor. The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002, which was approved by Congress and signed into law by then-President George W. Bush, grants personhood to any child born after an unsuccessful abortion. But Seitz and Jones have argued that federal law doesnt go far enough. In federal law, theyre not provided health care, Seitz said Monday during House debate. In Missouri law we will give that infant a chance. Id buy that infant a house. I think that infant should be given an award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Democrats have also called the legislation nefarious, and have taken issue with this characterization of federal law, pointing to existing laws around infanticide defined as causing the death of an infant when the infant is partially born or born. Republicans disagreed. This bill isnt an attack, state Rep. Ben Baker, a Republican from Neosho, said Thursday. Its a shield for the innocent. State Rep. Gregg Bush, a Democrat from Columbia and a registered nurse, said he continued to worry the bill would unfairly criminalize health care providers who help families navigate complicated medical diagnoses. The legislation would require any medical professionals with knowledge of a violation of the born alive law to report it to the state. Those who fail to report a violation could face up to five years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. It goes on to say that anyone who intentionally performs or attempts to perform an overt act that kills a child born alive could be charged with first-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The class A felony the bill would establish under Missouri law excludes anyone attempting to perform a legal abortion if the act that causes the death is performed prior to the child being partially born, even though the death of the child occurs as a result of the abortion after the child is partially born. There were previously questions about whether the bill would apply to miscarriages, known in medical terms as spontaneous abortions. An amendment was added to the bill clarifying the law would not apply to the natural and spontaneous loss of an unborn child before fetal viability. The amended version also revised a provision creating civil liabilities for anyone who assists in a self-induced or illegal abortion. Missouris bill mirrors some of the language in a federal bill filed by U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a Republican from Missouri though the civil liability provisions in the state proposal are much more expansive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revised language approved Thursday applies the civil liability to someone who recklessly, or negligently supplies or makes available any instrument, device, medicine, drug, or any other means or substance for a self-induced or unlawful abortion. Sam Lee, a longtime anti-abortion lobbyist, previously told The Independent the civil liabilities language could apply to self-induced medication abortions, whether the fetus is born alive or not. It could also open the door to litigation against those who assist another person in obtaining a self-managed abortion no matter how early in the pregnancy. Seitz said his intention was to give a tool for a civil cause of action if theres a poor health outcome for the woman attempting the abortion, but to exclude from civil liabilities any physician who was to legally prescribe abortion medication. Under the Missouri proposal, anyone related to the woman, infant or fetus can seek damages. Lee previously said the legislation would not criminalize a woman who took abortion medication unless the child was born outside a clinical setting and the mother then knowingly, recklessly or negligently caused the death of the child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Wolff, a former chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court and dean emeritus at the St. Louis University School of Law, previously told The Independent that the bill raises many questions about how such a law would be interpreted with the constitutional right to abortion now in place. The lack of definition for self-induced abortions in state statute also contributes to the confusion, Wolff said, and could lead to attempts to target medication abortions. Concerns have been raised previously raised about the bills requirement that an infant born during an induced abortion be immediately transported and admitted to a hospital. Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Abortion Action Missouri, testified before the House committee earlier this year that this could conflict with best practices for palliative care, especially if hospitals determined this law required any infant be resuscitated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An example would be cases where a family chooses to induce an abortion following the diagnosis of a fatal fetal anomaly. That family may decide to end the pregnancy before reaching full gestational age but still want to meet their child before they pass away. Resuscitation would require CPR, which could break that tiny infants ribs, Schwarz told the committee. It would require aggressive medical care that is not in line with what the families and providers have already decided is best for that unique pregnancy, that unique circumstance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This story was updated at 10:30 a.m. to clarify the bills implications. State Sen. Kurtis Gregory shakes hands following his introduction to the Missouri Senate (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). The Missouri Farm Bureau would be allowed to sell health benefits plans that exclude people with pre-existing medical conditions and limit benefits to less than whats permitted by federal law for health insurers, under legislation that passed the state Senate Thursday. Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Kurtis Gregory of Marshall, the bill would give the farm bureau a carveout to skirt the consumer protection requirements set by the Affordable Care Act, in an effort to provide affordable coverage options to members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill was passed by the Senate by a vote of 24 to 6 on Thursday. This is not something where this organization is asking for government dollars to put this program into effect, Gregory said during debate Tuesday. They want to put this on themselves. They want to help cover their members lives. The Farm Bureau is a nonprofit agricultural membership organization which partners with for-profit companies to sell various kinds of insurance to its members. Anyone can join the fee is $30 per year. Historically the group has been primarily made up of people in farming communities. Missouri Democrats and patient advocates have staunchly opposed the proposal, raising concerns that consumers could be left with inadequate coverage and without proper protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These insurance companies are for-profit companies, state Sen. Tracy McCreery of Olivette said during Tuesdays debate. And I think that there needs to be some basic guardrails to make sure that theres some parameters that are consistent amongst providers. Ten other states have passed similar laws. This is the third year the proposal has been pursued in Missouri. The bill characterizes the plans the Farm Bureau would offer as a health benefit plan or contracts for health care benefits rather than insurance, to skirt state and federal regulations on insurance. Democrats won some concessions, including requiring a written disclaimer in contracts that states the contract is not health insurance and is not subject to federal or state laws relating to health insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disclaimer also states that the contract offers fewer benefits than a federally-compliant plan and may exclude coverage for preexisting conditions. It adds that the individual may qualify for federal insurance subsidies. Under the latest version of the bill, the states Department of Commerce and Insurance must receive and review complaints from Farm Bureau members. After hours of negotiation earlier this week, Senate Democrats finally allowed the bill to move forward, with several of their health-related priorities added as amendments as well. Those additions include provisions that require Missouri Medicaid to cover hearing aids, which is also a freestanding bill passed by the House, expand access to treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and require insurance companies that provide birth control to provide extended supplies. The bill now heads to the Missouri House, which has passed its own versions of the bill in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Gregory has estimated around 15,000 Farm Bureau members lack health insurance and would be the target audience to enroll in the benefit plan. Many farmers and other members of the Farm Bureau, proponents say, are uninsured because they cant afford to buy an individual plan on the Affordable Care Act marketplace or make too much money to qualify for subsidies. Republican state Sen. Sandy Crawford of Buffalo, who sponsored the legislation in previous years, said shes heard from farmer constituents who cant afford health insurance for several years in support of the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard for them to get coverage, and health insurance costs are through the roof, Crawford said Tuesday. And I think anything that we can do to helpanytime we can give them one more tool for their tool box to at least help them get covered, I think that its a good thing, she said. Several farmers and agricultural organizations testified in support of the legislation at the public hearing in January. Missouri Farm Bureau lobbyist Emily LeRoy called the bill simply another option to provide coverage for more people. The Farm Bureau would offer lower prices by reverting to the pre-ACA practice of whats called medical underwriting, carefully evaluating applicants medical history and risk, to determine whether to cover them and at what price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee enacted a version of the law exempting the Farm Bureau from regulation in 1993 Benjamin Sanders, representing the Farm Bureau of Tennessee, said enrollees in states with the program report high levels of satisfaction. The Farm Bureau in other states doesnt need to abide by data transparency requirements of regulated insurance companies. But the organization says internal numbers show a high retention rate. We are not asking for any kind of subsidies or asking to sell subsidized plans. We manage cost on the front end, he said, referring to the practice of medical underwriting. Emily Kalmer, a lobbyist for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, raised concern in January that the bill authorizes the sale of products that could discriminate against Missourians with pre-existing conditions like cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would leave Missourians, including cancer patients, exposed to medical and financial harms, Kalmer said. Experts have said it could lead to insurance companies siphoning off healthy people and driving up the cost of coverage for others, while offering limited coverage plans. Other insurance companies oppose the legislation for allowing just one group to be exempt from federal rules, which they say gives the Farm Bureau an advantage over its regulated competitors. I dont believe it should be the policy of the state to give a market advantage to companies selling unregulated products,Hampton Williams, general counsel for the Missouri Insurance Coalition, said in January, over those who are offering existing health insurance products and who are have been lawfully operating within the state statutes and regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shannon Cooper, lobbyist for Blue Cross Blue Shield, told lawmakers at a hearing in January that insurance companies would adopt similar policies to the bill en masse if allowed, to save costs, but federal and state regulations forbid that. It is a rare day when the insurance industry sides with the advocate community, but we all have the same concern here, Cooper said. And that is: These products sound like insurance, but they dont follow the same rules that we have to play by. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Claroty, the cyber-physical systems (CPS) protection company, today released new research on the riskiest exposures to connected medical devices most coveted for exploitation by adversaries. Based on analysis of over 2.25 million Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) and 647,000-plus operational technology (OT) devices across 351 healthcare organisations, the State of CPS Security: Healthcare Exposures 2025 report found 89% of organisations have the top 1% of riskiest IoMT devices which contain known exploitable vulnerabilities (KEVs) linked to active ransomware campaigns as well as an insecure connection to the internet on their networks. These figures represent a highly targeted, critical area where most security teams should prioritise their remediation efforts. As cyberattacks in the healthcare sector continue to rise in severity and the resources to prevent them remain limited, this report illuminates the medical assets at high risk for ransomware, extortion attacks, and attacks exploiting insecure internet connections. Clarotys Team82 analysed the challenges that hospitals and healthcare delivery organisations (HDOs) face when identifying which vulnerabilities and exposures in medical and OT devices to prioritise for remediation. The report details risk exposures in several key areashospital information systems (HIS), IoMT devices like imaging, patient equipment, and hospital OT systems. With disruptions to operational continuity and patient care delivery being key concerns, the report focused on a specific combination of medical device risk factors: the presence of KEVs, those KEVs being linked to ransomware, and an insecure internet connection. This represents an apex of exposures that together pose a real, imminent danger to healthcare organisations. These are the most accessible entry points for threat actors into a healthcare network and are present in nearly every organisation analysed. Taking an exposure management-based approach to risk reduction yields a subset of devices that is manageable enough for organisations to prioritise actual, not theoretical, areas of risk. Key Findings: 9% of IoMT devices contain confirmed KEVs in their systems, impacting 99% of organisations. 1% of IoMT devices carry KEVs linked to active ransomware campaigns and insecure internet connectivity, impacting 89% of organisations. 8% of imaging systems (X-rays, CT scans, MRI, ultrasound, and more) have KEVs linked to ransomware and insecure internet connectivitymaking this the riskiest medical device categoryimpacting 85% of organisations. 20% of HIS, which manage clinical patient data, as well as administrative and financial information, have KEVs linked to ransomware and insecure internet connectivity, impacting 58% of organisations. Hospitals are under immense pressure to digitally transform while ensuring the security of critical systems that support patient care, said Ty Greenhalgh, Industry Principal for Healthcare at Claroty. Cybercriminals, especially ransomware groups, exploit outdated technology and insecure connectivity to gain footholds in hospital networks. To counter these threats, healthcare security leaders must take an exposure-centric approachprioritising the most critical vulnerabilities and aligning remediation efforts with industry guidelines like the HHS HPH Cyber Performance Goalsto protect patient safety and ensure operational continuity. To access Team82s complete set of findings, in-depth analysis, and recommended security measures, download the State of CPS Security: Healthcare Exposures 2025 report. Methodology The State of CPS Security: Healthcare Exposures 2025 report is a snapshot of the vulnerability and exposure trends to IoMT and OT devices across the healthcare sector observed and analysed by Team82, Clarotys threat research team, and our data scientists. Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski turned her attention Thursday morning to the ICE arrest of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish woman attending Tufts University with a valid student visa, who was taken into custody by federal authorities on Tuesday. The arrest comes as more and more scrutiny is being directed at President Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 last week, a wartime law that the presidents administration has so far used to deport hundreds of Venezuelan migrants with purported ties to a notorious gang to a prison in El Salvador. Questions have rained down about the legality of Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act, as well as whether or not he even signed his official invocation of it. The act has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge, and an appeals court denied the Trump administrations attempt to appeal that block on Wednesday. Ozturk was nonetheless apprehended on the street Tuesday by government agents for allegedly engaging in activities in support of Hamas. Her lawyer says the Department of Homeland Security agents apprehended her on Tuesday in Somerville, Massachusetts, as she was on her way to break her Ramadan fast with friends, Brzezinski said over a recording of Ozturks street arrest. Just watching this video is incredibly disturbing. As of this writing, no criminal charges have been filed against Ozturk, who is currently being held in a detention center in Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This should matter to every single American, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy told Brzezinski when asked what can be done about Ozturks arrest. The president does not need the Alien Enemies Act in order to remove from this country people who pose a threat to the nation, people who have engaged in criminal behavior or who have coordinated with terrorist groups. He has that power under existing law. What [Trump] is trying to do is put America on a war footing, Murphy continued. [The Alien Enemies Act] is a wartime authority, and what you really [should] worry about is the president continuing to move forward in exercising wartime powers in order to suspend additional elements of the constitution. The senator warned that the arrest of Ozturk is one element in a concerning trend. You are watching along multiple channels this massive slide away from democracy and democratic norms, Murphy explained. That video [of Ozturks arrest] is chilling because the president does not need that act to be able to remove a threat, but it speaks to his willingness to try to put America in a kind of quasi-martial law that ultimately will come to be a threat not just to green card holders but to American citizens as well. So far, [Ozturk] has not been charged with anything, Morning Joe panelist Willie Geist noted. What we know is she wrote an op-ed with a couple of other graduate students a year ago in Tufts student newspaper [that was] very critical of the universitys handling of the [pro-Palestinian] protests on campus, suggesting that Israel was engaged in genocide, saying that the school should divest from all Israeli companies a lot of that stuff that we heard on campuses a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, You dont have to agree with what she believes or writes or says, but to snatch her off the street for that, unless theres something else we dont know, is outrageous. Ozturks arrest comes the same month that the Trump administration arrested legal U.S. resident Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student of Palestinian descent who helped organize and lead pro-Palestinian protests on Columbias campus last spring. You can watch the full Morning Joe segment on Ozturks arrest yourself in the video above. The post Morning Joe Slams Trump Administrations Disturbing ICE Arrest of Turkish Tufts Student | Video appeared first on TheWrap. A new survey has found that 74 percent of Americans, including 60 percent of Republicans, believe that the national security breach now referred to as Signalgate was serious.: The poll, conducted Tuesday by YouGov, asked people about Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, being inadvertently added to a group chat on the Signal messaging app with senior White House officials discussing logistics for a bomb attack in Yemen. The group, which included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussed American military plans to attack the Houthi rebel group, referring to specific times and targets. The bombing occurred hours later after the chat March 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the poll of almost 6,000 Americans, 53 percent of respondents said the incident was a very serious problem, while 21 percent said it was a somewhat serious problem. Nearly 75 percent of Americans, including 60 percent of Republicans, surveyed by YouGov said that Signalgate was a serious problem (Getty Images) Respondents on both sides of the political aisle were concerned by the breach. The poll found 89 percent of Democrats thought it was a very serious or somewhat serious problem, compared with 72 percent of Independents. Sixty percent of Republicans agreed. In the same poll, 48 percent of those surveyed said they believed Trump officials broke the law by sharing the secret information. This included 76 percent of Democrats and 46 percent of Independents. However, just 21 percent of Republicans thought the action was illegal. You have got to be kidding me.https://t.co/IhhvFvw6DG pic.twitter.com/bnNG4dGSpI Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2025 On Wednesday, Trump dismissed the incident as really not a big deal, after doubling down on his defense on Tuesday of National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who launched the Signal chat, and branding Goldberg a loser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Americans view the Signal blunder as being as problematic than those who considered Hillary Clintons use of a private email server to conduct official business as problematic, Forbes noted. A similar poll, conducted in September 2022, found that 62 percent of those surveyed, including 40 percent of Democrats and 88 percent of Republicans, said Clintons behavior was a very serious or a somewhat serious problem. The former Secretary of State and presidential candidate responded to news of the Signal chat leak in a post on X, writing: Youve got to be kidding me. (NewsNation) President Donald Trump has dismissed concern over potential sensitive national security information shared in a White House group chat, calling backlash the product of a witch hunt. But a new YouGov poll shows the president is not on the same page as most of the country. The poll, published Tuesday, shows that a large majority of Americans 74% think the administrations group chat on messaging app Signal is a very serious (53%) or somewhat serious (21%) problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlantic releases full Signal text chain Notably, 60% of Republicans who responded defined the chat as at least somewhat serious. Only 8% of respondents feel as though its not very serious, while 5% find it not at all serious. An equivalent 13% said they were not sure altogether. The March 25 survey had 5976 respondents, all of whom are adults in the U.S. Its important to note that respondents shared opinions prior to the Atlantics latest screenshots, published Wednesday. Signal chat leak: Security experts divided on impact of breach Wednesdays House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing saw National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard acknowledging the accidental inclusion of journalist Jeffrey Goldberg as a mistake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her opening statements before being questioned by lawmakers, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said it was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added to the chat. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later that day said the contents of the group message were not intended to be divulged, adding: Obviously, that was a mistake and that shouldnt have happened. White House officials claim there wasnt classified information in the message thread, though some national security experts are not convinced. Screenshots from the thread show Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth detailing planned U.S. airstrikes in Yemen, including the timing of attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republican: White House in denial about Signal war plans chat Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard Newton told NewsNation the leak was an extraordinary breach of security that raises serious concerns about operational communications among top national security officials. But Matthew Whiz Buckley, a former Navy fighter pilot, characterized the incident as an unforced error and told NewsNation the leak would not have fundamentally changed the militarys operational abilities. NewsNations Damita Menezes 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. (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps planned tariffs on auto imports will hurt carmakers around the world and push up prices for US consumers. Among the many losers, one winner stands out: Elon Musks Tesla Inc. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The electric vehicle maker has large factories in California and Texas that churn out all the cars it sells in the US, insulating it to a greater degree from Trumps new levies on auto imports and key components. Major rivals from South Koreas Hyundai Motor Co. to Germanys Volkswagen AG and Americas own General Motors Co. meanwhile will soon face sharply higher costs. There are very few winners, Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions, said in a telephone interview. Consumers will be losers because they will have reduced choice and higher prices. Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. Tesla is the least exposed to the new duties due to its domestic manufacturing operations, CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson wrote in an analysis this week. Tesla itself has been boasting this week about its US credentials, saying in a post on X that its models are the most American-made cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Musk says that Tesla wont go entirely unscathed. In an X post on Wednesday, he described the tariffs as having a significant impact on the company. In a later X post to another user, Musk added that the tariffs will have a not trivial effect on the prices of the imported car parts Tesla uses. Between 60% and 75% of the components Tesla uses are manufactured in the US, depending on the model, according to a 2024 filing by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with the majority of the remaining parts sourced from Mexico. But with the value of the imported parts unclear, the financial impact on Tesla is unknown. Ford Motor Co. could also face a less-severe impact than some rivals, with about 80% of the cars it sells in the US being built domestically. The divide showed in the reaction from investors. Tesla surged 5.7% to $287.49 as of 10:47 a.m. Thursday in New York, leading the Nasdaq 100 index of large non-financial companies. Ford fell 3.1%, GM dropped 7.4% and Stellantis NV lost 2.5%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting next week, the new 25% tariffs will apply to all imported passenger vehicles and light trucks, as well as key parts like engines, transmissions and electrical components, on top of any duties already in effect. The levies will only apply to the non-US share of vehicles and parts imported under a free-trade agreement with Canada and Mexico. That stands to soften the blow for vehicles whose supply lines zig-zag across the continent. Tariffs on parts from Canada and Mexico that comply with the trade deal also wont take effect until the US sets up a process to collect those levies. The US neighbors could use that window to try to stave off full implementation, even if its a long shot. The move is nonetheless a broadside against the continents free-trade agreement that Trump renegotiated during his first term in office that has given rise to a closely integgrated supply chain spanning North America. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the tariffs a direct attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign brands heavily reliant on imported vehicles will face the most pressure. South Koreas Hyundai risks being among the hardest hit. Although the carmaker and its affiliate Kia have plants in Alabama and Georgia and announced a $21 billion US expansion plan this week it imported more than a million vehicles to the US last year, accounting for more than half of its sales in the country, according to figures from Global Data. Hyundai remains committed to the long-term growth of the US automotive industry through localized production and innovation, the company said in a statement, noting it employs 570,000 people in the US. Hyundai and Kia may have to pay as much as 10 trillion won ($7 billion) every year for tariffs to the US if the 25% tariffs are executed, according to Hyuk Jin Yoon, Seoul-based analyst at SK Securities Co. That accounts for nearly 40% of total operating profit that the two carmakers earned in 2024. And despite having four assembly plants spread across Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi and Texas, plus engine plants in West Virginia and Alabama, Toyota Motor Corp., the worlds biggest automaker, imports about half of what it sells in the US. A representative of Toyota said that the companys Mexico operations are 100% compliant with the USMCA free-trade agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tariffs could reduce Toyotas estimated operating profit for the fiscal year ending March 2026 by 6%, according to Goldman Sachs Japan analysts including Kota Yuzawa. Embattled Nissan Motor Co. is likely to be the hardest hit among major Japanese automakers, according to their note, with its estimated operating profit likely to be reduced by 56%. Subaru Corp. is considering how to minimize the impact of the tariffs, a company spokesperson said Thursday, without elaborating on specific measures its looking at. Subaru could see its 2026 operating profit decline 23%, according to the Goldman Sachs note. Detroits carmakers werent spared, either. GM imports some Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks from plants in Mexico and Canada, the entry-level Chevy Trax compact SUV from South Korea and its family car, the Chevrolet Equinox crossover SUV. Last year GM sold more than 200,000 each of the Equinox and Trax, which are among its cheapest vehicles. The automaker also makes electric versions of the Equinox and Blazer in Mexico. Stellantis makes the Jeep Compass and Wagoneer S SUVs in Mexico. The company imports its Chrysler Pacifica minivans from Canada and compact Dodge Hornet and Fiat 500 from Italy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And even though Ford is more US-reliant than its cross-town rivals, it faces pain of its own. The carmaker builds its entry-level Maverick small pickup in Mexico as well as the Bronco Sport compact SUV and Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle. Trump on Wednesday insisted that theres no conflict of interest despite the Tesla chief executives prominent role in the administration. Hes never asked me for a favor in business whatsoever, Trump said at an Oval Office event on Wednesday as he signed the proclamation putting the auto tariffs in place. --With assistance from Keith Naughton, Heejin Kim, Kara Carlson, Amy Stillman, Linda Lew and Brandon Harden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates share trading in eighth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. GUEST RESEARCH: This research, conducted by Bitdefender Labs, presents the first documented analysis of a ransomware campaign attributed to the RedCurl group (also known as Earth Kapre or Red Wolf). RedCurl has historically maintained a low profile, relying heavily on Living-off-the-Land (LOTL) techniques for corporate cyberespionage and data exfiltration. This shift to ransomware marks a significant evolution in its tactics. This new ransomware, which we have named QWCrypt based on a self-reference qwc found within the executable, is previously undocumented and distinct from known ransomware families. By sharing our findings with the threat intelligence community and challenging existing assumptions, we hope to encourage further research of this unconventional threat actor that has been active since 2018. RedCurl: A (Red) Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? RedCurl's motivations raise more questions than answers. While frequently labelled a cyberespionage group, we find the evidence supporting this classification inconclusive. Much of the existing analysis from fellow security researchers reiterates the cyberespionage claim, primarily focusing on technical aspects. While technical analysis is crucial, we believe it's equally important to examine its business model and the true motivations behind its actions for a complete operational picture. Traditionally, cyberespionage is the domain of state-sponsored actors, the advanced persistent threats (APTs). Our telemetry has identified victims primarily in the United States, but also in Germany, Spain, and Mexico. Other researchers however reported targets in Russia, a broad geographical scope atypical for state-sponsored groups. Data exfiltration, a common tactic in ransomware operations, is typically employed for extortion. Yet, we have found no historical evidence (until now) of RedCurl attempting to sell stolen data back to its victims, an unusual deviation. Furthermore, financially motivated groups rarely prioritise the theft of proprietary information for competitive advantage; we struggle to identify a comparable group. The group's revenue generation and operational objectives remain shrouded in mystery, particularly given its sustained activity since 2018. Consequently, its business model and true motivations remain unclear. Hypothesis 1: Gun-For-Hire Given the anomalies in RedCurl's behaviour, we find it necessary to introduce a purely speculative hypothesis. It's possible that RedCurl operates as a 'gun-for-hire' group, essentially cyber mercenaries. This would explain its diverse victimology and the lack of a clear, consistent operational pattern. Furthermore, this hypothesis could potentially explain its current interest in ransomware that targets infrastructure, rather than endpoint computers. In a mercenary model, ransomware could serve as a diversion, masking the true objective: a targeted data exfiltration operation. It's also possible that RedCurl, having completed a data exfiltration contract, was not paid, leading it to use ransomware as an alternate way to monetise its access. Hypothesis 2: Discreet Operations RedCurl's surprising introduction of hypervisor encryption, while maintaining network gateway functionality and avoiding endpoint encryption, suggests a deliberate effort to limit the attack's impact to the IT department. This strategy, if intentional, posits that RedCurl prioritises discreet, direct negotiations with victims, minimising public attention. The absence of publicly visible ransom demands, such as through a dedicated leak site (DLS), does not necessarily indicate that RedCurl is not directly approaching victims. It is plausible that it engages in private negotiations, further reinforcing its preference for discreet operations and explaining its lack of public victim announcements. Such an approach enables extended, low-profile operations, ensuring consistent revenue across a broad client base and reducing its visibility to law enforcement. This hypothesis contrasts with the mercenary model, suggesting that RedCurl avoids public disclosure as a core operational strategy since 2018. This hypothesis is further supported by recent industry trends. Our 2023 Cybersecurity Assessment Report revealed 42 per cent of respondents reporting pressure to conceal security breaches. Alarmingly, our upcoming 2024 report indicates this trend has worsened, showing an increase in concealed breaches. Initial Access RedCurl has traditionally relied on social engineering and spear-phishing to gain initial access to its targets. In its latest ransomware deployment, the initial infection vector remains consistent with previous RedCurl campaigns: phishing emails containing IMG files disguised as CV documents. An IMG file is essentially a sector-by-sector copy of a storage device, like a virtual disk. When a victim clicks on the IMG file attached to the phishing email, Windows 10 and 11 have native support to automatically mount it as a virtual drive. With default configuration, Windows will also automatically open the mounted disk, displaying its contents in File Explorer. This is when the victim will see the file called 'CV APPLICANT 7802-91542.SCR'. Now, here's a little secret most folks don't know: screensaver ('.SCR') files are really just renamed executables. When you double-click a '.SCR' file, Windows treats it like an executable, but with an additional '/S' parameter, telling it to run in full screen mode. And here's the fun part: this works both ways. You can absolutely rename a '.SCR' file to '.EXE' and run it (though you'd need to include the '/S' parameter). But, just as easily, you can rename any '.EXE' file to '.SCR', and Windows will happily execute it. It'll just add that '/S' parameter, which won't do anything unless the executable is designed for it. CV APPLICANT 7802-91542.SCR is just a renamed copy of a legitimate Adobe executable, ADNotificationManager.exe, and this Adobe executable is vulnerable to DLL sideloading. When an application starts, it often loads libraries (DLLs) to perform various functions. If an attacker can place a malicious DLL with the same name as a legitimate one in the same folder as the application, the application will load the malicious one instead (read our tech explainer for more details about this technique). That's exactly what's happening here. When the victim clicks on that '.SCR' file (which, remember, is just a renamed '.EXE'), Windows executes it. And because of that DLL sideloading vulnerability, it automatically loads a library containing malicious code named netutils.dll from the same folder. After execution, the netutils.dll immediately launches a ShellExecuteA call with the open verb, directing the victim's browser to https://secure.indeed.com/auth. This displays a legitimate Indeed login page, a calculated distraction designed to mislead the victim into thinking they are simply opening a CV. This social engineering tactic provides a window for the malware to operate undetected. Simultaneously, netutils.dll acts as a downloader. Preliminary analysis of the netutils.dll downloader revealed other recurring characteristics observed in prior RedCurl campaigns, including the implementation of encrypted strings decrypted via bcrypt.dll. It uses wininet.dll functions to retrieve the final payload from the domain fall[.]dropconnect[.]workers[.]dev, using a custom user agent: 'Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT; Windows NT 10.0;) WindowsPowerShell/5.1.20134.790 (tQZyWLKnigaURyRIrnRG)'. This final payload is stored in %APPDATA%\BrowserSpec\BrowserSpec_.dll. To establish persistence, a scheduled task named \BrowserSpec\BrowserSpec_ is created. This scheduled task executes the final payload indirectly with the following command line: C:\Windows\system32\pcalua.exe -a rundll32 -c shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\BrowserSpec\BrowserSpec_..dll hard-wired-displacement. This command line is a classic example of Living-off-the-Land (LOTL) techniques, a common tactic in modern cyberattacks (and remember, we've got a Tech Explainer on LOTL if you want to dive deeper.) Basically, it's about using legitimate system tools to carry out malicious actions, making it harder for defenders to spot the bad stuff. This backdoor, a straightforward but reliable tool, acts as its main entry point. Other security researchers have previously documented it under names like RedCurl.Downloader or Earth Kapre downloader. Since our research is focused on the first documented instance of ransomware in RedCurl operations, we won't rehash the well-known behaviours of this malware that have already been covered. Lateral Movement Once RedCurl establishes its initial foothold, its focus shifts to navigating the network, gathering intelligence, and escalating its access. With access to compromised user accounts across multiple systems, it used WMI to run commands on other computers. When it runs commands remotely, it sticks to built-in Windows tools. It doesnt bring in any external tools, only rely on the LOTL techniques and use regular Windows tools like powershell.exe, wmic.exe, certutil.exe, or tasklist.exe. Analysis revealed the use of a pen testing tool that used techniques mirroring those found in both the older, deprecated wmiexec-RegOut and the current wmiexec-Pro projects. This modified wmiexec is interesting because it only requires port 135 to function, bypassing the need for an SMB connection, which is often monitored by security tools. This tool outputs command results into files in C:\Windows\Temp\<6 random letters> or directly into the Windows Registry. We also observed the use of Chisel, a fast TCP/UDP tunnel over HTTP. We suspect it was used for RDP access. We've seen RedCurl stick to its usual playbook in most cases, continuing with data exfiltration over longer periods of time. However, one case stood out. It broke its routine and deployed ransomware for the first time. Ransomware Deployment The ransomware incident we observed with RedCurl stands out. Beyond the questions surrounding its motivation, its targeting strategy is also noteworthy. While most ransomware groups deploy their payloads across all endpoints (often using GPO or PsExec), and some extend to hypervisors, RedCurl targeted only hypervisors. This focused targeting can be interpreted as an attempt to inflict maximum damage with minimum effort. By encrypting the virtual machines hosted on the hypervisors, making them unbootable, RedCurl effectively disables the entire virtualised infrastructure, impacting all hosted services. Interestingly, it deliberately excluded specific VMs that acted as network gateways, demonstrating its familiarity with the network implementation. The batch scripts used to launch the attack contained hardcoded information about the environment, including machine names, further indicating a highly targeted operation. By keeping network gateways operational and avoiding endpoint encryption, RedCurl may have aimed to confine the attack to the IT team, preventing widespread disruption and user awareness. Ransomware Note Analysis Analysis of the ransom note reveals that it is not an original creation. Instead, it is composed of sections taken from the ransom notes of other known ransomware groups, including LockBit, HardBit, and Mimic group. This practice of repurposing existing ransom note text raises questions about the origins and motivations of the RedCurl group. Notably, there is no known dedicated leak site (DLS) associated with this ransomware, and it remains unclear whether the ransom note represents a genuine extortion attempt or a diversion. Conclusion and Recommendations The RedCurl group's recent deployment of ransomware marks a significant evolution in its tactics. This departure from its established modus operandi raises critical questions about its motivations and operational objectives. The highly targeted nature of the ransomware attack shows a well-planned and executed operation. To mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks similar to the one deployed by RedCurl, and aligning with the insights provided in Bitdefender's Ransomware Whitepaper (https://techzone.bitdefender.com/en/white-papers/ransomware-whitepaper.html), we recommend the following: Multilayered Defence: Adopting a multilayered security approach is essential. Organisations should invest in a diverse range of security controls, including network segmentation and endpoint protection to create overlapping layers of defence against cyber threats. Detection and Response: Despite your best efforts, it is still possible that modern threat actors will make it past your prevention and protection controls. This is where your detection and response capabilities come into play. Whether you get these capabilities as-a-product (EDR/XDR) or as-a-service (MDR), the purpose is to minimise the time when threat actors remain undetected. Bitdefender MDR team conducts a proactive search through an environment to hunt malicious, suspicious, or risky activities that have evaded detection by existing tools. Use behavioural analysis and anomaly detection to identify suspicious activities, such as unusual tunnelling via tools like chisel or remote execution with wmiexec-RegOut. Prioritise Living-off-the-Land (LOTL) Prevention: Almost all modern cybercriminals abuse legitimate system tools for malicious purposes, focus on preventing and detecting LOTL attacks. Implement strict application control to limit the execution of unauthorised scripts and binaries, even those signed by trusted vendors. Harden PowerShell and other scripting environments by enforcing execution policies and enabling enhanced logging. Monitor for unusual process executions and command-line arguments, as RedCurl leverages tools like curl.exe and wmic.exe for malicious activities. Additionally, restrict administrative privileges and implement least-privilege principles to limit the impact of compromised accounts. Enhance Data Protection and Resilience: While backups are often considered a core defence against ransomware, they are usually less effective than assumed due to malicious targeting. Implement immutable backups, isolated from the production network, and regularly test recovery procedures. Exercise caution with backup solutions that rely on Shadow Volume Copies, as these are frequently targeted and deleted by ransomware, as evidenced by RedCurl's default deletion of shadow volumes. Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit to minimise data breach impacts. Advanced Threat Intelligence: The right threat intelligence solutions can provide critical insights about attacks. Bitdefender IntelliZone consolidates all the information we've gathered about RedCurl operations. If you already have an Intellizone account you can find additional structure information under Threat ID XYZ. By implementing these recommendations, organisations can strengthen their defences and better protect against the evolving threat landscape posed by sophisticated cyber adversaries. We would like to thank Stefan Ioja, Adrian Schipor, Victor Vrabie, and Bogdan Zavadovschi for help with putting this advisory report together. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A man featured on the Most Wanted fugitive list has been arrested after a brief standoff on Tuesday, March 25, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPCSO) announced in a news release. EPCSO said Armando Alvarado, 44, who was featured on the Most Wanted list for the week of March 21, was arrested and charged with obstruction or retaliation and terroristic threat against a peace officer with a $47,500 bond. Most Wanted fugitives for week of March 21, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alvarado was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants, including the following, according to EPCSO: Three counts of failure to comply with sex offender duty One count of assault family violence impeding breath/circulation One count of false report to induce emergency response EPCSO said that on Tuesday, deputies acted on an anonymous tip regarding the whereabouts of Alvarado. Deputies located Alvarado, but upon contact, he barricaded himself inside a residence and threatened to shoot law enforcement officers, EPCSO said. EPCSO said deputies quickly secured a perimeter around the house and initiated negotiations, and after a brief standoff, deputies successfully de-escalated the situation, convincing Alvarado to surrender peacefully. He was taken into custody without further incident, EPCSO added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The El Paso County Sheriffs Office remains committed to protecting the community and holding fugitives accountable. We will continue to pursue those who pose a risk to public safety and ensure they face justice, read the news release by EPCSO. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. RIVERDALE, Utah (ABC4) The woman who was found dead in a burning Riverdale trailer on Monday the same day her children were the subject of an AMBER Alert after being taken by their father has been identified by police. Mayra Catalan-Dimas, 23, was found unresponsive inside the burning trailer just before 3 p.m. on Monday, and was later pronounced dead. According to arrest documents, she was found with a puncture wound to the neck and severe burns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Riverdale Police Department said her identity wasnt previously released because her family had not yet been notified of her death. Our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time, Riverdale police said Wednesday. PREVIOUSLY: Mother of AMBER Alert children found dead with neck wound in burning house, docs say When officers received reports of a structure fire in the area of 5100 South 1050 West on March 24, they responded and saw a small amount of smoke emanating from a trailer. Catalan-Dimas was found unresponsive and was carried out of the trailer by officials before she was unfortunately found to be deceased, despite lifesaving efforts. Investigations revealed her cause of death to be homicide, and the cause of the fire to be arson, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, officials learned that Catalan-Dimass two children were missing, along with their father, Ricardo Trujillo, who was later arrested. After learning that the children were missing, officials issued an AMBER Alert. Trujillo and the children were unaccounted for, and authorities released information about the vehicle they were likely traveling in. Later in the evening, officials received a report that the suspect vehicle was seen in Springville Canyon. Officers responded and located the children with Ricardo Trujillo, who was taken into custody, Riverdale Police said in a Wednesday press release. The children were placed under the care of Child Protective Services initially but were later released to family. Trujillo was booked into the Weber County Correctional Facility on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson. According to previously filed arrest documents, Trujillo was arrested for domestic violence in January of this year. In 2021, he pleaded guilty to a Class A misdemeanor assault charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A GoFundMe* has been set up to help raise funds for funeral costs for Catalan-Dimas. The fundraising page said her children were the light of her life, and said her death has left a void. Officials said the investigation is still active. *ABC4.com is not affiliated with the online fundraiser or the organizers behind it. While this fundraiser is designated as donation protected by GoFundMe, ABC4.com does not guarantee that any funds donated will be used for the person(s) named as beneficiaries of the fundraiser. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A man is dead after crashing his moped on the Bloomfield Bridge in Polish Hill Thursday morning. The crash happened near the Bigelow Boulevard side of the bridge on the inbound side around 6:30 a.m. Public Safety Officials said the initial investigation showed that a 60-year-old man lost control of his moped while driving outbound on the bridge toward Bigelow Boulevard. He struck the center jersey barrier and was thrown over the divider into the inbound lanes. The bridge was shut down in both directions while detectives investigated. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Daniel Herrera Carbajal ICT TUCSON, Ariz. People laughed and shared stories inside the El Casino Ballroom on March 26. It wasn't a wake with inside voices and a melancholic tone. This was a celebration of life for Arizona Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva, who died March 13 from cancer treatment complications at the age of 77. Hundreds of people, from tribal leaders to Grijalvas constituents, packed the ballroom to celebrate his accomplishments. People danced under a discoball, shaking the floor, to Grijalvas favorite songs while a slideshow played in the background, showcasing moments of his life as a husband, grandfather and advocate for societys most downtrodden. Pascua Yaqui Tribe Chairman Julian Hernandez said Grijalvas work for the little people inspired him to pursue politics. The empowerment and advocacy that he had for them and their voice gave me the strive to go into politics, said Hernandez. He spoke for the workers, for the people that needed a voice. During his time in Congress, Grijalva became one of the most vocal defenders of Native American issues in the U.S. House of Representatives. Grijalva served Arizonas 7th Congressional District, which spans from Tucson to the edges of Phoenix. His funeral was held prior to his celebration of life at St. Augustine Cathedral in downtown Tucson. Hundreds of mourners, including congressional and tribal leaders, packed the church. Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland recalled his dedication to tribal nations. He was unwavering to protect our air, land and water and a powerful advocate for our tribal communities everywhere, she said. Later at the celebration of life, Pascua Yaqui Vice Chairman Peter Yucupicio spoke about Grijalvas work advocating not only for his tribe but for all people. When he walked, he walked for all of us. When he fought, he fought for all of us to preserve our language, to preserve these other lands and the written ways of belief, Yucupicio said. You know, every tribe has a uniqueness about themselves and must be respected not only for their sovereignty, but the way they celebrate life itself. Today, we are here to celebrate his life because it was truly a life that included Latinos, African Americans, Europeans, and tribal members like me. FILE - House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., speaks at Capitol in Washington, March 28, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Pascua Yaqui and American Legion Post 125 honored Grijalva and his family with a banner for everyone to sign. Pascua Yaqui Councilwoman Herminia Frias cited the Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act, which Grijalva introduced into Congress in 2021. People kept telling us it's not going to happen, said Frias. But having someone like Raul in D.C. that made it happen for us just speaks to the volume of his work, what he did and how he got things done. The act solidified an agreement the 2021 Pascua Yaqui Tribe-State of Arizona Amended and Restated Gaming Compact that allowed lands to be taken into federal trust on behalf of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Grijalva championed a multitude of Indigenous issues, introducing the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act to require federal consultation with tribal governments on matters impacting their communities. He introduced the Save Oak Flat from Foreign Mining Act as part of his efforts to safeguard lands for future generations by opposing the proposed Resolution Copper mine at Oak Flat. Turning Oak Flat into a political bargaining chip was an assault against tribal sovereignty that never should have happened, said Grijalva. Doing it on behalf of a foreign-owned mining conglomerate with a documented record of destroying Indigenous sacred sites and human rights violations makes it just that much more unconscionable. I urge my colleagues to do right by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and all of our tribal communities by moving quickly to pass this bill before its too late. His work impacted Indigenous communities so much it left Yucupicio wondering who would pick up where he left off. Who's going to fight like he did? Who's going to be there for the people? The people's champ, said Yucupicio. Hopefully, somebody will step up and do the same thing that he was doing. In Yaqui we say enchi mampo taawak. Its now in your hands. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. MSNBCs Morning Joe hosts had only two words to say while reading a new slate of text messages sent by some of the Trump administrations top national security officials: Good lord! During a Wednesday segment, hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brezeznski and co-host Jonathan Lemire invited Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)a member of the Senate Intelligence Committeeon air to look through text messages sent by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to a Signal group chat that also inadvertently included the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg. The hosts took Warner line-by-line through the messages to determine if any of the information he provided appeared to be classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After reading aloud one bullet point in Hegseths detailed play-by-play of an airstrike attack on Houthi targets in Yemen, Lemire paused for analysis from Warner, who swiftly noted: Obviously classified, if the bad guys knew, that would be harmful to the mission. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to reporters after being interviewed in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 21, 2025. / ANNABELLE GORDON/AFP via Getty Images Another detail shared prompted Warner to declare that if the situation was a test anyone involved would get a failing grade and would not be admitted into the intelligence community or military. Just a couple more, Lemire continued before reading another note from Hegseth which said: 1415 strike drones on target. This is again, this is all caps. This is when the first bombs will definitely drop pending earlier trigger-based targets. Good lord! Scarborough could immediately be heard lamenting on a hot mic. Good lord, he said again for appropriate measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The old Russian KGB would give their arm and a leg to try to get that information in real-time, Warner then proclaimed. Earlier this week, Goldberg revealed that he had inadvertently been added to a group chat with top Trump security officials, made to discuss sensitive attack plans regarding a March 15 airstrike on Houthi militants in Yemen. Leavitt: Why did they downgrade their allegation about war plans to attack plans. They are now playing word games pic.twitter.com/9khv7JLTMt Acyn (@Acyn) March 26, 2025 Members of the group chat, hosted on commercial messaging app Signal, included Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz (who added Goldberg in the first place), CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Hegseth, and a number of others. Since the leak, the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that no classified information or war plans were discussed on the message chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldberg took that rhetoric as an apparent green light to post all the messages he received while on the chat, labeling it an attack plan in a second headline. The Trump team have since latched onto the change of terminology as proof that the allegations of carelessness were meritless. Still, defense sources and experts have argued the opposite, with one source telling CNN that the information could be considered classified as the attack still had not started at the time the texts were sent. It is safe to say that anybody in uniform would be court-martialed for this, the official said. We dont 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. New research confirms workplace policies are in flux, with two-thirds of organisations planning changes in 2025 77% of Australian HR professionals report their organisation mandates some office attendance, while only 16% of employees have full control over their hybrid schedules. 39% of Australian employees are required to be in the office five days a week. Work-life balance (30%) and flexible working (26%) are among the top drivers of employee retention, highlighting the risk of rigid mandates. Change is on the horizon 66% of organisations plan to revise their policies this year: 26% introducing some mandated office days, 23% shifting to employee choice, 3% to fully remote and 14% mandating full-time office presence. COMPANY NEWS: As the debate over workplace flexibility intensifies, new research from ELMO Software reveals a growing divide between employer mandates and employee expectations. Despite flexible and remote work ranking as one of the top workplace priorities for employees, organisations are still enforcing in-office attendance policies. The 2025 ELMO HR Industry Benchmark Report, which surveyed 900 HR professionals across Australia in January 2025, explores key workforce trends, including technology adoption, employee mobility, productivity, and HR challenges. The findings show that 77% of HR professionals report their organisation mandates some office attendance, while only 16% of employees have full control over their hybrid schedules. Notably, 39% are required to be in the office five days a week, signalling a strong return-to-office push that may not align with employee expectations. "Workplace flexibility has been one of the most in-demand employee benefits in recent years, yet some organisations are moving in the opposite direction," said Joseph Lyons, CEO of ELMO Software. "As businesses struggle with productivity concerns and collaboration needs, they must also consider how rigid mandates could impact engagement, retention, and overall workforce satisfaction. While I've seen first-hand the benefits of in-office collaboration, finding the right balance is key to supporting a thriving workforce." The Driving Forces Behind Office Mandates While some organisations cite technological advancements (15%) and employee demand for flexibility (12%) as key drivers on their workplace policies, an almost equal number justify in-office mandates based on the need for in-person collaboration (14%) and concerns over productivity (12%). C-suite preferences (10%) also play a role, highlighting a potential disconnect between leadership priorities and employee sentiment. Despite the current focus on in-office mandates, productivity challenges persist. 91% of HR professionals acknowledge barriers to improving efficiency, with key obstacles including lack of clarity on goals and performance (32%), difficulty prioritising tasks (31%), and ineffective measurement frameworks (29%). Looking ahead, workplace policies are set to evolve. While 34% of HR professionals report no planned changes in the next 12 months, 66% anticipate policy shifts nearly half (49%) toward more hybrid models. Meanwhile, only 14% intend to mandate full-time office presence, reflecting a shift toward greater flexibility. Retention at Risk? The Growing Case for Flexibility HR professionals agree that work-life balance (30%) and flexible/remote working (26%) are among the top drivers of employee retention. And with flexibility ranking as the third-highest workplace priority in ELMOs latest Employee Sentiment Index (Oct - Dec 2024), the challenge for organisations is clear: how to balance business needs with employee expectations in a way that fosters engagement and long-term retention. "With talent attraction and retention remaining top challenges, organisations need to carefully consider how their workplace policies shape their employer brand, said Lyons. Employees increasingly expect flexibility, and businesses that dont adapt may struggle to attract and retain top talent in a competitive market." Australia vs. New Zealand: Key Differences in Office Mandates A comparison with New Zealands workforce policies highlights regional differences. Australian businesses are enforcing stricter office mandates, with 39% requiring five days in-office/onsite, compared to 27% in New Zealand. Meanwhile, hybrid work adoption is higher in New Zealand (65%) versus 55% in Australia, reflecting a stronger commitment to flexibility across the Tasman. At the same time, Australian businesses are more likely to measure workforce efficiency by productivity rate (47%), compared to 39% in New Zealand. Yet, strategic challenges persist. 87% of HR professionals in Australia cite barriers preventing them from operating more effectively, with the most common being limited access to real-time workforce data (38%) and lack of time (37%). Adding to the complexity, 71% of HR professionals across ANZ report their organisation plans to revise its work policy, highlighting an evolving workplace landscape where many still grapple with defining and measuring workforce productivity. Productivity and Performance: The Path Forward As the conversation around flexible work continues to be a hot topic in Australia, with some high-profile organisations mandating greater in-office attendance and political debates shaping the landscape, the need for strategic workforce planning has never been greater. With increasing productivity ranked as the top priority for organisations over the next 12 months, business leaders must take a nuanced approach to workplace policies. Rather than enforcing rigid mandates, organisations should focus on data-driven strategies that balance flexibility with business performance, ultimately fostering an environment where both employees and employers can thrive, Lyons said. About the ELMO 2025 HR Industry Benchmark Report Founded in 2002, the ELMO Group comprises ELMO Software in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and Breathe HR in the UK. It is the trusted provider of HR technology solutions to 16,000+ small and mid-sized organisations and two million end users. With a comprehensive suite of ISO-certified solutions that span the full employee lifecycle, ELMO Software is designed to scale as organisations grow. Flexible and configurable, ELMOs one-stop HRIS fits to your specific needs and workflows. Through powerful technology, automation, data and analytics, ELMO Software empowers HR professionals to play an integral role in company decision making. As part of Breakthrough Victorias University Innovation Program (UIP), Breakthrough Victoria and Swinburne University of Technology are each investing $500,000 in EntroMat, a Melbourne-based company that creates advanced metal powders called High Entropy Materials (HEMs). Independent investment company Breakthrough Victoria says the investment is part of its $100 million University Innovation Platform aiming to increase the commercialisation of critical research with real-world benefits from Victorian universities. Swinburne University of Technology, Deakin University, La Trobe University, University of Melbourne and Monash University and have each contributed $9 million, RMIT has contributed $7.5 million, and Australian Catholic University $7 million in funding, matched by Breakthrough Victoria, to create new partnership agreements to drive the commercialisation of their research. Breakthrough Victoria notes: HEMs represent a breakthrough in materials science, engineered by combining multiple principal elements. This unique alloying strategy leads to exceptional properties not achievable in conventional alloys. HEMs are purpose-designed to exhibit superior mechanical strength, thermal stability, corrosion and wear resistance, and longevity under extreme industrial environments. These attributes make them ideal for advanced manufacturing where performance, efficiency, and sustainability are critical. EntroMats proprietary HEM powders are tailored for advanced manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing, surface coatings, and powder metallurgy, and target high-impact sectors including but not limited to: Mining Enhancing the wear resistance and service life of heavy-duty components, Energy-Thermally stable, corrosion-resistant, and high-performance alloys for hydrogen systems, fuel cells, batteries, and thermal power applications, Medical Technology Developing biocompatible, high-strength alloys for durable implants and surgical devices, Aerospace Providing lightweight, high-temperature-resistant materials for demanding aerospace and space components. According to Breakthrough Victoria, traditional materials often fall short in high-performance environmentsdegrading quickly, losing strength at elevated temperatures, or corroding under harsh conditions - and in contrast, HEMs are designed to thrive in these environments, unlocking new possibilities for manufacturing innovation and sustainability. By integrating advanced computational alloy design, recycled critical elements, and scalable production routes, EntroMat is redefining what is possible in engineered materialssupporting Australias sovereign capability in high-value manufacturing, notes Breakthrough Victoria. Breakthrough Victoria recently announced the major milestone of over $1.06 billion in co-investment from Seed and later stages, and says that by co-investing with signatory BVUIP universities in early-stage companies, BV is helping position very early-stage ventures for long-term success and increasing their readiness for private sector investment as companies grow. These investments not only help retain promising companies in Victoriacreating jobs and, in some cases, entire industriesbut also strengthen the states innovation ecosystem by attracting additional investment. "EntroMats technology represents a game-changer for industries that demand stronger, more resilient, and sustainable materials. Our investment through the Breakthrough Victoria University Innovation Platform (BVUIP) reflects our commitment to turning cutting-edge research into real-world solutions that drive innovation and economic growth. Were excited to support EntroMat on their journey to revolutionize advanced manufacturing," says Breakthrough Victoria CEO Rod Bristow. Manufacturing drives innovation, economic growth and jobs for Victorians, says Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson, adding that the Allan Labor Government is proud to be supporting businesses through commercialisation, supporting industries and creating more highly skilled jobs. Swinburne Universitys Dr Werner van der Merwe, Vice President, Innovation and Enterprise commented: This investment partnership is showcasing how world-class research and commercial expertise combine to create value. With vital early-stage funding for deep tech startups like EntroMat, we are co-creating the industries of the future, today." EntroMat is built on sovereign technology developed at Swinburne over the past decade. It will create advanced materials that will outperform conventional products, creating new markets and new possibilities. EntroMat is grateful to Breakthrough Victoria and Swinburne University for supporting the growth of the business, said Greg Lindsay, CEO of EntroMat. Already, EntroMats products have secured interest from D&T Hydraulics, a remanufacturing service provider for the mining sector based in the Mackay & Bowen Basin in Queensland. The company has signed a Letter of Intent for EntroMat to develop, test and provide a prototype a cutting-edge HEM product for the remanufacture of hydraulic cylinder rods by D&T. A Nashville security company accused of falsely identifying its guards as police is standing trial this week. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, which regulates security companies, has charged Solaren Risk Management with 62 civil violations of state law. A multi-day hearing began Wednesday. Administrative law judge Claudia Padfield did not indicate how soon she will make a ruling. Some of the violations also concern accusations that the company has outfitted its vehicles with flashing blue and red lights, in violation of state law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solaren could face a hefty fine $2,000 per violation as well as costs of the investigation and have its license revoked if the judge rules against it. Solaren provides security for some Broadway bars like Nudies Honky Tonk as well as other places like Opry Mills Mall, according to testimony Wednesday. Attorney Jesse Gentry points to a picture of patches worn by Solaren Risk Management security guards while questioning former Solaren employee Michael Siriyutwatana during a trial before an administrative law judge on March 26, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. Solaren and its owner Jack Byrd have denied violating the law. Several current and former Solaren security guards testified Wednesday that Solaren management required they wear patches or other adornments on their uniforms identifying them as off-duty police, retired police or something similar. Some guards who testified had never worked as a certified law enforcement officer in Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some said they had concerns over the police insignias but were told by the companys management that it was OK. According to [Solaren], as long as you're a retired police officer from anywhere, you have the right to play police officer in Tennessee, said Costantine Jordahamo, a former security guard for Solaren. Jordahamo is a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Solaren over labor issues. Christopher Miller, a current Solaren security guard, testified he asked to wear patches that said security but was told by company leadership you have to wear police. The guards testified Solaren management changed the types of patches guards were asked to wear after the company came under intense media scrutiny in recent years. Byrd and Solaren were the focus of WSMVs Thin Blurred Line investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solarens attorney Joshua Lee argued the majority of the guards the state says illegally identified themselves as police fall under exemptions in state law based on their past or current affiliations with law enforcement offices. Patches worn by Solaren Risk Management security guards are projected on a screen while attorney Jesse Gentry questions a witness during a trial before an administrative law judge on March 26, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. The states attorney Jesse Gentry, however, argued Solaren was asking the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance to read an exemption into the law that simply does not exist. One part of the law says the prohibition against security guards identifying as police does not apply to full-time sworn peace officers and retired peace officers. Lee also said Solaren's practices are in line with other security companies' in Nashville. Of the 62 charges, 45 concern identifying security guards as police officers. Eleven charges accuse the company of using blue police lights on non-police vehicles, which is illegal under state law. Five charges accuse Solaren of sending guards into the field without them having a security guard license, and one charge accuses the company of failing to respond to a complaint against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video showed the blue and red lights on cars the state said were owned by Solaren, but Lee argued the state has "not even alleged" that the lights were used while performing the functions of a security guard. Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville security firm Solaren on trial, could lose license New data from the Nassau County Police Department shows a major drop in crimes to start 2025. Records show that major crimes in Nassau County dropped more than 25% in the first two months of 2025 a dramatic year-over-year improvement that law enforcement officials say reflects ongoing efforts to keep their communities safe. The department, which tracks seven major crime categories murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and grand theft auto reported a total of 710 major crimes so far this year, compared to 951 during the same period in 2024. Records show that major crimes in Nassau County dropped more than 25% in the first two months of 2025. James Messerschmidt Nassau County is the safest county in America thanks to the men and women of our Police Department, Corrections Officers, Probation Officers and my no nonsense approach to law and order, County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the second year in a row, the county recorded zero murders during the first two months of the year. Robberies took one of the biggest dives from 2024 with commercial robberies also dropping 25% from 32 cases last year to 24 this year while other robberies, such as those in public spaces, were cut by more than half, from 47 to 23. Residential break-ins were also slashed in half, with just 29 reported so far this year, and businesses or other non-residential spots saw similar relief, with those incidents dropping from 87 to 45. For the second year in a row, the county recorded zero murders during the first two months of the year. Dennis A. Clark Grand larceny the countys most common major crime is now on the decline with over 100 fewer cases compared to this time last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assaults also trended down from 69 to 57 a solid drop that signals fewer violent confrontations turning serious. And while car thefts have been climbing in other parts of the country, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Nassau is bucking the trend with a nearly 18% drop. Grand larceny the countys most common major crime is now on the decline with over 100 fewer cases compared to this time last year. Gregory P. Mango But the data wasnt entirely positive one sexual assault and two sexual abuse cases were reported in the first two months of 2025, up from zero the year before. Nassaus neighbors in the five boroughs have also seen a nearly 15% year-over-year decrease in major crimes for January and February, according to data from the NYPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murders were down 32% with shooting incidents dropping over 20% breaking a 30-year record for the fewest number of shootings in the first two months of the year. Our comprehensive crime fighting strategies are working, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. What do national retail giant Target and Wawa, the mega convenience store and gas station brand known for made-to-order hoagies, signature brand coffee and loyal following that rivals Buc-ee's, have in common? Theyre both major developments approved in Gallatin. More: What's that? New Gallatin retail center to be anchored by Target On Monday, city officials green-lighted a preliminary master development plan for Wawa at 1195 Long Hollow Pike in Gallatin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The East Coast chain is looking to build a 6,374-square-foot convenience store and service building on 3.52 acres of a 21.28-acre site west of Greenlea Boulevard and south of Long Hollow Pike. Ten fuel stations are part of the site plan, according to Gallatin Municipal Planning Commission documents. Wawa's site plan for its Gallatin location. Ive heard a lot about people wanting Wawa here, Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown said during a March 3 Planning Commission meeting. Im happy that people are excited, Im really excited for Wawa to come, Megan Salvador, a representative of Wawa, said during the meeting earlier this month. Issues concerning the brands trademark canopy were discussed during the meeting, though ultimately, city officials voted to remove it from the projects conditions to build. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats definitely the first indicator that thats a Wawa to our loyal customer base, so thats something that we have also been incredibly protective of, Salvador said. The preliminary master development plan was unanimously approved with 14 conditions during the Planning Commission meeting on March 24. More: Wawa submits initial plans for new location in Springfield as next Middle TN location More: Wawa eyes Dickson for new Middle TN store at prominent I-40 site Engineering, planning and design consultant firm Kimley-Horn serves as the project design team. It has branches in Nashville and Franklin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the documents, Wawa plans to begin construction in Gallatin in August. Construction is estimated to take about nine months to complete. The store anticipates opening in May 2026. A rendering of Wawa's planned location in Gallatin. Headquartered in Wawa, Pennsylvania, the convenience store chain promotes an all-day, every-day stop for built-to-order hoagies, freshly brewed coffee and fuel services. It shares a devoted following similar to Buc-ees, another mega convenience store and gas station chain, with most stores operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As previously reported by The Tennessean, about 40 other store locations are anticipated for the Nashville market in the future, according to an expansion announcement originally released in June 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Wawa convenience market, an East Coast favorite, teases Nashville locations More: Where is Wawa expanding in Nashville, Middle Tennessee. Here's what we know so far With a commitment to fulfilling lives in our community, were thrilled to continue our growth in new markets to provide quality fresh food, beverages and support to new friends and neighbors, Wawa Vice President of Real Estate John Poplawski said in the press release. We are excited to expand beyond our current operating area and look forward to serving the community come 2025 and beyond. Wawa officials are seeking site suggestions for potential locations in adjacent and new market areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Site suggestions can be submitted online at wawa.com/about/real-estate/site-submission. Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wawa is coming to this new Middle Tennessee location NATO seemingly walked back comments from its chief that suggested four U.S. soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania had died, clarifying late Wednesday that the search is ongoing. On the 4 US soldiers missing in a military exercise in Lithuania, the search is ongoing, NATO said in a post on social platform X. We regret any confusion about remarks @SecGenNATO delivered on this today. Secretary -General Mark Rutte signaled earlier Wednesday that the soldiers were dead. While speaking with reporters during a trip to Warsaw, Rutte said he received word that they had been killed, but it was still early so we do not know the details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones, he said at the time. A NATO spokesperson said Rutte was referring to emerging news reports and not confirming the fate of the four soldiers, which is still unknown. U.S. Army Europe and Africa said the missing troops were part of the Armys 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division and were training close to the Lithuanian city Pabrade, less than 6 miles west of the border with Belarus. The Army said the armored vehicle carrying the four soldiers during a training exercise had been found submerged in a body of water. Recovery efforts are underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia all members of NATO have poor ties with Russia, who is an ally of Belarus. Relations have worsened in the three years since Russias invasion of Ukraine. President Trump was asked Wednesday if he had been briefed about the missing U.S. citizens, and he said no, I havent. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sweden is deploying its Gripen fighter jets on a NATO air defense mission for the first time. The jets were designed to fight Russia and are now set to be used in Polish skies. Sweden joined NATO in response to Russian aggression, specifically the invasion of Ukraine. NATO's newest member is deploying a fighter jet that is designed for a fight with Russia to protect alliance borders for the first time. Sweden's armed forces said six of the country's JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft landed at an air base in Malbork, Poland, on Wednesday to join an alliance airspace surveillance mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO said this was the first time Sweden's combat aircraft had participated in the alliance's "enhanced Air Policing mission" from within another ally's airspace since it joined in March 2024. It previously took part in NATO air policing missions only over its own territory, as only a partner nation. Sweden, along with its neighbor Finland, broke with decades of neutrality to join NATO, citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine as its motivation for seeking membership. That was an unintended effect of Russian President Vladimir Putin's brutal war, a stated reason for which was to limit the expansion of the NATO alliance. Both Sweden and Finland built their militaries with a threat from Russia in mind, and the Gripen was one such project. The jets, made by the Swedish aerospace and defense company Saab AB, were specifically built to counter Russia. The commander of Sweden's air force at the time, Mats Helgesson, said in 2019 that the Gripen was "designed to kill Sukhois," a type of Russian jet. Sweden's Saab Gripen in flight. Oleg V. Belyakov - AirTeamImages Gripens can function from civilian roads rather than expensive runways at fixed airfields that can be targeted. Russia has targeted that kind of infrastructure during the war. It also requires less maintenance than some other aircraft, like the US-made F-16s that are widely available in a number of NATO arsenals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Bohnert, a warfare analyst at the RAND Corporation, said the Gripen's flexibility made it "much better for a country that's bordering an aggressor." Poland, which borders Ukraine to the west, sees itself very much as a frontline NATO ally. Warfare experts, for these reasons, point to the Gripen as the best available fourth-gen fit of all NATO aircraft for Ukraine. Sweden has not pledged any, though it has explored the idea. Pal Jonson, Sweden's defense minister, told Business Insider last month that he was "having a dialogue" with Ukraine and other countries in the Air Force Coalition, a group of allies committed to helping Ukraine. He said it's "more challenging for the Ukrainians to absorb another fighter." Ukraine has already received American-made F-16 and French Mirages, so Sweden, the defense minister said, had been advised to focus on sending airborne sensor platforms that could provide command and control support. US Air Force F-16s with Swedish JAS 39 Gripens over the Baltic Sea during an exercise in 2018. US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Jordan Kaminski Despite the praise these jets receive, Sweden's Gripens haven't seen the type of combat they would in Ukraine. Nor have they experienced what they would face in a Russian war against the NATO alliance. Europe braces for more Russian aggression But Europe is preparing for such a scenario. Watching the invasion, much of Europe, particularly the countries closer to Russia like Poland and Sweden, is preparing for the prospect of a conflict with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many NATO allies are increasing defense spending and manufacturing, forging defense agreements, and holding larger NATO exercises. Poland and Sweden are among Ukraine's biggest international partners and are among the countries warning the loudest that Russia could attack elsewhere in Europe . Last year, Sweden gave citizens a booklet that advised them how to prepare for war, and its defense minister warned that even though Russia's forces were "tied up in Ukraine," Russia "poses a threat to Sweden, as it does to the rest of NATO." He said Sweden "cannot rule out a Russian attack on our country." A Saab JAS 39 Gripen. JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images Poland has also given warnings, including its foreign minister saying he would not be surprised if Russia attacked his country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two countries are among NATO's biggest spenders on defense. Poland spends the highest proportion of its gross domestic product on defense of any member, including the US, and Sweden exceeds the 2% of GDP on defense guideline that NATO set. Sweden's Gripen jets will be deployed in Poland from April along with some of the UK Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoons, NATO said. NATO describes its "enhanced Air Policing mission" as a peacetime mission that was introduced in 2014 after Russia illegally annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine. The alliance said its airpower efforts since 2014 were designed "to demonstrate the collective resolve of Allies, demonstrate the defensive nature of NATO and deter Russia from aggression or the threat of aggression against NATO Allies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the Trump administration shaking long-standing alliances, certain allies have questioned plans to buy F-35s. Aircraft like the Gripen or the Eurofighter Typhoon could become much more important. There's an opportunity for European defense companies, but it creates a problem for European countries, as there are fewer of those jet types available and their production, at least for now, is slower. Read the original article on Business Insider Many homeowners say corporate landlords buy so many homes in their neighborhoods that it hurts their property values. Now, North Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill that would limit how many rental homes a person or company can own. Jen asked not to use her full name. She didnt want to upset her landlord, but she did want to speak about her frustrations. Its just not been a great experience, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says shes had HVAC, electrical, and runaround issues. We were getting ready in the pitch black in showers, trying to get ready for work, for school, for everything, she said. She says the company did knock $300 off her rent. Neighbors come together to speak out against corporate landlords A company rents the house to her. In fact, companies own a lot of the houses in her neighborhood. Some people who live in neighborhoods with a lot of corporate landlords have told Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke in the past that they worry it hurts their property values. Stoogenke asked Jen if she would be concerned if there were a ton of rentals in her neighborhood if she were a homeowner, especially if one company owned them all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would because I dont think that a lot of these management companies screen properly, she said. And I had an experience in a previous neighborhood that I lived in where we had a lot of renters, but the renters didnt take care of the property. They just kind of left it in disarray. The bill lawmakers are considering would limit how many homes someone can buy to rent. N.C. Senate Bill 199 applies to counties with more than 150,000 people. It would outlaw people from buying 100 or more single-family homes to rent. The penalty would cost up to $100 per day for each home. I do think thats smart, she said. We always want just to urge a sense of caution when you add regulations, said Robert DellOsso with the National Association of Residential Property Managers. I just worry that a bill like this could open a Pandoras box down the road so maybe its 100 doors per entity now, but a future legislature could shrink that to 50 or 75 or 10 or five. And then you really start to affect individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre not all bad, right? Some of them are actually pretty good, he added. If the bill becomes law, it would apply to any landlords after that. Anyone with more than the limit now would be grandfathered in. VIDEO: Renter says landlord is in foreclosure and that her familys caught in the middle Nicholas Hemachandra listens to his father Ray talk about the needs of people with disabilities at the NC Legislative Building. (Photo: Lynn Bonner) People with disabilities and their parents came to the Legislative Building in Raleigh on Wednesday to illustrate for legislators the frustrating problem of finding help that enables people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to live in communities. Their testimony highlighted the challenges of finding frontline workers amid constant turnover and the years-long wait to receive help from a Medicaid program called the Innovations Waiver. But speakers also described lives of people who are able to work, make friends, and pursue hobbies with the help of workers called direct support professionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Innovations has been an incredible success story for Nicholas, Ray Hemachandra of Buncombe County said of his 24-year-old son, who is autistic and intellectually disabled. Nicholas works at an ice cream shop and volunteers at a food bank and a community church ministry, his father said. Nicholas learns skills for greater independence with his support workers, from running laundry and doing dishes to self-care skills, Hemachandra said. He participates in Asheville City recreational programs and other social groups, swims and takes classes at the Y, and he has become a truly exceptional juggler. His Innovations support workers contributed to all of this. He highlighted the importance of his son receiving support workers while he was still in school. Unfortunately, for thousands of other North Carolinians in need of similar supports, the wait for help will likely take years. There are now more people on the waiting list (18,771) than there are people who are using the program. Most children on the list now will be well into adulthood before they receive services under the waiver. In 2021, Ruby Loftis of Winston-Salem, died while waiting for a slot. Rep. Zack Hawkins (D-Durham) (Photo: ncleg.gov) The frontline workers, called direct support professionals, are employed by private companies and their average pay is below the states living wage. Low pay and lack of opportunity for career advancement contribute to worker shortages and job turnover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bipartisan group of legislators that Rep. Zack Hawkins (D-Durham) helps lead is in its second year working to highlight the needs of people with disabilities and their families and to convince budget writers to contribute more money to support them. Families are crying for the help from the General Assembly, Hawkins said. Helping these families will help build a more inclusive state, he said. Rebecca Conway quit her job in 2022 to care for her daughter Erica, because no direct support professional was available to do the work, she said. Erica, now 34, suffered a traumatic brain injury when she was 16, Conway said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changes must happen to attract a healthy workforce to care for our fellow North Carolinians that need assistance, she said. Better wages, a statewide database for certification that can be accessed by all provider companies, clear career paths, and educational development programs would send a message that [direct support professionals] are valuable and caregiving is recognized as a profession, she said. Last year, the state Department of Health and Human Services published a multi-year plan to address the workforce shortage. Legislators have been adding Innovations Waiver slots, and in the last few budgets increased rates paid to the companies that employ the frontline workers with the intention that they increase worker salaries. Rep. Sarah Crawford (D-Wake) (Photo: ncleg.gov) Yet, the waiting list keeps growing, and most workers salaries have not reached the legislatures target of $18 an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The workers who are helping people with disabilities live full lives are making $12 and $14, maybe if theyre lucky, $15 an hour, said Rep. Sarah Crawford (D-Wake). That is not a living wage here in North Carolina. Many of these people are leaving work to go to work, either to another job so they can make ends meet, or to take care of other family members. Sens. Lisa Grafstein (D-Wake) and Timothy Moffitt (R-Henderson), co-sponsored bills that seek to raise direct support worker pay to $25 an hour, and to add another 10,000 Innovations Waiver slots over the next two years. Hawkins said he wants a 10-year plan and to work alongside the state Department of Health and Human Services to figure out how to move through the waitlist. No legislative action is expected on the issue until Republican leaders unveil a state budget plan later this spring. Students work in a classroom at a Wake County public school. (Photo: Galen Bacharier) North Carolina Senate leaders introduced a bill earlier this week aimed at providing more flexibility to local school districts in setting their school calendars. The bill would also impose stricter punishment for districts that defy the law. Senate Bill 754, titled School Calendar Flexibility: A New Alternative, was filed by Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and Sens. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, and Michael Lee, R-New Hanover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill offers school districts two options for setting their academic calendars. One follows the current law, which requires a start date no earlier than Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end date no later than the Friday closest to June. The new options allow schools to start as early as the Monday closest to Aug. 19, with the school year ending no later than the Friday before Memorial Day. The bill also outlines consequences for school boards that violate the law. The superintendent of public instruction would investigate violations and report to the State Board of Education. Districts that violate the law would lose funding for central office staff and supplies if they do not take corrective actions. Residents and business owners of the district would also be able to sue their local school boards. This balances the desire of some school districts to start the school year earlier while still supporting our local businesses dependent on summer tourism, Berger said in a release announcing the bill. We must take the appropriate steps to hold school districts that break the law accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This marks a shift for Berger, who has long maintained that districts should stick to the current law. Many school districts argue that an earlier start date allows them to complete a full semester of instruction and final exams before winter break, preventing learning loss during the recess. Supporters also point out that the flexibility would allow school districts to better align high school and community college schedules, making it easier for high school students to earn college credit while still in high school. The North Carolina tourism industry has long opposed granting school districts more control over their calendars, arguing that earlier start date hurts family vacations and summer tourism revenue. The states current school calendar law aligns with the industrys preference for a break that includes most of August and was chiefly the result of industry lobbying effort when it was enacted in 2004. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislative efforts to grant local school districts more control over school calendars have stalled over the years. Multiple bills have already been introduced this year to grant local school boards greater authority to set academic calendars. Many school districts have in the past defied the states Aug. 26 academic start date. Last year, a judge voided Carteret Countys proposed calendar, which had students starting nine weekdays earlier, on Aug. 13, after a group of parents and business owners sued the school board. Finding compromises like this isnt always easy, but this bill is the culmination of good-faith efforts from stakeholders and legislators, Sen. Galey said in the same release. With the evolution of the school choice landscape, as well as North Carolina becoming the fifth most popular state for travel and tourism, its time to update and adapt our school calendar law. Ronnie Chatterji of OpenAI, NC Treasurer Brad Briner, and Chan Park of OpenAI announce the treasurer's' office is using ChatGPT in a 12-week pilot program. (Photo: Lynn Bonner) The state Treasurers Office is using ChatGPT in a 12-week artificial intelligence pilot program. State Treasurer Brad Briner said the department is using the OpenAI product to identify businesses with unclaimed property and analyze local government financial data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office is a repository for unclaimed money from bank accounts, insurance policies and other sources, and seeks to find the people and institutions who own it. The departments State and Local Government Finance Division monitors the fiscal health of local governments and government entities and approves their requests to borrow money. ChatGPT wont replace employees, Briner said, and the agency is using OpenAIs product at no cost. Imagine the time saved when ChatGPT can help summarize reports, identify warning signs in local government financial audits, or do deep data searches for unclaimed property, he said. This allows our team of dedicated professionals to focus on higher-level strategic decision making and financial stewardship. ChatGPT is not replacing human expertise. It is augmenting our capabilities and enabling us to make more informed data-driven decisions. ChatGPT wont have access to private, personal data, Briner said. His office oversees the health plan for state employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Briner made the announcement at NC Central University, which has an Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Equity Research. Chan Park, head of U.S. and Canada Policy and Partnerships at OpenAI, Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAIs chief economist, and NCCU Provost Ontario Wooden joined Briner at the announcement. Chatterji was once a candidate for state Treasurer and worked for former President Barack Obama. Pennsylvania announced a ChatGPT Enterprise pilot program last year, and Minnesota is using ChatGPT in its translation office. The treasurer and people working at the department have important jobs serving the public, Chatterji said. If these tools can help them better deliver those services, and if leaders like Brad have the courage to implement these things, were going to get better results, and its going to be a better place to do business, he said. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has been impacted by the abrupt and immediate termination of several federal grants, officials said Wednesday. NCDHHS officials said they are certain the cuts will result in the loss of more than 80 jobs and more than $100 million in funding that directly contributes to the health, safety, and wellbeing of people served by the department. According to the NCDHSS, the federal grant funding impacts a number of areas of work, including immunization efforts, funding for the new North Carolina Immunization Registry, infectious disease monitoring and response, behavioral health, and substance use disorder services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the impacted funding supports work that is completed by local health departments, universities, hospitals and local departments of social services, according to NCDHSS. NCDHSS officials said they are putting impacted vendors on notice to pause work supported by the funds until they learn more from the federal government. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Public health work by universities, hospitals, social services and health departments around North Carolina will be impacted after the Trump administration announced $11.4 billion in immediate cuts, state officials say. For the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, it will mean more than 80 job losses and at least $100 million in funding cuts, the agency said. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told NBC News it was clawing back COVID-19 pandemic funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement to The Associated Press: 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. NCDHHS officials called the termination of federal grants abrupt and immediate. The statement, first reported by Spectrum News, goes on to say that theyre still working to determine the depth of impact. The federal grants funding impacts a number of areas of work including immunization efforts, funding for the new NC Immunization Registry, infectious disease monitoring and response, behavioral health, substance use disorder services and more, the statement said. Some of the impacted funding supports work that is completed by local health departments, universities, hospitals, and local departments of social services. Beginning in March 2020, COVID-19 infected more than 3.5 million people in North Carolina and killed 29,059. Tracking cases and deaths ended on May 10, 2023, meaning the total is much higher now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disease killed 222 people throughout the United States the week of March 15. That was down from 416 deaths reported the week prior. DHHS officials said contractors supported by the money are being notified to pause their work until more information is provided by the federal government. The department didnt provide the names of the companies or the nature of their work. But Lori Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County & City Health Officials, told The Associated Press the funding 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freeman told the wire service that includes using wastewater monitoring to detect illnesses in a community, which North Carolina does. Wastewater is still being used in North Carolina to track both the flu and RSV and currently shows spikes in the state. Measles outbreaks are spreading throughout the United States, and while they havent reached North Carolina, 7.2% of residents are not yet vaccinated. Georgia, Kentucky and Maryland all have confirmed cases. Mar. 26The Trump Administration on Tuesday canceled nearly $5 million in emergency food assistance for the state of Washington. For the next few months, foods like chicken and turkey breasts, canned chicken, dried plums, dried cranberries and milk will no longer be provided by the federal emergency food program for food banks in Washington, according to Daniel Schafer, the communications administrator for the Washington Department of Agriculture. Employees at the state's agriculture department logged into a federal system to track orders for food assistance programs on Tuesday and noticed the status of a previous order for food delivery from April to June changed from "under review" to "canceled." Those orders total $4.7 million as part of the Emergency Food Assistance Program, run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Spokane County, that equates to a cancellation of around $405,000 in federal food dollars, or 8.6% of the total reduction. The cuts roll out in tandem with the Trump Administration's efforts to slash more than $1 billion in programs that helped food banks, schools and low-income families afford standard meals the cost of food, however, continues to rise, and more families are seeking assistance from local food banks, says Eric Williams, the spokesperson for Second Harvest. The Spokane County hunger-relief network serves 26 counties across Eastern Washington and parts of North Idaho. Because Second Harvest's federal food is a small portion around 5% of its total 35 million pounds in food distributions a year it's likely the center will be able to supplement that loss, Williams said. But there's little clarity around the federal decision to cut those deliveries, and "it changes by the hour for everybody here," he said. Second Harvest is continuing to seek clarity on the matter, but the information the center gets depends largely on the state, which depends on USDA, Williams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Any changes have an impact. The important part is what effect it will have on families," he added. "But, if we aren't getting (emergency assistance) milk, that doesn't mean we can't get milk elsewhere. There's a mosaic of sources, and its always changing. It could change tomorrow." Williams said as of Wednesday government food cancellations to Second Harvest include items like canned summer corn, canned green beans, 2% milk, oranges and cranberries. The canceled orders from Tuesday aren't the first loss to food programs since the Trump administration took office. On March 7, the state's agriculture department received a notice from the federal government that $8.5 million in Local Food Purchase Assistance funding was terminated, Schafer said. That program provides funding for tribal and state governments to purchase food within 400 miles of their delivery destination, USDA's website says. The purpose, according to USDA, is to "maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency" and allows states and tribes to "procure and distribute local and regional foods and beverages that are healthy, nutritious, unique to their geographic areas and that meet the needs of the population." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spending for the purchase assistance program was expected to be available into next year, Schafer said. Not anymore. In February, there was some indication of potential changes to food assistance in a status report from USDA, which told Washington's agriculture department that an order was "returned for review." That means the orders were in the process to be completed, but that process was stopped, Schafer said. When Washington turned to USDA for clarity, "they were not able to provide any additional information other than that these orders were under review," Schafer said. At present, how Washington would supplement the loss of $4.7 million in emergency food is up in the air. "We are going to do the best we can, no matter what the situation is," Schafer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Washington still has food coming in from nonfederal sources and is accepting food that other states may have turned down, said Kim Eads, the food assistance program manager for Washington's agriculture department. At Second Harvest, the distribution has been "level" over the last four years, Williams said, but the need has skyrocketed because more working families are using food banks. More than 50 million people went to food banks for help in 2023, according to a survey from Feeding America. While a majority of Second Harvest's food is privately donated, the portion of government-funded or delivered food also increased slightly in 2024, Williams said. Those numbers fluctuate often. Co-executive director for Serve Spokane Cathy DelPizzo said Wednesday her food pantry obtains 50-70% of its food from Second Harvest, but she's unsure how much of that is government-funded. As of Tuesday, she hadn't heard of any direct impacts to the food pantry. If Serve Spokane, which is faith-based, is later affected by the government cuts, its people would "put the word out" and ask for donations, DelPizzo said. But there are "always ways we see God put food on our shelves." Since 2007, the food pantry has been through its fair share of ups and downs. There was an instance when Serve Spokane had no money and no meat, DelPizzo said, and then a meat processing plant had a buyer cancel an order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They literally delivered pallets full of meat to us," DelPizzo said. "We have seen the community be responsive, and Spokane is pretty amazing. People do care about other people." In the meantime, DelPizzo said the number of people seeking assistance from her pantry has more than doubled in the last year with how expensive food is becoming. Prices for all food are predicted to increase 3.2% this year, according to data from the USDA, and grocery store purchases are now 1.9% higher than this time in 2024. It's why DelPizzo noticed people showing up at the pantry who usually don't. "The school teacher is coming through, who has to supplement for her kids. This man driving this beautiful truck came in, numbers were down in the business he worked for and he was laid off," she said. "They all said, 'I'd never thought I'd be coming to a food bank.' " LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Clark Countys top prosecutor said lawmakers need to amend Nevada law to increase penalties when it comes to impaired driving, adding tougher consequences would deter potentially deadly behavior. Whatever were doing right now isnt working, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said. Were not getting the message out because people are still doing it. Nevada law classifies a persons first DUI as a misdemeanor. It carries a potential jail sentence of 2-180 days, though the law is written to say the time can be served through community service. Judges can also revoke a persons license, issue a fine and order them to attend a class. Should an offender have a blood-alcohol level of more than 0.18% more than double the legal limit a judge can order that person to treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A DUI becomes a felony in Nevada after two previous DUI convictions within seven years. However, the 8 News Now Investigators found some people pick up DUI charges so quickly, their misdemeanors pile up. Las Vegas Metro police arrested Alfredo Jauregui, 22, on Oct. 5 on charges of DUI resulting in death, records said. Jauregui, who does not have a drivers license, is accused of killing George Brown, 48, as Brown was in the road on Marion Drive near Nellis Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue. Browns death marks Jaureguis fifth DUI accusation since 2021, records said. His third DUI conviction did not rise to a felony because of other concurrent cases. I think if people start to think, Oh my god, Im going to spend a few days in jail, that will deter many people, Wolfson, a Democrat, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An accused DUI driver will spend some time in jail as they sober up after their arrest, but even after a second DUI conviction, the 8 News Now Investigators found judges often sentence a now-repeat drunk driver to days, not months in jail. With several failures to appear, judges sentenced Jauregui to 98 days in jail for one case and 82 days in jail for two cases combined, spokespeople for the cities of Henderson and Las Vegas said. Jemarcus Williams, 47, drove impaired on Nov. 30, 2023, colliding with Sgt. Michael Abbate and Trooper Alberto Felix on an Interstate 15 offramp near Downtown Las Vegas. The two policemen were standing on the side of the road investigating a second DUI driver when Williams killed them. A municipal court judge later sentenced that second DUI driver to 10 days in jail with the stipulation that he could serve on weekends only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada law states penalties for a second DUI conviction within seven years of a persons first can be tough, including six months in jail, fines, license revocation and a required class. The laws are there and our laws are tough, Las Vegas Justice Court Chief Judge Melisa De La Garza said, adding jail is not always the answer. When they come out of the jail, are they any better? Is our community any safer? And the answer is probably, no, she said. It costs taxpayers $240 a day to house an inmate at the Clark County Detention Center, De La Garza said. The justice courts DUI court, which sees on average 102 cases a day, can issue a suspended jail sentence, meaning a person will only go to jail should they violate the terms they agreed to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, judges have discretion about sentencing and often sentence a person to a suspended jail sentence if they do not change their behavior. Oftentimes, judges will give a DUI defendant, at least after their first or second offense, the opportunity to go to treatment and avoid jail time. Initially, dont we want to try and get to the root of the problem, so we dont just have people coming in and out of our jail just circulating and coming back, and our community, quite honestly, is still at risk? De La Garza said. You should have to spend a minimum of five days in jail, OK? That will start to deter people, Wolfson said, agreeing that treatment and education are appropriate in some cases. He worries others just do not care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope our legislators are listening because we need to do something, Wolfson said. We need to increase the punishments. We need to change the laws so that we are deterring more people from drunk driving. In an interview in January, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill also suggested creating tougher consequences to deter drunk driving. Wolfson and De La Garza enforce the law. They do not write it. A memorial stands where Metro police say Alfredo Jauregui killed George Brown on Marion Drive near Nellis Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue. (KLAS) As the 8 News Now Investigators first reported Monday, Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo wants tougher penalties for DUI drivers, including charging impaired drivers who kill another person with second-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada prosecutors, including Wolfsons office, have tried to charge DUI drivers, who kill a person and who speed and who drive with no care for another persons life, with murder, but the Nevada Supreme Court ruled the DUI with death law was more appropriate. Wolfson said he supports the governors proposal. Another proposal from Republican State Sen. Jeff Stone would amend the states vehicular homicide law to kick in after a persons first DUI conviction should they then drive impaired and kill someone right now, its three strikes and youre out. De La Garza said a committee was exploring how delays in testing, another issue the 8 News Now Investigators uncovered, can mean delays in justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For months, a judge could not jail Jauregui even amid his fourth DUI accusation because prosecutors had yet to file charges against him without his blood results. Eventually, while awaiting a future court date, he drove impaired again and killed Brown, police said. Lombardos proposal to amend the law to allow prosecutors to charge impaired drivers who cause death with second-degree murder is part of a larger crime bill, which had yet to be introduced as of Wednesday. While Monday marked the deadline for the governor to introduce his bills this legislative session, he will receive a waiver because the Legislative Counsel Bureau was not finished reviewing them, a spokesperson said. 8 News Now Investigator David Charns can be reached at dcharns@8newsnow.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 KLAS. A Newburyport man has pleaded guilty to defrauding a home repair insurance provider by billing more than $2 million for purported repair jobs that were never performed, the U.S. Attorney said Wednesday. Christian Decristofaro, 40, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for June 23. Decristofaro was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the charging documents, Decristofaro caused NE Premier Home Services LLC a purported home repair company he controlled to enroll as a contractor with a home repair insurance provider. Decristofaro used fake identities to enroll nonexistent homeowners in insurance plans with the insurance provider, prosecutors said. Decristofaro then reported fictitious home emergencies to the insurance provider, on behalf of the purported homeowners and asked that NE Premier be assigned to perform the repairs. He then caused NE Premier to bill the insurance provider for the repair jobs, even though no repair work was done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the fraudulent billings, between approximately October 2020 and June 2023, the insurance provider paid NE Premier approximately $2,196,323 for services that NE Premier had not rendered. For the charge of wire fraud, Decristofaro faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture. 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) The Warren City Board of Health is giving more time to determine the future of the burned building at the Stonegate Place Apartments. The building on Robert Avenue was condemned after a fire on January 22. Residents from that building Building H as well as a neighboring building that was damaged have been moved to other units or have left the complex. Related coverage: Owner of Warren apartment complex has history of problems at other properties Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A representative of the company appeared at a Board of Health meeting on Wednesday, stating that the owner wants to save the building and is waiting on an architects report to determine what will need to be done to restore it so that it is up to code. She added that the architect had been at the site last Tuesday. The company is also waiting for escrow money from insurance. Deputy Health Commissioner John May cautioned that if the board decides that demolition is necessary, it could be tricky and costly, as Building H is attached to an adjoining building. The representative who was identified as a regional manager for the company told the Board of Health members that the owner already infused approximately $500,000 into the property to complete unit turnovers and maintenance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Board of Health agreed to table a decision on the property for 30 days so that they could have all of the relevant information. The board agreed to discuss again at its next meeting in a month. Until then, the building will remain boarded up. The company representative declined to comment further to WKBN after the meeting. Also at Wednesdays meeting, the Board of Health approved a resolution to adjust its dwelling and reinspection fees to better fund its operations, including the addition of two inspectors, as previously approved by Warren City Council. The Board of Healths resolution will go before City Council for a vote as to whether it will be adopted. 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. In a small village in the Hebron hills of the occupied West Bank, Hamdan Ballal stood outside his house in a track suit with a black eye. He held the hand of his 18-month-old daughter, who stood in a pool of his dried blood. Things looked quite different for the award-winning director just weeks ago. He had flown to Los Angeles to accept an Oscar for the film, No Other Land, a documentary he co-directed about the violence and forced displacement of Palestinian villagers for illegal Israeli settlements in those same hills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ballal was attacked by a mob of Israeli settlers in front of his home, in the village of Susya on Monday evening. I thought they would kill me, he said. Hamdan Ballal's 18-month-old daughter, Laureen, stands outside her family's home, where her father was assaulted on Monday evening. - Kara Fox/CNN Ballal told CNN that a group of settlers arrived to his village and started to attack his neighbors, two farmers in their 60s, as night fell. When he tried to document the violence, three masked settlers, including one who had previously attacked him and is known to authorities, came after him, he said, beating him outside his front door as his wife Lamya, and their three small children screamed in fear for his and their lives. Meanwhile, Ballal said, Israeli soldiers soon arrived outside his home, where they shot live rounds into the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said one soldier pushed his rifle into his leg and told him, After (shooting) in the air, I will put the shot in your body. After the attack, Ballal and two other Palestinians were taken away by Israeli soldiers and detained in a military facility in the settlement of Kiryat Arba, where he said he was handcuffed, blindfolded and beaten. The Israeli military called Ballals allegations that he was beaten in custody baseless. Attacks on Palestinian farmers and activists in the occupied West Bank are not new. However, the ferocity of the attack and Ballals subsequent detention made him feel that the settlers and the Israeli military were taking revenge for their film and its international reach. Hamdan Ballal holds the Oscar he received for No Other Land, a documentary he co-directed about the violence and forced displacement of Palestinian villagers in the West Bank. - Kara Fox/CNN At that moment, I thought because of my Oscar, they wanted to kill me, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In detention, Ballal, who doesnt speak Hebrew, said he heard the soldiers laughing when they said his name and the word Oscar. The Israeli military said the Palestinian detainees were given medical treatment and handcuffed in accordance with operational protocol. They accused Ballal of throwing stones at soldiers and said that he had been detained on suspicion of rock hurling, property damage, and endangering regional security. They change everything, Ballal said of the militarys interpretation of the events. Why did the settlers come here to my house? To say hi to me? Or to give me flowers? No, they came here to attack, to kill, to push you to leave your home, he said, adding that many Palestinian villagers eventually leave their homes after years of sustained violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they have the law in their hand, they can do whatever they want, Ballal said of the settlers, underscoring what multiple human rights organizations have said about Israels role in backing settler violence and settler impunity. Amnesty International has called settler violence part of a decades long state-backed campaign to dispossess, displace and oppress Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under Israels system of apartheid, and that Israeli forces have a track record of enabling settler violence. Israel denounces any characterization of their treatment of Palestinians as apartheid as antisemitic. CNN has reached out to the prime ministers office for comment on its settler policies. Hamdan Ballal's family keeps goats and chickens on their land in the village of Susya, in the occupied West Bank. - Kara Fox/CNN Behind his house, Ballal looked to his fields, where a perimeter of settler outposts were visible. He said that his family havent farmed much since Israels war in Gaza began following Hamas October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We didnt plow it after October 7 because of the danger from the settlers, he said. Settler outposts are often established by Israeli settlers on hilltops with a few caravans and sometimes livestock to mark their claim. The number of those outposts have expanded by nearly 50% since October 7, according to a joint report shared with CNN by Peace Now and Kerem Navot, two Israeli advocacy groups that oppose settlements and track their development. Such land grabs go hand-in-hand with an escalation in violence by Israeli security forces and settlers against Palestinians, paving the way for settlement expansion, which is documented in Ballals film. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That violence has become even worse since the re-election of US President Donald Trump, a staunch supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his governments settlement expansion policy in the West Bank, activists say. In early January, Trump rescinded Biden-era sanctions on far-right settler groups and individuals accused of involvement in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. And during his first term, Trump abandoned the long-held position that Israeli settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian territories are illegal, contrary to most international law. Ballal's neighbor Mohammed Mughanam, who was also attacked by Israeli settlers on Monday, stands in his driveway, where broken glass from the violence litters the ground. - Kara Fox/CNN From January 2024 to 2025, at least 1,420 incidents of settler violence in the occupied West Bank were recorded, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Those incidents include settlers reportedly killing five Palestinians, including a child, and injuring 360 others, including 35 children, according to OCHA. More than 26,100 Palestinian-owned trees which are vital to the local economy were also vandalized in that period, OCHA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Netanyahus cabinet approved a plan to separate and legalize 13 settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, a move that his far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich hailed as a move toward what he called actual sovereignty in the West Bank. For Ballal, the assault and Netanyahus moves are even more of a reason to continue to fight for his community. I brought myself in this circle (of activism and filmmaking) because of my community, my villages I need justice for them. Because of that, we made this movie, to bring attention to whats happening in this area and what is happening there. Later in the afternoon, settlers brought their cows and sheep to graze on the farm next to Ballals land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlers were accompanied by Israeli soldiers. Ballal said that no amount of intimidation from settlers or from the government will push him from his home. Standing under the sun, he added: No other home. No other land. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com One might think the Trump administration and its supporters would be dismayed to learn that top personnel discussed military strikes against Yemen on a group chat that mistakenly included a journalist. And indeed, they are furious. But the rage is not directed at the cavalier sharing of presumably classified intelligence. It is instead reserved mainly for the journalist: The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. The response to the scandal reveals a disjuncture between the seriousness with which MAGA treats foreign enemies and perceived domestic ones. The prospect of being compromised by the likes of Iran or China is distant in comparison to the visceral horror of giving a victory to the dread mainstream media. Marxists have a slogan: No war but class war. The MAGA version might be No war but culture war. As Goldberg explained in an article published Monday, he was added to a Signal chat called Houthi PC small group by Michael Waltz, President Donald Trumps national security adviser. Discussing a secret military strike on an unsecure channel, and mistakenly inviting a journalist into the chat, is a shocking breach of operations security. But in the world of Trump, the far more shocking breach is that the person invited into the chat was the reporter who first revealed that Trump had referred to dead American soldiers as suckers and losers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so the focus for Trump and his allies has been on explaining to the MAGA faithful how it is that a journalist found himself in the middle of a military planning meeting. Those explanations have gone as awkwardly as you might expect. Trump put the blame on an unnamed staffer. Somebody that worked for Mike Waltz at a lower level had, I guess, Goldbergs number, who called through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call, he told Newsmaxs Greg Kelly. [Jeffrey Goldberg: The Trump administration accidentally texted me its war plans] Waltz, appearing on Laura Ingrahams Fox News program Tuesday night, denied that one of his staffers put Goldbergs contact information on his phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But how did it end up on your phone? Ingraham asked. Waltz said the best technical minds were at work answering this mystery. Ingraham, obviously dissatisfied, persisted. But youve never talked to him before, so hows the number on your phone? If you have somebody elses contact, he explained, and then somehow it gets sucked in, it gets sucked in. Planning a military operation on a device that sucks in phone numbers from complete strangers sounds like a bad idea. But Waltz seems to have calculated that acknowledging this vulnerability would be less damning than admitting that he had spoken with Goldberg at some point in his career. I can tell you for 100 percent I dont know this guy, he added. I know him by his horrible reputation, and he really is the bottom scum of journalists. Again, this explanation would seem to make the security breach worse. Waltz is saying the person who penetrated his chat is not merely an unauthorized civilian, but scumbottom scum! Not even top scum! This strategy makes sense only if the priority is to prove that Waltz wasnt chummy with a representative of the liberal media elite. The Fox News host Jesse Watters appeared to have the same prioritization in mind when he shared the story with his audience. This wouldnt surprise me if Goldberg sneaked his way in, he suggested, implausibly,. Hes the lowest of the low. From a national-security standpoint, this theory is the opposite of reassuring. If Goldberg could sneak his way in to a highly sensitive discussion about a secret military operation, shouldnt we worry that Chinese or Russian or Iranian spies, who possess espionage capabilities perhaps even greater than those of a journalist, might also sneak their way in? But the fear of infiltration by foreign enemies pales beside the much deeper fear of a Trump adviser having spoken with a journalist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Jeffrey Goldberg and Shane Harris: Here are the attack plans that Trumps advisers shared on Signal] One might wonder why Trump and his allies have devised such fantastical explanations. Why not simply blame everything on Waltz, finger him as a secret deep state agent, and fire him? The answer is that doing so would violate another MAGA principle, which is that the independent press must be treated as completely illegitimate. As Will Chamberlain, a conservative lawyer, posted, Under no circumstances should the Trump administration fire anyone based on anything published in the pages of The Atlantic. The retired army colonel and conservative columnist Kurt Schlichter advanced a similar argument: The idea that were going take Jeffrey Goldbergs word and throw one of our own over the cliff to please the likes of faux-fussy Tim Walz, Pete Buttigieg, a bunch of ex-generals whove never won a war, and the rest of these dorks is inconceivable to a based conservative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MAGA world believes it erred in Trumps first term by legitimizing mainstream media and must now act upon Trumps rhetoric that reporters who dont faithfully promote him are enemies of the people. Accordingly, after first confirming the veracity of the story, the administration has settled on minimizing it by disputing Goldbergs characterization of what he inadvertently learned. Goldberg first described the information shared on the group chat as war plans, but the actual plans, Trump world now says, merely involved a military strike against a designated foreign enemy. The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT war plans, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed, sharing the headline of an Atlantic story describing attack plans. [Tom Nichols: The Trump teams denials are laughable] If you describe them as attack plans, they cannot be war plans. We have never been at war with the Houthis, as Big Brother might say. The distinction between these terms is new enough that Trump himself wrote, when he touted the strike, Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom. Perhaps he should delete this message and replace the reference to brave Warfighters with brave attackfighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be generous to the White House, though, administration officials may not envision the conflict with the Houthis in terms of war. War is something they may be able to imagine only in a domestic context. Chamberlain is fond of calling the Trump-era style of political combat wartime conservatism. Explaining why The Atlantics story could not be legitimated by firing anyone for the irresponsible behavior it exposed, he posted, Wartime conservatism means your adversaries get no scapegoats and no scalps. No war but culture war. Article originally published at The Atlantic Mule Creek State Prison is facing heavy scrutiny after the family of a woman who died following a conjugal visit has come forward. The death of Tania Vanessa Corpuz Thomas marks the second one of its kind within the span of just a few months. The Root previously reported the death of Stephanie Dowells, 62, was ruled a homicide after she went in for a private family visit with her husband but never came out alive. KCRA first reported the tragedy, and as the story continues to touch the hearts of many across the country, one woman said a similar situation at the same San Francisco prison changed her family forever. Jeanine Rojo spoke to KCRA saying her cousin, Thomas, spent more than half of her life battling Lupus, but it wasnt the disease that ultimately took her life. Weve literally been together since birth, Rojo said. For her to be taken away this way, its gut-wrenching. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Thomas was found unconscious in a family visiting unit by prison staff called to the scene in July 2024. She was there visiting her husband, 48-year-old Anthony Curry, who is serving a life sentence connected to a gruesome 1999 attempted murder. Court records state Curry shot his then-girlfriend before driving her nearly lifeless body to a truck stop and fleeing. He shot a girl in the head and dumped her body. So, he left her body for dead, Rojo said. The woman survived and is now permanently blind and partially paralyzed, according to KCRA. With that history of severe violence, why are they being allowed to have these visits unsupervised? Rojo asked. As we reported, only inmates on death row, convicted sex offenders, or those under disciplinary restrictions are banned from having conjugal visits, which take place in private, apartment-like facilities on prison grounds and last approximately 30 to 40 hours, according to the California Department of Corrections, Thomas was a single mother of a 25-year-old son now serving in the U.S. Air Force, according to Rojo. Its unclear how long Thomas and Curry were married for, but Rojo said she was unaware her cousin was ever having conjugal visits with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Curry was charged with his wifes murder in December, but sadly a similar tragedy took place just weeks before the ruling. Dowells November death influenced Rojos decision to come forward with her cousins story. I was sick to my stomach, and I was in tears, she said after learning about Dowells murder. Now, shes demanding the prison take responsibility and put in measures to prevent a third killing from happening. Im not against conjugal visits. However, you know, theres already two murders at Mule Creek. What can be done to prevent this from happening again? Rojo continued suggesting, Maybe put more prison guards out to do more safety checks, anything to save another life. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Are Britain and Poland about to reverse roles? A generation ago the UK was a magnet for hard-working young Poles escaping the painful transition from communism to a market economy. All that is history. With the UK stricken by economic decline and social decay, Poland could become the go-to destination for British youth. Today the Polish economy is the most dynamic in Europe. Its GDP this year is projected to rise 3.7 per cent a growth rate Rachel Reeves would kill for. And although the Polish community in the UK is still large, many thousands have returned in the past decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Tusk, the Polish premier, has promised Poles that they will be richer than the British by 2029. Sir Keir Starmer used the same prediction as a warning, though since becoming Prime Minister he has been notably less keen on this comparison. On present performance, Poland could indeed overtake the UK in gross national income per capita by the end of the decade, though only by measures based on purchasing power parity (PPP), which take account of Polands lower cost of living. Whereas Britain is still suffering from the effects of the pandemic, the Polish economy managed to grow by 10 per cent between 2019 and 2022. There is a striking contrast between the can-do ingenuity of the Poles and the work-shy welfarism that has befallen the British. Sadly, Britain is no longer affordable for young parents. Two years ago our son and Polish daughter-in-law moved from London to Wrocaw, where they are able to send their three children to superb nursery schools at a fraction of the cost in London. Here, they might not have felt able to have a third child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What strikes us as grandparents is how much the classes at these schools remind us of the England in which we grew up. Little boys are taught to be courteous and girls are allowed to be feminine. In these kindergartens, Joyce Grenfell would have felt very much at home. Because chivalry and patriotism are not frowned on at school, the fighting spirit of the Poles is alive and well. Indeed, Poland now leads the European members of Nato in military terms, with defence expenditure rising to 5 per cent of GDP. Poland has twice as many soldiers as the British Army (216,000 vs 108,000). Illegal migration is a problem for both countries, but the response has been much more robust in Poland. There, Tusk has closed the border with Belarus to stop asylum seekers from the Middle East being trafficked into Poland by Putins ally Alexander Lukashenko. Those who are caught are immediately sent back. Meanwhile, British courts continue to stop even foreign criminals from being deported. Unlike central London, weekends in Warsaw are not dominated by terrifying Gaza protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet the Poles have taken in more refugees from Ukraine than any other nation. Since 2022, up to four million Ukrainians have been living in Poland. By comparison, the UK has accepted around a quarter of a million. Margaret Thatchers Britain led Europe in creating an enterprise culture for which she was revered by the Poles, then still living under martial law. But while Poland elected a pro-market centre-Right government under Tusk in 2023, we in Britain have just saddled ourselves with Labour, which is taxing and spending us back into the dark age of the 1970s. 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. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Veterans who served in and during the Vietnam War were honored by a non-profit at its Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans lunch on Wednesday. Lower Cape Fear LifeCare works with veterans and provides medical and memory care to patients in the Carolinas. A Vietnam War veteran says the Welcome Home lunch was about camaraderie, paying homage to the veterans we lost, and reflecting on fighting in the Vietnam War and its lasting impacts on those who served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Vietnam War was unpopular at the time for many Americans, so many Vietnam veterans were not thanked for their service when they got home. News13 spoke to some veterans who say they did not think much of the countrys reaction to their homecoming at the time. But now, they are thankful to finally be honored. Saturday, March 29, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which recognizes the 52nd anniversary of U.S. troops withdrawal from South Vietnam. Especially after what the veterans went through when they returned home from the war, Vietnam-era veteran Tom Powell said. It was terrible, terrible. So, anything thats honoring the Vietnam veterans, Im fully supportive of, and I appreciate their setting this up for us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powell says he served seven years during the war two-and-a-half years on a Destroyer Navy and four years in the submarine service. The camaraderie in the submarine service was just so amazing between the officers and the enlisted, Powell said. When youre in a submarine, youve got a qualified submarine service, and youve got to be able to do anything thats required of you while youre on that boat. So, Im very proud of my service. Phil Maney, a Vietnam veteran, says his time serving then was the most spiritual experience of his life. He says that the theme of camaraderie held true, even with wounded soldiers on the other side of the war. I was providing him with what little bit I had as far as nourishment, that sort of thing, and sending him on his way, Maney said. Just another guy. As a matter of fact, I have no idea what he said, and vice versa. Im sure he didnt know what I said. But we laughed a couple of times. You know, silly stuff. But that was an experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Maney got back from Vietnam, he was assigned to the Washington, D.C., area to patrol during protests. He says he spoke to many people who were against the war. Although Maney and the protestors disagreed, he says they respected each others opinions. Maney kept saying how grateful he was to serve and to return home. But he ended the conversation with this: We didnt need to be there, and we dont need to be anywhere else were going to ever be, Maney said. But I guess thats the way of the world. I guess it is. * * * Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. NORFOLK, Neb. (KCAU) An elementary school student in Norfolk was recently honored for having good handwriting. Pierce White was crowned the 2025 Grand National Champion for handwriting in the Kindergarten grade category for the 34th annual Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. Norfolk to make decision on new police chief by end of May White, a student at St. Pauls Lutheran School, is one of seven Grand National Champions in this years contest. He gets a trophy and a $500 check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elementary school student is also the 2025 Central Regional Winner for handwriting in the Kindergarten category and receives a medallion. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SEOUL, March 27 (UPI) -- North Korea has sent an additional 3,000 soldiers along with missiles and artillery to help Russia in its war against Ukraine, South Korea's military said Thursday, as concerns grow around the strengthening military relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang. "Of the 11,000 North Korean troops dispatched, approximately 4,000 were casualties, and it is understood that approximately 3,000 more were additionally dispatched as reinforcements between January and February," the JCS said in a report shared with the media. In addition to troop deployment, Pyongyang is continuing to ship missiles, artillery equipment and ammunition, the JCS said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As of now, it is estimated that a considerable number of short-range ballistic missiles, and around 220 pieces of 170mm self-propelled howitzers and 240mm multiple rocket launchers have been supplied," the JCS said. The account of additional troops being sent echoes a similar claim made earlier this month by a South Korean lawmaker, citing a briefing by Ukrainian defense intelligence. Concerns have grown about Moscow sharing advanced weapons technology with Pyongyang. On Thursday, North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un recently reviewed newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones. Photo by KCNA/EPA-EFE South Korea's top envoy to the United Nations called on the North Wednesday to stop sacrificing its soldiers, who have suffered high casualty rates on the battlefield, in exchange for Russian assistance. "This war has inflicted serious suffering not only on the Ukrainian people and Russian soldiers and their families, but also on those of North Korea," Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook said at a U.N. Security Council briefing. North Korean soldiers captured in Kursk have said they were told they were being sent to Russia for training. In January, Ukraine released images of two captured soldiers. File Photo courtesy of President of Ukraine Hwang noted that interviews with captured North Korean soldiers in Kursk revealed that they had been deceived by Pyongyang to believe they were being sent to Russia for training, not to fight a war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Reportedly, their families remain unaware that their sons have been sent abroad to engage in another country's deadly conflict until the authorities issue a certificate of death in battle," he added. "Pyongyang must stop sacrificing its own people to sustain the regime in exchange for military, political and economic support from Moscow," Hwang said. The JCS analysis comes amid concerns that the growing military cooperation includes Moscow supplying advanced technical assistance for Pyongyang's weapons programs. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised tests of new attack and reconnaissance drones this week, state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim "made an important assessment of the military effectiveness and strategic value of the strategic reconnaissance drone with improving performance and of the suicide attack drones to which new artificial intelligence was applied," KCNA reported. He also learned about newly developed "reconnaissance and intelligence gathering means and electronic jamming and attack systems," the report added. Images published by KCNA included photos of what appears to be North Korea's first airborne early warning and control aircraft, which uses radar to detect planes, vessels and missiles at long ranges. Analysts using commercial satellite imagery had previously assessed that North Korea was modifying a Russian Il-76 cargo aircraft to add a radome -- an enclosure for radar antennas and electronic equipment. Thursday's JCS report said that Russia also appears to be helping North Korea to make technical improvements in preparation to launch another military spy satellite, although there were no imminent signs of such a launch. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Delivered on a horse-drawn wagon, the fruit from Kiel Ranch was one of the best things coming out of Southern Nevada. Over a hundred years later, the City of North Las Vegas is starting to replant the same crops. Eddie Rodriguez, the first municipal forester for North Las Vegas, explained the history of Kiel Ranch is not all man-made while pointing at a nearby cottonwood tree. Its one of the oldest trees here in the valley, he said. Some of these trees are being watered by the spring. Over to the right of us that has been here since even before that, the early 1800s. Eddie Rodriguez, the first municipal forester for North Las Vegas, explained the history of Kiel Ranch is not all man-made while pointing at a nearby cottonwood tree. (KALS) The history of Kiel Ranch can be told in many different ways: stolen bodies, divorces, and piles of dirt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez said the city has asked him to showcase the Kiel familys chapter of the ranch, which was a time of growthliterally. One of the people named Kyle Conrad developed this into a ranch where he would take the spring and use it to grow a large orchard, Rodriguez said. It was that idea that gave us the thought, lets bring back the orchard that was once here, that once worked and thrived in this valley. Kiel Ranch (KLAS) Kiel Ranch (KLAS) Kiel Ranch (KLAS) Kiel Ranch (KLAS) After the purchase of similar wagons used on the site from North Dakota, Rodriguez placed them around the ranchs new chapter with the reintegration of the familys orchard. This orchard is what we have brought back from the days early days of the 1850s to now, we have tried our best to replicate what was there in those days and gave it kind of a modern touch, Rodriguez said. Kiel Ranch (UNLV Collections) Kiel Ranch (UNLV Collections) However, one new obstacle will test the orchard. Whether the crops that flourished in the 1850s will survive the climate of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like spring keeps getting farther and farther out, he said. We keep we stay cooler for longer than hotter for longer, and it seems like things kind of keep moving away. So yes, it is looking different, and as it begins to change, so does the plant material and the trees and the shrubs and the type of things that were going to be using. The challenge doesnt stall Rodriguez who said just like the Kiel family it might take a couple of attempts for something to crop up. Its kind of a test run, I think, in the beginning, but were going to just keep working it, he said. Working all those planters, until we get it right. Kiel Ranch Park will be holding a grand opening for the orchard at 10 a.m. on April 30, according to city officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) North Myrtle Beach police said they have been getting many complaints of drivers passing school buses when stopped. Police said this is happening mostly at the intersection of Highway 17 and Westport Drive, in front of the Starbucks. State law states that drivers must stop for a school bus when its stopped or preparing to stop with its red lights on or stop arm extended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NMBPD said if drivers are caught passing a school bus when stopped, they will receive a fine of more than $1,000 and six points off your license. Who knows, maybe a kid is running late for school and trying to get across the street or something, Officer Pat Wilkinson with NMBPD said. So, if you see the lights, see the flashing red lights, come to a stop. He added that in less than a month, the department received 12 complaints, from both community members and bus drivers, of vehicles driving past a school bus when red markers and lights are on. The traffic division took this incentive to start stopping cars and being mindful of these specific areas where buses are unloading in the afternoon, Wilkinson said. Sure enough, when posting up, we have seen it is a problem. We have to take further enforcement on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NMBPD posted a video of someone violating one of the bus stops to their Facebook account. I think people need to think about the severity of it. You know its not just us trying to catch somebody in a traffic violation, this is a time when kids are being dropped off and trying to get home from school, he furthered. As we all know, kids are kind of unpredictable. Along with the video, the police department directed people how to properly treat school bus stoppings. When you get on US 17, here in North Myrtle Beach, you have three lanes of traffic heading in the same direction that is separated by a double turning lane or a median and three lanes going in the opposite direction, Wilkinson explained. So, when a school bus comes to a stop and lets say were driving south, and in one direction, and the bus in front of us stops, all three lanes need to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilkinson said this recent Facebook post on cars illegally passing stopped school buses has received lots of attention. One person commented a suggestion to put up cameras at the drop-off intersections. Wilkinson said many of the collisions they work are because people are either in a hurry or distracted. If you see the yellow flashing lights, go ahead and come to a stop, he said. Be safe about it because the whole point behind it is keeping the kids safe. Officer Wilkinson said once the stop sign and flashing red markers are put away, you may then proceed with caution. * * * Jackie LiBrizzi is a multimedia journalist at News13. Jackie is originally from Hamilton, New Jersey, and was raised in Piedmont, South Carolina. Jackie joined the News13 team in June 2023 after she graduated as a student-athlete from the University of South Carolina in May 2023. Follow Jackie on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here. 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. Lee Enterprises, owner of the Winston-Salem Journal and News & Record, disclosed in a regulatory filing Wednesday that its board of directors voted unanimously to extend the companys shareholder rights plan until March 27, 2026. The board approval came a day before the current shareholder rights plan was due to expire. The vote took place six days after the board and executive management received on March 20 an unsolicited letter from billionaire David Hoffmann expressing formal interest in purchasing the nations fourth-largest newspaper chain. A shareholders rights plan is also known as a poison pill. It is designed to either fend off an unsolicited oftentimes hostile takeover bid for a corporation, or to give the board of directors more time to conduct negotiations with the potential buyer. Hoffmanns two-page letter, sent to Lees board and chief executive Kevin Mowbray, states the Hoffmann Family of Companies financial and journalistic rationale for the acquisition that would include taking the chain private. The letter did not specify an acquisition price or any other material acquisition terms. We anticipate an expedited due diligence process that will allow the transaction to close quickly, Hoffmann wrote. The board said Mondays response to Hoffmanns letter included an offer to enter into a confidentiality agreement to share certain confidential information that would allow Hoffmann to make a proposal with a price and outline its ability to finance a possible transaction. Ownership stakes The Jerrilyn M. Hoffmann Revocable Trust held a 9.99% ownership stake in Lee, representing 618,900 shares, as of a March 31 Lee regulatory filing. It is the second-largest single stake in Lee. Quint Digital Ltd., based in India, and its affiliates is the top individual shareholder at 12.3% and 763,000 shares. Lees board said it voted to extend the shareholders rights plan based in part on Hoffmann issuing multiple press releases highlighting its growing ownership position in Lee, its intention to become Lees largest shareholder, and its interest in acquiring Lee outright. The rights plan is not intended to deter offers or preclude the board from considering offers that are fair and otherwise in the best interests of the companys shareholders, according to the news release. The board said it has not set a timetable for, nor has it made any decisions related to, any further actions with respect to Hoffmanns expression of interest at this time. The company does not intend to disclose developments relating to Hoffmanns expression of interest unless and until it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary. How poison pill works Heres how a shareholders rights plan/poison pill works. When an investor or group buys a certain percentage of common stock in the company it is targeting, that companys board can trigger the poison pill. Shareholders typically are given the chance to buy additional or new shares at bargain prices, thus diluting the potential acquirers stake and making it significantly more expensive to buy a majority ownership stake. Among corporations who have implemented a shareholders rights plan in recent years include Gildan Activewear Inc., HanesBrands Inc. and Krispy Kreme Inc. The Lee shareholders rights plan was enacted on March 29, 2024, in response to Quints acquiring the largest single shareholder stake in the company with plans to add to its holding. Quint is an India-based digital and media-tech company with a heightened focus on artificial intelligence. Quint controls a digital publishing business that offers a content management system that seeks to compete with Lee subsidiary BLOX Digital. Quint disclosed in February 2024 its overall strategy for expanding into the North American media technology market. The rights plan applies equally to all current and future shareholders and is intended to enable the companys shareholders to realize the long-term value of their investment, ensure that all shareholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover of the company, and to guard against tactics to gain control of the Company without paying all shareholders an appropriate premium for that control, Lee said. Hoffmann letter David Hoffmann wrote in his letter that we seek in this letter to open discussions with you regarding a potential combination of our companies, in which the HF Companies would pursue acquisition of Lee in its entirety, Hoffman wrote in the letter. We are prepared to commence this process immediately, and look forward to hearing from you to begin this dialogue and propel Lee forward in realization of its full value. Hoffmann said that beginning with our initial investment in the company in October, we have demonstrated our strong commitment to Lee and the markets served by its newspapers by steadily increasing our investment in the company to our current position as Lees second-largest shareholder. It is our stated goal to leverage our ownership position in Lee, along with our ownership of multiple other media brands, to support and grow local news outlets. HF Companies owns 14 media companies, including the Napa Valley Register, St. Helena Star and Inside Napa magazine. Meanwhile, Lee also owns and operates the following newspapers in North Carolina: the Hickory Daily Record; Independent Tribune (Concord); McDowell News (Marion); Mooresville Tribune; News Herald (Morganton); Statesville Record and Landmark; and Rockingham Now (Reidsville). Lee altogether owns 72 newspaper properties across 24 states, along with marketing services, digital publications and weekly and specialty publications. Hoffmann said HF Companies ownership stake in Lee represents a sharp contrast to other potential acquirors, such as non-local hedge funds and investment firms primarily concerned with increasing profits over jobs, local concerns and the power of quality journalism, Hoffmann wrote. In November 2021, Lee confirmed receiving an unsolicited non-binding proposal from Alden Global Capital LLC to buy the chain, offering $24 per share in cash, or $141 million. Lees board rejected the Alden offer in December 2021, setting off an 11-month hostile takeover bid that involved unsuccessful efforts by Alden to elect two representatives on the Lee board, as well as Alden losing a lawsuit challenging Lees rejecting of the board nominees. Alden ended its bid in November 2022. Well-positioned financially Hoffmann said HF Companies is well-positioned financially, in both resources and sophistication, to complete an acquisition. HF Companies will continue to invest in Lee Enterprises, he continued. We are optimistic about the future of the newspaper industry and believe in the importance of strong, local papers that are an integral part of the fabric of the communities they serve. However, Hoffmann wrote that we have at times expressed concerns with the companys direction, including its recent earnings report and its expressed intent to divest $25 million in non-core assets. We remain unwavering in our support of journalism and local newspapers, in both print and digital formats. Today, more than ever, we embrace the concept that local news is a fundamental component of journalism and the communities it serves, and its preservation is in the best interest of a well-informed public. At a reception organized by the village of Skokie and friends of Mayor George Van Dusen, longtime village trustees announced that the Center Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts is being renamed for Skokies longest-serving mayor. Mayor George Van Dusen, who is not running for re-election, served for 24 years as mayor and 16 years as a trustee on the Village Board. At the March 20 event, he spoke about his time serving the village to a crowd of nearly 200. The attendees were people who Van Dusen has professional and personal relationships with during the time he served the village, according to his secretary Vicky Varga. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think this tribute not only reflects his leadership, his vision for a thriving, vibrant community, but also highlights his commitment to enriching our cultural life, said Trustee Edie Sue Sutker, moments before the unveiling of the George Van Dusen Theater of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. He (Van Dusen) has served our community with great distinction, Trustee Ralph Klein said. You cannot help but notice the passion he has in building our village, and providing opportunities and places in the village for people to enjoy life in Skokie. Therefore, it is appropriate that we salute him in this building tonight with a permanent recognition for everything that you have accomplished, Klein said, motioning to Van Dusen. Mayor Van Dusen is an individual who has spent every waking hour for four decades caring for our entire village through action and dreaming big ideas like this building and the Illinois Science + Technology Park, Corporation Counsel Michael Lorge said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After about a half hour of similar remarks from people who have known him for decades, including Village Manager John Lockerby, Van Dusens wife Susan Van Dusen and Former Illinois Secretary of State Jessie Whites former spokesperson David Druker, Van Dusen took the stage to speak. I find over-exaggeration is alive and well this evening, Van Dusen quipped, taking a pause for laughter. I dont think I quite deserve all of those accolades. The saying that I always kept with me as my guiding light: Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success, Van Dusen said. If you look at this village, its perseverance and collaboration. Its not any one person, Van Dusen said. At the next Village Board meeting on April 7, the village will also be honoring the mayor and other departing elected officials. Thousands gathered at the Powder House Square Park to speak out against the federal detainment of a Tufts University graduate student. Rumeysa Ozturk was taken into custody by ICE crews Tuesday night outside her residence. The Department of Homeland Security said the Turkish national engaged in activities in support of Hamas. Her supporters, instead, said she was speaking up against genocide in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its so not ok, said Jeannette Amazeen. Nothing would keep me away from this. The Somerville native, like thousands of others, saw the video for the first time Wednesday morning. She asked, What happened to free speech? What is happening to it? Thousands circled speakers in the park around 6 pm. One of those speakers shouted, Massachusetts is under direct assault by President Trumps regime and the Department of Homeland Security. Leaders from neighboring communities, like Medford City Council President Zac Bears, also stood shoulder to shoulder in the crowd Wednesday. He told Boston 25, The video we saw is despicable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to ICEs website, Ozturk is being held in Louisiana. Her visa has reportedly been terminated. Tufts University Leaders released a statement, addressing the recent developments, stating: We recognize how frightening and distressing this situation is for her, her loved ones, and the larger community here at Tufts, especially our international students, staff, and faculty who may be feeling vulnerable or unsettled by these events. As noted by the Massachusetts Attorney General in her statement today, the footage of Rumeysas arrest is disturbing. We stand with our Muslim students, especially during their observance of Ramadan, as we recognize that Rumeysa was on her way to an Iftar gathering with friends at the Interfaith Center when she was detained. University leaders have also said that they are in contact with government officials locally, federally, and statewide. The University also hopes that Rumeysa is provided the opportunity to avail herself of her due process rights. Support for those affected will be available from the Univesity. 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 Waco, TX (FOX 44) A local U.S. Army Veterans mortgage-free home is nearing completion. Before the drywall was installed, the Waco community was invited to write notes of encouragement and support on the framing of the unfinished home. In 2012 Jakob Spraggins was deployed to Afghanistan where he served in active combat for 6 months, gathering intelligence, training Afghan forces, and surviving IED blasts and intense firefights. Following Jakobs return in 2012, Jakob faced physical and mental challenges that led to a medical discharge in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now living in Waco with his 2 daughters, Jakob enjoys family game nights and outdoor adventures. Jakob said he is appreciative of the communitys time to come to bless his home and write kind words of encouragement. After living in an apartment for 6 years, buying a house was Jakobs goal for his 2 daughters. Every year has been a stepping stone, U.S. Army Veteran, Jakob Spraggins said. I got them an apartment where they had to share a room, and then I got a second apartment where they had their own room. And now here we are having a house built. Jakobs was able to work with the home designer and give his ideas of what he wanted his dream home to look like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Operation Finally Home is a nonprofit organization that provides custom-built, mortgage-free homes, and home modifications to veterans, first responders, and their families. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. New York City is expected to issue a payout to settle a lawsuit brought by three migrant shelter security guards accusing Tim Pearson, a former top adviser to Mayor Adams, of assaulting them during an infamous 2023 incident, the Daily News has learned. It wasnt immediately clear how large the taxpayer-funded settlement will be, but sources familiar with the matter said its in the six-figures. The sources said settlement paperwork is expected to be signed in coming days. Adams office referred comment to a spokesman for the city Law Department, who confirmed the settlement without elaborating on the details of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was in the citys best interest to settle this case, said the spokesman, Nicholas Paolucci. Jason Steinberger, an attorney representing the shelter guards, declined to comment. Hugh Mo, Pearsons personal attorney, didnt immediately return a request for comment. The three shelter guards, Terrence Rosenthal, Leesha Bell and Angelica Weldon, filed the suit in October against Pearson, Mayor Adams, the NYPD and two police officers, including Pearsons assigned driver. Court records show all the defendants are being represented by the city Law Department except for Pearson, who doesnt have an attorney on record in the case yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sources familiar with the settlement told The News that Pearson wont actually be party to the settlement that the city and the shelter guards are excepted to enter. That leaves the door open to the shelter guards continuing their case solely against Pearson, who resigned as Adams top public safety adviser last fall after being entangled in an unrelated federal corruption investigation. The guards suit alleged Pearson shoved several of the guards after they demanded he present identification upon showing up at a migrant shelter in Midtown Manhattan on Oct. 17, 2023 for a safety inspection. According to the suit, Pearson then directed the NYPD to have the guards unlawfully arrested and detained. In a scathing report released last month, the city Department of Investigation found Pearson abused his authority and lied to police officers during and after the shelter scuffle. In a particularly disturbing episode, the DOI report, which cited body cam footage from responding officers and testimony from other eyewitnesses, alleged Pearson wrapped his hands around Bells neck and shoved her with such force that she fell backwards onto a counter, causing her eyeglasses to fly off her face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the fk out of my face, Pearson also allegedly shouted at Bell before telling her and other guards he was going to have [their] jobs if they didnt let him in without showing ID, according to DOI. The shelter melee case is among a long list of legal troubles Pearson, a former NYPD inspector and longtime friend to Adams, was ensnared in while in the mayors administration. Federal investigators raided his home and seized his electronics last September as part of a probe that sources say have scrutinized whether top city officials engaged in a scheme involving kickbacks on municipal government contracts. Several other former top Adams advisers, including ex-Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, ex-School Chancellor David Banks and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, were entangled in similar corruption probes, though no one, including Pearson, have been accused of wrongdoing by the feds to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four current and former members of the NYPD have filed lawsuits against Pearson accusing him of sexual harassment and professional retaliation. Pearson has been granted taxpayer-funded representation from the Law Department in those cases, which all remain pending. One of those suits includes a reference to a comment Pearson allegedly made while voicing anger about a Bronx migrant shelter contract being called off in the last minute. People are doing very well on these contracts. I have to get mine. Where are my crumbs? Pearson allegedly said. After appointing him in 2022, Adams gave Pearson an unusual role that allowed him to exact significant influence over NYPD operations and oversee his administrations migrant shelter and services contracts, which have ranged in the billions of dollars. Adams, who served in the NYPD with Pearson, has also consistently defended his ex-police colleague, even after Pearson resigned in late September in the wake of the mayors own indictment on federal corruption charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive said it before and Im going to say it again: I know Tim to be an optimal professional, Adams said last month when asked for comment on the DOI findings about Pearson. Hes no longer with the administration. Were going to review the report. With Graham Rayman and Josephine Stratman Scott Stringer says he has a very particular set of skills: taking down ex-governors. The mayoral hopeful pitched himself as the sole candidate who can dethrone powerhouse frontrunner Andrew Cuomo since hes defeated a former governor once before. This is my specialty, I save people from former governors, the former city comptroller assured The Post editorial board during a sit-down Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You just got to let me be me, Stringer said optimistically. New York City mayoral candidate Scott Stringer sat down with The Post editorial board on Wednesday afternoon. Brian Zak/NY Post The former state Assemblyman has been lagging in the polls, but he remained hopeful during the one-hour interview that his campaign would finally get off the ground in the coming weeks with just three months to go until the heated Democratic primary. Stringer, who was the first Dem candidate to announce a challenge to Mayor Eric Adams early last year, compared the tough, crowded race to his first campaign for city comptroller. The then-Manhattan borough president kneecapped ex-governor Eliot Spitzers bid to return to public life in 2013. Spitzer had resigned in disgrace five years prior amid a prostitution scandal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The June 24 Democratic mayoral primary, however, promises to be a much stiffer race, with 10 people vying for the nomination and Cuomo dominating the field even before he officially entered the race March 1. We have a crisis of leadership, a crisis of management and it didnt start with Eric Adams, it started with (his predecessor) Bill de Blasio and I know that because my job as comptroller was to hold him accountable, Stringer said. He then took a shot as his successor, current City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is also running in the Democratic mayoral primary, calling him Brad Pander. Mayor Eric Adams has yet to hit the trail with his campaign, only relying on his position to help him until his criminal case is tossed. Robert Miller Stringer said if hed still been comptroller over the last three years instead of Lander, I would argue that Eric Adams would not be in the trouble hes in today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams, Lander, Cuomo, Democratic Socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and even state Sen. Jessica Ramos who has never run in a citywide election all polled ahead of Stringer in an Emerson College/Pix11/The Hill survey released Wednesday. Cuomo was ahead of the pack with 38% support, to Stringers 5%, the poll showed. But Stringer insisted he sees a path forward through the crowded field as a moderate, scandal-free candidate and a good-government manager who could stabilize City Hall after years of turmoil under the embattled Adams administration. Stringer was alone when he arrived for Wednesdays meeting, with just one campaign staffer joining him soon after a far cry from Cuomo, who came with a couple of aides and even brought along a slideshow presentation when he sat down with the editorial board last week. Having spent eight years as comptroller, Stringer touted his experience rooting out waste and fraud, and pointed at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as one place to start, vowing that hed appoint board members who understand finance maintenance, if elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The longtime pol took a break from public life in 2021 after his first bid for mayor cratered when he was hit with a sexual assault lawsuit. That case has since been dismissed and Stringer is suing the accuser for defamation. Stringer accused ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo for rubber-stamping the 2019 criminal justice reforms. Tamara Beckwith Much of what Stringer said hes seen on the streets and subways since becoming a private citizen convinced him to run for mayor, he told The Post. He noted the decline in quality of life for New Yorkers due to the homelessness and mental health crisis, as well as surging recidivism. All those loopholes that were created, all those loosening of standards for repeat offenders who basically had no bail on their cases, they all went and caused havoc in the streets, Stringer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was Andrew Cuomo and that was the legislature, he said, pointing the finger at the ex-gov for rubber-stamping the 2019 criminal justice reforms. Stringer was adamant that involuntary commitment should be strengthened and discovery laws needed to be changed, both of which Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed. He also said that the criminal justice reforms signed into law by Cuomo have to be tweaked to make at least lower-level assaults eligible for bail. Stringer still believes he has a path forward, saying its still far too early in the race. Brian Zak/NY Post But Stringer pulled his punches when it came to one challenger in the field: Mamdani, a darkhorse left-wing candidate who has been polling second after Cuomo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have disagreements with many of these far-left candidates, some socialists like Lander and Zohran, Stringer said. I dont support the BDS movement, he said, referring to the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. I support Israel. Im a Zionist. Ive never been ashamed to say that. NEW YORK (PIX11) Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is still holding onto the lead in the New York City mayoral race but one other candidate is also gaining support, according to new exclusive polling conducted by PIX11 News in partnership with Emerson College and The Hill. Cuomo, who entered the race in early March, is the first choice for 38% of voters. Then, there is someone new in second place New York state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who is polling at 10%. Hes followed by current Mayor Eric Adams, who is now in third at 8%. More Local News Just to underscore this slide by Adams, more than a quarter of the Democrats that were polled voted for him in 2021. New York State Sen. Jessica Ramos and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander both sit at 6%, while former City Comptroller Scott Stringer comes in at 5%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, 17% of voters remain undecided. When it comes to voters second-choice pick, Stringer leads with 15%, followed by Lander at 13% and Cuomo at 10%. For third-choice preferences, Stringer again tops the list at 13%, with Ramos and Lander close behind at 12% and 11%, respectively. The poll also reveals some significant shifts since February. Mamdani surged by 9 points and Cuomo gained 5 points, while Adams dropped by 2 points. The number of undecided voters also fell by 8%, showing that more voters are making up their minds even with three months to go until Election Day. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State The two Democratic front runners seem appealing to certain age groups. Cuomo leads Mamdani among every age group with Cuomos support generally increasing and Mamdanis generally decreasing the older voters get. In a hypothetical general election matchup, Cuomo, the Democratic frontrunner, maintains a commanding lead. Meanwhile, Republican frontrunner Curtis Sliwa is at 13%, and if Adams were to launch an independent bid, he would fall behind with 11% of the vote. However, a large portion of voters, 29%, remain undecided. As for the issues those voters say they care about the most, crime leads the way with 33%, followed by housing at 23%. Immigration comes in third with 10% and health care rounds out the list at 7%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing to point out housing led the February poll with the same percentage. But crime went up 11% to become the top issue in the latest poll. More News: Politics When asked whether congestion pricing should continue, voters were split 44% said no, while 42% want it to remain in place; 14% are still undecided. On the citys sanctuary status, 46% of voters are in favor of preserving the citys sanctuary status, 34% support repealing the status, while 19% remain unsure. President Donald Trump is currently trying to eliminate congestion pricing and sanctuary city policies. A majority of those polled, 63%, would want the winner of the mayoral election to take a stand against the president, while 28% would prefer to see the winning candidate work with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps approval rating remains low among New Yorkers, sitting at just 27%. Methodology The Emerson College Polling New York City survey was conducted March 21-24, 2025. The sample of New York registered voters, n=1,000, has a credibility interval, similar to a polls margin of error (MOE), of +/- 3 percentage points. The sample of Democratic Primary voters includes n=653, with a credibility interval of +/-3.8%. The data sets were weighted by gender, education, race, age, party registration, and region. It is important to remember that subsets based on demographics, such as gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity, carry with them higher credibility intervals, as the sample size is reduced. Survey results should be understood within the polls range of scores, and with a confidence interval of 95% a poll will fall outside the range of scores 1 in 20 times. Data was collected by contacting cell phones via MMS-to-web text and landlines via Interactive Voice Response (phone list provided by Aristotle), along with an online panel of voters provided by CINT. Panel responses were matched to the Aristotle voter file using respondents full name and ZIP code; responses that were not matched to a unique NYC voter were removed from the final data set. The survey was offered in English. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All questions asked in this survey with the exact wording and ordering, along with full results, demographics, and cross tabulations can be found under Full Results. This survey was funded by Emerson College/Nexstar 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 PIX11. NEW YORK (PIX11) Three men are accused of attempting to rape a female colleague while they were all employed by the United States Postal Service, according to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday. Daniel Jean, Kirt Acala, and Edward Chou face various charges of sexual misconduct and kidnapping, according to a complaint. More Crime News As alleged in this indictment, these three postal workers dragged their incapacitated colleague out of a post office and into a mail truck, where one attempted to rape her, said District Attorney Bragg. We take investigations and prosecutions of sexual violence extremely seriously and have the survivor-centered services and resources to help those who have been sexually assaulted. Please call us at 212-335-9373. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an investigation in June 2023, four postal employees at the East 14th Street post office attended a colleagues birthday celebration. Later, the female employee began to feel unwell; she was unable to control her body and lost consciousness, according to court documents. Documents reveal that defendant Jean slapped and squeezed the victoms butt while she was unable to hold her head up. Defendants Jean, Acala, and Chou then dragged the victim out of the post office and into the back of a truck, documents said. Defendant Jean attempted to rape the victim, according to officials. The NYPD was called and found defendants Alcala and Chou sitting at the front of the truck. An officer reported that they refused to open the back of the truck. The police said they heard banging sounds and calls for help, and defendant Jean emerged from the back with his pants unzipped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was discovered in the back of the truck with her pants unzipped, according to court documents. More Local News Daniel Jean faces the following charges Attempted Rape in the first degree Kidnapping in the second degree Kidnapping in the second degree as a sexually motivated felony Sexual Abuse in the first degree, Attempted sexual abuse in the first degree Forcible touching Kirt Acala faces the following charges Kidnapping in the second degree Kidnapping in the Second Degree as a sexually motivated felony Edward Chou is facing the following charges Kidnapping in the second degree Kidnapping in the second degree as a sexually motivated felony Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PIX11 News contacted the United States Postal Service, but they were not immediately available to comment. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (PIX11) New York City Public School students will enjoy a long weekend in observance of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr. The special occasion marks the end of the month of Ramadan and will be celebrated on either Sunday or Monday, depending on the sighting of the moon. New York City Public Schools will be closed on Monday in observation. More Local News When was Eid al-Fitr added to the NYC Public School calendar? Eid al-Fitr was added to the NYC Public School calendar in 2016 under the de Blasio administration, along with the later holiday of Eid al-Adha, that is celebrated in June. What is Eid al-Fitr? The Arabic phrase Eid al-Fitr translates to the festival of breaking the fast, as it marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, according to the Muslim charity organization called Islamic Relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Eid al-Fitr is characterized as a time to show increased worship and devotion as well as visit loved ones, share gifts and food, and pray. How is Eid al-Fitr celebrated? In observation of Eid al-Fitr many Muslims will celebrate by taking a different route to and from Eid prayer, praying in congregation, wearing their best clothes, sharing gifts, and engaging in deep personal prayer and worship. Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. (WWTI) New York State Police are investigating the death of a man and a woman in St. Lawrence County. Just before 9 p.m. March 26, state troopers responded to Fox Farm Road in the town of Gouverneur for a welfare check on two elderly individuals. Upon arrival, Troopers found a deceased female and a deceased male, inside the residence. As a result, the Troop B Forensic Investigation Unit was called in to process the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An autopsy was slated to be performed starting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27 at Canton Potsdam Hospital by Forensic Pathologist Dr. Scott F. LaPoint to determine the cause and manner of death. This investigation is ongoing, but authorities believe this to be an isolated incident. State police reminded people that there is no threat to the community. State Police are being assisted by the St. Lawrence County District Attorneys Office and the St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. With an IV dripping fluids into her right arm, Lisa Wright stared down at the pink beaded bracelet on her left wrist with a smile on her face. When a group of four Lincoln students walked into the Nebraska Hematology-Oncology medical center Tuesday afternoon with a wicker basket full of colorful bracelets reminding people to be brave, love, stay strong and smile, Wright was blown away. It was her first day at the cancer and blood disorder treatment center in southeast Lincoln, a day that would normally be filled with nerves and fear. Instead, she felt seen, cared for and appreciated all because of a simple kind act by a group of students from the Lighthouse, the nonprofit after-school program near 27th and N streets, and a handmade bracelet. The bracelet bearing the word mindful plucked from the basket is something Wright plans to treasure for a long time, she said. Itll serve as a reminder that there are people she has never even met out there rooting for her as she embarks on an uncertain health journey. It really feels good that the next generation is paying attention to their elders and to being kindhearted and caring, Wright said, who has battled health issues and was at the center for some tests Tuesday. Lighthouse students worked for more than a month to make dozens of beaded bracelets, each adorned with motivational words or phrases and a small lighthouse charm, to hand out to patients at the center, hoping to bring a smile to their faces and remind them someone cares about them. The bracelet delivery was just one act in Lighthouses mission to complete a total of 35 intentional acts of kindness throughout 2025 in honor of the programs 35th year of serving middle and high school students in Lincoln. So far, the program for at-risk youths has completed several acts since January, including delivering handmade cards and cookies to a local retirement home for Valentines Day and hosting a clothing drive for Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach. The program is also hosting a food drive for the Food Bank of Lincoln throughout March and likely into April to collect nonperishable items to help Lincoln residents facing food insecurity. Those wishing to contribute can drop food off at Lighthouse, 2601 N St., between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Later this week, students plan to deliver more motivational bracelets to residents at the Peoples City Mission, and in the next two months they hope to make care packages for the homeless community and visit two retirement homes to meet with residents. Each act has been planned out intentionally to impact a wide variety of people in need of a reason to smile, according to Michelle Michener, the programs food services director and development associate. We didn't want to be random about it. We wanted to put real thought behind what we wanted to do and how we wanted to show love, make an impact, she said. The community has given Lighthouse so much over 35 years, we wanted to take the time to be intentional and do something back. And this weeks trip to Nebraska Hematology-Oncology was far from random. Micheners mom is a current patient at the center being treated for her second bout of lung cancer. And, Billy Vrtiska, a youth coordinator at Lighthouse, also visited the center frequently when his mom received treatment there. As part of their project, both Michener and Vrtiska immediately knew they wanted to give back to the center, a place that offers a comfortable, loving and caring environment with attentive staff for people going through a difficult time. Watching the students talk with patients and pass out bracelets was an extremely uplifting experience, Vrtiska said. I just couldnt stop smiling, he said. It's rare that you get kids of their age just willing to come and kind of be vulnerable with people, he added. I think they share the same kind of love that we do. They just want to let them know that there's people that love and care for them. For Julz Safley, a senior at Lincoln High School who has been attending Lighthouse since she was in the sixth grade, the opportunity to hand out bracelets to patients was an experience shell hold onto for a long time. Knowing she helped brighten someone elses day and gave them a token theyll treasure forever was really fulfilling, she said. It's a small act of kindness, but it goes a long way, Safley said. And Mike Lefler, chief marketing and communications officer for Nebraska Hematology-Oncology, agreed with that sentiment. A simple hello, a kind word or even an inspirational beaded bracelet can make a big difference in peoples lives. Acts like this go further than anybody realizes, because some of these patients don't have the most support or have very busy families and friends, he said. So to have people come in here they've never met before and just say we're thinking of you and we want to help support you through this difficult time, it's immeasurable. The teenage Department of Government Efficiency employee who goes by the online moniker of no, we are not kidding "Big Balls" once helped out a serious cybercrime ring, Reuters reports. In 2022, when he was still in high school, the now 19-year-old Edward Coristine ran a company called DiamondCDN that provided a type of web service known as a content delivery network. One of its users was a website belonging to a group of cybercriminals known as "EGodly," which openly bragged about trafficking stolen data and cyberstalking an FBI agent. (DiamondCDN probably attracted the hacking outfit because its website promised it had "no business inspecting user content.") Ruthless hackers they may be, the "EGodly" blackhats were courteous enough to let Coristine know just how much they appreciated his company's help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We extend our gratitude to our valued partners DiamondCDN for generously providing us with their amazing DDoS protection and caching systems, which allow us to securely host and safeguard our website," the cybercriminal ring wrote in a Telegram message, as quoted by Reuters. Coristine, and his irreverent nickname, have become emblematic of Elon Musk's DOGE effort to blitzkrieg the federal government with next to no oversight. Plenty of scrutiny has been cast on the qualifications of its extraordinarily young staff, who are nonetheless being granted alarming access to sensitive federal systems, with high positions in government to boot. Coristine, for instance, is listed as a "senior adviser" at the State Department and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Reuters found. Seemingly, little has been done to vet these arch-auditors. One resigned and then was rehired after his incredibly racist tweets surfaced. Another, it was discovered, professionally sold ketamine. Coristine himself was once fired by a cybersecurity firm for leaking its company secrets. Now you can add another skeleton to Coristine's formidable closet. The cybercriminal group that his firm provided services to, EGodly, has claimed that it's stolen crypto, hijacked phone numbers, and broken into law enforcement email accounts in Latin America and Eastern Europe. These claims couldn't be independently verified by Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is verifiable, however, was that the group targeted a former FBI agent who it believed was investigating them. It began by digging up and sharig personal information on the agent, like where he lived, according to Reuters. Eventually, one member filmed themselves driving past his house, screaming "EGodly says you're a bitch!" According to the former agent, the FBI was investigating Egodly because of its connection to swatting, or calling in a fake emergency so that law enforcement send a heavily armed team to a location. "These are bad folks," the former FBI agent said. "They're not a pleasant group." While it doesn't appear that Coristine was deeply involved with the group, that this suspect part of his history seemingly didn't preclude him from tampering with federal systems should be alarming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This stuff was not in the distant past," Nitin Natarajan, who served as the deputy director of CISA under president Joe Biden, told Reuters. "The recency of the activity and the types of groups he was associated would definitely be concerning." More on DOGE: The Guy Who Predicted the 2008 Crash Issues Warning About Elon Musk Torpedoing Federal Spending SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) When Jack Fonder heard that gender-affirming care ended at Avera Health, he acted fast to connect transgender patients to the care they needed. When you talk about losing access to health care, that does affect a lot of people, said Fonder, outreach facilitator for the Transformation Project. Would FEMA cut cost South Dakota millions? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), gender-affirming care is defined as healthcare that supports a patients gender identity, in treatments such as medical (hormonal replacement or surgery), behavioral, psychological and social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past month, Fonder learned through many voices at the Transformation Project that transgender patients received letters from their Avera physicians stating an end to gender-affirming care. Within the Avera health system, we have some really great allies, doctors, nurses that are 100% OK with serving all of the population of Sioux Falls and surrounding areas, said Fonder. What it looks like now is, unfortunately, individuals do have to find a different healthcare provider. In a statement provided to KELOLAND News, Avera Health said the following: Avera treats all people who come to us with dignity and respect. As a Catholic healthcare provider, there are certain interventions we do not provide. In such situations, patients have the opportunity to seek a provider that would offer those interventions. Avera Health In 2023, South Dakota passed a law banning gender-affirming care for anyone under the age of 18. The U.S. Supreme Court is also considering a case regarding gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a trans person myself, too, so I know how important this care is, and I know how hard it is when you have to just constantly worry about am I going to have access to the care that I need to survive every day? Fonder said. As Fonder explained, finding new health care options as a transgender person can be difficult. A transgender or gender diverse person seeking gender-affirming care must present a letter from a therapist to access care from a physician, Fonder explained. This could be a months-long process for individuals, as scheduling appointments for either a therapist or doctor can book out fast. Thats not good because when you are on hormone replacement therapy, you need your prescriptions to be filled in a timely manner, said Fonder. Its very important that you stay on those things on a schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On one hand, theres receiving timely care, and on the other hand, theres making sure insurance covers that care, Fonder added. He said transgender individuals with Avera-only insurance will face a new struggle. Alleged victims of former massage therapist in detail claims of inappropriate touching Theyre going to have to start paying out of pocket to go to other places to get to have access to the care that they need, said Fonder. Fonder encourages anyone in the community to reach out to the Transformation Project if theyve lost access to healthcare through Avera Health. Fonder said the Transformation Project can help connect transgender patients to new doctors and therapists, or offer support to anyone feeling overwhelmed by the entire process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its terrible, but it was good that we knew and we were able to kind of inform some of our clients and our population of people that we work with so they could start taking steps to move forward with what they needed to do in that situation, said Fonder. The Transformation Project is an organization supports transgender individuals and their families, while educating state communities about gender identity and expression, according to its website. According to its website, Avera Health is a non-profit, ministry-driven health system in the upper Midwest that offers over 60 medical specialties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. One person was taken to the hospital after a rollover crash involving three cars in Dedham Thursday morning. Officers responded to a three-vehicle crash on Providence Highway around 10:20 a.m. near the Interstate-95 off-ramp, Dedham Police Chief Michael dEntremont told Boston 25 News. One vehicle rolled over during the crash. One person involved in the crash taken to be checked out at a nearby hospital for what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operator of a vehicle traveling northbound on Providence Highway before the crash was issued a citation for failing to stop for a red light. 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 Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Access is important. Slate is offering 6 months of Slate Plus to current and recently laid off federal government employees. If you, or someone you know, has been impacted, click here to get 6 months of Slate Plus free. Lily has spent much of the past two months wondering whether she is going to get fired. As a transgender federal employee, shes also spent time training her body to suppress the urge to pee. Shes cut down her intake of water and stopped eating lunch so she wont have to visit the office restroom as often, given the attention she might attract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lily has worked for the Department of Defense for the past decade and a half. (Like nearly everyone quoted in this piece, she asked for a pseudonym to protect her from retaliation.) Her agency hasnt announced an explicit bathroom ban yet, but she has no doubt that its coming. On his very first day in office, Donald Trump signed an executive order on gender that formally rejected the validity of transgender identity. Among other things, it directed agencies to begin segregating intimate spaces by biological sex. It seems inevitable that at some point in the near future, Lily will be ordered, as a condition of her employment, to use the mens bathroom. And she wont be able to bring herself to do it. I am a woman, she told me. I look like a woman. I feel that I would be sexually harassed or assaulted in the mens restroom. All this physical and mental preparation has taken a toll. Lily has had to miss more than a week of work already, and shes upped her dosage of anti-anxiety medication. She dreads what the coming months will bring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Trump administration wages a large-scale assault on the civil service and seeks far-reaching restrictions on the ability of trans people to participate in public life, transgender federal employees find themselves in a uniquely vulnerable position. Their internal networks for social and professional support were disbanded by the executive order ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Bathroom bans are looming. At some agencies, higher-ups have prohibited the means by which trans employees have identified themselves, like posting their pronouns in Microsoft Teams. Some worry that Trumps executive order on biological sex is written so broadly that simply calling oneself transgender could violate it. But many fear the advent of a more explicit purge of trans workers. In an atmosphere of justifiable paranoia, rumors abound: Some whisper that the Office of Personnel Management will ask agencies to furnish lists of employees whose background checks show a history of different names or gender markers. An executive order that laid the groundwork for a trans military ban declared transgender identity inconsistent with an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, and thus incompatible with military service. Its easy to imagine the administration extending this argument to security clearances, leadership roles, or federal employment itself. Several transgender workers told me they see chilling parallels to the Lavender Scare, the McCarthy-era crusade to rid the government of gays and lesbians. Under the justification that they posed a threat to national security by being susceptible to blackmail, thousands of gay people were investigated, outed, and terminated from federal employment in the mid20th century. The moral panic spread to state and local governments, too, making more than 20 percent of American jobs unavailable to openly gay people. The U.S. Civil Service Commission didnt end the ban on gays in the federal workforce until 1975, amid a mounting push by the nascent gay rights movement for nondiscrimination protections. Today, the Lavender Scare is widely viewed as a shameful period in U.S. historya witch hunt that demonized a vulnerable minority to build support for a broader right-wing agenda. For Oliver, a trans man who now works for the Department of the Interior, that legacy added meaning to his decision to enter public service. In a previous federal role, representing his agency at a local Pride event was one of the proudest moments of my career, he said. It felt momentous to speak to other LGBTQ+ people as a uniformed federal employee, when just decades before, that would not have been possible or anywhere near the reality of what the life of a trans person could look like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The past two months have been disillusioning, to say the least. Oliver struggled to process the executive order that claimed trans-inclusive policies corrupt the validity of the entire American system. Like Lily, he immediately realized that a bathroom ban would likely come next. Oliver is the only current federal employee I spoke to who agreed to use his real first name in this piece, because he plans to leave his job within the month. The demand, led by Elon Musk, that feds write up a weekly list of their accomplishments put him over the edge. Ive had a lot of trouble sleeping over the last couple of weeks, he said. Worrying about what my job is going to look like, worrying about my existence as a trans person in the federal government. That just made me reach my breaking point where I had to ask myself, What am I willing to subject myself to? Olivers story mirrors the journey of several other transgender federal workers who told me they had envisioned long, productive careers in public service. Within a few weeks of the Trump administration, that goal began to seem impossible or intolerable: Now, they say, it appears likely that theyll either be fired for being transeven if the official pretext is something differentor be driven out by a degrading work environment that treats them with suspicion and contempt. One of the first transgender workers to lose her job in the new Trump administration was Amy Paris, who has worked for the federal government for most of the past decade. Over the years, shes had a hand in numerous projects that made the government work better for trans people and everyone else: adding an X option on passports for people who prefer their gender to be unspecified; developing software that helps Americans file their taxes directly with the IRS; ditching the pink and blue buttons that required TSA agents to pick a gender before each body scan, which resulted in unnecessary pat-downs, longer lines, and the public humiliation of transgender travelers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paris most recent job was in the Department of Health and Human Services, where, until earlier this year, she worked to improve the nationwide system governing organ donation and transplants. Then, at 9 p.m. on a Friday in the middle of February, Paris received an email announcing her termination. Your ability, knowledge, and skills do not fit the agencys current needs, and your performance has not been adequate to justify further employment at the agency, it read. Less than a month earlier, a performance evaluation had rated Paris outstanding, the highest ranking available in federal employment. It seems clear to her that her ouster was not based on an assessment of her work quality, though she cant be sure it was because she is trans. Members of the Trump administration are really out there to make sure that the federal government is not able to provide critical services, and that is their top goal, she said. If they happen to hurt some trans people along the way, all the better. In contrast to the days of the first Lavender Scare, there are thousands of out LGBTQ+ people currently serving in the federal government. But across the federal government, Paris said, there are also closeted trans people hoping they wont be discovered by the current administration. Being outed might have been a nonissue or simply unpleasant in the recent past; now, it could cost them their bathroom access or career. Closeted trans employees fear the day that the Department of Government Efficiency starts combing through employee background checks, searching for workers with disparate names and gender markers in their records. I imagine theyre going to come, eventually, for the entire LGBTQ spectrum. Theyre starting with trans people because were the smallest group, Paris said. A broader sweep may have already begun: In February, Mother Jones reported that certain departments have been asked to hand over the names of LGBTQ+ resource group leaders to higher-ranking officials. (It remains to be seen what they will do with these lists.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inclusive policies around language and labelssuch as the X gender marker that was available on many forms of federal identification until Trump took officeare also under attack. As soon as Trump signed his Day 1 executive order on gender, Lily said, colleagues whod styled themselves as LGBTQ+ allies began deleting their pronouns from their email signatures. Eventually, Lily was directed to do the same. Many of the people responsible for enforcing the executive order are not Trumps ideological foot soldiers; they may resent having to carry out his anti-trans decrees. For Lily, thats hardly a comfort. Thats my fear for other policies that will have to be implemented, she said. People know that they will impact me and will be a detriment to my ability to contribute in the office, but they will still enforce them. Because they dont want to lose their jobs. Gray, a nonbinary staff member at the General Services Administration, has had a hand in several projects designed to make federal workplaces more inclusive for trans employees. A few weeks ago, they were tasked with doing the opposite. After Trumps executive order on biological sex, Gray was the person who pushed the button to implement a change on government webpages, removing mentions of gender identity and pronouns. I sat there with tears streaming down my face while I did it, they said. Gray has been connecting with other federal employees on Signal, the encrypted messaging app. Over the past two months, several group chats of trans federal workersat least one with dozens of membershave come together to commiserate, offer job search assistance, and share moments of joy amid the chaos. One group is led by David, a trans man who has worked in the federal government for more than seven years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David wasnt out as trans at work before he started his agencys LGBTQ+ resource group. Having a devoted forum for meeting trans and queer colleagues helped me feel like I had a grounding and helped me come out of the closet, he said. By dissolving these groups, the Trump administration is beginning to encourage workers back into the closet, suggesting that their identities are once again a liability in the federal workplace. One queer employee at the Department of Transportation said her resource group used to be a vibrant, active community with more than 400 members. Now, its a 50-person Signal chat that most users have joined under pseudonyms, lest they leave a record of participation. Their coming togetherand their cautionhas historical precedent. During the first Lavender Scare, Frank Kameny co-founded the Mattachine Society of Washington, an early and influential gay rights group, after he was fired from his government job for being gay. At a preliminary meeting at a D.C. hotel, the hotel manager eavesdropped and reported the group to the FBI, which recruited an informant who outed dozens of alleged gays. Understanding the need for discretion, the majority of MSW members used pseudonyms, and membership records were stored under lock and key. Under the threat of targeted surveillance and mounting hostility, David has forced himself to consider what his red line would be. What if he arrives at his office one morning to find his computer login has been changed to his birth name? What if the administration opens an email address for telling on trans people using the restroom, like the one created to report on employees doing DEI work? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The urge to say fuck you to all these orders is so strong, David said. But its also really hard to weigh, likeif I lose my job tomorrow, its going to have really serious impacts on me, on my family. The parts of his job he once lovedthe national impact, the public service, the security that helped him provide a stable life for his kidsno longer outweigh the stress of being trans in the second Trump administration, he said. If I was 25, if I didnt have a family, Id just quit. Some federal workers worry that even innocuous discussions in the workplace about being trans could mark them for dismissal. They see an ominous sign in what happened to more than 100 intelligence officers who posted messages years ago in two LGBTQ+ chat rooms hosted by the National Security Agency. Last month, right-wing activist Christopher Rufo published a leaked series of old chats from the groups, calling them a secret transgender sex chatroom. In reality, the chats showed conversations about gender-affirming medical treatments and polyamorous relationships. Were a few of the comments inappropriate for work? Maybe. But hardly any mentioned sex. Even so, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called the message groups disgusting and ordered intelligence agencies to fire those whod participated. That is an opening to expand that aperture of, you know, trans people are dishonest. Theyre untrustworthy, Lily said. Im worried that that will be an excuse for removing clearances, as an exampleor, outright, anybody thats trans cant be trusted with federal work at all. Lily and her wife have drawn up a budget to see if they could make ends meet on just one salary. (It would be extremely tight.) Theyve started reducing their spending just in case and discussing whether they would stay in Texas if Lily were forced to end the career that she has spent more than a decade building. In just a couple of months, their plan for a future together that looked solid has become distressingly uncertain. Its an eventuality that Im going to be forced out of the government, Lily said. I am preparing for that as best I can. Detectives with the Union County Sheriffs Office have arrested four individuals accused of attempting to sexually exploit minors online as part of an ongoing operation. The arrests are the result of proactive online investigations conducted by the Special Victims Unit since February, targeting individuals using chat rooms and social media to solicit minors. Sheriff Eddie Cathey praised the investigators, stating, These arrests highlight our unwavering commitment to protecting our communitys children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: Gaston County pastor charged with soliciting prostitution Detectives created online profiles indicating they were minors under 16, leading to multiple adult offenders soliciting explicit images and attempting to arrange meetings. Three offenders were apprehended at a prearranged location in Monroe, while Brian Ganiel was arrested near his residence in Four Oaks, NC. David Curlee, one of the suspects, was a registered sex offender at the time of his arrest. Child sexual abuse material was discovered on devices belonging to Curlee and another suspect, Richard Tecuapa, resulting in additional felony charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UCSOs Crime Laboratory continues to analyze electronic evidence, with potential for further charges. Sheriff Cathey urged parents to monitor their childrens online activity and report any suspected exploitation to authorities. VIDEO: Gaston County pastor charged with soliciting prostitution OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) Were seeing a new chapter beginning in the South City Park in Opelousas with the massive Donald Gardner Stadium project underway and soon a new community center being built where the cell city park pool once stood. With these new additions being made, it has residents like environmental expert Stephen Picou questioning a couple of things, including the lack of transparency from local government and also the lack of communication with the public. Its one of the most beautiful parks in a small town in south Louisiana, and were not trying to stop them from improving the park, said Picou. We just want public involvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of public involvement, Picou said there should be a park and recreation committee in charge of the parks while also saying the city should look at the cost effectiveness of building new buildings rather than improving infrastructure. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Picou also highlighted the environmental impact it makes on the park. Everything behind me would go away if the plans go the way they want them to, in place of all this greenery, he said. With community involvement in mind and mindful budgeting Picou said Opelousas can make much needed improvements while also moving into the modern age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opelousas could really be a leader in good governance and transparency and in working with the assets it has, said Picou. This is a community asset and when you destroy pieces of it, you erode the quality of that asset. And when you build dull metal buildings that arent being designed to showcase renewable energy and energy efficiency and resource efficiency, youre not building for the future. Youre building with yesterdays technologies. We know how to do these things better, and it starts with community engagement. Picou said hes also willing to take legal action to make sure all city decisions are being made in accordance with the city charter. 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. When the Trump administration sent three planeloads of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador earlier this month, 137 of the 261 passengers were being removed pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. That ran into a legal buzz-saw with U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg, on grounds that due process had not been afforded the deportees. He ordered flights not to take-off, and, once they did anyway, to return to the U.S. The 1798 act was signed into law by President John Adams along with three other bills. They were known collectively as the Alien and Sedition Acts and were enacted by the Adamss Federalist Party Congress in response to mounting belligerent acts by the French against U.S. ships. War fever was running high in the country over fears that revolutionary France, then at war with Great Britain, would escalate the quasi-war into a full-scale national war with America. Although Adams had not requested the alien and sedition acts, he signed them into law to appease his frothing Federalist colleagues in Congress. The sedition acts were employed frequently to imprison or fine persons who criticized the U.S. government or its officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams did not have occasion to trigger the alien enemies measure that would have allowed him, during wartime, to deport those foreign nationals in the U.S. who sided with the French government. A good number of the Jeffersonian Republicans were sympathetic with the French. While three of the four acts were repealed or expired shortly after Jefferson won the presidency in 1800, the Alien Enemies Act has remained on the books ever since. The Jeffersonian Republicans, under President James Madison, were all too happy to use the act against British citizens residing in the U.S. during the War of 1812. The Act has only been used two other times in American history during World Wars I and II. The presidents proclamations applied to alien Germans, Italians, Austro-Hungarians and Japanese. The most shameful use, after Japans attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, was when President Franklin Roosevelt signed an order to remove all persons of Japanese descent to 10 internment camps inland, away from military areas along the Pacific Coast. Between 1942 and 1945, 120,00 Japanese residing in America at the time were imprisoned, many of them American citizens. In 1988, Congress apologized for the internments and paid them and their families reparations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the terms of the law, the Alien Enemies Act may be activated by presidential proclamation if the United States is in a declared war or has been invaded, or is under the threat of invasion by any foreign nation or government. In this months invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, the dead-of-night deportation of scores of Venezuelans was done without any opportunity for notice or hearing as to whether grounds existed for their removal. The administration claimed the gang members deported were proxies of the Venezuelan government and therefore that their presence constituted an invasion. These are the questions confronting Judge Boasberg who has pressed government officials for answers. This week, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 against reversing Boasbergs order. Although the act makes clear that any proclamation must be made by the president, Trump told reporters last Friday, on his way out the door for the weekend, I dont know when it was signed, because I didnt sign it. He went on to explain, that other people handled it. But [Secretary of State] Marco Rubios done a great job. And he wanted them out, and we go along with that. We want to get the criminals out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House walked-back the presidents recollection shortly thereafter in a statement to CNN, saying that the president had indeed signed the deportation order and that his reference to signing had to do with the signing of the original Alien Enemies Act of 1798. It seems doubtful the president was confusing himself with Adams, who had signed the act in 1798, without using an autopen. Meantime, Trump, along with a handful of House Republicans who have introduced the requisite resolution, called for Judge Boasbergs impeachment. In a rare statement from the high bench, Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., invoked the precedent that impeachment is not the appropriate response to disagreeing with a judges decision. That should be done through the appeals process. Whether this case eventually wends its way to the Supreme Court is a matter of conjecture at this point. But if it does, it will be an interesting episode to watch unfold. Don Wolfensberger is a 28-year congressional staff veteran, culminating as chief-of-staff of the House Rules Committee in 1995. He is author of, Congress and the People: Deliberative Democracy on Trial (2000), and, Changing Cultures in Congress: From Fair Play to Power Plays (2018). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Trump administrations tariffs and the ensuing debates have diverted attention from the fact that regulating international trade is the role of Congress. After all, tariffs are taxes, and its a bedrock principle of U.S. law that taxation requires legislation. The Framers made this point clear when they granted Congress the power to impose imposts and duties meaning tariffs to regulate external commerce. Fortunately, Congress is starting to exercise its constitutional powers over foreign commerce again. On March 12, Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) a former U.S. ambassador to Japan introduced a bill to shield U.S. companies from the European Unions Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, a regulation dating back to July 2024 that forces U.S. companies to audit their entire supply chains and disclose wide-ranging environmental, social, and governance or ESG metrics that exceed the requirements of U.S. law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea of protecting critical American industries from Europes regulatory overreach is not new or partisan. In 2012, President Obama signed a law to block imposition of E.U. carbon fees on U.S. airlines. Then-Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) co-sponsored the bill. Two years after the McCaskill-Thune bill, the EU backed down on aviation carbon fees. McCaskill cheered that Americans wouldnt be forced to pay a European tax when flying in U.S. airspace. But the victory was temporary. Europe today seeks creative ways to regulate the global operations of U.S. companies even if they have a small footprint in the E.U. The extraterritorial reach of E.U. rules can best be described as a 21st century version of European imperialism. Hagertys bill ensures that our critical manufacturing sector is not hamstrung by the same EU policies that have crushed their own manufacturing base. As important as the bill itself, Congresss willingness to protect American industry from burdensome EU rules sends the right message: The U.S. will not allow Eurosclerosis to spread here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best authorities on the effects of European regulations are European companies themselves, as they look at the American regulatory framework with envy. The CEO of Ericsson, a Swedish multinational telecommunications and networking company, Borje Ekholm, has warned that overregulation is driving Europe to irrelevance. He has even toyed with the idea of relocating the Swedish mobile giant to the U.S. Ericsson wouldnt be the first European company to jump ship as a result of EU regulatory strangulation. Bird, a top Dutch cloud communications startup announced last month that it was moving operations out of Europe because EU regulations block true innovation in a global economy moving extremely fast to AI. Ensuring the competitiveness of Americas designated critical industries is rightly priority No. 1. But Hagertys bill has the opportunity to go even further American pharmaceutical companies, agriculture companies and AI leaders must also be shielded from EU overreach, lest they be forced to flee Europe like Bird. In a recent letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Hagerty and other leaders in Congress pointed out that at least 300 U.S. companies listed in the S&P 1500 will be directly affected by this European ESG policy. Due to sweeping supply chain disclosure obligations, the number of American companies indirectly affected is much higher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worse, covered companies are in the dark about the cost of reporting errors. The EUs most recent amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive removed the maximum cap on penalties initially set to at least 5 percent of a companys annual revenue instead deferring to European member states to fine companies for noncompliance as they see fit. Ten years ago, McCaskill was right to point out the absurdity of the EUs global aviation tax scheme. Its equally absurd that an American companys balance sheet be threatened by over-eager regulators in Luxembourg or Greece. Hagertys bill is a welcome reassertion of American sovereignty and a welcome reminder of Congresss central role in regulating foreign commerce. Michael Toth is a research fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and a seasoned tech general counsel with over fifteen years of corporate counsel and litigation experience. 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. Former President Joe Biden has told some Democratic leaders hell raise funds, campaign and do anything else necessary for Democrats to recover lost ground, NBC News reported last week. Some prominent party supporters reacted with skepticism while insisting on anonymity, but Jane Kleeb, a new vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, voiced open enthusiasm. If you were to call any state party chair and ask them if they wanted Joe Biden to be a keynote speaker for their annual dinner, the answer would be yes, Kleeb said. He is beloved by the party and beloved by the voters. Kleeb is a rising star on the national stage, after many years as the innovative head of the Nebraska Democratic Party. In February, state party chairs elected her to a four-year term as president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, replacing Ken Martin when he became the new DNC chair. The two are close allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Does Kleeb truly believe that all state Democratic chairs would want Biden to keynote their annual dinner? The claim seems dubious. Her description of Biden as beloved by the voters is quite a stretch; Gallup polls show that Bidens approval remained in the vicinity of 40 percent during the last three years of his presidency. As the Democratic Party struggles to regroup after its disastrous 2024 election, what is needed from leadership is candor, not more politician-speak that touts Biden as some kind of guiding light for the future. Kleebs depiction of him is disconnected from the outlooks of grassroots Democrats. Today, few Democrats agree that Biden is a fitting exemplar for their party. This month, when a CNN poll asked Democratic voters which one person best reflects the core values of the Democratic Party, only 1 percent chose Biden. Pretending otherwise is politically foolish. Biden might appeal to the more hidebound party leaders, but its a whole different story for the voters that the party needs to mobilize. The reflex to do implausible public relations has been chronic among Democratic leaders, often undermining their credibility and damaging the partys electoral prospects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The anger that so many blue voters are venting at congressional Democrats this month is largely a response to party leaders continuation of Biden-style politics, akin to following Marquess of Queensberry rules while being attacked with hammers and knives. Meanwhile, people who comprise the Democratic base are crying out for a far more combative strategy against the MAGA Republicans as they take a wrecking ball to basic democratic structures of the U.S. government. Telling voters that they find Biden beloved is the kind of infantilizing nonsense more befitting of a PR agency than a political party in need of credibility. This is the sort of fawning approach that enabled Biden to run for reelection until it was too late, as Democrats in Congress and state party chairs publicly lauded the Biden 2024 campaign even while often privately bemoaning its slim chances. Biden, with his zeal for compromising with Republican politicians and his routinely feeble opposition to them, could hardly be less of a model for what the Democratic Party and the country now desperately need. In 2019, Biden declared, The thing that will fundamentally change things is with Donald Trump out of the White House. Not a joke. You will see an epiphany occur among many of my Republican friends. Of course, no such epiphany occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After winning the 2020 election, Biden made a point of lamenting the refusal of Democrats and Republicans to cooperate with one another. Despite the GOPs obvious extremism, he contended that the American people want us to cooperate and pledged thats the choice Ill make. While president, Biden often extended an olive branch to congressional Republicans, only to have Republicans toss it aside and block the Democratic agenda. All this matters now because party leadership must stop pretending about the past in order to chart a viable path toward regaining power. But leadership has shown few signs of recognizing why Democrats lost so much support from voters during Bidens term. Despite the massive falloff of working-class votes that sank the Democratic ticket last year, the response of the party establishment has been to deny the truth in what Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in the wake of the election: It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them. Days after the November wipeout, the DNCs then-chair Jaime Harrison blasted Sanderss critique as straight up BS. A month later, Sanderss astute postmortem was still rankling party loyalists. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) went out of his way to label it an absolute crock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are inspiring huge crowds and voter excitement with economic populist messages, in sharp contrast to mainline congressional Democrats who are incapable of doing any such thing. The faster that the Democratic Party can shed the Biden brand, the better its prospects will be for the midterms and the 2028 presidential campaign. Trying to pretty up the partys recent past can only divert attention from the need to discard old playbooks and really fight for a much better future. Norman Solomon is cofounder of RootsAction.org and executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy. His book War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine was published in 2023. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The political divide among Americans is vast, and when it comes to women, that gap feels even wider especially on issues of motherhood and family. But a debate is growing over how to accommodate new moms serving in Congress and its a fight every self-proclaimed conservative should get behind. Motherhood is a uniquely wonderful part of being a woman, but it doesnt come without challenges, especially in the immediate aftermath of labor and delivery. Those first few weeks are physically and emotionally taxing, which is why it was stunning to watch Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat from Colorado, appear on the House floor with her newborn in arms determined to vote on last months high-stakes budget bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though I probably disagree with Pettersen on just about everything, Im in awe of what she did because I know firsthand how hard it must have been (I can assure you I wouldnt have boarded a plane just weeks after giving birth to any of my three children). So, what is a woman to do when shes an elected official with a swath of constituents who are counting on her? In politics, actions speak louder than words, and it appears the response from congressional leadership is: Sit this one out. Congress currently makes no allowances for proxy voting not even for women who have just given birth yet it was standard for many lawmakers during the COVID-19 era. If we truly want a government that reflects the people it serves, we must acknowledge that working mothers, including those in public office, deserve better. Its unrealistic, and frankly, unacceptable that there are no exceptions made for women who have just created life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the hundreds of years that Congress has been in existence, Pettersen is only the 13th woman to give birth while in office, which speaks volumes. There are plenty of mothers who are now empty nesters but youll be hard-pressed to find women in their childbearing years who are actively growing a family. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican from Florida, started this fight after giving birth to her son back in 2023. She faced the same impossible dilemma: Fulfill her duty as a lawmaker or prioritize the critical postpartum recovery period that every new mother needs. But after failed attempts to convince Speaker Mike Johnson to allow new mothers to vote remotely, she recently took matters into her own hands. Because she was able to meet the threshold of at least 218 signatures, Lunas discharge petition will soon force a vote on legislation to allow proxy voting for new parents for up to 12 weeks. Its worth noting that discharge petitions rarely succeed, but this one quickly garnered the support needed to force floor action. But the tally speaks volumes: Only 11 Republicans joined hundreds of Democrats in signing the petition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arent Republicans the party of family values? Dont we all proudly claim to be pro-life? Talk is cheap, and its time we prove what we stand for. Failing to address this issue sends a dangerous message to young women: You can only have a seat at the table if youre willing to delay or sacrifice starting a family. Motherhood is arguably one of the most life-changing transformations a woman will go through, and it has the power to shape perspectives and priorities, not to mention policy positions. Thats precisely why we need more mothers in Congress, not fewer. If you ask me, every Republican should be on board without hesitation. Ensuring that new mothers in Congress can serve their constituents without sacrificing their health or caring for their babies isnt just the right thing to do; its a matter of practicing what we preach. An excerpt from About Your Black Transgender Child: Answers to MOST of Your Burning Questions. Mom, I would never have told my doctor because you were my doctor. My trans young adult Those words hit me hard! My eldest offspring said them to me recently while we were having a conversation. I had shared my thoughts about the need for pediatricians and other physicians to create safer spaces at their offices in order to become better allies for their Q+ patients. To be clear, she wasnt against my idea; she was simply stating how much more difficult it was for her because of the duality of my role in her life. I think it is crucial for trans kids to share their feelings with their doctors, especially if they cant confide in their parents or other significant adults in their lives. Well, as you can read from that quote, my kiddo wasnt having it. She felt that while doctors do have some work to do, the responsibility should always come down to the kids parents. As a pediatrician, I fully understand the important role that we play as parent extenders in the lives of transgender children, especially when the child is Black or a person of color. I am also aware of the long history of trauma from the medical community toward Black people and toward LGBTQ+ people, both of which your child is a member, and that compounds the situation. Once upon a time, doctors had more autonomy to practice freely. Offering gender-affirming care had not become a practice regulated by the government. We could make decisions about our transgender patients and their welfare. Sadly, today, whole states in America are suing physicians and threatening to confiscate their licenses, preventing them from practicing or providing much-needed, life-saving gender-affirming care to children. As your childs parent, you have to fight! To successfully fight back, you might have to move to a different state or possibly a different part of the world where gender-affirming care is legal. You will have to look for and find a compassionate pediatrician who will advocate for your child. Your child will need referrals to a psychiatrist, a psychotherapist, an endocrinologist, a urologist, a general surgeon, an obstetrician/gynecologist, a voice therapist, and a licensed social worker, to name a few. Suffice it to say, they will also need good insurance if possible. These medical providers must be affirming. Meaning, they must own safe spaces that are nonjudgmental and inclusive, and their employees must do the same. This will look like: A website that indicates inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community Office staff that respects your childs name and pronouns Inclusive entry forms that properly include all genders (or allow room for you to enter your childs gender) Gender-neutral bathrooms or single-stall restrooms Displaying pride paraphernalia, etc., not only during the month of June Your childs pediatrician or doctor must also know and understand what questions to ask based on your childs gender identity and body parts. This Glossary of Words, updated in March 2024 from Johns Hopkins University LGBTQ+ Life publication, only scratches the surface. Your child is the best source for the words they use to describe their body parts. Be respectful and ask themdont assume. Whether your child is older and able to conduct their doctors visits on their own or still a minor and you have to accompany them to their doctors visits, the following list and discussion of nine focus areas for when you are at their doctors office should help: Affirming environment An affirming health care environment includes visible signs of inclusivity, such as pronoun pins, pride flags, gender-neutral bathrooms, and diverse artwork. These signals help LGBTQ+ patients feel safe and seen. Forms should allow for self-identification, including chosen names and gender identity. Additionally, waiting rooms should reflect diversity, featuring inclusive posters and materials that make all patients feel represented and valued. Inclusive communication and respectful care ADVERTISEMENT Health care providers should introduce themselves with their pronouns and ask for your childs pronouns, ensuring they are addressed correctly and respectfully. It is essential that all staff members consistently use your childs chosen name and pronouns, reinforcing their identity. Providers should respect your childs autonomy by seeking permission before physical exams and allowing them to name body parts in ways that feel comfortable. Instead of fixating on gender identity, health care professionals should take a holistic approach, focusing on overall well-being, celebrating queer joy, and highlighting positive experiences. Trauma-informed and confidential care LGBTQ+ patients, particularly transgender and nonbinary youth, may have experienced discrimination or trauma in health care settings. It is crucial that providers are trained in trauma-informed care and demonstrate sensitivity to these experiences. Confidentiality is keyproviders should always seek a childs consent before sharing personal information. Additionally, health care professionals should allow patients to set the pace during physical exams and discussions, fostering trust and comfort, particularly for those with past traumatic experiences. Advocacy, referrals, and resources A supportive provider should be willing to refer patients to affirming mental health professionals, endocrinologists, and other specialists as needed. They should also connect families with LGBTQ+ organizations such as PFLAG, Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), or local health care centers that provide additional support. Furthermore, providers should have a strong understanding of health disparities affecting LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those with intersectional identities, and be proactive in advocating within the health care system to ensure equitable care. Access to gender-affirming care If a child seeks gender-affirming care, providers should have experience in or be willing to refer to specialists for services such as voice therapy, hormone therapy, and puberty blockers. They should also be knowledgeable about resources for gender-affirming medical supplies, such as binders and packers, ensuring that patients have access to safe and appropriate options. Navigating insurance and medical records Navigating health care systems can be challenging for transgender and nonbinary patients, particularly when dealing with insurance and medical records. An affirming provider should assist in managing insurance coverage for gender-affirming care and guide families in updating medical records to reflect a childs chosen name and gender. Taking these steps helps prevent misgendering and ensures a smoother health care experience. Cultural competency A culturally competent provider recognizes that the LGBTQ+ experience is not monolithic and acknowledges the intersection of race, ethnicity, and religion in a patients identity. It is important to assess whether a provider understands the unique challenges faced by BIPOC LGBTQ+ patients and is committed to delivering care that is culturally relevant and affirming. Building a long-term relationship Health care should go beyond one-time visitsproviders should demonstrate a genuine interest in fostering a long-term, supportive relationship with LGBTQ+ youth. Regular mental health check-ins are particularly important, especially for high-risk groups like Black trans youth, who may face additional societal and health care challenges. Advocacy for trans rights An affirming provider should be willing to support transgender youth in legal matters by writing letters for gender marker changes or other necessary documentation. They should also stay informed about policies affecting transgender health care, particularly in states with restrictive laws, to ensure they can provide guidance and support in navigating these challenges. These focus areas cover more aspects of care, from navigating systems to ensuring that your childs provider is truly committed to their long-term well-being. This way, you can feel even more equipped to advocate for your childs needs while working with health care providers. Uchenna Umeh is a pediatrician and the author of About Your Black Transgender Child: Answers to MOST of Your Burning Questions. Since 24 February 2022, the Department of International Police Cooperation of the National Police, acting on requests from the Prosecutor Generals Office and the Ministry of Justice, has extradited 151 individuals to Ukraine. These individuals had been placed on the wanted list for suspicion or charges of criminal offences, or were sought to serve sentences following court rulings. Source: response to a request from Ukrainska Pravda regarding the Ministry of Internal Affairs announcement of individuals placed on the international wanted list; a representative of the department in a comment to UP Quote from the response: "Since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the department has organised and carried out 151 transfers of individuals for whom authorised (central) bodies of foreign states have decided on extradition to Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The department told UP that the 151 individuals were listed in the Interpols General Secretariat database under a red notice or diffusion. For reference: A red notice differs from a diffusion in that it is disseminated to all countries cooperating with Interpol, while a diffusion allows restrictions so that certain countries do not see that an individual is subject to a red notice. There are nine types of Interpol notices. Red notices pertain to individuals wanted for suspicion, charges, or convictions for criminal offences, with the aim of their arrest, detention, restriction of movement and subsequent extradition. Blue notices are of interest to Ukrainian law enforcement in criminal proceedings or operational investigations, covering suspects, witnesses and victims. Yellow notices concern locating missing persons or identifying individuals unable to provide information about themselves. Only a red notice allows for the extradition of an individual to the requesting country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The response to the request states that since the start of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have submitted requests to the department, resulting in the publication of 954 red notices and diffusions, 79 blue notices and diffusions, and 796 yellow notices and diffusions in Interpols General Secretariat database. The department explained to UP that publishing a notice or diffusion does not always mean a person is declared internationally wanted. As of 26 March, Interpols database, based on Ukrainian law enforcement requests, contains 1,037 active red notices and diffusions, 90 blue notices, and 923 yellow notices. The department explained to UP that the publication of a notice or diffusion does not always mean that an individual has been declared internationally wanted. As of 26 March, 1,037 red notices and diffusions, 90 blue notices, and 923 yellow notices are being processed in Interpols General Secretariat database, based on requests from Ukrainian law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department said that these are the active notices at present, as some requests may be removed when a person is extradited or found, while new ones may be added when there is a request to search for an individual within a new criminal case. Background: On 19 March, it was reported that developer Anatolii Voitsekhovskyi, who had defrauded investors in 42 Kyiv construction projects and fled abroad, was extradited to Ukraine. It was also reported that Ukrainska Pravda managed to find 15 people abroad who are wanted by Ukrainian law enforcement on suspicion of committing crimes. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) Recent reports by the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy show fentanyl involved in over 70 percent of overdose deaths in the state. The fentanyl on the streets [is] currently 100 times more potent than morphine. Most of the time theyre pressed pills so you dont really know how much youre getting that makes it more dangerous. It was really pushed in the poor communitiesKentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, things like that, mining communities , says Melanie Stanishia, a psychiatric mental health nurse at RVBH. Experts say the drugwas originally designed to alleviate severe pain that follows surgeries and injuries sustained in the militarybut was altered in the nineties to be more addictive. It also sends dopamine, a feel good hormone, into overdrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Owensboro, River Valley Behavioral Health says one of the biggest challenges is its commonly used without people knowing in almost any drug people have access to. So, you could buy a marijuana pen and then find out that it has fentanyl in it. We have tested people for that, and they do have it in there. Its not necessarily what you intended to buy or use, but thats how theyre getting it in. Theres a lot of times it is very unintentional,says Stanishia. RVBH is working to save lives through medical assisted treatment, which combines FDA approved medications, like Suboxone. Its combined with counseling to help what they describe as the whole person. The goal is to get people through the hardest parts of withdrawal and then slowly reduce the dose over time for clients as they move forward on their sobriety journey. Whenever youre coming down off of the drug, its the worse it is literally the worst feeling youll ever feel. Youre just so nauseated. You have the sweats, tons of anxiety, says Kattie Baker, whos currently enrolled in MAT at the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of times people say [they] feel like theyre crawling out of their skin, says Stanishia. Studies on the treatment style show a 59 percent decrease in overdose deaths. Baker says MAT is whats helped her. She was sober for several years, and even enrolled herself in therapy, before realizing she needed help to stay the course. Youre want to use It completely blocks it out. [At least] for me, it does. People can be clean for ten years and still have triggers. I was getting to that point where I was scared I was going to use. With the overdoses Ive had in the past, I was very scared I was going to end up killing myself, says Baker. Baker says shes looking forward to the day where she no longer relies on the medicine, but has since repaired her relationship with her family, regained custody of her daughter and rekindled things with her significant other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I started praying a lot, and I started leaning on God. I truly believe that thats one of the big reasons I [continue to be] successful in sobriety, says Baker. That belief is something many in recovery hold onto, including women in the Friends of Sinners program, a Christian-based treatment center across town. Megan Stout and Kieara Aubrey, both 24-years-old, say their faith has made the difference. Ive tried other programs before this, but secular programs. I just relapsed every time, says Aubrey. I started using at the end of 2019beginning of 2020. I used up until I got arrested June of 2023. I was in there for a while. I found God in that jail cell, says Stout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both women share stories of one drug leading to another and using the substance to work through anxiety, depression and even loss. It just numbed me to everything, numbed me from the world you know? At the end, it was to the point that I was using and not getting high anymore. I was ready to do something different, says Aubrey. Aubrey has lost both of her parents, one to an overdose. She says giving her six-year-old son a life different than hers plays a huge factor. Ive achieved a lot. I got my G.E.D.. Im supposed to start school in August. I got a really good job. I just bought my first car. Im doing really well. Ive been through a lot with my parents and stuff, and I just dont want.. I want my son to have a better life than I did, says Aubrey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stout is just one month away from graduating out of the year-long program. [Fentanyl] killed one of my best friends. This stuff is killing people. Its not worth it. I did get on the proper medication [for depression and anxiety] that I need. I always go to the bible, contact my sponsor, or I talk to one of the girls here. I go play with my nieces, says Stout. As treatment options continue to evolve, officials say the goal remains the same: to turn the tide on addiction and give more people the chance to live a drug-free 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). DANBURY, Conn. (WTNH) The owner of a Danbury tow truck company was arrested on Tuesday following a workers compensation investigation, according to the Division of Criminal Justice. 55-year-old Rahamat Hydar, owner of Meagans Auto failed to provide the required workers compensation insurance coverage for employees, officials say. Ellington woman accused of embezzling over $800K from her employer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2023, a Meagans Auto employee was involved in a serious work-related accident while assisting a customer. There was no workers compensation insurance policy in place to cover the employee, which violated state law. Connecticut state law requires all businesses to to demonstrate to the Workers Compensation Commission their financial ability to compensate injured employees or beneficiaries. Otherwise, the business must carry workers compensation insurance to cover the full liability. Hydar was arrested and charged with criminal liability and noncompliance with insurance requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was released on $10,000 bond and will appear in Danbury Superior Court on April 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Zhu Chen, owner of Wellmade Flooring in Bartow County, was arrested Wednesday after an investigation into labor trafficking. Channel 2s Tom Jones was the first reporter at the facility as a combination of federal agents and local law enforcement agencies entered the Wellmade Flooring site en masse. In addition to Zhu Chen, arrest records from Bartow County show that Jiayi Jia Chen was also arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both men face three counts each of trafficking persons for labor servitude, which are felonies. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The arrest warrants for both Zhu Chen and Jiayi Jia Chen show multiple dates for the charges, which include three unnamed victims for each man arrested. It was not immediately clear if the victims were the same individuals or different, dependent on those charged. The relationship between the two men was not immediately clear. Channel 2 Action News spoke to federal agents on Wednesday while the operation was underway, learning that Zhu Chen, also known as George, was under investigation for both labor trafficking and financial crimes. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The months-long investigation started when members of Homeland Security and other agencies learned Zhu Chen was bringing in workers from other countries and forcing them to work at the flooring company in Cartersville. Members of law enforcement told Channel 2 Action News that there were between 300 and 400 foreign nationals working there, all victims. Lindsay Williams, with Homeland Security, said These folks today are primarily from China, but there are some other countries involved as well. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was also present in a support capacity. Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Ozden told Jones they brought translators in to help interview victims and witnesses, and that agents had searched the production facility and seven nearby homes during the operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A former Wellmade Industries employee told Channel 2s Courtney Francisco that conditions inside the factory were terrible. Speaking with Channel 2 Action News, former employee Lacortney Ware said the way they treated their employees was terrible. Ware worked at Wellmade until 2022. The facility opened in 2019 and expanded in 2020 with a $35 million investment. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Urologist David Canes discusses his article, Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know. He shares insights from using AI scribes in over 3,000 clinical encounters, noting how they save time, reduce burnout, and enhance patient interactions. David also highlights challenges like technical glitches, over-reliance on AI, and potential documentation errors. He suggests clinicians always review AI notes and keep manual skills sharp to balance benefits and risks effectively. 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 David Canes. He is a urologist, and todays KevinMD article is Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know. David, welcome to the show. David Canes: Thank you, Kevin. Kevin Pho: All right, so tell us a little bit about yourself and then the article that you wrote for KevinMD. ADVERTISEMENT David Canes: All right, so I amIm about 50 years old, just to let people know where I am in my career. Im a urologist and the first doctor in my family. I grew up mostly in New England. I always knew in the back of my mind I wanted to be a doctor ever since I went to the pediatrician as a young child, and I fell in love with surgery. And Ive been in and out of burnout a couple times in my life, and improving my workplace efficiency is what personally got me out of it. And so thats why I became interested in AI scribes and adjacent topics. All right. And your KevinMD article is titled Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know. Kevin Pho: Full disclosure, the presenting sponsor of this podcast is DaxCopilot, which is an AI scribe company. I just want to disclose that. But tell us what your article is about. David Canes: So, Im somebody who would have considered myself very efficient in clinic before I even introduced scribes. All right? I had my EHR shortcuts, dot phrases, order sets, templates dialed in. And if youd asked me a year ago, How efficient are you navigating around in clinic and using the computer? I would have said, Im perfectly fine, thank you. But when ChatGPT came out, I became completely enthralled. I could see it as a world-changing event, and Im an early adopter personality. And so I dove into AI, and the natural extension of that was, why dont I try AI scribes? And initially, I was incredibly skeptical. My take on it was, you know what, my templates are just fine. I dont want a fully faithful representation of my visit, and its not going to get the notes exactly how I want it. And so Im all set. But after trying itand I tried about eight to ten different companies; by the way, there are 70 companies out there offering AI scribes right nowmy view on this pivoted completely. And let me tell you just briefly why. First of all, my cognitive load in the visit went down, and I noticed this because at the end of the day I was less exhausted. I felt like I was paying more attention to the patientsreally being a good listenerbecause there was no running subtext in my head that went something like, oh, I better remember to write that down, I want to make sure to remember this, I want to make sure to document that, where you kind of remove yourself mentally from the conversation youre having. That went away. Because once you try a few notes, you realize nothing is going to be missed. So I felt like I was better able to be the kind of doctor that I wanted to be in the first place, someone who listens and whos present in the moment. And then I was saving at least two hours a day. I used to take my lunch break in order to catch up on the notes from the morning. And then I would use 5 to 6 p.m. to catch on the afternoon notes. And that documentation time went away. And, you know, were the notes exactly in my voice? Maybe not exactly, but at this point, the trade-off to my sanity, my work-life balanceat least for me personallywas very clear. This is how Im going to start documenting. I abandoned my previous workflow completely. And then, you know, the inspiration for writing this article was, I would just love to share my experience with as many doctors as possible in case there are others who might want to try it out and might benefit from it. Kevin Pho: And you mentioned that some of this decrease in cognitive workload brought you back from the throes of burnout. You mentioned that earlier, right? David Canes: Yes. So my strong feeling on thisI think fundamentally if we could go back to when we were all undergraduates and think about when you decided that you wanted to become a doctor. For me, and I think for most listeners, it was something about the patient interaction and patient care that felt really special, really meaningful, and worthwhile. So if we can shape our workflows so that we move from one meaningful patient interaction to another, I think theres no single solution for burnout, but I think its a step in the right direction. It just made me enjoy my work again, focusing on patients, giving them my attention, establishing rapport, and then not scrambling afterwards to document it all. Instead, Ive become a willing proofreader, and its easier to be an editor than it is to be an author. Kevin Pho: Now, what about the experiences of your colleagues also using AI scribes? Are you an N of one? Have your colleagues also noticed a day and night difference when it comes to that decrease in cognitive load after using the AI scribe? David Canes: Yeah. So in my health system, I sort of becameyou could call me the Johnny Appleseed. I became vocal about it, and I told my colleagues, and it spread to the point where ultimately the health system decided to bring on an AI scribe for all the doctors. We happened to settle on Heidi Health. Theyre all excellent, and there are a lot of great choices, but what Ive found is theres no universal workflow. Theres not going to be 100 percent adoption of anything. If you take something as simple as Dragon dictation, you can dictate at 160 words a minute, and most people cant type better than 40 words a minute. And I still walk up and down the hospital hallways, and I see people pecking at the keyboard with a Dragon mic sitting there not being used. So there is no 100 percent uptake of anything. But when you try an AI scribe for the first time, and you see a note render, everybody has a sort of jaw-dropping moment like, oh my God, this is incredible. Its pretty close to what I would have written, and guess what? I didnt have to do it. So its not universal, but its pretty close that colleagues see that this is something that they might want to at least try. But, you know, there are some pitfalls. I think Ive had 000 patient encounters now using an AI scribe, and so that was the inspiration for this blog: things can happen. Should we go through some of them? Kevin Pho: Absolutely. David Canes: All right. So there are occasionally technical failures. Theres a new paranoia that comes up, which is, oh my God, did I forget to hit record? You may occasionally go through a visit, glance at the scribe interface, and realize, oh God, I forgot to hit record. You can either let this drive you crazy or sort of take it in stride. You got to go back to the way you used to dictate for that patient or use your templates or whatever, and not let it derail your day. Weve all been through technical failures. The EHR is glitching. Theres downtime of your EHR. Its frustrating. I think a lot of this is a mindset: this may happen occasionally; the back end of the app is temporarily down, and I try not to let it get to me. So thats one thing that can happen. Another pitfall is as you start using AI scribes, you may notice that youre barely editing the notes because theyre so good, and thats a trap because you may occasionally decide, you know what, Im just going to paste it into the chart and not even proofread it. And you cant do that because occasionally it will put something in there that wasnt exactly what happened, and you know how sometimes we filter out something that the patient says because were not really assessing it? It may include that, and there may be some medical-legal issues where you didnt think it was important in your clinical judgment, but now its in there and you havent addressed it. So it requires, again, a little bit of a mindset change, and I think depending on where you are in your career, these little aspects of AI scribes may either be OK with you or a deal-breaker. Kevin Pho: So I want to underscore that these AI scribes and large language models, theyre just not fancy dictation systems in terms of creating that note. It really synthesizes what is recording and comes up with something that is pretty close to intuitive in terms of what a physician would want. So for those who arent familiar with AI scribes, I just want to differentiate that from something you mentioned earlier, like a Dragon dictation system, which kind of verbatim records. This is not that, right? David Canes: Yeah, thats a good point. Its not a transcript of your session; its not like a stenographer in a court case where it is a faithful representation of everything everyone said. Thats not what it is. Its outputting a structured note, much in the way that you would as an abstraction from what happened in the transcript and whatever context youve given the scribe. Now, some of them, including Heidior I should say some of themwill let you really get detailed with how you want your templates to come out, and thats where you can bend the notes to be more exactly how you want them. But its not a transcript, which to me is a good thing. Kevin Pho: You mentioned about those rare cases where the note isnt exactly what you want and can sometimes lead to some medical-legal consequences or have inadvertent wrong information in the chart. Anecdotally, have you heard any cases whether in your system or just from your colleagues where that actually has harmed patient care? David Canes: I havent. This is all theoretical. Since were on the medical-legal topic, I will say a lot of objections from doctors who hear about scribes is, one, I dont want this transcript to be out there and released to the legal system. That, I think, is a far-fetched concern. None of the AI scribe companies would want that to occur, because it would ruin the industry. That, Im not worried about. But Ill give you an example in urologyand again, I dont know of any cases like this. Lets say a patient tells me that theres blood in the urine, and on more further questioning, its more that the urine was just very concentrated and they were dehydrated. So Im not going to assess, OK, thanks, gross hematuria, because in my estimation there just wasnt any. Now, what if in the AI scribe scenario, it puts the patients voice in there as having blood in the urine, and I didnt proofread it carefully, so I didnt notice, and I left it in there. Six years later, the patient develops a bladder tumor, and so that note now is a potential Achilles heel for me. To me, that would be a proofreading issue. Youve got to proofread these notes. Youve got to make sure that whats in there is what you intend to be in there. Were constantly filtering what we want to be in there and what we dont want, and the AI scribe may not always make those choices in the same way that you would. Kevin Pho: In your article, you talk about copy-pasting errors that can be exacerbated by scribes. So, talk more about that. David Canes: Yeah, so most AI scribes, in my experience, at least when you first sign on, if theres no formal integration into the EHR, youre going to be copying and pasting from the AI scribe software into your EHR, which is, by the way, the way I do it now. I dont find it to be difficult or onerous or annoying. Its just part of the workflowa couple of clicksbut it does pose an existential threat that youre going to paste it into the wrong chart. And so you need to be aware of that. You need to put in some double checks, and its now part of my workflow: every time I paste, I do a pause and I check the name thats in the note to the name thats on the chart, just as a fail-safe to save myself from making that kind of mistake. Kevin Pho: Do you ever worry that physicians are going to lose their manual documentation skills? Im actually not that much older than you, just a year or two older than you, so when we were in medical school, right, we always had to handwrite the patients story and handwrite the assessment and plan. Then we went to electronic medical records, where we either typed it out or dictated it. And now we have these ambient AI scribes, which really capture the patients story without us really having to narrate it or write it down. So how do you think thats going to affect the physicians manual documentation skills? David Canes: Thats a wonderful question, Kevin. Let me tell you my take on this. My answer is no, Im not worried about this, but let me tell you why. With every major advance in the history of humankind, reallyif you take the Industrial Revolution and the introduction of factories and mass manufacturingwe were afraid that people were going to lose their manual skills on the assembly line and that kind of thing. The old skill often just doesnt matter anymore. Its the same thing in surgery: when we go from open surgery to laparoscopy, hardly any trainee can do an open gallbladder removal now, but it doesnt matter because its no longer a relevant skill. What makes me most excited about the move toward ambient scribes and documentation this way is that it freeswhat does it free you up to do instead? It frees you up to do more thinking about the patient in front of you. And actually, in my stats that are recorded in Epic, my time in the chart has gone up even though my documentation time has gone down, which means Im going through results more carefully. Im reading through the imaging results and the lab results and other doctors notes while I have the patient in front of me, and making more eye contact with them. So its freeing up myagain, my cognitive load is now open to do more important things. You know, a generation from now, if doctors dont know how to write a note from scratch but theyre focusing on doctoring, I think that saves our field. I think that saves our profession. Kevin Pho: Now, where do you see the future of AI scribes heading? Like you said, theres kind of a Wild West out there. There are 70-plus AI scribe companies. What do you see in the foreseeable future regarding the technology itself? David Canes: So my take on that is that in short order, AI scribes are sort of going to be table stakes. Its like being able to electronically send a prescription. Now its just considered something that every EHR has to have. We dont talk about which one does that better. I think theres going to be a reversion to the mean where they all do a pretty decent job at the actual note writing. So the next frontier is going to be which companies can capture the downstream tasks that happen after the note. For example, within the next couple of years, it will be, I mentioned in the visit that Im going to refill your prescription for metoprolol and order a CAT scan, and as soon as I turn to the EHR, those orders are already pended for you to be proofread and signedAI agents that then start the process of tracking the patient down to make sure they follow up on all those plans that you just instituted. So, to me, the next frontier is going to be the downstream tasks that have to be done after the note is finished. How can we make that easier for doctors? Kevin Pho: Do you ever worry about administration not being aligned regarding that cognitive load decrease? They simply just see the numbers and say, Youre spending two hours less documenting. Why dont you see four more patients instead? Do you see that there are some conflicting goals regarding the AI scribes? David Canes: Yes, I am very worried about that. If theres a call to action from this podcast, I would urge doctors to take actionnot an aggressive stance, but more of an active role in being the ones who decide what their own workflow should look like. Were the ones seeing the patients. We are the ones generating the revenue. And its our sanity at the end of the day. There are too many doctors committing suicide, leaving medicine. Its time for us to say, you know what, this is how it should be. I need this for my own occupational distress level. I get to decide how many patients I see in a day. And if I see two more patients and its less work, Im happy to do that. But you cant break my back so that Im back to being burnt out. I want doctors to be enabled to speak up when they feel like their workflow isnt working right. There are too many clicks in the EHR. Were a very deferential group of peopleGod bless us. We need to stand up for ourselves more. Kevin Pho: Were talking to David Canes. Hes a urologist, and todays KevinMD article is Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know. David, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. David Canes: Yeah, so take-home messages for me are: I want to go back and echo what I said about time face-to-face with the patient. That time is what our purpose is, and thats the timethe face-to-face time with the patientthat makes us feel the most fulfilled. So what I want people to do is examine their workflow and look at bottlenecks, and think of ways for it to be solved. Ill give you one example thats near and dear to my heart. One of the things that I found in my practice is that I got frustrated by teaching patients the basics over and over again and never getting to the personal parts of why they were seeing me. So I started WellPrept. WellPrept is a way of sending patient education to their patients beforehand so that they walk in already up to speed. Thats just one example. AI scribes are another. Look at your workflow and think about what frustrates you, what makes you want to bang your head against the wall, and then fix it. Look for solutions. Speak up, and be an advocate for yourself. There are too many clicks in the EHR. Were a very deferential group. We need to stand up for ourselves more. Kevin Pho: David, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and insight. David Canes: Thanks again for coming on the show. Pennsylvania and county prosecutors would be required to notify Immigration & Customs Enforcement if a person charged with a crime is in the U.S. illegally under legislation proposed by state Sen. Dan Laughlin. More: No longer off-limits to immigration arrests, Pa. schools look to laws shielding students S.B. 471 was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and now advances to the full Senate for a vote. Last session, the state Senate passed a similar bill, S.B. 1127, on a 34-16 bipartisan vote, but the legislation didn't reach the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for a vote before the start of the new session. Six Democrats and all 28 Senate Republicans supported the bill at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This bill is about protecting law-abiding Pennsylvanians and ensuring that law enforcement has the tools necessary to keep our communities safe," Laughlin, of Millcreek Township, R-49th Dist., said in a statement. We must send a clear message that Pennsylvania will not harbor those who break our laws." The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania also opposed the bill. "ICE already has more than enough tools it needs to target people for immigration enforcement," the ACLU of Pennsylvania says in a statement on its website. "But S.B. 1127 would mandate that state and county prosecutors add federal immigration enforcement to their job duties a civil enforcement role that is wholly distinct from the job they are trained to do." Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com or on X at @ETNRink. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PA bill would force prosecutors to tell ICE about undocumented migrants Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity was in town Wednesday to share news everyone wants to hear, a check may be coming your way. State legislation was recently passed that will, for the first time ever, allow the treasury to proactively send out unclaimed property. Remains Cambridge Springs World War II vet coming home Previously, it was up to state residents to do the legwork but Garrity said the new legislation eliminates the burden on the taxpayer to fill out paperwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said 1 in 10 state residents have unclaimed property they dont know about. In fact, there are 40 people who will be receiving checks of up to $500 right here in Erie County. Over 100 local students learn about craftsmanship at skilled trades fair We just sent checks out Monday to almost 8,000 people so totally about $1.7 million dollars. But mid-May were going to send another batch of notification letters about $40,000 and 30 days later well follow up with checks. So if someone gets a check they need to cash it, Garrity said. While in town, Garrity also spoke to 170 women gathered at the Manufacturer and Business Association Conference Center for the women in business luncheon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. A Michigan resident who received a kidney transplant died a month later after contracting rabies from the infected organ, officials say. The patient received a transplant from a hospital across the state border in Ohios Lucas County in December, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Wednesday. The recipient died the following month after receiving the body part, state health officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Michigan HHS said that a public health investigation determined that the patient contracted the deadly disease through the kidney. Dr. Carl Schmidt, a deputy coroner with the Lucas County Coroner's Office, confirmed to WHIO that the infected organ was a kidney. A Michigan HHS investigation also found this to be the case. The identities of both the patient and donor have not yet been revealed. The donor was not from Michigan or Ohio. A Michigan resident died earlier this year after contracting rabies, pictured under a microscope, from a transplanted kidney, officials say (F. A. Murphy/CDC via AP) Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the Michigan health agency, said that there is no threat to the public. Health officials worked together to ensure that people, including health care providers, who were in contact with the Michigan individual were assessed for possible exposure to rabies, she added. Post-exposure preventive care, if appropriate, has been provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said that because the patient was a Michigander, the infection counted as a Michigan rabies case despite the patient receiving the infected organ in Ohio. Officials did not reveal the facility where the transplant took place, but the University of Toledo Medical Centers website states it has operated the only transplant program in northwest Ohio since 1972. A patient receiving care at The University of Toledo Medical Center died in January 2025 of rabies, a spokesperson from the hospital confirmed to The Independent on Thursday. First Michigan case since 2009 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this case marked the first human case of rabies in Michigan since 2009. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rabies primarily affects the central nervous system and can lead to severe brain disease if not treated before symptoms start, according to the CDC. Potential organ donors are screened for viruses, bacteria, and other infections in the U.S. However, because of its rarity and the time it takes to perform tests, rabies is not often screened for. A Florida resident died in 2013 after receiving a kidney transplant about a year earlier after contracting rabies through the organ. Three similar cases occurred in 2004 after patients received organs from an infected donor in Arkansas. The CDC states that around 60,000 Americans receive post-exposure care after possibly coming into contact with the disease each year. Fewer than 10 human rabies deaths are recorded annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that rabies causes 59,000 human deaths each year in over 150 countries, with 95 percent of cases occurring in Africa and Asia. According to the American Journal of Transplantation, donor-derived disease transmission complicates less than one percent of all transplant procedures. There were over 46,000 organ transplants in the U.S. in 2023, per the latest figures from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. In 2018, Brad Karp, chairman of the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, and Gary Wingens, chairman of Lowenstein Sandler, denounced President Donald Trumps immigration policies of family separation and detention as unlawful and immoral in a New York Times op-ed. That policy of Trumps first term, Karp and Wingens promised, would be countered by an army of lawyers, led by their firms, fighting on behalf of the poor and the vulnerable against targeted governmental abuses. The world is watching, and the private bar is mobilizing to serve the thousands who have been imperiled by the Trump administration and to ensure that the rule of law is protected as well, Karp wrote. For his and his firms efforts fighting for immigrant rights, reproductive rights and gun control, Karp was named attorney of the year by New York Law Journal in 2018. As of March 2024, however, the press release touting this achievement is now nowhere to be found on Paul Weiss website. The same goes for a press release promoting a New York Times article from 2018 about Paul Weiss work fighting the first Trump administrations immigration policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are just two examples of dozens of press releases and pages touting the firms pro bono work on immigration, reproductive rights, countering right-wing extremists and voting rights that have disappeared from the firms web site in the weeks since Trump first issued an executive order seeking to destroy the nearly 150-year old firm. Paul Weiss learned that the legal community would not circle the wagons to protect their own. Instead of joining together in support, other big law firms circled like vultures, trying to poach the firms clients and lawyers. So, Paul Weiss decided to strike a deal. On March 21, Trump rescinded the executive order after the firm committed to aligning its diversity policies with the administration and providing $40 million in pro bono services to the mutually agreed upon priorities with the administration. Activists gathered outside Paul Weiss to protest its capitulation to appease Trump into rescinding an executive order that targeted the firm. Erik McGregor via Getty Images The deal sent shockwaves through the legal community, including among ex-Paul Weiss lawyers and staff. It appeared as though the firm, long known for its commitment to diversity and progressive causes, had bent the knee. The decision to capitulate now both undermines the firms ability to counter the administrations excess and potentially takes away a large group of skilled lawyers from the pro bono work that smaller nonprofits rely on to fight back against government abuses of rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really gutting and it goes to the core of what we thought this firm was, said Elizabeth Grossman, a former Paul Weiss associate who now serves as president of the Illinois chapter of watchdog group Common Cause. In response to the firms deal with Trump, Grossman led a public letter to Karp from more than 140 former Paul Weiss associates and staffers decrying the deal. That letter called the deal a permanent stain on the face of a great firm that sought to gain a profit by forfeiting its soul. Paul Weiss did not respond to a request for comment. It really sent a shockwave down my spine to know that an entity that had the power to stand up to the executive and for the rule of law simply declined to do so, said Nora Ahmed, a letter signatory who worked as a litigation attorney at Paul Weiss from 2012-2014 and 2015-2020 and is now legal director for the Louisiana chapter of the ACLU. The firms soul, according to these former Paul Weiss lawyers, resides in its pro bono work in support of progressive causes, exemplified by its opposition to the first Trump administrations policies. The deal will have no effect on our work and our shared culture and values and the firm will continue its pro bono work, Karp insisted in an internal email to staff. But, former firm lawyers believe that you cant have it both ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youd have to be kidding yourself to think the firm can take an openly hostile position to a government overreach in the way that they did during the first administration, said Erin Elmouji, a former Paul Weiss lawyer from 2012-2018 who signed the letter to Karp. This has signaled that they will capitulate again. They will appease the government if they need to. Its an existential question not just for the firm itself, but for all the nonprofits that rely on their pro bono services in challenging administration policies. Having Paul Weiss bend the knee like this is going to create a ripple effect, and more and more firms, if they follow suit, then these nonprofits that are the last defense against government overreach have fewer and fewer private-sector firms to call on to help marshal this big impact litigation, Elmouji said. Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp called Trump's executive order an "existential crisis" and promised that the deal to make it go away "will have no effect on our work and our shared culture and values." Steven Ferdman via Getty Images Paul Weiss isnt alone among law firms targeted by Trump for punishment. Other Trump executive orders targeted Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie and, on Tuesday, Jenner & Block. But how the firms have responded have varied. So far, only Perkins Coie has challenged these orders in court, winning a temporary restraining order from a federal district court judge who said the order sent chills down my spine. Neither Covington & Burling nor Jenner & Block have indicated yet whether they will join Perkins Coies lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even beyond a willingness by some firms to capitulate, the lack of unified opposition in the white-shoe legal community is likely to have a significant impact on how the nonprofits that want to bring legal challenges are able to operate. A lot of these organizations are going to want to partner with other law firms, Grossman said. Even if Paul Weiss was able to work with them, theyre going to say, I cant work with a firm with these kind of compromised values. As part of its pro bono work, Paul Weiss has worked alongside such big nonprofit advocacy groups as Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Center for Reproductive Rights, Common Cause, Brennan Center for Justice, Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights and Center for Constitutional Rights as well as smaller immigrant rights groups like Make the Road NY, Kids in Need of Defense, Womens Refugee Commission, The Door and Justice in Motion, among many others. In a sign of how fraught the current situation is, just two of these dozen groups responded to a request for comment on whether they have concerns about the deal Paul Weiss made with the Trump administration. The Center for Reproductive Rights declined to comment, but did provide the organizations statement opposing Trumps attacks on the legal profession. Common Cause was the only one to provide a statement specifically addressing Paul Weiss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hope that Paul Weiss will recommit to supporting organizations like ours but it is hard to trust that they wouldnt walk away from us if the President didnt like what they were doing, Common Cause President Virginia Kase Solomon said in a statement. There are many talented attorneys at Paul Weiss who want to do this work and the better question we believe is do they want to work for a firm that will acquiesce to an authoritarian. So far, Paul Weiss lawyers remain involved in the pro bono work they were previously working on. Ahmed was joined by a Paul Weiss attorney when she attended Supreme Court arguments on Monday in the racial discrimination redistricting case of Louisiana v. Callais. The party line is largely that nothing has changed in terms of the ability to work with them going forward, Ahmed said. The biggest problem, however, according to former Paul Weiss lawyers, is that even though Karp said in his internal email to staff that the firm had put the threat from the administration behind it, Trump can always change the terms of any deal if he thinks the other party isnt living up to his expectations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre somewhat hostage now or theres an appearance of being a hostage, said Jonathan Siegfried, who was a lawyer at Paul Weiss from 1975-1981 and signed Grossmans letter. Any future break with the administration could lead Trump to reimpose what Karp called a crisis and threaten the firm again. President Donald Trump has targeted the entire legal profession with executive orders aimed at destabilizing law firms and punishing lawyers who cross his administration. Francis Chung/Bloomberg via Getty Images That is evidenced by the deletions across the firms website. In addition to the removal of dozens of press releases touting the firms work on immigration, voting rights and other issues, the firms pro bono landing page no longer lists its areas of work, including those previously titled Protecting Immigrants & Families, Reproductive Justice and Supporting Families, LGBTQ+, Defending the Right to Vote and Combatting Hate. The website for the firms Center to Combat Hate, which was only launched in March 2024 and litigated cases against the Proud Boys and white supremacists, no longer exists. Links to it on the firms website have disappeared. The firm may well still take on pro bono cases in support of immigrant rights or other issues, Siegfried said, but, theres a difference between doing them proudly because theyre the right thing to do and being very quiet and silent about them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling out injustice out loud is different than whispering it behind closed doors, Elmouji added. The website deletions spoke directly to the biggest shock and disappointment that the former Paul Weiss lawyers felt when they heard the news about the deal. We would have thought that Paul Weiss would have been in the forefront of not pulling those pages down and instead speaking out and rallying firms to provide this representation thats needed now more than ever, Siegfried said. The failure to do so promotes what Elmouji calls trickle-down cowardice. Paul Weiss had the reputation and money to stand up to the administration where smaller firms and the nonprofits who hire their lawyers for pro bono work do not. By bowing to Trump and by censoring their website, the firm has set an example and a precedent that trickles down to those less able to fight back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were already seeing a lot of nonprofits and organizations taking these steps to scrub their websites while still professing to do the work, but were just going to hide it or were going to take the words down, Elmouji said. I think its wrong when anybody does it, but I think its particularly wrong when lawyers do it. Siegfried wondered what Ted Sorensen, the former Paul Weiss lawyer, aide to John F. Kennedy and ghostwriter of Kennedys famous Profiles in Courage who died in 2010, would think about the firms shocking surrender, as Siegfried called it, if he were around. Standing up when the stakes are very high when the stakes are personally high. Thats what a profile in courage is, Siegfried said. And that is what, to me, remains the great disappointment. For Ahmed, the pain she feels from Paul Weiss capitulation is deeply personal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thing that makes me so sad is Paul Weiss made me the lawyer that I am today, Ahmed said. The sadness comes from the fact that I know there are incredible people at that firm who I imagine still today believe so strongly in the civil rights and civil liberties of the people in our nation, including immigrants, and I dont want that to get lost. Related... PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) A Pawtucket man will spend the next 40 years in prison for providing a 35-year-old mother with the fentanyl-laced cocaine that killed her three years ago, according to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. Walik Morrison, 44, was sentenced Monday to 50 years with 40 to serve in connection with the overdose death of Tokie Zammarelli in January 2022. This marks the first trial and conviction under Kristens Law, which was enacted seven years ago to hold drug dealers accountable for overdose deaths. The laws namesake, Kristen Coutu, died of a fentanyl overdose after returning home from a rehabilitation facility in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morrison was convicted of several drug-related charges last year, including delivering a controlled substance resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession with intent to deliver fentanyl. Tokie Zammarelli Prosecutors said Zammarelli reached out to Morrison to buy cocaine, but was instead given a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl. Zammarelli was later found unresponsive by her husband and, despite first responders efforts to revive her, was pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed that Zammarelli died from fentanyl and cocaine intoxication. Prosecutors noted that the level of fentanyl in Zammarellis blood was more than three times the average amount that typically results in death. Morrison was taken into custody after investigators uncovered text messages from him on Zammarellis cell phone. Prosecutors said Morrison later admitted to crushing up fentanyl pills and giving that powder to Zammarelli instead of the cocaine she had requested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives who searched Morrisons home at the time of his arrest discovered large amounts of fentanyl, parafluorofentanyl, tramadol and xylazine pills, as well as a small quantity of cocaine and marijuana, according to Neronha. Those who push fentanyl and drive overdose deaths must be held accountable in order to address the root causes of the multiple drug-related crises plaguing our communities, Neronha said. Though nothing can bring [Zammarelli] back to her family, I am grateful that [Morrison] will pay for his crimes with this significant sentence. 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. Orange County pediatrician Dr. Eric Ball still feels guilty about the Disneyland measles outbreak of 2014. At the time, his office allowed children whose parents refused to vaccinate them to still remain as patients. Many took advantage of the policy, leaving the children in his practice well below the 95% threshold that experts say is needed to achieve herd immunity. In the end, a single measles case at the theme park spread to 145 people across the country; several were part of his practice. "I was traumatized," said Ball. "I felt that like we didn't do enough as a practice, and I didn't do enough as a pediatrician, to convince families to get vaccinated." Not only were the children of his anti-vaccine parents left vulnerable to the measles, but they had also exposed other children in his waiting room who couldn't receive the vaccine because they were too young or immunocompromised. Noah, 9 months old, sees Dr. Eric Ball at Southern Orange County Pediatric Associates in Ladera Ranch in 2024. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) As a doctor, Ball felt torn: He had a moral obligation to care for all his patients, regardless of their parent's vaccine choices. But he also had a duty to protect his other patients, as well as the rest of the community, from a deadly virus that was almost entirely preventable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With another measles outbreak continuing to spread in Texas and New Mexico bringing the first two U.S. measles deaths in a decade and eight cases already in California this year, physicians are again facing a moral quandary: Should they refuse to see families who don't want to vaccinate their children, or keep them in their practices in the hopes of changing their minds? After the Disneyland outbreak, the doctors at Ball's practice decided to crack down. In 2015, they instituted a new policy: Southern Orange County Pediatric Associates would no longer accept patients who did not plan to immunize their children. Existing patients who didn't want to vaccinate would need to find a new doctor. A growing trend of dismissing unvaccinated patients "Dismissal" policies were once discouraged by the medical establishment, both because pediatricians have a duty to care for all their young patients, and because some anti-vaccine parents can be convinced over time to change their minds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics came up with new guidance: Vaccines against preventable diseases like the measles were so important that if, after repeated attempts, a pediatrician couldn't convince a parent to get their child immunized, a practice could righteously kick them out. I think that made a big difference to a lot of us. It gave us cover, said Ball. Since then, dismissal policies have grown much more popular. In 2013, some 21% of pediatricians reported that they often or always dismissed families who refused vaccination, according to a survey published in the journal Pediatrics. By 2019, the share had grown to 37%; the 2019 survey, published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., also found that just over half of pediatricians said their office had a dismissal policy in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Should babies get a 'bonus dose' of the measles vaccine? Doctors say it depends For families that seek to spread out vaccines with an alternative schedule, dismissals are much less common: just 8% of individual pediatricians reported often or always dismissing these families, while 28% reported that their office has such a dismissal policy, according to the academy. Dismissal policies are much more common among private practices. Academic medical institutions, including UCLA, large health systems like Kaiser Permanente, rural clinics and safety net systems for low-income patients generally accept all patients, regardless of whether the parents intend to vaccinate their children. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is an exception and discourages pediatricians in their clinics from treating unvaccinated patients. The question of whether to dismiss has become increasingly pressing amid growing anti-vaccine sentiment and a decline in coverage. The proportion of kindergartners nationwide who completed their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine series dropped from about 95% the federal coverage target before the pandemic to less than 93% last school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In California, 96.2% of kindergartners were fully vaccinated against the measles in the 2023-24 school year, a slight decline from the year before. No matter what your policy, you feel ethically justified, said Dr. Sean O'Leary, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, who co-wrote the American Academy of Pediatrics' latest guidance on vaccines. In January, the New England Journal of Medicine presented arguments on both sides of the debate, with O'Leary writing a statement in favor of accepting unvaccinated patients. I personally understand both sides." Read more: More parents are delaying their kids vaccines, and its alarming pediatricians Why doctors dismiss vaccine-hesitant families These days, many pediatric practices are upfront about their policies, and some announce it on their website, letting prospective patients know to stay away if they don't want to vaccinate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Larchmont Pediatrics, for example, Dr. Neville Anderson requires all patients to be vaccinated. If parents refuse to vaccinate their infants after a final conversation at the 3-month visit, the practice sends them an official dismissal letter. Dr. Neville Anderson is photographed in between vaccinating young patients at Larchmont Pediatrics in Los Angeles on Tuesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) "If a parent is truly anti-vax and does not want to vaccinate their child, our values and our goals and our beliefs are so antithetical to each other that we're not a good team," said Anderson. "Im not the right doctor for them, and theyre not the right patient for me. Larchmont dismisses only one to four patients each year, she said, since most anti-vaccine families know their reputation and tend to go elsewhere. But for some patients, the dismissal policy is a real draw. "We get a lot of people who will come to us because we have this policy and we enforce it," said Anderson. "Theyre afraid of bringing their 7-month-old into a waiting room where theres an unvaccinated child. Doctors should make every effort to convince a family to vaccinate before dismissing them, said Dr. Jesse Hackell, a retired pediatrician in New York who also co-wrote the pediatric academy's report on improving vaccine communication. The problem, he said, is that these conversations are time-consuming and unpaid for busy pediatricians who often only have 20 minutes with a patient. "It's frustrating, and it's one of the issues that leads to moral injury and burnout." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hackell, 74, remembers a time before vaccination, when many of his young patients ended up hospitalized with measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. "I don't want to ever go back to those days of worrying about the 2 a.m. phone call about a kid with 105-degree fever. That's that's not good for me as a physician. It's not good for the kid or the family." His practice had a dismissal policy long before the pediatrics academy said it was acceptable. One ethical argument in favor of dismissing is based on parents having a moral obligation to vaccinate their children to reduce the risk of infecting others, said Dr. Doug Opel, a bioethicist and professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Another point is that "vaccination is viewed as a social contract," he said. "So it's not fair to share in the collective benefits of vaccination without accepting the small burdens of vaccination by getting your child vaccinated themselves." Dr. Neville Anderson, right, tries to cheer up Iris Behnam, 4, while nurse Breanna Kirby, left, gives her DTap Polio and MMR Chickenpox (Varicilla) vaccinations while her mom, Haley Behnam, holds her. Dr. Neville Anderson, right, tries to distract Perry Roj, 4, while nurse Breanna Kirby, left, gives her DTap Polio vaccination while her mom, Devin Homsey holds her. Dr. Neville Anderson, left, with Arlo Vasquez, 7 months-old, held by his mom Christa Iacono, not pictured, while getting a flu, Covid, Hepatitis B vaccinations at Larchmont Pediatrics. Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times The moral case for accepting vaccine-hesitant families Opel said that, as a bioethicist, he comes down on the side of keeping families in a practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In what other area of medicine even do we expect patients or parents to hold the same values and beliefs that we have?" he asked. "Instead, we approach differences with humility and respectfully explore those values as a way to find common ground and shared understanding." Opel said about 30% of parents do end up changing their mind. Vaccine hesitancy is a modifiable behavior." O'Leary said there is also little evidence that accepting unvaccinated children leads to the transmission of vaccine-preventable illnesses in an office setting. And it isn't clear whether the threat of dismissal actually convinces parents to get vaccinated, or whether patients who get kicked out of a practice end up finding other sources of care. Read more: Fewer California kindergarten students immunized against measles last year, new data show ln San Diego County, Children's Primary Care Medical Group a large practice with 28 offices in the region has a policy of accepting all patients, regardless of vaccination status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The basic philosophy is it's not the kids who refuse, its the parents. And we dont punish kids for the decisions of the parents," said Dr. Adam Breslow, the group's president and CEO. About 90% of the group's patients are vaccinated on schedule, Breslow said. Of the 2-3% who refuse all vaccinations, most come from wealthier areas where parents can afford to homeschool or send their children to private school. He said it's rare that he's able to convince them to vaccinate in a single office visit, but over the course of several years in his practice, some parents do eventually change their minds. By keeping them in the practice, theres a chance theyre going to get vaccinated," said O'Leary. "But if you kick them out, who knows whats going to happen? Where do parents who don't vaccinate kids go? Widespread dismissal policies can make it difficult for vaccine-hesitant families to find regular sources of care. In local Facebook groups, parents often exchange tips about practices that are more tolerant of spreading out or refusing vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some advise using concierge practices, which charge thousands of dollars in annual fees on top of insurance payments but may allow more flexibility with vaccination schedules. Some of these practices offer unproven alternatives to vaccination with little or no evidence to back them up. Whitney Jacks, a mother in Escondido, recently posted in a moms group on Facebook for help finding a new pediatrician who would accept her preference to limit vaccines. With her older child, who is 7, she used to pay for a concierge doctor in Maryland whom she saw over Zoom. But her son doesn't have a regular pediatrician and therefore skips his annual well visits, though he does see a specialist several times a year. Now pregnant with her second child, she was hoping to find someone local who would accept her insurance and support her decision to wait until the baby turns 2 before starting vaccinating. Other moms in the Facebook group were hesitant to share the names publicly for fear that the doctors could get into trouble, she said, preferring to direct message her instead. One mom sent her a list of names, which she used to set up meet-and-greet appointments with the four closest to her home. But as she began to meet with them, one after another gave her the same response: "We won't kick you out, but we don't like this," said Jacks, who is an acupuncturist. "So they're already putting it at you that they disapprove of your point of view." None made her feel welcome. She picked the most convenient office. But Jacks worries that every visit will focus on vaccination instead of other issues like feeding and sleeping that are important in the first years. "It doesn't give me any confidence or faith in the provider." This article is part of The Times early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to latimes.com/earlyed. 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. (WHTM) A Midstate lawmaker is pushing to abolish Pennsylvanias death penalty with a newly proposed bill. State Representative Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon), one of the more conservative Republicans in the legislature, introduced House Bill 888, which would take the death penalty off the table in Pennsylvania. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest Capital punishment has been paused in Pennsylvania after both Governors Wolf and Shapiro put a moratorium on it. While no one is being executed right now, 94 inmates in Pennsylvania have been sentenced to death or are on death row. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diamonds bill would change that, replacing the death penalty with life without parole. Im very pro-life, and I believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. Second, because Im a Christian, and I believe of the promise of the cross, and I believe that redemption is available to everybody, no matter how horrible the sins were. And I dont think we as human beings have any authority to determine when that redemption can no longer be God. That thats up to God, Diamond said. Diamond added that death penalty appeals are expensive and that there are cases of the wrong person being sentenced to death. The bill has garnered bipartisan support. Democrats who want justice reform and think the death penalty is cruel will likely sign on to a Russ Diamond bill, which doesnt happen often. 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 ABC27. EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) A person was taken into custody on Thursday after crashing their vehicle into a police cruiser, fleeing the scene, and ultimately rolled over on the I-91 North on ramp from I-84 Westbound. According to the East Hartford Police Department, the suspect crashed into a cruiser, then attempted to flee by getting on I-84 at Connecticut Boulevard. Pedestrian suffers life-threatening injuries after being struck by vehicle in New Haven Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At approximately 11:09 a.m., while attempting to get on the I-91 North on ramp, the suspects vehicle rolled over, causing minor injuries to the suspect. The suspect was then taken into 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 WTNH.com. An Iowa bill pertaining to pesticide lawsuits would help the makers of RoundUp and other pesticides. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa senators narrowly passed a bill Wednesday that would protect pesticide companies from failure to warn lawsuits. Similar bills have been introduced across the country, after failing in Iowa, Missouri and Idaho last year. Legislators in Georgia advanced their version of the bill, but it has not yet been signed into law by its governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate File 394 would rule that pesticide labels issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shall be sufficient in satisfying any requirement to warn users of the products health and safety. The bill passed the Senate 26-21. Sen. Mike Bousselot, the bills floor manager, said despite the arguments against the legislation, its a simple bill. It says that if you sell your glyphosate or your product and you follow federal law to the T, you cant be sued for having done the wrong thing in labeling your product, Bousselot said of the bill. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill does not name the popular household and commercial pesticide RoundUp and its ingredient glyphosate, but debate on the bill centered on the pesticides manufacturer, Bayer, and the numerous lawsuits that claim the product gave plaintiffs cancer. Senators clash over meaning of immunity Bousselot said the bill does not give blanket immunity, because plaintiffs can still sue under other claims, like negligence, fraud and breach of warranty. The Republican from Ankeny also introduced an amendment that said the bill would not prohibit a cause of action based on any other provision or doctrine of state law. Sen. Matt Blake, D-Johnston, said even with the amendment, which passed, the bill is an immunity bill for pesticide companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blake said product liability law comprises three main theories of law, all of which would fail in Iowa under the bill. Failure to warn is the root of a products liability claim, Blake said. If the state deems a warning label to be sufficient, it kills the root cause. Sen. Adrian Dickey, R-Packwood, said the bill is about sue happy lawyers and reiterated a point he made in a committee hearing on the bill that the abundance of warning labels in the country have diluted their cautioning. EPA will not allow Bayer to put a cancer warning on its label to simply cover their backside if it is counter to the science submitted to agency, Dickey explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays bill is not preventing anyone from suing a company if they feel the product causes cancer, Dickey said. Its simply common sense legislation that states that you cannot sue a company for having a label on a product when the federal government doesnt allow the label to be on the product. Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, noted evidence uncovered during RoundUp litigation, known as the Monsanto Papers, that show the company ghostwrote independent studies to support the safety of the pesticide. If they did everything right, why are there reams of discovery emails showing that they lied? Weiner said. Weiner noted a recently settled case against Bayer in Georgia that sided with plaintiffs. She said the same case would not be allowed in Iowa under the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A vote for this bill is a statement to Iowans that a plaintiff in Georgia will be made whole financially but in Iowa, in Iowa, the farmer with cancer gets nothing, Weiner said. In February, more than 100 Iowans gathered in the State Capitol rotunda to hold a vigil for loved ones who were lost to cancer and to protest the bill they deemed the cancer gag act. Bousselot said the dirty little secret is that his opponents dont want the bill to pass because it would require lawyers to prove that a pesticide chemical is carcinogenic. It cant be proven (that) glyphosate causes cancer, Bousselot said. What is the justice in suing someone for mislabeling a product, if the label that you want would have broken federal law in the first place? Future impacts of the bill Daniel Hinkle, senior counsel for policy and state affairs at American Association for Justice, said the bill would defer to the EPA label on a products safety, but he said if the label changes in the future, the user would only be protected by what the label said at the time they used the product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hinkle explained with an example of a farmer using a different chemical, paraquat, which research has shown may be linked to Parkinsons Disease. EPA has not found a clear link between the two, which is reflected in the products label, similarly to that of glyphosate which the EPA holds is not linked to cancer. From this, even if the EPA came out in 2026 and says, You know what, paraquat causes Parkinsons disease, and we think it should be on the label, the farmer who is exposed under the old label, would have no ability to hold the company accountable, Hinkle said. Legislators in Oklahoma proposed an amendment to their pesticide bill that would remove a companys immunity from failure to warn claims in the state if the EPA canceled the registration of the pesticide based on new findings. Proponents of the Iowa bill argue that without its protections, Bayer will stop manufacturing and distributing glyphosate, which according to Modern Ag Alliance, would double or triple farmers input costs across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Modern Ag Alliance is a group of agricultural stakeholders, including Bayer and several Iowa commodity groups, that has lobbied in favor of the bills and sponsored advertisements in farming communities across the country with slogans like control weeds, not farming. Weiner brought up the advertisements and said despite the rhetoric, glyphosate isnt going anywhere. Bayer argues it has complied with all EPA rules Jess Christiansen, the head of crop science and sustainability communications at Bayer, said the company set aside $16 billion for RoundUp litigation and already, the company has spent more than $10 billion of that. The reality is that it doesnt matter if youre a big multinational company, like a Bayer Crop Science, or a mid size or a startup company the math is the math, Christiansen said. You can only endure so much loss before you have to make a tough decision we cant continue to go down the path were going. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bayer maintains that its products do not cause cancer and that it complied with all of the requirements from EPA for the labeling of their products. Were very much in favor of being a regulated industry, Christiansen said. Its in the best interest of the public for that to happen - then lets uphold that, so thats really what the (bill) language is about. Opponents of the bill, including several senators who spoke on the bill, allege Bayer and other pesticide companies have worked to cover up key information showing researchers are aware of the link to cancer. Central to the argument is a 2015 finding from International Research Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC, that classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents of the bill discredit the IARC study, noting the large number of substances the body considers carcinogenic, and point to other bodies of research, including those evaluated by EPA and other countries that corroborate the safety of glyphosate. Opponents say IRAC evaluated a greater body of work. Research published in 2019 about the divergence of the two decisions showed IARC evaluated more than twice as many studies in its decision, and more that were peer-reviewed. Sen. Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids, noted recent research showing Iowa has some of the highest rates of new cancer in the country, and said the bill would protect the corporate profits at the expense of public health. Im here to tell you right now that giving corporations immunity when their product harms Iowans, is like handing a wolf the keys to the hen house and hoping for the best, Donahue said. A bill that advanced in the Iowa Senate last year had a provision limiting the bills protections to Chinese-owned companies, which targeted paraquats manufacturer, Syngenta which is owned by ChemChina. SF 394 does not mention Chinese-owned companies. The bill was immediately messaged to the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE After it came to light this week that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had added Jeffery Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, to a Signal group chat where members of President Donald Trump's administration discussed upcoming air strikes on the Houthis, government officials issued a series of odd deflections. One of the strangest: that the information was definitely not classified. "There was no classified material that was shared," Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified this week. "So, let's [sic] me get this straight," Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on X. "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." Hegseth can choose to downplay the content of the messages, which included strategy considerations and two hours' advance notice of when the bombings would begin, including, per a message from Hegseth in the chat, the precise time "WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP." But one thing he cannot do convincingly is claim the information, which can be found in detail here, did not meet the bar for classification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You don't have to look far for corroboration. According to the guide from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the agency Gabbard now oversees, "information providing indication or advance warning that the US or its allies are preparing an attack" qualifies as top secret. Hegseth then proceeded to share that information with a chat that contained a number unknown to him. "Obviously, the unauthorized disclosure of an imminent combat operation could tip off the enemy and place American pilots, sailors, and soldiers in exceptionally grave danger," writes former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy, now a conservative commentator, in the New York Post. "It could lead to mission failure, which itself could have catastrophic ramifications." Many Americans are likely unaware of how low the bar is for classifying something. Indeed, the U.S. has a real problem with overclassification, zeroing in on things as meaningless as, say, how much peanut butter the U.S. Army purchased. For those familiar with the thin standard, however, it is beyond belief that impending air strikesinformation that actually makes sense to classify and protectwould not meet the threshold. It is also particularly rich when considering the zealousness with which the government is willing to pursue the little people for sharing classified information. "In any event, the claim that 'the information wasn't classified' is a red herring," adds McCarthy. "An official need not disclose documents physically marked classified in order to violate classified information laws. Some information is communicated orally and those communications are 'born classified' i.e., they are classified from the moment they are generated if the subject matter is secret under the guidelines, as information about imminent military operations is." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After spending years hammering former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who by all reasonable accounts also mishandled classified information, Republicans are likely eager to disabuse any onlookers of the notion that they would recklessly do the same. The effort has been unconvincing. Replace "the Trump administration" with "the Biden administration," and something tells me Republicans would not agree that details concerning an upcoming bombing were safe to share with a stranger. The post Pete Hegseth Says the Signal Chat Had 'No Classified Information.' How Is That Possible? appeared first on Reason.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man was left injured after a shooting early Thursday morning in Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge Police Department said officers were called around 2 a.m. to the 1700 block of N. 15th Street, where they found a man who had been shot. His injuries are not considered life-threatening. Police said the home was shot up. Emergency medical services officials confirmed that one person was transported to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple BRPD units and police tape were observed at the scene. Detectives are searching for a suspect and motive in connection with this shooting. The investigation remains ongoing. More information will be shared as it becomes available. Students, driver injured after school bus crash in Livingston Parish 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. A Scranton man is facing charges after police say he called the Lackawanna County Communications Center four times, rambling about a previous incident, using racial slurs and threatening to mow down those involved. Steven Sudnick, 54, of 1614 Dickson Ave., is charged with repeatedly calling 911 for reasons other than an emergency. According to the criminal complaint: At about 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Scranton police Officer Timothy Merkel responded to the report of an intoxicated male repeatedly calling emergency dispatch from 1614 Dickson Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several members of the Scranton Police Department patrol division, including Merkel, staged near the residence, and Cpl. Justin Butler made phone contact with Sudnick, ordering him out of the house. Officers were aware that Sudnick was involved in a previous incident at the same location. Police spotted Sudnick on the porch with a cellphone. Merkel ordered him to get off the porch and show his hands. As Sudnick was walking toward police with his hands in the air, he was swaying and had trouble maintaining his balance. Officers smelled alcohol on his breath, and his speech was slurred, police said. Dispatchers told police Sudnick called the emergency line rambling on about a previous incident and using racial slurs about the suspects involved in that incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told dispatchers he would mow them down with his AR rifle, referring to the suspects. After his first phone call, dispatchers told Sudnick they would have an officer call him. Patrolman Anthony Russo called Sudnick on the phone, but Sudnick wasnt satisfied with the call and called 911 several more times. Dispatchers warned Sudnick to stop calling because he was misusing the 911 system and disconnected the phone call. A short time later, he called back. Dispatchers told Sudnick that officers were on their way to his home. Sudnick remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $2,500 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on April 7 before District Judge Kipp Adcock. (COLORADO SPRINGS) A record number of fentanyl pills are being seized across Colorado, with local law enforcement agencies like the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) crediting the success partly to their departments ability to deploy officers undercover. The Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) Rocky Mountain Field Division announced it seized nearly 2.7 million fentanyl pills or fake pills in Colorado in 2024. This breaks the previous record set in 2023 with 2.61 million pills seized in the state. It is an unfortunate record to set, said DEA RMFD Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. We continue to work day in, day out fighting the cartels putting this poison on Colorado streets. While we have seen seizure numbers trending lower in other parts of the country, Colorado seems to be consistently at or near record highs for the number of fake pills seized. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, an amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil, can cause a deadly overdose. FOX21 News had the chance to sit down with an undercover CSPD detective to learn more about the challenges theyre facing and how the community can play a part in the fight against fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With fentanyl, it is essentially a Russian roulette and one pill could kill you, the detective said. This undercover detective has been with CSPDs Metro Narcotics Unit since 2018. He said fentanyl has been in Colorado Springs for at least the last five years. Its hard to pinpoint where specifically in the City of Colorado Springs, in the County of El Paso, these are actually happening because they can happen literally everywhere, the detective said. When detectives go undercover, they often stage a sale in business parking lots or at gas stations. We will target fentanyl dealers and we will hold them accountable for any pill that theyre selling, whether it be one or thousands, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The detective explained many fentanyl sales in Colorado Springs are happening on social media, which remains their biggest challenge because the data can be easily wiped, making it harder to track down dealers. I think most certainly were making a dent in the fact that we are prosecuting more aggressively and that Colorado has a legislature now that allows us to prosecute individuals who distribute fentanyl that leads to someones death, the detective said. Currently in Colorado, possession of between one and four grams of fentanyl is considered a level 4 drug felony, with penalties including up to 180 days in jail and up to two years of probation. Distributing more than 50 grams of fentanyl is considered a level 1 drug felony, with sentences ranging from eight to 32 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As long as we can continue to work together, well be able to continue to prosecute those not only locally in our community, but those that are ultimately at the top that are the ones distributing these pills, he said. CSPD is committed to keeping the community safe from the deadly drug, with education being their top priority. One of the most important things is to just monitor your childrens social media to be able to see if these conversations are happening and to help educate them a little bit better on the dangers of fentanyl, the detective said. As CSPD continues to crack down on fentanyl, officers recommend having a supply of Narcan. Its an essential tool to have on hand if someone is prone to suffering from an overdose and can provide life-saving measures before medical personnel can come and help. 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 FOX21 News Colorado. Polish President Andrzej Duda has signed a law that allows for authorities to temporarily suspend the right of migrants to apply for asylum under emergency conditions, citing the need to strengthen the border with Belarus. Under the new law, in the event of a border emergency, the government could issue a decree to suspend the right of a migrant to ask for asylum for up to 60 days. Poland considers its eastern border with Belarus to be in a state of emergency, as thousands of migrants attempt to cross the heavily fortified frontier with what Warsaw describes as active support from Belarusian authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duda called on Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government to quickly issue a decree to implement the law. As Tusk supported the law's passage, he was expected to do so as soon as Wednesday night. Poland and the European Union accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ally Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of bringing migrants from crisis regions to the EU's external border in a deliberate manner to exert pressure on the West. CLEVELAND (WJW) A popular bar and restaurant on the east and west sides is now closed for good. Bar Louie at Crocker Park and Legacy Village announced on Wednesday that both locations were closed. Frito-Lay chips sold in Ohio recalled A sign on the doors read, We regret to inform you this location is permanently closed. Thank you for the many memories. FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo FOX 8 photo A check of Bar Louies website shows the only remaining Ohio location is in Perrysburg, near Toledo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powerball ticket in Ohio worth big cash The Detroit Free Press, while reporting on closings in Michigan, cited an internal memo to employees that said they were going to focus on higher-performing locations. The Bar Louie location in Strongsville closed in 2020. Other Ohio locations that have closed include Toledo, Cincinnati, Miamisburg, and Beavercreek, according to a previous FOX 8 report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Mar. 26ROCHESTER U.S. Highway 52 will be closed at Interstate 90 April 8-12 as the Minnesota Department of Transportation's contractor demolishes the eastbound Interstate 90 bridge. Southbound Highway 52 motorists will be detoured in Rochester to connect with the interstate at Stewartville via U.S. Highway 63. The bridge demolition work will kickoff year two of the three-year project, according to a statement from MnDOT. Motorists can expect: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * April 7-November: I-90 traffic will be moved to single lanes in each direction in the westbound lanes to allow for the demolition of the eastbound I-90 bridge. * April 8-12: Highway 52 and I-90 eastbound on-ramp will be closed and detoured: * Southbound Highway 52 traffic will go south on Highway 63 in Rochester to eastbound I-90 at Stewartville. Traffic that wants to continue south on Highway 52 will exit eastbound I-90 at Exit 224 (Eyota exit), travel south on Olmsted County Road 7 to Highway 52 north of Chatfield. * Northbound Highway 52 (from Chatfield), go north on Olmsted County Road 7 and exit onto westbound I-90, take ramp to Highway 52 (Exit 218). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * April 12-November: Highway 52 closed south of eastbound I-90 on-ramp. * To travel north on Highway 52 (from Chatfield), go north on Olmsted County Road 7 and exit onto westbound I-90, take ramp to Highway 52 (Exit 218). * To travel south on Highway 52 (from Rochester), exit to I-90 eastbound, take Exit 224 (Eyota exit), take a right and go south on Olmsted County Road 7, which intersects with Highway 52. * April 8-November: Northbound Highway 52 on-ramp to eastbound I-90 closed. * Go north on Olmsted County Road 7 and exit onto eastbound I-90. * April 8-November: Northbound Highway 52 to westbound I-90 on-ramp closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Go north on Olmsted County Road 7 and exit onto westbound I-90. * April 7- November: Eastbound I-90 off-ramp to Highway 52 closed, detoured: * Continue on eastbound I-90 and take Exit 224 (Eyota exit). * To go south on Highway 52, go south on Olmsted County Road 7, which intersects with Highway 52. * To go north on Highway 52, turn left over bridge and exit onto westbound I-90, take ramp to Highway 52 (Exit 218). During the three-year project, crews will be replacing the Interstate 90 bridges over Highway 52, constructing a new ramp for southbound Highway 52 to eastbound Interstate 90, reconstructing all ramps and loops and replacing large culverts under interchange ramps, MnDOT said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is expected to improve safety on the interchange ramps and intersections, increase clearance under the I-90 bridges over Highway 52 and improve traffic flow and reduce traffic delays through the interchange, which is a busy commuter and freight route. For more information about the project, visit MnDOT's website . MnDOT also reminds motorists to always be prepared to encounter traffic changes when approaching work zones including lane closures, lane shifts, uneven road surfaces, slow-moving heavy equipment and slow or stopped traffic. To keep everyone safe, drivers must: * Obey posted speed limits. The fine for speeding in a work zone is $300. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Drive undistracted. Avoid using cell phones, mobile devices, adjusting the radio and eating while in work zones. * Move over. Give workers room to safely complete their work. * Know before you go. Get real-time information about traffic and road conditions at 511mn.org or get the free 511mn smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store. * Be patient. Expect delays, especially during peak travel times. * Do the zipper merge. * Avoid making unnecessary lane changes. * Never enter a road blocked with barriers or cones. PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) Dozens of family and friends gathered Wednesday evening for a vigil to remember Bennie Artis Jr., 51, who was shot and killed Sunday on Cumberland Avenue. Police responded to the 500 block of Cumberland Avenue around 4 p.m. Sunday, where they found Artis dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Court documents indicate he was shot at close range. Investigators identified Dontayous Cameron, 44, as the suspect, and he was arrested Wednesday in connection to the deadly shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vigil for Artis was held in the London Plaza in Portsmouth, where many came to pay their respects to Artis. This is where family members told 10 On Your Side Artis would normally run his car wash business. It made me feel so much better to see all the good things and the love that my dad has out here, and his name will forever live, said Artis daughter, Tiffany Washington. [He] was a good man, always smiling. Artis sister, Sabrina Edmonds, was also at Wednesdays vigil and spoke with 10 On Your Side, saying her brother was a community man, often helping those in need. I just really think they took a pillar for the community, especially this community where he did a lot of service at and these people out here are really going to miss him, Edmonds said. Ive been hearing a lot of them say they dont know what theyre going to do without Bennie, and thats a shame, but everybody still [has] to live on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness told detectives he drove both Artis and Cameron to the location, then waited in the car with his daughter. Surveillance footage confirmed that both men entered the building, but only Cameron was seen leaving. No one else entered or exited before a business owner discovered Artis and called 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Overholser Dam rehab meeting scheduled April 22 OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Engineers with the Oklahoma City Utilities Department are scheduled to discuss with the public rehabilitation plans for Oklahoma Citys iconic water structure, the Overholser Dam. Participants can expect a overview of the dams historic past, its current state, and future rehabilitation plans related to its flood gates, concrete spillway and general structure. City of OKC reminds residents to be careful when throwing away garbage DETAILS: WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. WHERE: The Fellowship at Western Oaks, 7901 NW 16th Street The Fellowship Hall is located on the northeast corner of the property, behind the main church building. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Registration is NOT required, but those interested are encouraged to arrive before 5:30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Utility leaders, residents voted to fund the dams construction in 1916 at a cost of $1.6 million. The lake has since become a favorite among Oklahoma City residents who enjoy visiting Lake Overholser for fishing, boating or a scenic stroll across the lake. This is a significant project for us, both in terms of our water infrastructure as well as the history of our community. When it opened, the Overholser Dam reshaped Oklahoma Citys economic future and helped to create the city we live in today, said Utilities Director Chris Browning. The dam was placed on the National Register for Historic Places in 2007. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Someone tried to smuggle Luigi Mangione notes in argyle socks before his latest court appearance. "Know there are thousands of people wishing you luck," one read, prosecutors said in a new court filing. Mangione's defense attorneys said Mangione did not see the notes hidden in the socks. Accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione has a legion of supporters and at least one managed to sneak two heart-shaped notes inside a fresh pair of argyle socks that the 26-year-old considered wearing during his latest New York court appearance, state prosecutors say. The prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office outlined details of the socks smuggling scandal in a Wednesday court filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the notes was addressed to a person named "Joan," while the other was written to Mangione and read in part, "know there are thousands of people wishing you luck," prosecutors said. The notes were "secreted" in the cardboard that the new pair of argyle socks were wrapped around, the filing says. Mangione's defense attorneys said in a response that contained photos of the two notes that their client "inadvertently did not see that there were two heart-shaped notes contained within the socks." Two pink, heart-shaped notes found within Luigi Mangione's socks contained messages of support. Agnifilo Intrater "Luigi, We are all rooting for you! Keep your head held high & know there are thousands of people wishing you luck," one of the notes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The signature reads "r/FreeLuigi." r/FreeLuigi refers to a Reddit community that supports Mangione. It's unclear if the online community is responsible for the note. Prosecutors said that ahead of Manigone's February 21 appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court, a court officer assisting in his transport from a federal jail in Brooklyn was given a bag of clothing for Manigone by members of his defense team. An investigator searched the clothing before it was handed over to Mangione and discovered the hidden notes, the court filing says. Despite the discovery of the notes, prosecutors say Mangione was allowed to wear the argyle socks, but he was too fashion-conscious to actually sport them in the courtroom. Luigi Mangione opted to not wear the argyle socks to his February 21 court appearance. Curtis Means - Pool/Getty Images Prosecutors said Mangione put the socks on and then changed out of them because he felt "they did not look good." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fortunately, the items smuggled were handwritten notes and not contraband capable of harming the transporting officers," prosecutors wrote in the court filing. A spokesperson for Mangione's defense team declined to comment to Business Insider. It's unclear from Wednesday's filing who the notes were from, who hid them inside the socks, and whether any member of the defense team was aware the notes were there. Prosecutors said the socks incident is one reason Mangione can't have a laptop in jail before a strict evidence protective order is in place. Mangione's defense attorneys said in their response that the incident was "obviously inadvertent as one of the two heart-shaped notes was not even addressed to Mr. Mangione." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The District Attorney's Office ostensibly realized the innocent nature of this event, and that it was not a genuine danger or concern, as they did not bother to alert the Court at the time," the attorneys wrote. Mangione is awaiting trial on parallel state and federal indictments in the December shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. March 26, 2025 This story has been updated to include additional details and a photo from a new filing. Read the original article on Business Insider Rachel Reeves is at risk of being forced into a new tax raid within months, top economists have warned after surging borrowing costs slashed her room for manoeuvre to balance Britains finances. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said there was a good chance the Chancellor would have to come back for more as analysts said more than half of her financial buffer had already been wiped out by higher borrowing costs. Ms Reeves announced a 14bn squeeze on welfare and Whitehall spending in the Spring Statement to restore the 9.9bn headroom she has against her rule to balance the books on day-to-day spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oxford Economics, however, warned that a rise in UK bond yields, since the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) locked in its interest-rate assumptions in February, had already reduced this by 4.2bn. In a further blow to Ms Reeves, the Resolution Foundation warned that Britain was facing a disaster of a decade on living standards as it suggested Labour had betrayed its poorest voters with welfare cuts. Andrew Goodwin, from Oxford Economics, said the Chancellor was likely to be forced into further action this autumn, through more tax rises or changes to her self-imposed borrowing rules. He said: We calculate that movements in financial market pricing since the OBR locked its assumptions have already wiped more than 4bn off of the 9.9bn headroom the Chancellor left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you factor in the likelihood that defence spending will need to be raised further, and that the OBRs growth assumptions look very optimistic, the Spring Statement looks like a stopgap. The IFS said pensioners and the wealthy risked becoming the prime targets of another tax raid in the autumn because the Chancellor had left herself dangerously exposed to minor forecast changes. The Chancellor has previously pledged to avoid raising income tax, VAT and employee National Insurance, leaving limited levers for further tax rises. Paul Johnson, from the IFS, said: There is a good chance that economic and fiscal forecasts will deteriorate significantly between now and an autumn Budget. If so, she will need to come back for more, which will likely mean raising taxes even further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: That risks months of speculation over what those tax rises might be a raid on pensions, a wealth tax on the richest, another hike to capital gains tax? Mr Johnson warned that mere speculation about such increases can cause economic harm. He added: The autumn Budget could see more tax rises, deeper spending cuts or even another change to the fiscal rules. Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out tax rises in the autumn Budget but said the decision not to increase tax in the Spring Statement indicated the mindset of the Government. Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out tax rises in the autumn Budget - Benjamin Girette/Shutterstock We did have manifesto commitments in relation to tax and what taxes we wouldnt raise and we kept good to those promises, the Prime Minister said. Obviously, Im not going to write future Budgets. Every prime minister and chancellor, from every government, always takes that position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if you look at the pattern, if you like, or the intent for both the Budget and the Spring Statement, youll see that when it comes to the decisions weve had to make, we have not taken the decision to increase tax, and I think that indicates the mindset that we bring to this. Richard Hughes, the chairman of the OBR, said that 10bn of headroom amounted to really nothing as he warned that an escalation of Donald Trumps trade war would be enough to blow the Chancellor off course. He said: Our central forecast didnt include any tariffs that had a significant impact on the UK because so far Trump had just announced Mexico, Canada and China, and steel. But if you look at what happens if tariffs go up to 25pc across the world on all countries including the UK and the EU and the rest of the world, that could knock about 1pc off GDP next year and about three quarters of a percent off GDP in the medium term, even after you have adjusted trading patterns to the new set of relative prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Smith, an economist at the Resolution Foundation, suggested that Labours goal to raise living standards across the country was at risk. He said: The 2020s is now looking like a disaster of a decade, even relative to the two preceding it in terms of living standards. GDP per head is on track to grow by just 0.3pc this year, putting Britain on track for the weakest three-year period of growth in living standards for more than 30 years, the think tank said. The Foundation said 10m low-income families will become 500 per year worse off by the end of this parliament, with some households losing more than 10,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It means Ms Reeves is imposing financial pain on less well-off families on a scale comparable with the financial crisis and the recession of the early 1990s, the think tank warned. Ruth Curtice, the Resolution Foundations chief executive, said Ms Reevess claims that the benefit cuts will help people into work do not add up. She said: These cuts have been justified on the basis of getting people into work, but it is questionable how much of a jobs boost theyll deliver. After all, the bulk of the cuts are to disability benefits which arent related to work, and the cuts take effect from 2026, three years before the Governments employment support programme kicks into gear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Reeves rejected the Governments own official assessment that its welfare cuts will push tens of thousands more people into poverty. The Chancellor said she was absolutely certain people will not be pushed into poverty under the welfare reforms. The Governments own impact assessment found the cuts will push a quarter of a million people into poverty and that includes 50,000 children. The Chancellor told Sky News: I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work. And we know that if you move from welfare into work, you are much less likely to be in poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is our ambition, making people better off, not making people worse off, and also the welfare state will always be there for people who genuinely need it. 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. Off the coast of Devon for the past few weeks, an autonomous submarine that may one day protect UK waters has been quietly undergoing sea trials. The British-built Cetus drone named after a sea monster in Greek mythology is billed by the Royal Navy as the largest and most impressive uncrewed vessel of its kind in Europe. It has been designed by MSubs, a start-up based in Plymouth, to move stealthily underwater for long periods of time, listening out for enemy vessels or to protect critical national infrastructure such as subsea cables and pipelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At roughly the length of a bus, the experimental device is precisely the kind of home-grown innovation that John Healey, the Defence Secretary, and Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, want to stimulate as they pour billions of pounds more into domestic defence companies. The proposal will also please Labours trade union backers, who have been demanding that ministers back domestic jobs and skills by ordering more Eurofighter Typhoon jets, to be assembled in Preston by BAE Systems, instead of more F-35 fighters made by American giant Lockheed Martin. Under plans previously announced, defence spending is set to rise from 2.3pc of GDP to 2.5pc by 2027, a signal designed to show Britain is serious about rearmament although still below what many experts believe will prove necessary in the longer run. Much of the uplift will go towards replenishing munition stockpiles or better accommodation for forces personnel, with a large chunk of the Ministry of Defences (MoD) budget already taken up by big-ticket items such as nuclear submarines, frigates and next-generation fighter craft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Wednesday, Healey and Reeves signalled that two key qualities homemade and high-tech will be the main focus as ministers seek to remake Britain into a defence industrial superpower. We will put defence at the heart of our modern industrial strategy, to drive innovation that can deliver huge benefits back into the British economy, the Chancellor told MPs in her Spring Statement. She unveiled plans to dedicate a minimum of 10pc of the MoDs budget to high-tech weaponry such as drones and digital technologies, as well as a ring-fenced 400m per year budget for a new agency called UK Defence Innovation which will become a one-stop shop for start-ups with big ideas. At the same time, procurement rules are being changed to speed up deployment of kit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will see the MoD dramatically crunch down the time it takes to advertise and award major contracts. For large platforms such as tanks, frigates and aircraft, ministers want this timeline to shrink from six years to two. The target for pacesetting modular upgrades covering communications, sensors and improvements to weapons will be one year, compared with three now, while for drones and digital technologies it will be just three months. This, plus the greater domestic focus, promises to deliver a boost to companies such as MSubs in Plymouth, as well as the larger so-called primes, including BAE Systems and Babcock. Its music to our ears, says Brett Phaneuf, chief executive of MSubs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, Labours biggest union donor, last month warned Healey against wooing Donald Trump by selling our defence jobs abroad. The RAF had reportedly been leaning towards buying more F-35s. F-35 fighters are made by American giant Lockheed Martin - Marco Garcia/Reuters But the case for doing so now looks shakier given pledges by ministers to funnel more money into British products. There are also growing concerns in Europe including London about depending on American equipment following Donald Trumps recent pronouncements about Nato, which have prompted doubts that the US can be relied upon as an ally. The case for greater defence spending is not just about security or maintaining key capabilities, however ministers have also alighted on it as a way of supporting the British economy and high-end manufacturing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Sir Keir Starmer recently pointed to the economic benefits that Barrow-in-Furness, the Cumbrian port where BAE is building a raft of multibillion-pound submarines, will gain. The area is one of Britains poorest. John Healey has talked about the prosperity agenda, and this money going into British factories for British jobs, says Francis Tusa, an independent defence analyst. But people are not yet hearing him. Hes not using mealy mouth words. Hes saying this will be defence money spent in British factories. Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the economic benefits of building a raft of submarines in Barrow-in-Furness - Oli Scarff/WPA Pool/Getty Images Outside Wellington Barracks on Wednesday afternoon, the Defence Secretary and the Chancellor were keen to show off some of the technologies that could benefit from the spending uplift. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JHub, an innovation hub within the militarys strategic command, demonstrated Morrighan, a heavy-lift uncrewed system, named after the Celtic God of War and described by one major as a game changer. By using a helicopter-style platform and a winch system and cargo box, the autonomous system can be flown into a front line in order to surreptitiously evacuate the casualty. It means medics arent sent into areas of danger and robots can evacuate the wounded in simple containers such as cargo boxes, which can lift upwards of 100 kilograms and will ultimately draw less attention from the enemy as they are flown away. Getting people back from front lines is becoming really difficult, the major added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said it not only put more risk on the casualty but also on those performing the evacuation. Now, those risks can potentially be eradicated as uncrewed systems can perform rescue missions. Four companies have been awarded money by the Ministry of Defence to develop prototypes: Skylift UAV, Aether Aerospace, ISS Group and Black Space Technology. Speaking at the barracks, Healey said: What youve seen here is the future of our forces keeping one step ahead of the enemy. Its also the future of making sure that when we invest in defence we also invest in driving economic growth in all parts of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As ever, however, smaller businesses say the real test of the reforms will be whether money really finds its way to the most innovative firms and doesnt get tied up for years in bureaucratic processes. Its certainly a step in the right direction, says Phaneuf, of Plymouths MSubs. But what we cant do is just take all this money and keep sticking it into systems that dont work. 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. Since Boeing was announced as the manufacturer of the U.S. Air Forces new crewed sixth-generation stealth combat jet, designated the F-47, last Friday, there has been no shortage of speculation about how the final aircraft might look. With the very limited imagery we have received so far, there are many more questions than answers, but there are certainly some interesting comparisons to be made if not parallels between the F-47 and earlier demonstrators and concepts, especially in the realm of tailless designs. One in particular, the Phantom Works X-36, has drawn perhaps the most interest since the F-47 announcement. To catch up on everything we know about the F-47, as well as our initial analysis, click here and here. One of the first renderings of the Boeing F-47. U.S. Air Force As we noted at the time, the overall design of the F-47 fuselage appears very loosely reminiscent to Boeings X-45 UCAV demonstrators as well as the companys highly stealthy and once secretive Bird of Prey demonstrator jet. There are certain parallels, too, with some of the Boeing concepts that emerged in the mid-1990s as part of NASAs Investigation Into The Impact Of Agility In Conceptual Fighter Design study, which you can read more about here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Above all else, in our initial analysis we pointed out the F-47s superficial likeness to the X-36 Tailless Fighter Agility Research Aircraft, designed to be representative of a low-observable high-performance fighter. We were not alone. Many across the defense aerospace and social media space mentioned the similarities. The uncrewed X-36 was developed in the mid-1990s by the McDonnell Douglas Phantom Works (now a part of Boeing), in collaboration with NASA. An overhead view of the X-36. NASA The X-36 was a 28-percent scale representation of a theoretical advanced fighter aircraft configuration. The X-planes design did away with traditional tail surfaces and instead adopted canard foreplanes, combined with split ailerons on a lambda-like wing and an advanced thrust-vectoring engine nozzle for directional control. Since the X-36 was unstable in both the pitch and yaw axes, an advanced, digital fly-by-wire control system was used to ensure its stability. Weighing around 1,250 pounds fully fueled, the X-36 was 19 feet long and three feet high with a wingspan of just over 10 feet. It was powered by a Williams International F112 turbofan generating around 700 pounds of thrust. Although two X-36s were completed, only one was ever flown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The X-36 was flown remotely by a pilot in a ground station, aided by a video camera mounted in the nose of the aircraft. The pilot was provided with a standard fighter-type head-up display (HUD) and a moving-map representation of the aircrafts position within the test range. X-36 on a test flight. (NASA) Ultimately, the X-36 completed 31 test flights at NASAs Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, between May and November of 1997. According to NASA, over the course of 15 hours and 38 minutes of flight time, The X-36 program met or exceeded all project goals. The X-planes agility was tested at high roll rates and low speed/high angles of attack and at high speed/low angles of attack. NASA determined that the aircraft was very stable and maneuverable and handled very well at both ends of the speed envelope. The X-36 returned to the air for two more test flights in late 1998, after the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) contracted Boeing to fly its Reconfigurable Control for Tailless Fighter Aircraft (RESTORE) software. This was to demonstrate how machine-learning software could compensate for in-flight damage or malfunction of flight control surfaces (flaps, ailerons, rudders, etc.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most intriguingly, in the context of current developments, is the fact that the X-36 was used to prove out tailless fighter design the basic configuration concept that has very likely been selected for the F-47, though we cant be sure about that until we see the rear portion of the finalized design. Another in-flight view of the X-36. NASA Among the similarities between the two types, perhaps the most visible is the canard foreplane arrangement. At this point, its worth noting that the canards might still be absent from the final aircraft. You can read our full analysis of the canard question as it relates to the F-47 here. While canards are not generally optimal for low-observability, there is a precedent for them appearing in advanced fighter designs, including stealth ones. They have also appeared before in NGAD-like concepts, especially from Boeing, as well as in the X-36 and even in earlier exploratory concepts for the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF), which gave birth to the F-22 Raptor. Another rendering of the F-47. U.S. Air Force There are also broad similarities between the canopy on the F-47 and the X-36. Although the X-36 was uncrewed, it was intended to replicate the flying qualities of a crewed fighter, so it featured a cockpit shape. At the end of the test program, caricatures of the test pilots who flew the jet from the ground station appeared on the cockpit, applied in Magic Marker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As might be expected, the F-47 has a relatively large, bubble canopy, providing the pilot with excellent vision. At this stage, we dont know for sure if the F-47 will have one pilot or two, and the existing official renders dont give an impression of the overall length of the cockpit. Tandem seats are certainly a possibility at this point, especially considering the drone controller role that the F-47 is expected to take on within the broader NGAD system of systems. Then there is the F-47s nose, which also has some distinct parallels with the X-36. In both cases, the nose is very broad (its especially wide in the F-47), with a shovel-like shape. In the F-47, this likely accommodates a very large radar array. X-36 on the ground during testing. NASA Overall, there are certainly some interesting visual similarities between the X-36 and the renderings that we have seen so far of the F-47. Again, this is with the proviso that these renders could be deliberately misleading as well as the fact that the design of the F-47 may yet change, perhaps even radically, before the final aircraft appears. That being said, the X-36 was developed to explore the concept of a tailless combat aircraft design and, as a program that ended up in Boeings hands, it would be surprising if it hadnt fed, at least in some way, into the companys work on the NGAD crewed fighter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its long been understood that a tailless design offers significant advantages in terms of low observability, it comes at a price. Tailless aircraft are typically much less stable, with reduced maneuverability. This becomes a problem for a tactical aircraft that will be expected to operate over a very wide performance envelope. The addition of canards on the F-47 might be evidence of efforts to mitigate these deficiencies. Another option could be thrust-vectoring engines or a combination of both. An illustration from the Investigation Into The Impact Of Agility In Conceptual Fighter Design study by NASA from 1995. It pits various advanced fighter design configurations against each other to highlight the tradeoffs and advantages of each for different mission sets. Canards are shown to be good for agility, but less optimal for radar signature. Screenshot The X-36 is not the only tailless demonstrator or concept that may well have fed into the NGAD crewed fighter program, although its Boeing lineage is certainly notable. There were also other important tailless fighter research programs, including the Lockheed Skunk Works X-44 Manta initiative, which doesnt appear to have yielded any hardware at least that we know about. Confusingly, the same X-plane designation was used for a different program, the X-44A, a flying-wing drone that was built by Skunk Works in 1999, which you can read more about here. Concept artwork of the X-44 Manta. Public Domain Otherwise, the X-44 Manta is understood to have been aimed at studying tailless crewed aircraft designs, also around the late 1990s. The notional aircraft would have used thrust vectoring as a primary flight control system, with the objective being to achieve a combination of speed, fuel efficiency, and maneuverability within a single design. Other objectives of the study included demonstrating simpler and cheaper forms of aircraft structures production. While we know little about the results of what remains a shadowy program, its not a stretch to imagine that, if it wasnt canceled, it might have played a significant role in informing the design of the F-47 and the other NGAD crewed fighter designs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While not a fighter with the extreme performance that goes along with it, the McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics A-12 Avenger II stealth attack plane is another notable 1990s-era design that features a tailless configuration, albeit this had a triangular-shaped flying-wing type platform. Concept art of the McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics A-12 Avenger II stealth attack aircraft. U.S. Navy The aforementioned Bird of Prey, another Boeing product, is also worth looking at, as a largely tailless design, although it was provided with downswept wingtips and, at least for some of the time, a ventral vertical stabilizer. In fact, the renderings of the F-47 appear to indicate a significant degree of wing dihedral, a feature that is also very characteristic of the Bird of Prey. The technology demonstrator was flown clandestinely out of Area 51 in the 1990s and is understood to have yielded valuable information on various different technologies, as well as the nearly tailless configuration, including advanced stealth, new methods of manufacturing, and visual stealth. The Bird of Prey was only revealed to the public in 2002 and we may well yet learn more about its relevance to the NGAD crewed fighter program. Boeing Bird of Prey at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. U.S. Air Force Its also worth looking at the rumors around the so-called YF-24. Although the existence of this aircraft has never been confirmed, its speculated to have been a demonstrator for future combat aircraft designs, specifically tailless ones, and to have been a Boeing product. At one stage, an official U.S. Air Force pilot biography included a reference to them having flown an aircraft designated YF-24, although this was later redacted. A Boeing design study, labeled MRF-24X, and reproduced below, shows a tailless fighter-like platform with a single engine and an X-32-style wing with significant anhedral. Presumably, like the X-36, it would have had an advanced thrust-vectoring engine nozzle to assist in directional control. Once again, however, we dont know for sure what the YF-24 exactly looked like, if it did indeed exist at all. Screenshot Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, its clear that tailless fighter design was a major future technology growth area all the way back in the 1990s, and there have likely been multiple other clandestine demonstrators that have helped prove its feasibility at Area 51. These would have been precursors to the two (and possibly more) demonstrators that were built and flown as part of the NGAD crewed fighter effort. There is also the Navys own F/A-XX NGAD initiative that likely has produced its own demonstrators. While there is plenty more to discover about the F-47, as well as the secretive X-plane predecessors that fed into the NGAD crewed fighter program, its certainly interesting, at this point, to consider how it might have been influenced by some of these test programs that stretch back at least three decades. All in all, it seems highly probable that some of their results will have found their way into what is likely the Pentagons first true tailless fighters, although we still cannot confirm this at this time. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com BOARDMAN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) Robert J. Bob Kurty, 66, passed away Sunday morning, March 23, 2025, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by the love of his family, following a courageous battle with cancer. Robert was born May 21, 1958, in Akron and was raised in Youngstown by his adoptive parents, Joseph and Mary Olejar Kurty. Seven years ago he was reunited with his biological mother, Rose Anne Millich. Find obituaries from your high school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob was a graduate of Boardman High School, Class of 1976, and subsequently attended Youngstown State University earning a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Professionally, Bob built a successful 31-year career at Valvoline, where he served as both a manager and regional account manager. He retired in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and leadership. Retirement didnt slow him down, thoughhe went on to work as a starter at The Lake Club for a year, a role he truly enjoyed and where he made many new friends. A man of many passions, Bob had a deep love for photography and music, often serving as the heart and soul of any gathering. He was always known as the life of the party, someone who brought people together with laughter, warmth, and generosity. Whether he was hosting a get-together, meticulously landscaping his yard, or simply enjoying time with loved ones, Bob lived with intention and heart. Bob leaves to forever cherish his memory his wife of 36 years, Cynthia Leedy Kurty, whom he married May 27, 1988; his three children, Christina Bell (Brian Revak) of North Jackson, Brock Kurty of Boardman and Brianna (Jarrod) Shook of North Jackson; four grandchildren, Attila, Julianna, Madelyn and Greyson; his sister, Jennifer (Jim) Niemi of Boardman; his biological mother, Rose Anne Millich of Youngstown and many extended family members and countless friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Mary Kurty. Family and friends may call from 12:30 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Road, Youngstown, where a funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Bob will be remembered for his vibrant spirit, unwavering love for his family, and the joy he brought into every room. His presence will be deeply missed but never forgotten. In lieu of flowers, Bobs family suggests memorial contributions be made to Open Arms Adoption Agency, 11 River Street, Suite B, Kent, OH 44240. A television tribute will air Thursday, March 27 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:21 p.m. on WYTV and 6:35 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing. 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. On the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene, as "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts prepared for a two-hour live special on Western North Carolina, she was thinking about where she was in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In late August 2005, Roberts had been sent to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where she grew up, to cover the storm for ABC News. Her mother, who was living in Biloxi, had decided to stay home because she was too ill to evacuate, and now Roberts had lost contact with her. I got there and I realized there's no way I can go on the air unless I find my family first, she told Southern Living. I fortunately was able to find my mother with the help of a police officer and get to her home. The roof was damaged, but it was standing. And I get into the house and Mama's just in the back singing What a Friend We Have in Jesus. She was oblivious to what was going on in the world and just happy. After being encouraged by her mother and sister to return to work, she made it back to the live shot with her colleagues Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer in the nick of time. It was Charlie who said, Robin, when you left here, you hadn't made contact with your family. Were you able to? And the floodgates just opened. I just started bawling live on national television. I knew that people were tuning in that morning not knowing about their loved ones. And I knew what that felt like because that had been me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts remembered that feeling of helplessness when she was covering Hurricane Helene, which devastated much of Western North Carolina on September 27, 2024. As someone who has covered hurricanes as a reporter far too often, she understands the emotional toll they can take. She also knows how important it is to support impacted communities long after the news cycle has passed. Hurricane Helene caused an estimated $60 billion in damage to Western North Carolina. Thats why she and the GMA crew are checking in with local businesses and bringing them attention at a critical moment in their recovery. On the GMA special, Asheville Rising, one of those businesses was Highland Brewing, often named one of the best breweries in the South. The 31-year-old brewery avoided flooding because it sits on a hill, but its business ground to a halt due to the loss of its water supply for two months. That didnt stop the company from becoming a distribution hub for food and supplies and a gathering place for the community. If it seemed possible, we said yes, said Leah Wong, President and CEO of Highland Brewing. We had nine different communities here at one time. Beloved Asheville is still operating out of the brewery. Now, six months later, tourism is down around 40 percent. We still have areas in our communities that are enduring huge losses, she told Southern Living. Some are still desperate to fill their basic needs while others are focused on survival of their businesses. To do their part, Highland Brewing has just released a new beer called Highland Haze, a Hazy IPA thats only available on draft. For six months, every time they sell a keg, a portion of the proceeds goes to the NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund, which supports local restaurants, the backbone of the economy. We are surrounded by heroes, Wong told Southern Living. I want people to know that we have so much to offer but we still have a long way to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On "Good Morning America," which was broadcast live from Highland Brewing Company, Robin Roberts announced a $3 million in donations to the community from a range of corporate sponsors. Her message to viewers is a rallying cry. Asheville is rising, they're open for business. This is what I want people to know, she told Southern Living. They rely on tourism. And there are people who feel that. It really is showing people how they can be of assistance. I want people to know that there are things that can be done to help these communities rebuild and be what they once wereor even better. Its so important for them to know that theyre not forgotten, she said. Read the original article on Southern Living ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Residents of the Rockford area looking to have a sub sandwich and promote programs for children have the chance to do both on Wednesday. Jersey Mikes Day of Giving raises money not just for Rockford area programs but programs nationwide. The event held by the chain started in 2011. Locations in Rockford, Machensey Park and Belvidere are raising money for the Boys and Girls Club of Rockford, while Dixons location is raising money for Shriners Childrens Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the famous sub shop set a record after raising $25 million nationwide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Rockford Police arrested Starlina Mora-Valdez, 37, for punching a woman multiple times, breaking her nose, according to court records. Daniel Romero, 37, is also charged for his alleged involvement in the altercation. He is currently wanted for a separate battery incident that happened last year. On August 25, 2024, officers were called to the 3700 block of Florida Drive for reports of a battery incident. The victim told authorities she was invited to a house party after meeting Mora-Valdez at a bar earlier in the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romero put a five dollar bill in the victims shirt when she arrived, so she confronted him, court documents showed. The woman told officials that Romero escalated the situation by punching her in the face, causing her to fall to the ground. Mora-Valdez joined Romero in attacking the victim, police reported. The woman was eventually able to leave the house but was punched in the back of the head by Mora-Valdez while trying to get into her car, according to court records. The victim was taken to UW Health for her injuries. Hospital records showed her nose bone was fractured on both sides. Mora-Valdez is charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated battery while in a public place and mob action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romero is charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and mob action. Mora-Valdez was booked into the Winnebago County Jail on March 27th and was granted pretrial release the same day. Romero has yet to be taken into 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Rep. Annie McDaniel, D-Winnsboro, speaks during a news conference in the Statehouse lobby Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Opponents of legislation restricting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts intentionally dressed in black as a sign of mourning. (Photo by Skylar Laird/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA Debate stalled on a bill previously expected to pass Wednesday that would ban government agencies across South Carolina from requiring diversity training or mandating statements of inclusion. After about two hours of discussion, House Education Chairwoman Shannon Erickson asked to halt the debate until Tuesday, a move rarely used by Republicans on the House floor once debate starts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its normal for Democrats to make the motion on a bill pushed by Republicans, as they tried to do so earlier Wednesday. But their various procedural attempts to halt debate failed. And then, suddenly, the chairwoman of the committee that advanced the bill pressed pause herself. I just realized that I need a minute, the Beaufort Republican told reporters afterward. The committee deserves to put forth the best bill we can do. As amended by her committee last week, the bill bans all state agencies, public schools and local governments from considering a persons race, gender or other aspects of their identity in hiring employees or accepting students. It bans governments from having offices or divisions dedicated for the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion. And it bans colleges specifically from demanding any political declaration from an applicant or employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Democrats all oppose the bill. But in a supermajority GOP chamber, Republicans generally push through whatever they want in a single day, with the main question being how many hours they argue. In putting debate on hold, Erickson said she wanted more time to read and consider the approximately two dozen amendments proposed Wednesday for changing the bill. Some seemed like good ideas, Erickson said, and she didnt want to dismiss amendments that could improve the bill without giving them serious consideration. If I cant get a minute to research it, then I dont even know, would it be right of me to completely vote no on everything and not look at it? she told reporters after the House adjourned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About half of the proposed changes came from Democrats, caucus members said. Democrats in the Legislative Black Caucus, who led the opposition Wednesday, said the move showed Republicans were not ready to defend their proposal. House Democrats and activists held a news conference before the session began to condemn the bill. Opponents from across the state rearranged their schedules to stay for the debate, said Rep. Jermaine Johnson. The Columbia Democrat noted he had intended to be absent from the chamber Wednesday due to his fathers surgery but postponed his trip to be there for the floor fight. Those individuals in there decided to silence everybody across South Carolina today because they wanted to change some things, he said outside the House chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats suggested the Republican caucus had fractured over the bill and needed time to regroup. Erickson dismissed that. Every single Republican may not be on board, but the caucus has the votes needed to pass the bill, she said, adding that played no role in her decision. Democrats will continue the fight when the debate resumes next week. In a show of solidarity against the bill, House Democrats dressed in black Wednesday. The efforts that this bill is making to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion is worth mourning, said Rep. Hamilton Grant, D-Columbia. It is a sad day here in the state of South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of the bill insist it is not about ending diversity in the state but about ensuring hiring and opportunities are based on merit rather than identity traits. The bill comes amid a federal effort to ban DEI initiatives under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. DEI programs as weve seen in this country are a failed experiment, said Rep. Tim McGinnis, R-Myrtle Beach. As changed last week, the bill does not affect Black History Month events, teacher recruitment initiatives for Black men, school curriculum teaching about the Holocaust, programs for veterans with disabilities or local Pride events, McGinnis said. Those were all programs that opponents said the original bill would eliminate. That version also would have extended to state contractors and other organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the morning news conference, a University of South Carolina professor said DEI programs started in the first place because Black people, women and other people with marginalized identities have historically been shut out of certain opportunities because of their identity. The playing field is not level, said Susi Long, an English professor at USC. Passing the bill could scare away businesses looking to open in the state and students considering South Carolina colleges, Rep. John King said. He called on Black students to stay away, calling the bill hostile toward them. They dont want diversity here, the Rock Hill Democrat said on the floor to Black students considering coming to the state. Stay away from South Carolina. Sen. Ronnie Cromer, R-Prosperity, speaks on the Senate floor Tuesday, March 18, 2025, about his proposal that would double car insurance minimums. (Screenshot courtesy of SCETV) COLUMBIA South Carolina drivers who pay as little as possible for their auto insurance would need to double their coverage under legislation passed Thursday by the Senate. State-required insurance minimums set 18 years ago simply arent enough to cover any serious accident and often, not even a minor one which shifts costs to the people who arent at fault, senators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A proposal to double those bare minimums got wrapped into the Senates broad bill overhauling the rules on personal injury lawsuits and insurance. The suggestion by Sen. Ronnie Cromer quickly gained bipartisan support, offering a moment of easy consensus as debate on the larger package dragged out over four weeks. If somebody were to hit your car and total it, hopefully they would have enough to pay for it, the Newberry County Republican told senators. But the minimums wont even cover the car, much less pay the bills if you had to go to the hospital. State law requires drivers to have insurance policies that pay for property damages and injuries in wrecks they cause. Since 2007, drivers have been able to have policies that pay no more than $25,000 for property damage, $25,000 for medical expenses if a single person is hurt, and $50,000 total for injuries no matter how many people are in the vehicles. We have long needed to increase it, said Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro. (Despite her support of that particular piece, she ultimately voted against the entire bill.) Unlike many of his colleagues at odds with each other over the bill, Cromer is not a lawyer or an insurer. Hes a pharmacist. But he realized a change was needed, he said, after a driver with minimum coverage rear-ended a friends new Corvette, which had less than 8,000 miles on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre not going to fix a Corvette rear end for $25,000, he told the SC Daily Gazette on Thursday. The bill would double the liability minimums to $50,000 and $100,000, though not immediately. The new minimums would take effect two years after the bill becomes law. That would give insurance companies time to prepare, as well as allow those who have minimum limits to start getting ready for a much higher limit, said Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Tega Cay, who was instrumental in the Senate reaching a compromise on the larger bill. Its unclear how many drivers in South Carolina have policies that only pay the minimums. The state Department of Insurance doesnt keep those numbers, a spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is clear is that people who insist on just buying the minimum amount will have to pay more, said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield. However, he added, theres protection for them as well by making this change, since it means theyre better covered in case someone hits them. The change would align South Carolinas minimums with North Carolina, after coverage minimums rise in that state July 1. Georgias minimums are the same as South Carolinas. Since everything costs more, its a wise move to reset the baseline, said Sen. Tom Fernandez, R-Summerville. Chris Oxford, an agent at North Charleston-based Pinckney-Carter Insurance, said he wont write auto insurance policies at the existing minimums. Its just his own personal rule, he said, since the payouts likely wont cover damages, even if the wreck is little more than a fender bender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You run into the back of a Tesla or the back of a Mercedes thats more than $25,000, Oxford said. His insurance plans just happen to start at the proposed new numbers. While Oxford couldnt guess what percentage of drivers carry the minimum coverage, whatever the number is, he said, is too much. Television ads enticing people to pay as little as possible are part of the problem, he added. You watch TV, and it says, You only pay for what you need,' he said. However, customers need more coverage than they realize, he said. Underinsured drivers When the driver at fault doesnt have enough coverage to pay damages, then the other drivers insurance can pay for repairs if that policy covers for underinsured motorists. But filing a claim to be fully recouped will likely lead to a premium hike for the driver who wasnt to blame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raising the minimums could prevent that rate hike for the driver who isnt at fault, if the policy of the driver who causes an accident can fully cover the costs. The percentage of claims in South Carolina paid through underinsured coverage has risen rapidly in recent years, according to data from the Pennsylvania-based Insurance Research Council. In 2018, the coverage accounted for 12.8% of all claims for auto wrecks in the Palmetto State. By the end of 2023, it accounted for 21.5%, or 3.5 percentage points above the national rate, according to the council. It does cost more to repair cars and people than it did yesterday and the day before, said Dale Porfilio, president of the nonprofit research group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But many drivers dont realize why they need underinsured coverage. While state law requires insurers to offer it, drivers arent required to buy it. Massey said the debate could be a public service announcement of sorts. For anyone paying attention to the Senate livestream, he said, You should have underinsured motorist coverage. Columbia S.C. (WSPA) A heated debate occurred on the senate floor over a bill which could impact every business, school, and state agency in South Carolina. Republicans said if passed, H. 3927 would support merit-based hiring and end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Many Democrats wore black to the debate, saying they are mourning the death of humanity as they know it. The efforts that this bill is bringing to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion is worth mourning. It is a sad day here in the state of South Carolina, but we dont grieve as those without hope, said Representative Hamilton Grant (D Richland). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would ban programs based on diversity, equity, and inclusion in local governments, state agencies, school districts, and public colleges. The bill was amended in committee so it would not impact private businesses contracted by the state. Through the committee process, it was discovered that if you dont get that right, youre going to end up with contract issues with contracts you already have in place. So, we want to make sure we get those things right, said Representative Steven Long (R Spartanburg). Support of this bill appears to run along party lines. Long said Democrats want to correct previous discrimination with current discrimination, We need to get away from this idea of group identity. The smallest minority group is the individual. So really focused on individual rights of not some kind of a group type identity basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grant said the bill sends the wrong message; he said its the opposite of inclusivity and fairness. If passed, this legislation will send a very clear signal that South Carolina is not a state that values inclusivity, equal opportunity, or the ability to make decisions that serve their communities. Chairwoman of the Black Caucus, Representative Annie McDaniel (D Fairfield) said this bill works against celebrating differences and eliminates them. The debate adjourned and will continue next week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Raw sewage was released into Englands rivers and seas for a high 3.61 million hours last year as Labour calls the new figures disgraceful. Data released by the Environment Agency shows that, while the number of sewage spills by water companies was down slightly, each spill lasted longer on average. The total duration of spills was 3.6 million hours, up a slight 0.2 per cent from 2023. These two years are the first that every single site was recorded. The total duration of spills was 3.6 million hours, up a slight 0.2 per cent from 2023 (Alamy/PA) While spillage is not necessarily illegal, it is only meant to be done in exceptional circumstances when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed due to factors like excessive rainfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August 2024, regulator Ofwat issued a record 168m combined fines to Thames, Yorkshire and Northumbrian Water. Industry body Water UK has previously apologised for the amount of spills in the country and is investing 104bn over the next five years to combat the issue. Environment secretary Steve Reed said: These figures are disgraceful and are a stark reminder of how years of underinvestment have led to water companies discharging unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes, and seas. According to the figures, the site with the longest duration of spills was located in the coastal village Salcombe Regis, at a massive 8,772 hours and 30 minutes. Located in east Devon, the receiving body of water is the Salcombe Regis stream, which feeds into the sea on the south coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, South West Water, which manages the site, says that it is investigating the cause of this. The water utility company adds that it is aware of several unauthorised connections to the sewer network that are contributing to the high level of additional flows. This includes highway road gullies with extensive road run-off. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: This has to be the final nail in the coffin for Ofwat, a regulator that has time and again proven it is completely inadequate to protect customers and our beautiful environment. The government should act now to get a new regulator in place to protect British rivers and seas from being pumped with disgusting sewage. Its time for Ofwat to go. The Liberal Democrats have spearheaded the campaign to protect our rivers and beaches, and we will continue to fight for much tougher regulation of a water industry which is profiting from pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lena Swedlow, campaign manager for Our Water Our Way at Compass, who is working with river groups to challenge decision making at crisis-hit Thames Water, said: People are rightly outraged at the state of sewage dumping while our bills rise by an average of 40 per cent. The root of this anger and the root of this problem are the same the public dont get a seat at the table. Take Thames Water. It has seen a staggering increase in raw sewage, yet the company is trying to wriggle out of fines, whilst loading up with even more debt and raising bills for the 16 million people it serves. We can't go on like this we need public ownership. Giving people a real say, from workers to bill payers to water experts, is how other countries operate. Its our water, it should be our way." Conservation charity River Actions chief executive James Wallace described the numbers as staggering, saying they equated to 412 years of sewage polluting the countrys rivers, lakes and seas. Rather than fixing leaky pipes and investing in infrastructure, these companies have treated our rivers and coastlines like an open sewer, and regulators have let them get away with it, he said, calling for real reform of the sector. On Wednesday afternoon, a man was attacked by a 5-foot tiger shark, while swimming just off the popular Western Australia surf spot, Sandtrax, in Port Beach near Perth. Reportedly, even after the attack, and when the man climbed aboard a boat, the shark continued to circle the vessel. According to officials, the shark bumped the man multiple times while the unnamed victim was in the water, about 40 meters outside of the jetty. After that, he was picked up by the boat, which was nearby, and taken to shore. Thankfully, per initial reports, his injuries werent life-threatening. 17-year-old Cooper Black was on the boat that assisted in the rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a guy who was about 30 to 40 (years old), just swimming, it was pretty deep out, Black told Perth Now. He didnt even really see us, he kind of popped his head up and said hello and then swam off and got a bit further away from the boat and started waving his hands around and screaming for help. We pulled the anchor up and went and helped him out, and he sat on the transom there. We brought him back to shore and he took off. From there, an ambulance was not called to the scene, but the man did see a doctor for surgery. Related: Surfer Mauled by Shark in Chest-Deep, West Australia Water This incident is just the latest in a string of recent attacks in Western and Southern Australia. Most recently, earlier this month, 37-year-old Steven Payne was surfing the picturesque Wharton Beach, in Esperance, when he was attacked and killed by a shark. Unreleased drone video footage showed a lot of blood in the water; only his surfboard was recovered after the attack with bite marks; and onlookers, including his girlfriend, watched the whole thing go down from the beach. Tragic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Western Australians, however, its just part of their reality. Following the most recent attack in Port Beach, Black added: You swim in the ocean every day, its part of the marine life, you know. Related: Drone Video Shows A Lot of Blood in Australia Shark Attack Michael Kyle Sheff G Williams, May 2023 (NY Daily News via Getty Images) Sheff G has pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree attempted murder and conspiracy in the second and fourth degrees in a massive, 140-count indictment against him and 31 other alleged members of the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways gangs. The Brooklyn drill rapper will be sentenced, on August 13, to five years in prison, with another five years of post-release supervision, according to a press release from the Brooklyn district attorneys office. When reached by Pitchfork, a representative for Sheff G had no comment on the plea deal and impending sentencing. Notoriety could not shield this defendant from justice. He used his fame to fund and direct violence, terrorizing our streets, and though we sought a much longer sentence, he will now be held to account, Eric Gonzalez, the district attorney in Brooklyn, said in a statement. Brooklyn will not tolerate gangs that endanger our communities, and we remain committed to dismantling these criminal networks and holding those responsible fully accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the indictment, the prosecution had accused defendants, including Sheff G, of shootings, car theft, and firearm possession, all under the umbrella of criminal gang activity. The rapper was also purported to have offered money, jewelry, and, in one case, an 11-person steak dinner as compensation for acts of violence; conspired to murder rival gang members with his sister, Crystal Williams; and repeatedly driven shooters to and from the scene of a crime. Notably, prosecutors did not enter Sheff Gs lyrics into evidenceas has been the case in several other recent high-profile rap trialslikely because the New York State Senate passed a bill limiting their use in court in 2022. In addition to Sheff G, 17 other defendants have already pleaded guilty, while 14 still have their cases pending. Among those 14 is fellow rapper Sleepy Hallow, who is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder and criminal possession of a weapon, both in the second degree. Sheff G previously pleaded guilty to charges of criminal possession of a weapon, in November 2021, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison. He was also one of five drill rappers removed from Rolling Loud New Yorks lineup in 2019 due to public safety concerns cited by the New York Police Department. Originally Appeared on Pitchfork At least 120 oil rig workers are feared dead after a North Sea accommodation platform collapsed during gales. Reports say a massive wave hit one of the legs of the platform, causing it to break and send the 208 people on board into the sea at around 1830 GMT. Some were able to make it to the lifeboats before the platform fully capsized while others were thrown into the sea as the rig began to tilt. Most of those missing from the Alexander Kielland platform, which was situated 235 miles east of Dundee, are Norwegian. There were some Britons and Americans on board. Many of the crew are thought to have been in the platforms cinema at the time of impact. A spokesman for Phillips Petroleum, the American owners of the rig the platform was connected to, said: The rig is now bottom up after capsizing completely and dropping people into the sea. RAF and Norwegian helicopters have been sent to the area along with local ships who have been asked to help with the rescue. An RAF Nimrod, complete with searchlights and flares is on its way to the scene. However, poor weather conditions are making the rescue very difficult and there are reports of people being swept away as they attempt to reach rescue boats or neighbouring rigs. The Norwegian Government is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the disaster. The accommodation platform contains bedrooms, lounges, kitchens and leisure facilities for workers. It was attached to the Edda oil rig in the Ekofisk field where work was being carried out. The platform is a semi-submersible that floats on two pontoons with legs supporting the main deck. It houses workers while they carry out jobs on the oil rigs. This is the second major accident at Ekofisk field. A blow-out on the Bravo platform in 1977 caused a mass evacuation of all on-board. Courtesy BBC News In context The final death toll when the Alexander Kielland accommodation platform collapsed was 123. A previously undetected crack in one leg of the platform is thought to be the reason the structure gave way. Experts believe it took 15 minutes for the platform to collapse into the sea. It was not until 1983 that the platform was salvaged. In 1988 a total of 167 oil workers were confirmed dead after a series of explosions on the oil rig Piper Alpha. Several classic works by China's leading sci-fi writer Liu Cixin are to be adapted into high-profile films and TV series. This includes a newly announced movie adaptation of "With Her Eyes," to be produced by Chen Sicheng, the filmmaker behind the blockbuster "Detective Chinatown" franchise. Chen Sicheng, Liu Cixin and Dai Mo (left to right) pose for a photo at an event announcing the "With Her Eyes" movie in Wenchang, Hainan province, March 21, 2025. [Photo courtesy of As One Production] At an event announcing the new adaptation held at the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site on March 21, As One Production confirmed Chen Sicheng as executive producer, with Dai Mo director of hits including "Fireflies in the Sun" and "Detective Chinatown 1900" set to direct. Meanwhile, the screenwriting team will unite Liu Cixin with Italian cinema legend Giuseppe Tornatore, the Oscar-winning creator of "Cinema Paradiso," "The Legend of 1900" and "Malena." The short story "With Her Eyes" won China's prestigious sci-fi Galaxy Award in 1999. It follows a space engineer who, after returning from a mission, takes a special pair of "eyes" on vacation connecting him to a mysterious "her." Through their shared senses, they explore nature together, her shifting emotions sparking his growing curiosity. With its concept of "shared senses," the story delves into human loneliness and has been praised by readers as Liu Cixin's "most tender sci-fi parable." Liu noted at the film's announcement that "With Her Eyes" differs from his other works, framing humanity's grand exploration of the unknown through a gentle, poetic lens tinged with melancholy. "I believe the film adaptation will create a unique sci-fi universe," he said. "Through my deep involvement in the cinematic process, we'll deliver unprecedented visual artistry and emotional impact to audiences." During his visit to China's cutting-edge aerospace facilities at the launch site, Chen Sicheng expressed his admiration at the nation's rapid space technology advancements. "I'm fully committed to preserving Liu Cixin's poetic and romantic vision, and sharing this profoundly moving wonder with audiences," he said. For director Dai Mo, this marks his second collaboration with Liu Cixin, having just wrapped up on the highly anticipated sci-fi series "Ball Lightning" another Liu Cixin adaptation executive produced by Chen Sicheng. Crew and collaborators of the "With Her Eyes" film project pose for a group photo at the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in Wenchang, Hainan province, March 21, 2025. [Photo courtesy of As One Production] Liu Cixin's works have become crown jewels for sci-fi film and TV adaptations. Recently, it was reported that his military sci-fi story "Full-Spectrum Barrage Jamming" will be directed by Guan Hu, best known for his 2020 war epic "The Eight Hundred." Other major projects in development include Frant Gwo's 2027 sci-fi epic "The Wandering Earth 3," Zhang Yimou's film adaptation of "The Three-Body Problem," and Yang Lei's TV series "Three-Body II: The Dark Forest." Additionally, a spin-off series centered on "Three-Body" protagonist Shi Qiang is in the works, while Tian Li's TV adaptation of "Sea of Dreams" is currently in post-production. A movie adaptation of "The Supernova Era" is also underway. Previously, Liu Cixin's "The Wandering Earth" inspired two blockbuster films directed by Frant Gwo the 2019 release grossing 4.69 billion yuan, followed in 2023 by its prequel earning 4.04 billion yuan. Director Ning Hao adapted Liu's "The Rural Teacher" into "Crazy Alien," which generated 2.2 billion yuan in 2019. The Hugo Award-winning "The Three-Body Problem" has spawned two successful TV adaptations: Tencent Video's Chinese version and Netflix's international production, both achieving critical and commercial success. Industry analysts estimate the "Three-Body" franchise spanning publishing, film, TV, animation, digital ventures and exhibitions has reached a total co-branded consumer market value of over 2 billion yuan. In February, joint operations by the Public Security Police Force and the Labour Affairs Bureau found 42 people suspected of working illegally in Macau. Authorities inspected 367 locations, including construction sites, private buildings, Industrial establishments, and commercial premises. The figure represents growth compared with the previous month (January) when 31 suspected illegal workers were found in some 306 inspections of different locations, but there was a drop year-on-year. In February 2024, the same authorities found 58 people suspected of working illegally in Macau. Related Australia plans to spend a larger share of its foreign aid on its neighbors in Asia and the Pacific islands after the United States announced major cuts to development and humanitarian aid abroad. Three-quarters of Australias total overseas development aid will directly benefit the Indo-Pacific region, which is a 40-year high proportion, according to documents seen by The Associated Press yesterday. Total aid for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is set to increase by only 136 million Australian dollars ($86 million) above the current years spending to AU$5.097 billion ($3.22 billion). Neither Foreign Minister Penny Wong nor Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy mentioned Washingtons foreshadowed cuts in explaining Australias change in focus. Australias development program is central to ensuring the stability and security of our region, Wong said in a statement. In these uncertain times, we are ensuring more of Australias development assistance is going to the Pacific and Southeast Asia, where Australias interests are most at stake, she added. Conroy said Australia remained committed to multilateral aid channels despite Australias shift toward direct bilateral aid deals. Australia will suspend or delay AU$119 million ($75 million) in payments to the multinational U.N. Development Program, the Global Partnership for Education and the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Malaria and TB. Flexibility is needed in this years budget to protect our regions stability and prosperity and reinforce Australias role as a trusted and reliable partner for our neighbors, Conroy said. The Trump administration said last month it was eliminating more than 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Developments foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance around the world, putting numbers on its plans to eliminate the majority of U.S. development and humanitarian help abroad. Riley Duke, a researcher with the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based international policy think tank, described Australias aid budget as a response to expected reductions in U.S. and European aid spending in the Pacific. Australia has cut and delayed payments to multilateral organizations to give it room to respond to potential vacuums left by the rapid U.S. cuts, Duke said. Australias budget is becoming hyper-focused on its neighbors and the share of our aid budget thats allocated to the Pacific is amongst the highest its ever been, he added. Direct funding to Pacific island nations was at least 40% of the total Australian aid budget, he said. MDT/AP The editor-in-chief of a Taiwanese publishing house received a three-year prison sentence after a Chinese court convicted him of inciting separatism, a Chinese government spokesperson said yesterday. The case raised concern about the risks of publishing books critical of the Chinese government and system, even outside mainland China. Li Yanhe is a Chinese citizen who had been living in Taiwan, according to Taiwanese media. He was detained two years ago during a trip to China, and Taiwanese media reported last week that he had been tried and sentenced by a court in Shanghai but gave no details. The editor was fined 50,000 yuan ($6,900) in addition to the three-year sentence, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a biweekly news conference on Taiwan-related issues. Li pleaded guilty and did not appeal, he said. Chinese authorities have not said what Li did to be charged with inciting separatism. Gusa Publishing, where Li worked, has published books on topics that are usually censored in China. The companys website includes books on corruption and authoritarian rule in China and on the militarys bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests that were centered on Beijings Tiananmen Square. Taiwanese authorities said last week that Lis detention was in order to suppress Taiwans publishing, academic and cultural industries and attempt to create a chilling effect, according to Taiwans government-owned Central News Agency. Gusa Publishing, in a statement posted on Facebook, said all of Lis colleagues were angry and upset, and couldnt understand why Li, whom it described as just a publisher, would be charged with inciting separatism. People in the Chinese-language publishing world expressed concern about the fallout from the case. Yu Miao, the owner of a Chinese bookstore in Washington, D.C., said it would have a negative impact on deciding which books to publish in the future. It shows it is not safe to publish books about China in Taiwan or anywhere else, said Yu, who opened the Washington bookstore after his earlier bookstore in Shanghai was forced out in 2018. In 2015, five Hong Kong-based booksellers were taken away by Chinese authorities, including one who was a Swedish citizen and another who was British. Their case became a symbol of the extent to which China was willing to enforce a hard line on squelching political dissent, extending beyond the borders of mainland China to Hong Kong. MDT/AP The Transport Bureau (DSAT) has called on the two public bus operator companies to gradually increase the number of buses and drivers to cope with the growing number of passengers, the Traffic Planning and Development Department head, Lau Nga Hong, said during yesterdays public radio broadcaster interview program. Lau added that DSAT has called on the operators to introduce more new energy and purely electric buses into operation as soon as possible. According to Lau, data shows that the number of public bus passengers in 2024 was about 227 million, with a daily average of nearly 630,000. This figure represents an increase of about 6.4% compared with 2023 and is close to the record high of 229 million passengers in 2019. He added that considering these statistics and the situation so far this year with many crowded buses and high passenger demand, the bureau has called on the two bus companies to focus on solving the overcrowded bus problem. The bureau has also considered the demand for public transport in the new areas, which will contribute to new and increased demand. The official said that the authorities are considering adjusting and optimizing some bus routes to enhance their operational efficiency and service levels and to change the overall land transport network to link to the developments of the Light Rapid Transit system. Also present at the same radio program, Chan Yat, asistant general Manager of the TCM (Sociedade De Transportes Colectivos De Macau, SARL), noted that the company is operating some 544 vehicles, providing about 5,900 trips per day, a figure that he stressed exceeds the fundamental daily frequency by about 10%. Representing Transmac, Un Kuan Ngai said that the company completed the replacement of all vehicles with new energy last year. Currently, the company operates 410 vehicles of this kind, providing more than 4,200 trips daily, exceeding the fundamental frequency by 15 to 20%, he said. The replacement of the standard combustion engine buses by extended autonomy electric vehicles has been criticized by several voices in society, including lawmaker Ron Lam, who noted that these extended-range EVs are not eco-friendly and do not produce a reduced impact on air pollution since they use unregulated emissions internal combustion engines as power generators to recharge their batteries, which result in more harmful exhaust emissions than buses powered by internal combustion engines subject to the Euro 4 or Euro 5 emission standards. In a recent debate, Raymond Tam made his debut as Secretary for Transport and Public Works in the Legislative Assembly, where he acknowledged the issue at hand. He pledged to advocate for the implementation of more fully electric buses on night routes, highlighting their lower noise levels as a key advantage. The Assisted Reproduction Center at the Macao Union Hospital is on track to begin operations in the second half of this year, with the hospital having already opened its reproductive assessment and access clinic. According to a statement from the hospital, procurement, installation, testing, and staff training for necessary facilities and equipment are progressing smoothly. Late last year, in a move to encourage childbirth and assist couples facing fertility difficulties, the government has introduced the Medically Assisted Reproduction Subsidy Program. The program, managed by the Health Bureau (SSM), is designed to provide financial support for eligible Macau resident couples or those in a de facto relationship who wish to undergo medically assisted reproductive services. Each qualified couple can receive up to two cycles of fee exemptions. The subsidies cover first-generation in vitro fertilization (IVF) or second-generation intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures, as well as related assessments and routine expenses. Meanwhile, since its opening six months ago, the hospital said that it has expanded its specialty outpatient services to 52 clinics, with the number of daily specialist appointments increasing by 50% compared to the initial period. Additionally, CT examinations now account for more than a quarter of the total public healthcare services provided in Macau. The Hemodialysis Center and Health Management Center are also scheduled to open later in the year, along with international medical inpatient services. Two state-of-the-art linear accelerators have already been commissioned at the hospitals Radiotherapy Center, providing 277 radiotherapy sessions for cancer patients. Furthermore, two radiowave knife treatment systems are set to begin operations mid-year. The hospital also plans to launch a chronic disease management program specifically for heart failure and establish a referral system that will link community centers and public medical institutions across the region. The Macau International Airport Co. Ltd. (CAM) announced that starting next month, most airlines operating at the local airport will implement new regulations regarding the carrying and use of mobile power banks. The new rules will require mobile power banks to be stored only in hand baggage, with a complete ban on placing them in checked luggage or on overhead cabin racks. Additionally, the use of mobile power during the flight will no longer be permitted. The revisions also specify that any damaged or inflated power banks will not be allowed onboard. Passengers carrying power banks that are defective, recalled, or lacking a clearly labeled capacity may be asked to dispose of them by security personnel. CAM issued a statement confirming that airlines will gradually revise their regulations in the coming weeks. In a statement yesterday, low-cost carrier AirAsia announced that, effective in April, passengers will be allowed to carry power banks that do not exceed 100 watt-hours (Wh) or 20,000 milliampere-hours (mAh). For power banks ranging between 100Wh and 160Wh, passengers will need approval from the airline at the check-in counter. Several airlines in Asia are implementing stricter regulations on carrying lithium batteries aboard planes after a series of overheating and fire incidents involving these devices. One such incident occurred in January when a fire erupted on an Air Busan flight while it was waiting for takeoff. South Koreas transport ministry released a statement citing an investigation by the airline and forensic services, which found that a portable power bank with a lithium battery was likely the source of the fire. A weak and frail Pope Francis left the hospital yesterday after surviving a five-week, life-threatening bout of pneumonia, giving a thumbs up to an adoring crowd and taking a detour to apparently go pray at a Rome-area church before returning home to the Vatican. A motorcade carrying the 88-year-old pope wound its way through light Rome traffic and kept going after reaching Vatican City, where crowds of people had lined the streets to welcome him home. Security guards said Francis was heading to St. Mary Major basilica, where his favorite icon of the Madonna is located and where he always goes to pray after a foreign visit. Before leaving Gemelli hospital, Francis gave a thumbs up and acknowledged the crowd after he was wheeled out onto the balcony overlooking the main entry. As Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel prepares to visit Macau this Friday, local community leaders are urging him to address growing concerns regarding the new residency restrictions imposed on Portuguese nationals in the region. The president of Casa de Portugal in Macau (CPM), Maria Amelia Antonio, stressed the importance of Rangel clarifying the Portuguese governments stance on China and its impact on the local Portuguese community, as cited in a Lusa report. Since last year, Macau authorities have halted new residency applications for Portuguese citizens wishing to take up specialized technical roles in the region. The only exceptions are for family reunification or those with prior ties to Macau. Antonio highlighted that the shift in immigration policy has made it difficult for institutions like CPM to recruit qualified professionals, especially in fields related to the arts and language education. We are facing significant challenges in finding replacements for those who have left Macau, she said. The president of the Association for the Promotion of Macanese Instruction (APIM), Miguel de Senna Fernandes, also expressed concern about the impact of these new policies, particularly on the Portuguese School of Macau (EPM). As a Portuguese person in Macau, of course, I would like my fellow countrymen to be well treated, and naturally, that residency in Macau should always be facilitated, said Senna Fernandes. Rangels visit to Macau follows a series of meetings with Chinese officials, with an agenda focused on strengthening bilateral ties. Meanwhile, the president of the EPM Foundation, Jorge Neto Valente, stated yesterday that the institution does not have any demands or requests to make to the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs. Theres no need for complaints or requests; everything is functioning normally, Neto Valente told Lusa. It is important that he gains direct knowledge of the situation; this is far better than reading reports, Neto Valente added, emphasizing the need for Rangel to see firsthand the work the school is doing. Neto Valente reminded that the Portuguese state holds the majority of the capital in the EPM Foundation and emphasized that the school is fulfilling its expected role within the community. Rangels trip will encompass a range of activities, including attending the Boao Forum for Asia and visiting both Macau and Hong Kong. During his stay in the SAR, he will meet with Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai and members of the local Portuguese community. In addition, Rangel will take the opportunity to explore an exhibition showcasing the Portuguese community in Hong Kong. China and Portugal Strengthen Ties On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the second China-Portugal strategic dialogue at the foreign ministers level with Rangel. As reported by Xinhua, 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 Macau 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 the 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. Staff Reporter The Macau Radio Taxi Services is facing uncertainty regarding its operations, as the original eight-year license for the radio taxi service is set to expire on September 30. This comes after the license period was already extended for six months due to the pandemic. According to Chan Yun Kwan, general manager of Macau Radio Taxi Services, they submitted a license extension application a year in advance, in line with the contract requirements. Relying on a fleet of seven-seater vehicles, the company has been popular among family tourists, which account for a majority of visitors to Macau. According to the executive, both the company and authorities are considering whether the current fleet is suitable for continued operation. We submitted our application to the authorities one year in advance, as required by the tender contract. Regarding the authorities response, we will carefully consider it because this is an operating vehicle that has been in service for over eight years, Chan told TDM. Additionally, due to the six-month extension during the pandemic, we are all aware of its circumstances. Ultimately, we will assess whether the vehicle is still suitable for continued operation, she added. Chan also expressed concern about the potential impact of losing about 100 radio taxis, including five barrier-free vehicles, if the extension is not granted. The biggest impact will certainly be on capacity; it will be significantly reduced. Currently, we have 300 vehicles, and weve been doing our best to meet public demand. If we lose one-third of our fleet, thats 100 vehicles gone. This would have a major effect on the needs of both the public and travelers, she emphasized. According to her, the total demand for electric taxis last year reached 22.46 million requests, with 4.25 million successfully completed, accounting for about 20% of the total. To mark the companys eighth anniversary, a community event will be held next Tuesday. 12 barrier-free taxis will offer free rides, prioritizing seniors and individuals with mobility challenges. The company expects to provide around 300 rides during the event. Meanwhile, the citys regular taxi fleet has surpassed 1,750 vehicles this year, marking an increase of approximately 43% compared to the 1,220 taxis in operation during the third quarter of 2024. The European Union last night 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. Boao Forum highlights role of multilateralism 08:25, March 27, 2025 By Cao Desheng ( Chinadaily.com.cn United Nations Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee (left), Munir Akram (center), Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, and Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, talk on Wednesday before a high-level dialogue at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Boao, Hainan province. (Feng Yongbin/China Daily) Multilateralism should be reinvigorated in promoting the building of a just and rational global governance system to cope with pressing global challenges, according to officials and experts attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. Themed "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future", this year's conference, running from Tuesday to Friday, is designed to promote openness and development and carry out the commitments of the United Nations Summit of the Future while focusing on the development of Asia. "Global threats require global responses," Vice-Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong said on Wednesday at High-Level Dialogue: Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future, one of the panel discussions during the conference. "Faced with a complex and severe international situation, we must uphold true multilateralism," he said. Chen highlighted the core role of the UN in the international system and called for safeguarding the authority of the intergovernmental body. "We should replace group confrontation with inclusive cooperation, and break 'small circles' with greater unity," he said. Chen urged major countries to lead by example in upholding integrity and the rule of law, saying that "prioritizing one's own interests will only harm others while not benefiting oneself". Noting that the current international situation is marked by a mix of uncertainty and instability, Chen warned that the world faces the risk of reverting to the law of the jungle. "It is imperative for countries to work together to advance global governance," he added. Chen said that faced with serious challenges, China has proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, along with the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, guiding the way to address the common challenges that countries are facing. The dialogue is viewed as a follow-up to the UN Summit of the Future, which concluded with the Pact for the Future, including a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. The pact covers a broad range of themes, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, youth and future generations, and the transformation of global governance. Addressing the dialogue meeting, Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and a former UN secretary-general, said that the demand for global governance has never been greater than today. "We are facing a growing global governance deficit, and that must be addressed with urgency," he said. Ban emphasized the role of the UN and the multilateral system, saying that multilateralism is an effective approach to address common challenges. "Countries must be guided by diplomacy, not by violence," Ban said. "They must be guided by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, not the law of the jungle. Countries should have closer trade and economic cooperation, not protectionism or beggar thy neighbor practices." This year marks the 80th anniversary of the UN's founding. Ban said that it's not just a time to celebrate the achievements the UN has made, but also a time to reflect on "what can be done to ensure it is representative, responsive and effective". In his speech at the dialogue, Guy Ryder, UN undersecretary-general for policy, talked about the challenges faced by the global body. "We are living in a time of great disruption and great uncertainty. Consequences are difficult to predict, but we are already feeling the pressures facing the international system. Multilateralism, its values and even its legitimacy are being questioned," he said. At the same time, global challenges such as conflicts, poverty, climate change and the governance of technologies are becoming increasingly complex, he said, and the ability to address those challenges through global cooperation appears to be shrinking. Ryder added that the way forward for the international community is one in which the rule of law and cooperation prevail, or otherwise the world will enter an era in which there will be a high degree of confrontation, and the notion that "might is right" will prevail. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) 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. * Back to school Govt to provide professional help for SMEs learning how to run their businesses * Visit | Portuguese community urges Rangel to address residency restrictions * Crime | Suspect in knife attack sent for psychiatric assessment * CAM announces that airlines operating at the local airport will ban the carrying and use of mobile power banks on board * Govt requests bus operators to increase drivers, deploy more clean-energy buses * Zelenskyy ready to observe ceasefire following US-brokered deal DOWNLOAD PDF Thursday, March 27, 2025 edition no. 4689 China protested yesterday after the U.S. added dozens of companies to its export control list, including more than 50 based in China that it says sought advanced knowhow in supercomputing, artificial intelligence and quantum technology for military purposes. Companies from Taiwan, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa and United Arab Emirates also were included in the roughly 80 companies added to the entity list of the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security. Six are subsidiaries of the Inspur Group, Chinas leading cloud computing and big data service provider. It was listed in the U.S. governments entity list in 2023. The update also includes the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, which objected vehemently. We are shocked that a private non-profit scientific research institution has been added to the entity list. We strongly oppose this wrong decision without any factual basis and ask the relevant U.S. departments to withdraw it, the research institute said in a statement. A review committee said the BAAI and another company, the Beijing Innovation Wisdom Technology Co. were judged to have developed large AI models and advanced computer chips for military purposes. Chinas Foreign Ministry also lashed back, saying the entity list and other export controls were an abuse meant to unjustly suppress Chinese enterprises. It seriously violates international law and basic norms of international relations, severely damages the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises, and undermines the security and stability of global supply chains. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a routine news briefing yesterday. The aim is to restrict Chinas capacity to acquire and develop ultra fast, or exascale supercomputers, to develop hypersonic weapons and other sensitive technologies, the bureau said in a notice on its website. It also is intended to prevent South Africas Test Flying Academy from using U.S. goods to train Chinese troops, disrupt Irans access to unmanned aerial vehicles and other military items and hinder development of insecure nuclear and ballistic missile programs, it said. The companies on the list are subject to the foreign direct product rule of the BIS which allows it to control reexports and transfers of foreign-made products containing technology that the U.S. government deems vital for national security. The tightening of controls comes as the Trump administration prepares for another round of tariff hikes due next week, an escalation of the trade war that President Donald Trump launched during his first term in office. Trump has already raised tariffs on imports of Chinese goods to 20%. On Monday he said he would impose a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela. China buys a large share of the oil exported by Venezuela. China has retaliated with its own countermeasures, including sweeping new duties on a variety of American goods and an anti-monopoly investigation into Google. It also has moved to tighten its own sanctions regime, meanwhile, with a law enabling it to freeze assets of companies subject to Chinese sanctions. ELAINE KURTENBACH, BANGKOK, MDT/AP A middle-aged woman lost MOP67,000 in an impersonation scam involving fake law enforcement. The victim received a call from someone claiming to be from the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, accusing her of being involved in fraud. She was instructed to undergo a video investigation, share her screen, and fill in her bank details on a fake website. After noticing unauthorized transactions, she reported the incident to the police, suspecting fraud. Related 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 yesterday [Macau time], 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. 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 by President Donald Trumps administration 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 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. Yesterday, 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, 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 later 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 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. When asked about when Washington might help Moscow achieve those ambitions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that contacts between Russia and the U.S. continue quite intensively, and that authorities are satisfied with how pragmatic, constructive and productive our dialogue is. Peskov said the 2022 Black Sea Grain initiative could be revived if Russias demands regarding agricultural and fertilizer exports are met. He said that those are the same demands that Russia initially put forward in the grain deal and that werent being fulfilled. Peskov said that Putins order to pause strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure for 30 days, given on March 18 per an agreement with Trump, still stands, and that Russian forces are complying with it. He accused Kyiv of continuing to target Russias energy infrastructure but added that we still believe that this moratorium (on strikes) should be observed. Ukrainian officials have reported multiple strikes against their energy sites since March 18. In a post on X, Zelenskyys 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 8 confirmed hits on energy facilities, Lytvyn wrote. Every night our air defense forces shoot down nearly a hundred attack drones and many of those drones were likely targeting other energy facilities. Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyys hometown, came under the most massive kamikaze drone attack since the beginning of the war yesterday, 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. 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 yesterday, adding that 56 drones were destroyed and 48 more jammed by the defense forces. ILLIA NOVIKOV, KYIV, MDT/AP You are here: Business He Lifeng, Chinese vice premier and Chinese lead for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs on Wednesday held video talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the request of the U.S. side. The two sides exchanged candid, in-depth views on important bilateral economic and trade issues, following up on the consensus reached during a phone call between their two heads of state on Jan. 17, 2025. He expressed grave concern over the United States' additional tariffs on Chinese goods over the issue of fentanyl, the Section 301 investigation and the proposed "reciprocal" tariffs. He said China hopes the U.S. side will soon return to resolving shared concerns through equal consultation. Greer said candid talks are important as they can boost mutual understanding and help resolve emerging issues. Both sides expressed belief that maintaining a stable bilateral economic and trade relationship serves the interests of both countries, and agreed to continue communication on issues of concern. The country that has banned Facebook overnight to stop hate speech and porn The country that has banned Facebook overnight to stop hate speech and porn 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. ADVERTISEMENT "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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. In Gaza, Netanyahu has restarted the genocide. Already, hundreds have been killed by bombs, while thousands more are at risk of starvation. In Ukraine, which has essentially lost the war to Russia, youths are still being kidnapped and conscripted into the army to die in trenches. This is what capitalism has to offer in the 21st century. Wars, genocides, and famines have accompanied capitalism since its birth. In fact, they are built into the very fabric of the system, which depends upon endless exploitation and plunder. The capitalist class in the West is particularly responsible for these graveyards. From the beginning, they have fueled the war in Ukraine at the cost of tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives. Meanwhile, they have stood by Netanyahu through thick and thin, arming him with billions of dollars worth of bombs with which to carry out the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. Our job as communists is not to weep but to understand in order to change it. To explain how we can bring this horror to an end, Jorge Martin and Hamid Alizadeh from the International Secretariat of the Revolutionary Communist International met for another episode of Against the Stream, the weekly current affairs podcast of the RCI. This episode premiered on YouTube. Tune in every Thursday at 6pm GMT, or catch up on Spotify or Apple Music. General Abdourahamane Tchiani, Nigers military ruler, has been sworn in on March 26 as the countrys President for a transitional period of five years. Tchiani, who took control of the country in 2023 after ousting the elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, assumed office under a new Charter that replaces the existing Constitution. The Charter outlines a flexible transition period, contingent on the countrys security situation, a significant consideration given Nigers ongoing struggles with jihadist insurgencies. In a ceremony held in the capital, Niamey, General Tchiani was also promoted to the rank of army general, the highest military position in Niger. He signed a decree dissolving all political parties in the country, further consolidating military control. Tchiani expressed humility in receiving the new rank and committed to meeting the expectations placed upon him. The five-year transition to democratic rule, according to the new charter, is based on recommendations from a commission that followed national discussions on the countrys future governance. Nigers military junta has faced regional backlash, particularly from Ecowas (the Economic Community of West African States), after proposing a three-year transition plan, which Ecowas branded as a provocation. In the face of these tensions, Niger has severed ties with former colonial power France, aligned with Russia, and withdrawn from Ecowas, joining other regional countries under military rule. The junta is currently prosecuting former President Bazoum on charges of high treason and national security breaches, with Bazoum still being detained in the presidential palace. The new charter also promises to protect Nigers natural resources, ensuring that the countrys wealth benefits its citizens. In an effort to address growing tensions in Ethiopias Tigray region, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on March 26 plans to appoint a new leader for the area. The move follows a recent power struggle within the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs the region. Getachew Reda, the interim president of Tigray, fled to Addis Ababa earlier this month after internal infighting within the TPLF leadership. Prime Minister Abiy, in an unprecedented move, invited Tigrayans to suggest potential candidates for the new leader via email, as part of his strategy to resolve the crisis and avoid a return to civil war. The turmoil in Tigray is rooted in the aftermath of the devastating 2020-2022 civil war, which resulted in the loss of an estimated 500,000 lives. The peace agreement, known as the Pretoria Agreement, ended the brutal conflict and led to the establishment of an interim administration in Tigray, with the aim of holding elections. However, leadership disputes have hindered progress, with Getachew Redas administration struggling to create conditions conducive to elections. Prime Minister Abiy acknowledged the need for a new leadership structure and extended the mandate of the interim administration for another year, urging Tigrayans to participate in the selection process. While some experts see this as an opportunity for a resolution, others have criticised the move. Teklit Gebremeskel, a law expert, suggested that the decision could pave the way for a peaceful reconfiguration of the regions leadership, fostering unity. However, opposition member Hailu Kebede warned that the prime ministers actions could undermine self-governance and jeopardise the Pretoria Agreement. The power struggle has raised concerns internationally, with the US, UK, and the European Union urging all parties to avoid renewed violence. A panel on "Global Free Trade Port Development" is held during the 2025 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference in Boao, south China's Hainan province, March 25, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn] Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) has expanded its global reach by forming partnerships with 38 free trade zones (FTZs) across Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, establishing a robust international network since its 2018 launch. This milestone was highlighted during a panel on "Global Free Trade Port Development" at the 2025 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference in Boao, south China's Hainan province, on Tuesday. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, emphasized the need for solid efforts to advance the development of Hainan FTP during his inspection tour from March 24 to 25, stressing its role as a gateway for China's opening up in the new era. China's government work report this year reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the implementation of key policies related to Hainan FTP, emphasizing the need to improve the quality and performance of pilot FTZs and give them more authority to implement reforms. Ban Ki-moon, former U.N. secretary-general and now BFA chairman, highlighted the pivotal role of FTPs in global commerce. "With the highest level of trade opening up, FTPs come closest to achieving the ultimate goal of trade and investment liberalization," he said. "They serve as incubators, pioneers and testing grounds." BFA Vice Chairman Zhou Xiaochuan reviewed the growth of China's FTZs, noting that since 2013, China has created 22 FTZs, each adapted to meet local economic needs. Zhou emphasized that Hainan's strengths include its rich ecological resources and strategic location near ASEAN countries, positioning it as a crucial player in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and potentially in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Hainan's economic performance reflects its rising role in global trade. Statistics from Hainan's "two sessions," the annual meetings of provincial-level lawmakers and political advisors, showed that the province's total foreign trade reached 277.65 billion yuan ($38.22 billion) in 2024, a 20% year-on-year increase. Exports surpassed 100 billion yuan for the first time, reaching 106.22 billion yuan, a 43.5% surge. Trade in goods grew by 20%, while services trade increased by 23.9%. Hainan Governor Liu Xiaoming confirmed that preparations for Hainan FTP to handle its own customs operations are proceeding as planned, with completion expected by the end of the year. "Once implemented, Hainan's opening up will be significantly elevated, with stronger policy support, wider economic reach, an improved business environment, enhanced vitality for enterprises and greater benefits for people," Liu said. Former Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Zhaparov stressed the importance of open borders, efficient logistics and seamless trade flows. "Free trade ports are crucial in creating these conditions," he said. Gerry Grimstone, former minister for investment of U.K., emphasized the economic benefits of global trade. He argued that free trade encourages multilateralism by allowing nations to leverage their competitive advantages. He emphasized that while some countries have retreated from global trade to protect their own interests, it is crucial to continue promoting global trade to secure mutual benefits for all. Long Yongtu, China's former chief negotiator for entry into the World Trade Organization and former vice minister of Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, warned that tariffs imposed by some countries are harming trade stability and fairness, even if they don't reflect mainstream trade policies. "When any major economy engages in trade wars, retaliatory measures from other countries disrupt global trade stability," Long cautioned. Arancha Gonzalez, former Spanish foreign minister, highlighted FTZs and FTPs as essential tools for overcoming global trade barriers. He explained that they strengthen resilience by facilitating targeted responses to global shocks. Furthermore, they act as testing grounds for innovative business models, offering solutions to reduce costs, improve efficiency and optimize operations. Botswanas President, Duma Boko, on Wednesday March 26 signed an agreement amending the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Treaty to establish the SADC Parliament as one of the organizations key institutions. Speaking at the signing ceremony, President Boko described the decision as a political move and called on SADC member States to harmonize their laws to tackle regional challenges effectively. The amendment will transform the SADC Parliamentary Forum, which was established in 1997, into a fully functional regional parliament with greater legislative authority. However, for the change to take effect, the agreement must be ratified by the majority, if not all, SADC member states. Dithapelo Keorapetse, the Speaker of Botswanas National Assembly, praised the role of the Forum in promoting good governance and regional integration across the southern African bloc. The SADC is a 16-member regional bloc, comprising Angola, Botswana, the Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The creation of a regional parliament marks a significant step in strengthening the blocs institutional framework. The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal for restraint in South Sudan amid reports that First Vice President Riek Machar has been arrested at his Juba residence, threatening to unravel the fragile peace between the countrys primary political factions. UNMISS chief Nicholas Haysom warned that the worlds newest nation risks losing hard-won gains of the past seven years if it returns to a state of war, emphasizing that renewed fighting will not only devastate South Sudan but also affect the entire region. According to Machars Sudan Peoples Liberation Army In Opposition party, a convoy of twenty heavily armed vehicles forcefully entered the vice presidents compound Wednesday and disarmed his security detail. Party officials claim the countrys defense minister and national security chief delivered an arrest warrant on unspecified charges without following constitutional procedures or lifting Machars immunity. The incident follows escalating tensions between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Machar. UN reports confirmed clashes between rival forces outside the capital within the past 24 hours, while Machars party alleged government attacks on opposition military facilities around Juba since Monday. The power-sharing arrangement established under the 2018 peace deal has deteriorated in recent weeks, with Kiirs government detaining several officials from Machars party, including the petroleum minister and deputy army chief. Analysts suggest the 73-year-old Kiir has been maneuvering to secure his succession while politically marginalizing his longtime rival. The political crisis has prompted diplomatic concerns, with Norwegian and German embassies closing while British and American missions reduce staffing and urge citizens to depart. South Sudans 2011 independence was quickly followed by a devastating civil war between Kiir and Machars forces that claimed over 40,000 lives. Nigerias Ogun State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Moroccan employers confederation (CGEM) to collaborate on power generation and distribution, education, housing, infrastructure, and port development. The MoU was signed by Governor Dapo Abiodun on behalf of Ogun state, and by Ali Zerouali on the Moroccan side. Speaking at the event, governor Abiodun noted that Morocco has achieved significant success in the areas of education, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and a host of others, from which Ogun State would benefit. Morocco offers a 30 percent subsidy as an incentive for investors and has signed 60 trade agreements with different countries across the world, as well as becoming a leader in solar energy, he recalled, noting that the Kingdom has transitioned from importing to exporting electric vehicles to Europe and manufacturing parts for aircraft manufacturers. The success story of Morocco, the governor emphasized, would be replicated in Nigeria with the arrival of the Confederation of Moroccan employers to establish operations in Ogun State. He said: We hope that in our partnership we can unlock all the potential and maximize it. We want to learn from you how you perfected hydro, solar, and gas energy, presenting the right mix that, of course, brings down the cost of energy. We identified agriculture, agribusiness, and agricultural technology, in which you are very advanced. Morocco today is the largest producer of fertilizer on the continent and one of the biggest exporters of fertilizer. I recall that you were informed of the plan to establish a massive fertilizer plant in Nigeria. We hope that we can bring that plant to Ogun State, he said. He added that the state has a Special Economic Zone at the Gateway International Airport, which would serve as a Free Trade Zone, adding that it is important to partner on how to transfer technology and collaborate to bring manufacturing and agricultural companies to the state. Abiodun noted that the state has a scheme called the Light Up Ogun Project, which requires about 6,000 to 7,000 megawatts to power the numerous industries operating in the state. We have issues with generation capacity, we have issues with efficient and effective distribution, we have issues with transmission, and we know that you have succeeded in that area in Morocco. We discussed how we can collaborate to ensure we generate enough electricity for the state under our Light Up Ogun Project, he added. He stated that his administration was ready to partner with the Moroccans in the area of technical and vocational education by further strengthening the existing technical colleges to train Nigerian graduates and bring about an economic revolution, as witnessed in Morocco. On infrastructure, the state helmsman stressed the need for the extension of the Blue Line from Lagos to Ogun State, as the state has obtained approval to do so. Ogun State has a designated port area called Olokola, which is meant to be the deepest seaport in Nigeria. The desire to construct the port has been present for quite some time, and we would like to see this happening under our watch, even if it is a temporary berth port in the meantime, he added. Governor Abiodun also informed his guests of his administrations plan to build more houses for citizens and transform towns in the state into smart cities. He added that despite the 5,000 houses built by his administration, there is still much to do, hence the need for partnership in the housing sector. Speaking earlier, Mr. Zerouali, who is the vice president of CGEM, stated that his organization is ready to partner with the state in the automobile, agro-food industries, and the education sector, with the belief that it would help to strengthen the cordial relationship and friendship, as well as enhance economic ties between the two countries. The Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema organized a solidarity initiative on Thursday at the Tofiq Mosque in Addis Ababa to support underprivileged Ethiopians during the holy month of Ramadan. Initiated in coordination with the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Ethiopia, this solidarity action involved the distribution of food supplies to 1,000 beneficiaries, including elderly individuals and widows of both Muslim and Christian faiths, reflecting the values of tolerance and coexistence advocated by Islam. Speaking at the ceremony, which was attended by Ethiopias Minister Delegate for the Ministry of Peace, Kairedin Tezera, the Foundations Financial Director, Othman Skalli Houssaini, stated that this initiative is in line with the High Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, and President of the Foundation, which seeks to strengthen African values of cooperation, mutual aid, and unity. This initiative, with its strong social and humanitarian impact, is part of a series of actions organized by the Foundation during this blessed month across its sections in 48 African countries, reflecting its unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of solidarity, Kairedin Tezera said. For his part, Skalli Houssaini emphasized that this initiative provides an opportunity for Ulema from both countries to meet and enhance their cooperation in serving religion and promoting the values of tolerance and openness advocated by Islam. He highlighted that these values are essential for maintaining peace and security and achieving prosperity in African societies. Furthermore, he stressed that the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema will continue to implement its diverse programs with determination to promote Islamic values and unify the efforts of African Ulema in service of the continents security, stability, and development. For her part, Moroccos Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti, Nezha Alaoui Mhammdi, noted that this solidarity initiative reflects the High Solicitude of His Majesty the King for underprivileged populations in African countries. She added that this initiative also reinforces the deep religious and cultural ties between the Kingdom and several African nations, including Ethiopia, noting that it is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Ethiopia, Sheikh Haji Ibrahim Tufa, expressed his gratitude to His Majesty the King, Commander of the Faithful, for this generous gesture towards underprivileged Ethiopians. He highlighted the positive impact of this initiative on its beneficiaries. He also underscored the various actions undertaken by the Foundation to promote the values advocated by Islam, recalling, in this regard, the organization by the Foundations Ethiopian section of a national competition for the memorization, recitation, and psalmody of the Holy Quran. 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 Research from Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago strongly suggests that Kawasaki disease is caused by a single respiratory virus that is yet to be identified. Findings contradict the theory that many different pathogens or toxins could cause this disease that can lead to serious cardiac complications in young children. "The cause of Kawasaki disease has been a mystery for over 50 years," said Anne Rowley, MD, pediatric infectious diseases expert and scientist at Manne Research Institute at Lurie Children's, who is the lead author on a study published in Laboratory Investigation. "Our compelling data are a huge step forward and provide a clear direction for the field to identify and sequence the virus that causes Kawasaki disease in susceptible children. This will be critical to advancing the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Kawasaki disease." Kawasaki disease is relatively uncommon, affecting mostly children between 6 months and 5 years of age. Lurie Children's sees 5060 newly diagnosed Kawasaki disease patients a year. Currently, there is no diagnostic test for Kawasaki disease. Clinical signs include fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat. Children with Kawasaki disease have a 20% chance of developing heart disease, while infants are at higher risk, with a 50% chance of cardiac complications. The standard treatment, intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin, substantially decreases the risk of heart disease in patients with Kawasaki disease. Steroids may be added for the highest-risk patients. In their study, Dr. Rowley and colleagues prepared antibodies from blood cells of children with Kawasaki disease, in order to see what these antibodies will target in tissue samples of patients who died from the disease. They found that the antibodies recognized so-called inclusion bodies, which are by-products of a virus, in all 20 tissue samples that represented cases from the U.S. and Japan over 50 years. "We saw the same inclusion bodies targeted in every tissue sample spanning five decades and two continents, which shows that we are dealing with one predominant virus causing Kawasaki disease," said Dr. Rowley. "It appears to be a respiratory virus since the inclusion bodies were in the medium-sized airways. Going forward, we need to focus on studies of pathology specimens to gain an understanding of what is inside the inclusion bodies so that we can identify the Kawasaki disease virus and finally solve the mystery." Dr. Rowley is a Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She holds the Dorothy M. and Edward E. Burwell Board Designated Professorship in Immunobiology at Lurie Children's. More information: Anne H. Rowley et al, Monoclonal Antibodies from Children with Acute Kawasaki Disease Identify a Common Antigenic Target in Fatal Cases Over Five Decades, Laboratory Investigation (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.labinv.2025.104131 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 U.S. is on alert for dengue fever during the busy spring break season as cases of the mosquito-borne illness continue to rise globally. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico are some of the places that have seen a rise in dengue cases, an illness that is known to cause flu-like symptoms, including fever, severe muscle aches, and sometimes, a rash. Infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spread dengue to people through bites. And some parts of the U.S. are home to the pesky insects, including Florida. "Globally, dengue cases have increased substantially in the last five years, with the most pronounced increases occurring in the Americas," which last year reported a record-breaking number of infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, more than 760,000 dengue cases have been recorded in 2025, with "many countries reporting a higher-than-usual number of dengue cases in 2024 and 2025," the CDC said this week in a health update. Dengue activity also "remains high" in some parts of the U.S, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are battling ongoing dengue outbreaks. The federal health agency is asking doctors to monitor for possible dengue symptoms in patients who were recently in areas known to have cases of dengue and to also "take a thorough travel history" of patients with sudden fever. The CDC is also recommending doctors "advise patients who plan to travel to take steps to prevent mosquito bites during travel and for three weeks after returning, especially if traveling to an area with frequent or continuous dengue transmission." Are there dengue cases in Florida and other popular spring break destinations? This year, the U.S. has recorded more than 1,150 cases of dengue, most of which were reported in Puerto Rico, which declared a public health emergency over the mosquito-borne illness in early 2024, according to the CDC. Puerto Rico has recorded at least 1,012 cases of dengue so far in 2025, followed by Florida, 50, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which has recorded 40 cases, federal and state data shows. Where are the dengue cases coming from? Dengue is a common mosquito-borne illness in many countries, including the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Islands, according to the CDC. And the federal public health agency says it has detected higher case counts or "higher-than-expected number of dengue cases" among U.S. travelers returning from several countries, including Cuba, Colombia, Panama, Brazil and Mexico. In Florida, which has recorded 50 dengue cases this year, all but one are considered travel-related, which means the person traveled to a "dengue-endemic area" in the two weeks prior to experiencing symptoms, state data shows. And more than half of the state's recorded dengue cases involve Miami-Dade residents who had recently traveled elsewhere. Most Floridians who got sick with dengue this year had recently traveled to Cuba, according to the state's most recent surveillance report. In February, Miami-Dade also recorded the state's only confirmed "locally acquired" dengue case for 2025. The CDC, in its health update, said it expects the U.S. will see an increased risk of travel-related and locally acquired dengue cases in the coming months due to spring and summer travel coinciding "with the peak season for dengue in many countries." In Miami-Dade County, for example, mosquito season mirrors hurricane season, and runs from June through November, Dr. John-Paul Mutebi, division director of Miami-Dade's Mosquito Control, previously told the Miami Herald. Can you get sick from any mosquito bite? Mosquitoes are common year-round in Florida. But not all of them can get you sick. Some of them are annoying pests. Others can carry diseases like dengue, West Nile and Zika. Of the 49 known species in Miami-Dade County, only a few are considered nuisances to humans, according to mosquito inspectors. One of the species that concerns county officials most is Aedes aegypti, or yellow fever mosquito, which can be found across Miami-Dade and can spread Zika, dengue and yellow fever. What are dengue fever symptoms? Most people infected with dengue don't get symptoms, and many recover within a week, according to the Mayo Clinic. But some do get seriously ill and die. People with severe cases of dengue fever can experience severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, difficulty or rapid breathing, internal bleeding and organ failure, according to the Mayo Clinic. "Symptoms appear 3-14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and include sudden onset of fever, severe headache, eye pain, muscle and joint pain," and bleeding, according to the Florida Department of Health. Some people may also experience vomiting and diarrhea. The only way to know if you're sick with dengue is to get tested. How can you treat it? The good news is that, unlike the flu, dengue is not contagious and can only spread to people by bites from infected mosquitoes. The bad news is that there's no specific treatment for dengue fever. If you do get sick with dengue, the CDC recommends resting as much as possible, staying hydrated and taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help with fever. Avoid taking "ibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin because they may cause bleeding in more severe cases," as the Herald has previously reported. Tips to reduce your risk of dengue infection: Wear EPA-approved long-sleeve shirts if planning to be outside. And wear pants and socks, too. This may sound blasphemous, especially for those who want to get a tan or were planning to have a "hot girl summer." But if you want to reduce the risk of a bite, leave the shorts, tanks and sandals at home. And make sure to drink lots of water and avoid being out in the sun during the hottest time of the day. You don't want to get heat exhaustion or another heat-related illness. Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents.The repellents should have DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535. Clean out rain gutters.You don't want the gutters clogged with branches and other debris that could make it easier for rain to pool. Check containers, pots, buckets, toys, plastic covers and other items in and around your home to make sure there's no standing water too. Remember, standing water is a mosquito's breeding ground. Change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools and potted plant trays at least once a week, according to the EPA. And if you have a swimming pool, make sure to keep the water treated and circulating. Replace outdoor lights with yellow "bug lights." These lights are not repellents, but they tend to attract fewer mosquitoes, according to the EPA. 2025 Miami Herald. 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: Photo By: Kaboompics.com from Pexels A new study found that only sociodemographic factorsincluding the parent's age, number of current children, economic status, and level of religiositypredict the desire and intention to have more children among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) parents. The study was led by Dr. Geva Shenkman-Lachberg of the Dina Recanati School of Medicine at Reichman University, in collaboration with Yuval Shaia of Reichman University and Dr. Kfir Ifrah of Ruppin Academic Center. In contrast to the findings of previous studies, experiences of discrimination, stigma, and social support were not found to have a significant impact on parental aspirations. The researchers now aim to further explore the reasons behind these findings. "Neither stigma nor social supportbut rather age, economic status, number of children, and religiosityare the key predictors of LGB parents' desire to expand their families." The research team explored the desire, intention, and assessment of the likelihood of having additional children among LGB individuals who are already parents. The study, published in the Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, is the first to focus on the motivations for family expansion among LGB parents. It examined three measures of parental aspirationsdesire, intention, and estimated probabilityin the context of parenthood achieved through fertility treatments. The study included 234 LGB parents with an average age of 40.23, surveyed between November 2022 and February 2024. Participants completed questionnaires addressing a wide range of factors that may influence the motivation to have additional children. The variables examined included sociodemographic characteristics (parent's age, gender, education level, economic status, religiosity, marital status, number of children, and place of residence); factors related to perceptions of the parental role (investment in parenting, satisfaction with parenting, sense of parental competence, and parental integration); social variables (social support, experiences of discrimination, and stigma); as well as a cultural variablepronatalism, which reflects sociocultural values that encourage childbirth and parenthood. As one of the first studies to examine motivations for having additional children among LGB parents, the researchers based their hypotheses on previous findings from studies conducted among LGB individuals who were not yet parents. These earlier studies found that, alongside sociodemographic variables, social factors also had a significant impact. For example, non-parent LGB individuals who experienced lower levels of social support and higher levels of stigma and discrimination reported lower desire and intention to become parents. Accordingly, the researchers hypothesized that similar patterns would emerge among LGB parentsthat exposure to stigma and discrimination or a lack of social support would be associated with decreased motivation to expand their families. However, contrary to the initial hypothesis and previous findings from studies of non-parent LGB individuals, the current study found that only sociodemographic factors were significant predictors of motivation for additional children. Younger parental age, fewer existing children, higher economic status, and greater religiosity were the only variables found to be associated with the desire, intention, and estimated likelihood of bringing additional children into the world. In contrast, social support, stigma, discrimination, perceptions of the parental role, and pronatalist attitudes were not found to be significantly linked with aspirations for family expansion, once sociodemographic variables were accounted for within the statistical prediction model. Dr. Shenkman-Lachberg, Dina Recanati School of Medicine says, "The current study is particularly relevant in the Israeli contexta country that reveres childbirth and parenthood, with one of the highest average numbers of children among OECD countries. "Israel is also known for its widespread use of assisted reproductive technologies and generous government funding, including nearly unlimited cycles of fertility treatment. Within this 'parenting empire,' it is important to understand what motivates LGB parents to have more childrenespecially given the significant challenges they have faced over the years, such as restrictions on surrogacy in Israel. "While previous studies have highlighted the impact of stigma, discrimination, and lack of social support on parenthood aspirations among sexual minorities, it seems that these factors carry less weight among LGB parents. It may be that after they have succeeded in becoming parentseffectively breaking the glass ceilingthey are accepted into the social consensus, and it is the sociodemographic factors that remain significant. In this sense, the emerging picture closely resembles the one we are familiar with among heterosexual parents." This study, one of the first to address the motivations for having additional children among LGB parents who have used assisted reproductive technologies, makes a significant contribution to understanding gay parenthood in the Israeli context. More information: Geva Shenkman et al, Predictors for desire, intention, and likelihood for more children among LGB parents through assisted reproduction, Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2025.2478398 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 Every day, decisions that affect our lives depend on knowing how many people live where. For example, how many vaccines are needed in a community, where polling stations should be placed for elections or who might be in danger as a hurricane approaches. The answers rely on population data. But counting people is getting harder. For centuries, census and household surveys have been the backbone of population knowledge. But we've just returned from the UN's statistical commission meetings in New York, where experts reported that something alarming is happening to population data systems globally. Census response rates are declining in many countries, resulting in large margins of error. The 2020 US census undercounted America's Latino population by more than three times the rate of the 2010 census. In Paraguay, the latest census revealed a population one-fifth smaller than previously thought. South Africa's 2022 census post-enumeration survey revealed a likely undercount of more than 30%. According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, undercounts and census delays due to COVID-19, conflict or financial limitations have resulted in an estimated one in three Africans not being counted in the 2020 census round. When people vanish from data, they vanish from policy. When certain groups are systematically undercountedoften minorities, rural communities or poorer peoplethey become invisible to policymakers. This translates directly into political underrepresentation and inadequate resource allocation. As the Brookings Institution, a US research organization, has highlighted, undercounts have "cost communities of color political representation over the next decade." This is happening because several factors have converged. Trust in government institutions is eroding worldwide, with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reporting that by late 2023, 44% of people across member countries had low or no trust in their national governments. Research shows a clear trend of declining trust specifically in representative institutions like parliaments and governments. This makes people less likely to respond to government-issued census requests. The COVID-19 pandemic created logistical nightmares for census takers. Many countries had to postpone their censuses. Budget cuts to statistical offices reduced capacity, while countries struggled with recruiting field staff. International funding for population data is also disappearing. The US-funded Demographic and Health Surveys program, which provided vital survey data across 90 countries for four decades, was terminated in February 2025. Unicef's Multi-Indicator Cluster program, which carries out household surveys, faces an uncertain future amid shrinking global aid budgets. US government cuts to support for UN agencies and development banks undertaking census support will likely have further impacts. This is incredibly worrying to us as geography academics, because gathering accurate population data is fundamentally about making everyone visible. As population scientists Sabrina Juran and Arona Pistiner wrote, this information allows governments to plan for the future of a country and its people. The US census directly impacts the allocation of more than US$1.5 trillion (1.2 trillion) in public resources each year. How can governments distribute health care funding without knowing who lives where? How can disaster response be effective if vulnerable populations are invisible in official population counts? Solutions that count Countries are adapting. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to alternative census methodologies. Many countries turned to online questionnaires, telephone interviews and administrative data sources to reduce face-to-face interactions. The UN Economic Commission for Africa recommends that countries move from using paper forms for census data collection and embrace new digital technologies that can be cheaper and more reliable. Turkey's switch in 2011 reduced census costs from US$48.3 million to US$13.9 million while improving data quality and timeliness, and nearly 80% of countries used tablets or smartphones for data collection in the 2020 round of censuses. At WorldPop, our research group at the University of Southampton, we're also helping governments to develop solutions using new technologies. Buildings mapped from satellite imagery using AI, together with counts of populations from small areas, can help create detailed population estimates to support census implementation or provide estimates for undersurveyed areas. As we face growing challenges, from climate change to economic inequality, having accurate, reliable and robust population data isn't a luxury. It's essential for a functioning society. National statistical offices, UN agencies, academics, the private sector and donors must urgently focus on how to build cost-effective solutions to provide reliable and robust population data, especially in resource-poor settings where recent cuts will be felt hardest. When people disappear from the data, they risk disappearing from public policy too. Making everyone count starts with counting everyone. 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: A vial of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is on display at the Lubbock Health Department Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. Credit: AP Photo/Mary Conlon A measles outbreak in Kansas doubled in less than a week to 23 cases and has "a possible link" to outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico that have sickened more than 370, the state health department said Wednesday. And health officials in Ohio say a single case identified in Ashtabula County has spread to nine others. Even before these two growing clusters were reported, the number of measles cases in the U.S. had already surpassed the case count for all of 2024, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment put doctors on high alert on Monday and recommended early vaccination for infants 6 to 11 months old who live in outbreak counties or near them. Usually, children get the measles, mumps and rubella shot after they turn 1. In outbreaks, early vaccination can be an option. The state's last count Friday included 10 cases across three southwestern counties: Grant, Morton and Stevens. Now, the outbreak includes Haskell, Gray, and Kiowa counties. All but two of the cases are in people younger than 18, state data shows. The outbreak started with a measles case in Stevens County identified March 13. In Ohio, 10 cases are in Ashtabula County and a separate visitor in Knox County exposed people there and in several other counties, the state health department said. A measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85 in 2022. Matt Caldwell, left, a Lubbock Fire Department official, administers a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to Clair May, 61, at the Lubbock Health Department, Feb. 26, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. Credit: AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File "Given the measles activity in Texas, New Mexico, and other states around the country, we're 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." New Mexico had 43 outbreak-associated cases Tuesday and Texas had 327. The Oklahoma outbreak "associated" with Texas and New Mexico has 9 cases. Public health experts say the outbreak that started in Texas in late January could last for months. If it hits other unvaccinated communities across the U.S., as may now be the case in Kansas, the outbreak could endure for a year and threaten the nation's status as having eliminated local spread of the vaccine-preventable disease, they said. Experts consider communities protected from measles outbreaks if they have an MMR vaccination rate of 95% or higher. The two-shot series is required before entering public kindergarten and is 97% effective at protecting against measles. Several of the Kansas counties seeing measles spread have much lower vaccination rates, including: 82% in Morton County, 83% in Stevens County, 58% in Haskell County, and 66% in Gray County, according to state health department data from the 2023-2024 school year. Statewide, 89% of kindergarteners in Ohio were vaccinated against measles in the 2023-24 school year, CDC data shows. "Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur within the current outbreak area and the surrounding counties, especially among those who are unvaccinated," said Jill Bronaugh, the Kansas state health department's spokeswoman. 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: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will no longer fund new research on how climate change affects people's health, according to records reviewed by ProPublica. The new directive was shared internally with staff last week. It follows other action to stop NIH support for studies related to gender identity, LGBTQ+ health, vaccine hesitancy and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). While it's unclear if current climate-health studies will lose their funding, the guidance appears to block any new research opportunities on the issue. Dr. Lisa Patel, executive director of The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, called the move "catastrophic" and said its impact on needed research would be "devastating," according to the ProPublica report. "This is an administration where industry voices rule and prevail," Patel said. "This is an agenda item for the fossil fuel industry, and this administration is doing what the fossil fuel industry wants." As extreme weather eventsfrom hurricanes and heat waves to wildfires and floodshave become more frequent, the NIH has funded hundreds of projects looking at the effects of climate on health. The agency launched a Climate Change and Health Initiative in 2021, which received $40 million in funding in both 2023 and 2024. That program and two others focused on climate and health were quietly shuttered last month. The new guidance halts all future climate-health research funding across NIH, regardless of its link to previous programs. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the agency is cutting research that doesn't align with its new priorities. "At HHS, we are dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science," the spokesperson said. "As we begin to Make America Healthy Again, it's important to prioritize research that directly affects the health of Americans. We will leave no stone unturned in identifying the root causes of the chronic disease epidemic as part of our mission to Make America Healthy Again." Former NIH scientist Linda Birnbaum said this isn't the first time politics has shaped science funding. During Trump's first term, researchers removed the term "climate change," referring instead to "climate and health." "If NIH doesn't study the health impacts of climate, we are not going to be able to prevent some of those health impacts, and we aren't going to be able to find ways to deal with them," Birnbaum said. A December NIH report listed ongoing climate-related research on wildfire smoke, heat and fertility, and mosquito-borne diseases like dengue. That report has since been taken offline. "We can see with our own eyes how extreme heat and extreme weather are harming people's health," Veena Singla, an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, told ProPublica. The NIH decision is part of a larger agenda under President Donald Trump to slash federal spending on climate issues and boost fossil fuel production. His administration is also considering closing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) scientific research office, which could affect more than 1,000 jobs, according to a report from The New York Times. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he believes in climate change. But experts such as Patel said he has not taken action to support that belief. "What we can readily see, from the things that RFK Jr. is allowing to happen and unwilling to weigh in on, he is not going to be an anti-industry voice," Patel said. "He is not there to follow the best science." More information: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has more on climate change and human health. 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. China's economic growth target of around 5% has become a focal point at the 2025 Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, with experts and business leaders expressing confidence in the country's ability to meet this goal. The four-day forum, which began on Tuesday in Boao, south China's Hainan province, has drawn attention to China's economic resilience, policy measures and investment potential. Carl Fey, a strategy professor at BI Norwegian Business School, speaks to reporters on the sidelines of the Boao Forum in south China's Hainan province, March 25, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn] Carl Fey, a strategy professor at BI Norwegian Business School, highlighted China's consistent record of achieving its economic targets. "When China sets a target, it almost always makes sure that it is met," he said. He stressed the importance of stimulating the economy through investment incentives. Policies such as subsidies for purchasing new energy vehicles (NEVs) and incentives for companies to upgrade equipment could contribute to both short-term growth and long-term development, Fey added. Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, speaks to reporters on the sidelines of the Boao Forum in south China's Hainan province, March 25, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn] Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, called the 5% target "excellent" and beneficial for global economic growth. He cited Chinese Premier Li Qiang's keynote speech at the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing on Sunday as reinforcing confidence in China's economic governance and future potential. John Keane, a politics professor at the University of Sydney, speaks to reporters on the sidelines of the Boao Forum in south China's Hainan province, March 25, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn] John Keane, a politics professor at the University of Sydney, dismissed pessimistic Western claims about China's economic future. "Despite Western predictions that the Chinese economy will collapse, the statistics show otherwise. There is just a slowdown in the rate of growth," Keane said. Earlier this year, the World Economic Forum predicted a strained global economy, with 56% of surveyed chief economists expecting weaker growth ahead. In response, China has reinforced pro-growth policies. A package of measures introduced last September by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has boosted social confidence and led to a notable economic recovery. This year, China plans a moderately loose monetary policy and a more proactive fiscal policy, raising the deficit-to-GDP ratio to about 4%. Temir Porras, managing director at Global Sovereign Advisory, speaks with China.org.cn on the sidelines of the Boao Forum in south China's Hainan province, March 25, 2025. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn] From an international investment perspective, China remains highly attractive, according to Temir Porras, managing director at Global Sovereign Advisory, a company that advises states and state-owned entities on strategic issues. "It is crucial to observe China's economic progress and the opportunities it presents for international investors," Porras said. China's commitment to further opening up its market is evident. The country established over 52,000 new foreign-invested enterprises in the first 11 months of 2024, with actual foreign direct investment reaching 749.7 billion yuan ($103 billion), according to a State Council Information Office press conference held earlier this year. China's market of 1.4 billion people, including more than 400 million middle-income consumers, continues to attract multinational companies. The 2025 China Business Climate Survey Report by the American Chamber of Commerce in China found that over half of American enterprises in China plan to increase investment this year, with nearly 70% in the consumer sector planning expansion. 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: Avapritinib shows efficient brain penetrance and decreased tumor growth in PDGFRA-altered DMG models in vivo. Credit: Cancer Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.018 Pediatric high-grade gliomas, particularly H3K27M diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), are aggressive malignant brain tumors with a poor prognosis. Previous research suggests that platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) appears to play a multifaceted role in the pathogenesis of both adult and pediatric high-grade gliomas. Not only are genetic alterations of PDGFRA common in patients with pediatric high-grade gliomas, but elevated PDGFRA expression has been shown to be key in driving growth of DMG tumors. Now, findings of a recent multicenter study led by Mariella Filbin, MD, Ph.D., co-director of the Brain Tumor Center at Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, suggest that PDGFRA could be a potential therapeutic target for pediatric high-grade gliomas. The paper is published in the journal Cancer Cell. Filbin and her teamincluding collaborators at the University of Michigan Medical School and the Medical University of Viennaalso provide the first real-world clinical data to support the use of a PDGFRA inhibitor in the treatment of certain pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas. Pinpointing a potential treatment target To determine the frequency of PDGFRA alterations in pediatric high-grade gliomas, Filbin and her colleagues analyzed genomic data from 217 pediatric high-grade glioma samples. They identified PDGFRA alterations in nearly 15% of patients. Using transcriptomic data, they also found significantly elevated PDGFRA expression in tumors with PDGFRA mutation or amplification. Next, the team tested the activity of four PDGFRA inhibitors (dasatinib, crenolanib, axitinib, and avapritinib) against a panel of glioma cell lines with PDGFRA alterations. Of these drugs, avapritinib exhibited the highest potency. Additional pre-clinical testing found that avapritinib also had the least amount of off-target kinase activity, suggesting the drug is less likely to cause unintended side effects. Promising early clinical data Finally, following additional testing in mouse models, the researchers treated eight pediatric and young adult patients who had high-grade gliomas with avapritinib through a compassionate use program. Most of the patients had DMGs, and seven of the eight had PDGFRA alterations. All had previously undergone surgical biopsy or resection and radiation, and four had also received chemotherapy or other treatment approaches. After being treated with avapritinib once daily for an average of four months, three of the patients demonstrated a radiographic response. The drug was also well tolerated. These three patients also survived roughly twice as long as those who didn't respond to avapritinib, although their disease ultimately metastasized. This early data suggests that avapritinib is generally safe and may trigger an initial clinical response in a small group of patients who have pediatric high-grade gliomas with PDGFRA amplification. "Our research now provides the basis for a clinical trial for avapritinib in newly diagnosed pediatric patients," says Filbin. "Our follow-up work focuses on genetic markers for personalized treatment and developing combination therapies with FDA-approved drugs to enhance efficacy." More information: Lisa Mayr et al, Effective targeting of PDGFRA-altered high-grade glioma with avapritinib, Cancer Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.018 Journal information: Cancer Cell Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen, R-Idaho Falls, listens to proceedings during the House State Affairs Committee on March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) This story was first published by InvestigateWest on March 26, 2025. President Donald Trumps second term was only in its second day when Ryan Spoon vice chair of the local Republican Party apparatus in Idahos Ada County turned the force of the federal government against a political enemy. Ryan Spoon, vice chair of the Ada County Republican Central Committee, called for federal immigration raids at Rep. Stephanie Mickelsens farms in a series of posts on X just days after President Trump was inaugurated. (Ada County Republican Central Committee) Could you please send some illegal immigration raids to the businesses owned by Idaho state Rep. Stephanie Mickelson? he wrote in an X post, misspelling Mickelsens last name and tagging Trumps border czar Tom Homan. She has been bragging about how many illegals her businesses employ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As his social media posts about contacting ICE began to rack up more than 2,000 shares, Spoon stressed that simply sharing on social media wasnt enough. He was officially reporting Mickelsens farming businesses to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement tip line and website. You can report her, too! he wrote in a post festooned with flexing muscle and American flag emojis. Three days later, Mickelsen said, ICE agents appeared at Mickelsen Farms, where a slew of varieties of commercial and seed potatoes grow across thousands of acres in southeastern Idaho. They just showed up out of the blue Friday morning, said Mickelsen, a moderate Republican legislator and the former director for the Idaho Farm Bureau, a lobbying group for the agriculture industry. Mickelsen Farms employee arrested by ICE By Jan. 27, just one week into the second Trump administration, a Mickelsen Farms employee had been arrested by ICE. Records reviewed by InvestigateWest show that a Mexican immigrant who listed his employer as Mickelsen Farms on his Facebook page was being held at a Nevada Southern Detention Center in Las Vegas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Trump administration attempts to carry out its campaign promise of mass deportations, its promoted the official ICE tip line as a vital part of its strategy. The phone tip line was so overwhelmed the day after Trumps inauguration, Spoon wrote on X, that he hung up and submitted a tip on the ICE website instead. Some on the right have wielded threats of ICE reports as kind of a gloating taunt a way of rubbing Trumps election in the faces of illegal immigrants and anyone who supports them. A postcard sent to a Californian immigration nonprofit, for example, touted the ICE tip line with the words Have your bags packed Trumps coming written on the return address line. On X, Ada County Republican Central Committee Vice Chair Ryan Spoon has taken a scorched earth approach to those he sees as defending illegal immigration including reporting at least one Republican state legislator to ICE. (Daniel Walters/InvestigateWest) But Spoon targeting a Republican state legislator by calling up ICE is particularly noteworthy and all the more so because ICE responded within days. Its so ripe for abuse, Chris Thomas, a Colorado-based attorney with 28 years of experience practicing immigration law, said about the use of the federal tip line. Weve got the government under enormous pressure to respond to every tip they receive. Its just very clear that at all levels, this is a full assault on undocumented people in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spoon, who moved to Boise from San Francisco in 2019 to work remotely as a loss prevention specialist, and Mickelson, a state legislator who is one of the biggest potato producers in southeast Idaho, are on opposite ends of the states Republican Party. And immigration is a particularly incendiary flashpoint: Mickelsen argues migrants are an essential part of the agricultural economy, while Spoon portrays both illegal immigrants and legal refugees as a sinister foreign invasion force. Mickelsen had beaten back attempts by the hard right to defeat her in a primary and even strip her of the Republican label. But Spoons tactics represented a new avenue of attack. For farm owners, it raises the possibility that speaking out or running for office or backing the wrong bill could trigger a political enemy to try to call down an ICE raid. Mickelsen knows who the employee is, that hes a father of three and that his criminal record was what got him deported. But even now, she said, she doesnt exactly know the exact nature of the mans immigration status during the time he worked for her family business. Employers of migrants can face legal risks if they inquire too aggressively into the immigration statuses of their employees. Immigration is a complicated topic, Mickelsen wrote in a statement to InvestigateWest, but using the issue to bully individuals and businesses trying to navigate complicated and often competing employee documentation laws is a disgusting and reprehensible way to act and should not be tolerated by anyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes unsettled. She removed the names of her businesses from her campaign site, believing it would be unfair to subject her family to the same level of nastiness that politicians have come to expect. Im being way more cautious in the bills that Im standing up against, because Im afraid of being targeted, Mickelsen said. Which makes me a less effective legislator for my community right now. ICE arrests increase during second Trump administration In early January, Homan, Trumps pick for border czar, floated the immigration tip line as a fresh idea. I want a place where American citizens can call and report, he told NBC News. We need to take care of the American people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE, to be clear, has had a tip line for over two decades. The difference is, in many ways, the tip line in the past was a black hole, Thomas said. People would make tips and usually nothing would ever come of it. Thomas said immigration tips are always prone to be taken advantage by those with scores to settle abused by bitter exes and business rivals. In the past, hes defended at least three companies a janitorial service, an agricultural company and a bakery who were reported to ICE by competitors. But after Trumps second inauguration, he said, the entire framework of the federal government was refocused on immigration-related offensives. They have to arrest certain numbers of undocumented people each week, Thomas said. They need to serve employers each week with notices of inspection. Theyre even under pressure to conduct raids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Effectively, Thomas said, ICE was being forced to rely on the tip line and the online tip website to fill its quotas. ICE tips had been transformed from mostly inert to a live weapon. While overall deportations have fallen due to fewer border crossings, Reuters reported, ICE arrests surged during the first week of Trumps administration. In the weeks since, the agency indicated theres been so much ICE activity that its too busy to provide many specifics about ICE activity. Asked about Mickelsen, an ICE spokesperson said that because of their operational tempo and increased interest in their agency, they were not able to respond to queries about rumors or routine operations. The news of actual ICE raids, along with the string of false reports and hoaxes, have made migrant farmworkers afraid. No matter their immigration status, many dont want to come to work, much less attend protests or share their stories publicly. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobodys wanting to raise their head and speak up, said Ben Tindall, executive director of Save Family Farming, a group representing farmers in neighboring Washington state. Regardless of whether theyre here legally or not, theyre afraid theyre going to get a target on their back and ICE is going to come knocking on their door. Freddy Cruz, who tracks extremists with the Western States Center, said hes seen a surge of white nationalist groups like the White Lives Matter Montana chapter encouraging people to report unauthorized immigrants to ICE. The ICE information tip line has come up more and more as a tactic, Cruz said. Almost like weaponizing a government agency to try to intimidate not just undocumented immigrants, but also organizations that might be providing immigrant-rights services to folks. Along with the Californian nonprofit, three offices of the United Farm Workers union were anonymously sent postcards featuring the phrases Report Illegal Aliens and There is nowhere to hide, along with the ICE tip line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Arizona State University, the College Republicans United club teamed up with a Hitler-saluting neo-Nazi to sell club T-shirts with the phrase ICE Volunteer and began urging students to report their criminal classmates to ICE for deportation. But Spoon represents a more influential and mainstream example of this trend. Last year, Spoon was the chairman of the Idaho Freedom PAC, the political action committee linked to the political machine of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a historically influential think tank that purports to separate true conservatives from Republicans in Name Only or RINOS. In the last two decades, more radical Republicans like Spoon immigrated to Idaho from left-leaning states like California, flooding the local Republican parties. Many of them cared less about the bottom line of Idahos big businesses than culture wars and conservative purity and immigration was a topic they were willing to drench with invective. On X, Spoon accused those who argue that migrant workers are necessary for the regions agriculture of being willing to pay anything for cheaper blueberries their daughters raped by illegals, their young people unemployed, foreign slaves exploited, drugs & crime flooding their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to expand the temporary farmworker visa program and give migrants a path to permanent legal status, Spoon accused Simpson of a literal act of treason against the U.S., facilitating a foreign invasion. Spoon argues hes not anti-immigrant his wife is a legal immigrant from Germany just anti illegal-immigration. Americans across a broad spectrum of politics are really fed up with the illegal immigration issue, he said. The tone has definitely changed there, and peoples willingness to confront that issue has changed. The reactions hes received for calling ICE on Mickelsens businesses, Spoon claimed, have been overwhelmingly positive. But Mickelsen said shes heard from a lot of legislators who were completely disgusted by his tactics. Its probably very disturbing for them to see this kind of treatment of a fellow legislator, Mickelsen said. Unauthorized immigrants are likely working for Idaho businesses Spoon has repeatedly accused Mickelsen of being a Plantation Mistress, taunting her that were gonna take your farm slaves away from you. But he told InvestigateWest that its a mischaracterization to accuse him of going after Mickelsen. Shes the one to blame for the reports, he argued. Her own testimony drew attention to herself, he said. Mickelsen Farms operates potato farms and other agricultural businesses in southeastern Idaho. (Mickelsen Farms) Last March, during the debate about Idaho House Bill 753, intended to give local law enforcement and judges the ability to enforce immigration laws, Mickelsen bristled at what she felt was the denigration of the foreign-born workforce by her fellow legislators. Pointing to the production chain involving everyone from construction companies to the hospitality industry, and every food processor, probably, in the state, Mickelsen declared that if you think that you havent been touched by an illegal immigrants hands in some way you are kidding yourself. To Spoon, it was practically a signed confession. While it is not reasonable to think that she is able to speak for every food processor, it is reasonable to think that she can speak for the food processor that she owns, Spoon said. To Mickelson, she wasnt saying anything that hasnt been widely discussed: There likely are many unauthorized immigrants working for Idaho businesses. The Center for Migration Studies, a New York-based think tank focused on immigration issues, estimated that in 2021 there were roughly 10,000 unauthorized immigrants working in Idaho agriculture alone. Mickelsen told InvestigateWest that their farming operation relies on the legal temporary seasonal guest worker program to hire migrant laborers a program that has grown by nearly two-thirds since 2016. It would be wonderful if you could hire a domestic workforce. But the problem is, people dont like to do farming jobs, Mickelsen said. Her son, Andrew, Mickelsen Farms chief operations manager, said in a statement that we would never knowingly employ an undocumented worker and that our business cooperates with all authorities and supports our governments efforts to secure the border and keep Americans safe. We follow all applicable federal and state laws to stay in compliance, Rep. Mickelsen said. We want to be good neighbors. Farm owners like Mickelsen are caught in a pincer between two federal agencies, said Thomas, the immigration attorney: Either accept documents at face value some of which may be fakes from unauthorized immigrants and risk punishment by Homeland Security, or question documents too closely and risk being sued by the wildly aggressive Immigrant and Employee Rights division of the Department of Justice. Ultimately, Mickelsen voted for HB 753. But that did little to appease her critics. Should we post RINO Stephanie Mickelsens (District 32) pro-illegal alien video every week until she is voted out of office? asked the Stop Idaho Rinos X account. After Spoon bragged on X about reporting Mickelsen to ICE, one conservative Idaho commenter mockingly envisioned ICE listening to the passion-filled speech she said on the House floor. Bet once she talks they drop their badges and quit on the spot, he snarked. Spoon replied with wink and grin emojis. Mickelsen is not the only legislator Spoon has gone after. In September, Spoon targeted Rep. Jack Nelsen for the family dairy hed worked on for decades, claiming on X that Plantation slaves at the Nelsen Dairy in Jerome, ID are ILLEGAL immigrants. (Nelsen no longer personally has a stake in the business.) Spoon said hes reported only Mickelsens businesses to ICE so far, but pressed about whether he planned to report others, would only say Im going to hold onto that for now. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Serving in the Idaho Legislature at what cost? For Mickelsen, Spoons actions spurred restless nights. I laid in bed at night for two nights in a row, and I said to myself, Am I willing to jump on this same bandwagon in the name of political theater, and not say anything? Not say wait a minute, this is wrong? Mickelsen said. Or am I just going to be silent? In her interviews with InvestigateWest, Mickelsen sounded energetically defiant at moments floating the possibility of taking legal action. Just a few days after being publicly reported to ICE, Mickelsen took another risky political stand on immigration: opposing a bill to require businesses to use E-Verify, a federal website intending to verify whether workers are legal. Mickelsen says that the program is plagued by inaccuracy, inconsistency and delays. But at other moments, her frustration and exhaustion shone through. You have to say to yourself, as this rancor gets worse, at what point is it worth it for me to serve in the Legislature? Mickelsen said. If my family and everybody around me is at risk? On social media, Spoon has often relished the idea of making Idaho so miserable for leftists that they leave the state entirely. That strategy sounds familiar to Mike Colson, chair of the GOP Central Committee in southeastern Idahos Bonneville County. Mickelsen helped Colson lead a wave of moderates last year to take back their local Republican party from hardliners with a similar approach to Spoon. Thats part of their playbook for these legislators, to make it so miserable and so uncomfortable for them that hopefully they wont run again next time, Colson said. Thats what theyre hoping for. Thats what they want. They want us to quit. Mickelsens concern goes beyond any risk to her familys business its the worry that someone reading the vitriol online could do something drastic. Shes been reading a lot about white nationalists lately. I have to actually think about my physical safety in a way that I probably havent the entire time Ive been in the Legislature, Mickelsen said. She said she was advised to carry a gun she has a concealed carry permit. But she worried that if the gun was wrested away from her by a larger attacker, it could ultimately put her at more risk. Today, Colson suspects Spoons ICE reports were part of a coordinated attempt to send a chilling message to a number of persons that may not see eye-to-eye with some of their political allies, he said. But the immigrant ICE arrested from Mickelsen Farms was vulnerable for another reason as well. The Trump administration had been touting its focus on arresting criminal aliens, unauthorized immigrants with criminal records. In November 2022, the Mickelsen Farms employee, Sajid Soto, had previously been charged with battery and drug possession. According to the Bonneville County Sheriffs Office, he admitted to choking his wife during an argument and then, while being booked in the local jail, officers found a tiny amount of methamphetamine in his wallet. Even a migrant with permanent resident status can lose that status as a consequence of a domestic violence conviction, Thomas said. Soto had served his jail time, the restraining order had been lifted, and his felony possession conviction which can cause a temporary agricultural visa to be revoked had been dismissed after the farmworker completed probation. Now you have three children that are American citizens who are entitled to social benefits because their dad was supporting them and will not be any longer, Mickelsen said. Works at Mickelsen Farms, remains on the dads Facebook page. Scroll down, and his cover photo from six years ago, taken through the rain-flecked windshield of his truck, shows a long row of green-and-gold John Deere tractors and combines lined up on a stretch of farm soil. Listos para sacar papas, he wrote. Ready to pull out potatoes. InvestigateWest (invw.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. A Report for America corps member, Daniel Walters covers democracy and extremism across the region. He can be reached at daniel@investigatewest.org SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Mar. 27SUPERIOR Northwood Technical College offers a variety of apprenticeship programs to prepare students for the workforce while earning a paycheck. And creating collaborative coalitions and expanding apprenticeship pathways in Wisconsin is getting a boost with the newly formed Apprenticeship Pathway Coalition Initiative. WRTP BIG STEP, a nonprofit workforce intermediary based in Milwaukee, has been chosen by Ascendium Education Group from Madison to receive a $10 million grant over the next five years to support the development of Wisconsin's future apprenticeship-focused workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funding allows WRTP BIG STEP to enhance the ability of public and private-sector organizations to recruit, develop and retain a more diverse, qualified workforce in construction, manufacturing and emerging sectors, according to a news release. WRTP BIG STEP will expand and develop a statewide network to build certified pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship pathways. Superior will benefit from the program, said Ben Sefarbi, spokesman for WRTP BIG STEP. "There's a lot of great ways to learn and they are not all access to traditional classrooms," said John Will, president of Northwood Tech. "So, apprenticeship is a work-based learning model, and it allows people to earn money while they're going through a program to become a registered apprentice. It's a really cost-effective way to get a post-secondary credential." Apprenticeships usually lead to positive employment outcomes, Will said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Northwood Tech offers apprenticeship programs in plumbing, electrical construction, cosmetology, injection mold set-up, carpentry, maintenance mechanic and surgical technology. Northwood Tech also offers an apprenticeship-like broadband program. Apprenticeships are a three-way partnership, Will said. In Wisconsin, the Department of Workforce Development has control over the curriculum for various registered apprenticeships, technical colleges provide the related classroom instruction, and an employer provides support for on-the-job training. "So, there's three entities involved in getting students to the finish line when it comes to apprenticeship," Will said. (NewsNation) The Wisconsin Supreme Court race is shaping up to be the most expensive judicial race in history and it could have ripple effects nationwide. The race is officially nonpartisan, but endorsements and funds from outside the state have pulled politics into the fray, with Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama offering endorsements and billionaires including Elon Musk, George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker donating to campaigns. Wisconsin voters have been bombarded with attack ads. One mailer read, Susan Crawford will destroy gun rights in Wisconsin. Another claimed, Elon Musk thinks Wisconsin Supreme Court is for sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump to announce auto industry tariffs Americans across the country could feel the ripple effects from whoever wins the race, and it could also have major impacts for both political parties. Tens of millions of dollars have been funneled into the race. Musk and super PACs associated with him donated more than $17 million to support Brad Schimel, while Susan Crawford has megadonors that include Soros and Pritzker. NewsNation asked both candidates about the outside influences in the race. Well, let me just clarify that the big difference is that Elon Musk has himself put over $18 million into this race, Crawford said. That is absolutely unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im running to be a justice for Wisconsin, Im not running for anything else, Schimel said. I dont control what Elon Musk or anybody else does with their money or their organizations. My opponent, shes raised $25 million. most of that from outside the state of Wisconsin. Luigi Mangiones backpack held gun, passport during arrest Schimels own war chest has raised in excess of $46 million, including contributions from Musk. Beyond campaign contributions, the bigger picture is how the judges future rulings could impact Wisconsin and then how that could shape a larger national trajectory. Abortion and union organizing are already on the docket for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and so is the potential redistricting of the states maps. The winner of this race could way the court to order the redrawing of Congressional districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That could shift the balance of power on Capitol Hill. With Trump and Musk throwing their weight behind Schimel, it could also show how their support could shape future elections. Cartel drones pose threat to US service members on border duty The state is already a bellwether for the nation, having correctly picked the president for the past five general elections. How this race shapes up could influence other races, with Democrats putting out attack ads against Musk. That could be a strategy used in other races if it succeeds. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. This 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 Amid a measles outbreak that has seen U.S. cases for the year so far surge past the total tracked in 2024, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has responded, in part, by suggesting alternatives to vaccination, including treating with vitamin A. "We're providing vitamin A," Kennedy told Sean Hannity in an interview that aired on Fox News in mid-March. "There are many studies, some showing 87% effectiveness of vitamin A against serious disease and death." Cases related to a Texas outbreak dating to January now surpass 327, including one confirmed death, largely in unvaccinated people. In Western Pennsylvania, the Erie County Department of Health on Tuesday announced two cases of measles on its Facebook page, both related to international travel. The first case in Pennsylvania of the year, also related to international travel, was confirmed in Montgomery County outside Philadelphia earlier this month. The last known case in Allegheny County was in 2019, per the Allegheny County Health Department. The assertion by Kennedy, a key Trump administration figure overseeing numerous federal agencies, that vitamin A successfully treats measles symptoms is based on real research but is taken out of context, say infectious disease experts. While studies have shown vitamin A to be effective at treating measles symptoms, many of those trials were done on children with vitamin A deficiencies in low-resource countries. That context is key, said Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based physician and senior scholar with Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "Vitamin A deficiency is not an issue in Texas or New Mexico. He's completely shearing vitamin A away from the context to which it applies. This is not applicable to the current outbreak." Protecting against measles Kennedy, in an opinion piece for Fox News posted March 2, pointed to the effectiveness of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine since its implementation decades ago. He also noted that CDC guidelines for measles have been updated to include "supporting administration of vitamin A under the supervision of a physician for those with mild, moderate, and severe infection." The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 327 measles cases as of March 25, while nearby states, New Mexico and Oklahoma, have reported 43 and seven confirmed cases, respectively. The measles outbreak is Texas's worst in 30 years, and pushed the U.S. past the 2024 measles case count, which was 285, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Vitamin A does not diminish your chance of acquiring a measles infection," said Donald Karcher, president of the College of American Pathologists and a professor at the George Washington University Medical Center in D.C. "We certainly do not recommend anyone to be self-medicating with vitamin A." The MMR vaccine remains the best true preventive measure against measles, officials said. It has been shown to be 97% effective at preventing the highly contagious disease as well as associated severe complications. In use for about five decades, the vaccine has been given to millions and data shows severe side effects are rare. Scientific studiesmostly conducted in low-income countries with a higher measles burdendo show that vitamin A can reduce recovery time from pneumonia, diarrhea and time in the hospital. A majority of the randomized controlled trials reviewed in a 2010 review study were from the World Health Organization treating children with vitamin A deficiencies. When reviewers looked at vitamin A on the whole to treat measles, it did not significantly provide benefit. Only at the high doses of 200,000 International Units for children older than 1 year and 100,000 IUs for infants did researchers see this benefit. There's also a risk of overdosing on vitamin A. It's a fat- soluble vitamin, so the body does not clear it through urine in the same way as water-soluble vitamins. Instead, excess is stored in the body and can lead to nausea, vertigo, blurred vision and vertigo, according to the Mayo Clinic. Vitamin A supplements should not be taken while pregnant, or if an individual is taking anticoagulants, retinoids or drugs that in high doses can damage the liver. "The idea of using vitamin A has come from more resource-limited countries," said Ben Bradley, assistant professor of pathology at the University of Utah, in a March 13 measles webinar. Dr. Bradley is also the medical director of virology at ARUP Laboratories, a nonprofit lab with the University of Utah. "We have to advise a lot of caution here." Kids in the MMR vaccine group saw between 85% and 98% protection against severe outcomes when given two doses. Kennedy said in his media interviews that the measles death rate is "relatively small," and that those who die are people with comorbidities and who are malnourished. Dr. Adalja disagreed with that assessment. "This is not the same demographic who died from influenza or COVID." The 6-year-old girl who died from measles in Gaines County, Texas, seems to have been previously healthy with no underlying conditions. She was not vaccinated against measles. Before the development of the MMR vaccine, measles cases hospitalized about 48,000 Americans a year and killed 500, according to the CDC. By 1981, about a decade after the vaccine was released, measles cases dropped 80% compared to the year prior, per CDC. In his interview with Hannity, Kennedy said that a measles infection provides lifelong immunity against the disease, whereas the MMR vaccine does not. He said MMR vaccine immunity wanes to the point that "older people are essentially unvaccinated." Dr. Adalja disputed this. "Even if there is numerical waning of antibody protection over time, when we look at measles outbreaks and who is getting infected, it's those who are unvaccinated," he said. "This does not have clinical relevance. You have to actually look at the outbreak on the ground, and (in vaccinated people is) not where the infections are occurring." Only two people who reported receiving both doses of the MMR vaccine are also counted in Texas's measles outbreak. The vaccination status of each and every case is not known. Statistics indicate 75% of the Texas measles cases are minors, with 19% of current cases found in people over the age of 18. "We also know that (measles) infection significantly weakens a person's immune system, which places them at very high risk for other potentially serious infections," said Tina Tan, a pediatrician and professor of pediatrics and infectious disease at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, during a March 20 measles webinar. Consequences of dropping vaccine rates The measles virus causes fever, fatigue, cough, runny nose and a characteristic rash. It can also lead to complications such as ear infections, pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death. Measles is far more contagious than influenza, the common cold or COVID, with particles from an infected person capable of lingering in the air and infecting someone else for up to two hours. "A person with measles can transmit the disease to as many as 18 other susceptible individuals, with transmission in a household setting of 90% or higher," said Dr. Tan. When vaccine rates drop in a community, it's not a matter of if but when an outbreak will occur, said David Higgins, attending physician in the Child Health Clinic at Colorado University's Anschutz Medical Campus, specializing in vaccine hesitancy, in the March 20 webinar. One school district in Gaines County, where much of the Texas measles outbreak is concentrated, has a vaccine exemption rate of 48%. The county's overall vaccination rate is 82%, which is below the herd immunity threshold of 95%. "We know that these outbreaks happen in local communities," Dr. Higgins said. "So even if a state has a rate that is at the goal, that might not mean that a local community is at that goal." 2025 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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 Health insurance companies are under increasing scrutiny for allegedly using artificial intelligence bots and algorithms to swiftly deny patients routine or lifesaving carewithout a human actually reviewing their claims. The high-profile killing late last year of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has focused even more attention on so-called prior authorization, the process by which patients and doctors must ask health insurers to approve medical procedures or drugs before proceeding. There had been protests and outrage over the company's practices for months before Thompson's death, and UnitedHealthcare has been accused in a class-action lawsuit of using AI to wrongfully deny claims. As more patients and doctors voice their frustrations, states are responding with legislation designed to regulate prior authorization and claims reviews. So far this year, lawmakers in more than a dozen states are considering measures that would, for example, limit the use of AI in reviewing claims; exclude certain prescription medications from prior authorization rules; ensure that emergency mental health care is not delayed for more than 48 hours; and require that insurers' review boards include licensed physicians, dentists or pharmacists with clinical experience. Insurers have long required doctors to obtain their approval before they'll pay for certain drugs, treatments and procedures. They argue it is necessary to rein in health care costs and limit unnecessary services. But many doctors and patients say the practice has gotten out of hand, causing delays and denials of care that are harming and even killing people. In a survey last year by the American Medical Association, 93% of doctors said that insurers' prior authorization practices delayed "necessary care" for their patients. Twenty-nine percent said such delays had led to a "serious adverse event," such as hospitalization, permanent injury or death. In 2023, insurers selling plans on the marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act denied a combined average of 20% of all claims. Of the 73 million in-network claims they denied, only 1% were appealed, according to KFF, a health policy research group. The federal role Under the Biden administration, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice took a firmer hand against health care corporations alleged to be engaging in behavior resulting in limited and more expensive care for patients. The administration also approved rules requiring that, beginning in 2026, Medicare and Medicaid plans create a streamlined electronic process for reviewing claims, making decisions more quickly and providing specific reasons for denying care. But it's difficult to hold insurers accountable, according to Timothy McBride, a health policy analyst and co-director of a program at the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. "Each part of the health care industryhospitals, pharmaceuticals, insurersthey all have a lot of concentrated power," McBride said in a phone interview. "And unless somebody actually takes it on directly, it's going to stay that way. I think the Biden administration tried to take it on, but didn't make a lot of progress." It's unclear whether the Trump administration and Congress will reverse course. During his confirmation hearing on March 14, Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, defended the use of artificial intelligence in reviewing claims. "AI can be used for good or for evil, and it to a large extent depends on who's using it and for what purpose," Oz told members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. "I think AI could play a vital role in accelerating preauthorization." In the past, Trump has supported measures to help patients, such as increasing hospital price transparency and lowering prescription drug prices, McBride noted. But "Republicans and conservatives are generally anti-regulation," he said. "My gut feeling would be that they back off on the Biden push on this." States have limited power to act on their own. They have authority only over state-regulated health plans, which include Medicaid, plans for state workers and policies residents purchase from the ACA marketplaces. About 90 million people are covered that way. State laws do not apply to the 156 million workers, retirees and dependents who get their coverage through employer-sponsored health plans, which are regulated through a federal law known as ERISA. Furthermore, health insurance companies are large and have deep pockets, allowing them to easily absorb state fines. But Kaye Pestaina, the director of the program on patient and consumer protection at KFF, said states have an important role to play. "Much of the focus around prior authorization at the federal level has kind of originated from state protections, so I imagine there will be continual activity by state legislatures to come at the problem," Pestaina told Stateline. What states are doing Pestaina said states are trying a number of solutions. For example, states such as Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania have given their insurance regulators more authority to directly access claims denial information, in order to overturn decisions or potentially enforce state rules. And these efforts have largely had bipartisan support. In Pennsylvania, Republican state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill pushed through bipartisan legislation in 2022 to streamline prior authorization practices for state-regulated health plans after hearing numerous complaints from patients and doctors. The legislation created an Independent External Review organization that allows Pennsylvanians to submit an online form to request a review if their insurer denies a service or treatment. If the review organization decides the service should be covered, the insurer must do so. Before then, patients could turn only to a federal review process, which may have been more challenging to navigate and taken more time. "Our reforms created clear rules, clear timelines for the prior authorization process, and it removed ambiguity or uncertainty from the system that, at times, insurers could exploit and providers could be confused over," Phillips-Hill told Stateline. "Prior to that reform, if you had a denial from your insurer, you had very little recourse." The program began in January 2024, and in its first year the Pennsylvania Insurance Department overturned half of 517 denials, which amounted to claims from 259 people. Jonathan Greer, president and CEO of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, said his trade group worked with lawmakers to come to an agreement on how to change the prior authorization process in a way that worked for insurers and patient advocates. Greer says he thinks Pennsylvania could be a model for other states. "Prior authorization, I think unfairly, has been characterized as a reason to say 'no' by insurers," Greer said. "The purpose of prior authorization is to make sure that you know the care that you get is consistent with the care that you need." In North Carolina, Republican state Rep. Timothy Reeder is hopeful that his prior authorization bill will make it across the finish line this year. Reeder's bill would set tight deadlines on insurers' claim decisions and require companies to have licensed practitioners on their claim review boards. Insurers would also have to publicize a list of services they require authorization for. "I'm not saying that we need to get rid of it completely," Reeder told Stateline. "There is a role for some oversight to make sure that things are covered. But right now, I think the system is out of balance." But some state laws have proven to be less effective than advertised. In 2021, Texas enacted a first-of-its-kind law creating a " gold card" standard, under which physicians whose care recommendations are approved by insurers at least 90% of the time are exempt from the prior authorization process. But as of the end of 2023, only 3% of Texas physicians had earned gold card status, according to the Texas Medical Association. That's why the group is pushing legislation that would require insurers to report which preauthorization exemptions they granted and denied and how many claims went to independent review. Dr. Zeke Silva of the Texas Medical Association's legislative council said it would be "in the same spirit" as what Pennsylvania has done. "Our focus with the [Texas Medical Association] is our physicians being able to provide the best care possible. And we want that to be free of burden," Silva told Stateline. "We want to minimize third parties coming in and inappropriately denying care that our physicians and our patients think is in their best interest." 2025 States Newsroom. 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: Lead author, Dr Ashlea Bartram with 0% alcohol drinks that closely resemble alcohol. Credit: International Journal of Drug Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104753 Teenagers consider zero-alcohol beverages to be a type of alcoholic drink, leading Flinders University researchers to voice grave concerns about the impact of their exposure to zero-alcohol branding and advertising. "Our new study shows that teenagers classify zero-alcohol drinks as a type of alcoholic beverage, rather than as a soft drink," says lead author Dr. Ashlea Bartram from the Flinders Health and Medical Institute (FHMRI). It means that exposure to zero-alcohol drinks in advertising or retail spaces such as the local supermarket, may have the same type of negative effects that come from exposure to alcoholic beverages. "This is a major concern because there is a well-established association between frequency of alcohol advertising exposure and alcohol consumption among adolescents," says Dr. Bartram. "In other words, the more alcohol advertising a young person is exposed to, the more alcohol they consume." Zero-alcohol drinks (<0.5% alcohol) resemble alcohol in appearance and taste, and are most often advertised under established alcohol brands (known as "brand extensions") or as entirely new products ("new to world"). Dr. Bartram warns there are few current restrictions on zero-alcohol drinks, which are freely available for sale to all age groups, including in places where alcohol is not available, such as supermarketsand in these places they are often located alongside soft drinks. The study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy involved more than 300 teenagers aged 1517 participating in a reaction-time experiment, viewing 20 randomly ordered images of alcoholic drinks, zero-alcohol drinks and soft drinks. They were asked to quickly indicate whether the images made them think of alcohol. Their response time and agreement levels were recorded and analyzed. The study was designed to further understand their perceptions of zero-alcohol drinks and the impacts these perceptions may have on their future alcohol consumption. "Most images of alcoholic drinks (94.4%), the 'brand extension' zero-alcohol drinks (90.7%), and 'new-to-world' zero-alcohol (85.6%) drinks prompted them to think of alcohol, compared to just 5.2% of images of soft drinks," says Dr. Bartram. "They were slightly quicker to categorize 'brand extension' (such as Heineken or Gordon's) zero-alcohol drinks as alcohol rather than 'new-to-world' drinksbut overall it was clear that the vast majority of these products were prompting teens to think of alcohol. "Put simply, in the majority of cases, young people associate zero-alcohol drinks with alcohol, so there is now a strong argument for some sensible restrictions to be made on where these drinks can be sold and advertised." Dr. Bartram says that it is well documented that alcohol consumption is particularly harmful for young people's developing brains, bodies and mental health due to its neurodevelopmental impacts, and can increase a young person's risk of illness, accident, and injury. "Young people who start drinking alcohol at an early age are also more likely to drink alcohol in harmful ways, or become dependent on alcohol in later life," Dr. Bartram says. The Australian Alcohol Guidelines recommend that children and people under 18 years old should not drink alcohol to reduce their risk of injury and health risks. Australia's National Preventive Health Strategy 20212030 has also set an ambitious goal to limit alcohol consumption among youths aged 14 to 17 years old to less than 10% by 2030. "The rise of zero-alcohol drinks presents a unique regulatory challenge. Many of these beverages feature branding and designs that closely mirror conventional alcoholic drinks, contributing to the normalization of alcohol consumption for younger Australians," says Dr. Bartram. "As the boundaries between alcohol and its alternatives blur, the safeguarding of young Australians against the dangers of alcohol consumption must remain a central focus in public health initiatives. "We're now calling on governments to reconsider the regulations on how zero-alcohol drinks are marketed and sold." More information: Ashlea Bartram et al, Alcohol advertising in disguise: Exposure to zero-alcohol products prompts adolescents to think of alcoholReaction time experimental study, International Journal of Drug Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104753 Journal information: International Journal of Drug Policy 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: Force measurement setup for the magnetic grippers wrist blocking force in the pushing direction (left), the magnetic grippers jaws closing force (middle), and the magnetic TSA forceps closing force (right). Credit: Science Robotics (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adk4249 Most brain surgery requires doctors to remove part of the skull to access hard-to-reach areas or tumors. It's invasive, risky, and it takes a long time for the patient to recover. We have developed new, tiny robotic surgical tools that may let surgeons perform "keyhole surgery" on the brain. Despite their small size, our tools can mimic the full range of motion of a surgeon's wrist, creating new possibilities for less-invasive brain surgery. Tiny tools for brain surgery Robotic surgical tools (around 8 millimeters in diameter) have been used for decades in keyhole surgery for other parts of the body. The challenge has been making a tool small enough (3mm in diameter) for neurosurgery. In a project led by the University of Toronto, where I was a postdoctoral fellow, we collaborated with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Canada to develop a set of very small neurosurgery tools. The tools are only about 3mm in diameter. In a paper published in Science Robotics, we demonstrated these tools could grip, pull and cut tissue. Their extremely small size is possible as they are powered not by motors but by external magnetic fields. Current robotic surgical tools are typically driven by cables connected to electric motors. They work in much the same way as human fingers, which are manipulated by tendons in the hand connected to muscles in the wrist. An example magnetic flux density of the ENS. The field is created at the surgical site in the x-direction. Credit: Science Robotics (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adk4249 However, pulleys smaller than several millimeters wide to control the instruments are weak and prone to friction, stretch and fracture. This creates challenges in scaling down the instruments, because of difficulties in making the parts of the system, assembling the mechanisms and managing friction in the cables. Magnetic controls The new robotic system consists of two parts. The first is the tiny tools themselves: a gripper, a scalpel and a set of forceps. The second part is what we call a "coil table," which is a surgical table with several electromagnetic coils embedded inside. In this design, the patient would be positioned with their head on top of the embedded coils, and the robotic tools would be inserted into the brain via a small incision. By altering the amount of electricity flowing into the coils, we can manipulate the magnetic fields, causing the tools to grip, pull or cut tissue as desired. In open brain surgery, the surgeon relies on their own dexterous wrist to pivot the tools and tilt their tips to access hard-to-reach areas, such as removing a tumor inside the central cavity of the brain. Unlike other tools, our robotic neurosurgical tools can mimic this with "wristed" movements. Surprising precision We tested the tools in pre-clinical trials where we simulated the mechanical properties of the brain tissue they would need to work with. In some tests, we used pieces of tofu and raspberry placed inside a model of the brain. Credit: Science Robotics (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adk4249 We compared the performance of these magnetically operated tools with that of standard tools handled by trained surgeons. We found the cuts made with the magnetic scalpel were consistent and narrow, with an average width of 0.30.4mm. That was even more precise than those from traditional hand tools, which ranged from 0.6 to 2.1mm. As for the grippers, they could pick up the target 76% of the time. From the lab to the operating room We were surprised by how well the robotic tools performed. However, there is still a long way to go until this technology could help patients. It can take years, even decades, to develop medical devices, especially surgical robots. This study is part of a broader project based on years of work led by Eric Diller from the University of Toronto, an expert on magnet-driven micro-robots. Now, the team wants to make sure the robotic arm and magnetic system can fit comfortably in a hospital operating room. The team also wants to make it compatible with imaging systems such as fluoroscopy, which uses X-rays. After that, the tools may be ready for clinical trials. We're excited about the potential for a new era of minimally invasive neurosurgical tools. More information: Changyan He et al, Magnetically actuated dexterous tools for minimally invasive operation inside the brain, Science Robotics (2025). DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adk4249 Journal information: Science Robotics 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 from Pexels The increasing number of people with eating disorders and a lack of national guidance for support teams has led to researchers calling for a new national strategy that includes specific guidance to support the remote delivery of eating disorder services. A paper led by academics at Northumbria University, published in the Journal of Eating Disorders on 27 March, points to figures outlining the scale of the challenges and increasing numbers of people impacted: The paper states that, in addition to increasing numbers, the lack of national guidance, ad hoc data collection, and inconsistencies in both quality of care and evaluation of service provision are leading to disparities in support provided to people with eating disorders across England. This has led to calls from activists, politicians and the Health and Social Care Committee for the Government to implement a national eating disorder strategy for England. These calls have been echoed by the researchers who have been leading a three-year project investigating the impact of the rapid transition to remote care during the COVID-19 pandemic on people with eating disorders. The RHED-C project is led by Dr. Dawn Branley-Bell, Associate Professor and Director of the Psychology and Communication Technology Lab (PaCT Lab) at Northumbria. Credit: Northumbria University The team conducted interactive workshops, one-to-one interviews, and a U.K.-wide survey with people with lived experience of eating disorders, as well as engaging with service providers. They also explored the benefits and challenges of receiving and providing online health care for those with eating disorders and eating distress. Based on their findings, they have identified future support recommendations. The researchers report that while eating disorders have featured in multiple broader health care plans, policies and reports, currently, there is no clear national strategy specifically for eating disorder services in England. Such strategies and frameworks already exist in other nations, including in Australia, and closer to home in Wales and Scotland. Now, building on the findings of their research, academics working on the RHED-C project are calling for a dedicated national eating disorder strategy for England, and emphasize the importance of incorporating evidence-based guidelines specific to the remote delivery of eating disorder services. Dr. Branley-Bell said, "Our research highlights the urgent need for a dedicated national strategy to address the rising prevalence of eating disorders in England. While remote health care has provided vital access to support, it also presents unique challenges that must be addressed through clear, evidence-based, eating disorder-specific guidelines. "Without national coordination, inconsistencies in care will persist, leaving many individuals without the support they need. A comprehensive strategy, including specific guidance for remote service delivery for eating disorders, is essential to ensure equitable, high-quality care." In the absence of specific guidance for remote delivery of eating disorders services and to enhance online support experiences, the RHED-C team has developed a free online toolkit. The ConnectED on the Journey toolkit offers guidance for individuals with lived experiences, their families and friends, and service providers, aiming to improve the effectiveness of online support for eating disorders. James Downs, a co-author on the paper who has lived experience of eating disorders, said, "Having contributed to policy and research in eating disorders as a patient, I've experienced first-hand the ways in which a fragmented and outdated approach to treatment leads to disparities in care and limits opportunities for recovery. The need for a national strategy for eating disorders is clear, and this should be co-created to reflect the priorities and needs of patients and their supporters." More information: Richard Brown et al, A call for strategy on eating disorders: the need for a comprehensive eating disorder strategy in England and specific guidance for the remote delivery of eating disorder services, Journal of Eating Disorders (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s40337-025-01224-y 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. 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 At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, firearm violence surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death among US children. A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) for the first time reveals how this worrying pattern among children varied by ageand how the pandemic-related gun homicide spike is rising faster among kids than adults. Published in JAMA Pediatrics, the study found that the spike in gun death rates during the first two years of the pandemic disproportionately affected adolescents ages 1016, as well as adults over 30 years old. These increases lowered the peak risk of being a victim of a fatal shooting from 21 years old to 19 years old. Also concerning is that as adult gun death rates returned to pre-COVID levels in 2022 and 2023, gun homicide rates continued increasing for the 1016 adolescent age group, doubling pre-pandemic rates. These results underscore the need to improve gun violence prevention programs and policies substantially for all age groups, but especially school-aged children, for whom few such programs exist. Most community-based violence intervention (CVI) programs target older teens and adults, the groups that are traditionally at highest risk of gun violence. But these latest findings indicate that the victims of gun violence are gettingand stayingyounger than in pre-pandemic times. This stark and persistent rise in firearm homicide rates among adolescents is startling, says study lead and corresponding author Dr. Jonathan Jay, assistant professor of community health sciences at BUSPH and director of the Research on Innovations for Safety and Equity (RISE) Lab. While he was surprised by the magnitude of increase in homicides among 1016-year-olds later in the pandemic, he says the findings echo what he has heard from violence prevention advocates for some time. "We already knew that there was a huge spike in firearm mortality early in the pandemic, but no one had documented this really striking increase in deaths in subsequent years, and how this risk changed by age," Dr. Jay says. "Our study results are entirely consistent with communities' concerns that gun violence is worsening among younger people." For the study, researchers from BUSPH and the University of Michigan (UM) examined federal data on firearm mortality per 100,000 people ages 1044 in the US from 1999 to 2023, labeling the period from 1999 to 2020 as the "prepandemic" period and the years from 20202023 as the "postonset" period. Prior to the pandemic, firearm deaths among this population steadily increased until peaking at age 21, and then gradually decreased among all ages. Age-specific firearm mortality rates were most pronounced in 2022 and 2023, during which deaths among 1016-year-olds doubled from their prepandemic total, while deaths among 2226-year-olds showed the smallest increase. CVI programs focused on adolescents are needed, the researchers say. Led by trusted community members, these programs are in a unique position to connect with members of their own community who are most at risk of gun violence. They provide evidence-based strategies to prevent gun violence, such as mentorship, dispute resolutions, conflict mediation, and psychotherapy to help gun violence victims (as well as those who are indirectly affected) cope with the resulting physical and emotional trauma of shootings. This work is particularly critical because most child homicides happen in the community, the researchers note. Although the national conversation around child firearm violence prevention tends to revolve around mass shootings at schools, these shootingswhile tragicare rare, Dr. Jay says. Interventions that seek to limit children's access to firearms (such as gun locks and safe storage options) are important, but they are not the primary measures that should inform child homicide prevention, he adds. "Most children are not shot by other kids," he says. "The majority of gun homicides of school-aged children occur in the community, and we still don't have a model for what community-based violence interventions should look like at those ages." Summer youth programs are one promising solution, says study co-author Dr. Patrece Joseph, assistant professor of community health sciences at BUSPH. "Many cities began offering summer youth employment programs as a way to reduce youth firearm violence, but more research is needed to understand the effects of these programs, as well as to identify opportunities to reduce after-school risk of gun violence," Dr. Joseph says. Cities are also beginning to implement initiatives such as Safe Passage programs, which often include collaborations among community leaders, law enforcement, and others to ensure that students travel to and from school safely. Other cities, such as Toledo, Ohio, are calling on "interrupters"trusted members of the communitywho work to de-escalate violence in schools, communities, and online. More research is needed to understand the specific ways in which social media contributes to youth gun violence. "There are many different pathways by which social media can lead to firearm violence in communities," says Dr. Joseph. "Sometimes conflicts start on social media platforms and then escalate in the community, and other times, these posts amplify confrontations that began in the community and then spread online, creating a cycle of violence." The senior author is Dr. Jason Goldstick, director of statistics and methods at the University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center, and a research associate professor of emergency medicine and health behavior and health equity at UM. More information: Jonathan Jay et al, Age-Specific Trends in Pediatric and Adult Firearm Homicide After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, JAMA Pediatrics (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.0136 Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below. You can see the new edition of the Xpat E-Magazine here: https://xpatloop.com/newsletters/2025/27-march.html 1. First up is quick look at a great variety of events to look forward to in the coming days: * Free Showings of AI Films at Budapest SmartFest Festival, * Sakura: Cherry Blossom Festival, Fuveszkert Budapest, 29 - 30 March, * Musical Comic Book Exhibition Featuring the Beatles, Nirvana & Local Stars, * Get Into Spring at Garden Expo at Budapest Sportarena, 28 - 30 March, * Special Place to See Partial Solar Eclipse in Hungary on 29 March. 2. As always below there's fresh News, Info & Inspiration, plus new Movies & Specials: E.g. Top Cocktail Bars, Top Sziget Acts Unveiled, Hepatitis A Outbreak, Biggest Pride Ever? 3. Plus you can see a great variety of Events for Expats - just a few from the Xpat Calendar: E.g. Theatrical Oratorio: Beyond Fukuyama, Cotton Club Singers Anniversary, Opera Showcase. We hope you like what's in it for you this week. Yours with best wishes, Team XpatLoop New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has appealed the state government to ensure that there is no purchase below MSP. "On behalf of the Central Government, I appeal to all the state governments to ensure that there is no purchase below MSP. Our aim is to benefit the farmers and we will leave no stone unturned to fulfil this noble objective," he added. Chouhan informed that the Indian Government is committed to procure 100% Tur from farmers through Central Nodal Agencies. Similarly, procurement of gram, mustard and lentil has been approved during RMS 2025.PM-Asha Yojana has been extended till 2025-26. Under this, purchase of pulses and oilseeds from farmers at MSP will continue. The total approved quantity of gram for RMS 2025 is 27.99 lakh metric tonnes and mustard is 28.28 lakh metric tonnes. The major states include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The total approved quantity of lentil is 9.40 lakh metric tonnes Procurement of copra (milling and ball) has also been approved in Tamil Nadu. The government has ensured farmers use NAFED and NCCF portals to simplify registration and process. He informed that procurement is continuing at MSP through NAFED and NCCF in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana and till 25 March 2025, a total of 2.46 lakh metric tonnes of Tur (Arhar) has been procured in these states, benefiting 1,71,569 farmers of these states. He said that the price of tur in Uttar Pradesh is currently running above MSP. It was announced during Budget 2025 that 100% of the state's production of Tur (Arhar), Urad and Masoor will be procured for the next four years till 2028-29 to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses in the country. The procurement of Tur (Arhar) has been approved in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme during the Kharif 2024-25 season. Along with this, in the interest of farmers, Karnataka has also approved extending the procurement period from 90 days by 30 days to May 1. Goa Board Class 12 Result 2025: The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has announced the date and time for the Goa HSSC Result 2025. The Class 12 results for Arts, Commerce, and Science streams will be declared on March 27 at 5 PM. Students who appeared for the March exams can check their results on the official website, gbshse.in. The results of the HSSC Public Examination March 2025 will be officially declared at the Conference Hall on the second floor of the Goa Board office in Porvorim. This year, a total of 17,686 regular students took the exam, including 8,462 boys and 9,224 girls. Additionally, 138 fresh private candidates and 24 exempted private candidates also appeared for the Class 12 board exams in the state. Goa Board Class 12 Result 2025: Websites to check result The Goa Board Class 12 exams were held from February 10 to March 1, 2025. Students can access their HSSC Result 2025 on the official websites gbshse.gov.in and results.gbshsegoa.net. Students can access their results using two main methods: SMS and DigiLocker. Below is a step-by-step guide for both options: Goa Board Class 12 Result 2025: Here's how to check via SMS For Class 10 (SSC): Send an SMS in the format "RESULTGOA10ROLLNO" to 56263 or 5676750. For Class 12 (HSSC): Send an SMS in the format "GOA12 SEAT NUMBER" to 56263, 58888, or 5676750. Alternatively, you can send "GB12 SEAT NUMBER" to 54242. Goa Board Class 12 Result 2025: Here's how to check via Digilocker Download the DigiLocker app or visit the official website. Log in using your registered mobile number. Navigate to the "Issued Documents" section. Enter your Aadhaar Number to access the Goa HSSC Marksheet. Click on "Get Document" to download your digital marksheet or certificate. To save it for future reference, select "Save to Locker". Along with the results, the board will also release the result booklet. Details regarding mark sheet distribution will be announced soon. An authorized school representative will collect the mark sheets from the board's IT unit, and no individual notifications will be sent to parents or students. This year, a total of 17,686 students appeared for the 2025 Goa Board HSSC exams across Arts, Commerce, Science, and Vocational streams. Radico Khaitan Limited, originally known as Rampur Distillery, has been crafting alcoholic beverages for Indian consumers since 1943, even before India achieved Independence in 1947. Protected by trade barriersrules set by countries to limit foreign trade and protect local businesses, such as tariffs and quotasinitially set up by Britain and, later, upheld by Indian leaders to support small businesses, Radico Khaitan Limited began by producing bulk alcohol for local liquor makers and supplying spirits to the military. According to Bloomberg, the company launched its 8 PM whisky in 1998, named after the popular drinking hour in India. In recent years, it has also started making high-quality malt whiskies for export. A heavy 150% tax on imported liquor has allowed the Uttar Pradesh-based company to grow in India, the worlds biggest whisky market, without much competition from American bourbons or Scottish single malts. But now, Donald Trumps tariffs are beginning to shake things up. The US Presidents decision to introduce matching trade tariffs from April 2 has put pressure on New Delhi to respond. Indian officials are now working quickly to address US concerns and make trade fairer for American businesses. This year, policymakers have reduced several tariffs, including lowering taxes on American bourbon to 100%. Many in the industry believe more tax cuts could be coming soon. Radico mixes imported Scotch with its locally bottled whisky. Lower tariffs will help cut costs for the company. Lowering tariffs in return could help Radicos exports, such as its Rampur single-malt whisky, compete better in global markets. Sanjeev Banga, head of international business at Radico, one of Indias biggest liquor companies, feels it is only a matter of time, according to Bloomberg. Instead of opposing the tax cuts, Banga fully supports free trade and globalization because competition helps the industry grow. According to him, consumers should have the freedom to choose from a range of similar products. Economists are becoming more hopeful that Trump calling India the tariff king and his threats to impose similar taxes could push the country to make big changes to its long-standing trade policies. India imposes the highest tariffs among all major economies, significantly higher than those enforced by the US. This has made India a prime target for reciprocal tariffs during Trumps Administration. About $87.4 billion (approximately 7.5 lakh crore) worth of Indian goods, including pharmaceuticals and textiles, could be at risk. These are the products that India exported to the US in 2024. Besides lowering tariffs on bourbon last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has also reduced taxes on large-engine motorcycles, electronic parts, chemicals and other products. More tariff cuts on a variety of goods are also being considered. Indian officials are telling companies to get ready for changes in tariff rules that could make it harder to protect local businesses from foreign competition. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal recently urged exporters to stop relying on protectionist policies and, instead, build the confidence to compete in the global market. He stressed that being strong and self-reliant is the way forward. But not everyone in the worlds most populous country is happy about the sudden removal of tariffs. The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies has stated that it does not oppose reducing tariffs, but prefers that the cuts happen gradually over time instead of all at once. In 2023, India had an average tariff rate of 17% on goods from World Trade Organization (WTO) member-countries it did not have a special trade agreement with. In comparison, Chinas average tariff rate was 7.5%, Mexicos 6.8% and the USAs a much lower rate of just 3.3%. India is likely to reduce tariffs through trade deals made directly with its key trading partners. The country is currently negotiating such agreements with the US, UK and European Union. Officials are optimistic that their cooperative approach and ongoing discussions will be considered when the US decides on any new tariffs. Despite Indias efforts to reduce tariffs, Trump recently stated that the country would still face reciprocal tariffs. US officials are scheduled to arrive in India on Tuesday (April 1) for trade talks, where Indian officials are expected to request relief from the forthcoming tariff increase next week. The US embassy stated it was dedicated to strengthening trade relations with India and was focussed on having discussions that were positive, fair and geared toward the future. According to a Bloomberg report, Alexander Slater, managing director at Capstone, a business strategy firm in Washington, said that, unlike Canada and Mexico, two of the USAs biggest trading partners that have managed to push back against some of the White Houses trade policies, India does not have as many options to resist the Trump Administrations actions. Slater said the Trump Administration was determined to cut the trade deficit between the US and India and put an end to what it saw as an unfair trade relationship. India might be able to postpone new tariffs by lowering its own duties or increasing purchases of American energy and weapons, he said. However, using President Trumps words, he noted that India had very limited options in this situation. Beneficial Side-Effects Economists believe that, if India lowers its tariffs across the board, there may be some short-term difficulties. However, in the long run, it could help the economy grow by reducing the cost of imports and encouraging more investment. Pranjul Bhandari, chief India economist at HSBC Holdings Plc, feels that India significantly reduced tariffs in the 2000s while maintaining an average annual GDP growth rate of 7.8%, says Bloomberg. She explained that narrowing the gap between Indias tariffs and those in the US might slightly reduce Indias GDP growth by 0.3 percentage points in the short term. However, she believed that, from 2026 onwards, the impact could turn positive, adding that new opportunities and industries would emerge, production costs for many businesses would decrease and they would be able to export more. Abhishek Anand, a former civil servant and visiting fellow at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, said Indias high tariffs had mostly benefited big companies while making it harder for smaller businesses to compete. He explained that, in the garment industry, high tariffs had benefited such large companies as Reliance Industries Limited and the Aditya Birla Group. These companies procure their own raw materials and control the entire production process. Because of high tariffs, smaller garment companies have to buy materials from big local firms. Reducing these tariffs could create a fairer playing field. US distillers are looking forward to gaining from Indias lower trade barriers. Rob Marin, a senior vice-president at the Distilled Spirits Council of the US, said American whisky currently has little presence in the Indian market. He called the tariff cuts a great step in the right direction. (Girish Linganna is a Defence and Aerospace Analyst based out of Bengaluru. He is also the Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. The views expressed in this article are of the author only.) Union Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal while speaking in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025. Shah said that the bill will help curb illegal migrants and alleged that the TMC government is patronising the illegal infiltrators. "Whether Bangladeshi infiltrators or Rohingyas, earlier they used to enter India through Assam when Congress was in power. Now they enter India through West Bengal, where TMC is in power. Who issues them Aadhaar cards, citizenship?... All the Bangladeshis who have been caught have Aadhaar cards from 24 Parganas district. You (TMC) issue Aadhaar cards and they come to Delhi with voter cards," said the Union Home Minister. Shah further claimed that the Bengal government is not providing land for fencing 450 km of the border along Bangladesh despite repeated reminders. "For fencing this 450 km, I have written a letter to the Bengal government and have sent 10 reminders. The Bengal government is not providing land. For this 450km, the Home Secretary has held 7 meetings with the Bengal Chief Secretary, but they are not giving land for fencing. Where we go to erect a fence, the cadre of the ruling party comes and creates chaos, and raises religious slogans. The fencing for this 450 km is stopped just because the Bengal government is patronising infiltrators," said Shah. Speaking during the discussions on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Home Minister Amit Shah made a big statement defending the bill on Thursday and said that to ensure national security, it is important to know who, when, and why enter our country, and for how long they want to stay. After the three-hour-long debate, Shah said, This is very important. The main issue is that immigration is not an isolated subject, but it is directly or indirectly linked to various issues. "The bill will ensure close monitoring of everyone who visits India, why they visit India, and how long they want to stay in India. It is necessary to know the details of every foreigner visiting India," he added. He added, "I want to assure the country that we will have up-to-date information about every foreigner coming to our country." The Home Minister clarified that the government will keep a close watch on those who pose a threat to the security of India. "I welcome everyone who wants to visit India as a tourist, for education, for health care, for R&D, for business. But those who come as a threat to the country, we will keep a close look at them," he said. Talking to ANI, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that while they welcome the matter of national security but people who are critics of the present government are not allowed to enter India. He said, "The Matter of national security is fine, we welcome it. If a person is a critic of the government of the day, they are not allowed to enter India. We have seen many such examples..." #WATCH | Delhi: On the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi says, "Matter of national security is fine, we welcome it. If a person is a critic of the government of the day, they are not allowed to enter India. We have seen many such examples... I think pic.twitter.com/9FOBKhPj3z ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2025 The Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N. K. Premachandran told ANI that the opposition demanded that the Bill be referred to the standing or select committee since there are a lot of contentious provisions in it. "The imposition of it will adversely impact the fact that India is being considered a destination for foreign investments and medical tourism," he added. A bizarre case has come to light from Chhattisgarh, where a husband moved to the High Court demanding a virginity test for his wife. However, the Chhattisgarh High Court not only dismissed the petition declaring it unconstitutional but also slammed the husband for the move. The unique case involved serious allegations from both parties while the husband doubted his wifes character, the wife claimed that her husband was impotent. Chhattisgarh High Court Justice Arvind Kumar Verma not only rejected the husband's plea but also strongly criticized the virginity test demand, stating that such a request violates fundamental rights provided under the Constitution of India and the Dignity of Women. The legal dispute began after a man from Raigarh in Chhattisgarh got married on April 30, 2023, following Hindu rituals. Initially, their marital life seemed smooth, but within months, conflicts arose, following which the couple got separated. In July 2024, the wife approached the family court seeking Rs 20,000 per month as interim maintenance. The wife alleged that her husband was impotent and incapable of consummating the marriage. She further claimed that she had been deceived into the marriage by her husband and his family. In response, the husband accused his wife of having an extramarital affair with his brother-in-law. The family court, after hearing both sides, dismissed the husbands claims and ordered him to provide financial support to his wife. Unhappy with the verdict, he appealed to the High Court, reiterating his accusations and demanding a virginity test for his wife after being labelled impotent. The High Court firmly rejected his plea, emphasizing that such demands undermine a womans dignity and fundamental rights. After the West Bengal Police arrested five Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and three others over allegations of robbing a Kolkata woman while impersonating income-tax officials, the CISF has suspended them and initiated an internal inquiry against them over the matter, news agency PTI reported, citing sources. On the morning of March 18, a gang, posing as I-T officers, raided the residence of a woman, Vinita Singh, who stays with her daughter in the Chinar Park area of the city, according to Kolkata Police. The arrested CISF personnel include an inspector, a head constable, and three constables, one of whom is a woman. "An internal inquiry led by a senior officer of the force has been ordered into the incident. The five personnel are deemed to be suspended as they have been in police arrest for over 24 hours," a CISF officer said, as quoted by PTI. The personnel belong to different units and were on leave during the period when the said crime is stated by the police to have taken place. The CISF is cooperating in the police investigation, the officer said. According to the victim's complaint, the robbers took away Rs 3 lakh in cash, jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh, and a digital video recorder (DVR) that was linked to the CCTV cameras. The absence of a seizure list raised suspicion among the family members, prompting them to lodge a complaint at the Baguihati Police Station. (With agency inputs) Vowing to build a stronger Congress and a fairer India, former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday told district unit chiefs that there is a difficult ideological battle, which is ensuing and reminded them that the Congress had fought the British empire, in comparison to whom the BJP and the RSS "are a joke". Addressing the first of the three scheduled meetings of District Congress Presidents, Gandhi emphasized their role as the foundation of the Congress. "Without them, the party cannot thrive, cannot succeed. Our fight is not just against the RSS-BJP, it is for an India where every citizen, every community has the right to dream and achieve. Together, we will build a stronger Congress and a fairer India," he said in a post on his WhatsApp channel after the meeting. In a video of the meeting shared by him on his WhatsApp channel, Gandhi is heard saying that the Congress is fighting an ideological battle. "There are two visions of India, two concepts of India. On one side there is the RSS concept -- dictatorship, hierarchy, suppression of lower caste, suppression of weaker sections, suppression of women, disrespect to women -- and on the other side there is the Congress ideology, which gave us our freedom, which treats everybody equally," he said at the meeting. Gandhi said the Congress ideology treats all castes equally, all religions equally, and aspires to make India a fair and a harmonious place. "You know the division the BJP is causing. You can see two or three businessmen are operating like the East India Company used to operate. They own everything, they own the media, they own the telecom infrastructure, they get anything that they want, they get land, if they want ports, they get ports, if they want defence contracts, they get defence contracts," he added. Gandhi said this is not the India that the Congress intended to build, adding the party intended to build an India where all can aspire to greatness and everybody can dream. "So this is what the fight is. The fight is a difficult fight, but we have fought much more difficult fights before. We fought the British empire, if you remember, and the RSS and the BJP are a joke in front of the British empire," he said. The Congress leader said, "We are capable of defeating the BJP, but we will never be able to defeat the BJP without a strong district unit." "What do we expect of District Presidents that you will grow the party, bring in more members, and bring in capable leaders, he added. Gandhi said the party expects the District Congress Committee (DCC) chiefs to defend from attack when they see the party's ideology being attacked, weaker sections being attacked, Dalits, tribals, and minorities being attacked. He said they are also expected to ensure better coordination among their party people. The Congress leader said the DCC chiefs must run a district where everyone feels they are part of the family and the district does not run for one faction or for your own interest. We also want to give you the tools to be able to do that. We cannot say that we expect this from you and we are not going to give you the tools to do your job because at the end it is a partnership between yourselves and us, he said. Gandhi emphasised the role of the DCCs as the foundation of the Congress party. Seeking to strengthen the party at the grassroots, top Congress leadership held the meeting with the district unit chiefs and urged them to work unitedly with a long-term strategy to ensure victory in the upcoming state elections. In his inaugural address, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted the organisation's ideology is strong, but it cannot be implemented in the country without attaining power. This is the first time in years that the Congress organised such a meeting with the district chiefs which was attended by 338 DCCs from 13 states and three union territories. This was the first in the series of meetings, with two more slated here on April 3 and 4. Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025: The Lok Sabha today passed the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, brushing aside the opposition's concern and demand to send it to the JPC. The Bill aims to regulate the entry of foreigners into India. The bill was brought amid influx of illegal migrants in India from Bangladesh and Rohingyas from Myanmar. Also, the bill is not connected with any matters related with grant of citizenship. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that those visiting India for education, health, tourism and business are welcome but those coming with ill intentions will face consequences. Also Read: Amit Shah's Explosive Claim Against Bengal Govt Over Bangladeshi Infiltrators Replying to a Lok Sabha debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the legislation will strengthen the country's security, and boost the economy and business, besides encouraging the health and education sectors. Shah said the legislation will ensure the country's security, and boost economy and business besides encouraging the health and education sectors. "I welcome everyone who wants to visit India as a tourist, for education, for health care, for R&D, for business. But those who come as a threat to the country, we will keep a close look at them and take strong action against them," he said. Shah said the bill will strengthen India's security and help India become the most developed nation in the world by 2047. What Are The Provisions In The Bill? According to the Immigration And Foreigners Bill, 2025, anyone found to be using a forged passport or visa for entering India or staying in or exiting the country will be punishable with a jail term of up to seven years and a fine to the extent of Rs 10 lakh. The proposed legislation also provides for mandatory reporting of information about foreigners by hotels, universities, other educational institutions, hospitals and nursing homes to enable tracking of overstaying foreigners. * Any foreigner entering India without a valid passport or documents will face up to 5 years in jail and a fine of 5 lakh. * Providing false information or tampering with documents can result in up to 3 years of imprisonment and a fine of 3 lakh. * Anyone entering India without valid travel documents or a passport will be immediately detained. * If the case involves national security, the punishment could be even more severe. What Opposition Said Opposition MPs today claimed that some provisions of the bill seeking to streamline services related to immigration and foreigners give 'arbitrary powers' to immigration authorities. They demanded it should be sent to a joint parliamentary committee for detailed scrutiny. Congress MP Manish Tewari criticized a provision that makes the decision of an immigration officer final and binding. This essentially means there is no appeal, no argument, and no lawyer. Whatever the immigration officer decides will be absolute, he said. Comparing the Bill with immigration laws in other countries, Tewari pointed out that the US has immigration judges and Canada has an Immigration and Refugee Board, which provide avenues for appeal. Three police personnel were killed in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir during an encounter with terrorists on Thursday. Two terrorists were also gunned down during the encounter. Kathua has become a hotbed for terror activities with civilian killings taking place in the region. In the ongoing anti-terror operations, five security personnel were also injured and have been shifted to the hospital for treatment. Around half a dozen militants, suspected to have recently crossed over from Pakistan, were first seen by a local couple in the forests of Saniyal village near the International Border on Sunday evening. The couple, identified as Ganesh and his wife Jyoti, had gone to collect firewood when they spotted the group. Given the villages proximity to the border, security officials suspect that these militants are part of a newly infiltrated group. For the past five days, security forces and police, under the leadership of J&Ks Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, have been conducting extensive combing and search operations across multiple areas in the Hiranagar sector. The 64th CCH Sessions Court in Bengaluru has rejected the bail application of Ranya Rao in connection with a gold smuggling case. The court issued its order on Thursday. Earlier today, gold dealer Sahil Jain, who allegedly helped actor Ranya Rao sell smuggled gold, was sent to DRI custody till March 29. Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport after officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) found her carrying gold. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later filed an FIR based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. The FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, along with several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS). According to the complaint, two foreign nationals were arrested at Mumbai Airport on March 6 for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India, valued at Rs. 18.92 crore. According to the complaint, after Ranya Rao's arrest on March 3, two foreign nationals were also arrested on March 6 at the Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India worth Rs. 18.92 crore, as per the complaint. The CBI has filed an FIR in the gold smuggling case on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. The FIR has been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) on the complaint of Abhishek Chandra Gupta. The complaint discloses the cognisable offences U/s 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 20148) r/w 61(2) of BNS. Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI, in his complaint, has said that these cases involving passengers making trips from Dubai and attempting to smuggle gold in large quantities point to a "possible nexus" with a coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE). In Ranya Rao's case, she travelled to Dubai multiple times, while the two arrested foreign nationals had previously arrived at the Mumbai airport multiple times. Gupta, in his complaint, also suspected the possibility of the involvement of public servants and others. The topic of artificial intelligence (AI), highlighted by the powerful domestic large language model DeepSeek, gained prominence at the annual "two sessions" in early March. It remained a key focus at this year's China Development Forum (CDF), held from March 23 to 24 in Beijing. Scholars, industry experts and government representatives from home and abroad took part in a panel discussion on March 24 at the Symposium on the Inclusive Development of AI at the CDF 2025, exploring AI definitions, breakthroughs, challenges and collaboration for an inclusive AI future. The Symposium on the Inclusive Development of AI at the CDF 2025 is held in Beijing, March 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Development Forum 2025] A panel discussion themed "Inclusive Development of AI" is held at the CDF 2025, Beijing, March 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Development Forum 2025] In his speech at the event, Yuval Noah Harari, distinguished research fellow of the University of Cambridge and author of the groundbreaking "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind," explained: "AI does not mean automation. AI means agency. AI isn't a tool in our heads; AI is an agent." He further elaborated on AI's capacity to learn, change, make decisions and invent new things by itself, while warning of the "paradox of trust" that exists in the technology. "We should build more trust between humans before we develop truly super-intelligent AI agency," Harari noted, when discussing how people can flourish in the era of AI. Yuval Noah Harari, distinguished research fellow at the University of Cambridge, and author of "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind," delivers a speech at the Symposium on the Inclusive Development of AI at the CDF 2025 held in Beijing, March 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Development Forum 2025] The importance of trust was reinforced by Bill Thomas, global chairman and CEO of KPMG, who stated that widespread AI application requires full and deep trust in this emerging technology. Regarding how to promote the inclusive development of AI, several speakers at the symposium emphasized a people-centered approach. "The application of AI must reflect humanistic care instead of losing its warmth," said Gu Shu, chairman of the Agricultural Bank of China when speaking about the integration of AI technologies into the financial sector. Holger Klein, CEO and chairman of the board of management of ZF Group, also highlighted the company's people-centered approach toward an AI future, asserting that while AI has great potential, it must be directed toward good. "We will adopt a people-centered approach to ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to everyone," noted Zhang Jinliang, chairman of the China Construction Bank. The healthy development of AI also requires oversight, according to the attending experts, such as Liu Liehong, director of the National Data Administration, who said, "We will actively participate in and continuously promote the security governance of artificial intelligence." Christophe De Vusser, worldwide managing partner, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Bain & Company, stressed the goal of "responsible AI," emphasizing the importance of human oversight and accountability in preventing harmful outcomes and ensuring legal compliance. Looking ahead, the guest speakers all emphasized the importance of cooperation in the emerging AI landscape. "The precondition of international governance of AI is for the global community to be open to each other, to embrace each other's AI efforts," said Duane Kuang, founding managing partner of Qiming Venture Partners. Klein also committed to collaborating with government, research institutions and other partners to harness the potential of AI for good. "We are eager to work together with friends from all sectors to advance AI technology, making it more inclusive and beneficial for all," Zhang concluded in his speech. Participants attend the Symposium on the Inclusive Development of AI at the CDF 2025 held in Beijing, March 24, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Development Forum 2025] City staff said this week they're still seeking private donations to conduct a "housing sprint" as they wind down operations at the Johnson Street Shelter and look to find living arrangements for the people who stay there. The city hopes to house roughly 150 people who use the homeless shelter, which Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis announced earlier this month would close on Aug. 31. But a nonprofit leader noted during a Wednesday update to city council that just $15,000 of the $400,000 goal the city set to complete the housing sprint had been raised so far. United Way of Missoula County Executive Director Susan Hay Patrick listed the figures to council and stressed that United Way would not be contributing funds to the effort. "We will put energy and commitment into the sprint fund, but we will be looking to the public sector, and to institutional funders, foundations, (and) businesses," Patrick said. "It would be too big a lift for us to do alone to add that to our other responsibilities." The city has not said if or how much city funding will be used for the project. City Chief Administrative Officer Dale Bickell told the Missoulian there is a chance city dollars will be used for the sprint, but the council must approve any money through a budget amendment. Mayor Davis said she feels confident the city will reach the $400,000 mark through donations, especially through local institutions, but would not name any group at the meeting. Davis said on average, the city needs $2,000 per person to reach its goal. "We have other significant commitments, but they are not final yet," Davis said. "Providing the specifics today wouldn't be appropriate, but we have significant commitments and we will be coming back with that detail." Davis stressed that the city cannot afford to keep the shelter open for another year, which she tagged as a $2 million expense for fiscal year 2026. Missoula's Houseless Programs Manager Emily Armstrong said roughly 140-160 people have been using the Johnson Street Shelter on a nightly basis recently. The city has acknowledged it is unlikely the housing sprint will rehouse all people staying in Johnson Street, but hopes to reach as many as possible in the next five months. Armstrong said a group of 41 people from the city, local nonprofits and other agencies have formed a team to plan and carry out the housing sprint, which first met on Tuesday this week. Armstrong said they set office hours and developed plans to gather volunteer helpers. "We are learning in real time and that is what we are starting with," Armstrong said. Team members for the housing sprint will hold daily meetings with people staying at the Johnson Street Shelter in the morning and afternoon to identify who could be rehoused quickly and who might need more financial support, she said. Groups like the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative will use housing support volunteers to act as case managers to help people walk through the system. As the housing sprint is ongoing, the city has directed the shelter to drop its capacity on a monthly basis through its closure date. At the end of April, the shelter is required to reduce capacity by 30 people, according to Poverello Center Executive Director Jill Bonney. While Bonney said the capacity reduction shouldn't be an issue right away, as they've been under capacity recently, she added that if the city is not successful in rehousing people by the end of May, they'll likely need to turn people away. While several councilors expressed support for closing Johnson Street, one councilor said the situation will needlessly move people onto the street while the city is still paying for the shelter's services. "Why don't we just reduce capacity by the number of people that get into permanent housing, rather than reducing capacity at a higher amount than people getting into housing?" Councilor Daniel Carlino questioned. Carlino previously expressed a desire to put forth policy that would keep the shelter open for another year. On Monday night he told the council he would be interested in introducing policy to stop the required monthly bed reduction. Armstrong responded that the city must close the shelter in August, and said a strategic reduction would be less disruptive to the surrounding neighborhood. "The gradual phase down is intended to work in tandem with the housing sprint," Armstrong said. "... The intention is as we are helping folks find solutions, we are also decreasing capacity at the shelter." Armstrong said that people interested in helping the housing sprint can make a donation through United Way or volunteer with the Missoula Interfaith Collaborative. They're also seeking landlords willing to use their properties for the housing sprint. City officials noted that warmer weather and the closure of the shelter will likely increase the number of people sleeping outdoors, adding that it's bolstering its funding for enforcement of its urban camping law, which regulates where, when and how people can sleep outdoors on city property. The city has created a five-person enforcement team to address urban camping, which is on top of a $600,000 private security contract with Black Knight Security to patrol near the shelters and enforce the urban camping law. "This provides (us) to be more proactive in our outreach and compliance effort and also let us work with our partners like the Poverello Homeless Outreach Team, and Hope Rescue Mission's team to help people connect with services as well," Bickell said. Bickell noted that funding for urban camping enforcement was already budgeted last summer. Kunal Kamra Joke Row: After comedian Kunal Kamra, who is under fire over his joke on Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, failed to appear on the first date, Mumbai Police on Wednesday issued a second summons asking him to appear for clarification over his joke. Kamra, who often finds himself amid controversies for his actions, referred to Eknath Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor) in his latest stand-up video, "Naya Bharat," on YouTube. The standup comedian failed to appear on the first date, and his lawyer had requested seven days. However, after he did not appear, Mumbai Police issued another date after taking legal opinion. Mumbai Police are investigating allegations that before making a mockery of former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Kamra had made satirical remarks about several other noted personalities. According to the police, if the investigation reveals that Kamra has previously made satirical remarks about any politician, actor, or sportsperson, action will be taken against him, as reported by news agency ANI. Officials clarified that while Kamra's lawyer contacted them, the comedian himself had not been in touch with police officials. Meanwhile, a breach of privilege notice was moved against stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in the Maharashtra legislative council on Wednesday over his parody song targeting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. BJP legislator Pravin Darekar moved the notice against the comedian as well as Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare. "Kunal Kamra performed a song containing personal and insulting references to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde," said Darekar, leader of the legislative council, presenting the motion. "Andhare supported the performance and used objectionable language, which amounts to contempt of the House," he further said. Both Kamra and Andhare disrespected the dignity of legislative institutions through their remarks, Darekar claimed. The notice will have to be approved by Council chairman Ram Shinde before it is presented to the privilege committee. If the committee approves it, the motion will be discussed in the House. Several political leaders condemned his remarks during a stand-up show and demanded action against him. On Tuesday, Kamra shared a new video mocking Shiv Sena workers for vandalizing The Habitat comedy club in Mumbai, where he had previously performed. Reacting to the controversy, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, "Our CM Devendra Fadnavis had responded to 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 against Kamra's remarks. Speaking in the state assembly on Monday, he said the government would not allow freedom of expression to become a tool for spreading "tyranny." The Chief Minister said, "We appreciate humor 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 low-quality comedy," the CM said, adding that the people will decide whether Eknath Shinde is a traitor or a selfish person. Kerala Lottery Results Thursday 27-03-2025 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Karunya KN-566" Lucky Draw Result today Karunya KN-566, March 27, 2025. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2025 for "Karunya KN-566" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KN-566 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 80 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Karunya KN-566 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 27-03-2025 Mar: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA PLUS KN-566 Draw LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 80 LAKHS IS: PF 997621 LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKHS IS:PB 953356 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 LAKHS ARE: 1) PA 423550 2) PB 125284 3) PC 202048 4) PD 976814 5) PE 893977 6) PF 668443 7) PG 465310 8) PH 469088 9) PJ 333717 10) PK 847862 11) PL 644952 12) PM 452201 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: PA 997621 PB 997621 PC 997621 PD 997621 PE 997621 PG 997621 PH 997621 PJ 997621 PK 997621 PL 997621 PM 997621 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0766 1979 2081 2342 3026 3886 4737 6106 6498 7057 7387 8376 8413 8756 9529 9579 9721 9995 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0190 0255 0514 0674 1325 1360 2466 2566 3017 3262 3638 4048 4061 4552 4970 5019 5375 5883 5964 5970 6723 7014 7372 7499 7598 7725 8424 8674 9079 9180 9389 9480 9642 9965 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0064 0138 0633 0646 0878 1103 1172 1209 1245 1287 1311 1505 1532 2053 2399 2895 2942 3075 3156 3331 3556 3594 3758 3849 3907 4111 4157 4292 4385 4413 4557 4629 4678 4953 5048 5100 5181 5337 5570 5808 5815 5861 5985 6023 6103 6314 6320 6542 6593 6700 6731 6914 6922 7045 7139 7167 7171 7277 7509 7603 7766 8125 8255 8487 8489 8498 8593 8641 8657 8743 8904 8963 8968 9013 9220 9430 9650 9683 9691 9719 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0328 0346 0383 0401 0542 0548 0551 0584 0684 0707 0808 0995 1004 1059 1231 1284 1414 1444 1534 1574 1610 1629 1651 1666 1690 1694 1711 1729 1765 1854 1867 2165 2249 2412 2669 2809 2825 2866 2917 3008 3029 3072 3178 3195 3271 3310 3319 3488 3680 3726 3732 3819 3871 3876 3882 3915 3917 3996 4204 4323 4400 4407 4561 4741 5041 5097 5129 5168 5283 5391 5481 5521 5681 5789 5850 5925 6173 6188 6244 6249 6343 6410 6550 6661 6920 6953 6997 7080 7475 7536 7573 7680 7814 7878 7879 8078 8159 8189 8196 8228 8245 8338 8396 8554 8573 8698 8730 8747 8853 8931 9086 9099 9109 9148 9187 9311 9326 9536 9722 9737 9797 9869 9893 9896 9901 9987 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY 27-03-2025 March: KARUNYA PLUS KN-566 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 80 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) Telangana: The southern states are uniting against the delimitation and the protest is picking pace after the meeting of the Joint Action Committee called by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. Following the footsteps of Tamil Nadu, the Telangana assembly has passed a resolution against the delimitation process while urging the Centre not to take steps detrimental to the legitimate rights of the people. Sharing the info on X, Telangana Chief Minister Revenath Reddy said, "As the leader of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, we passed a resolution today asking the Centre not to take any steps that compromise the political self-respect & legitimate rights of our people. People of Telangana & citizens of all other states of South India, are united to protect our rights and not to allow any discriminatory & biased Delimitation to be conducted which would seriously impale the economically highest productive states of the country." Reacting to the resolution, Reddy said that the fight will continue. "We will fight against all attempts to take away our rights. The first battle was won today. The war ahead is long but we will eventually prevail," he said. Reddy said that the threat of a decline in the representation of the South to 19 per cent from 24 per cent is not ruled out if the delimitation was carried out by taking the population as the main criterion. The resolution urged the Centre to carry out delimitation only after consultations with all the state governments and all political parties. CM Reddy alleged that one party was trying to remain in power at the Centre by increasing the number of seats in North India. He recalled that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had observed that the delimitation on a population basis would ruin friendly and cordial relations between the states. He said a fresh debate on the delimitation of constituencies on a population basis has started creating apprehensions among Southern states. The resolution also urged the Centre to increase the number of seats in the Telangana Assembly from 119 to 153. Further, the House resolves that in order to strengthen the representative democracy, the number of seats in the state Assembly should be immediately increased from 119 to 153 pursuant to the A.P Reorganization Act, 2014 and as per the latest census. This House urges the Union Government to introduce necessary Constitutional amendments for this purpose, the resolution read. The Chief Minister alleged that the Union government was discriminating against the state. He said the Centre amended the Constitution and increased the number of Assembly constituencies from 83 to 90 as per the 2011 census in Jammu and Kashmir. In Sikkim, a resolution was passed in the Cabinet in 2018 and the process of delimitation of constituencies is currently underway. Bihar Doctors Strike: OPD services are likely to remain shut in government hospitals across Bihar as doctors began a three-day strike on Thursday, leading to the closure of services over the failure of the Nitish Kumar-led state government to respond to several issues and demands put forwards by medics. The OPD services in government hospitals will remain suspended for three days. This decision was made by the Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA) in response to various demands, including biometric attendance and administrative harassment. The strike is expected to cause significant distress to patients, particularly those from rural areas who depend on government healthcare facilities. One of the key reasons behind the susoension of services include the issue of biometric attendance, which has resulted in the suspension of salaries for doctors in several districts. Other pending demands include the security of female doctors, accommodation arrangements in hospitals, and security measures in hospitals. Speaking on the suspension of the OPD services following the doctors' strike, the Director of LNJP Hospital Dr Subhash Chandra stated that they were operating the OPD, with 400 registrations, but suspended the services following the call from the association. However, other services will remain available. The BHSA has called for a three-day boycott, emphasizing that they do not want patients to face difficulties. Emergency services will continue to operate as usual. According to Dr Vinay Kumar, spokesperson for BHSA, repeated appeals to the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government over critical issues, including the safety of doctors, salary concerns, posting in home districts and lack of basic facilities, have gone unanswered. "The government has remained silent on our demands, forcing doctors to boycott work. We have decided to strike for three days from Thursday," Dr. Kumar said. Doctors also cited an incident in Sheohar, where they were allegedly mistreated during a meeting with a District Magistrate, leading to further frustration. The strike has led to the suspension of OPD services in all medical colleges, Sadar hospitals, referral hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in all 38 districts of Bihar. Patients with prior appointments for surgeries and treatments will either need to reschedule or have their appointments adjusted once the strike ends. "Poor patients, especially those from rural areas, will be the most affected as they cannot afford private healthcare," a hospital official stated. The BHSA has warned that if the government fails to find a concrete solution by March 29, the strike could escalate further. "If our demands are not met, we will intensify the strike in the state," Dr. Kumar added. With government hospitals being a lifeline for rural healthcare, the ongoing strike has raised concerns about access to essential medical services for the economically weaker sections. (With IANS Inputs) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday launched a satching attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his recent remarks on the delimitation and three-language policy issue. CM Stalin stated that Tamil Nadu's strong stance on the two-language policy and fair delimitation has 'rattled' the BJP. "Tamil Nadu's fair and firm voice on #TwoLanguagePolicy and #FairDelimitation is echoing nationwide--and the BJP is clearly rattled. Just watch their leaders' interviews. And now Hon'ble Yogi Adityanath wants to lecture us on hate? Spare us," said in a post on X. Stalin described Adityanath's stance as a stark irony, labelling it "political black comedy at its darkest." He clarified that Tamil Nadu does not oppose any language, but stands firm against the imposition of chauvinism. He added, "This isnt ironyits political black comedy at its darkest. We dont oppose any language; we oppose imposition and chauvinism. This isnt riot-for-votes politics. This is a battle for dignity and justice." During an interview with ANI CM Yogi said that Stalin was trying to create divisions based on region and language because he felt his vote bank was at risk. UP CM emphasised that language should unite, not divide, people. He pointed out that Tamil is one of India's oldest languages, with a rich history and heritage. "I believe this is the message conveyed by our National Anthem as well. This is merely narrow politics. When these people feel their vote bank is at risk, they try to create divisions based on region and language. The people of this country should always be alert to such divisive politics and stand firm for the unity of the country," CM Yogi Adityanath said. Russia-India Ties: In a much-awaited visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India in the coming days, confirmed Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday. Addressing a conference titled 'Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda', Lavrov said that Putin has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India and preparations are underway for it. The dates are yet to be finalized by the respective governments. "President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared," said Lavrov, as reported by the state-run TASS news agency. The Russian Foreign Minister also noted that PM Modi's first foreign visit after re-election was to Russia last year and now it's Russia's turn to reciprocate. Prime Minister Modi visited Russia in July 2024, his first trip to the country in nearly five years. Earlier, he visited the far eastern city of Vladivostok in 2019 to attend an economic conclave. During the last visit, Modi invited Putin to visit India. On March 24, Lavrov said Russia is developing a "privileged strategic partnership" with India. Lavrov said at an event that Russia is actively expanding ties with countries like China, India, Iran, North Korea and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. "The relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with the Peoples Republic of China boast an unprecedented level of mutual trust. Particularly privileged strategic partnership is developing with India," the top Russian diplomat said. Putin and Modi maintain regular contact, holding telephone conversations once every couple of months. The two leaders also hold in-person meetings, particularly on the sidelines of international events. (With PTI inputs) A day after her social media post condemning discrimination based on skin color, Keralas Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan on Wednesday said that when you are a black (dark-skinned) woman, you are invisible. As a woman, it is difficult to be heard. But when you are a black (dark-skinned) woman, you are invisible, Muraleedharan (59) told The Indian Express. The comment, made in a seemingly joking manner, suggested that her administration was "black" and thus inferior. However, Muraleedharan counters the remark, asserting we don't need external validation. "I think it's high time for me not to feel defensive about either the fact that I am a woman or that I am dark. It's time that I own both of these and that I come out strongly. By my coming out strongly, maybe it will help those people who are going through similar feelings of insecurity and inadequacy, to feel that we are worth it and we don't need external validation...," Muraleedharan told ANI. Earlier on Tuesday, Muraleedharan shared a recent incident she faced in the office and said, "Heard an interesting comment yesterday on my stewardship as chief secretary - that it is as black as my husband's was white." Who is Sarada Muraleedharan? Muraleedharan held the Kerala Chief secretary position since she took over from her husband Dr V Venu in September 2024. She is a 1990-batch IAS officer. Reportedly, Muraleedharan headed the Kudumbashree Mission of the Kerala government from year 2006 to 2012 which mainly focused on empowering women, reducing poverty and emphasising human rights perspectives. She also workef as as the chief operating officer at the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. In a significant political shift in Kashmir, four separatist groups have severed ties with the Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of separatist parties, and pledged their allegiance to the Union of India. This development follows a surge in police action against separatist organizations operating in the Kashmir Valley. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the move, stating that separatism in Jammu and Kashmir is "on its last breath." In a tweet, he remarked, Under the Modi government, separatism is breathing its last, and the triumph of unity is echoing across Kashmir. He urged other groups to abandon separatist agendas and integrate into the mainstream. This wave of realignment comes amid intensified operations by Jammu and Kashmir Police against proscribed separatist organizations. Recent raids targeting the residences of prominent Hurriyat leaders and activists have been conducted as part of ongoing investigations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The four separatist groups that have announced their dissociation from the Hurriyat Conference include the JK Democratic Political Movement, JK People's Movement, JK Tahreeqi Isteqlal, and JK Tahreek-I-Istiqamat. Ghulam Nabi Sofi, leader of Tehreek-e-Istiqlal, affirmed his commitment to India and its Constitution, stating, "I have never been associated with any act that is detrimental to India's interests, nor do I or my organization intend to be part of any group that works against India in the future." Over the past week, police have carried out extensive searches at the residences of separatist leaders, including former Hurriyat chairman Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is currently in Tihar Jail. Raids have targeted residences, shops, and premises of individuals suspected of links with banned organizations across Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Budgam, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kupwara, and other areas. The searches were conducted after obtaining warrants from the Special Judge of the NIA court. Authorities ensured that all operations were carried out following legal procedures and in the presence of Executive Magistrates. Officials have emphasized that these measures aim to dismantle the remaining secessionist networks in Jammu and Kashmir, with strict legal consequences for those found promoting violence or disruption. The Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted search operations at multiple locations in Shopian district of south Kashmir, targeting individuals associated with the banned separatist organization, Jammu and Kashmir Jammat-e-Islami (JEI). The searches were conducted as part of the ongoing investigation into Case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) at Police Station Shopian. The operation aimed to dismantle anti-national and separatist networks by identifying and taking legal action against individuals involved in such activities. The searches were also carried out at the residences of multiple individuals at Batgund Hee Poora, Nowpora, Baskuchan, Gonchi Mohallah Trenz, Chotipora Heerpora and Maldera Zainapora area of Shopian after obtaining a search warrant from the Honble Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shopian. Meanwhile, Shopian police conducted multiple raids across the district, targeting individuals associated with proscribed outfits such as Tehreek-e-Hurriyat , Muslim League, and JEI who are 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). In north Kashmir Baramulla Police conducted a raid in Kanispora Baramulla, in connection with a case registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). ''A police team, led by DYSP along with SHO Baramulla carried out a search operation at the residence of Ab Rashid Gilkar son of Ghulam Rasool, a resident of Tawheed Colony, Kanispora. Gilkar is the District President of the banned organization JKDFP, and the search was conducted in connection with case FIR No. 13/2024 U/S 10, 13 UAPA at Police Station Baramulla, ''said Jammu and Kashmir Police. All those raids were conducted in accordance with legal procedures, in the presence of the Executive Magistrate and local village representatives, including the Lumberdar and Chowkidar. Chennai: The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 11 Tamil Nadu fishermen and took them to Kangesanthurai Naval camp for investigation, officials said on Thursday. According to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association, 11 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended in one boat fishing in the Bay of Bengal in Tamil Nadu. Earlier on March 20, 13 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing outside the approved boundaries returned home to India after being handed over by the Indian Embassy in Colombo. The group of fishermen were arrested on February 26, and were produced in Mallakam court in Sri Lanka, kept imprisoned for nearly a month. Additionally, three fishermen were also admitted to a government hospital in Sri Lanka due to sustaining injuries. The Sri Lankan court reportedly released 13 fishermen on March 12 after talks between the two sides. Flights tickets from Colombo (Sri Lanka's capital) to Chennai were arranged for the fishermen, sending them to India after issuing temporary passports to them. Officials of the Department from the Karaikal area welcomed them and took them to the Karaikal area in a separate vehicle. Earlier, on March 18, a group of three fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing near Delft Island in the Palkbay Sea area. The arrested were identified as A Shankar (53), M Arjunan (35), and S Murugesan (49). The fishermen, who had received their fishing permits on March 17, were reportedly told by the Sri Lankan Navy that they had crossed the maritime border. The captured boat, IND-TN-10-MM-496, belongs to Thangachimadam Kennedy. Authorities are currently investigating the three men. On February 23, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed concern over the increase in the capture of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, urging the Centre to convene a Joint Working Group (JWG) to find a permanent solution to the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wrote a letter to Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to Bangladesh's interim government to commemorate the Bangladesh National Day. In the letter to Yunus, the Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to advancing the partnership between the two countries. While referring to the Bangladesh Liberation War as a "shared history in his letter, PM Modi highlighted the significance of mutual sensitivity. "I extend my felicitations to you and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh," PM Modi wrote. "This day stands as a testament to our shared history and sacrifices that 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," he wrote. "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. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," the Prime Minister added. Opposition members on Thursday raised concerns over the deportation of Indian citizens from the US in chains and handcuffs, questioning why many are compelled to take the 'Dunki route' if India truly has a strong global standing. The 'Dunki route' refers to an illegal migration pathway used by people attempting to enter countries like the US, Canada, and Europe without proper documentation, often facilitated by human smuggling networks. The comments were made during the debate on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, in Lok Sabha, which seeks to streamline services related to immigration and the entry, exit, and stay of foreigners in India. Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai criticized the government's claims of India's rising global stature, citing the decline in the country's passport ranking. "In 2014, our passport ranking was 76. Now, after 10 years of so-called progress, it has slipped to 85. What does that say about our global strength?" he asked. Rai also pointed to the deportation of Indian youths under the pretext of illegal immigration, questioning why the government remained silent. "Agar desh ka danka baj raha hai desh ki vyavastha itni achi hai toh dunki route se jaane ki koi zarurat nahi thi.....Ek bhi American pakda jaata hai toh usko bhi aap hathkadi mein wapis bheja jaata hai ("If the country's success is being widely recognized and its system is so good, then there was no need to use the 'Dunki route'... If even a single American is caught, will you also send them back in handcuffs?" he said. "Our young people were sent back in handcuffs, right after the prime minister's visit to the US. If India's standing was truly strong, why would people still resort to illegal routes?" he added. Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray also referred to the struggles of Indians taking illegal routes to migrate to the US. "If you have seen Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Dunki', you will understand how much hardship people endure to reach America for a better life," he said. "But the way America sent our people back, with their hands and feet shackled, was a national insult. An American Air Force plane dropped deported Indians in Chandigarh, yet we remained silent. The government has failed to stop this humiliation," he said. DMK MP Kanimozhi also raised concerns about the treatment of deported Indians. "On the international stage, we have seen how our citizens are being deported in inhumane conditions," she warned. She also pointed to India's decline in the global passport index. "In 2006, India ranked 71st, reflecting a more favourable global standing. Now, it has dropped to 85th, making global mobility a challenge for most citizens," she said. New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs has not hired any IAF, chartered or commercial civilian aircraft for Indian immigrants' repatriation from any country since 2020, the government informed Parliament on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita said this in a written response to a query in Rajya Sabha by TMC MP Saket Gokhale. The MEA was asked for the details of all instances when the ministry used Indian Air Force aircraft or chartered or commercial civilian aircraft for the repatriation of Indian immigrants being deported from other countries between 2020 till date. It also asked the details of countries that have used military aircraft for deporting Indian immigrants since 2020. "The Ministry of External Affairs has not hired any Indian Air Force or Chartered/Commercial Civilian aircraft for the purposes of repatriation of Indian immigrants being deported from any country since 2020. However, in a few exceptional cases, Indian immigrants facing deportation were assisted to return home on means-tested basis through purchase of tickets on commercial flights," Margherita said. A total 388 Indian nationals have been deported from the US since January 2025, the government informed Parliament on March 21. They were illegally residing in the US and were deported in military aircraft. Of these, 333 were deported directly from the US on three separate military flights in February. Also, the US deported 55 Indian nationals through Panama in commercial flights, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh had said in a written response in Lok Sabha. From 2009 to 2024, a total of 15,564 Indian nationals have been deported by the US to India in chartered or commercial aircraft, the minister said. In response to a separate query from AAP MP Harbhajan Singh, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh on Thursday said the government has registered its concerns with the US government regarding the need to accommodate religious sensitivities and food preferences of Indian nationals who are being deported. "In response, the US authorities have conveyed that deportees on the three chartered flights that arrived on 5th, 15th & 16th February 2025 respectively were not instructed to remove any religious head coverings and that the deportees did not request any religious accommodation during the flights, aside from requesting for vegetarian meals. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) also conveyed that some of the detainees arrived at the US border without turbans," he said. The MEA remains engaged with the US side to ensure humane treatment of deportees during such operations, the minister said. In response to a separate question, he said beginning January 20, 2025, the US deported a total of 55 Indian nationals who arrived in New Delhi via Panama. These individuals were deported to Panama by the US under a bilateral arrangement. "Panama in turn facilitated the deportation of these individuals to New Delhi on commercial flights with the assistance of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM). No Indian national has been deported by the US to any other country besides Panama. The Ministry of External Affairs remains engaged with the US in ensuring the safe return of all individuals who have been verified as Indian nationals," he added. New Delhi: Legendary screenwriter Javed Akhtar has backed Malayalam superstar Mohanlal's gesture of visiting Sabarimala Temple to seek blessings for his friend and fellow actor Mammootty. On March 26, the icon took to his X handle and praised their bond, He wrote, ''I wish every Mammootty in India had a friend like Mohanlal, and every Mohanlal had a friend like Mammootty.'' Take A Look At The Post: I wish every Mamooty of India had a friend like Mohan Lal and every Mohan Lal had a friend like Mamooty . It is obvious that their great friendship is beyond the understanding of some Small , narrow minded , petty and negative people but who cares . Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 26, 2025 Javed Akhtar Slams Netizens Amid Ongoing Row Amid the onging controversy the legendary lyricist slams netizens he took to X and wrote, ''It is obvious that their great friendship is beyond the understanding of some Small , narrow minded , petty and negative people but who cares.'' Heres your grammatically corrected and refined version: Mohanlal's recent visit to Sabarimala Temple has landed the superstar in a religious debate. However, this is not the first time the Malayalam actor has done something like this. L2: Empuraan director Prithviraj Sukumaran broke his silence on the matter, stating, "This time, it made it to the news." On March 18, during the Usha Puja, superstar Mohanlal submitted a note to the Sabarimala temple priest mentioning Mammoottys birth name, Muhammed Kutty, and his birth star, Vishakham. A receipt from the Devaswom office confirming this later went viral on social media, sparking controversy over the prayer. Following the receipts circulation, Mohanlals gesture received mixed reactions. While some saw it as a symbol of communal harmony, others argued that offering Hindu prayers on behalf of a Muslim contradicts Islamic beliefs. According to NDTV, the superstar had also submitted Mammoottys name and star, along with those of his own family. Earlier, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal stated that prayers are a personal matter and that there was nothing wrong with offering them for Mammootty. He clarified that the puja was conducted after the actor faced a minor health setback. Recently, Malayalam superstar Mammootty recently extended his support for the much-awaited Malayalam film 'L2: Empuraan', the sequel to Lucifer which star Mohanlal. On tuesday, Taking to his X account, the actor expressed his excitement about the film's release and wished the cast and crew success. "Best wishes to the entire cast and crew of #Empuraan for a historic victory! Hope it crosses boundaries across the world and makes the entire Malayalam industry proud. Rooting for you, dear Lal and Prithvi," he wrote. L2: Empuraan stars Mohanlal, Tovino Thomas, Abhimanyu Singh, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Manju Warrier, among others. The film is set to hit theatres on March 27. New Delhi: Bollywood topgun Salman Khan is gearing up for the release of his upcoming Eid blockbuster Sikandar on March 30. In a candid interaction with the media during the promotional event of 'Sikandar', Salman opened up on facing death threats from Lawrence Bishnoi over the killing of blackbuck in Jaipur. The actor told the media, Bhagwan, Allah sab unpar hai. Jitni umar likhi hai, utni likhi hai. Bas yahi hai (It's all up to God, Allah. What is written is written. That's all). Sometimes, having to move around with so many people becomes a problem. The jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi wants to avenge the alleged hunting of the black buck by the superstar in the 1990s while filming 'Hum Saath Saath Hai' in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Bishnoi community revers the black buck. Salman added that he is not afraid of the threats, and has left it to God to look after him and safety. Bishnoi, gained national attention after the murder of Punjabi star Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022 In 2024, 2 men on a bike fired multiple shots outside the actors residence Galaxy Apartments in the Bandra area of Mumbai. The investigation later revealed that the shooting was aimed at intimidating the actor and was carried out on the instructions of Lawrence Bishnoi. The Bishnoi community considers blackbucks to be sacred, and the actors alleged involvement has enraged the gangster, who has revenge on his mind. Last year, in October, The NCP (Ajit Pawar) politician Baba Siddique, who was Salmans dear friend, was gunned down by three assailants near his house in Mumbai. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the murder. After the incident, Salmans security was beefed up, and the balcony of his house has also been covered with bullet-proof glass. (With IANS inputs) 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). Under what circumstances the option of assured payout under UPS shall not be available to the Central Government employees? The option of assured payout under UPS shall not be available to the Central Government employees in the following circumstances: a. In case of an employee superannuating before qualifying service of 10 years, from the date of superannuation. b. In case of removal or dismissal from service or resignation of the employee. New Delhi: ChatGPT-4os Ghibli-style feature has taken the internet by storm in just 24 hours. The AI chatbot now lets users transform their images into different artistic styles with Studio Ghibli being the most popular. People everywhere are trying it out and uploading their photos and watching them get magical. Anime-inspired makeover. It is available on both web and mobile. How to Create Studio Ghibli-Style Images with ChatGPT-4o - Works with Free Accounts: Simply sign in with your Google ID or create a new OpenAI account. - Fast & Easy: The AI chatbot generates images quickly, though the free version has some limitations. Steps to Generate Ghibli-Style AI Images: - Go to the ChatGPT website - Log in with your Google ID or create a new OpenAI account - Open the ChatGPT interface on your screen - Enter a prompt using the keyword Studio Ghibli to generate AI-stylized images - DALL-E powers the image generation to create stunning Ghibli-style illustrations Try Free Alternatives for Ghibli-Style Art You dont need a ChatGPT subscription to create Studio Ghibli-inspired images! Free tools like Craiyon, DeepAI, and Playground AI let you generate AI art with different customization options. Just upload a photo or enter a prompt like portrait in Studio Ghibli style, lush forest background, soft colors, and let the AI bring your vision to life. These tools may not have GPT-4os photorealistic accuracy but they do capture Ghiblis signature charmflowing hair, dreamy landscapes, and soft expressions. If you want more control, try Artbreeder, where you can mix images and adjust styles. Some features are free, while others may require an upgrade. Amid the United States Tariff war, President Donald Trump said on Thursday that larger tariffs could be placed on the European Union and Canada if both the nations work together to harm America. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, "If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, 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." This comes a day after the United States President made a significant policy announcement from the Oval Office and declared a 25 percent tariff on all imported vehicles entering the country. He described the move as "very exciting" for domestic manufacturing. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen dubbed Trumps decision as "bad for businesses, worse for consumers," as quoted by news agency Reuters. Speaking on the US Presidents latest tariff move, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a "direct attack" on Canadian workers and stated that retaliatory measures were being considered. According to Reuters, the new levies on cars and light trucks are set to take effect on April 3, the day after Trump decided to announce reciprocal tariffs aimed at the countries responsible for the bulk of the US trade deficit. They come on top of duties already introduced on steel and aluminium, and on goods from Mexico, Canada and China. The EU stated that it will delay its first set of counter-measures to mid-April, including a 50% tariff on US bourbon. In retaliation, the US President threatened to slap a 200% tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products from the EU if the bloc went ahead with this. (With agency inputs) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly reprimanded the current Pakistani government, criticising the mounting challenges faced by the country, particularly in the situation in Balochistan and its foreign policy. Khan, in a statement on March 25, stated that the situation in Pakistan can only be addressed through "genuinely elected public representatives" rather than force or imposed governance, referring to the alleged rigging of the election and delayed result announcement. Expressing deep concern over rising terrorism in Balochistan, Khan stated, "How can an illegitimate government imposed on Balochistan possibly resolve any issues? ... The firing of live ammunition on peaceful protesters, state violence and unlawful arrests are equally deeply troubling. It is the fundamental duty of the state to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan. "The situation in Balochistan cannot improve unless the genuine public representatives are brought into mainstream, their voices are sincerely heard, and the fate of the region is decided in accordance with the will of the people. Sheer force can never resolve this issue. It would rather deepen crisis and fuel further instability," he added. Khan, who is also the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), criticised the current administration as a "puppet government" born from "fraudulent elections", accusing it of failing across all fronts, especially in foreign policy. "We share a 2,200-kilometre border with Afghanistan, and peaceful negotiations are the only way forward. During our tenure, despite strained relations with the Afghan government at the time, we engaged in direct talks with them. The policies we implemented over three years successfully eliminated terrorism. However, after our tenure, the adoption of Biden's policy led to numerous issues, and today, the public is bearing the consequences in the form of increased terrorism," he said, slamming the government's lack of diplomatic engagement with its neighbour. He also lashed out at the 26th Constitutional Amendment, claiming it has "deteriorated" Pakistan's judicial system. Citing his own legal battles, Khan alleged, "My pre-arrest bail hearing in the fabricated May 9th (2023) cases was scheduled after months of delay, but the Lahore High Court bench was dissolved to further delay the process. Similarly, the Toshakhana case, where my trial is being conducted within the jail premises, has been arbitrarily halted without explanation. Previously, the verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case was deliberately delayed so that my case could be presented before handpicked judges in the Islamabad High Court following court packing." He asserted, "This proves the imposed government's goal is to keep me jailed at all costs under a well-orchestrated plan, as my cases lack legal standing." Khan accused state institutions of fixating on suppressing PTI, controlling media, prisons, and courts, questioning, "Adiala Jail is also being run by a Colonel. What authority does a Colonel have to control a jail?" He further revealed ongoing restrictions imposed on him, stating, "This week, my sisters were also denied a meeting with me. Despite multiple court orders, I am barred from meeting friends, speaking to my children on the phone, or accessing my diary and books." Defiant, he concluded by stating that he will never bow down to "fascism". The United States has expressed its interest to equip the Bangladesh Army with its military hardware, taking into account its importance for regional security as US Army's deputy commanding general for Pacific made a 24-hour visit to Dhaka, officials said. In a brief statement issued late on Tuesday, the US embassy said that during his visit, Lieutenant General Joel 'JB' Vowell met with his Bangladesh armed forces counterparts, reinforcing the US Army's commitment to a strong relationship with the Bangladesh Army. It said they highlighted "shared security interests and ongoing collaboration" as part of which they discussed "potential acquisition of US-origin equipment to enhance interoperability and capabilities". Vowell appreciated the professionalism of the Bangladesh military. The state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), meanwhile, said the US general acknowledged Bangladesh Army's ongoing support to domestic security, particularly in light of other demands such as disaster response. "During his visit, Lt Gen Vowell engaged in high-level discussions with senior officials of the Bangladesh armed forces, including Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman," BSS reported. It said both sides explored Bangladesh's primary military challenges and areas where the US could offer support while a major focus of the visit was the upcoming 'Exercise Tiger Lightning' scheduled for summer 2025. Vowell is also the deputy commanding general for J5/strategy plans and policy of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), one of six geographic combatant commands defined by the Department of Defence's Unified Command Plan (UCP). Vowells Dhaka visit was the first such tour by a senior US general since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, following a violent student-led uprising, and the installation of an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Defence analysts earlier said the present geo-politics, including developments in neighbouring junta-run Myanmar to the rebel Arakan army, drew renewed US military focus in the region. 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. New York: US President Donald Trump has cited Indias requirement for voters to link their Aadhaar card with their Election Photo Identification Card (EPIC) as an example of a nation ensuring the integrity of its election and contrasted it with the lax US voter identification system. In an order on Tuesday requiring voters in federal elections to prove their citizenship, he compared the US and Indian practices, writing in the very first paragraph that India was tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship. Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing, he wrote. Under his order, voters would be required to provide a passport or certain other documents to prove their citizenship to vote. In contrast to the US, which does not have a national election system, in India, the election rules, laws, machinery, and systems run by a powerful national Election Commission enforce balloting integrity across the country. The Election Laws (Amendment) Act passed in 2021 introduced linking Aadhaar with EPIC. The Election Commission is finalising the mechanism for completing this provision and some voters have already done so. The US does not have the equivalent to India's Election Commission, and its Election Commission only enforces election financing regulations. Elections in the US are conducted under state and local laws, which vary by state, and even the voting machines used and the system of the primaries or caucuses for selecting party candidates in elections vary. California will come into direct conflict with Trumps order because of a state law that goes to the extreme of making it illegal to ask to see a voters identification. Unlike India and many countries like those in Europe, the US does not have a national identification card, and people use their drivers licence as photo identification or their Social Security number from the government retirement programme. Some states issue voter ID cards, but without photos, while others do not even do that. Trumps order is certain to be challenged in courts because the conduct of elections, even federal ones, is a state subject under the Constitution. Democrats have opposed identification requirements, asserting that poor people may not be able to get photo IDs. Republicans assert that because of the lax ID requirements, election fraud happens. The early voting and postal voting rules also vary by state, and they have been the targets of Trumps criticism after he lost the 2020 election. His order will tighten rules for postal voting. Trump contrasted the loose voting procedures in the US with other countries. Germany and Canada require the use of paper ballots, counted in public by local officials, which substantially reduces the number of disputes as compared to the American patchwork of voting methods that can lead to basic chain-of-custody problems, he wrote. "Countries like Denmark and Sweden sensibly limit mail-in voting to those unable to vote in person and do not count late-arriving votes regardless of the date of postmark, he wrote. In contrast, he said, Many American elections now feature mass voting by mail, with many officials accepting ballots without postmarks or those received well after Election Day. He also cited Brazil's requirement to link national biometric national identification with voter ID. 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. As many Montanans say the cost of living is becoming untenable, the state is leaving on the table tens of millions of federal dollars earmarked to help the poorest families get back on their feet. Montana receives about $38 million from the feds annually for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It typically spends well under half those dollars. These funds dont expire; they accumulate. Records show the state is sitting on a pile of unspent federal money about $105 million at the start of fiscal year 2025 that, some say, could be doing loads of good in communities. I think this money would be better served out helping children, said Rep. Mary Caferro, a Democrat from Helena, during a House Appropriations Committee meeting Monday. Officials say the state is spending less and less of this annual grant money because the number of people living in deep poverty has declined as overall wages have gone up. Theres also a stark philosophical divide at play about how much the government should uplift Montanans through welfare versus encouraging them to help themselves. Its a debate dating back to 2014, when accumulating carryover funds spurred Democratic then-Governor Steve Bullock to assemble a working group to determine how to make TANF reach more people. TANF first started in 1996 under Democratic President Bill Clinton. By its namesake, the welfare program is designed to be temporary no more than 60 months to give people financial breathing room and equip them with skills to become more self-sufficient. In Montana, the average client participates for 10 months, and 82% of beneficiaries are children, according to the state health department. Eligible low-income parents with kids receive direct cash payments. Last session, Montana lawmakers bumped up the benefit to a maximum of $725 a month for a family of three. Thats about 10% of the state median income, according to the National Center for Children on Poverty. States can also use TANF to fund other programs that promote self-sufficiency. Some choose to mitigate barriers to employment by helping people with transportation, their physical health and interview preparation. Others use the money to bolster early childhood education, promote two-parent households and protect single moms. Both the Legislature and DPHHS have sway over how to spend the federal dollars, either through bills or rulemaking authority, respectively. Asked about the ballooning TANF fund, a spokesperson said Department of Public Health and Human Services spends in a responsible way. DPHHS typically considers value to families, sustainability meeting the required purposes of the funding and alignment with Gianforte administration priorities before making expenditures, Jon Ebelt said. Fewer people are enrolled in TANF. Why? TANF dollars are allocated as a block grant, an annual sum from the feds. States have flexibility in how they use the money as long as it helps "needy" families stabilize. In 2020, the state spent $23.6 million of its $38 million grant. Expenditures plummeted to $13.8 million three years later, and they are expected to hover around $15 million this fiscal year. DPHHS attributes the lagging spending to declining enrollment. As of this year, an average of 3,669 individuals from 1,631 households are signed up each month, DPHHS data shows. Thats down from 11,434 individuals in July 2017. Many households that qualify for TANF are in complicated situations a grandparent raising a grandchild, a formerly incarcerated person trying to gain their footing or a single mom who has fled domestic violence, for example. Cash recipients earn no more than $1,465 each month. The only thing the department can speak to is that less Montanans are eligible for these programs as a result of rising wages and income, DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said at a Jan. 13 meeting of the joint budget committee on health. Its difficult for us to predict or hypothesize beyond that. Enrollment is ticking down nationally, so Montana is not alone. But some in the state question whether rising median incomes could really be responsible for that cliff and suggest the downturn is partly because its harder to access public benefits. To reckon with a devastating budget deficit in 2017, the Legislature enacted widespread budget cuts that hollowed out the state's public assistance infrastructure. DPHHS took a huge hit, closing more than a dozen public benefits offices, laying off staff and reducing case management services. It also gutted many of the initiatives it had begun to roll out after the 2014 working group. Advocates say that glaring holes in the system remain, which the department acknowledges and says it intends to improve. Efforts include shifting to a statewide call center and implementing a queued callback feature on the public assistance helpline. DPHHS requested $505,000 to pay for staff overtime at Offices of Public Assistance (OPA), where many people enroll in TANF, but declined to heed calls from more than 60 nonprofits and community organizations to reopen offices closed in 2017. Just because theres federal money available doesnt mean the state should necessarily figure out how to spend as much of it as possible, some Republicans say. "Philosophically, I'm always in favor of reducing Montanans' dependence on welfare and reducing state government's reliance on federal money," said Sen. Dennis Lenz, a Billings Republican who chairs the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee. Meanwhile, other Republicans appear on board for measured TANF spending. This week, the House Appropriations Committee agreed to allocate $5 million in TANF funds over the next two years to help young people living in poverty. Through amendments to House Bill 2, the states primary budget bill, legislators approved an annual $1 million each to food banks and after-school programs as well as $500,000 to child mentorship organizations. Six of the committees 12 Republicans voted for the package. Even if the amendments survive the rest of the budgeting process, the state will still house at least a $70 million TANF surplus by the end of the next biennium. The Legislatures recent effort to invest a small portion of the TANF surplus funds to support the specific programs that serve low-income families is a great step forward, said Heather OLoughlin, executive director of the Montana Budget and Policy Center. But the state can do even more. Does TANF get people back to work? Participating in TANF is no easy feat. Most enrollees work closely with a case manager on a rigorous plan to financial security. When lawmakers asked the agency to quantify TANFs impact during a series of subcommittee meetings earlier this session, some were puzzled to learn theres not much data to show what happens to cash recipients when they roll off the program. Though deemed employable by their case manager, precise job data was lackluster. Pressed for hard numbers, Brereton told lawmakers these are the sorts of questions that we hope to be able to answer in the future, but given the significant overhaul to the states tracking and tech infrastructure thats needed, that likely will not be any time soon. One lofty investment heralded by DPHHS was its decision last July to ink a multi-million-dollar contract with an out-of-state provider to take over TANF programs. The agency said it would guarantee a standard of service no matter where a person lives. It required Virginia-based Maximus to open in-person locations in Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, Missoula and Billings, but many community-based providers in rural areas were put at risk of closure. Some did shut their doors, including a decades-long provider in Butte. In the 2024 fiscal year, the first of the contract, the state reported spending a little more than $1.5 million in TANF funds on Maximus. Forecasting out five years, that annual expenditure is projected to increase to nearly $12 million, records show. Maximus had only reported 56 job placements between July and December 2024, according to a DPHHS presentation. Jesse Mahugh, executive director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Montana, which would receive some TANF dollars under the newly added budget amendments, says mentorship organizations like his are a good use of the money because they help young people break out of poverty. Those funds need to go somewhere, Mahugh said. Some of them should go to us. Creativity and flexibility While cash assistance is reserved for the poorest households, others earning a bit more can receive job training, child care subsidies and whatever else the state deems appropriate to achieve TANF's goals. There's some worry that allowing expenditures to sprawl could mean people do receive benefits who shouldn't. "I'm going to be a 'no' on it," Rep. Jane Gillette, a Republican from Three Forks who has spent most of the session scouring the health budget, said about the $5 million proposed package on Monday night. "Though I do appreciate the spirit of it." When asked if the agency is amenable to the budget changes, Ebelt said the department has sufficient authority to leverage the funds as needed. Last fiscal year, DPHHS transferred $8.7 million to child care subsidies and $2.5 million to child welfare. It spent $6.9 million on direct support to families and $480,000 on providing legal assistance to children in the welfare system a legislative initiative. Agency documents also show administrative costs eating a chunk of the money: $8.1 million in TANF dollars went to outstanding personal services expenses at benefits offices and to cover "year-end obligations. Federal data from the Administration for Children and Families shows that between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023, more than 27% of Montana's TANF spending went to program management, assessment and administration in Montana, a share that far exceeds the national average of just 10%. Its an imperfect metric because DPHHS classifies its categories somewhat differently than the federal level, but it still points to a stark disparity. DPHHS cant comment on the administrative actions of other states, Ebelt said. But (it) is confident that its use of TANF is both fiscally responsible and aligned with federal regulations. While Democrats including Caferro want DPHHS to move the TANF surplus out of the bank and into communities, some Republicans cautioned against getting too creative for the sake of using up the money. "There are a ton of restrictions on how TANF money can be spent," Lenz said. "I'm not sure how creative Democrats can get with spending TANF money while staying within the bounds of the law." Banking has always been built on trusta fiduciary contract where the bank is responsible for safeguarding customer funds and honouring their instructions. Traditionally, this function was carried out by tellers, who verified signatures and ensured that transactions were legitimate. If a forged cheque was honoured, the bank bore the responsibility and had to restore the lost funds. But in the digital era, where customers now execute transactions themselves using passwords and one-time passcodes (OTPs), does this fundamental principle still hold? If an online banking password is stolen and misused, can the bank deny liability? The core question remains the same: When fraud occurs, who is responsible? Traditionally, bank tellers were responsible for verifying a customer's identity and financial details before processing routine transactions like cashing cheques or deposits. A failure to verify a signature resulting in wrongful payment makes the bank liable to restore the amount. If the fault is that of the paying bank, it is responsible for the breach of contract and has to restore the amount to the account. If the fault was that of the collecting bank, then it is liable for conversion and has the liability under the law of torts to restore the amount. The protection under the Negotiable Instruments Act for payment to the holder in due course will not apply. The Consumer Protection Act provides an additional fast and effective remedy for the account-holder in such cases by making it a deficiency of service with the liability to restore the amount paid out. Since it is the teller's responsibility whether the cheque is presented at the counter or through a collecting bank, the failure to verify the authenticity of the account-holder's signature is clearly a deficiency in service. Forgery was defined in the Indian penal code (IPC) as "Whoever makes any false document or part of a document with intent to cause damage or injury, to the public or to any person, or to support any claim or title, or to cause any person to part with property, or to enter into any express or implied contract, or with intent to commit fraud or that fraud may be committed, commits forgery", Section 463. Consequently, putting the signature of another person on his cheque leaf is forgery and it is the job of the teller to verify. What if the cheque is stolen and is honoured by the teller? The Supreme court in Canara Bank vs Canara Sales Corporation and ors ., held that "When a cheque, duly signed by a customer, is presented before a bank with whom he has an account there is a mandate on the bank to pay the amount covered by the cheque. However, if the signature on the cheque is not genuine, there is no mandate on the bank to pay. The bank, when making payment on such a cheque, cannot resist the claim of the customer with the defence of negligence on his part such as leaving the cheque book carelessly so that third parties would easily get hold of it. This is because a document (in cheque form) on which the customer's signature as drawer is forged is a mere nullity." The apex court also observed that there is no duty for a customer to inform the bank of fraud committed on him of which he was unaware. Nor can inaction for a reasonably long time in not discovering fraud or irregularity be made a defence to defeat a customer in an action for loss. Let us now turn to the current online banking scene. In Japan, there was a law to regulate door-to-door salesmen activities. When the salesmen appeared through Microsoft Windows, they did not make a new law but adapted the old law of the door to Windows. Similarly, we need to see how the principle laid down by the Supreme Court could be applied to digital banking. In the digitalised bank also the teller sits at his counter and when a cheque is presented he goes through the same verification process and instead of writing in the ledger, he enters the data in the computer for which he is given access through a password. When the customer is given online access, the job of the teller is outsourced to the customer himself. He gets access through a password and executes the order to transfer funds from his own account to another person's account. The presentation of the self cheque is done through the automated teller machine (ATM) where too he verifies his own identity by a PIN number and authorises the machine to give him the cash. Can this mean that when his password is stolen, the bank has no responsibility for the wrong payouts? Will contributory negligence prevent him from asking the bank to restore money lost? The definition of forgery has been updated by the Information Technology Act, 2000 to include false electronic record and part of electronic record. Hence, changing the password without the knowledge of the customer will be forgery. The Supreme Court has explained the fiduciary relationship as "The relationship between the customer of a bank and the bank is that of a creditor and debtor. When a cheque presented for encashment contains a forged signature, the bank has no authority to make payment against such a cheque. The bank would be acting against law in debiting the customer with the amounts covered by such cheques. When a customer demands payment for the amount covered by such cheques, the bank would be liable to pay the payment to the customer. The bank can succeed in denying payment only when it establishes that the customer is disentitled to make a claim either on account of adoption, estoppel or ratification. If banks claim that fraud resulted from customer negligence, they must provide concrete evidence. Mere assertions are insufficient to shift liability onto customers." The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated in Rule 3a of Annexure II of the master circular on mobile banking that all mobile banking transactions involving debit to the account shall be permitted only by validation through a two-factor authentication (2FA). Annexure III addresses the issues of deficiency of service: "Banks are required to maintain secrecy and confidentiality of customers' accounts. In the mobile banking scenario, the risk of banks not meeting the above obligation is high. Banks may be exposed to enhanced risk of liability to customers on account of breach of secrecy, denial of service, etc., on account of hacking/ other technological failures." The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 defines the rights of consumers in India and is applicable to banking services as well. Currently, the rights and liabilities of customers availing mobile banking services are being determined by bilateral agreements between the banks and customers. Taking into account the risks arising out of unauthorised transfer through hacking, denial of service on account of technological failure, banks providing mobile banking would need to assess the liabilities arising out of such events and take appropriate countermeasures like insuring themselves against such risks, as in the case with internet banking." In this context, it has to be accepted that even the two-factor authorisation is liable to be hacked. For instance, a helper of a senior citizen may steal the phone and use the OTP and delete it such that the customer does not even know that a transaction has taken place. The Delhi High Court in the case of Hare Ram Singh vs RBI pointed out that the burden of proving the customer's liability in case of unauthorised electronic banking, lies on the bank. The Court also criticised State Bank of India (SBI) for failing to follow its obligations under the RBI's master direction on digital payment security controls issued on 18 February 2021, which requires banks to implement systems to detect unusual login activities, facilitate immediate customer reporting of fraudulent transactions, and establish an inter-bank fraud reporting mechanism for seamless coordination with other regulated entities. The Court, thereafter, ruled that the petitioner was entitled to 'zero liability' protection, citing cl. 6 of the RBI circular, as the transaction resulted from a 'third-party breach' and was not due to the petitioner's negligence. In the latest decision in SBI vs PALLABH BHOWMICK & ORS the Supreme Court observed: It is the responsibility of the bank so far as such unauthorised and fraudulent transactions are concerned. The bank should remain vigilant. The bank has the best of the technology available today to detect and prevent such unauthorised and fraudulent transactions. Further, clauses 8 and 9 respectively of the RBI's Circular dated 6-7-2017 make the position further clear. Not tracing and reversing the outflow was also a deficiency in service of the bank. SBI itself has reiterated in para 4 of its policy statement that in case any amount has been debited to the account of a customer on account of fraudulent transaction(s) and the bank is at fault, the amount will be restored to the affected customer account without delay/demur, once the fraud is established, with due verification. Once a potential fraudulent transaction is flagged, banks deploy specialised investigation teams. These professionals, often with backgrounds in finance and cybersecurity, examine the electronic trails of transactions and apply account-based rules to trace the origin of the suspected fraud. Not making such an investigation will also amount to deficiency in service. Thus, it is clear that stealing the password to access the internet banking account is digital forgery akin to a stolen cheque and the customer cannot be denied restoration of the lost funds just because he has been asked to function as a teller for his own account. After all, the fiduciary contract still exists and the bank is a debtor to the customer as recognised by RBI. (Justice TNC Rangarajan is a former judge of Madras and Andhra Pradesh High Courts. This article can be reproduced freely for stimulating discussion, provided authorship is acknowledged.) The Union ministry of finance (MoF) has clarified that income-tax (I-T) officials will not have direct access to personal emails, social media accounts and bank details of taxpayers. However, in cases of search and seizure operations, authorised officers may gain access to electronic records if necessary, the government stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. Ritabrata Banerjee, a member of Parliament (MP), has asked for information about whether I-T officials are allowed access to taxpayers' personal emails, social media and bank accounts. Responding to a question, Pankaj Chaudhary, minister of state for finance, says that under Section 132 of the I-Tax Act, officials have the authority to inspect electronic records, but only during legally sanctioned search and seizure operations. Similar provisions have been included in the new I-T Bill which empowers officials to override access codes if the person under investigation refuses to cooperate, he added. The government clarified that no blanket access is granted to tax officials to monitor personal digital communications or financial transactions. However, Mr Chaudhary says that when authorities suspect tax evasion or financial irregularities, they may demand access to electronic records maintained by the individual or entity under scrutiny. This clarification comes amid rising concerns over digital privacy and surveillance. With the increasing digitisation of financial transactions, experts have warned against excessive government access to personal data. While the government asserts that such measures are essential for curbing tax evasion, privacy advocates argue that stronger safeguards are needed to prevent misuse. The reply is likely to fuel ongoing debates around data protection and citizens' privacy rights as India moves towards a more digital economy. Cooperative housing societies often face disputes related to membership rights, use of common spaces and financial transactions. With evolving laws and amendments to the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies (MCS) Act, it is essential for residents to stay informed about their rights and responsibilities in a cooperative housing society (CHS/the Society). This week, we address three common concerns raised by the Society members: Can an associate member contest elections without being named on the share certificate? Does placing a shoe rack in a common lobby amount to encroachment and can it be equated with shifting an entrance door? Lastly, is a CHS entitled to demand transfer fees before the property is conveyed and what can members do, if proper receipts are not issued? This week, we address three common concerns raised by the Society members: Can an associate member contest elections without being named on the share certificate? Does placing a shoe rack in a common lobby amount to encroachment and can it be equated with shifting an entrance door? Lastly, is a CHS entitled to demand transfer fees before the property is conveyed and what can members do, if proper receipts are not issued? Clarity on Associate Membership & Election Rules Question: Can an associate member become a committee member without his/her name mentioned on the share certificate? Form 10A states that the associate member's name must be listed as second on the share certificate. So, without their name on the share certificate, can any family member contest the election? As per Section 56A, only the first member can become an office-bearer in a housing society. Does this mean no associate member or second or third holder in the share certificate can become an office-bearer? Please clarify. Answer: As per Section 24, read with Section 154B(1) of the MCS Act, 1960, a Society may admit any person (husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, nephew and niece of the original member) as an associate member after obtaining and submitting written recommendation to exercise the original member's rights and duties with written prior consent and no-objection certificate (NOC). The right to contest elections is subject to the provisions of sub-sections (2), (3), and (4) of Section 154B-11 of the MCS Act, as amended by Maharashtra Act No. 19 of 2024, dated 18-03-2024. An associate member can contest elections without her/his name being on the share certificate due to the amendments introduced in the MCS Act of 2019 which override the Society's earlier bye-laws. However, this is allowed only if the original member does not want to contest the election and gives his written consent or no-objection letter for the associate member to become a candidate in the Society election. Regarding Section 56A, you have referred to a provision that was deleted by a government notification in 2014. It is advisable for you to follow the latest provisions of the Act and refer to the new model byelaws framed under the amended MCS Act. Encroachment in the Common Lobby of our Society Question: I have extended my entrance door into the common lobby of my Society. Now that a managing committee has been formed, they are asking me to restore the door to its original position. Additionally, many flat-owners have installed fixed, non-moveable shoe-racks in the common lobby, either attached to the walls or the floor. The Society committee has stated that while shoe-racks are acceptable, entrance doors must remain in their original position. I have taken the stand that I will move my door back only if all other flat-owners remove their shoe-racks from the common lobby, as this also amounts to encroachment. Am I correct in demanding this? Answer: Your stand is incorrect. By shifting your entrance door, you have encroached on common space beyond your allotted area. You must first restore the door to its original position before raising concerns about other encroachments. Clarity on Transfer Fee Charges Question: My housing society is demanding payment of flat transfer charges even though the property has not been conveyed to the Society. Additionally, they are either not issuing proper receipts for payments received or providing receipts with incomplete details. What can I do in this situation? Answer: You are required to pay the transfer fee regardless of whether the property has been conveyed to the Society. However, regarding the issue of receipts, you should first address a letter to the Secretary, clearly stating your concerns and requesting clarification within a specified time frame. If the response is unsatisfactory, you can escalate the matter to the deputy registrar of cooperative societies (DRCS) for intervention. NOTE We will not be answering queries posted in the comments. Only questions sent through the Moneylife Foundation's Legal Helpline will be answered. If you want to seek guidance or ask questions to Mr Shanbhag, kindly send it through Moneylife Foundation's Free Legal Helpline. Here is the link: https://www.moneylife.in/lrc.html#ask-question Disclaimer: The guidance provided in these columns and on our Legal Helpline is on the sole basis of the facts provided by the reader/questioner and does not amount to formal legal advice in any form whatsoever. (Shirish Shanbhag has an MSc in Organic Chemistry, a Diploma in Higher Education, and a Diploma in French and has completed his LL.B. in first class in 2021. Before his retirement, he was a junior college teacher at Patkar College from July 1980 to May 2012, teaching theoretical and practical chemistry. Post-retirement in 2012, he started providing guidance and counselling to people on several issues, specifically focusing on cooperative housing society-related matters. He has over 30 years of hands-on experience in all matters about housing societies and can provide out-of-box solutions for any practical issue.) The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Thursday ordered status quo on the shareholding of Aakash Education Services Limited (Aakash Institute) on a plea filed by the Resolution Professional of Byju's (Think and Learn Private Limited). A coram of Judicial Member Sunil Kumar and Technical Member Radhakrishna Sreepada held, "At this preliminary stage, as a measure of fair assessment, to balance the interest of the parties and to avoid the issues between the parties to further complicate, the Respondents are directed to maintain status-quo in respect of their shareholding of the Respondent No.1 Company as on date, till the next date of hearing." The case has now been listed for hearing on April 30. Aakash Institute is facing legal challenges over an attempted amendment to its Articles of Association (AoA). Blackstone-backed Singapore Topco, a shareholder in Aakash, opposed the amendment, fearing it would significantly dilute its 6.8% stake. This stemmed from a merger agreement with Byju's through which Topco acquired its shares. Glas Trust, which is one of Byju's lenders, also raised concerns, arguing that the amendment was a move by former Byju's management to dilute the company's valuable stake in Aakash. Glas Trust emphasised that Aakash is a crucial asset for Byju's. Aakash defended the amendment, stating it was necessary to secure funding for the company. Manipal Systems is currently the largest stakeholder in Aakash. The NCLT had initially restrained Aakash from implementing the amendment. However, the Karnataka High Court subsequently stayed the NCLT order, allowing Aakash to proceed. Singapore Topco challenged the High Court's authority to intervene in the matter before the Supreme Court, which then directed Aakash to halt the implementation and approach the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) for resolution. The NCLAT refused to modify the stay order and directed Manipal Systems and Aakash to file an application for vacation of stay before the NCLT instead. Aakash subsequently filed a petition in the NCLT to vacate the stay. However, Singapore Topco chose to withdraw its objection today, before the NCLT could adjudicate on the issue. A batch of appeals are currently pending in the NCLAT Chennai over this issue. Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam, who appeared for Byju's, sought urgent interim relief, arguing that its rights under the Merger Framework Agreement and Fallback Agreement were being violated. He contended that Byju's had invested 2,000 crore in Aakash and was earlier protected under an NCLT order passed on November 20, 2024 filed by Blackstone (Singapore Topco). However, after Blackstone withdrew its petition on February 24, 2025, Byju's interests were left exposed. Kadam also alleged that Blackstone Group had sold its stake in Aakash to an entity of the Manipal Group in violation of the Merger Framework Agreement. Counsel for the respondents opposed the plea, raising issues of maintainability. They argued that the RP was not a party to the earlier proceedings and that the ground realities had since changed. According to them, granting interim relief at this stage would amount to restoring the status quo ante without giving them a fair opportunity to present their case. They sought time to file a response to the plea. The NCLT initially adjourned the matter before the lunch break, before passing the status quo order later. Senior Advocate CK Nandakumar, who appeared for Aakash, told the Tribunal that he was under the impression that the matter was being adjourned and an order was not going to be passed. He thus offered to commence his arguments. However, the coram told him that they had already signed a copy of the order. The Chinese mainland has launched an online platform for the public to report vile acts by those advocating "Taiwan independence" and their accomplices in persecuting Taiwan compatriots, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday. The reporting section, added to the official website of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday, is intended to hold key "Taiwan independence" separatists accountable, according to Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the office. Chen told a press conference that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have been fabricating various charges to suppress dissenting voices on the island, stifling freedom of speech, and resorting to threats, intimidation, and persecution against political opponents as well as political parties, organizations, and individuals who support the peaceful development and integration of cross-Strait relations. Certain "Taiwan independence" organizations, separatist elements, officials, and online influencers have acted as enforcers and accomplices, abetting wrongdoing and facilitating aggression, he said, expressing grave concern and pledging severe punishment. Chen called on the victims of suppression and persecution, or individuals who have relevant information, to report details to a dedicated email account jubao@suremail.cn. He noted that all submissions will be handled properly, and verified cases will be disclosed at an appropriate time. Perpetrators will be held accountable in accordance with the law when sufficient evidence confirms their egregious offenses, said Chen, adding that all whistleblowers' information and legal rights shall be strictly protected as required by law. Chen said on the first day the platform was launched, a total of 323 reporting emails had been received as of 5 p.m. Among those reported are certain Taiwan political figures, organization sponsors and internet influencers advocating "Taiwan independence." Their egregious activities, such as suppression of the opposition party through baseless charges, intimidation to dissolve organizations in support of China's reunification, and blatant infringement on the legitimate rights and interests of mainland-born spouses residing in Taiwan, are exposed in the emails. Chen said relevant authorities of the mainland will take facts as the basis and the law as the criterion, and hold the perpetrators and accomplices of "Taiwan independence" activities accountable. Iowa's Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said he assumed "there had to be some screw-up" when members of Donald Trump's administration unintentionally added a reporter to a group chat discussing the timing of U.S. strikes on Houthis in Yemen. Grassley, speaking to Iowa reporters on a call Wednesday afternoon, said he had not read the full transcript of the messages and probably would not, but pointed to the Trump administrations' statements that no classified information was shared on the app. Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging app, with senior national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In the chat, Hegseth provided the exact timings of U.S. warplane launches and when bombs would drop in attacks against Iran-backed Houthis before they happened, information that is normally closely guarded. Grassley said generally, when senators receive sensitive or classified briefings, they do so in a secure room, what's called a sensitive compartmented information facility, or a SCIF. "I have to assume, even without knowing what was there, that there had to be some screw-up," Grassley said. "But I don't know to what extent that screw-up hurts national security." Grassley said people in the White House have said there wasn't any national security damage done as a result of the group chat. "But I want to end by saying national security information must be handled carefully, and that applies to everything, not just what you're asking me about, and the administration has said that there's no classified information to share," Grassley said. "Now, maybe if I heard this in the SCIF myself, I might draw a different conclusion. But right now, I've got to take the administration's word for it because I'm not part of that." Grassley has been a vocal critic of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server for official business during her tenure as secretary of state under the Obama administration. The FBI investigated possible criminal violations in how Clinton handled classified information. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley led congressional oversight on the Clinton emails issue. Asked if he thinks the FBI should likewise investigate this situation, Grassley seemed to not to hear the reporter's question and consulted with his staff. "My staff indicated, as an answer to your question, that there's no connection between this because all of Clinton's stuff was on internet and things like that," Grassley said. Grassley was pressed if he had concerns with the information being shared on an app that is commercially available and potentially hackable by other organizations. Grassley again pointed to the Trump administration's assertions that no classified information was shared in the chat, and said he personally is overly cautious with national security information. "I tend to be overprotective of dealing with questions I get from journalists about things that are national security. I don't talk about it, even if it doesn't need the environment of a SCIF, just because I want to be very careful," Grassley said. A Grassley spokesperson, responding to a request to clarify Grassley's comments about Clinton, said: Hillary Clintons intentional move to set up a non-government server to communicate government business and evade federal recordkeeping for all electronic communications throughout her term as Secretary of State which included thousands of classified e-mails is beyond comparison to the Trump administrations limited communication via a Signal group chat, which contained no classified information." Grassley plans committee hearings on judicial injunctions Grassley plans to hold committee hearings next week about judicial injunctions. Grassley said he believed district court injunctions affecting the entire country are being misused and are acting as policy makers rather than adjudicating cases. Grassley said he's inviting experts and plans to draft legislation. "I doubt if any legislation should be passed that would stop all national injunctions," Grassley said. "But the principle here is that in most cases, an injunction ... should only be against something in that judicial district and just for the people that are involved in the case and it should only be for a temporary period of time while you're seeking an answer to the question." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has criticized Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing him of incompetence amid rising insecurity in the country. In a statement on Wednesday, March 26, Cherargei accused Murkomen of lacking the capability to handle the interior docket effectively. The UDA senator also pointed out that Head of Public Service Felix Koskei had to step in and visit the North Rift, where he personally issued a warning to bandits. What I saw two years ago about CS Murkomens incompetence can now be seen !! at least incompetence in roads meant that it can be fixed later, but incompetence in internal security means lives are lost that cannot be recovered. No wonder HOPS Koskei had to go and confront bandits in the North Rift over the weekend, Cherargei said. Cherargei Compares Murkomen to Kindiki He compared Murkomens performance with that of his predecessor, Kithure Kindiki, saying that during Kindikis tenure, the Interior Ministry effectively managed security threats. However, he claimed that since Murkomen took over, cases of robberies and terror attacks have surged. During Kindiki tenure there was a lot of containment of insecurity in the country, but Murkomen tenure now machete gangs are marauding, terrorist attacks from Turkana & North Eastern Kenya, and our villages are no longer safe, he stated. Cherargei further claimed that insecurity has escalated even in his own backyard, citing a recent murder in Kapsabet Town. A person was killed less than 200 meters from Kapsabet County Police Headquarters. This is proof that our security systems are failing, he added. On Sunday, March 23, suspected Al-Shabaab militants launched a deadly attack on a National Police Reserve camp in Fafi, Garissa County, killing six people and injuring four others. The attack came just days after the militants abducted three men from the Elwak area of Mandera County, further deepening security concerns in the region. Detectives have requested an additional five days to hold Jackson Kuria, also known as Shakur the Cop, a former prison warder arrested over the weekend in Naivasha for allegedly carrying a firearm. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) informed the court that they are pursuing other suspects who were with Kuria at the time of his arrest at the WRC rally village. However, Kurias legal team, backed by the Defenders Coalition, has accused the police of detaining him unlawfully beyond the permitted period without presenting him in court. In an affidavit filed by Sergeant Burure Marwa, the DCI claims that Kuria was armed and part of a gang that had been harassing revelers during the event. As part of their investigation, detectives are seeking more time to search Kurias residence and track down his accomplices, who reportedly escaped during his arrest. The suspect was with others who are now in hiding. Releasing him at this stage could compromise our investigations, the DCI stated. Also Read Cop Shakur Claims State Blocking His Resignation from Prisons Service Monica Mwai, an advocate with the Defenders Coalition, dismissed the police request, calling it baseless. She argued that Kuria was being unfairly detained without formal charges and vowed to challenge the move in court. We have opposed the extension of his detention. The court will deliver its ruling on Thursday, Mwai said. Naivasha CID boss Isaac Kiama confirmed that Kuria remains in police custody as investigations continue. He revealed that officers acted on a tip-off from a concerned citizen who reported that a group of armed men had been threatening rally fans. Our officers responded swiftly and arrested the suspect. We believe he was part of a gang involved in mugging and terrorizing revelers in Naivasha, Kiama stated. Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has explained why the party is backing former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi as its presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election. Speaking during an interview on Monday, March 24, 2025, Kioni revealed that Matiangi personally expressed interest in running for president, prompting the party to begin laying the groundwork for his national campaign. Matiangi just expressed a desire, and it is the work of the party to market its candidate across the country, Kioni stated. He emphasized that a party of Jubilees stature needs a clear presidential contender to remain politically relevant. As a party the size of Jubilee, its not in our best interest to operate without a presidential candidate. When there are individuals willing to offer leadership, they should be given a fair chance, he said. Kioni added that Matiangi would soon address the public about his political ambitions. Matiangi is the one who reached out, and he will be speaking about it himself in the coming days. We wont have to wait too long. When he feels the time is right, he will make his position clear, he noted. However, Kioni clarified that Jubilees endorsement of Matiangi does not automatically make him the preferred candidate for the entire opposition. He stressed the need for a broader coalition to challenge what he described as the failures of the Kenya Kwanza-ODM government. We are not saying that because he is Jubilees candidate, he will automatically be the candidate for the whole country. We need to form a coalition with other opposition figures to take on the mess created by the UDA-ODM government, Kioni said. He also hinted that discussions with other opposition leaders were ongoing, aiming to unite behind a strong candidate capable of winning the presidency. A Nairobi police officer is under investigation for allegedly firing his weapon at a colleague in a heated confrontation over a romantic dispute. According to a police report dated Tuesday, March 26, the altercation unfolded just after 2 a.m. at Joiners Grill and Lodge bar. Police Constable Piro Mwarsho of Kamukunji Police Station was on patrol in the Muthurwa area around 2:20 a.m. with colleagues PC Jin Ouma and PC Bernard Muroti, both from Muthurwa Police Post. PC Mwarsho then stopped by the bar to retrieve his phone, which had been charging. While there, he encountered Police Constable Emmanuel Juma, who allegedly confronted him over an affair with his girlfriend. The argument quickly escalated, with Juma reportedly slapping Mwarsho multiple times before drawing his firearm. In a fit of rage, Juma cocked his AK-47 rifle and fired a shot. Fortunately, the bullet missed Mwarsho, who managed to escape from the club unharmed. According to the police report, PC Emmanuel Juma slapped him several times, then cocked his gunan AK-47 rifleand fired one round of ammunition, which missed him and went through the metallic wall and metallic tube grill. Mwarsho immediately reported the incident at Kamukunji Police Station. Officers responded to the scene, but by the time they arrived, Juma had already fled. The suspect escaped from the scene, and the cartridge was not recovered. Nobody was injured during the incident, the OB report stated. Later, Juma turned himself in and was taken into custody. Authorities seized his AK-47 rifle(Serial No. 14088219) as evidence. Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu cant seem to catch a break after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) opposed his fresh attempt to secure bail while awaiting the outcome of his appeal. Waititu was convicted of corruption in February and sentenced to 12 years in prison or a Ksh53 million fine by a magistrates court. On March 3, Justice Lucy Njuguna of the High Courts Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division rejected his first bail application, dealing a major blow to his legal team. Despite the ruling, Waititu has filed a new bail application, arguing that he should be released as his appeal progresses. His lawyers, led by Kibe Mungai, have also sought permission to amend the application in hopes of strengthening his case. However, the DPP has strongly opposed the fresh bid. In response, the judge has directed Senior Counsel Kalonzo Musyoka, along with lawyers Eugene Wamalwa, Ndegwa Njiru, Wilfred Nyamu, Jeremy Njenga, and Mungai, to submit their written arguments countering the DPPs objections. The court will rule on April 23 whether Waititu can renew his bail application. If approved, he will get a chance to argue for his release, after which the court will outline the next steps in his case. Waititus Dramatic Transfer Until then, Baba Yao will remain behind bars for at least another month, having recently been transferred from Industrial Area Prison to Kamiti Maximum Prison on March 24. Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) Chairman Irungu Nyakera reported the dramatic transfer on Tuesday, condemning the treatment of the politician. He suggested the transfer was driven by fear rather than the pursuit of justice. More than six Land Cruisers picked up Waititu from Industrial Area Prison on March 24 and took him to Kamiti Maximum. What he is going through is not justice; it is politics disguised as law. This is fear. Fear of his comeback, Nyakera said. He compared Waititus situation to that of former political detainees who were jailed but later made a comeback. Jomo Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, Koigi wa Wamwere, and Kenneth Matiba; were jailed, mocked, and written off, but history had other plans. This is not Waititus end. Its his awakening, he remarked Nyandarua Senator Methu Muhia has slammed President William Ruto for questioning Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturis competence while he served as Attorney General.. In a statement on Wednesday, March 26, Methu accused Ruto of contradicting himself by promoting Muturi to a higher office despite doubting his abilities. How do you reward an incompetent staff by promoting him to a bigger office? Mr. President, stop taking Kenyans for a ride. On Tuesday, March 25, you said Justin Muturi was incompetent, but instead of firing him, you promoted him to a higher office, Methu remarked. The senator further accused the Ruto administration of being intolerant to criticism and attempting to silence leaders who speak out against it. Its quite clear that your administration is incapable of taking criticism and has now resorted to maligning leaders who speak the truth. They say before the hyenas eat their young ones, they first accuse them of smelling like sheep, he added. Methus remarks came after Ruto, while speaking during an Iftar dinner at State House on Tuesday, March 25, openly criticized Muturi, describing his tenure as Attorney General as incompetent. Ruto reassured Kenyans that legal affairs would now be handled more effectively under the leadership of Dorcas Oduor, the newly appointed Attorney General. I had a problem with the AG who was there, he was fairly incompetent. But I now have a very competent lady in that position Ruto stated. Following the presidents remarks, Muturi responded by defending his record as Attorney General. He released a scorecard detailing his accomplishments during his tenure, emphasizing the legal victories and financial savings his office secured for the government. According to the report, Muturis legal team successfully defended 1,503 out of 1,588 cases filed against the government between September 2022 and September 2023. These victories reportedly saved the government more than Ksh17.5 billion. One of the most notable cases Muturis office won was Nairobi Civil Appeal No. 638 of 2019, Attorney General vs Kabuito Contractors Limited, where the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, preventing a Ksh5.2 billion loss. Another significant case was Nairobi Supreme Court Petition No. E006 of 2022, Torino Enterprises Ltd vs Attorney General, where the Supreme Courts ruling saved the government Ksh3.7 billion. In Eldoret ELC No. 649 of 2012, Stephen K. Cheruiyot vs Attorney General and others, the court dismissed a third-party claim demanding Ksh100 million as compensation for alleged wrongful land allocation. Muturi also highlighted the efficiency of his office in handling legal advisories. Between 2022 and 2023, his team provided 708 advisories on bilateral, regional, and international law matters to ministries within six days of receiving requests. Additionally, they processed 225 advisories on international judicial cooperation in criminal matters within six working days. On Wednesday, President William Ruto reshuffled his cabinet for the umpteenth time, effectively sacking Justin Muturi. Kenyas burgeoning online trading environment offers investors a plethora of platforms to choose from, each meeting diverse trading needs and preferences. HFM HFM is a globally recognized multi-asset broker that began its operations in Kenya in 2021. The platform is regulated by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) of Kenya as a non-dealing online forex broker, ensuring compliance with local financial regulations and providing traders with a secure trading environment when online trading in Kenya. HFMs diverse account offerings, advanced trading platforms, and commitment to customer education make it a strong choice for traders in Kenya. If youre a novice looking to start your trading journey or an experienced trader seeking advanced tools and conditions, HFM provides a comprehensive trading environment tailored to meet your needs. IG Markets IG Markets stands out as a premier choice for online trading in Kenya, offering access to over 17,000 financial instruments, including forex, stocks, commodities, and indices. The platform is renowned for its user-friendly interface, advanced charting tools, and comprehensive educational resources, making it suitable for both beginners and seasoned traders. IG Markets is regulated by top-tier authorities such as the UKs Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), ensuring a high level of trust and security. FOREX.com FOREX.com is a global platform that has made significant inroads into the Kenyan market. It offers a wide range of tradable assets, including forex pairs, commodities, and indices. The platform boasts competitive spreads, robust trading tools, and a variety of educational materials to support traders at all levels. FOREX.com is regulated by reputable bodies, including the FCA and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the US, providing traders with confidence in their operations. XM XM is a popular choice among Kenyan traders, offering a wide range of financial instruments, including forex, stocks, commodities, and indices. The platform is known for its flexible account types, low minimum deposit requirements, and support for the MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms. XM also provides educational resources and customer support in multiple languages, catering to a global clientele. Oanda Oanda offers a powerful trading platform with access to a wide range of forex pairs and CFDs. The platform is known for its transparent pricing, advanced charting tools, and comprehensive research resources. Oanda is regulated by several top-tier authorities, including the FCA and the US National Futures Association (NFA), ensuring a high level of trust and security for traders. FXTM FXTM is a global forex and CFD broker that has established a strong presence in Kenya. The platform offers a variety of account types, competitive spreads, and access to the MetaTrader suite of platforms. FXTM also provides educational resources, including webinars and seminars, to support traders in their journey. Pepperstone Pepperstone is known for its competitive pricing, fast execution speeds, and support for multiple trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4 and 5, and cTrader. The platform offers a wide range of instruments, including forex, commodities, and indices. Pepperstone is regulated by the FCA and ASIC, bringing you a secure trading environment. Jack Nawrot, a senior scientist emeritus at SIU Carbondale, shows off the forged the 8-1/2-foot, hand-crafted stainless steel and iron sculpture he crafted in celebration of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. (Photo by Russell Bailey) Sculpture dedication, discussion commemorate 2024 total solar eclipse at SIU by Pete Rosenbery CARBONDALE, Ill. Recapture the awe of the 2024 total solar eclipse with a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work for an event that mesmerized thousands of spectators across Southern Illinois and millions of viewers who saw the spectacle from Southern Illinois University Carbondale during a one-year anniversary celebration on April 8 at Morris Library. Art in the Dark will reflect on special moments with a discussion and sculpture design dedication. The Journey to the Sun panel discussion is from 3 to 4 p.m. in the librarys John C. Guyon Auditorium and will look at SIUs meticulous planning, collaboration and scientific endeavors behind the experience. The discussion will also be available on the NASA-SIU Carbondale SolarSTEAM YouTube channel. In addition, the Art in the Dark eclipse-inspired sculpture designed by Jack Nawrot, a senior scientist emeritus at SIU, and first shown at Saluki Stadium on the day of the eclipse, will be formally dedicated outside the front of Morris Library at 4 p.m. (rain location will be Guyon Auditorium). Both events are free and open to the public. SIU Carbondale and the region were the Solar Eclipse Crossroads of America on the centerline of the path to longest duration of totality not only for the 2024 eclipse but also the 2017 eclipse. Sculpture dedication Nawrot and Robert A. Lopez, associate dean in the College of Arts and Media and associate professor of design in the School of Art and Design, will speak, along with 2024 Eclipse Steering Committee co-chair Bob Baer, associate scientist in the School of Physics and Applied Physics, and John Pollitz, Library Affairs dean. The sculpture was designed to be viewed from 10 to 12 feet away to enable viewers to see the eclipse as it moved across the southern sky behind the sculpture. A compass directional faceplate on top of the pedestal is inscribed with spherical coordinates for the beginning of the eclipse, totality, and the end of the eclipse. Nawrot said many of his friends who saw the sculpture on display last year could not believe that I, a nerdy biologist, was actually an artist. Nawrot, who worked with the universitys Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab before retiring in 2011, designed and forged the 8-1/2-foot, hand-crafted stainless steel and iron sculpture by Nawrots Jackson Forge in Cobden to commemorate the historic event on campus. His first art training came in a college biology class in 1968 when he sketched an amoeba for a laboratory assignment. After retiring, Nawrot took blacksmithing classes at the university, and he has since made numerous gates and railings and other special mementos. Nawrot had already forged and fabricated an 8-foot prototype when he met with Lopez about raising funds for students in the metalsmithing program. In addition to the sculpture, Nawrot sketched an Art in the Dark T-shirt design sold by students with proceeds also going to the Southern Illinois Metalsmith Society. Home Campus News Cynthia Lewis named 2025 Fellow of the American Educational Research Association Cynthia Lewis, professor emerita of education, was honored by the American Educational Research Association for her outstanding contributions to education research. The American Educational Research Association (AERA) has named Cynthia Lewis, professor emerita of education at the University of California, Santa Cruz, as one of its 2025 AERA Fellows. The prestigious honor recognizes scholars for their outstanding contributions to education research and their impact on the field. Lewis joins 28 other distinguished scholars in this years cohort, selected for their exceptional scholarship and leadership in educational research. I am deeply honored to be named an AERA Fellow and to join a community of scholars committed to advancing educational equity and justice, Lewis said. My work has always been driven by a belief in the transformative power of critical literacy and classroom discourse to challenge inequities and expand opportunities for all learners. Lewis work is grounded in critical sociocultural theory to examine the sociocultural dimensions of learning in and out of school. Her research examines how identity, agency, and power shape learning experiences, particularly in relation to educational equity, access, and opportunities to learn. She employs critical discourse analysis and classroom ethnography to analyze micro-level interactions in educational settings, revealing how inequities are both produced and challenged through classroom discourse. Throughout her career, Lewis has been recognized for her leadership, teaching, mentorship, and scholarship. She has served on the editorial advisory boards of leading literacy research journals and has held leadership roles in professional organizations. Her numerous accolades include the Educational Leadership Award from the University of Minnesota, the AERA Division G Mentoring Award, and the Edward B. Fry Book Award, which she has received twice for her scholarly contributions. As a newly named AERA Fellow, Lewis will be formally inducted during a ceremony at the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting in Denver on April 24. With this honor, she joins a distinguished group of scholars recognized for their lasting contributions to education research and their commitment to improving learning experiences for diverse communities. The Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) on Wednesday released a damning report on the first quarter of 2025, spotlighting a sharp rise in victimisation rates and challenges faced by religious minorities in Pakistan. The organisation condemned the escalating abuses, noting that relief and justice remain elusive due to resource constraints and the emboldened mindset of perpetrators, often backed by influential religious and political figures. HRFP President Naveed Walter, addressing the findings, stated, "Religious minorities in Pakistan are easier targets for attacks, murders, blasphemy charges, abductions, forced conversions, and forced marriages. The lack of attention to their suffering and neglect is even more painful." He pointed to a surge in incidents since January 2025, citing cases like Wasif Masih, a Christian youth from Chak Jhumra, Faisalabad, falsely accused of theft, assaulted, and publicly humiliated with black paint on his face. The report detailed harrowing cases, including the abduction of 12-year-old Ariha Gulzar from Okara on January 20, who was forcibly converted and married to her abductor, Sajjad Baloch, with her family still fighting for her release amid threats. Similarly, Javed Masih, a 30-year-old shopkeeper from Sahiwal, was brutally attacked on February 11 over a fabricated blasphemy claim after a pricing dispute, forcing him into hiding. Shahnaz Bibi, 24, from Pattoki, was faced with abduction and forced conversion on February 20, amplifying concerns within the Christian diaspora. Other incidents include Mehwish Nazir from Faisalabad, accused of theft by her employers on February 6 due to her faith, with her brother Rehman still imprisoned, and Farhan Masih from Sahiwal, falsely charged with blasphemy on January 26, pushing his family into financial ruin. Walter also flagged ongoing cases like Akash Karamat''s 17-month imprisonment on blasphemy charges and the mysterious death of 16-year-old Samia Boota in Lahore on March 1, treated as murder. The report highlighted communal unrest, such as protests in Khaliq Nagar, Lahore, on March 20 over flooding of dirty water, and the desecration of a Christian cemetery in Narowal in February for land-grabbing. A church fire in Sargodha on February 23, officially attributed to a short circuit, destroyed the UP Church, with HRFP urging a thorough probe. Walter noted, "HRFP''s REAT Helpline received over 400 calls in the first three months of 2025, mostly about religious persecution." HRFP called for independent investigations into the rising blasphemy cases, particularly those involving minors, as advocates press for systemic change to protect Pakistan''s vulnerable minorities. (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) BusinessWire India Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], March 27: In a landmark move, Netcon Technologies, a global leader in digital and AI transformation, today announced its rebranding as Arche alongside the launch of a state-of-the-art innovation hub at Brookfield Eco World in Bangalore. This dual milestone underscores a strategic evolution that embraces an AI-first and digital-first mindset while reinforcing a global outlook. The rebranding to Arche marks a decisive shift from a traditional IT infrastructure and application services provider to a strategic partner for enterprise-wide digital transformation. With an expanded service portfolio and a platform-first approach, Arche is uniquely positioned to deliver cutting-edge, AI-driven solutions that empower global enterprises to thrive in an increasingly digital-first world. Launched on the 18th anniversary of the brand, the new innovation hub is designed as a dynamic center for immersive customer engagement, advanced research and development, and real-time solution deployment. Strategically located in the heart of the GCC at Brookfield Eco World in Bangalore, the facility features modern, flexible infrastructure engineered to foster collaboration and innovation. It houses state-of-the-art AI R&D laboratories, interactive industry showcase zones, and advanced customer service areas, providing a live environment where global customers can experience and evaluate next-generation technologies firsthand. This facility is not just a research center; it is a launchpad for AI-driven enterprise solutions that drive operational agility and digital acceleration. "Our transformation into Arche is more than a rebrand. It is a commitment to redefining how enterprises harness AI and platform intelligence to scale in a digital-first world," said Bobby MD, CEO of Arche. "This innovation hub is our blueprint for the future of enterprise transformation, offering customers a real-time AI experience that accelerates decision-making, drives operational agility, and unlocks new growth opportunities. This is the first of many such centers that will further extend our global footprint and strengthen our presence in key GCC hubs." Sustainability is a key priority in the design, with energy-efficient systems and green infrastructure practices integrated to minimize environmental impact. A centralized dashboard monitors energy usage across all Arche campuses in India to ensure optimal efficiency. Celebrating 18 years of innovation, this announcement builds on an impressive legacy of over 500 successful projects for more than 300 global clients across industries such as healthcare, travel, transportation and logistics, defence, BFSI, manufacturing, and retail. With established operations in key regions including the USA, Latam, Singapore, Dubai, and Africa, Arche is poised to extend its global influence and drive transformative outcomes for enterprises worldwide. "Arche is the intersection of intelligence, innovation, and impact," explained Ishan Mistry, Chief of Design & Marketing of Arche. "Our new identity reflects a passion for simplicity and customer empowerment, turning digital transformation into a tangible, real-time experience. The innovation hub sets a new benchmark by enabling enterprises to navigate, adapt, and lead in an AI-driven era." For more information on Arche's global transformation, insights from industry leaders, or an exclusive look at the AI-first innovation hub, please visit http://arche.global or follow Arche on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arche-global/?viewAsMember=true (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 27: The literary world welcomes an inspiring addition with the release of Hausla Fir Bhi Buland Hai, a poignant poetry collection by Jai Pal Singh. This Hindi poetry book encapsulates the essence of human perseverance, portraying struggles, hopes, and victories through deeply emotional and motivational verses. Jai Pal Singh, an eminent poet, has masterfully woven words that resonate with every reader who has faced life's adversities. His poetry delves into the realities of existence, bringing to light the struggles that shape an individual's spirit and the resilience that drives them forward. Through simple yet profound words, the poet encourages readers to embrace hope and inner strength. A Literary Gem for the Soul The book Hausla Fir Bhi Buland Hai is more than just a poetry collection; it is a beacon of inspiration. With its evocative language and heartfelt expressions, Singh takes readers on an emotional journey where they find solace, motivation, and the courage to keep moving forward. His verses touch on themes such as self-belief, overcoming hardships, and finding strength in difficult times. Each poem in the collection reflects real-life challenges and unspoken emotions, making it deeply relatable to a wide audience. Whether one is battling personal challenges, professional setbacks, or emotional turmoil, the book offers a sense of reassurance that no matter how difficult the situation, resilience can lead to triumph. The Essence of the Book Singh's poetic compositions echo the struggles of the common man, urging individuals to rise above circumstances with an unbreakable spirit. The beauty of Hausla Fir Bhi Buland Hai lies in its simplicity and authenticity, making it an accessible and enjoyable read for poetry enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Through his words, the author paints a vivid picture of hope, encouraging readers to believe in themselves despite adversities. His poetry becomes a guiding force, reminding individuals that failure is never final and that perseverance always leads to success. A Must-Read for Every Poetry Lover For readers who appreciate poetry that uplifts the soul and inspires change, Hausla Fir Bhi Buland Hai is a must-read. It is a collection that not only offers poetic beauty but also serves as a motivational companion in life's journey. The book is expected to resonate with young readers, professionals, and anyone seeking a literary refuge during challenging times. Availability and Reception The book is now available for purchase at major bookstores and online platforms. Critics and poetry lovers have already begun praising Singh's work for its depth, authenticity, and universal appeal. As word spreads, Hausla Fir Bhi Buland Hai is set to make a significant impact on Hindi literature and poetry lovers worldwide. In a world where challenges are an inevitable part of life, Jai Pal Singh's Hausla Fir Bhi Buland Hai stands as a testament to human resilience, urging readers to hold on to hope and emerge stronger in every battle they face. (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) Women direct sellers rise from 37 per cent to 44 per cent of the total direct selling force, according to a survey. The Northern region leads with a nearly 30 per cent share in gross sales, followed by the East at 24.2 per cent. Wellness products top all segments, with cosmetics and personal care in second place. Maharashtra shares the highest with 13 per cent in gross sales among all states. Marching ahead with sustained growth, India's direct selling industry has achieved an all-time high with a turnover of Rs 22,142 crores in FY 2023-24, marking a 4.4 per cent year-on-year (YOY) growth from Rs 21,282 crore in the previous fiscal year, according to an Annual Survey Report released by the Indian Direct Selling Association (IDSA) here on Tuesday. The survey, conducted by IPSOS, the knowledge partner of the IDSA, an apex association of direct selling industry in India, was unveiled by Chirag Paswan, Union Minister for Food Processing Industry, during an event highlighting the growth of the direct selling sector and sustained expansion, with a CAGR of 7.15 per cent over the past five years, growing from Rs 16,800 crore in FY 2019-20 to Rs 22,142 crore in FY 2023-24. The Country's northern region leads with 29.8 per cent of gross sales, followed by the East (24.2 per cent), West (22.4 per cent), South (15.3 per cent), and Northeast (8.3 per cent). Among states, Maharashtra holds the highest share at 13 per cent, followed by West Bengal (11.3 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (10 per cent), Bihar (6.2 per cent) and Karnataka (5.7 per cent). Wellness & Nutraceuticals reign supreme, accounting for a staggering 64.15 per cent of total sales, while Cosmetics & Personal Care contribute 23.75 per cent and Household Goods 3.1 per cent. Together, these three segments drive a remarkable 91 per cent of all direct sales, according to the survey. The report indicates a significant increase in the number of active direct sellers, rising to 88 lakh from 86 lakh in the previous year. Notably, women now constitute 44 per cent of the total direct seller workforce, up from 37 per cent in FY 2022-23, showcasing the growing role of women entrepreneurs in the industry. Paswan, while addressing the gathering on the occasion, lauded the direct selling industry for its significant role in providing self-employment opportunities, aligning seamlessly with the government's vision of more job creation. Emphasising the importance of high product quality, he reaffirmed the government's commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment through its various strategic initiatives. He encouraged the industry to adopt good manufacturing practices and capitalize opportunities for sustainable growth. Furthermore, he assured the industry's stakeholders of his department's unwavering support, pledging to address concerns regarding the nutraceutical segment and streamline loan processes to help direct selling businesses thrive. Vivek Katoch, Chairperson, IDSA, said, "The report showcases an encouraging trend for the direct selling industry in the country. The growth trajectory of the industry has been on a surge over the years. A CAGR of 7.15 per cent is a testament to the fact that direct selling businesses in the country have made steady growth and are poised to strengthen further in the years to come on the back of a promising regulatory framework by the government for the industry." (ANI) PRNewswire New Delhi [India], March 27: Neon Cloud, a next-generation cloud computing platform, today announced its official launch in India, redefining the way businesses access and leverage cloud infrastructure. Designed to simplify, scale, and accelerate innovation, Neon Cloud will deliver high-performance, low-cost, and enterprise-grade solutions for startups, SMBs, and enterprises. Backed by over 30 years of IT expertise through its parent company, Progression, Neon Cloud is a seamless blend of enterprise-grade robustness and startup-driven agility. With a state-of-the-art data centre in Gurgaon and a proven history of hosting multiple SAP customers, the brand brings unmatched reliability and performance to the Indian cloud ecosystem. The innovative cloud platform aims to empower businesses with cost-effective, scalable, and high-performance cloud solutions tailored to modern enterprise needs. Aiming to make technology simpler, more powerful, and truly independent, Neon Cloud is designed as an intuitive, all-in-one cloud platform. This will eliminate the complexities of managing multiple providers, giving businesses complete control over their cloud infrastructure. With a strong focus on flexibility and freedom, the platform will ensure businesses are not locked into restrictive ecosystems, allowing seamless scalability, enhanced security, and optimized performance. Furthermore, the brand also plans to expand to the APAC region this year, marking a significant milestone in its global growth strategy. Speaking on the India launch, Mr Sarthak Hooda, Founder & CEO at Neon Cloud, said: "We are thrilled to bring Neon Cloud to the Indian market. With the accelerating digital transformation in the country, businesses need powerful, high-value cloud solutions to scale without limitations. Neon Cloud is designed to eliminate complexity, reduce costs, and provide cutting-edge enterprise technology--without vendor lock-ins or hidden pricing. Our mission is to empower businesses with the tools they need to innovate and grow effortlessly. The launch in India marks a significant step towards making world-class cloud infrastructure more accessible and efficient." Neon Cloud offers a comprehensive suite of scalable cloud services, including high-performance virtual machines, Kubernetes for seamless container orchestration, and Cloud GPU services set to be launched soon. With additional offerings like block storage, object storage, secure backups, virtual private cloud, cloud firewall, and load balancing, the platform ensures businesses have access to robust cloud solutions tailored to their evolving needs. A key differentiator for Neon Cloud is its commitment towards cloud independence, eliminating vendor lock-ins that often restrict businesses. Mr. Arun Sharma, CBO Neon Cloud further leads the brand, assures that unlike traditional cloud providers, the brand empowers businesses with complete control over their infrastructure, allowing them to scale seamlessly without being locked into proprietary ecosystems or hidden costs. The platform is also built for efficiency, enabling businesses to save significantly compared to other cloud providers or hyperscalers while still receiving premium features with unmatched flexibility. The brand will also offer highly secure cloud infrastructure, supported by a 27/4 Network Operations Center (NOC) and a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC), ensuring robust monitoring and security. With a team that has over 13 years of experience managing critical applications on the cloud, businesses can rely on brand's expertise for seamless cloud operations. In addition, as part of its commitment to delivering best-in-class solutions, Neon Cloud has partnered with Virtuozzo--a leading software company specializing in virtualization and cloud management solutions--to offer high-performance IaaS services. This collaboration will enable businesses to harness advanced cloud technologies, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. About Neon Cloud: Neon Cloud is a next-generation, self-service cloud computing platform designed to empower developers, startups, and SMBs with cutting-edge IaaS solutions. By offering scalable, reliable, and user-friendly cloud tools, Neon Cloud simplifies the complexities of cloud computing, enabling businesses to focus on building impactful solutions. With a commitment to accessibility, cost-efficiency, and performance, Neon Cloud is redefining the cloud experience for modern enterprises. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2651810/Neon_Cloud_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 27: PingCAP, powering open-source distributed SQL database TiDB, reaffirmed its commitment to driving database innovation in India by hosting the inaugural TiDB User Day India 2025 in Bengaluru on 26th March 2025. As India becomes one of the fastest-growing markets for TiDB, the event served as a forum to honour the contribution of TiDB in India. The event brought together technology leaders, database professionals, and industry innovators to explore real-world use cases, best practices, and the future of distributed databases in India's rapidly evolving digital landscape. By recognizing the role of its users and partners, TiDB aims to further empower Indian enterprises with scalable and innovative solutions to accelerate digital transformation in the country. The event highlighted TiDB's growing adoption in India and its impact on powering next-generation applications. The summit featured insightful keynotes and panel discussions led by experts from Flipkart, Databricks, ElasticRun, Mydbops, and other leading organizations, covering topics such as scaling databases, performance optimization, and AI-driven innovations. Attendees engaged in deep-dive technical sessions, networking opportunities, and discussions on the evolving role of TiDB in modern data infrastructure. Demonstrations included a live TiDB Performance Tuning session for high concurrency workloads, coupled with special recognition of the open-source community members who actively contribute to TiDB's development and innovation. Awards were presented to community members for their significant contributions, exceptional knowledge, and passion. Over 200 attendees participated in person, reflecting the event's broad reach and the growing interest among TiDB customers and community members. Commenting on the event, Bhanu Jamwal, Head of India Business at TiDB, stated, "India's rapid digital transformation is driving an unprecedented surge in data. Businesses need future-proof database solutions that can scale effortlessly while supporting real-time decision-making. TiDB's distributed architecture and HTAP capabilities position it as a game-changer for companies looking to modernize their data infrastructure. As part of our long-term vision for India, we are targeting a 5x revenue increase over the next three years, driven by expanding our local team, deepening partnerships with cloud providers like AWS and Google Cloud, and strengthening community engagement through workshops, training sessions, and hackathons." Adding to this, Sunny Bains, Chief Architect at TiDB, said, "With the growing integration of RAG in AI applications to enhance accuracy, vector search has become a critical component. Traditional databases often fall short in supporting RAG-based applications. TiDB offers a unified system that seamlessly combines vector search capabilities with relational database features, eliminating the complexity of managing multiple databases. At TiDB User Day, we demonstrated how enterprises can leverage TiDB's vector search capabilities to optimize AI performance." "TiDB has proven to be the missing piece in the scaling puzzle. This event provided a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of the product while allowing us to connect with other TiDB users to exchange insights on how distributed SQL can address the evolving data needs," added Ajit Pendse, Director, Technology, ElasticRun. "TiDB User Day was a great experience--getting to hear from experts and fellow users about real-world challenges and solutions was really insightful. The hands-on sessions gave me a lot of ideas to take back to my team. It's always great to connect with the community and learn from each other," said Raj Suvariya, Software Engineer, Stripe. As India accelerates towards a $1 trillion digital economy, TiDB remains committed to empowering businesses with cutting-edge distributed SQL technology. Through strategic partnerships, community-driven initiatives, and continuous innovation, TiDB is poised to become a cornerstone of India's data infrastructure, enabling enterprises to build for scale, optimize performance, and drive digital transformation. For more information about the event, visit TiDB User Day India 2025. PingCAP is the company behind TiDB, the most advanced open source, distributed SQL database. TiDB powers modern applications with a streamlined tech stack, elastic scaling, real-time analytics, and continuous access to data--all in a single database. With these advanced capabilities, growing businesses can focus on the future instead of complex data infrastructure management. Some of the world's largest companies across FinTech, eCommerce, Web3, and Gaming trust TiDB to handle their business-critical workloads. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, PingCAP is backed by Sequoia Capital, GGV Capital, Access Technology Ventures, Coatue Management and others. (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) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 27: Graphisads Ltd, one of India's leading outdoor media owners and advertising agencies, has announced a significant milestone by entering into an agreement with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to operate, maintain, and generate advertising revenue from 100+ public utilities located in the NDMC area. Commonly referred to as Lutyens' Delhi, this prestigious zone is home to key government ministers, top bureaucrats, and influential decision-makers. The project, which spans a duration of eight years, is expected to generate revenue exceeding Rs100 crore, underscoring its immense potential and strategic importance. By leveraging its expertise in outdoor media and infrastructure management, Graphisads aims to deliver a world-class experience while tapping into the lucrative advertising opportunities this project presents. Commenting on the agreement, Sh. Mukesh Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of Graphisads Ltd, stated: "Our expertise in PPP Projects is the result of this achievement. This agreement marks a significant step forward for Graphisads in consolidating our leadership position in the Delhi market. With the NDMC area being the most premium and high-profile zone in the capital, this partnership further reinforces our ability to execute large-scale projects successfully. We have started renovating these utilities and maintaining them to provide the best possible Utilities to Delhi'ites. We are also looking to bid for more such contracts in the coming year to expand our media presence and create new benchmarks in outdoor advertising." This achievement aligns with Graphisads' long-standing commitment to excellence in outdoor media and innovation. As a listed company on the NSE Emerge platform, Graphisads continues to attract investors and partners by consistently delivering growth and value. While Graphisads has cemented its leadership in outdoor advertising, it is also a full-stack media agency offering a wide array of services, including event management, exhibitions, marketing, digital and creative production. This holistic approach allows Graphisads to provide 360-degree solutions to its clients, ensuring seamless brand advertising across multiple channels. By combining outdoor media expertise with robust digital marketing and creative services, the company continues to set new benchmarks in the integrated advertising and media industry. (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) NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 27: Over 150 volunteers conducted accessibility audits of public spaces across Bengaluru to assess the inclusivity of the city's infrastructure for people with disabilities and the elderly. The audit drive was organized by the Association of People with Disability (APD) to commemorate World Accessibility Day, an initiative conceptualized by Svayam and supported by APD, aimed at raising awareness about the urgent need for accessible public spaces. Volunteers included students, grassroots workers, and community groups who came together to evaluate public infrastructure through a series of accessibility audits. The audits were carried out using Yes to Access--APD's crowdsourced mobile application designed to map and assess accessibility features in real time. The app combines artificial intelligence with user inputs, enabling volunteers and citizens to evaluate public places for essential elements such as ramps, railings, accessible toilets, tactile pathways, and clear signage. The data collected through the app not only highlights existing barriers but also serves as a valuable resource for driving change toward more inclusive urban spaces. Participants included the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at Ramaiah College of Law, Village and Urban Rehabilitation Workers from Bangalore Rural, the Rotaract Club, Melton Fellowship, students from BMS Institute of Technology, and the Federation of Voluntary Organizations for Rural Development in Karnataka (FEVOURD-K). Their collective effort reflected a growing movement toward making Bengaluru's public spaces more inclusive and accessible. Speaking about the campaign's impact, Bhumika Modh, Project Lead of the Yes to Access initiative, said, "Today, we witnessed what collective action can achieve. By engaging students and grassroots volunteers, we are not just collecting data but building awareness that accessibility is fundamental to dignity and equal opportunity." A representative from Svayam emphasized, "World Accessibility Day, observed every year on March 27, was initiated by Svayam to bring national attention to the need for inclusive environments for people of all abilities. As we mark the third year of this important observance in 2025, we are proud to see communities like Bengaluru stepping up to lead the way. Accessibility is not a special feature--it is a foundational principle for a more equal and inclusive society. Every person, regardless of their mobility, deserves the freedom to live with dignity, independence, and equal opportunity. This collective action by over 150 volunteers is not just about data collection--it is about challenging the status quo and creating cities that work for everyone.We urge civic authorities to treat this data as a roadmap for transformative change." Krishnamurthy.K, District Disability Welfare Officer (DDWO), Bangalore Urban, said, "Technology offers powerful tools to assess and improve accessibility in our cities. Integrating such solutions supports the government's efforts to make urban spaces more inclusive and responsive to the needs of every citizen." Jagadish, District Disability Welfare Officer (DDWO), Bangalore Rural, added,, "Collaboration between communities, organizations, and government is essential to advance accessibility. Initiatives like this reflect a shared commitment to creating environments where everyone can participate fully." The findings from these audits will be compiled and shared with civic authorities, urban planners, and stakeholders to ensure Bengaluru takes tangible steps towards becoming more accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities and the elderly. The Association of People with Disability (APD) is a non-profit organization based in Bengaluru, working since 1959 to empower people with disabilities from underprivileged backgrounds. APD's comprehensive programs span early intervention, education, healthcare, livelihoods, and advocacy, reaching children and adults with physical, intellectual, and multiple disabilities. With a strong focus on creating sustainable impact, APD partners with communities, corporates, and governments to build a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities live independent, dignified lives. For more information, visit: www.apd-india.org. Svayam is a leading accessibility organization that aims to reform infrastructure and transportation to make it accessible for people with reduced mobility. Accessibility aids individuals and gives them the freedom to independently explore the built environment around them, irrespective of their physical capabilities. This was on philanthropist-business visionary Sminu Jindal's mind when she founded Svayam in October 2000. An initiative of the Sminu Jindal Charitable Trust, Svayam is a not-for-profit accessibility pioneer that focuses on creating a barrier-free world for all. For more information, visit: www.svayam.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) India PR Distribution Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], March 27: Hutech Solutions, a CMMi Level 3 Global Product Engineering Services and Solutions Company has been awarded the esteemed NASSCOM SME Inspire Award 2025. This prestigious recognition was presented by the Honourable Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, and Shri Rajesh Nambiar, President of NASSCOM, at a grand ceremony held at Hotel Shangri-La, New Delhi. The NASSCOM SME Inspire Awards is an initiative of the NASSCOM SME Council that celebrates the accomplishments of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the technology sector. Now in its third edition, the awards recognize outstanding leadership in business growth, delivery capability, innovation, and workplace business practices. Out of hundreds of applications across diverse segments, Hutech Solutions emerged as a leader highlighting its excellence in product engineering innovation and operational efficiency. The Journey to Success The journey began in October 2024 when Hutech Solutions submitted its application and supporting documentation. Over the next six months, the team meticulously prepared detailed reports, fact sheets, and data points to meet the stringent jury requirements. In February 2025, Hutech Solutions was shortlisted and invited for the final round of presentations before a distinguished panel of industry leaders. The award announcement on March 20, 2025, marked the culmination of months of hard work and dedication. "This recognition is more than just an award - it's an extra boost of motivation for our entire team," said Pravat Ranjan Rana, Founder and CEO of Hutech Solutions. "We are deeply grateful to NASSCOM for providing a platform that highlights the incredible work of technology SMEs and motivates us to accelerate our growth and innovation." The company credits its success to the collaborative effort of its finance team, technology leadership, and associates who meticulously compiled and presented the required documentation and performance metrics throughout the evaluation process. Driving Excellence and Innovation Hutech Solutions achievement reflects its strategic focus on innovation, customer-centric solutions, and operational excellence. The company has consistently demonstrated the ability to deliver complex technology solutions, streamline operations, and drive tangible business outcomes for its clients. Looking Ahead Hutech Solutions remains at the forefront of innovation, driving excellence through the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology. By leveraging AI models, machine learning, and intelligent process automation, Hutech Solutions enhances operational efficiency, improves decision-making, and delivers data-driven insights for business enterprises. The company is poised to expand its success in the BFSI domain, focusing on core banking, wealth management, and retail banking segments. With a strong commitment to AI-driven automation and business process transformation, Hutech Solutions continues to set new benchmarks in technological innovation and industry leadership. About Hutech Solutions Hutech Solutions is a leading AI-powered global software services and consulting company, specializing in delivering cutting-edge technology solutions for the Banking, Financial Services, Logistics & Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Travel & Tourism sectors working with Leading Banks, Financial Services, Product Companies and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India. With a strong focus on innovation and automation, Hutech Solutions is dedicated to driving customer success through intelligent, scalable, and future-ready solutions. About NASSCOM NASSCOM is the premier trade body and the chamber of commerce of the IT-BPM industries in India. NASSCOM is a global trade body with more than 3000 members, which include both Indian and multinational companies that have a presence in India. NASSCOM's member and associate member companies are broadly in the business of software development, software services, software products, consulting services, BPM services, e-commerce & web services, engineering services offshoring. NASSCOM's membership base constitutes over 95% of the industry revenues in India and employs over 5.4 million professionals. For more information, please visit our website at www.hutechsolutions.com Media Contact:Swayamprava NandaHutech SolutionsEMail: corporate@hutechsolution.com+91- 8073989712 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with foreign leaders who visited China to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, on Wednesday. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who is here to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, had a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. Ding said China is willing to work with Laos in supporting each other's core interests and advancing practical cooperation across various fields. For his part, Sonexay reaffirmed that Laos would make continuous efforts to make new progress in developing Laos-China community with a shared future. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Aren B. Palik, vice president of the Federated States of Micronesia, who is here to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] In a meeting with Aren B. Palik, vice president of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Ding called for expanding mutual collaboration in trade, investment, infrastructure and marine economy, while jointly addressing climate challenges. Palik reiterated FSM side's adherence to the one-China principle and its firm support for China's positions on the Taiwan question as well as affairs concerning Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Mongolia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Development Luvsannyam Gantumur, who is here to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] On China-Mongolia relations, Ding said to Mongolia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Luvsannyam Gantumu that the enduring friendly relations between the two neighboring countries align with the fundamental interests of both peoples. Gantumu expressed willingness to deepen cooperation with China in connectivity, energy resources, and high-tech sectors. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, who is here to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] In a meeting with Kazakhstan's First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, Ding called for joint efforts to translate the outcomes of the recent 12th Meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee into real actions. Sklyar said Kazakhstan is ready to work closely with China to elevate bilateral ties to a new high. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, who is here to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations. While speaking with Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Ding said the two sides should enhance strategic synergy and strive for new breakthroughs in practical cooperation. Agus said Indonesia is committed to deepening and expanding cooperation with China in various sectors and further advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel, who is here to attend the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] When meeting with Portugal's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel, Ding said China is dedicated to mutual respect and trust with Portugal and is ready to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and deepen opening up and exchanges between the two sides. Rangel said Portugal thinks highly of Macao's prosperity and steady development since it returned to China, pledging efforts to further deepen practical cooperation with China. Mandy Moore's house may have become one of many destroyed in the Los Angeles fire at the start of the year, but now she is ready to rebuild her lost home, as reported by People. In a since-expired Instagram story, the actress Moore shared a post by her Interior designer, Sarah Sherman Samuel, which featured the photographs of the guest house kitchen that was once a part of Moore's house. According to People, Moore and her husband Taylor Goldsmith, were renovating their property at the time of the fire. According to an Instagram post from fellow designer Emily Farnham, the kitchen had just been completed in December 2024. Re-sharing the Instagram story, the actress More wrote, "I miss this space and our home and Atladena immensely so I'm looking forward to rebuilding version 2.0", as quoted by People. The photos showed the redesigned kitchen, which once featured paintable modern beaded cabinets from Samuel's line for Semihandmade and a vintage table and stools. At the start of the year, Hollywood celebrity Mandy Moore faced a devastating loss amid the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. Taking to Instagram, the 'This Is Us' star shared that she is "devastated and gutted" after the Eaton Fire--located about 30 miles east of the Pacific Palisades Fire--rapidly spread in her neighbourhood. As per The Hollywood Reporter, she first revealing that she had evacuated and was safe with her "kids, dogs and cats." She added in her initial post, "Praying and grateful for the first responders." She updated her followers Wednesday morning, writing, "Grateful for the kindness of friends that we had a place to land last night. Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel. Praying for everyone in our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don't know if our place made it. #eatonfire." Later in the day, Moore posted a video of what appeared to be her driving through the destruction in her community, as smoke continued to engulf the sky. She shared that her Altadena, California, home was burned down in the Eaton Fire. "This is Altadena. Leveled. My sweet home," she wrote. "I am devastated and gutted for those of us who've lost so much. I'm absolutely numb." In a follow-up post, she added, "My children's school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together. Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control." Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, James Woods, Diane Warren, Cameron Mathison and Ricki Lake among others have also lost their homes in wildfires. (ANI) Academy Award-winning actor and producer Leonardo DiCaprio has teamed up with filmmaker Shannon Kring on the upcoming documentary ''Nine Little Indians,'' which sheds light on the harrowing story of abuse at a US boarding school for Native American children. The documentary, currently in post-production, follows the nearly two-decade-long legal battle of the Charbonneau sisters and their childhood schoolmates who endured horrific abuse at St. Paul''s Indian Mission School in South Dakota. According to Deadline, the film will chronicle their fight to hold the Catholic Church accountable for the heinous crimes inflicted upon them. DiCaprio''s production company, Appian Way, is producing the documentary alongside Red Queen Media and Terra Mater Studios. The film features interviews with two former nuns at the school and the abbot who supervised several of the priests accused of rape and murder. Filmmaker Kring, known for her documentary ''End Of The Line: The Women Of Standing Rock,'' began working on the project in 2016, when tribal members invited her to document the discovery of skeletal remains of missing children at the school. According to Deadline, the documentary aims to expose the dark history of American Indian boarding schools, which were established to "civilize" Native American children into Anglo-American culture. The institutions have been linked to numerous cases of abuse, rape, and murder. Author and public speaker Tony Robbins has joined the project as an executive producer, alongside DiCaprio and other notable producers. "We are delighted to partner with Tony Robbins and Shannon Kring on this profound film, which sheds light onto the egregious crimes that took place at St. Paul''s Indian Mission School," said Jennifer Davisson, President of Production at Appian Way, as quoted by Deadline. Kring added, "It is time that we as a nation atone for this horror of the not-so-distant past." Robbins commented, "I hope that ''Nine Little Indians'' inspires you as much as the St. Paul''s Indian Mission School survivors have inspired me." (ANI) In a social media post, Jr NTR revealed that a Japanese fan had learned Telugu, his native language, after watching his blockbuster film ''RRR.'' The actor expressed his emotions, stating that the fan''s gesture had truly moved him. https://x.com/tarak9999/status/1905182568032407779?t=fSgdFyAwbnQE0LXtllMw_g&s=19 Jr NTR emphasized the power of cinema to bridge cultural gaps and inspire language learning. "Being a lover of cinema and languages, the power of cinema to be a bridge across cultures and encouraging a fan to learn a language is something I will never forget," he wrote. The actor''s visit to Japan comes on the heels of the release of ''Devara: Part 1,'' which has been making waves in the country. The actor took to his X handle and shared a video clip of his experience at an event in Japan where his excited fans could be seen cheering for the star. https://x.com/tarak9999/status/1904778964234613133 "Overwhelmed, Japan! Can''t wait for the Japanese audience to experience #Devara in cinemas from March 28th," he wrote. Directed by Koratala Siva, the film marks Jr NTR''s return to the big screen after his Golden Globe and Oscar triumph with ''RRR.'' In ''Devara: Part 1,'' Jr NTR plays a dual role, taking on the characters of Devara and Varadha. The film''s storyline revolves around a dramatic clash of wills in a coastal setting, where power dynamics are in constant flux. The film has been released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi, and features an ensemble cast, including Janhvi Kapoor. In India, the movie was released on September 27. (ANI) The show, which has become known for its star-studded cast, has added Zellweger to its lineup alongside returning stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, and Michael Cyril Creighton, according to the official social media handle of the show. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHrD2pHSkbg/?img_index=2 Production on the new season, which will focus on solving the murder of Lester, began this week in New York. Zellweger joins a list of new cast members, including Christoph Waltz, Tea Leoni, and Keegan-Michael Key. The show''s previous season featured an impressive ensemble cast, including Meryl Streep, Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, Eva Longoria, and Melissa McCarthy, among others. ''Only Murders in the Building'' recently won its first SAG Award for Comedy Series Ensemble, with Martin Short also taking home the award for Male Actor in a Comedy Series. Meanwhile, Zellweger, who has won Oscars for her roles in ''Cold Mountain'' and ''Judy,'' is set to appear in the upcoming film ''Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,'' the fourth installment of the Bridget Jones franchise. She has also made appearances on television, including in the Netflix series ''What/If'' and NBC''s ''The Thing About Pam.'' In addition to her acting work, Zellweger is set to executive produce the upcoming Apple TV+ thriller series ''Raising Wild,'' starring Cynthia Erivo, through her production company Big Picture Co. (ANI) Oscar-winning director Yuval Abraham called out the US Academy of Motion Pictures and Arts Association (AMPAS) for not publicly supporting his colleague and Palestinian co-director of 'No Other Land', Hamdan Ballal, after he was beaten by Israeli settlers and detained by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, reported The Hollywood Reporter. According to the outlet, Abraham, one of the four directors of the documentary No Other Land, which won an Oscar earlier this month, took to his X handle to report the arrest of Bellal by Israeli soldiers on Monday night after he was assaulted by a group of Israeli settlers near his colleague's home. Following the release of his Palestinian colleague, Abraham expressed his disappointment with the US Academy for not publicly supporting his co-director Ballal while he was beaten and tortured by Israeli soldiers. Taking to his X handle, Abraham wrote, "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." According to Abraham, the US Academy refused to publicly acknowledge the issue and support the director because they felt that it was unrelated to the film No Other Land. "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. 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." No Other Land co-director also claimed that Ballal was mocked by the soldiers for his movie while they tortured him. He urged the prestigious US Academy to issue a statement condemning the attack. "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. It's 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," wrote Abraham. https://x.com/yuval_abraham/status/1904828586009252249 The alleged attack came just three weeks after 'No Other Land' won the Academy Award for best documentary. On stage, directors Abraham, Ballal, Basel Adra and Rachel Szor highlighted a call for action to the destruction happening in Gaza. 'No Other Land' follows a Palestinian family living in the West Bank as their home gets destroyed by the Israeli government and they face displacement. But amidst the dire conditions, Adra and Abraham, an Israeli journalist, form an unexpected friendship and work together to document the story. (ANI) Michael Caine, who played the role of Alfred in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, recalled the surprising transformation of late actor Heath Ledger for his iconic villainous character 'Joker', saying that he was terrified when he saw the actor for the first time in action on the sets, reported Variety. In his memoir, 'Don't Look Back, You'll Trip Over: My Guide to Life", Caine admitted that Ledger's performance not only shocked him but also boosted the entire cast to give their best, as stated by NME Magazine and quoted by Variety. "The smeared makeup, the weird hair, the strange voice. It was chilling. Absolutely floored me the first time I saw him in action - I was terrified." wrote Caine in his memoir as quoted by Variety. Ledger's performance forced the rest of the cast to "raise our game," Caine added. Ledger's turn as the Joker is regarded as one of the greatest villain performances in movie history. He posthumously won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Ledger passed away in January 2008 at the age of 28, just a few months before the July theatrical release of 'The Dark Knight'. The 'Batman' actor also expressed his sorrow for Ledger's early demise in his memoir. He hailed the actor's legacy and wrote that Ledger will always be remembered as a great actor. "Heath was only 28 when he passed away. I hadn't even made 'Zulu' when I was that age. You think of what he might have gone on to achieve, it's just heartbreaking. We were all terribly shocked, and it made doing the publicity for 'The Dark Knight' that summer much more intense, because all the journalists wanted to talk about his death," He continued, "It still makes me sad to think of it... [it's] a performance for the ages. Even though his career was cut short so soon, he'll be remembered as a great actor, I believe." as quoted by NME Magazine and reported by Variety. According to the outlet, Caine went on to reprise his role of Alfred in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. The actor has frequently appeared in Christopher Nolan's films, starting with Batman Begins and starring in hits such as The Prestige, Inception, Tenet, and Interstellar. Caine also makes a voice appearance in Dunkirk. Caine was last seen in the film 'The Great Escaper', which also starred late actress Glenda May Jackson in the lead role. (ANI) Satish Salian, the father of late Disha Salian, on Thursday made a passionate plea for justice, calling for narco tests to be conducted on all accused individuals, including Shiv Sena (UBT leader) Aaditya Thackeray, actors Sooraj Pancholi, and Dino Morea. He also revealed that he had demanded protection for himself and his counsel, emphasising his determination to see the case through to its conclusion. While speaking to ANI, Satish said, "I demanded (Mumbai Police officers) justice for my daughter. I also demanded protection, even for my counsel...I am ready for a Narco Test. But there should be a Narco Test of Aaditya Thackeray, Sooraj Pancholi, and Dino Morea too. All accused should be tested..." He expressed his frustration with the lack of progress in the case, citing the inaction of the previous government, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), during their 2.5-year tenure. Satish Salian stated that he was forced to take matters into his own hands and approach the court for justice. "They (MVA) were in power for 2.5 years; after that, an SIT was put in place, but they didn't do anything. Then, I had to take this step...We will definitely get justice," said Disha Salian's father. The grieving father reiterated his faith in the judiciary, asserting that he will not rest until justice is served. "I have complete faith in the judiciary...My daughter could do only half her work, I have to give it the finishing touch through punishment (to the accused)...Nobody attempted to put pressure on me," he added. This comes after Disha's father filed a fresh complaint almost five years after her sudden demise. After his visit to the Mumbai Police Commissioner's office today, Disha's father opened up about the reopening of his daughter's murder case. Meanwhile, Disha Salian's father's lawyer, Advocate Nilesh C Ojha, today met with Joint CP Lakhmi Gautam to discuss the complaint filed in the Disha Salian murder case. The complaint, which names Aaditya Thackeray, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea, and Aaditya Thackeray's bodyguard as directly accused of gang rape and murder, has been stagnant for 15 months. Ojha urged the police to officially register the complaint, assign a crime number, and provide police protection to Satish, the petitioner, his family, his advocate, and key witnesses. He also demanded an immediate reconstruction of the crime scene to establish key facts. While speaking with ANI, he said, "We met Joint CP Lakhmi Gautam to discuss our complaint, which we had previously submitted. We urged that it be officially registered, as the government recently acknowledged it on record. We urged that it be assigned a crime number without further delay. We demanded that Satish, the petitioner, along with his family, advocate, and key witnesses, should be provided police protection... The case has been stagnant for 15 months. We demanded an immediate reconstruction of the crime scene to establish key facts..." The complaint alleges that there are two sets of accused: those directly involved in the gang rape and murder, and those accused of covering up the crime, including Param Bir Singh, Sachin Vaze, and Uddhav Thackeray. Rhea Chakraborty is also implicated in the conspiracy, with allegations that she exchanged deleted messages with Aaditya Thackeray. "There are two sets of accused - First, directly accused of gang rape and murder: Aaditya Thackeray, Sooraj Pancholi, Dino Morea, and Aaditya Thackeray's bodyguard... Second, accused of cover-up: Param Bir Singh, Sachin Vaze, and Uddhav Thackeray... At least ten individuals linked to this case have mysteriously died--some labeled as suicides, others as accidents.. Rhea Chakraborty is part of the conspiracy. On June 8th, she abruptly left Sushant Singh Rajput's house, blocked his phone, and later, Sushant was found dead... When the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Rhea, they recovered a hidden phone from her father's house. The forensic investigation retrieved deleted messages, including those exchanged with Aaditya Thackeray, revealing deeper conspiracies...," said Ojha. [{85bd4fbb-d804-45a6-9b9e-1cbe765692bd:intradmin/ANI-20250327150229.jpg}] Earlier, 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 Sooraj 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 "cover-up" 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. In response to allegations, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and father of Aditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, denied any connection between his family and the Disha Salian case, emphasising that if evidence exists, it should be presented in court. Uddhav Thackeray said, "If they have evidence then they must produce it in court as this matter is going on in the court. 6 to 7 generations of my family have worked for the people and we have no connection with this issue. If you are making false allegations against someone, then it can boomerang on you, too. What happened to the investigation of other cases like murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. His daughter is demanding justice." Disha was found dead on June 8, 2020, days before Sushant was found hanging in his flat in suburban Bandra, Mumbai. (ANI) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management at a workshop held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. The workshop also marked the launch of the National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management, which will be led by the Department of Hospital Administration at AIIMS, Delhi. The workshop was held on Tuesday. Speaking at the event, Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary, emphasized the critical role of properly maintaining and utilizing medical oxygen infrastructure so that demands for any surge capacities may be met promptly at time of any exigencies. She also stressed on the need for inculcating learnings from India''s management of COVID-19 pandemic. Prof. M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS highlighted the institute''s role in spearheading the capacity-building program and stressed the importance of training and awareness at all levels of healthcare. The release of National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management marks a significant step toward strengthening the country''s medical oxygen infrastructure and ensuring uniform best practices in oxygen management across healthcare facilities. The comprehensive guidelines provide a framework for the efficient procurement, storage, and administration of medical oxygen, with a focus on patient safety, capacity building, and emergency preparedness. The National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management is an initiative led by the Disaster Management Cell of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi. It aims to train around 200 master trainers across the country which in turn shall undertake capacity building of hospital administrators and medical officers across the country in proper handling and utilization of medical oxygen, reducing wastage and improving clinical outcomes. The workshop was also attended by other senior officials of Ministry of Health, AIIMS and medical professionals and experts from across the country. (ANI) Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived at Kannur on Thursday, where she will inaugurate several projects. She will visit the Sree Seetha Devi Lava Kusa Temple and Valliyoorkavu Temple and inaugurate several projects and attend a foundation stone laying ceremony at Elstone Estate in Wayanad. "Today, Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi ji will visit the Sree Seetha Devi Lava Kusa Temple and Valliyoorkavu Temple. She'll also inaugurate several projects and attend a Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony at Elstone Estate," Congress posted on X. Earlier, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated that the issues which the Opposition wants to discuss inside the Parliament are not being discussed and alleged that the government at the Centre doesn't want the House to function. "The issues which we want to discuss in the House are not discussed. For the first time, I am seeing that the government's agenda is to create disturbance. The government itself does not want the House to function," the Wayanad MP told ANI after attending the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the 'One Nation, One Election'. On Tuesday, Opposition MPs from Kerala, including Priyanka Gandhi, staged a protest over the MNREGA issue outside the premises of Parliament. Congress MP KC Venugopal said, "As per the provisions of the MGNRE Act, if the wages of the works have been delayed for more than 15 days, then there should be a provision of interest to be given to them. Unfortunately, MNREGA workers do not receive their salaries in all areas of Kerala. There is no concrete answer from the central minister on this. The central government is trying to finish this scheme." Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is MP from Wayanad, where she secured the seat with a margin of 4,10,931 votes, defeating Sathyan Mokeri of the Communist Party of India (CPI). (ANI) Congress MP Manish Tewari submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, seeking to suspend the regular business of the House to discuss urgent concerns regarding alleged aberrations in the higher judiciary. In the notice, he alleged that aberrations in the judiciary, according to Tewari, have raised concerns within the legal community and among citizens across the country. "I hereby give notice of my intention to seek leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the House to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely, that this House suspend Zero Hour and the relevant rules pertaining to Question Hour and other scheduled business of the day to deliberate upon the alleged aberrations in the higher judiciary," Tewari said. Tewari emphasized the importance of addressing the matter of national significance. He pointed out that the executive, legislature, judiciary, and a free press are the four pillars supporting India's democracy. "The recent reports of alleged aberrations in the judiciary have disturbed the legal fraternity and other citizens across the country. Parliament, being the supreme legislative body that exercises oversight on both the executive and even an independent judiciary, must rise to the occasion," Tewari stated in his motion. The Congress MP called on the government to provide a comprehensive statement on the floor of the House regarding the incidents in question, as they have raised concerns about the integrity, impartiality, and fairness of the judicial system. "Given the seriousness of the issue, I urge the government to provide a comprehensive statement on the floor of the House concerning these incidents. This matter holds national significance as it directly pertains to the integrity, impartiality and fairness of our judicial processes. I seek the permission of the Chair to raise this matter," he said. The second part of the budget session of Parliament began on March 10 and will continue till April 4. (ANI) A staff member checks the operation of an automatic water testing system at Anhui CAS Intelligent Environmental Testing Technology Service Co., Ltd. in the China Environment Valley in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 17, 2024. [Photo/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. Tamil Nadu BJP President, K Annamalai departed for Delhi and is expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah for discussions. The meeting comes just two days after Edappadi Palaniswamy, General Secretary of the AIADMK, met Amit Shah in the national capital. Meanwhile, Palaniswami on Wednesday said that he discussed the Enforcement Directorate case on the alleged scam involving the state-run liquor corporation, TASMAC, during his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and urged for a detailed inquiry. Palaniswami, who is also Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly met with the Union Home Minister in the national capital on Tuesday evening and the AIDMK leader said that various issues regarding Tamil Nadu, including National Education Policy's language formula, the release of funds and developing railway projects for the State were discussed. Palaniswami, denied reports of discussions regarding an alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the AIADMK for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly polls in 2026. "There is nothing related to alliance. we came here for people issues. Only media is giving news about alliance 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, adding, "Is election date is announced to speak about alliance? In 2019 and 2021 we spoke about alliance only near to election. Alliance and ideology is different. Our ideology is constant. and alliance would be based on circumstances. Circumstances only decide the alliance. There is still one year is for election." Assembly elections for Tamil Nadu are scheduled to be held in 2026. AIADMK had got into an alliance with the BJP after the demise of J Jayalalithaa's demise in 2016. The DMK won both the 2019 Lok Sabha and the 2021 Assembly elections and the DMK also won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The AIADMK and the BJP were in an alliance for the 2021 state elections, during which the BJP won four seats. It however broke off ties with the BJP in the year 2023. (ANI) Jharkhand BJP leader Anil Tiger was murdered in Ranchi on Wednesday. An accused in the murder has been arrested following an encounter with the police, an official 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," SSP Ranchi said. After the incident, BJP leaders and workers held a protest and raised slogans against the state government over the murder of BJP leader Anil Tiger in Ranchi. Political leaders have criticized Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over the worsening law and order situation in the state. BJP MLA Navin Jaiswal condemned the Jharkhand government, saying since Chief Minister Hemant Soren's government has been formed in Jharkhand, the criminal activities have increased. "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," Jaiswal said. Union Minister Sanjay Seth also attacked Chief Minister Hemant Soren's government saying that the rule of law has collapsed and criminals have a free hand. "The whole of Jharkhand including Ranchi is in the grip of criminals. The rule of law has collapsed and criminals have a free hand. Law and order has completely collapsed. We will come out on the streets tomorrow morning and protest strongly against this crime and this dishonest government. the criminals have fled from Uttar Pradesh. women are safe, businessmen are safe. why? Because there is fear, there is the Yogi model. Implement the Yogi model only, and then crime will stop," Seth said. All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) president Sudesh Mahto further criticized Hemant Soren's government, claiming that the morale of criminals has increased in the state. "The morale of criminals has increased in the state. The criminal activities in Ranchi have increased. We are standing with the family of BJP leader Anil Tiger," Mahto said. Congress leader Suresh Kumar Baitha demanded that action should be taken against those responsible for the incident. "He was a very close friend of mine. I am deeply hurt by the incident. I express my deepest condolences to the family members. Action should be taken against those responsible for the incident," Baitha said. (ANI) A Delhi Police Sub-Inspector was dismissed from service due to his alleged involvement in a Delhi-based drug syndicate, said officials on Thursday. According to Delhi police, the accused has been identified as Naresh Kumar. Police said that the termination order was issued on March 20 and that Naresh Kumar's dismissal came after he was accused of running a narco syndicate with one of the arrested gang members, Surojit. The arrest followed after it was revealed that SI Naresh Kumar was the mastermind behind the syndicate and had been evading arrest for over a year. Meanwhile, in the Delhi High Court Judge cash recovery case, police officials on Wednesday were stationed inside the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma. 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. 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 a 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. (ANI) The police in Mumbai have arrested 17 Bangladeshi nationals for living illegally in India after they failed to provide proof of Indian citizenship. The arrests were made by Shivajinagar and RCF police, who are now conducting further investigations. Acting on confidential information, a team from Shivajinagar Police Station detained eight suspected individuals in a trap operation on March 24, 2025. A case has been registered against them under several sections of the Pass (Entry into India) Rules 1950 and the Foreign Nationals Act 1946. The RCF police, on March 25, detained nine more individuals, including four men and five women, after receiving similar confidential information. Upon interrogation, it was confirmed that they were also Bangladeshi nationals. The police have taken legal action against these foreign nationals for residing in India without valid documents, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of their stay and activities. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sought an umbrella probe in the cases of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants staying in the country. A senior officer informed that in a recent meeting, instructions have been passed to all states and UTs to investigate the cases of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants as umbrella cases and identify the persons who have helped the illegal immigrants in obtaining documents to generate Aadhar and other documents pertaining to the citizenship of India. The officer added that in some cases, it has been found that the documents were prepared for the purpose of travel to European countries or the Middle East, and the persons didn't stay for long in India. The investigation officers have been instructed to also identify the persons who have helped the illegal immigrant in generating documents and make them accused in the case. During the investigation, it has been instructed to identify the loopholes used to generate documents. All suspicious aadhar cards have been sent for re-verification, which includes scrutiny of the documents submitted for aadhar generation. In a meeting with Aadhar officials, they have been asked to pass instructions to all aadhar centers to inform the police in case they find any person trying to modify or generate aadhar on suspicious documents. In case of confirmation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals, the persons will be kept in the detention centre, and FRRO will be informed to facilitate their safe return as per protocols. (ANI) As many as 89 faculty members at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) are awaiting promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), with 62 cases pending beyond the stipulated processing period, the Ministry of Education informed Parliament. Responding to a question by Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha, Minister of State for Education Dr Sukanta Majumdar said, "As of date, there are 89 cases for CAS promotion at JNU, of which 62 are beyond the stipulated period." The ministry attributed the delay to several factors, including incomplete applications, unverified peer-reviewed publications, missing Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs), and the unavailability of committee members, particularly external subject experts. CAS is a system for granting personal promotions to teachers in higher education institutions, enabling them to move from one academic level to a higher one based on their performance and qualifications. The stipulated time for CAS (Career Advancement Scheme) promotion varies depending on the level of the teacher and their qualifications. Generally, it's 4 years for Assistant Professor to Associate Professor with a PhD, 5 years for Assistant Professor to Associate Professor with an M.Phil/Professional Course, and 6 years for those without a PhD/M.Phil/Professional Course According to the data shared by the Education Ministry, the pending cases include 33 applications for promotion to Professor (Stage V), 10 for Associate Professor (Stage IV), and 19 for Assistant Professor positions across Stages III and II. Of the delayed cases, 19 are from women and one from a person with a disability (PwD). "The University has given various reasons for the delay, such as incomplete CAS applications, unverified peer-reviewed publications, applications without mandatory APAR, and unavailability of committee members, including external subject experts," the ministry stated. To clear the backlog, JNU has initiated several measures, including convening regular selection committee meetings, sensitising faculty to submit complete applications, and deploying additional staff to speed up verification. "The University is taking various steps to ensure timely CAS promotions, such as convening regular meetings of the Selection Committee, sensitising faculty to submit complete applications, and deputing additional staff in the section dealing with CAS for timely verification of applications," the ministry added. Meanwhile, the JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) launched a protest against the delayed promotions, holding a 24-hour hunger strike in front of SSS-2 on Thursday. The association accused the university administration of arbitrary rejections and selective delays in CAS promotions, driven by "personal vendetta and victimisation". In a statement, JNUTA said, "Subsequent to the JNUTA delegation's meeting with the Vice Chancellor on February 25, 2025, we submitted the list of long-pending CAS promotions on March 7. However, on March 10, we came to know that the VC had failed to keep her promise to look into the issue of rejection recommendations emanating from selection committees deliberately designed to achieve that end." Following this, JNUTA held a protest on March 11 at SSS-2, warning that such "arbitrary treatment of faculty colleagues" would not be tolerated. The association wrote to the VC again on March 20, seeking an urgent meeting and warning that further delays in resolving issues related to "arbitrary rejections, selective discrimination in CAS promotions, and illegal extension of probation" would force them to escalate their protests. JNUTA emphasised that the issue is not just about individual faculty careers but impacts the future of JNU, which was established by an Act of Parliament with the aim of providing quality education to all. The association also highlighted the irony that while the issue of long-pending promotions has been raised in Parliament, the JNU administration has remained unresponsive to their repeated requests. (ANI) The three-day exercise from March 25-27, commenced with deployment of advanced surveillance resources of all three services including long-range surveillance aircraft of the IAF and the maritime domain awareness aircraft of the Indian Navy, helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) along with space resources and Indian Army's elite Special Forces to create seamless domain awareness and detect simulated targets. Once identified, these targets were swiftly destroyed through the synchronised joint firepower of Fighter aircrafts, long-range rocket systems, medium artillery, armed helicopters, swarm drones, loitering munitions and kamikaze drones in an electronically contested environment. Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari,Eastern Air Commander Air Marshal Surat Singh, and Navy's Commodore Ajay Yadav, reviewed the exercise and congratulated the participants on their high professional standards. This exercise is in continuation with Exercise Poorvi Prahar held in November 2024, which had focused on the integrated application of aviation assets. In a post on X, the Eastern Army Command said, "Indian Army's Eastern Command along with the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy showcase their integrated multi-spectrum operational capability in the arduous mountainous terrain along the Northern Borders --Long Range Vectors, Precision Artillery, Swarm Drones, Loiter Munitions and Attack Helicopters struck multiple targets with lethal precision in a contested Electronic environment. " Ex Prachand Prahaar validated integrated planning, command and control as well as seamless execution of surveillance and firepower platforms across the three services, covering the entire spectrum of conflict. Ex Prachand Prahaar underscored the Armed Forces' unwavering commitment to jointness, precision and technological superiority. It reinforced the ability to execute multi-domain operations with unparalleled synergy, ensuring India's preparedness to deter and decisively engage any emerging threat along its strategic frontiers. (ANI) Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid has moved to Delhi High Court for modification of order granting him permission to attend Parliament Session in custody. He has sought waiving off the condition of expenses for travel from Tihar Jail to Parliament and back to Jail. It is stated that Tihar Jail authorities are charging Rs. 1.45 lakh for one day travel expenses. He was granted permission on March 25. It is submitted that the cost now being sought by the Jail Authorities is excessively high, and the Applicant is not in a financial position to bear the same. This matter was mentioned before the Chief Justice bench for urgent listing, which refused the same. The matter has been listed for hearing before the concerned bench tomorrow. Abdul Rashid Sheikh has moved an application through advocate Vikhyat Oberoi seeking an Order modifying the Final Order dated 25.03.2025, passed by the High Court and waiving the condition and deleted. It is submitted that after the order was uploaded on March 26, 2025 in the afternoon, the Counsel for the Engineer Rashid received an email from the concerned Jail authorities on March 26, 2025 at 8:21 PM informing that the Appellant is required to pay approx. Rs 1,45,736 (One Lakh, Forty Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Six Only) each day for travel and related arrangements, a total sum of R. 8,74,416 for six days. It is also submitted that given the Applicant's custodial status, he is unable to arrange for such a substantial amount. It is further submitted that even on prior occasions, when the Applicant was allowed to take Oath at Parliament in terms of Order dated July 02, 2024; and also when the Applicant was allowed to attend the Parliamentary session in terms of Judgment of February 10, 2025, no such similar condition was imposed upon him requiring him to bear the cost of travel or other arrangements. It is stated in the plea that in both prior instances, the issue of expense related to travel and other arrangements was not imposed on the applicant. The Applicant before the hugh Court as well as Trial Court nor was such issue raised by the Jail Authorities or the NIA. Furthermore, even in the instant case, the question of expense has likewise not been raised by either the Jail Authority or the Prosecuting Agency. It is submitted that the Applicant has been in custody since 09.08.2019, and does not have means to make such huge and excessive amounts. It is also submitted that the family of the Applicant has, with great difficulty, managed to collect through crowdfunding and pay one day's expenses, i.e. for 27.03.2025. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday allowed Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh to attend Parliament sessions in custody. He has been allowed to attend the session from March 26 to April 4, 2024. He will be sent from Tihar Jail to Parliament House in custody on each of the dates on which the Lok Sabha is in session between 26.03.2025 and 04.04.2025 during the hours that the Lok Sabha is in session on those days. Thereafter, he will be taken back to prison. The High Court had said that the expense for the aforesaid travel and other arrangements shall be borne by the appellant. Engineer Rashid had moved a petition seeking permission to attend a Parliament Session. His earlier plea was dismissed by the trial court on March 10. However, he was earlier allowed to attend a Parliament Session in the first session for two days in February. (ANI) The Odisha Congress on Thursday staged a protest in the state's capital, Bhubaneswar, demanding the formation of a committee to investigate crimes against women in the last eight months of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. The state Congress organized a protest march to the Odisha Assembly in Bhubaneswar to meet their demands on Friday. On Odisha Congress' protest march to the state assembly today, State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said that the party had organized a peaceful march to the assembly. Taking a dig at the state government, he said that if the force deployed to stop their workers had been deployed for the people, crimes against women would have been reduced. "... We have organized a peaceful march to the assembly. Yet, our people are being stopped in every district... They will sit down in protest wherever they are stopped... It is not the job of the police to act as a broker for the BJP government in the state," he said. "If this amount of force were deployed for the people, then crimes against women would have stopped... At least make an assembly committee to suggest ways to stop crimes against women... If our people are stopped from protesting like this, then the next time, we will not declare the date, time, and venue of our protest, and lakhs of people will surround the Bhubaneswar capital... We have spoken to the DCP, CP, and DGP, yet our people are being stopped," the Congress leader added. On March 26, Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy suspended 12 Congress MLAs from the House for seven days on charges of "indiscipline, disrespecting the Chair, and violating rules" after they protested in the House's well on the same issue. Earlier, Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan lashed out at the opposition for the clashes outside the Odisha Vidhan Sabha and stated that this kind of hooliganism was not acceptable and unexpected. Speaking to ANI, Harichandan said, "The behaviour that they showed yesterday and today is not acceptable. The kind of hooliganism they are showing is not expected from them..." Further, he stated that they had appealed through the media for the opposition to join hands with them and implement the development process designed for the state. "We are appealing through the media for the opposition to join hands with us and let's implement the development process that is designed," he added. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Vanathi Srinivasan opposed the resolution moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in the Assembly on Thursday. "The state government is bringing a resolution on condemning the central government to withdraw those amendments. But today, the central government is bringing the Waqf Bill because they have received a lot of complaints regarding the administration, misuse of the Waqf property and everything. As reformic idea the central government is bringing this new amendment. So it is very well within the authority of the Parliament. It is an elected government here; the DMK is running the government, and the DMK is bringing any new law. I have put my questions before the Chief Minister. In Tamil Nadu, any municipality or any panchayat or corporation, whether they can bring any resolution of asking the state government to withdraw certain amendment or not to pass any act, so how the resolution can be passed like that here. We have opposed the resolution and walked out of the assembly," Srinivasan told reporters outside the state assembly. Meanwhile, AIADMK National Spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said that it looks like the DMK is in a hurry to set a narrative based on religion and language. "Looks like DMK is in a hurry to set a narrative based on religion, language...the point here is, there was a JPC and what is the outcome of JPC, why the parties whose members are in JPC not challenging Waqf in the judiciary?...why there is a rush to pass a resolution in the Assembly?...trying to instigate people...for vote bank politics is highly condemnable," Sathyan said. MLA who have supported today's resolution against Waqf Amendment bill brought by CM Stalin were M Jagan Moorthy MLA, President of the Puratchi Bharatham party (AIADMK Alliance), Velmurugan MLA, President, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (DMK Alliance), Nagai Maali MLA, CPIM (DMK Alliance), Sinthanai selvan MLA, VCK (DMK Alliance), MH Jawahirullah MLA, President, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (DMK Alliance), E R Eswaran MLA, General Secretary, Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (DMK Alliance). The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister moved a resolution against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 proposed by the Central government in the state Assembly and said that the Bill is "destroying" the rights of Muslims. Speaking in the Assembly, the Tamil Nadu CM said that the Waqf Ammendment Bill is against Muslims. "The central government is inserting schemes that are against state Rights, Culture, and tradition. In India, various cultures, traditions, and languages are present, but they are doing it with the intention of taking revenge on the states. The Waqf Amendment bill is against Muslims. I am going to take a resolution in our state Assembly today. This Waqf Amendment Bill is destroying the rights of Muslims. The central government never thought about the welfare of the Muslims and their Rights. So we are in the place to pass a resolution against it," MK Stalin said in the assembly. He further said that the Union Government is trying to amend the Waqf Bill, which will "hinder the Waqf Board's power." "Amendment says that two non Muslims should be a part of Stated Waqf. Muslims fear that this a way for the Government to usurp Waqf Properties, and this is against freedom of religion. This is hurting Muslim sentiments, and the Union Government has not bothered about it, and this will affect Muslim rights. DMK members in JAC, A Raja and MM Abdullah have spoken against it. Many Parties, including the DMK, have opposed it. The Waqf Bill could be tabled anytime in Parliament, and we will have to show our opposition. This Amendment will curb the Waqf Board in the future; hence, I place the Resolution," he added. The resolution stated that the Waqf Amendment Bill will badly affect the minority Muslims to be withdrawn. "People are living in religious harmony in India. The Constitution has provided rights for all people to follow their religion. The elected Governments have the rights to protect it. The Assembly unanimously insists that the Union Government should recall the Waqf Amendment Bill in 2024 for Waqf Act 1995 which will badly affect the minority Muslims to be withdrawn," it stated. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The government has formed a Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine the Bill in consultation with experts and stakeholders (ANI) Presidents' of High Court Bar Associations met the Supreme Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna to discuss the Justice Yashwant Varma issue. Presidents of Bar Associations of High Court met with and requested the Chief Justice and the Collegium to withdraw the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma and to withdraw all administrative work in addition to the Judicial Work which was already withdrawn on Thursday, a statement said. "The Bar Association request the Chief Justice and the Collegium to withdraw the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma and to withdraw all administrative work in addition to the judicial work which is already withdrawn," said a joint statement of the Bar Associations of the High Court. Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Police officials 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 alleged 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 continued 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 a 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, it 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 judgements delivered by Justice Varma during his tenure be thoroughly reviewed to restore public confidence in the judicial process and suggested that the judge remain under the close watch of the Supreme Court until proceedings are concluded. "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 the Supreme Court until the completion of the proceedings. The second request is that all judgements given by Justice Varma during his tenure as a judge should be reviewed and scrutinised 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) Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, answers questions at a regular press conference in Beijing, March 12, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to earnestly implementing the Anti-Secession Law and enriching and improving the legal system for punishing secessionist activities. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, also vowed efforts to resolutely continue thwarting all attempts by "Taiwan independence" separatists, combating foreign interference and advancing the cause of national reunification. Chen made the remarks in response to a media query regarding attention within Taiwan on mainland's punishing "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities in accordance with the law. He noted that 20 years of practice since the promulgation of the Anti-Secession Law have fully demonstrated its effectiveness in deterring "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, curbing external interference, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, promoting the development of cross-Strait relations, and advancing the reunification of the motherland. Chen pointed out that the Anti-Secession Law clearly stipulates that the state may adopt non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity should "Taiwan independence" separatist forces cause Taiwan's secession under any name or by any means, or should major incidents leading to Taiwan's secession occur, or should the possibilities for peaceful reunification be completely exhausted. "This draws an insurmountable red line for 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces," he added. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management at a workshop held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. The workshop also marked the launch of the National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management, which will be led by the Department of Hospital Administration at AIIMS, Delhi. The workshop was held on Tuesday. Speaking at the event, Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary, emphasized the critical role of properly maintaining and utilizing medical oxygen infrastructure so that demands for any surge capacities may be met promptly at time of any exigencies. She also stressed on the need for inculcating learnings from India's management of COVID-19 pandemic. Prof. M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS highlighted the institute's role in spearheading the capacity-building program and stressed the importance of training and awareness at all levels of healthcare. The release of National Guidelines on Medical Oxygen Management marks a significant step toward strengthening the country's medical oxygen infrastructure and ensuring uniform best practices in oxygen management across healthcare facilities. The comprehensive guidelines provide a framework for the efficient procurement, storage, and administration of medical oxygen, with a focus on patient safety, capacity building, and emergency preparedness. The National Capacity Building Programme on Oxygen Management is an initiative led by the Disaster Management Cell of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi. It aims to train around 200 master trainers across the country which in turn shall undertake capacity building of hospital administrators and medical officers across the country in proper handling and utilization of medical oxygen, reducing wastage and improving clinical outcomes. The workshop was also attended by other senior officials of Ministry of Health, AIIMS and medical professionals and experts from across the country. (ANI) After the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, former Karnataka CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that the Opposition is opposing the Bill just for the sake of political reasons. "Efforts will be made (in the Waqf Amendment Bill) to take everyone along because the fundamental rights of the people will be involved in this... They (Opposition) are opposing it just for the sake of political reasons," Bommai told ANI. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. MLA who have supported today's resolution against Waqf Amendment bill brought by CM Stalin were M Jagan Moorthy MLA, President of the Puratchi Bharatham party (AIADMK Alliance), Velmurugan MLA, President, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (DMK Alliance), Nagai Maali MLA, CPIM (DMK Alliance), Sinthanai selvan MLA, VCK (DMK Alliance), MH Jawahirullah MLA, President, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (DMK Alliance), E R Eswaran MLA, General Secretary, Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (DMK Alliance). Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Vanathi Srinivasan opposed the resolution moved by CM Stalin against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in the Assembly and said that the central government has the authority to bring the amendments. Speaking in the Assembly, the Tamil Nadu CM said that the Waqf Ammendment Bill is against Muslims. "The central government is inserting schemes that are against state Rights, Culture, and tradition. In India, various cultures, traditions, and languages are present, but they are doing it with the intention of taking revenge on the states. The Waqf Amendment bill is against Muslims. I am going to take a resolution in our state Assembly today. This Waqf Amendment Bill is destroying the rights of Muslims. The central government never thought about the welfare of the Muslims and their Rights. So we are in the place to pass a resolution against it," MK Stalin said in the assembly. He further said that the Union Government is trying to amend the Waqf Bill, which will "hinder the Waqf Board's power." The resolution stated that the Waqf Amendment Bill will badly affect the minority Muslims to be withdrawn. "People are living in religious harmony in India. The Constitution has provided rights for all people to follow their religion. The elected Governments have the rights to protect it. The Assembly unanimously insists that the Union Government should recall the Waqf Amendment Bill in 2024 for Waqf Act 1995 which will badly affect the minority Muslims to be withdrawn," it stated. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The government has formed a Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine the Bill in consultation with experts and stakeholders (ANI) Tensions were high in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Thursday as police resorted to lathi charge to disperse Odisha Congress workers during their protest outside the Odisha Assembly against the suspension of 14 Congress MLAs from the House and crime against women. Protests turned violent as police used water cannons against the protestors. In resistance, Congress workers pelted chairs at the police. On March 26, Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy suspended 12 Congress MLAs from the House for seven days on charges of "indiscipline, disrespecting the Chair, and violating rules" after they protested in the House's well on the same issue. Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan lashed out at the opposition for the clashes outside the Odisha Vidhan Sabha and stated that this kind of hooliganism was not acceptable and unexpected. Speaking to ANI, Harichandan said, "The behavior that they showed yesterday and today is not acceptable. The kind of hooliganism they are showing is not expected from them..." The Odisha Congress protest was on demanding the formation of a committee to investigate crimes against women in the last eight months of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. The state unit of the Congress was marching to the state assembly to press for their demands. State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said that the party had organized a peaceful march to the assembly. Taking a dig at the state government, he said that if the force deployed to stop their workers had been deployed for the people, crimes against women would have been reduced. "We have organized a peaceful march to the assembly. Yet, our people are being stopped in every district... They will sit down in protest wherever they are stopped... It is not the job of the police to act as a broker for the BJP government in the state," he said. "If this amount of force were deployed for the people, then crimes against women would have stopped... At least make an assembly committee to suggest ways to stop crimes against women... If our people are stopped from protesting like this, then the next time, we will not declare the date, time, and venue of our protest, and lakhs of people will surround the Bhubaneswar capital... We have spoken to the DCP, CP, and DGP, yet our people are being stopped," the Congress leader added. (ANI) Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Wednesday accused sections of the Opposition of deliberately misleading the public regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill, even before it has been discussed in Parliament. His remarks came in response to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's resolution opposing the bill. "As part of a well-thought-out strategy, there are many groups in the Opposition who want to create an environment that the Waqf Amendment Bill is against Muslims," Paswan said. He added that despite the bill not yet being debated in Parliament, certain political figures were "already sending wrong messages to the people." Paswan also addressed the protests staged by Opposition MLAs outside the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday, linking their actions to electoral considerations rather than genuine concerns for the Muslim community. "All this is being done with a political point of view. Elections are upcoming in Bihar, which is why they are remembering Muslims," he remarked. The minister further criticised Muslim religious organisations, arguing that they were failing to hold political leaders accountable for their actions. "I also have a problem with Muslim religious organisations, who are not questioning the people who pretend to be the well-wishers of Muslims, but have done nothing except looting Muslims and exploiting their vote bank," he said. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the opposition parties protested outside the Bihar Legislative Assembly on various issues, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the inclusion of the revised quota in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. RJD leaders were seen holding posters that read, "We reject the Waqf Bill and strongly oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill." Speaking to ANI, RJD MLA Mukesh Kumar Yadav said, "The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is a contraindication against a specific person and community. The government wants to hand over the Waqf properties to some industrialists. Just like railways and airways were privatised, it wants to hand over all the properties of the nation to some private institutions. RJD and opposition are against this Bill and if it is passed in the Parliament, RJD, under the leadership of Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, will not let it be implemented on the ground level. We fight for the rights of every community. Therefore, we want inclusion of Bihar's 65% reservation in the Ninth Schedule of the constitution." Congress leader Ajit Sharma said, "Waqf (Amendment) Bill should be taken back... Corruption in Bihar is at its peak and all the authorities must be investigated... There should be strict action against corruption." Earlier on Wednesday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav joined the protest organized by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. 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. (ANI) Anurag Dhandha is a prominent leader within the Aam Aadmi Party and has been actively involved in the political activities of Haryana for several years. Earlier on Thursday, AAP leader Mukesh Ahlawat was appointed as the Deputy Leader, and Jarnail Singh as the General Secretary. Sanjiv Jha has also been appointed as the Chief Whip of the party. Taking to social media X, Ahlawat thanked AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, AAP state Chief Saurabh Bharadwaj and Leader of Opposition Atishi and the top leadership for giving him the opportunity. "I thank from the bottom of my heart the National Convenor @ArvindKejriwal, State President, @Saurabh_MLAgk, Leader of Opposition @AtishiAAP and the top leadership for once again showing faith in me and giving me an important position in the party," the post read. On March 21, AAP appointed former Delhi Minister and former MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj as the state chief of the Delhi Unit of the party. Bhardwaj has replaced Gopal Rai to formulate the political strategies for the party in Delhi to counter the BJP-led Delhi government. After being appointed Delhi AAP president, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "Our priority will be to expand the party organisation. Elections will come and go." Gopal Rai has been appointed as the state in charge of AAP Gujarat, Pankaj Gupta has been appointed as the state in-charge for AAP Goa, while Manish Sisodia takes charge of Punjab. This decision follows the meeting of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting which was conducted at residence of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. The party witnessed a major reshuffle after it lost its bastion, the national capital Delhi, to the Bharatiya Janata Party. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a bail plea of Mohd Waqar Lone, accused in a terror case linked with ISIS. Waqar is alleged to be a member of ISIS and involved in the activities of the outfit. The division bench of Justices Chandra Dhari Singh and Anup Jairam Bhambhani issued a notice to the NIA. Advocate Rahul Tyagi appeared for the NIA and accepted the notice. The High Court has asked the NIA to file a response in four weeks. The nominal roll has also been called from the Jail. The matter was listed on May 2 for hearing. Lone has challenged an order passed on January 28, 2025, by the Special Court (NIA), wherein the Special Judge has dismissed the bail application filed by him. It is stated that the bail plea was dismissed without considering the merits and the long incarceration of the appellant. This NIA case was registered on March 5, 2021, for the offence under section 120-B, 121 & 121-A IPC as well as under section 17, 18, 18B, 20, 38 & 40 of UA(P) Act against accused namely, Mohammed Ameen alias Aby Yahya and others with the allegations that he has been running various ISIS propaganda channels on different social media platforms, propagating the violent Jihadi ideology of ISIS and radicalising the new recruited members to the ISIS module. Lone was arrested in the present case on August 14, 2021. It is stated that after completion of the investigation, the supplementary charge sheet was filed on January 28, 2022, against the accused, namely Mundadiguttu Sadananda Marla Deepthi alias Deepthi Marla alias Maryam, Mohd. Waqar Lone, Mizha Siddeeque, Shifa Haris alias Ayesha, Obaid Hamid Matta, Madesh Shankar alias Abdullah alias Dardan, Ammar Abdul Rahiman and Muzamil Hassan Bhat. Lone was charge sheeted for the offence under 120-B & 121-A of the Indian Penal Code and 17, 18, 18-B, 20, 39 and 40 of UAPA, and the Special Judge (NIA) took cognizance of the same. NIA has alleged that the accused Mohd. Waqar Lone alias Wilson Kashmiri was using secured and encrypted social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook messenger, Gmail etc. for searching, radicalizing and recruiting likeminded persons to carry forward the ideology and activities of the banned terrorist organization ISIS by way of carrying out terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir for the establishment of law of Caliphate. It is further alleged that Waqar Lone is an anti-national and Pakistan supporter and does not believe in Secularism and the Indian Constitution. (ANI) The organisation's members have been linked to militancy-related incidents, stone-pelting on security forces, and inciting public unrest against the Union of India. Considering these subversive activities, the Government of India, through MHA Notification No. 14017/1/2025/NI-MFO dated 11.03.2025, declared the organisation unlawful. Despite the ban, credible intelligence indicates that certain leaders and members of JKIM continue to be involved in anti-national activities. They have been actively instigating the public against the nation, spreading misinformation and hatred. Taking due cognizance of these violations, Police Station Pattan has registered Case FIR No. 45/2025 under Sections 10& 13 of UAPA and Sections 147 & 148 of BNS. As per the statement, further Investigation has been set into motion. Baramulla Police urged the public to cooperate in maintaining law and order and report any activities that threaten peace and national integrity. (ANI) After comedian Kunal Kamra released a parody song targeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai on Thursday came hard on Kamra and said that the time has come to answer the latter like Shiv Sena does. Speaking to the media, Desai warned Kunal Kamra that if he had the courage, he should come out in public and make statements. "Kunal Karma does such things deliberately. He disrespected Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, PM Narendra Modi and even the Supreme Court of India. Now is the time to answer him like Shiv Sena does. We are ministers, but first, we are members of Shiv Sena and hold the power to respond to him likewise. Dy CM has told us that action against him will be taken as per the law. If he has the courage, he should come out in public and make statements, but he hides and makes such remarks," he said. "We will talk to Dy CM and ask the police officers to find him (Kamra) and take appropriate action," the Maharashtra Minister said. Unfazed by the raging controversy over his "traitor" jab at Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, stand-up artist and comedian Kunal Kamra dropped a new parody song on Wednesday, targeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and accusing the BJP of "tanashahi" (dictatorship). The video was released by Kamra even as Mumbai police issued him a second summons, rejecting his request for a week's time to appear for questioning. Kamra failed to appear on the first date, and his lawyer had requested seven days. However, after he did not appear, Mumbai Police issued another date after taking legal opinion. Mumbai Police are investigating allegations that before making a mockery of former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Kamra made satirical remarks about several other noted personalities. According to the police, if the investigation reveals that Kamra has previously made satirical comments about any politician, actor, or sportsperson, action will be taken against him. Officials clarified that while Kamra's lawyer has contacted them, the comedian himself has not been in touch with police officials. Mumbai police said that if the investigation reveals that Kunal Kamra has committed any crime before this through his pranks, then more cases can be registered against him. Kamra recently sparked a row with his "gaddar" (traitor) joke allegedly aimed at Eknath Shinde. Several political leaders condemned his remarks during a stand-up show and demanded action against him. (ANI) The Centre on Thursday said in the Rajya Sabha that the Ministry of External Affairs accords the highest priority to ensure the well-being of Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers, and additional resources have been made available to meet their functional requirements wherever needed. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh informed this in a written reply to a query by Trinamool Congress MP Mohammed Nadimul Haque. Haque asked the MEA about the data on India's diplomatic workforce IFS cadre currently employed by the Ministry, the total number of territorial and functional divisions currently operating within in the Ministry; and whether Government has taken any steps to improve the financial and infrastructural support for IFS officers posted in India, given that inadequate housing, limited allowances, and lower incentives make domestic postings less attractive, if so, the details thereof? "As of February 1, 2025, the sanctioned strength of IFS 'A' officers in the Ministry is 1177. In addition, General Cadre of IFS 'B' is 2379, Stenographers' Cadre is 1209, Other Cadres is 1150, and Local Cadre is 3119," Kirti Vardhan Singh said. The Minister of State also informed that the total number of territorial and functional divisions currently operating within MEA is 57. "The Ministry accords highest priority to ensure the well-being of its human resources. Based on feedback from officers posted in India, additional resources and amenities, wherever warranted, have been made available to meet the functional requirements of officers. " The availability of housing has improved in recent years, and the Ministry is also pursuing ongoing projects to ensure adequate availability of housing," Kirti Singh said in the Rajya Sabha. Earlier today, the Centre said in the Rajya Sabha that the Ministry of External Affairs has not hired any Indian Air Force (IAF), chartered or commercial civilian aircraft for Indian immigrants' repatriation from any country since 2020. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita informed this in a written reply to a query by Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale. Gokhale asked the MEA, the details of all instances when the Ministry has used Indian Air Force or chartered/commercial civilian aircraft for repatriation of Indian immigrants being deported from other countries between 2020 till date. "The Ministry of External Affairs has not hired any Indian Air Force or Chartered/Commercial Civilian aircraft for the purposes of repatriation of Indian immigrants being deported from any country since 2020. However, in a few exceptional cases, Indian immigrants facing deportation were assisted in returning home on a means-tested basis through the purchase of tickets on commercial flights," Margherita said. (ANI) The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposed by the BJP-led Central government, as Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stated that the bill is "destroying the rights of Muslims." https://x.com/mkstalin/status/1905224802736148970 Taking to X, Stalin criticised the proposed amendments, alleging that they are intended to cripple the Waqf Board and interfere with religious freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. "All parties in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly have unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to be brought by the Union BJP government! The BJP is working with the aim of crippling the functioning of the Waqf organisation by making several amendments at once, without any demand from Muslims," Stalin wrote. The Chief Minister questioned the necessity of the amendments, and wrote, "What is the need for these amendments when the very people for whom they are said to be bringing them do not accept them? The people of Tamil Nadu want the Union Government to completely withdraw this law that divides the people and interferes with the freedom of religion granted by the Constitution." Earlier on Thursday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister moved a resolution in the state Assembly against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, proposed by the Central government and said that the Bill is "destroying" the rights of Muslims. "The Central government is inserting schemes that are against state rights, culture, and tradition. In India, various cultures, traditions, and languages are present, but they are doing it with the intention of taking revenge on the states. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is against Muslims. I am going to take a resolution in our state Assembly today. This Waqf (Amendment) Bill is destroying the rights of Muslims. The Central government never thought about the welfare of the Muslims and their rights. So we are in the place to pass a resolution against it," MK Stalin said in the Assembly. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The government has formed a Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine the Bill in consultation with experts and stakeholders. (ANI) 2025 Zhongguancun Forum to be held in Beijing Xinhua) 08:26, March 27, 2025 A humanoid robot developed by Beijing Galbot Co., Ltd. with an AI-volunteer card is pictured at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Journalists take photos of a robot writing calligraphy at the media center of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) Journalists take photos of humanoid robots at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) A Unitree GO2 robot dog interacts with a person at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) This photo taken on March 26, 2025 shows an interior view of Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A Booster T1 humanoid robot walks at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Staff members adjust Kuavo humanoid robots at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A humanoid robot is pictured at an information desk at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A model of a semi-invasive brain-machine interface (BMI) is displayed at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A Unitree GO2 robot dog is pictured at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) An AIGC interactive installation is pictured at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) People take photos of a Unitree's G1 humanoid robot at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Journalists take photos of a humanoid robot developed by Noetix Robotics at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Journalists take photos of a humanoid robot developed by CASBOT at the media center of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) The media center of the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) is pictured in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) A humanoid robot developed by Beijing Galbot Co., Ltd. passes a cup of coffee at Zhongguancun International Innovation Center, venue for the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum), in Beijing, capital of China, March 26, 2025. The 2025 ZGC Forum is scheduled to be held in Beijing from March 27 to 31. Themed "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Technology Cooperation," this year's annual conference of the forum comprises five major sections, including meetings and technology trading. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Flash 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. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday demanded that the Central government should consider putting ASHA workers on proper regular wages. She also highlighted the grievance of the workers and alleged that they did not get the amount due to them for five months. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is on a three-day visit to Wayanad, where she visited the Sree Seetha Devi Lava Kusa Temple in Pulpally. Earlier in the day, Priyanka Gandhi met ASHA workers at the Grama Panchayat Community Hall in Sultan Bathery, Wayanad. She also inaugurated the 'One School, One Game' Project by Wayanad District Panchayath. ASHA workers in Kerala are on an indefinite strike over several demands, including better pay and improved working conditions. Earlier on March 21, Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had staged a walkout for the second consecutive day over the government's handling of ASHA workers' demands. "ASHA workers have very relevant grievances. They are working 24 hours. For 5 months, they didn't get the amount that was due to them. I think it's time that the Central government should start considering how much all across India they should be put on proper regular wages...," the Wayanad MP told reporters here. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also inaugurated the new Gram Panchayat Office complex at Pulpally, Wayanad, on Thursday. "I am so happy and proud to be here today. This Panchayat office is the largest Panchayat office complex in Kerala. It has Krishi Bhawan, the veterinary hospital, community health centre, and child development office in this building. Dilip Kumar ji took me around, and it showed me the ground floor, and it made me feel very, very proud that you have built this. I deeply congratulate each one who put in the effort towards it. This integrated office with many services under one roof will give you a lot of facilities," Priyanka Gandhi said, addressing to the public in Pulpally. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also inaugurated a smart Anganwadi, a lift irrigation project and a check dam under the Aspirational District Programme. She further praised the people who worked together to help the victims of the disaster in Mundakkai and Chooralmala. "When I first came to Wayanad after general elections, it was during the flooding in Mundakkai and Chooralmala. That time, in the middle of the devastation the people were facing, I noticed how everybody was working together to help the victims of the disaster," she said. On July 30 2024, the state of Kerala was hit with a landslide, the deadliest one in the state, killing more than 300 people and destroying scores of houses and other buildings. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is MP from Wayanad, where she secured the seat with a margin of 4,10,931 votes, defeating Sathyan Mokeri of the Communist Party of India (CPI). (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday extended financial assistance and employment support to the family of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Gautam, who lost his life in the Mauganj violence, under the personal accident insurance scheme. Yadav handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore to Gautam's wife, Pushpa and promised a government job to a family member and instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to recruit an eligible family member. It is worth noting that Gautam, while performing his duties, died this month in Gadra village, Mauganj district. CM Yadav also spoke with Gautam's wife Pushpa, his son Dhirendra and nephew Satish, who were present on the occasion and said that the state government would provide full support to the family. Earlier, the Chief Minister called the Mauganj incident "unfortunate" and stated that the perpetrators of the incident would not be spared. "The Mauganj incident is unfortunate. The perpetrators will not be spared... My condolences to the bereaved family. Senior police officials are at the spot, and the situation is under control," the CM said. He instructed officials to take strict action against all the accused of the "inhuman" and "unfortunate" Mauganj incident. "An ASI of our police, Ramcharan Gautam, died in retaliatory action in an unfortunate attack on the police team, including the Tehsildar, SHO, who had reached the Gadara village of the Shahpur police station area in Mauganj district on the information of a dispute between two groups. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved family. Other injured policemen in the incident have been sent to Rewa Hospital for treatment. Immediately after the incident, Section 163 was imposed in the area, and DIG Rewa, SP Mauganj and other police officers reached the spot and controlled the situation. ADG Rewa Zone is reaching the spot; along with that, I have directed DG Police to reach the spot and supervise. Instructions have been given to take strict action against all the accused of this inhuman and unfortunate incident," CM Yadav posted on X. (ANI) After the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, BJP MP Jagadish Shettar on Thursday dismissed the resolution as a mere publicity exercise, asserting that the matter should be debated in Parliament. "The bill has to be debated in the Parliament. The only effect of this resolution is publicity. It will have no constitutional effect," BJP MP Shettar. In a recent development, former Karnataka CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that the Opposition is opposing the Bill just for the sake of political reasons. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin. MLAs who have supported Thursday's resolution against the Waqf Amendment bill brought by CM Stalin were M Jagan Moorthy MLA, President of the Puratchi Bharatham party (AIADMK Alliance), Velmurugan MLA, President, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (DMK Alliance), Nagai Maali MLA, CPIM (DMK Alliance), Sinthanai selvan MLA, VCK (DMK Alliance), MH Jawahirullah MLA, President, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (DMK Alliance), E R Eswaran MLA, General Secretary, Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi (DMK Alliance). Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Vanathi Srinivasan opposed the resolution moved by CM Stalin against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Assembly and said that the Central government has the authority to bring amendments. Speaking in the Assembly, the Tamil Nadu CM said that the Waqf Amendment Bill is against Muslims. "The Central government is inserting schemes that are against state rights, culture, and tradition. In India, various cultures, traditions, and languages are present, but they are doing it with the intention of taking revenge on the states. The Waqf (Amendment) bill is against Muslims. I am going to take a resolution in our state Assembly today. This Waqf (Amendment) Bill is destroying the rights of Muslims. The Central government never thought about the welfare of the Muslims and their Rights. So we are in the place to pass a resolution against it," CM Stalin said in the Assembly. He further said that the Central government is trying to "hinder" the Waqf Board's power by bringing in the amendment. "People are living in religious harmony in India. The Constitution has provided rights for all people to follow their religion. The Assembly unanimously insists that the Union government should recall the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in 2024, for Waqf Act 1995, which will badly affect the minority Muslims, to be withdrawn," it stated. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The government has formed a Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine the Bill in consultation with experts and stakeholders (ANI) Indore Police arrested three people, including a woman, in connection with the murder of a woman, said a police officer on Thursday. The incident occurred last week on the intervening night of March 20 and 21 at an apartment situated in Mahalaxmi Nagar under the jurisdiction of the Lasudia Police Station in the district. According to the police, the three accused were identified as Ashu Yadav, his brother Mukul Yadav and Swasti Roy and the woman who died was identified as Bhavna Singh. They were having a liquor party at the apartment on the night of the incident. During the party, there was a dispute regarding playing a song, which led one of the accused to open fire, in which the woman sustained injuries. The accused also took the woman to the hospital and then escaped from the spot. After the death of the woman during treatment, the police registered a case into the matter and began search operations to nab the accused. "On March 21, we received information about a woman who was murdered by shot under the Lasudia police station area. Following this, the police registered a case into the matter and began searching for the accused. Initially, one accused was identified as Ashu Yadav; later during the probe names two more people were revealed to their involved in the case," said Abhinay Vishwakarma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Zone 2) On the basis of informers' input and the technical team, it came to light that they were hidden in Kasol, and upon knowing about the police case, they were trying to move towards Nepal. During this, the police intercepted them on the Delhi-Gwalior highway and arrested three people identified as Ashu Yadav, his brother Mukul Yadav and one woman named Swasti Roy, the officer said. "When the accused were interrogated, it was revealed that on the day of the incident (March 20th), at night, four people - three accused and one woman who died- were having a liquor party at a house. During the party, there was a dispute about playing the songs as a result of which Mukul opened fire, in which the woman sustained injuries and later died," DCP Vishwakarma said. The DCP further said that Bhavna Singh was a resident of Gwalior, and she came to Indore to pursue a makeup artist course. Bhavna and Swasti were friends, and being familiar with her, she came to that apartment to have a party on the night of the incident. Meanwhile, when the accused were further questioned in more detail, it was revealed that they also ran online betting in that house, and the police recovered a lot of belongings in connection with the same, including mobile phones, ATMs and laptops. "When we questioned them in detail, we came to know that Mukul and Ashu, along with some of their associates, used to run online betting in that house. We have recovered about 28 mobile phones, over 60 bank account passbooks, more than 50 ATM cards and laptops from their house. There is huge money in these accounts, which have now been seized," the DCP said. The police registered a separate case in this regard and formed a separate special team to probe the matter and to find out the people involved in the betting. Those whoever is found guilty in the matter, action will be taken against them, he added. (ANI) After the arrest of Assam journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder and the protest by press bodies, Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika on Thursday questioned the professional background of Mozumder in a tweet directed at the President and Secretary of the Guwahati Press Club. In a post on X, Hazarika said, "Dear President/Secretary of Guwahati Press Club, will you kindly reveal if Dilwar Hussain is a practising advocate or a journalist or/ also a businessman?" Journalists of the Guwahati Press Club staged a protest in Guwahati on Wednesday against the arrest of a journalist from an Assam-based digital news portal. The journalists of the Guwahati Press Club demanded the immediate release of the arrested journalist. Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, the chief reporter of the digital news portal The Cross Current and assistant general secretary of the Guwahati Press Club, was arrested by Panbazar Police on Tuesday night. According to the reports, earlier on Tuesday, Dilwar Hussain Mozumder was summoned by the Panbazar Police Station after he covered an agitation programme against the alleged financial irregularities of Assam Co-operative Apex Bank and questioned the MD of the bank over the alleged financial irregularities of the bank, and later, the police arrested him. A case was registered at Panbazar Police Station in Guwahati against the journalist under Section of BNS and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (Amendment 2015). According to the police, Dilwar Hussain Mozumder misbehaved as a tribal security guard of the bank. The MD of the bank said that, he tried to steal documents of the bank. On Wednesday, a local court granted bail in one case. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that Dilwar Hussain Mozumder has worked in a portal, and the state government is yet to give recognition as a journalist to those who have worked in the portal. Dilwar Hussain Mozumder is also an advocate. Opposition political parties, including Congress, Assam Jatiya Parishad, and Raijor Dal, have demanded his immediate release. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced an agitation against the Union government on March 29 over the issue of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) payments. Stalin claimed that they had written a letter requesting funds to pay salaries and discussed it in Parliament and said despite their efforts, the government did not change their position. https://x.com/mkstalin/status/1905250966120902896 The Tamil nadu Chief minster wrote on X, "We wrote a letter requesting funds to pay salaries to the poor and needy working under the 100-day work program; we met in person to insist; and we presented it in both houses of Parliament. "Even after all this, the Union government's heart of stone has not melted..!" Stalin appealed to join hands against the Union government and raise voices against the alleged exploitation of the works by the BJP-led Union government. "Let's unite the poor rural people who are affected and take the field at the union level on March 29! Let's shout loudly in the people's forum against the exploitation of labor by the union BJP government that is beating the stomachs of the poor and win their rights!", CM Stalin added. Meanwhile, Opposition MPs from Kerala, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged a protest over the MNREGA issue outside the premises of Parliament on Tuesday. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi had also joined the protest for a short period of time. Congress MP KC Venugopal earlier said, "As per the provisions of the MGNRE Act, if the wages of the works have been delayed for more than 15 days, then there should be a provision of interest to be given to them. Unfortunately, MNREGA workers do not receive their salaries in all areas of Kerala. There is no concrete answer from the central minister on this. The central government is trying to finish this scheme." MNREGA aims to provide at least 100 days of paid work each year to rural household. It was passed in September 2005 and implemented in February 2006. (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday took a sharp dig at her critics, asserting that their dissatisfaction stems from her adopting their own tone. "(Bahut khafa hai mere lehza badlne se, jab unhi ke lehze me baat ki ) They are very upset that my tone has changed, but I only started speaking in their tone. It is not in their fate to sit on the ruling side," she said, addressing the ongoing political slugfest over the recently presented Delhi budget. Gupta accused the opposition of relentlessly finding faults despite what she described as a "big and substantial" budget for the national capital. "Such a big budget came for Delhi, yet they left no stone unturned in finding faults. On Twitter and in the media, they are claiming that Delhi is being ruined. If a good and substantial budget has been presented, it should be a reason for happiness. Everything will be clear in a few days," she said. She further hinted at reducing dependency on central assistance, adding, "It is possible that there may be no need for central assistance. If the leakage they have caused is stopped, then things can be managed. The remarks come amid sloganeering of AAP of 'Chori Bandh' echoed in the session as they demanded transparency and accountability in the financial allocations. The Party leaders of opposition raised concerns over the allocation of funds, claiming that while funds were marked on paper, there was no actual budget available. On Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly Atishi questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party for not having a discussion on the budget on Wednesday and said that she has written to Speaker Vijender Gupta and demanded at least two days for discussions on the budget. "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...I want to ask the 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 the budget," Atishi told ANI. (ANI) Supreme Court judges, Justices BR Gavai and Ujjal Bhuyan will visit Arunachal Pradesh for mega legal awareness programme 'camp-cum-sewa apke dwar' on March 29 and 30. Aimed at strengthening legal outreach and awareness among tribal communities in Dirang, Bomdila, West Kameng District and Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh, Justice Gavai, who is also Executive Chairman of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), will visit there along with Justice Bhuyan. "India's tribal population has historically lived in remote and self-sufficient environments, often isolated from mainstream governance and legal frameworks. Legal aid is provided to members of Scheduled Tribes (STs) under Section 12(a) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. This provision mandates legal service institutions to bridge the gap between tribal communities and the justice system by ensuring access to rights, benefits, legal aid, and other legal services. In 2024 alone, over 1.3 lakh tribal individuals benefitted from free legal aid, reinforcing NALSA's commitment to justice for all," a statement from NALSA stated. "In Arunachal Pradesh, as per the 2011 Census, over 68 per cent of the population belongs to tribal communities, highlighting the pressing need for targeted legal initiatives to safeguard their rights and ensure their welfare," it said. Arunachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (APSLSA) under the aegis of NALSA, in collaboration with District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), the District Administration, Gaon Burahs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and the District Child Protection Unit, West Kameng District, is organising Mega Legal Awareness Programme Camp on March 29 and 30. "These camps are being organised for dissemination of information to the tribal communities for their legal empowerment under various key laws such as the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the Assam Frontier (Administration of Justice) Regulation, 1945, and the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Court Act, 2021," NALSA said. The focus would also be on NALSA Schemes - the NALSA (Protection and Enforcement of Tribal Rights) Scheme, 2015, APSLSA schemes and other Central and State welfare schemes. Participants will also receive on-the-spot legal assistance, enabling immediate access to legal aid, grievance redressal, and welfare benefits. As part of their visit, Justice Gavai and Justice Bhuyan will also visit a jail and a children's home in Tawang, engaging with vulnerable groups to assess their legal needs and ensure access to justice. These camps underscore NALSA's steadfast commitment to upholding the constitutional promise of social, economic, and political justice. "By reaching the tribal grassroots, NALSA reaffirms its dedication to ensuring legal empowerment and welfare for tribal communities, bridging the justice gap, and securing their fundamental rights," NALSA's statement read. A delegation of six Supreme Court judges led by Justice Gavai visited relief camps in violence affected Manipur on March 22 to strengthen legal and humanitarian support. (ANI) Assam Industry Minister Bimal Borah on Thursday urged the state's youth to take advantage of the echo system created by Advantage Assam 2.0. He was speaking at the Vendor Development Program Workshop organised under the RAMP scheme by Assam Small Industries Development Corporation in Guwahati. "Assam is undergoing a transformative journey toward an inclusive, innovative, and investment-friendly economic landscape," Borah said. The Vendor Development Program Workshop was organized under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme and implemented by the Industries, Commerce & Public Enterprise Department along with Assam Small Industries Development Corporation Limited (ASIDC). This initiative aims to empower local entrepreneurs and suppliers by fostering collaboration and strengthening MSMEs. Such programs play a crucial role in enhancing the competitiveness of our industries and building strong partnerships across sectors. The Minister expressed his confidence that this workshop will contribute significantly to Assam's industrial growth and economic progress. He also wished the event great success and extended his best wishes to all participants. The event was graced by Commissioner of Industries and Commerce Oinam Sarankumar Singh(IAS), ASIDC Managing Director P Vijay Bhaskar Reddy, esteemed officials, entrepreneurs, and distinguished guests. The Advantage Assam 2.0 summit in Guwahati saw investment commitments and announcements worth upwards of about Rs 5.18 lakh crore, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on February 28, highlighting the key points of the two-day event. The two-day Advantage Assam 2.0 summit was held on February 25-26. "From next month, we will thoroughly discuss the MoUs. It (the total MoUs) has the potential to provide employment to 2 lakh youths, on a conservative note," CM Sarma told reporters. The chief minister asserted that Assam will be in the next league of development over the next five years, even if it can implement 70 percent of the signed MoUs. "I hope that starting next financial year, we will be able to talk to the companies that have signed MoUs here at Advantage Assam 2.0. We will start individual discussions with the companies about how to go about realising the investment on the ground, what kind of incentives they might need, and the land they would need. We will sit down with them to prepare the preparatory roadmap over the next 6 months," he said. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday clarified that the state police have not arrested any journalist in recent times. In a post on X, CM Sarma said, "It has come to my notice that some media houses have reported the arrest of a journalist by Assam Police. I would like to clarify that Assam Police has not arrested any journalist in recent times." Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, raised concerns regarding the credentials of journalist Dilwara Hussain Mozumder, who was recently arrested. During a press briefing with the Cabinet, CM Sarma questioned Mozumder's professional background, asking whether he was really a journalist or involved in business activities. He pointed out that the media organisation Mozumder claims to be associated with is not officially recognised by the government. Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika questioned the professional background of Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, the journalist arrested, in a tweet directed at the President and Secretary of the Guwahati Press Club. In a post on X, Hazarika said, "Dear President/Secretary of Guwahati Press Club, will you kindly reveal if Dilwar Hussain is a practising advocate or a journalist or/ also a businessman?" Journalists of the Guwahati Press Club staged a protest in Guwahati on Wednesday against the arrest of a journalist from an Assam-based digital news portal. The journalists of Guwahati Press Club demanded the immediate release of the arrested journalist. Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, the chief reporter of the digital news portal The Cross Current and Assistant General Secretary of the Guwahati Press Club, was arrested by Panbazar Police on Tuesday night. According to the reports, earlier on Tuesday, Dilwar Hussain Mozumder was summoned by the Panbazar Police Station after he covered an agitation programme against the alleged financial irregularities of Assam Co-operative Apex Bank and questioned the MD of the bank over the alleged financial irregularities of the bank, and later, the police arrested him. A case was registered at Panbazar Police Station in Guwahati against the journalist under Section of BNS and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (Amendment 2015). According to the police, Dilwar Hussain Mozumder misbehaved with a tribal security guard of the bank. The MD of the bank said that, he tried to steal documents of the bank. On Wednesday, a local court granted Mozumder bail in one case. (ANI) You are here: World Flash French President Emmanuel Macron (L, Front) welcomes visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on March 26, 2025. [Photo/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. "France will continue its commitments," Macron told a press conference ahead of a summit in Paris of the "coalition of the willing" supporting Ukraine, scheduled for Thursday. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollars) Jesus and Mary College (JMC) has ordered pay re-fixation for teachers who obtained PhD, M.Phil., or M.E. degrees after January 1, 2016, following a UGC directive ending separate increments for higher qualifications post-7th Pay Commission. The JMC Staff Association has strongly opposed the decision, arguing that it effectively denies Ph.D. and M.Phil. increments granted under UGC Regulations 2018. The directive, citing clarifications from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD), references an October 15, 2024, UGC letter to JMC, a November 2, 2017, MHRD letter, and a subsequent UGC letter issued to all Central Universities on February 10, 2025. "The Administration department may re-fix the pay of the teaching staff (as per the enclosed list) w.e.f. 01/03/2025, who have obtained a Ph.D./M.Phil/M.E. degree after the implementation of 7 Pay Commission that is w.e.f. 01/01/2016. The Accounts Department is required to implement the same w.e.f. 01/03/2025," the notice dated February 24 read. Under the previous UGC regulations, teachers were entitled to non-compounded advance increments upon acquiring higher qualifications. Faculty members were granted five advance increments for a Ph.D. and two for an M.Phil. at the time of appointment. Additionally, those who earned these qualifications while in service received three and one increments, respectively. However, the recent UGC clarification states that the benefits of higher qualifications were already factored into the pay structure through the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). As a result, separate increments for obtaining Ph.D. or M.Phil. degrees post-January 1, 2016, are being revoked. This change has led to concerns that faculty members will face pay cuts and potential salary recoveries. JMC teachers have claimed the move will cause financial hardship and mental stress, as it disrupts their existing pay structure. "More than 50 teachers are being denied their rightful salary as per UGC Regulations 2018. This is causing immense demotivation and mental stress to teachers who have planned their lives according to their existing pay structure," the association said in a statement. During the Governing Body meeting on March 21, 2025, the staff requested the college to halt the re-fixation process until the UGC expert committee, formed on March 6, 2025, submits its recommendations. However, the governing body rejected the request, directing the college to proceed with the pay revision in March itself. Terming the decision "unfortunate," the association argued that any pay re-fixation without amending the UGC Regulations 2018 goes against legal principles. In protest, the JMC Staff Association staged a dharna on campus from 11 am to 1 pm on Thursday, aligning with the Delhi University Teachers' Association's (DUTA) call for college-level protests against the UGC clarification, the draft UGC Regulations 2025, DU's proposed takeover of 12 Delhi government colleges, and the counting of past services for promotions. Meanwhile, the Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) also staged protests across various colleges against issues impacting teachers. In a statment, DUTA has strongly opposed the denial of PhD, M.Phil., and other increments, as well as the non-recognition of past services for promotions, which has caused financial loss and injustice to teachers. The association stated that under the UGC Regulations 2018, teachers are entitled to non-compounded advance increments to acquire higher qualifications. However, the university is now withdrawing this benefit based on a flawed interpretation of the UGC's recent clarification. (ANI) The BJP Minority Morcha distributed 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits to underprivileged Muslims in Nagpur, highlighting the party's outreach efforts ahead of Eid. Speaking at the event, Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui criticised opposition parties, stating that while the Samajwadi Party, Congress, and others claim to be well-wishers of Muslims, they have failed to provide benefits to the community. "Samajwadi Party, Congress and other parties claim to be well-wishers of Muslims, while we are about to give them something... Why will minorities be anguished when BJP's Minorities morcha is spreading happiness with them and embracing their festivals...PM Modi has always said that we are preservers of 140 crore Indians...," said Siddiqui. Siddiqui emphasised that the BJP is fostering inclusivity by celebrating Muslim festivals and sharing happiness with the community. "We are going to meet the people on the occasion of Eid with a 'Saugat' in the name of PM Modi, preserver of 140 crore people. Why do the other parties have a problem with this? They only mislead people and give them nothing... Muslims are evolving with the support of BJP...," added Siddiqui. BJP Minority Morcha launched its "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign, aiming to distribute special kits to 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims across the country ahead of Eid. The initiative, kicked off from Nizamuddin in Delhi on Tuesday under the guidance of BJP National President JP Nadda, seeks to ensure that poor Muslim families can celebrate the festival without any hardship. As part of the campaign, 32,000 Minority Morcha workers collaborated with 32,000 mosques nationwide to reach the needy. Earlier, Jamal Siddiqui, the National President of the BJP Minority Morcha, outlined the campaign's broader vision, stating that during the holy month of Ramadan and upcoming occasions like Eid, Good Friday, Easter, Nauruz, and the Indian New Year, the Minority Front will reach out to those in need through the "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign. Eid Milan celebrations will also be organised at the district level, he added. The National Media Charge of the Minority Morcha, Yasir Zilani, explained that the "Saugat-e-Modi" scheme is a campaign launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the goal of promoting welfare schemes among the Muslim community and gathering political support for the BJP and NDA. (ANI) Reaffirming that the Polavaram project is the state's lifeline, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said that the state government totally has the responsibility of doing justice to the displaced who sacrificed everything for the project. "Rehabilitation of all the displaced will be completed before the water is released from the project. The project will be inaugurated only after that," Chandrababu Naidu, who is on a visit to Polavaram, said during an interaction with the displaced. Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the ongoing project works from an aerial view. The Chief Minister told the displaced that very little compensation was paid to the displaced before the TDP-led NDA came to power in 2014 and stated that after the NDA came to power, Rs 4,311 crores was paid to them. But the party that assumed power in 2019 did not even think about the displaced even once in the five-year term, and there are no indications that it even considered even once the problems being faced by the displaced, he remarked. "As seven mandals in Telangana needed to be merged with Andhra Pradesh to complete Polavaram, we could convince the Prime Minister then about this. To the maximum extent possible, we moved forward to do justice and come to your rescue. After the TDP-led NDA came to power in 2024, Rs 829 crores was deposited to the accounts of the displaced," the Chief Minister said and asked the refugees whether the former chief minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, had paid Rs 10 lakh compensation to each of them as promised. Maintaining that not even a single rupee compensation was paid to the displaced during the YSRCP rule, the Chief Minister said that even when the area was hit with heavy floods, that party did not come to the rescue of the affected. "Again, they will approach you, promising the moon," he said, asking them to be cautious about this. Had the TDP come to power again in 201,9, the project would have been completed by 2020 itself, the Chief Minister said, and he expressed concern that the expenditure has gone up due to the delay in completing the project. The diaphragm wall, which was built at Rs 400 crore, was completely washed away due to negligence adopted by the previous government. The Chief Minister mentioned that a new diaphragm wall is again being built at Rs 990 crores. "Public money was heavily wasted," Chandrababu said, stating that with every rupee that is spent, people should get benefits. "Public money should be spent for the sake of people but should not be misused," he observed. Chandrababu told the displaced people that he worked so hard to complete the project by converting every Monday during his previous tenure as the day of Polavaram and that he personally visited the project 33 times. He assured the refugees that rehabilitation would be completed by 2027 without giving any chance to middlemen and cheaters. "There are complaints from some affected that their names have been deleted, and necessary action will be taken after an inquiry into the matter. Compensation will be paid for all the eligible, and we will ensure that justice is done to anyone," the Chief Minister said. Informing that the previous rulers had diverted the funds released by the Centre for Polavaram, he felt that had the project been completed on time, all of them would have been settled by now. Also, had the hydel project of Polavaram been completed, the State would have got Rs 2,500 crores revenue, but now, due to the delay, the cost has gone up, which is an additional burden now, the Chief Minister regretted. After paying the compensation, he promised to initiate steps to increase revenue and upgrade their living standards. He said that they were extending their full cooperation for the construction of the project. "Be bold; this is your Government and a regime of us all," the Chief Minister said, acknowledging that Tribals sacrificed more for the project. Chandrababu promised to pay an additional Rs 75,000 for Tribals who want to build their own houses. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday hailed the move of Telangana Chief Minister Revnath Reddy over the state assembly passing a resolution on proposed delimitation and said it seeks to uphold justice, equity and the federal spirit. Responding to a tweet of the Telangana Chief Minister, Stalin referred to the Joint Action Committee meeting held in Chennai earlier this month and said "we will not let anyone redraw India's future unfairly". "As resolved in Chennai, fulfilled in Hyderabad! Hon'ble Telangana CM Thiru. @revanth_anumula garu has walked the talk by tabling and passing a landmark resolution in the #Telangana State Assembly demanding #FairDelimitation that upholds justice, equity and the federal spirit. Following Tamil Nadu's lead, this act strengthens the collective call to resist any attempt that threatens the balance of our democracy," Stalin posted on X. "This is just the beginning. With the second #JointActionCommittee meeting set to take place in Hyderabad, more states will follow. We will not let anyone redraw India's future unfairly," he added. In his post on X, Revanth Redddy referred to the resolution passed by the state assembly. "As the leader of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, we passed a resolution today asking the Centre not to take any steps that compromise the political self-respect and legitimate rights of our people," he said. "People of #Telangana & citizens of all other states of south India, are united to protecting our rights and not to allow any discriminatory & biased Delimitation to be conducted which would seriously impale the economically highest productive states of the country. We will fight against all attempts to take away our rights. The first battle was won today. The war ahead is long but we will eventually prevail," he added. Telangana Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution expressing serious concerns over the impending delimitation exercise, highlighting "the lack of transparent consultations" with key stakeholders. The resolution, moved by Chief Minister, called for a fair and inclusive approach in conducting the delimitation process, urging extensive consultations with state governments, political parties, and all concerned stakeholders. "This House expresses its deep concern on the manner in which the impending delimitation exercise is being planned, without any transparent consultations with the stakeholders," the resolution stated. "The House urges that any delimitation exercise should be carried out transparently and after extensive consultations with all State Governments, all political parties, and all stakeholders. The states which have effectively implemented the population control program pushed by the Centre, and consequently whose population share has come down, should not be penalized and hence, population should not be the sole yardstick for delimitation," it added. The resolution also noted that the intent behind the 42nd, 84th, and 87th constitutional amendments, which aimed at national population stabilization, has not yet been fully realized. As an alternative approach, it suggested that while keeping the freeze on the number of parliamentary seats, constituency boundaries should be redrawn to enhance representation for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women. "Hence, while continuing with the freeze on the number of Parliamentary seats, taking State as a unit, redrawing the boundaries of Parliamentary constituencies can be taken up, duly augmenting the SC and ST seats as per the latest population and also providing for reservation for women," the resolution stated. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the Union Home Ministry has removed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the Dibrugarh district of the state. However, the act is still applicable in three districts of the state. "The Union Home Ministry has removed the AFSPA from Dibrugarh district and the act is now applicable only in three districts, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Charaideo," the Assam Chief Minister said in a press conference held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati. The Assam Chief Minister also said,"While we are going to make Dibrugarh the second capital of Assam, we urged the Union government to withdraw AFSPA from Dibrugarh and the Centre today issued a notification. We are hopeful that in the next review, we will be able to get more districts removed from the AFSPA." On the other hand, after Australia had revised its travel advisory and advised its citizens to travel to Assam except for four districts, the Japan government has downgraded their travel advisory from level 2 to level 1. "The Japanese government issued a new advisory on March 25 and said that, in Assam, militant activities have subsided in most areas except in four areas. Due to the improved scenario, the risk level has been downgraded from level 2 to level 1. The Japan government's level 1 advisory is still in other states of India," the Assam Chief Minister said. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre and the Delhi government to file a status report on whether the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has given free treatment to poor patients in the last five years. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh also directed the aforesaid government authorities to explain whether the 30-year lease deed, as per which 15 acres of land had been given to the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in 1994, had been renewed after its 30-year expiry. "We are not sure whether even that benefit to the poor patients has been granted so far. It further seems from the contents of the lease deed that the lease period of 30 years now stands expired. In this view of the matter, we direct the Government of NCT of Delhi as well as the Union of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to place on record a joint comprehensive status report by way of affidavit, inter-alia, explaining: (i) Whether the lease deed, on expiry of the lease period, has been renewed? If so, on what terms and conditions?" the bench noted in its order. The top court also sought the government authorities' response on what lawful recourse has been initiated to restore the Government land in case the lease period has not been renewed and has been extended. Further, the court asked the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital management to file their status report on the aforesaid issues. Moreover, the top court also directed the hospital management to cooperate with and fully assist an expert committee appointed in this regard. "The entire records will be produced before the said Committee, to enable it to submit its report. The needful shall be done within four weeks", the court added in its order. As per the lease deed, the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital was given 15 acres of land in Delhi's Sarita Vihar for a symbolic sum of Rs 1 per month. The government also held a 26 per cent share in the said land, as per the deed. The deed also contained certain clauses as per which the Apollo hospital was obliged to provide free treatment to poor patients to the extent of 1/3rd of the bed strength and 40 per cent of its outdoor patients. Subsequently, the hospital management refused to adhere to the said obligation, leading to the initiation of PIL proceedings in the Delhi High Court. Eventually, a Division Bench of the High Court directed the said hospital to ensure that health care is provided to poor people, regardless of the management's stand that the hospital was a commercial venture. When the matter came up at the top court in 2009, the hospital management was directed to continue providing benefits to poor patients, including 200 free beds. When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, the top court noted that the lease period as per which the hospital held the land now stands expired. The bench also raised doubts as to whether the hospital had provided benefits to poor patients. After issuing directions to both the said hospital and government authorities in this regard, the Court posted the matter to be heard next on May 14 this year. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar has issued security guidelines to ensure law and order during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr festival, according to a press statement. The directives have been communicated to all Zonal Additional Director Generals of Police, Commissioners of Police, Regional Inspectors General, Deputy Inspectors General, Senior Superintendents of Police, and Superintendents of Police across the state. According to the guidelines, police arrangements must be made under the zone and sector scheme, with sensitive areas identified for security deployment. Police pickets, static magistrates, and gazetted officers should be stationed at highly sensitive locations as required. Authorities have been instructed to prevent any new traditions from being introduced and to update the list of anti-social elements for preventive action. Records of disputes should be reviewed to ensure timely resolution. The DGP has emphasised holding meetings with peace committee members and religious leaders to secure their cooperation. Senior officials have been directed to visit all venues, conduct flag marches with adequate police and PAC forces, and involve the available CAPF, said the statement. Joint visits by police station in-charges and magistrates to disputed locations should be conducted for prompt issue resolution. As per the statement, foot patrolling is to be intensified in markets, crowded areas, and public places, with anti-sabotage checks being regularly conducted by bomb detection squads and sniffer dogs. Firefighting arrangements in commercial areas should also be ensured. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) must be placed at strategic locations to handle emergencies. Police have been directed to prepare and rehearse an action plan to prevent untoward incidents. The intelligence network is to remain active, with authorities instructed to take immediate legal action on any suspicious activity. Surveillance of sensitive areas using drone cameras, deployment of adequate police forces on procession routes, and CCTV installation at key locations have been mandated. Social media monitoring is to be intensified, with a focus on identifying and countering false or misleading information. Any such content should be immediately refuted, and legal action should be taken where necessary. Similarly, ahead of Alvida Namaz, Joint CP Law and Order Babloo Kumar said, "Proper security and traffic arrangements have been made in Lucknow in view of Alvida Namaz...More than 1000 police personnel and nine companies of PAC have been deployed in the district...Proper traffic diversions have been made to ensure the smooth flow of traffic...Police officials also held peace committee meetings with the religious leaders and also appealed to offer namaz in their religious places...Monitoring will be done through CCTV cameras and drones." Patrolling vehicles, including UP-112 units, must be deployed on sensitive routes, with additional checks conducted under the supervision of gazetted officers. Anti-riot equipment should be available at key locations with a striking reserve. Poster parties and morning checking teams should be kept active across all districts and briefed on their responsibilities. Authorities have been directed to ensure strict compliance with these instructions to maintain law and order during the festive period. Meanwhile, preparations are underway in mosques ahead of the 'Alvida Namaz, ' which is to be offered tomorrow ahead of Eid. (ANI) Expressing confidence in the state's trajectory, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma affirmed Assam's goal of securing a leading position in India's education sector by 2030. "State government endeavours to establish Assam as a leading state in the education sector by 2030. The Assam government's commitment to public education is one of the strongest in the country. Assam's per student investment, number of government schools and total student intake in public schools is much higher than that of Tamil Nadu," CM Sarma said. On Thursday, CM Sarma attended an event at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati, where the results of Gunotsav 2025 were announced. Additionally, schools that attained an A+ grade in Gunotsav 2024 were each awarded a grant of Rs 25,000. As part of the Arohan initiative, 4,320 students received tablets, and Samagra Shiksha Assam was conferred with an ISO certification. Speaking on the occasion, CM Sarma remarked on Assam's educational progress, noting that Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Assam, is the first state-run program in India to receive ISO certification from the Quality Council of India. He commended Education Minister Ranoj Pegu and Mission Director Om Prakash for this accomplishment. He also acknowledged the educational reforms initiated in 2012, particularly the introduction of a transparent, merit-based teacher recruitment system. Since its inception in 2017, he added, Gunotsav has played a pivotal role in enhancing education quality in Assam, shifting its focus from purely academic evaluation to ensuring transparency and uniformity in standards. CM Sarma highlighted the state's educational progress, citing the increase in A+ grade schools from 6,307 in 2017 to 13,300 in 2025, while A grade schools rose from 12,927 to 13,952. The number of lower-grade schools saw a marked decline, with B grade schools decreasing from 13,636 to 4,243, C grade schools from 9,163 to 891, and D grade schools from 7,105 to 218. Announcing the Gunotsav 2025 results, he stated that Sivasagar secured the first position, followed by Golaghat and Dibrugarh. Sivasagar maintained its top rank for three consecutive years, while Golaghat entered the top three for the first time. In the cleanliness rankings, Golaghat, Kamrup (M), and Jorhat secured the top positions. Notably, for the first time, the assessment included students' learning outcomes, with report cards made available on the portal. He urged headmasters to utilise the learning outcome booklet for students' benefit. The Chief Minister further announced that Gunotsav 2026 would be conducted mid-year due to the forthcoming legislative elections. He instructed the Education Department to appoint 20 per cent of external evaluators from both public and private sectors and proposed the creation of a distinct cadre for single-teacher schools with restricted transfers. Additionally, he recommended the establishment of a ten-member commission of former educators to assess whether educational progress should be measured through institutional expansion or qualitative improvements. He underscored the necessity of practical training for TET-qualified teachers, advocating for a minimum of eight months of classroom experience before recruitment and a two-year probationary period for new teachers. Moreover, he highlighted the appointment of headmasters in schools with at least 50 students and emphasised merit-based promotions within the Education Department so that that teachers with a minimum of ten years' experience in Samagra Shiksha would qualify for head teacher positions. Today's event was attended by Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Minister of Education, etc. Ranoj Pegu, Minister of Agriculture etc. Atul Bora, and Minister of Handloom, Textiles and Sericulture, etc. UG Brahma. Additionally, Secretary of the Department of Higher Education Narayan Konwar, Mission Director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Dr Om Prakash, and other senior officials from the Education Department were present. (ANI) Chhattisgarh's former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday lashed out at the government for not taking action against the case in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. Addressing a press conference, Baghel alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were giving patronage to the betting app, further adding that the government had made it clear that if anyone took any action against the app, they would face action. "Modi and Shah are giving patronage to the Mahadev betting app. The government of India has also made clear that if anyone takes action against the app they will face action. With this, they have made it clear that they don't want to take action against the betting app," Baghel said, addressing the media. Further, he alleged that the cash worth crores of rupees recovered from the vehicle belonged to a BJP leader. "The money which has been recovered is from the vehicle belonged to a BJP leader. We have also made the request about the arrest of Saurabh Chandrakar, but he is yet to be arrested. He is the mastermind of the Mahadev betting case and has been moving freely. Now we are receiving fresh inputs that Chandrakar has taken citizenship of a foreign country. If the government cannot take action, they should clarify it," Baghel stated. Earlier in the day, the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, had said that investigations were underway and strict action was being taken against those involved in the case related to the app. "This investigation is being conducted by the CBI in the case related to the Mahadev Betting App. Everyone knows how the youth of our Chhattisgarh were addicted to betting, due to which their lives were being ruined. Whoever is guilty will not be spared, and action will be taken against everyone. It is not a question of anyone being close to the Congress or the BJP. Action will be taken against all those whose names are linked to this matter," Sai told reporters. On March 26, a large number of supporters gathered outside the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. The CBI team arrived at his residence and carried out searches for 14 hours. Speaking to the Media, Bhagel said that the CBI had visited his residence for the second time in 15 days, conducting raids not just in Durg but across multiple locations in India. He emphasised that despite taking strict action against the Mahadev Betting App, key accused Saurabh Chandrakar had not been arrested, despite a lookout circular being issued. Baghel alleged that the raid was politically motivated, suggesting that it was orchestrated to provide content for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech ahead of his visit on March 30. (ANI) As per the state wise details of the National Highway Projects (under construction, completed during 2024-25, approved but yet to commence) in the Northeastern states, Assam has the highest number number of projects and with the longest road length under construction costing Rs 39, 239 crore, as per a release. The data also reflects that Arunachal Pradesh has two projects covering 815 km with a cost of Rs 8,035 crore, while Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura have fewer projects and shorter road lengths in comparison. The overall insight provided by the data reflects that Assam has the largest number of ongoing projects and the highest total investment, while Arunachal Pradesh has slightly fewer ongoing projects but a massive future investment plan. While the total projects approved amount to Rs 43,322 crore, the combined total under construction projects amounts to Rs 87, 363 crore. Assam has the highest funds allocated for the development and maintenance work on the National Highways in the State, amounting to Rs 5,329 crore, followed by Arunachal Pradesh allocated Rs 3,488 crore. Nagaland has been allocated Rs 1,227 crore, followed by Manipur allocated Rs 1,508 crore and Rs 514 crore allocated for Tripura. The completion of NH projects is dependent upon the availability of encumbrance-free land, forest clearance, environment clearance, utility shifting, working season, contractor's financial position, etc. All the under-construction NH projects in the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura are scheduled to be completed by 2028. The steps taken taken to address the challenges and prevent the delays in executing the NH projects in the Northeastern states include measures like streamlining of land acquisition, regular review at various levels, expediting approval of the change of scope and extension of time proposals and close coordination with all stakeholders including the State government. (ANI) You are here: World Flash European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday night expressed deep regrets about the United States' decision to impose tariffs on imported European cars. Von der Leyen's remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to levy a 25-percent tariff on car imports starting April 2. "The automotive industry is a driver of innovation, competitiveness and high-quality jobs, with deeply integrated supply chains on both sides of the Atlantic," von der Leyen said in a statement. She added that tariffs "are bad for businesses, worse for consumers" in both the United States and the European Union (EU). "We will now assess this announcement, together with other measures the U.S. is envisaging in the coming days," she said, noting the bloc would continue to seek negotiated solutions while protecting its economic interests. According to a release, the initiative reaffirmed the CRPF's role not just as a security force but as a pillar of community development, fostering stronger ties between law enforcement and the people they serve. The school, established during the days of undivided Assam, has been a cornerstone of education for generations. However, like many old institutions, it has faced challenges in keeping up with modern infrastructure and resources. Recognizing this, the CRPF stepped in to bridge the gap, ensuring that students continue to receive quality education in an environment that supports their growth, the release said. Leading the initiative was Danesh Rana, IPS, who recently took charge as the Inspector General of CRPF. His leadership in this program reflects a deeper commitment to community welfare and development. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief K Annamalai met Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology and Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Thursday in his office and attended a joint review meeting, where a new train service was announced. During the meeting, based on feedback received from the public, Vaishnaw approved the introduction of a new train service from Tambaram to Rameswaram. The train will pass through Chidambaram, Thiruvarur, and Thiruthirapoondi. Taking to social media X, Annamalai, in a post, wrote, "Along with our Hon MoS Thiru@Murugan_MoSavl, glad to have met our Hon Railways Minister Thiru@AshwiniVaishnawavl in his office today & attended the joint review meeting." "The review meeting was attended by people from 8 districts in Tamil Nadu and district-level functionaries of@BJP4TamilNadu. Based on the feedback given by the people and a representation in this regard made by@BJP4TamilNadu, our Hon Railways Minister approved a new train from Tambaram to Rameswaram via Chidambaram, Thiruvarur, and Thiruthirapoondi," the post read. Annamalai noted that the new train service would begin on April 6, 2025, coinciding with the inauguration of the first new vertical lift Pamban Bridge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We are also delighted to note that this new train will begin its journey on 6th April 2025, aligning with the inauguration of the new first vertical lift Pamban Bridge by our Hon. PM Thiru@narendramodi avl," the post further read. Earlier in the day, Annamalai also targeted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over the ongoing three-language policy controversy, calling him a "con artist" who is "masquerading" as a protector of the constitution. In a post on X, Annamalai alleged that the DMK is scamming both the rich and the poor."Thiru @mkstalin, you are a con artist masquerading as a protector of our constitution and our federal structure. Usually, con artists scam the rich, but DMK shows no disparity; they scam both the rich and the poor," Annamalai said. Calling out the hypocrisy of MK Stalin, the BJP leader claimed that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu's family owns private schools that teach three languages but opposes the same policy for the state's government school students. "The whole country now knows that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu's family owns private schools that teach three languages and more but opposes the same policy for the state's government school students. They are calling you a hypocrite, Thiru @mkstalin," the BJP leader said. (ANI) Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sushmita Dev on Thursday lauded West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarkable social welfare initiatives, particularly in women's empowerment. Dev also highlighted Mamata Banerjee's invitation to Oxford University to speak on her government's "exceptional social welfare schemes." Dev challenged the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, to provide the exact launch date of the 'Arunodoi' scheme and compare it with the introduction of Mamata Banerjee's 'Lakshmir Bhandar.' "Mamata Banerjee is the honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal, and she has been invited to Oxford University to deliver a talk because of her exceptional social welfare schemes. Her initiatives, particularly those focused on women's empowerment, stand out as unparalleled in the country. The scheme launched by Mamata Banerjee for the empowerment of women in Bengal is unique; no similar program exists elsewhere in India. I want to address the Chief Minister of Assam, who claims that Mamata Didi copied his 'Arunodoi' scheme. I challenge him directly, asking him to tell me the exact date when you launched 'Arunodoi' and compare it to when Mamata Didi introduced 'Lakshmir Bhandar.' Let the facts speak for themselves," she said. She further slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for criticising Mamata Banerjee's achievements, suggesting that their criticism stems from her being a woman Chief Minister, and terms it as being against 'Nari Shakti'. "The BJP seems to have an issue with Mamata Didi's achievements and her invitation to speak at such a prestigious platform. I don't understand why they criticize her...Could it be because she is a woman Chief Minister? When a woman Chief Minister from our country is invited to speak at a globally renowned university, it should be a matter of pride. So, the BJP's 'sanghi' mindset is against Nari Shakti. Have you ever seen a woman in the RSS?" she questioned. West Bengal's CM Mamata Banerjee, currently visiting the UK, had spoken about how Bengal is looking forward to further cement ties with partners in UK and beyond. CM Banerjee highlighted that it is now the "major destination for job opportunities, investment, skills development, education, small-scale industries, and sports, strengthening the state's position as a hub for multiple sectors." (ANI) Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) Chairman Bheema Naik on Thursday defended the move of the state government to increase the price of Nandini milk by Rs 4 per litre, stating that the additional cost will go directly to the farmers. "We were selling milk in Karnataka at a price lower than that elsewhere in the country. KMF procures 86 lakh-1 crore (milk) every day. 1 litre of milk is sold at Rs 42 (Karnataka). In Gujarat, it is Rs 53, in Andhra & Telangana, it is Rs 58, in Delhi and Maharashtra, it is Rs 56, in Kerala, it is Rs 54.... This decision has been taken in the interest of herders. These 4 Rupees are going to farmers...," he told ANI. The Karnataka government on Thursday announced the Rs 4 per litre increase in Nandini milk and curd, which will come into effect on April 1. The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting held by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The move aims to encourage dairy farming in the state, considering the cost of milk production and processing. Following the meeting, Karnataka Minister for Animal Husbandry K Venkatesh made the announcement while speaking to reporters. "In a Karnataka Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, it was agreed to increase the selling price of Nandini milk and curd by Rs 4 per litre/kg in order to encourage dairy farming in the state, considering the cost of milk production and processing. Steps will be taken to ensure that the price revision amount reaches the milk producers of the state directly," he said. "In addition, it has been informed to withdraw the price increase of Rs 2 for each 1 litre of Nandini milk with effect from 26th June 2024 and take steps for sale by adopting the current price revision of Rs 4 in 500 ml and one-litre package as before," he added. On a state cabinet discussion on the rise in price of milk, Karnataka Minister HK Patil told reporters, "The decision will be made by KMF (Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Limited) in consultation with the concerned ministers. The decision may be taken in a day or two. We have left it to KMF to decide, they will make a decision perhaps today. "BJP Karnataka denounced the move in a social media post on X and termed the Congress government "anti-poor" "Milk prices hiked by Rs4/-, and the cost of daily essentials is skyrocketing. Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress leaders are busy with honey-trap scandals. Farmers have been waiting for milk subsidies for years, but the government prioritises Waqf compound renovations instead. Congress isn't just anti-farmer; they're anti-poor!" Vijayendra Yediyurappa, the BJP Karnataka President, alleged on X that "the Congress government continues to impose price hikes on the common people of the state." He accused the government of increasing the price of milk for the second time after coming to power. "The Congress government, which is struggling to manage the five blessings, has been continuously imposing the misfortune of price hike on the common man ever since it came to power. At a time when people are suffering from the heat of price hikes in drinking water, electricity bills, transportation, essential items, etc., this government seems to have entered the race to increase the price of milk for the second time after coming to power. The current decision to increase the price of milk by Rs 4 and cut into the pockets of the common man is nothing but daylight robbery." (ANI) The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defence (MND) on Thursday stated that a Chinese satellite launched Wednesday night posed no threat to Taiwan due to its high altitude, as reported by Taipei Times. According to Taipei Times, citing the MND press release, the satellite was launched at 11:55 p.m. from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan Province. It passed over central Taiwan before continuing toward the western Pacific Ocean. Since the satellite travelled beyond Earth's atmosphere, the ministry emphasised that it did not pose any danger to Taiwan. The MND also reassured that it would continue monitoring potential threats using its C4ISR systems and remain prepared to respond if necessary. Additionally, as of 6 a.m. today, the MND reported detecting 20 Chinese aircraft and seven naval vessels operating around Taiwan over the past 24 hours, as reported by Taipei Times. Among them, 12 aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern air defence identification zones. Taiwan's military closely monitored the situation, deploying patrol aircraft, naval vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to these activities, the MND added. Earlier, the US intelligence agencies have identified China as the primary military and cyber threat to the US, noting that it continues to enhance its capabilities to potentially take control of Taiwan, Taipei Times reported. The agencies categorised threats to the US into two main groups: "nonstate transnational criminals and terrorists" and "major state actors", which include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. China is highlighted as the nation "most capable of threatening US interests worldwide", although it remains cautious about jeopardising its economic and diplomatic reputation, according to the report. US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee that "China's military is deploying advanced technologies, such as hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, advanced submarines, enhanced space and cyberwarfare capabilities, and a larger stockpile of nuclear arms." (ANI) At a side event during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Wednesday, former UK Member of Parliament Paul Burstow delivered a keynote speech addressing human rights violations and the rise of Islamic extremism in Bangladesh. While acknowledging the country's economic progress, he raised serious concerns about corruption, political repression, and security challenges that could threaten its stability. "I'm not here to cast judgement on any regime in Bangladesh in the past, present or future," Burstow stated, emphasising that his role was not to take a political stance but to reflect on his experiences. He noted that as a UK MP, his primary focus had been domestic affairs, given the diversity of his constituents. "A 140 different languages spoken, lots of different people fleeing areas of the world with poor human rights records - I became someone who quite often spoke about human rights..." He explained that his engagement with such issues shaped his perspective on Bangladesh. "There are two sides and two faces of Bangladesh - one is good," he noted, highlighting the nation's economic growth. "6 per cent growth, year after year in recent years. Huge strides in taking people out of poverty." He also praised advancements in education, particularly for women. "Female education, which I think is the best thing we can do in the world right now... Huge strides being made in Bangladesh with regard to female education in Bangladesh." He further acknowledged the country's role in hosting displaced populations, pointing out that "the biggest refugee camp is in Bangladesh." However, Burstow cautioned against overlooking the challenges that persist. "The other side of Bangladesh is corruption, the other side is using the law as a political weapon rather than reason or arguments, and of course human rights issues." He posed critical questions about the nation's future, asking, "What happens to the economic growth in a Bangladesh that has been massacred in recent years - if the security and human rights situation in Bangladesh doesn't improve?" He also raised concerns about minority rights and the long-term impact on women's education, describing it as "a security situation." Turning to the issue of refugees, he addressed the vulnerability of over a million Rohingya people living in Bangladesh. "What happens to the Rohingya refugees? There's over a million of them. What happens to them if Bangladesh collapses into chaos, if the security situation doesn't improve?" His remarks underscored the urgent need for stability, human rights protections, and a secure future for all communities within the country. (ANI) The Third Session of the India-Uganda Joint Trade Committee (JTC) took place in New Delhi on March 25-26, 2025, marking a renewed commitment to strengthening economic ties between the two nations after a 23-year gap, an official press release by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated. Both sides acknowledged that the current trade volume does not reflect the full potential of their partnership and committed to taking focused measures to expand and diversify bilateral trade. They also discussed the establishment of an India-Uganda Joint Business Forum to enhance engagement between industry leaders from both countries. The discussions identified key sectors to boost trade and investment, including minerals, coffee, cocoa products, pulses, spices, dairy products, essential oils, plastic raw materials, fruits, vegetables, and residual chemical products. Additionally, cooperation in mining, banking, digital infrastructure, MSME development, health, pharmaceuticals, electric vehicles, critical minerals--including Rare Earth Elements (REE)--and petrochemicals was highlighted as a priority. Both countries agreed to explore Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on the recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia and collaboration in Public Works and Infrastructure, Agriculture and Allied sectors, Traditional Medicine, and Tele-medicine. Strengthening ties in standardisation and investment promotion was also discussed. Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, addressed the inaugural session, emphasising India's deep economic ties with Uganda. He underlined the growing partnership in trade and investment and highlighted the importance of collaboration in sectors such as e-commerce, MSME cluster development, pharmaceuticals, solar energy, and rural electrification, as per the press release. The JTC meeting was co-chaired by Economic Adviser, Department of Commerce, Priya P Nair, from the Indian side, and Head of International Political Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Uganda, Ambassador Elly Kamahungye Kafeero. He was joined by Ambassador Joyce Kikafunda Kakuramatsi, Head of Mission, Uganda High Commission, New Delhi, along with a 28-member Ugandan delegation comprising officials from various ministries and Uganda's diplomatic mission in India. The discussions were held in a cordial and constructive manner, with both sides expressing strong interest in deepening trade and investment cooperation. As part of the visit, the Ugandan delegation also toured the Noida Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to gain insights into India's industrial and export ecosystem, the press release stated. The deliberations at the 3rd Session of the India-Uganda JTC were forward-looking and indicative of the robust and growing economic partnership between the two countries. (ANI) The foundation stone for the construction of a new school building at Shree Janata Secondary School in Surunga Municipality, Saptari District, was laid on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by key officials and community members, an official press release by the Indian Embassy stated. The event was jointly led by Nepal's Minister of Youth and Sports, Teju Lal Chaudhary; the Mayor of Surunga Municipality, Gita Chaudhary; and the Second Secretary at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Garima Nautiyal. Several political representatives, government officials, social workers, school faculty, students, and their parents were also present to witness this significant milestone. The construction of the school building is being supported by the Government of India under the 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' initiative, with a financial grant of NPR 27.60 million. This project is classified as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) and will be implemented in coordination with Surunga Municipality. The planned structure will be a triple-storied school building equipped with necessary allied facilities, aimed at enhancing the educational infrastructure in the region. Shree Janata Secondary School has been a cornerstone of education in the area since its establishment in 1951. Currently, it provides schooling from Nursery to Grade 12, serving around 600 students, of whom approximately 60 per cent are girls. The new building and its associated facilities are expected to provide an improved learning environment, addressing the school's infrastructure needs and supporting quality education for students in Saptari, as per the press release. During the ceremony, the Hon'ble Minister, the Mayor of Surunga Municipality, and the Chairperson of the School Management Committee acknowledged the continued developmental assistance provided by the Government of India. They expressed confidence that the upgraded infrastructure would significantly benefit students and contribute to the overall improvement of the education sector in the region. The stakeholders highlighted the positive impact such projects have on strengthening the long-standing ties between India and Nepal, particularly in areas of education and community development., the press release stated. Since 2003, the Government of India has undertaken more than 563 High Impact Community Development Projects across Nepal, with 495 of them already completed. In Madhesh Province alone, 82 projects have been implemented, including nine in Saptari District. Additionally, India has provided 1,009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various health and educational institutions in Nepal, with 225 ambulances and 34 school buses allocated to Madhesh Province. Saptari District has received 24 ambulances and two school buses under this initiative. As close neighbours, India and Nepal continue to collaborate in multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure development. The implementation of HICDPs reflects India's commitment to supporting Nepal's developmental priorities by augmenting critical infrastructure and fostering shared progress. (ANI) Philippine authorities revealed the capture of six Chinese nationals and one Filipino, who were suspected of spying on US and Philippine navy ships near the entrance of the strategically important Subic Bay, as reported by Radio Free Asia. The arrest of the Chinese suspects, whom authorities claimed were pretending to be fishermen, increased the total number of Chinese nationals detained in the Philippines this year for alleged espionage to 12. These incidents have occurred amid growing tensions between Manila and Beijing over the disputed South China Sea, RFA reported. According to RFA, the seven suspects were apprehended after Philippine military intelligence informed the National Bureau of Investigation about "foreign nationals believed to be conducting covert intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities" near Grande Island at the entrance of Subic Bay, according to an NBI statement released on Wednesday. The six Chinese nationals "were under close surveillance for participating in suspicious activities related to the gathering of sensitive information" that could impact national defence, the bureau stated. A Filipino who was serving as their security guard was also taken into custody, as reported by RFA. NBI director Jaime Santiago highlighted, "Counter-intelligence efforts disclosed that these individuals were occupying the island under the guise of recreational fishers, frequently lingering at the wharves until the wee hours." "However, several witnesses reported that the group were using drones under the pretence of transporting fishing bait - actually conducting surveillance on naval assets, including those from local and allied forces, passing through Grande Island," he said. Situated at the entrance of Subic Bay, Grande Island was once used as an artillery training site for American forces. From 1901 to 1992, Subic Bay hosted the largest U.S. naval base outside of the United States, RFA cited. The Chinese nationals were identified as He Peng, Xu Xining, Ye Tianwu, Ye Xiaocan, Dick Ang, and Su Anlong. The Filipino suspect was named Melvin Aguillon. (ANI) The Foreign Department of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) has initiated an urgent global appeal, urging parliamentarians and political figures from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and the United States to take action against the unlawful imprisonment of Baloch human rights advocates and activists. The organisation has contacted over 30 Members of Parliament in the UK, five in Ireland, six in the Netherlands, 30 lawmakers in Germany, and several Senators in the US, demanding immediate intervention regarding Pakistan's ongoing suppression in Balochistan. This appeal highlights the arbitrary detentions of Dr Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Bebarg Baloch, Beboo Baloch, Saeeda Baloch, and other activists, emphasising that their imprisonment constitutes a serious breach of essential human rights. Notable figures contacted include UK MPs Barry Gardiner, John McDonnell, and Rushanara Ali; Irish lawmakers Paul Murphy and Richard Boyd Barrett; Dutch representatives Tineke Strik and Peter van Dalen; and US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tim Kaine. The BNM has urged these prominent leaders to publicly denounce the detentions, exert pressure on the Pakistani government for their immediate release, bring the issue to international platforms like the United Nations, and call for sanctions against Pakistan for its human rights violations. The situation has been exacerbated by an ongoing internet blackout in Balochistan, widely perceived as an effort to stifle information and prevent the global community from witnessing the extent of state-sponsored oppression. Concerns are mounting that Dr Mahrang Baloch and others could face cruel treatment, torture, or forced disappearance without any legal process. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), which has been organising peaceful protests, continues to endure violent repressions by Pakistani security forces. A representative from the BNM has asserted that the international community cannot afford silence while Pakistan engages in systematic persecution of the Baloch people. The organisation has urged global leaders, human rights advocates, and the media to increase awareness and compel Pakistan to cease its unlawful detentions. (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) endorsed three US Senators up for re-election, praising their loyalty and aligning their efforts with his agenda under the rallying cry, they "WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN." Taking to social media platform Truth Social, Trump first lauded Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, writing, "Senator Lindsey Graham is working incredibly hard for the Great People of South Carolina... Lindsey has been a wonderful friend to me and has always been there when I needed him." He highlighted Graham's role as Senate Budget Committee Chair, emphasising his focus on economic growth, tax cuts, border security, and Second Amendment rights, adding, "Lindsey Graham has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election -- HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN." Next, Trump endorsed Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, calling her "an America First Warrior" and noting her work as Chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets. "Cynthia is working closely with me to make America the Crypto Capital of the World," Trump stated, crediting her efforts to boost the economy, cut regulations, and prioritise farmers, ranchers, and energy producers. "Senator Cynthia Lummis has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election - SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" he declared. Finally, Trump praised Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, a long-time ally and former Ambassador to Japan, stating, "Bill is doing a fantastic job... helping us MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN." He spotlighted Hagerty's work on revitalising the economy, securing the border, and restoring energy dominance, concluding, "Senator Bill Hagerty has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election - HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" The endorsements underscore Trump's push to rally support for his allies ahead of next year's elections. Earlier, Senator Graham also backed President Trump and his senior security advisors amid the breach of sensitive information related to a strike plan in Yemen, saying that it was a "lesson learned." (ANI) Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India, as confirmed by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, Russian news agency TASS reported. While addressing the "Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda" conference through a video, Lavrov said that India is currently making arrangements for the visit of the Russian President. The conference is jointly hosted by the Embassy of India in Russia and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). The Russian Foreign Minister stated that Putin will be visiting India following the invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made his first foreign visit to Russia following re-election in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. "[Russian] President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared," Lavrov said as quoted by Russian News Agency Tass. Last year in July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia on the invitation of Russian President Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Earlier in February, TASS reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Russia for the May 9 parade at Moscow's Red Square to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic Wa. As per the military source cited by TASS, the visit by the PM has a "high probability". "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning a visit to the May 9 parade in Moscow. It is highly likely that it will take place," the agency's source said, TASS reported. As per the military source cited by TASS, it was noted, "The issue of participation in the parade on Red Square of a ceremonial unit of the Indian armed forces, which should arrive at least a month [before the parade] for rehearsals, is also being worked out." Notably, the source mentioned issues concerning delivery of Indian military personnel are currently being discussed.TASS reported that earlier Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that many invited countries confirmed their participation in the upcoming events in Moscow on May 9 to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reaffirmed the enduring strength of India-Russia relations, emphasising that "India immensely values its relation with Russia," underscoring that the "further enhancement of the special and privileged strategic partnership" remains a shared foreign policy priority for both nations. While addressing the "Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda" conference through a video message, Jaishankar highlighted the resilience of the bond between the two nations, stating that it was based on the "deep historical roots" and a "long tradition of trust and mutual respect" that continues to "expand and deepen in the backdrop of a dynamic world order." "Through every shift and realignment, India and Russia have demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt and find new opportunities for mutual benefit and for contributing to regional and global stability and prosperity," the EAM added. He further pointed to frequent high-level exchanges and robust institutional mechanisms as hallmarks of their diplomatic engagement, alongside a commitment to each other's core interests. While acknowledging traditional pillars like energy, defence, and civil-nuclear cooperation, Jaishankar noted emerging areas of collaboration such as trade, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, connectivity, and the digital economy as "new points of collaboration". "Our diplomatic engagement continued to be marked by frequent high-level exchanges, robust institutional mechanisms and a commitment to each other's core interests," Jaishankar said. "While areas like energy, defence and civil-neuclear cooperation have traditionally dominated our engagement, Trade, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, connectivity and the digital economy are emerging as new points of collaboration," he added. He also reiterated the ambitious goal of boosting bilateral trade, adding, "India and Russia have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030." The conference is jointly hosted by the Embassy of India in Russia and the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). Meanwhile, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, while addressing the conference, confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be visiting India upon the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian news agency TASS reported. Lavrov said that India is currently making arrangements for the visit of the Russian President. "[Russian] President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared," Lavrov said as quoted by Russian News Agency Tass. (ANI) Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Thursday revealed that since January 20, the US has deported 55 Indian nationals who arrived in India via Panama. Singh also mentioned that no Indian national has been deported by the US to any other country besides Panama. "Beginning 20 January 2025, the US deported a total of 55 Indian nationals who arrived in New Delhi via Panama. These individuals were deported to Panama by the US under a bilateral arrangement. Panama, in turn, facilitated the deportation of these individuals to New Delhi on commercial flights with the assistance of the International Organization of Migration (IOM)," Singh said in a written reply to an unstarred question in parliament. Adding further, MoS MEA highlighted that the Ministry of External Affairs remains engaged with the US in ensuring the safe return of all individuals who have been verified as Indian nationals. Meanwhile, as per a CNN report on February 6, at least 104 Indian citizens were deported from the US on the night of February 4 on a military aircraft, according to officials from Punjab, as US President Donald Trump made stemming immigration a top priority. The C-17 aircraft, carrying migrants mainly from India's Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab states, landed on February 5 in Amritsar, Punjab officials said. It was the longest-distance flight since the Trump administration began deploying military aircraft for migrant transportation, according to a US official. US President Donald Trump on February 23 while addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), referred to mass deportations and said that he was restoring government "by the people." For days, migrants deported from the US were detained in a hotel and held in a remote camp in Panama, surrounded by tight security with limited contact with the outside world, CNN reported. Nearly 300 migrants from Asia, all deported by the US, were held there by Panamanian authorities who agreed to take them in and eventually repatriate them. It's part of the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign, which has pressured Latin American nations to help, as per CNN. (ANI) The recent gutting of US federal funding for Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of America (VOA) has sparked widespread concern among Tibetans living in Tibet, who fear losing access to independent news in their language. According to a report by RFA, the March 15 termination of Congressionally-authorized grants has forced RFA to furlough much of its staff, leaving Tibetans uncertain about the future of these critical news sources. Despite the funding cuts, Tibetans report that RFA is still managing to broadcast into the region. "We still see you. We still hear you," said a source in Lhasa, expressing relief that RFA continues to provide news despite financial constraints, RFA reported. Chinese state media and nationalist commentators have celebrated the situation, with Beijing Daily declaring, "The beacon of freedom has collapsed," and asserting that "US hegemony will eventually perish under global condemnation." This reaction underscores the Chinese government's long-standing opposition to these media outlets, which have been a vital source of uncensored news for Tibetans and other communities under restrictive regimes according to RFA. "I listen and follow RFA and I am relieved to see you are still working despite the funding cut and risk of closure," said a source in the Tibet Autonomous Region. "I hope and pray that the (US) administration reconsiders the decision and continues to fund your work" as quoted by RFA. Former political prisoner Golog Jigme Gyatso emphasized the crucial role of these news services. "Hundreds of thousands of Tibetans monks, nuns, nomads, farmers try every way possible to tune in to RFA and VOA. That's why both have always been a thorn in the side of Communist China," RFA quoted in a report. Chinese authorities frequently attempt to jam RFA broadcasts by blasting music over the frequencies, but Tibetans continue to find ways to listen. Many activists fear that if RFA and VOA cease operations, an essential lifeline of independent information for Tibetans will be lost, RFA report highlighted. (ANI) In a post shared by ETGE on X, they stressed that ignoring Beijing's severe oppression in East Turkistan misses a crucial aspect of China's long-term imperialist ambitions. The organisation contends that the genocide extends beyond a human rights concern and is intricately linked to China's global expansion through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The latest report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which identifies China as the primary security threat to the United States, outlines Beijing's military posturing, cyber capabilities, and geopolitical influence, as ETGE pointed out in the post. The post also warns about China's attempts to weaken US power while strengthening alliances with adversarial nations like Russia and North Korea. However, ETGE argues that neglecting the situation in East Turkistan results in a significant gap in comprehending Beijing's broader objectives. As stated by ETGE, East Turkistan, known officially as Xinjiang, serves as a vital gateway for the BRI, linking China to Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. By engaging in mass surveillance, forced labor, and cultural erasure of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, Beijing is solidifying its control over the region to maintain unchallenged economic and strategic dominance. ETGE emphasises that overseeing East Turkistan is not solely focused on internal security but is a crucial step in reinforcing its global influence. ETGE cautions that ongoing disregard for this issue in intelligence evaluations may lead to a misjudgment of China's long-term aspirations. They assert that addressing Beijing's ambitions necessitates recognising that the oppression of Uyghurs is not an isolated atrocity but a fundamental component of its broader imperialist strategy. ETGE called on US policymakers and analysts to integrate this viewpoint into their assessments of China's escalating threats. (ANI) "Vladimir Putin and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan gave a positive assessment of the achieved level of Russian-Emirati relations of strategic partnership," stated in the message, as per TV BRICS. Both leaders spoke in favour of further implementation of mutually beneficial trade, economic and humanitarian projects. Earlier, at the first session of the ministerial Russian-Emirati financial dialogue, the UAE and Russia abandoned double taxation. The agreement will come into force on January 1, 2026, as per TV BRICS. (ANI) Indian-born British and American novelist Salman Rushdie's new collection of stories is set to be published later this year, the first new fiction since he was stabbed in 2022, his publisher Penguin Random House India announced on Thursday. "The Eleventh Hour" comprises three novellas and two shorter works set across India, England and the US, moving between the places he has grown up in, inhabited, explored, and left. Rushdie said, "The three novellas in this volume, all written in the last twelve months, explore themes and places that have been much on my mind - mortality, Bombay, farewells, England (especially Cambridge), anger, peace, America." "And Goya and Kafka and Bosch as well," he added. The book is slated for a global release on November 4, 2025 and will be published under the Hamish Hamilton imprint in India. All rights were acquired from Andrew Wylie at The Wylie Agency. In one story two quarrelsome old men in Chennai experience personal tragedy against the backdrop of national calamity. Another story revisits the Bombay neighbourhood of 'Midnight's Children', a magical musician is unhappily married to a multibillionaire. In a third story set in an English college, an undead academic can't rest until he exacts vengeance upon his former tormentor. "I'm happy that the stories, very different from one another in setting, story and technique, nevertheless manage to be in conversation with one another, and with the two stories that serve as prologue and epilogue to this threesome," Rushdie said. "I have come to think of the quintet as a single work, and I hope readers may see and enjoy it in the same way," he said. Following his 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder', Rushdie's new fiction moves between the places he has grown up in, inhabited, explored, and left according to his publisher. "In doing so, he asks fundamental questions we all one day face. How does one deal with, accommodate, or rail against entering the eleventh hour, the final stage of your life? How can you bid farewell to the places you have made home?" Rushdie has authored 16 novels, including 'Midnight's Children' (for which he won the Booker Prize and the Best of the Booker), 'The Satanic Verses', and 'Quichotte' (which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize). The celebrated author had been scheduled to give a talk on August 12, 2022, at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. However, just before his talk, a man in dark clothing and a face mask went onto the stage and stabbed Rushdie multiple times. He suffered three stab wounds to his neck, four to his stomach, puncture wounds to his right eye and chest, and a cut on his right thigh. Rushdie was also blinded in the eye and the attack also affected the use of one of his hands. Soon after the attack, he was rushed to a hospital in northwestern Pennsylvania and underwent surgery. He also suffered a damaged liver and severed nerves in an arm and an eye. In February this year a jury in western New York convicted Hadi Matar, a 27-year-old from New Jersey, of attempted murder. The verdict came after testimony from Rushdie, who said he had been struck by his attacker's dark, ferocious eyes. Rushdie described initially feeling as though he was being punched, but soon realised he had "a very large quantity of blood pouring out" onto his clothes. Matar was also convicted of assault for injuring Ralph Henry Reese, a co-founder of a programme that provides refuge for writers, who was on stage to moderate the event. Matar is set to be sentenced on April 23 and faces up to 32 years in prison, in addition to federal terrorism-related charges, The New York Times had reported. (ANI) At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of Chile Gabriel Boric Font will pay a state visit to India from April 1-5, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said. Font will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior officials, business associations, media and prominent Chileans involved in the India-Chile cultural connect, as per the statement. This will be President Boric's first visit to India in his capacity as President. He will visit Agra, Mumbai, and Bengaluru before returning to Chile on April 5. During the visit, Boric will hold talks with PM Modi on April 1, covering the entire gamut of India-Chile relations. Prime Minister Modi will host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. During his visit, President Boric will hold discussions with President Draupadi Murmu, who will host a banquet in his honour, the statement said. India's relations with Chile have traditionally been warm and friendly. Chile is an important partner for India in the Latin American region. Chile was the only country in the LAC region to send a Special Envoy to India's Independence Day celebrations in 1947. The two countries have commonality of views on several international issues including UNSC reforms, climate change, renewable energy and terrorism. Chile is also an important trading partner for India in the LAC region, as per the statement. In Mumbai and Bengaluru, Boric will meet the political leadership, business and industry representatives, startups, innovators and tech leaders, as per MEA. The forthcoming State Visit of President Boric will provide an opportunity for the leaders to undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral ties, as well as to discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest. Both countries cooperate extensively in multilateral fora and share similar views on climate change/renewable energy and on expansion and reforms of the UNSC. Chile articulated its support for India's claim to a permanent seat in the UNSC in a Joint Statement issued at the conclusion of the official visit of Chilean Foreign Minister to India in April 2003, and has consistently reiterated this support since then. Chile shares India's concerns regarding the threat of international terrorism and has condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to King Philippe of Belgium, where he discussed the deepening of India-Belgium strong bilateral ties. PM Modi said that he appreciated the recent Belgian Economic Mission to India led by Princess Astrid. In a post on X, he said, "It was a pleasure to speak with HM King Philippe of Belgium. Appreciated the recent Belgian Economic Mission to India led by HRH Princess Astrid. We discussed deepening our strong bilateral ties, boosting trade & investment, and advancing collaboration in innovation & sustainability." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1905268478485111114 Meanwhile, on March 4, Prime Minister Modi met Princess Astrid of Belgium and said that he looked forward to unlocking opportunities through new partnerships between the two countries in various sectors. PM Modi also appreciated Princess Adrid's initiative to lead a 300-member Economic Mission to India. In a post on X, he said, "Pleased to meet HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium. Deeply appreciate her initiative to lead a 300-member Economic Mission to India. Look forward to unlocking limitless opportunities for our people through new partnerships in trade, technology, defence, agriculture, life sciences, innovation, skilling and academic exchanges." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1896896732505706881 Princess Astrid, the second child of King Albert II and Queen Paola and sister to King Philippe, leads Belgium's economic missions as representative of the King. According to a statement from the Belgian Monarchy, these missions contribute to the development of economic and trade relations between Belgium and its regions and numerous foreign partners. The phone call between PM Modi and the King came at a crucial juncture as the Belgian government is closely monitoring the case of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi, emphasising that it is being handled with significant attention, according to David Jordens, Spokesperson and Head of Service for social media and press at Belgium's Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs. When asked about Choksi's possible presence in Belgium, Jordens stated, "I can confirm that the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and attaches great importance and attention to it. However, we do not comment on individual cases. Furthermore, this case falls under the competence of the Federal Public Service Justice." (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a high-powered delegation from Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) led by Takeshi Niinami, Chairperson of Keizai Doyukai, and 20 other Business delegates to hear their views and ideas to deepen economic cooperation between India and Japan at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, on Thursday, a statement by the Prime Minister's Office said. The discussion covered strengthening bilateral trade, enhancing investment opportunities, and fostering collaboration in key sectors such as Agriculture, Marine Products, Space, Defence, Insurance, Technology, Infrastructure, Civil aviation, Clean energy, Nuclear Energy and MSME partnership, the statement added. Prime Minister Modi highlighted India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and reaffirmed India's determination to provide a business-friendly environment. He highlighted the Japan Plus system developed in India, to facilitate and fast-track Japanese investments in India. He further emphasised that there should be no ambiguity or hesitation for investors. India's governance is policy-driven, and the government is committed to ensuring a transparent and predictable environment. The Prime Minister spoke about the immense scale of growth of aviation sector in the country. He also mentioned that India is also working towards building significant infrastructure, including the construction of new airports and the expansion of logistics capabilities, as per the statement. He said that given India's vast diversity, the country will play a major role in the AI landscape. He emphasised the importance of collaboration with those involved in AI, encouraging them to partner with India. Prime Minister Modi also highlighted that India is making significant strides in the field of green energy, having launched a mission focused on biofuels. He said that the agricultural sector, in particular, stands to benefit from biofuels as an important value addition. The Prime Minister spoke about opening up of insurance sector and about ever widening opportunities in cutting edge sectors in space and nuclear energy. The Keizai Doyukai delegation, comprising senior business leaders from Japan, shared their plans for India. They also expressed interest in exploiting complementarities between India and Japan in human resource and skill development. Both sides expressed optimism about future collaborations and looked forward to deepening business and investment ties in the years ahead. Niinami Takeshi, Representative Director, President & CEO, Suntory Holdings Ltd appreciated the thriving relations between India and Japan under PM Modi. He said he sees huge opportunity for Japan to invest in India. He emphasised on the vision of PM Modi of Make in India, Make for the World. Tanakaa Shigehiro, Corporate Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Government Affairs Officer, NEC Corporation remarked that PM Modi explained very clearly his vision and expectations for Japanese industry to invest in India. The meeting underscored Japanese business' support and commitment to the vision for Viksit Bharat @2047 in a meaningful and mutually beneficial manner. (ANI) At least five people were injured in a stabbing incident in central Amsterdam, the city's police told Euro News. Of those, three were taken away by ambulance, including two elderly people, Euro News reported, citing domestic outlets. The incident happened near Dam Square, in the southern part of the Dutch capital, with local media reporting that the area has been closed. Tram services between Amsterdam Central and Dam Square have been suspended, Amsterdam's GVB public transport company said. The suspect was promptly arrested, according to Dutch media. The motive for the stabbing is not known, as per Euro News. On February 17, neighbouring country Austria too witnessed a stabbing incident where one person was killed and five others were injured in the centre of the town of Villach, with a man from Syria being arrested at the scene, the New York Times reported. Citing the officials, the New York Times reported that the Syrian asylum seeker who killed a teenager and injured five other people in a knife attack, was inspired by the Islamic State militant group. The man, who was detained after the attack on Saturday, had become radicalised online, said Austria's interior minister, Gerhard Karner. The police said they believed that the victims were chosen randomly. Citing the Interior ministry, the New York Times said that the suspect is 23 years old, came to Austria from Syria in 2020 and was later given asylum, according to the Interior ministry. The attack in Villach, happened around 4 PM on Saturday when a man started stabbing random people with a folding knife, the police in Villach said. By the time police reached the place in seven minutes, after getting the first call and the time he was apprehended, the man had killed a 14-year-old and injured five other people. The attack was eventually stopped by a 42-year-old Syrian national who saw the violence unfolding, according to the authorities. "A witness saw the event and decided to intervene -- he rammed the perpetrator with his car and thus probably prevented worse things from happening," said Michaela Kohlweiss, the state police director who is in charge of the investigation, New York Times reported. Two officers were able to restrain and then arrest the suspect immediately afterward. (ANI) Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh underscored on Thursday that India is keeping a close eye on China's plans to develop hydropower projects on River Brahmaputra, ensuring the country's interests are protected. In a written response to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Kirti Vardhan Singh said that the government is monitoring all developments related to the river and taking necessary measures to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of Indian citizens living in downstream areas. Fauzia Khan, a member of Rajya Sabha, asked Singh if the mega dam was approved by the Chinese government. "Government carefully monitors all developments relating to the Brahmaputra river, including plans by China to develop hydropower projects, and takes necessary measures to protect our interests, including preventive and corrective measures to safeguard life and livelihood of Indian citizens residing in downstream areas," he said. The proposed dam, located on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, is expected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, making it the world's largest hydropower project 1. However, India is worried about the potential impact on water availability, silt deposition, and biodiversity in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. "Government of India has taken note of China's announcement of a mega dam project approved on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo (upper reaches of the Brahmaputra) River in Tibet," Singh said. India has conveyed its concerns to China, emphasising the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries. "Following the recent announcement by China of the mega dam project, the Government has registered its concerns with the Chinese side on 30 December 2024, including on the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries," he said. "The issue was also raised during the visit of the Foreign Secretary to Beijing for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Foreign Minister mechanism between India and China on January 26-27, 2025," he said. Singh said that the issues related to transnational waters figure in their talks with China under the ambit of an institutionalised expert-level mechanism. "Various issues relating to trans-border rivers are discussed with China under the ambit of an institutionalised Expert Level Mechanism which was established in 2006, as well as through diplomatic channels. As a lower riparian state with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, the Government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas," he said. The government has also agreed to hold an early meeting with China to discuss the resumption of hydrological data sharing and cooperation on trans-border rivers. "During the visit, India and China agreed to hold an early meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism to discuss resumption of provision of hydrological data and other cooperation pertaining to trans-border rivers. The government of India remains engaged with China on the issue of trans-border rivers to safeguard our interests," he said. The Brahmaputra River is a vital source of water, supporting agriculture, fisheries, and inland transport in India's northeastern states. However, China's proposed mega-dam project on the river has raised concerns about the potential impact on downstream water flow, silt deposition, and biodiversity. To counterbalance the potential impacts of China's dam, India is planning a 10 GW hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh. This project aims to ensure water security, flood control, and regional economic development. (ANI) India and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership during high-level bilateral engagements in Washington, DC, as stated in a release by the Ministry of External Affairs. The External Affairs Minister, representing the Prime Minister as his Special Envoy, attended the inauguration of the US President on January 20, 2025, where discussions covered a wide range of issues, including security, technology, and regional cooperation. In response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha by Parmar Jashvantsinh Salamsinh, Brij Lal, Rekha Sharma, Baburam Nishad, Tejveer Singh, Narhari Amin, Subhash Barala, and Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated, "The External Affairs Minister represented the Prime Minister as his Special Envoy at the inauguration of the US President on 20 January 2025. During bilateral interactions, both sides affirmed a shared commitment to strengthen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the United States. A wide range of topics were discussed, including regional and global issues and opportunities for further deepening the India-US partnership in critical and emerging technologies, defence cooperation, energy, education and legal mobility. No specific bilateral agreement was concluded during the visit." The discussions reflected the ongoing efforts by both nations to enhance collaboration across key areas of mutual interest. While no formal agreements were signed, the dialogue emphasised shared priorities in advancing cooperation on emerging technologies, economic growth, and security challenges. A day after the bilateral meeting, the Quad Foreign Ministers convened in Washington, DC, on January 21, 2025, reinforcing their commitment to regional stability. Singh stated, "The Quad Foreign Ministers met in Washington DC on 21 January 2025 and reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening a Free and Open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are upheld and defended." Highlighting the Quad's approach to ensuring stability in the region, Singh noted, "They underlined their conviction that international law, economic opportunity, peace, stability, and security in all domains, including the maritime domain, underpin the development and prosperity of the peoples of the Indo-Pacific." Addressing concerns over security threats, he further stated, "The Ministers also expressed their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion." The Quad partners also explored opportunities for deeper cooperation in critical sectors. "They agreed to strengthen regional maritime, economic, and technology security as well as promoting reliable and resilient supply chains and advance the work of the Quad in preparation for the next Quad Leaders' Summit to be hosted by India in 2025," Singh said. (ANI) The Indian Minorities Foundation hosted the 'Sadbhavna Iftar' in Delhi, bringing together diplomats from various nations to celebrate the values of unity, inclusivity, and cultural exchange. The event saw participation from representatives of multiple countries, who lauded India's commitment to religious diversity and global cooperation. Mustapha Jawara, High Commissioner of Gambia to India, emphasised the importance of Iftar for the Muslim community, stating, "Iftar is important to us as Muslims. It is a period when we break our fasts...We are very grateful for 'Sadbhavna Iftar'." Reflecting on India's support during the pandemic, he acknowledged, "During Covid, India donated to us a lot of vaccines, which saved a lot of lives. We are grateful to the Prime Minister and the government...PM Modi is the leader of the global south." Speaking at the event, Mohamed Ali Fazari, Counsellor at the Embassy of Sudan, underscored India's role as a model of peaceful coexistence. "India always reflects the diversity in religions, culture, traditions and peaceful coexistence of minorities," he said. Highlighting Sudan's longstanding diplomatic ties with India, he added, "The relationship between Sudan and India is very strong. Next October, we will be celebrating seventy years of establishing diplomatic ties between Sudan and India. India established good relations with African countries." Oday Hatim Mohammed, Counsellor at the Embassy of Iraq, praised India's pluralism, stating, "India is a multilingual, multireligious nation which gives India more power...All the people of India are collectively working for 'Viksit Bharat'...India and Iraq enjoy a very good relationship with each other...PM Modi is a clever man." Brenda, Second Secretary (Finance) from Zambia, highlighted the significance of the Iftar in fostering cultural exchange. "Hosting the Iftar is a special move for the culture exchange. Zambia and India share very good bilateral ties. We have developed a lot of infrastructure in Zambia with the help of the Indian government. PM Modi has taken the lead in making sure that in the next G20, most nations of Africa will be part of it. Countries with low incomes will also benefit a lot from it." Co-founder of the Indian Minorities Foundation, Prof. Himani Sood, emphasised the spirit of harmony behind the event. "In the auspicious month of Ramadan, we celebrated Iftar with various ambassadors of Muslim countries coming together and celebrating the thought of our Prime Minister--Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayaas. Today, people from all over the world celebrated harmony, communal spirit, and togetherness. We all celebrated with Iftar the joy and harmony that Bharat is creating in the world. Today, all of them supported the cause of our honourable Prime Minister of keeping this world together and happy." (ANI) AMHERST After hearing testimony from two doctors who have assessed the mental state of a Madison Heights man accused of murder in his fathers 2019 shooting death, a judge said Wednesday he needs more time to issue a ruling on the defendants competency to stand trial. Chris Hamilton Austin, 53, is charged with first-degree murder and using a firearm in commission of a felony in connection with the Oct. 1, 2019, killing at a residence on Riverview Road in Amherst. Amherst County Sheriffs deputies responded that afternoon to the house of John Bell Austin, 83, and found him dead from a gunshot wound, law enforcement has said. Chris Austin was arrested at the scene of his fathers home. Mark Arthur, an attorney representing Austin, has said his client acted in self-defense. Judge orders hospital-based competency evaluation for defendant in Amherst murder case Nearly four years removed from the October 2019 fatal shooting of John Bell Austin in Madiso During the homicide investigation, a prescription for Risperdal, an anti-psychotic, was found in Chris Austins room in the home, according to court documents. Additionally, in witness accounts and his attorneys interaction with him, he has exhibited signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to motions filed in the case. The defense believes Chris Austin may have acted on an uncontrollable impulse when the shooting occurred, a previous motion from his attorneys for a competency evaluation reads. After not communicating verbally, the motion states his attorneys are concerned his mental state has deteriorated further. Though Austin had difficulty forming verbal responses during a June 2021 hearing before then-Amherst Circuit Court Judge Michael Garrett, he pleaded not guilty at the time to the charges. At an August 2022 hearing, Garrett said he saw a noticeable difference and weight loss in Austins appearance. Austin was ordered to be admitted at Western State Hospital, a state-run facility for the mentally ill in Staunton. Emilie Picard, a doctor who issued November 2023 and May 2024 reports on Austins mental health state testified Wednesday in Amherst Circuit Court before Judge Michael Doucette that Austin was unresponsive to a request to meet with her. Arthur said Austin was unemployed for several years before the shooting and was living in a vehicle on his fathers property. Austin was not transported to Amherst County for Wednesdays hearing. Arthur has said Austin doesnt communicate verbally with attorneys to assist in his defense. Austins symptoms include selective mutism, if he does speak it is minimal, and he nods his head or points his finger, Picard testified. She said Austin had to be restrained at one point to have medication administered against his will and did not speak then. Picard testified Austin displays jerking sensations depending on who is around him; staff observes him 24 hours, seven days a week and he doesnt perform those sensations when alone in his room. Arthur asked if Austins symptoms can be triggered by an authority figure. Picard testified some of Austins symptoms appear to be catatonic and can be brought on by stressful situations or environments. Arthur mentioned while questioning Picard what he described as Austins lack of hygiene. Picard said since arriving at Western State Hospital in 2023 the defendant has struggled with showering and taking care of himself, adding the staff has to encourage him and walk him through taking a shower. Picard described Austins mental state as unusual and said the case is difficult to diagnose. Ive been doing this for 40 years Ive never seen anything like it, Doucette said. Arthur said in court he spoke to Austin a couple of months after the shooting but the two havent spoken for years because of his clients mental state. Picard said catatonia can be a symptom of different mental illnesses and may be a reaction to post-traumatic stress, adding in her opinion Austin needs more inpatient restoration and treatment. Picard also spoke of medications that have been used to treat Austin and one that was more effective, leading Austin to play a game of bingo though he remained non-verbal. She also spoke of an incident where Austin badly injured his ankle but didnt speak or cry out except to nod while staff communicated with him, according to her testimony. Austins jerking motions have been consistent for four years, a highly difficult task for someone faking a mental health condition, Picard testified. Amherst County Commonwealths Attorney Lyle Carver asked Picard if she was not able to rule out that Austins behavior is volitional, to which she replied correct. Carver referenced Blue Ridge Regional Jail records in stating in the spring of 2020 Austin told jail staff he was having a nervous breakdown. Picard said she has not seen any other case like Austins in her 16 years in the psychiatric field. Brian Kiernan, a doctor at Western State Hospital, testified he conducted a forensic evaluation of Austin in November. Austin didnt answer any questions and gestured once or twice, Kiernan said in court. Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, was conducted on Austin as part of treatment numerous times, according to Kiernans testimony. Arthur asked Kiernan if he gleaned any knowledge from interacting with Austin if the defendant has any factual understanding of the legal system. Kiernan replied no and added: I would say its highly likely he would not be able to assist in his own defense. Carver asked Kiernan if any of Austins behaviors can be created, pointing to a major issue being if the behaviors are volitional. Kiernan testified Austin has shown selective mutism, has asked for water and to use the bathroom, and at one point commented about an electric vehicle while being transported, but he mostly doesnt speak. Carver asked Kiernan if Austin is creating a blueprint for others to follow in getting out of a murder trial. Keirnan said in court if Austin is faking his condition hes doing an excellent job under constant supervision of hospital staff. Doucette told the commonwealth and the defense he is taking the issue of competency to stand trial under advisement so he review various case law. He asked both sides to present arguments stating their positions within the next three weeks that he will consider in reaching a decision on if a trial can be held. BWX Technologies officially opened its Innovation Campus on Wednesday at its Mount Athos facility, propelling the advancement of nuclear technology. The event brought together top executives, government officials and industry leaders to celebrate the companys achievements and outline the future of nuclear innovation. Joe Miller, president of BWXT Advanced Technologies, said he is proud of the company and staff who are focusing on the missions that are starting to emerge for government applications, as well as civil and commercial applications. All-important energy security is what were focusing on, providing national security and looking into the future and how these nuclear products that are being built up here in Lynchburg can be deployed in the United States and worldwide, he said. Miller spoke about the deep roots of BWXT in Virginia, dating back to the 1950s when U.S. Adm. Hyman Rickover selected the site for nuclear reactor manufacturing. He said the continued investment in emerging technologies, such as additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence, to further nuclear innovation have been of great importance. Rex Geveden, president and CEO of BWXT, spoke about the companys recent successes and ambitious plans for growth. We are coming off a very strong year in 2024 in which we set records for operational and financial performance and were expecting 2025 to be even stronger, Geveden said. Already in 2025, we have announced the acquisition of a company called Kinectrics, which will add 1,500 employees to our worldwide workforce, which will number 10,000 by the time we complete this acquisition in the middle of the summer. Geveden also highlighted BWXTs strategic focus on nuclear component manufacturing, pointing to $3 billion in new contract awards this year alone. We are trying to provide for global security, the production of clean energy, the exploration and settlement of space provided by our nuclear reactors, he said. We are literally curing cancer with medical radioisotopes and were doing environmental restoration in this company. And if you cant get excited about those missions, then somethings wrong. Gov. Glenn Youngkin praised BWXTs contributions and reaffirmed the states commitment to nuclear innovation. This future that we must secure, for commercial means but also for our national security, is one that we must lead, Youngkin said. We have an opportunity as a commonwealth and as a nation to forge ahead and lead in a way that no company in the world, no capability in the world, can. Thats exactly what youre doing. The governor recalled issuing a challenge two years ago for Virginia to be the first state to deploy an operational small modular reactor (SMR). He praised BWXT for taking on this challenge and emphasized the importance of nuclear energy in powering industries, hospitals and homes across the nation. We are writing chapters, not footnotes, Youngkin said. In this chapter that you all are writing, we will look back for decades and decades to come as the moment where we, in fact, accomplished that moonshot. Jeff Waksman, program manager for Project Pele under the U.S. Department of Defenses Strategic Capabilities Office, spoke about the importance of BWXTs work in building the nations first advanced nuclear microreactor. He mentioned Rickovers famous essay about paper reactors versus real reactors stating that a paper reactor is simple, small, cheap, and it can be built very quickly. But a practical reactor is behind schedule, requires immense development, is expensive, large and complicated. Theres just such incredible knowledge here about how to actually build and so you will see that when you go back [for] the tours afterwards, please ask all the engineers there about how theyre building things, because thats really the tricky thing. You can design a reactor on paper. Its very easy, but building it is really, really hard, and its incredible what that team does, he said. He said the projects success hinges on creating an ecosystem of nuclear innovation, not just a single prototype. If we just build one and its just a museum piece, then we have failed. We have to make this a real ecosystem, he said. U.S. Adm. Kevin McCoy, president of government operations at BWXT, spoke about the companys leadership in producing reactors for the U.S. Navy. We are the only company in the entire world that produces two reactors every single year, McCoy said. We have built more than 400 reactor cores for the U.S. Navy, powering every submarine and aircraft carrier in the fleet. McCoy also talked about BWXTs role in Project Draco, a nuclear propulsion program for space and its efforts to expand commercial applications of nuclear technology. There is nothing like being able to bring the engineers, designers and production folks together, particularly when building first-of-a-kind, very difficult things, he said. Thats whats so unique about this building and the people that we have here. Kate Kelly, BWXTs space and emerging programs director, outlined the companys advancements in nuclear space propulsion and power systems. Our space portfolio has ties to the companys long history, supporting the United States intermittent pursuits in space nuclear for over six decades, Kelly said. We began developing design concepts, test articles and manufacturing techniques for these very challenging-to-work-with materials and theyve evolved into the programs that you see today. Kelly talked about BWXTs role in the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program, a joint effort with DARPA and NASA to develop a nuclear thermal propulsion engine. These are all pursuits that will expand and sustain our footprint in space as part of the resurgence across the whole nuclear industry, she said. We are in the midst of growth across multiple space applications that are essential to the future of national security, scientific exploration and modern commerce, and we are on the cusp of making all of that vision into a reality. TOKYO, Mar 28 (News On Japan) - A growing number of women in Japan are choosing mens-style suits for both comfort and practicality, reflecting a broader shift toward genderless fashion. From school uniforms to police attire, traditional dress codes are evolving as functionality and diversity take center stage in work and daily life. In Fukuoka, a public junior high school introduced a gender-neutral uniform in 2020. Previously, boys wore traditional school uniforms and girls wore sailor-style outfits. To respect diversity, the school adopted blazers as a standard. Female students are now given a choice between skirts and slacks. In another sign of changing norms, it was announced on March 21st that female police officers would no longer wear skirts, signaling a shift toward more functional workwear. Meanwhile, a similar transformation is being seen among new working adults. Mens-style suits are now gaining popularity among women. Aoyama Trading, a major businesswear retailer with outlets nationwide, has seen a rise in female customers purchasing mens suits. Ayaka Shinkawa, womens wear manager at Aoyamas Tenjin Kokutai Road store in Fukuoka, explained: "With changes in business attire, more women are opting to have men's custom suits made." In a survey of over 800 women, around 25 percent across all age groups said they would like to try ordering a mens-style suit. According to the store, more women are indeed coming in to order such suits. Compared to women's suits, which are typically slim-fitting and design-oriented, mens suits emphasize functionalitysuch as ease of movement and ample pocket spacewhich appears to be a key factor behind their rising appeal. Shinkawa noted: "Because the silhouette isnt tight, men's suits are more comfortable than womens suits. When carrying business cards or other items, the functionality of the pockets is a real plus and adds to the overall appeal." Fashion continues to evolve with the times, and in the business world, it seems a new era of style is beginning to take shape. Source: FNN TOKYO, Mar 28 (News On Japan) - The Trump administration announced on March 26th that it will impose an additional 25% tariff on imported automobiles and key auto parts. According to the proclamation signed by President Trump, the tariffs are set to take effect on April 3rd and will apply to all imported vehicles, including those from Japan. For passenger cars, the new tariff will be added to the existing 2.5% rate, effectively making it 11 times higher. The move is aimed at reducing the U.S. trade deficit and reviving domestic manufacturing. The impact on Japanese automakers is expected to be significant, as the United States is their largest export market. Given the wide-reaching nature of the automobile industry, the negative effects could ripple through the broader Japanese economy. The United States has long been critical of its trade imbalance with Japan, particularly in the automotive sector, where Japanese automakers dominate U.S. imports. The Trump administration frequently cited the large volume of Japanese vehicle exports to the U.S. as a contributor to America's trade deficit. In 2018, the administration launched an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which allows tariffs to be imposed on imports deemed a threat to national security. Although Japan sought to avoid auto tariffs through trade negotiations and remained outside the original scope of steel and aluminum tariffs, it was never granted a full exemption. The imposition of the 25% auto tariff marks a significant escalation in U.S. trade policy and could strain U.S.-Japan economic relations. Japan, which exports millions of vehicles annually to the U.S., faces severe economic consequences, particularly for its major automakers like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. In addition to these export challenges, importing vehicles into Japan is no simple task either. Japan requires shaken inspection, proof of ownership, customs clearance, and strict emissions compliance for all incoming vehicles. These regulatory hurdles reflect the country's high standards for safety and environmental protection, adding further complexity to international vehicle trade. Source: Kyodo In the ever-evolving landscape of international finance, discerning investors and financial strategists continuously seek jurisdictions that provide both stability and innovative banking solutions. Belize, a tranquil yet strategically positioned nation in Central America, has quietly emerged as a top-tier offshore banking hub, uniquely equipped to meet the sophisticated demands of todays global investors. Belizes ascent in the world of international finance is not accidental. Rather, it results from deliberate policy choices, robust regulatory frameworks, and strategic economic positioning. For those exploring international diversification and asset protection, Belize offers distinct advantages, making it a compelling choice among offshore jurisdictions. One of the primary appeals of Belize as an offshore banking destination lies in its robust regulatory environment, striking an optimal balance between confidentiality and compliance. Governed by the International Financial Services Commission (IFSC), Belizean offshore banks operate within a clear, transparent legal framework that adheres to international best practices, including stringent anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations. These regulations not only safeguard Belizes financial system but also reassure investors of the legitimacy and safety of their financial undertakings. Moreover, Belize has adeptly responded to international calls for transparency without compromising client privacy. Through its compliance with the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and participation in the OECDs tax information exchange agreements, Belize demonstrates its commitment to global financial transparency standards. However, it simultaneously maintains robust privacy protections, ensuring client confidentiality within legal and ethical boundaries. This duality places Belize ahead of many competing jurisdictions that struggle to balance transparency with client privacy. Beyond regulatory factors, Belizes financial landscape is markedly characterized by political and economic stability. Unlike other offshore banking hubs frequently embroiled in geopolitical tensions or volatile economic shifts, Belize presents a consistently stable environment. Its parliamentary democracy, English-based legal system derived from British common law, and stable currency pegged to the U.S. dollar further solidify investor confidence. Such stability is crucial for long-term financial planning and asset preservation. Furthermore, Belizean banks provide innovative and flexible financial services tailored specifically for international clients. The jurisdiction has developed a banking sector that excels in catering to both corporate and private banking needs, offering multi-currency accounts, comprehensive wealth management solutions, efficient transaction processing, and reliable online banking platforms. Belizean offshore banks also leverage technology effectively, providing investors with seamless global financial access. This adaptability positions Belizean banks at the forefront of a digital financial age, facilitating borderless financial transactions with ease and efficiency. Another compelling factor bolstering Belizes status is its strategic geographical position. Situated in close proximity to North America yet comfortably accessible from Europe, South America, and Asia, Belize serves as an advantageous nexus for global financial activities. Its central location and favorable time zone facilitate efficient international business dealings and swift financial transactions, particularly beneficial for investors requiring real-time financial operations and cross-border trade management. Belizes commitment to sustainability and environmentally responsible growth also indirectly strengthens its appeal as a banking hub. Increasingly, global investors seek jurisdictions aligning with broader ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles. Belize actively integrates sustainable practices within its economic growth strategies, reflecting a forward-thinking ethos attractive to conscientious investors and financial institutions prioritizing ethical investment and operational sustainability. Moreover, Belizes offshore banking system demonstrates resilience and adaptability in the face of global financial disruptions. Throughout recent economic upheavals, including the COVID-19 pandemic and global market volatility, Belizes banks proved resilient, maintaining stability and continuing uninterrupted operations. This resilience underscores Belizes reliability as a safe harbor jurisdiction capable of safeguarding assets even amidst global uncertainties. Finally, the cost-effectiveness of banking operations in Belize is an attractive proposition for international investors. Compared to traditional financial centers, Belize offers competitive operational costs without sacrificing the quality or scope of financial services. This economic efficiency enables businesses and private investors alike to optimize their financial strategies while minimizing overhead costs, a crucial advantage in increasingly cost-sensitive international financial environments. In summary, Belize presents a sophisticated, yet practical offshore banking solution uniquely suited to contemporary international financial requirements. Its balanced regulatory environment, unwavering political and economic stability, innovative banking services, strategic geographic positioning, commitment to sustainability, demonstrated resilience, and cost-effective operational framework collectively elevate Belize to top-tier status among offshore banking hubs. As global investors increasingly seek robust, ethical, and reliable financial jurisdictions, Belize clearly distinguishes itself as an exceptional choice for prudent, strategic asset management in an interconnected world. About the author: Luigi Wewege is President of Caye International Bank, awarded as one of the leading banks in the Caribbean and Central America. During his tenure at the bank, Luigi has been recognized for his turnaround efforts at Caye, growing it into the largest international bank in Belize by total deposit size. He is a regular speaker and contributor for several media publications. He is an accomplished multi-publication author, including The Digital Banking Revolution (now in its third edition). Wewege has co-authored economic research presented before the United States Congress and has been published in The Journal of Applied Finance & Banking. Outside of the bank, Luigi serves as an Instructor for the FinTech School in California and sits on multiple international advisory boards. Wewege earned an MBA in International Business from the MIB Trieste School of Management in Italy and a Bachelors Degree in Business with honors from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a triple major in Finance, International Business, and Management. 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. Never let the guy with the broom decide how many elephants can be in the parade. Even if I was the guy with the broom, Id have 10 elephants. Youve got to love a parade, and if you or your kids or your grandkids havent already done so, this is the year to be part of the walking party cal Relations between Mauritania and Morocco are going through their best era in recent years, Mauritanias Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, said on Wednesday in Rabat. Speaking to the media following talks with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, Mauritanias head of diplomacy said that the important meeting between Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani and King Mohammed VI has given a strong impetus to bilateral cooperation, which is now in a very high level. The Mauritanian president had paid a short visit to Morocco in December 2024 during which he was received by the Monarch. The Royal Office had then said in a statement that the meeting between the two Heads of State reflects the strong relations of trust and cooperation between the two countries and the sincere brotherly ties uniting the two brotherly peoples. During their talks, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive development of Morocco-Mauritania partnership in various sectors and expressed their shared commitment to enhancing strategic projects that connect their neighboring countries, the statement had said. The two heads of state reaffirmed their determination to collaborate on major royal initiatives in Africa. This includes the African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline and the initiative to facilitate Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean. In his statement to the media in Rabat, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug said that his visit to Morocco is part of ongoing consultations and coordination between the two countries on all issues of common interest, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Ould Merzoug also praised the daily and permanent support at all levels provided by Morocco to Mauritania during its mandate at the head of the African Union at Summit and Executive Council levels. The Mauritanian official noted that his talks with Bourita provided an opportunity to examine the prospects for bilateral cooperation and to consult on multilateral issues, expressing the determination of both parties to ensure the success of all projects in this area. Officers from the Tangier Police Prefecture, in coordination with the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, on Tuesday apprehended a French national of Malian origin, residing illegally in Morocco. The individual was subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the French authorities, according to a security source. The 40-year old suspect was arrested in a Tangier neighborhood while caught in the act of possessing and using a forged foreign passport bearing his identity details, the security source added. A check against the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) database confirmed that the individual was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by the French judicial authorities. He is suspected of links to a criminal gang involved in an attempted homicide, extortion, and firearm-related violence. The suspect has been placed in custody and French judicial authorities have been notified of his arrest, pending the submission of the extradition file. This operation falls within the framework of international security cooperation and the efforts of Moroccan security services to track down individuals wanted internationally in transnational crime cases. Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger and Mali- which have experienced coups in recent years and have been sanctioned by the African Union- welcomed the informal talks led by Moroccos presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council to facilitate dialogue on their political transition issues. In separate letters to Moroccos foreign minister, the four countries thanked Morocco for its leadership and crucial role to help them in this context of transition. They also recognized Moroccos pivotal role in fostering dialogue within the African Union in order to ensure peace, security, and sustainable development in Africa, in line with the policies of King Mohammed VI. The landlocked countries and Gabon recognized Moroccos act of solidarity and its support for the brotherly countries to overcome their political transition challenges. Committed to promoting African unity, Morocco, as AU PSC Chair, convened these consultations in line with the Councils mandate, particularly Article 8, paragraph 11, which calls for informal consultations with concerned parties as needed. The goal was to strengthen dialogue with politically transitioning states, listen to their needs, and collaboratively explore ways to promote stability, peace, and a return to constitutional order, paving the way for their full reintegration into the AU. The Spanish Guardia Civil in Las Palmas and the regional command of the Royal Gendarmerie in Laayoune have begun joint patrolling operations in the Canary Islands to combat migrant smuggling by criminal networks, according to press reports. The move shows strong ties and coordination between Morocco and Spain in countering shared security threats. The primary goal is to save the lives of those who embark on dangerous sea journeys, said Spanish Guardia Civil, stressing the humanitarian nature of the initiative. The joint patrolling will prevent and disrupt the human traffickers and criminals operating in both sides. It will also strengthen further Moroccan-Spanish strategic partnership based on trust, mutual respect, neighborliness and respect for commitments. Last September, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska lauded Moroccan-Spanish security cooperation, describing it as exceptional and extraordinary based on trust and good faith. Morocco has voiced readiness to share its successful experiences with Nigerias Ogun State in housing, agriculture, vocational training, electricity production & distribution, manufacturing, infrastructures & ports development. A cooperation agreement has been inked lately in this regard by Governor of Ogun state Dapo Abiodun and Moroccan employers Union, Confederation Generale des Entreprises du Maroc (CGEM). Ogun is a state located in southwestern Nigeria. It is the second most industrialized state after Lagos, with a focus on metal processing. Mr. Abiodun said during the signing ceremony he was looking forward to benefiting from Moroccos success story in EV industry, cars & planes spare parts manufacturing, and renewable energies, adding that Ogun state has a special economic zone offering business opportunities in technology sector, manufacturing, farming and agribusiness. He said Morocco has achieved significant success in the areas of education, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and a host of others, from which Ogun State would benefit. He noted that Morocco offers a 30 percent subsidy as an incentive for investors and has signed 60 trade agreements with different countries across the world, and is becoming a leader in solar energy. He stated that the country has transitioned from importing to exporting electric vehicles to Europe and manufacturing parts for aircraft manufacturers. The success story of Morocco, the governor emphasized, would be replicated in Nigeria with the arrival of the CGEM which will establish operations in Ogun State. We hope that in our partnership we can unlock all the potential and maximize it. We want to learn from you how you perfected hydro, solar, and gas energy, presenting the right mix that, of course, brings down the cost of energy, he pointed out. Ogun State is building on thriving Morocco-Nigeria partnership as evidenced by the fertilizer blending plant inaugurated in 2022 by Moroccan phosphate OCP Group in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria. Built over a 10 hectare area, the plant houses a blending unit with a production capacity of 120 tons per hour; a 25,000-ton storage unit; a modern training center dedicated to the various partners; a laboratory equipped with the latest analysis technologies to ensure product quality control and soil analysis and characterization; and a pilot farm for carrying out agronomic trials and training farmers. Morocco and Nigeria are also spearheading a landmark gas pipeline project to cost about 25 billion dollars and benefit 13 countries in West Africa. The project will enhance regional economic integration, shared prosperity, growth and stability. The Sudanese Army has made significant strides in its ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), encircling Khartoum airport and surrounding areas, military sources confirmed to medias on March 27. This marks another important gain for the Army in its two-year-long war against the RSF. The Army has also recently captured the Tiba Al-Hassanab camp in Jabal Awliya, which it claims to be the RSFs main base in central Sudan and their last stronghold in Khartoum. The army, which had been on the defensive for much of the conflict, has recently reversed some of the RSFs advances, retaking key territories in central Sudan. Last Friday, the army secured the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum, further consolidating its hold on the capital. Witnesses have reported that the RSF forces, which are mainly stationed in southern Khartoum, are preparing for a retreat, with plans to withdraw via bridges to Omdurman, a city neighbouring Khartoum. The conflict, which erupted two years ago as Sudan was transitioning towards democratic rule, has caused widespread devastation and is now described by the United Nations as the worlds largest humanitarian crisis. With famine, disease, and ongoing violence, the country, home to 50 million people, is facing a dire situation. The war began after a tense alliance between the army and RSF, which had joined forces to remove longtime president Omar Al-Bashir from power in 2019. However, the two factions soon fell out, leading to the current violent struggle for control of Sudan. Stefanik, probably wondering if it was something she said. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images You have to figure Elise Stefanik has been getting pretty antsy lately. She announced way back on November 10 so long ago that DOGE was just an evil glimmer in Elon Musks eyes that Donald Trump had offered her the Cabinet-level position of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. It must have seemed like a pretty sweet gig: no management responsibilities at all, but a lot of public attention (just like her predecessor Nikki Haley), and the chance to please The Boss by attacking his growing list of global enemies. There was one catch, though: Stefaniks confirmation by the Senate (expected to be a breeze) was postponed until after April 1, when two House vacancies in Florida created by earlier Trump appointments (Matt Gaetz as attorney general, briefly, and Michael Waltz as White House national security adviser) would be filled by a special election. Before then, the fragile GOP majority in the House meant Stefanik had to stay in that chamber to supply her vote on big measures like the House budget resolution and the continuing resolution that kept the federal government running. Once those were out of the way, and two new Floridians sworn in, Stefanik would finally be able to head to the U.N. building and take the next step up the ladder that some figured would eventually make her a presidential possibility herself. But just a few days before the Florida special elections, lightning struck, via a Trump post on Truth Social: So instead of strutting her stuff on the international stage and burnishing her rising star image, Stefanik will be stuck in the House as just another slave to Trumps every whim. What happened? Well, if Trump is telling the truth (never a given), there remains the fear that even with fresh troops from Florida, the margin in the House is too narrow for comfort with the one big, beautiful bill implementing the presidents legislative agenda still on tap and not sure to reach the House floor until late spring or even summer. With Stefaniks seat vacated and with a Democratic governor of New York able to delay filling it for some time, all it would take is two or three defections (depending on absences) to screw everything up and derail tax cuts, budget cuts, a debt-limit increase, and all the other weighty items planned for the budget reconciliation bill. What you have to wonder is why this situation wasnt evident before Stefanik was nominated, as GOP senator Lisa Murkowski remarked shortly after the announcement: Murkowski reacting to Stefanik being pulled because of tight margins in the House. They just realized that now? haley talbot (@haleytalbotcnn) March 27, 2025 The perilous situation of House Republicans was actually worse at the beginning of this Congress, before two House Democrats died. Are there new jitters about Mike Johnsons ability to manage his troops? Is it possible Republicans are afraid theyll lose one of those Florida special elections, or perhaps the New York special election Stefaniks departure would have triggered? Is the myth of Trump 2.0 as a fast-moving and irresistible force crushing all opposition perhaps slightly hollow? Or is this all a ruse and the extremely ambitious House Republican Conference chair said or did something to displease the man upstairs (meaning Trump, not God)? Thats unclear, but for the moment it sucks to be Elise Stefanik. Not that long ago she was on the shortlist to become Trumps running mate and presumptive political heir. Now shes a prisoner of the House, a body that is determined to surrender all its power to Russell Vought and Elon Musk. Its true that Trumps thunderbolt taking away her nice new job included an explicit suggestion that she will join my administration in the future, and thats no small thing, particularly given the high likelihood that the GOP will lose control of the House in 2026 making House Republicans even less significant than they are today. But who knows what the future will bring and which jobs will be open when Stefaniks mere floor vote stops being essential? Nah, it would have been better if the New York representative had arranged to be first in line to quit her House seat after the election. Photo: Kena Betancu/AFP/Getty Images If the capitulation of Columbia University to President Donald Trump was, in retrospect, inevitable, it was still among the darker moments in the modern history of academia. A prestigious, powerful institution that was, theoretically, dedicated to the concept of academic freedom had decided, in a matter of days, it was better to do what Trump says than fight back. In exchange for keeping $400 million in federal funds, Columbia agreed to hire three dozen campus police officers who will have the power to arrest students. They will appoint a senior vice-provost with authority over the department of Middle East, South Asian and African Studies and the Center for Palestine Studies, and require students wearing face coverings during protests to present university identification when asked. All of these actions especially the hiring of a new provost will chill speech at Columbia and inevitably impact other institutions, since the Trump administration is currently abusing civil rights law to investigate 60 colleges for alleged antisemitism. Any kind of nonviolent protest or opinion expressed that is contrary to the U.S. governments position on Israels war in Gaza could lead to federal harassment. And green-card holders, as we now know, are no longer safe. The Trump administration, with limited resistance from Columbia, is attempting to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a protest leader and former student. These are McCarthyite tactics. Why did Columbia fold? An Ivy League colossus famed worldwide, Columbia boasts an endowment of almost $15 billion and countless well-heeled alumni. Much of the endowment cash has strings attached, but strings, for a university, can always be played with if $400 million is an enormous sum, its still the sort that can be partially made up elsewhere through pieces of the endowment or future fundraisers. Certainly, the many successful and liberal graduates of Columbia would be happy to cut checks to a university that stands up to Trump. The grimmer reality is that Columbia administrators and trustees probably wanted this. Some are simply Israel hawks who loathed the protests against the war in Gaza. None were actually violent or even reached the peaks of the 1968 anti-war occupations, but they offered optics that the elites of Columbia did not particularly like. Jewish students did complain, and if protests critical of a foreign nation-state are not, by definition, antisemitic I am an American Jew, and Israel does not speak for me there are always stray radicals in any large movement who spout ugly words. They deserve censure. What Trump has done goes far beyond that and will likely suppress debate and research around one of the more vital topics on earth. Can a Columbia professor, as an academic exercise, even teach the concept of anti-Zionism or the displacement of Palestinians in the 1948 Palestine War? Can a student feel safe to pen an anti-Netanyahu op-ed for the campus newspaper? Or peacefully hold a sign at a campus rally? Columbias administrators have made it clear they will not support their students and faculty if the hammer of the federal government comes crashing down upon them. In fact, theyll gladly pick it up and start swinging it themselves. What American colleges and universities need now are wartime leaders. We do not actually live in a fascist state. Trump is not sending federal troops to colleges to lock up noncompliant administrators, and hes not jailing any faculty. He is trying to abuse immigration law to torment the most vulnerable among us non-citizens who reside here legally. But colleges are led by American citizens. They have a duty to use their privilege to stand up to Trump. A good example of what this spirit might look like is across the northern border, where Doug Ford, the Ontario premier, has become a national hero for resisting Trump. Canada is in a vulnerable position, but Ford doesnt care. He was elected to fight for his province and hes doing just that and other Canadian leaders have gotten the message. It might sound trite, but its usually true: Bullies arent used to getting hit and will back down when challenged. Columbias interim president, Katrina Armstrong, obviously has no appetite for a public-relations war against Trump. But other college presidents must understand that Trump is going to keep crushing them if they dont recover whatever spine they have left and begin battling for academic freedom. Many of them are obsequious bureaucrats who arent used to such pursuits, but that is the reality now in front of them. If they dont resist daring Trump to revoke the federal funds, and heading to the public and their alumni networks to try to raise the cash to fill the budget holes they will, like Columbia, have done deep and possibly irreparable damage to their brands. Columbia is wagering that people will soon forget about all of this; its an Ivy League and students will always covet an elite institution in an elite city. Thats probably true. But its also true that the richest and highest achieving do have options. Alumni can close their checkbooks or dissuade their children from going to a school that gave in so quickly to an incendiary, unpopular president. These next months will be telling. Either American colleges and universities believe in their mission or they dont. Either they fight for academic freedom, a concept that is as central to the functioning of an educational institution as water is to the human body, or they dont and the slow rot in our higher-education system accelerates. Trump can only subdue colleges if they let him do it. He is not an emperor; he is not even Xi or Putin. He is a culture warrior who sniffs weakness. So far, hes been right. Academic administrators have been capitulators and collaborators. Maybe, though, not all of them are. There might be a few principled leaders left. Lets see if they emerge. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images There was a time in media when having a billionaire owner was an asset. For many outlets, this is still the case, particularly those publishing super-secretive group chats of powerful government officials who seem eager to trample on the rights of the press. But for others, like the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, both of which have seen their benefactors bend a knee to Donald Trump and sacrifice the integrity of their newspapers in the process, ownership has become a problem. A problem that the Guardian US, the American arm of the British newspaper, has exploited. All around us, media organizations have begun to capitulate, editor Betsy Reed writes in the current fundraising appeal at the bottom of each Guardian article. The Guardian has neither a self-interested billionaire owner nor profit-seeking corporate henchmen pressuring us to appease the rich and powerful. With the new administration boasting about its desire to punish journalists, and Trump and his allies already pursuing lawsuits against newspapers whose stories they dont like, it has never been more urgent, or more perilous, to pursue fair, accurate reporting. Can you support The Guardian today? The asks themselves are not new. The Guardian for the past eight years has asked readers to donate in support of its journalism, a reader revenue program that helps the paper exist without a paywall. But the appeals have gotten more strident and more Trump-focused since the Post and the L.A. Times withdrew expected endorsements for Kamala Harris last fall, and to great effect. The last week in February was the second-biggest week in U.S. reader-revenue history for The Guardian; the biggest was the week of the 2024 presidential election. The Guardian US expects to hit $44 million in voluntary reader donations in the U.S. and Canada this year, up 33 percent over last year, with some people supporting on a recurring basis and others giving one-time contributions. A first-person account by a Canadian citizen detained by ICE, for example, netted $105,000 in pledged donations. These contributions account for more than 60 percent of the American operations total revenue, which last year exceeded costs by $16 million (the rest of its revenue comes from advertising and philanthropic support from foundations). The amount that people are contributing on a pledged basis doubled in October the month that Jeff Bezos pulled the Posts endorsement for Harris and has stayed at that level every month since, according to internal data provided by The Guardian, which just surpassed 350,000 recurring supporters in the U.S. Our messaging does appeal to people to support our work as a kind of cause, and I think that works for a number of reasons, Reed said in a recent interview in her downtown office, but one is that there is a real crisis of access to reliable information for people who dont want or have the means to subscribe to the New York Times. That is a real problem that we have an answer to. Guardian managing director Steve Sachs added that The Guardians global perspective the internal catchphrase of the U.S. operation is that it covers America for the world and the world for America is also a draw at such a volatile moment in geopolitics. People are even more interested now than they were six months ago, he said. The Guardian US audience is split 50-50 between American and global readers. The Guardian launched its U.S. operation more than a decade ago and seemed to have a promising start, hiring high-profile columnists like Michael Wolff and Glenn Greenwald and winning a Pulitzer for reporting on widespread secret surveillance by the National Security Agency. But as the Obama era gave way to the Trump era, the close association of the Guardian US with surveillance-state reporting made it less relevant to American readers. Annual losses led to restructuring that hit the U.S. operation, once housed in an airy Soho loft, particularly hard. But during the pandemic, the Guardian US, like other news outlets, experienced a surge in reader interest, readying it for an expansion in 2022 that included hiring Reed, formerly of The Nation and the Intercept, and Sachs, whod spent years on the business side of Time Inc. The audience has continued to grow, with Sachs noting that the site typically sees between 40 million to 50 million unique visitors a month. Were now at a place where our audience is actually bigger in the U.S. than The Wall Street Journals audience in the U.S., he said. Leaders and organizations across the media industry have been trying to innovate in the way people can pay for news. Sachs says hes been increasingly asked about the no-paywall model, with others in the industry wondering whether they should adopt the same. If youre creative enough, you can figure out some new things, he tells people. But the question is, does it scale? If its another half-million dollars, a million dollars, whatever, its not worth the effort, he said. Other publications that were donations-focused, including Vox.com (which is owned by the same parent company as New York), have moved away to membership models as a result. The reason I think that it works for us is we cover so much breaking news and it drives a lot of traffic, and we have the scale to make it work, Reed said. Even if we only monetize one percent, its still a lot. Still, even scaled-up publications like the Guardian US have to contend with the fact that donations are very boom-and-bust. Despite The Guardians strident anti-Trump fundraising pushes, its broader audience is less partisan, as is the tone of its news coverage. Its a weird line to straddle. The appeals that you see at the bottom of articles are really framed around issues of press freedom and our identity and our structure of ownership, Reed said. They are not appeals that say, Trump is bad, you need to support The Guardian, we are against Trump. Maybe not explicitly. But they are clearly benefitting from this moment and using the new money to hire, with expectations to continue growing its staff in the U.S. this year. The big question is: Will it last? I mean, unfortunately, theres no shortage of global crises going on, from whats happening in the Middle East to Ukraine to whats happening in this country, Reed said. The world is incredibly interested in the shitshow here. God, its like theyre rubbernecking at a car crash. . The vast majority of U.S. auto imports come from Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Germany. So far, all have expressed their alarm over the new tariffs, but only some are threatening payback. Mexico No country exports more automobiles to the U.S. than Mexico, and so far, Mexican government officials appear to be avoiding any retaliatory rhetoric. Mexican economy minister Marcelo Ebrard said Thursday that the country was continuing to negotiate with the U.S.: If they are going to change the system, if we are going to a system of such high tariffs, what we have to seek is a preferential treatment for Mexico in a way that we have conditions that protect our jobs and economic activity in Mexico. Canada We will fight the U.S. tariffs with retaliatory trade actions of our own that will have maximum impact in the United States and minimum impacts here in Canada, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said Thursday. We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country. On Wednesday, Carney announced a $2 billion CAD strategic response fund to buoy Canadas auto industry. Ontario premier Doug Ford is ready to retaliate, too: Were going to make sure that we inflict as much pain as possible to the American people without inflicting pain on the Canadian population, he said Wednesday, adding that he will meet with other Canadian premiers about how, specifically, to respond. He has previously vowed to implement retaliatory electricity tariffs on the U.S., but says he will wait to see what happens on April 2 before deciding on that. South Korea South Korean industry minister Ahn Duk-geun held a meeting with auto-industry officials on Thursday and said that the government would try to negotiate with the U.S. to protect the industry, and that it was planning an emergency response to assist South Korean companies should the tariffs have an impact. Japan Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba decried the auto tariffs on Thursday and said that Japan was considering its response. Though he insisted that every option was on the table, auto-industry analysts agree that Japans options for retaliation are more limited than other countries. Europe Germany and France are both calling for retaliation. On Thursday, the German economy minister Robert Habeck called for a firm response from the E.U. It must be clear that we will not give in to the US. We need to show strength and self-confidence, he said. French finance minister Eric Lombard, who has previously called Trumps trade warring idiotic, said Thursday that the E.U. is preparing a list of retaliatory tariffs, which he said was the only solution to Trump. news Ouachita to host award-winning author Cranor for reading and conversation The Department of Language & Literature in Ouachita Baptist Universitys School of Humanities will host author and alumnus Eli Cranor for a reading from Broiler, his latest novel, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, in Young Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Cranor, currently writer-in-residence at Arkansas Tech University, is a best-selling and Edgar Award-winning author of novels Ozark Dogs and Dont Know Tough, and a columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and CrimeReads. Cranor is also set to release his next novel, Mississippi Blue 42, later this year. Coming to speak at Ouachita always feels like coming home, said Cranor. Much love to the Bugtruck for extending the invitation, he added, referencing the departments nickname often used by those who teach and study there. We are thrilled to welcome Eli back to campus, said Jennifer Pittman, chair of the Department of Language & Literature, assistant professor of English and director of the Speer Writing Center. Many of our students are invested in learning how to live as writers, and Eli will address their questions as someone who has learned from this very department how to live a life of meaningful work. Dr. Johnny Wink, Betty Burton Peck Professor of English, Language & Literature, knew Cranor as a student and has continued to follow his work. Im currently reading Elis Broiler for the first time in book form, said Wink. I read it in manuscript some moons ago, before the professional proofreaders got ahold of it. Im reveling in it, and Im glad hes coming to us in April. The reading will also include a time for those in attendance to ask Cranor questions about his books and life as a writer. Sarah Smith, assistant professor of English, noted how Cranor is sharing stories rooted in his home state of Arkansas and in the process, connecting with readers across the world. In so many vital ways, Eli is living out Ouachitas mission and we are tremendously proud of him, said Smith. Ouachitas Department of Language & Literature celebrates the power of words by regularly hosting professional writers who engage and inspire the campus and the wider community. Offering degrees in English, editing, education, writing and Spanish, the department is dedicated to nurturing students creative and critical thinking skills. In keeping with the universitys Christ-centered liberal arts mission, our faculty equip graduates for a range of vocations through which they engage meaningfully with the world. For more information about the Department of Language & Literature, contact Jennifer Pittman at [email protected] or (870) 245-5553. Oil prices rallied in Wednesdays session, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela will pay a 25% secondary tariff on trades with the United States. Trump claims that Venezuela has sent "tens of thousands" of people to the U.S. who have a "very violent nature." Brent crude for May delivery gained 1.2% to trade at $73.89 per barrel at 11.30 am ET while the comparable WTI crude contract climbed 1.2% to $69.84. The secondary tariffs will target China, India, Spain, Italy and Cubaall major buyers of Venezuelan oil. The tariffs could disrupt global oil supply chains, with U.S. oil companies likely to emerge as key beneficiaries of Venezuelas customers looking for alternative supplies. Earlier this month, Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) received a 30-day notice from the Trump administration to wrap up its operations in Venezuela. The deadline, set for April 3, provides the company only 30 days instead of the normal six-month wind-down period. Since 2022, Chevron has been allowed to operate in Venezuela as an exception to U.S. sanctions, exporting crude to the United States. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other foreign-policy hawks, Chevron has been providing a financial lifeline for Maduros regime to enrich itself and suppress civil rights. Venezuela produced about 20% of Venezuelas oil in 2024, close to Maduros goal of 1 million barrels per day. Chevron is the only major oil producer with a waiver to operate in Venezuela despite Washingtons sanctions against President Nicolas Maduros regime. Venezuela's crude oil production has declined sharply from 3.2 million b/d in 2000 to 735,000 b/d in September 2023 mainly due to sanctions and poor maintenance. Global Oil Demand Robust Despite Tariffs Oil prices have held up surprisingly well over the past couple of weeks despite the presence of numerous headwinds that could have pushed Brent prices more decisively below $70/bbl. Indeed, front-month Brent has exceeded $70/bbl at some point on each of the past eight trading days. Speculative positioning, however, remains skewed to the short side of the market, particularly for gasoline and crude oil. Trader sentiment remains negative largely due to concerns over the potential demand effects of U.S. tariff policies and the potential supply effects of a U.S. switch to policies that are more accommodative of Russian targets. Despite the prevailing bearish sentiment, Standard Chartered analysts argue that global oil demand remains strong, averaging 102.77 million barrels per day (mb/d) in Januarya 2.19 mb/d year-on-year increase. The bank forecasts demand will surpass 105 mb/d by June and peak at 105.6 mb/d in August, with full-year growth projected at 1.41 mb/d. They also expect demand to outpace supply in Q2 and Q3. While U.S. tariff policy remains a key downside risk, current demand fundamentals appear solid, supporting a more bullish outlook than recent market sentiment suggests. Standard Chartered sees a few reasons why oil prices haven't collapsed further in recent weeks. These include an oversold market, underpriced geopolitical risk, and a shift in trader sentiment away from excessive bearishness. Additionally, bullish inventory data reports and a weaker-than-expected U.S. shale supply outlook are lending support. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The worlds biggest independent commodity traders will return to trading Russian energy if sanctions are relieved enough to allow it. But this could take years as any relief would be gradual and slow, the top executives of the major international trading houses said this week. The U.S. is considering some sanctions relief as the Trump Administration started engaging with Russia and Ukraine to broker an end to the war. Amid uncertainties about the talks on a ceasefire, it is not clear if or when any significant sanctions relief would come for Russias energy exports. What is certain is that the top Western trading houses are ready to return to the business of handling and selling Russian oil, sanctions relief permitting. The bosses of the trading giants said as much at the FT Commodities Global Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland, this week. Vitol Group, Trafigura, Gunvor, and Mercuria were the main traders of Russian oil on the international markets before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. All these ditched the handling of any Russian oil after the U.S., the EU, the UK, and the G7 imposed a series of sanctions on Russian oil exports. Related: India Turns Away Russian Oil Tanker As Sanctions Evolve The G7, supported by other Western allies, also set a price cap mechanism for Russian crude shipments. These can go to third countries and are allowed to use Western insurance and financing if cargoes are sold at or below a $60-a-barrel ceiling. The measure took effect at the end of 2022 when the EU imposed an embargo on imports of Russian crude oil. At that time, the U.S. and the UK had already banned imports of Russias oil. Traders Cautious But Considering Russian Oil If Sanctions Ease The top Western traders will be extremely cautious in potential Russian trades, if sanction relief allows it at some point. But they would consider returning to trade Russian energy if sanctions are eased, the top executives of the trading houses said. If sanctions are eased in a way that we can go back in, why wouldnt we? Its our job, Torbjorn Tornqvist, chief executive officer at Gunvor Group, told Bloomberg in an interview. We dont do anything today because we think even though there are some gray zones, we just dont do it. But if these are removed, why wouldnt we? Tornqvist added. Marco Dunand, CEO at Mercuria, told the FT Commodities Global Summit that As a company we are a bit more shy when it comes to sanctions, but if sanctions were lifted we would absolutely consider if we could bring value and go back. I think if the sanctions are lifted we would go back to Russia and see if we have a role to play in the commodities sector, Dunand said. According to Trafiguras chief executive Richard Holtum, the return of Russian oil and the legit traders to this trade would be complicated if the U.S. eases sanctions first, while the UK and the EU allow sanctions relief at a later stage. This would likely take many months, during which the addition of Russian oil to the global market wouldnt be so material as to tip by itself the market balance into a glut. You would need to see a wholesale winding back of all the sanctions before it's something that could even be considered, Trafiguras Holtum says. Vitols chief executive, Russell Hardy, says the worlds largest independent oil trader believes that it's going to be a year or two before Europe eases sanctions. Russia Conquering Asian Markets Any return of Russias oil to Western traders and markets will likely be different from the pre-war state of affairs. Russia has already amassed a network of traders, intermediaries, and shadow fleet tankers to ship its oil to the two biggest Asian marketsChina and India. Russia may not revert back to long-term contracts with oil trading houses to handle its oil even after a potential easing of the sanctions to allow this type of deals, according to Gunvors Tornqvist. Even after the most aggressive U.S. sanctions on Russias oil exports from January, it took just two months for the Russian-Indian oil trade to readjust flows. Indian imports of crude oil from Russia appear to be rebounding in March following lower purchases earlier this year in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. sanctions on Russias oil trade. Traders have booked more non-sanctioned tankers to deliver crude to India, while the price of Russias flagship Urals grade has dropped to below the $60 per barrel price cap by the G7, allowing shipments involving Western companies, Reuters reported earlier this month, citing ship-tracking data and trading sources. Daily rates for non-sanctioned tankers on the western Russia to India route have spiked to the highest in a year, incentivizing more shippers to offer such cargoes. China has also found workarounds to continue importing Russian oil. While state oil firms in China either halt or reduce Russian oil volumes, at least for now, the independent refiners in China are picking up the slack. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Saudi Aramco, the worlds top oil firm and single biggest crude exporter, is in discussions to invest in two planned refineries in India, sources in India told Reuters on Thursday. State-owned Indian refiners plan to build several new crude processing plants to meet soaring fuel and petrochemicals demand in the worlds third-largest crude oil importer. Saudi Arabia, for its part, looks to lock in future term sales for its crude in the top Asian markets, which are set to continue driving global demand growth in the coming years. India has even surpassed China as the single biggest driver of demand growth. Aramco already has several deals with Chinese refiners and petrochemical producers as the Saudi oil giant has been pursuing deals in recent years to expand its international downstream presence, especially in demand centers such as Asia. Now Saudi Aramco has set its sights on investment in the new Indian refineries expected to be built. The Saudi oil giant is offering to supply crude volumes equivalent to three times its future stake in each project, according to Reuters sources. Saudi Aramco is discussing buying a stake in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL)s $11 billion new refining and petrochemical complex in south India, and is in separate talks with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) for a proposed refinery in the Gujarat state on Indias west coast, the sources told Reuters. However, Indian refiners are continuously looking for cheaper crude and diversified supply, and the Saudi proposal to supply a large part of the oil for the new refineries may not work. BPCLs refinery project is at a more advanced stage and the state-owned refiner has already launched some preliminary work on the project, including land purchase. For years Saudi Aramco has been trying to tap downstream opportunities in India. The oil giant has tried and failed to reach a deal with private refiner Reliance Industries. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Despite pressure from Russia, the National Bank of Kazakhstan is hesitant to intervene, acknowledging the legitimate concerns of commercial banks regarding sanctions risks. Kazakh banks are exercising caution due to the threat of secondary sanctions and potential disconnection from SWIFT if they are perceived to be facilitating illicit trade with Russia. Russia is upset that commercial banks in Kazakhstan are exhibiting excessive caution in settling payments and extending loans involving companies doing business with Moscow. A report published by the Russian media outlet RTVI claimed that entities in Kazakhstan that do business with Russia are the victims of over-compliance, which hinders legitimate cross-border commerce. A major source of discontent is the fact that Kazakh banks demand from their clients letters of guarantee on the refusal to export finished products to Russia, under the threat of closing credit lines. Some commercial banks simply refuse to process payments involving Russia, the report added. Others require exhaustive paperwork to complete transactions. The bankers caution appears rooted in concern that lax compliance on potentially illicit trade could result in the imposition of secondary sanctions on banks, and possible disconnection from the SWIFT payment system. RTVI quoted an anonymous entrepreneur who complained bitterly about bankers vigilance when it comes to money moving between Kazakhstan and Russia. This is a wave-like movement. As soon as we find options for settlements, after some point there is another tightening, and everything starts all over again, the source told RTVI. Several Kazakhstan-based firms operating on behalf of Russians have been slapped with sanctions for engaging in activity supportive of Russias war effort. The investigative outlet OCCRP published a piece in late 2023 showing how Kazakhstan has served as a critical conduit used by Russia to obtain dual-use items that help maintain the Russian war effort in Ukraine. Kazakh leaders, meanwhile, insist that the country abides by US and European Union sanctions. Members of the Ak Zhol faction in the Kazakh parliament are said to have recently sent a letter to officials at the National Bank of Kazakhstan and other government agencies effectively asking that authorities lean on commercial bankers to loosen up their rules. The letter reportedly pointed out that Kazakh legislation does not specifically bar banks from handling transactions related to sanctions imposed by third countries, according to RTVI. In a response, National Bank officials reportedly acknowledged that commercial banks have imposed a heavy burden on those seeking to do business with individuals or entities in Russia, but it added that it is not inclined to intervene, the RTVI report indicated. The National Bank affirmed that the risk of secondary sanctions by foreign states is a legitimate concern for commercial banks. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com India moved on Thursday to deny entry to a Tanzanian-flagged tanker carrying Russian crude, signaling that New Delhi is ramping up scrutiny of vessels transporting oil from Russia, Reuters reported exclusively. The vessel, Andaman Skies, was en route to the Vadinar Port to deliver 100,000 metric tons (roughly 800,000 barrels) of Varandey crude oil sold by Russias Lukoil. Indian port authorities refused the tanker entry, citing documentation issues, particularly its seaworthiness certification, Reuters quoted unnamed sources familiar with the matter as saying. The Andaman Skies, built in 2004, is more than 20 years old and, according to Indian port regulations, requires a seaworthiness certificate from an approved classification society. While the vessel held certification from Dakar Class, an organization based in India, it is not recognized by the countrys maritime administration. Entry was refused despite the fact that the same vessel entered Indian ports as recently as December 2024. India has become the largest importer of Russian crude, with Russian oil comprising roughly 35% of its total crude imports last year. However, the country has faced increasing pressure due to U.S. and European sanctions targeting Russian oil exports, which have disrupted global shipping routes. The sanctions environment continues to evolve, and the uncertainty of the Trump administration appears to have pushed India to pay closer attention to the oil that is entering its ports. The Andaman Skies is not subject to U.S. or UN sanctions but is listed under UK and EU sanctions. The tightening regulations reflect a broader trend where Indian refiners, who buy Russian oil on a delivered basis, now rely on ships and insurers that are not sanctioned by the U.S., further complicating the flow of crude. Sources told Reuters that Lukoil and Russian insurer Soglasie did not immediately respond to inquiries, while Indian authorities declined to comment on the matter. Evolving sanctions have benefitted the U.S., with U.S. oil exports to India in February hitting their highest volumes in more than two years, jumping from 221,000 bpd in 2024 to 357,000 bpd in February, based on Kpler data cited by Reuters. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Just as Nigeria had started to increase its oil and gas production under President Bola Tinubu, a series of blasts and fires at major pipelines are threatening to unravel the progress Africas top crude producer has made. A political feud and crisis reminded the oil market that pipeline sabotage and politically-motivated vandalism in Nigerias oil-rich states is always lurking around the corner. In the Rivers State in the Niger Delta, where a large part of the countrys oil is produced and exported, at least three explosions and fires at oil and gas pipelines halted some supply over the past week. Early last week, the Trans-Niger Pipeline, one of Nigerias biggest pipelines carrying crude from the Niger Delta to the Bonny terminal, was rocked by a powerful explosion. The explosion at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, caused a massive fire at the section of the pipeline in the area. Operations at the Trans-Niger Pipeline, which accounts for about 15% of Nigerian oil exports, were restored a week later. But the violence and political crisis dont end. While the cause of the explosion has yet to be investigated and announced, there is already speculation that the blast could be the result of sabotage, in view of the threats that militant groups in the area have recently made. The militants have threatened to attack oil infrastructure in the Rivers state amid an ongoing political crisis between the state and the federal government over federal money allocation to Rivers. Last week, Nigerian President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months. Fubara is a member of the opposition party and the successor of close Tinubu ally Nyesom Wike. As renewed political infighting puts Nigerias oil revival at risk, the presidents goal of lifting production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) is under threat again. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The $5-billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which is planned to export crude oil from Uganda via a port in Tanzania, has secured the first tranche of external financing for the project. EACOP Ltd., the company in charge of the construction and future operation of the project, said that it had closed the first tranche of external financing. The funding is being provided by a syndicate of financial institutions, including regional banks such as African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited, KCB Bank Uganda, and The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD). The first external financing is for about $1 billion, and two additional funding tranches are expected, media in Uganda report. Last year, Africas top lender, Standard Bank, said it expects to help fund part of the planned $5-billion controversial project that has had environmental campaigners call on banks to abandon financing for the pipeline. The EACOP project is for a 1,443-kilometer-long (897 miles) pipeline to be built from landlocked Uganda to the Tanga port in Tanzania. The oil pipeline is expected to bring crude from the Lake Albert project in Uganda to the international oil market. It is designed to transport 216,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with a ramp-up of up to 246,000 bpd, Uganda says. The successful closing of this first tranche of external financing represents a significant milestone for EACOP and its shareholders, EACOP Ltd said. These shareholders are Frances supermajor TotalEnergies with a 62% stake, Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC) with 15%, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) holding another 15%, and CNOOC, the state oil giant of China, with an 8% interest. The construction of the pipeline is progressing well in Uganda and Tanzania, EACOP Ltd said, noting that the overall project progress exceeded 50% at the end of 2024. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The United States Department of Justice has filed a civil lawsuit at a district court in D.C. for the forfeiture of $47 million in proceeds from the sale of some 1 million barrels of Iranian oil that went to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Qods Force. The U.S. seized the oil last year and sold it, making $47 million from that sale. Both the IRGC and the Quds Force were designated terrorist groups by the United States. Per the lawsuit, the oil was sold under a sanction evasion scheme between 2022 and 2024, with the DoJ detailing the scheme as using various tactics to avoid sanction action, using the U.S. financial system in the process. The facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the Iranian oil as Malaysian, including by manipulating the tankers automatic identification system to conceal that it onboarded the oil from a port in Iran, the DoJ wrote in its report on the forfeiture news. The facilitators presented falsified documents to the Croatian storage facility and port authority, claiming that the oil was Malaysian. The facilitators paid for storage fees associated with the oils storage at the Croatian facility in U.S. dollars, transactions that were conducted through U.S. financial institutions that would have refused the transactions had they known they were associated with Iranian oil. The 2024 sale of that one million barrels of Iranian crude was not the first by the U.S. after seizing Iranian oil cargo. Back in 2020, the U.S. sold the cargo of four oil tankers, making over $40 million from it. The tankers carrying the oil were en route to Venezuela when the U.S. authorities seized them. Washington has claimed it had the right to seize the cargo and assume ownership because the money that Iran earned from oil exports went to fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com WASHINGTON For weeks, Democratic lawmakers met with and mimicked figures they believe may offer them a path back to power in Washington: online influencers and content creators. Hours before President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress this month, Senate Democrats huddled with a dozen online progressive personalities who have millions of followers. House Democrats were introduced, without staff, to 40 content creators who Democratic leaders said could help them grow their audience online. An earlier tutorial session in February featured online personalities like the YouTube commentator Brian Tyler Cohen. The result was a burst of Democratic online content, including direct-to-camera explainers in parked cars, scripted vertical videos, podcast appearances and livestreams some topping trending charts online, others drawing mockery from liberal allies and Republicans in Congress. But while the Democratic Party is largely divided over the path forward after last year's election losses, party leaders agree that, no matter the message, how they connect with voters in the digital media landscape will be key to a political comeback. Asked about the party's digital strategy, more than a dozen Democratic senators pointed to Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey as the architect of their new push. "We've seen tremendous growth of Democratic senators now. They're engaging in the tools and strategies necessary to elevate their voice in a new, changing media market, where legacy media is not the place that people get their news now," Booker said. "We're just weeks into this, but just by making key changes we're seeing a massive growth in engagement with the content that our senators are creating, and we've only just begun." Booker said he's aiming for Democratic senators to double online engagement with their content over the next year and early metrics are noticeable. Democratic senators racked up more than 87 million views on content they published in response to Trump's joint address to Congress, according to Booker's office. Not all of that online engagement is positive. After more than two dozen Democratic senators posted identical scripted videos knocking Trump's speech, saying he should have addressed the cost of living and his support for billionaire adviser Elon Musk, conservatives mocked them as inauthentic and out of touch. "They are all actors reading a script," Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. There's no doubt that Democrats are playing catch-up. Trump and his fellow Republicans built a digital operation that fed on bombast and celebrity, and it's a strategy they've taken with them to the White House. Official government accounts are new filled with right-wing memes, cinematic videos and pugnacious statements. The Democratic embrace of influencers also yielded mixed early results. Democrats were ridiculed online after a food and wellness influencer who attended the House Democrats' creators event created a "Choose Your Fighter" video collage of Democratic congresswomen for Women's History Month. The White House posted a video in response that read "America chose its fighters last November," and the Pentagon, normally known for being studiously nonpartisan, posted a video stating, "We chose our fighters a long time ago." Booker and other Democratic leaders don't consider the sneers to be a downside. Missteps are to be expected, they said, but the path to Americans' attention will require some discomfort from lawmakers. "I do think that the caucus as a whole is trying to figure out how we show people that we are real people," said Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, one of the congresswomen featured in the viral "Fighter" video. Crockett, whose posts regularly garner millions of views online, said she was used to criticism for her often frank statements and was more interested in combating perceptions that Democrats are "elitist" or "robotic. Some House Democrats expressed frustration that the guidance from Democratic leaders about social media is too vague, while others grumble that leaders are too prescriptive in their approach to messaging on platforms they don't intuitively understand. Meanwhile, Democratic strategists have cautioned lawmakers that garnering attention online is secondary to the goal of using social media as a tool in specific policy fights and campaigns. "I think there's a fine line before we're being cringe and trying too hard and seeming too thirsty. I think the most important thing in any of this is being as authentic and genuine as we can be," said Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif. Some Democrats think that the party's messaging strategy hinges as much on the messengers as the medium it's communicated on. "If you know how to talk to people, it doesn't matter what medium is going to exist," said Sen. Ruben Gallego, a freshman Democratic senator from Arizona. "You could be the best freaking spokesperson in the world, but if you don't know how to talk to working-class people, it doesn't matter if you have the best TikTok following, it's just not going to translate." By Senator Cedric Hayden March 25, 2025 Today, the Oregon Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 945, a measure introduced by Senator Cedric Hayden (R-Fall Creek) to ensure all former foster youth living in Oregon have access to medical assistance until age 26. Current law provides Medicaid coverage for individuals who age out of Oregons foster care system, but those who move to Oregon from another state are not eligible. SB 945 guarantees health care access for all former foster youth, regardless of where they were in foster care. The bill also directs the Oregon Health Authority to seek federal matching funds to support this coverage. Foster youth face enough challenges as they transition into adulthood. Losing health care shouldnt be one of them, said Senator Hayden. SB 945 ensures that all former foster kids residing in Oregon have the same access to coverage, whether they grew up here or moved here later in life. Under the Affordable Care Act, a child whose parents have health care is entitled to remain on their parents plan until age 26. SB 945 recognizes that some kids leave the foster care system without ever having had the benefit of a permanent, stable, and loving family to help them move forward and reach their goals, Hayden added. In this case, we are that parent, providing health care under the ACA. SB 945 allows foster youth from any state to come to Oregon for school, work, and the hope of a better future, even if the hand they were dealt early in life wasnt a favorable one. Senator Hayden also noted that SB 945 furthers his goal of closing the gaps in health care, as Oregons health coverage has dropped from 97% to 94% in recent years. We have cracks in our health care system where people are missing out on coverage. Whether its a bill like SB 945, or efforts to expand coverage to adults with rare diseases, people in our COFA population, or veterans who need dental care, we must close all these gaps. Doing so will ultimately make Oregonians healthier, Hayden concluded. A former Medicaid dentist practitioner, Senator Hayden has focused much of his legislative work on addressing gaps in health coverage for Oregonians in need of health insurance. SB 945 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. By State Senator Todd Nash March 25, 2025 The Oregon Senate has passed Senate Bill 777, a long-overdue update to Oregons wolf depredation compensation program. The bill, championed by Senator Todd Nash (REnterprise) and Representative Bobby Levy (R-Echo), provides fair compensation for ranchers who lose livestock or working dogs to confirmed wolf kills while increasing funding for nonlethal deterrence. In 2011, we created Oregons first compensation program when wolves were still new to the state. Weve learned a lot since then, said Senator Nash. This bill reflects what we now know: that our previous system didnt fully account for the losses ranchers face. SB 777 is a long-overdue fix that restores trust in the system and ensures that Oregons wolf policy reflects reality, not outdated assumptions. When Oregons compensation program was first established, only one county participated. Since then, wolves have spread across the state, and today, half of Oregons 36 counties now rely on compensation programs. SB 777 updates the program to address this expanding challenge, ensuring ranchers in every affected county receive fair treatment. The bill removes compensation for missing livestock, instead implements a multiplier system, allowing counties to set compensation rates based on fair market value. Under SB 777, calves, yearlings, sheep, and goats can be compensated at up to five times their fair market value, while cows can be compensated at up to three times, with a $25,000 total cap. It also expands support for ranchers as wolf populations continue to grow. SB 777 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. 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 plant on the left has been treated with a herbicide, showing reduced growth, while the right plant is an untreated control, demonstrating normal growth. This comparison helps assess the effectiveness of herbicide treatments. Credit: Loughborough University A new AI model has been developed that can quickly tell how much weeds have grownand it could help ensure global food security by accelerating the development of next-generation herbicides. Created as part of a collaborative project between Loughborough University computer scientists and agricultural biotech firm Moa, the AI system aims to eliminate the need for manual assessments of how well herbicideschemicals used to kill weedswork. Traditionally, assessing herbicide effectiveness relies on human experts visually determining weed growth after chemical exposurea slow and labor-intensive process. The new AI system automates this task, making it faster, more accurate, and highly scalable. "By integrating AI and advanced monitoring techniques, the agrochemical industry can ensure smarter, more sustainable herbicide development and use, helping to achieve global sustainability goals by protecting ecosystems and natural resources," said Professor Baihua Li, an expert in AI and computer vision and the Loughborough University project lead. "We believe this collaboration sets the stage for continued innovation in AI-driven agricultural solutions. It shows how modern technologies can be harnessed to drive more efficient and environmentally responsible farming practices." The urgent need for new herbicides Farmers have long struggled with weeds as they compete with crops for moisture, nutrients, and sunlight, reducing yields and threatening food production. For over 50 years, herbicides have been the primary solution; these chemicals interfere with plant biology, killing unwanted weeds while allowing crops to thrive. However, two major challenges are emerging. Weeds are developing resistance, making existing herbicides less effective. At the same time, scientific evidence is starting to reveal that some herbicides pose environmental and health risks, raising concerns about their long-term use. There is now an urgent need to develop safer and more effective herbicides that can combat resistant weeds while minimizing harm to people and the environment. Moa, an Oxford University spin-out, is tackling this problem by developing the next generation of weed control solutions. Their scientists use an advanced screening system to identify thousands of potential new "Mode of Action (MoA)" herbicideschemicals designed to attack weeds in novel ways, including blocking essential enzymes. This image shows how the AI model evaluates the effectiveness of herbicides on different weed species. Each column represents a different weed type (VERPE, LOLMU, and AMARE) with sample (treated) and control (untreated) plants. The AI analyses weed growth, classifying responses as Active, Inactive, or Moderate, automating what was traditionally a manual and time-consuming process. Credit: Loughborough University The most promising herbicide candidates are tested on a range of common weed species in the company's greenhouses. After treatment with a herbicide candidate, scientists evaluate weed growth and compare it to untreated control plants to assess the chemical's effectiveness. Moa is testing thousands of promising chemicals and evaluating their effects on the growth of tens of thousands of test weeds. By automating the assessment process, the AI model minimizes errors associated with manual observations and significantly speeds up weed growth measurements. This advancement has the potential to accelerate the development of effective, non-harmful herbicides. The AI works by analyzing images of treated and non-treated weeds and objectively categorizes herbicide effectiveness into three levels: "Active" (significant impact, minimal to no weed growth), "Moderate" (partial inhibition of growth), and "Inactive" (no visible impact on weed growth). 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 developed AI model was trained on more than 6,000 images of weeds and, when tested using the dataset, the model achieved 95% effective in assessing herbicide effectiveness, with findings set to be published soon in a peer-reviewed journal. Dr. Majedaldein Almahasneh, a Research Associate at Loughborough University, worked on the project with support from the Loughborough academic team, including Professor Li, Dr. Haibin Cai and Professor Qinggang Meng. When asked what the next steps are for this research, Dr. Almahasneh said, "Our AI model is now being integrated into Moa's glasshouse pipelines, to give scientists a standardized, scalable, reproducible process, reducing manual labor and improving the overall quality of assessment. "AI cannot find and develop new, safe and effective herbicides all on its own, out of nowhere. It needs data: the higher quality the better. Moa has a huge bank of datahaving already screened more than 750,000 chemical compounds. "We are starting to use the AI to help clean up and interrogate this data: re-analyzing archived experiments and recovering previously overlooked compounds. This will help usand AIto make better decisions." Moa and Loughborough University collaborated to create the AI model as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP)a UK government-backed initiative that connects businesses with university researchers to drive innovation. Dr. Nasir Rajabi, Principal Scientist at Moa Technology, said, "While AI on its own cannot find a new generation of modern, safe and effective herbicides to help farmers protect their harvests, tools like this, co-created with the Loughborough KTP team, are playing a vital role in helping us accelerate our discoveries." 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 barramundi (Scinax squalirostris) could disappear from the Pantanal by 2100. Credit: Diego Santana A study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology shows that the Upper Paraguay River Basin, which includes the Pantanal and its surroundings, could lose almost all of the areas suitable for anuran amphibians (toads, frogs and tree frogs) by the end of the century. By cross-referencing a database on species locations in the region with climate projections for 2100, researchers from Brazil and Switzerland also concluded that more than 80% of the species in this group will lose suitable habitat. According to the projections, in the optimistic greenhouse gas emissions scenario, in which current levels are maintained, 99.87% of the basin would experience local extinctions. In the pessimistic scenario, in which emissions increase, 99.99% of the region would suffer from species loss. The first author of the study was Matheus Oliveira Neves, who conducted the research as part of his doctoral studies at the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) in Brazil. According to the research, the integral conservation units, which represent only 5.85% of the territory, protect on average less than 5% of the geographical distribution of amphibians. In 2022, the United Nations (UN) Convention on Biodiversity recommended that 30% of Earth's surface be covered by protected areas by 2030 as a strategy to reduce species extinction. The current rate is 17% and includes both conservation units and indigenous lands. Given the data on amphibian biodiversity, the authors of the study propose the creation of new conservation units in the Upper Paraguay River Basin, in places that will be more suitable in the future for this group of animals, which is highly dependent on humidity. "Fully protected conservation units are currently doing very little to protect amphibian species in the Pantanal, the world's largest floodplain. Protected areas need to be expanded, considering the scenario of a hotter and drier future," says Brazilian researcher Mario Ribeiro Moura, who coordinated the study during his time as a researcher at the Institute of Biology of the State University of Campinas (IB-UNICAMP). Moura is currently a professor at the Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB). In the study, his group considered two climate change scenarios, following the projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In the optimistic scenario, emissions would remain at current levels, resulting in a 2 C increase in the average global temperature by 2100. In the pessimistic scenario, with emissions rising, the increase would be 4 C. More than 4,000 records were used for the 74 known amphibian species from the Upper Paraguay River Basin, which in addition to the Pantanal in Brazil, also includes parts of Paraguay and Bolivia. Possible futures The few areas that would be suitable for hosting amphibians in the future, in both the optimistic and pessimistic emissions scenarios, are currently located in the north of the Upper Paraguay River Basin, in the transition to the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna-like biome), near Cuiaba (Mato Grosso state), and in the southeast of the region, near Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul state), as well as in the southwest, near the Paraguayan Chaco. Among the current protected areas, none had higher amphibian richness than expected for the current climate scenario, although six of them (8.2%) had significantly lower richness than expected. The comparison was made with non-protected areas of the same size and shape, chosen at random. The projections for the future also show a greater gain of species than expected in five of them (6.8%) in the optimistic scenario and in three (4.1%) in the pessimistic scenario. However, two and three (2.7% and 4.1%) in the optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, respectively, show greater loss of species than expected. "In summary, only 13.7% of the current protected areas in the Upper Paraguay River Basin have the potential to host more or lose fewer species in at least one future scenario. Most of these areas are indigenous lands," explains Moura. Although the researchers advocate the creation of new integral conservation units and the expansion of existing ones, they stress the need to mitigate the impacts of inappropriate agricultural practices and promote the restoration of aquatic ecosystems. "While the Paris Agreement aimed to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 C by the end of the century, we already reached that level in 2024. The change in the economic model, currently based on fossil fuel consumption, needs to be radical to mitigate the impacts of the climate catastrophe on biodiversity and society," concludes Moura. More information: Matheus O. Neves et al, Climate change threatens amphibians and species representation within protected areas in tropical wetlands, Journal of Applied Ecology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14846 Journal information: Journal of Applied Ecology Provided by FAPESP 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 loss of polar ice spells disaster for numerous species, robbing polar bears, seals, and penguins of crucial habitat used for shelter, hunting, and breeding. This year's Arctic sea ice peak is the lowest in the 47-year satellite record, according to data released by the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) on Thursday, as Earth continues to swelter under the mounting effects of human-driven climate change. Arctic sea ice forms and expands during the dark, frigid northern winter, reaching its seasonal high point in March. But in recent years, less new ice has formed, and the accumulation of multi-year ice has steadily declined. The maximum sea ice level for 2025 was likely reached on March 22, measuring 14.33 million square kilometers (5.53 million square miles)below the previous low of 14.41 million square kilometers set in 2017. "This new record low is yet another indicator of how Arctic sea ice has fundamentally changed from earlier decades," said NSIDC senior research scientist Walt Meier in a statement. "But even more importantly than the record low is that this year adds yet another data point to the continuing long-term loss of Arctic sea ice in all seasons." The Arctic record follows a near-record-low summer minimum in the Antarctic, where seasons are reversed. The 2025 Antarctic sea ice minimum, reached on March 1, was just 1.98 million square kilometers, tying for the second-lowest annual minimum in the satellite record, alongside 2022 and 2024. Combined Arctic and Antarctic sea ice coverfrozen ocean water that floats on the surfaceplunged to a record low in mid-February, more than a million square miles below the pre-2010 average. That is an area larger than the entire country of Algeria. "We're going to come into this next summer season with less ice to begin with," said Linette Boisvert, an ice scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "It doesn't bode well for the future." A vicious cycle US scientists primarily monitor sea ice using satellites from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), which detect Earth's microwave radiation. Because open water and sea ice emit microwave energy differently, the contrast allows sea ice to stand out clearly in satellite imageryeven through cloud cover, which obscures traditional optical sensors. DMSP data is supplemented with historical records, including early observations from the Nimbus-7 satellite, which operated from 1978 to 1985. While floating sea ice does not directly raise sea levels, its disappearance sets off a cascade of climate consequences, altering weather patterns, disrupting ocean currents, and threatening ecosystems and human communities. As reflective ice gives way to the darker ocean, more solar energy is absorbed rather than reflected back into space, accelerating both ice melt and global warming. Shrinking Arctic ice is also reshaping geopolitics, opening new shipping lanes and drawing geopolitical interest. Since taking office this year, US President Donald Trump has said his country must control Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory rich in mineral resources. The loss of polar ice spells disaster for numerous species, robbing polar bears, seals, and penguins of crucial habitat used for shelter, hunting, and breeding. Last year was the hottest on record, and the trend continues: 2025 began with the warmest January ever recorded, followed by the third-warmest February. NOAA predicts that La Nina weather conditions, which tend to cool global temperatures, are likely to give way to neutral conditions that would persist over the Northern Hemisphere summer. Polar regions are especially vulnerable to global warming, heating several times faster than the global average. Since mid-2023, only July 2024 fell below 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, raising concerns that the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting long-term warming to 1.5C may be slipping out of reach. 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 recent study published in the Journal of the American Planning Association has found significant challenges to including affordable housing in transit-oriented developments (TODs) in Southern California, despite state policies encouraging such integration. "Including affordable housing in TODs is critical for addressing mobility and shelter needs of transit-dependent and low-income populations," says Ajay Garde, associate professor of urban planning and public policy and lead author of the study. "Our findings highlight the need for targeted incentives and a stronger institutional framework to achieve this goal." Garde and fellow researchersHue-Tam Jamme of Arizona State University and Benjamin Toney, Deepak Bahl and Tridib Banerjee of USCexamined 10 TOD areas near transit stations in Los Angeles and Orange counties that included disadvantaged communities. They analyzed specific plans, housing elements, land use data, and conducted interviews with planners, policymakers, and developers. Their key findings include: TOD specific plans permitted higher-density development but did not prioritize affordable housing or present a coherent vision for inclusive transit communities. Housing elements did not prioritize affordable housing in TOD areas over other locations. Major barriers included uncertainties in the approval process, difficulties securing financing from multiple sources, and community opposition. Developers faced challenges with mixed-use requirements and design expectations incompatible with affordable housing financing. Recent state laws offer new opportunities for by-right affordable housing development in commercial areas near transit. The study's authors recommend that local governments update plans to require affordable housing in TODs and that a regional authority be established to strengthen the housing-transportation connection. The researchers also note that while focused on California, their study"Can TODs Include Affordable Housing?"has broader implications for affordable housing in TODs nationwide. "The development of TODs in a politically fragmented region like Southern California necessitates a lead organization to procure affordable housing investments and strengthen the housing-transportation nexus," Garde says. More information: Ajay Garde et al, Can TODs Include Affordable Housing?, Journal of the American Planning Association (2023). DOI: 10.1080/01944363.2023.2236586 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 convergent transcriptomic signature in skeletogenic cells of different embryonic origins. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57480-8 In vertebrates, the skeleton of different regions of the body arises from different precursor cells. Researchers at the University of Basel have now discovered that these skeletal cells do not just differ in their developmental origin, but also in their gene regulationwhich may be a key to the vertebrates' evolutionary success story. From the skull to the smallest bone in your pinky toe, the skeleton acts as internal scaffolding to give stability to the body, and forms protective cocoons around important organs. Despite their similar structure, however, not all bones are created equal: in vertebrates (including humans), the various parts of the skeleton arise from different groups of precursor cells during embryonic development. During this process, each group produces its own set of regulator proteins and goes through its own developmental program to produce cartilage and bone. Researchers from the University of Basel have reported these findings in the journal Nature Communications. Three construction teams, each with their own blueprint One type of precursor cell forms the skull and facial bones, another the spinal column and ribs, and a third type the skeleton of the limbs. "You can imagine it as three construction teams, each building one story of a house," explains Professor Patrick Tschopp of the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Basel. "The three teams start with different materials, blueprints and tools, but you end up with three stories that are structurally and functionally similar." Model for the transcriptional convergence of skeletogenic cells of different embryonic origins. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57480-8 The skull and facial bones arise from what are known as neural crest cells, which are produced on the back of the embryo and are developmentally closest to the cells of the central nervous system. The precursor cells of the spine and ribs are somitic mesoderm cells, which arise from the sides of the embryo's back and formbesides bonesalso muscles and parts of the skin. The third group originates from the lateral plate mesoderm on the embryo's flanks, and goes on to form the skeleton of the arms and legs, along with parts of the ribcage. By carrying out single cell-based analyses in chicken embryos, the research team discovered that the three groups of cells all use different regulatory mechanisms to drive the developmental program that creates skeletal cells. "From these results, we conclude that skeletal cells in the different regions of the body are actually not as alike as was previously thought," says bioinformatician Dr. Menghan Wang, one of the two lead authors of the study. "Rather, they appear to be different cell types involved in the production of a similar tissue," says developmental biologist Dr. Ana Di Pietro-Torres, the second lead author. Three different groups of progenitor cells form different parts of the skeleton in vertebrates. Computer-aided analysis of these progenitor cells shows that they differ from each other in their gene regulation. Credit: University of Basel, Department of Environmental Sciences What seems unnecessarily complicated at first glance might actually be one of the keys to the vertebrates' evolutionary success: "If the skeleton of different regions of the body is determined by different blueprints, these parts of the skeleton can also change independently from one another," says Patrick Tschopp. "That might explain why vertebrates have evolved so many different types of skeletons." More information: Menghan Wang et al, Distinct gene regulatory dynamics drive skeletogenic cell fate convergence during vertebrate embryogenesis, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57480-8 Journal information: Nature Communications 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 section of the Negro River is dry at the port in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, Oct. 4, 2024, amid a severe drought. Credit: AP Photo/Edmar Barros, File University of Melbourne hydrology professor Dongryeol Ryu and his collaborator Ki-Weon Seo were on a train to visit Ryu's family when they found something startling. Stopped at a station for technical issues, Seo had pulled out his computer to pass the time with some work when a result popped up in their data that Ryu could hardly believe: It suggested a "remarkable" amount of Earth's water stored on land had been depleted. "At first we thought, 'That's an error in the model,'" Ryu said. After a year of checking, they determined it wasn't. Their paper, published Thursday in the journal Science, finds that global warming has notably reduced the amount of water that's being stored around the world in soil, lakes, rivers, snow and other places, with potentially irreversible impacts on agriculture and sea level rise. The researchers say the significant shift of water from land to the ocean is particularly worrisome for farming, and hope their work will strengthen efforts to reduce water overuse. Earth's soil moisture dropped by over 2,000 gigatons in roughly the last 20 years, the study says. For context, that's more than twice Greenland's ice loss from 2002 to 2006, the researchers noted. Meanwhile, the frequency of once-in-a-decade agricultural and ecological droughts has increased, global sea levels have risen and the Earth's pole has shifted. Ryu and his colleagues used three different data sources to verify that Earth storing less water on land than it once did. He also said their results reveal a deeper truth about the land, one farmers have to contend with frequently: When a big, dramatic rainfall event comes after a drought, sometimes leading to huge floods, that doesn't mean the water stored underground has recovered. Fishers look for a spot to collect their catch in Cabo de la Vela, Colombia, Feb. 7, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Ivan Valencia, File "It seems that lands lost their elasticity to recover the previous level," he said. Whether that elasticity ever returns will depend on whether humans take action on climate change and significantly change water use, the researchers say. The increasing heat stress on plants means they need more water. Agriculture, particularly irrigated agriculture, continues to draw up more water than it can afford. And humans are continuing to emit greenhouse gases without a strong effort to reverse course. "There are long-term climate changes that have happened in the past and presumably could occur in the future that could reverse the trend described, but probably not in our lifetimes," said Katharine Jacobs, a University of Arizona professor of environmental science who wasn't involved in the study. "Because greenhouse gases will continue to cause global warming well into the future, the rate of evaporation and transpiration is not likely to reduce any time soon." Mariatou Doumbia, a member of a women's group, draws water from a well on a farm that was funded by USAID in Kimbirila-Nord, Ivory Coast, Feb. 21, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Misper Apawu, File A fisher rows his Shikara, or traditional wooden boat, on his way home during sunset at the Dal Lake, in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Feb. 7, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File The study also confirms an explanation for a slight wobble in the rotation of the Earthit's being driven by the changing moisture levels of the planet. "When I read this thing, I was very excited," said Luis Samaniego, a professor of hydrology and data science at the University of Potsdam who wrote an overview commentary discussing the findings in Science. "It's a fascinating puzzle of all disciplines that came at the right moment to verify something that was not possible before." But Samaniego stressed that the finding isn't only fascinating; it's a wake-up call. Imagine the planet's wobble like an electrocardiogram for the Earth, he said. Seeing this result is like detecting an arrhythmia. Choosing not to listen to the doctor"that's what we are playing around with at the moment," he said. More information: Ki-Weon Seo et al, Abrupt sea level rise and Earth's gradual pole shift reveal permanent hydrological regime changes in the 21st century, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adq6529 Luis Samaniego, Permanent shifts in the global water cycle, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adw5851 Journal information: Science 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Since January, the Trump administration has imposed a host of new tariffs and restrictive trade measures, including tariffs on steel and aluminum and increased levies on imports from China. The administration also issued and then temporarily paused sweeping tariffs on Mexico and Canada. In response, the European Union, Canada and China have imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports. There are more tariff announcements still to come: The tariff pause with Mexico and Canada is set to expire on April 2, and the U.S. Department of Commerce is slated to announce its plan for "reciprocal tariffs" in early April. To make sense of these policy changes, Robert Johnson, the Brian and Jeannelle Brady Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Notre Dame, explained how tariffs affect global economies and what this means for U.S. engagement in global trade. "There is currently a general reevaluation of the degree to which the U.S. engages in trade with the rest of the world," Johnson said. "Much of that involves raising tariffs to essentially disengage the U.S. from the global economy, which is a huge and fundamental shift in our trade policy." At the same time, Johnson emphasized that the economic costs and benefits of tariffs are different now than in the past, due to the rise of global value chains. In a global value chain, various stages of productionfrom design and sourcing to manufacturing, marketing and distributionare executed by different countries. This type of linked and integrated production occurs across borders in many industries, but the North American automobile industry stands out. Cars that are assembled in the U.S. contain large amounts of imported parts, components and materials; likewise, cars assembled in Mexico and imported by the U.S. contain parts and components produced by suppliers in the U.S. Many integral products even pass back and forth across borders multiple times and, if tariffs are in place, get taxed each time. As a result, Johnson suggested that placing tariffs and sparking trade wars with our neighbors to the north and south can hurt all of us, markets and consumers included, because tariffs can disrupt supply chains, raise prices and threaten job security. The importance of global value chains and trade policy is explained in an article in the journal The Review of Economic Studies authored by Johnson, Emily Blanchard of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "The costs of raising tariffs are higher, and the benefits are lower, than they would have been if U.S. producers were not integrated in global value chains," Johnson said. Johnson highlighted three mechanisms by which tariffs hurt U.S. economic interests through these interconnected global trade networks. Tariffs on imported parts that go into U.S. production The main objective of tariffs is to get consumers to buy locally, supporting U.S. manufacturing, Johnson said. But from a U.S. producer's perspective, many companies will still need to import items from either Mexico or Canada to be used in the production of U.S.-made goods. When a tariff is placed on those imported items, it raises the production costs, making them less competitive. "That reduces the demand for their goods" both at home and abroad, Johnson said, because the companies have higher costs of production. "Tariffs placed on inputs are, writ large, bad for U.S. manufacturing." Tariffs on imported finished goods that contain foreign parts When tariffs are placed on imported finished goods (cars, T-shirts, TVs, etc.), Johnson said, the goal is to shift consumer expenditure from imports to domestically produced goods. Even here, the existence of value chains has important hidden impacts. While the goal of a tariff might be for consumers to buy more U.S.-assembled cars instead of cars assembled in Mexico, cars assembled in the U.S. use Mexican and Canadian parts, whereas cars assembled in Mexico contain U.S.-made parts. Because U.S. cars contain imported parts, some of the benefits of the tariff leak back to those foreign auto parts suppliers, explained Johnson. "This makes the shift in demand that occurs as a result of raising the tariff less attractive to the government," he said, "because it's losing some of the benefits of that tariff to foreign auto parts suppliers." Another way to look at it, Johnson said, is that when we raise tariffs on foreign imports in the hopes of increasing the number of cars being assembled in Michigan, some of the value of those assembled cars is actually Canadian. "In effect, we're helping the Canadian auto parts suppliers. The more of the Canadian value that's embedded in the Ford, for example, the more the benefit of the tariff flows back to Canada." Using the same example of the auto industry, Johnson said that if a car is assembled in Mexico and there is a tax on imports from that country, then what happens if the Mexico-produced car is made from U.S.-manufactured parts and materials? "There will be auto parts and engine firms in Ohio or Michigan that are going to be sending those parts and materials to Mexico where they will be used to assemble a car there, and then those cars are going to be re-exported into the U.S.," Johnson said. "When we tax the car coming across the border from Mexico to the U.S., we're implicitly taxing the supply of U.S. parts to that Mexican auto assembly firm. So, we're essentially taxing ourselves." 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. Tariffs on multinational firms that include U.S.-owned companies located abroad The third example of how imposing tariffs can cause global pain is when U.S. firms own foreign companies. For example, Johnson said, if Ford or GM owns an auto assembly plant in Mexico, then it has engaged in foreign direct investment by building that plant. When the U.S. places tariffs on imports from Mexico, then we're actually hurting GM and Ford because they take in profits from that assembly activity and are directly impacted by the tariff, he said. "The more globalized the ownership structure is, and the more globalized the value chains are, the less attractive it becomes to raise tariffs," Johnson explained. Changing technologies affect trade decision-making There have been tremendous increases in the amount of value chain activity across borders over the last several decades, according to Johnson. Countries weren't as connected in the 1980s as they are today. Technological changes in communication and information sharing have increased connectivity, as it has become much easier to coordinate production and move goods across borders. "That has helped to integrate value chains across countries even more deeply," Johnson said. "And so we're living in this world now where tariffs have these built-in costs as a result of global value chain integration that they might not have had in the past. The right thing to do in the 1980s would have been very different from what the right thing to do today might be." As the new administration grapples with how to leverage tariffs in the U.S.'s favor, Johnson said the current approach to working with Canada and Mexicoconsidered some of our closest partnersis "untested, to say the least," and seems contrary to our long-standing interest in cooperation within North America. "Given that we are in this period of reevaluation, I think it is important to think broadly about how the U.S. should be engaged in the world," Johnson said. "The U.S. derives enormous benefits from the global trading system, a system that we designed and built in service of U.S. economic and foreign policy interests. I think we ought to pause and reflect on how we have prospered through engagement with partners and allies around the world, before we tear that all up." More information: Emily J. Blanchard et al, Global Value Chains and Trade Policy (2024) 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 this image released by the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum Aquarium, staff from the Johnny Morris Sea Turtle Center in Springfield, Mo., release 19 loggerhead and Kemp's ridley turtles that had been rehabilitating, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, off Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: Johnny Morris/Wonders of Wildlife National Museum Aquarium via AP Nineteen sea turtles that were rehabilitated in Missouri after suffering the effects of cold water temperatures in New England were released Wednesday afternoon into the Atlantic Ocean off of Jacksonville, Florida. It was sunny and 72 degrees as the turtles made their way into the ocean off Little Talbot Island State Park near Jacksonville, rehab facility officials said. Their long journey was made possible by the Johnny Morris Sea Turtle Center in Springfield, Missouri, and the nonprofit group Turtles Fly Too. The turtles were then driven to Florida before their release. Twenty loggerhead and Kemp's ridley turtles were flown in December from the New England Aquarium in Boston to the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, according to director of animal care Mike Daniel. One of the turtles was critically ill and died after arriving in Missouri. But the other 19 spent 13 weeks being treated for cold stunning, which occurs when water temperatures drop quickly and cause sea turtles to suffer from various conditions such as pneumonia, hypothermia, and dehydration. Veterinarians at the center provided round-the-clock care. Hundreds of sea turtles along the Atlantic Coast of the United States have suffered from cold stunning over the past few months, and most are typically flown to Florida for rehab. In this image released by the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum Aquarium, Johnny Morris of the Sea Turtle Center in Springfield, Mo., 19 loggerhead and Kemp's ridley turtles that had been rehabilitating since December, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, off Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: Johnny Morris/Wonders of Wildlife National Museum Aquarium via AP In this image released by the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum Aquarium, staff from the Johnny Morris Sea Turtle Center in Springfield, Mo., release 19 loggerhead and Kemp's ridley turtles that had been rehabilitating since December, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, off Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: Johnny Morris/Wonders of Wildlife National Museum Aquarium via AP In this image released by the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum Aquarium, staff from the Johnny Morris Sea Turtle Center in Springfield, Mo., release 19 loggerhead and Kemp's ridley turtles, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, off Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: Johnny Morris/Wonders of Wildlife National Museum Aquarium via AP The Missouri turtle center opened in 2020 and has rehabbed some 64 sea turtles. The turtles were equipped with specialized satellite tracking devices that allow conservation scientists to monitor them. 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In the past, intact forests absorbed 7.8 billion metric tons of CO 2 annuallyabout a fifth of all human emissionsbut their carbon storage is increasingly at risk from climate change and human activities such as deforestation. A study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) shows that failing to account for the potentially decreasing ability of forests to absorb CO 2 could make reaching the Paris agreement targets significantly harder, if not impossible, and much more costly. "Delaying action leads to disproportionately higher costs," explains Michael Windisch, lead author of the study published in Nature Communications, and PIK guest scientist. "Right now, our climate strategies bet on forests not only remaining intact, but even expanding," Windisch says. "However, with escalating wildfires like in California, and continued deforestation in the Amazon, that's a gamble. Climate change itself puts forests' immense carbon stores at risk." According to the study, postponing action to reduce emissions and to protect and monitor forests could jeopardize climate targets. "We must act immediately to safeguard the carbon stored in forests," Windisch emphasizes. "Otherwise, compensating for potential forest carbon losses through steeper emissions cuts in key emission sectors like energy, industry and transport will become increasingly expensive and possibly unattainable." Considering forest carbon losses in climate mitigation pathways The study analyzed how climate targets can be met despite forests' reduced capacity for storing carbon. The authors used REMIND-MAgPIEan integrated global land and water use modeling as well as an energy-economy modeling systemtogether with the global vegetation model LPJmL to evaluate how natural disturbances and human impacts on forests influence the feasibility of achieving climate mitigation goals. The research team compared a foresighted policy response with various delayed and myopic approaches. Regardless of the assessed disturbance rate, the study revealed just how steep the price of inaction can be. Even a five-year delay in responding to forest carbon loss would lead to a roughly two-fold increase in both the stringency and overall cost of measures to offset that lost carbon, the authors find. Emission cuts in the energy sector, for instance, would have to be ramped up considerably, supported by a near-doubling of negative emissions capacitywhich itself demands a corresponding expansion in land use. Ultimately, these extra efforts drive up overall costs, and result in GDP setbacks that are approximately double those of immediate action. The study also highlights that current models may be overly optimistic about future forest carbon storage because they ignore disturbances, overvalue CO 2 fertilization and underestimate deforestation. To mitigate climate impacts, safeguard carbon stocks and prevent escalating costs, the scientists recommend immediate action. 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. "Forests are not an infinite resource, but need careful monitoring to detect reductions in carbon sinks early on," explains Florian Humpenoder, PIK scientist and study author. He also stresses the need for stronger forest conservation, and faster decarbonization. Forests may absorb less CO 2 than expected, making realistic forest carbon projections essential. "Staying below critical warming thresholds requires more than just hoping forests will remain intact," concludes Alexander Popp, head of PIK's Land Use Transition lab and author of the study. "Alongside protecting forests, it is essential to promote sustainable land use practices not only to preserve biodiversity but also to avoid drastic economic consequences and to secure our climate future." More information: Michael G. Windisch et al. Hedging our bet on forest permanence for the economic viability of climate targets., Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57607-x Journal information: Nature Communications 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 art of tracking may well be the origin of science." This is the departure point for a 2013 book by Louis Liebenberg, co-founder of an organization devoted to environmental monitoring. The connection between tracking in nature, as people have done since prehistory, and "western" science is of special interest to us as ichnologists. (Ichnology is the study of tracks and traces.) We learned our skills relatively late in life. But imagine if we had learned as children and if, as adults, we tracked as if our lives depended on it? What additional visual and cognitive talents would we bring to our field work as scientists? Our mission is to find and document the fossilized tracks and traces of creatures that existed during part of the Pleistocene Epoch, between 35,000 and 400,000 years ago, on the Cape coast of South Africa. Since 2008, through the Cape South Coast Ichnology project, based in the African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience at Nelson Mandela University, more than 370 vertebrate tracksites have been identified. They have substantially complemented the traditional record of body fossils. Examples include trackways of giant tortoises and giraffes. Given the challenges inherent in identifying such tracks, we wondered how hunters who've been tracking all their lives would view our work, and how age-old indigenous expertise might align with our approach. Fortunately, we could call on experts with these skills in southern Africa. The Ju/'hoansi (pronounced "Juun-kwasi") San people of north-eastern Namibia are perhaps the last of southern Africa's indigenous inhabitants who retain the full suite of their ancient environmental skills. The Nyae Nyae conservancy in which they live gives them access to at least some of their historical land with its remaining wildlife. They still engage in subsistence hunting with bow and poisoned arrow and gather food that's growing wild. A handful among them have been recognized as Indigenous Master Tracker, a title created by Liebenberg's CyberTracker initiative in recognition of their top-flight hunter-gatherer status. And so, late in 2023, the Master Trackers #oma ("Komma") Daqm and /uce ("Tchu-shey") Namce arrived in Cape Town. We were not the first to think along these lines. Ju/'hoansi Master Trackers have assisted scientists in the interpretation of hominin tracksites in French caves, and prehistoric tracks in the rock art record in Namibia. However, we knew that our often poorly preserved tracksites in aeolianites (cemented dunes) might present a stiffer challenge. Our purpose was to compare our own interpretations of fossil trackways with those of the Master Trackers, and possibly find some we had overlooked. As we've set out in a recently published paper with the Ju/'hoansi trackers and our colleague Jan De Vynck as co-authors, they did exactly this, confirming the first fossil hyena trackway ever to be found. 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. Swapping techniques The Late Pleistocene is not that far distant from the present (a mere 125,000 years ago), and many of the species that made tracks on the Cape South Coast then are still with us. Some are extinct but have recognizable tracks, like the giant long-horned buffalo and giant Cape zebra. We knew, though, that tracking in Kalahari sand, like the Ju/'hoansi do, is not the same as tracking on Pleistocene rock surfaces. Many of our tracks are preserved on the undersides of ceilings and overhangs, or are evident in profile in cliff exposures. Our track-bearing surfaces are usually small, and present no associated signs. We can't follow the spoor for any distance. We don't know at what time of day the tracks were made or the role of dew, and we have never succeeded in actually tracking down our quarry. Coprolitesfossilized droppings are seldom found conveniently beside the tracks of the depositor. We showed our new colleagues known fossil tracksites, without providing our own interpretations. #oma and /uce discussed these between themselves and presented their conclusions about what had made the tracks and how the animal had been behaving. We then shared our insights and our 3D photogrammetry data where applicable, and reached joint conclusions. Soon they were identifying freshly exposed tracksites without our input, and were providing fascinating, new interpretations for sites which had puzzled us. For example, they saw ostrich tracks which we had missed, beside ostrich egg remnants, and concluded that we were probably looking at a fossilized ostrich nest. On another occasion they pointed out the distinctive track pattern of a scrub hare on the hanging wall of an eroded piece of cliff. First fossilized hyena trackway One of the most memorable experiences involved a 400,000-year-old trackway on a rock surface at Dana Bay, identified a few years earlier by local geologists Aleck and Ilona Birch. This rock had only been transiently exposed for a few days in the past decade, usually being covered by beach sand. Our earlier interpretation had been that the trackmaker might have been a hyena, probably a brown hyena. We were vindicated when our master tracker colleagues independently reached the identical conclusion. Examining our digital 3D images together fortified our collective judgment. This was a big deal: it was the first fossil hyena trackway to be confidently identified, as previous examples had involved only individual tracks or poorly preserved possible trackway segments. Hyena trackways are distinctive: the forefoot tracks are substantially larger than those of the hindfoot. Different ways of seeing Both of us are privileged to have university degrees and institutional affiliations. But there is another way in which acumen can be measured: the ability to use the ancient methods of discernment and pattern recognition to support and feed one's family and community through tracking, hunting and gathering. What we have demonstrated, we believe, is a novel confluence of old and new ways to reveal fascinating features of the past. We use geological understanding, satellite technology, paleontological databases, tracking manuals and sophisticated dating methods. But hunter-gatherers see what escapes us and our drones: obscure strokes and enigmatic configurations on time-beaten surfaces. They tap an alternative knowledge base, both culturally received and cultivated from childhood. The follow-through challenge must be to develop this partnership for mutual discovery and reward, understanding the past to better equip us for our uncertain future. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Engagement key for stable ties with US 08:26, March 27, 2025 By Zhang Yunbi ( Chinadaily.com.cn With a number of high-level meetings held in China recently, Beijing has welcomed a large wave of politicians, businesspeople and scholars from the United States in a lead-up to a series of talks with senior Chinese leaders and officials. Amid the frequent China-US interactions this spring, strong signals and willingness have come from both sides for stabilizing the general setting of bilateral cooperation. In recent days, prominent figures such as Premier Li Qiang and Vice-Premier He Lifeng, as well as Liu Jianchao, minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Wang Wentao, minister of commerce, have held separate meetings with US guests from various sectors. Analysts said such a high frequency of meetings at this point in time is aimed at keeping the communication afloat, given the recent trade wars waged by Washington around the world and the additional tariffs it has threatened to impose next month. The US side should move toward the same goal as China, and the two countries should make the pie of their pragmatic cooperation even bigger in spite of rising difficulties in bilateral ties, the analysts said. The latest high-level contacts took place on Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where senior diplomat Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, met with Evan Greenberg, executive vice-chair of the National Committee on US-China Relations. Wang defined current China-US relations as being "at a critical juncture regarding the direction to be taken" and said that "the two sides should follow the key consensus and vision of the two heads of state, strengthen exchanges, enhance understanding, avoid miscalculation and manage differences". China is willing to "engage in dialogue and consultation with the US side and address the legitimate concerns of each side based on the principle of equality and the spirit of mutual respect", he added. Greenberg said, "China needs peace and prosperity, America needs peace and prosperity, and we need to be able to pursue our visions of greatness, each of us in harmony with the other." On Sunday, Premier Li met with US Senator Steve Daines and a group of US corporate executives who were in Beijing to attend the China Development Forum 2025. Li stressed that "there are no winners in trade wars". Daines, a Republican from Montana, is the first member of the US Congress to visit China since US President Donald Trump took office in January. In a separate meeting with Daines on Saturday, Vice-Premier He said that China firmly opposes the approach of politicizing or weaponizing economic and trade issues, and the two countries "have many common interests and broad space for cooperation". Annual bilateral trade between China and the US exceeded $680 billion last year, and about 73,000 US companies are currently investing and operating in China. Jake Werner, director of the East Asia program at the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said, "I hope that we can deepen our friendship, increase the number of exchanges, so we can better understand each other, and that we do this in order to confront our problems." Yu Yunquan, vice-president of China International Communications Group and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, noted that the new US administration has taken many new policies and that "uncertainties in China-US relations have increased". How Beijing and Washington develop their relationship is being closely watched by the international community, he emphasized. "The two countries can become partners that support each other and achieve prosperity together. They should choose to have dialogue rather than confrontation," he added. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, during his meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook in Beijing on Monday, said China stands ready to work with the US to create a more stable policy environment for businesses through equal dialogue. He said their talks were "in-depth and pragmatic". John Quelch, executive vice-chancellor and American president of Duke Kunshan University, welcomed the "very clear statement" of fiscal and monetary policy made by senior Chinese officials at the China Development Forum, and he endorsed Beijing's steps to boost the confidence of multinational companies regarding investing more in China. "China, with 1.4 billion people, is exceptional and important to the global economy," he added. (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: Localization and re-localization dynamics of the Nigerian Meq isoform. Chicken macrophage HD11 cells were transfected with the (A,B) MYC-tagged LEC-LG or (C) ECFP fusion LEC-LG Meq expression constructs and nuclei stained with DAPI. Cells were counter-stained with antibodies to (A,B) Meq and (B) the c-MYC epitope tag. HD11 cells expressing the (DI) ECFP fusion chicken NFIL3 or (EI) co-expressing EYFP fusion LEC-LG Meq fusion expression constructs. Total magnification = 300. Scale bars represent 10 m. Credit: Viruses (2024). DOI: 10.3390/v17010056 Marek's disease can be pervasive in chicken houses. Chickens infected by this highly contagious viral disease often develop tumors, become paralyzed and die. They can shed the virus through their skin, enabling it to linger in the environment for years, even decades. Vaccination controls the losses caused by Marek's disease virus. In the United States, poultry producers have used a herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) vaccine to combat Marek's disease in chickens since the 1970s. "It worked incredibly well, but the viruses that broke through replicated much faster and caused tumors more quickly," said Mark Parcells, a University of Delaware professor of molecular virology. By the mid-1980s, the U.S. implemented a combination of HVT with another vaccine. Then a different vaccine, commonly used in Europe, was licensed in the U.S. by the mid-1990s. Circumstances are different in Nigeria, where the virus has been circulating since the 1960s. It has cropped up frequently since the country's poultry industry expanded in the 1980s. Rates continue to increase today, sending economic shockwaves through the country's agricultural system. Parcells along with several researchers, including Joseph Patria, a doctoral student in Parcells' lab who graduated in August 2024, worry the virus will continue to get smarter and be able to mutate to resist vaccine efforts. "It's important to continue vaccine research because you never know when you're going to need a more effective vaccine," Patria said. In new research published in the journal Viruses, Parcells and colleagues at UD and in Nigeria and Germany suggest that outbreaks of Marek's disease virus in Nigeria were caused by genetic variation in the viral oncogene, a gene called meq, that also apparently mediates resistance to vaccines. The findings give insight into how the virus could continue to evolve, not just in Nigeria, but along the Delmarva Peninsula, where the poultry industry is essential for the region's economy. Reading virus DNA In 2012, Parcells attended an international Marek's disease conference in France, where he met Luka Jwander, a state poultry veterinarian from Nigeria who told him the country was losing many laying hens to Marek's disease. Parcells, who has been studying the disease and its virology since 1989, was instantly curious and interested in a partnership with Jwander. UD researchers worked to get a special permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) in order to import virus samples from Nigeria. Jwander sent UD's Charles C. Allen Jr. Biotechnology Laboratory 40 samples from 12 farms in Nigeria's Plateau State affected by increasing rates of Marek's disease. The samples included tumor, blood and feather pulp spotted on special filter paper from chickens showing clinical signs of Marek's disease virus (MDV). UD researchers extracted the DNA from the samples and worked to amplify the MDV meq oncogene, a gene essential for MDV's ability to cause cancer, to look at its mutations. Parcells identified mutations in this gene that correlated with the virulence level of the virus encoding it in work published in 2004. About the same time, it was discovered that the use of another vaccine (CVI988/Rispens), a Dutch vaccine widely used in Europe, apparently selected for higher virulence strains that also had mutations in meq, but in a different part of the meq gene than the part mutated in the high virulence strains of the U.S. By 2016 in Nigeria, the researchers noted some of the flocks were vaccinated against Marek's disease virus at hatch with CVI988/Rispens (a strong vaccine) and then revaccinated with the U.S. herpesvirus of turkeys vaccine (a much weaker vaccine) at three weeks of age. This made it easier for the virus to break through if it overcame the strong vaccine. The researchers ultimately found that the meq gene had mutations consistent with deadly European and deadly American field strains. "So it was kind of the worst of both worlds," Parcells 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. Virus evolution The research findings give scientists and the poultry industry insight into how Marek's disease virus could evolve to be more severe. University of Delaware is a powerhouse research institution on poultry issues, touching every area of poultry from diseases to best management practices to litter quality. Parcells said the Nigeria-focused research gives the Delmarva poultry industry and researchers insight into the do's and don'ts for protecting chickens against Marek's disease virus. "At any given time, there can be mutations that can make vaccines ineffective," Parcells said. "What happened in Nigeria tells us not to ever vaccinate with HVT, a somewhat weaker vaccine, three weeks after chickens have already been vaccinated with the European vaccine CVI988/Rispens." Parcells pointed out that as the poultry industry has evolved over the years, chickens are grown for less and less time before they're ready to be processed into meat. On the Delmarva Peninsula, broiler chickens tend to be alive for about seven weeks before they're taken to a processing plant. That brings up concerns that the virus has a sort of pressure to infect its host faster. "Control of Marek's disease has been essential to poultry production worldwide," Parcells said. "Current vaccination practices are working very well in the U.S., but these results suggest that re-vaccinating chickens with a weaker vaccine may provide pressure for field viruses to be able to overcome these practices and mutate." Patria said mutations of any virus can help scientists understand the virus's severity. The method the researchers used to sequence the Marek's disease virus gene could be used to monitor other viruses and outbreaks. "It's a feasible way to estimate the severity of a circulating virus or viral strain just by looking at the meq gene, the sequence variations within it, and how related it is to other strains," Patria said. This information lets producers know if they have a higher virulence strain of virus affecting their flocks, or if chickens weren't properly vaccinated at the hatchery. Parcells said researchers around the world have found that certain mutations in the meq gene always correlate with more severe viral strains. "If these mutations are found, then more drastic changes have to be made in changing the vaccination strategy (using the CVI988 vaccine paired with another vaccine at hatch)," Parcells said. "If these are not found, then this suggests that there was a lapse in management practices at the hatchery (for example, they did not make the vaccine correctly, did not mix the vaccine well, or failed to vaccinate altogether)." Patria is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania where he continues to pursue research in cancer virology. For one project, he is working to compare the sequence variation of high-risk Human Papillomavirus to investigate the nucleotide variations that are associated with head or neck cancer risks. The concept is similar to the approach he took to study Marek's disease virus in chickens. Continuing on the research, Parcells said he is working with research colleagues in Germany to dive more into what the mutations mean (how they affect the functions of meq). They hope to explore the ecology and evolution of the disease to understand how Marek's disease virus changes as a result of vaccine use. The research could ultimately draw connections to some human diseases controlled by vaccines, for example, for Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus, and soon, Epstein-Barr Virus (which currently has vaccines in clinical trials). "We need to know how vaccine use may drive mutations of those viruses to maybe affect human cancers," Parcells said. More information: Joseph N. Patria et al, The Meq Genes of Nigerian Marek's Disease Virus (MDV) Field Isolates Contain Mutations Common to Both European and US High Virulence Strains, Viruses (2024). DOI: 10.3390/v17010056 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: Our study provides general empirical evidence that species asynchrony, species stability, and compositional stability jointly stabilize (purple arrows), while bryophyte cover destabilizes (red arrows) moorland community stability. Credit: Yokohama National University Subalpine and boreal moorlands are ecosystems that contribute to climate stability by reducing excess carbon as well as acting to help regulate the climateboth invaluable properties in a time of advancing climate change. Therefore, understanding how to maintain these communities in their natural state is imperative. However, the underlying mechanisms of community stability and how factors such as biodiversity within these communities affect their long-term stability is still not well understood. Scientists in Japan have been studying subalpine and boreal moorland plant communities over an extended area in a national monitoring project, the "Monitoring Site 1000." Using this dataset researchers at Yokohama National University analyzed the relationships between vascular plant species richness, species asynchrony, species stability, community compositional stability, bryophyte cover and the temporal stability of the community cover to understand what factors influence plant communities' stability. They found "empirical evidence that species asynchrony, species stability, and compositional stability jointly stabilizes, while bryophyte cover destabilizes moorland community stability," said Shun Nonaka, one of the paper's authors and a researcher at the College of Urban Sciences, Yokohama National University. Their results were published in the Science of the Total Environment on Feb. 27. Community stability within a plant ecosystem may be affected by many different factors. In the study by researchers at Yokohama National University on the subalpine and boreal communities, species asynchrony, species stability and compositional stability were the primary drivers of that system's stability. Species asynchrony, the change in species abundance over time, evidences the multiple temporal niches that many of the different plants fill. Strengthening the overall community by introducing a diversity of temporal life strategies thereby increasing the probability that if an environmental change occurs some of the species would be able to survive. Species stability in the moorlands was largely the result of the presence of the dominant species, for example Moliniopsis japonica. This is an important finding as many of these species are currently under threat from the encroachment of woody species and a loss of habitat. "Thus, the study findings highlight that dominant species with habitat specificity in moorlands (such as Moliniopsis japonica, Carex middendorffii, and Rhynchospora alba), which are increasingly threatened by the expansion of woody species and the reduction of areas occupied by moorlands, should be conserved regardless of their endangered status," said Nonaka Compositional stability, the maintenance of the same groups with the community, increased the temporal stability of the community. Species richness, the number of species within an area, generally has a positive effect on community stability. In the study they found that the role of species richness in community stability could not be determined. This may be due to the shorter timescale of this study. Future work in these areas should consider longer time scales in their research to clearly define the role of species richness. The greatest negative influence on community stability was the bryophyte cover, as the bryophytes, largely Sphagnum mosses, decreased species asynchrony. Sphagnum moss physiology has a very strong effect on nearby hydrology and biogeochemical cycles. This can very negatively affect the vascular plants, thereby reducing the number of plants that may fill certain temporal niches. 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 factors that determine moorland community stability identified in this study underscore the importance of dominant species conservation and the critical role of biodiversity in conservation strategies for moorland ecosystems," said Takehiro Sasaki, the second author on the paper and a researcher at the Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University. "This study also showed that the destabilizing effect of bryophyte may become more pronounced with increasing temperature fluctuations across time scales. Future studies should evaluate the multifunctional stability of ecosystem functions and community stability on longer-term and broader spatiotemporal scales," said Sasaki. "In particular, the 'Monitoring Site 1000' used in this study should continue to be monitored over a wider area and over a longer period of time in the future, and monitoring of easily measurable factors such as soil environmental factors such as pH and EC and plant traits such as leaf height and specific leaf area should also be incorporated into the protocol." More information: Shun Nonaka et al, Species asynchrony, species stability, and compositional stability jointly stabilize, while bryophyte cover destabilizes plant communities across Japanese moorlands, Science of The Total Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178955 Journal information: Science of the Total 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: Colorized scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) image showing a Cu 3 Li precipitate in the Cu-Ta-Li alloy. The orange-colored features are primarily Cu atoms in the alloy matrix, while the blue and yellow features correspond to the Cu 3 Li precipitate. The yellow represents Ta atoms in the atomic bilayer complexion, and the blue features represent Li atoms in the core of the Cu 3 Li precipitate. Credit: Lehigh University Researchers from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and Lehigh University have developed a nanostructured copper alloy that could redefine high-temperature materials for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Their findings, published in the journal Science, introduce a Cu-Ta-Li (copper-tantalum-lithium) alloy with exceptional thermal stability and mechanical strength, making it one of the most resilient copper-based materials ever created. "This is cutting-edge science, developing a new material that uniquely combines copper's excellent conductivity with strength and durability on the scale of nickel-based superalloys," said Martin Harmer, the Alcoa Foundation Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering at Lehigh University and a co-author of the study. "It provides industry and the military with the foundation to create new materials for hypersonics and high-performance turbine engines." The ARL and Lehigh researchers collaborated with scientists from Arizona State University and Louisiana State University to develop the alloy, which can withstand extreme heat without significant degradation. Combining copper with a complexion-stabilized nanostructure The breakthrough comes from the formation of Cu 3 Li precipitates, stabilized by a Ta-rich atomic bilayer complexion, a concept pioneered by the Lehigh researchers. Unlike typical grain boundaries that migrate over time at high temperatures, this complexion acts as a structural stabilizer, maintaining the nanocrystalline structure, preventing grain growth, and dramatically improving high-temperature performance. The alloy holds its shape under extreme, long-term thermal exposure and mechanical stress, resisting deformation even near its melting point, noted Patrick Cantwell, a research scientist at Lehigh University and co-author of the study. By merging the high-temperature resilience of nickel-based superalloys with copperwhich is known for exceptional conductivitythe material paves the way for next-generation applications, including heat exchangers, advanced propulsion systems, and thermal management solutions for cutting-edge missile and hypersonic technologies. A new class of high-performance materials This new Cu-Ta-Li alloy offers a balance of properties not found in existing materials: Nickel-based superalloys (used in jet engines) are extremely strong but lack the high thermal conductivity of copper alloys. Tungsten-based alloys are highly heat-resistant but dense and difficult to manufacture. This Cu-Ta-Li alloy combines copper's exceptional heat and electrical conductivity while remaining strong and stable at extreme temperatures. While not a direct replacement for traditional superalloys in ultra-high temperature applications, it has the potential to complement them in next-generation engineering solutions. How the researchers made and tested it The team synthesized the alloy using powder metallurgy and high-energy cryogenic milling, ensuring a fine-scale nanostructure. They then subjected it to: 10,000 hours (over a year) of annealing at 800C, testing its long-term stability. Advanced microscopy techniques, revealing the Cu 3 Li precipitate structure. Li precipitate structure. Creep resistance experiments, confirming its durability under extreme conditions. Computational modeling using density functional theory (DFT), which validated the stabilizing role of the Ta bilayer complexion. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory was awarded a U.S. patent (US 11,975,385 B2) for the alloy, highlighting its strategic significance, particularly in defense applications like military heat exchangers, propulsion systems, and hypersonic vehicles. The scientists say further research will include direct measurements of the alloy's thermal conductivity compared to nickel-based alternatives, work to ready it for potential applications, and the development of other high-temperature alloys following a similar design strategy. "This project is a great example of how federal investment in fundamental science drives American leadership in materials technology," Harmer said. "Scientific discoveries such as this are key to strengthening national security and fueling industrial innovation." More information: B. C. Hornbuckle et al, A high-temperature nanostructured Cu-Ta-Li alloy with complexion-stabilized precipitates, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adr0299. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr0299 Journal information: 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: The unfilled vacancies for all three types of positions varied widely across the state. Credit: Paul Bruno Despite widespread concern that the pandemic exacerbated existing shortages of teachers, a new study of Illinois public schools indicates that need for other certificated staff such as teacher's aides and social workers may have been a far greater problem for some schools. Paul Bruno, a professor of education policy, organization and leadership at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, compared data on actual unfilled vacancies for teachers, administrators and certificated staff in all Illinois primary and secondary public schools in fall 2022. At that time, the rate of unfilled vacancies for certificated staff was 5.6%, more than double those of teachers at 2.6% and significantly higher than those of administrators at 0.9%. In looking at the vacancy rates aggregated to the county level, Bruno found that 60 of 102 counties in Illinois reported teacher vacancies below 2%, and nine counties reported none. "I don't see much evidence of a terrible teacher shortage in general," Bruno said. "But I'm very worried about shortages in specific positions or schools affecting specific groups of students, and our solutions should be targeted at those specific problems." The findings, published in the journal Education Finance and Policy, provide a clearer picture of the labor shortages in Illinois public schools, and the study explores the potential impact on students' learning experience. Bruno's analyses indicated that unfilled vacancies for teachers, administrators and other staff occurred in ways associated with student demographics such as race, English proficiency and poverty that exacerbated existing inequities. Credit: Paul Bruno "Although there's been little research on shortages of nonteaching staff, there are reasons to believe students and schools are significantly affected by them," Bruno said. The variations in unfilled vacancies for the three positions studied often occurred in ways that exacerbated inequities, Bruno said. He found significant disparities among schools within the same districts; by differing urbanicityi.e., whether schools were in cities, suburbs, towns, rural or remote rural areas; and by the grade levels they served. However, the most significant disparities were associated with student demographics, such as greater proportions of racial minority students, English language learners and children living in poverty. Bruno measured pandemic-era staffing shortage levels using data on unfilled full-time equivalent certificated positions that were reported each fall to the Illinois State Board of Education beginning in October 2017. First, he measured shortages as a percentage of the combined sums of filled and unfilled jobs in each category, such as administrators. But because labor markets are not equally competitivesome schools may be operating under budgetary constraints or collective bargaining agreements that limit their hiring ability, for exampleBruno also used an alternative measure: the number of unfilled positions per 10,000 enrolled students. School districts in counties along the Illinois borders experienced higher rates of vacancies in all three job categories compared with counties in the state's interior. Since Bruno found little correlation between any one of the three types of positions and the other two, he hypothesized that each of them may have different labor markets. 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 data indicated that teacher vacancies were highest in remote rural districts, averaging 5%, and in elementary school districts at 2.6%. Teacher vacancies were lowest in high school districts at 0.4%. Conversely, he found that shortages of nonteaching staff were more severe in cities, averaging 4.5%more than double the rates of those in towns or nonremote rural districts. Despite these regional variations, when Bruno controlled for student demographics, the differences in teacher shortage rates grew and gained statistical significanceand in turn, the severity of teacher shortages in nonremote rural districts increased. Bruno's analyses indicated that unfilled vacancies for teachers, administrators and other staff varied significantly depending on schools' urbanicitieswhether they were located in cities or rural areas, for exampleand the grade levels of the students they served. Credit: Paul Bruno "That these differences persisted even when comparing districts within the same county and those serving similar student populations points to the likely importance of urbanicity-specific factors, particularly for the most remote school districts," Bruno said. "If student characteristics are associated with working conditions that matter to teachers, it may indicate that rural school districts face distinctive recruitment and retention challenges that are partially counterbalanced by attractive working conditions." Bruno found that adding student characteristics to the model substantially explained the differences in the vacancy rates for certificated staff between school districts of different urbanicities. He hypothesized that rural districts may be less likely to enroll students that have needs such as disabilities or limited English proficiency that motivate the hiring of these staff, or these districts may have financial or other constraints that curtail these services. Student characteristics accounted for 30% of the differences in teacher shortages between elementary and high school districts and almost all of the differences in the shortage rates for certificated staff. "Again, this may indicate that there are more desirable working conditions or lower levels of student support are needed in high school districts, possibly because higher need students have dropped out or transitioned out of these programs," he said. In exploring patterns of inequities by student demographics, the author found that at the school level, the average Black student experiences a teacher vacancy rate that is 3.6 times higher than that experienced by a white student. At the school district level, that rate is 2.5 times higher for Black students, Bruno found. The disparity is even greater for the average Native American student, who attends a school where there are 21.4 more unfilled staff positions per 10,000 students, and at the district level, there are 14.2 more of these vacancies compared with the average white student. These systemic differences raise concerns that the negative impact of staffing shortages disproportionately affect students who are Black, Native American and Hispanic, as well as those who are living in poverty and non-English speakers, Bruno said. More information: Paul Bruno, Pandemic-Era School Staff Shortages: Evidence from Unfilled Position Data in Illinois, Education Finance and Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1162/edfp_a_00450 OCEAN CITY When city Finance Director Frank Donato used a $645,000 home to explain the tax impact of this years proposed $124.6 million budget, he did so with a bemused shrug. Now, I know what youre going to say, Donato began. He didnt get far. As everyone in the City Council chambers at the Thursday meeting already knew, that is far below the current market value for most properties in the beachside community. Its fair to say that this $645,000 home is worth at least twice that, Donato said. And some people have older assessments that have been on the books for 10 years. That discrepancy between assessed value and market values means Ocean City is in for a citywide revaluation soon, what Donato described as an expensive and laborious process. He estimated the process will cost the city millions of dollars and take years before the new values are on the books. Other homes, especially those recently built, are assessed at much closer to the market value. That could mean some property owners are paying less while others fork over more to support city services. Property taxes are based on assessed value. Someone with a higher assessed value ends up paying a larger share, but as Donato pointed out, if the entire island gets reassessed at higher values, that would in turn reduce the tax rate. At the meeting, Donato mentioned a longstanding rule of thumb, which presumes about a third of property owners pay more in a revaluation while a third pay less. Some people wont see any effect at all, he said. The comments came as part of a detailed presentation on the municipal budget proposed by Mayor Jay Gillian at the previous council meeting, which includes a proposed increase in the local purpose tax rate of 3.7 cents to 57.16 cents for every $100 of assessed property value. That means the owner of the hypothetical $645,000 home will pay $242 more than last year in city taxes, which does not include school and county taxes. The next steps are up to council, which can amend the budget or move it forward as proposed. A first vote is expected April 10, with a public hearing and final vote planned for May 8. Walking council through the budget proposal, Donato discussed debt service, rising personnel costs and how the city offsets taxes with other sources of revenue. For instance, the budget anticipates the city bringing in $5.9 million in beach tag sales this year, and an additional $3.9 million in parking fees. Thats a little down compared to what the city raised last year, with Donato explaining that was because the city is in the midst of building a new police substation near the Boardwalk on one of its lots. The city also will get about $3.8 million from the library, which has a separate assessment of 5.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. That is more than the library needs to operate, Donato said, so about half of the money it raises comes back to the city each year. Of the total tax rate of $1.12 per $100 of assessed value for 2024, a little under half, 53.4 cents, went to the city, along with a portion of the library tax money. About 31.8 cents, or a little over 28%, went to the county, and 19.8 cents, or just under 18%, went to run Ocean City schools. An additional 1.7-cent assessment goes to the county open space program, which the city plans to hit up soon to help fund planned improvements to the recreation area at 34th Street and West Avenue. County taxes are equalized based on how close a community is to the market value. Donato said Ocean City has already been informed that the county wants to see it and Sea Isle City up first for revaluation. Ocean City school budget to include tax increase Ocean City school officials say this has been a tough budget year. The Board of Education introduced a 2025-26 school budget that includes a tax hike. But with the sharp rise in shore real estate values, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, the assessments in almost all of the countys 16 communities are out of whack, Donato said. And it takes time to get things lined up for a reval, he added, with only a few companies in New Jersey doing the work. One of the things you dont want to do is revalue the whole town in a still-escalating real estate market, Donato said. That happened in 2012, when the total value of ratables in the city was over $12 billion, only to drop by hundreds of millions of dollars as the real estate market cooled. That meant a slew of successful assessment appeals, and the total ratable value for the city did not get back above $12 billion until 2021. This year, that number is $12.9 billion, even with homes believed to be chronically underassessed. A state listing of equalized values puts the real value of property in Ocean City at more than $23 billion and shows all of the towns in the county as undervalued, assessed at between 47% and 60% of the market value. Woodbines assessments are the closest to the actual value, at more than 80%, with Middle Township and Upper Township the next closest. But the market has cooled, at least in terms of sales, with a fraction of the number of homes on the market compared to a year ago. The first step is to get the citys tax map certified by the state, which Donato said is underway. After that, the city can seek proposals for a revaluation. Almost every town in the state needs one of these projects soon, so its going to be very competitive, Donato said. Gillian unveils $125 million budget for Ocean City Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian touted accomplishments and infrastructure improvements as he presented City Council with a budget proposal that includes a tax rate increase. The process will include evaluating 19,000 properties. If the city prepares a request for proposals this year and signs a contract, Donato estimated it would take all of 2026 and 2027 to complete the work. I think, best case scenario, we get a new set of values on the books for 2028, he said. As the April 1 municipal elections approach, the village of Milan's trustee candidates have answered our questions about what their priorities are as future leaders of the area. Democratic candidates Danny Schomer, Jodie Lee and Karen Wilson will compete with independent candidates Cassandra Salas-Mikaio, Debbra Kunst and Sara Sovanski for three trustee seats. See full survey responses at qctimes.com or qconline.com or by following the QR code. Debbra Kunst Age: 53 53 Occupation: former IT senior software analyst former IT senior software analyst Why vote for me? My goal in serving the residents of Milan is rooted in a commitment to listening, embracing new economic opportunities and advancing communication transparency to meet the needs of the 21st century, all while preserving the charm of our small town for generations to come. What do you consider to be the top three issues facing Milan right now? I am committed to promoting transparency, fostering effective communication and ensuring fiscal responsibility for the town. If elected, how would you work to address these issues? My approach centers on actively listening to the concerns of Milan residents and working diligently to find solutions, while remaining as open and transparent as possible throughout the process. What is an issue you feel is under-covered in the news/not widely known in the Quad-Cities? I believe Milan has experienced a significant decline in economic businesses and has faced stagnation in growth and development over the past 20 years. Jodie Lee Age: (no response) (no response) Occupation: Chief deputy clerk of Blackhawk Township. Chief deputy clerk of Blackhawk Township. Why vote for me? I care about Milan and its future What do you consider to be the top three issues facing Milan right now? Fiscal responsibility, public safety and economic growth. If elected, how would you work to address these issues? Fiscal responsibility (by) maintaining tax rates and providing quality services. Public safety (by) supporting our local police department and encouraging them instead of some of the public tearing them down! (Also), continuing community policing programs. Economic development (by) encouraging our administration to bring a grocery or retail establishment to Milan. What is an issue you feel is under-covered in the news/not widely known in the Quad-Cities? The village's cooperation with Big Island River Conservancy Group (in) maintaining the levy. Cassandra Salas-Mikaio (incumbent) Age: 42 42 Occupation: junior high art teacher junior high art teacher Why vote for me? I am committed to working together with the community and village staff to shape our future. As a proud member of this village, I believe Milan has so much potential, but it takes an open minded, fact-driven, and honest trustee to move forward. I believe Im that person. As an elected trustee, I will continue to advocate for responsible economic development, improving infrastructure and services and will make sure that village board meetings are accessible, transparent and inclusive. What do you consider to be the top three issues facing Milan right now? The top three issues facing the village are future economic development to continue to bring in tax revenue, parks and recreational development and continuing to keep the village a safe place to live and work. If reelected, how would you work to address these issues? Future economic development: I would actively engage with village administration to reach out to local businesses and potential investors to identify opportunities for expansion and new ventures. Id encourage (a) focus on attracting small businesses that align with the villages needs and the broader regional market, ensuring long-term job creation and economic sustainability. Parks and recreational development: I would advocate for the creation of more upgrades to parks, recreational facilities and recreational programs. Village safety: I (will) work to ensure that law enforcement has access to the latest technology and resources to respond to emergencies and prevent crime. This could include updated communication systems, security cameras in high-traffic areas and greater community surveillance involvement. What is an issue you feel is under-covered in the news/not widely known in the Quad-Cities? (Declined to respond) Dan Schomer Age: (no response) (no response) Occupation: employed at the city of Moline Street Department employed at the city of Moline Street Department Why vote for me? Milan is home and I care about my community. What do you consider to be the top three issues facing Milan right now? Economic growth, public safety and fiscal responsibility. If reelected, how would you work to address these issues? Economic growth Support and retain local business and encourage new business also. Public safety Continue to support our local police and encourage citizens to communicate with the police. Fiscal responsibility Encourage administration and (the) Finance (Department) to work together on any budget reports and bills. What is an issue you feel is under-covered in the news/not widely known in the Quad-Cities? Supporting the levy inspection and repair in Milan. If Milan does not maintain the levy, the entire downtown area will flood. We need to continue to support Public Works Department and Big Island River Conservancy Group. Sara Sovanski Age: 55 55 Occupation: property manager property manager Why vote for me? I am the best candidate because I bring a clear vision for change, rooted in transparency, community involvement and practical solutions. My focus on improving communication, reducing waste, supporting local businesses and addressing housing concerns shows that I understand the needs of the community. Plus, my commitment to listening to residents and ensuring their voices are heard sets me apart as someone who truly cares about making a difference. I am not just running for the title I am running to serve. What do you consider to be the top three issues facing Milan right now? I believe the most pressing issues facing our government are the erosion of trust and faith in its institutions, the loss of jobs and affordable housing and the rise in crime rates. If elected, how would you work to address these issues? I am running for trustee to enhance the perception of our local government by fostering community involvement. I believe I can make a meaningful impact by ensuring meetings are accessible to all residents. My goal is to amplify residents' voices and address their concerns effectively. Additionally, I aim to promote improved city services and encourage growth for both residents and businesses. What is an issue you feel is under-covered in the news/not widely known in the Quad-Cities? That the audit reports are not published and items in them go unaddressed. Karen Wilson (incumbent) Age: 57 57 Occupation: Administrative coordinator at the Rock Island County Recorder's Office for 17 years. Blackhawk Township incumbent clerk. Administrative coordinator at the Rock Island County Recorder's Office for 17 years. Blackhawk Township incumbent clerk. Why vote for me? The village of Milan is my home, my heart and a very important part of my life! What do you consider to be the top three issues facing Milan right now? The water/sewer system, public safety and economic development. If reelected, how would you work to address these issues? Water/sewer system Continue with planning the 2-year construction of a new wastewater treatment plant that is replacing a 60-year old facility. This will ensure the treatment process will meet state and federal guidelines. Replace 100% of lead water pipeline service to all Milan homes and businesses. Public safety Support our police chief and the whole department with community policing initiatives. Continue to upgrade equipment and technology to assist (the) police department. Economic development Encourage another grocery or retail establishment on Milan Parkway. What is an issue you feel is under-covered in the news/not widely known in the Quad-Cities? (The) village of Milan Public Works Department helps maintain the levy that protects the entire downtown west and east end business and residential district. Without the cooperation with (the) Big Island River Conservancy Group and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lower Milan would not exist (due to) storm flooding. Village of Milan updated three existing parks with new equipment that is handicapped accessible. Milan will continue to work on the revitalization of Dixon Park. The Hamilton Committee of the Whole approved draft letters to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to express concern about federal cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to the federal workforce and possible impacts to local Bitterroot Valley agencies. The committee voted to submit the two letters to the Hamilton City Council for further review and approval at their Tuesday, March 25 meeting. Officials also discussed drafting a possible resolution that would convey the citys support for its federal employees as well as reach out to other Ravalli County municipalities to support those impacted. The letters, written by Peter VanTine as well as Hamilton City Council members, voiced concerns about staffing cuts to the Bitterroot National Forest as well as Rocky Mountain Labs and requested formal consultation between the City of Hamilton and federal government officials prior to subsequent layoffs. We have been busy, council member Darwin Ernst told those in attendance at a meeting regarding the cuts that filled the Hamilton Middle School auditorium last week. Ernst said that he and other council members had been in coordination with multiple members of the community, including the Ravalli County Collaborative, former Ravalli County Attorney George Corn and the Montana League of Cities and Towns while crafting the drafts. Ernst led Tuesday nights discussion and read each of the draft letters aloud. The letter regarding the Bitterroot National Forest Service was initially addressed to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte. The Montana congressional delegation and the Bitterroot National Forest were to be copied. At Tuesdays meeting, council members also suggested sending the letter to Montana and U.S. senators and representatives. Among various concerns outlined in the letter to Secretary Rollins were the increased risk of wildfire in Ravalli County and how staffing reductions were harmful to the Forest Services preparedness for the upcoming fire season. This is not an imaginary concern, reads the letter. Wildfire is a constant in the Northern Rockies. In 2000 a massive wildfire complex burned over 350,000 acres in Ravalli County Without the Forest Services organization, personnel and resources the outcome would have been much worse. The letter relating to Rocky Mountain Labs staffing changes was addressed to the acting director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), while Governor Gianforte, Montana congressional delegates and Rocky Mountain Labs were copied. Council members suggested that Montana and U.S. senators and representatives as well as the Ravalli County Collaborative should also get copies. The letter requested consultation between Hamilton city officials and those responsible for staffing changes and highlighted the cuts serious potential to negatively impact the citys safety and economy. It appears that the federal government is initiating a 'reduction in workforce' process that may result in fewer staff at RML, the letter reads. Such actions have the serious potential to endanger the safety and economic well-being of our community and its residents Given the safety and economic interdependence of Hamilton and RML, formal consultation between us is prudent and important prior to any significant changes in staffing levels. Council members suggested minor amendments to the drafts. Ernst suggested adding a section to one or both of the letters emphasizing that Ravalli Countys unique relationship with federal workers and land would be important. Its very apparent to me that were more adversely affected by it than any other county in the state of Montana, Ernst said. The idea that nobody else has an NIH in their city and the fact that 72% of our county is owned by the government were adversely impacted more than any other town or city, as far as I can tell, at this point. Council member Kristi Bielski recommended adding an open invitation to recipients of the letter to come and directly address the community on the issue. The only thing I would add is an invite, Bielski said. Something that says, Hey, if anybody would like to come to our city and talk to our community youre welcome. The committee also reviewed a similar letter written by the Ravalli County Collaborative to Montana state senators and representatives. The letter urged policymakers to reverse these reductions in the workforce at the USFS and adequately fund the agency. A number of individuals attending the meeting spoke to council members, thanking them for taking action. I was so proud of you last week, said chair of the Ravalli County Democrats Linda Schmitt. The day before we had talked to the county commissioners about the effects of these federal actions on our valley and all they cared about was the national debtThat was their excuse for not coming forward like you did to say, Were worried about this, were upset about this. These people in this valley are important. The committee unanimously voted to move the drafts to their next city council discussion on April 1, saying they would ratify amendments and vote on finalized versions. Council members also said they would possibly discuss passing a resolution in support of federal workers, similar to the one passed by Gallatin County commissioners earlier this month. Council members planned on inviting Ravalli County commissioners and local government officials from other county municipalities to come to the meeting and contribute to the discussion. Suspects reportedly arrested after Cancun waitress shot Cancun, Q.R. A 26-year-old woman was shot early Wednesday morning standing outside a taco shop in the Paraiso Maya neighborhood. According to early information, two suspects have been arrested. The incident happened around 1:45 a.m. when residents reported gunshots to 9-1-1 triggering a code red. State police were at the scene where they located a woman, reported to be a waitress, had been wounded by a firearm. According to the report, someone from inside a gray car pulled up and shot at her. She was hit two times. Paramedics transported 26 year old Yareli N to hospital for medical attention. The young woman was shot twice, once in her right buttock and once in her left calf. Five spent shell casings were collected from the scene. After the attack, C5 personnel monitored the area through video surveillance cameras and identified a gray Cavalier. The car was seen leaving the scene heading toward La Selva Street. It was later located on Laguna Nichupte Street where authorities arrested two people. The detainees have been identified as 35 year old Sebastian N and 28 year old Patricia N. Police have not commented on a motive for the targeted shooting. Religion and violence are often cited as going hand in hand, but a new book on the history of secular and anti-religious atrocities will make many rethink their assumptions about the non-religion of peace. More than a decade ago, I had the privilege of visiting Tuol Sleng, a museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, that displays in horrific detail the murderous brutality committed by the totalitarian Khmer Rouge, which governed the country from 1975 to 1979. Originally a school, Tuol Sleng was turned into a prison housing more than 18,000 enemies of the state, almost all of whom were murdered. Visitors to the museum today will see walls covered with photos of deceased inmates, cabinets filled with human skulls, and testimonials of those who survived. I remember one inmate describing how the daily ration was so meager that the prisoners could practically count the individual grains of rice. The next time you eat rice, youll recognize how little that is. Scholars estimate that the Khmer Rouge was responsible for the deaths of somewhere between 1.5 and 2 million people out of a population of about 6.5 million. Many of the victims died because of starvation, forcibly removed from their homes to work on massive (and largely pointless) agricultural projects. But the regime also targeted those associated with the previous government, ethnic and religious minorities, and the intelligentsia. Simply wearing glassesa supposed sign of being educated, and thus a threatcould be a death sentence. As Valparaiso University professor Thomas Albert Howard notes in his new book, Broken Altars: Secularist Violence in Modern History, the Khmer Rouge was a virulently secular regime. Its foot soldiers targeted not only the small Catholic population that owed its existence to French missionaries during the colonial period but also representatives of the Buddhist majority and the Cham Muslim minority population. Of a preKhmer Rouge Buddhist monk population of 65,000, only 2,000 were alive in 1979. Mortality rates among Protestants and Catholics in Cambodia during this time was likely close to 1 in 2. The Khmer Rouge also systematically exterminated Cham villagesalmost a third of this religious minority died. The anti-religious character of the Khmer Rouge regime is important, Howard argues, because in both academia and popular media, it is often an a priori assumption that it is religion and violence that go hand in hand. There is a Journal of Religion and Violence and academic texts such as the Blackwell Companion to Religion and Violence and the Oxford Handbook of Religion and Violence. Millions of Americans believe our nation is terrifyingly close to realizing the dystopian religious authoritarianism of Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale. For many educated Westerners, Howard observes, the idea that religion promotes violence and secularism ameliorates the problem is a settled certainty, a doxa, an unstated premise of right thinking. Yet, he further notes, if we are talking about numbers, the death and destruction exacted upon religious communities by secularist governments in the 20th century far exceeds the violence committed by premodern or early modern European confessional states. But Howards argument moves far beyond the typical talking point (however accurate) that the anti-Christian regimes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot were responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people. Indeed, the professor of humanities and history begins by differentiating three different manifestations of secularism that are visible in modern political institutions: passive secularism, combative secularism, and eliminationist secularism. Passive secularism describes those regimes that, although intentionally secular, are not hostile to religion. In this category, Howard places the United States and the 1831 constitution of Belgium. Though I understand what Howard is trying to describe, I think his presentation is a bit simplistic, for reasons I outlined in a review for Religion & Liberty. Even if the framers of the U.S. Constitution did not craft a confessional state, they certainly created one that was demonstrably preferential toward religion, given that religion is protected in the First Amendment and that God is explicitly cited in the Declaration as knowable by nature. Churches enjoy tax exemptions, and chaplains are employed by Congress, legislatures, the military services, and public institutions. Presidents (such as Washington and Lincoln) proclaimed public religious festivals or fast days. We have judicial oaths and (once had) Sabbath laws. That doesnt sound like a disinterested approach to religious faith and practice, even if some of these traditions have of late receded. Howard is on firmer ground when it comes to the other two forms of secularism. Combative secularism embodies those regimes that aimed to fight, defeat, and marginalize religious institutions. The French Revolution, for example, took as one of its rallying cries Voltaires Ecrasez linfame (crush the loathsome thing), closing or destroying churches and monasteries, jettisoning the Christian calendar, and killing clergy. Although citizens might still be free to worship within the privacy of their own homes, this project intends to weaken dramatically the public witness and image of organized religion. Eliminationist secularism takes this one step further, aiming to destroy religion, not only in the public square, but in the very hearts and souls of men. It takes as its inspiration the thought of such men as Marx, Engels, and Lenin. Obviously, combative and eliminationist secularists have quite a bit in common, given, as Howard argues, that they both descend from the progressive wing of the Enlightenment. Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest, asserted Diderot. What is most important for Howards thesis, however, is that both quite clearly prove that secularism, far from transcending sectarianism and violence, is responsible for some of the most heinous, murderous regimes this planet has ever witnessed. Indeed, though many of its adherents argue that secularism is objective and indifferent, it carries normative assumptions and frames of reference that evince its own peculiar paradigm. ~ ~ ~ Secularists, as much as they present themselves as epitomizing neutrality, still must engage in the complex process of making moral judgements based on philosophical criteria. On this, Howards analysis is especially strong. He notes that secular humanism designates the national state, rather than the church (or synagogue, mosque, or temple), as the locus of individual and communal action, which inevitably acts as a centralizing force. It also makes the immanent collective, rather than the individual person as created in the image of God, as the paramount focus of social thought and moral reasoning. In addition, equality assumes a preeminent and absolute role in secularist thinking in a manner disconsonant with thousands of years of human civilization that recognized (rightly or wrongly) various hierarchies: religious over laity, men over women, older over younger, etc. None of these assumptions are per se neutral. The first extended example of Howards story is that of France, though not the violent 18th-century radical purge of Catholicism from the Churchs eldest daughter, as the country was once known. Rather, it is the combative secularism manifested in the systemic extirpation of Catholicism from Frances public life, including the abolition of Sunday rest restrictions, removal of religious iconography from public places, banning of religious processions, and renaming of streets that had saints names. The secular French state then targeted Catholic education and religious orders, suppressing hundreds of religious houses and sending thousands of religious into exile. The state seized churches and religious buildings. From there, we read of Mexico, Spain, and Turkey. Anti-Catholic secularists in Mexico in the 1920s and 1930s targeted the Church, its representatives, and the faithful, often violently. Before the Cristero Wara Catholic uprising in several Mexican provinces that sought to preserve their faiththere were about 4,500 priests; after the conflicts end, there were only 334, as the rest had emigrated or been expelled or assassinated. The violence in Spain during its civil war of 1936 to 1939 was even more terrible: 13 bishops, 4,172 diocesan priests and seminarians, 2,364 monks, and 283 nuns were killed, while many churches were burned to the ground. And the Turkish regime, which became secularist under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk after World War I, targeted devout Muslims, particularly among ethnic minority communities such as the Kurds. But even these numbers pale in comparison to those accumulated in the Soviet Union, which at various points in its history sought to destroy all religious sects. In the early 1920s alone, about 8,000 Orthodox priests, monks, and nuns perished by violent means, and 28 bishops were murdered. Another 35,000 Orthodox priests were executed or imprisoned in the 1930s. Innumerable churches were destroyed or turned into secular buildings. Catholicism, which in 1918 had almost 900 priests operating in Soviet territories, practically ceased to exist by 1940. The number of mosques in the Soviet Union had decreased from about 20,000 in 1917 to fewer than 4,000 by 1935. Hundreds of synagogues and Jewish religious schools met the same fate, while 15,000 Buddhist lamas were deported in the 1930s. Red Asia, the Bolshevik Mongolian regime that came to power in the 1920s, aggressively suppressed Buddhists, reducing the number of lamas in monasteries from 82,000 to fewer than 600 between September 1937 and July 1938. In communist China, Catholic bishops were martyred, and most Christian churches were shuttered. Buddhism was systematically extirpated, with the Buddhist monastic community dropping 90% within a decade after the 1949 revolution. Tibets monastic community suffered similar losses. In Xinjiang, home of the ethnic Turkish Uighur Muslim population, all religious services were prohibited after 1966. ~ ~ ~ Howard the careful scholar makes many caveats throughout his narrative: that combative secularism is more anticlerical than anti-religious, while eliminationist secularism was frequently violently anti-religion. Moreover, secularism does not exhaustively explain the violent episodes he describes: Soviet attacks on Catholicism, and attempts to envelop it within the Orthodox Church, which was often complicit with the communist regime, were motivated not only by anti-religious sentiments but also by a nationalist desire to remove a foreign religion from Russian soil. And religiously informed groups such as the Cristeros and Francos fighters were capable of violence, too. Violence in the name of militant ideological secularism neither denies nor excuses violence in the name of religious belief, Howard asserts in the conclusion. As I read Broken Altars, I was continually reminded of a claim made by the popular new atheist Christopher Hitchens, who devoted much of his later life writing and debating in the hopes of persuading everyone that we would all be better off if religion were cast into the dustbin of history. Hitchens would often note that religion was responsible for terrible evil in the world, and many needless deaths. When confronted with the retort that militant secularism was responsible for far more death and destruction in the 20th century than religion ever was, he would claim that communist and fascist secular states simply leveraged the oppressive structures that existed in their religiously favorable predecessorsthey were, Hitchens claimed, acting as quasi-religious actors in their murderous oppression. Yet, as Howards work so expertly demonstrates, it was secularism, and not religion, that created and leveraged untold degrees of state power in its cruel, violent attempt to remake humanity and the world. Motivated by a 10-year-old girls death in Roanoke County, Rocky Mount Mayor Holland Perdue is organizing a forum next month to seek solutions to the ongoing issue of bullying in schools. The forum will be held at the Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount from 6 to 8 p.m. April 29. Perdue said the goal will be to hear concerns from parents as well as to talk to school faculty about how bullying is handled in the classroom. It is important to try and get some people from the schools in a room with some of these parents to know what the protocols are, Perdue said. We dont want parents who feel they are not being heard by their administrators or their teachers. As a father of two children currently attending Benjamin Franklin Middle School, Perdue said he has the same concerns about bullying as other parents. He has taken up the issue of bullying in the past year with anti-bullying messaging on his Facebook page that has drawn numerous comments from other concerned parents. But it was the death of 10-year-old Autumn Bushman of Roanoke County that pushed Perdue to take action. Bushman took her own life Friday due to what her parents believe was bullying from students at her elementary school. Autumns parents, Summer and Mark Bushman, could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but in a video interview broadcast Tuesday by WSLS (Channel 10), they talked about their daughters death and the need for the community to take action to prevent other families from suffering the same grief. Perdue said he hasnt yet spoken with the Bushmans, but intends to. I think it is terrible that something like that has to happen to open our eyes to something that we probably all know is going on, Perdue said. Roanoke County Public Schools provided a statement on Autumn Bushmans death to The Roanoke Times and other media. We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of one of our students at Mountain View Elementary School. This is a tragic loss and we stand in support of the family, friends and Mountain View community. As our students return from spring break on March 31, we will have additional counseling services on hand to provide assistance to any students who may need support. Our thoughts are with the family and the Mountain View community in this time of profound grief. While we cannot discuss the specifics of this situation due to federal privacy laws and out of respect for the family, we are conducting a thorough review. Our schools take all reports of bullying and conflicts among students very seriously. Our schools educate students and respond appropriately to specific situations when we are made aware, including working with parents and families of students involved. We care deeply about our students and our staff works hard to do what they can to support students and families. Perdue said he spoke with Rocky Mount officials earlier this week to set up the forum at the Harvester. He made the announcement on his Facebook page Wednesday morning. The forum is open to the public and Perdue will be inviting school officials including teachers, principals, school board members and superintendents of not only Franklin County Public Schools, but also Roanoke County and Henry County as well. Faculty from area private schools will be invited as well. Perdue said bullying is something that is a concern at all schools and he wanted to reach out to surrounding localities to share their input. Maybe there are things that are being done in Roanoke that are working and Franklin County needs to know about it, Perdue said. Maybe Franklin County is doing something that works that could be expanded to other areas. Members of the sheriffs office for the surrounding counties as well members of the police departments within the counties will be invited as well along with representatives from several area mental health organizations. Perdue said he is hopeful the forum will be able to give parents a bit more insight into the schools and how they handle bullying. He has heard from parents who say that not enough is being done. Many people are reporting it and saying the schools are doing nothing, Perdue said. There needs to be a genuine question of what is getting done when this is reported. This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org DANVILLE Carlton Wethington says hes living the dream. The 2017 Averett University aviation graduate is a captain for PSA Airlines, which operates an all-jet fleet on behalf of American Airlines. Nothing like waking up in the morning watching the sun rise from 35,000 feet, he told the Register & Bee on March 21 at the universitys Aviation Day event. The yearly tradition hosted at the George J. Falk Flight Center at Danville Regional Airport is designed to bring alumni together with future flight school students. In what he called a super informal format, alumni Bernie Morell said its designed to explain to students and families what four years of college will look like and what life is going to be after graduation. The proof is in the uniforms standing before you, Morell said. Its a formula for success. He noted that the industry views Averett students as some of the best pilots out there. The program currently has 120 students, Averett chief flight instructor Travis Williams said. This marks the 20th year for Williams as chief flight instructor and 23 years in total at the universitys flight school. In a few weeks, Averett will pick up a new Piper aircraft and another one should be here by the end of the year, he told the Register & Bee after his address. Equipment that they have here at Averett is top-notch, Wethington said of the planes in which he learned. Nearly 40 perspective families signed up for Aviation Day, well above the average 10 to 15, Williams said. Also, with 45 returning grads, the March 21 gathering was the largest group of alumni who came back for the annual event, Williams told the newspaper. Im blown away, he said in his address. Im floored at what this day has become. But the group he wanted to thank the most were the ones lined up behind him. These guys are amazing, he said of the dozen of alumni who, as he pointed out, spend their own money to come back each year. And we wouldnt have the program that we have without each and every one of them. They collaborate and help to guide the program by advising whats needed to prepare these students for the industry as it evolves. When David Joyce, whos been on the job as Averetts president for about three months, got the call asking him to take over the financially struggling institution, he said the first thing that came to mind was the flight school. The aviation program is something that you are known for and something that has always been exciting for me, Joyce said. The president didnt mention any of the money woes currently facing the university in the March 21 speech. It was about a year ago when the pains started to surface when leaders realized the picture was bleak. Former Averett President Tiffany Franks told the newspaper last year that it was a misrepresentation in what was being reported. Earlier this month 15 employees were laid off. Joyce called the March 21 attendance an extraordinary turnout and touted the relationship of the city and Averett for the program. We are reminded just how important aviation and powerful education can be, he said addressing the crowd of potential Averett students. You are getting more than just a way to learn to fly, you are getting a way to live life. The president also praised Williams for his expertise, passion and love for the program. Williams also had his own fan club among the grads, including Wethington, who said the chief instructor here is amazing. Fittingly during Joyces address, an airplane either landing or gearing up to take off passed by the runway outside the terminal where the crowd was gathered. The sky is not just the limit, it is the beginning, Joyce said. I have no doubt that well continue to carry this legacy forward. The student hopefuls were then split into two groups for sessions with the alumni. With circular tables situated around the hangers, at least one Averett graduate took a spot to chat with students and families in attendance for 15-minute sessions. Then the group moved to the next table. Carley Layden came down from Culpeper just for Aviation Day. A student at a community college, she plans to transfer to Averett next year. While shes visited the campus before, March 21 was her first time landing at the flight school at the airport. Ive been intersted in aviation since my freshmen year in high school, she told the newspaper before the alumni talk sessions began. I just knew that that was my path. She was 14 when she first went up in an airplane. He flew me right over my house, and I could see my parents waving, and I knew that was it for me as soon as I went up, she explained of her first time flying. When asked about her first impressions of Aviation Day, she beamed. I love it, she said. Its perfect for me. Wethington grew up in Hampton next to a military base. He saw it every day and fell in love with airplanes. Im still amazed at how they fly, even though I know how they fly, he said. How this heavy piece of machine gets in the air is fascinating, he said, grabbing a mini version of the aircraft displayed on the PSA table and holding it up. Oh, this is the dream, he said when asked if hed reached his lifes goal yet. He comes back to Aviation Day to recruit, meet up with his fellow graduates two others came with him from PSA and provide information for students who may want to go down the path that takes them soaring above the clouds. Havent missed one, he said of coming back each year for the event. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. The one news story thats been all but inescapable this week is the Trumpworld embarrassment crudely recognized as Signalgatethe awkward, alarming saga of how the Atlantics editor in chief became an inadvertent witness to the governments military planning via a group chat on the privately owned, encrypted messaging app Signal. It was such an obvious fuck-up, an unmistakable national-security breach with such troubling implications, that the parties responsible had a difficult time owning up to things. Somehow, as my colleague Ben Mathis-Lilley noted, President Donald Trump briefly emerged as the Adult in the Room, giving the most honest plausible explanation for the fiascothat it was a contact mix-up on national security adviser Mike Waltzs partas the others stammered their way through accusations that Jeffrey Goldberg had wiggled his way in. (It was likely harder for them to keep up the charade after the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel reported Wednesday that private contact info for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Waltz is particularly easy to find online.) Of course, Trumps moment of relative integrity was never bound to last. On Wednesday evening, according to Forbes, he wafted away any individual blame by telling reporters: I dont know that Signal works. I think Signal could be defective, to be honest with you. It could be a defective platform, and were going to have to figure that out. Lets be very clear about a couple of things here. One, there was no reason for any of these people to be planning bombing campaigns over Signal. A 2023 Pentagon memo forbids staffers from using any unclassified communication network to access, transmit, process non-public DoD information, since theres already a specialized Defense intranet system for classified info. Other departments are similarly discouraged from using private chat networks for official business, though they are not banned from doing so if officials have been explicitly targeted by foreign adversaries or, as the CIAs John Ratcliffe recently told Congress, if staffers follow specific governance measures in turn. Advertisement Two, even if there were no government guidance on Signal usage, it doesnt change the fact that the error that led to Signalgate is not Signals fault. To imply otherwise, as Trump did, is not just to deny realityit is to engage in a dangerous, long-running propaganda campaign that could undermine the very foundations of privacy in modern American society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, Trump officials lie all the time, but theyre not the only ones casting unfounded aspersions upon Signals basic functionality. On Tuesday, a screenshot of an NPR scoop made its way around the social media mines, noting vaguely that a Pentagon-wide email went out last week about the vulnerability of using the messaging app Signal. A follow-up then delved into the specifics: that Russian hacking groups had been targeting certain Signal accounts with phishing attempts. But the initial message spread far more widely, getting pickup from Democratic Party operatives as a gotcha against Hegseththat he obviously should have known better than to use such a flawed platform. Signals leaders, recognizing that there are a lot of new eyes on Signal, and not all of them are familiar with secure messaging, were forced to clarify that the vulnerability in question had nothing to do with Signals core tech. Advertisement Right now there are a lot of new eyes on Signal, and not all of them are familiar with secure messaging and its nuances. Which means theres misinfo flying around that might drive people away from Signal and private communications. One piece of misinfo we need to address is the Signal (@signalapp) March 25, 2025 Indeed, there seems to be a general misunderstanding around what Signal is and how it works. One write-up of this whole incident has referred to the service as a commercial messaging app, even though Signal is run by a nonprofit foundation that shares its name. So its worth clearing up some misconceptions. Advertisement Advertisement Signal is a 10-year-old messaging app that emerged from software developed for the mobile-security company Whisper Systems in the early 2010s. These involved two separate appsone for end-to-end encrypted voice calling, the other for end-to-end encrypted text messagingthat were combined into one service called Signal and released in 2014, making history as the first free nonprofit all-in-one encrypted communications system. The platform gained further traction that year when WhatsApp, the messaging service that had just been bought by Facebook, incorporated Signals open-source protocol into its own encryption framework, which encouraged rival messengers from Microsoft and Google to offer encryption settings as well. Signal also earned admiration for working around an infamous subpoena from the Obama administration, which had demanded that Signals nonprofit turn over browsing information affiliated with two users phone numbers as part of a federal grand-jury investigation. The thing is, Signal could not have done that even if it wanted to, since it does not track and collect such information from its users. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Signal requires only minimal information and doesnt keep much in its servers. Users (like myself) have special passkeys to verify their identity with the app, and all messages and media transmitted are stored on each individual users phonenot anywhere in Signals back-end chambers. Over the years, Signal has added even more features to beef up its privacy settings: allowing for messages to disappear from users phones after a set amount of time, incorporating an automatic face-blurring tool for potentially sensitive images, and using servers based outside the United States that can obscure users IP addresses. Unlike Telegram, which does not automatically encrypt messages in its larger-size chat rooms, Signal limits the size of its group chats and keeps encryption as the default. Advertisement Does that mean Signal is perfect and foolproof? Not at all. The Signal Foundations small size and tightly controlled budget (mostly grants and donations) make it hard for the app to handle sign-up surges, like the influx of users in early 2021 who left WhatsApp after it expanded the types of user info that could be shared with other Facebook companies. (Signals servers have also been known to crash in other circumstances.) In 2022 the company Twiliowhich contracts with various tech companies to offer communications softwaresuffered a breach that exposed the phone numbers of nearly 2,000 Signal clients, highlighting the vulnerabilities inherent in requiring phone numbers for user verification. Still, on the whole its far more trusted by its users than just about any other encrypted chat app. And it has avoided the types of controversies that have plagued far more popular alternatives, like WhatsApp and Telegram, around the incitement of violence and crime. Advertisement So the flailing fearmongering from Trump around Signals being defective is wrong, but its not hard to guess from whom he might have gotten that idea. Last year, a right-wing campaign accused NPR of acting as a Marxist propagandist network (a charge that led to a congressional hearing on the matter this week). The well-known fabulist Christopher Rufo pointed out that NPR CEO Katherine Maher also sits on the Signal Foundations board and implied baselessly that this may have compromised Signals integrity. (Mahers position with the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, has similarly inspired far-right trolls to smear the internet encyclopedia as biased.) Elon Musk, previously a longtime Signal fan, glommed onto Rufos posts to allude to known vulnerabilities with Signal, in a tweet that saw him get corrected by his own beloved Community Notes feature. Last month, Musk even went so far as to block Signal links on X. For now, Signals co-founder may feel comfortable quipping about this whole matter, but dont be surprised if the fallout from the whole affair leads to more conspiracizing around the appespecially now that Musk is so close to Trump. Apparently, Musk has already been assigned to investigate Signalgate with the assistance of his technical experts at DOGE. Dont expect the truth to come out. Robert "Gerald" Hardy (also known as Bob or Jerry) of Waldorf, MD, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on March 24, 2025. Gerald was born on February 17, 1947 to the late Jeraldine H. Cator and Robert M. Hardy, Jr. He grew up on the family farm in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Gerald's life took a special turn when he married his soulmate and love of his life, Bonnie Hatton Hardy, on November 8, 1969. Gerald is survived by his wife of 55 years, Bonnie H. Hardy, their daughter Amanda H. Garrett (Chris), their son Owen Gerald Hardy (Alana), their granddaughters Ashlea C. Garrett and Bailea E. Garrett, their great-grandson Phoenix R. Garrett, and their great-granddaughter Kadence R. Fox. He is also survived by his brother Lawrence E. Cator (Wendy) of Lothian, Maryland, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Gerald is preceded in death by his mother, Jeraldine Hardy Cator (nee Beall), his father Robert Merle Hardy, Jr, "Daddy Bud" Alfred Lawrence Cator, and his sister, Corrine Cator Thompson Martein. Gerald's mom always said that, "when Gerald's feet hit the floor, he was gone." This was true throughout his life. He was no stranger to hard work, starting work at the young age of 14 on his brother in laws farm. He eventually transitioned his career to heavy civil construction. He took all of the knowledge he learned working for Daisy Brothers and opened his own business, Cable and Conduit Construction Inc. where he worked all over the state of Maryland. He was a master at his trade and looked up to by so many. He never let any dust settle even after retirement keeping a very busy lifestyle whether he was outside grooming and tending to his lawn, working alongside his son at Hardy Underground Utilities, or volunteering at the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department. Gerald was a true outdoorsman who loved working hard and playing in the dirt. Gerald had a deep love for the fire department and serving his community. He started volunteering at the Forestville Volunteer Fire Department when he was just 17. He volunteered there until he moved to Waldorf in November 1971. In January 1972, he joined the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department and has been a member ever since. Even though he was no longer active in fighting fires or driving the boys around on the apparatus, he still showed up to have a cup of coffee, talk shop, and was still actively engaged in helping out by attending the Charles County Association, Southern Maryland Fire Association, Charles County Executive and Charles County Board of Fire and Rescue Meetings. Gerald was so proud of his daughter, Amanda, and son, Owen. They both followed in his footsteps and became a Paramedic and Firefighter/Paramedic with the Prince George's County Fire and EMS Department. Gerald, better known as "Poppie" to his grand children, was so excited to become a grandfather and then a great grandfather spending much of his time with them. Gerald loved his family and life, always up for a good time and enjoyed the company of his family and friends. He was a friendly person who never met a stranger, he loved talking to everyone. He may not have remembered your name but he never forgot your face, running into someone he knew wherever he went. Friends and family are invited to pay their respects on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. or from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Brinsfield Funeral Home, located at 30195 Three Notch Road in Charlotte Hall, Maryland. A prayer service, including Fireman's Prayers, will be held at 7:00 p.m. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250327/eu-leaders-fear-peace-in-ukraine-french-army-veteran-1121702072.html EU Leaders Fear Peace in Ukraine French Army Veteran EU Leaders Fear Peace in Ukraine French Army Veteran Sputnik International US President Donald Trumps efforts to secure peace in Ukraine have caused panic among European leaders like Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz, who desperately want to escape from their political death, retired French Army Colonel Alain Corvez tells Sputnik. 2025-03-27T19:19+0000 2025-03-27T19:19+0000 2025-03-27T19:19+0000 analysis emmanuel macron donald trump france russia ukraine keir starmer european union (eu) ceasefire https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/1b/1121701914_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_767f7cb02f6c0b9d4c43f911c1a36aa9.jpg They have made a bargain on the war in Ukraine, and they have lost the war. They cannot accept peace imposed by Russia and America. So they are doing things that are completely unrealistic and illogical, says Corvez, an international strategy consultant and former international relations consultant for Frances Defense and Interior Ministries.Macron and the likes of him do not care about Ukraine all they care about is their own fate amid the prospects of the European Unions dissolution.Macrons decision to oppose the Black Sea ceasefire deal conditions is a stupid decision," Corvez notes, as France and other European powers hold no sway in the Ukrainian conflict peace process.Frances plans to establish some kind of buffer zone in Ukraine is absolutely impossible as well, since peace will be established by Russia and America with an agreement, a strategic agreement, which will officialize the necessity of security for Russia and that Ukraine would be neutral and not in NATO.And then it will be a strategic agreement between Russia and America. Then in this framework, in this kind of agreement, Europe has nothing to do and nothing to suggest, and it's impossible to send troops to control a buffer zone along the Dnepr or along any other rivers or lines, Corvez adds. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250327/draft-minerals-deal-with-the-us-not-in-ukraines-favor--rada-lawmaker----1121698289.html france 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 ceasefire, ukrainian conflict, ukraine peace process https://sputnikglobe.com/20250327/moscow-powers-russias-microelectronics-exports-with-20-hailing-from-capital-1121697742.html Moscow Powers Russias Microelectronics Exports, With 20% Hailing From Capital Moscow Powers Russias Microelectronics Exports, With 20% Hailing From Capital Sputnik International High-tech products from Moscows enterprises are in demand abroad. In 2024, the city accounted for 23% of Russias total microelectronics exports, according to Anatoly Garbuzov, Moscow Government Minister and Head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy. 2025-03-27T11:23+0000 2025-03-27T11:23+0000 2025-03-27T11:23+0000 russia russian economy under sanctions russian economy russia export https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/1b/1121697585_0:58:1109:682_1920x0_80_0_0_39408f0332a69a01ed4ab87678eaa859.png "The city places special emphasis on increasing the supply of high-tech products to friendly countries, particularly in microelectronics. The main partner countries for Moscows exports of electronic integrated circuits, semiconductor devices, processors, and controllers include Belarus, India, China, Turkiye, Hong Kong, Algeria, and Kazakhstan," said Anatoly Garbuzov.Belarus represented over 40% of Moscow's total microelectronics exports, while India stood at around 30%. China made a notable contribution with a 9% share, followed by Turkiye and Hong Kong, which accounted for 8.5% and 6.5%, respectively. Additionally, Algeria and Kazakhstan collectively comprised 5% of Moscow's microelectronics exports.Since 2019, the Mosprom Center has been helping Moscow-based companies enter international markets. One of its most effective support tools is the buyer program, which enables businesses to participate in international industry exhibitions and business missions. The program facilitates B2B and B2G meetings with potential partners, helping expand export geography, establish business connections, and attract investments. Thanks to such initiatives, Moscow enterprises are strengthening their presence abroad and boosting their export potential.Moscow exporters also receive significant state support. The National Project "International Cooperation and Export" provides a comprehensive package of informational, financial, insurance, and logistical support measures. As part of this initiative, the "My Export" digital platform offers entrepreneurs assistance such as free expert consultations, market analytics, support in promoting products on international marketplaces, online training, and more. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241219/russia-owes-growing-economic-strength-to-wests-sanctions-on-steroids-foolishness-analyst-1121214127.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241215/many-germans-would-like-to-move-to-russia-due-to-economic-reasons--german-politician-1121177906.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian economy, russian economy under sanctions, russian economic development, russian business https://sputnikglobe.com/20250327/signal-deep-states-cia-tool-to-frame-team-trump-1121698488.html Signal: Deep State's CIA Tool to Frame Team Trump? Signal: Deep State's CIA Tool to Frame Team Trump? Sputnik International Signalgate has sparked speculation about alleged CIA involvement in National Security Adviser Michael Waltz's mishap. 2025-03-27T14:03+0000 2025-03-27T14:03+0000 2025-03-27T14:03+0000 americas us hillary clinton donald trump cia cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency (cisa) signal color revolutions regime change us foreign policy https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/01/08/1121378243_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_6f92562cd08a0c7d56d95469cc78100a.jpg What's Behind the Suspicions? Clinton's push: The app Signal was created as part of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's initiative to equip pro-US foreign coup plotters with encryption tools. It was inspired by color revolutions in the Middle East, including the 2011 Arab Spring, per Bloomberg. CIA's spinoff? Signals development was funded through the Open Technology Fund (OTF), a Radio Free Asia (RFA) program launched under Clintons initiative. RFA was originally created as a CIA broadcasting tool in the 1950s. Deep state tool? In May 2024, City Journal cited an OTF employee as saying that OTF-funded tools, including Signal, have long been US foreign policy instruments tied to intelligence services. Globalist ties: Signal Foundation chair Katherine Maher began her career with the NDI as a color revolution agent. A former Wikimedia CEO, she promoted online censorship of conservatives and criticized Donald Trump. She is linked to globalist groups like the Atlantic Council, CFR, and WEF. Government infiltration: Maher served on the State Departments Foreign Affairs Policy Board in 2022-2024. Biden's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommended Signal for government use including by "highly targeted" officials in its 2024 guide. Signal, planted: Testifying before Congress, CIA Director John Radcliffe confirmed that Signal was installed on federal work devices before Team Trump took office. He emphasized it was an approved communication tool for non-classified content. A set-up? Some X users have speculated that rogue CIA agents manipulated Signal to add liberal Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg known for his anti-Trump stance - to a government chat in order to frame Team Trump. 'Disgruntled' CIA agents: CNN raised the alarm last month over potential leaks and other malicious moves by "disgruntled" CIA employees dissatisfied with the DOGE-led lay-offs and Trump policies. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/soros-insatiable-greed-for-power-in-russia-and-ukraine-1121692534.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/is-justice-coming-hillary-clinton-and-soros-linked-law-firm-in-trumps-crosshairs-1121690154.html americas 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 donald trump, signalgate, cia, signal, hillary clinton, katherine maher, color revolutions, cia operatives, jeffrey goldberg, doge, trump policies, deep state https://sputnikglobe.com/20250327/swift-is-a-system-of-the-past-and-will-be-replaced-by-end-of-decade---economist-1121700002.html SWIFT is a System of the Past and Will Be Replaced by End of Decade - Economist SWIFT is a System of the Past and Will Be Replaced by End of Decade - Economist Sputnik International The US is ready to consider Russia's return to the international banking system SWIFT. Why is it interested in Russia's comeback? 2025-03-27T16:02+0000 2025-03-27T16:02+0000 2025-03-27T16:02+0000 russia center for political technologies americans us europe swift national payment card system (russia) national payment system russian central bank digital currency https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/1b/1121700103_0:124:3200:1924_1920x0_80_0_0_edb5862d9b5949e2b5d3a5deb582852c.jpg "The interest is understandable...[SWIFT] is logical and absolutely familiar for Americans," Nikita Maslennikov, an economist and expert at the Center for Political Technologies, tells Sputnik. As of today, 159 US companies are operating in Russia at full capacity, 178 are in a semi-suspended mode but have not officially left the country, while over 300 have left permanently, as per Maslennikov. Russia is in no rush to rejoin SWIFT as it has its own National Payment System, which has proved to be a viable alternative within the country, the pundit says. The use and testing of cross-border payment mechanisms is also already underway, per Maslennikov. SWIFT is a system of the past, Maslennikov adds, saying that by the end of the decade alternative systems will emerge. Over 90 countries are presently testing their own central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). https://sputnikglobe.com/20250103/could-russia-become-the-worlds-crypto-capital-1121345727.html 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 swift, russia sanctions, russian national payment system, russian digital currency, digital ruble, crypto-currencies, digital cross-border payments https://sputnikglobe.com/20250327/ungrateful-allies-how-ukrainians-mock-the-us-1121700399.html Ungrateful Allies: How Ukrainians MOCK the US Ungrateful Allies: How Ukrainians MOCK the US Sputnik International Ukraine seemingly has a habit of biting the hand that feeds it, or at least that seems the most plausible explanation for the current anti-US stance in its society. 2025-03-27T16:40+0000 2025-03-27T16:40+0000 2025-03-27T16:40+0000 world ukrainian crisis americans ukraine donald trump https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/1b/1121700503_0:263:508:549_1920x0_80_0_0_09983ca99733e8cc0699d5ff4ad7beb2.png Since the beginning of March, Ukrainian coffee shops have been renaming Americano coffee to 'Europiano' or 'Ukrainiano'. Such a cancel culture. In early March, a video went viral showing the dog Patron beating up Trump. It seems that Ukrainians forgot that cartoons about Patron the dog were financed by USAID. "Do the US people remember that after the 9/11 events Ukraine sent its troops to support the US in Iraq and Afghanistan?" one Ukrainian X user asked. Well... While the US is experiencing a shortage of eggs, Ukrainian users remind Americans that Ukraine has high export rates of this product. And if the US lets them win, Ukraine 'will become a superpower in Europe'. The egg theme doesn't end there. Ukrainians regularly post memes with eggs or scrambled eggs - especially for their American partners. Ukrainian bloggers are also trying to criticize the US. One of them accused the US of "trying to fool long-suffering Ukraine with the rare earths deal," passing a sentence on America. Another Ukrainian blogger accused the US of betraying Ukraine since Washington had decided to reconsider its relations with Russia. But now Ukrainians "have to accept it." Very Ukrainian analytics. One more blogger from Ukraine claimed the US is protecting Russia's territory and interests during negotiations, lamenting the deal "is not fair." 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 ukrainian crisis, us mocked by ukraine, ukraine mocks us, ukraine anti-us Longtime harness racing industry participant Skip DeMull of South Lyon, Michigan passed away on Tuesday, March 25 at the age of 67. Following the ninth race at MGM Northfield Park on Tuesday, DeMull had a medical incident on the track after finishing fourth with BB Fire. DeMull was transported to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital where he passed away after undergoing emergency heart surgery, according to a social media post from his wife Julie last night. A statement released on Wednesday, March 26 from MGM Northfield Park on the passing of Mr. DeMull follows. MGM Northfield Park is saddened to learn of the passing of driver Skip DeMull. Following Tuesdays ninth race, while driving BB Fire, Skip suffered a medical emergency after the wire. Skip was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Julie, his family and friends, and the harness racing community during this difficult time. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Skip DeMull. (With files from USTA) Honeywell and Verizon Business announced that Honeywell smart meters will now include Verizon 5G connectivity to allow both utilities and end users to remotely access essential data, better manage energy usage and resources, and streamline operations to help alleviate strain on the grid. The Verizon-connected Honeywell smart meters provide utility companies with a highly reliable and secure cellular network capable of sending information about energy usage, grid conditions and equipment performance. This information can be fed into utility management platforms such as Honeywell Forge Performance+ for Utilities to deliver heightened operational visibility that will support energy insights, provide near real-time bottoms up forecast of energy demand, and help improve grid reliability and resiliency. Put simply: secure, reliable connectivity in smart meters makes it easier to monitor the usage of resources and the performance of utility equipment. That means we can reduce waste, unburden our grids, and generally take time and cost out of the utility management process, said TJ Fox, Senior Vice President of Industrial IoT and Automotive at Verizon Business. With massive changes on the horizon for utilities, connected capabilities are going to be critical for managing evolving demands for energy and minimizing outages or unforeseen maintenance events. Top Breaking News Of The Day By leveraging the power of AI, Cloud and 5G, we are driving the shift to autonomy for utilities and fundamentally changing the way energy distribution is managed by offering real time connectivity, said Amol Motivala, President of Honeywell Smart Energy. Through Verizon 5G connectivity, we are reimagining the utility ecosystem with cellular connected smart meters that provide the needed insights to help improve grid performance and customer satisfaction. With the growth of IoT solutions for utilities, theres a clear trend toward using cellular-connected intelligence to monitor the grid for operational efficiency, health, resiliency, energy usage and overall performance, said John Marcus, Senior Principal Analyst, GlobalData. This is especially important as charging infrastructure and energy-management innovations continue to proliferate and are poised for rapid growth. Cellular connectivity, with its inherent security and reliability, is one of the most effective ways to enable the intelligence that can help unburden the grid and more efficiently, intelligently manage energy resources. The Verizon-connected Honeywell smart meters also support remote upgradability of new functionality and applications, extending the useful life of the investment and reducing the need for a technician to visit in person. With remote connectivity, customers can also anticipate fewer service interruptions and more reliable utilities. Additionally, IoT management capabilities through Verizon ThingSpace are also available for the smart meters, offering customers visibility into the health and performance of their full fleet of IoT devices including the meters on a single pane of glass. Airtel has landed the 2Africa Pearls cable in the country, connecting India to Africa, and Europe via the Middle East. Airtel is the landing partner for the 2Africa Pearls cable in India. This is in partnership with the 2Africa Pearls investors center3 and Meta. 2Africa Pearls brings over 100Tbps (terabits per second) of international capacity to India. With this investment, Airtel has further diversified its global network to support Indias digital growth ambitions. Sharat Sinha, Director & CEO Airtel Business, said, We are thrilled to bring the 2Africa Pearls cable to India adding to our network resilience. We are aggressively diversifying our global network and recently landed the SEA-WE-ME-6 cable in Chennai and Mumbai. We will continue investing in global cable systems and future-proof our network with an aim to deliver high uptime, reliability, and superior quality network to our customers. Top Breaking News Of The Day 2Africa Pearls is a part of the 2Africa cable system, which will be the worlds longest subsea cable system when completed, spanning over 45,000 kilometers connecting Asia to Africa and Europe through the Middle East. The 2Africa cable system is led by a consortium of Bayobab, center3, China Mobile International, Meta, Orange, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Group, and WIOCC, while Alcatel Submarine Networks is responsible for manufacturing and installation of the cable. Airtels global network spans 400,000 Rkms (route kilometers) across 50 countries and five continents. The company has investments in 34 cables globally with some of the recent ones including 2Africa, Southeast Asia-Japan Cable 2 (SJC2) and Equiano. Apart from these cables that connect India to key regions like APAC, Europe, the Middle East and US, Airtels global subsea network investments also include large cable systems like i2i Cable Network (i2icn), Europe India Gateway (EIG), IMEWE, SEA-ME-WE-4, AAG, Unity, EASSy, Gulf Bridge International (GBI) and Middle East North Africa Submarine Cable (MENA Cable) amongst many others. 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 subsidiary will bring together some of Ubisoft's most popular game universes, such as 'Assassin's Creed' In a bid to escape financial woes, French games giant Ubisoft said Thursday it was creating a new subsidiary around its most popular franchises such as "Assassin's Creed" in partnership with China's Tencent. The new unit, valued at around four billion euros ($4.3 billion), will be 25% controlled by Tencent, which will stump up 1.16 billion euros of new investment in exchange. Alongside "Assassin's Creed," the subsidiary will bring together "Far Cry" and "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six"among the most popular long-running names in Ubisoft's roster of game universes. Ubisoft appears to be making the most of last week's successful launch of the latest "Assassin's Creed" installment, "Shadows," on which much of its future was riding. Conditions for the Tencent deal include a bar on the French company losing its majority in the subsidiary for its first two years. Tencent cannot increase its stake for the next five yearsunless Ubisoft loses its majority in the meantime. Chief executive Yves Guillemot called the step a "new chapter in (Ubisoft's) history." Last year brought a string of woes for Ubisoft, with several disappointing releases for would-be blockbuster games and a slump in its stock price. Spinning up the new subsidiarywhose name has not yet been announcedby the end of the year means the company is "crystallizing the value of our assets, strengthening our balance sheet, and creating the best conditions for these franchises' long-term growth and success," Guillemot said. The deal also sees Tencent assert its hold on Ubisoft more strongly after climbing aboard in 2022. The Chinese firm holds almost 10% of the group's stocka threshold it is not allowed to cross before 2030while the founding Guillemot family owns around 15%. Breaking the streak Earlier this year, Ubisoft had said that it was "actively exploring various strategic and capitalistic options." Finance chief Frederick Duquet said Thursday that "we received many expressions of interest that turned into several non-binding offers for different options." In the end, directors opted to create the subsidiary as this "allowed Ubisoft to maintain control of its key assets, with a view to creating very large brands worth multiple billions in the coming years," Duquet added. Ubisoft plans to make further announcements on changes to the group at a later stage. The company's market capitalization stood at 1.7 billion euros by close of trading in Paris Thursdayor less than half the valuation of the new subsidiary. Teams working on the three major franchises will be brought together in the new France-based unit, especially Ubisoft's Montreal studiosone of the largest in the company. In total, the publisher employs around 18,000 people worldwide, 4,000 of them in France. "Assassin's Creed Shadows" has pulled in three million players since its March 20 release, breaking a streak of disappointing launches for Ubisoft. The group will nevertheless push ahead with a cost-cutting plan drawn up in early 2023, under which it has already closed studios outside France and shed 2,000 jobs. Ubisoft's troubles reflect wider doldrums in the video games sector over the past two years. 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: Yo Kobayashi, 2025. Most computers run on microchips, but what if we've been overlooking a simpler, more elegant computational tool all this time? In fact, what if we were the computational tool? As crazy as it sounds, a future in which humans are the ones doing the computing may be closer than we think. In an article published in IEEE Access, Yo Kobayashi from the Graduate School of Engineering Science at the University of Osaka demonstrates that living tissue can be used to process information and solve complex equations, exactly as a computer does. This achievement is an example of the power of the computational framework known as reservoir computing, in which data are input into a complex "reservoir" that has the ability to encode rich patterns. A computational model then learns to convert these patterns into meaningful outputs via a neural network. "Common reservoirs include nonlinear dynamical systems like electrical circuits or tanks of fluid," says Kobayashi. "There are comparatively few studies that use living organisms as reservoirs, and until now, none that use in vivo human tissue." To test if human tissue could be used to perform computations, Kobayashi had participants supply biomechanical data by bending their wrists at various angles and taking ultrasound images of the subsequent muscle deformation in their arms. These data were then used to create a "biophysical reservoir" for data processing. "An ideal reservoir possesses both complexity and memory," explains Kobayashi. "Since the mechanical responses of soft tissue inherently demonstrate stressstrain nonlinearity and viscoelasticity, muscular tissue easily satisfies these criteria." In a series of benchmark tests involving solving complicated nonlinear equations, Kobayashi compared the performance of his human tissue model with that of standard linear regression. He found that the model using the biophysical reservoir was consistently more accurate by an order of magnitude. "One potential application area of this technology is wearable devices," says Kobayashi. "In the future, it may be possible to use our own tissue as a convenient computational resource. Since soft tissue is present throughout the body, a wearable device could delegate calculations to the tissue, enhancing performance." Now that the principle has been demonstrated, Kobayashi is focusing on scaling up his model to handle more demanding computations, as well as investigating the capacity of other biomaterials to be used as reservoirs. If his research continues to bear fruit, it may not be long before machine learning is overtaken by organic learning. More information: Yo Kobayashi, Information processing via human soft tissue: Soft tissue reservoir computing, IEEE Access (2025). DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3553140 Journal information: IEEE Access Provided by University of Osaka 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: RoboScout, Maryland's entry in a competition run by the defense agency DARPA, would rapidly survey and assess injuries at sites of disasters or violence. The information RoboScout is designed to collect could help first responders prioritize medical care, a process called triage. Credit: Matthieu Forichon for Maryland Engineering By combining robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI), Maryland Engineering researchers and students are building solutions that can help save lives, protect property, and safeguard the environment. One such system, RoboScout, Maryland's entry in a competition run by the defense agency DARPA, would rapidly survey and assess injuries at sites of disasters or violence. The information RoboScout is designed to collect could help first responders prioritize medical care, a process called triage. The ambitious project, while in its early stages, is an innovative step toward autonomous systems to help as many people as possible survive such events. Assisting first responders is just one example of the potential good autonomous tech can do. UMD engineers are building systems that address a multitude of challenges, while also preparing currentand futureworkers for this innovation revolution. Monitoring wildfires Wildfires can ignite in remote places. But all too often, their destructive fury encroaches on homes and communities. In January 2025 alone, wildfires in California burned more than 57,000 acres, costing 29 lives and destroying more than 16,000 homes and other structures. Maryland engineers are designing drone-based systems for autonomously assessing, and even fighting, fires like these from above. Two teams are working on separate projects with related goals. The first aims to develop drones that fire departments could fly over fires to collect information about them in real time, so they can make more informed decisions about how to fight them. The machine's AI would possess the capacity to navigate along a fire on its own. All the while, it would assess images from its visible light and infrared cameras to identify the burning areas below. This data would be transmitted to the ground, where firefighters could use it to find a fire or modify their strategies for fighting it. A second team, called Crossfire, is participating in the XPRIZE Wildfire competition, which challenges participants to develop autonomous technology capable of detecting an early-stage wildfire somewhere in a 1,000-square-kilometer area, and then suppressing it (all within 10 minutes). To put out a fire once it's identified, the team is experimenting with a well-established fire suppressant: water. This task would likely be carried out by a different drone or drones, which would release a water-carrying vessel that ruptures at a predetermined height above the fire. Ultimately, Fernando Raffan-Montoya, an assistant professor of fire protection engineering leading the first wildfire project and collaborating on Crossfire, envisions systems like these informing on-the-ground decisions, such as when to order evacuations. Drone-based fire suppression, meanwhile, could one day protect communities from an approaching wildfire, he says. Between climate change, which creates conditions more conducive to fires, and increased building in wildland areas, the problem will continue to grow. "We believe that autonomy will bring a much-needed part of the solution," Raffan-Montoya says. Urgent medical delivery Maryland's Smith Island doesn't have a pharmacy, so to pick up a prescription, any one of the roughly 200 islanders must take a boat across Chesapeake Bay to the mainland. But options are limited since ferries may run only once a day, or less frequently in bad weather. These logistics can be particularly problematic for residents with chronic health conditionsdiabetes, heart disease, and the likewho must take medication regularly. What's more, urgent situations occasionally arise when someone needs a prescription at short notice. "There are cases when 24 hours can make a big difference," says John Slaughter, director of UMD's UAS Research and Operations Center located in southern Maryland. Working with partners, including the state of Maryland, Slaughter leads a team that is developing a solution: drones that deliver medications to the island and perhaps bring back samples, such as vials of blood, for testing. With this autonomous system, they aim to help improve the health of island residents, particularly the most vulnerable among them who may have ongoing medical needs and trouble traveling. The team hasn't settled on a drone model yet, but because the flight is relatively long, they plan to use an energy-efficient machine that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but flies like an airplane between locations. Once they have selected a drone, they intend to modify it to handle a less-than-five-pound (0.45 kilogram) payload that includes the camera it uses for navigation. They intend to give the drone's AI what's called "conditional autonomy," Slaughter says. "It's going to be able to get itself to the delivery location, with the pilot 'riding along," as it were, to monitor its progress and intervene if there's a problem." More productive, sustainable oyster farming When scattering young oysters to seed a new crop, Chesapeake Bay's oyster farmers have no way of knowing for certain that the seafloor provides the right conditions for the bivalves to grow. Likewise, when dragging a dredge to retrieve their crop, a farmer has limited information about where best to retrieve mature oysters, leading to unnecessary collateral damage to the ecosystem below. A team led by Miao Yu, a professor of mechanical engineering, intends to update these long-standing strategies to make farming more efficient and productive, and less destructive. "We want to change the current practice from essentially a random approach to precision planting and harvesting," she says. Yu is leading a project that aims to make shellfish farming smarter and more sustainable. As part of it, she and her colleagues are developing robotics and AI technologies that will autonomously survey the seafloor of shellfish farming plots like those in the bay. A submerged robot with a camera would collect detailed images underwater while tethered to a boat or a robot on the water's surface. This second robot would be equipped with a sonar device that emits pulses of sound to create an acoustic image over a larger field of view. Based on this information, AI algorithms would create a map of the farm and assess the crop, including, for example, the density of the oysters at a given location. A separate AI model would generate recommendations for farmers, including the GPS coordinates for a path to follow when harvesting. Ultimately, the team aims to help the farmers improve their oyster yields by at least 10%. This more strategic approach could offer other benefits too, including protecting the seafloor and reducing fuel consumption. Increasing production of oysters could also provide a source of protein responsible for lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than other sources of this nutrient, notably beef. 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: Overview of MIDAS, the automated structural damage detection and localization framework. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52501-4 When the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed on March 26, 2024, engineers and city managers around the U.S. and world scrambled to assess the safety of infrastructure in their communities. Michigan State University researchers have developed a "deploy-and-forget" system that combines sensors with artificial intelligence, or AI, to assess the health of infrastructure like bridges, roads and dams, before and after events that could damage them. "We have more than 620,000 bridges in the U.S. and we need to identify a way to maintain our aging infrastructure because we don't have the money to rebuild it all," said Nizar Lajnef, a professor and associate chair for graduate studies in the College of Engineering. "This is why assessment is so important to prioritize which bridges need to be maintained first." In the same way a smartwatch tracks your heartbeat and alerts you about potential health issues before you feel sick, this same technology can be applied to bridges and buildings. Lajnef and Vishnu Boddeti, an associate professor in the College of Engineering and MSU Mobility, collaborated on this project. The technology, called MIDAS for Mechanics-Informed Damage Assessment of Structure, is a smart system that quietly monitors structures using inexpensive sensors and AI. The research is published in Nature Communications. MIDAS learns how a healthy structure behaves so it can spot and locate unseen damage early, before it becomes dangerous. This AI does more than just analyze data. It is trained with mechanical knowledge, making it much better at catching issues that other systems might miss. MIDAS detects damage in real-time by creating a custom baseline model for each structure that can autonomously identify the location and severity of damage. Ideally, MIDAS would be installed on a bridge and a custom baseline measurement would be recorded. Then, the bridge would be continuously monitored. After an earthquake, fire, impact or any other major event, MIDAS would recheck the bridge and alert engineers in real time to any damage or weakness in the structure so that repairs can be made before a collapse occurs. "It's like precision health for infrastructure," said Lajnef. "We are taking an electrocardiogram of the bridge to look and listen for abnormalities that tell us something is wrong." In the case of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, MIDAS could have identified weaknesses and deficiencies before the accident, allowing the bridge to be reinforced and reducing its vulnerability to the runaway barge that struck it. Another example is the recent Los Angeles fires. MIDAS could evaluate, in real time, the impact on affected bridges, buildings and roads, and provide data to assist in safe mass evacuations. This research is also training the next generation of infrastructure experts. Doctoral students Xuyang Li and Mahdi Masmoudi contributed in developing and testing the MIDAS technology as part of their advanced research at MSU. "We listen so that when something bad happens, we will be ready," said Lajnef. More information: Xuyang Li et al, Mechanics-informed autoencoder enables automated detection and localization of unforeseen structural damage, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52501-4 Journal information: Nature Communications 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: Outside the European Union, TikTok Shop is already present in a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom, Thailand, the United States and Saudi Arabia. Social network TikTok is taking e-commerce by storm and will launch a new feature, dubbed TikTok Shopon Monday in France, Germany and Italyallowing direct purchases in the app, the company said on Thursday. TikTok Shop has been up and running in Spain and Ireland since last December. Users will now be able to buy products through shopping links in videos and live content as well as an online store, all without leaving the app. On the shop tab, customers will be able to search for "specific products, discover current promotions and manage their orders, while accessing personalized recommendations in the form of lists and interactive content with integrated shopping functionality," TikTok said. Outside the European Union, TikTok Shop is already present in a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom, Thailand, the United States and Saudi Arabia. Several brands in France are supporting the launch, including bag manufacturer Cabaia and eyewear maker Izipizi. People under the age of 18 will not have access to "content with links to TikTok Shop products," the platform told AFP, saying that the shop would provide "proactive moderation." French lawmakers have set up a commission of inquiry looking into the psychological effects of TikTok on children and teenagers, with the network particularly popular among youngsters. The arrival of TikTok, whose parent company is Chinese, in e-commerce is also of concern to numerous French retailers. Leading French trade federations last week asked the government to take "immediate measures" to protect French companies from e-commerce platforms such as Temu, Shein and TikTok Shop amid fears that the latter are a source of "unfair competition" at a time when those fears are exacerbated by a wave of US trade tariffs. 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: An Emarketer analyst believes advertisers might be resigning themselves to the inevitability of vile content on social media platforms like X, formerly Twitter, as they pull back on moderating content. Emarketer on Wednesday forecast that ad revenue at X, formerly Twitter, will grow this year as brands fear retaliation by politically connected owner Elon Musk if they stay away. X's billionaire owner, the world's richest person, is a major financial backer of US President Donald Trump, and heads a Department of Government Efficiency that has been slashing the ranks of government employees. "Many advertisers may view spending on X as a cost of doing business in order to mitigate potential legal or financial repercussions," said Emarketer principal analyst Jasmine Enberg. "But fear is not a sustainable motivator and the situation remains volatile, partly as some consumers' discontent toward Musk grows." Also factored into the expectation that X will have its first year of positive ad growth since 2021 was Meta's decision to drop or amend content moderation protocols, as the tech giant cozies up to Trump. Industry watchers expect the hateful content that has flourished on X under Musk to also pervade Meta's platforms as the changes go into effect. Emarketer expects X ad revenue worldwide to grow 16.5% this year, after losing ground annually since Musk bought Twitter for about $44 billion in late 2022. "X's ad business is recovering, but it's too soon to call it a rebound," Enberg said. The social media platform's forecasted revenue this year will still be less than it was in 2019, according to Emarketer. X has managed to attract advertising from small- and medium-sized businesses that Twitter historically struggled to win over, the analyst said. Meta's recent decision to ease off on moderating content could be benefiting X, Enberg reasoned. Emarketer forecast that Meta ad revenue will grow slightly more than 11% in the United States this year. "While advertisers still care about brand safety, many are getting a reality check that they may not have as much control over where and how their ads show up as they thought," Enberg said. "The kind of hateful and controversial content that prompted advertisers to flee X is no more acceptable, but there is a sense that it could become unavoidable." 2025 AFP In certain ways, Clayton Leinnewebers life mimics that of Moses and the Israelite people during the biblical exodus from Egypt. He spent the last 30 years traveling with a full-size replica of the tabernacle, going where God leads him and educating people about its connection to Christ and showing how it still has meaning to people today. He is making his third stop at College Station Seventh-day Adventist Church and will have the tabernacle set up for tours from Saturday through April 6. We go to different churches, different schools, different organizations and businesses; they invite us for the community, he said. And we invite all the pastors from all the different churches that are scattered around the area, and we invite them so that they can invite their church family to come. Leinneweber is the director of Oklahoma-based Messiahs Manson. He said he came up with the idea of a mobile tabernacle while living in California and seeing how a church camp counselor riveted the attention of children simply by outlining the dimensions of the tabernacle with caution tape. The young kids just swarmed and filled it up. And when I saw that, I got the chills, and I said, Whoa! I want to build this thing life-size and then travel around with it to all the communities as much as I can, he said. He first brought the tabernacle the portable earthly dwelling of God used by the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, according to the Hebrew Bible to the College Station church in 2009 and again in 2015. Kevin Christman, the churchs spokesperson, said they brought it back due to popular demand. People were calling us up, he said. We were getting emails and voicemails from the community saying, hey, back in 2015 or they didnt know what year was, but they said, You used to have this tabernacle on your front lawn. They would say, Our church is studying that. We want to see that again. It takes a little over an hour to take the tour. Weve been doing this 30 years, and my biggest complaint that Ive had over the 30 years is that the tour is too short. It goes too fast, Leinneweber said. The tours take place every 30 minutes from 1-6:30 p.m. We have five stations, and we move them from one station to the next every 15 minutes, he said. So you start out in an overview tent, or in this case, well be in one of the rooms here in the church. And then right after that, we go out into the courtyard, and we spend 15 minutes there. Visitors will get to see the altars, tools and different parts of the tabernacle as they make their way inside to the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant is located. Everybody wants to see the Ark of the Covenant, Leinneweber said. In fact, one of the most famous movies was Indiana Jones looking for the Ark of the Covenant. Well, we found it! No, just kidding. So we made everything as close to what it could be, except we didnt use the real material, so dont come looking for real gold. He said the dimensions for the tabernacle come from the Book of Exodus in the Bible. Exodus has all the blueprints, he said. People ask me, Well, how do you know how to do it? Well, I got the instruction from the Bible. God gave the instructions to Moses. We just copied the instructions. Tours are free, but reservations are requested to help with crowd control. Reservations can be made at bcstabernacle.org. If you see a time thats full and thats the only time you can come, come, Ill get them in, Leinneweber said. We will make sure that they get a tour. So, yeah, so even if they dont register, come. He said tours in Spanish are held twice a day at 1:45 and 4:15 p.m. on the weekends and 1:45 and 6:15 p.m. on weekdays. Leinneweber noted that people should come while they can. He noted it has been 10 years since they were last in town and 10 years from now might be too late. Weve been doing it 30 years. Moses wandered with his for 40, and so Ive been wandering with mine for 30. So, I hope the Lord comes before I reach 40 years with it, he said with a chuckle.